DFA calls for review of peacekeeping operation guidelines - Sun.Star

FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario is set to meet United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon next week to address matters in connection with the peacekeeping operations involving Filipino troops.

During Monday’s hearing on the proposed P12.8-billion budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for 2015, Del Rosario proposed to review the guidelines of peacekeeping operations after Muntinlupa City Representative Rodolfo Biazon, the chairman of the committee on national defense, opened up the recent incident in Golan Heights.

The incident involved the escape of Filipino soldiers from Syrian rebels by defying the order of Lieutenant General Singh Singha of India, commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) to stay.

Del Rosario said that he sent a letter to Ban “within 24 hours of the conflict” to discuss the matter, adding that the decision not to surrender was ordered by the Philippine government.

In his letter to Ban, Del Rosario cited the rules of engagement that the UN allowed in 2011, where it states that UNDOF military personnel “may exercise their inherent right to defend themselves,” giving them the right to defy the order of the UNDOF commander.

“All peacekeepers have had to contend with the threat of (Syrian rebels), not envisioned in the original mandate and parameters of the UNDOF, and quite frankly, we all have to struggle to meet the demands of this challenge,” Del Rosario said.

Del Rosario said the government is open to discuss the peacekeeping operations “aimed at revisiting operational and tactical issues, including the safety and security of peacekeepers during kidnapping and siege incidents.”

He stressed the importance of reviewing the guidelines to update with the “new threats” faced by peacekeepers.

“The Philippines strongly proposes a revisit of the outstanding operational and tactical issues [related to peacekeeping], including the UN's command and control vis a vis the safety and security of peacekeepers during kidnapping and siege incidents, the accountability of UN peacekeeping mission leaders for decisions made during crisis operations, as well as the contingency plans and procedures [in place] to address these situations,” Del Rosario added.

Singha called the Filipino troops as cowards for failing to surrender their firearms in exchange for the release of Fijian peacekeepers who were seized by Syrian rebels.

The UN Security Council did not see it that way as it commended the Filipino soldiers, due to return to the country next month, for their "bravery in facing the threats and challenges in their area of operation."

The Senate also passed on Monday a resolution lauding the the “extraordinary valor” shown by the soldiers, who fought the rebels for seven hours on August 30.

Another group of Filipino peacekeepers also managed to flee, walking 2.3 kilometers to safety, while the rebels were sleeping. (Sunnex)

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