UN GATE, Dec
29 – Brazil took over the UN Security Council
presidency on October 1, 2023 - while Inner
City Press is still banned from the UN,
despite its June 19 application.
Inner
City Press thought banned reported on Brazil's
October 2 press conference, below. On October
7 amid Gaza - Israel, Inner City Press heard
that Brazil claimed it has taking the lead to
schedule a Sunday UNSC meeting. Nothing in
email - and it emerged that the Brazil Mission
has *blocked* Inner City Press on X, photo here
Now at
the end of December, after two years failing
on the Council and being hypocrites, the
Brazilian team faces out, punching below their
weight, and still blocking the Press. From
Ambassador Sérgio França Danese through Fabio
Coelho to Angelica Silva, no answers. For an
ostensibly major country, its two years on the
UNSC are an embarrassment.
Watch this
site.
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December 25, 2023
On
Gaza UNSC Kabuki
Theater US
Abstains on
Toothless
Resolution With
Press Banned by SG
UN GATE, Dec
22 – Amid Gaza the UN Security Council's
failure has exceeded two months (and much
longer on Ukraine). On December 19, 20 and 21
votes were postponed until finally US
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, at a
stakeout with the Press banned, said in its
current form the US would support a
resolution. But without impact or integrity:
this USUN lets the UN ban US-based Press.
And on
December 22 it happened - a bid to amend the
US draft was vetoed by the US, which then
abstained on the draft that, it would appear,
will have not impact on the ground. Inner City
Press video here.
Now censor Guterres will brag about it.
Talk about phoning it in. Today's UN is
corrupt.
***
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December 18, 2023
Amid
Gaza Guterres
Parties with
Sharon Stone With
UNCA Murky
Businessmen in
Shadows
UN GATE, Dec
15 – In the midst of the war in Gaza, with the
UN failing as on Ukraine, the tragic
corruptions was mirrored in farce at the UN
Correspondents Association garish ball on
December 15.
They charged
their members, including Iran and China state
media, $150 - and much more to others.
The event has
previously charged Chinese businessmen like
convicted Ng Lap Seng money for photos with
the UN Secretary General. Who paid this time?
It's hard to
know - it seems Casa Cipriani sometimes
outlaws photos, just as Guterres first banned
Inner City Press from his photo ops -- too
many details - then the UN as a whole.
Still, at
least two attendees put it out and it was
disgusting, given the context.
Outside,
Inner City Press live streamed as Guterres
slipped in through the back door; then Melissa
Fleming refused to say why she has ignored pro
bono law firms letters to her about the First
Amendment and Press freedom. Let them eat
cake.
They claimed
Sharon Stone was getting a "UN" award and
refused to clarify. Everything is for sale -
today's UN and its UN Censorship Alliance are
corrupt.
Meanwhile UNCA beyond being complicit in the
ouster and ban of Inner City Press from the UN
played an active role, with UNCA members
complaining to and through their point of
contact Stephane Dujarric, who emerged from
the Casa in a tux. A symbiosis of sleaze and
censorship. We'll have more on this.
***
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little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you
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December 11, 2023
Gaza Resolution Fails in UNSC Thomas
Greenfield Out UN Guterres Monetizes Art 99
UN GATE,
Dec 8 – UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres bragged about
invoking "Article 99" on December 6 about
Gaza, while banning Inner City Press which has
asked about his failures there and in Ukraine,
Ethiopia and Cameroon.
Immediately,
Guterres worked to monetize the move.
According to an official Saudi Arabia
read-out, Guterres called their foreign
minister to brag about the "speech" (it was a
letter) invoking Article 99.
The
Saudi readout says they congratulated him -
"appreciation and great support" - like the
time MBS gave a huge check to stay quiet about
his bombing of Yemen. This is not diplomacy:
this is sale of office.
But the
Gaza resolution - with no mention of Hamas in
it - failed on October 9, with US Ambassador
Linda Thomas-Greenfield not present but veto
cast, and UK abstaining. Gabon then said
passage would have meant a ceasefire. Really?
US "actions" are meaningless; Guterres cannot
even let the Press in. Totally corrupt.
In the UN,
predictably the choir - the correspondents
Guterres lets in and for whom he is set to
raise funds on December 15 in a ghoulish Casa
Cipriani gala - sung his praises.
But
consider: the Nazi UN Secretary General Kurt
Waldheim also grandly invoked Article 99
during his tenure.
And why didn't
Guterres do so, if body count is his standard,
in conflicts with higher casualties? His
standard is finger in the wind, keeping living
in the Sutton Place mansion, banning Inner
City Press that asks.
His
spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa
Fleming do not answer written questions on
this; Fleming has refused to answer two pro
bono law firm letters about ending censorship.
Today's UN is corrupt
***
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December 4, 2023
Ecuador
Takes Over
UNSC For
December Scam
on Corruption
No El Pollo
Answers Press
Ban
UN GATE, Dec 1
– Ecuador took the UN Security Council
presidency on December 1, 2023 - while Inner
City Press is still banned from the UN,
despite its June 19 application.
New
president Daniel Noboa, described as a banana
heir, appointed as his ambassador José de la
Gasca, described as an expert in criminal law.
It could come in handy at the UN, where PGA
John Ashe was indicted, and convicted
Ghislaine Maxwell held a press conference and
more. But under de la Gasca, no answers to the
Press so far.
Announced on December 1, Ecuador will hold a
session on transnational crime (while refusing
questions on Venezuela's El Pollo), chaired by
FM Maria Gabriela Sommerfeld with two corrupt
briefers including Ghada Fathi Waly.
On November
29, Inner City Press wrote to the Ecuadorian
Mission: This is a timely request that you
allow Inner City Press to enter and cover,
and/or provide the WebEx pass code(s) to
access Ecuador's UNSC Presidency press
briefing by your Ambassador on December 1,
2023.
I have
questions to ask on what you will do this
month about Gaza and the coups in Gabon and
Niger and the conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine,
Ethiopia, Cameroon, Yemen and Libya, and the
revelations of El Pollo now in SDNY - and on
ongoing cases of sexual abuse and exploitation
by UN peacekeepers on many of which Inner City
Press first reported.
Two days
later, no answer from the Ecuador mission. A
press conference barely 20 minutes long, half
speech, could easily has allowed Inner City
Press' questions but didn't. Watch this site.
Inner
City Press on June 19 applied
to the UN for access, as it gives 100s, to
cover the UNGA week. Inner City Press has a
NYC Press Pass and writes about the UN. From
Ecuador and its UN Mission, nothing.
Watch this
site.
***
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November 27, 2023
Eager to Purge the Internet of Anti
UN Info USG Melissa Fleming Polls Staff on Hate
Speech
UN GATE,
Nov 24 – As the United
Nations, having failed on Ukraine and largely
on Gaza, increasingly focus on issues like
trying to censor the Internet of any anti-UN
content, the organization this month is
surveying its own staff.
Disgusted
histleblowers sent it to Inner City Press,
banned from even entering the UN by Department
of Global Communications boss Melissa Fleming:
Global Staff
Survey on Information
Environments How often
do you use social media? What do you
view as a reliable source of
information? Do you see negative impacts
of potentially harmful information on your
work?
The
survey aims to shed light on how information
is spreading; and if and how potentially
harmful information is impacting our work, our
priorities, and the communities we
serve. The survey’s findings will help
support the UN’s work on information integrity
– to make digital and information environments
safer and more inclusive for all. The
results will also feed into the development of
the global code of conduct on information
integrity, which will be published in June
2024 ahead of the Summit of the Future.
Potentially harmful information includes
hate speech against people or communities OR
misleading or false information.
This information might be circulating online
(websites, social networks, messaging apps),
via news media (radio, TV, newspapers), via
speeches by politicians or community leaders,
or via posters and pamphlets.
Where do you encounter potentially harmful
information the most? (Select one
choice) I don't experience potentially
harmful information Social Networks
(e.g. Douyin, Facebook, Instagram, Kuaishou,
LinkedIn, Tiktok, Twitter/X, VKontakte,
WeChat, Weibo, Youtube, other) Messaging
Apps (e.g. Facebook Messenger, iMessage,
KakaoTalk, Line, Signal, Snapchat, Telegram,
QQ, Viber, WhatsApp, other) Broadcast
media (e.g. radio, television)
Podcasts
And what
will USG Fleming, who has refused to answer a
pro bono law firm's letter to her about lifting
her lawless ban on Inner City Press, do with the
information she collects and cherry picks? Watch
this site
November
20, 2023
On
Gaza UN Guterres
Cares Only for
Himself in
CNN Self
Justification
Dismissing Yemen
Death
UN GATE, Nov
12 – Amid Gaza the UN Security Council's
failure continued on Friday, November 10. On
November 12, UNSG Antonio Guterres on CNN - to
defend himself. He complained: "when this is
commented by the Israeli government or the
ambassador, whatever, they put the first part
of the sentence."
He was
dismissive of the Saudi bombing of children on
Yemen which he covered up at the time: "If you
remember, the polemics about the uproar about
the Saudi bombardments in Yemen. 600 people in
one year." Yeah, polemics.
Meanwhile,
despite a Friday morning protest at the
publicly-funded mansion UNSG Antonio Guterres
lives in on Sutton Place, not a single one of
the correspondents let into his spokesman
Stephane Dujarric's scam "press briefing"
asked for a response to the protest. Not one.
Inner
City Press was banned from the "press"
briefing, even by WebEx, and its written
questions were not answered.
After
the first round of speeches in the UNSC
Friday, there were no replies, and at the
stakeout outside the Council, from which Inner
City Press is banned by Guterres and Melissa
Fleming, no questions at all. A fish rots from
the head. Today's UN is corrupt.
***
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November 13, 2023
On UNRWA Inner
City Press Asked UN As ESCWA Staff Complained to SG Now
Extended
UN GATE
EXCLUSIVE, Nov 8 –How
corrupt is
today's United
Nations, under
Antonio
Guterres?
Well,
consider
UNRWA, under
Philippe
Lazzarini.
Inner City
Press for two
days has asked
Guterres'
spokespeople
Stephane
Dujarric and
Melissa
Fleming -- the
second day
cc-ing
Lazzarini
himself -
about
complaints and
evidence that
whistleblowers
have provided
to Inner City
Press about
what is
formally
knowns as the
United Nations
Relief and
Works Agency
for Palestine
Refugees in
the Near East.
No response at
all, while
Dujarric
laughs and
services state
media and his
partners in
censorship,
with whom he
worked to
target and now
ban Inner
City Press, as
he promotes a
"press"
conference
about Gaza by
these
corruptos
Consider
ESCWA, on
which Guterres
has refused to
answer Press
questions
after
receiving
(along with
his equally
censoring
cronies) this
from ESCWA
staff:
From:
ESCWA UNRWA
Staff
Data: April
11, 2023
Subject:
Appeal from
ESCWA Staff
To: ag@un.org
Cc:
Lopez22@un.org,
rola.dashti@un.org,
makhmudov@un.org,
pollardc@un.org,
mounir.tabet@un.org,
ndiyae@un.org,
armstronge@un.org,
courtenay.rattray@un.org,
Noun@un.org,
Ali.aldabag@un.org
Secretary-General,
We, a group of
ESCWA staff,
fear
retaliation
from the ESCWA
Executive
Secretary, Ms.
Rola Dashti,
and are
sending you
this email
anonymously
since the
Ethics Office
and OIOS have
failed to take
action and
protect
us.
Today, the
Executive
Secretary
(supported by
the ASG/OHR,
Ms. Martha
Helena Lopez,
and the EOSG)
has requested
the processing
of the
resignation of
Mr. Ahmad Dik,
Director of
Resources
Management and
Services
Development
Division,
effective 14
April 2023 (in
3 days from
now) which was
approved
personally by
your ASG for
OHR Ms. Martha
Helena Lopez
following a
deal between
her and the
Executive
Secretary of
ESCWA who
visited UNHQ
for this
purpose a few
weeks
ago. An
OIOS
investigation
has
established
that Mr. Ahmad
Dik committed
sexual
harassment,
misconduct,
and fraud.
Instead of
being
dismissed, he
was put on
special leave
with full pay
for a year,
and now he is
being rewarded
with a
resignation
without a
single
disciplinary
measure issued
against him.
He is also
negotiating
the payment of
his three
months of
annual
leave.
We, the ESCWA
staff, are
shocked that
the Office of
the
Secretary-General
and the ASG
for OHR, ms.
Martha Helena
Lopez would
approve such a
course of
action instead
of enforcing
the
accountability
framework and
dismissing Mr.
Dik. We ask
that you hold
your ASG, OHR,
accountable
for her lack
of integrity
and for
facilitating
the reward of
sexual
predators and
thieves.
Mr. Ahmad Dik
and Mr. Akmal
Makhmudov
(Chief, People
Management
Central) have
been
facilitators
of the
Executive
Secretary’s
wrongdoings
for the past
three years.
Mr. Dik and
the Executive
Secretary have
promised Mr.
Makhmudov a
promotion from
the P-4 to the
P-5 in return
for him
facilitating
and approving
the
appointment of
several of the
ES’s relatives
and the
irregular
promotion of
several of Mr.
Dik’s cronies,
such as Ms.
Hanadi Baltagi
and Ms. Carla
Ziade. The
Chief of HR,
Mr. Akmal
Makhmudov,
approved all
these
appointments
and
promotions.
The ESCWA
staff are all
aware of this
situation.
In addition,
Mr. Makhmudov
and Mr. Dik
have
previously
engaged in
intimidation
of staff at
ESCWA to
prevent them
from reporting
misconduct to
UNHQ. Several
ESCWA staff
have reported
such
misconduct,
and an OIOS
investigation
has occurred.
Unfortunately,
instead of
enforcing
accountability,
your office is
doing the
opposite:
encouraging
the wrongdoers
and sexual
harassers to
continue their
misconduct and
get rewarded
for it.
Mr. Dik should
be dismissed
and terminated
for misconduct
instead of
being allowed
to resign in
compliance
with the rules
and
regulations of
the United
Nations.
Mr. Makhmudov,
who aided the
ES and Mr.
Dik, should be
investigated
for all his
misconduct and
cover-up
schemes during
the last three
years and
prevented from
continuing his
duties as
Chief of
HR. We
ask you, as
Secretary-General,
to remove the
Executive
Secretary of
ESCWA from
office as she
has lost the
trust of all
ESCWA staff
whom she keeps
retaliating
against.
This toxic
culture must
end now."
Guterres'
response? To
extend here.
More failure
on Gaza.
So
here's some of
the UNRWA
story, with
more to come -
Here
is the letter,
freely
available on
Inner City
Press'
DocumentCloud
here
That
is today's UN,
with Inner
City Press
still banned
from entering
to ask these
questions in
person, and
its December
5, 2022 appeal
not even
responded to.
Totally
corrupt.
November
6, 2023
Failing
on Gaza
Guterres' UN
Wastes Public
Money on
CulturePulse
Creating AI
Clones
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Nov 4 – While the UN fails on Gaza
in the real world, it is wasting public money
paying a for-profit AI company to invade the
privacy of each and every resident of the
Strip and West Bank, as well as
Israel.
For-profit
CulturePulse has bragged of the "contract they
signed with the UN in August to develop a
first-of-its-kind AI model [to] analyze the
Israel-Palestinian conflict... the model has
replicated every single person virtually each
imbued with demographics, religious beliefs,
and moral values that echo their real-world
counterparts."
Inner
City Press, banned from the UN by SG Antonio
Guterres, in writing has repeatedly asked UN
Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric and Melissa
Fleming who authorized the UN to do this, how
CulturePass was selected and how much they are
being paid.
No
answer - Dujarric claims Inner City Press is
out due to "danger" but can't answer written
questions, or allow WebEx access. Totally
corrupt.
***
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October 30, 2023
On Gaza
in UNGA Canada
Amendment
Fails So No
Hamas as Bob
Rae Blocks
Press as
Guterres
UN GATE, Oct
27 – On October 7 amid Gaza - Israel, Inner
City Press heard that Brazil claimed it has
taking the lead to schedule a Sunday UN
Security Council meeting. Nothing in email -
and it emerged that the Brazil Mission has
*blocked* Inner City Press on X, photo here
On
October 17 despite UNSC and UN censorship,
Inner City Press reported on Brazil's doomed
draft. And on October 18, as predicted, it
failed, with the US vetoing, and Russia and
the UK abstaining.
On October 25,
another double failure, with a China and
Russia double veto of the US draft, and nine
abstentions on Russia's. Mansour praised
Guterres, whose arrogance (he won't respond to
calls to resign from a single member state,
echo of Boutros) is becoming wider known- as
he bans Press.
On October 26
in a UNGA meeting chaired by Dennis Francis,
who refuses Press questions on his funding by
Qatar, China, Saudi, Kuwait and now Morocco,
Iran said the US will "not be spared from this
fire." Then he strolled back to the hotel on
43rd Street.
To the pending
GA resolution, Canada has a proposed amendment
on Hamas - while Canadian ambassador Bob Rae
blocks Inner City Press on X.
On October 27,
the Canada amendment failed, 88-55-23.
The Jordan resolution, without the Hamas
language passed amid applause, 120-14-45. A
fish rots from the head.
Watch this
site.
***
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October 23, 2023
Amid
Gaza UNSC
Fails under
Brazil
Blocking Press
on X US Veto
UK and Russia
Abstain
UN GATE, Oct
18 – Brazil took over the UN Security Council
presidency on October 1, 2023 - while Inner
City Press is still banned from the UN,
despite its June 19 application.
Inner
City Press thought banned reported on Brazil's
October 2 press conference, below. On October
7 amid Gaza - Israel, Inner City Press heard
that Brazil claimed it has taking the lead to
schedule a Sunday UNSC meeting. Nothing in
email - and it emerged that the Brazil Mission
has *blocked* Inner City Press on X, photo here
On
October 17 despite UNSC and UN censorship,
Inner City Press reported on Brazil's doomed
draft, and the Russian proposed amendments
thereto and predicted: Nothing will be
accomplished in the UN full of censorship,
corrupted by Guterres, a fish rots from the
head. Inner City Press had an application to
enter, and lawyers' letter, pending.
And on October
18, as predicted, it failed, with the US
vetoing, and Russia and the UK abstaining.
Watch this
site.
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October 16, 2023
On
Gaza UNSG Guterres
Fake Tears for
Media While
Banning Press on
Hold with Jake
Sullivan
UN GATE, Oct
13 – The UN system is failing on Gaza
and Ukraine, the Uighurs and Cameroon. And
while it's mostly the fault of SG Antonio
Guterres, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric as
well as his his drab appointee as human rights
designee Volker Turk are also to blame.
On October 13
Guterres read statements on his way and and,
two hours later, out of the Security Council,
while getting played by Russia. Guterres
pretended to care about attacks on the media,
while himself banning Inner City Press for
asking about his finances. China came out and
supported him, as he has supported them since
purchase. The UK said they hadn't had long
enough with the poison-pill draft resolution.
A circus of failure.
On
October 12 it was said that this UN Spokesman
had announced Israel's dictum to move south
from North Gaza, and the UN's response. But
try as one might, there was nothing on the
UN's or Spokesperson's website, and nothing
was sent out by his office for reporters who
signed up. It was whispered to the insiders -
mostly state media, heavy with China and Qatar
- with whom Dujarric surrounds himself. A
corrupt failure.
Totally corrupt
- and no answer from the UN to Inner City Press
June 19, 2023 application
to enter and over this travesty. Watch this
site.
October
9, 2023
Amid
Gaza Israel UN PGA
Silent Qatar Saudi
Funds with Fake
Minister as
Adviser, Press Ban
UN GATE, Oct 7
– When Dennis Francis took over at President
of the UN General Assembly, his spokesperson
Monica Grayley directed the press to his
website.
But days later
on September 11, under "Transparency," there
were only two pages, both of which said "No
posts." Now there are only four funders
of his office: Qatar, Kuwait, China and Saudi
Arabia.
And on October
7, long after others had issued their
statements on Gaza and Israel, absolutely
nothing from UN PGA Dennis Francis' many
spokespeople, who normally send out several
canned statements a day. Meanwhile defenders
of the UN will be calling for and hyping up a
meeting of the GA, once the Security Council
(set to meet on October 8) fails. Watch this
site.
Today's UN is
a joke: Francis has belated put online a PDF
of staffers - but NOT of who pays them, a
minimal reform announced after PGA Ashe's
indictment. It includes "Mr. Ralph A. Kader
Special Adviser to the PGA (Strategic
Engagements and Resource Mobilization)."
Among
other things, Ralph Kader has been listed (and
paid) as the "foreign minister" of the fake
country of Monte de Agrella, which Inner City
Press exposed before being thrown out by SG
Antonio Guterres and still banned.
Inner City Press
must be re-admitted to ask. Corruption.
October
2, 2023
UN
PGA Adviser Is FM
of Fake Country
Monte de Agrella
as Corruption
Worsens Press
Banned
UN GATE, Sept
28 – When Dennis Francis took over at
President of the General Assembly, his
spokesperson Monica Grayley directed the press
to his website.
But days later
on September 11, under "Transparency," there
were only two pages, both of which said "No
posts." Now 40% owned by China.
This week
Francis has belated put online a PDF of
staffers - but NOT of who pays them, a minimal
reform announced after PGA Ashe's indictment.
It includes "Mr. Ralph A. Kader Special
Adviser to the PGA (Strategic Engagements and
Resource Mobilization)."
Among
other things, Ralph Kader has been listed (and
paid) as the "foreign minister" of the fake
country of Monte de Agrella, which Inner City
Press exposed before being thrown out by SG
Antonio Guterres and still banned.
Inner City Press
must be re-admitted to ask. Corruption.
September 25, 2023
At UNGA
India and
Pakistan Clash
as Iran
Trashes Israel
and Japan the
Solomon
Islands
UN GATE, Sept
22 – As the UN General Assembly without France
or the UK claimed to get underway on Saturday,
September 16, 2023 in a temporary building
wastefully built on its North Lawn, across
First Avenue there was a Burmese rally.
Inner City Press, banned from the UN by
pro-China UNSG Antonio Guterres, covered it.
Video here.
On
Friday, September 22, finally on day 4 some
rights of reply, though only four. India
trashed Pakistan,
which returned the favor. Iran
shot back at Israel, and Japan
dunked on the Solomon Islands, which
apparently wasn't present. The UN and UNGA are
in decay.
SG Antonio
Guterres' UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric
refused dozens of written questions from Inner
City Press about the junta's plot to kill Kyaw
Moe Tun, as prosecuted in the SDNY court Inner
City Press covers daily since being thrown
out of the UN by Guterres, and kept out
by his Melissa Fleming.
Fleming,
as reported, refused to response to a June 19
application
by Inner City Press to enter and cover
this UNGA, and then a pro bono law firm
letter.
She will,
however, apparently still give a speech this
week it costs $800
or $2000 to attend.
Today's UN is
totally corrupt.
***
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little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you
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September 18, 2023
By
UNGA Burmese
Vainly Asks
Credentials for
Kyaw Moe Tun But
China on UN
Committee
UN GATE, Sept
16 – As the UN General Assembly without France
or the UK claimed to get underway on Saturday,
in a temporary building wastefully built on
its North Lawn, across First Avenue there was
a Burmese rally.
Inner City Press, banned from the UN by
pro-China UNSG Antonio Guterres, covered it.
Video here.
The rally
urged the UN to credential NUG's Kyaw Moe Tun.
But of course they won't: China is on the UN
Credentials Committee.
And Guterres'
UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric refused
dozens of written questions from Inner City
Press about the junta's plot to kill Kyaw Moe
Tun, as prosecuted in the SDNY court Inner
City Press covers daily since being thrown
out of the UN by Guterres, and kept out
by his Melissa Fleming.
Fleming,
as reported, refused to response to a June 19
application
by Inner City Press to enter and cover
this UNGA, and then a pro bono law firm
letter.
She will,
however, give a speech this week it costs $800
or $2000 to attend.
Today's UN is
totally corrupt.
***
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little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you
access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click
here to become a patron.
September 11, 2023
UN
Guterres Flies
& Lies With
China's Li about
Reform while
Banning Press from
Dying UNGA
UN GATE, Sept
7 – The annual ritual of the UN General
Assembly week is getting more and more wan
under Antonio Guterres.
This as
he this week spends public money flying and
lying from Kenya to Indonesia to Cuba. In Stop
2, Jakarta, on September 7 this telling
read-out: Guterres "met with H.E. Mr. Li
Qiang, Premier of the People’s Republic of
China. The Secretary-General thanked Premier
Li for China’s steadfast contribution to the
United Nations and its activities" - and to
himself. "The Secretary-General
expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation
with China in all the pillars of United
Nations activity" - this from a man called
racist by his staff, and who has colluded with
and use dictators across the Continent, from
Paul Biya in Cameroon to Bongo in Gabo.
In 2023 not
only Xi of China and Russia's Putin for
obvious reasons isn't coming - even French
president Macron, and the UK's not-for-long
prime minister are blowing it off.
That's four
out of the five Permanent Members of the
Security Council, those who on paper benefit
most from the decaying UN, not bother to come.
Guterres is lying about reform, including of
the "international financial architecture."
Only Biden is
coming - and the US is the country watching as
Guterres hands post after post to China, while
concealing his financial links to its
convicted bribery firm CEFC China Energy, and
banning Inner City Press which uncovered and
asked about it.
The
schedule released on September 1 still listed
the "head of state" of Gabon, Ali Bongo, who
pleading for (and receiving Guterres' useless)
support to keep his family in power for
another year after fifty.
Inner City
Press on June 19 applied to Guterres'
censoring sidekick Melissa Fleming for access
to UNGA week, which she gives to countless
blood-splattered state media of Saudi Arabia,
Iran and even Cameroon.
No answers, even
as the supposed September 1 deadline passed. The
UN's time has passed. Watch this site.
September
4, 2023
Amid
Gabon Coup New
UNGA Speakers List
Still Lists Their
Head of State on
Sept 21
UN GATE, Sept
1 – The Bongo family, which has ruled French
colony Gabon for more than 50 years, was
deposed by a coup d'etat by the military on
August 30, 2023.
The day
before, Inner City Press asked the UN and the
US Mission to the UN about the opposition's
complaints about Bongo's staged re-election,
with the Internet cut. No answer.
On August 30
after the coup, the UN Security Council
presided over by the US canceled its morning
meeting - on North Korea and Mali no less -
without saying why.
Gabon
is one of the 15 members of the UN Security
Council.
And on
September 1, the new UNGA speakers list still
had Gabon's "head of state" on September 21,
list here.
Inside
the UN, the spokesman for SG Antonio Guterres,
who has often glad-handed with Bongo as with
Paul Biya of Cameroon and others, was more
than half an hour late to the briefing (he
bans Inner City Press from). FrancAfrique got
his tongue?
Inner City Press
on June 19 applied to UN MALU's Melissa Fleming
to enter the UN and cover September's UNGA. Even
as of August 30, no answer. A totally corrupt
organization. Watch this site.
Albania
Takes Over UNSC
For Sept Hoxha
Virtue Signals
While Refusing
Press Questions
UN GATE, Sept
1 – Albania took over the UN Security Council
presidency on September 1, 2023 - while Inner
City Press is still banned from the UN,
despite its June 19 application.
On
September 1 Albanian Ambassador Ferit Hoxha
took questions largely from state media,
hardly any mentions of the coups in Niger and
Gabon, and the killing of anti-UN protesters
in the DRC. Video here.
Hoxha said the
UN "needs Master Card and Google." Cha-ching.
Inner
City Press had and has put questions to
Hoxha's Albanian Mission about each of these,
about the failure of UN Peacekeeping in Mali
and Antonio Guterres banning Inner City Press.
Inner
City Press back on June 19 applied
to enter to cover the UNGA "High Level" week
that Hoxha gushed about. We will not rest -
and even while banned, will cover this month.
And
beyond acquiescence in censorship, Hoxha and
the Albanian Mission are silent on UN
corruption (Guterres omitting
SDNY convicted CEFC China Energy's link
to his finance, through Gulbenkian), and UN
rapes by peacekeepers.
Inner City
Press on June 19 applied
to the UN for access, as it gives 100s, to cover
the UNGA week. Inner City Press has a NYC Press
Pass and writes about the UN. From Albania and
Hoxha, nothing.
August
28, 2023
UN
Guterres on 3 Week
Vacation Protests
Fez Coverage While
Dujarric Refuses
Press Qs
UN GATE, Aug
20 –
UN Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres has
disappeared
for weeks,
most recently
silent about
the missiles
fired at
Chernihiv in
Urkaine.
When Inner
City Press,
which Guterres
has banned
from the UN,
asks his
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric such
questions as
how much
Guterres' many
vacations cost
the global
taxpayers,
Dujarric
refuses to
answer.
But
selectively he
had reached
out to a media
in Algeria,
claiming that
if they had
asked, it
would have
answered:
the
spokesman for
the Secretary
General of the
United
Nations,
Stéphane
Dujarric. "I
am writing to
you, following
the
publication of
your article
concerning the
holidays of
Antonio
Guterres,
Secretary
General of the
United
Nations",
indicated the
spokesperson
in a precision
stressing that
he was
"saddened to
see that the
article
relayed
totally false
information.
He claimed
that “these
facts could
very easily
have been
verified by a
simple email
or phone call
to the United
Nations.
Unfortunately,
the tone of
the article
leaves little
room for doubt
as to the
journalist's
intentions and
bias vis-à-vis
the Secretary
General”.
Stéphane
Dujarric
specifies in
this regard
that "the
secretary-general
is indeed on
vacation, but
his holidays
take place in
Portugal as
well as in the
United States,
and in no case
in Fez". The
spokesperson
for the
Secretary
General of the
United Nations
also specifies
that "if the
photos
published were
indeed taken
in Fez, they
were taken in
November 2022,
during the
participation
of the
Secretary
General in the
Forum of the
Alliance of
Civilizations
of United
Nations. There
too, these are
public facts
and very
easily
verifiable”.
So
we're asking:
where in the
US? And at
what cost? And
why no
response of
any kind to
Inner City
Press' June
19, 2023
application to
enter and
cover UNGA
high level
week in
September?
Guterres is a
censor.
***
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support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
August 21, 2023
Past UN
Official Stelzer Replies on Suspension from Anti Corruption
Group UNlike Guterres
UN GATE, Aug
19 – How corrupt is the United Nations?
Well, as we reported on July 31, 2023, former
UN Assistant Thomas Stelzer irregular payment
to whom Inner City Press asked the UN
Spokesperson about until it was thrown out of
the UN, has now been suspended as head of the
International Anti-Corruption Academy for,
what else, corruption.
The
suspension, confirmed by Stelzer himself, is
about private trips that were declared as
professional and incorrectly charged expenses.
In addition, earmarked funds are said not to
have been used for the intended projects. The
public prosecutor's office in Wiener Neustadt
confirmed on request that they were examining
an initial suspicion.
Inner
City Press, before ouster
orchestrated by UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres and his spokesman Stephane Dujarric
asked then UN Spokesperson Martin Nesirky,
"what are the specifics of working at the UN
without a contract? It said that Mr. Stelzer
is being paid as, almost as a consultant,
although he is an ASG, at least on
paper.
Nesirky, still employed by the UN in Vienna,
replied, Well, I don’t think right here and
now I would want to get into individual
personnel cases. I don’t think that is
appropriate.
Now by
contrast to the UN of Antonio Guterres and
Stephane Dujarric, refusing to answer this and
other questions, this from Stelzer: "Dear
Matthew Russel Lee, Just becoming aware
that I have returned to Inner City Press. I
appreciate your efforts to enhance
transparency. This is what I have been
pursuing all my life. Regarding the
anonymous allegations brought against me as
Dean of the International Anti-Corruption
Academy, I have informed friends and
colleagues (transparently and pro-actively).
For your information, I am copying that
message into this mail. In the meantime,
I have responded in writing to all anonymous
allegations, which I believe are completely
false and also without criminal
relevance. I am confident that my
explanation will disprove all allegations,
that the State Prosecutor‘s Office will
discontinue the investigation and that I will
be able to return to my job to continue
offering technical assistance and capacity
building to practitioners in the fight against
corruption. With my best regards. Thomas
Stelzer
Inner City
Press has been banned from the UN, and no
response yet to its June 19, 2023 application
to re-enter and cover the September 2023 UNGA
week. Is that appropriate? Watch this
site.
August
14, 2023
Amid
Aid Blockades UN
Guterres Canned
Statements Are All
Skau Offers Lachin
as Niger
UN GATE, Aug 8
– Today's United Nation has become a
self-important bystander to carnage, convinced
that its own canned statements are having some
impact. They are not.
On August 7, the UN's so-called
Resident Coordinator in or to Armenia Nanna
Skau when asked what steps the UN was taking
in the face of a blockade of the Lachin
corridor mere read out a canned statement by
Secretary General Antonio Guterres, which
itself had been read out by his spokesman
Farhan Haq who refused Press questions.
It was
reported that in Kornidzor village by
Nagorno-Karabakh "to the remark that since
June 15, no humanitarian cargo, including
medicine, has entered Nagorno-Karabakh, and
asked whether there were any other effective
steps that will make it possible to send
humanitarian cargo to Nagorno-Karabakh, Skau
responded that unfortunately, at the moment,
she cannot say more than the aforesaid
statement that was issued last night and was
made public today at 5am. She added that they
expect this statement to lead to positive
results." Why?
Meanwhile,
Guterres named "Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov of
Azerbaijan as the UN Resident Coordinator in
Ethiopia, with the host government’s
approval." This guy has appeared beside Haq,
in briefing from which Guterres bans the
Press. This is today's UN.
Amid
the coup in Niger, the UN Resident Coordinator
Louise Aubin has been out of the country,
location undisclosed.
On July
27, Inner City Press in writing asked SG
Antonio Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric
to immediately state where this UN official
is. Dujarric, who along with Melissa Fleming
has banned Inner City Press from entering to
ask, did not answer. Nor did Aubin.
This
echoes other Guterres cronies going MIA -
Inger Anderson, for example, as head of UNEP
left Nairobi during the COVID pandemic.
Inner City Press
has applied to re-enter to cover the upcoming
UNGA Week, watch this site.
August
7, 2023
Amid
Niger Coup UN
Guterres Crony
Louise Aubin still
MIA while Press
Banned from Santos
UN GATE, Aug
1– Amid the coup in Niger, the UN Resident
Coordinator Louise Aubin has been out of the
country, location undisclosed.
On July
27, Inner City Press in writing asked SG
Antonio Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric
to immediately state where this UN official
is. Dujarric, who along with Melissa Fleming
has banned Inner City Press from entering to
ask, did not answer. Nor did Aubin.
Instead, ill-informed deputy Nicole Kouassi
was streamed into the largely UN Press
Briefing Room on July 28. She said that she
and UN Niger are not in contact with military.
No one let in by the UN asked where Guterres'
resident coordinator is.
This
echoes other Guterres cronies going MIA -
Inger Anderson, for example, as head of UNEP
left Nairobi during the COVID pandemic.
It
happens all the time, and the UN apparently
only lets in those who won't ask about it. So
too for an August 1 "press" conference, from
which the Press is banned: "1 pm
Press Briefing Room, S-237 Hybrid
Press Briefing by Leonardo Santos Simão,
Special Representative for West Africa and the
Sahel, Head of United Nations Office for West
Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), virtually, on
situation in Niger." No provision for
non-insiders to ask questions, which it is now
clear is possible. The UN censors
Inner City Press
has applied to re-enter to cover the upcoming
UNGA Week, watch this site.
July
31, 2023
Amid
Niger Coup UN
Guterres Crony
Louise Aubin Out
of Country, UN No
Talks with Army
UN GATE, July
28– Amid the coup in Niger, the UN Resident
Coordinator Louise Aubin has been out of the
country, location undisclosed.
On July
27, Inner City Press in writing asked SG
Antonio Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric
to immediately state where this UN official
is. Dujarric, who along with Melissa Fleming
has banned Inner City Press from entering to
ask, did not answer. Nor did Aubin.
Instead, ill-informed deputy Nicole Kouassi
was streamed into the largely UN Press
Briefing Room on July 28. She said that she
and UN Niger are not in contact with military.
No one let in by the UN asked where Guterres'
resident coordinator is.
This
echoes other Guterres cronies going MIA -
Inger Anderson, for example, as head of UNEP
left Nairobi during the COVID pandemic.
It happens
all the time, and the UN apparently only lets in
those who won't ask about it. Inner City Press
has applied to re-enter to cover the upcoming
UNGA Week, watch this site.
July
24, 2023
UN
Guterres
Conducts
Scam
Survey on Sex
Abuse As Covers
It Up and
Banning Press
UN GATE, July
21–
While UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres
conceals
information
about sexual
abuse by UN
peacekeepers,
refusing to
provide in
response to
Press requests
as even Ban
Ki-moon did
information
about the
mounting
number of
cases, he is
conducting a
survey.
This
while he has
so far refused
to respond to
this.
Guterres'
official
Christian
Saunders, who
oversaw the
physical
ouster of
Inner City
Press from the
UN on July 3,
2018 (video here), has sent all UN personnel
this message:
OSCSEA
launched the
UN-wide 2023
survey on
Sexual
Exploitation
and
Abuse
Dear
colleagues,
Since 2016,
the Office of
the Special
Coordinator on
Sexual
Exploitation
and Abuse
(OSCSEA)
conducts an
annual
system-wide
survey on
facts and
perceptions of
United Nations
personnel
pertaining to
issues related
to sexual
exploitation
and
abuse.
To recall
that, in line
with the
Secretary-General’s
bulletin
(ST/SGB/2003/13)
on “Special
measures for
protection
from sexual
exploitation
and sexual
abuse”,:
·
“sexual
exploitation”
is any actual
or attempted
abuse of a
position of
vulnerability,
differential
power, or
trust, for
sexual
purposes,
including, but
not limited
to, profiting
monetarily,
socially or
politically
from the
sexual
exploitation
of
another.
·
“sexual abuse”
is the actual
or threatened
physical
intrusion of a
sexual nature,
whether by
force or under
unequal or
coercive
conditions.
Your
contribution
would be much
helpful to
contribute to
determining
where
challenges
persist and
how to improve
the prevention
of and
response to
sexual
exploitation
and
abuse!
Last year, 200
of you, from
64 locations,
shared your
experience and
perspective on
Sexual
Exploitation
and Abuse
(SEA)."
And
Guterres and
his cronies
covered up UN
sexual abuse
***
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support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.July 17, 2023
IMF
Concerned at Kenya
Protests,
IMF Spox Tells
Inenr City
Press While UN
Refuses to
Answer,
Corrupt
NYC, July 13 –
When
the
International
Monetary Fund
held its
embargoed
media briefing
on July 13,
2023, Inner
City Press
asked
spokesperson
Julie Kozack
about Kenya -
the deadly
protests and
IMF program,
and President
William Ruto's
critique of
the IMF - and
about crypto
and DAOs in
the Marshall
Islands and
elsewhere.
Video here.
IMF
Spokesperson
Kozack
expressed
concern
about
the protests;
she said Kenya
would be taken
up by the IMF
Board next
week. In
response to
the Ruto
question, she
ticked off IMF
actions from
Ukraine to
climate.By
contrast the
UN of Antonio
Guterres and
Melissa
Fleming
refuses to
answer Inner
City Press'
questions
about Kenya,
where the Un
spends a lot
of public
money on an
office. We'll
have more on
this.
July
10, 2023
2d
Leak About UN Rape
in War Office
Shows Patten
Stealing VIP
Treats for Son on
Vacation
Exclusive,
July 3 – UN peacekeepers' rapes of those they
are supposed to protect have escalated under
current Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
His spokesman
Stephane Dujarric refuses to answer Inner City
Press questions about it, for example on June
8, 2023, see below.
Meanwhile the UN's "Sexual Violence on
Conflict" office, which does nothing about the
UN peacekeepers' sexual abuse of those they
are ostensibly protecting, is caught on a
scandal triggered by a Pramilla Patten
interview. From the case submitted to UN's
flaccid internal oversight, among the leaks to
Inner City Press has been Patten's internal
email about Ukraine, which on June 22, 2023 we
put online here.
Now with
the UN in full cover up mode we have more: the
internal complaint about Patten, among other
things, writing self-serving official letters to
UN Resident Coordinators to score VIP airport
treatment and UN vehicles for her personal trips
and vacations and, in typical UN (Guterres-like)
nepotism, for her son. See complaint exclusively
published by Inner City Press here.
July
3, 2023
UN
Staff Arrested
Smuggling Cocaine
After UNTSO Van
Sex Exposed by
Inner City Press
UN GATE, June
27 – In
2020 Inner
City Press
exclusively
first
published
video of UN
Security staff
having sex in
a van in Tel
Aviv.
At
first the UN
denied it,
then tried to
source it to
friendlier
media. Now
will the same
happened with
the three UN
staff from
Fiji arrested
trying to
bring "liquid
cocaine" into
Israel from
Jordan?
"Israel
Police
detained three
United Nations
employees on
Sunday on
suspicion of
trying to
smuggle liquid
cocaine into
Israel from
Jordan,
disguised as a
component of
perfume-making
kits.
Customs
officers who
inspected
luggage
belonging to
the detainees,
who work in
Syria near the
border with
Israel, were
suspicious
about the
kits, which
the travelers
described as
used for
making
perfumes.
The kits,
which
contained
multiple
bottles with
liquids,
prompted a
police
sniffing dog
to react in a
way that
substantiated
the
suspicions,
according to a
joint
statement from
police and the
Tax
Authority."
On June 27,
Farhan Haq
dodged in the
briefing room,
and refused
all of Inner
City Press'
written
questions.
With Inner
City Press
still banned
from the UN by
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres, in
the face of
this
application to
enter and
cover UNGA
2023 - Inner
City Press is
first
reporting two
June 21
decisions the
UN's corrupt
"justice"
system, from
which Inner
City Press is
banned even
from virtual
coverage,
because it
refused an
unlawful order
to destroy
evidence of UN
abuse:
From
the Millan
ruling: "131.
As to the
second issue,
Mr. Cunillera,
who drove the
car in the
same event of
the Applicant,
was
disciplined
only by a
written
censure, with
loss of two
steps and
deferment, for
a period of
two years of
eligibility
for salary
increment, in
accordance
with staff
rule
10.2(a)(i),
(ii) and
(iii).
132.
The Tribunal
is of the view
that the
imposition on
Mr. Cunillera
of a less
severe
sanction is
justified by
the fact that
his role in
the events was
fundamentally
different; the
United Nations
vehicle was
not assigned
to him and in
his care when
F01 was
allowed to
travel in it,
and Mr.
Cunillera
tried to stop
the event as
inappropriate,
while the
Applicant was,
as simply put
by the
Respondent,
the main actor
in the affair,
as clearly
shown in the
video-clip."
"The main
actor"?
Wasn't it
Antoine,
not Millan?
From
the Antoine
judgement,
which we've
put on
DocumentCloud
here
"130.
As to the
second issue,
Mr. Cunillera,
who drove the
car in the
same event of
the Applicant,
was
disciplined
only by a
written
censure, with
loss of two
steps and
deferment, for
a period of
two years of
eligibility
for salary
increment, in
accordance
with staff
rule
10.2(a)(i),
(ii) and
(iii).
131. The
Tribunal is of
the view that
the imposition
on Mr.
Cunillera of a
less
severe
sanction is
justified by
the fact that
his role in
the events was
fundamentally
different; the
United Nations
vehicle was
not assigned
to him and in
his care when
F01 was
allowed to
travel in it,
and Mr.
Cunillera
tried to stop
the event as
inappropriate,
while the
Applicant was,
as simply put
by the
Respondent,
the main actor
in the affair,
as clearly
shown in the
video-clip."
So
in the UNTSO
cases the UN
Tribunal just
copy and
pasted the
section of the
judgement
pronouncing
Antoine as the
main actor
into Millan's
judgement
saying HE was
the main
actor.
Sloppy work -
but typical of
the rot and
cover up under
Guterres.
Inner City
Press has applied
to re-enter to
ask.
Watch
this site
***
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
June 26, 2023
Amid
UN Press Freedom
Claims
Application by
Inner City Press
to Enter Will Be
Litmus Test
UN GATE, June
19 –
On World Press
Freedom Day,
the United
Nations of
Antonio
Guterres
claimed to be
in support of
journalists
being able to
do their work
without
hinderance.
But UN Global
Communications
chief Melissa
Fleming put
out a video
of Guterres
equating what
he (and she)
characterize
as
disinformation
as the threat
to press
freedom,
Guterres has banned
Inner City
Press from
entering the
UN since 2018,
when it exposed
the omission
of links to
bribery firm
CEFC China
Energy from
his financial
disclosure.
On
June 19, 2023,
Inner City
Press
submitted an
application to
cover the UN
General
Assembly,
letter here.
Law
firm Quinn
Emanuel, on a
pro bono
basis, wrote
to Fleming and
the UN
Correspondents
Association
(with state
media of China
on its board
of directors)
seeking a
dialogue to
reinstate
Inner City
Press.
There
has been no
answer to an appeal
to Guterres
head of
security
Gilles
Michaud.
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
June 19, 2023
As
UN Guterres Bans
Press He
Bloviates About
Disinformation
Launching Empty
Policy Briefs
UN GATE, June
12 –
On World Press
Freedom Day,
the United
Nations of
Antonio
Guterres and
Melissa
Fleming was
more
hypocritical
than
usual.
While UN
Global
Communications
chief
Fleming put
out a video
of Guterres
equating what
he (and she)
characterize
as
disinformation
as the threat
to press
freedom,
Guterres has banned
Inner City
Press from
entering the
UN since 2018,
when it exposed
the omission
of links to
bribery firm
CEFC China
Energy from
his financial
disclosure.
On
June 12,
Guterres while
plopped down
in the
propagandist-only
UN Press
Briefing Room
"launched" his
proposal to
blue wash
dictators'
censorship
efforts as a
war on
disinformation
- which he
defines as
anything
critical of
the UN or,
even more so,
of him. Video
with
commentary
here. His
Melissa
Fleming
carries it
out.
Fleming, who
has refused to
answer a
polite pro
bono letter
from the Quinn
Emanuel law
firm seeking a
dialogue to
end her ban of
Inner City
Press, was
intoning, as echoed
by another
paid UN system
communications
staffer,
"We're
creating at
the UN a
central
capacity to
monitor and
…rapidly react
when mis- and
dis
information
and hate
speech
threaten not
just our
people, our
operations,
but also the
issues and
causes we're
working on,"
-Melissa
Fleming."
What is the
accountability
for this
"central
capacity"
that, without
explaining or
answering, has
the Press
roughed up and
banned?
Law
firm Quinn
Emanuel, on a
pro bono
basis, wrote
to Fleming and
the UN
Correspondents
Association
(with state
media of China
on its board
of directors)
seeking a
dialogue to
reinstate
Inner City
Press.
There
has been no
answer, nor to
an appeal
to Guterres
head of
security
Gilles
Michaud.
Still,
ill-informed
media run the
Guterres video
without
commentary.
Disinformation,
indeed.
June
12, 2023
UN
Guterres Covers Up
Rapes in DRC and
Haiti While
Bragging of
Sending 11
Tanzanian Home
UN GATE, June
9 – UN peacekeepers' rapes of those they are
supposed to protect have escalated under
current Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
His spokesman
Stephane Dujarric refuses to answer Press
questions about it, for example on June 8:
"June 8-1:
Immediately provide all if-asked information
on the new UN sex abused cases cynically data
dumped June 7 at 12:02 pm, involving UN
"peacekeepers" from South Africa, Malawi and
Guatemala including child rape, what if
anything has been done for the victims - and
why while Ban Ki-moon provided Press with such
info, each of you has refused, UN rape after
UN rape."
While leaving that unanswered, on June 9
Dujarric among other self-congratulatory press
releases said "an update from our Peacekeeping
Mission in the Central African Republic
(MINUSCA) based in Bangui, which announced the
decision by the Secretariat to repatriate a
unit of 60 Tanzanian military personnel, who
were deployed at a temporary operating base in
the western part of the country. This follows
serious allegations of sexual exploitation and
abuse against these peacekeepers."
But what about
the many other charges, on which Dujarric and
Melissa Fleming refuse to answer?
Those present
at the June 9 UN noon briefing did not ask a
single question about the UN rapes. Later one
of Dujarric's state media cronies wrote up a
puff piece to make the UN look good.
But
these are crimes, a systematic trafficking of
sex offenders to failed states where they
continue their abuse - and Guterres is at the
top of the pyramid, complicit.
***
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support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
June 5, 2023
After Inner
City Press Scoop on UNTSO Sex in UN Van Haq
Lies To AFP About Accountability
UN GATE, June
1 – The United Nations claims to have a zero
tolerance for sexual exploitation by its staff
and peacekeepers, but routinely covers up
their abuses including the rape of children,
withholding basic information which was
provided to the Press under Ban Ki-moon but
not now under Antonio Guterres.
Inner
City Press previously expanded its exclusive
reporting into UNTSO's scandal of public
sex in the UN van, with information from UN
whistleblowers in Jerusalem and New York: "the
men in the UNTSO car have been charged with
transporting a passenger who was not
authorized and also for not co-operating with
the investigation."
On April 14,
2022, hearing from whistleblowers again, Inner City Press
emailed Guterres et al., "On deadline, on the UNTSO public sex
video Inner City Press first published and each of you
dissembled about, now state the UN employment and payment
status of each accused staffer.,"
Dujarric did not answer, but in the noon briefing said
two have been "separated" and one remains on the payroll. He
would not say which one, calling it confidential. He laundered
it through friendly Al Jazeera, which didn't even remember
what country it happened in (even though it was Israel).
Jump cut to June 1, 2023
when Agence France Presse
tried to help save the UN's bacon, "fact checking" that
the video, that
typically it refused to credit, was NOT in Africa. And so it's OK? Haq,
misidentified by AFP
"Fact Check" as Aziz, lied like Dujarric that there had been
accountability.
This is the scam "Verify" of Melissa Fleming -
lie to
protect the UN, and pretend it is fact checking. We'll
have more on this.
Alongside the
cover-up by Antonio Guterres and his
spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa
Fleming, who refuse Inner City Press' written
questions and ban it from entering to ask
in-person, as state media and retirees are
allowed to do (but don't ask about this),
delay under UN due process rules for sex
abusers but not journalists:
"The Assistant
Secretary-General for Human Resources
Management may seek further information
from any relevant source. Any new additional
information received by the Assistant
Secretary-General must be provided to the
staff member for a further response. The
staff member shall be given two weeks to
respond to such additional information.
The staff member may request, in writing,
additional time to respond."
Meanwhile,
the Press which asks about this thrown out
without due process, and no response even to
polite letter from Quinn Emanuel law firm, video
here.
We'll have more on all this.
May
29, 2023
UN Rot
Typified by Volker Turk Silent on Uighurs As He Shills for
Corporate Donations
UN GATE, May
24 – The United Nations has hit a new low,
after its now-gone human rights commissioner
Michelle Bachelet withheld her report on
Xinjiang until the very hour she left, after
whitewashing China's genocide against the
Uighurs for her whole term.
To
replace Bachelet, UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres tapped his crony, Volker Turk
formerly of UNHCR then a Guterres promoter.
(Inner City Press back on July 2 predicted
this pro-China move, here).
On May 24,
2023 Turk gave a speech asking for corporate
donations to his Office - or, if he is like
his Boss Guterres, to himself - by giving
examples of what he'd do with it. The words
"Uighur" or "Xinjiang" were of course nowhere
in the pitch. The lone mention of China was
about "civic space;" more space was devoted to
the US. And Qatar? Like Cameroon and Haiti,
not mentioned. The crony doesn't fall far from
the tree.
In November
2022, Volker Turk was entirely silence on
Qatar and human rights, including the 7000
migrant workers they killed building stadia
for the FIFA World Cup. Some human rights
commissioner.
This comes
after Qatar welcomed Volker Turk's appointment
(photo here),
and paid for a large room at the UN in Geneva.
Qatar already
bought Antonio Guterres in New York, where its
state media Al Jazeera - now with its UN
correspondents and alumni singing for the
supper defending the corrupt World Cup -
worked with Guterres' spokesman Stephane
Dujarric to get Inner City Press thrown out, here
On human
rights, Inner City Press previously asked
Volker Turk about the slaughter in Cameroon of
Anglophones by the army of Paul Biya - and
he'd never heard of it. Story
here.
When Inner
City Press published video
(here) of Turk's answers about Gramsci,
Inner City Press was then blocked from the UN's
web site. So he is a cover up man and a censor.
Anyone who had put up with Guterres reign of
censorship and corruption has no human rights
credibility or chops.
To UN
Stakeout Ghana
Invites Inner
City Press But
It Is Banned
By SG Guterres
& Dujarric
UN GATE, May
24 –
The UN
Security
Council among
its Permanent
members has no
African
country. But
there are
three elected
members.
One
of them,
Ghana, on May
24 announced
that with the
other two
(Mozambique
and Gabon) it
will hold a
press stakeout
"to highlight
Africa's
approach
towards
convergence by
the Council
leading to
negotiations
on the
financing of
AU-led Peace
Support
Operations."
The stakeout
will be inside
the UN - from
which Sec-Gen
Antonio
Guterres and
his
spokespeople
Stephane
Dujarric and
Melissa
Fleming ban
Inner City
Press, after
its questions
about
Guterres'
finances.
Inner
City Press has
appealed, but
UN Security
chief Gilles
Michaud hasn't
deigned to
answer. So how
can Inner City
Press attend?
Here
is the invite,
and to whom
and how it was
sent:
From: Solomon
Korbieh
<skorbieh@yahoo.com>
Date:
Wed, May 24,
2023 at
6:44 PM
Subject: MEDIA
STAKEOUT BY
GABON, GHANA
AND MOZAMBIQUE
ON 25TH
MAY(TOMORROW),
2023 AT
10.45AM
To:
Stephane
Dujarric
<dujarric@un.org>,
Farhan Haq
<haqf@un.org>,
melissa.fleming@un.org
<melissa.fleming@un.org>,
AG
<ag@un.org>,
Marcia Soares
Pinto
<soarespinto@un.org>,
David Kaye
<dkaye@law.uci.edu>,
Amina Mohammed
<amina.mohammed@un.org>,
Janos
Tisovszky
<tisovszky@un.org>,
Eihab Omaish
<omaish@un.org>,
Tal Mekel
<mekel@un.org>,
Keishamaza
Rukikaire
<rukikaire@un.org>,
seda.pumpyanskaya@un.org
<seda.pumpyanskaya@un.org>,
corbeta@un.org
<corbeta@un.org>,
Eri Kaneko
<kaneko@un.org>,
achim.steiner@undp.org
<achim.steiner@undp.org>,
abaza@un.org
<abaza@un.org>,
opga@un.org
<opga@un.org>,
Brenden Varma
<varmab@un.org>,
Florencia Soto
Nino-Martinez
<sotonino@un.org>,
MALU
<malu@un.org>,
Monica Grayley
<Grayley@un.org>,
tremblay@un.org
<tremblay@un.org>,
Paulina Kubiak
<kubiakp@un.org>,
courtenay.rattray@un.org
<courtenay.rattray@un.org>,
awada@un.org
<awada@un.org>,
siwen.qian@un.org
<siwen.qian@un.org>,
coutrix@un.org
<coutrix@un.org>,
Matthew R. Lee
Dear
Mr.
Dujarric,
This is to
inform you
that Gabon,
Ghana and
Mozambique
(A3)
would have a
MEDIA STAKEOUT
tomorrow, 25th
May 2023 at
10.45 am at
the Security
Council Press
Area.
As
you may be
aware, the
Security
Council is
scheduled to
have a
briefing on
the
Secretary-General's
Report on
Financing of
African Union
Peace Support
Operations
(AUPSO) at
11.00 am. The
media stakeout
by the A3
seeks to
highlight
Africa's
approach
towards
convergence by
the Council
leading to
negotiations
on the
financing of
AU-led Peace
Support
Operations.
Best
regards.
Solomon
Korbieh
Minister
Plenipotentiary/Spokesperson
Permanent
Mission of
Ghana to the
United Nations
19 East 47th
Street New
York, NY
10017
On Thursday, 3
November 2022
at 11:52:37
GMT-4, Matthew
R. Lee
wrote:
Still banned
from UN, for
being roughed
up on 3 July
2018 while
covering the
UN Budget
Committee
meetings I am
entitled to
cover under
MALU Access
Guidelines and
as applied to
all other non
resident
correspondents).
Why is Inner
City Press,
despite the
Quinn Emanual
law firm's pro
bono letter to
Melissa
Fleming more
than a year
ago, still
banned from
entering to
ask these
questions?
These written
question are
posed and
responses
requested
pursuant to
the until-now
broken
commitment the
the UN will
"continue to
answer
e-mailed
questions from
Mr Lee"
InnerCityPress:
here May
22, 2023
UN Fraudster
Cary Yan Gets 42 Months As Judge Notes He Bribed Francis
Lorenzo
SDNY / UN
GATE, May 16 – Chinese businessman and
fraudster Cary Yan was the subject of a
Federal indictment unsealed on September 2,
2022, in the U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New
York.
Using a
UN-affiliated non-governmental organization,
Yan paid bribes in New York to officers of the
Marshall Islands and others. Indictment on
Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here.
In
2018, Inner City Press from inside the UN
reported on Cary Yan's suspicious activities,
(including video here,
and bribe-bought promotion by UNCA here)
as it was reporting on the parallel UN bribery
by Patrick Ho of Ye Jianming's NGO CEFC China
Energy.
On December 1,
2022, Yan and his co-defendant pled guilty.
Inner City Press was there - thread:
[Plea
agreement on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here]
Guilty plea is
accepted by the judge. Sentencing set for late
Feb but could be earlier since parents' visa
running out.
On March 9,
Yan asked to delay his sentencing from March
28 to May 16.
On March 10, it was granted: "Set/Reset
Hearings as to Cary Yan: Sentencing set for
5/16/2023 at 11:00 AM before Judge Naomi Reice
Buchwald."
Just before
sentencing, Yan in a redacted sentencing
submission asked for time served. The US says
it wants 57 months.
It got 42
months - with 37 of them already served. Inner
City Press was there, thread here:
Now at
sentencing of UN-linked fraudster Cary Yan. He
wants time served. "The Founder" and enablers
still in UN have not been prosecuted
Defense: Cary
Yan went to college in Beijing and wants to
advise NGOs. He has given a lot of money.
Fraud as "anti poverty work" - very UN.
Defense:
The Bureau of Prisons or US Marshals lost Cary
Yan's manuscript. [What, could it be another
expose or how-to manual of corruption in the
UN of Antonio Guterres , pay to play?]
Defense: He
wanted to help people in the Marshall Islands
Judge:
Didn't Mr Yan bribe Mr Lorenzo? [That's
Francis Lorenzo, who's back in the UN, he's in
a book Inner City Press is shepherding toward
publication. UN corruption is expanding]
Yan's
lawyer: US wants 57 months, Probation wants
42. But Cary merits less - time served. The
Roger Ng case was different. [What of Ng Lap
Seng, who bought UN PGA , whose office
under Csaba Korosi still bans Inner City
Press from his UN Civil Society Town Halls
AUSA:
WOGC (scam NGO Inner City Press exposed
before Antonio Guterres banned the
Press from the UN) was all about money. 57
months wouldn't even be the highest FCPA
sentence this year.
Judge has
taken a break. Here's Cary Yan in the UN,
video here
Cary Yan has
less hair now, two lawyers and interpreter.
Where's the blonde go? Judge is back. Yan [in
Chinese] I will be honest
Judge:
Mr Yan is not a public official... The Deputy
Ambassador of the Dominican Republic Francis
Lorenzo-- AUSA: We gave Lorenzo a 5K1
[cooperator's] letter. [Ng Lap Seng got 48
months. UN PGA John Ashe died
under his own barbell]
Judge: Yan has
had 4 heart surguries. He will be deported. I
sentence him to 42 months.
[37 already
served, so five more at MDC then deportation -
to Marshal Islands, whose passport he bought?
And can return to the US?]
On February 2,
for her February 16 sentencing, Zhou asked for
time served.
On February 9,
the US also asked for time served for Zhou -
in a sentencing submission that references
Francis Lorenzo, already free and back in the
UN, and "the Founder," whom Inner City Press
exposed before being thrown out of the UN and
whom the US has never charged.
On February
15, Zhou got just that: time served. "JUDGMENT
IN A CRIMINAL CASE as to Gina Zhou (2). The
defendant pleaded guilty to count One. Counts
2-5 are dismissed on the motion of the United
States. IMPRISONMENT: Time served. The
defendant should receive full credit for the
time served since her arrest in Thailand on
November 16, 2020. ASSESSMENT: $100.00 due
immediately. (Signed by Judge Naomi Reice
Buchwald on 2/16/2023)."
After Inner
City Press' initial report, Yan retained
Jonathan Bolz, who also represented Patrick
Ho. Word is Yan was extradited in from
Thailand and will be presented before the
assigned District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald,
who also presided over sentencing to 15 years
of UN rapist Karim Elkorany.
On September 2,
2022, after finding the just-unsealed Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) indictment of Yan
and Gina Zhou in the docket at the SDNY court
which it now covers, still banned from the UN,
Inner City Press emailed Guterres, his
spokespeople Stephane Dujarric, Eri Kaneko and
Melissa Fleming questions about the UN's role in
the bribery by the NGOs, including the United
Nations International Organization for
Sustainable Development and the World
Organization of Governance and
Competitiveness, WOGC. No answer.
May
15, 2023
UN
Western Sahara Sex
Scandal Ripped Off
by Colum Lynch
from Inner City
Press 2021 Scoop
UN GATE, May
11 – How
corrupt are
United Nations
officials and
the
correspondents
who cover (up
for) them
today?
On
May 9, a
long-time UN
insider named
Colum Lynch,
who has
bounced from
the Washington
Post to
Foreign Policy
and beyond,
ran a
belatedly
rip-off piece
about the UN
Mission in
Western
Sahara, based
off "a
political
problem...
cited in news
reports about
the disputed
territory."
While Lynch,
as is his
M.O., refused
to name or
credit the
"news
reports," he
named and used
the problem:
"a Russian
national named
Alexander
Ivanko, was
involved in a
romantic
relationship
with a local
Moroccan
woman."
There
is a major
problem: Inner
City Press in
2021 first published
this
information,
and has
remained
banned by the
UN until this
day. For
example, Inner
City Press in
December 2021
published,
available then
as now in
Google:
"Inner
City Press has
been contacted
by UN
whistleblowers
outraged at
what they say
is already a
pro-Morocco
scandal at
MINURO under -
literally -
Ivanko. They
tell Inner
City Press,
none of whose
questions the
UN will answer
even to
confirm or
deny, that
Ivanko has
struck up a
predatory
relationship
with a
Moroccan woman
who was
recruited into
MINURSO by
now-rewarded
predator Colin
Stewart.
Inner
City Press on
the morning of
December 20
put this
question and
another -
about UNRWA
and
Afghanistan -
to all UN
spokespeople...
Inner City
Press has the
victim's name
but, as it
does in the
current US v.
Ghislaine
Maxwell case
on which
Guterres
refuses to
answer why he
had a
representative,
Amir Dossal,
on Maxwell's
Terramar
project board,
it is not
publish the
name - in the
case of the
UN, for now).
The
whistleblowers
also telling
recount that
given his lack
of commitment
to
decolonization,
Guterres told
Grandi -
subject now of
an Afghanistan
and UNRWA
scoop - to
keep UNHCR's
Western Sahara
work
"sleeping" for
now. Forever,
as things
stand. The UN
under Guterres
is less and
less
accountable,
less and less
transparent."
Its press
corpse, too.
Colum Lynch
has previously
ripped off
Inner City
Press, while
it was still
in the UN.
And
when UNSG
Antonio
Guterres and
his spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric -
quoted as
"Mister" by
Lynch - had
Inner City
Press roughed
up and thrown
out of the UN,
it was covered
by the
Columbia
Journalism
Review and
The
Independent,
for example,
but not
a word
from Lynch or
Foreign Policy
or his other
employers.
Lynch
also lets off
the hook and
covers up for
many others in
(and left out)
of this story.
But that's a
story for
another day.
We cover
the SDNY now,
most recently
Carroll v.
Trump (booklet
here)
- but this
type of
journalistic
theft and
collusion
cannot and
will not go
unremarked.
Inner
City Press has
appealed
to re-enter
the UN and
will not rest.
Watch this
site.
***
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support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
May 8, 2023
On
World Press
Freedom Day UN
Guterres Lies
while Banning
Independent Media
Exposing Him
UN GATE, May 3
–
On World Press
Freedom Day,
the United
Nations of
Antonio
Guterres is
more
hypocritical
than
usual.
While UN
Global
Communications
chief Melissa
Fleming put
out a video
of Guterres
equating what
he (and she)
characterize
as
disinformation
as the threat
to press
freedom,
Guterres has banned
Inner City
Press from
entering the
UN since 2018,
when it exposed
the omission
of links to
bribery firm
CEFC China
Energy from
his financial
disclosure.
Law
firm Quinn
Emanuel, on a
pro bono
basis, wrote
to Fleming and
the UN
Correspondents
Association
(with state
media of China
on its board
of directors)
seeking a
dialogue to
reinstate
Inner City
Press.
There
has been no
answer, nor to
an appeal
to Guterres
head of
security
Gilles
Michaud.
Still,
ill-informed
media run the
Guterres video
without
commentary.
Disinformation,
indeed.
***
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
May 1, 2023
UN
Daniela Bas
Hired Relatives
&
Moonlighted as
Life Coach Staff
Tell Banned
Inner City Press
UN GATE, April
28 – In
the UN of
Antonio
Guterres,
there is
scandal after
scandal, each
one covered up
and/or ignored
by the state
media and
scribes they
let in, while
banning the
Press.
From
the e-mail bag
this week,
while
Spokespeople
Stephane
Dujarric and
Melissa
Fleming
refused all of
Inner City
Press'
questions:
Dear
Matthew
Russell Lee:
Tell the
Daniela Bas
story. This
director of
social affairs
got fired from
DESA for
corruption and
is running a
huge
consultancy
firm now. The
UN didn't
bother to
explain to
anyone why she
was fired.
We
know very
little. Over
the weekend we
were told that
she was not
coming in
again (but she
was in the
office on
Friday) and
that John
Wilmoth will
be the acting
director.
She
was known to
be very
corrupt. She
appointed her
brother and
her sister in
law's company
to do
diversity
training at
the UN. She
was accused of
racism. She
tried to get
in people that
were her
friends and
family and not
qualified. She
made
statements
about no-one
being able to
fire her
because she is
in a
wheelchair.
In
the end, she
was apparently
fired because
she took paid
contracts, in
addition to
her job, to do
life coaching
through an
NGO. She
now runs a
company where
she prides
herself on her
history with
the UN.
Proudly
announcing
that she 'was
a senior
director' at
DESA.
Despite
the fact that
she should
have left with
her tail
between her
legs, she
walks proud
and tall. The
UN has not
said a word to
any of the
staff.
Nothing.
Zilch. Her
staff were
left in the
dark, stunned
when she
left.
Not sure
whether you're
going to get
any more
information
but many,
many, many of
us are waiting
to see what
you print.
Good luck."
Well, the UN
despite
Dujarric's on
camera promise
to answer
Inner City
Press' written
questions
doesn't.
Daneila Bas
who smiled
answering
Inner City
Press'
questions
until it was
thrown out did
nothing after.
But we
continue to
report. Watch
this site.
***
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support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
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April 24, 2023
Guterres
Subject to US FISA Warrant As He Serves
CCP Like Police Station EDNY Indicted
UN GATE, April
17 – UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres
accommodates and supports not only China but
Russia, leaks (allegedly by Jack Teixeira of
the Massachusetts Air National Guard) now
confirm that even the US Administration knows.
But
there are more than leaks: "some of Guterres’s
conversations, the documents indicate, were
collected under the FISA law."
While
reporting from inside the UN, Inner City Press
exposed Guterres concealing his links to
convicted UN bribery firm CEFC China Energy.
Guterres responded by having Inner City Press
roughed up by UN Security and banned ever
since. On April 17, 2023, his spokesman
Stephane Dujarric refused Inner City Press'
written questions, even as it covered
the illegal Chinese government "police
station" on East Broadway in Manhattan.
Guterres SHOULD be subject to a warrant, and
not only for surveillance.
Inner
City Press has reported
on Guterres' connivance with China (and its
convicted bribery arm CEFC China Energy),
before Guterres banned
it from the UN where his spokespeople Stephane
Dujarric and Melissa Fleming refuses its
written questions on these and other
topics.
Also
exposed is Guterres deputy Amina J. Mohammed,
trashing Kenya's Ruto. Amina Mohammed
says that Kenya's president, William Ruto, is
"ruthless" and that she "doesn't trust him."
She was
previously exposed
as backdating CITES certificates for
endangered rosewood from Nigeria and Cameroon
to China, and colluded in Guterres' ban on
Inner City Press. Now what?
Inner
City Press has appealed
its ban, to UN Security boss Gilles Michaud as
PGA President Csaba Korosi's spokesperson
Paulina Kubiak directed.
Still, no answer.
UN GATE, April
13 – UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres
accommodates and supports not only China but
Russia, leaks (allegedly by Jack Teixeira of
the Massachusetts Air National Guard) now
confirm that even the US Administration knows.
"Guterres
emphasized his efforts to improve Russia's
ability to export," the leak says, "even if
that involves sanctioned Russian entities or
individuals... [Guterres is] undermining
broader efforts to hold Moscow accountable for
its actions in Ukraine."
But why does
the US Administration continue to publicly
praise Guterres, and allow him to ban media he
doesn't like, as he helps Russia sell its
ammonia and China control more and more of the
UN?
Inner
City Press has reported
on Guterres' connivance with China (and its
convicted bribery arm CEFC China Energy),
before Guterres banned
it from the UN where his spokespeople Stephane
Dujarric and Melissa Fleming refuses its
written questions on these and other
topics.
Also
exposed is Guterres deputy Amina J. Mohammed,
trashing Kenya's Ruto. Amina Mohammed
says that Kenya's president, William Ruto, is
"ruthless" and that she "doesn't trust him."
She was
previously exposed
as backdating CITES certificates for
endangered rosewood from Nigeria and Cameroon
to China, and colluded in Guterres' ban on
Inner City Press. Now what?
Inner
City Press has appealed
its ban, to UN Security boss Gilles Michaud as
PGA President Csaba Korosi's spokesperson
Paulina Kubiak directed.
Still, no answer.
UN GATE
EXCLUSIVE, April 3 –How
corrupt is
today's United
Nations, under
Antonio
Guterres?
Well,
consider
UNRWA, under
Philippe
Lazzarini.
Inner City
Press for two
days has asked
Guterres'
spokespeople
Stephane
Dujarric and
Melissa
Fleming -- the
second day
cc-ing
Lazzarini
himself -
about
complaints and
evidence that
whistleblowers
have provided
to Inner City
Press about
what is
formally
knowns as the
United Nations
Relief and
Works Agency
for Palestine
Refugees in
the Near East.
No response at
all, while
Dujarric
laughs and
services state
media and his
partners in
censorship,
with whom he
worked to
target and now
ban Inner
City Press.
So
here's some of
the story,
with more to
come -
On
April 3, 2023,
this:
"Dear
Matthew,
Thank you
again for
continuing to
be supportive
of staff in
pain and for
showing how
the UN has
truly become
the private
farm of those
who are
connected to
the SG and his
inner
circle.
Member States
must know
about these
actions.
Very much
similar to
these actions
are happening
at other UN
agencies and
missions.
OIOS, Ethics
offices are
only used as
tools to help
those in power
get away with
their
violations.
Instead of
offering to
give best
practice
examples to
host
governments,
the UN is now
allowing
corrupt
governments to
proceed with
their illegal
actions.
Most host
governments
may be aware
of those
actions at the
UN but keep
silent because
the UN also
stays quiet
about their
violations.
Please publish
this leaked
email in the
attached
document.
This email is
from a Chief
of HR at ESCWA
sent to the
ASG for HR
Martha Helena
Lopez and
copied to the
Chef de
Cabinet of
Antonio
Guterres, OIOS
and the Ethics
Office
denounces the
grave
violations,
retaliation
and improper
conduct of the
Executive
Secretary of
ESCWA and yet
no action is
taken by the
Secretary-General
to hold her
accountable.
This is the UN
of Antonio
Guterres.
Instead of
holding the ES
accountable,
the ASG of HR
was busy two
weeks ago to
assist her
with her plan
to allow a
senior staff
accused of
fraud and
sexual
harassment of
resigning
instead of
being
dismissed."
Here
is the letter,
freely
available on
Inner City
Press'
DocumentCloud
here
Previously
we wrote, and
see below:
Dear
Matthew
Russell Lee /
Inner City
Press: We are
a group of
UNRWA staff
who are
witnessing
daily
violations and
abuses and are
unable to do
anything about
it due to
bullying and
fear of
retaliation by
the senior
management.
We have
several
documented
cases of abuse
and fraud by
senior
directors who
are protected
by the
commissioner
general.
We saw your
reporting and
we are asking
if you are
interested to
write about
such cases in
order for us
to disseminate
wider once
these issues
are
reported.
Examples:
1- A Senior
Director was
recruited at
D1 level when
he failed the
P5 interview
10 months
earlier.
This was a
direct
intervention
of Christian
Saunders when
he was acting
USG of the
Agency.
2-
That same
Senior
Director who
is a former
colleague and
a friend of
the director
of HR bullies
staff.
When staff
report those
actions to the
ethics office
and to the
internal audit
department,
the complaints
are
ignored.
3-
That same
Director
announces a
vacancy in his
department and
interviews
candidates.
He selects his
preferred
candidate and
makes her an
offer.
When she
refuses the
fees, he
decides to
cancel the
vacancy and
lies to the HR
department
saying, no
candidate was
found
suitable.
45
days later, he
announces the
same vacancy
at 300%
increase of
the initial
salary.
When HR asks
him to
interview
candidates, he
says, no
because he had
selected a
candidate from
previous
interviews.
Head of HR
because of his
close
friendship
with the
director
(formerly
colleagues at
UNICEF), he
agrees.
WE have copies
of the two
contracts with
same ToRs but
different
amounts of
fees.
4- Tribunal
judgment calls
for
accountability
with two
persons
(Director of
HR and deputy
director of
Syria field
office)
because they
knowingly
offered a
contract to an
unqualified
candidate who
is proven to
have false
information on
her
PhP/CV.
Nothing
happens.
5-
A staff member
seeks
protection
against
retaliation
from the
ethics
office.
That request
is ignored for
months.
When the staff
members
provide
additional
concrete solid
evidence of
harassment, he
is granted
protection.
The evidence
is very strong
and qualifies
for a
dismissal.
The case is
forwarded for
investigation
without
putting the
staff on any
preventive
action.
Harassment and
bullying
continues
knowing that
the
investigation
will lead to
nothing.
6- Report of
two
independent
consultants
show how
senior
management is
bullying staff
with a strong
report.
The report is
hidden and
nothing
happens.
On the
morning of
February 6,
Inner City
Press sent the
above for
comment to
dozens of UN
officials, and
Malta's
Mission to the
UN under
Vanessa
Frazier, as
UNSC president
for February.
No answer at
all.
In
late March,
more: "Dear
Matthew,
This time, the
case is about
ESCWA in
Lebanon.
A dirty deal
is about to be
sealed in NY
between two of
the top
Executives.
At ESCWA,
OHRM, OIOS and
the Executive
Secretary of
ESCWA colluded
together to
facilitate for
a Director of
Administration
at D-1 level
charged with
sexual
harassment and
fraud, to stay
on special
leave with
full pay for a
year and half
to allow him
to reach
retirement age
and submit his
resignation
closer to
retirement.
With the
current
special post
adjustment in
Beirut of
almost 116 %
this Director
instead of
being
dismissed has
been
compensated by
staying at
home for two
years with an
approximate
salary of
20,000 USD
while enjoying
all benefits
and
entitlements.
The Executive
Secretary has
traveled
earlier this
week to UNHQ
to seal the
deal with
Office of
Human
Resources and
to allow a
discreet
resignation
instead of a
dismissal.
This is the UN
of Antonio
Guterres. This
is the
Accountability
Framework for
sexual
harassment and
fraud. This is
the justice
for survivors
of sexual
harassment.
Your urgent
attention may
put an end to
these illegal
actions."
Yes, this is
the UN of
Antonio
Guterres,
crying out for
external
accountability.
April
3, 2023
As
Washington Targets Wrong Portuguese in UN Guterres
Grabs Corrupt UNOPS as Bans Press
UN GATE, March
30 – In the UN
system a big wig from
Portugal is being targeted
by the US. But he's the
wrong Portuguese to be
targeted, and few will say
it.
Just as
Antonio Guterres, the UN
Secretary General who bans
from all UN premises the
Press which questioned his
failure to include his link
to UN bribery firm China
Energy Fund Committee in his
public financial
disclosures, through the
Gulbenkian Foundation from
which he took money, give
the UNOPS job to a
Portuguese crony, the US
guns for IOM.
Amy Pope,
the deputy director there
since 2021, wants the top
job, is challenging the
re-election of her boss,
Director-General António
Vitorino.
Big Boss
Tony Guterres doesn't like
it.
But not
wanting to fight an
Administration who has left
him more unaccountable than
the bank regulators who
coddled Silicon Valley Bank
to the end, Guterres has
gotten passive-aggressive
revenge.
From his
spokesman / censor Stephane
Dujarric, who has refused
all written questions from
Inner City Press despite an
on-camera statement
that he would answer, this:
"United Nations
Secretary-General António
Guterres announced today the
appointment of Jorge Moreira
da Silva of Portugal as
Executive Director of the
United Nations Office for
Project Services. Moreira da
Silva was the Minister of
Environment, Energy and
Spatial Planning of Portugal
from 2013 to 2015 and
Visiting Full Professor at
the Lisbon University.
Previously he was Senior
Adviser to the President of
Portugal on Science and
Environment (2006-2009),
Secretary of State for
Environment and Spatial
Planning (2004-2005),
Secretary of State for
Science and Higher Education
(2003-2004), and as a Member
of the Portuguese
Parliament. Mr.
Moreira da Silva graduated
from the University of
Porto, Portugal, with a
degree in Electrical and
Computer
Engineering."
Yes, in
Guterres' UN, the
engineering of corruption.
We'll have more on this.
***
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
March 27, 2023
On Burma
Murder Plot With UN Link Htut Wants a Deposition in
Myanmar or White Plains
UN GATE, March
23 – After the Burma coup regime purported to
fired its New York-based UN ambassador U Kyaw
Moe Tun for his speech in New York in the
usually scripted UN General Assembly, two
Burmese were criminally charged with trying to
kill him. One was been detained, as
exclusively live tweeted by Inner City Press,
below.
On August 11,
20 year-old Ye Hein Zaw, who with a Burmese
interpreter got his income approved on April 6
as low enough for free counsel hired a private
attorney, one who is described
as a Wall Street lawyer half of whose clients
are French: Matthew Galluzzo.
On
December 10, a guilty plea: today the guilty
plea of YE HEIN ZAW, a citizen of Myanmar, for
his role in a conspiracy to assault and make a
violent attack upon Myanmar’s Permanent
Representative to the United Nations.
ZAW pled guilty today in White Plains federal
court before U.S. District Judge Philip M.
Halpern.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As he
admitted in court today, Ye Hein Zaw
participated in a plot to injure or kill
Myanmar’s ambassador to the United Nations in
a planned attack that was to take place on
American soil. Zaw now awaits sentencing
for his crime. I commend the tireless
efforts of our law enforcement partners at all
levels of government to ensure the safety of
foreign diplomats and officials in the United
States and bring the perpetrators of this plot
to
justice.”
According to the Information to which ZAW pled
guilty, the complaint that was filed in this
case, and statements made during court
proceedings:
Between at least in or about July 2021 through
at least on or about August 5, 2021, ZAW, a
citizen of Myanmar residing in New York,
conspired with others to injure or kill
Myanmar’s Permanent Representative to the
United Nations (the “Ambassador”).
During the conspiracy, a co-conspirator
communicated with an arms dealer in Thailand
(the “Arms Dealer”) who sells weapons to the
Burmese military, which overthrew Myanmar’s
civilian government in or about February
2021. In the course of those
conversations, the co-conspirator and the Arms
Dealer agreed on a plan in which the
co-conspirator would hire attackers to hurt
the Ambassador in an attempt to force the
Ambassador to step down from his post.
If the Ambassador did not step down, then the
Arms Dealer proposed that the attackers hired
by the co-conspirator would kill the
Ambassador.
Shortly after agreeing on the plan, ZAW
contacted the co-conspirator by cellphone and,
using a money transfer app, transferred
approximately $4,000 to the co-conspirator as
an advance payment on the plot to attack the
Ambassador. Later, during a recorded
phone conversation, ZAW and the co-conspirator
discussed how the planned attackers would
require an additional $1,000 to conduct the
attack on the Ambassador in Westchester
County, and, for an additional payment, the
attackers could, in substance, kill the
Ambassador. In response, ZAW agreed, in
substance, to pay the additional $1,000 and to
try to obtain the additional money. ZAW
is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Halpern
on May 10, 2022."
On March 16,
2022, this: "STIPULATION IN SUPPORT OF
APPLICATION FOR 8TH OR SUBSEQUENT ORDER OF
CONTINUANCE AND 8TH ORDER OF CONTINUANCE as to
Phyo Hein Htut. Time excluded from 3/16/2022
until 4/13/2022. (Signed by Magistrate Judge
Judith C. McCarthy on 3/16/2022)"
Jump cut to
March 2023, when Htut is approaching a July 10
trial in SDNY in White Plains. He has asked
for US public money to put on a witness from
Myanmar, who would say Htut was a pro
democracy activist. The US said if the unnamed
witness is deposed, it should be in White
Plains. Then, two sealed documents.
Burma
did not speak at the UNGA High Level Week,
from which UNSG Antonio Guterres and PGA
Abdulla Shahid banned Inner City Press.
Burmese
sources consulted by Inner City Press wondered
aloud if the Thai arms merchant in the
Complaint, or allies, might have any role. Inner
City Press will keep covering the case, and
asking UNSG Antonio Guterres' spokespeople
Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming, who don't
answer even a law firm's pro bono letter,
and Linda
Thomas-Greenfield, about it.
UN Moves from Banning
Press in NY to Firing Now Bans Anti-CCP Whistleblower
in Geneva
UN GATE,
March 22 – The United Nations, exempting
itself from all laws including about press
freedom and whistleblower protection, under SG
Antonio Guterres not only fires staff who
criticize Guterres and ousts
journalists which report on him.
Now
Guterres' misuse of UN Security to physically
bar his critics from entry, ostensibly as
being threatening, has spread from New York to
Geneva.
In July
2018, Guterres had Inner City Press physically
roughed up and ousted as it reported on his
deal with the UN Fifth (Budget) Committee
then-chair Cameroon to remain silent about
Paul Biya's slaughter of Anglophones in
exchange for financial favors in the
Committee.
Since then, a
total ban on re-entry has been in place,
despite among other things a pro bono letter
from the Quinn Emanuel law firm (here),
cc-ed to the so-called UN Correspondents
Association and the US State Department.
Now from
Geneva Inner City Press learns that UN
whistleblower Emma Reilly, who expose the UN
giving the names of Chinese dissidents set to
testify there to the Chinese CCP government,
had not only been fired by Guterres, but now
banned from entry to give a speech, by
Guterres' hand-picked "Human Rights"
Commissioner Volker Turk.
Turk did
nothing while in New York drawing a big UN
(public) salary, when Big Boss Tony Guterres had
Inner City Press roughed up and banned from the
UN; appeal
unacted on. Now he flexes his own
totalitarian "muscle" in UNOG. To this has the
UN descended. Watch this site. March
20, 2023
Corrupt UNSG
Antonio Guterres Gives Top Job at UNDP to Member of Syria
Assad Regime
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, March 14 – How corrupt
is today's UN?
Well, on March
14 UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres gave
a top UN job to a longtime member and
supporter of Syria's Assad government,
Abdallah Al Dardari.
UN
spokesman Stephane Dujarric, who refuses to
answer even the written questions of Inner
City Press he and Guterres had banned from the
UN, announced " the appointment of Abdallah Al
Dardari of Syria as Assistant
Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and
Director, Regional Bureau for Arab States of
the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP). He was Chairman of the State Planning
Commission in Syria, until he became Deputy
Prime Minister for Economic
Affairs."
This is
today's UN...
***
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support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
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March 23, 2023
Human
Rights Watch
Proud of
Bahrain Ban
But Colludes
in UN Ban of
Press Litmus
Test Failed
UN GATE, March 10 –Hypocrisy
and careerism
are nothing
new in the
UN. Now
Human Rights
Watch has a
new executive
director
Tirana Hassan
- and the
press
conference was
limited to
members of a
group with
Chinese state
media on its
board and
Iran's IRIB
as a member,
which worked
to throw the
Press out of
the UN, the
United Nations
Correspondents
Association.
That Tirana
Hassan was
colluding with
an
organization
which bans
Press -
actually two,
the UN and its
UN or UN
Censorship
Alliance - was
known to her:
she follows
Inner City
Press on
Twitter, and
her UN rep was
part of
getting Inner
City Press
ousted from
UNCA (for
exposing corruption
of the
organization's
then
President) and
then ousted
from the UN
(natch -
Antonio
Guterres' undisclosed
financial link
to bribery
firm CEFC
China Energy).
Now
on March 10
HRW trumpets
that two of
its staff have
been banned
from Bahrain.
Fine, we'll
report it. But
note that HRW
has been fine
with and
colluded in
the UN's ban
of Press.
This
UNCA and its
executive
committee
member are so
arrogant they
didn't even
respond to an
inquiry
about their
position on UN
access from
the Quinn
Emanuel law
firm,
representing
Inner City
Press pro
bono, here.
Birds of a
feather.
Here was the
promotion:
"Human Rights
Watch is
pleased to
invite members
of the United
Nations
Correspondents
Association to
an in-person
press
conference at
UN
Headquarters
on Thursday,
March 9, 2023,
at 2:00 p.m.
EST. In
her debut
press
appearance at
UN
headquarters,
Human Rights
Watch’s acting
executive
director,
Tirana Hassan,
will discuss
and take
questions on
the main human
rights
challenges for
2023. Who:
Tirana Hassan,
acting
executive
director Louis
Charbonneau,
UN
director
When:
Thursday,
March 9, 2023.
Where: UNCA
Room (S-310)
at UN
Headquarters.
This press
conference is
open to all
UNCA members."
Open to UNCA
members,
largely state
media and
retirees.
HRW's UN rep
also worked
to get Inner
City Press
banned from
the UN, and
made false
copyright claims to cover
up his
role. Will
Tirana Hassan
be any
different? An
appeal is
pending, here
- it is a
litmus case.
This is
today's UN -
hours after
the event,
there was no
video, and
that only
story from an
aggregation
site and only
on Nicaragua.
They claim
they spoke on
China - in
secret, to a
group with
CCTV on the
board.
Corrupt.
***
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support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
March 6, 2023
Mozambique as
UNSC President Leaves Press Questions Unanswered As Mulls
DRC Junket
UN GATE, March
1 – With Mozambique taking over presidency of
the UN Security Council on March 1, 2023, on
February 28 Inner City Press wrote to the
Mozambique Mission to the UN to request in
advance access to its March 1 press conference
by Ambassador Pedro Comissário Afonso.
To
submit the request, Inner City Press wrote to
the Mozambique Mission at its UN Blue Book
address and at the UN email addresses listed
by its purported partner - that is, mozambique
at un dot int and mozambique dote unmission at
gmail dot com
From the
Mozambique Mission, nothing at all. The
Mission is not on Twitter or other social
media. The Ambassador dodges a question about
a trip or junket to DRC, and said the UNSC's
failure does not impact its credibility.
Because it's already shot? Video here.
Inner
City Press asked the Mozambique Mission, and
the UN, about the MONUSCO scandal - sex for UN
Volunteer jobs paid with taxpayers' funds - in
the DRC Congo. Inner City Press exclusive here.
Also: "On December 2, 2022 I was told to file
an appeal with DSS and I did on December 5 -
you should ensure response (there has been
none) and granting. See here."
This
while Inner City Press is banned
from entry, which it had for years until it
exposed UN corruption. No response to this
July 2021 appeal. Impunity.
Inner
City Press will be covering the Mozambique
presidency, quite actively, this month.
Our
requests and questions remain; we will publish
any responses, and also on non-responses. Watch
this site.
February
27, 2023
Year of
Ukraine
Failure By UN
and Guterres
Covered Up Now
Refugees
UNserved
UN GATE, Feb
21 –There
is much to say
about the
now-full year
of war in
Ukraine. But
the focus here
is on the
total failure
of the United
Nations, and
even more of
its Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres.
Guterres, who
has a pattern
of being
obsequious to
strongmen like
China's Xi,
with whom he
glad-handed at
the Beijing
Olympics
without saying
a world about
the genocide
against the
Uighurs in
Xinjiang,
initially told
his staff not
to call what
happened in
Ukraine an
invasion.
Once
he was outed,
he pushed
forward to try
to help sell
Russian
ammonia,
through a
Houston-based
commodities
firm, no less.
Thus to keep
the UN
Security
Council's
Permanent Five
members
content. The
war
continues.
When
questioned
about his
actions -
Inner City
Press asked
about
Guterres'
cover up of
his links to
convicted UN
briber China
Energy Fund
Committee, and
how he chose
the
Houston-based
firm - his
response,
through
"Department of
Global
Communications"
chief Melissa
Fleming, as
been to keep
Inner City
Press banned
from entry.
His
spokesperson
Stephane
Dujarric
refuses all of
Inner City
Press' written
questions.
Now UN General
Assembly
president
Csaba Korosi,
who followed
suit and
blocked Inner
City Press
from his
"Civil Society
Town Hall,"
will hold an
entirely
symbolic UNGA
meeting Feb 22
and 23, and
perhaps 24.
His
spokesperson
Paulina Kubiak
told Inner
City Press it
could appeal
the ban - but
UN DSS chief
Gilles Michaud
has entirely
ignored the
December 5,
2022
appeal.
How long will
those with
unrealistic
and/or
self-serving
dreams about
the UN allow
Guterres to
continue
this?
On February
20,
Presidents'
Day in the US,
Joe Biden
showed up in
Kyev. On
November 21,
NRC said One
year on from
the start of
the Ukraine
war, NRC has
found that
seven out of
ten refugees
who fled to
Poland,
Moldova and
Romania said
they are
struggling to
make ends
meet. As
President
Biden prepares
to speak in
Warsaw later
today [Feb 21]
NRC is calling
on host
countries and
international
donors to not
forget about
the plight of
refugees..
[But Tony's UN
has moved on,
while still
conniving to
help sell
Russian
ammonia
through Trammo
or otherwise].
More
respondents in
Poland and
Moldova report
having moved
to substandard
housing to
reduce their
costs compared
to those in
Romania, and
relatively
more people in
Moldova –
particularly
the Roma
community –
have resorted
to borrowing
money since
they fled
Ukraine.
Usurious
nations.. More
responses
follow. Watch
this site.
***
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support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
February 20, 2023
In
Corrupt UN of
Guterres UNEP
Scams Detailed
by
Whistleblowers
to Inner City
Press
UN GATE, Feb
18 – How corrupt is today's
United Nations under Antonio
Guterres? The head man
files
incomplete financial
disclosure,
then throws
out the
Press that asks
about it. PGA Csaba
Korosi follows
suit and bans Inner
City Press
from his
"Civil Society
Town Hall,"
which UN DSS
Head Gilles
Michaud
ignores the appeal
the PGA's
spokesperson
Paulina Kubiak
said to file.
No answers, so
more stories.
Here's today's,
from
whistleblower:
"Hi
Matt, We know you'll
get this out there for us.
The drama in the UN never
ends, just changes positions
like the game of musical
chairs . . . It's
pointless reporting through
the internal channels since
Justice is rarely served
especially when it's seniors
being exposed. What the so
called investigating entity
(OIOS) does is, they
delegate the Case to the
accused persons
organization, so a team of
Legal officers who have no
idea what investigation is
all about, are the ones who
determine the Case!
There's
a previous incident where a
hiring manager in UNEP got a
crooked colleague to change
assessment results of her
preferred candidate, one Ms.
Atifa Kassam, (who had
otherwise failed the
assessment) so that she made
it to the interview and
subsequently got the job, a
P3 post. . . fair and
transparent recruitment
indeed? Similar story
for a GS-4 position (still
in UNEP) where all
candidates failed the
technical assessment, but
the crooked lead panelist
opted to cook the test
results and proceed to the
oral interviews with a bunch
of his preferred candidates.
Correct procedure should
have been to cancel the
process and start over but .
. . so someone somewhere in
the UN system is earning a
salary in a position they
did not rightfully get?
That's the United Nations
Matt.
UN
talks of mandatory GGST
certification for General
Service posts right? The
list of staff who've skewed
their way through into the
system without GGST
certification is
endless. Perhaps you
could get us answers from
USG-DMSPC Catherine Pollard,
or ASG-OHRM Martha Lopez and
tell us why? (Casing example
is one HRO, Feezah
Kyambadde, who is well known
for bypassing candidates
without GGST certification
into the system). And
guess what, in UNEP again,
one Annette Waweru,
facilitated a junior staff
getting "exceptional
approval" to take the GGST a
6th time . . . and
"miraculously" got the post
of Finance and Budget
Assistant!
Well, "Policy"
says only 5 attempts for the
GGST is allowed, but how
come this staffer got an
extra chance? Could others
also be given 'that extra
chance' to try?. This is
what free and fair
recruitment is all about?
Please get us answers from
USG-DOS Atul Khare.
And just so that the world
knows, you can be
interviewed as early as 3 or
4am for a job in the UN, and
still not be selected for
it, despite being the best
candidate!
Matt, if
you could get your hands on
the raw audio recording [Ed.'s note: please
send it to us, it will go straight
unto Soundcloud
after another
non-response from
corupt UN
Spokesperson Stephane
Dujarric and
Melissa Fleming)
for
the interview of this
position you'll notice
something with the 2
candidate being interviewed.
Clearly, she was reading
from a pre-written script
and in passing, even
mentions having had a
meeting with the panel chair
the previous night! What
does that tell you about her
selection to the post? Try
getting answers from the
UNEP Chief of Staff - Rafael
Peralta or Chief of HR -
Carlos Serrano (good luck if
either assents
to releasing the truth . .
.). The post JO:140108 was
for a Director.
And still on
the UNEP Director position
just mentioned, using your
network, if you could
discreetly get in touch with
the Japanese Ambassador to
the UN in New York, and let
him know that their national
(Yoko Watanabe, UNDP) with
over 20 years experience in
the UN, was short changed!
She was the best candidate
and the panel had agreed on
her selection, but her name
was changed by the chief
panelist at the last minute,
and an American with just 2
years in the UN from USAID
was selected instead. The
raw recordings can prove it
and those present during her
interview, if brave enough,
can attest to what
transpired behind the
scenes. It'd be a waste of
precious time reporting this
to the OIOS, nothing will
happen. Maybe the Ambassador
could take SG Guterres
head-on for answers and for
Justice to be served for
their national. Shift
focus to New York
Headquarters where bending
rules rather than enforcing
them is the norm . . .
Policy, Rules,
Regulations are compromised
by the very persons in
senior positions to enforce
them. Example, staff members
share their login
credentials with Interns and
make these poor, overworked,
unpaid colleagues do their
donkey work for them -
including recruitment of
staff! Yes Matt, it's
happening right in the UN
Headquarters. Never mind
that the "Policy" says
non-staff (interns, UNVs,
Contractors and Consultants)
should not be involved in
recruitment! Casing example
is a section called
Disarmament, Demobilization
and Reintegration Unit
headed by one Tomas
Kontogeorgos. Could you
please check if UN IT boss,
ASG Bernard Mariano, is
aware what his 'senior
colleagues' are up to,
sharing their login
credentials with interns who
are never paid despite their
credible output? Oh
boy Matt, there's
stench and rot behind the
glamour of the UN logo.
Keep it
coming. And watch this
site.
***
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support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
February 13, 2023
On UNRWA
Corruption Inner City Press Asks UN and Lazzarini With Photo
of Car No Answer
UN GATE
EXCLUSIVE, Feb 7 –How
corrupt is
today's United
Nations, under
Antonio
Guterres?
Well,
consider
UNRWA, under
Philippe
Lazzarini.
Inner City
Press for two
days has asked
Guterres'
spokespeople
Stephane
Dujarric and
Melissa
Fleming -- the
second day
cc-ing
Lazzarini
himself -
about
complaints and
evidence that
whistleblowers
have provided
to Inner City
Press about
what is
formally
knowns as the
United Nations
Relief and
Works Agency
for Palestine
Refugees in
the Near East.
No response at
all, while
Dujarric
laughs and
services state
media and his
partners in
censorship,
with whom he
worked to
target and now
ban Inner
City Press.
So
here's some of
the story,
with more to
come:
Dear
Matthew
Russell Lee /
Inner City
Press: We are
a group of
UNRWA staff
who are
witnessing
daily
violations and
abuses and are
unable to do
anything about
it due to
bullying and
fear of
retaliation by
the senior
management.
We have
several
documented
cases of abuse
and fraud by
senior
directors who
are protected
by the
commissioner
general.
We saw your
reporting and
we are asking
if you are
interested to
write about
such cases in
order for us
to disseminate
wider once
these issues
are
reported.
Examples:
1- A Senior
Director was
recruited at
D1 level when
he failed the
P5 interview
10 months
earlier.
This was a
direct
intervention
of Christian
Saunders when
he was acting
USG of the
Agency.
2-
That same
Senior
Director who
is a former
colleague and
a friend of
the director
of HR bullies
staff.
When staff
report those
actions to the
ethics office
and to the
internal audit
department,
the complaints
are
ignored.
3-
That same
Director
announces a
vacancy in his
department and
interviews
candidates.
He selects his
preferred
candidate and
makes her an
offer.
When she
refuses the
fees, he
decides to
cancel the
vacancy and
lies to the HR
department
saying, no
candidate was
found
suitable.
45
days later, he
announces the
same vacancy
at 300%
increase of
the initial
salary.
When HR asks
him to
interview
candidates, he
says, no
because he had
selected a
candidate from
previous
interviews.
Head of HR
because of his
close
friendship
with the
director
(formerly
colleagues at
UNICEF), he
agrees.
WE have copies
of the two
contracts with
same ToRs but
different
amounts of
fees.
4- Tribunal
judgment calls
for
accountability
with two
persons
(Director of
HR and deputy
director of
Syria field
office)
because they
knowingly
offered a
contract to an
unqualified
candidate who
is proven to
have false
information on
her
PhP/CV.
Nothing
happens.
5-
A staff member
seeks
protection
against
retaliation
from the
ethics
office.
That request
is ignored for
months.
When the staff
members
provide
additional
concrete solid
evidence of
harassment, he
is granted
protection.
The evidence
is very strong
and qualifies
for a
dismissal.
The case is
forwarded for
investigation
without
putting the
staff on any
preventive
action.
Harassment and
bullying
continues
knowing that
the
investigation
will lead to
nothing.
6- Report of
two
independent
consultants
show how
senior
management is
bullying staff
with a strong
report.
The report is
hidden and
nothing
happens.
On the
morning of
February 6,
Inner City
Press sent the
above for
comment to
dozens of UN
officials, and
Malta's
Mission to the
UN under
Vanessa
Frazier, as
UNSC president
for February.
No answer at
all. Now this
was sent,
nothing, so
publishing:
UNRWA Snr.
Management
ignores
accountability.
Staff
complaints to
ethics and
DIOS are
ignored
selectively.
UNRWA
management
under Phillipe
Lazzarrini and
his team
promised
donors to work
with
transparency
and
accountability.
In reality,
what is
happening is
the exact
opposite.
Management
assessment
report
prepared by
two individual
independent
consultants
showed several
serious
violations and
mismanagement.
The report was
requested and
paid by the
German
government via
GIZ.
After
several
attempts by
Lazzarini to
intervene with
the findings,
the report was
hidden.
Instead of
handling the
serious
issues, he
decided to
call for a
team building
exercise which
included
cooking class
for his Snr
Directors.
Directors who
do not agree
with him and
his deputy are
marginalized
and eventually
pushed
out.
Those who
maintain bad
relations with
the
communities
and staff are
promoted.
An example of
this promotion
is the most
recent
appointment of
Dorothe Kalaus
(Germany) to
the director
of Lebanon
field.
Briefly before
the arrival of
Lazzarini,
Christian
Saunders was
appointed by
his friend the
Secretary
General as
acting
Commissioner-General
for
UNRWA.
During his
acting period,
he added more
than $100
million
annually as
unjustified
additional
costs.
This is all in
the middle of
a serious
funding crisis
which was
threatening
the existence
of the
Agency.
In addition,
Saunders
intervened in
appointments
of several of
his friends.
Brian Baker, a
national of
the UK and a
former UNICEF
staff member,
was moved out
of Gaza a few
years back for
his problems
with the
community.
He was
interviewed in
Jan 2019 for a
P5 position of
chief
security.
The Panel
found him
unsuitable and
opted for
another
candidate of
an Egyptian
nationality.
Less
than a year
later, Brian
was appointed
as a Director
of Security
and Risk
management
with a fraud
process
orchestrated
by the
Director of
Human
Resources
Antonino Brusa
who is a
friend and a
former
colleague of
Brian
Baker.
The process
was a
fraud.
The head of
the Panel was
a UNICEF staff
and the then
direct
supervisor of
Brian
Baker.
He was
invited
by Brusa to
chair a
panel.
There was
never in the
history of the
Agency such an
action.
Panel members
disagreed with
the chair
(Brian's
supervisor at
UNICEF) and
did not select
Brian.
Antonino Brusa
informed the
panel members
that lets send
the case to
the acting
commissioner-general
for his
decision.
Saunders
overruled the
panel members'
views and
approved the
appointment of
Brian Baker at
D1 level.
That same
person did not
qualify for a
P5 with the
same agency a
few months
earlier.
Baker within
months of his
appointment,
fired the
Egyptian P5
person who
competed
against
him.
With
fabricated
accusations
and in close
coordination
with friend
Antonino
Brusa, the
investigation
took a couple
of weeks for a
final decision
to be approved
with
dismissal.
This
way, Baker got
rid of his
first
target.
A few months
later, Brian
Baker seeks a
recruitment of
a local
consultant and
he publishes
an
announcement
for that
position.
He selected
his preferred
candidate and
offered her a
contract
valued at
approximately
usd 1300
monthly.
She turned
down the
contract.
Brian writes
to HR and
informs them
that he
intends to
cancel the
vacancy
instead of
proceeding
with the
second
selected
candidate.
A couple of
weeks later,
he replaced
the vacancy
with an
international
consultancy
with a monthly
fee of USD
5000.
After he
announces the
vacancy, HR
asks him to
shortlist
candidates.
Brian
strongly
refuses to do
so and gets
the approval
of the
Director of HR
to proceed
with the
recruitment of
the same
selected
candidate of
the local
consultant.
Two contracts
are
attached.
Same
candidate,
same ToRs,
different
value with
more than 300%
increase.
The Director
of HR
intentionally
ignores those
violations and
approves
whatever his
friend
wants.
Baker
continues with
his actions
without any
questioning by
any of the
Snr.
Management
people.
He then brings
another friend
from UNICEF
Yara Dababneh
on another
consultancy
contract.
Less
than a year
later Yara
receives a P4
contract with
external
relations with
the help of
Brian.
The Director
of HR brings
in another
UNICEF former
colleague in a
fabricated
pre-planned
process.
Julliette
Touma who
holds a fake
Palestinian
nationality (
in reality she
holds an
Israeli
citizenship
but she was
able to
receive a
Palestinian
travel
document and
not a
nationality).
She records
her
nationality
with UNRWA as
Palestinian
and she was
appointed at
D1
level.
Ms.Touma
was originally
assisted by
her friend
from OCHA (
David Shearer
who was DSRSG
for UNAMI
Iraq) to
become an
international
staff of the
UN at P2 level
in yet another
fake process.
He wanted her
to move from
GS6 position
directly to P4
but then
agreed to a P2
due to her
lack of
experience.
After serving
UNICEF
regional
office in
Jordan, she
was asked to
seek another
opportunity
outside of
UNICEF.
Her friend
Brusa
immediately
picked her up
to become the
spokesperson
and the
director of
communications
for
UNRWA.
In Syria field
office, UNRWA
tribunal
issued a
judgment
related to
violation and
abuse of
power.
A
Selection of a
senior staff
was found
incorrect by
the Advisory
Committee of
HR.
While digging
into the
qualifications,
they
discovered
that the
selected staff
provided false
information on
her CV.
The director
of HR, Brusa
lets the case
rest for a
couple of
months and
then agreed
with the
deputy
director of
Syria office
to offer that
same candidate
a
contract.
One of the non
selected staff
appealed the
decision to
the tribunal
and won her
case.
The judgment
calls for
accountability
for those who
violated the
process.
Lazzarini does
nothing to
this date and
the selected
staff remains
at her new job
in
Syria.
Back to Baker.
A couple of
months ago
following one
of his staff
providing a
witness
statement to
the Tribunal,
he started
bullying and
harassing him.
Brian
also informed
the witness
staff thast
his position
was
abolished.
When the staff
reported his
case to the
ethics office,
the case was
delayed and
ignored.
The staff
provided
additional
very serious
and concrete
evidence to
the ethics
office.
The case was
immediately
forwarded to
the
investigation
after the
ethics office
concluded a
prima facie
case of
retaliation.
The decision
of abolishing
the post was
put on hold.
Brian and
because of his
untouched
protection by
the Director
of HR and by
the
Commissioner-General,
remains
working at his
position.
Other less
serious cases
are
immediately
put on
administrative
leave pending
the outcome of
investigation.
The evidence
provided to
the ethics
office
included proof
of bullying,
retaliation
and
harassment,
It also
included
Brian's
comments about
the
uselessness of
ethics and
DIOS in his
opinion.
Lazzarini,
upon his
arrival,
assigned an
official UNRWA
vehicle for
more than a
year to be
used by his
wife.
The car gets
hit by his
wife and
repaired at
the expense of
the Agency
when the
accident was
reported as
official.
That
is today's UN,
with Inner
City Press
still banned
from entering
to ask these
questions in
person, and
its December
5, 2022 appeal
not even
responded to.
Totally
corrupt.
***
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support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
February 6, 2023
UN
Budget Expert
Hyassat Loses
NY Rape Case
By Default As
He and UN and
USUN No Show
SDNY COURT
Exclusive, Feb 1 – A United
Nations budget expert in New
York drugged and raped a
woman; a default judgment
was awarded against him on
February 1, 2023 in the U.S.
District Court for the
Southern District of New
York.
Inner
City Press, which has been
banned from the UN for
asking about its sexual
abuses, was there in court.
But the
defendant, Mutaz Hyassat,
was not. Nor was anyone from
the United Nations, on whose
Advisory Committee on
Administrative and Budgetary
Questions Hyassat served at
the time of the rape, nor
from the UN missions of
Jordan nor of the United
States.
The
victim worked for the US
Treasury Department at the
time of the rape.
Hyassat
lured her to El Rio Grande
restaurant at 160 E. 38th
Street where he plied her
with a pink drink with GHB
in it.
Hyassat
raped her overnight. He
continues to work for the
Jordanian foreign ministry,
as chief of legal
administration, it was said
on February 1. Doe was present in
the courtroom.
Hyassat refused
to ever answer the rape
charges against him. But on
February 1 Judge Paul G.
Gardephe found that
Hyassat's immunity as an
ACABQ member was only
functional, in connection
with this work. Despite the
pervasive corruption of the
UN under SG Antonio
Guterres, rape is still not
part of ACABQ's work.
Judge
Gardephe granted and entered
a default judgment and
referred it for a
Magistrates' inquest on
damages.
Plaintiff
Jane Doe is seeking $1.25
million. UN Spokesperson
Stephane Dujarric, and USG
Melissa Fleming whose
department keeps Inner City
Press banned from entering
the UN to ask, refuse to
answer written
questions. The case is
Doe v. Hyassat, 18-cv-6110
(Gardephe)
***
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
January 30, 2023
In UN
Money Murk DSG
Lies on
Taliban
After
SG Guterres
Rebuffed
Qatar Murder Q
at UNCA
UN GATE, Jan
25 – The UN
community in New York, clad
in tuxedos and expensive
gowns and cloaked in
impunity and anonymity,
converged on December 9,
2022 for a glitzy event in
Cipriani at 25 Broadway in
lower Manhattan.
Inner City
Press, banned from the UN by
Sec-Gen Antonio Guterres,
was outside, asking
questions. It asked
Guterres, as he entered, why
he had said nothing about
the 7000 migrant worker
Qatar killed when he visited
the World Cup there.
Video here.
But where
was the Deputy Secretary General Amina J.
Mohammed, who watched
and benefited while
Inner City Press was
caged with a mind on
the UN's second
floor - and did
nothing - and now on
its ban since -
where was and is
she? She was
misspeaking in
Geneva:
she said, "just
last week, the
General Assembly’s
Fifth Committee
agreed to
establish and
fully fund a
dedicated UN Youth
Office."
But
apparently
that wasn't
true, or
jumped the
gun. Now a
sanitized version:
"at the end of
the 76th
session, the
General
Assembly
agreed to
establish a
dedicated UN
Youth Office."
So
the
Fifth
Committee has NOT
agreed? Note
that it was
while covering
the Fifth
Committee that
Inner City Press was
roughed up
and banned
since. Amina
J. Mohammed. We
said, more
on her role
and actions to
come.
ANd now
there is more,
a bogus
January 25,
2023
"press"
conference
with Inner
City Press
banned,
softball
questions from
retirees and
state media,
full of lies -
video here.
Inner City Press also
asked UN President of the
General Assembly why it had
been banned from his
December 2, 2022 "Civil
Society Town Hall Meeting,"
and then lied to be his
spokesperson Paulina Kubiak,
that there is an appeals
process. Video
here.
UN DSS Gilles
Michaud hasn't even
confirmed receipt, much less
deliberated on the appeal
Inner City Press filed on
December 5, here.
It asked a UN
Correspondent who did a
fundraiser with global
pedophile Ghisline Maxwell
about it.
And, in
defense to the working
paparazzi present, it filmed
but did not question Kate
Hudson, who it seems know
nothing about the UN
Correspondent Association
whose prize she took.
Video here.
On
Twitter video live it asked
Kubiak about the lie, and EU
Ambassador Olof B. Skoog
about being banned (he
seemed to indicate he would
do something, which would be
easy for him - we'll
see). Twitter video 5 at
3:16, here
This is the
corruption of the UN. Inner
City Press' appeal to
re-enter and ask these
questions as is its right
remains pending. Watch this
site.
***
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support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
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January 23, 2023
In Corrupt UN of
Guterres Libya Post Up for Sale Between UK
Adamson and Gluck, Michaud
UN
GATE, Jan 20 --
The United
Nations under
Antonio
Guterres is so
corrupt that
its head of UN
Security in
Jordan has
been a man who
conducted
assassinations,
perhaps even
of Rafic
Hariri, for
Michel Aoun of
Lebanon.
The UN
Security
official's
name is
Antoine Abi
Samra; he was
a military
officer under
Aoun. He has
been promoted
and protected
by one Igor
Mitrokhin in
the UN
Department of
Safety and
Security,
ostensibly run
by Gilles
Michaud. It is
an
outrage.
see below "Cc:
Najat Rochdi,
Kenneth Gluck"
Michaud,
after Inner
City Press on
December 2,
2022 was told
by PGA Csaba
Korosi's
spokesperson
Paulina Kubiak
it could
appeal to him,
did - and so
response, six
weeks later.
Totally
corrupt.
And
now as to
Gluck, he's
being
considered by
corrupt UNSG
Guterres, with
US support,
for UN deputy
special
representative
for the UN
mission in
Libya, versus
Joanne Adamson
of equally
corrupt UK
Mission. Watch
this site.
Inner City
Press first
asked Guterres
and his
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
Mitrokhin in
connection
with South
Sudan, based
on complaints
it received
from
whistleblowers
in the UN
mission there,
UNMISS.
With Dujarric
and Guterres
and his head
of
communications
Melissa
Fleming
refusing to
answer banned
Inner City
Press' written
question, it
nevertheless
asked then reported
why "Igor
Mitrokhin of
UNDSS from
Russia is
pushing David
Shearer, SRSG
of UNMISS and
Principal
Security
Advisor,
Graeme to take
Nikolay
Kovalev of
Russia at all
cost
disregarding
all
rules."
See below.
Now
on September
29 we have
more about
Nikolay
Kovalev in
Gilles
Michaud's
corrupt UN
Security,
which does
everything
possible to
dismiss and
bury
complaints:
From:
Parfait
Onanga-Anyanga
Subject: RE:
Complaints
against
KOVAKEV
NIKOLAY
Cc: Najat
Rochdi,
Kenneth Gluck
January
16, 2023
UNSG Guterres
Covers Up UN Child Rape in CAR As Fleming Bans
Press & Japan Is Told
UN
GATE, Jan 14-- Stephane Dujarric,
the lead spokesman of UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres, his
deputy Farhan
Haq and now
Guterres'
Global
Communicator
Melissa
Fleming have
joined their
boss in
personally
covering up
child rapes
and sexual
abuse by UN
personnel,
including
recently a
child rape by
a UN
"peacekeeper"
from Paul
Biya's
Cameroon in DR
Congo.
Even while
they and OIOS
Ben Swanson
purport to
care - and
even answer
questions - on
the UN's cover
up for
Burundian and
Gabon rapes in
CAR in 2017,
they have
adopted
corrupt
Guterres'
solution going
forward: cover
up the cases
in advance.
Rough up and
ban the Press
which asks,
leave inside
only insiders
who ask why
they can't use
the UN
escalator
instead of
walking one or
two flights of
stairs, and
refuse to
answer written
questions.
Their UN is
dying - and
taking young
victims with
it. See Tel
Aviv UNTSO
video first
published by
Inner City
Press on June
23, here,
and Swanson here.
On
January 10,
2023, the UN
data dumped
more cases of
its sexual
abuse,
including a
child rape in
Central
African
Republic.
Photo from UN
Conduct and
Discipline
website here.
Inner City
Press that day
asked, in
writing, UN
Spokespeople
Stephane
Dujarric,
Farhan Haq,
Melissa
Fleming - and
the Japanese
Mission to the
UN, as UNSC
president -
what had been
done for the
victims. No
answer at all,
and no one
they let in
asked. The UN
has devolved
into a child
sex
trafficking
and abuse
conspiracy.
January
9, 2023
Japan as UNSC
President Bans Press Questions But Lets In Ghislaine
Maxwell Fundraiser
UN GATE, Jan 3
– With Japan taking over presidency of the UN
Security Council on January 1, 2023, on
December 30 Inner City Press wrote to the
Japanese Mission to the UN to request in
advance access to its January 3 press
conference by Ambassador Ishikane Kimihiro.
To
submit the request, Inner City Press wrote to
the Japanese Mission at its Blue Book address
and at the UN email addresses listed by its
purported partner, one Shinobu YAMAGUCHI - who
doled out questions on January 3.
Four full days
later from the Japanese Mission, nothing at
all, even after the request was resent on the
morning of January 3.
When Ambassador
Ishikane Kimihiro came
out, directly in front of him in the front row
was a UN Correspondent who did a fundraiser
with convicted global pedophile Ghislaine
Maxwell. Softball questions were asked and
dodged, but not response to Inner City Press'
written questions.
We will cover
the month: Colombia on Jan 11, Yemen on the
16th, "Middle East" on the 18th, Haiti (where
the UN brought cholera) on 24th, and luncheon
with Guterres January 30.
They were
bragging about their still-then unapproved Jan
12 "signature event" about, what else, the
rule of law, in mounting hypocrisy: "open
debate on “The promotion and strengthening of
the rule of law in the maintenance of
international peace and security: the rule of
law among nations”. Japan’s Minister for
Foreign Affairs Hayashi Yoshimasa is expected
to chair the meeting. UN Secretary-General
António Guterres."
Nothing says
rule of law more than Guterres, who has the
Press thrown out without due process, then
lies about their being an appeals process. And
Japan, which claims its focus on the UNSC is
methods of work, leaks its program of work
before the other 14 members have considered
and voted on it. Some method of work.
Inner
City Press asked the Japanese Mission, and the
UN, about the MONUSCO scandal - sex for UN
Volunteer jobs paid with taxpayers' funds - in
the DRC Congo. Inner City Press exclusive here.
Also: "Japan's position on Western Sahara,
Myanmar, North Korea On December 2, 2022 I was
told to file an appeal with DSS and I did on
December 5 - you should ensure response (there
has been none) and granting. See here."
This
while Inner City Press is banned
from entry, which it had for years until it
exposed UN corruption. No response to this
July 2021 appeal. Impunity.
Inner
City Press will be covering the Japan
presidency, quite actively, this month.
Our
requests and questions remain; we will publish
any responses, and also on non-responses. Watch
this site.
January
2, 2023
UN Rubber
Stamps Corrupt Budget Stealing US Funds as Guterres and
Korosi Ban Press
UNGATE, Dec 30
– How useless
is today's United Nations? They couldn't even
vote on December 23 on taking (largely
stealing) the billions of dollars from US
taxpayers and others. But on December
30, they did.
It was chaired
by UN PGA Csaba Korosi, who banned Inner City
Press from his Civil Society Town Hall, after
his spokesperson told Inner City Press it
could appeal to USG Gilles Michaud, who has
yet to respond.
On the
afternoon of December 30 in the UN basement
where Inner City Press reported on these deals
until it was ousted and banned, dysfunctional
objections were made about funding for
mandates in Syria, Ethiopia
and Palestine - Israel said it wouldn't speak
and US would vote no; it spoke, and US
abstained and praised the UN.
More US
gushing: Ambassador Chris Lu at AmbUNReform tweeted,
"And just like that: UN budget has been
adopted by Fifth Committee and will go to
General Assembly One key reform adopted is
moving to an annual budget on a permanent
basis. It’s a critical reform that furthers
transparency and accountability."
But today's UN
displays neither, and the US Mission of Lu and
Linda Thomas-Greenfield has done nothing about
US-based investigative media Inner City Press
being banned by Antonio Guterres.
In the GA,
there was Portugal, bloviating (video here)
There was
Japen, representive advertising
the New York Giants of football, but Japan
Mission not responded to Inner City Press'
request for access to its Ambassador Ishikane
Kimihiro's January 3 press conference as
president of the Security Council.
None of the
documents were available to the public, as
billions of dollars were being taken. It was
to resume at 6 pm.
These are the
budget meetings Inner City Press used to cover
and expose, in person, until corrupt UNSG
Antonio Guterres had it roughed up and thrown
out while it covered the budget negotiations
in 2018.
Now no
one covers it, which is how the UN likes it.
But they still can't agree how to steal. UNPGA
Csaba Korosi, who banned Inner City Press from
his December 2 "Civil Society Town Hall,"
issued a lame speech, cravenly promoted by
colonial Belgium's mission to the UN.
Inner
City Press' December 5 appeal
of being banned, sent just as Korosi's
spokesperson Paulina Kubiak told it to, has
not even been acknowledge.
Today's UN is
totally corrupt. And Inner City Press will
stay on it, insisting its appeal be granted,
and either way reporting on the UN's
corruption. Watch this site.
***
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
December 26, 2022
UN Says
Burkina Faso Has No Right to Oust Guterres Rep Manzi But
Guterres Can Ban Press
UNGATE, Dec 24
– Today's
United Nations asserts it is above any
country's law or decisions.
How else
to interpret reclusive UN Secretary General
Antonio's canned statement, after Burkina Faso
ordered his representative to leave the
country, that only he can do that?
It is
more than a little ironic, since Guterres also
claims for himself the right to physically
oust and ban anyone from the being or
reporting from inside the United Nations, with
no explanation or appeal.
He did
that to Inner City Press on July 3, 2018, and
has maintained the ban since, refusing through
his USG Melissa Fleming to answer a polite
letter from pro bono law firm Quinn Emanuel,
and more recently Inner City Press' appeal
directed, as UNPGA Csaba Korosi's spokesperson
Paulina Kubiak directed, to USG Gilles Michaud
of UN Security.
Guterres' own spokesman Stephane Dujarric has
refused all written questions about it. But
Dujarric issued this:
"The
Secretary-General has learned with regret
that, on 23 December, the transitional
government of Burkina Faso declared the
Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator
of the United Nations and Designated Security
Official in the country, Ms. Barbara Manzi, as
persona non grata. The
doctrine of persona non grata does not apply
to United Nations officials. Under Article 100
and 101 of the United Nations Charter, United
Nations staff members are appointed by the
Secretary-General, responsible only to the
Organization... Only the Secretary-General, as
the Chief Administrative Officer of the
Organization, has the authority to decide,
after careful investigation, with respect to
the withdrawal of any United Nations
official."
What
arrogance. From an organization that for
example killed 10,000 in Haiti by bringing
cholera, and whose SG Guterres defend and
covers up for UN rapists from peacekeepers to
UN "aid(s)" worker Karim Elkorany.
Inner
City Press' December 5 appeal
of being banned, sent just as Korosi's
spokesperson Paulina Kubiak told it to, has
not even been acknowledged.
Today's UN is
totally corrupt. And Inner City Press will stay
on it, insisting its appeal be granted, and
either way reporting on the UN's corruption.
Watch this site.
December
17, 2022
At UN
Only 50 Voters
& No
Competition
Now 2 China
State Media In
UN
Correspondents
Assoc Board
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Dec 17 – How
corrupt and bought by China
is today's UN?
Well, amid
escalating protests and
repression of anti-Xi
protests of COVID-lockdowns,
from Xinjiang to Shanghai
and Beijing, the UN of SG
Antonio Guterres and his
weak human rights
commissioner Volker Turk
have said nothing.
Amid canned
statements about other
topics, including claims of
UN concern at rapes while
Guterres covered up for UN
rapist Karim Elkorany and
unindicted rapist UN
Peacekeepers, nothing on the
protests in China, the dead
in Urumqi, journalists
including from BCC beaten
up.
This after
Guterres was
sold on December 9 by the UN
Correspondents Association,
which has among its
membership Iran state media
which broadcasts forced
confessions. Guterres refused a
Press question about his
silence in Qatar here.
On December 6, UNCA
released its clean slate of
"leaders" for 2023 -
with no competition for any post.
It
turns
out there were
only 50 voters -
lowest turnout
ever, for a
groups that
claims the
right to block
media globally
from entering
the UN -- and
now
China
has two state media
seats - Xinhua
and CCTV,
replacing AFP
- Russia, Turkey,
and the top
award to a
crony. Some
got as few
of 26 of the
50 votes,
even with no
competition. Photo here.
No
response to Quinn
Emanuel's letter - nor
this appeal
of ban. It's
the UN
Censorship
Alliance.
***
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support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
December 12, 2022
UN
Guterres
Rebuffs Qatar
Migrant
Workers Q and
PGA Korosi
Lies On Way
Into UNCA Ball
UN GATE, Dec 9
– The UN
community in New York, clad
in tuxedos and expensive
gowns and cloaked in
impunity and anonymity,
converged on December 9 for
a glitzy event in Cipriani
at 25 Broadway in lower
Manhattan.
Inner City
Press, banned from the UN by
Sec-Gen Antonio Guterres,
was outside, asking
questions. It asked
Guterres, as he entered, why
he had said nothing about
the 7000 migrant worker
Qatar killed when he visited
the World Cup there.
Video here.
It asked
UN President of the General
Assembly why it had been
banned from his December 2,
2022 "Civil Society Town
Hall Meeting," and then lied
to be his spokesperson
Paulina Kubiak, that there
is an appeals process. Video
here.
UN DSS Gilles
Michaud hasn't even
confirmed receipt, much less
deliberated on the appeal
Inner City Press filed on
December 5, here.
It asked a UN
Correspondent who did a
fundraiser with global
pedophile Ghisline Maxwell
about it.
And, in
defense to the working
paparazzi present, it filmed
but did not question Kate
Hudson, who it seems know
nothing about the UN
Correspondent Association
whose prize she took.
Video here.
On
Twitter video live it asked
Kubiak about the lie, and EU
Ambassador Olof B. Skoog
about being banned (he
seemed to indicate he would
do something, which would be
easy for him - we'll
see). Twitter video 5 at
3:16, here
This is the
corruption of the UN. Inner
City Press' appeal to
re-enter and ask these
questions as is its right
remains pending. Watch this
site.
***
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
December 5, 2022
UN
Tells Inner
City Press
You're Banned
Then PGA Spox
Says There's
An Appeals
Process But
UN GATE, Dec 2
–For
a United
Nations "Civil
Society Town
Hall" meeting
on December 2,
Inner City
Press was
invited and
had its RSVP
confirmed -
but on First
Avenue, was
told it is
"banned from
the UN."
Tweeted audio
here.
When
it asked the
basis of the
ban, since
none had ever
been
expressed, it
was told by a
UN Security
officer at the
door of 801
First Avenue
that a
supervisor
would come and
explain. None
came, for 40
minutes and
counting.
Inner City
Press e-mailed
the
spokesperson
for the
President of
the General
Assembly Csaba
Korosi, whose
event it was,
and Melissa
Fleming of the
Department of
Global
Communications,
who sat on
stage and
heads UN Media
Accreditation.
Fleming did
not answer, as
she has not
answered a
July 2021
letter about
Press access
from the pro
bono law firm
of Quinn
Emanuel, here.
But
Paulina Kubiak
came onto
First Avenue,
to her credit,
and went into
to speak with
the UN
Security
officer. She
emerged to
say, You are
banned but
they tell me
there is an
appeals
process, you
are to write
to the
Investigations
Unit and the
Police
Chief.
Inner
City Press
expressed
skepticism,
including in
light of
Fleming's
non-answer,
but asked the
PGA's office
to follow
through.
Kubiak said
she would go
into UNHQ, to
UN Security /
DSS in the
basement, and
get Inner City
Press the
addresses to
appeal
to.
But
she later
wrote to Inner
City Press,
"Hi
Matthew,
I’ve spoken
with a number
of people on
the issue of
your access to
UNHQ, but
unfortunately,
was unable to
get any useful
information.
Best,
Paulina."
Inner
City Press
wrote back, "
Paulina
-
You told me
there is an
appeals
process, and
that you were
doing inside
to DSS in the
basement to
get me the
address that
I, or the
Quinn Emanuel
law firm,
should write
it with the
appeal. So
what is the
address?
Thanks."
But there has
been no
answer, even
as Kubiak held
a questionless
session in the
UN Press
Briefing Room.
Prior to that,
Inner City
Press asked
UNSG Antonio
Guterres'
spokespeople
Stephane
Dujarric and
Farhan Haq,
and the Indian
Mission to the
UN as UNSC
President,
"Immediately
explain both
the basis for
UN Security at
801 1st Ave on
the morning of
Dec 2 tell me
I am "banned"
from entering
the UN despite
confirmed
invitation to
UN PGA Town
Hall, and (2)
the "appeals"
process that
DSS told PGA
Spokesperson
about to,
conveyed to
me. What is
the
"Inspections
Unit" and
"Police Chief"
email address
an appellee is
to write to?
Why did USG
Fleming not
respond to the
July 2021
Quinn Emanuel
letter with
information
about this
appeals
process, if it
exists? How
many people
are on the
UN's "banned"
list? On what
bases? On
deadline." No
answer -
Watch
this site.
***
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
November 28, 2022
UN Rot
Typified by Silence on Qatar by Volker Turk Tapped
by Tony Genocide Games Guterres
UN GATE, Nov
20 – The United Nations has hit a new low,
after its now-gone human rights commissioner
Michelle Bachelet withheld her report on
Xinjiang until the very hour she left, after
whitewashing China's genocide against the
Uighurs for her whole term.
To
replace Bachelet, UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres tapped his crony, Volker Turk
formerly of UNHCR then a Guterres promoter.
(Inner City Press back on July 2 predicted
this pro-China move, here).
Now in
November 2022, Volker Turk is entirely silence
on Qatar and human rights, including the 7000
migrant workers they killed building stadia
for the FIFA World Cup. Some human rights
commissioner.
This comes
after Qatar welcomed Volker Turk's appointment
(photo here),
and paid for a large room at the UN in Geneva.
Qatar already
bought Antonio Guterres in New York, where its
state media Al Jazeera - now with its UN
correspondents and alumni singing for the
supper defending the corrupt World Cup -
worked with Guterres' spokesman Stephane
Dujarric to get Inner City Press thrown out, here
On human
rights, Inner City Press previously asked
Volker Turk about the slaughter in Cameroon of
Anglophones by the army of Paul Biya - and
he'd never heard of it. Story
here.
When
Inner City Press published video
(here) of Turk's answers about Gramsci,
Inner City Press was then blocked from the
UN's web site. So he is a cover up man and a
censor. Anyone who had put up with Guterres
reign of censorship and corruption has no
human rights credibility or chops.
As to
Bachelet, at the end, in a press conference
dominated by scripted questions from Chinese
state media in response to which she read from
prepared notes, she said she was unable to
access what is happening in Xinjiang.
On June 13,
Bachelet having served China said she was now
leaving. And Guterres praised her: "She has
moved the needle in an extremely challenging
political context." Yes - she moved his UN's
needle even more pro-China. And did nothing
about Guterres' ban on Press. Defund the UN.
Some say
they are surprised by this outcome. But a fish
rots from the head. The head of the UN system
is Antonio Guterres, and the reasons for his
silence on China's abuses is more
sinister.
Before being
selected - by China, which like Russia could
have vetoed him - Guterres took money from the
Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon. The China
Energy Fund Committee, whose Patrick Ho was
convicted of UN bribery involving UN President
of the General Assembly, offered top dollar
for Gulbenkian's oil company.
Guterres omitted the money he took from
Gulbenkian from his financial disclosure form.
And after
Inner City Press, which had aggressively
reported on Guterres' predecessor Ban Ki-moon
from inside the UN, asked about it, Guterres
had Inner City Press roughed up and banned
from the UN ever since. Very Xi.
In the run up to Bachelet's trip, Inner City
Press put written questions repeatedly to
Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, who
daily takes three of more questions in his
noon briefing from Chinese state media. But to
Inner City Press, no answer.
Likewise, when
pro bono law firm Quinn Emanuel wrote to
Guterres' head of media accreditation Melissa
Fleming asking for Inner City Press to be
allowed to re-enter the UN and ask its
questions, she refused to response, as did the
supposed UN Correspondents Association, on
whose Executive Committee China has a
permanent seat.
So how is
it surprising the the UN covers up for
China?
To Access UNGA Inner City
Press Applied But PGA Csaba Kőrösi Blocks Now Lies on Rape
UN Gate, Nov
21 – As the United Nations after a year of
failing on Ukraine and covering up sexual
abuses from the DR Congo to Colombia gears up
for its annual UNGA Week this month, it has
tried to further limit access and coverage by
independent press.
Will this
continue under incoming PGA Csaba Kőrösi of
Hungary? On September 15, 2022 Inner City
Press wrote to members including his "Special
Assistant" Adel Hriczu - despite claims of
transparency, as of September 17 no response
or action: "As a journalist who has reported
on the United Nations and its work for more
than ten years, and who today was allowed to
question the IMF but was not (yet?) allowed
back into the UN, I am writing to you as
deputy chef de cabinet of the Office of
President of the General Assembly to formally
ask that you ensure that my application, a
week ago, to UN MALU to cover next week's UNGA
week is approved, on Sept 16."
Still now in November, nothing.
Instead, while
Korosi continues to refuse a written request
for comment on UN rapist Karim Elkorany (who
drugged and raped 13 aid workers), submitted
by Inner City Press to his spokesperson
Paulina Kubiak, now this: "Ahead of the 16
Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
campaign, the President of the United Nations
General Assembly and the New York City Mayor’s
Office will meet with domestic violence
survivors and visit the Manhattan Family
Justice Center, one of five borough-based
service centers providing free and
confidential social services including mental
health counseling, civil legal, and criminal
justice assistance for survivors and their
children. During the
visit, President Kőrösi and Commissioners
Cecile Noel and Edward Mermelstein, will also
meet with NGOs at the Manhattan Family Justice
Center to better understand the local services
offered to survivors of domestic and
gender-based violence." And no comment on UN
rapist Elkorany, and banning of the Press that
asks. Hypocrite.
In fact,
Korosi went so far, contrary to his claims of
transparency, to block Inner City Press on
Twitter, see here.
A day after Inner City Press exposed it, it
was reversed but no explanation offered. Then,
sadly, this: After Korosi bragged online about
his December 2 civil society summit, Inner
City Press registered. The form specifically
envisioned entry and attendance by individuals
not affiliated with any groups - including
"private sector" - and for those not
affiliated in any way with the UN, saying
special passes would be provided.
On the morning of November 10 Inner
City Press asked Korosi's spokesperson Paulina
Kubiak to confirm, and " given PGA Korosi's
promotion, including on Twitter, of his Dec 2
townhall in the UN, please immediately confirm
that it is he and his office controlling who
is allowed in - that is, that he cannot try to
pass the buck to MALU and USG Fleming, as
he/you have tried to do to
date. To test this,
yesterday evening I applied
https://www.un.org/pga/77/csotownhall/ - I am
informing you (and him) of this in order to be
upfront, and also to ensure if there are any
questions, I be allowed to answer them. I am
expecting that ticket to enter on December 2
and to be informed of it long before that,
asap."
Eight hours later, Korosi's spokesperson
Kubiak replied, "The Civil Society Town Hall
on 2 December is for civil society
organizations in consultative status with
ECOSOC or those formally associated with DGC.
The attendees register through the link that
you noted, as part of a process to check
accreditation by ECOSOC or DGC prior to
issuance of special event tickets by DSS.
Should your accreditation not be confirmed by
DESA or DGC, you may still follow the
discussions on UN WebTV."
Well, no.
"Paulina, that does not seem to be true.
the form specifically allows for entities /
people not affiliated with the UN - and people
not affiliated with an organization, as well
as "private sector" - I am writing this story
now paste 9.Organization
Representation Type NGO
(Non-Governmental Organization)
Academia Private Sector Do not
belong to any organization 10.Your
organization's affiliation with the UN (check
all that apply) Associated with
Department of Global Communications In
consultative status with Economic and Social
Council Both ECOSOC-accredited and
DGC-associated Not
affiliated 11.Do you have a valid
UN grounds pass? Yes. (A special event
ticket will not be requested for you to access
UNHQ) No. (I require a special event
ticket to access UNHQ)."
Kubiak after
that stopped answering, including refusing to
provide any Korosi comments on the 13 rapes by
UN staffer Elkorany. UN Spokespeople Stephane
Dujarric and Farhan Haq day after day refused
this: " On
UN opacity, immediately state whether
the Dec 2 "civil society summit" is
limited to representatives of NGOs
already OK-ed by ECOSOC or USG Fleming's
DCG, or (as the online form says),
to people and entities not affiliated
with the UN."
Now
it turns
out Melissa "We Own the Science"
Fleming is "moderating" the December 2
Town Hall - while lying about who is
allowed in, and not answering legal
mail.
On
November 19, four minutes after his
apparent Boss Tony Guterres
issued his speech - this time,
not the wrong text - Korosi via Paulina "No
Answers Or False
Ones" Kubiak
issued canned
pablum: "I
commend COP
President
Sameh Shoukry,
as well as
Simon Stiell
and the United
Nations
Framework
Convention on
Climate
Change, and
their teams,
for their
efforts to put
into action
this year’s
slogan of
“together for
implementation”.
As the
President of
the General
Assembly, I
will work with
Member States
to support" - Big
Tony and his
corrupt regime
of censorship.
Puppet PGA.
Watch this
site.
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support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
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November 21, 2022
Qatar
Bans Filming
Of Migrant
Workers But
Blinken
Promotes Emir
Like UN
Guterres
UN GATE, Nov
18 –For
the FIFA World
Cup that Qatar
paid bribes to
get, it issued
restrictions
on the media
that go to
cover it,
including that
journalists
will not be
allowed to
film or
photograph in
"residential
properties,
private
businesses and
industrial
zones."
Reporting on
the deaths of
migrant
workers is not
permitted.
But
with US
Secretary of
State Antony
Blinken set to
visit on
November
21-22, two
State
Department
officials on
November 18
said Qatar has
been doing
good work on
labor rights.
The officials
Deputy
Assistant
Secretary for
Near Eastern
Affairs Daniel
Benaim and
Deputy
Assistant
Secretary for
Educational
and Cultural
Affairs Stacy
White were
asked about a
Qatar diplomat
telling
Germany TV
that gays have
mental
problems, and
declined
comment,
pointing to
the Emir
inviting
"everyone."
Yeah.
Qatar
also bans
filming in
“restricted
areas where
filming
requires prior
permission”
and at “any
site with
signage or
security
advising of no
photography/videography."
Some
who are
criticizing
these
restrictions,
however, say
nothing when
the United
Nations does
the same.
Consider the
reasons given
by UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres'
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric for
having Inner
City Press
roughed up and
banned from
the UN, for
three years
and counting,
from CJR:
"access
is not a
right, it’s a
privilege,”
Dujarric says.
“None of this
is happening
now because of
what he
writes.”
Dujarric says
that Lee is
often critical
of fellow
journalists;
walking the
halls in the
evenings,
he’ll
live-stream
running
commentary
criticizing
other
reporters. Not
long ago,
encountering a
crew from Al
Jazeera—which
Lee believes
has misled
viewers about
its connection
to the Qatari
government—Dujarric
says that Lee
Periscoped
while
shouting,
“Fuck you!”
repeatedly.
(Lee says he
was
complaining
that Dujarric
had given the
Al Jazeera
crew a private
interview, and
excluded him.)
“He creates an
atmosphere of
incivility
within our
working
environment,”
Dujarric
says."
So
Inner City
Press is
banned by
MALU's Melissa
Fleming
because it
filmed on the
fourth (media)
floor, and for
what it said?
Or for
criticizing
his and
Guterres'
relations with
Qatar's Al
Jazeera, which
got the
exclusive to
Guterres' two
stolen UNSG
elections?
We'll
have more on
this.
***
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
November 14, 2022
To Access UNGA
Inner City Press Applied But PGA Csaba Kőrösi Blocked It
Now Dissembles
UN Gate, Nov
10 – As the United Nations after a year of
failing on Ukraine and covering up sexual
abuses from the DR Congo to Colombia gears up
for its annual UNGA Week this month, it has
tried to further limit access and coverage by
independent press.
Will this
continue under incoming PGA Csaba Kőrösi of
Hungary? On September 15, 2022 Inner City
Press wrote to members including his "Special
Assistant" Adel Hriczu - despite claims of
transparency, as of September 17 no response
or action: "As a journalist who has reported
on the United Nations and its work for more
than ten years, and who today was allowed to
question the IMF but was not (yet?) allowed
back into the UN, I am writing to you as
deputy chef de cabinet of the Office of
President of the General Assembly to formally
ask that you ensure that my application, a
week ago, to UN MALU to cover next week's UNGA
week is approved, on Sept 16."
Still now in November, nothing.
In fact,
Korosi went so far, contrary to his claims of
transparency, to block Inner City Press on
Twitter, see here.
A day after Inner City Press exposed it, it
was reversed but no explanation offered. Then,
sadly, this: After Korosi bragged online about
his December 2 civil society summit, Inner
City Press registered. The form specifically
envisioned entry and attendance by individuals
not affiliated with any groups - including
"private sector" - and for those not
affiliated in any way with the UN, saying
special passes would be provided.
On the morning of November 10 Inner
City Press asked Korosi's spokesperson Paulina
Kubiak to confirm, and " given PGA Korosi's
promotion, including on Twitter, of his Dec 2
townhall in the UN, please immediately confirm
that it is he and his office controlling who
is allowed in - that is, that he cannot try to
pass the buck to MALU and USG Fleming, as
he/you have tried to do to
date. To test this,
yesterday evening I applied
https://www.un.org/pga/77/csotownhall/ - I am
informing you (and him) of this in order to be
upfront, and also to ensure if there are any
questions, I be allowed to answer them. I am
expecting that ticket to enter on December 2
and to be informed of it long before that,
asap."
Eight hours later, Korosi's spokesperson
Kubiak replied, "The Civil Society Town Hall
on 2 December is for civil society
organizations in consultative status with
ECOSOC or those formally associated with DGC.
The attendees register through the link that
you noted, as part of a process to check
accreditation by ECOSOC or DGC prior to
issuance of special event tickets by DSS.
Should your accreditation not be confirmed by
DESA or DGC, you may still follow the
discussions on UN WebTV."
Well, no. "
Paulina, that does not seem to be true.
the form specifically allows for entities /
people not affiliated with the UN - and people
not affiliated with an organization, as well
as "private sector" - I am writing this story
now paste 9.Organization
Representation Type NGO
(Non-Governmental Organization)
Academia Private Sector Do not
belong to any organization 10.Your
organization's affiliation with the UN (check
all that apply) Associated with
Department of Global Communications In
consultative status with Economic and Social
Council Both ECOSOC-accredited and
DGC-associated Not
affiliated 11.Do you have a valid
UN grounds pass? Yes. (A special event
ticket will not be requested for you to access
UNHQ) No. (I require a special event
ticket to access UNHQ)."
UN GATE, Nov 1
– With Ghana taking over presidency of the UN
Security Council on November 1, 2022, on
October 21 Inner City Press wrote to the Ghana
Mission to the UN to request in advance access
to its Novemer 1 press conference by
Ambassador Harold Adlai Agyemanthe.
To
submit the request, Inner City Press went to
the Ghana Mission profile on Twitter, on which
the Mission follows @InnerCityPress, and
clicked through to the Mission's website.
There, under Contact Us, it claimed there was
a form. But there wasn't, only an email
address: info@ghanamissionun.org.
So Inner City
Press wrote there - and received,
"<info@ghanamissionun.org>: The e-mail
message could not be delivered because the
user's mailfolder is full."
At least
two others did not answer, in the two day run
up to November 1: Mr.
Solomon Korbieh at skorbieh
at yahoo.com and ghanaperm at aol.com
Now
Ghana has taken over the UN Security Council,
amid its failures on the Black Sea Grain
Initiative and peacekeepers' rapes -- and its
website misstates that there is a form, and
its lone public mailbox is full.
Not an
auspicious beginning. Nor was the November 1
press conference, which featured repeated
questions from Iran state media IRNA, a
long-winded question suggesting what should be
asked of Grandi. The mission coyly hid
where they will meet with the Elders. Then
Ghana called on UN Spokesperson Eri Kaneko -
and the Permanent Representative ended it,
with none of Inner City Press' questions
answered. But we'll keep asking - and
reporting, including on Ghana. For now, here's
the Program of Work
Inner
City Press asked the Ghana Mission, and the
UN, about the MONUSCO scandal - sex for UN
Volunteer jobs paid with taxpayers' funds - in
the DRC Congo. Inner City Press exclusive here.
This
while Inner City Press is banned
from entry, which it had for years until it
exposed UN corruption. No response to this
appeal. Impunity.
Inner
City Press will be covering the Ghana
presidency, quite actively, this month.
Our
requests and questions remain; we will publish
any responses, and also on non-responses. Watch
this site.
October
31, 2022
UN Staff Gets 15 Years For Raping 13
Women and Drugging 19, Elkorany Protected By
UNSG
SDNY
Courthouse, Oct 27 – UN former staff member
Karim Elkorany was arrested then freed on
$500,000 bond on September 2, 2020 in
connection with drugging and raping women in
Iraq while working for the UN in 2016, then
allegedly lying to the FBI about it in 2017.
On
October 27,
2022, after
the testimony
of victims
including
about how
Elkorany while
a UN
"Communications
Specialist"
drugged and
raped them,
including in
the US,
Elkorany was
sentenced to
15 years in
prison.
UN GATE, Oct
17 – As corruption in the UN grows under SG
Antonio Guterres, Inner City Press which
Guterres has banned
for its coverage receives more and more
communications from UN whistleblowers. Here is
one more:
"Guterres's
reform flops . Mass layoffs at UN DCO due to
mismanagement
To Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com
Discontinuation
of regional communication
services" “DCO senior management
summer break results in financial
mismanagement. “ Our 5 key DCO
colleagues, who are senior regional
communications officers, contracts were
terminated in a brutal manner due to DCO HQ
mass mismanagement and lack of experience in
managing funding. Among the affected staff a
pregnant female whom DCO denies maternity
rights. Mismanagement of DCO must
be investigated.
Deputy director of DCO informed the effected
staff that DCO is “ a starter entity in the
system” and “ DCO individual managers do make
mistakes” and “ that was “ unfortunate series
of events” and the only solution to rescue DCO
reputation is to terminate those 5 positions.
More to come!
On 6
October , the affected staff were informed by
email that their positions will be abolished
due to DCO mismanagement of cash” while DCO
was still hiring roving 7 posts of p5s and
other p4s. DCO who claims
transparency wants to cover up on their poor
management by layoff highly performing 5
regional communications officers hired by the
global communications in service of the Reform
within DCO regional offices.
On 13th
October, DCO Deputy Director Rosemary
Kalapurakal, told the affected staff
;
1- In July and
August, many senior managers were away. As a
result, when there were acting managers in
DCO, there were decisions that were taken and
communicated that should not have happened as
they were not aware of some of these issues.
That is an unfortunate series of events.
2- Sometimes individual managers make
mistakes. DCO has to own up to it and be
accountable for it and whenever hard decisions
are made, they need to be communicated with
empathy and respect. In this case, that was
not done and it should have been better
communicated.
But DCO
can’t correct those mistakes now and the 5
staff affected have to be separate from
service by 15th November. 3- “DCO
is a starter entity”. She asked the affected
staff to leave in silence and added . “ I’m
aware of your torture. I’m not here to
negotiate. The first thing a senior manager
doesn't do when there is a problem is go
broadcast it to the entire world. “
Please help us
spread the word, and address questions to the
SG and all RCs who are meeting at the moment
in NY under the reform’s umbrella while our
colleagues suffer from DCO
mismanagement. Member states
should call for an investigation on DCO
financial corruption. The above
statements are on record."
Spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Farhan Haq
refuse all questions; Melissa Fleming doesn't
even answer the letter
from pro bono law firm Quinn Emanuel. These
people are corrupt.
October
17, 2022
UN
Guterres Rents UN Flag to Trammo as Firm Sued By
Puerto Rico for MTBE, Cooking Books
UN GATE, Oct
10 – As he slowly kills the UN, Antonio
Guterres has failed on Ukraine at every stage.
He assured
that there would be no invasion, then through
Melissa Fleming's Department of Global
Communications ordered UN officials to not
call it an invasion or a war. UN DGC email here.
After behind
chided, below, Guterres tried to get back in
the game through food. He's now trying to
raise money for commodities firm Trammo,
involved in litigation in US courts.
Notably, Trammo has been sued by Puerto Rico
for polluting its waters with methyl teriary
butyl (MTBE), in the U.S. District Court for
the Southern District of New York which Inner
City Press covers daily since been banned from
the UN by Guterres.
In
another SDNY case Inner City Press has been
covering, Trammo is said to be "concealing
trading losses from the outside world by
maintaining two separate sets of books." On
what authority is Guterres selling the UN flag
and what's left of its name to this
commodities trader?
UN GATE, Oct
3 – With Gabon taking over presidency of the
UN Security Council on October 1, 2022, on
September 30 Inner City Press wrote to the
GaboneseMission to the UN to request in
advance access to its October 3 press
conference by Ambassador Michel Xavier Biang.
Videohere.
Inner
City Press asked the Gabon Mission, and the
UN, about the MONUSCO scandal - sex for UN
Volunteer jobs paid with taxpayers' funds - in
the DRC Congo. Inner City Press exclusivehere.
Its email to the lone email address listed for
the Mission, which has a total of 421
followers on Twitter, was not answered by
October 3.
Instead,
a scam press conference by Michel Xavier
Biang, with softball questions in French
(videohere)
including a question given to a UN
Correspondent who did a fundraiser with
convicted global pedophile Ghislaine Maxwell,here.
This
while Inner City Press isbannedfrom
entry, which it had for years until it exposed
UN corruption. No response tothis
appeal. Impunity.
Inner
City Press will be covering the Gabonese
presidency, quite actively, this month. It
publish Gabon's empty Program of Work,here:
Western Sahara (Gabon is sure to sell out and
take no questions) on Oct 10 and more,
Colombia where the UN is embroiled in a sex
scandal as in DRC on Oct 17, Syria (another
Guterres failure) on Oct 26 and of course,
lunch with Big Tony on Oct 7.
Our
requests and questions remain; we will publish
any responses, and also on non-responses.
Watch this site.
October 3, 2022
UN Federal Credit Union Limits Staff
to Staff Transfers While Banking for Iran Spy,
Fraud
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Sept 25 – Today's UN system is
corrupt from top to bottom. Consider the UN
Federal Credit Union, which paid Iran spy
Afrasiabi, and swindled UN staff in Sudan. A
whistleblower asks Inner City Press, of the
UNFCA message reproduced below:
"How United
Nations loses its trust from its own staff as
all transaction is originated from UN
accounts? The statement never said about
external transfer but only Member to member
transfer. Very strange and weird instruction.
The statement says staff members not to
conduct any transaction for commercial
purposes. So why United nations credit union
is giving credit cards for staff members? Why
United Nations credit Union buying stock from
New York market while denying staff not to
purchase and use accounts for personal
uses? UN Staff are moving their account from
United Nations account and keeping and looking
for suitable banks. A number of frauds are
going on in the credit union. including
stealing from deceased accounts. Very sad!
The message
from UNFCA, much UNsaid:
Dear
member, Please note the following limits
regarding member-to-member transfers:
Two transfers per month: You may make or
receive up to two member-to-member transfers
in a calendar month.
Maximum of
$2,000 per transfer: For each of the two
allowed member-to-member transfers, you may
send or receive up to $2,000. This means that
the total dollar amount of your monthly
transfers (whether incoming or outgoing)
cannot exceed $4,000. These changes are
aimed at ensuring that we remain compliant
with US anti-money laundering laws while
keeping your accounts secure.
As a reminder,
UNFCU account(s) are for personal use only. This
is indicated in our Membership and Accounts
agreement. You may not use your account(s) to
conduct transactions on behalf of others or for
commercial activity. If the above
conditions and limits are not met, we may need
to implement additional restrictions on your
accounts
September
26, 2022
UNGA Has Ukraine Zelenskyy Applause
After Guterres Cover Up Biden Trudeau Censors
UN GATE, Sept
21 – How corrupt is today's UN, and this
week's UNGA debate? Well, while the US
President did not on the first day (Bolsonaro
kicked it off, Inner City Press voice over
video here),
on Day 2 did, as did Ukraine's Zelenskyy, here
UNGA virtual
signaling: just now this applause for #Ukraine
prez Volodymyr Zelenskyy's virtual speech - after
UNSG @AntonioGuterres
said invasion wouldn't happened, then ordered UN
staff not to say it happened - while banning Press
which exposes him. @UN_PGA
too pic.twitter.com/It8E7Ndsfs
Day 2
in the morning had craven waiting for Joe
Biden, entrance video and voice over here
#UNGA
circus: red carpet entrance of dictators and
censors, prioritized by UN channel over droning
speech by Mongolia, like yesterday's Central African
Republic. @AntonioGuterres
will do anything for money - then bans the Press
that exposes it / him pic.twitter.com/HIAwl9KK09
Just happened: Joe
Biden entry into #UNGA,
to speak after Suriname while @USUN
does nothing about UNSG @AntonioGuterres
banning Inner City Press from UN, for exposing
omission from his financial disclosures of CEFC
China Energy, convicted of UN bribes @SDNYLIVEpic.twitter.com/H1X6qUZ1H2
A fake press conference was held at
6:30 pm, in which Canada's Justin Trudeau
posed in the UN press briefing room but only
called on traveling Canadian press (UNCA
rolled over, as they have to Guterres, and
colluded in censorship). Bob Rae, who blocks
Inner City Press on Twitter, ws there and
supported this censorship too. Video here
Now in UN "Press"
Briefing Room Inner City Press is banned from by
corrupt UNSG @AntonioGuterres@JustinTrudeau
is calling only on Canadian press which lobs him
softball questions on Ukraine. UNCA getting rolled -
after they let Press be banned. @BobRae48
in on in pic.twitter.com/AwyDuT2ao8
And that's
just Day 2! Inner City Press timely applied to
re-enter and report. Melissa Fleming did not
answer, as spokesman Stephane Dujarric refuses
Press questions about the rapes. That's how
corrupt today's UN is. And tomorrow? Watch
this site.
***
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
September 19, 2022
For UNGA Week
Banning Press Guterres Has Long Portuguese Answer
Spreading Censorship
UN GATE, Sept
14 – Six days before the UN's hyped and often
decadent General Assembly week, Secretary
General Antonio Guterres on September 14 held
a briefing with friendly journalists only,
delivering a lengthy answer in Portuguese with
no translation.
This
came after a year of UN failure on Ukraine,
Haiti, and corruption in the DR Congo exposed
by Inner City Press.
Guterres and
his head of media access Melissa Fleming have
kept Inner City Press banned, most recently
not even responding to its application last
week to enter and cover the UNGA week.
While
Guterres sufficiently serviced the Permanent
Five members of the UN Security Council to
grab a second term, now he is spreading his
censorship to and through them.
On
September 15 US Ambassador Linda
Thomas-Greenfield will limit questions about
USUN's work, weak on China, to correspondents
accredited - and not banned - by Guterres' UN.
Watch this site.
***
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
September 12, 2022
To Access UNGA
week Inner City Press Applies Citing Scoops on UN Sex
& China Bribe Scoops
UN Gate, Sept
10 – As the United Nations after a year of
failing on Ukraine and covering up sexual
abuses from the DR Congo to Colombia gears up
for its annual UNGA Week this month, it has
tried to further limit access and coverage by
independent press.
Nevertheless
on September 8 Inner City Press, which only
this month exposed a UN sex quid pro quo
scandal in the MONUSCO "peacekeeping" mission
and the UN links of indicted Chinese briber
Cary Yan, applied to the UN for access:
Sept 8, 2022
United Nations SG Antonio Guterres & USG
Melissa Fleming Media Accreditation and
Liaison Unit
I am writing
to you more than ten days before the UN
General Assembly high level week as a
journalist who after covering the United
Nations for Inner City Press for ten years was
roughed up and thrown out of the UN as I
covered its Fifth (Budget) Committee on 3 July
2018 and have been denied all access since.
There was no due process, no right to appeal,
nothing.
The
Department's and MALU's lack of any content
neutral accreditation rules, rule process
including appeal rights for journalists, must
also be addressed.
For the
upcoming UNGA High Level Week, I noticed that
as of Sept 8, 2022 the MALU site says /
claims: For UNGA week, the UN has limited
media access to only to correspondents
“residing in the tri-state area or Washington,
D.C.”
While
(1) that is discriminatory, (2) will not be
implement as regards pro-government media
traveling with delegations - I noted that I am
an long-term UN reporter (since 2005), se quid
pro quo scandal in the UN Mission in the DR
Congo, and reside in NYC. My access badge
should be provided
immediately. You and others
including but not limited to USG Fleming have
been written to on my behalf by the Quinn
Emanuel law firm, no response yet despite
confirmation of receipt, see this
videoLetter
I
have a right to cover the UN, the Security
Council, ECOSOC and General Assembly including
this month's High Level week. For your
information despite the Under Sec-Gen having
assured the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom
of Expression that during my exclusion my
written questions would be answered, the
questions have not been. Nevertheless, here
are some recent stories: UN
Sexual Harassment in DRC Leads to UNON Job
as UNV Jobs Traded For Sex Amid Coverup
SDNY / UN
GATE, Sept 2 – Chinese businessman and
fraudster Cary Yan is the subject of a Federal
indictment unsealed on September 2, 2022, in
the U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of New York.
Using a
UN-affiliated non-governmental organization,
Yan paid bribes in New York to officers of the
Marshall Islands and others. Indictment on
Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here.
In
2018, Inner City Press from inside the UN
reported on Cary Yan's suspicious activities,
(including video here,
and bribe-bought promotion by UNCA here)
as it was reporting on the parallel UN bribery
by Patrick Ho of Ye Jianming's NGO CEFC China
Energy.
[Update: after
Inner City Press' initial report, Yan retained
Jonathan Bolz, who also represented Patrick
Ho. Word is Yan was extradited in from
Thailand and will be presented before the
assigned District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald,
who also presided over conviction of UN rapist
Karim Elkorany]
Soon
thereafter, Inner City Press was thrown out of
the UN by Secretary General Antonio Guterres,
who omitted from his financial disclosures his
link to CEFC.
On September
2, 2022, after finding the just-unsealed
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)
indictment of Yan and Gina Zhou in the docket
at the SDNY court which it now covers, still
banned from the UN, Inner City Press emailed
Guterres, his spokespeople Stephane Dujarric,
Eri Kaneko and Melissa Fleming questions about
the UN's role in the bribery by the NGOs,
including the United Nations International
Organization for Sustainable Development and
the World Organization of Governance and
Competitiveness, WOGC.
Inner City
Press resurfaces: A
whistleblower forwarded this to
Inner City Press: "UNCA is
extending an invitation from the
Permanent Mission of Zambia to
the UN and the World
Organization of Governance and
Competitiveness to a High-level
Global Meeting discussing 'Road
to the Future of Sustainable
Development: Moving from
Commitments to Results through
Inclusive Innovation,' taking
place on Friday, August 25th
from 1:30 - 6:00 pm in ECOSOC
chamber. Sherwin Bryce-Pease,
President, United Nations
Correspondents Association." The
promotion: "H.E Mr. Lazarous
Kapambwe, Permanent
Representative of Zambia to the
United Nations, Mr. Cary Yan,
President of WOGC, Special
Guests include: H.E. Mme Marie
Chatardová, President of the
Economic and Social Council
(tbc), H.E. Mr. António
Guterres, United Nations
Secretary General (tbc), H.E.
Mme Lorena Herrera, Vice
President of Honduras, H.E. Mr.
Alvaro Colom, Former President
of Guatemala, H.E. Mr. Kessai H.
Note, Former President of the
Republic of the Marshall
Islands, H.E. Mr. Francisco
Merino, Former Vice President of
El Salvador, Hon. Mr. Freidi
Torres, Former President of
Legislative Assembly of the
Republic of Panama." The press
release said Antonio Guterres
would speak.
Then
Guterres had Inner City Press
thrown out of the UN, and his
UNCA did nothing (here).
So far, no
response - complicity and corruption.
The case is US
v. Yan, 20-cr-402 (Buchwald)
August
29, 2022
After UN Fails
On Non Proliferation Guterres Phones In Concern 12 Hours
Late Banning Press
UN GATE,
August 27 – The United Nations these days is a
venue of failure, censorship
and even rape.
Throughout
August it has held meetings on the
Non-Proliferation Treaty. Inner City Press,
banned from entering the UN for exposing UNSG
Antonio Guterres' corruption, covered the NPT
as it could, noting on August 26 the cutting
off of Ukraine here.
On
August 26, after an insiders' press conference
from which it was also banned, the conference
failed, Inner City Press video here,
portrait of Costa Rica and Ambassador Maritza
Chan here.
Pick up in Costa Rica OnceNoticia here
(and still not action or response from PR
Chan).
Twelve
hours later, emerging from slumber or worse,
UNSG Antonio Guterres issued a canned
statement about how concerned he was. Really?
Then where was he? Either lazy or no impact or
both - while he bans the Press that asks. "The
Secretary-General expresses his disappointment
at the inability of the tenth Review
Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to
reach consensus on a substantive outcome...
The Secretary-General expresses his sincere
appreciation to Ambassador Gustavo Zlauvinen
(Argentina), President of the Review
Conference, for his vigorous efforts to
facilitate agreement on an outcome
document. Stéphane Dujarric,
Spokesman for the
Secretary-General New York, 27
August 2022
Even
during the endless speeches Friday night, in a
"press" conference that was nothing but
Japanese and Russian state media,
Ambassador Gustavo Zlauvinen, President of the
Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons, absurdly claimed that it was NOT a
failure.
He said it had
been a four week movie, just no photo at the
end. Today's UN: defining failure down.
A fish
rots from the head. That's today's UN.
August
22, 2022
UN Melissa
Fleming Censors with Public Funds As Arrogant As Any
Dictator Banning Press
UN GATE,
August 20 – If one is sure
of having the right message, how far to go in
shutting down disagreement? In China, for
example, the answer is locking up critics and
erecting the Great Firewall of China.
The United
Nations is similar, but different.
Central to the
UN's current work in this field is Under
Secretary General Melissa, recently in the
news, if not Google News, at the interstices.
But Inner City
Press has a longer experience with Fleming as
a censor.
Every
weekday for three years, Inner City Press has
written to Fleming seeking to end her
Department of Global Communications' ban
on its entering the UN and asking questions,
as it had for years before she and Antonio
Guterres decide to Sinofy the place, and ban
critics.
No
answer. A pro bono law firm, Quinn Emanuel,
wrote to Fleming, here.
No answer.
Like
China's Xi, Fleming is so much her message is
the right and only one, she will not accept
any debated but rather abuses the UN's legal
impunity lowers to ban and silence critics.
And then try to silence even the
complaints.
In a
month the UN holds its annual UN General
Assembly week. Before Guterres, Inner City Press
covered this in detail from inside - but now it
banned. It will be applying to enter and cover
it. Watch this site.
August
15, 2022
UN Official
Censors Press Report of Bestiality and UN Security
Corruption From Search in EU
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, August 9 –
The United Nations under Antonio Guterres has
become a place of censorship to cover up
corruption including sexual corruption.
After Guterres
had Inner City Press which exposed both
roughed up by UN Security and banned ever
since, now he has embolded UN staff in Europe
to get at least two Inner City Press reported
blocked from Google Search, at least in
Europe.
One
story involves the UN paying a sexual pervert
involved in bestiality; the other, corrupt
promotion within UN Security. Who filed the
complaint with Google, and why do they claim
the EU regulations mean that the UN can pay
and spread about the world sexual predators,
without accountability, getting the names
covered up? From Google:
Notice of
European data protection law removal from
Google Search To: Webmaster of
http://www.innercitypress.com/, Due to a
request under the data protection law in
Europe, Google can no longer show one or more
pages from your site in Google Search
results.... We aren’t disclosing which queries
have been affected.
SDNY, August 5 – The
United Nations used for now imprisoned arms trafficker
Viktor Bout to move Pakistani "peacekeeper" to East
Timor, and Belgians to Somalia where they urinated on
corpses, is now silent on the impending trade of Bout
for Brittney Griner.
On the morning of August
5, Inner City Press asked UN Spokesperson Stephane
Dujarric, in writing, "What are the comments and action
if any of the offered and impending trade of arms
trafficker Viktor Bout, given his role in West Africa,
Colombia and elsewhere for which he was sentenced to 25
years in prison in SDNY court?"
Twelve hours later,
nothing, despite an on-camera promise to answer Inner
City Press' written questions after having it thrown out
of and banned from the UN, by Melissa Fleming, the
censorship chief of SG Antonio Guterres. The
UN is totally corrupt, as are some others - watch this
site.
One thing about the
Wikileaks data-dumps was that they often resurfaced,
made relevant again by current events.
As Kurt Wheelock
began digging through the more than 300 references to
Wikileaks in US Federal court cases, he came across the
State Department memo about bribes paid to witnesses
against Viktor Bout in Thailand.
Now in 2022 there
was talk of Bout being traded by the Administration for
WNBA player Brittney Griner.
The leaked memo:
"Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reason: 1.4 (b)
and (d). 1. (S) Summary: The
Ambassador on March 4 pressed Thai Deputy Prime
Minister Suthep Thaugsuban to ensure retraction or
rebuttal of false court testimony in the
extradition proceedings of Russian arms trafficker
Viktor Bout, which resume March 6. Suthep
said Prime Minister Abhisit had previously
discussed the matter with him, and he would
investigate and take appropriate action."
Bout was
convicted in the U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of New York, before then-Judge Shira A.
Scheindlin.
She shot down
Bout's argument as being "based on two 'secret United
States State Department cables which [were] leaked to
Wikileaks' that reveal 'a multi-pronged effort to seek a
successful reversal [of the Thai lower court’s denial of
extradition] during the appeals process.' However, far
from any impropriety, the cables merely demonstrate the
State Department’s view that Bout was “a high priority
for the United States," etc.
Now, with the
SDNY prosecutors raring to ask for a lengthy sentence
for Joshua Schulte, those above them were said to mull
freeing the merchant of death.
They'd made a movie
about Bout, with Nicholas Cage. But no movie, barely a
podcast, about Joshua Schulte.
There was, however,
as of July 16 a blues, here.
And as of July 13, a booklet
- now with eight typos fixed (better late than
never).
One thing not
corrected but amplified: while some set a strangely high
standard for "who is a whistleblower," not unlike "who
is a journalist," Kurt with experience as both thought:
having covered the United Nations, showing abuses of
power and immunity with the help of staff whistleblowers
who can not only be fired but also deported from NY if
they are found out, conclude a person doesn't need to
confess in order to be whistleblower.
Some were
comfortably setting a requirment of voluntary martyrdom.
But some martyrdom's are unintentional, ineffable. The
search continued.
This might be a new
project, a follow-up to Brutal
Kangaroo.
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.August 1, 2022
As UN Kills
Congolese It Says They Were Stealing Rice As Guterres
Censors From Vacation
UN GATE, July
27 – After UN troops in Eastern Congo shot
civilians, on July 27 in a UN briefing the
Press was banned from UN official Khassim
Diagne said that those shots were "looters,"
defined as those making off with bags of rice.
That
is, under UNSG Antonio Guterres, the UN had
moved from killing Haitian with cholera to
shooting Congolese who are hungry, and serving
up justifications to state media in
ill-attended briefings from which Guterres and
his media accreditation official Melissa
Fleming ban Inner City Press.
The
justification of shooting civilains was
coordinated on July 27 by deputy spokesman
Farhan Haq. Lead spokesman Stephane Dujarric,
like Guterres, remained on vacation while the
UN kills civilians in the Congo.
Inner City
Press will have more on this. It has asked
each of the above named about the killings,
about UN corruption and censorship, and to
respond to these: protester Jack Sinzahera
said: "We have our own police that will look
after our security and property. We don't want
anything to do with Monusco." and "They are
tear-gassing us because we came to say that
Monusco does not help us," protester Anselme
Musimbwa said "They've been in Congo for 22
years and nothing works;" and
On DRC,
immediately confirm or deny: At least five
people have died during protests against a UN
peacekeeping force in Goma in the east of the
Democratic Republic of Congo. Local
media have reported that they were shot by the
peacekeepers. The UN mission, known as
Monusco, has not responded to these reports. -
on deadline. No answers.
Today's UN is
corrupt.
July
25, 2022
UN
Guterres 1st Covered Up Ukraine Invasion then
Claimed Credit for Food Now Odesa Bomb
UN GATE /
SDNY, July 23 – As he slowly kills the UN,
Antonio Guterres has misplayed Ukraine at
every stage.
He assured
that there would be no invasion, then through
Melissa Fleming's Department of Global
Communications ordered UN officials to not
call it an invasion or a war.
After behind
chided, below, he tried to get back in the
game through food.
From an
undeserved vacation, he flew to Istanbul and
bloviated that "the initiative we just signed
opens a path for significant volumes of
commercial food exports from three key
Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea – Odesa,
Chernomorsk and Yuzhny."
Through
deputy spokesman Farhan Haq - lead and
longtime spokesman Stephane Dujarric was also
on vacation - he refused to make his deal with
Russia public.
Now on July
23, this: "The Secretary-General unequivocally
condemns reported strikes today in the
Ukrainian port of
Odesa.
Yesterday, all parties made clear commitments
on the global stage to ensure the safe
movement of Ukrainian grain and related
products to global markets."
Not so clear.
Once again, predictably and some would say
intentionally, Guterres got played. Because
he's spend six years (so far) calling Putin
papacito. Week 21 song here;
Week 22 song (on Odesa) here.
Previously: at
the United Nations under Antonio Guterres
fails on Ukriane, belatedly some former UN
officials wrote to Guterres, (too) gently
chiding him for presiding over the UN's
morphing into the a League of Nations, useless
and now defunct.
On April
15 they wrote: "As former staff members of the
UN system, we, the undersigned... implore you
to intensify your personal efforts, deploying
all capabilities at your disposal and acting
upon lessons learnt from previous conflicts,
for the cessation of hostilities."
Inner
City Press, banned from the UN by Guterres,
has reviewed the signatories, see one below
and Dimitry Dovgopoly we've asked about. UN
associate Spokesperson Eri Kaneko, refusing to
answer, on April 22 announced: "The
Secretary-General will visit Moscow, in the
Russian Federation, on April
[26th]. He will have a
working meeting and lunch with Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov. The Secretary-General
will be received by President Vladimir Putin."
Kaneko
actually said April 25, but they later fixed
it. But the Russian government says only that
Guterres will meet Lavrov. As Inner City Press
noted,
maybe only if Guterres is obsequious with
Lavrov as usual will he get face time with
Putin, his papacito.
Hours later,
the UN put this out, trying to mirror the
"received by" language but not explaining why
Russia doensn't mention Putin - nor that he is
being used to normalize the slaughter.
Guterres is the worst SG ever - and that's
saying something.
On April 26
cowering under Sergey Lavrov when asked of US
expulsion of Russian spies including a UN staff
member, Guterres said, "we believe that it is
very important that all Member States, including
the Russian Federation, have a normal treatment
of their visa requirements. It is essential to
have the full participation of all countries in
UN procedures. And we will be keeping a very
strong position with the host country in order
to guarantee that we move swiftly in that
direction." Guterres lazed around on genocide
but expulsion of spies? He's all over it. Then
he met Putin, long table video here.
July
18, 2022
To Head Up UN
Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Saunders Is Picked By
Guterres After Overseeing Ouster of Press
UN GATE /
SDNY, July 15 – The United Nations has a
growing record of rapes by its peacekeepers,
including of children, under Secretary General
Antonio Guterres.
Inner City
Press has reported on the escalation in UN
rapes, even after Guterres had it thrown out
of the UN and banned since.
On July
15, Guterres named a new head of UN Sexual
Exploitation and Abuse: Christian Saunders. It
is no coincidence. Saunders oversaw the
physical ouster of Inner City Press from the
UN on July 3, 2018, as it covered the murky
deal-making around the UN's $6 billion budget,
video here.
(Since
the ouster and ban, Guterres' head of Media
Acceditation Melissa Fleming has refused to
respond, including to a polite letter from pro
bono law firm Quinn Emanuel, here.)
The
July 15 announcement was made by UN
Spokesperson Farhan Haq (lead spokesman
Stephane Dujarric is on vacation) - and none
of the few correspondents in the day's noon
briefing asked anything about it.
The UN is dying,
entirely unaccountable. Watch this
site.
July
11, 2022
For UN Human
Rights Another Guterres Crony Volker Turk UNaware of
Cameroon, A Censor
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, July 2 – The United Nations has
hit a new low, after its supposed human rights
commissioner Michelle Bachelet whitewashing
China's genocide against the Uighurs during a
stage-managed trip to the country.
Now to
replace Bachelet, loudly rumored is another
Antonio Guterres crony, Volker Turk formerly
of UNHCR then a Guterres promoter. On human
rights, Inner City Press asked him about the
slaughter in Cameroon of Anglophones by the
army of Paul Biya - and he'd never heard of
it. Story
here.
When
Inner City Press published video
(here) of Turk's answers about Gramsci,
Inner City Press was then blocked from the
UN's web site. So he is a cover up man and a
censor. Anyone who had put up with Guterres
reign of censorship and corruption has no
human rights credibility or chops.
As to
Bachelet, at the end, in a press conference
dominated by scripted questions from Chinese
state media in response to which she read from
prepared notes, she said she was unable to
access what is happening in Xinjiang.
On June 13,
Bachelet having served China said she was now
leaving. And Guterres praised her: "She has
moved the needle in an extremely challenging
political context." Yes - she moved his UN's
needle even more pro-China. And did nothing
about Guterres' ban on Press. Defund the UN.
Some say
they are surprised by this outcome. But a fish
rots from the head. The head of the UN system
is Antonio Guterres, and the reasons for his
silence on China's abuses is more
sinister.
Before being
selected - by China, which like Russia could
have vetoed him - Guterres took money from the
Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon. The China
Energy Fund Committee, whose Patrick Ho was
convicted of UN bribery involving UN President
of the General Assembly, offered top dollar
for Gulbenkian's oil company.
Guterres omitted the money he took from
Gulbenkian from his financial disclosure form.
And after
Inner City Press, which had aggressively
reported on Guterres' predecessor Ban Ki-moon
from inside the UN, asked about it, Guterres
had Inner City Press roughed up and banned
from the UN ever since. Very Xi.
In the run up to Bachelet's trip, Inner City
Press put written questions repeatedly to
Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, who
daily takes three of more questions in his
noon briefing from Chinese state media. But to
Inner City Press, no answer.
Likewise, when
pro bono law firm Quinn Emanuel wrote to
Guterres' head of media accreditation Melissa
Fleming asking for Inner City Press to be
allowed to re-enter the UN and ask its
questions, she refused to response, as did the
supposed UN Correspondents Association, on
whose Executive Committee China has a
permanent seat.
So how
is it surprising the the UN covers up for
China?
But
where if the US Administration and US Mission
to the UN under Linda Thomas-Greenfield on
this? They praise the UN and their work there,
amid all the failures and censorship.
UN GATE, July
1– With Brazil taking over presidency
of the UN Security Council on July 1, 2022 on
June 30 Inner City Press wrote to the
Brazilian Mission to the UN to request in
advance access to its July 1 press conference
by Ambassador Ronaldo Costa
Filho.
Inner City Press asked asked
the Brazilian
Mission, and the UN,
about the murders in
Brazil of journalist
Dom Phillips and
indigenous rights
leader Bruno
Pereira. No answer
at all.
Instead,
Ronaldo Costa
Filho took
questions from
Chinese state
media, about food
and climate
change. On
this, he
said the IPCC
says the
connection
between
climate change
and conflict
is very weak. No
one said
anything. He
said he
wouldn't
promise to
doany
stakeouts. To
this has the
UN sunk. Here's
the
program of
work. We will
keep asking,
and we will
report on it.
Inner
City Press wrote to the Brazil Mission
including distri.delbrasonu@itamaraty.gov.br
and fabio.coelho@itamaraty.gov.br: "This is a
timely request that you send Inner City Press
the pass code(s) to access your UNSC
Presidency Program of Work press briefing, as
you've announced on Twitter (I notice your
Mission follows @InnerCityPress, along with
149,999 others, on Twitter).
Please confirm
receipt of this email and provide the WebEx
codes or other way to access, immediately. I
have questions to ask on what you will do this
month about the conflicts in Ukraine, Haiti,
Sudan, DRC, Cameroon, Yemen and Libya - and on
recent cases of sexual abuse and exploitatoin
by UN peacekeepers on Inner City Press
first reported - Inner City Press is asking to
be provided with access / the passwords to
your Brazil mission's stakeouts and press
conferences this month with Ronaldo Costa
Filho as UNSC President. Given your stated
focus on the rule of law, you should ensure
due process (and access) for Press covering
the UN. Please note that Inner City
Press and I participate in the WebEx briefings
of, for example, the IMF on March 31, 2022, here
As you all have now moved the Council back
into its Chamber, either way I would also like
to ask you to instruct MALU / USG-DGC
Melissa Fleming to allow me to enter to cover
it, for Inner City Press. She has not
responded to this
letter (your Brazil mission
should) Please immediately
confirm receipt, and provide the passcode or
state why not.
But by the
morning of July 1, nothing.
Inconsistent,
to say the least, with Brazil's duty as
President of the UN Security Council.
Inner City Press covered the UN and UNSC under
Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon then was thrown out
under Antonio Guterres after asking him
directly about [, among other things including
Cameroon,] the omission
from his financial disclosure covering 2016 of
his link, through Lisbon's Gulbenkian
Foundation which paid him money, to convicted
UN briber CEFC China Energy.
This was and
is a legitimate journalistic question however
Inner City Press has been banned by Guterres
and his USG Melissa Fleming.
There is no
commitment by the UN Secretariat to even
respond to a polite law firm letter seeking
access to Inner City Press, see video.
See also Press
Freedom Tracker and The
Independent (UK)
The Brazilian
Mission and Brazil have a duty to not collude
in censorship, and to take questions from
media. Inner City Press is permitted (in fact,
invited) to put WebEx questions to the IMF
briefings, see below, and is accredited at the
SDNY Federal court here in New York.
So it is up to
Brazil and the Brazilian Mission to provide
access.
Watch this
site.
June
27, 2022
UN Bans Press
Reporting on Whistleblowers as Guterres Uses AJE Softballs
BBC Phoning it in
UN GATE, June
21 – The UN's retaliation is not limited to banning
Inner City Press that Secretary General
Antonio Guterres doesn't like - he also fired
and penalizes UN staff who dare speak out
about the Organization's abuses.
On June
16, a week before a documentary on the topic
that includes leaked audio first published by
Inner City Press, Inner City Press asked UN
Spokespeople Stephane Dujarric, Farhan Haq and
Melissa Fleming:
"What are the
comments and actions if any of SG Guterres on
the BBC piece about UN whistleblowers being
retaliated against, set for worldwide view on
June 21 but presumably already in the SG's
awareness? See this."
No
answer from the UN. Instead, they arranged for
a colloquy about a useless "hot line" with
pro-UN Qatar state media, which asked about
Guterres now acting on these "new" cases of
sexual misconduct. But the hands down the
pants happened long ago, and was exposed by
Inner City Press - and the audio used without
credit in the documentary shows Guterres
covered it up.
While
Team Guterres has not answered Inner City
Press, on June 20 BBC World tweeted, "The BBC
was handed a secret recording of Ben Swanson,
staff had come to him in tears describing how
an assistant secretary general had put his
hand down her trousers."
HANDED?
Inner City Press exclusively published the
audio long ago on SoundCloud here.
It has asked
the BBC about it, and why its
correspondents so rare ask about UN wrongdoing
including banning Press, in which some of them
have colluded.
BBC's arch
response: "Reference CAS-7209948-F6D6K3
Dear Matthew, Many thanks for contacting
us about ‘The Whistleblowers: Inside the UN’,
and our reporting around this story.
We’ve discussed your complaint with the
programme team. An audio clip featuring Ben
Swanson, director of the investigations
division of the Office of Internal Oversight
Services (OIOS) at the UN, was given to
us...we don’t see any need to credit this
further. We hope this helps to clarify
matters and wish you all the best, BBC
Complaints Team
www.bbc.co.uk/complaints Please
note: this email is sent from an unmonitored
address so please don’t reply. If necessary
please contact us through our webform (please
include your case reference number)." Not even
a "previously published by Inner City Press."
And BBC did not even bother to send anyone to
the June 21 noon briefing to ask.
One BBC
correspondent at the UN (still on BBC TV)
protested when Inner City Press reported the
anti-Tamil comments of one of the UK's UN Relief
Chiefs, saying, You cost us access. Another,
still on BBC Radio, took part in the UN
Correspondents Association push
to oust Inner City Press for reporting
that UNCA's president Giampaolo
Pioi took rent money from a Sri Lankan war
criminal then gave his government's genocide
denial film an UNCA screening.
June 20, 2022
UN Bachelet
Quits After Whitewashes Uighurs As China Purchase of SG
Guterres Pays Off
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, June 13 – The United Nations has
hit a new low, with its supposed human rights
commissioner Michelle Bachelet whitewashing
China's genocide against the Uighurs during a
stage-managed trip to the country.
At the end, in
a press conference dominated by scripted
questions from Chinese state media in response
to which she read from prepared notes, she
said she was unable to access what is
happening in Xinjiang.
On June 13,
Bachelet having served China said she was now
leaving. And Guterres praised her: "She has
moved the needle in an extremely challenging
political context." Yes - she moved his UN's
needle even more pro-China. And did nothing
about Guterres' ban on Press. Defund the UN.
Some say
they are surprised by this outcome. But a fish
rots from the head. The head of the UN system
is Antonio Guterres, and the reasons for his
silence on China's abuses is more
sinister.
Before being
selected - by China, which like Russia could
have vetoed him - Guterres took money from the
Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon. The China
Energy Fund Committee, whose Patrick Ho was
convicted of UN bribery involving UN President
of the General Assembly, offered top dollar
for Gulbenkian's oil company.
Guterres omitted the money he took from
Gulbenkian from his financial disclosure form.
And after
Inner City Press, which had aggressively
reported on Guterres' predecessor Ban Ki-moon
from inside the UN, asked about it, Guterres
had Inner City Press roughed up and banned
from the UN ever since. Very Xi.
In the run up to Bachelet's trip, Inner City
Press put written questions repeatedly to
Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, who
daily takes three of more questions in his
noon briefing from Chinese state media. But to
Inner City Press, no answer.
Likewise, when
pro bono law firm Quinn Emanuel wrote to
Guterres' head of media accreditation Melissa
Fleming asking for Inner City Press to be
allowed to re-enter the UN and ask its
questions, she refused to response, as did the
supposed UN Correspondents Association, on
whose Executive Committee China has a
permanent seat.
So how
is it surprising the the UN covers up for
China?
But
where if the US Administration and US Mission
to the UN under Linda Thomas-Greenfield on
this? They praise the UN and their work there,
amid all the failures and censorship.
UN GATE /
SDNY, June 7 – North Korea
is on a roll, firing missiles in disregard of
resolutions of the toothless UN Security
Council.
On June
7, US Department of State Special
Representative for the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (and simultaneously
ambassador to Indonesia) Sung Kim held a press
call on which he insisted that North Korea is
an "area for cooperation" with China.
When asked
what the US will do if or when North Korea
does a real nuclear test, Sung Kim said the
response would have a UN Security Council
aspect. What, with another double veto?
This was Sung
Kim's second such call in two months; on April
6 he spoke about a US draft resolution on
North Korea as if it had a chance in the
failed UN Security Council.
But of course
it didn't. Double veto. Why
pretend?
On April 5, Ukraine's Zelenskyy correctly said
that the UN and its Security Council have
failed on Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan
and Libya, and called for it to be dissolved
(like the League of Nations). Video &
commentary here.
He could have
added: North Korea.
While some say that at least the UN is reporting
on North Korea, for example on crypto-currency
thefts and sanctions, these reports are
routinely blocked or undermine by UNSG Anotonio
Guterres' good friend China. The UN is a
failure, and bans the Press that asks. Inner
City Press, banned, has gotten no response or
even explanation from UN official Melissa
Fleming, even to a pro bono letter from the
Quinn Enamuel law firm. This
letter was provide to the State
Department's Laurel Rapp, and the US Mission -
still nothing. We'll have more on this.
June 6, 2022
Albania Ferit
Hoxha Services China and Turkey State Media As UNSC Prez
Banning Press
UN GATE, June
1– With Albania taking over presidency
of the UN Security Council on June 1, on May
31 Inner City Press wrote to the Albanian
Mission to the UN to request access to its
June 1 12:30 pm press conference by
Ambassador Ferit Hoxha. The Mission and its
spokesperson Anila Ajvazi did not answer by
12:30. Inner City Press live tweeted here:
It begins: Now
Albania PR Hoxha intones about
Press Freedom while his Mission
won't even answer written questions from Inner
City Press (unlike the IMF,
for example)
Ferit Hoxha is
today servicing state media from China,
Azerbaijan, Saudi
Now
Albania Mission hands first question to
Italian media, which again asks about...
Italy. Hoxha says, Grazie! For the
softball question? What is his answer about
the recently data dumped cases
of sex abuse by UN peacekeepers?
More parochial
games - Hoxha gives 3d question to, what
else, a reporter in from Albania, to ask a
softball qeustion about Kosovo. Ferit Hoxha is
reading from notes. Can't take real Press
questions?
Now the
spokesperson, who has refused to answer Inner
City Press' written questions from yesterday,
hands a question to China state CCTV.
Hoxha has said nothing on China genocide
against Uighurs, Bachelet's whitewash
trip
Now yet
another state media question picked by
spox for Hoxha : Turkey state media asks him
about Turkey's "dispute" with Sweden and
Finland joining NATO without arresting all
Gulenists. None of Inner City Press' emailed
questions have been answered.
In fairness -
and because with or without any even handed
treatment by Albania's Mission we will be
covering the UNSC in June, here
is their program of work, including Yemen
(14th), Ukraine (6th), CAR (22nd), Mali
(13the) and DRC (29th).
Inner
City Press wrote to the Albania Mission at
mission.newyork at mfa.gov.al and
OfficeofthePR.Albania and mfa.gov.al and to
its listed spokesman anila.ajvazi and
mfa.gov.al, apparently MIA: "This is a timely
request that you send Inner City Press the
pass code(s) to access your UNSC Presidency
press briefing on June 1, 2022. I have
questions to ask on what you will do this
month about the conflicts in Ukraine, Haiti,
Sudan, DRC, Cameroon, Yemen and Libya - and on
recent cases of sexual abuse and exploitatoin
by UN peacekeepers on Inner City Press
first reported - Inner City Press is asking to
be provided with access / the passwords to
your Albania mission's stakeouts and press
conferences this month as UNSC
President... I would also like to ask
you to instruct MALU / USG-DGC Melissa
Fleming to allow me to enter to cover it, for
Inner City Press. She has not responded to this
letter (your Albania mission
should) Please immediately confirm
receipt, and provide the passcode or state why
not."
But by June 1
at 12:30 pm, nothing.
Inconsistent,
to say the least, with Albania's duty as
President of the UN Security Council.
Inner City Press covered the UN and UNSC under
Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon then was thrown out
under Antonio Guterres after asking him
directly about [, among other things including
Cameroon,] the omission
from his financial disclosure covering 2016 of
his link, through Lisbon's Gulbenkian
Foundation which paid him money, to convicted
UN briber CEFC China Energy.
This was and
is a legitimate journalistic question however
Inner City Press has been banned by Guterres
and his USG Melissa Fleming.
There is no
commitment by the UN Secretariat to even
respond to a polite law firm letter seeking
access to Inner City Press, see video.
See also Press
Freedom Tracker and The
Independent (UK)
The Albanian
Mission and Albania have a duty to not collude
in censorship, and to take questions from
media. Inner City Press is permitted (in fact,
invited) to put WebEx questions to the IMF
briefings, see below, and is accredited at the
SDNY Federal court here in New York.
So it is up to
Albania and the Albanian Mission to provide
access.
Watch this
site.
May
30, 2022
As UN Bachelet
Whitewashes the Uighurs China Purchase of SG Guterres Pays
off in Lisbon Link
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, May 28 – The United Nations has
hit a new low, with its supposed human rights
commissioner Michelle Bachelet whitewashing
China's genocide against the Uighurs during a
stage-managed trip to the country.
At the end, in
a press conference dominated by scripted
questions from Chinese state media in response
to which she read from prepared notes, she
said she was unable to access what is
happening in Xinjiang. Defund the UN.
Some say
they are surprised by this outcome. But a fish
rots from the head. The head of the UN system
is Antonio Guterres, and the reasons for his
silence on China's abuses is more
sinister.
Before being
selected - by China, which like Russia could
have vetoed him - Guterres took money from the
Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon. The China
Energy Fund Committee, whose Patrick Ho was
convicted of UN bribery involving UN President
of the General Assembly, offered top dollar
for Gulbenkian's oil company.
Guterres omitted the money he took from
Gulbenkian from his financial disclosure form.
And after
Inner City Press, which had aggressively
reported on Guterres' predecessor Ban Ki-moon
from inside the UN, asked about it, Guterres
had Inner City Press roughed up and banned
from the UN ever since. Very Xi.
In the run up to Bachelet's trip, Inner City
Press put written questions repeatedly to
Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, who
daily takes three of more questions in his
noon briefing from Chinese state media. But to
Inner City Press, no answer.
Likewise, when
pro bono law firm Quinn Emanuel wrote to
Guterres' head of media accreditation Melissa
Fleming asking for Inner City Press to be
allowed to re-enter the UN and ask its
questions, she refused to response, as did the
supposed UN Correspondents Association, on
whose Executive Committee China has a
permanent seat.
So how
is it surprising the the UN covers up for
China?
But
where if the US Administration and US Mission
to the UN under Linda Thomas-Greenfield on
this? They praise the UN and their work there,
amid all the failures and censorship.
UN GATE /
SDNY, May 20 – It was World Press Freedom Day,
and in the UN which has no First Amendment
there was press conference on May 3 by the US
Mission to the UN. Inner City Press
asked, the previous week, to attend - but as
the press conference began, no answer.
So Inner City
Press live tweeted it, here
and below.
Nineteen days into is May UNSC Presidency, the
US Mission hit new lows. In the NGO Committee,
where usually the blocking of groups is by
China and now Turkey, the US representative
used unexplained questions to block groups,
for example one from India, asking about a
Swami. See here.
Maybe
there is a good explanation - but if the US
Mission to the UN won't even answer questions
on it from US-based Inner City Press, they are
just censors. The Mission has done nothing on
this.
And see Inner City Press May 19 tweets here
& here
(US)
Early on the
morning of May 20, Inner City Press asked a
number of people at the US Mission, including
specifically the Mission's spokesperson Olivia
Dalton at DaltonOA[at] state [dot] gov, this:
"This is a Press question on deadline for the
US Mission's explanation of why it is blocking
/ delaying via question, just as China does,
applicant NGOs in the UN Committee, including
but not limited to on May 19 the Ohio-based
Hindu group and the "BRICS" NGO -
and for an
explanation why USUN and Amb.
Thomas-Greenfield have done nothing about the
UN's ongoing ban on US-based Inner City Press
entering to ask questions as before. Here
is the letter the Quinn Emanuel law firm sent
on my behalf, pro bono, to USG Melissa Fleming
and each UNCA board members - there
has been no response. There should be, from
you. Today. On deadline.
Matthew
Russell Lee, Esq., Inner City Press Past
(and future?) Office at UN: Room S-303, UN HQ,
NY NY 10017[For now SDNY] May 19, 2022 Inner
City Press Q&A
But there
was not answer, not from 9 am to 5 pm when the
NGO Committee turned to an absurd round of
Q&A, including again by the US Mission which
will not answer. Video here. Inner City Press
insisted they must answer, and act to end the
UN's ban on US-based Press.
May 16, 2022
UN of Guterres
Sells Out Shireen Abu Akleh As SC Cites Civilians Like
Uighurs P3 Complicit
UN GATE /
SDNY, May 13 – How corrupt and
misreported is the UN Security Council?
After the
murder of Shireen Abu Akleh there was a draft
UNSC statement which would have condemned
violations or abuses against
journalists.
Typically
China broke silence to block it.
With no public
comments by the US, or UAE, or French of UK
Missions - all of which have been complicit in
banning Press from the UN -- it was switched
for China to protecting journalists "as
civilians."
What - like
the Uighur civilians China mass incarcerates?
The migrant laborers the UAE mistreats? The
Anglophones killed in Cameroon with France's
complicity? The African asylum seekers the UK
sends to Rwanda?
The president of
the Security Council in May is the US, whose
Linda Thomas-Greenfield has spend much of the
month traveling and who has yet to address the
banning of US-based Inner City Press from the UN
by Antonio Guterres - and the UN's Melissa
Fleming's refusal to even answer the polite
letter of pro bono law firm Quinn Enamuel.
So, we call B.S. Watch this site
May
9, 2022
Seeking Free
Press Return to UN Quinn Emanuel Wrote to Sec Gen UNCA and
USUN
UN GATE /
SDNY, May 5 – While in the United
Nations there is a flurry of statements about
World Press Freedom Day, there has been no
answer to questions about Secretary General
Antonio Guterres' ouster and banning of Inner
City Press which exposed the omission in his
financial disclosure of a link to UN bribery
firm CEFC China.
Inner City
Press these days daily covers the Federal
courts, where it covered the trial that
convicted on bribery charges Patrick Ho of
CEFC China Energy, which sought to buy the oil
company of Gulbenkian Foundation which paid
Guterres.
But on
July 3, 2018 Inner City Press was inside the
UN, as an accredited journalist, putting
questions to the Ambassador of Cameroon about
his claims that Guterres in his 38th floor
office never asking him about his government's
killing of Anglophones, only about favors he
could do while Cameroon was chair of the UN
Budget Committee.
Inner City
Press was roughed up and ousted, and had been
banned since.
In July
2021 the law firm of Quinn Emanuel, pro bono,
wrote
on behalf of Inner City Press to Guterres'
head of media accreditation Melissa Fleming,
and to each executive committee member of the
United Nations Correspondents Assocation,
seeking a dialogue to get Inner City Press
back into the UN.
There was no
answer from these, who have all
virtue-signaled about press freedom and WPFD
since. Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric
was asked about the Quinn Emanuel letter and
confirmed receipt, saying he didn't know if it
would be responded to. Video.
It hasn't been.
Late in 2021 Quinn Emanuel sent a copy of the
letter to the US State Department, through
Laurel Rapp, asking the Department and US
Mission to the UN and its Ambassador Linda
Thomas-Greenfield to ensure Inner City Press'
re-entry into the UN.
No answer, nor
to Inner City Press' direct request the the USUN
Mission for access to ask questions on May 3,
2022. So now we publish the letter,
on DocumentCloud, here.
And we will have more, much more, on this. Watch
this site.
May
2, 2022
On UN
Guterres Bluewashing Bucha Tour He Calls Question
Inaudible Then Trashes It
UN GATE /
SDNY, April 28 – As the United Nations under
Antonio Guterres fails on Ukriane, now
belatedly some former UN officials have
written to Guterres, (too) gently chiding him
for presiding over the UN's morphing into the
a League of Nations, useless and now
defunct.
On April
15 they wrote: "As former staff members of the
UN system, we, the undersigned... mplore you
to intensify your personal efforts, deploying
all capabilities at your disposal and acting
upon lessons learnt from previous conflicts,
for the cessation of hostilities."
Inner
City Press, banned from the UN by Guterres,
has reviewed the signatories, see one below
and Dimitry Dovgopoly we've asked about. UN
associate Spokesperson Eri Kaneko, refusing to
answer, on April 22 announced: "The
Secretary-General will visit Moscow, in the
Russian Federation, on April
[26th]. He will have a
working meeting and lunch with Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov. The Secretary-General
will be received by President Vladimir Putin."
Kaneko
actually said April 25, but they later fixed
it. But the Russian government says only that
Guterres will meet Lavrov. As Inner City Press
noted,
maybe only if Guterres is obsequious with
Lavrov as usual will he get face time with
Putin, his papacito.
Hours later,
the UN put this out, trying to mirror the
"received by" language but not explaining why
Russia doensn't mention Putin - nor that he is
being used to normalize the slaughter.
Guterres is the worst SG ever - and that's
saying something.
On April 26
cowering under Sergey Lavrov when asked of US
expulsion of Russian spies including a UN
staff member, Guterres said, "we believe that
it is very important that all Member States,
including the Russian Federation, have a
normal treatment of their visa requirements.
It is essential to have the full participation
of all countries in UN procedures. And we will
be keeping a very strong position with the
host country in order to guarantee that we
move swiftly in that direction." Guterres
lazed around on genocide but expulsion of
spies? He's all over it. Then he met Putin,
long table video here.
On April 28
the UN put out this transcript from Kyev,
intentionally making a question Guterres
didn't like "inaudible," then his dissing of
the question(er) -- "Question:
[inaudible]
Secretary-General: That's exactly what you
want, is for me to say things that would not
facilitate the work that we are doing at the
present moment, which is to guarantee that
that happens. I cannot admit that it will not
happen. If it will not happen, I will take the
right decisions at the right moment." Guterres
only makes decisions for himself, and has
banned the Press to not answer it questions,
today on two
new UN rapes.
Back on April
24 Igor Zhovkva,
Zelensky's top diplomatic
advisor said, "This
is not good idea to travel to Moscow. We did
not understand his intention to travel to
Moscow and to talk to President Putin. Any
peace talks are good if they end with a
result," Zhovkva said. "I really doubt if
those peace talks organized by
Secretary-General of the UN will end up with
any result." He added, "UN is lagging behind
in Ukraine in terms of humanitarian support to
my country. So it would be good if UN
Secretary-General would concentrate on these
things as well."
US Antony
Blinken, leaving Kyiv, was asked: "Secretary
Blinken, I understand you may have spoken with
the UN secretary-general about his upcoming
visit. What is the strategy for engaging
– for his engagement or for (inaudible)
engagement with Moscow and Kyiv to see if
(inaudible)?"
Blinken said:
"I spoke to the UN secretary-general on Friday
and he is heading to Moscow early this week,
and our expectation is that he’s going to
carry a very strong and clear message to
Vladimir Putin, which is the need to end this
war now – the need for a ceasefire; the need
for humanitarian corridors, for aid to get in,
for people to be able to get out; the need for
Russia to stop its brutalization of
Ukraine. It’s a clear, direct message
that he should be carrying on behalf of
virtually the entire international community."
First, the UN
never have a read out of, or even mentioned,
this call. Today's UN spokespeople, who ban
Inner City Press which asks, are liars.
Second, If
Blinken really believes Guterres will "carry a
strong message," he is not paying attention.
And his State Department, whose Lauren Rapp
was to convey the request of law firm Quinn
Emanuel about UN censorship of Press but has
done nothing, takes over the UNSC in May. We
will have much more on this.
Watch this site.
As to
the letter that belatedly raised Guterres from
his corrupt slumber, into corrupt "action,"
here's a signer: Flavia Pansieri, implicated
in the UN's cover
up of the rape of children in the
Central African Republic by (French) UN
Peacekeepers. Inner City Press asked about this
- before Guterres had it roughed and banned.
And what of the signatories done about that?
We'll have more on this.
Guterres couldn't or wouldn't resolve or
reduce even a smaller conflict like Cameroon's
Paul Biya killing the Anglophones. But who are
these former UN officials? We'll have more on
this.
They wrote,
"we are horrified at the alternative, the UN
becoming increasingly irrelevant and,
eventually, succumbing to the fate of its
predecessor, the League of
Nations."
Today's UN
is worse that the League of Nations, which never
had personnel raping children in Africa and
Haiti and then flying home with impunity, while
the head man and his censor (here, Melissa
Fleming) ban the Press that asks what is being
done for the Organization's victims. Banned
Inner City Press will have more on this, as
well.
April
25, 2022
As UN Guterres
Fails on Ukraine Now Brags He'll Be Received By Putin Then
Zelenskyy
UN GATE /
SDNY, April 22 – As the United Nations under
Antonio Guterres fails on Ukriane, now
belatedly some former UN officials have
written to Guterres, (too) gently chiding him
for presiding over the UN's morphing into the
a League of Nations, useless and now
defunct.
On April
15 they wrote: "As former staff members of the
UN system, we, the undersigned... mplore you
to intensify your personal efforts, deploying
all capabilities at your disposal and acting
upon lessons learnt from previous conflicts,
for the cessation of hostilities."
Inner
City Press, banned from the UN by Guterres,
has reviewed the signatories, see one below
and Dimitry Dovgopoly we've asked about. UN
associate Spokesperson Eri Kaneko, refusing to
answer, on April 22 announced: "The
Secretary-General will visit Moscow, in the
Russian Federation, on April
[26th]. He will have a
working meeting and lunch with Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov. The Secretary-General
will be received by President Vladimir Putin."
Kaneko
actually said April 25, but they later fixed
it. But the Russian government says only that
Guterres will meet Lavrov. As Inner City Press
noted,
maybe only if Guterres is obsequious with
Lavrov as usual will he get face time with
Putin, his papacito.
Hours later,
the UN put this out, trying to mirror the
"received by" language but not explaining why
Russia doensn't mention Putin - nor that he is
being used to normalize the slaughter.
Guterres is the worst SG ever - and that's
saying something. Watch this site.
As to
the letter that belatedly raised Guterres from
his corrupt slumber, into corrupt "action,"
here's a signer: Flavia Pansieri, implicated
in the UN's cover
up of the rape of children in the
Central African Republic by (French) UN
Peacekeepers. Inner City Press asked about this
- before Guterres had it roughed and banned.
And what of the signatories done about that?
We'll have more on this.
Guterres couldn't or wouldn't resolve or
reduce even a smaller conflict like Cameroon's
Paul Biya killing the Anglophones. But who are
these former UN officials? We'll have more on
this.
They wrote,
"we are horrified at the alternative, the UN
becoming increasingly irrelevant and,
eventually, succumbing to the fate of its
predecessor, the League of
Nations."
Today's UN
is worse that the League of Nations, which never
had personnel raping children in Africa and
Haiti and then flying home with impunity, while
the head man and his censor (here, Melissa
Fleming) ban the Press that asks what is being
done for the Organization's victims. Banned
Inner City Press will have more on this, as
well.
April 18, 2022
After Inner
City Press Scoop on UNTSO Sex in UN Van 2
Fired 1 Remains Staff Say Cover Up
UN GATE, April
14 – The United Nations claims to have a zero
tolerance for sexual exploitation by its staff
and peacekeepers, but routinely covers up
their abuses including the rape of children,
withholding basic information which was
provided to the Press under Ban Ki-moon but
not now under Antonio Guterres.
Inner
City Press previously expanded its exclusive
reporting into UNTSO's scandal of public
sex in the UN van, with information from UN
whistleblowers in Jerusalem and New York: "the
men in the UNTSO car have been charged with
transporting a passenger who was not
authorized and also for not co-operating with
the investigation."
On April 14,
2022, hearing from whistleblowers again, Inner City Press
emailed Guterres et al., "On deadline, on the UNTSO public sex
video Inner City Press first published and each of you
dissembled about, now state the UN employment and payment
status of each accused staffer.,"
Dujarric did not answer, but in the noon briefing said
two have been "separated" and one remains on the payroll. He
would not say which one, calling it confidential. He laundered
it through friendly Al Jazeera, which didn't even remember
what country it happened in (even though it was Israel). We'll
have more on this.
longside the
cover-up by Antonio Guterres and his
spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa
Fleming, who refuse Inner City Press' written
questions and ban it from entering to ask
in-person, as state media and retirees are
allowed to do (but don't ask about this),
delay under UN due process rules for sex
abusers but not journalists:
"The Assistant
Secretary-General for Human Resources
Management may seek further information
from any relevant source. Any new additional
information received by the Assistant
Secretary-General must be provided to the
staff member for a further response. The
staff member shall be given two weeks to
respond to such additional information.
The staff member may request, in writing,
additional time to respond."
Meanwhile,
the Press which asks about this thrown out
without due process, and no response even to
polite letter from Quinn Emanuel law firm,
video here.
We'll have more on all this.
There's more:
illegal smuggling of alcohol involving Syria
and the UNs Judy Hylton, below.
Inner City Press, which Guterres has banned
from the UN for 1070 days as it asks about
these and his abuses, on June 23, 2020
received from outraged UN whistleblowers video
of sexual exploitation, they said, in a white
UN-marked vehicle, here.
Now Instagram,
Facebook.
Now on
the morning of June 6, this exclusive: The
three members from UNTSO who were involved in
that disgraceful act within a U.N. vehicle in
Tel Aviv 12 months ago remain part of the
mission on full pay one year
later. The Head of Mission General
Lund is investigation for fraud and misuse of
entitlements by Norway and others.
The
Mission Senior advisor Judy Hylton is under
investigation for abuse of
authority. The smuggling of alcohol in a
U.N. VIP vehicle across borders from Jordan,
Syria and Lebanon. She is also under
investigation for exceeding the two years
secondment in UNTSO. She has been
in UNTSO from UNHQ for five
years.
A
dysfunctional HQs. Open infighting between
mission leadership members. Two of the five
mission leadership now under serious OIOS
investigation. No wonder the junior staff
members feel self entitled and act without
accountability. This is the UN of Guterres and
his in-house enablers.
Jump cut
to June 3, 2021, when UN insider Pass Blue ran a
story
falsely crediting another for the June 24
publication of the video - and implying that it
an unfair attack on the UN. What a scam.
April
11, 2022
As UN Fails On
Ukraine Its UN Correspondents Association Says Do Not
Photograph Us
UN GATE /
SDNY, April 6 – The United
Nations has become so corrupt and controlling
in the era of Secretary General Antonio
Guterres, who has thrown Inner City Press out
for reporting on his finance and ties to
Chinese bribery firm CEFC China Energy, that a
new low has been hit.
In April 2022,
nine months after the United Nations
Correspondents Association executive committee
members did not offer any response to a letter
from pro bono US law firm Quinn Emanuel asking
that they engage to end the UN's censorship of
Press, UNCA sent out this:
"Dear
colleagues, During what is no doubt a
strenuous time for journalists at the UN, the
UNCA Executive Committee wishes to take this
occasion to remind press colleagues of the
importance of being mindful of each other's
space, time and privacy when reporting at the
UN building. In this light, we remind
all that the Media Access Guidelines require
UN accredited media to act in accordance with
"established journalism ethics and
standards." These state that members of
the media are "expected to conduct themselves
in a professional manner in their interaction
with other members of the UN press corps, UN
officials, and diplomats. Journalists shall
have due regard to the dignity, privacy and
integrity of all individuals"
For
photographers and videographers in the
briefing room, at stakeouts and other areas
where journalists are present, you are kindly
requested to refrain from zeroing-in on
another media member’s notes and devices. You
are also requested not to take any close ups
when the journalist is NOT asking a question
unless you have received prior permission from
the individual. Thank you all for
your cooperation in keeping our working
conditions smooth and fair. All the
best, Valeria Robecco President, United
Nations Correspondents
Association."
Don't take
photographs of supposed newspeople in public
places? This is pathetic.
April
4. 2022
USUN
Thomas-Greenfield Moldovia Trip Garners 4 Questions No
Answer on Ouster or Ban
UN GATE /
SDNY, April 1 – With the
United Nations largely failing on Ukraine, US
Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield
is on her way to Moldova and Romania. But when
a press call was held on April 1 about her
trip, there were only four questions, two from
US government funded
media.
Inner
City Press which covers the conflict, and the
continued presence in Russia of Citigroup,
MUFG and others, was not informed of the press
call, despite receiving such notices and
opportunities from the IMF (see here
March 31)
An
unnamed Administration Official was asked,
"There was a call this week by the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee on the USUN to
start the process of ejecting Russia out of
the Human Rights Council and the Security
Council. Any response?"
The
response did not mention any USUN effort in
this regard - this while the UN Secretariat
fields questions from state media but not
Inner City Press, which it has banned.
The issued has
been raised to the US State Department via
Laurel Rapp in late 2021, pro bono by the Quinn
Emanuel law firm - and still no answer
at all.
We'll have more
on all this.
March
28, 2022
Amid Burma
Coup, 2 Arrested In Bid to Kill PR to UN, Junta Slams
USUN, Guterres Bans Press
UN GATE,
August 10 – After the Burma coup regime fired
its New York-based UN ambassador U Kyaw Moe
Tun for his speech in New York in the usually
scripted UN General Assembly, an official of
President of the GA Volkan Bozkir, who in fine
Myanmar fashion refused to name the authors of
the letters and CVs of opponents to UN Sec-Gen
Antonio Guterres, bragged about the session.
On June 18, after a regime-like 1-man
election, Guterres grabbed five more years.
And his envoy
on Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener,
bragged at a stakeout Inner City Press was
banned from that the people in Myanmar all
know her and she would give them hope. Why?
Meanwhile
India, president of the Security Council for
August, has no meeting on Burma and Ambassador
Tirumurti refused Inner City Press written
questions, here.
On August 6
this: Criminal complaint on Inner City Press'
DocumentCloud here:
the arrests of PHYO HEIN HTUT and YE HEIN ZAW
for conspiracy to assault and make a violent
attack upon Myanmar’s Permanent Representative
to the United Nations [Kyaw Moe Tun].
HTUT and ZAW were charged in two separate
complaints... Between at least in or
about July 2021 through at least on or about
August 5, 2021, HTUT and ZAW, citizens of
Myanmar currently residing in New York,
conspired to injure or kill Myanmar’s
Permanent Representative to the UN."
Inner City
Press exclusively live tweeted Zaw's detention
hearing, here,
story here.
Now, song / video here.
But the UN of Guterres and Stephane Dujarric
and Melissa Fleming refuse to answer any of
Inner City Press' written questions - and when
asked orally by another, Dujarric confirmed
receipt of the Quinn Emanuel law firm's letter
but said no change of status and so far no
reply, video here.
Linda Thomas Greenfield, to whom Inner City
Press has written but who has yet to act on
Guterres' ban of US-based Press, tweeted about
the disrupted plot. And now the junta in Nya Pyi
Taw has cited, yes, the UN's own rules and
Vienna Convention to say any criticism of it is
wrong, and ask again for extradition to face a
charge with the death penalty. Watch this site.
March
21, 2022
China Spying
In NY Leads to Indictments So Inner City Press Gets EDNY
Answer All 3 Bailed As UN Silent
SDNY / UN
GATE, March 16 – The day after the SDNY
prosecution of Zhongsan Lui for illegal
recruitment in the US wascoveredby
Inner City Press (and the involved UN refused
to answer Press questions on it), from EDNY
this:
"Two
complaints were unsealed and one amended
complaint was authorized today in federal
court in Brooklyn charging five defendants
with various crimes related to efforts by the
secret police of the People’s Republic of
China (PRC) to stalk, harass, and spy on
Chinese nationals residing in Queens, New York
and elsewhere in the United States...
Fan “Frank” Liu and Matthew Ziburis were
arrested yesterday, while Shujun Wang was
arrested this morning. All three arrests
occurred in the Eastern District of New York.
The defendants’ initial appearances are
scheduled this afternoon in Brooklyn before
United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho."
(Inner City Press will cover that) Song
here.
Just
after 3 pm, Breon Peace, United States
Attorney for the Eastern District of New York,
held a telephone press conference, to his
credit, and took four questions. Inner City
Press asked about the role of the UN and
China's Mission to the UN, noting the NYPD
Angwang case and the recent persona non grata
removal of a UN staff member for working for
Russia. The answer, for now, was that China's
intimidation is growing wider.
Inner City
Press live tweeted the presentments in which
all three were bailed, threadhere:
OK - now in
EDNY, presentment of defendant Fan “Frank”
Liu, charged with interstate harassment,
operating as agent of China without FARA
notification, etc Liu's lawyer: I think we
have arrived at something close to an
agreement on bond. [Lui will be released --
note that NYPD Angwang wasn't, at first - now
he's out]. Judge James R. Cho: What's the
proposed bail package?
AUSA: We are
close.
AUSA:
One million bond with attachment of Mr. Liu's
two properties, one in Jericho NY and the
other in Florida. Electronic monitoring with a
curfew. Cannot to go PRC consultate [UN
Mission of China on 35th Street]. US wants
$100,000 case. Lui says 25K
AUSA:
We're stuck at $50,000. The defendant has $3
million in funds related to this case have
been transferred into his and his wife's
account. He was an agent of the PRC. He's had
extensive contacts with the PRC consulate.
Lui's
lawyer: The US is only alleging payments of
$1500 to a private investigator for public
record. There's the destruction of a work of
art by a "not particularly famous Chinese
artist." Frank Liu has Edgar Frankbonner from
the firm of Goldberger & Dubin.
Frankbonner:
Until recently he had a second home in Queens.
$50,000 bail is an "extortionary sum." He's
not a flight risk. This is not a crime of
violence. I understand the insinuations. It's
unsavory, sure. But he he turns in his
passport, no flight risk.
Frankbonner:
$25,000 would not put them in the poor house.
$50,000 would. It's unusual to wait until the
bond is perfected to release the person.
[Note: It is not unusual, at least in SDNY]
AUSA: Mr. Lui
traveled to China three years ago. All he
needs to go is go to the PRC Consulate in
Manhattan. And he's gone. This entire case is
about his connections to the PRC and what he
is doing for them here in the US
James
James R. Cho: I'm setting bail at $30,000 and
he does not have to wait to perfect the
bond. AUSA: Until properties attached,
home imprisonment?
Defense: We
object.Defense: It only takes a few days to
attach the properties. He's a working person
and needs to go about his life. James James R.
Cho: Home incarceration until Friday. Is the
suretor here? Have her stand by the podium.
Lui's wife comes forward.
Lui's
wife states their address, which Inner City
Press is not publishing here. Judge: I am
approving bail today. Thread(s) will continue
- and story later.
OK - Now US
pushing for electronic monitoring of Shujun
Wang - Federal Defenders opposing it Inner
City Press @innercitypress · 43m Judge: I am
prepared to sign the bond. Mr. Wang, you will
be released. We are adjourned.
But
wait - there's more! Now at 6:38 pm the
presentment of Lui's and Wang's co-defendant
Matthew Ziburis with taxpayer funded lawyer
Tony Ricco. Judge: You are charged with
violating FARA and with harassing inter-state
and ID theft.
US is
agreeing to pre-trial release on $500,000 bond
signed by girlfriend and mother who owns a
house in Ohio, and $15,000 cash, all to be
done by Friday until which time, electronic
monitoring. Counsel: Fine.
Ziburis’
girlfriend is a teacher, she says. They
call his mother in Ohio, who says "What is
this?" "Judge Cho from New York. How are you?"
"Upset! I don't understand this!"
Judge Cho
reads an address, and asks Ziburis’ mother, Do
you live there? "No, that's his father."
Judge: And you don't live there? A: I don't.
[She gives another address that we will not
publish.] She's on Social Security.
Ziburis’
mother: What did he do? Judge: I don't think I
need to summarize that right now. Good bye.
[Dial tone.] Now AUSA contests Ziburis'
eligibility for appointed counsel, says "may
revisit it."
We'll
have more on this - and on the Zhongsan Lui
trial.
The UN - more
than a dozen spokespeople and officials - got
this question from Inner City Press, before
the EDNY press conference: "Press request on
deadline for comment and action if any of SG
Guterres on March 16 unsealing in federal
court in Brooklyn of indictments / complaints
charging five defendants with various crimes
related to efforts by the secret police of the
People’s Republic of China (PRC) to stalk,
harass, and spy on Chinese nationals residing
in Queens, New York and elsewhere in the
United States. All of the defendants allegedly
perpetrated transnational repression schemes
to target U.S. residents whose political views
and actions are disfavored by the PRC
government, such as advocating for democracy
in the PRC." What is the role of China's
Mission to the UN - and of the UN itself? On
deadline."
No answer at
all.
Hours before the Beijing Winter Olympics a/k/a
the Genocide Games kicked off, United Nations
Secretary General Antonio Guterres was there,
issuing a canned video and equally canned
read-out with the IOC's Thomas Bach. It was
shameful.
On
February 18, before the end of the Games, a
book is published: "Genocide Games of Guterres, In A Stormy Time: Silent on Uighurs Mass Incarcerated in Xinjiang, UN Is Complicit & Bans Press Which Covers DDC & Jho Low," here.
Just
after the Genocide Games - not during - Nils
van der Poel of Sweden, who won two
speedskating gold medals said: "The Olympics
is a lot, it’s a fantastic sporting event
where you unite the world and nations meet.
But so did Hitler before invading Poland
(Berlin hosted the 1936 Summer Games), and so
did Russia before invading Ukraine [the first
time?]. "I think it is extremely
irresponsible to give it to a country that
violates human rights as blatantly as the
Chinese regime is doing." He added, tellingly,"I really
think it’s terrible, but I
think I shouldn’t say too
much about it, because we
still have a squad in
China." What a travesty.
This
comes after even Foreign Affairs has said,
albeit behind a paywall, "as if he’d somehow wandered into the wrong party, there was UN Secretary-General General António Guterres, who has distinguished himself with his silence on China’s human rights abuses.”
So why do people put up with Guterres? Inner
City Press on January 24 in writing asked
Guterres' spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and
Melissa Fleming: "On SG Guterres' attendance
at the upcoming Beijing Winter Genocide
Olympics a/k/a Genocide Games, please
immediately confirm knowledge by the UN of,
and SG Guterres' response to,this
letter." Nothing - no answer. Feb 19
songhere
For China,
Antonerio Guterres ensures too that no
journalist from Taiwan or any Taiwan based
media can even come into the UN, as Inner City
Press can't. And where is the US Mission and
State Department? They have been asked, by a
major law firm pro bono. Watch this site.
March 14, 2022
UN Guterres
Fails Ukraine Fleming Stonewalls On 25 Staff No Answer to
Quinn Emanuel
UN GATE, March
10, Follow up to Exclusive – With the UN
failing on Ukraine, with two resolution
rejected in the UN Security Council now
presided over by the UAE which abstained on
both, and Secretary General Antonio Guterres
who only got his two terms with the approval
of Vladimir Putin and now sends as
humanitarian envoy to Ukraine a crony Amin
Awad who previously sold
out the Tamils in Sri Lanka, now
Guterres has moved to censoring UN
staff.
His
official(s) wrote to others, "Language
elements: Some specific examples of
language to use/not use at the moment:
“conflict” or “military offensive” and NOT
“war” or “invasion” when referring to the
situation in Ukraine." While their in-house
poodles deny it, it is out there. And Guterres
continues to lie.
Inner City
Press,
banned from the UN by Guterres, was
exclusively leaked and on March 4 published
this, also from March 4, photo here:
Fri 3/4/2022
To: ALL UN Secretariat; Agencies, Funds
and Programmes
Guidance to
staff on personal communications about the
situation in Ukraine
The crisis in
Ukraine is deeply upsetting and a matter of
grave concern to United Nations staff. The
Secretary-General has also made the position
of the Organization regarding the hostilities
very clear. While it is
understandable that many of us feel compelled
to share views about the events that are
unfolding, including in personal fora such as
social media, staff are reminded of their
rights and duties as international civil
servants, which require us to act
independently and
impartially. Please take a
moment to familiarize yourselves anew with the
policies on the Status, basic rights and
duties of United Nations staff members;
outside activities; and the guidelines for the
personal use of social media. Attention is
also drawn to the “2022 Guidance on Political
Activities” recently issued on iSeek by the UN
Ethics Office.
"Accordingly,
staff are asked to frame any communications on
Ukraine as well as other political matters in
a manner that is consistent with the position
of the Organization and the statements of the
Secretary-General."
But Guterres' Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric
refused all questions about Ukraine from Inner
City Press. Guterres' head of media
accreditation Melissa Fleming has refused to
even answer a letter
from pro bono law firm Quinn Emanuel seeking a
dialog on the re-entry of Inner City Press,
which remained a resident correspondent even
while critiquing Ban Ki-moon for failure in
Sri Lanka.
On
March 9, Dujarric, Fleming and Guterres
refused to answer this written question:
"Confirm or deny that the email obfuscated at
the March 8 noon briefing Inner City Press is
banned from, beyond the email each of you were
asked about in writing on March 7, was by
UNRIC's Sherri Aldis, and if not, by whom."
And
yet, alongside refusing to answer Inner City
Press ever, and Quinn Emanuel (see here)
for months, Fleming publicly tweeted, "That
email only went to about 25 staff."
Even by
its own terms, WHICH staff? WHO sent it? Inner
City Press has published on this (Sherri
Aldis) but it is the UN which should be
required to answer, as any other public
institutions, even the dog catcher of a
Midwestern town, would be required. Today's UN
is lower that low.
Inner
City Press on March 9 publicly asked Fleming,
"Why did you and
@UN_Spokesperson
@StephDujarric refuse to answer
questions emailed to you by Inner City Press
about your Department's March 4 email ordering
staff to only say what
@AntonioGuterres says? Why no answer
to Quinn Emanuel on banning Inner
City Press?"
After
no response from Fleming, Inner City Press on
March 10 asked Dujarric and Guterres in
writing. Nothing - the UN which
should be required to
answer, as any other public
institutions, even the dog
catcher of a Midwestern
town, would be required.
Today's UN is lower that
low. Some UN staff are
saying, #FireMelissaFleming.
We'll have more on this.
Watch this
site.
March
7, 2022
On
Ukraine US Mission Tells
Russia It Moves To Expel 12
Staff As Silent As Guterres
Bans Press
SDNY / UN
GATE, Feb 28 – When Russia
announced it will recognize independence for
the Donetsk and Luhansk "People’s Republics,"
eyes turned to the United Nations, full of
corruption and ineptitude under Antonio
Guterres.
Guterres
was nowhere to be seen, only recently back
from the Genocide Games in Beijing. His
spokesman Stephane Dujarric banned Inner City
Press from his noon briefing, which he started
late cutting off even others by WebEx. In the
room, he took three questions in a row from
China state media.
After military action began literally during a
Security Council meeting, a draft resoluation
came out - Inner City Press has published it here
and here
-- sure to be vetoed, Inner City Press
wrote on February 24.
On February 25
it happened. Not only the veto, but
abstentions by China (population 1.4 billion
and a genocide supported by Guterres), India
also with population of 1.4 billion, and the
president of the Security Council for March,
the UAE. Inner City Press has asked the
UAE Mission, in writing, for access to its
March 1 and all March press availabilities -
without answer yet.
Now this:
"U.S. Mission to the United Nations
Spokesperson Olivia Dalton says: The United
States has informed the United Nations and the
Russian Permanent Mission to the United
Nations that we are beginning the process of
expelling twelve intelligence operatives from
the Russian Mission who have abused their
privileges of residency in the United States
by engaging in espionage activities that are
adverse to our national security. We are
taking this action in accordance with the UN
Headquarters Agreement. This action has been
in development for several months."
We'll have more on this, including on
inaction. Inner City Press' continued
exclusion, and non-response by Under SG
Melissa Fleming, was raised by a pro bono law
firm to the State Department's Laurel Rapp in
December 2021.
On
Monday Feb 28 in Geneva, with the Human Rights
Council saying any action before Thursday
would be inconvenient, a slew of rapporteurs
silent on Guterres' banning of Press tried to
get on the band wagon: "
*The experts: Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Special
Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of
human rights and fundamental freedoms while
countering terrorism; Tlaleng Mofokeng,
Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to
the enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of physical and mental health;
Siobhán Mullally, Special Rapporteur on
trafficking in persons, especially women and
children; Morris Tidball-Binz, Special
Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or
arbitrary executions; Irene Khan, Special
Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion
and expression; Mary Lawlor, Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights
defenders; Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, Special
Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of
peaceful assembly and of association; Olivier
De Schutter, Special Rapporteur on extreme
poverty and human rights; Sorcha MacLeod
(Chair-Rapporteur), Jelena Aparac, Ravindran
Daniel, Chris Kwaja, Working Group on the use
of mercenaries; Melissa Upreti (Chair),
Dorothy Estrada Tanck (Vice-Chair), Elizabeth
Broderick, Ivana Radačić, and Meskerem Geset
Techane, Working Group on discrimination
against women and girls; Tomoya Obokata,
Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of
slavery, including its causes and
consequences; Elina Steinerte
(Chair-Rapporteur), Leigh Toomey, Mumba
Malila, Priya Gopalan, Working Group on
arbitrary detention; Vitit Muntarbhorn,
Special Rapporteur on Cambodia; Obiora Okafor,
Independent Expert on human rights and
international solidarity; Fernand de Varennes,
Special Rapporteur on minority issues; Victor
Madrigal-Borloz, Independent Expert on
protection against violence and discrimination
based on sexual orientation and gender
identity; Saad Alfarargi, Special Rapporteur
on the right to development; Alexandra
Xanthaki, Special Rapporteur in the field of
cultural rights; Claudia Mahler, Independent
Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by
older persons; Gerard Quinn, Special
Rapporteur on the rights of persons with
disabilities; Felipe González Morales, Special
Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants;
Fabián Salvioli, Special Rapporteur on the
promotion of truth, justice, reparation and
guarantees of non-recurrence; Pedro Arrojo
Agudo, Special Rapporteur on the human rights
to safe drinking water and sanitation; Ahmed
Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on freedom of
religion or belief; Javaid Rehman, Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in
the Islamic Republic of Iran; Michael Lynk,
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied
since 1967; Yao Agbetse, Independent Expert on
the situation of human rights in the Central
African Republic; Luciano Hazan
(Chair-Rapporteur), Ms. Aua Baldé (Vice
Chair), Ms. Gabriella Citroni, Mr. Henrikas
Mickevičius and Mr. Tae-Ung Baik, The UN
Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary
Disappearances; José Francisco Calí Tzay,
Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples; Livingstone Sewanyana, Independent
Expert on the promotion of a democratic and
equitable international order; David R. Boyd ,
the Special Rapporteur on human rights and the
environment; Marcos A. Orellana, Special
Rapporteur on the implications for human
rights of the environmentally sound management
and disposal of hazardous substances and
wastes; Balakrishnan Rajagopal, Special
Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing;
Mama Fatima Singhateh, Special Rapporteur on
the sale and sexual exploitation of children,
including child prostitution, child
pornography and other child sexual abuse
material; Attiya Waris, Independent Expert on
foreign debt, other international financial
obligations and human rights; Tendayi Achiume,
Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of
racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and
related intolerance; Reem Alsalem, Special
Rapporteur on violence against women, its
causes and consequences; Alice Cruz, Special
Rapporteur on the elimination of
discrimination against persons affected by
leprosy and their family members; Cecilia
Jimenez-Damary, Special Rapporteur on the
human rights of internally displaced persons;
Ms. Elżbieta Karska (Chairperson), Fernanda
Hopenhaym (Vice Chairperson), Surya Deva,
Anita Ramasastry Working Group on the issue of
human rights and transnational corporations
and other business enterprises; Koumba Boly
Barry, Special Rapporteur on the right to
education; Muluka Anne Miti-Drummond,
Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human
rights by persons with albinism; Dominique Day
(Chair), Catherine S. Namakula (Vice-Chair),
Miriam Ekiudoko, Sushil Raj, Barbara G.
Reynolds Working Group of Experts on People of
African Descent; Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker,
Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human
Rights in Eritrea .
Gladys Acosta Vargas, Chair, on behalf of the
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
against Women; Carmen Rosa Villa Quintana,
Chair, on behalf of the Committee on Enforced
disappearances; Mikiko Otani, Chair, on behalf
of the Committee on the Rights of the Child;
Rosemary Kayess, Chair, on behalf Committee on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
Suzanne Jabbour, Chairperson, and the Bureau,
on behalf of the Subcommittee on Prevention of
Torture (SPT); Can Osman Unver, Chairperson,
and the Bureau, on behalf of the Committee on
the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant
Workers and Members of their Families."
Don't believe
the hype: these rapporteurs don't even hold
the UN accountable for child rapes and
censorship.
On
Saturday, with the UN dead. it announced a
renewed UN Security Council clown show for
Sunday 3 pm, to send the whole circus of hot
air and Guterres' corruption on Monday to the
UN General Assembly, bought by Chinese state
bribers Ng Lap Seng and CEFC China Energy / Ye
Jianming under John Ashe and Sam Kutesa. And
Abdulla Shahid? He and his spokesperson
Paulina Kubiak won't answer Inner City Press'
written questions about who pays the UNPGA
staff.
And on Sunday,
February 27, not a single vote was flipped:
still three abstentions, including China, and
Russia against. Yet some bragged of the vote
as a win, or somehow making the UN something
other than a failure, like the League of
Nations. Video here.
SDNY / UN
GATE, Feb 26 – When Russia
announced it will recognize independence for
the Donetsk and Luhansk "People’s Republics,"
eyes turned to the United Nations, full of
corruption and ineptitude under Antonio
Guterres.
Guterres
was nowhere to be seen, only recently back
from the Genocide Games in Beijing. His
spokesman Stephane Dujarric banned Inner City
Press from his noon briefing, which he started
late cutting off even others by WebEx. In the
room, he took three questions in a row from
China state media.
After military action began literally during a
Security Council meeting, a draft resoluation
came out - Inner City Press has published it here
and here
-- sure to be vetoed, Inner City Press
wrote on February 24.
On February 25
it happened. Not only the veto, but
abstentions by China (population 1.4 billion
and a genocide supported by Guterres), India
also with population of 1.4 billion, and the
president of the Security Council for March,
the UAE.
Afterward Guterres ran to the open mic and,
shilling for money, said he has making his
crony Amin Awad head of aid in Ukraine, see
below.
On
Saturday, with the UN dead (First Avenue vlog
here), it announced a renewed UN Security
Council clown show for Sunday 3 pm, to send
the whole circus of hot air and Guterres'
corruption on Monday to the UN General
Assembly, bought by Chinese state bribers Ng
Lap Seng and CEFC China Energy / Ye Jianming
under John Ashe and Sam Kutesa. And Abdulla
Shahid? He and his spokesperson Paulina Kubiak
won't answer Inner City Press' written
questions about who pays the UNPGA staff.
And on
February 26, Guterres through Stephane
Dujarric bragged: "Due to the aggravating
situation in Ukraine, the Secretary-General
will remain in New York and not travel to
Geneva as planned. He will send a video
message to Monday’s meeting of the Human
Rights Council."
But Friday Feb
25 Dujarric said, "The Secretary-General will
be travelling over the weekend. He’ll be going
to Geneva where, on Monday morning, he will
deliver remarks at the opening of the 49th
regular session of the Human Rights Council.
We expect him back here on Monday afternoon."
If he'd speak Monday, was the junket another
one to visit his bank in Lisbon? Asked but not
answered. See, song:
Inner City Press, now banned by
Guterres, exposed Awad siding with the
extremist government of Sri Lanka:
The Staff Union alleges a
pattern: "The recent action of Sri Lanka to detain
two national staff appears to be a campaign against
UN personnel, which is illegal under international
law. Authorities have been arresting, without
explanation, UN staff members, initially refusing to
provide access to them by UN officials." Clickhereto
view the Staff Union statement.
Before
issuing their statement, UN Staff Union officials
expressed outrage atquotes
by the UN'sCountry
Representative in Sri Lanka, UNHCR's Amim
Awad,that"the
UN acknowledges without reservation the right of
the security services of Sri Lanka to investigate
any allegations of criminal wrongdoing, including
by UN staff members, and will cooperate fully to
support due process."
The UN is advertising its obsolescence, like a
badge of honor. It is time to move on.
UAE takes over
UNSC Presidency March 1. Will they too exclude
Inner City Press? Watch this site.
February
21, 2022
Genocide Games
Triggers New Book Exposing UN Complicity of Guterres Who
Bans Press Which Asks
UN GATE, Feb
18 –Hours before the Beijing Winter Olympics
a/k/a the Genocide Games kicked off, United
Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres was
there, issuing a canned video and equally
canned read-out with the IOC's Thomas Bach. It
was shameful.
Now on
February 18, before the end of the Games, a
book is published: "Genocide Games of Guterres, In A Stormy Time: Silent on Uighurs Mass Incarcerated in Xinjiang, UN Is Complicit & Bans Press Which Covers DDC & Jho Low," here.
Inner
City Press on January 24 in writing asked
Guterres' spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and
Melissa Fleming: "On SG Guterres' attendance
at the upcoming Beijing Winter Genocide
Olympics a/k/a Genocide Games, please
immediately confirm knowledge by the UN of,
and SG Guterres' response to, this
letter." Nothing - no answer.
The
February 4 opening ceremony, Inner City Press
live tweeted, thread here.
Meanwhile at George Washington University in
DC, a Chinese / China student group filed a
complaint about posters and President Mark S.
Wrighton responded: "Please know that I am
personally offended by these posters. I
treasure the opportunity to work with talented
people from all over the world, including
China. Your reaching out to me directly is
much appreciated, and we are working to have
all of these offensive poster removed as soon
as possible. I, too, am saddened by this
terrible event and we will undertake an effort
to determine who is responsible."
The
posters created by Chinese dissident, artist
Badiucao.
What
would happen to the posters inside the UN?
Before Inner
City Press was thrown out, and kept out by
Guterres and his lead censor Melissa Fleming,
it had posted the sign of the Free UN
Coalition for Access (FUNCA) on the inside of
the glass door to its office. It was told a
staffer of Fleming's department, the UN Media
Accreditation and Liaison Unit, to take down
the poster or being thrown out, that under the
official UNCA / "UN Correspondents
Association" sign was allowed. Inner City
Press continued and continues to assert the
right of the alternative FUNCA to exist, and
was thrown out, and banned.
Guterres' UN and China are much the same.
Guterres ensures too that no journalist from
Taiwan or any Taiwan based media can even come
into the UN, as Inner City Press can't. And
where is the US Mission and State Department?
They have been asked, by a major law firm pro
bono. Watch this site.
On February 5
the UN said Guterres "met with H.E. Mr. Xi
Jinping, President of the People's Republic of
China, and H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, State Councilor
and Foreign Minister, on the margins of the
2022 Winter Olympic Games. He congratulated
The People’s Republic of China for the
organization of the Games and thanked the
Chinese authorities for their warm
hospitality. The
Secretary-General expressed his appreciation
for China’s strong support to the United
Nations." And himself,
through briber CEFC China Energy.
On February 2
US Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) said,
"It’s shameful for António Guterres to appear
at the games. The U.N. has basically failed
human rights."
He may
not know the half of it.
Dujarric
bragged that Guterres would go "to Korea
and then taking a plane to Beijing and then
flying out commercially out of Beijing."
So the
plane to Beijing is not commercial. A CCP
private jet like UN briber Ng Lap Seng, or
Patrick Ho? During the Genocide Games,
Guterres will be "in the [closed] loop" and
will, Dujarric said, meet with Xi Jin Ping.
The UN did not exist in 1936 but it seems
clear that Guterres would have attended the
Nazi Olympics, too. At least if they, like
China through the China Energy Fund Committee,
flashed cash at one of Guterres' undisclosed
funders, the Gulbenkian Foundation, and
ensured him five more years of impunity in a
Manhattan mansion not far from Jeffrey
Epstein's.
Not
asked about the state media allowed into the
UN and Guterres' rare press conferences by his
head of media accreditation Melissa Fleming,
Guterres had received a letter to reconsider
his attendance. Had Guterres answered, or even
read it? Inner City Press would ask, if only
in writing while it remains banned from
entering the UN, and blocked on Twitter by
China's Ambassador Zhang.
The letter concludes, "as the highest
representative of the UN, your attendance will
be seen as credence to China’s blatant
disregard for international human rights laws
and serve to embolden the actions of the
Chinese authorities. We therefore urge you to
reconsider your decision to attend the 2022
Beijing Winter Games." Fat chance. Fat
Tony.
Sidebar on
Tony's cronies: Qatar state media asked about
why the UN escalators weren't working, to get
him up the three flights of stairs to Al
Jazeera's four large offices (there was, of
course, a bank of
elevators).
A retired French correspondent who had held a
fundraiser with now-convicted global pedophile
Ghislaine
Maxwell asked a similar question in
French. Dujarric, also French and a genocide
denier for the UN's Secretary General who less
gleefully covered up the Rwanda genocide,
answered in French, and smiled.
"No more questions?" Dujarric asked
rhetorically, glancing down at the empty
mirror of those the UN's media accreditation
chief Melissa
Fleming allow to ask questions remotely,
as nearly every institution in this time of
COVID-19, the link of which to Wuhan she spent
public money to censor. Then
I leave you in the hands of Paulina Kubiak,
Dujarric said.
The
second spokeswoman in only four months for UN
General Assembly President Abdul Shahid of the
Maldives, also purchased by China, also going
to the Genocide Games.
She
spoke, without irony, about Shahid calling for
an Olympic truce. This while the host was
involved in the mass killing and incarceration
of Uighurs in Xinjiang, or East Turkestan as
many including Kurt Wheelock referred to it.
For her, there
were no questions at all, not even about the
escalator. It was over. The UN's
legitimacy had died long before. But this was
a new low, and a new season. And a next text,
follow-up to Belt
and Roadkill: Genocide Games of
Guterres.
