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India voices support for UN Peacekeepers

Abyei, Jan 15 (ANI): A contingent of Indian women peacekeepers, the country’s largest single unit of female troops in a UN mission since 2007, arrived in Abyei to begin its deployment with the United Nations Interim Security Force, on Sunday. (ANI Photo)

This came after the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) injured two UN peacekeepers after an Israeli strike in Lebanon…reports Asian Lite News

Amid the escalating tensions in West Asia that had been a focus point for the past year, the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations said that India, as a major “troop-contributing country,” aligns itself fully with the joint statement issued by the 34 United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFL) on Saturday.

Taking to social media platform X, the Permanent Mission said that the safety and security of the peacekeepers are of “paramount importance” in accordance with the existing resolution of the UN Security Council.

“As a major Troop Contributing Country, India aligns itself fully with the joint statement issued by the 34 UNIFIL troop-contributing countries. Safety and security of peacekeepers are of paramount importance and must be ensured in accordance with extant UNSC Resolutions,” it said.

This came after the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) injured two UN peacekeepers after an Israeli strike in Lebanon, as it was engaging Hezbollah. On Friday, the Times of Israel reported that the IDF had expressed “deep concern” over the injured peacekeepers.

“Earlier today (Friday), IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon identified an immediate threat against them. The soldiers responded with fire toward the threat. An initial examination indicates that during the incident, a hit was identified on a @UNIFIL_post, located approximately 50 meters from the source of the threat, resulting in the injury of two UNIFIL personnel,” the IDF said in a post on X.

India on Friday also expressed concern at the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line, which separates Lebanon and Israel since the 1970s, and said the inviolability of UN premises must be respected by all.

The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that appropriate measures must be taken to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mandate.

“We are concerned at the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line. We continue to monitor the situation closely,” MEA said, commenting on the recent developments in southern Lebanon.

“Inviolability of UN premises must be respected by all, and appropriate measures taken to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mandate,” the statement added.

UNIFIL was created by the Security Council in March 1978 following Israel’s “invasion” of Lebanon.

The UN peacekeeping mission UNIFIL has been operating along the “Blue Line” which separates Lebanon and Israel since the 1970s, and its mandate was renewed in August for another year by the UN Security Council. (ANI)

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India’s ‘Blue Helmet’ Heroes

India has been a consistent part of the 75-year-journey of the UN Peacekeeping Force…reports Asian Lite News

Giving peace a chance – 24×7 and 365 days a year – is an army of United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers across the world. May 29 happens to be a celebration of the important role these Bravehearts play. The first UN peacekeeping mission, ‘UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO)’ began operations in Palestine on this day in 1948. Known as the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, it is a remarkable day for India too which has emerged as a prominent participant in UN Peacekeeping.

This year, India had a space under the spotlight as we received the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal, the highest honour awarded to UN Peacekeepers. In its own unmatchable way, India has been a consistent part of the 75-year-journey of the UN Peacekeeping Force, a force that has helped to end conflict, protect civilians, advance political solutions, and secure sustainable peace. The UN Peacekeepers, also called Blue Helmets, are labelled so because, in 1947, General Assembly resolution 167 (II) approved light blue as the color for the United Nations flag. This distinctive colour came to represent the UN. While red symbolizes war, blue represents peace.

Two Indian peacekeepers, Head Constables Shishupal Singh and Sanwala Ram Vishnoi, sacrificed their lives as the 176th and 177th Indians, respectively, in their noble pursuit of peace on distant shores. They lost their lives while serving under the UN flag last year in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Singh and Vishnoi were posthumously awarded the Dag Hammarskjold Medal for their unwavering dedication and ultimate sacrifice at an event held at the UN Headquarters in New York on Monday (May 29, 2023). Shaber Taher Ali, another Indian who was employed in a civilian capacity with the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) was also honoured.

India’s contribution to UN Peacekeeping operations is a testament to its rich legacy and commitment. As one of the largest contributors of troops, India has played a significant role by providing approximately 275,000 troops to various peacekeeping missions to date. Currently, around 5,900 Indian troops are actively deployed across 12 UN Missions.

The Indian Army personnel have consistently demonstrated exceptional professionalism, courage, and valour in the face of challenging conditions and difficult terrains. Their unwavering dedication to upholding UN mandates has been accompanied by a humane approach, fostering a sense of empathy in their peacekeeping efforts. Tragically, 159 Indian Army soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice in their pursuit of global peace.

