1. Canadian Involvement in International Conflicts - Peacekeeping & Beyond -

2. UN Peacekeeping The UN has helped millions of people worldwide through peacekeeping operations, and its social and economic agencies. The UN has helped millions of people worldwide through peacekeeping operations, and its social and economic agencies. Canada has been a strong supporter of the UN; by 1999 Canadian peacekeepers had been involved in every UN operation since the start of these missions in 1956. Canada has been a strong supporter of the UN; by 1999 Canadian peacekeepers had been involved in every UN operation since the start of these missions in 1956.

3. Peacekeeping – cont’ 1st time “peacekeeping” used – in Suez Crisis of 1956 1st time “peacekeeping” used – in Suez Crisis of 1956 Lester B. Pearson’s suggestion – won Nobel Peace Prize for this in 1957Lester B. Pearson’s suggestion – won Nobel Peace Prize for this in 1957 Initially developed as a means to resolve conflict between states Initially developed as a means to resolve conflict between states

4. Peacekeeping – cont’ Achieved by deploying unarmed or lightly armed military personnel from a number of countries between the armed forces of the states that were formerly at war Achieved by deploying unarmed or lightly armed military personnel from a number of countries between the armed forces of the states that were formerly at war In these circumstances – ceasefire in place and parties involved agreed to allow UN forces to be present In these circumstances – ceasefire in place and parties involved agreed to allow UN forces to be present Peacekeepers NOT part of the conflict – they observed the ceasefire Peacekeepers NOT part of the conflict – they observed the ceasefire

5. Peacekeeping – cont’ With end of Cold war - dramatic shift in role of UN peacekeepers a)More Missions b)Peacekeeping WITHIN states Often in civil war situations Often in civil war situations Without borders - often no clear area of conflict – fighting spread out throughout country’s territory Without borders - often no clear area of conflict – fighting spread out throughout country’s territory Cyprus – UN buffer Zone in Blue

6. Peacekeeping cont’ c)More Actors Now other organizations such as NATO have become involved Now other organizations such as NATO have become involved d)Peace “Making” Peacekeeping no longer simply standing between 2 armies to keep the peace Peacekeeping no longer simply standing between 2 armies to keep the peace Increasingly a matter of creating a peace where none exists Increasingly a matter of creating a peace where none exists

7. Peacekeeping cont’ Modern peacekeeping involves: Training and restructuring local police forces Training and restructuring local police forces De-mining De-mining Conducting elections Conducting elections Facilitating the return of refugees Facilitating the return of refugees Monitoring human rights Monitoring human rights demobilizing and reintegrating former soldiers demobilizing and reintegrating former soldiers Promoting sustainable democracy and economic development Promoting sustainable democracy and economic development e)Changing Role of Peacekeepers

8. Canadian Peacekeeping Missions Egypt: 1956-67; 1973-78; 1987-present Egypt: 1956-67; 1973-78; 1987-present Cyprus: 1963-92 Cyprus: 1963-92 Cambodia: 1972 Cambodia: 1972 Syria: 1978-present Syria: 1978-present Persian Gulf: 1990-91 Persian Gulf: 1990-91 Bosnia: 1991-97 Bosnia: 1991-97 Somalia: 1993-96 Somalia: 1993-96 Rwanda: 1994-95 Rwanda: 1994-95 Haiti: 1995-98; 2004 Haiti: 1995-98; 2004 East Timor: 1999-2001 East Timor: 1999-2001 Ethiopia and Eritrea: 2000-03 Ethiopia and Eritrea: 2000-03 Afghanistan: 2001-present Afghanistan: 2001-present

9. 1991 Gulf War August, 1990 – Iraqi army invaded Kuwait August, 1990 – Iraqi army invaded Kuwait with US/ UN involvement became “Operation Desert Storm” – Gulf War with US/ UN involvement became “Operation Desert Storm” – Gulf War Canada cooperated with the US in the first Gulf War because it was a UN- sanctioned mission Canada cooperated with the US in the first Gulf War because it was a UN- sanctioned mission Began when Iraq invaded Kuwait (a sovereign nation) Began when Iraq invaded Kuwait (a sovereign nation) Canadian ships and fighter planes were deployed to the area Canadian ships and fighter planes were deployed to the area

10. Somalia - 1992 A drought-ridden land, Somalia engaged in civil war, with no internationally recognized government, from 1991 until 2005 A drought-ridden land, Somalia engaged in civil war, with no internationally recognized government, from 1991 until 2005 thousands died from starvation and war thousands died from starvation and war

