International Peace Keepers

What Is This Module About?
This module is about international peace. Let us begin by reading this famous
statement:
Sincewarsbegininthemindsofmen,
itisinthemindsofmenthatthedefensesofpeacemustbe
constructed.
– United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO)
What could be the meaning of the above statement?

Differences in culture have often, if not always, been the common cause of
misunderstanding and distrust between peoples of the world.
The “minds of men” in the statement can pertain to the minds of the leaders of
the nations. If we substitute the “minds of men” with the “minds of the leaders of the
nations,” will the message be clearer? In order to prevent war from happening, the
leaders of the nations must have peace among them. Unity among them is important in
attaining lasting peace. This was the main reason why countries around the world
united themselves and founded the United Nations.
After World War II in 1945, nations realized that wars must be prevented at all
cost. Until now, nations around the world continue to express their aspirations
towards a more peaceful world.
This module is about world organizations that work to preserve and maintain
global peace. These include the United Nations, of which the Philippines is a
member, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Organization of Islamic
Conference. The module is divided into four lessons:
Lesson 1 – The Need for International Peacekeepers
Lesson 2 – The United Nations’ Peacekeeping Role
Lesson 3 – Other International Peacekeepers
Lesson 4 – The Philippines and World Peace
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What Will You Learn From This Module?
After studying this module, you should be able to:

♦ explain the need for international peacekeepers;
♦ identify the history and purpose of international peacekeeping organizations
like the UN;
♦ discuss the important roles played by international organizations in
maintaining peace and improving people’s lives;
♦ discuss the contributions of the Philippines in preserving global peace; and
♦ apply techniques for resolving conflicts peacefully in your daily life.
Let’s See What You Already Know
Before you start studying this module, take this simple test to find out what you
already know about the topic.
Read each sentence below. If you agree with the statement, place a check (4) in
the column that says Agree. If you do not agree write the statement place a check (4)
in the column that says Disagree.
1. The United Nations’ primary goal is to

preserve global peace and cooperation
among countries.
2. The international peacekeeping
organizations were established to prevent the
recurrence of another world war and as a
response to the growing violence around the
world.
3. Peacekeepers are deployed to areas in
conflict even without the consent of the
parties involved. They are sent by the UN
when it is necessary to do so.
4. We must let each nation attend to its own
problems. Other nations must not intervene
in the internal affairs of other countries.
5. Peacekeepers are lightly armed and are
allowed to use force only for self-defense.
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6. Wars, conflicts and disagreements are
unavoidable. They are realities that we
must get used to.
7. Resolving disagreements through
negotiations is an effective technique if the
opposing parties are ready to listen to each
other.
8. Providing a venue where two opposing
parties could negotiate is one of the major
tasks of the UN, the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization, and the Organization of
Islamic Conference.
9. Fidel V. Ramos, a Filipino, was once a UN
Secretary-General.
10. The UN undertakes peace enforcement
operations to defend the civilians who are
caught in a conflict between two opposing
forces.
Well, how was it? Do you think you fared well? Compare your answers with those
in the Answer Key on page 46 to find out.
If all your answers are correct, very good! This shows that you already know
much about the topic. You may still study the module to review what you already
know. Who knows, you might learn a few more new things as well.
If you got a low score, don’t feel bad. This means that this module is for you. It
will help you understand important concepts that you can apply in your daily life. If
you study this module carefully, you will learn the answers to all the items in the test
and a lot more! Are you ready?
You may go now to the next page and begin Lesson 1.
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LESSON 1
The Need for International

Peacekeepers
Why is there a need to maintain peace? What are peacekeepers for?

This lesson will help you find the answers to the above questions. It will discuss
the factors that led to the establishment of the United Nations (UN) as an
international peacekeeping organization.
The major event that brought about international peacekeeping was World War II.
In this lesson, you will understand how events surrounding this war led to a resolution
by many countries to prevent major wars from happening again.
After studying this lesson, you should be able to:
♦ explain the need for international peacekeepers;
♦ discuss how World War II united different nations around the world to
prevent another such war from occurring; and
♦ trace the beginnings of the United Nations.
Let’s Read
Will you agree when I say that fighting or conflict is a normal occurrence?
Read the comic strip below and imagine that you are the main character in the
story.
You are walking home when suddenly your You lose your balance and fall to the ground.
neighbor accidentally bumps against you.
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Both of you start yelling and blaming each You start pushing and shoving each
other for the incident. other.
Some of your friends see you fighting and Then your neighbor’s friends pass by
rush to help you by hitting your too and witness the fight.
neighbor.
As they approach, they see that it is their They join the fight to help their friend.
friend that you and your friends are hitting.
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The simple disagreement between you and your neighbor becomes a major conflict in your
neighborhood.
Let’s Try This
Answer the following questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided.
1. Why do you think a simple disagreement developed into a major conflict?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
2. What could have been the outcome of the story if other people did not join
in the fight and instead kept calm and tried to help work things out between
you and your neighbor?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Now compare your answers with the ones below.
1. A simple disagreement grew into a major conflict because my neighbor
and I were both hotheaded. We didn’t give each other a chance to explain
what had happened. Our friends who saw us quarrelling began to take
sides instead of staying neutral. They joined in the fight instead of
helping us resolve our conflict peacefully. Because of this, the quarrel
eventually grew and involved nearly the entire neighborhood.
2. Things would have ended peacefully if, instead of joining in the fight,
other people intervened and tried to establish peaceful negotiation
between me and my neighbor.
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Let’s Learn
Disagreements and confrontations often, if not always, lead to open conflict. A

disagreement may start with small misunderstandings. If these misunderstandings are
not solved immediately, they could lead to serious conflict.
When people are angry and full of hatred, it is really difficult to resolve a
conflict peacefully unless some calm and mature individuals mediate between them.
This suggests that the role of a peacekeeper is to help conflicting parties resolve their
misunderstandings and disagreements peacefully. It is very important for the
peacekeepers themselves to remain calm and neutral so that they would be able to gain
the trust of each side.
When two or more countries start fighting with each other, do you think that
other countries should help resolve their conflict? ____Yes ____ No
If yes, why do you think so? How can other countries help resolve the conflict
between two or more countries? Explain your answer.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Have you finished answering the question? If so, compare your answer with the
one below.
Yes. I agree that other countries should help resolve the conflict between two
or more countries before it develops into a more serious situation. Prolonged
conflict within and among countries could lead to irreparable damage to the
relationship of both parties with one another. If this happens, the conflict could
lead to armed conflict or war. If the conflict between countries continues, many
people will die and suffer and many properties will be destroyed. The conflict
could spread to the neighboring countries and will be more difficult to resolve.
Other countries can help these conflicting countries by acting as mediators or
peacekeepers. They can help convince both parties to settle their conflict
peacefully.
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Let’s Try This
Study the following statements. If you think the situation describes what usually
happens when there is war, put a check mark (4) in the Yes column. If not, put the
mark in the No column.
What Happens When There is War?
Situation
1. Many people die.
2. No one gets hungry because there are many
goods to feed the victims.
3. Schools and offices are closed.
4. Many people, especially the children, get sic
5. Hospitals and churches are neither damaged
destroyed.
6. Many people are afraid to go out.
7. There is enough food to eat.
8. Many people watch movies and roam in the
and amusement centers.
9. There is gunfire everywhere.
10. People can live peacefully.
Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 46.
Let’s Learn
Study the picture below.
Would you want to live in such a place? Why or why not?