The letter is
signed by, among others, Mandie McKeown,
Executive Director, International Tibet Network
- on behalf of: Dorjee Tseten Dolkun Isa Frances
Hui Students for a Free Tibet World Uyghur
Congress We The Hongkongers Rushan Abbas Jenny
Wang Tashi Shitsetsang Campaign for Uyghurs Keep
Taiwan Free Tibetan Youth Association Europe
John Jones Dr Zoe Bedford Teng Biao Free Tibet
Australia Tibet Council China Against the Death
Penalty 周锋锁 Zhou Fengsuo Mattias Bjornerstedt
Bhuchung Tsering Humanitarian China Swedish
Tibet Committee International Campaign for Tibet
Lhadon Tethong Omer Kanat Tibet Action Institute
Uyghur Human Rights Project Enghebatu Togochog
Southern Mongolian Human Rights Center and the
following organisations: ACT Tibetan Community
Action Free Hong Kong Montreal Aide aux Refugies
Tibetains Alberta Uyghur Association Amigos de
Tibet, Colombia Amigos del Tíbet, Chile Amigos
del Tíbet, El Salvador Anterrashtriya Bharat –
Tibbet Sahyog Samiti AREF International Onlus
Asociación Cultural Peruano Tibetana Asociación
Cultural Tibetano Costarricense Association
Cognizance Tibet, North Carolina Association
Drôme Ardèche-Tibet Associazione Italia-Tibet
Association of the New School for Democracy
Atlas Movement Australia China Watch Australian
East Turkestan Association Australian and New
Zealand Alliance for Victims of the Chinese
Communist Regime Australian Uyghur Association
Australian Uyghur Tangritagh Women’s Association
Austria Uyghur Association Bath District Tibet
Support Group Bay Area Friends of Tibet Belgium
Uyghur Association Bharrat Tibbat Sahyog Manch,
India Birmingham Stands with Hong Kong Boston
Tibet Network Boston Uyghur Association
Briancon05 Urgence Tibet Bristol Tibet Burst the
Bubble UK CADAL Canada Tibet Committee Canadian
Coalition Against Communism Captive Nations
Coalition Casa del Tibet – Spain Casa Tibet
México Centro De Cultura Tibetana, Brazil China
Alarm Circle of Friends (Philippines) Citizen
Power Initiatives for China Comité de Apoyo al
Tibet (CAT) Comité pour la Liberté à Hong-Kong
Committee of 100 for Tibet Core Group for
Tibetan Cause, India Cornell Society for the
Promotion of East Asian Liberty Covenants Watch
Czechs Support Tibet DC Chapter of China
Democracy Party DC4HK - Washingtonians
Supporting Hong Kong Defend Democracy Dream for
Children, Japan Dutch Uyghur Human Rights
Foundation East Turkistan Association in Finland
East Turkistan Association of Canada East
Turkistan Education Center in Europe East
Turkistan New Generation Movement East Turkistan
Nuzugum Culture and Family Organization East
Turkistan Press and Media Organization Liberal
Democratic League of Ukraine Lions Des Neiges
Mont Blanc, FranceLungta Association Belgium
Maison des HimalayasMaison du Tibet – Tibet Info
Mavi Hilal Humanitarian Organization McGill Hong
Kong Public Awareness and Social Service
McMaster Stands With Hong Kong National Campaign
for Tibetan Support, India National Democratic
Party of Tibet Netherlands for Hong Kong Never
Again Right Now Northern California Hong Kong
Club Norwegian Tibet Committee Norwegian Uyghur
Committee NY4HK Objectif Tibet Passeport
Tibetain Ontario Hong Kong Youth Action (OHKYA)
Perth Anti-CCP Association Phagma Drolma-Arya
Tara Power to Hongkongers RangZen:Movimento
Tibete Livre, Brazil Regional Tibetan
Association of Massachusetts Roof of the World
Foundation, Indonesia Sakya Trinley Ling Santa
Barbara Friends of Tibet Save the Mongolian
Language Save the Persecuted Christians Save
Tibet Foundation Save Tibet, Austria Shukr
Foundation Sierra Friends of Tibet Society for
Threatened Peoples International Society Union
of Uyghur National Association STAND Canada
Stand With Hong Kong Vienna Stop Uyghur Genocide
Canada Students for a Free Tibet – Canada
Students for a Free Tibet – UK Students for a
Free Tibet – Denmark Students for a Free Tibet –
India Students for a Free Tibet – Japan Students
for a Free Tibet – Taiwan Students For Hong Kong
Support Hong Kong Independence Movement Sweden
Uyghur Education Union Swedish Tibet Committee
Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association (GSTF)
Switzerland East Turkestan Association 台灣永社
Taiwan Forever Association Taiwan Friends of
Tibet Taiwan East Turkistan Association Taiwan
New Constitution Foundation Taiwan Association
for Human Rights Taiwan Labour Front Tashi Delek
Bordeaux The Youth Liberation Front of Tibet,
Mongolia and Turkestan Tibet Action Group of
Western Australia Tibet cesky (Tibet in Czech)
Tibet Committee of Fairbanks Tibet Group, Panama
East Turkistan Union in Europe Eastern Turkistan
Foundation Eastern Turkistan Uyghur Association
in Netherlands EcoTibet Ireland Étudiants Pour
Un Tibet Libre Euro-Asia Foundation: Teklimakan
Publishing House European Uyghur Institute
Federation for a Democratic China Fight for
Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong Foundation for
Universal Responsibility of H. H. the Dalai Lama
France-Tibet Freedom Ummah Free Indo-Pacific
Alliance Free Tibet Fukuoka FREE TIBET ITALIA
Friends of Tibet in Costa Rica Friends of Tibet
in Finland Friends of Tibet New Zealand
Friends4Tibet Germany Stands with Hong Kong
Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted
Minorities Global Solidarity with Hong Kong -
Chicago Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete, Portugal
Halifax-Hong Kong Link Hong Kong Committee in
Norway Hong Kong Democracy Council Hong Kong
Affairs Association of Berkeley (HKAAB) Hong
Kong Forum, Los Angeles Hong Kong Liberty
Hongkongers At McGill Hong Kong Outlanders Hong
Kong Social Action Movements in Boston Hong
Kongers in San Francisco Bay Area Human Rights
Solidarity Human Rights Network for Tibet and
Taiwan Ilham Tohti Initiative India Tibet
Friendship Society International Coalition to
End Transplant Abuse in China Institute for
China's Democratic Transition International Pen
Uyghur Center International Society for Human
Rights- Sweden International Society of Human
Rights, Munich Chapter International Support for
Uyghurs International Tibet Independence
Movement International Uyghur Human Right and
Democracy Foundation Isa Yusup Alptekin
Foundation Israeli Friends of the Tibetan People
Japan Association of Monks for Tibet (Super
Sangha) Japan Uyghur Association Jewish movement
for Uyghur freedom Justice 4 Uyghurs Justice for
Uyghurs - Switzerland Justice For All Canada
Kazakhstan National Culture Center Latvia for
Tibet Le Club Français, Paraguay Les Amis du
Tibet – Belgium Les Amis du Tibet Luxembourg
Tibet Initiative Deutschland Tibet Justice
Center Tibet Lives, India Tibet Mx Tíbet Patria
Libre, Uruguay Tibet Rescue Initiative in Africa
Tibet Solidarity Tibet Society of South Africa
Tibet Support Committee Denmark Tibet Support
Group Adelaide Tibet Support Group Kenya Tibet
Support Group Kiku, Japan Tibet Support Group
Netherlands Tibet Support Group Slovenia Tibetan
Association of Germany Tibetan Association of
Ithaca Tibetan Association of Northern
California Tibetan Association of Philadelphia
Tibetan Community Austria Tibetan Community in
Britain Tibetan Community in Denmark Tibetan
Community in Ireland Tibetan Community of Italy
Tibetan Community of Victoria Tibetan Community
Sweden Tibetan Community, Queensland Tibetan
Cultural Association – Quebec Tibetan Programme
of The Other Space Foundation Tibetan Women’s
Association (Central) Tibetans of Mixed Heritage
Tibetisches Zentrum Hamburg TIBETmichigan
Toronto Association for Democracy in China
Torontonian HongKongers Action Group US
HongKongers Club U.S. Tibet Committee Uigur
Society of the Kyrgyz Republic Umer Uyghur Trust
United Nations for a Free Tibet (UNFFT) Uyghur
Academy Uyghur Academy Europe Uyghur American
Association Uyghur Association of Victoria
Uyghur Association of France Uyghur Center for
Human Rights and Democracy Uyghur Cultural and
Education Union in Germany Uyghur Education
Union Uyghur Projects Foundation Uyghur Refugee
Relief Fund Uyghur Research Institute Uyghur
Rights Advocacy Project Uyghur Support Group
Netherlands Uyghur Transitional Justice Database
Uyghur U.K. Association Uyghur Youth Union in
Kazakhstan Uzbekistan Uyghur Culture Center
Vancouver Hong Kong Forum Society Vancouver
Society in Support of Democratic Movement
Viktoria Uyghur Association Voces Tibet World
Uyghur Congress Foundation Will
Guterres be taking his Deputy Amina
J. Mohammed, supportive of the killing and
targeted detentions perpetrated by Buhari of
Nigeria? See, Identity Thieves - and,
forthcoming, Genocide Games of Guterres. For
now, Belt
and Roadkill.
February
14, 2022
Genocide Games
Put UN Guterres' and Bachelet's Lies on the Podium But
Enes Freedom's Ad Off-Air on NBC
UN GATE, Feb 7
–Hours before the Beijing Winter Olympics
a/k/a the Genocide Games kicked off, United
Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres was
there, issuing a canned video and equally
canned read-out with the IOC's Thomas Bach. It
was shameful.
Inner
City Press on January 24 in writing asked
Guterres' spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and
Melissa Fleming: "On SG Guterres' attendance
at the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics a/k/a
Genocide Games, please immediately confirm
knowledge by the UN of, and SG Guterres'
response to, this
letter." Nothing - no answer.
The
February 4 opening ceremony, Inner City Press
live tweeted, thread here
and below.
After blue-washing the mass incarceration of
Uighurs, the UN through its deputy spokesman
Farhan Haq claimed that it now has reason to
believe China will permit a credible visit by
Geneva-based Michele Bachelet, who has
personally delayed a report on Xinjiang while
issuing canned statements about Tunisia.
Meanwhile
even a paid ad about the Genocide Games,
featuring Turkish NBA player Enes Kanter
Freedom, was rejected by NBC. But as least
Mike Tirico mentioned the genocide. That a
sports journalist would surpass the UN
Secretary General in this shows just how
corrupted today's UN is, under Guterres.
On February 5
the UN said Guterres "met with H.E. Mr. Xi
Jinping, President of the People's Republic of
China, and H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, State Councilor and
Foreign Minister, on the margins of the 2022
Winter Olympic Games. He congratulated The
People’s Republic of China for the organization
of the Games and thanked the Chinese authorities
for their warm
hospitality. The
Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for
China’s strong support to the United Nations."
And himself,
through briber CEFC China Energy.
February
7, 2022
Genocide Games
Has Guterres Thanking Xi For Funds to UN and Himself
Through Briber CEFC, Banning Press
UN GATE, Feb 5
–Hours before the Beijing Winter Olympics
a/k/a the Genocide Games kicked off, United
Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres was
there, issuing a canned video and equally
canned read-out with the IOC's Thomas Bach. It
was shameful.
Inner
City Press on January 24 in writing asked
Guterres' spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and
Melissa Fleming: "On SG Guterres' attendance
at the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics a/k/a
Genocide Games, please immediately confirm
knowledge by the UN of, and SG Guterres'
response to, this
letter." Nothing - no answer.
The
February 4 opening ceremony, Inner City Press
live tweeted, thread here
and below.
On February 5
the UN said Guterres "met with H.E. Mr. Xi
Jinping, President of the People's Republic of
China, and H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, State Councilor
and Foreign Minister, on the margins of the
2022 Winter Olympic Games. He congratulated
The People’s Republic of China for the
organization of the Games and thanked the
Chinese authorities for their warm
hospitality. The
Secretary-General expressed his appreciation
for China’s strong support to the United
Nations." And himself,
through briber CEFC China Energy.
From Feb 4:
now #GenocideGames opening ceremony. Even NBC
has just said, albeit with qualifications,
that China is "alleged" to be committing
genocide against the Uighurs. Meanwhile
UN @AntonioGuterres says nothing,
except to praise Xi while hiding his links to
bribes
NBC guest says
viewers in China are not in the mood for
spectacle, under COVID lockdowns. Not said:
the Games are broadcast there on a delay, so
that the slightly protest by a brave athlete
(China knows they have Guterres in their
pocket) could be censored 2/x
Today with IOC
prez Bach, @AntonioGuterres : Amid
"anti-Muslim hatred, to be here... it’s a
fantastic message." Really? With host China
mass incarcerating more than a million Muslim
Uighurs, what is the message of UN's corrupt
Secretary General being there?
Amid the
#GenocideGames opening ceremony which
UNSG @AntonioGuterres is
bluewashing with a canned video UN only shares
with its in-house propagandists, UN sends out
"UNHCR’s Central Sahel operations are only 7
per cent funded." Because no credibility?
#UNdecay 4/x Inner City Press @innercitypress
·
Xi
stands with Bach, waving in a black glove. NBC
says the Chinese flag carriers represent
China's ethnic minorities. Yeah. Still
@UN_Spokesperson has only distributed
Guterres' prepared video to state media from
China, Qatar, etc
Countries
marching in based on number of strokes in
their names in Chinese - early on, Malaysia,
as EDNY court in Brooklyn prepares
COVID-restricted trial of 1 Malaysia
Development Bank prosecution of Roger Ng,
since UN-supported Jho Low is still on the lam
Inner City Press @innercitypress ·
Next in:
"Chinese Taipei." Which countries will be
renamed for China going forward? Note: In the
United Nations of @AntonioGuterres , no
journalist from Taiwan or its media, can even
enter the UN. Nor can Inner City Press, since
July 3, 2018
Now Portugal
delegation does walk of shame at
#GenocideOlympics. Still no mention at all of
invisible / corrupt UNSG
@AntonioGuterres , who flew all the way to
Beijing with some craven face time with Xi.
Update: IOC
Prez Bach, cover up man of silencing of Peng
Shuai, starts speech in French and name checks
his fellow genocide-supporter UNSG
@AntonioGuterres . UN has said Guterres has a
video to be shown, but only gave it under
embargo to complicit geno-supporters
On February 2
US Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) said,
"It’s shameful for António Guterres to appear
at the games. The U.N. has basically failed
human rights."
He may
not know the half of it.
Dujarric
bragged that Guterres would go "to Korea
and then taking a plane to Beijing and then
flying out commercially out of Beijing."
So the
plane to Beijing is not commercial. A CCP
private jet like UN briber Ng Lap Seng, or
Patrick Ho? During the Genocide Games,
Guterres will be "in the [closed] loop" and
will, Dujarric said, meet with Xi Jin Ping.
The UN did not exist in 1936 but it seems
clear that Guterres would have attended the
Nazi Olympics, too. At least if they, like
China through the China Energy Fund Committee,
flashed cash at one of Guterres' undisclosed
funders, the Gulbenkian Foundation, and
ensured him five more years of impunity in a
Manhattan mansion not far from Jeffrey
Epstein's.
Not
asked about the state media allowed into the
UN and Guterres' rare press conferences by his
head of media accreditation Melissa Fleming,
Guterres had received a letter to reconsider
his attendance. Had Guterres answered, or even
read it? Inner City Press would ask, if only
in writing while it remains banned from
entering the UN, and blocked on Twitter by
China's Ambassador Zhang.
The letter concludes, "as the highest
representative of the UN, your attendance will
be seen as credence to China’s blatant
disregard for international human rights laws
and serve to embolden the actions of the
Chinese authorities. We therefore urge you to
reconsider your decision to attend the 2022
Beijing Winter Games." Fat chance. Fat
Tony.
Sidebar on
Tony's cronies: Qatar state media asked about
why the UN escalators weren't working, to get
him up the three flights of stairs to Al
Jazeera's four large offices (there was, of
course, a bank of
elevators).
A retired French correspondent who had held a
fundraiser with now-convicted global pedophile
Ghislaine
Maxwell asked a similar question in
French. Dujarric, also French and a genocide
denier for the UN's Secretary General who less
gleefully covered up the Rwanda genocide,
answered in French, and smiled.
"No more questions?" Dujarric asked
rhetorically, glancing down at the empty
mirror of those the UN's media accreditation
chief Melissa
Fleming allow to ask questions remotely,
as nearly every institution in this time of
COVID-19, the link of which to Wuhan she spent
public money to censor. Then
I leave you in the hands of Paulina Kubiak,
Dujarric said.
The
second spokeswoman in only four months for UN
General Assembly President Abdul Shahid of the
Maldives, also purchased by China, also going
to the Genocide Games.
She
spoke, without irony, about Shahid calling for
an Olympic truce. This while the host was
involved in the mass killing and incarceration
of Uighurs in Xinjiang, or East Turkestan as
many including Kurt Wheelock referred to it.
For her, there
were no questions at all, not even about the
escalator. It was over. The UN's
legitimacy had died long before. But this was
a new low, and a new season. And a next text,
follow-up to Belt
and Roadkill: Genocide Games of
Guterres.
January 31, 2022
Genocide Games
Countdown as Guterres Will Meet Xi After Private Jet From
Seoul, Soulless
UN GATE, Jan
25 –Ten days before the Beijing Winter
Olympics a/k/a the Genocide Games, United
Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres
remains adamant that he and his team will
attend.
Inner
City Press on January 24 in writing asked
Guterres' spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and
Melissa Fleming: "On SG Guterres' attendance
at the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics a/k/a
Genocide Games, please immediately confirm
knowledge by the UN of, and SG Guterres'
response to, this
letter." Nothing - no answer.
But
Dujarric did brag that Guterres will leave in
the "middle of next week" - February 2? - and
will go "to Korea and then taking a plane to
Beijing and then flying out commercially out
of Beijing."
So the
plane to Beijing is not commercial. A CCP
private jet like UN briber Ng Lap Seng, or
Patrick Ho? During the Genocide Games,
Guterres will be "in the loop" and will,
Dujarric said, meet with Xi Jin Ping.
The UN did not exist in 1936 but it seems
clear that Guterres would have attended the
Nazi Olympics, too. At least if they, like
China through the China Energy Fund Committee,
flashed cash at one of Guterres' undisclosed
funders, the Gulbenkian Foundation, and
ensured him five more years of impunity in a
Manhattan mansion not far from Jeffrey
Epstein's.
Not
asked about the state media allowed into the
UN and Guterres' rare press conferences by his
head of media accreditation Melissa Fleming,
Guterres had received a letter to reconsider
his attendance. Had Guterres answered, or even
read it? Inner City Press would ask, if only
in writing while it remains banned from
entering the UN, and blocked on Twitter by
China's Ambassador Zhang.
The letter concludes, "as the highest
representative of the UN, your attendance will
be seen as credence to China’s blatant
disregard for international human rights laws
and serve to embolden the actions of the
Chinese authorities. We therefore urge you to
reconsider your decision to attend the 2022
Beijing Winter Games." Fat chance. Fat
Tony.
Sidebar on
Tony's cronies: Qatar state media asked about
why the UN escalators weren't working, to get
him up the three flights of stairs to Al
Jazeera's four large offices (there was, of
course, a bank of
elevators).
A retired French correspondent who had held a
fundraiser with now-convicted global pedophile
Ghislaine
Maxwell asked a similar question in
French. Dujarric, also French and a genocide
denier for the UN's Secretary General who less
gleefully covered up the Rwanda genocide,
answered in French, and smiled.
"No more questions?" Dujarric asked
rhetorically, glancing down at the empty
mirror of those the UN's media accreditation
chief Melissa
Fleming allow to ask questions remotely,
as nearly every institution in this time of
COVID-19, the link of which to Wuhan she spent
public money to censor. Then
I leave you in the hands of Paulina Kubiak,
Dujarric said.
The
second spokeswoman in only four months for UN
General Assembly President Abdul Shahid of the
Maldives, also purchased by China, also going
to the Genocide Games.
She
spoke, without irony, about Shahid calling for
an Olympic truce. This while the host was
involved in the mass killing and incarceration
of Uighurs in Xinjiang, or East Turkestan as
many including Kurt Wheelock referred to it.
For her, there
were no questions at all, not even about the
escalator. It was over. The UN's
legitimacy had died long before. But this was
a new low, and a new season. And a next text,
follow-up to Belt
and Roadkill: Genocide Games of
Guterres.
The letter is
signed by, among others, Mandie McKeown,
Executive Director, International Tibet Network
- on behalf of: Dorjee Tseten Dolkun Isa Frances
Hui Students for a Free Tibet World Uyghur
Congress We The Hongkongers Rushan Abbas Jenny
Wang Tashi Shitsetsang Campaign for Uyghurs Keep
Taiwan Free Tibetan Youth Association Europe
John Jones Dr Zoe Bedford Teng Biao Free Tibet
Australia Tibet Council China Against the Death
Penalty 周锋锁 Zhou Fengsuo Mattias Bjornerstedt
Bhuchung Tsering Humanitarian China Swedish
Tibet Committee International Campaign for Tibet
Lhadon Tethong Omer Kanat Tibet Action Institute
Uyghur Human Rights Project Enghebatu Togochog
Southern Mongolian Human Rights Center and the
following organisations: ACT Tibetan Community
Action Free Hong Kong Montreal Aide aux Refugies
Tibetains Alberta Uyghur Association Amigos de
Tibet, Colombia Amigos del Tíbet, Chile Amigos
del Tíbet, El Salvador Anterrashtriya Bharat –
Tibbet Sahyog Samiti AREF International Onlus
Asociación Cultural Peruano Tibetana Asociación
Cultural Tibetano Costarricense Association
Cognizance Tibet, North Carolina Association
Drôme Ardèche-Tibet Associazione Italia-Tibet
Association of the New School for Democracy
Atlas Movement Australia China Watch Australian
East Turkestan Association Australian and New
Zealand Alliance for Victims of the Chinese
Communist Regime Australian Uyghur Association
Australian Uyghur Tangritagh Women’s Association
Austria Uyghur Association Bath District Tibet
Support Group Bay Area Friends of Tibet Belgium
Uyghur Association Bharrat Tibbat Sahyog Manch,
India Birmingham Stands with Hong Kong Boston
Tibet Network Boston Uyghur Association
Briancon05 Urgence Tibet Bristol Tibet Burst the
Bubble UK CADAL Canada Tibet Committee Canadian
Coalition Against Communism Captive Nations
Coalition Casa del Tibet – Spain Casa Tibet
México Centro De Cultura Tibetana, Brazil China
Alarm Circle of Friends (Philippines) Citizen
Power Initiatives for China Comité de Apoyo al
Tibet (CAT) Comité pour la Liberté à Hong-Kong
Committee of 100 for Tibet Core Group for
Tibetan Cause, India Cornell Society for the
Promotion of East Asian Liberty Covenants Watch
Czechs Support Tibet DC Chapter of China
Democracy Party DC4HK - Washingtonians
Supporting Hong Kong Defend Democracy Dream for
Children, Japan Dutch Uyghur Human Rights
Foundation East Turkistan Association in Finland
East Turkistan Association of Canada East
Turkistan Education Center in Europe East
Turkistan New Generation Movement East Turkistan
Nuzugum Culture and Family Organization East
Turkistan Press and Media Organization Liberal
Democratic League of Ukraine Lions Des Neiges
Mont Blanc, FranceLungta Association Belgium
Maison des HimalayasMaison du Tibet – Tibet Info
Mavi Hilal Humanitarian Organization McGill Hong
Kong Public Awareness and Social Service
McMaster Stands With Hong Kong National Campaign
for Tibetan Support, India National Democratic
Party of Tibet Netherlands for Hong Kong Never
Again Right Now Northern California Hong Kong
Club Norwegian Tibet Committee Norwegian Uyghur
Committee NY4HK Objectif Tibet Passeport
Tibetain Ontario Hong Kong Youth Action (OHKYA)
Perth Anti-CCP Association Phagma Drolma-Arya
Tara Power to Hongkongers RangZen:Movimento
Tibete Livre, Brazil Regional Tibetan
Association of Massachusetts Roof of the World
Foundation, Indonesia Sakya Trinley Ling Santa
Barbara Friends of Tibet Save the Mongolian
Language Save the Persecuted Christians Save
Tibet Foundation Save Tibet, Austria Shukr
Foundation Sierra Friends of Tibet Society for
Threatened Peoples International Society Union
of Uyghur National Association STAND Canada
Stand With Hong Kong Vienna Stop Uyghur Genocide
Canada Students for a Free Tibet – Canada
Students for a Free Tibet – UK Students for a
Free Tibet – Denmark Students for a Free Tibet –
India Students for a Free Tibet – Japan Students
for a Free Tibet – Taiwan Students For Hong Kong
Support Hong Kong Independence Movement Sweden
Uyghur Education Union Swedish Tibet Committee
Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association (GSTF)
Switzerland East Turkestan Association 台灣永社
Taiwan Forever Association Taiwan Friends of
Tibet Taiwan East Turkistan Association Taiwan
New Constitution Foundation Taiwan Association
for Human Rights Taiwan Labour Front Tashi Delek
Bordeaux The Youth Liberation Front of Tibet,
Mongolia and Turkestan Tibet Action Group of
Western Australia Tibet cesky (Tibet in Czech)
Tibet Committee of Fairbanks Tibet Group, Panama
East Turkistan Union in Europe Eastern Turkistan
Foundation Eastern Turkistan Uyghur Association
in Netherlands EcoTibet Ireland Étudiants Pour
Un Tibet Libre Euro-Asia Foundation: Teklimakan
Publishing House European Uyghur Institute
Federation for a Democratic China Fight for
Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong Foundation for
Universal Responsibility of H. H. the Dalai Lama
France-Tibet Freedom Ummah Free Indo-Pacific
Alliance Free Tibet Fukuoka FREE TIBET ITALIA
Friends of Tibet in Costa Rica Friends of Tibet
in Finland Friends of Tibet New Zealand
Friends4Tibet Germany Stands with Hong Kong
Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted
Minorities Global Solidarity with Hong Kong -
Chicago Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete, Portugal
Halifax-Hong Kong Link Hong Kong Committee in
Norway Hong Kong Democracy Council Hong Kong
Affairs Association of Berkeley (HKAAB) Hong
Kong Forum, Los Angeles Hong Kong Liberty
Hongkongers At McGill Hong Kong Outlanders Hong
Kong Social Action Movements in Boston Hong
Kongers in San Francisco Bay Area Human Rights
Solidarity Human Rights Network for Tibet and
Taiwan Ilham Tohti Initiative India Tibet
Friendship Society International Coalition to
End Transplant Abuse in China Institute for
China's Democratic Transition International Pen
Uyghur Center International Society for Human
Rights- Sweden International Society of Human
Rights, Munich Chapter International Support for
Uyghurs International Tibet Independence
Movement International Uyghur Human Right and
Democracy Foundation Isa Yusup Alptekin
Foundation Israeli Friends of the Tibetan People
Japan Association of Monks for Tibet (Super
Sangha) Japan Uyghur Association Jewish movement
for Uyghur freedom Justice 4 Uyghurs Justice for
Uyghurs - Switzerland Justice For All Canada
Kazakhstan National Culture Center Latvia for
Tibet Le Club Français, Paraguay Les Amis du
Tibet – Belgium Les Amis du Tibet Luxembourg
Tibet Initiative Deutschland Tibet Justice
Center Tibet Lives, India Tibet Mx Tíbet Patria
Libre, Uruguay Tibet Rescue Initiative in Africa
Tibet Solidarity Tibet Society of South Africa
Tibet Support Committee Denmark Tibet Support
Group Adelaide Tibet Support Group Kenya Tibet
Support Group Kiku, Japan Tibet Support Group
Netherlands Tibet Support Group Slovenia Tibetan
Association of Germany Tibetan Association of
Ithaca Tibetan Association of Northern
California Tibetan Association of Philadelphia
Tibetan Community Austria Tibetan Community in
Britain Tibetan Community in Denmark Tibetan
Community in Ireland Tibetan Community of Italy
Tibetan Community of Victoria Tibetan Community
Sweden Tibetan Community, Queensland Tibetan
Cultural Association – Quebec Tibetan Programme
of The Other Space Foundation Tibetan Women’s
Association (Central) Tibetans of Mixed Heritage
Tibetisches Zentrum Hamburg TIBETmichigan
Toronto Association for Democracy in China
Torontonian HongKongers Action Group US
HongKongers Club U.S. Tibet Committee Uigur
Society of the Kyrgyz Republic Umer Uyghur Trust
United Nations for a Free Tibet (UNFFT) Uyghur
Academy Uyghur Academy Europe Uyghur American
Association Uyghur Association of Victoria
Uyghur Association of France Uyghur Center for
Human Rights and Democracy Uyghur Cultural and
Education Union in Germany Uyghur Education
Union Uyghur Projects Foundation Uyghur Refugee
Relief Fund Uyghur Research Institute Uyghur
Rights Advocacy Project Uyghur Support Group
Netherlands Uyghur Transitional Justice Database
Uyghur U.K. Association Uyghur Youth Union in
Kazakhstan Uzbekistan Uyghur Culture Center
Vancouver Hong Kong Forum Society Vancouver
Society in Support of Democratic Movement
Viktoria Uyghur Association Voces Tibet World
Uyghur Congress Foundation Will
Guterres be taking his Deputy Amina
J. Mohammed, supportive of the killing and
targeted detentions perpetrated by Buhari of
Nigeria? See, Identity Thieves - and,
forthcoming, Genocide Games of Guterres. For
now, Belt
and Roadkill.
January
22, 2022
UN Guterres
Says Genocide Olympics For All As Stacks Deck Banning
Ghislaine Maxwell Link Qs
UN GATE /
SDNY, Jan 21 – Each day, the current United
Nations gets worse. We have questioned
Secretary General Antonio Guterres moving from
concealing his links to indicted pedophile
procurer Ghislaine Maxwell and to UN briber
CEFC China Energy to banning the Press that
asks, also about failures on Sri Lanka,
Cameroon, Haiti, Honduras (Narco President
JOH) & Nigeria (Nnamdi and Igboho).
In a
January propaganda push to keep the pressure
off China about Xinjiang and the money flowing
to himself, Guterres on January 20 gave or was
given a fawning interview, culminating in that
he "said he will be attending the Beijing
Olympics in February 'which is not a political
act but to be present when all the world comes
together for good – for a peaceful message.'"
But
China has banned other attendees, even its own
people. Guterres is a similar censor.
For his
scam January 21 "press" conference, Guterres
has stacked the deck with sycophants: "Dear
colleagues, The UN Secretary-General
will hold a HYBRID press conference tomorrow,
Friday, January 21st at 1:30pm in the Press
Briefing Room (S-237). The press conference
will host a limited amount of journalists with
distancing restrictions, and the rest will
continue to participate virtually on the Webex
platform. Only a maximum of 10 UN
correspondents (8 resident correspondents, 2
non-resident correspondents) plus 1 photo and
1 video (on a rotating basis), can be safely
accommodated (vaccinations and masks are
required). RSVPs will be taken on a
first come first served basis. Please send
your name no later than 4:00 PM TODAY
with the subject line "RSVP 01/21" if you want
to attend. The first 10 names will
receive a confirmation from the UNCA Office
and will be sent to MALU. Only those who
received the confirmation email will be able
to attend the briefing. (No need to reply if
you do NOT want to attend) We will
send a note if/when RSVP's reach
capacity. Thank you for your
attention and cooperation. Valeria
Robecco President, United Nations
Correspondents Association."
Then, "Dear
colleagues, This is to advise that RSVPs
for tomorrow's hybrid press conference with
the UN Secretary-General has reached capacity.
Please continue to attend online. All
additional names will be added to the waiting
list. Thank you UNCA OFFICE."
What
won't be asked? Guterres' support for
Ghislaine Maxwell, and cover up of child rapes
by UN peacekeepers. His bribes from China, and
his censorship of the Press that asks.
Guterres had a representative on Ghislaine
Maxwell's Terramar board of directors, one of
only five members of the board: Amir Dossal.
Inner City Press asked about that, and about
Jeffrey Epstein's UN fellowship. Not only
wouldn't Guterres answer - he had Inner City
Press roughed up and banned, now 1353 days.
The
board members
of the UN
Correspondents
Association,
functioning it
seems as
Guterres'
partner in
banning Inner
City Press,
after dodging
its questions
about money
they took from
Chinese
government
briber Ng Lap
Seng's South
South News and
an UNCA
officer's
financial link
with an
accused war
criminal from
Sri Lanka,
have neither
responded to
or offered any
explanation
when a
lawyer's
letter from
the Quinn
Emanuel firm,
on ongoing pro
bono
engagement- to
each UNCA
Executive
Committee
member - urged
them to have a
dialogue about
ending the
UN's banning
and censorship
of Inner City
Press.
Now on
December 8,
amid the
Ghislaine
Maxwell trial
in the U.S.
District Court
for the
Southern
District of
New York
(Inner City
Press cited in
the Telegraph
and Sun,
and on radio)
UNCA is
raising money
selling access
to Guterres at
Cipriani at 25
Broadway, in
what some call
the
Pedophiles'
Ball.
After a full
day of
covering the
Maxwell trial,
Inner City
Press went
there, to seek
an answer from
Guterres. Live
stream from
Foley Square here;
1 hour stream
from outside
the
Pedophiles'
Ball here.
Inner City
Press greeted
US Ambassador
Jeffrey
DeLaurentis,
who knows
about
Guterres' ban
of the Press
but has done
nothing, and
commented on
the entry of
Saudi's
ambassador,
with craven
UNCA asking
nothing about
Jamal
Khashoggi.
But it emerged
that Guterres,
the guest of
honor access
to whom had
been sold,
would be a
no-show. Inner
City Press put
the question
of the new UN
child rape in
Gabon to
Guterres' head
of censorship
/
accreditation
Melissa
Fleming at the
end of this
video, here.
There has been
no answer.
The
Quinn
Emanuel letter
was received
by the UN's
Melissa
Fleming, Maria
Luiza Vioti
and Tal Mekel
and to each
UNCA Executive
Board member,
to them citing
UNCA's stated
goals that it
has a charter
to supposedly
uphold.
Nothing, yet.
UN Censorship
Gala I: no answers on
@AntonionGutertes links with
pedophile #GhislaineMaxwell
(Dossal on Terramar board),
Epstein IPI, today's UN Gabon
rapes in CAR https://t.co/W93z0oxEuH
What's
next? Since
the letter,
Inner City
Press has
published
exclusive
stories not
only from the
U.S. court
systems but
about the
United
Nations,
including its
agencies UNOPS,
UNFPA,UNITAR
and UNESCO.
(Also credited
in AP,
Daily
Mail, and
Nigeria's
Sahara
Reporters,
amid answers
from the IMF.)
But
none of its
written
questions have
been answered
by the UN
Spokespeople,
now including
Paulina Kubiak
for the UN
PGA, and it
remains banned
from entry to
the UN's
briefings.
This must
end.
Those
in receipt of
the first,
friendly
letter:
melissa.fleming@un.org,
marialuiza.viotti@un.org,
mekel@un.org,
malu@un.org,
and
UNCA
Valeria
Robecco, ANSA
News Agency,
Nabil Abi
Saab,
Al-Araby,
Jianguo Ma,
Xinhua News
Agency, Edith
Lederer,
Associated,
Giampaolo
Pioli,
Quotidiano,
Linda Fasulo,
Ibtisam Azem,
Al-Araby
Al-Jadeed
Newspaper, Ali
Barada, France
24, Asharq
Al-Awsat;
Oscar Bolanos,
OMB News,
Sherwin
Bryce-Pease,
SABC South
Africa -
Alexander
Hassanein, The
Tokyo Shimbun,
Maria
Khrenova,
TASS, Philippe
Rater, Agence
France-Presse,
Kaori Yoshida,
Nikkei, Betul
Yuruk, Anadolu
Agency at
president@unca.com,
valeria.robecco@gmail.com,
nabisaab@gmail.com,
mjg222888@gmail.com,
elederer@ap.org,
giampioli@aol.com,
lindafasulo@gmail.com,
ibtisam.azem@alaraby.co.uk,
abarada@hotmail.com,
ombyvozque@gmail.com,
s.brycepease@gmail.com,
alexander@tokyoshimbun.us,
khrenova_m@tass.ru,
philippe.rater@afp.com,
kaori.yoshida@nex.nikkei.com,
byuruk@aa.com.tr
Three
of the 15 are
from French
media, two
from Italy,
with various
dictatorships
represented.
Newly
"elected" is
Carrie Neuton
of Le Monde,
with 32 votes.
She is now
responsible
for the UNCA
board's lack
of response to
a law firm's
letter about
their / her
role in
censorship.
Will there be
a response?
We'll have
more on this.
Watch this
site.
***
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support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
January 17, 2022
Biden's
Acceptance of Press Restrictions by UN Raised to CPJ on
Night & Day Report, Kabul and Assange
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Jan 13 – The Biden
Administration's record on press freedom was
the topic of a report and Zoom press
conference by the Committee to Protect
Journalists held on January 13.
Amid
substantial praise of the Biden administration
in contrast to its predecessor, mild criticism
was leveled against the Administration's
position on Julian Assange and performance in
getting journalists out of Afghanistan.
Inner
City Press asked questions, in writing and
then by audio over
Zoom:
"Is the Biden
Administration committed to press freedom at
international organizations? The question is
in context of his State Department being yet
to act on the United Nations in New York
banning all journalists from Taiwan, for
example, and also ousting and banning US-based
Inner City Press amid its investigative
reporting, with no way to appeal or get back
in. The Department has been asked but done
nothing.
"See also...
recent UN Appeals Tribunal full panel decision
about the UN's lifetime ban on Inner City
Press, saying it is up to member states -
like, the US / Biden Administration?
Separately,
what do you think of DOJ's press
accessibility, given their withholding of
court exhibits in the Jan 6 cases and the
recent Ghislaine Maxwell trial?"
While
not directly answered by CPJ Deputy Executive
Director Robert Mahoney during the
press conference - the report's author Leonard
Downie said the issue of DOJ withholding court
exhibits in the US v. Ghislaine Maxwell trial
in SDNY and the January 6 cases in DDC had not
been raised to him by the journalists he chose
to speak with - later CPJ provided these
answers, which are appreciated:
"With respect
to the question you raised about Taiwan; We
believe that international bodies that require
accreditation should ensure that journalists
are eligible for such accreditation
irrespective of their country of origin or
that of their news outlet. For bodies like the
U.N., accreditation processes must uphold
their stated commitments to press freedom and
take into account the need for journalists
from all over the world to meaningfully access
and engage in news-gathering activities.
With
regards to your question about the Biden
Administration's committed to press freedom at
international organizations, that question is
best directed at the Administration.
While
the UN can reasonably assert that violating
known guidelines could result in the loss of
credentials, it was not as transparent as it
could have been throughout its investigation.
We would encourage the UN to implement a more
transparent investigation process for
incidents involving accredited press, both
resident or non-resident. Any formal process
adopted by the UN for reviewing credentials
should provide an opportunity where the
journalist is able to respond to any
allegations made against them."
On this last, the next question is what will
CPJ, omnipresent at the UN including meeting
directly with SG Antonio Guterres and
presumably Guterres' media accreditation (and
blocking) chief Melissa Fleming, actually do
to make the UN do this?
The UN has
provided no due process, no appeals process,
and has kept Inner City Press banned since
July 3, 2018 based on unspecified (and
dubious) violations, such as staking out a UN
budget committee evening meeting as Inner City
Press had under Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon.
The only difference? Antonio Guterres, CPJ's
apparently good friend.
The CPJ report
is ‘Night and day’: The Biden administration and
the press, by Leonard Downie Jr., here.
Watch this site.
January
10, 2022
UN Corrupted by Norway
Censoring For Jeffrey Epstein Links Mona Juul DRC Cameroon
COVID UNAnswered
SDNY / UN
GATE, Jan 7 – Ghislaine
Maxwell, charged with six
counts of sex trafficking
and other charges, was late on
December 29 found guilty
on five of the six counts.
Inner City Press, which pressed for a
public call-in line and
unsealing
of exhibits throughout,
live tweeted
it here.
Now
#MaximumMaxwell
book here.
The day
after the
guilty verdict
for Jeffrey
Epstein's
procurer and
partner
Ghislaine
Maxwell, Inner
City Press
wrote to
Norway's
Mission to the
UN, whose
Ambassador
Mona Juul is
president of
the UN
Security
Council for
January 2022.
Juul
is also the
wife and
partner of
Terje
Roed-Larsen,
whose
International
Peace
Institute
connections to
Epstein Inner
City Press
exposed,
before it was
thrown
out of the
UN by UNSG
Antonio
Guterres (with
his
own
Maxwell links. Inner
City Press was
also removed
by IPI, here.)
Inner
City Press
again asked
Norway's UN
Mission about
these
connections,
including
Epstein's
$130,000
personal loan
to Roed-Larsen
(and at least
$650,000 in
grants to
IPI), and for
access to
Juul's January
4, 1 pm press
conference of
UNSC
President.
A week
later there
had been no
answer at all
- total
corruption.
Crown Princess
Mette-Marit of
Norway
cavorted with
Epstein long
after he
served time
for under-age
sex; the
Celina
Mildfart
connection was
testified to
at the Maxwell
trial.
So
on January 7
Inner City
Press sent not
only Juul but
also Astrid Sehl, Trine Heimerback and Nini Pharo Halle
(other Norway
mission
staffers, paid
by the public,
are listed
only as firstname.lastname,
corrupt)
this:
"Again,
because you
are president
of the UN
Security
Council for
January, Inner
City Press is
sending you
these
questions for
response on
deadline - be
aware they
have been put
to the UN
Spokesperson
and Secretary
General as
well, without
answer - what
has the UN
come to? This
is to you, on
deadline:
On DRC /
MONUSCO and
Burundi, what
are the
comments and
actions if any
of SG Guterres
on that
Burundian
troops have
been sighted
in South-Kivu
province,
eastern DRC,
according to
local
sources?
On Cameroon
what are the
comments and
actions if any
of SG Guterres
on that A
senior
official
involved in
Cameroon's
hosting of the
Africa Cup of
Nations has
assured that
separatist
rebels pose no
threat to the
tournament,
which begins
on
Sunday.
Engamba
Emmanuel
Ledoux
admitted that
last week
groups
fighting for
the
independence
of Anglophone
Cameroon set
off an
explosion in
the town of
Limbé, which
will host some
of the
games.
But he said
the government
had introduced
security
measures to
stop the
rebels from
attacking the
event or the
nearby town of
Buer, where
some of the
players are
expected to
stay.
"The threats
have been
going on. This
is not the
first time.
You know, we
organized the
Chan [African
Nations
Championship]
last year
within the
same
environment,"
he
said.
On Burundi,
Rwanda and
COVID what are
the comments
and actions if
any of SG
Guterres on
that twelve
Rwandans
including
women and
children have
been pushed
out by
Burundian
authorities
after refusing
to get the
Covid
jab.
They spent
more than five
days on the
Nyakarama hill
in Kirundo
province in
northern
Burundi.
They said they
had fled the
ongoing
mandatory
vaccination
campaign in
Rwanda.
The provincial
governor,
Albert
Hatungimana,
directed that
they be
deported to
Rwanda.
Last Thursday,
nine other
Rwandan
nationals were
repatriated to
their country
by the
authorities in
the province.
They had also
fled the
mandatory
vaccination
campaign.
In a security
meeting, the
governor
signalled on
Tuesday that
he could not
welcome people
who do not
adhere to the
government's
Covid-19
response
programme.
He said
everyone had
to get
vaccinated so
as to be
allowed to
stay in the
country.
On the UN's
ban of Inner
City Press,
from UNHQ and
also UNDT
proceeding,
what is
SG Guterres'
response to
this:
UNAT:
https://www.un.org/en/internaljustice/files/unat/judgments/2021-UNAT-1170.pdf
my appeal was
initially
assigned to a
three judge
panel, two of
whom ended up
on the dissent
favoring me.
So it appears
they recruit
four more
judges,
without
following
their own
rules and
informing
me.
From the
dissent of
Judge Colgan,
Auckland, New
Zealand, Judge
Sandhu,
Vancouver,
Canada and
Judge Neven,
Brussels,
Belgium: "In
addition to
not being
entitled to
use it
as a sanction
for contempt
against Mr.
Lee for
reasons set
out by us
above, we do
not
consider that
the UNDT can
otherwise ban
his attendance
at hearings
indefinitely
and in
blanket
fashion.
Accepting that
closing
hearings of
proceedings
may arguably
include
closing
them
selectively to
certain
persons,
exceptional
circumstances
will be
required for
such an
order to be
made, and on a
case-by-case
basis."
But SG
Guterres has
created a
lifetime ban
on Inner City
Press, at
least since 3
July 2018,
with no answer
by USG Melissa
Fleming, to
Quinn
Emanuel's
letter. How is
this
consistent
with the most
basic respect
for press
freedom?
Even the 4-3
majority
decision of
Judge Halfeld,
Presiding,
Juiz de Fora,
Brazil, Judge
Murphy, Cape
Town, South
Africa, Judge
Raikos,
Athens,
Greece
and Judge
Knierim,
Hamburg,
Germanyconcludes:
"insofar as
Mr. Lee may or
may not have a
legitimate
grievance,
redress
does not
lie in the
hands of the
Appeals
Tribunal." And
the SG??
On Tunisia
what are the
comments and
actions if any
of SG Guterres
on that
Supporters of
a former
Tunisian
justice
minister say
he’s fighting
for his life
after refusing
food and
medication
since his
arrest last
week.
Noureddine
Bhiri, deputy
chairman of
the Islamist
Ennahdha
party, is
accused of
possible
terrorism
offences. His
supporters
deny the
allegations.
Mr Bhiri, who
played a
central role
in Tunisian
politics
before
President Kais
Saied
suspended
parliament
last July, is
said to suffer
from several
serious
pre-existing
health
problems.
His Ennahdha
party
colleague,
Samir Dilou,
said medical
sources had
described the
former
minister as
being “between
life and
death”.
On South
Sudan, what
are the
comments and
actions if any
on that South
Sudan’s
President
Salva Kiir has
dismissed the
central bank
governor and
appointed a
replacement.
The dismissal
of Dier Tong
Ngor was
announced in a
presidential
decree read on
the national
broadcaster on
Monday
night.
No reasons
were given for
his
sacking.
He was
replaced by
Moses Makur
Deng who has
been a
director-general
in charge of
banks’
supervision
and research
at the
bank.
South Sudan’s
economy is
driven by oil,
which accounts
for nearly 90%
of the
country’s
national
budget.
The economy is
in a bad shape
due to the
conflict and
the drop in
global oil
price as a
result of
Covid-19
pandemic.
On UN sexual
abuse, as
Inner City
Press asked
each of you on
Dec 27, 2021
with no
answer, "On UN
sexual
exploitation
and abuse -
alleged - this
is a request
on the new
cases of UN
sexual abuse
by UN
"peacekeepers"
from Cameroon
UN
"peaceekeepers"
in CAR and
Indian
peacekeeper in
DRC data
dumped at
11:31 a.m. on
Dec 27, 2021
along with
another case
in CAR by a
"peacekeeper"
from Burundi,
and the
previous UN
child rape in
CAR by UN
"peacekeeping"
troop Burkina
Faso (Oct 19)
and from
Burundi -
child rape! -
and SEA by
Tanzania
troops in DRC
data dumped at
12:02 pm on
Oct 7, and
earlier
(unanswered)
from Peru
(Sept 29),
Gabon and "the
Congo" - and
Nepal
peacekeeper
child rape in
DRC -
data-dumped at
10:07 am on
July 21, 2021
that you
immediately
provide the
"if asked"
information
and answer
this:
Why has USG
Fleming not
deigned to
answer in any
way the Quinn
Emanuel law
firm's letter
to her dated
July 6, 2021
regarding
re-admitting
Inner City
Press as a UN
resident
correspondent?
also all those
earlier in
July and the
June 15
data-dumped
cases none of
you have
answered Inner
City Press on,
also about
case of child
rape in CAR by
a Gabon
"peacekeeper,"
a UN civilian
child rape in
DRC and a UN
civil sex
abuse case in
South Sudan,
all data
dumped at
12:35 pm on
Jan 5, 2021,
after Farhan
Haq's
2-question
"briefing" and
the earlier
cases of
child rape and
sexual
exploitation
by UN
"peacekeepers"
from Morocco,
Uruguay,
Ethiopia,
Senegal and
Benin and
again
Cameroon, in
DRC and
Central
African
Republic just
cursorily data
dumped onto
the UN website
today December
10 (Human
Rights Day and
that you
immediately
provide the
"granular"
information
that was
promised today
at noon to
correspondents
who barely ask
or publish
about this
topic. What is
being done for
the victims?
Also, again,
what is
Guterres'
answer, which
you refused to
provide after
banned Inner
City Press
asked you and
others in
writing on the
morning of
August 19 that
you
"immediately
provide all
if-asked and
additional
information
about the new
allegation of
SEA announced
of child rape
by a
Cameroonian
"peacekeeper"
in DR Congo,
and why this
has been left
so long
UNanswered -
and also why
previously
published
charges are no
longer in the
data to which
UN
Peacekeeping
Conduct and
Discipline
points,
including what
if being done
for these
victims and
any steps
taken to avoid
this constant
repetition of
abuse despite
the SG's
ostensible
commitments.
Again, are new
allegations
being buried
elsewhere on
the data page?
Inner City
Press is
asking in
writing
because banned
from the noon
briefings and
any follow up
questions, now
for more than
a year. On
August 24
Inner City
Press
re-applied for
admission to
cover the UNGA
high level
week; on
August 30 it
was summarily
rejected, with
no or only
Kafka-esque
reasoning.
Today, as
before none of
Inner City
Press' written
questions,
including on
Cameroon, have
been answered.
This is a
request that
you
immediately
confirm
receipt of
these
questions and
requests.
This is a
request that
you
immediately
confirm
receipt of
these
questions and
requests and
explain how UN
spox and
official
blocking such
questions is
not complicity
-Matthew
Russell Lee,
InnerCityPress.com"
SDNY / UN
GATE, Jan 1 – Ghislaine
Maxwell, charged with six
counts of sex trafficking
and other charges, was late on
December 29 found guilty
on five of the six counts.
Inner City Press, which pressed for a
public call-in line and
unsealing
of exhibits throughout,
live tweeted
it here.
Now
#MaximumMaxwell
book here.
The day
after the
guilty verdict
for Jeffrey
Epstein's
procurer and
partner
Ghislaine
Maxwell, Inner
City Press
wrote to
Norway's
Mission to the
UN, whose
Ambassador
Mona Juul is
president of
the UN
Security
Council for
January 2022.
Juul
is also the
wife and
partner of
Terje
Roed-Larsen,
whose
International
Peace
Institute
connections to
Epstein Inner
City Press
exposed,
before it was
thrown
out of the
UN by UNSG
Antonio
Guterres (with
his
own
Maxwell links. Inner
City Press was
also removed
by IPI, here.)
Inner
City Press
again asked
Norway's UN
Mission about
these
connections,
including
Epstein's
$130,000
personal loan
to Roed-Larsen
(and at least
$650,000 in
grants to
IPI), and for
access to
Juul's January
4, 1 pm press
conference of
UNSC
President.
Two days later
there had been
no answer at
all - total
corruption.
Crown Princess
Mette-Marit of
Norway
cavorted with
Epstein long
after he
served time
for under-age
sex; the
Celina
Mildfart
connection was
testified to
at the Maxwell
trial.
So
this is
corrupting not
only Norway and
its UN Mission,
but the UN
Security
Council. Inner
City Press will
have more, much
more, on this.
Watch this site.
December
27, 2021
UN Votes
Itself $3.2 Billion In Public Funds With Press Banned
& No Summary for Days
UN GATE, Dec
24 – After UN
President of the General Assembly John Ashe
was indicted for taking bribes from Chinese
government businessman Ng Lap Seng, and died
before trial, the UN's lone reform was to say
that future PGAs would disclose how their
office and travel and staff members were
funded.
And now, even
that insufficient reform is not being complied
with. And the Press that asks about ongoing UN
corruption is banned.
Inner
City Press has written to PGA Abdulla Shahid's
spokespeople Monica Grayley and now Paulina
Kubiak, "state when you will put on the PGA
website the financial and staffing information
committed to after the indictment of then PGA
John Ashe."
Despite
Kubiak asking for it to be resent, the
question has yet to be answered. To this has
the UN sunk. On December 24 she put out this:
"Concluding the main part of its seventy-sixth
session early Friday morning, the General
Assembly adopted numerous draft resolutions
and decisions presented by its main
committees, including one recommending a $3.12
billion programme budget for 2022. A
complete summary of the meeting will be
provided on Monday, 27 December." $3 billion
and no summary for days. So see this
Inner City Press video with commentary, here.
There is a
pending application to the UN Media
Accreditation and Liaison Unit, acknowledged
but not acted on.
On September 17,
with the "Team" section of PGA Shahid's website
still empty, Inner City Press wrote to two other
staffers in the PGA's office, Carl Mercer
Lead, Communications, Advocacy &
Speechwriting and Ahmed Salman Zaki, Executive
Assistant to the PGA. Months later, no answer.
$3 billion for nothing. Watch this site.
December
20, 2021
At UN New
Chief of Staff Blocks Press From Day 1, Rattray Serves
Guterres GMax Link
UN GATE /
SDNY, Dec 17 – Each day, the current United
Nations gets worse. We have questioned
Secretary General Antonio Guterres moving from
concealing his links to indicted pedophile
procurer Ghislaine Maxwell and to UN briber
CEFC China Energy to banning the Press that
asks, also about failures on Sri Lanka,
Cameroon, Haiti, Honduras (Narco President
JOH) & Nigeria (Nnamdi and Igboho).
On
December 17, while still banning Inner City
Press, Guterres named a new chief of staff. It
is Courtenay Rattray, a man who even before
taking this hatchet-man job was ALREADY
blocking Inner City Press on Twitter, photo here.
This is
the UN of Guterres - a place of censorship.
Guterres had a representative on Ghislaine
Maxwell's Terramar board of directors, one of
only five members of the board: Amir Dossal.
Inner City Press asked about that, and about
Jeffrey Epstein's UN fellowship. Not only
wouldn't Guterres answer - he had Inner City
Press roughed up and banned, now 1353 days.
The
board members
of the UN
Correspondents
Association,
functioning it
seems as
Guterres'
partner in
banning Inner
City Press,
after dodging
its questions
about money
they took from
Chinese
government
briber Ng Lap
Seng's South
South News and
an UNCA
officer's
financial link
with an
accused war
criminal from
Sri Lanka,
have neither
responded to
or offered any
explanation
when a
lawyer's
letter from
the Quinn
Emanuel firm,
on ongoing pro
bono
engagement- to
each UNCA
Executive
Committee
member - urged
them to have a
dialogue about
ending the
UN's banning
and censorship
of Inner City
Press.
Now on
December 8,
amid the
Ghislaine
Maxwell trial
in the U.S.
District Court
for the
Southern
District of
New York
(Inner City
Press cited in
the Telegraph
and Sun,
and on radio)
UNCA is
raising money
selling access
to Guterres at
Cipriani at 25
Broadway, in
what some call
the
Pedophiles'
Ball.
After a full
day of
covering the
Maxwell trial,
Inner City
Press went
there, to seek
an answer from
Guterres. Live
stream from
Foley Square here;
1 hour stream
from outside
the
Pedophiles'
Ball here.
Inner City
Press greeted
US Ambassador
Jeffrey
DeLaurentis,
who knows
about
Guterres' ban
of the Press
but has done
nothing, and
commented on
the entry of
Saudi's
ambassador,
with craven
UNCA asking
nothing about
Jamal
Khashoggi.
But it emerged
that Guterres,
the guest of
honor access
to whom had
been sold,
would be a
no-show. Inner
City Press put
the question
of the new UN
child rape in
Gabon to
Guterres' head
of censorship
/
accreditation
Melissa
Fleming at the
end of this
video, here.
There has been
no answer.
The
Quinn
Emanuel letter
was received
by the UN's
Melissa
Fleming, Maria
Luiza Vioti
and Tal Mekel
and to each
UNCA Executive
Board member,
to them citing
UNCA's stated
goals that it
has a charter
to supposedly
uphold.
Nothing, yet.
UN Censorship
Gala I: no answers on
@AntonionGutertes links with
pedophile #GhislaineMaxwell
(Dossal on Terramar board),
Epstein IPI, today's UN Gabon
rapes in CAR https://t.co/W93z0oxEuH
What's
next? Since
the letter,
Inner City
Press has
published
exclusive
stories not
only from the
U.S. court
systems but
about the
United
Nations,
including its
agencies UNOPS,
UNFPA,UNITAR
and UNESCO.
(Also credited
in AP,
Daily
Mail, and
Nigeria's
Sahara
Reporters,
amid answers
from the IMF.)
But
none of its
written
questions have
been answered
by the UN
Spokespeople,
now including
Paulina Kubiak
for the UN
PGA, and it
remains banned
from entry to
the UN's
briefings.
This must
end.
Having
asked for a
collegial
discussion,
and while
still offering
it, things
must turn to
the law. UNCA
is a New York
State
non-profit
which has not
only not
abided by its
stated goals -
it has
tortiously
interfered
with a
journalist's
right to cover
the United
Nations.
The United
Nations itself
propounds
Article 19 of
the Universal
Declaration of
Human Rights,
and has other
legal duties
that must be
addressed by
national
courts,
particularly
in the UN's
host
country...
Of
course, none
of this
in-house
scribes
mentioned
Rattray's open
censorship.
Those
in receipt of
the first,
friendly
letter:
melissa.fleming@un.org,
marialuiza.viotti@un.org,
mekel@un.org,
malu@un.org,
and
UNCA
Valeria
Robecco, ANSA
News Agency,
Nabil Abi
Saab,
Al-Araby,
Jianguo Ma,
Xinhua News
Agency, Edith
Lederer,
Associated,
Giampaolo
Pioli,
Quotidiano,
Linda Fasulo,
Ibtisam Azem,
Al-Araby
Al-Jadeed
Newspaper, Ali
Barada, France
24, Asharq
Al-Awsat;
Oscar Bolanos,
OMB News,
Sherwin
Bryce-Pease,
SABC South
Africa -
Alexander
Hassanein, The
Tokyo Shimbun,
Maria
Khrenova,
TASS, Philippe
Rater, Agence
France-Presse,
Kaori Yoshida,
Nikkei, Betul
Yuruk, Anadolu
Agency at
president@unca.com,
valeria.robecco@gmail.com,
nabisaab@gmail.com,
mjg222888@gmail.com,
elederer@ap.org,
giampioli@aol.com,
lindafasulo@gmail.com,
ibtisam.azem@alaraby.co.uk,
abarada@hotmail.com,
ombyvozque@gmail.com,
s.brycepease@gmail.com,
alexander@tokyoshimbun.us,
khrenova_m@tass.ru,
philippe.rater@afp.com,
kaori.yoshida@nex.nikkei.com,
byuruk@aa.com.tr
Three
of the 15 are
from French
media, two
from Italy,
with various
dictatorships
represented.
Newly
"elected" is
Carrie Neuton
of Le Monde,
with 32 votes.
She is now
responsible
for the UNCA
board's lack
of response to
a law firm's
letter about
their / her
role in
censorship.
Will there be
a response?
We'll have
more on this.
Watch this
site.
***
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
December 13, 2021
UN Pedophiles
Gala Held As Guterres Linked To Ghislaine Maxwell No
Shows, No Answers
UN GATE /
SDNY, Dec 8 – Each day, the current United
Nations gets worse. We have questioned
Secretary General Antonio Guterres moving from
concealing his links to indicted pedophile
procurer Ghislaine Maxwell and to UN briber
CEFC China Energy to banning the Press that
asks, also about failures on Sri Lanka,
Cameroon, Haiti, Honduras (Narco President
JOH) & Nigeria (Nnamdi and Igboho).
Guterres had a representative on Ghislaine
Maxwell's Terramar board of directors, one of
only five members of the board: Amir Dossal.
Inner City Press asked about that, and about
Jeffrey Epstein's UN fellowship. Not only
wouldn't Guterres answer - he had Inner City
Press roughed up and banned, now 1353 days.
The
board members
of the UN
Correspondents
Association,
functioning it
seems as
Guterres'
partner in
banning Inner
City Press,
after dodging
its questions
about money
they took from
Chinese
government
briber Ng Lap
Seng's South
South News and
an UNCA
officer's
financial link
with an
accused war
criminal from
Sri Lanka,
have neither
responded to
or offered any
explanation
when a
lawyer's
letter from
the Quinn
Emanuel firm,
on ongoing pro
bono
engagement- to
each UNCA
Executive
Committee
member - urged
them to have a
dialogue about
ending the
UN's banning
and censorship
of Inner City
Press.
Now on
December 8,
amid the
Ghislaine
Maxwell trial
in the U.S.
District Court
for the
Southern
District of
New York
(Inner City
Press cited in
the Telegraph
and Sun,
and on radio)
UNCA is
raising money
selling access
to Guterres at
Cipriani at 25
Broadway, in
what some call
the
Pedophiles'
Ball.
After a full
day of
covering the
Maxwell trial,
Inner City
Press went
there, to seek
an answer from
Guterres. Live
stream from
Foley Square here;
1 hour stream
from outside
the
Pedophiles'
Ball here.
Inner City
Press greeted
US Ambassador
Jeffrey
DeLaurentis,
who knows
about
Guterres' ban
of the Press
but has done
nothing, and
commented on
the entry of
Saudi's
ambassador,
with craven
UNCA asking
nothing about
Jamal
Khashoggi.
But it emerged
that Guterres,
the guest of
honor access
to whom had
been sold,
would be a
no-show. Inner
City Press put
the question
of the new UN
child rape in
Gabon to
Guterres' head
of censorship
/
accreditation
Melissa
Fleming at the
end of this
video, here.
There has been
no answer.
The
Quinn
Emanuel letter
was received
by the UN's
Melissa
Fleming, Maria
Luiza Vioti
and Tal Mekel
and to each
UNCA Executive
Board member,
to them citing
UNCA's stated
goals that it
has a charter
to supposedly
uphold.
Nothing, yet.
UN Censorship
Gala I: no answers on
@AntonionGutertes links with
pedophile #GhislaineMaxwell
(Dossal on Terramar board),
Epstein IPI, today's UN Gabon
rapes in CAR https://t.co/W93z0oxEuH
What's
next? Since
the letter,
Inner City
Press has
published
exclusive
stories not
only from the
U.S. court
systems but
about the
United
Nations,
including its
agencies UNOPS,
UNFPA,UNITAR
and UNESCO.
(Also credited
in AP,
Daily
Mail, and
Nigeria's
Sahara
Reporters,
amid answers
from the IMF.)
But
none of its
written
questions have
been answered
by the UN
Spokespeople,
now including
Paulina Kubiak
for the UN
PGA, and it
remains banned
from entry to
the UN's
briefings.
This must
end.
Having
asked for a
collegial
discussion,
and while
still offering
it, things
must turn to
the law. UNCA
is a New York
State
non-profit
which has not
only not
abided by its
stated goals -
it has
tortiously
interfered
with a
journalist's
right to cover
the United
Nations.
The United
Nations itself
propounds
Article 19 of
the Universal
Declaration of
Human Rights,
and has other
legal duties
that must be
addressed by
national
courts,
particularly
in the UN's
host
country...
Those
in receipt of
the first,
friendly
letter:
melissa.fleming@un.org,
marialuiza.viotti@un.org,
mekel@un.org,
malu@un.org,
and
UNCA
Valeria
Robecco, ANSA
News Agency,
Nabil Abi
Saab,
Al-Araby,
Jianguo Ma,
Xinhua News
Agency, Edith
Lederer,
Associated,
Giampaolo
Pioli,
Quotidiano,
Linda Fasulo,
Ibtisam Azem,
Al-Araby
Al-Jadeed
Newspaper, Ali
Barada, France
24, Asharq
Al-Awsat;
Oscar Bolanos,
OMB News,
Sherwin
Bryce-Pease,
SABC South
Africa -
Alexander
Hassanein, The
Tokyo Shimbun,
Maria
Khrenova,
TASS, Philippe
Rater, Agence
France-Presse,
Kaori Yoshida,
Nikkei, Betul
Yuruk, Anadolu
Agency at
president@unca.com,
valeria.robecco@gmail.com,
nabisaab@gmail.com,
mjg222888@gmail.com,
elederer@ap.org,
giampioli@aol.com,
lindafasulo@gmail.com,
ibtisam.azem@alaraby.co.uk,
abarada@hotmail.com,
ombyvozque@gmail.com,
s.brycepease@gmail.com,
alexander@tokyoshimbun.us,
khrenova_m@tass.ru,
philippe.rater@afp.com,
kaori.yoshida@nex.nikkei.com,
byuruk@aa.com.tr
Three
of the 15 are
from French
media, two
from Italy,
with various
dictatorships
represented.
Newly
"elected" is
Carrie Neuton
of Le Monde,
with 32 votes.
She is now
responsible
for the UNCA
board's lack
of response to
a law firm's
letter about
their / her
role in
censorship.
Will there be
a response?
We'll have
more on this.
Watch this
site.
***
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
December 6, 2021
On UN Sex
Abuse in Mali Inner City Press Asked UN After 2 Weeks
MINUSMA Answers
UN GATE, Dec 1
– In June 2021 the United Nations published a
single line of data about a case of sexual
abuse by its personnel or contractors in Mali,
without any indication of what was done for
the victim or to the perpetrator.
Inner
City Press, as it does, asked UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres and his spokespeople
Stephane Dujarric, Melissa Fleming and others
to provide the further information that even
under previous UNSG Ban Ki-moon was
provided.
There
was no answer, including to a polite letter to
Fleming from the law firm of Quinn
Emanuel, asking how Inner City Press can
end the retaliatory UN ban on it and enter the
UN briefing room to ask this and other
questions. Video here.
On
November 18, having received a Zoom invite to
attend the press briefing of the UN mission in
Mali MINUSMA, Inner City Press Zoomed in and
asked, first in the chat and then live, for
"a status
report on the case of UN sexual abuse put on
the UN's website in June 2021 - what has been
done for the victim? What justice has been
meted out?"
MINUSMA's
spokesperson Myriam Dessables to her credit,
and unlike Dujarric and others he and Fleming
have been able to reach and have ordered to
censor, allowed Inner City Press to ask. Video
here.
She said she
will revert with more information, after first
inaccurately - perhaps unknowingly - claiming
that the UN website has all the information.
It has only a single line.
So Inner
City Press immediately, as UN/MINUSMA
spokesperson Dessables' request, emailed this
question to her and Dujarric and Marcia Soares
Pinto, Amina J. Mohammed, Luiza Ribeiro
Viotti, Tal Mekel, Eri Kaneko, Achim Steiner,
Farhan Haq, Florencia Soto Nino-Martinez,
Fabrizio Hochschild, Daniela Gross and
spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay:
"At today's
MINUMSA breifing I asked you for a status
report on the case of UN sexual abuse put on
the UN's website in June 2021 - what has been
done for the victim? What justice has been
meted out? You said it is on the UN website in
all transparency - but there is only one
line: "unspecified... 2021."
Please email
me all if-asked information as the UN used to
provide under Ban Ki-moon - what was done for
the victim, what has been done with the
peacekeeper, etc. Thank you in advance -
including for your answers on the two military
incidents in Mali I asked about."
The
military incident including one of Estonian
troop in Mali mistaking UK troops, described
as working with MINUMSA, as enemies. Ms.
Dessables said she had looked it and the UK
troops are with the French "BARKHANE" or
another mission, not the UN.
And so we
published that, and stated that we would
publish the answer - or non answer - to the UN
sex abuse questions we have posed to Guterres
and spokespeople, who continue to Ban Inner
City Press.
Now two weeks
later, with no answer at all from UN
Headquarters, including on the now ongoing sex
trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, on
whose Terramar board of directors Guterres'
Partnerships official Amir Dossal served as
only one of five members, and no answer from
new PGA spokesperson Paulina Kubiak, MINUSMA's
Spokesperson Dessable to her credit, actually
acting like a spokesperson and public servant
unlike the others, sent this on December 1:
"Good afternoon,
• The
United Nations Multidimensional Integrated
Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA)
received allegations of sexual exploitation
involving an employee of a contractor in the
Mission.
• The
allegation referred to sexual exploitative
relation that resulted in pregnancy and
subsequently of birth that allegedly took
place over two years
relation.
• The
mission has referred the victim for
appropriate assistance in line with the UN’s
victim assistance protocols. The victim
received the provisions of medical, life
supporting material and legal aid.
• The
Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS)
is currently conducting an investigation into
the allegation to establish facts. The result
of the investigations shall be communicated
with the mission and New York HQ.
Best regards Myriam Dessables
Director, Strategic Communication & Public
Information United Nations Mission in
Mali - MINUSMA ."
We publish
it in full and continue to demand full answers
from UNHQ which takes the public's money, and
runs the UN show. Watch this site.
Niger As UNSC President Was Asked
For Press Access No Answer As SG
Guterres Censors
UN GATE, Dec 1
– With Niger taking over presidency of
the UN Security Council on December 1, on
November 30 Inner City Press wrote to the
Niger Mission to the UN to request access to
its December 1 press conference by Ambassador
Abdou Abarryon.
Inner
City Press wrote to the Mission including at
nigermission [at] ymail [dot] com
More than a
day later, nothing - inconsistent, to say the
least, with Niger's duty as President of the
UN Security Council.
Their
"program of work" has NOTHING on Cameroon or
Nigeria, but small arms and exclusion. No
Burma, no Haiti - and nothing at all, from
December 21 on. We will be covering this
month, censored or not, in detail.
Inner City
Press covered the UN and UNSC under Kofi Annan
and Ban Ki-moon then was thrown out under
Antonio Guterres after asking him directly
about [among other things including Cameroon,]
the omission
from his financial disclosure covering 2016 of
his link, through Lisbon's Gulbenkian
Foundation which paid him money, to convicted
UN briber CEFC China Energy.
This was and
is a legitimate journalistic question however
Inner City Press has been banned by Guterres
and his USG Melissa Fleming.
There is no
commitment by the UN Secretariat to even
respond to a polite law firm letter seeking
access to Inner City Press, see video.
See also Press
Freedom Tracker and The
Independent (UK)
The Niger
Mission and Niger have a duty to not collude
in censorship, and to take questions from
media. Inner City Press is permitted (in fact,
invited) to put WebEx questions to the IMF
briefings, see below, and is accredited at the
SDNY Federal court here in New York.
So it is up to
Niger and the Niger Mission to provide access.
Watch this
site. November
29, 2021
Before
Ghislaine Maxwell
Trial Cynical UN
Filing By Her Family
Since UN Was On Her
Terranova Board
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Nov 22 – Ghislaine
Maxwell, charged with sex
trafficking and other
charges, faces a November
29, 2021 trial
On October 29 and
again on November 12,
she and the US Attorney's
Office for the Southern
District of New York filed a
flurry of motions in limine,
heavily redacted; the
Government argued that trial
exhibits are not public and
will be withheld. Inner City
Press opposed
and opposes the continued
secrecy.
Likewise,
Inner City Press
opposes censorship by
the UN, which after it
asked why UN
Sec-Gen
Antonio Guterres'
head of Partnerships
Amir Dossal
was
on the board
of Maxwell's
Terramar Foundation
was roughed up
and banned
from the UN,
summary here,
Quinn
Emanuel lawyers'
letter Q&A
here.
Now this: a
petition,
submitted
Monday to the
United Nations
Working Group
on Arbitrary
Detention,
filed by
international
criminal
lawyers
François
Zimeray and
Jessica
Finelle on
behalf of
Maxwell’s
three sisters
and three
brothers, arguing to
Maxwell's
partners at
the UN that
Maxwell’s
“abnormally
rigorous”
lock-up
conditions at
the
Metropolitan
Detention
Center in
Brooklyn are
horrific,
and thus
unlawful and
discriminatory.
The petition asks
the UN to call
on the US
government to
release
Maxwell
pending trial
and to urge an
independent
investigation
into her
“arbitrary
detention.”
This
while the UN
active covers up its own
peacekepers
child rapes.
This is
ghoulish.
On November 15, Judge
Nathan held a conference
about jury selection, Inner City
Press live tweeted here
(and podcast here)
On the
morning of
November 16,
Judge Nathan
questioned prospective
jurors; Inner
City Press
live tweeted here
(podcast here); Nov 16
afternoon here.
Late on
November 16 it
emerged
that Judge Ali
Nathan is
being
nominated for
elevation to
the Second
Circuit Court
of Appeals by
Senator Chuck Schumer.
She
said, "If I am
nominated
I...will
continue to do
my day job,
which means
presiding over
this trial
until
completion and
handling the
hundreds of
other civil
and criminal
matters on my
docket."
So
it
appears she would
complete the
Maxwell trial.
But any
sentencing?
Would she
follow 2d
Circuit Judge
Richard J.
Sullivan in
keeping some
SDNY cases? (As
noted,
Judge Sullivan
is still
rightly allowing
call-in lines
to in-person
cases, here).
Docketed
on November 22: "ORDER
as to
Ghislaine
Maxwell. On
November 1,
2021, the
Defense
noticed eight
expert
witnesses.
Def. Br., Ex.
1 ("Notice").
On November 8,
2021, the
Government
filed a motion
to partially
preclude the
testimony of
two of those
experts, Dr.
Dietz and Dr.
Loftus. Gov't
Br., Dkt. No.
424. The
Defense filed
a response via
email on
November 12,
2021, to
permit the
Government the
opportunity to
propose
redactions. In
an Opinion and
Order
temporarily
filed under
seal, the
Court DENIES
in part and
GRANTS in part
the
Governments
motion to
preclude Dr.
Dietz's
testimony and
DENIES in part
and GRANTS in
part the
Governments
motion to
preclude Dr.
Loftus's
testimony. It
doesso after
considering
the
admissibility
of the
anticipated
testimony
under Federal
Rule of
Evidence 702
and Daubert v.
Merrell Dow
Pharms., Inc.,
509 U.S. 579
(1993). The
Court will
send the
temporarily
sealed Opinion
& Order to
the parties.
By November
23, 2021, the
parties are
ORDERED to
inform the
Court whether
either seeks
sealing or
limited
redactions of
the Court's
Opinion &
Order,
justifying any
such request
by reference
to the
three-part
test
articulated by
the Second
Circuit in
Lugosch v.
Pyramid Co. of
Onondaga, 435
F.3d 110 (2d
Cir. 2006). In
addition, by
that date, the
parties are
FURTHER
ORDERED to
file any
proposed
redactions to
the Defenses
response brief
and/or
supporting
exhibits on
the public
docket, again
justifying any
such request
by reference
to the Lugosch
test (Signed
by Judge
Alison J.
Nathan on
11/21/21)."
The Doctor
Loftus is
Elizabeth
Loftus, who
among her 300
other cases
for defendants, while
testifying for
Harvey Weinstein
claimed she
had not
reviewed
anything about
the case but
then
tracked
Annabella Sciorra's
testimony
about Valium.
Will the same
occur here? Or
might it be
sealed? Podcast
here.
Watch this
site.
On
November 17,
jury selection
continued with
questions of
seized phones,
jail
conditions,
and the death
of Epstein, Inner
City Press
live tweeted here
(podcast here)
On the
afternoon of
November 17,
it continued,
Inner
City Press
live tweeted here
(podcast here)
Jury
(pre)
selection
ended on the morning
of November
18, Inner City
Press live
tweeted here
Near
5 pm on
November 18 this:
"ORDER as to
Ghislaine
Maxwell: IT
HEREBY IS
ORDERED: 1.
That courtroom
sketch artists
whether in the
courtroom or
overflow rooms
may not draw
exact
likenesses of
the Protected
Witnesses; and
2. For
avoidance of
doubt,
courtroom
sketch artists
may confer
with the Court
or counsel for
either party
to determine
whether a
witness is a
Protected
Witness. SO
ORDERED.
(Signed by
Judge Alison
J. Nathan on
11/18/2021)."
We'll have
more on this.
With so much
of the case,
and so many of
the victims, far
from Epstein's
Manhattan
townhouse, in Florida,
the Caribbean,
New Mexico,
the UK and by
private jet in
Africa, the lack
amid COVID of
a listen-only
call-in line during
the trial
proper would
be all the
more unfortunate.
On October 29,
after the flurry of redacted motions, Inner
City Press filed formal requests with SDNY
District Judge Alison J. Nathan, on
DocumentCloud here.
On
November 12, while Maxwell and DOJ still
redacting and a notice that after 50 people,
no more would be admitted even on November 15,
Inner City Press filed again. This time, both
letters were docketed - appreciated - but
denied, letter on CourtListener here.
"ENDORSED
LETTER as to Ghislaine Maxwell addressed to
Judge Alison J. Nathan from Matthew Russell
Lee, dated 10/29/2021, re: timely opposition
to blanket requests to seal portions of
motions in limine, trial exhibits, public
access. ENDORSEMENT: The Court received the
attached letters via email. This District no
longer permits public access by telephone for
in-court criminal proceedings, including
trials. The memorandum can be found here.
The Courts public access orders for all
proceedings in the case can be found here.
The Court has implemented a procedure for
docketing filings with proposed redactions and
is ruling on the proposals as expeditiously as
possible. See Dkt. No. 401. SO ORDERED.
(Signed by Judge Alison J. Nathan on
11/12/2021)."
Earlier
on November 12, Inner City Press called in to,
and reported on, a January 6 case in the
District for the District of Columbia - and
even other in-person criminal matters in the
SDNY. For November 15, only 50 people will be
allowed in. Meanwhile, for example, the Kyle
Rittenhouse in Wisconsin state court is on
YouTube. While engaged and appreciative on the
Federal / SDNY beat, we'll have more on
this.
Here was from
the October 29 request: Re: US v. Maxwell,
20-cr-330 (AJN), timely opposition to blanket
requests to seal portions of motions in
limine, trial exhibits, public access
Dear Judge
Nathan: On behalf of Inner
City Press and in my personal capacity, I have
been covering the above-captioned case. This
concerns in the first instance the flurry of
motions in limine filed earlier this evening,
replete with redactions justified by a
conclusory reference to Lugosch v. Pyramid
Co. of Onondaga, 435 F.3d 110 (2d Cir.
2006).
The
Government's Justifications for redaction
(Docket No. 399, docketed at 10:06 pm on
Friday Oct 29) cites Lugosch then says "The
Government also seeks sealing of trial
exhibits, which are not public." Inner City
Press immediately opposes this.
As one
example within this motions of limine, the
Government has redacted the entirety of its
Argument X, even the title and the page
number. And as to trial exhibits, see for
example Judge Jed S. Rakoff's order in US v.
Weigand, 20-cr-188 (JSR), here.
There,
Judge Rakoff ordered the US Attorney's Office
to make trial exhibit available to the public
at large. While this was done, belatedly, in
US v. Parnas, it was refused in the current US
v. Cole. It cannot be refused in this
case. Also, Inner City Press
understands that the listen-only call-in
telephone lines available so far in the case,
there may be an attempt to discontinue them.
The Court should take judicial notice of
continuing COVID-19 issues, including people's
understandable concerns about congregating
even in so-called overflow rooms. Be aware
that the District for the District of Columbia
still allows public phone access to all
criminal proceedings, even those held
in-person. That should happen here. The loss
of First Amendment freedoms, even for a short
period of time, unquestionably constitutes
irreparable injury. Elrod v. Burns,
427 U.S. 347, 373
(1976).
Inner City Press
will cover the trial, and all the comes before
and after it; #CourtCaseCast and song I, Song
2, Song
3, and new(est) song In UN Only 51 Votes In
Election of Correspondents Who Ignored Lawyer Letter Some
Get Only 31 Votes
UN GATE, Nov
24 – Each day, the current United Nations gets
worse. Usually we focus on Secretary General
Antonio Guterres moving from concealing his
links to UN briber CEFC China Energy to
banning the Press that asks, to failures on
Sri Lanka, Cameroon, Haiti, Honduras (JOH)
& Nigeria (Nnamdi & Igboho).
But
today
the UN's
partnership in
censorship,
the United
Nations
Correspondents
Association,
has hit a new
low. While
having lobbied
to get
independent
Press thrown
out, and
having
unprofessionally
declined to
response in
any way to
polite letter
from a major
US law firm
asking about
UNCA's
commitment (if
any) to the
First
Amendment, now
UNCa has
"elections."
And,
for fifteen
seats there
were...
fifteen
candidates. No
competition at
all, like in
North Korea.
And at least
forty percent
of
"candidates"
are state
media,
including from
Guterres'
favorite
China.
On November 24
the results
were as
follows: only
51 people
voted - this,
claiming to
represent
jouranlists
all over the
world, while
selling them
out daily.
Even with no
competition,
some
"candidates"
like that of
France 24 got
only 31 votes.
That's a vote
of no
confidence.
We'll
have more,
much more, on
this. Because
these
unopposed
candidates,
most of them,
received the
polite law
firm letter
asking them
why they
supported or
allowed
censorship,
and they
didn't even
have the
courtesy or
professionalism
to answer. In
any way.
Impunity like
Guterres, or
the Hermit
Kingdom.
The
letter was
received by
the UN's
Melissa
Fleming, Maria
Luiza Vioti
and Tal Mekel
and to each
UNCA Executive
Board member,
to them citing
UNCA's stated
goals that it
has a charter
to supposedly
uphold. And
four months
later, no
answer. Total
corruption and
censorship.
What's
next? Since
the letter,
Inner City
Press has
published
exclusive
stories not
only from the
U.S. court
systems but
about the
United
Nations,
including its
agencies UNOPS,
UNFPA,UNITAR
and UNESCO.
(Also credited
in AP,
Daily
Mail, and
Nigeria's
Sahara
Reporters,
amid answers
from the IMF.)
But
none of its
written
questions have
been answered
by the UN
Spokespeople,
and it remains
banned from
entry to the
UN's
briefings.
This must
end.
Having
asked for a
colleagial
discussion,
and while
still offering
it, things
must turn to
the law. UNCA
is a New York
State
non-profit
which has not
only not
abided by its
stated goals -
it has
tortiously
interfered
with a
journalist's
right to cover
the United
Nations.
The United
Nations itself
propounds
Article 19 of
the Universal
Declaration of
Human Rights,
and has other
legal duties
that must be
addressed by
national
courts,
particularly
in the UN's
host
country...
Those
in receipt of
the first,
friendly
letter:
melissa.fleming@un.org,
marialuiza.viotti@un.org,
mekel@un.org,
malu@un.org,
and
UNCA
Valeria
Robecco, ANSA
News Agency,
Nabil Abi
Saab,
Al-Araby,
Jianguo Ma,
Xinhua News
Agency, Edith
Lederer,
Associated,
Giampaolo
Pioli,
Quotidiano,
Linda Fasulo,
Ibtisam Azem,
Al-Araby
Al-Jadeed
Newspaper, Ali
Barada, France
24 (31 votes)
Asharq
Al-Awsat;
Oscar Bolanos,
OMB News,
Sherwin
Bryce-Pease,
SABC South
Africa -
Alexander
Hassanein, The
Tokyo Shimbun,
Maria
Khrenova,
TASS, Philippe
Rater, Agence
France-Presse
(39 votes),
Kaori Yoshida,
Nikkei, Betul
Yuruk, Anadolu
Agency at
president@unca.com,
valeria.robecco@gmail.com,
nabisaab@gmail.com,
mjg222888@gmail.com,
elederer@ap.org,
giampioli@aol.com,
lindafasulo@gmail.com,
ibtisam.azem@alaraby.co.uk,
abarada@hotmail.com,
ombyvozque@gmail.com,
s.brycepease@gmail.com,
alexander@tokyoshimbun.us,
khrenova_m@tass.ru,
philippe.rater@afp.com,
kaori.yoshida@nex.nikkei.com,
byuruk@aa.com.tr
Three
of the 15 are
from French
media, two
from Italy,
with various
dictatorships
represented.
Newlly
"elected" is
Carrie Neuton
of Le Monde,
with 32 votes.
She is now
responsible
for the UNCA
board's lack
of response to
a law firm's
letter about
their / her
role in
censorship.
Will there be
a response?
We'll have
more on this.
Watch this
site.
November 22, 2021
On UN Sex
Abuse in Mali Inner City Press Asks MINUSMA By Zoom Now
Guterres By Email
UN GATE, Nov
18 – In June 2021 the United Nations published
a single line of data about a case of sexual
abuse by its personnel or contractors in Mali,
without any indication of what was done for
the victim or to the perpetrator.
Inner
City Press, as it does, asked UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres and his spokespeople
Stephane Dujarric, Melissa Fleming and others
to provide the further information that even
under previous UNSG Ban Ki-moon was
provided.
There
was no answer, including to a polite letter to
Fleming from the law firm of Quinn
Emanuel, asking how Inner City Press can
end the retaliatory UN ban on it and enter the
UN briefing room to ask this and other
questions. Video here.
On
November 18, having received a Zoom invite to
attend the press briefing of the UN mission in
Mali MINUSMA, Inner City Press Zoomed in and
asked, first in the chat and then live, for
"a status
report on the case of UN sexual abuse put on
the UN's website in June 2021 - what has been
done for the victim? What justice has been
meted out?"
MINUSMA's
spokesperson Myriam Dessables to her credit,
and unlike Dujarric and others he and Fleming
have been able to reach and have ordered to
censor, allowed Inner City Press to ask. Video
here.
She said she
will revert with more information, after first
inaccurately - perhaps unknowingly - claiming
that the UN website has all the information.
It has only a single line.
So Inner
City Press immediately, as UN/MINUSMA
spokesperson Dessables' request, emailed this
question to her and Dujarric and Marcia Soares
Pinto, Amina J. Mohammed, Luiza Ribeiro
Viotti, Tal Mekel, Eri Kaneko, Achim Steiner,
Farhan Haq, Florencia Soto Nino-Martinez,
Fabrizio Hochschild, Daniela Gross and
spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay:
"At today's
MINUMSA breifing I asked you for a status
report on the case of UN sexual abuse put on
the UN's website in June 2021 - what has been
done for the victim? What justice has been
meted out? You said it is on the UN website in
all transparency - but there is only one
line: "unspecified... 2021."
Please email
me all if-asked information as the UN used to
provide under Ban Ki-moon - what was done for
the victim, what has been done with the
peacekeeper, etc. Thank you in advance -
including for your answers on the two military
incidents in Mali I asked about."
The
military incident including one of Estonian
troop in Mali mistaking UK troops, described
as working with MINUMSA, as enemies. Ms.
Dessables said she had looked it and the UK
troops are with the French "BARKHANE" or
another mission, not the UN.
And so we
publish that, and will public the answer - or
non answer - to the UN sex abuse questions we
have posed to Guterres and spokespeople, who
continue to Ban Inner City Press. Watch this
site.
November
15, 2021
Belt and
Roadkill Is Tale of UN Corruption By China With Dark
Comedy, Series Launched
NEW YORK CITY,
Nov 12 – What is a
novel? How long should it be? How corrupt is
the United Nations? What is the line between
real world injustice and fiction, black
comedy?
A just
published
novella, "Belt and Roadkill," raises
these questions.
The corruption
of the UN, its documented domination by China
as evidenced by two recent real-world bribery
prosecutions in the U.S. District Court of the
Southern District of New York, are the soil or
message of the text. But the meta questions
about what is a novel(la) is raised by its
form and length. (It is available, first on
Kindle, here).
Earlier this
month Parul Sehgal in The New Yorker bemoaned
the democratization of literature, or content,
by Amazon and Kindle Direct Publishing. But
who are the gatekeepers? Who should they be?
The author of
Belt and Roadkill, years ago, was on the
threshold of elite / elitist publishing,
summoned to a venerable firm on Union Square
in Manhattan and told that if only the actual
names of Citigroup's predatory lenders could
be dropped, it might be possible to move
forward.
But aren't
public figures open to satire, without danger
of libel lawsuits?
Aren't those
Predatory Benders who foreclose on thousands
of homes just targets, like those at the UN
who cover up hundreds of rapes by
peacekeepers, and ten thousand Haitians killed
by cholera, as only two examples?
Belt and
Roadkill does not mention Haiti, even once. It
does, however, name-check Cameroon
and Western Sahara, Huawei and the January 6,
2021 insurrection, breach or protest, whatever
your politics.
Let a hundred
flowers bloom, as Mao said
before moving to cut them
down. There will be
more.
[Belt and Roadkill: A Story
of Dis-United Nations, by Matthew Russell Lee, Inner City
Press is on Kindle,
and by paperback soon.]
November
8, 2021
UN Self
Dealing By Wall St Amid Censorship Lawyer Letter Ignored
Conflicted Prizes
UN GATE, Nov 6
– Each day, the current United Nations gets
worse. Usually we focus on Secretary General
Antonio Guterres moving from concealing his
links to UN briber CEFC China Energy to
banning the Press that asks, to failures on
Sri Lanka, Cameroon, Haiti, Honduras (JOH)
& Nigeria (Nnamdi & Igboho).
This
year the UN lost a journalist of integrity, Apostolis
Zoupaniotis, who retired to
return to Greece. Even after
the UN in retaliation threw
Inner City Press out of its
UN office, Apostolis
offered the
use of his
cubicle.
By contrast
the insiders
of the UN
Correspondents
Association,
while
purporting to
praise this
journalist
among with UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric on
three week
vacation in
Greece, have
neither
responded to
or offered any
explanation
when a
lawyer's
letter - to
each UNCA
Executive
Committee
member - urged
them to have a
dialogue about
ending the
UN's banning
and censorship
of Inner City
Press. No
answers -
video here.
Instead they
are taking UN
system money -
from the
"Alliance of
Civilizations"
no less - to
give prizes to
their own
members, at
overprice
Cipriani by
Wall Street on
December 8:
"Guterres
will be the
guest of honor
of the
evening.
We are also
pleased to
announce the
winners of the
2021 UNCA
Awards and the
2021 Dag
Hammarskjold
Journalism
Fellows
below.
They're giving
prizes to
their own
James Bays,
who worked
with Stephane
Dujarric to
get Inner City
Press banned,
their own
Mauricio
Guerrero who
first resisted
but their
censored, Pass
Blue, and
others to be
named.
Beyond its
role under
current
management as
the UN
Censorship
Alliance,
here's a
recent pitch:
"UNCA is
extending an
invitation to
the online
launch of the
third annual
Hyundai Motor
‘Re:Style
2021’
Sustainable
Fashion
Collection,
introducing 12
fashion items
created with
discarded
wearable
materials from
vehicles,
launching in
partnering
shops in Seoul
and Paris.
Hyundai Motor
Company will
donate all
profits from
the project to
charitable
programs of
the United
Nations
Development
Programme
(UNDP).
Valeria
Robecco
President,
United Nations
Correspondents
Association."
Cars for the
environment.
Watch this
site.
November
1, 2021
In UN of Guterres Preeti Sinha
Questions By Inner City Press Still
UNanswered So Docs
UN GATE, Oct
28 – How corrupt has the UN under Antonio
Guterres become? Back in August, Inner City
Press in writing asked him and UN Spokesperson
Stephane Dujarric: "On
UNCDF, on deadline, what is the
UN system's response to this,
from a whistleblower? Ms Preeti
Sinha the newly appointed UNCDF
secretary was the business
development officer in a Swiss
based organization IHDLIFE SARL
until October 2020, before that
she handled the Secretariat of
the same organization’s another
vertical. She ran a small
company FFD ventures SARL
but in the appointment news of
Preeti Sinha she is projected as
the CEO and president of FFD
Ventures SARL which has raised
millions of dollars to support
Covid 19 response and other
development work. But the
truth is far less. etc"
They had not
answered, in two months,
enjoying impunity. So Inner City
Press on October 27 asked again,
in a noon briefing it was
sent to the WebEx code
to by UNICEF but was then muted and "removed." It
asked in writing: On
UNCDF as Inner City
Press asked each of you
in August 2021 without
any response, AGAIN,
"what is the UN system's
response to this, from a
whistleblower? Ms Preeti
Sinha the newly
appointed UNCDF
secretary was the
business development
officer in a Swiss based
organization IHDLIFE
SARL until October 2020,
before that she handled
the Secretariat of the
same organization’s
another vertical. She
ran a small company FFD
ventures SARL but
in the appointment news
of Preeti Sinha she is
projected as the CEO and
president of FFD
Ventures SARL which has
raised millions of
dollars to support Covid
19 response and other
development work.
But the truth is far
less."
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Oct 30 – Asa Saint Clair was
questioned for wire fraud by the US
authorities at 845 United Nations Plaza in
September 2019 for his involvement in a
dubious cyber-currency called Igobit, issued
through a UN-linked "inter-governmental
organization" called the World
Sports Alliance.
Inner City Press, before being banned from the
UN by Secretary General amid its questions
about his corruption and links to UN briber
CEFC China Energy, reported on the World
Sports Alliance, including here
and here and here,
on Burundi.
On October 23, 2019 Inner City Press now
covering the U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York was the only
media in the SDNY Magistrates Court when Asa
Saint Clair was brought into the court in
shackles. He was arrested in California trying
to get on a plane to Madagascar by way of
Paris. More on Patreon here.
Now in
October 2021, we present the claimed
crypto-currency program of another UN
affiliated group, the World Association of
Former United Nations Interns and Fellows:
"WAFUNIF has
launched a charitable cryptocurrency program,
which has been vetted by our compliance
department in cooperation with our blockchain
technology provider."
And
yes, it is UN affiliated - and under Guterres,
Press questions to confirm or deny such things
are blocked and refused: "WAFUNIF received the
Special Consultative Status with the Economic
and Social Council (ECOSOC) and Associational
Accreditation with the Department of Public
Information (DPI). And in October 1983, the
United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD) accorded it the
Consultative Status in the General Category.
In September 1987, in recognition of WAFUNIF’s
significant contribution to the International
Year of Peace, United Nations
Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuellar
designated it as an Official Peace Messenger,
an honor conferred in a special ceremony held
at the United Nation Headquarters in New
York."
This is the UN
under Antonio Guterres, corrupt censor.
October
25, 201
Cameroon
Kills 3 Year
Old Minex
Kimora But UN
Guterres
Silent As
Colludes and
Bans Press
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Oct 16 – As more and more
civilians have been
killed by the Cameroon government of
Paul Biya, absentee president for 41 years, UN
Secretary General Antonio Guterres has been
silent, other than falsely claiming that he
got a ceasefire in Cameroon (while he made a
deal with Paul Biya, for UN Budget Committee
favors).
Now
amid Guterres' false claims and continued
banning of Inner City Press with no end in
sight (Q&A on law firm letter here),
on the morning of October 15, 2021 Inner City
Press asked Guterres, spokespeople Stephane
Dujarric and Melissa Fleming and DSG Amina J.
Mohammed this: " On Cameroon what are the
comments and actions if any of SG Guterres and
separately USG Lacroix on that this week
3-year-old Minex Kimora was on her way to
school with her mother in the city of Buea
when a Cameroonian gendarme opened fire on
their car, shattering her skull, killing the
girl instantly."
More
than a day later, no answer. No one they let
in asked; Dujarric said grandly he would make
sure that announcements of meetings will be in
French. And the UN "elected" Cameroon on a
so-called clean (dirty) slate to its UN Human
Rights Council. Today's UN is corrupt.
Back on
December 9, Guterres' envoy Francois Lounceny
Fall told the UN Security Council: "On 6
December, Cameroon successfully held its first
ever regional elections aimed at finalizing
the decentralization process in the country,
including the implementation of a special
status for the North-West and South-West
Regions."
And Guterres
and his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric and
Melissa Fleming refused all of Inner City
Press written questions on Cameroon.
And on
the other hand Human Rights Watch, whose
Cameroon "expert" blocks Inner City Press, removed
it from HRW's Louis
Charbonneau's and UNCA's "human rights"
presser, here.
When Inner City
Press asked about it, Guterres used UN Security
to rough
up Inner City Press right after it
interviewed Monthe, and to ban it from entering
the UN, 1308 days and counting. October
18, 2021
UN Puts
Cameroon and Honduras on Human Rights Council, Guterres
Colludes Scam Election
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Oct 14 – How corrupt is today's UN
system, under Antonio Guterres? Well on
October 14 for the UN "Human Rights" Council
every election was without any opposition or
competition.
And among
those elected were Cameroon of Paul Biya,
which with Guterres support has been
slaughtering Anglophone civilians (to cover it
up, Guterres, Melissa Fleming and Stephane
Dujarric have banned Inner City Press 1300
days), and Honduras of narco-president Juan
Orlando Hernandez. Here's the full line up:
The new
members of the Human Rights Council will start
the three-year-mandate on 1 January
2022. The numbers of votes obtained by
each Member State: Benin: 189, Gambia:
186, Cameroon: 179, Somalia: 171 and Eritrea:
144. India: 184, Kazakhstan: 184,
Malaysia: 183, Qatar: 182, United Arab
Emirates: 180. Lithuania: 178,
Montenegro: 178 Paraguay: 185,
Argentina: 175, Honduras: 172 Finland:
180, Luxembourg: 180, United States of
America: 168.
We'll have more on this.
***
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
October 11, 2021
UN
Guterres Who Bans Press Bloviates Praise of Ressa
and Muratov Nobel to State Media
UN GATE, Sept
18 – Each day, the current United
Nations less accountable. And Inner City
Press, banned now for the 1294th day by
Secretary General Antonio Guterres continues
to report on it, on August 16 publishing a UN
internal memo about moving international staff
to Kazakhstan. On August 16, 17 and 18 it in
writing asking Guterres and his UN
Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric and Melissa
Fleming about it - no answer. And no one they
let in ask, or seeming had the memo, below.
Now on
October 8, Guterres who bans Inner City Press
said this: "I congratulate Maria Ressa and
Dmitry Muratov on being awarded the 2021 Nobel
Peace Prize. Throughout the world, a
free press is essential for peace, justice,
sustainable development and human rights — and
the cornerstone for building fair and
impartial institutions. No society can
be free and fair without journalists who are
able to investigate wrongdoing, bring
information to citizens, hold leaders
accountable and speak truth to power." Total
hypocrisy. Vlog here.
Pod here
The UN
has
neither
responded to
or offered any
explanation
when a
lawyer's
letter - to UN
official
Fleming, and
Tal Mekel, and
to each UNCA
Executive
Committee
member - urged
them to have a
dialogue about
ending the
UN's banning
and censorship
of Inner City
Press.
On
August 9, an
independent
(minded)
journalist
asked Dujarric
about the
letter, video
here,
Spokesman:
There has been
no change in
Mr. Lee's
status.
Question:
Has the letter
been answered?
Do you plan to
answer
it?
Spokesman:
It's been
received.
Whether or not
it's been
answered, I
don't know
yet.
The
letter was
received by
the UN's
Melissa
Fleming, Maria
Luiza Vioti
and Tal Mekel
and to each
UNCA Executive
Board member,
to them citing
UNCA's stated
goals that it
has a charter
to supposedly
uphold.
What's
next? Since
the letter,
Inner City
Press has
published
exclusive
stories not
only from the
U.S. court
systems but
about the
United
Nations,
including its
agencies UNOPS,
UNFPA,UNITAR
and UNESCO.
(Also credited
in AP,
Daily
Mail, and
Nigeria's
Sahara
Reporters,
amid answers
from the IMF.)
But
none of its
written
questions have
been answered
by the UN
Spokespeople,
and it remains
banned from
entry to the
UN's
briefings.
This must
end.
Having
asked for a
colleagial
discussion,
and while
still offering
it, things
must turn to
the law. UNCA
is a New York
State
non-profit
which has not
only not
abided by its
stated goals -
it has
tortiously
interfered
with a
journalist's
right to cover
the United
Nations.
The United
Nations itself
propounds
Article 19 of
the Universal
Declaration of
Human Rights,
and has other
legal duties
that must be
addressed by
national
courts,
particularly
in the UN's
host
country...
Those
in receipt of
the first,
friendly
letter:
melissa.fleming@un.org,
marialuiza.viotti@un.org,
mekel@un.org,
malu@un.org,
and
UNCA
Valeria
Robecco, ANSA
News Agency,
Nabil Abi
Saab,
Al-Araby,
Jianguo Ma,
Xinhua News
Agency, Edith
Lederer,
Associated,
Giampaolo
Pioli,
Quotidiano,
Linda Fasulo,
Ibtisam Azem,
Al-Araby
Al-Jadeed
Newspaper, Ali
Barada, France
24, Asharq
Al-Awsat;
Oscar Bolanos,
OMB News,
Sherwin
Bryce-Pease,
SABC South
Africa -
Alexander
Hassanein, The
Tokyo Shimbun,
Maria
Khrenova,
TASS, Philippe
Rater, Agence
France-Presse,
Kaori Yoshida,
Nikkei, Betul
Yuruk, Anadolu
Agency
October
4, 2021
Kenya As UNSC
Prez Bans Inner City Press and Takes Only 6 Qs None on
Nigeria or UN Rapes
UN GATE, Oct 1
– With Kenya taking over presidency of
the UN Security Council on October 1, on
September 29 Inner City Press wrote to the
Kenyan Mission to the UN to request access to
its October 1 press conference by Ambassador
Martin Kimani.
Inner
City Press wrote to the Mission and to its
listed spokesman, James Ndirangu Waweru.
Two days
later, nothing - inconsistent, to say the
least, with Kenya's duty as President of the
UN Security Council. And at the delayed
October 1 Press-less briefing, after a pitch
by Raychelle Omamo, the Ambassador took only
six questions, all nearly identical but still
in clumps of three to allow evasions. Inner
City Press live tweeted it here:
It begins: UN
Security Council "press" conference by October
President Kenya Mission UN
AmbMKimani - Inner City Press emailed
asking for WebEx access (as it has at IMF)
& Q's on Afghanistan Burma Cameroon, Yemen
Nigeria - no answers. #UNcorruptsEveryone
Now
@AmbMKimani says UNSC will go on junket
to Niger (no UN mission there) and Mali
(failing mission); he quotes an unnamed
Ambassador at breakfast this morning trying to
"touch reality." The reality at the UN today
is censorship
Now
AmbMKimani says "UNSC is expected to
negotiate a resolution for the mission for a
Referendum in #WesternSahara." The UN has been
supposed to hold that referendum for decades
and never did, took money, had sex abusers
running MINURSO here
Now
@AmbMKimani claims he will grant
interview request. Then why did
@KenyaMissionUN refuse to even answer on
WebEx access to ask about Nigeria Cameroon
Yemen? Says he wants Kenyans to know what he's
doing. We'll work on that - watch this feed
Now those
allowed in the room consent to asking
questions in bunches, so that
AmbMKimani can dodge or ignore any Qs he
wants. Tellingly, all three called on first
ask the same question. Nothing on Nigeria
Cameroon Haiti, Western Sahara much less UN
rapes in CAR, most recently by a peacekeeper
from Peru
And now it's
over - AmbMKimani took only six
questions, at least four and a half of them on
the same topic. The topics that Inner City
Press emailed @KenyaMissionUN
about were not asked about, nor the email
answered
Inner
City Press covered the UN and UNSC under Kofi
Annan and Ban Ki-moon then was thrown out
under Antonio Guterres after asking him
directly about [, among other things including
Cameroon,] the omission
from his financial disclosure covering 2016 of
his link, through Lisbon's Gulbenkian
Foundation which paid him money, to convicted
UN briber CEFC China Energy.
This was and
is a legitimate journalistic question however
Inner City Press has been banned by Guterres
and his USG Melissa Fleming.
There is no
commitment by the UN Secretariat to even
respond to a polite law firm letter seeking
access to Inner City Press, see video.
See also Press
Freedom Tracker and The
Independent (UK)
The Kenyan
Mission and Kenya have a duty to not collude
in censorship, and to take questions from
media. Inner City Press is permitted (in fact,
invited) to put WebEx questions to the IMF
briefings, see below, and is accredited at the
SDNY Federal court here in New York.
So it remains
up to Kenya and the Kenyan Mission to provide
access. We will be covering them closely.
For now: "Here
is the UN Security Council program
of "work" for October under
@KenyaMissionUN @AmbMKimani :
#WesternSahara 13th, 4th #Haiti (cholera),
18th CAR (UN rapes) - no #Cameroon or
#Nigeria, Inner City Press asked why, no
answer."
Watch this
site.
***
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
September 27, 2021
As US
Sanctions Salvador 5 But No Hondurans UN Guterres With JOH
Inner City Press Asks Of
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Sept 21 – With Central America on
the agenda of U.S. Secretary of State Antony
Blinken June 1-2 in Costa Rica, Inner City
Press on May 27 asked Department of State
Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Acting
Assistant Secretary Julie J. Chung about the
Administration's approach to
Honduras.
Now
during the UN General Assembly from which UN
Sec-Gen Antonio Guterres has banned Inner City
Press, with no actions by the US Mission to
the UN, the US on September 20 announced
sanctions of five from El Salvador and two
from Guatemala - and NONE from Honduras. Why
not?
Well,
one reason is the UN Sec-Gen Guterres has
repeatedly covered up for Juan Orlando
Hernandez, sending a four person panel to prop
him up after dubious election, then refusing
to answer Press questions about it. Now on
September 21 in New York, Guterres has issued
this: "The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr.
Juan Orlando Hernández Alvarado, President of
Honduras. The Secretary-General and the
President discussed efforts undertaken to
address the COVID-19 emergency, the impact of
recent natural disasters and the
implementation of the Comprehensive
Development
Plan.
New York, 21 September
2021
***** El
Secretario General se reunió con El
Excelentísimo Señor Juan Orlando Hernández
Alvarado, Presidente de Honduras. El
Secretario General y el Presidente Hernández
discutieron sobre los esfuerzos realizados
para abordar la emergencia del COVID-19, el
impacto de los recientes desastres naturales
que afectaron al país, y la implementación del
Plan de Desarrollo Integral." Shameful.
The
president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernandez,
was repeatedly referred to by DOJ prosecutors
as involved in narco-trafficking during the
U.S. District Court for the Southern District
of New York trials of his brother, Tony
Hernandez (sentenced to life plus 30 years)
and Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez.
Acting
Assistance Secretary Chung told Inner City
Press that those leaders who will not tackle
corruption will not be U.S. partners. While
Inner City Press said thanks for the answer,
how will the Administration cordon off its aid
from use by the JOH government, which also
used Facebook to game elections in the
country? Podcast here.
QUESTION:
Sure. Thanks a lot and thanks for taking the
question. I had wanted to ask specifically
about Honduras. There have been a series of
cases in the Southern District of New York
where the brother of the president, Juan
Orlando Hernandez, his brother Tony was
convicted of drug trafficking. And in the most
recent trial, his name came up repeatedly as
“CC-4,” seemingly involved in the
trafficking. So I’m wondering – I know
there’s a general concern with corruption and
countries being sort of involuntarily subject
to drug trafficking, but what’s the State
Department’s thought of how to ensure that
that aid to Honduras isn’t used by the current
government? Or what’s your thinking on this?
Thanks a lot.
MS CHUNG: Yes,
well, we take any allegations of criminal
activity very seriously. I won’t speak to the
specifics of the DOJ case, but combating
corruption and impunity, those are really at
the center of the President’s priorities in
the region and how to address the root causes
of irregular migration. So we have said very
clearly that any leader unwilling to tackle
corruption will not be considered a close U.S.
partner, and we take that very seriously. And
so we want to have these conversations ongoing
with, again, not just the governments but all
stakeholders in the region. And we also want
to use this opportunity in this multilateral
format to see how countries can look for these
regional challenges and come up with regional
solutions together as well.
The
answer stands in contrast with the United
Nations, which after under Antonio Guterres
have propped up JOH when he stole the election
the last time has refused all of Inner City
Press' questions, even in writing, and
continues to ban
it from entering the UN, now for the
1060th day. Something must change.
Here's the
trip announcement: Ned Price, Department
Spokesperson Secretary of State Antony
J. Blinken will travel on June 1-2 to San
José, Costa Rica, where he will engage with
senior leaders from Central America, Mexico,
and the Dominican Republic, as well as Costa
Rican government officials and civil society.
...
Secretary Blinken will then participate in a
meeting with senior leaders from member-states
of the Central America Integration System
(SICA), along with Mexico. Together,
they will advance a collaborative approach to
addressing the root causes of migration,
including improving democratic governance,
security, and economic opportunity for the
people of Central America. He will also
meet separately with several of his foreign
counterparts to discuss joint efforts to
address bilateral and regional issues. Watch
this site.
***
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
September 20, 2021
For No-Vax Super Spreader UNGA
Now NYC Letter, SG Guterres Thumbs Nose As Bans Press
UN GATE, Sept
15 – Since August 3, Inner City Press has each
week end asked UN Spokespeople Stephane
Dujarric and Melissa Fleming about the UN's
planned "honor system" UN General Assembly
week, without vaccination required.
On September
10 in a "press" conference from which he
banned Inner City Press, Guterres again
promoted his no-vax UNGA week, while saying
he'll inject money to the Taliban and dodge a
question about the Burma Ambassador targeted
for assassination as prosecuted in SDNY court
Inner City Press covers while banned from the
UN by Guterres.
Inner City
Press live tweeted the press-less presser here
and below.
Now New
York City has written to Guterres saying that
those entering the UNGA Hall would have to be
vaccinated, letter here,
something banned Inner City Press has asked
Guterres in writing about for months. But on
September 15 his spokesman Stephane Dujarric
confirmed on camera that the UN will NOT be
requiring that, and said there will be a
vaccination tent. But don't those kick in
after two weeks? The UN violates NYC law, just
as it killed 10,000 in Haiti with cholera. UN
under Guterres is a Super Spreader.
South Korea, land of Ban Ki-moon and this
second Moon: Presidential spokeswoman Park
Kyung-mee announces President Moon Jae-in's
plan to visit the United States to attend the
upcoming U.N. general assembly at the
presidential office in Seoul on Sept. 13,
2021. Moon will embark on the five-day trip
starting Sept. 19.
UNGA Week Blues
by Matthew Russell Lee, 12 Sept 2021
"The UN of Guterres has its GA week
And UN hypocrisy is hitting its peak
Unvaccinated dictators coming to NYC
Guterres doesn't give a damn about you or me
If you ask about UN bribery he'll have you roughed
up" pic.twitter.com/6nXPqRCSBg
On September 21,
while France's Macron was as of August 13 coming
in person, by September 10 he is virtual, as did
Chile. Guinea, post-coup, has been dropped from
Day 1. Sept 10 list here.
And new PGA Adbulla Shahid's spokesperson Monica
Grayley has refused a request for a copy of the
speakers list - we'll have more on this.
September
13, 2021
UN Guterres
Pitches No-Vax UNGA In Presser He Bans Inner City Press From,
No Answers
UN GATE, Sept
10 – Since August 3, Inner City Press
has each week end asked UN Spokespeople
Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming about
the UN's planned "honor system" UN General
Assembly week, without vaccination required.
Now on
September 10 in a "press" conference from
which he banned Inner City Press, Guterres
again promoted his no-vax UNGA week, while
saying he'll inject money to the Taliban and
dodge a question about the Burma Ambassador
targeted for assassination as prosecuted in
SDNY court Inner City Press covers while
banned from the UN by Guterres.
Inner City
Press live tweeted the press-less presser here:
Guterres just
talked about his UN using new technology. But
they got hacked, staff's information sold on
the Dark Web, while his UN handed info on
Uighur dissidents to China, won't answer Press
about it.
Now on
Afghanistan, UNSG Antonio Guterres
says he'll find ways to "inject' money - he's
an expert in that, hiding his link to UN
briber CEFC China Energy, through Gulbenkian
which paid him money they tried to sell its
oil company to CEFC
Now Guterres
says, Don't delay COP. He's inviting
unvaccinated dictators to NYC Sept 21 - now
says NYC gov will offer vaccinations on-site.
But if they're two shot? No answer to Inner
City Press' questions about this potential
super-spread event.
Now UN
Spokesperson Dujarric , who bans Inner City
Press and refuses all of its written questions
contrary to his own (worthless?) on camera
promise to answer, give softball Q to Chinese
state media
So
Antonio Guterres has never heard of the
(London based) Al Quds Al Arabi, to
which UN Spokesperson
Dujarric gives so many questions /
statements - watch the video of current
(Press-less) press conference
On Burma,
UNSG Antonio Guterres is asked
about the UN Ambassador who was targeted for
assassination, as prosecuted here SDNY
LIVE . He dodges and says it's up to the
Credentials Committee.
And now
it's over - no one allowed in asked UNSG
Antonio Guterres about Cameroon, or
Haiti, or retaliation against Emma
Reilly, or why he omitted from his financial
disclosure his link to UN briber CEFC China
Energy.
This is
censorship.
Late on August
27 Guterres issued a second internal
memo which banned Inner City Press exclusively
publishes here:
"From: United
Nations Sent: Friday, August 27, 2021 4:33:10
PM To: Broadcast - UNHQ NY Secretariat
Agencies, Funds and Programmes Subject:
CORRECTION: Message from the Secretary-General
to all personnel at UNHQ regarding
arrangements for September 2021 |
Communication du Secrétaire général adressée à
l’ensemble du personnel du Siège de l’ONU
concernant les modalités de travail pour
septembre Dear New York-based
Colleagues,
I hope this message finds you and your loved
ones well. Further to
my previous communications, I would like to
update you on the provisional working
arrangements at United Nations Headquarters in
New York from September 2021. As
communicated in my letter of 3 June 2021, the
United Nations Headquarters in New York, as of
6 July 2021, have been reopened fully for
in-person business, and all UNHQ New York
personnel are expected to be present and work
from the duty station as of 1 September
2021. Given the COVID-19
conditions in New York, we will maintain our
current posture. This means that, with
the exception of the High-Level General Debate
period, all UNHQ New York personnel are to
continue to perform their functions on
premises one or more days a week until further
notice. For the High-Level
General Debate period — 20 to 27 September
2021 (inclusive) — all UNHQ New York personnel
who are not required to be on site to support
the proceedings are mandated to work remotely
under alternate working arrangements
(AWA). For those who have been informed
that they are required to be on site, specific
information concerning the arrangements during
this time will be communicated separately by
the respective Heads of Departments and
offices. The COVID-19 situation
continues to be constantly monitored and
measured to ensure a safe work environment for
our personnel and delegates, and will be
reviewed and adapted as needed.
Guidance on the COVID-19 prevention measures
announced in my broadcast message of 13 August
2021 (on mask-wearing, indoor dining,
vaccination status reporting and mandatory
vaccination) will be updated shortly. I
also encourage staff who have not already done
so to get vaccinated through the local
vaccination programmes and report it through
EarthMed."
Earth to
Antonio: flying in unvaccinated delegations of
dictatorships the UN supports, like in
Cameroon, is contrary to New York City law -
but Guterres asserts impunity, as on his
ongoing ban on Inner City Press, not even
answering the polite letter from the Quinn
Emanuel law firm.
On
August 9,
journalist
Benny Avni
asked Dujarric
about the
letter, video
here,
transcript:
Question:
My second
question is
the law firm
‑‑ what is it
called? ‑‑
Quinn Emanuel
wrote a letter
to the UN
asking about
reinstatement
of our
colleague
Matthew Lee
into the UN
press corps.
Do you have
any comment on
that?
Spokesman:
No. All I can
tell you is
that we've
received the
letter, and
I'm not aware
of any change
to his
status.
Question:
You're not
aware? I mean,
aren't you
part of the
group that
decides the
fate of... or
even the
negotiations...
The letter
calls for
renegotiation
[Cross
talk]
Spokesman:
I decide the
fate of no
one.
[Laughter]
Trust me,
trust me, my
authority is
extremely
limited,
whether at
home or at
work.
What I can
tell you and,
joking aside,
is that the
letter has
indeed been
received, and
I'm not aware
of any... and
there has been
no change in
Mr. Lee's
status.
Question:
Has the letter
been answered?
Do you plan to
answer
it?
Spokesman:
It's been
received.
Whether or not
it's been
answered, I
don't know
yet.
The
letter was
received by
the UN's
Melissa
Fleming, Maria
Luiza Vioti
and Tal Mekel
and to each
UNCA Executive
Board member,
to them citing
UNCA's stated
goals that it
has a charter
to supposedly
uphold.
What's
next? Since
the letter,
Inner City
Press has
published
exclusive
stories not
only from the
U.S. court
systems but
about the
United
Nations,
including its
agencies UNOPS,
UNFPA,UNITAR
and UNESCO.
(Also credited
in AP,
Daily
Mail, and
Nigeria's
Sahara
Reporters,
amid answers
from the IMF.)
But
none of its
written
questions have
been answered
by the UN
Spokespeople,
and it remains
banned from
entry to the
UN's
briefings.
This must
end.
Having
asked for a
colleagial
discussion,
and while
still offering
it, things
must turn to
the law. UNCA
is a New York
State
non-profit
which has not
only not
abided by its
stated goals -
it has
tortiously
interfered
with a
journalist's
right to cover
the United
Nations.
The United
Nations itself
propounds
Article 19 of
the Universal
Declaration of
Human Rights,
and has other
legal duties
that must be
addressed by
national
courts,
particularly
in the UN's
host
country...
September
6, 2021
In
Afghanistan UNDP Abandons Local Staff, Censorship
By Guterres and Irish Mission
UN GATE,
September 2 – Each day, the current United
Nations gets worse. And Inner City Press,
banned now for the 1258th day by Secretary
General Antonio Guterres continues to report
on it, on August 16 publishing a UN internal
memo about moving international staff to
Kazakhstan. On August 16, 17 and 18 it in
writing asking Guterres and his UN
Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric and Melissa
Fleming about it - no answer. And no one they
let in asked, or seemingly had the memo.
Now this about
the UNDP's abandonment of Afghan staff, from
whistleblowing sources to Inner City Press:
"UNDP in Afghanistan is refusing to help
national staff to leave the country. While
other international organisations have
evacuated all staff including guards and
drivers, the United Nations Development
Program is declining to evacuate any national
staff. The response is that it is not United
Nations policy to evacuate national
staff. National staff
are at risk because they served the UN and now
are left to fend for themselves. Many are in
hiding, including one woman who is forced to
hide in a basement in fear of life or forced
marriage to Taliban
militia. The Resident
Representative, Abdallah Dardari, got himself
out to Kazakhstan quickly despite the chance
to remain within a well-guarded compound. All
the better to avoid any responsibility when
national staff start to get their throats cut
by the Taliban simply because they worked for
an international
organization. There
are still UN humanitarian flights out of
Afghanistan. Staff and their families could be
got out if UNDP management accepted their
moral responsibilities."
This is
today's corrupt UN that can't even take
questions.
On August 30,
the UN Security Council after significant
watering down a draft resolution on
Afghanistan nevertheless witnessed abstention
and speech from China name-checking, to
denounced, "ETIM," the East Turkestan Islamic
Movement. No one mentioned the mass
imprisonment of Uighurs. And Guterres' teams
did not answer any of Inner City Press'
written questions. Video
of Q&A for access. Song.
and now, podcast
here.
So
during the August 30 meeting, the last in
August, Inner City Press wrote to the incoming
UNSC Presidency for September, Ireland's
Geraldine Byrne Nason, and her spokesperson
Meghan Boroughs, for access at least by WebEx
to their September 1 "press" conference.
The
Mission's self-described spokesperson replied
that she referred the request to MALU - which
does not response or explain - and the Irish PR
held a presser with another spokesperson, Irwin,
and did not answer written questions on Haiti,
Cameroon, South Sudan, and Afghanistan.
August
30, 2021
UN Guterres
Heads To No-Vax UNGA Week For Dictators He Supports, Bans Press, Memo
UN GATE,
August 27, Exclusive – Since August 3,
Inner City Press has each week end asked UN
Spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa
Fleming about the UN's planned "honor system"
UN General Assembly week, without vaccination
required. Then it also asked, Where *is*
Guterres? No answer.
Now late on
August 27 Guterres issued a second
internal memo which banned Inner City Press
exclusively publishes here:
"From: United
Nations Sent: Friday, August 27, 2021 4:33:10
PM To: Broadcast - UNHQ NY Secretariat
Agencies, Funds and Programmes Subject:
CORRECTION: Message from the Secretary-General
to all personnel at UNHQ regarding
arrangements for September 2021 |
Communication du Secrétaire général adressée à
l’ensemble du personnel du Siège de l’ONU
concernant les modalités de travail pour
septembre Dear New York-based
Colleagues,
I hope this message finds you and your loved
ones well. Further to
my previous communications, I would like to
update you on the provisional working
arrangements at United Nations Headquarters in
New York from September 2021. As
communicated in my letter of 3 June 2021, the
United Nations Headquarters in New York, as of
6 July 2021, have been reopened fully for
in-person business, and all UNHQ New York
personnel are expected to be present and work
from the duty station as of 1 September
2021. Given the COVID-19
conditions in New York, we will maintain our
current posture. This means that, with
the exception of the High-Level General Debate
period, all UNHQ New York personnel are to
continue to perform their functions on
premises one or more days a week until further
notice. For the High-Level
General Debate period — 20 to 27 September
2021 (inclusive) — all UNHQ New York personnel
who are not required to be on site to support
the proceedings are mandated to work remotely
under alternate working arrangements
(AWA). For those who have been informed
that they are required to be on site, specific
information concerning the arrangements during
this time will be communicated separately by
the respective Heads of Departments and
offices. The COVID-19 situation
continues to be constantly monitored and
measured to ensure a safe work environment for
our personnel and delegates, and will be
reviewed and adapted as needed.
Guidance on the COVID-19 prevention measures
announced in my broadcast message of 13 August
2021 (on mask-wearing, indoor dining,
vaccination status reporting and mandatory
vaccination) will be updated shortly. I
also encourage staff who have not already done
so to get vaccinated through the local
vaccination programmes and report it through
EarthMed."
Earth to
Antonio: flying in unvaccinated delegations of
dictatorships the UN supports, like in
Cameroon, is contrary to New York City law -
but Guterres asserts impunity, as on his
ongoing ban on Inner City Press, not even
answering the polite letter from the Quinn
Emanuel law firm.
On
August 9,
journalist
Benny Avni
asked Dujarric
about the
letter, video
here,
transcript:
Question:
My second
question is
the law firm
‑‑ what is it
called? ‑‑
Quinn Emanuel
wrote a letter
to the UN
asking about
reinstatement
of our
colleague
Matthew Lee
into the UN
press corps.
Do you have
any comment on
that?
Spokesman:
No. All I can
tell you is
that we've
received the
letter, and
I'm not aware
of any change
to his
status.
Question:
You're not
aware? I mean,
aren't you
part of the
group that
decides the
fate of... or
even the
negotiations...
The letter
calls for
renegotiation
[Cross
talk]
Spokesman:
I decide the
fate of no
one.
[Laughter]
Trust me,
trust me, my
authority is
extremely
limited,
whether at
home or at
work.
What I can
tell you and,
joking aside,
is that the
letter has
indeed been
received, and
I'm not aware
of any... and
there has been
no change in
Mr. Lee's
status.
Question:
Has the letter
been answered?
Do you plan to
answer
it?
Spokesman:
It's been
received.
Whether or not
it's been
answered, I
don't know
yet.
The
letter was
received by
the UN's
Melissa
Fleming, Maria
Luiza Vioti
and Tal Mekel
and to each
UNCA Executive
Board member,
to them citing
UNCA's stated
goals that it
has a charter
to supposedly
uphold.
What's
next? Since
the letter,
Inner City
Press has
published
exclusive
stories not
only from the
U.S. court
systems but
about the
United
Nations,
including its
agencies UNOPS,
UNFPA,UNITAR
and UNESCO.
(Also credited
in AP,
Daily
Mail, and
Nigeria's
Sahara
Reporters,
amid answers
from the IMF.)
But
none of its
written
questions have
been answered
by the UN
Spokespeople,
and it remains
banned from
entry to the
UN's
briefings.
This must
end.
Having
asked for a
colleagial
discussion,
and while
still offering
it, things
must turn to
the law. UNCA
is a New York
State
non-profit
which has not
only not
abided by its
stated goals -
it has
tortiously
interfered
with a
journalist's
right to cover
the United
Nations.
The United
Nations itself
propounds
Article 19 of
the Universal
Declaration of
Human Rights,
and has other
legal duties
that must be
addressed by
national
courts,
particularly
in the UN's
host
country...
Those
in receipt of
the first,
friendly
letter:
melissa.fleming@un.org,
marialuiza.viotti@un.org,
mekel@un.org,
malu@un.org,
and
UNCA
Valeria
Robecco, ANSA
News Agency
etc
We'll have
more on this.
Watch this
site.
August
23, 2021
From
Afghanistan UN Almaty Memo Leaked To Inner City
Press August 16, No Answers, Lies
UN GATE,
August 18 – Each day, the current United
Nations gets worse. And Inner City Press,
banned now for the 1243rd day by Secretary
General Antonio Guterres continues to report
on it, on August 16 publishing a UN internal
memo about moving international staff to
Kazakhstan. On August 16, 17 and 18 it in
writing asking Guterres and his UN
Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric and Melissa
Fleming about it - no answer. And no one they
let in ask, or seeming had the memo.
On
August 18 Dujarric announced, as news, the two
day old memo. Pathetic. Lies. Here is UNAMA's
email:
" From:
Marija Sendekovic <sendekovic@un.org> On
Behalf Of OSRSG-UNAMA Sent: Sunday, August 15,
2021 5:07 PM To: UNAMA-All Staff
<unama-allstaff@un.org> Subject: Message
to all staff Message to all
staff The security and political
landscape has evolved quickly and we may
expect further volatility in the immediate
period ahead. We understand the anxiety this
has caused to all of you in face of such
uncertainty. Our top priority remains
the safety and well-being of all
personnel. We have put in place and
implemented many approaches and security
measures to help protect staff. We will
continue to make all necessary adjustments to
procedures and work issues in order to
safeguard personnel. Many colleagues from
field offices have been involved in extensive
relocation actions. I thank all the many teams
across the UN family who made the relocations
possible. I recognize such moves can be a real
upheaval and stressful to colleagues and their
families. Your safety is of paramount
importance to us and we will continue to
support you in every way we can.
The relocations were overwhelmingly successful
with the vast majority of field-based
personnel safely moved out of immediate harms’
way. With a focus on keeping personnel and
their families safe, we will be looking to see
most national personnel mainly working from
homes or the place of relocation. The
UN’s leadership is continuing to explore every
viable option to support national personnel in
the challenging circumstances. In order
to further reduce risks we are also looking at
options to consolidate personnel reporting to
the office in to fewer compounds within
Afghanistan. Another step we are taking
is to continue to lower the footprint of
international personnel in Kabul. No
evacuation is currently being considered but
it is prudent that only senior management and
essential international staff stay in
Afghanistan for the time-being. In
parallel to lightening of our international
footprint in Kabul, we are setting up a
satellite office for the UN in a nearby state
in order for some international staff to
support our work in Afghanistan. Almaty in
Kazakhstan -that is less than two hours flight
time from Kabul- has been identified as the
location from where a small group of
international personnel can work. We
need to display patience and fortitude in the
period ahead. As representatives of the United
Nations we need to remain level-headed and all
work together to shape these events so that
they produce the best possible outcome for
Afghanistan under the circumstances. These are
the moments where the United Nations is called
on to perform; let us strive to do our best to
meet the great expectations that the Afghan
people have on us."
The UN
has
neither
responded to
or offered any
explanation
when a
lawyer's
letter - to UN
official
Fleming, and
Tal Mekel, and
to each UNCA
Executive
Committee
member - urged
them to have a
dialogue about
ending the
UN's banning
and censorship
of Inner City
Press.
On
August 9, an
independent
(minded)
journalist
asked Dujarric
about the
letter, video
here,
transcript:
Question:
My second
question is
the law firm
‑‑ what is it
called? ‑‑
Quinn Emanuel
wrote a letter
to the UN
asking about
reinstatement
of our
colleague
Matthew Lee
into the UN
press corps.
Do you have
any comment on
that?
Spokesman:
No. All I can
tell you is
that we've
received the
letter, and
I'm not aware
of any change
to his
status.
Question:
You're not
aware? I mean,
aren't you
part of the
group that
decides the
fate of... or
even the
negotiations...
The letter
calls for
renegotiation
[Cross
talk]
Spokesman:
I decide the
fate of no
one.
[Laughter]
Trust me,
trust me, my
authority is
extremely
limited,
whether at
home or at
work.
What I can
tell you and,
joking aside,
is that the
letter has
indeed been
received, and
I'm not aware
of any... and
there has been
no change in
Mr. Lee's
status.
Question:
Has the letter
been answered?
Do you plan to
answer
it?
Spokesman:
It's been
received.
Whether or not
it's been
answered, I
don't know
yet.
The
letter was
received by
the UN's
Melissa
Fleming, Maria
Luiza Vioti
and Tal Mekel
and to each
UNCA Executive
Board member,
to them citing
UNCA's stated
goals that it
has a charter
to supposedly
uphold.
What's
next? Since
the letter,
Inner City
Press has
published
exclusive
stories not
only from the
U.S. court
systems but
about the
United
Nations,
including its
agencies UNOPS,
UNFPA,UNITAR
and UNESCO.
(Also credited
in AP,
Daily
Mail, and
Nigeria's
Sahara
Reporters,
amid answers
from the IMF.)
But
none of its
written
questions have
been answered
by the UN
Spokespeople,
and it remains
banned from
entry to the
UN's
briefings.
This must
end.
Having
asked for a
colleagial
discussion,
and while
still offering
it, things
must turn to
the law. UNCA
is a New York
State
non-profit
which has not
only not
abided by its
stated goals -
it has
tortiously
interfered
with a
journalist's
right to cover
the United
Nations.
The United
Nations itself
propounds
Article 19 of
the Universal
Declaration of
Human Rights,
and has other
legal duties
that must be
addressed by
national
courts,
particularly
in the UN's
host
country...
August
16, 2021
UN Guterres
Bumbles Toward UNGA on Honor System, Some Staff Must Vax, Memo
Here
UN GATE,
August 13, Exclusive – Since August 3,
Inner City Press has each week end asked UN
Spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa
Fleming about the UN's planned "honor system"
UN General Assembly week, without vaccination
required. Then it also asked, Where *is*
Guterres? No answer.
Now on August
13 Guterres returned from an undisclosed
vacation - in a Level 4 / Do Not Travel
country? - and issued an internal memo which
banned Inner City Press exclusively publishes
here:
Dear New
York-based Colleagues, planning has commenced
for the high-level period of the 76th Session
of the General Assembly, which will take place
at UNHQ from 14 September to 1 October
2021.
The Delta variant of Covid-19 is posing some
challenges to our planning, and we will be
taking additional precautionary measures to
ensure a safe work environment for our
personnel and
delegates.
Mask requirement. To ensure adequate
protection for all colleagues, effective
today, all personnel must wear masks when
indoors on premises. We will reassess
this requirement as conditions
warrant. Reporting of
vaccination status. The most significant
driver of COVID19-related risk is vaccination
status. Accurate information on the
vaccination status of staff is therefore
essential to determine risk and appropriate
mitigation strategies. For this reason,
all staff at UNHQ in consideration of the need
to protect one another will be required to
report their vaccination status including
through EarthMed with immediate
effect. Reporting of
positive test results. In addition, any
personnel who has been on site and has a
positive COVID-19 or Antigen test result must
report the results immediately to the Division
of Healthcare Management and Occupational
Safety and Health through the confidential
self-reporting portal (medical.un.org) in
order to ensure effective risk mitigation at
the workplace. Proof
of vaccination to use dining facilities.
In order to align UNHQ’s approach to indoor
dining with that of NYC’s guidance, we will
soon require proof of vaccination for seated
meals at cafeterias and other dining
facilities on
premises.
Further guidance on full return to work is
being developed and will be issued in
September. Vaccination
requirement for certain categories. I
continue to be very grateful to those staff
who have been working on premises throughout
the pandemic, either because their functions
could not be performed remotely or when remote
work would have impacted their effectiveness
and efficiency. I particularly commend those
who did so when we did not have the protection
of vaccination. As the presence of
unvaccinated staff potentially increases the
risk for other staff members, whether
vaccinated or not, vaccinations will be
mandated for staff performing certain tasks
and/or certain occupational groups at UNHQ
whose functions do not allow sufficient
management of exposure. This mandate may be
waived where a recognized medical condition
prevents vaccination.
Those staff who will be required to be
vaccinated must receive the final dose of a
vaccine no later than 19 September 2021...
Yours sincerely, António
Guterres"
So what are
the tasks? And why if the UN holding an "honor
system" no vax UNGA, and banning Press?
The UN
has
neither
responded to
or offered any
explanation
when a
lawyer's
letter - to UN
official
Fleming, and
Tal Mekel, and
to each UNCA
Executive
Committee
member - urged
them to have a
dialogue about
ending the
UN's banning
and censorship
of Inner City
Press.
On
August 9,
journalist
Benny Avni
asked Dujarric
about the
letter, video
here,
transcript:
Question:
My second
question is
the law firm
‑‑ what is it
called? ‑‑
Quinn Emanuel
wrote a letter
to the UN
asking about
reinstatement
of our
colleague
Matthew Lee
into the UN
press corps.
Do you have
any comment on
that?
Spokesman:
No. All I can
tell you is
that we've
received the
letter, and
I'm not aware
of any change
to his
status.
Question:
You're not
aware? I mean,
aren't you
part of the
group that
decides the
fate of... or
even the
negotiations...
The letter
calls for
renegotiation
[Cross
talk]
Spokesman:
I decide the
fate of no
one.
[Laughter]
Trust me,
trust me, my
authority is
extremely
limited,
whether at
home or at
work.
What I can
tell you and,
joking aside,
is that the
letter has
indeed been
received, and
I'm not aware
of any... and
there has been
no change in
Mr. Lee's
status.
Question:
Has the letter
been answered?
Do you plan to
answer
it?
Spokesman:
It's been
received.
Whether or not
it's been
answered, I
don't know
yet.
The
letter was
received by
the UN's
Melissa
Fleming, Maria
Luiza Vioti
and Tal Mekel
and to each
UNCA Executive
Board member,
to them citing
UNCA's stated
goals that it
has a charter
to supposedly
uphold.
What's
next? Since
the letter,
Inner City
Press has
published
exclusive
stories not
only from the
U.S. court
systems but
about the
United
Nations,
including its
agencies UNOPS,
UNFPA,UNITAR
and UNESCO.
(Also credited
in AP,
Daily
Mail, and
Nigeria's
Sahara
Reporters,
amid answers
from the IMF.)
But
none of its
written
questions have
been answered
by the UN
Spokespeople,
and it remains
banned from
entry to the
UN's
briefings.
This must
end.
Having
asked for a
colleagial
discussion,
and while
still offering
it, things
must turn to
the law. UNCA
is a New York
State
non-profit
which has not
only not
abided by its
stated goals -
it has
tortiously
interfered
with a
journalist's
right to cover
the United
Nations.
The United
Nations itself
propounds
Article 19 of
the Universal
Declaration of
Human Rights,
and has other
legal duties
that must be
addressed by
national
courts,
particularly
in the UN's
host
country...
August
9, 2021
Amid Burma
Coup, 2 Arrested In Bid to Kill UN Ambassador, 20 Year-Old
Zaw Detained, Risk
UN GATE,
August 6 – After the Burma coup regime
purported to fired its New York-based UN
ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun for his speech in
New York in the usually scripted UN General
Assembly, now two Burmese have been criminally
charged with trying to kill him. One has been
detained, as exclusively live tweeted by Inner
City Press, here and below.
On the
afternoon of August 6 this: Criminal complaint
on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here:
the arrests of PHYO HEIN HTUT and YE HEIN ZAW
for conspiracy to assault and make a violent
attack upon Myanmar’s Permanent Representative
to the United Nations [Kyaw Moe Tun].
HTUT and ZAW were charged in two separate
complaints... Between at least in or
about July 2021 through at least on or about
August 5, 2021, HTUT and ZAW, citizens of
Myanmar currently residing in New York,
conspired to injure or kill Myanmar’s
Permanent Representative to the UN.
During the
conspiracy, HTUT communicated with an arms
dealer in Thailand (the “Arms Dealer”) who
sells weapons to the Burmese military, which
overthrew Myanmar’s civilian government in or
about February 2021. In the course of
those conversations, HTUT and the Arms Dealer
agreed on a plan in which HTUT would hire
attackers to hurt the Ambassador in an attempt
to force the Ambassador to step down from his
post. If the Ambassador did not step
down, then the Arms Dealer proposed that the
attackers hired by HTUT would kill the
Ambassador.
Shortly after agreeing on the plan, ZAW
contacted HTUT by cellphone and transferred
approximately $4,000 to HTUT through a money
transfer app as an advance payment on the plot
to attack the Ambassador. Later, during
a recorded phone conversation with ZAW, HTUT
discussed how the planned attackers would
require an additional $1,000 to conduct the
attack on the Ambassador in Westchester
County, and for an additional payment the
attackers could, in substance, “finish off”
the Ambassador. In response, ZAW agreed,
in substance, to pay the additional $1,000 and
to try to obtain the additional money.
Inner
City Press managed to find and live tweet the
presentment of Zaw, here:
OK - now
criminal presentment for attempt to kill
Burma's UN Ambassador of PHYO HEIN HTUT &
YE HEIN ZAW before @SDNYLIVE
Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause. Inner City
Press has reported it (even as banned from UN
by SG @AntonioGuterres ) and will live
tweet below
Zaw has
a Burmese interpreter, a Mr. Leong - certified
in California but not New York. He's being
sworn in by Judge Krause. No one objects.
Judge:
This is an initial appearance, to determine if
bail may be set. You have the right to remain
silent, any statement that you do make may be
used against you. Do you understand? Zaw
(though interpreter) Yes
Zaw is
applying for a public defender, paid by US
taxpayers. Judge: Do you have funds behind
that set forth in this affidavit?
Judge: Mr.
Zaw, you are entitled to have the consulate of
Myanmar visit you. [Note: which consulate?
There's a dispute who represents the country
here, post-coup] Zaw: Please notify them
later, when it become necessary, your Honor.
Zaw: I am 20
years old. Judge Krause: Have you taken any
drugs or alcohol in the past 24 hours? Zaw:
No. Defense: We are not making a bail
application today. [So Zaw will be detained -
where? MCC? Valhalla?]
Assistant US
Attorney: Defendant was arrested yesterday at
1 pm. He was not able to be presented until
today. Judge Krause: We had to locate an
interpreter. Then he wasn't available until
after 3 pm today...
Judge Krause:
Mr. Zaw, you are charged with participating in
a conspiracy. Have you reviewed the complaint
with the interpreter? Yes. Public reading of
the complaint waived.
Zaw
wants a copy of the Complaint translated into
Burmese. He doesn't have it yet. Judge Krause:
It may take a few days. Preliminary hearing on
September 1 - but might not happen, if there
is an indictment by the grand jury.
Judge Krause:
Would the government be seeking detention?
AUSA: Yes. As an extreme risk of flight. Judge
Krause: Mr. Zaw will be detained.
At the UN, SG
Guterres removed Burma's or Myanmar's army
from the UN "list of shame" for recruiting and
using child soldiers, despite more than 200
cases. Emboldened by corrupt Guterres, they
are recruiting and using even more. Now a call
for Guterres, trying to steal a second term,
to reinstate them on the list - but from a
group which seems to join Guterres in banning
Inner City Press from (its) press conference.
Tellingly,
after UN PGA Volkan Bozkir's spokesman Brenden
Varma (who blocks Inner City Press on Twitter)
bragged there would be a GA vote on Myanmar on
May 18, the vote is postponed and Varma, it
seems, deleted his tweet without explanation,
while uploaded selfies from Woodstock,
Vermont. This is what the UN has come to:
corrupt censorship. Burma indeed.
Meanwhile
India, president of the
Security Council for August,
has no meeting on Burma and
Ambassador Tirumurti refused
Inner City Press written
questions, here.
Watch this
site.
***
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August 2, 2021
Amid UN
Censorship, Lawyer's Letter to UN Trio and UNCA Dozen Is A
Litmus Test
UN GATE, July
29 – Each day, the current United Nations gets
worse. Usually we focus on Secretary General
Antonio Guterres moving from concealing his
links to UN briber CEFC China Energy to
banning the Press that asks, to failures on
Sri Lanka, Cameroon, Haiti, Honduras (JOH)
& Nigeria (Nnamdi & Igboho).
But
today the UN loses a journalist of integrity,
Apostolis
Zoupaniotis, retiring to
return to Greece. Even after
the UN in retaliation threw
Inner City Press out of its
UN office, Apostolis
offered the
use of his
cubicle.
By contrast
the insiders
of the UN
Correspondents
Association,
while
purporting to
praise this
journalist
among with UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric on
three week
vacation in
Greece, have
neither
responded to
or offered any
explanation
when a
lawyer's
letter - to
each UNCA
Executive
Committee
member - urged
them to have a
dialogue about
ending the
UN's banning
and censorship
of Inner City
Press.
The
letter was
received by
the UN's
Melissa
Fleming, Maria
Luiza Vioti
and Tal Mekel
and to each
UNCA Executive
Board member,
to them citing
UNCA's stated
goals that it
has a charter
to supposedly
uphold.
What's
next? Since
the letter,
Inner City
Press has
published
exclusive
stories not
only from the
U.S. court
systems but
about the
United
Nations,
including its
agencies UNOPS,
UNFPA,UNITAR
and UNESCO.
(Also credited
in AP,
Daily
Mail, and
Nigeria's
Sahara
Reporters,
amid answers
from the IMF.)
But
none of its
written
questions have
been answered
by the UN
Spokespeople,
and it remains
banned from
entry to the
UN's
briefings.
This must
end.
Having
asked for a
colleagial
discussion,
and while
still offering
it, things
must turn to
the law. UNCA
is a New York
State
non-profit
which has not
only not
abided by its
stated goals -
it has
tortiously
interfered
with a
journalist's
right to cover
the United
Nations.
The United
Nations itself
propounds
Article 19 of
the Universal
Declaration of
Human Rights,
and has other
legal duties
that must be
addressed by
national
courts,
particularly
in the UN's
host
country...
Those
in receipt of
the first,
friendly
letter:
melissa.fleming@un.org,
marialuiza.viotti@un.org,
mekel@un.org,
malu@un.org,
and
UNCA
Valeria
Robecco, ANSA
News Agency,
Nabil Abi
Saab,
Al-Araby,
Jianguo Ma,
Xinhua News
Agency, Edith
Lederer,
Associated,
Giampaolo
Pioli,
Quotidiano,
Linda Fasulo,
Ibtisam Azem,
Al-Araby
Al-Jadeed
Newspaper, Ali
Barada, France
24, Asharq
Al-Awsat;
Oscar Bolanos,
OMB News,
Sherwin
Bryce-Pease,
SABC South
Africa -
Alexander
Hassanein, The
Tokyo Shimbun,
Maria
Khrenova,
TASS, Philippe
Rater, Agence
France-Presse,
Kaori Yoshida,
Nikkei, Betul
Yuruk, Anadolu
Agency at
president@unca.com,
valeria.robecco@gmail.com,
nabisaab@gmail.com,
mjg222888@gmail.com,
elederer@ap.org,
giampioli@aol.com,
lindafasulo@gmail.com,
ibtisam.azem@alaraby.co.uk,
abarada@hotmail.com,
ombyvozque@gmail.com,
s.brycepease@gmail.com,
alexander@tokyoshimbun.us,
khrenova_m@tass.ru,
philippe.rater@afp.com,
kaori.yoshida@nex.nikkei.com,
byuruk@aa.com.tr
We'll have
more on this.
Watch this
site.
July
26, 2021
In Corrupt UN
of Guterres Sudan Staff Complain of UNFPA Nepotism &
Retaliation
UN GATE, July
19, updated July 22 – How corrupt has the UN
system become under Antonio Guterres? Well,
here is a sample retaliation complaint within
UNFPA, in Sudan, which has been provided to
Inner City Press, which Guterres has had
banned for 1213 days without providing
answers:
"Please
provide the name and position of the person(s)
who has committed the alleged act(s) of
retaliation: Mr. Mateen Shaheen;
Deputy Representative UNFPA CO, Sudan; email:
shaheen@unfpa.org Mr. Massimo Diana;
Representative UNFPA CO, Sudan; email:
diana@unfpa.org II.
Protected Activity: Did you report
misconduct? To whom and when (date) did you
make your report of misconduct? Yes, to
the Executive Director on May 24th.
2021
What
misconduct did you report? (Please describe in
the context of Section 6 of the policy).
Personnel who witness or are affected by
wrongdoing. Did you cooperate with
a duly authorized fact-finding activity? Who
was or made aware of your
cooperation? Yes, Ethics
Office When did the authorized
fact-finding activity take place? What was
your role (complainant, witness, other)?
Was a report
completed? On June 3rd. 2021, as a
Complainant. III. Allegation
of Retaliation: Describe, in as
much detail as possible, the detrimental
action(s) (i.e., alleged retaliation) that
you suffered as a result of your
protected activity, described in Section II
(i.e., reporting the misconduct, or,
cooperating with a duly authorized
fact-finding activity). Please attach
additional pages, if
necessary.
1. Harsh or
rude communication style by senior management
through emails and during meetings,
including repeatedly publicly asking staff to
look for jobs outside of UNFPA and rudely
accusing them of not being worth their
salaries. 2. Continuous staff
harassment, systematic violation of HR
policies and abuse of authority that
resulted in an unprecedented high
resignation rate of several valuable UNFPA
staff and a resulting loss of critical
institutional memory, including HR Associate
resignation in order not to be implicated in
corrupt recruiting practices driven by
senior management.
3.
Discrimination and nepotism; specifically,
un-unified methods of recruitment, including
12 new positions were not opened
internally following procedure’ referring to
‘fast track recruitments’ in order to
not extend contracts of national staff in the
Sudan CO in favour of bringing in staff who
have served with senior management in
former duty stations. As evidence, in the last
six months, six new positions have been
recruited and filled by staff from Syria, the
former duty station of the Representative.
Further, positions have also been filled
through personal relations such as bringing on
board the wife of the 1
Representative’s friends in Khartoum into the
Youth Program without transparency or clarity
on roles and responsibility.
4.
Manipulating PAD’s and individual performance
evaluation reports, as senior management
assigned a committee to review and amend
performance evaluation report (meant to be
between the employee and their direct
supervisor). The committee and staff
requesting the (negative) amendments to
my performance evaluation do not
directly supervise me and have no insight into
my daily work for UNFPA.
5.
Senior management also offered a three-month
contract, citing the amended negative
performance evaluation report mention in
the previous point; has also been decided by
the same committee as a deliberate
strategy in order to pave the way for
non-extension or termination of staff
contracts.
6.
Pressure to take on colleague’s vacated role
with no transparency: After the Programme
Assistant in Health Unit resigned citing
repeated staff harassment by senior
management, I was then offered his post.
I am more than happy to take on additional
tasks, roles and responsibilities as required
by the programme, always keeping in mind
the project’s best interest to effectively
achieve project goals as part of our
important work in Sudan within a harassment
free work environment. I have previously
supported various divisions and units
within the agency upon request beyond my job
description. However, in this case I was
not offered a clear ToR for the new role
offered to me despite repeatedly requesting
additional information.
7. Violation
of UN Human Resources Charter: As I am
familiar with the work of our former
colleague, the Health Unit
ProgramAssistant, I was fully aware that the
ToR of this position is significantly
different from my own. Yet senior
management or HR were not willing to discuss
this transparently or adapt my current
ToR accordingly, including adjusting the grade
and/or level appropriately. As more than 20%
of my ToR would be changed this reaction
clearly violated the UN Human Resources
recruitment policy. 8. Contract
terminated/ not extended: Two weeks later, I
have been sent a letter stating that my
contract will no longer be renewed after
30 June 2021 and being pressured to sign this
letter by HR and Senior Management. This
was similar to being pressured to sign my
amended performance review and is
clearly linked to my principled refusal
to take over my colleague’s position after he
resigned in distress and no review of my
ToR was conducted.
Please
explain why you believe the protected activity
led to the alleged retaliation? If you
are alleging several acts of
retaliation, please provide a link between the
protected activity/activities and each
alleged act of retaliation.
Receipt of a letter stating that my contract
will no longer be renewed after 30 June 2021
(two weeks after Senior Management
offering of Program Assistant position without
a clear ToR for the new role offered to
me.
Please
list any evidence or documentation that would
support your allegation of retaliation.
If available, please provide the
documents listed. 1. Assessing the
Work from Home modality; evidence to point 1
in Part III 2. RE PGSD08 2020 NtF
AWP and DoP Amendment; evidence to the start
of personal harassment by Senior
Management 3. RE Contract
Extension 21; evidence to points 4 and 5 in
Part III 4. RE Expiry of Contract;
evidence to points 6, 7 and 8 in Part
III 5. Non Extension Letter -
Elhassan Zain Elabdin 6. Staff
Association Official Letter Draft to Senior
Management; submitted on May 9th. 2021 7.
Concern Regarding Developments at UNFPA
Sudan 8. Individual Concerns at
UNFPA Sudan 9. Non-Extension of
Contract UNFPA Sudan Country
Office
Please provide
the names and positions of any individuals who
may be able to provide corroborating
information to support your complaint of
retaliation: [REDACTED DUE TO EXPRESSED FEAR
OF RETALIATION IN GUTERRES' CORRUPT UN.]
IV.
Purpose of complaint: Please state
your goal in lodging this complaint. What
would you like to happen? Ensuring fair
assessment to my Performance Evaluation
Report. Conducting investigation
on the senior management practices listed in
part III Providing protection
against the current retaliation practices by
the senior management Setting prevention
policy of the future retaliation practices by
the senior management Ensuring
harassment-free work
environment.
V.
History: Who else besides the
Ethics Office have you contacted for
assistance? No other parties
and/or bodies have been contacted for
assistance."
Until Inner City
Press, along with additional confidential
information. Watch this site.
July
12, 2021
SG Guterres
Covers Up UN Sex Abuse in DRC & Haiti As
Bans Inner City Press 1200 Days
UN
GATE, July 6 -- Stephane Dujarric,
the lead spokesman of UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres, and
now Guterres'
Global
Communicator
Melissa
Fleming have
joined their
boss in
personally
covering up
child rapes
and sexual
abuse by UN
personnel,
including
recently a
child rape by
a UN
"peacekeeper"
from Paul
Biya's
Cameroon in DR
Congo.
Even while
they and OIOS
Ben Swanson
purport to
care - and
even answer
questions - on
the UN's cover
up for
Burundian and
Gabon rapes in
CAR in 2017,
they have
adopted
corrupt
Guterres'
solution going
forward: cover
up the cases
in advance.
Rough up and
ban the Press
which asks,
leave inside
only insiders
who ask why
they can't use
the UN
escalator
instead of
walking one or
two flights of
stairs, and
refuse to
answer written
questions.
Their UN is
dying - and
taking young
victims with
it. See Tel
Aviv UNTSO
video first
published by
Inner City
Press on June
23, here,
and Swanson here.
On
July 6 at 10
am, the UN
data dumped
yet new cases
of sexual
abuse on Haiti
and the
Democratic
Republic of
the Congo, by
international
staff
including "UN
Volunteers"
for which
nationality
was not
provided.
On
the morning of
July 6,
2021,
Inner City
Press in
writing asked
Guterres,
Amina J.
Mohammed and
their
spokespeople:
"On UN sexual
exploitation
and abuse -
alleged - this
is a request
on the new
2021 UN sex
abuse in DRC
and Haiti by
UN
"peacekeeping"
civilian
international
UN staff
members,
including UN
Volunteers,
with
nationality
not given
(alleged
rape), dumped
at 10 am on
July 6, 2021
that you
immediately
provide the
"if asked"
information,
also the June
15 data-dumped
cases none of
you have
answered Inner
City Press on,
also about
case of child
rape in CAR by
a Gabon
"peacekeeper,"
a UN civilian
child rape in
DRC and a UN
civil sex
abuse case in
South Sudan,
all data
dumped at
12:35 pm on
Jan 5, 2021...
This is a
request that
you
immediately
confirm
receipt of
these
questions and
requests and
explain how UN
spox and
official
blocking such
questions is
not complicity
-Matthew
Russell Lee,
InnerCityPress.com"
So far,
nothing.
Corrupt.
On
September 2,
2020 after the
US Attorney
for the
Southern
District of
New York
announced the
indictment and
arrest of UN
staffer Karim
Elkorany for
drugging and
raping women
in Iraq, the
UN data dumped
more UN sexual
abuse charges
-- the
fourteenth
this summer,
only so far,
as Guterres is
dragging the
UN down to his
level of
mounting abuse
and no answers
- this time
sexual abuse
by UN Tunisia
"peacekeeper"
in Mali, and
rape by a
Philippines
peacekeeper in
Haiti. Only on
this last,
child rape in
Haiti (but not
drug rape in
Iraq), the
UN's Farhan
Haq has
responded to
Inner City
Press with an
answer, the
first in
months, which
we immediately
publish: "The
United Nations
Integrated
Office in
Haiti (BINUH)
has received
an allegation
of sexual
abuse
involving a
member of the
military
contingent
from the
Philippines
deployed to
the former
United Nations
Stabilization
Mission in
Haiti
(MINUSTAH).
The allegation
refers to the
rape of a
child that
allegedly took
place in 2006,
and resulted
in the birth
of a
child.
The UN has
informed the
Member State
of the
allegation and
has requested
that a
National
Investigation
Officer (NIO)
be appointed
within five
(5) working
days, and for
the
investigation
to be
completed
within 90
days.
BINUH has
referred the
alleged victim
for
appropriate
assistance in
line with the
UN’s victim
assistance
protocols."
We'll have
more on this.
No
answers,
despite
Dujarric's
previous on
camera
commitment /
lie about
answering
Inner City
Press'
questions.
Video here.
July
5, 2021
On Honduras As
US Omits JOH From
List of Corrupt Actors Inner City Press Asks Zuniga
SDNY
COURTHOUSE / UN Gate July 1 – Honduras
President Juan Orlando Hernandez took a
briefcase of cash and said he would stuff
drugs up the noses of the gringos, a jury was
told on March 16, 2021. Inner City Press
live tweeted it, morning here
and then the afternoon, about the video(s), here
and below. Geovanny Fuentes was found
guilty, and his lawyer told Inner City Press
he thinks JOH will be or has already been
indicted.
But when
the U.S. State Department on July 1 released
its Section 353 List of Corrupt and
Undemocratic Actors for Guatemala, Honduras,
and El Salvador, Juan Orlando Hernandez was
not on the list.
At 4:30
pm on July 1 the State Department held a press
call with Special Envoy for the Northern
Triangle Ricardo Zúniga. Others asked about
Guatemala and El Salvador (and China) - then
Inner City Press asked about Honduras, noting
that while Pepe Lobo and Oscar Najera are on
the list, JOH is not, despite evidence
presented by US DOJ in the Tony Hernandez and
Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez cases, below.
Envoy Zuniga
replied that the US uses a variety of tools
and will only work with leaders who are
committed to anti-corruption. What? Transcript
here:
MR
PRICE: We’ll go the line of Matthew
Russell Lee.
QUESTION:
Sure. Thanks a lot. And thanks,
thanks for doing the call. I wanted to
ask about Honduras. In looking at the
list, you have former President Pepe Lobo, you
have current Congressman Oscar Najera, and you
mention this Cachiros. But being here in
the Southern District of New York court and
covering the trials of the brother of the
current president and of Geovanny Fuentes
Ramirez, it’s clear that President Juan
Orlando Hernandez is mentioned repeatedly by
Department of Justice prosecutors as not only
getting campaign contributions from drug
traffickers but perhaps being involved in it
himself. So I’m wondering: On this
specific case, can you say what the reasoning
is of not having him on the list?
MR
ZUNIGA: So for questions about U.S.
criminal prosecutions, we obviously refer you
to the Department of Justice. We do –
this list is intended to demonstrate that we
have a commitment to the rule of law and to
fighting impunity in Honduras. We’ve
made that clear in our communications with
governments across the region, including
Honduras, and we’ve made clear that leaders
who seek a close relationship with the United
States have to demonstrate a commitment to
combating corruption. We use, again, a
variety of tools for promoting accountability
and combating impunity. This is one –
this list is one of several tools that we use
for that purpose. We do work with other
actors in Honduras in government, in civil
society, in private sector, and – but again,
our primary commitment is to leaders who
demonstrate a commitment to combating
corruption.
On May
10, in the parallel case of US v. Lobo,
Honduras police officer Ludwig Criss Zelaya
Romero was being sentenced by Judge Schofield.
Inner City Press live tweeted it here:
UN GATE, June
29– While the UN belatedly expressed concern
that Tigrayan troops in the UN Peacekeeping
Mission in South Sudan were suddenly
"repatriated" -- the same thing the UN does
for troops from Cameroon when they are charged
with rape in the Central African Republic --
its Secretary General Antonio Guterres who
refuses Press questions now on June 28 has
another canned statement, notably with no date
line as having grabbed five more years by
banning at least seven opposition candidates
he plans more unreported personal travel.
Now on June 29
from the US, this: "The Government of
Ethiopia’s announcement yesterday of a
unilateral ceasefire in the Tigray region
could be a positive step if it results in
changes on the ground to end the conflict,
stop the atrocities, and allow unhindered
humanitarian assistance. We are closely
monitoring developments...The United States
stands ready to work with the Ethiopian
government, Tigrayan authorities, the United
Nations, and other international partners to
expedite the delivery of life-saving food
assistance." Don't count on the UN of Guterres
- he has banned the Press for 1093rd day, and
answered no questions.
UN Spokesman
Stephane Dujarric has refused all Press
questions about Ethiopia, and Cameroon, and
Guterres' son Pedro Guimarães e Melo De
Oliveira Guterres doing business in Africa
while his father is UNSG.
Today's UN is
corrupt and has not credibility.
***
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
June 28, 2021
In UN
Corrupted By Guterres, Term Limits Repeal Rejected Then
Reinstated In Re-Vote
UN GATE, June
25, Exclusive – Elections are in full swing at
the UN Staff Union in New York, just after the
ghoulish one-man "re-election" of Antonio
Guterres as Secretary General with at least
seven opposition candidates blocked. A fish
rots from the head. Now another update from banned
Inner City Press:
With elections
underway for the UN staff union in New York,
the first Vice-President, Aitor Arauz Chapman,
found his ticket disqualified because he had
exceeded term limits.
Not to be
outdone by the rules, he and outgoing
president Patricia Nemeth organized an
emergency general meeting, without getting the
300 signatures required, in order to lift term
limits halfway through the elections. This
practice is illegal in countries and in the
union itself. 900 staff turned out and
the proposal was voted down.
The
outgoing leadership unilaterally decided that
the vote they had lost was "unreliable" and
announced a new vote, this time through
Microsoft Forms.
By using this
survey software they could see exactly who
voted and how. No independent observers
were allowed access and many of those who
attended the original EGM did not receive a
link to vote. Unsurprisingly, the vote
was reversed to allow the outgoing leadership
to run again. Staff members have accused
the union leadership of foul play and
corruption.
They are
calling on the Secretary-General to disallow
their desperate attempts to outstay their
legal welcome. However, it is unlikely the SG
will intervene as he has publicly thanked the
outgoing New York leadership for bending to
his will and awarded them a special prize.
Also, Guterres
engaged in his own electoral fraud, with at
least seven opposition candidates blocked. To
this has the UN sunk.
With the
outgoing President also running for the UN
staff pension committee, many wonder what lies
in store for their own pensions.
Watch this
space - and keep the info coming, including
responses. Unlike the UN of Guterres and
Melissa Fleming, Inner City Press believes in
free speech.
***
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
June 21, 2021
In UN 1-Man
Election Guterres Grabs 5 More Years Then Lies He's For Press
Freedom
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, June 18 – After a one-man
election campaign, with at least seven
opposition candidates entirely blocked,
Antonio Guterres was coronated to another term
as UN Secretary General on June 18.
Inner City
Press, banned from the UN by Guterres for 1082
days and counting, live tweeted it here
and podcast here)
Asia Pacific
Group speaker says it made it easier that
there was only one candidate (allowed)
African Group speaker does not mention Antonio
Guterres shameless records on the
killings in Cameroon, nor the serious
questions about discrimination raised by UN
staff, here.
Now Slovakia
for Eastern European Group says
@AntonioGuterres has countered sexual
exploitation and abuse (while Guterres covered
up for Hochschild, and withholding peacekeeper
rape info); claims "openness" though Inner
City Press banned 1082 days &
counting Now Costa Rica for
"GRULAC" (Latin America and Caribbean Group)
cites Antonio Guterres ' "attention to
detail" - some say, mostly on retaliation and
targeted censorship and ban of Press asking
questions, here.
Now an active
co-conspirator in the 1-man election, Barbara
Woodward of @UKUN_NewYork who as
UNSC President refused to circulate or even
acknowledge opposition candidates' submissions
to her, and kept Press banned, so no questions
on Cameroon, praises
@AntonioGuterres
Speaking
for @USUN "host country" (which
for now does not uphold US First Amendment at
the UN in NYC), it's not @LindaT_G
(who was at the #Juneteenth announcement in
DC), rather it's Jeffrey DeLaurentis, who's
been directly told of SG censorship -
and?
Now speech by
Portugal, which foisted
@AntonioGuterres on the UN (and
victimized countries like Cameroon &
Honduras & #
Yemen & Haiti) for now more than five
years. It is shameful that all opposition
candidacies were thrown in the garbage can.
Scrutiny needed
Now this UNGA
1-candidate coronation "by acclamation" is
over. Inner City Press is now going to cover
actual news @SDNYLIVE court - but
will have more on the need for increased
scrutiny of and accountability from the
UN
Afterwards,
Guterres took five hand-picked questions, one
in Portuguese (a second answer, he started in
Portuguese), then concluded claiming he is
committed to press freedom - this while
banning critical Inner City Press from the UN
and its briefings for 1082 days and counting.
This cannot stand. Watch this site
***
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
June 14, 2021
Two-Man Race Has Maldives Shahid as PGA While 1-Man
Dear Leader Guterres Bans Press
UN GATE, June
7 – In the United Nations from which Secretary
General Antonio Guterres has banned Inner City
Press 1069 days for asking about his
complicity in the killing of civilians in
Cameroon, poisoning them in Haiti with cholera
and COVID in South Sudan, and their mass
imprisonment by China in Xinjiang), now
Guterres stands poises to grab five more years
- in a one-man "election" while blocking at
least seven opponents.
By contrast,
for UN PGA on June 7 there were at least two
candidates, see Inner City Press tweet here.
Afterward,
hypocritical one-man election Dear Leader
Guterres said, "Mr. Abdulla Shahid will bring
unique insights to the 76th session of the
General Assembly, as we prepare for COP26 in
Glasgow in November. I also want
to express my deep appreciation to His
Excellency Dr. Zalmai Rassoul, and thank him
for contributing to this dynamic process."
This while Guterres blocks seven opponents. He
is killing the UN.
June's
non-communicative president of the UN Security
Council, Estonia's Sven Jurgenson, refuses
questions on the legal basis but said the UNSG
will do its part on June 7.
UN PGA
Volkan Bozkir's spokesman Brenden Varman, who
blocks Inner City Press on Twitter, quickly
said the GA will follow suit in June. So
Guterres says, the theft completed, he'll open
the UN - all the better to take bribes in - on
July 6. Today's UN is lawless and
unaccountable.
On May 28
Inner City Press wrote to the Mission of
Estonia, as incoming UN Security Council
president, with questions including about
Cameroon, Belarus, Honduras, Yemen, Western
Sahara, Haiti and Libya.
Four days
later, no answers - and PR Sven Jurgenson has
without irony said that blocking opposition is
fine, as is a one-man "election" for Secretary
General. He called it legal, without citing
any law, and with a Mission not answering its
email. ACT, then, is an act.
Inner City
Press live tweeted Jurgenson's press-less press
conference, here,
and will continue. And, Shahid should be sure to
dump Brenden Varma, the revolving door PGA
spokesperson who blocks
Inner City Press on Twitter and refuses all of
its questions - and, reverse the ban,
allow access - watch this site.
June
7, 2021
UN Guterres
Now Says Re-open HQ July 6 Once He's Stolen 5 More Years,
Banning Press
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, June 5 – How corrupt and
undemocratic is today's United Nations?
Well, now that
Antonio Guterres is pushing for a second
five-year term, while banning
the Press for the 1069th day for daring to ask
about his finances and failures, he has
collaborators.
Estonia
and its ambassador Sven Jurgenson, refusing to
answer Press questions, have lined up a
Security Council rubber stamping of Guterres'
second term for June 8. Estonia refused to
circulate, or even summarized, 7 opponents'
CVs.
The current
President of the General Assembly Volkan
Bozkir, a strongman from Turkey who due to his
bigoted comments even pro-UN New York City
Mayor Bill de Blasio wouldn't meet with, says
he'll complete the rubber stamp in the GA
during June.
So not
Guterres, who initially said he'd keep UNHQ
closed to September, suddenly reverses course
and say to reopen on July 6, once he has five
more years to work and steal with:
From:
BROADCAST United Nations
<broadcast-unitednations@un.org> Sent:
Thursday, June 3, 2021 10:07:11 PM To:
Broadcast - UNHQ NY Secretariat
<Broadcast-UNHQ-NY-Secretariat@un.org>;
Broadcast - Agencies, Funds and Programmes
<broadcast-agencies-funds-and-programmes@un.org>
Subject: Letter from the Secretary-General to
all NY-based staff || Lettre du Secrétaire
général au personnel basé à New
York [Version française
ci-dessous] Dear New York-based
Colleagues, I am writing to update
you on plans for a gradual return to the
United Nations premises in New York and the
resumption of in-person work in the coming
months. As you
know, our premises have been open throughout
the pandemic, and some staff have continued to
work in-person, when their functions either
could not be performed remotely, or when
remote work would have impacted their
effectiveness and efficiency. I thank
these colleagues for their dedication and
commitment; we all owe them a debt of
gratitude. I also thank colleagues who
have been working diligently remotely.
Thanks to you, the critical work of the United
Nations has continued without any major
disruptions.
Since my last update on 22 April 2021 about
the phased return to our premises, the
COVID-19 positivity rate in New York has
fallen significantly and vaccines have become
widely available in the Tri-State Area and in
New York City. The New York authorities at
both City and State levels have announced that
following their consideration of the relevant
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
guidelines, restrictions on travel and
gathering of people, including wearing of
masks and physical distancing requirements,
can now be eased in certain
settings.
In line with these improved conditions and
local guidelines, and following
recommendations from the Senior Emergency
Policy Team, I am pleased to inform you that
as of 6 July 2021, the United Nations
Headquarters in New York will meet the
requirements to re-open fully for in-person
business, subject to maximum building
occupancy limits as
applicable. This means
that from 6 July 2021, all personnel who have
been working remotely five days a week since
alternate working arrangements were mandated
in March 2020 will be expected to gradually to
return to the workplace. Among other
things, this will enable us to provide the
necessary support to Member States, who are
keen to resume work in the United Nations
building.
This does not mean a return en masse to the
office in July; nor does it mean a reversion
to pre-March 2020 working patterns. The
transition to a full return will be gradual,
and we are committed to learning the lessons
of the past year. As a starting point,
from 6 July 2021, all personnel will be
expected to perform their functions on
premises, one or more days a week, according
to a schedule to be established by each team
in consultation with their entity’s
occupational safety and health focal
point. I know that some of you,
due to exceptional circumstances, might have
agreed with your manager to return to the duty
station at a date later than 6 July. In such
circumstances, I am asking managers to honour
these commitments, work permitting, and allow
you to return no later than 1 September
2021. All personnel working away from
the duty station must be back at UNHQ by this
date.... I hope to see many of you in
person soon. Yours
sincerely, António
Guterres."
From late
April, here was Guterres' mumbo jumbo pushing
the return to September, by which time he
hoped to have a 2d term in hand (but then the
corruption moved faster)
"Thu 4/22/2021
4:57 PM Dear New York-based
Colleagues, I am writing to
provide an update on our phased return to the
premises in New York. We currently remain
in Phase 2 of our return, which sets maximum
occupancy limits with current Host Government
physical distancing
restrictions. The COVID-19
pandemic continues to cause massive disruption
globally, and in every facet of people’s
lives. While the situation in New York
continues to be of concern, there are signs of
hope. Recent key indicators of the
pandemic in the city point to improvement
compared to my last update in February.
Yet, with COVID-19 still spreading and the
effects of the variants unknown, we must remain
vigilant and continue to apply all the safety
measures we have put in place.
Although we do not yet know for certain when we
will enter our Next Normal, it is not expected
to be before September. You should
therefore feel comfortable to plan accordingly.
May
31, 2021
As UNSC Prez Estonia Is Asked To Not Block Press
Access & Questions on Haiti & Cameroon
UN GATE, May 9
– In the United Nations from which Secretary
General Antonio Guterres has banned Inner City
Press 1062 days for asking about his
complicity in the killing of civilians in
Cameroon, poisoning them in Haiti with cholera
and COVID in South Sudan, and their mass
imprisonment by China in Xinjiang, on May 28
Inner City Press wrote to the Mission of
Estonia, as incoming UN Security Council
president, with questions including about
Cameroon, Honduras, Yemen, Western Sahara,
Haiti and Libya:
"This is a
timely request that you sent Inner City Press
the pass code(s) to access your UNSC
Presidency press briefing on June 1 at 3 pm. I
have questions to ask on what you will do this
month about the conflicts in Myanmar,
Cameroon, Yemen and Libya - and on the sexual
harassment charges against Fabrizio Hochschild
on which Inner City Press first reported in
April 2019, for example - Inner City Press is
asking to be provided with access / the
passwords to your Estonia mission's stakeouts
and press conferences this month as UNSC
President. As I hear
that you may be moving the Council back into
its Chamber, either way I would also like to
ask you to instruct MALU / USG-DGC
Fleming to allow me to enter to cover it, for
Inner City Press. I should
be allow to put question to Estonia Mission as
UNSC President
Be aware that
I for Inner City Press am invited to ask
questions by the IMF at its briefings (see,
e.g., May 20 here,
and Wilson Center on May 20, 2021 on North
Korea, here
and May 27,
2021 "Briefing with Acting Assistant Secretary
for Western Hemisphere Affairs Julie Chung On
the Secretary’s Upcoming Travel to San Jose,
Costa Rica," "Let’s go the line Matthew
Russell Lee. QUESTION: Sure. Thanks a
lot and thanks for taking the question. I had
wanted to ask specifically about Honduras.
There have been a series of cases in the
Southern District of New York where the
brother of the president, Juan Orlando
Hernandez, his brother Tony was convicted of
drug trafficking," here.
Separately, given that I have submitted to the
PGA a letter and CV in connection with
SG election process, to cause a debate on UN
press freedom and accountability, this is a
formal request that you circulate my and other
candidates' letter and CVs to member states,
or immediately inform me why not, given that
no written rule required a member state's
endorsement to run. Please
immediately confirm receipt, and provide the
passcode or state why not."
This is to
Permanent Representative Sven Jürgenson and
others -- Watch this site.
May
24, 2021
UN Guterres
Cover Up of Hochschild Hands Down Pants
Partially Picked Up By Politico
UN
GATE, May 20
– How corrupt and
hypocritical is
the United Nations of Secretary
General Antonio Guterres? He
covered up for two years on seuxal
harassment by his friend Fabrizio Hochschild, as
banned Inner City
Press asked
him about it in
writing. Then on
January 28 Guterres
lied and said he'd
only found
out days before.
Video here.
This
lie came in a
Press-less
press
conference.
State media of
Turkey, Qatar, as
well as Reuters
and the NYT,
helped
Guterres by
not asking
about the
belated
suspension of
Hochschild.
Now 17 weeks
later, POLITICO's
Melissa
Heikkila and contributor
Ryan Heath
have
reported
on the
Hochschild
case - good -
while
focusing on
Guterres' chef de
cabinet having
known, and not what
leaked
audio
published by
Inner City
Press already
showed.
Guterres himself
was informed,
and told the
Office of
Internal
Oversight Services, Back
off. Shared
audio here
With the
Administration
in DC poised
to let Guterres
grab another
five year
term, blocking
all opponents
like
Inner City
Press, will
POLITICO
push further,
including on Guterres'
censorship?
Watch this site -
and this
question:
how
does the UN
allow into its
briefing Heikkila
from Europe
while
banning in New
York Inner City
Press, on the same
day it put questions
to the Wilson
Center and
IMF
in DC? Guterres
is a
censor.
Back on
February 1, equally
duplicitous
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric while
refusing all written
questions by
Inner City
Press said
this: "There
are procedures
that are in
place. My
understanding
is that OIOS
(Office of
Internal
Oversight
Services) then
flags it once
they have a
certain level
of confidence
on the charges
and that they
have... on the
‑‑ excuse me
‑‑ confidence
on the
allegations
and that
they've
interviewed a
number of
people, and so
they were
following
their
procedures.
I can share
with you, a
bit later
today, sort of
the... nothing
on the
individuality
of the case,
obviously, but
just what
we... the kind
of procedures
that are
followed." Share
what? When?
With whom?
We'll
have more on
this.
So
much so that while Guterres claims
zero tolerance and to be a
feminist, he twice rewarded and
covered up sexual
misconduct in his own office. Inner
City Press before May
2019 reported
the #MeToo
abuses of Fabrizio
Hochschild, and
asked Guterres in
writing about
them, with no
answer. It
published audio
leaked to it; its
exclusive was
picked up here
for example.
Now on
January 28, this:
"UN
spokesperson
Stéphane
Dujarric said
that the head
of the
Organization,
Antonio
Guterres, took
" very
seriously any
allegation of
harassment,
abuse of
power,
discrimination
or sexual
harassment ”.
After "
allegations of
possible
prohibited
conduct
against
Fabrizio
Hochschild
were brought
to his
attention ", a
suspension of
functions was
decided during
an internal
investigation.
Once achieved,
" the
secretary
general will
act quickly
and take
appropriate
action on the
basis of the
findings, "
added the
spokesperson."
But
AFP sources it
to a pro-Guterres
in-house
publication
which said
Guterres gets
a "B" from
feminists.
What a joke -
it is Guterres
who
should be ousted,
for censorship
to cover up
rapes, by Karim
Elkorany (UN
staff in Iraq)
and Peacekeepers
in DRC and
CAR. We'll
have more on this.
In
a musical chairs personnel move
on April 18, 2019, a day after
he continued his now 935
day censorship
of the Press, Guterres named as his new
Assistant
Secretary-General for
Strategic Coordination
one Volker
Türk, who when
Inner City Press asked him about refugees
chased by Paul Biya's
Cameroon army into
Nigeria seemed not
to know about it.
Guterres, as we
have reported, not
only took a
golden statue
from Biya, but
went
silent on the
killings since Cameroon
was
chair of the
UN Budget
Committee.
But
it's worse:
Turk took
the position
from Fabrizio
Hochschild
Drummond of
Chile "who was
appointed as
Special
Adviser of the
Secretary-General
on the
Preparations
for the
Commemoration
of the United
Nations’ 75th
Anniversary."
This promotion
was,
ghoulishly,
Guterres rewarding
what multiple
staff say was
Hochschild's
relationship
with another
junior staff
member.
On
January 22
with the
failed 75th anniversary
complete with
the censorship
of critical
views,
Guterres recycled
this abuser as his
chief of technology,
while still
refusing
all questions
from Inner
City Press -
which was
answered on
Jan 22 by Andrew
Yang, and
by the IMF and
others.
And on
January 23,
from UN staff
who know, this
came to Inner
City Press:
"What is
actually most
astonishing
about this
appointment is
that a
Secretary-General
who claims
that the UN
under his
leadership is
making the
impact of
technology on
human rights a
priority has
chosen as his
"Tech Envoy"
someone who
profoundly
ignorant of
technology.
Without his
talking points
prepared by
others, he is
instantly lost
on any
technical
topic. He has
no clue what a
blockchain is,
what machine
learning is,
etc. How
can you be an
"envoy" to a
community that
you neither
understand nor
respect?"
Guterres
and those
around him are
corrupt.
May
17, 2021
To UN Opposing
Guterres Inner City Press Filed to PGA As Did
Whistleblower Now UN Swats
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, May 15 – How corrupt and
undemocratic is today's United Nations? Now
they have sent Swiss police to the house of a
whistleblower who, like Inner City Press,
timely filed to oppose a second term for
Antonio Guterres.
Now that
Guterres is pushing for that second five-year
term, while banning
the Press for the 1048th day for daring to ask
about his finances and failures, he has
collaborators.
The
current President of the General Assembly
Volkan Bozkir, a strongman from Turkey who due
to his bigoted comments even pro-UN New York
City Mayor Bill de Blasio wouldn't meet with,
has the duty of circulating letters from
candidates.
But
throughout February 2021 (and since) Bozkir
refused to circulate the letter of UN staffer
candidate Arora Akanksha.
Bozkir's
spokesman Brendan Varma, who
blocks Inner City Press on Twitter,
continues to dance around what the rules are
and won't answer.
So, as a
test - and to raise the issue of the UN's lack
of content neutral media access rules, lack
of a Freedom of Information Act (fought
for the Free UN Coalition for Access) and lack
of scruples - Inner City Press on the morning
of February 26 submitted a signed letter
and C.V. to the PGA's Office and to
Varma. Since then, dodging and blockage,
now of six
From: Emma
Reilly Date: Tue, Mar 30, 2021 at 10:39 PM
Subject: Application for post of
Secretary-General
To: opga@un.org, tegan.brink@un.org,
usun.newyork Matthew R. Lee
(@InnerCityPress /
@MatthewLeeICP)
Your
Excellencies, Kindly find attached
my application for the post of
Secretary-General, along with a document
outlining accountability gaps that serves as
my vision statement. As I note in my
cover letter, I intend this application to
raise necessary questions about UN reform,
ensuring that election by acclamation is not
abused to further weaken accountability of UN
staff who commit misconduct. I look
forward to hearing from you. Kind
regards, Emma Reilly.
And how
did Emma Reilly hear back from the UN of
Guterres? She says they sent Swiss Police to
her home, ironically while she was supposed to
be on a Zoom meeting about whistleblowers, see
here.
It's called
swatting. This is how corrupt the UN has
become under Guterres, who Emma Reilly says
should resign. Inner City Press - and many
others - agree. Watch this site.
May 10, 2021
Antonio
Guterres Holds 1-Man Debate To Steal 2d Term As UNSG
Blocking All Opponents
UN GATE, May 7
– While blocking at least seven opponents from
even having their applications circulated,
Antonio Guterres on May 7 held a ghoulish
one-man "debate" on the road to stealing a
second five-year term as UN Secretary General.
Inner City Press live tweeted it, here:
In UN Inner
City Press is banned from for 1040th day by
this corrupt UN$G @AntonioGuterres , he
is holding a ghoulish one-man "debate" to
steal a 2d five year term. He just said "surge
of diplomacy" when he's failed on #Cameroon
#Yemen #Honduras.Thread follows
1st speaker
cites "transparent and open process" - when
all seven timely opponents to Guterres have
had their applications blocked and not
circulated, and the Press which asks about
Guterres' links to convicted UN bribers is
banned
2d
Speaker shows how far "Accountability,
Coherence & Transparency" group has
fallen. They have allowed Guterres and
@UN_PGA @Volkan_Bozkir to
block all opponents to Guterres, no CVs
circulated. They have colluded in his
censorship, too
3d Speaker is
#ElSalvador, where Bukele just fired the
judges to extend his power. In the UN there
*are* not judges - they can just throw the
applications of opposition candidates into the
garbage can. Guterres' negative examples
include censorship and hypocrisy
Now
@AntonioGuterres says he has proposed 12
possible envoys on #WesternSahara, none
accepted. Inner City Press: this is Guterres'
failure and lack of will, and his colonial
proclivities as shown in #Cameroon. No one has
asked about Hochschild, Guterres #MeToo
This
@OlofBSkoog was on the UN Security
Council when @AntonioGuterres has
Inner City Press roughed up and banned. When
asked about it, he said, "What can I do?" Has
still done nothing on it at @EUatUN . If
these states cannot stop SG censoring,
#UNisUseless
Now
another big supporter of Big Tony - they are
emboldened by @AntonioGuterres
unaccountable use of force against the Press,
and went (much) further.
In
fairness, @BelgiumUN just asked
(albeit vaguely) about sexual
harassment. Inner City Press: Say the
name! Fabrizio Hochschild! Why did
@AntonioGuterres cover up for him? And
order Inner City Press to destroy evidence of
Padula's abuses after exposed in UNDT?
Now
@AntonioGuterres thanks #SaudiArabia for
its "flexibility" - on what, respecting the
"physical integrity" of journalists?
#BirdsOfaFeather
Another
big supporter of Big Tony
@AntonioGuterres , Equatorial Guinea. Another
old leader holding on, who also mis-treats
journalists.
First real
question, given @AntonioGuterres '
terrible record of the past four and a half
years: NGO asks about the massive increase
under Guterres in UN sexual abuse cases, with
no accountable. Asks, what will Guterres do?
Answer: Nothing. Only cover up.
Here it is:
#Cameroon's Tommo Monthe, who bragged to Inner
City Press that while he was chair of the UN
Budget Committee and met with
@AntonioGuterres , his president Biya's mass
killing of Anglophones never came up, offers
support to Guterres to finish. #Genocide
The
@UN_PGA @Zolkan_Bozkir, who has blocked
all opponents to @AntonioGuterres ,
claimed he had to stop at 1 pm. But now at
1:01 pm he gives floor to #Qatar. #MoneyTalks
#UNforSale #GuterresForSale
Lying to the
end, @AntonioGuterres ends it with
10 countries not allowed to speak, he says "all
questions will be answered"- while he has banned
Inner City Press 1040 days and his
@UN_Spokesperson refuses all of its
written questions, lying
May
3, 2021
To UN Opposing
Guterres Inner City Press Filed to PGA, Before 1-Man
Debate Talk of Arteaga
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, April 29 – How corrupt and
undemocratic is today's United Nations?
Well, now that
Antonio Guterres is pushing for a second
five-year term, while banning
the Press for the 1032nd day for daring to ask
about his finances and failures, he has
collaborators.
The
current President of the General Assembly
Volkan Bozkir, a strongman from Turkey who due
to his bigoted comments even pro-UN New York
City Mayor Bill de Blasio wouldn't meet with,
has the duty of circulating letters from
candidates. Having failed six times, now
a 7th:
"Ms. Arteaga
is an Ecuadorian politician, writer, lawyer
and social activist. She was the first female
President and Vice-President of Ecuador.
Previous Minister of Education and
Vice-minister of Culture, General Secretary of
Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization
(ACTO)." Will Bozkir, Guterres, Vietnam, China
and the US block her, as the other six? And if
not, could any head of state, even a(nother)
dictator, run and debate Guterres, while no
one else could? There are many fake opponents.
The UN could only be fixed from outside.
But
throughout February, March and now April 2021,
Bozkir refused to circulate any letters or
CVs. Guterres will do anything for a 2d term.
Including
giving out jobs, during the campaign, to
people who were supposed to oversee him. With
all due respect, it is a conflict of interest.
On April 26, "United Nations Secretary-General
António Guterres today announced the
appointment of Courtenay Rattray of Jamaica as
High Representative for the Least Developed
Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and
Small Island Developing States...
Currently Permanent Representative of Jamaica
to the United Nations in New York, Mr. Rattray
also serves as Co-chair of the Group of
Friends of the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) Financing; Children and the SDGs; as
well as the Group of Friends of Decent
Work. He has served as Chairperson of
several key initiatives, including the 52nd
session of the Commission on Population and
Development (CPD52) in 2019, Co-facilitator
for the Conclusions and Recommendations of the
2018 Financing for Development Forum...
Prior to his current position, he was
Ambassador of Jamaica to the People’s Republic
of China in Beijing (2008-2013)." We'll have
more on this - Inner City Press is still
banned from the UN, no answers to questions,
we will not cease.
Bozkir's
spokesman Brendan Varma, who
blocks Inner City Press on Twitter,
continues to dance around what the rules are
and won't answer.
So, as a
test - and to raise the issue of the UN's lack
of content neutral media access rules, lack
of a Freedom of Information Act (fought
for the Free UN Coalition for Access) and lack
of scruples - Inner City Press on the morning of
February 26 submitted a signed letter
and C.V. to the PGA's Office and to Varma.
April
26, 2021
UN Delays Next
Normal to Sept As Bans Press So Guterres Can Try to Steal
a 2d Term, Corrupt
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, April 23 – How corrupt and
undemocratic is today's United Nations?
Well, now that
Antonio Guterres is pushing for a second
five-year term, while banning
the Press for the 1025th day for daring to ask
about his finances and failures, he has
collaborators.
The
current President of the General Assembly
Volkan Bozkir, a strongman from Turkey who due
to his bigoted comments even pro-UN New York
City Mayor Bill de Blasio wouldn't meet with,
has the duty of circulating letters from
candidates. He didn't; Inner City Press
applied. Now it is among six opponents blocks.
And now, in
late April, here is Guterres' mumbo jumbo
pushing the return to September, by which time
he hopes to have a 2d term in hand:
"Thu 4/22/2021
4:57 PM Dear New York-based
Colleagues, I am writing to
provide an update on our phased return to the
premises in New York. We currently
remain in Phase 2 of our return, which sets
maximum occupancy limits with current Host
Government physical distancing
restrictions. The COVID-19
pandemic continues to cause massive disruption
globally, and in every facet of people’s
lives. While the situation in New York
continues to be of concern, there are signs of
hope. Recent key indicators of the
pandemic in the city point to improvement
compared to my last update in February.
Yet, with COVID-19 still spreading and the
effects of the variants unknown, we must
remain vigilant and continue to apply all the
safety measures we have put in
place. The roll-out of the
vaccination programme in New York has allowed
many personnel and their families to be
vaccinated, thus protecting themselves and
their communities. While COVID-19
vaccination is voluntary and not a requirement
for return to the physical workplace, I
encourage all of you and your families to
receive the vaccine, so that we can recover
better together from this
pandemic. In
February, I mentioned the commencement of the
planning and design of the post COVID-19 Next
Normal for Headquarters. The
cross-functional project team recently
submitted to me a comprehensive set of
recommendations. I have requested some
further work, including the conduct of a staff
survey, before finalizing the plan. I
encourage all of you to complete the survey
when you receive it. Our
transition from Phase 2 to the Next Normal
will be gradual and based on a constant risk
assessment that will also take into account
and adapt to New York City and State
regulations and the easing of
restrictions. Please note that the
previously-issued policy guidance on who is
required to return to the workplace at
Headquarters for Phase 2 remains in effect,
though updated guidance will be circulated
shortly. Personnel required to be
present in-person include those required to
perform essential on-site functions and who
are not in high-risk
groups. In addition,
those expressing a preference to work on site
are welcome to do so, as we are still well
under the maximum occupancy limits and can
safely accommodate more staff at this
time. That said, you will still need to
get approval from your entity focal point to
be on the premises, as we must ensure that the
required six-foot distancing is maintained on
individual floors. Managers should also
continue to exercise flexibility,
understanding and care when discussing options
with their personnel.
Considerations regarding how best to bring
about the gradual increase of presence in the
workplace are ongoing. The New York
Occupational Safety and Health Committee will
continue to develop options for this
transition, and will hold a town hall meeting
in May to share these options and address your
questions and
concerns. I would like
to assure you that the extensive physical risk
mitigation measures in place throughout our
premises in New York have been effective and
have led to a decrease in risk levels to
low. Maximum occupancy limits for proper
physical distancing and other safety measures,
such as the requirement to wear a face
covering, will remain in effect for as long as
needed to support the safety and health of all
United Nations personnel. I
understand that many of you would like to make
plans for the coming months, including those
related to childcare, vacations and other
logistics. Although we do not yet know
for certain when we will enter our Next
Normal, it is not expected to be before
September. You should therefore feel
comfortable to plan
accordingly. I am deeply
aware of the impact the prolonged pandemic is
having on mental health and well-being, which
we continue to
address. I would
like to, once again, express my thanks to
you. I must commend the dedication and
commitment of all of you, and of our essential
front-line colleagues in particular who have
been present on site since the start of the
pandemic, to ensure the continuation of our
work here at Headquarters in New York and
around the world.
Yours sincerely, António
Guterres."
Corrupt.
Bozkir's
spokesman Brendan Varma, who
blocks Inner City Press on Twitter,
continues to dance around what the rules are
and won't answer.
So, as a
test - and to raise the issue of the UN's lack
of content neutral media access rules, lack
of a Freedom of Information Act (fought
for the Free UN Coalition for Access) and lack
of scruples - Inner City Press on the morning
of February 26 submitted a signed letter
and C.V. to the PGA's Office and to
Varma. Since then, four weeks of dodging
and blockage, now of four. And this:
Pakistan
supports Guterres, here.
Apparently, Paul Biya's Cameroon and other
states like that of narco Juan Orlando Hernandez
are asked to be more quiet with their support
for their favorite dictator supporter, Antonio
Guterres, for now. Watch this site.
April
19, 2021
To UN vs
Guterres Inner City Press Filed to PGA Now He Won't Confer
with SC Prez Due To Guterres
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, April 16 – How corrupt and
undemocratic is today's United Nations?
Well, now that
Antonio Guterres is pushing for a second
five-year term, while banning
the Press for the 1014th day for daring to ask
about his finances and failures, he has
collaborators.
The
current President of the General Assembly
Volkan Bozkir, a strongman from Turkey who due
to his bigoted comments even pro-UN New York
City Mayor Bill de Blasio wouldn't meet with,
has the duty of circulating letters from
candidates.
But his
censoring spokesman Brenden Varma on April 16
said when Bozkir meets UNSC President Viet Nam
on April 19, they will NOT even discuss
circulating the names of opponents -- because
corrupt Guterres has decided to attend the
meeting. The UN has turned into a travesty of
democracy.
As of April 9,
while on an autocracy tour to his native
Turkey as well as payers Qatar and Azerbaijan,
Bozkir hadn't even conveyed the names of
opponents to UNSC President Viet Nam, video here.
Now he's back - but will quarantine, it seems,
after his junket.
On April 9,
Bozkir's deputy spokesperson - being paid by
the UK? - Amy Quantrill refused to answer
written questions from Inner City Press. In
the briefing room, to blue wash questions, she
said just look on Twitter
to see how says they're opposing Guterres.
On April 10,
Inner City Press searched Twitter for "UNSG
candidates." Here.
The first result was from 2016; the second
and third, from Inner City Press in 2021.
Ironically, the fourth (here)
was from 2016, of ten candidates - but the
UN_PGA account now links to Volkan Bozkir, who
is blocking all candidates except Guterres.
On April 12,
Quantrill blandly stated that there is one
candidate, and six "applicants." No
justification for not circulating the applicants
was offered, and the state media correspondents
allowed in did not ask for one. This is today's
UN.
April
12, 2021
To UN vs
Guterres Inner City Press Filed to PGA Whose Spox
Quantrill Refuses Questions
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, April 9 – How corrupt and
undemocratic is today's United Nations?
Well, now that
Antonio Guterres is pushing for a second
five-year term, while banning
the Press for the 1011th day for daring to ask
about his finances and failures, he has
collaborators.
The
current President of the General Assembly
Volkan Bozkir, a strongman from Turkey who due
to his bigoted comments even pro-UN New York
City Mayor Bill de Blasio wouldn't meet with,
has the duty of circulating letters from
candidates. But as of April 9, while on
a junket to his native Turkey as well as
payers Qatar and Azerbaijan, Bozkir hadn't
even conveyed the names of opponents to UNSC
President Viet Nam, video here.
On April 9,
Bozkir's deputy spokesperson - being paid by
the UK? - Amy Quantrill refused to answer
written questions from Inner City Press. In
the briefing room, to blue wash questions, she
said just look on Twitter
to see how says they're opposing Guterres.
What a joke. Inner City Press has asked her:
"Did PGA pass
the letters and CVs of "prospective
candidates" to UNSC Prez Viet Nam before his
trip to Turkey etc? Who pays each member
of the PGA Office staff? Who pays you,
Deputy Spokesperson? On deadline."
That
today's UN won't even answer these basic
questions, how it (mis) uses public funds, says
it all.
April
5, 2021
To UN Opposing
Guterres Inner City Press Filed to PGA As Even Blue
Washers Take a Pass on Q
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, April 1 – How corrupt and
undemocratic is today's United Nations?
Well, now that
Antonio Guterres is pushing for a second
five-year term, while banning
the Press for the 1003rd day for daring to ask
about his finances and failures, he has
collaborators.
The
current President of the General Assembly
Volkan Bozkir, a strongman from Turkey who due
to his bigoted comments even pro-UN New York
City Mayor Bill de Blasio wouldn't meet with,
has the duty of circulating letters from
candidates.
But
throughout February and now March 2021, Bozkir
refused to circulate the letter of UN staffer
candidate Arora Akanksha.
Bozkir's
spokesman Brendan Varma, who
blocks Inner City Press on Twitter,
continues to dance around what the rules are
and won't answer.
So, as a
test - and to raise the issue of the UN's lack
of content neutral media access rules, lack
of a Freedom of Information Act (fought
for the Free UN Coalition for Access) and lack
of scruples - Inner City Press on the morning
of February 26 submitted a signed letter
and C.V. to the PGA's Office and to
Varma. Since then, four weeks of dodging
and blockage, now of six or more.
But it is not
only Bozkir and his censoring spokesman
Brenden Varma who cover up the names of those
running. Even the friendly Blue opposition
refuses to name names, all the while offering
praise of rape-denying Guterres. Inner City
Press submitted this question, twice, to their
panelists:
"How can this
be considered a legitimate election when there
is nowhere to file legal challenges, for
example to the 'unwritten rule' that
candidates should have endorsement of a member
states? And about Guterres abusing the power
of incumbency, using UN Spokesman Dujarric as
his campaign spokesman, and spending the
public's money to campaign? -Matthew Russell
Lee, Inner City Press, banned from the UN 1003
days and counting by Guterres."
And while
taking half-baked questions, from a Mr. Gomez,
about WFUNA, the above question they refused to
read out much less answer. The panelists who got
it: Kristen Saloomey of AJE whose James Bays
worked with Stephane Dujarric to get Inner City
Press banned,Dulcie Leimbach, Stephanie Fillion
and Sonah Lee-Lassiter. Every day is a new day,
but this is why the UN remains corrupt.
March
29, 2021
As Blinken
Zooms To UN Questions of SG Candidates Blocked &
Cameroon Posed by Press
UN GATE /
SDNY, March 26 – With US Secretary of State
Antony Blinken headed to the United Nations on
March 29, if only virtually, on March 26 Inner
City Press asked Department of State Bureau of
International Organization Affairs Senior
Bureau Official Erica Barks-Ruggles two
questions about the UN.
First,
Inner City Press asked why the US Mission has
declined, during its now-waning UN Security
Council presidency, to circulate to the other
member states the at least four names of
opponents to Antonio Guterres for the position
of UN Secretary General.
The
Office of the President of the General
Assembly Volkan Bozkir - a man who complained
that NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio would not meet
with him, which Inner City Press linked to
Bozkir's previous bigoted statements it has reported
on - has repeatedly said he shared the four
names with US Ambassador Linda
Thomas-Greenfield.
But
none have been circulated, despite the fact
that the applicable UNGA resolution
does not require, as Guterres and his
supporters are trying to imply, that only
candidates submitted by and beholden to a
member state get circulated.
Erica Barks-Ruggles replied that the Secretary
General issue would be on Secretary Blinken's
agenda during his virtual visit.
Inner City
Press would ask a follow up, but despite being
accredited at the IMF,
and in-house Press at the SDNY court, the UN
under Guterres does
not allow Inner City Press in to its
briefings, even by WebEx. For that reason, and
in full disclosure, it is one of the four. We
will have more on this.
Inner City Press also asked if the Biden
Administration sees any UN role in addressing
the ongoing mass killings in the Anglophone
areas of Cameroon.
Erica
Barks-Ruggles apologized for not having more,
noting that the UN Security Council has not
taken up Cameroon.
Inner City
Press might well have asked the same about
Honduras, whose president Juan Orlando
Hernandez was just showed up in the SDNY as
linked to narco-trafficking.
MS
PORTER: I think it’s safe to move
along. We will go to the line of Matthew
Russell Lee. QUESTION: Great,
thanks a lot. Thanks for taking the
question. One of the controversies right
now in the UN is this – if Antonio Guterres is
up for re-election, and the question is
whether there will be other candidates.
There are at least four candidates who have
provided names and CVs, but they haven’t been
circulated to the member-states both by the
president of the General Assembly you
mentioned and even by the U.S. mission this
month, the president of the Security
Council. I wanted to know what’s the
administration’s – I mean, does that seem
right? Is that something that the
Secretary’s going to discuss? And what’s
the mission’s thinking on not having
circulated names during this month?
And one other
thing, it’s something that the UN has – the
council has not worked on, but does the
administration think that there’s a UN role in
dealing with the ongoing kind of mass killings
in the Anglophone areas of Cameroon? The
issue has been going on for some years and the
Council has had a few AOBs, but never actually
met on or done anything on. Thanks a
lot.
AMBASSADOR
BARKS-RUGGLES: On the secretary-general
race, we, of course, as members of the Council
and permanent members of the Council, will be
very much engaged in this process. We
obviously work closely with the current
secretary-general and will look forward to
that strong and constructive relationship
continuing, and I think that that’s – that
will be part of the discussions that Secretary
Blinken will have with the
secretary-general. But I’m not going to
get into the details of diplomatic
discussions. On Cameroon, I’m
sorry. I don’t have anything for you on
that at this point. It has not been
discussed in the Security Council up to this
point
We'll have more
on this as well. Watch this site. March
22, 2021
To UN Opposing
Guterres Inner City Press Filed to PGA Spox Varma Cites
UNwritten Rules
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, March 20 – How corrupt and
undemocratic is today's United Nations?
Well, now that
Antonio Guterres is pushing for a second
five-year term, while banning
the Press for the 991th day for daring to ask
about his finances and failures, he has
collaborators.
The
current President of the General Assembly
Volkan Bozkir, a strongman from Turkey who due
to his bigoted comments even pro-UN New York
City Mayor Bill de Blasio wouldn't meet with,
has the duty of circulating letters from
candidates.
But
throughout February and now March 2021, Bozkir
refused to circulate the letter of UN staffer
candidate Arora Akanksha.
Bozkir's
spokesman Brendan Varma, who
blocks Inner City Press on Twitter,
continues to dance around what the rules are
and won't answer.
So, as a
test - and to raise the issue of the UN's lack
of content neutral media access rules, lack
of a Freedom of Information Act (fought
for the Free UN Coalition for Access) and lack
of scruples - Inner City Press on the morning
of February 26 submitted a signed letter
and C.V. to the PGA's Office and to
Varma.
Now in
March, from inside
the UN, this: "the website on the process
still shows only one candidate, Guterres. One
applicant is Arora
Akanksha; another may be Matthew
Russell Lee, according to his Twitter
account; neither person has a national
endorsement, which could prevent them from
being considered official candidates."
There
is no written rule on that. The UN is lawless,
promoting continued rule by a corrupt censor,
Antonio Guterres.
Later in March:
"SPOKESPERSON FIELDS QUESTIONS ON
SECRETARY-GENERAL SELECTION & APPOINTMENT
PROCESS Asked to comment on whether the
next Secretary-General should be a woman, the
Spokesperson said that, as the President had
already said, that was a matter for Member
States. Replying to a further question on the
Secretary-General selection and appointment
process, the Spokesperson said that, if Member
States presented candidates, those names would
be circulated to all Member States, as per the
joint letter on this topic from the Presidents
of the General Assembly and Security Council,
and then made public." Again, that is not the
rule. These people are corrupt.
March
15, 2021
After UN
Guterres Banned Honduras Q By Inner City Press
His Rep Does Selfies With Military
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, March 12 – The
hypocrisy of
the UN of
Antonio
Guterres and
the corruption
of a president
he partners
with, Juan
Orlando
Herandez, was
reported on by
Inner City
Press on
October 18,
2019 with the
SDNY guilty
verdicts
against
presidential
brother Tony
Hernandez.
Now in March
2021, with
Inner City
Press banned
for its
questions from
the UN by
Guterres, he
has made it
even more
corrupt during
the trial of
Geovanny
Fuentes-Ramirez,
who also paid
bribes to JOH
(and others).
Guterres'
Italian
representative
in Honduras,
Alice H.
Shackelford,
on the very
day that Devis
Leonel Rivera
Maradiaga was
testifying
about bribing
JOH and
working with
the Honduran
military to
move cocaine,
tweeted a
photo of
herself with a
Honduras
military
figure, here.
Mrs.
Sheckelford
has no excuse:
the UN has bragged that
she has a law
degree from
the University
of Padova.
It
is shocking,
but entirely
typical of how
low Guterres
has brought
the UN while
now seeking to
steal a second
five-year
term. See here.
We'll
have more on
this.
March
8, 2021
UN Guterres
Gets 2d Complaint of Dujarric Lying of Spying For CCP
Banned Press Pursues
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, March 4 – How corrupt and
undemocratic is today's United Nations?
Well, now that
Antonio Guterres is pushing for a second
five-year term, while banning
the Press for the 974th day for daring to ask
about his finances and failures, he has
collaborators.
On
March 3 Guterres received a formal complaint
about his spokesman Stephane Dujarric, for the
latter lying about the UN providing the names
of dissidents to the Chinese Community Party:
"Secretary-General,
I am writing to ask that you immediately place
under investigation your spokesperson, Mr.
Stéphane Dujarric, for deliberately lying to
the press as part of a broader cover-up of the
policy of the UN Human Rights Office of
providing the Chinese delegation with advance
information on precisely which dissidents plan
to interact with UN human rights mechanisms...
On March
4, Dujarric while refusing all written
questions from Inner City Press read into his
"record" a canned statement of further denial.
As Emma
Reilly puts it, That was a lie. She has
written again, and Inner City Press is
publishing this:
"Dear
Stéphane, You are knowingly lying about
me. Furthermore, you are directly
contradicting the UN's court position. There
is no argument on the facts. The UN position,
in court, is that the list is somehow public
and the request cannot be resisted. The only
security assessment ever conducted was
security of Chinese diplomats from the
activists. The activists testified on my
behalf. The judge had written his
judgements, that's why he had to be
removed. I look forward to your public
correction."
Note:
even for directly UN Security guard Ronald E.
Dobbins to rough up Inner City Press and break
its computer, no apology from Dujarric. A fish
rots from the head: Guterres himself hid
his links
to convicted UN briber CEFC China Energy, and
then banned Inner City Press which asked and
asks about it. In today's UN, with the Dispute
Tribunal ordering the destruction of evidence,
for example, there is nowhere to turn. Needed
is the ouster of Guterres.
The
current President of the General Assembly
Volkan Bozkir, a strongman from Turkey who due
to his bigoted comments even pro-UN New York
City Mayor Bill de Blasio wouldn't meet with,
has the duty of circulating letters from
candidates.
But for
nearly the entirety of February 2021, Bozkir
has refused to circulate the letter of UN
staffer candidate Arora Akanksha.
Bozkir's
spokesman Brendan Varma, who
blocks Inner City Press on Twitter,
dances around what the rules are and won't
answer.
So, as a
test - and to raise the issue of the UN's lack
of content neutral media access rules, lack
of a Freedom of Information Act (fought
for the Free UN Coalition for Access) and lack
of scruples - Inner City Press on the morning
of February 26 submitted a signed letter
and C.V. to the PGA's Office and to
Varma.
Also to
the President of the Security Council for
February, Barbara Woodward of the UK Mission,
along with a formal request for confirmation
of receipt.
By 5 pm on
February 26, nothing. Absolutely corrupt.
Dereliction of duty. But we will not rest. Watch
this site.
March
1, 2021
To UN In
Opposition to Guterres 2d Term Inner City Press Feb 26
Wrote to PGA & UK Derelicts
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Feb 26 – How corrupt and
undemocratic is today's United Nations?
Well, now that
Antonio Guterres is pushing for a second
five-year term, while banning
the Press for the 969th day for daring to ask
about his finances and failures, he has
collaborators.
The
current President of the General Assembly
Volkan Bozkir, a strongman from Turkey who due
to his bigoted comments even pro-UN New York
City Mayor Bill de Blasio wouldn't meet with,
has the duty of circulating letters from
candidates.
But for
nearly the entirety of February 2021, Bozkir
has refused to circulate the letter of UN
staffer candidate Arora Akanksha.
Bozkir's
spokesman Brendan Varma, who
blocks Inner City Press on Twitter,
dances around what the rules are and won't
answer.
So, as a
test - and to raise the issue of the UN's lack
of content neutral media access rules, lack
of a Freedom of Information Act (fought
for the Free UN Coalition for Access) and lack
of scruples - Inner City Press on the morning
of February 26 submitted a signed letter
and C.V. to the PGA's Office and to
Varma.
Also to
the President of the Security Council for
February, Barbara Woodward of the UK Mission,
along with a formal request for confirmation
of receipt.
By 5 pm on
February 26, nothing. Absolutely corrupt.
Dereliction of duty. But we will not rest.
Watch this site.
February 22, 2021
As UN Guterres
Lusts For 2d Term Abuses Incumbency Amid Silence from PGA
& UKUN
UN GATE, Feb
12 – The moves by Antonio Guterres to try to
get five more years in the UN Mansion on
Sutton Place by further selling out human
rights, banning the Press which asks questions
about genocide in Cameroon, peacekeepers'
rapes and Chinese bribes at the UN continue.
But in
his lust for an unmerited second term as UNSG,
Guterres on February 5 got fellow censor UK PR
Barbara Woodward and Turkish strongman PGA
Volkan Bozkir to issue a letter kicking off
what he hopes to be a rigged process. Woodward
even gushed
about openness, while her UK Mission refuses
to answer written questions from Inner City
Press, including about Guterres' shameful
cover up of sexual abuse by his crony Fabrizio
Hochschild.
On
February 8, a first of what should be many
challengers, leading over the hill corrupt-o
Guterres to withdraw. First out the box: Arora
Akanksha. She's worked at the UNFPA, so she
should know just how low Guterres has taken
the UN system.
Inner
City Press first reported her campaign on
February 8, and on the morning of February 9
asked Guterres and his spokespeople Melissa
Fleming and Stephane Dujarric, "What are SG
Guterres' response to the candidacy for SG of
Arora Akanksha, who says "not enough has been
done other than reshuffling of the bureaucracy
and recycling ineffective leaders with new
titles and nameplates. What ails the UN
is a failure of leadership"?
No answer at
all - but two days later on February 11
Dujarric told his pro-Guterres insiders,
"António Guterres is a candidate for the
selection process. It's not for him to comment
on other people who may want to come forward.
This is a process run by Member States... I
speak for the incumbent candidate."
Yeah -
who is misusing incumbency to try to extend
his corrupt reign, for example here.
Here's
video.
Inner City Press
asked not only Guterres and his spokespeople
about it, but also PGA Zolkan Bozkir and his
spokesman Brendan Varma, and UNSC President
Barbara Woodward, who promised "openness."
Nothing, no answer - collusion.
February
15, 2021
As UN Guterres
Lusts For 2d Term Abuses Incumbency Amid Silence from PGA
& UKUN
UN GATE, Feb
12 – The moves by Antonio Guterres to try to
get five more years in the UN Mansion on
Sutton Place by further selling out human
rights, banning the Press which asks questions
about genocide in Cameroon, peacekeepers'
rapes and Chinese bribes at the UN continue.
But in
his lust for an unmerited second term as UNSG,
Guterres on February 5 got fellow censor UK PR
Barbara Woodward and Turkish strongman PGA
Volkan Bozkir to issue a letter kicking off
what he hopes to be a rigged process. Woodward
even gushed
about openness, while her UK Mission refuses
to answer written questions from Inner City
Press, including about Guterres' shameful
cover up of sexual abuse by his crony Fabrizio
Hochschild.
On
February 8, a first of what should be many
challengers, leading over the hill corrupt-o
Guterres to withdraw. First out the box: Arora
Akanksha. She's worked at the UNFPA, so she
should know just how low Guterres has taken
the UN system.
Inner
City Press first reported her campaign on
February 8, and on the morning of February 9
asked Guterres and his spokespeople Melissa
Fleming and Stephane Dujarric, "What are SG
Guterres' response to the candidacy for SG of
Arora Akanksha, who says "not enough has been
done other than reshuffling of the bureaucracy
and recycling ineffective leaders with new
titles and nameplates. What ails the UN
is a failure of leadership"?
No answer at
all - but two days later on February 11
Dujarric told his pro-Guterres insiders,
"António Guterres is a candidate for the
selection process. It's not for him to comment
on other people who may want to come forward.
This is a process run by Member States... I
speak for the incumbent candidate."
Yeah - who
is misusing incumbency to try to extend his
corrupt reign, for example here.
Here's
video.
February
8, 2021
UNDT Told
Inner City Press To Destroy Evidence of UN Sex Abuse Now
Padula Name Disappears Under Guterres
UN GATE, Feb 4
– How corrupt and unaccountable is today's
United Nations?
Well, in
November 2020 Inner City Press went to attend
and report on a UN Dispute Tribunal proceeding
about a case of sexual harassment in the UN, a
proceeding which was announced as open to the
public, as US court cases are.
But when
Inner City Press signed in and gave its name,
it was excluded. Later, when it obtained and
published evidenc presented in the case, a UN
Dispute Tribunal judge ordered it to destroy
the evidence or be banned from all future
proceedings.
This
while UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres
falsely claims to have zero tolerance for
sexual harassment and abuse, while himself
banning Inner City Press from UN briefings now
for 948 days.
Now in
the case Inner City Press was ordered to
destroy evidence of who-done-it, even the UNDT
has found Padula guilty - but has insisted
that he be anonymized, that is, covered up
for. The shameful order is here,
and recites for example that the person -
Padula - covered up for
.“grabbed
[AA’s] face, held her closely, leaned forward
and attempted to kiss her”; b. “when [AA]
resisted [the Applicant] kissing her, [he]
forced [AA’s] head down and kissed her on the
forehead”; c. “grabbed [BB’s] face, held
her closely, leaned forward and attempted to
kiss her”; d. “tried to move physically close
to [AA] and [BB] while dancing, despite their
attempts to keep [him] at a distance”; e.
“attempted to grab [CC’s] face; when she
blocked her face with her hands, [the
Applicant] grabbed her hands and tried to pull
them apart; when she resisted, [he] fell on
her forcefully”; and f. “took and pulled
[CC’s] hands to try to get her to dance,
despite her resistance”.
But in
Guterres' UN they do not want the public to
know who did this - and the Press which
exclusively published and name and evidence is
banned and its written questions not answered.
On the morning of February 4, 12 hours before
publishing this when no answer was received
from Guterres, Dujarric, Fleming, Amina J.
Mohammed et al., Inner City Press in writing
asked this: "what are SG Guterres comments and
more importantly action on the UN Dispute
Tribunal on Feb 3 confirming sexual charges
against Padula - while having told Inner City
Press to destroy all evidence or remain
bannned, and maintaining Padula's name sealed,
confirming the cover-up culture under
Guterres?"
The UN
claims it has to protect the identity of
Padula (and will NOT report him to NYPD for
any criminal offense) because they have to
protect the identity of the VICTIMS - it's
like Guterres' rationale for covering up
genocide and mass killing, for example in
Cameroon.
Inner
City Press is even banned from submitting
questions by WebEx, on which the International
Monetary Fund for example answers its
questions, as it did on February 4 about the
Burma coupl. The only difference is Guterres
and his corruption.
On
December 21 Inner City Press
filed a formal appeal with the
UN Appeals Tribunal, full
filing here
on DocumentCloud.
February
1, 2021
UNSG Guterres
Lies On Hochschild Of Whom He Knew in 2019
from Banned Inner City Press
UN
GATE, Jan 28
– How corrupt and
hypocritical is
the United Nations of Secretary
General Antonio Guterres? He
covered up for two years on seuxal
harassment by his friend Fabrizio Hochschild, as
banned Inner City
Press asked
him about it in
writing. Then on
January 28 Guterres
lied and said he'd
only found
out days before.
Video here.
This
lie came in a
Press-less
press
conference.
State media of
Turkey, Qatar, as
well as Reuters
and the NYT,
helped
Guterres by
not asking
about the
belated
suspension of
Hochschild. But
when it was
asked as the
penultimate question,
before
Guterres went
to jump the
vaccination line in The
Bronx,
Guterres
outright lied as
to when he
knew. He also
expressed
nothing for the
victims, only
a hope for
due process
for his
crony.
We'll have
more on this.
So
much so that while Guterres claims
zero tolerance and to be a
feminist, he twice rewarded and
covered up sexual
misconduct in his own office. Inner
City Press before May
2019 reported
the #MeToo
abuses of Fabrizio
Hochschild, and
asked Guterres in
writing about
them, with no
answer. It
published audio
leaked to it; its
exclusive was
picked up here
for example.
Now on
January 28, this:
"UN
spokesperson
Stéphane
Dujarric said
that the head
of the
Organization,
Antonio
Guterres, took
" very
seriously any
allegation of
harassment,
abuse of
power,
discrimination
or sexual
harassment ”.
After "
allegations of
possible
prohibited
conduct
against
Fabrizio
Hochschild
were brought
to his
attention ", a
suspension of
functions was
decided during
an internal
investigation.
Once achieved,
" the
secretary
general will
act quickly
and take
appropriate
action on the
basis of the
findings, "
added the
spokesperson."
But
AFP sources it
to a pro-Guterres
in-house
publication
which said
Guterres gets
a "B" from
feminists.
What a joke -
it is Guterres
who
should be ousted,
for censorship
to cover up
rapes, by Karim
Elkorany (UN
staff in Iraq)
and Peacekeepers
in DRC and
CAR. We'll
have more on this.
January
25, 2021
UNSG Guterres
Rewards Sexual Harassment As Gives Hochschild
Tech Post Staff Tell Inner City Press
UN
GATE, Jan 22
– How corrupt and
hypocritical is
the United Nations of Secretary
General Antonio Guterres? So
much so that while Guterres claims
zero tolerance and to be a
feminist, now he has again
rewarded
and covered up sexual
misconduct in his own office. In
a musical chairs personnel move
on April 18, 2019, a day after
he continued his now
934 day censorship
of the Press, Guterres named as his new
Assistant
Secretary-General for
Strategic Coordination
one Volker
Türk, who when
Inner City Press asked him about refugees
chased by Paul Biya's
Cameroon army into
Nigeria seemed not
to know about it.
Guterres, as we
have reported, not
only took a
golden statue
from Biya, but
went
silent on the
killings since Cameroon
was
chair of the
UN Budget
Committee. But
it's worse:
Turk took
the position
from Fabrizio
Hochschild
Drummond of
Chile "who was
appointed as
Special
Adviser of the
Secretary-General
on the
Preparations
for the
Commemoration
of the United
Nations’ 75th
Anniversary."
This promotion
was,
ghoulishly,
Guterres rewarding
what multiple
staff say was
Hochschild's
relationship
with another
junior staff
member.
Now on
January 22
with the
failed 75th anniversary
complete with
the censorship
of critical
views, now
Guterres is
recycling
this abuser as his
chief of technology,
while still
refusing
all questions
from Inner
City Press -
which was
answered on
Jan 22 by Andrew
Yang, and
by the IMF and
others.
Guterres and
those around
him are
corrupt.
One of
the staff
members tells
Inner City
Press it in these words: "his
promotion to
USG was
because the SG
wanted him out
of his office
after he was
caught having
an affair with
a junior staff
member. In
terms of power
play this is a
reward for
sexual
harassment."
Talk about MeToo -
the faux
feminist
Guterres covers up
and rewards
such behavior.
And later on
April 18 Ms.
Nahla Valji,
Senior Gender
Adviser,
Executive
Office of the
Secretary-General, was bragging
about Guterres
and feminism. What
hypocrisy.
We'll have
more on this -
while Guterres
and his
spokespeople refuse
to answer any
of Inner City
Press' written
questions, we
still have
sources, many
sources.
In
the midst of Inner City Press'
questioning in 2018 about
Guterres' links to now convicted UN
bribery Patrick Ho's China Energy
Fund Committee and Guterres'
failures on Cameroon
and elsewhere, his UN Security twice
roughed up Inner City Press on June
22 and July
3, 2018.
January
18, 2021
UK Ambassador Letter Citing Inner City Press Scoops
Stonewalled By UNESCO Like Guterres
UN GATE, Jan
14 – From
the corrupt UN
of Antonio
Guterres, who
is now running
for a second
mandate, the
whole UN
system has
been totally
corrupted,
especially
UNESCO. The
Paris based UN
agency is in
turmoil after
the exposure
of a number of
administrative
transgressions
by Inner City
Press, which
articles led
to internal
investigations.
Yet,
advocating for
governing
control
measures by
member states
yields
results, as
revealed in
the letter by
the ambassador
of the UK to
UNESCO,
Matthew Lodge,
who
denunciated
the lack of
transparency
and financial
accountability
in the
administration
of the French
DG Audrey
Azoulay. This
letter was
motivated by
the article of
Inner City
Press about
the
misappropriation
of public
funds in large
proportions
(see copy of
the UK
Ambassador’s
letter here).
In his letter,
the UK
ambassador
pointed out
that the
embezzlement
allegations
that had been
rejected at
the outset
with
condescension
by Nicholas
Jeffreys
ADG/ADM and
Nikolas
Kacyanides
Dir/Cabinet,
were factual
information
that and “the
Inner City
Press
allegations of
financial
impropriety
and breach of
rules” proved
to be “a
confirmed
financial
fraud”. This
is the first
time when an
influent
member state
of UNESCO, and
a member of
the Security
Council P5, is
confirming in
writing the
veracity of
the
arraignments
by Inner City
Press. From
the UN? No
answer.
January
11, 2021
As UNSC Prez Tunisia Bans Cameroon Qs For Guterres
But Will 5 New Members Do Better?
UN GATE, Jan
4 – In the United Nations from which SG
Antonio Guterres has banned Inner City Press
916 days for asking about his complicity in
the killing of civilians in Cameroon,
poisoning them in Haiti with cholera and COVID
in South Sudan, and their mass imprisonment by
China in Xinjiang, on January 4 Inner City
Press wrote to the Mission of Tunisia, as
incoming UN Security Council president, with
questions including about Ethiopia, Western
Sahara, Haiti, Yemen and Cameroon.
Inner
City Press specifically asked to be provided
the WebEx codes to be able to ask its
questions. No answer.
But
three hours later when Tunisia's Ambassador
Tarek Labed took questions, his spokesperson
took them in groups of four -- without protest
from the increasingly pathetic UNCA UN press
corpse -- allowing Labed to evade even the
questions that were asked.
No one allowed
in asked about Cameroon, just the way Guterres
wants it. The answer is clearly no. This is
shameful. But will the five incoming UNSC
members - India, Ireland, Mexico, Kenya and
Norway - do their jobs of openness to the
Press and public? We will be asking.
For now
Inner City Press, which will report all month
about the UNSC with or seemingly without any
Tunisia or Labed access, posted the Program of
Work here
and notes for example "Wester Africa" - that
would / should include Cameroon - on January
11, Yemen on January 14, League of Arab States
on January 18, Syria on January 20, Colombia
on January 21, and January 26 on the Middle
East. Labed said two meetings will be in
person - this as Guterres violated COVID
quarantine rules. Today's UN is corrupt.
Inner City Press streamed some of the
Press-less presser, here.
Among those "given the floor" by
Tunisia, while banning Inner City Press, were
state media from Pakistan, a retiree of a
decade, and others.
When Guterres'
spokes- / hatchetman Stephane Dujarric holds
his noon briefings this month while refusing
all questions from Inner City Press despite an
on camera promise.
And Tunisia and Labed? We'll report.
Watch this site.
January 4, 2021 UNSG
Antonio
Guterres Flew
to Lisbon To
Politicize
Religious
Order In Bid
For 2d Term
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Jan 1 – Antonio Guterres'
four years as UN Secretary General have
consisted of diplomatic failures,
cover-ups
of UN sexual abuse and UN bribers, including
his own connections
with convicted briber CEFC China Energy, and banning
of the Press that asked.
Now at New
Years 2021, violating what the public is told
to do with the UN's WHO and by Joe
Biden, among others, Guterres has
traveled on vacation to Portugal (and, it's
been said, then to the UK).
There
in Portugal, a craven religious order has
debased itself by calling him a man of peace
while not doing basic research into Guterres
cover up of child rape - sadly, it's birds of
a feather: "The custodian of the Sacred
Convent of Assisi announced that the 'Lamp of
Peace of San Francisco”, granted annually,
will be given in 2021 to the Secretary-General
of the United Nations, António Guterres.
'The motivation that led us to this
recognition is his tireless work of political
mediation in the complexity of our world that
is struggling with so many conflicts, wars,
injustices and degradation of human beings and
creation; a deep commitment to a dialogical
and cordial style, a style of fraternal
humanism, as we, the friars of the Sacred
Convent, call it ”, explained Fr. Marco
Moroni, speaking of the Portuguese
official. António Guterres is praised
for his “political activity lived as a
vocation at the service of the common good."
Beyond
the ghoulish praise by a Catholic group of a
man whose UN Partnerships representative Amir
Dossal was on the board of Ghislaine Maxwell's
Terramar Project, and won't answer the Press
on that or UN child rapes, instead roughed it
up and banned, why are they involved in
politics at all? Who oversees them?
Why did
Guterres thumb his nose as his own
organization's directives and travel to
Portugal?
Was it meet up
with his son Pedro, whose African
business deals like a meeting with
Rwanda Paul Kagame Guterres has refused to
disclose or explain, when banned
Inner City Press asked?
Well, with
Guterres in Lisbon, that city's and his organ
of choice Expresso has begun Guterres'
campaign for an entirely unmerited second term
as SG, with Helder Gomes writing (or reciting,
dictated by Guterres) that "the former
Portuguese prime minister will fulfill the
next 12 months with the promised US return to
multilateralism. For now, Guterres maintains
the taboo, but has already indicated that he
still has a lot to do."
More bribes to
take? More civilians to sell out, as he has
the Anglophones of Cameroon?
If the
UN is to retain or even regain any of its
credibility, there can be no second term. Just
say no to Guterres. Song
I here. Watch this site.
***
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
December 28, 2020
Antonio
Guterres Flew
to Lisbon To
Launch
Campaign for
2d Term In
Expresso Just
Say No
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Dec 26 – Antonio Guterres'
four years as UN Secretary General have
consisted of diplomatic failures,
cover-ups
of UN sexual abuse and UN bribers, including
his own connections
with convicted briber CEFC China Energy, and banning
of the Press that asked.
Now for
Christmas 2020, violating what the public is
told to do with the UN's WHO and by Joe
Biden, among others, Guterres has
traveled on vacation to Portugal (and, it's
been said, then to the UK). He is a
hypocrite.
Why did
Guterres thumb his nose as his own
organization's directives and travel to
Portugal?
Was it meet up
with his son Pedro, whose African
business deals like a meeting with
Rwanda Paul Kagame Guterres has refused to
disclose or explain, when banned
Inner City Press asked?
Well, with
Guterres in Lisbon, that city's and his organ
of choice Expresso has begun Guterres'
campaign for an entirely unmerited second term
as SG, with Helder Gomes writing (or reciting,
dictated by Guterres) that "the former
Portuguese prime minister will fulfill the
next 12 months with the promised US return to
multilateralism. For now, Guterres maintains
the taboo, but has already indicated that he
still has a lot to do."
More bribes to
take? More civilians to sell out, as he has
the Anglophones of Cameroon?
If the
UN is to retain or even regain any of its
credibility, there can be no second term. Just
say no to Guterres. Song
I here. Watch this site.
***
Your support means a lot. As
little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you
access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click
here to become a patron.
Feedback: Editorial [at]
innercitypress.com
SDNY Press Room 480, front cubicle
500 Pearl Street, NY NY 10007 USA
Mail: Box 20047, Dag Hammarskjold Station NY NY 10017December
21, 2020
UN
Guterres Cries
Poor Flying to
Germany UK and
Lisbon Amid
COVID and
Censorship
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Dec 15 – How corrupt is today's
United Nations?
Well, just as
New York prepares to go into another COVID-19
lockdown, its Secretary General prepares to
fly off to Germany and the presumably to his
real home in Portugal, before slipping back
into New York evade quarantine rules that
applies to others.
This while
Guterres cries poor, in a letter to staff that
Inner City Press now exclusively publishes in
full:
"Saturday, 12
December 2020 Dear Colleagues, I am
writing to update you on the ways in which we
are managing the continuing liquidity
challenges facing the United Nations. My
senior team and I have been working closely
with Member States to find a systemic solution
to the recurring cash crisis, especially for
our regular budget operations. The
ultimate responsibility for our financial
health lies with Member States. Most
have fulfilled their Charter obligations and
paid in full, some on time and some even in
advance. Many have responded positively
to my appeals during the year to accelerate
their contributions. With your
help, we have been working hard to deal with a
problem that is greater this year than
compared to 2019. We started 2020 with
the highest level of arrears in recent history
– $711 million – eroding our already meagre
reserves. By February, there were
already alarming signs of further deficits and
as a result, we had to institute additional
cash conservation measures to ensure that we
would be able to pay the salaries and
entitlements of our staff on time and settle
our legal obligations to vendors. The
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have created
even further difficulties, and we are now over
$600 million short of our target for the
year. However, notwithstanding these
shortfalls, we have continued to prioritize
salaries every month and have advanced
payments to provide staff with more
predictability during the crisis. This
cautious approach to spending, especially in
controlling hiring, has proven prudent.
Without these measures, our operations would
have been disrupted and we would not have been
able to meet payrolls or fulfil our
obligations. However, outstanding
contributions are now nearly $1,194 million,
and we have depleted the liquidity reserves
for the regular budget and now have to borrow
from the accounts of closed peacekeeping
operations in order to meet obligations for
December. I have made every effort
to protect staff from this crisis, and I will
continue to do so. As personnel costs
constitute the bulk of the regular budget, as
well as being the most difficult to adjust
quickly in response to cash shortages, hiring
judiciously has been critical to ensuring
liquidity for salaries. But this has a
terrible knock-on effect: high vacancies put
more pressure on existing staff, which is
neither desirable nor sustainable. I
have urged managers to be sensitive and
creative in addressing this situation, and I
have also emphasized to Member States that
this persisting liquidity crisis is
undermining our work. I continue to
implore Member States to contain the erosion
of our capacity to deliver while working with
them to find a sustainable solution that
simultaneously supports staff and enables the
United Nations to sustain its
operations. I want to assure
you that we are in this
together. Thank you for your
service during these challenging times. Yours
sincerely, António Guterres"
Now UK
Permanent Representative Barbara Woodward has
tweeted, "My Prime Minister is looking forward
to welcoming you to London in January to mark
#UN75." So,
"does @AntonioGuterres leaving NY
for Germany tomorrow Dec 16, as NYC moves to
COVID Pause of Lockdown, and this "London in
January" mean that he'll be spending public
money in Lisbon from mid Dec into January,
amid the pandemic? When would he come back to
UNHQ?" This has been asked publicly - no
answer.
Nor to this,
emailed to Guterres, his deputy Amina J.
Mohammed, chief of staff Viotti and
spokespeople: " How can it be that,
given the impending lockdown for COVID in NY,
and the situation in Germany, that SG Guterres
is flying there, instead of speaking by Zoom?
When is SG Guterres scheduled to return to NY?
Will he be going to Lisbon? Is that, as some
surmise, the goal of the ill-considered / bad
example trip?"
During
the pandemic, Guterres has already sneaked off
to Portugal twice. He has allowed his UN
Security to keep their gym open when all other
gyms in NYC have been closed. When banned
Inner City Press asked in writing about this,
Guterres' spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and
Melissa Fleming have refused to answer. It is
impunity. He should not return.
From the
December 14 UN transcript: Dujarric: I
have a trip announcement for you. The
Secretary-General will travel on Wednesday to
Berlin, where he will address the German
Parliament on Friday morning. While in Berlin,
he will also meet with Chancellor Angela
Merkel, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.
Q: it's his
first personal trip since March; right?
Dujarric: It
is his first official trip. As you may have
recalled, he went home twice to see his
family.
Question:
Yeah. So the question is, why is it so
important to go to Germany, in particular
taking into account the current strict COVID
measures in Germany right now... and if he's
going to quarantine after his arrival back to
New
York?
Dujarric: A
couple of things. We may have more travel to
announce. I will tell you that the way
we're... travel is organised, safety is first
and foremost. The Secretary‑General will be
tested before leaving, as will his
delegation.
This was a very important invitation on
behalf... by the German Government. It's not
every day that a Secretary‑General is invited
to address the Bundestag. So, we've accepted
the
invitation.
The Secretary‑General will, of course, follow
all regulations pertinent to the city and
state of New York upon return when he is in
New York."
And when would that be? Is this just a pretext
to spend public money to go to Lisbon, where
Guterres took money from Gulbenkian which
tried to sell its oil company to UN briber
CEFC China Energy?
Inner City Press
and its questions have been banned from the UN
for 895 days by this corrupt Guterres. He should
not return. December
14, 2020
UN
Guterres
Covers Up
Uruguay Child
Rape in DRC As
Bans Inner
City Press
891st Day
UN
GATE, Dec 10 -- Stephane Dujarric,
the lead spokesman of UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres, and
now Guterres'
Global
Communicator
Melissa
Fleming have
joined their
boss in
personally
covering up
child rapes
and sexual
abuse by UN
personnel,
including
recently a
child rape by
a UN
"peacekeeper"
from Paul
Biya's
Cameroon in DR
Congo.
Even while
they and OIOS
Ben Swanson
purport to
care - and
even answer
questions - on
the UN's cover
up for
Burundian and
Gabon rapes in
CAR in 2017,
they have
adopted
corrupt
Guterres'
solution going
forward: cover
up the cases
in advance.
Rough up and
ban the Press
which asks,
leave inside
only insiders
who ask why
they can't use
the UN
escalator
instead of
walking one or
two flights of
stairs, and
refuse to
answer written
questions.
Their UN is
dying - and
taking young
victims with
it. See Tel
Aviv UNTSO
video first
published by
Inner City
Press on June
23, here,
and Swanson here.
On
October 26,
while maskless
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric
continues to
lie about
sexual abuse,
the UN data
dumped
additional
outrageous
sexual abuses,
Gabon and Togo
in the Central
African
Republic, this
very year.
Inner City
Press
immediately in
writing asked:
"On UN sexual
exploitation
and abuse -
alleged - this
is a request
that you
immediately
provide the
"if asked"
information
about the
caseso f
child rape and
sexual
exploitation
by UN
"peacekeepers"
from Uruguay,
Ethiopia,
Senegal and
Benin and
again
Cameroon, in
DRC and
Central
African
Republic just
cursorily data
dumped onto
the UN website
today December
10 (Human
Rights Day and
that you
immediately
provide the
"granular"
information
that was
promised today
at noon to
correspondents
who barely ask
or publish
about this
topic. What is
being done for
the victims?
Also, again,
what is
Guterres'
answer, which
you refused to
provide after
banned Inner
City Press
asked you and
others in
writing on the
morning of
August 19 that
you
"immediately
provide all
if-asked and
additional
information
about the new
allegation of
SEA announced
of child rape
by a
Cameroonian
"peacekeeper"
in DR Congo,
and why this
has been left
so long
UNanswered -
and also why
previously
published
charges are no
longer in the
data to which
UN
Peacekeeping
Conduct and
Discipline
points,
including what
if being done
for these
victims and
any steps
taken to avoid
this constant
repetition of
abuse despite
the SG's
ostensible
commitments.
Again, are new
allegations
being buried
elsewhere on
the data page?
Inner City
Press is
asking in
writing
because banned
from the noon
briefings and
any follow up
questions, now
for more than
a year. On
August 24
Inner City
Press
re-applied for
admission to
cover the UNGA
high level
week; on
August 30 it
was summarily
rejected, with
no or only
Kafka-esque
reasoning.
Today, as
before none of
Inner City
Press' written
questions,
including on
Cameroon, have
been answered.
This is a
request that
you
immediately
confirm
receipt of
these
questions and
requests. "
No
answer, and no
one let into
the noon
briefing -
including
several state
media
including VOA
and a
handpicked
climate
question from
Sidney - asked
about the
rapes.
December
7, 2020
Banning
Press UNSC
Prez South
Africa Praised
Guterres For
Helping Paul
Biya in
Cameroon
UN GATE, Dec
2 – In the United Nations from which SG
Antonio Guterres has banned Inner City Press
883 days for asking about his complicity in
the killing of civilians in Cameroon,
poisoning them in Haiti with cholera and COVID
in South Sudan, and their mass imprisonment by
China in Xinjiang, on November 30 Inner City
Press wrote to the Mission of South Africa, as
incoming UN Security Council president, with
questions including about Western Sahara,
Haiti, Yemen and Cameroon.
Inner
City Press specifically asked to be provided
the WebEx codes to be able to ask its
questions. No answer.
But when
South Africa's self-described bureaucrat Jerry
Matjila took questions, his spokesman took
them in groups of three -- without protest
from the increasingly pathetic UNCA UN press
corpse -- allowing Matjila to evade even the
questions that were asked.
No one allowed
in asked about Cameroon, just the way Guterres
wants it.
And on December 2 to a group of insider NGOs
Matjila,
low-talking, on Cameroon praised the
failed work of Antonio Guterres, claimed that
ECOWAS or ECCAS is keeping an "eagle eye" on
Cameroon and that the UN Security Council is
acting appropriately on it. Video here,
including the lines "the Secretary General in
his wisdom is taking the responsibility to
help [inaudible] Paul Biya." He also claimed
there are agreements on language and
region(s).
No one
called him on it. UN world, in the era of
Guterres, is more and more decrepit.
Would
South Africa's former Ambassador Kumalo, no
bureaucrat at all, have colluded in this
Secretary General's censorship of Press? The
answer is clearly no. This is shameful.
This
too: during Matjila's "press" conference, the
Program of Work was not even on the website of
the UNSC. Still Inner City Press, which will
report all month about the UNSC with or
seemingly without any Matjila or South African
bureaucracy access, notes for example "Central
Africa" - that would / should be Cameroon - on
December 9, DRC on Dec 7, Yemen on Dec 14,
South Sudan Dec 15, Afghanistan Dec 17, and
Syria Dec 21.
On
Western Sahara, Matjila cravenly praised
Guterres' supposed effort on naming a UN
envoy, on which Guterres has failed for more
than a year. This President is a letdown on
Western Sahara.
Inner City Press live tweeted the Press-less
presser, here,
and streamed some, here.
When Guterres'
spokes- / hatchetman Stephane Dujarric holds
his noon briefings this month while refusing
all questions from Inner City Press despite an
on camera promise.
And South Africa and "bureaucrat" Matjila?
We'll report.
Watch this site.
November
30, 2020
In UN
Belief Blinken
and Thomas
Greenfield
Would
Collaborate As
Censors for
Corruption
UN GATE /
SDNY, Nov 23 - The United Nations, its
unaccountable senior leadership and
sychophantic press corps all seem pleased by
the nomination
of perceived supporters to represent the US
from January 20 on.
Witness the
canned Q&A in the UN noon briefing of
November 23, which again banned Inner City
Press - and its questions about UN corruption
and sexual abuse, Cameroon,
Honduras
and other UN failures, here.
Inner City
Press before corrupt UNSG Antonio Guterres had
it thrown
out without due process or appeal
covered not only the UN and its "Peacekeeping"
missions in Haiti and elsewhere, but also
Antony Blinken (here,
meeting Prince Zeid) and Linda
Thomas-Greenfield (here,
after a trip to Somalia; Inner City Press
covered the UN Security Council trip to
Djibouti).
So would
it be the case that Blinken and
Thomas-Greenfield would cast a blind eye at UN
censorship
and lack of
accountability, from Cameroon to the banning of
the Press that asks? Watch this site.November
23, 2020
Complicit
In Saudi Press
Murder UN
Guterres Bans
Press As State
Media
Obsequious On
G20
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Nov 20 – The G-20
meeting by Saudi Arabia's royals, killers of
journalist like Jamal Khashhogi, is being used
by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to
promote himself, for example in a scam
November 20 press conference with state media,
video here.
After
Guterres' distribution of a redacted copy of
his pre-summit letter, this was a six question
briefing Guterres banned critical Inner City
Press from. The questions included Turkish
state media asking for praise of the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus, South African
state media coyly asking for criticism of
Trump and getting only evasion (Guterres will
take money from anyone); Qatar's Al Jazeera
asking for a Qatar sound byte, useless ANSA
lobbying a softball about "COVAX" and Guterres
blathering about mis-information, meaning any
criticism of him.
Before,
these stage directions from the UN
Correspondents Association, with Xinhua and
Saudi funded media on the board:
"Dear
colleagues, The Secretary-General will
hold a press briefing tomorrow, Friday,
November 20th at 12:30 PM in the Press
Briefing Room S-237 with a limited amount of
journalists present with distancing
restrictions and the rest will continue to
participate virtually on the Webex
platform. Only a maximum of 10 UN
correspondents with 6 resident correspondents,
1 non-resident correspondents [sic], and 3
photographers can be safely accommodated.
Thank you for your attention and
cooperation. Valeria Robecco President,
United Nations Correspondents Association."
Inner City
Press on the morning of November 20 asked
Guterres, spokesman Stephane Dujarric, Melissa
Fleming and others 100+ questions including,
on this, "As to SG Guterres's November 20
press conference, (1) how it is legitimate to
outsource access to the UN Correspondents
Association, which self-servingly decided six
"resident correspondents" (some of whom
publish nothing), 1 "non resident
correspondents" [sic] and three photographers
-- does that include or not include the
publicly-paid UN Photo staff, or those who
purport to both be UN Photo and resident
correspondents? On what basis is Inner City
Press, which has questions, banned even from
posing question(s) by WebEx? How is this not
just censorship?"
