21 Pinoys in UN team held hostage by Syrian rebels

MANILA, Philippines -  Twenty-one Filipino soldiers under the United Nations peacekeeping force were taken hostage by Syrian rebels in the Golan Heights ceasefire zone, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

The soldiers, part of a 300-strong Filipino contingent of UN peacekeepers, were detained at a rebel observation point on Wednesday by rebels who said the troops would be held until Syrian regime forces pulled back from a Golan village.

At the same time, the Philippines and the UN expressed condemnation over the seizure of the Filipino peacekeepers by Syrian rebels.

“The Philippine government is calling for the immediate release of 21 Filipino peacekeepers who are part of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights,” the DFA said.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the seizure of the Filipino peacekeepers is a gross violation of international law.

He said the Filipino peacekeepers are operating under the UN flag and are considered diplomatic agents and personnel.

“These rights are inviolable and their transgression is punishable under international law,” he said.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said UNDOF is mandated to monitor the Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria.

He stressed Israel and Syria should respect UNDOF’s freedom of movement and ensure the safety and security of its personnel.

DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said Del Rosario spoke with the UN Secretary General and expressed the Philippine government’s concern over the safety of the 21 Filipino peacekeepers in the Golan Heights.

“Secretary Del Rosario also thanked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for condemning this illegal act. The Secretary and Secretary General are working together for the expeditious release of the Filipino peacekeepers,” Hernan”ez said.

He said the DFA received information that the armed group demanded the positioning of the Syrian forces and there was no demand for ransom.

“This is not official yet but the information we have gathered is that the armed group has detained the 21 Filipino peacekeepers because of their demands regarding the positioning of Syrian forces in the area. There were no demands as far as monetary considerations are concerned,” he said.

Hernandez said the UN peacekeeping force in the region is negotiating for the release of the Filipino troops.

“We have been informed they are unharmed and for the time being are being treated as visitors and guests. We are hoping that the release will be effective very soon. The UN Peacekeeping Force in that area is working together with our force there and also negotiating with the other side,” he said.

Treated as guests

President Aquino said he learned that the 21 Filipino peacekeepers – three officers and 18 enlisted personnel – would be released anytime today.

“So far, nobody has been saying that they are in danger. They were out to get water. Syria is a desert, Golan Heights in particular. They were flagged down by Syrian rebels,” he said.

Aquino said the Philippine government is coordinating closely with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations for the release.

“I understand this has already been taken up by the Security Council and the UN itself who are in contact with the Syrian rebels to ensure the safety of our people; and I understand they are being treated well,” he said.

“And I think both sides in the Syrian conflict would recognize that the UN peacekeeping force does help to prevent any outbreak of hostilities, especially between Israel and Syria,” Aquino added.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos also said the Syrian rebels were treating the hostages well.

“They are being treated as guests, not as hostiles (enemy force),” he said. “We have high hopes that they are going to be released soon.”

Burgos did not explain the basis for his optimism, other than pointing out negotiations had started.

However, a rebel spokesman said the Filipino troops would be held until forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad pulled back from the village. The rebel spokesman is also accusing the UN peacekeepers of favoring Israel.

Striking the balance

The Filipino troops taken hostage are part of the UN Disengagement Force that has been monitoring a ceasefire between Syria and Israel since 1974.

The 21 peacekeepers are members of the 6th Philippine Contingent to Golan Heights, consisting of 43 officers and 285 enlisted personnel.

The UN has reported a growing number of incidents in the Golan Heights over the past year and has sent extra armored vehicles and communications equipment to reinforce security for the mission.

Up to the end of February there were about 1,000 troops from Austria, Croatia, India and the Philippines operating in the ceasefire force.

But Croatia announced last week it was withdrawing its 100 troops from UNDOF because it feared for the soldiers’ safety. Canada and Japan have also withdrawn their small contingents in recent months because of security fears.

Burgos said no decision had been made on whether to pull the rest of the Filipino peacekeeping unit out of the Golan Heights.

President Aquino also said the issue of continually sending Filipino peacekeepers abroad is now being reassessed.

“We have to strike a good balance here between sending peacekeepers to other countries and to keep them here in our country as we also have our own needs,” the President said.

Aquino explained further reevaluation is being done if the Philippines could still afford to send soldiers and policemen as peacekeepers abroad.

The DFA said the Philippines has about 333 military and police forces in Golan Heights and a total of 730 Filipino peacekeepers all over the world in eight countries.

As a UN founding member, the Philippines has been contributing to maintaining international peace and security under the UN Charter since the Korean War in 1950.

The UN does not have its own army and military personnel, and does provide for its logistical and technical requirements which member states voluntarily provide. The UN, in turn, reimburses and provides loans for the purchase of equipment.

Sen. Francis Escudero, however, said the Syrian incident should not deter the Philippines from its commitment with the UN to contribute in its peacekeeping efforts.

He said such financial arrangements with the UN would benefit the country and its soldiers.

Escudero said the participation of the Philippines should be even upgraded by the government to the sending of military equipment since these are paid for by the UN.

“Optimal force and equipment deployment is ideal for the country’s participation in peacekeeping operations. The country will stand to earn more if it deploys equipment-heavy units instead of infantry battalions to allow it to receive more UN reimbursements,” he said. –  With Delon Porcalla, Alexis Romero, Christina Mendez, Edith Regalado