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______________________________________________________________
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Of course, you would not want to live in this kind of place. You would prefer to
live someplace where you can live a normal and peaceful life, right?
War can cause so much damage to people, societies and countries. Some effects
of war are:
♦ Extreme famine or hunger ♦ Death
♦ Destruction of homes ♦ Destruction of the environment
♦ Economic crisis ♦ Diseases
♦ Destruction of cultural areas ♦ Destruction of hospitals, schools,
such as museums and parks churches and other institutions.
♦ Human rights violations
Let’s Study and Analyze
Having experienced or witnessed the horrors and negative effects of war, many
countries resolved to do something to prevent wars from taking place again. Fifty-one
countries decided to unite to avoid the horrors of another world war. Thus, the UN
was created on October 24, 1945, right after World War II. It was intended to protect
future generations from war-related tragedies and to prevent violence between nations
from happening. It recognized that certain situations required impartial or neutral
personnel to help cool things down and resolve conflicts peacefully.
Because of its dedication to peace, the early
leaders of the UN developed the idea of assembling a
very diverse international group of soldiers and
civilians. They were to assist in restoring and
maintaining peace in violence-stricken areas. In 1948,
the peacekeeping role of UN was born. The first
peacekeepers were sent to the Middle East to prevent
the recurrence of another world war.
UN Seal
Can you identify persons or institutions that can
act as peacekeepers in your community? If so, list
them below.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
According to the UN, a peacekeeper may be a friend, a neighbor, a relative or a
family member. No matter who he or she is, his or her goals should always be to keep
the fighting parties away from each other, defuse the situation, investigate the facts
and try to work out a solution to the problem that everybody can agree with.
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Let’s Think About This
♦ Did you know that our country was among the fifty-one countries that
established the UN?
− The Philippines was among the very first countries to join the United
Nations and it has been an active member since 1948.
− The UN’s membership now totals 189 countries.
♦ Did you know that a Filipino was once the
Secretary-General of the UN? Can you
name the person? ___________________
_________________________________
− If you answered Carlos P. Romulo,
you are correct. He became
Secretary-General of the UN in 1949
and was a respected and renowned
public servant throughout his life.
Let’s Learn
The Security Council

The UN has six main organs, namely: the General Assembly, the Security
Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the Secretariat
and the International Court of Justice.
The UN organ in charge of maintaining global peace and security is the Security
Council. When the council sees a threat to international peace, it first seeks ways to
settle the dispute peacefully. It may suggest principles for settlement or undertake
mediation.
What do you think the Security Council can do if fighting still occurs despite its
efforts to settle the dispute peacefully?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
The primary goal of the peacekeepers is to keep the opposing parties apart. If
fighting still occurs, the Council may try to secure a cease-fire between the opposing
groups. Or it may send peacekeeping missions to help the parties sign a peace
agreement or maintain a truce. A cease-fire is a temporary period of peace between
hostile parties while talks are taking place between them.
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Let’s Try This
Look at the flags below. The countries they represent are the five permanent
members of the UN Security Council. Can you identify these countries?
1. ________________ 2. __________________ 3. ________________
4. ________________ 5. _________________
Were you able to get all the answers right? If so, very good! If not, it’s okay.
Continue studying this module to learn more about the topic.
Let’s Review
Fill in the blanks with the correct answer. Choose your answers from the box
below.
Fifty-one world war Security Council Carlos P. Romulo
October 24, 1945 five peace agreement peacekeeping
The United Nations was established on (1.)____

(2.)____________________ countries decided to
to prevent another (3.)____________________. T
war will definitely wipe out the entire human race.
The UN realized that peace should be preserved

first UN (4.)____________________ mission was
The organ responsible for this kind of mission of th
(5.)____________________. It is responsible for
both the opposing parties to sign a (6.)__________
(7.)__________________ permanent members of
The first Asian Secretary-General of the UN was

He was elected Secretary-General of the UN in 19
General Assembly.
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Let’s Try This
If you were caught in the middle of a heated argument between two of your close
friends, would you take sides or remain neutral? Why or why not?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Compare your answer with those in the Answer Key on page 47.
Let’s Read
As mentioned earlier, the first UN peacekeeping mission was undertaken in the

Middle East in 1948. Its objective was to supervise the cease-fire between Israel and
her Arab neighbors. Yet, it was not until 1956 that the UN’s first peacekeeping force,
comprised of military troops, was established and sent to the Middle East.
The story below narrates how the idea of sending a neutral military force to
mediate between conflicting countries came about.
The First UN Peacekeeping Mission
The conflict started when the Egyptian President Gamal Abdal Nasser declared
that he would nationalize the Suez Canal — a waterway that joins the Mediterranean to
the Red Sea. The Suez Canal had
been a very important waterway for
SUEZ CANAL
different countries in Europe. He
declared that ships wishing to use the
canal would pay a toll. He also
declared that the money would
finance the building of the Aswan
High Dam on the Nile River.
Nasser told the cheering crowd
t that the imperialists, referring to
Britain, France and Israel, could
“choke on their rage.”
France and Britain were worried
about Nasser’s future plans to control such a strategically important waterway. Secret
plans were made for Israel to attack Egypt. France and Britain would send troops to
protect the canal.
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In October, fighting erupted
between Egypt and France, Britain
and Israel. It seemed that once again
the major military powers of the
world — the Soviet Union and the
United States — would be drawn into
the battle, take sides and worsen the
conflict. The world feared that this
could lead to another world war.
Fortunately, the world seemed to have learned its lessons from World War II.
A former Canadian diplomat, Lester B. Pearson, proposed that a force (military force)
sponsored by the UN, made up of soldiers from noncombatant countries, could
separate the warring armies and supervise the cease-fire. The UN General Assembly
accepted the proposal, thus giving birth to UN peacekeeping.
Let’s Review
Answer the following questions:

1. What could have happened if the UN did not send peacekeepers to mediate
between Egypt and the European countries? Before answering the question,
study the illustrations below.
UN
Without Peacekeepers With Peacekeepers

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_____________________________________________________________
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2. Do you think sending a neutral military force to the Middle East was a good
idea? Why?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Have you finished writing your answers? If so, compare them with the sample
answers provided in the Answer Key on page 47.
Let’s Learn
The Blue Berets
UN
UN
UN peacekeeping force in action Blue berets of the UN
Did you know that the UN peacekeepers are more popularly known as the “blue
berets?”
This is because they wear blue berets or helmets with bold letters U and N or the
UN seal in front. The berets or helmets and the UN insignia have been their trademark
or identification as members of a neutral force. They do not have any other uniform
other than their own country’s military uniform. It is important to note that the UN has
no military force of its own.
If the UN has no military force of its own, where do you think the peacekeepers
come from?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
A UN peacekeeping mission is composed of military forces from the member
states of the UN that are not involved in the conflict. Member states voluntarily
provide troops and equipment.
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Why do you think the member states of the UN voluntarily provide troops and
equipment even though they know that peacekeeping is a risky mission?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
All member states of the UN have agreed to work for peace when they joined the
organization. According to a UN report, 123 nations have contributed military and
civilian police personnel at various times since its first mission in 1948.
As of October 31, 2000, 89 countries have contributed almost 38,000 military
and civilian police personnel. Look at the table below. It shows the top five countries
that have contributed military personnel to the UN peacekeeping missions.
Top Five Countries That Have Contributed Military Personnel
to the United Nations Peacekeeping Missions
Countries Military Pers

Deploye
1. India 4,460
2. Nigeria 3,441
3. Jordan 3,400
4. Bangladesh 2,394
5. Ghana 1,894
Of the top five countries shown in the table...

... which has contributed the biggest number of military personnel? __________
_____________________________________________________________
.... which has contributed the least?___________________________________
If your answer to the first question is India, and to the second question, Ghana,
you are correct! From the table we can see that India has contributed the biggest
number of military personnel, 4,460, followed by Nigeria, 3,441, and so on.
The peacekeepers are required to remain neutral at all times. What do you think
is the reason for this?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
The peacekeepers have to remain neutral at all times because they have to gain
the trust of both parties involved. If they start to take sides, they could only worsen
the conflict instead of stopping it. Indeed, peacekeeping is a dangerous business.
Over 1,650 UN military civilian peacekeepers have died in the performance of their
duties since 1948.
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Let’s See What You Have Learned
Answer the following:

