Feral Jundi

Friday, July 26, 2013

United Nations: Working Group To Debate UN Use Of PMSC’s

“Rwanda was a horrific UN failure where lives were equated to dollars. Doug’s comments aren’t entirely correct: EO wasn’t “between assignments” nor were we on our way to New York. The UN turned it down because we were “too expensive” – even though we were several hundred million dollars cheaper than they were.” –Eeben Barlow on the UN approaching Executive Outcomes to end the Rwandan Genocide

This should be interesting to watch. Although it would have been nice to see a more varied panel that included some actual CEO’s of companies whom have actually contracted with the UN to provide security. Or at least were approached by the UN to provide services….

The other point to bring up is an effort within the UN to establish an ‘international regulatory framework on PMSC’s’. Here is a video of what they are up to. I imagine we will hear more about this effort in the discussion.

For some interesting discussion and background on the UN’s use of PMSC’s, I have covered the subject in prior posts here. Also, just type in Google Search, ‘UN, Feral Jundi’ or ‘United Nations, Feral Jundi’ for more posts about the UN and PMSC’s.

Also,  check out the Kings Of War blog and their discussion on the UN’s use of PMSC’s here. (check out the comments by Doug Brooks, David Isenberg, myself and others)

Eeben Barlow also has much to add to the discussion about the UN and PMSC’s here and here. His company, Executive Outcomes, was actually approached by the UN to end the Rwandan Genocide. I wonder if the panel will even delve into this history? –Matt

 

Mass grave skulls from Rwandan Genocide.

 

Expert group on mercenaries debates use of private military and security companies by the United Nations
26 July 2013
The United Nations Working Group on the use of mercenaries will discuss the use of private military and security companies (PMSCs) in UN peace and humanitarian operations in the field.
The panel discussion will take place on 31 July 2013 at the UN Headquarters in New York, as part of a special year-long study on the use PMSCs by the UN bodies worldwide, which the expert group will present to the UN General Assembly in 2014.
“As a large consumer of security services, the UN has the opportunity to positively influence the standards and behaviour of the industry to comply with international human rights norms and support the implementation of the UN Charter,” said Anton Katz, who currently heads the expert group charged by the Human Rights Council to monitor and report on the activities of companies providing security and consultancy services on the international market.
“The UN should serve as a model for world Governments and other organizations in its use of private military and security companies,” the expert stressed. “Without proper standards and oversight, the outsourcing of security functions by the UN to private companies could have a negative effect on the effectiveness and image of the UN in the field.”
The five-strong expert body, which has drafted a possible international convention on private military and security companies, has already provided an overview of the UN policy regarding the use of PMSCs in a previous report* to the UN General Assembly in 2010.
The event will feature two panels, focusing on the use of armed security services by the UN and the use of PMSCs in peace operations. Details of the event, including the panelists, are available here.
The panel discussions will be also broadcasted live at the UN web TV.
The Working Group will hold a press conference at 13:30 on 1 August 2013 at briefing room S-237, the UN Headquarters.
The Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination was established in 2005 by the then Commission on Human Rights. It is composed of five independent experts serving in their personal capacities: Mr. Anton Katz (Chair-Rapporteur, South Africa), Ms. Faiza Patel (Pakistan), Ms. Patricia Arias (Chile), Ms. El¿bieta Karska (Poland) and Mr. Gabor Rona (United States/Hungary).

Learn more, log on here.
(*) Check the full report to the UN General Assembly here.
Read the Working Group’s draft of a possible Convention on Private Military and Security Companies here.
For more information and media requests please contact: ?In New York: Nenad Vasiæ (+1 212 963 5998 / vasic@un.org) ?In Geneva: Natacha Foucard (+41 22 917 9458 / nfoucard@ohchr.org) or Junko Tadaki (+41 22 917 9298 / jtadaki@ohchr.org) or write to mercenaries@ohchr.org
For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:?Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)
Press release here.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Jobs: Senior Security Officer (Multiple) FS 3, Rwanda

Filed under: Jobs,Rwanda — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 12:51 AM

Interesting job, although I have no clue what it pays? But from the job details, this is an armed position and English is the primary language they are looking for.

I am not the POC or recruiter for this job and follow the highlighted links below if you want to apply. You can also visit the UN Careers website from time to time to see if any other security jobs pop up. Good luck. –Matt

 

Job Title: SENIOR SECURITY OFFICER (MULTIPLE), FS3
Department/ Office: International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
Duty Station: KIGALI
Posting Period: 30 August 2012-29 September 2012
Job Opening number: 12-SEC-ICTR-24734-R-KIGALI (R)
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Org. Setting and Reporting
Theses positions are located at ICTR Kigali within the Security and Safety Section. Under the overall command of the Chief of Unit. The Security Officer is required to perform armed security functions and reports directly to the Security Lieutenant or supervising officer.
Responsibilities
In the absence of the immediate supervisor, will perform any or all of the below duties. In the presence of the immediate supervisor, may assist. Otherwise, performs duties of a regular security officer.  The incumbent shall provide armed security services at assigned ICTR sites, for the protection of authorized persons and property. The incumbent shall:
– Inspects officers assigned to his/her squad, prior to the assumption of post in the absence of the Team Leader;
– Assigns officers to posts and patrols throughout the assigned site and makes frequent inspections to ensure that orders, rules and regulations are complied with
– On-the-job trains and instructs security officers, informing them of any changes in procedures and situations.
– Compiles pertinent data for reports on security matters and initially reports cases of injury, accidents, thefts, losses and damages.

