Peacekeepers Make Life Easier in East Timor

By  Snake

Peacekeeping mission in East Timor has been gaining headway not only in terms of security  but doing great as well in its reconstruction assistance to the people in East Timor.

Among the 24-troop contributing nations in the transitional mission to  East Timor’s independence is Bangladesh’s  Engineering Battalion 1 (BANENGR 1).

This proud unit of  about 500-strong  professional officers and men  are highly skilled and  motivated to  perform  any multi-role engineering works like building bridges, maintenance of roads and waterways, and  other construction of   vertical and horizontal structures as are necessary in assuring mobility and survivability in the  mission area.

Colonel Faruque, an equally vibrant and well-meaning  commander of  BANENGR 1  speaks humbly of the loud achievements of his unit.

He said,  “about 400 and more small and big projects have been successfully accomplished by  my unit effectively and efficiently meeting  every work schedule.” 

Col. Faruque came down to East Timor with  his officers and men on 14 February last year and are going home this week after more than a year of  purely sweat and hardwork.  They are presently being replaced by an equal number of personnel during  an on-going troop rotation.

“It’s paying back to my country and to my army, by bringing good name and recognition of our good works in the foreign soil, and upholding the image of the United Nations and the Peacekeeping Force,” Col. Faruque said why his people are highly motivated in doing almost unrelenting menial jobs.

This engineering unit  has been really  making life easier in the mission area paving the roadways as passable as it should for other humanitarian projects to reach their intended beneficiaries even in  the remotest areas. 

Four “Bailey Bridges” spanning about 300 meters were constructed, one of which  was named in honor of  Corporal Aziz who died of bomb explosion in August last year while  conducting material identification in one assigned projects.

Visiting their headquarters at Comoro area is one unforgettable experience just as any one could expect to a well scaled and properly laid  engineering camp and a warmth hospitality and professional greeting of people from Bangladesh’s Engineering Battalion. They get almost   an exclusive achievement of all projects that were accomplished in  Central and West Sectors of the country including  Oecussi enclave with  sufficient support from the United Nations Transitional Administration.

As Col. Faruque and his men will go back home, they bring with them the idea that they have done well. 

Col. Faruque is leaving a resounding message: “East Timorese people should consider the PKF as well-wishers,  (and) work closely and provide cooperation and support to PKF to accomplish their mission.  As members of the peacekeeping force, I feel very proud to stand beside East Timor in achieving independence through this transitional period.”

We see in them a strong commitment in their eyes as they say, “We can’t look on our comfort but to look for the comfort of others.”  That’s how peacekeeping is all about.

N.B.: The author is one of the spokesmen of PKF, PI Cell. 19 March 2001