1. What is the importance of having an impartial or neutral person
mediating between opposing parties?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
2. Explain why the United Nations was formed.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
3. Why do we need international peacekeepers?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
4. How does the UN promote peace?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Have you finished answering the questions? If so, compare your answers with
those in the Answer Key on page 48.
Let’s Remember
Before you proceed to the next lesson, here are some important points about this
lesson that you should remember.
♦ International peacekeepers are needed to help prevent conflicts from
worsening.
♦ Peacekeepers serve as mediators between conflicting parties. They help the
conflicting parties settle their disputes peacefully.
♦ It is important for peacekeepers to remain impartial or neutral to gain the
trust of each side so that they could arrive at a peaceful solutions to their
conflict.
♦ World War II, the most destructive war of the 20th century, led to the
organization of the United Nations (UN).
♦ The United Nations was established on October 24, 1945. Its priority is to
preserve global peace. It developed the idea of sending peacekeepers to
warring zones to prevent the escalation of conflict.
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LESSON 2
The United Nations’ Peacekeeping Role
In Lesson 1, you learned why and how the United Nations was established and
why there is a need for peacekeepers. In this lesson you will learn more about how
the United Nations works for peace.
This lesson will discuss the various services that the United Nations provides in
times of armed conflict.
♦ identify the different roles and activities that the United Nations undertakes
in maintaining peace; and
♦ discuss the peacekeeping missions of the UN.
UN
UN
UN
UN
UN
From the above illustration, can you identify the various activities the UN
undertakes to promote peace?
_______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Compare your answer with that in the Answer Key on page 48.
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Let’s Read
Since the end of World War II, various peacekeeping activities have been
launched by the United Nations to prevent the outbreak of another world war.
Study the headlines and the news summaries below. Then answer the question that
follows.
1. Arriving in Tel Aviv, Annan says bloodshed
must stop, peace talks begin
9 October — Arriving in Tel Aviv today on an urgent mission to help in
diffusing the Middle East crisis, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged all
parties involved — from leaders to ordinary citizens — to say no to violence
and to shift the action from the street to the negotiating table.
2. UN envoy urges continued international engagement in Kosovo

9 October — The head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission
in Kosovo (UNMIK), Dr. Bernard Kouchner, today urged the international
community to continue its military presence and economic assistance in
Kosovo, regardless of the events in Belgrade.
3. Secretary-General remains hopeful

after talks with Arafat, Barak
10 October — After a series of meetings with top Israeli and Palestinian
leaders over the past 24 hours, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today
he was determined to continue working with all parties concerned to break
the cycle of violence and resume the peace process.
4. Heavy fighting in Afghanistan forces thousands

to flee their homes – UNHCR
10 October — The United Nations refugee agency reported today that heavy
fighting between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan has
uprooted 150,000 people in the past few weeks.
Based on the headlines and news leads (summaries) you have just read, what do
you think the UN does to maintain international peace? What did the UN do as
indicated in each news headline?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
After you finish answering the question, compare your answer with the one in the
Answer Key on page 49.
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Have you ever experienced being a mediator? Or being in the middle of a

conflict? If so, what did you do?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Let’s look again at headlines 1 and 3 on page 18. What role of the UN in
maintaining peace is illustrated by the two headlines?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
If your answer is that the UN has been acting as a mediator to bring opposing
parties into an agreement or peace settlement, you are correct!
The headlines and news leads pertain to the peacemaking role of the UN. You
can see in the two news headlines and leads that the UN had been encouraging the top
Israeli and Palestinian leaders to settle their disputes peacefully by talking to each
other. The UN hopes to end violence in the Middle East through peace negotiations.
UN peacemaking tries to bring hostile parties to agreement through diplomatic
means. The Security Council, in its efforts to maintain international peace and
security, may recommend ways to avoid conflict or restore or secure peace through
negotiation.
Let’s Try This

Let’s go back to the headlines on page 18 again. What can you say about the
second headline?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Why do you think Dr. Bernard Kouchner urged the international community to
continue its military presence in Kosovo?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
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You can compare your answers with the one below:
The headline and the news article talk about the role of the international
community in helping to bring peace in Kosovo. The news article talks specifically
about the peacekeeping role of the UN.
Dr. Bernard Kouchner, head of the UN Interim Mission in Kosovo, urged the
international community to continue its military presence in Kosovo because
violence was still rampant in the area. Peacekeepers were very important in
helping to keep the Serbian and the Albanian forces apart in Kosovo. The
peacekeepers can help put an end to the conflict and prevent it from spreading to
the neighboring areas.
The article shows the importance of sending a neutral military force to an area of
conflict. The UN deploys peacekeepers in areas of conflict to help keep opposing
parties apart. The UN peacekeepers are a military force sponsored by the UN, made
up of soldiers from noncombatant countries.
Let’s Learn
Peacekeeping is not an easy job, but surely it is a noble one. Among the many
duties of the peacekeepers are the following:
♦ Peacekeepers help create buffer
zones or neutral areas.
What do you think these areas are
for?
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Buffer zones are areas where hostile parties can talk their disagreements over.
Peacekeepers must keep these areas free from violence at all times.
♦ Peacekeepers help implement
agreements. They see to it that the
opposing parties follow what they
have agreed upon. This simply
means that peacekeepers monitor
the actions of the parties involved.
BUFFER ZONE
If two opposing parties agree to a
cease-fire, the peacekeepers
supervise them to prevent any
violent incident from happening.
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Do you think supervising the cease-fire or truce of two opposing parties is
important? Why do you think so?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Compare your answer with the one in the Answer Key on page 49.
♦ Peacekeepers may also help
organize and supervise elections.
They help ensure that the elections UN
will be fair and clean.
Does East Timor sound
familiar to you? The UN
supervised its elections in order to
make sure that there would be no
untoward incidents during the
voting. The UN peacekeepers
watched for any violence that might
occur during and after the elections.
Listed below are some guidelines for the operation of peacekeeping forces.
♦ Peacekeeping forces are dispatched with the consent of the disputing
parties.
♦ Peacekeepers are lightly armed and can use force only for self-defense.
♦ Peacekeepers must remain neutral and not intercede in the internal affairs of
the host country. They must maintain strict impartiality in the conflict.
Let’s Review
Put a check mark (4) in the blank before each statement that correctly describes
the peacekeeping operations of the UN. Put an X-mark (8) if the statement does not
describe a peacekeeping operation of the UN.
_____ 1. The UN peacekeepers are deployed to areas of conflict even without
the consent of the countries involved. They are sent right away to the
place of conflict if the UN decides it is necessary to do so.
_____ 2. They supervise and monitor elections.
_____ 3. They supervise and monitor cease-fires and buffer zones.
_____ 4. They must take the side of the party which they think is right.
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_____ 5. Peacekeepers are heavily armed because they have to protect the
civilians from armed groups.
After you finish answering the test, compare your answers with those in the
Have you ever heard of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan? If so, what do you know
about them?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
If you answered that these are the two cities in Japan that were bombed by the
United States during the World War II, you are correct!
The effects of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were really
devastating. The bombs killed
hundreds of thousands of
people.
Do you know that because
of the potentially devastating
effects of nuclear weapons,
the UN has committed itself
to eradicating these deadly
weapons?
The UN swore to
preserve global peace by
reducing, if not totally
eradicating, nuclear weapons. Remnant of the bomb: a dome bombed in Hiroshima
A major goal of the UN is disarmament. This means halting the spread of arms,
as well as reducing and eventually eliminating all weapons of mass destruction.
The UN has an ongoing forum for disarmament negotiations with its member
states. Among the agreements that have been
produced by such negotiations are: The Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1968, the
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty in 1996
and other treaties that establish nuclear-free zones
or areas. The UN encourages all nations to adhere
to these agreements that ban the use of destructive
weapons of war. It also supports efforts to control
small arms and light weapons.
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Do you think the disarmament role of the UN is important? Why or why not?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
After you finish answering the question, compare your answer with the one in the
Go back to the headlines on page 18. What is the fourth headline about?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
If you answered that the fourth headline is about the ongoing conflict in
Afghanistan that has caused 150,000 people to flee from their houses, you are
correct!
Many people suffer
because of war. The UN,
together with other aid UN
agencies, provide medical
assistance, food and other
supplies to civilians
displaced by the conflict.
The UN does not only help
bring back peace in the area.
It also aims to help the
victims, who are mostly
innocent civilians. It ensures
their safety and provides for their daily needs. These activities of the UN are called
humanitarian missions.
Such missions have been conducted to relieve the suffering of the victims, both
the civilians and the combatants. Examples of humanitarian interventions are the
deployment of doctors and nurses and the evacuation of refugees from war-torn areas.
The UN also engages in peace building. Peace building refers to postconflict
measures taken by the UN to strengthen and solidify peace in order to avoid the
recurrence of the conflict. The UN believes that ‘development assistance’ is a key
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element of peace building. It helps countries rebuild the administrative, health,
educational and other services disrupted by the conflict.
Examples of the peace-building missions of the UN are its supervision of the
1999 elections in East Timor, the 1989 elections in Namibia, and the mine-clearance
programs in Mozambique.
Let’s Try This
Why do you think the UN engages in humanitarian and peace-building missions?

