Fiji contingent serving in Sinai wants heavier weapons

The Fiji contingent serving in the United Nations Mission in Sinai has requested the Minister for Defense and National Security Timoci Natuva for them to be provided with heavy weapons.

Speaking to Fijivillage, Natuva said in his recent visit to the Fiji contingent in Sinai, a request was put forward for heavy weapons to be provided as it would need to be used in a situation where certain elements would attack their location.

He said the Fiji contingent was provided with heavy weapons in the past but it was returned to Fiji.

Natuva added after discussions with the Land Force Commander in Sinai, they agreed that the Multinational Force of Observers (MFO) would provide the weapons for the Fiji contingent.

These heavy weapons would include 5 Bradley Rescue Vehicles from America and rocket launchers.

Natuva said they took this request seriously as they do not want a repetition of the situation that happened in the Golan Heights in Syria.

Firefights in the Sinai Peninsula between armed elements known as the Bedoiun and Egyptian soldiers had been intensifying since the start of the year.

The Minister was accompanied by the Commissioner of Police Ben Groenewald and the Land Force Commander Colonel Sitiveni Qiliho.

They visited the United Nations headquarters in New York before starting the tour of Lebanon, Golan Heights, Israel, Sinai and South Sudan.