THE OBSERVER FOR PEACE IN KASHMIR United Nations Military Observer Group United Nations in India and Pakistan Peace Operations MAGAZINE 2015 From the Desk of the Head of Mission/ Chief Military Observer UNMOGIP today, like years before, continues to contribute effectively to peace. I urge all to engender a dynamic work culture through teamwork, impartiality and optimism, in order to forge ahead for world peace. Let us also uphold the sanctity of UN values always. Be role models wherever you are and back your efforts up with I am pleased to associate UN Headquarters, including petitions determination and resilience. myself with ‘The Observer as and when received. I commend I am thankful to the two host nations of Magazine’ which I consider a all, for the visible presence and the India and Pakistan and their respective useful tool for UNMOGIP. sustained efforts. Our collective authorities with whom we work. will has magnified our strengths Equally, I appreciate the collaborative This third edition is a follow-up to the to help make our goal attainments support from all other UN Agencies in two earlier publications of 2012 and meaningful. With enormous support the two host countries; especially the 2014. I pay tribute to the praiseworthy from our Mission Support and Security efforts of the UN designated officials novelty of Major General Young-Bum Section, including assistance from (DOs) of both Pakistan and India. I Choi, my predecessor and his team for all local staff and the Army Liaison appreciate all the high level dignitaries setting the tone. Each peacekeeping Officers respectively in Srinagar and who visited UNMOGIP for their fruitful mission is unique with its challenges Islamabad, we have played our part interactions. I convey special thanks and peculiarities. UNMOGIP is no towards our mandate implementation. to the troop contributing countries exception. With its vast ground area of I recognize all women of UNMOGIP, to UNMOGIP namely Chile, Croatia, responsibility, characterized by rugged including our four UNMO womenfolk Finland, Ghana, Italy, Philippines, terrain and extreme climate, I am at the moment. Our October 2014 Switzerland, South Korea, Sweden, impressed by the abundant human Headquarters’ movement from Thailand and Uruguay. I thank most energies that the relatively few UNMOs Srinagar to Islamabad was efficiently especially the UN Headquarters for the of UNMOGIP have exerted so far. conducted and I look forward same regular support to UNMOGIP. UNMOs have operated effectively from for the upcoming April 2015 relocation I strongly believe that if “We Go our UN Field Stations that are widely back to Srinagar. I am also satisfied Together “as espoused in our slogan, dispersed across the fields in order to with the last UNMO Conference which we can positively stay on course. observe developments along the Line of served as useful tool for lessons learnt. Control (LOC), in line with the mandate Senior management will continue to of UNMOGIP. We undertook field trips, encourage a learning organization, conducted area reconnaissance and promote sound staff mindset and carried out observation post duties. cherish best practices. We will inspire We also investigated complaints physical well-being through various Maj Gen Delali Sakyi of alleged ceasefire violations and forms of sporting activities. ‘A sound Chief Military Observer/Head of processed them for delivery to the body they say, houses a sound mind’. Mission 2 UNMOGIP MAGAZINE A YEAR IN UNMOGIP My year in UNMOGIP When I was young and and supported my drive to take already making Field Station impatient, my dad used up my responsibilities. visits. Not only did I enjoy them but to say: “The beginning is It felt as if I were meeting the were useful for the organization always difficult – at the end world in the first two months after as well. My colleagues got to of all the hard work”. my arrival. Getting acquainted know me and I built a connection with staff, familiarizing with with them that is usually required So, when I arrived in Islamabad, routines and representing CMO to learn techniques, tactics and at almost 50 and still impatient, at receptions consumed most the environment. I am thankful that phrase echoed in my mind. of my time. What was left was to my superiors at UNMOGIP for The most challenging period spent celebrating Christmas and their support to make these Field luckily didn’t last long. The New Year celebrations with Hunk Station visits. warm welcome and good rapport and Meat hosted by Fijians of During the Field Station visits I among UNMOGIP personnel UNMOGIP and UNDSS. realized that it was important to enabled rapid transition to work By the end of December I was bridge cultural differences and so The writer (former Deputy Chief Military Observer, DCMO) with an UNMO and Pakistan Army Driver UNMOGIP MAGAZINE 3 A YEAR IN UNMOGIP The writer coming face to face with a landslide en route to Muzaffarabad in February 2014 to make an effort in this direction, It is tremendously important