"Everyone accessing UN premises in New York
confirms that they have not
had
- Any
COVID-19 symptoms in the past 14 days
- A
positive COVID-19 test in the past 14
days
- Close
contact with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19
case in the past 14 days."
What a
scam - Guterres evaded quarantine, and his
spokesman Stephane Dujarric briefs maskless
daily, give feet above Al Jazeera's Bays who
takes off his mask. The UN Censorship Alliance
- with Saudi Arabia. Inner City Press will
have more on this - watch this site.
November
16, 2020
After
UN Beer Party
Andrea Padula
Assaulted 3
Women Here Is
Transcript UN
Wants
Destroyed
UN GATE, Nov
13 – How corrupt is today's United Nations?
Even when a proceeding about the growing trend
of sexual harassment under Sec-Gen Antonio
Guterres is supposed to be public, when the
Press comes to cover it, it is denied access.
Video here.
And then
his kangaroo court demands that the Press he
excludes destroy evidence of UN sexual abuse,
or be further banned. This is today's UN.
The leaked evidence, precisely the type that
media is elsewhere celebrated for publishing
in cases like Ghislaine Maxwell (to whom the
UN is connected through Guterres' Partnerships
chief Amir Dossal), includes transcripts. Here
now, after yet another day of UN Spokesperson
Stephane Dujarric and "Verify" fraud Melissa
Fleming refusing to confirm or deny or answer
anything, is from one of the many transcript:
"I am not in a
state where I could leave the group because I
was too scared that he would follow me out of
the group, so I was staying there and seeing
where he exactly goes.... He was doing the
same thing with another UN staff, her name was
[VOLUNTARILY REDACTED BY INNER CITY PRESS], he
tried to grab her face, he tried to kiss her
and she actually pushed him away... also
[VOLUNTARILY REDACTED] of Accenture."
This
after Q&A with a male UN "investigator"
implying that is entirely normal in the UN for
a known sexual harasser to walk around with
twelve pack of beer and... other things. To be
continued. This is what Guterres is
covering up by banning the Press that covers
it, and now claiming the authority to order
the destruction of evidence leaked by
whistleblowers.
Under
Guterres, the UN has become functionally a sex
trafficking conspiracy, moving "peacekeepers"
and staff around to committed sexual abuse for
which they are shielded and protected by
Guterres, including with censorship.
On the morning of November 12 Inner City Press
in writing asked Dujarric, Fleming, Guterres
and others including Deputy Spokesman Farhan
Haq who deleted or "left" the questions on
WhatsApp, "Immediately on the Padula UNDT case
I have asked each of you about since November
3 explain on what basis the UN is now
demanding censorship of leaked evidence of UN
sexual harassment, in a UNDT order no less:
"until Mr. Lee has demonstrated to the
Tribunal that all illegal recordings have been
removed from the public domain and destroyed,
it will hold Mr. Lee in contempt of court and
prohibit him from attending any of its future
public hearings. " But Inner City Press
was banned from the UN by Antonio Guterres
before this, for reporting on UN abuses, and
its question have not been answered. This one
should be - on deadline."
Now
November 13, no answer at all. Today's UN is
full of corruption and censorship.
Now
after asking Guterres and his spokespeople
Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming to
explain - they have refused - we are
publishing the order(s), including here
that
"According to
media reports, [the United Nations] regards
Inner City Press and Mr Lee as personae non
grata, and has withdrawn Mr Lee’s media
accreditation, as a result of myriad previous
instances in which Mr Lee has breached the
Organisation’s media guidelines.[reference to
footnote omitted] These breaches reportedly
included live-streaming a UN function that was
designated as private. [reference to footnote
omitted] … Mr Lee asserts in the Twitter
thread that he was denied entry into the
virtual hearing in this case. The tweet
includes a video which shows Mr Lee, using the
moniker ‘Press-Guest’, in the hearing’s
‘lobby’, awaiting admission by Tribunal
officials, and ultimately being denied entry.
[reference to annex omitted] The Applicant and
Applicant’s counsel recall seeing an entry
request under the name of ‘Inner City Press’
during his cross-examination of [the witness].
However, neither Applicant nor his counsel
recall seeing ‘Inner City Press’ or
‘PressGuest’ among the participants in the
hearing. … The Applicant thus believes that Mr
Lee’s assertion is correct: Tribunal officials
did not admit Mr Lee or Inner City Press into
the hearing. If so, Mr Lee or Inner City Press
could only have obtained images from the
hearing, including the confidential OIOS
witness testimony, from someone who was
admitted into the hearing: either a
participant or an observer (whether a [United
Nations] staff member or member of the
public).[reference to footnote omitted] In
other words, the information was apparently
leaked."
and then, and
order that Lee is "prohibited from attending
any future public hearings of the undersigned
Judge until he has demonstrated to the
Tribunal that all illegal recordings from the
hearing on 4 November 2020 have been removed
from the public domain and destroyed."
Inner
City Press has asked Dujarric, Amina J.
Mohammed and Fleming how the UN of Guterres
can purport to order the destruction of
whistleblower evidence of sexual abuse in the
UN. No answer.
But Inner City
Press was banned from the UN by Antonio
Guterres before this, so that Guterres could
conceal child rapes by UN peacekeepers and
drugging and raping by such staff members as
Karim Elkonany, who he never disciplined.
In this
case, Inner City Press every weekday since
November 3 has put written questions about the
case to UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric,
Melissa Fleming and others - with no answer at
all. We are now asking about these orders.
We'll
have more on this, including publishing the
UNDT's absurd orders and more. Note that Inner
City Press knows full well how to comply with
rules in legal reporting - but any tribunal
that bans the Press, then demands censorship
of material leaked by whistleblowers, deserve
more not less coverage.
On
November 3 Inner City Press arrived online to
cover a sexual harassment proceeding in the UN
Dispute Tribunal. But despite the promise of
openness, it was blocked. Still, from
exhibits, this
live tweeted thread:
This UN staff
member Mr. Andrea Padula allegedly "a.
“grabbed [Ms. VC’s] face, leaned forward and
attempted to kiss her”; b. “when [Ms. VC]
resisted [him] kissing her, [he] forced [Ms.
VC’s] down and kissed her c. “grabbed [Ms.
MV], held her closely, and attempted to kiss
her”
Those on
this UN cover-up call, blocking the Press from
an ostensibly public UN sexual harassment
hearing, include Morten Michelsen, Omar Josef
Shehabi, but ultimately the rape-cover-up-man
in chief, @AntonioGuterres . He has
corrupted the entire Organization
In the
supposedly public UN "legal" proceeding that
Inner City Press was just denied access to,
here is an exhibit being presented - a UN
cubicle, with a Patricia Dann sign on it and
an apparently inflatable kangaroo. More
exhibits from Big Tony Gutters' Animal House
UN, presented in ostensibly public legal
proceeding that Inner City Press was blocked
from - note "Dance floor" - including the UN -
and party boys / dirty old men.
This one
of @AntonioGuterres ' party boys is
named Mr. Andrea Padula (in Iraq, Guterres'
Karim Elkorany went further, into drugging and
raping a UN contractors) - but here, note the
involvement of "Mariuska of Accenture."
Update - the
United Nations under
@AntonioGuterres is spending the
public's money to hold sexual harassment
dances (and fly rapists like Elkorany in and
out of Iraq) - but when the Media tries to
cover a public proceeding, access denied.
#ImpeachGuterres 202 views 0:00 / 0:27
Turns out
this @AntonioGuterres party boy
Padula "was doing the same thing with another UN
staff, her name was Verouschka.... he
tried to grab her" - note that the three UNTSO
#sexploiters are *still* being paid by the
public, despite Guterres' lies
November
9, 2020
UN
Women Staff
Sent Porn
While UN Beer
Party Staffer
Padula No
Answer From
Guterres
UN GATE, Nov 6
– How corrupt is today's United Nations? Even
when a proceeding about the growing trend of
sexual harassment under Sec-Gen Antonio
Guterres is supposed to be public, when the
Press comes to cover it, it is denied access.
Video here.
From November 3 to November 6 Inner City Press
each day asked Guterres and his spokespeople
Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming to
explain this, and to state what happened in
and was done about the case, below. No
answers.
Now
Inner City Press can report on another UN
Dispute Tribunal case, in which Karkara, "a
former Senior Advisor at the United Nations
Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment
of Women (“UN Women”) in New York, at the P-5
level, contests the decision to dismiss him
for serious misconduct. UN Women found that
the Applicant (a) sexually harassed, exploited
and abused two non-UN personnel; (b) committed
harassment and abuse of authority against an
intern with the United Nations; and (c)
misused the United Nations Information
Communication and Technology (“ICT”) resources
to obtain and distribute pornography to and
from his UN Women email account. 2. The
Applicant submits that the facts on which the
disciplinary measure was based are not
established by clear and convincing evidence.
The Applicant argues that the victims’
testimonies are not credible and that their
allegations were fabricated with the
assistance of several individuals who had
serious disputes with him. The Applicant also
submits that the investigation was biased and
ignored exculpatory evidence and several
witnesses breached the confidentiality
requirement by speaking to the media, thereby
undermining the integrity of the
investigation. 3. The Respondent submits that
based on the credible oral testimony of
victims, which are further corroborated by
other witnesses’ testimony and text messages
and the Global Positioning System (“GPS”)
records, the facts on which the disciplinary
measure was based are established by clear and
convincing evidence. 4. A hearing was held
before the Tribunal on 20-22 July 2020 at
which nine witnesses and the Applicant gave
testimony. 5. For the reasons below, the
Tribunal finds that the facts are established
by clear and convincing evidence, that they
amount to serious misconduct, and that the
imposed sanction was proportionate to the
offense."
Guterres' UN
is corrupt and he is covering it up with
censorship. Sources who contacted Inner City
Press about what they call expanding sleaze in
the UN blamed its spread on "dirty old man" SG
Guterres, as one called him. Inner City Press
has put the decision online on its
DocumentCloud, here.
Is this acceptable? Why no answer? Why the
cover up?
On
November 3 Inner City Press arrived online to
cover a sexual harassment proceeding in the UN
Dispute Tribunal. But despite the promise of
openness, it was blocked. Still, from
exhibits, this
live tweeted thread:
This UN staff
member Mr. Andrea Padula allegedly "a.
“grabbed [Ms. VC’s] face, leaned forward and
attempted to kiss her”; b. “when [Ms. VC]
resisted [him] kissing her, [he] forced [Ms.
VC’s] down and kissed her c. “grabbed [Ms.
MV], held her closely, and attempted to kiss
her”
Those on
this UN cover-up call, blocking the Press from
an ostensibly public UN sexual harassment
hearing, include Morten Michelsen, Omar Josef
Shehabi, but ultimately the rape-cover-up-man
in chief, @AntonioGuterres . He has
corrupted the entire Organization
In the
supposedly public UN "legal" proceeding that
Inner City Press was just denied access to,
here is an exhibit being presented - a UN
cubicle, with a Patricia Dann sign on it and
an apparently inflatable kangaroo. More
exhibits from Big Tony Gutters' Animal House
UN, presented in ostensibly public legal
proceeding that Inner City Press was blocked
from - note "Dance floor" - including the UN -
and party boys / dirty old men.
This one
of @AntonioGuterres ' party boys is
named Mr. Andrea Padula (in Iraq, Guterres'
Karim Elkorany went further, into drugging and
raping a UN contractors) - but here, note the
involvement of "Mariuska of Accenture."
Update - the
United Nations under
@AntonioGuterres is spending the
public's money to hold sexual harassment
dances (and fly rapists like Elkorany in and
out of Iraq) - but when the Media tries to
cover a public proceeding, access denied.
#ImpeachGuterres 202 views 0:00 / 0:27
Turns out
this @AntonioGuterres party boy
Padula "was doing the same thing with another UN
staff, her name was Verouschka.... he
tried to grab her" - note that the three UNTSO
#sexploiters are *still* being paid by the
public, despite Guterres' lies
November
2, 2020
UN
Warns US Staff
Of Nov 3
Election
Protests As
Guterres
Favors Biden
Over Trump on
Zoom
UN GATE, Oct
30 – The UN is warning its US staff to
watching out on and after US election day.
Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General who
rarely takes questions and even had the Press
which asked him about his links to the
convicted UN briber CEFC China Energy thrown
out of the UN, rolled up in three large SUV
vehicles to the publicly-funded mansion he
usually lives alone in, just before the
COVID-19 pandemic spread in March Video here,
& YouTube
and Facebook.
Now on
October 30 from the UN -
which bans Inner City
Press but which gets
extensive leaks -
this: "SECURITY
BROADCAST New York
Fri 10/30/2020 12:00
PM
To:
Broadcast - UNHQ NY
Secretariat;
Broadcast -
Agencies, Funds and
Programmes The
Security and Safety
Service hereby
reminds that the
outcome of the
upcoming host
country elections
could spark both
celebrations and
spontaneous
demonstrations.
UNDSS is in contact
with our law
enforcement
counterparts in
monitoring the
situation where our
personnel are
located and will
provide updates and
advice, via security
email broadcasts, as
appropriate.
In these uncertain
times with COVID-19
and the possibility
of civil unrest, UN
staff and non-staff
personnel are
encouraged for their
own safety to avoid
crowds in
general.
Should UN staff and
non-staff personnel
encounter a protest,
it is recommended
that they follow the
general safety
advice
below:
•
Remain calm and
carefully navigate
to the edge of the
crowd or where it is
safest.
•
When possible, move
away and seek refuge
in a nearby
building, or doorway
until the crowd
passes.
•
When leaving the
protest area – walk
briskly and avoid
running.
•
If you are driving,
DO NOT stop your
vehicle in the area
of the protest. Keep
windows and doors
locked.
•
Drive carefully
through or around
the crowd at a low
speed and do not
honk your
horn.
•
Follow the
instructions from
local
authorities.
•
For emergencies,
contact local
authorities at
911.
Do keep abreast of
developments in your
area by tuning into
the live media
reports which are
providing real time
information."
On October 19 Guterres
bragged that he will
travel in two weeks to
Massachusetts
to meet his
semi-estranged
wife who lives in
Portugal, a
country from which
quarantine would be
required
in New York. This
is open
evasion of
quarantine
rules - or not
open, since it
was said in a
meeting
several disgusted participants
invited
Inner City
Press to
observe.
Perhaps most
significantly,
Guterres in the
meeting expressed
open preference in
the current US
president election
saying that if
one side wins,
"Net Zero
Emissions" can
be advance,
and if the
other (Trump)
wins, Guterres
and the UN
will rely on
bankers like
JPMorgan
Chase.
Guterres
also
spoke about
social media
platforms -
not the
censorship of
investigative
articles but the
need to
censors more,
citing
what he called
"Social
Dilemna" a
show he says
he is watching
on Netflix. We
will have more
on this.
Normally,
one could ask
Guterres'
spokespeople to
explain. But
they refuse to
answer
questions, even
for
clarification
of Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric reference to
two, and
not one,
trips. They
are corrupt.
After
his return and
faux quarantine
for ten days,
including
maskless men
going in and
out of his
mansion, on
August 19 Guterres'
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric said
that US
Secretary of
State would
be meeting
directly
with Guterres
in the mansion
on August 20 at 2 pm, see
below.
Meanwhile
Guterres ordered UN headquarters
staff to
return to New
York by
September 15 -
or two weeks
before, so
that they
(unlike him)
can
quarantine.
See video
leaked to
Inner City
Press, here,
including on
that Guterres'
contempt
for the public
is spreading.
On August 20 Inner
City Press, though
also covering
the indictment
and arraignment
of Steve
Bannon in the
SDNY
courthouse it
covers,
rushed uptown to
see if this
blatant violation
of quarantine
by Guterres
would take place.
It did:
streaming
Periscope
video here; now
on YouTube here.
There
were many UN
staff and
security, a
waste of
public money occasioned
only by
Guterres'
selfishness
and arrogance.
October
26, 2020
On UN
Day Failing
Guterres
Invites
Killers Like
Lankan
Rajapaksa As
Hides Rapes
Bans Press
UN GATE, Oct
23 -- Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary
General who rarely takes questions as he
undermines what's left of the UN's credibility
and even had the Press which asked him about
his links to the convicted UN briber CEFC
China Energy thrown out of the UN, rolled up
in three large SUV vehicles to the
publicly-funded mansion he usually lives alone
in, just before the COVID-19 pandemic spread
in March Video here,
& YouTube
and Facebook.
Now on October 23 - UN Day -
Guterres has bragged
to staff that "our
global survey to mark
this anniversary
confirmed that the
people of the world
continue to put their
trust in us to prevent
conflict, promote
human rights, advance
justice, protect our
planet and uphold the
equality of women and
men." This
as he daily covers
up rapes by UN
peacekeepers
and bans the Press
which asks, as he
fails on Cameroon
and the
UN has on other
conflicts
like in Sri Lanka
and as even
the Mayor of
New York won't
meet with UN
officials
like the PGA.
For UN
Day, as
simple one
example, the UN
invited
a speech by
Sri Lanka's
Mahinda Rajapaksa,
responsible
for the
Bloodbath on
the Beach, which
the UN supposedly
learned from.
The UN75 event
is led by a
sexual harasser
on the 38th
floor, as
Guterres
covers up for
UN staffer
Elkorany who drugged
and rapes women
in Iraq and
refuses to
answer why his
own head of
Partnerships
Amir Dossal
was on the
board of sex
trafficker
Ghislaine
Maxwell's
Terramar.
Back on October
19 in a
session exposed by
Inner City
Press - after
an invite by a
disgusted Ambassador
-- Guterres
bragged
that he will travel in
two weeks to Massachusetts
to meet his
semi-estranged
wife who lives in
Portugal, a
country from which
quarantine would be
required
in New York. This
is open
evasion of
quarantine
rules - or not
open, since it
was said in a
meeting
several disgusted participants
invited
Inner City
Press to
observe.
Inner City
Press asked UN
Spokespeople
Stephane
Dujarric and
Melissa Fleming:
"Immediately
confirm what
SG Guterres
said this
morning, that
he plans to
travel to
Massachusetts
in two weeks
and meet his
wife coming in
from Portugal
and explain
how his is not
evasion of
applicable
quantantine
rules."
Hours later,
no answer
at all. (Contrary
to, for example, IMF
answers to
Inner City
Press here.)
Perhaps most
significantly,
Guterres in the
meeting expressed
open preference in
the current US
president election
saying that if
one side wins,
"Net Zero
Emissions" can
be advance,
and if the
other (Trump)
wins, Guterres
and the UN
will rely on
bankers like
JPMorgan
Chase.
Guterres
also
spoke about
social media
platforms -
not the
censorship of
investigative
articles but the
need to
censors more,
citing
what he called
"Social
Dilemna" a
show he says
he is watching
on Netflix. We
will have more
on this.
Normally,
one could ask
Guterres'
spokespeople to
explain. But
they refuse to
answer
questions, even
for
clarification
of Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric reference to
two, and
not one,
trips. They
are corrupt.
After
his return and
faux quarantine
for ten days,
including
maskless men
going in and
out of his
mansion, on
August 19 Guterres'
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric said
that US
Secretary of
State would
be meeting
directly
with Guterres
in the mansion
on August 20 at 2 pm, see
below.
Meanwhile
Guterres ordered UN headquarters
staff to
return to New
York by
September 15 -
or two weeks
before, so
that they
(unlike him)
can
quarantine.
See video
leaked to
Inner City
Press, here,
including on
that Guterres'
contempt
for the public
is spreading.
On August 20 Inner
City Press, though
also covering
the indictment
and arraignment
of Steve
Bannon in the
SDNY
courthouse it
covers,
rushed uptown to
see if this
blatant violation
of quarantine
by Guterres
would take place.
It did:
streaming
Periscope
video here; now
on YouTube here.
There
were many UN
staff and
security, a
waste of
public money occasioned
only by
Guterres'
selfishness
and arrogance.
October
19, 2020
At UN
Ivory Coast
Majority
Against
Outtara No
Answer From
Guterres So
Q&A With
Bamba
UN GATE / SDNY
COURT, Oct 15 – A fight is brewing in the
corrupt UN of Antonio Guterres, and current UN
Security Council President Russia.
It involved
Ivory Coast or Cote d'Ivoire, where
octogenarian ruler Ouattara seeks another
term.
Former
Cote d'Ivoire ambassador Bamba called Inner
City Press on October 3 and expressed
frustration at the UN Security Council. France
will support whoever wins and gives it money.
Tunisia is in chaos.
Inner
City Press informed the seasoned diplomatic
who colonial Guterres was willing to support
another octogenarian FrancAfrique asset Paul
Biya in Cameroon. "Keep up the fight," he
said.
Inner
City Press has in writing asked Guterres, his
spokesman Stephane Dujarric and Deputy Amina
J. Mohammed, chief of staff Maria Luisa Viotti
and chief censor Melissa Fleming: "On Cote
d'Ivoire, what are the comments and actions if
any of SG Guterres on events and upcoming
election in the country - has the Secretariat
heard from former Ambassador Bamba, now in
NYC? and this: A delegation of African and UN
envoys on Wednesday expressed "deep concern"
ahead of Ivory Coast's tense presidential
election this month as it wrapped up a visit
to the capital Abidjan. Envoys from the West
African regional bloc ECOWAS, the African
Union and the United Nations met with
government officials, the opposition and civil
society as calls grow for a postponement of
the West African country's October 31 vote."
As of
this writing on October 15, no answer.
On October 15 Inner City Press, invited to the
press conference, asked Ambassador Bamba and
Herman J. Cohen about the response of the UN.
Ambassador Bamba said Cote d'Ivoire has been a
failure of the UN, failure to monitor. No
follow through the DDR, nor SSR. Cohen
suggested the AU could be trusted more.
Inner City
Press says Guterres has gutted the UN, siding
with octogenarian dictators like Paul Biya in
Cameroon. Inner City Press asked a follow up
question about France, whose interference in
Cote d'Ivoire Inner City Press has long
reported on.
Inner City Press
will have more on this. Watch this site.
October
12, 2020
Antonio
Guterres
Botched UN
Racism Study
Over 50% Has
Examples
Requiring His
Ouster
UN GATE / SDNY
COURT, Oct 9 – While it took Antonio
Guterres' tweet about patriachy to push the
calls for him to resign into new audiences,
many of whom had not even been aware who the
UN Secretary General was, it is the hypocrisy
that should ensure his needed departure.
This hypocrisy
and incompetence, shielded by censorship of
Press, extends to matters of race as well.
Today
Inner City Press exclusively publishes
findings from the UN racism (UNPAD) survey
leaked to it. Over 50% of those surveyed (52%)
have experience racism. And here are some
examples from the report - Guterres must go --
I have heard
colleagues being referred to as monkeys on
occasion. • Once a colleague referred to
Africans as still living in trees. • I was
harassed by my own staff and encouraged by my
manager to resign without a proper process. •
I found a way to test the racism in my
organization by drafting something and asking
my European junior to send it – it received
praise whereas when I would submit my work
myself, I would face negative comments. • A
white colleague once asked me “Can you speak
English” while mocking my accent.
Many Black
colleagues are sent to particularly difficult
duty stations – in the deep field as
retaliation. • I was told to hand over my
duties to a junior White colleague and
redeployed to a remote field location. •
Blacks receive the most severe punishment. • I
witnessed a woman of colour get punished and
kicked out ruthlessly for reporting bad
procurement practices. • I was transferred to
a remote area as punishment because of my
race. • The feeling of everyone in the office
is that the Westerner has benefitted from
senior management’s indulgence and given a
second chance while the African has been
punished harshly for the same thing. • I face
retaliation for reporting wrongdoing – abuse
of power and mismanagement of resources. •
There is retaliation if you stand up for
yourself by damaging your reputation and
blacklisting you. • I have been threatened
with job termination and retaliated against
when I challenged decisions that put me in a
compromising position in relation to my
professional integrity
It’s very hard
to see Africans appointed at HQ level. • Under
qualified White candidates are often given
jobs over qualified Black ones. • The most
important decisions such as the recruitment of
an international staff are based on racial
criteria. • When a recent recruitment exercise
resulted in only Whites being selected, I was
told it was because there were no qualified
black people
A white
colleague refused to report to a Black
Supervisor. • The white staff in my office did
not accept my leadership and would
systematically undermine me. • Whites at a
lower grade do not accept Black supervisors
(P3/P4 level) and prefer to report to more
senior supervisors who tend to be White. • As
a team leader, I get described as aggressive
and abrasive if I put my foot down. •
Gaslighting and general disrespect to local
staff
The UN proudlyquoted
Guterres, on Twitter,
"The #COVID19 pandemic is demonstrating what
we all know: millennia of patriarchy have
resulted in a male-dominated world with a
male-dominated culture which damages everyone
– women, men, girls & boys."
But
this is the same Guterres who in June when
Inner City Press, which Guterres has banned
from the UN for 798 days and counting,
published a video
of UN staff in Tel Aviv having groups sex with
a prostitute in a UN van, refused to answer
about.
Then
Guterres lied that the driver Juan Carlos
Cunillera has been put on leave without pay,
even when that wasn't true: he is being
paid.
During
this time, Inner City Press published
Guterres' racial survey. It was retracted, but
it now being relaunched under the very
official who was in charge of the first
fiasco, Catherine Pollard (who laughed
heartily as Guterres guards pushed Inner City
Press out in June 2018). Here it is:
Subject: SG
letter to Staff Members on
Task Force on Addressing
Racism and Promoting Dignity
for All in the United
Nations Sent:
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Dear
Colleagues, I write to inform you
that I have established a Task Force on
Addressing Racism and Promoting Dignity for
All in the United Nations for one year. This
is a continuation of my efforts to strengthen
my campaign of dialogue and action on
eradicating this scourge from the
Organization. The Task Force is
mandated with identifying the extent of
personal, interpersonal, structural and
institutional racism in the Organization and
its impact on mandate delivery. On this basis,
the Task Force is required to devise a
long-term Strategic Action Plan for my
consideration on how to end racism and racial
discrimination in the United Nations, propose
measures to promote diversity and inclusion
and on how to develop policies and tools to
create a safe environment in which racism can
be reported and addressed promptly without
fear of reprisal. The Task Force
will be chaired by the Under-Secretary-General
for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance
and will comprise a diverse group of senior
level staff and a staff representative from
the Staff-Management Committee. During the
execution of its mandate, the Task Force will
also engage with other key stakeholders and
experts on racism and racial
discrimination. Based on the
legitimate concerns raised by staff on the
content of the recent Survey on Racism, I
requested its suspension to allow for
necessary revisions in order to address the
issues raised by staff. On this note, the Task
Force is also mandated with directing and
overseeing the Survey process prior to its
relaunch. As we move forward in
earnest to address the issue of racism and
racial discrimination in the Organization, I
would like to take this opportunity to urge
you to continue to hold deeper and honest
dialogues on the issue of race and ethnicity,
deliberately and harmoniously, and with great
sensitivity and awareness. Since
assuming office, I have placed the issue of
diversity and inclusion at the heart of my
reform agenda. As we make progress in
addressing gender equality and geographic
representation in the Organization, I count on
you all once again to give the same zeal to my
efforts of ensuring a United Nations where
every race, colour, gender, religion, creed or
sexual orientation finds a sense of belonging
and safety and is granted an equal opportunity
to participate in the activities of the
Organization at all levels. Yours
sincerely, António Guterres."
Fraud.
Last
week another UN staffer, Karim Elkorany, was
arrested and arraigned in the U.S. Court for
the Southern District of New York for drugging
and raping
women in Iraq where he was a UN communications
strategist.
Guterres has refused to answer Inner City
Press' written questions about why, once the
UN was informed Elkorany's drugging and
raping, he was allowed to simply leave Iraq
and set up shop in New Jersey.
This
same "repatriation" is the only punishment
Guterres mete out to UN Peacekeepers accused
of raping children, most but not all of these
girls and some as young as five, in the DR
Congo and Central African Republic and Haiti.
Then, unlike
even his predecessor Ban Ki-moon, Guterres
through his spokesman Stephane Dujarric refuses
to provide basic if-asked information about
the cases. Inner City Press has also
published leaked audio about Guterres ordering
the end of a probe of sexual harassment by one
of his cronies, audio here.
Also in
the SDNY is the higher profile sex trafficking
case of Ghislaine Maxwell, on whose Terramar
Project board of directors Guterres' head of
"UN Partnerships" Amir Dossal was one of only
five members. Guterres has refused to answer
or act on this as well.
So alongside his talk of patriarchy, Antonio
Guterres sits atop what could be described as
an international sex trafficking conspiracy,
misusing the UN's and his own legal immunity
and having roughed up and banning the Press
which asks about it.
The UN
being the UN, with full impunity, will probably
double down and have propagandist Melissa
Fleming, funded by IKEA and Pierre Omidyar,
claim that Guterres being under fire for saying
patriarch makes him a hero. But he is a
hypocrite.
October
5, 2020
As Law
Professors and
OSI Sue Trump
For ICC Free
Speech They
Ignore UN
Press
Censorship
UN GATE / SDNY
COURT, Oct 3 – A group of law
professors, represented by a Washington
lobbyist firm, has sued on the theory that
their First Amendment rights to support the
UN-affiliated International Criminal Court
have been impaired. Fine.
Interesting.
But the
parties should be aware: the UN is no friend
of free speech.
Under
current Secretary General Antonio Guterres,
the UN roughed up and has banned Inner City
Press 823 days now, for its questions about
Guterres' failures on Cameroon
(a France-supported mass killing event not
taken up by the ICC) and his undisclosed links
to convicted UN bribers at CEFC China Energy.
Video
here, background here.
Guterres'
spokesman Stephane Dujarric - a US as well as
French citizen - helped organize the rough up
then initially promised on
camera to at least answer Inner City
Press' request questions, here. He has since
stopped, and said
"Mr. Lee's status remains unchanged."
With
that unacted on, and Guterres' head of media
accreditation Melissa Fleming - a US citizen -
denying
Inner City Press' application for
re-accreditation last months without even
giving a reason, the ICC / Trump complaint
says:
“The executive
order and the regulations impermissibly
restrict plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights to
freedom of speech by prohibiting them from
providing the speech-based services and
assistance described above, including with
respect to ICC investigations and prosecutions
that the United States supports. The executive
order and the regulations also lack the
clarity required by the Fifth Amendment as to
which acts subject a person to enforcement or
designation, or which persons they
cover.” Yeah.
The
plaintiffs' lawyers are Shrutih
Ramlochan-Tewarie and Nicholas Marcus Renzler
of Foley Hoag LLP. The plaintiffs are The Open
Society Justice Initiative, Diane Marie Amann,
Milena Sterio, Margaret deGuzman and Gabor
Rona. Are these professors,
and Foley Hoag, really for free speech with
regards to the UN and ICC? So far, it seems
not.
Their case is
Open Society Justice Initiative et al v. Trump
et al, 1:20-cv-08121 (Failla)
September
28, 2020
UN of
Guterres
Blocks From UN
Website IP of
Inner City
Press After
UNCA Says Do
Not Leak
UN GATE, Sept
24 – While the United Nations speaks about
press freedom and the upcoming UN General
Assembly week under new President Zolkan
Bozkir of Turkey, UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres has banned
Inner City Press amid its questions about his
finances and failures on Cameroon and in
combatting or even just disclosing UN sexual
abuse.
Complicit in
all this is the UN Correspondents Association.
On
September 17, Guterres' spokesman Staphane
Dujarric was publicly asked about Guterres'
ban on Inner City Press, and said "Mr. Lee's
status remains uncharged. Video here.
But
then something changed. On September 19 and
still as of this writing on September 20, the
IP address Inner City Press uses was blocked
from the UN's website. Video here.
The UN sites worked when checked from
another's laptop. So can the UN use public
money to block Internet access to their
"transparency" page by media which ask and
criticize them about it?
Certainly the UN Censorship Alliance / UNCA
will not try to stop the UN's descent under
Guterres.
On September 23, the UNCA Executive Committee
of Reuters, France 24, Xinhua, AFP and others
-- list of those most responsible for this
censorship of Press here
-- issued this, forwarded to Inner City Press
by several of their disgusted members: "Dear
colleagues, The UNCA Executive
Committee deplores the situation that
transpired in reference to the email from U.N.
spokesman Stephane Dujarric on the background
briefing by Assistant Secretary-General Volker
Turk on the Secretary-General’s upcoming
speeches that was sent last
Friday. This behavior directly
compromises the work of colleagues who respect
and abide by the code of conduct outlined in
the media guidelines when receiving
accreditation as a United Nations
Correspondent and will inevitably affect
access to such briefings for all of us moving
forward. We strongly advise that
all colleagues reporting at the United Nations
continue to conduct themselves in a
professional manner and adhere to the ethical
standards and the code of conduct as
expected. Thank you for your
attention and cooperation. On
behalf of the UNCA Executive
Committee, Valeria Robecco
President, United Nations Correspondents
Association."
[Note: This
seems to obliquely refer to this
video
Let's
review: first this UN Censorship Alliance
tried to suck up to Guterres by supporting the
ouster of independent Press. Then when some of
their members, as they should, leaked - UNCA
supported blocking Press access to the UN's
websites. This organization is a travesty.
Also: Inner
City Press deals with and respects embargoes
all the time - at the IMF, State Department,
in the courts. But even organizations with
lame representatives on the UNCA board agree,
when one is not party to an embargo agreement,
one is not bound. UNCA has supported ouster of
media that actually covers the UN, in favor of
retirees and state media. UNCA is anti-press,
anti press freedom.
On September
20, as Guterres' UN blocks Inner City Press
not only on Twitter but from its publicly
funded websites, a strange message
from UNCA bigwig Ali Barada of whom we've
previously reported " Ali Barada of
An-Nahar, filed a complaint against
Inner City Press with the "Special
Investigations Unit" of the UN Department of
Safety and Security. The
only basis? What Inner City Press said when
Barada bragged that he immediately deleted
without opening Inner City Press' email
requesting to see the "information available
on request" listed in the report Barada signed
off on - and which was then sent anonymously
to the government against Inner City
Press. In fact, while all
Inner City Press responded with was a run of
the mill host country insult, Barada cited his
involvement with a "terrorist" group, as a
reason Inner City Press shouldn't express its
opinion. Update: And on Friday, July 6,
Inner City Press had to spend two and a half
hours with UN Security responding to Barada's
frivolous and pretextual complaint."
There's been more since - watch this
site.
Watch this
site.
Brenden Varma,
for PGA Bozkir, has refused to answer Inner
City Press' questions about his backsliding on
the one reform from the UN corruption scandal
Inner City Press reported on, often
exclusively, about PGAs Ashe and Kutesa;
Bozkir has an empty
"Ethics" page.
Varma then
blocked Inner City Press on Twitter. This is
today's UN - we'll have more on this issue.
Inner City Press should be given the codes to access
and ask questions at briefings immediately, like
the state media and retirees Guterres and
Melissa Fleming prefer and favor.
September
21, 2020
UN
General
Assembly of 4
Day Old
Speeches For
100 Tired
State Media
But No Inner
City Press
UN GATE, Sept
18 – While the United Nations speaks about
press freedom and the upcoming UN General
Assembly week under new President Zolkan
Bozkir of Turkey, UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres has banned
Inner City Press amid its questions about his
finances and failures on Cameroon and in
combatting or even just disclosing UN sexual
abuse.
On
September 17, Guterres' spokesman Staphane
Dujarric was asked about it, and Inner City
Press' formal application for access.
Video here.
Transcript below.
Dujarric said "Mr. Lee's status remains
unchanged" - banned 808 days and counting. On
September 18 he and PGA spokesman Brenden
Varma refused written questions. They said
that the in-house correspondents, including
some without computers and many state media
and retires, would get a private briefing at
3:30 pm.
It
emerges that the UNGA speeches will not only
be on tape - they will be four days old. US
President Trump is not coming. Much to the UN
Correspondents Association's displeasure,
there will be no free lunch. This UNCA did not
fight to get electronic access for journalists
around the world, only the 100 who pay them
money. To this has the UN sunk. Inner City
Press will be covering UNGA, while demanding
access.
From the
September 17 transcript: Q: you were talking
about press freedoms, a different part of the
press. What's the latest with Inner City
Press? They've apparently asked
to be credentialed, and that's been ignored.
They've played an active part in uncovering UN
corruption over the years. Where does... where
do they stand regarding UN
credentialing?
UN Spokesman
Dujarric: Mr. Lee's status remains
unchanged.
Okay...
Question:
And does that mean that that's going to stay
unchanged, meaning he's banned for the next...
for this General
Assembly?
Spokesman
Dujarric: Well, I mean, there's no...
we're not issuing any new credentials for this
General Assembly, because there's really
nothing... there are no physical... barely any
physical events here. So, there's no... no
temporary credentials are being given,
anyway. All right.
Thank you very much. I will leave you in the
capable hands of Mr. [Brenden]
Varma....
Brenden Varma,
for PGA Bozkir, has refused to answer Inner
City Press' questions about his backsliding on
the one reform from the UN corruption scandal
Inner City Press reported on, often
exclusively, about PGAs Ashe and Kutesa;
Bozkir has an empty
"Ethics" page.
Varma then
blocked Inner City Press on Twitter. This is
today's UN - we'll have more on this issue.
Inner City Press should be given the codes to
access
and ask questions at briefings immediately,
like the state media and retirees Guterres and
Melissa Fleming prefer and favor.
***
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September
14, 2020
UN
Staffer In
Iraq Indicted
For Drugging
and Raping
Women Then
Lying Now
Discovery
SDNY
Courthouse, Sept 10 – UN former staff
member Karim Elkorany was arrested then freed
on $500,000 bond on Wednesday in connection
with drugging and raping women in Iraq while
working for the UN in 2016, then allegedly
lying to the FBI about it in 2017.
The US Attorney for the Southern District of
New York states that Elkorany,"a
former communications
specialist with the United
Nations in Iraq, was charged
in an Indictment in
Manhattan federal court with
two counts of making false
statements to special agents
of the FBI in an effort to
conceal his drugging and
sexual assault of multiple
women while he worked for
the UN...In or around
December 2016, Victim-1
reported the sexual assault
to the UN. The UN
initiated an investigation,
through which ELKORANY was
notified of the substance of
Victim-1’s allegations
against him."
The UN
claims it has a zero tolerance and
blacklisting policy for sexual abuse, but
despite a victim complaining to the UN in this
case, on Wednesday Elkorany was leaving freely
in New Jersey when he was arrested.
On
Wednesday evening after 6 pm, as exclusively
reported by Inner City Press which has been
banned from the UN for its questions, was
released on a bond to be signed by his father
and brother, but allowed to leave home to work
from 8 am to 6 pm.
There was
another proceeding on September 10, before
District Judge Naomi Reice Bulkwald. Inner
City Press live tweeted it,here:
Elkorany's
lawyer has not responded to the US Attorney's
proposed protective order. Note: little in
this case should be withheld or sealed - it is
about spending public's money for a UN staffer
to drug and rape women in Iraq, then have the
UN cover it up.
AUSA
Pomerantz: There are cell phone and laptops
that the FBI is in the process of
extracting. [What will they show about
the UN of @AntonioGuterres ? ]
Since
the cell phones and devices are being
extracted to produce discovery, next date is
November 9, 11:45 am. Inner City Press will
continue to cover this case and the UN.
Then in the
docket, this: "Pretrial Conference as to Karim
Elkorany held on 9/10/2020. Initial conference
as to Karim Elkorany held by telephone on
9/10/2020. Lara Pomerantz, Amanda Houle and
Daniel Richenthal for the government; Dawn
Cardi for the defendant; Defendant Karim
Elkorany; court reporter present. Conference
scheduled for November 9, 2020 at 11:45a.m.
Speedy trial time excluded until November 9,
2020."
UN Guterres Crocodile Tears For Killed
Media As He Roughs Up and Bans Press From UNGA
UN GATE, Sept
11 – In the United Nations, on September 1 a
list of speakers for the UN General Assembly
week Sept 22-29 was released, photohere.
From 2006 into 2018, Inner City Press closely
covered each UNGA week from inside the UN,
asking questions in the UN Press Briefing Room
(which which France once threatened to use
Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokesman
Stephane Dujarric to have it removed and its
accrediation pulled). Guterres used force,here.
Now on
September 11, while still banning Inner City
Press after 801 days, Guterres has issued this
hypocritical statement: "The Secretary-General
is appalled at the continued and increased
numbers of attacks against journalists and
media workers around the world. The
recent killing of Julio Valdivia Rodríguez, a
journalist at a newspaper in the State of
Veracruz, Mexico, is yet another example of
the hazardous and difficult conditions in
which many journalists work
globally.
The Secretary-General condemns all attacks and
killings of journalists and calls on the
respective authorities to ensure that they are
thoroughly investigated and that those
responsible are held
accountable.
The Secretary-General reiterates his call that
a free press is essential for peace, justice,
sustainable development and human rights. No
democracy can function without press freedom,
which is the cornerstone of trust between
people and their institutions. When media
workers are targeted, societies as a whole pay
a price.
Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the
Secretary-General New York, 11
September 2020."
Now,
after Guterres without any due process had
Inner City Press roughed up by his personal
guards and banned from the UN since, Inner
City Press on September 5, 2020 submitted a
formal application to cover this 2020 UNGA,
including for access to the UN' online
briefings, to ask questions about such crises
as Cameroon, Yemen and China's expansionism.
Receipt has been confirmed: photohere.
Guterres' chief propagandist Melissa Fleming,
spending public money on a vanity podcast
while refusing questions about what the UN
actually, wants to limit physical entry into
the UN building to so-called "resident
correpondents." But even if that were
legitimate (it is not), there is no reason to
similarly limit access to online briefings.
The IMF doesn't - Inner City Press is given
the codes and asks questions and get answers.
Thin
skinned Guterres is abusing his position to
block the Press from covering actual leaders.
So what will new President of the General
Assembly Bozkir Vulkan do? And member states?
We have asked and will continue reporting.
Watch this site.
Most
resident correspondents write nothing, or only
propaganda. And who will decide on these "very
limited non-resident" [sic] who will be
allowed in? This is the beginning of a series.Thread
here.
The
censored UNGA Week will be even more lame than
usual, with most speeches - other than
Trump's? - by video. Still in the first
morning there are China and Russia, Qatar,
Morocco and Iran. Cameroon's dictator Paul
Biya, supported in his killing like many
others by Guterres, is on Friday September 24.
Yet
only the same old retirees and state media
will be allowed in, they say. Inner City Press
will have more on this.
September
7, 2020
UN
Staffer In
Iraq Indicted
For Drugging
and Raping
Women Then
Lying As UN
Role
Questioned
SDNY
Courthouse, Sept 2 – UN former staff
member Karim Elkorany was arrested then freed
on $500,000 bond on Wednesday in connection
with drugging and raping women in Iraq while
working for the UN in 2016, then allegedly
lying to the FBI about it in 2017.
The US Attorney for the Southern District of
New York states that Elkorany, "a former
communications specialist
with the United Nations in
Iraq, was charged in an
Indictment in Manhattan
federal court with two
counts of making false
statements to special agents
of the FBI in an effort to
conceal his drugging and
sexual assault of multiple
women while he worked for
the UN...In or around
December 2016, Victim-1
reported the sexual assault
to the UN. The UN
initiated an investigation,
through which ELKORANY was
notified of the substance of
Victim-1’s allegations
against him."
The UN
claims it has a zero tolerance and
blacklisting policy for sexual abuse, but
despite a victim complaining to the UN in this
case, on Wednesday Elkorany was leaving freely
in New Jersey when he was arrested.
On
Wednesday evening after 6 pm, as exclusively
reported by Inner City Press which has been
banned from the UN for its questions, was
released on a bond to be signed by his father
and brother, but allowed to leave home to work
from 8 am to 6 pm. There will be another
proceeding on September 10.
Inner
City Press covered 6:20 pm presentment of
Elkorany, here:
Elkorany is
represented by Dawn Cardi of Cardi & Edgar
LLP of 99 Madison Avenue.
Judge Cott: I
take it you are retained, Ms. Cardi?
Cardi: I am.
Judge Cott: Mr
Elkorany, if you are a citizen of another
country you may have a right to consular
notification.
Cardi: He
pleads not guilty.
Judge Cott:
First, confirm you are waiving a public
reading.
Cardi:
Correct.
AUSA Houle:
"The parties have a proposed bail package. A
$500,000 personal recognizance bond co-signed
by his father Awny ELkorany and brother Nor
Elkorany. Surrender of all passports by five
pm tomorrow. Home detention at parents' home.
AUSA Houle: He
can leave 8 am to 6 pm for work.
AUSA Houle:
Refrain from any contact with victims. Drug
testing and treatment as directed by Pre Trial
Services. Release today provided he is fitted
for GPS which we understand Pre Trial is
prepared to do.
AUSA Houle:
Dan Richenthal has confirmed they can do
it. Richenthal: Officer Trale (sp) told
me it would be possible to 5 pm. So I'm not
positive.
Judge Cott:
What do you want to do? Cardi: I am proposing
he return home and return tomorrow morning.
Cardi: The
suretors probably can't sign today either.
Judge Cott:
When was he arrested?
AUSA Houle: 6
am this morning.
Cardi: My
client does not have his phone and no money to
get back to New Jersey. Can someone lend him
the money?
Judge Cott: I
cannot deal with minutia like this right now.
Elkorany was listed as a UN "Communications
Specialist" -- Fleming's forte -- on press
releases about Toyota, here.
He was interviewed on UN Radio, here.
But of course, UN Spokesperson Staphane
Dujarric claims he knows nothing about it and
that Guterres has a "principled position."
Inner
City Press is asking the UN, On UN staffer
Karim Elkorany, indicted in SDNY for lying to
FBI about drugging and raping women while
working for UN in Iraq, immediately state what
the outcome of the victim complaining to the
UN was - and why Elkorany was back at liberty
in New Jersey.
This is
specifically asked in the context of this statement:
"UNDP participates in a joint project with other
UN agencies to maintain a system-wide database
called "Clear Check" to ensure that former
personnel involved in substantiated cases of
sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse with
one entity in the UN system cannot be employed
by another entity." So what did the UN actually
do, other than transport a rapist from New
Jersey to Iraq then bringing him home to live
free? Watch this site.
August
31, 2020
UNPGA
Prez Volkan
Bozkir Taps
Brendan Varma
As Spox With
Conchita Wurst
Echo Still
Censored
UN GATE, Aug
26 – How corrupt is today's United Nations? On
May 15 the UN General Assembly held a
"informal interactive dialogue" for the lone
rubber-stamp candidate to be UN President of
the GA, Volkan Bozkir.
Since
there is no other candidate, it was akin to a
presidential debate in North Korea.
And now
after Bozkir was rubber stamped, without yet
taking any action on the banning from the UN
of the most active Press, Inner City Press,
Bozkir has begun stocking up. Now on August
26, his spokesman (who also represented
Miroslav Lajcak) - Brendan Varma. Now, he use
to answer questions from Inner City Press. But
that was before corrupt Antonio Guterres took
over. Will he now? We'll see - and report.
From two 2018 UN transcripts:
9
July 2018: "Question: Yeah.
I just want to ask a follow‑up to the question
about the 3 July incident involving Inner City
Press. Will the review include an
evaluation of the actions by security itself
that were alleged looking into whether, in
fact, physical force… any physical force was
used against Mr. Lee and the circumstances
surrounding that as opposed to just his
conduct, which, of course, I understand, but
is… is the security's actions itself… are they
going to be examined? Deputy
Spokesman: We are looking into the
matter thoroughly, including the actions taken
by the security forces. At the same
time, I would point out that there is a
concern whenever anyone, whether media or
otherwise, has an altercation with the
security in the build… inside the
building. Yes?"
Question: Farhan, can you confirm
receipt of a formal complaint that has been submitted to the
Secretary‑General by Inner City Press on prohibited
conduct? Did you… have you received…? Deputy
Spokesman: I believe that has been received and is
being reviewed. Question: What action will be
taken into… in regards to that? And will that hold up
a decision that has been ongoing on the status of Inner City
Press? Deputy Spokesman: I don’t believe it will
hold up any decision. I think, once a decision is
made, we will convey it to Matthew, and then I will let you
guys know. And with that, Brenden Varma, come on up.
No, it's
been Come on down...
From Inner
City Press on August 21: "Tegan Brink Chef de
Cabinet to the President of the 75th Session
of the UN General Assembly" - from Australia's
mission. Will she ensure that active press can
enter and ask questions in the UN? Or collude
in censorship?
And in other
ways too: Turkish "diplomatic" Volkan Bozkir
is best known for saying,
after "drag queen" Conchita
Wurst's Eurovision win, "Thank God we no
longer participate in Eurovision."
Yet watch corrupt UNSG Antonio Guterres speak
warmly about it. Guterres believes in nothing
but himself, wanting to "run" unopposed for a
second term. This should be denied. Here's the
notice, from another UN office whose
spokesperson Reem Abaza like Guterres'
Stephane Dujarric refuses to answer Inner City
Press' written questions about its corruption:
"The
President of the 74th session of the General
Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande will convene
an informal interactive dialogue with the
candidate for the position of President of the
75th session of the Assembly, Volkan Bozkir on
Friday, 15 May 2020, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00
p.m. The dialogue will
be held via a virtual platform due to the
continued limitations on holding large
in-person meetings as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic."
Under
Guterres' Melissa Fleming, it seems Inner City
Press will be denied video of the "debate."
Inner City Press, banned from the UN and now its
Zoom rooms for 785 days, will have much more on
this. Watch this site.
August 24,
2020
UN
Guterres
Breaks
Quarantine
With Pompeo In
Mansion With
Maskless Men
After Vacation
UN GATE, Aug
20 – Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary
General who rarely takes questions and even
had the Press which asked him about the mass
killings in Cameroon thrown out of the UN,
rolled up in three large SUV vehicles to the
publicly-funded mansion he usually lives alone
in, just before the COVID-19 pandemic spread
in March Video here,
& YouTube
and Facebook.
In August
with most New Yorkers
locked down
or, if they leave the City and
returned, harassed by
contact
tracers, Guterres went
on an unannounced
publicly funded
vacation to
Portugal.
After
his return and
faux quarantine
for ten days,
including
maskless men
going in and
out of his
mansion, on
August 19 Guterres'
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric said
that US
Secretary of
State would
be meeting
directly
with Guterres
in the mansion
on August 20 at 2 pm.
Inner
City Press, though
also covering
the indictment
and arraignment
of Steve
Bannon in the
SDNY
courthouse it
covers,
rushed uptown to
see if this
blatant violation
of quarantine
by Guterres
would take place.
It did:
streaming
Periscope
video here; now
on YouTube here.
There
were many UN
staff and
security, a
waste of
public money occasioned
only by
Guterres'
selfishness
and arrogance.
For
two Saturday in a
row Inner City Press
streamed
video of
the mansion,
empty. August 1
here.
July 25 empty here. Then
on August 5
UN Deputy
Spokesman
Farhan Haq who
refuses Inner
City Press'
written
questions
belatedly said
Guterres in
"away" and would
quarantine
according to
the
regulations,
again at
public
expense, when
he returned.
On August
11 Inner City
Press between
court cases it
is covering
biked by
the Sutton Place
mansion.
Just during
its 20 minutes
there, two
separate men went in
and out of the
mansion
without any masks on,
carrying
with them
whatever
Guterres
brought back.
Video here.
Full
Periscope
stream here.
This is
not quarantine.
From
the UN to
Inner City Press'
written
questions, no
answer, on August
12.
But on August
12, from
departing
Dutch PR Karel
van Oosterom, this:
"Honoured
to be received
by SG @UN
@antonioguterres
for a farewell
visit. Gave
him my book," and
a photo.
On
August 18
Dujarric
admitted, "he
did travel to,
he was on
leave. He went
home. He
travelled to
Portugal. He
came back
here. He's on
a strict
two‑week
quarantine,
and he
followed
whatever, the
health
regulations in
Portugal, as
well." Video here.
Guterres
should be impeached.
As
Inner City
Press reported
on August 4 when
Haq and
Melissa
Fleming had it
removed before
it could ask a
question on
Guterres' lame
"policy
brief" on
COVID-19 and
education,
Guterres'
embargoed
video was filmed
July 23.
In
March at public expense his wife Catarina Vaz
Pinto was with him, just as she was in
September 2019 in expensive seats at the US
Open tennis tournament as Guterres - and she?
- censored the Press.
August
17, 2020
In
Inner City
Press Scoop on
UNsexploitation
Cunillera
Restored to
Full Pay Now
Cover Up
UN GATE, Aug
13 – The United Nations claims to have a zero
tolerance for sexual exploitation by its staff
and peacekeepers, but routinely covers up
their abuses including the rape of children,
withholding basic information which was
provided to the Press under Ban Ki-moon but
not now under Antonio Guterres.
Inner City Press, which Guterres has banned
from the UN for 771 days as it asks about
these and his abuses, on June 23 received from
outraged UN whistleblowers video of sexual
exploitation, they said, in a white UN-marked
vehicle, here.
Now Instagram,
Facebook.
Inner
City Press named to the UN the two men in the
UN van: Michael Antoine and Ray Milan. The UN
did not answer, see below. Then Inner City
Press named the third man, the driver, as Juan
Carlos Cunillera. Only after that was
Cunillera put on leave without pay.
On
August 12 Inner City Press exclusively
reported that Cunillera has been restored to
full pay and posted the order on DocumentCloud
here.
Immediately afterward, Cunillera requeste and
the UN granted the disappearance of the order,
on which corrupt Guterres' equally corrupted
spokesman Dujarric refused to answer Inner
City Press' question. The Order is off the UN
web site, replaced by this:
"On 12 August
2020, the Applicant filed a request for
confidentiality, stating that due to the
sensitive nature of his case, publicity that
it received and potential prejudice that it
posed for him, his name and other personal
data should not be reflected in the Tribunal’s
order. Deliberations 5. Pursuant to art. 36.1
of the Rules of Procedure of the Tribunal, all
matters that are not expressly provided for in
the rules of procedure shall be dealt with by
decision of the Dispute Tribunal on the
particular case, by virtue of the powers
conferred on it by article 7of its statute. 6.
In light of the above and considering the
particulars of this case, the Tribunal finds
it appropriate to grant the request for
confidentiality."
Too late,
sleaze bags. Guterres Must Go.
August
10, 2020
UN
Guterres Has
Broken
Quarantine on
Secret
Vacation Paid
For By Public
As He Hides
Rapes
UN GATE, Aug 4
– Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General
who rarely takes questions and even had the
Press which asked him about the mass killings
in Cameroon thrown out of the UN, rolled up in
three large SUV vehicles to the
publicly-funded mansion he usually lives alone
in, just before the COVID-19 pandemic spread
in March Video here,
& YouTube
and Facebook.
Now in
August with most New
Yorkers locked down or, if they
leave the City and
returned, harassed by
contact
tracers, Guterres
has done on an
unannounced publicly
funded vacation.
For
two Saturday in a
row Inner City Press
streamed
video of
the mansion,
empty. August 1
here.
July 25 empty here. Then
on August 5
UN Deputy
Spokesman
Farhan Haq who
refuses Inner
City Press'
written
questions
belatedly said
Guterres in
"away" and will quarantine,
again at
public
expense, when
he returns.
How
will he brief
the Security
Council is he
is under
quarantine?
What has he
been doing,
other than
faking being
in New York,
during this
time?
As
Inner City
Press reported
on August 4 when
Haq and
Melissa
Fleming had it
removed before
it could ask a
question on
Guterres' lame
"policy
brief" on
COVID-19 and
education,
Guterres'
embargoed
video was filmed
July 23. Has
he been done
since then?
He should be
inmpeached. He
is corrupt.
In
March at public expense his fellow "Mansion
Socialist" wife Catarina Vaz Pinto was with
him, just as she was in September 2019 in
expensive seats at the US Open tennis
tournament as Guterres - and she? - censored
the Press.
Catarina Vaz Pinto is no longer only Lisbon's
Minister of Culture - she is now, somewhat
absurdly, the "Minister of International
Relations" of the city. In that role she was
in Madrid, at an event making light of the
spread of Coronavirus which Guterres'
pro-China (Chinese bribed) positions are
helping spread, while UN Spokesperson Stephan
Dujarric and Melissa Fleming refuse all Inner
City Press question. All of these people live
fancy lives on the public dime while censoring
the Press which ask about Cameroon, and
Burundi, and Honduras, and The Bronx. They are
Mansion Socialists and it appears that
Catarina Vaz Pinto is form of Marie
Antoinette.
She has
long roots in colonialism, coming from a
Portuguese family that helped the military up
until Portuguese colonial rule over Goa ended.
So, like Guterres on issues like Cameroon, a
Colonial Socialist too. And a censor?
The First Lady of Faux Socialism has now
directly heard of the censorship, and
Cameroon. Video
here.
These
coming days are the test. Watch
this site.
Days before,
Guterres took three softball questions and an
honorary doctorate at The New School outside
of UN in New York City on February 27. Inner
City Press, banned by the UN and disturbingly
by The New School, was outside. Video on YouTube,
and Twitter,
Periscope IIIIII
On
February 29, Inner City Press pursued the
issue of Guterres' covering up of the Cameroon
genocide, Chinese UN bribes and coronvirus,
putting the issues directly to him, Catarina
Vaz Pinto and for now unidentified entourage
members as they rushed into the publicly
funded mansion on 57 Street and Sutton Place,
video here.
If
Guterres is so corrupt he bans Press questions
from the UN, for 764 days, then he will continue
to face them everywhere else. The question for
now, soon to be answered -- will Inner City
Press be allowed back in to ask questions? -- is
whether Catarina Vaz Pinto is the new Marie
Antoinette. Watch this site.
August
3, 2020
Ghislaine
Maxwell and
Epstein Were
Supported by
UN Lisa
Svensson Who
Inner City
Press Exposed
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, July 31 – Ghislaine Maxwell used
the United Nations, as reported by Inner City
Press whose questions about it UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres refuses.
First
Inner City Press showed that on the board of
Maxwell's Terramar Project Inc. was Guterres
chief Partnerships official, Amir Dossal,
below.
Now
while UNEP official Lisa Svensson appears in
the documents unsealed July 30 in the U.S.
District Court for the Southern District of
New York which Inner City Press covers since ousted
from the UN by Guterres for is reporting,
Inner City Press is continuing its exclusive
2018 reporting in Svensson's "Volvo Boating"
and other scams at UNEP, here,
where we published
in full, onScribdandPatreon, the agreement
with Volvo Ocean Races signed by
Erik Solheim,here,
and the EUR 500,000 agreement
signed by UNEP's Lisa Emilia
Svensson,hereandhere.
[Now, Aug 1, 2020 song here.]
From
the March 1, 2018 UN transcript,
four months before Guterres has
Inner City Press physically ousted
from the UN: Inner City
Press: I also wanted to ask you
about UNEP (United Nations
Environment
Programme).
Whistleblowers there have
alleged a number of
irregularities, but the one that
caught my eye and I've published
has to do with the allegation is
that UNEP, which claims under
Mr. [Erik] Solheim to have a
number of corporate partnerships
is, in fact, in some cases
paying the corporation for the
partnership. I.e., it's
not a partnership like, you
know, Barcelona Football Club
with UNICEF, where they
pay. In this case, they're
alleged that, under Mr. Solheim,
the UN Environment, as it's now
called, is paying $500,000 to
Volvo Ocean Races. And I
wanted to know is it… one, I
don't know if it's true, but
they work there and they have a
lot of names and a lot of
information. Spokesman: I
think you can ask those
questions directly of
UNEP. I have no doubt that
Mr. Solheim is operating and
running the agency in accordance
to all relevant rules and
regulations." Right.
Here's
from the letter: "Dear Mr.
Solheim... a D1, Lisa
Svensson can work from Europe,
because for personal reasons she
does not wish to work in
Nairobi. Her big office in
Nairobi remains vacant with her
name and organisational
equipment while the same has to
be provided again by another
office in Europe. She
leads the marine team remotely
as the rest of the staff under
her responsibility are in
Nairobi.
As Inner City Press first reported, long time
UN operative Amir Dossal, UNSG Antonio
Guterres' chief Partnerships official who was
also his link to UN bribers like Ng Lap Seng
and Patrick Ho of CEFC China Energy, was on
the board of directors of Maxwell's shadowy
Terramar. Inner City Press first made this
link & published the 990. And here
is Dossal introducing Maxwell as one of her
nine visits to the UN, here.
After the death of Jeffrey Epstein in the MCC
prison, on July 2 Acting US Attorney for the
Southern District of New York Audrey Strauss
announced and unsealed in indictment of
Maxwell on charges including sex trafficking
and perjury.
Inner City Press went to her press conference
at the US Attorney's Office and asked, Doesn't
charging Maxwell with perjury undercut any
ability to use testimony from her against
other, bigger wrong-doers? Periscope here
at 23:07.
Strauss
replied that it is not impossible to use a
perjurer's testimony. But how often does it
work?
At 3:30
pm on July 2 Maxwell appeared in the U.S.
District Court for the District of New
Hampsire, before Magistriate Judge Andrea K.
Johnstone. Inner City Press
live
tweeted it here.
(Also
live tweeted bail denial
of July 14, here.)
In the July 3 media coverage of Maxwell, media
all of the world used a video and stills from
it of Maxwell speaking in front of a blue
curtain, like here.
What
they did not mention is something Inner City
Press has been asking the UN about, as under
UNSG Antonio Guterres with his own sexual
exploitation issues (exclusive video
and audio)
it got roughed up and banned
from the UN: Ghislaine Maxwell had a ghoulish
United Nations press conference, under the
banner of the "Terramar Project," here.
On July
5, after some crowd-sourcing, Inner City Press
reported on another Ghislaine Maxwell use of
the United Nations, facilitated by Italy's
Permanent Representative to the UN, UN
official Nikhil Seth and Amir Dossal,
who also let into the UN and in one case took
money from convicted UN briber Ng Lap Seng,
and Patrick Ho of CEFC China Energy, also
linked to UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres.
At the
Ghislaine Maxwell UN event, the UN Deputy
Secretary General was directly involved.
List of (some
of) the participants on Patreon here.
Inner
City Press has published a phone of Maxwell in
the UN with Dossal, here. But the connection
runs deeper: Dossal with "25 years of UN
involvement" was on Terrarmar's board of
directors, one of only five directors, only
three not related to Maxwell by blood and
name.
The directors:
Ghislaine Maxwell, Christine Malina-Maxwell,
Steven Haft, Christine Dennison and... Amir
Dossal. Inner City Press is publishing this
full 990 on Patreon here.
Dossal
has operated through the UN Office of
Partnership, with Antonio Guterres and his
deputy Amina J. Mohammed, here.
And the links
to the world of UN bribery, including Antonio
Guterres through the Gulbenkian
Foundation, runs deeper. More to follow.
Antonio
Guterres claims he has zero tolerance for
sexual exploitation, but covers it up and even
participate in it. He should be forced to
resign - and/or have immunity waived.
Terramar has been dissolved, even though
Maxwell's former fundraiser / director of
development Brian Yurasits still lists the URL
on his (protected) Twitter profile,
also here.
But now
Inner City Press has begun to inquire into
Ghislaine Maxwell's other United Nations
connections, starting with this photograph of
another day's (or at least another outfit's)
presentation in the UN, here.
While co-conspirator Antonio Guterres has had
Inner City Press banned from any entry into
the UN for two years and a day, this appears
to be in the UN Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC) chamber. We'll have more on this, and
on Epstein and the UN. Watch this site.
The case
is US v. Maxwell, 20-cr-330 (Nathan).
July
27, 2020
After
Inner City
Press Scoop On
Guterres Hands
In Pants Cover
Up He Seizes
Phones and
Laptops
UN GATE, July
23 – Three weeks after Inner City Press
published leaked audio of UN Office of
Internal Oversight investigator Ben Swanson
recounting being ordered by UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres NOT to
investigate sexual harassment committed by a
UN Assistant SG, now more Swanson audio has
emerged, see below.
And now
Guterres' personal spies OIOS under Swanson,
like his UN Security thugs including Ronald E.
Dobbins told to target, rough up and ban Inner
City Press, now assert the right to seize and
search personal cell phones in the UN, in a
message leaked to Inner City Press:
"Thu 7/23/2020
9:23 AM - We wish to bring to your attention
an alarming precedent established in a recent
(still unpublished) decision issued by a
United Nations Dispute Tribunal (UNDT) judge,
which jeopardises our right to privacy going
forward. In her decision, the
judge endorses the DMSPC/Administrative Law
Division’s argument whereby Office of Internal
Oversight Services (OIOS) investigators are
entitled to seize any personal IT device (cell
phone, laptop or desktop) that has been used
by a staff member in conjunction with their UN
work (for instance, by using a UN-issued SIM
card on your private phone, or by installing
UN licensed software i.e. MS Outlook on your
personal phone/laptop). The legal
question relates to the interpretation of
ST/AI/2017/1 (Unsatisfactory conduct,
investigations and the disciplinary process)
in conjunction with ST/SGB/2004/15 (Use of
information and communication technology
resources and data). Based on the argument of
the Administration Law Division, who supported
the OIOS’s practice of seizing of personal
devices, the UNDT judge questionably ruled
that ST/AI/2017/1 overrides ST/SGB/2004/15. It
is unfortunate that the judge failed to
observe that neither ST/AI/2017/1 nor
ST/SGB/2004/15 stipulate in any way or form
the seizure of personal devices.
The Staff Union disagrees with this
interpretation of the rules, in view of the
definition of “ICT resources” (Sect. 1.b) in
the higher-ranking ST/SGB/2004/15, which
should take precedence and limit the
provisions of Sect. 6.2 of ST/AI/2017/1 to
those devices issued by the UN that are “under
the staff member’s control”. We
believe this manner of proceeding constitutes
a grave violation of a staff member’s right to
privacy and to their private property.
Needless to say, that seizing of a staff
member’s personal phone and laptop for a
minimum of two weeks would cause extreme
inconvenience to any colleague who is involved
in an investigation, sometimes for no
wrongdoing of their own. In sum,
we are calling on the OIOS to suspend these
practices, especially under the current
working arrangements imposed on staff due to
COVID-19, when many of us are required to use
our personal devices, due to the fact that the
Organization was not always able to provide
UN-issued devices to ensure business
continuity.... We advise all staff on this
issue and encourage you to reconsider your use
of personal devices for UN-related work, as
well as the utilization of any UN-licensed
software on your personal devices."
Guterres is a gangster- he should be
impeached.
In the newly
leaked audio, OIOS' Swanson says.
"this whole
thing of retaliation has got the potential to
cause us massive, massive problems if we get
it wrong.” As he describes the system,
he says the U.N. used to open an investigation
in response to a complaint, “and it was taking
a long time because some of them are horribly
complicated and some of them are just so
trivial that they’re just not worth
investigating entirely.” He says the
office trialed a process of getting the
complaint from the U.N. ethics office, at
which point it would write to the person
accused of retaliating against a whistleblower
or someone who reported misconduct, and ask
them to “tell us why you’re not
guilty.” ”We’d get the stuff … in
from the ethics office, we then write to the
subject and, I’m paraphrasing here, saying,
‘Look, the ethics office have said that prima
facie that you have retaliated therefore you
are guilty of retaliation against Staff Member
A, here’s all the material, here’s the ST/AI,
write back to us in 10 days and tell us why
you haven’t … why you’re not guilty of
retaliation,'” he says, to chuckles from
others in attendance. Continuing, he
says: “We’ve managed to cut the time down from
247 days down to about 45 because they write
back straight away and invariably it’s ‘I
don’t know anything about a protected act and
this is nonsense, all I did was send out an
email telling people to behave
themselves.'” “Then we sort of make the
judgment of whether, is it worth getting 64gb
of emails to prove that they haven’t only sent
the email out, or do we take their word, their
sworn word, for it and then say ‘well, ethics
office, there is never ever going to be any
sanction imposed for this retaliatory act, or
whatever it’s called, and we’re not going to
do anything else’?” He says they are
effectively doing the ethics office's job and
the office had “swallowed it up and accepted
it. We’ve done two now, and I think we’ve got
another two in the pipeline, and it’s working
quite nicely, that brings the figures down
[and] that gets the Americans off the U.N.’s
back, [it] means they don’t reduce their
contribution.”
Quoting
whistleblower Emma Reilly's letter asking for
the 15% cut in US contributions to the UN that
are required under law, Fox News gets some response
from Capitol Hill. But will this be followed
through, as to retaliation and Guterres'
censorship of Press? Watch this site.
July
20, 2020
Antonio
Guterres Lies
As He Bans
Press Covering
Up UN Rapes
and Bribes He
Takes
UN GATE, July
18 – Antonio Guterres has spent public money
to promote himself, and to rough up and ban
from the UN the Press that asks UN corruption
and sexual
abuse.
On July 18
from the UN Headquarters he has banned Inner
City Press from for 746 days, Guterres read
out a speech he had twice tried to promote in
background briefings to the state media and
retirees he lets in.
The speech was
full of lies and hypocrisy:
Guterres said,
"At the UN, we work to reduce inequality,
every day, everywhere."
But Guterres
lives alone in a $15 million mansion on Sutton
Place. And after the UN made people in Haiti
even poorer, by killing 10,000 of them by
negligently bringing in cholera, Guterres paid
not a cent, and lied about it, at a lavish
dinner on Long Island.
Guterres cited
the "movement that has spread from the United
States around the world in the aftermath of
George Floyd’s killing is one more sign that
people have had enough."
But Guterres
told UN staff not to join peaceful marches
about the killing of George Floyd; his own
staff call
him racist, until they are threatened with
retaliation.
Guterers said,
"The legacy of colonialism still
reverberates."
But Guterres
supports for example French colonialism, in Cameroon
and elsewhere.
Guterres said,
"women are worse off than men, simply because
they are women."
But Guterres
actively covers up UN Peacekeepers' rapes of
girls in DRC and CAR; mostly recently, he is
covering up the UNsexploitation of at least
three UNTSO international staff members in Tel
Aviv, airbrushing
the procurer entirely out.
Guterres said,
"tax avoidance and tax evasion remain
widespread."
But Guterres
pays no taxes, as he lives in his mansion.
Until COVID prevented it, he routinely spent
public money on wasteful weekend trips to
Lisbon, refusing to answer how much he spent
and banning the Press that asks.
Guterres said,
"We must break the vicious cycle of
corruption, which is both a cause and effect
of inequality."
But Guterres
refused to even audit to whom convicted UN
briber Patrick Ho's CEFC China Energy gave
money in the UN - not surprising, since
Guterres omitted
from his public financial disclosure money he
took from Gulbenkian Foundation, which tried
to sell its oil company Partex to China Energy
Fund Committee's Ye Jianming.
Guterres
bloviated, "The greatest guarantee of
accountability is a vibrant civil society,
including a free, independent
media."
But Guterres
had Inner City Press, which reported in depth
on the UN bribery scandals and asked him about
it, roughed up as it covered the UN Budget
Committee meeting on July 3, 2018 and banned
every since, with no answers to its written
questions to UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric
and USG Melissa Fleming. These people are
hypocrites.
These lies
and more were told by Guterres as the "Nelson
Mandela Annual Lecture," which his UN
mis-spelled "Nelson Mandel." Photo here,
Persicope here.
This is Guterres' UN.
July
13, 2020
In
Inner City
Press Scoop on
UN
Prostitution
Driver Was
Cunillera Did
Procurement in
Haiti
UN GATE, July
11 – The United Nations claims to have a zero
tolerance for sexual exploitation by its staff
and peacekeepers, but routinely covers up
their abuses including the rape of children,
withholding basic information which was
provided to the Press under Ban Ki-moon but
not now under Antonio Guterres.
Inner City Press, which Guterres has banned
from the UN for 733 days as it asks about
these and his abuses, on June 23 received from
outraged UN whistleblowers video of sexual
exploitation, they said, in a white UN-marked
vehicle, here.
Now Instagram,
Facebook.
Inner
City Press named to the UN the two men in the
UN van: Michael Antoine and Ray Milan. The UN
did not answer, see below.
Now
after the UN told others, misleadingly, that
it has disciplined two men, Inner City Press
can report this about the third man, the
driver: "The driver works in Procurement for
UNTSO." Procurement indeed. What about the
driver was an obvious question not pursued by
the in-house bought off UN press corpse. But
Inner City Press is pursuing it.
After
publishing the above, multiple sources
contacted Inner City Press with the name of
the driver: Juan Carlos Cunillera. Here
is in on an UNTSO procurement form;
he previously worked for the UN in Haiti,
where sex exploitation morphed into the
killing of 10,000 Haitians by the UN.
Inner City
Press can now report: the procurement driver
Juan Carlos Cunillera comes from the Dominican
Republic - a member of the UN Security
Council. And Guterres is covering all of this
up. He should resign.
On July 2, as
Inner City Press asked a question, here,
at the non-UN press conference on the sex
trafficking indictment of Ghislaine Maxwell
(who held a UN press conference in Dujarric's
room), this:
"the two staff
members have been placed on Administrative
Leave Without Pay, pending the results and
conclusion of the ongoing OIOS
investigation." This was (intentionally)
misreported by Xinhua and others as a strong
UN action, "discipline." It is not, even by
the UN's own terms, in ST/AI/2017/1
and ALWOP Section 11"
Administrative leave 11.1 In accordance
with staff rule 10.4, a staff member may be
placed on administrative leave with or without
pay at any time after an allegation of
suspected unsatisfactory conduct and pending
the completion of the disciplinary process.
The period of administrative leave may
continue until the completion of the
disciplinary process. Such action is without
prejudice to the rights of the staff member
and does not constitute a disciplinary
measure.
Inner City
Press asked, even then: And what about the
driver? And Guterres and the crony he covered
up for? Guterres' UN is corrupt.
Inner
City Press has exclusively published audio of
OIOS' Ben Swanson saying that one of Guterres'
Assistant Secretaries General thrust his hand
down the pants of a female staffer - and
Guterres, "a politician," said to cover it up.
Audio
here, here
on Patreon.
Guterres' OIOS investigations are a
politicized scam. A fish rots from the head -
Guterres covers up for his Assistant Secretary
Generals grabbing crotches, and for whoring by
UNTSO staff. Guterres should resign.
On July
1 AFP reported
of the UNTSO video that "It was originally
published on June 23 on the Twitter account of
Inner City Press, a blog in open conflict with
the UN, which has been denied access "for 721
days" , said its author Matthew Lee. The
account claimed a few days later that this
scene was filmed in Tel Aviv (Israel)." [Would
they say that the Rappler is "in open
conflict" with Duterte?]
The UN
after Inner City Press' video went viral
claimed they were quickly investigating; a
French journalist even (falsely) reported that
sanctions had already been announced.
But
now, days after Inner City Press identified to
the UN the nationality and then the names of
the men in the vehicle, nothing. It is another
cover up by Guterres, this time funded
not only by taxpayers but also IKEA and Pierre
Omidyar.
Michael
Antoine has both Trinidadian and US
citizenship - and quite a history. Inner City
Press previously asked the UN about him (for
example here).
and his sponsor / Godfather Fadil Abdullah,
since promoted out to UNICEF in Sudan. Inner
City Press asked the UN about him, again, in
2019, here
- no answer. UN cover ups.
Whistleblowers exclusively tell Inner City
Press this is being covered up: Antoine is
"protected." He is known in all the bars
of Jerusalem. The military observers
know him as the jackass. That is his
nickname. Military observers were told
not to place complaints about his antics, that
nothing would be done. They would see
his UN vehicle out late in the bars in
Jerusalem. He would drive with Ray to Haifa
Russian bars. Ray Milan and Antoine
would also use prostitutes
regularly. Senior management
refuse to address the misdeeds of civilian
staff. Antoine is part of culture of
civilian UN staff who are undisciplined and
there is no accountability.
Antoine had many Palestinian girlfriends and
this would also cause problems for UN.
Guterres is to blame for this.
Inner
City Press will continue to demand
re-accreditation. It has been two years, with
no appeal, no roadmap, pure corrupt
censorship.
Despite
the story now being reported from Austria
to Israel
to Switzerland,
those let in from Al Jazeera and other
publications asked nothing. We'll have more on
this. Watch this site.
July 6,
2020
After Inner
City Press
Scoop on UN
Prostitution
By Antoine and
Milan No
Discipline For
2 UNnamed
UN GATE, July
3 – The United Nations claims to have a zero
tolerance for sexual exploitation by its staff
and peacekeepers, but routinely covers up
their abuses including the rape of children,
withholding basic information which was
provided to the Press under Ban Ki-moon but
not now under Antonio Guterres.
Inner City Press, which Guterres has banned
from the UN for 730 days as it asks about
these and his abuses, on June 23 received from
outraged UN whistleblowers video of sexual
exploitation, they said, in a white UN-marked
vehicle, here.
Now Instagram,
Facebook.
Inner
City Press named to the UN the two men in the
UN van: Michael Antoine and Ray Milan. The UN
did not answer, see below. On July 2, as Inner
City Press asked a question, here,
at the non-UN press conference on the sex
trafficking indictment of Ghislaine Maxwell
(who held a UN press conference in Dujarric's
room), this:
"the two staff
members have been placed on Administrative
Leave Without Pay, pending the results and
conclusion of the ongoing OIOS
investigation." This was (intentionally)
misreported by Xinhua and others as a strong
UN action, "discipline." It is not, even by
the UN's own terms, in ST/AI/2017/1
and ALWOP Section 11"
Administrative leave 11.1 In accordance
with staff rule 10.4, a staff member may be
placed on administrative leave with or without
pay at any time after an allegation of
suspected unsatisfactory conduct and pending
the completion of the disciplinary process.
The period of administrative leave may
continue until the completion of the
disciplinary process. Such action is without
prejudice to the rights of the staff member
and does not constitute a disciplinary
measure. A staff member placed on
administrative leave shall be given a written
statement of the reason(s) for such leave and
shall be informed of its likely duration
Administrative
leave without pay (ALWOP) 11.4 A staff
member may be placed on administrative leave
without pay by an authorized official when at
least one of the following conditions is met:
(a) There are reasonable grounds to believe
(probable cause) that the staff member engaged
in sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, in
which case the placement of the staff member
on administrative leave shall be without pay;
(b) There are exceptional circumstances that
warrant the placement of the staff member on
administrative leave without pay because the
unsatisfactory conduct is of such gravity that
it would, if established, warrant separation
or dismissal under staff rule 10.2 (a) (viii)
or (ix), and there is information before the
authorized official about the unsatisfactory
conduct that makes it more likely than not
(preponderance of the evidence) that the staff
member engaged in the unsatisfactory
conduct.
1. The time
from a report is made of sexual
abuse/exploitation to the time when a
preliminary investigation yields enough
information to support placing a staff member
on ALWOP is usually about a month, and then it
usually takes the Administration a few weeks
to make the decision to place them on
ALWOP. In this case, they
did it in 10 days after Inner City Press
exclusively published and provided them the
video (and names), in an attempt to tamp it
down by whispering to ill-informed and it
seems ill-intentioned BBC scribe.
2. Then
the process shown in Section 6 and 7 of ST/AI/2017/1
must be followed, for OIOS to issue a full
investigation report to the
administration. This usually takes about
4-5 months after the staff member is placed on
ALWOP.
3. After
receiving the report, the Administration must
then decide from the report whether to bring
formal charges which must be notified to the
staff member giving them an opportunity to
reply to them as per Section 8. This
usually usually takes 4-5 months, but can take
a lot longer.
4. After
the person has replied to the charges, the
Administration must then determine what
administrative action to take if any.
This may include disciplinary measures,
including dismissal, but may be many other
things depending on the level of severity,
which is discretionary. If the
person is liked, or politically protected, by
Guterres or a member state, they could just
send them to gender sensitivity
training. Usually this takes well over a
year. So reporting that the back
seat man, Michael Antonio bandit has been
disciplined already is false; he is on ALWOP,
which is explicitly "not a disciplinary
action."
And what about
the driver? And Guterres and the crony he covered
up for? Guterres' UN is corrupt.
On July
1 at noon, Guterres' UN Spokesman Stephane
Dujarric said he would release the results of
the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services
(OIOS) investigation in the afternoon. By
midnight it had not happened.
Now
Inner City Press exclusively published audio
of OIOS' Ben Swanson saying that one of
Guterres' Assistant Secretaries General thrust
his hand down the pants of a female staffer -
and Guterres, "a politician," said to cover it
up. Audio
here, here
on Patreon.
Guterres' OIOS investigations are a
politicized scam. A fish rots from the head -
Guterres covers up for his Assistant Secretary
Generals grabbing crotches, and for whoring by
UNTSO staff. Guterres should resign.
On July
1 AFP reported
of the UNTSO video that "It was originally
published on June 23 on the Twitter account of
Inner City Press, a blog in open conflict with
the UN, which has been denied access "for 721
days" , said its author Matthew Lee. The
account claimed a few days later that this
scene was filmed in Tel Aviv (Israel)." [Would
they say that the Rappler is "in open
conflict" with Duterte?]
The UN
after Inner City Press' video went viral
claimed they were quickly investigating; a
French journalist even (falsely) reported that
sanctions had already been announced.
But
now, days after Inner City Press identified to
the UN the nationality and then the names of
the men in the vehicle, nothing. It is another
cover up by Guterres, this time funded
not only by taxpayers but also IKEA and Pierre
Omidyar.
Michael
Antoine has both Trinidadian and US
citizenship - and quite a history. Inner City
Press previously asked the UN about him (for
example here).
and his sponsor / Godfather Fadil Abdullah,
since promoted out to UNICEF in Sudan. Inner
City Press asked the UN about him, again, in
2019, here
- no answer. UN cover ups.
Whistleblowers exclusively tell Inner City
Press this is being covered up: Antoine is
"protected." He is known in all the bars
of Jerusalem. The military observers
know him as the jackass. That is his
nickname. Military observers were told
not to place complaints about his antics, that
nothing would be done. They would see
his UN vehicle out late in the bars in
Jerusalem. He would drive with Ray to Haifa
Russian bars. Ray Milan and Antoine
would also use prostitutes
regularly. Senior management
refuse to address the misdeeds of civilian
staff. Antoine is part of culture of
civilian UN staff who are undisciplined and
there is no accountability.
Antoine had many Palestinian girlfriends and
this would also cause problems for UN.
Guterres is to blame for this.
Inner
City Press has been encouraged by UN staff to
publish this now to try to ensure that
Guterres doesn't once again cover up for a
"whoremonger." They say Guterres should
resign.
Inner
City Press will continue to demand
re-accreditation. It has been two years, with
no appeal, no roadmap, pure corrupt
censorship.
Despite
the story now being reported from Austria
to Israel
to Switzerland,
those let in from Al Jazeera and other
publications asked nothing. We'll have more on
this. Watch this site.
***
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support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us
going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our
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to become a patron.
June 29, 2020
More
Inner City
Press Scoop on
UN
Prostitution
Video As Asked
June 25
Trinidad and
Puerto Rico
UN GATE, June
28 – The United Nations claims to have a zero
tolerance for sexual exploitation by its staff
and peacekeepers, but routinely covers up
their abuses including the rape of children,
withholding basic information which was
provided to the Press under Ban Ki-moon but
not now under Antonio Guterres.
Inner City Press, which Guterres has banned
from the UN for 724 days as it asks about
these and his abuses, on June 23 received from
outraged UN whistleblowers video of sexual
exploitation, they said, in a white UN-marked
vehicle, here.
Now Instagram,
Facebook.
And
this, more closely reported than BBC: "The
video, released by Inner
City Press on Tuesday, shows a woman in
a red dress straddling a man in the back seat
of a vehicle with U.N. marking as it drives
away. Inner City Press, an
outlet that has reported and shined a light on
corruption at the world body for years and was
banned from reporting
on U.N. grounds in New York in 2018, reports
that the vehicle was part of a U.N. Truce
Supervision Organization (UNTSO) mission in
Tel Aviv, Israel."
Inner
City Press had been informed in detail by
UNTSO and Tel Aviv sources of the history of
prostitution - which the UN calls sexual
exploitation and claims it has zero tolerance
for - at work here. HaYarkon Street is well
known for prostitution, and now hotels are
closed by COVID-19. There is also a history of
those in the UN vehicle.
On June
25 Inner City Press asked more than a dozen UN
officials in New York in writing, "June 25-1:
As I asked each of you in writing yesterday,
"This is a formal request for UNSG Guterres'
comment and action on the video Inner City
Press has uploaded of UN sexual exploitation
in a UN marked vehicle here
(as of noon June 26 with more than 10,000
views on Twitter, more on other
platforms) NOW - today - before SG
Guterres "press" conference - Inner City Press
is informed by UN whistleblower is is UNTSO
Plate 205 in Jerusalem, the man in the back
from Trinidad, front from Puerto Rico. WHAT
HAS GUTERRES DONE?"
They
never answered. On June 28 Inner City Press
asked Guterres, Melissa Fleming and UNTSO:
"confirm or deny that Michael Antoine, whose
past promotions and transfers out of UNTSO
including to the UN-OPCW mission in Syria
Inner City Press has previously asked the UN
spokesmen about without answer, is with UNTSO
(and his role in this). Same
question regarding Ray Milan." No answer.
We now
report - Milan is, as Inner City Press asked
and reported, from Puerto Rico. And in the
back, Michael Antoine has both Trinidadian and
US citizenship - and quite a history. Inner
City Press previously asked the UN about him
(for example here).
and his sponsor / Godfather Fadil Abdullah,
since promoted out to UNICEF in Sudan. Inner
City Press asked the UN about him, again, in
2019, here
- no answer. UN cover ups.
Whistleblowers exclusively tell Inner City
Press this is being covered up: Antoine is
"protected." He is known in all the bars
of Jerusalem. The military observers
know him as the jackass. That is his
nickname. Military observers were told
not to place complaints about his antics, that
nothing would be done. They would see
his UN vehicle out late in the bars in
Jerusalem. He would drive with Ray to Haifa
Russian bars. Ray Milan and Antoine
would also use prostitutes
regularly. Senior management
refuse to address the misdeeds of civilian
staff. Antoine is part of culture of
civilian UN staff who are undisciplined and
there is no accountability.
Antoine had many Palestinian girlfriends and
this would also cause problems for UN.
Guterres is to blame for this.
Inner
City Press has been encouraged by UN staff to
publish this now to try to ensure that
Guterres doesn't once again cover up for a
"whoremonger." They say Guterres should
resign.
Inner
City Press has written to UNTSO and Guterres
and Melissa Fleming about Antoine and... no
response.
Inner
City Press formally requested the code to ask
questions at the June 26 UN noon briefing,
including to a UN Peacekeeping official who
spoke there, misleading, about COVID-19 - and
Inner City Press will continue to demand
re-accreditation.
On June
26, despite the story now being reported from
Austria
to Israel
to Switzerland,
those let in from Al Jazeera and other
publications asked nothing. We'll have more on
this. Watch this site.
June
22, 2020
For
UNSC Kenya
Beats Djibouti
129 to 62
Gaining 16
Votes
Overnight
UNtransparent
UN GATE, June
18 – In contested elections without observers
for UN Security Council seats on June 17
Norway and Ireland beat out Canada (again),
while Kenya and Djibouti face a second round
of bribes. Video of results here;
long video of Inner City Press coverage from
UN Gate here.
The
numbers -- UNverified -- for the two races
were as follows, with 128 votes required to
get or buy a UNSC seat: Norway 130, Ireland
128; Canada 108, losing again.
Kenya
113, Djibouti 78. Kenya had to buy 15 votes by
June 18. Video of June 18, 9 am here.
And
they did - the result on June 18 was Kenya
129, Djibouti 62, a swing of 16. What was
behind it? Watch this site.
Will they sell
more to China, like UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres has, while banning Inner City
Press 715 days and counting and directing that
no UN spokesperson answers its questions?
Guterres is corrupt.
In the
protests that followed the murder of George
Floyd, as in the COVID-19 lockdowns, carve
outs to curfews were made for the media so
that the operations of government could be
observed and reported.
But at the
United Nations, not only has secretive
Secretary General Antonio Guterres ordered roughed
up and banned,
now 715 days, Inner City Press which dared
about about his personal financial connection
to UN briber CEFC China Energy, convicted in
the U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of New York.
Now Nigeria's
Tijjani Muhammad-Bande the UN General Assembly
President, a position previously purchased by
CEFC and before that Ng Lap Seng (who also
bought the UN Correspondents Association with
$50,000) has banned all media from observing
the UN Security Council and other elections he
is running, or some say selling, today June
17.
And on June 16
for the UN noon briefing with Stephane
Dujarric and Farhan Haq on unexplained
vacations, associate Eri Kaneko cut out and
issued a transcript of comments on China that
were not issued on video.
This is a
set-up for a stolen election, some say. Inner
City Press intends to live stream from the
gate - watch this site, and @InnerCityPress on
Twitter.
Tijjani
Muhammad-Bande's spokesperson Reem Abaza, who
refuses all questions from Inner City Press,
intoned on June 12 (video here)
that "all Member States have successfully
registered the names of the representative,
and an alternate, who will cast their ballot
for the elections of non-permanent members of
the Security Council, Members of the Social
and Economic Council and the President of the
75th session of the General Assembly on the
17th of June.
"Please note
that access to the General Assembly building
will be restricted to the voters, tellers, and
staff who will be supporting the process. This
is to ensure everyone’s safety and to mitigate
the spread of the disease.
"The
Department of Global Communications and the
Department for General Assembly and Conference
Management and our office are coordinating
closely to ensure that you will get what you
need for your coverage."
Yes, the UN will
decide "what you need" and the propaganda will
be served up by DSG's Melissa Fleming, who bans
the Press and has no content neutral rules for
access to the UN.
June
15, 2020
After UN Staff
Call Guterres
Racist He
Rebuffs
Questions In
Mercedes Now
Letter to
Editor
UN GATE, June13– The United
Nations in the time of Antonio Guterres has
devolved not only into corruption
and censorship,
but also racism.
Inner
City Press has published
Guterres memo to UN staff to not join the
George Floyd protests, here, and noted that
his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric's "press
briefings," as controlled by UN Global
Communicator Melissa Fleming, have no African
journalists, no questions about South Sudan or
DRC or Cameroon, which killed journalist
Samuel Wazizi. There was Fleming's precessor stealing
member states' money meant for Swahili
broadcasting, and recent colonial
"LOOTING IN MIDTOWN: MY ACCOUNT."
On June 8, when Guterres was asked the
question of his own staff and ex-staff's view
of him as a colonial racist, he rebuffed the
questions and did not answer, on way from
mansion to Mercedes. Video here.
Since
then, this letter to the editor: "Dear Editor
of Inner City Press. I was reading you
recent article regarding the UN Memo to staff
not to join the George Floyd protests (link here),
and how this was later corrected after
internal criticism, but then I wondered, what
benefit can come from writing about the United
Nations and Racism, if the UN verbally
denounces Racism to mobilise resources, but
behind these words and lip service, the UN is
manifested with Racism?
Since you
published your investigative article in 2019
about the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
(link here)
and how the entire Management structure of
this organisation, mostly hired -by their
unqualified Executive Secretary-Judith
Karl- are white and from North
Countries, even-though the main purpose
of this UN organisation is to serve the
Least Developed Countries. You mentioned
in your article how staff of color and staff
from the south were targeted, discriminated
against and let go from service at UNCDF
to allow the Executive Secretary to hire new
white staff from the North. You
articulated how racism was practiced at UNCDF
and you provided evidence, you described the
financial and managerial corruption being
conducted at UNCDF with evidence, yet, not one
official UN investigation was conducted or
news of. The United Nations is a Lip
Service. Before the UN denounces Racism in the
USA, they should denounce and hold Racists
accountable at their own management.
Considering previous trends, the UN, the UNDP
as Managing Director of UNCDF and his Office
of Audit and Investigation will not take any
action with hopes that the story is not
picked up by the news until this trend related
to Racism fades away. In conclusion Mr.
Editor, what benefit can come from writing
about the UN and Racism. You are talking to a
Lip Service Agency. Don't expect
Actions. p.s. Stay well. I do appreciate
your reporting, and we will continue to
support you."
While
the UN and Guterres use Africa to raise most
of their money (while providing no
accountability to those raped in Central
African Republic, and given COVID-19 in South
Sudan by UN busses with no
social distancing), there has not been a
single African journalist on any of the
virtual noon briefing held by Guterres'
spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
Nearly
all of those questioning Dujarric in his $10
million apartment on East 86th Street in
Manhattan are themselves in expensive
apartments.
June 8,
2020
In Cameroon
Journalist
Njoka Kingsley
Grabbed By
Biya As UN
Guterres
Refuses Press
Qs
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, June 7 – As more and more
civilians have been
killed by the Cameroon government of
Paul Biya, absentee president for 37 years, UN
Secretary General Antonio Guterres has been
silent.
Inner City
Press was informed by sources in Guterres' own
38th floor office that Guterres had made a
deal with Biya's UN Ambassador Tommo Monthe as
chair of the UN Budget Committee for
administrative favors in exchange for silence
on the slaughter or "subduing" of the
Anglophone minority.
When Inner
City Press asked about it, Guterres used UN
Security to rough
up Inner City Press right after it
interviewed Monthe, and to ban it from
entering the UN, 700 days and counting.
On June
2, news that Buea-based journalist Samuel
Wazizi a/k/a Samuel Ajiekah Abuwe was killed.
According to Equinoxe Television, he died
within a few days in detention from wounds and
injuries sustained after his arrest - that is,
he was killed by Biya's forces. And Guterres'
UN has refused each and every question about
Cameroon from the Press - Guterres is
complicit and corrupt.
On June
3, 4 and 5 Inner City Press asked Guterres and
his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric and Melissa
Fleming in writing about the killing of Wazizi
- no answer at all. On June 4 Inner City Press
put the question to Guterres himself as he
went from mansion to Mercedes, here
- nothing.
Now the
question arises: where is disappeared
journalist Njoka Kingsley Fomonyuy, "taken
into custody by plainclothes security officers
on May 16, 2020 remains a mystery. Sources
familiar with the incident say he was taken from
his house in Douala by armed men who only
identified themselves as ‘Surete
National’. As noted by Mimi Mefo,
he's from Kumbo, Bui Division in the North West
Region. He studied Journalism and Mass
Communication in the University of Zaria in
Nigeria, from where he graduated with a
Bachelor’s degree in
1990. In Cameroon, the
freelance journalist worked with Magic FM and as
a senior writer for Popular Catholic biweekly
Magazine “L’Effort Camerounais” in Douala.
Before whisking Njoka Kingsley away, the armed
men ransacked his house apparently searching for
possible evidence that could implicate
him. Without finding what they were after,
the armed men asked Njoka’s wife to hand his
office keys and his identification documents to
them. They took an HP laptop from Njoka’s house
and then headed to his office which they equally
searched thoroughly making away with two laptops
marked Lenovo and DELL as well as the sum of
over FCFA 50,000. The
unidentified men gave no reason for taking Njoka
Kingsley into custody. They also did not say
where he was being taken to. It has now been 21
days since he was “kidnapped” without any crime
committed and without even being charged.
With the recent declaration of Samuel Wazizi’s
death in the hands of the forces of law in
Yaoundé, one is tempted to think that anything
can happen to Njoka Kingsley Fomonyuy if nothing
is done." And the UN of Guterres is complicit -
and colonial, here.
June 1,
2020
While
UN of Guterres
Covers Up
Coronavirus
Role New Song
Points the
Finger
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, May 25 – It has become
controversial to say where COVID-19 came from.
But what Inner City Press has considered and
asked about and confirmed is the shameful
cover-up role of the UN system.
It's been not only the World Health
Organization but in particular the apex or
rotting fish head of the UN system, Secretary
General Antonio Guterres. He concealed his links
to convicted UN briber CEFC China Energy, and
ordered roughed up and banned Inner City Press
which dared to publicly asking about it.
On May 25 - U.S. Memorial Day - a new song, on
SoundCloud here,
lyrics here: It Started in Wuhan:
Who's WHO, by Matthew Russell Lee, (c) 2020
It started in Wuhan
but then it moved on
came to New York City
and the rich people fled
now a hundred thousand dead
The UN is lying
why the people are dying
Who's WHO? Who's WHO
It's budget
expansion
in a Sutton Place mansion
while they spread the virus
down South Sudan way
but they never pay just like in Haiti but even
more shady
Who's WHO? Who's WHO
You'd think they
listen in the court system
but the UN insists it has immunity
that's impunity
They ban Press questions for its suggestions
Who's WHO? Who's WHO
May 26,
2020
With UN
As Mediocre on
Zoom As In
Person Time To
Move It Out of
NYC and USA
UN GATE / SDNY
COURT, May 20 – The United Nations under
Antonio Guterres has been accomplishing even
less that before.
But the UN's
move out of the glass skyscraper on
Manhattan's East Side for weeks now, with
diplomats pontificating by Zoom from their
expensive and tax-free residence shows that
the UN could and should move out of New
York.
With the UN
scarcely less effective by Zoom than in
person, not only the traffic and scoflaw
parking problems can be avoided.
A move-out could rid the city and country of
predatory diplomats and senior UN officials in
bars, and now diplomat(s) with Coronavirus and
others flying in - Inner City Press has asked
Guterres and his spokespeople for the UN's
protocol, without answer. Spokespeople
Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming have
banned Inner City Press not only from the UN
building, but also its Zoom rooms. But if
they'll just leave New York, that's be that.
The time is ripe for the move-out. While
Guterres is said to be considering raising
himself from his briber slumber to try to
ingratiate himself to politicians he thinks or
hopes will win, the strategy should not be
allowed to work.
Zoom is the perfect home for the UN, including
give WHO owns the platform. It's time for the UN
to Zoom or be Zoomed out of NYC and the USA.
Watch this site.
May 18,
2020
UN
Guterres Wants
Video Only GA
Week And
Drivers
Licenses From
New Jersey
UN GATE / SDNY
COURT, May 13 – UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres on May 13 in an internal
meeting with UN staff predicted that the
COVID-19 pandemic will get worse because some
countries don't want to give international
organizations like his and the World Health
Organization more power (or "teeth," as he
called it).
With a strange laugh, Guterres said If we can
hunt with a dog, we'll hunt with a cat.
No UN staff member ask, with regard to WHO,
about the exclusion of Taiwan. Nor, unless
censored in the way that Guterres has censored
Inner City Press for its investigative
reporting, did they ask about Guterres'
personal financial links to convicted UN
briber CEFC China Energy.
Guterres seemed most committed to going
forward with the UN's 75th birthday party this
September, whatever the conditions in New
York.
He proposed that each of the UN's 193 member
states should sent only one staffer in to the
General Assembly Hall, to watch pre-recorded
statements by heads of state like Saudi
Arabia's MBS and Cameroon's Paul Biya. (Xi
Jinping, it is assumed, would feature
prominently).
UN staff, or at least its union officials,
were concerned about getting drivers licenses
in New Jersey. Guterres, mis-pronouning the
state's name, bragged that he has intervened
in the matter. Is Governor Murphy putting out
for the UN, and those under US sanctions?
Guterres, we note, has no respect for the laws
of the US including the First Amendment or of
its states. He allowed his personal guards to
keep their gym open in UN Headquarters,
international territory, long after Mayor De
Blasio closed all the City gyms. Guterres said
he saw some positive in the lock-down.
Inner City
Press, now daily covering the Federal courts and
jails while banned from the UN and even its Zoom
rooms for 680 days and counting, will have more
on this.
May 11,
2020
WHO
Denies
Delaying COVID
Info For Xi
But UN Lied 6
Years On
Taking Cholera
To Haiti
UN GATE / SDNY
COURT, Jan 4 – The World Health Organization
has issued a denial, which Inner City Press published
minutes after issuance, that China's Xi
Jinping "personally asked WHO to hold back
information about human to human transmission
and delayed the global response for four to
six weeks" at the beginning of the COVID-19
outbreak, sourced to German intelligence by
Der Spiegel.
Inner City Press published WHO's denial first,
noting that other questions about the current
UNMISS Mission in South
Sudan spreading COVID-19 with its
admittedly lax practices (on which it and UNSG
Antonio Guterres have refused Press questions)
and WHO giving Cameroon's
Paul Biya 14 luxury vehicles remain
unanswered.
But there a more fundamental problem or
context to UN system denials, particularly on
questions of deadly diseases.
The UN lied for SIX YEAR about having brought
cholera to Haiti.
In the UN briefing room in New York, Inner
City Press in person asked Guterres' spokesman
Stephane Dujarric more than a dozen times
about it, and Dujarric each time denied it, on
UN video that he and Melissa Fleming now refuse
to give to the Press.
Tellingly, even when denial became untenable,
no one in the UN was ever disciplined for all
the lies. Dujarric is still Guterres
spokesman, now lying about COVID-19 and the UN
system's role this time on Zoom since the UN
has closed its headquarters other than allow
Guterres' guard to continue to collectively
use their gym
there.
And
while for weeks now Inner City Press has
sought answers from WHO, by email and raising
its Zoom hand, nothing
(except Tedros' lawyer about Taiwan.)
So
this UN system has no credibility, and continue
to censor to try to hide its tracks. We'll have
more on this.
UN Scam Debate
Of Lone PGA Candidate Volkan Bozkir With
Conchita Wurst Echo
UN GATE / SDNY
COURT, May 10 – How corrupt is today's United
Nations? On May 15 the UN General Assembly
will hold a "informal interactive dialogue"
for the lone rubber-stamp candidate to be UN
President of the GA, Volkan Bozkir.
Since
there is no other candidate, it's akin to a
presidential debate in North Korea.
And in other
ways too: Turkish "diplomatic" Volkan Bozkir
is best known for saying,
after "drag queen" Conchita
Wurst's Eurovision win, "Thank God we no
longer participate in Eurovision."
Yet watch corrupt UNSG Antonio Guterres speak
warmly about it. Guterres believes in nothing
but himself, wanting to "run" unopposed for a
second term. This should be denied. Here's the
notice, from another UN office whose
spokesperson Reem Abaza like Guterres'
Stephane Dujarric refuses to answer Inner City
Press' written questions about its corruption:
"The
President of the 74th session of the General
Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande will convene
an informal interactive dialogue with the
candidate for the position of President of the
75th session of the Assembly, Volkan Bozkir on
Friday, 15 May 2020, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00
p.m. The dialogue will
be held via a virtual platform due to the
continued limitations on holding large
in-person meetings as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic."
Under
Guterres' Melissa Fleming, it seems Inner City
Press will be denied video of the "debate."
Inner City Press, banned from the UN and now its
Zoom rooms for 676 days, will have much more on
this. Watch this site. May 4,
2020
For
UNSC Estonia
Month May
Somalia May 21
No Cameroon
Spinning
Coronavirus
Like SG
Guterres
UN GATE, May 1
– In the United Nations from which SG Antonio
Guterres has banned Inner City Press 668 days
for asking about his complicity in the killing
of civilians in Cameroon and their mass
imprisonment by China in Xinjiang, on May 1
Estonia Ambassador Sven Jürgenson held a
censored online press conference about the
coming month in the Security Council.
He took
questions only from pre-screened in-house
correspondents, ignoring or even pretending
not to see a question about Cameroon by Inner
City Press. Periscope here.
Twitter here.
Jurgenson said not a word about the slaughter
in Cameroon; he did not answer the on-line
question about new cases of UN sex abuse.
Most
questions read out by his off camera staffer
were by the same part-time correspondents and
state media. Even for eight hours after the
briefing, the PoW on the Council's website was
from April. And now answer from the Estonian
Mission to formal questions posed.
After 9
pm on May 1, notice that the Program belatedly
went up - yes, nothing on Cameroon. Just
Somalia on May 21 and a lot of vacations.
We'll have more on this.
Back on
February 3, before Coronavirus hit New York
(but after the first cases covered up in Wuhan
in December 2019) Belgian Ambassador Marc
Pecsteen de Buytswerve held an in person but
also friends-only press conference about his
upcoming month as Security Council president,
with few questions on Africa. Program of Work
tweeted by Inner City Press here.
Belgium, of course, oversaw the colonialism
and killing in the Congo. Its mission to the
UN,in 2018 and since, did not respond to Inner
City Press' formal communications about
Guterres having it roughed up and banned.
Still the Mission and Ambassador pontificate
about press freedom and even the safety of
journalists.
The
next, such as it was, is that Jared Kushner
will brief the Security Council behind closed
doors on February 6 at noon, when Guterres'
spokes- / hatchetman Stephane Dujarric holds
his noon briefing will refusing all questions
from Inner City Press despite an on camera promise.
Watch this site.
April
27, 2020
After
UN Guterres on
South Sudan
Refuses Press
Questions
Petition to
Him Says
UNMISS Spreads
COVID
UN GATE / SDNY
COURT, April 26 – The United
Nations Mission in South Sudan acknowledged
internally that a staff member has tested
positive for Coronavirus COVID-19, while
claiming it is taking all precautions, see
below. SG Antonio Guterres has refused to
answer questions from Inner City Press about
this, about his UNMISS representative David
Shearer, and about his own UN Security guards
still using their gym. Video here.
Now
after Guterres and his spokespeople Stephane
Dujarric and Melissa Fleming have taken untold
public money while refusing Inner City Press'
questions about their criminal failure in
South Sudan, this petition to Guterres from
South Sudanese (for download on Patreon here)
- Guterres should be jailed:
"His
Excellency Antonio Guterres Secretary-General
of the United Nations 405 East 42nd Street New
York, NY 10017 USA Re: Concern over Conduct of
United Nations Mission in South Sudan in
COVID-19 Response Dear Mr. Secretary General,
We, the undersigned South Sudanese, write to
bring to your attention a situation that has
worried us and many citizens of this country
about the level of cooperation between the
government authorities in our country and the
United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)
with regards to the fight against the global
pandemic, COVID-19...
You have
probably seen the Head of the UN Mission in
South Sudan (UNMISS), your Special
Representative, David Shearer, warning of
“dire health situation,” in South Sudan on
April 2. To the effect, Mr. Shearer contends
that “if Corona[virus] gets in…tens of
thousands could perish.” He emphasized the
extra vulnerabilities facing our country, poor
healthcare system, concentration of displaced
persons, political instability and compromised
immunity due to malnutrition, as reasons why
he thinks the spread of Coronavirus here would
be a calamity.
Unfortunately,
it turned out Mr. Shearer was not talking
hypothetically, as he had known for a while
that a member of the United Nations staff had
shown symptoms of the virus after returning
into the country on February 28th but the UN
did not disclose this information to South
Sudan’s health officials until April 3rd,
potentially exposing many people to the
disease.
This person
was finally tested by local health experts and
was confirmed positive, becoming the country’s
first confirmed case of COVID-19. South
Sudanese are now as afraid for their lives as
they are outraged by this UN’s behavior. We
expected the chief of UNMISS to have
immediately informed the Taskforce of the case
the moment it was suspected and to have
offered support and collaboration with the
government. We also expected both the
government and the UN to have ordered the
quarantining of the UN staff who may have come
into contact with the first case and to have
embarked on testing and contact tracing.
Unfortunately,
very little, if any, was done. To some of us
who have for a while observed the behavior of
some UN staff in our country, this was
unsurprising. That is because UNMISS has never
been held to account for its actions in this
country and often operating a parallel system
to the government of the host country. Please
note, Your Excellency, that we are not part of
the government of South Sudan but just
concerned citizens. In fact, we are critical
of the government for not taking the UN to
task on the proper protocols to fight
Coronavirus.
We write to
you today to alert you that UNMISS has behaved
contrary to the “Status of Forces Agreement,”
which spells out the rules governing the
relationship between the UN and government.
The UN should have offered technical support,
given that Mr. Shearer was so candid about
South Sudan’s “lack of capacity,” instead of
risking the lives of South Sudan’s citizens
and keeping quiet about it. The minimum the UN
should have done is to be in communication
with the country’s health authorities, with
the new Taskforce on COVID-19 as well as
embark on testing all its staff that are
residing in the camps where contacts may have
occurred with the first case.
The UN Mission
has to date refused to take any of these
simple and obvious steps, which are now
globally accepted as important measures
against COVID-19. We therefore urge your
esteemed office to intervene to at least
investigate this issue and to compel UNMISS to
test its staff or to give South Sudan’s
Ministry of Health access to the UN camps for
testing and quarantine. It is the lives of
millions of already vulnerable South Sudanese
that are at stake here and UNMISS needs to be
on the right side of history in the fight
against the deadly Coronavirus pandemic. We
look forward to your prompt action to address
our concerns.
Yours
Sincerely, Samuel Taban Youziel Jok Madut Jok
Lawrence Korbndy Santino Ayuel Longar Madut
Majok Ngor Thuch Mading Agok Augustino Ting
Mayai CC: Government of South Sudan CC:
UNMISS, Juba"
On April
23 Inner City Press is exclusively publishing
SRSG Shearer's order that "UN International
staff (only) will be able to access Tomping
and.or UN House specifically for exercise
activities." Full double-speak memo here.
Whistleblowers who previously complained in real
time to Inner City Press about UN national staff
being forced to ride on a UN bus with no social
distancing are outraged at Shearer's order, and
say that given the layout of the compounds, it
does not comply with WHO (and IHR, see below)
regulations. Guterres refuses to answer, there
is video - and WHO has not yet taken the
questions. Watch this site.
April 20, 2020
In UN
COVID
Hypocrisy
South Sudan
and Gym
Violations
While
UNidentified
Staff
Disciplined
UN GATE / SDNY
COURT, April 19 – The United
Nations in South Sudan acknowledged internally
that a staff member has tested positive for
Coronavirus COVID-19, while claiming it is
taking all precautions, see below. SG Antonio
Guterres has refused to answer questions from
Inner City Press about this, and about his own
UN Security guards still using their gym.
Video here.
Now on
April 19 the UN brags about unspecified
discipline on an unidentified staffer who
broke quarantine or self isolation and flew
back to his or her unidentified country. But
what about the South Sudan UN bus without
social distancing, which was Guterres rep
David Shearer's fault? What about Guterres'
own guards? This is another case of Do As I
Say, Not As I Do (April 18 Matthew Russell Lee
song here).
Here is
the disingenuous notice which does not mention
the bus, the spread and the UNHQ gym: "a staff
member who failed to complete self-isolation
and left South Sudan without
authorization. The
staff member was in isolation after it was
believed he may have come into contact with a
person diagnosed with COVID-19. He received
one test that confirmed him as negative and
then left Juba on a flight without the
knowledge of the United Nations. The flight
was commercial, not a United Nations
flight. Since arriving
in his home country, he has been tested again
and is confirmed to be negative for
COVID-19. In the
interests of openness and transparency, the
United Nations informed the Ministry of Health
and expressed its regret about what had
happened. The United
Nations is continuing to strictly follow the
health protocols relating to COVID-19 and is
working cooperatively through the World Health
Organization with the Ministry of
Health. Any United
Nations staff who fail to adhere to the
requirements for testing and self-isolation
will face disciplinary action."
So when
will Guterres' guards be punished? When will
Guterres (and Tedros) be fired?
On April 9
Inner City Press exclusively published a
notice among Guterres' UN Security, which he
used to oust and ban Inner City Press,
violating all New York City (and state) laws
by keeping their gym open, with up to three
officers using it at once. Photo here.
What
will Mayor De Blasio's pro-UN office, which
took masks not offered to UN staff quarantined
at home (as lax practices at UN WIPO preceded
the death of a staffer there) say? Inner City
Press is asking Guterres and his spokespeople
Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming. The UN,
including UN Security, is corrupt.
But the
transcript of a meeting with staff by UN
Secretary General Antonio Guterres'
representative in Juba, David Shearer, leaked
to Inner City Press by outraged staff, shows
for example that the UNMISS mission has been
running busses for local staff without social
distancing.
They
analogize it to when the UN brought cholera to
Haiti and then lied about it for years, and
has still to pay any compensation under
Antonio Guterres "who instead spends the
public's money on his own trips to Lisbon."
Guterres and his spokespeople Stephane
Dujarric and Melissa Fleming have refused all
Press questions on this, choosing to ban
critical Inner City Press and take staged
questions from Xinhua.
Here's a first
part of the transcript from Shearer's meeting
with staff, after the misleading press release
by Shearer's underling about COVID-19:
"The United
Nations in South Sudan has confirmed a case of
coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among its
staff... The UN has previously imposed a
travel freeze on all staff travelling into the
country, ensured staff who arrived prior to
the ban are self-quarantined for 14 days,
introduced work-from-home measures to reduce
numbers of people in offices, and enforced
social distancing rules and frequent hand
washing by all personnel."
This is false.
From the UN Mission in South Sudan transcript
leaked to Inner City Press:
Leda Limann:
SRSG, these are national staff specific. The
majority of UNMISS staff have family members
in Uganda. Can you please engage with Ugandan
authorities?
SRSG Shearer:
This is a bit tricky because for national
staff, obviously, their country is here, and
we expect them to work here and that is why we
employ national staff because they are here. I
think, what we can certainly look at what
happens in the future, I am in contact with
the Resident Coordinator in Uganda to see what
options there are to visit family members. But
it is not possible for the moment to evacuate
people from South Sudan to Uganda because they
are South Sudanese, that is why they are here.
But we will look at the possibility of being
able to access their families. At the moment,
we have got no ability to be allowed into
Uganda. Nobody has the possibility of entering
Uganda and, likewise, coming back into South
Sudan. So, we are a bit caught but let’s see
what happens in the future.
Leda Limann: National staff use the shuttle
bus twice daily and the social distancing is
not maintained in the bus. Is the mission
taking any measures on this?
Nope... More of the transcript is on Patreon here.
The
United Nations held a four speakers, one M.C.
event to raise funds for itself off of
Coronavirus on March 25. But three
of the participants had refused to make
public even the UN's bare-bones financial
disclosures: Mark Lowcock, Henrietta Fore of
UNICEF and Melissa Fleming. The head man,
Antonio Guterres, has lied on his form, omitting
his financial links to convicted UN briber CEFC
China Energy. So their credibility is
questionable.
April
13, 2020
Despite
Coronavirus UN
Security Gym
Is Open As No
Social
Distancing on
UN Bus in
South Sudan
UN GATE / SDNY
COURT, April 9 – The United
Nations in South Sudan has acknowledged that a
staff member has tested positive for
Coronavirus COVID-19, while claiming it is
taking all precautions, see below. SG Antonio
Guterres has refused to answer questions from
Inner City Press about this.
Now on
April 9 Inner City Press exclusively publishes
a notice among Guterres' UN Security, which he
used to oust and ban Inner City Press,
violating all New York City (and state) laws
by keeping their gym open, with up to three
officers using it at once. Photo here.
What
will Mayor De Blasio's pro-UN office, which
took masks not offered to UN staff quarantined
at home (as lax practices at UN WIPO preceded
the death of a staffer there) say? Inner City
Press is asking Guterres and his spokespeople
Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming. The UN,
including UN Security, is corrupt.
But the
transcript of a meeting with staff by UN
Secretary General Antonio Guterres'
representative in Juba, David Shearer, leaked
to Inner City Press by outraged staff, shows
for example that the UNMISS mission has been
running busses for local staff without social
distancing.
They
analogize it to when the UN brought cholera to
Haiti and then lied about it for years, and
has still to pay any compensation under
Antonio Guterres "who instead spends the
public's money on his own trips to Lisbon."
Guterres and his spokespeople Stephane
Dujarric and Melissa Fleming have refused all
Press questions on this, choosing to ban
critical Inner City Press and take staged
questions from Xinhua.
Here's a first
part of the transcript from Shearer's meeting
with staff, after the misleading press release
by Shearer's underling about COVID-19:
"The United
Nations in South Sudan has confirmed a case of
coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among its
staff... The UN has previously imposed a
travel freeze on all staff travelling into the
country, ensured staff who arrived prior to
the ban are self-quarantined for 14 days,
introduced work-from-home measures to reduce
numbers of people in offices, and enforced
social distancing rules and frequent hand
washing by all personnel."
This is false.
From the UN Mission in South Sudan transcript
leaked to Inner City Press:
Leda Limann:
SRSG, these are national staff specific. The
majority of UNMISS staff have family members
in Uganda. Can you please engage with Ugandan
authorities?
SRSG Shearer:
This is a bit tricky because for national
staff, obviously, their country is here, and
we expect them to work here and that is why we
employ national staff because they are here. I
think, what we can certainly look at what
happens in the future, I am in contact with
the Resident Coordinator in Uganda to see what
options there are to visit family members. But
it is not possible for the moment to evacuate
people from South Sudan to Uganda because they
are South Sudanese, that is why they are here.
But we will look at the possibility of being
able to access their families. At the moment,
we have got no ability to be allowed into
Uganda. Nobody has the possibility of entering
Uganda and, likewise, coming back into South
Sudan. So, we are a bit caught but let’s see
what happens in the future.
Leda Limann: National staff use the shuttle
bus twice daily and the social distancing is
not maintained in the bus. Is the mission
taking any measures on this?
Nope... More of the transcript is on Patreon here.
April 6, 2020
Coronavirus
Among UN Staff
In South Sudan
Is Lied About
While No
Social
Distancing on
UN Bus
UN GATE / SDNY
COURT, April 4 – The United
Nations in South Sudan has acknowledged that a
staff member has tested positive for
Coronavirus COVID-19, while claming it is
taking all precautions.
But the
transcript of a meeting with staff by UN
Secretary General Antonio Guterres'
representative in Juba, David Shearer, leaked
to Inner City Press by outraged staff, shows
for example that the UNMISS mission has been
running busses for local staff without social
distancing.
They
analogize it to when the UN brought cholera to
Haiti and then lied about it for years, and
has still to pay any compensation under
Antonio Guterres "who instead spends the
public's money on his own trips to Lisbon."
Guterres and his spokespeople Stephane
Dujarric and Melissa Fleming have refused all
Press questions on this, choosing to ban
critical Inner City Press and take staged
questions from Xinhua.
Here's a first
part of the transcript from Shearer's meeting
with staff, after the misleading press release
by Shearer's underling about COVID-19:
"The United
Nations in South Sudan has confirmed a case of
coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among its
staff... The UN has previously imposed a
travel freeze on all staff travelling into the
country, ensured staff who arrived prior to
the ban are self-quarantined for 14 days,
introduced work-from-home measures to reduce
numbers of people in offices, and enforced
social distancing rules and frequent hand
washing by all personnel."
This is false.
From the UN Mission in South Sudan transcript
leaked to Inner City Press:
Leda Limann:
SRSG, these are national staff specific. The
majority of UNMISS staff have family members
in Uganda. Can you please engage with Ugandan
authorities?
SRSG Shearer:
This is a bit tricky because for national
staff, obviously, their country is here, and
we expect them to work here and that is why we
employ national staff because they are here. I
think, what we can certainly look at what
happens in the future, I am in contact with
the Resident Coordinator in Uganda to see what
options there are to visit family members. But
it is not possible for the moment to evacuate
people from South Sudan to Uganda because they
are South Sudanese, that is why they are here.
But we will look at the possibility of being
able to access their families. At the moment,
we have got no ability to be allowed into
Uganda. Nobody has the possibility of entering
Uganda and, likewise, coming back into South
Sudan. So, we are a bit caught but let’s see
what happens in the future.
Leda Limann: National staff use the shuttle
bus twice daily and the social distancing is
not maintained in the bus. Is the mission
taking any measures on this?
Nope... More of the transcript is on Patreon here.
The
United Nations held a four speakers, one M.C.
event to raise funds for itself off of
Coronavirus on March 25. But three
of the participants had refused to make
public even the UN's bare-bones financial
disclosures: Mark Lowcock, Henrietta Fore of
UNICEF and Melissa Fleming. The head man,
Antonio Guterres, has lied on his form, omitting
his financial links to convicted UN briber CEFC
China Energy. So their credibility is
questionable.
March
30, 2020
UN
Fundraiser Has
Three
Officials
Without
Financial
Disclosure and
Boss Guterres
With Lies
UN GATE / SDNY
COURT, March 25 – The United Nations held a
four speakers, one M.C. event to raise funds
for itself off of Coronavirus on March 25.
But three
of the participants had refused to make
public even the UN's bare-bones financial
disclosures: Mark Lowcock, Henrietta Fore of
UNICEF and Melissa Fleming.
The head man,
Antonio Guterres, has lied
on his form, omitting
his financial links to convicted UN briber
CEFC China Energy. So their credibility to ask
for more money is questionable.
Inner City Press, which for asking these
questions has been banned
from the UN for 631 days by Guterres and M.C.
Melissa Fleming (who has not filed her
financial disclosure), streamed their event
along with analysis, here
on Twitter, here
on Periscope. It also submitted
questions through the UN's Periscope feed.
But
the questions Fleming picked, in advance and
seeming providing them to Guterres in advance,
were from China state media Xinhua, Radio
France, etc. To this has the UN sunk under
Guterres. We'll have more on this.
March
23, 2020
UNSG
Guterres Takes
4 Lame
Questions
Picked By
Fleming Who
Bans Press
625th Day
UN GATE / SDNY
COURT, March 19 – The United Nations, which
bills itself the "world body," should answer
questions from the press and public. But since
Secretary General Antonio Guterres came in,
the UN has become more and more
opaque.
On
March 16, Guterres' Spokesman Stephane
Dujarric in a nearly empty Press Briefing Room
said that from now on he would answer
questions by text message or WhatsApp.
In the days since, he has refused all
questions from Inner City Press, on Cameroon
and Coronavirus.
On
March 19 Guterres first glared at the camera
and then took four questions hand-picked by
Melissa Fleming, video here.
Inner City Press' questions entering via
Periscope were not taken, nor have they been
answered since. Guterres is corrupt.
On
March 18 Dujarric did a "UN noon briefing"
from his apartment on the Upper East Side of
Manhattan. Despite Inner City Press submitting
questions about Cameroon, Iran, China and
Coronavirus COVID-19 by WhatsApp, email and
the Periscope app, Dujarric did not answer any
of them. His sycophants asked how they access
their office. Video here.
Several
disgusted members of the UN Correspondents
Association forwarded to Inner City Press an
e-mail they received and suggested it submit
its questions, about Guterres' and Fleming's
lack of financial disclosure, cover up of UN
rapes and complicity in Cameroon, through the
ways they were invited to. Here's from the
e-mail:
"Dear
colleagues, The spokesperson's office
has provided us with both Stephane and
Farhan's cell number so that correspondents
can send a question via WhatsApp or text
before noon. Stephane Dujarric: +1 917
622 7652
Farhan Haq: +1
917 592 4591 In addition, we are passing
on an update from MALU that there will be NO
signing in of guests at UNHQ and the
accreditation office will not be issuing any
temporary passes until further notice. Valeria
Robecco President, United Nations
Correspondents Association."
Since
the March 18 home video, in which Dujarric
tried to distance himself from his censorship
by saying the questions he could see were
being reviewed by "Florencia" - that is, Florencia Soto
Nino-Martinez - UNCA sources
have sent Inner City Press
for publication to those who
have questions from the UN
her work contact: +1 917 226
7816. But will today's UN
answer any but its paid
friends' questions?
There were no
answers, despite following the procedures
detailed above. Inner City Press and the Free UN
Coalition for Access, FUNCA, will have more on
this.
March
16, 2020
UN
Guterres Lies
With
Correspondents
After Withheld
That UNnamed
Philippines
Dip Has COVID
19
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UN GATE, March
14 – How
corrupt and irresponsible
is the UN
of Antonio Guterres, enabled by
his in-house
sychophant
correspondents?
Well, while
Guterres
roughs up and
bans the Press
which asks
about
Coronavirus
and his
complicity,
with Cameroon,
an unnamed
diplomat from the
Philippines came
down with COVID-19.
On
March 13 it
emerged that
when the UN
had this
information it
only sent it
to its less
than 100 "active"
resident
correspondents,
members of the UN
Correspondents
Association on
which Chinese
state media Xinhua
has an ongoing
veto-weilding
seat. Aren't
organizations
supposed to
tell all those
who are in jeopardy?
Today's
UN and
UNCA are
irresponsible,
and a menace.
Now
on March 14
this from UNCA a/k/a
the UN
Censorship
Alliance:
"Dear
colleagues,
As we all
continue to
monitor the
situation
regarding
COVID-19 at UN
Headquarters,
the UNCA
Executive
Committee
would like to
take the
opportunity to
advise all
colleagues to
take the
necessary
precautionary
measures
detailed by
the United
Nations Human
Resources
Portal , New
York State
Department of
Health and the
Centers for
Disease
Control and
Prevention.
In our latest
update with
the
Spokesperson's
Office and
MALU we have
been informed
that UN
Headquarters
will remain
OPEN in the
next days for
essential
staff and all
UN accredited
media until
further
notice. The
daily noon
briefing will
take place at
its regular
time in the
press briefing
room. In
addition,
should you
need to alert
us of any
recent cases
or situation
on your behalf
or your
colleague’s
behalf please
communicate
with the UNCA
office as soon
as possible in
order to
ensure the
safety of the
press corps
and all
colleagues at
the UN.
Thank you for
your
attention.
Valeria
Robecco
President,
United Nations
Correspondents
Association."
Yeah
- tell them so
they had
withhold the
information,
giving it to Xinhua
but not the
independent
Press which actually
watchdogs
the UN. This
symbiosis,
mixed with legal
immunity /
impunity, is
dangerous.
We'll have
more on this.
Inner City
Press has asked,
before the
UN's March 13
noon briefing,
"March 13-1:
On the
Coronavirus
Covid-19,
please
immediately
state the
conditions and
mitigation for
the lay off of
all Delegates
Dining Room
staff which
Inner City
Press reported
yesterday
after being
contacted by
staff
complaining
there is no
mitigation of
economic harm.
Separately,
has SG
Guterres been
tested for
COVID-19?" No
answer at all, nor
to a question
about a
Portuguese
visitor to
Guterres. Watch
this site.
While
the United
Nations preaches
how countries
should
mitigate the
impacts of
their response
to Coronavirus
COVID-19,
at UN Headquarters
under
Secretary
General Antonio
Guterres the
Delegates
Dining Room workers are
being summarily
laid off, with
no mitigation.
Photo here.
Workers
in the UN
Delegates
Dining Room,
outraged at the
callousness of
Guterres who
lives alone in a
four story
mansion on
57th Street
and Sutton Place,
sent banned
Inner City
Press a copy
of their
lay-off
notice.
Guterres had
Inner City
Press roughed
up by his Security -
one of whom
Augustine Pavel recently
jumped off a
building on 45th Street
and
Second Avenue,
Inner City
Press exclusive
here
after no
answers from
UN -
rough up
Inner City
Press after it
interviewed
Cameroon's
Ambassador on
3 July 2018; his
Spokesperson
Stephane
Dujarric and
Melissa
Fleming have
banned Inner
City Press since,
without no
explanation or
right to
appeal. These
people are
corrupt
hypocrites - and increasingly,
criminals.
Watch this
site.
On
February 29
Inner City
Press
exclusively published
an
internal
UNESCO email
leaked to it
about the
agency's
contact with the
Coronavirus
COVID-19 and
its cover up.
UN system boss
Antonio Guterres,
typically
pro-China, has
refused banned
Press questions
on it.
This
is Antonio
Guterres' UN.
We will
have more on
that.
March 9,
2020
UN
Guterres and
Vaz Pinto
Mansion
Socialists and
Censors Ignore
Qs on Cameroon
Genocide
UN GATE, March
1 – Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General
who rarely takes questions and even had the
Press which asked him about the mass killings
in Cameroon thrown out of the UN, rolled up in
three large SUV vehicles to the
publicly-funded mansion he usually lives alone
in. Video here,
and YouTube
and Facebook.
This
time, though, at public expense his fellow
"Mansion Socialist" wife Catarina Vaz Pinto
was with him, just as she was in September
2019 in expensive seats at the US Open tennis
tournament as Guterres - and she? - censored
the Press.
Catarina Vaz Pinto is no longer only Lisbon's
Minister of Culture - she is now, somewhat
absurdly, the "Minister of International
Relations" of the city. In that role she was
in Madrid, at an event making light of the
spread of Coronavirus which Guterres'
pro-China (Chinese bribed) positions are
helping spread, while UN Spokesperson Stephan
Dujarric and Melissa Fleming refuse all Inner
City Press question. All of these people live
fancy lives on the public dime while censoring
the Press which ask about Cameroon, and
Burundi, and Honduras, and The Bronx. They are
Mansion Socialists and it appears that
Catarina Vaz Pinto is form of Marie
Antoinette.
She has
long roots in colonialism, coming from a
Portuguese family that helped the military up
until Portuguese colonial rule over Goa ended.
So, like Guterres on issues like Cameroon, a
Colonial Socialist too. And a censor?
The First Lady of Faux Socialism has now
directly heard of the censorship, and
Cameroon. Video
here.
These
coming days are the test. Watch
this site.
Days before,
Guterres took three softball questions and an
honorary doctorate at The New School outside
of UN in New York City on February 27. Inner
City Press, banned by the UN and disturbingly
by The New School, was outside. Video on YouTube,
and Twitter,
Periscope IIIIII
On
February 29, Inner City Press pursued the
issue of Guterres' covering up of the Cameroon
genocide, Chinese UN bribes and coronvirus,
putting the issues directly to him, Catarina
Vaz Pinto and for now unidentified entourage
members as they rushed into the publicly
funded mansion on 57 Street and Sutton Place,
video here.
If
Guterres is so corrupt he bans Press questions
from the UN, for 606 days, then he will continue
to face them everywhere else. The question for
now, soon to be answered -- will Inner City
Press be allowed back in to ask questions? -- is
whether Catarina Vaz Pinto is the new Marie
Antoinette. Watch this site.
March
2, 2020
As UN
Guterres
Q&A At The
New School
Inner City
Press Banned
As UN Spreads
Its Corruption
SDNY / UN
GATE, Feb 27 – Antonio Guterres, the UN
Secretary General who rarely takes questions
and even had the Press which asked him about
the mass killings in Cameroon thrown out of
the UN, took three softball questions and an
honorary doctorate at The New School outside
of UN in New York City on February 27. Inner
City Press, banned by the UN and disturbingly
by The New School, was outside. Video on YouTube,
and Twitter,
Periscope IIIIII
Inside the venue on West 12th Street were
censoring "spokesman" Stephane Dujarric, and
longtime UN purse-carrier
Darrin Farrant. Guterres brought his in-house
questions Juju Chang who hogged the time so
that only three lame questions were taken.
This while Guterres covers up genocide in
Cameroon and elsewhere, and UN rapes.
Complicit in censorship are New School
President David Van Zandt , communicator
David Koeppel, and other bigwigs still to be
named. Which of them will first speak out,
about this corruption by the UN of The New
School, which claims "Founded in 1919, The New
School was born out of principles of academic
freedom, tolerance, and experimentation.
Committed to social engagement, The New School
today remains in the vanguard of innovation in
higher education." Really?
The New School announced the event, and said
"Press inquiries for this event should be sent
to communications [at] newschool.edu." Inner
City Press, which daily covers
the U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of New York and biweekly the
International Monetary Fund (IMF),
as well as the UN
as whistleblowers
send it evidence of mounting corruption,
sexual harrassment and retaliation under
Guterres, wrote to the address.
And waited.
For eight hours. After writing to these
specifics individuals, the whole staff:
Amy Malsin, Senior Director
x3990
Will Wilbur, Public Relations
Manager x3990 Merrie Snead,
Manager, Communications and Community
Relations x4684
Re: RSVP for
Feb 27 event, please confirm, thanks To:
malsina@newschool.edu, wilburw@newschool.edu,
sneadm@newschool.edu Hi -
resending to the Communications staff listed
on New School website (having just covered
Federal court hearing about Sarah Lawrence
College, here
and here)
- still awaiting New School's response: Hi -
this is a RSVP to attend and cover the Feb 27
event, here - please confirm, thanks, -Matthew
Nothing.
It appears that the state media that Guterres
favors in the UN - including Xinhua, an arm of
the Chinese Communist Party, as well as dozens
of retirees in the UN "press corpse" - can
attend at will, as part of Guterres'
entourage.
But
isn't The New School part of the United
States, covered by the First Amendment?
Would
The New School do this for a Q&A
appearance by, for example, Saudi Crown Prince
MBS? Or do they just assume, contrary to the
facts, that the UN would never single out
critical media and get them, contrary to all
academic freedom principles, to partner in
Guterres' censorship? Watch this site.
The notice:
Thursday, February 27, 2020, 6:30PM to 7:45PM
(EST) An Evening with António
Guterres, United Nations
Secretary-General The Auditorium, A106,
Alvin Johnson/J.M. Kaplan Hall The New School
will award an honorary doctorate to United
Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and
host a keynote lecture by the
Secretary-General on women and power. This
occasion marks the Secretary-General’s first
major address on this important global
topic. This special
event is only open to New School students,
faculty and staff. Registration with an
@newschool.edu email is
required.
Doors will open
at 6:00 p.m. Press inquiries for
this event should be sent to communications [at]
newschool.edu.
February
24, 2020
UN
Refuses Press
Qs on
Coronavirus
But Inner City
Press Here
Publishes UN
Pro- China
Spin
UN GATE, Feb
22 – The United Nations has assiduously
avoided answering Press questions about its
response to Coronavirus.
Publicly UN
Secretary General Antonio Guterres and his
officials have lavished praise on China for
its response, without answering on the
disappearance of a journalist who exposed them
on it.
Now that the
tech giants the UN has turned itself over to,
as it has to China,
have canceled
the Mobile World Congress 2020 even though it
was to be in Barcelona, the question is more
Pressing: what precautions has the UN taken
given the travel to and from it, on
unaccountable diplomatic passports, of
diplomats and others from the epicenter of the
virus? Inner City Press has asked each day for
a week - no answer at all, now as Guterres
takes public money and UN Security to lounge
around his real home in Lisbon.
But
banned Inner City Press has obtained the below
UN spin of Coronavirus including praise of
China's "vigorous" approach which has included
Guterres-like censorship and welding people in
their homes to die: "From: Ole Emmrich
Cc: Martha Helena Lopez ; Michael
Rosetz Esther Tan Subject: Message
from the CEB HR Network l Important Message
for All UN Personnel on the Novel Coronavirus
Outbreak
Dear HR
Network Colleagues, A cluster of cases
of pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus
(2019-nCoV) was recently detected in Wuhan
City, Hubei Province of China.
Additional cases have since been identified in
China’s cities outside of Wuhan as well as
other countries outside of
China.
The UN’s
Department of Health Management and
Occupational Safety and Health (DHMOSH) is
closely monitoring this evolving situation and
have determined that the risk to UN operations
is low at this time. This risk rating is
based on current spread vs locations of UN
personnel, and the vigorous containment
efforts currently being applied by Chinese
authorities. Nevertheless, this is an
evolving and dynamic situation which will be
vigorously monitored. In the meantime,
DHMOSH has prepared the following message and
resources for all UN personnel. Please
feel free to broadcast the below to your staff
as needed.
Dr.
Esther Tan Senior Medical
Officer Division of Healthcare
Management And Occupational Safety and
Health/ Office of Support
Operations
Message for all UN personnel on the Novel
Coronavirus Outbreak:
The UN’s Department of Health Management and
Occupational Safety and Health (DHMOSH) is
closely monitoring the outbreak of novel
coronavirus (2019-nCoV) first detected in
Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China on 31
December. Additional cases have since
been identified in China’s cities outside of
Wuhan as well as other countries outside of
China.
The Division of
Healthcare Management and Occupational Safety
and Health (DHMOSH) recommends the following
key preventive measures for all UN personnel
against 2019-nCoV. 1. Take steps to
prevent illness with respiratory
pathogens:
·
Avoid close contact with people suffering from
acute respiratory infections such as with
fever, cough and difficulty breathing.
·
Perform frequent hand-washing, especially
after direct contact with ill people or their
environment.
·
Individuals with symptoms of acute respiratory
infection should practice respiratory
hygiene/cough etiquette including:
o Maintain your distance
from others; o Cover
your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue
when coughing or sneezing;
o Use the nearest waste
receptacle to dispose of the tissue after
use; o Perform hand
hygiene (e.g., hand washing with
non-antimicrobial soap and water,
alcohol-based hand rub, or antiseptic
handwash) after having contact with
respiratory secretions and contaminated
objects/materials;
·
Avoid close contact and unprotected with live
or dead farm or wild animals;
·
When visiting live markets in areas currently
experiencing cases of novel coronavirus, avoid
direct unprotected contact with live animals
and surfaces in contact with animals;
·
The consumption of raw or undercooked animal
products should be avoided. Raw meat, milk or
animal organs should be handled with care, to
avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods,
as per good food safety practices;
·
Preliminary information suggests that older
adults and people with underlying health
conditions may be at increased risk for severe
disease from this virus. 2. Pay
attention to your health during your travel to
outbreak locations and after you leave.
·
Seek medical care immediately if you begin to
develop fever or respiratory symptoms such as
shortness of breath or cough. Remember
to share your previous travel history with
your health care provider.
·
You should make every effort to inform the
medical clinic by telephone about your
condition prior to presenting in person
there. 3. Keep up to date with
local health advice before and during your
travel For all travelers, while WHO
advises against the application of any travel
or trade restrictions on countries with nCoV,
please be aware that local authorities may
begin to implement travel restrictions and
health screening measures for travelers
entering or exiting the country. All UN
personnel should check with the destination
countries’ embassy, consulate or Ministry of
Health and keep up to date with local health
advice before and during your travel. You
should also comply with any screening measures
put in place by local authorities.
Similar messages have been posted on the DSS
TRIP system for individuals seeking travel
clearance into China."
Previously the
UN refused to answer then in-house Inner City
Press about its response to New York City's
Legionnaires disease. The UN did not even take
the precautions taken by apartment buildings
in The Bronx. But in that case, the UN even
with its standing water in its traffic circle
foundation was no more risky that any other
NYC building.
Not so with
Coronavirus, given the travel in and out of
the UN, precisely the risk that led largely
liberal tech titans to cancel MWC2020. There
is also the question of the tourists coming on
busses and charged $20 to enter, which
investigative Inner City Press is banned from
an any price. The UN is silent and
unaccountable. Perhaps this time they will be
held to account - the question has begun to be
asked, starting here.
Here prior to
that are questions that Inner City Press,
roughed up by the UN Security Antonio Guterres
and and banned for 593 days says, has put in
writing to Guterres, his spokespeople Stephane
Dujarric, Farhan Haq and now Eri Kaneko, and
global communications chief Melissa Fleming,
without any answer at all despite formal
and on
camera promises to answer:
January
29-1: On Coronavirus, are UN interns and
contractors in Wuhan and elsewhere in China
covered by any UN health insurance?
February
11-2: On China, what are SG Guterres
comments and action if any on the video of
Chinese authorities welding people into their
homes to die of coronavirus?
February
11-10: On press freedom and China what
are the comments and actions if any of SG
Guterres and separately USG Melissa Fleming on
the disappearance of journalist Chen
Qiushi, a freelance video journalist, traveled
to the city of Wuhan in Hubei province from
Beijing on January 24 and began filming and
reporting on the health crisis in the city? On
February 6, he told his family that he planned
to report on a temporary hospital, and has not
been seen since..
February
14-4: On coronavirus and UN Peacekeeping
what are the comments and actions if any of SG
Guterres and USG Lacroix, including any impact
on deployment of peacekeepers from China and
elsewhere, on that coronavirus is spreading
among members of the Chinese military and
armed police, with thousands placed under
quarantine to prevent further contagion,
according to the Hong Kong-based ICHRD?
Ten soldiers within the People’s Liberation
Army (PLA) and 15 armed police officers have
tested positive for COVID-19 in Hubei
Province, according to the ICHRD, which added
that 1,500 soldiers and 1,000 armed police are
under quarantine.
No answers at
all. The UN of Antonio Guterres is
irresponsible, and now dangerous. It should be
held to account. Watch this site.
February
17, 2020
On
Myanmar Pro UN
Groups Oppose
Internet Cut
Like One
Guterres in
Cameroon
Complicit With
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UN GATE, Feb
13 – The UN's own report on its systemic
failure in protecting civilians in Myanmar, as
in Cameroon, typically stopped short of naming
who was in charge and who is responsible:
Antonio Guterres, Secretary General since
January 2017. Then Guterres' head of
communications pimped out refugees by publishing
personal identifying information, while
banning the Press from covering the September
2019 UNGA week.
Now
from a group of NGOs, some of them sincere,
mostly the local groups, some of them mostly
seeking access at the UN and silent on
Guterres' censorship, this: "On February 3,
the Government of Myanmar ordered the
reinstatement of internet restrictions in
Rakhine and Chin states. On June 21,
2019, the government first imposed
restrictions on mobile internet communications
in nine townships: Buthidaung, Kyauktaw,
Maungdaw, Minbya, Mrauk-U, Myebo, Ponnangyun,
and Rathedaun townships in Rakhine State and
Paletwa Township in Chin State. On September
1, the government lifted restrictions in
Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Myebon, Paletwa, and
Rathedaung townships. On February 3, the
government ordered the reinstatement of the
restrictions in those five townships. In the
joint statement published today,
organizations—including Human Rights Watch,
Article 19, CIVICUS: World Alliance for
Citizen Participation, FIDH - International
Federation for Human Rights and Amnesty
International -
called on the Myanmar government to “restore
internet access” and “repeal Section 77 of the
Telecommunications Law.” The
Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA) have
engaged in armed conflict in Rakhine State
since 2015 On February 3, the AA
published a statement online declaring that it
would release evidence of mass graves of
Muslims killed and buried by Myanmar armed
forces in Rakhine State. The same day, the
government cut internet access" - and a few
more, led by a total fraud. That Myanmar
abuses Rohingya, we agree. That the UN has any
credibility calling for due process when it
ousts and bans the Press without a single
hearing or right to appeal, while itself
pimping out refugees, is truly disgusting.
Meanwhile on Cameroon, where Paul Biya cut the
Internet then gave Guterres a golden statue
and UN Budget Committee favors as chair in
exchange for Guterres' silence, some of these
groups let Guterres and the UN off the hook,
focus on the underdogs' fight back and even
block on the Internet those who question that
(that would be
Human Rights Watch).
On
Myanmar Inner City Press reported how Guterres
rejected warning from his own senior staff
about the impending slaughter, so caught up in
outmoded infatuation with Aung San Suu
Kyi. Inner City Press was in mid 2018
roughed up by Guterres' Security and banned
from the UN since, 590 days and counting. Its
written questions on Myanmar have been ignored
by Guterres and his spokespeople, now
including Melissa Fleming, even while still
spokesperson for UNHCR. It is shameful. Inner
City Press applied to all of them to cover the
September 2019 UNGA week, which it covered for
a decade. Then on Friday August 30, her
MALU
issued a
one-line
denial of
access:
"Greetings
Matthew Lee
from Inner
City
Press,
Your media
accreditation
request, with
reference no:
M5413398, has
been declined
for the
following
reason: Media
accreditation
was withdrawn
on 17 August
2018."
Inner
City Press asked Guterres, and this directly
to Melissa Fleming on August 21: "On the
repatriation of Rohingya from Bangladesh to
Myanmar set to start on August 22, what is the
UN system's role? Why is it going forward with
a system that will give returnees non citizen,
"Bengali" ID cards? National Verification
Cards (NVCs), which do not confer rights nor
citizenship and, through an NVC application
process, effectively identify Rohingya as
“Bengali” or more generally as “foreigners.”
What has been the UN system's, specifically
UNHCR's, role in this in the past? the
governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar and the
U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for
Refugees forcibly repatriated an estimated
250,000 Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to
northern Rakhine State, and Myanmar began
issuing Temporary Resident Cards (“White
Cards”) to Rohingya, which, like NVCs, did not
confer rights. What did Guterres do on
this while at UNHCR?"
Still, no
answer at all from Fleming, even as she
virtue-signal tweets. We will not relent.
February
10, 2020
In
Cameroon Biya
Army Makes
Election A
Joke While
Guterres
Covers Up At
AU Silent on
Rapes
UN GATE, Feb 8
–
Cameroon's 38
year ruler Paul
Biya, propped up
by France and
now for three
years by
corrupt UN Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres who
cut a deal
with Biya for his
support as
chair of the
UN Budget
Committee, on
New Years Eve
made threats
to kill more
people.
And now
those threats
are making a
mockery of
his so-called
municipal and
legislative elections as
Biya's army has
stepped
up its
raids on
villages in
the Anglophone
North
West and South
West regions. In
Teze, Ngie
subdivision,
Momo division,
for example
many
inhabitants
have fled
their homes.
How to vote?
Guterres,
meanwhile, is
pontificating
at the AU,
without a word in his
speech or
"press
conference"
about
Cameroon. He
is corrupt.
And no
answers by his
spokespeople
Stephane Dujarric
and Melissa
Fleming, who continue
Guterres'
ghoulish ban
on Inner City
Press even
entering the
UN to ask
questions.
They
have refused
Inner City Press'
daily written
questions on
Cameroon, but
see Inner City
Press February
4 radio Q&A
here,
about Cameroon
from Minute 32. It
also covers
Guterres' Gulbenkian
/ Partex oil links
he bans Press
for.
February
3, 2020
UN
Guterres Set
To Reward
Shiotani Who
Gave UNSC Site
To Husband
With UNSC Post
UN GATE, Jan
29 – UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres
claims he has
a zero
tolerance
policy on
sexual
harassment,
but continues
to reward UN
officials who
are charged
with
harassment.
Inner City
Press
previously reported
on Guterres
promoting his
official
Fabrizio
Hochschild
Drummond of
Chile, after
sexual
harassment in
his own 38th
floor office,
to "Special
Adviser of the
Secretary-General
on the
Preparations
for the
Commemoration
of the United
Nations’ 75th
Anniversary."
Today on
January 29
Inner City
Press, now banned
from the UN by
Guterres for
575 days,
exclusively
reports on
another reward
being doled
out, and
scandal
blunglingly
covered
up, in
Guterres'
world of
double-speak,
harassment and
hypocrisy.
On January 30
scandal
plagued Kyoko
"Kiki"
Shiotani will
take over the
UN Security
Council
Affairs
Division's
Security
Council
Practices and
Charter
Research
Branch - after
Inner City
Press outed
her as
Rosemary
DiCarlo's
chief of staff
getting her
husband given,
for money, the
Security
Councils
website.
After Inner
City Press
exposed this
scandal it was
told if it
backed off,
Guterres
would. It
didn't, and
soon Inner
City Press was
roughed
up and
thrown out and
banned.
Guterres is
corrupt.
Inner City
Press is now
informed that
The post has
been held for
months since
the departure
of Yvette
Blanco in May
2019, after a
Yvette has
been bullied
and forced out
by Hasmik. The
latter has
kept the post
for her friend
Kiki whom
DiCarlo did
not want in
her office due
to her
corruption.
Basically,
Hasmik gave
the post to
her friend who
was a D2 (I
believe), now
she took a D1
- the same
person whose
husband was
given a P5.
This
is the corrupt
UN of Guterres
and Rosemary
DiCarlo,
complicit in
Guterres'
roughing up
and banning of
Inner City
Press. UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric and
Melissa
Fleming refuse
to answer any
questions,
like
propagandists
in any
dictatorship.
January
27, 2020
Guterres
Used Angola
dos Santos
Family Funds
To Be UNSG Now
No Luanda
Leaks Answers
UN GATE / SDNY
COURT, Jan 21 – When Antonio Guterres wanted
to get the position of UN Secretary General in
2006, he needed money and political support.
He found it in long time Angola dictator and
kleptocrat Jose Eduardo dos Santos.
Now Guterres refuses to answer Press questions
about the Luanda Leaks scandal, and about his
close Angolan staffer Aguinaldo Baptista's
online support for Isabel
dos Santos. Guterres had roughed up and
has banned
for 567 days and counting Inner City Press
which asks the questions.
Guterres'
spokesman Stephane Dujarric, who played and
plays his role in the banning, said on camera
he would answer Inner City Press' questions,
video here.
But so
far, now answer to this one: "January 20-1: On
corruption and Angola, what are the comments
and actions if any of SG Guterres on the
Luanda Leaks exposure of Isabel dos Santos of
Angola, and as Inner City Press has repeatedly
asked, what are his comments and action on the
repeated retweeting of Isabel dos Santos'
denials by his close staffer Aguinaldo
Baptista? After, for example, exposure of the
corrupt urban development project near Luanda
for which some 3,000 families were driven from
their homes to make way for the development?"
On
January 21 it is added
from Mauritius that the "spoils of the Dos
Santos clan", is according to the ICIJ survey
distributed among 400 companies in 41
countries around the world . Almost 100 of
these companies are in controversial
jurisdictions such as Mauritius, Malta, Hong
Kong, the Netherlands, the British
Virgin Islands and Dubai"
- which also hosted Amr Abdul Aziz's money
laundering for OneCoin,
on which Dujarric has also refused to answer.
We'll have more on this.
On
March 17, 2016 Angolan state media reported
that "José Eduardo dos Santos Thursday in
Luanda was informed on the process of
candidacy of António Manuel de Oliveira
Guterres to the post of the UNSG. Antonio
Guterres, who served as Portuguese prime
minister, said he presented a program of his
candidacy for the world body’s top
position. 'It is very important for me
to have Angola at the very beginning of this
candidacy, as I am an old friend and
admirer."
Dos Santos, flush with oil money, controlled
more embassies and strings throughout Africa
than did Guterres' Portugal. Guterres'
son Pedro Guimarães e Melo De Oliveira
Guterres' untold business
links in Lusophone countries include
Angola.
Guterres' oil connections were not limited to
Angola: he was getting paid by Lisbon based
Gulbenkian Foundation which in terms was
turned by oil company Partex, with business in
Angola, that UN
briber CEFC China Energy in turn tried
to buy.
Inner City Press asked about this, and was roughed
up by Guterres' UN Security and banned
from entering the UN. Guterres' designated
censor Melissa Fleming has continued this ban,
with no appeals process. His spokesman
Stephane Dujarric said
he would answer written question from banned
Inner City Press.
No answers
at all, and those whom Guterres, Melissa Fleming
and Dujarric allowed into their noon press
briefing on January 20 did not ask about
#LuandaLeaks, or anything in Africa. It's
Guterres' big scam. And it must be ended. Watch
this site.
January
20, 2020
UN
Guterres In
Closed Meeting
Lied About His
Retaliation
and Bogus
Reforms So
Audio Here
UN GATE / SDNY
COURT, Jan 14 – How corrupt is UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres?
Well, when he
held a closed door meeting with UN staff in
Geneva last months, he lied about his
commitment against retaliating - while
retaliating, against staff and the Press - and
claimed that he was unaware or unconcerned
about changes he had imposed.
Inner City Press, though banned from the UN
now 560 days by Guterres, has repeatedly in
writing provided Guterres through his
spokesman Stephane Dujarric and Melissa
Fleming an opportunity to explain his remarks.
But despite
Dujarric on camera and Fleming's Department
written promises to answer such questions, no
answers at all.
So now
Inner City Press has published the audio, here.
Tweeted here.
January
13, 2020
UN
Strips Vote of
Lebanon and
Yemen While
Stonewalling
on Gambia and
Corruption of
Guterres
UN
GATE / SDNY COURT, Jan 10 – In the United
Nations, already an undemocratic autocracy under
Secretary General Antonio Guterres, embattled
countries are being official stripped of their
votes in the General Assembly, including Lebanon
and Yemen and the Central African Republic,
where UN peacekeepers have raped children and
had it covered up by Guterres.
Others facing lose of vote are Venezuela,
Lesotho, Tonga and Gambia, on whose opening of a
"Morocco" consulate in Western Sahara Guterres'
spokes / hatchetman Stephane Dujarric on January
10 promised an off-camera answer to France 24
while refusing each and every written question
from Inner City Press, banned from the UN by
Guterres now 556 days and counting for reporting
on his corruption. Given a
bye, for now, and allowed to keep voting without
paying are Comoros, Somalia and Sao Tome and
Principe, where Guterres' son Pedro does
undisclosed business presumptively trading off
the name of his father and of the
UN. In Somalia, Guterres threw
his own representative under the bus, telling UN
staff that asking it is impolite to ask human
rights questions, in a closed door meeting
exclusively reported by banned Inner City Press
with leaked audio. Really, to
avoid being complicit more countries should stop
paying the UN until these abuses and censorship
are ended. We'll have more, much more, on this.
January
6, 2020
UN
Security
Council Admits
Estonia
Tunisia
Vietnam St
Vincent and
Niger While
Guterres
Censors
UN GATE / SDNY
COURT, Jan 2 – In the sideshow of the UN
and its Security Council, from which UNSG
Antonio Guterres has banned the investigative
Press for 548 days, five new non-permanent
members entered in a January 2 ceremony. Each
spoke, but no questions were taken. And Inner
City Press has many questions.
New
member Vietnam is president for January, but
its program of work has nothing for example
about the slaughter in Cameroon; it has
Colombia on January 13 but nothing on
Honduras, recently exposed as a narco-state in
a trial in the U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York which Inner City
Press now covers as well as the UN, from the
UN Gate.
There
are no fewer than four meetings on Syria, but
Libya where Turkey has voted to send forces
and where the UN has been exposed as helping
militias is put off until the 29th. Yemen is
on the 16th, West Africa (pro strongman SRSG
Chambas) on the 8th and, interestingly, a
debate on ASEAN on the 23rd. We'll have more
on this.
And the
UN of SG Antonio Guterres, wasting public
money for example on Guterres' now three week
junket away from New York, didn't even manage
to update to Security Council's website at the
turn of the year. At 7 pm on January 1, the UN
web site still listed as current members:
"Côte d’Ivoire , Equatorial Guinea, Kuwait
(2019) Peru (2019) Poland (2019)." Photo here.
Even
Wikipedia had, nineteen hours before, added
Estonia, Eastern European Group, Niger,
African Group, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Latin American and Caribbean Group
(GRULAC), Tunisia, African Group and
Vietnam." As Inner City Press reported,
Guterres gave the UNSC website to the
photographer husbands of USG DiCarlo's chief
of staff, here.
Inner City
Press, which covered in person these five's
performance from January through June of 2018
before being roughed up and
banned by UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres with no reaction by the five, despite
claims of commitment to press freedom and even
UN transparency, has continued to cover them.
Kuwait, for example, which has gotten its KUNA
to inflate its performance, phoned
it in on African issues including
praising Paul Biya, dictator of Cameroon.
Its Permanent Representative, a pleasure
enough man, when Inner City Press standing at
the Delegates Entrance raised the issue of its
expulsion and ban by Guterres, replied that if
the UN Correspondents Association with state
media like Xinhua on its Executive Committee
was colluding with Guterres there was nothing
to be done. One, this is weak for a member
state. Two, it confirms how disgusting the UN
has become under Guterres.
So what were the
achievements, again? We'll continue to cover
this and the UNSC, even while the censor
Guterres and his Melissa Fleming maintain their
ban on the Press. Viet Nam takes over January 1,
2020. December
30,
2019
The UN
Is Being
Killed By
Guterres And
His Team As
From Cameroon
To China
Rosewood Flows
UN GATE, Dec
28 – The lobby of the United Nations still had
the veneer of futurist cool, but upstairs it
has all gone rotten. It was to the penultimate
story that lobbyist Daniel Lang was headed
that day, not to meet the top man Fat Tony
Guterres but his African fig-leaf deputy Amina
J. Mohammed.
The two were equally corrupt, she having
signed and backdated thousands of export
certificates for endangered rosewood from
Cameroon already shipped to China for the
over-classes bed frames and other furniture.
But it was this Cameroonian connection that
Lang hoped to play on today.
Amina Mohammed's factotum Nelson Muffuh, who
had worked for her at the Nigerian Ministry
for the Environment and Sustainable
Development as well, approached lobbyist Lang
in the lobby.
"Ah, Daniel,"
Muffuh said in the faux French style
for which the UN has known. "I trust you got
through security alright?"
In fact Daniel has seen a man with a big
backpack being taken out of the line in front
of him, loudly demanding why he as journalist
was being barred and calling Guterres corrupt
as he was ushered back out only First Avenue.
"It was alright," Lang answered, eager to get
up to the 38th floor and make his pitch to
Mohammed before the interns started drinking
in the UN Delegates Lounge at 5 pm. He had set
this meeting for late afternoon for just that
reason.
"Follow me," Muffuh said, leading Lang deeper
into the UN General Assembly lobby, past a
series of panels claiming how the UN had tried
to stop the Rwanda genocide, to a turnstile
facing a bank of elevators.
"He's with me, Ronald," Muffuh told the
security guard by the turnstile, who pushed a
button and let them through. "He represents
Cameroon."
The security guard nodded and, it seemed to
Lang, smirked. What was so strange, a French
white man lobbying for Cameroon? At least the
country was no longer an explicit colony.
Up on the 38th floor there was more guards, in
front of a big window looking out over the
East River at Brooklyn and Queens and behind
them, Long Island all the way to the Hamptons.
"Amina's
waiting for you in her office," Muffuh said,
heading down a hallway that smelled of the
cigars that UN staffers smoked in the
stairwell one firedoor away.
There were in her corner office she was, Amina
J. Mohammed in her ubiquitous flowing robe and
head scarf, a politically correct exporter of
stolen rosewood. Lang aimed to use her guilty
knowledge to get her and Guterres' support for
another Chinese project in Cameroon, this time
in the Anglophone Zone. It should not be
difficult.
UN
GATE, Dec 19 -- Stephane Dujarric,
the lead spokesman of UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres, and
now Guterres'
Global
Communicator
Melissa
Fleming have
joined their
boss in
personally
covering up
child rapes
and sexual
abuse by UN
personnel,
including
recently a
child rape by
a UN
"peacekeeper"
from Paul
Biya's
Cameroon in DR
Congo.
Even while
they and OIOS
Ben Swanson
purport to
care - and
even answer
questions - on
the UN's cover
up for
Burundian and
Gabon rapes in
CAR in 2017,
they have
adopted
corrupt
Guterres'
solution going
forward: cover
up the cases
in advance.
Rough up and
ban the Press
which asks,
leave inside
only insiders
who ask why
they can't use
the UN
escalator
instead of
walking one or
two flights of
stairs, and
refuse to
answer written
questions.
Their UN is
dying - and
taking young
victims with
it.
Past
3 pm on
December 19
the UN data
dumped a new
case of rape,
by a UN
"Volunteer"
whose
nationality
has yet to be
disclosed -
Inner City
Press has
asked - in the
DR Congo in
June 2019.
Inner City
Press
immediately
wrote to
Guterres,
Fleming, the
spokesmen, DSG
Amina J.
Mohammed and
others for the
if-asked
information.
Or will the
cover up
continue, as
to UN rapes?
Guterres is
turning the UN
into a
criminal
conspiracy.
A
similar
request was
sent, without
response yet
but their
knowledge
confirmed as a
matter of law,
on more than
11 previous
cases - enough
to make out a
criminal
conspiracy
pattern to
among others:
ag [at]
un.org,
dujarric [at]
un.org, haqf
[at]
un.org,
David Kaye,
amina.mohammed
[at] un.org,
marialuiza.viotti
[at] un.org,
jiang1 [at]
un.org,
melissa.fleming
[at] un.org,
gilles.michaud
[at] un.org,
pozenel [at]
un.org, zoe.paxton
[at] un.org, peter.reid
[at] un.org -
the
communicator
brought in
from McKinsey
with public
money while
Guterres said
he had no
money (this
was prior to
taking $50,000
in presumpively
El Chapo's
money from
Honduras
government of
Juan Orlando
Hernandez, UNanswered.)
No
answers,
despite
Dujarric's
previous on
camera
commitment /
lie about
answering
Inner City
Press'
questions.
Video here.
December
16, 2019
In
Corrupt UN of
Guterres UNSC
Post Set Aside
for Nils
Schmieder
After Viotti
Gave Filho GB
UN GATE, Dec
13 – The UN has been so corrupted and
dominated under UNSG Antonio Guterres that his
chief of staff Luiza Viotti has been allowed
to pick an over the hill Brazilian and give
him Guinea Bissau. The corruption reaches in
the the Security Council Affairs Division, as
Inner City Press showed by exposing Rosemary
DiCarlo's chief of staff's photographer
husband getting the contract for the Council's
website, before Guterres had Inner City Press
banned.
Now on
13 December 2019 from banned Inner City Press
this exclusive, on the corruption in
recruitment about the chef de cabinet Viotti’s
friend. She recruited her friend José Viegas
Filho from Brazil as SRSG Guinea-Bissau. He is
not anymore there, but according to multiple
locals he had dementia and could not engage
with anyone. In Bissau during a meeting with
international community, he didn’t know why he
was there and they took him out and the Deputy
SRSG proceeded with the meeting.
Whistleblowers tell banned Inner City Press he
was there because CdC Viotti was doing him a
favor to flee corruption charges from Brazil,
and because he was not well mentally, his wife
took charge of his functions and attended
meetings with him. In a meeting with the
President of Guinea Bissau, it was clear that
he was not well mentally. A EU representative
asked if it was true that the SRSG was not
mentally well. But the representative said
that they learned that he would be leaving the
mission. This is a horrible story of how
corrupt is Guterres' cabinet.
SCAD -- the Security Council Affairs Division
-- is also corrupt in recruitment, as Inner
City Press previously showed regarding the
website. They posted a P4 position and other
male staff knew they would take German Nils Schmieder
who
has been there only for a few months and
bypass so many experienced colleagues. He was
picked up from the roster few days after
posting the post which was advised for a month
and the EO questioned the procedures, when
they received the memo but they are still
going with the recruitment
The name of
the person being recruited is Nils Schmieder.
Inner City Press will have more on this.
On December 8,
in a new low in hypocrisy, Guterres
robo-tweeted: "People are right to be angry
about corruption. It diverts much needed
resources from schools, hospitals and
infrastructure. Anti-Corruption Day
highlights the need for us to unite to stop
illicit financial flows draining these funds."
But he is a
fraud, and a censor. December
9, 2019
UN Spox
Dujarric
Covers Up UN
Rapes and
Cameroon As UN
Correspondents
Association
Sells SG
UN GATE / WALL
ST, Dec 6 – The UN has been so corrupted
and dominated by China under UNSG Antonio
Guterres that now its ostensible journalist
award is controlled with Chinese state media.
On November 22 Chinese state media "won" the
third vice presidency of UNCA, albeit with
only 40 votes of only 143 ballots supposedly
representing journalists worldwide. The United
Nations Correspondents Association is totally
corrupt. Results here:
state media in. Low turn out for a dwindling
membership. Yet Guterres uses his scribes to
continue censorship.
On
December 6 Inner City Press now banned from
the UN 521 days and counting went after
reporting on the SDNY court all day down to
Wall Street. There Stephane Dujarric, the
spokesman for Guterres and Ban Ki-moon before
him, sauntered in tuxedo and flowers. Despite
a previous on-camera
promise to answer banned Inner City
Press' questions, he has not, on ranging from
Cameroon to UN child rapes. And on December 6,
asked, he did not. Inner City Press tweeted video
here.
Here @UN_Spokesperson@StephDujarric,
who arranged with SG @AntonioGuterres
to have Inner City Press banned from the UN now 522
days, while false-promising to answer written
questions (which he does not), heads East with
flowers from UN Censorship Alliance shindig pic.twitter.com/idgWsMO7zL
Inner City
Press asked questions outside, of Guterres'
chief of staff Viotta and USG Melissa Flemming
(no answers), Nigerian UN PGA Bande about
Cameroon (no answer), and to UNCA
correspondents (VOA's long time UN bureau
chief responded with her middle finger). Some
were more polite, noted.
An
expensive car was auctioned outside. Inside,
sponsored by a seller of facial sheet masks,
UNCA celebrated state media and Egypt. Inner
City Press has a right to re-enter the UN and
asked questions, just like the retired and
state media Guterres and Fleming allow in. We
will continue on this.
Now
after UNsurprisingly omitting any and all
coverage of China's abuse of Uighurs and Hong
Kong from its bogus awards, the UN Censorship
Alliance will hold a glitzy celebration of
Guterres on Wall Street, no less, on December
6. They are entirely corrupt. No questions on
the new UN rapes, links to fraud and bribes,
nothing.
Another
proof: two of the top six spots are controlled
by Italy, including a Treasurer Giampaolo
Pioli who rented one of his Manhattan
apartments, funded by a scam pasta company, to
a Sri Lankan war criminal. He and Valeria
Robecco quickly told a "publication" with UN
office space, ONUItalia, that UNCA "remains
Italian." The UN Correspondents
Association is totally
corrupt.
With China
having a veto in UNCA, will stories
about CEFC China Energy's proven bribery at the
UN, and bid to buy an oil company linked to
Guterres through the Gulbenkian Foundation, even
get through a first round of review with this
Chinese "journalism" veto? Fat chance.
December
2, 2019
UN
Correspondents
Association
Gave China
Veto Then No
Uighurs or
Hong Kong In
Its Corrupt
Wall Street
Awards
UN GATE, Nov
27 – The UN has been so corrupted and
dominated by China under UNSG Antonio Guterres
that now its ostensible journalist award is
controlled with Chinese state media. On
November 22 Chinese state media "won" the
third vice presidency of UNCA, albeit with
only 40 votes of only 143 ballots supposedly
representing journalists worldwide. The United
Nations Correspondents Association is totally
corrupt. Results here:
state media in. Low turn out for a dwindling
membership. Yet Guterres uses his scribes to
continue censorship.
Now
after UNsurprisingly omitting any and all
coverage of China's abuse of Uighurs and Hong
Kong from its bogus awards, the UN Censorship
Alliance will hold a glitzy celebration of
Guterres on Wall Street, no less, on December
6. They are entirely corrupt. No questions on
the new UN rapes, links to fraud and bribes,
nothing.
Another
proof: two of the top six spots are controlled
by Italy, including a Treasurer Giampaolo
Pioli who rented one of his Manhattan
apartments, funded by a scam pasta company, to
a Sri Lankan war criminal. He and Valeria
Robecco quickly told a "publication" with UN
office space, ONUItalia, that UNCA "remains
Italian." The UN Correspondents
Association is totally
corrupt.
With China
having a veto in UNCA, will stories
about CEFC China Energy's proven bribery at
the UN, and bid to buy an oil company linked
to Guterres through the Gulbenkian Foundation,
even get through a first round of review with
this Chinese "journalism" veto? Fat chance.
Now on
November 11 from US State Department
spokesperson Morgan Ortagus, this: "The United
States is watching the situation in Hong Kong
with grave concern. We condemn violence
on all sides, extend our sympathies to victims
of violence regardless of their political
inclinations, and call for all parties— police
and protestors— to exercise restraint.
We repeat President Trump's call for a humane
resolution to the protests.
The increased polarization within Hong Kong
society underscores the need for a broad-based
and sincere dialogue between the government,
protestors, and citizenry writ large.
The United States urges the Hong Kong
government to build on its dialogue with the
Hong Kong public and begin efforts to address
the underlying concerns driving the
protests. We also urge the protestors to
respond to efforts at
dialogue. The United States
believes that Hong Kong’s autonomy, its
adherence to the rule of law, and its
commitment to protecting civil liberties are
key to preserving its special status under
U.S. law, as well as to the success of “One
Country, Two Systems” and Hong Kong’s future
stability and prosperity. We urge
Beijing to honor the commitments it made in
the Sino-British Joint Declaration, including
commitments that Hong Kong will “enjoy a high
degree of autonomy” and that the people of
Hong Kong will enjoy human rights the freedoms
of expression and peaceful assembly— core
values that we share with Hong Kong." And the
UN?
Days
after Guterres and his team denied access even
to enter to cover UN General Assembly high
level week to Inner City Press which closely
covers the UN bribery convictions at the SDNY
court, China state media Xinhua shows smiling
UN Correspondent Association officials on a
tour of China without any reference to the
abuse of Uighurs and Hong Kong, much less to
bribery. See here.
The headline is "Members of United Nations
Correspondents Association visit Fujian." The
caption is "Lin Dongmei (1st R), associate
director of National Engineering Research
Center of Juncao Technology, introduces Juncao
plantation to members of the United Nations
Correspondents Association, at Fujian
Agriculture and Forestry University, in
Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian
Province, Sept. 9, 2019. (Xinhua/Lin
Shanchuan)."
The
UNCA officials are past president (and Sri
Lanka war criminal landlord) Giampaolo Pioli,
and his successor Valeria Robecco, along with
another Italian hanger-on who oversaw the
confiscation and attempted destruction of
Inner City Press' live-streaming smart phone
in front of UNCA's corrupt annual fundraising
event. This while Inner City Press,
investigative media, is banned by these thugs
from entering the UN. What of this China tour,
and those who signed off on or didn't complain
about it? We said, "We'll have more on this" -
and now we do.
Inner City
Press has repeatedly asked corrupt Guterres
and team " September 10-2: What are the SG's
and USG Fleming's view of the ethics of UN
Correspondents Association official taking a
paid trip to China at this time, with regard
to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and bribery by China
Energy Fund Committee, which tried to buy the
oil company of Gulbenkian Foundation which has
made payments to the SG? See
here." More than a month, no answer at
all.
But
several disgusted UNCA members have sent this,
an admission, guilty knowledge, arrests and
re-admission of the Press should follow: "The
UNCA Executive Committee has taken a decision
and is notifying its members of the below:
If any member of the UN Correspondents
Association, including members of the Executive
Committee, is invited on a paid trip (travel and
lodging) to represent UNCA, it must be submitted
to the UNCA board for approval. Appearance fees
on behalf of UNCA should be declined as it
compromises the integrity and credibility of the
association. If UNCA members are offered paid
trips or other complementary benefits as
individual journalists, it is up to them and
their news outlets to decide how to
proceed. UNCA OFFICE." Too
little, too late.
November
25, 2019
As UN
Cries Poor
Guterres With
3 Cars Starts
Junket To
Germany and To
Lisbon of Fado
Corrupt
UN
GATE, Nov 23 -- While UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres cries poor
and scales back "official travel,"
he has just made another undisclosed
trip to Lisbon paid for the public,
this time appearing at a concert
there on November 9 for Carlos
do Carmo,
noted in the Portuguese media here.
So
how much did it cost the public,
taking UN Security there? Where did
they stay? Inner City Press asked on
November 11, before the day's UN
noon briefing which it is banned
from entering to attend by corrupt
Guterres, for the now 507th day. No
answers.
Instead
on November 22, from corrupt
Stephane Dujarric, this: "I have a
trip announcement. On Monday,
25 November, the Secretary‑General
will be arriving in Berlin, Germany,
to take part in the 14th UN Internet
Governance Forum, hosted this year
by the Government of Germany." Is
this just another pretext, for
another trip to Lisbon? Dujarric
refuses to answer any Inner City
Press question.
Therefore
on November 23 Inner City Press went
to check out the Sutton Place
mansion in which Big Tony lives on
the public dime. There, fully three
vans were in front. When Inner City
Press started live streaming, one
left and backed into a dead end
around the corner. Finally Guterres
slipped out though his / your back
door, like a common criminal to
avoid questions or legal process and
sped away. Video here.
Guterres is corrupt.
And
did Guterres only agree to go to the
Paris Peace Forum, with sponsor
Gulbenkian which tried to sell its
oil company to UN briber CEFC China
Energy and whose payments to
Guterres have been omitted from his
financial disclosure covering 2016,
as a fig leaf for his Lisbon trip?
Will he meet dictator Paul Biya at
the PPF? Watch this site.
Also,
this high cost hire
for Guterres' propaganda / vanity
shop: "Zoe Paxton, head of media at
the Department for International
Development (DfID) and a rising star
in the Government Communication
Service, is leaving for a top comms
job at the United Nations." This
comes right after his hiring from
McKinsey of Peter Reid for a
position that even Ban Ki-moon left
empty, because wasteful, for a
decade. This is Guterres' hypocrisy.
On October 14 Inner City Press went
to check it out, from gate.
Periscopes I,
II,
III,
IV,
V,
VI,
VII.
On
October 17, even banned from entering
the UN for the 471st day by corrupt
Guterres, Inner City Press can
exclusively report that in the
closed-door October 16 meeting of the
UN Staff Union and Controller
Chandramouli Ramanathan, the latter
was asked about Guterres' many trips
in 2019 specifically those to
"Portugal where his life lives" and
what asked how that is accountable?
Ramanathan, in Guterres fashion,
dodged - but the questioning
continues, until there is
accountability. November
18, 2019
UN Guterres
Covers Up
Cameroon Sex
Exploitation
Whispers on
Colombia and
UN Rape
UN
GATE, Nov 12 -- Stephane Dujarric,
the lead spokesman of UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres, and
now Guterres'
Global
Communicator
Melissa
Fleming have
joined their
boss in
personally
covering up
child rapes
and sexual
abuse by UN
personnel,
including
recently a
child rape by
a UN
"peacekeeper"
from Paul
Biya's
Cameroon in DR
Congo.
Even while
they and OIOS
Ben Swanson
purport to
care - and
even answer
questions - on
the UN's cover
up for
Burundian and
Gabon rapes in
CAR in 2017,
they have
adopted
corrupt
Guterres'
solution going
forward: cover
up the cases
in advance.
Rough up and
ban the Press
which asks,
leave inside
only insiders
who ask why
they can't use
the UN
escalator
instead of
walking one or
two flights of
stairs, and
refuse to
answer written
questions.
Their UN is
dying - and
taking young
victims with
it.
At 10 am on
November 12 -
after not
responding on
November 11
cases which
remains the
case as of
this
publication -
the UN data
dumped a rape
by its
personnel in
South Sudan as
well as UN
sexual
exploitation
in a new
mission,
Colombia.
Inner City
Press
immediately in
writing asked
for the
if-asked
information.
Now - and we
immediately
publish it -
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq has
responded on
these two,
while leaving
the previous
dozen cases
UNresponded
to:
From:
Farhan Aziz
Haq [at]
UN.org
Date: Tue, Nov
12, 2019
Subject: RE:
Press request
that you
immediately
provide the
if-asked
information
about today's
cases of UN
rape in South
Sudan and
sexual
exploitation
in Colombia,
on top of the
November 11
case of rape
in Liberia,
and by a
Cameroon
"military
observer" in
Mali...
To: Matthew
Russell Lee
[at]
innercitypress
On South
Sudan The
United Nations
Mission in
South Sudan
(UNMISS) has
received an
allegation of
sexual abuse
and
exploitation
involving a
civilian
national
staff. The
allegation
refers to the
sexual abuse
of a minor
that allegedly
took place on
unspecified
date in 2019,
and an
exploitative
relationship
with a victim
whose age is
unknown that
allegedly took
place in 2018
- both victims
became
pregnant as a
result.
The
Office of
Internal
Oversight
Services
(OIOS) is
investigating
the
allegation.The
Mission
offered
appropriate
assistance to
the victims in
line with the
UN’s victim
assistance
protocols.
On
Colombia
The
United Nations
Mission
Verification
Mission in
Colombia
(UNVMC) has
received one
allegation of
sexual
exploitation
involving two
civilian
international
staff. The
allegation
refers to
transactional
sex with an
unidentified
number of
women on
unspecified
dates. The
Office of
Internal
Oversight
Services
(OIOS) is
investigating
the
allegation.Once
identified,
each victim
will be
referred for
appropriate
assistance as
per the UN’s
victim
assistance
protocols."
We'll have
more on this.
Here's INovember
11 video of
his
two-question
briefing by
Haq that Inner
City Press was
banned from by
Antonio
Guterres.
At 10:30 am on
November 11, the
UN data dumped
yet more case
of sexual
exploitation
its
peacekeepers
and military
observers,
without
listing
nationalities,
but in CAR and
by Cameroon in
Mali, photo
here. There's
a case as
recent as
September
2019, and two
rapes. Inner
City Press has
asked Guterres
- most
recently
wasting public
money,
quantity
undisclosed,
in a tuxedo in
Lisbon, and
his spokesmen
- for the if
asked
information,
and for access
to the noon
briefing to
ask. More on
this to
follow. These
people are
criminals.
At
4:30 pm on the
afternoon of
November 4 the
UN data dumped
yet another
case of sexual
exploitation
by a Cameroon
"peacekeeper"
/ military
observer in
CAR, and by a
Uruguayan
peacekeeper in
Haiti, while
still refusing
to answer
questions of a
child rape
from October
21, and yet
more cases
from October
28 and October
31. Guterres'
UN has become
a racketeering
conspiracy to
cover up - and
in fact
facilities -
child sex
trafficking,
sexual abuse
and child
rape. On
November 4
less than an
hour after the
cursory data
dump Inner
City Press
sent this
question to
the
individuals
named below:
"On UN sexual
exploitation
and abuse -
alleged - this
is a request
that you
immediately
provide the
"if asked"
information
about the case
of sexual
exploitation
against a
Cameroon UN
"military
observer" in
CAR and a
Uruguayan UN
"peacekeeper"
in Haiti
cursorily data
dumped on
November 4 at
4:30 pm and
those on
October 31 at
1:30 pm as
well as
previously
requested
without
response about
the child rape
and sexual
exploitation
by UN
"peacekeepers"
from Cameroon
and South
Africa the UN
cursorily
disclosed on
the afternoon
of October 28
- about which
Inner City
Press did not
this time
immediately
ask, given
that each of
you have
refused for
one week and
counting to
answer in any
way with
if-asked
information
about the
child rape and
sexual
exploitation
cases
involving
Indonesia,
Mauritania and
again
Cameroon, in
DRC and
Central
African
Republic
cursorily data
dumped onto
the UN website
after 3 pm on
October 21.
Requesting
again that you
immediately
provide the
"granular"
information
that was
promised at
the noon
briefing to
correspondents
who barely ask
or publish
about this
topic. What is
being done for
the victims?
Also, again,
what is
Guterres'
answer, which
you refused to
provide after
banned Inner
City Press
asked you and
others in
writing on the
morning of
August 19 that
you
"immediately
provide all
if-asked and
additional
information
about the new
allegation of
SEA announced
of child rape
by a
Cameroonian
"peacekeeper"
in DR Congo,
and why this
has been left
so long
UNanswered -
and also why
previously
published
charges are no
longer in the
data to which
UN
Peacekeeping
Conduct and
Discipline
points,
including what
if being done
for these
victims and
any steps
taken to avoid
this constant
repetition of
abuse despite
the SG's
ostensible
commitments.
Again, are new
allegations
being buried
elsewhere on
the data page?
Inner City
Press is
asking in
writing
because banned
from the noon
briefings and
any follow up
questions, now
for more than
a year. On
August 24
Inner City
Press
re-applied for
admission to
cover the UNGA
high level
week; on
August 30 it
was summarily
rejected, with
no or only
Kafka-esque
reasoning.
This week, as
before none of
Inner City
Press' written
questions,
including on
Honduras and
Cameroon, have
been answered.
This is a
request that
you
immediately
confirm
receipt of
these
questions and
requests.
-Matthew
Russell Lee,
InnerCityPress.com"
November
11, 2019
SDNY US
Attorney Lets
UN Johns and
Pimps Like
Lorenzo Go
Free Jailing
Only Bribers
Ho and Ng
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Nov 10 – After beginning a now
stalled two-case inquiry into the widening
corruption of the United Nations, the then-US
Attorney for the Southern District of New York
said at a confernce on St. Andrew's Place that
the goal was to find out if corruption is
everyday business at the UN.
It is.
But now
after the US Attorney's office lavished praise
and time served sentence recommendation
on bribe-taker Francis Lorenzo even as a
person shown as trial continues to use the UN
to sell fraudulent coins, the question has
turned back on the US Attorney's office
itself.
In
essence, the decision has been to go after the
prostitutes and not the johns (those in the UN
who take the bribes, and continue to) or the
pimps and middlemen.
The
latter category encompasses Lorenzo for Ng Lap
Seng and Chiekh Gadio, given a non prosecution
agreement and now back in action, for Patrick
'Ho and CEFC China Energy, linked to current
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres through
Lisbon-based Gulbenkian Foundation whose
payments to Guterres are omitted from his
public financial disclosure covering 2016.
Even Ban Ki-mooon was not directly linked to
the UN's bribers. The UN has become more
corrupt, and has openly used immunity and
censorship of Press to get away with it. The
Office's response has been, as of 8 November
2019, to further defer sentencing even of a
person guilty in the Ng Lap Seng case, and
praise and shake hands with UN briber Lorenzo.
Lorenzo
used his position as UN Ambassador for the
Dominican Republic to take and pay bribes for
a Macau "UN South South Development Conference
Center proposed by now incarcerated Ng Lap
Seng.
On November 8 Lorenzo was given a sentence of
time served, which was twenty days in
detention, by U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York Judge Vernon S.
Broderick.
It was what the US Attorney's Office of
Geoffrey S. Berman essentially recommended,
calling Lorenzo a model cooperating witness.
This despite acknowledging that Lorenzo had to
"re-plead" guilty when it emerged he had not
disclosed his receipt of bribes.
Assistant US Attorney Douglas S. Zolkind at
sentencing praised Lorenzo for example for
always appearing in a three-piece suit.
It
emerges that this same prosecution team has
asked for yet another six months delay in
sentencing another briber in the case, Heidi
Hong Piao. The prosecutors "request that the
control date for the sentencing of the
defendant, presently scheduled for October 25,
2019, be adjourned for six
months. Respectfully
submitted, GEOFFREY S.
BERMAN United States
Attorney
By: s/ Daniel C. Richenthal Daniel C.
Richenthal Janis M. Echenberg Douglas S.
Zolkind." Untransparent, like the office's
refusal to release their exhibits against
crypto currency fraud OneCoin even as yet
another fraudulent coin is sold with UN
images. We'll have more on this.
On November 9 Judge Broderick before giving
Francis Lorenzo the time served sentence said
there was a need for general deterence. But
neither he nor Zolkind even mentioned an after
arising UN bribery case, for which Patrick Ho
of CEFC China Energy was convicted by SDNY
Judge Loretta A.
Preska.
Judge
Broderick did impose two years of supervised
release, and 250 hours of community service.
Afterward Inner City Press sought to ask
Lorenzo a question but was told by his
lawyerBrian H. Bieber that Lorenzo would not
answer questions.
So Inner City Press asked Bieber how Lorenzo
would do his community service and when
Lorenzo last saw and communicated with Carlos
Garcia, the former El Salvador ambassador
shown in the trial before Judge Broderick to
have helped launder money for Lorenzo.
Bieber
said he would ask Lorenzo, and perhaps get back
to Inner City Press, which has reported and will
continue to report on these cases.
November
4, 2019
In
Honduras UN
Whispered of
Magdaleno
Murder
Disavowed By
Chapo Funded
Guterres and
Bachelet
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Nov 2 – During the trial that
convicted Tony
Hernandez, the
brother of
Honduras'
president Juan
Orlando
Hernandez
(JOH), on all
four counts of
guns and
narcotics
trafficking
and false
statements,
the drug
ledgers of one
Nery Orlando
López Sanabria
a/k/a
Magdaleno were
used by the
SDNY
prosecutors.
Here
is an Inner
City Press
tweeted photo
of notebook
mentioning
"JOH," in Spanish.
Inner City
Press has
repeated asked
the United
Nations, in
New York and
Geneva, for
comment. Dead
silence.
A
week after the
verdict,
Magdaleno was
murdered in a
supposedly
maximum
security
prison in
Santa Barbara,
Honduras.
The video are
very troubling
[WARNING]
including the
guards letting
the killers
in, here.
UNSG Antonio
Guterres
refused all
Press
questions
about Honduras
during the
trial and in
the nine days
since the
verdict. On
October 29
Inner City
Press has
asked: "what
are the
comments and
actions of
Guterres on
the video
taped killing
of Nery
Orlando López
a/k/a
Magdaleno Meza
Fúnez, whose
notebooks were
used to
convict
Presidential
brother Tony
Hernandez in
the SDNY court
this month?
Now Reinero
Valle has, as
Madgaleno had
before his
assassination,
asked to be
moved out of
that El Pozo
prison due to
threats to
silence him as
a witness, so
far without
response to
his lawyer
Nazario Luque?
Again,
immediately
provide the
report /
read-out of
Guterres' four
person panel
sent to
Honduras, and
complete read
out of his
meeting with
JOH." Now as
of November 2,
as Guterres
presumptively
uses El
Chapo's money
via JOH to
visit
strongmen
leaders in
Turkey and
Thailand then,
uncontested,
waste money at
his real home
in Lisbon,
nothing. Total
corrupt.
This
while
Guterres' UN,
despite its
protestations
and misuse of
the concept,
enable fake
news in
Honduras.
On October 27
a publication
in Honduras said
the UN office
of human
rights has
said nothing.
But nothing
had been
emailed out to
its press
list, and
nothing could
be found on
its website in
Geneva - it
turns out news
it doesn't
want anyone or
at least not
the drug
funded
dictators it
answers to see
it, it puts on
obscure
sub-sites, see
below.
At
9 am on
October 28
Geneva time
Inner City
Press in
writing asked
UN "High
Commissioner
for Human
Rights"
Michelle
Bachelet and
her spokesman
Rupert
Colville this:
"Hello, this
is a Press
request for
OHCHR /
Bachelet
comment on the
murder, on
video, in
Honduras of
'Magdeleno'
whose drug
trafficking
notebook were
used in recent
SDNY
conviction of
Presidential
brother Tony
Hernandez, a
trial Inner
City Press
covered every
day. See video
of killing here.
Specifically,
it appears
that the
guards open
the doors to
the killer,
who somehow
had a gun
inside a
maximum
security
prison. The
decedent had
asked to be
moved.
Inner City
Press while
reporting on
all this while
banned from
any entry of
the UN for
over 48[6]
days is asking
your Office
because of
reports in
Honduras that
your Office
somehow,
somewhere
spoke on this
- if so,
where, and why
was Inner City
Press not sent
the
information
given that it
covers this
issue and has
submitted
dozens of
questions on
it to SG
Guterres, USG
Melissa
Fleming and
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, with
no answer at
all despite
UN's statement
to Special
Rapporteur
David Kaye
that Inner
City Press'
written
questions were
being and
would be
answered, here.
And see here.
Since Inner
City Press and
I have been
excluded from
OHCHR events
in the UN by
this no due
process ban,
please also
explain why
Commissioner
Bachelet has
said and done
nothing about
the UN Press
ban, despite
it being
raised to her
from Day 1 of
her
Administration.
On
deadline,
Matthew
Russell Lee,
Esq., Inner
City Press
Past (and
future?)
Office at UN:
Room S-303, UN
HQ, NY NY
10017."
Four days
nothing. So
did Bachelet,
who is rarely
at work,
speak? By not
answering to
confirm or
deny that this
UN office
spoke,
Colville and
Bachelet are
complicit in
the very "fake
news" and
propaganda
they purport
to denounce.
They have
allowed their
unfettered
prejudices (in
Colville's
case, all the
way back to
Zeid and the
Office helping
China to
identify
critics, for
murder) and
support of
corrupt
Guterres to
bring them
this low.
Now perhaps
worse, we have
found the UN-
and now
presumptively
Chapo-funded
UNOHR office
in Honduras
has been
whispering on
its website,
which stayed
entirely
silent during
and about the
trial. The
site telling
has more hits
for
job-searches
than its
"news."
It's by a
restaurant
(not Denny's)
- "Col Castaño
Sur, Ave.
Castaño Sur,
House # 2911.
References
Former
headquarters
of the Embassy
of Ecuador,
next to
Restaurante
Loca Luna."
Inner City
Press has
formally
requested to
be sent all of
its "news"
going forward.
We'll have
more on this -
it is how
Guterres' UN
operates,
taking money
from bribers,
criminal and
dictators,
roughing up
and banning
the Press that
asks, then
using the
blood money to
whisper for no
one. We'll
continue on
this.
October
28, 2019
UN
Linked
Fraudster
Saint Clair of
World Sports
Alliance
Detained In
SDNY But SG
Guterres Still
Free
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Oct 23 – Asa Saint Clair was
questioned for wire fraud by the US
authorities at 845 United Nations Plaza last
month, for his involvement in a dubious
cyber-currency called Igobit, issued through a
UN-linked "inter-governmental organization"
called the World
Sports Alliance.
Inner City Press, before being banned from the
UN by Secretary General amid its questions
about his corruption and links to UN briber
CEFC China Energy, reported on the World
Sports Alliance, including here
and here and here,
on Burundi.
On October 23 Inner City Press now covering
the U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of New York was the only media in the
SDNY Magistrates Court when Asa Saint Clair
was brought into the court in shackles. He was
arrested in California trying to get on a
plane to Madagascar by way of Paris. More on
Patreon here.
Now, despite telling the government he was
making $50,000 a month, he was given a
publicly funded Federal Defender lawyer, who
argued he should be immediately released.
He still may be. Magistrate Judge Debra
Freeman rejected the AUSA's request to limit
his use of electronic devices, and like the US
Attorney's Office made no connection to the UN
itself.
There is a pattern here: in the Ng Lap Seng
case, so recently in the Second Circuit Court
of Appeals, he went to jail but those he
bribed in the UN remain free and in action.
The same is true for Patrick Ho of CEFC China
Energy, up to the level of Secretary General Antonio
Guterres.
Even in terms of fraudulent coins, Inner City
Press has exposed
and
asked the UN in writing about the use of
Guterres' image to sell coins by former UN
ambassador of El Salvador Carlos
Garcia. He was shown in the Ng Lap
Seng case to be helping with money laundering
by Francis Lorenzo, still someone not
sentenced by SDNY and its AUSAs Richenthal and
Zolkind.
Nor did they
ask on UN official Meena Sur, whom Inner City
Press publicly exposed as linked to now
SDNY-investigatived WSA, here.
And Garcia
continued his coin scam with Guterres' image,
and now WSA's Saint Clair is about to be
bailed - even as his case remains hours later
sealed.
Inner City
Press, exclusively covering all this even amid
attempt to limit
its access and real time reporting, will
continue on these cases. Watch this site.
October
21, 2019
UN
Guterres
Refuses
Honduras
Corruption Q
By Inner City
Press From
Mansion to
Mercedes
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Oct 19 – The
hypocrisy of
the UN of
Antonio
Guterres and
the corruption
of a president
he partners
with, Juan
Orlando
Herandez, was
shown October
18 with the
SDNY guilty
verdicts
against
presidential
brother Tony
Hernandez.
Now on the
evening of
October 19,
Guterres while
still having
no comment as
Inner City
Press has
requested for
week on the
trial or now
verdict, after
he has
repeatedly
tried to help
cover up for
JOH, was
rattling
around in the
publicly
funded $15
million he
lives alone
his, this
evening with
an
unidentified
young man.
Outside were
two big cars,
including a
Mercedes.
Inner City
Press, on
bicycle,
waited to ask
the questions
that Guterres'
spokesman who
is paid to
answer
questions
refuses to
answer.
When
Guterres came
out, Inner
City Press
audibly asked
for comment on
the Honduras
verdict, and
why none was
forthcoming on
that, or
Cameroon, or
UN corruption.
Guterres drove
away in two
limousines.
Video here.
UN Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres is so
corrupt he
does not
answer any
critics; in
fact, he had
Inner City
Press
physically
roughed up by
his Security
and banned
from entering
the UN for 472
days and
counting.
During that
time Guterres
supposed JOH's
second term,
and as the
evidence of
drug
trafficking
grew, spoke
with JOH only
about...
climate
change. This
is corruption.
Tony
Hernandez will
now be
sentenced on
January 17,
and 2:30 pm.
Shouldn't
Guterres be
impeached by
then, and that
Press restored
to how it
covered the UN
before
ghoulish
Guterres
arrived?
Inner City
Press even
before the
verdict as the
UN
Spokespeople
Stephane
Dujarric and
Melissa
Fleming in
writing,
"October 18-1:
On Honduras on
which you have
refused to
answer or
respond to
Inner City
Press' as it
covers in SDNY
the US v Tony
Hernandez
trial which
continues jury
deliberations
today and has
asked you why
SG Guterres
did not even
bring up
corruption and
drug
trafficking
when he met
president Juan
Orlando
Hernandez, 1)
please
immediately
describe
activities of
the UN system
and resident
coordinator /
representative
on JOH's
current terms
and 2) what
now are
Guterres'
belated
comments and
actions if any
on that last
night JOH's
National Party
majority in
the Honduran
parliament
passed a law
making itslef
immune, and
that Honduran
police
dispersed
hundreds of
demonstrators
with tear gas
on Wednesday
in Tegucigalpa
who demanded
the
resignation of
President Juan
Orlando
Hernandez,
suspected by
the American
courts of
collaborating
with the drug
traffickers?"
No answer all
all. Total
corruption.
We'll have
more on this.
October
14, 2019
In
Honduras Trial
Denny Video Of
Tony Hernandez
Uploaded By
Inner City
Press Here
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Oct 11 – The
prosecution of
the brother of
Honduras'
president for
guns and drug
running began
with a bang on
October 2 with
the charge
that already
life
imprisoned El
Chapo Guzman
gave the
defendant $1
million for
this brother,
the president.
On October 8,
sworn witness
Alex Ardon
further
described the
meeting, with
both El Chapo
and Tony
Hernandez
present and
the cash in
plastic bags,
and then got
cross examined
about killing
56 people, see
thread, Patreon and below.
The
trial is
before U.S.
District Court
for the
Southern
District of
New York Judge
P. Kevin
Castel and
Inner City
Press is live
tweeting
it. See also
Patreon here
on the fast
mention and
shut-down of
Nikki Haley's
name.
On October 11
much of the
direct and
cross
examination
concerned a
video filmed
of Tony
Hernandez in a
Denny's in
Tegucigalpa,
which Inner
City Press has
put online here.
Here
from the thread
is some of how
it came up:
...
The
questioning
turns to Los
Cachiros,
Devis Leonel
Rivera
Maradiaga
..AUSA: So
this meeting
in a
restaurant in
Tegucigalpa,
how did you
record it?
[Referring to
exhibit 401].
A: With a
watch. AUSA:
Where did you
get the watch?
A: I bought
it. AUSA: And
afterward you
gave the
recording to
the DEA? A:
Yes....
Tony
H's lawyer
asking a lot
of questions
about the
watch-recording
in Denny's:
who decided
when to turn
on the camera
and when to
turn it off,
did it use
blue tooth...
Q: How did you
turn over the
footage to the
DEA? A: On a
card
Tony
H's lawyer:
Weren't you
afraid you
would be
followed?
A:
No, I had just
bribed the
brother of the
president...
October
7, 2019
In Cameroon
After Biya
Army Kills 10
More UN
Guterres
Praises Him
And Refuses
All Questions
UN GATE, Oct 5
– On September
29 Inner City
Press was sent
another tweet
about
Biya's
platform for
national
dialogue, an
account featuring a
photos of the
grip and grin
between
Guterres and
Biya's
foreign
minister. This is
the result of
Guterres' sold
out diplomacy - a
Potemkin
Village of
fake dialogue
accompanied by
violence
and
censorship. Guterres
is no better
than Biya. At
least Biya is
officially
senile. What
is Guterres'
excuse?
Guterres and
his spokespeople
Stephane
Dujarric and
now Melissa
Fleming have
refused
to answer
Inner City
Press' written
questions
about
Cameroon. Now
this from
MimiMefo:
"There is
commotion in
Bali Town,
Mezam Division
North West
Region.
Soldiers
invaded the
village in
their number
during and
after October
1st
commemoration,
the day
Southern
Cameroons
independent
state of
Ambazonia was
declared, by
separatist
leaders and
fighters.
In Sang, a
Bali
neighbourhood,
several
persons,
notably
civilians are
feared dead.
“The people
had escaped to
the bush to
seek refuge
but returned
yesterday, not
knowing
soldiers were
still there,”
a source told
Mimi Mefo
Info.
“The
population of
Bali nyonga
since
yesterday are
under gradual
extermination.
Sang Will soon
finish. The
military doing
what they know
best,” said
another
source.
“Many of those
killed in
Sang, are from
the Mbalang
compound,” the
source added."
And
from corrupt
Guterres? On the
same day, this,
from a
propagandist
for mass
killing, a cover
up man: "The
Secretary-General
is encouraged
by the
decision
announced by
President Paul
Biya on 4
October to
release
Maurice Kamto,
leader of the
Mouvement pour
la
Rennaissance
du Cameroun
(MRC), as well
as 102 members
of the party.
He also takes
note of the
release of
another 333
individuals in
connection
with the
crisis in the
North-West and
South-West
regions. The
Secretary-General
encourages the
Cameroonian
authorities to
continue to
adopt further
confidence
building and
reconciliation
measures.
The
Secretary-General
also welcomes
the holding of
the National
Dialogue and
encourages
meaningful
follow-up. He
reiterates the
readiness of
the United
Nations to
assist the
authorities
and the people
of Cameroon in
this regard."
Disgusting.
Censorship and
ban of Press.
September
30, 2019
From
Cameroon
Mbella Blames
Separatists In
Empty UNGA
Protected By
UN Guterres
Who Bans Press
UN GATE, Sept
27 – From a
prison in
Yaounde in
Cameroon, on
September 25
Inner City
Press received
an open letter
to UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres from
CRM leader
Maurice Kamto
who though his
intermediary
in the US
asked that
Inner City
Press, banned
from the UN by
Guterres,
publish its
content. We
immediately did,
below.
On September
26 in a nearly
empty UN
General
Assembly Hall
Biya's foreign
minister Lejeune
Mbella Mbelle
gave a
speech nearly
entirely in
French, blaming
all problems in the
SW and NW on
separatists. Inner
City Press, banned
from the UN by
Biya's
colluder
Guterres, puts some
of it
immediately on
Twitter, here.
Now here is
the whole
speech, on YouTube.
It is shameful
- and Guterres
is shameless.
We'll have
more on this.
Here's
from
Kamto's
letter,
retyping from
PDF and
prepared to
ask Guterres
and his
spokespeople
Stephane
Dujarric and
Melissa
Fleming about
it in writing:
"Dear
Mr. Secretary
General, We
are very
skeptical
about your
role as an
honest broker
and neutral
facilitator in
the resolution
of Cameroon's
multiform
crisis, as
would be
expected from
the UN
Secretary
General. Our
appreciation
is based on
the following
observations:
Soon after the
presidential
election, we
wrote to you
to warn of the
chaotic
situation in
which Cameroon
has been
locked up for
37 years, due
to a biased
and unreliable
electoral
system....
We
notably
pointed out
the rigging of
this election
and other
resulting
crises our
country is
confronting,
epitomized by
the Anglophone
Norht-West and
South-West
(NOSO)
regions'
conflict and
related
humanitarian
drama...
No
concrete
actions from
the UN
Secretariat
were noticed
afterwards. To
the same
extent,
whereas, the
recent visit
to Cameroon of
the UN High
Commissioner
for Human
Rights, Mrs
Michelle
Bachelet, was
very
disappointed
by its poor
achievement:
an audience
with Mr. BIYA,
her decoration
and a short
meeting with
some political
activists. No
field visit to
the NOSO
afflicted
regions and no
meeting with
the political
prisoners.
Mr BIYA
unwillingly
undertook the
Geneva
dialogue
initiative.
Following its
announcement,
we were
surprised by
your prompt
endorsement of
a process that
was bound to
fail, as this
unilateral
approach
underlined
by a divisive
rationale is
far from the
required
broad-based,
consensual
process and
undercuts its
credibility...
your prompt
rush to
applaud this
initiative
without
ensuring of
the
fulfillment of
the key
conditions for
its
success.
In
consequence,
the
credibility of
the UN
Secretary
General is
questioned.
Truly yours,
Mauice Kamto
Christian
Penda Ekoka
Political
prisoners,
Yaounde,
Cameroon, 24
September 2019."
We'll have
more on this.
Inner
City Press as
of September
25
is being
banned by
Guterres and
Melissa
Fleming from
covering the
UN General
Assembly, presided
over by
Nigeria's
ambassador Tijjani
Muhammed-Bande.
We'll have
more on this.
Inner
City Press live
tweeted
the shameful
May UNSC
session and uploaded
Guterres' envoy
Francois
Fall's
failing
statement here.
UN
GATE, September 19 -- Who
gets to decide
which media
can enter the
United Nations
to cover this
month's United
Nations
General
Assembly high
level
week?
The answer in
today's UN,
not unlike in
any
dictatorship
whether China
or Cameroon,
is one man and
his small
circle of
yes-men and a
yes-women,
with no due
process, no
right to
appeal, no
judicial
oversight.
In this case
the man is
Antonio
Guterres,
without appeal
or oversight.
On September
13 two
journalists
asked
Guterres'
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
it, and he
gave no reason
for ban, liked
that there the
UN has some
line of
communication
about
accreditation
with Inner
City Press,
and did not
mention that
he refuses its
written
questions,
even on UN
rapes. Video
here. From the
UN transcript:
Simon
Ateba, Today
News Africa: I
know the UN
doesn't really
like talking
about American
citizen and
journalist
Matthew Lee of
Inner City
Press.
We understand
that you
refuse to
accredit him
this year
again, and
they didn't
give him any
reason.
Is that not a
way of trying
to suppress
the freedom of
the press and
trying to
retaliate
because of his
reporting
against the
Secretary‑General…?
Spokesman:
I've used many
words over the
years to talk
about Mr.
Lee. I
think I've run
out of
them.
What I can
tell you is
that this
Organization,
as you can see
by the full
size of this
room and the
broad range of
representation,
that it's
filled with
reporters that
are often very
critical of
the United
Nations, and
that's part of
the way things
work.
So, we are
open. We
are open for
business for
journalists.
There are
certain
standards, as
for any
organization,
to be
accredited.
Those who meet
those
standards are
welcome here
in this room
to ask a
question about
anything they
want, and
those who
don't meet the
standards
don't meet the
standards.
QUESTION:
a follow‑up on
the Matthew
Lee
question.
You said that
certain
standards are
required for
journalism.
As I
understand it,
Matthew now is
a
card‑carrying
member of the
SDNY, Southern
District of
New York
court.
What's the
difference
between that
and the
UN?
Spokesman:
I'm not going
to go into
individual
cases, and the
standards do
not have to do
with what
people
write.
It has to do
with standards
that apply to
everybody
that's in this
building, and
that's… it's
about
behavioral
standards, and
I think he
knows full
well.
Yalla.
Simon
Ateba:
follow‑up on
Matthew
Lee.
He's… he's a…
as I said,
he's a
journalist and
an American
citizen.
He's… he has a
new card now,
and he feels
that he's been
discriminated
against.
I saw the
reply that the
UN gave him
when he
applied.
Spokesman:
Look, I mean,
I appreciate
you…
sorry.
Let me
finish.
Let me allow
you to
finish.
I'm sorry.
Question:
If I could
complete the
question.
If I can
finish my
question.
Spokesman:
Go
ahead.
Question:
The UN said he
was banned
last year, so
he's not going
to get
accreditation
this
year.
So, is there a
valid reason
for you to ban
a journalist
from attending
the UN General
Assembly?
Who defines
the
standard?
Is it
you? Is
it…
Spokesman:
I will not go
into his
particular
case. I
think he's in
touch with our
colleagues who
do the
accreditation.
What is clear
is that every
journalist
that comes
into here
agrees to a
code of
conduct, of
behaviour,
which all of
you signed on
to, which is
elaborated
between the UN
and the UN
Correspondents
Association
(UNCA).
Mr. Bays?
Both
are corrupt.
Note that on
September 19
Inner City
Press'
reporting from
the SDNY
court on
the #6ix9ine
trial was
picked up in
Holland,
France and
elsewhere.
We'll have
more on this.
September
16, 2019
On
Cameroon Biya
Warlike
Dialogue
Decree No
Answers By
Corrupt UN
Guterres To
Press He Bans
UN GATE, Sept
14 –After
Paul Biya who
has ruled
Cameroon for 37
years on
January 28 had
his opponent
Maurice Kamto
arrested,
Inner City
Press again asked UN
Secretary
General Antonio
Guterres and
his spokesmen for
their comment
and action, if
any. This came
after Guterres
had Inner City
Press roughed
up on 3
July 2018
after it
interviewed Biya's
Ambassador
about the two
men's Budget
Committee
deals and banned
from the UN
since -
Guterres even tried
to get Inner
City Press
banned from
the Park East
Synagogue,
here, which
was denied /
dodged by his
French spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, who put
up then took
down a podcast
in which he
brags about
his "mutually
assured
destruction"
relationship
with
journalists, here.
After
Paul Biya's
scam speech
Inner City
Press in
writing
asked Dujarric
and Guterres
and his new
Global Censor
Melissa
Fleming,
"September
13-1: On
Cameroon,
again on the
question you
have refused
to answer or
allowed to be
asked in the
UN Press
Briefing Room,
given that
Paul Biya's
speech which
SG Guterres
immediately
praised
reiterated
threats to
crush
"separatists"
and denied
that any
marginalization
has taken
place, while
leaders have
been given
life prison
sentences,
what is the
meaning of
Guterres'
praise - now
that Ayuk Tabe
on whose
refoulement
from Nigeria
the SG and DSG
stayed silent
has said
Biya's "speech
was a
non-event and
a
non-starter"?
Who worked on
this UNSG
statement -
Francois
Lonceny Fall?
Rosemary
DiCarlo? Had
the Biya
regime given
the UN any
heads-up? And
again, where
is the
if-asked
information
about the
Cameroon UN
peacekeepers
child rape in
DRC?" No
answer at all.
Meanwhile
in Nigeria the
coordinator of
the
Cameroonian
refugees in
Cross River
State, Pastor
Tabichou
Afangha and a
renowned
medical
doctor, George
Geh, insist on
their
independence,
which they
claimed they
got in October
1961. Afangha
said, “The
call for
dialogue by
Biya is a big
joke; it is
madness. The
essence of the
dialogue has
been grossly
abused. Who is
he calling to
dialogue with?
We are
Ambazonians?
“We only
gained the
status of
Cameroun when
we united with
the other
parts of the
country after
the fake union
put together
at the Fouban
conference in
East
Cameroun.
Biya later
dissolved that
union when he
enacted law
number 84/01
of February 4,
1984.
What we are
asking Mr Biya
is to
implement his
own law, the
restoration
law, which
dissolved the
illegal merger
between La
Republique du
Cameroon and
Southern
Cameroon, now
Ambazonia.
“Could there
have been
eruption of
violence,
killings and
destruction if
Biya had
respected his
own law?
When he has
given life
jail to our
leaders he
wants to
dialogue with
foes? In
Ambazonia we
have always
been a
peaceful
people, but he
unleashed
wanton
violence on
us,’’ Afangha
added.
Geh, who has
worked as a
medical
consultant for
different
state
governments in
Nigeria said,
“We will not
dialogue with
Biya. He is
extremely
dangerous and
untrustworthy.
We want our
independence,
which we won
in 1961.’’ He
further
explained that
it was the
United Nations
resolution
1608 that
granted them
independence
in 1961. He
added that
Britain
tricked them.
“We were a
trusteeship
territory
managed by
Briton, who
were supposed
to sit with
East Cameroun
and ensure
that our
independence
was
guaranteed.
There were
three options,
but Britain
rather said we
should decide
whether to
join other
parts. They
left out the
third option,
which was to
choose to
become an
independent
country.
Britain did
not want to
lose its
investments.
France gave
them £20
million and
took over our
territory and
Britain
vamoosed
without any
preparation
for our
independence,’’
he said.
Guterres has sold out
for a golden
statue and
UN Budget
Committee
favors when Biya's
Tommo Monthe was
the chairman;
Guterres
had Inner City
Press roughed up on
3 July 2018
just after it
questioned
Monthe and
banned ever
since. He is a
corrupt censor.
Now UN favorite
Voice of
America has
again written
about
ludicrous
story about
Cameroon, by Moki
Edwin Kindzeka
whom VOA pays
as a
freelancer
while he works
for Biya's
state media
CRTV...
Inner
City Press as
of September
14
is being
banned by
Guterres and
Melissa
Fleming from
covering the
UN General
Assembly, presided
over by
Nigeria's
ambassador Tijjani
Muhammed-Bande.
We'll have
more on this.
Inner
City Press live
tweeted
the shameful
May UNSC
session and uploaded
Guterres' envoy
Francois
Fall's
failing
statement here.
UN
GATE, Sept 5 -- Stephane Dujarric,
the lead spokesman of UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres, and
now Guterres'
Global
Communicator
Melissa
Fleming and
even Assistant
Spokesperson
Florencia Soto
Nino, have
joined their
boss in
personally
covering up
child rapes
and sexual
abuse by UN
personnel,
including
recently a
child rape by
a UN
"peacekeeper"
from Paul
Biya's
Cameroon in DR
Congo.
After and
while refusing
all written
questions from
Inner City
Press about
these UN
rapes, on
September 5
Dujarric read
out in the
briefing he
bans Inner
City Press
from a series
of statistics
that he did
not put
online. He
seemed to say
there were
"only" 39
allegations in
the second
quarter,
involving
"only" ten
girls - that
is, ten child
rapes. To a
few
correspondents
who if the
past is any
guide will not
publish on the
information or
on Guterres'
and Dujarric's
open
censorship,
Dujarric
promised to
give more
"granular"
information in
his office.
Inner City
Press has
asked for this
information
for months -
let's see if
it goes
online. Watch
this site.
On the morning
of August 27
Inner City
Press in
writing asked
Guterres,
Dujarric,
Fleming and
others: "On UN
sexual
exploitation
and abuse -
alleged - this
is a request
that you
immediately
provide the
"if asked"
information
supplied about
other cases in
the past about
the cursory
update this
morning
listing a SEA
case by a
Republic of
Congo
(Brazzaville)
peacekeeper at
MINUSCA in
CAR. This
information
was provided
in the past,
before you
banned Inner
City Press
(which
re-applied on
August 24,
2019 to cover
the UNGA high
level week).
Also, again,
what is
Guterres'
answer, which
you refused to
provide after
banned Inner
City Press
asked you and
others in
writing on the
morning of
August 19 that
you
"immediately
provide all
if-asked and
additional
information
about the new
allegation of
SEA announced
at 11:01 am
today, of
child rape by
a Cameroonian
"peacekeeper"
in DR Congo,
and a separate
child rape and
also sexual
exploitation
by Gabonese
peacekeepers
in CAR, as
well as the
previously
unanswered
question about
exploitation
by Tanzanian
peacekeeper -
and also why
previously
published
charges are no
longer in the
data to which
UN
Peacekeeping
Conduct and
Discipline
points,
including what
if being done
for these
victims and
any steps
taken to avoid
this constant
repetition of
abuse despite
the SG's
ostensible
commitments.
Again, are new
allegations
being buried
elsewhere on
the data page?
Inner City
Press is
asking in
writing
because banned
from the noon
briefings and
any follow up
questions, now
for more than
a year. On
August 24
Inner City
Press
re-applied for
admission to
cover the UNGA
high level
week.
Yesterday as
before none of
Inner City
Press' written
questions,
including on
Cameroon, have
been answered.
This is a
request that
you
immediately
confirm
receipt of
these
questions and
requests. "
But five days
later there
has been no
answer,
including
after a
desultory noon
briefing by
Soto Nino on
August 30 when
Dujarric like
Hua Jiang went
on another
vacation. But
their and
Guterres' UN
sent this out:
"From:
malu malu [at]
un.org
Date: Fri, Aug
30, 2019 at
4:23 PM
Subject: U.N.
eAccreditation
request for
Matthew Lee
Ref # M5413398
has been
declined
To: Inner City
Press:
Greetings
Matthew Lee
from Inner
City
Press,
Your media
accreditation
request, with
reference no:
M5413398, has
been declined
for the
following
reason: Media
accreditation
was withdrawn
on 17 August
2018."
This is
Kafka-esque,
and corrupt.
We will have
more, much
more, on this.
September
2, 2019
After
UNSG Guterres
Banned Press
From Reporting
On UNGA NYC
Denies Having
Any Documents
Now Appealed
UN
GATE, August 31 -- After
its
reporting on
the United
Nations as a
resident
correspondent
for a decade,
exposing war
crimes and UN
scandals from
Sri Lanka to
Yemen to
Cameroon, UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres had
Inner City
Press roughly
ousted by his
UN Security
and banned
from the UN by
them since 3
July 2018.
On 24 August
2019 Inner
City Press
applied
to
Guterres and
his new
Communications
and media
accreditation
chief Melissa
Fleming to be
admitted like
hundreds of
others to
cover the
upcoming UN
General
Assembly. This
was denied on
August 30 with
a Kafka-esque
one-liner
about
accreditation
having been
revoked. Later
on August 30,
NYC City Hall
issued this:
"The Mayor's
Office (OOM)
has closed
your FOIL
request
FOIL-2018-002-00511
for the
following
reasons:
A diligent
search for
records
responsive to
your request
did not locate
any such
records.
Accordingly,
your request
is
denied.
You may appeal
the decision
to deny access
to material
that was
redacted in
part or
withheld in
entirety by
contacting the
agency's FOIL
Appeals
Officer:
foilappeal@cityhall.nyc.gov
within 30
days.
Request
Information:
Request Title:
All records
about United
Nations
"banned"
lists,
exclusions of
people,
discipline of
UNDSS
Request
Description:
On behalf of
Inner City
Press and in
my personal
capacity this
is a request
under FOIL for
all records in
the possession
of the NYC
Office of the
Mayor
including the
Mayor’s Office
for
International
Affairs (MOIA;
collectively
OOM) regarding
the exclusion
of persons in
the last three
years from
premises of
the United
Nations, in
and around
First Avenue
and 42-48th
Streets in
Manhattan,
including of
NYC residents
including
journalists.
This is also a
request for
all records in
the same time
period of the
review,
suspension or
revocation of
pistol permits
for any UN
personnel
including but
not limited to
UN Department
of Safety and
Security
personnel and
the grounds
therefore. To
assist you in
identifying
and producing
the responsive
records on an
expedited
basis, I
personally was
physically
ousted from
the UN by UN
DSS Lieutenant
Ronald Dobbins
and another
unnamed on 3
July 2018 as I
staked out and
covered, as a
journalist,
the UN Budget
Committee
meetings. On 4
July 2018 I
filed a report
at the NYPD's
17th Precinct,
despite being
told -
erroneously I
now believe,
including
based on how
my First
Amendment
rights have
been impacted
- that all UN
personnel have
total
immunity. The
report number
is
#2018-017-2848.
See also,
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/matthew-lee-un-attacks-reporter-journalist-inner-city-press-a8445081.html
On 5 July 2018
when I went to
the UN to
continue my
work as a
journalist I
was told I am
“banned.” I
have since
been told that
the UN has a
“current and
active barred
notice”
against me,
that there is
a banned list
that includes
“demonstrators”
and “political
activists.” I
am still
banned today,
after 104
days. See
also,
https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/independent-journalist-matt-lee-forcibly-removed-un-stripped-press-credentials/
and
https://www.cjr.org/the_profile/reporter-expelled-un.php
I find this
deeply
troubling and
worth of
urgent Press
coverage. This
request
includes but
is not limited
to all records
related to the
above, related
to any
knowledge by
OOM including
MOIA of any UN
“banned” list
and how it is
compiled, and
what due
process
protections if
any are in
place, etc.
Also any
knowledge by
OOM including
MOIA of any
disciplinary
measures taken
against UN
Security
officers or
other
personnel, at
least for the
past three
years. I am
also
requesting any
record in your
possession
referring to
"Inner City
Press" for the
past ten
years, with
the past three
years to be
provided on an
expedited
basis."
That denial
has been
appealed.
Watch this
site.
On
August 28
Inner City
Press received
from Guterres'
Security chief
Gilles Michaud
an
ill-informed
response
passing the
buck to the
Department now
run by
Fleming, who
has not
responded to
four separate
letters to her
after she
defended and
covered up for
the urging
of "harder
repression" by
Paul Biya in
Cameroon.
Michaud sent
this to Inner
City Press:
"From:
Gilles Michaud
<gilles.michaud@un.org>
Date: Wed, Aug
28, 2019 at
4:49 PM
Subject: RE:
DSS treatment
of Mr. Matthew
Lee To: Inner
City Press
Cc: Hua Jiang
<jiang1@un.org>,
Jay Pozenel
<pozenel@un.org>
[also
fleming@unhcr.org]
Thank
you for your
message. I
have taken the
liberty of
including
counterparts
from the
Department of
Global
Communications
and Office of
Legal Affairs
in my
response.
On
10 July 2018
UNDSS escorted
Mr. Matthew
Lee from the
UNHQ complex
after he
attempted to
gain
unauthorized
access to a
locked area
and
subsequently
refused to
comply with
repeated
requests from
UN Security to
leave the
premises, in
breach of UN
Media
Guidelines and
the UN
Administrative
Instruction on
the authority
of UN Security
Officers in
place at that
time.
Following that
incident – and
on the basis
of a review of
a number of
previous
breaches of
the Guidelines
and
Administrative
Issuance –
DPI/DGC
considered Mr.
Lee’s conduct
to be
inconsistent
with the
Guidelines for
accredited UN
correspondents
and his
accreditation
was
subsequently
withdrawn.
This
decision
stands and the
DSS role is
now limited to
ensuring that
unaccredited
individuals do
not enter the
premises.
I
hope this
clarifies.
Gilles
Michaud
USG Safety and
Security
United
Nations
Gilles
Michaud
USG Safety and
Security
United
Nations
Tel:
1-917-367-4652"
Inner City
Press sent a
reply to
Michaud and
others
including
SGCentral
<sgcentral@un.org>,
Amina Mohammed
<amina.mohammed@un.org>,
aminaj.mohammed@un.org,
Maria Luiza
Ribeiro Viotti
<marialuiza.viotti@un.org>,
David Kaye
<dkaye@law.uci.edu>
and others:
"Dear
Mr. Michaud
-
Thank you for
you response,
which follows
the message I
sent you this
morning
intending to
ensure that I
am able to
enter and
cover the
upcoming UNGA
High Level
week like
hundreds or
thousands of
other
correspondents.
This should
take place,
and here with
all due
respect is
why:
While you say
"I hope this
clarifies,"
frankly what
it clarifies
is the lawless
cover-up of UN
censorship
which has
occurred for
the past 421
days.
Essentially
you state, and
apparently
believe, that
DSS has only
been enforcing
USG Smale's
decision to
remove my 10
year media
accreditation
without a
single hearing
or right to
appeal.
Be aware that
DPI, now DGC,
has for its
part attempted
to tell me
that it is
DSS's
decision.
But you should
most certainly
be aware that
in fact DSS
officials,
including
not limited to
Matthew
Sullivan and
"Tiny," has
said on camera
that I am on
DSS' "barred"
list, and have
blocked me
from entering
the UN with
tickets in my
name to event
I was invited
to, not as a
journalist. I
will be happy
to provide
with the
photos of the
tickets,
including to a
human rights
event and also
to a film to
which I was
invited by
UNODC.
So
contrary to
your
clarification,
DSS has not
been ensuring
that a person
- me - not
accredited by
DPI/DGC as a
journalist not
enter the UN
as a
journalist,
but that a
person be
entirely
barred from
any entry of
the UN, even
as a
tourist...
You
say that on
July 10, 2018
I "attempted
to gain access
to a locked
area." This is
false. First,
it was July 3,
2018.
Second,
the "locked
area" was the
Vienna Cafe
outside
Conference
Room Five
where the
Fifth (Budget)
Committee was
meeting. I
have covered
such meetings
for a decade
without
incident; when
Lt Dobbins and
his colleague
grabbed me, I
has just
conducted an
interview with
Cameroon PR
Tommo
Monthe.
They
laid hands on
my before I
had any
opportunity to
leave -
grabbing my
laptop where I
was typing up
my interview.
The Vienna
Cafe area was
not locked,
and MALU
guidelines say
even non
resident
correspondents
can stay until
meeting are
over, and
thirty minutes
after. So this
is
false.
In my email to
you this
morning I
offered to
answer any
questions you
had, since I
was never
given any
opportunity to
be heard after
in June and
July 2018 DSS
was directed
to throw me
out of the UN
even when I
was authorized
to be there -
a speech by
the SG in the
GA lobby at 7
pm in June,
the Budget
Committee
meeting in
July.
I am still
willing to
show you the
documentation
of any and all
of this. But
if DSS has no
block on me,
and DPI now
DGC never gave
me a hearing
and claims to
respect
freedom of the
press, my
August 24
application
for
accreditation
like 100s of
other
correspondent
who don't even
write much
about the UN
should be
granted
immediately,
now four days
after I
applied.
Given the
timing, I ask
for
confirmation
of my ability
to enter,
forthwith.
Please confirm
receipt of
this message,
and the
above.
Thank you for
your
time,
Matthew
Russell Lee,
Esq., Inner
City Press
Past (and
future?)
Office at UN:
Room S-303, UN
HQ, NY NY
10017."
Then
after further
messages with
the UN which
are subject to
publication,
past 4 pm on
Friday, August
30 the UN
issued a
denial of
accreditation
with no
reasoning
other than
that
accreditation
had previously
been revoked:
"From:
malu
<malu@un.org>
Date: Fri, Aug
30, 2019 at
4:23 PM
Subject: U.N.
eAccreditation
request for
Matthew Lee
Ref # M5413398
has been
declined
To: Inner City
Press:
Greetings
Matthew Lee
from Inner
City
Press,
Your media
accreditation
request, with
reference no:
M5413398, has
been declined
for the
following
reason: Media
accreditation
was withdrawn
on 17 August
2018."
This is
Kafka-esque,
and corrupt.
We will have
more, much
more, on this.
August 26, 2019
Redacted
FOIA Response
Shows Al
Jazeera Bays
Telling VOA Of
Complaint To
Ban Inner City
Press
UN GATE,
August 24 – Amid Inner City Press' detailed
reporting on UN malfeasance it was targeted,
roughed up and banned now for 417 days from
entering the UN. Voice of America's UN
correspondent pushed
for the "review" of Inner City Press'
accreditation; later Al Jazeera's UN bureau
chief worked
with UNSG Antonio Guterres and his
spokesman Stephane Dujarric to get Inner City
Press physically roughed up and ousted.
Now
VOA's Margaret Besheer and Al Jazeera's James
Bays appear in belated Freedom of Information
Act response from VOA's parent, the "U.S.
Agency for Global Media." After delaying for
months, Inner City Press has now received a
flash drive full of heavily redacted
documents.
While
still reviewing them, there is an e-mail from
Al Jazeera's Bays to VOA's Besheer complaining
that a Carnegie Council for Ethics in
International Affairs article about UN media
coverage "mentions Inner City Press a para or
two after mentioning us. I think I'll complain
to the author. Poor research. [REDACTED]."
Tweeted photo of e-mail here.
Then Bays
and others at Al Jazeera, when Inner City Press
pointed out that Guterres' spokesman Dujarric
was given them private briefing in the UN Press
Briefing Room, conspired to have UN Security
Lieutenant Ronald E. Dobbins and six unnamed
roughed up Inner City Press and then ban it
without due process. Journalism is not a crime?
We'll have more on this.
August
19, 2019
In
Cameroon UNHCR
Partners With
Biya
Government In
Bamenda
Silence From
Guterres and
Fleming
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, August 17 –After
Paul Biya who
has ruled
Cameroon for 37
years on
January 28 had
his opponent
Maurice Kamto
arrested,
Inner City
Press again asked UN
Secretary
General Antonio
Guterres and
his spokesmen for
their comment
and action, if
any. This came
after Guterres
had Inner City
Press roughed
up on 3
July 2018
after it
interviewed Biya's
Ambassador
about the two
men's Budget
Committee
deals and banned
from the UN
since -
Guterres even tried
to get Inner
City Press
banned from
the Park East
Synagogue,
here, which
was denied /
dodged by his
French spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, who put
up then took
down a podcast
in which he
brags about
his "mutually
assured
destruction"
relationship
with
journalists, here.
Now with
Guterres gone
missing for two
weeks, this
from UNHCR of
his incoming Global Communicator
Melissa
Fleming: "The
situation in
the North West
and South West
regions
remained tense
in July, with
many
localities
being
destroyed and
persons
displaced as
fighting
continues
between
security
forces and
non-state
armed groups.
This, added to
the continuous
lockdowns in
the afflicted
areas and use
of explosives
by fighters
have increased
population
movements with
few people
only returning
for short
periods to
check on
family,
property or
harvest crops.
Between 22 and
26 July,
hostilities
forced an
estimated 50
households of
about 300
individuals in
Bafmeng, NW
region to move
to nearby
bushes.
Meanwhile, on
03 July, a
delegation of
UN Agencies
and Cluster
Leads led by
OCHA visited
the Regional
Humanitarian
Coordination
Centre to
discuss on
modalities for
the
distribution
of
humanitarian
assistance and
on 26 July,
heads of
Agencies met
in
UNHCR-Bamenda
to finalise on
the procedures
put in place
in partnership
with
government
through the
Regional
Humanitarian
Coordination
Centres (RHCC)
for
humanitarian
assistance to
persons of
concern in
these areas." This
while Guterres
conceals his
financial
links to CEFC
China Energy
and has Inner
City Press
banned for 409
days and
counting. And
what do
missing censor
Guterres, and
his Communicator Melissa Fleming who
has been
written to,
say? So far,
nothing. Watch
this site.
On July
22 Inner City
Press was provided
from Yaounde
with video a
protest in
prison by
people illegally detained. Inner
City Press
asked Guterres, his
deputy Amina
J. Mohammed,
his
vacationing
(in France)
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric and
his deputy
Farhan Haq:
"July 22-3: On
Cameroon,
after the SG
took Biya's
golden statue
and UN Budget
Committee
favors, what
are the
comments and
actions if any
from him and
separately DSG
Amina J.
Mohammed on
the protests
today by those
Ambazonians
illegally
detained in
Kondengui
Central
Prison?"
While Haq's
dying noon
briefing
lasted only
until 12:14 pm
he did not
answer this or
any other
written
question from
Inner City
Press, which
published the
video here.
August
12, 2019
In UN
OCHA Ghelani
Favorites Work
From Upstate
and
Telecommute in
Geneva Inner
City Press Is
Told
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, August 8 – The UN Secretariat is rotting
not only in its political function through
which Secretary General Antonio Guterres sided
for example with Cameroon dictator Paul Biya
while Biya's Ambasssador was chair of the UN
Budget Committee, but also in its
"humanitarian" arm, OCHA. Today Inner City
Press has this story, on this the 401st day it
has been banned without any due process from
entering the UN by Guterres whose Cameroon
(and China) connections it dared asked about
and continues to report on:
"Hello. I am a
former OCHA employee. I am writing under an
anonymous email due to my fear of
repercussions. Someone needs to investigate
the Director of Operations for UNOCHA, Reena
Ghelani. She has long played
"favorites," treating her inner circle well,
and treating her underlings abusively, but
everyone is scared to speak out, because she
is protected by senior OCHA leadership.
However, it has now gotten to the point where
it cannot be ignored any longer. Since being
promoted to head of the Operations Division
one year ago, she has begun rewarding her
favorites with ridiculous perks while making
the working lives of ordinary staff terrible.
Certain staff members are away for several
weeks or months at a time on annual leave and
sick leave, without any explanation, and yet
if she likes them, no questions are asked and
there are no consequences, they continue to
receive their paycheck, although everyone else
has to cover their work.
One such staff
member has just been given a "telecommuting"
job in Geneva, even though this person has no
real post (and is barely ever in the office,
arriving at 11am and leaving at 3pm when they
are there); meanwhile, Mrs. Ghelani has told
regular staff that they should not think of
taking advantage of flexible working
arrangements.
Another of the
inner circle works constantly from their home
"upstate," with no oversight and no
accountability. Senior OCHA leadership
was aware of all the problems with her
management style before she was promoted, and
was told not to select her, but they made
special arrangements to ensure she got the
position. Morale in the organization is at an
all time low because staff feel they have no
outlet to feedback, as Mrs. Ghelani has warned
many of them that their posts won't be renewed
in December." Since Guterres has had Inner
City Press roughed up and banned and the vast
majority of its written questions are not even
acknowledged much less answered, the above is
run as such. Inner City Press will add some of
the above to the written questions it submits
to Guterres and his spokesman Stephane
Dujarric - and now his Global Communicator
Melissa Fleming - and will report any
response, as well as the changes that must
come.
August
5, 2019
On
Cameroon and
Yemen UK FCO
Refuses Again
To Provide Any
Documents
Censorship
Like UK Smale
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, August 1 – As
the abuses by Cameroon's security
forces have been ignored by the UN, whose
Secretary General Antonio Guterres has UN Budget
Committee deals with Paul Biya and a
Memorandum of Understanding with Saudi
Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman who
is bombing Yemen, the UK Mission to
the UN and its parent
the FCO withheld
information on both countries
from Inner City Press.
Even after being belatedly
admonished by the UK
Information Commissioner's Office, now
in May and June 2019
the UK Mission
and FCO
are doing the same
and worse,
outright refusing
to proceeding
Inner City
Press' request
about Cameroon and
Yemen after
the UK Mission
refused to
answer basic
written
questions.
After the
UK Mission's
refusal, under
Ambassador's
Karen Pierce and
Jonathan
Allen,
to answer
Inner City
Press submitted
a FOIA request
to FCO: "This
is request
under the UK
Freedom of
Information
act for the
following
records as
that term is
defined in
FOI, including
but not
limited to all
electronic
records,
emails,
text/SMS
message and
communications
in any form,
involving the
UK Mission to
the UN in New
York since
July 3, 2018
regarding
Cameroon or
Yemen (on
which the UK
holds the pen
in the UN
Security
Council), and
regarding any
UK national UN
Under
Secretaries
General
including but
not limited to
Alison Smale
and any
opportunity
given by the
UN Secretariat
to the UK to
replace her or
gain a
different USG
position as
she leaves at
the end of
this summer.
This request
specifically
includes all
records
related to
briefings
given by the
UK Mission to
the UN to
members of the
major
international
media (and any
mentions of
that term), as
that
information
cannot
legitimately
by made public
to some but
not to the
public"
While
last time, for
which it was
ultimately
admonished,
the FCO slowed
began
assembling
documents,
this time they
flatly refuse:
"I can confirm
that the FCO
does hold
information
relevant to
your
request.... to
refine your
request to
narrow its
scope
[suggesting
dropping
Cameroon,
Yemen, and
pretending no
way to search
for documents
about Smale or
getting UN
USG
positions from
Guterres] ..
You can apply
directly to
the
Information
Commissioner.
However, the
Information
Commissioner
will not
normally make
a decision
unless you
have first
exhausted the
complaints
procedure
provided by
the FCO."
On
July 4, Inner
City Press has
written both
to the FCO and
the ICO. The ICO
said it would
wait until FCO
ruled, which
it has today
August 1, in
continued
corruption. To the
FCO, cc-ing
two at the UK
Mission
including
Stephen
Hickey: "July
4, 2019
Via email to
foi-dpa.pmcs@fco.gov.uk
To whom it may
concern at
foi-dpa.pmcs@fco.gov.uk:
This is a
formal request
for review of,
and complaint
about, FCO's
June 15 denial
in full of
Inner City
Press' and my
May 11 request
under FOIA for
documents
concerning the
UK Mission to
the UN, Yemen
and
Cameroon.
Amazingly,
despite the UK
ICO's 26
February 2019
ruling on the
FCO's improper
delay and
withholding of
records on an
nearly
identical
request by
Inner City
Press
(FS50771047,
incorporated
herein by
reference),
and with the
UK Mission to
the UN now
refusing to
answer or even
acknowlege
Inner City
Press' written
questions
about Cameroon
and Yemen, the
FCO denied
this reques in
full.
It did not
provide a
single
documents,
even amid the
controversy
about the UK's
sale of
weapons for
use in Yemen,
and increasing
visibility of
the slaugher
of Anglophones
in Cameroon,
with whose
Paul Biya Liam
Fox bragged
about UK-based
New Age's
hydro-carbon
deal.
Additionally,
UK Under
Sec-Gen Alison
Smale is set
to leave in
August, making
the censorship
portion of the
request all
the more
timely.
Hence this
request for
review - and
for action for
accountability
for those who
are improperly
withholding
information
about the UK
government,
censorship and
the killing of
civilians in
Cameroon and
Yemen.
The requested
records should
be provided
immediately."
Four weeks
later, this:
"INTERNAL
REVIEW:
FREEDOM OF
INFORMATION
ACT (FOIA)
REQUEST REF
0459-19 Thank
you for your
email of 4
July
requesting an
internal
review (IR) of
our response
to the above
request. I
note that your
original
request
covered a time
period of
approximately
10 months and
was widely
framed in
terms of the
type of
information
you were
seeking. I
also note that
we suggested
you might wish
to refine your
request before
we accepted
it, and that
you declined
the
opportunity to
do so. I am
satisfied that
an appropriate
sampling
exercise was
carried out to
ascertain how
much
information we
might hold in
scope of your
request. The
results of
that initial
search
indicated that
there were
several
thousand
documents
which might
potentially
contain
relevant
information. I
am therefore
satisfied that
it would have
taken us
considerably
longer than
three and a
half working
days to comply
with your
request, and
that the
decision to
refuse it
under s12 of
the FOIA was
correct. In
your IR
request you
refer to a
request you
made for
similar
information in
2017 (FCO ref
0783-17) and
the subsequent
ICO Decision
Notice on that
case. I note,
however, that
your 2017
request had
been refined
to cover a
much shorter
time frame and
we were thus
able to
respond
substantively
to it within
the specified
cost limit.
For your
information, I
have attached
below some
links to
published
material
relating to
your request
that may be of
interest to
you.
Yemen:
https://www.gov.uk/search/news-and-
communications?keywords=yemen&world_locations%5B%5D=uk-mission-to-the-united-
nations-new-york&order=relevance
Cameroon:
Statement by
Ambassador
Jonathan
Allen, UK
Deputy
Permanent
Representative
to the UN, at
the Security
Council
briefing on
Conflict
Prevention and
Mediation:
‘The role of
mediation
in
conflict
prevention’,
published 12
June 2019
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-role-
of-mediation-in-conflict-prevention
Central FOI
Unit Foreign
and
Commonwealth
Office King
Charles Street
London SW1A
2AH Website:
https://www.gov.uk
Statement by
Ambassador
Jonathan
Allen, UK
Deputy
Permanent
Representative
to the UN, at
the Security
Council
briefing on
the UN
Regional
Office on
Central
Africa:
‘Inclusive
political
dialogue in
Central
Africa’,
published 4
June 2019
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/inclusive-political-dialogue-in-central-africa
Statement by
Ambassador
Jonathan
Allen, UK
Deputy
Permanent
Representative
to the UN, at
the Security
Council
Briefing on
the UN
Regional
Office on
Central
Africa:
‘Preventing
further
conflict in
Cameroon and
the Lake Chad
Basin’,
published 13
December
2018
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/preventing-further-conflict-in-cameroon-and-the-lake-
chad-basin
If you are not
content with
the outcome of
this Internal
Review you
have the right
to apply
directly to
the
Information
Commissioner
for a
decision. The
Information
Commissioner
can be
contacted at:
Information
Commissioner’s
Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire, SK9
5AF Yours
sincerely,
Joint Head
Central FOI
Unit."
We will be
appealing. Because
this is pure
corruption -
first
colluding with
Antonio
Guterres to have
the Press
which asks
about Cameroon
and Yemen
roughed up and
banned, then
refusing its
questions,
then trying to
strong
arm it into
dropping whole
parts of its
FOI
request. Disgusting.
Watch this
site.
July
29, 2019
UN
Child Rape In
DRC By Morocco
Peacekeeper
Resulted in
Pregnancy
Covered Up By
Guterres 3
Days
UNITED
NATIONS GATE, July 26 -- UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres says
he has a "zero
tolerance"
policy for
sexual abuse,
exploitation
and harassment,
and for
retaliation.
But on March
15 he took his
administration's "press
briefing"
about UN
sexual abuse off the
record,
in a room he
has banned
Inner City Press
which most
asks about it
from for 388
days.
At 11
am on
the morning of
July 23
the UN data
dumped a serious
new charge, of child
rape by a Moroccan UN
Peacekeeper in
the DR Congo.
This comes a week
after this
pick up
in TRT
and elsewhere
of Inner
City Press'
scoop on
Guterres
poised to
reward Colin Stewart with
re-appointment
atop
MINURSO
despite sexual
harassment
charges UN
staff complain
to Inner City Press
about. To
Guterres, his
deputy
Amina
J. Mohammed
and two
spokesmen, Inner
City Press immediately in
writing asked:
"This is a
Press request
that you
immediately
provide all
if-asked and
additional
information
about the new
allegation of
SEA by a
Moroccan UN
Peacekeeper -
apparently,
rape of a
child - in the
DRC, uploaded
after 11 am on
July 23,
including what
if being done
for the child
victim and any
steps taken to
avoid this
constant
repetition of
abuse despite
the SG's
ostensible
commitments.
