southwatch

Power in UN money

Liberia is protected by the United Nations, financed by international donors and headed by the country’s first democratically elected president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

The Executive Mansion is on the top of the hill. The UN Mission in Liberia has moved into the tallest building in town a little bit further down the hill. While the newly presented government budget is US $120.2 million the UNMIL has $760.57 million to work with. In addition comes the funding for building schools, houses, water pumps and other development projects from international donors. Money is power and at present Johnson-Sirleaf is beholden to the international community. Her government is protected by 15.000 UN troops.
At present the UN is still popular, even though they press up local prices and accusations of sexual abuse of children by some UN battalions are widespread. The UN also distorts the economy such that they attract talented individuals away from government ministries. Ordinary government workers will take home $26 monthly if the first peacetime budget passes parliament. That is decidedly less than the UN pays local domestic staff.
According to a public opinion survey carried out by US researchers 93,5 percent of the population think the security situation has improved, while 88 percent want UNMIL to stay longer in Liberia.

by Jan Speed

Eritrea undermining the U.N.

The Eritrean government’s arrest of 13 local staff working for the U.N. forces monitoring the disputed border between Eritrea and Ethiopia,  once again puts focus on the regime of president Isaias Afewerki.

In recent months Eritrea has:
* Curtailed the ability of U.N. forces to monitor the border areas by banning helicopter flights and calling for the withdrawal of western peacekeepers.
* Refused to allow US diplomats and military advisors to visit the border areas.

At the end of last year an international commission in the Hague ruled that Eritrea triggered the border war with Ethiopia when it attacked its neighbour in May 1998. This makes Eritrea liable to compensate Ethiopia for damages caused. However, an international border commission has ruled that the border town of Badme, where the initial fighting took place and which now is occupied by Ethiopian troops, belongs to Eritrea.

Afewerki’s hardline approach towards the U.N. is based on a strong distain for the international communities’ lack of pressure on Ethiopia to abide by the border commission’s ruling.

There is also a darker reason for Asmara’s line. For the president a lasting peace is not necessarily a good option. For more the three years he has detained 15 journalists and many party comrades who dared to demand democracy and more openness. Peace would increase these demands and require the demobilization of 50.000 young conscripts – youngsters who have experience the hardships of the frontline, and would be returning to a life of unemployment and discontent.

by Jan Speed