Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/untrip4may8srilanka061709.html
MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, June 17, updated -- With over 300,000 Tamils locked up in UN-funded internment camps in northern Sri Lanka, a routine appearance by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was protested Wednesday evening in New York. Less than a month ago, Ban with the Press had stood in the largest of the camps, Manik Farm in Vavuniya, as interned Tamil children sung his name. At that time, Ban had smiled.
With Ban slated to received a "global humanitarian award" along with Bill Clinton, in a police pen outside Manhattan's St. Regis Hotel a crowd gathered. They chanted, "Ban Ki-moon, Ban Ki-moon, don't cover up genocide!" "Close the camps, free the people!"
Some of Ban's security detail arrived before the 6:30 p.m. beginning of the event and surveyed the crowd. Ban himself did not come, even as of 7:35. Mexico's Claude Heller stopped on the way and remarked to Inner City Press, "This is good." The UN's Amir Dossal appeared to grimace on his way in. Ex-journalist Warren Hoge stopped briefing to look and then went in. The tension built. Watch this space.
Update of 7:58 p.m. -- a police four by four has been placed next to the police pen and the protesters. Black cars line 55th street, drivers watching the protest. Where is Ban?Update of 8:00 p.m. -- one chant that fell flat for being too abstract has been, "Don't kill R 2 P!" The Italian Ambassador has gone in. The protesters wonder out loud, is there another way in? Or might Ban simply cancel his appearance?
Update of 8:11 p.m. -- The UK's Deputy Permanent Representative, whose boss for now had just been named the head of MI6, has just arrived, glancing briefly across 55th Street at the chanters before heading in to the St. Regis.
Update of 8:35 p.m. -- Although his security has twice passed by, Mr. Ban is still not here. The police are saying, the permit runs only to 8:30 p.m.. Gamesmanship?
Update of 9:25 p.m. -- as the protest permit expired at 8:30 p.m., Inner City Press ventured in to cover the event. Ban was, in fact, inside, with three security guards. When he spoke, he mentioned the protesters and said, that's why I went to Sri Lanka. He said he met with the opposition, which is not at all clear. He said he is a voice of the voiceless. Then he said, seal the deal in Copenhagen. The Foreign Policy Association congratulated its corporate partners. Several Ambassadors left.
Update of 10:29 p.m. - the above was delayed because the St Regis 20th floor ballroom did not have wireless Internet. As the event broke up, Ban's chief of staff Vijay Nambiar -- the subject of a sign down in the streets below -- was visible, along with Bob Orr. Former U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad stopped and said hello. Ban was whisked out another door. But the voice of the protesters was heard, and the questions will be pursued. 10-4
And see, www.innercitypress.com/untrip4may8srilanka061709.html
