The united nations and the path to international peace
THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE PATH TO INTERNATIONAL PEACE
LUKPATA, VICTOR IKONG (Ph.D)
ABSTRACT
The United Nations is a global intergovernmental organization charged with the responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. The avenues with which the organization attempts to fulfilled this role includes providing debate as alternative to fighting, diplomatic and economic sanctions, sending U.N military forces to intervene in war turned zones, promoting arms control among others. The focus of this paper is on some practical cases of intervention in areas of crisis.
PURPOSES AND PRINCIPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS
The purposes of the United Nations as set forth in the charter are:
● To maintain international peace and security
● To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self determinations of peoples.
● To cooperate in solving international, economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems and in promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedom.
● To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
In attending these common ends, the United Nations operates in accordance with the following principles:
● It is based on the sovereign equality of all its members.
All members are to fulfill in good faith their charter obligations.
● They are to settle their international disputes by peaceful means and without endangering international peace and security, and justice.
● They are to refrain from the threat or use of force against any other state. They are to give the United Nations every assistance in any action it takes in accordance with the charter, and shall not assist states against which the United Nations is taking, preventive or enforcement action.
● Nothing in the charter is to authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state (United Nations Publications, 1998:5).
SOME PRACTICAL CASES OF INTERVENTION
HOLLAND-INDONESIA CRISIS: In 1947, a dispute arose between Holland and Indonesia when the Dutch troops took military action against the Republic of Indonesia. The United Nations Security Council was notified of this case by India and Australia on 1st August 1947. The Security Council intervenes by calling on both parties to stop hostilities against each other, and settle dispute by peaceful means. The Security Council appointed a good officers committee composed of the representative of Australia, Belgium and United State to bring about a compromise and cease-fire. The committee succeeded in brining a cease-fire in August 1947. However, in 1948 the truce was violated by Holland who withdraw, to the 1948 truce lines, release the Indonesian leaders and try to reach a peaceful settlement with them, under threat of enforcement measures. The Dutch complied with the demand and ultimately Indonesia became independent.
INDIA-PAKISTAN CRISIS: This crisis was masterminded over the ownership of Kashmir. The representative of India tabled the Kashmir question before the Security Council in January 1948 on the plea that the situation in Kashmir posed a threat and danger to their international peace and security. India complained that tribesmen were being encouraged and assisted by the Pakistan government to invade Kashmir. On the other hand, Pakistan not only denied the charges of India but also pleaded that the accession of Kashmir to India was illegal. After hearing the both parties, the Security Council passed a resolution calling upon them to improve the situation. United Nations commission for India and Pakistan was formed for the investigation of the situation on the sport.
The commission demanded both government to issue cease-fire and to accept certain principles on the basis of which the truce agreement was to be negotiated. The principles were:
i) Pakistan would withdraw its troops recently stationed in the state and do its best to secure the withdrawal of tribesmen and Pakistan nationals not normally residents there.
ii) Pending of final solution, the territory vacated by troops would be administered by local authorities under the supervision of the commission.
iii) Where the commission notified India that Pakistan was complying with these terms, India would begin to withdraw the bulk of its forces in stages to be agreed on with the commission.
iv) Pending the acceptance of conditions for final settlement the Indian government would maintain within the lines existing the movement of cease-fire those forces considered necessary to assist local authorities in observing law and order. India after classifications accepted the resolution.
BRITAIN-ALBANIA: In January 1947 the British government brought a complaint before the Security Council against Albania. She pleaded that a loss has been caused to the life and property of the British warship in Corfu channel. On the other hand, Albania denied the charge and accuses British of violating the territorial waters of Albania. The Security Council referred the dispute to the international court of justice. The court held that Albania was responsible for the explosions under international law. Albania bowed to the court decision by henceforth stopping the molestation of British nationals and property at Corfu channel.
KOREAN CRISIS: In June, 1950 the armed forces of North Korea launched an unprovoked attack on the South Korean Republic and thus masterminded “the greatest international crisis since the end of World War 11 as palmer and Perkins puts it. Consequently, an immediate meeting of the Security Council was called on the request of the U.S.A. on June 25, 1950 the Security Council passed a resolution that-North Korean armed attack was a clear breach of the peace. So, the both parties were called upon to immediately stop hostilities against themselves and demanded withdrawal of North Korean forces to the 38th parallel. The resolution also requested all members to render every, assistance to the United Nations in the execution of this resolution and refrain from giving assistance to the North Korean authorities.
