Taking care

of business

THE 700 Fijian soldiers serving with UNIFIL were carrying on their duties as usual and were unlikely to be evacuated, according to a Fijian military officer serving at United Nations Head quarters in New York.

The officer said from New York that the soldiers in UNIFIL were feeling the effects of the war, in terms of gas alerts each time a Scud attack was launched.

However, despite the fact that missiles launched by the Iraqis had hit Haifa,

only 50 km from Lebanon, it was “unlikely” UNIFIL would move its people, he said. Unifil still had a peacekeeping job to do. It had no direct role to play in the Gulf conflict at present, but there may be another role for it after the conflict.

In Suva last week, Major Metuisela Mua from the Office Of the Prime Minister said the morale of the troops was very high> and their role ‘ as

peacekeepers had been widely praised

overseas. He also said the service of the Fiji Bat could possibly be extended for a f ew months. But this was only specu lation, and would depend on UNIFIL and MFO, he said. □

Preparation: a soldier in the Sinai last year