UN BRIEFING NOTE ON FIELD OPERATIONS JUNE 4 - 10, 2008.

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000530 JOINT STAFF FOR DIR, DIR-J3, DIR-J5 SECDEF FOR PK/HA, ISA, AFR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNSC MOPS KPKO SUBJECT: UN BRIEFING NOTE ON FIELD OPERATIONS JUNE 4 - 10, 2008. ¶1. On June 13, Security Council President Khalilzad (United States) transmitted the following Briefing Note to the Security Council on UN field operations covering the period of June 4-10, 2008. ¶2. Begin text of briefing note: Africa --Burundi (BINUB): On 9 June, Government and FNL delegations participated in the meeting of the Group of Special Envoys for Burundi held in South Africa. The Government and FNL issued a joint declaration, reiterating their commitment to the peace process and appealing for further assistance from the international community. FNL Chairman Agathon Rwasa indicated that the questions of provisional immunity and the integration of FNL into national security institutions remained the main obstacles to the peace process. On 30 May, the National Assembly President submitted a letter to the Constitutional Court, which accused dissenting members of the ruling CNDD-FDD party of occupying National Assembly seats in violation of the Constitution. On 7 June, the Court declared the holding of seats by 22 dissenting members of the ruling party as unconstitutional. On 8 June, the FRODEBU party fractured, with former National Assembly and FRODEBU President Jean Minani forming a new faction of 12 MPs, backed by the CNDD-FDD. The creation of the new parliamentary faction and the Constitutional Court ruling restored the ruling party's majority at the National Assembly. On 9 June, current FRODEBU President Ngendakumana challenged the occupation of parliamentary seats by dissenting FRODEBU MPs and requested the National Assembly President to submit the case to the Constitutional Court. During the reporting period, national security forces continued to detain alleged FNL combatants. --Central African Republic (BONUCA): On 8 June, President Frangois Boziz established a 15-member committee to help organize the inclusive political dialogue, a national reconciliatory process aimed to resolve the ongoing political and security crises in the Central African Republic (CAR). On 7 June, President Boziz and his Minister dealing with dialogue matters rejected claims that the Government was not committed to the holding of the inclusive political dialogue. On 5 June, former Defense Minister Jean-Jacque Demafouth, recently appointed leader of the APRD rebel movement, reaffirmed his commitment to the dialogue and willingness to return to the CAR, in an interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI). He also confirmed that the APRD fighters were encamped at their current locations, awaiting their demobilization and reintegration under the expected comprehensive peace agreement. --Chad/CAR (MINURCAT): On 6 June, a Security Council delegation travelled to Chad, where it visited refugee camps and IDP locations in eastern Chad and met with Prime Minister Youssouf Saleh Abbas, in the absence of President Dby. Some 50 vehicles carrying Chadian National Armed Forces (FANT) troops and material deployed around Adr during the week. On 9 June, FANT troop reinforcements, travelling with an estimated 30 vehicles, arrived in Farchana. Chadian authorities stated that the movement was a routine deployment. In another development, it was reported that elements of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Union des Forces pour la Dmocratie et le Dveloppement (UFDD) clashed on 3 June in the Iriba-Bahai-Tine triangle, during which JEM reportedly suffered significant losses and withdrew to Bahai. UN sources reported that the JEM rebel group may have been supported by elements of the FANT. SRSG Angelo attended the meeting of the Contact Group of the Dakar Accord in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo on 9 June, as an observer. As of 10 June, MINURCAT's strength stood at 529 personnel, including 148 UNPOL and 23 MLOs. EUFOR has deployed approximately 2,958 troops out of its authorized strength of 3,700. --Ctte d'Ivoire (UNOCI): The cantonment process of Forces nouvelles (FN) elements resumed in Bouak and Kani during the week. The process also commenced in Man and Odienn. Since 15 March 2008, 3,994 FN combatants have been cantoned, out of which 2,768 have been demobilized, while 726 have been reassigned to the 'volunteer national army' and 500 to the Integrated Command Centre. However, only 86 weapons have been collected. On 3 June, FN authorities discovered considerable arms caches in Sgula and Kani. On 6 June, members of the diplomatic community discussed the status of the electoral process and UNOCI's role in supporting and securing the elections. The funding gap for operations of the Independent Electoral Commission for 2008 has narrowed to $17.5 million. On 9 June, a Security Council delegation met in Abidjan with stakeholders in