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?”
Arquivos da tag:peacekeeping
Football small talk; a good way to start confrontation line negotiations (Bosnia 95)
Back in UNPROFOR 1995, the warring factions’ protocol dictated, before talking business one had to discuss fait-divers … and drink lots of Rakjia (local brandy). Meetings with Serbs were something worth remembering. They normally tried to speak English, as a gesture of politeness, but if we (UN Military Observers – UNMO) would not bring anContinuar lendo “Football small talk; a good way to start confrontation line negotiations (Bosnia 95)”
UN Mission in ex-Yugoslavia – UNPROFOR (1992/95)
At the start of 1990 decade, Yugoslavia imploded in a fratricide war. It was a horrible war that took the life, or disappeared with, of about a quarter of a million people. Furthermore, it was estimated that approximately one million people lost their houses, becoming displaced from their original region, living in very poor conditions,Continuar lendo “UN Mission in ex-Yugoslavia – UNPROFOR (1992/95)”
“Compensação de sangue” da ONU na UNPROFOR
No dia 10 de janeiro de 1995, apresentei-me nos portões do Quartel-general das Nações Unidas (UNPROFOR) em Zagreb, a fim de incorporar a Unidade de Observadores Militares (UNMO) que monitorizavam o desenvolvimento do conflito na ex-Jugoslávia. Comigo estava um camarada da Força Aérea Portuguesa, já veterano na missão, que gentilmente acedeu a acompanhar-me no processoContinuar lendo ““Compensação de sangue” da ONU na UNPROFOR”
Missão UNDP – Angola 1992 – Excesso de confiança mata!
Para se avaliar corretamente uma situação temos de nos colocar fora dela. Temos de a ver à distância, para ter a noção da globalidade dos fatores que a afetam. Quando se está demasiado embutido nos eventos que nos rodeiam, o único distanciamento que permite essas avaliações é o cronológico. Temos de deixar passar algum tempoContinuar lendo “Missão UNDP – Angola 1992 – Excesso de confiança mata!”
Croat Independence War – Operation Storm
On the 4th of August 1995, at 05H00, on the very same morning I was supposed to drive a new UN vehicle from Zagreb to Sarajevo via the South Krajina, the Croatian Army and Special Police Forces launched Operation Storm – Operacija Oluja – and attacked Knin. The Serbs had already lost the Sector WestContinuar lendo “Croat Independence War – Operation Storm”
Sarajevo Tunnel
During the Bosnian conflict (1992/95), Sarajevo was a besieged City, with Serbian forces (VRS) dominating al the surrounding hill tops around the City. All but one: – Mount Igman. Like all other hilltops, Mount Igman had also been under Serb domination, but during the conflict it changed hands to become a Muslin (ABiH) stronghold. TheContinuar lendo “Sarajevo Tunnel”
Estórias de missão – Boutrus Ghali impõem respeito à ONU (Bósnia 1995)
Um dia, no ano de 1995, durante a missão das Nações Unidas na Bósnia Herzegovina – UNPROFOR – ocorreu um episódio numa equipa de Observadores Militares da ONU (UNMO) o qual, para além de estranho, era no mínimo anedótico. Contudo, quem o contava jurava que tinha realmente acontecido. Numa das zonas Sérvias da Croácia –Continuar lendo “Estórias de missão – Boutrus Ghali impõem respeito à ONU (Bósnia 1995)”
Maybe Airlines
Upon arriving to Pleso Airport to catch my inaugural flight to Sarajevo, I saw myself sanding in a line with other UNPROFOR fellow soldiers, in the open, next to a counter with a gate-barrier operated by a CIVPOL policewoman. Beyond the gate-barrier, standing alone in the middle of the snowy apron, there was an oldContinuar lendo “Maybe Airlines”
Crocodile repellent
In a Peace Support Mission, each person has a role to play and a Job Description to fulfill. However, there’s always a myriad of little other things to be done, that are assigned to no one in particular and everybody has got to do. Such was the case of collecting water in the Luena River,Continuar lendo “Crocodile repellent”
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