Inner City
Press is
asking in
writing
because banned
from briefing
and any follow
up questions,
now for [more
than] a year."
For
three whole days
Guterres'
UN did
not answer or
even
acknowledge
the question.
Inner City
Press wrote
about it each
day, and its
readers - even
those
following for
coverage
of the Jeffrey
Epstein case
in the SDNY -
marveled
at Guterres'
cover up of
child rapes.
That may
continue, but
on July 26
from acting
Spokesman
Farhan Haq,
which we immediately
publish:
"In
response to
your
question[s] --
The
United Nations
Organization
Stabilization
Mission in the
Democratic
Republic of
the Congo
(MONUSCO) has
received an
allegation of
sexual abuse
involving a
Moroccan
military
contingent
member
formerly
deployed to
the
Mission.
The allegation
refers to the
rape of a
minor that
allegedly took
place from
January to
March 2019 and
resulted in
pregnancy. The
UN has
informed the
Member State
of the
allegation and
a National
Investigation
Officer has
been appointed
within the
timeframe
requested. The
investigation
will be
conducted
jointly by the
Member State
and
OIOS.
The mission
has offered
appropriate
assistance to
the victim in
line with the
UN’s victim
assistance
protocols."
July
22, 2019
UN
Welcomed
Jeffrey
Epstein
Associate
Ghislaine
Maxwell For
TerraMar
Abruptly
Disappeared
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, July 20 – With Jeffrey Epstein
remanded on child sex trafficking charges to
the Metropolitan Correctional Center, his
associate Ghislaine Maxwell has closed down
her TerraMar Project which had been welcomed
in the United Nations in the Secretary
General's press briefing room, before UNSG Antonio
Guterres had Inner City Press thrown
out.
On 25
June 2013 Ghislaine
Maxwell appeared in the UN
briefing room pitching
TerraMar. Inner City Press asked
questions, for example on this
video from 7:12.
Then
this:
From:
G Max <ghislaine@theterramarproject.org>
Date: Fri, Jun 28, 2013
at 9:38 AM
Subject: The TerraMar
Project To: matthew.lee [at] innercitypress.com
Dear Matthew, It was a
pleasure to meet you. As
promised, here is some
information on the
TerraMar Project – you
can see all the latest
press if you go to
http://theterramarproject.org/thedailycatch/category/press/
- the UN talk, Bloomberg
and CNN being the
latest. Don’t forget to
apply for your passport
at
theterramarproject.org –
your citizenship is
pre-approved! Best,
Ghislaine
Inner City
Press has
been on Terramar's mailing
list since. As recently as
July 11, 2019 TerraMar sent
out an email about
clownfish. But now its
website says "The TerraMar
Project is sad to announce
that it will cease all
operations. The web site
will be closed."
As so
often at the UN under
Guterres, corruption once
exposed just tries to slink
away. Guterres is
financially linked to CEFC
China Energy. When CEFC's
Patrick Ho was indicted and
convicted for UN bribery,
Guterres never started any
audit but instead has Inner
City Press which asked
roughed up and and thrown
out, 382 days now. But the
net is tightening. And there are others
connected;
more on
Patreon here.
Watch
that and this site.
Epstein had
his bail application denied on July 18 and
will remain in the Metropolitan Correctional
Center. His next court appearance is July 31.
Judge Richard M. Berman of the U.S.
District Court
for the
Southern
District of
New York gave
a summary of
his
forthcoming
written order,
saying that
Epstein is a
danger to the
community
and citing the
July 15 testimony of
victims Annie
Farmer and
Courtney Wild.
He called the
proposed bail
package
woefully inadequate
and added his
view that no
package would
have outweighed the
danger to the
community. The
public's
interest in a
speedy trial was
outweighed by
the need
to prevent any
miscarriage of
justice.
Meanwhile
the SDNY
prosecutors more quietly cut a
cooperation
agreement with
another child
sex
trafficking
Anthony Darby.
Inner City
Press had gone to
the SDNY
courtroom of
Judge Paul
Engelmayer to
cover another
matter. But
inside the
courtroom a shackled
man was
pleading guilty.
The courtroom
deputy came
over to say
this was not
the case Inner
City Press had
come to cover.
But Inner
City Press
stayed to
cover it. Soon
Assistant US
Attorney
Wolf requested
a sidebar with
Judge Engelmayer.
The reason quickly
became
clear. Darby
was pleading guilty
to 14 counts,
sex trafficking
of minor
and conspiracy,
in exchange
for
cooperation he
would get a
5K1.1 letter -
in April 2020.
Judge Engelmayer
to his credit,
unlike at
least two
other SDNY Judges,
did not
lawlessly order
the Press to leave.
And for
that reason
for now Inner
City Press is
reporting only
these bare
bones facts: that
amid criticism
of the
Jeffrey
Epstein non prosecution
agreement, this
Darby deal is
taking place
in the SDNY.
Is it a good
deal? We'll
have more on this.
That
Jeffrey Epstein,
now in the Metropolitan Correctional
Center by
Foley Square, would
be denied
bail on
July 18 at
11:30 am
was widely predicted.
On July
17, after
Judge Berman
moved the time
for his
decision from
9:30 to 11:30
am the next
day, Assistant
US Attorney
Alison Moe
wrote to him: "The
Government
respectfully
submits this
letter to
briefly
respond to one
aspect of the
defendant’s
July 16, 2019
letter (ECF
No. 24), and
to provide the
Court with
additional
information
regarding the
defendant’s
foreign
passport. The
defendant’s
July 16, 2019
letter
asserts: “[A]s
for the
Austrian
passport the
government
trumpets, it
expired 32
years ago. And
the government
offers nothing
to suggest—and
certainly no
evidence—that
Epstein ever
used it.” (ECF
No. 24 at 7).
In fact, the
passport
contains
numerous
ingress and
egress stamps,
including
stamps that
reflect use of
the passport
to enter
France, Spain,
the United
Kingdom, and
Saudi Arabia
in the 1980s.
The Government
further notes
that the
defendant’s
submission
does not
address how
the defendant
obtained the
foreign
passport and,
more
concerning,
the defendant
has still not
disclosed to
the Court
whether he is
a citizen or
legal
permanent
resident of a
country other
than the
United States." Watch
this site.
July
15, 2019
UN
Briber Patrick
Ho In Appeal
Reveals More
Lobbying In UN
For China Met
Croatia
President No
Audit
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, July 13 – Patrick Ho was sentenced
to 36 months in jail on March 25 for UN
bribery and having "sold weapons
enthusiastically," along with a $400,000 fine
imposed by U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York Judge Loretta
Preska.
During his
trial, covered every day by Inner City Press
which was and is banned from entering the UN
amid its reporting linking current UN
Secretary General Antonio Guterres to the
scandal through the Gulbenkian Foundation from
his he received payments undisclosed on his
public financial form covering 2016, an audio
clip was played for the jury, see below.
Now in
mid July Ho has filed his appeal in the Second
Circuit Court of Appeals. While Inner City
Press is still pouring over the hundreds of
pages in the Appendices, including many
exhibits which the U.S. Attorney's Office
never despite requests made available, even
the first day of review finds that Patrick Ho
met through the UN, among others, Croatia's
President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović (to go
along with CEFC's purchase of the Czech
Republic as then chair of UN ECOSOC) and the
foreign minister of Turkey. We'll have more on
this - note that the Guterres-supporting UN
Correspondents Association had a First Vice
President then as now promoting the Turkish
government.
There is
also this line from Ho's report to Ye on his
UN lobbying at the highest levels: We, China
Energy Fund Committee, are willing to provide
support and assistance in the selection of
programs and topics by the United Nations. In
return, hopes that they would give more
consideration to the China factor and more
voices to China when formulating
programs.”
So how
is is possible that Antonio Guterres has
refused to even begin a UN Office of Internal
Oversight Services of CEFC China Energy's
lobbying and bribery in the UN? When CEFC
sought to pay Gulbenkian Foundation which made
undisclosed payments to Guterres? Inner City
Press, now banned by Guterres from entering
the UN for 375 days and counting, will have
more, much more, on this.
Inner
City Press has also reported on CEFC's Ye giving
an expensive diamond to Hunter Biden who was
with UN World Food Program USA, here.
We'll have more on this, too.
Nigeria UN
Mission Ran Over NY Paralegal
And Now Cites Preexisting
Condition In SDNY
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, July 10 – A
few blocks
from the
United Nations
on 49th Street
and Second
Avenue on 6
April 2018
Jennifer A.
Edward was
heading to her
work as a
lawfirm
paralegal when
a Nigerian
Mission to the
UN vehicle
struck her,
causing
serious
injury.
The vehicle's
registration
and insurance
were both
expired, in
violation of
the U.S.
Diplomatic
Relations Act.
The
driver who was
working for
Nigeria's
Mission had
previously had
accidents. But
Nigeria and
its mission
refused to
pay, or even
fo months to
respond to the
lawsuit that
was filed, and
legally served
as far away as
Nigeria. Call
it impunity,
so prevalent
in and around
the
UN.
On
July 10 the
case came up
before U.S.
District Court
for the
Southern
District of
New York Judge
Paul G.
Gardephe.
While denying
Ms. Edward's
motion for
default
judgment,
Judge Gardephe
essentially
mocked the
Nigerian
Mission's
argument that
they needed
more time to
explore the
issue of
pre-existing
condition.
Ms.
Edward is in
her 20s, and
has run a New
York City
marathon. The
Nigerian
mission in
belated
filings with
Judge Gardephe
has tried to
blame their
failure to
response on
the recent
elections
leading to the
continuation
of rule by
President
Buhari.
Inner
City Press,
having seen
Buhari's
administration
engage in
illegal refoulement
to Cameroon,
unremarked on
by the UN's
Nigerian
Deputy
Secretary
General Amina
J. Mohammed,
and having
seen the UN
claim impunity
for cholera in
Haiti and
roughing up
and banning
the Press in
New York, went
to cover the
July 10
proceeding.
Afterward
it spoke
generally with
Ms. Edward's
lawyer Scott
A. Harford. He
explained the
difficulty of
getting the
lawsuit served
in Nigeria,
and the lack
of
responsiveness
by the U.S.
Mission to the
UN which is
supposed to
ensure that
other
countries'
Missions to
the UN at
least maintain
car insurance.
The
case is moving
to Magistrate
Judge Debra C.
Freeman, more
on Patreon here, and Inner City
Press will
continue to
cover and
pursue this
and other
related cases
against
impunity. July 8,
2019
After
UN Guterres
Had Inner City
Press Roughed
Up De Blasio
Office Delays
1 Year on FOIL
UNITED
NATIONS GATE, July 4 – Antonio Guterres is
killing the UN, including with his failure in
Cameroon and elsewhere and his lawless
censorship of Press, now at 365 days, a full
year. He's put the UN in the Press Freedom
Tracker,here.
And so on 3 July 2019,this
video.
Precisely one year before this report, the day
after being targeted and roughed up by
Guterres' guard Ronald E. Dobbins and another
unnamed, Inner City Press went to the NYPD's
17th Precinct with its torn shirt and damaged
laptop to file a complaint. At first it was
told, flatly, that the UN is entirely immune.
Then once they heard the story, the NYPD took
down a complaint,here.But
the UN including its "investigator" Ben
Swanson of OIOS, shownhere,
have done nothing about it.
So
Inner City Press submitted a New York Freedom
of Information Law question to the Office of
the Mayor, which works with - and praises -
the UN. Now a year later, there is only delay
and run around, or cover up: "From:
<donotreply [at] records.nyc.gov> Date:
Fri, Jun 28, 2019 at 11:57 AM Subject:
[OpenRecords] Request FOIL-2018-002-00511
Extended To: <matthew.lee [at]
innercitypress.com>
The
Mayor's Office (OOM) has extended the time to
respond to your FOIL request
FOIL-2018-002-00511 for the following
reasons: You can expect a response on or
about Friday, August 30, 2019.
Additional Information: Due to the
volume of requests that we have received, we
now estimate that we will be able to provide
you with a response on or before the above
date. Please visit
FOIL-2018-002-00511 to view additional
information and take any necessary
action. Request Information: Request
Title: All records about United Nations
"banned" lists, exclusions of people,
discipline of UNDSS Request Description:
On behalf of Inner City Press and in my
personal capacity this is a request under FOIL
for all records in the possession of the NYC
Office of the Mayor including the Mayor’s
Office for International Affairs (MOIA;
collectively OOM) regarding the exclusion of
persons in the last three years from premises
of the United Nations, in and around First
Avenue and 42-48th Streets in Manhattan,
including of NYC residents including
journalists. This is also a request for all
records in the same time period of the review,
suspension or revocation of pistol permits for
any UN personnel including but not limited to
UN Department of Safety and Security personnel
and the grounds therefore. To assist you in
identifying and producing the responsive
records on an expedited basis, I personally
was physically ousted from the UN by UN DSS
Lieutenant Ronald Dobbins and another unnamed
on 3 July 2018 as I staked out and covered, as
a journalist, the UN Budget Committee
meetings. On 4 July 2018 I filed a report at
the NYPD's 17th Precinct, despite being told -
erroneously I now believe, including based on
how my First Amendment rights have been
impacted - that all UN personnel have total
immunity. The report number is #2018-017-2848.
See also,
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/matthew-lee-un-attacks-reporter-journalist-inner-city-press-a8445081.html
On 5 July 2018 when I went to the UN to
continue my work as a journalist I was told I
am “banned.” I have since been told that the
UN has a “current and active barred notice”
against me, that there is a banned list that
includes “demonstrators” and “political
activists.” I am still banned today, after 104
days. See also,this.
I find this deeply troubling and worth of
urgent Press coverage. This request includes
but is not limited to all records related to
the above, related to any knowledge by OOM
including MOIA of any UN “banned” list and how
it is compiled, and what due process
protections if any are in place, etc. Also any
knowledge by OOM including MOIA of any
disciplinary measures taken against UN
Security officers or other personnel, at least
for the past three years. I am also requesting
any record in your possession referring to
"Inner City Press" for the past ten years,
with the past three years to be provided on an
expedited basis." A year later, nothing....
and Iowa.
In
Guterres' UN there has been entirely
unaddressedbribery,
including offers of weapons for oil by UN non
governmental organization China Energy Fund
Committee of Ye Jianming which Guterres
refuses to even audit - whileroughing
upandbanningthe
Press which asks him about it.
July 1,
2019
On
Cameroon UN
Guterres Who
Sold Out For
Budget Favors
Now Embraces
Swiss Bid
Echoing
Burundi
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, June 28 –After
Paul Biya who
has ruled
Cameroon for 37
years on
January 28 had
his opponent
Maurice Kamto
arrested,
Inner City
Press again asked UN
Secretary
General Antonio
Guterres and
his spokesmen for
their comment
and action, if
any. This came
after Guterres
had Inner City
Press roughed
up on 3
July 2018
after it
interviewed Biya's
Ambassador
about the two
men's Budget
Committee
deals and banned
from the UN
since -
Guterres even tried
to get Inner
City Press
banned from
the Park East
Synagogue,
here, which
was denied /
dodged by his
French spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, who put
up then took
down a podcast
in which he
brags about
his "mutually
assured
destruction"
relationship
with
journalists, here.
Now on June 28
Guterres had tried
to erase his
failure and
failure of
credibility on
Cameroon by
embracing an
attempt by
Switzerland to
do what
Guterres
couldn't do -
he should be
fired - and
didn't even
try to do,
after a golden
statue and UN
Budget
Committee favors
by then-chair
Cameroon (this
is
corruption). Guterres'
spokesman
Dujarric says:
"The
Secretary-General
welcomes the
announcement
made by the
Swiss Federal
Department of
Foreign
Affairs on 27
June on its
efforts to
facilitate a
resolution of
the crisis in
the North-West
and South-West
regions of
Cameroon
through a
dialogue
process. He
expresses the
full backing
of the United
Nations to
this endeavour
and reaffirms
his readiness
to support it
as necessary.
He encourages
all parties to
participate in
this process
and commends
the
Cameroonian
authorities
and other
stakeholders
for this
positive
step.
The
Secretary-General
reiterates the
need for all
Cameroonian
stakeholders
to engage in
an inclusive
and genuine
political
dialogue to
address the
challenges
facing the
country.
Stéphane
Dujarric,
Spokesman for
the
Secretary-General
New York, 28
June 2019."
Both have censored
the Press for
nearly
one year.
June 24,
2019
The
Onion Mocks
UNSG Guterres
As Captured By
China But
Pompous Media
Celebrate Him
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, June 20 – Antonio Guterres has turned
the UN into a joke, literally. His refusal to
even speak much less act on China's mass
jailing of a million Uighurs by China on June
20 was mocked in the satiric publication The
Onion, here.
Combined with Guterres' cover up through physical
censorship of his financial links with UN briber
CEFC China Energy, it adds weight to the
demand this week by Rohinga groups that
Guterres resign as UN Secretary General. The
only ones who seem not to get the joke are
those Guterres surrounds himself with: his
Deputy Amina J. Mohammed with an equally
laughable approach to the environment after
backdating thousands of certificates to export
endangered rosewood
from Nigeria and Cameroon
to China, and the largely state
media, but also sycophantic Western
correspondents, Guterres "raised
a glass" with on the night of June 20,
after the Onion's publication.
Mirroring others,
Guterres cultivates a fawning media and
punishes and bans critical press. A year ago
Inner City Press from inside the UN covered
his failure to hold a press conference in five
months, while he planned to "raise a glass"
with correspondents who never criticized him.
(In fact, China has a veto on this group's
board, here.)
Soon
after, on 22 June 2018, Guterres had his
Security led by Lt Ronald E. Dobbins
physically push Inner City Press out of the
UN, video here,
a precursor to worse.
Here's
another joke: on June 20, with Inner City
Press banned
by Guterres from any entry of the UN for 351
days, the UN Correspondents Association
celebrated him in the UN General Assembly
lobby, where he bloviated about press freedom
while himself censoring.
This
came two days after Uighur groups called
Guterres shameful - but UNCA celebrated him.
This
came the same day as Rohingya groups said
Guterres should resign for failure and
collusion. But UNCA celebrated him.
In
fact, UNCA sells him, raising money off him at
Cipriani in a total conflict of interest: the
UN Censorship Alliance.
This as
Guterres, while covering
up his links to UN
briber CEFC China Energy, doesn't even
live up to his spokesman Stephane Dujarric's statement
that there would be a UN statement after
Guterres' "counter-terrorism" envoy's
bluewashing trip to Xinjiang
where China mass jails Uighurs.
With Guterres
and his spokesman refusing
to answer Press questions,
now Inner City Press has in
writing asked them to
respond to this: "Dolkun
Isa, president of theWorld
Uyghur Congress, called the
Xinjiang visit by Voronkov
“an irrevocable mistake on
the part of General
Secretary Guterres.”
“It is truly shameful for
the UN that its Under
Secretary for
Counterterrorism Vladimir
Voronkov visited East
Turkestan and China at a
time anywhere from one to
three million Uyghurs have
been locked up in Chinese
concentration camps for more
than two years,” he told RFA
on Monday. “This
official visit, approved by
the UN General Secretary
Antonio Guterres, allows
China to link its crimes
against humanity in East
Turkestan as a necessary
counterterrorism measure."
Those
who frolic on the North Lawn with Guterres are
complicit.A notice leaked by disgusted but
complicity UN correspondents:
"The United
Nations Correspondents Association has the
pleasure to invite you to the launch of the
2019 UNCA Directory. We are
delighted to announce that the annual
reception will once again be held outdoors on
the North Lawn facing the East River.
Regional food, wine, cocktails, beer and more
will be served! SAVE THE DATE
Wednesday, June 19th 6:00 - 8:30 pm North
Lawn, UNHQ Opening Remarks by UN
Secretary-General António Guterres 6:30
pm Come and receive your copy of
the new UNCA Directory!! Please
RSVP by FRIDAY, June 14th to
rsvpuncaevents@gmail.com The event
is open to all UN correspondents *You must
hold a valid UN ID to attend the
event See you on the
19th!"
Cocktails
with a genocide apologist in the UN lobby would
seem like satire - but it happened.
June
10, 2019
In
Cameroon Pro
Biya Media
Echo UNSG
Envoy Fall
Praise of
Killing
Quoting
Guterres NGOs
Fine With
Censorship
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, June 7 –After
Paul Biya who
has ruled
Cameroon for
36 years on
January 28 had
his opponent
Maurice Kamto
arrested,
Inner City
Press again asked UN
Secretary
General Antonio
Guterres and
his spokesmen for
their comment
and action, if
any. This came
after Guterres
had Inner City
Press roughed
up on 3
July 2018
after it
interviewed Biya's
Ambassador
about the two
men's Budget
Committee
deals and banned
from the UN
since -
Guterres even tried
to get Inner
City Press
banned from
the Park East
Synagogue,
here, which
was denied /
dodged by his
French spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, who put
up then took
down a podcast
in which he
brags about
his "mutually
assured
destruction"
relationship
with
journalists, here.
On
June 4
Guterres' envoy
Francois Fall told
the UN
Security
Council, in French,
that Paul Biya's
government is
providing aid.
Tellingly, he
quoted
Guterres on the
territorial
integrity of
Cameroun. Now
pro Biya
media there has celebrated
Guterres' sell
out: "Guinean
François
Louncény Fall
who heads the
UN Regional
Office for
Central Africa
hailed the
Cameroonian
government’s
peacekeeping
actions
towards
settling the
ongoing
Anglophone
crisis. This
was yesterday
June 4 during
an office
briefing.
He also
encouraged
authorities to
conduct a
further
inclusive
dialog with
separatists as
to find a
lasting
solution to
the crisis.
According to
Mr. Fall, this
is the best
way to
preserve the
country's
stability,
which is vital
for the
sub-region. In
that regard,
he welcomed
the
announcement
from Prime
Minister,
Joseph Dion
Ngute, on 9
May saying
President Paul
Biya was ready
to engage in
dialog on all
issues, except
those related
to
“separation”
and
“secession.”
This is a
“step in the
right
direction,”
said the UN
representative.
However, he
pointed out,
despite these
positive
achievements,
the situation
continues to
deteriorate
with frequent
riots between
secessionist
armed groups
and national
defense and
security
forces."
Riots?
On June
4 France
through deputy
Anne Gueguen
said much the
same; Belgium, as
translated,
referred to
the
"management of
trans-humans."
The UK's
deputy Jonathan
Allen said the
UK shares
Guterres'
view. Maybe
that's why his
Mission
withheld
Cameroon and
Yemen
documents from
Inner City
Press, and
minister Liam
Fox bragged of
UK-based
New Age Oil's
deal with
Biya.
Inner
City Press live
tweeted
the shameful
UNSC session
and uploaded
Fall's failing
statement here. June 3,
2019
After
Inner City
Press
Exclusive on
Human
Trafficking by
NY Qatar
Royals They
Brandish US
State Dept For
Low Ball
Settlement
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, June 1 – The Qatar ruling family's
abuse of employees and laws was exposed
in an off the record initial conference at in the U.S.
District Court for the
Southern District of New
York on February 14; Inner
City Press was the only media present.
Inner City
Press wrote an exclusive story that day,
February 14, then more in the following few
days as more sources contacted us. Now it has
learned that the UK's Daily Mail days later on
February 21 false claimed an exclusive on the
story, here.
Now Inner City
Press can report that the
Qatari royals' lawyers are on the cusp of
succeeding in
burying the case in
mediation by JAMS. A low-ball settlement
- except for attorneys fees -- been been submitted
to SDNY Judge
J. Paul Oetken on
June 1. The total
is $150,000, fully
half being
attorneys'
fees;
it is signed
by the royals
without any
admission.
Tellingly,
the cover
letter states
that "Defendants
– who are
members of the
royal family of
Qatar – noted
that if they
received
certification
from the State
Department, they
would
potentially be
considered
diplomats
entitled to full
immunity,
resulting in
immediate
dismissal of the
litigation for
lack of subject
matter
jurisdiction." So the
Qatar royals used
the threat of
support from
the U.S. State
Department to
cover up human
trafficking.
We'll have
more on this - and there is
more on
Patreon, here.
May 27, 2019
On
Cameroon Biya
Rep Praises
Sisi in Egypt
Who UN
Guterres Also
Favors for
Censorship
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, May 22 – After
the UN
Security
Council on May
13 held belated
"Arria
formula"
session about
Cameroon, an
informal one with
no outcome on
which even
co-sponsors
Germany and
the UK refused
to answer
Press
questions,
hypocrisy and
cover
up of the UN's
failure remain
evident.
Video by
banned Inner
City Press here.
Inner City
Press has asked
UNSG
Antonio Guterres
and his
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric and
others, "May
22-5: On
Cameroon, what
is the SG's
comment if any
and action if
any at all on
for example
that Paul
Biya's forces
reportedly
shot dead 4
month old
Martha in
Muyuka on 20th
May?"
Now Egypt,
whose
strongman Sisi
pals around
with UNSG
Guterres who
has handed
investigative
Inner City
Press' long
time work
space in the
UN to a Sisi
state
media Akhbar
al Youm whose
retired
correspondent Saana
Youssef has
not asked a
question in
years
is lavishing
praise for its
business with
Paul Biya's
Cameroun: in Cairo,
"Cameroon
Ambassador in
Cairo
Mohamadou
Labarang
commended the
strenuous
efforts
exerted by
Egyptian
President
Abdel Fattah
El Sisi to
realize
development in
Africa.
The diplomat
made the
remarks late
Monday during
a ceremony
held at the
embassy on the
Cameroon
national
day.
Labarang
lauded the
efforts
exerted by
Egypt under
Sisi - the
current chair
of the African
Union - to
unite the
continent and
carry out
development
projects.
Thanks to
Sisi, the
African free
trade
agreement will
go into effect
by the end of
May, he
said.
He noted that
the
Egypt-Cameroon
ties are
excellent at
the political
level, voicing
hope that the
two sides
would further
cooperation in
the economic
score in the
coming
period.
Meanwhile,
Egypt's Deputy
Assistant
Foreign
Minister for
African
Affairs Maher
el Adawi
underlined the
depth of ties
between Egypt
and African
countries.
He noted that
Sisi ordered
all state
bodies to
further ties
with African
countries,
referring to
Sisi's visits
to African
states.
He added that
Sisi will
embark on a
tour in
eastern and
southern
African states
within the
coming few
days."
The blathering
about business
with Biya is
just blood
money. Inside
the UN,
Guterres'
Global Censor
Alison Smale,
now
leaving in
August, controls
a propaganda
channel called
UN News and a
sycophantic
press corpse
including
Sisi's retiree while
mantaining
her ghoulish
no due process
ban on Inner
City Press, now
in its 325th
day. We'll
have more on
this.
May 20,
2019
On
Cameroon After
Belated UNSC
Arria Ends
With No
Answers Biya
Brags As
Greenlight to
Genocide
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, May 15 – After
the UN
Security
Council held belated
"Arria
formula"
session about
Cameroon, an
informal one with
no outcome on
which even
co-sponsors
Germany and
the UK refused
to answer
Press
questions,
hypocrisy and
cover
up of the UN's
failure remain
evident.
Video here.
Because
it was
an informal
meeting and
the proponents
would not
answer
questions and
Antonio
Guterres' UN
has yet to
provide
requested information
to Inner City
Press, it has
allowed Paul
Biya's
government to
claim,
in
effect, that
no meeting took
place: "Some
member states
of the United
Nations
Security
Council had an
informal
meeting on
Monday to
discuss the
worsening
humanitarian
crisis in the
Anglophone
region of
Cameroon.
A communiqué
issued by the
Cameroonian
Ministry of
External
Relations
however denied
reports of a
UN Security
Council
Meeting on the
Anglophone
region
crisis.
According to
the communiqué
no such
meeting is
scheduled.
The communiqué
further stated
that, this
meeting was a
‘’ free
consultation
entirely
outside of the
Council on the
initiative of
certain
members who
are interested
in the
humanitarian
situation in
Cameroon.’‘
It further
added that
outcomes of
this meeting
will not be
binding on the
government
since the
meeting was
informal as
specified by
Cameroon’s
diplomacy."
Guterres and
the member
states who
support his
censorship
have their
role in this.
As with Sri
Lanka, it
ends up being
a greenlight
to genocide.
The
meeting ended
without any
outcome, after
Paul Biya's
longtime
Ambassador
Tommo Monthe
lashed out at
social media as UNSG
Antonio Guterres
does. Monthe
told Inner
City Press, as
it asked about Biya
cutting
the Internet
in the Anglophone
zones, that Inner
City Press
could get
thrown out of
the UN. And
it was, by
Guterres, now
313 days and
counting.
In the
meeting, China
said the Biya can
impose law and
order - Xinjiang
style,
some wondered,
through Guterres'
alliance with
China is even
larger, including
as their CEFC
China Energy
tried to buy the
oil company of
Gulbekian
Foundation which
paid Guterres.
France's
Francois
Delattre said his
country will
work with
Biya.
The EU's
João Vale de
Almeida, who tweeted
a selfie with
Monthe
before the
meeting
assuring him
the EU would
be support, came
through. He
and the EU Mission
have done
nothing about
Guterres' open
censorship.
These people
are killing
the UN.
Inner
City Press,
banned from
entering the
UN for the
313th day in a
row, asked UK
Deputy
Ambassador
Jonathan Allen
when his
country expected
to get out of
the meeting.
He said,
"Hello
Matthew" but
just like his
Mission, no substantive
answer. Video
here.
Inside
the meeting,
he expressed surprise
that the UK is
viewed as pro
Paul
Biya, ignoring
that his
minister Liam
Fox bragged
about UK-based
New Age's oil
deal
with Biya.
Germany's
speech was
even less focused;
they
have not
answered Inner
City Press'
Cameroon's
questions, or
done anything
about
the UN's
censorship of
the Press.
(Inner
City Press
went and began
interested at
the Ambazonia
/ Southern Cameroons
demonstration
in the 47th
Street
park, in the
rain,
video here.)
May 13,
2019
On
Cameroon Inner
City Press
Asked UK About
May 13 UNSC
Arria No
Answer So FOI
Request
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, May 11 – The UK
which bragged
about its New
Age hydro
carbons deal
with Paul
Biya's Cameroon
now has
refused to
answer basic
Press
questions
about
Cameroon, even
about a UN
Security
Council Arria
meeting which
it is co
sponsoring. So
Inner City
Press has again
submitted a Freedom
of Information
request to the UK
FCO, below.
After
Paul Biya who
has ruled
Cameroon for
36 years on
January 28 had
his opponent
Maurice Kamto
arrested,
Inner City
Press again asked UN
Secretary
General Antonio
Guterres and
his spokesmen for
their comment
and action, if
any. This came
after Guterres
had Inner City
Press roughed
up on 3
July 2018
after it
interviewed Biya's
Ambassador
about the two
men's Budget
Committee
deals and banned
from the UN
since -
Guterres even tried
to get Inner
City Press
banned from
the Park East
Synagogue,
here, which
was denied /
dodged by his
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, who put
up then took
down a podcast
in which he
brags about
his "mutually
assured
destruction"
relationship
with
journalists, here.
After
whispers
from the UN
Security
Council about
a belated
UNSC
meeting on May
13, early on
the morning
of May 6 Inner
City Press submitted
written
questions,
this one to the UK
Mission to the
UN which
previously
withheld all
Cameroon
documents in response
to a
request under
the UK FOIA:
"Press Q
re Cameroon,
any UNSC
meeting, UK's
Mission's
position on
that and
continued
banning of
Inner City
Press from
entering UN -
To Stephen
Hickey,
mission,
Jaclyn Licht,
Amy Quantrill,
others: this
is a Press
request to the
UK Mission as
a member of
the UN
Security
Council to be
informed this
morning of
your Mission's
knowledge of
any upcoming
UNSC meeting
about Cameroon
of any kind,
including Any
Other Business
informal
consultations,
whether May 13
or any other
date. Inner
City Press
wrote to the
UK Mission
about this
previously,
including in
August 2018,
and pursued
its FOIA
request to the
ICO.
Also, what is
the UK's
position on
the situation
there and what
will / would
it seek to
accomplish at
any UNSC
meeting (and
if there is no
meeting, why
not).
Relatedly,
please explain
how it is
legitimate for
the UN to bar
entry to Inner
City Press
after ousting
it while it
covered the 3
July 2018
Fifth (Budget)
Committee then
chaired by
Cameroon, and
asked about
this situation
and other
under-performance
by the UN.
Inner City
Press' most
recent
application
for
re-accreditation
to enter and
cover the UNSC
stakeout,
submitted on
15 April 2019,
was denied
without
explanation on
April 17.
("Greetings
Matthew LEE
from
ICP
INNER CITY
PRESS,
Your media
accreditation
request, with
reference no:
M66561081, has
been
declined.")
What has your
Mission does,
or what will
it do, about
this?"
Five
full days later,
including
after a UN
noon briefing
in which the
first
questioner ask
about the UK
royal baby, no
answer at
all.
So Inner
City Press has
filed this FOI
request: "FCO FOI
Team:
This is
request under
the UK Freedom
of Information
act for the
following
records as
that term is
defined in
FOI, including
but not
limited to all
electronic
records,
emails,
text/SMS
message and
communications
in any form,
involving the
UK Mission to
the UN in New
York since
July 3, 2018
regarding
Cameroon or
Yemen (on
which the UK
holds the pen
in the UN
Security
Council), and
regarding any
UK national UN
Under
Secretaries
General
including but
not limited to
Alison Smale
and any
opportunity
given by the
UN Secretariat
to the UK to
replace her or
gain a
different USG
position as
she leaves at
the end of
this
summer.
This request
specifically
includes all
records
related to
briefings
given by the
UK Mission to
the UN to
members of the
major
international
media (and any
mentions of
that term), as
that
information
cannot
legitimately
by made public
to some but
not to the
public. Given
the situations
in Yemen and
Cameroon, I
and Inner City
Press asked
for expedited
processes of
this request:
faster than
the 20 working
days provided
for. I
specifically
note the
unacceptable
delay, and
improper
withholding,
that was found
on Inner City
Press' appeal
to the ICO. I
trust such an
appeal will
not be
necessary this
time.
This
FOI request is
triggered by
inter alia the
UK Mission to
the UN's
refusal to
respond to or
even
acknowledge
receipt of a
written
request on May
6, reproduced
below for the
record,
regarding a
May 13 UNSC
Arria formula
meeting which
the UK Mission
is purportedly
co-sponsoring.
Such
unresponsively
is
unacceptable
and
necessitates
FOI
request(s)."
And we now
report this: on
May 13 the UN
Security
Council will
hold on
Cameroon the
lowest of all
forms of sessions
on Cameroon, a
so called
Arria formula
meeting of the
type it held
in 2009 on Sri
Lanka
after and
before the
killing of
thousands, accomplishing
nothing. Unlike
even an Any
Other Business
consultation
in the Security
Council, all
members do not
even have to
attend. A
participant
will be Guterres' UK
humanitarian
chief Mark
Lowcock,
who has
refused to
make even the
most basic UN
public
financial disclosure.
Note that Lowcock as a UK
USG is
covered by the
above FOI
request. We'll
have more on
this
May 6,
2019
On
Cameroon FOIA
Request to US
UNresponded To
As May 13
Whispered to
AFP Not Yet On
Program of
Work
UNITED
NATIONS GATE, May 4 –After
Paul Biya who
has ruled
Cameroon for
36 years on
January 28 had
his opponent
Maurice Kamto
arrested,
Inner City
Press again asked UN
Secretary
General Antonio
Guterres and
his spokesmen for
their comment
and action, if
any. This came
after Guterres
had Inner City
Press roughed
up on 3
July 2018
after it
interviewed Biya's
Ambassador
about the two
men's Budget
Committee
deals and banned
from the UN
since -
Guterres even tried
to get Inner
City Press
banned from
the Park East
Synagogue,
here, which
was denied /
dodged by his
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, who put
up then took
down a podcast
in which he
brags about
his "mutually
assured
destruction"
relationship
with
journalists, here.
Now after the
US Mission to
the UN has
been silent on
Guterres'
corruption
about Cameroon
and his censorship, and did
nothing after
Inner City
Press asked
then
Ambassador
Nikki Haley
about Cameroon
in
October 2017,
here
(and then
after she left
the charge Jonathan
Cohen, again
nothing),
the US Mission
and its
spokesperson
who has repeatedly
refused Inner
City Press'
questions
about Cameroon
has whispered
to Agence
France Presse
(AFP),
which
praises Gutteres,
that it has
gotten a UNSC
meeting on May
13. It will be
closed
door, and the
way the
US Mission has
done things to
date, it may accomplish
little. In
fact, as of 5:30 pm
on May 4,
there was no Cameroon
listed on the
UNSC's Program
of Work. Photo
here.
Nor has Inner
City Press'
September
2018
Freedom of Information
Act request, here,
been responded
to. We
will have more
on this.
In
the run up to
the so-called
National Day
on May 20 - in
New York,
before having
Inner City
Press roughed
up and
banned,
Guterres'
chief of staff
Maria Luiza
Viotti and his
Deputy SG
Amina J.
Mohammed
partied with Tommo Monthe in a
Manhattan townhouse
singing "Buvez
du champagne,"
Video here,
from 4:30
-- this: "The
insecurity in
the North West
and South West
regions of
Cameroon keeps
paralysing
activities in
that part of
the country
despite the
failure of
administrative
officials to
admit the
fact. The
Divisional
Officer of
Alou, Lebialem
Division of
the South West
region has
convened a
meeting in
Dschang to
prepare for
the National
Day
celebrations.
Due to the
insecurity in
Alou, the
meeting can
not hold in
the locality
but in
neighbouring
Dschang in the
West region of
Cameroon."
We'll have
more in the
approach
to this
ghoulish Cameroun
National Day,
including in
New York. In
the village of
Ikata in SW
Cameroon on
April 26 Paul
Biya's
soldiers shot
unarmed
civilians
including a
woman
named as Glory, and
burned
houses down. While
Guterres' UN
does nothing
about the
outrage of
Nigeria sending
back to
military custody
refugees and
asylum
seekers,
Julius Ayuk
Tabe and nine
others are
expected in
court on
Monday April
29 where their
hearing
continues but
they have now
released a
statement
through their
defense team
saying they
will not be
appearing.
Their lawyers
say given the
fact that they
have taken the
matter to
Appeal court
all
proceedings at
a lower
jurisdiction
(military
tribunal) must
be halted as
per the law on
criminal
proceedings.
The lawyers
have since
appealed a
decision by
the Military
tribunal to
judge the
detained
leaders in
Cameroon
despite the
fact that they
are refugees
and asylum
seekers. One
would have
thought that
former UNHCR
chief Guterres
would not
collude in
this, but that
was before the
golden statue
and UN Budget
Committee
deals with
Biya's
ambassador Tommo
Monthe.
Guterres is
killing
what's left of
the UN's
credibility
with his
corruption and
no due process
censorship.
Of course,
Guterres and
Dujarric won't
answer
questions from
Inner City
Press not only
about Cameroon
but even about
how 27 new
Resident
Coordinators
are being
recruited. Their UN
is
increasingly
corrupt. Guterres'
envoy Mohammed
Ibn Chambas is
ghoulishly
lavishing
praise
on Cameroon
and Amina J.
Mohammed's
Nigeria, which
illegally
refouled 47 to
Cameroon, and on
himself for
what he called
“remarkable
progress” in
demarcating
the disputed
Cameroon-Nigeria
maritime
border over
the oil-rich
Bakassi
Peninsula.
Obeying
international
law on
non-refoulement?
Not so
much. But Big
Tony doesn't
care about
that, quite
the contrary.
April
29, 2019
UN
Guterres In
China Calls
Belt and Road
An Opportunity
After CEFC
Bribes and Oil
Bid To
Gulbenkian
Which Pays Him
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, April 27 – Before Inner City Press was roughed
up by UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres' Security on June 22 and July
3, 2018 and banned since then, it
insistently asked for disclosure of how many
of Guterres' publicly funded trips took him
through his real home, Lisbon. The questions
are not been answered by Spokesman Stephane
Dujarric, who on 2 November 2018 simply bicycled
away as Inner City Press asked about
Guterres' failure in Cameroon and attempt to
get even Park East Synagogue to oust Inner
City Press from covering his October 31 speech
about tolerance.
And now
on April 27 from Beijing, from Guterres'
second craven Belt and Road Initiative speech
in as many days as he conceals his links with
BRI briber China Energy Fund Committee which
tried to buy the oil company of Gulbenkian
Foundation which has paid Guterres: "I can
assure you, Mr. President [Xi Jinping of
China], that the UN will do everything
possible to help towards the success of the
Belt and Road Initiative... the Belt and Road
Initiative, with its huge volume of
investment, is an opportunity we cannot miss."
Guterres will do anything to conceal his own
personal financing link to UN briber CEFC
China Energy, through Gulbenkian Foundation
whose payments to him he omitted from his
public financial disclosure covering
2016. From Guterres's April 26 singing
for supper speech: "Convened by President Xi
Jinping, we come together at this forum on the
Belt and Road in the face of uncertainty and
unease around the
globe. I want to
recognize China for its central role as a
pillar of international cooperation and
multilateralism... United Nations country
teams stand ready to support Member States in
capacity and governance building, and in
achieving a harmonious and sustainable
integration of the Belt and Road projects in
their own economies and societies in
accordance with national development plans,
anchored in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development. The world needs to take profit of
the Belt and Road Initiative to help close
significant financing gaps for achieving the
Sustainable Development Goals, especially in
the developing world, in particular, the need
for about $1 trillion needed for
infrastructure investments in developing
countries.... The United Nations is poised to
support the alignment of the Belt and Road
Initiative with the Sustainable Development
Goals, to share knowledge, and to make the
most of the opportunities of this large-scale
initiative for maximum sustainable development
dividends. Let
us work together to restore trust by making
good on the shared promise of the 2030 Agenda
and our common commitment to leave no one
behind. Thank you."
Before 10 am
on April 25, Inner City Press asked Guterres'
spokesman Stephane Dujarric, as well as
Guterres' email address and that of his deputy
and Alison Smale, "April 25-1: Now that SG Guterres is
lavishing praise on China's "Belt and
Road" please immediately provide the full
transcript of Guterres' "interview with
Chinese journalists" from which this
propaganda came out: "UN Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres said Tuesday that the
Belt and Road Initiative is a "very
important opportunity" to the world. With
such a huge volume of investment for
international cooperation as the Belt and
Road Initiative, it is a "very important
opportunity for enhancing the capacity to
implement the sustainable development
goals and an important opportunity to
launch green perspectives in the years to
come," Guterres said during an interview
with Chinese journalists at the UN
headquarters before leaving for the second
Belt and Road Forum for International
Cooperation in Beijing. (Xinhua)."
Immediately state how many staff of Xinhua
and other Chinese state media the UN
DPI/DGC has granted accreditation to to
currently enter the UN.
April 25-2:
Immediately state how much Guterres and
team's trip to China is costing, the size
and composition of the UN delegation, and
who is paying for it (given that even the
PGA now discloses this information).
Again, state whether after the UN bribery
conviction of Patrick Ho of CEFC, and CEFC's
attempt to purchase the oil company of
Gulbenkian Foundation which paid Mr.
Guterres in 2016 (omitted from his online
public financial disclosure covering 2016),
he intends to raise corruption and UN
bribery issues with China." More than seven hours
later, no answer at all. But the UN
South South Cooperation Office, which
fronted for Chinese businessman Ng
Lap Seng, was tweeting
photos of its meetings in
Beijing including
Jorge Chediek
and his (Chinese) deputy Xiaojun
Grace Wang, here. China
was bragging
that Guterres
would cravenly
show up at its
Belt and Road
event, after
Guterres
refused to
audit UN
briber CEFC
China Energy.
CEFC tried to
buy the oil
company of
Lisbon based
Gulbenkian
Foundation the
payments of
which to
Guterres were
not included
in his public
financial
disclosure
covering 2016.
This was
days after
Guterres'
Alison Smale
and Tal Mekel
summarily denied
Inner City
Press
application to
re-enter the
UN to ask
questions, and
after guards
physically pushed
Inner City
Press out of
the line for a
press freedom
event in the
UN it was
invited to and
had a ticket
for, then
refused to
provide the
banned-by-Guterres
list they said
was the basis
of their
action. We'll have
more on this.
April
22, 2019
UN
Bribery Caught
on Wiretap of
Patrick Ho and
Yan Who Now
Minimizes It
Like Guterres
SMH
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, April 15 – Patrick Ho was
sentenced to 36 months in jail on March 25 for
UN bribery and having "sold weapons
enthusiastically," along with a $400,000 fine
imposed by U.S. District Court for the Soutern
District of New York Judge Loretta Preska.
During his trial, covered every day by Inner
City Press which was and is banned from
entering the UN amid its reporting linking
current UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres
to the scandal through the Gulbenkian
Foundation from his he received payments
undisclosed on his public financial form
covering 2016, an audio clip was played for
the jury. In it Ho discusses offering bribes
to now deceased UN President of the General
Assembly John Ashe, with Sheri Yan. Inner City
Press is today uploading that audio, here.
Yan pled
guilty to bribing Ashe as part of the Ng Lap
Seng UN bribery trial, which Inner City Press
asked covered daily before it was roughed up and
banned from the UN by Guterres. But now Yan in a
prison novel and craven revisionist profile
by Kirsty Needham,
China correspondent for The
Sydney Morning Herald and The
Age, is claiming:
"A related UN bribery investigation involving
Ashe netted another conviction in March, with
former Hong Kong politician Patrick Ho sentenced
to three years. Yan says she met Ho at a
conference in Hong Kong she attended as chief
executive of Ashe’s Global Sustainability
Foundation. They later attended a public dinner
in New York. They have “politely” spoken a few
times. “I did meet him – that is
all. "To say I am working with him to
influence the UN is a very wrong statement.'"
Apparently The Age has not heard the extended
audio of Yan and Ho discussing quid pro quo
bribery of Ashe. SMH - shaking my head. We'll
have more on this.
April
15, 2019
South
Sudan UN
Guterres Rep
Shearer
Refuses To
Protect Machar
After UN
Covered Up Its
Killings
UNITED
NATIONS GATE, April 12 -- The
UN of
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres has
refused to
answer Press
questions
about the
murder of two
South Sudan
civilians by a
UN peacekeeper
from Rwanda,
and a new case
of UN sexual
exploitation
by an
international
staff member
from Nigeria
-- nationality
undisclosed by
Guterres' UN -
in South
Sudan. But
while killing
civilians and
refusing Press
questions
about it, now
there is a
strike which
has left the
UN's vaunted
Tomping camp
uncleaned. The
UN of Guterres
refused to
answer Inner
City Press'
simple
questions
about it. Now
we explusively
publish this
second audio
of Guterres'
rep David
Shearer,
saying among
other things
that the UN
can't / won't
protect Riek
Machar. So why
is UNMISS
taking $1
billion a
year? Which
isn't Guterres
impeached? On
April 11 we
exclusively
published this
audio of
Guterres' rep
David Shearer,
deriding IGAD
as apathetic,
praising now
deposed
Bashir, saying
there is no
pressure on
Kiir. Shearer
should be
fired - and
Guterres
should be
impeached.
Watch this
site for more
audio.
Inner City
Press as
informed:
"Dear
Mathew,
Long time,
there is a
dispute
between the
cleaning
contractor
and the
worker. It is
simple
exploitation
in the UNMISS.
Their salary
is 300 USD.
However, they
do not pay
them in
dollar. Just
pay them by
changing in
black market
in South
Sudanese
currency which
is below 300
USD. The
cleaner
demanded their
salary to be
paid and
requested
UNMISS to
support them.
They strike
today and will
continue
tomorrow. The
below
information is
sent to UNMISS
staff about
the situation.
The company
should pay
them their
salary and
stop changing
the black
market and
paying their
money.
April
8, 2019
UNSG
Job Move Plan
Delayed To
Sept Uganda
Wanted 4 Years
Guterres
Serves China
and
FrancAfrique
From Montreal
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, April 6 – At the UN with Antonio
Guterres 28 months into his term as Secretary
General, there's talk of reform but little
transparency. Now after Guterres changed his
failed proposal to move UN jobs out of New
York, Uganda and Geneva - switched to
proposing the jobs go to, where else, Shenzhen
in China, while Guterres covers up for
convicted UN briber China Energy Fund
Committee - this too has failed. The UN Budget
Committee, favors in which Guterres sold out
to then chair Cameroon for, has delayed
Guterres' modified proposal until at least
September. Uganda, whose foreign minister Sam
Kutesa like Guterres has financial links to
CEFC China Energy, wanted it put back a full
four years.
Here was
Uganda's draft, exclusively made public here
by banned Inner City Press: "Having considered
the report of the Secretary-General on the
global service delivery model for the United
Nations Secretariat,1 as well as the related
report of the Advisory Committee on
Administrative and Budgetary Questions, 1.
Takes note of the report of the
Secretary-General; 2. Also takes note of the
report of the Advisory Committee on
Administrative and Budgetary Questions; 3.
Notes with appreciation the intention of the
Secretary-General to establish a global
service delivery model for the United Nations
Secretariat; 4. Regrets the lack of
transparency in the process leading to the
current proposals; 5. Requests the
Secretary-General to put forward a new
proposal for the global service delivery
model, for the consideration and approval of
the General Assembly at its seventy-eighth
session, which retains and builds on the
existing shared service centre of the United
Nations Secretariat established in July 2010
by the General Assembly, through its
resolution 64/269 of 24 June 2010, and which
preserves the skills, knowledge and experience
of staff currently implementing shared
services." But for now Guterres' proposal is
delayed until September 2019 for
consideration. What bribes might be paid by
then? There's been no audit of CEFC China
Energy, and Guterres continues to ban the
Press which reports on this. Guterres is
corrupt. Inner City Press, which was roughed
up and banned from the UN by Guterres amid its
questions about his CEFC links, has obtained
an advance copy of the UN Advisory Committee
on Administration and Budgetary Questions
(ACABQ) review of Guterres' changes; a close
observer summarizes that China to the side
bought off Uganda to drop or mitigate its
opposition to losing so many jobs. Meanwhile
even the ACABQ has problems with putting the
French language, FrancAfrique serving center
in Montreal, many time zones away. From the
advance ACABQ, which Inner City Press is
exclusively putting online in full, Scribd
April
1, 2019
UN
Guterres Told
World to Join
Him In Turning
Off Lights
Then Left Them
On At UN and
His $15M
Mansion Earth
Hour Hypocrisy
UNITED
NATIONS GATE, March 30 – UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres told the world, on video,
to join the UN for an "urgent" Earth Hour and
turn off the lights between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm
on March 30. But at the UN itself, the lights
were ablaze through the entire hour, as live
streamed by Inner City Press here.
And up at the empty $15 million mansion Guterres
sometimes lives in, on Sutton Place and 57th
Street, the third story lights were on, and even
a UN Security car in front: pure waste and
hypocrisy. Periscope here.
Before Inner City Press was roughed
up by Guterres' Security on June 22 and July
3, 2018 and banned since then, it
insistently asked for disclosure of how many of
Guterres' publicly funded trips took him through
his real home, Lisbon. The questions are not
been answered by Spokesman Stephane Dujarric,
who on 2 November 2019 simply bicycled
away as Inner City Press asked about
Guterres' failure in Cameroon and attempt to get
even Park East Synagogue to oust Inner City
Press from covering his October 31 speech about
tolerance. Guterres' hypocrisy,
specifically about the environmental and Earth
Hour, was covered by the Columbia
Journalism Review which wrote about his
ouster of Inner City Press. But he just doesn't
care, becuase he doesn't have to, legally, with
impunity. He is corrupt. On Saturday 16 March
2019, the supposedly environmentalist UNSG
Antonio Guterres arrived at the $15 million
publicly funded mansion in which he lives alone
in not one but two large four by four vehicles,
with six guards. Video here.
What a waste, what hypocrisy. This was two days
after Guterres guards physically pushed
Inner City Press out of the line for a press
freedom event in the UN it was invited to and
had a ticket for, then refused to provide the
banned-by-Guterres list they said was the basis
of their action. Totally corrupt. On March 2
with Guterres presumably in New York but not in
the mansion at 5 pm - there were no UN security
vehicles nearby - he nonetheless left all lights
in the second floor blazing. This is pure waste,
pure hypocrisy given what Guterres claims about
his commitment to sustainability - all the more
so because it was broad day light. On matters
ranging from censorship and corruption to this,
the hypocrisy gets worse and worse. On November
20, the day Guterres accepted the resignation
of Erik Solheim -- which Guterres hypocritically
demanded
on November 19 -- for similar misuse of public
funds to travel to Oslo and Paris, Inner City
Press asked Guterres who his travel to Lisbon
was any different. Guterres refused to answer,
got into the back of his publicly funded
Mercedes and drove off. Video here.
March
25, 2019
As
Guterres Kills
UN With
Corruption and
Cameroon
Censorship
Misuses NYPD
on 96 St
#DumpGuterres
UNITED
NATIONS GATE, March 22 – Following this week's
terrorist attack on the mosques in Christchurch,
New Zealand, people all over the world have
praised the reaction of the Kiwi prime minister
Jacinda Ardern. Meanwhile in New York, the murky
faux feminist Secretary General of the UN
Antonio Guterres, after refusing to put a price
tag on his travel, to audit the UN activities of
briber CEFC China Energy he his linked to or to
speak on the killings in Cameroon, is trying to
follow suit. Guterres' deputy spokesman Farhan
Haq - lead spokesman Stephane Dujarric is
typically on leave - announced on March 21 that
"on Friday, just after noon, he will visit the
Islamic Cultural Centre of New York at 96th
Street here in Manhattan. He intends to
make some remarks to the press while he is
there, and you are all invited to attend." But
when Inner City Press went to 96th Street, one
of Guterres' guards went to an NYPD squad car
and requested that two NYPD officers waste their
time and the public's money standing around
Inner City Press and not others in the same
spot. We have video, here;
the event also had the Permanent Representatives
of Australia and Turkey and Kuwait, Spain's
former former 99Moratinos of the "UN Alliance of
Civilizations" with also censors and, from
Guterres' staff, Tanguy Stehelin formerly the
legal adviser of the French Mission to the UN.
This from Guterres who tried to have the Press
removed from the Park East Synagogue. It's too
little, too late - it's time to #DumpGuterres.
At least, #NoSecondTerm. Why not Ardern?
#AnyoneButGuterres. At February's Munich
Security Conference there has been much praise
of Angela Merkel and her speech. And this, from
the pool covering U.S. Vice President Mike
Pence: "the VP/Merkel Bilat which began at 12:11
pm and ended that same minute. VP
and Merkel shook hands. She smiled. He smiled.
They left without making remarks.
Pool is now being escorted to Commerzbank
building across the street where we will hold
for an undetermined amount of time." Inner City
Press has gleaned, and launched online, this:
#MerkelForUNSG and #DumpGuterres. Some in
response have noted that neither the current US
Administration, nor Russia, might favor Merkel.
So that is, it seems, the argument for Guterres:
that he is so weak, for example skipping
altogether the January 26 "urgent' meeting of
the UN Security Council on Venezuela in order to
not anger either the US, or Russia and China,
that he should keep the UNSG position by sheer
apathy. And that is a reason that Guterres is
killing the UN, including with his failure in
Cameroon and elsewhere and his censorship, now
at 262 days, of the Press which asks.
March 18, 2019
UN
Briber Patrick
Ho Says CEFC
Gave $2M Per
Year To UN
Guterres Never
Audited
Corrupt
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, March 13 – While UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres was refusing
throughout 2018 to begin any UN audit into
China Energy Fund Committee, implicated in the
UN bribery prosecution US v Patrick Ho,
Guterres had a secret: his role
on the board of Gulbenkian Foundation which
was trying to sell
its Partex Oil affiliate to CEFC. See Inner
City Press' first exclusive report here.
While
Guterres continues to ban from entry the Press
which asked him about his CEFC links, now in the
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of
New York the sentencing of Patrick Ho, long set
for March 14, has been pushed back to March 25.
For now, Ho has filed a more than one hundred
page sentencing submission, the memo
accompanying which says "Beginning in 2013, the
CEFC Think Tank also held annual symposia at the
United Nations (“UN”) devoted to issues raised
at the most recent annual political convention
in China. In addition, the CEFC Think Tank, in
consultation with the UN Department of Economic
and Social Affairs (“UN-DESA”), established and
funded the “Powering the Future We Want”
grant—an annual $1 million award for a promising
sustainable energy project (the “Energy Grant”).
The CEFC Think Tank donated approximately $2
million to the UN every year to fund the prize
and its administration." And yet Guterres has
never audited this, choosing instead to rough up
and ban the Press which asked him why he
wouldn't audit (the answer seems to be Guterres'
paid position with the Gulbenkian Foundation
which tried to sell its oil company to CEFC).
Ho's sentencing submission index lists
Frederick Tschernutter and former Shell Oil CEO
John D. Hofmeister. UNSG Antonio Guterres, of
course, has refused to audit Ho's CEFC's
activities in the amid his conflict of interest
and censorship.
March
11, 2019
UN
Guterres Spoon
Fed Halibut to
Correspondents
Not On His
Schedule While
Refusing 7
Press Qs
UNITED
NATIONS GATE, March 5 –How
corrupt has
Antonio
Guterres made
the UN? After
roughing
up and banning
Inner City
Press as it
asked about
his failure
to disclose
his links to
UN briber CEFC
China Energy and
failure
on Cameroon,
on March 4
when he
refused
Press
questions on
Cameroon,
Nigeria,
Haiti, Sudan,
Qatar, Zambia
and his own
censorship, Guterres
spent public
money to spin
unnamed
correspondents,
one of
whom later
gushed: "I
attended a
fascinating
off-the-record
lunch today
with UN
Sec-Gen
Antonio
Guterrez,
along with a
few other
journalists." Photo
here; Dutch
Ambassador
Karel von
Oosterom, who
has withheld
every single
document about
Cameroon from
Inner City
Press under
the WOB,
retweeted
it. Now
the question
is, who were these
"other journalists"
who ate
Guterres'
halibut
apparently
without asking
about his
failure on
Cameroon, or
UN corruption,
or his
censorship?
Guterres'
published
schedule for
March 4 had only
two appoints,
neither
of which was
this publicly
funded spoon
fed lunch.
There
was been no
answer
from the
attendee "Stephen
Schlesinger
@cannon367
Fellow at the
Century
Foundation
@tcfdotorg" -
but who were
they? Watch
this site. We'll
have more on this
- and on
Cameroon: after
Paul Biya who
has ruled
Cameroon for
36 years on
January 28 had
his opponent
Maurice Kamto
arrested,
Inner City
Press again asked UN
Secretary
General Antonio
Guterres and
his spokesmen for
their comment
and action, if
any. This came
after Guterres
had Inner City
Press roughed
up on 3
July 2018
after it
interviewed Biya's
Ambassador
about the two
men's Budget
Committee
deals and banned
from the UN
since -
Guterres even tried
to get Inner
City Press
banned from
the Park East
Synagogue,
here, which
was denied /
dodged by his
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric. On March 1
after the
Nigerian
federal high
court sitting
in Abuja
declared
illegal and
unconstitutional
the
deportation of
Ayuk
Tabe and 46
others from
Nigeria to
Cameroon in
January 2018,
Dujarric who
refuses questions
from
Inner City
Press he has
banned took a
fake question
from one of
his favorites,
who said
"Anglophones did
some shooting" - and
said NOTHING
about the new
ruling. The
refoulement
took place
with Guterres'
Deputy SG
Amina J.
Mohammed
there, and
joining in
censorship
since. We'll
have more on
this, and
this: Azanwuli
Chikere, a
member of the
panel which
heard the
case, said the
Nigeria
federal
government
lacks the
power to
deport
refugees and
asylum seekers
from Nigeria.
Ruling
on an
application
filed by Femi
Falana, human
rights lawyer,
the court
awarded N5
million
damages to
each of the
applicant and
also ordered
the government
to ensure the
Cameroonians
are brought
back to
Nigeria.
Among those
deported were
Julius Tabe,
Nfor Nfor,
Fidelis Che,
Henry Kimeng,
Awasum,
Cornelius
Kwanga,
Tassang
Wilfred,
Eyambe Elias,
Ojong Okongho
and Nalowa
Bih. Amid
Guterres'
shameful
silence, in
Cameroon
opposition
leader Maurice
Kamto on
February 27
argued he
cannot be
tried in a
military court
- the UN seems
fine with this
- while
supporters
were held over
in Kondengui
prison until
at least March
19. Meanwhile
Guterres' UN
system and affiliates, in a
system that like
a fish rots
from the head,
lavish praise
and money on
Paul Biya as he burns
villages and
takes untold
money to his
hotel in
Geneva. It has
gone beyond
the money the
Secretariat is
raising for Biya -
now the World
Bank is shoveling
in money for a dubious
dam project: "The
Cameroonian
President
authorized
last February
22 the economy
minister,
Alamine
Ousmane Mey,
to sign a loan
agreement with
World Bank’s
subsidiary,
the
International
Development
Association
(IDA), for an
amount of
€24.5 million,
or XAF16.3
billion." How
much will go
for Biya's
hotel bills in
Geneva, paid
in cash? The
UN World
Health
Program's
Matshidiso
Moeti praised
Biya on, if it
can be
believed,
health while Biya is
in fact
killing
people. Shesaid she "was
touched when
the Minister
of State 'told
me that when
we train
health
personnel we
need to tell
them not only
to be
efficient and
knowledgeable
but also to
treat members
of the public
with kindness
and
compassion.'"
Paul Biya and
compassion?
That's
like Antonio
Guterres falseclaim
to care about
and comply
with freedom of the
press. Doctor, heal
thyself. March
4, 2019
On
Cameroon UN
Guterres
Silent As
Refoulement
Declared
Illegal
Dujarric Takes
Scam Q
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, March 1 –After
Paul Biya who
has ruled
Cameroon for
36 years on
January 28 had
his opponent
Maurice Kamto
arrested,
Inner City
Press again asked UN
Secretary
General Antonio
Guterres and
his spokesmen for
their comment
and action, if
any. This came
after Guterres
had Inner City
Press roughed
up on 3
July 2018
after it
interviewed Biya's
Ambassador
about the two
men's Budget
Committee
deals and banned
from the UN
since -
Guterres even tried
to get Inner
City Press
banned from
the Park East
Synagogue,
here, which
was denied /
dodged by his
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric. On March 1
after the
Nigerian
federal high
court sitting
in Abuja
declared
illegal and
unconstitutional
the
deportation of
Ayuk
Tabe and 46
others from
Nigeria to
Cameroon in
January 2018,
Dujarric who
refuses questions
from
Inner City
Press he has
banned took a
fake question
from one of
his favorites,
who said
"Anglophones did
some shooting" - and
said NOTHING
about the new
ruling. The
refoulement
took place
with Guterres'
Deputy SG
Amina J.
Mohammed
there, and
joining in
censorship
since. We'll
have more on
this, and
this: Azanwuli
Chikere, a
member of the
panel which
heard the
case, said the
Nigeria
federal
government
lacks the
power to
deport
refugees and
asylum seekers
from Nigeria.
Ruling
on an
application
filed by Femi
Falana, human
rights lawyer,
the court
awarded N5
million
damages to
each of the
applicant and
also ordered
the government
to ensure the
Cameroonians
are brought
back to
Nigeria.
Among those
deported were
Julius Tabe,
Nfor Nfor,
Fidelis Che,
Henry Kimeng,
Awasum,
Cornelius
Kwanga,
Tassang
Wilfred,
Eyambe Elias,
Ojong Okongho
and Nalowa
Bih. Amid
Guterres'
shameful
silence, in
Cameroon
opposition
leader Maurice
Kamto on
February 27
argued he
cannot be
tried in a
military court
- the UN seems
fine with this
- while
supporters
were held over
in Kondengui
prison until
at least March
19. Meanwhile
Guterres' UN
system and affiliates, in a
system that like
a fish rots
from the head,
lavish praise
and money on
Paul Biya as he burns
villages and
takes untold
money to his
hotel in
Geneva. It has
gone beyond
the money the
Secretariat is
raising for Biya -
now the World
Bank is shoveling
in money for a dubious
dam project: "The
Cameroonian
President
authorized
last February
22 the economy
minister,
Alamine
Ousmane Mey,
to sign a loan
agreement with
World Bank’s
subsidiary,
the
International
Development
Association
(IDA), for an
amount of
€24.5 million,
or XAF16.3
billion." How
much will go
for Biya's
hotel bills in
Geneva, paid
in cash? The
UN World
Health
Program's
Matshidiso
Moeti praised
Biya on, if it
can be
believed,
health while Biya is
in fact
killing
people. Shesaid she "was
touched when
the Minister
of State 'told
me that when
we train
health
personnel we
need to tell
them not only
to be
efficient and
knowledgeable
but also to
treat members
of the public
with kindness
and
compassion.'"
Paul Biya and
compassion?
That's
like Antonio
Guterres falseclaim
to care about
and comply
with freedom of the
press. Doctor, heal
thyself.
On
February 25 in
Geneva, amid a
Guterres
junket full of
false claims
of his
commitment to
freedom
of the press
and to human
rights, Biya's
Foreign
Minister
Lejeune Mbella
Mbella in his
speech to the
UN Human Rights
Council
bragged of
being elected to
this Council,
amid his
government's
slaughter in
October 2018,
and thanks Antonio
Guterres. He
called the opposition
"armed
terrorist
groups" and
did not
mention the
imprisonment
and possible
death penalty
against for example
Maurice
Kamto, nor the military
trial against
Ayuk Tabe and
those
illegally
refouled from
Nigeria. Nor does
Guterres speak
about those
abductions,
which took
place while
his deputy
Amina J.
Mohammed was
in Abuja. This is
the travesty
that Guterres
is turning the
UN system
into.
February
25, 2019
Near UN
When Inner
City Press
Asks Haass
About Rubio
Critique of
Guterres
Knicks Is The
Answer
UNITED
NATIONS GATE, February 20 – When Richard Haas
took questions near the UN on February 20, Inner
City Press asked him about UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres' performance on Cameroon and on
Venezuela, on which Guterres skipped the January
26 urgent UNSC meeting by staying in the UN's
$15 million mansion on Sutton Place, and about
US Senator Marco Rubio's critique of Guterres.
Video here.
Haass turned it into a question about the UN
Security Council, saying blaming it is like
blaming Madison Square Garden for the Knicks.
But the question is about Antonio Guterres, akin
to James Dolan. And what of Rubio's critique?
Haass was otherwise meaty, from Russian to China
to designer multilateralism. But while grateful
as always to the hosts, why is it people avoid
assessing Guterres, or as soon on February 20,
assume it's a ten year term? It's not.
#DumpGuterres. When Helen Clark who ran an open
campaign for Secretary General won by the
significantly less open Antonio Guterres spoke
about drugs near the UN on November 19, Inner
City Press went to ask and cover it. On the
panel also were two UN officials, Craig Mokhiber
of the office of Michelle Bachelet and Simone
Monasebian, the New York Director of the UN
Office on Drugs and Crime. Ms Monasebian
recounted how some member states were prepared
to break consensus on a paragraph on harm
reduction in the annual resolution in the UN's
Third Committee so that paragraph was removed.
Inner City Press when called on asked the panel
about the Security Council's heavy handed and
military approach to drugs, for example in
Afghanistan, and asked for more detail on the
Third Committee which it for 138 days has been
banned from accessing by UNSG Guterres. Ms.
Monasebian noted that beyond Afghanistan the
Security Council addressed drugs from 2009 under
the Presidency of then Council member Burkina
Faso through 2014. Mr. Mokhiber said that
military approaches are counter productive. And
Helen
Clark when she spoke chided the shrinking
of civil society space and attacks on journlists
including exclusion from the UN across the road.
Video here.
It was appreciated, as were the event's hosts. February
18, 2019
To
Venezuela FM
Inner City
Press Asks Why
Guterres
Skipped UNSC
Meeting and of
Federal
Reserve
UNITED
NATIONS GATE, February 11 – When the foreign
minister of Venezuela, or at least of Nicolas
Maduro, Jorge Arreaza emerged from the 3 Sutton
Place mansion where UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres lives alone and met with him, Inner
City Press asked Arreaza two questions. Video here. First, did
Guterres explain to him why he skipped the UN
Security Council's urgent meeting on Venezuela
on January 26? Arreaza said that the Security
Council has not even come up his in nearly one
hour meet with Guterres, who he called very
positive. Inner City Press also asked if Arreaza
while in the U.S. would be visiting the Federal
Reserve, where Venezuela's accounts have been
turned over to Juan Guaido. No, he said, there
are other ways of dealing with that than the
minster of foreign affairs. When Inner City
Press showed up at Guterres or rather the
public's $15 million mansion on the corner of
57th Street there was a large black van in
front. But later Arreaza came with flashing
sirens. The UN Media Acccreditation and Liaison
Unit did not even include this meeting in its
Media Alert, but allowed in Telesur and a
Japanese TV crew which asked Arreaza, Do you
have any message for Japan? To this has Guterres
sunk. So...
As
Guterres Kills UN With
Corruption and Cameroon
Censorship #MerkelForUNSG
Start At Least #DumpGuterres
UNITED
NATIONS GATE, February 16 – At this weekend's
Munich Security Conference there has been much
praise of Angela Merkel and her speech. And
this, from the pool covering U.S. Vice President
Mike Pence: "the VP/Merkel Bilat which began at
12:11 pm and ended that same minute.
VP and Merkel shook hands. She smiled. He
smiled. They left without making
remarks. Pool is now being escorted
to Commerzbank building across the street where
we will hold for an undetermined amount of
time." Inner City Press has gleaned, and
launched online, this: #MerkelForUNSG and
#DumpGuterres. Some in response have noted that
neither the current US Administration, nor
Russia, might favor Merkel. So that is, it
seems, the argument for Guterres: that he is so
weak, for example skipping altogether the
January 26 "urgent' meeting of the UN Security
Council on Venezuela in order to not anger
either the US, or Russia and China, that he
should keep the UNSG position by sheer apathy.
And that is a reason that Guterres is killing
the UN, including with his failure in Cameroon
and elsewhere and his censorship, now at 227
days, of the Press which asks. In Guterres' UN
there has been entirely unaddressed bribery,
including offers of weapons for oil by UN non
governmental organization China Energy Fund
Committee of Ye Jianming which Guterres refuses
to even audit - while roughing
up and banning
the Press which asks him about it. February
11,
2019
In
Corrupt UN of
Guterres Hiring
Scams in
Office of
South South
Cooperation
Travel Waste
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, February 5 – The extent of corruption in
the UN system under Antonio Guterres, who
while concealing his links
with UN bribery CEFC China Energy has banned
the Press which asks, find another example in
the Office of South South Cooperation. Today
Inner City Press looks with exclusive leaks
from within Guterres' declining UN as far
south as possible in the Americas, to
Argentina. Despite the fact that President
Macri campaigned on the promise to achieve
“Zero Poverty," soup kitchen lines are getting
longer as struggling Argentinians feel the
brunt of the harsh austerity measures. But the
country’s increased poverty rate is not
stopping the Macri government from paying
millions to host a conference by Jorge
Chediek’s Office of South-South Cooperation.
Mr. Chediek and his group continue to use the
Office for selfish gain. In addition to his
wasteful self-promoting travel, akin to
Guterres', Mr. Chediek has engaged in a spree
of quid pro quo activities to ingratiate
himself with various parties, including
questionable hiring. Mr. Chediek engaged the
services of fellow Argentine Ms. Cecilia
Milesi, to serve as Senior Peacebuilding
consultant, despite the fact that she lacks
prior substantive experience working in peace
and development. And by multiple accounts,
this lack of experience reflects in her work.
Moreover, Ms. Milesi likely taking cue from
her boss,herself engages in conduct violating
UNDP policy, including dubious travel on
UNDP's dime, making personal stops during
official work travel and charged those costs
to UNDP resources.
Ms. Milesi
also oversteps her role as a contractor
providing service to UNDP, to manage and
approve the recruitment of fellow Latin
Americans, all of whom were waived from the
UNDP competitive process and awarded direct
contracts, to join Mr. Chediek’s inner circle.
The hiring process was executed in a
coordinated family business style, with Ms.
Milesi giving pointers to her friends, with
whom she had prior association who similarly
lack the required experience for the job.
See one of the
documents leaked to Inner City Press on
Scribd, here
Documents
reveal that Ms. Milesi and others interfered
in the hiring process by manipulating resumes
to match the job description in question in
order to bypass any vetting. Moreover, Mr.
Chediek blindly signed off on Ms. Milesi’s
cronyistic recruitment after she independently
completed the hiring process. As a contractor,
Ms. Milesi violated UNDP policy prohibiting
consultants from overseeing and approving
recruitments, without the required oversight
or participation of authorized personnel.
Moreover, this speaks to the pattern of
regional bias at the Office of South South
Cooperation, in violation of UNDP’s policy on
ensuring diversity in
hiring.
This begs the
question: Has Mr. Chediek received a favor
from Ms. Milesi’s brother Rodolfo Milesi who
is the Executive Director of Branding Latin
America, a London based PR firm, in return for
hiring this woefully unqualified individual?
Mr. Milesi’s company according to the website
seeks to “to bridge business and promotional
interests between Latin America, the United
Kingdom and the rest of the world,” and boasts
work with more than 10 presidents, and over 50
corporations among its prolific clientele.
This is certainly an attractive partnership,
one thatMr. Chediek is likely keen to
capitalize on.
Mr. Milesi has
his own connections with the United Nations
through his PR firm. Does Antonio
Guterreshimself have a quid pro quo with
Branding Latin America?According to his social
media posts, Mr. Milesi’s Branding Latin
America was the official PR firm for the
Pacific Alliance during the lastest UN General
Assembly week. Ms. Milesi also arranged during
this visit of her brother, a friendly
meet-and-greet gathering between her brother’s
firm’s team and several colleagues from Mr.
Chediek’s close circle in the office, which
she proudly shared on her
Facebook. With just
under two months to BAPA+40, does the
Government of Mr. Macri think it prudent to
invest millions into the historically corrupt
Office of South-South Cooperation while the
Argentine populace increasingly relies on
charity for sustenance?
We'll
have more on this.
February
4, 2019
UN
Briber China
Energy Fund
CtteeRemains
With ECOSOC Until AtLeastJune As
Guterres
Covers Up
UNITED
NATIONS GATE, January 28 – While UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres wasrefusingthroughout
2018 to begin any UN audit into China Energy
Fund Committee, implicated in the UN bribery
prosecution US v Patrick Ho, Guterres had a
secret: hisroleon
the board of Gulbenkian Foundation which was
trying tosellits
Partex Oil affiliate to CEFC. See Inner City
Press' first exclusive reporthere.
While
Guterres continues to ban from entry the Press
which asked him about his CEFC links, in the
UN Committee on Non Governmental Organizations
on January 21 the US belatedly requested the
suspension or dis-accreditation of CEFC from
the UN. This is what Guterres has refused to
act on for more than a year, while concealing
his links to the group. CEFC was given until
Friday, January 25 to answer on the issues.
The acting chief of the UN NGO branch on
Friday afternoon said it had not responded.
Pakistan and Russia raised questions if this
meant that as a matter of precedent it should
have its status withdrawn. On January 28
following a written inquiry by Inner City
Press a self-described diplomat on the NGO
committee confirmed that "the NGO Committee
recommended that ECOSOC consultative status be
withdrawn for CEFC. ECOSOC will decide
whether to approve the NGO Committee’s
recommendation at its June 2019 ECOSOC
management meeting." So they're still in.
Guterres' cover up of his link to the group
remains unaddressed - with no answers from his
spokesmen Stephane Dujarric and for this
entire week, Farhan Haq. We'll have more on
this.
January
28, 2019
On
South Sudan Guterres
and Farhan Haq
Cover Up UN
Murder Sex Abuse Customs
Fraud Gender
Studies Link
UNITED
NATIONS GATE, January 25 -- The
UN of
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres has
refused to
answer Press
questions
about a new
case of UN
sexual
exploitation
by an
international
staff members
-- nationality
undisclosed -
in South Sudan
and now Inner
City Press
which asked
knows why. The
accused staff
member is from
Nigeria, the
country of
Guterres'
Deputy
Secretary
General Amina
J. Mohammed,
where in
another undisclosed
trip she
is doing
political work
for President
Buhari right
now. Their
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq has
refused to
even
acknowledge
the written
questions of
Inner City
Press, banned
by Guterres
and Mohammed
for 205 days
and counting,
see below. On
January 25
Inner City
Press asked
Guterres'
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq
questions
including:
"January 25-2:
On South Sudan
and the
questions you
have refused
to answer,
immediately
confirm or
deny that (1)
the
nationality of
the
"international"
charged with
sexual
exploitation
is Nigerian;
separately (2)
that the
individual's
name is Mr.
Olayinka
Adeyemi, (3)
that he
work(ed) for
the
"Code of
Conduct" Unit.
Please respond
to UNMISS
sources saying
the
nationality
was withheld,
unlike in
other cases,
because he and
the DSG are
from
Nigeria.
January 25-3:
On the killing
of two
civilians by
the UN in
South Sudan,
on which you
have refused
to answer
Inner City
Press'
question
despite Spox
Dujarric on
camera
statement that
questions
would be
answered,
please
immediately
confirm that
it took place
at Durupi camp
as they were
doing UN
contracted
work on the
fence, and
state what
accountability
there has
been, and the
nationality -
and separately
name(s) - of
the
shooter(s).
January 25-4:
On UN
corruption and
South Sudan,
please
immediate
respond to
what
whistleblowers
have told
Inner City
Press, that
bringing
everything in
this country.
Whiskey and
Cigarette
under SOFA
agreement,”
the Customs
Service
revealed.
UNMISS General
Ayii said has
a
sub-contractor
called
"Tri-Star"
Company, an
Indian company
which has been
dealing in
these goods.
However, he
said the
government
would soon
review the tax
exemption
policy
regarding UN
agencies in
South Sudan.
This comes
after the
institution
found out that
it has been
losing
billions of
pounds to some
goods imported
by the UN
agencies and
humanitarian
groups.
“I have been
in Nimule as
chief customs
officer for 8
years, so I
know any
secret of any
NGO in this
country,” he
said. He
questioned the
purpose for
which these
items are
brought given
the frequency
of their
importation
into the
country “How
come the
UNMISS brings
200 JET A1 in
every month,
or even Solar
panels and
fuel, 200 and
300 every
month.”
UNMISS gave
for some
companies to
bring items in
the name of UN
and nobody
knows the
whereabout of
the items.
There are
stores giving
the service in
the UNMISS but
did not go
proper bidding
. They are
importing tax
free items for
the stuff but
they are
selling
expensive more
than the
outside
stores." No
answers -
Guterres and
now Haq are
covering up
sexual
exploitation,
and the
killing of
civilians.
Inner City
Press has
this,
exclusively,
from its
sources in
South Sudan:
Mr. Olayinka
Adeyemi, an
international
UN staff
member working
ironically for
the "Code of
Conduct" Unit
has been
accused
of
Sexual
Exploitation
and Abuse and
sent home to
Nigeria, where
DSG Amina
Mohammed is
righ now,
until the
investigation
or cover up is
completed. The
case was being
tried to be
covered up
since the
chief of staff
is from
Nigeria,
UNMISS staff
tell Inner
City Press.
This unit
was
established to
follow up all
conduct issues
but
surprisely, or
not under
thehypocritical
administration
of Guterres,
its own staff
stands
accused. The
Unit was
working to
terrorize and
intimidate
genuine staff
member and
strongly
protecting
managers who
were found
guilty. Also,
the top
official at
the Customs
Service has
accused the UN
mission in
South
Sudan of
abusing the
status of
forces
agreement or
SOFA. The SOFA
was signed a
month later
after the
independence
in 2011,
between the
government and
the UNMISS.
“Since 2007,
these guys are
bringing
everything in
this country.
Whiskey and
Cigarette
under SOFA
agreement,”
the Customs
Service
revealed.
UNMISS General
Ayii said has
a
sub-contractor
called
"Tri-Star"
Company, an
Indian company
which has been
dealing in
these goods.
However, he
said the
government
would soon
review the tax
exemption
policy
regarding UN
agencies in
South Sudan.
This comes
after the
institution
found out that
it has been
losing
billions of
pounds to some
goods imported
by the UN
agencies and
humanitarian
groups.
“I have been
in Nimule as
chief customs
officer for 8
years, so I
know any
secret of any
NGO in this
country,” he
said. He
questioned the
purpose for
which these
items are
brought given
the frequency
of their
importation
into the
country “How
come the
UNMISS brings
200 JET A1 in
every month,
or even Solar
panels and
fuel, 200 and
300 every
month.”
UNMISS gave
for some
companies to
bring items in
the name of UN
and nobody
knows the
whereabout of
the items.
There are
stores giving
the service in
the UNMISS but
did not go
proper bidding
. They are
importing tax
free items for
the stuff but
they are
selling
expensive more
than the
outside
stores.
In another
case Guterres,
Mohammed, Haq
and lead
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric have
refused to
answer on,
sources tell
Inner City
PRess that the
two South
Sudanese
nationals
were killed
wrongly
while
performing
their duties
in Durupi camp
as
contractors.
The two
gentlemen were
contracted to
maintain the
fences and
were shot and
killed by UN
peacekeeping -
with no
accountability,
or even answer
from Guterres
and his
spokesmen, who
together have
had Inner City
Press banned
from the noon
briefing for
204 days while
they get no
questions
about anything
in Africa,
totally
corrupt. They
have refused
to confirm or
comment on
this email to
DSS Peter
Drennan, who
Alison Smale
says is
responsible
for Inner City
Press' no due
process ban
for having
been roughed
up by
Drennan's Lt
Ronald E.
Dobbins: "Yesterday,
a circular was
sent to all
UNMISS
security
officers in
South
Sudan
not to
communicate to
UNDSS in New
York. During
the open
meeting called
by UNDSS
Officials from
New
York
or Secretary
General
on VTC,
Security staff
members are
discouraged
and
blacklisted
for airing
their views.
Is this
organization
exemplary
for
democracy or
transparency?
Security
officers are
not copying
their messages
to their
managers or
supervisors
because they
are dictators
and abusers
and
incompetent to
answer the
questions
properly.
'Dear
Colleagues, It
has been noted
that security
officers
continue
to
communicate
directly with
DSS HQ on
policies and
other official
issues in
spite of the
fact that you
have been
advised not to
do so.
Worst of
all, these
correspondences
are done
without
copying the
PSA or
security
management in
Juba.
This is
against best
practices and
should
be
stopped.
Once again
please be
reminded to
direct all
your concerns
regarding
security
policies and
other official
issues
to
security
management in
Juba. Where it
is deemed that
UNDSS HQ’s
input is
required,
management in
Juba will do
so. Kind
regards
Thomas
Acheampong.'"
We've asked:
On South Sudan
and DSS,
immediately
confirm USG
Drennan's
receipt of,
and response
to, the
complain from
UNMISS staff
they have been
silenced and
told to not
speak up about
their
complaints,
sent to Inner
City Press,
Drennan and
Bill Miller
and
Wind-Andersen,
Andriamampianina,
Mitrokhin and
Payumo at UN
in the past 24
hours."
Nothing at all
- except
another ban
and camera
grab by UN
security on
January 23.
No answers at
all from
Drennan. We'll
have more on
this.
Guterres says
he has a "zero
tolerance"
policy for
sexual abuse,
exploitation
and harassment,
and for
retaliation. But
when Inner
City Press
asked
Guterres' deputy
spokesman and
now cover-up man
Farhan
Haq on 15
March 2018 about
Michel
Sidibé's reported
threats of retaliatory
investigations
against those
making
and offering
support to sexual
harassment
complaints at
UNAIDS, Haq said
this is entire
a matter for
UNAIDS. Earlier
Inner City
Press story here; exclusive
publication of
whistleblowers'
international
condemnation
of retaliation
and favoritism
in Sidibe's
UNAIDS, below.
Now
Haq, left in
charge while
Guterres and
his lead
spokesman Stephane
Dujarric are pontificating
in Davos, is
refusing to
provide basic,
historically disclosed
information
about UN
sexual exploitation
and abuse
cases - this despite
Haq's road to
his gatekeeper
position
running
either through
the defunct
newspaper the
City
Sun, or
being the son
of UNDP
economist
Mahbub ul Haq.
In either
case, this is
a new low,
withholding
information
about a UN
"international"
engaging
in sexual
exploitation
in so
often
mistreated South
Sudan - all the
more so give
Haq's online
connections to
women's
studies in the
Garden State: Ethel
Brooks is a
professor in
Rutger's
Department of
Women's
and Gender
Studies - what
about covering
up rapes in South
Sudan? - with
an interest in
"Visual
cultures,
Artistic
practice,
Representation,
Productivity,
Camps and
Encampment,
Digital media
and Belonging;
Critical
Political
Economy,
Transnational
Networks,
Social
Movements,
Feminist
Theory,
Comparative
and Historical
Methods,
Economic
Sociology,
Political
Sociology;
Romani
Studies,
Central
American
Studies, South
Asian studies,
Nationalism,
Post-colonialism
and Critical
race theory." And yet
covering up
rapes in South
Sudan? Here's
how low: on
January 22, Haq
promoted for-profit
Amazon
Prime, video here:
"just to flag
that tonight
the United
Nations Office
on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC)
and Amazon
Studios will
be hosting a
film screening
of Beautiful
Boy.
That will take
place at 6:30
p.m. on
Wednesday, 23
January, in
other words,
tomorrow
night, in the
Trusteeship
Council
Chamber.
Actor Timothée
Chalamet,
author David
Sheff, and
producers Dede
Gardner and
Jeremy Kleiner
will take part
in a Q&A
following the
screening of
the
film.
Beautiful Boy
is based on
the
best‑selling
memoirs from
David and Nic
Sheff and
chronicles the
experience of
survival,
relapse and
recovery in a
family coping
with addiction
over many
years.
The film is
available on
Amazon Prime
Video." That
was inappropriate
promotion
of a for
profit
service. But
it's worse:
when Inner
City Press
which was invited by
Amazon went,
it was barred
and its camera
grabbed, hereJanuary
21, 2019
UN
Guterres
Mistakes Sudan For
DRC Says No
Probe of
Khashoggi But Advising
Cameroon Biya
UNITED
NATIONS GATE, January 18
– When UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres held a rare press
conference in UN Headquarters on
January 18, he mistook
Sudan where the genocide indictee
he has twice met with is using
live fire on protesters for DR
Congo, where after the UN spent
$20 billion Guterres won't even
follow the African Union in saying
Kabila's results are dubious.
Guterres who had refused to answer
why he omitted
his paid board position with
Gulbenkian Foundation from his
financial disclosure covering
2016, and why he has refused to
audit the continued UN presence of
UN briber CEFC China Energy which
tried to buy Partex Oil from
Guterres' Gulbenkian, did not face
a single question about
corruption, nor sexual harassment,
nor his anti human rights comments
on Somalia the day before. Why
not? Because Guterres and his
spokesman Stephane Dujarric, and
Global Communicator Alison Smale,
had critical Inner City Press
which asks about these things roughed
up on 3 July 2018 and banned
from even entering the UN since,
197 days and counting. Call it
censorship for
corruption.
Inner City Press live
tweeted the dismal press conference,
in which a former UN official got
Guterres to praise China's Belt
and Road, here.
Guterres insisted he cannot call
for an investigation of the murder
of journalist Jamal Khashoggi; he
praised Bangladesh's Sheikh Hasina
who had her opponents beaten and
turned off the Internet. In a
surprising aside, Guterres said he
has spoken
six times with Cameroon's 36
year ruler Paul Biya, as the
latter has ramped up his killing
of Anglophones. Was Guterres
advising him, on how to get better
press as the government's
memo of meeting with Guterres says?
We'll have more on this. How
lawless is the United Nations of
Secretary General Antonio
Guterres? In the midst of Inner
City Press'
questioning in 2018 about
Guterres' links to now convicted
UN bribery Patrick Ho's China
Energy Fund Committee and
Guterres' failures on Cameroon
and elsewhere, his UN Security
twice roughed up Inner City Press
on June
22 and July
3, 2018.
Then after Inner City Press filed
a New York Police Department
complaint against the UN and its
Lieutenant Ronald E. Dobbins,
Inner City Press as banned from
entering the UN in retaliation.
After a UN "review"
that did not include any opportunity
to be heard for Inner City Press,
Guterres' Under Secretary General
Alison Smale on 17 August 2018
issued a
letter "withdrawing" Inner
City Press' UN media accreditation.
Smale was asked
how Inner City Press could appeal,
including by UN Special Rapporteur
on Freedom of Expression David
Kaye, but did
not answer that.
January
14, 2019
As UN
Guterres Fails With
Somalia and
Guatemala Like
Cameroon His
Supporters Blame P3
UNITED
NATIONS GATE,
January 9
–
With UN
Secretary General
obviously
failing, from
Somalia
to Guatemala
to Cameroon
which he
covered up by
censorship, the
pro-UN industial
complex is casting
around for someone,
anyone to
blame but
Guterres and
themselves. A
current
argument,
propped up by
former
Guterres official
Jeffrey
Feltman who signed
off on
Bernardino
Leon's sell
out of the UN
to the UAE, is
that Guterres
is forced to
be weak
because the P3
(France, UK
and US) won't back
him up. But
could it
be Guterres'
fault? These
analysts,
including Human Rights
Watch,
have said
nothing about
Guterres' links
to
briber China
Energy Fund
Committee,
much less his
roughing
up and banning
of the Press
which asked.
They didn't
cover
Guterres' ghoulish
order
to staff not
to ask him any
questions or
even take
selfies when
he used their
work space for
his photo op.
Is it
any wonder
Jimmy Morales
and many in
Somalia laugh
at Guterres?
Are those
close to
Guterres, profiting
from insider
status, not
part of the
problem that
is killing the
UN? Who is
killing the
UN? His name is
Guterres. And
he has many
accomplices, including
those
producing what
are, in
essence,
defenses of
Guterres but
which his
spokesman are
the type of
hard hitting
coverage that
proves he is
not a censor
for twice
banning the
critical
Press. For
weeks the UN
of Guterres had
refused to
answer Press
questions
about Somalia.
Now after
Guterres' SRSG
representative
Nicholas
Haysom was
ordered to
cease
operations in,
and presumably
leave, Somalia,
Guterres on
January 4 has
said the
country CANNOT
declare Haysom
Persona Non
Grata, since
the UN "is not
a state." Why
then can
Guterres rough up and
ban a journalist
and claim
immunity? And
Inner City
Press, which
Guterres had roughed
up on 3
July 2018 and
banned
since, had
before that
asked
Guterres' Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric
about a
PNG-ing of UN
staff by
Burundi and
Dujarric said,
"I don’t know
what the
status of the
staff member
who was 'PNG-ed.' We
can check." Video
here.
But it's
worse. When
the UN tried
to send an
SRSG to Iraq and
the government
objected, the
decision was
reversed. But
never, UN
staff tell
Inner City
Press, has a
UN Secretary
General
given in as
quickly as Guterres
has to
Somalia. They
tell Inner
City Press
exclusively
that Guterres
was hung up on
on the phone.
And that the
UN Political
Affairs operation
under Rosemary
DiCarlo was
not even in
the loop on
the absurd statement
read out by
Farhan Haq at
at
noon. "She's nothing,"
a long
time DPA
official told
Inner City Press. "If
Washington
every looks
closely she'll
be fired." If
it happens, it
should be
for the
scandal of the
handover of
the
Department's
website to the
photographer husband
of her chief
of staff,
unacted on by
the titular
head of the UN
Office of
Internal
Oversight
Services who
has
disappeared and is
said by
her own staff to
be... well,
that will have
to wait. Watch
this site. Sierra Leone
PNG-ed Michael
von der
Schulenburg,
of whom Inner
City Press also asked
before being roughed
up and banned
under
Guterres - who
claims
immunity for
all of this.
We'll have
more on this.
Guterres'
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq
said Guterres
will
nevertheless
replace Haysom
"in due
course."
January
7, 2019
UN
Guterres Had
Press Roughed
Up and Accreditation
Withdrawn Now
Basis For
New Denial
UNITED
NATIONS GATE, January 2 – How
lawless is the United Nations of
Secretary General Antonio
Guterres? In the midst of Inner
City Press'
questioning in 2018 about
Guterres' links to now convicted
UN bribery Patrick Ho's China
Energy Fund Committee and
Guterres' failures on Cameroon
and elsewhere, his UN Security
twice roughed up Inner City Press
on June
22 and July
3, 2018.
Then after Inner City Press filed
a New York Police Department
complaint against the UN and its
Lieutenant Ronald E. Dobbins,
Inner City Press as banned from
entering the UN in retaliation.
After
a UN "review" that did not include
any opportunity to be heard for
Inner City Press, Guterres' Under
Secretary General Alison Smale on
17 August 2018 issued a
letter "withdrawing" Inner
City Press' UN media
accreditation. Smale was asked
how Inner City Press could appeal,
including by UN Special Rapporteur
on Freedom of Expression David
Kaye, but did
not answer that.
On
3 September 2018, facing the
prospect of being unable to enter
the UN to cover the General
Assembly "high level" week for the
first time in a decade, Inner City
Press submitted an application for
accreditation. But there was no
action on it - in fact, during
high level week, it emerged that
Inner City Press had been put on a
non-public "barred" list such that
even if invited by a member state
or UN agency, it could not enter
the building.
Patrick
Ho of CEFC was convicted on 5
December 2018. Inner City Press
again exclusively
reported that Guterres had
failed to include his paid
position on the board of the
Gulbenkian Foundation in his
Public Financial Disclosure
covering 2016 - and that
Gulbenkian in 2018 was trying to
sell its Partex Oil and Gas
affiliate to CEFC as Guterres
refused to audit CEFC and had
Inner City Press which asked
roughed up and banned.
And
now on 2 January 2019 Smale's
Media Accreditation and Liaison
Unit has issued a denial of Inner
City Press' September application
for accreditation, stating only
that
"Greetings
Matthew LEE from ICPINNER CITY PRESS,
Your
media accreditation request, with
reference no: M72295425, has been
declined for the following reason:
Accreditation was withdrawn on 17
August 2018."
This
is Kafka-esque. Accreditation was
withdrawn without any hearing or chance to
appeal, but that decision is used to deny
future accreditation. While preaching
about due process and freedom of the
press, Guterres' UN has a "one strike and
your out" policy - even if there is no
strike. The alleged violations were
filming in place Smale's own MALU staff
told Inner City Press it could film with
out an escort, and recording her deputy in
a known media stakeout position.
Guterres
is a censor, to conceal his own conflict of
interest. He has failed many people, including the
Anglophones being killed by the Cameroon government
of Paul Biya, from whom Guterres accepted a golden
statue and Budget Committee favors. This is
corruption and the reporting on and exposing of it
will not cease. No due process censorship by the UN
is UNacceptable.
While Guterres was refusing
throughout 2018 to begin any UN
audit into China Energy Fund
Committee, implicated in the UN
bribery prosecution US v Patrick Ho,
Guterres had a secret: his role
on the board of Gulbenkian
Foundation which was trying to sell
its Partex Oil affiliate to CEFC.
See Inner City Press' first
exclusive report here.
Today Inner City Press continues its
exclusive series on some of the CEFC
connections in and through the UN
that should have been identified in
the audit that Guterres corruptly
refused to begin, with his conflict
of interest. (Even his predecessor
Ban Ki-moon ordered an audit after
Ng Lap Seng was indicted - Guterres
still hasn't after Patrick Ho was
convicted.)
It's time to consider the
Guterres-like hypocrisy of
Gulbenkian, publicly tying itself to
the "blue ocean economy" while
taking money from the oil company
Partex they tried to sell to CEFC
which Guterres has covered up for.
Antonio Guterres was a paid board
member of Gulbenkian; his wife
Catarina Vaz Pinto was paid by them
as well. Antonio Guterres' daughter
Mariana Guterres actively promotes
Gulbenkian (as well as, troublingly,
dead children in Kenya); his
daughter in law Vanda Onnesjo Lobo
gushes about its causes.
In fact, Gulbenkian which tried to
sell its Partex Oil to CEFC in 2018
partners
with "Oceano Azul Foundation" -
which just happens to have in 2018
hired Antonio Guterres' daughter in
law Vanda Lobo, see here.
Given Gunbenkian's business dealings
with UN briber CEFC, shouldn't this
all have been disclosed? Isn't it an
abuse that Antonio Guterres would
have the only media asking about it
roughed up and banned? This is UN
corruption.
(His
son Pedro Guimarães e Melo De
Oliveira Guterres, after being a
part of the defrauding of PT
Portugal as it was passed from
Brazil's
Oi to France's Altice, seems
to have gone to ground, with not a
single legitimate question about his
business links answered). But
now in 2018 - and according to
Guterres' publicly funded
propaganda, 2019 - it is all a
front. Guterres has shown himself
willing to rough
up a journalist who asked
about this and more,
banning the Press for 182 days
with no end in sight.
Consider Guterres'
lead spokesman
Stephane Dujarric
has family links
to Gulbenkian.
Inner City Press
asked Dujarric in
writing to
disclose these (no
answer, and
Stephane Dujarric
blocks@InnerCityPress
on Twitter), just
as it asked
him in person why
CEFC wasn't being
audited in March
2018, before
Dujarric and
Guterres had Inner
City Press roughed
up and banned, 180
days now. In March
2018 Gulbenkian
Foundation was
actively trying to
sell its Partex
Oil and Gas
affiliate to CEFC
China Energy. And
here's Stephane
Dujarric's Tokyo-
and Temple-based
brother Robert
Dujarric praising
and appearing at
Gulbenkian - audio
here,
program here.
We'll have more on
this.
December
31, 2018
UN
Guterres
Stonewalls on
His Links to
China Energy
Fund Committee
UN Staffers
Met Ye
Jianming
UNITED
NATIONS, December 28 – While UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres was refusing
throughout 2018 to begin any UN audit into
China Energy Fund Committee, implicated in the
UN bribery prosecution US v Patrick Ho,
Guterres had a secret: his role
on the board of Gulbenkian Foundation which
was trying to sell
its Partex Oil affiliate to CEFC. See Inner
City Press' first exclusive report here.
Today
Inner City Press continues its exclusive
series on some of the CEFC connections in and
through the UN that should have been
identified in the audit that Guterres
corruptly refused to begin, with his conflict
of interest. (Even his predecessor Ban Ki-moon
ordered an audit after Ng Lap Seng was
indicted - Guterres still hasn't after Patrick
Ho was convicted.)
One of
the people identified in the Ban Ki-moon audit
of Ng Lap Seng and South South News was Ion
Botnaru. He was allowed to retire, after
changing a UN General Assembly document along
with then President of the General Assembly
John Ashe, who died under indictment
ostensibly crushed by his own barbell, to
benefit Ng's Sun Kian Ip group. Botnaru
reappears again with CEFC, here.
And, crying out for audit, the President of
the General Assembly who swore in Guterres,
Peter Thomson of Fiji, traveled like Ashe and
Vuk Jeremic and Sam Kutesa to meet CEFC's Ye
Jianming in Hong Kong.
Inner
City Press has asked Guterres and his
spokespeople, among many other questions,
"Beyond the 37 questions from Inner City Press
you refused to answer last week, still set
forth below for promised answer, this is a
request, given that Peter Thomson is the SG's
rep on Oceans that you describe in detail
Thomson's 2017 meeting with now disappeared Ye
Jianming of CEFC, name which UN DSS officials
were with him and what reports they filed,
what their duties were; what was seen by those
accompanying Thomson, at least two of whom are
still in the UN (one is with China)."
Typically, Guterres and his spokespeople did
not answer. So here, pending listing those
from UN Department of Safety and Security the
group which roughs up the Press without
accountability and maintains a retaliatory
"lifetime" banned from the UN list, are the
names: "During his two-day visit, the
President of the UN General Assembly was
accompanied by his senior advisors Abdelghani
Merabet, and Zhang Yi, as well as by the UN
Department of Economic and Social Affairs’s
Director of the Division for Sustainable
Development, Zhu Juwang." Now, Thomson staffer
or embed Zhang Yi has gone (back, or more
openly) to working
for the Chinese government: "On August 14
[2018], Deputy Director-General of China
International Center for Economic and
Technical Exchanges Zhang Yi was invited to
attend the FOCAC - Africa-China Poverty
Reduction and Development Conference, an
important sub-forum under the FOCAC hosted by
the State Council Leading Group Office of
Poverty Alleviation and Development and
co-organized by the International Poverty
Reduction Center in China and the China Belt
and Road Institute for Agricultural
Cooperation of China Agriculture University.
Attending were more than 300 participants
including government officials, international
organizations’ representatives,
non-governmental organizations’ officials,
business leaders, experts and scholars from
China, United States, Japan, Denmark and 40
African countries like Angola, Botswana and
Mauritius."
What
did they see during Thomson's meeting with
now-known briber Ye Jianming? Zhu Juwang
is still with UN DESA; Abdelghani
Merabet is with the current PGA. We'll
have more on this: the UN should be answering
these questions, now.
In
2017, the year in which CEFC's Patrick Ho was
indicted and arrested for UN bribery, CEFC in
the UN engaged at least twice with Lenni
Montiel, including for example on 6 July 2017,
and also with DESA official Pingfan Hong. Some
photos here.
Inner City Press before Guterres had it
roughed up and banned now 176 days for its
inquiries into Guterres' corruption has
politely questioned both Montiel and Hong -
but Guterres has made that impossible and his
Spokesmen refused to answer any written
questions, for more than a week now. There are
more connections.
Guterres got favors from Peter Thomson when
Thomson was President of the General Assembly.
Rudimentary open source research - including
on the UN's own website here - finds that
Thomson, like implicated Sam Kutesa and John
Ashe and Vuk Jeremic, visited CEFC's Ye
Jianming in Hong Kong. What was discussed?
Inner City Press previously covered,
critically but civilly, Thomson. Now corrupt
Guterres has had Inner City Press roughed up
and banned 175 days, with his Spokesman
Stephane Dujarric refusing to answer any
questions despite the promise of Guterres' USG
Alison Smale.
After receiving favors from Thomson as PGA,
Guterres gave him a job in his Secretariat,
Representative on Oceans. Here
is Patrick Ho, interviewed by Guterres' DESA, on
Oceans. There should have been an audit. There
still should be. Another of Guterres' special
advisers, Jeffrey Sachs, after denying Inner
City Press' documented report Sachs was on a UN
- CEFC board, abruptly closed his Twitter
account, story here.
Guterres goes on robo-tweeting
from parts unknown, spending public money
undisclosed. Guterres should explain and / or
resign. We will have more in this series.
December
24, 2018
UN
Guterres
Refused to
Audit China
Energy Fund
Committee
While Covering
Up His
Links to
Partex Oil For
Sale to CEFC
UNITED
NATIONS, December 22 – While UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres was refusing
throughout 2018 to begin any UN audit into
China Energy Fund Committee, implicated in the
UN bribery prosecution US v Patrick Ho,
Guterres had a secret.
Guterres was and it seems still is connected
with and compensated by a company which was
trying to sell its oil and gas business to
China Energy Fund Committee in 2018. Guterres'
failure to disclose and refusal to audit was a
direct conflict of interest, which he has
tried to cover up by roughing up and banning
Inner City Press which asked him about it.
(See January 2018 press conference here,
July 2018 roughing up by Guterres' UN Security
here,
banning letter via Press Freedom Tracker here.)
For years Guterres received money as a board
member of the Calouste Galbenkian Foundation,
which despite its name is the 100% owner of
Partex Oil and Gas. Partex
has operations in Angola, Abu Dhabi, Brazil,
Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Oman and
Portugal. It was to a Portuguese court that
Guterres, while justifying
no listing some of his income, disclosed in
2016 that he was paid at least € 2735 per
month for his position with the Gulbenkian
Foundation.
But while a now deleted Foundation web page
(archived here)
stated that Guterres continued with Gulbenkian
into 2018, Guterres did not list it on his most
recent, and so far lone, UN Public
Financial Disclosure, which covered 2016
("Disclosing financial and other interests for
the 2016 reporting year").
So why
did Guterres disclose his position with the
Club of Madrid, but not
with the Gulbenkian Foundation / Partex Oil
and Gas? It is worth noting that Guterres'
wife Catarina Vaz Pinto has also been connected
to Gulbenkian.
Following the roughing up and banning from the
UN of Inner City Press which has covered the
CEFC scandal throughout, Guterres' head of
Global Communications Alison Smale promised
UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of
Expression David Kaye, who asked,
that the UN would still answer Inner City
Press' written questions.
But as 2018 came to a close Guterres'
spokesmen Stephane Dujarric and Farhan Haq
left unanswered 36 questions in a row from
Inner City Press, including this: “Beyond the
35 questions from Inner City Press you refused
to answer this week, this is a request on
deadline that you (1) state when SG Guterres
left his position on the Gulbenkian
Foundation,
(2) state why
Gulbenkian was not listed on SG Guterres'
public financial disclosure which covered
2016;
(3) explain
how it is not a conflict of interest for SG
Guterres to have refused to start an audit of
CEFC in the UN, as requested by Inner City
Press in January 2018, given CEFC's bid for
the oil business of Gulbenkian.
Also, again,
state why under SG Guterres there have been no
updates to the UN public financial disclosures
since those filed for 2016. Also, again,
explain your refusal to answer any of Inner
City Press' questions this week despite USG
Smale's statements to GAP, me and UNSR David
Kaye. On deadline.”
The
question was also sent to the e-mail addresses
of Guterres, his chief of staff Maria Luiza
Ribeiro Viotti, his Deputy Amina J. Mohammed,
and Smale, who earlier in the week told Inner
City Press she would take “under advisement” her
17 August 2018 pretextual withdrawal of Inner
City Press decade long UN media accreditation.
It seems clear that Guterres and his team
have engaged in censorship for corruption, to
conceal a blatant conflict of interest by
Guterres. It has been raised by Inner City Press
to the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services,
and others. Watch this site.December
17, 2018
On
Cameroon UN
Guterres Envoy
Fall Claimed
Biya Gender
Desks But
After Fact
Check No
Answer
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, December
14 --After
Paul Biya who
has ruled
Cameroon for
36 years lied
that
Transparency
International
was observing
his
re-coronation,
and
burned village
after village in
the Anglophone
regions
while hiring
lobbyists to
seek and get support
from UN
Secretary
General Antonio
Guterres,
on October 22 he
claimed
to win over 71% of
the vote and
even that 16% of
those eligible voted
in the
Anglophone
North-West and
South-West
regions. None
of this is
credible. Nor
is the new
report by
Guterres' failed
envoy Francois
Lounceny
Fall, nor
Fall's
presentation
to the Council, entry
to cover which
Guterres is
corruptly
barring Inner
City Press on
December
13, for the
162nd day. After
Fall's pitch,
and dubious
claims
of concern
from countries
which are withholding
all documents
about Cameroon
which
Inner City
Press has
requested from
them under
Freedom of
Information
laws like the
Dutch WOB, on
December 13
and 14 Inner
City Press
asked the UN:
"December
14-6: On
Cameroon, on
which you have
been refusing
Inner City
Press'
questions, now
that Francois
Fall has said
he visited in
November and
met Government
officials,
state with
whom else he
met. He
describes
“Gender Desks”
in police
stations but
an Inner City
Press reader
today called
the Kumba
police station
and they'd
never heard of
it. What is
the basis of
Mr. Fall's
statement?" Hours
after the
December 14 UN
noon briefing
at which
those allowed
in asked not a
single
question about
anything
in Africa, much less
Cameroon,
Guterres'
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq
sent this: "Regarding
question
December 14-6,
we have
provided Mr.
Fall’s
briefing to
the Security
Council, in
which he
details his
concerns about
Cameroon and
his work there." And the
Gender Desks?
Here
is a paragraph of
Fall's and
Guterres'
report: "5.
The security
situation in
the North-West
and South-West
regions of
Cameroon
continued to
deteriorate.
Sporadic
fighting
between
security
forces and
armed groups
was reported
throughout the
reporting
period. On 12
July, the
convoy of the
Minister
for Defence
was attacked
on two
separate
occasions near
Kumba in the
South-West
region. On the
night of 28 to
29 July, an
armed group
attacked a
prison in Ndop
in the
North-West
region,
resulting in
the escape of
163 inmates.
On 26
September,
armed
individuals
also attacked
a prison in
Wum in the
North-West
region,
leading to the
escape of 80
inmates. On 5
November,
nearly 80
students and
staff from a
secondary
school in
Bamenda, in
the North-West
region, were
kidnapped. All
of the
students
were released
the following
day. During
the reporting
period, there
were reports
of
sexual
violence
perpetrated by
both security
forces and
armed groups.
In response,
“gender desks”
were
established at
police
stations in
the South-West
region in an
effort to
establish a
safe and
confidential
reporting
process on
sexual and
genderbased
violence and
related
crimes. On 11
October,
religious
leaders of the
Catholic,
Protestant and
Muslim
communities in
the
English-speaking
regions held a
meeting
in preparation
for an
“Anglophone
General
Conference”
scheduled to
be held in
Buea,
in the
South-West
region, on 21
and 22
November, but
which was
later
postponed. At
the same
meeting, they
reiterated
their appeal
for the
cessation of
military and
insurgent
operations in
the
English-speaking
regions." And
Antonio Guterres...
took Biya's
golden statue,
made a Budget
Committee deal
to stay
quiet on the
slaughter, and
had roughed up
and banned for
161 days and
counting
the Press
which asked
him about it. December
10, 2018
UN
Bribery Guilty
Verdict
Against Ho of
China Energy
Fund Committee
Shows Need For
Reform and
Oversight of
SG
UNITED
NATIONS, December 8 – What will any new
Ambassador to the UN, whether Heather Nauert
or anyone else, find that needs to be
addressed? Most recently, in two words,
rampant and unrelenting bribery,
including offers of weapons for oil by UN non
governmental organizations which UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres refuses to even audit
- while roughing
up and banning
the Press which asks him about it.
Three years
ago Macau based businessman Ng Lap Seng was
arrested and charged with bribing
UN General Assembly President Josh Ashe and
others, though Sun Kian Ip Foundation and
other groups still in the UN. Ng was convicted
of multiple violations of the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act (FCPA) and money laundering. But
the issue of faux NGO purchase of the UN hasn't
gone away. In fact, a second UN bribery case
ended this week in the US District Court for
the Southern District of New York with seven
guilty verdicts.
In this
second case, Patrick Ho was found guilty of
seven of eight counts of FCPA and month
laundering. (He was only not guilty on money
laundering in Chad - where the bribe was not
through any US bank but in cash, $2 million in
a gift box). The evidence showed that the NGO
he ran, China Energy Fund Committee, used its
ongoing UN consultative status to pay bribes
to Ugandan foreign minister - and Ashe's
successor as President of the UN General
Assembly -- Sam
Kutesa. He was working with precedessor
Vuk
Jeremic while Jeremic was UN PGA. CEFC
even offered weapons, tanks and drones, to
Chad's long time president Idriss Deby for oil
blocks or a stake in the Chad Cameroon
pipeline. (Inner City Press published
documents here.)
The night of
the verdict I asked UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres what he will do to clean up
the UN, where he has left CEFC without any
audit, still in consultative status with the
UN. On his way from his Mercedes to a glitzy
fundraiser including George and Amal Clooney,
Guterres
refused to answer. The next day when
asked by another journalist why Guterres had
refused to answer banned Inner City Press'
question, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric
claimed that the UN has “cooperated” with the
prosecution. But the bribery group remains in
the UN, unaudited.
Why has the
case of US versus Ho, and now the guilty
verdicts, garnered relatively so little
interest, with the corruption of the UN
exposed by it scarcely mentioned all? SG
Guterres is hoping it goes away. In terms of
corruption, he did not disclose and refuses to
answer on the African business links of his
son Pedro Guimarães e Melo De Oliveira
Guterres. He refuses to answer how much he
spends in public funds flying to his home in Lisbon
at least sixteen times sofar as SG.
So CEFC remains an accredited non governmental
organization with the UN's Economic and Social
Council, while investigative Inner City Press
for which I have been covering the case has
been dis-accredited by and ousted from the UN,
put on a list of those permanently banned
without notice, due process or appeal. On
December 7 I was
informed I am banned
from a “UN Human Rights” event on December 10
to be addressed by Guterres and his human
rights commissioner Michelle Bachelet. But
this reporting will not stop - Guterres'
corruption of the UN must be addressed,
through oversight or as is discussed
elsewhere, impeachment. From the lofty goals
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
to Guterres' censorship for corruption is
UNacceptable.
With UN
High
Commissioner for Human
Rights Michelle Bachelet
and her Deputy Andrew Gilmour set to speak in
the UN on human rights day on December 10,
Inner City Press responded to an invitation
and was told, "Thank you for registering to
attend the Human Rights Day event at the
United Nations on Monday 10 December. On
Monday, please come to the UN Visitors’ Gate
on First Avenue opposite 45th street starting
at 2pm, at which time entry passes will be
distributed."
Then, past six
p.m. on Friday, December 7 this
from Bachelet's and Gilmour's Office of the High
Commissioner for Human
Rights: "Dear Matthew, We have
received notification from
UN Security that your name
was flagged as "BARRED" on
the list we submitted for
passes for Monday's event
(3pm, ECOSOC Chamber). We will
therefore not have a pass
for you and are unable to
facilitate entry.
Thank you for your interest
and best regards,
OHCHR New York Office."
Photo of email here.
Inner
City Press
immediately wrote back,
to the sender
and
Bachelet and
her assistant, to
Andrew Gilmour
and to the
moderator of
the event, "Particularly since you are the UN
Office of the High Commissioner for *Human
Rights,* did you not ask why a journalist who asks
the Secretary General and his spokesmen about the
killings in Cameroon,
Burundi, UN corruption,
UN peacekeepers' sexual abuse of civilians,
and Sri Lanka,
is “BARRED” from attending your human rights event
- without any hearing or appeal? I will appreciate
your Office's answer to this." We'll have more on
this.
Bachelet
gave
a speech on October 15 in the UN's Third
Committee, she emphasized a prioritization of
social and economic rights and said one of the
officials of her office is "on mission in
Silicon Valley" in the US. There are questions
about this - but Inner City Press which has
covered human rights and the UN for more than a
decade was for the first time banned from access
a High Commissioner's speech. This has been
raised repeated to Bachelet since she took
office but she has so far done nothing, not even
responded. Meanwhile on October 12 Cameroon,
from whose Paul Biya Secretary General Antonio
Guterres took a golden statue and favors in the
Fifth (Budget) Committee and remains silent on
the slaughter of Anglophones, was elected to a
seat on the UN Human Rights Council. This system
is failing - but if Bachelet cannot even answer
on Guterres maintaining a secret banned list
including not only Inner City Press but also
"political activists" - and anti-corruption
campaigners - then the UN of
Guterres has
hit its
newest low.
December
3, 2018
In UN
Bribery Case
Ho Plotted
Bribing PGA
Ashe with Yan
and Repeatedly
Entered UN
Covered Up by
Guterres
FEDERAL
COURTHOUSE, November 30 – In the UN bribery
prosecution by the US against Patrick Ho of
China Energy Fund Committee, on the morning of
November 30 the prosecution detailed how
CEFC bought UN PGA Sam Kutesa - and played an
audio wiretap of Ho discussing bribing UN PGA
John Ash with Sheri Yan, who did jail time in
the first UN bribery case of Ng Lap Seng. As to
Uganda, CEFC instead of $500,00 case did a wire
transfer - it was cheaper, through pliant HSBC
bank which also money launders for Mexican drug
cartels - and there was Ho, in purple like
today, as Museveni's inauguration. He brought
gift with him - a vase, painting, what locked to
be a clock - to a dinner at Kutesa's residence.
Then the prosecution flashed a list of the times
Ho entered the UN - the UN has that information,
you see, though they refused to provide it when
Inner City Press asked, as to Francis Lorenzo,
Ho and Carlos Garcia, preferring to ban Inner
City Press. The prosecution left for Monday
showing the agreement under which CEFC and its
missing Chairman Ye bought unit 78B in Trump
World Tower. After a wan cross examination by
Ho's lawyer Benjamin Rosenberg (Judge Preska
essentially shut him down), the jury was told
they may get the case as early as Wednesday,
when Antonio Guterres like his predecessor wil
be put up for sale at Cipriani on 42nd Street.
Th week, along with the depths of UN corruption,
revealed how in China the formal government has
a murky relationship with quasi state firms like
CEFC, which on the one hand paved Xi's way into
the Czech Republic and on the other, tried to
get Chad's Deby to "make" Chinese stat oil
company CNPC to get it a piece of the action,
perhaps for the Defense Committee of the Chinese
Communisty Party, presumably the sources of the
weapons and drones CEFC was offering to Deby and
others in Libya and South Sudan. This is the NGO
that Antonio Guterres has refused to audit and
keeps in the UN while roughing up and banning
Inner City Press. Kutesa's sale of the UN began
through previous PGA Vuk Jeremic, who told
Kutesa it would be "win - win" with CEFC. Then
Ho emailed Kutesa's chief of staff Arthur
Kafeero, whom Inner City Press wrote about
before being banned from even entering the UN by
UNSG Antonio Guterres. Later Ho did his emailing
with Sam's wife Edith Gasana Kutesa, who asked
for money to supposedly make good on an
electoral campaign pledge help Kutesa's young
constituents (although she also bragging that
Kutesa had no opposing candidate). She wrote,
Youth are impatient - so send me the money! Ho
arranged for $500,000 while pitching Edith on
all the things (and people) CEFC had bought in
Czech Republic. As Inner City Press reported and
asked about before being roughed up and banned
by UNSG Antonio Guterres, the Czech Ambassador
headed ECOSOC, which refused to even look into
CEFC's accreditation after Ho's arrest. CEFC
used the UN to pitch weapons to dictators. And
Guterres is covering up for them. Ho met Kutesa
and his son Isaac for three hours in the PGA
office - the type of entry Guterres is trying to
prevent coverage of - and as his "PGA
residence." Ho would email Kafeera and be
scheduled as speaker at the UN, which
under Guterres took CEFC's $1 million even AFTER
Ho was arrested. The UN of Guterres is corrupt.
Periscope video here.
Also on November 30, finishing up on the Chad
scheme with FBI Agent Galicia, a CEFC web page
with Bill Clinton was shown. We'll have more on
this. On November 29, Senegal's former Foreign
Minister Cheikh Gadio admitted he took $20,000
from an unnamed courier from a businessman he
did not want to identify. Then Gadio pushed a
journalist in the street and told Inner City
Press he would answer its questions later. Video here
(YouTube), shorter
(Twitter). But if that
seemed to give home to Ho, the
upcoming Uganda scheme should
not. Whether not a disputed
prosecution chart comes into
evidence, the undelying
timeline is damning. Ho for
CEFC told then UN President of
the General Assembly Vuk
Jeremic, who was already
working for CEFC, that they
wanted to meet his successor
Sam Kutesa of Uganda. This
culminated, while Kutesa was still UN PGA, in
CEFC's chairman Ye Jianming being named a
special adviser to the United Nations PGA. This
is disgusting, given that CEFC was pushing
weapons to Idriss Deby in Chad. More disgusting,
Ho used Ye's inroaded into the Czech Republic,
whose ambassador to the UN, chairing UN ECOSOC,
refused to act on ECOSOC accredited CEFC even
after Ho was arrested. Guterres and his
spokesman Stephane Dujarric played their cover
up roles in this. We'll have more on all this.
Gadio is not the defendant in this bribery case
- he is, at least so far, the prosecution's lead
witness, with a Non Prosecution Agreement. But
does that NPA cover Gadio, after his testimony,
pushing a journalist on the street outside the
court? Video here
(YouTube), shorter
(Twitter). Inner City Press along with
other journalists, mostly from Hong Kong media,
waiting outside the Southern District of New
York courthouse at day's end. Gadio emerged and
Inner City Press asked him how he thought the
day had gone. He did not answer but rushed past.
Inner City Press asked, louder, "Are you still
running for president of Senegal?" Gadio turned
back and pushed a journalist who was following
him. This happened again a few blocks away.
Finally on the stoop of a pharmacy on Canal
Street Gadio's companion said he would not be
answering questions today but to give your
business card. Inner City Press gave its and
asked if the former President of Senegal Gadio
wrote took money from China for dropping Taiwan
was Abdoulaye Wade. Gadio looked back in
recognition - then was gone. Inner City Press
preiously questioned him in the UN when he was
the Organization for Islamic Cooperation's envoy
on the Central African Republic. Much has
changed since then. As Inner City Press reported
yesterday, Gadio was already on shaky ground
when his email to Ho complaining he hadn't
gotten Chinese money after, as Senegal's foreign
minister in 2005, he worked to drop Taiwan and
recognize the PR of China. But the bag of
(campaign) cash allegation, dropped without
warning in cross examination by Edward Kim,
caused a break in the proceeding. Inner City
Press rushed down to retrieve its phone and tweet
and quickly live stream the news, here.
Back upstairs, the name of the businessman was
not disclosed, allegedly to protect him - from
current president Macky Sall? We'll have more on
this. Gadio testified for a second day about how
he tried to broker weapons to Chad's President
Idriss Deby from CEFC's Patrick Ho, who
delivered gift boxes with $2 million in cash
inside. Gadio's testimony got more specific,
that in March 2015 Deby wanted to keep the
meeting with CEFC small and confidential,
"because of the war situation." Gadio cited Boko
Haram, and Ho in a text message said CEFC's
offer, for CNPC's 10%, was $200 million "and
some arms." This is the head of a still UN
accredited NGO, offering weapons for oil - with
no audit by SG Antonio Guterres.November
26, 2018
After
Cameroon Leak
Said PR Van
Oosterom
Thanked
Lobbyists Now
Skype Hearing
on WOB Appeal
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, November 22 – As the
Cameroon
government of
36 year
President
Paul
Biya prepared
for today's
re-coronation
to a seventh term by
slaughtering
civilians in
the Anglophone
regions as well as in
the North,
it
re-engaged Washington
lobbying firm
Squire Patton
Boggs, on a
retainer
of $100,000 per
quarter
plus
expenses, documents
show. The
UN belatedly
acknowledged
to Inner City
Press,
which UN Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres had
roughed up on
July 3 right
after it spoke
to Cameroon's
Ambassador Tommo
Monthe, that
Guterres met
with a
Cameroon
delegation on
July 11. Guterres'
spokesman
Farhan Haq has
three times
refused to
answer Inner
City Press e-mailed
question
whether
Guterres was
aware his
meeting was
stage managed
by lobbyists
at Patton
Boggs, and
what was
discussed.
While
suspended but
before the UN
outrageously
purported to
impose a
lifetime ban
on entry,
Inner City Press
asked the same and
more to the Dutch
Mission to the
UN, in
writing and in
person. (And
now has its
"WOB"
appeal set for
a hearing,
albeit by Skype,
below, as now
Dutch
Ambassador
Karel von
Oosterom and his
Spokesman
refuse to
answer any
Inner City
Press
questions,
unlike other
UNSC
Ambassador,
November 19
video here.)
After
Guterres banned
Inner City
Press from entry from
July 3 onward,
in order to report
on the UN
Inner City
Press had to
seek answers
other than at
the UN Noon
Briefing and UN
Security
Council
stakeout
position, from
which Guterres
and Smale also banned
it. Inner
City Press
asks question
in front of
the UN
Delegates
Entrance, and
has gotten
about put
online
responses
from, among
others,
outgoing UN
Human Rights
Commissioner
Zeid,
Burundi's
Ambassador,
and on August
20, for
example, a diplomat
on the North
Korea
sanctions committee -- whose
Dutch chair
Karel van
Oosterom refused
to comment.
This
stakeout
is where Inner
City Press asks
questions only because
Guterres and
Smale have
banned it since
July 3. But in
her August 17
letter, Smale
justifies the
ban
imposed July 3
with this
post-July 3
interviews,
and says that
UNnamed
member states -
and somehow
correspondents -
have
complained.
Is that
Dutch
Ambassador
Karel van
Oosterom? Inner
City Press
submitted a
FOIA or WOB
request -
and now an
appealon which
there will be a
Skype hearing,
including
based on October 7
election
irregularities and the
denial's evasion on
Dutch role in
UN censorship
which now
includes a
secret barred
list which
violations
applicable
law, see
below.
First, the
request:
"This is
request under
the WOB /
Dutch Freedom
of Information
act for the
following
records as
that term is
defined in
WOB, including
but not
limited to all
electronic
records,
emails,
text/SMS
message and
communications
in any form,
involving the
Netherlands
Mission to the
UN in New York
since August
15, 2017
regarding
Cameroon
and/or
Southern
Cameroons and
all meeting
including Amb
van Oosterom's
July 11
meeting with
Cameroonian
ministers, all
responses to
communications
received about
Cameroon
including but
not limited to
Inner City
Press'
communications
of
July 14, 2018
to "Eybergen,
Bas van"
NYV@minbuza.nl
Frits.Kemperman [at] minbuza.nl,
NYV-COM@minbuza.nl, Oosterom
and Kaag
July 25, 2018
to the same
recipients;
and August 12,
2018 to the
same
recipients;
and multiple
verbal
questions to
your PR and
DPR since July
3.
To
explain the
last part of
this request,
the head of UN
Dep't of
Public Info
Alison Smale
in issuing a
lifetime ban
to my on
August 17
wrote "“We
would also
note your
conduct at the
entrances of
the United
Nations
premises and
nearby,
including the
use of
profanities
and derogatory
assertions and
language
toward
individuals
accessing the
United
Nations, in
close
proximity to
them. Video /
live
broadcasts of
this are
frequently
published on
the Inner City
Press' website
and other
media
platforms.
This conduct
gives rise to
potential
safety
concerns for
Member State
diplomats...The
conduct
described
above has
generated
multiple
complaints to
the United
Nations from
Member
States."
Given
Ambassador van
Oosterom and
his Deputy
PR's flat
refusal to
answer or even
acknowledge
the Cameroon
questions I
asked them at
the Delegates
Entrance
stakeout, most
recently Amb
van Oosterom
on August 20
about North
Korea (on
which other
delegations
answered,
despite PR van
Oosterom being
the chair),
this is a
request for
all record
that reflect
or are related
to any
communications
by the Dutch
Mission to the
UN about
questions or
comments
received at
the
stakeout(s).
Given the
situations in
Cameroon and
South
Cameroons, I
and Inner City
Press asked
for expedited
processes of
this request."
And we
received back this:
"Bedankt voor
uw e-mail.
Afhankelijk
van de aard en
inhoud van uw
bericht kunt u
binnen twee
werkdagen een
reactie
tegemoet zien.
Uw kenmerk is
E3487878
Met
vriendelijke
groet,
Informatie
Rijksoverheid
Thank you for
your e-mail.
Depending on
the nature and
content of
your message
you can expect
a reply within
two working
days.
Your reference
is E3487878
Kind regards,
Public
Information
Service,
Government of
the
Netherlands."
But now
on September
20, another
extension: "
Date September
2Oth 2018
MinBuza-2018.1035870
Re
Postponement
notice in
relation to
Wob
application
Dear Mr. Lee,
By email of
August 22th
2018 you
submitted an
application to
my Ministry as
referred to in
section 3,
subsection 1
of the
Government
Information
(Public
Access) Act
(Wet
openbaarheid
van bestuur;
WOB)
concerning
PVVN meetings
regarding
Cameroon.
The Wob
provides that
a decision
must generally
be taken
within four
weeks after
receipt of the
application,
but may be
deferred by
four weeks. It
is not
possible to
decide on your
application
within four
weeks because
more time is
necessary to
ensure that
the decision
is taken with
due care. On
the basis of
section 6 of
the
WOB 1 am
therefore
extending the
time limit for
deciding on
your
application by
four weeks.
1f you have
any questions
concerning the
status of your
application
and the time
limit for
dealing with
it, please
contact
DJZ-NR.
Yours
sincerely,
For the
Minister of
Foreign
Affairs,
the acting
head of the
Netherlands
Law Devision
of the Legal
Affairs
Department,
mr. drs. ie" But
having received
no documents on
October 22, still banned
but watching
van Oosterom say how
he would tweet each of
the ten
points in his
UN Security
Council
speech, Inner
City Press
itself tweeted
that it had no
WOB response.
Minutes
later an email
from his Alternate
Political
Coordinator
Charlotte van
Baak with a letter
dated October
17, five
days before,
denying access
to any documents
at all. Letter
here
on Patreon,
here
on Scribd.
This is the text:
"Mission of
the Kingdom of
the
Netherlands to
the United
Nations 666
Third Avenue,
New York 10017
www.netherlandsmission.org
Contact Bas
van Eybergen
Date
October 17,
2018 WOB
Request on
Cameroon
Dear Mr Lee,
In your email
of 8/22/18 you
requested
information on
Cameroon,
invoking the
Government
Information
(Public
Access) Act
(Wet
openbaarheid
van bestuur;
WOB).
The documents
you requested
concerned "all
electronic
records,
emails,
text/SMS
message and
communications
in any form,
involving the
Netherlands
Mission to the
UN in New York
since August
15, 2017
regarding
Cameroon
and/or Southem
Cameroons and
all meeting
including Amb
van Oosterom's
July 11
meeting with
Cameroonian
ministers, all
responses to
communications
received about
Cameroon
including but
not limited to
Inner City
Press'
communications."
Statutory
framework Your
application
falls within
the scope of
the Government
Information
(Public
Access) Act.
Specification
of documents
In response to
your
application,
the following
documents have
been found:
- Internal
emails from
August 2017
until October
2018
External
emails from
August 2017
until October
2018 A
preparatory
document for a
meeting with a
delegation of
another UN
member state,
dated 07/12/18
One
instruction of
the Ministry
of Foreign
Affairs to the
Permanent
Mission, dated
10/12/18 Two
reports of the
Permanent
Mission to the
Ministry of
Foreign
Affairs, dated
08/23/18 and
10/14/18
Decision I
have decided
not to
disclose the
requested
documents.
Please find
the
considerations
for my
decision in
the next
paragraph.
Considerations
Intemal
Consultations
Section 11,
subsection 1
of the WOB
provides that
where an
application
concerns
information
contained in
documents
drawn up for
the purpose of
internal
consultation,
no information
will be
disclosed
concerning
personal
opinions on
policy
contained in
them.
It is apparent
from the
history of the
legislation
that the
phrase
"documents
drawn up for
the purpose of
internal
consultation'
should be
deemed to
include papers
drawn up by
civil
servants, the
ministry's
senior
management and
political
leadership,
correspondence
within a
ministry and
between
ministries,
draft
documents,
meeting
agendas,
minutes,
summaries and
conclusions of
internal
discussions
and reports of
civil service
advisory
committees. As
regards these
documents, the
intention to
treat them as
documents for
internal
consultation
must either be
expressly
apparent or
reasonably
surmisable.
This
limitation of
the duty of
disclosure has
been included
in the WOB
because it is
necessary to
ensure that
civil servants
and any
external
participants
taking part in
the internal
discussions
and involved
in formulating
and preparing
policy do not
feel
constricted in
doing so. They
must be able
to communicate
entirely
frankly among
themselves and
with
government
ministers.
Only the
positions
actually
adopted by the
administrative
authority are
relevant
constitutionally.
Personal
opinions on
policy include
views,
opinions,
comments,
proposals and
conclusions,
together with
the arguments
put forward in
support of
them.
The internal
emails have
been drawn up
for the
purpose of
internal
consultation
and contain
personal
opinions on
policy. I have
decided not to
disclose any
information of
those internal
emails, as I
do not
consider that
public
disclosure of
the positions
taken
individually
by civil
servants would
be in the
interests of
effective,
democratic
governance. I
therefore see
no reason to
disclose.
Interational
relations
Section 10,
subsection 2,
opening words
and (a) of the
WOB provides
that data
should not be
disclosed if
the interest
in disclosure
is outweighed
by the
interest in
maintaining
relations
between the
Netherlands
and other
States or
international
organisations.
The history of
this provision
shows that
this ground
for refusal is
intended to
prevent a
situation in
which a
statutory duty
to disclose
information
would have the
effect of
harming Dutch
international
relations. In
order for this
provision to
be applied, it
is not
necessary for
deterioration
of good
relations with
other
countries to
be expected.
It is instead
sufficient if
the provision
of information
is likely in
some ways to
make
international
contacts more
difficult, for
example if
maintaining
diplomatic
relations or
conducting
bilateral
consultations
with countries
would be
harder than
before or if
people in
these
countries
would be less
inclined to
provide
certain data
than
previously.
The external
emails, and
the documents
dated
07/12/18,
10/12/18,
08/23/18 and
10/14/18
include
information
that could
harm the
international
relations of
the
Netherlands. I
have therefore
decided not to
disclose them.
Yours
sincerely,
Charlotte van
Baak Alternate
Political
Coordinator of
the Permanent
Mission of the
Kingdom of the
Netherlands to
the United
Nations in New
York."
Is this
Freedom of
Information in
The Netherlands
- every
document
withheld, by
one's own
subordinate?
And so
on October 24,
to the
Mission and Ministry's Legal
Adviser
Mirnel Comic,
Inner
City Press has
filed this
appeal:
"NOTICE OF
OBJECTION
October 24,
2018
This is a
formal notice
of objection
to / appeal
from the total
denial of my
22 August 2018
WOB request.
After repeated
delays, the
response from
the Dutch
Mission to the
UN only
mentions one
part of my
request, on
Cameroon, and
on that denies
access to
every single
documents,
external as
well as
internal, with
a logic that
would make the
Ministry of
Foreign
Affairs
entirely
exempt from
the WOB,
clearly not
the
legislative
intent.
Beyond the
shameful
denial of all
Cameroon
related
documents, the
belated
response
troublingly
does not
mention this
portion of my
request: “the
head of UN
Dep't of
Public Info
Alison Smale
in issuing a
lifetime ban
to my on
August 17
wrote "“We
would also
note your
conduct at the
entrances of
the United
Nations
premises and
nearby,
including the
use of
profanities
and derogatory
assertions and
language
toward
individuals
accessing the
United
Nations, in
close
proximity to
them. Video /
live
broadcasts of
this are
frequently
published on
the Inner City
Press' website
and other
media
platforms.
This conduct
gives rise to
potential
safety
concerns for
Member State
diplomats...The
conduct
described
above has
generated
multiple
complaints to
the United
Nations from
Member
States."
Given
Ambassador van
Oosterom and
his Deputy
PR's flat
refusal to
answer or even
acknowledge
the Cameroon
questions I
asked them at
the Delegates
Entrance
stakeout, most
recently Amb
van Oosterom
on August 20
about North
Korea (on
which other
delegations
answered,
despite PR van
Oosterom being
the chair),
this is a
request for
all record
that reflect
or are related
to any
communications
by the Dutch
Mission to the
UN about
questions or
comments
received at
the
stakeout(s).”
This was and
is not limited
to questions
about Cameroon
but rather any
documents
related to the
area around
the Delegates
Entrance Gate
and related to
freedom of the
Press,
communications
with UN
Department of
Public
Information /
Global
Communications
or UN
Security. The
invocation of
the exemption
used implies
the
Government, or
at least
Mission, wants
secrecy in
order to lobby
for the
censorship the
UN is engaged
in. I demand
expedited
treatment of
this appeal,
in that the
withdrawal of
my media
accreditation
amid questions
on Cameroon
and other
topics has
morphed into a
seemingly
lifetime ban
on a secretary
“barred” list
that the UN
claims is an
internal
document [video
here]
even
with respect
to people on
it. This is a
violation of
human rights,
including
EU/EC rights.
I demand
expedited
treatment,
also after
irregularities
in the
Cameroon
elections of
Oct 7, for
this notice of
objection."
And now (on October 30) from The
Hague and not like the
response from
the very
Mission
questioned
this
acknowledgement
of appeal and
timeline:
"Dear Mr. Lee, I
hereby
ackowledge
receipt of
your notice of
objection to
the decision
on your Wob
request dated
8/22/18. I
would like to
draw your
attention to
the handling
period for
your notice of
objection. You
receive a
decision or
adjournment
notice within
six weeks of
the day on
which the
deadline for
submitting the
notice of
objection
expired. In
the event of
an adjournment
notice, the
decision on
your notice of
objection will
be adjourned
for a maximum
of six weeks.
Met
vriendelijke
groeten, /
With kind
regards,
Edith
Kraaijeveld Administratief
medewerker"
And on November
22 - US
Thanksgiving -
this:
"Dear Mr. Lee,
Your objection
will be dealt
with in
accordance
with the
provisions of
the General
Administrative
Law Act
(Algemene wet
bestuursrecht;
Awb). This
means that,
provided your
notice of
objection
satisfies the
requirements
of the Awb,
you in
principle have
the right to
be heard on
the matter of
your
objection.
With a view to
establishing a
objections
committee for
the purpose of
a hearing,
please inform
me before
December 1st
2018 whether
you wish to
exercise the
right to be
heard in
accordance
with section
7:2 of the
Awb. This
hearing will
take place by
Skype.
If you do not
indicate
before this
date that you
wish to
exercise this
right, no
hearing will
take place.
Met
vriendelijke
groeten, /
With kind
regards,
Edith
Kraaijeveld
Administratief
medewerker
Ministerie van
Buitenlandse
Zaken
Directie
Juridische
Zaken
Afdeling
Nederlands
Recht
Ministry of
Foreign
Affairs
Legal Affairs
Department |
Netherlands
Law Division
(DJZ/NR)."
Inner City
Press on
Thanksgiving
replied: "This
is to confirm
that I do
hereby assert
my right to be
heard in
accordance
with section
7:2 of the
General
Administrative
Law Act and to
pursue these
records I have
been seeking
for months.
Please
advise." Watch
this site.November
19, 2018
In UN
Bribery Case
of China
Energy Iran
Sanctions and
Arms Deal
Evidence Will
Come In, Belt
and Road Is
Out
FEDERAL
COURTHOUSE, November 14 – In the UN bribery
prosecution by the US against Patrick Ho of
China Energy Fund Committee, Ho has tried
to use CEFC's ongoing UN "Special Consultative
Status" to avoid criminal charges. This and Ho's
other motions were denial by Judge Preska on
November 14, including a motion to exclude
testimony from Cheikh Gadio, from government
expert Mr. Walkout, and to exclude Ho's dealings
with Sam Kutesa's predecessor as UNGA President
Sam Ashe. All of this will come in at trial -
and makes the failure by UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres to even audit CEFC's bribes in
the UN more outrageous. This UN-accredited NGO
offered to broker arms not only to Chad but also
Qatar, Libya and South Sudan, about which
Guterres and the UN purport to care so much. Ho
and CEFC offered themselves as way to
evade Iran sanctions. This evidence will come in
a trial; the government has agreed not to
mention terrorism or US - Iran relations. A 23
minute video of Ho's UN speeches will not come
in, being called "gauzy" as is the UN of
Guterres who has banned Inner City Press which
covers the UN's increasing corruption, from Ng
Lap Seng and Ashe to CEFC, Kutesa and beyond,
ongoing. We'll have more on this. Ho was trying
to exclude testimony from initial co-defendant
Cheikh Gadio about Chadian President Idriss
Deby's reaction to the bribe. The papers were
filed on November 13 and are first being
reported by Inner City Press, which as it covers
this second UN bribery case has been roughed up
and now banned for 132 days by UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres who won't even audit
CEFC's ongoing activities in the UN. Four months
after the arrest for UN
bribery of former Senegalese foreign
minister Cheik Gadio and Patrick Ho, the head of
China Energy Fund Committee full funded by CEFC
China Energy, his ultimate boss at CEFC Ye
Jianming was brought in for questioning in
China. On October 4 Ho was again denied bail.
Periscope video here.
On October 22, the new trial date was set for
November 26. On November 12 Inner City Press,
banned from the UN by Secretary General Antonio
Guterres amid its questions about the CEFC
bribery and its connection to the Ng Lap Seng
conviction, asked Guterres and his spokesmen:
"November 12-4: Now that it is clear that
Foreign Intelligence Surveilance Act wiretaps
show Sheri Yan, jailed for UN bribery in the PGA
John Ashe case, communicating and planned with
Patrick Ho of CEFC, please explain why SG
Antonio Guterres has not even started an audit
into the range CEFC's bribery and interactions
in the UN, why it still has access to UN while
Inner City Press which which pursued Ng Lap
Seng's and Yan's bribery even into the UN Press
Briefing Room (29 Jan 2016) and the Patrick Ho /
CEFC case, has been denied access to anything in
the UN for 131 days with no due process."
Guterres' deputy spokesman Farhan Haq conducted
a noon briefing Inner City Press was banned
from, starting with a total of three
correspondents. Video
here. He and the UN have not answered
since, see below. After he did not answer - but
he did answer
Yahoo News for a story which, inexplicably, does
not mention Guterres or his failure to audit
CEFC's activities at the UN. Others who have
done nothign about the bribery, or about
Guterres' roughing up and banning of Inner City
Press, like HRW's
Ken Roth and
FP's Colum Lynch, belatedly retweeted the
Ho / Yan corruption story. But what will they
and the UN they love so much do? On November 4
Ho's attempt to "suppress all evidence obtained
or derived under the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act" was denied, with a decision
that no hearing on it was needed. The FISA
information includes wiretaps of Ho and another
bribing NGO the Global Sustainability
Foundations's Sheri Yan or her deputy planning
to pay bribes. This is described
today by the Sydney Morning Herald, which
while saying that UN officials who it leaves
unnamed are lavishing praises on the Belt and
Road which Ho now uses as a defense of his
alleged bribes, fails to mention main praiser
Antonio Guterres. Nor does SMH
- Shaking My Head -- mention that unlike even
Ban Ki-mon with Ng Lap Seng, Guterres has
refused to even start an audit into Ho's (and
Yang II's) bribery in the UN, but instead had
roughed up and banned Inner City Press which
reports on it. Ng Lap Seng paid money to a group
Guterres is slated to headline a fundraiser for
on December 5, a group he and his spokesman
Stephane Dujarric use to support their attack on
the investigative Press. We'll have more on
this. Hong Kong television has broadcast a
report on these alleged UN and Deby bribes,
including an interview with Inner City Press
which has been banned from the UN by Antonio
Guterres amid its coverage of UN corruption and
Guterres' refusal to even audit, has been
broadcast.
November
12, 2018
Made
Diplomats and
UN Officials
Feel UNsafe
But Solution
Is Simple
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, NOVEMBER 8 -- As Inner City Press
moved forward with its inquiry into UN
Secretary General Antonio Guterres' personal use
of public funds, silence on slaughter in Cameroon
and elsewhere and failure to disclose family
members' financial interests in Angola
and elsewhere, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric
on 20 June 2018 said that “things will soon be
getting worse” for Inner City Press' reporter.
Inner City Press has now been banned from the
UN for 127 days and Dujarric is providing his
and his boss' pretext, as purported
background, to some of those asking questions,
at least if they come from Europe, see below.
The pretexts are lies - now that they are
becoming public, the ban is more disgusting
and should be UNtenable.
Two
days after Dujarric's threat this reporter was
pushed
out of the General Assembly lobby during
a speech by Guterres by UN Security Lieutenant
Ronald E. Dobbins, who did it again more
violently on July
3. Since then Inner City Press has been
banned
from entering the UN, and Guterres even tried
to get Inner City Press ousted from Park East
Synagogue twenty blocks north of the UN on
October 31.
As many online have questioned this no due
process ouster, including from Cameroon,
Japan,
the UK,
Italy
and other places in Europe, we can now report
that Dujarric while refusing to answer Inner
City Press' and a UN
Expert's written questions about how to
appeal this lifetime ban has reached out to
try to quiet some critics.
Tellingly,
while he has entirely ignored for example
Anglophone Cameroonian critics regardless of
how polite or articulate they are, or how many
social media followers they have, Dujarric has
reached out to European critics. What does he
tell them?
To give
the UN its best chance, Inner City Press on
the morning of November 8 emailed questions to
Guterres, his Deputy Amina Mohammed, Alison
Smale, Dujarric and his Deputy Farhan Haq
including: "November 8-2: I am informed that
the SG's spokesman has selectively contacted
those (from Europe) raising questions about
the UN 3 July 2018 Press ouster and ban since,
including stating that unnamed UN staff
members or officials demand a lifetime ban in
order to feel “safe.” Given the lack of due
process, please name which officials or safe
claim to feel unsafe in order to justify
censorship, and the basis for your claims.
Also, again, answer UNSR David Kaye's and
others' question: what is the appeals process
for a unilateral no due process physical
ouster and banning by the UN of a journalist?"
But seven hour later, no answer to any of the
questions.
So, for now due to the UN's constant threat of
retaliation even against those it has
unilaterally chosen to reach out to with dirt
that cannot stand the light of day, this is a
composite:
Dujarric
claims that Inner City Press made "diplomats"
feel unsafe. But he has yet to provide the
name of a single diplomat, other than the
false Morocco Mission complaint in USG Alison
Smale's 17 August 2018 ban letter.
Dujarric
claims that his staff didn't like having the
movement reported on. This seems to refer to
Inner City Press, once it had no office to
use, working on a bench in the Secretariat
lobby and noting when spokespeople who refused
to even acknowledge formal questions went out
to lunch. This is not a basis to ban a
journalist for life.
Dujarric goes
low and says that unnamed female reporters
didn't want to see Inner City Press doing
stand-up Periscope broadcasts. But the purpose
of these -- filming on the fourth floor was
permitted without an escort, Inner City Press
was told by Media Accreditation -- was to show
EMPTY offices, for example Morocco state
media, while Inner City Press had nowhere to
work. In fact, Inner City Press went out of
its way not to speak with or engage in any way
with Dujarric's coterie of pro UN
correspondents - that why it left the building
after work through the garage, which was later
used against it.
There
is more, and we will have more. But it is
clear these are pretexts. And even if Antonio
"The Censor" Guterres, who believes it is
impermissible for a journalist to do a
critical stand up on the public sidewalk
across two lanes of traffic from the $15
million publicly funded mansion he (sometimes)
lives in believes these pretexts, an interim
solution was and is clear.
Simply
allow Inner City Press in to go to the noon
briefing and asked question - unless that is
what they are afraid of - and to cover UNSC
stakeouts and Budget Committee meetings. It is
pathetic that a UN and Secretary General that
be focused on "conflict prevention" can't find
a solution other than violent ouster and
banning for a critical journalist. We'll have
more on this.
November
5, 2018
UN
Guterres On
16th Public
Funded Trip to
Lisbon For
Lula Award
Decided by
CPLP in Cape
Verde
Where His Son
Pedro Does
Business
UNITED
NATIONS GATE, November 3 – Before Inner City
Press was roughed
up by UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres' Security on June 22 and July
3, 2018 and banned since then, it
insistently asked for disclosure of how many of
Guterres' publicly funded trips took him through
his real home, Lisbon. The questions are not
been answered by Spokesman Stephane Dujarric,
who on November 2 simply bicycled
away as Inner City Press asked about
Guterres' failure in Cameroon and attempt to get
even Park East Synagogue to oust Inner City
Press from covering his October 31 speech about
tolerance. Guterres has had Inner City
Press banned
from the UN for life, by his Alison Smale. But
Inner City Press, even banned, on August 28
published the first in an exclusive and detailed
series. Now on November 3 with this total lack
of transparency from the UN Secretariat itself,
Inner City Press can exclusively report that
Guterres' current four day trip
to Lisbon, his 16th as Secretary General,
was only booked on October 24, making it more
expensive, and is entirely paid for by the
public. What is the pretext for the trip?
Receiving the José
Aparecido de Oliveira Prize
from the Community of
Portuguese Speaking Countries,
CPLP - previously awarded to,
among others, the currently
incarcerated Luiz Inacio Lula
da Silva. The decision to give
it to Guterres was made months
ago in July in Cabo
Verde, where
Guterres' son Pedro Guimarães
e Melo De Oliveira Guterres
does UNdisclosed business; no
recusals or safeguards from
Guterres, only the roughing up
and banning of the Press which
asks. Then a
speech on November 5 at a "Web Summit" event
that has little to do with the UN. We'll have
more on this. Back on September 7 Inner City
Press reported that Guterres intends to use even
Kofi Annan's death and the September 13 event in
Ghana as a pretext to again fly to Lisbon. He'll
turn it into a five day junket, leaving New York
on September 11 (when he's arranged a Myanmar
white washing CPPF meeting, also reported
exclusively by banned Inner City Press, here),
offer praise sure to be ironic
of Kofi Annan who Rest in Peace never had a
critical journalist roughed up and banned - then
fly to Lisbon on the public dime, until
September 16. How much will it cost? The UN
refuses to answer. But it is not their money.
And the climate of cover up includes Guterres
not disclosing his own son Pedro Guimarães e
Melo De Oliveira Guterres' business links in
Africa and elsewhere. We'll have more on this:
it is what journalism is supposed to do, hold
institutions and those who lead them
accountable. October
29, 2018
UN
Rapporteur
Kaye Asked
Guterres USG
Smale About
Ousting Inner
City Press
Answer Full of
Lies Still
Banned
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, October 25– Two key elements of press
freedom are not banning access as the UN has
done to Inner City Press for 113 days now and
being transparent, another UN failing. And
this failure was on display again on October
25, when UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of
Expression David Kaye sent to Inner City Press
his
letter to UN Under Secretary General
Alison Smale about her
ouster of Inner City Press - and Smale's
Orwellian answer,
still without due process or answer on any
appeals process and repeating the barely met
promise that the UN will answer Inner City
Press' questions (no answers to seven
questions on October 25). Inner City
Press immediately replied, including to
Smale, Secretary
General
Antonio Guterres and his Deputy Amina J.
Mohammed and chief of staff Maria Luiza Viotti
- with no response yet, as Inner City Press
covered Guterres' photo op with Sweden's
Margot Wallstrom from the sidewalk of the
mansion where Guterres is holding his
meetings, video here.
Here was Kaye's letter:
"Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and
protection of the right to freedom of opinion and
expression REFERENCE: OL OTH 45/2018, 20 July 2018
Dear Ms. Smale,
With reference to my letter of 3 November 2017 regarding
the importance of an access-to-information policy for
the United Nations as a whole, I would like to bring to
your attention a specific case submitted to my mandate.
On 25 February 2016, I sent a communication to the then
Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public
Information, Ms. Cristina Gallach, regarding the
decision to withdraw the Resident Correspondent
accreditation at the UN office in New York of Mr.
Matthew Lee, journalist with Inner City Press, in favour
of a non-Resident Correspondent.
Ms. Gallach responded in a letter of 25 May 2016,
informing that under non-resident correspondent
accreditation, Mr. Lee has been free to continue his
full journalistic activities in reporting in and about
the United Nations. The letter furthermore noted that
the use of space in the UN Headquarters was a matter of
privilege previously accorded to Mr. Lee, contingent
upon his observing the UN Media Accreditation
Guidelines, and was revocable by the UN in its sole
discretion.
In June 2018, I received new information from Mr.
Matthew Lee who reportedly on 22 June 2018
had been ordered out of the UN premises by Security
Officers while in the middle of covering an event.
During this incident, Mr. Lee reportedly had his arm twisted
and his shirt torn due to use of force by a Security
Officer who refused to give his name. [NOTE: Kaye merges
two separate assaults, the second of which was on July 3
outside the UN Budget Commmittee meeting, video here, UK
Independent here.]
Mr. Lee was subsequently banned from UN Headquarters and
is now unable to enter the UN premises.
In this connection, I would appreciate your view on the
above mentioned information, and I would also like to
ask for clarification to the following questions:
1. What standards apply to determine the various
statuses for journalists at the United Nations? Would
you kindly identify where those standards may be found
in UN rules, regulations or policies? In addition, who
has the authority to interpret and implement the
standards? Are decisions and actions under those
standards subject to appeal?
2. How were those standards applied to the situation of
Mr. Matthew Lee? What specific standards did he violate,
according to your office’s findings?
3. How does your office respond to the allegations
lodged by Mr. Lee about the use of force by security
officers? Has your office undertaken any kind of
evaluation to determine whether force was used and, if
so, whether it was excessive?
I would appreciate receiving a response within 60 days.
Your response will be made available in a report to be
presented to the Human Rights Council for its
consideration.
While awaiting a reply, I urge that all necessary
interim measures be taken to address the situation
described and prevent its re-occurrence and in the event
that an investigation supports or suggests the
allegation to be correct, to ensure the accountability
of any person(s) responsible.
Please accept, Ms. Smale, the assurances of my highest
consideration.
David Kaye
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of
the right to freedom of opinion and expression." Smale's
answer,
a full two months later, repeats by rote her August 17
withdrawal of Inner City Press' accreditation, and
claims that Inner City Press formal complaints to the UN
about being roughed up by UN DSS Lt Ronald Dobbins and
unnamed others "is still under review." But Inner City
Press say Dobbins still on the payroll on October 24,
while Inspector Matthew Sullivan bragged
that the secret banned from the UN list Inner City Press
is now on is an internal document that the UN is making
the NYC government not disclose. Inner City Press
immediately replied to Kaye, Smale, Guterres, Mohammed
and Viotti: "Thanks for sending this - I'm looking to
see what if anything you did after your lone July 20
letter. Since the allegations in USG Smale's August 17
letter predate my accreditation in April 2018, how can
they form a basis to not only withdraw my accreditation
- apparently permanently - but now have me on secret
barred list?
If you cannot or will not do more than a single
letter with no follow up for a journalist roughed up in,
and permanently banned from, the UN, is there some
problem with the mandate holding the UN itself
accountable? Did you contact UNODC, whose information I
gave you? Have you looked into this troubling
permanently banned list? What is your response to USG
Smale's justification for censorship without due
process? I urge you to do more, including publicly -
that is one reason for the cc's. 113 days of exclusion
from today largely empty UN press conferences is
enough... To be clear: there was nothing in my coverage
of the UN materially different since Antonio Guterres
and his team came in from how I covered the UN under Ban
K-moon (and even the tail end of the tenure of Kofi
Annan, RIP).
I worked the same hours, including periodic Periscope
broadcasts of the fourth floor to show how absurd it was
and is that DPI gives offices and full access to state
media who rarely come in. I specifically asked USG
Smale's MALU if I needed an escort to film and was told
no, I did not need any escort on the 3d and 4th floors.
MALU knew and did nothing to stop everything that I was
doing, even told me the complaint(s) cited in USG
Smale's Aug 17 letter were frivolous.
If something changed, DPI or “Global Communications”
should have spoken to me.
To suddenly have UN Security roughing me up for doing
what I have done for years - cover the UN Budget
Committee meeting crunch time - and push me out from
covering an SG speech in the GA lobby on June 22 while
leaving other non resident correspondents is make it
clear to me this was and is targeting censorship.
This is what I am asking to addressed, by your mandate
or if not, anyone else. I wrote to USG Smale's Media
Accreditation and Liaison Unit with a series of
questions including what the roadmap, if any, is - no
answer. Every day the damage grows.
Sorry to add to initial response so quickly but at 2:30
there is a photo op of the type I covered without
incident under Ban Ki-moon but am now excluded from. So
I will try to cover it from outside. The UN, like any
government, shouldn't get to pick and choose in this way
who gets to cover it.
What is the response?" So far, no response.
October
22, 2018
On
Cameroon Obiang
Pre-Congratulates Biya
For Re-Election Amid
Guterres Ban and Cover
Up
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, October
20 --With
Cameroon's
36-year ruler Paul
Biya having
imposed a
curfew on the
Anglophone
regions a week
before his
planned re-election
on October 7,
UN Secretary
General Antonio
Guterres' genocide
adviser Adama
Dieng in an
interview with
BBC said "things
seem to be
under
control." Here
from
2:40, and
see below.
Now after a canned
statement to
all sides by
Guterres, who
has banned
Inner City
Press from any
entry
into his UN,
on Guterres' banned
list with "political
activists,"
the
charades of an
election in which Biya's
spokesman declared victory
even before
the polling. And now
Biya's fellow
long time
ruler Teodoro
Obiang Nguema
has already
congratulated
Biay for
re-election,
days before
the results
were to be
announced on
October 22:
""Sincere and
effusive
congratulations
for your
re-election...
The people of
the Republic
of Equatorial
Guinea and his
Government
join me in
expressing to
your
Excellency our
sincere and
heartfelt
congratulations
on your
re-election as
President of
the Republic
of Cameroon in
the past
presidential
election,"
Obiang's
congratulations
read. One imagine
Antonio
Guterres
getting his
congratulations
ready,
the subtext
being thanks
for help as
chair of the
UN Budget
Committee, for
covering of
which Inner
City Press ws
roughed up on
July 3 and
banned for 108
days since. Opposition
candidate
Maurice Kamto
argued that
the poll
should be
canceled in
seven out of
10 regions of
the country,
because his
team observed
"massive
irregularities",
"disregard of
electoral
laws", and in
particular
"insecurity
and fraud in
troubled
Anglophone
regions"
during the
vote. "After
examining the
nine
complaints of
Maurice Kamto,
the Council
declares that
the petition
lacks
evidence, is
unfounded and
therefore
rejected,"
Clement
Atangana,
president of
the
Constitutional
Council, said
- Biya's man.
Biya's
forces have
shut down a press
conference by
Maurice Kamto. And
now it is concluded
that Guterres'
"colleagues"
statement this
week about
hate speech in
Cameroon was
in fact again on
behalf of 36
year rule Biya,
and directed only
at the
opposition.
From Yaounde:
"Yesterday’s
hearing was
filled with
Elecam and
government’s
reaction to
post electoral
complains from
Maurice
Kamto’s legal
team. Taking
the floor,
Gregoire
Owona,
Cameroon’s
Minister of
Labor and
Social
Security,
accused
Maurice Kamto
of being an
ungrateful
tribalist.
Owona wondered
why the CRM
Presidential
candidate
brought up the
issue of
Bamileke and
Beti to the
court. To him,
by using such
examples,
Maurice Kamto
is trying to
promote hate
among peaceful
Cameroonians."
So those whose
press
conferences
are shut down
by Biya are
then accused
of hate speech
by the UN of
Guterres, who
had Inner City
Press roughed
up and banned
for 107 days
and counting.
We'll have
more on this.
In
the first of
two days of
hearings on
objections,
Justice
Clement
Atangana,
president of
the
Constitutional
Council, pronouned that
"Only
the President
of the
Republic who
appoints
members of the
Council has
the
jurisdiction
to sack or
question the
neutrality of
the Council
members,"
Atangana said,
"so the
petition is
inadmissible."
So only
incumbent
candidate Biya
controls this
review.
The
public be
damnded: Rigobert
Aminou
Gabanmidanha,
a voter,
demanded
complete
cancellation
of the vote,
citing
"irregularities,
disregard of
electoral code
and rigging"
observed
during the
poll. Atangana
said the
Council rules
only on
petitions
filed by
candidates,
political
parties which
took part in
the election
or any person
serving as a
representative
of the
administration
for the
election. "You
were not a
candidate. You
were not a
representative
of the
administration
for the
election.
Therefore, you
have no
quality to
petition the
Council,"
Atangana said,
dismissing the
petition as
"null and
void". Reuters
edited
by Edward
McAllister purported
to cover the
hearing
without
mentioning
these
outrageous
rulings and
reasoning.
Call it a
colonial
cover up, like
Guterres' UN.
The
final nail
is expected to
be declared by
the Council by
Oct. 22.
October
15, 2018
Nikki
Haley Took
Names Then
Went Native At
the UN Now US
Promotes
Currie on Cuba
Ignoring UN
Censorship
UNITED
NATIONS, October 12 – When Donald Trump
nominated Nikki
Haley as his Ambassador to the UN, it
seemed she would be a disruptor and clean up
corruption. As she prepares to leave, though,
at most one of those things is true: she was a
disruptive force. But the UN's corruption and
censorship remains. Now as didn't happen
before, and ignoring
the exclusion of the Press, the US is promoting
one of Haley's deputies Currie: Ambassador
Kelley E. Currie, U.S. Representative on the
Economic and Social Council of the United
Nations, will deliver remarks at an event
launching the campaign “Jailed for What?”
about the continuing plight of Cuba’s
political prisoners. Her remarks will
take place at United Nations Headquarters,
Economic and Social Council Chamber in New
York City on Tuesday, October 16, at 1:15 p.m.
EDT.
The estimated 130 political prisoners held by
the Cuban government are an explicit sign of
the repressive nature of the regime and
represent a blatant affront to the fundamental
freedoms that the United States and many other
democratic governments support. Holding
the Cuban regime responsible for its human
rights violations and supporting the Cuban
people’s aspirations to live in freedom are
key components of President Trump’s National
Security Presidential Memorandum of 2017.
Following Ambassador Currie’s remarks,
Ambassador Michael Kozak of the U.S. State
Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human
Rights, and Labor will moderate a discussion
that will include Secretary General of the
Organization of American States Luis Almagro,
Carlos Quesada, Executive Director of the
Institute of Race and Equality, former Cuban
political prisoner Alejandro Gonzalez Raga,
and others who will discuss the Cuban
government’s continued use of arbitrary
detention and specious charges to silence the
Cuban people
The event will be open to the press..
Journalists should be seated in the United
Nations Headquarters, Economic and Social
Council Chamber in New York City on Tuesday,
October 16, no later than 1:00 p.m.
Journalists will need UN credentials to be
admitted to the event.
Journalists should apply for their credentials
directly with the UN’s accreditation office..
Media who have already completed the UN’s
self-accreditation process but who have
additional questions can contact Loyda
Garcia." Self accreditation?? The US Mission
still claims not to know that Guterres' UN
censors and bans journalists it doesn't like?
This is collusion.
Haley's
disruption of the UN was concentrated in her
first few months, when she famously stood in
the UN lobby and said she would be "taking
names" of countries who opposed US
interests, and when she
blocked Secretary General Antonio
Guterres' nomination of Palestinian candidate
Salam Fayyad to be the UN's new envoy to
Libya.
After that,
however, Haley seemed to settle down and go
native at the UN. Trump bragged at her
send-off that Haley got to know "everyone" in
the organization. But not well enough to get
Russia's Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia to answer
her calls before the UN's mechanism on Syria's
chemical weapons expired. She cast vetoes on
Jerusalem and Gaza, popular in some quarters
but hardly a measure of the she-knows-everyone
diplomacy that Trump spoke of.
Haley called
for a UN Human Rights Council Commission of
Inquiry into the murder in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo of American expert
Michael Sharp and his Chilean-Swedish
colleague Zaida Catalan. But the Commission
never happened, and by June
2018 Haley was standing next to Mike
Pompeo, explaining why the US was leaving the
Human Rights Council. The answer, some
said, was John Bolton...
Haley got her
fellow South Carolinian David
Beasley installed as the head of the UN
World Food Program; at her Press-less
press conference as president of the
Security Council in September 2018 a South
Carolina journalist who'd flown up for the
event asked if she'd be taking the Council
members down to her home state. It didn't
happen - until, in a different
form, just after her resignation.
Perhaps
the most disappointing of Haley's failures to
disrupt, or disruption interrupted, is on UN
corruption. UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres no fewer than 15
times since assuming office in January
2017 has used public money to fly to his home
in Lisbon, where his spouse still lives. After
for Inner City Press I asked questions about
this, I was ousted from the UN and Haley did
nothing. In fact, another journalist was told
by the UN that the US Mission
supported my ouster. Haley's spokesman
also worked for Samantha Power; her Deputy
Jonathan Cohen has yet
to speak to the Press, now asking
questions at the UN Delegates Entrance gate.
Haley never even commented much less demanded
UN action on a UN
bribery case proceeding in Federal court
in lower Manhattan against Patrick Ho of the
China Energy Fund Committee for allegedly
bribing then UN President of the General
Assembly Sam Kutesa for oil and other
concessions in Uganda. While Guterres has
refused to even start an audit to determine
the full scope of CEFC's bribery at the UN,
Haley has stayed quiet. Perhaps an expanded
scope would call into question her
oft-repeated claim that it is a new day at the
UN. It is not. The UN tends to drag those who
pass through it to its level. So it was time
for Haley to declare victory and move on.
After twenty
four Congressmembers urged Haley to schedule a
Security Council meeting about the slaughter
of Anglophones in Cameroon, I asked her about
it, and she said she was “open” to such a
Council meeting. But it never happened, and
now even amid the re-coronation of 36 year
president Paul Biya, there is no meeting on
the horizon.
Haley came out
a winner when the New York Times mis-reported
that she had accepted $52,000 curtains
for her penthouse apartment (the curtains were
bought and paid for by the Obama
administration). But the real story may have
been her living in a $58,000 a month
apartment. From there, how could she criticize
Guterres spending public money to fly home?
Haley herself was taking rides on private
jets, as detailed in a formal complaint the
day before her resignation was made public.
Haley's shift from taking names to taking
selfies was exemplified on the 4th of July
2018, when the UN gave her its fourth floor
Delegates Dining Room and balcony for a party
to watch the fireworks. Ambassadors of all
stripes lined up, wanting photos with her just
as she wanted photos with them, to show how
well she was getting along. But what that
supposed to be the point?
The UN is
the ultimate swamp, with reform always a
chimera, blocked by immunity. Haley's narrative
is that she came and quickly cleaned up the UN.
Twenty one months in, little has been cleaned
up. Perhaps it was time to get out before
demands came for results and not rhetoric. At
the UN, the corruption and censorship continue
-- including with the discovery that under
Guterres the UN maintains a secret
"active ban" list that includes "political
activists' - and Inner City Press. But that's
another thing that Haley hasn't acted on; that's
another story.
Watch this site.October
8, 2018
In UN
Bribery Case
Patrick Ho
Denied Bail
Post Gadio
Role in Qatar
Arms But UN
Guterres Bans
Inner City
Press
UNITED
NATIONS, October 4 – Four months after the
arrest for UN
bribery of former Senegalese foreign
minister Cheik Gadio and Patrick Ho, the head of
China Energy Fund Committee full funded by CEFC
China Energy, his ultimate boss at CEFC Ye
Jianming was brought in for questioning in
China. On October 4 Ho was again denied bail.
Periscope video here.
His lawyers argued that dropping the case
against Gadio - who will testify against Ho -
means that Ho conspired with no one. But Gadio
will say he didn't know Ho had $2 million in
cash for Chad President Deby in gift boxes; he's
being allowed (or made) to say that Deby didn't
know either. But this ham handed bribe was
converted into a bogus philanthropic gift --
consciousness of guilt, as it were. The trial
date of November 5 may not be set in stone, as
the defense is planning a filing under Section 5
of the Classified Information Procedures Act
(CIPA) to use classified information. Ho has a
$2.1 million account in UBS, but Judge Preska
said this wasn't the main factor in denying
bail. The sleight of hand on Gadio has no impact
on the "Uganda scheme" with Sam Kutesa, with
whom UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has
dealings. Guterres still hasn't started an audit
of CEFC - which was openly named in the court
hearing on October 4 - in the UN. We'll have
more on this. This week in court filings the
prosecution make it clear how corrupt the UN is,
and why it has banned Inner City Press which
reports on it: Ho bribed not one but two
Presidents of the General Assembly, and brokered
weapons not only to Chad but also Qatar, whose
Al Jazeera got the exclusive of Guterres'
selection as SG and after getting spoonfed by
Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric on June 19
collaborated to get Inner City Press roughed up
and banned since by Guterres' corrupt UN. And
STILL Guterres, whose son does UNdisclosed
business in Angola, Namibia, Sao Tomo and Cabo
Verde, has not even started an audit, only
roughed up the Press and banned it now for 93
days. From this week's filing: "Evidence of
Transactions with Iran The evidence of the
defendant’s interest in and willingness to
broker transactions in or with Iran principally
consists of emails, spanning a multiple-year
period. To choose a few examples: In October
2014, the defendant sent his assistant an email
stating, “I am going to BJ [i.e., Beijing] this
Friday to see [the Chairman of CEFC NGO and CEFC
China] on Sat afternoon. The documents I want to
send him before hand in separate items are: . .
. 7. Iranian connection (brief).”4 On the same
date, the defendant sent his assistant another
email, attaching a document, which stated, in
pertinent part: 7) Iranian Connection . . . Iran
has money in a Bank in china which s under
sanction. Iran wishes to purchase precious metal
with this money. The precious metal is available
through a Bank in HK which cannot accept money
from the Bank in China which holds the money but
is under sanction. The Iranian agent is looking
for a Chinese company acting as a middle man in
such transactions and will pay commission.
(details to be presented orally) The Iranian
connection has strong urge to establish trading
relationship with us in oil and products . . . .
The following year, in June 2015, the defendant
received an email that stated, in pertinent
part: “The Iranian team will arrive in BJ . . .
. See the attached.” The attachment referenced
in the email was a PowerPoint presentation
entitled “Presentation to Potential Partners
Iran Petroleum Investments.” The next day, the
defendant forwarded the email to his assistant,
stating, “For writing report to [the Chairman of
CEFC NGO and CEFC China].”
The following year, in June 2016, the defendant
emailed another individual, blindcopying
his assistant, and stated, in pertinent part,
“Will get [two executives of CEFC China] to
meet with [oil executive at company with
operations in Iran] in BJ, and [another
individual] also on another occasion if he
comes. You can start organizing these. . . .
Other matters ftf [i.e., face to face].” And
also "an email exchange in which Gadio asked the
defendant: “Do you think CEFC can intervene with
the Chinese state to get an urgent, extremely
confidential and significant military weapon
assistance to our friend [the President of Chad]
who has engaged in the battle of his life
against the devils of Bokko Haram?,” to which
the defendant replied, “Your important message
has been forwarded. It is being given the
highest level of consideration. Will inform you
once I hear back.”
The defendant also sought to and did broker arms
transactions unrelated to the Chad and
Uganda schemes charged in this case. For
example: In March 2015, an individual sent the
defendant an email, stating, “I have the list
and end user agreement. Pls advise next step.”
On the same day, the defendant replied, in
pertinent part, “Find a way to pass them onto me
and we can execute that right away[].” The
individual replied, “Attached. [W]e have the
funding and processing mechanisms in place. If
it works nice there will be much more. Also for
S. Sudan.” The attachment to this email was a
document entitled “End User Certificate,”
certifying that the user of the goods in
question would be the Ministry of Defense of the
Republic of Libya. The goods listed on the
document included numerous arms. The following
month, the defendant sent an email that stated
in pertinent part: “It so turns out Qatar also
needs urgently a list of toys from us. But for
the same reason we had for Libya, we cannot sell
directly to them. Is there a way you could act
as an intermediary in both cases?” The person
whom the defendant emailed replied: “Qatar good
chance bc there is no embargo. Libya is another
case bc going against an embargo is tricky.” The
defendant responded: “Qatar needs new toys quite
urgently. Their chief is coming to China and we
hope to give them a piece of good news. Please
confirm soonest.” This is outrageous, that an
NGO still accredited under Guterres was selling
weapons into South South, Libya and Qatar.
Resign. And, on multiple PGAs: "among the
individuals whom the defendant [Patrick Ho] is
charged with bribing is Sam Kutesa, the Ugandan
Foreign Minister. The Government expects that
the evidence will show that the corrupt
relationship between the defendant and Kutesa
developed between in or about September 2014 and
September 2015, when Kutesa was serving as the
PGA (specifically, the PGA for the 69th session
of the UN General Assembly). The evidence, in
both the form of emails and a recorded phone
call, also shows that, just
as he did with respect to Kutesa when he was the
PGA, the defendant sought to cultivate a
business relationship with Kutesa’s predecessor,
John Ashe, who served as the PGA between in
or about September 2013 and September 2014. As
he did with Kutesa, the defendant began by
introducing himself to Ashe as the
Secretary-General of CEFC NGO. And just as he
did with
Kutesa when he served as the PGA, the defendant
invited Ashe to visit CEFC NGO in Hong Kong and
to speak at various events.
In mid-April 2014, Ashe traveled to Hong Kong
and met with the defendant and others.
After the trip, Ashe’s aide sent a letter to the
defendant thanking the Chairman of CEFC NGO (who
was also the Chairman of CEFC China) for the
contribution of $50,000 to support the PGA. The
aide had solicited the contribution from the
defendant prior to the Hong Kong trip, and the
defendant had confirmed that CEFC NGO would make
the contribution.
In or about early June 2014, the defendant
requested that Ashe officiate over a forum that
CEFC NGO was planning to hold at the UN, and
also attend and officiate over a luncheon at the
UN the following day. (The defendant made
virtually the same request of Kutesa once he
became the PGA.) The day before the forum (July
6, 2014), the defendant emailed two business
associates of Ashe, who assisted him in raising
funds, to invite them to the forum and luncheon
and to request their assistance in “urg[ing] the
PGA to grace the occasion with his presence and
to deliver a short remark.”
On or about the same day, the defendant and one
of these associates (“Associate-1”)
spoke by phone. (See Ex. A (draft transcript).)
During the call, which was recorded, the
defendant confirmed that he wanted Ashe to
attend his event. The following conversation
then took place:
Associate-1: So the last question, so sorry if I
ask too direct. . . . [H]ave you, made some
contribution to him . . . ?
The defendant: Yeah, we already paid.
Associate-1: Oh you did? OkayThe defendant:
Well, not a whole lot but it’s—it’s okay. On a
couple of occasions. But I
think the major contribution will come in after
we talk about what he can—what he can
help us with.
Associate-1: What you—what you mean major
contribution? It’s after he return uh—
leave the job?
The defendant: Yes, yes.
. . .
Associate-1: Wonderful . . . okay.
The defendant: That’s not a—that’s not a
problem. The problem is—uh, it’s give and
take.
Associate-1: Give and take. That’s—of course.
This is the—this is business, right?
The defendant: Yeah, right.
2 These two business associates
subsequently pleaded guilty to bribing Ashe,
based on
conduct unrelated to the defendant and CEFC.
Ashe was charged with tax offenses arising from
his allegedly failing to disclose bribe payments
as income. He passed away before trial, and the
charges against him were therefore dismissed."
We'll have more on this.October
1, 2018
UN
Guterres
Revoked Inner
City Press
Access to UN
Claims
E-Answers and
Has Not Said
For Life
UNITED
NATIONS GATE, September 28 – How arrogant and
counter-factual a self-styled world leader is
has been revealed in the Leader's contemptuous
approach to freedom of the press and whose who
even gently chide him on it, including a Nobel
Peace Prize winner and one of his envoys to a
major country.. No, this is not a reference to
Donald Trump, but to UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres. After revoking
Inner City Press' media accreditation amid its
questions on his use of public funds, silence on
Cameroon and conflicts of interest, Guterres' UN
did not respond to Inner City Press' request to
cover UNGA 73 and blocked
it from a "press freedom" event on September 28.
On the same day Guterres' spokesman Stephane
Dujarric was asked by Simon Ateba of Today News
Africa, transcript here,
video here:
"Recently, you banned Matthew Lee from Inner
City Press and he was questioning you about
Cameroon, the UN Secretary-General, the… the… he
might have had a different method. Who decides
what is right and who decides…
Spokesman Dujarric: The question about…
sorry, I'll let you finish first.
Question: Yeah. Who decides, is it not… I
mean, who gives you the power to ban people
because they are challenging you, because they
are questioning you? Did you ban Matthew
Lee because he was questioning you about
Cameroon, where a dictator has been in power for
36 years? And you banned a journalist who's
asking you questions about him? Is that right?
Does it make sense to you?
Spokesman: First of all, we've answered
the question about Mr. Lee repeatedly, and we've
also answered Mr. Lee's questions
repeatedly. But, can I just… I'll let you
finish if you can let me finish. We've
also answered his questions repeatedly for the
last 12 years, and we continue to answer the
questions that he e-mails in. His
accreditation was revoked purely for having
repeatedly violated the rules… the accreditation
rules, which are transparent, and which you all
agree to abide by, which are frankly… most of
them are self-policing, and it had nothing to do
whatsoever with the content of his writings or
the questions that he's asking.
Ateba: I mean, what do you mean banning him for
life? What does it mean?
Spokesman: That's not an expression that
anyone from here has ever used, and I think I've
answered your question on Mr. Lee." Well, no.
Dujarric has been answering less than 10% of
Inner City Press' written questions. And Alison
Smale's ghoulish revocation letter provided no
road map to re-apply and she ignored Inner City
Press' application to cover UNGA 73. Amina J.
Mohammed and chief of staff Maria Luiza Viotti
did not answer detailed question about the
physical ban on Inner City Press entering the UN
even when invited by countries' missions or UN
partners like CPJ and Reuters. We'll have more
on this. On August 27 Guterres' spokesman
Stephane Dujarric answered a question on camera
about Guterres banning of Inner City Press by
saying that "the revocation of Mr. Lee's
credential has to do with creating a hostile
environment for diplomats." Vine video with over
1270 views here.
But on September 17 Dujarric after trying to
avoid or intimidate a question on the same topic
said that the decision was by Guterres'
Secretariat "without any input from any member
state." Video here.
So how did Guterres and Smale "know" that
diplomats felt a hostile environment? Or was it
Guterres who didn't like questions and coverage
about his mis use of public funds for junkets to
Lisbon, his silence on the slaughter in Cameroon
and his son's now exposed business links in
Africa? Someone is lying. We'll have more on
thisSeptember
24, 2018
In
Cameroon Biya
Targets
Anglophones in
Yaounde as
Guterres Bans
Press From
Nigeria FM
Briefing
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, September
21 --As the
Cameroon
government of
36 year
President
Paul
Biya
slaughters
civilians in
the Anglophone
regions as well as in
the North, it
re-engaged
Washington
lobbying firm
Squire Patton
Boggs and Mercury
Public Affairs, documents
show. The
UN belatedly
acknowledged
to Inner City
Press,
which UN Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres had
roughed
up on July
3 right after
it spoke to
Cameroon's
Ambassador Tommo
Monthe and on
August 17 declared
banned for
life from
entering the
UN that
Guterres met
with a
Cameroon
delegation on
July 11. And
they
discussed,
disturbingly,
strategies to
reduce
negative
coverage of
Biya's
killings, see
below. Now
Biya's government
is raising the
specter of
Anglophones,
or as the
UN of
Guterres seems
to say,
secessionists,
in the capital
Yaounde. A
crackdown is
foretold in the
neighborhoods
of Obili,
Biyem-Assi,
Etoug-ebe. Photo
here. And the
UN says
nothing,
refusing to
answer even
the simplest
of questions
from Inner
City Press
which Guterres
had roughed up
and banned
from the UN
for 80 days
now, on
September 21
to be
prevented from
questioning
Geoffrey
Onyeama the foreign
minister of
Nigeria
which
engaged in the
illegal
refoulement
Guterres
supposedly
cared about,
for 47
including Ayuk
Tabe. For now,
here
were Inner
City Press'
questions, and his
answers, last
UNGA High
Level week
before
Guterres got
even worse than he
was then. On
September 19
in a briefing
Inner City
Press was
prohibited
from
attending,
Guterres'
special
adviser on the
prevention of
genocide Adama
Dieng said, as
to Cameroon,
that nothing
must be done
to encourage
secession - a
position that
while
Guterres' goes
beyond what is
supposed to be
Dieng's focus,
preventing the
killing of
people based
on ethnicity
or, here,
language. As
luck would
have it, Inner
City Press
while
conducting its
daily sidewalk
interviews at
the UN
Delegates'
Entrance gate
on September
20 asked Dieng
why he'd done
beyond his
mandate. He
said that he
wants to visit
the country. Video
here.
Then, still in
the morning,
Inner City
Press asked
Guterres'
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, who
USG Alison
Smale said
would be
answering
writting
questions,
this:
"September
20-3: On
Cameroon,
please confirm
that the SG's
adviser Dieng
is seeking to
visit the
country and
explain both
how it is
within his
mandate to
speak, as he
did yesterday
in the
briefing like
today's by the
SG I am banned
from, in
opposition to
any
encouragement
of secession
and how the SG
thinks this
position is a
legitimate one
for the UN and
separately how
it could play
a role if it
has already
said what the
outcome should
be." Six hours
later, nothing
at all.
Guterres' UN
is corrupt.
Now in North-West
Region travel
restrictions
have been
imposed - in
fact, one
can't leave
without saying
exactly where
one is going.
Photo
here. It was
impossible
for Inner City
Press to get
any comment from the UN of Guterres,
since he
has banned Inner City
Press
from the building
for 77 days
now, and his
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric has not
been answering
any written
questions, including
about sexual
abuse by a
Cameroon Army
"peacekeeper"
in the Central
African
Republic, here.
A
campaign to gain the release
of imprisoned and
increasingly
sick
journalist
Thomas Awah is
being ignored
by the authorities.
In
Ekona in South-West Region Cameroon's
government has
engaged
in what's
become their
trademark
abuse, the
killing at
point blank
range of
civilians, in
this case
Bezeng Jonas
and his sons,
one of whom was
attending
University of
Buea. Where
are the
"positive
steps" the UK
Mission's
Karen Pierce asserted
this week to
Inner City
Press across
the street
from the UN,
from which
British USG
Alison Smale
has banned
Inner City Press
for 66 days
with assists?
Things have reportedly
reached the
point that in
Lebialem
Division in
the South West
region officials
have de
facto
separated the
country by
instituting an
‘Access Card’
from locals
fleeing
insecurity in
the division. One
needs to pay
FCFA 20, 000
for the 'Laissez
passer'
to cross
over." After
Guterres did
nothing, in order
to try to get
Cameroon's
support as
chair of UN Budget
Committee, and
after
again refusing
Inner City Press'
questions on August 31, video here,
is now in China which
is arming
Biya. Now with
Guterres' spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric
cutting off
question and
saying
Guterres' ban
of Inner City
Press is
"settled" and
that it
cannot enter
to cover the
General
Assembly high
level
week where
last year
Guterres
greeted Paul Biya,
Guterres is
headed to China
September 1-4.
And here's
from China
state media:
"In March,
Cameroonian
President Paul
Biya was the
first African
leader to
visit China
this year. It
was the sixth
trip to China
by the
president. Fruitful
deals from
FOCAC Beijing
summit can
significantly
revamp the
country's
economy,"
Mpoche said.
"That is why,
I think the
Belt and Road
Initiative is
laudable."
According to
the Cartel of
Cameroon
Entrepreneurs,
known in its
French acronym
as GICAM,
close to 100
Cameroonian
businessmen
will visit
China on the
sidelines of
the Beijing
summit,
scheduled for
early
September. The
businessmen
traveling to
China intend
to seize the
opportunity
and sign deals
with Chinese
private
companies to
"boost our
cooperation
and create
more jobs for
the youths
back home,"
said Magloire,
the rapporteur
at Cameroon's
Ministry of
Economy and
Finance."
The
article makes
no mention of
Southern
Cameroons and
Biya's
killings -
nor,
apparently,
will Guterres.
We'll
have more on
this.Here are
questions Guterres
and his
spokesman,
contrary to
the promise of
evicter
Alison Smale,
has left
UNanswered:
"August 27-6:
August 22-3:
On Cameroon,
your belated
July 11 read
out does not
answer the
questions
Inner City
Press has
asked. Before
asking more,
there are now
broken out by
letter for
ease of
reference and
for belated
answer today,
as well as
this:
was DSG
Mohammed
present at the
July 11
meeting? And
what is the
SG's response
to what was
said about him
in the
demonstration
by Anglophone
Cameroonians
in Washington
yesterday? How
does he
respond to
their charges
of corruption?
a) Cameroon
has hired
Mercury Public
Affairs for
$100,000 a
month, even as
the UN is
paying money
to the
government. Is
UN money being
used for the
mass killing
cover up
campaign? Are
there any
safeguards in
place?
b) please
disclose any
and all other
meeings the SG
has had this
year arranged
by paid
lobbyists.
[responded to
Aug 22, but
see (d) below:
c) what is the
SG's comment
on the recent
announcement
of seven
arrests for
summary
executions,
and the newer
video of
Cameroon Army
executions
that has
emerged?
d)
Specifically,
how are these
videos being
incorporated
into the
supposed
vetting of
Cameroon's
contributions
to UN
Peacekeeping
missions?
e) please
provide a list
and read-out
of each of the
Secretary
General's
meetings and
communications
with Cameroon
Ambassador
Tommo Monthe
during
Monthe's time
as chair of
the Fifth
(Budget)
Committee.
[semi-answered
Aug 22 f) In
light of
statements at
the August 8
noon briefing
please state
whether envoy
Fall even
requested to
meet with
President Paul
Biya or
whether the UN
believes that
Biya is once
again out of
the country,
in Geneva. Has
the UN ever
met with Biya
in Geneva? ]
g) I reiterate
August 7-1 and
8-1 and 9-1,
on this: was
the SG or
anyone else in
the UN aware
that this Biya
delegation's
lobbying trip
was stage
managed by the
DC-based
lobbying firm
Patton Boggs?
Why was this
meeting not
disclosed at
the time? Why
is there no
photo, even
just UN Photo,
of it? Where
did it take
place? Who
attended, on
each side?
h)Has the
Secretariat
communicated
since with the
Biya
government?
Has it ever
communicated
with the
opposition?"
On
August 26, in
Nigeria those
Anglophones
displaced by
Biya's
killings,
covered up
and support by
Antonio "Mr.
Refugees"
Guterres
simply so he
could try to
get Cameroon
Ambassador
Tommo
Monthe's
support for
his power grab
reform proposals,
are called
"invaders."
But still when
they are
interviewed some
truth
emerges: "one
of the
refugee,
Polycarp Ande
who fled from
Furawa
Sub-division
into Fikyu
village
alleged that
Cameroonian
soldiers led
the ethnic
cleansing of
their people.
According to
him, hunger,
elusive health
care, lack of
shelter and
idleness were
major
challenges,
which he noted
has in turn
had ripple
effect on
their host
community, who
are
predominantly
low scale
farmers. He
explained that
the villagers
and churches
has been
feeding them,
and expressed
worry over
their
increasing
numbers amidst
meager
resources.
“Some of our
brothers who
went back to
see how the
situation was
in our
villages keep
running back
as the
onslaught is
still going
on. ” As at
last Saturday,
over 15 of our
people came
into
Kpambo-piri in
Ussa and more
people keep
coming into
Nigeria every
week. “Our
children are
the most
affected
because they
can’t go to
school and we
want the
government of
Nigeria and
the world to
come to our
aid." Inner City
Press is
inquiring with
legislators
in the area
and others -
watch this
site.
On
August 22, in
response to detailed
questions
about what Guterres
knew -
including
about Cameroon
which received the
public's funds
through the UN
paying Patton
Boggs
and now
Mercury Public
Affairs, see
below - his
spokesman Stephane
Dujarric sent Inner
City Press,
whom he has
played his
role in banning
for life, this
which we publish in
full: "On
Cameroon: On
new video
released on
alleged human
rights abuses
in Cameroon:
We are aware
of the new
video released
on social
media
concerning
alleged human
rights
violations in
the country
and remain
deeply
concerned over
the continued
violence. We
are encouraged
that the
Government has
pledged to
carry out a
thorough
investigation
into these
incidents and
to publish the
results. We
continue to
ask the
Government to
grant
unimpeded
access to the
UN human
rights bodies.
We further
reiterate the
need to lift
all
restrictions
on
humanitarian
access to the
North-West and
South-West
regions.
On SRSG Fall’s
visit to
Cameroon and
upcoming
elections:
With regard to
SRSG Fall’s
recent visit
to Yaoundé
from 4 to 9
August, as
mentioned
earlier, he
met with the
Prime
Minister, the
Minister of
External
Relations, the
Minister for
Territorial
Administration,
the President
of the
National
Commission for
the Promotion
of
Multiculturalism
and
Bilingualism,
and the
Director-General
of Cameroon’s
electoral
management
body, ELECAM,
as well as the
Chief of Staff
of the
Presidency of
the Republic
of Cameroon,
among others.
In his
meetings with
the
authorities,
he discussed
the situation
in the country
in the lead-up
to the 7
October
presidential
election, as
well as
humanitarian
assistance to
those in
urgent need.
Meanwhile, the
UN continues
capacity-building
activities, as
well as voter
education
targeting the
media and
civil society
in close
cooperation
with ELECAM
ahead of the
elections, and
will continue
to closely
monitor the
situation." The UN's
no due process
"investigation"
of Inner City
Press
with the
outcome
pre-determined
puts
the first
response into context, as
does the government
memo describing
Guterres that
the UN won't
respond
to. And UN "capacity
building"
for Biya's
latest ghoulish
"election"? We
aim to
have more on
this. Watch
this site.
Guterres'
Global Communicator
Alison Smale's
August 17 letter
banning Inner
City Press, on
which she took
45 days to try
to phrase
censorship in
terms of
"professionalism,"
states that
Inner City
Press'
questioning
broadcasts on
Periscope,
for then 45
days at the
gate outside
the UN, are
derogatory
and even
somehow dangerous.
Dangerous
to the
cover up of Biya's
killings,
perhaps, and
those who play a role
in it.
September
17, 2018
Misplaced
Focus on Nikki
Haley Curtains
While UN Says
She Supports
Censorship of
Press So FOIA
Filed
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, September 14 – That the US government is
paying
$58,000 a month to rent the full floor
penthouse across from the UN for Nikki Haley
is one thing. The $52,700 for mechanized
curtains was a decision made under the Obama
Administration, when Samantha Power was US
Ambassador to the UN.
But what needs
to have the curtains drawn on it, so to speak,
is the current lack of transparency. The UN of
Secretary General Antonio Guterres had Inner
City Press
roughed up on July 3 as it covered the
UN Budget
Committee meetings on his $6.7 billion
proposals, and has had it banned
from the UN since - by UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres' head of Global
Communications Alison
Smale, until a year ago the Berlin
bureau chief of the New
York Times,
which has
backtracked on
curtain-gate
but remains silent
on and stands
behind Smale's
censorship.
The US Mission under Haley has
done nothing - in fact, Inner City Press is
informed that Guterres' UN is telling people
that the US Mission supports and even
requested the banning of Inner City Press.
Inner City Press has filed a Freedom of
Information Act request, no documents
responsive to which have yet been produced.
Asking question at the UN Delegates Entrance,
since it is banned from the UN Security
Council stakeout and noon briefing, Inner City
Press has repeatedly asked Haley about the
censorship (and about Cameroon,
abuse
by UN peacekeepers, and UN bribery). Haley does not
answer. This is not transparency - the
curtains should be and will be pulled back.
Watch this site. How arrogant or out of touch
a self-styled world leader is has been
revealed in the Leader's contemptuous approach
to freedom of the press and whose who even
gently chide him on it, including a Nobel
Peace Prize winner. No, this is not a
reference to Donald Trump, but to UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres, including as
represented by his Franco-American spokesman
Stephane Dujarric. And now Inner City Press is
told that Guterres is cynically trying to
recast his 65 days of censorship
as being based on a request FROM the Trump
Administration, or at least Trump's UN Mission
to the UN and its ally, the UK. A UN
Correspondent who sought as many
have to get the ban on Inner City Press lifted
at least from the upcoming General Assembly
week has said, in writing: "I spoke with
Stephane the other day and unfortunately your
situation remains unchanged. The case against
you is based on complaints from the US &
UK Missions... I have tried to get you a
waiver for the UNGA week but Security remains
firm in their refusal." So, the answer is that
Guterres ban on Inner City Press -- which
began on July 3 right after I spoke with
Cameroon's Ambassador -- is now based on
questions I have asked the US Mission's Deputy
Ambassadors including Jonathan Cohen and UK
Deputy Ambassador Jonathan Allen at the
Delegates' Entrance AFTER I was already
banned. There was also serial questioning of
Guterres and UK Permanent Representative Karen
Pierce in front of IPI on July 20, Periscope
video here.
In fact, all of my questioning of the US and
UK Missions, and all other Mission, is online
on Periscope, full archive here.
It is no different that the questions hurled
at Trump. But there, the First Amendment
applies. At the UN, it seems, an already
censoring Secretary General can claim to get
subsequent support from... Trump and his
Mission. See 6 September
2018 question put to US
Ambassador Nikki Haley, here. Inner
City Press had already submitted a Freedom of
Information Act request to the UK
government, after statements by UN (British)
Under Secretary General Alison Smale. Now
today a US FOIA request has been filed to the
US State Department in Washington:
"On behalf of
Inner City Press and in my personal capacity
as its United Nations bureau chief, Matthew
Russell Lee, pursuant to the federal Freedom
of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552 for the
following information: 1) Most pressingly, any
and all record reflecting communications by
the US Mission to the UN or its personnel to
the UN concerning Inner City Press or me,
including but not limited to my questioning
and broadcasting on Periscope of and
concerning such personnel; and 2) any and all
record reflecting communications by the US
Mission to the UN or its personnel to the UN
concerning Inner City Press or me from January
1, 2017 to the date of your
response. This request,
particularly (1) above which can and should be
treated separately, should be afforded
expedited treatment. I have today been
informed that my banning from the UN,
including prospectively from covering the UN
General Assembly High Level week as I have for
11 years and for which I submitted a timely
application on Sept 3, is based on complaints
by the US Mission to the UN, who officials I
have questioned in a journalistic capacity
since July 5. Such a complaint would impinge
on my First Amendment rights, and threatens
imminent irreparable harm. Expedited treatment
must be accorded. If this request is
denied in whole or part, please provide the
basis for each such denial or deletion by
reference to the specific exemption of the Act
which you assert is applicable. Request for
All Portions of Material for Which No
Exemption to Production is Claimed Please
provide all segregable portions of otherwise
exempt material. We reserve the right to
appeal your decision to withhold any
information... I am requested expedited
treatment of the request for all USUN
communications to the UN about Inner City
Press or me since July 3, 2018 due to such
communications being cited as a basis to ban
me from covering the UNGA High Level week
beginning September 24 - the US Mission is
being called responsible for the ban and it is
imperative to prove or disprove that before
then, asap, before irreparable harm including
to First Amendment interests takes place."
["Your request has successfully been
submitted."] Watch this site. We maintain: on
press freedom, in terms of actual acts,
Guterres is worse than Trump: Guterres had
Inner City Press roughed up, twice, and now
banned for life. On September 5, after a
report-back from a large democracy - not the
United States - which sought to intervene to
stop Guterres' censorship, Inner City Press
turned it into a question to Guterres'
spokesmen and Deputy and Alison Smale:
"September 5-2: I'm informed that when
approached by a major democracy the/your
answer has been that my “issue is being
treated as one which does not require
consultation with Member States as it relates
to Security & DPI taking action in pursuit
of existing procedures” (which?) and that this
is not the only case where restrictions have
been placed and in the past other journalists
too have been banned. Please explain by what
right the Secretariat ignores member states,
given the conflicts of interest and needs for
recusals timely raised, and state the
precedents of other expulsion, on what
grounds, with what due process and for what
periods of time. Note my September 3
application." Hours later - after Guterres'
ASG Fabrizio Hochschild's declined to answer
Inner City Press' question by claiming that
Dujarric is answering - Deputy Farhan Haq
replied, "as for question 5-2, the Spokesman
has never said that." So Inner City Press
immediately specified: "The "you" in question
Sept 5-2 referred to the UN Secretariat for
which you speak. And that's what they tell me
was the answer. So the request pre-publication
for your Office as the Spokesperson to
"explain by what right the Secretariat ignores
member states, given the conflicts of interest
and needs for recusals timely raised, and
state the precedents of other expulsion, on
what grounds, with what due process and for
what periods of time. Note my September 3
application." After having been told this
afternoon by ASG Hochschild that that "Steph"
is providing answers - after al this time,
response on one (or I guess if you include
Sept 5-3, two) out of 24 questions?
Please provide a list of and read outs for SG
Guterres' meeting with African officials while
in China, including in light of UNanswered
question Sept 5-6" concerning Guterres' son's
business links in Angola, Cape Verde, Timor
Leste and Sao Tome. No answer - but a
colleague from the UN's fourth floor said
first there were boxes by Inner City Press'
workspace then the boxes were gone. The UN
went through Inner City Press' files. [Update:
because of being contacted by concerned
whistleblowers, clearly Guterres' retaliatory
UN's goal, we specify: we never print out
anything so this intrusion by Guterres and
Smale will be for naught. But it shows what
they have made
the UN.] We'll have more on that, and this:
while a major democracy is told Guterres'
censorship is none of its business, Guterres'
Smale in her letter and Dujarric in his
briefing room have used unnamed member states'
complaints as the basis of Inner City Press
being banned. Smale used an old complaint by
Morocco, which her own MALU (Marija) told
Inner City Press was frivolous. Did she stoke
up other missions to complain to her? Watch
this site.
On August
30, spokes-hatchet-man
Stephane Dujarric was asked,
again, about how and why Inner
City Press was roughed up,
ousted and banned for life
without due process. Dujarric,
with a smile, cut the question
off and said to review his
previous Orwellian answers,
adding "The issue is settled
as far as we're concerned." Like the
way Guterres
golden
statue gifter Paul
Biya is "settling
the
issue" in the
Anglophone zones,
pure force and
cover up? Dujarric
also
called it "asked and
answered." What, like the UN's
failures in protecting
civilians, in raping children,
spreading cholera, selling out
the Anglophones to
Cameroon for a favor in the Budget Committeee?
This is disgusting. Video here.
Dujarric moved on with a "Mademoiselle," a
question about the UNGA week which Guterres and
Dujarric have worked - and lied - to ban Inner
City Press from. On August 29, Guterres'
spokes-hatchet-man Stephane Dujarric was asked,
again, about the lack of due process and
specifically about Guterres now banning a
journalist who has covered the UN General
Assembly high level week for a decade. Video here;
from the UN transcript:
Question: two questions related to the status of
Matthew Lee. The first is whether any
consideration is being given to at least giving
him temporary access to the UN Headquarters
during the General Assembly week and, secondly,
just if you would respond to his repeated claims
that he was not accorded due process before
being banned from the, from the premises.
Spokesman: The process through which
accreditation is given and withdrawal is clear,
it’s written publicly in the media
guidelines. You all agree to the process
when you accept your accreditation, which
accreditation to any institution is a
privilege. Everybody has a right to, to
report and to say whatever they, they
wish. But the accreditation process is
such. It’s very clear. Really?
September
10, 2018
On
Cameroon Inner
City Press
FOIAs US DOD
For Report and
All Records on
Anglophone
Areas
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, September
7 --As the
Cameroon
government of
36 year
President
Paul
Biya
slaughters
civilians in
the Anglophone
regions as well as in
the North, it
re-engaged
Washington
lobbying firm
Squire Patton
Boggs and Mercury
Public Affairs, documents
show. The
UN belatedly
acknowledged
to Inner City
Press,
which UN Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres had
roughed
up on July
3 right after
it spoke to
Cameroon's
Ambassador Tommo
Monthe and on
August 17 declared
banned for
life from
entering the
UN,
that
Guterres met
with a
Cameroon
delegation on
July 11. And
they discussed,
disturbingly,
strategies to
reduce
negative
coverage of Biya's killings,
see below.
Now after
being informed
that the UN is
saying the
US or at least
its US Mission
to the UN
under Nikki
Haley and/or her
Deputy
Jonathan
Cohen and
spokesman John
Degory are supporting
and even
have requested
Inner City
Press' banning
from the UN
and UN General
Assembly high
level week featuring
Donald Trump,
Inner City
Press on
September 7
files its
second Freedom
of Information
Act
request: "On
behalf of
Inner City
Press and in
my personal
capacity as
its United
Nations bureau
chief, Matthew
Russell Lee,
this is a
request
pursuant to
the federal
Freedom of
Information
Act, 5 U.S.C.
§ 552 for the
following
information:
1) most
pressingly,
for the report
on human
rights abuse
by the
Cameroon
military and
of the US'
knowledge
thereof, on
information
and belief
headed by
Brig. Gen.
Timothy
McAteer and
concluded in
November 2017;
2) any and all
other records
in your
possession
concerning
abuses by the
Cameroon
security
forces,
including but
not limited to
in the
North-West and
South-West
regions, from
January 1,
2017 to the
date of your
response to
this request.
This request,
particularly
(1) above
which can and
should be
treated
separately,
should be
afforded
expedited
treatment.
Inner City
Press is
reporting on
abuses in
Cameroon,
including with
the knowledge
of the US -
and why there
has been no UN
Security
Council
meeting on
Cameroon. The
US is for this
month the
president of
the US
Security
Council and
this request
should be
fully
responded to
in that time
frame,
including any
necessary
appeal." We'll
have more on
this.
Now
in Ekona in South-West Region Cameroon's
government has
engaged
in what's
become their
trademark
abuse, the
killing at
point blank
range of
civilians, in
this case
Bezeng Jonas
and his sons,
one of whom was
attending
University of
Buea. Where
are the
"positive
steps" the UK
Mission's
Karen Pierce asserted
this week to
Inner City
Press across
the street
from the UN,
from which
British USG
Alison Smale
has banned
Inner City Press
for 66 days
with assists?
Things have reportedly
reached the
point that in
Lebialem
Division in
the South West
region officials
have de
facto
separated the
country by
instituting an
‘Access Card’
from locals
fleeing
insecurity in
the division. One
needs to pay
FCFA 20, 000
for the 'Laissez
passer'
to cross
over." After
Guterres did
nothing, in order
to try to get
Cameroon's
support as
chair of UN Budget
Committee, and
after
again refusing
Inner City Press'
questions on August 31, video here,
is now in China which
is arming
Biya. Now with
Guterres' spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric
cutting off
question and
saying
Guterres' ban
of Inner City
Press is
"settled" and
that it
cannot enter
to cover the
General
Assembly high
level
week where
last year
Guterres
greeted Paul Biya,
Guterres is
headed to China
September 1-4.
And here's
from China
state media:
"In March,
Cameroonian
President Paul
Biya was the
first African
leader to
visit China
this year. It
was the sixth
trip to China
by the
president. Fruitful
deals from
FOCAC Beijing
summit can
significantly
revamp the
country's
economy,"
Mpoche said.
"That is why,
I think the
Belt and Road
Initiative is
laudable."
According to
the Cartel of
Cameroon
Entrepreneurs,
known in its
French acronym
as GICAM,
close to 100
Cameroonian
businessmen
will visit
China on the
sidelines of
the Beijing
summit,
scheduled for
early
September. The
businessmen
traveling to
China intend
to seize the
opportunity
and sign deals
with Chinese
private
companies to
"boost our
cooperation
and create
more jobs for
the youths
back home,"
said Magloire,
the rapporteur
at Cameroon's
Ministry of
Economy and
Finance."
The
article makes
no mention of
Southern
Cameroons and
Biya's
killings -
nor,
apparently,
will Guterres.
We'll
have more on
this.Here are
questions Guterres
and his
spokesman,
contrary to
the promise of
evicter
Alison Smale,
has left
UNanswered:
"August 27-6:
August 22-3:
On Cameroon,
your belated
July 11 read
out does not
answer the
questions
Inner City
Press has
asked. Before
asking more,
there are now
broken out by
letter for
ease of
reference and
for belated
answer today,
as well as
this:
was DSG
Mohammed
present at the
July 11
meeting? And
what is the
SG's response
to what was
said about him
in the
demonstration
by Anglophone
Cameroonians
in Washington
yesterday? How
does he
respond to
their charges
of corruption?
a) Cameroon
has hired
Mercury Public
Affairs for
$100,000 a
month, even as
the UN is
paying money
to the
government. Is
UN money being
used for the
mass killing
cover up
campaign? Are
there any
safeguards in
place?
b) please
disclose any
and all other
meeings the SG
has had this
year arranged
by paid
lobbyists.
[responded to
Aug 22, but
see (d) below:
c) what is the
SG's comment
on the recent
announcement
of seven
arrests for
summary
executions,
and the newer
video of
Cameroon Army
executions
that has
emerged?
d)
Specifically,
how are these
videos being
incorporated
into the
supposed
vetting of
Cameroon's
contributions
to UN
Peacekeeping
missions?
e) please
provide a list
and read-out
of each of the
Secretary
General's
meetings and
communications
with Cameroon
Ambassador
Tommo Monthe
during
Monthe's time
as chair of
the Fifth
(Budget)
Committee.
[semi-answered
Aug 22 f) In
light of
statements at
the August 8
noon briefing
please state
whether envoy
Fall even
requested to
meet with
President Paul
Biya or
whether the UN
believes that
Biya is once
again out of
the country,
in Geneva. Has
the UN ever
met with Biya
in Geneva? ]
g) I reiterate
August 7-1 and
8-1 and 9-1,
on this: was
the SG or
anyone else in
the UN aware
that this Biya
delegation's
lobbying trip
was stage
managed by the
DC-based
lobbying firm
Patton Boggs?
Why was this
meeting not
disclosed at
the time? Why
is there no
photo, even
just UN Photo,
of it? Where
did it take
place? Who
attended, on
each side?
h)Has the
Secretariat
communicated
since with the
Biya
government?
Has it ever
communicated
with the
opposition?" September
3, 2018
UN
Guterres
Refuses To
Answer Why He
Bans Inner
City Press
From UNGA What
Done on
Cameroon Son's
Conflict of
Interest
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, August 31 – Before Inner City Press was
roughed up by UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres' Security on June 22
and July
3, 2018 and under a ban on entry since
then, which his spokesman on August 30 called
settled or final, it insistently asked about
Guterres' conflicts of interest, for example
with murderous
Cameroon chairing the UN Budget Committee
where Guterres sought support or with the
business interests of his family, as for
disclosure of how many of Guterres' publicly
funded trip took him through his real home,
Lisbon. (The answer, with no UN help, is at
least 14.) The questions are not
being answered by Spokesman Stephane Dujarric,
and Guterres has had Inner City Press banned
from the UN for life, by his Global
Communicator Alison Smale who has failed
to make even the minimal public financial
disclosure called for under Guterres'
predecessor Ban Ki-moon. Guterres' forms do
not include the business interests of his
direct children - but they should, see below.
On August 31,
the 59th day Inner City Press has been banned
from the UN by Guterres, there was nothing
listed on Guterres' schedule until 4:30 pm:
grip and grin photo op with the new
Ambassadors on Armenia, Costa Rica, Bosnia and
Herzegovina and Sidhartha Francisco Marin
Aráuz of Nicaragua. But at 1:10 pm some of
Guterres many guards -- one, Lt Ronald E
Dobbins, twice roughed up Inner City Press on
June 22 (which Inner City Press wrote to
Guterres about on June 25) and more so on July
3 - showed up telling other cars including
diplomats' cars where they could and couldn't
park on 46th Street. Soon fully three black
4x4s pulled up in front of the restaurant
Aretsky's Patroon, which recently hosted
Hillary Clinton. Out stepped Guterres and UN
President of the General Assembly Miroslav
Lajcak, who disclosed
a 1:15 pm appointment with Guterres. First
(silent) video here.
An hour and a half later, Guterres emerged
with his chief of staff Maria Luiza Viotti and
with Miguel Graca. Inner City Press asked,
calmly but audibly, why Guterres is banning it
from entering to cover the General Assembly
Week, which is has covered for 11 years, about
what he has (not) done on Cameroon and on
conflicts of interest related to his son's
business links, first reported by Inner City
Press. As is the Guterres way, he got into his
limosine. Video here.
By contrast the President of the General
Assembly Miroslav Lajcak listened when Inner
City Press asked about access to the GA and
seemed... well, we'll see and report.
Guterres, as
is typically including on the business
dealings of his son, did not even disclose his
meeting with Lajcak. Guterres has shown such
bias in having Inner City Prss roughed up and
banned that Inner City Press has asked Lajcak,
and will ask him and hereby his successor
again, to take over the case and ensure Inner
City Press can cover the upcoming UN General
Assembly week. Lajcak's chief of staff says
Lajcak is trying; his spokesman says "I
discussed your letter with the PGA. Please
know that he is personally sympathetic to your
situation. He also continues to strongly
believe that the UN should be as transparent
as possible and that journalists should be
able to do their work without hindrance.
At the same time, our practice here at the UN
is for the Secretariat – not the Office of the
PGA – to handle matters related to media
accreditation and security. In that regard, we
will continue to defer to the Secretariat in
such areas. The PGA appreciates your interest
in and coverage of the General Assembly. In
that regard, from our side, we will continue
to respond to your journalistic questions –
whether you are inside or outside UNHQ. I look
forward to our continued collaboration during
the rest of the 72nd session." We'll have more
on this As Inner City Press has now
exclusively reported, Guterres' son
Pedro Guimarães e Melo De Oliveira Guterres
has been Manager of Planning and Control at PT
Portugal since 2009, see here.
And "PT Portugal has significant interests in
telecommunications companies in Angola, Cape
Verde, Namibia and São Tomé and Principe in
Africa and in Timor-Leste in Asia," see US SEC
filing here.
(Guterres recently rebuffed, in an entreaty to
stop banning Inner City Press, Time Leste's
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos Horta, here).
Given that his father, as a UN Secretary
General who has shown himself willing to stay
quiet of the deaths of Anglophone Cameroonians
to gain the support of Cameroon's Ambassador
as chair of the UN Budget Committee, has and
can impact on each of these countries, where
are the clearly needed controls against
conflict of interest? Inner City Press
Periscop stand-up, here. As Guterres flies off
for a business confab about Africa and China
from September 1 to 4, complete with 100
businesses from Cameroon
where Guterres is complicit in the crackdown,
how is he recusing himself there and in New
York (and Lisbon) from involvement in things
impacting where his son's company does
business and makes money? We'll have more on
this - for now despite the empty promises of
Guterres' Global Communicator Alison Smale who
has banned Inner City Press for life without
any hearing or appeals process that written
questions would be answer, none
have been for three days, including on another
Inner City Press exclusive
noted from on high in UNDP, here. Inner
City Press on August 28 published the first in
this exclusive and detailed series. Here from
multiple member state sources are the dates of
Guterres' 14 -- 30% of total UN trips -
through Lisbon for each of which Inner City
Press has asked, and not been answered, and
live-stream Periscope of the UN's empty
massion on 57th Street and Sutton Place for
which it was roughed up and banned:
Do the
member states paying for this - whom Guterres'
Smale quotes without name as supporting the
roughing up of and permanent ban on Inner City
Press, agree with this? Do they know this? How
arrogant or out of touch a self-styled world
leader is has been revealed in the Leader's
contemptuous approach to freedom of the press
and whose who even gently chide him on it,
including a Nobel Peace Prize winner. No, this
is not a reference to Donald Trump, but to UN
Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The Nobel
Peace Prize winner who has sought the reversal
of Guterres' outrageous 56 day and counting ban
on Inner City Press even entering the UN is Jose
Ramos Horta of Timor Leste, still serving
Guterres' UN, who told Inner City Press on
August 27, "Dear Matthew I did reach the very
inner sanctum of the UN system reporting on your
case to no avail. Apologies but I don't know
what else I can do." Later on August 27 an
independent journalist asked Guterres' spokesman
Stephane Dujarric why things are not fixed with
Inner City Press' access, since it "looks bad"
given other attacks on press freedom. Video here.
Dujarric tried to cut the journlist off,
insisting to say this is about freedom of the
press would be wrong. (Then why is it in the
Press Freedom Tracker, here,
and the Columbia
Journalism Review, among others
for example in the UK,
Japan,
Italy
and Cameroon?)August
27, 2018
For
UNGA Trump to
Hold Drug
Event Banned
Inner City
Press Learns
By Not From
USUN Notified
of Ban Like
Pressman
UNITED
NATIONS GATE, August 24 – A month from day on September 24,
US President Trump will host
his "big UN event, this time on the
world drug situation,"
a source not with the US Mission
told Inner City Press on
August 24 as
it staked-out the UN
Delegates Entrance
questioning
diplomats as it
has for the 52 days
it has been banned
from the UN - ironically,
for its style of
questioning.
Another source
told Inner
City Press
that the US circulating
a draft outcome to
the political
coordinators
all of member
states, not
just those
on the
Security
Council. This
source - ironically
a pro-UN
source who still
leaks to
Inner City Press after
the UN banned
it for life --
exclusively
told Inner
City Press of
"pushback" that
is coming.
As the afternoon
of August
24 progressed,
while other
information came in,
as to
the US Mission
to the
UN across the street
there were
peripheral
developments.
As Inner City
Press reported
on August
23, on the Periscope live-streaming
platform which
the UN cited
in imposing
its lifetime
ban,
the portrait
of Mike Pompeo
belatedly
went up in the
lobby of the Mission.
On August 24
starting around 3:30 some USUN
personnel
boarded a
chartered bus
with coolers and
in Jets and
Giants (LT 56)
jerseys,
presumably to got
to the Meadowlands
in New Jersey
and see a pre-season
NFL game.
Would anyone
take a knee? In
the bus stop
Inner City
Press works in it
formally
notified the two
top US Missio
spokespeople
that its 52 day ban
has had no due
process
and should be
reversed
at latest by
September 5,
the deadline
for the UNGA
week on which
Inner City Press is
reporting. The
same was conveyed,
and more, to
former USUN
Deputy Permanent
Representative
David
Pressman, who
to his and
their credit bantered with
the Mission's
security
officers. He's
with the
Clooney Foundation
for Justice
and the Boies
law firm.
Inner City Press
asked, not joking,
want to
sue the UN on
press
freedom (and
non assault)
grounds? He
said it might
be a
conflict given
his previous jobs -
though the UN's
decision maker
or
letter signing
Alison Smale
ignored her
own conflicts
of interest - but he
could,
it would seem,
find someone.
Even a recent
mother.
For now, we report
on Trump's upcoming
event. Watch
this site. With
the UN General
Assembly High Level week coming up next
month, the UN of anti-Press
Secretary General Antonio
Guterres is still moving
to push further away from
the action the
visiting
media that he and Under
Secretary General
Alison Smale, in
their lawless way,
allow in. Now
this UN
dynamic duo
have not
surprisingly
gotten buy in
fro the
insiders they
give
offices to and
use to censor
others, those
who don't need
the tent but
rather complain about
the air
conditioning
and TV reception
in their offices.
For
years the
so-called Media
Center has been in
Conference
Room 1. But
this year
Guterres and
Smale still
want to put it
even further
away --
now in a tent.
Typically,
they are
trying to
blame their
anti-press
policies on
member states.
But this is
the duo which
had Inner City
Press roughed
up by their
Security -
twice - and
banned for 52
days and
counting. They
are censors, and
hypocrites (see
Smale's ex NYT
myopic
hand-wringing,
here.)
On August 17
Smale issued a
ghoulish no
due process ruling
purporting to
ban Inner City Press
for life,
which has put
the UN into
the Press Freedom
Tracker. Back
Oon
August
8, Inner City
Press
during the
noon briefing
it is banned from
43
days and counting emailed
the
spokesperson
for President of
the General
Assembly
Miroslav Lajcak:
"Hello. Since
I am still
banned from
the UN noon
briefing, I am
e-mailing you
this
question
during your
August 8
briefing: What
does the PGA
think and do
about the
moves to push
the media even
further away
from CR 1
during High
Level week?" The
spokesman
Brenden Varma
to his credit
replied, just
after the
briefing, "For
the President,
it is
important that
journalists
are able to do
their work and
cover the
general
debate. As
for the
logistics,
that is a
matter for the
UN
Secretariat."
August 20,
2018
On
Cameroon Inner
City Press
Video
Guterres'
Smale Calls
Derogatory for
Lifetime Ban
Remonetized by
YouTube
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, August 19
--As the
Cameroon
government of
36 year
President
Paul
Biya
slaughters
civilians in
the Anglophone
regions as well as in
the North, it
re-engaged
Washington
lobbying firm
Squire Patton
Boggs, documents
show. The
UN belatedly
acknowledged
to Inner City
Press,
which UN Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres had
roughed
up on July
3 right after
it spoke to
Cameroon's
Ambassador Tommo
Monthe and on
August 17 declared
banned for
life from
entering the
UN,
that
Guterres met
with a
Cameroon
delegation on
July 11. And
they discussed,
disturbingly,
strategies to
reduce
negative
coverage of Biya's killings,
see below.
Guterres'
Global Communicator
Alison Smale's
August 17 letter
banning Inner
City Press, on
which she took
45 days to try
to phrase
censorship in
terms of
"professionalism,"
states that
Inner City
Press'
questioning
broadcasts on
Periscope,
for then 45
days at the
gate outside
the UN, are
derogatory
and even
somehow dangerous.
Dangerous
to the
cover up of Biya's
killings,
perhaps, and
those who play a role
in it.
Relatedly,
Google's
YouTube de-monetized
Inner City
Press' video
of
questioning
Guterres' Deputy
Spokesman
Farhan Haq
about
Cameroon's
lobbying contracts,
saying the video
was not
appropriate
for all advertisers.
While that YouTube
phrasing, even
if accurate,
would not
justify a ban
on Inner City
Press, it is
significant
that after
Inner City
Press submitted to
YouTube an
appeal -- something
Guterres'
Kafkaesque UN
does not allow
for
journalists --
the demonetization
has been
reversed: "Hi
Inner City
Press, Great
news! After
manually
reviewing your
video, we’ve
determined
that it is
suitable for
all
advertisers: "Cameroon
Leak Showed UN
Guterres
Offered Biya
Help In
Combating Bad
Press He
Banned No
Answers"
Thanks, The
YouTube team."
So the
coverage that
UK national Alison
Smale
unilaterally
asserts is so
derogatory and
dangerous as
to be
part of her
Orwellian
justification
of a lifetime
ban of Inner City
Press is found
by a party not
named, as
Smale is, in
the video to
be "suitable
for all
adversers."
You can see it
here.
-- it already
has 2000
views, more
that the entire
audience of some of
those "professional"
correspondents
to whom Guterres
and Smale give
UN offices and
full access.
Alison Smale,
and Guterres,
are censors
pure and
simple,
particularly
on
Guterres'
shameful role in
Cameroon. In a
single sentence,
Guterres
stayed quiet on
and helped
cover up Paul Biya's killings
of Anglophones in Cameroon
because Guterres
wanted the
bureaucratic
support of
Cameroon's
Ambassador
Tommo Monthe,
the chair of
the UN Budget
Committee, for
his proposal
some of which
didn't even get
enacted.
Shameful, as is
the lifetime ban. We'll
have
more, much
more, on this. The
Cameroon government's
write up of the
meeting obtained by
Inner City
Press,
on which
the UN
has repeatedly
refused to
respond, quotes
Guterres that
the
("Anglo-Saxon")
media is
unfair to Paul
Biya's
Cameroun and
that he,
Guterres, will
help them in
the
"propaganda
campaign."
Guterres said
he "will
contact
reasonable
people" and
"counter the
daily press
briefs." August
13, 2018
On Cameroon
Dutch and HRW
Overplay UK
Pres Vague
Line on
Violence As
Guterres Bans
Press
UNITED
NATIONS GATE, August 10 – As the
Cameroon
government of
36 year
President
Paul
Biya
slaughters
civilians in
the Anglophone
regions as well as in
the North, it
has
re-engaged Washington
lobbying firm
Patton Boggs,
on a retainer
of $100,000 per
quarter
plus
expenses, documents
show.
Now on August
10, with Inner
City Press
banned from
entering the
UN for the
38th day by UN
Secretary
General Antonio
Guterres, the
Dutch
Mission to
the UN
and HRW
started
bragging about
a UN
Security Council
Presidential
Statement
which they
said embodied
deep concern. At first
banned
Inner City
Press, thanks
to Guterres
who took Biya's
golden statue
in
October 2017,
couldn't even
see the Statement:
it was not on
the Security
Council's
website
now run
by the (Dutch)
husband of
the chief of
staff of the UN
Department of
Political
Affairs'
Rosemary DiCarlo,
and was not
emailed out to
those not
(allowed) in
the UN. But by
mid afternoon
it came out: and it was
just a single
line, about
the "worrying
increase in violence
in the
north-west and
south-west
regions of
Cameroon." Why did
Human Rights
Watch make so
much of this,
after earlier
this year
telling
Inner City
Press - before
Antonio
"Golden
Statue" Guterres
banned it from
the UN - that
HRW omitted
Cameroon
from its 2018
World Report because it
didn't view it
as a top-90 problem? That's
here.
As Guterres
and his Alison
Smale and their stooges
try to keep
Inner City Press
out even
longer, we'll
have more on
this. After
twice asking
the Spokespeople
for UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres (from
the bus stop
outside the
UN Delegates'
Entrance since
Guterres
has banned
Inner City
Press since
July 3), UN Deputy
Spokesman
Farhan Haq on
August 8
belatedly told
Inner City
Press, "On
your first
question, we
can confirm
that, on 11
July, a
high-level
Cameroonian
delegation was
dispatched to
UNHQ to brief
the
Secretary-General
on the efforts
carried out by
the Government
to address the
crisis in the
North-West and
South-West
regions. The
Secretary-General
stressed the
importance of
finding a
peaceful
resolution to
the crisis
through an
inclusive
dialogue and
reiterated the
UN’s readiness
to support
such efforts,
including the
provision of
humanitarian
assistance to
the affected
regions." But
Inner City
Press'
question was,
"On Cameroon
beyond the
questions you
have left
unanswered
from August 3
and August
6-1, please
state if
anyone in the
UN Secretariat
met with a
Cameroonian
government
delegation in
the US from
July 11 (whcn
they met UK
Ambassador
Pierce) to
July 20 and if
the UN was
aware that
this Biya
delegation's
lobbying trip
was stage
managed by the
DC-based
lobbying firm
Patton Boggs."
No answer on
this, nor on
August 10,
when Guterres'
Deputy Spokesman Haq
answered a past
question from
August 6,
on using and
paying for
Biya's troops:
"Regarding
your earlier
Cameroon
question,
here’s what we
have for you: "August
6-1: On
Cameroon,
important and
not answered -
please
immediately
confirm and
explain: “A
295-strong
Cameroonian
contingent
including four
doctors, will
be deployed in
the
intervening
weeks to the
Central
African
Republic
(CAR).They
will be part
of the United
Nations
Multidimensional
Integrated
Mission for
the
Stabilization
of CAR
(MINUSCA),
ministry of
Defense
sources in
Cameroon
disclosed on
Thursday.”
Given not only
this
military's
torching of
villages in
the Anglophone
areas but
summary
executions,
why is the UN
accepting this
deployment at
this time? How
much of the
money goes to
/ stays with
the Biya
government?
What vetting
has been done?
Does the UN
know the
identity of
the Cameroon
soldiers
recently shown
killing women
and children?
What assurance
does the UN
have these
soldiers will
not “serve”
the UN in
CAR?"
The 295-strong
Cameroonian
contingent
referred into
in the article
is not a new
deployment. It
is in fact a
rotation of
two
Cameroonian
Formed Police
Units (FPUs)
already
deployed in
MINUSCA.
In this
specific case,
the two
Cameroonian
FPUs will
finish their
tour of duty
by
mid-September,
will
substitute
them. As per
established
procedures,
all FPU
personnel
undergo
extensive
pre-deployment
training to
ensure they
understand the
rules,
regulations
and, standards
and values
expected of
personnel
deployed to UN
operations,
including
respect for
human rights.
With regard to
the vetting
process, the
Policy on
Human Rights
Screening of
United Nations
Personnel
places primary
responsibility
on Member
States to
ensure that
the personnel
they appoint
for deployment
have not been
involved in
violations.
All countries
contributing
uniformed
personnel to
UN
peacekeeping
operations
have primary
responsibility
for screening
individuals
and for
ensuring that
personnel they
nominate for
service have
not been
involved, by
act or
omission, in
violations of
international
humanitarian
law or human
rights law,
and have not
been
repatriated on
disciplinary
grounds from a
UN operation.
Contributing
countries have
to provide a
certification
to that effect
when they
nominate
personnel for
deployment.
The Policy
thus sets
forth
procedures to
strengthen the
ability of the
United Nations
to ensure that
its personnel
meet the
highest
standards of
efficiency,
competence and
integrity, and
to promote and
encourage
respect for
human rights,
in accordance
with the
United Nations
Charter. These
procedures
have notably
led to
strengthen
pre-deployment
screening and
certification
by
contributing
countries.
On your
question
regarding
payment,
countries
contributing
uniformed
personnel to
peacekeeping
operations are
reimbursed by
the UN at a
standard rate,
approved by
the General
Assembly, of
US$1,428 per
person per
month."
After
Guterres remained disturbingly
quiet
about Biya's
killing for a
full year, when Cameroon
was the chair
of the Budget
Committee
whose support
Guterres
wanted for his
proposal like
moving jobs
from Geneva to
Budapest,
New York to
Mexico City,
Entebbe to
Kenya? We'll
have more on
this.
August 6, 2018
To
Replace Zeid
UN Guterres
Who Bans Press
Eyes 4 Latins
from Mexico
Colombia
Argentina and
Guatemala
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, August 3 – In choosing a replacement for
Prince Zeid as UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights, Secretary General Antonio Guterres has
typically under-performed, being so slow that
who ever is chosen will have a nearly
unprecedentedly short time to prepare. Now on
August 3 Inner City Press' sources tell it of
a short list of four: Pablo de
Greiff of Colombia, Jorge Castañeda of Mexico,
Claudia Paz y Paz of Guatemala and Argentinian
judge Silvia Fernandez. If the decision is not
made soon by Guterres, who has been on
vacation location UNdisclosed since July 20
when he refused to answer Inner City Press why
he had banned it (and had its reporter roughed
up), then Guterres may name as Acting High
Commissioner the current Deputy High
Commissioner Kate Gilmore, from Australia like
Guterres head of Security Peter Drennan.
Gilmore has not been supportive of
whistleblowers. She apparently continues to
defend Rupert Colville and his egregious
statements about Anders Kompass and others,
with complete impunity (as, so far, Guterres
Drennan and Alison Smale have enjoyed for
having Inner City Press roughed
up, ousted
and now banned
for 31 days and counting with no end in sight,
Fox
News story here,
GAP blogs I
and II,
Independent here - on August 3
while Inner
City Press was
reporting-out
this story on
Human Rights
Commish short
list, it was
told by a free
press group
(not CPJ) that
Guterres
Deputy
Spokesman
Farhan Haq
told it Inner
City Press
will be told
“in the coming
days” if it's
banned forever
from UN for
being roughed
up covering UN
Budget). How
can a
man who has ousted
and banned a
critical
journalist
for a
Kafkaesque
investigation
by the one
choosing a
High Commissioner for
Human Rights?
Or deciding on bans for journalists who
scrutinize and question him? Overall, the
sources say, Bachelet and
they say Bokova are out of
the running. Traditionally
the P5 UK, US and France
play an important role in
the selection of High
Commissioner for Human
Rights. But the UK is
entirely focused on Brexit
and the US is apparently
disengaged, in part because
of its withdrawal from the
HRC and mooted funding cuts
to OHCHR. The sources ay
neither France nor the EU
has a candidate. Nor have
they done anything about
Guterres' censorship of the
Press at the UN.
Today's UN system's attacks on whistleblowers
extend from New York where Secretary General
Antonio Guterres' armed Security officials
ousted the Press on June 22 (video,new
petition,Q&A) to
Geneva where outgoing Human Rights
Commissioner Zeid's Deputy Kate Gilmore and
spokesman Rupert Colville deploy "hard talk"
(and worse) against whistleblowers.
Today in Geneva Deputy UN High Commissioner
for Human Rights Kate Gilmore - in typical UN
fashion, a good friend of Zeid's wife princess
Sarah - who Amnesty International decided it
was worth paying to leave a few years back
because she was so toxic to the organization)
had what she terms a “hard talk.”
Whistleblower Emma Reilly, of whose case Inner
City Press has repeatedly asked the UN, posed
the first question. Reilly noted that the UN's
Central African Republic panel found
that Zeid went after whistleblowers with a
“single minded determination,” and said that
her own experience confirmed this. She
referred to emails sent by the OHCHR
Spokesperson Rupert Colville to journalists
that referred to CAR whistleblowers
Anders Kompass and Miranda Brown as
“dishonest... disgusting... underhanded” and
the “sh*ttiest” individuals he had encountered
in a 30-year career, and even accused Anders
Kompass - Sweden’s ambassador to Guatemala -
as being “in the pay of the French.” Reilly
noted that journalists reported to her that
Colville regularly resorted to personal
insults and questioned her sanity when “asked
about OHCHR handing over names to the
Chinese.”
Reilly
then asked if Gilmore agreed with the UN
position that these emails, sent from a UN
spokesman’s account during UN working hours in
response to a request for comment from the UN,
were personal. If so, she asked if the UN
would lift immunity to allow her to sue the
spokesperson in national courts.
Gilmore avoided the question. We'll have more on
this - and on Guterres' lead spokesman, who has
moved beyond insults and exclusion of Inner City
Press to bringing about physical ouster by armed
UN Security officers who refused to give their
names, and running off the podium as Inner City
Press asks about it. On June 29 after
publishing the above, Inner City Press asked
Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN
transcript here:
Inner City Press: I have a Human Rights
Commissioner question.
Spokesman: Go ahead.
Inner City Press:
I wanted to ask you. There was a Q and A
by Kate Gilmore, the Deputy High Commissioner of
Human Rights, today in Geneva, and an issue
arose in which… several whistle-blowers raised
the fact that they have evidence, they say, that
the spokesperson for, for Prince Zeid, Rupert
Colville, has, from, on his UN computer during
UN time, said that the whistle-blowers are the
worst people he’s ever known, used a
profanity. And so they wanted to know,
since it’s, it’s their understanding that this
was then said in a personal capacity by the
spokesman, not as a UN statement, whether the UN
will, in fact, waive immunity so that they can
take some kind of a legal action? They’re
very troubled that the spokesperson…
Spokesman: I… I didn’t see the Q and
A. What I do know is that Mr. Colville
does an outstanding, an outstanding job in
promoting and defending human rights.
Inner City Press: Would you say it’s consistent
with the whistle-blower protections…?
Spokesman: I’m not going to, I’m not going
to talk about things that I don’t know, most of
the time." Really. The UN took most of its
counter-terrorism money from Saudi Arabia, just
as Secretary General Antonio Guterres smiled and
took a $930 million check from Saudi's Crown
Prince and said nothing about Saudi bombing of
Yemen, and now assault on the port of Hodeidah
there. On June 18 the UN in New York held a
so-called background briefing for only some of
the media which cover the UN day to day.
On June 19 Inner City Press asked the Office of
the Spokesperson, the briefer and the UN's
Global Communicator why, with no answer yet in
48 hours. Instead the response has been
frivolous complaints about Inner City Press non-
or anti-spoonfed coverage. And on June 22,
Guterres' UN Security ousted Inner City Press
from the UN without even its laptop, during an
event at which Guterres gave a bragging speech.
Video
here,
story here, new
petition here.July
30, 2018
On
Cameroon Inner
City Press
Asked UN's
Zeid Before
Being Banned
Now A Belated
Statement With
Guterres
Silent
UNITED
NATIONS, July 25 – After the abuses by Cameroon's security forces
have been ignored by the UN, as Inner City
Press has repeatedly asked about them until
being
banned from the UN on July 3 and since, new
leaked videos show summary executions
and manhandling
of prisoners. On July 23 Inner
City Press
raised the
issue, and
that of the
UN's censorship
to
the Italian
Mission to
the UN, which
split its UN
Security
Council term with
the Netherlands
and last year
told Inner
City Press
that Paul Biya's
abuses in
the
Anglophone
areas hadn't
come up on the
Council trip
to Cameroon that it
accompanied.
Nothing, from
Italy and from the
Security
Council as a
whole, not
even an "Any
Other
Business" briefing (Inner
City Press
has, even while
banned from
the UN by
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres who
took Biya's
golden statue,
asked a number
of
non-Security
Council UN
member states
for their position
on convening
a meeting in
the General
Assembly as
has been done
regarding
other
countries; watch
this space). Now
on July 25
from Geneva
outgoing Human
Rights
Commissioner
Prince
Zeid, who
like his
spokesman has
said almost
nothing about
Biya's killings
for the past
year despite
written and in
person
questions from
Inner City
Press before the
ban, has
issued this:
"UN High
Commissioner
for Human
Rights Zeid
Ra’ad Al
Hussein on
Wednesday
expressed deep
alarm at
persistent
reports of
human rights
violations and
abuses in the
English-speaking
Northwest and
Southwest
regions of
Cameroon, as
well as in the
Extreme North. The
High
Commissioner
said it was
regrettable
that the
Government of
Cameroon had
failed to
grant the UN
Human Rights
Office access
to the
Northwest and
Southwest
despite
repeated
requests. “Given
the
seriousness of
the reports of
violence
against
Cameroonians
in the western
part of the
country, we
have asked for
access to be
able to verify
allegations
made against
both security
forces and
armed
elements,”
High
Commissioner
Zeid said. “We
will now need
to explore
other options,
including
remote
monitoring.” What
began as
protests in
October 2016
in the
Northwest and
Southwest
regions
against
structural
discrimination
escalated into
violence in
2017, and the
situation has
worsened
considerably
since then.
There are
reports that
armed elements
have carried
out
kidnappings,
targeted
killings of
police and
local
authorities,
extortion and
have torched
schools. There
are also
reports that
Government
forces are
responsible
for killings,
the excessive
use of force,
burning down
of houses,
arbitrary
detentions and
torture. UN
figures
indicate that
more than
21,000 people
have fled to
neighbouring
countries,
while 160,000
have been
internally
displaced by
the violence,
many
reportedly
hiding in
forests. “To
prevent the
situation from
deteriorating
further, I
urge the
Government to
launch
independent
investigations
into the
reports of
human rights
violations by
State security
forces as well
as abuses by
armed
elements,”
Zeid said. “I
condemn the
attacks by
Cameroonian
armed
elements,
including the
ambush on 13
July near the
town of Kumba
in the
Southwest
region on a
Minister of
Defence
convoy. But
the
heavy-handed
security
response that
the Government
appears to
have employed
since October
last year will
only make
matters worse
for the women,
children and
men caught in
the middle.” The
High
Commissioner
also said he
was “utterly
appalled” by a
horrific video
reportedly
showing
members of the
armed forces
executing a
woman, a child
and a baby
accused of
being members
of Boko Haram. “The
Government of
Cameroon has
an obligation
to investigate
this atrocious
crime
urgently. I am
deeply worried
that these
killings
captured on
camera may not
be isolated
cases,” he
said." We'll
have more on
this, and Guterres'
negligent
delay in
and moral
disqualification
from belatedly
choosing
Zeid's
successor. As
to Italy
Inner City
Press sent a
formal request
to the
Italian
spokesperson who
told it that,
Giovanni
Davoli, and
elsewhere
including the
Mission's official
email
address in UN
Protocol's
Blue Book,
info.italyun
[at] ester.it,
as well as
press.italyun
[at] esteri.it:
"Hello - This
is a request
for your
Italian
Mission's and
Ambassador
comment on the
human rights
abuses by the
Cameroon army
and security
forces, not
only in the
Anglophone
areas (which I
have been
asking about
in the UN
since early
2017) but now
also in the
north, video
linked to in Inner
City Press here,
as
verified by
Amnesty
International, here.
Since
the UN
Security
Council has
not even taken
up the issue
in an Any
Other Business
briefing, with
blockage by
former
colonial
powers France
and the UK,
which recently
bragged of a
UK firm's
natural gas
deal with the
Cameroonian
government,
this is also
to know
whether your
Mission -
which is still
technically on
the Security
Council but
not much seen,
even before
Inner City
Press was
banned since
July 3 for
covering the
UN Budget --
would support
General
Assembly
action on
these Cameroon
and regional
issues, under
Uniting for
Peace or
otherwise.
I am asking
these
questions in
writing now
because I have
been banned
since July 3
from entering
the UN and
could not ask
them inside
the UN
building.
This notifies
your Mission
that I have
been banned
from the UN
since at
latest July 5,
with no due
process. See,
The
Independent
(UK), July 12,
2018, “UN
'roughs up and
bans'
investigative
reporter long
considered
thorn in side
of world body
officials, Mr
Lee has
written about
UN in
connection to
Haiti,
Burundi, Sri
Lanka and
other nations." July
23, 2018
Cameroon
Not Seen By
Human Rights
Watch As Top
90 Problem But
Now Spun For
Money with UN
Censorship
Alliance
UNITED
NATIONS, July 19 – As the crackdown in
Cameroon by 36-year government of Paul Biya
has grown worse and worse in 2017 and 2018 and
Inner City Press has repeatedly asked why UN
Secretary General Antonio Guterres only took a
golden statue from Biya in October 2017,
Guterres' UN itself has cracked down, now
having banned Inner City Press from entering
the UN for 15 days and counting. Fox
News story here,
GAP blogs I
and II. Back
on 6 March
2018 before Guterres'
UN
Security had
roughed it up
and banned it,
Inner City
Press asked
Human Rights
Watch official
Jo Becker why the slaugher
in Cameroon
was not even
listed at a
Top-90 problem
in HRW's
2018
"World" report.
Becker told
Inner City Press that HRW has to decide where
to spend the resources it receives, and
apparently didn't see Cameroon as among the 90
countries meriting a look in their "World"
report, nor Gabon or Togo. Video here.
