03/07/2013, 00.00
PHILIPPINES - SYRIA
Send to a friend

Manila demands Syrian rebels free 21 Filipino UN observers

They are being held hostage by the "Martyrs of Yarmouk”, who are treating them "like guests", but demand withdrawal of Assad's forces from Golan region for their release. Ban Ki-moon condemns the kidnapping. The Russian ambassador asks Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to help free the 21 prisoners of this "bizarre" kidnapping.

New York City (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Manila government is demanding the immediate release of 21 citizens, all UN observers, taken hostage by rebel groups Syrians on the Golan Heights.

The 21 people abducted are part of a group of 300 Filipinos from the "United Nations Disengagement Observer Force [UNDOF] in the Golan Heights". The unit is stationed on the heights between Syria and Israel to ensure the absence of military actions between the two ancient enemies since the Yom Kippur War (1973).

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, has condemned the kidnapping and the Security Council has demanded the release of 21 the hostages.

According to UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey, the UN observers were stopped yesterday by a group of 30 armed near an observation post. A video posted on the internet shows their capture, which took place near the village of Jamlah, in the province of Daraa. The group "Martyrs of Yarmouk" has claimed responsibility and is accusing the UN observers of supporting the Assad government.  The group claim "they will not be released until the forces of Bashar Assad are withdrawn from the village of Jamlah, on the border with Israel. " There have been recent clashes between Syrians rebels and army in the area. The "Martyrs of Yarmouk" first accused the observers of passing information of their position to Syrian soldiers, and then stated that they took the observers to use them as a human shield, so that the Syrians would not target them. In any case, they say they are treating the UN observers "like guests". Philippine Army spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Burgos, said that his countrymen are "being treated well, like guests and not as an enemy force"

Russian ambassador to the UN, Vitali Churkin, described the kidnapping of the observers as "particularly bizarre and unacceptable" given that these peacekeepers are unarmed and have nothing to do with the Syrian conflict. He has also called on nations to use their influence on the Syrian opposition to free the hostages. He did not name names, but it is known that Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are suppliers of money and weapons to various groups fighting Bashar Assad.

In almost two years, the Syrian conflict, which began as an expression of the Arab Spring, has degenerated into a civil war, with regional and international dimensions. The UN Security Council is divided between support for the rebels and Assad, who is supported by Russia and China in particular.

 

TAGs
Send to a friend
Printable version
CLOSE X
See also
Tensions between Seoul and Pyongyang rise as Cold War fears cast a shadow over Korea
12/02/2016 15:14
Syrian crisis: Armed opposition threatens civil war
04/01/2012
Arab League sends 26 additional “observers” to Syria
29/12/2011
Arab League mission to Damascus raises doubts
22/12/2011
Msgr. Zenari: prayers in Beirut and Damascus for kidnapped bishops and priests. Fears for their fate
20/04/2015


Newsletter

Subscribe to Asia News updates or change your preferences

Subscribe now
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”