Goma, 19 August 2010 - A ceremony in honor of the three Indian soldiers killed yesterday in an attack in MONUSCO base in Kirumba was held today at the international airport of Goma in the presence of military and civilian authorities of the mission and of the province of North Kivu who paid a glowing tribute to the sacrifice of these soldiers of peace.

The bodies of the three peacekeepers - Sergeant Omkar Singh, Corporal Suraj Bhagwan Budania and Sepoy Parvinder Singh – were repatriated to their country today. MONUSCO Head of Goma Office Ms Hiroute Gebre Sellasie, who was speaking on behalf of the Special Representative of the Secretary General in the DRC, Roger Meece, said in her speech that this incident though painful will not weaken MONUSCO determination in its work of pacification and stabilization of the region.

For its part, the governor of the province of North Kivu, Julien Paluku, said that a board of inquiry was already created to shed light on the attackers' identify as well as on their mobile.

In their words of condolence, MONUSCO Force Commander, Lieutenant General Prakask Chander and Brigade Commander in North Kivu, General Eaja Kumar Sharma, have condemned this act. However, they indicated that the North Kivu Brigade remained determined to continue the struggle for peace, human dignity and development in the DRC.

The ceremony concluded by observing two minutes silence in memory of the three Indian soldiers .