On July 19, with the UN Censorship Alliance,
HRW belatedly and apparently to try to raise
funds off a crisis it had ignored and enabled
held a briefing that was truly disgusting. The
first question was given to a Reuters reporter
who has repeatedly cut off Press questions
about Cameroon. Next was UN Censorship
Alliance figure head saying why not defer to
the AU, which took a golden statue. Then a
Reuters retiree; then a UN staffer doubling as
a UN resident correspondent. It was truly
disgusting. We'll have more on this.
Now on
July 19, with Inner City Press banned from the
UN and, UNlike
for example the Government Accountability
Project, HRW at best doing nothing about this
banning of the Press despite a series of
e-mails to its Ken Roth, Sarah Whitsos and
Akshaya Kumar, HRW has told some it will
present with the UN Censorship Alliance the
following, complete with moral equivalence:
"Human Rights
Watch will release “‘These Killings Can Be
Stopped’: Abuses by Government and Separatist
Groups in Cameroon’s Anglophone Regions,” a
report based on an April 2018 mission to the
country. Researchers conducted 82 interviews
with victims and witnesses of abuses and key
informants. Human Rights Watch analyzed
satellite images showing recent
burning in 20 villages and verified half a
dozen videos showing abuses or their
aftermath.
Since late 2016, activists from Cameroon’s
Anglophone minority have been calling for
their region’s independence. Violent
repression of mostly peaceful demonstrations
by government forces in 2016 and 2017 has led
to an escalation of the conflict. Anglophone
separatists have extorted, kidnapped, and
killed civilians, and prevented children from
going to school." The briefers are listed as
Jonathan Pedneault, Mausi Segun, and the
aforementioned Akshaya Kumar, Deputy UN
Director, Human Rights Watch. We'll have more
on this - and on the role of another HRW
official Louis Charbonneau in having lobbied
Guterres' spokesman to get Inner City
Press ousted from the UN, using his link with
this UN Censorship Alliance, then getting
Google to remove his leaked lobbying from
Search as allegedly copyrighted under the US
Digital Millennium Copyright Act. See Lou
Charbonneau's DMCA filing, here.
This is shameful.
Back on
March 6, to make sure its question was not
misunderstood, given the answer, Inner City
Press waited as others from who had skipped
the press conference came in to ask questions,
then showed Ms. Becker the report. She said
she had understood the question. (She did not
explain why "Ashley" who answered for HRW
Press never returned with this answer, nor put
Inner City Press back on HRW's mailing lists).
So who makes these decisions for Human Rights
Watch?
HRW has refused
to provide any read-outs of the issues it raises
to Guterres. Guterres is himself far from
transparent.
July 16,
2018
On
Cameroon Inner
City Press
Asks UNSC
Members About
Videos of
Abuses and UN
Ban, Sweden
1st Reply
UNITED
NATIONS, July 14 – After the abuses by Cameroon's security forces
have been ignored by the UN, as Inner City
Press has repeatedly asked about them until
being
banned from the UN on July 3 and since, new
leaked videos show summary executions
and manhandling
of prisoners. Inner City
Press has asked a number of UN
Security Council about these abuses
and will be reporting on responses.
On
Saturday July 14, after Inner City Press' e-mail
inquiry to Swedish Mission personnel
including Permanent Representativee Olof B. Skoog and
his deputy Carlo Skau, the Mission's
spokesperson
Lisa
Laskaridis proactively
replied,
"Thank you for
your email and
concern. We
continue to
follow the
situation in
Cameroon very
closely, and
we are in
touch with the
U.N. and other
partners. We
have stressed
the importance
of national
dialogue and
the need for
the U.N. to
have access. I
will also
contact Ms.
Smale" -
Alison Smale,
the Under
Secretary General for
Global
Communications
who has declined
to answer
Inner City
Press' seven e-mails
since September
2017 and
5000+ signature
petition.
We'll have
more on
this.
As UN Secretary
General
Antonio Guterres prepared to hold on July
12 his first press conference in UN
Headquarters since January, he so
much wanted to avoid questions
on his failings like that in Cameroon
that he had his UN Security rough
up and oust Inner City Press
and his bureaucracy ban it from the
building. There was, as
picked by Guterres' spokesman
Stephane Dujarric (who told
The Independent
the idea that Inner City
Press has been targeted is
"ridiculous"), no question
about Cameroon. And still
no answer to Inner City Press' written
question - on
the
morning of July 11, Inner City
Press asked three Guterres
spokespeople, his deputy,
his chief of staff and his British head of
Communications Alison
Smale questions including
"There is a widely shared
video
of Cameroonian troops
summarily executing
civilians, including women
and infants. What is
Antonio Guterres' response
to this?" While
providing a cursory answer to a
question Inner City Press
submitted about the killing of
civilians in Haiti - essentially
a reference to another organization's
position - these six UN
officials did not even
acknowledge the Cameroon
question. And that remains
true two days
later, so
Inner City Press on
July 13 asked
again: "Two
full days ago
I asked your
Office about
the video of
Cameroon
soldiers
executing
women and
infants. You
have still not
answered. Now
that Amnesty
International
has verified
the video,
what has the
UN done about
it? What will
the UN do?
Relatedly,
what is the
UN's comment
on “Cameroon's
President Paul
Biya has
announced that
he will be a
candidate in
the 7 October
presidential
election that
would, if he
wins, extend
his
35-year-rule.
Biya tweeted
'I am willing
to respond
positively to
your
overwhelming
calls. I will
stand as your
candidate in
the upcoming
presidential
election'"
Inner City
Press asked
other
questions,
including
about its
being banned,
that Haq has
still not
answered. On
Cameroon, he
returned with
this pablum:
"On Cameroon,
we can say the
following now: We
are aware of
the video
circulating on
social media
and welcome
the
announcement
by the
Government of
Cameroon to
open an
investigation
into the
matter. We
urge the
Government to
swiftly and
transparently
conduct the
announced
investigation." Wait - UN
Security's
self-investigation
of physically
assaulting and
ousting Inner
City Press
from covering
the UN
Budget
Committee meeting on
Guterres'
proposals is
neither swift
- it's been
ten days, a
single sham
interview -
nor transparent.
Inner City
Press asked,
without answer: "who
is responsible
for deciding,
between 10 pm
July 3 when I
was assaulted
by UN DSS Lt
Dobbins and
another
UNnamed, and
10 am on July
5, that I was
and am banned
from entering
the UN? Who
participated
in this
decision? Your
office
yesterday told
The
Independent
(UK) that “a
review ha[s]
been launched
into the
manner in
which Mr Lee
had been
removed and
his future
accreditation.”
How my
accreditation
should suffer
for having
been assaulted
by Lt Dobbins
and unnamed
colleagues,
for the second
time in 11
days, is a
mystery or
worse. But
please state
how it is
possible for
DSS to
investigate
itself in this
matter. What
provisions
does the UN
have when
abuse BY UN
Security
officers is
alleged, and
how does it
impact for
example their
New York and
other gun
permits?"
We'll have
more on all of
this. Guterres
lead spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, who
will again be
hand picking
the questions
and
questioners
present at
noon on July
12, told
another
reporter on
July 11 that
Inner City
Press' “status
is being
reviewed.
My
understanding
is that he
will be having
discussions
with various
parts of this
administration,
and then we'll
keep you
updated, and
I'm sure he
will keep you
updated. His
credentials
and pass have
been
suspended,
pending
review." Video
here.
This is
all based on
Inner City
Press having
been unjustly,
and
increasingly
violently,
ousted from
the UN on June
22 (during a
Guterres
speech
bragging about
Mali) and July
3, during
consideration
of Guterres'
budget and
reforms, with
mixed results.
Amnesty
International (which
recently
under counted Anglophone deaths in
Cameroon, blocked the Press which asked
and has done
nothing, despite
requests, about
the ban) has verified
the videoJuly 9, 2018
UN
Guterres
Snubbed #MeToo
Club in Vienna
and Beagle and
Haq Ignore
Since While
Banning Press
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Exclusive Series
UNITED
NATIONS, July 8 – UN
Secretary General
Antonio Guterres on
May 14 in
Vienna
told UN
staff that sexual exploitation
and abuse is
not relevant,
only sexual
harassment is.
This was
in a
closed-door
Town Hall
meeting on
which Inner
City Press
exclusively
reported, including
Guterres
refusal then
and since to
answer to request by
staff
member Monica
Garcia Montes
to establish a
#MeToo
club at the UN
in Vienna.
Since then, under
Guterres Inner
City Press has
been ousted
and now banned
from the UN,
for covering
his budget and
reform / job
moving
proposals.
Fox News story
here,
GAP blogs I
and II.
Now, while
covering the
UN from the
park in front
of it, Inner
City Press has
obtained
a series of
e-mails
regarding the
#MeToo
club proposal
Guterres
has blocked, some
copied to
Guterres'
spokespeople
including Farhan Haq.
Sample e-mails
exclusively put
online via
Patreon here.
They
include such
outrageous
reasons for
opposing as "Mr
Zabaar said
the Metoo
Movement is in
conflict with
the UN code of
conduct" and
"Ms Kuleshnyk
compared the
name of the
Club with an
hypothetical
Club named
Osama Bin Laden."
A cover letter
recites that "
Mr Guterres
had a staff
meeting in the
VIC on May 14,
2018, and
Monica
publicly asked
him for his
support in a
question. Mr
Guterres
reserved his
reply. This
was documented
here. Immediately
after the
meeting Monica
contacted Mr
Bridi's team
and Mrs
Menendez
replied to her
and
subsequently
called her and
had a long
conversation
with her. The
conclusion of
this
conversation
is that Monica
should contact
Mrs Beagle.
Monica
contacted Mrs
Beagle, but
Mrs Beagle
didn't contact
Monica (her
secretary
called but
nothing else
happened). On
June 25 Monica
sent an e-mail
to Mrs
Menendez
urging her to
provide her
with the reply
of Mr Guterres
on her initial
question about
him supporting
the creation
of the club.
She has
received no
reply to this
date. As a
matter of
fact, apart
from the phone
call from Mrs
Menendez in
May, and as
you can see in
the e-mails
copied below,
highly placed
persons in the
office of Mr
Guterres have
been
systematically
copied, so
that they are
informed of
the progress.
However never
once did
Monica receive
any kind of
reply or
contact from
any of them
ever since."
This is Guterres'
UN. We'll
have more on
this - and on
censorship
which has been
raised to Guterres,
his deputy Amina
J. Mohammed,
his chief
of staff Viotti
and Communicator
Alison Smale,
here.
Earlier
Inner City
Press asked
the UN to
explain
Guterres' statement,
below - and
then was
informed by
sources in
Vienna that
the #MeTooUN problem
there is wider
than
heretofor
reported. An abrupt
resignation at
the
International
Atomic Energy
Agency in
Vienna, of
Tero
Varjoranta, was
by
some like Reuters
linked
to
Trump's
pull out from
the Iran JPCOA
deal. But
Inner City
Press is exclusively
informed
it is more tied to
an incident witnessed
by many, and
inquired into
by press
pursuing the
impunity in
the UN system
for sexual harassament
and
abuse.July 2,
2018
In
Cameroon
Macron Envoy
Lemoyne
Unfurls French
Banner in
Anglophone
Buea With
Soldiers
UNITED
NATIONS, June 30 – Amid the
worsening crackdown by the army of 36-year
Cameroon president Paul Biya in the country's
Anglophone areas (June 12 UK comment below), in
April a video circulated depicting soldiers
burning down homes. Click here
for one upload of it. Noted by many residents
and activists: blue helmet of the type used by
UN peacekeepers. Back on April 30 Inner City
Press asked UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric about the
video, the day after publishing a story about
it, in Google News. April 30 Q&A video here;
transcript below. When French Minister Jean
Baptiste Lemoyne visited Anglophone South-West
Cameroon this week, amazingly he appeared in
front of a banner welcoming him... entirely in
French, here. His visit was opposed, and there
was a heavy military presence. Some claimed
Macron meant the end of FrancAfrique but this is
a new low. Lemoyne took a golden statue, just
like UNSG Antonio Guterres. We'll have more on
this. On June 27, Inner City Press asked
Guterres' Children and Armed Conflict envoy
Virginia Gamba why Cameroon is not listed in her
new report. Video here.
She said her Office has no presence on the
ground in Cameroon, try of so many of the UN's
observational bodies. Why not? On June 25, the
business day after Guterres' Security ousted
Inner City Press using Emergency Response Unit
guards equipped with automatic weapons, video
here,
story here,
new
petition here) Inner
City Press managed to ask Guterres' deputy
spokesman Farhan Haq about BBC authenticating
the blue helmet and other images, here.June
25, 2018
At UN 5 Guards
Eject Inner City Press As It Covers Guterres
Talk, Noting His Inaction on Corruption and
Cameroon
UNITED
NATIONS, June 22 – Five UN Security officers,
most with automatic weapons, pushed Inner City
Press' reporter out of the UN on June 22 as it
was filming and preparing to write about
Secretary General Antonio Guterres' claims
about his visit to Mali, where he didn't even
inquire into a recent case child rape by a UN
Peacekeeper. With the event still ongoing,
Inner City Press was approached by UN
Lieutenant Dobbins and told that since it was
just past 7 pm it had to leave the building.
That is
not the rule, nor the practice; in any event,
the Guterres Eid al -Fitr event listed in the
UN Department of Public Information was still
ongoing, making it unquestionable that Inner
City Press had a right to be in the UN and
cover it.
But even as Inner City Press dialed DPI's
Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit, getting
only voice mail, Dobbins made a call and UN
“Emergency Response Unit” officers arrived,
with barely concealed automatic weapons. One
of them repeatedly pushed Inner City Press'
reporter in the back, forcing him through the
General Assembly lobby toward the exit.
Periscope video here.
UN Under Secretary General Catherine Pollard
was told the ouster and did nothing, as was a
Moroccan diplomat. The heavily armed UN
Security officers refused to give their names
when asked. Lieutenant Dobbins, with no name
plate on his uniform, refused to spell his
name. He said, I have my orders. From who -
Guterres? His Deputy SG or chief of staff,
both of whom were at the event? DSS chief
Drennan? DPI chief Alison Smale?
Inner City Press repeatedly asked to be able
to get its laptop computer, which was upstairs
- there was no way to have known it would be
ousted during Guterres' event.
But
Dobbins and the others refused, as did the UN
Security officers at the gate. Inner City
Press remained there, with dwindling cell
phone battery, raising the issue online to
Smale, under whose watch Inner City Press has
remained in the non-resident correspondent
status it was reduced to for pursuing the Ng
Lp Seng UN bribery case into the UN press
briefing room where Guterres' spokesman
Stephane Dujarric ordered it out, then had it
evicted. A DPI representative, whom Inner City
Press asked to call Smale, was unable or
unwilling to even let Inner City Press go in
escorted to get its laptop.
Just in the past week, when Inner City Press
complained of Dujarric providing only to Al
Jazeera the response of Antonio Guterres to
the US leaving the UN Human Rights Council,
Dujarric and the Al Jazeera trio claimed to
MALU that the coverage was “too aggressive.”
Journalism is not a crime? Next week, Antonio
Guterres is set to give remarks, to which
Inner City Press has requested the right to
cover response, to the UN Correspondents
Association, which not only has not acted on
this censorship, but has fueled it.
Inside
the UN the Eid event continued, alongside a
liquor fueled barbeque thrown by UN Security.
This DSS sold tickets to non resident
correspondents, and allowed in people who had
nothing to do with the UN, including some
seeming underage. When Inner City Press
audibly raised the issue to UN Safety and
Security Service chief Mick Brown, he did
nothing.
The Moroccan diplomat emerged and chided Inner
City Press for even telling him of the ouster,
claiming that “25% of what you write is about
Morocco.” Pakistan's Permanent Representative,
who hosted the Eid event, said she would look
into it. Sweden's spokesperson asked whom to
call in DPI and when Inner City Press said,
Alison Smale, responded, Who is Alison Smale?
Indeed.
Smale
has refused to respond in any way, in the
eight months she has been Guterres' “Global
Communications” chief, to a 5000 signature
petition to restore Inner City Press to its
unused office S-303 and to adopt content
neutral media access rules going forward.
That, and appropriate action on Lt. Dobbins
and the others, must be among the next steps.
Watch this site.
June
18, 2018
On Cameroon
Inner City
Press Asked of
UN DSS Staff
in Buea and UN
Says UNaware
of Reports
UNITED
NATIONS, June 14 – Amid the
worsening crackdown by the army of 36-year
Cameroon president Paul Biya in the country's
Anglophone areas (June 12 UK comment below), in
April a video circulated depicting soldiers
burning down homes. Click here
for one upload of it. Noted by many residents
and activists: blue helmet of the type used by
UN peacekeepers. On April 30 Inner City Press
asked UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres'
spokesman Stephane Dujarric about the video, the
day after publishing a story about it, in Google
News. April 30 Q&A video here;
transcript below. On June 13, Inner City Press
asked Dujarric, Video here, UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: I wanted to ask you
about Cameroon. I was just listening to
what Mr. Fall said and I just wonder, it
seemed... on Monday, a report was put out by
Amnesty International detailing in some detail
first-hand accounts of torture, burning of
villages, murder of suspects. So, I just…
one, can he do a stakeout? Is he… if he's
the Secretary-General's envoy on the
region…? Number two… and I say it because…
Spokesman: We can ask. As you know,
he hasn't been to… in Cameroon in some time, but
we'll ask.
Inner City
Press:
Right. Other Council members praised his
engagement. I wanted to ask you
that. There's no engagement that you
haven't announced from here?
Spokesman: Not that I'm aware of.
I'm not hiding any engagement.
Inner City
Press:
Right. So, I mean, is the
Secretary-General satisfied with not necessarily
the performance of Mr. Fall, but with the
engagement of the Government, given an Amnesty
International report detailing the torching of
villages…?
Spokesman: I think we have expressed and
we'll continue to express our concern about the
developments in the area.
Inner City Press: I wanted to ask… you may
not know, but photos have come out of UNDSS
[United Nations Department of Safety and
Security] personnel in Buea, which is a town in
Anglophone Cameroon, quite a few of them.
And… and I'm… so people don't know what they're
doing there. This goes back to the… sort
of distrust from the Blue Helmet at one of the
torching sites. Is there some way you can
find out… if there's some… is there some
engagement taking place?
Spokesman: I'll find out." A full day
later, nothing. Dujarric was spotted watching
the World Cup in the UN Delegates Lounge bar, bt
he did not do the UN's June 14 briefing. So
Inner City Press asked his deputy Farhan Haq,
video here,
UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: Dujarric] yesterday had said…
I'd asked him a pretty… pretty straightforward
questions, that there… there are photos
circulating. Many people in Anglophone
Cameroon are concerned about it, of several… a
team of UNDSS [Department of Safety and
Security] personnel in Buea at the Mountain
Hotel in blue t-shirts. What is the
purpose of that deployment?
Deputy Spokesman: Regarding that, we've
asked our colleagues in the Department of Safety
and Security. They're actually unaware of
what these reports are, but they are following
up." How?
June 11, 2018
On
Cameroon UK
Told Inner
City Press
Monitoring But
Brags Of New
Age Oil Deal
UNITED
NATIONS, June 8 – Amid the
worsening crackdown by the army of 36-year
Cameroon president Paul Biya in the country's
Anglophone areas, in April a video circulated
depicting soldiers burning down homes. Click here
for one upload of it. Noted by many residents
and activists: blue helmet of the type used by
UN peacekeepers. On April 30 Inner City Press
asked UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres'
spokesman Stephane Dujarric about the video, the
day after publishing a story about it, in Google
News. April 30 Q&A video here;
transcript below. Why hasn't the UN Security
Council had a single meeting about the
government's killings in Cameroon, specifically
in the former British Southern Cameroons?
Previous UK ambassador Matthew Rycroft, and now
his successors, tell Inner City Press the UK
continues to monitor the issue, even as the UK
denied in full Inner City Press' request for
documents under the UK Freedom of Information
Act, and the UK Mission to the UN siddles up
only to the media which don't ask them about the
issue. Now this outrage: the UK is bragging
about a big natural gas deal with Paul Biya's
government, through a London based company
called New Age. Minister Liam Fox "announced
today a deal worth more than £1.5 billion had
been secured by a UK company to deliver natural
gas project in Cameroon." More detailed,
"Following Trade Minister, Baroness Fairhead’s,
meeting with Minister Secretary General
Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, London based oil and gas
company, New Age, and the Cameroon Government
have agreed a deal which will see the
development of a floating natural gas project in
Cameroon utilising the offshore Etinde gas
field. The project is of huge importance to the
African country, who will be able to ramp up
their gas export operation, in turn generating a
huge revenue stream for the public treasury,
whilst also helping to develop offshore
infrastructure in support of future local power
generation." This is on the UK.gov website, here.
We'll have more on this. On June 7, Inner City
Press asked Guterres' spokesman Stephane
Dujarric, video here,
UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: I wanted to ask you
this. It has to do with Cameroon.
It's reported that Samuel Eto’o, the football
player, as a UN Goodwill Ambassador, will be
touring with Government officials [in] the
Anglophone areas trying to encourage people to
either go back to school or stop protesting, and
so there's a lot of pushback against him.
And I wanted to know, one, when's the last time
Mr. [Francois Lounceny] Fall was in the
area? Maybe you have it or could find it
out… I want to compare.
Spokesman: No, I mean there's nothing more
than what is publicly known.
Inner City Press:
Would Samuel Eto’o’s trip, if it takes place —
he's in Yaoundé — would it be as a UN Goodwill
Ambassador? And, if so, what would you say
to the…?
Spokesman: I have to check what his status
is and who he actually worked for.
Inner City Press:
Well, people are saying that he's said nothing
about this crisis the whole time…
Spokesman: No, no, I'm not debating you. I
just have to see what… the details.
Inner City Press: Can you… okay. I'd
appreciate an answer on that." But 23 hours
later, nothing. Dujarric waited until the June 8
noon briefing, when he read out: "I was asked
yesterday about a visit, I think by you Matthew,
by [football star] Samuel Eto’o to Anglophone
Cameroon. UNICEF has told us that this was
a private visit to Cameroon, and that this was
done completely outside his role as UNICEF
National Goodwill Ambassador." Video here.
We'll see. June 4,
2018
As
North Korea's
Kim Yong Chol
Heads to DC,
Pompeo Cites
72 Hours of
Progress in
Presser
UNITED
NATIONS, May 31 – On the much discussed North
Korea - US talks, US President Donald Trump on
May 29 tweeted,
"Meetings are currently taking place concerning
Summit, and more. Kim Young Chol, the Vice
Chairman of North Korea, heading now to New
York." On May 30 just before 7 pm Kim Yong Chol
and security, as well as at least one staffer
from the US Mission to the UN, exited the
Millennium Hilton hotel on 44th Street across
from the UN and piled into a series of black
cars, pursued by media. See 2 minutes and 20
seconds of Inner City Press' Periscope feed, here.
They drove to 330 East 38th Street, the
Corinthian Condominium where many war crimes
linked diplomats have lived and the US leases a
condo for its deputy ambassador; they dined for
1 hour and 26 minutes on "American beef." On May
31 after a two and a half hour meeting at the
Corinthian, Pompeo held a short press conference
at the Lotte Palace Hotel at 2:15 pm. Inner City
Press arrived as required at 1:15 pm; there was
a full stand up by Fox then another cut short by
someone's ring tone. Periscope video here.
Pompeo took four questions (Bloomberg, WSJ, ABC
and Fox) and was upbeat but declined to entirely
confirm the June 12 talks are on. Why could he,
if another statement like those on Bolton and
Pence could get it called off again? Looks like
it's a go. Will UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres (again out of town until May 31, when
he canceled the press Q&A he had scheduled)
try to make himself relevant? Seems not. On
travel ban exemptions, the UN Security
Council website as Inner City
Press exclusively
reported is to be run by the
"self employed" husband of the
chief of staff of the
Department of Political
Affairs. The Dutch have a role
in this website, DPA
whistleblowers tell Inner City
Press. We'll have more on
this. Back
on May 24 Trump wrote to Kim Jong Un, "based on
the tremendous anger and open hostility
displayed in your most recent statement, I feel
it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this
long-planned meeting." Simultaneously, UN
Secretary General put out a statement - praising
North Korea for destruction of an already played
out testing site. The UN under Guterres remains
out of date, irrelevant and worse.May 28,
2018
After
UN Discloses
Rape Case in
Mali, Inner
City Press
About
Accountability,
Cut Off,
Guterres May
29
UNITED
NATIONS, May 25 -- UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres says
he has a "zero
tolerance"
policy for
sexual
harassment,
and for
retaliation. But
when Inner
City Press
asked
Guterres' deputy
spokesman Farhan
Haq on March
15 about
Michel
Sidibé's reported
threats of retaliatory
investigations
against those
making
and offering
support to sexual
harassment
complaints at
UNAIDS, Haq said
this is entire
a matter for
UNAIDS. Earlier
Inner City
Press story here; exclusive
publication of
whistleblowers'
international
condemnation
of retaliation
and favoritism
in Sidibe's
UNAIDS, below.
On May
22 at 5:30 pm,
the UN
disclosed a
rape
allegation against
one of its
civilian
contractors in
Mali, in the
MINUSMA mission in
2018. The
Office of
Internal
Oversight
Services,
whose director
has declined Press
requests to
take questions
about OIOS'
procedures,
is the one
investigating
it. But why
isn't it
a crime
subject to
real prosecution by
Mali?
Inner City
Press asked
Haq on May 25,
UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: an
additional
case of child
rape by a
civilian
contractor of
the UN in
Mali, and
unlike for
military
personnel, it
doesn't
disclose, one
the
nationality,
and two it's a
pretty serious
charge, and
the
Secretary-General
is obviously
going there
for the Day of
the
Peacekeepers,
so I wanted to
know what's
the
nationality of
the
contractor?
How did the UN
become aware
of this?
And what… in
the serious
instance of
alleged child
rape, what is
the UN going
to do about
it?
Deputy
Spokesman:
I don't have
the
nationality to
share with
you.
What I can say
is that
MINUSMA has
received a
report of
sexual abuse
involving a
national
civilian
contractor, so
this… I assume
from that what
the
nationality
is, but it
says it
involves a
national
civilian
contractor.
The
allegations
refer to the
rape of a
female minor,
resulting in
her
pregnancy.
The incident
allegedly took
place at an
unspecified
date in
2018.
Ensuring the
provision of
assistance to
the victims is
our
priority.
The victim has
been referred
to UNICEF
[United
Nations
Children’s
Fund] and an
NGO
[non-governmental
organization]
partner for
appropriate
medical,
psychosocial,
and legal
support.
The Mission
also stands
ready to
provide
additional
assistance as
needed and the
allegation is
currently
being
investigated
by the Office
of Internal
Oversight
Services
(OIOS).
Inner
City
Press: If,
in fact, the
contractor is
Malian and the
victim is
Malian, why
wouldn't… why
would not this
be a criminal
matter for
actual
prosecution in
Mali? Is
the person
given immunity
simply by
being a UN
contractor?
What is it…
like, for
example, what
was this
person doing
for the UN…?
Deputy
Spokesman:
You would have
to ask the
Malian
authorities
whether
there's any
criminal
prosecution
being followed
up in that
case.
That is a
matter between
the contractor
and the
Government of
Mali.
I've given you
the details on
our side.
Inner
City Press: But
what was the
contractor
doing?
You say he's a
contractor,
just to
understand a
little bit
better how
someone could
get immunity
for child
rape, what
services were
their
performing for
the UN?
Deputy
Spokesman:
I didn't say
that any…
first of all,
there's not
immunity for
crimes that
are
committed.
Second of all,
I didn't say
that immunity
was in play.
Inner
City Press: Is
it immunity
from local
prosecution?
[Inaudible]…
rape by the
UN…
Deputy
Spokesman:
Again, you
would have to
ask… no, it's
not by the
UN.
Like I said,
it's by a
national
contractor.
Second of all,
you would have
to check with
the Malian
authorities
whether they
are following
up with
criminal
charges." The
"inaudible"
was a correspondent
often used
by the UN for
this purpose
trying to cut
off the follow
up on UN child
rape with an
unrelated
question.
We'll have
more on this.
May 21,
2018
At UN,
Guterres To
Move NYC Jobs
to Mexico
City, Budapest
and Nairobi,
290 From
Uganda, ICP
Asks
UNITED
NATIONS, May 18 – At the UN with Antonio
Guterres 17 months into his term as Secretary
General, there's talk of reform but little
transparency. The attempted power-grab of the
resident coordinator system has yet to be
approved; the proponents have yet to answer
Press questions. Guterres' proposed Global
Service Delivery Model (GSDM) may, despite
Guterres' murky attempts to over-ride his
advisory team's recommendations, be an
exception, as it would eliminate jobs in New
York, jobs held by Americans. The proposal,
which Inner City Press first wrote about in
early March, is to move to cheaper location(s)
back office functions like human resources,
payments and payroll.
Inner City
Press has reported -- and has published full
documents on Patreon,here--
the four cities in Guterres' initial filing
with ACABQ, the UN's Advisory Committee on
Administrative and Budgetary Questions. They
were Budapest, Kuala Lumpur, Mexico City and
Nairobi. The first three were each the product
of conflict of interest. Guterres wanted
Budapest, those involved say, in order to
support or cover up his Budapest move while at
UNHCR. But given Victor Orban's statements,
why is Antonio "Mister Migration" Guterres
tweaking the process to reward Hungary? On
Kuala Lumpur, UNDP in that country "lent" John
Kidd to mediate or change the outside
consultants' recommendations - and include KL.
Now Malaysia has said it cannot or will not
commit the requisite resources, and Inner City
Press is informed - not by Guterres
spokespeople which it has repeatedly asked -
that Kuala Lumpur is out. And then there were
three. Inner City Press asked in each article
in this series, What will happen to Entebbe
which was set up by DFS for their GFSS Global
Field Support Strategy? And now Uganda's
Museveni has protested to Guterres, without
response. Museveni called the decision
"unfair;" his foreign minister Sam Kutesa has
threatened to call a vote in the General
Assembly, of which he was president (and
allegedly acceptedbribesfrom
Patrick Ho of China Energy Fund Committee,
still in Special Consultative status with UN
ECOSOC. On May 7, Inner City Press asked
Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, again,
about the GSDM and specifically about Uganda -
and it turns out Guterres spoke with Kutesa,
though presumably not about the CEFC bribery
scandal, on which Guterres has yet to act.
From the UNtranscript:
Inner City Press: I want to ask you again
about this global service delivery
mechanism. Seems that… you'd said you
were going to give some granular guidance, but
I wanted to ask you if it's the case that
Kuala Lumpur has dropped out of the four
cities and, if so, why, and also if you can
confirm the receipt of a letter by the
President of Uganda protesting their
non-selection in… despite having this Entebbe
situation and the various critiques he's made
in it. There's been a call… at least
they've said that Sam Kutesa, which… a name
from the past, may call a vote in the General
Assembly about the selection of Nairobi over
them. And staff are… are… many people
and I've asked here to see the underlying
recommendations of how these cities were
selected.
Spokesman: Not aware of Kuala
Lumpur. On Entebbe, the
Secretary-General spoke last week with the
Foreign Minister of Uganda to explain the
situation to him. A number of functions
related to peacekeeping will remain in
Entebbe.
Inner City
Press:
Could I ask you…
Spokesman: Go ahead.
Inner City Press: I want to ask you another…
since it seem… so, was that called before or
after the reported letter from the President?
Spokesman: It was before. I'm not…
I can't confirm the letter's been received."
On May 18, Inner City Press asked UN spokesman
Farhan Haq about reports in Uganda, videohere
May
14, 2018
UN
Guterres Met
Finland FM,
His Security
Ordered Inner
City Press To
Not Periscope
UNITED
NATIONS, May 11 – UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres met Finland's Foreign Minister Timo
Soini on May 11, and Inner City Press went up
intending to photograph (Alamy photos here)
and stream Periscope video as it had with
Iceland's President in the morning. But once in
Guterres' conference room, two UN Security
officers told Inner City Press it could not
Periscope. "But I did this morning," Inner City
Press replied. "That because there were
remarks," one of the officers said. No more that
in this Finnish one: Guterres' small talk, of
the type his predecessor Ban Ki-moon routinely
allowed to be recorded and even used to praise
his visitor. Was this because Inner City Press
Periscoped Guterres telling Egypt's Ambassador
to convey his "warm regards" to Sisi? Wasn't
that newsworthy? The other UN Security officer
declined to explain - UNTV was shooting video,
but would apparently be counted on to censor
anything embarrassing. "This is on the order of
the speechwriter," one of the UN Security
officers said. But who is the speechwriter? It
is certainly not spokesman Stephane Dujarric,
who tried earlier in the week to entirely ban
Inner City Press from photo ops, saying they
were only for photo agencies (clarified to be,
those who do not write). So is it the writing
that is the problem? Periscope or not, those
present hear what is said, and see where they
are brought through. Since we have been
censored, here's writing for example about
Guterres' back pillow, brought back and forth
from his office to the conference room. The
menus and place cards, for exmple for Rosemary
DiCarlo (the swearing in of whom Inner City
Press was banned from). How about that the
meeting, at most, lasted ten minutes, since when
Inner City Press went at the appointed 2:40 pm
time for Guterres' photo with UN Force
Commanders it had already happened, ten minutes
early? What is wrong with today's UN? What are
they so willing to censor to ensure is not
shown? Earlier on May 11 Guterres met Iceland's
President Gudni Th. Johannesson and First Lady
Eliza Reid and Inner City Press openly
Periscoped; other than in-house UNTV and UN
Photo, Inner City Press was the only media
there. Alamy
photo, Periscope.
This
came two days after Guterres' spokesman Stephane
Dujarric had Inner City Press blocked from
covering Guterres' meeting with Al Sharpton
while allow another media to cover. Dujarric
said he was trying to bring "order" by excluding
any photographer who also writes articles like
this one. That is clearly censorship, but the
decision was not revoked; Dujarric called Inner
City Press "self-centered" for questioning it.
Video here.
We'll have more on this - and on Finland, where
Gudni Th.
Johannesson will visit on May
15, when Guterres will also
again be in Europe. In other
news, Eliza Reid recent
presented the Icelandic crime
writing award to Eva Björg
Ægisdóttir. Guterres' UN is
ripe for crime writing, what
with the still unacted on UN bribery
by Patrick Ho's China Energy
Fund Committee, still in
special consultative status
with UN ECOSOC. Watch this
site. Guterres
disclosed the existence of a meeting with Martin
Luther King III and Kweku Mandela at 3:30 pm on
May 9 - but Inner City Press was not allowed as
before to go up to the UN's 38th floor and
photograph it. It was told that since it also
files written reports, it is not a photo agency.
This is the new censorship system of Guterres
and his spokesman Stephane Dujarric. So Inner
City Press waited as it its right in the lobby,
until Martin Luther King II came down - with Al
Sharpton. Photo here.
Inner City Press asked the two what they
discussed with Guterres and was told it is still
premature to announce it. Periscope video from here.
Tellingly, there was no UNTV camera there, and a
lone non-UN paid photographer. Whether he
writes, as Inner City Press is accused of, is
not known, including to the UN. Another attendee
told Inner City Press Guterres was rude and
dismissive to some of the attendees, including
it seems Kweku Mandela, not shaking his hand -
we can't dispute, as we weren't there by the
Guterres / Dujarric "rules." On May 10 Inner
City Press asked Dujarric about it. He said he
didn't know Sharpton had been there, and
stonewalled on the censorship "rule" he had put
forward. Video here.May
7, 2018
At UN Press
Restricted
From Covering
Guterres'
Lusophone
Garden Party,
Kids Climb
Slavery
Memorial
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, May 5 – The UN Media Alert for May 5
listed a “Portuguese Language Day
Celebration;” when Inner City Press asked the
spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres it was told there would be remarks
by Guterres, who is increasingly rarely in New
York. Events in the UN Media Alert are open to
all journalists - but in today's UN, rules
mean little.
On May 5 UN
Security stopped Inner City Press saying, No,
I know who you are. Another UN Security
Officer asked, Why don't you like the UN?
Haiti cholera
impunity came to mind, or UN Security
Deputy Chief McNulty throwing Inner City
Press' laptop on the sidewalk when it was
evicted (audio here)
for covering an event in the UN Press Briefing
Rule - also ostensibly open to all
journalists.
On My 5
while UN Security was focused on making it
impossible for Inner City Press to do its job,
they allowed children, presumably Lusophone,
to play on the UN's slavery memorial, which
its Department of Public Information took
money for from now convicted UN briber Ng Lap
Seng, even according to the UN's own audit.
The UN was turned into Antonio Guterres'
Lusophone garden party. Any number of state
media, like rarely present Egyptian Akhbar al
Yom to which DPI under Alison Smale continues
to assign Inner City Press' long time work
space to, could enter and cover the event
without no interaction much less blocking by
UN Security. (Smale retweeted Guterres'
Portuguese language self celebration, here
- but could not or would not assure that the
Press could cover the event, in the Media
Alert, and has not in eight months responded
to 5000 signature petitions
and request for reinstatement and rules).
The May
5 targeting of Inner City Press -- "I know who
you are" -- is allowed by downgrading and
keeping down Inner City Press as "non resident
correspondent," while giving full resident
correspondent status to no-show state media
like Akhbar al Yom's Sanaa Youssef who has not
asked the UN a question in more than a decade.
Inner City Press, by contrast, is required to
have a minder. But the UN is a place now of
targeted censorship - the cancellation
by the UN Alliance of Civilizations is just
the most recent example. We'll have more on
this.
April
30, 2018
UN in DRC
Drone
Procurement
Ousts Low
Bidder, Lets
In Firm Under
Probe, ICP
Asks, Dodge
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Exclusive series
UNITED
NATIONS, April 27 -- In UN
Procurement, the lowest bidder
doesn't always win, the UN confirmed
on March 26 in response to Inner
City Press' March 23 question.
Rather than e-mail the statement to
Inner City Press which asked, UN
Secretary General Antonio Guterres'
spoksman Farhan Haq waited to read
it out at the March 26 noon
briefing, and then refused to answer
questions about it. See transcript,
and below. Today's UN is corrupt.
Now it's even clearer: after ousting
the low bidder PPI, UN Procurement
has let in a company, Aeronautics
Ltd a/k/a Aeronautics Defense
Systems, which is under
investigation and had a contract
canceled in Romania in 2017, like
one in Poland in 2012, and Mexico in
2009. On April 27, after publishing
the above, Inner City Press asked
Guterres' spokesman Stephane
Dujarric, UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: I had asked you
before about the procurement of
drones for MONUSCO [United Nations
Stabilization Mission in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo] in
the DRC, and I think the upshot of
this back-and-forth is that the low
bidder doesn't necessarily get the
bid, but it's since emerged that a…
a company has been allowed in as… as
now, the presumptive front-runner,
Aeronautics Defence Systems, which
will actually banned from… had
contracts terminated in Romania in
2017 and Poland in 2012, so many…
the people that are… that are, you
know, following this to see how
money is being spent… what's the…
the… it's one thing to say, you
know, the low bidder, we can
investigate them and not do them,
but then how can a company be
brought in…?
Spokesman: Look, I don't have
all the facts on the top of my
head. What I do know is that
obviously, it's always the lowest…
it's the low bidder with the best
possible bid. I mean, you
know, what the process is. All
vendors go through a vetting
process. I have no information
on this particular company or know
whether or not they are, in fact,
part of the bidding process.
Inner City Press: Is past… is past
record of completion or termination
of contracts part of the…?
Spokesman: Everything is
looked at in the procurement
process." Really? Inner City
Press was exclusively informed that
in the bidding for the UN's
Democratic Republic of the Congo UAS
or Unmanned Aerial Systems (drones)
program, the low bidder is being
displaced by more favored companies,
unilaterally, by UN Procurement
chief Dmitry Dovgopoly.
The
story, exclusive to Inner City
Press, goes like this: out to bid is
a $50 million contract to provide
Unmanned Aerial Systems services to
the UN's MONUSCO in the DRC for a
term of five (3 + 1 + 1) years. The
present company, Leonardo, has a
contract which expires in November.
PPI beat out Leonardo, CAE, Thales,
Qintetiq, Airbus and Trans Capital.
But
shortly after our award, UN
Procurement chief Dmitry Dovgopoly
refused to approve the agreed upon
terms and demanded PPI perform a
demonstration flight prior to
contract signature. Inner City Press
covered
Dovgopoly and similar tricks back
when he was at the “D-1” level, and
received pushback and is currenty still
restricted to minders in the UN for
pursuing
its anti-corruption
coverage
into the UN Press Briefing
Room, its
work space purportedly assigned to a
no-show Eygptian state corresponent
Sanaa Youssef who has not asked a
question in ten years.
April
23, 2018
On North Korea
Talks, Kim
Talks Freeze,
UN Stonewalls
From Margins,
Amid
Mis-Reporting
UNITED
NATIONS, April 20 -- The Trump - Kim
talks, primed by Mike Pompeo's visit
to Pyongyang, have had their
location sweepstakes narrowed down,
excluding the US. On April 17,
"Pooler yelled out to Trump if any
of those are in the US. He shook his
head and said no." Could the UN's
Geneva be in the running? Or is the
UN running to try to remain
relevant? The UN
Security Council is on retreat in Sweden,
accompanied by UN Secretary General and, Inner
City Press first reported, UN Disarmament
chief Izumi
Nakamitsu. On the 38th floor the word
was that her agenda is "OPCW" - that is,
Douma. And North Korea? No other media was up
on the 38th floor for this, other than Inner
City Press. And no other media, as Inner City
Press did, asked the UN on April 20 to name
who else is at the retreat. Now Kim Jong Un
announces he will freeze testing, having
accomplished his goals. On CNN it was said
this is a gambit to outlast Trump. But if the
talks go badly, will things last even two more
years? Inner City Press ran into Nakamitsu
after she had a meeting preparing for the
retreat with Guterres and his Political (some
say, Cameroon) adviser
Khassim Diagne. The UN Secretariat has
yet to release a list of
the officials
it is bringing to the
retreat, so this report is a
scoop-lette.
Sweden's Deputy
Ambassador Carl Skau's joke
the previous day about
making the Council members
sit silent and listen to
music, perhaps Bach as Dag
Hammarskjold famously did,
came up. But what music?
Inner City Press is covering
this. At
an April 18 press conference Inner City Press
asked what seemed an obvious journalistic
question: who's paying? Video here.
April
16, 2018
On Syria, After Trump Strikes and Russia Draft Fails
in UNSC, Sullivan Calls Iraq, Turkey, Kuwait and Czech
UNITED NATIONS, April 14
– At 9 pm on April 13 US
President
Donald
Trump announced airstrikes
on Syria, with
the UK and
Syria. In the
UN, Inner City
Press rushed
from the
phone booth it
works in to
the UN
Security
Council, only
to find the
music and
drinkers still
pulsing from
the UN
Delegates
Lounge. Video here. Russia
called a UN
Security
Council
meeting and
had a draft
resolution
voted on. It
failed, with
three in favor
(China,
Bolivia and
Russia), eight
against and
four
abstentions.
(Ethiopia
called its
abstention
pragmatic).
Video here.
Now the US
lists
calls made by
Acting Secretary of
State
Sullivan: "The
following is
attributable
to
Spokesperson
Heather
Nauert: On
April 14,
2018, Acting
Secretary
Sullivan made
the following
calls to
foreign
leaders to
brief on the
strikes in
Syria: Kuwaiti
Foreign
Minister Al
Sabah, Czech
Foreign
Minister
Stropnicky, Turkish
Under
Secretary
Yalcin, Iraqi
Foreign
Minister
al-Jaafari." Some
wonder, why Czech
Republic,
where Chinese
businessman
and briber Ye
Jianming
remains an
adviser to the
President?
Meanwhile
there are
reports of air
strikes on
Jabal Azzan -
watch this
site. After
the UNSC
meeting, Inner
City Press
asked Russia's
Vassily Nebenzia if
any of the
abstentions
surprised him.
He stopped and
said that
Russia doesn't
twist any
arms, it is a
sovereign decision
of each
country. UN
Secretary General
Antonio
Guterres left
with his
entourage;
Inner City
Press asked
quite audibly.
so are you
going to Saudi
Arabia now? He
didn't answer;
Inner City Press
has asked his two
top spokesmen
now in writing
to be informed,
hour by hour.
It is, after
all, public money.
Watch this
site. The
failed draft
at the end,
“Condemns the
aggression
against the
Syrian Arab
Republic by
the US and its
allies in
violation of
international
law and the UN
Charter [and]
Demands that
the US and its
allies
immediately
and without
delay cease
the aggression
against the
Syrian Arab
Republic and
demands also
to refrain
from any
further use of
force in
violation of
international
law and the UN
Charter.”
Russian
Ambassador
Vassily
Nebenzia mocked
the UK and
France as
having joined
a military
action based
only on
the US
Constitution;
he used the
word "neo
colonialism."
Moments
before, Nikki
Haley,
entering the
UN Security
Council at 11
am on April 14
paused and
said, The time
for talk was over
and the time
for action had
come, that's
what happened
last
night. As she
kept walking,
there was a
shouted
question: What
is the proof? Vine
video here.
Earlier on
April 14 at
the Pentagon,
Lt Gen Kenneth
McKenzie
bragged that
there had been
no
military
response, and
that the
deconfliction
channel was
working with
Russia. Earlier
still on
April 14, the
Organization
for the
Prohibition of
Chemical
Weapons announced,
"The
Fact-Finding
Mission (FFM)
team of the
Organisation
for the
Prohibition of
Chemical
Weapons (OPCW)
will continue
its deployment
to the Syrian
Arab Republic
to establish
facts around
the
allegations of
chemical
weapons use in
Douma. The
OPCW has been
working in
close
collaboration
with the
United Nations
Department of
Safety and
Security to
assess the
situation and
ensure the
safety of the
team." April
9, 2018
Amid UN
Bribery of Ng
Lap Seng and
CEFC China
Energy,
Guterres Spun
Xinhua, ICP on
Xi's Vase to
Kim
UNITED
NATIONS, April 7 -- As UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres took off on
his trip to China, Inner City Press
which has pursued the UN bribery
scandals of Ng Lap Seng and now the
China Energy Fund Committee asked
Guterres' spokesman Stephane
Dujarric on April 6 if Guterres will
address any of these issues during
his five days in the country.
Dujarric was dismissive, and ended
the briefing. Video here;
UN transcript
here and below. This cutting
off of public quesitons happened
after Guterres gave a private (self)
promotional interview to China's
state media Xinhua, touting the trip
and China as "absolutely essential"
on the North Korea nuclear issue.
Dujarric race off the podium made it
impossible to ask him for Guterres'
opinion on if the gifts given to Kim
Jong Un on his recent train trip to
China violated the UN's 1718
sanctions. Then again, the UN's own
World Intellectual Property
Organization helped on North Korea's
cyanide patents without telling the
1718 Committee, and Guterres has
been as hands-off with WIPO's Gurry
as he has been with UNAIDS' Michel
Sidibe on the sexual harassment and
retaliation scandal. We'll have more
on this. From the UN's April 6
transcript: Inner City Press: I
wanted to ask about the… the trip to
China by the
Secretary-General. You know,
as you know there's… there's one
being concluded and one still active
UN bribery cases pending in the
Southern District of New York.
Most recently…
Spokesman: I don't agree with
your characterization.
Inner
City Press:
They're both about bribing the
PGA. I guess you can say the
PGA is not really the UN, but…
Spokesman: Go ahead. Go
ahead.
Inner City Press: Okay.
So my question is since there seems
to be a pattern of… in two cases,
one was Ng Lap Seng, South-South
News, who Vivian Wang has now
pleaded guilty. The other is
the China Energy Fund Committee,
which remains in consultative status
with ECOSOC [Economic and Social
Council]. Is this an issue
that the Secretary-General, in
visiting the home base of both
operations, and both are alleged to
be Government connected?
Spokesman: The United Nations
has cooperated with the Southern
District here in New York in
whatever way we can in any and all
investigations. The legal
process here has played itself out
and is playing itself out, and as
for the accreditation of the ECOSOC
accreditation, as I've told you
numerous times, it's a member state
issue…". And then Dujarric ran off
the podium. We'll have more on this.
The UN has been targeting not only
Inner City Press for censorship, but
also its sources, for retaliation.
It
was reported and quoted here:
"Looks like UN is making efforts to
ID people who send stuff to media:
'Identified a computer used to print
an email that was later leaked to
Inner City Press, by correlating an
URL on the top of the leaked
document with Webmail & DHCP
logs.' Are they punishing
whistleblowers?"
Well,
yes. And the investigative Press.
On
March 14, Inner City Press asked UN
Secretary General Antonio Guterres'
deputy spokesman Farhan Haq about
the above-quoted and he said, since
the UN has confidential information
it can and does investigate leaks
and leakers. Video here.
But isn't that, in leaks to Inner City
Press ranging from Burundi to Cameroon
to cover ups to North Korea, going
after whistleblowers? Haq dodged, and
Inner City Press asked if a person who
leaked the memo to Kofi Annan about
impending genocide in Rwanda would be
investigated. Apparently yes - but Haq
again claimed that there is no
retaliation. What about Anders
Kompass, fired after releasing a
document bout French peacekeepers'
rapes in Central African Republic? Or
Miranda Brown? Or Emma Reilly? On
March 15, after asking Haq about
threats of retaliation made at and by
UNAIDS, Inner City Press asked what
type of leak the UN investigates, and
for whom. Haq said any kind the UN
wants, and ostensibly for member
states. Video here.
April
1, 2018
After UN
Guterres
Refused Press
Question on
UNAIDS #MeToo,
To Lisbon For
4 Days, Slow
UNITED NATIONS,
March 31 – For Antonio
Guterres' 15 months as UN Secretary General he has
gotten less and
less transparent, about
meetings and read-outs and
even where he is. At one
point for more than a week
his
spokespeople refused to
answer the Press on
where he was, finally
saying "Europe." On March
29, Inner City Press
asked Guterres' top
three spokespeople a simple
question: "where *is*
the Secretary General?
And where will he be,
each day prior to his
appearance Monday in
Geneva? Again,
has the Secretary
General or anyone in
his team spoken with
Michel Sidibe of
UNAIDS following the
reports of his threats
to staff who have come
forward with
harassment
complaints?" Past 4 PM
on March 30, despite
Guterres'
spokespeople putting
out a statement
from
him about Liberia,
no answer.
His absence was
noted at a
protest in front
of the UN, here
(and later at the UN
Security
Council
stakeout on
Gaza). More
than 17
hours after
the question
was asked, and
asked again,
finally this
from Guterres'
spokesperson:
"the SG
is in Lisbon." There -
was that so
difficult? The
question of
costs, of four
days in Lisbon
based
off an
appearance
Tuesday in
Geneva, amid
protests and
the Gaza
crisis and
inaction by UN
Headquarters
on sexual harassment
and
retaliation at
UNAIDS
and elsewhere
is another
question. And
there are
still other
questions left
unanswered,
for example
"what is the
UN's position,
and what has
the UN done,
about the
detention then
deportation of
Kenya
opposition
figure Miguna
Miguna, and
the beating of
journalists
covering it in
the Nairobi
airport?
Does
the UN have
anything more
to say about
Somalia's
complaint
about UAE's
deal with
Somaliland for
port and
military base,
other than
that it is a
bilateral
matter between
Somalia and
the UAE?"
We'll have
more on this.
On March 29
Guterres
refused to
answer Inner
City Press'
question about
sexual
harassment
at UNAIDS,
about
which Inner
City Press
has been
asking the UN
all
year and which
will be on CNN
International
on March 30, while protesters
from Southern
Cameroons
/ Ambazonia
gather across
from the UN to
have their voices heard.
But where
IS Guterres?
We'll have
more on this. Only two
weeks ago
Guterres found yet
another reason to visit, with public
funds, his home in Lisbon. He
also investigates
whistleblower,
presumably for
retaliation, here.March
26, 2018
On
Cameroon, ICP
Asked
Nigeria's
Ambassador
About the 47
Taken, UN Not
Sure DSG Will
Raise
UNITED
NATIONS, March
22 -- The deference
of the
UN system's
and many of
its member
states to
Cameroon's
corrupt
36-year
president Paul
Biya, and
their
complicity in
his
recent
crackdown,
continues. UN
Deputy
Secretary
General Amina
J. Mohammed
was in Abuja
as 47 people
were illegally
refouled to
Cameroon;
she has been
silent on
that, as on
continuing
restrictions
on the Press
in her UN. She
will be back
in Abuja on
March 23-24.
On March 22,
Inner City
Press asked
Nigeria's
Permanent
Representative
to the UN
Tijjani
Muhammad Bande
about the 47
people. Video
here.
He replied
that he cannot
answer, he
doesn't know
all the facts.
"I would need
information"
about it, he
said, "I am
looking for
verification."
Really?
Isn't it his
government,
even more than
(still) the
government of
Amija J.
Mohammed.
Still Tijjani
Muhammad Bande
UNlike Amina .
Mohammed at
least took the
question,
along with
Niger's
affable
Ambassador
Abdallah Wafy
and offered
some response.
Amina J.
Mohammed
hasn't
responded on
that, on the
CITES issues,
or on this.
On March 23
Inner City
Press asked
the Spokesman
for Antonio
"Golden
Statue"
Guterres and
Amina J.
"Rosewood"
Mohammed, UN
transcript here: Inner
City Press: at
the stakeout
yesterday, the
ambassador…
the Permanent
Representative
of Nigeria,
Tijjani
Muhammad
Bande, I asked
him about
these 47
people that
were sent back
to Cameroon,
that… that
UNHCR [Office
of the United
Nations High
Commissioner
for Refugees]
has said were
sent back, and
criticized.
He said he
doesn't have
any
information on
it. I'm
wondering,
given that the
Deputy
Secretary-General
is going to be
in Abuja, is
this one of
the issues
that she's
going to try
to get an
answer to?
Spokesman:
She had raised
it with
various
officials in
the past.
Inner
City
Press:
But now, the
Government is
taking they
don't know?
Spokesman:
I'm not aware
that she plans
to raise
it. If
anything
changes, I
will let you
know." What,
to SABC?
On March 19,
while
constrained
with a minder
and a roped in
cage, Inner
City Press
asked UN High
Commissioner
for Human
Rights Prince
Zeid if he had
any updated
death count,
since he
stopped at 10.
Video here.
He replied he
needs to look
at the
statistics, I
can't recall,
the important
issue is to
have access.
Inner City
Press pointed
to the visit
or access of
UN envoy
Francois
Lounseny Fall
(who equated
secessionists
with
extremists,
justifying the
crackdown).
Zeid replied
"like in West
Papua, I am
asking for
access." But
not asking as
loudly as
elsewhere. March
19, 2018
As
Cameroon's
Biya Vows
Crackdown in
NW and SW
Regions, ICP
Asks UN,
Prober of
Press
UNITED
NATIONS, March
16 -- The deference
of the
UN system's
and many of
its member
states to
Cameroon's
corrupt
36-year
president Paul
Biya, and
their
complicity in
his
recent
crackdown,
continues. The
UN has enabled
Biya in
equating Boko
Haram with the
restorationist
forces, as he
did in his
cabinet
meeting on
March 15 with
this line:
"Thanks to the
firm action of
our defense
and security
forces, we
have been able
to drastically
curb the
atrocities
perpetrated by
criminal
groups in the
Far North,
North-West and
South-West
Regions." The
violence in
the Far North
is entirely
different from
that in North-West
and South-West
Regions. But
it was the UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres'
envoy Francois
Lounceny Fall
who equated
separatists
with
extremists; it
was Guterres
who stopped by
Yaounde and
took Biya's
golden statue
back in
October. On
March 16,
Inner City
Press asked
Guterres'
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq, UN
transcript here: Inner
City Press:
since it's so
rare, I got
asked
today.
The President
of Cameroon,
Paul Biya,
held his a
Cabinet
meeting for
the first time
since 2015,
second one in
the last six
years, and one
of the quotes
coming out of
it is to
congratulate
his defence
and security
forces for
their… to
drastically
curb the
atrocities
perpetrated by
criminal
groups in the
far north,
north-west,
and south-west
regions.
And "the far
north" seems
to be a
reference to
Boko Haram,
but
"north-west"
and
"south-west"
are the
Anglophone
regions, where
there's a
dispute about
whether that
part of the
country is…
actually is
part of
Cameroon.
So I wanted to
know, given
what's been
said by
François Fall
and others
about
dialogue, if
they took note
of the speech,
if they have
any thought on
it. And
I had also…
and also on
the issue that
you had been
talking about,
about investigating
leaks, I
wanted to ask
a very
specific
question.
If an internal
UN memo
concerning
Cameroon, not
submitted by
the Government
of Cameroon,
but simply the
UN's own
analysis on
why it might
make sense to
not speak out
or to speak
out, were to
be leaked, is
that the type
of leak that
would be
investigated,
since you said
that it's done
at the behest
of or in order
to protect
Member States'
ability to
give
information to
the UN, if I
understood you
correctly?
Deputy
Spokesman:
And part of
what I said is
that those are
decisions to
be taken
ultimately by
the managers
who deal with
the various
files. I
wouldn't
answer on any
particular
hypothetical
circumstance.
Inner
City Press:
But is there
any guidance…
I know… Is
there any
guidance from
the top of…
are there
cases where,
from the top,
the UN would
say this is
not an
appropriate
thing to
investigate
because it
chills
whistle-blowers?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Obviously,
you're aware
of what the
whistle-blower
protections
are, and all
managers are
aware of
those.
Regarding your
question on
Cameroon and
the behaviour
of the
security
forces, we've
also made
clear our
concerns about
any excessive
use of force,
and we want to
make sure both
that security
forces,
wherever
they're
deployed,
avoid
excessive use
of force,
abide by
international
human rights
norms, and in
this
particular
case, of
course, we
want to make
sure that
nothing is
done to
forestall any
efforts at
dialogue.
Have a good
weekend,
everyone."
Guterres is in
Lisbon, again,
for the
weekend. March
12, 2018
On
North Korea
Talks,
Location Ideas
Range from
Pyongyang to
Mar-a-Lago,
Bolton Urges
Geneva in
March
UNITED
NATIONS, March 10 – On the North Korea - Trump
talks by May announced on March 8, it's said US
National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster is going
to brief the UN Security Council on Monday,
March 12, and meet with UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres at 3 pm, without even a photo
spray at the top. Amid that murk, one view of
where (and when) a Trump meeting with Kim Jong
Un should take place was voice March 9 by none
other than John Bolton: by the end of March, in
Geneva. Bolton said it should be in the same
"former League of Nations" conference room where
James Baker met Tariq Aziz in January 1991
before Operation Desert Storm, the so-called
extra mile for peace. Others throw out locations
like Pyongyang, New York, Seoul, Tokyo (if Trump
wants to throw Abe a bone, see below) or even
Mar-a-Lago. The timing of Trump's meeting
with Bolton shortly before the North Korea talks
were announced bears more reporting. At the UN
by mid-morning on March 9, this was not listed
on the Security Council's online Program of
Work. Photo here.
In Japan, no longer on the Security Council,
media like the Sankei Shimbun complained instead
about the issue of abductees
and about Trump's dissing of Japan on tariffs,
while using wire or "joint" copy on the Florida
gun bill, UN
Women's Day and even on UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres' canned
statement. From Seoul, Kato's successor Norio
Sakurai warned
of Japan being "peeled off." Similarly, in North
Korea itself the ostensibly agreed to talks
weren't even yet disclosed to the public.
Working at the UN, Inner City Press asked the
spokesman for Miroslav Lajcak, President of the
UN General Assembly, for comment on the North
Korea talks. By evening, this was sent to Inner
City Press: "The President supports dialogue as
well as efforts to denuclearize the Koran
Peninsula." Earlier, Inner City Press asked the
Dutch President of the Council for the month,
Karel van Oosterom, who told Inner City Press he
has been invited to a meeting with McMaster but
for more to ask the US. In DC the questions were
about McMaster leaving the Administration, with
a less than rousing defense by the spokesperson.
When the UN Spokesman called his end of day (and
week) lid, there was mention of another Security
Council meeting for Monday, but nothing on North
Korea. Meanwhile, when UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres belatedly commented 17 hours
after the announcement, his spokesman Stephane
Dujarric went on to link to the slated talks the
earlier visit to Pyongyang by outgoing UN
Department of Political Affairs chief Jeffrey
Feltman. But is the connection? And when Feltman
leaves on March 31, who will the US put in,
particularly given developments on and in North
Korea? Watch this site. Back on March 8, half an hour after
South Korean official
Chung Eui-yong
announced at
the White
House that US
President
Trump will
meet North
Korea's Kim
Jong Un by
May, Inner
City Press
after
informing the
UN's
Department of
Public
Information
sought
reaction from
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres.
Since, despite
Inner City
Press'
request, all
UN Department
of Public
Information
minders had
left for the
day, Inner
City Press
retreated to
the Conference
Building where
a Chinese
opera, as it
happens, was
taking place.
But when
Guterres and
his entourage
came off the
elevator,
Inner City
Press
approached, at
the same time
as one of
Guterres'
female
Assistant SGs
he'd met with.
Guterres,
chatting with
a youth,
ignored even
her. Video here. Did he know the news?
Inner City
Press followed
up by Twitter:
nothing. This
is today's
UN. Two
cars were at
the ready, and
two security
officers faced
Inner City
Press. (One
said that yet
a third
officer
"wanted to
file a
complaint
against your
story," here).
There was the
sound of
opera, and
down the hall
a painting of
Ban Ki-moon,
who
accomplished
nothing on the
issue in ten
years. It was
the UN. The
next morning, still nothing from Guterres. FMarch
5, 2018
In
Cameroon,
Visiting UN's
Fall Didn't
Witness Biya's
Deployment,
Didn't Mention
Refoulement
UNITED
NATIONS, March
1 -- Thedeference
of the
UN system's
and many of
its member
states to
Cameroon's
corrupt
36-year
president Paul
Biya, and
their
complicity inhis
recent
crackdown,continues.
The Biya
government is
destroyinghistoricplaces
like Boa
Bakundu,
reportedly
burning alive
another
grandmother,
this time
Frida Ndumu.
Meanwhile
after illegal
refoulement to
Yaounde from
Nigeria, and
ongoing
crackdowns.
Now the UN's
Central Africa
representative
Francois
Lounceny Fall,
who on UN
Radio equated
secessionists
and extremists
then ran from
Pressquestionsin
UN
Headquarters,
has deigned to
visit Buea,
along with the
UN's resident
coordinator
Allegra Maria
Del Pilar
Baiocchi, more
focused on
promoting the
UN than trying
to prevent
conflict and
the killing of
civilians. She
has tweeted
photos about
the visit,
nothing on the
burned motor
bikes and
people, much
less the
illegal
refoulement.
The same day
in Buea, the
station
manager of
CRTV implored
the Governor
of Buea to put
the whole area
on red alert
as the
crackdown,
using Fall's
secessionists
are extremists
logic,
continues. The
UN has poured
fuel on this
conflict, and
refused to
answer basic
questions
about it.
Sources in the
UN Department
of Political
Affairs say
Guterres
arranged for a
memo
justifying his
inaction since
receipt of
Biya's golden
statue. But
when Inner
City Press on
February 28
asked first
outgoing DPA
chief Jeff
Feltman, then
UN Spokesman
Dujarric, both
said they
didn't know of
Fall's visit.
From the UN's
February 28transcript:
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to ask
you about
Cameroon.
I've seen that
François Fall
has… or at
least his
office is
tweeting that
he's in the
south-west
region in
Buea, saying
he's having
some great
meetings.
Given that the
Government
side there has
asked for a…
for a… an
alert and that
young people's
motorcycles
are being
burned,
destroying
their
livelihood,
I'm just
wondering, are
we going to
get a
readout?
Was that said
in advance…?
Spokesman:
Let me see
what I can
get. Inner
City Press: It
seems like Mr.
Feltman didn't
actually know
it was taking
place. I
tried--
Spokesman:
Well, he may
not be the
only
one. I
was not aware
of the visit."
A full 24
hours later,
without
sending Inner
City Press any
update or
response to
its question,
Dujarric at
the noon
briefing read
one out...
The
deference
of the
UN system's
and many of
its member
states to
Cameroon's
corrupt
35-year
president Paul
Biya, and
their
complicity in
his
recent
crackdown,
continues.
After illegal
refoulement to
Yaounde from
Nigeria, and
ongoing
crackdowns, UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres'
humanitarian
deputy
official
Ursula Mueller
has offered
"congratulations"
to Biya's
foreign
minister
Mbella Mbella.
Photo and
UNanswered
Press question
here.
This comes
after Inner
City Press
asked
Guterres'
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric if
Mueller would
stop in the
Anglophone
zones, and
since not, why
not? He
replied that
the overall
humanitarian
situation
would be
discussed. So
on February
23, Inner City
Press asked
Dujarric
again, video here,
UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: I had
asked you
before Ursula
Mueller's
trip, whether
the… the
situation in
the anglophone
zones of
Cameroon would
come up, and I
just want to
say I saw… I
guess she
tweeted a
picture of
herself with
the Foreign
Minister of
Cameroon
yesterday,
saying…
congratulating
the Cameroon
Government,
entirely
positive.
And I just
wanted to
know… you
seemed… you
seemed to
indicate that
the overall
humanitarian
situation
would
arise.
Given even…
even on the
issue of
refugees,
given that
there were 47
people sent
back seemingly
illegally,
refouled from
Nigeria, is
this… is she
unaware of
that in giving
these
congratulations?
Spokesman:
Her mission
focused on the
Lake Chad
Basin, on the
situation in
the Lake Chad
Basin which,
as you know,
has led to
mass… to a
humanitarian
situation
that's
impacted at
least 10
million
people.
She discussed
a wide range
of
humanitarian
concerns with
the government
of Cameroon,
including the
Boko Haram
crisis in the
far north, the
situation of
refugees from
the CAR
[Central
African
Republic] in
the east, and
the growing
food
insecurity
across the
country, as
well as the
situation in
the Anglophone
regions."
Really? With
congratulations,
echoes of the
golden statue
that Guterres
took in
October?
Meanwhile in
Nigeria people
are being
prosecuted for
sheltering
refugees from
Cameroon, and
Guterres and
the UN are
silent. We'll
have more on
this. A new
report details
Biya's long
stays outside
of the country
in Geneva,
while his
military kills
Anglophones
and the
country
declines. Biya
has spent four
and a half
years in
Geneva, at a
cost of $65
million in
hotel fees and
$117 million
for chartered
private plane,
sometimes left
"on stand-by"
for weeks at a
time. The
report goes
one level
down: "One of
Biya’s closest
confidants,
Joseph Fouda,
a military
officer and
special
advisor, has
accompanied
him on at
least 86
trips,
amounting to
more than
three years of
travel since
1993. He
prefers a room
on a top floor
of the
Intercontinental.
Another close
confidant,
Martin Belinga
Eboutou, 78,
has spent
nearly three
years
travelling
with the
president
starting in
1987, when he
was Cameroon’s
ambassador to
Morocco. The
president
attempted to
buy a brand
new private
jet in 2004,
but his staff
reportedly cut
corners on the
deal, buying a
defective
plane covered
by a fresh
coat of paint
that nearly
crashed on its
first flight.
Since then,
the president
has chartered
at least
several
private
aircraft,
including a
luxury jet
formerly owned
by the
government of
Kazakhstan."
Still UN
Secretary
General,
himself a murky
first class
flyer,
smilingly took
Biya's golden
statue and has
done nothing;
his advisers
Khassim Diagne
and the
outgoing head
of Political
Affairs have
assured him of
Biya's bona
fides or the
wisdom of
doing...
nothing. The
UN has failed.
The UN refugee
agency UNHCR
in Abuja early
on January 30
told Inner
City Press
that it has as
yet no comment
on the blatant
forced
repatriation
or refoulement
to Cameroon of
Sisiku Ayuk
Tabe and 46
others while
it seeks
"explanations
through
official
channels."
(Later UNHCR
issued a short
statement.) On
January 31,
Inner City
Press again asked
UN Secretary
General
Antonio Guterres' Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, UN
transcript
here and
below. When
Inner City
Press on
February 8 put
the
refoulement
question to
Francois
Delattre, the
UN Ambassador
of France
which has
supported Paul
Biya's 36-year
rule, Delattre
replied that
"We always
have views but
no comment
from me at
this stage."
Video here.
That is
irresponsible
- or another
sign of
France's
responsibility
for what is
happening in
the region.
We'll have
more on this -
and now on
Germany. Angela
Merkel's
"personal
representative
for Africa" Gunter
Nooke
showed up in
Yaounde on
February 15
trying as he does
elsewhere to
drum up business. With
him was
Ambassador
Hans Dieter
Stell; there
was according
to CRTV "the
exchange of
gifts symbolic
of Cameroon's
legendary
hospitality."
Another golden
statue like
UNSG Guterres
took? At UN
headquarters,
as
Inner City Press
alone asked,
Germany's
Ambassador
procured a
publicly
funded post
for his wife
by merely
emailing
Guterres'
chief of
staff. Inner
City Press asked
Dujarric and his
deputy Haq -
no real answer
- while
the only other
question asked
about it was
how the
information
about the job
had leaked.
The media asking that
is given full
access to the
UN by the UN
Department of
Public
Information of
British Alison
Smale, a major
Germanophile
who
continues to
have Inner
City Press
restricted, its long
time work
space given to
a no-show
no-question
Egyptian state
media.
We'll have
more on this.
February
19, 2018
On
Cameroon, UK
Denies Inner
City Press
FOIA Request
After 170
Days, Yemen
Too, Appeal
UNITED
NATIONS, February 15 – The United Kingdom's
silence about the plight of Anglophone
residents of the former British Southern
Cameroons persists even in the face of a
Freedom of Information Act request from Inner
City Press.
More than five
months ago on 15 August 2017 Inner City Press
asked the UK government for records concerning
Cameroon. After repeatedly extending the time
to response, now the UK has denied access to
all responsive records, letter here,
saying that "the release of information
relating to the UK’s discussion on UN business
could harm our relations and other member
states of the United Nations (UN)."
Here
on Patreon is the full denial letter, from
which Inner City Press is preparing an appeal,
on Yemen as well - it has 40 working days.
This is
shameful - the UK is also exiting
transparency.
On February 6
in front of the UN Security Council, Inner
City Press asked the United Kingdom's Deputy
Ambassador Jonathan Allen for the UK's comment
on Nigeria's forced repatriation of 47 to
Cameroon. From the UK transcript: Inner City
Press: Nigeria did a forced repatriation of 47
Cameroonian leaders. The UNHCR said it was
illegal. The US has commented on it. Does the
UK have any view? Amb Allen: I’m afraid I
wasn’t aware of that before. I’ll have to get
back to you on the details." Video here.
At day's end, a UK Mission spokesperson sent
Inner City Press a short comment, here.
As Inner City
Press pursues these questions
at the UN, it remains restricted
to minders by the head of the
UN Department of Public
Information Alison Smale, who
it is noted is British - and
functionally a censor. A
retaliator, too? Smale has not
explained why Inner City
Press' long time work space is
assigned to no-show,
no-question Egyptian state
media Akhbar al Youm. February
12, 2018
In
UN Bribery
Case, Ho Was
Denied Bail,
Inner City
Press Asks 3
Why CEFC Still
in ECOSOC
UNITED
NATIONS, February 6 – UN bribery indictee
Patrick Ho was denied bail on February 5, in a
lengthy oral order that found the weight of
evidence against him substantial. On November
20, the US Attorney for the Southern District of
New York issued an indictment against the head
of the UN ECOSOC accredited China Energy Fund
Committee (CEFC) Patrick Ho and former Senegal
foreign minister Cheikh Gadio,
accused
together of bribing Chad's President Idriss Deby
-- as well as, for Ho, of bribing former UN
President of the General Assembly Sam Kutesa,
now as then the foreign minister of Uganda,
since 2005, allegedly for the benefit of
President Yoweri Museveni. On February 5, Inner
City Press asked the UN Spokesman why CEFC is
still in "special consultative status" with
ECOSOC, transcript here
(video here)
and below, than ran to the courthouse. There, US
District Court Judge Katherine Forrest asked
Prosecutor Daniel C. Richenthal to describe the
weight of the evidence. "How strong is your
case?" she asked, to some laughter. Very strong,
he said, adding that Ho has been emailing the
"Shanghai-based Energy Company" (that would be
CEFC China Energy) from MCC detention, to launch
a public relations campaign. It may be
backfiring: Judge Forrest in her ruling denying
bail noted that if Chinese government press is
describing the case as political, it would make
fleeing and remaining in China all the easier.
Richenthal said that Ho could travel to other
places - he listed Chad, Uganda, Iran and
Russia. The continued home detention of UN
bribery convictee was raised by Richenthal and
Judge Forrest, and not favorably. Gadio was
alluded to as not yet indicted - he'd said to be
talking about a plea - and Judge Forrest
emphasized November 5 as the trial date. She
said there was leave to re-apply for bail but
said such an application should include what
Ho's lawyer Mr Kim called the "context" of the
payments. Kim said they including country-wide
charitable and military aid. From a Chinese
energy company? From the UN's February 5 transcript:
Inner City Press: Patrick Ho, who is the head of
the China Energy Fund Committee, is arguing
again for bail today. And the US, in
opposing it, put it in writing that they've
executed a search warrant at China Energy Fund
Committee, the NGO's (non-governmental
organization) offices in Virginia. It
seems the China Energy Fund Committee is still
in special consultative status with ECOSOC
(Economic and Social Council) even as its
offices are being raided and… and its head is in
jail. What are the procedures for… for…?
Spokesman: As far as I'm aware… you know,
the consultative status of ECOSOC, as opposed to
the DPI (Department of Public Information)
status, is one that is managed by the Member
States. There is a committee of ECOSOC
that is made up of Member States. They
give… they grant or deny consultative status to
various NGOs. I think we'll have to look…
you can contact ECOSOC to see what the exact
rules are, but my assumption would be that, if
Member States grant, only Member States can take
away." So, Guterres is doing nothing. On
February 6, after another non-response by
ECOSOC's chair, Inner City Press asked Guterres'
and Dujarric's Deputy Farhan Haq, video here,
UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: yesterday, the… Patrick
Ho, the head of the China Energy Fund Committee
here, was denied bail. And in the… in the
hearing, basically, the prosecution said and the
judge said that she found weight to be given to
the evidence that basically the NGO
[non-governmental organization] was a front for
bribery to Sam Kutesa and others. So,
given that… how this trial is going, I'm
wondering, again, Stéphane [Dujarric] had said
that the Secretariat plays no role in sort of
following through and making sure that China
Energy Fund Committee can't continue to say it's
a… in special consultative status with ECOSOC
[Economic and Social Council]. I've
written to the ECOSOC chair now twice, 28
November 2017 and today, but I don't have
anything back. Is there any spokesperson
for ECOSOC that can at least say what the
process is? Deputy Spokesman: There is a
spokesperson for the President of the Economic
and Social [Council], and I can give you that
contact afterwards. Inner City Press: Because…
because Brenden… oh. Yeah. Anyways,
I'd written before to that same individual, and
there was no response. I'm just… guess I'm
wondering, what is their… what is the… does the
Secretary-General… given that trial that's now
moving forward and what's coming out in it, does
he believe in the same way that he has…
asserting himself as to agencies on other
issues, that he should maybe get involved to
ensure that there's not a… a named briber saying
that they're in consultative status with the UN?
Deputy Spokesman: "Well, UN bodies
themselves have been dealing with the problems
created by the China Energy Fund Committee in
their own ways, but what you're talking about is
consultative status that's granted by Member
States through the Economic and Social Council,
and that decision would have to be taken by
Member States." Then Inner City Press emailed
the alluded to spokesman, one Paul Simon. Hours
later, nothing.
February 5,
2018
On Cameroon
& Nigeria,
UN Hides
Behind Belated
UNHCR
Statement to
Inner City
Press, DSG
Avoids Qs
UNITED
NATIONS, February 1 – The UN system's deference
to Cameroon's 35-year president Paul Biya, and
to the government of neighboring Nigeria,
continues. The UN refugee agency UNHCR in Abuja
early on January 30 told Inner City Press that
it has as yet no comment on the blatant forced
repatriation or refoulement
to Cameroon of Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and 46 others
while it seeks "explanations through official
channels." On January 31, Inner City Press
against asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN
transcript
here and below. On February 1, the UN
refugee agency UNHCR finally answered Inner City
Press' repeated questions, below. But at the UN
noon briefing, even when Inner City Press
specifically cited Guterres shameless golden
statue moment and Amina J. Mohammed's Nigeria
links, the UN passed the buck. From the UN transcript:
Inner City Press: you had said two days ago, on
the issue of these… this refoulement from
Nigeria to Cameroon, to wait for UNHCR [Office
of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees] to speak. And they have spoken,
and they've said that the law has been broken by
Nigeria, sending back, they say, 47; some people
involved say it's 51. But, what I wanted…
so, I wanted to know, at the Secretariat level,
given its involvement and its call for dialogue
in Cameroon, and number two, specifically, given
that the Deputy Secretary-General was in Abuja
when the abductions took place, according to
you, has spoken to the Government about it, has
been quoted in a speech she gave in South Africa
as calling Mr. [Muhammadu] Buhari her President,
what is her statement on Nigeria's refoulement
of at least 47 and maybe 51? Spokesman: I
think we'll refer you to UNHCR. UNHCR is
in the lead on the issue of refugees and
asylum-seekers and refoulement. They have
spoken. We fully back what UNHCR has said.
Inner City Press: But, how does it impact this…
I mean, obviously…? Spokesman: We continue
to engage with the Cameroonian authorities, and
our offers of helping them work out some of the
issues in the Anglophone areas continues to
stand. I will come back to you." When?
Today's UN is corrupt. Here was UNHCR: "Hi dear
Matthew, Following up on my email, below is our
statement on the issue: UNHCR condemns forced
returns of Cameroon asylum-seekers from Nigeria:
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has learned with
great concern of the forced return by Nigeria of
47 Cameroonians, who were handed over to the
Cameroonian authorities on 26 January 2018. Most
of the individuals in question had submitted
asylum claims. Their forcible return is in
violation of the principle of non-refoulement,
which constitutes the cornerstone of
international refugee law. The returns were
carried out despite UNHCR’s efforts and
engagement with the authorities. UNHCR reminds
Nigeria of its obligations under international
and Nigerian law, and urges the Nigerian
Government to refrain from forcible returns of
Cameroonian asylum-seekers back to their country
of origin. We also urge the Government of
Cameroon to ensure that the group is treated in
accordance with human rights law and standards."
Is this why UN Deputy SG Amina J. Mohammed has
refused and avoided all questions from Inner
City Press on this, including by using
restrictions on the Press in "her UN, in support
of "her" President and country? We'll have more
on this.
January
29, 2018
On UN
Bribery, Inner
City Press
Asked Guterres
of CEFC, Now
Suspended From
Global Compact
UNITED
NATIONS, January 25– On November 20, the US
Attorney for the Southern District of New York
issued an indictment against the head of the
UN ECOSOC accredited China Energy Fund
Committee (CEFC) Patrick Ho and former Senegal
foreign minister Cheikh
Gadio, accused
together of bribing Chad's President Idriss
Deby (as well as, for Ho, of bribing former UN
President of the General Assembly Sam Kutesa,
now as then the foreign minister of Uganda,
since 2005).
Inner City Press
has covered
the case and repeatedly asked
the UN Spokesman why Secretary General Antonio
Guterres has not even started an audit based on
the indictment, including of how CEFC got its UN
status and even remains in the UN Global Compact
espousing anti-corruption goals. On January 16,
Inner City Press put the question directly to
Antonio Guterres, video here,
UN transcript here,
and below. Guterres said "I will look into
it... We don't want the
Compact to have companies that do not abide by
the set of principles." But a week passed, and
nothing. On January 24, Inner City Press asked
again. And on January 25, Guterres' spokesman
Stephane Dujarric announced, Matthew you've
asked once or twice, the Global Compact has
suspended China Energy Fund Committee (CEFC
China Energy). But, Inner City Press notes, China Energy
Fund Committee is *still* in special
consultative status with UN ECOSOC. And there
has been no audit of the other connections.
We'll have more on this. From the UN's January
16 transcript: Q: Matthew Lee, Inner City Press,
on behalf of the Free UN Coalition
for Access, hoping for more question and
answer in 2018, as you said. In November, there
there was an indictment announced in Federal
Court downtown of the head of an ECOSOC
(Economic and Social Council)-accredited NGO for
bribing, allegedly bribing, the President of the
General Assembly, Sam Kutesa, to benefit the
China Energy Fund Committee. And I wanted to ask
you, that remains still in the Global Compact,
and there hasn't been even an audit or anything
created. Why haven't you started an audit in
that case? Why is the beneficiary of what's
described as bribery in the UN still in the
Global Compact? And how do your reforms preclude
or make impossible this type of bribery that's
now happened twice under John Ashe, may he rest
in peace, and under Sam Kutesa? SG
Guterres: "In relation to other cases, I would
like to say that I'm not aware of presence in
the Compact or whatever. I will have to look
into it. I will look into it. What is clear for
me is that we don't want the Compact to have
companies that do not abide by the set of
principles that were defined in the constitution
of the Compact. There is a code of conduct that
is there, and that should be respected. So, I
don't know exactly what happened in the compact
in that regard. I will look into that."January
22, 2018
At
UNSG Guterres
Presser, Inner
City Press
Asks of
Cameroon &
UN Bribery for
CEFC, Here
UNITED
NATIONS, January 16 – When UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres held a press conference on
January 16, it was his first public media
question and answer sessions at the UN in
months. Inner City Press arrived early and kept
its hand raised; as the 14th questioner it was
able to ask Guterres about the ongoing UN
bribery case and about ten abductions in Nigeria
by / for Cameroon, which he visited in October.
On the latter, Guterres said that the UN is
active and has gotten some people released. This
may be a reference to Felix Aghbor Balla and
others. But what of those still held in Nigeria,
where as Inner City Press pointed out his deputy
Amina J. Mohammed has been for the past week?
We'll have more on this. On the UN bribery
indicted against Cheikh Gadio and Patrick Ho of
the China Energy Fund Committee, to benefit CEFC
China Energy which is still a member of the UN
Global Compact, Guterres focused on this part of
the question, saying he would look into the
Global Compact membership. It's worth nothing
that when Ng Lap Seng was indicted in 2015 for
UN bribery, his Sun Kian Ip foundation was
dropped by the UN and money returned. Here, UN
DESA still used $1 million of CEFC even after
the indictment. As Guterres seems not to know,
the case and Inner City Press' coverage has been
reported all over the world, from China
to Uganda and Senegal to the Czech
Republic. We'll have more on this as well.
Here's the UN's January 16 transcript:
Q: Matthew Lee, Inner City Press, on behalf of
the Free UN Coalition for Access, hoping for
more question and answer in 2018, as you
said. In November, there was an indictment
announced in Federal Court downtown of the head
of an ECOSOC (Economic and Social
Council)-accredited NGO for bribing, allegedly
bribing, the President of the General Assembly,
Sam Kutesa, to benefit the China Energy Fund
Committee. And I wanted to ask you, that remains
still in the Global Compact, and there hasn't
been even an audit or anything created. Why
haven't you started an audit in that case? Why
is the beneficiary of what's described as
bribery in the UN still in the Global Compact?
And how do your reforms preclude or make
impossible this type of bribery that's now
happened twice under John Ashe, may he rest in
peace, and under Sam Kutesa? And, also, on
Cameroon, you visited, I know, in late October.
Since then, some Anglophone leaders have been
arrested or abducted in Nigeria, where I know
your deputy was. I wanted to know what the UN
system is doing about this now cross-border
problem. Thanks a lot. Secretary-General:
Well, as a matter of fact, in relation to that,
we have done several initiatives, and some of
them even led to the release of people, and we
will go on engaging with all the states
involved. In relation to other cases, I would
like to say that I'm not aware of presence in
the Compact or whatever. I will have to look
into it. I will look into it. What is clear for
me is that we don't want the Compact to have
companies that do not abide by the set of
principles that were defined in the constitution
of the Compact. There is a code of conduct that
is there, and that should be respected. So, I
don't know exactly what happened in the compact
in that regard. I will look into that."January
15, 2018
After
Nigeria
"Disappears"
10 in Abuja,
Amina J.
Mohammed Tours
with Gov't,
ICP Asks UN,
Nothing
UNITED
NATIONS, January 12 – After UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres accepted a golden statue from
Cameroon's 35-year president Paul Biya in Biya's
palace in Yaounde, Guterres again shook hands
with Biya in Paris at the One Planet event,
photo here;
UN told Inner City Press no meeting was
scheduled. Now, after Guterres' envoy Francois
Lounceny Fall equated secessionists with
extremists, Inner City Press is informed that
ten officials of the Federal Republic of
Ambazonia declared on October 1 including Sisiku
Julius Ayuk Tabe have been grabbed and
disappeared -- while in Nigeria. Now with UN
Deputy Secretary General Amina J. Mohammed who
is in Abuja still silent, Inner City Press on
January 12 asked Guterres' spokesman Stephane
Dujarric, video here,
UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: I wanted to ask you
again. Now, Amnesty International has
spoken out about - it turns out it's 10
independence leaders of the anglophone regions
of Cameroon as they've put it that were abducted
in Nigeria more than a week ago, and they've
said… Spokesman: I don't have anything new
on that. Inner City Press: I guess…
because I see pictures of Amina Mohammed with
the Government of Nigeria and I'm just wondering
has she brought it up to them? Spokesman:
I have nothing new on that at this point." This
is the AI statement: "Ten leaders of the
independence movement in the Anglophone regions
of Cameroon could be at risk of torture and
unfair trials if extradited from Nigeria, where
they have been arrested and detained in secret
for one week, Amnesty International said today.
On 5 January, armed men in plain clothes stormed
a hotel in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja where the
activists, all members of the pro-independence
Southern Cameroon National Council (SCNC), were
meeting, and arrested them without presenting a
warrant or providing an explanation. They
are being held incommunicado, without any access
to a lawyer, in contravention of Nigerian law
which demands they must be seen by a judge
within 48 hours. Human rights lawyers in Nigeria
have said that an extradition request has been
made by the Cameroonian government, but no
details have been made public. “By holding these
activists in secret, without charge, the
Nigerian authorities are failing to respect both
national and international law. If they are
extradited to Cameroon, they risk an unfair
trial before a military court and the deeply
disturbing possibility of torture,” said Osai
Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International
Nigeria." So where is the UN and Amina J.
Mohammed? On tour with and praising Nigeria's
government, of course. On January 11, Inner City
Press asked Guterres' spokesman Stephane
Dujarric, video here,
UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: I'd asked you on Monday about
this abduction of nine southern Cameroon leaders
in Abuja. So, it's… they were taken out of
a hotel, you know, by armed men. So, I'm
wondering… I was wondering even in Chamb… I was
wanting to see if Mr. Chambas, who I know covers
Nigeria… what's the UN system… you said that
you're aware of it and trying to monitor it.
Spokesman: We have not seen any
confirmation or not… we have… we're still
looking at the situation, but we've not seen any
official or been made aware of any official
confirmation since the incident's happened.
Inner City Press: Well, The Guardian has a
quote from a Nigerian official saying they did
take them into… into custody, and there's a big
concern that they'll be extradited to Cameroon
but my question… Spokesman: That's…
that's… yeah. Go ahead. I… Inner
City Press: Since I've seen that Amina
Mohammed's schedule says that she's in Abuja for
the entire week, meeting with Government
officials, it seems… I guess I'm asking you, did
she… has she asked them if they're
responsible? It's a disappearance.
Spokesman: I have nothing else to add."
Nothing. With Ayuk Tabe still "disappeared,"
Inner City Press is re-publishing a few of his
responses to its questions back in November.
Inner City Press asked him if he thought the
"One Nigeria" policy of Antonio Guterres, his
(Nigerian) Deputy SG Amina J. Mohammed and envoy
Chambas impacts their view of Southern Cameroons
/ Ambazonia. Ayuk Tabe noted the lack of
transparency for Guterres' meeting with Paul
Biya in late October; when Inner City Press
asked of Biya's Ambassador to the UN bragging
about Amina J. Mohammed's position on Biafra,
Ayuk Tabe replied
that then she does not have the correct
facts. Now in Abuja, she is silent. January
8, 2018
In UN
Bribery Case,
Ho Again Seeks
Bail, Saying
CEFC Is With
UN Like
Salvation Army
UNITED
NATIONS, January 6 – On November 20, the US
Attorney for the Southern District of New York
issued an indictment against the head of the UN
ECOSOC accredited China Energy Fund Committee
(CEFC) Patrick Ho and former Senegal
foreign minister Cheikh Gadio,
accused
together of bribing Chad's President Idriss Deby
(as well as, for Ho, of bribing former UN
President of the General Assembly Sam Kutesa,
now as then the foreign minister of Uganda).
Inner City Press has covered
the case and repeatedly asked
the UN why Secretary General Antonio Guterres
has not even started an audit based on the
indictment, including of how CEFC got its UN
status and even remains in the UN Global Compact
espousing anti-corruption goals. But Guterres
has done nothing. Now Ho will be asking to be
released on bail on January 8, and his argument
includes that he is the head of "UN recognized"
NGO similar, Ho's brief argues, to the American
Bar Association, the Salvation Army and the
World Jewish Congress. So the UN's inaction is
now part of UN bribery indictee Ho's argument to
be released. The filing, dated January 5, says
Ho is "the leader of a non-governmental
organization recognized by the United
Nations....After leaving government service, Dr.
Ho became the Deputy Chairman and Secretary
General of the China Energy Fund Committee
(“CEFC”), a Hong Kong based non governmental
organization that has Special Consultative
Status with the United Nations Economic and
Social Council. Other organizations with Special
Consultative Status include the American Bar
Association, the Salvation Army, and the World
Jewish Congress." The proposal is for Ho to be
released on $10 million bond secured by $2
million in cash, into home detention in
Manhattan with electronic monitoring. We'll have
more on this. January
1, 2018
In 2017
UN's Guterres
Failed in
Myanmar, Yemen
&
Cameroon, Amid
Corruption,
Censors
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, December 30 – Antonio
Guterres' year as UN Secretary General began
by telling UN staff how much he respected
them, but ended
with Guterres on vacation
while the UN budget was cut
and staff ousted
from their work-spaces, demoralized and
disrespected.
In between
Guterres delayed
for months in responding to the slaughter of
the Rohingya in Myanmar, out of too much
deference to Aung San Suu Kyi. Guterres
continued in Yemen
with a Saudi-biased envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh
Ahmed as ports were closed, children starved
and cholera spread. Pressured to respond to
the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon,
his response was a brief stop-over in Yaounde
where he accepted a golden statue from 35-year
president Paul Biya.
In
November alone, Guterres ignored evidence that
his Deputy Amina J. Mohammed undermined
environmental protection, at a minimum, in
signing 4000 certificates for endangered rosewood
exported from Nigeria and Cameroon to China,
then ignored a UN bribery indictment in the
courts of Lower Manhattan. Guterres' UN used
$1 million from the China Energy Fund
Committee of indicted
Patrick Ho even after the Press asked his
spokesman about the indictment - and still no
audit.
But little
coverage either: Guterres eschewed press
conference, holding none at the end of the
year, but allowed himself to be sold for $1200
a pop at a fundraiser on Wall Street in
mid-December. Inner City Press, which covered
the event, is launching a series on Guterres'
performance as UN Secretary General, even as
he and his head of “Global Communications” Alison
Smale keep Inner City Press more
restricted than no-show no-question state
media like Egypt's
Akhbar al Yom, assigned the work-space it long
shared along with the alternative Free UN
Coalition for Access, pushing for a UN
Freedom of Information Act.
A spotlight
must be shined on this UN. Here a review of
2017, month by month.
January -
February: In Antonio Guterres' first two
months as UN Secretary General, the
longstanding Cyprus talks began to fall apart,
and Guterres stood silent
as Burundi, for example, banned
access by UN officials. Guterres ignored a
protest by whistleblowers against Francis
Gurry of the UN World Intellectual Property
Organization, and that UN agency's work on
North Korea's cyanide patents.
He did nothing
about a UN waste dump exposed
by Inner City Press in the Central African
Republic, despite his predecessor Ban
Ki-moon's record with waste in Haiti and
elsewhere. While he announced that Kenyan
troops would head back to South Sudan to join
UN Peacekeeping, he appointed the fifth
Frenchman in a row to head this DPKO,
Jean-Pierre Lacroix.
Meanwhile he
was rebuffed in his attempt to appoint Fayyad
to head the UN's Libya mission, perhaps
explaining his refusal later in the year to
take a single press question after reading out
his canned statement on Jerusalem. In a
harbinger of his approach to UN corruption and
(non) reform, his UN was named as not
providing requested documents in the first
UN bribery case, of Ng Lap Seng. (In the
second case, of Patrick Ho and Cheikh Gadio,
Guterres has yet to even launch an audit).
February 2017
ended with a seeming second wind, the belated
arrival of Guterres deputy Amina J. Mohammed.
Inner City Press was throughout constructive;
it would later emerge that during the delay
Mohammed signed 4000 certificates for
endangered Nigerian and Cameroonian rosewood
already exported to China, something Guterres
has refused to investigate despite a petition
with 92,000 requests. Guterres' first
interaction with UN staff was a Town Hall
meeting on January 9. Even though it was on
the UN's public website, when Inner City Press
live-streamed it on Periscope
for the impacted public to see it received a
threat that this violated unspecified
UN's guidelines.
This has been
a pattern in Guterres' first year: threats to
Press for unspecified violations, such as that
of Maher
Nasser on October 20, and a total
failure to respond or reform by Nasser's boss,
Alison
Smale. Ultimately, Guterres is
responsible.
March - April:
The spring
thaw in Antonio Guterres' first year as UN
Secretary General, in March and April, began
to reveal hypocrisy. A small but telling
example was when, after Guterres called on
people all over the world to turn off their
lights for Earth Hour, Inner City Press found
the lights on at the UN-owned mansion on
Sutton Place where Guterres lives.
At first the
UN refused to answer Inner City Press where
Guterres was - Lisbon
- then accused it of “monitoring
the residence.” It's called journalism: with
the UN refusing to disclose even what country
Guterres is in, checking the residence is the
only way. The UN also refuses to disclose how
much these Lisbon trips cost the global
taxpayers, for example how many UN Security
officials are taken, where they stay and for
how much.
Likewise
Guterres' 2016 financial disclosure
differed significantly from what he filed as
head of UNHCR in 2013. This has yet to be
explained. In April Guterres was petitioned to
replace the UN's pro-Saudi Yemen
envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. But when Inner
City Press asked, Guterres' spokespeople
refused to even confirm receipt of the letter.
This happened
on a petition by staff
too, about retaliation by Francis Gurry
the head of the UN World Intellectual Property
Organization, whose assistance to North
Korea's cyanide patents Guterres did not act
on.
In late April,
Guterres did nothing as Tanzania expelled
his resident coordinator, a far cry from his
knee-jerk defense later in the year -
continuing on December
27 - of the 4000 rosewood signatures by
his Deputy SG Amina J. Mohammed. Sustainable
development? Try hypocrisy, and censorship and
restriction of the Press which covers it - and
Cameroon, here.
We'll have more on this.
May - June: As Antonio
Guterres entered his fifth month as UN
Secretary General in May 2017, there were
still no reforms, and even his budget and
reform speech was withheld when Inner City
Press asked
for a copy of it.
Rather than
propose anything but deck-chair moving changes
in UN bureaucracy - new acronyms, new
Departments - Guterres seemed to believe his
private meetings and canned speeches could do
the trick. He met with 11 Congressmembers in
May - all Democrats, Inner City Press' inquiry
found
- and gave a speech in South
Carolina. But to what effect?
By year's end
the UN budget
would be cut by over $200 million with
Guterres nowhere in sight, already on vacation
in Lisbon, not even a comment for two days. In
the real world, in South
Sudan for example, leaked documents
published by Inner City Press showed inaction
as the SPLA moved toward a violent reclaiming
of Pagak.
Amid the
ongoing crackdown in Burundi, the best
Guterres could do was a Burkina Faso based
envoy, Michel Kafando, who would be only part-time
Inner City Press learned though Guterres
didn't tell the Security Council members that.
He never had a comment on Morocco's crackdown
in the Rif,
despite dozens of questions
from Inner City Press, perhaps thinking that
silence might help on Western
Sahara (it didn't).
On nuclear
North Korea, Guterres did nothing as the UN
Federal Credit Union did business
with the mission and UN WIPO helped with
cyanide patents.
In continuing
Cameroon failure, Guterres' Deputy SG Amina J.
Mohammed appeared at the ghoulish
“National Day” in a townhouse on Manhattan's
Upper East Side; the Ambassador told Inner
City Press due to her position on Biafra in
“her” Nigeria, she would never support the
Anglophones in his. She has yet to answer
questions, initially surprising but after the
rosewood scandal was revealed, more
problematic. Scandals were coming...
July - August:
Antonio
Guterres first summer as Secretary General had
a 14 day black hole in it, in which not only
did he disappear but his spokespeople refused
at first to confirm to Inner City Press even
were he was: the Dalmatian coast.
He had failed
on Cyprus,
descending from the 38th floor for a mere
three minute stakeout. He delegated the Cameroon
conflict, unwisely, to his Deputy
SG Amina J. Mohammed, who was said by Paul
Biya's Ambassador to be in the bag, firmly
against any secession.
She had worked
for Ban Ki-moon, whose era at the UN was
indicted, and in essence convicted, along with
Macau-based businessman Ng Lap Seng at the end
of July. But Guterres doubled down in
impunity, claiming that the UN was the victim
of the scheme, even as its accomplices
continued on the payroll. Guterres' UN was
accused of racial discrimination in a Town
Hall meeting he closed to the press - but what
did he care?
He dodged
questions about the crackdowns in Togo
and Gabon and left, even at year's end, the UN
Special Adviser on Africa position empty. In
Kenya he called electoral official Msango's
murder an “untimely demise,” alternately
deferring to Ban Ki-moon's pro-Kenyatta son in
law and then to his opposite, Roslyn Akombe.
Apparently, Africa didn't and doesn't interest
him.
In Europe, he
supposed his group by ignoring Catalonia, even
as he let sell-out Catalan Cristina “The
Evicter” Gallach stay on too long as a
representative to the UN's school. Her
replacement Alison Smale was late in coming,
and surrounded by the same staff like
Guterres, would continue the same abuses and
worse. The Fall was approaching...
September -
October: Antonio
Guterres' first UN General Assembly “high
level” week as Secretary General featured a
grip and grin with Egypt's
Sisi witnessed only by Sisi's state media to
whom Inner City Press' office is assigned
under Guterres, a praise-fest
with Cameroon's Paul Biya even as his
forces killed Anglophone civilians and a total
refusal to answer questions on UN corruption.
During the
week, Haiti
called on Guterres to belatedly do something
about the 10,000 people the UN killed with
cholera; Guterres has raised very little money
and his envoy on the topic has yet to take
Press questions.
Even when
Guterres did, on September 13, he answered
only on peacekeeper sexual abuse, entirely
evading Inner City Press' question
about the six UN bribery guilty verdicts in
the case of Ng Lap Seng, for coverage of which
Inner City Press was evicted and is still
restricted under Guterres. Other corrupt
events and bribery cases proceeded; Guterres'
Secretariat took on a Junior Professional
Officer from Kim Jong-Un's North
Korea, while refusing to confirm the
name.
By October,
with his head of Global Communications vowing
to spin the trip, Guterres took off for
Central African Republic, refusing to answer
why one of the only three officials criticized
in the UN report on sexual abuse there, Renner
Onana, remained in place, with promotion. On
the way back, most tellingly, Guterres stopped
in Younde and took a golden statue from Paul
“The Killer” Biya, smiling. This is the symbol
of Guterre's Secretary Generalship....
November -
December 2017: As 2017 drew
to a close UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres closed in on himself, like a small
star collapsing, speaking only to friendly or
paid media, accepting money from an already-indicted
NGO then fleeing to Portugal, where he ended
the year as the UN budget was cut. Was this
what he was elected or selected for?
In early
November Inner City Press had already just
been threatened
for covering his photo ops noticed
after one a two-person lunch set-up on the
38th floor with the name plate, Gillian Tett.
But Guterres' spokesman - and Ban K-moon's
before that, who does that - refused to say
what it was about.
It was an
interview, with Guterres criticizing even the
food at the UN and showing up. It left many UN
staff and contractors disgusted. But with the
threat of retaliation and many guards,
Guterres was unaware.
What did he
care, when 98,000 environmentalists asked him
to investigate his Deputy Amina J. Mohammed
for signing CITES certificates for endangered
rosewood
from Nigeria and Cameroon already in China?
Rather than investigate, Guterres lashed out
at a rare on the record Ambassador critic,
from Kenya, calling him “unfair.”
This as
Guterres and his head of Communications Alison
Smale kept the critical Press restricted,
refusing even to offer any explanation, using
three time loser Maher
Nasser to issue new
threats. Even when the budget was cut and
Inner City Press alone covered it, with one of
Smale's minders to 2
am on Christmas Eve, Guterres was gone,
in Portugal, an absentee UN slowly collapsing
in on itself like a small star, refusing even
on the last work day of the year to answer any
Press questions, here.
To be continued...
December
25, 2017
UN Over $5
Billion Budget Passed
by UNGA With
No Public
Present,
Holiday Tree
and Carol,
Here
UNITED
NATIONS, December 24 – The UN's more than five
billion dollar budget was supposed to be adopted
by the UN's Fifth Committee on December 22 then,
the Committee chairman told Inner City Press,
noon on Saturday December 23. Ultimately the
Committee approval didn't finish until 2 in the
morning on Christmas eve, with the ultimate
approval postponed until 10 am on Christmas eve.
Inner City Press, the only media covering it,
was required to get a UN "minder" to access the
General Assembly, unlike other no-show
non-critical UN resident correspondents. From a
booth about the GA it Periscoped the approval,
and even an impromptu holiday carol. And holiday
was the word. While in previous hears a colorful
Christmas tree has been displayed on the GA Hall
after the last session, this year it was a
generic pine tree with no ornaments. In all
other ways, it was routine: opposition to
Responsibility to Protect and the UN Convention
on the Law of the Sea, to funding the
implementation of UN Security Council
resolutions 2231 (Iran) and 1559. Myanmar
opposed any UN envoy being funded, but it passed
122 yes, 10 no, 24 abstaining.There was vague
praise of reforms, even as absent S-G Guterres
hasn't even ordered an audit of the most recent
UN bribery indictment, much less his own
Deputy's signing of 4000 rosewood certificates.
Reform? And end of UN censorship of
investigative Press? We will Press on this.
December 18,
2017
On
Cameroon,
Inner City
Press Asks UN
If Guterres
Has Done Anything on
Press Freedom,
No, Failing
Fall
UNITED
NATIONS, December 15 – After UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres accepted a golden
statue from Cameroon's 35-year president Paul
Biya in Biya's palace in Yaounde, Guterres again
shook hands with Biya in Paris at the One Planet
event, photo here;
UN told Inner City Press no meeting was
scheduled. And as of Deember 15 it seems clear
Guterres has not lifted a finger on the case of
journalist Patrice Nganang, jailed by Biya for
ten days and counting. Inner City Press asked
Guterres' spokesman at the December 15 UN noon
briefing, UN transcript here: Inner City Press:
wanted to ask you again about… about the
journalist clocked up in Cameroon for ten days
now, Patrice Nganang, who was, you know…
basically had investigated the Anglophone areas
and was picked up from the airport in Douala, is
in jail, charged with insulting or threatening
the president. Has the UN done anything on
that? Spokesman: I don't have an update on
the case in Cameroon." Later on December 15,
Guterres was slated to be sold for $1200 a table
at a Wall Street fundraiser; we'll have more on
this. When Guterres' envoy Francois Lounceny
Fall briefed the UN Security Council on December
13, he lumped Boko Haram and "the Anglophone
separatist movement" in the same sentence. On UN
Radio, Fall has equated secessionists with
extremists. On December 13 he said "clashes have
continued between radicals and government forces
resulting in the death of security officers in
the North-West and South-West regions likely to
further inflame tensions." Wait, security
officers were the only ones, even as implied
here the first ones, to be killed? Inner City
Press at noon on December 13, after Fall ran
past it at the stakeout saying he had another
meeting, asked UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq
about it, UN transcript here
and below. On December 14, Inner City Press
asked UN Spokesman Haq again about Fall, who is
failing on the Lord's Resistance Army (and
Gabon) as well, UN transcript here: Inner City
Press: I'd asked you yesterday about whether Mr.
[Francois Lounceny] Fall would answer questions,
and many… given… after his briefing yesterday,
many people, in looking at the paragraph on
Cameroon, in particular, have many questions
about it. He referred to clashes between
radicals. And so people want to know, in
the same way that he called secessionists
extremists, what he meant by radicals. I
guess I'm just wondering, is he still in New
York? I know he was here Monday through
Wednesday. And is there some way to get
him to clarify why… for example, the refugee
flows into Nigeria are not mentioned in his
report and sort of what he's actually doing on
this issue? Deputy Spokesman: Well, it's
certainly his call whether he wants to come to
the press. He chose not to do that
yesterday, but he did have an open briefing, and
we provided the contents of he said. Hold
on. Hold on. [Cutting Press offDecember
11, 2017
North
Korea Said
UN
Feltman Agrees
With Them On Sanctions,
Now He Cites
Funding Gaps
UNITED
NATIONS, December 9 – In North Korea
accompanying UN Department of Political Affairs
chief Jeffrey Feltman is a former staffer of his
who now works directly with Secretary General
Antonio Guterres, Katrin Hett. (UN's belated
read-out below.) Inner City Press exclusively
reported this on December 5, and after Guterres
canceled his December 6 noon briefing for a
stakeout at which he took no questions, asked
for confirmation from UN deputy spokesman Farhan
Haq, who typically refused. See below, with two
more names. Now, because of today's UN secrecy,
it is the North Korean government which has
issued a read-out of the meetings: "the visit of
Jeffrey Feltman, the undersecretary general for
political affairs at the U.N., helped the
communist nation and U.N. understand each other
deeply, and the two sides agreed to have regular
communications at various levels, according to
the Korean Central News Agency. KCNA reported
that North Korea told U.N. officials that
current situation on the Korean Peninsula is due
to the United States' threat and its wish to
launch a nuclear attack against North Korea
first. The U.N. officials responded that they
will help ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula
by following the U.N. Charter, which states the
organization's mission of maintaining
international peace and security, the KCNA
added. According to the KCNA, Feltman recognized
international sanctions against North Korea are
having a negative influence on humanitarian aid
there. He visited a children's food factory and
a hospital in Pyongyang on Thursday. Feltman was
expected to leave Pyongyang on a North Korean
Air Koryo passenger jet to land in Beijing on
Saturday." Maybe Feltman will speak there, as he
so rarely has in his more than five years at the
UN. Hett has yet to speak. While SG Guterres'
spokesman Stephane Dujarric did not initially
confirm Inner City Press noting in "his" UN
Press Briefing room that Feltman's predecessor
and Ban's brain Kim Won-soo visited DPRK in
February 2010 and now some surmise why. The
month after that visit described by both as this
one should be as having been successful, North
Korea sunk South Korea's Cheonan
ship, killing 46. And this time? Guterres
himself, typically, is avoiding the Press. But
multiple sources tell Inner City Press Guterres
doled out quotes to media from a major UN
funder. This before he whispers again on
December 15 in a Wall Street event he'll be sold
for $1200 a table at. We'll have more on this.
For now, Feltman has issued this read-out:
"Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs
Jeffrey Feltman visited the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (DPRK) from 5 to 8 December
2017. Mr. Feltman had a series of meetings with
H.E. Mr. RI Yong Ho, Minister for Foreign
Affairs, and H.E. Mr. PAK Myong Guk, Vice
Minister for Foreign Affairs, of the DPRK. They
exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula and
agreed that the current situation was the most
tense and dangerous peace and security issue in
the world today. Mr. Feltman emphasized the need
for the full implementation of all relevant
Security Council resolutions. He also said
there can only be a diplomatic solution to the
situation, achieved through a process of sincere
dialogue. Time is of the essence.
Noting the urgent need to prevent
miscalculations and open channels to reduce the
risks of conflict, Mr. Feltman underlined that
the international community, alarmed by
escalating tensions, is committed to the
achievement of a peaceful solution to the
situation on the Korean Peninsula. Mr.
Feltman also met with the United Nations Country
Team and members of the diplomatic corps, and
visited UN project sites, including a children’s
foodstuff factory, TB prevention institute,
breast tumour institute, and paediatric
hospital. During the site visits he learned
about the UN’s life-saving work on the ground as
well as the challenges in procurement and
funding gaps." And on this: in advance of a
December 11, 11:30 am North Korea human rights
event announced by the US, it belatedly emerges
that the UN Security Council is set to hold a
procedural vote at 10 am for a human rights
meeting in the Council. Inner City Press twice
asked Japan's Koro Bessho, the Council's
president for December, about this. The first
time he said it was still being worked on. The
second time, he walked away. And it was his
deputy, not him, who appeared at the Council
stakeout on the afternoon of December 8. Inner
City Press asked a question and it was partially
answered. But it was not Bessho. More on this -
and on Feltman and his team's trip to North
Korea. It is customary to at least disclose the
identities of such a delegation. And so today
Inner City Press names two others accompanying
Feltman: unsurprisingly the UN Resident
Coordinator in DPRK since 2015, Tapan Mishra
formerly of Burma Shell Co, and surprising to
some, Department of Political Affairs staffer
Samuel Martell of the UK, in his position since
October 2014. We'll have more on these, amid
Guterres increasingly shrunk UN transparency. He
banned the Press from his swearing-in of Global
Communications boss Alison Smale; now he says
that unlike even Ban Ki-moon, he will hold no
end of the year press conference, while
arranging to be sold on Wall Street for $1200 a
table. This is today's UN. As to Hett, she was
suggested to (or some say, planted with)
Guterres by Feltman during the former's
transition, and since then Hett has nearly
always been at Guterres' side. For example she
took an August 2017 photograph
of Guterres with Palestine Prime Minister Rami
Hamdallah published by the UN Department of
Public Information. Inner City Press exclusively
quoted DPA whistleblowers that Hett reported
back to Feltman all of the people Guterres was
interviewing to staff up his administration.
(Guterres' spokesman called the questioning
despicable.) Now Hett is in North Korea, with
Feltman - and Guterres excluded the Press from
his December 6 swearing-in of DPI's Alison
Smale, here.
Guterres is sure to hype up his wor on North
Korea in connection with his December 13-14 trip
to Japan. But what about Hett? To some, the UN
is beginning to mirror Feltman and Hett's host.December
4, 2017
On
Cameroon,
ICP
Asked UN of
Biya Calling Secessionists
Terrorists, Now He
Orders
"Relocations"
UNITED
NATIONS, December 1 – A week after UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres accepted a golden
statue from Cameroon's 35-year president Paul
Biya in Biya's palace in Yaounde, there were
threats of prosecution against people who refuse
to celebrate Biya's 35 years in power. Photo of
letter here.
So is this was Guterres celebrates, under the Guterres
Doctrine? What is the relation to the
illegal lumber exports signed off on by
Guterres' Deputy, Amina J. Mohammed in the #RosewoodRacket?There
were threats to Inner City Press' accreditation
at the UN, here.
Now upon Paul Biya's return from the African
Union - EU summit in Abidjan he has "declared
war" on what he calls secessionist terrorists in
Ambazonia or Southern Cameroons. Inner City
Press asked the UN about it and UN Spokesman
Stephane Dujarric only said they are "still
looking at" or studying what Biya said. Now
orders have been issued for civilians to
"relocate" and for business people to stop
working. See order here.
We'll have more on this. This echoes what the
UN's Francois Fall said, on Alison Smale's UN
Radio no less, that secessionists are extremists
and even Federalism is not on the table. The UN
has thrown gasoline on this conflict, far from
engaging in the preventative diplomacy that
Antonio Guterres, when running for his post,
said he was about. In the UN, he and his Deputy
Amina J. Mohammed have kept up Press
restrictions and censorship. On December 1 Inner
City Press asked Guterres' spokesman Stephane
Dujarric about Biya's comment. Dujarric said the
UN is still trying to study them - it's not
hard, they're on YouTube, here -
and said the last time Guterres spoke with Biya
was in October (that is, over the golden
statue). Now what? In Bamenda, local journalist
Elvis McCarty (some say Elvis Macarty) was
reportedly roughed up by Paul Biya's security
forces, the tools of his journalistic trade
confiscated and/or broken, with him being
accused of being a secessionist - or, as the
UN's Francois Fall has put it, an "extremist."
And while Guterres and his envoy Failing Fall
purport to urge dialogue in CameroUN on "the
Anglophone issue," when the issue was raised in
Parliament in Yaounde, there was a walk-out.
some dialogue. Meanwhile the Swiss government
has responded in a November 17 letter obtained
and published
by Inner City Press to issues raised by Southern
Cameroonians there. On November 21, Inner City
Press asked Guterres' deputy spokesman Farhan
Haq, video here,
UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: I wanted to ask a
question about Cameroon. In the south-west
region, a video emerged basically of authorities
ordering people out of their cars and to walk on
their knees, very much to humiliate them,
etc. And so, people… one, they've
wondered, like, what's the status of the UN's
call for dialogue since they don't see this as
dialogue? And, number two, they've seen
that the Swiss ambassador has said publicly that
he visited the area and is very concerned.
So, the question, I guess, I had is whether
François Fall, in his various visits… has he
actually gone to those regions of the
country? Does he have an intention to
go? Has he requested to go but been
rebuffed? How can it be that the
ambassador of a country based in Yaoundé has
more… has greater access than the UN… UNOCA
[United Nations Office in Central Africa]
representative? Spokesman: "Well, Mr. Fall
works out his itinerary with the authorities as
he can. Whenever we have further travel
for him… by him to announce, we will." Well.
Meanwhile another part of the UN system --
independent experts whom the UN Secretariat
emphasizes are NOT the UN -- has belatedly
spoken out where Guterres, Amina "Rosewood"
Mohammed and Francois Fall have not. But then
Fall essentially undercut the experts, focusing
on attacks on security forces and... territorial
integrity. Here's from Failing Fall's UNOCA:
"The United Nations Regional Office for Central
Africa (UNOCA) continues to closely monitor the
situation in the North-West and South-West
Regions of Cameroon... Mr. François Louncény
Fall seizes this opportunity to recall the
commitment of the United Nations to the
territorial integrity and unity of Cameroon." On
November 17, Inner City Press asked Antonio
Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, Tweeted
video
here, UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: this François [Louncény] Fall
statement. And the reason I'm asking is
that, as you may know five experts of
Geneva-based special rapporteurs, including on
freedom of expression, defense of human right
defenders and others, issued a statement. The
statement is largely focused on abuses by the
Government of Anglophones, censorship, turning
off social media. They have a[n
artificially low] death figure. They talk
about torture. I know that they're not
part of the UN system. They do give
briefings in this room. They are appointed
by the Human Rights Council. What's the
relationship between human rights experts saying
the Government is killing Anglophones and
François Fall saying territory is important and
gendarmes have been killed? It seems like
they're two opposing statements.November
27, 2017
On UN
Bribery Case,
ICP Asked of
Guterres Use
of CEFC Funds,
Kutesa Travel,
UN
Half-Answers
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Video
, ICP in Hong King, here
UNITED
NATIONS, November 24 – On November 20, the US
Attorney for the Southern District of New York
issued an indictment against former Senegal
foreign minister Cheikh Gadio as well as against
the head of the China Energy Fund Committee
Patrick Ho, who is accused of bribing former UN
President of the General Assembly Sam Kutesa,
now as then the foreign minister of Uganda.
Contrary to the indictment which says Kutesa
stepped down as Foreign Minister during his year
as UN PGA, Inner City Press asked him on
September 14, 2015 and Kutesa said, "I am still
foreign minister." Scoop
here, video here.
While the UN of Secretary General Antonio
Guterres, even after the indictment and Inner
City Press' public questions went forward on
November 21 with CEFC's money, see below, in
Kampala members of Parliament are calling for
Kutesa to resign as foreign minister. On November 24,
Inner City Press asked three of Guterres'
spokespeople questions, including: "in light of
the indictment announced Nov 20 involving
Patrick Ho of CEFC, Cheikh Gadio and alleging
acts by former UN PGA Sam Kutesa and others,
please provide a list of all funds received by
the UN or any of its funds, programs or agencies
from CEFC or its affiliates, the use of those
funds and how much remains, and all information
regarding selection processes for disbursement
of the funds. Please provide dates and details
of CEFC's sponsorship of events in the UN, and
interactions with ECOSOC, for the past five
years. Also please state the status of Cheikh
Gadio's entry into the UN, whether via the OIC
or otherwise. Regarding the year in which Sam
Kutesa was UN PGA, please provide a list of all
UN funds used for his travel, including but not
limited to China or Uganda, the composition of
his delegation(s) and any and all Special
Advisers to the PGA that he named. There will be
more questions." There certainly will be.
Because this is the entirety of the UN's
response to the above: "On the CEFC, we have the
following information: The decision to grant
consultative status lies with Member States and
is exercised through the Economic and Social
Council and its Committee on Non-Governmental
Organizations. Under the resolution,
consultative status may be established with
organizations a) concerned with matters falling
within the competence of ECOSOC and its
subsidiary bodies; b) whose aims and purposes
are in conformity with the spirit, purpose and
principles of the Charter of the United Nations
and c) that can contribute to the work of the UN
in accordance with their own aims and purposes
and the nature and scope of their competence and
activities. Special consultative status is
conferred to organizations that have a special
competence in or are concerned with a limited
number of fields of activity covered by the
Council and its subsidiary bodies. Regarding
questions concerning Sam Kutesa, please address
those to the Government of Uganda, for which he
was working, including during his time as
President of the General Assembly." That is,
there is no explanation of Guterres' DESA using
CEFC's funds after the indictment, no
information about UN spending on Kutesa's
trip(s) to China. A total cover-up. Meanwhile
the UN, implicated, canceled Guterres' photo op
involving the CEFC money but went forward and used
it, while the event remained on the schedule
of Guterres' Deputy SG Amina J. Mohammed,
embroiled in a scandal involving the signing of
4,000 certificates for rosewood
illegal logged in Cameroon
and Nigeria and already in China. Ironically,
she will be delivering the "Nelson
Mandela" address. We'll have more on this.November
20, 2017
UN
Spox Runs From
DSG Rosewood
Qs, Now
Guterres Is
Petitioned by
62,000 to
Probe, Recuse
UNITED
NATIONS, November 17 – The export to China of
illegally harvested rosewood, reported on by Le
Monde on November 3 with reference
to UN Deputy Secretary General Amina J. Mohammed
who signed the certificates, also involves
"smuggling from Cameroon." See EIA video, here.
On November 14, for the second day in a row,
Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman
Stephane Dujarric about what
Amina Mohammed knew, and when,
and he again refused to
answer. Nov 14 video here.
But from the UN's resident
coordinator in Kenya Sid
Chatterjee, given the position
by his father in law Ban
Ki-moon and now or soon
reporting to Amina Mohammed,
the spin that the detailed
Rosewood Racket report is
"fake news." Is this? An
environmental group has
launched a petition
to get Ban's successor
Antonio Guterres to
investigate Mohammed. Inner
City Press asked UN Spokesman
Dujarric about the petition, now at
62,000 signatures, and about
Mohammed recusing herself,
on November 17, Periscope
video here,
UN transcript here:
Inner City Press:
Yesterday, I had asked you
about… about some
questions about this
rosewood situation, and I
want to say that
yesterday, there were
46,000 people petitioning
for the
Secretary-General.
Now, there's 62,000.
But you had said to me, go
and read Le Monde, so I
did read Le Monde, and
there's no mention of
Cameroon in it, but, in
fact, in the report by the
Environmental
Investigation Agency,
there is… and in other
reports, there are talk
that some of these logs
don't over come from
Nigeria, which would make
them outright illegal,
signing any certificate
for their export.
So, I wanted to… this is
the kind of thing I would
like to ask Amina Mohammed
if she did a press
conference, just what did
she know about… I'm sure
there's answers. I'm
sure there's many things
that could be said. Spokesman:
Next time she's in front
of the press, she will be…
she has engaged with
journalists who have
written stories on this
and has not been hiding
from anything. Quite
to the contrary. We
have said what we've had
to say. I think any
further questions on how
this issue is dealt with
should go to the Nigerian
Government. Inner
City Press:
But just so you know, the
petitioners are not
writing to the Nigerian
Government. They’re
saying that there’s
inconsistencies… Spokesman:
I've answered the question
about the petitioners. Inner City
Press: This is
kind of a related question
that you may or may not
like, but there's a lot of
interest by… by Greenpeace
and other environmental
organizations in a… in a…
in a move by the
Democratic Republic of the
Congo to end what's called
an embargo on logging, or
an embargo on new, you
know, industrial logging
concessions. And so
people… I could imagine a
UN body or the Secretariat
itself, since it relates
to climate change, might
have a position on
this. Sorry to ask
you, but given the 62,000
signatures, would Amina
Mohammed, otherwise, you
know, responsible for
sustainable development on
many issues, would she be
recused from deciding the
Secretariat's position on
logging matters until this
logging matter is cleaned
up? Spokesman:
You’re jumping over
conclusions that, I think,
that have… over facts that
have been an Olympic
record. Inner
City Press:
Read the
petition. Spokesman:
I'm not talking about the
petition. I'm
talking about your… the
logic within your
question. I think
Amina Mohammed has, in her
past capacity, in her
current capacity, has been
a very strong advocate
against illegal logging
and has shown that through
her actions. Thank
you." Then he ran off the
podium.
Inner City Press had
asked him on November
16, video here,
UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: I want
to ask you about, again, this
rosewood situation. Yesterday
I'd asked what I think is a
simple question, whether the
certificates, the thousands of
certificates, that the Deputy
Secretary-General signed were
filed in real time with CITES
[Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of
Flora and Fauna] as seems to
be required. I don't
know if I'm going to get an
answer to that, but I have a
different, I guess,
superseding question, which is
that there's now online,
launched by a group called
Rainforest Rescue, a petition
to Secretary-General António
Manuel de Oliveira Guterres to
investigate the allegations
against Amina J.
Mohammed. The
international community must
prosecute criminals between
timber trafficking. And
it has 46,000 signatures so
far. So what's this
procedure… can I just finish
the question? What is
the procedure in the United
Nations for a civil society
petition such as this which
has garnered 46,000 requests
in a very short period of
time? Will the
Secretary-General actually
compare the report to what's
been said publicly by Amina J.
Mohammed and consider these
environmental people's deep
concern about it?
Spokesman: First of all,
we receive petitions all the
time, and they're looked at
and… Inner City Press: Is
there a threshold?
Spokesman: We value as a
matter of principle our
engagement with civil
society. We have spoken
and have said what we've had
to say on behalf of the Deputy
Secretary-General, including
the fact that she has… she
followed all the rules.
If there are questions about
CITES and the workings of the
Nigerian Ministry of
Environment, I would encourage
you to talk to the Nigerian
Ministry of Environment.
The Secretary-General has full
confidence and continues to
have full confidence in the
Deputy Secretary-General.
Inner City Press: Separate
question. Separate
question. Was she aware…
this is not about CITES.
Was she aware… the report says
that much of the timber that
was actually exported comes
from Boko Haram territories,
i.e., money would go to Boko
Haram. And some of it
was illegally smuggled from
Cameroon, so it's a question
that's not addressed by any…
Spokesman: I think it is
addressed… it's addressed in
the statement. I would
also encourage you to read the
lengthy Q&A she did with
Le Monde." But the petition
was launched after that. When
will Mohammed answer Press
questions? Will Guterres, as
petitioned, investigate?
From the petition: "UN Deputy
Secretary-General Amina J.
Mohammed has been implicated
in rosewood trafficking. The
former Nigerian Minister of
Environment is said to have
acted to facilitate the sale
of 10,000 shipping containers
of illegal rosewood to China.
Tell the UN to prosecute the
criminals behind timber
trafficking. To: the UN Member
States, the CITES Signatory
States and the CITES
Secretariat. The UN Deputy
Secretary-General has been
implicated in the illegal sale
of rosewood. The UN must
prosecute the criminals behind
timber trafficking.... Chinese
authorities played an
uncharacteristically positive
role in the incident by
seizing no less than 10,000
shipping containers of illegal
rosewood. The timber is valued
at more than $300 million.
According to the EIA, the
Nigerian Ministry of
Environment responded by
simply issuing the missing
documents retroactively. This
allowed over 1.4 million
illegal logs to be laundered,
in violation of both Nigerian
laws and the Convention on
International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES).
The traffickers allegedly
bribed senior Nigerian
officials – including
ministers and members of
parliament – with more than US
$1 million. The scandal is an
impressive illustration of the
power wielded by the timber
mafia. The then Minister of
Environment, Amina J.
Mohammed, appears to have
personally signed the
fraudulent documents as one of
her last actions in office.
She is currently serving as
the Deputy Secretary-General
of the United Nations.
Mohammed has since denied the
allegations. Please call on UN
Secretary-General António
Manuel de Oliveira Guterres to
investigate the allegations
against Amina J. Mohammed. The
international community must
prosecute the criminals behind
timber trafficking." Then
again, Guterres and Mohammed
have been ignoring a petition
to end Press censorship, here.
We'll have more on this. On
November 15, Inner City Press
asked Dujarric's deputy Farhan
Haq, video here,
UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: Rosewood
Racket and the report that was
put out by the Environmental
Investigation Agency.
And it's a very detailed
report. And one… and
I've read what was put out by
the Secretary-General [sic] [ICP:
it is unclear why the UN
inserted "sic" here -
Dujarric said the SG
supports the DSG.]
I've read what her interview
with the… of the Cab… the
Pulse, the Cable. And
what I wanted to ask you is,
when she signed these 4,000
certificates, CITES
[Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Flora and Fauna]
regulations require that they
be filed with the Secretariat
of CITES if they are, in fact,
retroactive. And so…
it's not answered
anywhere. And I'd like
you to either maybe get an
answer from her or have her
have a press conference when
she comes back. If that
was committed to, that would
seem to be the way to
go. Were these
certificates ever filed with
CITES, given the various
pronouncements that it's made
by this Secretariat about
commitment to these
regulations? Deputy
Spokesman: Well, I
believe Stéphane [Dujarric]
has already given you the
details of where we stand on
this. I don't have
anything further to add on
this. If the Convention
on International Trade in
Endangered Species, CITES, has
any actions, we can evaluate
it at that time. But, at
this stage, we've said what
we've said on terms of her
actions.
Inner City
Press:
My question is, he said… I
mean, I'm asking a
question. He said, your
question is answered by the
statement by the
Secretary-General, but it's
not answered. It's a
straight, factual
question. Were… she
signed the certificates.
Were they, in fact, filed with
the CITES Secretariat as
required? It's just a yes or
no… Deputy Spokesman:
The Deputy Secretary-General
has made clear that she
followed the procedures that
were supposed to be followed
in what she was doing. Inner
City Press: The reason I'm
asking you this is because the
Resident Representative of the
UN in Kenya, Siddharth
Chatterjee, has today issued
an interview saying that the
whole report is fake news and
she's a great person.
She may be a great person, but
what I wanted to know is, is
he speaking on behalf Amina
Mohammed or the UN system when
he says this detailed report
of… of seeming violations is
CITES regulations is fake
news? Deputy Spokesman:
"I don't have to comment for
him. He's offering his
personal view. This is…
that's outside of his
particular area." Oh.
Chatterjee says
he too has been the victim -
the reference is to nepotism
in his promotions, from Iraq
with Steffan
de Mistura under Ban and
forward from there, and IPKF
war crimes in Sri Lanka.
Sid says:
"having been a target of
malicious and fake news myself
for close to 10 years, let me
just begin by saying that I
feel very sorry for Amina
Mohammed. It is most unfair.
This is yellow journalism and
premeditated mendacity." This
is the response to detailed
questions about retroactive
CITES permits for rosewood,
illegally smuggled from
Cameroon. We'll have more on
this. From the November 14 UN
transcript:
Inner City Press: I want to
ask you about this rosewood
situation. I'd asked you
yesterday. You'd said
that everything is answered in
the statement... So, my
question is as follows, and
it's not answered by the
Secretary-General's
statement. The
allegation in the report, and
it's documented by a guy
holding up a sheet of paper
that has bill of lading
numbers on it, is that, at the
time that Amina Mohammed
signed thousands of
certificates in January 2017,
that this wood was already in
China, that the state… that
the… that the… the
certificates were backdated,
which is, under CITES
[Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Flora and Fauna], a major
problem. So, I wanted to
know… she says that there's no
evidence of that, but the
evidence is in the report, and
I'm directing you to figure
33… Spokesman: I've read
the report. Inner City Press:
Okay. So what is her
response to that? And how
could the Secretary-General
say “I back her up entirely”
in advance of the CITES
meeting that's coming up in
late November? Given that the
CITES is part of the UN
system, will he defer to them?
If they find wrongdoing, will
he take action?
Spokesman: I think the
statement that we issued is
pretty comprehensive.
The… Ms. Mohammed, the Deputy
Secretary-General, said the
signing of the legal signing
of export permits for rosewood
was delayed due to her
insistence that stringent due
process was followed.
She said she signed the export
certificates requested before
the ban only after due process
was followed and better
security watermarked
certificates became available. Inner
City
Press: Is
it permissible to sign
certificates when the wood is
already in China?
Spokesman: You're making
that assumption. I think
she's answered… she's… she's
answered the question. Inner
City Press:
That's why I think she should
do a press conference on
it. It's a major… given
that you talk about the
environmental SDGs
[Sustainable Development
Goals], here are many people
who think that the answer is
insufficient Spokesman:
She's answered the question."
No, she hasn't. And the UN
says she will stay on the road
until November 20.
On November 13, Inner City Press asked Dujarric
to answer basic questions, but he refused. Video
hereNovember
13, 2017
Rosewood
Racket Signed
Off On By UN's
Amina J.
Mohammed Has
Cameroon
Smuggling
UNITED
NATIONS, November 10 – The export to China of
illegally harvested rosewood, reported on by Le
Monde on November 3 with reference
to UN Deputy Secretary General Amina J. Mohammed
who signed the certificates, also involves
"smuggling from Cameroon." See EIA video, here.
This may put a new light on the UN's inaction on
the Cameroonian government's killings and
Internet cut off in the Anglophone zones.
Cameroon's Ambassador to the UN, while saying
he'd call upstairs to ensure Inner City Press
couldn't go there any more (the UN's Department
of Public Information did threaten Inner City
Press' accreditation for Periscope broadcasting
in connection with photo ops on the 38th floor),
also bragged that the DSG's opposition to
separatism in Biafra led to the same position on
Cameroon. And just as UN envoy Chambas went and
preached One Nigeria, failing UN envoy Francois
Fall called Southern Cameroons secessionists
"extremists," on DPI's UN Radio no less. They
say in journalism, Follow the Money. But in this
case it may be, Follow the Rosewood, or
Kosso. In terms of money: Joe Biden
appeared at the UN on November 3, and tables
were sold
for up to $50,000. One might think, after the
proved corruption of the UN in the Ng Lap Seng /
John Ashe trial for events in this same
Delegates Dining Room, charging this kind of
money for sitting with a “senior UN
official” would be a thing of the past. Or after
Antonio Guterres was questioned after taking a
golden statue from Paul Biya, the 35-year rules
of Cameroon. But no. On November 6, Deputy
Secretary General Amina J. Mohammed appeared,
took an award and gave a speech at an event in
Washington for which $25,000 sponsorships were
offered, here,
by a publication which covers and is promoted by
the UN (while following up on November 9 on Le
Monde's November 3 story, no mention of
Cameroon.) On November 9, Inner City Press asked
the UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN
transcript here:
Inner City Press; as you know or you or Farhan
[Haq] had said, she just recently received the
Diplomat of the Year Award from Foreign Policy
down in DC. Was she aware of this story being in
preparation when she accepted the award? Often,
to receive the award, you have to be
present. How long were the discussions?
Spokesman: I think some of those questions
should be addressed to Foreign Policy. She
was fully aware that the story was going to come
out when she received the award." No Cameroon.
Ban Ki-moon allowed the corruption of Ng Lap
Seng, and Antonio Guterres has done thing to
reverse it. In fact, Guterres left through the
same door Biden came in, one hour before, using
public funds to fly to his home in Lisbon, using
a 15 minutes speech there on Monday to justify a
three day UN paid junket. And his spokesman
refused to answer questions, even about his one
on one lunches on the 38th floor, where Inner
City Press' use of Periscope during photo ops
has allowed Guterres' DPI under Alison Smale to
threaten its accreditation. All of this takes
place while Guterres covers up mass killing in
Cameroon, and is prepared to be sold himself, on
Wall Street no less. We'll have more on this. November
6, 2017
UNITED
NATIONS, November 3 – What does today's UN
under Antonio Guterres stand for? Denouncing
secessionists as extremists, propping up
30-plus year presidents, and threatening and
restricting the Press that asks about it? When
this question was put to Guterres' spokesman
Staphane Dujarric on November 3, video here,
Dujarric claimed he had provided an answer to
it on November 2 (he hadn't) then quickly left
the podium of the UN Press Briefing Room, from
which he previously evicted Inner City Press.
This is today's UN. After major protests in
Togo were cracked down on with authorities
shooting and killed two or seven protesters,
Inner City Press on August 21 and 22 asked UN
Secretary General Antonio Guterres' Spokesman
Stephane Dujarric, what the UN's long time
West Africa envoy Mohamed Ibn Chambas is, in
fact, doing. Videohere;
UN August 22 transcripthere,
and below. Now, after giving his and Guterres'
blessing to the bid by Togo's rulingGnassingbefamily
to remain in power past 2030, Chambas has resurfaced in
Nigeria, opposing the aspirations of many in Biafra. It
is at odds with Guterres' claims about conflict
prevention and good faith efforts to address root
causes. Mis-identified as "Chambers," Chambas has now
beenquotedthat
"The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of
UN for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohamed Ibn Chambers,
spoke when he led a special delegation of the world body
to the leadership of apex Igbo socio-cultural
organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Enugu. Guterres said
that UN was gratified by the mature role of Ohanaeze
Ndigbo in quelling the recent agitations by some
secessionist groups, and encouraged them to continue to
adopt dialogue and constructive engagement in the
resolution of issues. He said that Nigeria, like many
other countries, is still battling with weak structures
which require constant dialogue and deepening of
democracy in overcoming the challenges. 'We indeed came
to commend Ohanaeze Ndigbo for the leadership they have
demonstrated. A few months ago we were all getting a bit
worried with events and developments in South-east of
Nigeria but thanks to their leadership and their
initiatives they were able to bring together the chiefs
and the political leaders and governors and respected
persons of South -east and through this intervention we
now see that calm is restored and all are working to
advance the one Nigeria agenda. The Secretary-General
believes in this one Nigeria project because he had
always said that a united peaceful Nigeria is not only
for the people of Nigeria, but indeed for the people of
West Africa and for all of Africa." That's the plan:
prop up dynasties like in Togo, portray secessions as
extremists thereby justifying government crackdowns and
killing as a form of counter-terrorism. It was Chambas,
when Inner City Press asking him about Anglophones in
Southern Cameroons, who said to focus on the "big
ticket" item: Boko Haram. This mirrors the position of
Guterres and another of his long time envoys Francois
Fall who covers Central Africa and has said that in
Cameroon secessionists are "extremists." It is also
noteworthy that Cameroon's Ambassador to the UN has said
he will work with Guterres' 38th floor to stop Inner
City Press' access (Guterres' Department of Public
Information under Alison Smale has threatened Inner City
Press' accreditation and continues to confine it to
minder unlike no-show state media) - and has bragged
about Guterres' Deputy Secretary General Amina J.
Mohammed assuring that the UN will oppose even
Federalism in Cameroon in light of the Biafra issue in
her native Nigeria. It is impossible to know what her
and the 38th floor team's thinking is: she has not had a
press availability in quite a while, Guterres is heading
to his native Lisbon, and Smale's Kafka-esque
accreditation threat after refusing to respond to
detailed Press freedom petitions for weeks combine for a
trifecta of UNtransparency. We'll have more on this.
October
30, 2017
As UNSG
Guterres
Stopped in
Cameroon, Now
UN Read-Out,
Here,
Destination
UNdisclosed
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, October 28 – UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres left the Central African
Republic after four days and stopped over in
Yaounde the capital of La Republique du
Cameroun, meeting with Paul Biya to assess the
situation in the Anglophone areas where Biya
has killed hundreds since their last meeting.
Even the next day the UN had issued no
read-out or photo of the meeting, UNlike
Biya's office here, complete with photos of
Biya giving Guterres a statuette or award,
like the one Ban Ki-moon received from the now
discredited South South News, along with
Francis Lorenzo who pleaded guilty to UN
bribery. After Inner City Press asked for a
read-out and where Guterres is, this came
back, which we publish in full: "Dear Matthew,
In response to your question, the
Secretary-General and President Paul Biya
discussed the situation in the Central African
Republic; refugees in Cameroon; the situation
in the Lake Chad Basin; and the situation in
the Anglophone regions of Cameroon." So what
might Biya have said about this region in
which he has killed so many? And why didn't
Guterres listen to any of those impacted? The
UN still refuses even to say where Guterres
was, until Monday, spending public funds in UNdisclosed
amounts. In UN headquarters on October 28,
where Guterres' Department of Public
Information under Alison Smale has threatened
Inner City Press' accreditation for reporting
what Guterres' officials say, UN excutions
expert Agnes Callamard said it would have been
better if Guterres had issued a read out of
his meeting with the Philippines foreign
minister. But Guterres is untransparent, and
more. This is today's UN. with his team of UN
"storytellers" trying to make him and the UN
look good. His spokespeople refused three
times to confirm to Inner City Press that he
would stop, if only for four hours, in
Cameroon where hundreds have been killed by
the government, which as repeatedly cut of the
Internet to prevent exposure of its crackdown.
Then Guterres handed the "news" to Agence
France Presse, which never asked him about
Cameroon at the UN. So on October 27, Inner
City Press again asked Guterres' deputy
spokesman Farhan Haq, UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: I wanted to ask you about,
as I have the last three days in a row, about
the Secretary-General's stopover in
Yaoundé. I saw he was quoted by AFP
[Agence France-Presse]. Quote, we're
going to be able to… we are going to be able
to assess the recent evolution of the
situation in the Anglophone community.
So some people are wondering how a four-hour
stopover in an airport and speaking with Paul
Biya, who's actually the one accused of the
killings and turning off the internet in the
Anglophone areas, is going to make the
Secretary-General able to assess the
evolution. Is he going to speak to
anyone else on the other side of it? And
also, why was it so… why was it so difficult
to confirm this trip, and why did he do it in
the way that he did? Deputy
Spokesman: The Secretary-General is the
one who confirms when he will go to certain
places. He did announce it yesterday,
and after which, we made it very clear that
that's where he was going. Up until
then, it wasn't officially confirmed. He
will go there, and we'll try to get some
details from his meeting. But, of
course, this is not the only way that we've
been assessing the situation. There have
been efforts by other officials, including his
envoy, François Lonseny Fall, to deal with the
situation, and we'll continue with those
efforts. Innner City Press: So it was
said right after 1 October and all the
killings that Mr. Fall was going to go.
Now it's 27 October. Has Mr. Fall gone?
Deputy Spokesman: He will, I believe, be
accompanying the Secretary-General on this
visit." But Fall is the one who, on UN Radio,
calls secessionists in Southern Cameroons
"extremists." We'll have more on this.
Guterres' head
of Global Communications Alison Smale, as
recounted and documented
by Inner City Press, has said that positive
stories by her Department during Guterres'
trip will "show what we can do." And what's
that? Smale's DPI has used public money to
produce a vanity two-minute video
of Guterres in CAR, complete with adoring
crowds reaching out to touch his hand, in the
background Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the fifth
French head of UN Peacekeeping in a row. This
amid a scandal of frightened people having to
pay contractors to protect them as the UN
peacekeepers won't. The previous day Smale was
promoting
a multimedia story about a poster-child
peacekeeper in CAR - from Cameroon.
The story
has the peacekeeper, Gladys Ngwepekeum Nkeh,
helping a girl who has been raped (not as has
often happened by a UN peacekeeper.) The UN
for two days has refused
to answer Inner City Press if it ever
disciplined, and if Guterres is meeting with,
Renner Onana who was criticized in the UN's
own report on its sexual abuse in CAR, noted
even in Smale's New York Times, here.
(Renner has been shown in a tweeted
photo in December 2016 with Fabrizio
Hochschild, one of Guterres' advisers, more on
which below.)
While the UN
images, by a UN photographer flown from New
York to Bangui days before Guterres and his
spokesman Stephane Dujarric went, are welcome,
the written story does not even mention the
rapes by UN peacekeepers, much less the human
rights record of the Cameroonian security
forces.
Meanwhile,
Smale's Department of Public Information on
October 20 issued a threat to Inner City Press
to "review" its accreditation for its reporting,
including on Guterres' team on the UN's 38th
floor. This is a clear conflict of interest,
between the openly stated goal of making
Guterres and the UN look good and the power to
threaten the accreditation of, and continuing
retaliatory restrictions on, the independent,
critical Press. Smale herself has not answered repeatedpetitions
to her in the seven weeks she has been on the
job; the same is true to the top of the UN. This
all is shameful. October
23, 2017
In
Cameroon,
Opposition
March Banned
in Douala as
UN Parades in
Yaounde,
UNheard
UNITED
NATIONS, October 21 – Amid the killings by
Cameroon's Paul Biya government, Inner City
Press on October 18 asked UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres, "there have been hundreds of
people killed there. Your envoy, François
[Louncény] Fall, has said he was going to go but
hasn't gone. People are extremely concerned. And
I'm just wondering, are we missing something?
Are you preventing conflict in this instance or,
or what is the UN doing?" Video here.
Guterres did not answer that part of the
question. On October 19 UN spokesman Stephane
Dujarric said Guterres told him he had not heard
Inner City Press' Cameroon question. Now on
October 21, after Guterres' UN
threatened Inner City Press'
accreditation, the Resident Coordinator in
Cameroon Allegra Baiocchi is bragging
about marching for UN Day in Yaounde. But in
Douala the government had banned an opposition
march, and detained two journalists. Today's UN
has much more in common with those making the
arrests than those seeking the truth.
We'll have more on this. n October 19 when Inner
City Press asked another question, Dujarric had
a statement ready, below. It welcomed Prime
Minister Yang's trip and dialogue, and said
Fall's visit is now only possible. On October 20
Inner City Press asked Dujarric's deputy
(Dujarric was apparently in DC with Guterres who
intoned about a "strong, reformed and modernized
UN") about the failure of the dialogue, and to
confirm that Guterres is advised by Khassim
Diagne, previously close to the government in
Yaounde when with UNHCR,
the refugee agency Guterres ran. Video here.
Haq called the "dialogue" a first step, and said
Guterres gets information for example also from
Francois Fall. How? The October 19 statement,
video here,
praised a visit to the west that is widely
mocked, but noted the reporting killings. The UN
put stock in Cameroon's self-investigation,
again dubious and now referred to a visit by UN
envoy Fall as merely "possible." Inner City
Press told Dujarric it will have further
questions, and it will. Watch this site. Inner
City Press on October 11 interviewed the
government's ambassador to the UN, Tommo Monthe.
He contradicted what UN Spokesman Stephane
Dujarric told Inner City Press, that "Mr.
[Francois] Fall and the Government are in
discussion about when he can go. The
Government has expressed its willingness to
welcome him. It's now a matter of finding
the dates." Inner City Press two days after
Dujarric's quote - which Dujarric has twice
refused to expand upon - asked Cameroon's
Ambassador Monthe who replied of Fall,"Why he
should visit Cameroon?” Audio
here. While there is still no date for Fall to
visit Cameroon, people are being summoned in to
see the police, in a campaign of intimidation.
There are new mass graves.October
16, 2017
In Cameroon
Anglophones
Tortured, ICP
Requests UN
Action, UNder
Restrictions
UNITED
NATIONS, October 14 – Amid the killings by
Cameroon's Paul Biya government, Inner City
Press on October 11 interviewed the government's
ambassador to the UN, Tommo Monthe. He
contradicted what UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric
told Inner City Press, that "Mr. [Francois] Fall
and the Government are in discussion about when
he can go. The Government has expressed
its willingness to welcome him. It's now a
matter of finding the dates." Inner City Press
two days after Dujarric's quote - which Dujarric
has twice refused to expand upon - asked
Cameroon's Ambassador Monthe who replied of
Fall,"Why he should visit Cameroon?” Audio
here. While there is still no date for Fall to
visit Cameroon, people are being summoned in to
see the police, here, in a campaign of
intimidation. Inner City Press asked the UN's
Special Rapporteur on Torture, Nils Melzer, to
inquire into torture in Southern Cameroons,
video here,
and then submitted to his office a formal
request for action. (He said he can act on
requests by journalists). Meanwhile Inner City
Press' journalism on Cameroon is being hindered
in the UN by restrictions continued by the UN
Department of Public Information under Alison
Small, see here
and here
and watch this site. October
9, 2017
As
Cameroon Kills
Civilians, ICP
Asks UN &
UK, Crackdown
Continues, Failing
Fall
UNITED
NATIONS, October 7 – When Cameroon's President
for the past 30-plus years Paul Biya came to
meet Antonio Guterres on September 22, before he
went back to the Hotel Inter-Continental in
Geneva, he was accompanied by his state media
and... Inner City Press. Biya, still in Geneva,
directed his forced to use water cannons and
more in Buea, as they shoot to kill from
helicopters in North-West and South-West
Cameroon. Now on October
7-8, despite belated calls
from Geneva and an unapologetic Guterres, restrictions on
movement and free
association are being
extended, for example in Manyu Division,
Mamfe Town and
elsewhere, see here.
Will there be any
follow through by the
UN on its statements,
or just more
"welcoming" of
Biya? When will
the already
postponed visit by
the UN's Francois
Fall occur, to
where and with
whom, and what
will it accomplish?
On
October 5 Inner City Press
asked UK Ambassador Matthew
Rycroft, who earlier this year told Inner City
Press the UK did not view
the situation in Cameroon
as a threat to
international peace and security but
would continue to
monitor it, if the
threshold
has been reached
and the
UK will ask for
a UN
Security
Council
meeting.
Periscope
video here.
He said no one
has asked and
the UK
continues to
weigh the pro and
con of putting
it on the Council's
agenda (along
with Myanmar,
Guinea Bissau,
Haiti, Colombia
and others). Earlier
Inner City
Press asked Francois
Delattre, the UN Ambassador of
France and President of the UN
Security Council for October,
why he has not yet convened a
Security Council meeting amid the killings of
civilians and cutting off of
social networks in
Cameroon. Periscope video
here.
Delattre said the French
Foreign Ministry's spokesperson
has spoken earlier
in the day, again
calling for
dialogue. We'll
have more on this.
Guterres'
spokespeople have three times
refused Inner City Press'
request for the UN's estimate
of how many people have been
killed by Paul Biya's forces
since Guterres offered him
praise on September 22.October
2, 2017
Angered
at UN
Praise of
Cameroon's
Biya, Letter
to UN Cites
Genocide
Threat,
UN Corruption
UNITED
NATIONS, September 30 – When Cameroon's
President for the past 30-plus years Paul Biya
came to meet Antonio Guterres on September 22,
before he went back to the Hotel
Inter-Continental in Geneva, he was
accompanied by his state media and... Inner
City Press. According to the UN read-out, the
conversation was entirely positive and did not
mention Biya's abuse of Anglophones, or human
rights in any way. Since then Biya has again
undermined the Internet and rights to
communicate in Southern Cameroons, to which
Inner City Press after asking the UN
four days in a row until exclusion now turns.
Here is a letter sent not only to Inner City
Press, but to the UN Office of the
Spokesperson: "I am writing from Southern
Cameroons. I am pleading you should use your
high office to stop the genocide that
President Biya wants to exercise on the
English speaking Cameroonians. a lot of people
have lost their lives already and yet the
President of Cameroons is seriously planning
to shed more blood. The truth is clear,
the people of southern Cameroons (English
speaking ) was a country of its own that
legally voted to joint La Republic of
Cameroon. But now La Republic of Cameroon are
treating these people as if they colonize them
or conquered them in a war. sir use your
conscience, it could have been your family
going through what we are going through. Where
is human rights in the 21st Century where
people of a particular nation turns to treat
their fellow brothers and sisters as slaves
and the whole world is reacting as if there is
nothing happening Does it mean that if
tomorrow if I'm in one top position in the
world that has to deal with the society i will
give deaf ears to a situation that has to do
with millions of lives ? what is wrong with
the world today? where is human right? there
is no justice at all? is it that human lives
no longer matters? Please kindly react to stop
the genocide that is about to happen in 48
hours." No response from the UN. Here is
another letter: "Dear Matthew Russell Lee,
Inner City Press: Accept my greetings and that
of those who can't write to you. I am writing
to you from Buea, Southern Cameroons. Am
reacting to your articles on September 28
concerning the crisis in Southern Cameroons.
The approach of the UN concerning the Southern
Cameroons and it people, proves time and again
that the UN must be very corrupt, and have
turned it back against in commitment to
protect human rights freedoms, and states
sovereignty. How can the Secretary General be
talking of his to consolidate peace and the
Territorial integrity of Cameroon, when knows
very well that, the UN holds no legal treaty
that binds the British Southern Cameroons with
LA Republique DU Cameroun? I hereby want to
inform you that, I, as well as an overwhelming
majority have chosen to separate from la
Republique DU Cameroun because of what we have
gone through in 56 of forced union. If the
government of la République du Cameroun,
considered us Southern Cameroonians as a
people with the same rights as Francophones,
if the government wanted to make peace and
resolve this problem from it core, I think the
repression taking place now won't have been.
While you published on the Cameroon crises
yesterday, the government of la Republique DU
Cameroun became violently repressive and
attacked and beating people their homes,
taking seizing money and smart phones, and
taking them to jail. As am writing to you now,
six people were shot yesterday in the town of
Ekona, and a grandmother was killed by the
military in her home. 14 years old kids are
being arrested and detained in jails under
very cruel conditions. Since the beginning of
this crises since November last year, 112
people have been killed by the military of la
Republique DU Cameroun. The la République du
Cameroun's government have been using
terrorism blackmail the peaceful protests. I
hereby call on the Secretary General to read
the the UN charter on human right and
freedoms, and the right for self governance."
Biya's renewed attacks on the Internet have
ranged from Bamenda to Kumbo and Kumba, but
are being circumvented by VPNs. Meanwhile
Inner City Press is receiving video of
protests in front of the Inter-Continental
Hotel in Geneva where Biya is staying.
Guterres praised Biya, then belatedly called
on him to dialogue: while Biya is not even in
the country. His landing in Geneva: "VP-CAL
used by #PaulBiya, President of Cameroon
(Boeing 777) on 2017/09/26 at 08:56:46." We
ran this sample letter to Inner City Press: "
woke up this morning and discovered Internet
Services in Cameroon have somehow been
limited. I am suspected the regime of Paul
Biya have tampered with the internet service
and Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, VPNs,
Vcontact aren't working. I am sure many
other social media have been cut off as well.
There have been plans to celebrate the
symbolic independence of this region 'the
Former British Southern Cameroons' on the 1st
of October 2017. That is on Sunday and the
region have been heavily militarized by the
Biya regime, Homes of people invaded, beaten ,
some killed, many kidnapped and with this
shutdown to major social media to which
it is where most of these crimes are exposed,
many have been fearing a total Genocide that
can be perpetrated on the people of that
region. There were rumors that, the internet
will be shutdown come 30th September. The
Minister of Communications made a public
communique two days ago to say, the internet
won't be shutdown but I guess it was just a
ploy as through some websites are working,
major social medias ( Facebook, Whatsapp,
Twitter) have been cut off. Please, make the
world know what is happening in this region.
This is a sly move to blackout to the world
what atrocities the Biya's regime is/will be
perpetrating in these regions." In
Fiango, Biya's security forces have killed,
reportedly Enogene Basile, following their
September 28 killings in Ekona. Watch this
site. Inner City Press on September 26, 27 and
28 asked Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric
about these glaring omissions. The first time,
Dujarric alluded to "private" diplomacy. Then
on September 27 when Inner City Press asked
ask, video here,
Dujarric said that UN envoy Francois Fall will
be going to Cameroon "next week." On September
28, Inner City Press asked Dujarric deputy
Farhan Haq if this would be before or after
October 1, and Haq said he didn't know. Hours
later, Dujarric's office put out a statement
of concern below, which many see as too
little, too late, with its emphasis on
territorial integrity. On September 29, Inner
City Press asked Dujarric not only about the
UN's surveillance of the Press, on which he
refused to answer referring to the question to
the UN Department of Public Information whose
chief Alison Smale has refused to answer basic
questions
for a month, but also if Guterres' concern is
at threats to those in Anglophone Cameroon to
stay indoors or be treated as "terrorists,"
for citing UN General Assembly Resolution
1608. Video here.
Dujarric replied that he doesn't have
"granularity" about what's being done and
said. But he put this out: "The
Secretary-General is deeply concerned about
the situation in Cameroon, including with
regard to the recent security incidents in
Bamenda and in Douala, and mounting tensions
in the South-West and North-West regions
related to planned events on 1 October. The
Secretary-General has encouraged the
Cameroonian authorities to continue their
efforts to address the grievances of the
Anglophone community. He urges the authorities
to promote measures of national reconciliation
aimed at finding a durable solution to the
crisis, including by addressing its root
causes. The Secretary-General supports
upholding the unity and territorial integrity
of Cameroon and urges all parties to refrain
from acts that could lead to an escalation of
tension and violence. The Secretary-General
believes that genuine and inclusive dialogue
between the Government and the communities in
the South-West and North-West regions is the
best way to preserve the unity and stability
of the country. The Secretary-General
stands ready to support these efforts,
including through the United Nations Regional
Office for Central Africa (UNOCA). " We'll
see. On September 26, Dujarric replied that
Guterres would say there is a time for public
diplomacy, and a time for private diplomacy.
Video here. Some wonder, how many people have
to die, or what kind of people, for it to be
time for UN "public" diplomacy? Earlier on
September 22 Inner City Press interviewed
Southern Cameroonians out on 47th Street, then
asked Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric
about people killed that very day. UN transcript
here and below. The crackdown is also
financial: Biya's Minister of Finance has
threatened the National Frincne Credit Bank in
Bamenda with loss of its license for taking
part in the "Ghost Town" expression of desire
for independence, or in the first instance a
referendum. See letter here. This
politicization should trigger action by the
"decision making phere" [sic] written about by
Biya's state
media, the kind of media that the UN and
now its new head of Public Information favor
over independent
press. From the September 22 UN
transcript: Inner City Press: there’s a
protest right now of Southern Cameroonians on
47th Street, but more importantly, there’s one
in Southern Cameroon where five people have
been killed today, as Paul Biya gave his
speech, so I’m wondering… I know the
Deputy Secretary-General had some interest in
the issue. There’s Mr. [Francois
Lonseny] Fall. Are they aware of these
protests? Spokesman: "We’ve seen the
reports I think we would definitely… we would
call on the authorities to show restraint and
ensure that people have the right to
demonstrate freely." But on the UN's 27th
floor, it was all smiles. And much later the
UN put this read-out on its website: "The
Secretary-General met today with H.E. Mr. Paul
Biya, President of the Republic of Cameroon.
The Secretary-General appreciated Cameroon’s
hospitality towards the refugees.
They discussed the latest political
developments in the country, as well as
regional issues, including Boko Haram and the
situation in the Central African Republic. The
Secretary commended Cameroon for its efforts
to combat Boko Haram, and reiterated the
readiness of the United Nations to support the
Government in all areas." No mention of the
Anglophone areas, much less the day's
killings. This is a new low, even for today's
UN. UN Department of Political Affairs chief
Jeffrey Feltman had left the floor with the
Australian delegation; it was unclear if any
UN Human Rights official was present. One of
Biya's handlers even signed the UN visitors
book in advance for him. When Guterres greeted
his next visitor he did so in French then
apologized, the last meeting was in French.
North Korea's
Ri Yong Ho
Meets UNSG
Guterres, Asks
For
Impartiality,
Conference
UNITED
NATIONS, September 23 – Days after the UN
Security Council banned textile exports from
North Korea, the country fired another missile
over Japan's Hokkeido. On September 23, North
Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho delivered this
speech in the UN General Assembly hall, then
came to meet UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres, USg Jeffrey Feltman and others. There
was a photo op, well attended by wire services
and largely Japanese and some South Korean
photographers - and Inner City Press. Periscope
video here.
Inner City Press asked the North Korea Mission
to the UN if the international legal conference
they have been asking for was discussed; the
North Korean Mission to the UN told Inner City
Press its “Foreign Minister raised that issue
during the meeting. He also told UNSG to be most
impartial, not to take one-sided.” We'll see.September
18, 2017
OnMyanmar,
UNSG Guterres
Resisted Calls
To Act,
Officials Tell
ICP, Deference
to "The Lady"
UNITED
NATIONS, September 16 – Myanmar's abuse of the
Rohingya has suddenly become a major topic for
the UN of Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
But senior UN officials exclusively tell Inner
City Press that in the prior months, Guterres
repeatedly rejected detailed recommendations
made directly to him by some of his officials to
become more active on the crisis. The officials
tell Inner City Press that Guterres responded
that for the UN to become more active might
create problems for "The Lady," Aung San Suu
Kyi, and the military. So the UN stood by, as it
did in Sri Lanka in 2008-2009 and in Rwanda
before that, always with an excuse. There was
even a ten point plan presented early on to
Guterres, on which he never acted. On September
15 Guterres spokesman arranged a background
briefing for his favored correspondents, with
senior UN officials we will leave UNnamed - but
did not inform or invite Inner City Press, who
asks him many questions, including about
Myanmar. To this has the UN descended. The UN
Security Council's September 13 meeting on
Myanmar was a closed affair, after which the
President of the Council, Ethiopia, read a
statement that "acknowledg[ed] the attack on the
Myanmar security forces on August 25," as if the
problem began then. It goes back decades. And
even in April of this year, this memo was sent
to Secretary General Guterres: "The United
Nations in-country presence in Myanmar continues
to be glaringly dysfunctional. Strong tensions
exist within the UN country team, the
humanitarian parts of the UN system find itself
having to confront the hostility of the
development arm, while the human rights pillar
is seen as complicating both. The impact of this
dysfunctionality is a growing irrelevance of the
UN in guiding and defining the international
community’s efforts to address the challenges
confronting Myanmar." After that, the UN in June
2017 said that Resident Coordinator
Lok-Dessallien was being rotated out and the
position advertised. But this week Inner City
Press asked and found that she is still there;
on September 14 Inner City Press asked Guterres'
spokesman Stephane Dujarric why didn't happen
and he said she it does, he'll say. The UN's
hands are not clean, either, some say. To the
Ethiopian ambassador on September 13, Inner City
Press asked if there was talk of UN envoy,
without answer. Periscope video here.
In terms of the UN Secretariat, while it said in
June that dubious UN Resident Coordinator Renata
Lok-Dessallien was being rotated out and the
position advertised, when Inner City Press asked
UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric on September 12
who the Resident Coordinator in Myanmar is, he
first said he didn't know, then after the
briefing his Office e-mailed this: "Regarding
your question on Myanmar at today's noon
briefing, the Resident Coordinator is Renata
Lok-Dessalien." So despite saying she was being
rotated out and the post advertised, and despite
Guterres saying how concerned he is about
Myanmar and the Rohingya, three months and
thousands of dead later, she's still in. And the
Spokesman, Dujarric, didn't even insert this
answer into "his" transcript. On September 13
Inner City Press asked UK Ambassador Matthew
Rycroft about criticism of Lok-Dessallein and
the country team. From the UK transcript: Inner
City Press: There is talk of the country team at
the UN being too close to the Government over
time. There was criticism of the resident
co-ordinator. Does the UK feel comfortable that
the country team has been on top of this issue,
even prior to this August “terrorist attack”
that was referenced in press elements? Amb
Rycroft: Well one of the points I made was that
several of us around the table, including the
UN, have very good and close relationships with
various parts of the establishment in Myanmar.
Some of us with Aung San Suu Kyi, others with
the military, and my point is that it’s time now
to be using those relationships to get action
and to get an end to this deterioration, rather
than allowing those relationships to become an
end in themselves and to prevent us from taking
action. Periscope video here.
We'll have more on this.September
11, 2017
For
UN General
Assembly Week,
List Here, UN
Both
UNprepared and
UNfair
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, September 9 –The UN is
both unprepared and unfair in the run-up to
the 72nd General Assembly high level week,
which the UN brags will include 90 heads of
state, five vice presidents, 36 heads of
government, 3 deputy prime ministers and 55
ministers.
At a
background briefing on September 8, a UN
Department of Public Information official told
Inner City Press that the current
nearly-useless wifi Internet “should” be fixed
in time, and that “there will be a secondary
pass for RC to go to basement area, 1B,
limited to resident correspondents” - a group
of less than 200 of the several thousand
journalist the UN says are coming.
Inner City
Press asked, Why are these passes limited in
that way? The UN official said, “That's the
arrangement with Security and with the UNCA
[UN Correspondents Association] because we
have to find some distinction.”
So the UN let
a group of at most 200 insiders limit the
access of thousands of other journalists, with
no transparency. This Department of Public
Information has been headless since April 1;
New York Times journalist Alison Smale was
named by Secretary General Antonio Guterres as
replacement but has apparently not arrived:
she has not answered e-mailed questions about
these elitist “distinctions.” Actually, the
200 UNCA insiders include numerous rarely seen
state media, for example Akhbar al Yom from
Sisi's Egypt, making the “distinction” all the
more telling.
Similarly,
when Inner City Press was for assurance that
at least the UN Press Briefing Room would be
open to all journalists, the UN official said
while missions are told that, there is no
guarantee, the Media Accreditation office does
not make the bookings. Those are done by the
UN Spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, who has a
history as noted by theFree UN
Coalition for Accessof
"lending" the UN Press Briefing Room to the
president of his native France, and to UNCA,evictingthe
Press which tried tocoverthe
event with Periscope.
The UN is
closing in on itself, while bragging about all
the important people coming to see it. The
reformed needed at the UN go well beyond those
alluded to in the pre-signed outcome document
of the September 18 event. That reform event,
tellingly, is not even mentioned on the UN's
list so far of UNGA72 events:
12 September:
Opening of the 72nd Session of the General
Assembly (Preliminary list of items in the
provisional agenda);
18 September:
High-Level Meeting on the Prevention of Sexual
Exploitation and Abuse;
19-25
September: General Debate of the General
Assembly 72nd Session;
20 September:
Signing Ceremony of the Treaty for the
Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons;
20 September:
Security Council High Level Meeting: Reform of
UN peacekeeping, implementation and follow-up;
26 September:
High-level plenary meeting to promote and
commemorate the International Day for the
Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons;
27-28
September: High -level meeting of the General
Assembly on the appraisal of the United
Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat
Trafficking in Persons (resolution 71/287).
Watch this
site.
September
4, 2017
As ICP
Pursues N
Korea Story,
UN Security
Orders It To
Stop, UNlike
Others,
Censorship for
Corruption
UNITED
NATIONS, August 29 – More than nineteen months
ago, acting against Press coverage of Ban
Ki-moon's links to UN corruption cases, the UN
Department of Public Information (DPI) had
Inner City Press physically
ousted from the UN.Audio
here.
Since then
an UNrelenting campaign of harassment by UN
Security (DSS) and the requirement that Inner
City Press unlike other media have minders to
stake-out public events in the UN has continued. On August
29 as Inner City Press covered the UN Security
Council debate in the run-up to an emergency
meeting on North Korea, an Ambassador walked
down the second floor. A slew of correspondents
took off in pursuit, including "non resident
correspondents" who only come in for North Korea
meetings. While awaiting the end of the double
standard between it and other UN-favored
correspondents, it seemed obvious to Inner City
Press it must be treated like other non-resident
correspondents. But no - a UN Security officer
in front of the ECOSOC chamber, after letting
other non-resident correspondents by, stepped
out and stopped Inner City Press. This is pur
censorship, for covering the UN's (expanding)
corruption. On August 28, as Inner City Press
with its still required DPI minder / escort
covering the UN General Assembly meeting on
South South Cooperation, a UN Security
supervisor had the DPI minder order Inner City
Press to stop filming and covering - from a
roped-in stakeout. When Inner City Press asked
the UN Security officer for his name, he refused
(so, this
Vine video), finally saying "You talking to me?"
then walking off. Further requests for the UN
officer's / censor's name were not responded to
when raised to DPI, including Darrin Farrant
who's been at the right hand of three DPI Under
Secretaries General in a row. Incoming USG
Alison Smale is going to have to deal with this
censorship, these double standards. August
28, 2017
After
UN Sold Itself
to Ng,
Stonewall
on Event By
Guo Xiangang,
Censors
Demand, Canceled
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, August 23– After the UN was exposed
as having been bought and corrupted by
Macau-based businessman Ng Lap Seng, convicted
less than a month ago on six counts of UN
bribery, money laundering and Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act violations, what has changed?
While the
spokesmen for new Secretary General Antonio
Guterres evade the questions
asked by Inner City Press, for example about
the UN rewarding
Ng for his South South News' coverage of Ban
Ki-moon's Central America trip in 2015, murky
uses of the UN and its building, movement
inside which Inner City Press is still
restricted for its anti-corruption coverage,
continue.
For
example, on August 23-24 the UN General
Assembly Hall is still scheduled be taken over
by an NGO named “World Development Foundation”
headed by Guo Xiangang. Attended list and
junket offer below; voice mail after UN
refused to answer, here,
UN Spokesman's one-quarter answer, below;
second voicemail
here. In a third voicemail, an interview
of with the Ambassador of Suriname, just as he
was interviewed by South South News in Macau,
was offered here.
But Inner City Press' questions were and are
to the UN, how it vetted the NGOs -
UNanswered. Now a fourth voicemail, here,
asking that Inner City Press take down
article(s) - and, on August 23, the event was
not taking place in either the General
Assembly Hall, nor Conference Room 4. We'll
have more on this. Inner City Press first
reported on this group in May
2016, noting that the UN Department of
Public Information was partnering with a group
that at that time did not even have a website.
This came after DPI's then-chief Cristina
Gallach did no
due diligence of Ng Lap Seng's purchase
of events in the UN lobby and even its slavery
memorial, then evicted
Inner City Press after it asked
her about her links to Ng's South South
Awards. The UN's holdover Spokesman Stephane
Dujarric has been involved, including in both
the eviction and continuing restrictions. On
August 22, Inner City Press asked and e-mailed
Dujarric about the August 22-24 event. Video here;
UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: there's an event this week
in the General Assembly, and some of the
sponsors are those who attended the Macau
event sponsored and paid for by Ng Lap Seng in
August 2015 just before he was indicted and
arrested. So, I wanted to know — maybe
you can find this out today — it's said that
it's going to be webcast.
Spokesman: What's the event? I
don't, what's the event?
Inner City Press: The event has to do
with sustainable tourism. It's sponsored
by an NGO and two Member States, both of whom
went to Macau. So, my question to you
is, you've said the things have radically
cleaned up…What's the UN's role in the
event… Who's paying for the-
Spokesman: I need… drop me off a piece
of paper with information about the event and
I will…
Inner City Press: I'm going to give you the
email as well, the one about…
Spokesman: Perfect.
Inner City Press: …Yiping Zhou and the one
that you said you hadn't seen.
Spokesman: Okay, thank you.
Inner
City Press immediately sent Dujarric as well
as his top two deputies the Yiping Zhou email
and some questions. Five hours later when he
left, Dujarric had not answered nor even, as
requested, confirmed receipt. After 8 pm one
of the sponsors called Inner City Press, audio
here.
But the answer should come from the UN
Secretariat, which had been asked eight hours
previously. Inner City Press called the caller
how to ask Dujarric, and Dujarric did respond
to this NGO, emailing Inner City Press: "Dear
Matthew, The event is sponsored that the
Mission of Suriname. They are responsible for
the content of the event and we have been
assured that no one is being charged for this
event. Sincerely, Steph." But this didn't
answer the questions that Inner City Press had
asked (while showing that Dujarric had
received them - we'll have more on this, and this).
Inner City Press had sent Dujarric the
information about the event: "Sustainable
Tourism development projects from other Member
States will also be introduced. Special Guests
Include: Mr. Carlos Vogeler, UN World Tourism
Organization, Executive Director and Regional
Director for the Americas; Ms. Shavani Vora,
NY Times Travel Columnist, Invited' Ms.
Alexandrine Wan, Sustainable Tourism Advocate,
Entrepreneur
H.E. Ambassador Loreen Bannis-Roberts,
Permanent Representative, Dominica Mission to
the United Nations; Peter Claesson, Indigo
Travel, Sweden; Neelam Melanie, Second
Secretary, Kingdom of Netherlands Mission to
the United Nations; Robert Watson, Noted
Author and Tourism Strategist; Amir Dossal,
President and Founder, Global Partnerships
Forum; Peter Tichnsky, President and CEO,
Business Council for International;
Understanding; Laura Choi, Resort-wear
Sustainable Fashion Designer, Invited
Vincent Fuentes, Director, WFUNA Tours
Dr. Joshua Weiss, Harvard faculty, Abraham
Path Initiative; Suzanne Carlson, President,
Carlson Maritime Travel; Anderson Pilgrim,
Caribbean Travel Initiatives (CTO and CARICOM
Report); Michelle Guelbart, ECPAT Report on
Responsible Tourism; Edward H Hall III, Bureau
of Indian Affairs Tourism Specialist Plus a
SPECIAL FAMILIARIZATION TOUR TO GUYANA AND
SURINAME will be announced for travel media,
travel professionals and others. October
date... under the auspices of His Excellency
Ambassador Henry MacDonald, Permanent Mission
of Suriname to the United Nations and His
Excellency Michael Ten-Pow, Permanent Mission
of Guyana to the United Nations. The program
is produced and developed by the World
Development Foundation, Dr. Guo Xiangang,
President. Patrick Sciarratta is the
Conference Manager for the two-day
proceedings; Conference Coordinator is
Dominique Schwenner; Ms. Zephanii Smith is
Public Relations Liaison. Cristina Fan is the
Conference Administrator." Ng paid for the
trip to Macau, which at least two sponsors and
the vice president of the UN Correspondents
Association attended. There are photos of DPI
officials with Guo Xiangang. The cover, just
as Ng Lap Seng used the Dominican Republic's
Francis Lorenzo and a number of other states,
in this case are Suriname and Guyana, both of
whose Permanent Representatives attended Ng
Lap Seng's Macau event in August 2015 and were
interviewed by South South News, here
and here.
This week in attendance will be the Permanent
Representative of Dominca, whose Prime
Minister Roosevelt Skerrit was the only head
of state who went to Ng Lap Seng's Macau
event, along with the vice president of the
United Nations Correspondents Association.
As Inner City
Press reported and pursued, the UN
Correspondents Association took payment from
Ng' South South News for full page ads, then
provided the venue for Ng's and Vivian Wang's
photo op with Ban Ki-moon. It was for seeking
to cover the UNCA event in the UN Press
Briefing Room, “lent” without paperwork by
Ban's and Guterres' spokesman Stephane
Dujarric, that Inner City Press was evicted
and is still restricted.
New DPI chief
Alison Smale will have to deal with all this -
and clean it up. For now, this is how the UN
under Guterres remains. Watch this site.
August 21,
2017
On
Kenya, ICP
Asked UN of Monica
Juma Job,
Blogger Alai
Locked Up, UN
Censors
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Exclusive on Juma
UNITED
NATIONS, August 19 – After the murder of
Kenyan electoral official Chris Msando, Inner
City Press on August 1 put the question at the
UN to Secretary General Antonio Guterres'
spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here and
below. After Kenya
moved to de-register a second human rights
group, Inner City Press asked lead UN
Spokesman Stephane Dujarric on August 15, UN
transcript here
and below. Inner City Press has learned, and
exclusively reports, that Kenya(tta) foreign
ministry official
Monica Juma has been offered a top job in
Jeffrey Feltman's UN Department of Political
Affairs, to replace Taye-Brook Zerihoun. She
was granted six months to "sit" on the job, to
help Kenya(tta), as one source put it to Inner
City Press. Now the dismissive or vague
position of today's UN to press freedom is
further exemplified by silence on the reported
detention at gunpoint of blogger Robert Alai,
here. The UN's resident coordinator in Kenya
has for example blocked the critical Press on
Twitter; UN Spokesman Farhan Haq on August 19
had no specific comment when Inner City Press
asked about detentions by Morocco of citizen
journalists reporting on the crackdown in Rif.
(Lead UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric evicted
Inner City Press and still restricts it, for
its coverage in the Press Briefing Room of the
UN bribery case against now-conficted Ng Lap
Seng.) The UN is losing its way, including in
Kenya. On August 18, Inner City Press asked UN
Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq, UN transcript here: Inner
City Press: In Kenya, now the EU has
called for the making public of the local
results. There seems to be more and more
question about the way they were conveyed, and
a lot of international actors that don't have
as big a presence in Nairobi as the UN does
have called for this type of data to be
produced. I wanted to know what is the
UN's… he's already… the Secretary-General's
already, you know, congratulated and
apparently, called the results final,
President Kenyatta, but what is the UN's… does
the UN join these calls for the release of
those data, or what's their position?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, our position has
been that any complaints need to be worked out
through the established system.
Apparently, there are signs from the various
parties that that is what's going on and we
will monitor that process as it continues.
Inner City
Press: And
I wanted to ask. I became aware
yesterday that… that… and I would like you to
confirm that the DPA position currently held
by Tayé-Brook Zerihoun has been offered to a
Monica Juma, who is a Kenyan Government
official in the Foreign Ministry, and I would
like to know… apparently, the position was
given to her, and she was given six months to
take it or not so that this process would take
place.
What is the, what is the status of that second
highest position in DPA currently, and why
wasn't it advertised?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, at this, at this
point, as you know, Mr. Zerihoun has the
post. When there's another appointment
to be made, we'll announce that, but we have
not made another announcement.
Inner City Press: But why wouldn't a position
of that height be, be advertised for people to
apply?
Deputy Spokesman: We have processes
that, that apply to all of the various high
positions. I believe we have competitive
processes, including interview processes, for,
for all of the senior position, and we'll make
the announcement when it happens. I
wouldn't have any confirmation of how this
process was carried about, but, and at this
stage, like I said, I don't have an
announcement for Mr. Zerihoun, even for any
departure. Once we have that
announcement, we'll, we'll make that.
On
August 17, amid lack of transparency about the
detention and itinerary of a UN official on
leave, Inner City Press asked UN Deputy
Spokesman Farhan Haq, UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: as you may know in Kenya,
the former or future DPA (Department of
Political Affairs) employee Roselyn Akombe,
who has given a leave of absence to work on
the Electoral Commission there, attempted to
leave the country and was detained at the
airport. It’s now said that she’s come to New
York for meetings. So, I wanted to know
two things. Number one, is she having
any meeting with the UN, since you said she’s
coming to New York on official business?
Number two, when she was given this leave of
absence — it’s become quite
controversial. As you know, the
commission is getting sued for being not less
than impartial — did the Ethics Office look at
this granting of a leave of absence?
What’s her current status with the UN?
And, also, it’s come up because she appealed
to the US embassy there. For purposes of
UN, is she from Kenya or from the United
States?
Deputy Spokesman: I wouldn’t have any
comment on her nationality. I don’t
comment on the nationality of staff members.
But… [inaudible]
Question: Given that the person was
detained and… okay.
Deputy Spokesman: But I am aware that
she was on a leave of absence. At some
point, I believe, fairly soon, it will be
expiring and then she will return to her
duties in the Department of Political Affairs.
Question: So she has no contacts in the
UN during this week? Because it’s a big
story in Kenya that she’s come to New York and
she says she coming to New York for work
related to the election. So, I guess my
question to you is, does this New York visit
have any UN connection?
Deputy Spokesman: I wouldn’t comment on
her work until she’s re-joined the United
Nations. She’s not… at the time that
she’s on leave, she is a separate
individual. Ms. Akombe, at some point,
will re-join the Department of Political
Affairs, and then she’ll be a UN staffer.
We'll
have more on this - and on Juma. August
14, 2017
On
Yemen, UN Envoy
IOCA Tweets of
Churros
Amid Airstrikes
on Taizz &
Sa'ada,
Censorship
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, August 11 – When the UN Security
Council belatedly met about Yemen on July
12, only three of the Council members
spoke in the open meeting: Uruguay, Bolivia
and Sweden. Uruguay cited an airstrike on a
market and noted that the rebels don't have
air support. Now on August 11 the UN's often
invisible envoy on Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh
Ahmed has gone public on Twitter with his love
of churros, tweeting an article in
Cosmopolitan magazine urging readers to book a
trip to California immediately. Inner City
Press preserved the ice cream shot in a
photograph, here,
in part because IOCA has a pattern of blocking
journalists on Twitter, which the Free UN Coalition
for Access has questioned along with
other UN censorship. On August 8, Inner City
Press asked about the bombings, and the UN's
envoy, to the UN Spokesman. From the UN transcript:
Inner City Press: You may have seen the
International Committee of the Red Cross has
issued deep concern about airstrikes on Sa’ada
and Taizz in great detail. They issued
this today. And so, inevitably people
wonder, given that the UN has a Special Envoy
on Yemen, is he equally as concerned, either
well documented…?
Spokesman: I think we have… The UN
system, through its Resident Coordinator,
expressed its concern at the airstrikes and
the death of children and civilians over the
weekend. Anyone who works for the UN is
obviously troubled and concerned about the
continuing suffering of the civilians, and
that's why the Special Envoy is continuing his
work and trying… and keep… and not giving up
on trying to get the parties around a
political settlement. And I think, if
you… as I'm sure you do pay attention to the
various Security Council briefings, I think
our outrage at the continuing deaths and
suffering of civilians is clear.
And then: Inner
City Press: this came up on a few other
officials, but I've been informed or… that the
UN envoy on Yemen, Mr. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed,
blocks journalists, including a guy, Mr. Shwaib
al Musawa [sic], who's like a… the stringer for
The New York Times who covers Yemen. So,
I'm just wondering, is there some policy from
the top? I haven't seen Mr. Shwaib [sic]
really, you know, be as critical as some others
are of Mr. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, but is
there some guidance from the Secretary-General
that people that are envoys on a country
shouldn't block journalists that are covering
that country?
Spokesman: No, I'm not aware of any
particular guidance. I don't monitor
people's Twitter accounts, who they block, who
they don't block. So, no.August
7, 2017
After
Ng Bribery
Conviction, ICP
Asks UN of Carlos
Garcia, Helped
Bribes,
Still
In UN
UNITED
NATIONS, August 4 – After the UN bribery
verdict of six guilty counts against Ng Lap
Seng was delivered by the jury on July 27,
Inner City Press began asking the UN about the
people still at the UN who were shown to have
worked for or taking money from Ng, or both.
So far the UN has done nothing. For example,
the trial exposed the role of Carlos Garcia,
former Salvadoran Ambassador and since then a
bridge for NGOs, in helping "free" Lorenzo's
bribe money from Ng. On August 4, Inner City
Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN
transcript
here: Inner City Press: has to do with
the Ng Lap Seng case, believe it or not.
In the case, among the evidence that… that
came out leading to the guilty verdict was
evidence of former Permanent Representative of
El Salvador, Carlos Garcia, assisting Francis
Lorenzo in getting ill-gotten gains released
from the Dominican Republic. I've asked
you about him before because, since serving as
a permanent representative, he seems to be a
kind of bridge to NGOs [non-governmental
organizations]. He had an NGO called
Global Governance for the UNSDGs. I
still see him around 1B squiring people
around. So, my request to you is, given…
and, again I don't know if OIOS [Office of
Internal Oversight Services] tracked the case
or not. Given what was shown on the
screen and put into evidence regarding his
assistance in Mr. Francis Lorenzo getting
bribe money released, does he have some, he
has some kind of a pass. Is there some
kind of emeritus status for diplomats, or how
it does it work?
Spokesman: I'm not aware of any em…
emeritus, yeah, emeritus status except for
journalists, so I will look into it.
Thank you.
We'll see
- and we'll follow up. For further example,
during the trial an email was shown that current
UN official Meena Sur emailed back and forth
helping on the brochure for Ng's fraudulent UN
conference center. But even today, in the
Department of General Assembly and Conference
Management organogram,
Meena Sur is the chief of the "Documents
Management Section." Documents for Ng Lap Seng.
There is a history here: for the Dominican
Republic mission, that is Francis Lorenzo, Meena
Sur was also involved with a shadowy IGO "World
Sports Alliance," heavily involved in mining but
not sports. See for example this:
"The World Sports Alliance (WSA) team briefed
President Leonel Fernandez on his 19th September
visit to Baruch College of the City University
of New York during Hispanic Heritage Month. The
World Sports Alliance is a multi-stakeholder
partnership launched by XL Generation
Foundation, Give Them a Hand Foundation, and the
Informal Regional Network of the NGO
Section/DESA that uses sports to create local
economic development and achieve the Millennium
Development Goals. Ambassador Francis Lorenzo of
the Mission of the Dominican Republic to the UN
facilitated the meeting. Ms. Meena Sur,
Programme Officer of the NGO Section/DESA, Mr.
Gordon Tapper,
President of Give them a Hand Foundation, as
well as Mr. Alain Lemieux, President of
the WSA, attended the President’s speech at the
college as Special Guests of thePermanent
Mission of the Dominican Republic." More on this
soon - who in the UN Office of Internal
Oversight Services followed up on any of this?
The UN is corrupt - and incompetent. DGACM's UN
Journal for August 3 calls that day, a Thursday,
"Tuesday." Photo here.
We will continue on this. July
31, 2017
After Bribery
Conviction,
UN Told
Reuters It Wants
to Get Paid,
ICP Asks Why,
Video Here
UNITED
NATIONS, July 28 – After the UN bribery
verdict of six guilty counts against Ng Lap
Seng was delivered by the jury late on July
27, UN Spokesman
Farhan Haq who has
repeatedly dodged questions
about the case from Inner
City Press was quoted
by Reuters that the UN was
"a victim of these crimes"
and later
that "We are exploring the
possibility of requesting
restitution as a victim to
these crimes, including
recovering expenses incurred
to provide the requested
cooperation." Inner City Press
asked UN Spokesman Haq on
July 28 to
explain how the UN is
the victim, and how it
dares say it should be
get for corruption.
Video 8
from Minute 8:40. Haq
said, This is the
position of our Legal
Council. Now Inner
City Press
has asked above. Watch
this site. The
UN even refused to tell the
prosecution whom it spoke to
for its Task Force Report,
which said it has no ethical
standards. The UN will ask
for money, while paying
nothing to the 10,000 people
it killed in Haiti? Reuters
doesn't even raise that - it
has a conflict of
interest. UN official
Ion Butnaru put the name of
Ng's company Sun Kian Ip
Group into a General
Assembly resolution long
after it was voted on, took
a free trip to Macau and an
iPad there. Victim? Ng's
company South South News
bought full page ads in the
ball program of the UN
Correspondents Association,
then went to their ball at
Cipriani and got photos with
then Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon. (Reuters then as
now had a seat on UNCA's
board, something not
disclosed in its coverage of
Ng and the UN). A current UN
official Meena Sur was shown
in the trial to have held on
Ng's brochure for his
planned Macau conference
Center. The UN remains
UNreformed. Inner City
Press, which has covered the
scandal from the beginning
and remains restricted by
the UN for its coverage,
rushed down to the
courthouse and asked Ng Lap
Seng, as he left by the side
door to Worth Street, what
he thinks of the UN and
those there who took his
money and favors, a list
well beyond John Ashe and
Francis Lorenzo. Periscope
video here.
He did not answer,
understandable. He will be
back in court on August 7
for arguments on if his
house arrest can continue.
Before Ng left, Inner City
Press witnessed his lawyers
leaving. They told the judge
they will appeal. But now
that Ng is guilty, will the
UN act on those exposed as
corrupt, and reverse its
censorship?
Ng Lap
Seng's $3 billion UN convention center plan
had been assisted by Meena Sur, still working
for the UN Department of General Assembly and
Conference Management. Inner City Press asked
the UN spokesman Farhan Haq, who dodged by
saying the UN was waiting for the verdict. But
the UN is not on trial, because it has and
cited immunity.
Likewise, high
UN official Navid
Hanif attended Ng Lap Seng's murky
event in Macau in August 2015, and remains at
at the UN. Spokesman Haq refused to answer
about him, while telling Inner City Press that
lower UN staff member Frances Fuller
“separated from service” in September 2016,
just after Inner City Press asked about her.
Francis
Lorenzo, who took more money from Ng than the
now deceased John Ashe, was given
a UN.org email address by DGACM despite never
being pictured among Ashe's Special Advisers,
and never giving up his day job as the
Dominican Republic's Deputy Permanent
Representative.
Even on July
26, DGACM's Executive Officer told Inner City
Press that the UN still hands such UN
credential to anyone whom a President of the
General Assembly tells them too. So nothing
has been reformed.
The Department
of Public Information under Cristina
Gallach took Ng Lap Seng's money for its
slavery memorial, and allowed fraudulent
events in the UN lobby. But UN lead
spokesman Stephane Dujarric, who allowed the
content of Ng's South South News to be
included in UNTV archives under his watch,
said this was just an issue of “judgment,” not
malfeasance.
The UN
Correspondents Association, to whom Dujarric “lent” the UN
Press Briefing Room then evicted and still
restricts Inner City Press for seeking to
cover the event
to see if they discussed taking South South
News' money and providing a venue for Ng's
photo op with Ban Ki-moon, did not have a
single member correspondent covering the
month-long UN bribery case. Other dubious
events were being hosted.
And so, while
awaiting the jury's verdict on Ng Lap Seng -
which may be not guilty given how corrupt the
UN and the star witness against him Francis
Lorenzo have been shown to be - it is clear
that the UN has not reformed and remains
corruption and a censor, seven months into the
reign of “new” Secretary General Antonio
Guterres. It is the UN that should be
prosecuted, or invited to leave. Watch this
site.
Legal footnotes:
counsel to Ng Lap Seng, Park Jensen Bennett,
Partners Tai H Park and Douglas Jensen in New
York; and Alexandra Shapiro in New York;
Assistant US attorneys Douglas Zolkind, Janis
Echenberg and Daniel Richenthal of the US
Attorney’s Office, David Last, on detail with
the criminal division fraud section's FCPA unit.July
24, 2017
In
UN Bribery
Case of
Ng Lap Seng, South
South News Paid
Ashe Wife, UN
Staff &
Contractors
UNITED
NATIONS, July 21 –In the ongoing UN bribery
trial of Ng Lap Seng, on July 21 the bookkeeper
of Ng's South South News Ms Jianqing Zhu
testified that former President of the General
Assembly John Ashe's wife was paid $6,000 a
month; the memo on the check as "Antigua -
wife." The records shown in court showed South
South News payment to UN staff members and UN
contractors - the UN is covering this up, with
its usually collaborators. We'll have more on
this. On July 20 Ms. Zhu testified how she
transferred Ng's funds to pay for salary,
clothes, luggage and rent for Vivian Wang and
Francis Lorenzo, who had a UN.org email address.
When she testified that South South News got a
"good deal" by buying two Mercedes rather that
just one, jury members burst out laughing. The
day ended with the prosecution walking her
through spread sheets of payment for "UN
events," on which we'll have more. After the
jury was excused for the day, there was
discussion of a jury charge that it is not
uncommon for witnesses to be spoken with by the
parties, that they can be weight but doesn't
have to be by the jury. Inner City Press'
Periscope videos here
and here
and here;
Inner City Press had to run back to the UN to
get its computer before 7 pm under the
censorship order imposed by the UN Department of
Public Information after Inner City Press sought
to cover a meeting, in the UN Press Briefing
Room, of the UN Correspondents Association which
took Ng's South South News' money for full page
ads then provided the venue for Ng's photos with
Ban Ki-moon. On July 19 the FBI agent who
arrested Ng and his accountant Jeffrey Yin began
to testify. He brought into evidence before an
increasingly bemused jury long videos of Ng's
proposed development in Macau, which had a
larger residential component than the "Geneva of
Asia" conference center which served as its
rationale. It was described as a shopping center
on reclaimed land, with "gaming" - which should
have disqualified it under UN system rules, but
didn't. The UN is corrupt and for sale, this
trial is making clear. In Ng's black Samsonite
suitcase were the promotional materials, a
series of DVDs screened by "Ms. Rao" (phonetic)
as translations were handed out to the jury.
South South News payroll information came into
evidence, with John Ashe's wife (widow) now
listed, along with Juan Paulino and others. Also
on July 19 the prosecution showed the jury wire
transfers of $200,000 labeled "Lorenzo Wires"
for government witness Francis Lorenzo, via one
Luis Guerra of "Terra Trading in the Dominican
Republic, as well as one of Lorenzo's UN.org
business cards, found in the possession of Ng's
accountant Jeffrey Yin, who like Lorenzo has
pleaded guilty. On July 20 Inner City Press
asked UN Spokesman Farhan Haq about Francis
Lorenzo having a un.org email address while
serving as the Deputy Permanent Representative
of the Dominican Republic (and head of South
South News). Haq refused to answer, transcript here,
telling Inner City Press to ask the office of
the President of the General Assembly. So Inner
City Press has, cc-ing Haq: "First, please
confirm or deny that Lorenzo had a un.org email
address as a “Special Adviser to the PGA” as
reflected on the business card confiscated by
the FBI. Second, please state what the rules are
for getting a UN.org email address, where the
complete list is available so that the public is
not defrauded, and how the Office of the PGA
distributes un.org email addresses to non UN
staff. There may be more questions but these are
on deadline." Of course, Haq evading the
question by saying to ask it to the Office of
the current President of the General Assembly
was an evasion: that office's Daniel Thomas has
for now responded that "each Presidency is very
different in nature. We have no one on our team
who was present for OPGA 68." Watch this site.
The UN's repeated attempts to distance itself
from the corruption being documented in the
Federal courthouse in lower Manhattan are, it is
becoming clear, merely evasions. Also entered
into evidence were videos and photographs of
then UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon with
Lorenzo and others, similar to those arranged
at the Cipriani's ball of the UN Correspondents
Association, which accepted payment for full
page ads from Ng's and Lorenzo's South South
News. Here
is Inner City Press' Periscope video after
leaving the courthouse (which does not allow
cameras or phones to come in), here
the rushed re-entry into the UN, with UN
Security in view. We'll have more on this.
On July 17 the defense argued to get into
evidence videos including one of a visit to
South South News and a number of UN Ambassadors
by the Dominican Republic's then-President
Leonel Fernandez Reyna. Video here.
July
17, 2017
On UN
Bribery Case of
Ng Lap Seng, UN
Won't Answer on
DGACM, Says
DPI "Issue
of Judgment"
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, July 14 –In the ongoing UN bribery
trial of Ng Lap Seng, on July 13 a UN witness,
for which the UN only partially waived its
claimed immunity, testified that Ng Lap Seng as
a gambling casino magnate should have been
excluded from any business with the UN
Development Program, or all review of dealing
with him "escalated" to then Administrator Helen
Clark. The witness, Simon Hannaford of UNDP, was
walked through UNDP documents about due
diligence and yes, the UN Global Compact. But Ng
Lap Seng gave money to UNDP's Office of South
South Cooperation, for the Macau event that had
UN Secretariat (and UN Correspondents
Association) attendance. So who has been held
accountable? Inner City Press rushed from the
courthouse and to the UN noon briefing, through
the tourist entrance since the UN Department of
Public Information and the Spokesman Stephane
Dujarric had it evicted and still restricted.
But when Inner City Press asked Dujarric simple
questions, such as about the scope of the waiver
the UN gave for Hannaford's testimony and who
has been held accountable for taking Ng's money,
Dujarric refused to answer a single question.
Dujarric claimed that OSSC, which has not held
any press conference, is accessible and
transparent. False. So on July 14, Inner City
Press asked again, specifically about
accountability at the Department of General
Assembly and Conference Management, where a GA
resolution was changed to include Ng Lap Seng's
company's name, and the Department of Public
Information. Video
here. This time Dujarric said that "the
audit" shows that there was an "issue of
judgment," not malfeasance at DPI. Well, here
is the audit. And, while at DPI Dujarric was in
charge of UNTV when, mysteriously, video of Ng'
South South News got incorporated into UNTV
archives. We'll have more on this. Watch this
site.July
10, 2017
On
Burundi, After
ICP Asked UN
Repatriated
Mayuyu, Now to
Somalia,
DSG to Act or
Not?
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, July 7 -- The
UN's lack
of vetting of
peacekeepers, exposed
by Inner City Press
then as credited
by the Washington
Post as to Burundi,
has continued under
Secretary General Antonio
Guterres and,
at least until
now, his
deputy Amina J.
Mohammed. On
July 7
Mohammed told
the UN's
Chiefs of
Defense to
only "send us
personnel with
spotless
backgrounds."
Video here. But
will she accept the UN
allowing Burundi's
Colonel Mayuyu, which
the UN itself
repatriated for abuse,
to be sent out to act on
civilians in Somalia, in
the UN
supported AMISOM? It
will be a
test - one
failed
so far on
ongoing
censorship of
the Press. Ten
days after Inner City
Press asked Guterres'
holdover spokesman
Stephane Dujarric
about UN
"pre-deployment" training
for Major Gahomera, linked
to the 12/12
massacre in Burundi,
there has been
no answer. Now it
emerges that
one of the
Burundian
officers that after
Inner City Press
inquiries in
2016 was
repatriated
from the UN
mission in the
Central
African
Republic,
Colonel
Mayuyu, is being
sent back out
again by Burundi,
to the UN-supported
mission in
Somalia.
Photographs here;
September 16,
2016 Vine video
still here.
On July
6, Inner City
Press asked
Dujarric about
it, video here, UN transcript hereJuly
3, 2017
On
Haiti, ICP
Asks Guterres
Spox If New
Cholera Envoy
Against
Reparations,
No Answer
UNITED
NATIONS, June 30 – Days after UN cholera victims
told Inner
City Press in Haiti that the
"community projects"
UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres
described
to the
Press would be
useless to
them, Guterres'
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric
dodged
questions
about what
the victims
said, from
Inner City Press. This
while Guterres
is recruiting
a "victims'
advocate" - on
every issue
except those
the UN killed?
Video here.
On June
30 Inner City
Press asked
Dujarric, UN
transcript here: Inner
City Press: in
the Council,
there was the
report
on the
Council's
visit to
Haiti. [Periscope here.]
And the issue
of cholera
came up.
The
re-investor
reported, I
guess, what
was heard
inside the
meeting.
Outside the
meeting was…
things were…
were spicier
still in terms
of the UN, you
know, not
living up to
what people
believe was
said.
I've seen a
picture of
Josette
Sheeran
briefing, I
guess, at the
Canadian
Mission.
Is it possible
in early July
to get her
here to
describe what
her work's
going to be
and…
Spokesman:
We can see
what we can
do.
Inner
City Press: to
your
knowledge, has
anything been
raised or does
she have a
position on
individual
reparations? [@InnerCityPress
also asked on
Twitter, here.]
Spokesman:
We'll see what
we can do.
Past 4 pm,
nothing, even as
approved
peacekeeping
mission
budgets were
still being
withheld. On
June 28 Inner
City Press
asked Dujarric
if Guterres'
supposedly
"new" approach to the
cholera the UN
brought to
Haiti meant he
will continue
to seek
impunity. From
the UN transcript:
at
least two
federal court
cases about
the UN having
introduced
cholera to
Haiti.
In this case
that's in
Brooklyn,
where they're
arguing that…
that the UN
essentially
waived the
immunities
that it's
claiming by
having a
mechanism to
deal with
negligence,
which I think
most people
would say this
was, as
opposed to
intentional,
is there
anything in
the new
Secretary-General's
new approach
to cholera
that will be
reflected in a
response, or
is it the UN's
continuing
response that
it bears no
legal
responsibility
at all?
Spokesman:
Our legal
position is
unchanged.
The UN's
effort as
outlined by
the
Secretary-General
is focusing on
preventing the
spread or
resurgence of
cholera in
Haiti and
helping
communities in
a first
instance.
Inner
City Press:
And what's the
status of his
discussions
with countries
about the $40
million that…?
Spokesman:
I've nothing
more to say
than what the
Secretary-General
himself
announced.
From
the UN's June 27
transcript:
Inner City
Press: in
Haiti, as the
Security
Council made
its trip,
various people
approached
the… the Press
that was part
of the trip
and said very
clearly that
they
interpreted
what Amina
Mohammed and
Mr. [António]
Guterres had
said as a
retrenchment,
as a stepping
back from the
idea of
possible
individual
reparations
that was in
the November
2016 report by
then Secretary General
Ban
Ki-moon.
And one
gentleman, 57
years old, who
has had
cholera and
his spouse
died, said:
"Community
projects are
useless to me,
do nothing for
me." And
I wanted to
understand
more
clearly,
Farhan [Haq]
ended up
saying that
there's still
some
consideration
of
individual
reparations.
That's not
really the way
that I read what
the Secretary
General said.
What is the
current
thinking of
the
Secretary-General
on attempting
to make at
least some
type of
reparatory
payment to
people whose
relatives got
cholera and
died and have
to educate
their
children?
Spokesman:
First of all,
our hearts go
out to all the
people who
suffered from
the cholera
epidemic,
either
personally or
through the
loss of loved
ones. I
think the
Secretary-General
and the Deputy
Secretary-General
were very
clear in
outlining the
way
forward.
The focus will
be initially
on
community-based
projects, and
we're taking
things one
step at a
time.
But, I can't
really go any
further than
what the
Secretary-General
himself said.
Inner
City Press:
But, he seemed
to say that
individual was
not being
considered.
Spokesman:
Things are
progressing.
We're taking
things one
step at a
time.
So
what has been the
United Nations' real impact
on Haiti? There will be
longer answers to that
questions - watch this site
- but for now a vignette.
After two days of speed
meetings with the President,
parliamentarians, police
trainers, proud peacekeepers
from India and Brazil, some
civil society reps followed
by businessmen with flash
drives, a UN bus raced over
ragged streets on June 24.
Inside, European
staffers of the UN's MINUSTAH
mission fretted about the
addition of a vague paragraph
about the cholera the UN
brought in a statement soon to
read out at the MINUSTAH
Logistics Base. Outside the
bus, Haitians pushing heavy
cartloads of fruit, riding in
in backs of pickup trucks
pushed ot the side by the UN
convoy, stared out, some in
anger. The Press, along for
the ride, heard
the day before from residents
of Cite Soleil who lost
relatives to the cholera the
UN brought, with criminally
negligent inattention to
sanitation for troops brought
in from a cholera hot-spot in
Nepal, who got cholera
themselves. “The UN has to pay
for this,” one said. “What
good would a community plaza
be fore me?” But it is
community projects that new UN
Secretary General Antonio
Guterres is offering, as he
told Inner City Press back in
UN headquarters. The Security
Council delegation that
visited Haiti June 22-24
repeated over and over they
support the Secretary
General's “new” approach. But
what is new about it? We'll
have more on this. When
the UN Security Council
visited Haiti's Presidential
Palace on Thursday, they heard
about the cholera the UN
brought, specifically that the
$40 million remaining in the
MINUSTAH mission's budget
should remain behind. On
Saturday morning, the Security
Council's president for June
Sasha Sergia Llorentty Soliz
held a press conference at the
MINUSTAH mission's "Log-Base."
Periscope video here.
Inner City Press asked him
about the UN cholera victims
it has spoken with the day
before, who said that the UN
must pay individual
reparations, not community
project that are of no use to
them. He said that messages
had been heard. We will follow
up on this in New York - and
in Haiti on the intimidation
and under-payment of judges. June
26, 2017
In
Haiti, UN
Sweats How To
Phrase Evasion
on Cholera It
Brought, Its
Victims
UNheard
NEW YORK, June
25 – What has been
the United Nations' impact
on Haiti? There will be
longer answers to that
questions - watch this site
- but for now a vignette.
After two days of speed
meetings with the President,
parliamentarians, police
trainers, proud peacekeepers
from India and Brazil, some
civil society reps followed
by businessmen with flash
drives, a UN bus raced over
ragged streets on June 24.
Inside, European
staffers of the UN's MINUSTAH
mission fretted about the
addition of a vague paragraph
about the cholera the UN
brought in a statement soon to
read out at the MINUSTAH
Logistics Base. Outside the
bus, Haitians pushing heavy
cartloads of fruit, riding in
in backs of pickup trucks
pushed ot the side by the UN
convoy, stared out, some in
anger. The Press, along for
the ride, heard
the day before from residents
of Cite Soleil who lost
relatives to the cholera the
UN brought, with criminally
negligent inattention to
sanitation for troops brought
in from a cholera hot-spot in
Nepal, who got cholera
themselves. “The UN has to pay
for this,” one said. “What
good would a community plaza
be fore me?” But it is
community projects that new UN
Secretary General Antonio
Guterres is offering, as he
told Inner City Press back in
UN headquarters. The Security
Council delegation that
visited Haiti June 22-24
repeated over and over they
support the Secretary
General's “new” approach. But
what is new about it? We'll
have more on this. When
the UN Security Council
visited Haiti's Presidential
Palace on Thursday, they heard
about the cholera the UN
brought, specifically that the
$40 million remaining in the
MINUSTAH mission's budget
should remain behind. On
Saturday morning, the Security
Council's president for June
Sasha Sergia Llorentty Soliz
held a press conference at the
MINUSTAH mission's "Log-Base."
Periscope video here.
Inner City Press asked him
about the UN cholera victims
it has spoken with the day
before, who said that the UN
must pay individual
reparations, not community
project that are of no use to
them. He said that messages
had been heard. We will follow
up on this in New York - and
in Haiti on the intimidation
and under-payment of judges.
The Security Council got a
briefing from India's Assam
Rifles, complete with a slide
about the unit's history in
Sri Lanka. (More on that to
follow). Outside, rifles and
riot suppression equipment was
displayed. A short bus ride
led to the Brazilian camp,
fruit juices and what felt
like the wrap up of the visit.
Should UN peacekeeping
contingents buy more of what
they use from the countries
they deploy to? More on this
to follow, too. Back on Friday
when the Security Council met
at the country's Cour de
Cassation, invitee Massillon
told them and then the Press
that some judges in Haiti
can't even afford any law
books, work surrounded by
garbage and are subject to
intimidation and corruption.
Another invitee told Inner
City Press that while
Massillon "said what had to be
said," he had offended UN
Envoy Sandra Honore with his
criticism of MINUSTAH's
performance. Who will head
MINUJUSTH? (In a bad joke,
some call it Mini-Jupe or
mini-skirt, as some in the
Congo have ajudge MONUSCO to
be MONUSELESS.) We are putting
Massillon's and a colleague's
later audio up on sound-cloud;
Inner City Press asked again
about Haitian judges' paltry
salaries. Earlier on Friday
there was a protest while the
Security Council met with the
"private sector." A bus full
of UN cholera victims was
pressured to leave - but then
returned, along with advocate
Mario Joseph, and spoke with
the Press. Long Periscope with
Mario Joseph near the end here;
second Periscope turned into
YouTube here.
Uniformly, the call was for
individual reparations. Of a
57 year old victim who can now
barely walk it was asked, what
good would a community plaza
do for him? But that is what
the UN, when Inner City Press
last asked, is offering. Done
with the private sector, the
Security Council drove a short
way to the Cour de Cassation.
The UN stands for justice?
Cholera was less pointedly
raised after the meeting with
President Moise by his acting
(for a day?) foreign minister,
and was the subject of the
sole questioner allowed.
Video here.
Friday when after
a closed door meeting with
Parliamentarians - the Army
came up, wit the US - the
Security Council had lunch
with invited civil society
members, there was a place set
for cholera advocate Mario
Joseph, next to Camille
Chalmers. At first he wasn't
there, and those who'd
specifically invited him
wondered why. Then he rolled
in. But the Press was already
told to wait outside, under a
beautiful red flowering tree,
and wait for the "private
sector" to arrive. Earlier on
Friday, the Security Council
drove uphill to the Parc de
Martissant and each placed a
white rose at the earthquake
memorial. FOKAL President Ms
Duvivier brought up the UN's
cholera and how little money
the UN has raised; the artist
Ms. Monnin explained her
hanging heads of concrete and
metal, with shattered mirrors
on top. It spoke for itself. A
small drone buzzed overhead.
At the Council's next meeting,
the Press was not even left in
for five minutes. Earlier the
delegation was escorted
(run-up Periscope here)
to the Haitian National Police
School, where just as a
meeting including the Prime
Minister began, the Press was
ushered out. For now, tweeted
photo
here. In the School
courtyard, roosters could be
heard crowing, and cadets
singing during training. "Vous
est journaliste?" a man asked,
hand on his sidearm. Oui, je
suis journaliste. Nothing yet
on cholera, except finally
some talk of new UN
(part-time) envoy Josette
Sheeran and her past. We'll
have more on this.
On this too: in the MINUSTAH mission the talk is
of re-applying for posts in the new, smaller MINUJUSTH
replacement set to start October 16, 2017. The
UN's presence become routinized. There is a
former star of the UN Budget Committee, now
working on political affairs; there's Security
from other Security Council trips - one in which
a UN Security officer fired a bullet inside the
UN plane, leaving Ambassadors and the press on a
bus ride from Goma to Kigali in Rwanda. There
are long-time UN communications people and
ex-pat journalists. There is a dismissive or
perhaps fatalistic view of those Haitians
protesting the UN's presence and impact. Then
there are Haitians striving, setting up small
businesses in nooks and crannies by the side of
the road, while French business people fly in
for contracts, assisted by their country's
ambassador Elisabeth Beton, who spoke June 22 on
TV Metropole about Bollore, Total and Suez. What
is the UN's role in this? After the June 22
meeting, Haiti's acting foreign minister spoke
on cholera, that the $40 million unspent by
MINUSTAH should remain in-country. But will it?
In the UN Budget Committee there's talk against
it, as a bad precedent. Wasn't bringing cholera,
and then denying it for six years, a worse
precedent? Sui generis. Earlier on Thursday
morning, the country's booming voiced Ambassador
to the UN was at the airport to greet the
Council members. Protests, too, awaited -
although MINUSTAH staff, and a Haiti-based
European journalist, mocked the protest as
small. In the minibus that took the
Council members up into the hills to the Royal
Oasis Hotel, the talk was of the wind-down of
the MINUSTAH mission, begun after the ouster of
President Aristide in 2004, of access for
interpreters but barely - five minutes at each
meeting? - for the press. a meeting was
held with the UN Country
Team. The Press was
ushered about amid generic
statistics from the Deputy
SRSG. Civil
society, however, has been chiming in with the
Press. When UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres held a press conference on June 20,
Inner City Press about the UN having brought
cholera to Haiti under his predecessor Ban
Ki-moon but now reneging even on what Ban
belatedly proposed for individual reparations.
Inner City Press mentioned upcoming protests in
Haiti that it will be covering from there, June
22 and 23, accompanying the UN Security Council
mission which took off from JFK airport early on
June 22. Photo here,
Periscope video here.
Guterres announced that he was just then -
minutes later the announcement went out - naming
as a new special envoy on Haiti Josette Sheeran,
formerly the director of the UN World Food
Program and now the head of the Asia Society.
Video here.
Transcript here.
He seemed to say the UN was never going to
compensate individuals or families impacted by
the cholera the UN brought. June
19, 2017
UN
Killed 10,000
in Haiti, Spox
Claims UN
Listens, ICP
Asks of UNSC
Visit
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, June 16 – While in some places the UN
system may be doing good work, its killing of
more and 10,000 Haitians with cholera, and its
years of denial, have been a low point. On
June 14 the new (well, 162 day old) UN
presented what it called a new approach on
cholera - not long after Secretary General
Antonio Guterres' delayed approach to the UN's
lead poisoning victims in Kosovo was
criticized. Inner City Press asked the UN
about it on June 16, in the run-up to the UN
Security Council's visit to Haiti next week
(we will cover that). From the UN's June 16
noon briefing, video
here, transcript:
Inner City Press: on Haiti, I went back and
looked at what Amina Mohammed said, that
'there are no funds for Track 2, and we
propose to take a community approach. ' And
I'm sure you've seen a number of advocates —
Mario Joseph, other well-known, long-time
Haiti cholera activists — have said this is an
outrage, that basically what the
Secretary-General announced, Ban Ki-moon at
the end of his tenure, is being totally
rejected, and any consultation with the
affected communities will take place after
this speech by Amina Mohammed.
Spokesman: I don't think it's being
rejected. I think I was asked this
question yesterday. We, obviously, are
eagerly awaiting funds. But, I think… I
don't think there's been a change. The
challenge for us is the lack of funding.
Inner City
Press: But
the sentence "we propose to take a community
approach", that seems pretty definitive.
That seems like, this is the approach that
we're taking. Before there were
two. Now there's one.
Spokesman: This is the approach that is
being taken now. I think it's one step
at a time, as we had said in the beginning.
Inner City Press: There's an upcoming
visit by the Security Council to Haiti.
Do you expect… how is the Secretary-General
going to hear from the affected communities,
what they believe should happen?
Spokesman: Well, I think, first of all,
through our staff on the ground. And, as
we've said, we would be appointing an envoy
soon.
We'll
see.
June
12, 2017
On
Cameroon, Failing Fall's
UNOCA
Site Out of
Date and
Broken,
Inaccurate
Report Here
UNITED
NATIONS, June 10 – After Inner City Press
repeatedly asked UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres and his spokesman about Cameroon's
Internet cut-off and abuses, the UN's answer
after its Resident Coordinator Najat Rochdi was
shown to block the Press and then left for the
Central African Republic was that the UN Office
on Central Africa (UNOCA) envoy Francois Lonseny
Fall would be visiting in May. This turned out
to be misleading like so much with today's UN,
including the UN's celebration of World
Environment, see below. A review of UNOCA's
website finds its most recent magazine is from
2014, photo
here, and the link to its May 31, 2017
report (excerpted below) doesn't work. So Inner
City Press has put the full report online, here.
June
5, 2017
Cameroon
Visit of UN's
Fall Cites
Human Rights
Concerns, UN Tells
ICP, After 4
Days'
Questions
UNITED
NATIONS, June 2 – After Inner City Press
repeatedly asked UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres and his spokesman about Cameroon's
Internet cut-off and abuses, the UN's answer
was that its Central Africa envoy Francois
Lonseny Fall would be visiting in May. It
turns out it would be in (early) June, and it
would mostly be about Boko Haram.
On June 1,
Inner City Press asked again - still nothing -
and then on June 2, transcript here:
Inner City
Press: to ask again about this Cameroon thing,
but I wanted to ask because it was said that
[Francois] Loncény Fall would be there in late
May. Many people were kind of waiting to
hear what he had to say. Yesterday, his
whereabouts, I guess, according to Stéphane,
were not known. What is his comment now
that he's returned to the country?
Deputy Spokesman: Yes, we're checking
with our DPA colleagues what we can say about
Mr. Loncény Fall's travels. Once we have
an update, we'll share it.
And
hours later, this: "To Matthew Russell Lee,
Inner City Press Re Your Question on Cameroon:
As mentioned previously, the United Nations
Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) and
the UN Country Team in Cameroon continue to
follow events in the country closely. The
Special Representative of the
Secretary-General for Central Africa and Head
of UNOCA, François Louncény Fall, was in
Yaoundé, Cameroon, this week, for the 44th
Ministerial meeting of the United Nations
Standing Advisory Committee on Security
Questions in Central Africa (UNSAC), during
which Cameroon took over the chairmanship of
the Committee. This is SRSG Fall’s fifth
visit to the country since November 2016. He
took this opportunity to meet with a wide
range of Cameroonian interlocutors to address
the persisting tensions and human rights
concerns. SRSG Fall will continue
efforts to engage with all relevant parties
and to monitor the situation in close
cooperation with the Office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
(OHCHR). "
We'll
see. Representative of the UN system as a
whole, the UN Committee on the Rights of the
Child when it met about Cameroon's report on
May 30 did not ask a single recorded question
about the Anglophone areas, the Internet
cut-off or the GCE scam. It seems it is
today's UN that is a scam. Marie-Therese Abena
Ondoa, Minister for the Promotion of the Woman
and the Family of Cameroon, sung the praises
of the 34-year Paul Biya government. The UN's
Rapporteur on Cameroon, the former Minister of
Health from Togo, Suzanne Aho Assouma, joined
in the praise, as if like France's Ambassador
to the UN told Inner City Press the Internet
cut off was never heard of. Call it
FrancAfrique, reaching all the way into
today's UN Headquarters. Also on May 30 Inner
City Press asked Guterres spokesman Stephane
Dujarric, UN transcript here:
Inner City
Press: I wanted to ask you, on Cameroon, you'd
said that in May Mr. Francois Loncény Fall
would be going to the country. I don't
know if that's true. I know that he's
going in early June. And I just wanted
to make sure that you were referring to this
meeting of regional security that seems to be
almost entirely about Boko Haram and [Central
African Republic]. Is there anything…
can you say what his agenda is there and if
he's going to raise the Anglophone issue?
Spokesman: I will check.
Eight
hours later, typically, nothing. Cameroon's UN
Ambassador Tommo Monthe, who told Inner City
Press that Paul Biya stands ready to cut the
Internet again, and partied with UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres' Deputy SG and chief
of staff while singing songs for Chantal Biya,
is already at the meeting Fall will attend.
Tommo Monthe is quoted, "We need to exchange
views on all these insecurity situations
before we bring it back to the UN during its
forthcoming general assembly session." On May
29 Fall issued this canned quote: "We will
continue to support efforts of the subregion
in its determination to prevent, to combat and
to bring an end to the uncontrolled flow of
arms in Central Africa. This would strengthen
confidence among states and reassure the
population, the main victims of this
phenomenon, which is also a hindrance to the
sustainable development of Central Africa."
This is the focus on Lonseny Fall's much-hyped
visit to Yaounde, while Guterres' Deputy SG
and chief of staff party with Paul Biya's
representative amid songs
for Chantal Biya and French champagne.
We'll have more on this. Well over a week ago,
Inner City Press asked UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres' holdover spokesman Stephane
Dujarric about Cameroon administering in areas
to which it cut off the Internet for 94 days a
General Certificate of Education test,
specifically citing UNESCO. Dujarric said he
would look into it. Having received no answer
even as Guterres' Deputy and Chief of Staff
appeared at Cameroon's (boycotted) national
day, on May 23 Inner City Press asked again
about this, and Amnesty International's press
conference on 10 year sentences to students
(whose jokes included the GCEs) being shut
down. After Dujarric on May 25 had no answer
on this, on May 26 Inner City Press asked his
deputy, Farhan Haq, UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: Do you have anything on
Cameroon and Amnesty, the closing down of the
Amnesty press conference about 10-year jail
sentences for students that I asked Stéphane
about two days ago?
Deputy Spokesman: What we can say is
simply that we hope that the freedom of
expression and freedom of assembly will be
respected in Cameroon. Have a good
weekend, everyone.
That's
it? On May 24 Dujarric said he had an answer
from UNESCO - that he never provided to Inner
City Press, and apparently would never have,
if not asked again. From the UN transcript:
Inner City Press: today in Yaoundé, Cameroon,
Amnesty International had scheduled a press
conference about three teenager students
sentenced to ten-year prison sentences for
joking in text messages about Boko
Haram. So, I wanted to know, they…
basically, this was closed down. The press
conference was disallowed. Many human
rights groups have said it's an outrage. And I
noticed yesterday evening, the Deputy
Secretary-General and the Chef de Cabinet were
both at the National Day of Cameroon on 73rd
Street in New York. So, I wanted to
know, what does the UN think of… of this
country that just recently celebrated its
National Day with these two officials shutting
out Amnesty International, sentencing students
to ten-year prison sentences…
Spokesman: I'll look into the
case. I have not…
Inner City Press: Did you ever look into
the testing thing? I'd asked you about
administering a test…
Spokesman: Yes, I think… we were given
some guidance by UNESCO...
Now here it
is: "Your question on the Cameroon tests:
Regarding a previous query on a test being
administered in the Anglophone regions of
Cameroon despite the regions being affected by
school closures and a internet blackout, while
this is not an issue covered by UNOCA, but
rather UNESCO, UNOCA has informed that there
have been reports of abstentions from the
examinations in the North West and South-West
regions of the country. We are not aware of
any reports of these tests being taken at
gunpoint. Nonetheless it is of concern
that these examinations [General Certificate
of Education] were held, despite school
closures and the internet blackout for over
three months, which disrupted normal
activities. However that is an issue for the
relevant national authorities to respond to.
UNOCA, in close cooperation with the Acting
Resident Coordinator, is monitoring the
situation in the North West and South West
regions of Cameroon and will continue to
liaise with the authorities to promote a
peaceful resolution to the grievances of the
Anglophone population."
While the UN
Security Council visited Cameroon during the 94
day Internet cut off and said nothing publicly
about it (but see below), Inner City Press has
obtained and has exclusively published
on Patreon and now Scribd,
here Cameroon's "Urgent and Confidential"
letter to the UN Security Council, about
weapons. On May 23, Inner City Press went to the
New York event for Cameroon's "National" Day,
which was boycotted in the Anglophone regions of
the country. In New York, however, UN Deputy
Secretary General Amina J. Mohammad and Antonio
Guterres' Chef de Cabinet Maria Luiza Ribeiro
Viotti attended, along with French Permanent
Representative to the UN Francois Delattre,
Burundi's Albert Shingiro and others. Video here.May
29, 2017
ICP
Asked UNSG
Guterres for
Speech, Haiti
Read-out, None
Provided, Now
S Korea -
Japan, Money
Talks?
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, May 28 – Inner City Press asked UN
Secretary General Antonio Guterres why he
hasn't released his budget speech, or reform
plans on May 25, the day after Guterres'
spokesman Stephane Dujarric refused to provide
the speech to Inner City Press when it asked.
Guterres paused then said it should be public,
seeming to believe that Dujarric had, in fact,
released it. Video
here. But he had not and has not, after
three days later. Instead, Dujarric's office
has selectively provided read-outs of some few
of Guterres' meeting, to some on the basis of
the money or power of the countries requesting
transparency. Previously, Inner City Press
asked Dujarric three times for any read-out of
Guterres' meeting with the Dominican Republic'
foreign minister, who afterward said the issue
of the UN's dubious impact on Haiti was
discussed. No read-out was provided, Now,
Dujarric issues the below, what's the
difference? "n response to questions received
on the meeting between the Secretary-General
and Prime Minister Abe of Japan, the Spokesman
had the following to say: During their meeting
in Sicily, the Secretary-General and Prime
Minister Abe did discuss the issue of
so-called “comfort women”. The
Secretary-General agreed that this is a matter
to be solved by an agreement between Japan and
the Republic of Korea. The Secretary-General
did not pronounce himself on the content of a
specific agreement but on the principle that
it is up to the two countries to define the
nature and the content of the solution for
this issue. Regarding the report of Special
Rapporteurs, the Secretary-General told the
Prime Minister that Special Rapporteurs are
experts that are independent and report
directly to the Human Rights Council." Again,
what's the difference? On May 26 Dujarric's
deputy Farhan Haq again refused,
video here,
saying that the UN responds to member states
(not We the Peoples). It was Dujarric who
evicted Inner City Press, and has kept it
restricted in its movements in the UN for the
144 days so far of Guterres' tenure. On May
25, Inner City Press asked Dujarric again, video
here
On May 26, Inner City Press asked Dujarric's
deputy Farhan Haq, video here,
UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: Jeffrey Feltman said that
the proposal for the new office has been, I
guess, approved by the Advisory Committee on
Administrative and Budgetary Questions.
And since yesterday in this room, the idea was
that's all confidential, I wanted to just
know, first, is it true, did Mr. Feltman say
that? Is it true that ACABQ has signed
off on it? And if it's true that the UN
can speak about ACABQ, can we get a copy of
the Secretary-General's speech to ACABQ given
earlier this week?
Deputy Spokesman: No. The, the
speech was basically about the budget
proposals which are available as a document,
as Stéphane pointed out earlier this week.
Inner City
Press:
I, I searched it, and it said document not
available on the UN document site. I’d
like the speech.
Deputy Spokesman: You know, you can deal
with my colleagues with the document, but
there's no remarks to share for the
public. Regarding the particular
proposal, there's a proposal that's going to
go before the General Assembly, and you'll be
able to see what happens once they consider
it.
Inner City
Press:
Right, but I guess it goes back to [inaudible]
question. In most Governments in the
world, an executive like the
Secretary-General, the executive branch, will
announce publicly what its proposals
are. Just the fact that to only announce
it after it's been approved by the Member
States doesn't seem to make sense if you're
pronouncing reforms and if there's public
interest in how the UN works. What's the
problem with releasing the speech?
Deputy Spokesman: This is not a
Government. This is an organization
bringing together Governments. And what
we try to do is engage in dialogue with
governments in order to flesh out these
proposals. Ultimately, it's not
finalized until the various governments agree
on this. You simply can't argue that
something's not transparent if it goes to 193
Governments. That's a lot of
people. It's not a secret process by any
means. All of them are involved in this
discussion.
Inner City Press: But, I've heard the
Secretary-General say he wants to open up the
UN to civil society and the public and we the
people, so I guess I'm just wondering, is
there something in that ACABQ speech that's so
confidential that it can't, as I took him to
understand on the steps, just be released and
made public?
Deputy Spokesman: No. It's not
confidential, but it's part of a dialogue with
Member States. And we try to engage the
Member States directly in that dialogue.
So, public
be damned? UN May 25 transcript here:
Inner City Press: I just now asked the
Secretary-General about what I had asked you
yesterday, about whether his speech at ACABQ can
be released and whether his reform proposals
will be released. He seemed to, maybe I
misunderstood and you can look at the video, but
he seemed to think that it had been released so
I wanted to ask you, can it be released?
Also… Go ahead.
Spokesman: The budget documents for the
proposed reform are public documents and those
are available and that is basically what he
presented, the outline of which he presented to
the ACABQ yesterday.
Inner City Press:
Two
questions: Is there a problem with releasing,
I'm sure there was a written and about it was
off-the-cuff what he said to ACABQ; and,
secondly, I've seen and published a document
called safety and security pillar model A
regarding three ASGs, a mixture of political
affairs and peacebuilding, a variety of
delegations, and maybe there wasn't time to
explain the whole thing, basically the idea is
if he is proposing reforms, why aren't these
proposals public as they are in most countries…?
Spokesman: Well, I think, first of all,
these reforms, especially ones that have to
involve, that involve budgetary issues, first
have to be approved by the Member States
May
22, 2017
After
ICP Asked of
WIPO's N
Korea Work, Nikki
Haley Calls
WIPO
UNtransparent
and Dangerous,
Cyanide
By Matthew
Russell Lee, follow up
UNITED
NATIONS, May 19 – While the UN's World
Intellectual Property Organization helps North
Korea with a patent application for social
cyanide (WIPO site here),
Inner City Press on May 16 began to ask US
Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley about it (video
here).
On May 17,
Nikki Haley replied to Inner City Press'
question: "All parts of the UN system need to
support the Security Council in its efforts to
respond to the grave threat of North Korea’s
weapons of mass destruction programs. Sodium
cyanide is banned for export to North Korea by
the Security Council. A common sense reaction
would be for WIPO to inform the Council of
such patent applications. Its failure to do so
may have dangerous consequences.”
The UN through
spokesman Stephane Dujarric told Inner City
Press it supports WIPO, video
here. On May 19, Inner City Press asked
North Korea's Ambassador Kim In Ryong about
it, without answer. Video
here. Now the US Mission to the UN has
issued a longer press release:
"The United
States continues to be concerned about the way
the World Intellectual Property Organization
has handled North Korea’s patent application
for the production of sodium cyanide. 'The
thought of placing cyanide in the hands of the
North Koreans, considering their record on
human rights, political prisoners, and
assassinations is not only dangerous but
defies common sense. We urge all UN agencies
to be transparent and apply the utmost
scrutiny when dealing with these types of
requests from North Korea and other rogue
nations,' said Ambassador Haley.
The United States has long encouraged UN
specialized agencies to be in close contact
with Security Council sanctions committees
regarding any activity related to the
implementation of Security Council
resolutions. All parts of the UN system need
to support the Security Council in its efforts
to respond to the grave threat of North
Korea’s weapons of mass destruction programs."
Inner City
Press adds: this should (even) include the UN
Federal Credit Union, which is soliciting the
funds of the North Korean mission and its
employees, as well as UNA-USA members. May
15, 2017
ICP
Asks UN Of
WIPO Using
Criminal
Defamation
Law, Spox Says
“Not A
Responsive
Choice”
UNITED
NATIONS, May 10 – The UN of “new” Secretary
General Antonio Guterres, to put it as
diplomatically as possible, allows UN system
agencies to censor, and has allowed the
continuation of Ban Ki-moon's censorship of
the Press inside
UN headquarters to continue. On May 10
Inner City Press asked Guterres' spokesman
again about the World Intellectual Property
Organization using criminal defamation law
against a Swiss radio station which reported
on WIPO corruption, despite a statement
against such use by the UN Chief Executives
Board. Video
here. UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: I’d asked you before about
Francis Gurry bringing criminal defamation
charges against a radio station in
Geneva. Now the Government
Accountability Project has put out a white
paper on it, basically pointing out that the
CEB (Chief Executives Board), of which he’s a
part and the Secretary-General’s a part, have
talked about… against this idea of using
criminal defamation or even high civil
penalties for journalistic work. Given
that it was the… the… the general counsel or
legal counsel of WIPO that made the criminal
complaint, it seems like basically you have a
member of the CEB operating totally against
what the CEB says the UN should do. So
what… at what point does the
Secretary-General… what’s the purpose of the
CEB, if they’re not complied with…?
[inaudible]
Spokesman: The purpose of the CEB is for
coordinating the programmes, the
implementations of programmes across the board
to ensure that funds and resources are used in
a coordinated manner. As you know,
[WIPO] is an independent, specialized agency
with its own governing board. The head
of the CEB [sic]… of WIPO reports to that
Governing Council. On the methods used,
I think I’ve answered it, and it’s not… it was
not something… it’s not a responsive choice.
But what
does that mean? What has Guterres, who recently
visited and praised WIPO, done? To say he
“allows censorship” may be too diplomatic. Watch
this site. May 8,
2017
From
Cameroon to
UNSC, "Urgent &
Confidential" Memo
About
Weapons,
Copter, Here
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Exclusive Series
UNITED
NATIONS, May 5 – While the UN Security Council
visited Cameroon during the 94 day Internet
cut off and said nothing publicly about it,
Inner City Press has obtained and has
exclusively published
on Patreon and now Scribd,
here Cameroon's "Urgent and
Confidential" letter to the UN Security
Council, about weapons. It lists Chinese
weapons, helicopters and more, to be
repatriated to CAR.
This comes amid reports that armaments Cameroon
got ostensibly to fight Boko Haram have been
spotted in the Anglophone regions. On May 2 when
Inner City Press told the UN's spokesman
Stephane Dujarric that it had a question on
Cameroon, he walked off the podium, as he has
done before. He and the UN Department of Public
Information, whose Cameroon mis-information is
profiled below, worked together to evict and still
restrict Inner City Press. The spin of
the Francophone Cameroon government of Paul Biya
has now reached the UN Security Council, or at
least its media stakeout area. As Inner City
Press asked questions at the stakeout on April
28, and telling Morocco's hatchet-man Ambassador
that on decolonization Inner City Press errs on
the side of the underdogs, video here,
Cameroon's Ambassador Tommo Monthe approached.
He handed two documents to Inner City Press: a
chart of "actions taken by the Government
following concerns raised by Cameroon Anglophone
teaches and lawyers," and a press release
mis-spelled "Realease." Inner City Press has put
both online on Patreon, here.
But here's how out of touch or worse the UN
Department of Public Information, which evicted
and still restricts Inner City Press with
minders, is: its UNIC ("Information" Center) in
Cameroon held a training and wrote it up with a
single reference to "social upheaval in English
speaking regions," nothing on the Internet
cut-off. May 1,
2017
GoogleHinders Publication ofICP
Video of UN
Defending
Abuse by
Peacekeepers,
DPI Deal So
Patreon
UNITED
NATIONS, April 29 – With the large social
media platforms like Google and Facebook
vowing to use algorithms to prevent terrorist
recruitment and for other purposes, the
crudeness of results, intended or not, has
come to the fore. Now Google's YouTube is
engaged in systematic financial censoring of
independent videos about censorship.Like
many independent
media, Inner
City Press
publishes itscoverageandassociatedcommentarynot only on its website but
on a number of
third party
platforms likeYouTube,Twitter,Facebook,ScribdandSoundCloud. YouTube is
owned by Google,
and like its
parent allows
publishes to
monetize their
material with
advertisements.
But do YouTube
and Google
behind it engage
in censorship?As
Inner City Press
ramps up its
fight against
theeviction
of its shared
officein the United Nations while
asking questions
aboutUN
corruption,it has received a
series of
e-mails from
YouTube that its
videos on these
topics "cannot
be monetized"
with ads. On
April 29, Google
wentback
and denied
monetization
to Inner City
Press' video
showing Herve
Ladsous, the
fourth
Frenchman in a
row to control
UN Peacekeeping,
linking rapes
by (French) peacekeepers
to "R&R,"
saying that if
the peacekeepers got
more rest and
recreationthey
might not rape
so much. It
was astatement
forwhich,
in many real
militaries,
Ladsous would
have been
fired. Not
only did the
UN not fire
him: now the
video is
denied
monetization,
while UN
Department of
Public
Informationacting
Officer in
Charge Maher
Nasser brags
aboutDPI's"partnerships"
with Google.
Partnerships
indeed.This
comes the day
after
Morocco's
Ambassador to
the UN Omar
Hilale used
the UNTV
stakeout tocomplain
Inner City
Press has asked
"225
questions;"
DPI then
declined to
give Inner
City Press the
mp4 of the
stakeout,
telling it to
just filmit off a
computer
screen with
its cell
phone. (We put
theraw
camera video
on Twitter,here,
and now onPatreon,
here.)
Google's email
said: "Hi
Inner City
Press,After
reviewing your
video, we’ve
confirmed that
the content in
your video or
video details
aren’t
advertiser-friendly.
As a result,
your video
can’t be
monetized.
'After UN's
Ladsous Links
Peacekeepers
Rape To Lack
of “Comfort,"
UN Says Lack
of R&R
Leads to
Abuse.'
YouTube
reserves the
right to make
the final
decision about
video
monetization."
On April 23
YouTube
similarly went
back to deny
monetization
to Inner City
Press videos
about Yemen,
Sri Lanka,
Armenia,
Darfur, the
Golan Heights,
DRC, Gaza,
Ukraine,
Qatar, UN
censorship
April
24, 2017
On
Burundi and
ICP's Scoop of
Kafando as UN
Envoy,
Shingiro Tells
ICP Gov
Comfortable
With
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Exclusive Series
UNITED
NATIONS, April 22 -- On Burundi, France which as UN
Security Council
penholder has accomplished
little on the
issue has a new
proposal, sources
exclusively told
Inner City Press,
which it
exclusively
published on April
20: to nominate
the former
transitional
president of
Burkina Faso
Michel Kafando
as a UN
envoy
specifically
on Burundi.
And now
Burundi's
Ambassador to
the UN Albert
Shingiro
has answered
Inner City
Press that
"Burundi is
very
comfortable
with the
intention of
the UNSG to
appoint H.E
Michel Kafando
as his special
Envoy." See
reply tweet, here.
After
publishing the
exclusive, on
April 21 Inner
City Press
asked
French
Ambassador to
the UN
Francois
Delattre about it.
He smiled
and said
"bonne
question."
Then Inner
City Press
asked the UN's
holdover
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, who
refused
to comment.
From the UN transcript:
Inner
City
Press: I
wanted to ask
you on
Burundi.
Inner City
Press has
reported and I
believe has
some
confirmation
from the
French Mission
that there is
a proposal by
France and
possibly the
EU for an UN
envoy to
Burundi,
specifically
Burundi only,
not conflict
prevention:
Michel
Kafando, the
former
transitional
President of
Burkina Faso,
and I wanted
to know from
you whether
the
Secretary-General
has discussed
this proposal
with the
proponents and
if he thinks
given the
urgency of the
situation if
it’s a good
idea and what
the next steps
would be?
Spokesman:
I have no
comments on
that.
But later on
April 21 a UN
official told
Inner City
Press that
Burundi's
Pierre
Nkurunziza has
approved it.
Another
diplomat told
Inner City
Press that
Burundi's
Ambassador
Albert Shingiro
was summoned
to the UN
Department of
Political
Affairs. We'll
have more on
this. The
UN has sunk so low that the lead
spokesman for Secretary
General Antonio
Guterres Stephane
Dujarric on April 10 refused
to even take a Press question
about Burundi, where the UN
itself says there is a risk of
genocide. When Inner City
Press said "Can I ask a
question about Burundi," where
there increased hate
speech amid a warning
from other parts of the UN of
a threat of genocide,"
Dujarric replied, "No, we're
done." Video
here, contrasted.
Then consider UNICEF, whose
logo and shirt is portrayed here
on the governor of Makamba
province Gad Niyukuri who last
week reportedly called on
residents to "eliminate"
rebels so fuel "won't be
wasted by having them
transferred to the police." It's a
joint shirt
with Burundian flag and
UNICEF logo. Did
UNICEF give it to
the governor? Is it
an authorized use?
If not,
what will UNICEF -
recently outed
for abandoning the
victims of
peacekeepers'
abuse in the
Central
African
Republic, and
yet to respond
on that - do?
Watch this
site.April
17, 2017
UN
Praised
Cameroon Half-Net
Pledge as Clergy
Prosecuted, Says
ICP "Harassed"
RC
Rajat
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, April 15 – While Cameroon has cut off
the Internet to the Anglophone regions for
over 80 days, the UN has characterized
criticism of its officials' cover ups to be "harassment"
and has repeatedly refused to answer Inner
City Press' questions about it, see below,
after the UN Department of Public Information
evicted
and continues
to restrict Inner City Press, petition
here, update here.
In early April the UN Office of the
Spokesperson run by holdover Stephane Dujarric
told Inner City Press, we've heard you
questions, if we have anything to add we'll
let you know. Video
here. Even that was a lie: UN envoy
Lonseny Fall went again to the country, with this
purporting to be his statement, and read-out here. But
what has it come to? Consider this court
prosecution of clergy, to try to put an
end to legitimate protest. The UN so far has
issued a weak, late statement then tried to
move on, calling any criticism harassment and
continuing to hinder coverage of the UN's
deeds and misdeeds. We'll have more on this.
On April
13, Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman
Dujarric, video
here, UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: can you confirm that the
Secretary-General sought to speak with Paul
Biya while he was on an extended stay in
Geneva, as has been reported?
Spokesman: No, I have no confirmation of
a call having taken place.
Inner City
Press:
I mean, I'm not asking [inaudible]…
Spokesman: I have no information.
Inner City
Press:
Okay. And I wanted to know, people there
saying, even in the wake of the visit of
Louncény Fall, that, for example, a Supreme
Court Justice, Paul Ayah remains, was only
today, you know, remanded to remain in
prison. So they're not seeing much
changes. And I'm wondering, is this
something that… that Mr. Louncény Fall looked
into while he was there, the continued
detention of barristers and those who have
advocated for fair treatment of [inaudible]?
Spokesman: What I just said is, in fact,
that, in his contacts with the Government, Mr
Louncény Fall advocated for the release of a
number of Anglophone leaders and others.
So I think that's clear that's one of the
things he was advocating for.
Inner City
Press:
And, finally, I wanted to ask you about the
Resident Coordinator position. Given
that the previous Resident Coordinator didn't
raise any of the issues that you've just
mentioned while she was there, is there any
progress on naming a new one…
Spokesman: I don't know that, and I
don't know if you know that, but okay.
Anyway, next… what's your question?
Inner City
Press:
The people that are there say it, and she also
blocked the press…
Spokesman: I think she blocks you, but…
Question: Yeah, she does.
Spokesman: …that's her right.
Inner City
Press:
In what capacity does she block it?
Spokesman: Well, I think anyone who has
seen your tweets, I think, sometimes they do
cross the line, I think, into harassment, and
people block you from time to time.
Inner City Press: Interesting.
Spokesman: Indeed.
How
trustworthy is today's UN if they stonewall then
withhold information, while continuing to block
- a la Najat Rochdi - and restrict the Press
which asks about Cameroon and denial of the
right to information?
