Mr. Zhong Jianqin, 1975- 2010
UN Police (China)
Zhong Jianqin, a national of the People’s Republic of China, served with the UN Police with the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) since 2009.
Born in Nanfeng, Jiangxi province, Jianqin joined the army at the age of 18. He rose through the ranks and was chosen to become a peacekeeper in December 2007 after a rigorous selection process in China.
One of 138 Chinese peacekeepers in Haiti at the time of the earthquake, Jianqin served as a communications officer for the anti-riot police team. It was his second peacekeeping mission in the country.
During his first peacekeeping mission from December 2007 to August 2008, he published 306 news stories and 14 TV documentaries in the Chinese media. By the time of his death, it is reported that he had shot 267 boxes of digital video tapes and had taken more than 60,000 photographs in Haiti.
Because of his superior performance, Jianqin was awarded the Peace Medal along with his anti-riot squad in July 2008, and a Peacekeeping Medal as well as a First Class Merit by the Ministry of Public Safety in China.
“He was a noble person,” said a friend. “He was warmhearted, open-minded and liked to help others.”
“He was an excellent UN policeman,” said a colleague.
“He was very capable and was good at what he was doing.” The same colleague remembered that Jianqin was always on the front line when performing high-risk tasks.
In order to communicate in English with colleagues from other countries, Jianqin continuously worked to improve his language skills. He would write down every word that he did not understand in a notebook and consult his coworkers on how to use them. Over time, he not only built up his English vocabulary but his friendships with fellow peacekeepers from many countries.
Jianqin spent his spare time reading, writing, drawing and playing the flute. After his first peacekeeping mission, he published a book on his experiences in Haiti.
A new father, he never got to meet his seven-month-old daughter in person, since he left for Haiti four days before she was born. In fact, his daughter did not have a name yet, because he wanted to name her himself upon his return home.
Jianqin is survived by his wife, his daughter, his mother and five sisters.