– the eyes and ears of the peace process
By Judith Martin
When Captain Wendy Paisley heard the whoosh of a tank round pass overhead and the following explosion, she dived for the scant cover she could find in the dusty south Lebanon countryside.
"My partner and I weren’t sure where the fire was coming from and we only had a small hill for shelter. We took a side each, and joked later that at least one of us would have survived to tell the tale if we were the real targets."
The incident earlier this year, which turned out to be the Israeli Defence Force firing a retaliatory strike on a Hezbollah position, did not result in injury but was a stark reminder for Captain Paisley of just how volatile the Middle East can be.
With seven other New Zealanders, the Medical Corps officer is a military observer working for the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation, which monitors the truce between Israel and the bordering countries of Lebanon and Syria.
UNTSO is the longest-running UN mission and was established after the creation of the state of Israel in 1948.
Most of the 153 military observers are based in the areas of separation between Israel and Syria on the Occupied Golan Heights and on the Lebanese side of the Blue Line in Southern Lebanon. The observers, from 23 countries, are spread among Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Egypt, with 17 of them at UNTSO headquarters in Jerusalem.
The New Zealand Defence Force has contributed peacekeepers to UNTSO since 1954, making it New Zealand’s oldest UN mission.
Military observers seldom see their compatriots as they are each teamed up with observers from other countries in order to maintain neutrality and avoid claims of complicity.
Working from patrol bases and observations posts, the observers are the eyes and ears of the peacekeeping process. They maintain, in military-speak "situational awareness" – in other words, they patrol, watch, talk, and find out what’s going on in their locality, and what’s likely to happen. An interpreter accompanies most patrols, which, although unarmed, have radio contact with their local UN headquarters, and access to bunkers at the various patrol bases scattered throughout the region.
Captain Paisley, who qualified as a nurse before joining the Army in 1997, spent her first six months in the Middle
An UNTSO observer post.
Commander Joint Forces New Zealand Major General Lou Gardiner, (at right) visits a Syrian observation post during a recent visit to NZDF personnel serving in the Middle East.
East working in the occupied Golan Heights in Israel.
"Working in the Golan is quite different from southern Lebanon," she says. "In the Golan there is an area of separation that varies from 200 metres to nine kilometres wide. Each zone has different restrictions on the type of military equipment from either side that is allowed to enter, and as an observer you are constantly monitoring for violations. In Lebanon we monitor mainly what is known as the "blue line", which involves looking for signs of civil unrest or disturbances.
"When we’re on patrol we meet with local mayors or muktars, and also the police and local military officials. We do a lot of talking and liaison – I think that is what helps the peace agreement, generally speaking, stay effective."
That said, however, she realises there is no room for complacency.
"When we became caught in the crossfire it was so unexpected – it came out of the blue. I knew there was always the potential for incidents, and possibly the escalation of conflict. The situation in a place like the Middle East can change rapidly and as military personnel and observers we realise that. People who have been involved in conflict for a long time can become very emotional very quickly. We just have to use our training and professionalism to cope with that as best we can."
ears of the peace process A Kiwi at the top The New Zealander who heads UNTSO is no stranger to complex international peacekeeping operations.
Major General Clive Lilley is ten months into a posting as UNTSO's Jerusalembased Head of Mission. In his career with the New Zealand Army he has served in key roles in Somalia, Bougainville, East Timor, and Solomon Islands.
In his UNTSO role he is responsible to the Secretary General for all aspects of the mission’s performance throughout its operational area - Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. He deals with UN and UNTSO issues in and across the five mandated countries, and also has representational and diplomatic responsibilities with a host of other regional personnel.
So what is a typical day in this part of the turbulent Middle East? As Head of Mission he reports to the United Nations headquarters in New York, and to that end meets regularly with politicians, senior foreign affairs officials, defence chiefs and security officials and police representatives from Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt.
"I also make frequent calls on the diplomats representing the Security Council "permanent five" countries, and keep in contact with other UN missions operating in the region. Working in this part of the world is never dull, and the variety of work that comes with the appointment makes for very interesting times."
When an incident affects UNTSO, for example, if treaty violations occur, he becomes involved either directly with the government of the nationals involved in the incident, or indirectly by ensuring UNTSO staff follow the required United Nations processes.
UNTSO is now in its 57th year of operation, and will achieve its mandate when there is a comprehensive peace throughout the Middle East. Three of the five countries covered by the mandate have signed peace agreements, but as yet no peace agreement has been signed between Israel and Lebanon and Israel and Syria.
It is sometimes a challenge, says Major General Lilley, to understand the rationale why things are done as they are in UNTSO. "A big challenge for the mission and myself is to review how it does its business and to introduce simple, smart and efficient ways for the missions to be both professional and effective.
"The Secretary General is introducing a range of changes throughout the entire UN organisation. These corporate changes require a complete reassessment of what, how and why UNTSO conducts its business. The changes these moves require, together with our own internal reviews of how UNTSO is performing are all designed to increase the organisation's effectiveness and professionalism in a rapidly changing world. I am hoping we will achieve that."
Captain Wendy Paisley.
UNTSO observers, from left, Squadron Leader Kavae Tamariki, Lieutenant Commander Graham Hill, and Captain Wendy Paisley.
A Kiwi at the top The New Zealander who heads UNTSO is no stranger to complex international peacekeeping operations.
Major General Clive Lilley is ten months into a posting as UNTSO's Jerusalembased Head of Mission. In his career with the New Zealand Army he has served in key roles in Somalia, Bougainville, East Timor, and Solomon Islands.
In his UNTSO role he is responsible to the Secretary General for all aspects of the mission’s performance throughout its operational area - Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. He deals with UN and UNTSO issues in and across the five mandated countries, and also has representational and diplomatic responsibilities with a host of other regional personnel.
So what is a typical day in this part of the turbulent Middle East? As Head of Mission he reports to the United Nations headquarters in New York, and to that end meets regularly with politicians, senior foreign affairs officials, defence chiefs and security officials and police representatives from Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt.
"I also make frequent calls on the diplomats representing the Security Council "permanent five" countries, and keep in contact with other UN missions operating in the region. Working in this part of the world is never dull, and the variety of work that comes with the appointment makes for very interesting times."
When an incident affects UNTSO, for example, if treaty violations occur, he becomes involved either directly with the government of the nationals involved in the incident, or indirectly by ensuring UNTSO staff follow the required United Nations processes.
UNTSO is now in its 57th year of operation, and will achieve its mandate when there is a comprehensive peace throughout the Middle East. Three of the five countries covered by the mandate have signed peace agreements, but as yet no peace agreement has been signed between Israel and Lebanon and Israel and Syria.
It is sometimes a challenge, says Major General Lilley, to understand the rationale why things are done as they are in UNTSO. "A big challenge for the mission and myself is to review how it does its business and to introduce simple, smart and efficient ways for the missions to be both professional and effective.
"The Secretary General is introducing a range of changes throughout the entire UN organisation. These corporate changes require a complete reassessment of what, how and why UNTSO conducts its business. The changes these moves require, together with our own internal reviews of how UNTSO is performing are all designed to increase the organisation's effectiveness and professionalism in a rapidly changing world. I am hoping we will achieve that."