United Nations Military Observer Explained

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.

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]

External links

• United Nations Military Observers in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Blanco. Mark. Research Guides: Specialised Training Materials (STM): STM on UN Military Observers 2019. 2020-08-29. research.un.org. en.
2. Web site: Defence. National. 2013-02-20. United Nations Military Observers. 2020-08-29. aem.
3. Web site: 2009-10-26. International UNMO Club . 2020-08-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20091026220218/http://geocities.com/buzim_bu9/internationalunmoclub.html . 2009-10-26 .
4. Web site: United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan . https://web.archive.org/web/20070319233259/https://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/photos/unmogip/unmogip5.htm . 19 March 2007 . 23 March 2021 . United Nations.
5. Web site: UNMOGIP officers.
6. Web site: Observing line.
7. Web site: Deployment map.
8. Web site: Timor-Leste map.