the Ivorian peace process and reiterated strong Council support for secure and credible elections on 30 November. On the same day, near Bouak, highway bandits robbed two vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with ten people on board. --Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC): On 4 June, the Joint Monitoring Group met at the Special Envoys' level in Rubavu, Rwanda, to review progress in the implementation of the Nairobi Communiqu. The participants highlighted the need for a firm approach to deal with FDLR leaders residing in Europe and North America and to weaken the group's economic supply line and other measures against the FDLR. On the same day, FDLR elements fired indiscriminately at an IDP camp near Kinyandonyi (70km north of Goma),killing six people and injuring another 20. The incident occurred when FDLR refused to withdraw from an area where the FARDC intended to deploy. Following this attack, MONUC established a Mobile Operating Base (MOB) in the area to prevent further attacks. On 5 June, Callixte Mbarushimana, FDLR Executive Secretary in Europe issued a statement condemning the incident and denying any FDLR involvement. The CNDP submitted a letter to the Mixed Technical Commission on Peace and Security (MTCPS),underscoring what it considered the Commission's lack of progress. On 9 June, Abb Malu Malu, National Coordinator of the Amani Programme, and the International Facilitation met with Laurent Nkunda in Kilolirwe to discuss the MTCPS proceedings and progress in the Goma and Nairobi processes, including the modalities for disengagement. On 5 June, the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) held a peaceful demonstration in Gemena in support of their leader Jean-Pierre Bemba, who remains in the custody of Belgian law enforcement authorities. --Ethiopia/Eritrea (UNMEE): On 4 June, the Ethiopian Ministry of Defence released a report stating that in the last nine months, it had focused on enhancing the overall capability of the Ethiopian armed forces, and that the country was now fully prepared "for any attack" from Eritrea. - On 9 June, the Eritrean authorities officially notified UNMEE that there would be no aviation fuel available in Asmara until 7 July. The Mission is ascertaining whether this restriction applies only to UNMEE. On 6 June, UNDP's office in Asmara informed UNMEE that following completion of the resettlement programme for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ),all IDP camps in Eritrea have been closed. The Ethiopian police in Zela Ambessa informed UNMEE that asylum-seekers continued to cross the border from Eritrea into Ethiopia in that area on the regular basis. --Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS): President Yahya Jammeh of the Republic of Gambia will start on 10 June 2008 a four-day visit to Guinea-Bissau, at President Vieira's invitation aimed at improving friendship and cooperation between the two countries. During a press conference on 5 June, Prime Minister Cabi announced that his Government had decided to adopt manual voter registration instead of the biometric method initially planned for the 16 November 2008 legislative elections, in order to respect the date for the polls. On 4 June, the Secretary of State for Territorial Administration announced that voter registration would take place from 3 to 24 July ¶2008. --Liberia (UNMIL): On 4 June, the Ministers of Internal Affairs and Justice visited Harper, Maryland County, to meet with some 200 citizens of Wetchoken village, who had been occupying the City Hall in Harper to protest the perceived indifference of the Government to a violent land dispute during May between them and the citizens of Rock Town, Maryland County. On 6 June, the House of Representatives began a three-day retreat in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, to review the 2008/2009 national budget. On 7 June, following a land dispute in Margibi County, a group of armed men opened fire on 45 farm labourers, killing one person. On 9 June, the Deputy Information Minister for Public Affairs reported on UNMIL radio that a national agricultural programme called "Get Back to the Soil" would be launched as part of the Government's efforts to tackle the global rise in food prices. During the week, with the assistance of UNHCR, 269 Liberian refugees voluntarily returned from Ghana on UNMIL's aircraft. --Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL): On 6 June, a delegation from the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC),led by Ambassador Frank Majoor, Chairman of the PBC Sierra Leone Country Specific Meeting, ended a five-day visit to Sierra Leone. On 5 June, Parliament adopted the Finance Act, which is one of the International Monetary Fund's preconditions for the release of donor funds for budget support to the country. The Political Parties Registration Commission and the International Federation for Elections Systems held joint gender and peace forums from 5 to 6 June and peace rallies