Strong commitment to gender parity

Recognizing the potential of women in effectively addressing the complex challenges of peacekeeping, India has been proactive in including women in various roles, including military, police, and civilian components. India displayed a strong commitment to gender parity by deploying Female Engagement Teams (FETs) and Female Formed Police Units (FFPUs) to countries like Lebanon and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These deployments enable Indian women peacekeepers to engage with local communities, foster dialogue, and provide vital support to marginalized populations, particularly women and children.

Indian women peacekeepers encounter a range of challenges during their missions, often stemming from deeply entrenched gender biases and stereotypes. India, one of the leading nations in terms of troop contribution to UN peacekeeping, has made a notable deployment by sending a platoon of women peacekeepers to Abyei, South Sudan, in January 2023. This marks India’s largest unit of female Blue Helmets in a UN mission since 2007. This deployment signifies India’s commitment to peacekeeping while reflecting the country’s determination to substantially enhance the participation of Indian women in peacekeeping contingents. India previously deployed the first-ever all-women’s contingent in Liberia in 2007.

Overcoming societal norms and perceptions regarding women’s roles in conflict and security requires resilience and determination. Furthermore, logistical obstacles such as limited access to appropriate facilities, resources, and gender-specific training can hinder their effectiveness in the field. Additionally, women peacekeepers are vulnerable to security risks and gender-based violence, necessitating comprehensive measures to ensure their safety and well-being.

Indian women serving in UN peacekeeping forces serve as inspiring role models, challenging gender stereotypes and inspiring future generations. Their presence has a profound impact on local communities, empowering women and girls as agents of change while promoting gender equality. By engaging with local populations, Indian women peacekeepers build trust, facilitate dialogue, and address sensitive issues such as sexual and gender-based violence. Their contributions instil a sense of security and hope, playing a pivotal role in conflict resolution and sustainable peacebuilding efforts.

In keeping with its commitment, the Indian Army has established a Centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK) in New Delhi to impart niche training in peacekeeping operations. The centre trains more than 12,000 troops every year. CUNPK undertakes a multitude of activities from contingent training to national and international courses for potential peacekeepers and trainers. It also hosts foreign delegations as part of sharing best practices.

The Centre regularly dispatches Mobile Training Teams to friendly foreign countries as part of capacity building in the field of UN peacekeeping training. The institute has evolved in the two decades as a Centre of Excellence and repository of experience and best practices. John Lennon famously sang ‘Give peace a chance’. These blue soldiers do that 24×7. In the pursuit of peace! (India News Network)

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Africa becoming graveyard for UN peacekeepers?

The Bangladeshi peacekeepers in the CAR were killed when their vehicle hit an explosive ordnance device on Monday evening…reports Arul Louis

In the latest attacks on UN peacekeepers, three Bangladeshis have died from a bomb attack in the Central African Republic (CAR), barely a week after a Pakistani was killed in Congo, according to a UN spokesperson.

The Bangladeshi peacekeepers in the CAR were killed when their vehicle hit an explosive ordnance device on Monday evening, Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday.

Another Bangladeshi peacekeeper was injured and is in hospital, he added.

On Friday, a Pakistani peacekeeper was killed in Congo when a base in Minembwe, South Kivu, was attacked “by suspected Twirwaneho combatants,” he said.

Dujarric added that attacks on peacekeepers are “war crimes”.

The Bangladeshis were killed when they were on patrol, nearly five kilometre from the CAR peacekeeping mission’s temporary base in the Ouham-Pende Prefecture, he said.

According to the peacekeeping mission, the Bangladeshi battalion patrol was to protect civilians.

The CAR peacekeeping operation known as MINUSCA, from the French initials for Mulitdimensional Integrated Mission in CAR, was created in 2014, taking over an earlier operation set up in 2009.

It has 14,400 personnel with 1,333 Bangladeshi troops.

The operation has claimed the lives of 169 peacekeepers, 10 of them Bangladeshis.

In January three Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed in the CAR when their vehicle hit a landmine.

The Congo peacekeeping operation known as MONUSCO, an acronym derived from French for Organisation Stabilisation Mission in Congo, was created in 2010 to succeed an earlier mission set up in 1999.

It is the second largest peacekeeping operation with 14,671 personnel, which include 1,929 troops from Pakistan.

More than 431 peacekeepers have died in the operations in Congo, of them, 31 were Pakistanis.

In March, six Pakistani peacekeepers were killed when their helicopter was brought down in Congo.

