United Nations Military Observers from the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in the Golan Heights, 2013

A United Nations Military Observer (UNMO) is a military official deployed by the United Nations to provide support to a UN mission or peace operation. Described as the "eyes and ears" of the UN Security Council, observers fulfill a variety of roles depending on scope, purpose, and status of the UN mission to which they are attached.[1] A UNMO is generally tasked with monitoring and assessing post-conflict agreements, such as a ceasefire or armistice; the withdrawal of military forces; or the maintenance of a neutral buffer zone.[2] Observers usually undergo special training to ensure neutrality, diplomacy, and deescalation techniques.[2]

Duties and responsibilities

  • Monitor the various agreements on cease-fires, withdrawals and demilitarization.
  • Ground, sea and aerial patrolling of both sides of the conflict, including the areas along the confrontation lines.
  • Patrol demilitarized zone.
  • Help resolve local difficulties (social, economic, etc.) by liaison with all sides of the conflict.
  • Investigate allegations of aggression or ceasefire violations.[3]

Mission in Kashmir

An early and still-operating observer mission is the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), established on the India-Pakistan border in 1949 to monitor the ceasefire called for by the United Nations Security Council.[4][5][6][7]

  • Location and Headquarters: ceasefire line in Jammu and Kashmir states with major posts in Rawalpindi, Pakistan / Srinagar, India
  • Primary observing officer: Croatian Major-General Dragutin Repinc appointed by Kofi Annan
  • Participating observers: 113 military and civilian personnel, from 8 countries
  • Casualties: 11
  • Time frame: 1949–present

Similar mission in Timor-Leste

  • Location and Headquarters: Republica Democratica Timor-Leste with major post in Dili, formerly East Timor
  • Primary observing officer: Atul Khare appointed by Kofi Annan
  • Participating observers: 34 with 1,600 supporting UN Police
  • Casualties:
  • Time frame: 2006–present, previous missions UNAMET 1999, UNTAET 1999–2002, UNMISET 2002–2005, and UNOTIL 2005–2006[8]

References

  1. ↑ Blanco, Mark. "Research Guides: Specialised Training Materials (STM): STM on UN Military Observers 2019". research.un.org. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
  2. 1 2 Defence, National (2013-02-20). "United Nations Military Observers". aem. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
  3. ↑ "International UNMO Club". 2009-10-26. Archived from the original on 2009-10-26. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
  4. ↑ "United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan". United Nations. Archived from the original on 19 March 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  5. ↑ "UNMOGIP officers".
  6. ↑ "Observing line".
  7. ↑ "Deployment map" (PDF).
  8. ↑ "Timor-Leste map" (PDF).


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