UN Talks Child Soldiers But Lets Recruiters Off, On Manipur a Slow Start

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
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UNITED NATIONS, November 20 -- On children and armed conflict, as the UN's envoy on the issue Radhika Coomaraswamy appeared at the UN Thursday with three previous child soldiers, Inner City Press asked about seeming impunity. In Congo, UNICEF has issued press releases about child freed from warlord Peter Kerim.

But long after the victims were out of harms way, earlier this week the UN's Alan Doss told Inner City Press that Kerim is still a free man in Kinshasa. Ms. Coomaraswamy said that the International Criminal Court process takes time, as evidence is collected. But Kerim cut his deal, including apparently with the UN system, back under Kofi Annan, two years ago. He has gotten away with a war crime, but still at the UN photos of child soldiers are displayed in the lobby at genteel receptions, Ambassadors congratulate either other, briefing rooms are filled.

At Thursday briefing on the topic, a woman from Warner Brother rose to defend their film "Blood Diamond," and to ask Ismael Beah why he doesn't speak more. From the audience there was laughter, and a questioning of "who let this lady in?"

Beah's fellow child soldier Grace took a decidedly different line, saying that Joseph Kony of the Lord's Resistance Army must be arrested and tried. Beah on the other hand said again that a move to arrest recruiters might mean that "I wouldn't be here talking to you."

Inner City Press at last asked Ms. Coomaraswamy what her office has done about recruitment in Manipur in India. She said they are investigating "NGO reports," then specified that she meant Human Rights Watch. But there are groups working "on the ground," which recently visited the UN. They have most recently send Inner City Press the story of a journalist killed in Manipur, Konsam Rishikanta. Soon there may be a reception in their honor. But what is actually being done?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un4caac112008.html