Looking for the missing journalist (Bosnia 1995)

One of my last patrols in UNPROFOR – Bosnia – 1995, while the belligerent factions were negotiating an enduring Peace Agreement in Dayton, was to go look for a U.S. journalist, which was allegedly missing behind the Serb’s lines. That news reporter wanted to write the Bosnia war story in a different angle – theContinuar lendo “Looking for the missing journalist (Bosnia 1995)”

Flying in the No Fly Zone – Bosnia 1995

During the conflict in Bosnia, the UN had imposed a No Fly Zone (NFZ) over the country. Only with a previous authorization by the UN could someone fly over Bosnia. In order to assure that NFZ the UN gave a mandate to NATO for the implementation of the necessary measures and, simultaneously, deployed UN MilitaryContinuar lendo “Flying in the No Fly Zone – Bosnia 1995”

“The need sharpens the ingenuity” (Gorazde 1992/95)

Bosnia Herzegovina – Right after the Cease Fire became in force (11OCT95), the UNMO team of UNPROFOR HQ (Sarajevo) got tasked to verify and monitor its implementation on the roads Sarajevo – Pale – Gorazde.  Gorazde was a besieged city; there was no one to collect the garbage and nowhere to deposit it. Only theContinuar lendo ““The need sharpens the ingenuity” (Gorazde 1992/95)”

Air Power in conflict resolution(Bosnia 95)

During the summer 1995, there was a report about Gorazde, from an independent entity, stating that, regardless the efforts of UNPROFOR, the Red Cross (ICRC) or the UN agency for the refugees – UNHCR – if the war wouldn’t be stopped shortly, the approaching winter would have a calamitous effect on the pockets’ population. Gorazde’sContinuar lendo “Air Power in conflict resolution(Bosnia 95)”

Returning Home, still breading “War smokes”

When we return from a long mission peacekeeping in a conflict area, the re-adaptation to the family environment and to a peaceful civilian atmosphere is not always easy to handle. Little things – such as the proper/civilized way to address other people – have got to be readjusted. The tone in which we talk, theContinuar lendo “Returning Home, still breading “War smokes””

The way I saw the events in Srebrenica 1995

In July 1995, the most discussed issue in UNPROFOR’s corridors was Srebrenica. After the fall of Krajina’s Sector West, in May 1995, the entire situation in Bosnia reached a tipping pint; for the worst! The Serbian residents of the other sectors of the Krajina started to abandon their lands, fearing the same destiny as SectorContinuar lendo “The way I saw the events in Srebrenica 1995”

O massacre de Srebrenica

Em julho de 1995 o assunto mais sério que se debatia na UNPROFOR eram os acontecimentos de Sebrenica. No início da guerra na Bósnia, em 1992, a pequena Cidade de Sebrenica estava dentro dos domínios da República Sérvia da Bósnia, e sob controlo das forças do Exército Sérvio (VRS). Posteriormente foi tomada pelo Exército (muçulmano)Continuar lendo “O massacre de Srebrenica”

Bosnian war economy – speculation of essential products

UNPROFOR Military Observers’ teams (like in most other UN missions) had to live among the population (mandatory). We could support our teams at the UNPROFOR military contingents, but we could not live inside those compounds. We were supposed to rent a team house and buy/prepare our own food. That particularity was due to the factContinuar lendo “Bosnian war economy – speculation of essential products”

Some lessons, you have to learn the hard way (Bosnia)

In my first land trip to Sarajevo (early August 1995), I was travelling in a UN vehicle with a Brazilian UNMO comrade. We’d been driving during the night, which was not advisable to do during the Bosnian War; hence we decided to stop and spend the night at the UNPROFOR Malayan Battalion (MALBAT) in Konjic.Continuar lendo “Some lessons, you have to learn the hard way (Bosnia)”

“Behind enemy lines” – the true story (how it happened)

The hot month of June 1995 arrived to the Balkans on a Thursday, while I was on night shift at Belgrade radar site, surveying the Bosnia No Fly Zone.  Just when I was leaving the radar room, on the next morning, I noticed something strange was happening. All the Serbian controllers were very excited, butContinuar lendo ““Behind enemy lines” – the true story (how it happened)”

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