REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- National Defense Forces (TNI) Chief General Gatot Nurmantyo bid farewell to the 800-strong Garuda Contingent XXXV-B here on Wednesday to join the United Nations (UN) Mission in Darfur (Unamid) as the peacekeeping force.

Lieutenant Colonel Singgih Pambudi Arinto, who is commander of the Tarakan district military command, will lead the 800 Indonesian peacekeeping soldiers who will be assigned in Darfur, Sudan, the TNI's information service noted in a press statement released on Thursday.

The soldiers who belong to the composite battalion task force of Garuda Contingent XXXV-B will be the second TNI task force mission to be designated as the UN peacekeeping force in Darfur, Sudan, North Africa, for a year to replace the Garuda Contingent XXXV-A.

Meanwhile, the tactical vehicles used to support the activities of the task force in Darfur will comprise 24 Anoa armored vehicles, 30 trucks, and 34 jeeps.