Author: Saeed Naqvi
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: June 15, 2001
Introduction: Other UN elements
in Asmara and Addis Ababa cast a doubtful eye when the Indians first arrived
with their relatively frugal cargo. But the Indians surprised everybody
when they got down to work.
Last week the temperature at Bada
was 65 degree celsius. Spare a thought for Lance Naik Rajesh Kuile of the
12 Maratha Light Infantry, keeping watch in that sizzling heat from the
terrace of a prefabricated structure, part of an observation post in the
heart of Danakil Depression, the world's hottest place. Kuile is with the
1,200 strong Indian battalion, part of UNMEE, the United Nations Mission
in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
The Indian contingent is a little
over one third the total strength of the peacekeeping force (42,000 strong)
deployed mostly along the 25 km wide Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) imposed
by the UN across the 900 km border between the two warring nations. To
comprehend the effort at peace, one must understand the genesis of war.
In a sense, the conflict is embedded
in Africa's colonial history. When Europe's scramble for Africa was on
in the late 19th century, the territory that is now Eritrea fell to the
lot of Italy in 1890. If you look at the map, the proximity between the
ports of Massawa, Assab and the Arabian Peninsula, across the Red Sea,
makes it clear that Indian trading interests in Eritrea and Ethiopia pre-date
history. But recorded history speaks of enterprising Gujarati businessmen
who settled in Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, at the turn of the 20th
century when Mussolini decided to make considerable investments in the
colony. Asmara, at 7,000 ft above sea level, is like a hill station, the
sharpest contrast to Bada, several hundred feet below sea level. So, Indians,
like the Italian rulers, found the climate in Asmara salubrious.
In 1941, when World War II was at
its fiercest, the British (mostly Indian troops in the British army) defeated
the Italians, thus gaining control over Eritrea. Numerous Indian soldiers
won Victoria Crosses and the memorial to Indian soldiers in Keren, northern
Eritrea, is a heart-warming sight. The goodwill they earned with Britain
was also advantageous to the Indian business community. Just as you can
find Portuguese-speaking Indians in Angola, Mozambique and Macao or French-speaking
Indians in Tahiti, you can find Italian-speaking Indians in Asmara. It
is a dwindling diaspora, but for the Indian troops, a bit of home. This
advantage is not available to soldiers and officers from 43 other countries
in UNMEE.
Treaties signed by Italy and Ethiopia
between 1900 and 1908 constituted the Eritrea-Ethiopia border. Eritrea
remained under British mandate until 1950 when the UN decided on the country's
federation with Ethiopia. Eritrea's autonomous character was retained.
Even so, a liberation struggle began in Eritrea, reaching disturbing proportions
when freedom fighter Hamid Idris Awate was martyred in 1962. Soon after,
Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia terminated the federation. Eritrea became
the 13th province of Ethiopia.
By now the cold war had hotted up,
the Horn of Africa controlling the Red Sea, was strategically vital for
the super powers. In an era prior to satellite communication, Asmara had
its own strategic value: it happens to be on the same longitude as Moscow.
Haile Mariam Mengistu's pro Soviet
Socialist order, which terminated Haile Selassie's rule in 1974, was resisted
by Eritrea, of course. But in this struggle, Eritrea was also joined by
people of the Tigray province in Ethiopia. Jointly they defeated Mengistu
(the defeat coincided with the end of the Cold War, which is another story)
and agreed that Eritrea and Ethiopia shall be independent nations. Eritrea
became free in May 1993.
There surfaced a geographical difficulty.
After Eritrea's independence, Ethiopia became landlocked. This fuelled
the already considerable Tigray expansionism in Ethiopia. In 1998, a fierce,
no holds barred war started. In December 2000, the Organisation of African
Unity (OAU) brokered a Cessation of Hostility agreement between the two
in Algiers.
Kofi Annan, keen for a peacekeeping
success in Africa, navigated UNMEE through the Security Council. A 42,000
strong peacekeeping force was sanctioned. Of this, 1,200 are Indians. Who
is to lead this force? Gen. Vijay Jaitley was the Force Commander in Sierra
Leone. The Nigerians were unhappy with an Indian as leader then; the British
uncomfortable with their not too obvious role.
Since the Bosnian (later Kosovo)
explosion in 1992, Europeans have been in deep thought on a peacekeeping
force of their own. For over four years, SHRBRIG (Standby High Readiness
Brigade) consisting of European countries (minus Britain and France) have
been training in various capitals without ever being deployed. UNMEE provided
the opportunity. India was sounded before SHRBRIG but MoD and the Armed
Forces could not make up their minds whether to listen to Jaitley, the
soldier at the front, or his detractors in New York and the Army.
While New Delhi mulled over the
issue, Gen. Patrick Cammaert of Netherlands, Brigade Commander of SHRBRIG,
was made Force Commander of the UN Peacekeeping Forces. Later New Delhi
agreed to participate and the first Indian troops began arriving in March.
The Algiers accord brokered by the
OAU calls for Ethiopia to revert to positions before hostilities began
in 1998. Eritrean forces must withdraw 25 kms from the 1998 border. This
Temporary Security Zone is to be monitored by UNMEE. The key Central Sector
is with the Indian contingent under Col. G. Shankar. Guiding hundreds of
thousands of internally displaced persons into the TSZ, determining claims
and counter claims on positions held by the two sides, and averting any
breach of the peace are some of the responsibilities of the Indian troops.
Razzmatazz, and not substance, is
noticed initially. But only initially. Ultimately substance must prevail.
SHRBRIG came in with fancy equipment. All the other UN elements in Asmara
and Addis Ababa cast a doubtful eye when the Indians first arrived with
their relatively frugal cargo. But the Indians surprised everybody when
they got down to work.
The Indian army mess in Asmara was
erected in two days. Bridges, roads, accommodations were repaired and built
within weeks of the Construction Company's arrival under Maj. Anil Singh's
leadership. Col Rajagopalan dispatched the company guarding that post in
Bada in 65 degree celsius.
Various contingents have been visited
by their Foreign and Defence ministers, even their royalty. The largest
contingent in UNMEE expects their minister, Jaswant Singh, to put on both
his hats: visit the troops as Defence Minister and open a Consulate in
Asmara wearing the other hat. Expectations from him are high for an obvious
reason: he was once a soldier.
