UN peace troops still needed<\/p>\n
By Enny Soeprapto<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The dispatches of 7,000 peacekeepers to Haiti
\nand 8,000 to Angola in recent months are the latest peace-keeping
\noperations undertaken by the United Nations since 1948. That was
\nthe year of the UN Truce Supervision Organization, the first of
\nsuch operations, was established to supervise the cessation of
\nhostilities in Palestine. Since then over 20 operations have been
\nset up involving either observers, supervisors or peace-keeping
\nforces in Africa, the Mediterranean, Asia, Latin America, the
\nCaribbean and the Balkans.<\/p>\n
Although the Charter of the UN does not contain the word
\n\"peace-keeping\", this term has been tacitly accepted by the
\nmember states as referring to the undertakings by the Security
\nCouncil to dispatch peace-keepers in accordance with its central
\nrole in the maintenance of international peace and security as
\nstipulated in the Charter.<\/p>\n
The end of the cold war and the new developments in East-West
\nrelations have facilitated the decision-making process in the
\nSecurity Council. During the cold war period, most of the peace-
\nkeeping operations were established in connection with armed
\nconflicts of an international nature. Now peace-keeping
\noperations are undertaken in response to situations resulting
\nmostly from armed conflicts of an internal nature.<\/p>\n
Setbacks endured by some peace-keeping operations have
\novershadowed their successes, which were generally taken for
\ngranted or not widely recognized by the international public.<\/p>\n
Preventing the resumption, expansion or aggravation of a
\nconflict, peace-keeping operations carry out impartial
\nsupervisions of cease-fires, armistice agreements and troop
\nwithdrawals. Through their presence they personify the UN.<\/p>\n
Though they have their shortcomings, it would be unfair to
\nstate that peace-keeping operations are a futile exercise and not
\nworth establishing in the future. Peace-keeping operations have
\nonly a limited mandate and they must carry out their missions
\nunder strict operational procedures.<\/p>\n
The size of their forces is limited and because they are
\ngenerally armed for defensive purposes only, they are not always
\nsuited to face serious situations. Peace-keepers have had to
\nperform under difficult conditions and have performed their
\nduties admirably and with dedication. Imagine what would have
\nhappened in the then Congo without the UN Force in the Congo or
\nin Cambodia without the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia.<\/p>\n
Even if today's conflicts are eventually solved, the
\npossibility of new conflicts emerging, at the subregional or
\nnational level particularly, should not be ruled out. Such
\nconflicts threaten regional stability and most cannot be solved
\nby the countries or organizations in the affected regions.<\/p>\n
The efficiency and effectiveness of peace-keeping operations
\nshould be constantly enhanced. The existence of stand-by armed
\nforces with appropriate training and ability to be called on with
\nshort notice is essential.<\/p>\n
For this purpose, the members of the UN should consider the
\npossibility of establishing special peace-keeping reserve forces.
\nThis does not mean placing the members of such special units in
\nspecial camps to await their assignments as a peace-keeping
\nforce. They could be selected from existing military units in the
\ncountries concerned.<\/p>\n
The peace-keeping mission would undergo special training and
\nthe armed forces concerned would later be returned to their units
\nof origin. These trained military personnel could be reassembled
\non short notice if required.<\/p>\n
Such a system would enable governments to respond quickly to
\nthe Secretary General's requests and make available qualified and
\nsuitable military personnel without delay. A pocket-size booklet
\ncontaining essential and practical information on the country of
\nassignment could also be prepared for the members of the peace-
\nkeeping force before their departure.<\/p>\n
The UN, for their part, should constantly review peace-keeping
\noperational procedures to ensure that officers in the field take
\nurgent actions without losing too much time waiting for
\nclearance. Equally important is an efficient administrative
\nstaff. The effectiveness of the operations will depend on such
\nstaff, which should be recruited from the UN system and familiar
\nwith the UN administrative procedures.<\/p>\n
Peace-keeping operations are expensive. The costs vary from
\n\"only\" US$7 million, as in the case of the UN Mission in Haiti,
\nto $1,700 million spent in Cambodia. It is essential that the
\nmajor contributors to the UN budget be involved in the setting up
\nof peace-keeping operations to ensure their financing.<\/p>\n
In spite of certain shortcomings and setbacks, the UN peace-
\nkeeping operations have proven to be important instruments in the
\nmaintenance of international peace and security. They will be
\nneeded in the future and their importance will likely increase.<\/p>\n
The writer is an observer of international affairs.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/un-peace-troops-still-needed-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }