The Role Of Canadian Peacekeeping

From 1993 to 1996, The United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda was commissioned when a peace treaty signed by the two tribes – The Hutus and Tutsis. Under the supervision of Romeo Dallaire when the peace broke lose. The next few months were “hell” as slain government officials, innocent Tutsis and Hutus laid on the streets in this massive genocide. In “Shattered” by Eric Walters we are introduced to a former soldier from the civil war in Rwanda named Jacques. Jacques was born and raised in the Canadian army as his father and grandfather were soldiers too. He was trained in the Special Ops Unit that he could withstand unarmed combat. Jacques served in Yugoslavia, Haiti, the Middle East twice wearing the blue beret of The United Nation

The documentary “Ghost in Rwanda” illustrates the devastation of the 1994 Genocide where approximately eight hundred thousand Rwandans were exterminated by their own government. The genocide was a result of ongoing conflicts between the Hutu, the ethnic majority in Rwanda, and the Tutsi the ethnic minority. The United Nation assisted in the establishment of a peace agreement between the two warring parties and sent General Romeo Dallaire, UN Force Commander, to Rwanda to ensure the terms of the agreement were honored. Dallaire had never seen action and welcomed opportunity to make a difference supporting peace in Africa. The peace mission was especially important to Dalliaire in light of recent U.N. failures to maintain peace in Somalia and Bosnia.

Canada’s role in Rwanda started in 1993, when the United Nations sent 2,500 peacekeepers that included 400 Canadians to Rwanda (Colyer,Cecillon,Draper,& Hogeveen,2010,pg 104). This was in an effort to stop the conflict over power between the Hutu and Tutsi people (Colyer,Cecillon,Draper,& Hogeveen,2010,pg 104). In an incident in 1994, the Tutsis were blamed by the Hutu for an airplane being shot down out of the sky. The Hutu became angry and went on a murderous rampage that started the genocide on April 6 1994. With the Tutsi forming rebel groups it was not long before it led to a full scale civil war ( Government

By playing a role in being a peacekeeping nation, the matter has eventually come to be an identification trait for Canada due to their previous involvement. Peacekeeping

Canada contributes nothing to the world of peacekeeping. Canada disgraces its past image by not being a piece of the puzzle to peacekeeping. It is an abnormality that peacekeeping that no longer relates to the Canadian society. The previous statistics as a peacekeeper are drastically different than the current stats. “High of 3,336, started at 850. As of Sept 2014 – 118” (Shepard) Canada’s participation in peacekeeping has changed over the past years from prominent to non-existent. If Canada was once called the peacekeeper now it should be called the nothing-keeper, because Canada is not keeping anything at this point. They started higher than what they are currently. Canada’s contribution is nothing compared to the past as they are a disappointment to their past peacekeeping image. In conclusion Canada no longer has the reputation as a peacekeeper due to its lack of contribution.

Canadian identity wasn’t always stereotypically related to polar bears, maple syrup and beavers. Various movements in the 20th century began the development of Canadian identity. Aspects of Canadian society such as technology, peacekeeping and immigration gave Canada a distinct identity. Technology distinguished Canada as a developed nation amongst others with advanced transportation, communication and electricity. Peacekeeping is also an essential part in Canada's identity as it displays effort and desire for world peace, which is something many individuals embrace. Lastly, diversity in Canada is recognized worldwide and plays a major role in Canadian identity. Through technology, peacekeeping and immigration during the 20th century, Canadian

Canada is a country known for its humanitarian efforts and generous compassion for those in other countries who need help. The biggest humanitarian effort in modern history has arisen in Syria and Iraq. Millions of people are displaced and are driven out of their warzone of a country. With an oppressive government and dozens of terrorist’s groups destroying the country, these people have no choice but to run to safety. That safety just so happens to be us; Countries who have been blessed with wealth and proper government, that gives us the opportunity to help those in need.

