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Asmara, Eritrea (HAN) November 6, 2005 - The UN Force Commander Maj-Gen. Rajender Singh said that in Ethiopia the concentration of troops has increased and they have moved about 20 to 30 KM closer to the Zone (Temporary Security Zone). Tanks which had been located deep inside Ethiopia have advanced about 10 KM closer to the TSZ (Temporary Security Zone), while other tanks have been seen in areas where they were not previously located. On the Eritrean side, he said, the restrictions on freedom of movement expand daily, as well as incursions into the TSZ by armed personnel who identify themselves as militia but are unwilling to show the required identity cards. The Ambassador Kenzo Oshima met for almost three hours in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, with the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), being given a political overview by mission chief Legwaila Joseph Legwaila and a briefing from Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Rajender Singh on the peacekeeping situation since the banning of UN helicopters from Eritrean air space on 5 October. The Secretary-General is extremely concerned about reports received
from the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) concerning
movements of military personnel on both sides of the Temporary Security
Zone (TSZ) as well as irregular activities inside the Zone. Reported troop
movements involve small and large military and paramilitary formations,
and movement of armour as well as aerial defence assets. The
Secretary-General strongly urges the parties to exercise maximum restraint
and to put an immediate halt to any actions that may be misinterpreted by
the other side or jeopardize the security arrangements which they agreed
to in the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities of 18 June 2000. The military situation in the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) and the Adjacent Areas is tense and potentially volatile. The ban imposed by the Eritrean Government on UNMEE helicopters continues to be in place. This week a large number of troop movements have been noticed on both the Ethiopian and Eritrean sides of the border. A considerable number of restrictions have been placed on the movement of UNMEE personnel inside the Temporary Security Zone, in Sectors Center and West. Movement by the UNMEE Force in certain areas and patrolling at night has also been curtailed. ... Questions & Answers Question [From Addis Ababa]: When you say the situation in the Temporary Security Zone and the Adjacent Areas is tense and potentially volatile, can you just expand on that and tell us what you mean? Does that mean there is a risk of war? Certainly in the time I have been here in Ethiopia, this is language that UNMEE has never used. Is that the case or has there been a situation in the past that has been "tense and potentially volatile?" Force Commander [Major-General Rajender Singh]: ... UNMEE has been here for the last 5 years and we have successfully been able not only to separate the two armed forces, but also to create a Temporary Security Zone, (TSZ) monitor the TSZ effectively and ensure that a peaceful environment has prevailed, until now. Things have changed slightly since then. What has actually happened is that our capability to monitor the TSZ has been restricted. Our capability to see, observe verify and monitor has in fact gone down by 60 per cent. I will not go into the details as to why this has happened. I have already explained that during my earlier meetings with the press. We have seen some additional movement of troops on the Ethiopian side, some preparation of defenses, movement of troops, movement of other army formations, details of which in many cases have been shared by the Ethiopian authorities with us. This is coupled with the fact that the restrictions on the freedom of movement of our peacekeepers on the ground (are) also taking place inside the TSZ. On the Eritrean side, we have seen some cases in which some armed troops or some armed personnel who called themselves militia, are also deployed in some of the areas. We have also seen some large concentrations of troops in the "depth areas" in Eritrea. All these factors are actually creating the kind of environment in which the two sides who used to bank totally on our information system, of which they were quite confident that UNMEE would be able to monitor, and report if there is anything (untoward,) that confidence level has gone down on both sides, and with this kind of environment, it is natural that there are suspicions on both sides. When you have suspicions, there is tension and that's why we are calling the situation "tense" and potentially volatile, (because we believe) if this tension is not addressed it could become volatile tomorrow. Question [From Addis Ababa]: What do you mean by volatile - does that mean war, does that mean shooting at each other, does that mean shouts across the TSZ - What does volatile mean? Force Commander: All of what you have described. Question [From Addis Ababa]: So you are saying that the potentially volatile situation could lead to a renewed outbreak of war? Force Commander: At its worst yes, but I am also not saying that things which are happening today will lead tomorrow to war. No, I am (using the term) potentially volatile, that is, if you do not take measures and if the international community doesn't address it, maybe the situation may in fact deteriorate to that level in which the worst can happen; and the worst is war, of course. Question [From Asmara]: In the briefing it says that "the situation is tense and volatile". Is it the first time ever that UNMEE (has) used that expression instead the usual one which is "stable". Is it the first