April
10, 2017
On
Syria, After
US Airstrikes
ICP Asks UN
What de
Mistura's "Operationally
Focused" Means
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, April 7 – In the UN Security
Council's open meeting on April 7 after the US
airstrikes on Syria, when Syria spoke last,
French Ambassador Francois Delattre walked out
of the chamber and left. Before that, US
Ambassador Nikki Haley spoke, as fast
transcribed below by Inner City Press. At the
UN noon briefing on April 7, Inner City Press
asked UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric about UN
envoy Staffan de Mistura saying he is
"operational focused" - what does it mean?
From the UN
transcript:
Inner City
Press: Staffan de Mistura has this quote where
he says he's fully and operationally focused
on the situation. Can you unpack that a
little bit? Like, does it, was he
informed of this? Was he… has he had a
dialogue with either the United States or
anyone else…?
Spokesman: I'm not aware…
Inner City Press: What does it mean to
be operationally focused?
Spokesman: I'm not aware, I'm not aware
that he was, that he was informed. I
don't believe anybody in the UN was
informed. But I, as I said, I'm just not
aware that he was informed. Obviously, I think
the events of the last few days are likely to
have an impact on, on his efforts. And
so, I think, like all of us, with the
Secretary-General or his envoy, we are focused
and refocused on trying to get the, make sure
the political process and the Geneva talks
stay on, on track. And, you know, the
Secretary-General's belief that there is no
other option but a political option remains,
and he's asking everybody to recommit to the
Geneva talks.
Here's
Inner City Press' fast transcript of NIkki
Haley: "For six years the world has watched as
the Syrian government has terrorized its own
people…it has broken international law,
committed criminal acts that shocked the
conscience of all humanity. The JIM has found
beyond a doubt that the Syrian regime has used
chemical weapons against its own people multiple
times. On Tuesday the Syrian government launched
another attack.
Assad thought he could get away with this....
April 3, 2017
Amid Cameroon's
74-Day
Internet
Cut-Off, UN
Refers ICP to
UNICEF,
Website Out of
Date
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, March 31 – While Cameroon has cut off
the Internet to the Anglophone regions for
more than 70 days, the UN throughout the week
of March 27-31 repeatedly refused to answer
Inner City Press' questions about it, see
below, even the simple question of who the UN
Resident Coordinator is. So on March 31, Inner
City Press asked UN Spokesman Farhan Haq, video
here, UN transcript here:
Inner City
Press: I’d sent you a number of questions
about Cameroon. Now I have those and
something else. First of all, I wanted
to know, what’s the… what is the status of
having a resident coordinator in the country,
given that the internet has been turned off to
two regions in the country for 76 days?
Deputy Spokesman: Right now, there is an
officer-in-charge. There’s no new
full-time resident coordinator, but there’s an
officer-in-charge there.
Question: Can you say who that is or
which agency it is?
Deputy Spokesman: I believe it’s the
officer for UNICEF (United Nations Children’s
Fund) right now.
But
when Inner City Press later on March 31
visited UNICEF's Cameroon website to follow
up, the most recent report was from 2012, and
the top two press releases were about Nigeria,
here.
We'll have more on this, and on the UN's
failing "Resident Coordinator system." On the
afternoon of Friday, March 31 the UN sent
Inner City Press this, stating that its UNOCA
envoy Francois Lonseny Fall intends to visit
Cameroon in early April, and other responses
which we immediately publish in full: "Your
questions on Cameroon: The United Nations
Secretariat continues to follow closely the
situation in the Republic of Cameroon through
the United Nations Regional Office for Central
Africa (UNOCA). The Office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
(OHCHR) has been monitoring the court
proceedings and allegations of human rights
violations. We are concerned about the trial
of civilians by a military court. The High
Commissioner for Human Rights has raised these
concerns with the Government of Cameroon in a
letter dated 24 February 2017. In our
various contacts, we have called on the
authorities to address the situation in a
measured and peaceful manner, while abiding by
their international human rights commitments.
SRSG Fall has visited Cameroon several times
to address these issues and plans to visit
Cameroon in early April, subject to
confirmation of meetings, to engage with the
Government and reiterate the availability of
the United Nations to support national efforts
to promote an inclusive dialogue in order to
address the root causes of the crisis, while
respecting the territorial integrity and unity
of the Republic of Cameroon. With regard
to the two specific cases cited, we have
confirmed that Robert Fon was indeed released
on bail on 27 March. We understand that Mr.
Felix Agbor Nkongho, as his two co-accused
(Fontem Afoteka Neba and Mancho Bibixy), is
facing trial for various alleged offences in
connection with the situation in the
Anglophone regions. Their lawyers requested
they be freed on bail. The court is reportedly
set to examine the request when the case is
taken up again on 7 April. Concerning
reports of the closure by the Government of a
TV station in Western region of Cameroon, we
are continuing our efforts to verify the
allegation."
As
reported on March 30 by Inner City Press,
Cameroon says it is poised to ratify the UN's
Convention on the Use of Electronic
Communications in International Contracts,
adopted on November 23, 2005 in New York. How
could the UN accept and deposit such a
ratification? Cameroonian Minister of Trade,
Lucile Magloire Mbarga Atangana cited the United
Nations Commission on International Trade Law or
UNCITRAL, one of the entities routinely meeting
in UN conference rooms with little notice by the
UN-facilitated media. This must change. When
Cameroon forced refugees back into Nigeria, the
UN rightly complained. Why not, then, of
Cameroon's now more than 70-day Internet cut-off
in its Anglophone areas, leading to the creation
of an "Internet refugee camp" in Bonako? March
27, 2017
ICP
Asked UNSG
Guterres Of
"Power Grab"
on Resident
Coordinators,
His Spox
Stonewalls
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Exclusive Series
UNITED
NATIONS, March 24 – The UN Secretariat of
Antonio Guterres and his Deputy Amina J.
Mohammed are moving to take over the UN
Development Program's "Resident Coordinator"
system and the funding that goes with it,
multiple sources have told Inner City Press.
But Guterres' spokespeople refuse to confirm,
deny or explain it, in continued lack of
transparency. Whereas for now outgoing UNDP
Administrator Helen Clark chairs the UN
Development Group, Amina Mohammed would take
it over before a new Administrator, perhaps
outgoing Dutch foreign minister Burt Koenders,
is installed. He met Guterres on March 24.
Earlier on March 24, Inner City Press again
asked Guterres' holdover deputy spokesman
Farhan Haq, UN
transcript here:
Inner City
Press: two things about UNDP [United Nations
Development Programme]. One is Ségolène
Royal, the French Minister of Environment, has
now said publicly that she is a candidate to
head UNDP. So I wanted to know, is there
going to be any kind of, like, short list
announced? I know, under some previous
Administrations, there were for such top
jobs. Do you anticipate announcing… given
that one candidate has said publicly… there are
other names I would like you to confirm.
Mr. [Bert] Koenders is running, Mr. [David]
Miliband, Ms. [Sigrid] Kaag. Do you
anticipate there being a public process so that
people know who the candidates are?
Deputy Spokesman: I don't anticipate us
providing a short list.
March
20, 2017
On
Cameroon
Internet
Cut-Off, ICP
Asked UN Which
Says "Important
That People
Have Access"
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, March 17 – On Cameroon,
where the Internet has been cut off by the
government in the Northwest and Southwest
(Anglophone) regions for 60 days and counting,
Inner City Press has asked UN spokespeople for
the UN position and what the UN has done for
two weeks now. On March 17, UN Spokesman
Stephane Dujarric returned with an answer: "in
response to the situation in the Anglophone
regions of Cameroon, the UN Special
Representative of the Secretary-General and
Head of the UN Regional Office for Central
Africa (UNOCA), Mr. François Louncény Fall,
carried out a number of visits to the country
to discuss with the concerned parties the
situation on the ground. His office has
also carried out a number of working-level
visits. Mr. Fall will continue efforts
to engage with all relevant parties and to
monitor the situation in close cooperation
with the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).We
firmly believe that the grievances expressed
by the Anglophone regions can only be
addressed through an inclusive dialogue.
In that regard, we note that, on 15 March, the
President of Cameroon appointed the president
and 13 representatives to the National
Commission for the promotion of Bilingualism
and Multiculturalism, the body tasked to
engage in dialogue with the Anglophone
community of Cameroon."
But
"all relevant parties" does not appear to
include France, whose UN Ambassador Francois
Delattre told Inner City Press earlier on
March 17 he was unaware of the issue. Inner
City Press asked Dujarric, straight up, if the
UN thinks the Internet should be brought back.
Video
here. UN
transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: thanks for the statement.
Inevitably, there's at least one
follow-up. You said that Mr. Loncény
Fall had spoken to all relevant parties.
And I wanted to know if this included
France. And I say it… I ask it just
because the Permanent Representative just now
on camera said that he'd never heard of the
issue of the internet being cut off for 60
days.
Spokesman: Well, I can’t answer that…
Inner City
Press:
Because I don't get answers from DPA or Mr.
Loncény Fall's office can you ask whether they
spoke to [inaudible]…? [that was FRANCE]
Spokesman: Yeah, I don’t… the way I read
it is that he spoke to people in
Cameroon. So, if I can find out more, I…
Inner City Press: Did he call for the
internet to be, in fact, turned back on?
Spokesman: I think it's obviously
important that people have access to the
internet.
In
front of the UN Security Council on March 17
Inner City Press asked France's Ambassador to
the UN Francois Delattre about his counterpart
in Yaounde, Gilles Thibault, earlier this
month congratulating
32-year President Paul Biya for how he's
dealing with the areas. Delattre replied that
he was unaware but would look into it. Video
here.
Back on
March 14 Inner City Press asked the US State
Department: "Back on November 28, 2016, the
Department issued a statement of 'concern[]
over recent Cameroonian government actions to
restrict free expression.' Since then, the
government has cut off the Internet in the two
regions, also known as the Anglophone areas,
has arrested journalists and most schools
remain closed. Is the US State Department
concerned about these developments and if so,
what if anything has it done about them?"
On
March 15, a US State Department official
answered Inner City Press: "We have discussed
this issue with the Government of Cameroon
both before and after our statement of
concern. We don’t go into the details of
our diplomatic conversations, but we engage
regularly with the government on this and
other issues as part of our normal bilateral
relations." We hope to have more on this.
On
March 9, Inner City Press asked both the
International Monetary Fund and the UN
Security Council's president about the crisis
in Cameroon's Anglophone areas and heard that
while the IMF acknowledges the financial risk,
the Security Council does not see it as a
threat to international peace and security.
But the UN's Resident Coordinator Najat Rochdi
has said nothing about the crisis, and blocks
on Twitter the Press which asks about
it. Is the UN system failing, in its new
Secretary General's promise of increased
preventative diplomacy?
When the
IMF's spokesperson Gerry Rice took questions on
March 9, Inner City Press asked about Cameroon,
specifically the crackdown in the northwest and
southwest of the country. Inner City Press
asked, "On Cameroon, after the mission led by
Corinne Delechat, what is the status of talks
for a program, and since the IMF cited “civil
unrest in the neighboring Central African
Republic,” please state the IMF's awareness of
civil unrest and arrests in Northwest and
Southwest Cameroon, also known as the Anglophone
areas, and their impact." Rice read out the
question and then said, among other things, that
the risk factors for 2017 include a continuation
of the "social and political events" in the
"so-called Anglophone" areas of Cameroon. Interim
video here. On IMF site, here,
from 34:56. IMF
transcript
March
13, 2017
UN's
Cameroon
Troops in CAR
Accused of
Abuse, ICP
Asks UN's Haq,
No Answers,
Failing
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, March 10 – Not only has the UN
been silent on the crackdown in Cameroon's
Anglophone areas - UN Peacekeeping has failed
to vet the Cameroon security forces it sends
into other countries and has failed to follow
up on allegations against them for example in
the Central African Republic. In CAR last
year, "a Member of Parliament representing the
Nana-Bakassa District in the Ouham Prefecture,
Roland Achille Bangué-Betangaye, accused
Cameroonian forces serving in his country
under the banner of the United Nations
Multidimensional Stabilization Mission
(MINUSCA) of trafficking in minerals,
including gold and diamond. Speaking over CAR
national radio, the MP said Cameroonian
soldiers serving in the country have
transformed themselves into business men
through the smuggle of food items, gasoil and
beer. In turn, he said, they make away with
minerals especially gold and diamond.
The Cameroonian military serving in the
Nana-Bakassa District, the law maker said,
have even opened a drinking spot where people
come and refresh themselves." So what has the
UN done about it?
On
March 10 at noon, after publishing the above,
Inner City Press asked the UN's holdover
Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq about it - and by
day's end he had provided no answer at all. UN transcript:
Inner City
Press: a follow-up on peacekeeping
accountability. In the… in the Central
African Republic, there were allegations by an
elected member of parliament there, of the
Ouham prefecture, Roland
Bangué-Betangaye. This goes back to June
2016. He publicly said that the
Cameroonian contingent in the area that he
represents were engaged in business, including
gold… gold, conflict diamonds, opening of
businesses. This was widely… you know,
you can find a number of articles about it
from that time. And what I’m wondering,
is, what was ever done… there was a statement
that there’s an investigation being
opened. That was by, I guess, Mr.
Montero at the time. But there’s been
nothing publicly said since. What… were
all of these allegations made by an elected
official and on national radio in Central
African Republic false? Or was there
actually something done by MINUSCA
(United Nations Stabilization Mission in the
Central African Republic) and UN peacekeeping
about these allegations?
Deputy Spokesman: Oh, I’ll check with
MINUSCA to see what happened with that.
Have a good weekend, everyone.
There
are also sexual abuse allegations, at a time
the UN
is saying it is getting tough, on which
we'll have more. On March 10, Inner City Press
asked
the UN's holdover spokesman Farhan Haq about
this:
Inner City
Press: There was an Amnesty International
report about… about sexual abuse in the
Central African Republic in which they said a
Cameroonian peacekeeper was killed, and the
next day the contingent returned to the
area. And many people thereafter
testified about sexual abuse, including of
minors. So, in the report, it says that
there is, one, a sole allegation of sexual
abuse against the Cameroonian contingent in
[the Central African Republic]. This was
some time ago as you remember in the… and
there’s also another one in MINUSTAH (United
Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti).
Is it possible, in the spirit of the
transparency you’re discussing, to say, what’s
the status of this? Why has it taken so
long? Why was there only one charge
written in this report when, according to the
Amnesty International one, they’re the
contingent that went back and… and at the time
frame? And, of course, they’re not all
criminals, but I’m asking you, can you get an
update later today about this case reported on
by Amnesty International?
Deputy Spokesman: Ultimately, for us to
get an update, we need to have progress in the
investigation. Once we have the results
to deliver, we can provide that, but until
that point, we’re allowing that process to
continue.
Inner City Press: Right, but it was said
yesterday that things were going to move
faster. In the time frame given, given
when these incidents took place, how is it
still… what is… I guess, even a statement of
what’s the status within the Cameroonian
justice system?
Deputy Spokesman: At this stage, there’s
no update to provide. Once we have an
update, we’ll certainly provide it, but every
process has its own momentum, has its own
rate.
The UN says
it's fine that its Resident Coordinator from
her official Twitter account blocks the Press
which asks about it. Amid the ongoing abuse of
Anglophones in Cameroon, the Internet being
turned off for 51 day in their regions, Inner
City Press on March 8 discovered that the UN's
Resident Coordinator in Cameroon, Najat Rochdi of
Morocco, blocks it on
Twitter, see
here. So Inner City
Press asked Secretary
General Antonio Guterres'
holdover Deputy Spokesman
Farhan Haq about it on March
9, UN
transcript here:
Inner City
Press: the answer you sent
about Mr. [Francois]
Louncény Fall saying that he
would raise issues to the
authorities. Can you
say whether the issue of the
internet being off in two
provinces for 52 days has
been raised? And,
secondarily, I wanted to ask
you this. You
announced from this podium
that Najat Rochdi is going
to Central African Republic
as Resident
Coordinator. What's
the process to appoint a new
Resident Coordinator for the
UN system in Cameroon?
And is it… is it… is it… can
it be public in any
way? It seems many
people have complained that,
while she was there, she
never raised the Anglophone
issue. And, in fact, I
found that she blocks Inner
City Press on Twitter, so
I'm unable to ask her why
this issue has not been
raised. But what's the
process to replace… and you
can smirk, but should a UN
official in their official
account…?
Spokesman: That's an
unrelated thing. I
mean, obviously, all people…
all individuals, not even
just all UN officials, are
free to block whoever they
want on Twitter.
That's within their rights.
Inner City Press:
Including missions? So
you think a peacekeeping
mission should pick and
choose which media can
follow it?
Spokesman:
Organizations will respond…
are supposed to respond to
press requests.
Individuals can do whatever
they like with their Twitter
accounts.
Inner City Press:
What's the process of
replacing the Resident
Coordinator in Cameroon?
Spokesman: It's the
same as in any other
place. There's a
process that goes… that you
go through, and the Resident
Coordinator's selection
process is supervised by the
UN Development Programme
(UNDP).
This is at
odds with the UN's claims to
be transparent in its use of
public money, and to be open
to the press and impacted
public, and will be pursued at
Rochdi's next assignment at
the UN in Central African
Republic. But it raises the
question: how are UN Resident
Coordinators selected? Inner
City Press reported
on Ban Ki-moon's son in law
Siddharth Chatterjee getting
multiple promotion under Ban,
including being named UN
Resident Coordinator in Kenya
by Ban himself. (Inner City
Press was evicted
by Ban's UN, and remains
restricted under Ban's
successor). But shouldn't
Anglophone Cameroonians have
some input into the UN's next
Resident Coordinator in their
country? This is a project for
the Free
UN Coalition for Access,
@FUNCA_info.
Watch these sites and feeds. March
6, 2017
As UNSC
in Cameroon,
Nothing on
Anglophones
from UN When
ICP Asks, Ebute's
Letter
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, March 3 – As UN Security Council
members portrayed themselves meeting with
Cameroon's Paul Biya, apparently without a
word about the protests by and incarceration
of Anglophones in the country, Inner
City Press asked the UN about the problem, video
here, UN Transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: yesterday, I'd asked you about this
letter from the former Senate President of
Nigeria. The press in Nigeria picked up
on your answer and said that no letter has
been received at all. So, you said you
hadn't seen it. Does that just mean that
you personally hadn't seen it, or have you
checked to see whether the letter…?
Spokesman: We have not… I have the not
received any confirmation that a letter has
been received. I can't speak to whether
or not a letter was sent since we were,
apparently, if this letter exists, the
recipients. As far as the recipients, as
of today, nothing has been received.
Inner City Press: Since the Security Council
is in Cameroon, I wanted to know whether DPA
[the Department of Political Affairs] has
taken any notice of this protest in the
Anglophone areas of Cameroon? Many
people have been arrested. Eight
journalists have been detained in
Cameroon. It seems like the Security
Council's focus is entirely on the Boko Haram
aspect, but is anyone in the UN system
concerned and trying to get some answers?
Spokesman: We're obviously following it,
and I'll see if I can get you something
further.
Eight
hours later, nothing. Nothing at all. The UN's
reflexive evasion of Press question
reverberated on the Council's next stop.
Nigeria's former Senate President Ameh Ebute
wrote to the UN to urge sanctions against
Cameroon and Chad. Inner City Press at the
March 2 UN noon briefing asked the UN's
holdover spokeman Stephane Dujarric to comment
on Ebute's letter. Dujarric said he hadn't
seen it.
Now The
Guardian in Nigeria picks
up on Dujarric's knee-jerk denial to
Inner City Press: "Mr Stephane Dujarric, the
Spokesman for the Secretary-General, denied
knowledge of the letter... 'I have not seen
the letter.'"
For
eight billion U.S. dollars a year, you'd think
they could at least read their mail. Watch
this site.
During
the Paris stopover, Council members met with
France's replacement for Herve Ladsous atop UN
Peacekeeping, Jean-Pierre Lacroix. Will
Lacroix addressed the disparities in
protection for European and African
peacekeepers serving ostensibly together in
the UN's Mali mission?
And in
Cameroon, will the dispute between the French
and English speaking communities, and harsh
prison conditions for the latter, be noted by
the Council? Watch this site.February
27, 2017
After
Guterres' Press
Freedom
Meeting, Spox
Tells
Press "It's
Not Your Living
Room," Runs
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, February 24 – After the Committee to
Project Journalists came to the UN for a
meeting on the 38th floor, Inner City Press
asked CPJ's Joel Simon for a summary of what
had been raised. "Not yet," Simon said, as one
of his escorts told Inner City Press to back
away. Tweeted
video here.
It was a
typical UN scene: a group promoting a
principle outside of the UN not pursuing it
inside the UN, in order to maintain access and
perceived influence. So was the UN's lack of
due process for the Press, noted for example
by Special Rapporteurs Kaye and Forst, here,
raised or addressed?
At the
February 24 UN noon briefing after UN holdover
spokesman Stephane Dujarric made claims about
the UN's commitment to freedom of the press,
Inner City Press asked him for a read-out of
Guterres' meeting with CPJ et al. Dujarric did
not provide one; he refused to answer the
question about due process, telling Inner City
Press "This is not your living room." Video
here, Vine
Camera here.
Moments
later, as Inner City Press asked Dujarric about
a leaked UN Peacekeeping letter it exclusively
published earlier in the day and which
contradicts what Dujarric had said on the record
on February 23, Dujarric simply ran off the
podium and out of the briefing room. And the
UNTV clip, as "produced" by Cristina
Gallach's DPI, cuts the audio mid
question, here
at end. This is the UN's commitment to
responsiveness, due process and freedom of the
press.
February 20,
2017
Ban
Ki-moon Uses UN
in Kenya, Kim
Won-soo in NY,
Spox Calls
Press Obsessive
A*hole
UNITED
NATIONS, February 14 – Ban Ki-moon, exposed as
corrupt in three short weeks in South Korea,
now wants to return to the United States after
stopping in Kenya to visit the son in law he
promoted to the job UN job there. When Inner
City Press asked the UN about it on February,
Ban's long-time deputy spokesman Farhan Haq called
Inner City Press an obsessive a*hole. This is
the UN Ban's made.
On
February 13, Inner City Press asked UN Deputy
Spokesman Farhan Haq about Ban's UN-Kenya
stop, and any public costs. Haq, who dodged
for years on irregularities from Ban promoting
his son in law in the UN without recusal to
Ban's nephew working at the UN's landlord
Colliers, said "get over it." Video
here.
So
after learning more - including about the role
in promoting Ban of his Kim Won-soo, still
paid by the UN, that is the public, Inner City
Press asked Haq again, video
here, UN transcript here:
Inner City
Press: Yesterday, I asked you… and I
understand that, when you hear the word "Ban
Ki-moon," you're tempted to say "get over it."
Deputy Spokesman: Indeed I am.
Inner City
Press:
But I wanted to ask you, the question was and
remains… it remains, number one, is any UN
system funds being used for his visit to
headquarters? And, number two, since
yesterday your "get over it" comment, I
learned that Mr. Kim Won-soo, who I understand
is still a UN official, has been speaking to
the media about Mr. Ban's possible job offer
from a university in Massachusetts. And
so I wanted to ask you, in what capacity is
Mr. Kim Won-soo speaking for Ban
Ki-moon? And how is it consistent with
your position here of "get over it" while
there are, in fact, cases in the Southern
District and other issues that remain
unresolved?
Deputy Spokesman: Matthew, your
inability to get over it speaks for itself.
Inner City
Press:
There are cases… I'm going to ask you…
Deputy Spokesman: Matthew.
Inner City
Press:
So the nephew case. I'm just saying,
it's un… because it's a question about UN
money.
Deputy Spokesman: I understand… I
understand…
Inner City
Press:
You defended him for ten years to say "get
over it"…
Deputy Spokesman: Matthew, I've known
you for a decade, so I know your fundamentally
obsessive nature, but here's the point.
Ban Ki-moon is not the Secretary-General of
the United Nations. I do not speak for
him. I do not represent him. When
he travels, he travels as a private
individual. He has to do so on his own
budget as a private individual. He is
not a UN official.
Inner City
Press: That
wasn't my question. My question was, he
said as he left South Korea that he was going
to the UN to speak to UN staff. That's
why I think you said "get over it" a little
too quickly, because my question is not who
paid for his flight. My question is, in
what capacity did he enter UNON [United
Nations Office in] Nairobi? Did he speak
to UN staff as he said that he would?
Does Mr. Kim Won-soo still speak for him on
the UN dime?
Deputy Spokesman: He can speak to the UN
office in Nairobi as much as he wants as a
former Secretary-General of the United
Nations. That is within his rights.
Inner City
Press:
It's not… I'm not saying it's not within his
rights. I'm saying, don't you answer for
UN… the use of UN funds rather than say "get
over it"? Aren't you speaking for the
UN? So Kim Won-soo, when does his
contract expire?
Deputy Spokesman: His contract… we'll
let you know once his time is done. He
is the head of the Office for Disarmament
Affairs. He is also capable of speaking
about the topics that he wants to talk
about. The job that he does here is
about Disarmament Affairs and is not about Ban
Ki-moon.
Inner City
Press:
So he's off the clock when he speaks for Ban
Ki-moon? I'm asking you.
Deputy Spokesman: Matthew. Matthew,
words fail me, your inability to get around
things.
Inner City
Press: You
know there are two corruption cases.
Right? So it's going to be an ongoing… I
just want to put you on notice; there are
going to be questions that are going to arise,
and saying "get over it" is not cutting it.
Deputy Spokesman: If there are things
about cases that are ongoing, that's
fine. If you want a daily update about
what Ban Ki-moon is doing, ask someone
else. It's not my job. Have a good
afternoon, everyone.
And as
Haq walked about, he said "A*hole." This is the
UN Ban's made. It must be cleaned up.
February 13,
2017
After
PA's Fayyad
Blocked, UN Selectively
Spins US
Green Light,
UK Not
Mentioned
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, February 11 – The US blocked UN
Secretary General Antonio Guterres' nomination
of the Palestinian Authority's Salam Fayyad to
be UN envoy to Libya.
Now Guterres' holdover UN spokesman Stephane
Dujarric selectively spins that Guterres
had somehow received a "green light" from the US
- like when Ban Ki-moon invited Iran to the
Syria talks in Montreux, then disinvited them on
Monday.
This time, Dujarric "told" at least three
favored media the exact same thing: "Based on
the information available to him at the time,
the secretary-general had the perception, now
proven wrong, that the proposal would be
acceptable to Security Council members." Why not
send this out more widely? To Inner City Press,
Dujarric answered a mere two and a half of
twenty-two questions.
These holdovers have no credibility.
One of the two to which Dujarric dole out his
quote went on to quote French Ambassador
Francois Delattre as having "full confidence" in
the UN chief's personnel appointments. But of
course: France stands poised to get the top UN
Peacekeeping job for the fifth time in a row.
The stories did not mention that the UK had -
and now maybe still has - its own candidate for
the UN Libya envoy post, Nicholas Kay. Clearly
the UK didn't think Fayyad was best for the
post. We'll have more on this.
Inner City Press on-camera
asked the UN about the nomination earlier
on February 10, noting that its sources told it
the nomination was really by Jeffrey Feltman,
the Obama administration's appointee to head the
UN Department of Political Affairs. Can Feltman
stay on, given the new Administration in
Washington?
While Antonio Guterres' deputy spokesman dodged
Inner City Press' question at noon on February
10, and his lead holdover spokesman Stephane
Dujarric waited more than 10 hours to respond to
Inner City Press' question tweeted at him that
evening, an arch and in context laughable
response was mass-emailed 11 hours later.
Dujarric wrote, in pertinent part:
"The
proposal for Salam Fayyad to serve as the
Secretary-General’s Special Representative in
Libya was solely based on Mr. Fayyad’s
recognized personal qualities and his competence
for that position.
The
Secretary-General... notes that, among others no
Israeli and no Palestinian have served in a post
of high responsibility at the United Nations.
This is a situation that the Secretary-General
feels should be corrected, always based on
personal merit and competencies of potential
candidates for specific posts."
It sounds reasonable - but why then for example
is Guterres restricting his "search" for a head
of UN Peacekeeping to a single country, France?
As Inner City Press has exclusively reported,
the three candidates are all French: Jean
Maurice Ripert (who previously stood up the UN
in Pakistan), Jean Pierre Lacroix and probably
winner Sylvie Bermann. There are other examples
- watch this site.
Some cynics wonder if this
wasn't done as theater, just before Guterres' 12-day
trip to Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the
UAE, where the UN's previous Libya sell-out
Bernardino Leon is getting paid. Meritocracy,
indeed.February
6, 2017
UN
Waste In Dump
Caused Malaria
in Central
African
Republic Under
Ladsous,
Bermann Next?
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Exclusive Series
UNITED
NATIONS, February 3 – Despite having killed
more than 10,000 people in Haiti with lax
sanitation practices, the United Nations
Department of Peacekeeping Operations in
Central African Republic, under its fourth
consecutive French director in a row Herve
Ladsous, is dumping waste negligently, a UN
memo leaked to Inner City Press shows.
The
memo states that "following complaints by the
local population living in the vicinity of the
dumpsite" a UN investigation found that the
dumpsite sludge dams breed insects which
result in sickness. Eighty-one percent of the
UN's victims are children, the memo says.
The
report, under "Community Discontent," cites
malaria. It notes that when concerns were
raised, "police force was used to quell the
dissent."
Inner
City Press has long questioned Ladsous, for
example about his linking of sexual
exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers to
"R&R" or rest and recreation, here.
Ladsous replies,
"I don't answer your questions, Mister."
Now
under new UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres, many are interested who will replace
Ladsous. While other Under Secretary General
posts like Cristina Gallach's atop the
Department of Public Information are now
subject to public
vacancy notices, DPKO has not. Why not?
Inner City Press asked, but UN holdeover
spokesman Stephane Dujarric didn't answer.
Sources
will Inner City Press France is trying to hold
onto DPKO for the fifth time in a row, albeit
with a women, on information and belief Sylvie
Bermann, since 2014 France's ambassador in
London. Five times in a row? Given this kind
of mismanagement, in a former French colony?
UN
Wastes Funds
Keeping
Clinton-Aligned Feltman
So His Pension
Vests, Draft
EO Here
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS, January 27 – The United States has
controlled the UN Department of Political
Affairs under former Clinton State Department
official Jeffrey Feltman, and Inner City Press
is informed by whistleblowers that Feltman is
trying to stay on at the UN until July 4,
2017.
The
reasons, the whistleblowers tell Inner City
Press, is so that Feltman's UN pension can
"vest."
This
takes place after reporting on, but not
publication of, a draft Executive Order to cut
UN funding. Now Inner City Press publishes the
draft, here.
Even as it's said it won't be signed
imminently, there are scams at the UN,
including Feltman, Cristina Gallach and Herve
Ladsous, which can and should be stopped
immediately.
Inner
City Press put the questions directly to
Feltman:
"Dear Mr.
Feltman - These are Press questions very much
on deadline, very straight forward:
1) When does your contract with the UN end?
2) Separately, please confirm or deny that
your contract got extended.
3) Separately, that your contract was extended
through June.
4) Separately, that this was related to your
UN pension vesting.
5) Entirely separately, whether Katrin Hett is
taking up a position in the Secretary
General's office.
6) Separately, does this involves a jump from
P4 to P5?
As noted, very much on deadline. Thanks in
advance for your answers, asap."
Current
UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, also a
holdover, does not answer Inner City Press'
management and reform questions, most recently
about a UN "Hospitality Log" of wining and
dining, click
here for that. In fact, Dujarric and the
UN threw Inner City Press out of the UN
without a hearing, and restrict it still.
After
publication of the above, and this, Inner City
Press at the January 27 noon briefing asked
spokesman Dujarric, who called the questioning
"despicable." Video
here,UN
transcript here:
Inner City
Press: I’ve asked Mr. [Jeffrey] Feltman and
now I’m asking you, that his contract was
extended from March through June so that his
UN pension can vest. And I wanted to
know, just… you said something like it’s early
days, but just, did that occur? And was
Katrin Hett from his office, placed in the
Executive Office of the Secretary-General,
moved from P4 to P5? I’m told by people
in DPA (Department of Political Affairs),
essentially, to kind of keep an eye on
things. But the most important thing I
want to know is… and I’m asking not to be
personal, but because it is public
money. That’s why I expected a yes-or-no
answer… a yes-or-no answer.
Spokesman: I think two things. As
I said, we’re in a period of transition.
The Secretary-General is looking at his senior
leadership. He’s taking decisions that
will need… that will ensure the continuing
smooth transition that is already
ongoing. That’s for Mr. Feltman. I
have… I don’t have the exact dates of his
contract. We’re in a period of
transition. As for… as for the other
person you mentioned, you know, I… you’re free
to ask. I find it somewhat despicable
that people use you or others to drag people’s
names through the mud and insinuate
things. The… we’re in a transition
period. The Secretary-General’s Office
is in the midst of changes. New staff’s
coming in. All rules are being observed
and… all rules and regulations are being
observed. And I’ll leave it at that.
Inner City Press: I guess my… my… you
can use the word “despicable” if you
want. What I wanted to know about the
Mr. Feltman thing is, if… and you can easily
ask… I guess he contacted you when I e-mailed
him, but if, in fact, his contract was
extended and if you know that he was appointed
by the previous administration and you know
that the new administration came in and said…
I guess they believe they deserve a USG
(Under-Secretary-General) post, what was the
thinking behind extending and is it related…
[inaudible]
Spokesman: The only thing that matters
is to have as smooth of a transition continue,
as we’ve had. Yeah, go ahead.
Inner City Press: But you understand,
other organizations actually transition. [end]
As the
UN remains unreformed after Ban Ki-moon's ten
years ended with corruption, long asked about
by the Press, exposed, budget cuts are coming.
In
Washington executive orders are being prepared
to cut up to 40% of the US' contributions to
the UN, and to fully cut funding to entities
blamed for violation of human rights.
One
obvious question is whether the total denial
of due process for whistleblowers - already
part of US law - and investigative press which
covers
UN corruption constitutes such a
violation.
For
example, the UN Department of Public
Information under Cristina Gallach in early
2016 threw
Inner City Press out of the UN, dumping
its investigative files onto First Avenue,
without a single hearing or opportunity to be
heard, and no
appeal since.
All this for
seeking to cover an event in the UN Press
Briefing Room which was nowhere listed as
closed, and leaving as soon as a single UN
Security officer said the Spokesman, Stephane
Dujarric, wanted Inner City Press out.
Gallach had a
conflict of interest, having been asked
by Inner City Press about her
own links with Macau-based businessman
Ng Lap Seng, facing trial (like Ban
Ki-moon's nephew and brother) on bribery
charges.
There are no
rules, only the one-person fiat rule of an
official dumped on Ban's UN by Spain, where she
had previously managed, at most, seven people as
spokesperson to Javier Solana. Nothing has been
done; eleven months later Gallach still requires
Inner City Press to have "minders"
to cover the UN Security Council.
January
23, 2017
US
Has
Asked For Ban
Ki-moon
Brother To Be
Extradited,
Hearing
Reveals As
Obama, Power
Leave
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, January 20 – Ban Ki-moon left the UN
on January 1 and tellingly his first move was
to take legal action against the press. Before
he left, he named his own son in law Siddharth
Chatterjee to the top UN top in Kenya.
Now the
US Attorney for the Southern District of New
York has asked South Korea to arrest and
extradite Ban Ki-moon's brother Ban Ki Sang.
The
statement came from prosecutor Daniel Noble in
the previously scheduled hearing on the
afternoon January 20, inauguration day.
The indictment
makes clear the scheme used the "family"
-- Ban Ki-moon -- connections to the Qatar
royal family to try to sell Landmark 72 in
Vietnam. Now-gone
US Ambassador Power's claim
to Inner City Press that the indictments have
nothing to do with the UN was false.
The cover up
by censorship is crumbling.
Just as Ban left his brother Ban Ki Sang and
his nephew Dennis Bahn, of whom Inner City
Press has asked Ban's UN spokespeople since at
latest May 2015, were indicted for bribery.
Bahn was described using his family
connections - Ban Ki-moon - to try to sell
real estate in Vietnam.
Inner
City Press' questions to Ban's longtime
spokesman Stephane Dujarric were referred to a
Ban supporter in Seoul, Lee Do-woon, at a
number which was never answered. On January
17, after Inner City Press appeared
on TBS radio in South Korea about Ban's
corruption and censorship, Dujarric
provided a number for a second spokesman: Yoon
Won-joong.
After
speaking with him, Inner City Press on January
18 asked UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq, video
here,UN
transcript here:
Inner City
Press: I guess it was Stéphane Dujarric that
sent the phone number of a second Ban Ki-moon
Spokesman. I did speak to him, but in
fact, the coverage there is giving rise to a
question I have to ask you as the UN.
There’s a story in today’s Korea Times, the
title of which is “Prosecutors say Ban Ki-moon
was ‘indeed on bribery list.’” And it
describes a list that was provided by Mr Park
of Taekwang Industry, saying he had given
money to Ban Ki-moon during the time frame
that he was Secretary-General. So the
question becomes… there are… obviously, there
are questions to Ban Ki-moon there. The
question becomes, when did South Korean
prosecutors -- because this article says that
what would have held them up was… was
immunity, that, as Secretary-General, they
would be unclear whether they could even
question him or go… or look into this
matter. Was the UN contacted by the
prosecutors about this Park list? And,
if so, what did they do?
Deputy Spokesman: No, I don’t have any
comment on that.
Inner City Press: It’s a UN
question. I mean, do you acknowledge…
because I talked to the guy for about five
minutes yesterday, but he said those are UN
questions.
Deputy Spokesman: I don’t actually have
any comment on this.
Well, the
UN will have to. We'll have more on this.January
16, 2017
UN
Referred
ICP's
Corruption Qs
to Ban
Ki-moon Seoul Spox,
Whom
They Have
Never Called
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, January 13 – January 10 saw the
belated bribery indictment in New York of Ban
Ki-moon's nephew Dennis Bahn, about whom Inner
City Press has been asking the UN since at
least May 2015, video
here.
It shows Ban's nephew using the influence and
access of his family - that is, Ban Ki-moon --
to Qatar as part of his Vietnam building
selling fraud. But on January 11, Ban's
spokesman Stephane Dujarric, still at the UN
for at least six months, referred all of Inner
City Press' questions to Ban's Seoul spokesman
Lee Do-woon.
After Dujarric's office gave Inner City Press
not an email address but what they said was
Lee Do-woon's cell phone number, Inner City
Press waited and called it. But during working
hours in Seoul, it had only a telephone menu
tree, only in Korea. Vine
here. This is a run-around.
On
January 13, Inner City Press asked UN
Associate Spokesperson Eri Kaneko, as politely
as possible, how to get answers. From
the UN transcript:
Inner City
Press: Yesterday, I was told to call Mr.
Lee Do-woon in Seoul, and I was told it was a
mobile number. I've called it five
times. It's nothing but a telephone tree
that's entirely in Korean. I sent it a
text message, which wasn't received. So,
I'm going to ask you again, if the idea is all
of the questions raised by the indictment
should be given to the new Associate
Spokesperson, can I have an e-mail address or
some way that actually I can reach somebody?
Associate Spokesperson: We'll
check. I mean, that's the only number we
have, as well, so, you know, you know as much
as we do.
Inner City Press: Did you get a
telephone tree?
Associate Spokesperson: We haven't tried
calling it.
They just gave this number to Inner City Press
saying to ask it all UN corruption questions.
On January 12,
Inner City Press asked Ban's holdover spokesman
Stephane Dujarric, Video
here, UN
Transcript hereJanuary
9, 2017
As
Budget
Scrutiny
Looms, UN Must
Do Better on
Press Freedom,
Due Process &
FOIA
New UN
Secretary General Antonio Guterres should be
expected to address these issues, and to hold
at least monthly sit-down press conferences.
On January 6 holdover spokesman Stephane
Dujarric indicated he would wait for something
to announce. But Q&A should not be tied to
a particular UN announcement.
Downgrading to non-resident correspondent
status, and eviction from UN work-space, is
not a legitimate way to respond to coverage of
UN irregularities and corruption such as that
alleged in the ongoing Ng Lap Seng / John Ashe
UN bribery case. It must be reversed, but also
non-resident correspondents should not be restricted
to minders or escorts to cover events on
the Conference Building's second floor.
On January 6,
Dujarric and DPI's Cristina Gallach led
Guterres on a tour that implied that only
those who pay money to a group which last
month gave an award to anti-press Ban Ki-moon,
and who are granted (and not evicted in
retaliation from) UN office space are part of
the UN press corps. Click
here for Inner City Press' story,
and YouTube
video. This will ill-serve Guterres, and
the UN.
New SG Guterres is toured
around by Gallach & Dujarric, Jan 6, 2017, photo by M.R.
Lee
Beyond
headquarters, the UN in the field must become
more responsive to local journalists. A Free UN
Coalition for Access member in Hargeisa,
Somaliland complains that the UN in Mogadishu
refuses to answer simple journalistic
questions. The same has occurred in Colombia,
while the UN's leadership in Kenya has
informed staff not to speak to particular
media. This is UNacceptable.
That
former Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, among
his very first acts upon leaving the UN, took
legal action against reports of possible
corruption during his tenure reflects badly on
the UN.
FUNCA hopes
for a better 2017, but hope is not enough. The
UN needs a FOIA, a reversal of recent
anti-press decisions and due process and
content neutral standards, and at least
monthly Secretary General press conferences,
going forward. We will have more on this;
watch this site.
January
2, 2017
New
UNSG Guterres
Calls for
Peace, Yemen,
Myanmar &
Burundi Early
Tests
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Follow up on
Exclusives
UNITED
NATIONS, January 1 -- When new
UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres came to take questions
outside the General Assembly hall on
October 13, he was first asked about
Syria and cited his past as head of
the UN refugee agency.
Inner
City Press asked, “And Yemeni
people?” - referring most recently
to the double-tap airstrike on the
funeral in Sana'a.
Guterres took the question, adding
in South Sudan as well, and said he
will try to be an honest broker.
That would be a welcome change, and
one that we will closely cover as
censorship restrictions are lifted.
Recent Swiss
Radio & TV here, translated.
Now
just after midnight on January 1,
Guterres has made this statement:
"On my first day as
Secretary-General of the United
Nations, one question weighs heavily
on my heart.
How can
we help the millions of people
caught up in conflict, suffering
massively in wars with no end in
sight?
Civilians are pounded with deadly
force. Women, children and men are
killed and injured, forced from
their homes, dispossessed and
destitute. Even hospitals and aid
convoys are targeted.
No one
wins these wars; everyone loses.
Trillions of dollars are spent
destroying societies and economies,
fueling cycles of mistrust and fear
that can last for generations. Whole
regions are destabilized and the new
threat of global terrorism affects
us all.
On this New Year’s Day, I ask all of
you to join me in making one shared
New Year’s resolution:
Let us
resolve to put peace first.
Let us
make 2017 a year in which we all –
citizens, governments, leaders –
strive to overcome our differences.
From
solidarity and compassion in our
daily lives, to dialogue and respect
across political divides… From
ceasefires on the battlefield, to
compromise at the negotiating table
to reach political solutions…
Peace
must be our goal and our guide.
All that
we strive for as a human family –
dignity and hope, progress and
prosperity – depends on peace.
But peace depends on us.
I appeal
to you all to join me in committing
to peace, today and every day.
Let us
make 2017 a year for peace.
Thank
you."
It's a good statement. One simple
step that comes to mind is to put
Saudi Arabia, which has used cluster
bombs to kill kids in Yemen, back on
the UN's Children and Armed Conflict
annex.
To
pay more attention to Burundi, to
whose Pierre Nkurunziza Guterres has
already written.
To
take some immediate action on the
killing - and closing of the border
on -- the Rohingya in Myanmar.
There's more, but we'll begin
pursuing this, including January 3
when Guterres speaks to UN staff on
9:10 am. Watch this site.
December
26, 2016
US
Power Abstains
on UNSC
Settlements
Resolution, As
UN Talk Turns
To Trump
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
December 23 --
In a final
showdown
before Barack
Obama leaves
office, the UN
Security
Council voted
on December 22
at 2 pm on an
anti-settlements
resolution,
below. The US
abstained. Explanatory video here.
Amid applause
in the
chamber,
Israel's
Ambassador Danny
Danon
issued a
statement that
"It was to be
expected that
Israel's
greatest ally
would act in
accordance
with the
values that we
share and that
they would
have vetoed
this
disgraceful
resolution. I
have no doubt
that the new
US
administration
and the
incoming UN
Secretary
General will
usher in a new
era in terms
of the UN's
relationship
with Israel."
Donald Trump,
much mentioned
at the
Security
Council
stakeout,
tweeted: “As
to the U.N.,
things will be
different
after Jan.
20th.” Voice
of America at
the UN quickly
re-tweeted it,
without
commentary.
As obtained by
Inner City
Press,
submitted to
the UN
Security
Council
president for
December,
Spain:
"I wish to
inform that
the
co-sponsors
who seconded
the draft
namely
Malaysia,
New Zealand,
Senegal and
Venezuela have
agreed that
given the
interest,
urgency and
importance of
the issue, it
is imperative
for Council to
act on this
draft.
2.
Consequently
and in
accordance
with
applicable
Council rules
of procedure,
our
delegations
request the
Secretariat to
recirculate
the same draft
in blue
(S/2016/1095)
with Malaysia,
New Zealand,
Senegal and
Venezuela as
co-sponsors.
3.
Our
delegations
further
request the
Presidency
schedule the
vote for the
text ASAP
today,
please."
US Ambassador
Samantha Power
refused
question on
how the US
would or will
vote (and
refused Inner
City Press'
question on
the UN arming
a South Sudan
warlord);
Russia's
Vitaly Churkin
said Russia
would prefer
an “orderly
process.”
Call it the
ultimate lame
duck session,
along with
Obama.
Watch this
site.
A
diplomat who
spoke with US
Ambassador to
the UN
Samantha Power
on the
afternoon of
December 22
told Inner
City Press
Power said she
for now had no
instructions
on how to
vote. Whether
the decision
had not been
made by Barack
Obama, or
there was a
concern about
the leaks, is
not known. But
there were no
instructions.
A diplomat
said, We could
vote tonight.
Or never.
This came a
day after
Israel
pointedly did
not
participate in
the UN General
Assembly vote
on a Syria
investigative
mechanism, and
a month before
Donald Trump
takes over
from Obama.
December 19,
2016
On
South Sudan,
Watered Down
Draft Passes
15-0, ICP
Asked US Power
of UNMISS
Arming Warlord
By Matthew
Russell Lee,
Follow Up to
Exclusives
UNITED
NATIONS,
December 16 --
When the UN
Security
Council
members met
about South
Sudan on
December 15,
the best they
could do was
extend the
mandate of the
UNMISS mission
for a single
day. Even
then, there
was already
news of UNMISS
having given
arms to
warlord, or
“rebel
general,”
James Koang.
This was in a
Small
Arms Survey
report,
picked up in
the Washington
Post.
Inner City
Press tweeted
it at UN
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric,
requesting a
comment.
Nothing.
On the
morning of
December 16,
Inner City
Press asked
the
Ambassadors of
the UK and New
Zealand about
it, and both
had heard of
it and said it
needed to be
investigated.
The Ambassador
of France, the
country that
has run UN
Peacekeeping
for 20 years,
did not
comment. Video
here.
The US
holds the pen,
and more, on
South Sudan.
In the early
afternoon of
December 16,
when US
Ambassador
Samantha Power
held a
stakeout about
Syria, Inner
City Press
asked about
the US South
Sudan draft,
and the
Washington
Post report.
Power said she
hadn't seen
the Washington
Post report,
but that she
thought the
draft will
pass. Video
here.
At 4 pm the
resolution,
changed, was
adopted 15-0.
Afterward
Egypt, for
example,
criticized the
US for not
consulting
enough, and
showing its
draft(s) too
late. Final
adopted draft
here.
Speaking for
the US was
deputy Isobel
Coleman, who
did not in her
speech mention
UNMISS arming
Koang. (In
full
disclosure,
she is also
the USUN
ambassador to
whom the Government
Accountability
Project
directed its
request
that the
Mission
opposed the
UN's eviction
and
restriction of
Inner City
Press - and
apparently did
nothing.)
There
were already
over 9,000
viewers of
Inner City
Press'
Periscope of
this South
Sudan Q&A,
but even after
Inner City
Press tweeted
the Washington
Post story to
Power, her
spokesman and
the US Mission
generally,
there was no
response.
UN's
Gallach Pays
Public Funds
To Call
Detroit a 3d
Rate Flyover
City, Evicted
&
Restricts
Inner City
Press
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
December 9 --
This sample
spectacle: UN
Under
Secretary
General for
Communication
Cristina
Gallach
pontificating
to a Gulf
media to which
she gives a
large office
in the UN
about how
“difficult” it
will be under
Trump, and
blaming not
only “fake
news” but also
“social media”
for the
“difficult”
and “very
controversial”
roles they
played in the
US election. Video
here, from
Minute 10.
This is an
attempt by
Gallach --
surrounded by
corruption and
mismanagement
scandals -- to
keep her UN
position under
incoming
Secretary
General
Guterres. She
should be
fired.
Exhibit 2: on
December 6,
Inner City
Press asked
Gallach about
the
superseding
indictment in
the UN bribery
case against
Macau-based Ng
Lap Seng, on
whom Gallach
did no due
diligence -
and she had no
update, then
on since.
Third strike:
on December 8,
Gallach used
public money
to pay a
speaker to
tell
DPI-affiliated
NGOs, in UN
Conference
Room 4, that
Detroit,
Michigan is a
“third-rate”
city, a
“fly-over”
city, baffled
by how Trump
won the
election. Tweeted
video here.
This with
public money -
questions on
her use of
which Ban
Ki-moon's
spokespeople
have refused
to answer for
two weeks, on
December 8
using a
questions
about
Gallach's
lawless
eviction of
Inner City
Press as the
justification
for not answer
the Gallach
funding
questions. See
here. It
is time to
drain all of
this from
Turtle Bay.
Tellingly,
while outgoing
Ban Ki-moon's
spokespeople
have told
Inner City
Press it is
the practice
for USGs like
Gallach to
tender their
resignations
at the end of
their
appointer's
term, Gallach
says only that
she has given
a “report” to
Guterres and
taken
instruction on
how he'd like
the job down.
Pro-tip to
Guterres: end
UN censorship,
and Gallach's
tenure. Busca
una otra.December
5, 2016
Ban
Ki-moon To Fly
For
Anti-Corruption
Award from
Qatar After
Promoting Son
in Law to Top
UN Post
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
Series
UNITED
NATIONS, December 2 -- Two weeks
after Inner City Press formally gave
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman Stephane Dujarric a link
to an Internet page about Ban's
brother Ki-ho engaged in mining in
Myanmar's Shan state through South
Korean firm KD Power -- as well as Bosung
-- the response has been to have
the page removed from the
Internet.
This
comes after Ban's son in law
Siddharth Chatterjee, promoted by
Ban without recusal to the highest
UN position in Kenya, ordered an
article about nepotism
removed from the website.
On
December 2, Ban's spokesman Stephane
Dujarric blythely announced that Ban
will travel from December 7 to 9 to
receive an anti-corruption award
presented by the Emir of Qatar.
Anti-corruption?
Meanwhile Ban's spokespeople have
refused to disclose the carbon
off-sets Ban bragged about in a
speech to Colombia's SIPA, and
refused for a week to answer if
Ban's chief of communications
(actually, censorship) Cristina
Gallach used
UN funds to go get her own award
in Barcelona. Nor has a
requested list of Gallach trips on
public funds been provided.
Is that
anti-corruption? Or pro-corruption?
On
November 28 Ban's spokesman Stephane
Dujarric said, without any proof,
that he understands Ban Ki-ho no
longer works for KD Power. But when
Inner City Press asked when was the
last time Ban Ki-moon spoke with his
brother Ki-ho, Spokesman Dujarric
said glibly that he has no clue, and
hasn't returned with any answer.
While Team Ban, including the South
Korean Mission to the UN which on
November 10 asked Inner City Press
for the since-disappeared KD Power
link, and the Bosung links, think
they have ended this particular
inquiry into nepotism by asserting
Ban Ki-ho is no longer with KD
Power, they have not answered even
once on Bosung.
Inner City
Press has submitted questions to Ban
Ki-ho at Bosung but they have not been
responded to.
November
28, 2016
Ban
Ki-moon's
Brother Ki-ho
Thrown Out of
UN Global
Compact, Mines
in Myanmar
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS, November 25 -- Two weeks
after Inner City Press formally gave
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman Stephane Dujarric a link
to an Internet page about Ban's
brother Ki-ho engaged in mining in
Myanmar's Shan state through South
Korean firm KD Power (as well as
Bosung), the response has been to
have the page removed from the
Internet.
Now Inner
City Press has discovered that Ban
Ki-moon's brother Ki-Ho's firm KD
Power was thrown out of the UN
Global Compact, the UN's
easy-to-stay-in blue-washing
mechanism for corporations. See
here.
What does it say about Ban Ki-moon's
actual commitment to human rights if
he can't even get his own brother to
meet the minimal requirements of the
UN Global Compact?
KP
Power's since-violated “Letter of
Commitment” to Ban Ki-moon was
signed by his brother Ban Ki-Ho, put
on Scribd here by Inner City
Press, without any disclosure
of the direct family relationship,
just as Ban's son in law Siddharth
Chatterjee, whom Ban promoted to the
top UN job in Kenya, never discloses
this relationship in his
self-serving, human rights up
front-free pieces which are run by
Thomson Reuters and some others as a
way to curry favor with Ban Ki-moon.
Ban
Ki-moon can't or won't even get his
son in law Siddhart Chatterjee, whom
he promoted to the UN Resident
Coordinator position in Kenya, to
comply with his post-Sri Lanka
failure "Rights Up Front" scheme.
Sidd stayed silent amid targeting of
South Sudanese in Kenya, and
killings by police. In fact, the UN
and Sidd have refused to divulge his
role in killings in Sri Lanka.
Back
on November 9 Inner City Press sent
Dujarric and others this, of which
Dujarric in the hallway confirmed
receipt - note that the first link
was then disabled, so that it leads
nowhere:
"I am sending three links regarding
Ban Ki-moon's brother Ki-ho (through
Bosung and KD Power) doing mining in
Myanmar and touring with a UN
delegation.
"Memorandum of Understanding with KD
Power of South Korea, which is
managed by Mr. Ban Ki-Ho, brother of
UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban
Ki-Moon, for the exploration of
Magnesium as well as cooperation in
power sector in the eastern Shan
State of Myanmar. "
This is Ban
Ki-moon censorship, this time to try
to conceal nepotism and exploitation
of resources in a war zone, using the
UN's name.
November
21, 2016
On
Myanmar, Where
Ban's Brother
Mines, US
Accepts
Outcome-Less
Briefing By
Nambiar, Who
Says Give Them
Time
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS, November 17 -- Myanmar was
the quiet topic of the UN Security
Council on the evening of November
17, between meetings on South Sudan
and Syria chemical weapons.
Inner
City Press is informed that while
the US requested the closed door
briefing, the US agreed as a
condition that there would be no
outcome to the meeting.
The
briefer was Vijay Nambiar, Ban
Ki-moon's envoy on Myanmar as he
was, disasterously, on Sri Lanka.
And sources tell Inner City Press
that amid the burning of Rohingyas'
homes and rapes and killings in
Rakhine State, Nambiar advised the
Council to go easy on Myanmar and
give them time. This is is
disgusting, all around. As is
this:
On
September 27, Inner City Press
directly asked Chatterjee about it,
on Periscope.
here.Vine
here.Chatterjee
hardly answered the long-standing questions; nor did Ban's
spokesman. Neither set up the requested interview.
Now on
November 11,
the UN
says Ban
spoke with
Trump and
"expressed
confidence
that the
United States
and the United
Nations would
maintain their
traditional
strong ties of
cooperation."
In censorship?
On
election night
itself, Inner
City Press
reported what
it heard
regard former
US Ambassador
to the UN John
Bolton, his
spokesman
Richard
Grenell, and
SFRC chairman
Bob Corker.
Some in
UN-World are
circling the
wagons; Ban is
doling out
interviews,
just as he did
for his
now waning
hopes to be
South Korea's
next
president.
How did
the current US
Mission taken
not action on
censorship by
Ban and his
Under
Secretary
General Cristina
Gallach,
even when asked
to do so by
the Government
Accountability
Project?
Why has the
current US
Ambassador
wasted
resources with
no fewer than
three
bodyguards
even when
inside the
UN?
We'll have
more on this -
watch this
site.
when Inner
City Press got
to the United
Nations later
in the
morning, it
asked Yemen's
Ambassador
Khaled Hussein
Mohamed
Alyemany if he
thinks under
Trump the US
will continue
to fuel up
Saudi
warplanes for
their bombing
runs. Video
here.
Inner City
Press asked
Iraq's
Ambassador to
the UN M A
Alhakim about
the idea
outgoing
President
Obama will try
to speed up
action on
Mosul and
Raqqa before
Trump takes
over. He said
a sped-up
process would
be good. Vine
video here.
Outgoing UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon came
to read a
statement; his
outgoing
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric said
Ban would not
take
questions. But
one was yelled
out on climate
change; Inner
City Press
then asked
about the criticism
of Ban by
Senator Bob
Corker, a
possible
Secretary of
State, over
Ban's weak
response to UN
peacekeepers'
engaged in
sexual abuse.
Video
here;Vine here.
When Inner
City Press had
asked Dujarric
for Ban's
reaction,
Dujarric said
dismissively
that was just
the opinion of
one person.
Impunity is
impunity.
Dujarric
himself helped
get Inner City
Press thrown
out of the UN
Press briefing
room, its
UN office and
the UN as a
whole, see
Paragraphs 9
and 10 of this
UN memo to the
US Senate
Foreign
Relations
Committee.
We'll have
more on this.November
7, 2016
Ban
Ki-moon's
Brother Ki-ho
Involved in
Myanmar
Greenwashing,
Like At COP 22
in Morocco
On
September 27, Inner City Press
directly asked Chatterjee about it,
on Periscope.
here.Vine
here.Chatterjee
hardly answered the long-standing questions; nor did Ban's
spokesman. Neither set up the requested interview.
Ban's brother Ki-ho is vice
president of electric equipment firm Bosung (a/k/a Bo Sung),
which has been on Myanmar tours with (unnamed) UN officials.
See (and translate) this government
web page, here:
"Industry, Republic of Korea
Minister U Maung Myint Bo Sung Powertec Co., Ltd, BUYANG
INDUSTRIAL Co., Ltd, Germany Recycle Engineering Co., Ltd and
visiting delegations from the United Nations"
Ban's former chief of staff and
vanity press book editor Vijay Nambiar is Ban's envoy on
Myanmar. Did he go on this trip?
In terms of mining, see
this: "Bright Time has signed an Memorandum of
Understanding with KD Power of South Korea, which is managed
by Mr. Ban Ki-Ho, brother of UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban
Ki-Moon, for the exploration of Magnesium as well as
cooperation in power sector in the eastern Shan State of
Myanmar."
Is the UN's Special
Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee aware of
this mining project in east Shan State, with the brother of UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon? Is the UN Ethics Office?
Doosan is providing the nuclear
reactor. Ban's friend and mentor Han Seung-soo, whom Ban
appointed to a senior UN position (which conveys diplomatic
immunity) is on the board of directors of Doosan and has
engaged closely with UAE on issues of Korean trade promotion
and business. Han has most recently served
on the jury of the UAE Energy Prize. Meanwhile,
Ban's other brother Ban ki-sang served as an advisor to Keangnam,
which developed properties in UAE for South
Korean expatriates and businesses.
We'll have more on this.October
31, 2016
Under
New SG
Guterres, Who
Will Head UN
Peacekeeping,
Public
Information?
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, October 28 -- When new
UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres came to take questions
outside the General Assembly hall on
October 13, he was first asked about
Syria and cited his past as head of
the UN refugee agency.
Inner
City Press asked, “And Yemeni
people?” - referring most recently
to the double-tap airstrike on the
funeral in Sana'a.
Guterres took the question, adding
in South Sudan as well, and said he
will try to be an honest broker.
That would be a welcome change, and
one that we will closely cover as
censorship restrictions are lifted.
Beyond
the UN Peacekeeping issues explored
below, as to ending UN censorship
who becomes Spokesperson, and who
heads the Department of Public
Information, will have an impact. On
October 28 the UN told
correspondents that Melissa Fleming,
spokesperson for Guterres, should
now be contacted through a UN.org
and not UNHCR.org email address.
Does this mean she'll be UN
Spokesperson? Head of DPI?
UN
Peacekeeping has been controlled by
France for 20 years, and many
believe that it is and will be time
to relinquish it. But when Inner
City Press asked, if for example
France will shift to DESA or even
across First Avenue to UNDP, it was
told “don't believe everything you
hear.”
Now the person who gave that answer
or quip is reported as a possible
replacement for Herve Ladsous, who
has run DPKO into the ground.
Other names
floated are Sylvie Bermann -- if
France keeps it, a woman USG might be
designed to address the sexual abuse
issues that expanded and were
justified under Ladous - or
Jean-Maurice Ripert, without any
mention of his issue when he was
assigned to Pakistan humanitarian
issues and remained
on vacation. (In full
disclosure, Ripert also confronted
Inner City Press on a UN Security
Council trip involving Chad and, by
accident, Rwanda - but that's another
story.) October
24, 2016
As Ban
Ki-moon
Conceals DC
Speech &
Is Protested
at UN, Tells
Reuters Of His
South Korea
Ambitions
By Matthew
Russell Lee,
Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS,
October
21 --
What has Ban
Ki-moon turned
the UN into,
as he seeks to
run for
President of
South Korea?
For a week,
Ban Ki-moon
has refused to
make public
the speech he
gave on
October 14
before the
Council of
Korean
Americans,
which sought
$100,000
sponsorships
to hear Ban
speak. On
October 21,
even as UN
staff
protested
Ban's lack of
judgment in
naming a
cartoon
character,
Wonder Woman,
a UN
ambassador,
Ban made
public to
Reuters not
this speech
but his
ambition to be
president of
South Korea.
Reuters did
not ask about
the day's
protest, much
less the
“private”
speech.
At the
October 21
noon briefing,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric again
for a copy of
the speech -
next question,
Dujarric said
- and about
the Wonder
Woman fiasco.
What will
Ban's platform
be? At the UN,
he he give the
top job in
Kenya to his
own son in
law, without
recusing
himself. He
has allowed
his mentor Han
Seung-soo to
be a UN
official while
on the boards
of directors
of Doosan and
of Standard
Chartered
bank, which
has UN
contracts. He
has evicted
the Press
which has
asked about
his nepotism
throughout his
tenure. See
here. So:
corruption,
nepotism and
censorship?
We'll have
more on this.
On October 17,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's outgoing
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric why
his office had
not made
available
Ban's speech
in Washington
DC on October
14 to the
Council of
Korean-Americans
but had widely
emailed out
Ban's speech
the same day
while getting
another
honorary
degree in
Maryland.
Dujarric
replied, with
characteristic
defensiveness,
that Ban's
Friday evening
speech at the
Ronald Reagan
International
Trade Center
in DC was
private. Vine
video here. On
October 18
when Inner
City Press
followed up
and asked how
much was
charged or
sought to hear
Ban, Dujarric
said to ask
the
organizers.
Well,
the Council of
Korean
Americans
began
promoting
Ban's
attendance, as
UN Secretary
General, as
early as
August - and
sought
$100,000
“platinum”
sponsorships.
Here's
a tweet from
September.
ICP
Asked New SG
Guterres About
Yemen, His
Transition
Team Here
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, October 14 -- When new
UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres came to take questions
outside the General Assembly hall on
October 13, he was first asked about
Syria and cited his past as head of
the UN refugee agency.
Inner
City Press asked, “And Yemeni
people?” - referring most recently
to the double-tap airstrike on the
funeral in Sana'a.
Guterres took the question, adding
in South Sudan as well, and said he
will try to be an honest broker.
That would be a welcome change, and
one that we will closely cover as
censorship restrictions are lifted.
Now on October 14, Guterres
announces this team:
"Following
his appointment yesterday by the
General Assembly of the United
Nations as
Secretary-General-designate, António
Guterres announced the composition
of a transition team that will help
him prepare for the assumption of
his duties on 1 January 2017. Here's
some of the absurdities they
should fix, on Haiti cholera
and media restrictions.
The members of the team are:
Transition Team Chief: Ms. Kyung-wha
Kang (Republic of Korea). She
previously served as Deputy High
Commissioner for Human Rights and
Director General of International
Relations at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Trade of the Republic of
Korea. She is currently Deputy
Emergency Relief Coordinator and
Assistant Secretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs.
Senior Advisor/ Spokesperson: Ms.
Melissa Fleming (USA). She has held
leading international communications
positions at the OSCE, with a focus
on human rights, conflict prevention
and reconciliation and at the IAEA
on nuclear non-proliferation, safety
and security. She is currently Head
of Communications and Spokesperson
for the High Commissioner at UNHCR.
Senior Adviser: Ms. Michelle
Gyles-McDonnough (Jamaica). She has
practiced privately as a lawyer,
served as advisor to the Secretary
General of the Organization of
American States and has deep
development experience within UNDP,
including as UN Resident Coordinator
for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei
Darussalam. She’s currently Deputy
Assistant Administrator and Deputy
Regional Director Designate for Asia
and the Pacific.
Senior Adviser: Mr. João Madureira
(Portugal). He has a distinguished
career in his country’s Diplomatic
Service. He is currently Minister
Counsellor in the Permanent Mission
of Portugal to the UN.
Senior Adviser: Mr. Radhouane
Nouicer (Tunisia). He served at
UNHCR for over 18 years in the field
and as Director of the Middle East
and North Africa Bureau. He was
Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs in the Tunisian Transitional
Government in 2011. He is currently
Regional Advisor for the Yemen
Humanitarian Crisis.
The Transition Team will interact
with UN officials, Member States and
civil society to ensure an informed
and smooth transition. "
On
October 14 inside the GA hall,
speakers included Chile's Ambassador
Christian Barros and the UK's
Matthew Rycroft, who spoke of the
process by which Guterres was
selected (but not, perhaps
understandably, about Yemen). US
Ambassador Samantha Power joked that
she had set aside time around
Christmas in case more straw polls
were needed.
In the days and weeks ahead, Inner
City Press will be running its “New
UN” series, which today covered the
Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs. The need for
change at UN Peacekeeping and the
Department of Public Information is
clear. But how will the UN become
anything near to an honest broker?
We are hoping for it. Watch this
site.
October
10, 2016
On
Yemen, ICP
Asks UK,
France, NZ
& Saudi
After
Airstrike on
Funeral, No
Draft Yet
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, October 8 --
The Saudi led coalition bombed a
funeral in Sana'a, Yemen, on the
same day the UN Security Council met
about airstrikes in Syria.
Inner
City Press asked Saudi Arabia's
ambassador to the UN Abdallah Yahya
A. Al-Mouallimi to confirm it was an
Saudi strike and explain it. He
said, "I am not aware of it." Vine
video here.
After the
French resolution failed in the
Security Council, its foreign
minister Jean Marc Ayrault came to
the stakeout. Inner City Press asked
him, loudly, if he thinks the Saudi
bombardment of Yemen should also be
taken up by the Security Council,
after an airstrike on a funeral most
recently. He did not answer, despite
the question being repeated. Vine
here. He left.
While Ambassador
Matthew Rycroft of the UK, which
holds the Council's “pen” on Yemen,
also did not answer, Vine
here, New Zealand's
ambassador when Inner City Press
asked if his country also thinks the
Saudi-led coalition should stop
bombing Yemen said, “I do.” Vine
here.
But by
the end of the meting, following a
walk-out by the UK, US and others,
the UK as "penholder" on Yemen in
the Security Council had not,
according to the president,
circulated any draft Press
Statement. Watch this site.
UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has
let the Saudi led coalition off the
Children and Armed Conflict annex on
Yemen, while Saudi Arabia runs for a
Human Rights Council seat. How much
lower can the UN get?
After a
UAE warship was hit - and sunk - off
the Yemeni coast near Mocha, Inner
City Press on October 3 asked Ban
Ki-moon's deputy spokesman Farhan
Haq for a comment, and if the UN
knows if it was a warship or as
claimed an aid ship. See
October 6 US travel warning, below.
On October
4 Haq returned with, "it doesn't sound
as if it was on a humanitarian
mission." Vine
video here.October
3, 2016
On
Next SG, Of
Kazakh Deputy
& Nordic
Dreamers,
Russia To Get
Political
Affairs?
By Matthew
Russell Lee,
Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS,
October 1 --
With female
Eastern
European group
candidates low
in the Next UN
Secretary
General straw
poll conducted
by Russia in
the Security
Council on
September 26,
two days later
on September
28 as
predicted
Bulgaria
nominated and
switched its
backing to
Kristalina
Georgieva from
Irina Bokova.
There was a
four-member
questioning of
the switch,
but within a
day it was
accepted and
the letter
went out.
Georgieva's
General
Assembly
interview was
scheduled for
October 3,
with a press
stakeout at 1
pm.
The
plot has
thickened
and Inner City
Press can now
go beyond its
previous
reporting
on a possible
deal NOT to
veto Antonio
Guterres if
Russia gets
the Deputy
Secretary
General spot,
either for Vuk
Jeremic who
has indicted
he would take
it, or the now
“personal”
candidate
Irina Bokova.
There may be
another “dark
horse” Deputy
Secretary
General
candidate,
from
Kazakhstan -
and female.
We'll have
more on this.
Russia, Inner
City Press is
exclusively
informed by
well-placed
but not
Russian
sources, also
wants the UN
Department of
Political
Affairs, held
for the last
two times by
the United
States. They
say there is
precedent,
that the USSR
held the
precursor to
DPA post. But
how would
giving DPA to
Russia at this
time be
viewed?
But
what would
France get? UK
Stephen
O'Brien wants
to stay on
in
Humanitarian
Affairs, and
the US in this
scenario would
take back
Management
from
Japan. What
would France
be left with?
Some say the
Department of
Public
Information,
and point to a
candidate in
waiting at
UNESCO. We'll
have more on
that, and on
the UNESCO
race, as well.
Even at this
late stage
there are dark
horses and
dreamers.
Kevin Rudd
doesn't hide
it, and Inner
City Press
hears he's
lined up a
country other
that Australia
which could
nominate him.
Just gone PGA
Lykketoft is
said to dream
of the post,
as is Ban's
current deputy
(who until now
has referred
all mis-Communication
issues
back to Ms
Gallach). From
Lebanon,
Sigrid Kaag is
said to have
been trying to
convince her
Dutch
government to
nominate her,
but upcoming
elections have
not helped.
There are
elections
everywhere.
Watch this
site.
Ukraine's
Ambassador to
the UN
Volodymyr
Yelchenko on
September 29,
on Georgieva,
said it's too
late, that she
won't be able
to go through
the process
the others
have. Inner
City Press Vine here. Inner City Press
heard that
Georgieva's
General
Assembly
interview or
informal is
tentatively
scheduled for
Monday,
October 3, two
days before
the sixth,
differentiated
straw poll.
Timing is
everything.
In January of
this year,
Inner City
Press asked
Georgieva some
UN reform
questions from
the UN Press
Briefing Room,
here,
prior to eviction
by Old SG Ban
Ki-moon.
Georgieva has
some powerful
backers, but
her EU role
may be a
problem for
Russia. Some
wonder if
Bokova will in
fact drop out,
or now count
on backing to
become Deputy
Secretary
General. Watch
this site.
The fifth
round of straw
polling for
the Next UN
Secretary
General dealt
another blow
to the lofty
rhetoric on
gender, with
the four top
finishers all
men. Vuk
Jeremic of
Serbia edged
ahead of
Miroslav
Lajcak for
second place.
Inner City
Press has
heard Russia
might NOT veto
Antonio
Guterres if
Jeremic or
Irina Bokova
got the deputy
SG spot. Here
are the
results:
Antonio
Guterres:
12-2-1
Vuk Jeremic:
8-6-1
Miroslav
Lajcak: 8-7-0
Danilo Turk:
7-7-1
Susanna
Malcorra:
7-7-1
Irina Bokova:
6-7-2
Srgjan Kerim:
6-9-0
Helen Clark:
6-9-0
Natalia
Gherman:
3-11-1
September
26, 2016
ICP
Asks Ban
Ki-moon's
Mentor Han
Seoug-soo of
Moonlighting
with StanChart
& Doosan,
He Says Banks
Too
On September
21, Inner City
Press asked
Han Seung-soo
to square his
position with
Ban's UN and
on the boards
of Standard
Chartered and
Doosan, which
sells water
equipment. Beyond the Vine video here.
ICP
Asks Ban
Ki-moon's
Mentor Han
Seoug-soo of
Moonlighting
with StanChart
& Doosan,
He Says Banks
Too
Han Seung-soo,
given time to
think about it
until the end
of the
stakeout by
Ban's chief of
communications
(and
censorship),
nevertheless
entirely
dodged, citing
sustainability
in the private
sector
including
banks.
Sustainability
of corruption?
On August 29,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric (in
writing since
Dujarric
suspended all
noon briefings
after previously
throwing Inner
City Press out
of (t)his UN
Press Briefing
Room) to
“please state
whether the
Secretary
General asked
Han Seung-soo,
given his at
least two
board
memberships,
to make public
financial
disclosure.”
To
this, Dujarric
replied, “He
is under the
same rules as
other
envoys.”
So all UN
envoys can be
on the boards
of directors
of companies
in the UN
Procurement
data base,
with UN
contracts,
companies that
make sales to
countries to
which the
envoy gives UN
speeches?
For
UNGA, Ban
Ki-moon Prints
Book on
Legacy, But
Who Wrote
& Paid For
It?
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, September 18 -- As Ban
Ki-moon's time at the UN winds down
and he prepares
coyly to run for President in
South Korea, his packaging of his
legacy has become a vanity amateur
operation.
Take for
example the hard
cover book on his conference table
when he met
on September 18 with Donald Tusk,
President, European Council and
Frans Timmermans, First
Vice-President, European Commission.
It was called “Highlights of the
tenure of Ban Ki-moon, 2007-2016.”
Inner City Press asks: who wrote it?
Who paid for it? Why was this done?
For the next meeting, with Denmark's
Prime Minister Lars Lokke
Rasmussen, another copy of the Ban
vanity book was out, along with a
pen to sign it.
By the
last meeting of the day, after Inner
City Press tweeted then first
published this story, the copy of
the book for UNASUR's
Ernesto Samper Pizano was covered
up with a file by Ban's staff.
Is this on the level?
In
the hall was the office of Nardos
Bekele-Thomas, moved out of the top
job in Kenya so Ban's son in law
could occupy it before Ban leaves.
Legacy, indeed....
The
Friday before UN General Assembly
week starts in earnest, reporters at
the UN were told of some of the
upcoming meetings and how, despite
restrictions, to cover them.
Inner
City Press asked the head of the
UN's Department of Public
Information Cristina Gallach why DPI
says the non-resident
correspondents, the vast majority of
journalists covering the UN, will be
placed in basement Conference Room 1
where no only food and beverages but
even water is not allowed.
(In Ban's
conference room there is water and,
we've noted at his all-Korean
meeting, tea.)
Gallach's reply cited to
“professionalism” and rules, both of
which she invoked when she ousted
and then evicted Inner City
Press from the UN earlier this year.
Ironically,
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman Stephane Dujarric less
that an hour later explained
having violated the rules (about
those without cameras not attending
photo ops) so that South Korean
print journalists could witness
Ban's speech to politicians visiting
from Seoul.
The UN's
rules are selectively implied, in
this case to censor.
On
September 16, Inner City Press asked
Gallach about the since-released Office
of Internal Oversight Services
audit, which found that her
DPI did not due diligence on events
by Ng Lap Seng fundees.
Gallach said that the outside event
- the case in Federal court - is
being followed. So Inner City Press
asked for her response to testimony
in the case that South South News,
which unlike Inner City Press the
rule-invoking Gallach left
in its UN office despite or
because of it not asking any
questions at the UN, was named as a
“conduit of bribery.” This, she did
not answer.
After the briefing, which included
film maker Richard Curtis whom Inner
City Press asked about the Next SG
race, Gallach's staffer asked for
further information about the
water(less) issue.
Inner City Press added the exclusion
of non-resident correspondents from
access to the UN's EZTV which shows
more events than the UN webcast. See flier
here of the Free UN Coalition for
Access, also ejected and sign
torn down under Gallach. What will
change? We'll see. Watch this site.September
12, 2016
Ban
Ki-moon &
Son In Law Use
Jaffna
Massacre
Commander As
Nepotism
Defense
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Follow Up on
Exclusives
UNITED
NATIONS, September 10 -- UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in
late August awarded
the top UN job in Kenya to his
own son in law, Siddharth
Chatterjee, and did
not recuse himself.
After
Inner City Press asked about this
textbook case of nepotism, video
here, Ban's spokesman
Stephane Dujarric replied
that an inter-agency advisory panel
had been involved, before Ban signed
the letter appointing his own son in
law to the post.
Meanwhile,
an ally of Ban's son in law
Chatterjee, Dalvir Singh, has called
this series of articles, despite
Ban's spokesman's stonewalling and
refusal to answer, unfair --
"scurrilous, unfounded and
mendacious accusations" by a
"blogger."
Dalvir
Singh writes that Inner City Press,
“a blogger of questionable
credentials.... has hurled
scurrilous, unfounded and mendacious
accusations of human rights
violations against Chatterjee. Major
Chatterjee was a star member of my
battalion, the 10th Para Special
Forces, and at no time was my
battalion or any member of my unit
ever involved in any form of human
rights violation.”
Thou dost protest too much. Beyond
the Jaffna University heli-drop on
October 11, 1987, there was the
Jaffna hospital massacre ten days
later on October 21, 1987.
Here is the Wiki-time line (some say
this may explain Ban's willingness
to let the Saudi led Coalition off
the UN's Children and Armed Conflict
annex for attacks on health and
other civilian facilities in Yemen)
"October
21, 1987 - 11h – The hospital
environment came under cannon fire
from the vicinity of Jaffna Dutch
Fort and from overhead helicopters.
September
5, 2016
Ban
Ki-moon's
Promoted Son
In Law Sid
Chatterjee
Reportedly
Posed With
Dead
Combatants, No
UN Comment
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Follow Up on
Exclusives
UNITED
NATIONS, September 2 -- UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon in late August awarded
the top UN job in Kenya to his
own son in law, Siddharth
Chatterjee, and did
not recuse himself.
After
Inner City Press asked about this
textbook case of nepotism, video
here, Ban's spokesman
Stephane Dujarric replied
that an inter-agency advisory panel
had been involved, between Ban
signed the letter appointing his own
son in law to the post.
So
Inner City Press has asked Dujarric
who was on this panel, to assess if
they were independent from Ban, and
who the other candidates, at least
on the short list, were.
Dujarric
has refused to provide this
information, and has refused all
other Inner City Press questions
about Ban's son in law, including
about his activities in Sri Lanka as
part of the Indian Peace Keeping
Force.
As Ban's spokesman knows, Ban is in
Sri Lanka; the story can't wait. So
today Inner City Press reports that
it has been told of Siddarth
Chatterjee posing with dead and
disfigured Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam; this has been described
as a war crime.
Inner City Press twice this week
asked Dujarric to describe and
comment on Ban Ki-moon's son in
law's activities in Sri Lanka; it is
all the more pressing given the most
recent UN promotion without recusal.
Inner City Press also asked what
forms and rules apply, a question
also ignored by Dujarric with
respect to a fundraiser
held in the UN with Ban's past
envoy to Sri Lanka, Vijay Nambiar.
Inner City Press asked Dujarric to
comment in this context on this,
authored by Ban's son in law Sid
Chatterjee: no answers.
And so in common journalistic
practice, to assist reader in
deciding whether to believe or not
believe these reports of Chatterjee
posing with dead and disfigured
combatants in violation of the
Geneva Conventions, we disclose that
one of the sources clearly has an
interest: Chatterjee's ex-wife
Shirpa Sen.
She is a
medical doctor; she has said
Chatterjee threatened her to stop
providing any information to Inner
City Press and an Indian journalist
whose publication Chatterjee got to
remove
a report about one of his promotions
under Ban from the Internet.
(Censorship seems to run in the
family.)
The
allegation is that Chatterjee
dropped her and then saw his career
path advance under his new father in
law, Ban Ki-moon; he made threats to
make the issues of the past go away.
We disclose this because readers
have a right to know of the interest
or animus of the source of
information. Here is another
online report; here on a court
website is the decision
on the divorce appeal. And
here is an earlier report
of Inner City Press asking Ban's
spokespeople about
Chatterjee's military record, in Sri
Lanka Ban's 2009 visit to which
Inner City Press covered in-person
(Inner City Press has since been
BANned, restricted.)
A
direct comment of any kind from Ban
Ki-moon's spokesman, requested all
week, would have been preferable.
But
Ban and his Under Secretary General
for Public Information Cristina
Gallach should not be able to censor
by throwing the Press into the
street, New
York Times here,audio
here.
Likewise
Ban's spokesman cannot be allowed to
prevent a timely article by simply
refusing to even acknowledge
questions submitted in writing,
especially after he began the week
telling Inner City Press (and the Free
UN Coalition for Access which
asked for in-person briefings) that
he would be answering questions all
week.
Ban
Ki-moon's Spokesman did not answer
these questions, nor on September 2
even acknowledge receipt of them. August
29, 2016
Ban
Ki-moon Signed
Letter Giving
Son-In-Law Top
UN Job in
Kenya,
Confirmed to
ICP
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Follow Up on
Exclusives
UNITED
NATIONS, August 26 -- Under
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the
UN has become so lawless that Ban's
son-in-law Siddharth Chatterjee was
just named
UN Resident Representative in Kenya
without Ban recusing himself.
Inner City Press reported and asked
about this on August 25. On August
26, Ban's spokesman Stephane
Dujarric confirmed that Ban had not
recused himself, had in fact signed
the letter giving his own son in law
the job, see below.
How
is this acceptable in an
international organization? Or this:
Ban's mentor Han Seung-soo is a UN
official allowed to be on the boards
of directors of Standard Chartered,
which has UN banking contracts, and
Doosan which makes sales to
countries Han gives “UN” speeches
to.
On August 25, Inner City Press asked
Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric if
Ban had recused himself from any
role in his son-in-law's promotion,
video
here.
Inner
City Press: Mr. Chatterjee was named
the UN representative in
Kenya. So I wanted to know,
what’s the process for the naming of
a resident representative? And
given this he’s the son-in-law of
the Secretary-General, was there any
recusal made? I’m not saying
he’s not qualified. I’m not
saying he’s not a long-time
official. I’m just wondering
what is the process…[inaudible]… for
someone being named…
Spokesman:
The regular process was used.
The fact that he is, indeed, the
son-in-law of the Secretary-General,
I think, does not take away anything
from his very strong service over
the years…
Inner
City Press: I’m asking about the
process.
Spokesman:
Thank you.
Dujarric's
only response is that Chatterjee is
qualified. That was not the
question. After Inner City Press
highlighted this, Ban's spokesman
Dujarric returned on August 26 with
a "supplemental" statement, which
still confirmed that Ban had not
recused himself, had in fact signed
the approval of his own son in law
for the promotion. Video
here.From
the UN Transcript:
Spokesman
Dujarric: I also just wanted to give
you a little bit more details on the
issue you had raised yesterday with
Mr. Chatterjee and expand on what
I'd said. Mr. Chatterjee was
chosen through the regular process
which is basically that the
candidates are chosen by an
interagency advisory panel which…
which does not… and especially in
this case… did not involve the
Secretary-General. I think he
has been fully aware of the
situation and has kept well away
from the selection process.
For RCs, the candidates are chosen
and recommended by the interagency
panel. The name of the
recommended candidate is then given
to the Secretary-General to sign off
on. He does not involve
himself… and as I said, especially
in this case… involve himself in the
selection… in the selection
process. And I would just,
again, reiterate Mr. Chatterjee's, I
think, very strong qualifications in
his career with ICRC and the UN over
the years.
Inner City Press: I looked into it,
too. It seemed like they sent
it to the UNDG Chair and the
Secretary-General. That's why
I was asking yesterday.
Spokesman: No, I
understand. The
Secretary-General… the
Secretary-General is very aware of
the sensitivities of this case and
has stayed well away from it.
The final signature… because the way
this works is the Resident
Coordinator represents the UN, and
it needs the agreement of the host
country. So, the letter of
appointment, in a sense, has to be
signed by the
Secretary-General. But, his
name is given to him by the
interagency panel.
Nor have
the questions about Han Seung-soo,
who refuses Ban's supposed call for
public financial disclosure, been
answered.
Instead, Inner City Press which has
asked about each of Chatterjee's
promotions though the UN system
under Ban (for example to
and from
UNOPSincluding
censorship by the son in law,
like Ban) and in the past ten months
about Ban's and his head of
communications Cristina
Gallach's links with the John
Ashe / Ng Lap Seng UN bribery
scandal, was ousted from the UN in
February 2016 (audio
here) and had its
investigative files evicted onto
First Avenue in April
(video here). NYT
here.
Since then Inner City Press has been BANned
from covering UN events on the
second floor unless it has a minder
which stays with it all the time;
sometime Inner City Press is told
there are not enough minders, and
coverage is entirely prohibited. This
is censorship under Ban Ki-moon.August
22, 2016
Why
Ban Ki-moon
Dropped from
Public List
Officials Who
Refuse to
Disclose
UNexplained
While the UN
claims Ban
Ki-moon urges
his officials
to make public
financial
disclosure,
now Ban has
allowed the
names of the
officials who
refuse to make
any disclosure
to no longer
even be
mentioned on
the list of
officials.
On August 18,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Farhan Haq
about the
continued
decline of
transparency
under Ban, Vine here,UN
transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: you've
referred a
couple times
in recent days
to the idea
of… of public
financial
disclosure by…
by
officials.
And I've seen
on the website
that Ban
Ki-moon says
that he urges
his officials
to do it, but,
of course,
it's not
required.
That I
understand.
But, what I've
noticed is
that until
recently, in
previous
years, there's
been a list of
all
officials.
And if you
click some
names, it
says, "I
choose not to
disclose."
For 2015, the
most recent
year, the
officials who
don't disclose
aren't even
listed.
So, it seems
like it's a
step
back.
And I wanted
to know, for
example, Mr.
Hervé Ladsous
was listed in
2013 as
declining to
disclose.
He's the head
of
peacekeeping,
as you
know. I
don't know how
the urging of
Ban Ki-moon
resulted in
that.
But, in 2015
he's not even
on the
list.
So, maybe you
know or you
can ask them,
how is it
decided to
drop the names
from the list
of officials
who choose not
to
disclose?
Because it
makes it even
more opaque,
obviously,
because you
can't even
tell that they
didn't
disclose.
They're not
listed, unless
you do
cross-reference
back…
Deputy
Spokesman:
No, well, you
know who the
officials of
the UN
are.
They either
choose to make
their
disclosure on
a voluntary
basis or
not.
That is their
decision.
However,
regardless of
whether they
make it public
or not, they
do make
disclosures to
the UN, and
those are
reviewed.
ICP
Question:
Right.
Was it
specific… was
it a change in
policy, from
all the years,
2000… for
example, Mr.
[Mathew]
Nimetz appears
in 2007, but
he doesn't
appear in
2015.
Mr. Han
[Seung-soo]
doesn't
appear.
So, who
decided… I
guess it's the
ethics… on
whose
authority was
it decided to
make it less
opaque which
officials are
not following
Ban Ki-moon's
ostensible
urging to
disclose?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, like I
said, there's
still
financial… the
public
financial
disclosures
are still
available, and
that's the
basic
point.
If they choose
to make them
public,
they're
available on
the website.
The conflicts
of interest
allowed by Ban
Ki-moon in his
UN are
extensive.
Today's
example
is
Matthew
Nimetz, Ban's
Personal Envoy
for the talks
between Greece
and the Former
Yugoslav
Republic of
Macedonia
(FYROM).
When Inner
City Press
asked about
this and how
many OTHER
board Han is
on that do
business with
the UN, Ban's
spokesman
Farhan Haq cut
off the
questions and
claimed Inner
City Press was
“bullying”
him. Video
here; UN Transcript
hereAugust
8, 2016
Ban's
Adviser Han
Seung-Soo Is
Director of UN
Contractor
Doosan,
UNethical?
After
publishing
these links,
Inner City
Press on
August 4 asked
Ban Ki-moon's
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq
about it, and
about Jane
Holl Lute for
the second
time -- this
time, answered
unlike the
five days of
questions
about UN
Security
Inspector
Matthew
Sullivan being
on an outside
board of a
corporation
which has held
events for,
among other
things,
sneakers in
the UN.
So does the UN
only answer
when it can
say that Yes,
Ban Ki-moon
approved? On
August 5,
Inner City
Press asked
again, video
here,UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press:
Yesterday I'd
asked about
Han Seung-soo
and whether
he's the
Special
Adviser.
Deputy
Spokesman:
Yes, yes, he
remains
Special
Adviser.
I've put in a
request to the
Ethics Office
to see whether
he's made any
notifications
of different
business
dealings.
I believe he
may have done
some, but I'm
trying to get
it from the
Ethics
Office.
Alas, at this
time of
summer, there
are some
offices that
are… will be
harder to get
replies back
from so I'll
let you know
once I have
it.
Question:
Sure. I
guess I want
to
understand.
There's a rule
that says a
person needs
approval from
the
Secretary-General
for
outside.
Does that
apply here, or
is it just a
matter of
saying that
you're doing
it?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, first I
need to check,
again, whether
the Ethics
Office has had
any
notifications
of any other
activities.
On
DSS Scandal,
UN Refuses To
Name Sponsor,
If Ban
Approved Or
Just Negligent
By Matthew
Russell Lee,
Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS, July
29 -- As the
UN bribery
scandal
gathered force
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon called
for an audit
by the UN
Office of
Internal
Oversight
Services of
the Global
Sustainability
Foundation
(GSF), David
Ng Lap Seng's
Sun Kian Ip
Group and its
affiliates
including the
"World Harmony
Foundation"
and
pleaded-guilty
Francis
Lorenzo's
South South
News, among
others.
While as of
July 27 Ban
and his Under
Secretary
General
Cristina
Gallach still
have this last
"bribery
conduit" in a
UN office
after evicting
Inner City
Press for
investigating
it, and them,
more dubious
events are
scheduled for
Ban's UN. (Gallach, who appeared with Lorenzo,
spoke in the
GA Hall on
July 29 -
given her
retaliatory
evition of
Inner City
Press, it
would only
half cover the
event with one
of Ban's
minders.)
On July 29
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq,
for the second
day in a row,
if UN
Security
Inspector
Matthew
Sullivan's
position on
the board of
the directors
of the sponsor
of an August 2
event, which
has links with
pleaded-guilty
Francis
Lorenzo, was
approved by
Ban Ki-moon as
required by UN
rules.
Rather
than answer
this simple
question, Haq
said he is not
aware of any
problem with
the
individual.
Does that mean
that Ban
Ki-moon has
given up even
pretending to
enforce UN
ethics rules?
Or that Ban
Ki-moon has
approved this
UN Inspector's
moonlighting
with entities
linked with
the UN's
Lorenzo / John
Ashe (RIP) /
Ng Lap Seng
bribery
scandal?
Even the
simple
question of
who sponsored
the use of the
UN on August
2, a mission
or a UN
department,
was
stonewalled by
Ban's Haq. He
said, ask the
group holding
the event.
Well, no. The
UN premises
are being
used, and this
requires a
sponsor.
So l'affaire
Matthew
Sullivan,
which Ban's
spokesman is
trying to stop
investigation
of by calling
even Googling
unethical, is
connected to
the Francis
Lorenzo UN
bribery
scandal.
Perhaps this
explains Ban's
spokesmen
stonewalling.
Lead spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric
stonewalled
Inner City
Press'
previous questions
about
Montessori
Model UN.
On July 28
when Inner
City Press for
the second
time asked Ban
Ki-moon's
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq
about the
specifics of
for-profit
events in the
UN and
Sullivan's
presence on
the board of
directors of
the events'
sponsor,
rather than
answer Haq
tried to call
Inner City
Press'
research and
reporting
“unethical,”
going so far
as to ask if
it had started
research AFTER
it was Banned
from covering
UN meeting on
Haiti and
South Sudan.
In fact, Inner
City Press
reported on
the
“concussions”
event long
before Ban and
Cristina
Gallach ousted
it on February
19, and
Sullivan on
February 22
told Inner
City Press it
was Banned
from UN
premises
worldwide.
Haq's boss
Stephane
Dujarric
claimed that
day that
Sullivan had
gone beyond
the ouster
ordered by
Gallach. If
so, why did
Sullivan do
it?
Ban's
UN has become
a place where
officials at
all levels
think they can
sell access to
the UN, since
Ng Lap Seng so
easily bought
it. The
scandal, as
Inner City
Press will
shortly
report, are
connected.
Ban's UN's
response to
reporting is
to evict the
Press, then to
question
whether
Googling is
somehow
unethical. Vines here and here
and here
and
here. Then
video
here.
From
the UN
Transcript:
Inner City
Press:
yesterday I
asked you
about this
event that is
scheduled for
2 August and
you told me to
speak to the
group and Mr.
Sullivan
didn't know he
was on the
list, and
wouldn't speak
at it.
Since then
I've seen
there are at
least three
other events
at which he
did speak by
the same
group,
involving the
same group and
that he is on
board of
directors of
the sponsor of
the 2 August
thing, that
Jackie Brewer
Foundation.
So I guess
what I wanted
to know is,
one, to me it
seems strange
that he didn't
know that he
was listed by
them if he is
on the board
of
directors.
But I also
wanted to ask,
I've seen the
Secretary-General
orders called
outside
activities
that say staff
members should
not engage in
outside these
activities
without the
approval of
the
Secretary-General.
So I wanted to
know, since
this is a
private,
for-profit
company that
has had its
stock pitched
based on the
involvement of
UN DSS
(Department of
Safety and
Security),
whether the
Secretary-General
has, in fact,
approved this
or not?
And, if not,
what happens
next?
Deputy
Spokesman:
As I told you,
he is not
appearing at
their
function.
He was not
aware of this.
ICP
Question:
Did you look
into it?
He is on the
board of
directors of
the group, so
I'm asking.
Deputy
Spokesman:
This person
who, by the
way, has
informed me
that you
apparently
have taken
some sort of
gripe with him
because he
tried to talk
to you at a
stakeout.
I'm aware…
ICP
Question:
It's not a
gripe.
I'm asking you
about an
official DSS
official on
the
board.
You are
cutting me
off. I
thought that
was
unprofessional.
I'm asking a
question, how
does this
regulation
apply?
Deputy
Spokesman:
I was actually
in the process
of answering
you, and then
you can
talk.
This is how
conversations
go: I talk and
you talk and
so forth.
ICP
Question:
Just that you
walk away, so
that is why
I'm making
sure I want to
ask, there are
number of
other
questions on
this.
Deputy
Spokesman:
Matthew, that
is not
fair. I
take a huge
amount of
questions from
you, as every
transcript and
every video
will
show.
Now, I have no
problem with
you asking
questions.
I do not think
that you
should try to
use the
briefing in
terms of
personal
vendettas
against
people.
If that is
what you are
doing, it's
unethical and
I would have a
problem with
that.
ICP
Question:
You can say
whatever you
want.
Okay, what I'm
asking, a
senior UN DSS
official is,
this is all
online, these
are all… you
could have
found them
yourselves
with ten
minutes of
Googling.
He is on the
board of
directors of a
group that you
said didn't
know put him
on the list
and there have
been three
separate
events, one
about
sneakers, one
about
concussions in
the NFL
(National
Football
League), and
these have all
taken place in
the ECOSOC
(Economic and
Social
Council)
Trusteeship
Chamber.
So my question
is for the
service of
this
individual on
the board of
directors of a
for-profit
company for a
for-profit
event, has the
Secretary-General
given
permission?
And, if not,
is this
reflective of
a lack of due
diligence as
in the Ng Lap
Seng case,
"Yes" or "No"?
Deputy
Spokesman:
First of all,
to the extent
that DSS ever
gives
briefings at
these, there
are briefings
about security
conditions.
Those are
standard;
outside of
those, I'm not
aware…
ICP
Question:
I urge you to
look at the
press
releases.
Deputy
Spokesman:
I'm not aware
of anything
that is not a
standard
briefing.
Second of all,
did you do any
of this
Googling
before you had
your
conversation
in the
corridors with
him?
ICP
Question:
Yes, I
have.
I've been
actually
following… I
wrote about
the concussion
event because
it's a joke
these events
take place in
the UN that
are raising
money, so I'm
now I'm asking
you about
these events
because you
said he didn't
know and it's
not
credible.
He has done
three
events.
Look at them
and see
whether there
were safety
concerns.
Deputy
Spokesman:
Like I said, I
have talked to
this person
and this is
what he said.
When after
publishing a
story exposing
the notice and
Sullivan's
listed
involvement
Inner City
Press asked
Bna's deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq
about it, Haq
said he had
spoken with
Sullvian who
said he had
not been aware
he was listed,
and is not
involved. Haq
refused ot
answer more
about the
event, and cut
off Inner City
Press'
questions. Video here.
This is not
credible. In
fact, Matthew
Sullivan is on
the board of
directors
of the group
holding the
event, which
is either a
violation of
UN rules or
was approved
by Ban "Fast
and Loose"
Ki-moon. The
applicable
rule:
"ST/AI/2000/13
Outside
activities
Section
2 Staff
members
engaging in
outside
activities
authorized
under the
present
instruction
shall make
clear to the
organizers and
participants
in such
activities,
including any
employers,
that they act
in their
personal
capacity and
not as
representatives
of the United
Nations.
Section 3
3.1
Under staff
regulation 1.2
(o), a staff
member shall
not engage in
any outside
occupation or
employment,
whether
remunerated or
not, without
the approval
of the
Secretary-General.
For the
purposes of
the present
instruction,
the expression
'occupation'
shall include
the exercise
of a
profession,
whether as an
employee or an
independent
contractor."
Here
is a photo
of Sullivan
with the
people he says
he doesn't
know listed
him for the
August 2
event.
There are been
other events
with Sullivan,
for example here:
"MagneGas
Announces
Panelists for
World Water
Day Summit at
the UN... The
Summit will
begin with a
welcome from
the CEO of
MagneGas
Corporation
Ermanno
Santilli and
Inspector
Matthew
Sullivan of
the United
Nations
Department of
Safety and
Security."
And another
("Reelcause,"
here in PDF)
and yet another:
"Discussing
the GTX
SmartSoles
with various
officials
including
Inspector
Matthew
Sullivan of
the
United
Nations’
Department of
Safety and
Security."
In fact, the
for profit
company has
had it stock
touted citing
UN Sullivan's
involvement, here:
DirectView
Holdings,
"facilitated a
number of
introductions
and
collaborative
meetings for
DirectView
executives
throughout the
course of the
week including
with the
United
Nations'
Inspector of
Operations
from the
Department of
Safety and
Security."
While Ban
Ki-moon cited
immunity /
impunity for
10,000 killed
by cholera in
Haiti, a
meting on
which Sullivan
Banned Inner
City Press
from on July
26, doesn't
this implicate
at least US
securities
laws?
Since the
above is
easily
available
online, Ban
Ki-moon's
Office of the
Spokesperson's
denial and
stonewalling
is worse then
negligent.
Under
Ban Ki-moon,
as shown in
the Ng Lap
Seng / John
Ashe case
investigation
of which
resulted in
Ban evicting
Inner City
Press from the
UN in
retaliation,
using
Sullivan,
everything has
become for
sale.
How high does
this
particular
scam go in the
Department of
Safety and
Security,
whose Captain
McNulty and
seven officer
physically
ousted Inner
City Press on
February 19? Audio
here;
McNulty initially
refused to
identify
himself.
DSS later cited
a non-public
Handbook to
justify Inner
City Press'
ouster, here.
Is USG Peter
Drennan in on
this? Michael
"Mick" Brown,
who oversees
McNulty? There
are some fine
people in DSS,
but it must be
cleaned up,
and all
retaliation
reversed and
addressed.
How
about the
Department of
Management
which is
titularly in
charge of
these events
in the UN,
including
Andrew Nye,
Craig Boyd and
British
Assistant SG
Stephen Cutts?
Ban Ki-moon's
UN is corrupt
throughout,
and retaliates
against the
Press which
pursues and
reports on
it. The
UN's ouster
and eviction
of Inner City
Press, and
harassment and
censorship
since, has
been pure
retaliation.
Now what?
Here's the
notice for the
August 2
event,
followed by
the UN's
transcript of
Ban's Haq's
denials:
"COPsync
Co-sponsors
#Stand2Protect
Peace Summit
at the United
Nations
DALLAS, July
26, 2016
/PRNewswire/
-- COPsync,
Inc. (NASDAQ:
COYN),
announced
today that
they are
co-sponsoring
the
#Stand2Protect
Peace Summit
in conjunction
with UN
Ambassador
Jack Brewer,
the Blue Alert
Foundation,
the United
Federation for
Peacekeeping
and
Sustainable
Development,
and Trust 2
Protect. The
Summit will be
held at the
United Nations
Headquarters
on August 2,
2016, from
3:00 pm - 6:00
pm EDT.
The goal of
the United
Nations
#Stand2Protect
Peace Summit
is to bring
together
community and
global
leaders, law
enforcement,
politicians
and
influencers to
discuss real
solutions to
end the
growing
distrust
between
communities
and law
enforcement.
Prominent
speakers at
the Summit
will include
... Inspector
at the United
Nations
Headquarters
Mathew
Sullivan"
This is
a for-profit
company,
selling
services to
Police
Departments.
Why is UN DSS
Matty Sullivan
involved?
Inner City
Press after
publishing the
above asked
Ban Ki-moon's
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq,
UN transcript
here and
below; video
hereJuly
25, 2016
On
Next SG Straw
Poll, Results
&
Questions of
Dual
Nationalities,
Exclusive
By Matthew
Russell Lee,
Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS, July
21 -- As the
UN Security
Council held
its first
closed-door
straw poll on
the 12 current
candidates to
replace Ban
Ki-moon as UN
Secretary
General on
July 21, Inner
City Press
asked UK
Ambassador
Matthew
Rycroft if it
was too late
for
Australia's
Kevin Rudd or
others to get
into the race.
Video
here.
Rycroft
replied that
it is not too
late,
candidates can
enter after
the first
straw poll
pursuant to
the Council's
earlier
letter.
Here from
multiple
sources are
the results of
the first
straw poll;
Inner City
Press can also
exclusively
report that
questions have
arisen about
dual
nationality of
some
candidates,
including
Christiana
Figueres, Vuk
Jeremic and
Susana
Malcorra
(Italy /
Spain),
beyond their
listed
countries
which
nominated
them. It
should be
noted that the
UN's “PHP”
forms require
such
disclosures.
From multiple
sources,
results of the
first straw
poll, in the
format of
Encourage -
Discourage -
No Opinion:
Antonio
Guterres:
12-0-3
Danilo Turk:
11-2-2
Irina Bokova:
9-4-2
Srgjan Kerim
9-5-1
Vuk Jeremic:
9-5-1;
Helen Clark:
8-5-2
Miroslav
Lajcak: 7-3-5
Susanna
Malcorra:
7-4-4
Christiana
Figueres:
5-5-5
Natalia
Gherman: 4-4-7
Igor Luksic:
3-7-5
Vesna Pusic:
2-11-2
After the
straw polling,
Ambassadors
said no
comment and it
went well;
Council
President Koro
Bessho said
much the same
on UNTV. Inner
City Press
asked him if
the actual
results had
been given to
the President
of the General
Assembly.
Bessho began
to say yes,
then
clarified, no.
The
"frontrunner"
Antonio
Gutteres is
the one
without a
Twitter
account; the
runner-up
Danilo Turk to
his credit
wants
whistleblower
Kompass back
in the UN.
It's worth
remembering
that Gutteres
was dissed by
Ban Ki-moon
when he asked
for one more
year atop
UNHCR. Sources
say Malcorra
and Andrew
Gilmour,
recently
promoted
without proper
process, were
involved in
the decision
on
Gutteres.
Revenge? Or
just more of
Ban's bad
judgment, like
he and his
head of
"Public
Information" Cristina
Gallachevicting
Inner City
Press as it
covers the UN?
July
18, 2016
ICP
Asks Ban's
Spox Why 6 UN
Guards
Hindered It,
Spox Replies
He Was Stalked
While NHK
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, July
14 -- When
Inner City
Press went to
cover UN
Security
General Ban
Ki-moon's
speech on
human rights
on July 12, it
was required
to be escorted
by one of
Ban's minders,
due to its
eviction
earlier this
year by Ban
and his Under
Secretary
General for
Public
Information,
Cristina
Gallach.
But
even after
escort by a
minder, just
before Ban
Ki-moon's
speech Inner
City Press was
surrounded by
six UN
Security
officers who
demanded that
it leave.
When Inner
City Press
pointed out
that the Media
Accreditation
and Liaison
Unit does not
have enough
staff, the
officer in
charge said
Inner City
Press would be
confined to
“covering” the
meeting from
the third
floor - that
is, unable to
speak with any
diplomats
(several of
whom, even on
July 12,
approached to
speak with
Inner City
Press, at
least until
Ban's guards
targeted Inner
City Press for
censorship.)
The UN
officers
claimed Inner
City Press
misspoke, so
since Inner
City Press
was, as it
told MALU and
as other
correspondent
can do but
didn't on July
12, stakeout
out the
meeting, here
is the audio.
When the same
thing happened
on July 14
while Inner
City Press,
escorted by
MALU, staked
out and
covered the
General
Assembly's
Next SG
session with
Christiana
Figueres,
Inner City
Press went --
delayed by the
harassment --
to the day's
noon briefing
and after
questions on
Yemen, Kosovo,
Burundi, South
Sudan and
Thailand asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric what
the rules are
on not being
hindering from
covering such
meetings once
escorted by
MALU.
Rather than
provide any UN
rule, Dujarric
said as his
response that
Inner City
Press had
“stalked” him
on the
sidewalk, a
reference to
Inner City
Press, being
informed that
Dujarric had
arranged to be
filmed by NHK
for a profile
of himself,
and streaming
a Periscope of
Dujarric's
already-agreed
to session
with a media
he likes. July
14 audio here,
video
here.
In essence,
Dujarric
called
critical
coverage
“stalking,”
despite being
a
spokesperson.
And he uses
the UN podium
response to
the Press'
question about
media access
rules to try
to discourage
critical
coverage and
questions, and
to send a
message to UN
Security that
it is fine to
target Inner
City Press.
Previously,
Dujarric while
withholding
Inner City
Press'
accreditation,
said he didn't
like its
coverage of
Ban Ki-moon or
Herve Ladsous.
This is
censorship, by
a supposed
spokesperson
for the UN.
We'll have
more on this.
July
11, 2016
In S
Sudan Leaked
UN Memo Says
150 Soldiers
Dead As Some
Joined Kiir's
Tiger Force
By Matthew
Russell Lee,
Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS, July
9 -- In the
UN's continued
withholding of
news and
answers about
South Sudan,
the reports of
the UN's own
knowledge of
abuses are now
being withheld
from its own
impacted
national
staff.
So Inner City
Press has
published
below multiple
leaked
documents from
inside UNMISS
and from
non-governmental
organizations
- and compares
them to
contradictory
official
statements by
the UN.
The UN has
responded by
evicting Inner
City Press
from its
long-time
shared office
in the UN on
April 16, video here and here
(Periscope).
Still, here
exclusively
from inside
UNMISS is a UN
memo on the
most recent
violence, even
as the UN
Security
Council held
no meeting on
July 7, see
below:
“JUBA Nearly
150 soldiers
are reported
dead from
Friday's clash
between South
Sudan's rival
forces loyal
to President
Salva Kiir and
those loyal
to the
First Vice
President Riek
Machar.
The heavy
fighting
occurred on
Friday near
J1, the
Presidential
Palace,
between troops
of the South
Sudanese army
(SPLA) and
protection
unit of the
First Vice
President,
Machar, of the
SPLA in
Opposition.
35 of the
SPLA-IO
soldiers lying
dead and over
80 died from
the SPLA’s
side.
All the
bodyguards of
the First Vice
President who
were deployed
on the street
outside J1
were killed,
said a senior
SPLA officer.
A huge force
came from
nowhere and
joined up with
President
Kiir’s tiger
force and
opened fire on
Machar’s
bodyguards
deployed
outside the
Palace for
protection."
On
July 8 amid
the surge in
violence in
South Sudan,
the UN
Ambassador of
Lithuania,
until recently
on the UN
Security
Council,
tweeted on
Friday that
the Council
would meet
that afternoon
about the
crisis.
But when ICP
asked the
month's
President of
the Council,
Koro Bessho of
Japan, he said
there would be
no Security
Council
meeting that
afternoon. The
Lithuania
ambassador
deleted the
tweet; the
UNTV crew took
down their
camera. This
as, for
example, World
Vision went on
lock-down in
Juba. Ban
Ki-moon, in
China, issued
a canned
statement -
this as his spokesman
refuses Press
questions
about South
Sudan, calling
them "too
granular."July
4, 2016
As UN
Bribery Ng
Case Expands,
Ban Ki-moon in
Para 12, His
Spox Covers Up
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, July
1 -- As the UN
bribery
scandal
gathered force
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon called
for an audit
by the UN
Office of
Internal
Oversight
Services of
the Global
Sustainability
Foundation
(GSF), David
Ng Lap Seng's
Sun Kian Ip
Group and its
affiliates
including the
"World Harmony
Foundation"
and South
South News,
among others.
The UN
Development
Program began
its own audit,
which Inner
City Press
published here,
and asked
Ban's
spokesman for
a press
conference
about.
On July 1,
Inner City
Press asked
this Ban
Ki-moon
spokesman,
Stephane
Dujarric,
about the
superseding
indictment of
Ng Lap Seng to
include UNDP
and all acts
through
September
2015.
Paragraph 12
names the
Secretary
General.
Video
here; UN
Transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: the UN
bribery case
of Ng Lap Seng
has now had a
superseding
indictment
that accuses
Mr. Ng of
buying
benefits from
UNDP (United
Nations
Development
Programme) and
expands the
time limit of
the case up to
September
2015.
So, one, I'm
wondering if
you have any
comment on
this, as it
seems to be an
expanding
case.
And, two, I
want to
reiterate the
request now
for several
months that
UNDP hold a
press
conference, at
least on the
audit that it
released, and…
and state
where… why the
money that was
given…
Spokesman:
I think on
your… on your
second part,
you can
address that
request to
UNDP.
Inner City
Press: I
have.
Spokesman:
I have not
seen the new
indictment, so
I cannot
comment on it.
Inner
CityPress:
You had said
from here that
they would do
it. I've
spoken to the
head of the
office, and he
hasn't done
it. I'm
wondering, has
the Secretary,
Ban Ki-moon,
head of the
system…
Spokesman:
I know where
we are.
Inner City
Press:
Cover up.
Spokesman:
You're always
free and have
always been
free to
express your
opinions.
Dujarric said
Inner City
Press is free
to say what it
wants . Yes:
from the
street, to
which Ban and
his Head of
Communications,
with an assist
from Dujarric,
first threw
Inner City
Press on
February 19 (audio
here) then
evicted its
files (Video
here.) On
July 1,
Dujarric at
noon said he
hadn't read
the
superseding
indictment.
Then he left
the UN just
after 3 pm,
with no
briefing for
six days. This
IS a cover up,
on which we're
have more.June 27,
2016
Brexit's
UN Fall-Out,
UK Less
Likely to Veto
Malcorra,
Scottish P5
Q?
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, June 24 --
With the world awash in Brexit
punditry, how will the UK vote
to leave the EU impact the UN?
Ban Ki-moon came out with a
wishy-washy statement from his
meeting with six ad agencies in
Cannes, linking the EU with
humanitarian and the UK with
development.
The UK's Stephen O'Brien, said
by other senior UN humanitarian
officials to be trying to stay
on atop OCHA under a Next SG,
may find it more difficult.
And speaking of Next SG, how
might this impact the chance of
Susana Malcorra, campaigning for
Malvinas only this week as
Argentina's foreign minister? A
trusted Inner City Press British
observer opines Brexit helps
Malcorra, moaking the UK more
reluctant to veto or openly
oppose her, amid questions of
its Permanent Security Council
seat if Scotland breaks away.
Malcorra this week chaired
a meeting about sexual violence in
conflict, which some found ironic.
We'll have more on this. For
now, Inner City Press entrance
Periscope here.
In the UN system, UNHCR and IOM
rushed this
video out, and UNTV broke
out the reading of Ban's
statement, here.June
20, 2016
UN Rapporteurs
Mistold by
Ban's Gallach
Of
"Altercation,"
Press Eviction
Pretext
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, June 16 --
How does the UN under Ban Ki-moon
and his "Public
Information" chief Cristina Gallach
pretextually evict the
critical Press from its
long time office and
confine it to minders,
hindering further
reporting on their
corruption?
This UN
"Aide Memoire," which
Ban's spokesman Stephane
Dujarric called "leaked"
and refused to answer
questions on, shows how -
as does this
Gallach's letter of May
25, 2016. On June 16,
Inner City Press was
belatedly provided with a
copy of the questions UN
Special Rapporteurs Kaye
and Forst sent to Gallach
on February 25,
put it online here:
Inner City
Press: I've become aware today of a letter
that was sent by Special Rapporteur David
Kaye and Special Rapporteur Michel Forst
to Ms. [Cristina] Gallach of DPI
[Department of Public Information] on 25
February, asking about ouster and eviction
of Inner City Press. And her
response was two months later, and she
referred to an altercation in this room
that required… so I'm asking you.
You were here. Other than you
turning off my phone, was it an
altercation? Is that an accurate
statement?
Spokesman Dujarric: Matthew,
Matthew… I have not… I will not comment on
your personal issues.
Inner City Press: You're saying it's
a personal issue. This was a letter
sent to the Special Rapporteur.
Spokesman: And the letter, if you
want to ask for the letter, you could ask
the Special Rapporteur.
Inner City Press: No, I've seen the
letter.
And below is
Gallach's letter, here,
which itself calls for action.
It was
provided to Inner City Press only on June
16, by a UN / Kaye staffer, under this
cover letter:
And
herebelow is
Gallach's letter,
which itself calls
for action. It was
provided to Inner
City Press only on
June 16, by a UN /
Kaye staffer, under
this cover letter:
"Two
UN Special Rapporteurs communicated
to ask for clarification on your
case last February. The letter was
made public just recently in the
report of all communications sent by
rapporteurs in the period accessible
here (communications of this type
remain confidential initially and
are made pubic every HRC session):
UNDPI responded to your letter only
in May (and this is why the response
is not made public online - it will
come only in September). In any
case, the SR encloses here the
response received. Again, sorry for
the slow communication. With thanks
and regards,
Marcelo Daher, Human
Rights Officer, Special
Procedures Division, Office
of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights
And
here is from Gallach's highly
problematic letter:
“The
privilege of the use of such office
space was withdrawn after an
incident in which Mr Lee trespassed
in a closed meeting of the United
Nations Correspondence [sic]
Association. The disturbance and
altercation that his behavior caused
required the presence of United
Nations Safety and Security Officers
to defuse. Thus, as was made clear
in my letter of 19 February 2016 to
Mr. Lee his behavior did not comport
with the express requirements of the
United Nations Media Accreditation
Guidelines, which are applicable to
all journalists to the United
Nations. These circumstances,
consequently, occasioned the
withdrawal of Mr. Lee's resident
correspondent accreditation.”
This paragraph is full of lies.
There was no altercation - the only
physical contact was Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman Stephane Dujarric stabbing
at Inner City Press' cell phone to
try to turn off the Periscope live
stream.
It was Inner City Press which asked
for a UN Security guard to come, to
rule if it was a closed meeting or
not. The UN has separately told the
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations
Committee that it has no written
record that it was a closed meeting
-- so how did Inner City Press
“trespass,” as Gallach alleges and
misstates to the Special
Rapporteurs?
June 13, 2016
UN Told
Nobel Winner
Ramos-Horta
ICP "Openly"
Broke
UNpublished
Rule, Geneva
Next
The issue is
to be raised at the UN
Human Rights Council this
coming week. Here is what
UN Under Secretary General
Cristina Gallach told
Nobel Peace Prize winner
Jose Ramos-Horta, that
Inner City Press has
"open" violated a rule -
when the Aide Memoire,
here, shows the UN
says it has no written
record the meeting was
closed and the Handbook
allegedly violated is not
public:
"Dear mr
Ramos-Horta,
Many thanks for your
message which allows me to
inform you about the
decision I have taken on
the type of accreditation
that Mr Lee has and will have in
the future.
Recently mr Lee openly
broke the rules that guide
all the resident correspondents.
After careful
consideration of the
internal report elevated
to me, I decided to
continue providing him
with a press pass that
allows him to work without
any impediment at the UN,
as the vast majority of
journalists. What the UN
cannot do is to let him
use an space exclusively
for him, after the
mentioned events.
As you can see, mr Lee
will have a valid press
card as soon as he
presents himself to the
accreditation premises.
Rest assured that I am the
first person to be
interested in ensuring
totally free and safe
reporting from the UN HQ
and about the UN. This is
what mr. Lee will be able
to do.
I remain at your disposal
for any further
clarification that you
might need and want. My
warmest regard, Cristina"
But the UN
says it has no written
record the meeting was
closed; the Handbook
allegedly violated is not
public. And "without
impediment" has turned out
to mean "with minders,"
and even not permitted to
cover a Western Sahara
briefing Inner City Press
was invited to, only on
June 10.
The
UN is trying to give Inner
City Press' long time
shared office to an
Egyptian state media,
Akhbar Elyom, whose
correspondent hasn't come
close to meeting the three
day a week requirement and
never asks any questions.
It rewards others like
this, while retaliating
against and trying to
censor the critical Press.
This will be
raised this week at the UN
Human Rights Council; the
UN in continued attempt to
censorship has not
responded to Inner City
Press' formal requests
submitted more than two
week ago. Watch this
site.
On June 8 Ban's
spokesman Stephane Dujarric
outright refused to provide
a copy of, or any answer
questions about, the
"Handbook" the alleged
violation of which the UN
told the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee was the
basis for evicting Inner
City Press. Aide
Memoire to SFRC here.
Before Inner
City Press was even
able to ask the question,
Dujarric cut it off, and
later disallowed an
unrelated Press question
about other UN corruption. Video
here, transcript here and
below, with quotes from
Ban Ki-moon later on June
8.
Ban later on
June 8 said: "I will
continue to defend the
rights of journalists and
to do everything possible,
publicly and privately, to
ensure that journalists
have the freedom to
work...I will also
continue to stand up for
the rights of journalists
and their defenders to be
represented here at the
United Nations.
"I am extremely disturbed
by recent remarks by the
President-elect of the
Philippines, Rodrigo
Duterte. [Inner
City Press had asked,
here.] I
unequivocally condemn his
apparent endorsement of
extrajudicial killing,
which is illegal and a
breach of fundamental
rights and freedoms.
Such comments are of
particular concern in
light of on-going impunity
for serious cases of
violence against
journalists in the
Philippines. I have
expressed my
disappointment that the
Non-Governmental
Organization Committee
voted to deny the
Committee to Protect
Journalists consultative
status with the Economic
and Social Council...I
have presents for each of
you [segue to
presentation]. "
e This is
what it has come to:
censorship while Ban
exchanges gifts and drinks
champagne with his friends
and sells out the UN human
rights lists to the
highest bidder (for now,
Saudi Arabia.) From the June 8
transcript:
Inner City
Press: I've asked
you about this
aide-mémoire that was sent
by the UN to the Senate
Foreign Relations
Committee. So I want
to ask you about it
again. What I want
to ask you about…
Spokesman: My
answer's not going to
change.
Inner City Press:
No, here's what I want to
ask you about
specifically. You
call it a leaked
document. It's hard
to understand if it's sent
from the UN to a
committee. It's
leaked. But this is
my question. And
it's sort of a FOIA
(Freedom of Information
Act) like question.
The document says that
what was violated is
something called the UN
Handbook for Safety and
Security Personnel.
Spokesman: Matthew,
Matthew, your personal
issues will not be
discussed here.
Inner City Press:
You're calling it
personal…
Spokesman: Thank
you. Masood?
Inner City Press:
But if you can punish
journalists, where is the
document? I'm
requesting the handbook.
Spokesman: Talk to
DPI (Department of Public
Information).
Inner City Press: I
did, and they don't have
it.
Spokesman: Talk to
them again.
Even as groups
like the Government
Accountability Project tell
Ban to reverse the eviction
and give Inner City Press
back its long time office
and Resident Correspondent
pass, Ban's UN tellingly
moved to award Inner City
Press' office to Egypt
state media Al-Akhbar /
Akhbar Elyoum.
While Ban
told Inner City Press
"That is not my decision,"
and his Under Secretary
General Cristina Gallach
has yet to explain
anything to Inner City
Press, on June 5 we
published the UN's
"Aide Memoire" which
claims that the "rule"
against being in an
interpreters booth is in a
UN Security handbook that
is not available to the
public - it is not on the
Internet, not on the UN's
in-house iSeek and on June
6, UN MALU did not have it
-- and states there is no
paper work for the
underlying meeting being
closed.
ICP
Asks Ban's
Spox of Ng
&
Corruption,
Request for
Q&A, "All
the Time You
Need"
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, May
31 -- When Ban
Ki-moon
wrapped up his
five day
campaign trip
in South Korea
with a
three-question
"press
conference" at
the UN's
DPI-NGO
conference,
without irony
he cited media
freedom.
Then Ban
criticized
"coverage of
what was
supposed to be
off-the-record
meeting with
the Kwanhoon
Club" of
political
correspondents.
Even during
Ban's long
visit to South
Korea, Inner
City Press in
New York where
it has been
evicted from
its long time
shared UN
office and
confined to
minders, told
not to
question
diplomats
asked the UN
why no
transcript was
provided of
Ban's session
with the
Kwanhoon Club.
On June 2
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
indicted UN
briber Ng Lap
Seng, if the
Department of
Public
Information
has followed
up on the
failures
identified in
the UN' s
audit, and for
Q&A with
Ban. Video
here, from the UN
transcript:
Inner City
Press: Two
related
questions.
One is
actually about
New
York.
There's a
front-page
story in the
Times today
about the
pattern of
extremely
affluent
defendants
being allowed
to build
themselves,
quote, gilded
cages.
One of the
three examples
is Ng Lap
Seng, who's
charged with
bribery at the
UN, $50
million bond
living in his
apartment
quite near
here,
GPS. So
I wanted to
know, as a
matter of sort
of rule of
law, does the
UN system or
the
Secretary-General
have any view
of the justice
of the most
affluent
defendants
being able to
essentially
hire their own
guards and
live in their
own apartment?
Spokesman: I
have no
specific
comment at
this point on
this very
interesting
story on the
front page of
the New York
Times.
Inner City
Press: Maybe
you'll have
this or can
get
this.
The OIOS
[Office of
Internal
Oversight
Services]
audit of the
Ng Lap Seng
or,
alternately,
John Ashe
scandal set a
deadline of
May 31st for…
for the
Secretary-General
to ensure that
DPI
[Department of
Public
Information]
improved its
procedures for
uses of the
lobby and of
due
diligence.
So I wanted to
know, can you
state that
it's been
done, and can
the letter
that went out
to the
departments be
released in
the spirit of
transparency?
Spokesman:
I'm sure all
our colleagues
in the
departments
and DPI are in
contact with
OIOS to full
implementation
of the
audit.
If I can share
more with you,
I will. Then a
welcome follow
up, video
here: "as
Matthew just
mentioned, the
ongoing
corruption
story.
There are
questions at
this time, so
it would be
really nice to
hear the
Secretary-General
respond on
topics that we
have… don't
have him on
the record at
all on camera
or audio."
Finally, after
Dujarric cut
off the
question,
this:
Inner City
Press:
follow-up in
the form of
request of a
question.
How long… even
though some of
it was off the
record, how
long was the
Secretary-General's
press
conference or
press
encounter with
the Kwanhun
Club in Jeju
island?
And can we get
that amount of
time sometime
between now
and the end of
the term…?
Spokesman:
You will get…
you will get
all the time
that you need."
Ban's deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq -
his lead
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric
accompanied
him for the
whole Korea
trip --
replied that
sometimes Ban
gives
“exclusives”
even to small
groups of
journalists.
But the photo
with the
Kwanhun Club
shows more
than a dozen
journalists.
Inner City
Press: the
Secretary-General,
I saw that
when he left
South Korea,
he said that
he’d been
misunderstood;
there had been
too much
coverage of
his… what was
widely, widely
reported as
his seeming
intention to
run for
President.
And so he
said, “I would
add that the
coverage of
what was
supposed to be
an
off-the-record
meeting with
the Kwanhun
Club has led
to
over-reaction,
over-interpretation.”
I
forget…
Apparently,
you were
there.
Was it off the
record?
Because I’d
asked about it
here whether a
transcript
would be
released.
It was said
that it would
be exclusive
sometimes with
groups of
journalists.
I saw a
photo.
It’s like a
lot of
journalists,
like more than
a dozen.
If, in fact,
it was
misunderstood…
many people
reported
it. They
were
there.
Was it off the
record?
Was it an
exclusive?
What did he
say?
Spokesman:
There was a
meeting that
he organized
with a group
of senior
Korean
journalists.
Part of it was
on the
record.
Part of it was
off the
record.
Whether it’s a
one-on-one
interview or a
group
interview, we
would not
release a
transcript.
I mean, we
release
transcripts of
his press
conferences.
The basic
message from
the
Secretary-General
is that, up
until the very
last day of
the mandate
that’s been
given to him
by Member
States, he
will focus on
being
Secretary-General
and fulfilling
that
mandate.
Once that
mandate is
over, he will
then decide
how best to be
a productive
global
citizen, but
his… that
decision will
come after he
leaves office.
Inner City
Press:
But since he’s
the
Secretary-General
now, I wanted
to ask you
about that
1946 General
Assembly
resolution.
There seems to
be a
resolution
that’s still
on the books
that says
that, even…
particularly
right after
retirement, a
Secretary-General
should not
have a
position in a
Government,
given
confidences
he’s received
from
Governments.
So that’s on
the books
now.
Does it apply?
Spokesman:
Obviously,
he’s aware of
the
resolution,
and the rest
is just
speculation,
because he
will make up
his mind as to
what he will
do after his
term as
Secretary-General
ends. Photo
here.
To read a
canned
statement
purporting to
defend press
freedom while
not only
evicting the
Press but
trying to
manipulate the
media with
different
private and
public
messages is
noteworthy. To
talk about
“authoritarian
impulses”
while having
the
investigative
Press ousted
and its files
dumped onto
First Avenue
is doubly so.
Background
here.
This while at
the UN in New
York, the
investigative
Press has been
oust and then
evicted, with
its long time
office being
given to
Egyptian state
media Akhbar
Elyom, which
never comes
in, much less
asks any
questions. Click
here for
background.
Ban spoke
about freedom
of movement,
while Inner
City Press is
now required
to have
minders in
order to cover
meetings on
the second
floor of the
UN Conference
building, in
the ECOSOC and
Trusteeship
Council
Chambers, and
has been told
not to ask
questions of
diplomats.
Ban
went out of
his way to
praise the
current
African trip
of South
Korean
President Park
- he did not
mention her
Iran trip -
and directly
addressed
South Korean
youth, some of
whom may be
old enough to
vote in 2017.
Opening
speeches,
particularly
by the
national
organizer(s),
were largely
about Ban
Ki-moon.
Those
present
marveled at
how actual
NGOs were
pushed to the
back of the
room, with the
front rows
devoted to
South Korean
official
(including
some from the
UN). Tweeted
photo here,reply
here. Will
Ban Ki-moon
endeavor to
live up in New
York, in his
remaining time
at the UN, to
what he said
at the DPI-NGO
conference?
Watch this
site.May
30, 2016
As Ban
Politics in S.
Korea,
Hankyoreh
Notes ICP's Qs
About Kim
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, May 28
-- Soon to be
ex-UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon is in his
native South Korea, where
there is a Presidential
election in 2017. On May 19,
only to South Korean
correspondents, Ban
Ki-moon's senior
adviser Kim Won-soo said
and was quoted that Ban's
is NOT a political trip.
Clearly it is. Ban's
"exclusive" comments to
more than a dozen
journalists in South Korea,
photo here, were not
transcribed despite the
request of
the Free UN Coalition
for Access.
And as
Inner City Press has asked
basic questions about
Ban's use of UN resources
and had them dodged, now
the media in South Korea
is taking notice. The
Hankyoreh of May 28,
here, reports on
Inner City Press asking
"whether Ban was aware of
UN Resolution II (I),
which was adopted at the
first General Assembly in
1946 and restricts
secretaries-general from
taking government
positions soon after their
term ends... But Haq’s
response appeared to be to
a completely different
question - neither
communicating Ban’s
response nor mentioning
the resolution." Slippery
or greasy eel.
(Hankyoreh
also says "The unusual
spectacle of the
Secretary-General’s
actions becoming the major
issue in a UN briefing -
which is typically
reserved for major
worldwide issues - hints
that the controversy over
Ban’s political plans
could be shaping into an
international diplomatic
issue." A simple review of
recent UN noon briefing
transcripts or videos
would call this into
question - but it has
become the party line, as
in the New York Times of
May 14.)
Meanwhile on
May 28 Ban continued his
politics, meeting with
retired politicians, such
as former Prime Minister
Kim Jong-pil. On May 29
he'll speak at " Rotary
International Convention
in Goyang, just outside of
Seoul, and visit the
ruling party stronghold of
Gyeongsang to tour a
UNESCO-listed folk village
on Sunday." Since these
are NOT on his public UN
schedule, does it mean
they are personal /
political? And then the UN
DPI NGO conference, on
which we'll have more.
Watch this site.
Ban can and has
evicted Inner City Press
from its long time office at
the UN -- but he can't
change the track record,
from his victory lap in Sri
Lanka in 2009, which Inner
City Press reported on, to
further damaging the UN's
reputation in Haiti by
insisting on impunity for
cholera, to his negligent
overseeing of rapes in the
Central African Republic.
For the record, what Inner
City Press told the
Kyunghyang Shinmun, when
asked about the eviction and
ouster, was not entirely
negative. But more on that
to follow. May 23,
2016
UN
Censors Q
About Ban
& Freedom
of the Press
from
Transcript,
New Low
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, May 20
-- For ten years as Inner
City Press covered the UN in
ever greater detail, showing
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's
Herve Ladsous' inept overseeing
and cover up of sexual
abuse and exploitation by peacekeepers, disparate
treatment in Mali, dalliance
with genocide
in Sri Lanka and
prospectively Burundi,
impunity for
cholera
deaths in Haiti
and until now for UN
lead poisoning in Kosovo
and cravenly pro-Saudi
position on Yemen amid
the airstrikes,
it was never thrown out of the
UN.
Now
it has been. New
York Times of May 14 here.
And even as groups
like the Government
Accountability Project tell
Ban to reverse the eviction
and give Inner City Press
back its long time office
and Resident Correspondent
pass, Ban's UN tellingly
moved to award Inner City
Press' office to Egypt
state media Al-Akhbar /
Akhbar Elyoum. Tweeted
photograph here.
On May 19, a
sign for "Al Akhbar Yom"
went up on Inner City
Press' office - Inner City
Press has STILL never seen
the correspondent being
given the stolen office.
So on May 20
Inner City Press went to
get an on the record
explanation from Ban
Ki-moon's spokesman
Stephane Duajrric, before
Ban sets out on a campaign
trip to South Korea
(denied by his senior
adviser Kim Won-soo). But
not only did Dujarric
refuse to answer the
question - Gallach's DPI
intentionally omitted from
the transcript Inner City
Press' entirely audible
question about Ban
Ki-moon's commitment to
freedom of the press. The
question then, answer
itself.
Since the
spin to the NYT is that
Inner City Press'
questions on corruption
and censorship somehow
block questions other
correspondents want to
ask, Inner City Press
twice told Dujarric it
would hold one question to
the end. But Dujarric,
showing that the spin is a
scam, insisted: go ahead.
Video
here.From
the UN Transcript:
Inner City
Press: I have another
question, but I don't want
to…
Spokesman: Well,
just ask it.
Inner City Press:
No, no, I'll wait.
Spokesman: I'd like
you to ask it now.
Question:
Okay. Stay where you
are and I’ll do it as fast
as I can. I wanted
to ask you, you sometimes
say you don’t have a long
memory, but you’ve been a
Spokesman for a
while. When is the
last time, to your
knowledge, that the
publication Akhbar al Youm
has been in this room and
asked a question?
And the reason I asked…
you said I could
ask. I’ll do it
quickly. The office
that was formerly "Inner
City Press", has been
given to this
organization. I've
never seen them
here. I'm aware
there's a rule of being
three days a week
here. So, I’m
wondering… and you used to
implement that rule.
And the reason I’m asking
you, and you’re going to
say, ask MALU [Media
Accreditation and Liaison
Unit], I want an on the
record quote. This
is a media organization
that CPJ [Committee to
Protect Journalists] says
targets other medias for
arrest for not agreeing
with the Government.
Spokesman: I will
tell you that I do not
have in my head the
attendance records of
journalists here.
Some of you are here every
day. But, for the
rest of you, I don't keep
tabs in my head. And
again, that’s a question
for you to ask MALU.
Inner City
Pres: But, I'm
asking for an
on-the-record
comment. What does
it say about freedom of
the press…
Spokesman: I’ve
given you… Nabil?
Inner City
Press' last line, "What
does it say about freedom
of the press," was
intentionally
mistranscribed and
censored: it said, What
does it say about Ban
Ki-moon's commitment to
freedom of the press."
This is today's UN:
ham-handed
censorship.
The UN says
Resident Correspondents
must be at the UN three
days a week, but Inner
City Press has never seen
this person, former UN
Correspondents Association
president Sanaa Youssef,
much less asking a
question in the UN noon
briefing.
The point,
of course, which Dujarric
did everything he could to
cut off, including walking
out of the brieifng room
and not returning, is what
does it say about Ban
Ki-moon's supposed
commitment to free press
to evict the investigative
Press here every day for a
state media never here,
never with questions,
which targets other
journalists for arrest?
The question
is answering itself, but
we will continue.
Dujarric's deputy Farhan
Haq after the briefing was
heard telling DPI staff
under Gallach that he had
predicted Inner City Press
would "go after" Akhbar
Elyom.
This is
today's UN:
here's Haq on Jan 29,
video here, and
before. Haq claimed
incorrectly that "non
resident correspondent"
passes get one through to
the second floor: either
years out of date or
intentional inaccurate.
This too is today's UN.
Scribes
speaking off the record
according to the New York
Times of May 14 "accused
[ICP] of printing gossip,
rumors." That UNCA's
president rented an
apartment to Palitha
Kohona then granted his
request to screenin the UN
his government's war
crimes denial film is no
rumor or gossip.
But Akhbar
Elyom, to which Gallach's
and Ban's MALU and UNCA
have given Inner City
Press' office, not only
gets journalists in Egypt
attested - it targets,
with a "Muslim
Brotherhood" smear, a
journalist who works right
in the UN. Arabic
article here.
This is the
journalism that Ban
Ki-moon and his Cristina
Gallach want and reward.
By taking away Inner City
Press' office, it is now
required to have a minder
and is told to not ask
diplomats questions. This
is censorship.
Akhbar Elyom has been
used to finger for
imprisonment non-state
journalists in Egypt. For
example, in July 2015
Aboubakr Khallaf, the
founder and head of the
independent Electronic Media
Syndicate (EMS), “was
arrested after a news
article was published by the
government-owned daily
Akhbar Elyoum.”
May 16, 2016
Press
on UN Rape &
Genocide
Accepted, But
Ban's
Corruption
Triggered
Eviction
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, May 14
-- For ten years as Inner
City Press covered the UN in
ever greater detail, showing
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's
dalliance with genocide
in Sri Lanka, impunity for
cholera
deaths in Haiti
and inept overseeing of peacekeeper
rapes, it was never thrown
out of the UN.
Only
when it questioned Ban's and its
PR official Cristina Gallach's
role in the John Ashe, Ng
Lap Seng and Francis Lorenzo UN
bribery scandal did Gallach
order Inner City Press ousted
then evicted,
and now try to give its office
to an Egyptian media which
rarely or never asked questions.
Ban Ki-moon claimed
“That is not my decision,”
but that is not true.
The New York Times has now covered
the story, and Inner City Press
is not one to nit-pick
such coverage. At least Ban's
Spokesman Stephane Dujarric went
on the record, admitting Inner
City Press' access has been cut.
UN Correspondents Association
boss Giampaolo Pioli lied, but
at least on the record. (He rented
one of his Manhattan
apartments to Palitha Kohona
then granted Kohona's request,
as Sri Lanka's Ambassador, to
screen his government's war
crimes denial film in the UN.
Then Pioli told Inner City Press
to take its story about it off
the Internet or be thrown out of
the UN, which Gallach and Ban
did: UN Censorship Alliance.)
But what's next? Is it
acceptable for the UN to throw
out a critical journalist
writing four to eight stories a
day, while leaving in people who
write little, and ask nothing?
Is Ban Ki-moon killing the UN?
Watch this site.
The
UN is now both corrupt -- a half
a dozen indictments and
counting, Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon cavorting with the
indicted and his team covering
it up -- retaliatory and badly
run.
Now the
UN is moving
to give away Inner City
Press' long time office as
retaliation for its seeking
to cover the bribery and
corruption scandal,
including trying to
cover a meeting in the UN
Press Briefing Room of the
UN Correspondents
Association (UNCA), a
group which took money
from the indicteds'
company, Ban Ki-moon's
“Communications” chief
Cristina Gallach threw
Inner City Press out of
the UN on February 19.
So to whom
does the UN seek to give
Inner City Press' office
away? A former UNCA
President, who it seems
has not asked any
question, much less a
critical question, in the
UN Press Briefing Room or
stakeout in quite some
time.
Inner City
Press has in the past
defended correspondents
when the UN sought late in
their careers to move them
along, and is treading
lightly for now: perhaps
this former UNCA President
didn't know the history
here.
(The current
UNCA website doesn't even
list its past Presidents,
perhaps wisely: it seems
to be a Year Zero
operation.)
But what is
the UN's rationale of
giving away the office of
a working, critical
journalist to a former
UNCA president who asks
even fewer questions than
the current UNCA
president?
It's called
retaliation, or some say,
human shields. Who is
responsible?
Audio
hereBan, when asked,
said “that is not my
decision.” But he heard
about the ouster and
eviction in advance and
ok-ed it.
On April 16,
the acting chief of
Gallach's “Media
Accreditation and Liaison
Unit Tal Mekel oversaw the
eviction of Inner City
Press' office, leaving
five boxes of its files
out on First Avenue. Video
here.
Some in
Ban's team indicated to
Inner City Press its
office would be left empty
until its four month
“purgatory” or
punishment-for-reporting
period was over.
That was a
lie: on May 13, after
Inner City Press asked
more questions about Ban's
engagements with John Ashe
and Francis Lorenzo -
president of South South
News which paid UNCA and
still has a UN office -
Inner City Press was
informed that its long
time office is being given
out
May 9,
2016
ICP
Asks UN About Lack
of Whistleblower
Protections, Miranda Brown,
Retaliation
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, May 5
-- While many try to
insulate today's UN from the
open corruption of the recent
past of President of the General
Assembly John Ashe, there is
continuity to this UN scandal
- and to the UN's failure to protect whistleblowers.
As UN officials
including Cristina Gallach, whose
involvement
in the scandal is detailed
in the UN's own Office
of Internal Oversight
Services audit at
Paragraphs 37 to 40 and
20(b) have
moved to evict
Inner City Press from the
UN premises (video
here) and
restrict its access, Inner City
Press on May 4 asked UN Under
Secretary-General for
Management Yukio Takasu
about two portions of the OIOS
audit. Video
here, see below.
The UN Controller, with
Takasu, said she is working on
whistleblower protections, in
light of a US Law making 15% contingent on
improvements in
whistleblower protection.
Inner City
Press: Yesterday, the
comptroller in the… said
that the UN is continuing
to work on whistle-blower
protections, and she cited
the US law that would
require a cut of funding
if whistle-blowers aren't
protected. So, I
wanted to ask you, today
the Government
Accountability Project
has… has highlighted the
case of Miranda Brown, who
was fired from the Office
of High Commissioner of
Human Rights (OHCHR) as
part of the Anders Kompass
case. She's asked to
be reinstated. And
they have a very long
analysis, but they say one
line I want to ask you to
respond directly to.
They say: "In a
setting such as the UN
where public access to
information does not exist
and where virtually all
operations are governed
only by the opaque
internal legal process of
the institution itself,
whistle-blowers have an
absolutely crucial
function." Can you
say, number one, do you…
are you aware of the
Miranda Brown case?
And what do you think of
her firing at the
time? Two, what's
the work on whistle-blower
protections that the
comptroller was referring
to? And do you
disagree that there is, in
fact, not a FOIA [Freedom
of Information Act] at the
UN to receive information
and that the internal
process…
Spokesman Stephane
Dujarric: I think
the… on Miranda Brown, I
have nothing to add to
what we've already said on
that case.
Obviously, the… you know,
whistle-blower protect…
the work of
whistle-blowers is very
important. I know
there are efforts to
improve the current
policies. When we
have something to
announce, I'm sure we
will. And I think
the UN is… there's a lot
of information that is
freely available.
Now, I know there is no
equivalent of the FOIA,
and again, I think to… I
answered that the other
day, which is that it's in
the hands of the Member
States.
rrovements in
whistleblower protection
How was indicted Ng Lap Seng's
Global Sustainability
Foundation's “sponsorship” of
the UN slavery memorial opening
event, featuring Ban Ki-moon,
accounted for in the UN budget?
Takasu gamely said that
“in-kind” contributions are not
quantified or listed. If so, how
many other events did Ng Lap
Seng entities sponsor? Inner
City Press asked how Takasu's
Assistant Secretary General of
the Office of Central Support
Services allowed Ng Lap Seng's
June 30, 2015 event in the UN
Vistitors Lobby, also with no
due diligence by Gallach's DPI,
to go forward. Things slip
between the cracks, Takasu said,
indicating that he would like to
tighten things up.
So
how much more slipped through
the cracks? And how was Gallach
allowed -- or encouraged -- to
retaliate against the Press
which is pursuing and asking
about this story? Given that
Gallach clearly should have
recused itself, when will Inner
City Press be restored to its
shared office and Resident
Correspondent accreditation
status?
Inner City Press
On May 2 asked Ban
Ki-moon's spokesman
Stephane Dujarric if any of
the OIOS recommendations due
April 30 had been implemented. No information has
been provided.
May 2,
2016
ICP
Asks UN of US
Bill on
Peacekeeper
Rapes, UN
Doesn't Keep
Records
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, April 20-- How low has the
UN fallen, in terms of corruption,
not stopping rapes, and retaliating
against the Press that asks the
questions? April
16 eviction here and here.
Now that a bill on UN peacekeepers'
sexual abuse and exploitation has
passed the US Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, Inner City
Press on April 29 asked the
spokesman for UN Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon what he thought of the
bill, video
here, UN
transcript here:
Inner
City Press: I want to ask you
about a bill that was passed out of
committee, Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, regarding, among other
things, sexual abuse in UN
peacekeeping. Senators [Bob]
Corker and [Ben] Cardin had said
that the bill reminds that
prohibitions on funding for gross
human rights abuses also applies to
UN peacekeeping operations. I
wanted to know, given that this may
have an impact on UN funding and
given the hearings that were held
and the statement that the
Secretary-General was inept on this
issue, what is your response to the
bill passing committee?
Spokesman Dujarric: Well, I
think, you know, many bills go
through many legal procedures in 193
Member States. We're not going
to start commenting on each bill as
it passes various hurdles in each
country's legislative process.
I think the Secretary-General very
much shares the concerns of all
Member States on issues of sexual
abuse by UN peacekeepers and other
international forces. I think
the Secretary-General has been very
much focused on ensuring that Member
States do their part and ensuring
that the UN system does their part
and ensuring that we put the victims
at the centre of everything that we
do in order to combat this issue.
Inner City Press: But I guess
what I wanted to know is, since the
bill does sort of link or say that
it's possible that UN peacekeeping
is involved in, quote, gross human
rights abuses, I wanted to know: do
you have a response to that?
And do you have an answer to
yesterday I'd asked you about a
61-year-old truck driver in Bangui?
Spokesman Dujarric: No.
I was expecting something. I
don't have anything on that.
Inner City Press: Do you have
any records of who was killed?
[Inner City Press actually said,
does the UN even keep records on who
it kills?]
Spokesman: Matthew, as I said,
I'm trying to get some information
on it. I will get it to you as
soon as I can. No one more
than the Secretary-General is
concerned anytime anyone, whether
it's an international peacekeeper or
UN peacekeeper or UN civilian,
violates human rights or commits
criminal conduct. And he's
extremely focused on ensuring that
there's accountability and that
there is no impunity.
Extremely
focused. That's why he and his Under
Secretary General for "Public
Information" Christina Gallach threw
out the critical Press which is asking
about these issues, and Gallach's
"2016 Communications Guidelines"
barely mention sexual abuse, and are
silent on the Ng Lap Seng UN bribery
case which broke in 2015 and in which
Gallach is implicated, see UN
OIOS audit at Paragraphs 37-40
and 20(b).
April 25, 2016
After
UN Evicts ICP,
Ban's Spox
Says "You've
Been Afforded
A Lot of
Courtesies"
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, April
21 -- Contrary
to what the UN
says about
freedom of the
press, and
despite a petition
signed by 1400 people and opposition from the Government
Accountability
Project and
several
Permanent
Representatives
at the UN and
members of
Congress in
DC, UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon on
April 16 threw
five boxes of
Inner City
Press'
journalistic
files out onto
First Avenue.
Photo
here;
video here and here
(Periscope).
This
followed eight
of Ban's
guards, at the
direction of
his "Public
Information"
chief Cristina
Gallach,
physically
throwing Inner
City Press
onto First
Avenue, and
its laptop on
the sidewalk,
on February
19. Audio
here.
Inner City
Press: I’m
going to again
try to do this
politely, but
I want to ask
this
question.
In the audit,
of the OIOS
(Office of
Internal
Oversight
Services)
audit, one of
the longest
sections in
terms of Ng
Lap Seng
affiliates
concern
South-South
News.
They described
five separate
engagements
with the UN,
and each party
is saying we
didn’t really
know or we…
we’re… you
know, and the
recommendation
that you’re
aware of to…
to take a
closer look at
this
relationship.
So I wanted to
know,
yesterday, or…
or some…
earlier this
week,
South-South
News put out a
press release,
sent to many
people, and
they said, “It
is disgraceful
that a few
independent
journalists
are exhibiting
a lack of
professionalism
and
irresponsibility,”
essentially by
questioning
this. So
my question to
you is… you
may or may not
have seen
this.
Reuters wrote
a story about
it.
Spokesman:
Yeah.
Inner City
Press:
Okay.
You’ve seen
it.
Here’s my
question.
Given all
this, given
that the
indictment
came out in
October, six
months ago, I
went upstairs
yesterday, and
I see that
South-South
News still has
a UN
office.
And
apparently,
you said it’s
under
review.
There seems to
be some due
process
rights.
What I want to
ask you
directly
is: How
can there be a
due process
right with an
institution
that’s charged
with bribery
when a smaller
institution,
Inner City
Press, was
physically
thrown out of
its office
with no due
process?
And my
question to
you is, given
that,
yesterday,
they tore a
sign of the
Free UN
Coalition for
Access (FUNCA)
off the door
without the
consent of the
office’s still
occupant,
who’s a member
of FUNCA, what
is the
intention?
And what would
you say to
those who say,
basically, if
you have
money, you get
due process at
the UN, up to
six months,
and if you
don’t, you get
two
hours?
What would you
say?
Spokesman:
I would say
that you’re
wrong, and I
think you’ve
been afforded
quite a lot of
courtesies.
Thank you.
On April
20, when Inner
City Press
arrived at the
UN's Visitors'
Entrance well
in time to
cover 10 am
meetings, a UN
Security guard
blocked its
way in to the
metal
detectors.
"I know
who you are,"
the guard
said, telling
Inner City
Press to go to
the back of a
long line of
visitors.
Since on all
previously
days
non-resident
correspondents,
like the
"affiliates"
who staff the
UN's food
venues and
even its UNTV,
are sent into
the glass
building with
the metal
detectors,
this new
"rule" was
noteworthy.
Ban
Ki-moon Has
ICP's Files
Thrown Onto
1st Av,
Bribery Audit
Names His
Gallach
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, April
16 -- Contrary
to what the UN
says about
freedom of the
press, and
despite a petition
signed by 1300
people and
opposition
from the
Government
Accountability
Project and
several
Permanent
Representatives
at the UN and
members of
Congress in
DC, UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon on
April 16 threw
five boxes of
Inner City
Press'
journalistic
files out onto
First Avenue.
Photo
here;
video here.
This
followed eight
of Ban's
guards, at the
direction of
his "Public
Information"
chief Cristina
Gallach,
physically
throwing Inner
City Press
onto First
Avenue, and
its laptop on
the sidewalk,
on February
19. Audio
here.
In the
case of
Gallach and
ultimately Ban
Ki-moon, this
is retaliation
for Inner City
Press'
critical
coverage of
the UN
including
each's
involvement in
the bribery
scandal which
so far was
resulted in
four guilty
pleas.
As the
UN bribery
scandal
gathered force
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon called
for an audit
by the UN
Office of
Internal
Oversight
Services of
the Global
Sustainability
Foundation
(GSF), David
Ng Lap Seng's
Sun Kian Ip
Group and its
affiliates
including the
"World Harmony
Foundation"
and South
South News,
among others.
The
audit,
completed
early this
year but first
put online
by Inner City
Press,
directly
criticizes
Cristina
Gallach, the
Under
Secretary
General for
Communications
and Public
Information,
for example in
Paragraphs
20(b) and
37-40. She
should have
recused
herself.
Instead
Gallach has
ordered the
search and
eviction of
Inner City
Press' files,
on April 16.
She has
misrepresented
it to UN
Ambassadors of
major
countries
including
South Africa
and to Nobel
Prize winner
Jose Ramos
Horta.
She and / or
Ban Ki-moon
above her are
so intent on
permanently
restriction
Inner City
Press' ability
to cover
corruption at
the UN that
they had there
functionary
head of MALU
write to Inner
City Press at
1:30 AM on the
morning of the
eviction,
limiting the
Press' ability
to document
the seizure of
its files:
From:Tal
Mekelat
UN.org Date:
Sat, Apr 16,
2016 at 1:30
AM Subject:
Saturday
access To:
matthew.lee@innercitypress.com
Dear Matthew,
Access on Saturday is 'exceptional' in nature (as Green Ps do not have access to UNHQ on weekends save for an official event being convened e/g. emergency SC meeting) and is solely for the purpose of over sighting the removal of your belongings.
You may bring with you one (1) individual, again on a exceptional basis.
Best, Tal
------------------------------------------------ Tal Mekel Acting Chief Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit United Nations - S-250 New York, NY 10017
Earlier on April 15,
Mekel had told Inner City Press that a
two-person film crew was approved.
This was revoked at 1:30 am,
precluding the crew. And yet...
Gallach, the highest UN official of
Spain, has by her no due process
orders BANned Inner City Press from
covering even UNSC meetings on Western
Sahara. This is retaliation and
censorship.
On the afternoon of April 15 Inner
City Press was told that it will be UN
staff going through the files but that
then they will be given to, and
impounded for some time by, a third
party or parties whom the UN won't
even name to Inner City Press.
As one wag put it, maybe they'll just
keep passing them along.
Gallach's Team heard on April
15 from Capitol Hill to maintain the
status quo. Did they even tell Ban
Ki-moon, his chief of staff or deputy?
Is this what allows Ban Ki-moon to
(try to) say, "That is not my
decision"? We'll have more on this.April 11,
2016
ICP
Asks UN of
Audit
Criticism of
DPI's Gallach,
Lax on
Slavery,
Impunity?
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, April
8 -- As the UN
bribery
scandal
gathered force
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon called
for an audit
by the UN
Office of
Internal
Oversight
Services.
While Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric has
said it will
not be made
public until
April 22, on
April 6 as a
full text
exclusive
Inner City
Press
published the
audit while
noting
affiliates the
UN audit
omitted, and
portions of
the audit that
some involved
seem to be
trying to
cover up.
Beyond
the Under
Secretary
General of the
Department of
Public
Information's
responsibility
for exhibits
in the
Visitor's
Lobby such as
the one
indicted Sheri
Yan's Global
Sustainability
Foundation
held on June
30, 2015, she
was also in
charge when
GSF was
allowed,
without any
due diligence,
to on March
25, 2015
sponsor an
event entitled
"Unveiling of
the 'Ark of
Return'
Permanent
Memorial."
Audit at
Paragraph 20
(b).
Inner
City Press asked
the UN about
DPI's
engagement
with the
Global
Sustainability
Foundation
around the Ark
of Return in October
2015. To
be diplomatic,
this should
have led to /
required a
recusal. But
again to be
diplomatic, on
April 8 this
is what Inner
City Press
asked
Dujarric, video here, UN
transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: this
OIOS [Office
of Internal
Oversight
Services]
audit, I
obtained it,
published it
and I want to
ask just for
today, two
specific
questions
about
it. One
is, it talks
about funds
going to this
thing called
UNPAN, which
I've heard of,
but it seems
to be pretty
obscure.
And in looking
at its
website, it
claims to be
publishing
articles they
say were
published in
December 2016,
which hasn't
actually
occurred
yet. So,
there's
something a
little… What's
been done on
the
recommendations
as to… to
UNPAN and the
use of its
name by the
entities that
were
audited....
Spokesman:
The recommend…
the audit, I
think, as all
of you have
seen now,
includes
recommendations
and includes
the status of
those
recommendations,
and we're
following
through with
them.
Inner City
Press: I'd
asked Farhan
[Haq]
yesterday
about the 30
June 2015
event in the
Visitor's
Lobby, which
has a section
of the whole
audit about
DPI
[Department of
Public
Information]
being in
charge of it,
not doing
it. I
want to ask
you about
another event,
which was 25
March, this
unveiling of
the Ark of
Return permit
memorial,
which they
said was no
due diligence
done of the
Global
Sustainability
Foundation.
It seems like,
in this audit,
they make
these two
findings about
DPI, these two
events, but
it's only
looking at it,
I guess,
institutionally.
As I've asked
you, when
Global
Sustainability
Foundation was
founded in
this building,
a senior
adviser of the
Secretary-General
and his spouse
were present…
Spokesman:
I mean, I
think…
Inner City
Press:
Does this
audit look at
individuals or
only
entities…?
Spokesman:
The audit
looks at…
looked at the
systems.
When there are
issues related
to
individuals,
further
investigations
are being
done.
Inner City
Press:
Right.
But, it seems
like they only
mention the
individuals
that were in
the criminal
complaint.
There was
nothing…
Spokesman:
You know, the
audit… I think
the audit
speaks for
itself and
outlines how
we're
following up
with it.
There is
a need for
follow up.April
4, 2016
UN's
Gallach Says
ICP Covers
Wrong Things
After Orders
Eviction by
April 6
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, March
30 -- On
February 19
without once
speaking to
Inner City
Press,
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon's
Under
Secretary
General for
Public
Information,
Spain's
Cristina
Gallach,
ordered the
Press to leave
the UN, which
it has covered
for ten years,
in two hours.
February
19 letter
here.
On March 30,
despite having
been
petitioned to
stop her
censorship and
hindering of
the Press'
reporting by,
among others,
a Nobel Peace
Prize winner,
Jose Ramos
Horta, Tamils
of Sri Lanka
and elsewhere
including a
Northern
Provincial
Councilor,
over one
thousand
petition
signers and
commenters,
Ambassadors
and UN
officials and,
it seems,
Jeffrey Sachs,
Gallach
nevertheless
had delivered
to Inner City
Press a final
eviction
letter, below.
Then
after having
the eviction
order
delivered to
Inner City
Press by the
acting head of
her Media
Accreditation
and Liaison
Unit -- which
rebuffed a
request to
come into the
UN from the
outside and
actually film
what Gallach
is
misrepresenting,
from the
ludicrous
claim Inner
City Press
“hid” in a
glassed-in,
entirely
visible
interpreters'
booth to the
non-functioning
of its cut
non-Resident
Correspondent
pass at the
turnstile to
the second
floor of the
UN Conference
Building --
Gallach on the
afternoon of
March 30
approach Inner
City Press as
it openly
Periscope
filmed at the
Security
Council
stakeout.
That
Inner City
Press was
openly filming
is clear from
the video
itself: a UN
Security guard
tells it it
cannot step a
single foot
beyond the
Security
Council
stakeout
without a MALU
escort or
minder
(censorship),
then critiques
its Periscope
voice-over
about
censorship,
saying You
know you can't
do that.
But
Inner City
Press, while
to accommodate
the censorship
guard
suspending its
voice-over,
continued
openly filming
with its phone
held high, as
a UN tour
guide told a
group
including
Cristina
Gallach and
her assistant
Darrin Farrant
that the
replica of
Picasso's
Guernica was
lent to the UN
by the
Rockefellers.
As the group,
at another of
Gallach's
deputy's
suggestions,
went in to
tour the
Security
Council
chamber
itself,
Gallach came
over to where
Inner City
Press stood
openly
filming.
To
Inner City
Press it is
outrageous
that the UN's
Under-Secretary
General for
Communications
and Public
Information,
while
insisting it
is fair to
strip Inner
City Press of
its long time
office and
ability to
cover events
on the UN's
second floor,
including the
Office of the
President of
the General
Assembly on
which even Ban
and his lawyer
issued a
report on
March 29,
excuses and
does nothing
about the head
of the UN
Correspondents
Association
having come to
the stakeout
on March 24
and four times
loudly called
Inner City
Press an
“a*hole.”
Gallach's
excuse for
UNCA's
Giampaolo
Pioli, whose
bidding (along
with the
bidding of
other very
senior
personalities
at and in the
UN) she is
doing, is that
Inner City
Press is said
to photograph
or cover the
wrong things
while at the
stakeout,
things that
Gallach thinks
are not news
worthy.
Is UNCA
giving
indicted Ng
Lap Seng a
photo op with
Ban Ki-moon
not
newsworthy? Is
a member of
the UN
Secretariat
giving advance
information to
privileged
corporate
media not
newsworthy?
Who is
Cristina
Gallach to
decide what
the Press can
or cannot
photograph or
cover when it
is at the UN
Security
Council
stakeout?
Does
Cristina
Gallach, with
the power to
evict the
Press, even
watch the UN's
daily noon
briefing? Does
she know that
those she is
working for
don't even go,
don't ask any
questions, in
some cases
don't write
any articles
and do
unrelated
commercial
business in
the office
space she
leaves them
with, while
evicting Inner
City Press for
retaliation?
Inner City
Press has
tried to
discuss all
this with
Cristina
Gallach; her
retaliatory
mantra, with
no respect
from freedom
of the press,
remains the
same. There is
a week: watch
this site.
Here is the
letter that
Gallach had
delivered to
Inner City
Press at 3 pm
on March 30,
before she
approached
Inner City
Press
Periscoping
later than
afternoon:
“Dear Mr. Lee,
I write
further to my
letter of 19
February 2016.
As I made
clear in that
letter, your
accreditation
privileges to
access the
premises of
the United
Nations to
conduct your
journalistic
activities
have been
changed to
that of
non-Resident
Correspondent.
In this
regard, I note
that you have
applied for
and received
your
non-Resident
Correspondent
accreditation
on 25 February
2016. Such
accreditation
allows you
access to the
premises of
the United
Nations in
that capacity
in order to
carry out your
full
journalistic
activities in
the same
manner as any
other
journalist
with such
accreditation
privileges.
“At the same
time, I also
note that as
of today, and
after several
reminders, you
have not yet
emptied the
office of your
belongings,
which remain
untouched, nor
have you
returned the
key to that
office.
“In light of
the above, I
request that
you remove
your
belongings
from the
office and
return its key
to the Media
Accreditation
and Liaison
Unit by no
later than
5:00 p.m. on 6
April 2016. If
you do not
collect your
belongings
from the
office by that
deadline, I
would request
your presence
for the
packaging and
forwarding of
your
belongings to
the address
listed in your
accreditation
application.
Yours
sincerely,
Cristina
Gallach,
Under-Secretary
General for
Communications
and Public
Information”
To many
who petitioned
her, from
Washington to
Jaffna in Sri
Lanka, Gallach
had repeatedly
claimed that
despite
seizing Inner
City Press'
long time
shared office
and
investigative
files, Inner
City Press
would have the
same access AS
IT HAD BEFORE,
or the same
access as
OTHER
REPORTERS AT
THE UN.
This
has proved to
be false.
Since the
non-Resident
Correspondent
pass does not
open the
turnstile on
the second
floor of the
UN's
Conference
Building,
Inner City
Press has been
Banned from
covering
meetings in
the ECOSOC and
Trusteeship
Council
chambers, on
such topics as
UN Security
Council
reform,
counter-terrorism
and Sri Lanka,
the selection
of the next
Secretary
General, and
more.
Even Security
Council
meetings, such
as the March
21 session on
Western
Sahara, Inner
City Press was
Banned from by
Gallach's
order. Now,
after make
claims, she
says Inner
City Press
will have not
the same
access that it
had, or even
access to all
Security
Council
meetings --
rather, the
same access as
other with the
restricted
non-Resident
Correspondent
pass: a
tautology.
We'll have
more on this. March
28, 2016
On W.
Sahara,
Spain's
Gallach Bans
ICP From UNSC
Stakeout March
21, Minders
March 24
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, March
26 -- When to
respond to
Morocco's
ouster of the
MINURSO
mission from
Western Sahara
the UN
Security
Council met at
8:30 am on
March 21,
Inner City
Press arrived
to cover the
meeting, as it
has Council
meetings on
the topic each
April and
October.
But this
time, it was
unable to
access the
Security
Council
stakeout in
order to speak
with diplomats
for its
reporting. Video here. Any reporter with a
Resident
Correspondent
pass, as Inner
City Press had
for eight
years, could
go to the
stakeout. But
not Inner City
Press, not
anymore.
The reason
Inner City
Press was
Banned from
stakeout out
the Western
Sahara meeting
was UN Under
Secretary
General
Cristina
Gallach's
February 19
letter telling
it, on two
hours notice,
to leave the
UN after ten
years of
coverage. Letter here.
Gallach never
once spoke to
Inner City
Press before
issuing the
order.
The results of
Gallach's
order, which
remains in
place as of
March 26, is
systemic
exclusion from
covering and
staking out
events ranging
from Sri Lanka
counter-terrorism
to the process
for selecting
Ban Ki-moon's
successor,
from UN
Security
Council reform
to an
event about
slavery,
the UN's
memorial to
which has
funded since
indicted and
pleaded guilty
to bribery at
the UN.
After the
March 24 UN
Security
Council
consultations
on Western
Sahara, just
after the
reading out o
the Council's
“Press
Elements,”
things hit a
new low. UN
Department of
Public
Information
staff, working
for Gallach,
told Inner
City Press it
had to leave
the Security
Council
stakeout even
as other
pro-Morocco
journalists
were
conducting
interviews
with
diplomats.
After Inner
City Press
stated this
was censorship
attributable
to Gallach,
her staff's
“solution” was
even more
Kafka-esque:
Inner City
Press would require
an escort, or
minder, as it
conducted
interviews.
Obviously,
diplomats
desiring to
speak on
background
about Ban's
performance on
Western Sahara
would not do
so in the
presence of a
minder working
for Ban's
Secretariat.
What has led
to this
censorship or
Banning of the
Press at the
UN, on Western
Sahara, Yemen,
Sri Lanka,
Burundi and
other topics?
While
Gallach's
February 19
letter is
vague, in the
“incident” she
alludes to
Inner City
Press sought
to report on
an event,
nowhere listed
as closed,
held in the UN
Press Briefing
Room on
January 29.
It was a
meeting of the
UN
Correspondents
Association,
and Inner City
Press wanted
to cover it to
see if the
group's having
under Giampaolo
Pioli
taken money
from thhe
South South
News of now
indicted Ng
Lap Seng's and
Vivian Wang's
(and Frank
Lorenzo, who
has pleaded
guilty) would
be discussed.
UNCA's Pioli
demanded that
UN
Spokesperson
Stephane
Dujarric ask
Inner City
Press to
leave.
When
despite no
showing that
it was a
“Closed
Meeting” a
single UN
Security
officer told
Inner City
Press that
Dujarric
wanted Inner
City Press to
leave, it did.
But the
disagreement
about the
right to
exclude the
press from the
UN Press
Briefing Room
was used by
Gallach -- and
it seems UNCA
“leaders”
including
Giampaolo
Pioli and at
least two news
services which
now operate
anonymous
troll social
media accounts
-- to three
weeks later,
on two hours
notice and
with no due
process, order
Inner City
Press out.
March
21, 2016
ICP
Asked About
Lorenzo's
Bribery, US
Cites UN
Audit, Not
South South
News
By Matthew
Russell Lee,
Follow Up on
Exclusives
UNITED
NATIONS, March
16 -- For more
than six
months Inner
City Press has
asked the UN
about its
dealings with
Frank Lorenzo,
former Deputy
Permanent
Representative
of the
Dominican
Republic and
head of South
South News,
who has now
formally
pleaded guilty
to conspiracy
to commit
bribery at the
UN.
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon, who
had accepted
a prize from
Lorenzo,
has yet to
comment; Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric on
February 9
told Inner
City Press,
“I'm done
answering
questions.” Vine here.
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to ask
you, there was
– today – it
was announced
today that the
deputy
ambassador of
the Dominican
Republic,
Frank Lorenzo,
is set to
plead guilty
to bribery
charges at the
UN. So I
wanted to ask,
what’s the
State
Department’s
view of that
case? Do you
view it as
just a slip-up
in the
president of
the General
Assembly’s
office, or is
it a
reflection of
a wider
corruption or
sale of access
at the UN and
what the
Government
Accountability
Project also
calls
retaliation
against the
press
reporting on
the case? Do
you – what do
you make of
this case that
began in
October and is
ongoing, the
wheels are
turning?
MR KIRBY: I’m
going to have
to take that
question. I do
not believe I
have anything
for you on
that. So
you’re going
to have to let
me get back to
you.
On the
afternoon of
March 16, when
Inner City
Press asked
Kirby's deputy
Mark Toner the
above
questions,
along with
questions on
Yemen, Sudan
and genocide,
a State
Department
official on
background
answered Inner
City Press:
"Rooting out
fraud and
corruption,
and advancing
accountability
is a priority
for the United
States, and
has been for
many years. In
addition to
ongoing legal
action in the
Southern
District of
New York, we
support the
Secretary
General’s
request for an
Office of
Internal
Oversight
Services
(OIOS) audit
of the
interaction
between the UN
and the Global
Sustainability
Foundation and
the Sun Kian
Ip Group, and
the use of any
funds received
from these
entities. As
this matter is
under ongoing
investigation
by the U.S.
Attorney’s
office, as
well as by the
UN and OIOS,
it would be
inappropriate
to comment
further."
We'll
have more on
this - for
example on
what the
indictment
calls "NGO-1,"
which is South
South News,
and about the
US and the GAP
letter. Watch
this site.
On
February 19
Inner City
Press was
ordered out of
the UN, which
it has covered
for ten years
as a Resident
Correspondent
with a shared
office full of
files, by a letter
signed that
day with
two hours
notice by
Under
Secretary
General for
Public
Information
Cristina
Gallach - who
attended the
September 2015
South South
Awards with
Lorenzo, photo
here.
On
Gallach's
order, and
with the
participation
of Ban's
spokesman
Dujarric,
Inner City
Press was
thrown out
onto First
Avenue along
with its
laptop, but
without its
passport still
in its shared
office, by
eight UN
Security
guards. Audio
here. On
February 22,
UN Security
told Inner
City Press it
was Banned
from all UN
premises.
After
stories in BuzzFeed
and Business
Insider,
Inner City
Press
re-entered the
UN on a much
reduced
“non-resident
correspondent”
pass, Banned
from covering
such events as
UN Security
Council
reform, Sri
Lanka and
terrorism, and
the Office of
the President
of the General
Assembly.
(Inner City
Press has
continued,
with sources,
to report, for
example here.)
The
harassment
continued:
hours after
Inner City
Press raised
its case
orally to Ban
Ki-moon and
his deputy, UN
Security
against
physically
ordered Inner
City Press to
leave the UN,
at 8 pm.
Video
here.
Dujarric said
it is not his
job to find
Inner City
Press a place
to work. Q&A
here. More
and seemingly
final threats
were made on
March 14 --
just before it
emerged that
Lorenzo is
pleading
guilty to
bribery
charges. Now
what? March
14, 2016
UN's
Jan 29
"Incident"
Featured UNCA
Hiding Ng Lap
Seng Info, UN
Staff at
Pioli's Open
Bar
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, March
12 -- The UN's
ouster of
Inner City
Press on
February 19,
on a mere two
hours notice,
was said by UN
official
Cristina
Gallach's
letter to be
based on “the
incident” of
January 29. In
the three
weeks of
struggle --
and UN
harassment --
since, more
has become
clear about
that incident.
The UN Press
Briefing Room,
which is
supposed to be
for all
journalists,
was “lent” to
the UN
Correspondents
Association to
hold their
annual
meeting. Inner
City Press
quit UNCA in
2012, finding
it to be
corrupt.
UNCA's then
and now
president
Giampaolo
Pioli
unilaterally
granted a UN
screening for
the Sri Lankan
government's
war crimes
denial film
“Lies Agreed
To” after
havingtaken
rent money
from Palitha
Kohona, Sri
Lanka's
ambassador.
When Inner
City Press
reported that,
Pioli demanded
removal of the
article from
the Internet
or he would
“get Inner
City Press
thrown out of
the UN” (which
later took
place.)
So on
January 27,
Inner City
Presspublished
a storyabout the coming misuse
of the UN
Press Briefing
Room, and on
January 29
went to cover
the meeting as
a news event.
To not
participate in
the meeting -
and be heckled
by Pioli's
UNCA thugs, as
later
nevertheless
happened -
Inner City
Press covered
it from the
glassed in
interpreters
booth, fully
visible,
waving at
attendees,
live-tweeting
and streaming
Periscope.
Pioli
at the podium
in the front
of the room
grew angry and
ordered Inner
City Press to
leave. Inner
City Press
said no, the
room is for
all
journalists
(It took the
same position
when UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric tried
to “lend” the
UN Press
Briefing Room
to France's
andhis President, Francois
Hollande;
Inner City
Press won that
standoff, the
private
briefing was
opened to
all.)
This
time at
Pioli's
request
Dujarric came
in and asked
Inner City
Press to leave
so he could go
see his
“f*cking
kids.” Inner
City Press
said it was a
point of
principle, of
equal
treatment of
all
journalists in
the UN Press
Briefing Room,
but that it
would leave if
UN Security
requested it.
In the
weeks that
followed,
Inner City
Press repeated
asked Dujarric
and his Deputy
Farhan Haq why
they had
“lent” the UN
Press Briefing
Room to UNCA,
to whom else
they had lent
it -- no list
was provided
-- and why,
for example,
indicted Frank
Lorenzo had
appeared in
the UN Press
Briefing Room
but not in
that day's UN
Media Alert.
Was it lent to
him, too? By
whom?
Seemingly
based on this
questioning,
linking the
privatization
of the UN
Press Briefing
Room to the
widening
corruption
scandal, UN
official
Cristina
Gallach issued
a letter
throwing Inner
City Press out
of its long
time office
and
deactivating
its Resident
Correspondent's
accreditation.
This was
enforced by
eight UN
Security
guards who
threw Inner
City Press in
the street and
its laptop on
the ground as
two UNCA
insiders --
Margaret
Besheer of
Voice of
America, a
correspondent
to Dujarric,
and Sherwin
Brice of SABC
-- stood and
filmed and
laughed.
Gallach, as
Inner City
Press has
reported
before January
29, has
attended the
South South
Awards of
indictee Ng
Lap Seng, with
indictee Frank
Lorenzo. Not
only should
she have
provided due
process but
didn't - she
should have
recused
herself from
any
decision-making.
UNCA under
Pioli, as
Inner City
Press also
reported, took
tens of
thousands of
dollars from
Ng Lap Seng's
South South
News, then
gave Ng a
photo op with
Ban Ki-moon;
after this,
UNCA under
Pioli openly
sold seats
with Ban at
Cipriani Wall
Street for
$12,000.
But
there's more.
Why was the
UNCA meeting
in the UN
Press Briefing
Room in the
first place,
when the UN
gives UNCA a
large
clubhouse on
the UN's third
floor?
Well,
on the evening
of January 29
UNCA / Pioli
was to hold a
party in the
UNCA
clubhouse,
with waiters
(who and how
paid was
unclear.) At
the event, the
advertised
open bar was
open to
members of
Dujarric's
Office of the
Spokesperson
and Gallach's
DPI. Is that
ethical?
In the UNCA
meeting after
Pioli got
Dujarric to
get UN
Security to
tell Inner
City Press to
leave, an UNCA
member asked
to at least
get a
hard-copy of
the UNCA
budget
information.
Pioli told
that member to
just vote
against the
budget,
then.
Where did the
Ng Lap Seng
money go? The
money for the
seats sold
next to Ban
Ki-moon? Who
paid for the
January 29
party? Why is
the UN taking
and giving
these
freebies? This
is a corrupt
UN -- and for
seeking to
cover it,
Inner City
Press has been
thrown out,
and is still
being harassed
(thrown out
again on March
10). It is
UNacceptable.
Watch this
site.
After Inner
City Press was
summarily
ejected from
the UN, which
it has covered
for 10 years,
on February 19
(audio
here), the
ostensibly
deciding
official
Cristina
Gallach told
Nobel Peace
Prize laureate
Jose Ramos
Horta, who
contacted her
to oppose her
arbitrary
decision, that
Inner City
Press would
still be able
to cover the
UN.
Now
Gallach, even
having been
informed that
Inner City
Press can no
longer for
example go to
the second
floor of the
UN Conference
Building and
speak with
diplomats
entering and
exiting
meetings like
March 9 on UN
Security
Council
reform, and
March 10 on
Counter-Terrorism
including in
Sri Lanka,
repeats the
same position
to others - as
does Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon's
Office of the
Spokesperson,
under Stepane
Dujarric, see
below.
But Inner City
Press had been
told that
while the pass
would not
allow it to
enter the UN
after 7 pm, if
it was already
inside
working, it
could finish.
On
March 10 at 8
pm, as Inner
City Press sat
in the UN
Lobby cafe
area editing a
video of the
day's noon
briefing, see
below, UN
Security
officers
approached and
told it to
leave.
Immediately.Video
here.
Inner
City Press
asked if this
rule applied
to all
non-resident
correspondents,
many of whom
stayed much
later than 8
pm, or only to
it.
"I"m
just doing
what I'm
told," UN DSS
Officer Clyde
said, telling
Inner City
Press to take
it up with his
supervisor
Chief (Michael
or Mick)
Brown.
This is
harassment; it
flows from the
February 19 no
due process
order of Under
Secretary
General of DPI
Cristina
Gallach but
has been
enabled by
inaction by
the highest UN
officials and
some
diplomats.
On March 11,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
having been
ousted from
the UN again,video
here,UN transcript here:March
7, 2016
Exclusive: UN Yemen
Envoy Told Feltman
Houthis Ready to
Meet in
Jordan, Saudi
Low-ball
By
Matthew
Russell Lee,
Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS, March 4 -- The UN
Secretariat's bungling of Yemen
mediation has become ever more
clear, according to multiple sources
and documents exclusively seen by
Inner City Press, see below.
Now Inner City Press has another
exclusive: UN envoy Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed's email to UN Under
Secretary General for Political
Affairs Jeffrey Feltman, which
contradicts what enovy Ould Cheikh
Ahmed most recently told the
Security Council. The email
exclusively published by Inner City
Press shows flexibility on the
Houthi said, with the prospects of
meeting in Jordan or Morocco, while
the Saudis insist on sending low
level representation. Here is the
email:
"Dear
Jeff, I just completed a 2-day visit
in Riyadh and wanted to give you a
quick update on how things have
developed since my discussions with
H/Mohamed AbdelSalam last week in
Muscat.
I had a
private discussion with both State
Minister Mussaeed Al Ayban and Abu
Ali where I briefed them on the
readiness of th Houthis to resume
discrete face-to-face meetings with
KSA representatives. While they
welcomed the progress made and
expressed their commitment to go
ahead with this track, they also
emphasized that:
i) in
light of the progress the Coalition
has been making on the ground and
their advance toward Sanaa, the
Houthis should seize this
opportunity and discuss in good
faith as they are in a weaker
position on the ground and their
options are narrowing;
ii) KSA
will not consider elevating the
level of their representation in the
KSA-H talks, as Mohamed AbdelSalam
had requested. KSA considers that
the 2 representatives they are
sending are at the level of Mohammed
AbdelSalam and the Houthis should
not expect a higher representation
at this point;
iii) KSA
accepted the proposal of Mohamed
AbdelSalam to meet in a third
country (Jordan). Mohamed Abe
Assalem has suggested to me either
Morocco or Jordan as the venue.
I
immediately called Mohemad
AbdelSalam from Riyadh to share the
outcomes of the meeting. He was
going to talk to his leadership and
revert to me with a confirmation. If
the Houthis accept, the Houthi - KSA
meeting could go ahead as early as
next week, in Jordan. We of course
would not participate nor be
present. I have however already
started coordination with the Jordan
Ambassador to Yemen, as needed.
Although
we still do not have an agreement
for a new cessation of hostilities,
we have continued to press for
commitment to the De-Escalation and
Coordination Committee (DCC), and a
range of economic initiatives
(especially in relation to the
Central Bank's independence and the
reactivation of the Social Welfare
Fund).
In my
meeting with the GoY delegation, I
continued to impress upon them the
importance of participation of the
GoY in the DCC, and to training
which we are planning to organize in
Amman during the coming weeks. The
UK Ambassador informed me that
Foreign Minister and Head of GoY
delegation AbdelMalik El Mikhalfi
today had responded positively to
his suggestion.
There are
been positive developments on
economic initiatives which I have
supported as well. Foreign Minister
Mikhalfi participated in the Central
Bank board meeting last week in
Amman together with the Minister for
Finance and the CB Governor.
DPM/MoFA Mikhalfi acknowledged that
significance of the Governor's
attendance from Sanaa and was very
grateful for my personal efforts to
secure his participation with the
Houthis, which was seen by the GoY
as an important confidence building
measure. Mikhalfi agreed on the
necessity of developing further
economic initiatives including the
support for the SWF and SFD. My
office is working with the UNCT,
World Bank and IMF in order to
ensure a sufficient level of
technical support for these
proposals.
I
am now in Nouakchott for 4 days
where I need to renew my G4 visa and
will proceed to New York on 16
February ahead of the SC briefing. I
intend to remain in NYC until 22
February in order to meet with key
Member States and HQ officials. I
plan to also travel to Washington DC
19 February and hold meetings there.
I look forward to seeing you in New
York in a few days.
Best regards, Ismail."
The above email was sent on February
11 and contradicts what Ould Cheikh
Ahmed told the Security Council;
meanwhile Saudi Arabia's Ambassador
to the UN told the press on March 4
that envoy IOCA does NOT want a
humanitarian access resolution.
In
the UN Security Council on the Yemen
sanctions resolution adopted on
February 24, language was added to
try to discourage the Panel of
Experts from looking into the act of
the Saudi-led Coalition. Concessions
were made, of a kind not made for or
about other countries under
sanctions.
(Inner City Press had to follow the
process from outside the UN,
literally, the park on 43rd Street
across First Avenue, because only days
after Inner City Press asked why the
UN was so quiet about false
claims of Iranian military equipment
in a UN WFP aid ship, Inner City Press
was summarily thrown out of the UN for
seeking three weeks earlier to cover
an event in the UN Press Briefing
Room, and Banned, without due process.
Petition
here.)February
29, 2016
UN's
Ouster of ICP
Opposed from
Yemen,
Burundi, NY,
Nigeria,
Dominica,
Geneva
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
February 25 --
After Inner
City Press was
summarily
ejected from
the UN, which
it has covered
for ten years,
on February
19, the
ostensibly
deciding
official
Cristina
Gallach told
no less than
Nobel Peace
Prize laureate
Jose Ramos
Horta that
Inner City
Press would
still be able
to cover the
UN.
What she
didn't say was
that Inner
City Press'
ability to
cover the
unfolding UN
corruption
scandal in
which she has
played a role
would be
curtailed
under the
proposed
arrangement -
by design.
Inner City
Press is
opposing this.
And so
now are a
range of
people from
around the
world, who
have signed a
petition to
immediately
restore Inner
City Press to
the UN
Resident
Correspondent
accreditation
it had for
nine years
until, without
any due
process, the
UN pass was
physically
torn from its
chest as UN
Security throw
its laptop
onto the
sidewalk in
front of the
UN (also owned
by the UN and
immunity from
US law
including the
First
Amendment).
UN cover-up
artists are
taking
advantage of
the dying
months of Ban
Ki-moon's
tenure to
remove a thorn
in their side,
because they
are worried
the new SG
won't want to
start out with
a fight.
-James Bone,
Shelter Island
Heights, NY
ICP has been
the only voice
for the
oppressed in
#Burundi,
#Haiti &
#Yemen at #UN.
-Eloge Tinya,
Lagos, Nigeria
Innercitypress
is the voice
of many
oppressed
Burundians and
many Africans
under
dictatorship.
I have decided
to stand with
the oppressed
and not the
oppressor, UN
needs to
practice what
it preaches by
setting free
innercitypress
to do his
work! -Lievin
Manisha,
Pineville, LA
ICP asked
questions that
will bring
clarity on the
agreement the
Prime Minister
of Dominica
signed in
Macau on
August 25,
2015 together
with Ng Lap
Seng and a UN
official.
-Hon. Hector
John,
Salisbury,
Dominica
I am signing
for UN to
restore
Matthew Lee
Inner City
Press right to
access to the
UN as a
Resident
Correspondent
to question
authorities
because it is
the
fundamental of
free speech as
the UN
preaches to
other
countries it
must first
practice
itself to set
example.
-Smret Kibrom,
San Gallo,
Switzerland
Freedom of
press. -Prem
Kumar, India
innercitypress
defends the
human rights
of Burundians
and help to
avoid
genocide,
please free
innercitypress!
- MICHAEL Tim,
London, United
Kingdom
I'm signing
because the
barring of
access to Mr.
Lee appears to
be at worst
motivated by a
reluctance to
engage with
and continue
to receive the
probing
questions he
asks, and at
best the
result of a
petty personal
vendetta based
on
unprofessional
antipathy
towards Mr.
Lee by the
'respectable'
wing of the
United Nations
press corps.
-Marlon
Ettinger,
Hastings-on-Hudson,
NY
I am signing
this petition
for Matthew
Russell Lee
and Inner City
Press be
restored to
the shared UN
office and
Resident
Correspondent
accreditation
they have had
for eight
years prior to
this
pretextual
incident. It
also requests,
as does the Free UN Coalition for Access that
Matthew
co-founded,
that an
investigation
be launched
into how all
of this
occurred.
Moreover to
call for
aggressive
investigative
journalism at
the UN and to
tell the
leaders of the
UN that the
UN, too, must
live up to the
principles of
due process
and freedom of
the press.
-Martha
Fassil, New
York, NY
Comment l'onu
peut agir de
sorte alors
qu'ils sont
comme meilleur
modèle de la
démocratie, je
garde espoir
qu'on aura un
jour un vrai
dirigeants de
l'onu pour
tous. -Steve
Ndacasaba,
Montréal,
Canada
I'm signing
cause, want a
real
journalist who
tells it like
it is. No
agenda but the
truth. I am
supporting him
for standing
up for UN
bully. -Paulos
Welday,
Cambridge,
United Kingdom
Han er en
journalist som
forteller
sannheten til
verden.
Mussie Tesfay,
Oslo, Norway
UN should walk
the talk.
Practice what
you preach -
rule of law,
democracy,
freedom of
expression, of
press.
Reinstate ICP
Mathew Russell
Lee to full
resident
reporter.
-Seble Ephrem,
London, United
Kingdom
we need a
voice for
africa
redae medhane,
Kitchener,
Canada
Incredible.
This banning
is the exact
opposite of
the
transparency
and
accountability
that the UN
should be
defending for
all
institutions.
This must be
reversed.
Denis
Rancourt,
Ottawa, Canada
ICP is the
most reliable
source of
information at
the UN. The
other
corporate
media are
controlled by
the special
interest
groups. Thus
their
journalistic
integrity is
always
suspect. ICP
is voice of
the voiceless
- of course
unlike the UN
and its
sponsors and
financiers.
-tsehaie
mahary,
edmonton,
Canada
I express my
solidarity
with Mathew,
God bless you
friend
Mohamed
MAYARA, El
Aaiun, Western
Sahara
Matthew Lee
has been a
lone voice
asking the
difficult
questions in
the UN press
gallery.
-Martin Field,
Geneva,
Switzerland
I have seen
Matthew only
defending the
truth. He is a
journalist
with a genuine
journalist
ethics. He is
also the one
of the most
intelligent
and courageous
journalist. He
is a model how
other
journalist
should be. He
should be
given a noble
prize for what
he does not
get banned
from the UN.
-Yacob
Woldehiwot,
London, United
Kingdom
The UN cannot
be dismissive
of new media
as people get
their news
from new
media.The UN
cannot pick
and choose
media persons
according to
their whims
and fancies.
-soraya patel,
India
Shame on UN.
-ibrahim
alhaifi,
Sanaa, Yemen
I believe this
is censorship
of the press.
Shameful.
-Douglas
Smith, New
York, NY
I
believe this
is censorship
of the press.
Shameful.
-Douglas
Smith, New
York, NY
I'm signing
because I
believe in ICP
to bring
balance to the
reporting of
UN activities
around the
globe. I also
believe in the
ability of Lee
to
investigate,
without fear
or favour, to
keep the UN
reputation
intact. -Saare
Tsehaye,
London, United
Kingdom
Because this
is censorship
on free press.
Inner City
stands for
Truth, Justice
& Peace
!!! -Aman
Kubrom,
Frankfurt,
Germany
How can the UN
be so
ridiculous?
Feridun
Akpinar,
Turku, Finland
For Truth
&
Transparency,
there must
always be
those who
Question more.
-Auet Melache,
Bolton, United
Kingdom
I am signing
because UN is
being unfair
and need to
take some
responsibility.
-Lynda
Charles,
Boynton Beach,
FL
He's credible
and follows
the ethics of
journalism to
the fullest.
-Amanuel
Tseggai, Stone
Mountain, GA
We need the
alternative,independent
and
investigative
media to be
present
everywhere.
-Marja
Konttila,
Solna, Sweden
I demand the
U.N.
unconditionaly
and ASAP to
restore access
to Inner City
Press`Matthew
Russell Lee to
the U.N. as a
Resident
Correspondent.
-johannes
abraham,
Germany
I believe in
press giving
independant
views on
ignored issues
Cyrilla
Bwakira,
Johannesburg,
South Africa
Ban is a tool.
-Michael
Klett, San
Francisco, CA
InnerCity
Press has been
very
professional
and a life
saver. His
reports on
different
issues around
the world
helped uncover
certain hidden
truths. If Ban
was in
#Burundi 2
days ago, I
can say it is
mainly because
of his
persistence of
bringing
Burundi to
light from the
repression of
de facto
president
Manirambona
Juma, Kirundo,
Burundi
Matt spells
out the truth
and exposes
the games
protecting the
outdated
system for
what it
currently
is.Matt
actually
supports the
principle of
the UN, those
within it,
support
themselves.
-Andy Wren,
Littlestone,
United Kingdom
Weil ich sihe
das innercity
einsige
unabhengige
median
vetretete vor
Stimmenloss.
-Iassu
nugusse,
Germany
Matthew
Russell Lee,
founder of the
Inner City
Press, is a
veteran
investigative
journalist I
have relied
upon on UN
news for the
past six
years. He is
truthful, and
pursues truth
in reporting
tenaciously
and with
integrity. We
need more
journalists
like him at
the UN to keep
us informed.
He and his
Inner City
Press must be
reinstated as
a fully
accredited
resident
journalist to
the UN. -Elias
Amare, San
Rafael, CA
We need
unbiased and
impartial
reporting from
the UN. -David
Macilwain,
Australia
Does the UN
have something
to hide? The
UN is also
obligated by
the same
principles and
norms it
preaches. I
demand the UN
to reinstate
Matthew
Russell Lee to
his desk so he
can do what he
does best-
pure
journalism. He
is the only
honest
journalist at
the UN
compound and
being the
voice of the
voiceless.
-Daniel Berhe,
Seattle, WA
I am signed
because ICP
thrown out on
the street by
the decorator
of UN media
Personnel with
out his
belongings
Shame UN.
-Yakob
Tesfaye,
Edmonton,
Canada
I am signing
this because I
want to learn
about the
corrupt UN
security
council.
TEKLU BAHTA,
NORTH CHICAGO,
I respectively
ask UNSG and
Mr Ban ki-moon
to reture Matt
to his post us
a dedicated
reporter in
the UN. I have
a huge respect
for the guy.
It would be a
travesty of
justice if a
reporter like
matt is out
the office of
the biggest
office in the
world when we
need a
reporter of
such kind.
-Kibrom
tekeste,
berkeley, CA
I'am signing
because I
believe in
freedom of
speach and
Free Press
Reporters/Journalists.
-Ndayizeye
APOLLINAIRE,
Gatineau
(Hull), Canada
The UN
repeatedly
acts like
human rights
protections
apply to
everyone but
themselves.
-Betsey Chace,
Cambridge, MA
Matthew is the
only bona fide
journalist
reporting on
UN. He alone
is rectifying
the defects
created by
system of
diplomatic
immunity. Why
makes his job
harder? Do you
have something
to hide from
him? He makes
UN a more
acceptable
organization
and indeed, by
genuinely
reporting he
makes this
world a better
place. -T
Chan, London,
United Kingdom
I am signing
for UN to
restore
Matthew Lee
Inner City
Press right to
access to the
UN as a
Resident
Correspondent
to question
authorities
because it is
the
fundamental of
free speech as
the UN
preaches to
other
countries it
must first
practice
itself to set
example.
Sara Haile,
Alexandria, VA
Matthew Lee
is, far and
away, the
hardest-working
and most
dogged of any
journalist at
the United
Nations. His
arbitrary
expulsion is
both
outrageous and
a reflection
of the fact
that things
are not as
they should be
at the United
Nations, and
certainly not
what YOU would
expect. -
alberto
martin, New
York, NY
He is the best
one, for the
world in the
UN which tells
us the truth.
So if he is
out of his
work then the
UN only
remains with
out the truth.
ghebreyohanis
michiel,
bachenbülach,
Switzerland
Burundi medias
burned by
violent/genocidaire
regime;our
genuine source
of information
from UN was
ICP:fair,not
sided.Pls,Reestablish
ICP in its
rights!
Ange Nganji,
Bujumbura,
Burundi
I'm signing
because I
believe in the
freedom of the
press. I often
reads Matthew
Lee's work
which reports
on difficult
topics and
events that
need covering
and exposure.
He should be
reinstated at
your earliest
convenience.
Rebecca Myles,
New York, NY
I'm signing
because I'm an
advocate for
real,
independent
journalism and
condemn the
UN's decision
to remove
Inner City
Press's access
based on a
nonsensical
pretext!
-Hermon
Gebrai,
Northamptonshire,
United Kingdom
I appreciate
Inner City
Press'
persistent and
prepared
journalism at
the United
Nations.
-Brian
Concannon Jr.,
Marshfield, MA
Freedom of the
press. -Luiz
Rampelotto,
New York, NY
18 hours ago
The UN needs
to be held to
standards of
openess,
transparency
and freedom of
the press.
-Samuel
Horton,
Silsden,
United Kingdom
Lee should not
have been
expelled, it's
a disgrace to
the UN.
-Richard
Johnson,
Potomac, MD
It's unfair to
throw someone
out like that
with out
hearing from
his side of
history.
-Hermon
Tsegay,
Slough, United
Kingdom
Such a crck
down on media
in an
organization
promoting
freedom of
speech and
information is
really awkward
and clearly
disgraceful
and
unacceptable.
-Florent
Nduwayo,
Kibungo,
Rwanda
This is
another in a
long line of
incidents
conclusively
evidencing the
UN's complete
and utter
disrespect for
the laws of
its HOST
country, the
US, in
particular the
1st
amendment!! UN
IMMUNITY =
IMPUNITY--END
IT NOW!!
Journalists
are the
ultimate
whistleblowers,
and I am well
aware of how
UN
whistleblowers
like Mr Lee
are persecuted
and suffer
grievous harm
at the hands
of rogue UN
officials. The
treatment of
Mr. Lee is an
outrage.
How ironic
this has
happened just
as the US
House Committe
on Foreign
Relations is
today, on 24
Feb, holding a
hearing about
the gross
mistreatment
of
whistleblowers
at the UN and
WIPO. Congress
must act now
to cut off 15%
of US
appropriations
to the UN this
year on
account of its
failure to
protect and
encourage UN
whistleblowers
like Mr Lee,
as provided
for in US law,
as it already
did to WIPO!!
-ted beacher,
Geneva,
Switzerland
ICP is doing a
great job. UN
should
support,respect
and promote
free speech.
-Kalu Thapa,
Kathmandu,
Nepal
UN
Security
Ejecting ICP
Wouldn't Give
Name, Grabbed
ID Badge,
Pushed Out
Gate
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
February 21 --
The UN on
February 19,
after Inner
City Press
asked about UN
inaction in
South Sudan
and Burundi
and financial
irregularities,
handed Inner
City Press a
letter to
leave the UN
by 5 pm. Letter
here.
While
Inner City
Press was
writing up a
UN Security
Council
meeting on
Syria that
went into the
evening, and
Periscope
broadcasting,
UN Security
guards walked
up. They told
Inner City
Press it could
not transcribe
and report on
answers to its
(final?)
questions at
the Security
Council
stakeout.
Inner
City Press
asked the
Security
officer making
this order to
provide his
name, but he
refused. Audio
here.
Inner
City Press
asked how this
could be UN
protocol,
since police
department in
many
jurisdiction
require
officers to
give their
names, and
have names on
their badges
or shields.
The
officer -- who
would late
shove Inner
City Press out
into First
Avenue without
coat or files
-- said, "You
are acting in
a very..."
A very
what? Uppity
manner, asking
for the name
of a security
supervisor
ordering a
journalist to
leave, and
ultimately
grabbing the
journalist's
laptop?
Finally
the name was
provided:
Deputy
Security Chief
Michael
McNulty.
Previously
bragging of
serving Ban
Ki-moon in
Iraq. We'll
have more on
this.
For now we
note this is
why a reduced
accreditation
status that
allows for UN
Security
actions like
this while
reporting from
the Security
Council
stakeout is
UNacceptable.
Later
UN Security
grabbed Inner
City Press'
laptop,
blocked its
Periscope
camera and
turned off the
livestream. Video here.
Then
eight UN
Security
officers led
by Deputy
Chief McNulty
tore off Inner
City Press' UN
ID badge and
carted off
Inner City
Press' laptop
and camera,
returning
these by
throwing them
on the
sidewalk of
First Avenue.
Audio
here.
They did
not allow
Inner City
Press to get
coat or
sweater, or
the files in
its office. No
provision was
made for this.
The
ejection
letter was
signed by the
Under
Secretary
General for
Public
Information
Cristina
Galach of
Spain but
ultimately
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon is in
charge. Ban
and his chief
of staff
Edmond Mulet
and Deputy SG
Jan Eliasson
were all
written to
with details
as this took
place.
When
Inner City
Press was
thrown out
onto First
Avenue,
standing
waiting,
laughing and
filming, was
Voice of
America's
Margaret
Besheer and
another board
member of the
UN
Correspondents
Association,
whose
president
Giampaoli
Pioli told
Inner City
Press if it
didn't remove
a (truthful)
article about
his screening
of a war
crimes denial
film for a
tenant of his,
Sri Lanka's
then
ambassador
Palitha
Kohona, he
would get
Inner City
Press thrown
out of the UN.
But who
is running
this asylum?
Ban Ki-moon,
his spokesman
also involved
Stephane
Dujarric (who
threw Inner
City Press out
of the UN
Press Briefing
Room on
January 29,
also trying to
turn off ICP's
Periscoping
phone), and,
some surmise,
some who don't
like Inner
City Press'
questions.
We'll have
more on this.
The
pretext was
Inner City
Press three
weeks earlier
seeking to
cover a
meeting in the
UN Press
Briefing Room
by an
organization
which has
taken money
from now
indicted Ng
Lap Seng and
Frank
Lorenzo's
South SOuth
News, then
gave Ng Lap
Seng a photo
op with Ban.
(As Inner City
Press
reported,
Gallach
attended the
South South
Awards with
Frank Lorenzo,
photo
here, just
before his
indictment.
She should
have been
recused from
any
decision-making
on this.)
UN
Security
demanded ICP's
pass - and
later tore it
off. February
15, 2016
As New
UN Rapes In
CAR Revealed
in Feb 11
Emails, UN
Says DRC
Troops Still
In Place
By Matthew
Russell Lee,
Exclusive Must
Credit
UNITED
NATIONS,
February 13 --
Amid a litany
of rape
charges
against UN
Peacekeeping
under Herve
Ladsous, Inner
City Press
exclusively
obtained and
on February 12
published UN
emails showing
another round
of sexual
abuse of
minors in
Ouaka
prefecture in
the Central
African
Republic by UN
Peacekeepers
from the
Democratic
Republic of
the Congo. Click
here to view.
The
emails, dated
February 11,
2016, describe
at least four
underage
victims, two
of whom were
impregnated by
the rapist UN
peacekeepers.
Middle
management at
the UN,
further up the
email chain,
notes that the
majority of
sexual abuse
in CAR has
been committed
by the
battalions
from the DRC
and the
Republic of
Congo. And so
Inner City
Press posed
these
questions to
UN
spokespeople
in both New
York and the
CAR:
"This is a
request for
your comment
on, and any
update on, the
sexual abuse
and
exploitation
cases in the
Feb 11, 2016
emails now here
Also, what
will be done
with the
Republic of
Congo and DR
Congo
contingents?
We are
interested in
if the UN and
DPKO can, as
currently be
configured, be
reformed.What
is the status
of the sexual
abuse and
exploitation
cases that
have been
listed,
including in
the UN Press
Briefing
Room?"
The
response
received by
Inner City
Press on
Saturday
afternoon in
New York was
from
Bangui-based
MINUSCA
spokesman
Vladimir
Monteiro:
"Regarding
your questions
on DRC and
Congo, here is
Minusca's
position:
"On DRC
contingent, a
decision to
repatriate
them has
already been
taken. It will
be completed
without delay
by the end of
the month. It
is just a
matter of
planning it
properly.
"On the 120
troops from
Congo, they
have been
cantoned in
Berberati to
permit
investigations
by national
investigators
before their
repatriation
to their
country
which will
occur on 20
February 2016.
For further
details on
this matter
please contact
HQ."
But of
course Inner
City Press has
already
contacted "HQ"
or UN
Headquarters,
including for
example Ismini
Palla of
Ladsous' DPKO,
who gave
Agence France
Presse the
response
to questions
Inner City
Press has
publicly posed
to UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, to
the DPKO
spokesman Nick
Birnback, also
cc-ed.
So
where ARE the
updates on the
cases the UN's
Diane Corner
listed in the
UN Briefing
Room? Why was
it reported in
early January
that the DRC
contingent had
"been
dismissed"
when, in mid
February, they
are still in
place? What is
the status of
the Burundian
contingent in
CAR? Follow up
questions have
been submitted
to UN
officials and
spokespeople
in CAR and
headquarters
in New York.
Well
placed sources
tell Inner
City Press
these two
countries'
soldiers have
been in the UN
MINUSCA
mission nearly
entirely due
to Ladsous
and, more
outrageously,
the / his
French
government due
to its
political
relations with
the Republic
of Congo and
DRC.
Ladsous, as
Inner City
Press has
reported, told
Burundi's Vice
President that
he is
"pragmatic"
about human
rights; even
on camera,
Ladsous linked
the rapes to
"R&R," click here for video.
While
Ladsous' DPKO
and Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon's
Office of the
Spokesperson
announced that
the DRC
contingent
would be
pulled out of
Bambari and
CAR in late
Janaury, Inner
City Press is
informed this
never
happened: they
are still
there.
Ladsous' DPKO,
and now the UN
Spokesperson's
Office, are
engaged in
misleading the
press and
public, and
doling out
what
information
they provide
to only the
friendliest
media.
For
recent
example, Inner
City Press for
weekly has
reported on
and asked
about the
repatriation
from CAR of
Burundian
troops charged
with abuse
during the
crackdown on
opponents of
Pierre
Nkurunziza's
third term.
Even after
Inner City
Press obtained
and published
on February 9
proof of
three
repatriations,
all UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric told
Inner City
Press is that
he
would seek an
update.
Simarily,
Ladsous' lead
spokesman Nick
Birnback told
Inner City
Press DPKO
would have
something to
say about the
particular
Burundian
officers in
CAR Inner City
Press asked
him about.
Then
Ladsous'
spokespeople
including
Ismini Palla
gave their
limited
confirmations
to Reuters
and Agence
France Presse,
who published
it without
credit or
context.
(Neither media
reported on
Ladsous
linking rape
to R&R).
In a
February email
by UN official
Anthony
Banbury, soon
to leave the
UN after some
heartfelt
tears of outrage
at
peacekeepers'
rapes, it is
said:
"We have a
pack of
predatory
criminals and
rapists,
preying on
young girls,
under the
banner of the
United
Nations. How
can we stand
by? In my view
that battalion
should be
ordered to
cease
operations
today, same
with the RoC
battalion, and
be confined to
camp and
guarded full
time so they
cannot
continue to
abuse
children.
While we would
pay a
short-term
price in terms
of operations,
we would gain
so much in
terms of the
integrity and
reputation of
the UN, in the
CAR and
internationally,
and we would
almost
certainly
prevent more
rapes of minor
girls. We
simply cannot
sustain the
argument that
the benefit
these troops
are bringing
to the UN and
PoC is greater
than the harm
they are
doing."
What
will the UN
do? What will
France, with
new foreign
minister Jean
Marc Ayrault,
do? How long
can Ladsous -
and the
Congolese
contingents -
remain in
place?
SG Ban
Claims He's a
Scapegoat,
Press Qs on
CAR Rapes,
Corruption
Ignored
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
February 5-- In the
run up to UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon's
appearance
today in
London, people
were asked to
submit
questions
using the
hashtag
#AskBan.
Inner
City Press
submitted
questions
about Ban's UN
preaching
accountability
while claiming
immunity for
bringing
cholera to
Haiti, rapes
in Central
African
Republic,
back-down on
protection in
Burundi,
silence on
Oromo Protests
in Ethiopia,
Yemen, UN
corruption.
Clearly, not
all of these
issues would
be addressed
in Ban's
appearance
with UNA-UK
and Jeremy
Greenstock in
Central Hall.
But none of
them?
Instead, Ban
took
pre-screened
softball
questions --
like his
spokespeople
do it at UNHQ
in New York --
and closed
with the claim
that he is
just a
scapegoat.
(SG, get it?).
Was
Ban's UN a
“scapegoat”
for
negligently
bringing
cholera to
Haiti, killing
10,000 people
and paying not
a penny to the
families of
those killed,
many left
without their
breadwinner or
housing?
Was Ban
a scapegoat
when he went
on a “victory
tour” with
Mahinda
Rajapaksa in
Sri Lanka in
2009?
Are UN
peacekeepers
under DPKO's
Herve Ladsous
“scapegoats”
when they
sexually abuse
children in
CAR, have it
covered up and
Ladsous still
in his job,
after Ladsous
linked the
rapes to
“R&R”?
Ban
made claims
about
promoting
women - when
as simply one
example when
he sat, UN
Photo-ed,
wiht his
"senior
advisers" on
North Korea on
January 6,
2016, is was decidedly
male, here.
People clap
because they
like the UN,
or the idea of
the UN, or
what they
think the UN
is. Up close,
it's a
different
story. Below
are just some
recent
(February 4,
3, 2, 1)
examples.
UN
Deputy
Spokesperson
Farhan Haq on
February
4
instead of
even
purporting to
answer Inner
City Press'
questions
openly guessed
at the
motivation of
the questions.
Vine
here, full video here. The question
concerned Ng
Lap seng,
indicted for
bribery at the
UN; Haq said
if you can
look into
corruption at
the UN
Correspondents
Association (a
Ng fundee who
was lent the
room on
January 29),
go do so.
But the
UN has said it
is auditing
Ng's and Sheri
Yan's dealings
with and at
the UN, which
must include
UNCA, which is
given a large
UN room, and
the Press
Briefing Room
too, off the
record
sit-downs with
Ban Ki-moon
(two of whose
closest
associates
were at the
founding of
Yan's Global
Sustainability
Foundation),
and sells
seats with Ban
for $6,000.
Haq
refused to
answer. Inner
City Press
aksed, When
does Stephane
[Dujarric, the
lead spokesman
who said who
gets to use
the Press
Briefing Room
is really his
decision] get
back?
"Whenever he
wants," Haq
said. This is
today's UN.
We'll have
more on this.
On
February 3,
Inner City
Press for the
second day in
a row asked UN
Deputy
Spokesperson
Farhan Haq to
provide a list
of to whom his
office, or
simply lead UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric,
“lent” the UN
Press Briefing
Room. Haq on
February 3 now
said there is
no list, but
they have the
information.
So
Inner City
Press asked a
question about
the
information:
has the UN
Press Briefing
Room been
“lent” to any
affiliate or
fundee of Ng
Lap Seng or
the Global
Sustainability
Foundation,
named in the
US Attorney's
corruption
indictment. February
1, 2016
After
Vote, ICP Asks
Colombia's
Holguín About
Urabeños, She
Calls Them a
Gang
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
January 25 --
After the UN
Security
Council
quickly passed
a resolution
on Colombia
for unarmed
international
observers
responsible
for the
monitoring and
verification
of the laying
down of arms
on January 25,
Inner City
Press asked
Colombia's
foreign
minister María
Ángela Holguín
Cuéllar two
questions.
Are there any
names yet for
the UN envoy
post, should
he or she like
the observers
come from
CELAC? And
what about the
Urabeños,
which some
call
paramilitaries
and some call
merely a gang?
Holguín said
it will be up
to Ban Ki-moon
to propose
names -- and
derived the
Urabeños as
narco-traffickers,
to be
frontally
opposed.
Video
here.
January
25, 2016
In
Burundi,
Shingiro Spoke
for US Power,
Censorship Not
Mentioned
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
January 23 --
After UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon on New
Year's Eve
issued a
statement
praising the
Burundi
“talks” held
in Entebbe,
Uganda,
multiple
sources told
Inner City
Press these
not really
talks but
rather a photo
op. The
January 6
session
announced for
Arusha did not
happen.
Inner City
Press
requested to
cover the
UNSC's trip to
Burundi, but
was
UNtransparently
rejected.
Inner City
Press asked
the UN about
the trip on
January 20, 21
and 22. The UN
spokespeople
refused to
say, but
beyond the
pro-government
"religious
leaders" that
they cited,
the Council
also met with
at least some
of the
concerned
members of
civil society,
and some
journalists
who inevitably
raised the
issue of
attacks and
censorship.
This was not
mentioned by
the UN.
The UN
Country Team
in Burundi is
now led by
Paolo Lembo,
who also
served in
Yemen where
Special
Adviser Jamal
Benomar did.
Neither Lembo
nor the
shadowy "UNIC
Bujumbura,"
however,
arranged for a
video or even
audio steam of
the Council's
and Burundian
government's
press
statements.
We're told
that
Ambassador
Albert
Shingiro, who
blocks the
Press on
Twitter, told
the scribes
that US Power
said she would
send “a strong
message to the
government of
Rwanda."
Again,
Shingiro
blocks the
Press on
Twitter: some
diplomat.
One of
the four
handpicked
pass-throughs
opined that
"the fact that
Council
members
presented
Nkurunziza
with a largely
unified
message on the
different
issues was
seen as a
positive sign
that they had
come closer to
a common
position." So
they traveled
to Burundi to
work on their
own issues?
We'll have
more on this -
and on the
Council's
junket-ending
meetings in
Addis, if not
on Oromo
protests, than
this
we've asked
about. January
18, 2016
To
Burundi, UN
Cites Small
Plane From
Addis to Ban
Press, No
Deployment
Answers
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
January 15 --
After UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon's mere
a one-line
mention of
Burundi in his
long
Priorities for
2016 speech on
January 14,
when Ban took
questions in
front of the
General
Assembly Inner
City Press
five times
began, "On
Burundi."
Inner City
Press
similarly
requested to
cover the
UNSC's trip to
Burundi.
But of
the five
questions
picked, fully
four were on
Syria; none on
Yemen much
less Burundi.
So as Ban
began walking
away from his
personal
rostrum, Inner
City Press
asked him how
his Under
Secretary
General Herve
Ladsous could
have written,
here, that
UN
Peacekeeping
is limited in
its ability to
address
significant
violence
against
civilians,
even violence
that amounts
to genocide.
The
question was
clearly
audible, but
Ban did not
answer it,
typically. Vine here. Moments later, Inner
City Press got
an answer
about Ladsous'
memo from an
Ambassador of
a Permanent
Five member of
the Security
Council. Video
here. UK
Deputy
Ambassador
Peter Wilson
said the goal
of the UNSC
trip to to
have a proper
talk with
Nkurunziza,
for a proper
dialogue and
change of
course. New
Zealand's lead
ambassador is
also going --
but Inner City
Press is not.
Earlier
in the week
when the
decision was
made for a
Security
Council trip,
Inner City
Press
immediately
replied to
Ban's
spokesperson's
office that it
was very
interesting in
going, as it
previously
covered Ban's
trip to Sri
Lanka and
Council trips
to Sudan, DR
Congo and Cote
d'Ivoire.
Even Nkurunziza's
adviser,
facetiously or
not, told
Inner City
Press on
Twitter that
he hoped Inner
City Press
would be on
the trip. At 3
pm on January
14, Reuters'
correspondent
bragged at the
UNSC stakeout
they are
going. And at
4:30 pm, Inner
City Press got
this, from
Ban's
spokesman:
"Due to space
limitation in
the UN flight
accompanying
the Security
Council
mission to
Burundi, we
regret to
inform you
that we will
not be able to
accommodate
your request
to travel. "
So how
/ by whom is
it decided
which media
can go? Inner
City Press
asked the UN
Spokesman,
Stephane
Dujarrice, and
another, this:
"Please
describe how /
by whom the
decision on
which media
can accompany
this trip was
made, and
which media
have been
allowed to go.
Also, please
explain why
not one of the
six questions
Inner City
Press
submitted on
January 12 and
13, including
about Burundi,
were answered,
or even
acknowledged."
And
these are not
answered.
Dujarric's
office called
"lid" to end
the day. So on
January 15,
Inner City
Press asked
Dujarric in
person, video
here, transcript here:
Inner City
Press:
...Zeid's
findings.
How does this
impact on the
deployment of
Burundian
troops to UN
peacekeeping
in CAR?
And I wanted
to ask you
about the trip
the Council is
taking next
week.
Can you
describe how,
by who… who
and how the
decision was
made of which
media can
cover the
trip?
Spokesman
Dujarric:
Sure.
The numbers of
seats
attributed to
media was very
limited.
A discussion
was had with
us, and a
number…
Security
Council
members, and a
list was drawn
up. Not
every
journalist can
go on every
trip. I
think if
you're talking
about
yourself, you
have traveled
with the
Secretary-General
before.
As I said, not
everyone can
go on every
trip.
Inner City
Press:
Journalists
were supposed
to cover their
own
costs.
So what does
the UN plane…
is from where
to where when
you say
there's a
limited seats?
Spokesman:
There's a UN
plane from
Addis Ababa
to, from Addis
Ababa to
Bujumbura and
back to Addis
with very
limited
numbers, which
is also
limiting the
numbers of
staff members
who can
accompany.
We wanted to
send somebody
to help mind
the
press.
We were not
able to — we
were not able
to
either.
[cross talk]
If you make
your own way
to Bujumbura,
we would be
happy to
assist you on
the ground.
We'll
have more on
this.
Note
that Ban's
Office of the
Spokesperson
refused to
answer any of
Inner City
Press'
questions in
the past two
days,
including two
on Burundi,
another on
Ethiopia /
Oromo, etc.
What is WRONG
with Ban's UN?
Watch this
site. January
11, 2016
Online
Censorship
Opposed by
ICP, Under EU
"Privacy"
& DMCA in
US
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
January 9 --
What is
censorship?
Late on
January 8,
2016, Inner
City Press
received a
notice from
Google that a
page on its
website, an
article
concerned
Kosovo, would
henceforth be
blocked from
Search from
Europe. The
notice is
published
below, along
with Inner
City Press'
response.
While
still seeing
this as
censorship, at
least in this
case Google
provided
notice of what
it had done,
and a form to
petition for
the page's
reinstatement.
By contrast,
when Reuters'
UN bureau
chief Louis
Charbonneau ex
parte
claimed to
Google that
his email to
the UN,
seeking to get
Inner City
Press thrown
out of the UN,
was
somehow
copyrighted,
Google did not
provide any
notice, but
simply blocked
access to the
leaked
document, from
everywhere.
Inner
City Press
only learned
of this
censorship by
a fluke, and
by the
notice put up
by the
Chilling
Effects
project of the
Electronic
Frontier
Foundation
(EFF,
hat-tip).
That
experience has
led Inner City
Press,
alongside its
reporting on
the UN and IMF
and on
predatory
lending by
banks,
under-regulation
by the Federal
Reserve and
others, to dig
into the ways
in which the Trans
Pacific
Partnership
could
globalize the
type of
censorship
the Reuters
bureau chief
got Google to
do, using the
US Digital
Millennium
Copyright Act,
DMCA. This has
become a
project of the
new
Free UN
Coalition for
Access.
In this
January 2016
case, here is
what Google
sent to Inner
City Press:
"Notice of
European data
protection
removal from
Google Search
Due to a
request under
data
protection law
in Europe,
Google can no
longer show
one or more
pages from
your site in
Google Search
results. This
only affects
responses to
some search
queries for
names or other
personal
identifiers
that might
appear on your
pages. Only
results on
European
versions of
Google are
affected. No
action is
required from
you.
What we’d like
you to know:
These pages
haven’t been
blocked
entirely from
our search
results
They’ve only
been blocked
on certain
searches for
names on
European
versions of
Google Search.
These pages
will continue
to appear for
other
searches.
We aren’t
disclosing
which queries
have been
affected.
In many cases,
affected
queries don’t
relate to the
name of any
person
mentioned
prominently on
the page.
For example,
the name might
only appear in
a comment
section.
You can notify
us of concerns
If you have
additional
information
regarding the
content of a
page that you
believe
warrants a
reversal, you
can notify
Google. Please
note that
while we read
all requests,
we do not
always
respond. Only
the registered
siteowner can
access this
form.
Here are the
affected
URL(s):
"Reporting on
contested
areas such as
Kosovo is in
the public
interest and
should not be
censored,
particularly
not based on
an anonymous
complaint.
This is a
request for
Google's
response
to what
we see as a
form of
censorship.
Inner City
Press reports
on the UN, and
here, Kosovo.
We note
previously
unexplained
censorship and
false
invocation of
copyright:
http://www.chillingeffects.org/notice.cgi?sID=1117933 We request
reversal of
both, and an
explanation."
Watch
this site.
January
4, 2016
UN
Won't Name
Staffer Who
Was Told of
CAR Rapes,
Won't Answer
on Ban's
Travel
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
December 31 --
Ban Ki-moon's
tenure as UN
Secretary
General became
embroiled in
one scandal
after another
in 2015 -- but
at his
“year-end”
press
conference he
refused to
answer a Press
question
directly on
it. Video
here and
embedded
below. Vine
here.
Beyond
the
indictments of
the former
President of
the UN General
Assembly John
Ashe, Ng Lap
Seng, Sherri
Yang and
others, on
December 31
Inner City
Press asked
four of Ban's
spokespeople
questions
including:
"Regarding the
report on the
sexual abuse
in CAR and how
the UN handled
it, please
state the
identity of
the senior
officer in the
Executive
Office of the
Secretary
General do
which a
section of the
report is
devoted, or
explain why
your Office
will not
provide the
name, in terms
of
accountability.
"Please
confirm or
deny that
Andrew Gilmour
is seeking
employment
outside of the
EOSG, and
provide the
SG's view of
its senior
official
leaving or
seeking to
leave before
he does."
Ban's
Deputy
Spokesperson
Farhan Haq,
while leaving
Inner City
Press
questions on
Burundi and
South Sudan
entirely
UNaddressed,
sent this:
From: Farhan
Haq [at]
un.org
Date: Thu, Dec
31, 2015 at
12:11 PM
Subject: Press
Qs in lieu of
a UN noon
briefing:
Burundi, S.
Sudan, Haiti,
EOSG, still SG
travel, UNOG,
Ohio, Ethiopia
/ free press;
still Jordan,
UNHQ, UN
scandals /
reforms,
Yemen; thanks
in advance
To: Matthew
Lee [at]
InnerCityPress.com
Cc: Stephane
Dujarric [at]
un.org, FUNCA
[at] funca.org
"Regarding
accountability
and the CAR
report, the
panel put out
the
information it
chose to
provide and we
have made
available the
entire report,
without any
redactions.
Follow-up
action is
being studied
at present.
"We have no
comment on
staff
movements.
Staff are free
to seek
employment
opportunities."
This
last would
appear to
apply to yet
another UN
scandal in
2015: envoy to
Libya
Bernardino
Leon
negotiating a
cushy job with
the United
Arab Emirates
while
purporting to
represent the
UN on Libya.
With
Ban off on a
"private"
visit to
Vienna,
tweeted by the
UN Office
there, the UN
has yet to
answer Inner
City Press'
simple
question about
the cost(s):
"With regard
to the
Secretary
General's
current trip
to Vienna,
tweeted by the
UN there, for
purposes of
transparency
including in
light of the
indictment of
ex-UNPGA John
Ashe and the
new PGA's
disclosures,
what are the
costs to the
UN budget, and
what are the
other costs
and who is
paying them?"
Ban's envoy to
Libya Bernardino
Leon was
exposed by
leaks as
having taken
instructions
and then a job
from the
United Arab
Emirates.
And Ban's head
of UN
Peacekeeping,
Herve
Ladsous,
is listed in
UN Dispute
Tribunal
documents as
having tried
to cover up
child rapes in
Central
African
Republic by
peacekeepers
from his
native France.
Inner
City Press,
which Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric did
not call on
despite
calling two
separate times
on the same UN
Correspondents
Association
scribe, asked
audibly, “Do
you have any
update on the
John Ashe
indictment?
Bernardino
Leon? These
were major
developments
this year.” Vine here.
But Ban
refused to
answer the
question. He
walked out of
the briefing
room, shaking
hands scribes.
The press
conference
began with
Dujarric
setting aside
the first
question for
the head of
UNCA, who
thanked Ban
for attending
an event on
Wall Street for
which UNCA
charged $6,000
to sit with
Ban. This
is the UN
Corruption
Association.
December
28, 2015
On
Burundi, As
Imbonerakure
Rally, PR at
UN Mocks
Countrymen,
Bans Press
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
December 24 --
Amid killings
by the
security
forces in
Burundi, the
Pierre
Nkurunziza
government
with the
agreement of
UN
Peacekeeping
chief Herve
Ladsous
has undertaken
to deploy
officers
allegedly
involved in
human rights
abuses into
Ladsous'
Central
African
Republic
mission,
MINUSCA, see
below.
Now
Nkurunziza's
Imbonerakure
militia
members are
quoted by AP
that "We would
like to warn
African Union
troops that
the majority
of Burundians
don't want
them and they
should not
impose
themselves on
the people of
Burundi." Here
is a video of
the ruling
party
demonstrations,
on Facebook.
Also on
Facebook,
Burundi's
Permanent
Representative
to the UN
Albert
Shingiro --
who blocks
Inner City
Press from his
Twitter feed
-- tried to mock
a protest by
follow
Burundians
which Inner
City Press covered
on December
23, here.
Some
diplomacy:
banning the
Press from his
statements,
mocking rather
than seeking
to dialogue
with his
countrymen. To
this has
Burundi sunk.
Inner City
Press: whether
you have
any... first,
any readout of
Mr. Benomar's
travels and
attempts to
speak with the
Government in
the
region.
I'm asking
you...
yesterday
there was… you
may have seen
it; you may
not have seen
it… there was
a protest
outside the
building by
Burundians,
and in speaking
with them,
they judge the
performance of
the
Secretariat as
weak.
And I wanted
to know, just
to get, I
guess, your
response to
that, and if
there's any
update on the
deployment of
these two,
Pierre
Niyonzima and
Jimmy
Rusheshe, both
of whom have
been linked to
the hospital
killings in
May…
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric:
On your second
part, no, I
have no update
than what was
given. I
know there are
discussions
going
on. I
don't have an
update to
share with
you. On
your first
part, I think
we can all
agree on the
frustration of
the Burundian
people as they
see the
violence
increase in
their
country.
The
Secretary-General,
through the
work of his
Special Envoy,
is very much
focused on
finding ways
to move the
political
dialogue
forward and to
obviously see
an end to the
current
violence that
we're
seeing.
He is
currently in
Kampala in
Uganda meeting
with local
officials, and
I believe
there will be
talks there
early next
week.
Inner City
Press:
Will your
office be
sending stuff
out during
this break?
Spokesman:
Obviously, as
I said, we'll
be fully
staffed.
If there are
updates to
share, we will
share them
with you.
Back on
December 17
Inner City
Press was
told, the
third time it
asked, that
the Burundi's
Army spokesman
Gaspard
Baratuza's
deployment to
the UN mission
in CAR had
been
suspended, and
Baratuza was
being
repatriated.
UN spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, who
has shielded
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon from
such Press
questions,
said "it's an
example of the
[vetting]
policy
working."
But
Inner City
Press has
obtained the
Burundi
government
document for
the deployment
not only of
Baratuza but
other officers
in Ladsous'
MINUSCA. Today
we focus and
ask about
Major Pierre
Niyonzima.
According to
Inner City
Press'
sources,
Niyonzima not
only defended
extrajudicial
executions, he
participated
in them.
On May 14,
they say,
Major
Niyonzima was
the Senior
army officer
who led the
attack on the
hospital where
those accused
of involvement
in the
attempted coup
were
slaughtered.
They say
Niyonzima
reports to
Guillaume
Bunyoni and
has been
involved in
killings in
Musaga,
Nyakabiga and
Mutakura.
We'll have
more on this,
and on other
deployees to
Ladsous'
MINUSCA,
including
Jimmy
Rusheshe.December
21, 2015
ICP
Asks UN &
CAR Panel of
Ladsous
Failing to
Respond on
Rights, Ban's
UN
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
December 17 --
The UN report
on rapes
in the Central
African
Republic,
released
today, finds
that UN
Peacekeeping's
Under
Secretary
General Herve
Ladsous
“illustrate[s]
the UN's
failure to
respond to
allegations of
serious human
rights
violations in
the meaningful
way.”
Once the
report came
out from under
embargo at the
noon briefing
Inner City
Press asked UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric what
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon will
do about the
findings
against
Ladsous, and
that he
escaped the
“abuse of
authority”
moniker only
because “the
mandate of the
Panel is to
assess whether
an abuse of
authority has
occurred in
connection
with the
Allegations.”
Since
the abusers
Ladsous let
into MINUSCA
were not the
French troops
who are
accused of
rape -- these
troops are not
in MINUSCA --
Ladsous'
malfeasance is
not “in
connection”
with the
Allegations.
But is it
acceptable?
Dujarric seems
unfamiliar
with the
report; he
implied that
the third
person found
to have abused
authority was
the Ethics
Officer, when
it was a lower
level official
in CAR. Inner
City Press
asked what
this all says
about Ban
Ki-moon's
management,
along with the
John Ashe / Ng
Lap Seng and
Bernardino
Leon scandal,
a question
Dujarric did
not allow
Inner City
Press to asked
Ban himself on
December 16.
“Those are
your words,”
Dujarric
replied. Yes,
they are.
When
the Panel's
three members
held their
press
conference,
Inner City
Press asked
about Ladsous'
failure to vet
and his
linking of
rapes to
“R&R.” Video here. Marie
Deschamps said
pointedly she
wouldn't
comment on
Ladsous'
remarks;
Yasmin Sooka
said these are
crimes for
punishment,
not
recreation.
As the
last question,
Inner City
Press asked
what it had
wanted to ask
Ban, and tried
to ask
Dujarric: what
does this say
about Ban's
management? Video of Q&A here. December
14, 2015
UN Corruption
Association
Sells Seats
with Ban,
Paparazzi
Pioli
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
December 10 --
With the UN
embroiled in
scandals
including the
indictments of
former
President of
the General
Assembly and
Macau
businessman Ng
Lap Seng and
Frank Lorenzo
and their
South South
News, one
would expect
the UN press
corps, even
the entity the
UN itself
chooses to set
aside first
questions for,
to be pursuing
rather than be
involved in
the scandals.
But
with the UN
Correspondents
Association,
this year more
than ever,
that is not
the case. The
group or its
leadership,
headed by
Italian
paparazzi
scribe
Giampaolo
Pioli who
after trying
to get the
investigative
Press thrown
out of the UN
now covers
actors like
Morgan Freeman
while others
at his paper
cover the UN,
is selling
seats with Ban
Ki-moon for
$6,000. See
below.
On
December 10,
days after
Pioli used the
large room the
UN gives to
UNCA, its UN
Censorship
Alliance, to
campaign for a
Security
Council seat
for his native
Italy by
giving out
free meats,
the view into
the Club was
blocked. So
much for
transparency.
December 7,
2015
IMF
Answers ICP on
Burundi,
Program Off
Track, &
Zambia, No
Request
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
December 3 --
When the
International
Monetary Fund
held is
biweekly
briefing on
December 3,
Inner City
Press
submitted a
number of
questions,
leading with
Burundi and
how much the
IMF projects
the economy
will contract,
given the
crisis
triggered by
Pierre
Nkurunziza's
third term.
IMF
spokesperson
Gerry Rice
read out Inner
City Press's
Burundi
question (and
its question
on Zambia,
below), then
said the
following as
to Burundi,audio
here:
“In terms of
the outlook in
Burundi, it's
effected by
the decline in
economic
activity there
and the .
withdrawal of
donor support.
Confidence in
the economy
has been
weakened by
the political
climate and
adverse
security
developments.
The growth
rate in
Burundi, which
we had
initially
projected 5%
in 2015, is
now estimated
at minus 4.1%
in real
terms.... In
the current
environment,
completion of
the 7th and
the 8th review
under our
program there
is not
possible and
as such,
Burundi's
program with
the IMF, which
is an ECF
arrangement,
is now off
track.”
Inner
City Press had
also asked, on
Zambia, it is
reported that
the IMF
“proposed a $1
billion
facility which
the president
had turned
down. A
sticking point
for the
president was
the insistence
by the IMF
that
government
commit to
drastic
reductions in
expenditure,
particularly
on road
construction.”
What is the
IMF's
response?
Rice said that
no program has
been
“formally”
requested, but
that the
Zambian
authorities
committed to
“internal
consultations.”
Inner City
Press had
asked about
Sri Lanka, and
the same “no
formal request
yet” answer
was given.Audio
here.
Inner
City Press
also asked
about Malawi
and, lastly,
Ghana; more on
this to
follow.
November
30, 2015
With
Saudi Set to
Stone Sri
Lankan Maid to
Death, Threats
to Sue for
ISIS
Comparisons
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, November
27 --
Last week the
media in Sri
Lanka reported
on the case of
a Sri Lankan
maid sentenced
to death by
stoning in
Saudi Arabia
for adultery.
(The man she
is accused of
having an
affair with,
also Sri
Lanka, was
sentenced to
100 lashes).
This comes as
Saudi Arabia threatens to sue those who
say it is
similar to
ISIS,
including on
Twitter -- and
while
airstrikes on
Yemen
continue.
Inner City
Press has
previously
asked the UN
about Saudi
Arabia's
still-theatened
flogging
of blogger
Raif Badawi;
last month it
asked the UN's
Special
Rapporteur on
Extrajudicial,
Summary or
Arbitrary
Executions
Christof Heyns
about such
executions in
Saudi Arabia,
specifically
of Sri
Lankans.
Video
here.
On
January 23,
2015, Inner
City Press for
the Free UN
Coalition for
Access asked
the UN
Spokesman,video
here:
Inner City
Press: at the risk of being politically
incorrect, on the King of Saudi Arabia, I saw
the Secretary-General's statement, I'm trying to
square it with what was said from this podium
and from Geneva about the flogging of blogger
Raif Badawi; is this something, without tying it
necessarily to the condolence period, the
incoming king, King Salman, can we say that the
UN would be calling on him not to just postpone,
but cancel this flogging of the blogger?
Spokesman
Dujarric: I think our position on cruel and
inhuman punishment, wherever it occurs, is
unwavering. It doesn't change, no matter who the
Head of State of any particular country is. So,
I don't see our position on that and our
opposition to that changing, whether it's here
or the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Inner City
Press / FUNCA: But it's sort of an opportunity--
Spokesman
Dujarric: I think I've answered.
We'll
have more on both of these cases.
November
23, 2015
In UN
Rights Com'te,
Syria, Iran
and N. Korea
Resolutions
Pass Amid
Complaints
&
Quibbles, On
Syria Burundi
Votes No,
Sudan Abstains
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
November 19 --
When the
annual Syria
human rights
resolution was
taken up in
the UN General
Assembly's
Third
Committee on
November 19,
Saudi Arabia's
new draft had
some wrinkles,
including
citing Iran's
IRG and Al
Quds Force.
Several
countries,
even some
which voted
“yes” on the
resolution,
said they were
uncomfortable
with this,
that it is a
bad precedent,
and is more
politics than
human rights.
This last was
Switzerland;
Japan said it
was not
comfortable
with the
reference to
the IRG and
Quds Force,
but voted yes.
Lebanon's
Nawaf Salam
said he had
abstained, and
pointed out
that Hezbollah
is in the
parliament,
and has a role
with regard to
Israel. Canada
spoke up to
say the
resolution
should have
condemn all
uses of
chlorine gas,
not only
“indiscriminate”
use.
The
final vote was
115 yes, 15 no
and 51
abstaining. To
Inner City
Press,
surprises
included
Burundi
joining the 14
other "no's"
-- and Sudan
not voting no
but rather
abstaining -
because
because it
works in the
Saudi
coalition on
Yemen, in
exchange...
November
16, 2015
On
Libya, ICP
Asks For Whom
Leon Queries UAE
(Himself), No
Answer on
Feltman
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
November
13,
more
here --
When
Bernardino
Leon, set for
a $1500 a day
job with the
United Arab
Emirates, came
to the UN
Security
Council for
the final time
on November 5,
Inner City
Press
asked
him about the
UAE. He did
not answer;
Inner City
Press for the
Free
UN Coalition
for Access
said; louder,
that he should
do a question
and answer
stakeout on
UNTV.
Leon
did emerge and
take
questions;
Inner City
Press went
first and
asked him if
he had sought
approval from
the UN Ethics
Office before
pursuing
the UAE job,
if he acknowledged
the conflict
of interest
and thought it
will impact
intra-Libya
talks. Video
here.Leon
did not answer
about the UN
Ethics office,
but conceded
that the
“optics” were
bad. Video
here.
The
day after Leon
said "I have
decided to
request a full
clarification
of the issue,
including from
the United
Arab
Emirates,"
Inner City
Press asked UN
Deputy
Spokesperson
Farhan Haq to
WHOM Leon is
seeking the
clarification:
the UN? The UN
Security
Council Libya
Sanctions
Committee? Video
here.
Haq
replied that
the sentence
should be viewed as
comprising
the view of
the Special
Representative:
Leon. So the
UN, contrary
to Reuters'
headline,
has not asked
the UAE for
anything.
Inner
City Press
asked Haq if
Ban has yet to
remind his
envoys in
writing about
ethics, as
lead spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric said
Ban would. Haq
replied that the
issue will
come up at the
next UN
Chief Executives
Board and
Senior Management
Gorup
meetings. (AFP
asked, what
are those?)
But
that is not
putting
anything in
writing to
envoys like
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
on Yemen, on
whose outside
interests
Inner City Prress
has
exclusively
reported. Nor
would Haq
answer Inner
City Press
what USG
Feltman did
from August
27, when he
learned of
Leon's
dealings with
the UAE.
Leon's
predecessor as
UN envoy to
Libya Tarek
Mitri,
however, got a
formal "Note"
from Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon,
signed by
Ban's chief of
staff Susana
Malcorra and
cc-ed to Under
Secretaries
General Jeffrey
Feltman
(Political
Affairs), Yukio
Takasu
(Management)
and Joan
Dubinksy (Ethics
Office)
approving
outside activity for
Mitri, which
Inner City
Press is putting
online here, and
embedded
below.
Among the
continuing outside
engagements
approved by
Ban Ki-moon
were for Mitri
to be on the
Board of the
Arab Center
for Research
and Policy
Studies, in
Beirut and
Doha.
Did Leon get, or
even seek,
such a Note
from Ban? The
leaked
emails show
that Feltman
knew of Leon's
job search
with the UAE
by August 27,
at latest.
Now after more
leaked emails,
of the UAE
about embargo
/ sanctions
violations and
that the UN's
Jeff Feltman
knew of Leon's
UAE job
search as of
August 27 at latest,
Leon on the
evening of
November 12
issued this:
November
9, 2015
Dead
in Lahore, Haider Rizvi Covered
Corporatization at UN, Opposed
“Mafia”
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, October 31 -- The UN
Spokesman ended his open
statement at the October 29 UN
noon briefing with
this: “I have a bit of sad
news. We have been
informed that Haider Rizvi, who
was, as you know, a reporter in
the UN press corps for many
years, died last night in
Lahore, Pakistan. Our
thoughts are with him and his
family.”
Ours too. Haider began covering
the UN in 1993; in recent years
there were times he and Inner
City Press were the only ones
asking questions at press
conferences on indigenous
issues, on disarmament,
decolonization
and against the increasing
corporatization of the UN.
Relatedly, when Inner City Press
resisted attempts at censorship
and ejection by the honchos of
the UN Correspondents
Association, then co-founded the
Free
UN Coalition for Access,
Haider expressed support
(“Bravo! I am with you) and said
of UNCA, “That gang has become a
king mafia.”
Update:
UN Security sources say Haider
Rizvi died in a freak accident
in a hospital - the cast coming
off a fractured leg, he ran into
a glass wall, got cut and bled
out. Such a waste. Rest in
Peace.
ICP
Asks Heyns
About Lankans
Killed in Sri
Lanka &
Saudi, Killer
Robots Talks
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
October 30 --
When the UN's
Special
Rapporteur on
Extrajudicial,
Summary or
Arbitrary
Executions
Christof Heyns
held a press
conference on
October 30,
his topics
were foreign
nationals
facing the
death penalty
and best
practices in
investigations.
Inner City
Press asked
Heyns about
Sri Lankans
and others
executed in
Saudi Arabia,
and the
shrinking of
the promised
investigation
into killings
in Sri Lanka
in 2009. Video
here.
Heyns
said he had a
case or cases
about Sri
Lankans in
Saudi Arabia;
he was
generally
upbeat about
the process in
Sri Lanka,
saying there
will be
Commonwealth
judges. Inner
City Press
might ask,
what about
Shavendra
Silva? What
about the UN's
own role in
the White Flag
killings?
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon almost
reflexively
calls for
investigations.
But what does
the UN
actually do?
Inner City
Press also
asked Heyns
about the
(Stop) Killer
Robots issues,
specifically
about the US
and UK only
agreeing to
talk about
“emerging” -
that is,
future -
technologies,
and not
“existing”
ones. Video
here.
(From Minute
4:36.) Heyns
said yes that
is the issue.
We'll have
more on this.