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Compare your answer with the one in the Answer Key on page 49.
Let’s Remember
The UN relies on the following peace operations or missions to maintain

peace in the world:
♦ Peacemaking—Bringing hostile parties to agreement through diplomatic
means.
♦ Disarmament—Halting the spread of arms; reducing and eventually
eliminating all weapons of mass destruction.
♦ Peacekeeping—Deploying peacekeepers (neutral military forces) in
war-torn areas to help keep opposing parties apart.
♦ Humanitarian Missions—Sending humanitarian missions, which are
temporary measures to help noncombatants survive the horrors of war and to
relieve their emotional, mental and physical sufferings.
♦ Peace Building—Working alongside other agencies, governments of host
countries and nongovernmental organizations to bring aid and maintain peace
in the countries that have undergone conflicts.
24
Let’s Read
Study the comic strip below. It is based on a letter from a member of the United
Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC). What you are going to read
will tell you about the real situation in Cambodia these past few years. The story will
also tell you about the life of a “peacekeeper.”
Hello, my name is Brian and I am from

Canada. I was a member of the
United Nations Transitional Authority
in Cambodia (UNTAC). I will tell you
what it’s like being a “soldier for
peace.”
In Cambodia, I was part of an international I was assigned to a unit that dealt with
force of more than 21,000 military and ‘repatriation.’ Our job was to help the
civilian personnel from over 100 countries. Cambodian people who had lost everything
It is exciting to be a part of such an and were not only homeless but also far
international operation where people from away from their original villages and towns.
different parts of the world work towards
the same goal.
But how do you go about

this? How do you go
about helping people
return to their villages
when the roads and
buildings are mined? How
do you help these people
when there is no safe
water to drink and schools
and clinics are destroyed?
25
As you can imagine, this
was not just a question of
putting refugees on a bus
back home. There were
more than 360,000
refugees and most of them
were living in refugee
camps along the Thai
border. They were young;
ninety percent of them were
under the age of 15.
Health clinics and child-care

centers were also
desperately needed as were
schools and teachers. There
was also a question of
security, which worried
returning refugees. So
peacekeepers patrolled
most areas, monitored the
cease-fire and collected
weapons from the various
rival groups.
Let’s Try This
Based on what you have read, answer the following questions:

1. What was Brian’s duty as a member of the UNTAC mission?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
2. List down the needs of the people in Cambodia at the time when the UN
peacekeepers were assigned there.
a. ______________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________
c. ______________________________________________________
d. ______________________________________________________
26
3. What other operations does the UN undertake to bring and maintain peace
besides disarmament, peacemaking and peacekeeping?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Have you finished answering the test? If so, compare your answers with mine:
1. Brian’s duty as a member of the UNTAC mission was to help the people
return to their homes after being displaced by the violence in their area.
Also, his job was to work with other people to repatriate victims; that is, to
help people live normal lives again.
2. Among the many needs of the people in Cambodia were:
a. Health clinics
b. Child-care centers and schools
c. Protection of the refugees who wished to return to their homes
d. Clearing of landmines (These are explosives buried underground.)
3. The UN is also involved in giving humanitarian assistance in times of
armed conflict and in peace building after a conflict. Humanitarian
assistance is an important role of the UN as it tries to ease the sufferings of
people who have been victims of violence. An example of humanitarian
assistance is making sure that people are safe as they return to their homes.
Peace building, on the other hand, refers to the efforts of the UN to
help the victims live normal lives by providing them the things they need to
develop themselves and their society. Examples of the peace-building
efforts of the UN are providing health centers, child-care centers and
schools.
A. Identify the kind of peace operation described in each of the sentences

below. Your answer for each item should be one of these: peace making,
peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, or disarmament.
____________________ 1. The Philippine government sent a team of
doctors and nurses to East Timor to help the victims recover from the
horrors of the conflict.
____________________ 2. The United Nations is encouraging the
Israeli and Palestinian leaders to stop the violence between their
countries for a while. This is so they can try to resolve issues by talking to
each other.
27
____________________ 3. The United Nations supervised the
elections in East Timor to ensure that no violence will erupt.
____________________ 4. The United Nations has been assisting East
Timor since it became a newly independent territory.
____________________ 5. The United Nations has been undertaking
campaigns to ban weapons of mass destruction. This is among the many
lessons it learned from the devastating effects of such weapons in World
War II.
B. Below is an article that discusses the conflict in East Timor in 1999. Read it
carefully and then answer the questions that follow.
A CALL FOR INTERVENTION

Amid intense international pressure to bring an end to the militia violence
plaguing East Timor, Indonesian President B.J. Habibie announced on
Sept. 12 that Indonesia would accept international assistance in restoring
order to the region.
“Too many people have lost their lives U.S. President Bill Clinton said the U.S.
since the beginning of the unrest,” participation in the peacekeeping force
Habibie said. “We can wait no longer. would, at this point, not involve combat
We have to stop the suffering and the troops. He said the U.S. would assist
mourning immediately.” the force with transportation,
communications and intelligence.
Habibie’s announcement came after
weeks of Indonesian insistence that it Philippine President Joseph Estrada also
had the situation in East Timor under pledged to assist East Timor by
control. The violence, that has killed deploying Filipino medics and troops to
thousands and sent nearly 300,000 the area.
fleeing their homes, erupted shortly after
a referendum on Aug. 30 in which the Meanwhile, conditions in East Timor
people of East Timor voted continue to deteriorate. Nearly 1,000
overwhelmingly to separate from refugees are still seeking refuge in the
Indonesia. U.N. compound in Dili. U.N. officials
said tens of thousands of people have
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi fled to Indonesia-controlled West Timor,
Annan also endorsed Habibie’s decision and that more than 100,000 have taken
but also said the government must try to refuge in the mountains of East Timor.
end the chaos.
East Timorese independence leader
“In the meantime I expect the Indonesian Xanana Gusmao told reporters Habibie
authorities in East Timor and the had made a “courageous” decision, but
government of Indonesia at all levels to stressed the urgency of the
do their utmost to maintain order and humanitarian situation in the half-island
security in East Timor,” Annan said. region.
Military officials in nearby Australia have “Now it is up to the U.N. Security
already placed thousands of troops on Council and the international community
alert in its northern provinces, but they to act speedily,” he said. “There is no
caution that it would take weeks for time to lose.”
forces to land in East Timor.
Source: PBS Online
28
1. Describe the condition in East Timor in 1999.
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
2. If you were the President of Indonesia, would you also call for international
intervention? Why or why not?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
3. If you were the President of the Philippines, would you also send some
troops and medics to an area of armed conflict? Why or why not?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
4. Why couldn’t the Australian troops just proceed to East Timor? What were
they waiting for?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
5. Was humanitarian assistance to East Timor necessary?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Have you finished answering the exercise? If so, compare your answers with
those in the Answer Key on pages 50–51.
29
Before you proceed to the next lesson, here are some important points to
remember.
Let’s Remember
♦ In fulfilling the UN’s obligation to maintain peace, it relies on the following

peace operations:
• disarmament;
• peacemaking;
• peacekeeping;
• humanitarian intervention; and
• peace building.
♦ The tasks of UN peacekeepers range from keeping apart hostile parties to
helping them work peacefully together. This means peacekeepers help in:
• implementing peace agreements between opposing parties;
• monitoring cease-fires;
• creating buffer zones or neutral zones;
• creating political institutions that work alongside governments, non-
governmental organizations and local citizen’s groups to provide
emergency relief, demobilize former fighters’ and reintegrate them into
society;
• clearing mines (explosives that are buried in the ground); and
• organizing and monitoring elections.
♦ It is important to note that peacekeepers are only dispatched with the
consent of the countries or the parties involved.
♦ Peacekeepers are a neutral force. They are required to maintain their
impartiality so as to avoid escalation of the conflict.
30
LESSON 3
Other International Peacekeepers
In the previous lessons, you learned about the important role played by the United
Nations in maintaining peace around the world. You learned the significance of having
a neutral force that helps diffuse violence and resolve conflicts. In this lesson, you
will learn about other international organizations that work for peace.
After studying this lesson, you should be able to explain the role played by
regional organizations in maintaining peace.
Are you a member of any organization in your community? If so, what are these
organizations?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Why did you join these organizations?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Did you know that there are international organizations other than the UN that
work for peace? Can you name some of them? List them below.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
To further achieve international peace and cooperation, neighboring countries
form different alliances to promote their common interests. For example, countries
belonging to a certain region of the world would form one group to help each other in
times of crisis. Just like our neighbors, they provide immediate help to us when we
need it. After all, neighbors are supposed to help each other.
Some of the alliances formed by neighboring countries that aim to achieve global
peace and cooperation are the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the
Organization of Islamic Conference.
31
Let’s Read
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO is an alliance of 19 countries.
Its member countries include:
Belgium Italy Uni

