We hold on for peace
The scale of troops sent from small to large, the types of troops from single to diverse, and the areas of tasks from simple to complex, in the past 30 years, China has participated in the United Nations peacekeeping operations to achieve a historic leap. Chinese peacekeepers rely on their excellent professional qualities and selfless dedication to convey confidence in peace, erect a barrier of security, and win praise from local people and international peers. Action Interpretation China's Responsible Power
Mali and peace mission area-
The test of life and death
Bian Long
On February 17 this year, in the Menaka area of northeast Mali, a West African country, terrorists launched a rocket attack on the Menaka Super Camp of the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces (Super Camp). At the time, I was leading a contingent of 35 Chinese peacekeepers to perform super-battle construction tasks. After the first rocket landed, the Super Camp Warning System issued an early warning. I directed everyone into the bunker through the intercom for the first time, gathered the counting personnel, and all three groups of people outside the camp entered the nearby bunker within 30 seconds. Three rockets fell into the super battalion, one of which was only 200 meters away from the contingent construction unit. Over the past year, the Super Battalion has encountered a total of 5 rocket attacks. The Menaka detachment has overcome the severe security situation and has basically completed the construction of the camp.
This is my third trip to Mali to participate in a UN peacekeeping operation. In December 2013, at the request of the United Nations, China dispatched to Mali the first batch of peacekeeping forces composed of engineering units, security units, and medical units, which is now the seventh batch. I remember when I first arrived in Mali, the walls and windows of the airport terminal of Gao were covered with bullet holes. On the road leading to the camp, a checkpoint was set up. The government army with live ammunition was on duty. I really felt that, War is so close to us.
The United Nations Mali peacekeeping mission area where Chinese peacekeeping forces are located is located in Gao, a major town in the east of Mali. It is a key transportation point in West Africa and a necessary way for terrorists to infiltrate Bamako, the capital of Mali. The three detachments of the Chinese peacekeeping force in Mali perform their duties: the security detachment is responsible for providing security alert for the Gaoao battalion in the Eastern Theater; the medical detachment is responsible for medical treatment as the secondary hospital in the Eastern Theater; the engineering detachment where I work is mainly responsible for the construction of the Gaoao Chao Battalion and Menaka super-defense facilities, construct and maintain airports, roads, drainage facilities, build board houses and other living facilities of the United Nations Mali Multi-Level Comprehensive Stabilization Mission (UNM), as well as other temporary emergency repair and repair tasks .
The construction of the camp started from zero. We completed the construction of the board houses and supporting living facilities that can accommodate 155 people in about 10 days. After visiting the battalion, the Eastern Theater Command and the commanders of the detachments expressed "the progress of the project is incredible." With the successful completion of construction projects one after another, "China Speed", "Chinese Standards" and "Chinese Quality" have won a high reputation in Lianma, and "Chinese Engineers" has also become a shining business card.
In 2016, I participated in the fourth batch of Chinese peacekeeping troops to Mali and served as the squadron leader of the three-dimensional squadron. That peacekeeping experience left me with unforgettable memories and pain. At 20:50 on May 31, the squadron soldiers Shen Liangliang and Si Chongchang who were on duty at No. 2 sentry were about to be laid off. Suddenly, Shen Liangliang's clear and hurried report came from my walkie-talkie: "Duty room, there are unknown vehicles rushing to the camp!" I quickly ordered the quick response class (referred to as the quick reaction class) to take the gun and got up and rushed to the post. About 30 meters away from the post, a huge explosion, shock waves and flying sand drove me away. The camp was dark and soaring. I climbed into the gap between the transport vehicles, briefly checked my body, and rushed to the post with the fast-reverse class. The first to be found was Si Chongchang, whose left ear had bloody flesh and blood on his chest. After handing over Si Chongchang to the military doctor, we continued our search for Shen Liangliang. At this time, the post had already ignited a fire, and we stepped up to extinguish the fire, while praying that Liangliang was not in the post.
About 10 minutes later, the fire at the sentry was extinguished and reported to the water team fighter Zhang Haoran: "Captain, found, sacrificed..." That night was very long and long, and I felt deeply saddened.
According to the recollection of Si Chongchang, that night the main outpost Shen Liangliang found an unknown vehicle rushing towards the camp gate, he immediately reported to the combat duty room, decisively commanded Si Chongchang to shoot at the target, and pushed Si Chongchang away from the post at the moment of the explosion floor. It took only 37 seconds from the discovery to the final explosion. In this precious 37 seconds, Shen Liangliang put his personal safety out of danger, always sticking to the post to perform his duties, and prepared time for the camp to prepare for protection, avoiding the casualties of more comrades.
I withdrew to the country due to bilateral tympanic membrane perforation. I went to Wen County, Jiaozuo City, Henan Province, where Shen Liangliang’s hometown was, and his parents were also called parents. I said to them, “If there is peacekeeping, I will go.” Liangliang’s father said at the time, “Child, this is The mission and responsibility of soldiers, but we must pay attention to safety." Now, as a member of the seventh batch of Chinese peacekeeping troops to Mali, I cherish this opportunity because it is not only my own desire, but also a bright The wishes of Sizhi and Si Chongchang.
Came to Mali peace three times, and this became my second hometown. During my trip to Mali, I brought 70 pairs of slippers and more than 200 clothes to the local children. The strong contrast between the innocent smiles of Malian children and the ruined scenes caused by the war is always lingering in my mind. I think that for a peacekeeper, it is worth the effort to bring more hope for peace to the local people.
