The New York Times

Friday, September 22, 2000

Infighting Leads to Indian Pullout of Its Sierra Leone Forces

By BARBARA CROSSETTE

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 21 - In the wake of a dispute between African leaders and the Indian commander of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Sierra Leone, India has told the United Nations that it will withdraw all of its troops from the force.

India's contingent of 3,059 soldiers was the largest in the force of 12,477, the organization's biggest current mission. India told the United Nations of its decision on Wednesday, leaving officials scrambling not only to replace the Indians but also to meet an Oct. 31 deadline to show progress in increasing the overall size of the mission.

The Security Council wants a force of 20,500 troops, but has delayed authorizing its deployment until qualified soldiers can be found and Congress can pay the American share of costs.

A new commander is expected to be named before the end of the month, United Nations officials said today. With the withdrawal of Indian troops, the position can no longer be claimed by India.

The Indian commander, Maj. Gen. Vijay Kumar Jetley, had been criticized in Africa for his treatment of soldiers from other nations under his command. The sharpest attacks have come from Nigeria and Zambia, which have troops in Sierra Leone. The United States is now training more Nigerians for peacekeeping duties there.

General Jetley, has also been at odds with his deputy, Brig. Gen. Muhammad Garba, and with Secretary General Kofi Annan's political representative in Sierra Leone, Oluyemi Adeniji. Both are Nigerians.

Diplomats said that General Jetley, who is on leave, was about to be replaced by Mr. Annan, who had faulted him in May for a lack of communication with others in the Sierra Leone mission during a crisis when about 500 peacekeepers had been taken hostage by rebels. This prompted outrage in India, which also has troops or military observers in Lebanon, Congo and on the Iraq-Kuwait border. Indian police forces serve in Bosnia, Kosovo and Western Sahara.

On Wednesday, a statement from the secretary general's office praised the Indian contingent in Sierra Leone. "The performance of all Indian officers and troops has been outstanding," the statement said. India has assured the United Nations that it will continue to take part in other peacekeeping duties.