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A top Indian Lt Gen commanding the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) -- that is currently engaged in a confrontation with the Al Nusra rebel group of Syria -- at Golan Heights, has broken his silence on major a controversy that erupted this week after the Philippine military sough a formal investigation against him for allegedly endangering the safety of its peacekeeping troops.
After reports from Manila, in which the Philippines armed forces chief alleged that Lt-Gen Iqbal Singh Singha endangered the Filipino troops by ordering them to lay down their weapons to Syrian rebels to ensure the safety of 44 Fijian peacekeepers earlier taken hostage, Singha told the India Today that both the UN and the Indian Army backed his decision that has so far not resulted in any UN casualties.
Speaking over the phone from Golan Heights, Singha said that disregarding his orders of putting down arms, the Filipino troops had endangered the lives of 44 Fijian peacekeepers who have been besieged by the rebels and are in the conflict area. "The non-professional actions of the Filipino troops have endangered the lives of the Fijian soldiers. They have defied orders at a time when we had negotiated a ceasefire with the rebels to ensure that all troops in the conflict area could exit," Singha said. The officer, who has had a vast experience of commanding troops in Kashmir and other conflict zones, added that the UN has supported his call on the issue. "The higher UN echelon as well as the Indian Army agrees with me that the decision was correct. It is an act of cowardice to desert posts especially when a delicate ceasefire was in place," the officer said. "They broke the chain of command and UN orders", he added.
Sources said that the Filipino troops disregarded the orders by the Commander to not fire for effect against the rebels and in the process killed three combatants. This has raised tempers questions against the UN troops in the area.
"We had already moved 212 Filipinos to safety. There was only one post left with 40 soldiers and we were negotiating for them too and had secured a ceasefire for the night. Military action would have resulted in casualties on both sides and that would have also affected the fate of 45 Fijians abducted earlier," the officer said.
Adding that the "UN HQ has backed me up for all decisions." Sources have also alleged that the Philippine side had been facing trouble due to indiscipline and callousness earlier with 22 of them being abducted last year in the same area after they defied orders and moved without weapons. In an incident last year, rebels had even taken two machine guns from a Philippine post.
Incidentally, Singha was appreciated by both the UN and the US State Department for his role earlier this month in securing the release of a US journalist who was kidnapped by Syrian rebels.
Besides, Singha who is commanding the mission, India has 194 soldiers under 1,250-troop UNDOF, which was established to maintain the ceasefire between Israeli and Syrian forces and supervise their disengagement. The mission has seen action lately after the Syrian civil war.
India is one of the largest contributors to the UN peacekeeping missions with 6,865 soldiers deployed in across the world.
Indian officer with UN breaks silence on peacekeeping row : Latest of the Lot, News - India Today
After reports from Manila, in which the Philippines armed forces chief alleged that Lt-Gen Iqbal Singh Singha endangered the Filipino troops by ordering them to lay down their weapons to Syrian rebels to ensure the safety of 44 Fijian peacekeepers earlier taken hostage, Singha told the India Today that both the UN and the Indian Army backed his decision that has so far not resulted in any UN casualties.
Speaking over the phone from Golan Heights, Singha said that disregarding his orders of putting down arms, the Filipino troops had endangered the lives of 44 Fijian peacekeepers who have been besieged by the rebels and are in the conflict area. "The non-professional actions of the Filipino troops have endangered the lives of the Fijian soldiers. They have defied orders at a time when we had negotiated a ceasefire with the rebels to ensure that all troops in the conflict area could exit," Singha said. The officer, who has had a vast experience of commanding troops in Kashmir and other conflict zones, added that the UN has supported his call on the issue. "The higher UN echelon as well as the Indian Army agrees with me that the decision was correct. It is an act of cowardice to desert posts especially when a delicate ceasefire was in place," the officer said. "They broke the chain of command and UN orders", he added.
Sources said that the Filipino troops disregarded the orders by the Commander to not fire for effect against the rebels and in the process killed three combatants. This has raised tempers questions against the UN troops in the area.
"We had already moved 212 Filipinos to safety. There was only one post left with 40 soldiers and we were negotiating for them too and had secured a ceasefire for the night. Military action would have resulted in casualties on both sides and that would have also affected the fate of 45 Fijians abducted earlier," the officer said.
Adding that the "UN HQ has backed me up for all decisions." Sources have also alleged that the Philippine side had been facing trouble due to indiscipline and callousness earlier with 22 of them being abducted last year in the same area after they defied orders and moved without weapons. In an incident last year, rebels had even taken two machine guns from a Philippine post.
Incidentally, Singha was appreciated by both the UN and the US State Department for his role earlier this month in securing the release of a US journalist who was kidnapped by Syrian rebels.
Besides, Singha who is commanding the mission, India has 194 soldiers under 1,250-troop UNDOF, which was established to maintain the ceasefire between Israeli and Syrian forces and supervise their disengagement. The mission has seen action lately after the Syrian civil war.
India is one of the largest contributors to the UN peacekeeping missions with 6,865 soldiers deployed in across the world.
Indian officer with UN breaks silence on peacekeeping row : Latest of the Lot, News - India Today
