Lesson 26 — Activity 2: Canada's Role in Internal Conflicts
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Lesson 26 — Activity 2:
Canada's Role in Internal Conflicts
Canada's Role in Internal Conflicts
Warm Up
You will recall from the lessons on peacekeeping that internal conflicts can be very complicated and difficult to resolve. Canada has had a peacekeeping role in several of these conflicts. In this activity, you will review some internal conflicts in which Canada has been involved.
Prime Minister Trudeau and the UN Secretary
Cyprus is an
island in the Mediterranean Sea where both Greek and Turkish people
live. When Cyprus became independent from Great Britain in 1959, the
Greeks and Turks started fighting. More Greeks live in Cyprus than
Turks.
Alpanvi / CC BY-SA
Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean Sea where both Greek and Turkish people live. When Cyprus became independent from Great Britain in 1959, the Greeks and Turks started fighting. More Greeks live in Cyprus than Turks.
Alpanvi / CC BY-SA
At first, British troops came back to help restore order, but they asked for help from the United Nations. In 1964, Canada, along with other UN countries, sent troops to Cyprus. In 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus because they feared the Greeks were going to take it over. As a result, the island was divided into two parts, one controlled by Turkey and one controlled by Greece. Finally, in 1993, Canada withdrew its forces from Cyprus.
At first, British troops came back to help restore order, but they asked for help from the United Nations. In 1964, Canada, along with other UN countries, sent troops to Cyprus. In 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus because they feared the Greeks were going to take it over. As a result, the island was divided into two parts, one controlled by Turkey and one controlled by Greece. Finally, in 1993, Canada withdrew its forces from Cyprus.
Rwanda, a
nation in eastern Africa, is home to two racial groups, the Hutus and
the Tutsis, who fought for control. The government was controlled mainly
by Hutus, but the military was controlled by the Tutsis.
In 1994, the UN
sent some troops to Rwanda to keep the peace and stop the spread of the
conflict into neighbouring countries. These troops were under the
command of a Canadian, Romeo Dallaire. These UN peacekeepers were under
strict orders not to use any weapons. This left Dallaire and the few UN
troops left with no way to stop the genocide that occurred. In 10 days,
800,000 Tutsis were killed by Hutus who were supported by the
government.
Rwanda, a nation in eastern Africa, is home to two racial groups, the Hutus and the Tutsis, who fought for control. The government was controlled mainly by Hutus, but the military was controlled by the Tutsis.
In 1994, the UN sent some troops to Rwanda to keep the peace and stop the spread of the conflict into neighbouring countries. These troops were under the command of a Canadian, Romeo Dallaire. These UN peacekeepers were under strict orders not to use any weapons. This left Dallaire and the few UN troops left with no way to stop the genocide that occurred. In 10 days, 800,000 Tutsis were killed by Hutus who were supported by the government.
Enzolamine / CC BY-SA
The
UN sent in General Romeo Dallaire but left him underfunded and with very
little rules of engagement. He was set up to fail. He was forced to
watch innocent people be massacred.
The UN sent in General Romeo Dallaire but left him underfunded and with very little rules of engagement. He was set up to fail. He was forced to watch innocent people be massacred.
The Balkans is an
area of Europe that used to belong to the Soviet Union. When the Soviet
Union broke up, the countries in the region became independent. Many
ethnic and religious groups lived in the region, so conflict occurred as
these groups tried to gain control of various areas and protect their
rights.
Dr. Zhelyu Zhelev / Public domain
In 1991, Slovenia and Croatia declared independence, and in 1992, Bosnia-Herzegovina declared independence. An ethnic group called Serbians were worried about their rights because they were a minority in these new countries. The Yugoslav army, which was mostly Serbian, helped these people fight for control of the areas in which they lived. As a result, many of the other people living in the areas were killed or driven from their homes. Canada sent troops to help establish peace and maintain it.
The Balkans is an area of Europe that used to belong to the Soviet Union. When the Soviet Union broke up, the countries in the region became independent. Many ethnic and religious groups lived in the region, so conflict occurred as these groups tried to gain control of various areas and protect their rights.
Dr. Zhelyu Zhelev / Public domain
James Hathaway / CC BY
Landmines being cleaned up by UN peacekeeping forces.
Canada also
helped to investigate human rights abuses that occurred during the war.
The war in the Balkans is over, but Canada is still helping to get rid of
mines, provide homes for the homeless, and help people in the area
reconstruct their societies and resolve their differences using peaceful
means.
James Hathaway / CC BY
Landmines being cleaned up by UN peacekeeping forces.
Canada also helped to investigate human rights abuses that occurred during the war. The war in the Balkans is over, but Canada is still helping to get rid of mines, provide homes for the homeless, and help people in the area reconstruct their societies and resolve their differences using peaceful means.
Internal conflicts present unique challenges because they are usually fueled by underlying issues that may have existed for centuries. Not having grown up in a region of conflict, an outsider has not learned the negative attitudes toward another ethnic or religious group. Sometimes, outsiders such as peacekeepers can see that both sides have legitimate claims. In fact, in our culture, Canadian peacekeepers have learned tolerance and acceptance of differences. The citizens in these countries are viewed by peacekeepers as victims of war rather than as enemies.
Internal conflicts present unique challenges because they are usually fueled by underlying issues that may have existed for centuries. Not having grown up in a region of conflict, an outsider has not learned the negative attitudes toward another ethnic or religious group. Sometimes, outsiders such as peacekeepers can see that both sides have legitimate claims. In fact, in our culture, Canadian peacekeepers have learned tolerance and acceptance of differences. The citizens in these countries are viewed by peacekeepers as victims of war rather than as enemies.