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Liberal MP says he tried to recover children from Lebanese father when UN peacekeeper Liberal MP says he tried to recover children from Lebanese father when UN peacekeeper
(5 months later)
The Liberal backbencher Andrew Nikolic has revealed he was involved in a plan to recover children from their Lebanese father when working in the southern part of the country as a United Nations peacekeeper in the 1990s.The Liberal backbencher Andrew Nikolic has revealed he was involved in a plan to recover children from their Lebanese father when working in the southern part of the country as a United Nations peacekeeper in the 1990s.
Related: Lebanon media: seven to be charged over kidnap attempt allegedly filmed by 60 Minutes
The revelation, made to ABC Radio on Monday morning, comes as an Australian television crew and an Australian mother await charges over a bungled attempt to snatch the woman’s children back from their Lebanese father.The revelation, made to ABC Radio on Monday morning, comes as an Australian television crew and an Australian mother await charges over a bungled attempt to snatch the woman’s children back from their Lebanese father.
Nikolic, a former soldier, described his own experience in a “highly charged” situation 25 years ago when, as a UN peacekeeper, he helped an Israeli woman recover her children from their father.Nikolic, a former soldier, described his own experience in a “highly charged” situation 25 years ago when, as a UN peacekeeper, he helped an Israeli woman recover her children from their father.
“She was what I can only describe as a desperate mother who had gone back to Lebanon for a holiday with the Lebanese father of her children ... and suddenly and unexpectedly that became a permanent situation,” he said.“She was what I can only describe as a desperate mother who had gone back to Lebanon for a holiday with the Lebanese father of her children ... and suddenly and unexpectedly that became a permanent situation,” he said.
“We were able to provide assistance with the embassy and local authorities to get that woman back together with her children. So I can understand the difficulties that often confront women in western countries that perhaps enter into a marriage and then end up in these situations.“We were able to provide assistance with the embassy and local authorities to get that woman back together with her children. So I can understand the difficulties that often confront women in western countries that perhaps enter into a marriage and then end up in these situations.
“It was a diabolically difficult situation for her. She was just distraught. Her embassy in Tel Aviv had done what it could and I guess in desperation she had entered the country trying to see if she couldn’t reconnect with her children.”“It was a diabolically difficult situation for her. She was just distraught. Her embassy in Tel Aviv had done what it could and I guess in desperation she had entered the country trying to see if she couldn’t reconnect with her children.”
Nikolic said he did not think he had acted outside of the UN rules of engagement in assisting in the snatching ploy.Nikolic said he did not think he had acted outside of the UN rules of engagement in assisting in the snatching ploy.
“Remember, this is 25 years ago,” he said.“Remember, this is 25 years ago,” he said.
But he warned Australians who go overseas to be mindful of the laws in the country they are visiting to avoid getting into trouble.But he warned Australians who go overseas to be mindful of the laws in the country they are visiting to avoid getting into trouble.
“The Australian government doesn’t condone our citizens or other groups that might seek to be supporting our citizens taking the law into their own hands in foreign countries because ultimately you will be dealt with by the laws of that country and the ability of Australia to intervene on your behalf may be problematic to say the least,” he said.“The Australian government doesn’t condone our citizens or other groups that might seek to be supporting our citizens taking the law into their own hands in foreign countries because ultimately you will be dealt with by the laws of that country and the ability of Australia to intervene on your behalf may be problematic to say the least,” he said.
The journalist Tara Brown and her 60 Minutes crew were arrested on Thursday after Lebanese authorities accused them of being involved in a kidnapping plot by an Australian woman, Sally Faulkner.The journalist Tara Brown and her 60 Minutes crew were arrested on Thursday after Lebanese authorities accused them of being involved in a kidnapping plot by an Australian woman, Sally Faulkner.
Faulkner says her two children were taken to Lebanon on what she understood to be a holiday with their Lebanese father, Ali el-Amien, late last year. She engaged an international child recovery team to bring them back to Australia.Faulkner says her two children were taken to Lebanon on what she understood to be a holiday with their Lebanese father, Ali el-Amien, late last year. She engaged an international child recovery team to bring them back to Australia.
Related: Australian TV crew wanted to show kidnapping as 'a good thing': Beirut police
Channel Nine has not responded to allegations it paid more than $100,000 to the agency to bring about the recovery effort.Channel Nine has not responded to allegations it paid more than $100,000 to the agency to bring about the recovery effort.
60 Minutes addressed the situation briefly on its show on Sunday night.60 Minutes addressed the situation briefly on its show on Sunday night.
“The last thing our team wanted was to become the subject of their own story,” the journalist Michael Usher said.“The last thing our team wanted was to become the subject of their own story,” the journalist Michael Usher said.
Seven people – including four crew members – are expected to be charged later on Monday.Seven people – including four crew members – are expected to be charged later on Monday.