Memories of Bloody Comrades, Sniper Fire Haunt Ex-UN Peacekeepers
Port Dickson: It has been more than 30 years but Capt (Rtd) Azme Dollah recalls vividly the day he discovered the bloodied body of a fellow Malaysian comrade.
A Traumatic Experience
As Malaysian Battalion (Malbatt) I’s engineering commander, Azme had been tasked with leading a convoy of 25 trucks from Split, Croatia, to the United Nations peacekeeping force’s camp in Visoko, Bosnia-Herzegovina, about 30km from the capital city of Sarajevo. Little did he expect his journey back to base would lead to one of his most traumatic experiences.
"I was horrified when we encountered Major Ariffin Zakaria’s bloodied body," Azme said. "He had been killed in a mortar attack. There was a gaping hole at the back of his head, while his limbs had been shattered by shrapnel."
Other Incidents
Azme recalled another incident on January 15, 1994, that left him fearing for his life: his convoy was blocked and attacked by a group of angry, hungry locals. He soon realised they were just desperate for food, and brokered a deal with them.
"I managed to negotiate our release by offering them supplies," Azme said.
Challenging Missions
Lt Col (Rtd) Samin Sih, who served in three peacekeeping missions before retiring, recalled his most challenging mission ever – conducting daily patrols in their vehicles in the Western Sahara, where thousands of unexploded ordnance had been buried under the road by the rebel Polisario Force guerrillas, who were fighting the Moroccan army’s invasion.
"We also had to endure sandstorms, relying heavily on global positioning system gadgets," Samin said.
Dangerous Threats
Samin recalled his stint in Lebanon in 2001, where he was the Malaysian Contingent’s (Malcon) commander. "The most dangerous threat in Lebanon was improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that were detonated by mobile phone sensors from far away."
Gruesome Discoveries
Samin also recalled his stint in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1996 with Malcon, where he was not only forced to take cover from sniper fire but also made the gruesome discovery of mass graves.
Conclusion
The memories of bloody comrades, sniper fire, and traumatic experiences continue to haunt these former UN peacekeepers, but they remain proud of their service. Their stints in the UN peacekeeping missions had groomed them into world-class officers and military observers, equipped with valuable knowledge and skills that money cannot buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many years have passed since the peacekeeping missions?
A: Over 30 years
Q: How many peacekeeping missions did Lt Col (Rtd) Samin Sih serve in?
A: Three
Q: What was the most dangerous threat in Lebanon, according to Lt Col (Rtd) Samin Sih?
A: Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) detonated by mobile phone sensors from far away.
Q: What was the most challenging part of Lt Col (Rtd) Mahadi Abu’s experience in Timor-Leste?
A: Having to rely on establishing cordial relationships with locals and surviving on their meager rations during extended deployments away from base camp.