Garuda Contingent
Encyclopedia
The Garuda Contingent is a group of peacekeepers
drawn from the Indonesian military that serve with the :United Nations. Since its first mission in 1956, it has deployed to three continents.
and Israel
in November 1956 as part of the United Nations Emergency Force
. It was first under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Hartoyo, who was later replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Suhadi Suromihardjo.
The next two contingents were sent to the Congo. The first contingent consisted 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. The second contingent to the Congo consisted of 3,457 troops and was led by Brigadier General Kemal Idris (later replaced by Colonel Sabirin Mochtar); this contingent served from 1962 to 1963 and saw one casualty.
The Garuda Contingent's fourth and fifth deployments were to Vietnam
in 1973 and 1974, towards the end of the Vietnam War
. This was followed by a sixth 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.
After a 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.
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.
During the Bosnian War
, the Garuda Contingent 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. 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.
In 2003, the Garuda Contingent deployed on its twentieth mission, to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
. 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. As of 2009, the focus had shifted to infrastructure
and a seventh contingent had been deployed.
The Garuda Contingent was part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
. In August 2010, two of its soldiers were criticized after they escaped from clashes between Israel
and Lebanon
by fleeing in a taxi.
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
drawn from the Indonesian military that serve with the :United Nations. Since its first mission in 1956, it has deployed to three continents.
History
The Garuda Contingent was first deployed to EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in November 1956 as part of the United Nations Emergency Force
United Nations Emergency Force
The first United Nations Emergency Force was established by United Nations General Assembly to secure an end to the 1956 Suez Crisis with resolution 1001 on November 7, 1956. The force was developed in large measure as a result of efforts by UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld and a proposal...
. It was first under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Hartoyo, who was later replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Suhadi Suromihardjo.
The next two contingents were sent to the Congo. The first contingent consisted 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. The second contingent to the Congo consisted of 3,457 troops and was led by Brigadier General Kemal Idris (later replaced by Colonel Sabirin Mochtar); this contingent served from 1962 to 1963 and saw one casualty.
The Garuda Contingent's fourth and fifth deployments were to Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
in 1973 and 1974, towards the end of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. This was followed by a sixth deployment to Egypt after the Yom Kippur War
Yom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...
under the command of Colonel Rudini. The Garuda Contingent later returned to Vietnam and Egypt for a seventh and eighth deployment, respectively.
After a 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.
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.
During the Bosnian War
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
, the Garuda Contingent 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. This was followed by a deployment to Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
and a 15-man deployment to Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
in 1994. That same year they were also deployed to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
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
Moro National Liberation Front
The Moro National Liberation Front is a political organization that was founded by Nur Misuari in 1969. The MNLF struggles against the Philippine Government to achieve independence of the Bangsamoro Land...
and the Philippine government.
In 2003, the Garuda Contingent deployed on its twentieth mission, to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
. A total of 171 troops deployed originally, including 32 medical staff and 28 marines. They were deployed with peacekeepers from Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, India, and Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
with the peacekeeping mission being led by France. As of 2009, the focus had shifted to infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
and a seventh contingent had been deployed.
The Garuda Contingent was part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, was created by the United Nations, with the adoption of Security Council Resolution 425 and 426 on 19 March 1978, to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon which Israel had invaded five days prior, restore international peace and security,...
. In August 2010, two of its soldiers were criticized after they escaped from clashes between Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
by fleeing in a taxi.
Deployments
| Location(s) | Deployment Name | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Egypt, Israel | Garuda Contingent I | November 1956 – September 1957 |
| Zaire | Garuda Contingent II | September 1960 – May 1961 |
| Zaire | Garuda Contingent III | 1962–1963 |
| Vietnam | Garuda Contingent IV | January – August 1973 |
| Vietnam | Garuda Contingent V | August 1973 – April 1974 |
| Egypt | Garuda Contingent VI | December 1973 – October 1974 |
| Vietnam | Garuda Contingent VII-A and VII-B | April 1974 – June 1975 |
| Egypt | Garuda Contingent VIII (1–9) | September 1974 – October 1979 |
| Iraq, Iran | Garuda Contingent IX | August 1988 – November 1990 |
| Namibia | Garuda Contingent X | June 1989 – March 1990 |
| Kuwait | Garuda Contingent XI (1–5) | 1992–1995 |
| Cambodia | Garuda Contingent XII-A – XII-D | July 1992 – April 1993 |
| Somalia | Garuda Contingent XIII | July 1992 – April 1993 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Garuda Contingent XIV | November 1993 – 1997 |
| Georgia | Garuda Contingent XV | October 1995 – November 1995 |
| Mozambique | Garuda Contingent XVI | June 1994 – December 1994 |
| Philippines | Garuda Contingent XVII | October 1994 – November 1994 |
| Angola | Garuda Contingent XVIII | 1995 |
| Sierra Leone | Garuda Contingent XIX | 2001 |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Garuda Contingent XX | 2003 – |