to Col Jouko Rauhala on the occasion of Finland’s understand all standpoints when Former Deputy Chief Military Winter War Memorial Day I we at UNMOGIP are playing our Observer made a presentation on Finnish part. identity for all staff members in In the months that followed, Islamabad. we handled UNMOGIP in HQ In a 66 year old mission such as relocation, CMO’s change and the UNMOGIP, communication Indian Visa issue, New Delhi Office remains the key to success. vacation, worst floods in a century It’s vital to recognize different in Srinagar and biannual UNMO cultures, different language skills Conference. It went smooth. and different length of experience My year at UNMOGIP gave me a in the mission. I say this from chance to learn from my superiors my own experience because and colleagues. Here, I want to my understanding of “Kashmir thank all UNMOGIP personnel dispute”, improved only after my for their professionalism, first couple of months in Indian commitment and friendship Administered side of LoC (IAK). towards me. 4 UNMOGIP MAGAZINE A YEAR IN UNMOGIP Message from New Deputy Chief Military Observer (DCMO) Dear military observers, civil personnel and all readers, in the beginning I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at UNMOGIP for very warm and friendly welcome to the Headquarters. Let me introduce myself first. I am Colonel Arto Ikonen from Finland. I am 50 years old and I am blessed to have a lovely family that includes my wife Päivi and and three daughters aged 23, 20 and 16 years. Jogging is my hobby but opportunities with colleagues in know that the Mission here has I also like other forms of physical HQ, visiting and participating in been doing a great job for many activity. I think being physically different tasks at the Field Stations years. In the same way personnel active is my passion. and meeting with local authorities have been performing their duties I have worked for 26 years in the one gets a better understanding very well for a long time, so I Finnish Army, Army Command of the situation than one can get am encouraged to take the good and Defense Command. I from just reading. Being on the practices forward from here. participated in KFOR operation in ground also helps performs tasks So let’s continue with the good Kosovo in 2007. My last post was more efficiently and effectively. work. I look forward to close Commanding Officer in Lapland Air Therefore I look forward to start cooperation with all the competent Defense Regiment during 2013- visiting Field Stations and other and accomplished colleagues. 2014. This Regiment is located areas of our responsibility very In the end, I wish to thank my in the Arctic Circle in Northern soon. predecessor Col Jouko Rauhala Finland and it is just 3 kilometers Looking back at the varied personal for the hand over and help. away from the Workshop of Santa and professional experiences Claus. The weather conditions in I have had in life I understand Col Arto Ikonen Finland are really different and that being humble and focused Deputy Chief Military I’m lucky to be here where there achieve results. Sometimes the Observer is more sun and less snow. destination may appear far away, Before arriving here, I read as but it is always very important to much as I could about the history keep going and striving for our of Kashmir area and the mission aims. With renewed enthusiasm of UNMOGIP. But as you probably and determination I have assumed know it is only after intensive work my responsibilities. I am happy to UNMOGIP MAGAZINE 5 A YEAR IN UNMOGIP From the Chief of Mission Support Desk arrival warmth awaited me. After Kuwait continue to visit the Mission and enjoying a welcome that extended over discuss with staff issues of conflict, two days that included a sumptuous conduct and discipline that need to be Pakistani dinner hosted by the OiC - addressed. The Mission participates Mission Support Mr. Pedro Burgos and actively in the Senior Management staff, on 07 July, 2014, I assumed Team (SMT) meeting as well as engage my function as the Chief of Mission the representatives of the Troop Support. I find it important to talk here Contributing Countries (TCCs) and about UNMOGIP briefly for the benefit Defense Attaches (DAO) through regular “Welcome my CMS for of our readers. In January 1948, the contacts and providing information UNMOGIP’’ This one Security Council adopted resolution regarding UNMOGIP. sentence proved to be a life 39 (1948) and established the Our journey towards success is made changing experience for me. United Nations Commission for India and possible through the cooperation of Pakistan to investigate the facts all stakeholders who are committed to After liquidating United Nations pursuant to Article-34 of the Charter achieving peace in the Kashmir Region Integrated Peace building Office in of the United Nations and to exercise including the host nations of India and Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL) I was quite any mediatory influence likely to raise Pakistan.