By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un1gbissau122909.html
UNITED NATIONS, December 29 -- When an accused coup leader shows up unannounced at the UN asking protection, does he get it? The answer is yes. Monday in Guinea Bissau, former Rear Admiral Bubo Na Tchut showed up at the UN. The government has expressed surprise that he is there, and says it will arrest him.
On Tuesday at noon, Inner City Press asked the UN whether the UN knew in advance he would go there, and what the UN will do in response to government's position that he should be arrested.
The UN responded, some hours later, that "he has asked for protection. We have been in constant contact with the authorities in Guinea-Bissau in an effort to resolve this situation peacefully and in accordance with international law."
Does this mean he will go (back) into exile? What is the UN's responsibility to turn off an indictee to a host government? Or, separately, to the International Criminal Court? This could be a test case, in a country where there UN has an extensive and not uncontroversial role. Click here for a previous Inner City Press article about Guinea Bissau.
For now, for the record:
Subj: Question regarding Guinea-Bissau
From:unspokesperson-donotreply [at] un.org
To: Inner City Press
Sent: 12/29/2009 4:52:19 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Regarding your question as follows:
"please confirm the presence in the UN building in Guinea Bissau of accused coup plotter Admiral Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchute, and state how he got in, whether the UN knew in advance he would go there, and what the UN will do in response to government's position that he should be arrested."
Here is the response:
Former Rear Admiral Bubo Na Tchuto arrived unannounced at UN premises in Bissau early yesterday (28 Dec) and remains there at this time. He has asked for protection. We have been in constant contact with the authorities in Guinea-Bissau in an effort to resolve this situation peacefully and in accordance with international law.
