The decisions of the UN has been the key responsibility for dealing with conflicts and determines that far-reaching attempts can be undertaken to settle disagreement and disputes. This article focuses on the vulnerable nations exposed to hegemonic powers of imperialistic-led invasion. There are accounts of national, international rivalry in parts of Europe, Asia, Gulf countries and Africa with disproportionately distressed people, especially in war-prone areas marked by conflict and violence. However, the UN has attracted opinions and disapproval for their initiatives and settlements. It has hindered potent intentions and objectives in many significant situations where law and human rights have been violated. The historical accounts embedded in the article seemed skeptical of the UN peace missions which have persisted to implement their goals despite the objections.
Strengthening the United Nations Security Council
The two great World Wars have exhibited explicit violation of human rights, colossal destruction, unprecedented deaths, atom bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, atrocities committed to millions of Jews by the Nazis. Such horrendous deeds were condemned by all, and to shun such agony was affirmative, to never let such catastrophes ever recur. The United Nations came into existence on 25th October 1945 at San Francisco as a predecessor to the League of Nations, for establishing international peace and security ratified by the Big Five, namely USA, Russia, China, UK, England and majority of the states, avoiding deeds of its predecessor. To take effective collective measures for the protection and security and for the suppression of acts of aggression and other breaches of peace, the provisions of the UN are embedded throughout the Charter. They find mention in the preamble, purpose, principles, and many other provisions of the charter. In order to ensure prompt and effective actions by the UN, its members have conferred on the Security Council the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and agree that in carrying out its duties under the responsibility of the security council, who will act on their behalf. Therein have been conferred ‘VETO POWER’ to the big five permanent members under the assumption they will continue to uphold, cooperate alike during the Second World War. However, this assumption proved to be contrary as it was a prerequisite for the unity of great powers to any advancement of a peace settlement which obviously resulted in the failure of the Security Council.
Worst failures since the inception of the United Nations [Security Council]:
- Israeli occupation (1948-Now)
Ever since the creation of the Jewish state in 1948, Palestinians have been fighting against what a UN investigator once described as Israel ethnic cleansing. Approximately 15,000 Palestinians were killed and 75,000 out of a total population of 1.9 million were compelled to seek security far from their country between 1947 and 1949. More than 7,000 Palestinians and 1,100 Israelis have lost their lives in the clash of warfare. At present, Israel dominates 85 percent of historic Palestine. It also enforces an undermining barrier on Gaza and at the same time, persists in its formation of unlawful settlements on inhabited property while disregarding certain UN decisions. To ensure a determination to terminate such illegal activities, the United States has also exercised its veto power many times to oppose the decisions of UN Security Council that have to disapprove Israel’s authority of imposing violence against Palestinian civilians.
- Cambodia violence (1975-1979)
Towards the completion of the US-Vietnam War and the Cambodian civil war in 1975, the Khmer Rouge regime curbed the state of Cambodia, modifying the power structure into a socialist country, by adopting the strategies and tactics of ultra-Maoism. Under the regime, it imposed extreme brutality and genocide between 1975-1979, inflicting destructions and wrecking homes and lives of around two million people, comprising 25 percent of the country affected by terror and atrocity. The outcome of Vietnamese interference finally lead to the ending of genocide by the Khmer Rouge regime. The United Nations accepted the Khmer Rouge regime, but sadly overlooked certain matters of exploitation in human rights. Killing Fields is a popular film that chronicles this horrendous regime.
- Somali civil war (1991-Now)
After the Somali Rebellion in 1991 succeeded in the abolition of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre, it has been recorded in history that the decades-long civil war has led to an outbreak of fury between opposing clans in the country. It was a crippling resolution on the part of the UN peacekeeping mission, UNOSOM, which was set up in December 1992 to assist humanitarian support to needy people baffled by civil war and famine. This however, was unsuccessful because of the deficiency of a functioning government to correspond and exchange information with and consequently, there was continuous aggression against UN officers. The aftermath of the decline of the UN peacekeeping mission led to about 500,000 civilian deaths in the country.