(The author is the deputy team leader of the seventh batch of Chinese engineering troops to Mali and peacekeeping)
Lebanon peacekeeping mission area-
Scarf blue helmet without fear of minefield
Yang Yixin
At the invitation of the United Nations, Chinese peacekeeping troops in Lebanon were deployed to the mission area in April 2006. In May 2019, as a member of China's eighteenth batch of Lewis and multifunctional engineering units, I was fortunate to be one of the first Chinese peacekeeping female soldiers to enter the "Blue Line" minefield.
Lebanon is known as the "Middle East Gunpowder Barrel". The "Blue Line", a temporary border between Lebanon and Israel that is more than 120 kilometers east of the Mediterranean Sea, has complex terrain and is densely covered with mines. Our mission is to clear mines and clear the battlefield, including surveying, demarcating and isolating minefields; opening channels in minefields; carrying out regional mine clearance; disposing of unexploded ordnance; emergency rescue in minefields; conducting mine threat safety publicity and education; cooperating Work of the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Center.
From 2006 to 2020, Chinese mine-clearance officers and soldiers have discovered and eliminated more than 10,000 mines, creating excellent results in mine clearance, with the "most number and fastest speed" and "zero casualties and accidents." Today, "Chinese mine clearance" has become synonymous with the safe and efficient operation of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (abbreviated as UNIFIL).
On June 11, last year, all the 71 demining officers and soldiers of the unit passed the assessment of the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Center at the same time, and obtained two qualifications for demining and detonation. At the same time, I and two other female demining operators were listed. The "pass" of the "Blue Line" minefield.
When I walked into the real minefield for the first time, I saw thorns in the minefield with steep slopes, corroded isolated barbed wire, red and white skull warning signs, and occasionally visible mines with bare surface, reminding people that this is a "death zone" ".
"Minesweeper operations, every step taken is a matter of life and death." Before starting the operations, the demining team leader's instructions made me nervous. On a hot summer day, the surface temperature of the minefield exceeds 50 degrees Celsius. I put on a heavy protective suit, a dull protective helmet, and a single-handed mine detector to detect the signal source. I was sweating in less than 10 minutes. "Beep beep, beep beep..." After discovering the signal source, I carefully completed the calibration work, and then excitedly reported to the team leader. With the permission of the team leader and full supervision, I knelt down on my knees, holding tools such as small shovels, brushes, and scissors to dig the ground inch by inch. A reminder from the team leader came from time to time: "Mine clearance must follow the standard operating procedures of the United Nations, and the vegetation should be cut from top to bottom, back to front, and one by one. The excavation should be advanced a little, and each time it advances, it must not exceed 5 cm."
After more than half an hour of digging, I found a mine buried about 15 cm underground. In order to successfully detonate and destroy it, I need to cling to the mine and dig a section where the explosive can be placed. Every time the small shovel waved around the mine, my heart mentioned the throat, and it was this process that gave me a real experience of why mine clearance and detonation is called "dance on the tip of the knife."
"Boom!" There was a loud noise, a few plumes of smoke, and the mines excavated that day were destroyed by the detonation operator, and the corner of the minefield finally ruled out the safety hazard.
The mine-clearing work day after day made me encounter many difficulties, but also made me more determined and courageous and experienced. The clearer the clearance deeper into the minefield, the more complicated the situation. In the inaccessible environment, snakes are infested, and it is common to suddenly emerge a venomous snake during the excavation process; years of rain erosion and surface covering soil increase the workload of excavation; many mines have been laid for a long time and are entangled by the surrounding vegetation. Greatly increased the risk of lightning strikes during clearance.
"As long as my thoughts don't decline, there are always more ways than difficulties." I always encourage myself like this and continue to learn from the team leader who has carried out many peacekeeping mine clearance missions. In the end, I cleared a total of 42 in the mission period of more than a year Mine, handed over the performance of a male minesweeper.
On June 16, this year, UNIFIL Commander Del Kerr attended the 18th batch of Chinese troops to the peacekeeping ceremony in Lebanon, praising the Chinese female demining operators for their outstanding performance. On July 6, the UNIFIL gender officer and Dutch Navy Lieutenant Colonel Ella made a special visit to the Chinese peacekeeping battalion, praising "Chinese female soldiers are an important force for maintaining peace and stability in South Lebanon."
Women have unique advantages in peacekeeping operations. In 2016, the then UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Affairs Rad Su called for more women to participate in UN peacekeeping operations. For the first time that our army sent female mine-clearing operators to the international peacekeeping battlefield, the 18th batch of commanders of the peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, Gao Chaoning, said: "This is not only a practical move to put female soldiers into front-line combat positions, but also a positive response to the UN's appeal. "
Up to now, in the mission areas sent by Chinese military peacekeepers, there are 7 mission areas active with Chinese female soldiers, and a total of nearly 1,000 Chinese female soldiers have participated in peacekeeping. They have made extraordinary achievements in such positions as patrolling posts, treating patients, demining and detonating, building construction, staff officers, and military observers.
(The author is the eighteenth batch of mine-clearing operators in China to the Lebanon peacekeeping multi-functional engineer unit)
(This article is interviewed and organized by our reporter Chen Shangwen)