UNA TWICKENHAM AND RICHMOND

POLICY

The Concept of a UN Standby Force
Twickenham and Ricmond UNA has successfully lobbied and promoted this concept such that it is now part of UNA-UK policy. Clause 7.3 highlights " ...the fundamental weakness of all UN peacekeeping operations ..." and Clause 7.4 urges Her Majesty's Government "To work toward the long-term objective of a UN Standby Force ready for emergency action when authorized by the Security Council" and that such a Force should be "individually recruited, trained and paid by the UN, owing loyalty only to the UN ...".

Existing UN Peacekeeping relies upon seconded national forces from several countries. There have been several attempts at speeding up this process. However T & R UNA have always pointed out that such forces will always need national approval, often with negotiation, such that rapid deployment will not normally happen quickly enough. The failure of the UN to act quickly enough in Rwanda has been blamed for genocide consuming 800,000 lives and $2,000 M in humanitarian aid.

In 2001 a Bill was put before the United States Senate and The House of Representatives, supported by 56 Members of the House of Representatives, which calls for the "Establishment of a United Nations Rapid Deployment Police and Security Force". Lt. General Satish Nambiar (Retd) was a member of the United Nations High Level Panel on 'Threats, Challenges and Change' and has argued openly for a Standing UN Rapid Deployment Force. Twickenham and Richmond UNA will continue to push for this cause.

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