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& the United Nations |
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(Although this is not a real case, it is based on actual happenings in different parts of the world and shows the range of UN peace techniques.)
Until recently two groups of people lived together as citizens of a large country. They differed in religion, culture, and ethnic background. Their privileges also differed. Group A had conquered Group B many centuries ago and kept for themselves greater power and riches.
In 1945 the United Nations Charter decreed peoples' right to "self-determination". Based on this, Group B decided to withdraw from the large country and form its own nation on the land it had always occupied. This was agreed to, except for one uranium-rich area which both the new countries (A and B) claimed. The armies of both advanced to the borders of the disputed area (C).
 Seeing the danger of war, the UN Secretary General sent a fact-finding mission. Then the Security Council authorized, and both countries agreed to have, a Military Observer Mission placed on the border until the situation could be worked out peacefully.
A went ahead and attacked. The Security Council condemned A for aggression in violation of the rules of the UN Charter, and imposed economic sanctions. Then the UN tried to bring the two parties to agreement by peaceful means. With the help of UN mediators the two countries finally agreed to stop fighting and negotiate a truce. People who had fled to avoid the fighting were able to go to UN refugee camps in country B. The UN Security Council also set Lip an armistice commission to help the two countries work out a permanent peace agreement. They were unable, however, to resolve the questions of boundaries and the refugees' rights to return to their homes.
After several years' stalemate, war broke out again. As B prepared to retake lost territory by force, A's army invaded and conquered more land. B asked a third country for arms and military help. The UN Security Council called upon the states to stop fighting and to return to the original boundaries (as they were before the two outbreaks of war). When A's armies did not withdraw from the land they had taken, the UN Member States set up a UN peace force composed of troops contributed by eight impartial nations. The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General arranged for this force to be stationed in a neutral zone between the armies of the two countries. Since then there has been no further war, but peace negotiations are still not making much progress.
Within C, however, the civilian populations have been subjected to more and more violence as each group tries to drive the other out of their homes so they can take over and settle more of C. The United Nations has tried to bring the civilians food, medicine and other humanitarian assistance, but even when military units accompany the convoys, opposing troops often prevent their getting through.
More provocative incidents in C. Group A settlers began to cut down trees in lands they have occupied. The refugees complained to the UN Armistice Commission that these trees had been planted and grown by their ancestors on land belonging to their families for centuries. In spite of their protest and the UN's calls to stop, the settler/ invaders continued to cut down the trees. Refugees then infiltrated and set off bombs in A's new settlements. A retaliated by using planes to strafe the refugee camps. In both incidents many civilians were killed.
Countries A and B have requested a meeting of the Security Council tomorrow to protest these incidents. Council members wish to discuss military enforcement to stop the civilians' suffering and make the combatants abide by UN rules and agreements. Did A or B fail to live up to the Charter of the United Nations? if so, in what ways? Why do you think the countries behaved as they did? Is the situation described dangerous to civilians? to the countries involved? to other countries? to the world community as a whole? What might happen next? What further measures should your country suggest to reduce violence? to keep the war from spreading? to deal with the causes of war? to contribute to more harmonious relations?
Now you are ready to write your letter to suggest the position you think your UN ambassador should take at a meeting tomorrow of the UN Security Council.
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