THE CYPRUS-GREEK CRISIS: This crisis was brought before the United Nations in 1955 on the instance of Greece that the Island be transferred to her. British resisted this request on the ground that she had exercise control over territory since 1925. The matter came before the Eleventh session of the General Assembly, which adopted a resolution calling for continued negotiations in line with the principle of the charter. The Island ultimately gained independence in 1960 in 1963 once again tension between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots assumed serious dimension and posed a serious threat to world peace. So, to find a lasting solution, on 4th March, 1964 the Security Council recommended the establishment of a peacekeeping force. However, the force known, as UNFICYP could not stop the fighting rather the fight assumed more serious dimension. At this juncture the government of Cyprus-appealed to the Security Council calling for an immediate cease-fire.
THE SUEZ CRISIS: The Suez crisis is one of the crisis that threatened international peace. In July 1956, president Nasser of Egypt announced the nationalization of the Suez carnal and freezes the Suez Canal company’s funds in Egypt. Great British and France viewed the situation seriously and asserted that the action taken by the government of Egypt was in contravention of the International Charter of Canal established by the Treaty of Constantinople of 1888. However, Egypt promised to pay full compensation to the shareholders of the French Company managing the canal, in which the British government held the controlling interest. This crisis situation continued unabated until November 24th 1956 when the General Assembly called upon British, France and Israel forces to withdraw from Egypt and authorized the Secretary-General to go ahead with plans for clearing the canal under the supervision of the United Nations. The area was cleared by April 1957. The Egyptian government also agreed to respect the obligation contained in the Treaty of Constantinople of 1888 and the charter of the United Nations. (Shupe, 1980:493).
ALGERIAN-FRANCE CRISIS: This crisis arose out of the Algerians ambition to become free from French rule. Because of the demand for independence, the French troops dealt with the Algerian very severely. In the process 48,000 Algerians were annihilated. When the Algerian crisis was brought before the Security Council by Saudi Arabia in January 1955, the French Prime Minister Mollet declared that French would never give up Algeria. She also claimed that the United Nations had no jurisdiction with regard to the Algerians as it fell within her domestic jurisdiction. U.S.A. and U.K. backed France in her stand. This crisis situation continued until 18th March, 1962 when the dispute between France and Nigeria came to an end about seven years when on the year in question 18th March, 1962 the two parties concluded a cease-fire agreement. This paved way for Algerian independent on 2nd July, 1962.
CUBAN CRISIS: Towards the close of October 1962 one of the most serious international crisis since the Second World War took place in Cuba. The U.S.S.R. had established missile based in Cuba. In view of the threat presented by those based to the United States and to the Western Hemisphere in general, president Kennedy of U.S.A. ordered on October 22, 1962 a naval blockade around Cuba Island. At list the U.S.S.R. adopted an adamant posture over the U.S.A. action and there was every possibility of this crisis developing into a shooting war. However, due to the mediation efforts of the United Nations Acting Secretary General, U. Thant, Russia ultimately agree to dismantle the missile bases in Cuba under international supervision. (Srivastva, 1984:1128).
ARAB-ISRAEL CRISIS: Towards the close of 1966 tension mounted on the Israel’s border. Israel blamed the Arab terrorists for the crisis situation, and maintained that she could not remain silent in that face of continued aggression against her territory. The Arab states on their part alleged that Israel was becoming increasingly militant. In May, 1966 the United Arab Republic and Syria declared a state of emergency and began to mobilize forces along Israel borders. On May 24th 1966 the United Arab Republic leaders announced the closing of the straits of Train to Israel shipping consequently, Israel called on U.N. to act because this constituted a denial of free navigation in these waters. A war between the two parties broke out on 5th June 1967. During the war, the Security Council was almost continuously in session and passed a number of resolutions calling upon the both parties to effect immediate cease-fire. In spite of the effort of the Security Council, the crisis continued unabated until 11th November 1973 when an agreement was reached between the Arab and Israel. This agreement was made possible by the effort of the then U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Henrys Kissinger. As a result of this agreement, both parties agreed to absorbed the cease-fire scrupulously and consider the question regarding return to the position held by them before the outbreak of hostilities in October 1973. United Nations checkpoints were to be set up which were expected to help in supervising the exchange of the prisoners of war. It should be noted that Arab-Israel has been living as perpetual enemies because of constant conflict between them. (Khouri, 1968:22).
