UN denies Flipinos in Golan ordered to surrender arms

MANILA, Philippines — The United Nations (UN) backed its peacekeeping commander amid accusations that he gave an ill-conceived order to Filipino peacekeepers trapped in Golan Heights to surrender their arms to Syrian rebels.

The Security Council welcomed the news that all the Filipinos were safe and commended the UN peacekeeping mission's quick reaction force for its assistance.

Fighters from al-Qaida's Syria branch, the Nusra Front, abducted the Fijian peacekeepers and surrounded two Filipino contingents serving in the UN force known as United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on August 28.

Speaking to reporters in New York on Thursday (Manila time), UN Undersecretary for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous cited the council in commending peacekeepers and UNDOF Commander Lt. Gen. Iqbal Singh Singha in handling incidents.

Singha, however, earned criticisms from the Philippine military for allegedly ordering the besieged Filipino troops to heed the demand of the rebels. Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang said the Filipinos defied Singha and went on to escape at nighttime.

Ladsous, meanwhile, denied that Singha made the decision and said the commander only had the troops' safety in mind.

"They were never under such specific orders," Ladsous said as seen in a video on the UN website. "It's a matter of judgment. But, I would say again than General Singha has exercised good sound judgment all along that process."

Responding to questions on the reported tender of resignation of UNDOF Chief of Staff Col. Ezra James Enriquez, Ladsous said it was important to recognize that all the detained Filipino troops had either escaped or been recovered during the operation launched by the Quick Reaction Force.

He also explained that the "fast-moving" situation on the ground required decisive action to extract the trapped troops.

"Then there are times when other considerations including about the safety of the people come in; and then you have to possibly refrain from proactive stands–that means some shooting back really-because that might put other people in danger," he said.

Catapang said 40 Filipino peacekeepers surrounded by rebels at Position 68 over the weekend endured seven hours of firefight before they made the "greatest escape," while defying Singha.

"Gen. Singha ordered no military operations. So, it's still to be investigated, why the order of Gen. Singha was, there will be no reinforcement. Because he was already there, we were monitoring him. And then all of a sudden, he changed his mind," the military leader said.

United Nations Undersecretary for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous. UN file

In the same event, Ladsous read a statement approved by all 15 council members demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the Fijian peacekeepers.

Heavy clashes have raged in Golan since Syrian rebels captured a border crossing between Syria and Israel near the abandoned town of Quneitra last Wednesday.

Ladsous told reporters the peacekeepers, both Fijians and Filipinos, have shown "steadfastness and courage" and said the UN is working to obtain the swift and unconditional release of the Fijians.

"We are sparing no effort to obtain the release of the detained peacekeepers," he said, but gave no details stressing the importance of "discretion." - with Associated Press