By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, August 30 -- Two day after the nationalities and details of the peacekeepers detained and restricted in the Golan Heights were first published here, the UN put this out at 12:35 pm on August 30:
The UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) reports that, early this morning, UN Position 69 was fired upon by armed elements. The Mission’s Force Reaction Group has been deployed to the position and all 32 Filipino personnel from this position have been extricated and are now safe.
UNDOF reports that armed elements also attacked UN Position 68 with mortar and heavy machine gun fire. The UN peacekeepers returned fire and prevented the attackers from entering the position. Position 68 is currently under fire, preventing the personnel from moving out.
UNDOF has also withdrawn personnel from Observation Post 52 as a precautionary measure after firing in their vicinity. We are still working towards the safe release of the detained 44 Fijian peacekeepers from Position 27. There are no reported casualties amongst UN personnel.
UNDOF reports that armed elements also attacked UN Position 68 with mortar and heavy machine gun fire. The UN peacekeepers returned fire and prevented the attackers from entering the position. Position 68 is currently under fire, preventing the personnel from moving out.
UNDOF has also withdrawn personnel from Observation Post 52 as a precautionary measure after firing in their vicinity. We are still working towards the safe release of the detained 44 Fijian peacekeepers from Position 27. There are no reported casualties amongst UN personnel.
Kidnapped for their own good was a line UN Peacekeeping previously used. Now some are under fire - but the UN won't say by whom.
On August 29 the US said Vice President Biden
"spoke with President Aquino of the Philippines today to express U.S. support for the Filipino peacekeepers currently surrounded by armed non-state groups in the Golan Heights. The two leaders discussed their shared interest in strengthening UN peacekeeping operations. The Vice President praised the commitment of the Philippines over many years to UN peacekeeping missions, including in Liberia, where the support of the international community remains critical to addressing the Ebola outbreak. The two leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to a strong bilateral alliance."
If they really want to "strengthen UN peacekeeping operations," they should take a look at the top, and what was done (or wasn't) after previous attacks on peacekeepers in the Golan -- and refusal to answer questions about human rights abuses by UN Peacekeeping's partners.
On August 28 after the UN belated announced that “forty-three peacekeepers from the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) were detained early this morning an armed group in the vicinity of Al Qunaytirah.. in addition, another eighty-one UNDOF peacekeepers are currently being restricted to their positions in the vicinity of Ar Ruwayhinah and Burayqah,” Inner City Press began looking into it.
And hour an half later, Inner City Press understands that Syria's Permanent Representative Bashar Ja'afari met with UN Peacekeeping. Chief Herve Ladsous, who previously did little to nothing when Filipino peacekeepers were taken hostage, was not present. So Ja'fari met with Edmond Mulet, whom Inner City Press then witnessed going into the Security Council at 11:30 am.
Inner City Press was informed on the record by Syrian Ambassador Ja'afari that the 43 peacekeepers detained are from Fiji, and that those “restricted” are from the Philippines. This comes after Filipino leadership already said it plans to pull its troops out both the Golan Heights and Liberia. Now what?
The UN has confirmed "Fiji and Philippines," but only anonymously, initially to scribes. This is Ladsous' UN Peacekeeping.
