By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un1inpun030110.html
UNITED NATIONS, March 1 -- Despite its asserted importance in Afghanistan, the UN was not aware Monday of the Hamid Karzai government's outlawing and censoring of media coverage of Taliban attacks.
Inner City Press asked the spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who was on Monday in Hollywood, what Mr. Ban or the UN thought of the restrictions. "I'll need to look into it," Mr. Nesirky said. Video here, from Minute 45:55.
Last week Karzai unilaterally struck down the UN's role in the Electoral Complaints Commission, and when Inner City Press asked, Mr. Nesirky referred only to some mirky UNAMA statements. Perhaps Karzai was thus emboldened to censor the media.
The UN's expert on children and armed conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, on Monday praised U.S. and ISAF forces for imcreasing their safeguards against killing civilians, including children.
Inner City Press asked Ms. Coomaraswamy how this assessment squares with the killing by the U.S. on February 21 of 27 civilians in Uruzgan Province. Video here, from Minute 33:26.
Ms. Coomaraswamy nodded and said she had met with General McCrystal the very next morning. She said the U.S. has good better at announcing investigations and apologies, but that the next steps will be remediation and accountability. But when will that be?
Just as the UN paid lip service to freedom of the press, but had nothing to say as that freedom was eliminated by its "partner" Hamid Karzai, so Mr. Nesirky also on Monday said that the purpose of tribunals with the UN-affiliated one in Cambodia is to ensure accountability. Video here, from Minute 44:14.
But in light of government interference, there is a call for Mr. Ban to appoint an Assistant Secretary General to try to "save" the Cambodian court.
There is already a UN Under Secretary General, Patricia O'Brien, ostensibly responsible for the UN's interface with the Cambodian tribunal. At a rare press conference by Ms. O'Brien, Inner City Press sought to ask about the Cambodia court, but Ms. O'Brien declined to answer.
Monday Inner City Press asked that she come and provide a briefing not only about Cambodia, about also the UN's Hariri tribunal, and certain other matters. We'll see.
Footnote: Across from UN headquarters on Monday morning, protesters held signs begging the UN to make the Bangadesh miilitary end Operation Uttaran, which has resulted in the death of civilians in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
At Monday's noon briefing, Inner City Press asked Mr. Nesirky about the protest, which also called for the UN Development Program to suspend a program in the area. Mr. Nesirky said he was not aware. Video here, from Minute 43:35. We'll be waiting to see what the UN says -- and does. Watch this site.
Update: after preparation of the above, five hours after the question was raised, the UN provided this answer:
In reference to your question on Bangladesh from today's Noon Briefing, to which Martin said he'd look in to... The United Nations system in Bangladesh is closely monitoring the situation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and hopes that all will unite to help the recovery from this tragedy in a spirit of peace for the greater good of the nation. Also, the United Nations stands ready to provide targeted assistance to those in need, in close collaboration with the Government.
But isn't that the problem? Watch this site.And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1inpun030110.html
