Rebel-held Fijian troops ‘safe’
UN works to secure release of 44 peacekeepers detained by Syrian fighters as another UN group reported to be surrounded
UNITED NATIONS officials have received assurances that 44 peacekeepers detained by Syrian rebels in the Golan Heights are safe and in good health, a UN spokesman says.
Earlier, a spokesman for Secretary- General Ban Ki Moon said the plight of the peacekeepers remained ‘‘very, very fluid’’ .
Fijian commander Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga said he had been informed his soldiers were unharmed, although he had not been able to contact them directly.
Syrian armed fighters, including some linked to the al Qaeda affiliate Al- Nusra Front, stormed a Golan Heights crossing on Thursday, taking 44 troops from Fiji who were forced to surrender their weapons.
Tikoitoga said three vehicles filled with about 150 armed rebels had converged on the Fijian camp and the rebels demanded the Fijian soldiers leave within 10 minutes and insisted they board the rebel vehicles.
The rebels surrounded another group of 72 soldiers from the Philippines serving in the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) that is tasked with monitoring a ceasefire between Syria and Israel since 1974.
The UN did not say whether the 44 Fijian soldiers had been released, but a statement suggested progress was being made in negotiations their freedom.
‘‘ The United Nations has received assurances from credible sources that 44 peacekeepers from UNDOF who were taken from their position . . . are safe and in good health,’’ said a statement from the
to
secure spokesman. ‘‘UNDOF has not yet had direct contact with the peacekeepers.’’ UNDOF officials had been ‘‘ informed that the intention of those holding the peacekeepers was to remove them from an active battlefield to a safe area for their own protection.’’
Yesterday, Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishopn waded into the debate saying ‘‘Australia condemns the detention ... of 44 Fiji peacekeepers in the Golan Heights by armed groups. As a member of the U.N. Security Council, Australia demands the unconditional and immediate release detained United peacekeepers.’’
Bishop said she had telephoned Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola to express Australia’s strong support, includ- of all the
Nations ing Australia’s resources, for Fiji at time.
Bishop also said she assured them that Australia will use its position on the U.N. Security Council to maintain focus on this issue.
UNDOF has been in ‘‘ regular intelligence this difficult
The United Nations has received assurances from credible sources that 44 peacekeepers from UNDOF who were taken from their position . . . are safe and in good health. Statement from spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon
contact’’ with 72 Filipino peacekeepers who were surrounded by the rebels on Friday and who had refused to disarm.
They too ‘‘have not been harmed and are in good health’’, he added.
The UN revised an earlier figure from 43 to 44 Fijians and from 75 to 72 Filipinos after checking leave records with the mission.
UN officials have been negotiating to secure the release of the blue helmets with the armed groups and countries that may have influence over them.
The UN Security Council has demanded the ‘‘unconditional and immediate release’’ of the peacekeepers.
There are 1200 peacekeepers serving in UNDOF from the Philippines, Fiji, India, Ireland, Nepal and the Netherlands.
Fiji said it would not be pressured into withdrawing from its peacekeeping efforts in the Golan Heights. ‘‘We will not shy away from that responsibility under these circumstances,’’ Tikoitoga said.