CONCLUSION
The United Nations is a promoter of international peace and security. This it does through such means as creating norms against violence, providing a debate alternative, diplomatic intervention, sanctions, peacekeeping and arms control and disarmament. The United Nations have recorded tremendous achievement in its effort to promote international peace and security by successfully intervening and restoring peace in the Holland-Indonesia crisis, British-Albania crisis, Korean crisis, the Cyprus-Greeks crisis, the Suez crisis, Cuba crisis, Arab-Israel crisis among others.
WORKS CITED
Ackerman, Peter and Christopher Kruegler, Strategic Nonviolent conflict: the Dynamics of people power in the Twentieth country. (Western, CT. Praeger, 1993).
Alger, Chadwick. The United Nations system: the politics of the member states.(Tokyo: United Nations University Press, (1995).
Alker, Hayward R. “An Historical perspective”. In after the cold war: A debate on cooperative security. (Cambridge, M.A. institute for defense and disarmament studies, 1992).
Beckman, Peter, World Politics in the Twentieth century. (Englewood cliffs, NJ: prentice Hall, 1984).
Esman, Milton J. (eds). International Organizations and Ethnic conflict. (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1995.
Khouri, Fred J. The Arab-Israeli Dilemma. (New York: Syracuse University Press, 1968).
Rourke, John T. International Politics on the World stage. (McGraw Hill companies Inc. 1997).
Srivastva, L.N. International Relations (From 1914 to present day). (Surjeet Book Deport (Regl) Nai Serak, Delhi, 1984).
Snyder, Glenn H. Conflict Among Nations: Bargaining, Decision Making and system structure International crisis (Princeton University Press, 1977).
About the Author
LUKPATA, VICTOR IKONG (Ph.D)
E-Mail: victorlukpata@rocketmail.com
08059813098, 08133759769
BIODATA
Date of Birth: 4th July, 1968
Sex: Male
Marital status: Married
Nationality: Nigerian
State of Origin: Cross River
Local Govt. Area: Yala
Senatorial Destrict: Northern
Home Town: Obat Wanihem North Ukele
Contact Address: 23 Grace land Close,
Unical Satellite Town, Calabar.
ACADEMIC RECORD
DATE
INSTITUTION
QUALIFICATION
2003-2008
University of Calabar
Ph.D. History and Int’l Studies
2000-2003
Imo State University, Owerri
M.Sc. Int’l Affairs and Diplomacy
1995-1999
University of Calabar
B.Sc. (Hons) Public Administration
1987-1989
S.B.S. Akamkpa
IJMB “A Level”
1978-1983
Sec. Gram. Sch. Wanokom
WASC
1972-1978
Primary School, Iwango Idah
FSLC
WORK EXPERIENCE
1996-2004
Cross River State Government:
Administrative Officer
2004-2008
Cross River State Government:
Ministry of Health, Calabar
Hospital Administrator
2006-2010
CES, UNICAL
Part Time Lecturer
2008-Date
Management Development Institute, Calabar
Management Development Officer/Principal Admin. Officer
MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES (LUTHERAN HOSPITAL YEHE/GOVERNMENT DENTAL HOSPITAL, CALABAR 2005-DATE)
1. Hospital Management Committee - Secretary
2. Drug Committee - Member
3. Finance and Supply Committee - Member
4. Sanitation Committee - Secretary
5. Disciplinary Committee - Secretary
6. Quality Improvement Committee - Member
7. Patient Consultative Committee - Secretary
8. Emergency Preparedness Committee - Member
9. Waste Management Committee - Member
HOSPITAL MEETINGS
1. Administration Meetings - Secretary
2. Heads of Department Meeting - Secretary
3. General Staff Meeting - Secretary
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
1. Ukelle Progressive Association, Calabar-Secretary (1997-2006)
POSITION IN CHURCH (BCCM
1. Men Fellowship (Group 4) - Treasurer 2008-Date
2. BCCM - Usher 2010-Date
PUBLICATIONS
Lukpata, Victor (2011) –http://www.articlesbase.com/international-studies-articles/paradigm-for-analysis-of-nigerias-foreign-policy-4691993.html
Lukpata, Victor (2011) –http://www.articlesbase.com/international-studies-articles/national-interest-acase-of-philosophical-inconsistency-4692161.html
Lukpata, Victor (2011) –http://www.articlesbase.com/international-studies-articles/national-interest-and-national-development-4691192.html
Lukpata, Victor (2011) –http:www.articlesbase.com/international-studies-articles/the-revenue-allocation-formular-in-nigeria-a-continuous-search-4737325.html
Lukpata, Victor (2011) –http://www.articalesbase.com/international-studies-articles/the-politics-of-revenue-allocation-in-nigeria-1958-1968-4737387.html
The United Nations: It’s Your World
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