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Captured Golan Soldiers: President Nailatikau tongue lashes (swears) at army commander Tikoitoga over soldiers surrendering to Islamic rebels

3/9/2014

13 Comments

 
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President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau reminded Fijian army personnel on their roles and commended them for their commitment towards peacekeeping efforts during his recent visit to troops serving in the Golan Heights. He was accorded a guard of honor by Fijian troops when he visited Camp Ziouani, one of the many camps that Fijian personnel are serving in under the banner of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). Tikoitoga accompanied Nailatikau to Golan Heights
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Nailatikau also held talks with Lt Gen I S Singha, the force commander for UNDOF
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UNDOF Force Commander and Head of Mission: Lieutenant General I S Singha

Lieutenant General I S Singha was commissioned into The RAJPUTANA RIFLES Regiment in 1977, after three years of training at the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, followed by one year at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.  During his over 34 years of eventful military career and active service, the officer has had varied command and staff experience at all levels and in all types of terrain to include plains, riverine, deserts and high altitude.

The officer is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, India, the Senior and Higher Command Courses, Mhow, India and the National Defence College, New Delhi, India.  Some of the prestigious staff appointments tenated by the officer include  President, Army Standing Establishment Committee and General Staff Officer Grade 1 at Military Operations Directorate at Army Headquarters and Brigadier General Staff Operations of a Corps Headquarters and Colonel General Staff of an Armored Division. 

LtGen I S Singha’s field and operational tenures include command of an Infantry Company in a High Altitude area of Jammu and Kashmir, which was affected by insurgency and terrorism.

As a Battalion and a Brigade Commander, he had the distinction of commanding on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, in an low intensity conflict environment.

He was awarded Chief of Army Staff Commendation twice, Force Commander’s Commendation and CAO’s Commendation at UNMEE in addition to having been awarded the “VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL” for distinguished service of a very high order as a Brigade Commander.   

The General Officer has been an active participant in various seminars on war fighting, human rights, human resources development and counter terrorism.

A keen sportsman, the General Officer is fond of basketball, golf and tennis. The General Officer is married to Mrs. Baljeet and they have two sons, Ranvijay and Harmanjeet.

LtGen I S Singha took over command as Force Commander UNDOF from Major General Natalio C. Ecarma III (PHILIPPINES) on August 13, 2012. The Officer promoted on July 1, 2013 to Lieutenant General

Philippine military seeks probe against Indian commander of UNDOF in Golan Heights

"The UNDOF commander wanted to save the Fijians at the expense of the Filipinos. Our troops did not want to surrender. Their honour was at stake. He (Lt-Gen Singha) kept on changing his orders. It is but proper that an investigation be conducted to include him"


NEW DELHI: An Indian Lt-General commanding the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Golan Heights, Iqbal Singh Singha, has landed in a major controversy with the Philippine military seeking an investigation against him for allegedly endangering the safety of its peacekeeping troops during the stand-off with Syrian rebels over the last weekend.



Philippines armed forces chief Gen Gregorio Pio Catapang, as per reports emanating from the Middle-East as well as Manila, alleged Lt-Gen Singha ordered the Filipino troops under UNDOF to lay down their weapons and "show the white flag" to the Syrian rebels to ensure the safety of 44 Fijian peacekeepers earlier taken hostage by them.

Gen Catapang said the Filipino troops — who held their ground without surrendering last Saturday — would have also been taken captive if they had not defied Lt-Gen Singha's orders.

"The UNDOF commander wanted to save the Fijians at the expense of the Filipinos. Our troops did not want to surrender. Their honour was at stake. He (Lt-Gen Singha) kept on changing his orders. It is but proper that an investigation be conducted to include him,"
Gen Catapang, was quoted as saying.

Indian Army officers, who are monitoring the situation from here, said it was for the UN to "comment" on the matter.

"But UNDOF is working under Chapter VI of the UN Charter, which is primarily concerned with a supervisory role without any enforcing authority. Peacekeeping operations under Chapter VII give the enforcement authority and the ability to use force beyond self-defence," said an officer.

Incidentally, Lt-Gen Singha, a Rajputana Rifles officer who was appointed UNDOF commander in August 2012, had also courted controversy in March 2011 when he had lauded the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi as a politician who had "all the qualities of an Army commander" during a public function in Ahmedabad.

"He (Modi) keeps deadlines for completion of work and ensures that the target is achieved by the set time," the then Maj-Gen Singha had held.

India has 194 soldiers under the 1,250-troop UNDOF, which was established in May 1974 to maintain the ceasefire between Israeli and Syrian forces and supervise their disengagement.

India constantly figures in the top three troop contributors for UN missions, and has lost over 140 soldiers since its first commitment to Korea began in 1950. Seven Indian soldiers, including a Lt-Colonel, for instance, were killed in ambushes in strife-torn South Sudan last year.