France Poland Den
Iceland United Kingdom Hun
Norway Czech Republic Net
Turkey Luxembourg Spa
Canada Portugal Gre
Germany
The fundamental role of NATO is to safeguard the freedom and security of its
member countries. When a member country of NATO is involved in a conflict with
other member countries, NATO provides venues for peace negotiations. It also sends
peacekeeping operations to secure peace in the North Atlantic region if it decides it is
necessary to do so. NATO’s essential purpose is to ensure the freedom and security
of its members through both political and military means. The principles of NATO’s
peacekeeping mission are also in accordance with the principles of the UN, since
most of its member countries are also members of the UN.
The NATO troops

aggressively bombed
Kosovo thinking that by
doing so, the violence
between the ethnic
Albanians and Serbs would
end. However, instead of
bringing peace to Kosovo,
it destroyed churches,
mosques, parks, schools
and killed hundreds of
innocent people.
32
Are you in favor of the use of violence to end violence, as was attempted in
Kosovo? Explain your answer.
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Here are some sample answers. The preferred answer is letter (b).
a. Yes. I agree with the enforcement action in Kosovo because by bombing the
area, the ethnic Albanians and Serbs would stop killing each other.
b. No. I disagree with NATO’s enforcement action because it just worsened the
situation in Kosovo. I believe that the conflict between the Albanians and
Serbs could be settled peacefully if they talk with each other. What they
need is a neutral force that would encourage them to declare a cease-fire
while they talk with each other.
NATO seems to lack neutrality when it sends peace enforcement troops. This is
because of its member countries’ commitment to defend each other at all cost. This
means that each of them would react to a threat to an allied country (member country)
as a threat to themselves. Thus, an attack against one member country is considered an
attack against all.
This brings us to the discussion of peace enforcement as part of peace
operations.
Let’s Learn
Is peace enforcement the same as peacekeeping? Write your thoughts in the

spaces provided below.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
33
Do not worry if you are not sure of your answer since there is often confusion
between these two. But we must make it clear that peace enforcement is different
from peacekeeping.
They are different based on the following grounds:
♦ Consent of the parties involved
• UN peacekeeping has traditionally relied on the consent of opposing
parties and involves the deployment of peacekeepers to implement an
agreement approved by those parties.
• In the case of peace enforcement, the Security Council gives member
states the authority to take all necessary measures to achieve a stated
objective. The consent of the parties involved is not necessarily
required.
♦ Weapons used:
• Peacekeepers are lightly armed and can only use force for self-
defense.
• Peace enforcers are more heavily armed and intervene more
aggressively in hostile situations in an effort to bring peace.
The UN does not engage in peace enforcement operations but it authorizes its
member countries to send peace-enforcement groups to an area in conflict. Such was
the case of NATO when it led the peace-enforcement operation in Kosovo.
Let’s Try This
Why do you think the UN does not undertake peace enforcement actions but
instead authorizes its member countries to send peace-enforcement troops to areas of
conflict?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Were you able to answer the question? If so, very good. Compare your answer
with the one below:
The UN does not undertake peace enforcement actions because it is too risky.
Can you still remember what was discussed in Lesson 2 about the peacekeepers?
They are lightly armed, right? This is because they are only allowed to use force
for self-defense. They are deployed in areas of conflict to see to it that both the
opposing parties are respect cease-fire agreements. The peacekeepers’ job is to
bring both of the opposing parties to the negotiating table. Peace enforcers, on
the other hand, are more heavily armed because their job is to defend the civilians
or innocent people from military attacks.
34
In some cases sending peace enforcers could worsen the conflict. It is difficult
for the peace enforcers to remain neutral as they defend the civilians. For
example, if a peace enforcer attacked a member of one of the opposing parties in
defending a civilian, the party that the peace enforcer attacked might think that the
peace enforcers favor the other party. When this happens, the UN peacekeepers
won’t be able to fulfill their duties in bringing hostile parties into a peace
agreement. The opposing parties might think that the UN is not treating them
equally and is favoring one of them. This is the reason why the UN does not
undertake peace enforcement actions and instead only authorizes countries that
wish to undertake such actions.
Let’s Read
You are probably familiar with the ongoing political crisis in Mindanao.
Presently, the conflict between the Moro rebels and the government remains
unresolved. Do you know that the conflict in Mindanao is decades old?
Let us read the following excerpts from articles about the war in Mindanao. You
can also refer to the NFE A&E module entitled The Mindanao Peace Accord to learn
more about the Mindanao conflict.
By conservative estimates, the war in Mindanao killed about a hundred thousand

combatants and civilians.
(Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 01, 2000)
Some 600 families with 3,799 dependents from four remote villages in Kiamba
town in Sarangani fled their homes due to fighting between government forces and
Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels.
(Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 11, 2000)
Let’s Review
Answer the following:

1. Based on what you have just read, do you think Mindanao needs intervention
or assistance from the international community? Explain your answer.
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
35
2. Did you know that there have been peace agreements signed between the
government and the MNLF prior to the hostage crisis in Mindanao? If so,
what were these peace agreements?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Have you finished answering the questions? If so, compare your answers with the
ones below.
1. There really is no definite answer to the question. What are provided here
are some sample answers.
a. Yes. I think Mindanao-RP Government conflict needs intervention or
assistance from the international community. Mindanao is really in a
state of chaos and disorder. Many people are dying, and still many
others are becoming homeless due to the violence that keeps erupting
in many of Mindanao’s provinces. The help of the international
community is really needed to help ease the sufferings of the war
victims. The conflict in Mindanao also needs a neutral force that would
mediate between the government and the rebels.
b. No. I don’t think international intervention is necessary to end the
violence in Mindanao. We must trust our Armed Forces and the
government to resolve the conflict. I am sure they know what they are
doing. International intervention might only worsen the problem.
2. There have been two peace agreements signed prior to the hostage crisis in
Mindanao. The first one was in 1976, known as the Tripoli Agreement. This
was signed by then President Ferdinand Marcos and Moro National
Liberation Front Chairman Nur Misuari. However, due to the failure to
implement the agreement, violence continued to be rampant in Mindanao.
The second peace agreement was signed on September 2, 1996 by former
President Fidel Ramos and Misuari. This was more successful than the
Tripoli Agreement. Still, due to many other factors, peace, in Mindanao is
yet to be attained.
It is important to note that the two peace agreements were signed with the help of
an international group who mediated between the government and the rebel group.
This international group is the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).
Over the years, the OIC has used a variety of means to promote peaceful
settlement of the conflict between the Philippine government and the MNLF. Among
these were: ‘good offices,’ mediation and sanctions.
36
Let’s Try This
Identify the different techniques (good offices, mediation, sanctions) that the
OIC used to promote peaceful settlement of the conflict between the Philippine
government and the MNLF. Write your answers below each illustration.
1. The OIC sought the support of
peace-loving states and of
religious and international
authorities to assist in resolving
the conflict in the Philippines.
The organization specifically
ASEAN
sought the help of Malaysia and
Indonesia—as they are members
of the Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which
the Philippines is also a member.
2. The OIC mediated a series of

talks, which resulted in the signing
of the Tripoli Agreement in 1976.
The OIC continued its mediation
role even after the signing of the
1996 Peace Accord.
1976
1996
3. President Marcos was pressured

to enter into the agreement
because oil-exporting countries,
which are mostly Islamic, OIL
threatened the government with

an oil embargo.
After you finish answering the test, compare your answers with those in the
37
Let’s Learn
The Organization of Islamic Conference

“Brothers all are we….” This seems to be the governing ideology of the
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). The OIC is an international organization
of fifty-six countries that have decided to pool their resources together and combine
efforts to speak with one voice towards safeguarding the interests and securing the
progress and well-being of their peoples and of all the Muslims in the world.
It was established in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, on September 25, 1969. The
organization aims to strengthen Islamic solidarity and cooperation among its member
states. It also upholds the struggle of all Muslim people to safeguard their dignity,
independence and national rights.
The OIC’s primary philosophy is the Qur’anic concept of ummah, or “one
community of Muslims in the world.”
Answer the following questions:

