Indonesia’s Fallen UNIFIL Peacekeepers: Promotions & Rp1.8B Compensation for Families

The Indonesian military will posthumously promote three soldiers killed while serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and provide their families with over Rp1.8 billion (approximately $115,000 USD) in compensation, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto announced Wednesday.

Captain Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, 33, First Sergeant Muhammad Nur Ichwan, 25, and Private First Class Fahrizal Rhomadhon, 27, died in separate incidents late last month, prompting calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Private Rhomadhon was killed by artillery fire on March 29th near Adchit Al Qusayr, while Captain Iskandar and First Sergeant Ichwan were killed the following day in an attack on a UNIFIL logistics convoy near Bani Hayyan, both locations in southern Lebanon.

General Subiyanto stated the fallen personnel will receive an extraordinary posthumous non-combat promotion and the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal, a United Nations award recognizing individuals who lose their lives while serving in peacekeeping operations. The families of the soldiers will similarly receive financial compensation, with Captain Iskandar’s family receiving Rp1,894,688,236, First Sergeant Ichwan’s family receiving Rp1,846,309,049, and Private Rhomadhon’s family receiving Rp1,854,075,201.

In addition to the lump-sum payments, the families will receive continued salary payments for 12 months, including basic salary, food allowances, and functional allowances, followed by retirement benefits for the widows, according to Subiyanto. He expressed hope the compensation would provide support to the families following their loss.

The deaths have prompted strong condemnation from Indonesian officials. At a UN Security Council meeting on March 31st, Indonesia’s UN envoy, Umar Hadi, strongly condemned the attacks on UNIFIL troops and called for a swift, thorough, and transparent investigation. Ambassador Hadi specifically demanded an investigation by the United Nations, stating, “We therefore demand investigation by the United Nations, not excuses by Israel.”

The incidents come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and have raised questions about the security readiness of Indonesian forces deployed in the region. The TNI has been pressed to clarify Indonesia’s security readiness in light of the escalating conflict, according to reports.