Nepali peacekeepers honoured in Haiti

The United Nations medal has been awarded to 125 members of the Nepali Formed Police Force (FPU) serving with the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) at a ceremony at 'Camp Swargadwari' in Cap-Haïtien recently.

The medal presentation ceremony took place in Haiti's second city, Cap Haïtien in presence of local authorities, Haitian National Police, admirers and countries with FPU contingent in MINUSTAH (China, Pakistan, Senegal, Nigeria and Jordan), who were keen to pay a heartfelt tribute to the work done by Nepali soldiers.

The Nepali FPU's peacekeeping responsibilities include important security operations, protection of UN officials, crowd control and protection of UN Police during high-risk security operations. "Today, you can be proud of your contribution to the service of peace. Thanks for all your achievements," said MINUSTAH's Police Commissioner Mountanga Mamadou Diallo.

Peter Schmitz, the Chief of Staff of MINUSTAH welcomed the role played by the Nepalese FPU in coordinating with local Haitian authorities to prevent an outbreak of public violence after an incident in which former Haitian soldiers seized by a force the old prison in the town in late July.

"We are pleased that the United Nations recognizes the work we do in difficult conditions. It is a source of motivation for my men and me. We are committed to the best of ourselves for the return of peace and stability in that brotherly country," said, Gyanod Ray Vaidhya, the Commander of the Nepali FPU in Cap Haïtien.

The medal recipients started their service in Haiti on February 22, 2008. They are the seventh rotation of Nepali peacekeepers to serve in MINUSTAH since the first group was deployed on September 17, 2004, a few months after the inception of the Mission.

Nepal is currently the 5th largest contributor of uniformed personnel to the United Nations, with more than 3,700 troops and police serving in 15 peace operations around the globe. nepalnews.com ia Aug 07 08