YouSaid · the spoken record

Lieutenant General Singha

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20
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2014-10-09
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2014-10-09
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1
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un-security-council

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  1. “We will continue to build rapid-reaction capabilities as we go on. In terms of capacity-building, while harnessing technology, we are looking at battlefield surveillance radars and thermal imaging equipment; ground sensors; unarmed aerial vehicles, if the parties allow us to employ them; satellite imagery; and the introduction of technology, keeping in mind the sensitivities of both the parties, as I mentioned, and any other technology that is already being used in peacekeeping.”

    2014-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7275 (2014) · source

  2. “Among other things, we will now have more stress on liaison, for which the capacity, as I had mentioned, has already doubled, and we will be interacting with the parties, as suggested by some members, more proactively. We will continue to enhance our information-collection capability, also using technology. As far as the security ofpeacekeepers is concerned, transferring our major effort onto the Alpha side gives inherent security to the peacekeepers. But we will continue to upgrade our mitigation measures in the weeks to come and also have a smaller footprint, but as much as operationally required in the area of separation. We need to continue to move in the armoured vehicles at least up to 2 to 3 kilometres from the Alpha line, even if we are operating on the Alpha side. The use of enablers and technology we have already discussed.”

    2014-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7275 (2014) · source

  3. “The use of technology and new tools will also enhance the fulfilment of the mandate. The rightsizing of the force is under way and will be presented to the Council by the team that had come to us. We are studying all possible options, and they will be shared with the Council. Conerning the synergy between the inter-mission cooperation, I think that we have excellent synergy between UNDOF, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization. As far as interaction with non-State actors, our force encounters them while doing our tasks, and our main aim is to just tell them about our mandate and also stress our impartiality and our transparency concerning the entire internal strife in Syria. Capacity-building will be enhanced.”

    2014-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7275 (2014) · source

  4. “We would request the Security Council and the Member States that are supporting either side in the Syrian strife to use their leverage to tell the parties not to target the United Nations, and to reduce the levels of violence in the area of separation, in fact, make the area of separation free from any presence of armed personnel. For the achievement of the mandate, as I mentioned, we continue to achieve it in a very modified manner. Our main thrust is now on the ceasefire line, the Alpha line. We would like to make new positions along the Alpha line, so that our density along the Alpha line from the A side is much greater than what we had earlier. So as long as the ceasefire line is sealed, everything is sealed, all violations from either side are observed and reported, I think that we are achieving our mandate in a modified manner.”

    2014-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7275 (2014) · source

  5. “I would like to tell the Council right now that one high-level team from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations has already visited the mission and will be presenting other options, most likely on 20 October. In general, we need to continuously analyse the situation on the ground, stay on top of the situation and keep evolving along with the dynamically changing environment. A lot of cross-cutting issues have come up, and I will divide them basically into the achievement of the mandate, in a modified manner; the security of the peacekeepers; and capacity-building by harnessing technology. The question was asked, what can the Security Council do? The Security Council has done a lot, and we are grateful.”

    2014-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7275 (2014) · source

  6. “Lieutenant General Singha: I wish to express my gratitude to you, Madam President, and to the members of the Security Council for having confidence in peacekeeping in general and in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in particular. A lot ofissues were raised; we will take the advice given and work on it so as to ensure the safety and security of the peacekeepers. I will start with the question posed by the representative of Argentina regarding the cooperation between the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, or the Secretariat, and the mission. It has been exemplary. It has been real-time; we have been speaking to each other when the actions have been taking place on the ground, so one could not ask for more. As far as the approach is concerned, it needs to be multipronged so as to see the way ahead.”

    2014-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7275 (2014) · source

  7. “The cooperation between UNDOF and UNTSO, whose observers support the mission through Observer Group Golan, continues to be constructive. I am very grateful for the opportunity to address the Security Council. I would like to conclude by reaffirming my personal commitment and that of my senior leadership team and all UNDOF peacekeepers, military and civilian, to continuing to do everything possible to ensure the implementation of the mandate that the Security Council has entrusted to UNDOF.”