October
26, 2015
ICP
Asks DESA About UN
Rapes, Stats for Disparate
Lending to Women
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, October 20
-- When the UN held a press conference
on its statistical report on the
status of women on October 20, Inner
City Press asked how the issue of
(disparate) lending to women, for
small businesses and housing, was
measured by the UN -- apparently it
isn't -- and if UN Peacekeeping's
immunity for sexual abuse doesn't
contribute to the issue of victims not
reporting what happens to them. Video
here.
UN DESA's Lenni Montiel gave a
passionate response on sexual abuse,
saying that as a Resident
Representative he informed staff of
all UN agencies, funds and programs
that such conduct is unacceptable. In
the hallway afterward, he made clear
he was talking about UN civilians
personnel, saying that peacekeeping is
another matter. Indeed it is -- see
here, where UN Peacekeeping chief
Herve Ladsous on September 11, 2015
linking rapes to “R&R.”
The lending question was construed as
about inheritance and property rights
-- it is distinct -- and was put under
the rubric “Poverty.” Inner City Press
cited, for the first time at the UN,
the US Home Mortgage Disclosure Act.
We'll have more on this.
On women,
peace and security, does the UN live
up to the mandates of UN Security
Council resolution 1325? On October
13, Inner City Press asked visiting
speakers from Syria and Libya if two
UN envoys, Lakhdar Brahimi and Tarek
Mitri, lived up to Resolution 1325.
The answer was “No.” Video
here.
Mouna Ghanem of the Syrian Women's
Forum for Peace said Brahimi didn't;
she said that women shouldn't be used
as window-dressing. Amal
Bugaighis of the Libyan Human Rights
Association confirmed what Inner City
Press had earlier reported, that UN
envoy Tarek Mitri had been dismissive
of CEDAW, the Convention for the
Elimination of Discrimination Against
Women.
Back
on October 12, one month
after UN Peacekeeping chief
Herve Ladsous linked peacekeepers'
rapes in the Central African
Republic to "distraction"
and R&R, here,
Inner City Press asked Phumzile
Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women
Executive Director, and Ms.
Radhika Coomaraswamy, former UN
official and lead author of a
new Global Study about what
Ladsous said, sitting where they
were, about rapes and R&R.”
Both said they hadn't seen
Ladsous' comments, so Inner City
Press tweeted
the YouTube
link to @phumzileunwomen and
@UN_Women asking for their
comments, even
as they answered. After
Coomaraswamy responded generally
about linking rape to recreation,
Inner City began to say, Sent you
the link -- but was cut off by the
UN Women moderator, who said “Let
others ask questions.” But there
was only one more question.
Then, Inner
City Press showed Coomarswamy the
beginning of Ladsous' comments on a
laptop. But the UN Correspondents
Association sidekick cut in, “Excuse
ME,” to ask yet another UN official
to come to a $90 fundraiser. This is
the same UNCA which took
money from South South News
then both gave it an award and
produced Ban Ki-moon for a photo op
with SSN's controller, the now
jailed David Ng. This is UN, this is
the UN. But what will
Mlambo-Ngcuka and Ms. Radhika
Coomaraswamy now do about Ladsous'
comments? Watch this site.
October
19, 2015
On Scandal, ICP Publishes GSF, Kutesa
& ITU Awards to Bongo & Hasina, Murky
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Exclusive follow-up
UNITED
NATIONS,October17--Some
in the UN still purport to be
surprised by the indictment of 2013-14
President of the General Assembly John
Ashe on charges of soliciting bribes
from Macao businessmen including the
Sun Kian Ip Group's Ng Lap Sengand
the Global Sustainability
Foundation, while using and being
used by South South(which,
among others, gave money to theUN
Correspondents Association,
morehere).
But
there's more,much
more.
On
October 9, Inner City Press asked
UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric
about the murky ITU and Kutesa
award event on which it has
already exclusively reported.Dujarric
said to ask the ITU.
Now
Inner City Press has obtained
the video of the September 26,
2015 event, ITU with the Global
Sustainability Foundation, one
of only two NGOs Ban Ki-moon has
asked OIOS to audit. In the
video, Sheri Yan, charged with
corruption, blathers at the
microphone, followed by leaders
such as Bongo of Gabon, Fiji's
leader, UNESCO's Bokova, until
“the Honorable Kutesa” hands
awards to Asian businessmen,
followed by “eager children.”
Inner City Press is presenting
the video here:
We'll
have more on this.
Tellingly, the two UNCA-world
questions about the expanding
scandal consisted of “any update”
and a defense of the NGOs which
are being accused. Well, South
South gave money to UNCA. This is
part of the story - and of the
non-telling of the story.
What
is surprising is that it took this long for
the laxness not only of Ashe but of the
President of the General Assembly office's
structure and UN's easy penetration by
business interests to lead to this. This
includesdozens
of Ambassadors flown to Macau in August 2015, and
senior UN officials' interactions with
NGOs
beyond the two belatedly
named by Ban Ki-moon on October
8. Inner City Press has asked,
why not South South News, which
gave money to the UN
Correspondents Association and
got a prize from it.
Just
last month Inner City Press
witnessed an event inside the UN
where Kutesa gave awards to
Chinese businessmen, after ITU
gave some to African strongmen.
Where is the video? Who paid for
this?
Even just looking at the Global
Sustainability Foundation, it
paid Ashe's successor Sam
Kutesa's wife and took Kutesa to
China. Ashe's chief of staff now
works for Kutesa's successor as
PGA, Mogens Lykketoft, who has
already let his PGA Office be
used as part of the campaign for
fellow Dane Helle Thorning
Schmidt to take over the UN's
refugee agency UNHCR.
October
12, 2015
On
Scandal, ICP What Ashe's & Kutesa's Guards Saw,
ITU, UNCA & South South
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Exclusive follow-up
UNITED
NATIONS, October 9
-- Some in the UN still
purport to be surprised by the
indictment of 2013-14 President of the
General Assembly John Ashe on charges
of soliciting bribes from Macao
businessmen including the Sun Kian Ip
Group's Ng Lap Seng and the Global
Sustainability Foundation, while
using and being used by South
South (which, among
others, gave money to the UN
Correspondents Association, more
to follow).
But
there's more, much more.
On October 9, Inner
City Press asked UN Spokesman
Stephane Dujarric what the duty of
UN Security personnel who
accompanied Ashe to Macau (and
Kutesa to China with the Global
Sustainability Foundation) was, to
report crimes that they saw.
Dujarric's answer, video to
follow, included a statement that
they DO have a duty to report the
crime. But to whom?
Likewise,
Inner City Press asked Dujarric
about the murky ITU and Kutesa
award event on which it has
already exclusively reported: who
paid for the videotaping of it?
And why, if it was filmed by UNTV,
can't Inner City Press get a copy
of the video? Dujarric said to ask
the ITU. But UNTV is the UN
Secretariat. We've put in the
request; we'll have more on this.
Tellingly,
the two UNCA-world questions about
the expanding scandal consisted of
“any update” and a defense of the
NGOs which are being accused.
Well, South South gave money to
UNCA. This is part of the story -
and of the non-telling of the
story.
What is
surprising is that it took this long for the
laxness not only of Ashe but of the
President of the General Assembly office's
structure and UN's easy penetration by
business interests to lead to this. This
includes dozens of Ambassadors flown to
Macau in August 2015, and senior UN
officials' interactions with
NGOs
beyond the two belatedly
named by Ban Ki-moon on October
8. Inner City Press has asked,
why not South South News, which
gave money to the UN
Correspondents Association and
got a prize from it.
Just last
month Inner City Press witnessed
an event inside the UN where
Kutesa gave awards to Chinese
businessmen, after ITU gave some
to African strongmen. Where is
the video? Who paid for this?
Even
just looking at the Global
Sustainability Foundation, it
paid Ashe's successor Sam
Kutesa's wife and took Kutesa to
China. Ashe's chief of staff now
works for Kutesa's successor as
PGA, Mogens Lykketoft, who has
already let his PGA Office be
used as part of the campaign for
fellow Dane Helle Thorning
Schmidt to take over the UN's
refugee agency UNHCR.
On October 9
among five documents provided by
the UN Spokesman to purportedly
show that there ARE UN audits of
PGA office functions or trust
funds is one (A/68/628)
acknowledging what must be
acknowledged: that while
Dujarric says the UN Secretariat
has no connection to (or power
to audit) over PGAs' trips, the
UN Secretariat pays for “close
protection detail” for the PGA
on those trips.
Another,
A/69/5 (Vol. 1), has a single
line:
"Trust Fund in
Support of the Office of the
President of the General
Assembly 53 483 365 171"
That's
it, for “president.” Compared to
the details in the US affidavit
against Ashe, it is laughable.
As are the connections, South
South and otherwise, with the UN
Correspondents Association with
which the UN partners. Simply as
two examples, South South News
gave money to UNCA; an UNCA
president worked for South South
Awards - this is the same UNCA
whose president rented one of
his apartments to Palitha Kohona
then unilaterally granted his
request, as Sri Lanka's
Ambassador, to screen his
government's war crimes denial
film in the Dag Hammarskjold
Library Auditorium,
here.
Now we can
add: after South South gave
money to UNCA, suddenly it was
given an UNCA journalism award,
such as UNCA will be doling out
again in December, depending on
the progress of investigation of
the corruption scandal. Watch
this site.
October
5, 2015
UNGA
Ends Empty,
Eritrea on
Sanctions,
Burundi Not
Present, 4
Replies
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
October 3 --
On the final
and presumably
climactic day
of the UN
General
Assembly
Debate on
October 3, 13
UN member
states were
scheduled to
speak,
followed by
statements in
the right to
reply.
Inner
City Press
came to find
the UN's
42nd Street
gate locked,
and no lights
in the
hallways to
the media and
photo booths
over the GA
Hall, and no
chairs in the
booths. It
stood and shot
Periscope
video, here
and here,
and live-tweeted
the
proceedings.
Eritrea's
speaker said
“in the
UN, the
overwhelming
majority of
member states
are
marginalized”
and that hit
the nail on
the head. The
UN's media
floor was
empty, as was
the clubhouse
it gives its
UN Censorship
Alliance or
UNCA (used
just this week
to serve
the Syrian
Coalition
opposition,
previously
used to try to
throw
the
investigative
Pressout of the UN).
An African
journalist
asked the new
Free
UN Coalition
for Access,
“Where is the
MALU desk?” It
was gone. The
UN
Secretariat,
too, didn't
care about
these states.
Suriname talks
about climate
change,
Maldives about
the refugee
crisis. Down
on the GA
floor, many
countries'
seats were
empty, among
them
Bangladesh and
Bulgaria
(which wants
the Secretary
General post)
and Burundi
- tweeting
this drew
some
government
defenders, as
did noting
that Cote
d'Ivoire did
not, like even
more servile
Central
African
Republic,
refer to
“Moroccan
Sahara,” but
rather
“Western
Sahara.”
Deputy
SG Jan
Eliasson
joined Mogens
Lykketoft on
the podium but
himself gave
no speech.
Lykketoft
botched the
procedure,
closing the
session before
allowing of
the rights
of reply.
In the end
there were
only
Indonesia,
Tonga and the
Solomon
Island, all
about Papua,
and Iran
replying to
Bahrain,
Canada and the
UAE.
The Hall
was empty for
Canada; there
followed some
errata
statement by
Lykketoft
about filling
the post of
Canadian OIOS
chief Carman
Lapointe. Down
in front of
the GA
were the
Permanent
Representative
of Palau and
Liberia's
Deputy. It was
over, with a
whimper and
not a bang. September
28, 2015
ICP Asks Bolivia's
Evo Morales About Sovereign Debt Restructuring in
UNGA
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, September
26
-- The day after Pope
Francis in his General Assembly
speech denounced "usury, especially
where developing countries are
concerned," Inner City Press
on September 26 asked Bolivia's
President Evo Morales what the
next steps for the sovereign debt
restructuring proposals are in the
UN General Assembly. Video
here.
The
Assembly overwhelmingly passed a
resolution on the issue, with
opposition from the US and some
European countries, but new
President of the General Assembly
Mogens Lyyketoft of Denmark on
September 25 said he didn't think
the issue would be dealt with in the
walls of the UN, see below. Morales
replied that it requires
political will, that
anti-imperialist leaders see such
debt as an aggression. He praised
Latin America, Colombian
President Santos' talk with
the FARC, listing Malvinas
Islands and the US embargo on
Cuba as issues remaining to be
addressed. He praised the
BRICS.
Previously the old UN
Correspondents Association
disrupted a Morales press
conference to demand they get
the first question. This time,
further weakened, they weren't
even there; Inner City Press
thanked Morales for the press
conference on behalf of the new
Free UN Coalition for Access.
Background:
on September 25 Inner
City Press asked new General
Assembly President Mogens
Lykketoft about the comment and
the process in the GA, at least
in the last session, on
sovereign debt restructuring. Video here.
Lykketoft said that he didn't
think the issue would be dealt
with within the UN's walls --
strange, given that resolutions
sponsored by Argentina, Bolivia
and the Group of 77 and China on
just his have passed by
substantial majorities. Perhaps
Inner City Press will have the
opportunity to ask Lykketoft
about this again: getting a
question in to him is proving
less straight forward that it
should be, but we remain
optimistic. Watch this site.
September
21, 2015
On S.
Sudan, ICP Asks of Fighting in
Maridi, Malakal, Leaked Sit-Rep of
UNMISS
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, September 18 -- Since the
South Sudan peace agreement was signed
by President Salva Kiir, saying that
he had reservations, fighting and
re-supply has continued through the
closed-down Juba airport and barges
then headed to Malakal.
Inner City
Press: I heard what you said from
UNMISS about Maridi. And I
wanted to ask you, there was a [situation
report] put out by UNMISS, I
guess, yesterday, but it says there
was fighting on 15 September there in
Maridi between SPLA [Sudan People’s
Liberation Army] soldiers and the
local population. Three
civilians were shot in the incident,
and people fled towards Maridi town
for safety. First of all, I'm
kind of wondering why UNMISS didn't
make this public at the time that the
army was shooting at civilians.
But, two, is there any indication that
this larger incident has anything to
do with fighting?
Spokesman Dujarric: I don't have
any more details from UNMISS.
Obviously, there's been quite… there
has been a number of incidents of
violations of the ceasefire, a
violation of the agreement rather that
was signed, the IGAD
[Intergovernmental Authority for
Development] agreement. The IGAD
monitoring mechanism has reported
them. Their website is public
and they've put them out. As I
get more information from the Mission,
I'll share it. Obviously, the
Mission is also working very closely
with the IGAD monitors in providing
them logistical support as they can.
Inner City Press: I understand the
ceasefire is one thing, but, the army
killing civilians, isn't there sort of
a UN role to report that?
Spokesman Dujarric: I hadn't
seen the [situation report]. I
can look into it.
More
than 20 hours later, nothing. Inner
City Press is publishing
the UN situation report [sit-rep]
here - it also reports on people
needing to enter the UN's "protection
of civilian" site in Malakal, but
DOESN'T say if they were allowed in.
We'll have more on this.
As New UNGA President Starts, His Team Takes Him to UN
Censors' Club
On
September 14, Inner City Press asked
UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric to
confirm that Riek Machar has been
invited to the UN's meeting on South
Sudan on September 29:
Inner City
Press: one follow-up on South
Sudan. There are reports that
Riek Machar says he's been invited and
is coming to New York. Can you
confirm? Has he been invited to
the meeting on 29 September?
Spokesman: I'll check.
But
on September 15, Dujarric did not
announce anything. So Inner City Press
asked again:
Inner City
Press: Salva Kiir has now said he's
not coming to the UN General Assembly
debate. Yesterday you said you'd
check if Riek Machar has been invited.
Spokesman Dujarric: Yes, the
Secretary-General invited the
signatories of the agreement on the
resolution of the conflict in South
Sudan for the high-level meeting he's
having on 29 September, and we very
much hope that it will be attended at
the highest level, to ensure that the
implementation of the agreement
receives the fullest possible support
from the international community.
Inner City Press: Would it be
disappointing if Salva Kiir didn't
come?
Spokesman: I think we would
expect and hope the highest level.
While some say Kiir doesn't want to
leave the country, thinking there
could be another challenge to his
power, others say he does not want to
appear as a mere equal to Machar, and
so sends his "other" vice president.
We'll be there.
Meanwhile Paul Malong, about whom
Inner City Press has been reporting
for weeks, and Johnson Olony, about
whom Inner City Press asked Gordon
Brown at the UN, were proposed to go
on the UN sanctions list, according to
a leak whose source we can imagine,
with a silence procedure running to 3
pm on September 15. Inner City Press
asked: doesn't Malong still have
some support, even high in the Obama
administration, as well as other
capitals? Silence was broken. No
sanctions, at least for now.
September
14, 2015
Ladsous
Links Rapes to
"R&R," Ban
& France
Do Nothing,
Scribes Cover
Up
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
September 11
-- When
peacekeepers
from France
allegedly
raped children
in the Central
African
Republic and
the UN learned
about it more
than a year
ago, the UN
and UNICEF did
nothing,
until French
UN
Peacekeeping
chief Herve
Ladsous asked
to fire the
whistleblower
Anders Kompass
in March of
this year, as
stated in two
UN
Dispute
Tribunal
rulings.
On
September 11,
refusing to
answer on
this, Ladsous
instead linked
the rapes to
soldiers' lack
of
"distraction"
and saying
rapes could be
avoided by
some
"relatively
cheap
R&R." Video here.
While
making such a
link would
result in
firing in
militaries all
over the
world, UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon has
yet to act.
Nor have
Ladsous'
French
sponsors, who
dumped
him on the UN
after he'd
previously
been rejected
for the post
by Ban's
predecessor
Kofi Annan,
said anything.
When
Inner City
Press started
asking about
this, Ladsous
took to saying
"I
don't respond
to you,
Mister," right
on UNTV.
Instead he
summoned
Agence France
Presse,
Reuters and
others to
private
briefings, as
here
in the hall.
These media
didn't report
Ladsous'
antics -- nor
despite being
present at
Ladsous'
September 11
press
conference did
they report
his linkage of
soldiers'
rapes to their
lack of
"comfort" or
R&R. This
is today's UN.
It was
Senegalese
Babacar Gaye,
the head of
the CAR
mission, and
not overall
Peacekeeping
chief Ladsous
who was fired
by UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon; Inner
City Press
obtained and
put Gaye's
letter online
here (credited
here and here) citing
systemic
problems.
Before
Ladsous'
carefully
controlled
four day visit
to the country
- no questions
on the
peacekeeper
rapes,
colonial
photographs
sent out - UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric told
Inner City
Press, which
asked, that
Ladsous would
take questions
when he
returned,
including
about
peacekeepers'
sexual abuse.
But when
Ladsous
appeared at
the September
11 UN noon
briefing, UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric for
the second
time did not
allow Inner
City Press to
ask Ladsous a
single
question.
Dujarric gave
the first
question to
the UN
Correspondents
Association,
which after a
perfunctory
questions
about the
number of
sexual abuse
cases said its
“real”
question was
if Ladsous
will meet
Obama. (Yes,
apparently,
and
inappropriately,
see below). Video here.
Inner
City Press
prepared to
ask Ladsous an
obvious
question: what
is his
response to
appearing in
at least two
UN Dispute
Tribunal
rulings as
having tried
to get the
whistleblower
Kompass fired?
But Dujarric
gave the
second
question to a
Reuters
reporter
who has
previously
channeled
Ladsous, then
to Agence
France Presse,
whose UN
reporter in
2011 asked
UNCA's board
to act on
Inner City
Press'
reporting on
Ladsous.
Even with the
questions
allowed,
Ladsous'
answers should
get him fired.
First,
speaking of
sexual abuse,
he said he
didn't want to
“deflower”
the subject.
Vine here.
Then
explaining the
peacekeepers'
rapes he said
that a
solution would
be to get them
more
“recreation”
(translating
back and forth
with Dujarric,
Ladsous began
to say “R and
R”).
Ladsous
was asked,
what do you
mean? He said
that Asian
countries are
good at this.
We'll have
more, but on
top of his
role in covering
up rapes in DR
Congo, Darfur
and now CAR,
this should
get Ladsous
fired. More here.September
7, 2015
Nigeria's
UNSC August Had Six Stakeouts, 2
Shakespeare Cites, E10
On
August 13 there was a closed door
briefing on the topic, after which
Council president Joy Ogwu waited
patiently to provide a summary to
the media. But the microphone, as
she told Inner City Press the next
day, was occupied.
She did it on the 14th.
Ambassador Ogwu did six question and
answer stakeouts
during August, down from nine during
her
previous presidency in April 2014
but still more than most
presidencies, including by Permanent
Five members.
Perhaps because of her presidency, a
number of other Elected Ten members
spoke up during the month about the
need for a more inclusive Council:
not only Venezuela and Chad but also
New Zealand. Angola spoke out on the
respect due to the African Union, as
did Ambassador Ogwu. There was a
quiet dignity to the month, and at
least two references to Shakespeare.
Inner City Press for the Free
UN Coalition for Access thanked
Ogwu for this erudition at Nigeria's
August 31 end of presidency
reception in the UN's Delegates
Dining Room; she countered with
descriptions of each of the dishes,
including beans and beef.
During the wrap up session, Ogwu's
four presidencies total was referred
to by US Deputy David Pressman;
another praised her for following up
on what she did in April 2014.
August
31, 2015
From
UN, Trump
Ousting Ramos
Echoes Ladsous
& CAR
Rapes, FUNCA
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
August 26 --
Amid debate
about Jorge
Ramos of
Univision and
Fusion being
ejected from
Donald Trump's
press
conference in
Iowa, then
allowed back
in to ask
questions,
from the
United Nations
the comparison
is inevitable
to UN
Peacekeeping
boss Herve
Ladsous.
Ladsous
who after
openly
refusing to
answer any
questions from
Inner City
Press about
rapes in DR
Congo, Darfur
and the
Central
African
Republic used
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon's
guards to eject
the Press from
a supposedly
open meeting,
here.
On
August 26, as
Ramos was
interviewed by
Megyn Kelly on
FOX, over on
CNN that
network
congratulated
itself on not
celebrating
shooters, as
it devoted
hours to such
coverage, of
Vester Lee
Flanagan a/k/a
Bryce Williams
killing TV
journalists
Alison Parker
and Adam Ward.
But that's...
another story.
August
24, 2015
In
Buffalo, Ban
Spins for
M&T Bank
Accused of
Discrimination
and Money
Laundering
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
August 17 --
Buffalo based
M&T Bank
has the been
stalled its in
proposal to
acquire New
Jersey's
Hudson City
Savings Bank
since 2012,
due to US
government
allegations
that M&T
has violated
lending and
anti-money
laundering
rules.
M&T's
merger
application
has been
challenged
under the
Community
Reinvestment
Act, including
by Fair
Finance Watch;
the bank has
been sued
under the Fair
Housing Act.
But UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon on
August 14 gave
a speech
to “150
invited guests
at M&T
headquarters
in downtown
Buffalo.”
Did Ban
mention the
lending
discrimination
or money
laundering
charges? We
don't know -
unlike other
speeches Ban
gives, this
one was not
distributed to
the press corp
which covers
the UN, much
less put on
the UN's
website.
It
would have
been easy for
Ban and his
team to learn
about the
status of
M&T Bank
by the most
cursory of web
searches. Bloomberg
News on April
15 of this
year reported
that the
bank's
partner“disproportionately
denied home
loans to black
borrowers --
3.21 times
more
frequently
than whites in
the greater
New York
area --
according to
an analysis of
public data by
Fair Finance
Watch.”
This
Bloomberg
piece was published
in the Buffalo
News the same
day; the
Buffalo News back
on October 10,
2012
quoted Fair
Finance Watch
that M&T
made “119
loans to white
borrowers, but
just 17 to
Hispanics, who
were denied
1.91 times
more often
than white
borrowers.”
This same
Buffalo News,
which
apparently
alone until
now reported
on Ban's
Buffalo trip,
said
that
“Ban Ki-moon
may not be a
household
name. But as
Secretary-General
of the United
Nations, Ban
is an
international
rock star in
the realm of
world affairs
– the Mick
Jagger of
international
diplomacy.
Which begged
the
question:
Why was he in
Buffalo
Friday?
There’s a
story behind
the visit.
Ban, 71, was
invited by
Robert G.
Wilmers,
chairman and
chief
executive
officer of
M&T Bank.
The two have
known each
other for some
time, Ban
said. He first
met Wilmers
during a
foreign
relations
visit to the
Republic of
Korea, where
Ban had served
as minister of
foreign
affairs and
trade prior to
taking over as
Secretary-General
at the United
Nations in
2007. Ban
ended up
inviting
Wilmers to his
home, where
the two
discussed
matters of
common
concern. On
Friday, Ban
spoke at a
dinner for
about 150
invited guests
at M&T
headquarters
in downtown
Buffalo.”
The question
arises: who
were the 150
people invited
by M&T?
Did they pay
to attend, or
gain
invitations
due to
payments to or
business
arrangements
with M&T?
If so, is
charge for a
speech by the
UN Secretary
General
appropriate?
Ban has
previously
offered praise
to banks and
corporations
with
questionable
records - but
often this has
been justified
with the
argument that
to address
climate
change, you
have to deal
with polluters
and those who
finance them.
But in this
case, did Ban
push for any
changes at
M&T? It is
not even a
member of the
UN's
“blue-washing”
Global
Compact. Did
Ban even ask
Wilmers?
UNITED
NATIONS,
August 14 --
When
peacekeepers
from France
allegedly
raped children
in the Central
African
Republic and
the UN learned
about it a
year ago, the
UN
and
UNICEF
did nothing,
until French
UN
Peacekeeping
chief Herve
Ladsous asked
to fire the
whistleblower
in March of
this
year.
After
Ban Ki-moon
briefed the
Security
Council behind
closed doors,
US Ambassador
Samantha Power
but not UNSC
President Joy
Ogwu of
Nigeria spoke
for 24 minutes
at the
stakeout
(while taking
questions only
from Reuters,
AP and the
WSJ.)
On
August 14,
Inner City
Press asked
Central
African
Republic and
UN
Peacekeeping
rape questions
to Ambasssador
Joy Ogwu (video
here); she
replied to
Inner City
Press:
"Well, I
thought I
would brief
yesterday, but
I waited for a
long time,
this podium
was busy, so I
decided to
leave. Well,
there was a
consensus on
the action
that was
taken. I think
it was
Shakespeare
who said,
there is a
tide in the
affairs of men
which taken at
the flood
leads on to
fortune. The
Secretary
General got to
the point
where he drew
the line. To
say, to
indicate that
there is, and
to reaffirm
zero tolerance
on this matter
of sexual
violence
against women.
I don’t think
there were any
differences on
the action
that he took,
we supported
that action,
and indeed
that it should
broaden beyond
the Central
African
Republic. All
the
contributors,
troop
contributors,
must be that
way, that the
point of no
return has
been reached,
and it needs
to be taken
very very
seriously. It
had to happen
at some point.
That’s some
line, the
dividing line.
So there was
no specific
target."
Also on
August 14
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, video here, transcript
hereAugust
10, 2015
UNSC
OKs Syria
Chemical
Weapons Deal,
Talk of Khan
al Asal,
Hiroshima,
PRST
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
August 7 --
After long
negotiations
between the US
and Russia,
the UN
Security
Council on
August 7
adopted a
resolution to
establish a
so-called
accountability
mechanism for
the use of
chemical
weapons in
Syria. Outside
the Council
before and
after the
unanimous vote
on August 7,
Russia's
ambassador
Vitaly Churkin
referred to a
Presidential
Statement he
said may be
adopted early
next week, to
support UN
envoy Staffan
de Mistura's
work.
Inside
the Council
after the
vote, Syria's
Ambassador
Bashar
Ja'afari began
his speech
with a
reference to
the 70th
anniversary of
the US
dropping the
atomic bomb on
Hiroshima. He
went to to say
the UN never
investigated
the use of
chemical
weapons, by
rebels he
said, in Khan
al Asal.
In its
resolution the
Security
Council
“recalls that
in its
resolution
2118, it
decided that
the Syrian
Arab Republic
and all
parties in
Syria shall
cooperate
fully with the
OPCW and the
United
Nations.” It
seems doubtful
that ISIS will
cooperate.
Churkin in his
post-vote
speech inside
the Council
said that “the
existing
mechanics of
the UN and
OPCW do not
have a mandate
to identify
those
participating
in such acts.
Moreover, we
became
witnesses of
the many
politicized
statements in
this regard,
which were
clearly meant
to be
propaganda. It
was necessary
to eliminate
this gap,
which was done
with the
adoption of
today’s
resolution...
Any efforts in
the Syrian
area must be
in line with
assisting a
search for a
political
solution to
the conflict.”
Inside the
Council, US
Samantha Power
delivered this
speech. At the
stakeout,
questions were
given to
Reuters, Al
Hurra (really,
France 24, by
mistake), and
Voice of
America.
(We'll have a
separate piece
on Power's
response to
the Press'
final question
about Burundi.
For now,
here's previous
stakeout, sit-down.
After the
meeting ended,
on the steps
leading out
from the UNSC
stakeout,
Churkin said
“I hope it
will translate
into our
continued
joint work on
the political
front. We are
working, I
think very
well, on a
PRST
[Presidential
Statement] in
support of
Staffan de
Mistura’s
efforts. I
hope it will
be adopted...”
More on InnerCityPro.com. August
3, 2015
Small
Islands in
UNSC, Niue's
Nameplate
& Sharks
in Palau, ICP
Asks of Drones
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, July
30, updated --
When New
Zealand ran
for and won a
UN Security
Council seat,
beating up
Turkey, it
made a big
pitch to small
island
developing
states or
SIDS. On
Thursday it
paid them
back, or
followed
through on a
campaign
promise, by
holding a
Security
Council debate
specifically
about SIDS.
Inner City
Press followed
it, straight
through to the
end.
Before
the meeting,
Inner City
Press asked
New Zealand's
Foreign
Minister
Murray
McCully:
Inner City
Press: I see
here that your
Concept Note
for the debate
talks about
exploitation
of natural
resources and
some states
like Palau
have announced
sanctuaries,
in one case
for sharks,
some people
are talking
about
sanctuary
against
commercial
fishing.
What’s New
Zealand’s
position on
that type of
protection and
also they’ve
talked about
using drones,
what do you
think is the
role of
technology in
defending the
security of
these states?
FM McCully:
It’s a theme I
intend to pick
up myself
today, because
it’s an
important one
if you look at
the
characteristics
of the small
island
developing
states you’ll
see that they
all are
relatively
small in terms
of their land
mass but they
have EEZs that
are
significantly
bigger than
their land
mass and for
many of them,
particularly
in the
Pacific, it
happens to be
the biggest
economic asset
they’ve got
and yet other
people come
and routinely
help
themselves to
that resource
and in our
part of the
world, under
reporting and
illegal
fishing are a
huge part of
the problem.
That is
literally
stealing from
some of the
poorest people
on the planet.
S o a
significant
part of our
development
programme is
designed that
we attack that
challenge at
every level.
Everything
from improving
monitoring,
surveillance
but also
up-skilling
local people
so they can
secure
employment and
become part of
the value
chain. In our
region, the
tuna resource
is the biggest
economic asset
owned by
Pacific
countries.
They get too
small a share
of value of
that resource
and I will
saying so in
the Council
today.
During
the debate,
several
islands said
there should
be an ongoing
Security
Council seat
for the
group.
Tonga
questioned
whether the
Security
Council is fit
for purpose
anymore. The
Premier of
Niue spoke
behind a sign
with his own
name, Toke
Talagi, and
not that of
Niue. While he
was speaking
“under Rule
39,” so does
the European
Union --
which, just
before 3:30
pm, had
"European
Union" on its
name plate.
Countries
competing next
time for the
Western
European and
Other Group
two seats --
Italy, Sweden
and the
Netherlands --
all sent
officials
higher than
Permanent
Representative.
(For
Netherlands,
it was the
Prime Minister
of Aruba.
Camillo
Gonsalez of
Saint Vincent
and the
Grenadines
brought up the
invasion of
Grenada, and
the current
expulsions to
Haiti from the
Dominican
Republic; he's
previously
said that the
UN should pay
compensation
for bringing
cholera to
Haiti, to his
credit.
Late in
the debate,
Turkey which
lost out to
New Zealand
and its small
islands votes
bragged about
its work for
the island
states through
the G20. There
were no rights
of reply --
past 6 pm,
action shifted
to the UN's
North Lawn
building,
where what had
been planned
as an end of
presidency
barbeque was
moved indoors
by rain.
There
were steel
drums and
reggae, Murray
McCully and a
who's who of
the UN (some
double-timing
with Morocco's
National Day
at the Waldorf
Astoria). The
planned "wrap
up" session
got canceled,
but New
Zealand will
keep working,
for example on
Troop
Contributing
Country
issues. We'll
have more on
this.July
27, 2015
Iran Deal
Sold by Kerry at CFR in NY, Called
Out in Times Square
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, July 24 -- The Iran
Deal UN
Security Council resolution
was adopted by the UNSC 15-0 on July
20. This came the day after a slew of
US members of Congress said the UN
vote should wait for their 60 day
review, and two days before a protest
of the deal to be held in Times
Square, where a slew of US elected
officials, and Secretary of State John
Kerry, were denounced from the stage.
On
July 24, Kerry came to New York to
field questions at the Council on
Foreign Relations on Park Avenues,
then to meet the Conference of
Presidents of Major American Jewish
Organizations and the American Jewish
Committee.
At
CFR, Kerry argued that a nuclear arms
race in the Middle East is less likely
with the Deal than without it. He
mentioned Yemen, bragging that he
stopped Iran from landing a ship there
(no mention was made of the new U.S.
APCs in Aden). He said that Saudi
Arabia spends $80 billion a year on
defense, "fancy toys." Look at the
impact of those toys on Yemen.
Kerry said that France's Fabius is
going to Iran, and that Germany will
be going (actually, it's already
gone). Moderator Richard Haass
apologized for how few questions were
taken from the floor, saying Kerry had
other meetings to go to. But would he
be protested there?
Back
on July 20 in the Security Council in
speeches after the unanimous vote,
Russia's Vitaly Churkin shouted out
Kazakhstan as well as Austria and
Switzerland, which hosted the talks.
US Samantha Power vowed to pursue Iran
on others issues. Iranian ambassador
Gholamali Khoshroo was to speak inside
the Security Council, then Israel's
Ron Prosor outside at the stakeout.
The
day after the Iran Deal was announced
in Vienna by the EU's Federica
Mogherini then Iran's Javad Zarif, on
July 15 a draft resolution was
circulated in the UN Security Council,
with paragraphs on sanctions snap-back
and other provisions. Inner City Press
put the draft, obtained from multiple
sources, online here.
As
detailed below, the vote is set for
July 20, 9 am in New York.
On
the US Sunday morning political talk
shows, not only Republican Senator
from Wyoming John Barrasso but also
Democrat Ben Cardin of Maryland said
the Obama administration shouldn't
take the deal to the UN until Congress
considers it. Republican Tom Cotton of
Arkansas, speaking from London, said
the same, citing Cardin and Steny
Hoyer.
On
July 19, the US State Department in
Washington said:
"Pursuant
to the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review
Act of 2015, today the State
Department transmitted to Congress the
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action,
its annexes, and related materials.
These documents include the
Unclassified Verification Assessment
Report on the JCPOA and the
Intelligence Community's Classified
Annex to the Verification Assessment
Report, as required under the law.
Therefore, Day One of the 60-day
review period begins tomorrow, Monday,
July 20."
Then
at 5 pm on July 16, Inner City Press reported
that the UNSC vote on the draft would
occur on Monday, July 20 at 9 am.
Hours later, the UN confirmed this,
and a US Mission spokesperson tweeted
the timing. Reuters, typically, then
published a story
quoting an UNnamed "U.S. official" on
the timing; the CBS former head of the
UN
Censorship Alliance echoed the
timing targeting the P3 with nothing
but photos. (The current
head of the Censorship Alliance
was invisible, checked out.)
This
is how the UN works, or doesn't. At
the underlying UNSC experts' meeting
there were only two journalists. But
Western missions served up information
later to non-present correspondents,
who by quoting unnamed sources seemed
knowledgeable. This is today's UN.
July 20,
2015
On Iran
Deal July 20 Vote, After ICP
Reports, Reuters Blurs US Spox
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, July 16 -- The day after the
Iran Deal was announced in Vienna by
the EU's Federica Mogherini then
Iran's Javad Zarif, on July 15 a draft
resolution was circulated in the UN
Security Council, with paragraphs on
sanctions snap-back and other
provisions. Inner City Press put the
draft, obtained from multiple sources,
online here.
Then
at 5 pm on July 16, Inner City Press reported
that the UNSC vote on the draft would
occur on Monday, July 20 at 9 am.
Hours later, the UN confirmed this,
and a US Mission spokesperson tweeted
the timing. Reuters, typically, then
published a story
quoting an UNnamed "U.S. official" on
the timing; the CBS former head of the
UN
Censorship Alliance echoed the
timing targeting the P3 with nothing
but photos. (The current
head of the Censorship Alliance
was invisible, checked out.)
This
is how the UN works, or doesn't. At
the underlying UNSC experts' meeting
there were only two journalists. But
Western missions served up information
later to non-present correspondents,
who by quoting unnamed sources seemed
knowledgeable. This is today's UN.
On
July 16, the Security Council's 15
members at the Expert level met about
the draft. Inner City Press and one
other journalist staked-out the
meeting (Periscope
video for now here), held in
basement Conference Room 8 and
afterward asked attendees what the
next step would be.
While several said "No comment" --
since it will presumably help them,
including the US Legal Expert and a
former French mission spokesman --
from others Inner City Press was told
of a 9 am Monday July 20 vote on the
resolution.
It
was said that France was pushing for a
weekend vote, on Sunday, related to
Foreign Minister Fabius desire to
travel to Tehran with the vote already
done. This was resisted - now, 9 am
Monday, before a Security Council
Arria formula meeting about Gaza,
sponsored by Malaysia and Jordan.
Watch this site.
On Yemen,
Ban Was Urged Not to Announce
Dubious Pause, Now Silent
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, July 11 -- The UN
Secretariat's bungling of Yemen
mediation has become ever more
clear, according to multiple sources
and documents exclusively seen by
Inner City Press, see below. On July
9, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
proudly announced a humanitarian
pause to start on July 10 at
midnight.
It
quickly became clear that some of
key parties had not been spoken with
or agreed; the pause's midnight
beginning came and passed amid
airstrikes.
Now Inner City Press is informed by
sources that Ban Ki-moon was urged
to not make the dubious pause
announcement, including from within
the UN's own Department of Political
Affairs -- but Ban announced it
anyway.
At
best, it was rolling the dice. At
worse, on the very day that UN is
rightly criticizing itself for
making false promises of protection
in Srebrenica 20 years ago, in this
case Yemenis were told there would
be a pause, and some perhaps relied
on it, to their detriment. And still
the UN had said nothing.
After the July 9 announcement, Inner
City Press asked Ban's spokesman if
the Saudis had been spoken with. The
answer was, Hadi told the Saudis his
position. But did Hadi ever agree to
the pause, or just to the conditions
set forth in his letter to UN? What
of Hadi's responsibilities to the
Yemeni people?
Where is the UN's replacement envoy
Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed? Headed to
Ethiopia, Ban's spokesman said, to
meet with Ban on the sidelines of
the Financing for Development
conference there. Does IOCA harbor
ambitions for another UN system
post, or back in his own country?
What sort of a track record is this?
Watch this site
July 6,
2015
To
Pick Next SG, ACT Event, Why
Not Debates, Disclosure Needed?
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, June 30 -- How should
the next UN Secretary General be
selected, to improve the
Organization?
In
what may be a good sign, UN
Conference Room 11 was full on
June 30 to discuss this
question, in an event organized
by the 27 member states (so far)
making up ACT (Accountability,
Coherence, Transparency).
Surprising to some, on the panel
was UK Permanent Representative
Matthew Rycroft, who said among
other things that the Next SG
should not necessarily be from
the Eastern European Group.
The room was full -- Inner City
Press stood by the door, broadcasting
by Periscope
and live-tweeting
with laptop in hand -- but with
a notable contingent of Eastern
European representatives. One
question identified herself as
such: a woman, and Eastern
European. Just saying.
William Pace of WFM reminisced
how Boutros Boutros Ghali's
second term was vetoed in a deal
between the (Bill) Clinton
adminstration and then-Senator
Jesse Helms, to release dues
payments to the UN.
The
proposal now is for a single
seven year term. Mary Robinson
says she knows of another P5
country, beyond the UK, which is
open to a single seven year
term.
When it was open for questions,
Inner City Press (also on behalf
of the new Free
UN Coalition for Access,
which unlike the older
correspondents grouping
actually fights for more
transparency by the UN) asked
why not have a debate among
prospective candidates?
Why not require disclosure of
how much is spend on each
candidates campaign, including
banning or requiring the
disclosure of spending of the
funds of UN Programmes (UNDP) or
Organizations (UNESCO) for their
chiefs to campaign to replace
Ban Ki-moon?
The UK's Rycroft said that
prohibitions are not the answer
-- agreed -- but did not answer
on requiring financial
disclosures. (He said we don't
want massive spending, one isn't
running for president. Which
raises another question: what
about some form of matching
funds for candidates from lower
income countries?)
While much of the focus seems to
be on arranging letters from the
President of the Security
Council to the President of the
General Assembly, as Inner City
Press asked at the ACT event and
asked
the new PGA Mogens Lykketoft
himself, twice (video),
can't the PGA call a high level
meeting and invite candidates to
present themselves? In this way,
the wider world outside the UN
could get engaged, and put on
some pressure. The anonymous
polling of which candidates are
“discouraged” by the P5 members
should not, FUNCA contends, be
repeated.
Costa Rica's
Permanent Representative Juan
Carlos Mendoza-García wrapped up,
and the event was over. It was
promising, but moves for reform
and opening up should begin as
soon as possible. Watch this site.
June 29,
2015
In
Syria Open
Meeting ICP Is
Told To Stop
Periscope By
France,
Controls UNTV
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, June
26 -- When
France and
Spain
co-sponsored a
UN Security
Council
session about
Syria in the
“Arria
Formula,”
Inner City
Press went to
cover it and
was told that
the meeting
was open, but
only if it
went in
through the UN
Visitors
Lobby.
And so
it did, being
the first
journalist
(and person)
in the
audience
section of UN
Conference
Room 4. On two
large screens
in the front,
UN envoy
Staffan de
Mistura spoke,
taking a
different
stance than he
had when he
assumed the
position after
Lakhdar
Brahimi
resigned, like
Kofi Annan
before him.
Then a
Human Rights
Watch video
was shown,
with
voice-over.
Three more
journalists
arrived; a
guard came
over to tell
them they
could sit
anywhere,
including
outside of the
audience
section. Then
another UN
official
approached
Inner City
Press.
The UN
official
ordered Inner
City Press to
stop filming
the “open”
meeting, then
demanded that
Inner City
Press erase or
delete the
footage. (It
had, of
course,
already been
live-streamed
and
broadcast).
Inner City
Press asked
the UN's
deputy
spokesperson
Farhan Haq why
at an “open”
meeting a UN
official had
ordered Inner
City Press to
stop filming
or
broadcasting.
Haq said it
was a decision
of the member
states which
organized the
meeting: that
is, France and
Spain.
So when the
Ambassadors of
France and
Spain, along
with three NGO
representatives,
held a
stakeout later
on June 26,
Inner City
Press went to
ask. But there
the UNTV boom
microphone
operator was
ordered by the
spokesman for
the French
Mission to the
UN who to give
the mic to:
Agence France
Presse for a
set-up
question, then
US
Broadcasting
Board of
Governors'
overseen
media, in
Arabic. That
was it.
Inner
City Press
approached
France's
Ambassador,
who said at
least you were
in the room.
But why not
have it on
UNTV, why
order the
Press which
was
broadcasting
it to stop,
and ask to
delete the
footage? We'll
have more on
this.
Footnote: in
the “open” but
unfilmable
meeting, and
at the
stakeout, was
Human Rights
Watch, which
going even
more secretive
will hold a
smaller event
on Yemen, not
on UNTV or in
the UN Press
Briefing Room
but in the
clubhouse of
the UN's
Censorship
Alliance.
We'll have
more on this
as well.June
22, 2015
UN
Schools in
Censorship,
Press Ejected
by Ban's
Guards For
Ladsous
Commanders
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, June
20 --With
scandals
surrounding UN
Peacekeeping,
from covering
up child
rape by French
“peacekeepers”
in the Central
African
Republic to buying
sex in Haiti
and selling
UN Police jobs
in the DR
Congo, on June
18 the UN
including
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon gave
Force
Commanders a
lesson -- one
in censorship.
Ban's guards
ejected the
investigative
Press, which
closely covers
Peacekeeping
including the
scandals, out
of an open
meeting, at
the demand of
Herve Ladsous.
This
came a day
after Jose
Ramos-Horta
and 14 others
on Ban's Panel
issued a
report
complaining
for example
that
"Sometimes
peace
operations are
slow and
reactive in
getting their
messages out;
at other times
the messages
are convoluted
or obscure. At
other times,
peace
operations
appear mute
and
introverted,
which conveys
its own very
particular
message." "HIPPO"
Report at
Paragraph 282.
So what
is the message
of using UN
Security to
throw the
Press out of
an open
meeting about
Peacekeeping,
right in front
of the
Secretary
General who
did...
nothing? On
June 19, Inner
City Press
asked Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric to
explain, but
it remained
"convoluted
and obscure."
From the UN
transcript:
Inner City
Press: I have
a number of
questions, but
I feel I have
to ask this
one first and
it has to do
with…
Spokesman
Dujarric:
Are you
getting me on
two cameras?
Inner City
Press: I
actually am,
yes, and here
is the reason
for it.
[Periscope.]
Yesterday,
there was an
open meeting
in the
basement, in
Conference
Room 9, which
the
Secretary-General
was to deliver
a speech to a
number of
generals, and
Mr. [Hervé]
Ladsous was
there. I
went to attend
it and it was
listed in the
media
alert. I
was told not
to take
pictures at
the photo op,
but I
continued to,
because it was
in the
hallway.
But, in
Conference
Room 9, the
security
detail of the
Secretary-General
told me I had
to leave the
open meeting
at the
direction of
the organizer,
Mr.
Ladsous.
And I wanted
to know, one,
what do you
say about an
open meeting,
the press
being excluded
from it?
Two, what is
the role of
the security
detail of the
Secretary-General
in excluding
journalists
that were far
away from it?
Spokesman:
I think it was
an unfortunate
situation and
a
misunderstanding
and the
decision to
open up the
meeting in the
AE for the
[Secretary-General’s]
part was taken
late and I
think
everybody that
should have
known didn't
know, so it
was a
misunderstanding.
Inner City
Press:
But, I guess
what was the
problem, given
the meeting it
was on UN TV
and you
distributed
his remarks?
Spokesman:
What I'm
saying is that
it was a
misunderstanding
and that all
the people who
should have
known that it
was an open
meeting were
not aware.
Inner City
Press:
Isn't the
default… I
mean MALU
[Media
Accreditation
and Liaison
Unit] was
there and MALU
said to the
security
detail to the
Secretary-General,
“this is an
open meeting”,
and they
said:
“It doesn't
matter, if the
organizer says
you are out
you are out”.
Spokesman:
It was a
misunderstanding.
Inner City
Press:
Can you say
from this
podium that
meetings that
are open, that
journalists
should be able
to remain
inside them?
Spokesman:
Of
course.
Everybody
should know
how the
meeting is
classified.
It was a
misunderstanding.
Everybody who
should have
known should
have known.
Inner City
Press: I
also I guess
related as to
security, it
came up
yesterday and
Farhan said
what he said,
but I want
maybe to take
a second shot
at it.
There is a
photograph of
Ban Ki-moon
shaking hands
with an
individual who
is on the US
Al-Qaida
terrorist
sanctions
list.
So, what I
wanted to know
is, I mean, in
diplomacy you
may have to
meet with
anyone, but my
question
actually has
to do with
entering the
UN premises
and role of
the security
detail of the
Secretary-General,
did they know
that this
individual was
listed as
having
financed if
not being a
member of
Al-Qaida?
Spokesman:
I think you're
right.
In diplomacy,
we have to
speak to the
people we have
to speak
to. As
for the
Secretary-General’s
security, I'm
not going to
get into the
details of it,
but obviously,
it's there to
protect the
security of
the
Secretary-General
and they do
what they need
to do.
Inner City
Press:
But, what do
you think of
the Hadi or
Riyadh
delegation
having as one
of its members
a US-listed
Al-Qaida
terrorist?
Spokesman:
I think I have
used as many
words as I can
on this.
As
Ramos-Horta
said,
convoluted and
obscure. We'll
have more on
this.
Ban was
scheduled to
give a speech
to UN Force
Commanders in
Conference
Room 9 of UN
Headquarters
in an open
meeting,
following a public
photo-op with
the
commanders.
But when Inner
City Press
showed up for
the photo op,
UN
Peacekeeping
chief Herve
Ladsous
directed one
of his
officials to
tell Inner
City Press to
leave. Then he
got Ban's
guards to
eject Inner
City Press
from the open
meeting.
Dujarric said
those who
needed to know
weren't told
early enough
that it was an
open meeting.
It was a
strange
response,
because there
are open
meetings every
day in the UN
without prior
notice to all
participants;
this one was listed
as open in the
Media Alert
the night
before.
It
seems that
what Dujarric
meant is that
had Ladsous
been
specifically
directed to
the open
meeting
notation, he
would have had
time to veto
it, like this
patron. But
since he
didn't, how
could Ladsous
who ostensibly
works FOR Ban
Ki-moon get
Ban's guards
to oust the
Press from
covering an
open speech by
their boss?
Who works for
whom? We'll
have more on
this.June
15, 2015
From
Burundi, Journalists Write to Ban
& FUNCA of Crackdown, DSG at AU
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, June 13 -- With UN Deputy
Secretary General Jan Eliasson at
the African Union summit in
Johannesburg where Burundi is being
discussed, Burundian independent
media have written to Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon about the
crackdown against them, sending to a
copy to Inner City Press and the Free
UN Coalition for Access, which
is now online
here.
Ban's UN has said little amid the
closing down of independent media in
Burundi, other than generalities
when FUNCA and Inner City Press have
asked about it. Now what will they
do?
The
letter is from Bob Rugurika of Radio
Publique Africaine, Patrick
Nduwimana of Radio Bonesha FM, Anne
Niyuhire of Radio Isanganiro,
Innocent Muhozi of Radi-Tele
Renaissance, Alexandre Niyungeko of
UBJ and the Association Burundaise
de radiodiffuseires, here.
On
June 12 Inner City Press asked Ban's
spokesman Stephane Dujarric:
Inner
City Press: In Burundi, documents
emerged, a ruling, legal opinion by
the ministers of justice of the East
African Community states, and they
read very closely the constitution
and the Arusha declaration and they
say that a third term would be
illegal, that he’s not eligible,
that it's clear the first term was
under the Constitution. I'm
wondering, one, is there any
response by the Secretariat, that
it's been sort of not addressing
this question? And was Mr.
Djinnit aware of this ruling during
the time of this facilitation?
And if so, why didn't it speak more
clearly on the subject?
Spokesman
Dujarric: I think that Mr.
Djinnit is one of our more
experienced diplomats, experienced
negotiator, mediator. I'm sure
he was aware of everything he needed
to be aware of. I don't have a
response to that....
Inner
City Press: Is the DSG [Deputy
Secretary-General] aware of this
document as he goes to the African
Union Summit…?
Spokesman:
I think the DSG is fully aware of
the situation in Burundi and would
be looking forward to his discussion
with Mr. Djinnit.
We'll see.
June 8,
2015
On
CAR Rapes, Ban
Tells 4 States
of Panel
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS, June 5 --
French soldiers in the
Central African Republic
allegedly sexually
abused children, as
exposed in a UN Office
of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights report
leaked to the French
government by longtime
OHCHR staffer Anders
Kompass.
On
June 3, after Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon
announced an intention
to name an independent
panel at least 14
UN member states
met about its terms of
reference and to whom
beyond Ban it should
report, as Inner City
Press exclusively
details below.
Now
Inner City Press reports
on the June 5 meeting
between four of those
states -- minus South
Africa - which met on
June 5 with Ban Ki-moon
and more than a half
dozen other officials,
including Deputy
Eliasson, DFS' Atule
Khare, Herve Ladsous'
fill-in and others.
The
states -- the UN
identified them as
Australia, Guatemala,
Japan and Finland,
though the last was
Norway -- went in with a
series of positions and
questions, including:
"We are
concerned by the damage
that these incidents,
and their follow-up,
have done to the UN’s
reputation and
credibility in an area
where the UN is expected
to uphold the highest
standards and values.
The review must be
conducted in an
expeditious manner and
the results must be
fully transparent.
It is crucial that the
review looks at the
whole chain of events,
including the senior
management’s decisions
leading to disciplinary
action against Mr.
Anders Kompass. This has
cast doubt about the
credibility of the UN’s
human rights commitments
in field missions and
about the integrity of
its whistleblower
policy.
It is
crucial to remove any
doubts that the UN is
fully committed to
preventing sexual
exploitation and abuse
and to ensure effective
investigation of any
such allegations in
field missions. In
addition, accountability
for perpetrators, and
protection and
assistance to victims,
must be ensured.
Questions: What will be
the scope of the
Independent External
Review (CAR only? The
UN’s handling of the
investigation, SEA more
broadly?)
To what extent has the
Human Rights Up Front
approach been applied?
Will the review look at
institutional reforms to
better address cases of
SEA, including timely
reporting and action in
cases of abuse?
Will the
review look at the
protection of
whistleblowers? What is
the status regarding the
pending case against Mr.
Anders Kompass – in
light of doubts that
have been raised about
this process?"
June 1, 2015
In
UN's NGO
Comt'e,
Freedom Now
Voted Down
11-4, Move to
ECOSOC
Predicted
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, May
30 -- In the
UN's Committee
on
Non-Governmental
Organizations
on May 29, the
application of
Freedom Now
was pushed to
a vote by the
United States;
it was badly
defeated, with
eleven votes
against and
only four
votes for,
with one
abstention
(India) and
three NGO
Committee
members
absent:
Guinea,
Mauritania
and,
tellingly,
Turkey.
Freedom
Now speaks
up for (some)
political
prisoners, and
usually
effectively
(that the Zone
9 Bloggers are
still in jail
is telling.)
Freedom NOw
can and will
continue their
work without
the dubious
“legitimacy”
this Committee
can confer.
But the
question
arose, why did
the US push it
to a vote that
it knew it
would lose,
and
badly?
Why didn't the
US work to
“turn” some of
the votes, at
least from
“No” to
abstention or
absent?
But the “No”
camp had their
points on May
29. The chair
of the
Committee
repeatedly
refused to
explain why
for example
the vote on
Freedom Now
could be
pushed for,
while another
item in the
morning,
similarly
pushed, was
deferred.
South Africa
raised this,
and later the
Chair made a
point of
admonishing
them, “for the
record,” he
said. He
did not appear
impartial,
whatever that
means in the
UN. Inner City
Press live-tweeted
it, here
and here.
The pattern
now is for
defeated
applications
like this to
be referred to
the full
ECOSOC
Committee,
where the
political mix
is different.
Does this mean
there is less
focus in the
run-up to
selection for
the NGO
Committee?
Some expect to
hear more on
this from the
US, from
Ambassador
Samantha Power
as
before, here,
and soon.
Watch this
site. Follow
@innercitypressFollow
@FUNCA_info May 25, 2015
UN Is OK with Censorship
In Burkina, Silent on Killed Journalist in S. Sudan
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, May
21 -- At the UN there is much talk about the
protection of journalists in conflict
situations, and about freedom of the press. But
when Inner City Press for the Free UN Coalition
for Access on
May 21 asked the UN about a journalist killed
in South Sudan, where the UN has a
mission, there was nothing:
Inner City Press /
FUNCA: In South Sudan, a journalist of Radio
Tamazuj, Pow James Raeth, is reported to have
been killed by gunfire in Akobo. And I
wanted to know whether UNMISS, which I believe
still has a facility in Akobo, is aware of it,
if they have any comment on it, and what they
think is behind the killing of this journalist.
Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq: We'll have to
check with UNMISS whatever details there are of
that incident.
Seven hours
later, there was no answer. The day before, on
May 20, Inner City Press for FUNCA asked about
Burkina Faso:
Inner City Press /
FUNCA: Burkina Faso has announced that it's
banning live political broadcasts for three
months in the run-up to elections, and a number
of press organizations have been critical of
it. Given DPA (Department of Political
Affairs) and the UN's kind of involvement in
different stages in Burkina Faso, do you have
any view of that banning of live political
broadcasts?
Deputy Spokesman Haq: I don't know whether
it's a banning or whether it's
restrictions. There are a number of
countries that restrict political broadcasts in
the run-up to elections, and sometimes that's
designed to lessen the threat of electoral
violence, so that's a more complicated
issue. So at this stage, we wouldn't have
anything to say about that. If there are
concerns about actual harassment of journalists,
that would be a case for concern.
What about the
killing of a journalist in South Sudan? Next
week the UN Security Council under its Lithuania
presidency has a meeting on the protection of
journalists, and we will cover it. But we will
not cover the RSF side event with Christophe
Deloire held in the clubhouse of UNCA, which
typically did not ask about the journalist
killing in South Sudan or censorship in Burkina
Faso. In fact, UNCA board members tried to get
the investigative Press thrown out of the UN,
for its reporting, becoming the UN Censorship
Alliance.
Many organizations
like to "launch" their reports at or in the
United Nations, and so ask few questions about
UN. The Committee to Protect Journalists did one
earlier this year.
Tellingly,
while CPJ spoke out against the censorship in
Burkina Faso, it has said nothing about the UN's
defense of it. What is the likelihood of Burkina
reversing itself, when it now has UN
endorsement?
The CPJ response
was no comment on the "internal dynamics of the UN's
accreditation process," saying its focus is
"international press freedom issues." Isn't
censorship at the UN international?
Now it gets
worse - the above quoted Q&A was at least in
the open UN Press Briefing Room. Now CPJ intends
to take its report launch behind closed doors in
clubhouse the UN gives UN, its UN
Censorship Alliance, publicized only to
those who pay UNCA money.
The new Free UN Coalition
for Access challenges all this - and CPJ's
corporate and selective advocacy for only some
journalism. It is a tuxedo approach such as on
display in DC.
As example, Inner
City Press noted the UN limiting accreditation
by geography and to those who abide by the
“principles of the Organization,” and total lack
of due process rules for journalists on
complaints as those filed against Inner City
Press in 2012 by Voice
of America, Reuters'
Louis
Charbonneau and the “UN
Correspondents
Association” for which he spoke on
Thursday. Video
here, from Minute 12:04.
Rob Mahoney of CJP,
who had begun the press conference by saying “we
look to the UN” on these issues, declined to
comment on the "internal dynamics of the UN's
accreditation process," saying he doesn't know
enough about it since he focuses on
"international press freedom issues." Video
here, from Minute 30:40.
But aren't
unfair rules of the UN worldwide in denying
access to journalists "international press
freedom issues"? And how can you "look to the
UN" to help if you don't first look AT the UN?
Inner City Press
asked UNCA to stop or at least suspend its
process; this was refused, including by
Charbonneau, who told Inner City Press to “go to
the NYPD.”
Remembering CPJ's Bob
Dietz' focus on Sri Lanka, Inner City Press
wrote to him and CPJ's Joel Simon. The response
came from CPJ's Americas Research Associate Sara
Rafsky:
“Thank you very much
for alerting us about your situation. At the
moment, the Americas program is swamped with
urgent cases... Thus it will most likely be some
time before I can look into your case.”
UNCA's, and Charbonneau's, response was
to tear down flyers on the
topic. Atop UNCA again is Giampaolo Pioli
the past president who, after renting one of his
apartments to Palitha Kohona, later granted
Kohona's request as Sri Lanka's ambassador to screen
that government's war crimes denial film "Lies
Agreed To" inside the UN, under the UNCA
banner. Inner City Press reported on it, was
told to remove the article from the Internet or
face expulsion from the UN. That is censorship,
and CPJ was informed: but partners with UNCA.
This is not press freedom.
CPJ's Joel Simon
began the February 12, 2014 "launch" press
conference by explaining why it was held at
the United Nations (he cited countries trying
to use the UN to control the Internet). Inner
City Press when called on asked if CPJ thinks
the UN Peacekeeping missions in South Sudan
and Mali do enough to combat crackdowns on the
press there, for example the Salva Kiir
government seizing a complete issue of the
Juba Monitor, and theats against MaliActu..
Now we wonder,
including on behalf of the Free UN
Coalition for Access, what CPJ thinks of
the UN bureau chief of Reuters, with essentially
a permanent seat on UNCA board, mis-using the
Digital Millennium Copyright Act toget
Google to block accessto
a leaked anti-Press complaint to the UN from its
search. Isn't that censorship?
May 18,
2015
IMF Tells
ICP of Burundi On Hold, Nepal On
Ground, Ghana & Jamaica
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, May 14 -- Amid the
protests and crackdown after Pierre
Nkurunziza was nominated to run for
a third term as President in seeming
violation of the Arusha Peace
Accord, on May 13 General Godefroid
Niyombare announced the ouster of
Nkurunziza.
On May 14, Inner City Press
has asked the International Monetary
Fund's spokesperson Gerry Rice at
the IMF biweekly embargoed briefing:
"On Burundi, after the IMF's
announcement of $6.9 million in the
run up to elections, now with
General Godefroid Niyombare saying
Pierre Nkurunziza is no longer in
power, what is the status of the
IMF's funds and program, when will
it be reviewed?"
Rice took this question and
replied that the "IMF is following
the current developments in Burundi
very closely. The
Fund-supported program that was
recently approved, it's fair to say
that given the current security
situation, the timing of our next
discussions with the authorities has
yet to be determined."
Tw weeks ago on April 30, the
IMF told Inner City Press on Burundi
"Many thanks for your question.
Please see our line below:
'We are continuing to monitor
developments in Burundi. Regarding
the ECF-supported program that was
recently approved, our next meeting
with the authorities is tentatively
scheduled to take place in June, at
which time we will assess progress
toward the completion of the 7th
review.'"
So, no more June?
On May 14 Rice also answered
Inner City Press on Nepal, saying an
IMF team is "on the ground" and
considering all feasible options.
Debt relief?
On Ghana,
ICP asked "On Ghana, does the IMF
have any comment or view on the
country upping its monetary policy
rate up to 22 percent, and on the
decline in value of the cedi? How
does this impact the IMF program?"
The IMF
responded, after the briefing:
"We
welcome Bank of Ghana's commitment
to reduce inflation and bring it
gradually down to its medium term
target, as envisaged under the
IMF-supported program. The increase
in the policy interest rate decided
by Bank of Ghana's monetary policy
committee yesterday (May 13) aims at
mitigating inflationary pressures,
such as those related to the
depreciation of the exchange rate,
in order to achieve the inflation
objective."
On
Jamaica, ICP asked "On Jamaica, it
is reported that the IMF's “new
chief of missions to Jamaica, Uma
Ramakrishnan, said yesterday that
the missing of the nominal primary
surplus target by the country under
its Extended Fund Facility is not a
big deal.” Can you clarify the IMF's
position on the missing of this
target?"
The
IMF responded, after the briefing:
Here is
our answer on Jamaica:
n The staff team that was in
Jamaica from May 4-12 provided its
perspective on this in the press
release that was issued on Tuesday.
n Implementation of Jamaica’s
EFF-supported reform program remains
strong. All quantitative performance
targets through end-March were met,
with the exception of the target for
the primary surplus of the central
government, which was narrowly
missed as revenue came in lower than
projected in 2014/15.
n While the target was missed
in nominal (Jamaican dollar) terms,
the primary surplus is still
estimated at 7.5 percent of GDP in
2014/15—the central fiscal anchor of
the program.
n At the press conference, the
team explained that deviations under
IMF programs do happen, and it was
also noted that one missed
performance criterion over eight
reviews is still an exceptionally
strong performance by IMF standards.
n The staff team indicated
that in its view, the authorities
remain well on track to achieve the
central goals of their economic
reform program, and the team
explained that a missed performance
criterion can be waived by the IMF’s
Executive Board under a standard
procedure.
A
question remains outstanding on
Tunisia. Inner City Press has asked,
"On Tunisia, it is reported that
“Tunisia is under a standby agreement
with the IMF for $1.6bn, although not
all is yet dispersed because of the
delays in reform.” Is that an accurate
statement, on delay(s)? What are the
next steps?" Watch this site.
May 11,
2015
On
CAR Alleged Rapes, ICP Asks
Samantha Power of CAR Untold,
Ladsous v Leaker
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
May 8 -- French soldiers in the
Central African Republic allegedly
sexually abused children, as
exposed in a UN Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights
report leaked to the French
government by longtime OHCHR
staffer Anders Kompass. The UN did
not, however, give the report to
the host country authorities in
CAR. And according to UN
documents, UN Peacekeeping
chief Herve Ladsous then urged
that the whistleblower Kompass be
made to resign. (Ladsous denied
this.)
On May 8, Inner City Press asked
US Ambassador Samantha Power about
both issues - the UN's failure to
tell the CAR authorities, and
Ladsous' "surprising" role, as
High Commissioner Zeid put it
earlier in the day. Video
here and embedded below.
Inner
City Press: One issue that has
arisen that may not even need to
wait for an investigation is that
the Central African Republic says
that they were never told of this,
and given that these were their
citizens, I wonder if you—does the
U.S. think that when the UN system
becomes aware of charges such as
these, that the host country
should be told? There’s also this
issue, in the UN Dispute Tribunal
ruling, that the Under Secretary
General of Peacekeeping was
reported, and the UN didn’t seem
to dispute it, to have said that
the whistleblower should resign or
be suspended. And I wonder, this
seems like a pretty serious
charge. What do you think of that?
Do you think that that is
appropriate? What do you think of
the treatment of the whistleblower
who brought it to light?
Ambassador Power: "I think, on a
lot of these issues, we’re all
going to be better off if we allow
an impartial investigation to take
hold. And, I think, you raise a
really, really important issue
about host country involvement,
and we’d want to, again, get the
facts on that. Certainly, it is
the case that the host country
itself, of course, has the
sovereign responsibility for the
protection of its citizens, and
so, looking at what role Central
African Republic authorities
played or didn’t play has to be
part of this.
"And then, in terms of the
individual who disclosed the
allegations, who worked for the
Office of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights, again, it’s
extremely important that any
individual who comes into
possession of allegations of this
gravity acts swiftly. It is also
extremely important that victim
and witness safety be a very
significant, a primary
consideration as well. And so
again, the impartial investigation
will look at the handling and how
both the issue of speed and the
issue of victim and witness
protection—how those issues were
handled."
It is an answer that may move
things forward. Ladsous, it should
be noted, just this week
snubbed a Joe Biden-linked
Hemispheric peacekeeping
conference in Uruguay,
wasting an $8,000 first class
plane ticket and angering many
troop contributing countries. He
refuses to answer Press question,
for example on rapes in Minova,
DRC and Tabit in Darfur.
As noted, on May 8, High
Commissioner Zeid held a press
conference, and twice refused to
comment on why Ladsous was said to
have pressured to fire or suspend
the whistleblower.
Inner City Press has covered
Ladsous' role from the beginning,
and highlighted his appearance in
Paragraph 9 of the UN
Dispute Tribunal ruling
reinstating Kompass. On May 7,
Ladsous told Inner City Press, "I
deny that" - then refused to take
questions.
Zeid
was asked, and first time said he
should first give his view of the
pressure to the investigator, not
the media.
The
second time, he said he was
surprised to read it -- his Office
did not contest that part of the
ruling, effectively admitting it
-- and that the head of UN
Peacekeeping should not have been
intervening about a non-UN
force. Video
here.
Neither
he nor the questioners in the room
in Geneva said the obvious:
Ladsous is a longtime French
diplomat; it is not rocket science
to read Paragraph 9 as him
(inappropriately) still working
for "his" country.
May 4,
2015
On
Rapes in CAR, Transcript of UN
Refusing Say Why Never Told CAR
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
May 1, video
here -- French soldiers in
the Central African Republic
allegedly sexually abused
children, and after more than nine
months, no action has been taken.
On May 1 from Geneva the
spokesperson for UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights
Prince Zaid, Rupert Colville, sought to
explain or bolster the
reputations of the Office, and
of France.
But Colville did not address, much
less explain, why the UN did not
tell the Central African Republic
authorities about the alleged
rapes of their citizens by French
soldiers. Later on May 1, an
African Permanent Representative
sought out Inner City Press to say
that "CAR is very mad the UN
didn't tell them." He noted that
the UN deputy spokesperson called
Inner City Press "rude" for asking
why.
At the UN's noon briefing in New
York, UN Deputy Spokesperson
Farhan Haq read out loud from
Colville's statement. Inner City
Press asked questions, video
here and now transcribed by
the UN, here:
Inner
City Press: ...what Rupert
Colville had said about the
alleged child rapes in Central
African Republic. I read it
all, and it didn't answer some of
the questions that are public
about it, which include the
following: The Central
African Republic authorities have
said that they only learned of
these events and charges by
reading The Guardian. And so
what I wanted to know, it seems
pretty extraordinary that the UN
would collect evidence of rape in
a — in a host country in that
case. Was it not
provided? Is that true that
it wasn't provided to the home
country people?
Also it's reported that similar
allegations are against
peacekeepers, quote-unquote, from
Chad and Equatorial Guinea.
I don't see that addressed in his
statement. My question is,
is the UN equally satisfied or
happy with the follow-through by
those two countries? And
finally, he talked about an OIOS
investigation of Mr. Kompass, but
he's previously confirmed in
writing a previous, prior OIOS
investigation of Mr. Kompass for
releasing to Morocco about Western
Sahara. And I wanted to
know, does the UN feel any
responsibility — if the leaking to
France is as bad as Mr. Colville
says, why was nothing done about
the first leaking to
Morocco? And what's the
status of that investigation?
Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq:
Both investigations are under
way. We, of course, in terms
of what response we would have
would rely on what happens when
each of those investigations are
completed. Those are
separate issues, one involving
Western Sahara and one involving
Central African Republic.
And we'll to await the results of
each.
Now, in terms of the Chadians and
Equatorial Guineans, we've seen
these orders. The
information that we have was
handed over to the French
authorities and therefore that
investigation would need to go to
them. As you may be aware,
there were, I believe, Chadian and
Equatorial Guinean troops in the
precursor to the UN force, what
was called at that point
MISCA. Neither of those
contingents wound up in the UN
mission, MINUSCA.
And — and I believe — neither of
them was rehatted, in other words,
as UN contingents. And your first
question —
Question: Did the UN tell the CAR
authorities, and if not why not?
Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq:
Right now, Rupert has been
handling, as you have seen,
questions about the
timeline. And as he made
clear, some of the questions about
the timeline are pending the
results of the actual
investigation into this. So
he's been trying to provide as
much details on that. But —
but certainly the idea was to
provide the information to the
people who could prosecute the
people who we thought may have
done wrong in this case.
Inner City Press: Thanks a
lot. Whether or not the
Equatorial Guinean and Chadian
forces remained in MINUSCA, if the
UN heard allegations of child rape
by those forces, doesn't the UN
then tell at least that country
that they were abused?
Deputy Spokesman Haq: I
can't comment on evidence that was
collected. I'm not aware of
the extent of evidence that was
shared, and I don't know whether
it includes these nationalities or
not. That will become clear
as course of these investigations
proceeds. So I will have to
wait until those investigations
are done.
Inner City Press: One more
on press freedom. I want to
ask you this because it's talked
about a lot in this room.
There's a paragraph of Mr.
Colville's statement where he says
he expresses extreme concern that
the unredacted copy of the report
is given to media, urges media
what to do with it, but he also
says as his example that reporters
have contacted some of the
victims. And what I wanted
to know is, on what basis does he
believe that's from the
report? Is the UN saying,
don't actually investigate this
case, which some people believe
the UN or the French covered up
for nine months? Is the
message to reporters don't speak
to people that claim to have been
victimized or don't use the report
to —
Deputy Spokesman: No,
no. The message is what he
actually said.
Inner City Press: Okay.
Deputy Spokesman: So I would
go back to what his words were,
which I have in front of me.
Inner City Press: A person
named in the documents was
contacted. But the question
is, [how does the UN know how the
reporter and victim connected]
[overlapping talking]
Deputy Spokesman: His
concern is that the names of these
children is out there in the
public. It's obvious that
it's out there because people are
contacting them.
Inner City Press: But there
are reporters who actually can
find victims without the UN's
report —
Deputy Spokesman: It's
possible they’ve done it in a
different way. Our priority
is to protect children.
Inner City Press: So —
Deputy Spokesman: Children,
who at the end of the day, live in
the Central African Republic and
could face —
Question: But then why
didn't —
Deputy Spokesman: — danger
and —
[overlapping talking]
Deputy Spokesman: Please
stop talking over me while I'm
giving you the answer.
Inner City Press: I —
Deputy Spokesman: I'm
sorry. This not a
debate. This is a
briefing. No, seriously.
Inner City Press:
Okay. It — I have another
question. Finish what you
say. Then I'm going to ask a
question because you just said —
Deputy Spokesman: You must
have been the most obnoxious
child.
[laughter]
Matthew, you're asking a question,
you're talking over me while I
answer. That's not how
briefings go.
Inner City Press: I asked
questions yesterday you haven't
answered yet. What happened
to Conference Room 3? Do you
have an answer to that?
Deputy Spokesman: I'll get
back to you, but you still haven't
let me answer the question I was
doing. You seem actually
more interested in talking over me
than in getting the answer.
The answer — what was it again now
—
Inner City Press: Did you
tell Central African Republic
about the rape charge?
Deputy Spokesman: The — the
point — the point is that they
told it to the authorities who
were in a position to actually
deal with the question of
wrongdoing. So that — that
is where — that is where the
report went.
Regarding Rupert Colville, which
is what we were talking about
before you rudely interrupted me
several times, his concern is that
these children who are in a very
dangerous country, their names are
now out in the public, and so
obviously their names are now out
in the public because these
reporters are contacting them for
whatever reason, and the worry is
a worry about their safety.
Inner City Press: My only —
this was the question that I was
asking.
Deputy Spokesman: For God's
sake, Matthew!
Question: You said you'd
finish and I'd ask a
question. It's a very simple
question.
[overlapping talking]
Inner City Press: Can I ask
a question on this?
Deputy Spokesman: Ladies and
gentlemen, is there a point for me
to continue with if he continues
like this? I leave it to
you. One of your colleagues
is shaking their head no.
Inner City Press: Let's take
a poll then.
UNCA rep: Yes, let's take a
poll.
[overlapping talking]
Inner City Press: On World
Press Freedom Day and I have a
question and this is the
question. Can I say it?
UNCA rep: No.
Deputy Spokesman Haq: First
of all, press freedom has to do
with your rights to go about your
work. You're actually
constraining other people's right
to go about their work by shutting
me down. You realize that,
right? There are other
reporters in this room who are not
you.
Inner City Press: Sure. I
understand that.
Deputy Spokesman: All
right. And you respect their
right to receive information —
Inner City Press: I don't
have an answer.
Deputy Spokesman Haq: —
without hearing some other guy
talking from the crowd over me,
right?
Inner City Press: It's a
yes-or-no question. Did the
UN tell the Central African
Republic authorities of the rape
of their citizens? And if
not, why not? That's it.
Deputy Spokesman: As I've
said, the Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights is
trying to prepare the
timeline. As Rupert has made
clear from Geneva today, some of
that remains pending an
investigation. I would — I
would have to urge you to wait for
the result of that investigation
to go out.
Haq never answered te question.
Clearly, Colville already knows if
OHCHR gave the report to CAR or
only to France.
Inner
City Press also asked about the
UN's investigation into OHCHR
staffer Anders Kompass having
leaked information about Western
Sahara to the Moroccan government,
and why that investigation took so
long that leaking continued, to
France of its victims' names. Haq
would not say which investigation
began first, a key point. We'll
have more on this.
Haq said that Inner City Press was
rude for asking and was cutting
him off, and turned to the
representative of the UN
Correspondents Association to
support him, and then to ask
question of which he approved. The
UNCA representative began by
saying that who the UN told, and
when, wasn't important.
Haq said, this is how questions
are supposed to be asked --
apparently, the questions the UN
wants, from the partners it
selects, ignoring the UN's own
role in problems. It was World
Press Freedom Day at the UN; the Free
UN Coalition for Access will
have more on this.
April 27,
2015
As
Talk of Next SG Starts, ICP Asks
of USG Set-Asides, Ladsous As
Nadir
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, April 24 -- How should
the next UN Secretary General be
selected, to improve the
Organization? That was the
question on April 24 across the
street from the UN at the
International Peace Institution
in a panel
moderated by former Indian
Ambassador to the UN, and former
Security Council member, Hardeep
Singh Puri.
The post is said to be slated
for the Eastern European Group,
and the question and answer (or
comment) portion was top-heavy
with the Permanent
Representatives of Croatia and
Slovakia (also the chair of the
Budget Committee) and the Deputy
Permanent Representative of
Estonia laying out of the
positions of the ACT group,
echoed by Costa Rica.
Inner City Press asked what
about improving the transparency
and place of merit in the
selection of Under Secretaries
General? Recently UK Prime
Minister David Cameron's attempt
to put Andrew Lansley of
National Health Service infany
atop the UN Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs was defeated as reported
in detail by Inner City Press,
see credits
in the Telegraph and UK
Channel 4.
But, the position has stayed
with the UK in the person of
Stephen O'Brien (deemed better
than the initial candidate by
panelist Edward Mortimer).
Should USG positions be “owned”
by P3 countries, like France has
owned UN Peacekeeping four times
in a row (following a
horse-trade for Kofi Annan
becoming Secretary General) and
the US has held Political
Affairs twice in a row?
While Political Affairs USG
Jeffrey Feltman came directly
from the US State Department
with the baggage that may carry,
particularly in the Middle East,
the most extreme example is
Herve Ladsous of UN
Peacekeeping, video
here, Vine
here.
When asked by Inner City Press
about his history and
qualification adopted the
position of refusing all
questions from Inner City Press
and having his spokespeople, at
least one of whom was present at
IPI on April 24, go so far as to
grab the UNTV microphone to
avoid questions. Ladsous
went so far as to say "I don't
answer you Mister" at IPI
itself, video here.
On the overall USG question Jean
Krasno of the City College of
New York favored “selecting
candidates for these positions
on merit rather than
geographical. We want the
highest quality people, serving
in an impartial matter.”
Natalie Samarasinghe of the UN
Association of the UK said, On
the USG issue, we want an SG who
has the freedom to make merit
based appoints. At the moment as
you have seen it is very
unevenly applied. We need to
condemn it. That pressure is
very positive.”
Mortimer said
he was among those who wrote to
Ban Ki-moon (selected by the US
and China, more than one attendee
said, some citing John Bolton's
book) about Cameron's first
nominee for OCHA. He said that
Press oversight is
important. Puri said a good
SG would pick good USGs. We'll
have more on all this.
April 20,
2015
For Yemen
UN Post, Saudis' Fisherman No
Disclosure, UN Vows to Check, A
Female?
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS, April 17 -- How weak and
untransparent is today's UN?
On
April 15 Inner City Press reported
that despite UN Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon's claims to stand
behind the UN's envoy to Yemen
Jamal Benomar, who refused to call
Saudi airstrikes positive, Ban was
planning to replace him.
After that Inner City Press
report, the UN Spokesman sent out
this a canned statement that
Benomar "expressed an interest in
moving on" and would be replaced
in due course. But by whom?
On April 15, Inner City Press
named the name which was floated
by Saudi and UN sources, Ismail
Ould Cheikh Ahmed, and linked
to its February 15, 2015
exclusive report on this
individual's previously
"incompetence" in Yemen, and side
fishing business. There is yet
more on both of these below.
On
April 17, Inner City Press Ban's
Office of the Spokesperson WHY
there is no public financial
disclosure for Ismail Ould Cheikh
Ahmed, and to confirm or deny he
has links with businesses --
fishing - with Gulf funders. The
response was, We will check and
get back to you. Video
here. We are waiting.
April 13,
2015
In
CAR, Ladsous' DPKO Uses Live Fire,
Death As In Mali, Withheld As In
Haiti?
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, April 10 -- When UN
Peacekeepers are determined, by the
UN itself, to have shot at civilians
by using inappropriate force, what
accountability is there? None, with
Herve Ladsous atop UN Peacekeeping.
But even the supposed reporting in
the incidents is inconsistent,
misrepresented and withheld.
Only recently, Ladsous' peacekeepers
have fired at unarmed demonstrators
in Haiti and in Mali, killing three
civilians. Now in Central African
Republic his "peacekeepers" used
live fire in Kaga-Bandoro; one
protester died.
Ladsous' MINUSCA mission has three
times refused to send its statements
to Inner City Press, unlike for
example the (DPA-run) missions in
Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan. Ladsous
refuses to answer Press questions
about shootings of civilians; his
mission(s) won't sent out
statements.
But
at the April 10 UN noon briefing,
Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman
Stephane Dujarric if the
peacekeeper's gun fire "into the
air" was responsible for the
protester's death. Dujarric said
there will be a report; Inner City
Press asked it will be publicly
released, unlike in Haiti.
Dujarric said its findings will be
summarized. But this wasn't done in
the case of the Haiti shooting.
Given the Ladsous French connection
in all this, will this report be
released, or even summarized? Watch
this site.
(Dujarric
also said he didn't know what the
protest against the UN in CAR was
about - really? - just as the
portion of teh Mali report
presumably about Ladsous' missions
deal with the MNLA was not part of
the summary.)
For Yemen
Aid Access, Saudis Want UNSG Support
for Offensive, ICP Learns: 2 Hours
for a Statement
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS, April 4 -- When UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon asked Saudi
Arabia for a two hours a day pause
in its military offensive on
Yemen, Saudi Arabia replied, only
in exchange for a UN statement of
support for the military
offensive, Inner City Press has
reliably and exclusively been
informed.
While Ban Ki-moon has not given in
to this -- yet -- it is surprising
to some that his team did not go
public with this attempt to
condition humanitarian access on a
political statement.
Why for example hasn't outgoing UN
Emergency Relief Coordinator
Valerie Amos spoken out? Where is
her successor, Stephen O'Brien,
also of the UK? (Inner City Press'
exclusives on that UK to UK
hand-over of a UN post were credited
during the process by for
example Channel 4, and after
by the Telegraph.)
On Saturday April 4 an urgent UN
Security Council meeting began at
11 am, on a proposal for Russian
draft resolution for "humanitarian
pauses" -- and evacuation.
Nearly an hour after the meeting
broke up, April's Security Council
president Dina Kawar of Jordan
came to the stakeout and gave a
summary, or two (as President and
in her national capacity) and took
two questions, including one from
Inner City Press (the US did not
raise the issue of evacuations in
the meeting).
Here's
what Ambassador Kawar said as
Jordan's Ambassador:
“As
you know the GCC has been engaged
for some time on a draft
resolution that deals with the
political situation in Yemen. We
will continue our efforts to reach
a consensus on that. We should not
forget the root causes that led to
the current grave situation and
humanitarian situation in Yemen is
due to the failure of the
implementation of Resolution 2201
by the Houthis.”
“We just met. We have arranged for
meeting on the side between a few
members of the Council and the
GCC, we are working on that all
day today. We hope that by Monday
we can come up with something.”
Inner City Press asked Kawar if
any UN Security Council member
raised the issue of evacuations.
She said, evacuations are under
way. Inner City Press asked if the
US had raised the issue of
evacuations in the meeting. She
said, No, the US did not raise it.
Here
is what Ambassador Kawar said as
UNSC President:
“The Council met this morning upon a
request from the Russian delegation. The Council
members reaffirmed their views on the importance
of the full implementation of the Security
Council's resolutions on Yemen in particular
Resolution 2201. The Council members also
reiterated their concern over the grave
humanitarian situation that Yemen has been facing
for a while.
“The Russian delegation circulated a draft
resolution to the Council members regarding
humanitarian pauses in Yemen and expressed
concerns over the humanitarian situation in Yemen
since a long time. The Council members need time
to reflect on the Russian proposal.”
The
meeting ended at just after noon at
12:30. Saudi Arabia's ambassador and
an entourage arrived outside the
Security Council. Inner City Press
asked him if Saudi Arabia has spoke
with the US about allowing safe
evacuation of Americans. Video
here
March 30,
2015
On Yemen,
State Dept in Contact with Benomar,
Who's Engaged With Houthis, IMF
Postpones First Review (and No
Answer on Haiti)
By
Matthew Russell Lee
WASHINGTON
DC, March 27 -- Amid continued
airstrikes in Yemen, Inner City
Press on March 27 asked State
Department spokesperson Jeff
Rathke if the US has been in
contact with the UN's Jamal
Benomar:
"On
Yemen, has the U.S. had any
contact with Jamal Benomar, the
special advisor who’s supposed to
be mediating? And how do you
think that the – what’s the
process from bombing to getting
the Houthis back to the
table? Is anyone actually
reaching out to them?"
Rathke said he didn't have such
information in front of him. But
later a State Department official
told Inner City Press on
background:
"We
remain in regular contact with UN
Special Advisor Jamal
Benomar. We understand that
Benomar remains engaged with
political representatives from all
parties, including the
Houthis. While we have not
had direct contact with the
Houthis, we have passed messages
to them.
"The path for political dialogue
will come when the Houthis and
former regime elements halt their
destabilizing military actions and
realize that the only viable path
forward is through peaceful
negotiations."
On civilian casualties in Sana'a,
Rathke said "we’ve always been
clear that in every conflict, all
sides should avoid civilian
casualties. I don’t – I’m
not able to corroborate those
reports that you’ve mentioned, but
clearly, we think it’s important
to act in a targeted way in any
kind of military conflict." Here
is Amnesty International's
report.
Inner
City Press also asked Rathke about
the Maldives government
threatening migrant workers with
deportation for demonstrating
about abusive conditions, and the
11 year sentence imposed on former
defense minister Nazid. Rathke
said he may revert with some
comments. Here
is the State Department's March
13 comment on the Maldives,
here.
On
March 26 Inner City Press asked
Rathke if the US thinks former
President Saleh could play any
role going forward, and for its
position on Sudan participating in
the "Saudi coalition" the US
supports.
Rathke replied about the US
Treasury Department sanctions
imposed on Saleh on November 10,
2014, and reiterated previous US
criticism. From the State
Department transcript (video
here from Minute 26:49)
QUESTION:
Matthew Russell Lee, Inner City
Press. I wanted to know what
the U.S. thinks of the role of
former President Saleh, and do you
think that he has any role to play
in the negotiations that are
trying to be had? And also,
you said repeatedly that the U.S.
supports Saudi Arabia and its
coalition partners, and it’s said
that Sudan is one of the partners
and that they’ve offered three air
force planes. And I wanted
to know, would the U.S. support
Sudanese participation in bombing
Yemen?
MR. RATHKE: So I’ll take the
second one first. We are
aware that the Government of Sudan
has announced that it is taking
part in the actions organized by
the Saudis. We’re not in a
position to confirm the details of
or the nature of their
participation. Again, this
is a Saudi-organized and Saudi-led
coalition, so I don’t have more to
say on that aspect.
You asked about former President
Saleh. And so we have long
made clear our concerns about the
obstructive role that former
President Saleh plays in
Yemen. He has consistently
sought to undermine Yemen’s
political transition. This
is widely recognized by the
international community, which, in
fact, sanctioned former President
Saleh under UN Security Council
Resolution 2140 just a few months
ago. That was in November
2014. And the reason was for
his obstruction of the political
transition and undermining the
government.
The U.S. Treasury Department has
sanctioned former President Saleh
on November 10th, 2014 for
engaging in acts that directly or
indirectly threaten the peace,
security, and stability of
Yemen. So our position on
him and his role, I think, is
quite clear.
On Inner City Press' question on
Sudan, note this is the same
Sudanese air force bombing
civilians in Darfur, Southern
Kordofan and Blue Nile states.
Inner City Press also asked Rathke
about the US restricting Cuban
diplomats to within 25 miles of
Columbus Circle in New York --
Rathke said this is being
negotiated, along with the US'
desire for free movement in Cuba
-- and if the US will be replacing
Russ Feingold as Special Envoy on
the Great Lakes.
I have no personnel announcements,
Rathke said, twice.
Earlier in the day reporters
complained about the lack of
answers from the International
Monetary Fund. Rathke at least
kept fielding questions, and had a
surprising number of if-asked
statements in his binder.
Inner City Press at the
International Monetary Fund
briefing on March 26 asked again
about the status of the IMF
program in Yemen. From the
IMF transcript:
Inner
City Press: I wanted to ask you
about Yemen. I asked online
actually a couple of times ago,
and you had said it wasn’t helpful
but there would be a review in the
spring. Now, with these air
strikes by Saudi Arabia and
Houthi’s moving on Aden, what is
the status of the IMF’s program,
and what is the thinking, how are
you going to review it?
MR.
MURRAY: Thanks for that question.
Well, obviously, we are watching
the rapidly evolving situation in
Yemen carefully and closely at the
moment. Given a host of
uncertainties surrounding Yemen at
this moment, the first review
under the Fund supported program
is postponed until the situation
clarifies.
When
it will clarify? Can’t say.
Certainly, the review mission is
postponed. One of our biggest
concerns about Yemen is the impact
on the poorest there, and the
economic reverberations of events.
Way too soon to say what those
will be, but we are just going to
have to keep an eye on the
situation.
Inner
City Press: Has the IMF had any
kind contact with the Houthi’s
since they have been in contact --
MR.
MURRAY: I’m not aware of any
recent contact with the Houthi’s,
certainly not in recent days. I
really don’t have any recent
guidance on that.
Back on January 22, Murray had
answered Inner City Press that
while events in Yemen were not
helpful, the review was not until
Spring. Now it is postponed
indefinitely.
Inner City Press
also asked Murray to confirm that
the IMF may declined to proceed with
Haiti if it continues to subsidize
electricity. Murray said he would
get an answer to the question and
that it would be circulated and
inserted into the transcript. Watch
this site.
March 23,
2015
On Yemen,
Emergency UNSC Meeting After 5 Weeks
& Bombings
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, March 21, updated -- Five
weeks after the last Yemen
resolution of the UN Security
Council was adopted on Sunday,
February 15, now on Sunday March
22 the Council will hold another
emergency meeting on Yemen. Much
as changed, most recently
airstrikes on Hadi's headquarters
in Aden and more deadly bombing of
largely Houthi mosques in Sana'a.
With less than 24 hours notice on
March 21 the new emergency
Security Council meeting was
reported by the UN Spokesperson, Inner
City Press, Lithuania,
Jordan which requested the
meeting, and France the Council's
president for March.
Hadi requested the meeting; some
speculated he wants the "Houthi
coup" language that was dropped
from the February 15 resolution
revived, or at least some
statement protecting him in Aden.
But with the Houthis themselves
targeted, how would this play? And
if a first round of sanctions
didn't stop these developments,
would a second round?
Update:
Sources tell Inner City Press that
UN envoy Jamal Benomar abruptly
left Yemen, and that Hadi's goal
is to get (more) UN Security
Council authorization for military
action against the Houthis "and
Saleh." But he could already claim
to be authorized for that. A
Presidential Statement doesn't
mean victory on the ground,
though...
Update
II: Seems the conclusion of the
draft Presidential Statement is
for the Security Council to say it
reaffirms its readiness to take
further measures against any party
in case of non-implementation -
but no reference to coup...
Update
III: a question, of course, is how
all this UN Security Council
action relates to its P5+1 talks
with Iran on the nuclear file.
Seems the draft PRST would call on
"all member States to refrain from
external interference which seeks
to foment conflict and instability
and instead to support the
political transition." ALL member
states? Including Saudi Arabia and
Qatar? Or only Iran?
And while
in February Saudi Arabia took the lead, as it were, now
Qatar is poised to. But will they answer on other
issues, where they are less aligned with the
government(s)?
On a cold
Sunday in New York, the
UN Security Council scheduled a 5
pm vote on a resolution on Yemen.
Diplomats
rushed in. The Gulf
Cooperation Council had submitted
a draft with the word "Houthi
coup" in it, but the phrase did
not survive.
After the watered down resolution
was adopted 15-0, Inner City Press
asked Saudi Arabia's Permanent
Representative about the threat of
new sanctions, given how little
previous sanctions on Ali Saleh
and two Houthi leaders
accomplished - and, does he think
the Houthis are working with
Saleh? (Video
here and embedded below.)
He replied that both are spoilers,
they could work together directly
or indirectly. The Gulf
Cooperation Council will be
continuing to push the Security
Council, for example on the house
arrest of Hadi and others.
Jordan's Permanent Representative
added that come members did not
want the word coup.
Inner
City Press notes that while Hadi
consented to US drone strikes, a
coup would leave such consent "up
in the air."
After the
diplomats left, two different Arabic
language channels described what had
occurred in entirely different
terms: one as a "strong message,"
the other as "weak." And so it
goes.
March 16,
2015
UN Tells
Peacekeepers CAR Is Not Dangerous,
To Limit Their Pay
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Scoop
UNITED
NATIONS, March 13 -- When the UN
Security Council visited the Central
African Republic earlier this week,
the issue of the UN underpaying the
peacekeepers there was not raised,
publicly or at all.
But back in UN headquarters in the
C-34 Special Committee on
Peacekeeping Operations, discontent
with DPKO as run by Herve Ladsous
was mounting. On CAR, one issue
about which C-34 exclusively told
Inner City Press was Ladsous' DPKO's
refusal to comply with the
recommendations of the Senior
Advisory Group on Peacekeeping
Operations to pay a risk premium to
peacekeepers in the dangerous
missions.
Under Ladsous, DPKO tells Troop
Contributing Countries with their
soldier in CAR that it is not
dangerous there -- while saying
quite the opposite elsewhere.
Several delegates called this rank
hypocrisy.
The UN Security Council creates
peacekeeping operations -- so what
is their role in ensuring that DPKO
pay the peacekeepers fairly,
including in accordance with the
Special Advisory Group's report and
related General Assembly resolution?
What is the Security Council's
oversight role, for example on the
report of demonstrators in Gao in
Northern Mali being shot?
This month's Security Council
president, the French Mission, told
Inner City Press that whether or not
the Security Council will get any
information from the Gao report is
entirely up to Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon. How can that be? And what
of Ladsous, and ultimately Ban,
claiming CAR is not dangerous, in
order to underpay the peacekeepers,
as described to Inner City Press by
C-34 delegates? We'll have more on
this.
In the UN's first sub-basement on
March 13, some delegates suggested
that the C-34's forthcoming - or not -
report would be “the worst ever.”
Watch this site.
March 9,
2015
As
Bangladesh Cancels Press
Accreditations, UN Does Nothing, Not
Involved
Inner City Press and the Free
UN Coalition for Access have
also asked about freedom of
expression in Bangladesh - and
relatedly at the UN, when a
journalist asking questions at the
UN had his media blocked back in
Bangladesh.
While the UN Spokesman replied that
he had spoken with the journalist in
questions -- which was not the point
-- from elsewhere in the UN to the
request for action, no response. Now
the journalist and four colleagues
have had their accreditations pulled.
Inner
City Press on March 5 asked UN
Spokesman Stephane Dujarric if the
UN had any involvement in a
statement urging de-escalation
issued by a group of Ambassadors in
Dhaka. I am not aware that we have
any involvement in that, the UN
Spokesman replied. Video
here. Why not?
Why didn't UN political affairs
chief Jeffrey Feltman, who spent
days in Myanmar then Sri Lanka, make
a push to visit Bangladesh at this
time? Did he? His office has not
answered questions about his Sri
Lanka trip, but Dujarric says he
will answer questions on March 6.
Only about Ukraine? Watch this site.
The UN makes many vague and
grandiose statements about its
commitment to freedom of the press.
But when a journalist who asked
questions at its noon briefing about
Bangladesh had his family's house in
Dhaka visited by the authorities,
and his media's website blocked,
what did the UN do?
Not much, it seems. After asking the
UN Spokesperson and others in the UN
in writing, Inner City Press for the
Free UN Coalition for Access asked
Spokesman Stephane Dujarric what he
or the UN had done. Video
here.
All that Dujarric would say is that
he had spoken with the journalist.
But what does that accomplish?
Anything said publicly? Or (next
story) to the country? Apparently
not.
On
February 28 Inner City Press for
FUNCA asked the Spokesperson:
1) [The
journalist] who has been asking
questions about Bangladesh at the
noon briefing of late and about whom
Inner City Press asked on February
27 now says that his media has now
been blocked in Bangladesh, and he
fears for the safety of his spouse
and two children there.
2) please explain the correction
today by your office, changing
“saddened” to “condemn” -- was any
complain received by the UN about
the failure to condemn? Was the
initial (or second) statement
prepared by the Department of
Political Affairs?
And
only this answer came: "the
statement resissue was due clerical
error on our part. Nothing
more. On the rest we"ll
revert."
But
there was no reversion. By March 2,
nothing on it. Nor from elsewhere in
the UN system where it and more was
sent. So the question was
asked at the March 2 UN noon
briefing. We'll have more on this.
Inner
City Press: Press freedom question,
both in Bangladesh and about
Bangladesh here. One, there
was a pretty high-profile hacking to
death of a blogger in Bangladesh
named Avijit Roy, and I'm wondering
whether the UN system, CPJ and
others have denounced it for obvious
reasons. What does the UN say
about that? And also our
colleague who's asked a number of
questions here about Bangladesh, I
tried to ask MALU yesterday whether
it was true as reported in
Bangladesh that the Government of
Bangladesh or mission made some
inquiry with the UN trying to
essentially question his
accreditation or make it so he
couldn't ask questions here.
And I wanted to know, what's the
position of the UN on such
inquiries?
Spokesman Dujarric: The UN's
position is if somebody meets the
accreditation criteria, they are
welcome in this room and they are
welcome to ask any questions.
I may cut them off if the preamble
to their question is too long, but
that's just my chair's prerogative.
Inner City Press: Is it
appropriate for Member States to try
to essentially, like, cherry pick
what journalists get to ask
questions?
Spokesman Dujarric: The point
is that once they're in this room,
they're allowed to ask whatever they
want. Okay? On the
attack of the blogger, we spoke to
our human rights colleagues who
obviously condemned the attack and
expressed the hope that the
perpetrators will be quickly brought
to justice through the due process
of law, and they've added that it's
obviously very important that the
space for freedom of expression in
civil society be upheld in
Bangladesh.
After the briefing, Inner City Press
and FUNCA were informed that the
referenced journalist -- not the
murdered blogger -- had his media's
website blocked in Bangladesh, where
there have been arrests for carrying
placards, and threats against the
Daily Star for publishing photographs
of posters. We'll have more on this.
March 2,
2015
On
Bangladesh, ICP Asks UN of Murdered
Blogger Avijit Roy, UN-free Press
Inner City Press and the Free UN
Coalition for Access have also asked
about freedom of expression in
Bangladesh, which has taken an even
more tragic turn. On February
27 Inner City Press
asked,video
here:
Inner
City Press: Press freedom question,
both in Bangladesh and about
Bangladesh here. One, there
was a pretty high-profile hacking to
death of a blogger in Bangladesh
named Avijit Roy, and I'm wondering
whether the UN system, CPJ and
others have denounced it for obvious
reasons. What does the UN say
about that? And also our
colleague who's asked a number of
questions here about Bangladesh, I
tried to ask MALU yesterday whether
it was true as reported in
Bangladesh that the Government of
Bangladesh or mission made some
inquiry with the UN trying to
essentially question his
accreditation or make it so he
couldn't ask questions here.
And I wanted to know, what's the
position of the UN on such
inquiries?
Spokesman Dujarric: The UN's
position is if somebody meets the
accreditation criteria, they are
welcome in this room and they are
welcome to ask any questions.
I may cut them off if the preamble
to their question is too long, but
that's just my chair's prerogative.
Inner City Press: Is it
appropriate for Member States to try
to essentially, like, cherry pick
what journalists get to ask
questions?
Spokesman Dujarric: The point
is that once they're in this room,
they're allowed to ask whatever they
want. Okay? On the
attack of the blogger, we spoke to
our human rights colleagues who
obviously condemned the attack and
expressed the hope that the
perpetrators will be quickly brought
to justice through the due process
of law, and they've added that it's
obviously very important that the
space for freedom of expression in
civil society be upheld in
Bangladesh.
After the briefing, Inner City Press
and FUNCA were informed that the
referenced journalist -- not the
murdered blogger -- had his media's
website blocked in Bangladesh, where
there have been arrests for carrying
placards, and threats against the
Daily Star for publishing
photographs of posters. We'll have
more on this.
On
Bangladesh, ICP Asks UN How Reviews
Peacekeepers, If Meet Zia
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, February 20-- Amid the
violence in Bangladesh, UN
official Oscar Fernandez Taranco
appeared on the schedule of US
Assistant Secretary of State Nisha
Biswal on February 11, to meet at
3:45 pm. Inner City Press surmised,
since Taranco was previously sent to
Dhaka for the UN, that it was about
Bangladesh.
Now
on February 20, Inner City Press
asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric
about Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon's meeting with Bangladesh's
foreign minister, and how UN
Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous
reviews the human rights records of
those the country sends to UN
mission, on which we will have more.
From the UN's
February 20 transcript:
Inner
City Press: I wanted to ask
you on Bangladesh, I saw the readout
of the Secretary-General's
discussion with the Foreign Minister
of Bangladesh, urging, instruct, to
engage constructively with the
opposition. Because there's
some, either confusion I've seen in
the Bangladeshi press, is there,
does this mean to meet with former
Prime Minister Zia and to withdraw
terrorism and other charges against
her? And also, I wanted to ask
this again because there's now a
very specific list of Bangladesh
military figures who are accused of
abuses now and back in May 2013 who
are now serving in missions, i.e.,
there's a list of people serving in
a variety of UN peacekeeping
missions. So I wanted to know,
either now or later today, can
Peacekeeping describe what review
it’s made of Bangladesh military
figures given the concerns…
Spokesman Dujarric: I don't have any
information on the peacekeeping
aspect. I think what the
Secretary-General has been calling
in his meeting with the Foreign
Minister, in the letters that were
sent, is encouraging the Government
to seek concrete ways to de-escalate
the situation and to engage
constructively with the opposition
for the long-term benefit and
development of the country.
Inner City Press: And that
usually means meeting.
Spokesman Dujarric: Engaging
in the opposition to me, the general
definition of opposition are people
who are not in power.
As
noted, we'll have more on Herve
Ladsous' failure to vet Bangladesh's
"peacekeepers," now as his DPKO
won't answer this basic question.
This
comes after it emerged that Ban
Ki-moon sent January 30 letter(s) to
the country, even though the
government there says they only got
the letter much later. What explains
the delay? On February 18, Inner
City Press asked
UN Spokesman Stephane Duajrric:
Inner
City Press: I asked about Bangladesh
yesterday and there was some
response. Now, it's been
confirmed by the Government there
that they received a letter from the
Secretary-General. They said
they received it two days ago, but
in other accounts, it was dated 30
January, and the Government there is
saying they're asking the UN
Resident Representative why it was
lost in the mail for two
weeks. But one, can you
confirm the letter? Can you
say a little bit what's… what you
can, what's in it? And also is
it true that it took two weeks for
Ban Ki-moon's letter to reach Sheikh
Hasina?
Spokesman Dujarric: I can
check on the letter and see what we
can tell you about the letter.
The standard procedure for these
letters is, if there was such a
letter, is that the letter is
transmitted through the Permanent
Mission here and then the Permanent
Mission transmits it back to
capital.
Inner City Press: Right. They
quote from the letter that the
Secretary-General is thanking Sheikh
Hasina for the country's
contributions for
peacekeeping. Some people
think it puts the UN kind of in a
tough spot. Like, what's the
balance between thanking for
much-needed peacekeepers and also
trying to hold somebody accountable
for violence in the streets?
Spokesman: Well, I think you
could do both, but I will look at
the letter for you.
Inner
City Press: there was a report that
Mr. [Oscar Fernández-]Taranco is
going there on a visit, and this was
denied by the Permanent Mission
here, Ambassador [Abdul] Momen, who
said he has not spoken to him.
Can you… is Mr. Taranco seeking to
go to the country, and why hasn't he
spoken with the Permanent
Representative here in New York?
Deputy Spokesman Haq: Well,
right now on the first
question: There's currently no
plan at this point for Mr.
Fernández-Taranco to travel back to
Bangladesh. He has been there
before. He has been tasked by
the Secretary-General to be in
contact with the Government and the
opposition and he will continue with
those efforts. But, at this
point, like I said, there's no
travel to announce.
Back on February 12, Inner City
Press asked UN Department of
Political Affairs chief Jeffrey
Feltman if Taranco in Washington had
been addressing Bangladesh. Feltman
genially replied, yes, that among
other issues. Even though Taranco,
as a product of the UN's so-called
Five Year Rule, moved to the
Peacebuilding Department, he is
still the UNHQ's man on Bangladesh.
Later
at the February 12 noon briefing, UN
spokesman Stephane Dujarric, saying he
was answering Inner City Press'
questions from the day before,
confirmed that Taranco's meeting with
the US State Department's Biswal had
addressed Bangladesh. Was that so
hard?
February
16, 2015
After
Selling UN Jobs in DRC & Haiti,
Cote d'Ivoire Deputy Still in UN
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
Series
UNITED
NATIONS, February 12 -- In UN
Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous,
positions in missions in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo and
Haiti were corruptly put up for
sale, a 49-page “Strictly
Confidential” UN investigative
report obtained and exclusively
published by Inner City Press
on
February 7 show.
On
February 12, despite the UN
investigative report depicting in
detail Cote d'Ivoire's Deputy
Permanent Representative Bafetegue
Ouattara soliciting and taking
bribes to sell posts in Ladsous'
MONUSCO and MINUSTAH missions, Inner
City Press ran into Bafetegue
Ouattara in the basement of the UN,
by the garage. After an exchange of
words, including a demand to know
who leaked the report to Inner City
Press (demand rejected), at noon
Inner City Press asked,
video
here:
Inner
City Press: the corruption one is as
follows: It has to do with
that OIOS [Office of Internal
Oversight Services] report that was
leaked showing the payment of bribes
for peacekeeping posts. I’d
asked Farhan, but I wanted to ask
you more because, this morning, I
actually ran into the named deputy
representative of Côte d’Ivoire,
Bafetegue Ouattara, in the building,
and since this report, which began
in 2013 and was finalized in 2014,
has banking records proof of the
payment of bribes for peacekeeping
posts, I just wondered what does the
UN do? I understand that the
peacekeepers have been asked to
return home, but the person who
solicited and took bribes… does the
UN have no recourse at all?
Spokesman Dujarric: You know,
as you well know… As you well know,
diplomats are sent here by their
Governments. We have no
authority over them. It is up
to national Governments to take
action against these, against
individuals.
Inner City Press: Is there nothing
that a diplomat could do even inside
this building that the UN would take
action on? This was soliciting
bribes for UN posts.
Spokesman: As I said, this
person works for the Government of
the Côte d’Ivoire, it would be up to
them to take appropriate action.
So
again - there is NOTHING that a
diplomat couldn't do at the UN? It
cannot be said that this UN has zero
tolerance for corruption - far from
it. Later on February 12, UN
Peacekeeping chief Ladsous, who
refuses to answer any Press
questions, was hobnobbing with
diplomats in the Delegates' Entrance
to the UN General Assembly. We'll
have more on this.
Inner City Press: Do you think
that this… the panel on peacekeeping
operations under [José] Ramos-Horta,
is this the type of obviously kind
of hole in the system that was
exploited for personal gain that
should be reviewed?
Deputy Spokesman Haq: This is
a clear-cut case of corruption which
was found by our Office for Internal
Oversight Services, and we're
following up on that. Clearly,
quite a good measure of the
follow-up also needs to be handled
by the Member State involved.
But there are many unresolved
questions; watch this site.
Two
days after that exclusive, on
February 9 Inner City Press asked UN
Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq for
the response of UN Peacekeeping,
whose chief Herve Ladsous since
Inner City Press raised corruption
has refused all Press questions,
specifically what Ladsous has done
in the ten months he has been on
notice of this corruption, as shown
by the leaked documents. February
9 video here.
On
February 10, UN deputy spokesperson
Haq came to the noon briefing with a
prepared answer, which he read out.
February
10 video here. He said that
further recruitment of UN Police for
Cote d'Ivoire has been suspended
pending that country taking action.
Inner
City Press asked if all ten police
described as paying bribes have been
repatriated, for the status of the
Deputy Permanent Representative
Ouattara shown taking bribes, and if
inquiries have been made with other
countries which send soldiers or
police to the UN.
Haq said that the ten have
left or are in the process of
leaving. Six months after the final
report? "In the process of leaving"?
Worse,
Haq said it is up to Cote d'Ivoire
if the Deputy Permanent
Representative remains in his post
at and in the UN. Isn't collective
bribes for UN posts a crime? And not
only in Cote d'Ivoire?
Inner
City Press asked Haq if this obvious
loophole allowing corruption will be
reviewed by Ban Ki-moon's panel of
Peace Operations, to which Inner
City Press has already forwarded the
OIOS report. Video
here.
Another
question that has been raised to
Inner City Press by diplomats after
reading
the exclusive is whether
Ladsous had a duty, at least before
the UN Security Council's trip to
Haiti last month led by Chile and
the US to tell Council members that
bribes had been collected for
positions in the MINUSTAH mission
there.
Haq
told Inner City Press that "this was
corruption found by our own internal
oversight." But the report says the
UN's OIOS "received" information about
these possibly corrupt practices on
July 24, 2013. We'll have more on
this.
February 9,
2015
Exclusive:
UN Jobs Sold By Ivorian Mission in
Ladsous' UN Peacekeeping, Leaks Show
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS, February 7 -- In UN
Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous,
position in missions from the
Democratic Republic of the Congo to
Haiti was corruptly put up for sale,
a 49-page “Strictly Confidential” UN
investigative report obtained and exclusively
published by Inner City Press
show.
The report, by the Office of
Internal Oversight Services, is an
“Investigation into Corrupt
Practices in the Selection and
Recruitment of Members of UN Police
for UN Peacekeeping Operations,”
#353/13. Referred to is “Le
Departement des operations de
maintien de la paix et son SGA
M. Herve Ladsous.”
The documents show that Ladsous was
formally informed of the corrupt
recruitment practices in his
Department by Cote d'Ivoire all the
way back on April 22, 2014. But,
whistle-blowing sources tell Inner
City Press, little to nothing has
been done. “It's a cover up,” one
source complained to Inner City
Press. Hence this publication.
Inner City Press, prior to this
exclusive publication, has raised
its contents to two members of the
Cote d'Ivoire Permanent Mission to
the UN, referred to throughout.
Ladsous, once questions of
corruption was raised, has refused
all Inner City Press questions,
for example here.
Under Ladsous, the Cote d'Ivoire
mission, in particular its Deputy
Permanent Representative Bafetigue
Ouattara, was allowed to charge
money to choose and promote UN
Peacekeeping personnel. One witness
said it was like Bafetigue Ouattara
“had your career in his
hands.”
(While Inner City Press is informed
that Bafetigue Ouattara is no
relation to the Ivorian president,
others say he let people believe
that he was, and that despite the
exposure of his role to Ladsous
since at least April 22, 2014,
Permanent Representative Youssoufou
Bamba has suffering more
repercussions.
In
a January 5, 2015 letter, Bamba
states that he told Ladsous of the
racket (“practique de racket”)
in UN Peacekeeping missions.. On
January 22, 2015, Ladsous refused to
answer any Inner City Press
question, saying “I do not respond
to you, Mister.” Video
here.
The corruption was first discovered
in Ladsous' mission in the DR Congo,
MONUSCO. Bafetigue Ouattara
was copied on correspondence and
thereupon wrote to all Ivorian
officers in MONUSCO coaching them on
what to say and not say. Hubertine
Foue, part of the corruption in MONUSCO,
was by then in Ladsous' mission
in Haiti, MINUSTAH.
But
Ivorian authorities in Abidjan -- in
the Ouattara government -- were said
to ban Ms. Foue from traveling to
the UN in New York to be
interviewed.
The “strictly confidential” UN
report says that Bafetigue Ouattara
charged $4,000 to arrange placements
in Ladsous' UN Peacekeeping
missions. Paragraph 39. Several of
the payments were made via the Trust
Merchant Bank account of Hubertine
Foue as an intermediary. Paragraphs
40 and 43.
After detailing sample cases of
payments for jobs in Ladsous' UN
Peacekeeping mission, the report
detailed the transfer of the
payments from Hubertine Foue
to Bafetigue Ouattara, for
example 10 million CFA Francs put
into the ABRI Housing Project.
Paragraph 221, Figure 6.
Another part of the payment was to
buy Bafetigue Ouattara, then living
in West Orange, New Jersey, a car, a
Honda Pilot. To procure jobs in
Ladsous' DRC mission MONUSCO,
Hubertine Foue transfered to
Bafetigue Ouattara bank account in
Cote d'Ivoire $18,834, then $13,000.
But what has been done? Why has this
been covered up? Who should be held
accountable? How will the ongoing
review panel into UN Peace
Operations, chaired by Jose Ramos
Horta, deal with this, and
Ladsous, the fourth Frenchman in a row
to head UN Peacekeeping? We'll have
more in this exclusive series. Watch
this site.
January 30,
2015
For UN on
Middle East, Mladenov to Replace
Serry, More Coming
On
Ukraine, NZ Wants More “Purposeful”
UNSC Engagement, Including Behind
Closed Doors
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Country by
Country
UNITED
NATIONS, January 21 -- Three weeks
into a two year UN Security
Council term, New Zealand's
Permanent Representative Jim McLay
on Wednesday offered a criticism,
however diplomatic, to the Council's
work on Ukraine.
After speeches by his US counterpart
Samantha Power and Russia's Vitaly
Churkin, among others, McLay said
that “we believe the Security
Council must live up to its
responsibility under the UN Charter.
This Council met in 2014 no fewer
than 27 times to discuss the
situation in the Ukraine. So far
we've seen very little impact from
all this high level attention.”
“And so it is,” McLay continued,
“that at this meeting number 28, New
Zealand affirms that this Council is
properly seized of this matter and
it calls for a more purposeful
Council engagement with a real focus
upon supporting efforts for
negotiation a solution to this
conflict. Only then we will see
tangible outcomes for those most
affected, the people of Eastern
Ukraine.”
When Ambassador McLay left the
Security Council chamber, this
reporter asked him what he meant
about this “more purposeful Council
engagement” on a topic which has
devolved into little but accusatory
speeches.
McLay stopped and replied, “I'd
prefer to leave that until we have
some closed consultations.” He added
of the day's Council meeting on
Ukraine, “It was going to be in
private, then some said it's going
to be in public. We didn't object to
that, but as you and I both know...”
His voice trailed off.
In the open meeting, Russia's
Churkin said that “at the beginning
of today's meeting we were supposed
to have closed consultations to
actually take a look at whether or
not the Security Council could makes
it contribution to settling the
Ukrainian crisis. However the
delegation of the United States
waved its hand and, no.”
Could taking at least part of the
Security Council's meetings about
Ukraine behind closed doors, where
negotiation or at least more direct
talk is possible, be a New Zealand
contribution to the Council's work?
Watch this site.
January 19,
2015
For
OCHA Race, Outside Input Banned
As UAE Joins Germany, Italy, UK
3
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive Follow
Up
UNITED
NATIONS,
January 17, Video
I here -- Minutes after the
UN announced on November 26
the departure of Humanitarian
Affairs chief Baroness Valerie
Amos, Inner City Press asked
UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq
if the vacancy would be advertised
for candidates from all countries,
or if it is set aside for Amos'
United Kingdom. And, Inner City
Press asked on January 16, will
the aid group OCHA works with play
any role in the review? Video
II here.
On January 9, Inner City Press
exclusively reported that the UK
after first submitting only the
name of Andrew Lansley has added
too more, scarcely more qualified.
And, significantly, the Italy had
nominated Emma Bonino, sources
exclusively told Inner City Press,
and Germany nominated Martin
Kobler, currently the head of the
UN's Mission in the Congo.
On January 14, Inner City Press
was informed by sources of another
candidate, a minister from the
United Arab Emirates, Lubna Khalid
Al Qasimi, a member of the ruling
family of Sharjah. The UAE has, it
is noted,, the "Humanitarian
City." And the UAE did give $1
million to OCHA's CERF last month.
Bonino is well regarded in
international circles -- one
source said she is "too strong a
character" for UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon to choose,
another notes, sadly, health
concerns -- and Kobler after Iraq
has his experience in the Congo,
for better and worse. Either is
more experience than the UK
troika.
Beyond Lansley, whose
qualification is a brief visit to
UN health conferences, the other
UK candidates sources tell Inner
City Press are Caroline Spelman
and Stephen O'Brien.
On January 17, Inner City Press
asked Ban's lead spokesman
Stephane Dujarric, video
here, transcript
here:
Inner
City Press: On the OCHA
recruitment process to find the
new person, I've been informed
that the UK has submitted two
additional names to make a total
of three, that Italy, Germany and
UAE have also put forward names
and I'm sure others. So, is
it a wide open process? Have
other countries submitted more
than one? Is it still a
matter of looking, giving in the
first instance a look to the UK of
those three names? What of the
request by a number of highly
respected humanitarian NGOs
[non-governmental organizations]
that the inter-agency standing
committee, i.e. these NGOs that
are outside of the UN system, be
given some role in the review
process? And I wanted to
know what’s the response of the
Secretary to that request.
Spokesman Dujarric: Obviously, the
recruitment process has been to
get the best possible
person. Not for the first
time, you seem to have more
information than I do. I
have to say, we will not go into
the details of the recruitment
process. As we said earlier,
a call went out for names, for
candidates. A recruitment
process is ongoing but the
Secretary-General is solely
responsible and it is being done
under his authority.
Inner City Press: In
previous cases, even when there's
no short list given out, there's a
review panel, and I guess the
request… since it's been made
semi-publicly in a petition,
especially for a job that involves
providing aid in conjunction with
NGOs all over the world--
Spokesman Dujarric: I think
the Secretary-General and his
senior staff are well aware of
what the job implies. And
one could argue that every senior
job in the UN involves working
with outside partners. The
recruitment is being handled by
the Secretary-General and his
staff.
So... no.
Could the UK really lose this
Under Secretary General post? It's
looking more likely. If Kobler
were chosen, would fellow German
Angela Kane have to leave? We'll
have more on this.Follow
@innercitypressFollow
@FUNCA_info
January 12,
2015
Jailing of
Journalists in Myanmar & Saudi
Flogging Blogger Raised at UN by FUNCA
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
January 8 -- Amid attacks on
journalists and freedom of
expression in countries all over the
world, the United Nations under
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is no
sanctuary, nor champion, the Free
UN Coalition for Access has
found.
Beyond stealthattempts
to get the Press thrown
out of the UN, there is often
little but platitudes about attacks
elsewhere. FUNCA is Pressing
the issue.
On January 8, Inner City Press on
behalf of the Free UN Coalition for
Access asked UN Spokesman Stephane
Dujarric about Myanmar jailing at
least 10 journalists, and Saudi
Arabia preparing to flog a blogger,
video
here:
Inner
City Press / FUNCA: I have two
“freedom of the press”
questions. One is about
Myanmar. The UN country team there.
I saw that the Deputy
Secretary-General’s meeting with the
UN resident coordinator from Myanmar
today. In light of “Je Suis
Charlie," I wanted to ask you the
following: Myanmar is listed
as one of the top 10 jailers of
journalists. At least 10
journalists are in jail for having
criticized the Government. And
I wanted to know, is it possible to
know now or perhaps to hear from
this resident coordinator, is this
among the issues that the UN raises
to Myanmar and what does the UN
think of Myanmar’s record for
locking up journalists for what they
write?
Spokesman Dujarric: I think
the meeting is an internal meeting,
as there are many between the
Secretary-General… between the
Deputy Secretary-General and the
resident coordinator. It’s a
routine meeting. As a
principle and as I’ve said here
repeatedly over the last few days,
the Secretary-General has always
reiterated his call for full freedom
of the press. He has spoken
out when journalists have been
jailed and that’s a consistent
position of the United Nations.
Inner City Press / FUNCA: How
about flogged?
Spokesman Dujarric: Oh, go ahead.
Inner City Press / FUNCA: it
seems like the timing is just right,
if he’s ready to speak out.
There’s a blogger in Saudi Arabia
called Raif Badawi, he’s been
sentenced to 10 years in prison and
1,000 lashes for his blogs.
And according to Amnesty
International, he’s going to be
receiving 50 flogs a week for the
next 20 weeks and it begins
Friday. So I wanted to know…
this seems pretty extreme.
Spokesman: Listen, I have… I
have not seen that report. I
will take look at it.
Seven hours later, nothing, even as
others have commented on the
impending flogging of this blogger.
On January 6, Inner City Press on
behalf of the Free
UN Coalition for Access asked
UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric about
attacks by Turkey on Dutch
journalist Frederike Geerdink whose
home in Diyarbakir was searched amid
dark self-serving of terrorism.
UN Spokesman Dujarric replied he
hadn't heard of the case. Video
here.
Also on January 6, FUNCA asked UN
Spokesman Dujarric about Kuwait
sentencing to one year and eight
months in jail Saqr Al-Hashash for
insulting - Tweeting against -- the
Emir. The UN's response was a
platitude. But FUNCA will continue.
On January 2 just after the
UN accepted Palestine's
papers to join the ICC,
Inner City Press asked
Mansour if the decision has
been made to ask for action
on Israel at the ICC, and
about the CRomnibus
appropriations bill
provision to cut US funding
to the Palestinian Authority
if it does so. Video
here and embedded
below.
Mansour said Palestine has
already asked the ICC
Registrar for retroactivity
to cover the last Gaza war
in 2014, and that he would
met with a representative of
the ICC Registrar, who
happened to be in New York,
in an hour's time.
On the threatened funding
cut, which Senator Chuck
Schumer issued a press
release about, Mansour said
it was strange to punish the
Palestinians for seeking
justice.
Inner City Press also asked
Mansour if Nigeria's
absention on the Palestine
resolution surprised him. He
said to focus on the larger
power, and that Nigeria's
Explanation of Vote sounded
like they had voted Yes.
UN
Gave Its Staff's Dollars to Sudan,
Falsely Blamed on US Sanctions
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
Must Credit
UNITED
NATIONS, December 27, more
here – With the UN belatedly
moving to stand up to pressure
from the Sudanese government of Omar
al Bashir, who has ordered UN
officials Yvonne Helle and Ali
Al-Za'tari to leave the
country, Inner City Press has
learned of a particularly shameful
way in which the UN and Al-Za'tari
tried to placate the Sudanese
government, to the extend of
giving it the U.S. dollars of UN
national staff in Sudan.
Last week Inner City Press exclusively
reported on the UN Federal
Credit Union abruptly telling UN
national staff in Sudan that their
accounts were being frozen and the
dollars in them transferred to the
Bank of Khartoum. Inner City Press
has asked
the UN, including UNDP, OCHA
and UNFPA,
to explain this.
Today Inner City Press exclusively
publishes a complaint filed with
Ali Al-Za'tari about the change, here.
Inner City Press notes that the
decision to give the UN national
staff's dollars to the Bank of
Khartoum flies in the face, in
fact, of the sanctions. The
complaint to Al-Za'tari states
that
“UNFCU
closed checking and savings
accounts of national staff without
prior notification and
consultation and unilaterally
transferred all funds of staff
members' accounts to local saving
accounts to be paid in SDG by Bank
of Khartoum... Based on the long
years of established provision of
the UNFCU service, majority of
national staff have made long term
financial arrangements taking into
account UNFCU deposits facilities
which provided solutions to many
of their problems such as medical
treatments and education to them
and their families.”
UNFCU's President and CEO William
Predmore told national staff in
Sudan that that “as you may be
aware, UNFCU is subject to U.S.
Regulations (including those
promulgated by the Office of
Foreign Assets Controls (OFAC)).
In order to ensure compliance with
those regulations, checking
account services and debit card
services were terminated for local
staff.”
(Many were stranded with AMT cards
that didn't work, while their
dollars were transferred to the
Bank of Khartoum.)
Contrary to what UNFCU's Predmore
told staff in writing, the US OFAC
has told UN staff that sanctions
law and regulation does NOT
require what the UN has done,
citing 31 CFR 538.531.
Tellingly, Predmore's letter to
staff also says that the switch
was made pursuant to UNDP's rules.
What rules?
Now the UN Security Council is set
to meet
on December 30 about Sudan's
order to Ali Al-Za'tari and Yvonne
Helle to leave; the Council will
say they are in support of UN
staff. What will they do about UN
staff members' dollars having been
given to the Sudanese authorities?
In essence, UNDP and its Resident
Coordinator Ali Al-Za'tari gave
Khartoum the U.S. dollars of UN
national staff, without notice.
Even that wasn't enough to keep
him in the country. But it is
reminiscent of another UN scam
Inner City Press exclusive
uncovered, the overpayment
of Myanmar by inflated foreign
exchange rate in the wake of
Cyclone Nargis.
On Sri
Lanka, Silva Memories In
Front of Ball of UNCA, Run
by Kohona's Ex-Landlord
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, December 18 --
Earlier this week Inner City
Press learned that the Sri
Lankan military figure the
government sent to the UN,
where he became one of
Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon's and Herve Ladsous'
senior advisers on
peacekeeping, was now
leaving New York.
There and elsewhere since,
Inner City Press did indeed
receive confirmation that
Shavendra Silva is leaving
New York. Some put on a
positive gloss, that
Shavendra Silva is returning
to Sri Lanka at this time to
help on Mahindra Rajapaksa's
re-election campaign. Others
said that as a military
figure, Silva cannot do so.
While in New York, beyond
being put on Ban's and
Ladsous's Senior Advisory
Group on Peacekeeping
Operations -- Ban said it
was entirely up to member
states -- Silva has been a
man about town.
See, for example, this
tweeted photograph of him,
in "Times Square Gossip,"
ironically at the Wounded
Warriors Project gala in the
Edison Ballroom, with Wije
Kottahachchi and Rita
Cosby. (By contrast,
UNCA has blocked
Inner City Press from its
moribund Twitter feed,
despite Ban's Office of the
Spokesman claiming that UNCA
gets information out to all
correspondents who cover the
UN. To boot, UNCA's website
is now restricted to those
with a password. Some
"journalists" organization.)
At Shavendra Silva's
farewell banquet, he praised
other military figures and
even sang a song about Sri
Lanka. Kohona spoke about
their different paths;
another said that it was
cricket that led Shavendra
Silva to do what he did.
And what was that?
Back on December 9 when the
UN's Adviser on the
Prevention of Genocide Adama
Dieng took questions, Inner
City Press asked him if he
considered what happened in
Sri Lanka in 2009 (and
before and after) to be
genocide, and of the work of
and reaction to the UN
panel, see below.
Dieng said what happened in
2009 was a failure of the
international community,
with the killing of
thousands "under our eyes."
Video
here.
Dieng cited the UN's Petrie
report, and then Ban Ki-moon
(who'd gone on a Rajapaksa
sponsored victory tour of
northern Sri Lanka in mid
2009) later establishing a
"Rights Up Front" program.
(As Inner City Press points
out, Ban has tellingly
disconnected Rights Up Front
from its roots of failure in
Sri Lanka.)
December 15, 2014
From
Haiti, 2d Video of UN Shooting
Protesters, Threatening Media,
Censors Award
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, December 13 -- UN Peacekeepers in Haiti
have fired pistols and tear gas into crowds of people
protesting the failure to hold elections. Video here; a second video is here.
Now who will be help accountable?
With questions unanswered, UN Peacekeeping under
Herve Ladsous had the gall on the afternoon of December 13 to
rebroadcast MINUSTAH self-congratulations that ignored its
filmed shooting at protesters and threatening media. Inner
City Press initially asked the UN Spokesman:
"What were the rules of engagement? Who gave the order to use
pistol(s) and, separately, tear gas? What is the UN's
understanding of injuries caused? What was the role, and is
the comment, of the Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping
Operations Herve Ladsous?"
Inner City Press twice,
in two media, asked for an explanation or comment from
the UN Spokesman, and Saturday afternoon received this:
"The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti,
(MINUSTAH), has been informed of an alleged excessive use of
force, while responding to violent demonstrators targeting law
enforcement personnel supporting the Haitian National Police
(HNP) and causing injuries and destruction of property, during
the demonstration in Port-au-Prince today. The Mission takes
this allegation very seriously and immediately opened an
investigation to establish the facts."
Artfully, or inartfully, the MINUSTAH statement does
not state that it is the UN's own alleged (filmed) excessive
use of force - so is the UN investigating itself? We've asked
the UN Spokesperson and weekend duty officer this:
Because
the MINUSTAH statement leaves it unclear, can
you confirm that it is the UN's own “alleged
excessive use of force” that the UN is now
investigating?
What
is the time frame for the investigation?
Who
is doing the investigation? MINUSTAH's human
rights unit?
Can
to state now that the results of the
investigation will be made public?
Since
the MINUSTAH statement expresses conclusions
about the demonstrators (“violent,” “and causing
injuries and destruction of property”) please
provide similar preliminary findings as to UN
Peacekeepers' action shown on this video:http://youtu.be/38owUZrNHzA
Hours later, no answer, even as the second
video emerged. Others in the UN system have been asked; we'll
have more on that.
Inner City Press has also sought comment from
prospective UN-related
awardeeAndrea
Bocelli, slated to accept without reference to the UN
bringing cholera or now shooting into crowds there an award
from the UN's Censorship Alliance next week -- and continues
to await response.
December 8,
2014
At
UN, 2d Sovereign Debt
Restructuring Resolution Passes
128-16-34
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
December 5 -- The issue of
sovereign debt restructuring was
taken up against at the UN on
December 5, with a resolution on
modalities for negotiation
sponsored by Bolivia for the Group
of 77 and China put to a vote in
the Second Committee of the UN
General Assembly.
The US spoke against the
resolution and in favor of dealing
with it through the International
Monetary Fund -- note that the US
is blocking IMF reform -- and was
one of 16 countries to vote
"no." 34 countries abstained
and fully 128 countries voted yes.
Afterward Bolovia's
Permanent Representative Sacha
Llorenti and his counterpart from
Argentina Maria
Cristina Perceval held a
press conference in the UN Press
Briefing Room.
Llorenti emphasized the greater
legitimacy of the UN General
Assembly -- one country, one vote
-- over the pay to play
environment of the IMF. He
contrasted the 16 "no" voting
countries as a percentage of those
in the GA, versus their power in
the IMF.
Perceval joined and expanded in
this comments, and declined to
comment on the company Inner City
Press had asked about, Highland
Capital. She said this is not
about Argentina's problem but the
multilateral process. She said
that Argentina took a lead on the
issue of the disappeared, though
it was too late to help Argentina.
While understandable, there's
nothing wrong with a particular
country's problems being an engine
for raising an issue of wider
import. This is how things get
changed, if they do, says the Free
UN Coalition for Access.
We'll have more on this.
December 1,
2014
On Police Brutality,
UNCAT Speaks on Chicago, Silent on Mike
Brown, Ferguson
Now
they've gone online - and on police
brutality they discuss Chicago but not
Ferguson, Missouri, from which the
family and supporters of Michael
Brown, killed by police officer Darren
Wilson, even traveled to Geneva. The
report as belatedly put
online says:
Excessive
use of force and police brutality
26.
The Committee is concerned about
numerous reports of police brutality
and
excessive use of force by law
enforcement officials, in particular
against persons belonging to certain
racial and ethnic groups, immigrants
and LGBTI individuals, racial
profiling by police and immigration
offices and growing militarization
of policing activities. The
Committee is particularly concerned
at the reported current police
violence in Chicago, especially
against African-American and Latino
young people who are allegedly being
consistently profiled, harassed and
subjected to excessive force by
Chicago Police Department (CPD)
officers. It also expresses its deep
concern at the frequent and
recurrent
police shootings or fatal pursuits
of unarmed black individuals. In
this regard, the Committee notes the
alleged difficulties to hold police
officers and their employers
accountable for abuses. While noting
the information provided by the
delegation that over
the past five years 20
investigations were opened into
allegations of systematic police
department violations, and over 330
police officers were criminally
prosecuted, the
Committee regrets the lack of
statistical data available on
allegations of police brutality and
the lack of information on the
result of the investigations
undertaken in respect of those
allegations. With regard to the acts
of torture committed by CPD
Commander Jon Burge
and others under his command between
1972 and 1991, the Committee notes
the
information provided by the State
party that a federal rights
investigation did not develop
sufficient evidence to prove beyond
a reasonable doubt that prosecutable
constitutional
violations occurred, However, it
remains concerned that, despite the
fact that Jon Burge
was convicted for perjury and
obstruction of justice, no Chicago
police officer has been
convicted for these acts of torture
for reasons including the statute of
limitations expiring.
While noting that several victims
were ultimately exonerated of the
underlying crimes, the
vast majority of those tortured
–most of them African Americans–,
have received no
compensation for the extensive
injuries suffered (arts. 11, 12, 13,
14 and 16).
The State party should:
(a) Ensure that all instances of
police brutality and excessive use
of force by
law enforcement officers are
investigated promptly, effectively
and impartially by an
independent mechanism with no
institutional or hierarchical
connection between the
investigators and the alleged
perpetrators;
(b) Prosecute persons suspected of
torture or ill-treatment and, if
found
guilty, ensure that they are
punished in accordance with the
gravity of their acts;
(c) Provide effective remedies and
rehabilitation to the victims;
(d) Provide redress for CPD torture
survivors by supporting the passage
of
the Ordinance entitled Reparations
for the Chicago Police Torture
Survivors.
The
words Ferguson, Missouri and Brown
appear nowhere in the report. In a
Geneva press conference which was not
on UN webcast or even the Treaty
Bodies website, one UNCAT member was
quoted by CNN. So it goes with the UN.
We'll have more on this.
The day after St. Louis Country
prosecutor Bob McCulloch blandly read
out a justification of the
non-indictment of Police Officer
Darren Wilson for killing Mike Brown
in Ferguson, Missouri, on November 25
in New York a protest march came
by the United Nations, taking
over First Avenue with non-violent
chants of "Hands up, don't shoot!"
The
UN locked its gates, and New York City
sent Corrections
Department busses to park in
front of the UN compound. Inner City
Press joined the march, headed to
Times Square, video
here and see below.
On
November 28 at the UN in Geneva
reports including one on Torture and
police brutality in the United States
will be released. On November 24 the
UN said it was restricting embargoed
copies of this report to its
"UNOG-based press corps" - that is,
media that can afford to have a
correspondent in Switzerland.
How
many of the media that have
consistently covered the murder of
Mike Brown can afford that?
Inner City Press on behalf of the Free UN
Coalition for Access immediately
challenged this restricted
distribution. First Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon's spokesman in New York,
and now the UN in Geneva have refused
to lift the restriction, without
substantive explanation. On November
27, Inner City Press and FUNCA
asked:
"Now on the
eve of the press conference,
reiterating the request below, that
embargoed copies not be needlessly
restricted only to "UNOG-based" press
-
there is as much or more interest by
US-based media in the report on US
torture and police brutality as by
media based in Geneva. But
US-based media that have reporters
based in UNOG are larger, more
corporate media. So that particular
embargoed report should be released to
all UN system accredited media, not
only those with reporters based at
UNOG. The Free UN
Coalition for Access says that
should go the other way, too --
embargoed UN reports should not be
restricted to NY / UNHQ based media
either."
On November 27, the UN in Geneva via
Liz Throssell Media Officer for the UN
Treaty Bodies, replied:
"Dear
Matthew, The six-hour time difference
is very much in your favour, and
unlike the journalists here you will
have an entire working day to report
on the Committee against Torture's
"Concluding Observations" on the eight
countries they have been reviewing
this session. These will be posted
online at around 8:00 a.m. New York
Time -- you will be able to find
whichever ones that interest you by
scrolling down through the countries
listed here."
But
this is not responsive. As Inner City
Press and FUNCA have replied, "the
request is that you not arbitrarily
limit embargoed copies only to
“UNOG-based journalists.” They will be
able to publish stories at the embargo
time, while despite your message,
others will not."
Why
limited pre-distribution of this
report to the media which can afford
to have a Switzerland-based
correspondent? What is wrong
with the UN? Click here for Inner City
Press and FUNCA's coverage of the
opaque race to head the UN Department
of Public Information, here.
The UN must do better.
UN
Rights Chief Zeid Faces Staff
Protests, Lack of Transparency
in NY, Leaks
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
November 21 -- Protesting layoffs
and lack of transparency, staff at
the UN Office of the High
Commission for Human Rights are
petitioning new High Commissioner
Prince
Zeid for due process and
accountability. Inner City Press
has obtained the petition and is exclusively
putting it online here.
In it, the OHCHR staff
call for “transparent and
comprehensive information on
prospective cuts and
restructuring, detailing their
impact on savings and OHCHR’s
overall financial situation...
tangible accountability measures
by attributing responsibility for
the present crisis and taking the
requisite action to prevent
another financial crisis of this
magnitude in the future and a
meaningful dialogue and truly
consultative decision-making on
ongoing financial including
putting decisions on hold.”
The staff complain to Zeid
that “the lack of transparency,
consultation and information on
who, where or how, not to mention
why, some of us are affected is
deplorable and unacceptable.”
The lack of transparency
in the current OHCHR extends from
Geneva to New York, where the Office
anonymously spun its Ukraine
report to hand-picked
scribes then refused when asked to
explain the basis.
Inner City Press on
behalf of the Free
UN Coalition for Access asked
at
the November 20 UN noon briefing
that the New York representative
of Prince Zeid hold a press
availability about the report,
including incongruities in report
on labor issues such as the
cut-off of pensions, click
here for that.
On
accountability, the staff complain
that the “senior management level
evidently bears much more
responsibility. Yet, it is other
individuals at lower levels who
are paying the price for this
mismanagement.”
Prince Zeid has yet
to publicly address this scandal,
though Inner City Press
understands that no only is their
an investigation by the UN Office
of Internal Oversight Services,
but also inquiry from member
states such as Sweden. Inquiry on
them was not permitted at Zeid's
one press availability this week
in New York. Zeid's
spokesman has indicated there will
be no comment at all until OIOS'
"investigation is completed."
Since the OIOS process is far from
transparent, this is the way the
UN system tries to make issues go
away, but it is even less
appropriate at the UN's human
rights office.
Zeid should
address this scandal - and his
Office's staff. Watch this site.
On
Ebola, IMF Tells ICP Epidemic
into 2d Half of 2015, More Funds
Needed
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
November 13, updated with transcript
-- When the International Monetary
Fund held its biweekly embargoed
media briefing on November 13,
Inner City Press again asked about
Ebola, including new World Bank
estimates of budget shortfalls in
Liberia.
Inner
City Press on November 13 asked,
"On Ebola, what is the IMF's
response to the US call for debt
forgiveness for three countries?
The World Bank has indicated that
Liberia's revised 2014-15 budget
has an unmet financing gap of more
than half of the budget deficit
projected at over $300 million.
What can or will the IMF do about
this?"
IMF Deputy Spokesperson William
Murray replied that given the
flare up of Ebola cases in
unexpected areas, "the IMF staff's
previously projections were
assuming the epidemic would be
brought under control in the first
quarter of 2015. However it now
appears that it could be well into
the second half of 2015 before the
Ebola epidemic is brought under
control in these three countries."
Full transcript below.
Murray
said, "further support, preferably
in grants form, will be needed."
He replied similarly on debt
relief, that the IMF would reach
out to donors; he said that
Executive Board involvement will
be needed.
IMF's
William Murray: This is from
Matthew Lee, Inner City Press.
On Ebola, if not answered, what
is the IMF's response to the
U.S. call for debt forgiveness
for three countries, and given
the World Bank's estimate of
budget shortfalls in Liberia,
what is the IMF going -- IMF
doing, or will it do? Well
Matthew I think I answered that
question earlier. I mean, we
have -- we've been closely and
carefully following developments
in West Africa and working
actively with the authorities
there. One thing I wanted to
underline, is that you know, the
situation in Guinea, Liberia and
Sierra Leone remains precarious.
The international effort
underway, together with
behavioral changes on the part
of populations, is making
progress in controlling the
disease. However, although the
incidents in new cases has
declined in parts of Liberia,
there have been recent flare-ups
in previously little affected
towns. The IMF staffs' previous
projections -- we're assuming
that the epidemic would be
brought under control by the
first quarter of 2015. However
it now appears that it could be
well into the second half of
2015 before the Ebola outbreak
is brought under control in the
three affected countries. As a
result, the economic outlook for
these countries is now worse
than it is at the time of the
recent additional IMF support,
and significant financing gaps
are emerging for 2015. Further
budget supports through
bilateral and multilateral
donors, preferably in grant form
will be needed. And just to
underscore, should the current
outbreak be more protracted or
spread to more countries within
Sub-Saharan Africa, it would
have larger spillovers,
undermining confidence,
investment decisions and trade
activities. So the bottom line
is we're closely monitoring the
situation in the neighboring
countries as they step up Ebola
preparedness measures and
address other fallouts of the
epidemic.
At the UN on November 12 when the
UN Security Council met, Liberia's
Ambassador Marjon Kamara spoke not
of the IMF but of the World Bank,
saying "the World Bank recently
gave a gloomy depiction of the
economic effects of the disease on
the three most affected countries
- Guinea, Liberia and Sierra
Leone."
Per Thoresson, Deputy
Ambassador of Sweden which chairs
the UN Peacebuilding configuration
on Liberia, specified that
“according to the World Bank, the
two-year regional financial impact
could reach $32.6 billion by the
end of 2015. The World Bank also
indicated that Liberia's revised
2014-15 budget has an unmet
financing gap of more than half of
the budget deficit projected at
over $300 million.”
So where's the money going to come
from?
November
10, 2014
As
Sierra
Leone President Jails Journalist
for Ebola Reporting, What Will
UN Do?
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
November 5 -- After the President
of Sierra Leone jailed a
journalist for his reporting on
Ebola, as well as for daring to
question President Ernest Bai
Koroma's performance, what has the
UN done?
The UN had a peacekeeping mission
in the country, has a Country Team
and now the UN Mission on Ebola
Emergency Response, UNMEER. So at
the UN's November 5 noon briefing
Inner City Press asked:
Inner
City Press: In Sierra Leone a
journalist, David Tam-Baryoh, has been
put in jail, maximum security prison,
for his reporting on Ebola under a law
that says that it is a crime to
undermine Government efforts to fight
the epidemic. He's also questioned the
third term for the Presiden Koroma.
So, I wanted to know what is the UN
system, given its involvement through
UNMEER and otherwise, what do they say
about this case? Also, it seems does
UNMEER have any human rights mandate
or component to it? I thought all kind
of UN entities had some overarching or
inherent Rights Up Front…
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric: There's a country office in
all three countries. Human Rights Up
Front does apply to all UN staff and
missions. What is… I don't have the
particulars of this case, but it is
clear that journalists need to be
allowed to do their work free of
intimidation and fear.
Inner
City Press: What about a law that
says, obviously, it's important to
fight Ebola, but should a journalist
be, should a law exist in which you
clearly could be arrested for…?
Spokesman:
I think, clearly, the media has a very
important role to play in fighting… in
part of our response against Ebola,
whether it's fighting stigmatization
or other issues.
Those are generalities,
but what is the UN doing? What
does Ban Ki-moon's "Rights Up
Front," born of his failure in Sri
Lanka in 2009, really mean? Inner
City Press and the Free UN
Coalition for Access have been
told that UN inquiries are being
made. We'll have more on this.
In Burkina
Faso, US Warns Army Against Taking
Advantage, UN UNclear
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, October 31 -- After
the ouster in Burkina Faso of Blaise
Compaore's 27-year rule, the US State
Department Spokesperson on the evening
of October 31, Halloween, said:
"The
United States is concerned about the
unfolding events in Burkina
Faso. We regret the violence
and the loss of life in Burkina Faso
and call on all parties to avoid
further violence. We reiterate
our call for all parties to follow
the constitutionally mandated
process for the transfer of power
and holding of democratic elections
following the resignation of former
President Blaise Compaore. We
condemn any attempts by the military
or other parties to take advantage
of the situation for
unconstitutional gain and call on
all parties to respect the people’s
support for the democratic process."
Minutes
later the US State Department issued a
travel alert on "the risks of travel
to or residing in Burkina Faso and
recommends U.S. citizens defer all
non-essential travel. This
Travel Alert will expire on January
29, 2015. On October 31, Burkina
Faso’s President Compaore
resigned. The status of a
transitional government remains
unclear. There are incidents of
looting throughout the capital city of
Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, and other
parts of the country."
For days the UN's Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon has been vaguely calling
for calm. On October 31 at noon Inner
City Press asked Ban's spokesman
Stephane Dujarric:
Inner City Press:
the UN seems to in peace processes work
pretty closely with Burkina Faso. So I
wonder when, if you can maybe say, when the
President began to talk about changing term
limits and going beyond his current 27 years
of rule, did anyone in the UN system say,
maybe it's a bad idea, maybe it's time…
maybe your Government is too strong, maybe
it's time for somebody else? Or was it
hands off? What was the view of that?
Spokesman
Dujarric: I think it's… first of all,
I doubt that there were any consultations by
the President and the UN on what his
decisions were, what the parliament's
decision was going to be, you know, so I
think we're trying to imagine conversations
that were not had.
Inner City Press:
What I'm saying is, the UN has actively
asked the Burkina authorities to play a role
in a variety of regional conflicts; it seems
like there are kind of discussions, and also
by making that request, they're saying that
this 27-year person is a…
Spokesman:
I think, you know, Burkina Faso has a role
to play in the regional… in keeping regional
peace. I think every country in any
region has that role to play.
Inner
City Press: What's Mr. Chambas
doing there?
Spokesman:
He was sent by the
Secretary-General. He'll be
meeting with key stakeholders.
He arrived this morning.
Obviously, the situation is changing
at a very rapid clip, and he will be
talking with key stakeholders.
Ah, the UN.
Why did the
US - and the UN Secretariat -- support
his 27 year rule, while criticizing
others?
Twenty seven
years ago, Thomas Sankara was overthrown and
killed in a coup led by Blaise Compaore.
It was under
Sankara that the country's name change
from "Upper Volta" to Burkina Faso, land
of the upright. History records two
meetings of Sankara and France's
Francois Mitterand. At the Vittel
conference, Mitterand stared stony-faced
ahead as Sankara spoke of seeking
foreign relations with countries beyond
France.
And later,
after South African apartheid leader
Pieter Botha had visited France, Sankara
criticized Mitterand to his face in
Ouagadougou, after Mitterand drove
through the streets waving at the crowd.
Soon the Compaore coup would kill
Sankara, and France and Boigny would
congratulate Compaore. The rest is
history.
And new
colonies, too: France has laid claim to
the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
controlling the Security Council's pen
and most recent trip there, down
to which media could go on the "UN" plane.
France for
over sixteen years has controlled UN
Peacekeeping, now through Herve Ladsous,
twice spurned, who refuses to answer or
even take Press questions.
What would
Thomas Sankara say? On this day, and
going forward, we must ask. Watch this
site.
On Haiti
Cholera, UN Confirms Hearing, Briefing
Privatized, Lang Lang No Update
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, October 24, with a song
-- On the UN having
brought cholera to Haiti, the
UN Secretariat of Ban Ki-moon didn't
even "appear" at the October 23
court hearing. Inner City Press
asked UN deputy spokesperson Farhan
Haq again on October 24. Haq
replied, "I can confirm there was a
hearing yesterday. In light of its
immunity, the UN did not appear in
court. The US asserted the position
that [the UN] officials are immune."
Video
here (October 24) and here
(October 23).
Inner City Press asked Haq about
U.S. Attorney Ellen Blain arguing to
U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken
that the case could unleash a huge
set of claim against the UN. Why,
Inner City Press asked, doesn't Ban
Ki-moon just waive immunity in this
case, while maintaining it in
others? No answer.
Twenty minutes later when pianist
Lang Lang appeared in the UN Press
Briefing Room as a UN Messenger of
Peace promoting the evening's UN Day
concert, Inner City Press on behalf
of the Free UN Coalition for Access
thanked him and asked what he
thought of the UN's impunity for
bringing cholera to Haiti, and if he
would think of any other ways the UN
should improve.
Lang Lang apologized, saying he
hadn't heard of the case.
That the UN Secretariat tries to
downplay it, with UN Peacekeeping
chief Herve Ladsous refusing Press
questions about it is one thing. But
earlier on October 24 the so-called
UN Correspondents Association took a
briefing that would and should have
been in the same webcast UN Press
Briefing Room as Lang Lang appeared
it and put it, without webcast, into
the clubhouse the UN give to what
has become its UN Censorship
Alliance.
One continues to wonders why those
involved in this event and
broadcasters' film didn't go to the
UN's Press Briefing Room, sponsored
by a member state like St.
Vincents which spoke on the issue,
as covered here by Inner City
Press. That way it would have been
promoted to and have included all
journalists at the UN, not just that
subset which pays money to UNCA.
Also, that way it would have been in
UNTV webcast, viewable around the
world including in Haiti. As noted,
an important documentary and panel,
but the means are the end: today's
UNCA gives Ban Ki-moon's UN more
impunity. We'll have more on this.
October 20,
2014
For
UNSC Turkey Loses with 60, Spain
132, NZ 145, Venezuela, Angola,
Malaysia
But when the voting was over, in
the third round, Turkey got only
60 votes, bested by Spain with
132. In the first round New
Zealand won a seat with 145,
joining Angola with 190, Malaysia
with 187 and Venezuela with 181
and eight abstaining - including
the US?
In the middle of all this voting,
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
insisted on holding a "travelogue"
stakeout, as one diplomat called
it, about his trip to Israel and
Palestine.
After receiving numerous
complaints from diplomats, Inner
City Press ran and asked Ban's
spokesman Stephane Dujarric if Ban
didn't agree that the General
Assembly is the highest organ of
the UN, with all 193 member states
represented - and all 193 present
on October 16 for voting.
Dujarric replied that this was the
only time that Ban could speak.
Really? Inner City Press put the
same question to the spokesman for
General Assembly President Sam
Kutesa, Jean Victor Nkolo, who
said diplomatically that the vote
took place in the GA Hall,
presided over by the PGA.
Afterward diplomats told Inner
City Press that Turkey's policies,
most recently on Kobane, hurt it,
that even some Arab League states
that "had" to vote for Turkey told
their Asian colleagues not to. One
diplomat asked, perhaps, if Turkey
will now give up the "Turkish
Lounge" area it branded in front
of the Security Council -- and
from which the Free UN Coalition
for Access notes the press has
been banned. Another asked if the
3:30 pm photo op of Ban and
Turkey's foreign minister will be
canceled. We'll have more on this.
Inner City Press polled
diplomats about their votes --
there were more laughs than
candid answers -- then headed up
to the photographers' booth over
the GA floor. All
was well until the President
of the GA said to not take photos
as countries cast their ballots.
So they can tell you what to
photograph?
UN Media Accreditation and Liaison
came in and told Inner City Press
to leave the booth, it was only
for "wire services." But MALU has
no definition of wire service, as
another FUNCA member has long
pointed out. And the spot Inner
City Press was ousted from was
given to the UN's in-house photo
service. This
is today's UN.
On the eve of the vote at the UN
to elect five new members to the
Security Council, one of the
candidates in the contested race,
Turkey, held a reception
at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
Numerous diplomats milling around
the Starlight Roof Ballroom
marveled to Inner City Press at
Turkey's bombing of the PKK while
across the border Kobane is under
siege. But even most of these
predicted that Turkey would win a
seat, citing the OIC, the
Organization of Islamic
Cooperation and its 57 votes.
Introduced by Turkish Ambassador
Halit Cevik, Foreign Minister
Mevlut Cavusoglu thanked those in
attendance, singling out his
Spanish counterpart, then gave a
short speech. He said, "Peace at
home, peace in the world," which some
found ironic.
Somalia
& Eritrea Monitor Resigns,
Exposed Using UN to Press Regime
Change
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Follow Up to
Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS, October 8 -- On October 7
Inner City Press exclusively
reported that a member of the UN's
Somalia Eritrea Monitoring Group
Dinesh Mahtani used UN SEMG time and
letterhead for unrelated advocacy
regarding Eritrea. Mahtani's letter
was exclusively
put online here by Inner City
Press.
On
October 8, Inner City Press asked UN
Spokesman Stephane Dujarric about
Mahtani's letter and if it was
appropriate behavior for a sanctions
monitor. No, Dujarric said,
adding that the letter was shown
“shown” to Dinesh Mahtani, who has
resigned. Video
here.
Sources
had
told Inner City Press that Dinesh
Mahtani, the finance expert on SEMG
and previously on the DR Congo
Sanctions group, was found
requesting favors from a member
state, to which the SEMG reports. Here is a
document:
a letter
from Dinesh Mahtani, ostensibly in
his SEMG role, saying that former
Eritrean official Ali Abdu "has
great potential to play a
stabilizing role in Eritrea with the
country possibly headed to an
uncertain period in its history."
This is hardly the first
controversy in the SEMG -- but
usually the members wait until they
are off or on their way off the
Monitor Group to “let it all hang
out,” as one source put it of
previous SEMG chair Matt Bryden.
The current chair,
Jarat Chopra, has faced complaints
from Somalia, also exclusively
reported by Inner City Press.
Bryden's
departure was telegraphed in remarks to, and a report by,
Inner City Press on July 24, 2012 when Security
Council members from three countries gave Inner
City Press exclusive and negative reviews of
Bryden's performance.
"He's
leaving," one of them said dismissively and
definitely of Bryden. There was snarky
speculation Bryden may have been angling for a
book deal, or a post with a group like HRW.
With Bryden the
questions were larger of leaking, of
micro-managing the Eritrean air force and more.
Those about Mahtani, the sources tell Inner City
Press, are "bigger... regime change on UN
letterhead." Now Mahtani has resigned. We'll have
more on this.
October 6,
2014
After
French DefMin Met UN's Ban &
Ladsous, No Read-Out, Used CAR
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, October 4 -- More than twenty
four hours after French Defense
Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian came
to the UN on October 3 and met
the UN's Ban
Ki-moon and former French
diplomat Herve Ladsous, the UN had
provided no read-out.
Earlier on October 3 Le Drian
had met with US Secretary of Defense
Chuck Hagel, and Hagel said they
discussed if France will join the US
in airstrikes in Syria. Did Le Drian
discuss this with Ban and Ladsous as
well?
Even
France 24 reported what Hagel said.
To extrapolate to the UN is not a
stretch - except, apparently, for big
wigs or grands fromages in the
UN press corps. At NPR, Michele
Kelemen interviewed Le Drian who said
France is very "transparent" about its
positions on Syria. So why no
read-out?
There
emerges a photo
of Le Drian and Ladsous, marking
some agreement, here. Ostensibly
it's for the French troops in Sangaris
to cooperate with Ladsous' MINUSCA
mission in the Central African
Republic. But with reports of French
troops killing in CAR, most recently
in Bambari, would UN Peacekeeping
under former French diplomat Herve
Ladsous really look into this? He does
not answer Press questions.
As regards Syria, Ladsous most
recently ordered peacekeepers from
Fiji and the Philippines to surrender
to the Jabhat al Nusra rebels, or
terrorists, in the Golan Heights.
When Inner City Press tried to
asked Ladsous questions on September
26, Ladsous refused to answer. On
September 27, as Inner City Press
filmed from the entirely legal UN
General Assembly stakeout area,
Ladsous came over and blocked Inner
City Press' camera and demanded, what
do you want with this?
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric
has been asked
twice about what Ladsous did, for the
Free
UN Coalition for Access, but has
yet to respond. Dujarric previously
told FUNCA that then French Ambassador
Gerard Araud should have accorded a UN
correspondent from Lebanon (more)
respect rather
than telling the correspondents,
“You are not a journalist, you are
an agent.” But Dujarric declined
to instruct the French mission to this
effect. Of Araud's replacement
Francois Delattre the Press so far
knows little but retains an open mind.
We repeat, now also on behalf
of FUNCA:
For a meeting like Ban's with
Le Drian, there should be a a
read-out. Watch this site.
Ladsous
Demands Press Stop Filming at
Stakeout, Walks Off with Scribes
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, September 27, video
here -- When UN Peacekeeping
chief Herve Ladsous arrived at the
General Assembly stakeout to try to do
his question and answer on Mali early
as he did on South Sudan, without the
Press present, it didn't work.
Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu
had booked the stakeout, and Inner
City Press was there. As Ladsous stood
at the stakeout, Inner City Press
filmed as it did on September 26 when
Ladsous refused to answer basic Press
questions about his missions in
Central African Republic and Golan.
Ladsous demanded, What are you going
to do with this? He and a staffer
tried to block the filming with file
folders. Then he got UN Media
Accreditation to ask Inner City Press
to put down the camera and stop
filming. But this is the stakeout. The
Free
UN Coalition for Access defends
the rights to cover the UN. (The old
UN Correspondents Association has
partnered with Ladsous, first along
with Agence France Presse and then
further.)
Ladsous and one of his "publicity"
staffers tried to block the filming
with file folders. Video
here. Finally Ladsous walked
away with his team including the
Reuters correspondent who has himself
engaged in censorship, telling Google
to remove from Search his "for the
record" complaint to UN Media
Accreditation, claiming
it is copyrighted. It is a
strange position from a media that
claims exclusive leaks.
After Ladsous stormed off, two of his
staffers returned to say that the
stakeout still might happen. But at
2:42 pm, an hour and forty-two minutes
after it was supposed to happen, the
UN said it was canceled - but not why.
Before UN Peacekeeping held its
September 26 meeting about the Central
African Republic, Inner City Press
asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric
about Uganda deciding not to send its
troops as peacekeepers to the MINUSCA
mission, under Herve Ladsous.
Dujarric said he would try to
get an answer, but none was sent six
hours later. So when Herve Ladsous,
the fourth French chief of UN
Peacekeeping in a row, came to the
General Assembly stakeout past 6 pm on
September 26, Inner City Press several
times put the question to him: What
about the Ugandans? Video
here.
Ladsous made his opening
statement only in French, then ignored
the Press question in English about
Uganda pulling out of his peacekeeping
mission, at the same time that the
Philippines is pulling out of Ladsous'
mission in the Golan Heights after he
ordered their troops to surrender to
the Al Nursa Front extremist group,
which still has their UN Peacekeeping
vehicles, weapons and uniforms.
Instead, Ladsous pointed at
Agence France Presse, which previously
on Ladsous' behalf filed complaints
against Inner City Press, including
through UNCA, now the UN's
Censorship Alliance.
The
first time was when Inner City Press
reported that Ladsous
was by no means the first choice to
replace Alain Le Roy atop
peacekeeping, but was deposited into
the job after the UN decided that the
first choice, Jerome Bonnafont, was
too flashy. So they got Ladsous.
Ladsous on September 26
proceeded to brag about new countries
coming into UN Peacekeeping, singling
out Sweden. Inner City Press once
again asked, what about Uganda pulling
out of the CAR mission, and added,
what about the Filipinos pulling out
of his mission in the Golan? Video
here.
Ladsous as has become his
practice - compilation
here, UK
coverage here - refused to
answer and walked away with two of his
aides.
September
22, 2014
UN Blames
Its Lack of Freedom of Info on Unnamed
States, FUNCA Presses
Inner
City Press, which has litigated FOIA
cases all the way to the US Supreme
Court and submitted FOI request to
dozens of countries, has long
pushed for a UN Freedom of
Information Act.
As reported on September 15
by
the Columbia
Journalism Review, “Inner City
Press... reported that Burnham’s
successor, Alicia Barcena, said it
would be in place by the end of
2007. But the General Assembly never
agreed on the scheme, and it was
quietly shelved. “There were
differing views among Member States
about what constituted openness,”
said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman
for Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon,
in an email.”
(Inner City Press asked Dujarric
about the quote at the September 15,
2014, noon briefing, video
here and embedded below.)
In order to pursue more access to
information -- and the protection of
the rights of investigative
journalists against such insider
approaches -- Inner City Press
co-founded the new Free
UN Coalition for Access.
FUNCA says it is absurd for
the UN Secretariat to blame member
states for its own refusal to be
transparent with its own financial
information. Furthermore, how can
Ban's UN make claims about “we the
peoples” while blaming unnamed
governments for banning
accountability to the peoples?
September
15, 2014
In
CAR, UN to Use
Copters of Sri
Lanka, Under UN
Probe for 2009
War Crimes
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
September 11, more
here -- With UN
Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous
set to take over the mission in
Central African Republic on
September 15, the UN's
desperation and / or lack of
standards has come too the fore.
Ladsous decided to "re-hat" to
UN Blue the DR Congo Army, which
is on the UN's own list of child
soldier recruiters.
Sri Lanka's Army, being
investigated by a panel formed
by vote by the UN Human Rights
Council for abuses in 2009, when
tens of thousands of civilians
were killed, has been accepted
by Ladsous to provide
helicopters to his mission in
former French colony CAR.
Last month after French
"peacekeepers" reported shot and
killed five people in the PK5
neighborhood of Bangui in the
Central African Republic, Inner
City Press asked Dujarric about
it on August 21, video
here. Dujarric essentially
said Inner City Press should
have asked the UN's chief in CAR
about the shootings... before
they happened. From
the transcript:
Inner
City Press: I wanted to ask you
about in the Central African
Republic there are reports of
fighting between the residents
of PK-5 neighbourhood of Bangui
and the French peacekeepers or
soldiers, five killed, 40
injured, and I’m wondering, does
the mission there, are they
monitoring that, are they
looking into how it
happened? What…
Spokesman Dujarric: I’m
trying to get some information
from the mission. As soon
as I have it, I will share it
with you.
Inner City Press: And
also, the reason, if you could
ask them because there have been
previous, I’m not saying that is
the case in this case but there
have been previous encounters
which residents said that they
were shot and the aggressors
were the, “peacekeepers”, and
each time it was said that the
mission would be looking into
this. But I have yet to
hear any kind of report on
those, I can name the incidents
or you can go back and there has
been at least three and whatever
happened to those?
Spokesman Dujarric: Did
you have a chance to ask General
Gaye?
Spokesman Dujarric:
Great. I will get the
Under-Secretary-General
When Gaye took questions -- to
his credit, unlike his boss
Herve Ladsous -- these PK5
killings by the French soldiers
hadn't yet taken place. To be
fair, perhaps Dujarric was
referring not to the new
killings, but the older ones.
But nine hours after the
briefing, no further information
had been provided. It may be
that the problem is not (only)
with the Office of the
Spokesperson, but more
fundamentally with UN
Peacekeeping as Ladsous has been
allowed to run it.
The "DRC soldiers" question was
why UN Peacekeeping under Herve
Ladsous would accept into the
forthcoming UN mission in CAR,
MINUSCA, the DRC Army which is
still listed on the UN's child
soldier recruitment list and
provided impunity for 130 rapes
by its soldiers in Minova,
Eastern Congo in November 2012,
conviction only two. Click
here for that.
September
8, 2014
Amid Darfur
Qs, UN Slated to Move Chambas to
Djinnit's Dakar Post
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS, September 4, more
here -- In Darfur, the head of
the peacekeeping mission Mohamed ibn
Chambas was quoted last month that
the UN “cannot stop Government
forces from entering camps for the
displaced,” despite a supposed
protection of civilians mandate.
Now Inner City Press has exclusively
learned from multiple sources that
Chambas is set to be rewarded, or
moved, to the Dakar, Senegal UN
Office on West Africa post vacated
by Said Djinnit.
This would be classic UN: amid a
scandal about UNAMID under Chambas
covering up the murder and abuse of
civilians, a promotion, in a game of
musical chairs.
UNITED
NATIONS,
August 30 -- Two day after the
details of the peacekeepers
detained and restricted in the
Golan Heights were first published
here,
but with the UN still refusing to
say who was detaining and
restricting them, the UN Security
Council at 5:21 pm on August 30
put out this Press Statement which
while vague narrowed it down:
"The
members of the Security Council
strongly condemned continued
attacks today on United Nations
Disengagement Observer Force
(UNDOF) positions in the Golan
Heights. They reiterated
their strong condemnation of the
ongoing detention of 44 Fijian
peacekeepers from position 27,
as well as the surrounding of
position 68, where Security
Council-designated terrorist
groupsand
non-state armed actors continue
to trap 40 Filipino
peacekeepers."
And
the "non-state armed actors"?
A previous grabbing of Golan
peacekeepers, not followed up
by UN Peacekeeping's Ladsous,
involved the Al-Yarmouk
Brigades. Now it's time to
name names, something that UN
Peacekeeping under Herve
Ladsous has for too long
refused to do.
And so we note the reporting,
here in Al-Monitor, that
"Jabhat al-Nusra, along with
Fallujah-Houran Brigade, Syria
Revolutionaries Front, Saraya
al-Jihad, Bayt al-Maqdis and
Ahrar al-Sham, began a battle
called 'the real promise' to
seize control of the
devastated city of Quneitra
and the crossing connecting it
with the Golan Heights."
So there are some names. Kidnapped
for their own good has also been a
line UN Peacekeeping has used. Now
some are under fire - but UN
Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous
won't say by whom.
On
August 28 after the UN belated
announced that “forty-three
peacekeepers from the United
Nations Disengagement Observer
Force (UNDOF) were detained early
this morning an armed group in the
vicinity of Al Qunaytirah.. in
addition, another eighty-one UNDOF
peacekeepers are currently being
restricted to their positions in
the vicinity of Ar Ruwayhinah and
Burayqah,” Inner City Press began
looking into it.
Soon Inner City Press reported with on the
record sourcing that the 43 peacekeepers
detained are from Fiji, and that those
“restricted” are from the Philippines. This
comes after Filipino leadership already said
it plans to pull its troops out both the
Golan Heights and Liberia. Now what?
The UN confirmed "Fiji and
Philippines," but only
anonymously, initially to scribes.
This is Ladsous' UN Peacekeeping.
In
CAR French
Soldiers Kill
Five, In NY UN
Has No Info,
Ladsous Redux
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
August 21, more
here -- After French
"peacekeepers" reported shot and
killed five people in the PK5
neighborhood of Bangui in the
Central African Republic, Inner
City Press asked UN Spokesman
Stephane Dujarric about it on
August 21, video
here. Dujarric essentially
said Inner City Press should
have asked the UN's chief in CAR
about the shootings... before
they happened. From
the transcript:
Inner
City Press: I wanted to ask you
about in the Central African
Republic there are reports of
fighting between the residents
of PK-5 neighbourhood of Bangui
and the French peacekeepers or
soldiers, five killed, 40
injured, and I’m wondering, does
the mission there, are they
monitoring that, are they
looking into how it
happened? What…
Spokesman Dujarric: I’m
trying to get some information
from the mission. As soon
as I have it, I will share it
with you.
Inner City Press: And
also, the reason, if you could
ask them because there have been
previous, I’m not saying that is
the case in this case but there
have been previous encounters
which residents said that they
were shot and the aggressors
were the, “peacekeepers”, and
each time it was said that the
mission would be looking into
this. But I have yet to
hear any kind of report on
those, I can name the incidents
or you can go back and there has
been at least three and whatever
happened to those?
Spokesman Dujarric: Did
you have a chance to ask General
Gaye?
Spokesman Dujarric:
Great. I will get the
Under-Secretary-General
When Gaye took questions -- to
his credit, unlike his boss
Herve Ladsous -- these PK5
killings by the French soldiers
hadn't yet taken place. To be
fair, perhaps Dujarric was
referring not to the new
killings, but the older ones.
But nine hours after the
briefing, no further information
had been provided. It may be
that the problem is not (only)
with the Office of the
Spokesperson, but more
fundamentally with UN
Peacekeeping as Ladsous has been
allowed to run it.
The "DRC soldiers" question was
why UN Peacekeeping under Herve
Ladsous would accept into the
forthcoming UN mission in CAR,
MINUSCA, the DRC Army which is
still listed on the UN's child
soldier recruitment list and
provided impunity for 130 rapes
by its soldiers in Minova,
Eastern Congo in November 2012,
conviction only two. Click
here for that.
August 18,
2014
In Iraq,
Turning from Sinjar to Anbar or
Accepting Islamic State?
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, August 14-- US
President Barack Obama's dual
rationale for the campaign of
airstrikes in Iraq has been the plight
of the Yazikis on Mount Sinjar and the
protection of US personnel in Erbil.
Now
with the US saying it has broken the
siege of Mount Sinjar, whither the
campaign?
Dwyer replied that bilateral requests
are up to Iraqi authorities, and said,
yes, there are problems and lack of
access in Anbar and Ninewa (where ISIL
held Mosul is).
At
the US State Department briefing less
than an hour later, the Department's
deputy spokesperson Marie Harf was
asked if the US might now provided
airstrikes or "assistance" in Anbar,
and if this would be covered by the
last War Powers notice Obama gave to
Congress.
I am
not a lawyer, Harf said, adding in
essence that the US acts when it can
be useful with its "unique
capabilities." She was asked why the
US did not use military force to
protect civilians in Sudan, the
Democratic Republic of Congo or
Central African Republic -- Sri Lanka
could be added -- and called each case
unique.
The
line-of-the-briefing at the State
Department was that seven airstrikes
to prevent a genocide is not a bad
deal. Indeed.
Smaller gauge, Inner City Press is
still asking how exactly the UN is
"coordinating" aid, for example could
he say why the UK had aborted an
airdrop of aid as reported by BBC?
OCHA's
Dwyer on August 11 made various claims
about coordinating then couldn't or
wouldn't explain the UK's abortive aid
delivery, telling Inner City Press to
ask the UK or BBC. What kind of
coordination is this?
August 11,
2014
On Iraq,
Obama Set to "Play Some Offense," ICP
on Who Else May Play
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, August 9-- After the
US on August 8 announced completion of
its second air-drop of aid to Sinjar
Mountain in Iraq, President Barack
Obama on August 9 said “I don't think
we're going to solve this problem in
weeks."
Obama said that the Iraq military when
far from Baghdad did not have the
commitment to hold ground against an
aggressive adversary: that is,
ISIL. So, Obama said, would move
to "play some offense."
So,
the question arises, who else is going
to play?
On
August 9 Inner City Press was reliably
and for then exclusively informed that
Iraq had written to the UN Security
Council invite any and all UN member
states to deliver aid to areas
controlled by Islamic State, with
Iraq's agreement. [On August 9, the UK
mission confirmed this to Inner City
Press, below.]
And
so the question arises -- what about
aid from Iran? From Russia? From China
-- which has told the Press of $4.9
million in medical supplies to Guinea,
Liberia and Sierra Leone for ebola?
At
the US State Department's briefing on
August 8, much as made of Iraq
inviting the US, and only the US, in .
But now, would others including Iran
be welcome? Shouldn't they be?
Aid
is needed, and not only in Sinjar.
Update
of 10:18 am: Ten hours after
publication of the above, Inner City
Press asked the UK Mission, president
of the Security Council for August, to
confirm receipt of Iraq's letter. By
email the Mission to its credit
quickly responded, "Matthew, I can
confirm the UNSC received a letter
from the Perm Rep of Iraq that
attached a resolution passed by the
Parliament of the Republic of Iraq on
7 August, which calls on the UN and
hum'n organisations to provide relief
to refugees."
We'll have more on this.
Back
on August 7 US President Barack Obama
announced authorization for airstrikes
on Iraq. Then three of his Senior
Administration Officials (SAOs) held a
50 minute conference call with the
press.
First, Inner City
Press has reliably been informed that Iraq has
only requested such military support from the
US. This seem to leave France, which called
for the Thursday evening meeting of the UN
Security Council and said military action is
indeed needed, out in the cold. (We note that
France got invited to intervene in Mali, and
the Central African Republic -- so there's
that.)
On the White House
background call, a SAO cited ISIL's “swift”
moves Saturday, its “military proficiency,”
and said the US coordinated with the
Peshmerga. A SAO cited ISIL putting heads on
spikes and enslaving women and said that on
Sinjar mountain it's 120 degree F, in the day
time.
A SAO said
Secretary of State John Kerry spoke on August
7 with the foreign ministers of France, the
UAE, Turkey and Jordan -- and cited the August
7 UN Security Council meeting (requested by
France), see below.
On the military
front, a SAO said that during the airdrop,
planes were over the area for only 15 minutes,
at low altitude (this was later formalized in
a Department of Defense statement.)
A SAO confirms no
airstrikes yet, but said the US stands ready.
A SAO said this is authorized by the US
Constitution, to protect US citizens for
example in Erbil, also citing a “potential act
of genocide”
(Given the numbers
cited on Sinjar mountain, Inner City Press
couldn't help wondering about 2009 when 40,000
people were cornered & killed in Sri
Lanka.)
Finally, the SAOs
were asked if President Obama is going to
postpone his trip to Martha's Vineyard. A the
UN one might ask if the UNSC still going to
Belgium? The US SAO wouldn't answer on
Martha's Vineyard, said Obama's day started
early today with Ambassador Susan Rice, and
later including John Kerry by video from
Afghanistan -- this could be done on Martha's
Vineyard. But what's the technology on the UN
Security Council's planned trip? We hope to
have more on this - watch this site.
Earlier on
August 7 after 6:30 pm, Council
president for August Mark Lyall Grant
emerged to read a press statement,
followed by question and answer
stakeouts by French deputy Alexis
Lamek and Iraqi Permanent
Representative Alhakim.
Inner City Press asked Lamek if France
will take military action. While we'll
await the French mission's transcript,
Lamek eventually said "that needs to
be done indeed."
August 4, 2014
UNGA
Schedule Has Ukraine & Egypt,
Mugabe & Sri Lanka, Abbas &
Kiir
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, July 31 -- When UN General
Assembly week begins on September 24,
US President Barack Obama will speak
second after Dilma Rousseff of Brazil,
as before. But according to the
scheduled Inner City Press and the
Free UN Coalition for Access are today
putting online here, then things
get more interesting.
The head of state of Morocco,
presumably the King, is scheduled for
that same first morning, along with
France's Francois Hollande and
Argentina's Cristina Kirchner. That
afternoon starts with Evo Morales of
Bolivia, which has just declared
Israel a terrorist state.
Thursday, September 25 has the
head of state of Iran, presumbly
Hassan Rouhani, and then back to back
Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine and
President Sisi of Egypt. That
afternoon has for example Robert
Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Mahinda
Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka, as well as
Joseph Kabila of the DRC and Erdogan
of Turkey.
On Friday, September 26, the
head of state of the State of
Palestine, Mahmood Abbas, is on the
schedule; in the afternoon there's
Haiti, Venezuela, Serbia and Nepal.
Saturday, deep into the
General Debate, Russia and China go
back to back represented by ministers,
as is Security Council member
Australia. The afternoon has Salva
Kiir of South Sudan but from Burundi,
the Vice President.
Monday, September 29 has the
Deputy Prime Minister of Syria and
ministers from Thailand and Bahrain.
The afternoon has Malaysia.
The final day, September 30,
has the Head of Government of Israel
and a minister from Sudan in the
morning; in the afternoon a minister
of North Korea or the Democratic
People Republic of Korea as well as
Myanmar. And then it's over, or should
be. Watch this site.
July 28, 2014
After Ban's
Qatar-Funded Plane, UN Won't Say
How Got to Iraq, Last 10 Trips
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Follow up on
exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS,
July 24, more
here -- How can it be that
the UN does not disclose when
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
accepts free travel on a private
jet, and on July 24 would not tell
Inner City Press how and on whose
plane Ban flew to Iraq? Video
here.
This follows the UN's only belated
acknowledgement, after Inner City
Press asked several times, that
Ban began his Gaza-related tour by
flying on a Qatar-funded jet to
Qatar, then Cairo.
Bigger
picture, does the UN, while
claiming to abide by its own
stated ethics rules, simply not
have time for them and waive
them? When Inner City Press
asked on July 23, UN Deputy
Spokesperson Farhan Haq said, if
you are here as a lawyer, "You're
not entitled to be at the noon
briefing." Video
here from Minute 4:26.
Haq
has denied that there is any
conflict of interest in accepting
the Qatar-funded travel, but has
still not said when or how an
opinion was sought from the UN's
Ethics Office. Video
here and embedded below.
Inner City Press on July 23 asked,
in writing:
"This is a
request for the the entire audio file of the
Secretary General's press availability in
Jerusalem at which the US State Department
transcribed the question,“Mr.
Secretary-General, do you think it’s appropriate for Qatar to be
paying for your flight here” and this answer:
SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN:
No – ladies and gentlemen, this is the 15th day
since the crisis began. We do not have much time to
weigh the rules.
"This is also a request
to be informed if, when and how the UN Ethics Office
was asked about the Secretary General accepting the
gift of travel on the Qatar-funded, and the UN's
estimate of the value of the gift; a statement of
all rules applicable to receipt of this gift, and
how much has been spent on Secretary General travel
in the past two years. On deadline."
Here was
the UN's "response," with neither the audio file,
nor the budget or financial information:
To: Matthew.Lee
[at] innercitypress.com
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at]
un.org
Date: Wed, Jul 23, 2014 at 4:59 PM
The State
Department has acknowledged that its
transcription was in error and has
corrected the record, please see link
below.
The Ethics
Office has agreed on the need to use the
chartered plane because of the
Secretary-General's need to travel to a
number of locations in the Middle East at
short notice, The Ethics Office notes that
the Secretary-General interacts with all
193 Member States, and he is scrupulous at
maintaining the independence of the UN
when engaged in his political and
diplomatic undertakings.
This did not answer "when and how the UN Ethics
Office was asked about the Secretary General
accepting the gift of travel on the Qatar-funded,
and the UN's estimate of the value of the gift; a
statement of all rules applicable to receipt of
this gift."
And so at
the July 24 noon briefing, Inner City Press asked
Haq to provide information about the last ten free
trips provided to Ban or his senior staff by
states or others. Haq cut the question off,
belatedly providing a UN budget Secretary General
travel figure -- $2,190,300 for 2014 / 2015 -- but
not explaining why he hadn't simply emailed this
to Inner City Press.
Haq claimed
the deadline was unclear. So that's why he held the
information back?
July 21, 2014
Ban's Trip Starts in
Qatar, No Gaza, UN Won't Confirm
Qatari Plane
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
July 19, more
here -- On the day UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is
to "travel to the region" of
Israel and Palestine, diplomats
told Inner City Press that Ban
will fly -- on a Qatari plane --
to Qatar, Ramallah (but not for
now Gaza), Israel, Egypt, Jordan,
Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait.
At 6:20 on July 19, the UN
announced "The Secretary-General
is traveling to the Middle East
this weekend to express solidarity
with Israelis and Palestinians and
to help them, in coordination with
regional and international actors,
to end the violence and find a way
forward. To that end, he will
begin his travel on Sunday in
Doha, Qatar. From there, he will
travel onward to Kuwait City,
Cairo, Jerusalem, Ramallah and
Amman in his effort to encourage a
durable cease-fire. Other stops
may also be added. He will return
to New York by the end of the
week."
There was no answer, yet, on the
use of a Qatari plane. The
diplomats who complained to Inner
City Press questioned not only Ban
taking free flights from a
particular country, but also how
the use (and landing) of a Qatari
plane will play in, for example,
Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Ban's spokesman has responded
but not yet answered.
Inner
City Press asked Ban's top two
spokespeople, and the spokesperson
listed as on weekend duty, the
following:
"Please state whether
the Secretary General is accepting free
transportation from any member state or outside
party for his current trip to the region concerning
the Gaza crisis, and if so please explain the reason
and any safeguards in place against influence or
conflict of interest.
"Such disclosure should
be common practice; if necessary, note that former
Spokesperson Nesirky did answer such Press
questions, for example concerning the Secretary
General flying on a UAE plane (see sample below). On
deadline, thank you in advance.
From: UN Spokesperson -
Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Subject: Your questions
To: Matthew Russell Lee [at] InnerCityPress.com
Date: Thu, Jan 19, 2012 at 3:00 PM
- The UAE Government provided an aircraft to fly the
Secretary-General from Beirut to Abu Dhabi because
of time constraints.
Later on July 19, the
following was received, which we
publish in full 25 minutes after
receipt:
From:
Stephane Dujarric [at] un.org
Date: Sat, Jul 19, 2014 at 5:30 PM
Subject: Re: Press question if SG is
accepting free travel from any member
state or outside party, as was disclosed
in 2012, on deadline, thanks
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress
[dot] com
Cc: FUNCA [at] funca.info
Dear Matthew,
Thanks for your question and thanks for
the draft answer. The logistical details
of the SG's trip, including the travel
arrangements are still being worked out.
Once we are in a position to confirm
them, i will revert.
best
Stephane
Dujarric (Mr.)
Spokesman for the Secretary-General
Inner City Press has thanked Dujarric and his
colleagues for the interim response and asked, "both
Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Poroshenko's
office say they have spoken with the Secretary General
and give read-outs. Will a UN read-out be put out? If
so, when? If not, why not?"
For now we note that the Qatari
foreign ministry has listed on its
website, for example, receiving a call
from Ban Ki-moon. Earlier on July 19, this
came out from Jeddah:
"The
Secretary General of the
Organization of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC), Iyad Ameen
Madani, asked the Secretary
General of the United Nations, Ban
Ki-moon to visit the Gaza Strip
during his current tour of the
region in order to observe first
hand the severe damage to innocent
human lives, the destructions of
homes and infrastructure caused by
the unrelenting Israeli raids on
Gaza, that have also claimed the
lives of hundreds of mostly
defenseless Palestinian elderly
and children."
On July 18 after the Gaza meeting
of the UN Security Council, the
Press was sent "the revised draft
resolution that will be put before
the Members of the Security
Council by the Hashemite Kingdom
of Jordan, in its capacity as the
Arab representative on the
Security Council."
Meanwhile the French government has banned
a demonstration planned for July 19 about
the situation of Palestinians in Gaza.
July 14, 2014
UNSC
Statement Issued, Palestine Says
More If Israel Doesn't Stop
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
July 12, more
here -- The UN Security
Council just past noon on July 12
issued a press statement on Gaza,
after several rounds of back and
forth.
A half dozen media were present as
the Security Council president for
July, Rwandan Ambassador Gasana,
read out the four paragraphs that
Inner City Press first published
on July 11.
Afterward, Inner City Press asked
the State of Palestine's Observer
Riyad Mansour of the status of the
(stronger) draft resolution, and
if he expects US Secretary of
State John Kerry to mediate or
facilitate.
Mansour said if Israel does not
stop, other steps will be taken
including in the Security Council.
As Inner City Press reported on
July 11, the press statement had
initially been scheduled for 9:30
pm, then after a brief delay
sources attributed to the US, was
circulated to other Council
members at 10:20 pm, under the
"silence procedure" until 9 am on
July 12. This was extended to
noon.
But at that time, the Security
Council presidency, the Mission of
Rwanda, told Inner City Press that
the silence procedure was extended
until 12 noon, when Rwandan
ambassador Gasana would read the
statement on-camera at the Council
stakeout.
Inner City Press asked, did any
Council "break silence," and raise
an issue? The Rwandan UN Security
Council presidency replied, "Yes,
very short silence procedure. Text
put into silence Friday evening at
10:20 pm to expire Saturday
morning at 9 am."
It's true: the "other thirteen" in
the Security Council, beyond the
US and Jordan, shouldn't be taken
for granted. They too have to
check with their capitals.
Another source said the final
three hours delay was so the
Security Council president could
read it out on-camera. Afterward,
a Gulf media demanded an
explanation of the three hour
delay, then asked another question
to Mansour and the Saudi
Ambassador beside him.
There were four paragraphs, and
three questions from two media.
That was it.
This month's Security Council
president's Deputy Permanent
Representative stepped forward at
9:43, on Twitter, to say that "No
Council member has received any
draft statement on Gaza this
evening."
And
a quick check by Inner City Press
resulted in a response that the US
then delayed putting the draft
under the "silence procedure" -
and the four-paragraph draft,
first published by Inner City
Press here:
“The
Security Council expresses serious concern
regarding the crisis related to Gaza and the
protection and welfare of civilians on both
sides.
“The
Security Council members called for
de-escalation of the situation, restoration of
calm, and reinstitution of the November 2012
ceasefire.
“Security
Council
members further called for respect for
International Humanitarian Law, including the
protection of civilians.
“Security
Council
members also expressed their support for
resumption of direct negotiations between the
Israelis and Palestinians with the aim of
achieving a comprehensive peace agreement
based on the two-state solution.”
Informed sources told Inner City
Press that while the US, or
"Washington," initially said
they would accept no Security
Council action at this point,
once an emergency meeting of the
Arab Group moved for a draft
resolution, the US changed tack.
"The US doesn't want to have to
veto, so they can continue to
point the finger at Russia and
China on Syria," as one source put
it. So the US agreed - or
was said to agree -- to a press
statement calling for a ceasefire.
The source went on "If
Israel disregards it and
continues, what will the Council
do?" What, indeed. .
Inside
the Security Council on July 10,
Israel's Ron Prosor told
BanKi-moon that while he had given
his speech, five rockets had been
fired at Israel (Prosor played a
rocket warning siren on his phone,
to make his point.) At the
stakeout, on-camera, Prosor raised
the number of rockets to six.
While
Palestine's Riyad Mansour spoke on
camera, the stakeout was nearly
full with journalists. But when
Prosor spoke there were far fewer
-- one of whom told Inner City
Press, “This is a question for
FUNCA,” the Free
UN Coalition for Access.
Again Prosor played the rocket
siren warning, and used the line
“From Abuja to Falluja.”
Inner
City Press asked Prosor about
those who say Hamas is not
formally part of the unity
government; he replied, “Hamas is
Hamas.”
Inner
City
Press: why did MONUSCO [United
Nations Organization Stabilization
Mission in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo] fly him to Goma to
Kisangani and then to Kinshasa when,
in fact, I think there’s an arrest
warrant for him?
Spokesman
Dujarric:
I’m not aware of any other services
provided to him by MONUSCO.
Inner
City
Press: I asked you on Friday a
pretty straightforward question,
which is whether MONUSCO [United
Nations Organization Stabilization
Mission in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo] used its helicopters
to, prior to the denial by the
Security Council’s 1533 Sanctions
Committee, to transfer this… the
FDLR’s [Forces
démocratiques
de libération du Rwanda]
leader within the [Democratic
Republic of the Congo]? And I’m
wondering if you have an answer on
that?
Spokesman
Dujarric:
I don’t have anything to add.
Inner
City
Press: Does that mean --
Spokesman
Dujarric:
If I had something to add, I would
tell you. Yes, in the back?
So
Dujarric had nothing to add to
his June 27 statement that “I’m
not aware of any other services
provided to him by MONUSCO.” So
did he still think that was
true? Had he even asked UN
Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous
-- who
sitting beside Dujarric had
refused Press questions on the
DRC, video here -- or
MONUSCO under Martin Kobler?
Inner
City
Press: why did MONUSCO undertake to
fly to Goma, to Kisangani and
Kinshasa? And the reason why I keep
asking about this is it seems like
it’s a use of UN resources, just
knowing why this flight took place.
Spokesman:
Sure, if I have something on that I
will share it with you
Dujarric
first
said he never denied the flight.
But he's said, even according
to
the UN's own transcript,
“I’m not aware of any other
services provided to him by
MONUSCO,” and then said nothing
when asked twice more about
this.
Inner
City Press asked, can we assume
that when a question is asked in
his briefing room, you at least
try to get an answer? When did
you get this information?
Dujarric did not answer this.
Footnote:
Dujarric
was asked if he will participate
in the softball soccer game of
the UN Correspondents
Association, to which Dujarric
sets aside the first questions
in briefings and has defended in
meeting(s) with the new Free
UN Coalition for Access --
which, to put it mildly, is
“deeply concerned” by inaccurate
answers in the UN Press Briefing
Room. Softballs with scribes?
We'll have more on this.
As
UN Ladsous Stonewalls on Flying
FDLR Leader, Kobler Silent Too
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Follow up on Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS,
June 28 -- Two days after Rwanda
complained to the UN Security
Council that UN Peacekeeping
chief Herve Ladsous and his
MONUSCO mission flew FDLR leader
Gaston Iyamuremye / Rumuli
Michel on UN aircraft even as
Ladsous travel waiver request
was denied, Ladsous, MONUSCO and
the UN were still stonewalling.
Inner City Press obtained the
complaint letter, on which it
first reported on June 26, and put it
online here. At the June
27 briefing, to Inner City
Press' questions, UN spokesman
Stephane Dujarric replied "not
aware," transcript
here, video
here:
Inner City
Press: why did MONUSCO [United Nations
Organization Stabilization Mission in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo] fly him to
Goma to Kisangani and then to Kinshasa when,
in fact, I think there’s an arrest warrant for
him?
Spokesman
Dujarric: I’m not aware of any other services
provided to him by MONUSCO.
When Herve Ladsous was appointed
head of UN Peacekeeping by
France and UN Peacekeeping,
Inner City Press asked him to
address his past as French
Deputy Permanent Representative
at the UN during the Rwanda
genocide, arguing for the escape
into Eastern Congo of the genocidaires
who would become the FDLR.
Now
-- not surprisingly -- a scandal
has arisen, with Rwandan
officials exclusively
complaining to Inner City Press,
citing letters, about Ladsous
granting a travel ban waiver for
FDLR leader Iyamuremye / Rumuli
to fly from the DR Congo to Rome
-- to meet with UN envoy Mary
Robinson.
Of course, Robinson could have
met the FDLR leader without him
breaking the travel ban. But in
a UN trend, Robinson has been
allowed to remained based in
Ireland, just as Romano Prodi
was allowed to remain based in
Italy and to (over) charge the
UN for his travel inside Italy.
Earlier
this
year, Ladsous refused to answer
Inner City Press' simple
question on when UN Peacekeeping
under his watch might belatedly
go after or “neutralize” the
FDLR, video
here.
Watch
this site.
June 23, 2014
Alongside
Ban's Syria Speech, ISIS on Border,
Cholera Papers Dodged
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, June 21, more
here -- On the Iraq - Syria
border, the day after UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon speechified at the
Asia Society that "Syria’s neighbours
should enforce a firm prohibition on
the use of their land borders and
airspace for arms flows and smuggling
into Syria," ISIS took over a major
crossing at Qaim, 200 miles west of
Baghdad.
Inner City Press: I
didn’t see it in his speech, but it seems like at
least a large part of the Iraqi border may be
controlled by ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and the
Sham) or ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the
Levant). So, in terms of realism, does this mean
now absent Government control, it’s just an open flow
of weapons? Is there an acknowledgement by the UN that
nothing can be done in terms of weapons?
Spokesman Dujarric: Well, I think, you know,
Member States, groups that have an influence all have
a responsibility to stop the flow of arms.
Surely
ISIS is listening to Ban. The Syrian
Coalition of Ahmad Jarba, meanwhile,
praised the speech and called for
"serious" weapons. Inner City Press asked
Dujarric:
Inner City
Press: the Syrian Coalition of Ahmed
al-Jarba has put out a statement praising
the speech and saying that: “There
should be serious weapons and training for
moderate opposition forces.” And I
wanted to know, just to be clear, the
Secretary-General is not in favour of
that, thinks this is a bad call?
Spokesman: I think the
Secretary-General could not have been
clearer when he’s speaking about an arms
embargo and speaking for the halt of flow
of arms into Syria.
But
how clear *is* Ban Ki-moon, when he
meets with Jarba?
How can Ban's UN be taken seriously on
Syria or anything else while dodging
service of legal papers for cholera in
Haiti, and refusing to answer about
it?
On the humanitarian front, Ban
“appealed for an end to the sieges”
and for “immediate unfettered
humanitarian access across internal
front lines and across borders.”
A draft resolution on
cross-border aid is being negotiated
in the Security Council. But on June
19, Australian ambassador Gary Quinlan
told the Press there will be no vote
this week. When there is, will that be
news? Watch this site.
UN
Tells ICP Baghdad Is Safe,
Silent on Call to Distribute
Weapons
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
June 13 -- In Iraq as ISIL
advances, at the UN Inner City
Press asked Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon's deputy spokesperson
Farhan Haq if it's true that UN
assesses Baghdad to be safe - and
is so, why? Video
here.
The UN's Haq said while
different parts of Iraq are under
threat, the UN's assessment is
indeed that Baghdad is safe. If
you say so.
Inner City Press also asked for
any UN comment on calls to arm the
population in Baghdad to confront
ISIL. Haq said he'd seen the
comment made by "Ayatollah Ali
al-Sistani, we don't have any
comments to make about that." Video here.
Iraq has blocked much of social
media, and Twitter has suspended
an account associated with ISIL,
which live-tweeted ISIL's
advances.
Was Twitter's
suspension of @Nnewsi
at governmental request -- and to
confirm, which government?
In March, Turkey blocked Twitter citing a
court order, after Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan in order to get his leaked
phone calls removed from Google's YouTube
has reportedly
"copyrighted" his calls.
Both censorship moves have echoes
in the United Nations, which as
part of its renovation accepted
money and named an area by the
Security Council previously open
to all accredited journalists the
"Turkish Lounge."
In
this case, copyright is being
(mis) claimed for an email from
Reuters' Louis Charbonneau to the
UN's chief Media Accreditation
official Stephane Dujarric --
since March 10 Ban Ki-moon's new
spokesperson -- seeking to get
Inner City Press thrown out of the
UN.
If this remains
precedent, what else could come
down?
June 9, 2014
After UN
Eviction of News Agency of Nigeria,
UN Tells FUNCA It Can Return
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, June 5 -- The UN, which since
its founding has assigned office space
to media to cover it, threw out the
News Agency of Nigeria. Its name was
simply cut off the door to what had
been its office space. Photo
here, by FUNCA member Luiz
Rampelotto.
Inner City Press on behalf of FUNCA
asked UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric
about it at the June 4 noon briefing,
video
here, and embedded below.
FUNCA also put the question to the UN
in writing. Now, the UN has responded
to FUNCA that "if a new correspondent
is accredited to the UN, the Agency
will have a space in the
building."
A flier
FUNCA posted was torn down, by
the UN says it didn't remove it. So
who did? The UN's Censorship Alliance?
They said nothing about NAN's
eviction, instead concerned with
demanding first questions they do not
report upon, and celebrating the large
space the UN gives them as actual
media are thrown out.
Inner City Press: it
seems that in the Central African Republic, where
there is a UN Mission, there has been a ban on SMS
or text messages directed at seeming a non-violent
organization of a protest, so does the UN have any
comment or reaction to that? And also, this is
in-house, but I wanted to ask if you can explain the
loss by the news agency of Nigeria of its office and
workspace at the UN given that it’s a major country,
they’re on the Security Council. Was there sort of
notice given? What’s the process? What’s the
reasoning?
Spokesman Dujarric: I
don’t know. The process for offices and
accreditation is clear, it’s on the website. And you
know, you can ask MALU [Media Accreditation and
Liaison Unit]. I’m happy to ask for you.
Inner City Press: I know
there’s been previous request of sort of due
process. Do you believe that that’s been provided in
this case?
Spokesman Dujarric: I
don’t know the specifics of this case but I have
full trust in MALU that due process is followed.
Inner City Press: [UN
says “inaudible,” but what was asked was “double
standards?”]
Spokesman Dujarric: What
is your question Matthew?
Inner City Press: Okay, I
guess my question is that it seems that without --
Spokesman Dujarric: No, I
think I’ve answered the Nigeria question. If you
have another one, I’m happy to…
Inner City Press: The CAR
question. Do you have any comment on…
Spokesman Dujarric: No,
I’ll check with the Mission. I’ll see if they have
said anything on this.
Nine hours later, despite
Dujarric's statement that he was
happy to "ask MALU" -- which he
previously supervised -- no
explanation had received. So FUNCA
submitted the question to MALU / DPI
- and the response above was
received.
Since the old UN
Correspondents Association board,
rather than defend media, have shown
a willingness to try to get other
media thrown out, FUNCA soon after
its founding asked the UN to at
least be more transparent in its
decisions that impact media,
including not only accreditation but
loss of work space.
But
the UN would not convey, even in its
typically wan fashion, the stated
position that correspondents should be
treated with respect to Araud or the
French Mission to the UN. And UNCA,
the UN's
Censorship Alliance, "dragged
its feet," according to the
correspondent to whom Araud said, "You
are not a journalist, you are an
agent."
The
New York Times has an office inside of UN
Headquarters. But its door has been
closed, without opening, for months. A
thick pile of fliers, months old, clogs
the doorway. There’s dust everywhere.
But
the UN is doing nothing, because it won’t
apply its rules equally to all.
In
fact, reporters who want to cover the UN
are being denied access to UN Headquarters
– on the grounds that there’s just not
enough space to go around. And Big Media
gets handed big offices that some of them
never even use.
The
UN’s media guidelines say that reporters
need to come in the UNHQ three times a
week in order to keep their office space.
It’s a catch-22: if you don’t have an
office, you also can’t get the right kind
of press pass that lets you move freely in
and out of Headquarters.
And
plenty of small newspapers have lost their
desks because they couldn’t keep up with
the attendance requirement. But of course,
these standards aren’t applied across the
board: the New York Times hasn’t even
opened the door to their space since
October.
What
kinds of conditions are these? Is it any
wonder that we see less and less reporting
on international affairs, or that
newspapers increasingly rely on wire
services for their news? What other
options are open to small media?
UN
correspondents have launched the Free
United Nations Coalition for Access, a
group dedicated to guaranteeing equal
access for all reporters looking to cover
the UN.
We
formed FUNCA after a small group of big
media – the UN reporters from Reuters,
AFP,
and Voice
of America — banded together to try
and dis-accredit Inner City Press, an
independent news site that produces tough,
watchdog reporting on the UN.
Then
the head of the UN’s Peacekeeping
Department, Herve Ladsous, announced that
he was no
longer taking questions from Inner
City Press – a policy which he has
bizarrely, blithely kept going for months.
This means he hasn’t had to answer
questions about, say, the UN’s role in
allowing rapes in the Congo, or working
with the rapists, or in bringing cholera
to Haiti. Far from putting pressure on
him, most of the UN press corps has sat by
silently and let Mr. Ladsous turn a deaf
ear to all the tough questions.
FUNCA
wants to fill the press freedom vacuum.
Right now, we’re advocating along other
things for the rights of freelancers who
have been denied UN credentials (even as
other freelancers have credentials and big
offices). We’re pushing more UN officials
to give on the record briefings to the
press corps. And we now work with
journalists around the world, from
Somaliland to Colombia to Burundi - and
Nigeria.
On May 29 in the UN Press
Briefing Room, Herve Ladsous the
head of UN Peacekeeping did just
that, telling Inner City Press on
questions of rape and drones, “You
know I do not respond to you,
Mister.” Video
here and embedded below.
Ladsous did it flanked by
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman Stephane Dujarric. He did
it with no complaint or reaction
from the similar head of the old UN
Correspondents Association Pam
Falk, who though arriving 15
minutes late was called on by
Dujarric to lob a softball question
before Inner City Press.
Inner City Press quit
UNCA and co-founded the Free
UN Coalition for Access, which
opposes Ladsous' picking which media
to answer, and UNCA insiders for
accepting this.
Dujarric pointed to a
separate answer by USG Ameerah Haq,
not on the rapes or drones but
logistics in South Sudan. This was
appreciated and may be separately
reported. But Ladsous is bringing
all of UN Peacekeeping down, not
only other officials but the troops
working in the field. We'll have
more on this.
Press
& Public Banned from UN
Communications Group, Accreditation
Mulled
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, May 20 -- A group of UN
spokespeople which considers such
issues as media accreditation is
meeting in New York today and
tomorrow, and Inner City Press on
behalf of the Free UN
Coalition for Access asked to
observe or at least get a summary.
On May 20, UN spokesman
Stephane Dujarric said no, it is
internal, and declined to take a
follow up question. But previous UNCG
Annual Principals Meetings have come
out with statements like that it is
"important for the United Nations
family to engage with all forms of new
media, but that some, such as blogs,
present particular challenges for
accreditation."
Even today, the UN lags behind
the OSCE in raising concerns about the
detention by Ukraine authorities of
journalists like those of Life News,
which put on YouTube video of “UN”
marked helicopters in Ukraine. Inner
City Press asked Dujarric about this
on May 20 and was told that no one in
the UN system has even raised the
issue to Kyiv, unlike the OSCE. Video
here.
Inner City Press wrote to
UNICEF to asked to attend or get
access to a webcast of the UNCG
meeting but was told: “The UN
Communications Group meeting is
co-hosted by UN DPI and UNICEF. It’s
an internal meeting so isn’t open via
webcast or otherwise.”
But if it concerns topics like
accreditation, shouldn't it be open or
summarized? Watch this site.
On“UN”
Copter in Ukraine, UN Tells ICP Kyiv
Contacted by UN Peacekeeping
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, May 13, more here -- Ukraine
is a major provider of helicopters and
air services to the UN, and amid the
Kyiv government's “counter-terrorism”
offensive on May 13 video surfaced of
a white
helicopter
marked “UN,” here.
The UN has in the past
complained of governments using
UN-marked equipment for their own
military goals. So Inner City Press
submitted these questions on deadline
to Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric
and his deputy Farhan Haq:
featuring
“UN”
helicopters in Ukraine. Is this
appropriate? Why would Ukraine have
helicopters with such markings inside
Ukraine? What does the UN allow Ukraine to
use them for? What will the UN do? On
deadline.
Hours went
by without any substantive answer.
Inner City Press asked about the issue
at the UN Security Council stakeout, video
here from Minute 5:17.
More
than six hours later, Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon's Office of the
Spokesperson provided this response to
Inner City Press:
Subject: On
Ukraine.
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply
[at] un.org
Date: Tue, May 13, 2014 at 7:40 PM
To: Matthew.Lee@innercitypress.com
The
Departments of Peacekeeping Operations
and Field Support are in contact with
the Ukrainian authorities concerning
this issue. It is the responsibility
of Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs)
that provide Contingent Owned
Equipment to peacekeeping missions to
remove all logos and signage bearing
the UN's name once such equipment has
been repatriated to the home country
or is no longer being used for
official UN purposes. Moreover, every
Letter of Assist, signed between the
UN and TCC, also clearly states that
“the Government may only use such
painted and marked Aircraft for
flights, which have been tasked by the
United Nations.”
We will await more -- that is, the
response of the Kyiv authorities and what the UN
actually does. Inner City Press asked another question
as well, and has questions pending back to the first
week of Dujarric's tenure in March. Watch this site.
May 12, 2104
After 2
Convictions for 130 Minova Rapes, UN
Says Trials Were Enough
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, May 8, 2014 -- For months, UN
Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous
dodged and refused questions about
rapes by the Congolese Army FARDC in
Minova. Video
compilation here.
Then after other UN officials
emphasized that some Congolese
soldiers were belatedly being
prosecuted, on May 5 the verdicts
declared not guilty three dozen of the
39 charged, convicting of rape only
two of the soldiers, for more than 130
rapes.
On
May 8 Inner City Press asked Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon's deputy
spokesperson Farhan Haq who will
decide on implementing Ban's stated
human rights due diligence policy of
suspending support to units engaged in
abuse, and which are not held
accountable and are given impunity. Video
here from 20:33.
Haq
replied, "I wouldn't say pretty much
impunity - there was a trial - that in
itself is a step. We are disappointed,
we have to evaluate what happened.
Inner City Press asked, who makes the
decision? Mister Ladsous?
Haq said, we were pressing for a
trial, it's not my place to comment on
the workings of the judicial system of
the DRC. Accountability meant getting
the trials.
But only two convictions
for 130 rapes?
The
day before on May 6 at the UN Inner
City Press asked Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon's associate spokesperson
Vannina Maestracci would would now
happen, under the UN's and Ladsous'
claimed "Human Rights Due Diligence"
Policy. Video
here.
Maestracci insisted, "We said
we were disappointed." But is that
enough? Is that the due diligence
policy? Maestracci said others will be
"analyzing" the two convictions.
Inner City Press asked, who will be
analyzing, and who would decide on
suspending support to the 41st and
391st Battalions?
"You got my answer," Maestracci said.
May 5, 2014
On Syria, If
Morjane Replaces Brahimi, Ben
Ali Crony'd Seek Assad's
Ouster
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS,
May 3 -- With UN envoy on
Syria Lakhdar Brahimi in New
York, there is speculation not
only of him resigning, but who
would replace him. Australian
Kevin Rudd is pushing hard,
but the name Inner City Press'
sources say has more currency
is Tunisia's Kamel Morjane.
This
would
be ironic: Morjane as well as
working in 1999 for the UN's
troubled mission in the Congo
MONUC and UNHCR, was Tunisian
dictator Ben Ali's minister of
defense then foreign minister,
and had been groomed as a
successor.
If
Morjane is named as envoy to
Syria, it would be a case of a
retread of a pre Arab Spring
dictatorship blue-washed into
one pushing to oust Syria's
Bashar al Assad.
Sources
tell
Inner City Press that after
the Tunisian revolution
Morjane was eyed for having
helped launder Ben Ali's
funds. They say his passport
was revoked and ask: what type
of passport does he have now?
They say that about the
Permanent Five members of the
Security Council, France which
supported Ben Ali so long
would also support Morjane.
UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon talked with the Arab
League in Abu Dhabi, and the
buzz is that while Rudd
couldn't bring the Arab
League's co-blessing, Morjane
might. But to what end? Watch
this site.
Footnote:
The Kevin Rudd
attempt is notably because he'd
like to rise all the way to
Secretary General, despite the
position being committed to
Eastern Europe. Rudd's calculus
seems to be that Russia might
veto most Eastern European
candidate and there
he'd be, waiting. But what of
gender balance? We'll have more
on this.
April 28, 2014
As Ethiopia Jails
Bloggers, US Talks Free Press
Elsewhere, Files Risen Brief
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS,
April 26 -- Ethiopia has
conducted a sweep and arrest
of journalists including
Tesfalem Woldeyes and six
bloggers from the Zone 9
collective. Next week,
US Secretary of State John
Kerry will visit Addis Ababa.
Will he be raising the issue?
We'll see.
New
US Assistant Secretary of
State Tom Malinowsi on April
25 spoke about the US
defending bloggers; the
examples he gave were in
Russia and Vietnam: "Dieu
Cay," Ta Phong Tan and Phan
Thanh Hai. How now about
Ethiopia?
"The
Egypt
bilateral foreign assistance
budget for FY2014 is approximately
$1.5 billion and includes $1.3
billion in Foreign Military
Financing (FMF) – $200 million in
Economic Support Funds; and over
$7 million for other security
assistance programs, including
International Military Education
and Training, International
Narcotics Control and Law
Enforcement, and Nonproliferation,
Antiterrorism, Demining and
Related Programs. The $650 million
from FY2014 FMF will be the first
of this funding to move forward,
pending Congressional notification
and approval."
The
next
day new US Assistant Secretary
of State for Democracy, Human
Rights, and Labor Tom
Malinowski was asked about the
detained Al Jazeera
journalists. He replied that
withholding of one additional
certification is in part due
to the Al Jazeera case, and
therefore the case has
consequences.
But
here
is how US Pentagon Press
Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby
explained the certification:
Secretary
Hagel
told General Sobhy that we are not
yet able to certify that Egypt is
taking steps to support a
democratic transition, and he
urged the Egyptian government to
demonstrate progress on a more
inclusive transition that respects
the human rights and fundamental
freedoms of all Egyptians.
Secretary
Hagel
also informed Minister Sobhy of
President Obama's decision to
deliver ten Apache helicopters in
support of Egypt’s
counterterrorism operations in the
Sinai. The secretary noted that we
believe these new helicopters will
help the Egyptian government
counter extremists who threaten
U.S., Egyptian, and Israeli
security.
While
some
say "safe and free," the above
shows the relationship between
"U.S., Egyptian, and Israeli
security" and the freedom of
the press issues at stake in
Egypt. Watch this site.
On W.
Sahara, Araud's "Word" Belied by
Acts in 2011 MINURSO Renewal
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, April 19, more
here -- In the untransparent
annual UN cat and mouse process around
Western Sahara, French Ambassador
Gerard Araud continues denying online
any French role, this year or before,
in blocking a human rights monitoring
mechanism in the MINURSO mission.
Araud
claimed, "there is not, there has not
been, this year or last year or
previous years, any French veto
threat! It is a fact."
Now
he adds, "my 'word'
is simply that, contrary to your
assertions, France never threatened
to veto any proposal. Nothing more,
nothing less."
This
stands in contrast below to 2010, when
Uganda, Mexico and as now Nigeria were
serving on the Council along with
Araud, who is now slated to leave in
July -- and to the process in April
2011.
On
April 18,
2011, multiple sources
told Inner City Press that
France opposed any MINURSO
human rights monitoring mechanism,
counter-proposing only cooperation
with the special rapporteurs
of the Human Rights
Council.
On April 27,
2011, Inner City Press aske
Araud about the High Commissioner for
Human Rights' recommendation that a
right monitoring mechanism be included
in MINURSO. Araud replies that "Ban
Ki-moon's" final report, into which
the French chief of UN Peacekeeping
had input, hadn't adopted the OHCHR's
recommend. That is where the lobbying
is -- and it is attributable to
France, with refusals
to answer questions playing their
role.
Araud opposed a human rights
monitoring mechanism in 2010 as well:
On
April 30, 2010, six hours into Western
Sahara negotiations in the Security
Council, the threat to call the vote
was made. There would be three
abstentions against the resolution
drafted by the so-called Group of
Friends: Uganda, Nigeria and Mexico.
A compromise that was apparently
acceptable to all 15 members, but was
opposed by Morocco, would refer to UN
"mechanisms" as a euphemism for human
rights.
Frente Polisario says it could
live with this language, and is angry
that Morocco has become on this issue
the one in "P-5 Plus One." Others
wondered if France only agreed to put
this language to Morocco because it
knew Morocco would shoot it down.
Inside the consultations, Inner City
Press was informed, Austria's
Ambassador wondered out loud how
France, so important in forming the
concept of human rights, could be so
vehemently opposing the inclusion of
the term in the Western Sahara
resolution.
French Ambassador Araud responded
angrily that no one can teach human
rights lessons to France.
Plus
ca change, plus c'est la meme chose
-- surtout avec Araud.
Back on on April
30, 2010 at 5:10 pm, Araud noted
he should have left for Greentree for
the Council's annual retreat with the
Secretary General 10 minutes before.
This year in 2014, the retreat is
earlier in April, before the MINURSO
vote. So there will be no excuses.
We'll have more on this.
This
year in a multiple French farce, a
wire service reporter usually of use
to France, Reuters' Louis Charbonneau,
has now purported to cover
as news his being accused of
misinformation by his often-source
France. Trying to serve two of the P3
Conuncil members on this issue - and
some others -- doesn't work.
The
threat of a French veto was cited
by Charbonneau
as the reason for the "Group of
Friends on Western Sahara" draft
resolution not including a human
rights monitoring mechanism.
Based on that, Human Rights Watch's
Ken Roth did what he rarely does:
criticize France.
Then French Ambassador Gerard Araud
did what he rarely does:
actually respond to a critique. He
tweeted, "Ken Roth your message is
wrong! France has not threatened to
veto anything! The negotiation has not
even started... How can we veto
something which is not proposed by the
pen holder (which in not France)? You
rely on rumors and disinformation."
The "rumors and disinformation" are
those repeated by Reuters' Lou
Charbonneau, on whom the French
mission often relies to get out its
message. Inner City Press asked,
and asks: so who is not telling the
truth?
Meanwhile from Paris the French
foreign services "social media" team
issues a blog by Anne
Chounet-Cambas singing its own
praises, citing Williamsburg, Brooklyn
and hard rock. If they are the ones
staffing Araud's twitter feed, is this
what they had in mind?
Obscured is all this is why "Ban
Ki-moon's" report's recommendation was
changed to drop the word "mechanism."
UN Peacekeeping is run by Herve
Ladsous, a former French diplomat
during the Rwanda genocide who is the
fourth Frenchman in a row to head UN
Peacekeeping. This has not been
mentioned by Reuters.
Another irony is that on April 17
after a French, US and Australia
sponsored Arria formula meeting with
Michael Kirby, chair of the UN
Commission of Inquiry on North Korea,
Kirby said threats of veto should not
be allowed to bury human rights
proposals. He said a formal meeting
(and vote) should be called on
referring North Korea to the
International Criminal Court.
But
this logic apparently doesn't apply to
Western Sahara, or to France as the
veto-wielder. None of this is
noted, of course, in pass-through
account by Reuters' Charbonneau, demonstrably
engaged in censorship, here.
Reuters' Charbonneau, who last time
quoted French Ambassador Gerard Araud
denying any role, this time didn't
mention him at all.
Araud's anti-press moves on April 15
were of course not reported by this
wire -- nor on Western Sahara was the
African Union position with which
Nigeria's Joy Ogwu answered Inner City
Press --rights mechanism needed, video
here and embedded below -- in
the wire's story.
Africa is not represented in the
Council's "Group of Friends on Western
Sahara." Changing that is not a reform
you'll hear France talking about,
including prospectively at the
Council's retreat with Ban Ki-moon on
which we'll have more. Nor is
Africa represented or even recognized,
it is increasingly clear, on this
servile wire. This is how the UN
works, or doesn't.
On
April 17, the day of the Security
Council first formal consultation on
Western Sahara, Inner City Press asked
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman Dujarric about a reported
crack down on peaceful demonstrators
in El Aaiun, then asked Ambassador Joy
Ogwu of Nigeria, Council president for
April, about the consultations.
Dujarric said he had no information
about the demonstration or crackdown
or any letter received; when Inner
City Press asked if envoy Christopher
Ross would hold a question and answer
stakeout, he said probably not. (None
happened.) Video
here.
But
Inner City Press asked the Security
Council's president for April,
Nigeria's Joy Ogwu, if human rights
monitoring came up. She said in her
national capacity she raised it,
saying that a human rights monitoring
mechanism should be (belatedly) put in
the MINURSO mission's mandate, as it
is in the mandate of other UN
peacekeeping missions. Video
here.
Before the consultations, French
Ambassador Gerard Araud engaged in a
long discussion with Morocco's new
Ambassador to the UN Omar Hilale.
Inner City Press, at the stakeout,
took and tweeted
a few photographs -- Morocco
supporters replied with Araud's
anti-press phrase of April 15, that
anyone they disagree with is "not a
journalist;" one even called
photographing from the UN stakeout
"spying."
(That Araud was quoted by Javier
Bardem that Morocco is France's
"mistress" was in the air. Araud
talked about suing Bardem, but has
not.)
The
Security Council is scheduled to vote
on the MINURSO mandate on April 23,
but it could go until the end of the
month, when the old mandate with no
right monitoring mandate expires.
Watch this site.
Back
on April 16 Dujarric refused to
explain, when Inner City Press asked,
why Ban dropped a rights "mechanism"
from the advance copy of his report.
Dujarric refused to say with whom,
other than Morocco's King, Ban spoke
about the matter between April 10 and
April 15, when a new draft without
"mechanism" went on the UN's website.
Video
here.
Moments later, Inner City Press asked
Ambassador Joy Ogwu of Nigeria,
April's Security Council president and
an African Union member, about the
drop of the word "mechanism." She said
it will be discussed in consultations
on April 17. Video
here.
On
April 10, Inner City Press published
what was called the advance copy of
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's report
on Western Sahara, saying that the
goal is a human rights monitoring
MECHANISM, see
here at Paragraph 100.
(Inner City Press and the Free UN
Coalition for Access asked
Dujarric on April 16 if this was
appropriate. Video
here. He said accredited
correspondents should be treated with
respect, but declined even when Inner
City Press noted that French foreign
minister Laurent Fabius did the same
thing to say he will convey this
"respect" position to the French
Mission, or Araud's replacement
Jacques Audibert, click
here for that)
On
April 15, Araud called on France 24
and a
Reuters reporter who quoted
Araud without mentioning that Javier
Barden reported Araud as calling
Morocco France's mistress. (Araud
talked of suing, but never did.) Nor
did Reuters mention that the head of
UN Peacekeeping, atop the Western
Sahara mission MINURSO, is
Herve Ladsous, a long-time
French diplomat including at the UN
during the Rwanda genocide of 1994.
So a
human rights monitoring mechanism is
out, at least from Ban Ki-moon report.
Morocco's King, after in essence
threatening to end the UN mission if
human rights monitoring mechanism is
included, is now reportedly slated to
visit Dakhla, as early as tomorrow. Click
here.
The new Ambassador will be Omar
Hilale, most recently a
hardliner on the human rights issue at
the UN in Geneva. This comes as France
is slated to replace its Ambassador
Gerard Araud with Jacques Audibert in
July. So for both Araud and Loulichki,
this month is a last campaign against
a rights monitoring mechanism.
Araud was slated to give a press
conference on April 15, ironically
on human rights, on topic on which he
convened a closed door meeting at 10
am on April 15, from which even some
UN member states were banned.
Araud should have been expected to
address these issues -- but he and his
spokesman Frederic Jung did not take
any question from Inner City Press,
and Araud attacked the lone critical
question he selected.
Tetouan - HM King
Mohammed VI held on Saturday a phone conversation
with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, says a
release of the Royal office.
The talks covered latest developments and
the present timetable related to the Moroccan
Sahara issue, says the release. On this occasion,
HM the King reiterated Morocco's constant
commitment and constructive cooperation to reach a
final political settlement to this regional
dispute, within Moroccan sovereignty.
HM The King further drew the UN secretary
General's attention to the imperative need to
preserve the negotiations parameters as they were
defined by the Security Council, safeguard the
presence framework and modalities of the UN
involvement and avoid biased approaches and
risky options, the statement goes on.
Any straying from
this track will be fatal for the ongoing process
and holds dangers for any UN involvement in the
issue. The conversation also covered HM the
King's sustained actions and laudable initiatives
for the stability and development of the African
continent.
"The
Moroccan government has issued its own
read-out of their King's telephone
call to the Secretary General, this is
a request for a UN readout of the SG's
call, in light of what Inner City
Press asked at the April 11 noon
briefing... There are other questions
outstanding, as you know, and I have
others, but asking this after the
Moroccan government's readout, for the
UN's read-out."
Without providing
any UN read-out, Ban's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric
replied, "I can confirm that the call took place."
Inner City
Press and FUNCA asked Dujarric and his deputy
Farhan Haq more pointedly:
"If not the still
requested UN read-out, will you comment on
Morocco's statement that the "King further drew
the UN secretary General's attention to the
imperative [to] risky options... Any straying from
this track will be fatal for the ongoing process
and holds dangers for any UN involvement in the
issue" -- since this seems to be a threat to try
to terminate "UN involvement" in Western Sahara if
an option such as a human rights monitoring
mechanism were included in MINURSO, do you have
any comment? And, can you state which side
initiated the call, and if the advance copy of the
Secretary General's report on Western Sahara which
I asked about at Friday's noon briefing was
discussed?"
Ban's spokesman Dujarric an hour later
replied: "No further comment." At noon
on April 11, Inner City Press asked Dujarric who
has input into Ban Ki-moon's reports, for
example if not only the first but the final
"Ban" report on Western Sahara will urge a human
rights monitoring mechanism. Dujarric refused to
explain the process, saying wait until it's
over, it is not final until it is final -- not a
good sign, some say. Who wrote the first report?
Who is changing it? Who CAN change it? Inner
City Press asked, without answer. Video here
April 14, 2014
Week
After Burundi Cable on Arming Young,
SC Press Statement, What Action?
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, April 10, more here
-- Twenty years after the "genocide
fax" from Rwanda to the UN in New York
was largely ignored, for a week there
was little visible reaction to a
strikingly similar cable
from Burundi, about AK-47s being
distributed to the youth-wing of the
Hutu aligned CNDD party.
Inner City Press on April 9 put the
cable online, submitting questions
about it to UN spokesperson Stephane
Dujarric and on April 10 online and at
the Security Council stakeout to
Ambassador Gerard Araud of France,
pen-holder on Burundi in the Council.
But it was US Ambassador Samantha
Power who took and answered the
question, telling Inner City Press
that it is very troubling, that there
have been fast trials of 21 young
opposition figures and a threat to
change the constitution and now, these
reports. Video
here and embedded below.
At
the April 10 noon briefing, UN
spokesperson Stephane Dujarric who had
sent Inner City Press a wan response
to its April 9 questions about the
cable (and about actions by one of the
three addressees, Herve Ladsous of UN
Peacekeeping) read out a list of
contacts the UN had made.
Inner City Press asked if the UN,
whose cable it was and is, had done
anything to check into the weapons
given to the youth-wing: pistols in
February, AK-47s since. Dujarric said
he didn't understand the question and
had nothing to add. Video
here.
Hours later, the UN Security Council
issued a press statement, which will
publish here in full since it is not
yet on the Council's website:
Press
statement on the situation in Burundi
The following
Security Council press statement was issued
today by Council President Joy Ogwu (Nigeria):
On 8 April,
the members of the Security Council were
briefed by UN Department of Political Affairs
Under-Secretary-General Jeffrey Feltman on the
situation in Burundi.
The members of
the Security Council expressed their concern
for the political tensions in Burundi and for
continued restrictions on the press and on
civil liberties, including limitations on the
freedoms of expression, of association and of
peaceful assembly, including for members of
opposition political parties, and for media
and civil society organizations, especially in
the run up to the 2015 elections.
They condemned
any recourse to violence, and expressed their
concern for the reported acts of intimidation,
harassment and violence committed by youth
groups in Burundi. They recalled the urgent
need for the government of Burundi to address
impunity, while respecting the right of due
process, and for all the political parties to
publicly condemn all political violence and
acts of incitement to hatred or violence, in
line with the Constitution of Burundi and the
Arusha Agreement.
The members of
the Security Council encouraged further
efforts by the government of Burundi to ensure
a space for all political parties and to
continue to improve dialogue between all
relevant actors, including civil society, with
a view towards ensuring a conducive, free and
open environment in the run up to the 2015
elections.
They
encouraged Burundi to sustain the progress
towards peace, stability and development and
reiterated the need for the United Nations
system and the international community,
including the international financial
institutions and Burundi’s development
partners, to maintain their support for peace
consolidation and long-term development in
Burundi. They welcomed Burundi’s contribution
and active participation to United Nations and
African Union peacekeeping operations,
especially in Somalia and Central African
Republic.
The members of
the Security Council commended the continued
contribution of the United Nations Office in
Burundi (BNUB) and the United Nations system
to the country’s peace, security and
development, and reiterated their full support
to the Special Representative of the
Secretary-General in Burundi.
They recalled
the Security Council resolution 2137 (2014)
and their request to the Secretary-General to
keep the Council informed on the benchmarks,
the implementation of the mandate of BNUB and
of the resolution, and the conditions that
affect such implementation, as well as on
BNUB’s transition to the United Nations
Country Team.
That the cable was in
fact sent from the UN in Burundi to
three top UN officials -- Jeffrey
Feltman of the Department of
Political Affairs, Herve Ladsous of
UN Peacekeeping and Great Lakes
envoy Mary Robinson -- was reliably
confirmed. Inner City Press and the
new Free
UN Coalition for Accessput
this photoonline
here and here.
Below, the full text of the cable is
published.
On April 9, UK Mission to the
UN spokesperson Iona Thomas replied to
Inner City Press that "I can confirm
that Feltman raised this issue in the
Council discussion on Burundi
yesterday and members of the Council
expressed their concern at the
reports."
That UN
read-out says that "the
Secretary-General expressed strong
concerns about reports concerning
activities of Burundian youth groups
and urged the relevant national
authorities to investigate these
reports."
But
it is the government itself that is
accused of distributing pistols,
uniforms and AK-47s to the "youth
groups," which the UN read-out leaves
unnamed. Is this "Rights Up Front"?
US Ambassador Samantha Power
traveled from Rwanda to Burundi and issued a
statement that the "United
States will provide $7.5 million in
assistance for the Burundian electoral
process" and expressing concerns,
here. It did not directly mention the
alleged distribution of weapons to the
Imbonerukure or the cable.
France, in the same week that
it snubbed the Rwanda genocide
commemoration and called any
suggestion it was complicit in the
1994 killings "disgraceful," holds the
pen on Burundi in the Security
Council.
That is to say, it was up to France
after Feltman came and raised the memo
to then pen and push for fast adoption
some output: a resolution or
Statement. But this did not happen --
until a week after the cable.
Instead, when at the end of a
higher profile consultation with High
Commissioner on Human Rights Navi
Pillay including on Syria, where
France is pushing a referral to the
International Criminal Court, April's
Council president Joy Ogwu of Nigeria
emerged to speak to the press, there
were only two journalists there
including Inner City Press. She
mentioned Feltman's briefing, but not
the cable or its contents.
Nine hours later, Australia's
Ambassador to the UN Gary Quinlan
tweeted, "#UNSC discussed
deteriorating situation in #Burundi
for 2nd time in 2 weeks - signs of
political exclusion & oppression
deeply concerning."
The French Mission to the UN
-- the penholder on Burundi -- was
even less specific: "Under Secretary
General Jeffrey Feltman has briefed
#UNSC on current political tensions in
#Burundi."
So
is the main difference in 20 years
since the Rwanda genocide the speed of
leaks and of social media?
April 7, 2014
Kessab
Issues Hits LA & DC, UNSC Delay,
Why Not Kardashian Arria?
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, April 3, More
here on Beacon Reader --
The issue of the over-running of
largely Armenian Kessab has been
brewing for days, including around the
UN Security Council, in Hollywood and
in Washington.
On
April 2 Inner City Press asked UN
deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq if the
UN had any access to or knowledge
about Kessab, including who did what
there. Haq said the UN doesn't know
that. Video
here, from Minute 13:50.
Shouldn't it?
Kim "Famous For Being Famous"
Kardashian has gotten involved, due to
the Armenian connection; this played a
role in US Ambassador Samantha Power
being asked about the issue when she
testified about the Obama
Administration's international
organizations budget.
At least one UN wag muses that
Russia might want to convene
Kardashian to the UN for an Arria
formula meeting on Kessab, or Kassab
-- others from Hollywood have come to
testify on other issues, why not this
one?
Power is quoted (mostly in the
Armenian press) as saying, " I would
note that, unfortunately, the
extremist group that appears to have
taken hold of that town is not one
that the United States and the United
Nations overall has a great deal of
leverage over."
Some are saying that it was
ISIL / ISIS -- that is, the extremists
-- did it, but on April 2 Ahmed al
Jarba's Syria Coalition put this out:
Syrian
Coalition:
Russian accusations against rebels in
Kasab are false
Khalid
Saleh,
President of the Media Office, commends
"the heroes of the Free Syrian Army for
their honorable treatment of the Armenian
inhabitants of Kasab following the
liberation of the town." Saleh described
Russia's calls for the UN Security Council
to discuss "the extremist militants'
violations" against the Armenian
population of the town as "baseless
accusations through which Russia seeks to
shuffle the cards and to deflect the
attention of the international community
away from the massacres committed by the
Assad regime against the Syrian people.
"The Armenians are a fundamental part of
the Syrian fabric and the rebels continue
to protect them in Aleppo and Kasab. We
expect the Russians to demonstrate
seriousness in reaching a political
solution to end the bloodshed, but the
only language that the Assad regime and
its allies understand is the language of
militarization and bombing of civilians,"
Saleh said. In a similar vein, The Syrian
Coalition has renewed confidence in the
Free Syrian Army’s ability to protect all
civilians, regardless of religious, ethnic
and political affiliation. Recently,
different fighting groups issued a number
of statements, in which they reiterated
their commitment to protecting civilian
population across Syria. "Every time
rebels gain ground, the Assad regime leads
a smear campaign to discredit rebels. As
the rebels advance in the Kassab area,
Assad continues to create smear ads.
Activists posted a video on social
networks reaffirming their commitment to
protect holy places. In the video the
Armenian Church appears intact." The
Syrian Coalition also stresses that it is
committed to the unity of Syrian society
and the FSA is committed to the protection
of civilians against Assad’s militias. It
is vital that the international community
realize that the Assad regime has to be
removed, so that the Syrian people can
decide their own future and build a
pluralistic, democratic, and free Syria."
The Syrian Coalition also demands that the
international community put pressure on
the Assad regime to stop the fierce
military campaign waged against the people
of Mount Turkman. "The Assad regime is
attempting to eliminate the cultural
components that have long enriched the
Syrian civilization throughout history. It
should have also followed the example of
the FSA fighters, who liberated the town
of Kassab without committing any
violations against the Armenian population
of the town, nor did they attack churches
or houses of worship." The Syrian
Coalition also calls on the FSA fighters
not to harm any of the people in the
coastal region, including Kassab, which
contains one of the most important
historical monuments in the world. "We
have to protect the civilians in the areas
that we liberate, regardless of their
views or orientation. FSA fighters must
fight those who are armed and that kill
the civilians on charges of supporting the
revolution. The Assad regime poses a
threat not only to Syrian culture, but
also to the regional and global culture.”
Mohammed Sarmin, Advisor to the interim
Prime Minister, visited the town of Kassab
north of Latakia and met with the leader
of the Western Front, Colonel Mustafa
Hashim, and leaders of the Ansar Al Sham
brigade. Sarmini handed them the aid sent
by the Syrian interim government to the
coastal front. He also toured some medical
centers and field hospitals, stressing the
readiness of the Ministry of Health in the
interim government to provide all kinds of
medical support. The Shariah Committee in
Mount Turkman condemns the murder of two
young men by Assad's shabiha in the
dominantly Turkman neighborhood of Ali
Jamal in central Latakia as a retaliation
to the victories of the Free Syrian Army
in Latakia province, in which the Turkman
fighters played a vital role. The
spokesman for the Sharia Committee also
said that the battle for the Syrian coast
has not witnessed any revenge killings,
based on ideology, religion or race. The
Syrian minorities, which the Assad claims
he protect, are playing a vital role in
the battle, which proves to the whole
world that the Assad regime lies when it
talks about protection of minorities.
(Source: Syrian Coalition)
Update 2: After Inner City Press asked about
Kassab on April 2, when it asked again on April
3 UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said he'd
sent some information to those who asked about
Kassab on April 2 - but not to Inner City Press.
After Inner City Press asked about a letter from
Armenia's foreign minister on April 3, Haq's
office squawked confirmation then sent this:
Subject:
Your
question on Kassab
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not
Reply [at] un.org
Date: Thu, Apr 3, 2014 at 2:38
PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at]
innercitypress.com
Cc: Stephane Dujarric [at]
un.org
The
Office
of the Spokesperson can
confirm that the
Secretary-General has received
a letter from the Foreign
Minister of the Republic of
Armenia, concerning the
attacks in Kassab, Syria.
Now what?
March 31, 2014
On Ukraine,
IMF Answers ICP on Gas Price 50% Rise, Citing
Kyiv
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, March 27 -- It was 4:25 am in New
York and Washington when the International
Monetary Fund announced its preliminary
agreement for a $14 - $18 billion loan program
with Ukraine.
Inner
City Press asked the IMF to confirm or comment
on reports that the Ukrainian "increase the
price of natural gas for household consumers
by an average of 50%" is attributable to the
IMF.
At the
IMF's 9:30 am embargoed briefing, IMF deputy
spokesperson William Murray read out the
question then said that the program has five
components, including energy sector reform.
He said
Ukraine will reduce subsidies to the energy
sector, and that current prices in Ukraine are
two to three times lower than in neighboring
countries. He said, as it did to other
questions, that responses were given in a
press conference in Kyiv.
In New
York at the UN, a General Assembly meeting
started at 10 am. Russia's Ambassador Vitaly
Churkin recounted history and said radicals
"called the shots" in the change of
government. We've noted that UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon met with the leader of the
Svoboda party while in Kyiv.
In
Washington later on March 27 the US Congress
is expected to act on a $1 billion loan
guarantee to Ukraine, but not on the IMF
changes the Obama administration requested.
Obama Press Secretary Jay Carney issued a
statement welcoming the IMF preliminary deal,
concluding that "We also remain committed to
providing the IMF with the resources it needs
– in partnership with Congress – to provide
strong support to countries like Ukraine as
well as reinforcing the Fund’s governance to
reflect the global economy."
Rice
genially said several times that the question
couldn't or wouldn't be answered while the IMF
mission is “in the field” in Ukraine. He
initially gave the same answer to Inner City
Press' question that had nothing to do with
Ukraine: is it true, as Russia reportedly
argued at the most recent G-20 meeting, that
quota reform could be accomplished without US
approval, under some set of rule changes?
Rice
during the briefing repeated this could not be
answered while the mission is in Ukraine.
Later it was conveyed that the reform is not
possible without US approval. The answer is
appreciated: a benefit of asking in person.
But Inner City Press (and the Free UN
Coalition for Access) hope to make the
online asking of questions work better from
now on.
And on March 27, for example, IMF
deputy spokesperson William Murray read out this question
from Inner City Press:
"On Zimbabwe, please
confirm IMF is re-opening its office and respond
to Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa saying part
of the deal included cutting Zimbabwe's wage bill
from 70 percent of the budget but this pledge will
not be met, 'addressing it overnight would mean
very drastic measures which I indicated to them
(IMF) I am not prepared to take. That would mean
retrenchment of civil servants.'"
On
March 27, Murray said he would not comment
directly on what the Finance Minister said,
but pointed to a press release we will add a
link to.
Back
on March 13 in another non-Ukraine question,
Inner City Press asked Rice about a book published
earlier this week in Hungary, that the
then-economy minister in 2011 told Goldman
Sachs that the government would be going to
the IMF for a program. Since much currency
trading ensued, Inner City Press asked if the
IMF has any rules limiting its government
interlocutors from trading on or sharing
insider information.Video
here, from Minute 31:12.
Rice
said there are confidential provisions. But
are those only for the contents of
communication and not the existence of
communications or negotiations? We'll see.
March 24, 2014
In
Ukraine, List of Parties UN's Ban Met
Still UNdisclosed, Visa Ban
Inner City Press: I
wanted to ask you about sanctions. I know that in
his opening remarks, the Secretary-General talked
about provocative actions and counter-reactions
and obviously there have been, the US announced
sanctions on a slew of individuals and one bank,
and another bank, SMP, has been cut off from the
Visa and Mastercard system. Russia has its own
sanctions. Was this discussed, was this discussed
while he was in Moscow? Does the Secretary-General
think that sanctions should be done through the
UN? And will he meet with representatives of the
Svoboda party while he’s there, if they were to
request it?
Spokesman Stephane
Dujarric: There was a — I will share with you as
soon as I get it — the list of party leaders that
attended the meeting with the Secretary-General.
So we will see who exactly was there and, you
know, I’m not going to get into detailed reactions
to sanctions and counter-sanctions and so forth.
But what I will say is that, you know, everybody
needs to kind of focus on finding a peaceful,
diplomatic solution and lowering the tensions.
Inner City Press: Has
he or you seen the video of the Svoboda party MPs
beating up the television executive?
Spokesman Stephane
Dujarric: I have not and I doubt that he has.
But more than 24 hours later, the
"list of party members" who met with
Ban was still not provided or
shared, nor was an explanation
provided. What should one infer from
that?
On
the new US sanctions on Russia
described on March 20 by four Senior
Administration Officials, including
on Bank Rossiya, Dujarric had no
comment on March 21 when Inner City
Press was able to ask him.
Notably a bank NOT on the US
sanctions list, SMP Bank, has been
cut off from payments services by
Visa and MasterCard. Apparently Visa
and MasterCard are part of US
foreign policy
March 17, 2014
Of French
Mistrals to Russia, US Urges Restraint
on Sale, Of Mayotte Analogy
By Matthew
Russell Lee
WASHINGTON,
March 14 -- Amid talk of "costs" for
Russia if the Crimea referendum goes
forward as scheduled on Sunday, a
sample deal shows Russia's leverage: France's
sale of Mistral warships to Russia.
Inner City Press asked US
State Department Deputy Spokesperson
Marie Harf on March 14 about the deal,
about a pending UN Security Council
resolution and an analogy raised
earlier in the day by Russian foreign
minister Lavrov: the French-run referendum
that split Mayotte off from the
Comoros.
On the Mistral sale, Harf
replied that ""Decisions about these
kind of sales are obviously a matter
for each sovereign state... We would
hope that any country would exercise
judgment and restraint when it comes
to transferring military equipment
that could exacerbate tensions in any
conflict region.. That certainly
applies here." Video
here, from Minute 18:34.
Hart said she would check if
the US has discussed the Mistral sale
with France.
Inner City
Press: on Ukraine, one question that’s
come up is, in terms of sanctions is
France has this big deal where it’s
selling Mistral warships to Russia,
and it’s said that it’s going forward.
What does the United States think of
that sale of military hardware?