time since UNMEE was created (that this expression has been used)? Spokeswoman: We have used the term 'tense' before because the situation has been 'tense' before. We have never used the (expression) "potentially volatile." No, this is the first time we are using it and, I think, the FC has very adequately explained why. Question [From Asmara]: When things are becoming "tense and potentially volatile," does it mean that the situation is becoming out of UNMEE's control? Force Commander: As far as the military situation is concerned, the onus of responsibility of having a military situation in control lies with the two parties. UNMEE is here to assist the two parties in observing, in verifying and monitoring that the situation remains well under control. Up until this moment, with the cooperation of the two sides, we have had the situation well under control and that's why we used to call it "stable and peaceful." Of late, there have been some developments which are a cause of concern, including the ban on UNMEE flights, the troop movements on the Ethiopian side, developments inside the Temporary Security Zone, and some movements on the Eritrean side. All these developments do affect the security situation and I have already mentioned the kind of an impact that this kind of development will have. ... Let me tell you that despite the ban on the helicopters and despite the degradation of our monitoring capabilities, my troops are working day and night. Night whenever permitted. We have been increasing our patrolling. We are fully committed on both sides to ensuring (that) we have a fairly peaceful environment in the TSZ and Adjacent Areas. Let me also mention that I have been receiving total transparency and a great amount of assistance from both Commissioners. (for coordination with the peacekeeping mission) I hope this cooperation will continue, however that does not really mean that movements are not taking place on both sides which are, in fact, a source of concern. Question [From Addis Ababa]: I would not dare to say that the situation is under control because when there was war between Ethiopia and Eritrea I have visited the frontline. I have been there. UNMEE Forces are still vacating from Aromo, Monoxito, Ambasa Geleba, Bada and also from Bure side and also in Sector West from many strategic places. How do we dare to say the situation is under control? At any time any thing can happen because these the troops of these two parties are confronting each other and the places ... Force Commander: I agree with you totally. It pains my heart when I withdraw troops and therefore I would once again, through the medium of this press conference, appeal to Eritrea to withdraw the ban on helicopters, to enable us to divert back to these places that you have mentioned. It is a great honor for a soldier to be asked to come and help these two countries, especially (the peace process between) two great nations like Eritrea and Ethiopia. UNMEE forces here are functioning with the same attitude, but I would like to mention that these withdrawals from these places have taken place because of urgent operational restraints which have been put on us because of the helicopter ban. I had given the reasons behind this (decision) in the last meeting that I had with the press. We would be more than happy to ensure that we revert back to those remote places, but for this (to happen) operational conditions including the lifting of the ban is a must. Regarding your other point that both sides need to do something: the international community needs to do something. Ambassador Legwaila has time and again mentioned this and we have got nothing further to add to that. Spokeswoman: I would just like to draw your attention to the Secretary-General's statement of yesterday. In that, the Secretary-General has asked urged the Security Council and individual member states to take decisive steps to diffuse the escalating tension. So I think there is an appeal for something to be done. Question (Asmara): Why do you think there hasn't been war already and what's stopping the two countries from going to war now? Do you think they have lost the element of surprise? Force Commander: No, I have great faith in the leaders of Africa. I think wise counsel will prevail and that both countries, as the Secretary-General has requested, will exercise restraint. A soldier is the last man who thinks of war. I think that a war should not break out. Especially these two countries realize what kind of implications war may bring: destruction to men and material, and also to the development of the two countries. Press Conference was joined by SRSG Legwaila Joseph Legwaila Question (Asmara): SRSG would it be possible to get some kind of idea or the flavour of the discussions in New York, in particular some kind of explanation on the dilemma perhaps, or the discussions going on about the position to take vis- -vis Ethiopia and Eritrea. Some diplomats are saying that on the one hand one wants to get the helicopters up and flying again and on the other hand, people do not want to be seen to be rewarding Eritrea for this behaviour by putting pressure on Ethiopia to demarcate the border? SRSG: I do not think there is a dilemma in the Security Council. The Security Council has been warned about the stalemate for a very long time. They were warned by me, warned by the Secretary General, warned by Under-Secretary-General Mr. Jean Marie Gu‚henno. So I do not know where the dilemma arises because I do not think there is any confusion as to the nature of the stalemate and why (there is) a stalemate. There is no confusion about the fact that one of the parties has banned our helicopter flights. I do not know why anybody would be confused by the fact that right now we are not even allowed to evacuate people