14 Jun 2018

Mock UN Peacekeeping zone in downtown Suva

5:06 pm on 14 June 2018

The Fiji military set up a mock United Nations Peacekeeping zone in downtown Suva today to mark 40 years of participation with the UN body.

The military's chief of staff Brigadier General Jone Kalouniwai says it's an opportunity to show Fijians how soldiers operate and participate in various Middle East scenarios.

Fiji first participated in international peacekeeping missions with the UN when 500 soldiers deployed to Lebanon in 1978.

On a per capita basis, Fiji has contributed more soldiers to UN Peacekeeping than any other nation.

Mr Kalouniwai said today's exercise is centred around the War Memorial at Nasese and will simulate real-time scenarios.

"It's all about them setting up checkpoints, greeting people at the checkpoints. In some cases they've planned scenarios where they have armed elements coming into the checkpoint and trying to break through.

"It's just a showcase to the public to see how the Fijian battalions operated in the various peacekeeping operations in the Middle East."