    2014-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7275 (2014) · source

  8. “The partiesto the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement between Israeli and Syrian Forces fully appreciate the relevance of UNDOF during the Syrian crises, and my interlocutors on both sides have applauded our flexibility, transparency and, above all, impartiality throughout the ongoing internal strife in Syria over the past three years. That transformation would not have been possible without the strong support UNDOF has received from the Security Council, the Secretariat, United Nations Headquarters and Member States. I would be remiss ifI did not mention the assistance that has been provided by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, among others, with rotation and logistics movements, which are carried out through Beirut due to the prevailing security situation.”

    2014-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7275 (2014) · source

  9. “Notwithstanding the enhanced threat, UNDOF still maintains 11 positions and observation posts in the area of responsibility. The gallant Gurkhas from Nepal continue to hold the strategic Hermon Heights and are fully mentally and physically prepared to face the harsh winters. The command elements have been divided into two: a smaller element is located in Damascus and the main one is in Camp Ziouani. Efforts are under way to locate one battalion headquarters on the Bravo side. The opposition groups have now understood the essence of our presence in the area of separation, as the engagement levels have gone up, with Syrian defence forces targeting them with air power. Until the time of relocation, the Syrian Air Force had shown considerable restraint in targeting the opposition groups in the area of separation.”

    2014-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7275 (2014) · source

  10. “When the situation started to deteriorate further, after 27 August, and the radical elements started to directly target us, we laid out a decision-support matrix, which guided us through the relocation process. It was due to the brave actions of the Fijian, Irish and Indian contingents that the softer elements were sent out earlier, and the troops of those three contingents moved in the end from Camp Faouar in proper tactical formations without any untoward incident. Those brave peacekeepers and selected members of international staff exhibited great courage and fortitude. In the entire temporary relocation process, both Israel and Syria gave wholehearted support to ensuring that all 800 peacekeepers crossed over safely to the Alpha side.”

    2014-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7275 (2014) · source

  11. “Certain threatened observation posts manned by unarmed observers from UNTSO were provided with protection by line troops from UNDOF, from time to time, and we still continue to provide protection to two observation posts on the Alpha side. With mitigations measures in place and the participation of new troop-contributing countries with greater risk-taking abilities, UNDOF still skilfully implements its mandate in a modified manner and has ensured that two traditional adversaries are kept away from a conventional war. I must say that, in spite of the changing contours and complexity of the environment, both the parties, Israel and Syria, were steadfast and committed to our resolve to continue with our mandate and tasks.”

    2014-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7275 (2014) · source

  12. “Drills were refined, and we were able to ensure the safety of the peacekeepers. We were proactive and on occasion fired back in self-defence, when fired upon, basically restoring the situation and disengaging from the area. We did reduce our footprint, but continued to monitor the situation with constant information collection by different means, including the induction of long-range day and night surveillance equipment and thermal imaging devices. The troop-contributing countries of UNTSO also stepped up and started to deploy more experienced observers who could cope with the rapidly deteriorating situation. At my behest, they changed from day-time observation to around- the-clock observation at the observation posts.”

    2014-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7275 (2014) · source

  13. “Last year, we saw four troop-contributing countries pull out of the mission, leaving it seriously stretched. Only the Philippines and India stayed the course, their soldiers taking on significant extra responsibilities during this period. With the help of the Security Council and the troop-contributing countries present today in the mission, we were able to transform and empower the mission with an additional 200 soldiers, a mechanized company and the capability to counter improvised explosive devices, and to induct some heavier weapons. UNDOF has doubled its liaison capabilities, and we were given information analysis capabilities and a special adviser. Mission support was able to realign itself with the renewed operational ethos and was able to harden the existing positions and observation posts.”

    2014-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7275 (2014) · source

  14. “We had to reconfigure our operational capabilities and the methodology of the execution of operations on the ground, tweak mission support by tailoring and remodelling logistical and supply chains, and concurrently ensure the safety and security of the peacekeepers to fulfil our mandate. We adjusted to the situation very quickly and we continue to evolve in the face of dynamically changing threats. In the beginning of 2013, we improved our vehicle movement code and stopped the movement of single vehicles, acquired armoured cars for all movements and monitored and controlled every movement carefully. With various prophylactic measures in place, we were able to reduce incidents to a trickle, until the radicals took control and the moderates, although opposed to targeting the United Nations directly, had very little leverage.”

