UN secretary-general António Guterres on Monday paid tribute to four Indonesian peacekeepers who lost their lives in Lebanon recently, laying a wreath in honour of them.

Mr Guterres condemned the killing of the peacekeepers while offering a robust defence of UN peacekeeping in what he called “testing times for peace”.

Speaking to troops at the Indonesia Armed Forces Peacekeeping Centre in Sentul, some of whom were to be deployed to the Central African Republic (CAR), Mr Guterres said the fallen peacekeepers had paid the “ultimate sacrifice” to protect others in very difficult circumstances.

“Their service and their sacrifice will never be forgotten. No one should die serving the cause of peace,” he said, extending his deepest condolences to their families. “Attacks on peacekeepers are grave violations of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes. These violations demand accountability.”

The UN chief stressed, pledging to keep calling on Member States to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel at all times.

Mr Guterres described UN ‘blue helmets’ as “a source of hope in some of the world’s most troubled places” and, for him, “a source of enormous pride”.

Far from home and in some of the world’s most dangerous settings, the UN’s 50,000 peacekeepers de-escalate tensions between hostile parties, oversee vital aid delivery, protect civilians and create space for political solutions to take hold, he said.

Indonesia is the world’s sixth-largest contributor to UN peacekeeping, with nearly 2,000 uniformed women and men serving across seven missions.

The country is scheduled to co-host the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial with the Netherlands in 2027. While addressing troops preparing to deploy to the CAR, Guterres described the country’s progress as “a success story that still needs to be completed”.

The UN chief, who first worked with the country 20 years ago as UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said most armed groups had reached agreements with the government and were laying down their weapons.

With their success, the UN could then progressively downsize its mission in the country, he added. Mr Guterres had opened his remarks on a lighter note, telling the troops he was convinced that “no bad guys in the Central African Republic will dare confront the Indonesians”.

Speaking at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta, Mr Guterres hailed Indonesia as “a pillar of multilateralism” and a diplomatic bridge builder between North and South. He said with conflicts multiplying, inequality deepening and trust in institutions declining, many people question whether international cooperation can still deliver.

“The answer to deepening frustration with multilateralism is not less multilateralism. It is better multilateralism,” he said, calling for reform of international financial institutions and the Security Council to reflect today’s world.

Speaking to reporters alongside foreign minister Arrmanatha Nasir, Mr Guterres said that in Gaza, “the nightmare must end”.

“The peace plan must be fully implemented, and we cannot allow the two-State solution to disappear before our eyes,” he said, paying tribute to Indonesia for always being at the forefront of support for the Palestinian people.

He also voiced concern over Myanmar’s deepening crisis, renewing his appeal for protection of those fleeing violence and persecution, including Rohingya refugees across the region.

(NAN)