Officials, however, feel the large troop contribution reinforces India's claim for a permanent seat when the UN Security Council is eventually expanded, apart from providing handsome monetary compensation and "international exposure" to its soldiers.

13 Comments
RUN FIJI.COM
3/9/2014 06:52:50 am

I don't blame the president for swearing at the commander,it's about time the FMF should take a good look as to how the so called "officers" were made officers at the first place. Probably they were too doped with kava which easily made their own decision to give up the fight...."fight another day". They have underestimated the rebels thinking that that the hearts and mind tactics will surely overwhelm the rebels with their laughter, war cry cibi, tauratale,grog making and merry making and vesu mona styles. The daily reports that provided to the OCs concerning the daily activities within the AO were are joke to the two officers. I think the two captains had no time or were just simply not bothered to read those intelligence information. The sacrifices that our grand fathers had done in the Solomon and Malayan campaign has been all wasted. FMF,Sa rauta mada na overthrow,or coup.....now it seems that your camp has just got overthrown from a place far from home.

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obota
3/9/2014 12:32:18 pm

Da vuli mai noda malumalumu taumada e na buca ni valu , dua tale na gauna e na yaco tale na ka oqo.







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army tactics link
3/9/2014 02:28:36 pm

The Fiji army is now good only for bullying its unarmed civilian population and threatening them with violence if they did not behave according to their diktats. When they meet with a real military combat challenge the Fiji soldiers run with their tail between their legs, unlike the professional Filipino soldiers who stood their ground and fought their way out of the crisis.
What is the pretend "Peoples President" Nailatikau swearing about now? He is an integral part of the problem in Fiji and in the army - going back to 1987 when he was the army commander and a behind the scene party to the first military coup.
The guy is just an opportunist who likes to hold high office of one sort or another such to enjoy all the goodies that come to him as a result.

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swearing culture link
3/9/2014 05:33:01 pm

The President Nailatikau swears at the army commander Tikoitoga. The Prime Minister Bainimarama swears at the Catholic priest Fr Barr.
Behind their backs the Fijian people are swearing at both the President and the Prime Minister. That's the Fijian way. The Fijian culture.

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wakaruka
5/9/2014 11:54:32 pm

This is amazing, if this is true than

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rvyne
3/9/2014 06:27:52 pm

As a Filipino I wouldn't blame Fiji Peacekeepers for surrendering. You really shouldn't be comparing Philippine Military vs Fiji and shouldn't be a shame of your troops they have done their duty well

unlike your counter-parts Philippines has been long plague with communist and muslim insurgency, they learn from experience regular troops slaughtered after surrendering specially when dealing with muslims so they learn to adept while muslims uses their infamous swords in battlefield military switches from military bayonet knife to more traditional tabak/bolo longer knife to defend against beheadings.

besides this unit isn't just normal regular troops they are with mix elite unit from scout ranger and philippine special forces (airborne) the last phase of training before graduating into elite school is real test mission against muslim/communist insurgency so they really are battle tested fooes

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46664
3/9/2014 11:00:06 pm

thanks rvyne. good input. However you have just highlighted a point that everyone has been saying or suspecting. You mentioned that the Phillipine peacekeepers had special ops, rangers, scouts, and airborne personnel and the fact they have experienced muslim insurgency before. to sum up what you just said in as few words as possible, here it is - "well trained". we are all very suspicious that our boys taken hostage are under equipped, and not well trained.

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rvyne
4/9/2014 04:46:57 am

yes correct I was even surprise we're sending this commando unit not from a regular troops on UN peacekeeping mission.

Tony
4/9/2014 09:40:22 am

not all of them are. as they are members of 80IB based in Mindoro before deployment. Though I must concur that they have experience and training meeting the level of the SOCOM people. As what you said they are few SOCOM guys mixed with them but not all

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46664
4/9/2014 11:21:08 am

Each passing day brings more smell of dead fish!. There is something definitely fishy going on. I think Russia, Iran, and Syria (Assad) are all part of the reason this is happening. I hope our boys return safely. Right before our election, this has to happen. And it is brewing hot back in the motherland.

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9812
4/9/2014 04:24:26 pm

It is not our soldiers fault that they have been captured.. they were just listening to orders from above...however, Mr President will now have more burdens to bear for the 900,000 so people of fiji making sure they are returned home ALIVE and all limbs intact...

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Tomasi
6/9/2014 05:01:42 am

O iko Epeli Naikalitau e dodonu mo maduataki iko. You should be ashamed of yourself Epeli. Enough of being a useless parasite. You should buy your own farm and try and own a decent living for a change. Or if you cannot tackle the rigorous tasks in farming, get fishing boat and go fishing to feed yourself and your family. We are fed up of watching you embarrass yourself. Commander in Chief my foot. More like Chief Parasite of the State of BaiKhai Banana s

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jake
11/9/2014 04:26:46 am

The Indian Commander should be held responsible!

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