By IANS,
United Nations : UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has sought “disciplinary action to the maximum degree permitted by Indian law” against some Indian peacekeepers who allegedly engaged in “sexual exploitation and abuse” in Congo.
Ban said he was “deeply troubled” by the outcome of an internal UN investigation that found evidence that a number of Indian peacekeepers, previously assigned to one of the units with the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), may have engaged in sexual exploitation and abuse.
“He reiterates, in the strongest possible terms, that such behaviour, if substantiated, is wholly unacceptable and that disciplinary action to the maximum degree permitted by Indian law should be taken as soon as possible against those found to be involved in such misconduct,” a statement released by his spokesperson said Tuesday.
Ban said the Indian government had assured the UN that the allegations into conduct by peacekeepers for the mission, known as MONUC, would be promptly and thoroughly investigated and, if proven, strict and exemplary action would be taken as per the law.
Stressing that he highly valued India’s long-standing and valuable support for UN peacekeeping, the secretary-general expressed his respect for all those peacekeepers from India and other troop-contributing countries who served with honour and commitment.
The misconduct of a few should not diminish the enormous contribution and sacrifice of the large number of blue helmets who serve the cause of peace, he added.
The UN has imposed a zero-tolerance policy against sexual abuse and exploitation by its peacekeepers, and senior officials have reiterated in recent years that this means there is no impunity for blue helmets who engage in such practices.
The statement contained no details about the suspected “sexual exploitation and abuse” but UN officials have said the alleged incidents took place in North Kivu province, where UN troops have been policing a shaky ceasefire between rival rebel and militia factions and government troops.
The allegations surfaced after the UN mission in Congo came under heavy scrutiny due to a report by Human Rights Watch earlier this year, which accused it of covering up allegations of Pakistani and Indian troops’ involvement in alleged arms and gold smuggling in eastern Congo.
MONUC, which was established in late 1999, is one of the largest UN peacekeeping missions in the world. The vast majority of MONUC’s nearly 18,000-strong force is based in Congo’s east, which has remained a violent patchwork of rebel fiefdoms and militia-controlled areas despite the official end of a 1998-2003 war.
More than 100 UN peacekeepers and personnel have been killed attempting to bring peace to the vast, mineral-rich central African nation.