Adux
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Vishnu Som
Watch story
Saturday, December 2, 2006 (Goma, Eastern Congo):
It is a war that is almost unheard of in India but in faraway Congo, in Africa, Indian peacekeepers fighting for the United Nations have been instrumental in restoring democracy to the country.
Now, in military action which has been recognised by the UN the Indian Army and Air Force has prevented a major military attack by rebel forces in the process saving the lives of thousands of people in the town of Goma in eastern Congo.
Indian armoured personnel carriers attacked Congolese positions on a hillside near the town of Goma.
Indian soldiers fighting under the UN flag have been instrumental in thwarting a major attack by soldiers of the renegade 83 Brigade loyal to General Laurent Nkunda who is wanted internationally for crimes against humanity.
Over the last week Nkunda's forces, taking advantage of ethnic tribal rivalries present in the area, targeted government army units being trained and supported by MONUC. It is the UN mission in Congo in which the Indian Army and Air Force have a major presence.
Indian soldiers were forced into action when Congolese Army soldiers deserted their positions and Nkunda's forces directly threatened the town of Goma, the capital city of the volatile North Kivu Province. If the town of Goma had fallen the future of the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo would have been threatened.
In the fighting that ensued Indian soldiers held their positions while Indian Air Force attack helicopters destroyed enemy positions. There have been no Indian casualties, though at least 75 Congolese soldiers and 20 civilians have been wounded.
The Indian army and air force contingents deployed in the Congo are part of a multinational force in the volatile North and South Kivu provinces since 2003.
Impressive performance
The Indian Brigade, composed of three battalions of 850 men is deployed in North Kivu, while the air force helicopters are based in both North and South Kivu.
Recognising the role of Indian armed forces in thwarting the attacks the Brigadier General in charge of UN operations in the region has told the Indian Commander:
"This was an impressive performance, indicative of a highly trained, resolute and professional brigade. You have every reason to feel extremely proud of your troops; they are a credit to you, as their commander, to their nation, and to the United Nations."
All across the land there are scars of the brutal ethnic genocide that affected Congo and Rwanda.
Four million people have been butchered between 1994 and the signs of this are all too evident. For instance, in the airport in Goma where the Indian air force operates, skulls and bones were discovered in the area where it was trying to set up a small structure.
http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmo...democracy+in+Congo&id=97303&category=National
Watch story
Saturday, December 2, 2006 (Goma, Eastern Congo):
It is a war that is almost unheard of in India but in faraway Congo, in Africa, Indian peacekeepers fighting for the United Nations have been instrumental in restoring democracy to the country.
Now, in military action which has been recognised by the UN the Indian Army and Air Force has prevented a major military attack by rebel forces in the process saving the lives of thousands of people in the town of Goma in eastern Congo.
Indian armoured personnel carriers attacked Congolese positions on a hillside near the town of Goma.
Indian soldiers fighting under the UN flag have been instrumental in thwarting a major attack by soldiers of the renegade 83 Brigade loyal to General Laurent Nkunda who is wanted internationally for crimes against humanity.
Over the last week Nkunda's forces, taking advantage of ethnic tribal rivalries present in the area, targeted government army units being trained and supported by MONUC. It is the UN mission in Congo in which the Indian Army and Air Force have a major presence.
Indian soldiers were forced into action when Congolese Army soldiers deserted their positions and Nkunda's forces directly threatened the town of Goma, the capital city of the volatile North Kivu Province. If the town of Goma had fallen the future of the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo would have been threatened.
In the fighting that ensued Indian soldiers held their positions while Indian Air Force attack helicopters destroyed enemy positions. There have been no Indian casualties, though at least 75 Congolese soldiers and 20 civilians have been wounded.
The Indian army and air force contingents deployed in the Congo are part of a multinational force in the volatile North and South Kivu provinces since 2003.
Impressive performance
The Indian Brigade, composed of three battalions of 850 men is deployed in North Kivu, while the air force helicopters are based in both North and South Kivu.
Recognising the role of Indian armed forces in thwarting the attacks the Brigadier General in charge of UN operations in the region has told the Indian Commander:
"This was an impressive performance, indicative of a highly trained, resolute and professional brigade. You have every reason to feel extremely proud of your troops; they are a credit to you, as their commander, to their nation, and to the United Nations."
All across the land there are scars of the brutal ethnic genocide that affected Congo and Rwanda.
Four million people have been butchered between 1994 and the signs of this are all too evident. For instance, in the airport in Goma where the Indian air force operates, skulls and bones were discovered in the area where it was trying to set up a small structure.
http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmo...democracy+in+Congo&id=97303&category=National