- Rwandan civil war (1994):
This was one of the most dreadful ethnic genocides since World War II, the civil war started off in 1990 between the Rwandan Armed Forces and the rebel Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and it continued till 1994. One appalling event in 1994, was the Hutu-dominated regime which killed 10 UN peacekeeping officers to avert international interference. In the brief period of three months, Hutus had mercilessly killed about 800,000 Tutsis. In Rwanda, unfortunately, in most cases, it was estimated that nearly 250,000 women were raped while UN troops deserted the victims or lingered helplessly as spectators while the callous and brutal violence prevailed.
- Srebrenica Massacre (1995)
Bosnia and Herzegovina announced their freedom after a formal election. Following the declaration of freedom, Bosnian Serbs organized their forces into the country with the assistance of the Serbian government, which led to the commencement of the war. Around 8,000 Muslim men and boys were murdered by Bosnian Serb troops under the orders of former General Ratko Mladic at Srebrenica in July 1995, the worst brutality on European country since World War II. Most Muslim victims succeeded to escape to the UN-declared protected zone in Srebrenica, but to their disappointment, they encountered the few numbers of people and casually armed Dutch troops there with no capacity to safeguard them.
- Darfur conflict in Sudan (2003-Now)
Rebels in Sudan’s western region of Darfur surged against the government in February 2003, stating that Khartoum discriminated against non-Arab farmers there. It was estimated that 200,000 people have been murdered in the conflict since then, while 4.4 million people needed assistance and over 2.5 million were dislocated and were uprooted from their homeland. After much intimidation of the people, four years later, the UN agreed to send 26,000 troops for a settlement in Darfur. The International Criminal Court expressed authorization of arrest for Sudanese President Omar Hassan al Bashir in 2009 and 2010 on the accusation of war offenses and genocide in his attempt to eradicate the Darfur uprising.
- Iraq invasion (2003-2011)
The population of more than one million Iraqis were killed as a result of the atrocity in their country since the encroachment of the US in 2003, according to a study explored by one of Britain’s dominant polling groups. The interference and advance of the military regime desired by the US culminated in the unsettling issue of Iraq with civil and economic imbalance and uncertainty, and this only lead to a defenseless country, exposed to terrorism by Daesh in the coming years. The decision of the UN in 1483 was an effort to legalize the invasion that was led under the deceitful allegation by the US and the UK that the Saddam regime was in control and ownership of weapons of considerable devastation.
From the above-mentioned historical evidence of rivalry and mass destruction, one can say that the UN has had problems for more than four decades. The Security Council has been paralyzed due to conflict among great powers and frequent use of vetoes. The whole fabric of international peace and security under the UN has been unrealistic. For ensuring success on the new initiatives and strategies vis-à-vis its original vision, it is essential that the Security Council should be enlarged and made more representative via democratic means. The membership of the Security Council should be increased to 25, the numbers of the permanent members should be increased from 5 to 10. Suggestions have been made for the inclusion of Germany, Japan, India, Brazil and Egypt. And non-permanent members should be increased from 10 to 15.
With reference to the above, former Secetary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali recommended that preventive diplomacy, peacemaking, peacekeeping and post-conflict peace building can be successful only in an atmosphere of trust, cooperation, and unity. A democratic and representative Security Council will definitely be a better guarantor of international peace and security.
Degree of Thought is a weekly community column initiated by Tetso College in partnership with The Morung Express. Degree of Thought will delve into the social, cultural, political and educational issues around us. The views expressed here do not reflect the opinion of the institution. Tetso College is a NAAC Accredited UGC recognised Commerce and Arts College. The editors are Dr Hewasa Lorin, Dr. Aniruddha Babar, Aienla A, Rinsit B Sareo, Meren Lemtur and Kvulo Lorin.
For feedback or comments please email: dot@tetsocollege.org