Paulo Gonçalves

28 August 1995 – Another Black Monday in Sarajevo

On the 28th of August 1995, at approximately 11H00, I was leaving the UNMO Duty Officer shift at UNPROFOR HQ (Sarajevo) when we all heard some explosions in the general direction of the City’s historical center. Unfortunately, that was quite normal, because was hit an average of 16 artillery grenades per day. However, the firstContinuar lendo “28 August 1995 – Another Black Monday in Sarajevo”

O Túnel de Sarajevo

Durante o conflito na Bósnia Herzegovina (1992/1995), a Cidade de Sarajevo esta cercada pelas forças Sérvias (VRS), que dominavam os cimos dos montes que rodeavam a zona urbana. Contudo, havia um monte que as forças muçulmanas (ABiH) tinham conseguido ardilosamente subtraído ao domínio Sérvio: – o Monte Igman. O problema era que o sopé doContinuar lendo “O Túnel de Sarajevo”

News media War Correspondents in Bosnia – “If it bleeds, it leads”

By the end of November 1995, when people were already starting to walk around in Sarajevo’s streets, due to the recent Cease Fire Agreement, I noticed a marble plaque on a wall, at Marshal Tito’s Avenue, that said: –“Truth was the first casualty on the fratricide war of Bosnia”. It was said that the plaqueContinuar lendo “News media War Correspondents in Bosnia – “If it bleeds, it leads””

Bósnia 95 – “Turismo de Guerra”

Em Agosto de 1995, em plena guerra da Bósnia, assisti a algo que ainda não tinha visto – “Turismo de Guerra”. Tudo começou numa patrulha sobre o Monte Igman (acessos a Sarajevo) quando percorria um trilho que ainda não tinha frequentado. No carro da ONU seguiam também outros dois Observadores Militares (UNMO) e um intérprete.Continuar lendo “Bósnia 95 – “Turismo de Guerra””

To Be seen or not To Be seen, that is the Question.

“Visibility” is the basic difference in the attitude of a tactical combatant and that of a peacekeeper. It may even be the same person, using the same hardware; but the behavior changes considerably. Acting with “visibility” is an important part of that change. – “The combatant wants to see without being seen, while the peacekeeperContinuar lendo “To Be seen or not To Be seen, that is the Question.”

Snow cleaners in Luanda – Inspiration for a cartoonist

October 1992 – In a C-130 flight, that took over 20 hours (with two technical stops of one hour in Cape Verde and Saint Tomé & Prince) we flown from Lisbon (Portugal) to Luanda (Angola). When the Hercules finally reached the vertical of Luanda, the pilot made a wide traffic pattern, which permitted us toContinuar lendo “Snow cleaners in Luanda – Inspiration for a cartoonist”

Os media na guerra da Bósnia – “If it bleeds it leads”.

No final do mês de novembro de1995, quando já se passeava pelas ruas de Sarajevo devido ao recente Acordo de Cessar Fogo, reparei numa placa de mármore, fixada num prédio de esquina ao final da Avenida Marechal Tito, que dizia: – “A verdade foi a primeira vítima da guerra fratricida nos Balcãs”. Tinha lá sidoContinuar lendo “Os media na guerra da Bósnia – “If it bleeds it leads”.”

História aeronáutica Portuguesa – Travessia do Atlântico Sul

Fez no dia 30 de Março, 98 anos do início da Travessia do Atlântico Sul por Gago Coutinho e Sacadura Cabral. Uma iniciativa no âmbito das celebrações do Centenário da Independência do Brasil, tendo essa data (30 de março) passado a ser considerada o dia do Aviador Português. Embora o objectivo final tenha sido alcançadoContinuar lendo “História aeronáutica Portuguesa – Travessia do Atlântico Sul”

Taliban’s budget

Back in 2012, when I started a long mission at the United Nations’ mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA), I couldn’t help wondering how much money had the Taliban to support all the activities they sponsored. Not only how much, but also where was it coming from. The reason for my questioning was because I learned theContinuar lendo “Taliban’s budget”

How is the war like in your country?

Bosnia 1995 – On the 18th of August, it rained copiously the entire day and there was mud everywhere. With such inclement weather, one would expect the warring factions to slow down their activity; but it was exactly the opposite. One of the occurrences that marked the day was a sniper fire over one ofContinuar lendo “How is the war like in your country?”