who have been invited by Eritrea and Ethiopia to come here to serve the cause of peace. I have asked the Government if they could do it themselves, if they do not allow us to do it. They have neither agreed to do it themselves nor allowed us to do it with our helicopters. These two issues are very clear, there should be no confusion and I can assure you there is no confusion in the Security Council that there is a stalemate which needs to be dealt with if we are not about to see the resignation of the conflict which ended in 2000. If the helicopters are not allowed to fly, one of these days there will be a dead soldier, a dead soldier because we cannot evacuate him or her. What is at stake is that three years have passed since the decision of the Boundary Commission was rendered and it has not been implemented. Now we are faced with one of the parties banning our helicopter flights, and as I have repeatedly said, the stalemate has absolutely nothing to do with UNMEE. We are not responsible for implementing the decision of the Boundary Commission. That responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of Eritrea and Ethiopia and the Boundary Commission - not UNMEE. So why is UNMEE being punished, why are these soldiers who have come here to sacrifice their lives for the cause of peace being subjected to the kind of vagaries of nature that they are being subjected to? So let no one be mistaken as to what the stakes are and as the Secretary-General pointed out, if the peacekeeping mission is not allowed to do the job for which they have been invited here to do, obviously the Security Council will have to take a very hard decision. Is it useful to keep the Mission in place when consent for it to do its job without interference is being withdrawn and when the decision of the Boundary Commission is not being implemented? This is the question which the Security Council, one if these days, must ask itself. Question (Asmara): Does that mean that now you expect the UN Security Council to pass a meaningful resolution or a stronger resolution than in previous occasions and if not what do you expect? SRSG: The Security Council has been written a letter by the Secretary-General- as those of you who have read it will know- and the Security Council, owes the Secretary-General a response. The Secretary-General called for urgent action on the crisis we face. In other words, the Security Council has its work cut out. The Security Council, I must repeat, is not confused as to what needs to be done, absolutely not. The stalemate, as I have told them a long time ago, it is not a new thing. The banning of helicopter flights is a new thing. Very soon it will be one month since the helicopter flights were banned and therefore the Security Council has been asked by the Executive Officer of the United Nations, the Secretary-General, to take action in the discharge of their responsibilities as the people who are responsible, according to the Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security. Therefore that challenge - that clarion call - is still there for them to take action. ... Question (Asmara): Ambassador Legwaila, if peacekeepers die because they have not been evacuated by helicopters would you recommend that the Mission leave if this happens? SRSG: As I have said, the Secretary General says if the peacekeepers are not allowed to do their job, the United Nations will have to take very hard decisions and those hard decisions would have to make a determination as to whether consent is being withdrawn. This is a Mission under Chapter 6. The only way we can do our work is to have the consent of both parties, not one, the consent of both parties. If that consent is being withdrawn, not necessarily by both parties, but even by one party, (then the Council will need to examine) whether we are still able to carry out our mandate. If we are not, then the Security Council must decide (what happens next.) Is it useful to keep pouring $200 million to maintaining a mission which is not allowed to do its work? I think simple logic would tell you that that decision would have to be taken by the Security Council. Uganda is now placed in a category of federations under special
attention with Nigeria, where government involvement is rife and suspended
Yemen, although no reasons are given for the position. Cases involving
Egypt, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Macau and Niger were closed at the meeting.
Neighbours Kenya and Somalia also have cases. Others involving
long-standing problems are; Algeria (new case involving governmental
interference), Greece, Poland and Portugal (all cases where the FIFA
Executive Committee set a deadline of July 15, 2006 for national sports
laws to be amended) are also under close Fifa interest.
HAN Note: "Africa Focus Bulletin is edited by William Minter. Please write to the address to subscribe or unsubscribe to the bulletin, or to suggest material for inclusion. For more information about posted material, please contact directly the original source mentioned and HAN ...Speaking Freely is an Geeska Afrika Online and Horn of Africa Newsline (HAN) feature that allows guest writers to have their say. if you are interested in contributing or sending News, Views and Comments. Please email at: han@geeskaafrika.com."
HAN Bulletin is your independent, online intelligence resource edited and published by the regional political historian, veteran newsman and founder of www.geeskaafrika.com (Geeska Afrika Online 1985). Each week he taps his vast network of international intelligence sources to bring you credible insights into geo-political and geo-strategic developments for the Horn of Africa. Contact at nurkafi@geeskaafrika.com (Managing Editor/Publisher) |
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