By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, October 29 -- When UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon named a three person panel on the South Sudan referendum, it was said that the panel would be independent from the UN Mission in Sudan, UNMIS.
When Inner City Press asked panel members Benjamin Mkapa, Antonio Monteiro, Bhojraj Pokharel and their staff “are being compensated or having their expenses paid,” UNMIS spokesman Ashraf Eissa replied that “the SG's Panel is a totally independent panel from UNMIS. It reports directly to the SG in NY. The Panel Spokesperson can be contacted for such information.”
After some delay, the Panel Spokesperson told Inner City Press that “the Panel, including the salaries of its staff, is being funded from the budget of UNMIS.”
What then about the panel being independent from UNMIS, if its members and their staff are being paid by UNMIS? How can the UN and UNMIS be credible, including in reporting on troops build ups on the border, if they call something independent from UNMIS when it is getting paid by UNMIS?
In fact, in the Secretariat's current budget submission A/65/509 it is said in Paragraphs 9-10 that
“the Secretary-General’s Panel on the Referenda in the Sudan has been established. This monitoring body will be an instrument for building trust in the process and acceptance of the outcomes of the referenda.... The Panel is independent from the rest of UNMIS, to distinguish it from the Mission and its role in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and other mandated activities, including support for the referenda and planning for the following period.
“The Panel, which has been established for a period of six months, effective September 2010, involves 41 temporary positions, including one Under-Secretary-General and two Assistant Secretary-General positions comprising the Panel itself, supported by 38 international staff (1 D-1, 6 P-5, 21 P-4 and 10 P-3). Given the urgent need for these additional staff, 41 temporary positions have been approved for a period of six months, on an exceptional basis, to enable the Panel to commence its operations. The cost is estimated at $4.3 million, including $4.1 million in staff related costs and $0.2 million in travel costs.”
How can one square this statement that “the Panel is independent from the rest of UNMIS” with the later admission that the Panel members and their staff are paid by UNMIS?
Inner City Press, in writing on October 28, asked both the Panel Spokesman and Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Martin Nesirky. By noon on October 29, neither had responded, or even confirmed receipt.
At the October 29 noon briefing, Inner City Press asked Nesirky how the Panel could be described -- as in the Secretariat's budget submission, above -- as independent from UNMIS, if its members and staff are being piad by UNMIS. Video here from Minute 12:26.
Nesirky replied that “it's a question of financing and funding... at the end of the day its by [the UN Department of Political Affairs] that this is being handled.”
Inner City Press asked why then isn't DPA paying the Panel members and staff, and how can the UN say the Panel is “independent” from UNMIS if its members and staff are being paid by UNMIS?
Nesirky cut Inner City Press off, saying “Next question.” But the questions will continue. Watch this site.
