United Nations Military Observer

A United Nations Military Observer (UNMO) is a military official deployed by the United Nations to provide support to a UN mission or peace operation. Described as the "eyes and ears" of the UN Security Council, observers fulfill a variety of roles depending on scope, purpose, and status of the UN mission to which they are attached.[1] A UNMO is generally tasked with monitoring and assessing post-conflict agreements, such as a ceasefire or armistice; the withdrawal of military forces; or the maintenance of a neutral buffer zone.[2] Observers usually undergo special training to ensure neutrality, diplomacy, and deescalation techniques.[2]

United Nations Military Observers from the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in the Golan Heights, 2013

Duties and responsibilities
  • Monitor the various agreements on cease-fires, withdrawals and demilitarization.
  • Ground, sea and aerial patrolling of both sides of the conflict, including the areas along the confrontation lines.
  • Patrol demilitarized zone.
  • Help resolve local difficulties (social, economic, etc.) by liaison with all sides of the conflict.
  • Investigate allegations of aggression or ceasefire violations.[3]

Mission in Kashmir

An early and still-operating observer mission is the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), established on the India-Pakistan border in 1949 to monitor the ceasefire called for by the United Nations Security Council.[4][5][6][7]

  • Location and Headquarters: ceasefire line in Jammu and Kashmir states with major posts in Rawalpindi, Pakistan / Srinagar, India
  • Primary observing officer: Croatian Major-General Dragutin Repinc appointed by Kofi Annan
  • Participating observers: 113 military and civilian personnel, from 8 countries
  • Casualties: 11
  • Time frame: 1949–present

Similar mission in Timor-Leste
  • Location and Headquarters: Republica Democratica Timor-Leste with major post in Dili, formerly East Timor
  • Primary observing officer: Atul Khare appointed by Kofi Annan
  • Participating observers: 34 with 1,600 supporting UN Police
  • Casualties:
  • Time frame: 2006–present, previous missions UNAMET 1999, UNTAET 1999–2002, UNMISET 2002–2005, and UNOTIL 2005–2006[8]

References
  1. Blanco, Mark. "Research Guides: Specialised Training Materials (STM): STM on UN Military Observers 2019". research.un.org. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
  2. Defence, National (2013-02-20). "United Nations Military Observers". aem. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
  3. "International UNMO Club". 2009-10-26. Archived from the original on 2009-10-26. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
  4. "United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan". United Nations. Archived from the original on 19 March 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  5. "UNMOGIP officers".
  6. "Observing line".
  7. "Deployment map" (PDF).
  8. "Timor-Leste map" (PDF).


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