By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/doss6boot102709.html
UNITED NATIONS, October 27 -- The UN Mission in the Congo under its chief Alan Doss is "mistakenly" dismissive of reports of massacres by the Congolese army units it works with, the UN's Special Rapporteur on executions Philip Alston told the Press on Tuesday.
After Alan Doss delivered a self congratulatory briefing to the Security Council on October 16, Inner City Press asked him about Alston's report about the Congo, and the other nepotism and misuse of UN resources scandals surrounding Mr. Doss. He was dismissive of both, saying that he wasn't convinced by Alston's report, and that the scandals were being investigated so he would not comment.
When Inner City Press asked Alston about Doss' response, Alston noted that even the Congolese minister for communications essentially admitted the massacres took place. "Where does that leave MONUC, saying we don't have evidence," Alston asked. Video here, from Minute 12:54.
Speaking specifically about Doss, Alston said while he understands the reluctance of a Special Representative of the Secretary General not wanting to derail his mission with what seem "minor human rights" violations, Doss' is a "mistaken way of looking at it." In fact, Alston said this approach makes MONUC unsustainable.
Doss claims to get assurances from the Congolese government of Joseph Kabila, but Alston said that such behind the scenes talks do not "leave the UN looking very good." He mocked the responses of MONUC "at a high level," saying, "rest assured, we speak to the Congolese Army." "Assurances are not the answer," Alston said, until there is "something on paper," for example MONUC actually stopping working with specific units of the Congolese Army. Don't hold your breath, at least not under Alan Doss.
Footnote: the case of the UN versus Nicola Baroncini, the UN Development Program worker whose job was give to Alan Doss' daughter Rebecca after Doss wrote to UNDP asking for "leeway, is scheduled to continue in criminal court in New York on October 28.
According to the defendant, the UN says it can't or won't drop the charges -- against a man who was pepper sprayed before he reportedly bit Security Officer Peter Kolonias -- because he had tried to contact Officer Kolonias. But if the UN can press charges in court, why can't charges be pressed against it? Watch this site.
