Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

Garuda Contingent

Garuda Contingent
Kontingen Garuda
A formation military personnel in three ranks on the red parade ground at the headquarters of the Indonesian military
Indonesian peacekeeping Garuda XX contingent during a pre-deployment departure ceremony in 2003
Active27 November 1956 (1956-11-27) – present
CountryIndonesia
AllegianceUnited Nations[1]
BranchIndonesian National Armed Forces
Indonesian National Police
TypeDeployment
RolePeacekeeping[1]
SizeUp to battalion strength (Batalyon Angkatan Darat Republik Indonesia)[1]
Nickname(s)KONGA[1]
EngagementsVarious peacekeeping missions for the United Nations

The Garuda Contingent[2] (Indonesian: Kontingen Garuda), abbreviated KONGA,[1] is a Peacekeeping unit drawn from the Indonesian military;[3] currently titled Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) and originally known as Angkatan Perang RI, that serve with the United Nations (UN). Since its first mission starting on 27 November 1956; 68 years ago (1956-11-27), KONGA has deployed to three continents.

History and operations

The Garuda Contingent was first deployed (KONGA I) to Egypt and Israel on 27 November 1956, as part of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) to secure and monitor a ceasefire in Egypt, remaining until September 1957. It was initially under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Hartoyo, who was subsequently replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Suhadi Suromihardjo.[1]

The next two contingents were sent to the Congo, then known as Zaire. The first contingent (KONGA II) consisted of a battalion (Batalyon Angkatan Darat Republik Indonesia) of 1,074 troops, and was led by Colonel Prijatna (later replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Solichin); this contingent served from September 1960 to May 1961.[1] The second contingent (KONGA III) returning to Zaire consisted of 3,457 troops selected from a number of units of the Indonesian Army; namely the Battalion 531 (Raiders), Kodam II (Bukit Barisan), the 7th Cavalry Battalion, with support from combat assistance elements. KONGA III was led by Brigadier General Kemal Idris (later replaced by Colonel Sabirin Mochtar); this contingent served from 1962 to the end of 1963, and saw one casualty; Colonel GA. Manulang, commander 7th Cavalry Battalion lost his life.[1] Notably, KONGA III also included a journalist, H.A. Manan Karim, from Medan.[1]

The Garuda Contingent's fourth (KONGA IV) and fifth (KONGA V) deployments were to Vietnam in 1973 and 1974, towards the end of the Vietnam War. This was followed by a sixth (KONGA VI) deployment to Egypt after the Yom Kippur War under the command of Colonel Rudini. The Garuda Contingent later returned to Vietnam and Egypt for a seventh and eighth deployment, respectively.[1]

After an eight-year hiatus, the Garuda Contingent deployed as part of the United Nations Iran–Iraq Military Observer Group under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Endriartono Sutarto, then Lieutenant Colonel Fachrul Razi and Johny Lumintang.[1]

In 1992, five Garuda Contingent members participated in the United Nations Operation in Somalia I under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Bibit Santoso. This was later reduced to four soldiers, under the command of Major CZI Budiman.[1]

During the Bosnian War, the Garuda Contingent XIV deployed medical officers and military observers in their fifteenth mission. This was not well received by the Indonesian populace, who wished that the soldiers took a more active, military role.[4] This was followed by a deployment to Georgia and a 15-man deployment to Mozambique in 1994. That same year, they were also deployed to the Philippines under the command of Brigadier General Asmardi Arbi (later replaced by Brigadier General Kivlan Zein) to help deal with the conflict between the Moro National Liberation Front and the Philippine government.[1]

In November 1997, Garuda Contingent XVIII consisted of eight TNI officers deployed to Tajikistan, under the command of Major Can Suyatno.[1]

Less than two years later, Garuda Contingent XIX deployed to Sierra Leone in 1999, remaining until 2002. XIX-1 comprised ten TNI officers led by Lt Col K. Dwi Pujianto. KONGA XIX-2 also included ten officers, led by Lt Col PSK Amarullah. KONGA XIX-3's ten officers were led by Lt Col (P) Dwi Wahyu Aguk. The final element in Sierra Leone, KONGA XIX-4, also included ten officers, led by Major CZI Benny Oktaviar MDA, who was mission tasked as an observer.[1]

In 2003, the Garuda Contingent XX-A deployed on its twentieth mission, to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa. A total of 171 troops deployed originally, including 32 medical staff and 28 marines. They were deployed with peacekeepers from Nepal, India, and Bangladesh, with the peacekeeping mission being led by France.[5] As of 2009, the focus had shifted to infrastructure, and a seventh contingent had been deployed.[6]

