Indonesia dispatches new police group to Darfur peacekeeping operation

October 16, 2009 (JAKARTA) – 140 Indonesian police personnel will join the African Union United Nations peacekeeping operation in western Sudan province of Darfur this Friday.

The members of the Formed Police Unit (FPU) will replace Indonesian police members who serve in the restive region since one year ago, reported the Indonesian news portal Kompas.com.

Speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony to depart those police, police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri said expressed hope that this second group would be the last contribution of his country to the UNAMID.

“We expect that, like the FPU 1, the FPU 2 Group would be successful in carrying out its task. We also expect that the situation in Darfur would be improving so that the FPU 2 would be our last mission sent to Sudan,” Danuri said.

Sudanese government appreciated the outstanding performance of the Indonesian police in carrying out their tasks in Darfu, said the police chief.

Sudan’s Ambassador to Jakarta Ibrahim Mohamed Ali who attended the ceremony said the participation of the Indonesian police members in Darfur operation would improve bilateral ties, stressing that the security conditions in Darfur have improved.

(ST)