on 7 June throughout the country. These events focused on enhancing the participation of women in the local elections and encouraging the holding of peaceful elections. --Somalia (UNPOS): The second round of Somalia peace talks, concluded on 9 June with the signing of an Agreement between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS). The Agreement provides for the cessation of hostilities by both parties for an initial period of 90 days, starting 30 days from the signing of the agreement; an agreement to submit a request to the Security Council, within the next four months, to authorize and deploy an international stabilization force from friendly countries, excluding neighboring States; an agreement by the TFG to act in accordance with the Ethiopian Government's decision to withdraw its troops from Somalia following the deployment of UN forces and the establishment, within 15 days, of a Joint Security Committee, led by the UN, to ensure the implementation of agreed security agreements and another High-Level committee to address challenges related to political, justice and reconciliation issues. Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, an opposition hardliner, has characterised the recent Agreement as an inconsequential one which will not result in peace. --Sudan (UNMIS and UNAMID): UNMIS On 8 June, Sudan's Presidency signed a new "Road Map for Return of IDPs and Implementation of the Abyei Protocol", addressing the situation in Abyei after heavy fighting between the parties in May displaced over 50,000 people. The Road Map provided for: 1) establishment of a civil administration in Abyei within temporary boundaries; 2) new security arrangements, and the lifting of some movement restrictions on UNMIS; 3) a facilitated return of IDPs; and 4) establishment of a specialized arbitration body to resolve the conflict over Abyei's borders within six months, failing which the parties would refer the issue to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague. Both parties welcomed the agreement, but some, including the head of the Misseriya-led Abyei Liberation Front, expressed reservations. Negotiations over Abyei coincided with the visits of a Security Council delegation and (separately) US Special Envoy Richard Williamson. The Security Council met President Bashir, First Vice-President Kiir and other senior officials on 4 June. On 3 June, Williamson announced the suspension of the ongoing talks on normalizing US-Sudanese relations owing to the crisis over Abyei. The security situation remained tense throughout the week with continued reports of movements of troops and equipment towards Abyei, and various shooting incidents in Southern Kordofan State. UNMIS also received unconfirmed reports of a new JEM military base established in Southern Kordofan on 4 June. In southern Sudan, the SPLA began disarmament operations mandated by the Government of southern Sudan. On 4 June, a disarmament exercise near Hiyala Payam (40 km S.E. of Torit) was resisted by villagers, resulting in the deaths of 14 SPLA soldiers. On 5 June, a group suspected to be the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) attacked the SPLA Nabanga Garrison camp in Western Equatoria State, killing the SPLA company commander as well as 13 other soldiers and nine civilians. UNAMID On 4 June, two armed men broke into the Medecins Sans Frontieres-Swiss guest house in Golo (40 km northeast of Zalingei) and stole 12,000 US dollars from the safe. The incident was reported to the local Government authorities in Golo, who accused Medecins Sans Frontieres of assisting the rebels and told the NGO to leave Golo. Negotiations began regarding this issue. Following the 10 May JEM attack on Omdurman, at least 13 civilians, including one national UN staff member, have been arrested by Sudanese National Intelligence authorities in West Darfur. Five of the detainees were released, four continued to be detained in El Geneina National Intelligence facilities, and four were transferred to Khartoum. UNAMID officially requested a list of the detainees transferred to Khartoum, which has not yet been made available. Since 3 June, INGOs in Garsilla (70 km south of Zalingei in West Darfur) have been denied travel permits to locations outside the town by the Sudanese Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC). HAC has declared the area insecure due to ongoing Sudanese Armed Forces operations against JEM in the Wadi Saleh area (near Garsilla). To assist the State Statistic Bureau, UNAMID organized the retrieval of census materials and equipment of the Fifth Population and Housing Census from various localities in the state using UNAMID air assets. Another request was made to UNAMID to assist in transporting the census materials to Khartoum. Approximately 1,100 individuals have reportedly moved from Sani Afundu to Yasin (South Darfur) over the reporting period due to continued tribal clashes and general insecurity. UNAMID's military component currently comprises 7,834 