Cultural Diversity in UN Peace Environment
By Wing Commander Munim KHAN MAJLISH, psc
(BANAIR Newsletter III, MONUSCO, May 2016)

1. Bangladesh cherishes her history of independence and always takes pride to mark the occasion with due solemnity and fervors. The National Day on 26 March of this year was celebrated among other events with a colourful cultural soiree at Ndromo Camp jointly organized by Bangladesh Air Force and Bangladesh Army contingents at Bunia, DR Congo. Amateur but skillful performers of Bangladesh Armed Forces had created a unique amiable environment to exhibit Bengali culture and heritage with an elegant ambiance. People of foreign nationalities may not exactly understand the lyrics of Flt Lt Faria but were spell bounded to comprehend her mind blowing classical tune and symphony in the pleasant tranquil environment in Bunia. There was absolutely pin drop silent amongst the audience when Sgt Nilu Mondal tuned bhatialy (ŖvwUqvjx) folk music in his traditional flute. CSO Imran and Sgt Ashraf contended the entire audience by skillfully describing sentiment of regiment lifestyle in DR Congo through performing ‘Gamvira’ (YwҮ̣Ũ) in Chapai Nababganj (PvcvB beveMǻ) accent. The fashion parade of traditional Bengali attires by fellow combatants, or Baul sangeet (evķŚ ŝw΅ō) performance by one army officer truly glorified the socio-cultural legacy of Bengal in the international environment. We all wondered to witness that local inhabitants and particularly the peacekeepers of varied nationalities and cultural background not only enjoyed the show but also became eagerly interested regarding our customs and cultural herritage. Actually, when the popular music item of singer Maksud was played in the background everyone attending the programme could not just remain seated, but moved in the centre place to match steps with its brilliant bit and symphony melai jaire (ųŗŚvţ ŘvBųř…).

2. It is indeed a brilliant international atmosphere where people from various cultural background and national identities are working together in establishing peace in the conflict affected area in DR Congo. UN Stabilization Mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO) enabled people from all over the world to interact and cooperate each other for a common purpose to ensure peace and stability in one of the most resourceful region in the world in terms of mineral resources, but severely affected by communal hatred, violence and brutal atrocities. Interestingly the cultural difference did not inhibit members of MONUSCO to perform their assigned tasks; rather the diversity of multi-culture assisted them to have multiplicity of ideas and imaginations to manage complex and conflict situation while restoring peace in the region. I often wonder to witness the Head of Office of Bunia Region Mr M’hand Ladjouzi of Jordan very skillfully orchestrating his team of committed peacekeepers and administering people of various nationalities in Bunia region quite smoothly. When he use to commence the week’s activities with a coordination meeting held every Monday attended by all the in charges of different offices of MONUSCO, the conference room truly becomes a meeting place of diverse international communities. The Chief of Political Affairs Division Mr Julius Fondong of Zambia, Chief of UN Police in Bunia Mr. Michael Manaribo, Ms Anne Herrmann of Belgium representing Public Information Office, Chief of Logistic British citizen Ms Mary Tennent, Czech citizen Mr Dan Cucu who is the Chief of Security in Bunia, Russian nationality Mr Vladimir Erokhin of DDR, Romanian engineer Mr Adrian, Greek nationality and electrical engineer Mr Haramis (he is popularly called as the local Pope by MONUSCO members), members of Indian Police Contingent, representatives of the Indonesian and Nepalese Engineer Contingents, military staff from India, Bangladesh, Morocco, Nepal, Ghana, Bosnia, Mongolia; Contingent Commanders of Moroccan Army, Bangladesh Army, and Bangladesh Air Force, Deputy Brigade Commander from Morocco, Brigade Commander from Bangladesh Army Brig Gen MD Rafiqul Islam, Irish HQ staff Ms Irine, Congolese nationals of different departments – all together use to create a unique international atmosphere under one identity-MONUSCO. It is very exciting to note that people often try to project their own cultural and language while participating in the discussion. They often speak in different UN languages like English, French or Spanish in the conference which is sometimes difficult to apprehend by non-speaking people; but all focus on singular spirit and sentiment of reinstating peace and stability in Bunia, DR Congo.

