INDONESIAN POLICE CONTINGENT ARRIVES IN DARFUR

Jakarta, Oct 14 (ANTARA) - A 130-strong Indonesian police contingent has arrived in Darfur, Sudan, to join the UN peacekeeping force in the strife-torn region.

The UN Headquarters in New York said in its website on Monday the Indonesian police contingent will be deployed in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur and at the headquarters of the United Nations-African Union Mission Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

According to the UN spokesman's office, the area is lacking troops and police personnel.

The Formed Police Unit (FPU) sent to Darfur consists of police officers who have received specialized training in high-risk operations.

The Indonesian unit is only the second FPU, along with the Bangladeshi unit deployed earlier this year.

Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, UNAMID deputy police commissioner for operations, said the presence of the Indonesian unit was especially needed to support the work of the UNAMID police, particularly in providing security to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region.

"The success of this mission will largely depend on your specialized training. I have no doubt that you have the ability to cope with the challenging environment in Darfur and will deliver your services to the people of Darfur," he told the unit upon their arrival.

The Indonesian police contingent will be assigned in Darfur for one year.

Some 2.7 million people have been displaced and 300,000 killed across Darfur, where rebels have been fighting government forces since 2003.