The Garuda Contingent was part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. In August 2010, two of its soldiers were criticised after they escaped from clashes between Israel and Lebanon by fleeing in a taxi.[7]

Deployments

Indonesian peacekeepers of Garuda Contingent I under the UN Flag, circa 1957
Indonesian peacekeepers of Garuda Contingent I under the UN Flag, circa 1957
An Indonesian peacekeeper teaching the local population in Dungu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
An Indonesian peacekeeper teaching the local population in Dungu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Personnel of the Garuda contingent wear an Indonesian variant of desert Disruptive Pattern Material
Personnel of the Garuda contingent wear an Indonesian variant of desert Disruptive Pattern Material
location(s) operation TNI KONGA deployment period
Egypt, Israel UNEF Garuda Contingent I[1] November 1956 – September 1957
Zaire UNOC Garuda Contingent II[1] September 1960 – May 1961
Zaire UNOC Garuda Contingent III[1] 1962 – 1963
Vietnam ICCS Garuda Contingent IV[1] January – August 1973
Vietnam ICCS Garuda Contingent V[1] August 1973 – April 1974
Egypt UNEF Garuda Contingent VI[1] December 1973 – October 1974
Vietnam ICCS Garuda Contingent VII (A & B) April 1974 – June 1975
Egypt UNEF II Garuda Contingent VIII (1–9) September 1974 – October 1979
Iraq, Kuwait UNIIMOG Garuda Contingent IX August 1988 – November 1990
Namibia UNTAG Garuda Contingent X June 1989 – March 1990
Kuwait UNIKOM Garuda Contingent XI (1–5) 1992 – 1995
Cambodia UNTAC Garuda Contingent XII (A–D) July 1992 – April 1993
Somalia UNOSOM I Garuda Contingent XIII July 1992 – April 1993
Bosnia and Herzegovina UNPROFOR Garuda Contingent XIV November 1993 – 1997
Georgia UNOMIG Garuda Contingent XV October 1995 – November 1995
Mozambique UNOMOZ Garuda Contingent XVI June 1994 – December 1994
Philippines Philippines - MNLF
ceasefire monitors
Garuda Contingent XVII October 1994 – November 1994
Tajikistan UNMOT Garuda Contingent XVIII[1] November 1997
Sierra Leone UNAMSIL Garuda Contingent XIX (1–4)[1] 1999 – 2001
Democratic Republic of the Congo MONUSCO Garuda Contingent XX-A 2003
Liberia UNIMIL Garuda Contingent XXI 2003
Sudan UNMIS Garuda Contingent XXII 2008 – 2009
Lebanon UNIFIL Garuda Contingent XXIII 2007 – 2011
Nepal UNMIN Garuda Contingent XXIV 2007 – 2011
Lebanon UNIFIL Garuda Contingent XXV 2008 – 2017
Lebanon UNIFIL Garuda Contingent XXVI 2008 – 2012
Sudan UNAMID Garuda Contingent XXVII 2008 – 2012
Lebanon UNIFIL Garuda Contingent XXVIII 2009 – 2019
Lebanon UNIFIL Garuda Contingent XXIX 2009 – 2018
Lebanon UNIFIL Garuda Contingent XXX 2011 – 2018
Lebanon UNIFIL Garuda Contingent XXXI 2011 – 2018

Unit involved

Indonesian National Armed Forces

Indonesian State Intelligence Agency

References

Footnotes
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Jusuf, Muhammad (2003). "Pasukan Perdamaian Indonesia - Bertugas Lagi di Kongo" [Indonesian Peace Troops - serving again in Congo] (in Indonesian). Indonesian Army. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  2. ^ https://www.unisci.es/enhancing-women-contribution-in-peace-conflict-resolution-and-security-agenda-indonesian-female-peacekeepers-in-the-united-nations-peacekeeping-operation-garuda-contingent-konga/ [bare URL]
  3. ^ "Garuda Contingent plays important role in military diplomacy". 18 November 2019.
  4. ^ Perwita 2007, p. 147
  5. ^ Siboro, Tiarma (19 July 2003). "RI set for peace keeping mision (sic) to Congo". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 12 August 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  6. ^ "TNI sends replacement troops to Congo". The Jakarta Post. 15 October 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  7. ^ Jakarta Globe. 5 August 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100816124606/http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/criticism-as-two-indonesian-soldiers-flee-lebanese-israeli-battle-in-taxi/389588. Archived from the original on 16 August 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
Bibliography