UNITED NATIONS, April 21 -- Australia and New Zealand have this month asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to stop using peacekeepers from Fiji, in light of the further suspension of democracy in that country. Inner City Press has twice asked Ban's spokespeople for their response, only to be told that use of Fijian troops will continue on a "case by case basis."
Tuesday evening at a reception in the UN's lobby, Inner City Press asked Australia's Permanent Representative to the UN Robert Hill if the Secretariat has responded to his country's call. "They haven't given any more response than they gave to you," Ambassador Hill replied, "that they do it on a case by case basis." He went on to say that in Iraq in the past, there "weren't too many options," but that now has probably changed.
"If there are others prepared to serve," Hill said, "with Fiji under the current regime, we think it better they didn't" continue on any UN peacekeeping mission.
Following Monday's closed door briefing of the Security Council about Fiji by the UN's political chief Lynn Pascoe, and Pascoe canceling his formal and promised media availability at the stakeout, Inner City Press called after him in the hall, what the thinking is on continued use of Fijian peacekeepers. Pascoe called it "complicated," noting that there are also Fijians serving in UN Police, and as security in Iraq. We debate it all the time, he said. Perhaps Ambassador Hill's analysis that the new situation in Iraq will allow Ban to finally fulfill what Kofi Annan said will become part of that debate.
A native Fijian human rights professional recently interviewed by Inner City Press said, on condition of anonymity due to crackdowns on groups in Fiji, that most rights advocates in Fiji wish that Ban lived up to what Annan had said, and stopped using Fijian soldiers. "They learned bad habits while serving on those missions," said the source. While Hill diplomatically disagreed, Inner City Press has heard similar analysis of soldiers from Pakistan, India, Morocco and even Sri Lanka, all of which have had "peacekeepers" repatriated from UN missions for sexual abuse. Immunity breeds contempt, appears to be the theme.
Hill spoke at an event celebrating Australian peacekeepers' service from East Timor to the Solomon Islands and elsewhere. A jazz band, complete with female trumpeter, played jazz as quiches and sushi were passed around. Ambassadors mixed with UN Procurement officers -- there is a conference these days for European Union companies to get more contracts -- and a range of UN staff. The vibes was positive, but the Fiji and dictatorship questions unanswered.
Again we note that New Zealand's then-prime minister Helen Clark as reported by Inner City Press in 2007 said, "We've made it very clear to the UN that we do not believe they should be using Fijian troops." Now Ms. Clark is coming in as UN Development Program Administrator, described as the third most powerful position in the UN system. What will she do on this? It will be among her first tests. Watch this site.And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban2fiji042109.html
