By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
www.innercitypress.com/drc2zimstrike030310.html
UNITED NATIONS, March 3, updated -- The UN Mission in the Congo, MONUC, is not only under fire for having worked with accused war criminals in its operations in the Kivus, and for MONUC chief Alan Doss' presumptive nepotism in asking the UN Development Program to show him "leeway" and give a job to his daughter. Now, MONUC faces another strike by its national Congolese staff members.
Inner City Press has obtained, and is putting online here, a list of demands sent to Mr. Doss and others by MONUC's national staff union. The union accuses MONUC of having obstructed its activities and communications, have violated re-classification rules and engaged in pay disparities.
A work stoppage is planned for March 3 to 5. Watch this site. Meanwhile, Inner City Press has against asked the UN for a simple answer to the question of whether it will work with Congolese Army units controlled by Colonel Zimurinda (or Zimulinda), accused of war crimes by the UN's own special rapporteur Philip Alston.
Last time he was at UN Headquarters, Doss declined to talk to the Press: he has resorted to a series of letters to the editor, playing out the clock. At the March 2 noon briefing, Inner City Press asked
Inner City Press: About MONUC [the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo] 50 Congolese human rights groups and Human Rights Watch have written to the Government there saying that Colonel Zimulinda, or Zimurinda, should be prosecuted for war crimes in Shalio. And they have also raised separately a concern that the UN’s Amani Leo operation that’s about to begin in the Congo will somehow, may work with Colonel Zimulinda’s unit. I’ve asked DPKO [the Department of Peacekeeping Operations], but I am not clear on their answer. Is MONUC… does it hear the call of the groups and does it preclude working with Colonel Zimulinda, or would it consider working with him on Amani Leo?
Spokesperson Nesirky: Well, there are a number of questions there. Do we hear the voices of different NGOs? Clearly, we hear lots of voices out there, including the Security Council, which laid down very strict parameters on what is admissible and not admissible in the way that MONUC conducts operations with the forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. That would be very strictly adhered to. In other words, if there is evidence that anyone has been involved in atrocities, crimes against humanity, the UN, MONUC, is not going to be working with those people. And that’s very clearly spelled out, and that’s what’s being looked at, as you quite correctly said, this follow-on operation has not yet started, and it’s precisely because MONUC is very carefully looking at the contingents that it will be working with.
Question: I would follow up, except I know time is limited.
But ever afterwards, there was still no answer.
DPKO sent Inner City Press:
Subject: Zimulinda - further clarification
From: DPKO
Date: Tue, Mar 2, 2010 at 6:52 PM
To: Inner City Press
Dear Matthew,
Following your question on Zimulinda during today's briefing and after consultation with Martin, since you mentionned that you were unclear about our answer on Zimulinda, kindly find herebelow some further clarification in addition to what Martin has told you today :
* Units commanded by Zimulinda are not receiving any assistance from MONUC.
* MONUC has an agreed procedure in place with the FARDC, which we have used to screen all units and commanders directly involved in operations that MONUC is called upon to assist. This includes joint planning of these operations as required by the Security Council.
But, as the human rights group have asked, WILL the UN work with Zimurinda? Watch this site.
Update: When on March 3 when Inner City P ress asked about this national staff job action against MONUC, Nesirky said to "ask MONUC." He assked dismissively that there was not work stoppage, only "casual workers" and a few national staff engaged in a protest. Video here, from Minute 7:12.
After Nesirky read out a response about the UN's Mission in Lebanon, rather than saying "ask UNIFIL," Inner City Press asked about the difference. Video here from Minute 15:45. "It's very clear," Nesirky said. "There is a difference between speaking with colleagues in MONUC and having the guidance." Moments after the briefing, one of Nesirky's assistance emailed this MONUC "guidance" to Inner City Press:
Subject: answer to your question on Monuc
From: Yves Sorokobi at UN.org
To: Inner City Press
Date: Wed, Mar 3, 2010 at 12:48 PM
"Work stoppage" or "strike"
There has been no work stoppage or strike at MONUC. Approximately 100 "casual daily workers" and 8-10 Congolese staff of MONUC demonstrated peacefully outside MONUC Headquarters in Kinshasa today. The rest of the 2,700 national staff (of whom 798 are in Kinshasa) and some 3,000 daily workers reported to work throughout the country.
On MONUC leadership willingness to engage in dialogue with national staff
The Administration has met repeatedly with representatives of the national staff and has remained open to discuss grievances. The Mission has worked with DFS to improve conditions of service within the constraints of the MONUC budget and UN rules and regulations. The SRSG has agreed to meet personally with a staff delegation at Mr. Nondo's request.
On Nondo's status
Mr. Nondo was absent from work for some five months without authorization. He was repeatedly asked to return and did not respond. He remains a staff member of MONUC. The MONUC leadership has continued to engage with him as a representative of the national staff, although the association, under his leadership, has refused to hold general elections for [almost]* three years. UN Staff Regulations (8.1 (b)) require staff elections to hold general elections at least once every two years. A number of staff are now demanding new elections.
MONUC facilitates the work of the National Staff Association by providing paid time to the president and vice president to conduct association business and providing offices, communications facilities, transportation and other support.
On the grievances
These have to do with issues faced by national staff and other national employees in many peacekeeping missions, including delays in results of UN system surveys to set local salaries, the status of "casual daily workers" and other questions that are governed by rules and regulations established by the UN's administrative and budgetary bodies. MONUC has worked continuously with DFS to address these issues within the constraints of its budget and UN rules and regulations.
At the March 3 briefing, after Nesirky tried to say to "ask MONUC," Inner City Press asked, but wasn't DFS, at headquarters, involved?
*- after initially saying "over" three years, the UN subsequently changed it to "almost." The UN levels tihs same charge at its New York union. Are the UN best practices in union busting or divide and conquer?And see, www.innercitypress.com/drc2zimstrike030310.html
