Army major under UN probe attempts suicide

An Indian Army major, who is under probe by the United Nations mission in Congo on sexual exploitation and abuse charges, allegedly attempted suicide, but is now out of danger.

Major R S Ghumman, who came under the scanner of the UN's Conduct and Discipline Unit (CDU) after he was allegedly found in the company of sex workers in a hotel there on July 6, tried to end his life "over the humiliation" he faced, army sources in the headquarters said in New Delhi on Saturday.

"The officer attempted to commit suicide and it took place about four or five days ago, reportedly over the humiliation he faced due to the probe against him. But we do not have information on the manner in which he made the attempt to end his life," the sources said.

During the course of questioning, Ghumman reportedly asked for a recess and was later found in a critical condition. The sources said they were not aware if he was found in the residential facilities or at the UN Mission's office, where he was being questioned.

Fellow officers and men noticed him and rushed him to a nearby hospital, they said. "He is out of danger now. He is safe and the questioning has re-started," they added. An Indian Army Brigade is in Congo as part of a UN Mission for peacekeeping operations in the civil war-torn nation.

Ghumman, belonging to the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles battalion, was with another officer from the Tunisian Army and the two were noticed getting out of the hotel with local women by an employee of the UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS).

After the employee reported the matter to the UN Mission, the investigations against him and the Tunisian officer were started for violating the rules, regulations and code of conduct for troops serving in the UN's Congo mission.

Visiting sex workers while serving under the UN flag is barred under the peace-keeping rules and code of conduct prescribed for the Congo mission. Ghumman is also under investigation for violating the curfew imposed in the North Kivu province and for venturing out of the residential facilities for UN troops at night, both offences under the UN laws for the mission in Congo. The major is on the verge of completing his tenure in Congo and is expected back in India soon. The Indian army too might initiate disciplinary proceedings against him based on the CDU's probe report, if the charges were proved against him.
Army major under UN probe attempts suicide

Tackle Wrongdoing by UN Peacekeepers

Human Rights Watch: Extracts of Letter to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon from Kenneth Roth, Executive Director and Steve Crawshaw, UN Advocacy Director

Allegations against Pakistani Peacekeepers

Human Rights Watch first brought detailed information of gold-smuggling by Pakistani peacekeepers to the attention of UN officials in Ituri, eastern Congo, in December 2005. This information led to the launch of an Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) investigation with which Human Rights Watch cooperated closely. More than a year after the investigation began the report was still not completed. Only after a May 2007 BBC report publicly highlighted the allegations, said that the report was blocked, and quoted a UN official as saying there was “a plan to bury [the report],” did OIOS conclude its delayed investigation. In July 2007 the OIOS report (since made publicly available by the US government) found only that a single Pakistani officer failed to prevent peacekeepers under his authority from providing support and security to persons involved in illegal gold trafficking.

Human Rights Watch was baffled by these findings, which seriously downplayed the extent of the problems. According to our research, a ring of Congolese army officers, Kenyan traders, and Pakistani peacekeepers was involved in smuggling millions of dollars of gold from Ituri. The available evidence suggested that the assistance provided by Pakistani peacekeepers went well beyond one individual, a finding confirmed by the BBC in its own investigation.

Allegations against Indian Peacekeepers

The failure of OIOS thoroughly to investigate and promote accountability of peacekeepers involved in illegal behavior is not unique to the allegations against the Pakistani peacekeepers. Human Rights Watch has received information of allegations that some Indian peacekeepers in Congo have engaged in illegal transactions with armed groups in North Kivu, eastern Congo, including the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR), some of whose leaders participated in the Rwandan genocide in 1994.

A preliminary OIOS assessment report from February 2008 seen by Human Rights Watch lists 44 allegations of misconduct and alleged illegal behavior by Indian peacekeeping troops in North Kivu from late 2005 to October 2007. The report says it found some evidence on at least 10 of the allegations. The report notes: “Some of the allegations are so serious and the potential consequences of taking no action so grave, that they should not be left unexamined.”

The allegations include weapons trading with the FDLR, informing armed groups of possible UN military operations, the smuggling of natural resources including gold and ivory, the unlawful detention of Congolese citizens, and the illicit use of equipment and resources belonging to MONUC, the UN peacekeeping force in Congo. The report concludes that further investigations are necessary since “it seems inevitable that [the allegations] will become the subject of scrutiny by the international media” and that such “exposure has the real potential to damage the reputation of the Indian military, MONUC and the United Nations.”
Full Text of Letter: UN: Tackle Wrongdoing by Peacekeepers

Tailpiece
How is Gold and Ivory Smuggled? Through diplomatic bags and cipher courier? In connivance with unscrupulous MoD bureaucrats and Army Brass? The enquiries will make a scapegoat of a few down the rung "Jawans". The real culprits who smuggled and made illegal money will go Scot free!

Indian Peacekeepers become smugglers and abusers

New Delhi, August 12: After a series of charges ranging from gold smuggling to illegal detention of local citizens to making statements in support of rebel groups, Indian peacekeepers in Congo have been accused of child abuse by an internal UN investigation.

While Indian Blue Helmets have been charged for a series of aberrations in Congo over the past year, this is by far the most serious allegation against Indian peacekeepers anywhere in the world.

In July, a Colonel posted at the mission was brought under investigation for making statements in support of a rebel group. The UN had initiated an internal inquiry against Colonel Chand Saroha for expressing sympathy for the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) at a public function in April.

As reported by The Indian Express, a UN investigation had also found that Indian peacekeepers in Congo illegally detained, physically assaulted and “sexually propositioned” a local gold trader who had allegedly sold them counterfeit gold dust.

The three Army personnel identified as “JCO Deepak Singh Nayal , Sergeant Suresh Pandurang Bodhak and Lt Col Talum Duby” were also found guilty by an Army court of inquiry earlier this year.

The Indian contingent has been charged with a series of allegations, like gun running and having connections with local militia, that have all been dismissed as a “malicious media campaign” by the Army.
India probes UN sex charges in Congo
Indian Army to join UN probe on Congo gold smuggling
After smuggling, child abuse is Indian shame in Congo

Indiscipline: The formation commanders and Commanding Officers are squarely responsible for such debased activity of the Indian Army. The Jawans are the finest warriors in the world. The Career Opportunists (COs) are not commanding troops but are concerned about their next promotion based on pleasing the bosses sitting in AHQ. This requires thorough investigation to mitigate the name and honour of our Jawans. The Commanding Officers so responsible need to be punished in an exemplary manner.