September 12, 2014
..."We're all very happy to be safe and alive," he told the Israeli channel. (click here)
The same day the Fijians were taken captive, two groups of Filipino peacekeepers were trapped at separate UN encampments, surrounded by rebel fighters who demanded they surrender. They refused, and both groups of Philippine troops eventually escaped -- one busting out with the help of Irish colleagues, and the other by slipping away under the cover of darkness.
At UN headquarters, the Fijians' release was greeted with relief and renewed indignation.
Fiji's UN Mission tweeted a photo of diplomats celebrating with their thumbs up, reading: "Free at last! Thumbs up from the Fiji Permanent Mission in New York to our 45 brave Fijian UNDOF peacekeepers."
Jordan's UN Ambassador Dina Kawar said the idea of peacekeepers being taken hostage "is just impossible to accept because it will happen more and more, and that will make countries hesitant about sending their armies, so we were very happy."
The UN mission in the Golan Heights was established in 1974, a year after the Arab-Israeli war. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967, and Syria has demanded the return of the land in past peace talks....
This had been Nusra's long standing complaint, in that they are not terrorists. This dramatic event is the way they find attention on a global stage.
..."We've been informed that we will be released soon, and we are all very happy to be going home," he says, adding that all the soldiers are alive and well.
"I would like to assure you that we have not been harmed in any way," he says, adding that they have been treated well by the Nusra Front.
In the video, the two men speaking in Arabic describe their version of events leading up to the Fijians' capture. They say they had given assurances the soldiers would not be harmed, and were honoring that promise.
The men say they wanted a prisoner exchange and humanitarian aid delivered to besieged parts of Syria, but denied reports they had asked for the Nusra Front to be removed from the UN terrorist list.
The Fijians said the group had also demanded to be taken off the UN terrorist list and wanted compensation for three of its fighters it says were killed in a shootout with UN officers....
..."We're all very happy to be safe and alive," he told the Israeli channel. (click here)
The same day the Fijians were taken captive, two groups of Filipino peacekeepers were trapped at separate UN encampments, surrounded by rebel fighters who demanded they surrender. They refused, and both groups of Philippine troops eventually escaped -- one busting out with the help of Irish colleagues, and the other by slipping away under the cover of darkness.
At UN headquarters, the Fijians' release was greeted with relief and renewed indignation.
Fiji's UN Mission tweeted a photo of diplomats celebrating with their thumbs up, reading: "Free at last! Thumbs up from the Fiji Permanent Mission in New York to our 45 brave Fijian UNDOF peacekeepers."
Jordan's UN Ambassador Dina Kawar said the idea of peacekeepers being taken hostage "is just impossible to accept because it will happen more and more, and that will make countries hesitant about sending their armies, so we were very happy."
The UN mission in the Golan Heights was established in 1974, a year after the Arab-Israeli war. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967, and Syria has demanded the return of the land in past peace talks....
This had been Nusra's long standing complaint, in that they are not terrorists. This dramatic event is the way they find attention on a global stage.
..."We've been informed that we will be released soon, and we are all very happy to be going home," he says, adding that all the soldiers are alive and well.
"I would like to assure you that we have not been harmed in any way," he says, adding that they have been treated well by the Nusra Front.
In the video, the two men speaking in Arabic describe their version of events leading up to the Fijians' capture. They say they had given assurances the soldiers would not be harmed, and were honoring that promise.
The men say they wanted a prisoner exchange and humanitarian aid delivered to besieged parts of Syria, but denied reports they had asked for the Nusra Front to be removed from the UN terrorist list.
The Fijians said the group had also demanded to be taken off the UN terrorist list and wanted compensation for three of its fighters it says were killed in a shootout with UN officers....
