DFA wants pinoy peacekeepers pulled from Golan Heights

From the Manila Bulletin (Jun 7): DFA wants pinoy peacekeepers pulled from Golan Heights

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday reiterated its recommendation for the immediate pull out of Filipino peacekeepers in Golan Heights due to the worsening security situation in the area.

The call came after Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez confirmed that a Filipino peacekeeper suffered leg injury when a wayward indirect fire landed at Camp Ziouni in Golan Heights Thursday morning (Thursday afternoon Manila time).

According to Hernandez, he is now in good condition and has returned to the camp after being treated at a hospital.

The DFA said the incident happened while there was fighting ongoing between Syrian government and rebel forces, some 3 to 4 kilometers away from Camp Ziouni, the logistics base of the United Nations Field Operations Division (UNFOD) where different peacekeeping missions are based including the 6PCGH.

“We have made recommendations to the President to pull out the peacekeeper in Golan Heights due to the security situation there," announced the DFA Spokesperson.

Last month, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario personally recommended to President Benigno Aquino III the withdrawal of Filipino peacekeepers.

Malacanang has yet to issue a decision about the issue.

The Philippines has 843 peacekeepers over 8 missions throughout the world.

There are 341 Filipino members of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which has monitored a ceasefire between Israel and Syria in the Golan Heights since 1974.

On Thursday, Austria announced it would withdraw its 377 troops, which is more than one third of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) after Syrian rebels briefly seized a crossing on the Israel-Syria ceasefire line.

The Austrian pullout would leave the force with just 341 troops from the Philippines and 193 from India.

"The AFP continues to monitor the situation in the area, likewise we assure the safety and wellbeing of our peacekeepers will remain a priority," said DFA Spokesperson Raul Hernandez in a statement issued Friday morning.

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