By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, November 8 -- “We cannot second guess the international community's political decisions,” UN children and armed conflict expert Radhika Coomaraswamy told the Press on Monday.
Inner City Press had asked about the Obama administration's decision to waive provisions of the Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2008 and keep providing US funding despite child soldier use of the armies of Yemen, South Sudan, Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
On this last, Inner City Press asked Coomaraswamy what she thought of the engagement of the UN Mission in the Congo, renamed MONUSCO, with the Congolese army, which recruits child soldiers.
Despite pictures of child soldier recruiter Bosco Ntaganda with MONUSCO peacekeepers, Coomaraswamy said MONUSCO is doing a good job, supporting child protection. Video here, from Minute 13:37. Alongside not “second guessing,” she repeated some “disappointment” with the Obama administration's decision, but said now they can “become allies with us.” We'll see.
Coomaraswamy's opening statement concerned her recent trip to Somalia. She touted the UN supported Transitional Federal Government's recent statements on its child soldier use, subject to a media expose not so long ago.
Inner City Press also asked about Myanmar, both the military government of Than Shwe and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, elements of which are fighting the government along the Thai border.
Coomaraswamy said she is “disappointed” with Myanmar, that it had been expected the regime would sign an action plan last year. Now she said they might sign in December.
But the government, immediately after the military heavy election, has reportedly imposed a 90 day state of emergency.
When Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Martin Nesirky about this, he said the UN could not confirm the state of emergency, or even the fighting along the Thai border. Video here.
He said the UN only didn't go on the government's tour of polling sites because it would have required other approvals, apparently by the UN General Assembly. That's the only reason? Watch this site.