1. How does the NATO promote peace?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
2. Explain the difference between peacekeeping missions and peace-
enforcement actions based on the following areas: (a) consent of the parties
involved, (b) arms, and (c) roles or functions. Write your answers inside the
table.
Missions Countries’ Consent Arm
Peacekeeping
Missions
Peace-Enforcement
Actions
38
3. Discuss the role played by the OIC in maintaining peace in Mindanao.
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Have you finished answering the test? Compare your answers with those in the
Answer Key on pages 51–52.
Let’s Remember
Congratulations! You’ve reached the end of Lesson 3. Only one more lesson to
go and you will complete this module. But before you proceed to the next lesson,
here are some important points to remember.
♦ Regional organizations, such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO), play a very important role in maintaining peace and order in its
regions.
♦ NATO undertakes peace operations, both peacekeeping and peace
enforcement in its member countries that are in conflict, to prevent the
escalation of violence.
♦ Peace enforcers, unlike peacekeepers, are deployed even without the
consent of the warring parties. They are more heavily armed than the
peacekeepers.
♦ The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) is an international
organization that aims to bring together all the Muslims of the world.
39
LESSON 4
The Philippines and World Peace
It’s a Small World
It’s a world of laughter and a world of

tears
It’s the world of hopes and a world of
peace
There’s so much that we share that it’s
time we’re aware
It’s a small world after all.
It’s a small world after all (4x)
Are you familiar with the song? Let’s try to sing it, okay?
How did you feel while you were singing it? I’m sure it felt good to imagine a
world of laughter, hope and peace.
What kind of a world would that be? One in which there is neither war nor
violence. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful place to live in?
You learned in the previous lessons how the international community works for
peace. In this lesson, you will learn more about our country’s contribution to the
establishment of peace around the world.
♦ explain our country’s contribution to keeping world peace; and
♦ apply peaceful means of resolving conflict in your own life.
You have learned in Lesson 1 that Carlos P. Romulo, a Filipino, became

Secretary-General of the UN. The Philippines is also among the fifty-one countries
that established the UN. For more than fifty years, the Philippines has been an active
member of the UN. She has contributed more than a thousand peacekeepers in various
conflicts around the world.
40
Can you still remember the article in Lesson 2 about the call of Indonesian
President Habibie for an increase of intervention or assistance from the international
community? If so, what was the participation of the Philippines in the crisis in East
Timor?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Our country deployed military troops, medical personnel and a team of engineers
in East Timor to help prevent violence from erupting. They attended to the wounded
and helped rebuild the newborn state. The same happened in the late 1960s, when we
sent medical personnel and engineers to help the victims in the Vietnam War.
Let’s Read
To learn more about the participation of our country in the violence that struck
East Timor, read the excerpt from the Philippine Daily Inquirer below.
Timorese thank RP for peacekeepers

East Timor leaders Xanana Gusmao and Jose Ramos-Horta yesterday
thanked the Philippine government for its peacekeeping efforts in the former
Indonesian territory.
The two men arrived here yesterday for a four-day visit that was aimed
at seeking the Philippines’ help in “the security of the state,” among others.
Their visit is part of a swing through Southeast Asia designed to draw
aid for their ravaged homeland.
The Philippines had sent about 600 soldiers, mostly military engineers,
doctors and dentists, to join an Australian-led peacekeeping force that
helped bring back stability in East Timor.
A new UN force is led by a Filipino, Lt. Gen. Jaime de los Santos.

Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr. and other officials of the
Department of Foreign Affairs welcomed Gusmao and Ramos-Horta, a co-
winner of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, at the Ninoy Aquino International
Airport.
Gusmao said he and Ramos-Horta were seeking the Philippines’

assistance in terms of human resources as well as training programs.
(Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 05, 2000)
41
Let’s Try This
Do you think getting involved in the problem in East Timor was a good move by
our government? Why or why not?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Have you finished answering the question? If so, compare your answer with the
one below:
Yes. I think our country’s involvement in East Timor was a good move by our
government. East Timor was really in need of help. As a good neighbor of East
Timor, the Philippines should extend all the help it can give.
Let’s Learn
You learned in Lesson 1 that our country is a member of the UN. Why do you
think our country joined the UN?
______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
If you answered that the Philippines joined the UN because it considers itself
part of a bigger world, you are correct! And as a part of the world community, our
country should work hand in hand with other countries to make this world a better
place to live in. That is, we must all work together to attain global peace and
prosperity. How? All peace efforts should start within us. We can promote peace by
helping resolve conflicts or disagreements peacefully.
It is also very important that if we choose to act as a mediator between two or
more opposing parties, we should maintain our impartiality. We must not let our
emotions control us, as these would probably make us take sides.
To bring peace locally or internationally, a peacekeeper should gain the trust of
each party involved. Only then will a peacekeeper or peacemaker successfully
convince all the opposing parties to stop throwing stones, or shooting bullets, at each
other. The peacekeeper should know how to convince the opposing parties to sit down
and talk with each other. Only by talking or negotiating peacefully can the opposing
parties solve their disagreements and work together peacefully in the long run.
42
A. Do you think our country’s involvement in global issues, such as in

peacekeeping, is important?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
B. Write your ideas on how you can contribute to preserving peace locally and
globally.
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on pages 52–53.
Congratulations! You have reached the end of the module. Did you enjoy it? If
you have some questions, do not hesitate to ask your Instructional Manager or
Facilitator. You could also go back and review the parts of the lesson that were not
clear to you.
Let’s Remember
♦ The Philippines, as a member of the United Nations and part of the

international community, also provides assistance to countries that are in
need.
♦ An example of such assistance was the deployment of military troops and
medical personnel in East Timor and Vietnam.
43
Let’s Sum Up
♦ If a country’s conflict within itself and/or with other countries becomes a

