Bagus BT Saragih

Up to 140 National Police Formed Police Unit (FPU) III personnel were dispatched to Darfur, Sudan, in efforts to help stabilize security in the city, and to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.

The team, named Garuda V-D Contingent, would replace the 140 members of Garuda V-C Contingent who had been serving in Sudan since October last year, National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Jusuf Manggabarani said Wednesday.

�This is the third contingent we have sent there. Darfur�s people, as well as the UN and our government, have appreciated our performance. That�s why we decided to send another contingent,� Jusuf said during the dispatch ceremony at National Police Headquarters in South Jakarta.

The contingent would end their service in Sudan in October next year, but it has not yet been decided whether the police will send another group afterward, Jusuf said.

Aside from Sudan, Indonesian police officers have helped in peace missions in several other nations including Namibia, Cambodia, Mozambique, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia Herzegovina and Afghanistan.

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