Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Preses in Africa:
www.innercitypress.com/unsc1bemba060708.html
KINSHASA, June 7 -- The UN Security Council's contradictory stance on the International Criminal Court was on display Saturday in Kinshasa, in the corridors of the huge Palace of the People. Emerging from an hour-long meeting with Congolese Senators, France's Ambassador to the UN Jean-Maurice Ripert told local reporters that while the issue of the ICC had been brought up, the ICC is entirely independent from the Council, and thus he had nothing to say on the matter. But back in Sudan, earlier in this ten-day Council trip from Africa, Amb. Ripert had bragged about France's position, later clarified to be the European Union's as well, that "further measures" might have to be taken on Sudanese officials who don't cooperate with the Court. So speaking in and of Sudan, the Security Council speaks of the Court and condemns those who don't comply. But speaking in and of the Congo, to legislators angry that one of their own was arrested in Belgium without notice, the Security Council claims it has nothing to do with the ICC, and refuses to answer questions.
Inner City Press then asked Costa Rican Ambassador Jorge Urbina, who often speaks about the rule of law, how the issue had come up, and if it concerned Bemba. He nodded in assent, but repeated the argument that the Security Council is entirely separate from the Court. Meanwhile, his country at the ministerial level is pushing a Presidential Statement at the Council in New York, to back up ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo. So what's this about selective separations between the Council and Court?
The Palace of the People is a huge, Soviet-style building. The Council moved from its Senate meeting through a darkened hallway to meet with members of the Assembly. A videographer and sound-man argued with security about a stolen tripod. "This disappear here mysteriously all the time," a knowing local quipped. She predicted that the UN will never leave the Congo, at least not under Kabila. "They call it Maman Monique," she said, using the Congolese i-for-u pronunciation.
While the Council Ambassadors met with legislators and ministers, in the streets of Kinshasa the talk was of the Ministre de Poubelles, the Minister of Garbage, a famous local artist. Another artist, a popular painter, has a work called Le Ministre Inutil, the Useless Minister. There is a vibrant art scene and street life in Kinshasa, that Maman Monique has little to do with. Except MONUC-ers in their personal time. More on this to follow.
And see,
www.innercitypress.com/unsc1bemba060708.html
