The President Major General (Retired) Jioji Konusi Konrote has called on all Fijians to remember our soldiers who paid the ultimate price while on peacekeeping duties.

This was his message during an address at the 40th Anniversary of Fiji’s Peacekeeping held at Albert Park in Suva

“As we commemorate 40 years since our first group of soldiers departed our shores, I call on all Fijians to remember the fallen and their respective families and to develop a heightened appreciation of our nation’s efforts to contribute to world peace,” the President said.

He highlighted the case of 50-year-old Warrant Officer Niko Ralagi, who died on June 3, last year while serving with the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), in Syria.

President Konrote said Fiji’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Satyendra Prasad, received the Dag Hammarskjold medal on behalf of the late WO1 Ralagi’s family from UN secretary-general Antonio Gueterres.

It was in recognition of the sacrifice of the late WO1 Ralagi, who had a very distinguished career with the RFMF and had served in various UN Peacekeeping Missions.

Mrs Ralagi was also at the parade. She described her late husband as a committed and a hardworking man.

Meanwhile, after about 30 minutes when the peacekeepers march had  arrived at Albert Park, the catafalque party marched onto the ground and they stood around a decorated stand where the flags of Fiji and the United Nations were hoisted. This was where the President laid a wreath to remember the fallen peacekeepers.

The President said that it was vitally important for all to learn and understand how conflicts arose in society and to collectively make every effort to seek amicable solutions without having to resort to arms.

At the same time he said as long as there was a need for peacekeeping services around the world, “Fiji stands ready to assist wherever possible”.

Edited by Percy Kean

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