11. Somalia – cont’ In 1992, the United States organized an international military force to try to end the chaos - Known as “Operation Restore Hope” In 1992, the United States organized an international military force to try to end the chaos - Known as “Operation Restore Hope” Canada contributed 900 soldiers from its elite Airborne Regiment. The mission was a disaster. Canada contributed 900 soldiers from its elite Airborne Regiment. The mission was a disaster. The troops were unable to establish control and found themselves fighting the very people they had been sent to help. The troops were unable to establish control and found themselves fighting the very people they had been sent to help.

12. Ethnic Cleansing Ethnic Cleansing is a process in which the advancing army of one ethnic group expels civilians of other ethnic groups from towns and villages it conquers in order to create ethnically pure enclaves for members of their ethnic group. Ethnic Cleansing is a process in which the advancing army of one ethnic group expels civilians of other ethnic groups from towns and villages it conquers in order to create ethnically pure enclaves for members of their ethnic group. “In Germany they first came for the communists; and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the Jews; and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists; and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics; and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Catholic. Then they came for me – and by that time there was nobody left to speak up.” – Martin Niemoller

13. Genocide Genocide, as defined by the United Nations in 1948, means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, including: Genocide, as defined by the United Nations in 1948, means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, including: (a) Killing members of the group (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

14. Genocide – con’t What remains unclear is the question of when institutionalized killing rises to the level of ethnic cleansing, or genocide. What remains unclear is the question of when institutionalized killing rises to the level of ethnic cleansing, or genocide. The answer depends on whether events are seen through the eyes of victims or perpetrators. The answer depends on whether events are seen through the eyes of victims or perpetrators. More important is whether the international community recognizes genocide and whether it is prepared to act to stop it. More important is whether the international community recognizes genocide and whether it is prepared to act to stop it.

15. Rwanda – 1994 Rwanda is one of the smallest countries in Central Africa, with just 7 million people, and is comprised of two main ethnic groups, the Hutu and the Tutsi. Rwanda is one of the smallest countries in Central Africa, with just 7 million people, and is comprised of two main ethnic groups, the Hutu and the Tutsi. Hutus account for 85-90% of the population Hutus account for 85-90% of the population Tutsi minority (10-15%) was made the aristocracy of Rwanda during Belgian colonial rule and dominated Hutu peasants for decades Tutsi minority (10-15%) was made the aristocracy of Rwanda during Belgian colonial rule and dominated Hutu peasants for decades Following independence from Belgium in 1962, the Hutu majority seized power and reversed the roles, oppressing the Tutsis through systematic discrimination and acts of violence. Following independence from Belgium in 1962, the Hutu majority seized power and reversed the roles, oppressing the Tutsis through systematic discrimination and acts of violence.

16. Rwanda – cont’ As a result, over 200,000 Tutsis fled to neighboring countries and formed a rebel guerrilla army, the Rwandan Patriotic Front As a result, over 200,000 Tutsis fled to neighboring countries and formed a rebel guerrilla army, the Rwandan Patriotic Front In October 1993 the first elected Hutu president of Burundi was assassinated, sparking conflict In October 1993 the first elected Hutu president of Burundi was assassinated, sparking conflict A 2,500 U.N. peacekeeping force was sent to preserve a cease- fire while Rwandan and Burundi presidents met to work out a peace plan A 2,500 U.N. peacekeeping force was sent to preserve a cease- fire while Rwandan and Burundi presidents met to work out a peace plan

17. Rwandan Genocide April, 1994 - Hutus began an unprecedented killing spree, while the international community watched in horror and did nothing. April, 1994 - Hutus began an unprecedented killing spree, while the international community watched in horror and did nothing. In July 1994, Tutsi rebels defeated the Hutus, stopping the genocide, which had claimed over 800,000 lives, more than 10% of Rwanda’s population. In July 1994, Tutsi rebels defeated the Hutus, stopping the genocide, which had claimed over 800,000 lives, more than 10% of Rwanda’s population.

18. Rwanda Canadian General Romeo Dallaire was in charge of the mission Canadian General Romeo Dallaire was in charge of the mission His hands were continuously tied by UN His hands were continuously tied by UN Genocide may have been stopped if they had allowed him to intervene earlier Genocide may have been stopped if they had allowed him to intervene earlier