10 March 2006
Two New Zealand Defence Force personnel will arrive in Khartoum tomorrow to take up United Nations Military Observer (UNMO) positions in Southern Sudan.
Major Peter Hall from Rotorua and Squadron Leader Hans Van Leeuwen from Havelock North will replace the current NZ UNMOs who have been in Sudan since September last year.
Military Observers are located at various team sites throughout Southern Sudan; teams can range in size from four personnel up to 50 personnel. A key function of the teams is to observe, monitor and verify the activities of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudanese People Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) to ensure they adhere to the peace process as set in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), previously negotiated in 2005. Their key goal is to promote the peace process (the CPA), encourage the parties to resolve their differences by peaceful negotiation and to monitor and verify their subsequent actions.
The incumbent NZ UNMOs, Major Shayne Te Aika (Christchurch) and Flight Lieutenant Neil McGarvey (Palmerston North) will return to NZ later this month.
The two personnel serving in Sudan are part of the 434 New Zealand Defence Force personnel currently serving overseas in 21 different counties.
ENDS
For further information please contact Lieutenant Commander Andrew Lincoln, Defence Public Relations: 04 529 6031 or 021-806926