military personnel (out of 19,555 authorized) and its police component includes 1,653 police officers and one Formed Police Unit (out of 3,772 police officers and 19 Formed Police Units authorized). Asia and Middle East --Afghanistan (UNAMA): On 4 June, the Upper House of the Afghan Parliament passed the Oil and Gas Law, and the Lower House passed the Pharmaceutical, Statistics, Military Tribunal and Salary of Civil Servants laws. During the reporting period, anti-government elements attacked schools in Sholgara District (Balkh Province), Qush Tepa District (Jawzjan Province),and Khanabad District (Kunduz Province),damaging the buildings. Other attacks by anti-government elements throughout the reporting period in Qalat and Tarnak Wa Jaldak Districts (Zabul Province),Khash Rod District (Nimruz Province),Poshte Rod District, (Farah Province),Shwak District (Paktya Province),Nawur District, Qarabagh District, and Ghazni City (Ghazni Province),Spin Boldak District (Kandahar Province), Jaji Maidan District (Khost Province),Manogai District (Kunar Province),Reg, Desho, and Sangin Districts (Hilmand Province), Tagab District (Kapisa Province),and in Tirin Kot (Uruzgan) resulted in the deaths of 12 Afghan National Police (ANP) officers, two civilians, and three international military troops. One Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier, 17 ANP officers, one international military officer, and 41 civilians were injured. On 8 June, the body of an Afghan media reporter, who had been abducted the previous day, was found in Lashkar Gah District (Hilmand Province). --India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP): On 4 June, Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani, speaking to the media, advocated an expeditious, just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. On 5 June, military observers from Field Station Domel observed seven people crossing the Line of Control (LOC) at Chakothi, 52 from the Pakistan-administered side and 52 from the Indian-administered side. Also on 5 June, the Pakistani Army registered with UNMOGIP a complaint of ceasefire violations on the part of India. UNMOGIP began conducting an investigation into the allegations. During the reporting period, 10 suspected militants were reportedly killed and two civilians wounded in various conflict-related incidents in Bandipore, Baramulla, Kupwara, Pulwama, and Srinagar Districts. --Iraq (UNAMI): On 5 June, UNAMI presented to the Government of Iraq its first set of analysis regarding Iraq's disputed internal boundaries, focusing on four specific districts in northern Iraq. During the press conference, SRSG de Mistura explained the underlying methodology and next steps, as well as stressing the need for Iraqi ownership of the process. During the reporting period, UNAMI engaged in high-level discussions with Iraqi interlocutors on how, through the constitutional review process, outstanding political issues could be solved. UNAMI continues to work closely with the Independent High Electoral Commission of Iraq (IHEC) in all electoral preparations. Planning is well underway for a voter registration update across all 18 provinces of Iraq which is expected to begin on 1 July. However, the new election law remains pending in the Council of Representatives. UNAMI and the Government of Iraq jointly organized a one-week anti-corruption workshop with UNDP and UNODC experts for representatives from leading Iraqi specialist agencies. UNAMI also participated in the first session of an inter-ministerial committee for reconstruction of Sadr City in Baghdad, chaired by Ministry of Displacement and Migration and a senior adviser to the Prime Minister. --Lebanon (UNIFIL): During the period under review, UNIFIL observed a total of 40 violations of Lebanese air space by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF),including 16 by fixed-wing aircraft and 24 by drones. UNIFIL also observed 22 Blue Line violations by Israeli cattle near UN position 4-31. UNIFIL protested all the violations to the IDF. On 4, 6 and 10 June, UNIFIL patrols were monitored and video-recorded by unidentified personnel in civilian cars near UN position 9-66, in the vicinity of Burjash Shamali refugee camp, and near UN position 1-26, respectively. In all cases, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) was informed. Also on 4 June, a civilian vehicle drove quickly and aggressively towards a UNIFIL checkpoint southwest of Marjayoun, veering away at high speed at the last moment. The LAF were informed. In addition, on 6 June, UNIFIL was informed that three men had been observed burying tube-like objects on the beach, north of UN position 1-26. A joint UNIFIL and LAF patrol was dispatched to the location and found 15 holes on the beach, which were assessed to be old defence positions. UNIFIL and the LAF have launched an investigation into the matter. --Nepal (UNMIN): Efforts to form a unity government following the Constituent Assembly (CA) election of 10 April are continuing. The