Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Fijian soldiers in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Picture: UNDOF
THE Republic of Fiji Military Forces yesterday held a farewell church service for 318 soldiers who are expected to leave for the Golan Heights soon to join the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).
RFMF Land Force Commander Lieutenant Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga confirmed the troops would join the 182-member Fiji contingent already at Camp Faouar at the Golan.
"We are awaiting the confirmation date for their departure from the United Nations," Lt-Col Tikoitoga said.
At the Golan Heights, 120 members of the Fijian contingent, who left last month, are deployed to the northern part of UNDOF's area of operations that was once looked after by Austrian troops.
The arrival of the Fiji contingent has relieved Indian and Filipino contingents from manning these positions.
Fijian UNDOF headquarters staff officers and the Fijian medical team are also positioned there.
The remaining Fijian (guard) platoon is being inducted as guard platoons in the new Camp Faouar fire brigade.
Meanwhile, the Philippines Government is threatening to remove its 342 troops from Golan if the conditions it has set out to the UN Security Council are not met.
The Associated Press reported that the conditions given by the Filipinos include additional weapons for their protection in the volatile buffer region separating Israel from Syria and that the Filipino troops should be allowed to be replaced every six months, shorter than their current deployment.
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