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Monday, April 12, 2010

Haiti: Security Update–Bad, To Worse

     Amnesty International documented cases of sexual violence in camps. Four of the victims interviewed were children. An 8-year-old girl called Celine (not her real name) was alone in the tent at night when she was raped. Her mother had left the camp to work and had no one to look after her daughter during her absence. A 15-year-old girl, called Fabienne (not her real name) was raped when she left the camp to urinate, as there were no latrines within the camp. Carline (not her real name), 21, was raped by 3 men when she went to urinate in a remote area of the camp, as the latrines were too dirty to be used. Pascaline (not her real name), 21, was raped and beaten in her tent, neighbors failed to intervene because they believed she was with her partner. 

*****

   What can I say?  These folks that continue to promote this idea that security is not important, or that contracting security is disaster capitalism will have the crimes and violence in Haiti all over their pen holding hands.  Shame on you. All I have to say is that you cowards have to look at yourself in the mirror every day and realize that people are suffering because of this ‘non-action’ you keep promoting.

    But it gets worse.  Now we are sending cops from one humanitarian disaster (Rwanda) to another disaster (Haiti), and somehow this gets a free pass?

    The first article below is about sending Rwandan cops to Haiti. Whose hair brained idea was this and how are these clowns going to actually increase security in Haiti?  As the first article below has clearly stated, Rwanda is the last country to get get security forces from or claim some kind of humanitarian award for excellence.

     The second article is about the $ 13.55 billion that world wide donors have raised to rebuild Haiti. Billions….  That’s nice and all, but if there is that much money floating around, why are Haitians having any issues at all regarding security?  In my view, that money should be used to first provide security in Haiti, so that the building process can actually take place. Food, water and shelter is great, but if you get murdered/raped/robbed, then what good is that other stuff?  Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs comes to mind.

     To depend on piss poor UN troops, Rwandan security, or a depleted and ravaged Haitian police is not working.  I say contract a police force to come in and assist, and in the mean time build the prison up and build police capability.  But for security right now when it is most needed, there should be no hesitation.  Get it done, or watch crimes, murders, and rapes continue to be committed. That would be a good use of a small portion of that large sum of money. That isn’t disaster capitalism, that’s just human decency and compassion.  To stand by and watch is unacceptable.

   The third article goes into detail on how the Haitian police are struggling to bring order to the chaos.  They are simply overwhelmed. Thousands of prisoners have escaped, gang violence has increased, rapes have increased, and the police is dealing with a destroyed city and people.  So why is it that we are not sending in the cavalry?  Oh that’s right, the Rwandans are the cavalry.  Pfffft.

   Now get this.  In the fourth article, it discusses how the locals have had to organize their own security forces to deal with this stuff.  If that is not an indicator that police are in trouble, I don’t know what is. So is street justice better than contracting security who would be supporting Haitian security forces?

   The last quote and article is from Amnesty International.  They are screaming for more police in their recommendations, and their report is pretty clear.  Crimes are up, as is sexual assaults, and of course they want something done about it.  What is not in the report, is AI’s position on Rwandan cops trying to secure the mess in Haiti. The other thing that is missing is that AI made no mention of contracting security forces to step in to stop these stuff. It’s strange and somewhat disgusting to me that the humanitarian option in Haiti that continues to be promoted by all of these so called ‘humanitarian groups’, is to not do ‘everything’ within our power to stop this. -Matt

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US-UN Peace-keepers” bring Rwandan Police to Haiti

March 11, 2010

by Ann Garrison

In case anyone needed further evidence that President Paul Kagame’s Rwanda is the Pentagon’s proxy, 140 Rwandan police are about to undertake special training before heading to Haiti, as reported in the Rwanda New Times, because, according to Rwandan Police Chief Edmund Kayiranga, “Rwanda wants to be involved in promoting peace in other countries” and, if need be, they would send more peacekeepers to other countries.

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Saturday, April 18, 2009

Rwanda: ‘We Were Lying in Pools of Blood’-15th Anniversary of the Genocide

Filed under: Africa,Rwanda — Tags: , , , — Matt @ 8:15 PM

   I have talked about the Rwandan genocide in past posts, and I think it is worthy to bring up the anniversary of that horrific event.  Truly awful. –Matt 

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“We Were Lying in Pools of Blood”

April 12, 2009

On the 15th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, survivors recall how the world abandoned them in their hour of need

by Michael Abramowitz

Thousands fell silent last week at a hillside memorial here in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, as Karasira Venuste told the story of how the world community, as represented by blue-helmuted U.N. peacekeepers, abandoned him and 5,000 other Tutsi near this exact spot 15 years ago.

On the morning of April 7, 1994, Venuste and his neighbors in a nearby village heard the news on the radio that the plane of Rwanda’s Hutu president had been shot down the night before. Thinking of the threats and violence directed at his fellow Tutsi over the past several years, he believed it likely that he and his neighbors would be blamed by the government and its allies for the assassination.

“We are done for,” Venuste thought to himself. “We are finished.”

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