Indian general on UN duty in row at Golan Heights
A senior Indian Army officer of the rank of lieutenant- general, who is a commander in the United Nations Disengagement Observers’ Force ( UNDOF), is in the middle of an international controversy over a purported order allegedly issued by him to Filipino soldiers under his command in the Golan Heights to raise the white flag and yield to Syrian rebels.
Reports from Manila claimed that the Filipino soldiers refused to follow these orders, after which the head of the Philippines armed forces, in Manila, blasted the Indian general and called his decision a serious error of judgment. These reports claimed a Filipino colonel reporting to the UNDOF commander also resigned in protest. Indian Army sources refused to comment, saying the controversy involved the United Nations.
Reports from Manila said the chief of the Philippines armed forces had sought a probe into the alleged controversial order by the Indian officer, saying Filipino soldiers evaded capture at the hands of Syrian rebels only because they defied the order of the
UNDOF commander. The Indian officer allegedly issued the controversial order to ensure the safety of Fijian UN peacekeepers who were captured by the rebels.
According to reports from Manila, the Philippines President has also sought a full report of last week’s incident at the Golan Heights, when over 70 Filipino peackeepers were caught in a standoff with Syrian rebels, who wanted them to surrender their weapons. The Filipino soldiers refused, knowing that 40 Fijian peacekeepers who earlier yielded their guns were taken hostage.
Despite an order by the UNDOF commander ( the Indian lieutenant- general) for them to give up arms to keep the peace, the Filipinos held their ground before making a dash to freedom, the reports said, adding that the Philippines’ armed forces chief described as very dangerous what happened to the 75 peacekeepers in the Golan Heights, who were attacked by Al Qaeda- linked Syrian rebels.