threat to international peace, the international community has to intervene to
avoid escalation of the conflict.
♦ The international community needs international peacekeepers to help
resolve conflicts and maintain and preserve peace.
♦ To ensure global peace, international organizations, led by the United
Nations, facilitate peace operations to prevent conflicts from breaking out.
These peace operations may include:
• Disarmament
• Peacemaking
• Peacekeeping
• Humanitarian intervention
• Peace building
• Peace Enforcement
♦ Here are some of the roles played by international peacekeepers:
• They help avoid outbreaks of hostilities.
• They act as mediators between opposing parties.
• They supervise and monitor elections.
• They provide relief assistance.
• They help rebuild communities and nations damaged by war.
♦ International intervention proves that countries are interdependent. One way
or another, we affect each other’s lives. As part of the international
community, we Filipinos also have a responsibility to make this world a
better place to live in.
♦ As a member of international peacekeeping organizations, our country is
ready to extend help to other countries that are in need.
44
What Have You Learned?
Let’s play a game of make believe. How would you react in the following
situation? Write your answers in the blanks provided. If you find it difficult to recall
the peace-operation formats, turn to page 24 and review them. You may even want to
read Lesson 2 again.
Suppose you are the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Two of your
member countries, Iraq and Iran, are having a territorial dispute. Because of this,
many people from both countries are getting killed. What peace-operation formats
would you apply to maintain and preserve peace between the two countries?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
After you finish writing your answer, compare it with the one in the Answer Key
on page 53.
If your answer is similar to the one given, great! You can now proceed to the next
module. Congratulations.
If you had a different answer, show it to your Instructional Manager for feedback.
He/She will tell you if you are ready to begin studying another module, or if you need
to review some parts of this present module.
45
Answer Key
A. Let’s See What You Already Know (pages 2–3)
Sample Answers:
1 and 2. Agree. The United Nations was established to promote cooperation
among countries so as to make this world a better place to live in. Its
efforts in maintaining peace developed as a response to the ravages
brought about by World War II. Member nations of the UN vowed to
prevent war at all cost.
3. Disagree. Peacekeepers are deployed WITH THE CONSENT of the
warring parties involved. Peacekeepers aim to gain the confidence of
both parties so they convince them to stop fighting and begin
negotiating.
4. Disagree. All nations must work together to make this world a better
place. Each of them must help those in need.
5. Agree. Peacekeepers are not an offensive force. They are lightly
armed and are allowed to use force only for self defense.
6. Disagree. Wars happen because people do not want to resolve
problems peacefully.
7. Agree. Wars, conflicts and disagreements are indeed realities, but
this does not mean that they cannot be prevented. If only peoples and
countries around the world would work for peace by listening to and
talking with each other, these harsh realities could be prevented.
8. Agree
9. Disagree. The first Asian Secretary-General of the UN was Carlos
P. Romulo, a Filipino.
10. Disagree. The UN does not undertake peace-enforcement
operations. It only deploys peacekeepers whose main mission is to
bring hostile parties to a peace agreement.
B. Lesson 1
Let’s Try This (page 8)
1. Yes 6. Yes
2. No 7. No
3. Yes 8. No
4. Yes 9. Yes
5. No 10. No
46
1. USA
2. China
3. France
4. Russia
5. United Kingdom
Let’s Review (page 11)
1. October 24, 1945
2. Fifty-one
3. world war
4. peacekeeping
5. Security Council
6. peace agreement
7. five
8. Carlos P. Romulo
Here are two sample answers. The preferred answer is letter b.
a. Yes. I would take sides. I would side with my friend who is more
reasonable than the other who has weak arguments.
b. No. I won’t take sides. Both of them are my friends and I do not want
to lose one by taking the side of the other. I would listen to their
arguments carefully and I would try to calm them down. I will also tell
them that in order to resolve whatever argument they have, they must
listen to one another.
Let’s Review (pages 13–14)
Sample Answers:
1. If the UN did not send peacekeepers to the Middle East conflict, there’s
a big possibility that tensions between Egypt and the European
community would continue to worsen. Many people would have been
killed and many properties damaged.
2. Yes. I think sending a neutral force to the Middle East was a good idea.
By doing so, the peacekeepers were able to keep the opposing parties
apart, thus reducing the occurrence of violent incidents. Peacekeepers
were also helpful and tried to mediate between Egypt and the European
community so that the parties could enter into peace negotiations.
47
Let’s See What You Have Learned (page 16)
1. The importance of having an impartial or neutral person or group
mediating between opposing parties is that a neutral person or group has
a greater chance of gaining the confidence of the two opposing parties
and convincing them that a peaceful settlement is possible between
them. The main duty of a neutral force is to keep the opposing parties
apart and help them come to a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
2. The United Nations was formed on October 24, 1945 as a result
of the harsh effects of war. The United Nations was established to
promote cooperation among countries so as to make this world a better
place to live in. Its efforts in maintaining peace developed as a
response to the ravages brought about by World War II. Member
nations of the UN vowed to prevent war at all cost.
3. We need international peacekeepers to help maintain peace throughout
the world. Many countries fight each other, and if there will be no one
who will mediate between them, the conflicts could worsen. Conflicts
and wars could result in a lot of damages. Many lives will be lost and
many properties will be destroyed. The international peacekeepers play
a very important role in bringing opposing parties to sign peace
agreements. By doing so, violence will end. It will also preserve good
relationship between countries.
4. The functions of the UN include preserving peace throughout the world.
It sends peacekeeping forces to act as mediators between opposing
parties.
C. Lesson 2
Let’s Study and Analyze (page 17)
The various activities of the UN in promoting peace are:
1. The UN helps bring peace between two opposing parties through
negotiations.
2. It sends peacekeepers to supervise cease-fires while the opposing
camps negotiate peace.
3. It attends to the wounded and gives humanitarian assistance (medicines,
relief goods) to help ease the sufferings of the victims.
4. It works for the dismantling of arms or the reduction of war weapons,
especially nuclear weapons.
5. It helps rebuild property damaged by war. These include the building of
schools, hospitals, bridges, and other important establishments.
48
Let’s Read (page 18)
Headline 1 – Peacemaking through peace negotiations
Headline 2 – Peacekeeping or the sending of a neutral force to help
defuse violence in the area
Headline 3 – Peacemaking through peace negotiations
Headline 4 – Humanitarian assistance
Let’s Learn (pages 20–21)
Sample Answer:
I think supervising the cease-fire or truce of two opposing parties is
important because the peacekeepers must ensure that the two opposing
parties are fulfilling the agreement that they signed. Usually, a buffer or
neutral zone where the two opposing parties can negotiate is established.
The peacekeepers then monitor and protect the buffer zone to ensure that it
is free from any violent incidents between the two opposing parties.
Let’s Review (pages 21–22)
1. 8 The UN peacekeepers are deployed to areas in conflict WITH the
consent of the countries involved.
2. 4
3. 4
4. 8 The UN peacekeepers must remain neutral at all times.
5. 8 Peacekeepers are lightly armed because they are only allowed to use
force for self-defense.
Let’s Think About This (page 23)
Sample Answer:
Yes. I think the disarmament role of the UN is important. It is
important because there is need to put an end to the use of deadly weapons
that kill many people. It is important that all of us value the life of each
person in this world.
The UN also engages in humanitarian and peace-building missions to
help ease the sufferings of the innocent victims of war. The UN is
committed to help the countries recover from the damages caused by war so
that its people can live a normal life. It also believes that giving assistance
to countries that are destroyed by war can lead to lasting peace.
49
Let’s See What You Have Learned (pages 27–29)
A. 1. Humanitarian assistance
2. Peacemaking
3. Peacekeeping
4. Peace building
5. Disarmament
B. 1. East Timor was in a state of chaos or disorder. Many people
died. Nearly 300,000 East Timorese fled from their homes. More
than 100,000 refugees fled to the mountains to escape the growing
violence in the land.
2. The preferred answer is “Yes,” although you may also give a
“No” answer.
Yes. If I were the President of Indonesia I would also do the
same. I would call on the international community to help my
country end violence and restore peace. I would be deeply
concerned with my people. I want to end their suffering. I do not
want them to get killed. With the growing violence caused by the
militia men, the international community must intervene so as to
prevent the harsh effects of violence in my country from spreading
to neighboring countries.
No. If I were the President of Indonesia, I would not call for
international intervention because it could only worsen the
problem. The militia would get mad and they might kill more
people. I would be in total control of the situation. I, together with
my people, can resolve our conflict.
3. The preferred answer is “Yes,” although you may also give a
“No” answer.
Yes. If I were the President of the Philippines, I would also
send troops and medics to East Timor. As a member country of the
United Nations and the Association of South East Asian Nations,
our country has a responsibility to help restore peace and order in
the region.
No. If I were the President of the Philippines, I would not let
our country intervene in the affairs of another country. I would not
let our country get involved in the violence happening in East
Timor because the East Timorese might consider us intruders.
Thus, instead of helping restore peace, we might end up worsening
the conflict.
50
4. The Australian troops could not proceed to East Timor because
they had to wait for the right time to do so. They could not enter
the area without the approval of the international community and
the Indonesian Government because they might just heighten the
violence in the area.
5. Yes. Humanitarian assistance in East Timor was really important.
There were many people who suffered because of the violence.
Humanitarian assistance was needed to help them relieve their
suffering and cope with the horrors brought about by the
violence in the area. The people needed doctors to cure them and
attend to their injuries. They also needed relief goods, especially
because many people had fled from their homes to the evacuation
centers and had little or no food and clothing.
D. Lesson 3
1. Good Offices – The OIC sought for the good offices of Malaysia and
Indonesia to help resolve the conflict in the Philippines. The three
countries are all members of the ASEAN.
2. Mediation – The OIC played an important role in helping the Philippine
government and the Moro National Liberation Front sign two peace
agreements.
3. Sanctions – During the Marcos regime, then President Marcos did not
agree to negotiate with the MNLF immediately. Because of this, the
OIC pressured the Marcos administration to negotiate with the MNLF
by declaring a sanction or a penalty through an oil embargo or blockade.
It is important to note that most of the Islamic countries are oil-
exporting countries, so when the OIC ordered its member countries to
stop exporting oil to the Philippines, the Islamic countries obeyed the
OIC.
Let’s See What You Have Learned (pages 38–39)
1. NATO promotes peace in the North Atlantic region by providing venues
for peace negotiations among its member countries that have
disagreements with each other. It also sends peace operations such as
peacekeeping and peace-enforcement to its member countries that are
in need. It is important to note that NATO undertakes peace -
enforcement operations with the approval of the UN. This is because
most of its member countries are also members of the UN.
51
2.
Missions Countries' Consent Ar
Peacekeepers are Peacekee
deployed with the lightly ar
consent of the They are
countries involved. to use for
Peacekeeping
for self-d
Missions
Peace enforcers are Peace en