A MONUSCO statement said that the Twirwaneho fighters had come to the UN base, saying they wanted to surrender but instead attacked it.

According to AfricaNews media, The Twirwaneho militia claims to defend the interests of the Banymulenge community, a Congolese Tutsi minority.

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2 UN peacekeepers killed in DR Congo

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said that at the Butembo base “violent attackers snatched weapons from Congolese police and fired upon our uniformed personnel”, killing three persons with the UN mission, reports Arul Louis

Two Indian police personnel in the UN peacekeeping operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were killed on Tuesday during attacks on peacekeepers by local people.

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar tweeted that the two were from the Border Security Force and demanded that the perpetrators be brought to justice.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said that at the Butembo base “violent attackers snatched weapons from Congolese police and fired upon our uniformed personnel”, killing three persons with the UN mission.

He said that a peacekeeper had also been killed in the rioting at Butembo in the DRC, but did not disclose that victim’s nationality.

Guterres sent his condolences to the Indian government on the death of the two Indian police personnel, he said.

Haq said that Mobs threw stones and petrol bombs at UN facilities and broke into bases, looting, vandalising and setting them on fire in Eastern DRC.

At the Security Council on Tuesday afternoon, India will be raising the attacks on UN personnel in the DRC, diplomatic sources said.

There are 139 police and 1,888 military personnel from India in the DRC mission known by the French initials MONUSCO for UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC.

MONUSCO started operations in the DRC in 2010 from an earlier operation set up in 1999 to stabilise the country wracked by rebel attacks.

Haq said that the situation in the DRC aceis very volatile and reinforcements are being mobilised”.

“Our quick reaction forces are on high alert and have been advised to exercise maximum restraint, using tear gas to disperse protestors and only firing warning shots when UN personnel or property are under attack,” he said.

Tuesday was the second day of protests against the UN in Eastern DRC.

Haq blamed “hostile remarks and threats made by individuals and groups against the UN, particularly on social media” for the attacks by hundreds of assailants on UN bases in Goma as well as other parts of North Kivu province.

MONUSCO staff residences were targeted in four incidents and staff have been relocated to camps, he added.

The protests were reportedly called by a section of the youth wing of the ruling, the UDPS.

They were complaining about the UN’s inability to stop the attacks by rebel groups on civilians and the government.

There are several rebel groups operating in the DRC, chief among them is the M23 organisation, which has targeted UN peacekeepers.

There were reports of several casualties, including civilians, in the protests against the UN in the DRC that entered its second day on Tuesday.

DRC Government Spokesperson Patrick Muyaya tweeted on Tuesday that at least five people were killed in Goma during the protests.

“Warning shots (were fired) to disperse the demonstrators and prevent any attack on the @MONUSCO base and installations”, he said.

Several news reports from the DRC said that UN personnel had opened fire on the demonstrators.

In April, a Nepali peacekeeper was killed in the DRC in an attack by the militia of the Cooperative pour le developpement du Congo (CODECO).

Six Pakistani peacekeepers were killed when a helicopter was shot down in an area where the M23 was active.

In Butembo at least seven civilians were killed and an unknown number wounded, said the city’s police chief Paul Ngoma.

“Obviously if there’s any responsibility by U.N. forces for any of the injuries, or any of the deaths, we will follow up on that,” Haq said.

U.N. forces were advised to use tear gas to disperse protesters and only fire warning shots if needed, he said.

The protests were called by a faction of the ruling party’s youth wing, which has demanded the U.N. mission withdraw over what it describes as its ineffectiveness. 

Resurgent clashes between local troops and the M23 rebel group in eastern Congo in recent months have displaced thousands. Attacks by militants linked to Islamic State have also continued despite a year-long state of emergency and joint operations against them by the Congolese and Ugandan armies.

“We have been doing our utmost, not just for years, but really for decades to try to bring stability to Eastern Congo,” said Haq, adding that U.N. peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix is expected to travel to Congo as soon as he can.

MONUSCO took over from an earlier U.N. operation in 2010. MONUSCO had more than 12,000 troops and 1,600 police deployed as of November 2021, and has been gradually withdrawing for years.

Protesters also stormed the houses of U.N. workers in Goma, spurring the mission to relocate its staff to camps. A Reuters reporter saw staff being evacuated in a convoy with army escort.

India’s foreign minister said two of the peacekeepers who died were Indian. Ngoma said the third one was Moroccan.

The U.N. Security Council was briefed on the situation behind closed doors on Tuesday, diplomats said.

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