3. Bangladesh Air Force has been participating in UN peacekeeping operations mission since 1990s in Bosnia and Herzegovina. BAF is one of the pioneer country to contribute her aviation assets in UN peace keeping effort. It was successfully projected with utmost professionalism in Kuwait, Mozambique, East Timor, Ivory Coast and Republic of Chad. At present, BAF is being deployed in DR Congo, Mali and Haiti for reinstating peace in these rebellion affected regions. BAF is very much visible in DR Congo with one Utility Aviation Unit of 6 x MI-17 helicopters; 2 x Airfield Services Unit at Bunia and Dungu Airports respectively and 1 x Aviation Transport Unit operating C-130 strategic lifting capable aircraft. Apart from contributing in the contingents BAF peacekeepers are deployed around the world as staff or military observers in almost everywhere where UN peace missions are deployed.

4. The aviation atmosphere in DR Congo is an exclusive combination of aviation assets from different nations. Bangladeshi helicopters and transport aircraft, Ukrainian MI-8 utility helicopter and MI-24 Attack helicopters, American Sikorsky helicopters, Canadian Beechcraft, South African Oryx and Rooivalk helicopters, or C-130 Hercules aircraft, Bell-212 helicopters from Uruguay, Pakistani Puma helicopters, Italian Falco Unmanned Aerial System operated by Philippines and American pilots and controllers-all these aviation assets from different countries form a unique entity- the MONUSCO aviation unit. The presence of commercial cargo and passenger aircraft of multiple nationalities and companies made the aviation atmosphere more diverse and complex in DR Congo. Bangladeshi aviators and aviation professionals of different airfield service providers are relentlessly experienced with such diverse multi-cultural environment during day to day affairs. BAF Air Traffic Controllers in Bunia or Dungu ATC Tower very skillfully use to manage the complex traffic situation occupied by aircraft of diverse identities. When some of the French or Russian speaking aviators often find it difficult to convey messages, or to understand English phraseologies; Bangladeshi Air Traffic Controllers find it even difficult to ensure safety and orderly flow of aerial traffic while controlling aviators of such diverse cultural backgrounds. The situation becomes really challenging when suddenly one light aircraft gets airborne from some unknown airfield in an uncontrolled airspace marginally ahead of another flight cruising in the air. The aviators need to remain all the time vigilant for other traffic in the air, and as well as need to monitor conversations very minutely of other traffic in different accent and phraseologies, and the most importantly from different safety culture environment.

5. The diverse aviation assets of MONUSCO are run by even more diverse group of people in DR Congo. I often wonder how the Chief of Aviation in DR Congo, Mr Azzam Ayyat, a Jordanian citizen coordinates people of so many nationalities serving in Air Operations. His office in GOMA consists of aviation professionals from Bangladesh, India, Jordan, Ukraine, Russia, Italy, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Pakistan, etc and of course few local Congolese staff. The Chief of Air Region-4 in Bunia is Mr Assamis Compaore is an ex aviator from Burkina Faso. He is assisted by a group of aviators and aviation experts from South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Yemen, Cameron, Pakistan, Nigeria, Senegal, DR Congo and obviously Bangladesh. Sometimes, it might happen that when Ms Palessa Fisher of South African origin makes a gesture for expressing only a humour, someone from other cultural identity misjudges that behavior quite as a serious issue. While Bangladeshi air operation staff have to take a lunch break at 1300 hours, the African or European people do not prefer to take a meal in day time till having supper in the afternoon. When fellow officers from BAN ASU went to greet Ms Hannah Kemevor of Ghana after getting news of her incoming baby with bouquet and sweet, she hardly understood such greetings and remained over contended to watch a funny cartoon in her laptop ignoring the presence of fellow colleagues. The dedicated air operations staff of Asian culture often irritates the African single mother by asking lots of personal queries which makes her very offended as per her cultural etiquettes. Despite all those difference of social tradition and manners people of various cultural identities are committed to work together to achieve the common noble cause of restoring peace effort by UN. I joyfully witness the Chief of Air Operations, Mr Assamis Compaore often goes for afternoon jogging around the airport with his diverse team of multi-cultural identities after day’s hard work and prolong concentration in official activities.

6. The unifying spirit of United Nations has not only taken a gallant endeavour to restore peace and stability around the world but also brought people of diverse ethnicity and cultures to work together in a common platform. The diversity of people has certainly enriched the creativity and strength of the organization of all the nations of the world by exchanging views and thoughts. Here, people from various origins are taking part in the peacekeeping process with various ideas, applications and methods. Bangladesh Air Force is immensely benefited by participating in such an international and multi-cultural environment. Such opportunities had unquestionably multiplied our experiences and knowledge and enabled us to widen our horizon immensely.