deployed even are more
Peace - without the consent armed in
Enforcement of the countries them to f
Actions involved. their duti
3. The OIC played an important role in the signing of the 1976 Tripoli
Agreement and the 1996 Peace Accord between the Philippine
government and the Moro National Liberation Front. The OIC acted as
a mediator between the Philippine government and the MNLF. Its
efforts resulted in the signing of the two peace agreements between the
two opposing groups.
E. Lesson 4
Let’s See What You Have Learned (page 43)
Sample Answers:
A. Yes. I think our country’s involvement in global issues such as
peacekeeping is important because we are part of a bigger world. As a
member of the international community, it is our duty to respond to the
calls of our neighboring countries. We have a responsibility towards
preserving peace, be it at the local, national or global level.
B. I can contribute to preserving peace locally and globally by beginning
with myself and my family. If we are not willing to be at peace with
ourselves and with our neighbors, we can never attain peace. I will live
in peace even in the simplest possible way. For example:
♦ If I have a disagreement with any of my family members
and friends, I would try to talk things over with them in a calm
manner.
52
♦ If my friend comes to me with a personal problem, I will
listen to her. But I will not intervene immediately in her problem
unless she asks me to do so.
♦ If I have friends, neighbors or family members who are in need, I
will try my best to help them.
It is very important to remember that disagreements can be
settled peacefully. This could be achieved even without resorting to
violence. If there’s one thing that I can share with everybody in
order to attain peace locally and globally, it is the value of talking and
listening. Conflicts and misunderstanding can be settled through
peaceful negotiations and compromise.
F. What Have You Learned? (page 45)

Sample Answer:
If I were the Secretary-General of the UN, I would undertake various
operations to bring peace between the two countries. The peace mission
would include sending peacemakers that would mediate between Iran and
Iraq to convince them to open their doors for negotiation.
If a cease-fire would be agreed upon by Iran and Iraq, I would deploy
a peacekeeping force in the area to keep the warring parties apart as the
negotiations take place. These peacekeepers would ensure that the
cease-fire between the two parties is being honored.
Along with the peacekeeping operation, I would also undertake a
humanitarian mission. Medical personnel will be deployed to attend to
the needs of the suffering civilians who are caught in between combat.
You might have answered the question differently. Discuss your answer
with your Instructional Manger for additional feedback.
53
Glossary
Buffer zones Neutral areas where negotiations take place

Cease-fire A temporary period of peace between enemies while talks are taking
place between them
Combatant A person involved in fighting or war
Conflict A disagreement; argument; fight
Diffuse To disperse
Disarmament The reduction and eventual elimination of all weapons of mass
destruction
Eradicate To destroy or erase completely
Host country A country where peacekeepers or enforcers are sent
Imperialism A policy of extending a country’s power and influence in the world
through political and military means
Imperialists A person or country that supports and believes in imperialism
Intervention The practice of intervening; process of becoming involved
Mass destruction To cause great damage to people and properties
Mediate To try to establish an agreement between two or more persons or
groups in opposition
Militia A trained military force whose members do not belong to a regular army
but operate like one
Negotiate Talk
Neutral Not supporting either side in a conflict or war; impartial
Noncombatant Civilian; innocent person
Oil embargo The restriction of the buying and selling of oil
Operation Mission
Peacekeeper A person sent by international peacekeeping organizations such as
the UN to areas in conflict to act as a mediator between opposing parties;
anyone who tries to maintain or uphold peace
Postconflict After the conflict; after the war
Recurrence An event happening again or repeating
Referendum A direct vote taken on an important issue by the people of a
country
54
Refugee A person who has been forced to leave his/her home because of war
Rehabilitate To restore; to rebuild
Repatriation Sending or bringing back the refugees to their own country
Solidarity Unity
Treaty Signed agreement between two or more nation-states
Uprooted Displaced; removed from one’s home with force
References
A Call For Intervention. PBS Online. < http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/

july-dec99/timor_update_9-13.html >. December 14, 2000, date accessed.
Arriving in Tel Aviv, Annan says bloodshed must stop, peace talks begin. UN
News Service. < http://www.un.org/News/dh/latest/ >. October 10, 2000,
date accessed.
Conclusions. < http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/5433/
conclusion.html >. December 14, 2000, date accessed.
50 Years of United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. < http://www.un.org/
Depts/dpko/dpko/50web/2.htm >. December 12, 2000, date accessed.
Heavy fighting in Afghanistan forces thousands to flee their homes: UNHCR.
UN News Service. < http://www.un.org/News/dh/latest/ >. October 10,
2000, date accessed.
Kosovo Testimonies. < www.decani.yunet.com/archive_feb.html >. December
14, 2000, date accessed.
McCluskey, Peter. CBC News Online. < http://www.cbc.ca/news/indepth/
peacekeepers >. December 14, 2000, date accessed.
Santos, Soliman M. Jr. Islamic Diplomacy Consultation & Consensus. Accord
Mindanao < http://www.c-r.org/acc_min/santos.htm >. November 16, 2000,
date accessed.
Secretary-General remains hopeful after talks with Arafat, Barak. UN News
Service. < http://www.un.org/News/dh/latest/ >. October 10, 2000, date
accessed.
Timorese thank RP for peacekeepers. Philippine Daily Inquirer Interactive.
< http://www.inquirer.net/issues/feb2000/feb05/news/news_4.htm >.
December 14, 2000, date accessed.
United Nations Peacekeeping: Some questions and answers. < http://
www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/ques.htm >. December 12, 2000, date
accessed.
55
UN envoy urges continued international engagement in Kosovo. UN News
Service. < http://www.un.org/News/dh/latest/ >. October 10, 2000, date
accessed.
UN in Brief. < www.un.org >. December 14, 2000, date accessed.
UN Teaching Units. < http://www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/peacekeeping/ >.
December 12, 2000, date accessed.
World War II. History Central. < http://www.historycentral.com/ww2/
39to40.html >. December 14, 2000, date accessed.
56

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What Is This Module About?

What could be the meaning of the above statement?

After studying this module, you should be able to:

Let’s See What You Already Know

1. The United Nations’ primary goal is to

The Need for International

Why is there a need to maintain peace? What are peacekeepers for?

Let’s Try This

Disagreements and confrontations often, if not always, lead to open conflict. A

Study the picture below.

Would you want to live in such a place? Why or why not?

Let’s Study and Analyze

The Security Council

1. ________________ 2. __________________ 3. ________________

The United Nations was established on (1.)____

The UN realized that peace should be preserved

The first Asian Secretary-General of the UN was

As mentioned earlier, the first UN peacekeeping mission was undertaken in the

Answer the following questions:

Without Peacekeepers With Peacekeepers

The Blue Berets

UN peacekeeping force in action Blue berets of the UN

Countries Military Pers

Of the top five countries shown in the table...

Answer the following:

The United Nations’ Peacekeeping Role

Let’s Study and Analyze

2. UN envoy urges continued international engagement in Kosovo

3. Secretary-General remains hopeful

4. Heavy fighting in Afghanistan forces thousands

Have you ever experienced being a mediator? Or being in the middle of a

Let’s Try This

Let’s Study and Analyze

Let’s Study and Analyze

Let’s Try This

Why do you think the UN engages in humanitarian and peace-building missions?

The UN relies on the following peace operations or missions to maintain

Hello, my name is Brian and I am from

But how do you go about

Health clinics and child-care

Let’s Try This

Based on what you have read, answer the following questions:

Let’s See What You Have Learned

A. Identify the kind of peace operation described in each of the sentences

A CALL FOR INTERVENTION

♦ In fulfilling the UN’s obligation to maintain peace, it relies on the following

Other International Peacekeepers

Let’s Think About This

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Belgium Italy Uni

Let’s Study and Analyze

The NATO troops

Is peace enforcement the same as peacekeeping? Write your thoughts in the

Let’s Try This

By conservative estimates, the war in Mindanao killed about a hundred thousand

(Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 01, 2000)

Answer the following:

Let’s Study and Analyze

2. The OIC mediated a series of

3. President Marcos was pressured

1. 2. 3. __