|
It has
been revealed that Korean troops in Arbil in
southern Iraq are using Kurd militia fighters as
mercenary soldiers to guard Korean civilians in the
area.
An official in the National Defense Ministry said on
August 8, “About 40 Korean civilians are in Arbil to
build the military quarters for the Iraq Peace
Rebuilding Division (the Zaytun unit).
A Kurd militia unit called the “Peshumelga”
organized a guard unit consisting of about 60
soldiers to protect those Koreans, and Korean troops
are paying them for their services.”
After setting up a camp near the Zaytun unit’s
military quarters, mercenaries in “Peshumelga” are
dispatched to Turkey as well as Arbil city on guard
whenever they are asked by Koreans who work in
construction, supply of goods and services to the
military and communications facilities.
Korean troops are paying officers $200 to $400 a
month, and soldiers about $100 a month.
An official from the Joint Chiefs of Staff said,
“Because Korean troops in Arbil didn’t have reserve
strength due to the construction of the Zaytun
unit’s military quarters, we asked a local militia
force to be charged with guarding civilians. They
cannot be officially hired troops as they are not
under the military command and control system of the
army.”
donga.com
Top |
® 