WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
THE 40 YEARS FIJI HAS SPENT SERVING THE CAUSE OF INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY IN SOUTHERN LEBANON IS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE.
UNIFIL’s operational role was to supervise the withdrawal of Israeli forces out of southern Lebanon in accordance with UN resolutions calling upon Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory it had occupied following its invasion of southern Lebanon in an operation they codenamed “Operation Litani”.
This is a continuation of a series of articles by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces in remembering 40 years of peacekeeping.
The 40 years Fiji spent serving the cause of international peace and security in southern Lebanon is an important milestone.
In May 1978, Fiji committed a light infantry battalion for service with the United Nation Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Fiji’s commitment to international peacekeeping was part of the vision Fiji Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, had for Fiji to be seen as playing a role in the promotion of international peace and security. It was at a time when the world was locked in a Cold War between the West led by the United States and the Soviet bloc and her allies led by the Soviet Union.
UNIFIL was created by the UN as an interim measure. Its purpose was to ‘hold the ring’ to give diplomacy time to find a solution to the Middle East crisis which had at its core, the issue of Palestine which underpinned the ongoing Arab-Palestinian conflict.
UNIFIL’s operational role was to supervise the withdrawal of Israeli forces out of southern Lebanon in accordance with UN resolutions calling upon Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory it had occupied following its invasion of southern Lebanon in an operation they codenamed “Operation Litani”
Much water has flowed under the bridge since 1978. Although the world is now very much a different place the Arab-Israeli conflict remains unresolved.
UNIFL still remains deployed in southern Lebanon with Fiji maintaining an infantry company there, having previously committed an infantry battalion (known as FIJIBATT) from 1978 to 2002.
During its peacekeeping service with UNIFIL Fijian soldiers have carved a proud record of selfless service. We have lost 35 men in Lebanon who died serving the cause of peace there.
Many who have served there will have their own stories to tell.
In this article we briefly look at two actions which resulted in bravery medals being awarded to our men.
The Battle of At Tiri in February 1980
In April 1980, the Christian forces in south Lebanon backed by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) moved into the Irish Battalion area in the village of At Tiri.
They wanted to occupy a hill near At Tiri that would enable them to dominate the whole area.
The problem was that the hill was in the Irish Battalion area of operation.
Some soldiers of the Irish battalion were killed in action defending their position against the Christians.
The Irish called for reinforcements from other UNIFIL units. The Fijian battalion commander (Lt Col Jim Sanday) responded to the Irish request for assistance by sending in a reinforced infantry platoon with a Mortar section (two 81mm mortar tubes) with additional General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) to increase the platoon’s firepower.
The Fijian platoon of about 40 men was commanded by Warrant Officer Class 2 Kelevi
Vakasavuwaqa who was assisted by his Platoon Sergeant Isireli Waqabaca.
On seeing the arrival of the Fijians at At Tiri, the Christian forces on the other side of the hill (some of whom had befriended Fijian soldiers in the Christian enclave near the village of Naqoura) started swearing and calling out to provoke the Fijian soldiers.
“Bula Fiji, We love your sister” and other disparaging words were hurled at the Fijian soldiers.
WO2 Vakasavuwaqa divided his platoon in two. One group under SGT Waqabaca deployed on a small hill behind them to act as a security position to provide covering fire if required.
The other half of the platoon Vakasavuwaqa deployed forward to confront the Christian forces on the other side of the small valley that separated them.
The two most forward Fijian soldiers facing the Christians were Sapper Sepeti Soronaivalu of Nabukelevu, Kadavu and Lance Corporal Paula Wainiveikoso of Burerua, Sawakasa, Tailevu. These two men were at the point of the spear.
In defending their position at At Tiri, WO2 Vakasavuwaqa and his men were subjected to tank fire, heavy machine gun and sniper fire in the attempt by Christian forces to make the FIJIBATT platoon withdraw. But Vakasavuwaqa and his men did not flinch. They stood fast holding their ground and returned fire. In the ensuing firefights between the Fijians and the Christian forces, Sapper Seveti Soronaivalu was killed in action.
His body was repatriated to Fiji and was buried at his home village of Dagai, Nabukelevu, Kadavu.
For his action in the Battle of At Tiri, WO2 Vakasavuwaqa was awarded a Mentioned in Dispatches (m.i.d).
His Citation reads as follows: “Throughout the period of WO2 Vakasavuwaqa’s command of the FIJIBATT troops at At Tiri, he provided effective leadership under intensely trying and hostile conditions. “His resolution and personal conduct whilst under fire were in accord with the high standards of professional conduct”. WO2 Vakasavuwaqa was later commissioned and rose to the rank of Major in charge of RFMF troops based in Nadi where he retired.
Sadly, he passed away in March this year (2018). ■ Source: RFMF Media cell