By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, October 19 -- When the UN says it will help with an election, which then includes only one party and the opposition killed, can it be called a success? Apparently it can.
The UN's envoy to Burundi Charles Petrie is now leaving “months early.” But when Inner City Press asked if he is being thrown out, and has accomplished his objectives as one published report has it, UN acting Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq insisted that Petrie “is not being persona non grata’d. He is departing of his own volition, as he himself has said.”
Petrie was previously PNG-ed from Myanmar, and he has apparently changed his M.O. in response to that ejection. Now, when the opposition drops out and is killed, Petrie blames the opposition. One cynic said that he is going to Somalia because that country's UN supported -- and UN selected -- Transitional Federal Government is the only government so weak it couldn't PNG anyone.
From the UN's October 19 transcript:
Inner City Press: Can I ask about Burundi? [inaudible] said that Mr. Charles Petrie is leaving several months early from the country and it’s also, this is intertwined with reports of the execution of 22 ex-rebel FNL [National Liberation Front] individuals. He is quoted, Mr Petrie is quoted, as saying that the opposition, by boycotting the elections, failed the country, but that he has accomplished — this is in a separate article — that he is leaving the country ahead of time because he has accomplished his objectives. What exactly is going on? What is the UN… one, can you confirm this, these reports of execution of ex-rebels? And two, what are his objectives and why is he leaving early? Is he being “persona non grata’d”, as some say?
Acting Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq: No, he is not being persona non grata’d. He is departing of his own volition, as he himself has said. I wouldn’t have any further comment to add to what he himself is saying.
Inner City Press: What were his objectives, though, if in fact no election was held and people are being killed?
Acting Deputy Spokesperson Haq: Clearly, he has been talking about this, and so, you could get the answer just as easily from Mr. Petrie. I wouldn’t have any way of adding to his own comments. But regarding the question of reported executions, we’ll certainly look into this. I’ll see whether there is anything further we can say about these reports. We certainly have seen some worrying reports and we’ll need to look into that. I’ll see whether there is anything further to say on that.
Haq said it is easy to hear from Charles Petrie. We'll be waiting. Watch this site.
