Why bother?
After a seven hour firefight with Syrian rebels, Filipino UN peacekeepers manning one of the stations within the buffer zone between Israel and Syria were able to escape. Running low on ammunition, they saw an opportunity when the Syrians were sleeping. They had to cross landmines and travel for a few hours before being picked up by other UN peacekeepers. The Filipino soldiers were apparently told by the Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force to surrender and relinquish their weapons to the Syrian rebels in exchange for the safe release of more than forty Fijian soldiers being held by the rebels. The order was countermanded and told to defend themselves if necessary. A firefight did occur, and when they were already low on ammunition, decided to make a break for it once the opportunity arises.
Several days passed before both the general in question and the UN gave statements. I wonder what took them so long? The UN sided with Lt. Gen. Iqbal Singh Singha, who claims he never gave the order to surrender their arms nor their position, but to instead refrain from shooting back. This commander went on to say that the Filipino soldiers' escape was unprofessional, even labeling it as an act of cowardice, because he was in a position to ensure the safety of both Fijian and Filipino soldiers as he was in discussions with the rebels. Really?
If they were guaranteed safety, why did a firefight take place? Is this general really ready to believe the word of a Syrian rebel commander, whose obvious intention is to take the weapons of any military personnel in the area? They already have forty-plus Fijian soldiers, why hand them more? Is it because we are Filipinos and are therefore expendable? Cannon fodder?
And where was the help from UN command when a firefight was already taking place? Seven hours is a long time to be doing nothing. Syrian rebels are nothing more than terrorists and criminals. The mandate of UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights is to ensure the peace between Israel and Syria. Any action from the rebels is already outside of the mandate of the UN. But what is clear in the UN rules of engagement is that they are allowed to defend themselves if necessary. They fire back when fired upon. No mention of any surrender, except in the mind of an armchair general.
There must be a formal investigation on the events that transpired in the last few days. I understand a formal complaint is being prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs against the Force Commander of UNDOF. It must be noted that the Filipino chief of staff of UNDOF tendered his resignation, because of his disagreement with the Force Commander. What was the disagreement about? I'm sure it had to do with the safety of our Filipino soldiers, who have already experienced what it is to be hostages of the Syrian rebels. Safety of the soldiers is paramount, according to the AFP.
Our soldiers go where they are told. They do what they are told to do. They stick to the mission and mandate, as governed by UN rules. We do our part in UN peacekeeping missions. Even after the twenty-five soldiers were released by their Syrian captors last year, they opted to stay and finish their tour of duty. Is that cowardice? Is being in a firefight for seven hours, becoming dangerously low on ammunition while having no other heavy weapons besides the rifles that they carry an act of cowardice? I believe the country has a lot to be incensed with the way our soldiers were treated when hell broke loose. If this is the way our soldiers are treated when fulfilling their obligations to the UN, if they are simply placed in harm's way, then labeled as cowards, why bother?
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