By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un1uzaids030210.html
UNITED NATIONS, March 2 -- The head of UNAIDS Michel Sidibe, flanked by singer Annie Lennox, told the Press on Tuesday that the UN is "pushing advocacy" for AIDS eduction and activists.
Inner City Press asked why the UN had said nothing about Uzbekistan's imprisonment of AIDS activist Maxim Popov back in September 2009, and the burning of a pamphlet he worked on promoting the use of condoms and clean needles.
Mr. Sidibe said that UNAIDS has been trying to "better understand the case," saying it was "mixed with corruption issues." Video here, from Minute 32:45.
Whatever the regime of Islam Karimov is alleging about Mr. Popov, it is incontroverted that his AIDS pamphlet was deemed illegal for promoting condoms and clean needles. So why did the UN stay quiet?
Inner City Press also asked about The Gambia, here President Jammeh has claimed he can cure AIDS by the laying on of hands. Jammeh previously expelled the UN Development Program's resident coordinator, and more recently expelled UNICEF's country representative.
UNICEF continues to say it has no idea why its representative was expelled. Nor did UNICEF, which reportedly funded Mr. Popov's pamphlet, appear to advocate for his release. Why would these UN organizations claim to be engaged in "hard advocacy" but in fact remain silent? To paraphrase, Silence = Death. Watch this site.