Canada’s peacekeeping, the way Canada treats the aboriginal people and Canada’s environment are my bottom three choices that make me proud to be Canadian. I am not highly proud of Canada’s peacekeeping since Canada continues to decrease it. In the past decade, Canada has dismissed an abundant number of requests to join peacekeeping duties thus the UN has stopped asking (Valpy). In 1991, Canada granted more than 10% of all its peacekeeping troops (Valpy). Unfortunately, after 16 years later Canada’s grant is less than 0.1% (Valpy). In fact, there is not even one Canadian officer in the UN’s peacekeeping headquarters (Valpy).Today peacekeepers from other countries have quadruplicated in just a couple of years whereas in Canada they have decreased

Canadians pride themselves on being a “peacekeeping country” and many believe that peacekeeping represents a defining aspect of Canadian identity because it reflects fundamental values, beliefs and interests. Canada has been a leader in peace operations since its development that spearheaded by a Canadian. In fact, Canada’s role as peacekeeper remains the main focus of the Canadian military after its invention around 60 years ago, originally started by a Canadian. Their efforts have gained an international reputation for Canada as a significant contributor to international peace and stability. While Canada has an exemplary history in UN peacekeeping, the current extent of its contribution, both in terms of peacekeeping personnel and percentage of funds to peacekeeping missions, are on a clear decline. The belief that Canada is a peacekeeping country is misguided because recent Canadian commitment shows a sharp decline in Canadian participation in UN peacekeeping. Surprisingly, as of March 2007, Canada ranked 59th out of 114 countries in terms of military and police contributions to UN operations. Despite Canadian declined involvement in peacekeeping during the last decade, it still remains a valuable and important mission that greatly deserves Canadian resources including monetary support, resources and personnel.

Canada's involvement with organizations such as the UN and NATO are good examples of Canada acting as a middle power. These were strongholds of international politics, in itself a requirement of a middle power, which were home to peacekeeping, economics and culture. These are political ideals that are used to define the position of a middle power and, by taking part in both the UN and NATO, Canada clearly exemplified the role.

Unquestionably Canada was a major contributor to the United Nation’s mission in South Sudan. Canada supported South Sudan in establishing a long term stable economy capable of supporting their population. In addition, Canada protected the rights of civilians in South Sudan by supplying the necessary resources to the United Nations and South Sudan. Furthermore, Canada assisted the establishment of a non-corrupt democratic government in South Sudan. Thus, the peace operation of South Sudan from 2012 to 2016, Canada played a crucial role in supporting long term economic development, protecting the rights of citizens and establishing a stable government.

“A small boy of 11 years, was curled up in a ball of fresh flesh and blood, in his eyes was a glance of lost hope, abandonment, and defeat. He was without vision; A little girl at nine years of age, was pinned up against a tree…her legs apart, and she was covered in things even hell can’t imagine; excrement, urine and blood . . . in her mouth was cold fresh meat, cut with a machete, that of her father… near in a ditch with putrid water were four bodies, cut up in pieces, stacked up-their parents and older brothers.”

Thesis: The role of the United Nations has changed from being primarily an international peacekeeping force to primarily a humanitarian organization.

It is now evident that with the warming up of the Arctic Ocean, naval forces of the littoral states can penetrate easily at least during the summer months on the pretext of protecting the explored resources. Also, some scholars predict that the contested sovereignty among the various states will essentially lead to more military presence. Militarization is thus one of the major challenges the region might face in the near future. Norwegian foreign secretary Jonas Gahr Stoere has expressed that the presence of military, navy and coastguard in the region is necessary. Canada has planned to develop deep water naval facility at Nanisivik which lies in the disputed Northwest Passage; to build armed ice-breakers and deployment of patrol ships. Canada

The Rwandan president, Habyarimana and the president of Burundi, Cyprien Ntaryamira, are killed when the president’s plane is shot down near Kigali Airport, on April 6th, 1994. That night on the 6th of April, 1994, the genocide begins. Hutu people take to the streets with guns and machetes. The Hutus set up roadblocks and stopped anyone that looked Tutsi or suspected of helping Tutsi people to hide. On April 7th, 1994 the Rwandan Armed Forces set up roadblocks and went house to house to kill any Tutsis found. Thousands of people die on the first, while the U.N. just stands by and watches the slaughter go on. On April 8th, 1994 the U.N. cuts its forces from 2,500 to 250 after ten U.N. soldiers were disarmed and tortured and shot or hacked to death by machetes, trying to protect the Prime Minister. As the slaughter continues the U.N. sends 6,800 soldiers to Rwanda to protect the civilians, on May 17th, 1994, they were meant to be the peacekeepers. The slaughter continues until July 15th, 1994, in the 100 days that the genocide lasted 800,000-1,000,000 Tutsis and Hutus