By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/unv1death110309.html
UNITED NATIONS, November 3 -- Following the death of Timothy Hampton of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Office in Vienna, the UN in New York called it a suicidal fall. But now that a second autopsy points in another directly, the UN tells Inner City Press it is deferring to and "cannot comment on" an investigation being undertaken by the Austrian authorities.
But there is a problem: the UN's own press summary from Vienna reports that that publication "Osterreich reports that the investigations have been stopped. However, if the United Nations calls for further investigations the police could take action again."
So the UN says it can't say anything because the Austrian authorities are investigating. But the Austrian authorities say they are stopping their investigation unless the UN says something.
Meanwhile well placed Vienna sources tell Inner City Press of "overwork, lack of appreciation and support from the Tibor Toth management team which is run by his Eastern European sycophants. It is known to staff as the Politbureau."
Inner City Press asked the UN's Office of the Spokesperson:
Because the noon briefing today started late, was rushed and took no questions, here are a few below on deadline, thanks in advance: A second autopsy carried out on the body of the British nuclear scientist who fell to his death at the UN in Vienna seems to indicate the death was not a suicide. But the UN seemed quick to issue a statement immediately after the incident that no foul play was suspected. Does the UN have plans to reconsider its earlier swift denial of foul play? Will the UN conduct its own investigation?
The response:
Our colleagues in Vienna have sent us the following information:
We cannot comment on the details of an investigation being undertaken by the Austrian authorities.
The Austrian authorities are now following up on the death of a staff member from CTBTO who was found at about 8.30am on Tuesday 20 October 2009 in one of the stairwells in the E-building of the Vienna International Centre. No suspicious circumstances have been found.
The staff member was employed by the CTBTO as a processing engineer. Contrary to some press reports, he had no role in the Iran talks taking place at the VIC in the same week. The CTBTO is a separate organization from that of the IAEA and played no role in the Iran negotiations. There is no connection between the death of the staff member and the Iran talks at the IAEA.
It seems, however, he was working on North Korea. But how to get to the bottom of the issue? Watch this site.