    2014-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7275 (2014) · source

  15. “The elasticity of the traditional mandate was stretched just short of the breaking point, preventing it from snapping. When the threat was unacceptable and direct, we decided to temporarily relocate most of our assets on the Alpha side, leaving six positions and observation posts still held in the area of separation and five observation posts, or big positions, on the Alpha side, thereby ensuring that we now focus more on the ceasefire line, or the Alpha line. The process of adapting and carrying out the mandate differently during these trying times was not done in a graduated manner, but all concerns were addressed simultaneously to achieve significant cohesion in moving ahead and continuing to retain our relevance.”

    2014-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7275 (2014) · source

  16. “In spite of all such challenges, it is to the credit of the senior management and peacekeepers from all troop-contributing countries that in all major incidents involving detentions since last year, all peacekeepers have been released safely without any harm. It was not an easy task to operate in that environment, but we have evolved as a mission and adjusted our operations to meet the challenges presented by the environment of internal conflict and clashes that have recently increased in their intensity and severity. The weapons employed by both sides, the size of the area and the number of fighters have increased exponentially, engaging the entire area of separation and up to 10 to 15 kilometres of the area of limitation on the Bravo side. Within the existing mandate, we have enhanced and honed our capabilities.”

    2014-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7275 (2014) · source

  17. “We witnessed an upward spiralling of violence to higher levels, amid which peacekeepers were directly targeted by the extremists. During the crisis in which 45 Fijian peacekeepers were detained by armed members of the opposition, an ordeal that lasted for 15 days, the radicals made their intent clear and surrounded another 72 peacekeepers from the Philippines. The Filipino and Fijian peacekeepers bravely faced that situation and exhibited raw courage, resilience and patience. However, during the release of the peacekeepers, the radical group reiterated that if presented with another opportunity, they would detain additional peacekeepers, seize United Nations vehicles and weapons and ransack United Nations property. They have also clearly spelled out that the United Nations was not required in the area.”

    2014-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7275 (2014) · source

  18. “Exchanges of fire of artillery, tank, mortar, automatic weapons, anti-aircraft and small arms, as well as clashes between the two sides, take place on a regular basis. Over the past three years, peacekeepers have been affected by a large number of incidents, including abductions, car-j ackings, weapons snatchings, restrictions of movement, peacekeepers coming under crossfire, vandalism of United Nations property and direct threats to peacekeepers by the radical elements. The landscape changed drastically this year, with the radical groups arriving in large numbers and controlling the moderate elements. The opposition groups have systematically launched a southern offensive from the Jordanian border, captured the area of separation up to main route 7 and pushed the Syrian Arab Armed Forces further to the east in the area of limitation.”

    2014-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7275 (2014) · source

  19. “In addition, with the help of observers from the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), we are also required to inspect periodically the levels of manning of troops in the area oflimitation extending up to 25 km on both sides. However, since March 2012 we have experienced fighting between opposition groups and the Syrian Army in the area of separation, which is a clear violation of the mandate. In that internal strife, apart from dealing with the two parties that are signatories to the Agreement on Disengagement, we have had to face a third and complex party: opposition groups of different shades that are not signatories to the Agreement. That has made the task of peacekeepers very challenging, demanding and dangerous.”

    2014-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7275 (2014) · source

  20. “Lieutenant General Singha: I am Lieutenant General I.S. Singha, Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). It is a great privilege to address this gathering today on the accomplishment of traditional mandates under changed politico-military environments. As the Council is aware, UNDOF is a traditional mission under Chapter VI of the Charter of the United Nations and has operated effectively as per its mandate for the last 40 years. The essence of UNDOF'S mandate is to keep the military forces of Israel and Syria apart, by establishing and manning a buffer zone, or an area of separation, 75 kilometres in length and 235 square kilometres in area. We are required to observe, monitor and report any violations in the area of separation.”

    2014-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7275 (2014) · source