Special CommitteesSpecial Committees at UMMUN consist of those committees which either operate in a fundamentally different way from others or take place in different time periods. These committees are generally smaller than GA committees, ranging from as few as 10 delegates to as many as 50. Historical Security CouncilHSC simulates a historical crisis faced by the UN Security Council. The topic for the 2008 conference is: 1967 – The Six-Day WarTensions between the Arab states and neighboring Israel have long existed, with most problems stemming from the fight for control of the region. In 1967, tensions escalated between Egypt and Israel, leading to what would then be known as the Six-Day War. Syria and Jordan joined Egypt in the fight against Israel; helping set up a blockade against Israeli ships entering the Straights of Tiran, providing troops to the cause and promoting the idea of unified Arab states working together. The United Nations, in an attempt to keep hostilities low between the fighting nations, stationed the United Nations Emergency Forces along Egyptian borders. These forces would soon be driven out of the country by the United Arab Republic as preparations were made to strike against Israel. The War began with an Israeli pre-emptive attack on Egyptian forces on June 5, 1967, and continued with the takeover by Israel of key locations such as the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt and the West Bank in Jordan. Fighting ended with the signing of a ceasefire on June 10 and Israeli-controlled territory having expanded. Your task during the conference will be to attempt to alter the historical course of events and prevent this armed conflict from breaking out in the first place Future Security CouncilFSC places delegates in a near-future, plausible crisis which the UN must address. The topic for the 2008 conference is: China's Pickle at the World Cup The focus of UNFSC is an adequate response to the terrorist attack by Jemaah Islamiyah at the World Cup. Jemaah Islamiyah, who sprung into form in Southeast Asia, gained a foot hole in Iran after infighting between Al-Qaeda and Hezbollah nearly destroyed the terrorist infrastructure in the Middle East. Many Arab countries and the Peoples Republic of China have refused to label Jemaah Islamiyah as a terrorist organization as they pointed to the group’s many charitable deeds. In our committee, the year 2018 will see the rise of Muslims in China demanding their own province and heavy strained placed upon previously strong Sino-Arab relations. Please note that any comments listed in this paper relating to “current” situation relate to the conditions in the year 2020. Furthermore, anything listed in the country position in topic 1 is also valid for topic 2 because the subject matter is fairly similar and both events are occurring at roughly the same time. Relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America have been extremely dicey ever since the US Embassy hostage crisis of 1979 and 1980. Later, in the twenty-first century, the United States accused Iran of aiding terrorists organization in Iraq during the US’s conflict in the area. Despite these negative events, the United States has had a proclivity to indirectly send weapons to the Iranian Republic. This came to bore in the 1986 Iran-Contra affair during the Presidency of Ronald Reagan. The Iranians have also had major gripes with the United States, primarily stemming from a 1996 shooting down of an Iran Air flight over the Straight of Hormuz. In1995, the United States placed economic and military sanctions on the nation of Iran. Both nations have also been at odds over the issue of Israel. The United States is seen as Israel’s strongest supporter while Iran supports greater rights for Palestinians in the country and a permanent settlement for Palestinian refugees. China and Iran have had strong economic ties from the 1990s as China viewed Iran as a key source of oil to help deal with China’s insatiable energy needs. San Francisco Conference - Founding the United NationsThis committee will simulate part of the founding of the UN and creation of the UN Charter. Topics for the 2008 conference include: Security Council Membership
It has been decided that the Security Council should be the primary organ of the United Nations. Who should comprise such a body? Where should they come from? All these questions must be answered for the U.N. to function properly. Successor States
In this time of great upheaval following World War II, no doubt many new nations will be created, inevitably from countries that already exist. In cases where one country divides into two, who assumes the former country’s responsibilities in U.N. matters? Security Council Permanent Seats/ Veto Powers
A popular idea floated around the San Francisco conference has been to give 5 permanent seats and a veto power to China, the USSR, the UK, France, and United States in Security Council matters. Should these nations really have such a power? Should restrictions on such a power exist, or even requirements for their use o the first place? War Crimes TribunalDelegates will take the part of prosecution or defense on an international criminal case. Topics for the 2008 conference include: Liberia
Charles Ghankay Taylor was the Liberian President from 1997 to 2003. In December 1989, Taylor launched an armed uprising from Côte d'Ivoire. His forces, known as the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), soon controlled most of the country. Taylor’s allies overthrew and killed the then-president, Samuel Doe. Doe’s death lead to a factional crisis in Liberia in which at least seven different factions were fighting for control of Liberia’s many lucrative resources, such as diamond mines, iron ore, timber, and rubber. Taylor came to power in 1996 under the threat of continued civil war if he was not elected. Taylor was arrested in 2003 after being deposed and is being tried by the Special Court for Sierra Leone, with the trial provisionally scheduled to begin in April of 2007. Taylor has been accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity including, but not limited to, the creation and backing of the RUF rebels in Sierra Leone, which are accused of a range of atrocities, including the use of child soldiers. The prosecution has also asserted that Taylor's administration had harbored members of Al-Qaeda sought in connection with the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, though the validity of these accusations is in question. Rwanda
Jean-Paul Akayesu served as mayor of Taba commune from April 1993 until June 1994. As mayor, Akayesu was responsible for performing executive functions and maintaining order in Taba, meaning he had command of the communal police and any gendarmes assigned to the commune. During the Rwandan Genocide of mid-1994, over 2000 Tutsis were killed in Akayesu's commune, and many others were subject to violence and other forms of hatred. Akayesu not only refrained from stopping the killings, but is also suspected of having personally supervised the murder of various Tutsis. Akayesu stood trial in 1998 for fifteen counts of genocide, crimes against humanity, and violations of the Geneva Convention. He was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison but is appealing his case to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). Akayesu now claims that while he feels politically responsible for the acts committed under his rule, he was not personally involved in any acts of violence and should therefore not suffer the consequences. Joint United States NSC / Chinese PolitburoThe joint cabinets function as two separate committees whose actions may influence the ongoing scenario facing both. Delegates will choose between either the American or Chinese side during a period of critical diplomatic negotiations. Roles that delegates can play will include President Richard Nixon, Chairman Mao Zedong, National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger, Premier Zhou Enlai and many others. Sino-American Détente Diplomacy
This committee begins in the Summer of 1970. The United States is embroiled in an increasingly controversial and expanding war in Vietnam. Meanwhile, China is involved in a series of border disputes with the Soviet Union in 1969. Needless to say, relations between the Soviet Union and China are icy, at best. The border conflict nearly escalated into a nuclear exchange, yet casualties on both sides were minimal. The build-up of Chinese and Soviet troops continues along the border. In light of recent developments, elements within the U.S. Administration see an opportunity to swing the balance of power in Communist Asia in favor of the West. Nevertheless, both the U.S. and China must carefully balance their options and tread lightly in any attempt to normalize relations. International Press CorpsIn IPC, delegates play the role of an international journalist, reporting on current events at the (Model) United Nations, interviewing delegates and members of the UMMUN staff, and producing multiple issues of a newspaper for distribution. In addition, delegates may be asked to perform some investigative journalism should any crises unfold at the conference. The International Press Corps will focus on operating a newspaper covering the activities of the General Assembly Committees and the Special Committees at UMMUN 2008. The newspaper’s content will call for writers to incorporate both fact and opinion into their articles. We intend to print five papers over the course of the conference. Writers will report to a consolidated paper under the name “The Daily Planet.” This Special Committee is unique to UMMUN by offering an alternative to the more traditional option of being a delegate in a single committee. This committee aims for a more “transcendent” role that will create essential communication between multiple committees and their delegates.
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