MS. HARF:
Well, decisions about these kind of
sales are obviously a matter for each
sovereign state to take into account
including a host of factors –
obviously, international law, regional
stability. We would hope that any
country would exercise judgment and
restraint when it comes to
transferring military equipment that
could exacerbate tensions in any
conflict region. In general, I think
that certainly applies here.
On the Mayotte analogy, Harf
said "In general, it's very clear
under Ukraine's constitution how
this legally could take place... a
countrywide referendum. She said of
"any comparisons, they just don't
have relevancy here."
Harf
noted that she had begun the briefing
with a statement condemning crackdowns
on the press in Russia, and that would
apply here. But would it? Watch this
site.
March 10, 2014
In S.
Sudan, UN Admits "Error" of Trucks
of Guns by Road, Haiti Cholera
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, March 6 -- The UN issued a
rare admission of error on March 6,
saying that contrary to policy weapons
were moved by road, not air, in South
Sudan for the Ghana peacekeepers
recently arrived from Cote d'Ivoire.
Juba,
6 March 2014: It is the policy of the
United Nations Mission in South Sudan
(UNMISS) that during the crisis in South
Sudan all arms and ammunition for
peacekeeping contingents are flown into
respective areas of deployment and not
taken by road. This is an important
security measure.
In
connection with the transport of cargo of
general goods belonging to the Ghanaian
battalion on its way to Bentiu, several
containers were wrongly labelled and
inadvertently contained weapons and
ammunition. This is regrettable. The
Ghanaian troops are part of the surge of
UNMISS troops to assist South Sudan and
the goods were en route to Bentiu, passing
through Rumbek.
UN
Headquarters intends to dispatch a high
level investigation team to look into this
matter on an urgent basis, in cooperation
with the Government of South Sudan.
Pressed for
more details, spokesperson Martin
Nesirky declined. One wondered, if the
UN can in essence apologize so quickly
for weapons transport in South Sudan,
why not for the 8,000 people killed by
the cholera introduced into Haiti?
UNITED
NATIONS, February 27 -- Even as Myanmar
denies the rights of the Rohingya,
Karen and Kachin and other people, the
UN is inviting it to contribute troops
to UN Peacekeeping under Herve
Ladsous, it was confirmed to
Inner City Press on February 27.
Earlier this month, Inner City Press
asked the UN about the exclusion of
"Rohingya" from upcoming UN-assisted
census. On
February 26, Inner City Press
asked:
Inner City Press: I've
been meaning to ask about Myanmar, there is a
report that Vijay Nambiar, when he was there, met
with a defence services commander-in-chief and,
the quote goes, said that Myanmar could contribute
to United Nations peacekeeping operations, if
interested. He essentially either solicited or
left the door open for Myanmar to contribute UN
peacekeepers. Since many people remain concerned,
including Mr. [Tomas] Ojea Quintana, about a lack
of rule of law and some abuses by the army and
there is still [a United States] arms embargo on
the country, is it possible to know whether Mr.
Nambiar said that or maybe some variation on that
and what the UN’s position is on Myanmar
contributing troops?
Spokesperson Martin
Nesirky: Well, troop contributing is a
conversation that would be had with the Department
of Peacekeeping Operations. So, I would need to
check with them, and also with Mr. Nambiar on
precisely what was said with that, in that meeting
unless, bear in mind, that Mr. Nambiar on his trip
had any number of troops with different officials.
Twenty
four hours later, Nesirky and DPKO had
provided no answer. So, even limited
two a mere two questions -- no Sri
Lanka -- by Nesirky, Inner City Press
on February 27 asked again about
Myanmar.
Along with asking again if Nambiar
invited Myanmar "peacekeepers," Inner
City Press asked
about president
"Thein Sein expressed
his support on Thursday for four controversial
laws on religion due to be considered by the
country's parliament, including one that restricts
interfaith marriages for Buddhists, a
parliamentary official said. In a letter to
lawmakers, Thein Sein urged the lower house to
pass the bills aimed at protecting Buddhism, the
predominant religion among Myanmar's estimated 60
million population, a lower house spokesman said.
The interfaith marriage bill, if enacted, would
mean a non-Buddhist man who wants to marry a
Buddhist must convert to her faith, or face a
10-year jail sentence. The text would not apply
restrictions to marriages between Buddhist men and
non-Buddhist women. The draft laws could be
presented to parliament for a vote as early as
next month, sources said."
Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson Nesirky
said he wouldn't comment even this law
while it is pending. Next month? After
peacekeepers?
Later on February 27, Nesirky's office
sent this to Inner City Press:
Subject: On your
question on Myanmar.
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Thu, Feb 27, 2014 at 2:59 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com
"During his recent
meeting with the Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar’s
Defence Services, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing,
the question of Myanmar’s cooperation with the UN
on peacekeeping was discussed. The Special Adviser
explained that, like any Member State, Myanmar was
invited to discuss its interest in specific terms
with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations
which would consider such a request in accordance
with its regular parameters."
Under Ban and Ladsous, UN Peacekeeping
has been advised by controversial Sri
Lanka military figure Shavendra Silva;
Ladsous has accepted a child soldier
recruiter and user into "his" mission
in Mali. Myanmar may be next.
Inner
City Press: another Myanmar question.
There is a census coming up. It seems that
the United Nations system is involved in
funding and maybe even participating in
it. Both Kachin and Rohingya groups have
expressed a lot of concerns. One, there is
no box in the census thus far to check
Rohingya, meaning… implying that they are
not citizens. Also, Kachin, they have
other complaints. I wanted to know: is UN
aware of these? What steps are they
taking, and will they fund a census that
many groups think makes things worse
rather than better?
Acting
Deputy Spokesperson Haq: Well, we will
look into what we are doing on that
question. We need some details about that.
It was 19
days later, on February 12, that the
UN Spokesperson's Office finally sent
this response:
Subject:
In
response to your question on the Myanmar
census.
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at]
un.org
Date: Wed, Feb 12, 2014 at 5:02 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com
The UN
Population Fund (UNFPA) is the focal
UN agency for providing technical and
programmatic assistance to the Government
for the census. It says that everyone in
Myanmar will be counted in the census.
UNFPA is supporting the Government to
ensure that the census is fully inclusive
and conducted according to international
standards. Respondents will be asked to
identify their ethnicity, with the option
of selecting one of the categories used in
the 1983 census or selecting "other" and
writing in the name of another group. All
of the responses will be coded and
tabulated.
Compare
this belated Pollyanna answer by the
UN and UNFPA to what the Myanmar
government Minister for Immigration
and Population U Khin Yi openly says:
"They
say that their race is Rohingya. When a
person says that his race is “B”, because
he doesn’t want to mention his race as
“A”, that means that race “A” no longer
exists, but the race “B” is a new race.
Since race “B” is a new race, there will
be questions, such as “how did the race
enter (the country)?” or “are they
encroaching here?” When things become
radical, I worry that it could harm peace
and stability...We will record what the
person says. If he says “A” then we will
fill the form as “A”. The result will be,
like I said before, that even if that term
“A” is Rohingya, we will not recognize
Rohingya as one of the 135 ethnic groups
in Myanmar."
So this is
"fully inclusive and conducted
according to international standards"?
The UN is at best in denial. Watch
this site.
Footnote: It
appears that on-again, off-again UN official
Charles Petrie is about to set sail from
Myanmar. He was quoted earlier this year: "In
terms of MPSI we want to make sure whatever we
do adds value, and there’s a clear sense that
if there isn’t we won’t continue." Watch this
site.
In
Ukraine, Yanukovych Heads East, Putin
- Obama Talk, Hagel Gets His Call
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, February 21 -- Here's how
fast things have moved in diplomacy
on Ukraine: today Presidents Obama
and Putin had a phone conversation
which a Senior US State Department
Official called "positive" and at
the US' initiative.
The official said that Yanukovych
has gone on a trip to
Kharkiv in his eastern
base in the country, "for
some kind of meeting
that's taking place out
there," and recounted a
rumor that the deposed
interior minister has fled
to Belarus.
US State Department
official William Burns
will be heading to
Ukraine; Vice President
Joe Biden has spoken nine
times with Yanukovych:
twice in November, once in
December, three times in
January and on February 4,
18 and 20. Even Defense
Secretary Chuck Hagel
finally got through to his
Ukraine's counterpart,
Lebedev.
Amid the
self-congratulation, the
United Nations was once
again on the margins. The
UN has made much of
Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon's talk with Yanukovych
at the Sochi Olympics, and
another phone call today.
But tellingly, the Senior
US State Department
Official while citing a
"good offices" role for
"the international
community" did not mention
the UN once, in opening
remarks nor in response to
the eight questions taken.
(Two were from the New
York Times, the second of
which referred to Putin's
call with "President
Bush.") An overly
long question from Le
Figaro was cut off.
Back
on February 19 when Lithuania's
foreign minister Linas Linkevieius
came to the UN Security Council
stakeout, that country seemed to be
the one to ask him about. Inner City
Press asked Linkevieius about his
visit to Washington; he replied
among other things that there is a
need for "more coordination." Video
here.
Later on February 19 a US
Senior State Department Official
told the press that "Russia has not
been transparent about what they are
doing in Ukraine," citing that
Russia for example does not provide
read-outs of its contacts in
Ukraine.
The US' own high
level contacts have gotten more
difficult: "they are not picking up
the phone," the official said,
adding that three European Union
foreign ministers are on their way.
Of the four questions
Linkevieius took at his UN stakeout,
one was on the UN's North Korea
report, another on Venezuela. A
Russian reporter waiting at the
stakeout with his hand raised was
not given a question. This is the
UN.
Moments later at the UN's
February 19 noon briefing, outgoing
UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky was
asked about a perceived double
standards in responses to Bosnia and
Ukraine. (The question was echoed on
February 20, comparing Ukraine with
Bahrain). Nesirky said every
situation is different -- of course
-- and also said the UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon had met for 90
minutes in Sochi with President
Yanukovych.
Ironically the US Senior
State Department Official on
February 19 was asked about
Yanukovych becoming more hardline
after his visit to Sochi. From Foggy
Bottom to Turtle Bay, the view is
different -- in the case of the UN,
often marginal and self-serving. For
example, Ban Ki-moon gave no
read-out of his beginning of the
year call with the president of his
native South Korea.
On FSA Child
Soldiers, Amos Says Use Leverage, US Left
UNanswered, Until Now
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, February 13, updated Feb
14 below -- Amid reports that
the US already provides or is ready to
provide aid to armed groups in Syria
like the Free Syrian Army (FSA), on
January 29 Inner City Press first
highlighted and then on January
30 first asked the US Mission to the
UN about a finding in the UN's
then-unpublished report on Children
and Armed Conflict in Syria:
"Throughout
the
reporting period, the United Nations
received consistent reports of recruitment
and use of children by FSA-affiliated
groups." (Now final, here,
Para 12).
The US has
cited the recruitment and use of child
soldiers to suspend US aid to armies
of governments which had previously
been receiving it. Inner City
Press asked, and continues to
ask, how could the US provide
aid to a non-state group which even
the UN has found using child soldiers?
On
February 13, Inner City Press was able
to put this question to the UN's
humanitarian chief Valerie Amos, but
not to US Ambassador Samantha Power
who spoke just after Amos.
Amos said "in terms of recruiting
children into armed groups, we see
culpability on all the sides to the
conflict, and therefore anyone who has
any kind of influence with those
groups needs to be making it clear
that this is not acceptable." Video
here, from Minute 10:11.
Given US statements about the Free
Syrian Army, clearly the US has
influence and leverage. So will the US
use the leverage? Can it legally not?
At
the Security Council stakeout after
Amos took five questions, including
Inner City Press' question on FSA
child soldiers, Ambassador Power took
three: Al Arabiya, Associated Press
and the New York Times. Inner City
Press said, "Question on child
soldiers?" and there was some reaction
which we won't try to interpret. (The
video
is now online here, at
end, also from Minute 10:11). But the
question had still not
been answered, as specifically regards
the FSA child soldiers and the US 2008
Child Soldiers Protection Act.
Update:
on February 14, the following was
received from US Mission deputy
spokesperson Tony Deaton:
"We are
deeply disturbed by the contents of this
report and strongly condemn the
mistreatment and torture of children in
any conflict. We equally condemn the use
of child soldiers in Syria and around
the world. The use of children in armed
conflict is morally reprehensible, and
the United States in no way supports or
condones this activity. We vet
recipients of our assistance to the
moderate opposition and work diligently
to prevent assistance from falling into
the hands of groups that recruit or use
children in combat or employ terror
tactics."
While
we
will continue to pursue how the 2008
Child Soldiers Prevention Act applies
after the FSA finding in the UN
report, we appreciate the US response
and publish it in full.
Back
on February 4, the UK Mission to the
UN provided this response to Inner
City Press:
"The UK absolutely
condemns the use of child soldiers in all cases,
and strongly supports international efforts to
stop the use of child soldiers. We urge all
parties in the Syrian conflict to release any
children held in detention.
"Armed conflict affects
millions of lives around the world, and children
are among those most vulnerable to the effects of
conflict. The only way to secure the long-term
future of Syria’s children is to find a political
solution to the crisis.
"We have made clear our
absolute condemnation of the use of child
soldiers. As noted in this report, the use of
child soldiers by the opposition is not systematic
and is limited to certain elements. We have
provided training to the Supreme Military Council
of the Syrian opposition on the law of armed
conflict, and will continue to work with them to
help ensure that they meet their obligations under
international law."
(1) the
United States Government should condemn
the conscription, forced recruitment, or
use of children by governments,
paramilitaries, or other organizations;
(2)
the United States Government should
support and, to the extent
practicable, lead efforts to
establish and uphold international
standards designed to end the abuse
of human rights described in
paragraph (1);
There are prohibitions on funding
which can only be overridden for
formal, public findings in a waiver by
the President. Given all this, Inner
City Press on February 4 again asked
two spokespeople for the US Mission to
the UN its January 30 question: "could
the US provide aid to a non-state
group, the FSA and its affiliates,
which the UN has found using child
soldiers?"
Now
we add: (in) consistent with the Child
Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008.
The
report, now issued as a document of
the UN Security Council under the
symbol S/2014/31, goes on to recount:
"Boys
aged 12 to 17 were trained, armed, and
used as combatants or to man checkpoints.
For instance, a 15 year-old boy reported
being recruited in April 2012 by the FSA
in Tall Kalakh (Tartus governate), and
participation in military operations....
Also indicative was the case of a 16
year-old boy from Homs who reportedly
joined the FSA as a combatant. In March
2013, his family reported to the United
Nations that he was still fighting with
the group."
And is this boy still fighting
with the FSA? There is more to be said about
this UN report, but as to the US and the
recent report it is or is moving toward
aiding the armed FSA, what steps will be
taken on this UN report? Specifically, by
the US, including in light of what Valerie
Amos said on February 13 about using
leverage? Watch this site.
On Nuland
& Feltman, UN Tells ICP It Might
Be a Third Jeff, Or Geoff Pyatt
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Follow Up
UNITED
NATIONS, February 7 -- The leaked
audio of the US State
Department's Victoria Nuland about
Ukraine, best known for her "f*ck
the EU" comment, continues to
reveal more and more regarding
relations between the US
Administration and the United Nations,
at least former US official Jeffrey
Feltman.
In
the clip,
Nuland told US official Geoff Pyatt
that Jeff Feltman "got Serry and Ban
Ki-moon to agree that Serry can come
in Monday or Tuesday" to Ukraine.
On
February 7 Inner City Press asked UN
deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq if as
described Jeff Feltman "got" Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon to sent Serry to
Ukraine. Video
here and embedded below.
While saying he would not comment on
others' leaked conversations, Haq then
told Inner City Press he (and
presumably the UN) is not convinced
Nuland was referring to Feltman or
rather "another Jeff" (or Geoff).
Inner City Press, after intervening
questions trying in essence to bolster
the UN's position, by the United
Nations Correspondents Association
president Pamela Falk of CBS who also
praised Ban Ki-moon during the
briefing, asked Haq if he was really
positing a THIRD Jeff / Geoff who
"gets" Ban Ki-moon to do
things.
Earlier today Inner City Press reviewed
how the Nuland leak was covered, by
Reuters and (better) by Gawker.
Despite that, or because of it, UN
spokesperson Haq gave the first,
tone-setting question about the Nuland
audio to Reuters' UN bureau chief.
Gawker to its credit ran a transcript,
but calls the apparently little known
Feltman "Felton."
Inner City Press first
reported in March 2012 that
Feltman would switch from being a US
Assistant Secretary of State to
UN Under Secretary General for
Political Affairs. The US essentially
owns this UN position (US Lynn Pascoe
was Feltman's predecessor), just as
France owns UN Peacekeeping through Herve
Ladsous and three other
Frenchmen in a row before him. The UK
for now has Humanitarian Affairs,
twice in a row.)
As Inner City Press first
highlighted yesterday evening, at
Minute 2:40 of the leaked audio Nuland
says she spoke to Feltman and "he's
now gotten both Serry and Ban Ki-moon
to agree that Serry could come in
Monday or Tuesday" and "have the UN
glue this thing, f*ck the EU." Listen
here.
Significant here, particularly
given Feltman's previous position with
the US government, is that Ban,
ostensibly Feltman's boss, apparently
didn't tell Feltman what to do.
Rather, Feltman "got" Ban Ki-moon to
agree to something that was pleasing
to the US, to help the US "f*ck the
EU."
The Reuters piece is typical of its UN
coverage, just as for example it
delayed six days in reporting on a UN
finding that the US (and UK and
French) favored Free Syrian Army
recruits and uses child soldiers,
until the last Geneva Two talks were
over. (Click here for that.)
Nuland: I can't
remember if I told you this or if I only told
Washington this, but when I talked to Jeff Felton
[the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for
Political Affairs] this morning, he had a new name
for the UN guy, Robert Serry. Did I write you that
this morning?
Pyatt: Yeah, I saw
that.
Nuland: Okay. He's now
gotten both Serry and Ban Ki-moon to agree that
Serry could come in Monday or Tuesday. So that
would be great, I think, to help glue this thing
and have the UN help glue it, and, you know, fuck
the EU.
Transcripts are the way to go - but by
calling Feltman "Felton," the point about his
previous position with the US State Department, in
Syria then Lebanon then covering the whole Middle
East may be lost.
There is another Middle East connection, through
Serry. On
January 29, Inner City Press
had asked Ban's deputy spokesperson
Farhan Haq to confirm that the
Ukraine trip of Robert Serry, who
would seem to have a full time job
as the UN's Middle East process
coordinator:
Inner City
Press: In the Ukraine, I’m not sure if
I missed some announcement on your
part that Robert Serry met with
President [Yevgeny] Yanukovich and I
wanted to know: is that the case?
What’s the UN’s… why was it him, given
his title? And what’s the UN seeking
to accomplish?
Acting
Deputy Spokesperson Haq: The
Secretary-General asked Mr. Robert
Serry to travel to Kiev on his behalf
to convey the United Nations’
solidarity with Ukraine and to
encourage dialogue. He will be in
Ukraine from yesterday until Thursday,
tomorrow. As for his past experience,
he has worked in the Ukraine before.
He continues to be the Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace
Process. That hasn’t changed.
Since Nuland says she'd
spoken to Feltman that morning and
he had a "new name" for Ukraine, one
is left wondering who the first
choice, perhaps by Ban or some other
operative, had been.
Deal On
Rwanda Genocide Description Voted
15-0, US Policy UNexplained
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, January 30, longer form here
-- After stand-offs including on how
to describe the 1994 Rwanda genocide,
on January 30 the Democratic
Republic of the Congo sanctions
resolution was adopted by the UN
Security Council, 15-0.
The
language compromised on is "the 1994
genocide
against the Tutsi in Rwanda, during
which Hutu and others who opposed the
genocide were also killed."
Sources exclusively told Inner
City Press that the United States
resisted calling it a genocide against
the Tutsi of Rwanda, even saying that
there is a US policy against referring
to it in this way.
Inner City Press has asked the US
Mission to the UN for an explanation.
It was said one might be forthcoming
after the vote.
Where would such a US policy
be written down? It seemed strange,
particularly during a time of
Holocaust events at the UN, from one
about Hungary
to another about Albania.
On January 29, Inner City
Press asked a US Council diplomat, who
said spokespeople would be asked.
Inner City Press was told to wait for
the language to be final, then, for
the vote.
In the Council's January 29
debate, the representative of the DRC
spoke about Rwanda and the M23 rebels.
Rwanda's Deputy Permanent
Representative replied with a series
of questions: was it Rwanda who killed
Lumumba? Was Rwanda responsible for
Mobutu? Who hosted and failed to
separate the genocidaires from
Rwanda in 1994?
This
continued on January 30 after the
vote. Rwanda Permanent
Representative Gasana said UN
Peacekeeping should investigate links
between the DRC Army and the FDLR.
The
DRC representative asked to be given
specifics about links between his
country's army the FARDC and the FDLR
militia. The resolution
voted on provides:
"Noting with deep concern
reports indicating FARDC collaboration with the FDLR
at a local level, recalling that the FDLR is a group
under United Nations sanctions whose leaders and
members inchide perpetrators of the 1994 genocide
against the Tutsi in Rwanda, during which Hutu and
others who opposed the genocide were also killed,
and have continued to promote and commit ethnically
based and other killings in Rwanda and in the DRC,
and stressing the importance of permanently
addressing this threat"
"107. The Group
interviewed 10 FARDC soldiers in Tongo, in North
Kivu, who reported that FARDC and FDLR regularly
meet and exchange operational information. These
same sources stated that FARDC soldiers supplied
ammunition to the FDLR. Col. Faida Fidel Kamulete,
the commander of FARDC 2nd battalion of 601st
Regiment based at Tongo, denied such collaboration,
but declared to the Group that FARDC and FDLR do not
fight each other."
Going further back, it is impossible
not to note, particularly given the
lack of explanation or transparency,
that US Permanent Representative Samantha
Power began her 2001 article
"Bystanders to Genocide" in the
Atlantic with this sentence: "In
the course of a hundred days in 1994
the Hutu government of Rwanda and its
extremist allies very nearly succeeded
in exterminating the country's Tutsi
minority."
Given that, why would the US
Mission be saying it had a policy of
describing the genocide as being
against the Tutsi minority? Inner City
Press asked again: Since I'm told that
the US has said that there is a
government position not to say the
1994 genocide was against the Tutsis,
can you say what that policy is? Why
does it exist? Does it apply to other
genocides or atrocities?
A Rwandan diplomat told Inner
City Press these were Hutu killed not
because of their ethnicity but because
they opposed the genocide against the
Tutsi. "This is a precedent," the
diplomat said. Watch this site.
January 27, 2104
Syria
Represented by Ja'afari in
Geneva, Annan to Iran After Ban
Disinvitation
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
January 25 -- With Syria talks in
Geneva surprisingly going forward,
with the two sides in the same
room not speaking to each other
but only to Lakhdar Brahimi, on
January 25 "The
Elders" made an announcement.
Former UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan, as well as Martti
Ahtisaari, Desmond Tutu and
Ernesto Zedillo, will to the Iran
from January 26 to 29, to discuss
among other things "mutual
respect" and peace in the region:
that is, Syria.
This comes after current UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on
January 20 reversed his "decision"
of the previous day of inviting
Iran to the Syria talks in
Montreux. The contrast, some say,
couldn't be clearer.
Now in Geneva Syria's Permanent
Representative to the UN Bashar al
Ja'afari is speaking for the
government. In New York, Ban's
spokesperson's office has refused
to answer a detailed "note
verbale" from the Syrian mission
about inaccurate answers to Press
questions about who attack UN
peacekeepers in the Golan.
On
January 20 in the Security
Council, Ja'afari complained again
of inaction on complaints by Herve
Ladsous, the fourth French
head of UN Peacekeeping in a row.
This is why the UN is not even the
lead mediator on South Sudan, much
less the Middle East or Syria.
Ending
the Syria speeches in Montreux on
January 22, Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon called them "productive."
Then his spokesperson accused some
non-Western media of being
"disrespectful of the Secretary
General of the UN," after he gave
the last two questions to
Bloomberg and NHK. How was
it productive?
Even before the afternoon session
began, French foreign minister
Laurent Fabius took to the
Montreux stakeout to say Syrian
foreign minister Moallem was
"aggressive." This is the same
Fabius who in September at the UN
declared Ahmad al Jarba the leader
of the Syrian people, and refused
to take critical questions from
the media including about his
country's practices.
Australia was represented not by
foreign minister Julie Bishop but
rather its Ambassador to the UN in
Geneva, Peter Woolcott (who also
chairs a humanitarian high level
group on Syria, it's been pointed
out to Inner City Press.).
Bishop is on Washington, and soon
New York.
Ahmad al Jarba spoke next to last,
thanking Saudi Arabia, viewed as
his sponsor, as if in an Oscars
speech. Ban Ki-moon wrapped up,
calling it productive and asking
the assembled (hand-picked,
without Iran) minister to "wish
[him] luck" as he went to speak to
the media.
In the morning session on January
22, Italy and Spain spoke and
Japan offered money. Turkey spoke
without mentioning the Kurds --
but neither did supposed
representative of the range of
Syrian opposition Ahmad al Jarba.
UNITED
NATIONS,
January 16 -- On the alleged
gang rapes in Mali of which UN
peacekeepers from Chad stand
accused, the UN on the afternoon
of January 16 sent Inner City
Press a response.
It
does not really answer the
question of accountability. But
here it is, in full:
Subject: Your question on Mali
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Thu, Jan 16, 2014 at 3:23 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com
In response to your question
about the follow-up to the allegations of sexual assault by
United Nations peacekeepers in MINUSMA in September 2013, we
have received the following information:
The Department of Peacekeeping
Operations officially notified the Government of Chad of
these allegations in late September. The Government of Chad
officially responded, saying that it would take
responsibility for the investigations. The Government of
Chad has further advised the Department of Peacekeeping
Operations that it has completed the national investigation,
and the United Nations awaits advice on the outcome of the
investigations and follow-up accountability measures as
appropriate.
The UN is waiting for "advice"
-- but will it ever make it
public? How else can the UN's
stated Human Rights Due
Diligence Policy be assessed?
One of the UN's other too-few
criticisms of military action in
north Mail, the shooting into a
crowd of protesters in Kidal on
November 28, was disputed in the
Security Council on January 16.
In a statement
prepared like a defense attorney,
trying raise reasonable doubt,
Mali's Permanent Representative
Sekou Kasse said that the UN
Mission MINUSMA elements closest
to the shooting were 400 meters
away, precluding them from
"objective" testimony. The
argument made was one must wait
for the ballistic analysis ordered
by the Malian government itself.
Will that be credible?
Again,
similarly, can statements by the
French Mission to the UN, about
military action in its former
colony Mali and related topics, be
believed? If so, does that require
disbelieving the UN itself, whose
reports are different?
In the
run-up to the UN Security
Council's January 16 meeting on
Mali, both France and the UN
Mission MINUSMA filed reports.
It's worth comparing their
accounts of the same incidents,
for example on October 23, 2013 in
Tessalit.
"On 23 October 2013, in
response to an attack on a Chadian post in Tessalit
by a commando made up of three armed terrorist
groups using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive
device, the Operation Serval Liaison and Support
Detachment assigned to the Chadian battalion
assisted MINUSMA by conducting a patrol with a
Mirage 2000D jet and sending a CASA 'Nurse' medical
evacuation aircraft. The end result was that six
wounded Chadians were evacuated and the remaining
explosives were neutralized."
"On 23 October, four
individuals drove and detonated a vehicle-borne
improvised explosive device into a MINUSMA
checkpoint in Tessalit. Seven people were killed,
including four adult civilians, a six-year-old boy
and two MINUSMA peacekeepers."
This type of disparities
in reporting - misleading - would and should be
delved into in legislative review sessions. But the
Security Council, on which France uses its Permanent
Five seat, confines such consultations to behind
closed doors. How and where will these disparities
be explained?
While continuing to
pursue that, delving into the French report, and the
roles of UN Peacekeeping, MINUSMA and their
respective leadership(s), will be done elsewhere.
At the UN stakeout
on January 16, Araud called on French radio then
went from there, most questions about the delay in
MINUSMA deployment, not about the rapes, or the
shooting of civilians, much less this.
Khobragade
"On Watchlist," But US Let
French Dip Serman Return as
Consul (see more, here)
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Follow Up on Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS, January 10 -- Following
yesterday's US indictment of
Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade
for underpaying a domestic worker,
US State Department spokesperson
Jen Psaki today said that
Khobragade was told that if she
applies for another visa to the
US, her name would be placed on a
watch list.
It seems clear that
Serman was NOT placed on any watch
list, because he not only returned
to the US -- he is now France's
consul in San Francisco.
While
it may be debatable if assaulting
a police officer when being
arrested for cocaine purchase is
more or less serious than
allegedly underpaying a domestic
worker, the disparity in US
treatment between the French and
Indian and French diplomat cannot
be missed.
The
Indian diplomat was arrested,
booked and stripped searched,
indicted and told she'd be put on
a visa watch list. The French
diplomat Romain Serman was allowed
to quietly leave the country
without any indictment, and was
allowed to return, as consul.
Usually
the
agreement upon being allowed to
leave the US in this way is that
the person will not come back to
the US. But, amazingly, Romain
Serman came back to the US -- as
France's consul in San Francisco,
still.
When
Inner City Press reported this,
the then spokesperson of the
French mission demanded that Inner
City Press remove the story from
the Internet.
This
becomes even more relevant now in
light of reports not only of the
disparity in indictment of
Khobragade versus none for the
French Serman, but of US State
Department spokesperson Psaki's
comments today about being put on
a watch list.
Back in April 2011,
Inner City Press asked
spokespeople at the US Mission to
the UN and then Mark Toner at the
State Department, "Was the State
Department aware of Serman's
arrest record when he re-entered
in 2010, and how does applicable
law and precedent allow this?"
And we're still
waiting for a response, as we are
to FOIA requests pending at the
State Department. Soon the new
Free UN Coalition for Access will
have to get on this case. Watch
this site.
UN Says Truck in
Anti-Kagame Convoy "Taken Over" - But Jeep in
Video?
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
January 10 -- After rumors of
the death of Rwanda's Paul
Kagame were shot down, across
the border in the Eastern Congo,
a time-stamped
photograph
was tweeted of a UN truck
full of people on the back,
captioned "MONUSCO in Goma
celebrating the death of Pres
Paul Kagame."
It seemed worth asking the UN
mission chief Martin Kobler to
comment on or explain the
photograph, and Inner City Press
sent this, to Kobler and three
MONUSCO spokespeople:
"Please comment on /
explain this time-stamped photo, which is being
described as a UN truck participating in
"celebrations" of the rumor of the Rwandan
president's death. Do
you
dispute that the photo was taken
on January 10? To whom is the UN
giving a ride in this truck /
photo? In what context?"
The question became, now what
does Kobler, or those above him
in New York, do?
Inner City Press went to Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon's press
conference, 11 am in New
York, to ask this question: "in
the DRC this morning, after
false rumors of Paul Kagame
being dead, a MONUSCO truck was
photographed in what some call
celebrations and Martin Kobler
told me is "unacceptable." What
do you think your UN should do
about this, in terms of the
perception of impartiality or
bias by the UN?"
Next came spin from MONUSCO,
e-mailed to the Press:
Fraudulent
use of MONUSCO truck in Goma
Kinshasa, 10 January 2014 -
MONUSCO is aware of a photo
being circulated on the
internet showing a MONUSCO
truck in Goma during a
demonstration.
In reality, the truck was
taken over by demonstrators
while on a regular mission.
The driver was alone and
unarmed when the incident
happened. MONUSCO condemns
this agressivity against its
assets.
MONUSCO has launched a full
investigation to ascertain the
circumstances and the context
surrounding the incident.
For
South Sudan, Ladsous Cited
Troops from Haiti, UN Wouldn't
Answer, Morocco Follow Ups
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, January 4 -- Even in
South Sudan, the lack of
transparency by UN Peacekeeping
does not serve it. On December 30,
Department of Peacekeeping
Operations chief Herve Ladsous
admonished South Sudan to not put
in "caveat" on accepting troops
from any country.
Now,
which country's half-regiment
could that be? Questions have been
asked, particularly in light of UN
Peacekeeping's dubious record in
Haiti: the introduction of
cholera, multiple cases of sexual
abuse or exploitation, nearly
always followed by mere
repatriation and no update on any
discipline meted out, for example
in the case of repatriated Sri
Lanka peacekeepers.
Inner
City Press: Yes, Farhan. I wanted to
ask you two questions about
peacekeeping in South Sudan. One is
that, it’s reported that India is
unhappy with not being consulted in
some of the ways their peacekeepers
were used and intends to send its own
military team to meet with its
peacekeepers there. I wanted to know,
separately, [Permanent Representative
Asoke Kumar] Mukerji has, over the
holidays, said that the Force
Intervention Brigade may put
peacekeepers in danger. What’s your
response to that? And also, if you
could confirm, I’ve heard that the UN
wants to send Moroccan peacekeepers to
South Sudan and they’re pushing back.
And one of their reasons for pushing
back is that Morocco is not a member
of the African Union due to the
Western Sahara. And I wanted if it’s
DPKO’s (Department of Peacekeeping
Operations) position that countries
don’t have a right to have a sort of
principled, political stand on why
they wouldn’t take peacekeepers? Or
should they take anyone that DPKO
sends?
Acting
Deputy Spokesperson Haq: Well, first
of all, we wouldn’t comment on the
specifics of how we’re trying to bring
more peacekeepers in. We, as you know,
are in touch with a number of Member
States trying to build up the forces,
as was approved by the Security
Council. And when we have details of
which countries are coming in, we’ll
provide those details at that point.
But, I don’t have any specific names
to give up until more arrivals come
in.
Inner
City Press: I ask that only because
Mr. [Hervé] Ladsous at the stakeout
made a big point of saying, it’s not…
when the house is on fire, anyone must
be taken. So, I just wanted to know,
can you say… is that the UN’s
position? That even if there’s a
political, principled stated reason
not to take them… that wouldn’t… that
should be overridden?
Acting
Deputy Spokesperson: For us, the
priority is to get as many
peacekeepers in as we can. They’ve
been authorized by the Security
Council. We’re trying to get the right
numbers in order to stop the bloodshed
as soon as we possibly can. So, that’s
our priority. But, if we have any
specific announcements to make about
different countries joining in, we’ll
make it at that point. But, that’s not
ready at this stage.
Inner
City Press: And on India?
Acting
Deputy Spokesperson: I wouldn’t have
any comment on that. Is that it? Okay?
Pam?
Correspondent:
Hi, Farhan. I’d like to just correct
the record that was established at
this briefing a few weeks ago that the
UN Correspondents’ Association has
not… does not have any new Samsung TV
sets in the room, never has had and
has never accepted any donation or
loan from the UN for Samsung TVs.
Thank you.
Acting
Deputy Spokesperson: No, there’s no
response to that at present. But, yes,
if there’s any fresh language on the
language that was given to you, we’ll
try to correct the record here. Yes, Lou?
Watch this site.
December 30, 2013
On
Killers Armed from Kiir's
Armory, UN's Johnson Says It Was
Broken Into
Inner
City Press asked Johnson about
reports that "young men from the
Dinka community, many of them with
no military training, were given
uniforms and guns from various
armories around the capital,
including one located at President
Kiir's own compound, known as J1."
Johnson
replied
that several government armories
had been "broken into" and army
uniforms and equipment
distributed. UN (inaccurate)
transcript below. To some,
it was just what a defense lawyer,
in this case for Kiir, would say.
But in a real trial the question
would be, Did you report them
stolen at the time?
In any
event, it seems strange for
Johnson at this time to be quoting
with praise Salva Kiir, and
speaking favorably of government
control of Bor, which was re-taken
by force. Does the government do
that elsewhere (other than, for
example, Sri Lanka)?
Inner
City Press asked Johnson about
threats by Kiir's supporters to
re-take Bentiu by force. Johnson
said she hopes talks can proceed
in tranquility and that option is
not pursued. It fell short of
saying, as the UN does elsewhere,
don't re-take by force.
One
wanted to ask other questions,
about the status of Yida camp (the
UNHCR person to whom South Sudan
OCHA referred Inner City Press is,
who knew, out of the office from
December 9 to January 9), of the
UN base in Yuai from which the UN
withdrew peacekeepers and of other
UN facilities Inner City Press has
asked in writing about, in for
example Aweil, and in Kuacjok.
Johnson
was
asked at the end of her briefing
about reports UNMISS helped and or
sheltered armed rebels. Her
response, partially cut off by the
understandably choppy audio from
Juba, seemed limited to
non-governmental fighters.
Update: the UN put out a
transcript with various
inaccuracies, some intentional,
such as leaving in "Reuters,"
"AP," "UNCA" (UN's
Censorship Alliance) and
even "Huffington Post contributor"
-- but censoring out from the
below "Inner City Press" and "Free
UN Coalition for Access."
They call it censorship, compare
to UN
video here at Min 20:39
[This was explicitly by
Inner City Press & FUNCA]
Question: I wanted to ask you
about Bentiu. It’s been said that
President Kiir’s forces had said
they are going to retake or could
have already retaken it. Has it
been? Who’s in control in Bentiu
and what’s the Mission’s position
in terms of any retaking or any
reentering by force? And also, I’m
sure you saw in The Guardian
December 23rd piece, hey said that
President Kiir had spoken on
accountability but in the middle
of that article they said that,
quote “young men from the Dinka
community many of them with no
military training were given
uniforms from armories, including
one located in President Kiir’s
own compound known as J1”. And I
wanted to know what do you make of
that? Is your Mission in a
position to look into this
allegation against the President
or at least arms within his
compound. Do you think it’s
possible that some of these
atrocities have been committed by
the Government or with the
Government’s knowledge? In which
case, what will your Mission do
about it? Thank you.
Hilde Johnson: Well, first in
regard to Bentiu, it’s too early
to say…[inaudible]…there are two
forces present and there might be
attempt at retaking the city.
However, what we are now hoping
for is a political track can be
established as soon as possible,
which in that case would imply, we
hope, that talks would be taking
place in tranquility and that
these operations would not be
pursued. This is too early to say.
We are waiting for the outcome of
what has happened amongst the IGAD
heads of State and their
consultations.
As regards to what has unfolded in
terms of human rights violations,
abuse, and atrocities that seem to
have been committed. All of those
issues, and all of those
allegations and reports, as I
said, are being looked into by our
human rights division, and they
will investigate and verify. I may
also add that during the night of
15 to 16 December several of the
armories of the forces of the
Government, whether Presidential
Guard or SPLA, were broken into
and a significant number of
uniforms and arms were stolen and
taken. So that is an important
factual piece of information that
also needs to be included in any
of the investigations going
forward. But it is far too early
to assess anything in terms of
possible perpetrators or indeed
responsible actors. We need to see
a solid verification and
investigation process take place.
December 23, 2013
In S. Sudan
As Civilians Threatened in Yuai, UN
Evacuates Troops, No Briefings
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, December 20 -- In South
Sudan amid UN talk of
protecting civilians and rushing
to more dangerous locations to do
so, UN Peacekeeping is preparing
to evacuate "40 UNMISS
peacekeepers from a base in the
Jonglei state town of Yuai this
afternoon."
Inner
City Press on December 20 asked
Security Council president Gerard
Araud about this plan, what would
happen to civilians under threat
in Yuai. Video
here, from Minute 12:53.
Araud
acknowledged that UN Peacekeeping,
led by its fourth Frenchman in a
row Herve Ladsous, is trying to
pull out of Yuai -- in fact, it
would already have done so, except
its evacuation helicopters were
fired at. Strangely, Araud then
insisted quoting Ladsous' deputy
Edmond Mulet that the UN is "on"
(or in) the way, and not the
target.
As if
to minimize the contradiction of
claiming to be protecting
civilians while evacuating armed
personnel from where the civilians
are, Araud said he understood
there were no civilians inside the
UNMISS base in Yuai.
Since all of his, and the
UN's, understandings come from
communications with its bases,
Inner City Press asked about the
breakdown in communications with
the Akobo base, where two Indian
peacekeepers and at least 20
civilians were killed. Araud
called this a "detail" and refused
to answer, saying "I'm in
substantial questions." Video
here, from Minute 19:47.
Inner City Press went to
the day's UN noon briefing and
asked acting deputy spokesperson
Farhan Haq about the plan to pull
out of Yuai. Haq had just claimed
that the UN is moving peacekeepers
from less dangerous to more
dangerous places. Now he doubled
back and said it is a matter of
concentrating UN forces where they
can have an impact.
But what about the
civilians in Yuai?
Inner City Press asked Haq
about a quote by UNMISS
spokesperson Joe Contreras that 27
soldier loyal to Salva Kiir sought
refuge with the UN in Rubkona. Haq
said he couldn't confirm that --
which is weird, since the UN's
spokesperson in South Sudan has
already said it.
Also
on (mis?) communications, Inner
City Press asked about the 11 hour
delay in the UN confirmation the
death of two Indian peacekeepers
and injuring of another which
India's Ambassador Askoke Mukerji
told Inner City Press about on the
afternoon of December 19.
Haq
said the delay was because the UN
must notify families, and
implicitly chided anyone who
reported the death of two
(unnamed) peacekeepers before the
UN did. He also chided reports
that three peacekeepers had died.
While other went this this,
apparently not having spoken with
Mukerjee but only watched a
meeting on UNTV or relied on a
tweet, Inner City Press even
in its headline said 2 dead, one
injured.
But this is how the UN
operates -- it does anything it
can to discourage real questions
by turning then around, then
doling out information selectively
to journalists who will report
positively (and often
inaccurately).
UN
Peacekeeping, after Inner City
Press first reported the Akobo
deaths based on a direct
conversation with Mukerje, sent
other media but not Inner City
Press information by e-mail. But
UN Peacekeeping didn't make this
information available to the
public and other impacted people.
It has become dysfunctional.
As has
the wider UN. Despite claims this
week about a new post Sri Lanka
failure "Rights Up Front" plan, in
the midst of this South Sudan
crisis spokesperson Haq on Friday
announced no more briefings for
the week -- just spin on the UN
website. (The Free
UN Coalition for Access,@FUNCA_info, has
protested).
As was jotted
inside the Security Council
consultations on December 20,
there is a "credibility crisis in
the UN." Watch this site.
December 16, 2013
In Mali, UN
Peacekeepers Guarding Bank in Kidal Killed by
Car Bomb, Questions
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, December 14, updated
-- It is reported that while UN
peacekeepers were guarding a bank in
Kidal, two were killed by a car
bomb. Rest in Peace.
Between the Malian police and army
and the French Serval contingent,
why were UN peacekeepers guarding a
bank? And by working with these
forces, have the UN peacekeepers
become parties to a conflict,
combatants for purposes of
international law?
It's said the UN was guarding the
bank because the Malian forces
can't, under the peace agreement.
But how then were the Malian police
at the Kidal airport, shooting at
the protesters?
The Kidal car bomb comes a day after
UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous
acknowledged that the Malian police
in Kidal shot protesters in last
November after UN peacekeepers and
French Serval forces told the crowd
to disperse. Last weekend one of
those shot died.
Ladsous replied that "I make
it a policy not to respond to you,
Mister," but then provided something
of an answer to the first but not
second, financial, question. Video
here, from Minute 15:45. Inner
City Press YouTube
here and embedded below.
He said, "I will respond on
Kidal, because indeed that was a
very unfelicitous occurrence. Our UN
Police and Serval, the French
troops, ordered the crowd to
disperse. It appears Malian police
did shoot, and yes, three civilians
were injured, one of whom died over
the weekend."
In many countries, if an
unarmed civilian is shot and killed
by police the officer is suspended
and charges are brought or put
before a grand jury or other
tribunal. What is happening here?
Ladsous said, "We are
looking further into the matter. Of
course we have to say if indeed it
is established beyond any doubt that
the Malian police did shoot, that is
not a way to behave, this is
absolutely unacceptable."
But to whom must it be
established beyond a doubt? In the
case of the 135 rapes in Minova by
the 391st and 41st Battalions of the
Congolese Army, the UN has continued
to provide material support to those
two units for the eleventh months
before any trial started.
Ladsous did not say anything
in response to Inner City Press'
question about how France got the
Letter of Assist, how much it is for
and why it is not more public.
But even on this there are
questions of policy -- to use
Ladsous' word -- which should
obviously be answered or responded
to. Does Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon's stated Human Rights Due
Diligence Policy apply to this case
of Malian police shooting at unarmed
protesters?
Is the UN's MINUSMA
mission still working with these
Malian police? If so, does that make
the UN peacekeepers combatants?
And now: what were UN
peacekeepers doing guarding a bank?
These questions should be answered.
Watch this site.
December 9, 2013
France
Says Its Troops in CAR Have No
Economic Aspect, Power Agrees
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
December 5 -- After the UN
Security Council adopted the
French-drafted resolution on
Central African Republic 15-0 on
Thursday morning, France's
Permanent Representative Gerard
Araud came out and said the
Council was finally shouldering
its responsibility.
In
this, he ignored that while other
Council members said they'd
expected a resolution in August,
they were told that since France
"has
the pen" on its former colony
the CAR and was largely on
vacation in August, there would be
no resolution. (Araud has denied
this, but the sources said what
they said.)
That
was then, and this is now, with
France deploying into Bangui.
Inner City Press asked Araud why
this, and France's intervention in
Mali, are somehow not examples of
the colonial FrancAfrique.
Araud
responded that France has no
economic interest in CAR -- as
with Mali, France's and its
Areva's interest in low-tax
uranium from Niger was ignored --
and that he is proud of his
country. He went on, "answering a
question you didn't ask," to say
that Mali was about organized
terrorists while CAR is about
thugs who might just melt away,
afraid of the French deployment.
There
were of course other questions:
what of reports that Cameroon's
Paul Biya told France he does not
want Chad in the MISCA force? Why
is France, in the midst of all
this, replacing its ambassador to
Bangui Serge Mocetti?
But
these questions weren't possible.
Even with the UN microphone in
front of Inner City Press and the
question started, the French
mission spokesman insisted it be
moved to the far end of the
stakeout to Reuters, "Monsieur
Charbonneau" as Araud put
it. (It was Araud to his credit
and not the spokesman who
subsequently relented and took
Inner City Press' question on
protection of civilians outside of
Bangui, and about FrancAfrique.)
Moments
later
when US Ambassador Samantha Power
came out, she used her opening
statement to agree with Araud on
Inner City Press' FrancAfrique
question, saying that for France
this is only about protecting
civilians. But Inner City Press
was not called on to ask Power any
follow up -- that was again the
Western go-to Reuters, and Al
Jazeera English, not viewable in
the UN or, other than AJAM, in the
US.
Power
insisted it is not a matter of the
color of the helmet, that is, not
a matter of whether it is a UN or
an African Union mission. But a
question left unanswered because
not allowed to be asked: what does
Power think the US role should be
in these operations, in light of
her book "A Problem from Hell"?
What
has the US military presence in
the region, helping unsuccessfully
chase down Joseph Kony of the
Lord's Resistance Army, been doing
during this carnage in the CAR?
Watch this site.
France's economic
interests are acknowledged even by
French diplomats, in the Financial
Times. But Human Rights Watch's UN
lobbyist, formerly of Le Monde and
France 24, has churned out
"analysis" with no mention of this
interest. Thursday morning he was
at the UNSC stakeout, from which
recently another
former UN correspondent now with
an NGO was ordered to leave.
This is how the UN works - or
doesn't. The Free UN Coalition for
Access is asking at least for some
content-neutral rules, that apply
to all. Watch this site.
UN
Admits No Mission Has a Claims
Commission, Like on Haiti Cholera,
No Remedy
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, November 26 -- When the UN
got sued on charges of bringing
cholera to Haiti which has killed over
8000 people, a major reason was the
UN's failure to set up the Standing
Claims Commission provided for under
its Status of Forces Agreement (or
Status of Mission Agreement).
And so starting nine days ago, Inner
City Press has been asking UN
spokespeople whether any UN
Peacekeeping mission has a standing
claims commission.
UN acting deputy spokesperson Farhan
Haq told Inner City Press it is "not a
yes or no question," then that
counting days without an answer wasn't
helpful.
Inner City Press waited more days,
then on November 26 -- nine days after
asking the question -- asked it again
at the day's noon briefing. Minutes
later, this admission:
Subject:
Your question on claims commissions
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Tue, Nov 26, 2013 at 1:13 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com
Regarding
your question at today's noon briefing, we can confirm that no
peacekeeping mission has a claims commission in place.
Clearly something is broken; people in
countries ostensibly helped by the UN
have no recourse when things go wrong,
even deadly wrong. So what will
be done by Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon and Herve Ladsous, the UN head
of peacekeeping selected like his
three predecessors by France?
The impunity is flagrant. With the UN
now akin to a scofflaw, its acting
deputy spokesperson Haq last Thursday
refused to confirm or explain refusing
even service of the court papers.
Inner City
Press asked UN spokesperson Farhan Haq
the next day to confirm and explain --
but he said there was nothing more to
say, that previous statements explain
it.
Video here and embedded below.
So
did then UN lawyer Patricia O'Brien
ruling the adminstrative claims were
"not receivable" mean her successor
Miguel de Serpa Soares wouldn't even
"receive" the court case papers?
The lawyers tell
Inner City Press they aim to ask for permission
for an alternate mode: service by publication.
Those are the legal notices published in
newspapers, often putting deadbeat parents on
notice their wages will be garnished. How has
the UN fallen this low?
The
victims' lawyers anticipate the UN,
once it is served if only by newspaper
publication, making a motion to
dismiss on the grounds that it is
immune. But, they say, no remedy has
been provided, nor any alternative
mechanism.
Just as
Sri Lanka military figure, now Deputy
Permanent Representative Shavendra
Silva successfully did, the US State
Department will be asked to make a
court filing supporting immunity.
This time, the lawyers say, there will
be a campaign to ask the State
Department not to support impunity,
with letters to Secretary of State
John Kerry including from members of
Congress. Would newly appointed
US Mission reform ambassador Leslie
Berger Kiernan play a role in this?
In the UN
Press Briefing Room, for seven days
now Inner City Press has waited for a
UN answer to a yes or no question: has
UN Peacekeeping established any of the
Standing Claims Commissions provided
for its its Status of Forces
Agreements.
On
November 14, UN acting deputy
spokesperson Farhan Haq said that
actually setting up a standing claims
commission depends on the request of
the mission's host government. But
that not only ignores the power
relations, it did not answer the yes
or no question.
Haq
referred to the Department of
Peacekeeping Operations. But its chief
Herve Ladsous has refused to answer
basic questions, such as about the 135
rapes at Minova by UN Peacekeeping's
partners in the Congolese Army. Video
here, UK
coverage here. So would will
this simple question be answered?
Not on
November 18. Asked again, Haq said the
question had been put to UN
Peacekeeping, but it's "not a yes or
no question." Video
here. If the answer's yes, can't
it be said in four days? And if no -
what's the explanation? Or does the UN
Peacekeeping under Ladsous think they
can just not answer?
Waiting
two days, and after filming UN
Peacekeeping deputy Edmond Mulet
Tuesday night, here, Inner City Press,
on November 20 asked Haq again, saying
it had been six days. Haq replied that
counting days is not helpful. But why
did UN Peacekeeping not answer a basic
question for eight days? Would it have
ever answered, if not asked again and
again? Watch this site.
Footnote:
also last Thursday, Inner City Press
asked the UN's Haq for an update on
previous answers that the UN Mission
in the Congo MONUSCO was "verifying"
reprisal attacks in Bunagana and
Kiwanja. These was no update. So is
the UN checking or not?
November
25, 2013
Evading
Haiti Cholera Case, UN Won't Confirm
Refusing Papers, DRC Reprisals
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, November 21 -- With the UN
now akin to a scofflaw, its
spokesperson on Thursday refused to
confirm or explain refusing even
service of the court papers.
Inner City
Press asked UN spokesperson Farhan Haq
on Thursday to confirm and explain --
but he said there was nothing more to
say, that previous statements explain
it.
Video here and embedded below.
So
did then UN lawyer Patricia O'Brien
ruling the adminstrative claims were
"not receivable" mean her successor
Miguel de Serpa Soares wouldn't even
"receive" the court case papers?
The
lawyers tell Inner City Press they aim
to ask for permission for an alternate
mode: service by publication. Those
are the legal notices published in
newspapers, often putting deadbeat
parents on notice their wages will be
garnished. How has the UN fallen this
low?
The
victims' lawyers anticipate the UN,
once it is served if only by newspaper
publication, making a motion to
dismiss on the grounds that it is
immune. But, they say, no remedy has
been provided, nor any alternative
mechanism.
Just as
Sri Lanka military figure, now Deputy
Permanent Representative Shavendra
Silva successfully did, the US State
Department will be asked to make a
court filing supporting immunity.
This time, the lawyers say, there will
be a campaign to ask the State
Department not to support impunity,
with letters to Secretary of State
John Kerry including from members of
Congress. Would newly appointed
US Mission reform ambassador Leslie
Berger Kiernan play a role in this?
In the UN
Press Briefing Room, for seven days
now Inner City Press has waited for a
UN answer to a yes or no question: has
UN Peacekeeping established any of the
Standing Claims Commissions provided
for its its Status of Forces
Agreements.
On
November 14, UN acting deputy
spokesperson Farhan Haq said that
actually setting these up depends on
the request of the mission's host
government. But that not only ignores
the power relations, it does not
answer the yes or no question: has any
Standing Claims Commissions been set
up?
Haq
referred to the Department of
Peacekeeping Operations. But its chief
Herve Ladsous has refused to answer
basic questions, such as about the 135
rapes at Minova by UN Peacekeeping's
partners in the Congolese Army. Video
here, UK
coverage here. So would will
this simple question be answered?
Not on
November 18. Asked again, Haq said the
question had been put to UN
Peacekeeping, but it's "not a yes or
no question." Video
here. If the answer's yes, can't
it be said in four days? And if no -
what's the explanation? Or does the UN
Peacekeeping under Ladsous think they
can just not answer?
Waiting
two days, and after filming UN
Peacekeeping deputy Edmond Mulet
Tuesday night, here, Inner City Press,
on November 20 asked Haq again, saying
it had been six days. Haq replied that
counting days is not helpful. But how
can UN Peacekeeping not answer a basic
question in seven days? We will keep
asking. Watch this site.
Footnote:
also on Thursday, Inner City Press
asked the UN's Haq for an update on
previous answers that the UN Mission
in the Congo MONUSCO was "verifying"
reprisal attacks in Bunagana and
Kiwanja. These was no update. So is
the UN checking or not?
November
18, 2013
UN
Peacekeepers for Syria Floated by
Ladsous, Copters to Mali, Rape
Stonewall
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, November 14 -- The murky
capture of UN Peacekeeping by France
through Herve Ladsous is on display
this week, from Mali through Eastern
Congo and now even to Russia, on
Syria.
Speaking
to Radio France International, where
else, on November 4 Ladsous bragged
that he was moving attack helicopters
from former French colony Cote
d'Ivoire over to another former French
colony, Mali, while waiting to bring
in troops from, where else, Burkina
Faso. Ladsous alluded to new copters
coming from... Central America.
But he has
refused to answer whether Mauritania's
demand to only serve in the MISUSMA
mission along its own border complies
with UN rules. Ladsous has ignored or
even destroyed the UN's stated Human
Rights Due Diligence Policy, by
continuing to support the 41 and 391
Battalions of the Congolese Army
implicated in 135 rapes in Minova.
These
rapes will belatedly be mentioned in
today's Security Council Presidential
Statement, as Inner City Press reported
yesterday. But the policy has
already been defanged by Ladsous.
On
Sri Lanka, Swire Silent on
What UK Does in UNSC or
UNHRC
By
Matthew Russell
Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
November 7 -- In
the run-up to
the UK's
controversial
attendance in Sri Lanka
at the
Commonwealth
Heads of
Government
Meeting,
minister of
state Hugo Swire
took questions
on Twitter for
45 minutes
today.
They focused on
Sri Lanka --
lack of
accountability
for war crimes,
killing and
disappearance of
journalists,
torture and
authoritarianism
-- as well as
the Maldives and
also Somalia.
Swire
answered that
"we consistently
call for an
independent,
thorough &
credible
investigation
into allegations
of war crimes."
The
reality is that
the UK is
running on a
"clean slate"
with no
competition.
Like some other
"candidates," it
will essentially
be automatically
elected. Perhaps
it's for that
reason that
Swire did not
answer the Human
Rights Council
-- or UN
Security Council
-- questions.
Also in
the UN Security
Council, the UK
"has the pen" on
Somalia. But
contrary to what
happened when
two journalists
were killed in
Mali this month
and the Security
Council quickly
issued a press
statement
condemning it,
the Council
does not do
this when
Somali
journalists
are killed.
Why not? This question
has yet to be
answered.
Swire
was asked, given
the
cancellations of
elections in
Maldives, if
they will be
seated at the
CHOGM. No one,
it seems, asked
about The
Gambia, quitting
the Commonwealth
(and reportedly
being evicted
from office
space of
Commonwealth
members in New
York).
Like
many UK
diplomats, Swire
has the hashtag
#DigitalDiplomacy
in his profile.
He did answer
some questions
on Thursday, but
it is unclear
what will happen
with those he
chose not to
answer. Watch
this site.
November
4, 2013
UN
Won't Say If Saudi Rebuffed
Brahimi, Al Arabiya Puts Assad in
Maliki's Mouth
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
November 1 -- The UN's envoy on
Syria Lakhdar Brahimi was asked,
"after Saudi Arabia refused to
receive you;" he called it a speech,
not a question," but did not confirm
or deny that the Saudis declined to
receive him.
So
Inner
City Press asked UN spokesperson
Martin Nesirky on November 1 to
confirm or deny (video
here and embedded below)
Inner
City Press: one of the questions that
Mr. Brahimi was asked in his press
conference in Damascus was about Saudi
Arabia refusing his request to visit.
And he said it was a speech and not a
question, but as I read it, I didn’t see
him say yes or no. Can you say whether
he asked to visit Saudi Arabia and
whether this request was denied, as the
question has it?
Spokesperson:
Well, with the greatest respect,
Matthew, if Mr. Brahimi didn’t answer
the question, I don’t think you’d expect
that I would.
Inner
City Press: It seems important…
Particularly since Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon praised Saudi
Arabia so effusively after they said
they wouldn't be taking the Security
Council seat they without
competition won.
In other transcript games,
when Iraq's Prime Minister Maliki
spoke to the media with US President
Obama, the White House's foreign
pool report by Nadia
Bilbassy-charters of Al-Arabiya said
that Maliki "denounced the use of
chemical weapons that were used both
in Iraq under Saddam Hussain and in
Syria by President Assad."
The last part of this seemed
dubious. And lo and behold, when the
transcript came out, Maliki actually
said we "want to avoid the use of
chemical weapons, because we and the
Syrians suffered a lot from these
weapons." That is, not
that Assad had used them.
As Ban & Kim Head
to Sahel, Softball Questions
Ignore Tuareg, Rape, Dams
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
November 1, updated -- With World
Bank president Jim Kim appearing by
video from Washington, UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon on Friday
morning announced his and Kim's
upcoming trip to the Sahel: Mali,
Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad.
Ban's spokesperson Martin
Nesirky then chose four questions.
The first, in a politicized process
that has become more indefensible by
the day, went to the UN
Correspondents Association.
Two of the three other
questions were also given to UNCA
Executive Committee members: a
softball and one not even about the
Sahel. The only non-UNCA question
turned out to be about money
laundering and corruption.
Directly on Mali and the UN
Peacekeeping mission MINUSMA which
Ban bragged about, he should have
been asked about the allegations
of gang rape against MINUSMA,
and its troops leaving their posts
in Northern Mali after not being
paid.
No one
asked if Ban will travel to Gao or
Northern Mali, or if the World
Bank's money will benefit the
Tuaregs.
Update:
only after Ban left did Nesirky take
questions on the trip from members
of the Free
UN Coalition for Access, @FUNCA_info.
To Inner City Press on the rape
charges, Nesirky said it is mostly
up to the Troop Contributing
Country: Chad, which Kim and Ban
will also visit. No answer on if
they'll go to Gao, or how ensure
World Bank funds reach Northern
Mali. We'll have more on the trip.
October
28, 2013
On Syria, UN's Amos
Says Met Jarba's SNC, Won't Answer on Nusra or
ISIS
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, October 25 -- On Syria, whom
does the UN speak with and why will
the UN list some but not all of the
groups?
After UN
Humanitarian chief Valerie Amos
briefed the UN Security Council Friday
morning, she told the Press she met
with the Syrian National Coalition
(which is headed by Ahmad al Jarba) in
New York.
Inner City
Press asked Amos if the UN has any
contacts with Jabhat al Nusra or ISIS
in Syria, since they control territory
which the UN is supposed to be trying
to access with aid. Video
here, Minute 4.
Amos
replied, I am not going to comment on
specific contacts.
Inner City
Press reminded her she had just named
the SNC, the Syrian National
Coalition.
Amos noted
that she'd met the SNC "in New York"
but would not list contacts in Syria.
Why not?
This
approach, naming the SNC as a
legitimate contact, is in line with
the attempt of France (which sponsored
a Jarba event inside the UN in
September) and others to name the
Saudi-sponsored Jarba as the sole or
most legitimate representative of the
Syrian people.
Inner City
Press went to Friday's UN Noon
Briefing and asked Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson Martin
Nesirky if the UN has any contacts
with ISIS or Al Nusra, and what the
UN's policy is on naming the groups it
speaks with.
Nesirky
said since Valerie Amos wouldn't
answer or be drawn in, he wouldn't
either. But shouldn't the UN have a
policy? If you name one group, you
should name others. Or name no groups.
But be consist.
Inner City
Press also asked in person a question
it posed to Nesirky and his acting
deputy by e-mail two days before,
"about the UN's Syria chemical weapons
Trust Fund. Just now at the US State
Department briefing deputy
spokesperson Marie Harf said the US
has given 'nearly' $6 million to 'UN
and OCPW.' So what is the status of
the UN Trust Fund? How and when (and
where) will disclosure be made?"
Nesirky
said he had looked into it. (Why no
answer was e-mailed or at least
read-out at the briefing is not
clear.) He said the UN has received a
PLEDGE from the US for $2 million, as
well as vehicles (valued by the US as
$1.55 million).
So when was
the US going to answer? When is it
going to report, and where? Watch this
site.
Amid
Shelling of Rwanda,
UN Silent on
Civilian Casualties,
Reuters Phones It In
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, October 26 -- From
Eastern Congo the shelling
of neighboring Rwanda has
continued. The Rwandan
government has asked the UN
to respond to the shelling
of Kageyo Village, Rusuro
Cell, Busasamana Sector was
shelled, and the wounding of
a 16 year old, Gisubizo.
Inner
City Press: a DRC citizen,
Catherine Gahombo was shot by
FARDC and is now being treated
in hospital, and I wanted to
know if MONUSCO was aware of any
civilian casualties caused by
the DRC army, I am asking you
whether they can confirm or deny
that.
Spokesperson
Nesirky:
I will check on the civilian
casualties, whether there is any
further update for the Mission
on that...
Inner
City Press: if MONUSCO and the
Force Intervention Brigade have
protection-of-civilians mandates
and it’s often described only in
terms of M23, FDLR [Democratic
Forces for the Liberation of
Rwanda] and the various armed
groups, what about harm caused
by the DRC itself, not only the
Minova rapes in the past, but if
it is true in this instance that
their attack actually injured a
58-year-old woman. What MONUSCO
doing? Can you imagine MONUSCO
combatingthe DRC army oris it a
protection-of-civilians mandate
sculpted to only target harm
caused by some groups and not
others?
Spokesperson
Nesirky:
No, well, I think it’s looking
at it in a slightly roundabout
way. The point here is that
measures should be taken by the
Mission under its mandate to
protect civilians. That does not
mean that civilians at some
point are not going to get
harmed. I need to look into that
specific point that you have
raised
Twenty
three hours later, no
answer. And now, more
shelling. In Eastern Congo
UN Peacekeeping under Herve
Ladsous is in its own world.
Yesterday after the UN
Security Council session on
the shelling of Rwanda,
Ladsous left the Council
without speaking to the
press -- laughing, in fact.
It has become
a farce, as the UK New
Statesman put it, here;
see also Ladsous
video here.
Rwanda's
Permanent
Representative
Eugene-Richard Gasana did
speak right outside the
Council, on the record,
saying that if the UN and
Congolese Army are not ready
to stop the shelling, Rwanda
will, "with laser
precision."
Reuters
reported:
"Rwanda's U.N. Ambassador
warned the 15-nation council
on Friday during a
closed-door meeting that
Rwanda would not tolerate
shelling of its territory
and was in a position to
respond militarily, a U.N.
Security Council diplomat
said."
So
Reuters couldn't even use an
on the record quote from the
Permanent Representative of
the country concerned,
instead putting in in the
mouth of an unnamed other
Security Council diplomat.
And the story while listing
fully four reporters and
two editors -- Kenny
Katombe, Pete Jones, Edmund
Kagire, Daniel Flynn, Andrew
Roche and Tom Pfeiffer --
didn't list any of the six
as in New York at the UN.
The
correspondent hand picked by
the French to go on the trip
was in the building, but
didn't cover the meeting, or
get the easy to get quote
from Rwanda itself.
But
the UN's Radio Okapi in the
Congo breathlessly reports
on FARDC advances; Ladsous'
man in Kinshasa, Martin
Kobler, re-tweets his own
Okapi but doesn't reply to
Council diplomats who just
visited his little empire.
Nor does Kobler respond any
long to factual
Press questions, like
yesterday's. (By
contrast, the UN's envoy in
Somalia not only these
days responds, he
follows up with previously
promised answers.)
Saudi
Withdrawal Explained to ICP by Syria
as Inability to Support Geneva
II
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS, October 18 -- After Syria's
Permanent Representative Bashar Ja'afari
gave a speech Friday in the UN Security
Council saying "the French regime"
should give up its permanent seat on the
Council, and slamming Qatar and Saudi
Arabia, Inner City Press asked him what
he thought the reason was for Saudi
Arabia renouncing the Security
Council seat it won
Thursday without competition.
Ja'afari made
some expected points -- that Saudi
Arabia does not allow women to drive and
so is not qualified for the Council, for
example, and that its mission does not
have the capacity to serve on the
Council. But this is true of others too,
Inner City Press noted. What changed?
Then Ja'afari
offered this explanation, as an
exclusive to Inner City Press: now that
the Security Council has passed a
resolution, and the push is on for the
so-called Geneva Two talks, Saudi Arabia
"cannot" (or does not want to be) part
of that consensus. Even France cannot
vote against Geneva Two. But could Saudi
Arabia stand to be seen voting against
it, isolated 14 to 1?
This is
something that changed, and recently -
the coming together of the Council to
vote for the chemical weapons mission,
and singing from the same choir book
about Geneva Two.
It is not
implausible, that as the date of
starting on the Council grew closer, and
the sides on the Security Council grew
closer together and not farther apart,
Saudi Arabia or someone in its royal
family saw serving on the Council in a
different light.
Kuwait,
Ja'afari told Inner City Press, is no
different.
But Kuwait is
not as aligned publicly - voting for a
Geneva Two would not be seen as
contradicting its positions or, as for
Saudi Arabia, those it funds. We'll see.
Watch this site.
On Sri
Lanka, After ICP Publishes Ban's
Failure Plan, Spox Says It "May Not
Exist"
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, October 17 -- Ever since the UN
of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon did
nothing, and worse, as 40,000 civilians
were killed in Sri Lanka in 2009, its
officials and spokespeople have claimed
they want to learn from what happened.
Back on
October 11, Nesirky's associate Farhan
Haq told Inner City Press "in terms of
other information that we can put out,
we’ll be preparing a summary of the
Action Plan."
Actually, the
"one pager" of the action plan already
existed. Inner City Press had it, and now publishes
it here.
The UN
already failed, massively, in Sri Lanka
in 2009. Why would it now be trying to
deny the existence of its own reports
into the matter? We will have more on
this. Watch this site.
Footnote: Despite Nesirky saying
he had read the UN's transcript of what
his associate Farhan Haq said on October
11, when his office called "the lid is
on" and closed at 6:30 pm on October 17,
the day's noon briefing transcript had
still not been put online.
So we
are using video now, as more
trustworthy. Click
here for a sample, and there will
be more.
October
14, 2013
Exclusive:
UN's Sri Lanka Report Cites Syria &
Rwanda, Despite Haiti Claims
Accountability
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Exclusive Must Credit
UNITED
NATIONS, October 11 -- Since August
Inner City Press has asked the UN to
release its internal report on its
failure in Sri Lanka in 2009 as 40,000
civilians were killed.
First
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's
spokesperson Martin Nesirky said that
Ban would have something to say on it
in September. This was a brief
reference in his General Assembly
speech.
Then
yesterday Inner City Press asked Ban's
associate spokesperson Farhan Haq, who
said "we will have, I think, more to
say in, I believe, the days and weeks
to come." Story
herevideo
here.
Since a
lesson supposedly learned by the UN
from its inaction was to have the
courage to speak, withholding the
report seemed and seems contradictory.
Today Inner
City Press exclusively
publishes here the UN's
"Follow-up to the report of the
Secretary-General’s Internal Review
Panel on UN Action in Sri Lanka,"
dated July 9, 2013 and marked on each
of its mere six pages, "Internal."
The
introduction says
"In 2009 the
Sri Lanka crisis was a test. We failed it.
It was - as characterized by the Internal
Review Panel report that I commissioned -
a 'systemic failure.' The challenges that
plagued us in Sri Lanka were not new: they
have been with us for many years and in
diverse situations. They include failure
to communicate evidence of impending
crisis and lack of strategies to address
serious violations drawing upon the full
range of our diplomatic, legal and
operational capacities. We do not always
deploy and empower colleagues swiftly to
address often rapidly changing
circumstances, and back them up when they
take risks. Lack of clear leadership at
headquarters has resulted in mixed
messages, reduced operational clarity and
lost opportunities. Above all, we have not
always been effective at getting Member
States to reach agreement on concerted
action."
Even while
admitting "systemic failure," this
underplays the degree to which the UN
was complicit in what happened: it
pulled out of Kilinochchi, an envoy
was sent who was perceived (we'll
leave it at that) to just want the
LTTE Tamil Tigers wiped out, so much
that a ceasefire was never even called
for.
So what was
learned from the cited 1999
Independent Inquiry on UN Action in Rwanda
and the 1999 review on the fall of
Srebrenica?
Syria is
cited in, and explains, this "Plan of
Action to strengthen the UN’s role in
protecting people in crises." The
report says: "Today we are witnessing
the agony of the Syrian people. That
conflict is a test - not just of
Member States’ will to fulfil their
responsibilities, but of the UN’s
ability to use all the tools at its
disposal to make sure that people are
protected."
So,
now a UN report and plan for "Rights
Up Front."
The plan
claims that Ban's UN "will also adopt
an ‘Article 99 attitude’, and tell
Member States what they need to hear
(action 2). We must assert the UN’s
moral authority and put Member States
in front of their responsibilities." ButBan
so often takes his cue from the
Western P3.
What will
be the next text of the UN needed to
act without prodding from the US,
France or UK?
As France
Calls "Vague" UN "Moral
Responsibility" for Cholera in Haiti,
PM Lamothe Tweets ICP
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, October 10, updated -- The day
after the UN was sued for bringing
cholera to Haiti, Inner City Press asked
French Ambassador Gerard Araud about the
case, and how the UN should respond
since it is "pretty clear the UN brought
cholera to Haiti." Video
here, from Minute 9:04.
Araud
replied, "that's your judgment, that the
UN brought cholera, that's your
assessment, you can make it."
But even
those who wrote the UN's first cover-up
report have recanted it and admitted
that a strain identical to that from
Nepal where the UN brought peacekeepers
from caused cholera in Haiti.
Yes, Inner
City Press had and has questions, and
has now sent three to Lamothe's office,
including about testimony yesterday on
Capitol Hill about Haiti. Watch this
site.
Having no
response 24 hours later, Inner City
Press asked Haq at Thursday's noon
briefing and he said -- only when asked
a second time -- that Ladsous' DPKO does
NOT screen for cholera. When
was that answer going to be
provided?Video
here from Minute 9:38. [And
see update below.]
Update of October 10,
2013, 5:30 pm: Later this came in:
Subject:
Your
question on cholera screening
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not
Reply [at] un.org
Date: Thu, Oct 10, 2013 at 5:23
PM
To:
Matthew.Lee@innercitypress.com
Regarding
your
question, please see below:
Currently,
WHO
does not endorse or advocate the
screening of asymptomatic
carriers of cholera. The United
Nations follows the policies and
recommendations of the World
Health Organization.
October
7, 2103
UN's
Failure to Go to Khan Al Asal
UNexplained, Like Ban's Jarba Meetings
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, October 5 -- Why didn't the UN
chemical weapons team ever go to Khan al
Assal, which Syria asked them to visit
back in March 2013? First the UN
demanded access to other sites. Then
once in Damascus, it dropped Khan al
Assal in favor of al Ghouta - then left
the country.
UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon declared the result
report by Ake Sellstrom "overwhelming"
before he even saw it. Then he sent
Sellstrom back from September 25 to
September 30. Finally it seemed Khan al
Assal would be visited.
But it
wasn't, the UN has yet to explain why.
Inner City Press asked on both October 3
and was told the answer was in a
previous transcript. But it wasn't. So
Inner City Press asked again on October
4, transcript and video
here and below:
Inner City Press: Angela Kane says
that she, in hindsight, regrets not having
simply gone to Khan al-Asal, but instead,
having requested to go to other sites which
led to these, these months’ delay; so, one,
I wanted to know whether the
Secretary-General also has that analysis
that the delay may have actually played some
role in the further use of chemical weapons.
And I also wanted to know whether the [Åke]
Sellström team, in their most recent visit,
just to be sure: did they, did they actually
get out to Khan al-Asal?
Spokesperson Nesirky: I have already
answered that, Matthew: no, they did not.
Inner City Press: Alright. So, why
not? That’s what, I’d only learned
yesterday, I may, I might have missed your
earlier answer, but why didn’t they go where
they were initially going to speci--
Spokesperson: I answered that, as
well.
Inner City Press: Okay. Can you say
why?
Spokesperson Nesirky: Read the
transcript.
Then, after
Inner City Press reported on this
exchange in a story about Ban Ki-moon's
meeting, with Angela Kane present, with
Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif,
Nesirky's office sent this:
Subject: Your question at the Noon
Briefing
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at]
un.org
Date: Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 4:58 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com
In reference to your question at the
[October 3] Noon Briefing, the Spokesperson
said the following at the Noon briefing on
30 September 2013:
Question: Thank you, Martin. Just
had a quick question about Dr. Sellström’s
mission: Does that mean he won’t go back to
Syria now, now that he is finalizing the
report and they didn’t go to Khan al-Assal
in the end?
Spokesperson: They are now heading
out of Syria with the aim of finalizing
their report. And I will be able to provide
details on where they have been, but not
right at this moment. They have not visited
Khan al-Assal to my knowledge. But that does
not mean that they have not been able to
collect a large body of information, which
they had been doing in any case in the lead
up to their initial visit and then to their
return. And so, if I have any more details,
I will let you know. And I know also that
they will now be seeking to marshal all of
the information that they do have with the
aim of putting that report together by the
end of October, as we just said.
Inner City
Press published the above in full, while
still asking: why? And the next day on October
4, Inner City Press asked
again:
Inner City Press: I did read the
transcript; it’s not like I don’t read these
things and it was sent to me again, I just
want to... forgetting the transcript and
without any disrespect, I just wanted a
simple answer why the UN never went to Khan
al-Asal. And I read, I read it a number of
times; maybe I am being dense, but was it
that it they couldn’t get there? Was it that
the, the, the, it was too deteriorated? I am
not suggesting those are the reasons, I just
want to know what the reason is.
Spokesperson Nesirky: Well, it does
say, not in that particular part that you
have in front of you; it does say on 30
September, that transcript from Monday, or
let’s be clear about it: I said there are a
number of reasons, potential reasons. And
one of those includes that with the passage
of time, it becomes… I don’t think you
expect me, I know you are reading what I
said, you don’t think you’d expect me to say
exactly what I said on Monday?
Inner City Press: I am asking you a
kind of a substantive question; what would
you say to those who say it’s, it is a shame
that if the request, the initial request to
go to Syria was to visit this one place, it
seems to cry, to call out for an answer of
why what was initially requested was not
done.
Spokesperson Nesirky: Right, right,
so, listen: As I have said, as I have said
here a number of times, there are a number
of factors why it was not possible or
feasible to go. And one of those is that
with the passage of time, there is a
deterioration of the material that could be
used for sampling, and, therefore, to help
decide whether chemical weapons were used or
not. But as I also said, there is a
portfolio of different ways that the team,
the investigation team, can gather evidence
and try to determine at a distance whether
chemical weapons were used. That’s one of
the possible constraints. Another is
obviously security. And with regard to the
broader question about the passage of time,
everybody knows that it was not for want of
trying that the team did not get there until
August. As you well know from March, there
was extremely hard work done on both sides —
meaning the Syrian authorities and the
United Nations in the form of the Office for
Disarmament Affairs — to make this work. It
was not easy. And that’s been plainly said
by any number of people, including the High
Representative for Disarmament Affairs. But
the fact of the matter is that everyone
persevered because there was an interest to
get in. And eventually, they were able to
get in and they were able then to determine
that chemical weapons had indeed been used
in that incident on 21 August; and they
furthermore have continued both outside and
then, on a subsequent visit to Syria that
ended on Monday, to gather material so that
they can present a final report at the end
of this month.
That says why the
UN thought it wasn't WORTH going to Khan
al Asal, not why they COULDN'T go to the
spot that Syria had asked them to visit.
It's like Ban Ki-moon meeting at his
(UN-provided) residence with
Saudi-sponsored Syria rebel boss Ahmad
al Jarba -- a reflection of where Ban is
coming from.
Minova
Rapes by DRC Army Raised to Minister
& Kabila by UK & Power
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS, October 5 -- The mass rape of
135 women in Minova in November 2012 by
two units of the Congolese Army to which
the UN still provide support is an issue
on which UN Peacekeeping has been far
less than transparent.
When Inner
City Press, which has inquired into the
rapes with exclusives
since last
November, asked UN Peacekeeping
chief Herve Ladsous, he refused to
answer at all. Video
compilation here.
More recently
after spin
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's
spokesperson Martin Nesirky has said it
is entirely a matter for the Congolese
authorities -- this despite the UN's
continued support to the 41st and 391st
Battalion in seeming contravention of Ban's
stated Human Rights Due Diligence
Policy.
Now with the
UN Security Council in Kinshasa for
meetings, Inner City Press has reports
from multiple sources that the issue was
raised, including to President Joseph
Kabila himself.
Inner City
Press has further learned that the
"others" referred to by Lyall Grant
include US Ambassador Samantha Power,
who raised the issue not only to the
Defense minister and to the Interior
minister (accompanied by the Justice
Minister in the meeting with the
Security Council) but to President
Kabila himself.
A complaint
is that the claimed investigation has
been far too slow, and that only junior
soldiers have been jailed. Inner City
Press is informed that the Ministers
responded that twelves officers were
suspended, and may be prosecuted, after
investigation.
How is this
investigation taking from November 2012
until now, October, more than ten months
later? And what is President Kabila's
response?
Ban
Ki-moon's Spokesperson Martin
Nesirky on camera admitted that
the decision on which media
would be allowed to go on and
cover the UNSC's Africa trip was
made "in consultation" with the
lead mission for the trip:
France. Inner City Press YouTube
channel video
here: http://youtu.be/N_nn8lToeUU
This was sent to Inner
City Press:
From: Jerome
Bernard [at] un.org
Date: Fri, Sep 20, 2013 at
6:46 PM
Subject: Re: Security
Council trip to Africa
To: Matthew Russell Lee [at]
InnerCityPress [dot] com
Cc: Free UN Coalition for
Access @FUNCA_info
Hi Matthew,
I am sorry but
because of the very limited
number of seats in the UN
plane it won't be possible
for you to travel with the
Security Council for this
trip to the Great Lakes
Region of Africa.
I am sure there
will be other opportunities
for travel in the future.
Best regards,
Jerome
Bernard
Office of the Spokesperson for
the Secretary-General
Inner City Press was
told that Bernard would be
providing information from the
trip. Then not. Watch this site.
As
Resolution Passes, Syria Told Ban
France Violated Charter With Jarba
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
September 27 -- After the UN
Security Council adopted its Syria
chemical weapons resolution 15-0,
things got interesting.
In the chamber, French foreign
minister Laurent Fabius claimed the
resolution provides for
accountability, which is false; his
Chinese counterpart said that Japan
used chemical weapons against China,
which is true.
Ja'afari replied that he
told Secretary General Ban Ki-moon,
in advance, that the so-called side
event violated the UN Charter; he
added that Fabius has a "surreal"
view of the resolution and the law.
History too, apparently.
Inner City Press asked Fabius, when
he came out, how the Jarba event
complied with the UN Charter.
Fabius said he hadn't fully
understood what Ja'afari said.
Inner City Press said, en
pasant,
"Clearly."
Fabius said, Either did you,
probably. Video
here, from Minute 4:16.
Then Fabius said that while perhaps
there was an issue under "the rules"
-- that would be, the UN Charter --
it was clear that Assad killed 1,500
people.
But, it occurred, when Sri
Lanka killed 40,000 people in 2009,
France didn't call any meeting, much
less declare someone other than
Mahinda Rajapaksa to be the
representative of the Sri Lankan
people.
From the riser, a reporter
from Al Mayadeen asked
Fabius what about France killing
Algerians. Fabius said, that's not a
question. Then he turned to those
closer to him, saying let's find "a
real journalist."
And so it is more clear that
this French government, far from
respecting freedom of the press,
deems those whose questions it does
not like to be non-journalists.
But a question arises: what
was Ban Ki-moon's response to being
told, in advance, that the UN
Charter was being violated by France
in the ECOSOC Chamber with Jarba?
It was said that Geneva Two
should happen in mid-November;
Australia's Gary Quinlan graciously
stopped at the end of the evening
and told Inner City Press that the
next step is adopting the
"humanitarian text" by next
Wednesday. But wil that be a
resolution or a Presidential
Statement? Watch this site.
When
Ban
Met Jarba at His House, No Photo
Unlike Sellstrom, UNCA Scam
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
September 28 -- When UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon decided to meet
with Saudi-sponsored Syria rebel
boss Ahmad al Jarba, why was
it not in his UN office but rather
in his residence? Why was it not
listed in the UN Media Alert? Why
was no UN Photo taken?
These
questions have been asked of Ban's
top two spokespeople, without
answer. By contrast, when Ban met
with his Syria chemical weapons team
leader, Ake Sellstrom, he not only
had a photograph taken - he flashed
the first page of the report,
expressing concern about sarin in
Syria.
Another UNCA Executive
Committee member bragged, without
disclosure, that "Secgen meeting
with Pres of the National Coalition
#Syria opposition forces Ahmad
al-Jarba."
Inner City Press and the new
Free
UN Coalition for Access@FUNCA_info
have repeatedly asked why the UN
through DPI gives UNCA a room for
faux UN briefing, and why Ban and
his spokesperson give the first
question to UNCA's 2013 president
Pamela Falk, who sent out three
invites for Jarba. Ban's Office, and
then DPI, said "ask UNCA." This is a
scam. Watch this site.
September
23, 2013
With Media
Banned from GA Hall, 12 Standing Spots
Protested by FUNCA
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, September 21 -- How limited
is press access to the UN General
Assembly going to be this year? On the
Saturday before the speeches begin,
Italy sent out the following warning:
"Print
journalists will have extremely limited
space (10-12 spots standing room only) in
one of the side booths and should report
to the Media Center from where they will
be accompanied by the UN press office on a
'first come / first served basis.
TV/Photographers can follow from the TV
booths in the General Assembly,
accompanied by the UN press office on a
“first come/first served” basis and should
report to the Media Center; please be
advised that due to the temporary location
of the GA Hall, there are only 6 booths
with limited capacity."
The Free UN
Coalition for Access has been
challenging these restrictions at
least since June. But at a press
conference on September 13, when Inner
City Press asked for FUNCA, this
"standing room only" booth was
presented as the response. Video
here and embedded below. FUNCA
has issued a flier:
A booth
without even laptops or a work table is
not enough. And more stakeouts and
Q&As must be provided. UN noon
briefings should not be canceled,
particularly not for mere two- or
three-questions 'press conferences.'
The problems
extend to the Security Council, with the
media is penned in without electrical
outlets; access
to the UNSC’s trip to Africa has been
ceded to France. A full range of
coverage and questions must be permitted
and not cut off. This is unacceptable
censorship, as are the anonymous social
media trolling and now counterfeiting
begun by board members of the
Association that does not want its name
used. UN Room S-310 should be for all
journalists, not only those paying
money. We’ll have more on this.
Correspondents
who
have had their office space taken away
and downgraded to a Green P pass are
being blocked from re-entering the UN
after “business hours,” even if their
laptops are inside. To confine all media
without UN office space to a North Lawn
"Media Center," without even the
stakeout around the corner that existed
last year, is unacceptable.
The UN
must do better including on access. This
is true not only for General Debate
week, but for all year. This is true not
only for media with offices in the UN,
but for all those interested in covering
the UN.
We'll have
more on this. Watch this site -- and @FUNCA_info.
France
Chooses
Scribes for its
Genocide Joyride,
UN Won't Disclose
List
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, September 21 --
How can a country with a
long history of
colonialism like France be
allowed to decide which
correspondents accompany
and transcribe a trip
through Africa on a UN
plane?
Inner City Press
has been told by multiple
sources that France was
allowed to choose which
journalists would go; its
request seventeen hours
ago for disclosure of
those journalists selected
for free travel in the UN
plane has not complied
with. But isn't it public
money?
If the French
government of Francois
Hollande and Laurent
Fabius wants to run a
propaganda trip through
Africa, they should use a
French government plane,
not the UN.
Call this the
Genocide Joyride, then.
But who has France chosen
to ride in the UN plane?
The fix was in
from the beginning. Rather
than tell all
correspondents at once
about the opportunity to
accompany the trip --
Inner City Press
accompanied just such a
trip in 2010 -- this time
the notice was sent out
through the email of
Pamela Falk the 2013
president of the UN
Correspondents Association
only to those which pay it
money: less than ten
percent of the journalists
covering the UN General
Assembly.
(Charbonneau
and
Witcher were
linked last
week in
MediaBistro to
imposter Inner
City Press
social media
accounts, the
culmination of
nine months of
anonymous
trolling link
to UNCA, the
UN's
Censorship
Alliance.
Their
anonymous
comments
complained
Inner City
Press is
"pro-Rwanda" -
explaining the
trip
decisions, and
why Inner City
Press will
write rather
than appeal.)
After
close
of business on Friday, after
twice confirming its desire
to accompany the Security
Council trip as it did
in 2010, this following
arrived:
From: Jerome
Bernard [at] un.org
Date: Fri, Sep 20, 2013 at
6:46 PM
Subject: Re: Security Council
trip to Africa
To: Matthew Russell Lee [at]
InnerCityPress [dot] com
Cc: Free UN Coalition for
Access @FUNCA_info
Hi Matthew,
I am sorry but
because of the very limited
number of seats in the UN
plane it won't be possible for
you to travel with the
Security Council for this trip
to the Great Lakes Region of
Africa.
I am sure there
will be other opportunities
for travel in the future.
Best regards,
Jerome Bernard
Office of the Spokesperson for
the Secretary-General
Inner City Press
less than an hour later
asked the Office of the
Spokesperson for the
Secretary-General for a
list of those journalists
who France has selected.
The list has not been
provided.
Jerome Bernard,
who will be accompanying
the trip will supposedly
tell reporters who France
did not want on the trip
what is happening. Right.
We will be
reporting on this Genocide
Joyride. Watch this site.
On Syria, Civil Rights
Official Tells ICP War Takes from Poor, Haiti Echo
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
September 18 -- While votes in the
US Congress on military action on
Syria were averted for now by the
US - Russia deal struck in Geneva,
Washington is still abuzz with different
views of just what happened.
Inner City Press on
Tuesday night asked Hilary O.
Shelton, the director of the
National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People's
Washington office, what he thought
of Syria.
He said that finding ways
to avert engaging in war is always
the best policy, war should always
be reserved as the absolute last
option. In addition to the loss of
human life, money and resources
spent on war is taken away from
pressing basic human needs and
programs of the poor in the US. He
recalled the "Iraqi war
supplemental in its first year
under the Bush administration of
$125 billion." He also recounted
being asked under President Bill
Clinton if the US should invade
Haiti. No, he said, and went to
the White House to make the point.
Instead, the US sent Colin
Powell, Sam Nunn and Jimmy Carter
to negotiate. Haiti was (and is) a
poor country, he said, that didn't
need an American military
invasion.
Shelton authorized the use
of what he said, asking only that
it be clear that it is not the
official position of the NAACP,
founded in Niagara, Canada 140
years ago and instrumental in
civil rights legislation since,
including voting rights which he
credited for stopping or pausing
the bombing of Syria.
Syria is not as poor as
Haiti, but it is unclear at least
to Inner City Press if more
violence, or arming Al Nusra or
ISIS, is the answer. Senator
John McCain, speaking Tuesday at
the Council on Foreign
Relations, views it differently.
He said President Obama should not
have taken the question to
Congress but rather simply done
it, and with the usual "blow-back"
afterward. The positions could not
be more different. Watch this
site.
September 16, 2013
Amid
US-Russia Deal on Syria, UN's Whining
Is High Pitched, BanKi-Leaks
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, September 14 -- Amid complaints
about the Syria deal the US and Russia
cut in Geneva, the UN's whining can only
be heard, like a dog whistle, by a
trained ear.
On Friday Ban
got TV face time for comments in a
"closed" meeting of the Women's
International Forum, that his report,
held back until Monday, will be
"overwhelming" in showing the use of
"chemical agents."
Ban
went on that Assad has committed many
crimes against humanity and will face
accountability. Click
here for Inner City Press story,
here
for YouTube video.
Some
call it BanKi-leaks.
But in terms
of UN relevance, even Ban's gun jumping
came too late. Whatever the report says,
this deal has been cut. Perhaps Ban will
say that his eleven hour leaking of the
report helped bring Russia and Syria to
the table. But that would be a weak
claim, like the claim
his UN didn't bring the cholera to
Haiti.
Even on the
humanitarian front, on which certainly
some good work is being done, the UN
went out of its way not to confirm much
less complain about threats to aid
workers by extremist rebels, such as by
ISIS in Jarabulus. When Inner City Press
asked,
it was disclosed that 11 UN staffers
have been killed and others are still
held hostage -- then no more
information was given. Will it, now?
Look at what
the UN dropped, in it race for relevance
on Syria: in the Central
African Republic, in one example
reported by Inner City Press,
slaughter and mayhem went on throughout
the month of August with little to know
UN action.
Okay
the Security Council's failure to pass a
resolution was due to French
diplomats being on vacation, and
taking the Council's pen with them. (The
country holding the pen on a Council
agenda item are charged with drafting
resolutions and statements.)
Ban insisted
he had not seen Ake Sellstrom's report
and would have nothing to say until he
did. Then he jumped the gun and told the
Women's International Forum the report
will be "overwhelming." (Lady's man, one
wag commented.) But it came too late.
How will
Kerry's deal with Lavrov, and the UN's
too-late role, be reviewed by
non-Administration sources in
Washington? How will those who waited
for Obama -- or Obomber as some took to
calling him -- for deliver a big blow
react now? From the real world, we'll
have more on this.
Footnote: The UN with little
transparency gives a big room on the
third floor, just above the Security
Council, to a group called the UN
Correspondents Association. It does not
represent all resident correspondents at
the UN. It represents less then
ten percent of the reporters who will
cover the upcoming General Assembly, and
is allowed or used
by some in the UN to stealthy attack
critical journalists.
In the
agreement, Ban's role is only to "submit
recommendations," and even then "in
consultation with the OPCW."
But also
quickly shown up as having limited
relevance are the US' two partners in
the Permanent Five members of the
Security Council, France and the UK.
France
rushed to draft and promote a resolution
last week that is now not only undercut
by the US, but largely moot. Will either
use their veto for what they say they
believe in? Not if the US says not to.
Hence Monday's lunch in Paris, between
John Kerry and his counterparts William
J. Hague and "Fabulous" Laurent Fabius.
Speaking of
spoon-fed, last week insider journalists
were hyping up the French draft; several
even skipped going to cover the P5
meeting on September 11 at the Russian
Mission on 67th Street, in order
to stay in the UN's air conditioning and
be spoon-fed the French resolution and
quotes about Ban's "overwhelming"
report.
Reuters ran a
story that the meeting at the Russian
mission concerned the French draft; it did
not. The breathless
stories about how the UN report will
"finger" Assad, now just three
days later, are seen as manipulative
leaking. The timing was a hint that the
game was slipping away from France and
the UK and the media they feed.
Now their
game will shift to decrying violations
right away, openly bemoaning as some
already have the limits of the
agreement, that is, that the US did not
actually hit Syria with missiles. This
seems to be the position of the Voice of
America, at least at the UN.
Maybe it
takes a while for marching orders to
trickle down from John Kerry, who serves
of VOA's Broadcasting Board of Governor,
to the bureau at the UN, the land that
time forgot.
VOA
helpfully (or hopefully) tweeted that
the US remains prepared to act,
something echoed by the
Reuters bureau chief who spied
for the UN. His Agence
France
Presse counterpart, also exposed
as a troll in MediaBistro, had nothing
so say -- kind of like France. Watch
this site.
They get some follow-backs
-- 38 so far -- one of whom later
told Inner City Press, I thought you
guys were starting a new account so
I followed.
That person and others then
unfollowed. But the UNCA insiders
have started a second counterfeit
account. This one, because Inner
City Press questions and continues
to question the US' public evidence
on chemical weapons, and why it did
not commit at least to wait for the
UN report, draws a link between
Inner City Press and Syria's Assad
-- anonymously, of course.
To be an
anonymous part of an anonymous crowd
making such attacks: this is the
UNCA board.
Charbonneau told Dujarric
that if he didn't thrown Inner City
Press out of the UN, Charbonneau --
the go to guy for pro-Western spin
-- might leave the UN. Now the
UNCA-linked counterfeit account
follows Dujarric.
AFP's Witcher complained to
UN Security, leading with the way
Inner City Press asked a question to
UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous,
who previously served on one of
AFP's management boards.
Now they follow and try to
confusion countries' Mission to the
UN, many of whom already follow the
real @InnerCityPress.
This was raised to the top of the UN
Department of Public Information,
when in February 2013 UNCA already
had a half dozen of these anti-Press
anonymous troll social media
accounts, but it has continued.
One
observer called these UNCA Executive
Committee members, not without
irony, "Ban's shabiha." Or more
generously, "Lapdogs with laptops."
The reality is, after some
in the UN tried to get Inner City
Press thrown out, after that these
UNCA scribes took up the cause: Voice of
America, Reuters
through Charbonneau and now
Michelle Nichols who works under
him, Agence France Presse's Tim
Witcher, and
Bloomberg,
part of those trying to get Inner City Press
thrown out until after this was raised to
Matthew Winkler and the correspondents was
told to stay away from the campaign - at
least visibly.
But there are more, linked
to these counterfeit Twitter
accounts:
Pamela
Falk
of CBS, figurehead 2013 UNCA
president, who send sycophantic
tweets at the Ambassadors of the US
and UK, who are now followed by
the/her UNCA counterfeit account;
UN
Spox Doesn't Know if US Shared
Syria Evidence, Says Ban Golfs
with UK Too
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
September 1 -- After UN chemical
weapons inspector Ake Sellstrom
spoke with Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon on Sunday morning about
Syria, Ban's spokesperson Martin
Nesirky took questions from the
press.
One of
the elephants in the room was John
Kerry, or at least his announcement
earlier in the morning that the US'
lab tests of hair and blood samples
from Ghouta show the presence of
sarin.
Inner
City Press asked Nesirky to comment
on the US moving or saying it moved
so much more quickly, and if the US
has shared any of this evidence with
the UN. To the latter, Nesirky later
said that he didn't know. (It seems
strange that it wouldn't come up on
Ban's call with Sellstrom, but maybe
in The Hague as on the UN's internal
EZTV system CNN can't be heard.)
On the
former, Nesirky said the UN is
unique capable of conducting an
impartial investigation, clarifying
that this involved chain of custody.
Inner City Press asked that since
the US speed also involved faster
lab work, did this mean Ban found
the fast-labs less than credible?
Nesirky returned to his prior
answer.
Gulf
media questioned why, if two Syrian
officers are accompanying the
samples, there are not two
representatives from the rebels,
presumably from Team Jarba. Nesirky
replied that this was what had been
negotiated.
Nesirky
graciously allowed Inner City Press
a final question, which were two.
First, about Germany providing a
plane to fly the samples and team to
The Hague. Yes, Nesirky said, what's
the second. Actually it was related
to the implication of the first:
that for the UN to accept free
service from some member countries
might undercut its perceived
impartiality.
I try to
play golf. I do not have a membership,
so I’m invited by some friends. The
Korean ambassador has a membership. The
ambassador of San Marino, [Alexander]
Bodini, plays at Deepdale in Long
Island. That’s a very good place.
Another is Manhattan Woods, with the
Korean ambassador.
Inner City Press asked
Nesirky how the UN would respond to
the argument this undermines the
UN's or at least Ban's perceived
impartiality. Nesirky said Ban also
golfs with others; he gave the
example of the UK (presumably Mark
Lyall Grant, whose support of a
particularly rough soccer team West
Ham Inner City Press has previously
reported.)
Inner
City Press asked, as to Ban's social
golfing, what about North Korea?
Syria? Iran? Eritrea. There was
laughter. Not that it is without
humor, but why? Because the named
countries or ambassadors don't play
golf? (Inner City Press been
jokingly asked if it thinks Syria's
Ja'afari even knows how to play
golf. But would Ban ask?)
Because of course Ban wouldn't golf
with them? How are decisions made?
Why aren't more disclosures made?
Watch this site.
On Syria,
UNSC Can't Agree On Press Statement,
Just Summary, No Questions
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, August 21 -- On Syria chemical
weapons, the UN Security Council on
Wednesday could not agree on a
non-binding press statement or even
"elements to the press." Instead at the
end of the meeting August's Council
president, Argentine Permanent
Representative Perceval read a summary
of the meeting. (And UK Deputy PR
Parham spoke, video
here.)
Inner City Press asked her about the
rejected draft press statement (on which
Inner City Press first
reported, here.) Perceval smiled,
but did not answer.
Nor did UN
Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson
answer any questions after he made a statement.
After these two UN-televised,
no-question press encounters, UK Deputy
Permanent Representative Phillip Parham
spoke to reporters, not on UNTV.
He
said some 35 countries have written to
Ban Ki-moon. Inner City Press asked
Parham about the rejected draft press
statement: how many votes did it have,
which countries blocked it. Parham said
he would not "get into the internal
discussions in the Council." Video
here, and embedded below.
Afterward a
Security Council member, on a not for
attribution basis -- see below -- told
Inner City Press that "two Permanent
members" said they needed to check with
their capitals on the draft press
statement, "which would have taken 24
hours, so we just did the summary."
Process: We say "not for
attribution" because the UN Department
of Public Information made it more
difficult than ever to cover the
Security Council meeting. Without
explanation, earlier this week they said
journalists now could not stand in an
area between the so-called Turkish
Lounge and the entrance stairs.
The Free UN
Coalition for Access repeatedly
asked for clarification, on August 20
and at the August 21 UN noon briefing,
then via @FUNCA_info.
FUNCA wrote
to the Under Secretary General of DPI,
copying another FUNCA member who
represents a wire service, but has yet
to receive any explanation or response
to this:
This is a request for a
written statement and explanation of where
correspondents can work (stand and ask questions)
from at the UNSC stakeout.
In a change of policy, I
was told this week that correspondents now CANNOT be
in the space south of the steps, before the Turkish
Lounge.
I asked Stephane Dujarric
about this, and got no answer. I asked at today's
noon briefing -- that is, for an on the record
answer. But there's been none. Another MALU staff
this afternoon told me one can stand there
momentarily and look, but not remain. For how long?
Now Stephane has
belatedly responded that the MALU answer is the
answer. WHICH MALU answer? Earlier this week, or
today? When was this policy changed? To whom was it
explained?
Inner City
Press stood, with other FUNCA members,
in the space, bothering no one (and being
able to access sources, see earlier
story). But when Inner City
Press was standing there alone, the
Department of Public Information got UN
Security to tell Inner City
Press to unplug its computer and leave
the space.
A
former UNCA president agreed, saying
that space is for "off the record"
communications, and commenting on the
Free UN Coalition for Access. Well, it's
not for DPI much less UNCA to tell
journalists where to have on the record
communications. We'll have more on this.
On DRC, Robinson Calls
for Calm, Kobler on the Race Card, Reuters in the
Tank
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, August 24 -- The UN has
become schizophrenic, with its Congo
envoy Martin Kobler vowing to "punish"
groups opposed to Congolese president
Joseph Kabila while UN peace envoy
Mary Robinson speaks of calm.
On
Saturday without noting which country
she was in, Robinson issued a
statement which concluded:
"I strongly urge all
authorities in the region to observe maximum
restraint, to ensure that civilian populations are
protected, and to minimize the risk of escalation of
the situation. I am in close contact with all
parties and continue to monitor the situation very
closely. My Special Adviser is currently involved in
consultations with relevant authorities in order to
appeal for calm and restraint."
It
seems the UN is becoming a club of
former heads of state from Europe. In
the Congo, Kobler was quoted decrying
the M23 rebels playing the ethnic card
-- apparently without irony or
self-consciousness.
Reuters chimed in with a story
asserting that the shelling of Goma came
from M23. How do they know? After
the UN bragged that the M23 rebels have
been pushed back so their artillery
can't reach Goma, it's the same UN which
continues to ascribe the shelling to...
the M23.
When did the UN get into the business of
military punishment? WHO got it into
this business? Inner City Press has
tracked this shift in UN Peacekeeping
under its fourth French chief in a row,
Herve
Ladsous.
For now this remains outstanding: at
Friday's noon briefing, video
here from Minute 10:15, Inner City
Press asked the UN's outgoing deputy
spokesperson Eduardo Del Buey about the
answer, when Inner City Press and
another journalist asked UN Peacekeeping
acting chief Edmond Mulet Thursday if
the M23 rebels had entered the security
zone established around Goma.
"No," Mulet
said. "Just mortars." He went on to
refer to the separate "red line"
established when M23 agreed in Kampala
to pull out of Goma. (The portion of
that agreement that gave M23 one third
of the security force at the Goma
airport remains unimplemented.)
But later on
Thursday, the wire service Reuters reported
"a senior U.N. official, who asked not
to be named, said that on Thursday the
rebels entered a security zone
surrounding Goma" -- which Mulet, the
acting chief of DPKO, had just denied.
Inner City Press and the other
journalist waited to ask Mulet again,
and got the same answer.
So who is
this "senior UN official who asked not
to be named"? In UN Peacekeeping, only Herve
Ladsous is senior to and could
over-rule Mulet.
But with only a few
arrests for the 135 rapes,
Ladsous' DPKO continues supporting the
391st Battalion, even as it is now
implicated in corpse desecration.
So is
Reuters' "senior UN official who asked
not to be named" someone junior to
Mulet, or as another journalist
suggested, no one at all?
On
August 23, Del Buey said he knew what
Mulet had said, and has "seen other
reports." He said he'd have to check.
But August 23 was his last day at the UN
(the Free
UN Coalition for Access wished him
well, video
here at Minute 9:55). So
we'll see. Watch this site.
August 19, 2013
With
UN
Ignored in Cairo Q&A, Who
Spoon-Fed to Reuters Trip
Confirmation?
Inner
City
Press: yesterday, at, at the end of
the Security Council meeting, the
Egyptian Permanent Representative, I
asked him and he said that Mr.
[Jeffrey] Feltman has asked to go,
that arrangements have been made,
that high-level meetings have been
set up, then I, for some how, the
UN, at least, as of yesterday,
wasn’t willing to confirm that. Can
you now say, is Mr. Feltman going?
Are the meetings set up? Who is he
going to meet with? That’s the
question.
Deputy
Spokesperson
Del Buey: Well, Matthew,
Under-Secretary General Feltman has
been asked by the Secretary-General
to conduct some regional
consultations in several countries
after the conclusion of the
Secretary-General's current trip to
the Middle East. While some of the
stops are still pending, Mr. Feltman
does hope to meet Egyptian
interlocutors in Cairo next week.
Inner
City
Press: And can you, can I just, this
is a procedural question; when,
this, this confirmation that you are
now reading here, when did you come
up with it? When did, when was it--
Deputy
Spokesperson
Del Buey: Well, whenever I came up
with it--
Inner
City
Press: Right… was it given to some,
was it given to some before others?
Deputy
Spokesperson
Del Buey: We are announcing it here
now.
But
it was given, by "the
United Nations," to Reuters
before the noon briefing. How?
By whom? This like numerous
recent questions to Ban's
Spokesperson's Office, has still
not been answered; allusion
off-camera has been made to a
"leak."
A
leak from Ban's Spokesperson's
Office? Because the Reuters
report quotes "the United
Nations." Del Buey says he
didn't release the information
before reading the If-Asked at
the noon briefing. So: did Haq?
Or another in Ban's
spokesperson's office, closely
associated with Reuters?
For
UNGA,
After Protests by FUNCA, Media
Seats To Be Added
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
August 15 -- The coming UN General
Assembly debate week will not be
entirely closed to the media after
all, Inner City Press has learned.
After two months of protests
by the Free
UN Coalition for Access of the
elimination of all 53 media seats in
the interim General Assembly,
Thursday morning an official of the
Department of General Assembly and
Conference Management told the Press
and FUNCA that now "some" media
seats will be set aside of the GA
floor.
"I heard
about your questions," the official
said. But the Department of Public
Information to which the questions
were directed never answered at all.
While DPI's Stephane
Dujarric had in the past at least
replied to access questions raised
to him by twitter on @FUNCA_info,
of late he has not replied to any
such questions, including
about stakeout videos not put
online, and about
the media seats in the GA.
So FUNCA e-mailed the question above
and below Dujarric in DPI and was
told an answer was coming. None has
arrived.
Inner
City Press: in the upcoming General
Assembly general debate week in the new
interim General Assembly Hall, zero
seats for the press or the public, which
in the past could be in this mezzanine.
So, what I wanted to know, it’s been
difficult to find out, how that decision
was made. It seems like it will be the
first year, admittedly it’s a new space,
but who, how was the decision made how
these hundred and some seats in the back
of the room are allocated and that none
would go to the public or press?
Deputy
Spokesperson: Well, I’ll have to find
out for you, Matthew, I am not privy to
that information, number one. Number
two, it’s a much less… it’s a much
smaller venue, and arrangements have had
to be made, first of all, so that
delegates and Member State delegates can
be there.
Inner
City Press: Given the things the
Secretary-General said about civil
society, etcetera, it seems if every
class that sort of has a stake in the UN
was reduced, it would be one thing, but
now nothing for at least two classes of
stakeholders, absolutely, so I just
wanted to know who made the decision and
how it was made.
Deputy
Spokesperson: Well, as I said, I’ll have
to find out for you, I don’t have that
information.
But by August 15 no answer
was given. The DGACM official told
Inner City Press he heard the
question, and DGACM would now set
aside some seats for media,
finalizing it in a "coordination"
meeting next week. Watch this site.
August 12, 2013
On
Haiti
Cholera, Guehenno Switches "Come
Clean" to "Make Others Pay"
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, August 9 -- When a hole opens
in the UN's armor of immunity, there
are fast moves to close it.
On August 7, with the UN of Ban
Ki-moon and Herve Ladsous still
denying all claims that Ladsous' UN
Peacekeeping brought cholera to Haiti
and killed 8,000 people, after Inner
City Press again asked Ban's
spokesperson about it, Ladsous'
predecessor Jean-Marie Guehenno tweeted
this:
"Peacekeepers
have
done a lot for Haiti, but UN needs to
come clean on cholera crisis."
Thursday
August 8 was a UN holiday. So in its
August 7 story, Inner City Press
asked: what will the UN say about its
own former head of peacekeeping, a
post now devolved to Herve Ladsous who
was rejected in favor of Guehenno,
then in favor of Alain Le Roy, then a
third strike in favor of Jerome
Bonnafont -- only to be put in the job
by France after Bonnafont bragged
about getting it?
On August
9, Inner City Press asked Ban's
associate spokesperson Farhan Haq
about what Jean-Marie Guehenno said.
Haq replied there would be no UN
comment on what Guehenno said in his
"private capacity." Video
here, from Minute 2:07.
Suddenly
Guehenno's (re) definition of coming
clean has nothing to do with taking
responsibility, but rather "pushing"
others to pay for the consequences of
DPKO's ongoing negligence.
Here's the
question: how can the UN, and DPKO
which Guehenno used to head, preach
rule of law if it never takes
responsibility? Blaming
plaintiffs'
attorneys is not enough: to
merely push others to pay, and not
accept responsibility, is lawless.
Who "got
to" Guehenno? Or is the promise or
desire for future UN-world posts
enough to bring about such a quick
reversal? Watch this site. And this
video, before Guehenno's
"clarification," from Minute 2:07:
Given the
mass killing of Tutsis in Rwanda in
1994 and events since, this line was
quickly seen, including by diplomats
from UN Missions including that of
the United States, but only not for
attribution, as hate speech or
worse.
Inner
City Press went to the UN's July 26
noon briefing and put the question
to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's
outgoing spokesperson Eduardo Del
Buey:
Inner City
Press: Yesterday, possibly even while
this briefing was taking place, the
Foreign Minister of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, in his prepared
remarks that he read in the Security
Council, said that rebellions in the
Great Lakes region all bear a similar
genetic signature. And many people have
seen this as a problematic statement
given the genocide in Rwanda in 1994 and
its ethnic basis. And so what I wanted
to know is, the Secretariat, do they
have any comment on the use of what some
people see as hate speech inside the
Great Lakes meeting of the UN Security
Council?
Deputy
Spokesperson Del Buey: No, we’re not
going to comment on that, Matthew. If
people find it offensive, it’s up to
them to take it up with the Congolese
authorities.
This
hands-off approach stands in
contrast to cases in which Ban
Ki-moon has chosen to criticize
comments, like those questioning who
did Nine Eleven, about about the
Boston bombing, by what Ban
described as an independent special
rapporteur. Given the resonance of
genetic signature to genocide and
the number of people killed, why
take this approach here?
Convenience?
Outside
the US
Mission to the UN on July 25,
Inner City Press asked Secretary of
State John Kerry about his Congolese
counterpart's reference to "genetic
signature." Kerry stopped and ask
for clarification, then replied that
he heard the Congolese minister's
comment. He was chairing the
meeting.
A similar
question, including on the
Intervention Brigade slated to be
run by Frenchman Herve Ladsous in
Eastern Congo, has gone entirely
unresponded to by four French
Mission spokespeople, including
Frederic Jung.
The UK
has told Inner City Press they are
looking into the questions with
their DRC expert. Still, delegates
from other UN and Security Council
members marvel at what was said, and
the lack of response. "They want to
pretend they're solving things
there, so they just let it go," one
said.
To be
fair, Inner City Press asked a
member of the Congolese delegation
about the comment, expect to have
its meaning spun as has to done to
Inner City Press on Twitter. But the
Congolese delegate told Inner City
Press, No, that was exactly what we
intended, we did not want to say it
more directly. And even then --
would Ban, or Kerry, or the French
or UK mission, have responded to any
way? Watch this site.
For-Pay
Syria Session Called "UN
Briefing," UNCA Breaks Rules,
Trolls
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, July 27 -- The Alliance
between this UN and the United
Nations Correspondents Association
is not only one of censorship but
also now of fraud.
Del
Buey said he would answer this
simple question, but more than a
day later: no answer. Instead,
after Inner City Press in its name
and that of the new Free
UN Coalition for Access
asked the question,
the UNCA Executive Committee
related trolls re-started their
anonymous social media campaign:
UN Cowardice Association.
Meanwhile,
after
UNCA inappropriately asked the UN
to stream its private for-pay
briefing over UNTV, it put it
online in piece, labeling it
"Special UN Briefing."
At the
beginning, UNCA's 2013 president
Pamela Falk claimed this was a
briefing for the "UN press corps"
-- but it was not, it was only
publicized to those who pay money
to UNCA. This is fraud.
The
UN's Department of Public
Information participates in this
fraud. DPI insists that only
journalists can go into the UN
press briefing room, and that only
journalists with eight clips can
get a "P" Press pass to the UN.
But as
Inner City Press has reported, shown on film and now had
informally re-confirmed, DPI has
given at least one non-journalist
UNCA intern a Press pass, and
entry into the briefing room and
stakeout area.
The non-journalist intern set up
shop in the locked "UNCA" Room
310, and in a so-called focus
booth that was supposed to have UN
phone service to the Peacekeeping
missions.
Actual
journalists have been told to
leave these focus booths, and even
had their UN entry pass
de-activated after being found
working there. But the UNCA intern
is there.
UNCA
has an employee, also given a "P"
Press pass, of whom it is not
clear there are eight clips. This
is the organization which tries to
get thrown out of the UN
journalist who actually ask
questions and publish articles.
The mockery of DPI's purported
rules occurs as DPI cites a rule
it passed with UNCA, Banning
signs, to threaten Inner City
Press with
suspension or withdrawal of
accreditation for hanging a
FUNCA
sign on the door of its
shared office. (This door was
blocked on Friday by the backwash
of UNCA's dubious "Special UN
Briefing.") UN Censorship
Alliance.
It is that the Executive Committee
of UNCA has show disdain for
freedom of the press, asking in
2012 that articles and photographs
about Sri
Lanka and French officials
be taken off the Internet then
seeking ouster from the UN for
resistance to censorship.
This is called spying for the UN:
this UNCA is a fraud, particularly
when it comes to any claim of
supporting freedom of the press or
defending the rights including due
process rights of journalists.
The UN's room S-310, it was said
before the move-back, would be
open to all UN accredited
correspondents, not locked, or key
with the UN Spokesperson's Office.
But UNCA keeps it locked, or its
"Press" Passed intern inside, when
not in the "focus booth" taken
from other journalists.
The UN
has been formally asked to explain
the July 26 briefing and claims
made since; it has yet to respond
on that or on how it violated its
own stated rules about who gets a
"Press" pass and entry into
briefings. This is the UN
Censorship Alliance. Watch this
site.
Footnote:
now comes word, not from any
e-mail from UNCA, that while the
UN Spokesperson's Office still
can't or hasn't explained the
status of these sessions
publicized only to those who pay
money, the next "newsmakers" on
tap at the UNCA private club are
the "Club des Chefs des Chefs"
-- those who cook for heads of
state. UN Culinary (or
Corruption?) Alliance.
July 22, 2013
DRC
Army Unit Desecrating Corpses Aided by UN After
Rapes, US Trained
Ladsous however decided to continue
supporting them after the suspension
of a dozen officers and arrest of
only two soldiers for rape.
On July 16 at the UN noon
briefing, Inner City Press asked
about Congolese Army mistreatment of
prisoners and desecration of
corpses, shown by photographic
evidence, asking if these complied
with the Geneva Conventions.
(Ladsous' DPKO refuses to answer if
its MONUSCO mission in the Congo is
now covered by the Geneva
Convention. The answer must be yes,
as its Intervention Brigade is a
party to an armed conflict.)
Nesirky
said he hadn't seen the photograph,
would check, with DPKO. Nothing was
said that day, but the next day the
UN expressed concern.
Then DR Congo's Information
Minister Lambert Mende announced
there had been an arrest, naming the
officer as Lt Solomo Bangala “who
had been fighting on the frontline
in the 391st
Battalion... He was
transferred into the hands of
military judicial officials for the
desecration of enemy corpses," Mende
said.
Nothing was said or reported
that this is the same 391st
Battalion that Ladsous' UN
Department of Peacekeeping
Operations decided to continue
supporting after the Minova rapes.
So
what is the responsibility of
Ladsous, who recently bragged in
Sudan about keeping the corpse of a
slain assailant, in what the 391st
Battalion has done since?
What is
the responsibility or at least
lessons learned of the United
States, which trained the 391st
Battalion and, this coming week,
will hold a Security Council debate
about DR Congo and the Great Lakes,
chairs by Secretary of State John
Kerry? Is this the type of issue on
which
new US envoy Russ Feingold should
have something to say? Watch
this site.
For three
weeks now Ladsous' four spokespeople
have refused to say which of these
units the MONUSCO mission supports.
Ladsous' DPKO should be required to
disclose this information,
particularly now that it's shown
that his failure to implement the
UN's statement Human Rights Due
Diligence Policy led to continued UN
support to a unit which they
desecrated corpses.
UN
Questions of Access Re-Heated & Dodged, FUNCA
Presses Forward
Further
inquiry by FUNCA revealed that it
was a Department of Safety and
Security “Post Order.”
While MALU as is too typical did not
response to the simple Tweeted
question (it tweets out messages all
day, and has replied to a favored
leaking correspondent, but now
goes silent), it did
send a representative to the
post at issue, and access was
granted. But what is the written
rule?
To get a
written ruling, according to the
rule of law the UN speaks so much
about, among the questions Inner
City Press planned for Thursday's
noon briefing, beyond Mali and a troubling
video it highlighted from South
Sudan, here, was a request for
an official statement of the rule,
to help all journalists with access.
Rather, she asked a day-old, already
answered question about what Kenya's
Ambassador had said. Since the
spokesperson's answer to Inner City
Press' questions had been e-mailed
to all journalists, it was
surprising. Oh, access.
When
Inner City Press asked the FUNCA
question about access to the
Delegates' Lounge, the spokesperson
said Security must have its reasons,
but committed to look into it and
provide an answer. Video
here, from Minute 18:45.
UN's Congo Brigade Makes It Subject to ICC, Outgoing
Legal Counsel Says; UK Agrees
By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, July 9, updated
below -- As the UN's Intervention Brigade prepares to launch
in Eastern Congo, there is a legal problem.
The members of
the Brigade, and it seems the entirety of the MONUSCO
mission, will become parties to an armed conflict, subject
not only to international humanitarian law but also to the
jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
In a question
and answer session with outgoing UN Legal Counsel Patricia
O'Brien on Tuesday afternoon at which Inner City Press,
called the only media there, asked O'Brien about both the
Congo and Haiti, the representative of a Troop Contributing
County in MONUSCO tried to distinguish the Brigade.
He said the
Brigade and MONUSCO are different; he implied that to find
otherwise might even put UN Development Program and other UN
system activities at risk of ICC prosecution.
O'Brien declined to directly answer, calling it
delicate and saying that the International Committee of the
Red Cross has one view and others, another. But, she said,
already revamped rules of engagement and rules for the
treatment of captured combatants are being prepared.
O'Brien noted the presence
of the Press at the beginning and end of the session, and
explicitly said, "this is not under Chatham House" rules -
that is, it was on the record. Two more articles will
follow.
Mali
and the UN mission there also came up, including that Mali
is under the jurisdiction of the ICC. While deployed in the
Central African Republic, Chadian soldiers engaged in
violations they never answered for. Might things be
different with MINUSMA? Watch this site.
Update:
In part because of the Troop Contributing Country's argument
about ICC coverage, Inner City Press asked UK Ambassador
Mark Lyall Grant, by Twitter, if it is the UK's position
that the ICC has jurisdiction. He replied,
by Twitter,
"@innercitypress Yes. As situation in DRC referred to ICC,
any actions taken by anyone in DRC could be reviewed. IB not
unique in that."
@innercitypress
Yes. As stiuation in DRC referred to ICC, any actions taken by
anyone in DRC could be reviewed. IB not unique in that.
While the TCC was arguing
that the non-Brigade part of MONUSCO should NOT be covered,
perhaps the question is really one of the whole mission
being a party to an armed conflict. To be continued. Watch
this site.
To
try to make up for or cover it
that up, Ladsous now talks and
plays rough, bragging about a
killing in Darfur and “keeping
the body.” This is not the UN;
at least, it is not what the
UN is supposed to be. But it
is what Ladsous is turning UN
Peacekeeping into.
At
the UN's
July 5 noon briefing,
Inner City Press asked about
Ladsous' extraordinary and
ghoulish quote in Khartoum,
where he met ICC indictee Omar
al Bashir, that a “UNAMID
patrol...kept a body of one of
the assailants.” But even
worse was coming. From the UN's
transcript:
Inner City
Press: Mr. Ladsous said of an attack on a
UNAMID patrol in East Darfur that the UN kept
the body of one of the assailants and hopes to
identify, using that body, the gunmen who
attacked the peacekeepers. And I just wonder,
is that common? What's the legality of keeping
the body of an opposing, I guess of an
assailant?
Associate
Spokesperson Farhan Haq: Well, regarding the
question of the body... one assailant was
killed and the body was handed over to
Government authorities.
AFP
allowed Ladsous to say,
without any question, that
"I cannot accept impunity.”
This is laughable. When two
units of the Congolese Army
which Ladsous' DPKO
supports, the 41st and 391st Battalions,
committed 135 rapes at
Minova in November, Ladsous
spend four months trying
to cover it up.
Even
when forced to say something
about the rapes, he did it
to favored scribes -- and
then didn't follow through,
continuing DPKO support to
the units even thought only
two soldiers have been
arrested, for 135 rapes.
Ladsous very much CAN and
does accept impunity.
A
week ago Inner City Press
asked all four of Ladsous'
spokespeople -- Kieran
Dwyer, Andre-Michel
Essoungou, Josephine
Guerrero and Anayansi Lopez
-- a simple question.
Inner
City Press asked whether
Congolese Army units listed
in the Group of Experts
report the full text of
which Inner City Press
exclusively put online, as credited by BBC
and Bloomberg
News, have received
support from the UN's (and
Ladsous') MONUSCO.
That same day receipt was
acknowledged by Anayansi Lopez and a
DPKO answer promised. A week later,
nothing. The question has been put
MONUSCO, by the new Free
UN Coalition for Access,
through @FUNCA_info.
MONUSCO like
other missions has become less responsive
under Ladsous than previously under Le Roy or
even Jean-Marie Guehenno. This is Ladsous' UN
Peacekeeping, and its approach to impunity.
Watch this site.
UN Deletes
FUNCA's Thanks to Eliasson From
Transcript, But Video Shows It
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, July 3 -- How far
will the UN go to try
to ban dissent and to
censor those who question it?
At
the July 3 noon briefing with
Deputy Secretary General Jan
Eliasson, before asking about
Afghanistan and Sri Lanka,
Inner City Press thanked
Eliasson “on behalf of the
Free UN Coalition for Access.”
“Q: I want to thank you for
doing this briefing so soon after
you got back, and also I hope that
we will have some questions on
more general UN items, after, it
should be... There is DRC, Haiti
and other things going on.”
“Q: Mr. Deputy
Secretary-General, welcome on
behalf of the UN Correspondents’
Association, welcome back and
thank you for the briefing.”
Who
in the UN decided what to cut
out of what purports to be a
transcript? What is the basis
of the deletions? If they cut
this, do they cut or change
whole questions? Answers? We have
asked.
UNITED
NATIONS,
June 30 -- Does the UN, or at
least its Department of
Peacekeeping Operations under
Herve Ladsous, seek to
ascertain and tell the truth?
Or rather to cover it up and
vilify those who seek it?
Earlier
this
year Inner City Press
published documents from the
MONUSCO mission in the
Democratic Republic of the
Congo showing that the UN knew
of links between its partners
in the Congolese Army and the
FDLR rebels, linked to the
genocide in Rwanda.
“Kinshasa, 30 January 2013:
Since yesterday, certain media
outlets have been posting a
document ascribed to the United
Nations Organization Stabilization
Mission in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo (MONUSCO) which would
confirm a cooperation between the
Forces démocratiques de libération
du Rwanda (FDLR) and the Forces
armées de la République
démocratique du Congo (FARDC)...
MONUSCO condemns the production
and dissemination of such false
information that can only
contribute to an escalation of
regional tensions in general and
perpetuate the violence in the
eastern Democratic Republic of the
Congo.”
In
New York, the Office of the
Spokesperson for Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon repeated
this line, while telling Inner
City Press it would not even
deny, much less confirm,
“leaked” documents.
Now
the new UN Democratic Republic
of the Congo sanctions report,
which Inner City Press put
exclusively online earlier
yesterday, itself
belatedly confirms a
non-aggression agreement
between the FARDC and FDLR,
and the provision of weapons,
ammunition and intelligence by
the FARDC to the FDLR.
Inner
City
Press has asked DPKO chief
Herve Ladsous' four top
spokespeople to comment on
this -- and, incidentally, if
they have a new position on
their MONUSCO's above-quoted
press release. They confirmed
receipt more than 12 hours
before this publication, but
so far no substantive
response.
Here
are
a few sample paragraphs from
the new UN Group of Experts
DRC sanctions report which
Inner City Press exclusively
put online yesterday:
the
FARDC first abided by a tacit
non-aggression agreement with the
FDLR. However, the declining
security situation in eastern DRC,
culminating with the fall of Goma
on 20 November 2013, enhanced the
collaboration between some FARDC
units and the FDLR in areas of
close proximity with
M23-controlled territory. The
Group has documented local-level
collaboration between the FARDC
and the FDLR, and continues to
investigate the extent to which
the FARDC hierarchy may be
involved in such collaboration.
The Group sent a letter on 12 June
2013 to the Government of DRC
asking for clarification about
this support and is awaiting a
reply.
107.
The Group interviewed 10 FARDC
soldiers in Tongo, in North Kivu,
who reported that FARDC and FDLR
regularly meet and exchange
operational information. These
same sources stated that FARDC
soldiers supplied ammunition to
the FDLR. Col. Faida Fidel
Kamulete, the commander of FARDC
2nd battalion of 601st Regiment
based at Tongo, denied such
collaboration, but declared to the
Group that FARDC and FDLR do not
fight each other. FDLR officers
and an FDLR collaborator told the
Group that “Col.” Jean-Baptiste
Gakwerere aka Esdras Kaleb, who
commands the FDLR deployed in
Tongo is in charge of the
coordination between FDLR and
FARDC officers in the area.
108.
Four former FDLR soldiers from
Tongo and Bambo confirmed to the
Group that FARDC soldiers had
transferred ammunition to FDLR,
with the instruction that it had
to be used against M23. In January
2013, two FDLR former soldiers
witnessed separately meetings
between FARDC and FDLR in the
Tongo area, at which they
exchanged operational information.
One of the soldiers told the Group
that he saw FARDC transfer
ammunition to FDLR during one of
these meetings, while the second
saw an FARDC officer give boxes of
submachine gun ammunition to the
rebels. Between January and April
2013, a former FDLR soldier
witnessed four distinct ammunition
transfers by the FARDC based at
Bambo to the FDLR, while in
February, another former FDLR
soldier saw FARDC hand over
ammunition to the FDLR, also at
Bambo.
109. An
FARDC officer and local leaders
from Muja, 10 kilometers north
west of Goma, also reported to the
Group a pattern of collaboration
between the FARDC and the FDLR.
The FARDC has established
positions at Muja and Rusayo to
defend Goma against the M23.
According to FDLR commanders, the
FDLR North Kivu Sector CRAP unit
under “Maj.” Alexis, usually based
at the Nyamulagira volcano in the
Virunga National Park, carries out
regular operations in that area.
The Group interviewed two former
FDLR soldiers who surrendered from
Muja, and both were aware of
ammunition transfers from FARDC
commanders. One of the former
soldiers claimed to have witnessed
the supply of boxes of submachine
gun ammunition from FARDC soldiers
to the FDLR.
As
noted, questions have been put
by Inner City Press to Ladsous
four top spokespeople,
including
This is
a request on deadline for DPKO to
state whether it or MONUSCO have
provided any support to any of the
following in the DRC:
FARDC
905th Regiment, under the command
of Col. John Tchinyama, including
filmed torture in Mambasa -- was
the Ituri Brigade of MONUSCO
there? What is the UN's response?
These questions are asked
in light of DPKO's stated
conditionality and human rights
due diligence policies; on that,
and separate from the above, this
is a request to receive any and
all DPKO response to the DRC
Sanctions Committee report.
There
are other questions, these are on
deadline, now.
UN
Says Layoffs in UNTV Won't
Impact Service, in Static-filled
Webcast, Live Streams for Sale?
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, June 28 -- On the eve
of UN Television shifting to a
“skeleton crew” and laying off
dozens of long time workers,
Inner City Press asked
Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon's deputy spokesperson
Eduardo Del Buey about the
cuts. Video
here, from Minute 5:50.
“There
won't be any impact on
service, Matthew,” he assured.
He pulled out a piece of paper
and read an if-asked answer,
that the Broadcasting and
Conference Support Section was
re-organized in 2010 and 2011
and that most of the
contractual technicians got
trained in the new technology.
TeamPeople
also
seems to be above answering
questions. The Free
UN Coalition for Access
has directed questions at
TeamPeople, without response.
Perhaps it's only for SOME
people.
In
fact, even the webcast of the
June 28 noon breifing where
Inner City Press asked these
questions had loud static
making it unintelligible, video
here from Minute 0:42
through 2:02.
And
as has been noted in the UN, a
slew of Department of Public
Information officials
responsible for all this are
conveniently gone when it
“hits the fan.” We'll have
more on this. Watch this site.
Footnote:
earlier
this week, the UN chose not to
live webcast the stakeout of
Lakhdar Brahimi about Syria,
then counseled
FUNCA on “#patience.” On
the morning of June 28, a
speech by High Commissioner
for Human Rights Navi Pillay
was live webcast -- but not by
the UN. FUNCA
has asked why, here.
In
Somalia,
UN Mine Action's Bax Gives
Info to US, Travels Armed
with Denel,
Whistleblowers Tell ICP
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS,
June 22 – In Somalia the UN
Mine Action Service is passing
along genetic information from
bombings to US intelligence
agencies, in a move some say
has endangered the lives of UN
personnel.
The UN replied to
Inner City Press, “Regarding your question at
noon about the contractors killed in Mogadishu
on Wednesday, we can confirm that the three
contractors were employed by MECHEM, a demining
company based in South Africa.”
Now
Inner City Press has
exclusively been provided by
whistleblowers with detailed
complaints about the UN Mine
Action Service's David Bax,
including that he shares both
genetic information and
physical evidence from
bombings with American
intelligence services, including through
shadow private military
contractor Bancroft Global
Development.
According
to
the whistleblowers, this
combined with Bax and “his”
Denel contractors traveling
armed around Mogadishu leads
to a perception that they and
the UN have taken sides, and
helps to make them a target.
There
are
other complaints and questions
about Bax and UNMAS in
Mogadishu which Inner City
Press has put to the Director
of UNMAS Agnes Marcaillou and
to Dmitri Titov of the UN
Department of Peacekeeping
Operations. DPKO's chief
Herve Ladsous has
said he will not answer
Inner City Press' questions.
These three are aware of the
complaints.
Other
questions to UN envoy to
Mogadishu Nicholas Kay have
gone unanswered. So too has a
request for confirmation or
denial sent to the e-mail address Bax
listed for an April 2013 UN Mine Action
conference.
But
the UN should answer
about allegedly providing
information to US intelligence
services, about how South
African Bax,
pictured here with UN
Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon, hired the South
African state firm Denel, and
why they go around
armed.
Here
is Bax at right with Ban as well as Qatar's
Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser and his then chief of
staff Mutlaq M. Al-Qahtani. by UN Photo, Mark
Garten; genetic evidence and Bancroft not shown
The
whistleblowers describe Bax as
“ruling over” the UN compound,
abusing his power to decide
who gets which accommodation
and job, and even controlling
and profiting from the sale of
liquor in the UN compound's
bar.
They
describe a grisly video of
this weeks bomb attack and its
victims that Bax made and
screened in this UN bar. They
conclude, “he's going to get
us all killed.” What will the
UN's Herve Ladsous, the head
of the Mine Action Service and
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
do? Watch this site.
At
UN,
Ban's Carbon Impact
Incalculable,
Airline
Partners,
FUNCA Sign
& Space
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
June 22 – The UN talks about
carbon reduction and
austerity, but is vague about
emissions while not only
allowing but requiring waste.
Early
on
June 21, based on questions
the UN has left unanswered to
many requesters, the new Free
UN Coalition for Access asked
the UN's “Greening the Blue,”
which had been bragging about
carbon reduction, “Can you /
UN estimate Ban Ki-moon's
entourage's travel emissions?”
Inner
City Press: there is something
called Greening the Blue, I have
tried to ask them directly and
haven’t received a response,
whether the UN’s Office of the
Secretary-General estimates the
carbon footprint, the carbon
effects, of his travel, which
obviously is quite necessary, but
can you disclose what that the
quantity is and whether it is in
any way offset?
Deputy
Spokesperson Eduardo Del Buey:
Well, we’ll try and get that
information for you, Matthew.
Six
hours later, as the UN made
other demands on Inner City
Press and FUNCA (the very sign
of which the UN and its
partners have tried to ban),
the following was emitted
by the UN as a note to all
correspondents:
In
response to a question about
efforts to offset carbon footprint
at the United Nations, the
Spokesperson for the
Secretary-General has the
following to say:
We do
not have specific estimate of the
Secretary-General’s travel, but we
do estimate regularly the United
Nations staff’s total carbon
footprint as well as the share of
air travel. According to the most
recent Greening the Blue report,
launched on 19 June 2013, the
total emissions of 8,185 staff
members at the United Nations
Headquarters estimate 63,059
tonnes (CO2eq), of which 48 per
cent is caused by air travel.
The
response – which did not
provide the basic requested
information about Ban's travel
and is online
in full here – added in
a different font, as if an
additional argument, that
“[r]ecent renovations to the
UN Secretariat building in New
York were designed to reduce
energy consumption by 50%.”
On
Friday evening, as the (non)
response on Ban's travel was
sent out, DPI was informing
Inner City Press that it
planned to now put three
separate media in the two-desk
office behind the FUNCA sign.
This was presented for the
first time in front of one of
the media.
Now
a series of questions have
been raised. Why is an UNCA
Executive Committee member
next to Inner City Press given
a private, one-media office?
Why is the UNCA president,
Pamela Falk, given a separate
office? How can the UN put
three media at two desks?
The
answer to the later is waste:
media which have not requested
UN space are told they can
only get a so-called “White P”
entry card if they request
from the UN space they do not
want. When asked about this
wasteful absurdity, the answer
is that these are the UN
rules. But the UN makes its
own rules.
In
the case of the new rule
against signs – or signs other
than UNCA's – the UN partnered
with UNCA to put out a rule
banning all competition.
The
UN has been told that any
removal of the FUNCA sign
would be unacceptable
censorship, an attempt to ban
a new dissenting group or
network; after a week of
waste, it has been asked to
confirm that it will not seek
to force the removal of the
FUNCA sign while leaving
UNCA's up.
The DPI official responsible
for much of this, promoting
the ban on dissent both below
and above himself in DPI, now
follows FUNCA (after previously
blocking Inner City Press).
What will come of this? Watch
this site.
June 17, 2013
On
Syria,
OHCHR Didn't See Any Reason
to Ask Who Paid for Study
Ascribed To It
Both
the
authors of the report at the
Human Rights Data Analysis
Group and OHCHR spokesperson
Rupert Colville have told
Inner City Press that HRDAG
worked "pro bono."
HRDAG's
Patrick
Ball went further, telling
Inner City Press, "We did the
work pro bono because doing
analysis of this kind is the
mission for which we receive
support from our donors."
But
who are the donors? There is
an "anonymous US-based private
foundation." Ball declined to
disclose who it is, so Inner
City Press asked Colville if
the UN even knows. He replied:
"Donors
have a right to remain anonymous
if they want to. If we felt there
was something going wrong with the
way statistical analysis is being
handled, we might ask questions on
that -- but we don't any reason
to."
How
could that be -- especially
since Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon's spokesperson Martin
Nesirky at noon said that
OHCHR reported there had been
93,000 deaths, how could OHCHR
say it didn't see any reason
to ask who paid for the study?
There are other questions
outstanding.
Now
the UN seeks to ban FUNCA's
name from any journalist's
office door, while allowing at
least two signs of its UN
Censorship Alliance, UNCA.
Before
putting
this into a Kafka-esque rule
about fliers and where
journalists can and cannot
work, staff of the UN
Department of Public
Information and scribes from Agence
France Presse and Reuters
simply tore FUNCA's fliers
down, and in some cases
defaced and even counterfeited
them.
The
rules were agreed to by the
old UN Correspondents
Association, and now comes the
punchline.
While
UNCA is given a large office
at the top of the escalator on
which two separate UNCA signs
are posted, on June 14 DPI,
contrary to previous
communication, told Inner City
Press which co-founded FUNCA
that it cannot display a
simple Free UN Coalition for
Access sign on its door.
UNCA
and
DPI, together the UN's
Censorship Alliance, are
essentially trying to create a
one party system. Despite the
fact that UNCA does not
represent all UN resident
correspondents, and that in
2012 the UNCA Executive
Committee devoted most of its
meetings to trying to get
Inner City Press thrown out of
the UN for articles it wrote,
the UN now tries through rules
to outlaw any other
organization.
On
March 21, right after BuzzFeed
called Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon's spokesperson Martin
Nesirky, photos taken during
the raid, including of Inner
City Press' desk and
bookshelf, were leaked to
BuzzFeed via an anonymous
"Concerned UN Reporter" e-mail
account. These photographs are
identical to ones e-mailed
around by DPI.
Now,
after
close of business on Friday,
June 14 comes this, from the
UN: "the posting of notices
policy does apply to the FUNCA
sign... I am afraid you will
have to take the sign down."
While
the
UN Department of "Public"
Information is on a witch hunt
about dissent, it is not doing
its job.
Long
ago DPI said that there would
be intra-UN telephones to call
the peacekeeping missions in
the "focus booths." But there
are no phones -- and no
chairs. Others complain of the
needlessly low wall of
cubicles; in the wall just
above Inner City Press' door,
and the FUNCA sign as issue,
there is a UN Security camera.
An
African photographer
constantly at the UN is being
told he should go through the
metal detector on each
entrance, while a photographer
with AFP, who rarely comes to
the UN, is considered a
resident correspondent, no
metal detector.
And
DPI is focused on... banning
fliers and even the sign of an
alternative organization which
dissents. Watch this site.
June 10, 2013
On
Peacekeeper Kidnaps, UN Says No Evidence
of Involvement of "States"
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, June 7 -- After at
least three kidnappings of UN
peacekeepers in the Golan, and
then an attack that led
Austria to decide to pull its
troops out of the mission, the
question of who is ultimately
behind the attacks remains
murky.
On
the afternoon of June 7 Inner
City Press asked UK Ambassador
Mark Lyall Grant, president of
the Security Council for June,
if there was any discussion of
involvement from any outside
state in the threats to
peacekeepers. As
in the morning, he said
there had been no such
discussion.
He has said he provided
information to UN Peacekeeping
chief Herve Ladsous; Syria's
representative at the UN Human
Rights Council in Geneva on
June 4 said that Ladsous was
investigating the Qatar claim.
But
at the UN in New York, they
didn't want to answer. On June
4, Inner City Press asked
Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon's spokesman Martin
Nesirky if Ladsous was, in
fact, looking into it. Nesirky
said he would ask the
Department of Peacekeeping
Operations.
Three
days later on June 7, having
gotten no response, Inner City
Press repeated the question.
Nesirky said again that he
would check with DPKO, whose
spokesman was in the briefing
room, as Inner City Press
reported. It was later
indicated that an answer would
come. And now it has:
Subject:
Your
question on Qatar
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not
Reply [at] un.org
Date: Fri, Jun 7, 2013 at 5:16 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at]
innercitypress.com
Regarding
your
question on Qatar earlier today,
below is the response from DSS and
DPKO:
The
United Nations has no evidence of
any involvement by Member States
or state actors in the abduction
or detention of UN personnel in
Syria. To our knowledge, the
peacekeepers were detained by
individual groups operating in
Syria.
One
might find it strange that
without answering the question
asked on June 4 -- was
Ladsous' DPKO looking into
what Syria provided it on May
22 and conducting an inquiry
as Syria requested, and on
June 4 in Geneva said was
being done -- the UN now
simply says it has no
evidence.
The
answer also implies that the
UN sees or accepts a
distinction between
"individual groups operating
in Syria" and outside states:
as if outside states didn't
arm and fund "individual
groups" in Syria.
But
it may also be worth looking
more closely at what is being
answered: the UN says it has
no evidence that Qatar as a
"member state or state actor"
is involved.
What
Ja'afari alleged in the
General Assembly was that the
Syrian opposition figure to
whom Qatar "gave" Syria's
embassy in Doha was involved
in the kidnapping. He is not a
"state actor," but Qatar's
support of him puts his
alleged role in a different
light.
So
the question to be answered
is: was the Syrian opposition
figure to whom Qatar "gave"
Syria's embassy in Doha
involved in any of the
kidnappings? Did any e-mail
received by UN officials in
May reflect this? Has the UN
done anything to look into or
act on this since? To be
continued.
Footnote:
at
the stakeout after Council
consultations Russia's Vitaly
Churkin said
his country is offering to
replace the Austrian
observers, but is checking to
see if this would require a
Security Council resolution as
well as an amended agreed by
Israel and Syria. A
representative of Syria told
Inner City Press, not
surprisingly, they would
agree. Watch this site.
UN
Censorship Alliance Seek to
Ban New Media from Unused SC
Space, Speech
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, June 5 -- The UN and
its partner still seek to ban
UN Security Council new media
access, even more
specifically, as well as free
speech, according to "Media
Access Guidelines" which the
old UN Correspondents
Association belated sent
Wednesday to some but not all
of the journalists that would
be impacted by the rules.
Back
on May 21, the new Free
UN Coalition for Access
commented to the UN Department
of Public Information (DPI)
against a ban "media
workspace" in front of the
Security Council, a proposed
ban on fliers and even for
example a FUNCA sign on
journalist's own office doors,
and other absurdities.
The
president of UNCA for 2013
Pamela Falk told some she
hadn't seen that draft. But on
Wednesday her office sent out
what was still called a
"draft" rule -- with the ban
on media workspace still in
and made even more specific.
To cover the
Security Council in blog-style, one needs
to be present throughout
meetings, speaking with
all manner of diplomats on
all topics and writing
stories right there. It
may be different for
television station or some
big wire services - but
this is new media style,
and there is no reason or
right for UN, much less
the UNCA board, to ban it.
On
June 4 to cover the UK
Presidency's horizon scanning
briefing on Syria, the Sahel
and Iraq - Kuwait, Inner City
Press sat with laptop on a
staircase leading to a door
that is said to always be
locked.
At
least two UNCA Executive
Committee members -- Louis
Charbonneau of Reuters and Tim
Witcher of AFP -- took note, as did the "lady
from DPI"
who seized the table on
June 3. (Immediately after
this, anonymous social
media accounts associated
with UNCA and Reuters,
among others, began
messages opposing any push
for the same media access
that used to exist.)
The rule UNCA
put out June 5
prohibits using that area to work, that is, arguably blocking access to a door thatthat
is always locked.
Only at the UN, is doing work prohibited.
This remains in the rule sent by UNCA:
"f. The Security Council
stakeout area, including the Turkish Lounge, is not
to be used as a permanent workspace for the media."
Meanwhile
while
UNCA broadcasts its name on
the door of a space given to
it at the top of the third
floor escalator, it proposes a
rule to ban even a flier
saying FUNCA -- on a
journalist's office door. This
is censorship, by the UN's
Censorship Alliance, and an
illegitimate attempt to impose
what amount to a one-party
system. To this has UNCA, and
its partners among some in
DPI, descended. We'll have
more on this.
June 3, 2013
UN
Met
Syria on New Rep to
Damascus, Bank Blockage
Raised, Sarin Suspicions
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS,
May 31 -- Syria's Permanent
Representative Bashar Ja'afari
was summoned Thursday to meet
UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon's chief of staff
Susana Malcorra, topic
undisclosed. See Inner City
Press story
of Thursday morning, here.
Inner
City Press: Syrian Permanent
Representative [Bashar] Ja’afari
said he wrote to the
Secretary-General to complain
about Robert Serry’s briefing,
that it didn’t mention
sufficiently from his view the
Golan Heights and the kidnapping
of peacekeepers. Can you confirm
the receipt of that letter? And
also, he was summoned to meet with
Susana Malcorra, and I’d like to
know, one, if it’s true, and two,
what the purpose of the meeting
was.
Deputy
Spokesperson: Well, Matthew, I
don’t have any information on the
receipt of a letter that you refer
to, and secondly, we don’t have
any information on any meeting
that may have taken place. As Mr.
[Hervé] Ladsous said yesterday,
the meeting between United Nations
officials and members of the
diplomatic corps of the Permanent
Missions, we don’t usually report
on them.
But
we do, and exclusively:
Malcorra's topic to Ja'afari
was to notify or seek approval
of a new UN system official in
Damascus, for the UN
Development Program. And
Ja'afari raised again the UN's
duty to ensure that the Host
Country, the United States,
made it possible for all UN
diplomatic missions to have
bank accounts. "They are
trying to use it as leverage,"
Ja'afari told Inner City
Press.
After
reports
of Al-Nusra arrests in Turkey,
having sarin gas, Inner City
Press asked Ja'afari what he
made of it. He said, the US is
trying to distance itself from
Al-Nusra.
When
US
Ambassador to Geneva Eileen C.
Donahoe announced she had met
Friday with the Commission of
Inquiry on Syria, Inner City
Press posed
the question: did CoI
member Carla Del Ponte say
anything about her "strong
suspicions" of rebel use of
chemical weapons, which the Al
Nusra arrests in Turkey seem
to support? So far, no
response. It's called social
media, not a one way
street. Watch this site.
As
UN
Cuts Media Access, Questions
Of Its Partner's Lack of
Legitimacy
"How
come the United Nations
Correspondents Association is
participating like some kind of
junior partner in helping to
formulate the guidelines? Has UNCA
called its members in for a
general meeting to vote about the
guidelines? If there was no
general meeting for the guidelines
to be discussed by the members of
UNCA, who, without being
authorized by the members, has
signed the agreement between UNCA,
DPI, DSS and OSSG?"
Rather,
it
shows how this UN does not
care about legitimate process
or transparency -- it will
work with anyone that supports
what it wants to do, and then
call it legitimate.
The
Department of Public
Information has known for some
time that UNCA Executive
Committee members were
involved in anonymous social
media accounts falsely
accusing others of being
funded by terrorists -- but
DPI did nothing.
DPI's
overseer
of Media Accreditation,
Stephane Dujarric, fields
requests to get smaller media
thrown out through a non-UN
e-mail address. In any other
context, a body of the Office
of Internal Oversight Services
would look into this "Bad
Lieutenant" behavior. But not
in this UN. Overseer Dujarric
is apparently not himself
overseen.
Instead,
Dujarric
was allowed to take the lead
in eliminating media workspace
in front of the Security
Council. Inner City Press has
been reporting on this as a
case of big media versus
small. Others have opined that
this is UNCA Executive
Committee members', and
Dujarric's, way of "getting
back" for articles they have
not liked.
What
kind
of correspondents association
would not only agree to, but
lobby for, a reduction in
media access? One that is
finished. Or, one at the UN.
Inner
City
Press asked DPI, and asks
again: who drafted and who
agreed to this paragraph:
"f.
The Security Council stakeout
area, including the Turkish
Lounge, is not to be used as a
permanent workspace for the
media. When the Council is not
in session, correspondents
should minimize the amount of
time in the area, unless
interviewing or conversing with
a U.N. delegate or official."
We'll
have
more on this. Watch this site.
Footnote:
Of
Falk, the 2013 president of
UNCA, we must again note that
when the UN conducted a
non-consensual raid on Inner
City Press' office on March
18, 2013, Falk stood and
ghoulishly took photographs.
Uganda
Media Closures Brought to Ban's
Attention, Free Press Begins at
Home
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
May 23, updated --
Calling in from Kigali, Rwanda
to the UN noon briefing in New
York, Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon's spokesperson Martin
Nesirky described a visit to
the genocide memorial in the
rain; somber.
Inner
City
Press asked if Ban had met
with Congolese -- not Congolian
-- opposition and if he was
aware of the letter directed
at him from the wife of
opposition deputy Eugene Diomi
Ndongala.
While
still
awaiting an answer to that
question [see below]
and another, Nesirky's office
did answer another of Inner
City Press' questions, asked
recently at the noon briefing
and again Thursday in writing:
"On Uganda, I'd like to ask
again if any Secretary General
or Secretariat views on
actions against the media --
Daily Monitor, Red Pepper,
Dembe FM and KFM -- in the run
up to the S-G's arrival."
Well
less
than an hour later, this
response was provided, which
we publish in full:
Subject:
Your
question on Uganda
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not
Reply [at] un.org
Date: Thu, May 23, 2013 at 12:40
PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at]
innercitypress.com
Regarding
your
question on media in Uganda, the
Spokesperson has the following to
say:
The
issue involving the closure of
certain media in Uganda has been
brought to the Secretary-General’s
attention.
The
Secretary-General is not in a
position to make judgments about
the specific circumstances of this
case; however, it goes without
saying that for the United
Nations, as a matter of principle,
freedom of speech and expression
are fundamental and universal
rights.
The
Secretary-General believes that,
in any democracy, it is essential
for there to be freedom of
expression and for the media to be
able to carry out its functions
freely and independently.
We'd
like
to know more about this
bringing to the attention of
the S-G, but the answer's
appreciated.
Have these,
particularly the former,
been brought to Ban
Ki-moon's attention? Watch
this site.
Update: later on
Thursday, the UN told Inner
City Press: "Regarding your
question at noon on whether
the UN has received a letter
concerning Eugene Diomi
Ndongala, of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, that
letter has not been received
so far." Then again,
it was a lettre
ouverte -- an
open letter....
May 20, 2013
On
Kidnappings,
Ja'afari Told Ladsous To Investigate,
Secretariat "Is Involved"
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, May 17
-- After more peacekeepers were kidnapped in the
Golan Heights but before the UN announced it
Friday morning, UN official Herve Ladsous on
Thursday had a "conversation" not only with
hand-picked non-critical journalists, but also
with Syrian Permanent Representative Bashar
Ja'afari.
Inner
City
Press spoke with Ja'afari
exclusively on Friday morning
and got his read-out of his
meeting with Ladsous.
But
before publishing this story,
Inner City Press asked
Ladsous's Department of
Peacekeeping Operations twice
for its side, and asked
Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon's deputy spokesman
Eduardo Del Buey, who refused
to answer. Video
here.
While
Ladsous
is almost pathologically
adverse to answering Press
questions -- video
here -- the
defensiveness of the UN
Secretariat, according to
Ja'afari, springs from the
fact that in the kidnappings,
"some people are involved in
the Secretariat... it's a big
scandal."
Ja'afari
told
Inner City Press that when he
met with Ladsous on May 16,
Ladsous "tried not to give the
impression he is aware of what
I said, but he is."
What
Ja'afari
said, in the General Assembly
on May 15, was that e-mail
shows that the UN was aware of
the involvement of Doha, Qatar
in the kidnappings, including
a planning role of the Syrian
opposition "ambassador" to
whom Qatar has given Syria's
embassy.
Ja'afari
told
Inner City Press that this
went up to the "high level of
DPKO." Inner City Press asked
Ban's spokesman Del Buey about
this at the May 16 noon
briefing, but has yet to get
an answer.
Inner
City
Press asked DPKO in writing
one last time, after Del
Buey refused on camera, here,
to provide its own read out of
Ladsous' meeting with
Ja'afari. DPKO replied,
"Regarding the read-out of USG
Ladsous’ meeting with Syria’s
Permanent Representative, DPKO
does not provide read outs of
the USGs meetings."
Ja'afari
told
Inner City Press that at his
May 16 meeting with Ladsous,
"I insisted on him to
investigate, I told him, the
ball is in your court, go and
investigate, otherwise it will
keep on going on."
But
if the past is any guide,
Ladsous' DPKO does NOT
investigate. It never
investigated its own role in
the killing in Cote d'Ivoire
of internally displaced people
perceived as Gbagbo supporters
in the Nahibly camp.
It
has yet to investigate its
role in the killings,
including of a peacekeeper, in
Abyei. DPKO was asking this
again on Friday, and has yet
to provide answers, insteading
wishing a good weekend. Watch
this site.
Cameron
"Understands" A There's
a Syria Question from
Reuters & UNCA, Censors
on Sri Lanka
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, May 15 -- With UK
prime minister David Cameron
at the UN and promoted to "do
a stakeout" -- that is, take
question, presumably not
pre-ordinated and pre-screened
-- a flock of UN
correspondents left the
scheduled Syria vote in the UN
General Assembly and went to
Cameron's stakeout.
But
once there, there was a scam.
Cameron came out, read a
statement and then said, I
understand there is a question
from UN Reuters.
Understand
how?
From whom?
Inner
City Press asked the UK
Mission to the UN how this
came about, and now
understands it was not them
but "Number 10's press
people."
So
did Cameron also understand
what the question was going to
be?
Once
called on, Reuters' Louis
Charbonneau of Reuters asked a
softball question about Syria,
but only after branding it,
saying, "On behalf of the UN
Correspondents Association" --
an organization which spent
most of its meetings in 2012
trying to get smaller
investigative Press thrown out
of the UN.
At a minimum,
the new Free
UN Coalition for Access would say
that the organizers of a stakeout at the
UN -- in this case, "Number 10's press
people" -- should tell correspondents in
advance that they have already chosen who can ask questions.
Otherwise, the independent media is being
used as extras, as in a film.
But second,
what did Number 10 consider before handing
this question to Reuters' UN bureau chief?
We'll have more on this.
Footnote: As Inner City
Press told the UK Mission, it would have asked
Cameron about going to Sri Lanka for the
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, given its
"accountability" record and Cameron's statements on
accountability in Syria.
UNCA, it should be noted,
has used anonymous social media accounts, active
even on May 15 during all this, to falsely accuse
Inner City Press of being funded by terrorists,
triggering death threats. These are not only Ban's
UN, but now Number 10's, partners?
May 13, 2013
Minova
Report Omits
Roles of UN
& Ladsous, Cover Up & Privacy
Violations
It
doesn't say that the chief of
UN Peacekeeping Herve Ladsous
refused to answer Press
questions about the rapes for
four months, going so far as
to have the UN Television
microphone seized to try to
avoid Inner City Press
questions about the rapes. Video here and here.
It
doesn't mention the double
victimization controversy,
in which medical records were
demanded and obtained without
the women patients' consent.
The
omission of even this issue,
of which not only Ladsous'
Department of Peacekeeping
Operations and MONUSCO, but
also the Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights,
are aware from the
self-congratulatory review of
the UN's actions calls the
report into question. This UN
will never improve, as
evidenced by Ban Ki-moon's
terse dismissal of claims DPKO
brought cholera to Haiti, if
it cannot admit and only
covers up its negligence and
malfeasance.
The OHCHR, aware of the role
of Ladsous in the Great
Lakes Region during the
Rwanda genocide, should
have done a better job in
this report.
While
the report does, as Ladsous
refused to do for five
months, name two of the
battalions at issue, it
doesn't mention that one was
trained by the US, and the
other has been linked with the
Hutu genocidaires-linked
FDLR militia.
Of
the UN's partners in the
Congo, the FARDC, it says
this: "The FARDC also has a
poor human rights record and
its soldiers have for years
been responsible for many
gross human rights violations.
Poor discipline of soldiers
and officers alike stems in
part from the repeated
integration of former rebels
into the national army without
formal training, or vetting
mechanisms to ensure
accountability. The FARDC
lacks basic equipment and
logistics, soldiers are poorly
and irregularly paid, while
allegations of corruption,
particularly among senior
officers, are rampant."
But
it does not mention that the
new Intervention Brigade will
operate in support of just
this FARDC. What could go
wrong? Watch this site.
Footnote:
That
much of the coverage of the
UN's whitewash report also
omits these issues has previously
been alluded
to, partiallyanalyzed
and even filmed,
but expect more in this regard
- because this is another
reason this UN does not
improve.
On
Sri Lanka, UN Panel Met
Egeland, De Mistura,
Schulenburg, Finish in June
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, May 9 -- Four years
ago in May 2009 the Sri Lankan
Army was advancing north
toward a "bloodbath on the
beach" in which tens of
thousands of civilians were
killed.
On May 9,
2013 Inner City Press asked Eliasson
where things stand. Video
here, embedded and UN
transcript below. d
He answered that earlier in the day
he had an hour and a half meeting about the
Sri Lanka review, by video, with such
"outside experts" as StaffanDe
Mistura, Jan Egeland and Michael
von Schulenburg, who was thrown out of
Sierra Leone.
(The 2009
successor to Egeland and Eliasson as
Emergency Relief Coordinator, John Holmes,
has been interfacing with UN-linked NGOs,
but apparently not on this report on Sri
Lanka. When
Inner City Press quoted
him about deleting at least some e-mails
from Tamils, his staff complained with
UN Media Accreditation. And see second
footnote below.)
The goal,
Eliasson said, is to come up with
recommendations to not have this happen
again (he cited Myanmar and Syria). He will
get the report, from two of his staff
members and Michael Keating, and assess it
and give it to Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon, all by mid-June.
Will the report
be public? That is a question that will be
asked. Watch this site.
2) When the Sri Lankan government
screened its war crimes defense film inside
the UN and Inner City Press wrote
about it and some background, a fight
began that continues to this day. Most
recently, a pro government Sri Lankan told
Inner City Press they will "complain to
UNCA." And what? (Though even the threat is
quite telling.) Due to attempts at
censorship, for example demands that
articles be taken down, Inner City Press
co-founded the Free UN
Coalition for Access. So, send away.
We may have more on this.
May 6, 2013
On
Minova Rapes, ICP's Privacy
Question Garners MONUSCO
Response: The Roots of
#LADSOUS2013
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, May 3 -- Not only did
UN Peacekeeping chief Herve
Ladsous for four months cover
up the 126 rapes in Minova by
the Congolese Army, his
partners -- the UN also
reportedly violated the
victims' privacy.
By
contrast, Ladsous has
repeatedly refused to name the
two Army battalions which were
involved in the rapes. The
rapists are given privacy by
the UN, but the victims
reportedly are not.
Inner
City Press: It has to do again
with these rapes in Minova, but it
is a different question; actually,
quite different. It is reported in
the French publication La Croix
that in the course of
investigating or looking into the
rapes, that MONUSCO [United
Nations Organization Stabilization
Mission in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo] staff encouraged
doctors to give files of patients
without their consent and then
brought them a judiciary letter,
tbasically doctors are quoted
saying that they gave records that
they shouldn’t have given, that
were covered by privacy. I wanted
to know, although obviously
investigation is important and the
battalions still haven’t been
named, what’s the UN’s response to
that? You have two competing
goods... but are they aware of
this allegation that they violated
patient privacy and what do they
say about it? Do they intend to do
it in the future? Have they
learned anything from it?
Spokesperson
Nesirky:
Let’s check with MONUSCO.
But
three days later, there was no
answer. In fact, on May 2
Ladsous' spokesman Kieran
Dwyer gave a five minute
justification for Ladsous
refusing to answer any of
Inner City Press' questions,
due to what he called "slurs."
Video
here.
Yes,
Inner City Press has
questioned and reported on
Ladsous' speeches and memos
during the 1994 Rwanda
genocide, when Ladsous was
Deputy Permanent
Representative of France,
refuting those who opposed
France helping the
genocidaires to escape into
Eastern Congo. That's not a
slur - that's a fact.
On
May 3, Inner City Press asked
the question again at the noon
briefing, along with asking if
new envoy Mary Robinson was
looking into any
follow-through on the Minova
rapes. Inner City Press put
the question to the Office of
the High Commissioner for
Human Rights as well.
On
Friday afternoon, the
following came in:
Subject:
Your
question on the DRC
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not
Reply [at] un.org
Date: Fri, May 3, 2013 at 3:39 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at]
innercitypress.com
We have
the following from MONUSCO:
"In
carrying out their investigations
on allegations of human rights
violations, including sexual and
gender-based violence, UN Human
Rights Officers are guided by
strict guidelines and basic
principles that must be followed
at all times. Such principles
include 'do no harm', meaning that
the safety and best interest of
the victim always have to be
prioritized, the right of victims
to privacy and confidentiality and
the informed consent of the
victims prior to sharing
information with a third party.
Psychological and physical
consequences of sexual and
gender-based violence are also
taken into account by UN
investigators in the process of
preparing and conducting human
rights investigations, and thus
such investigations are regularly
coordinated with various partners
with medical and psycho-social
expertise.
The UN
Mission in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo, MONUSCO, is
concerned about some inaccuracies
contained in La Croix article,
including mention to the fact
that, under Congolese law, medical
staff is allowed to refuse to
disclose information to judicial
authorities in the context of a
criminal investigation. This is
false."
The
two paragraphs -- privacy and
compulsory provision of
medical information -- are
contradictory. Given Ladsous'
months' long refusal to answer
Press questions about the
Minova rapes, it is difficult
to know how to assess the
Mission under his control's
allegation of falsity. But
we'll try. Watch this site.
Behind UNCA
"Press Freedom" Speech, Screeching Falk, Terror Tweets
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, May 4 -- What kind of
"correspondents' association"
devotes itself to trying to
get an investigative news web
site thrown out, then shifts
to anonymous social
media trolling falsely
accusing the web site of
terrorist funding?
One
at the United Nations -- that
is, the UN Correspondents
Association, with which
Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon continues to
associate,
even on "World Press Freedom
Day" this week. Video
here, explained
below.
On
February 22, 2013 at an on
the record meeting
involving the leadership of
the UN Department of Public
Information and UNCA President
Pamela Falk, Inner City Press
specifically
raised, as it had a month before,
the anonymous social media
posts accusing funding by the
Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka,
which posts have triggered
death threats.
Falk
sputtered, or rather screamed,
that she didn't know who was
behind the posts. But the
account making Tamil Tiger
false allegations posted
photos from the Security
Council stakeout, and stopped
abruptly for ten days while
Reuters correspondent Michelle
Nichols went home to
Australia.
This
account revived today, again
falsely alleging Tiger and
other funding, and then after
coverage defending
taciturn UN official Herve
Ladsous (who has spoon-fed
Nichols and Reuters' Louis
Charbonneau, as well as Voice
of America's Margaret Besheer
and AFP's Tim Witcher) and
defending @CBS, where Falk
works.
Falk
has done nothing to stop or
look into the false
allegations of terrorist
funding by her UNCA
"leadership;" in fact, she
ghoulishly took photographs
when DPI
conducted a non-consensual
raid of Inner City
Press' office on March 18,
2013.
Falk
then issued
a legal threat from her
@CBSNews.com e-mail address,
telling Inner City Press to
"cease and desist" from even
asking why she took photos of
the raid.
Today, Falk
has taken to promoting the
video of her WPFD speech, as
if to bolster UNCA's and her
press freedom credentials despite
the organization's attempt
to get media thrown out of
the UN and Falk's ghoulish
photographing of the UN's
raid on the office of this
media.
Here now, not anonymous like the
UNCA trolls but on record as
Inner City Press and the Free
UN Coalition for Access
is video
of the UN's May 2 "World
Press Freedom Day" event. As
captioned twice in the video,
one minute in, to show the
public versus real face of
Falk, the audio switches from
the blathering May 2 speech to
the on
the record statements
Falk made in front of DPI on
February 22, 2013. This is, we
believe, the true face of UNCA. Video
here.
Watch
this site.
April
29, 2013
Ladsous
Won't
Say Who'll
Disarm MNLA, Minova Rapes,
Drone, MINURSO
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, April 25 -- How
unaccountable can the UN get?
On Thursday after the adoption
of the French drafted
resolution on Mali by the
Security Council, Inner City
Press asked French ambassador
Gerard Araud about the MNLA
separatist group. UN
Video
here.
Araud
said that there must be only
one army in Mali, with
territorial integrity. So who
will bring it about?
Inner
City Press asked Mali's
foreign minister Coulibaly
what he thought the role of
the UN peacekeeping force
should be, to disarm the MNLA?
He replied, yes they must
disarm, but he pointedly said,
ask the UN. UN
Video here.
So
Inner City Press asked UN
Peacekeeping chief Herve
Ladsous, “Who will disarm the
MNLA.” UNTV
edit here, and below.
He
had just said, at the Security
Council stakeout microphone,
that he would take questions.
But he said nothing. Inner
City Press asked again: who
will disarm the MNLA?
“I
don't respond to you” Ladsous
said, then pointing to get a
question in French. Video
here.
So,
after the questions in French,
Inner City Press asked Ladsous
for an update on the rapes in
Minova -- as it had asked on
April 24 at the UN noon
briefing by Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Martin
Nesirky, so far without
answer.
When
Inner City Press asked about
the Minova rapes, one of the
biggest -- but by no means the
only -- scandals during
Ladsous' shameless tenure at
DPKO, it was Dwyer who
answered or refused the
questions, saying that the
Democratic Republic of the
Congo was not the topic of the
day, DPKO or at least
Ladsous wanted to focus on
Mali, on the Council's
agenda that morning.
Fine,
then. Inner City Press asked
about the day's two other
Security Council topics. On Western
Sahara, where Ladsous'
mission which is supposed to
run a referendum with
independence as an option has
Moroccan license plates on its
vehicles, Inner City Press
asked, “On MINURSO--”
Ladsous
did
not answer. In fact, Ladsous
began to prepare to flee the
stakeout, grabbing his papers
as he fielded a question about
the French-dominated Mali
operation.
Ladsous
didn't
answer this one either. How
much is Ladsous paid? Is he
returning any of his tax free
salary? Because it is part of
his job to answer questions.
We
have previously reported being
approached by a range of
diplomats who call Ladsous'
behavior on this and other
things “shameful,” a new low
for the UN system,
unacceptable. But who will do
anything?
Inner
City Press also asked Araud of
France -- which is responsible
for foisting Ladsous on the UN
-- about Western Sahara and
the outcome France has in
previous years advocated for:
the non inclusion, of human
rights monitoring in the UN
mission's mandate.
Araud
seemed to deny advocating for
this, even in previous years
-- as to this year, he said it
was between Morocco and the
US. US Ambassador Susan Rice
did not come to the stakeout.
Of
those who did come to the
stakeout Thursday, the
Permanent Representative of
France and the Foreign
Minister of Mali answered
Inner City Press' questions,
saying “ask the UN.”
But the UN's Ladsous, paid
with public money, simply
refused to answer.
Increasingly, we think we know
why -- the initial questions
about his role and memos
during the Rwanda genocide.
Click here. Should this
person be the head of UN
Peacekeeping? Watch this site.
April
22, 2013
On
Western
Sahara, AU Writes to UN,
Pushing African View not WW2
Carve Up
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS, April 20 -- The
African Union has chimed in on
Western Sahara in a letter to
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon,
reiterating the need for a
referendum with independence
as an option. (Inner City
Press has
obtained the AU letter and
is putting it online, here.)
It
is this referendum for which
the UN mission MINURSO was
established, but the UN has
failed to hold it.
As
the African Union letter from
chairperson Nkosazana
Dlamini-Zuma notes, Western
Sahara was put on the UN's
list of non self governing
territories back in 1963.
There is a reason for the
annual ritual in the UN's
Fourth Committee.
This
is one of the UN's biggest
failures -- one of many, to be
sure, but one of the biggest.
Click here
for the UN's new, but
potentially troubling,
position expressed this week
to Inner City Press on Western
Sahara's two (or three?)
limb test.
In
recent years, the end of April
show down has been between
France opposing a human rights
mandate for MINURO, and an
African Union members --
Uganda for two years, then
South Africa for two --
pushing for it.
Last
year Morocco itself as added
to the mix, in the first of
its two years on the Security
Council. To be fair to
Morocco, on other issues from
peacekeeping to Gaza it has
contributed to the Council's
work in the past 16 months.
This
year it is not Togo but Rwanda
which is expected to push the
African Union position. But
there is a problem: as
president of the Security
Council for April, Rwanda
often has to act not in its
national or even regional
capacity, but as president.
This
coming week on Western Sahara
and MINURSO there are
consultations on April 22 with
the adoption scheduled for
April 25, a retreat with Ban
Ki-moon (the recipient of the
AU's letter) in between.
Ban Ki-moon was slow in
releasing the letter; this
is a pattern, on which his
Secretariat has now sought
the support of its UN
Censorship Alliance, here.
African
member states not on the
Council have met with Eugene
Richard Gasana, bringing the
full range of the African
(Union) perspective, as one of
them exclusively told Inner
City Press on Friday. Watch
this site.
France
Uses Veto from WW2 to Own UN
Peacekeeping, Mention Triggers
Threat
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, April 19 -- The UN
was founded from the ashes of
World War Two. Five victors
were given permanent seats on
its Security Council, each
with veto power including over
selection of the UN Secretary
General.
Twenty
four hours ago the UN's media
accreditation boss Stephane
Dujarric told Inner City Press
to contact him “urgently.”
It
turned out to be about a
single tweet
Inner City Press had sent on
Thursday afternoon, noting
that as the Police Adviser to
Herve Ladsous, the fourth
Frenchman in a row to head UN
Peacekeeping, Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon had chosen
to replace a Swedish woman
with a German man, Stefan
Feller.
Along
with a Twitter hashtag it
launched earlier this year
after Ladsous repeatedly
refused to answer Press
questions about 126 rapes in
the Congo, #LADSOUS2013,
Inner City Press added: #WW2.
Dujarric
had
already pressured Inner City
Press about its coverage of
Ban Ki-moon, during Inner City
Press' re-accreditation in
mid-2012, and more recently
about the #LADSOUS2013
hashtag.
But
given that the rapes in Minova
that Ladsous refused to answer
Inner City Press about ended
up being profiled on BBC
News and in the
Guardian, it might be unseemly
to try to discipline or
threaten Inner City Press
about #LADSOUS2013.
So
why not about #WW2?
When
Inner City Press returned
Dujarric's call, he began by
saying, “I'm trying to
understand why on Earth you
make any reference to World
War Two?”
He
then said the reference --
three characters and a hashtag
-- was “idiotic at best and
insulting to Feller before he's
German and millions of people
victimized in the war.” He
demanded an explanation, twice
saying, “I'm giving a chance.”
Or what?
While Inner City Press
as a matter of principle -- and
perhaps to save breath -- saw no
reason to recount it again to
Stephane Dujarric, France only has
a permanent seat and veto on the
Security Council because it is
deemed to have been one of the
five victors of World War Two.
In 1996 France used
its veto, while Kofi Annan was
seeking to replace Boutros Boutros
Ghali as Secretary General, to
extract a commitment with regard
to the top position in UN
Peacekeeping.
It put Bernard Miyet
in the position, then was allowed
to replace Miyet with another
Frenchman, Jean-Marie Guehenno, in
October 2000.
So Inner City Press
shouldn't put UN Peacekeeping,
Ladsous and now his new Police
Adviser in the same tweet with
“WW2”? By whose orders? For what
purpose?
Or is it
that putting as Ladsous' Police Adviser
a man from Germany, as opposed to any
other country, makes it actionable to mention World War Two?
Inner
City Press, surprised by Dujarric's demands
and threat -- “I'm giving you a chance” --
quickly wrote an article, including Dujarric's
written statement, here.
Dujarric
refuses to answer simple question: with whom
did DPI share the photos that it took during
the raid?
We
could
also note that Dujarric on April 15 was
involved in cutting off a Rwanda genocide
survivor's story so that Ban could leave to
attend another event, in the UN Tent.
Inner City Press wrote
about it -- perhaps Dujarric didn't like
that. But didn't that pass bounds of decency?
Wasn't it insulting?
The
problem
here is the UN allow its top media
accreditation official to grill smaller media
about articles and even tweets, while
controlling their continues access to the UN.
This is ham-handed censorship.
And now the Free UN
Coalition for Access will be opposing
it, and continuing to press for rules that
will better guarantee freedom of speech and of
the press at the UN. Watch this site.
April
13, 2013
On Minova, Ban Ki-moon Spokesman
Admits He
Had Answer to ICP's Qs,
Gave 1st to Reuters
& AFP
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, April 12 -- A day
after Inner City Press asked,
on the 126 rapes in Minova,
what “assurances” UN
Peacekeeping chief Herve
Ladsous had gotten, the
question was belatedly
half-answered at Friday's noon
briefing. “Several” alleged
rapists have been arrested;
some commanders of unnamed
battalions have been
suspended.
Inner City Press
immediately asked if
"several" arrests
meant just the three
it asked about, and
for the UN to now name
the battalions.
We
say “belatedly” because after
Inner City Press on April 11
asked the question, and before
Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon's deputy spokesman
Eduardo Del Buey read out the
UN's response 24 hours later,
Ladsous' spokesman Kieran
Dwyer gave the answer to Inner
City Press' question to Louis
Charbonneau of Reuters
and Tim
Witcher of AFP, Ladsous'
first and main defender.
In
the past Ban's lead spokesman
Martin Nesirky has tried to
excuse this blatant favoring
or use
of media friendier to Ladsous
as out of his control. He told
Inner City Press that when HE
get the answer, he gives it to
Inner City Press.
But
on Friday Ban's deputy
spokesman Del Buey said that
HE had the answer to Inner
City Press' question, but that
Reuters and AFP telephoned for
it and it was given.
He then
claimed
paradoxically, but we
include it here in
fairness, that it is not a
question of "favored"
media. How then should it
be phrased? How about,
lapdogs?
Why
not at least make sure to give
it to the media which actually
asked the question? Del Buey
had no answer, said he “noted
the objection,” which is also
on behalf of the new Free
UN Coalition for Access.
This
type of practice by the UN
should have been confronted by
the old UN Correspondents
Association, but never was. It
is that UNCA is run by and for
Big Media, mostly the wire
services, who benefit as
friendly stenographers of UN
officials like Ladsous.
One
Reuters reporter, Michelle
“The Troll” Nichols,
even claimed that to be
spoon-fed answers to Inner
City Press' public questions
by Ladsous and his three
spokespeople constitutes a
“scoop” for Reuters.
Nichols
said
this in a false complaint she
filed against Inner City Press
on March 8, mis-describing a
verbal disagreement at the UN
Security Council stakeout
about exactly this practice,
of DPKO handing Reuters and
AFP answers to questions Inner
City Press has asked Ladsous
or at the noon briefing for
weeks.
Nichols'
cynical
attempt to turn a verbal
disagreement -- which she
initiated -- into a supposed
security incident followed the
strategy laid out by her
bureau chief Lou Charbonneau,
who told the Department of
Public Information that
unnamed diplomats -- can you
say, French? -- asked him
whether based on Inner City
Press' published media
critique he didn't feel
insecure.
Physically,
he hastened to add.
Inner
City Press told him, there's
nothing to fear in that
regard. But media critique is
legitimate and will continue.
Meanwhile, the anonymous
social media trolling of
Reuters and UNCA continues.
UNCA
long ago lost its way. But a company
like Reuters? Perhaps
from naivete, it's surprising.
Watch this site.
After
Raiding Press, Ban's UN
Shared Photos, Leaked to
BuzzFeed
Stephane
Dujarric
of the UN's Department of
Public Information acknowledged
that Inner City Press “should
have been called before
entering” and photographing
its office.
But
Dujarric
said,
“I personally looked at our
pictures and those posted on
BuzzFeed and it's clear that
they are not the same
photographs.”
But
the photographs were provided
to BuzzFeed, through an
anonymous “Concerned UN
Reporter” e-mail address,
right after BuzzFeed called UN
Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon's spokesman Martin
Nesirky for comment on the
raid.
Now
Inner City Press has learned
that multiple officials of the
Department of Public
Information (DPI) including
Dujarric and some outside DPI
received e-mailed photographs
of Inner City Press' desk and
bookshelf on the evening of
March 18, while preparing how
to respond to media questions
about the raid.
DPI's
chief of the Media
Accreditation and Liaison Unit
wrote that she
went back to Inner City Press'
office and "took
pictures.”
It
was three of these photographs
which appeared on BuzzFeed.
What
does it say about Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon's UN that
it raids the offices of
investigative media which
watchdog it, taking and then
spreading and leaking
photographs to try to
undermine its critics?
Now
Tim Witcher of Agence France
Presse has complained to UN
Security about Inner City
Press questions to Ladsous,
who is the fourth Frenchman in
a row to head UN Peacekeeping.
Ban Ki-moon's
spokesperson's office, which often does not
answer and lets
Ladsous openly refuse questions, should
explain who it contacted after BuzzFeed asked it
to comment on the raid.
The
UN corrupts and undermines
freedom of the press. This
raid under color of law and
leaking by anonymous
authorities will
be pursued. Watch this
site.
April, 3, 2013
For
Mali
Envoy, Ban Slates De Mistura,
Who Hired His Son in Law in
Iraq
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS, April 3 -- After
Inner City Press asked
US Ambassador Susan Rice
about the UN's plans for
Mali midday on
Wednesday, and she replied
that robust counter-terrorism
should be separate from a UN
mission with a strong Special
Representative of the
Secretary General, multiple
sources exclusively told Inner
City Press the person slated
for that
post.
It
is Staffan de Mistura,
currently in the Italian
government as deputy foreign
minister but “not for long,”
as one source put it.
But
“like a bad penny” as one put
it, now De Mistura is slated
to return.
“What
is this Italian connection?”
one African delegate asking
Inner City Press, pointing out
that Ban's
Sahel envoy is Romano Prodi,
and that Ban recent gave the
Deputy slot at the Office of
the High Commissioner for
Human Rights to an Italian, Flavia
Pansieri.
Another
asked,
“Why are there so few Africans
heading up the UN missions in
Africa?”
The
three Western African missions
are all led by Europeans. Bert
Koenders of the Netherlands,
head of the Cote d'Ivoire
mission, was at the UN
Wednesday, greeted Inner City
Press on his way it's said to
the Advisory Committee on
Administrative and Budgetary
Questions.
There
is also the American Roger
Meece heading the mission in
the Democratic Republic of the
Congo. An African Deputy
Permanent Representative
opposed to this new nomination
asked, “And now De Mistura?
No.”
An
ambassador who Inner City
Press asked to comment on De
Mistura after learning of the
plan laughed and said,
“They're going to raid
your office again.”
Others from the
Arabic and Muslim side recalled that to the
recent Arab League Summit, “not only didn't
Ban Ki-moon go, he sent to representative Jeff
Feltman, before the US face in the region.
What is going on here?”
But to some the
most dissonant note was De Mistura's job,
prospectively this one, after hiring Ban
Ki-moon's son in law Siddarth Chatterjee.
After
all, Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon has claimed a “zero
tolerance” policy about rape,
and more specifically a “Human
Rights Due Diligence Policy”
supposedly stopping UN support
to army units which rape.
But
while Ladsous technically
works for Ban, he was in fact
give the UN peacekeeping job
by the French government,
which has appointed the last
four occupants of the post.
Ladsous
was rejected for the job by
Kofi Annan, and was not
then-President
Nicholas
Sarkozy's first choice in
2011. But the UN thought
Jerome Bonnafont was too brash
-- for bragging that he had
the job while in India, his
posting at the time, as
reported by Inner City Press.
So
France said, take Ladsous.
Without any interview. Just
take him. And Ban did.
Inner
City Press reported that,
including that the French
Mission to the UN told French
media the morning of the
announcement that it would be
Bonnafont.
Other
big media in UNCA, Reuters'
Louis Charbonneau and
reporters from Bloomberg, Al
Arabiya and BBC, among others,
sided with AFP for their own
reasons, and the fight was on.
Ladsous,
still
mad about the Press reports,
latched on to the UNCA fight
and at a press conference on
May 29, 2012 openly refused to
answer Inner City Press'
questions.
The
UNCA “leaders” did nothing
about this open refusal to
answer questions by a UN Under
Secretary General. In fact,
one of them blamed it all on
Inner City Press. Not enough
of a lapdog?
Flash
forward to March 28, 2013,
when the story Inner City
Press has pursued since
November 2012, the rapes in
Minova, has been half leaked
to, who else, Agence France
Presse. Inner City Press asks
Ladsous, at the Security
Council stakeout, to be more
specific and name the rapist
units “and if not, why not.” Video
here at Minute
4:29.
Ladsous
pretends
he hasn't heard, asks for
other questions. From who
else? Tim Witcher of AFP. And
then another French reporter.
Inner
City Press asks again, about
the four months and Ban's
supposed Human Rights Due
Diligence Policy. Ladous walks
away from the microphone. Video
here from minute 5:53.
In
most governments, at least in
democratic countries, such an
official would be fired. And
at the UN? Watch this site.
Fake
Ban Ki-moon Tweets,
UNCA Fakers Are
Lapdogs, of Citigroup, Reuters
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, March 27 -- Social
media and the UN was the topic
on Wednesday, when a
representative of Mashable and
an Internet activist from
Egypt took Press questions
along with ECOSOC President
Nestor Osorio and the UN's
Youth Envoy, Ahmad Alhendawi.
Inner
City Press asked the two
mostly non-UN guests to assess
the UN's social media,
including Herve Ladsous' UN
Peacekeeping which does not
answer tweets on Haiti cholera
or rapes in the Congo, and the
@SecGen Twitter account that
Alhendawi that day cited. Video
here from
Minute 27.
Mashable's
Stacy
Martinet acknowledged that the
UN could do better. She
advised letting other, “lower”
levels of the UN do the
tweeting.
Wael
Ghonim said that in Egypt,
after the revolution, the
military (SCAF) started a
Facebook page and put its
releases there first,
bypassing the old media.
Ahmad
Alhendawi, who'd tweeted about
@SecGen, said things should be
a two-way street.
Secretary
General
Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Martin
Nesirky replied that @SecGen
“is not official, run by well
meaning individual, I believe
based in UK.” Nesirky said
that his office, “without
blowing our own trumpet,” has
36,000 followers.
It
is understood that the UN did
not ask to shut down the
unofficial @SecGen. But would
they try to close, say,
@RogueBanKiMoon, for example?
There's
UNCA
Second Vice President Masood
Haider of the Dawn of
Pakistan, with 87 followers
and seven tweets in the 27
days of March including one
that simple reads, @nypost.
There's
UNCA
Third Vice President Sylviane
Zehil of L'Orient Le Jour
with 92 followers and tweets,
a recent sample of which is
“Citigroup to Improve
Anti-Money Laundering
Controls,” without any link
much less critique or
analysis.
There's
UNCA
First Vice President and
Concerned UN Reporter
candidate Louis Charbonneau,
most of whose tweets are just
corporate pass-throughs from
Reuters, as if on auto-pilot.
He also religiously re-tweets
his Reuters
underling Michelle Nichols,
who filed a false complaint echoing his,
along with AFP.
There's
UNCA
Executive Committee member at
large Tim
Witcher of Agence France
Presse, with 127
followers and seven tweets in
March, the first of which was
a re-tweet of the co-stolen
Minova rape story of Reuters'
Michelle Nichols, with whom
Witcher went on to file a
false complaint for being
called, accurately, a lapdog.
We
could go on, as they do. Watch
this site.
March 25, 2013
Amnesty
Says
Syria Rebels Shouldn't Be
Armed, Yet, of
Censorship at UN
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, March 20 -- On the
second day of the Arms Trade
Treaty talks at the UN in New
York, Inner City Press asked
Amnesty International's Salil
Shetty what Amnesty thinks of
calls by France, the UK and
others to arm the rebels in
Syria. Video
here.
Shetty
replied, “We have been
critical of the Assad regime,”
saying its “atrocities far
exceed the rebels'... [but]
increasingly our reports take
about abuse by rebels.”
He
cited the “Golden Rule...
Assessment has to be made of
risks involved, no exception
in the case of the rebel
groups.”
Amnesty's
Head
of Arms Control and Human
Rights Brian Wood then stated
Amnesty's position that “at
present, no arms should go to
Syria” because “for sure
there's a substantial risk
that arms to those
[opposition] brigades are
going to be used for war
crimes.”
He
said “there's a slight
difference” in that with the
rebels, “if measures are taken
and risk is removed, then the
situation would change.”
This
appears to be the claim of
President Francois Hollande of
France, of the prospective
assurances he says he's gotten
from the rebels.
Wood
zeroed in on Article 3.3 of
the draft ATT, which adds
after “the US put working in”
to the concept that it is
unlawful to assist in war
crimes the need to prove
intent. The American phrase
is, “for the purpose of”
assisting war crimes. Expect
more on this.
Inner
City Press asked these
questions, and others on Cote
d'Ivoire, at an Amnesty
International press conference
that while held in the UN's
Dag Hammarskjold Library
Auditorium was not on UN
Television, unlike a similar
press conference by Oxfam on
the first day of the ATT
talks.
Oxfam's
press
conference listed and was
apparently sponsored by
Mexico's mission. Amnesty's
mistake was to rely on the
increasingly discredited UN
Correspondents Association, now known at
the UN's Censorship
Alliance.
Why did Falk, who is
also the president of the UN Correspondents
Association which has tried to get Inner City
Press thrown out of the UN, “take and
presumptively give to BuzzFeed photographs from
Inner City Press' office?”
Before the BuzzFeed
story, which came out Friday afternoon and which
noted that Falk declined to comment, Inner City
Press had asked in writing and in the March 19
UN noon briefing why the president of UNCA,
Falk, was allowed by the UN to be taking
photographs of the raid.
Falk never answered
that question; nor to the UN, even when it was
re-iterated to UN official Stephane Dujarric in
writing.
Now now on Saturday afternoon, Pam Falk
who is a lawyer has sent not answer but a legal
threat:
From: Falk,
Pamela @cbsnews.com
Date: Sat, Mar 23, 2013 at 2:28 PM
Subject: Inner City Press
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com
Cc: "Falk, Pamela" @cbsnews.com
Dear Mr.
Lee:
On March
22, you published the following statement, referring to
me:
“Why did she
take, and presumptively give to BuzzFeed, photographs
from inside Inner City Press' office?”
I did not
give photographs to BuzzFeed or to anyone else, and I
did not take the photographs that BuzzFeed published.
Please
cease and desist from publishing statements which are
either inaccurate or cast my actions in a false light.
Pamela Falk
There. We've run it in full, less than
an hour after receipt. But in what light CAN we
cast Falk's ghoulish photographing of the raid
of Inner City Press' office on March 18?
Falk has had
numerous opportunities to clarify or just
explain why she took the photographs, but has
not. If she appears in a negative light it is
largely Falk's fault.
She bears other
responsibility -- presumptively, of course. The
UN has denied, through Dujarric, giving the
photographs to BuzzFeed. They were given by an
anonymous “Concerned UN Reporter” who is then
quoted defending UNCA.
Falk is the president of UNCA. Just as
with her UNCA Executive Committee members
defacing flyers of the Free UN Coalition for
Access, and setting up anonymous social media
accounts to try to undermine FUNCA and Inner
City Press, Falk bears some responsibility, that
no tin horn cease and desist letter with the
term of art “false light” can solve.
Falk, as we've
reported, claimed to Inner City Press on
February 22 that she was advised by lawyers --
herself? -- that for Inner City Press to contact
media organizations including hers to ask their
policies "might constitute a crime."
Why has UNCA under
Falk gone even further into the gutter, with
false social media accounts? Again, why DID Falk
take photographs of the UN's raid on Inner City
Press' office, and search of its papers, on
March 18?
And what steps has
Falk as UNCA president taken to identify which
UNCA “leader,” if as she says not herself,
obtained the photographs taken during the raid
and forwarded them, anonymously, to BuzzFeed? We
will have more on this. UNCA's in the gutter -
but CBS and CBS News are hitting new lows daily.
Watch this site.
March 18, 2013
As UN Denied Haiti
Cholera, It Ignores Questions of Censorship, Ladsous Abuse
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, March 16
-- This UN thinks it can simply ignore or dismiss
questions that are raised.
In the big picture, there's the UN saying
nothing for 15 months about the legal complaint that it
brought cholera to Haiti, killing at least 5,000 people
so far.
In the smaller picture, Inner City Press for
the Free UN Coalition
for Access posed nine questions or issues to the
chief of the Department of Public Information.
Several
had to do with the non-responses and insufficient
responses of his subordinate, Media Acceditation and
UNTV boss Stephane Dujarric.
But all nine issues were re-referred to
Dujarric. Of the nine issues, Dujarric denied two,
dodged two, deferred on two and entirely ignored three
others.
Inner City Press reported that photographs
taken of a visiting UN “partner,” Beyonce, were ordered
to be deleted inside the UN's own Studio H. Dujarric
response was to quietly raise the issue with Aramark,
which is the UN's cafeteria contractor.
Likewise after UN Peacekeeping boss Herve
Ladsous had his spokesman seize the UNTV microphone on
December 18 (video)
to try to avoid an Inner City Press question about the
126 rapes in Minova by the Congolese Army Ladsous
partners with, all Dujarric did was speak quietly to the
spokesman.
Now on March 15 Dujarric writes on “the issue of
the handling of the microphone by one of the DPKO
spokespeople. As I told you, it was an honest mistake
and he has been told not to do it again (and has not).”
Inner City Press has asked the chief of DPI “to
be informed if it is DPI's role, or whose role it is, to
ensure that such mis-direction and favoritism in the
provision of information and answers by the UN does not
continue.”
The chief of DPI referred the question to
Dujarric, who answered: “Regarding your concern about
wanting more information about UN activities, as you
know, this department has made a sustained effort to
increase the number of briefings by senior UN officials
from both headquarters and the field.”
While some of the referenced "brown bag"
sessions are appreciated, this does not respond to what
Ladsous has done. When Inner City Press verbally
expressed its opinion, Tim
Witcher of AFP hissed “lies and distortions,” and
Inner City Press replied, “Lapdog.”
On this, Dujarric wrote back at 5 am Saturday
New York time, from his “Roman Tablet” no less, to say
the DPI has “yet to receive the complaints from DSS,”
the Department of Safety and Security.
So what ARE the rules? Inner City Press for
FUNCA replied -- from its Russian
Pancake,
as the saying goes -- but that's for a forthcoming
story: the pall cast on freedom of the press by all this
will be energetically opposed. Watch this site.
March 11, 2013
On Congo Rapes, Ladsous' Policy Is 3 Strikes &
MAYBE You're Out, Botching Ban Ki-moon's?
After Ladsous
refused questions from Inner City Press about the rapes on November 27, December 7 and December 18, on
February 6 he told Inner City Press that the UN knew the
identities of the major of the perpetrators.
But then, when
Inner City Press asked follow-up questions, the UN insisted
it would not act until the Congolese investigation was
finished: essentially, a rape grace period, as Inner City
Press dubbed
it.
These
slavish
stories appeared, for example by Ladsous'
lapdog Tim Witcher of AFP, without identifying the
Congolese Army units at issue or what the deadline was.
By DPKO's
choice, Nesirky said, adding that a second “final” letter to
the Congolese authorities had been sent February 18. But
when Inner City Press asked if “final” meant that support to
the units had at last been suspended, Nesirky said no.
So Ladsous has
turned Ban Ki-moon's claimed Human Rights Due Diligence
Policy into three strikes and MAYBE you're out. Ladsous has
debased his chosen lapdogs into writing stories without
basic information, nor any notation that the missing
information was requested but withheld.
Why did
Ladsous on February 6 take Inner City Press' question about
the rapes and say the UN knew the identity of the majority
of the perpetrator -- but NOT say that a letter was sent on
February 4?
Why did Ban
Ki-moon not know or say this in responding to Inner City
Press' question at his Security Council stakeout session
about the Congo?
Why then did
DPKO on March 7 rush to tell scribes who had never asked
about the rapes about the month-old February 4 letter, but
not the February 18 “final” letter? What has happened since?
Haiti Cholera Dismissal Harms UN's "Corporate
Reputation,” Ging Tells ICP
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, February 26 –
Five days after the UN tersely dismissed
the pending legal claim that it introduced cholera into
Haiti, Inner City Press asked the director of
operation of the UN Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affair John Ging if the dismissal impacted the
UN's credibility, even in aid delivery. Video
here, from Minute 34:32.
Ging
acknowledged that it did. After answering another Inner City
Press questions about Sudan, he said of the Haiti dismissal,
“of course those of us working for the UN feel the impact of
the debate... it affects our corporate reputation, of
course.” Video
here, from Minute 37:54.
As the UN has
refused to provide the legal reasoning for its dismissal,
and brags instead about new missions it plans in Mali, new
brigades in Eastern Congo, this impact seems not to have
been taken into account.
Nor has the
Department of Peacekeeping Operations under Herve Ladsous
been willing to answer Inner City Press' simple question of
what safeguards if any have been implemented to avoid the UN
spreading cholera elsewhere.
Ladsous at
first outright refused to response to the Inner City Press
question, then after complaints by the Free UN Coalition for Access,
he responded but did not answer. He described UN programs on
clean water, after the fact, but nothing about DPKO-wide
safeguards.
Ging said that “no OCHA colleagues have had
cholera, in Haiti.” That is clearly not true of the
peacekeepers under Herve Ladsous' command. But what has he
done about it? Watch this site.
UN Won't Explain Its Rules or Complaint to ICP, As
Reuters Ascribes Its Fear-mongering to Unnamed Diplomats
One might expect the UN official who sent the false
allegation in writing, and was immediately asked for an
explanation including of the purpose of the letter and the
procedures for rebutting and striking it, to explain.
The UN
maintains and favors a so-called United Nations
Correspondents Association, all the way back to the time of
the League of Nations, which it claims represents and even
defends the interests of journalists.
But in this case, the apparently embarrassing
quotes the UN's Dujarric was complaining were used were from
UNCA
President Pamela Falk of CBS (who yelled that Inner
City Press is a “mugger” and bellowed, “you call yourself a
journalist”) and UNCA First Vice President Louis Charbonneau
of Reuters.
Inner City
Press has asked Dujarric several times, including in response
to his false February 27 letter, to describe his
knowledge and role in the referenced meeting with UNCA --
without response.
At the
reported-on February 22 meeting, Inner City Press yet again
directly asked Charbonneau to describe his knowledge of and
role in the meetings with the UN to get Inner City Press
thrown out. Charbonneau refused to answer.
Instead,
Charbonneau along with saying to Inner City Press “the
fundamental problem is your website” also told Dujarric and
others present that unnamed diplomats asked him, given Inner
City Press' reporting, if he is not concerned for his
“personal safety.” Audio
here.
Inner City
Press immediately assured Charbonneau that he had absolutely
no basis for concern, if his concern / complaint to Dujarric
was genuine -- a big if.
Since seeing
the VOA documents showing that Reuters among other things
was moving
toward the same route of throwing Inner City Press out
of the UN, Inner City Press has not spoken with Charbonneau
for six months.
By contrast to
Charbonneau's unnamed diplomats -- one wonders which of the
two Security Council spokespeople who follow the UNCA
leaders' counterfeit
social media account it might be -- Inner City Press
recounted the use of another of the UNCA leaders' anonymous
social media accounts to malign Inner City Press and the Free UN Coalition for Access
to a specific Security Council mission's spokesperson.
Apparently Dujarric -- and / or UNCA -- latched
onto this one segment being without name to try to claim
that nothing from the meeting should be quoted.
It's ludicrous and could easily have been disproved had
Dujarric simply asked, for example at the “brown
bag lunch” session he and Inner City Press both
attended, hours before he sent his complaint letter.
But Dujarric said nothing.
Now others in
the UN say that the letter “is not innocent” and Dujarric's
goal is to “build a case” against Inner City Press. There
has been no retraction or amplification, not even any
response.
When we he going to tell Inner City Press? In the
absence of any written answer or rules, we can only reply on
the oral answer given, yes, on the record.
That answer was that only
AFTER dis-accredition and ouster from the UN would the
underlying complaint be shown. That is a travesty, as is the
February 27 letter and failure for two days and counting to
explain, amplify and rescind it. Watch this site.
February 25, 2013
Free Speech, UN Style, Extends to Press Bulletin
Boards, Single Standard Urged
FUNCA held a number of meetings with officials of
the Department of Public Information, mostly to push for its
top
ten reforms (including for example eliminating the
requirement that a journalist must agree with the
unspecified “principles of the UN” in order to be admitted
to cover it) but also about free speech.
UNCA "leaders" continued
with the campaign, expanding
it.
While the
simplest solution would have been to open up the glassed-in
bulletin board maintained by the UN
Correspondents Association, on which without naming
any UNCA officials a letter denouncing Inner City Press was
displayed behind glass for five
months in 2012, the UN has proposed another solution.
Late on the
afternoon of Friday, February 22 (four weeks after the
ostensible postponement of tear-downs) the UN's Media
Accreditation and Liaison Unit (MALU) announced:
A board will be installed at MALU square most likely
next week. In the meantime, correspondents can start putting
information up in the designated area (look for the press
board sign across from the mailboxes). The board is for all
correspondents who have a valid accreditation and want to
share information about their activities or issues related
to the media at the United Nations Headquarters.
RULES FOR POSTING FLYERS ON ALL BOARDS IN THE PRESS
AREA
-Only correspondents with a valid accreditation can
put up a flyer.
-All flyers must be related to press events or
issues related to the press at the United Nations
Headquarters.
-Insulting language, attacks on other correspondents
or groups of correspondents or any information that violates
UN principles will not be permitted.
-All flyers must include contact information (name,
telephone and/or email) of the person who posts it.
-Only one copy of each flyer can be posted on the
board.
The Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit will remove
any flyers that are not complying with these rules.
This last
should, of course, apply to the glassed-in UNCA bulletin
board, on which they displayed a five page letter attacking
the investigative Press for five months in 2012. A problem
remains with "separate
but (un) equal," with the UNCA glassed-in board.
As
we reported and asked earlier this afternoon in connection
with a UN Alliance of Civilizations press conference that
turned into an advertisement for the German car company BMW,
who partnered with the UN
AoC, sponsoring and promoting their UN press conference on
Friday?
There has been no mea culpa about this
fiasco, even after the next
day's doubling-down. What about this sponsorship of
what became, in essence, an attempted advertisement for BMW?
Without naming the names
of officials -- there seems to be some sensitivity about
this -- the question is raised, like the question of
documents obtained under the US Freedom of Information Act
like this
one. And the questions should be answered. Watch this site.
February 11, 2013
Yemen Eclipsed by Weapons Seizure & Iran
Sanctions Committee, No Drones
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
February 7 – Yemen has been cited as one of the Security
Council's successes, about which it remains very concerned.
But Thursday's
sixty-day briefing by UN envoy Jamal Benomar attracted
interest mostly due to the allegation that weapons seized by
the government came from Iran.
Outside the
closed door meeting, Western diplomats primed the pump
speaking about a request from Yemen's Hadi government to
“the relevant sanctions committee” to investigate the
weapons – that would be, the Iran sanctions committee.
Thus primed,
when Benomar came out to the stakeout, after he vaguely
referred to spoilers – which would seem to refer to Ali
Saleh – he was asked by a wire service much concerned about
Iran if the arms shipment from Iran (“allegedly” from Iran,
it was quickly pointed out) was indicative of the spoilers
he referred to.
Benomar
answered, never naming the committee to which the complaint
was directed. But it is the Resolution 1737 Committee, the
Iran Sanctions committee.
Non-western
diplomats who had been in the meeting told Inner City Press
that the weapons and Iran was a part, but not the majority,
of the discussion. But the Iran angle was being pushed and
promoted outside.
Inner City Press asked Benomar
about the promised but delayed Transitional Justice law. He
said the UN would like to see discussion of a new law, that
comports with international standards. Would that remove
immunity from Ali Saleh?
During
the Security Council's trip they were told by Nobel Peace
Prize winner Tawakkol Karman and others that Saleh must be
removed from politics.
Benomar complained
how little of the $8 billion pledged to Yemen has come
through. He did not directly mention it, but there have been
protesters in front of the Council of Ministers office, amid
calls for a new uprising, surrounded by the Fourth Armoured
Brigade.
As the session broke up, Inner
City Press asked UK Permanent Representative Mark Lyall
Grant if the weapons allegedly from Iran took the focus away
from the Yemen transition issues.
Lyall Grant told Inner
City Press that while there is a move for a press statement
on the weapons issues – Inner City Press understands that
China on Thursday said it had to check with Beijing – there
is also a move for a Presidential Statement on the Yemen
issues.
But will the
weapons allegedly from Iran dominate some coverage? We will
bet, yes.
While the Council met behind
closed doors about Yemen, in the Senate in Washington
prospective CIA director John Brennan was questioned about
torture, Benghazi, leaks and especially drones.
Protesters unfurled signs; chair Diane Feinstein excused the
killing of American citizens by drones since those targeted
were “not upstanding.” (“Not
anymore,”
remarked one wag.)
Inner City
Press at the UNTV stakeout tried to ask Benomar a question
about drones, about the US drone base in Saudi Arabia. But
there were more Iran questions to be fielded, a whole
machinery to be fed.
If even the
Western members of the Security Council acknowledge that the
weapons allegedly from Iran was only a small part of
Thursday's discussion, why it is pitched, accepted and
promoted as the main story?
Sanctions footnotes: On another
sanctions front, after the meeting the Permanent
Representative of Eritrea knocked on the door to get into
the Security Council. He told Inner City Press it was to
deliver a letter to the chair of his (and Somalia's)
sanctions committee.
There's talk of removing the arms embargo on
Somalia. But will the Council do it? Watch this site.
On DRC & Sudan, After Ban Ki-moon Spoke to
UNCA's 13 Opaque Apostles, No Transcript?
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, February 9 – The
day after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman
Martin Nesirky refused
to provide any transcript of Ban's February
7 session with 13 members of the UN Correspondents
Association Executive Committee, one of member was asked by
FUNCA to release his tape to all reporters accredited at the
UN.
Nesirky acknowledged that beyond the
four-paragraph, three issue highlights belated provided to
reporters beyond the UNCA 13, Ban spoke about the Democratic
Republic of Congo and about Sudan. But neither was in the
highlights.
But Nesirky replied,
“no, we will not provide a full transcript. Part of the
conversation was on the record, part of the conversation was
off the record.”
This implies that
Ban and/or Nesirky only trusts these UNCA Thirteen to abide
by off the record requests.
But are these
13, the apostles of opacity, the only ones who could be
trusted? And should they be trusted?
As noted, Inner City Press had
rushed to the day's noon briefing, to ask the transcript
question on behalf of the Free UN Coalition for Access,
arriving just at noon from an 11 am off the record briefing
at a Security Council's member's mission
There, and subsequently on
an anonymous
social media account involving UNCA Executive
Committee members and in a flyer posted on the door of Inner
City Press' cubicle at the UN, a woman who before the off
the record briefing alleged past sexual harassment was
mocked, with involvement of at least some of the 13.
We add “some of,” because UNCA
Executive Committee member Denis Fitzgerald wrote it to
state that he was not at briefing at the mission and is not
“part of a fake social media account.” His statement
was added less then 20 minutes after he sent it.
Fitzgerald was
in the UN Photo of the 13 with Ban, re-tweeted by UNCA
President Pamela Falk.
Ban Ki-moon's UNCA Lunch of the Lost, Feb 7, 2013, credit
Evan Schneider, UNPhoto. From left: OSSG's Del Buey; Denis
Fitzgerald of Saudi Press Agency; OSSG's Nesirky; Melissa
Kent of CBC; Sylviane Zehil of L'Orient le Jour; Tim Witcher
of AFP; Ali Barada of An-Nahar; Ban Ki-moon, Kahraman
Halicelik of Turkish Radio & TV; Pamela S. Falk of CBS;
Lou Charbonneau of Reuters; Bouchra Benyoussef of Maghreb
Arab Press; Yasuomi Sawa of Kyodo News; Masood Haider of
Dawn; Unknown; Zhenqiu Gu of Xinhua; Stephane Dujarric of UN
DPI
Others in the photo who WERE at the
referenced mission's off the record briefing included Louis
Charbonneau of Reuters;
Tim
Witcher of AFP;
Ali Barada of An-Nahar; Kahraman Halicelik of Turkish Radio
& TV; and Masood Haider of Dawn, as well as several
members of the board of UNCA's affiliate the Dag Hammarskjold Fund for Journalism.
After Fitzgerald's statement was added, less than 20
minutes after he sent it, Fitzgerald was directly asked, by
the Free UN Coalition for Access, three questions including
to “release any and all recordings of the February 7 session
with Ban Ki-moon to all reporters accredited at the UN.”
We believe the request is fair for the following
reasons:
While Fitzgerald is employed by the Saudi Press Agency and
also maintains a small blog named UN Tribune (the last post
on which is an uncritical transcription of the UN
Peacekeeping chief on drones), it is clear he was only at
the Ban Ki-moon February 7 briefing because he is an UNCA
Executive Committee member.
Of all reporters covering
the UN, only the 15 UNCA Executive Committee member were
invited. Thirteen went.
The UNCA
Executive Committee purports to represent and serve at least
the other UNCA members, if clearly not the resident
correspondents who are not members of UNCA, nor the vast
majority of other reporters who cover and even enter the UN.
But the UNCA
Executive Committee members did not distribute the
information they obtained even to other UNCA members. Now
the request has been formally made – and the response,
disingenuous, is only, Who is FUNCA? Who indeed.
February 4, 2013
After Jumping Gun on DRC Drones, UN Procurement Open
Through March
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, January 31 -- The
UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and its chief Herve
Ladsous have said that they need surveillance drones in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo on an emergency basis.
But, Inner
City Press has learned in UN procurement records, it will be
months before the UN can have even a single drone -- at
least in the legally provided way.
The "new"
procurement that the UN described on January 30 in response
to Inner City Press' questions of the two previous days
remains open, the records show, through March 2013. Some
emergency.
As Inner City
Press exposed on January 25, Ladsous' DPKO even started the
procurement of drones back on November 28, 2012 -- fifty
days before having a single approval to even try drones on a
case by case basis.
At the UN on
Monday, January 28, Inner City Press asked about this
discrepancy:
Inner City Press: I wanted to ask you about drones.
It was said here on Friday that the procurement had been
launched by DPKO and in looking into it, it looks like the
procurement began 28 November and ran through 11 January.
So,
it looks like DPKO started procuring drones for West
Africa and Central Africa before they had any
approval, even this most recent letter from the Council. So
on what basis did DPKO begin procuring drones, and is it, in
fact, the case that they intend to use them in West Africa,
as the procurement document states?
Deputy Spokesperson Eduardo Del Buey: Well, I will
have to find out on both issues for you.
But 24 hours
later, Del Buey and ultimately Ladsous' DPKO had provided no
answer or information. So Inner City Press asked again at
the noon briefing on Tuesday, January 29:
Inner City Press: yesterday I had asked you about
this procurement of drones this year and I still haven’t
heard anything back, I am not blaming you, maybe it is DPKO
, but it seems like it is a straight forward question: Why
did they begin the procurement before they had any approval?
Deputy Spokesperson Del Buey: Well, we have, we’ll
have to speak with DPKO on that, but have you spoken with
DPKO yourself?
Inner City Press: As you know, I have asked Mr.
Ladsous questions a number of times that he refused to
answer.
Deputy Spokesperson Del Buey: But, have you spoken
with DPKO, the media people of DPKO?
Inner City Press: My last interface with them was
them taking the microphones, so questions couldn’t be asked
at the Security Council stakeout, so I am asking you.
Deputy Spokesperson: Well, the media are there, but
we’ll try and get the answer for you.
The next day
January 30 Del Buey after reading out an indirect
denunciation of Inner City Press from the same DPKO whose
chief Ladsous refuses to answer questions announced to the
noon briefing:
I was also asked yesterday about the recent
procurement process for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or UAVs,
and I have the following to say: On 25 January 2013, the UN
Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo launched the procurement process for UAVs, issuing a
request for proposals that called for interested vendors to
submit their offers.
What was issued in November 2012 was a request for
expressions of interest, a common practice by the
procurement division to expand its register of
equipment-specific vendors. This practice helps ensure that,
when the need for that particular equipment arises, the
requirement is sent to the widest possible pool of vendors.
This was
re-reported, as such; further inquiry by Inner City Press
finds this UN procurement
PROVISION OF ONE (1) UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM (UAS)
FOR THREE (3) YEARS PLUS TWO (2) OPTIONAL YEARS IN MONUSCO
But this
remains open until the second half of March. What emergency?
Watch this site.
At UN Big Media
Target Press with Fake Twitter Account Alleging Terror
Finance
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, January 31 --
At the UN, big media have created an anonymous Twitter account
to impersonate and targetInner City Press, and the new press freedom group it
helped launch last month, theFree UN Coalition for Access.
So far, the fake
Twitter account has accused Inner City Press of being
funded by terrorists and of being "non-media" which should
be thrown out of the UN. See analysis of 12 tweets, below.
This counterfeit
account has followed many countries' Missions to the UN --
apparently to make them view Inner City Press in a
different light, or to get automatic follow-backs.
As reflected by
documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act,
not only Reuters but also Tim Witcher of Agence France
Presse supported the campaign of Margaret Besheer of Voice
of America to get Inner City Press removed from the UN.
The documents show that
this was due to Inner City Press' reporting onSriLanka
and conflicts of interest(covered in
TheGuardian
in the UK), and of France's domination of the UN's
Department of Peacekeeping Operations through Herve
Ladsous, the fourth Frenchman in a row to head DPKO, see
rough-cut YouTube
video here.
On January 29, Witcher
and Besheer were heard by a FUNCA member talking about the
campaign.
The new President of
UNCA, Pamela Falk of CBS, has done nothing to stop the
campaign. Rather, UNCA "leaders" have torn down flyers
posted by FUNCA raising questions about UN accreditation
rules and journalists' due process rights.
This UNCA group is the
one that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon meets with
ostensibly to learn the views of the press corps.
Given these new lows,
can Ban continue this practice? Can this UN enforced and
enabled monopoly continue?The UN wasasked
by the New York Civil Liberties Union, in the light
of VOA's complaint against Inner City Press, to explain
its due process rules for journalists.
No public answer has ever been given; FUNCA
asked the UN official who got the complaint, Stephane
Dujarric, and he even refused to disclose what he told the
NYCLU: that is, any UN rules of due process for accrediting
the journalists who cover the UN.
Sometimes it's hard to keep track: does UN
Media Accreditation and Department of Public Information
work for UNCA's Executive Board -- that is, for Reuters, AFP
et al. -- or does UNCA work for the UN's Herve Ladsous and
even Ban Ki-moon? That's why they call it the UN's
Censorship Alliance.
But it seems clear, this time they gone too
far.
Analysis of Some of the Tweets from the
Fraudulent Account
It's not fair! Reliable accurate media got
invited to UN briefing on DR #Congo & I didn't. #WTF &
#whynotme. Gonna #FUNCA them up big time!!
2) After a series of other tweets, on the
morning of Tuesday January 29 they showed their true colors,
coming to the defense of Herve Ladsous, the fourth Frenchman
in a row to head UN Peacekeeping (just as AFP's
Witcher did in September 2011) and accusing ICP and
FUNCA of hating the French:
10:52 AM - 29 Jan 13
I only rant about drones when French are
behind em. If Assad or Kim Jong-un uses em, that's ok. #FUNCA
agrees! #Ladsous2013 #ihatefrench
Here's their first "Tiger" tweet;
the reference to Canada comes from an allegation in Sri Lanka
hate media:
1:32 PM - 29 Jan 13
Put a Tiger in your account, bank in
Canada!
4) If it were necessary, the list of
possible tweeters shrank later on Tuesday, January 29. At 3 pm
the Security Council began meeting; Inner City Press and three
other FUNCA members sat at a table in front of the Council,
not visible from any television camera, and spoke. At 3:46 pm,
this tweet:
3:46 PM - 29 Jan 13
#FUNCA members hold emergency meeting at
table outside UNSC. Only non-media join in. We vote to ban
#outrageous French brie. #Ladsous2013
This, and of course the content of the
various tweets, proves the accreditation to the UN of these
UNCA tweeter(s).
6) Past midnight, they returned to
insinuations about Tamil Tiger funding in Canada:
12:47 AM - 30 Jan 13
My favorite Canadian breakfast: Tony the
Tiger's Frosted Flakes. Yumm! #outrageous #Ladsous2013
7) Midday on January 30, they returned to
the defense of Ladsous and his refusal to answer questions:
12:59 PM - 30 Jan 13
#FUNCA's 4 members find it #outrageous
that #Ladsous2013 won't answer questions from a 'brilliant'
non-media activist who's out to get him!
8) These UNCA tweeter(s) return again and
again to the demand, which Inner City Press made in 2011 and
2012, that exclusive stories like the seizure of cocaine in
the UN mail room, the naming of US official Jeffrey Feltman to
a UN post, and the removal of an individual from the UN's Al
Qaeda sanctions list, should be credited.
These demands were made to AFP,
Bloomberg, VOA, the Wall Street Journal, BBC, but especially
Reuters and Charbonneau, who chafed and said he has a policy
of not crediting Inner City Press. A sample tweet:
1:07 PM - 30 Jan 13
Inner Shiddy Press Exclusive must credit
or #FUNCA will get you!! - Today is Wednesday, Security
Council wags tell the Press. #scooplet
9) Back on January 25, Inner City Press
somewhat emphatically told a UN Media Accreditation and
Liaison Unit staffer that it was wrong to demand that FUNCA
take down its flyers when UNCA is allowed a glassed-in
bulletin board. Inner City Press later that day apologized for
being heated, as did the staffer. (The staffer
nontheless fed the information higher up in DPI, we're
informed).
But on January 29 the staffer was
told by AFP's Witcher and VOA's Besheer, "we will protect
you." On January 30 at 1:53 pm, this tweet went out:
1:53 PM - 30 Jan 13
personal attacks on UNCA and Malu admin
staff are #outrageous. Whoever is behind them should be outed
10) Less than an hour later, they alleged
that Inner City Press takes money from UN Missions, which is
not true but is ironic given the admitted funding, including
by countries and an Italian oil company ENI, of UNCA and its
affiliate theDag
Hammarskjold Fund for Journalism, click here for
that:
2:37 PM - 30 Jan 13
UN missions that donate $ to our "charity"
are grrrrrrreat! We at #FUNCA have no problem when strings are
attached ;) #hoodwink #outrageous
11) At 4 pm the British roots of at least
one of these UNCA tweeters was revealed by the use of the word
"lift"
4:02 PM - 30 Jan 13
Counterfeit #FUNCA poster by 1st flr lift
partly torn down. #outrageous It should have been torn down
completely! All 4 FUNCsters #enraged
12) Past 5 pm on January 30, they returned
to the allegation about the (Tamil) Tigers
5:25 PM - 30 Jan 13
Non-media activist lobbyist charity - 1
staff xx dollars from a tiger economy. Sorry for the xx, its a
state secret
Again, sometimes it's hard to keep track: does UN
Media Accreditation and Department of Public Information
work for UNCA's Executive Board -- that is, for Reuters, AFP
et al. -- or does UNCA work for the UN's taciturn head of
Peacekeeping Herve Ladsous and even Ban Ki-moon?That's why
they call it the UN's Censorship Alliance. Watch this site.
January 28, 2013
UN Declares War in Congo Via Official Left Nameless
by AFP, Reuters & BBC
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, January 26 --
Should UN officials be allowed to declare war anonymously?
Why did
Reuters accept this request for anonymity from a UN official
on a concept -- "peace enforcement" -- that not all UN
member states, particularly troop contributing countries,
have agreed to?
BBC
has the same blind quotes, without explaining or even
mentioning that the UN official declined to be named.
After the UN
failed in the Democratic Republic of Congo to protect
civilians first in Goma then in Minova, where the DRC Army raped
at least 126 women in late November 2012, a reserve spin war
began.
UN
Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous refused to answer Press
questions about the Minova rapes, instead taking
favored and compliant media out into the hall for a
private briefing. Video
here. These media included Reuters, Agence
France-Presse and Voice of America.
Now it's gotten worse. On January 25, 2013 AFP,
Reuters
and the BBC
at the UN allowed an "unnamed UN official" to essentially
declare war in the Congo.
Why grant anonymity? Is this a whistleblower? Or a failing
UN official?
In terms of
the UN, isn't this "inter-governmental organization" owned
and supposedly by its member states? Many of them,
particularly troop contributing countries, have not agreed
to Ladsous' "peace enforcement" push, nor in the C-34
committee on peacekeeping have they signed off on his
proposal to use drones.
Then in December 2012 when
Ladsous went so far as to have his spokesman seize
the UNTV microphone so Inner City Press could not ask
Ladsous a question about the now 126 rapes in Minova by the
UN's partners in the Congolese Army, UNCA did nothing. Video here.
UN official Stephane Dujarric claims he told
Ladsous' spokesman not to do it again -- but never told
anyone until a January
17 meeting when he and another UN official, Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal (we name officials) were Pressed by the new Free UN Coalition for Access
on the UN's further decline in transparency.
But now this
UN machinery and its servile press allow a UN official to
declare war anonymously. A new low has been reached. Could
they go lower? Watch this site.
UN Postpones
Trashing FUNCA Fliers, Stonewalls on UNCA's Glassed-In Board
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, January 25 -- The
UN on Friday suspended (or merely "postponed") its plan
announced the day previous to tear down this coming weekend
the critical fliers of the Free
UN Coalition for Access, which challenge anti-press
freedom moves by both the UN and its UN Correspondents
Association.
At Friday's
noon briefing, Inner City Press on behalf of FUNCA asked
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's associate spokesman Farhan
Haq to explain why fliers would be torn down, while UNCA
maintained a glassed-in bulletin board which it has used to
denounce other journalists.
Haq replied
that an answer would be forthcoming but so far, even to a
formal request amplified on Friday afternoon, no explanation
has arrived.
UNCA, which in
2012 met with UN officials seeking the dis-accreditation of
Inner City Press, since the launching of FUNCA last month
has been defacing, counterfeiting and tearing down FUNCA's
fliers.
Both have been
resisted: no articles were taken down, Inner City Press
after fighting back was not dis-accredited, and now the anti
free speech plan to purge fliers has been canceled or
"postponed."
Now with
UNCA's claimed sole right to post information in the UN
press floor, including denunciations of investigative
journalism, it is ironic that UNCA President Pamela S. Falk
of CBS
on January 24 wrote to the UN that it is "creating a
monopoly for UNTV that contradicts the spirit of a free
press."
As one FUNCA
member remarked, takes one to know one. UNCA tries to have a
monopoly, then belatedly argues against press corps losses
it acquiesced in and in some cases suggested. (UNCA said it
would make its letter "public," but it is not clear what
that means.)
Here is what the UN sent out after FUNCA's protest:
"Given that time is needed for journalists to seek
permission from BCSS to put up posters / flyers, MALU has
postponed its enforcement to remove the posters/flyers from
the corridors."
But after the UN sent this out, a dozen FUNCA fliers were
torn down, including right next to the office of UNCA
President Pam Falk and UNCA's glassed-in bulletin board.
This is the UN Censorship Alliance.
The torn-down FUNCA fliers detailed UN official Stephane Dujarric's
refusal to disclose the UN's policy on due process for
reporters.
Even the "BCSS"
policy that was cited in the supposedly postponed
threat to tear down fliers does not apply to FUNCA's. The BCSS
guideline applies only to flyers defines as "a single
page leaflet advertising an event or other activity
sponsored by the Permanent Mission(s) and/or the United
Nations department(s) and held on the United Nations
premises -- Secretariat, DCI, DC2 and UNICEF."
And so FUNCA
has written to the head of the UN Department of Public
Information:
We appreciate and will act on
this afternoon's follow-up announcement, but it does not
resolve the issues we have raised. It is to seek an ongoing
and sustainable resolution that this letter / "application"
is sent to you, with a copy to the two BCSS email addresses
listed in the Policy MALU sent out yesterday.
What is the legal status of the UNCA glassed-in
bulletin board at the entrance to the media floor, on which
UNCA in 2012 displayed a lengthy letter of denunciation?
Was that letter, and the
other material posted there, approved by BCSS? There is no
BCSS stamp on it.
Therefore it appears that no
BCSS stamp is or should be required. FUNCA is hereby
requesting approval and a bulletin board similar to that of
UNCA, on which it will post its fliers with tacks.
In the alternative, the glass
and key must be removed from the "UNCA" Bulletin Board, and
its name changed to UN Journalists Bulletin Board.
We have asked and continue to
ask that the so-called "UNCA Club" be renamed the UN
Journalists' Club with equal access for all. Equal does not
include UNCA keeping the key, just as it it could not for a
UN Journalists Bulletin Board.
We are hereby applying for
that, or for approval and a bulletin board for FUNCA
announcements about the rights of journalists and free
speech at the UN, which will be continuing, as before.
Finally, for now, among the
unresolved "space" issues FUNCA objects to the planned lack
of booth space over the Security Council and other UN
organs, and questions why if this was planned long ago many,
including impacted broadcasters, did not learn of it until
recently.
Later on
Friday Inner City Press for FUNCA asked the UN Capital
Master Plan why there are no plans for booths over the
Security Council and other UN organs, and when and after
what consultations this decision was made?
Also, we appreciated your previous answer but
don't fully understand it. The "lack
of adequate labour due to increased demand for
overtime-paying construction repair jobs" -- did the UN consider allocating
more money to completing the "Permanent Broadcast Facility in
the Conference Building"?
Was any estimate made of how much
extra it would cost to finish as previously stated, in
February? If not, why not? We ask in light of extra costs as
in [other] Skanska change orders....
That negotiation process was not
transparent -- it is for transparency that we are committed
to continuing to post fliers, as currently or in as now
request on an "approved" FUNCA bulletin board or unbranded
(no longer UNCA) UN Journalists' bulletin board.
All of the other outstanding
questions -- including the UN correspondents' due process
question that was put by the NYCLU to the UN on July 5,
2012, are reiterated.
Inner City Press: last night,
the Department of Public Information put out a directive
saying that there are no flyers allowed within the UN,
regardless of what they say, including substantive comment,
and what I am wondering is what is the UN’s position? On the
right of free speech? Since these are flyers critical of
DPI’s performance, can they take them down, and by what
right does the United Nations Correspondents Association
have a glassed-in bulletin board on which they have
denounced other journalists? Please explain.
Associate Spokesperson Farhan Haq: I think this is an
issue on which you need to talk it over with the Department
of Public Information.
Inner City Press: I have written to Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, and I don’t have
an answer yet.
Associate Spokesperson Haq:
I am sure they will be in touch with you. Thanks very
much.
January 21, 2013
In Mali France Evaded "Algerian Element" in SCR
2085, Hostage Taking Followed
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, January 19 --
When the UN Security Council's Resolution 2085 on Mali was
negotiated last month, safeguards were proposed and agreed
too, steps that had to be taken BEFORE military action
began.
As Inner City
Press reported at the time, Operative Paragraph 11 was
called "the Algerian element" by one of its African sources
on the Council -- an acknowledgment that a military
offensive in Mali without following such steps could
destabilize neighboring Algeria.
But when
France began bombing Konna in Mali on January 11, none of
the safeguards had been followed. Instead, what followed was
a large scale and now deadly hostage taking in Algeria.
The "Algerian
element" in UNSC Resolution 2085, agreed to be France,
wasn't followed, and death there is what happened. Who is to
blame?
Consider
Operative Paragraph 11 of Resolution 2085, particularly its
final clause:
"11. Emphasizes that the military planning will need
to be further refined before the commencement of the
offensive operation and requests that the Secretary-General,
in close coordination with Mali, ECOWAS, the African Union,
the neighbouring countries of Mali, other countries in the
region and all other interested bilateral partners and
international organizations, continue to support the
planning and the preparations for the deployment of AFISMA,
regularly inform the Council of the progress of the process,
and requests that the Secretary-General also confirm in
advance the Council's satisfaction with the planned military
offensive operation."
Again: the
safeguards in UNSC Resolution 2085, agreed to be France,
weren't followed, and death is what has followed. Who is to
blame? Watch this site.
UN's Delayed Move, Favoritism in Responses &
Space Raised by FUNCA, Some Reforms Won
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, January 17 -- Why
has the UN delayed by two months the move-back of the press
corps to its headquarters skyscraper? Inner City Press and
other members of the Free UN Coalition for Access pursued
the question Thursday afternoon with three officials of the
UN Department of Public Information.
Despite an initial diversion that construction
workers at the UN are now focused on the Hurricane Sandy
damage to the third sub-basement, it is confirmed that the
UN can't or won't pay the now prevailing wage in New York
for the workers need to meet the February deadline.
And so it will be
April, they say. Does the UN not have the money? Or does it
have other priorities? This will be pursued.
Many other questions were asked,
and some answered. While some wire services are slated to
return to large private offices, others are not.
The issue was
raised, and double standards identified including separate
office spaces for three ostensibly independent outlets run
by the same government's foreign service.
In response,
FUNCA was told that it is still a live issue. Here's hoping
for the appropriate resolution.
In terms of the lack of space for journalists, FUNCA
pointed to the absurdity of the censoring
and decaying
UN Correspondents Association being slated to get an
"UNCA Club" -- which should be renamed and be open to all --
an "UNCA Office" and even an "UNCA Pantry."
This last is
apparently only the designation in the blueprints. It was
said the "Club" will be open to all. But it must be
re-named; it cannot be a way for the UN to prop
up the legitimacy of UNCA, which it was confirmed does
not pay any rent to the UN for the space.
Likewise,
after complaints last fall and Thursday, the formal on the
record response was that in the future, passes for resident
correspondents to cover the General Assembly will no longer
be distributed through UNCA, but through the Documents
Center.
Access to
photo opportunities, argued for by a long time photographer
who since being told only "wire services" could attend took
to boycotting Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's events, was on
Thursday guaranteed, even if it means two separate entries
of photographers. Likewise, Ban's New York events will be
disclosed in advance by the UN.
Disclosure was
the theme: FUNCA asked to be informed of all denials or
revocations of accreditation. Cases of a television
cameraman disaccredited for a single mistake were raised, as
well as a critical journalist who was told the UN does not
accredit freelancers. This will be tested, we predict by the
National Writers Union.
More was said,
but on other topics in an abundance of caution we will await
DPI's promised written on the record answers.
What FUNCA told the UN, on the record, is that UNCA
went too far in not only not defending but actively seeking
to expel and dis-accredit investigative press, and there is
no going back.
Going forward, the UN was told
that FUNCA intends to be an ongoing mechanism to defend the
rights of journalists to report from, and get answers from,
the UN.
And what will happen
to the USG for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous, who
had his spokesman physically seize the UN TV
microphone to avoid a Press question about rapes in
Minova by the Congolese Army, Ladsous partners?
Ladsous' spokesman -- but apparently not Ladsous --
has it emerged been told that was inappropriate. But what of
Ladsous and his refusal to answer?
What of a sense among many
at the UN that there are double standards, favoritism in
question granting and answering? FUNCA is on the case -
watch this site.
January 14, 2013
On Mali, France's Bombing Bypassed Dec. 20
Resolution, Ban Scammed?
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
January 12 -- France claims that its intervention and aerial
bombardment in Mali, begun Friday, "resides in the framework
of international legality." But the Security Council outcome
France proposed and procured on January 10 was a mere press
statement, non-binding.
"11. Emphasizes that the military planning will need
to be further refined before the commencement of the
offensive operation and requests that the Secretary-General,
in close coordination with Mali, ECOWAS, the African Union,
the neighbouring countries of Mali, other countries in the
region and all other interested bilateral partners and
international organizations, continue to support the
planning and the preparations for the deployment of AFISMA,
regularly inform the Council of the progress of the process,
and requests that the Secretary-General also confirm in
advance the Council's satisfaction with the planned military
offensive operation."
Well placed
African diplomats highlighted this to Inner City Press as
the so-called
"Algerian element." And now France has acted without
any of the steps and safeguards in the resolution it drafted
and championed and agreed to.
Inner City Press asks: did France get Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon to "confirm in advance the Council's
satisfaction with the planned military offensive operation"
-- the details of which it seems Ban wasn't informed of?
Was this the meaning of
Ban's statement after he got letters from France and Mali's
post-coup government?
Were
French-drafted UNSC Resolution 2085's steps and safeguards
only applicable to AFRICAN intervenors? Or is France's claim that its intervention, in
which already at least 100 people have been killed, resides
in the framework of international legality based only on a
resolution they haven't complied with and a press statement
that is not binding? Watch this site.
Footnote: Some surmise that
France's timing -- beginning bombing on Friday, without
coming back to the Security Council as at least one
Permanent Five member's Permanent Representative said would
probably happen -- is based on getting as much done "sur le
terrain" as possible before having to brief parliamentarians
on Monday. Ah, legality...
UNCA &
VOA Said They Imposed Conditions on Free Press with Reuters
& AFP Help, FOIA Shows
By Matthew
Russell Lee
WASHINGTON, January 10 -- The
final nail in the coffin of the UN Correspondents
Association and its argument that its move to expel Inner
City Press and get
it dis-accredited from the UN was not about censorship
or the content of its coverage is revealed by internal Voice
of America documents obtained under the US Freedom of
Information Act. New documents listed below.
While the UNCA
Executive Board was meeting daily demanding that Inner City
Press take articles off the Interest, VOA's Margaret Besheer
wrote to her bosses in Washington and described the
"charges" against Inner City Press.
Later on June 21, the
Broadcasting Board of Governors which oversees VOA was fielding
requests from Congress about this attempt to get an
investigative journalist thrown out of the UN.
Inner City Press filed a
Freedom of Information Act request, which UNCA's president, now
outgoing, and past and apparently future First Vice President
Lou Charbonneau told Inner City Press to withdraw the FOIA
request.
But Inner City Press
does not withdraw FOIA requests. To the contrary: InnerCity
Press is a media amicusin this
just
filed brief in McBurney v. Young, No. 12-17 of the US Supreme Court.
By June 25, BBG officials were hoping for "no more
surprises." Click
here for that, published for the first time here.
By June 27, five Governors on the Broadcasting Board of
Governors were asking for information and records, including those
Inner City Press had requested under FOIA.
One of the Governors
started pushing for an open BBG meeting on the subject. Click
here for that, published for the first time here.
BBG's lawyers argued
that it was somehow a "personnel matter," although Inner City
Press did not and would not work for VOA.
BBG's David Ensor wrote to
the Governors and then Congress (but never Inner City Press or
the UN) admitting that the request to get the UN to dis-accredit
Inner City Press "was not appropriate."
In preparing his late July
spin, David Ensor wrote "the quote from Reuters will definitely
help!" There's more, but for now this is enough.
Ensor told the BBG
Governors that Inner City Press had "been given a warning --
both verbal and in writing -- about his behavior when on UN
premises." Redisch wrote that conditions had been imposed on
Inner City Press using "UN rules regarding boundaries of
coverage."
No censorship? Hardly. And
not only Voice of America, but the UNCA Executive Committee,
particularly but not only Reuters' Lou Charbonneau and AFP's Tim
Witcher, were instrumental to this censorship campaign.
UNCA crossed a
Rubicon of censorship. something
is sick within UNCA, and its fixed election, ending today,
will not fix it.
The response of Inner City
Press has been to launch a new and needed organization
actually fighting for media rights with regard to the UN:
the Free UN Coalition for
Access, FUNCA. Its fliers have been defaced and torn
down but there will be no stopping it. Watch this site.
January 7, 2013
At UN, South Africa Sangqu on Missions in Somalia,
Mali & DRC, Fight for Fairness
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
January 3 -- After two years on the UN Security Council,
South African diplomat Baso Sangqu held his wrap-up press
conference on Thursday before taking up a new position in
Addis Ababa.
Inner City Press asked Sangqu
about the UN's relations with the African Union and African
regional organizations, in Somalia, Mali
and the Democratic
Republic of Congo.
Sangqu hearkened back to the push for African
peacekeeping in Somalia begun in the Council by his
predecessor Dumisani Kumalo, and said the force should still
be "re-hatted" and properly compensated.
He called on the
Council's other African members to keep up the push. Inner
City Press will be asking new member Rwanda.
Likewise on Mali, Sangqu said that the AFISMA
mission should be paid for out of UN assessments, not only
on a voluntary basis.
In his opening
statement, Sangqu brought up Western Sahara, an issue on
which South African like Uganda before it has taken the lead
in pushing the African Union position: referendum with
self-determination as an option. Will Rwanda take that
banner up, this year with Morocco on the Council, and then
in 2014 without?
Inner City Press for the Free UN Coalition for
Access, FUNCA, thanked not only Sangqu but the rest of the
South African mission team for their openness over the last
two years.
From Deputy Doc Mashabane
to political coordinator Zaheer Laheer, from Cedrick Crowley
to spokesperson Nomfanelo Kota, from its able representative
on the 1540 Committee to its legacy in the current President
of the General Assembly's office, it's been a good run. To
be repeated.
Footnote, inside baseball: After
Inner City Press said this thank-you on behalf of the new Free UN Coalition for Access,
the fill-in representative of the old,
some say outdated group cut in rudely, "Jesus Christ."
Video
here, from Minute 7:34. There was no need for it:
certainly there must be room for two groups, multi-party
democracy, in any UN with South Africa in it.
But for now FUNCA fliers
announcing its principles (Freedom, Fairness) are torn down.
As was said* in the first 15 seconds of the archived
webcast, video
here, UNCA
or its representative are "normally antagonistic."
* - this was not a blooper but
refreshing and needed candor. But will the UN now try to
edit it out? Watch this site.
After Reuters,
AFP, Voice of America & UNCA Tried to Expel Press, FUNCA Fliers Defaced for Coronation
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, January 5 -- Four
weeks ago the Free UN
Coalition for Access was launched, calling for more
accountability from UN officials to answer questions, for
multi-party democracy and for more fairness in the UN's
treatment of the different media which cover it.
During this time, UNCA did nothing as some
journalists were pushed out of office space, and others were
disciplined with no due process.
Now, FUNCA has raised
cases of journalists denied accreditation to the UN, and
disparate treatment in the allocation of work space even as
the UN proposes to use dwindling resources and space on not
only an UNCA "Club" but also an UNCA Office and even an
"UNCA Pantry."
Even as this long-time, some say
decaying single party pushed back, scoffing
when FUNCA asked questions and tearing
down its fliers, the high road was taken.
Then on January 4 FUNCA's fliers
with its statement of principles including Freedom of the
Press, and UN Freedom of Information, were defaced and left
up with "Looney Club" scrawled on them, and the word "media"
crossed out. Photo
here.
This then is UNCA's
response.
And so the
critique becomes more specific. In the January 8-10 UNCA
election, already delayed contrary to the group's supposed
constitution, there is NO
COMPETITION for the top six spots. Each candidate is
running unopposed, as in North Korea.
Louis Charbonneau of Reuters,
past and prospective first vice president of UNCA, told
Voice of America that Reuters supported the VOA letter to
get Inner City Press thrown out of the UN, click
here for document obtained under the Freedom of
Information.
FOIA documents were twice sent
for comment to the entire UNCA Executive Committee, without
response. (Also on FOIA,
Inner City Press is a media amicus in this
just filed brief in McBurney
v. Young, No. 12-17 of the US Supreme Court: Looney
Club?)
Agence
France-Presse' Tim Witcher told Voice of America that AFP
supported the VOA letter to get Inner City Press thrown
out of the UN, and would send its own letter. Witcher,
like Charbonneau, is "running" again to stay on the UNCA
Executive Committee, presumably to try use the post for
Agence FRANCE Presse and himself.
It was Witcher
who back in September 2011 asked
UNCA to take action against Inner City Press following
its report that Herve Ladsous, the fourth Frenchman in
a row to be put atop the UN Department of Peacekeeping
Operations, was a last minute fill-in for Jerome Bonnafont.
Then Ladsous took Charbonneau, Witcher and Margaret Besheer
of Voice of America out into the hall. Is this then the "UNCA
Hallway"? Or the real "UNCA Pantry"? Video here.
On FUNCA's flier, the reference
to Ladsous was defaced, implying Ladsous didn't answer the
rape questions because they were not from "media."
As noted in an
earlier
article about this "election," the views on all this
of the new president-designate, nominated by the four-year
president now outgoing, from censorship to dis-accreditation
bids to (now) the defacing of FUNCA's fliers, are not
yet known. It's increasingly like another succession
recently discussed but barely acted on in the UN Security
Council.
From UNCA
members current and past, it has been noted that in this
current unopposed slate the top two UNCA posts would both be
filled by Americans. It's been noted that nowhere in the
Executive Committee is there any sub-Saharan African or
African-American journalist.
Is this the UN? FUNCA for its
part will stay as far away as possible from this corrupt
coronation which openly violates the UNCA constitution.
FUNCA has told
the UN Department of Public Information that the
so-called "UNCA Club" should be designated more neutrally as
the "UN Press Club," same with the laughably named "UNCA
Pantry;" the separate "UNCA Office" should be given to the
journalists long waiting for work space in the UN. Watch
this site.
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