TEMPO.CO, Syria – The location of UN peacekeepers from Fiji seized by Syrian militants since last Thursday is still unknown. Fijian Army commander Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga said he had communicated with militant group’s representatives but negotiation is still afoot.
He said they had been assured that the men were being treated well and left unharmed. "However, we are still very concerned that we cannot confirm at this stage their exact location, whether they are still in Syria or whether they have been moved to neighboring countries," Tikoitoga said.
Some 44 UN peacekeepers from Fiji were stationed in Golan with 40 Philippine peacekeepers, who managed to escape from the Rwihana encampment and met with other UN peacekeepers on Sunday after flying for two hours.
Al Qaeda-linked al Nusra front official said one of the reasons why Fiji peacekeepers were taken hostage was because the UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) was siding with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and ignored the suffering of the Syrian people. He said UN peacekeepers should maintain security in Syrian border with Israel.
UNDOF has been deployed "since 1974 to ensure the safety and protection of the borders with [Israel], the usurper of the lands of the Muslims, at the same time it completely ignored the daily shedding of the Muslims’ blood on the other side of the border", part of a Nusra Twitter message said.
YOLANDA RYAN ARMINDYA| REUTERS