technical committee formed by the three major parties-the Maoists, the Nepali Congress (NC) and the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML)-to reach a consensus over power-sharing and constitution arrangements appeared to have made progress on certain issues ahead of the next meeting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) for 11 June. All three parties finally agreed to amend the Interim Constitution to enable the legislature to vote out a future government by a simple, instead of the present two-thirds, majority. Meanwhile, the Interim Government announced a 25 per cent gas price increase effective 10 June, which sparked a series of protests across the country. --Timor-Leste (UNMIT): On 4 June, the Council of Ministers formally revoked Government resolution 3/2008 of 17 February on the establishment of the Joint Command. At the same time, it created a Centre for the Management of Crises, a permanent body under the auspices of the Ministry of Defence, to plan and train for eventual crises such as armed insurrection, natural disasters, and social and political unrest. On 5 June, the armed forces (F-FDTL) commenced night patrols in several Dili neighbourhoods reportedly to deter fighting between martial arts groups. At the 5 June meeting of the Trilateral Coordination Forum, the Government, UNMIT and the international security forces discussed, inter alia, the gradual handover of policing responsibilities from UNMIT to the national police (PNTL),and preparations for the Government's weapons collection plan. Participants also identified as main emerging threats: violence by martial arts groups and drunken youth; the petitioners; illegal smuggling of goods, drugs and weapons; carrying of weapons and use of alcohol by off-duty members of the security forces; and frictions in communities receiving internally displaced persons. On 5 June, SRSG Khare held his bi-monthly meeting with the NGO Forum, with discussion focusing on, inter alia, plans for the handover of policing responsibilities to the PNTL, justice and serious crimes, and anti-corruption initiatives. --Western Sahara (MINURSO): On 3 June, four Saharans, including three children, who were participating in the UNHCR Confidence-Building Measures programme of family exchange visits between the Morocco-controlled side and the Polisario-controlled side of the Territory, decided to stay west of the berm and not return to the camps near Tindouf, Algeria. On 4 June, some 200 people including Spanish NGO members and Saharans from the Tindouf camps gathered inside the buffer strip near Bir Lahlou to protest the presence of the berm and to raise awareness of the absence of freedom of movement for Saharans. Meanwhile, MINURSO completed its investigation into reports by the Frente Polisario of air violations by the royal Moroccan Army on 1 June. The allegations were not confirmed. Europe and Latin America --Georgia (UNOMIG): In the Zugdidi sector, UNOMIG reported training activities conducted by the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs in the security and restricted-weapons zones. --Cyprus (UNFICYP): UNFICYP continued to provide support to the talks in Working Groups and Technical Committees. The situation in the buffer zone remained calm, with only minor violations reported. De-mining activity continued, resulting in the clearance of two minefields. The Ledra Street crossing point remained open without any incidents. --Haiti (MINUSTAH): During the reporting period, several kidnappings were reported in Port-au-Prince, Cap Haotien and in Port-de-Paix. On 3 June, the Haitian National Police (HNP) and MINUSTAH conducted three joint special operations in Port-au-Prince which resulted in the arrest of 20 suspects. On 4 June, at the initiative of a number of civil society organizations, an estimated 10,000 persons demonstrated peacefully in Port-au-Prince to voice concern about kidnappings. Both President Prval and Prime Minister-designate Robert Manuel met with different groups of parliamentarians to seek support for Mr. Manuel's nomination. On 7 June, an exchange of gunfire between the HNP and alleged criminals in Cit Soleil resulted in the death of one suspect and the arrest of another. On 8 June, MINUSTAH assisted the HNP in arresting a suspect for the murder of a police officer in October 2007. Also on 8 June, on the occasion of the National Children's Day, the prosecutor ordered the release of 15 boys from a detention centre in Delmas where a total of 184 boys are being held. --Kosovo (UNMIK): On 6 June, Kosovo Serb municipal representatives who were elected in the 11 May Serbian municipal elections convened parallel "municipal assemblies" in Istok, northern Mitrovica, Pec, Prizren, Strpce and Zubin Potok, and on 9 June in Zvecan. During the reporting period, approximately 40 Kosovo Serb former employees continued to organise daily peaceful protests, demanding their reinstatement in the court in northern Mitrovic. End text. ¶3. Minimize considered. KHALILZAD