By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, January 4 -- Eleven days after reported rapes by Sudanese government authorities in Tawila right next to peacekeepers of the UN - African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur, the UN in New York still refused to deny or confirm and explain inaction on the rapes.
The rape took place on Christmas, after which Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Martin Nesirky repeatedly about the incident. No answer was provided then, nor at the first in person press briefing since Christmas, on January 4.
Inner City Press asked again, citing a report now in the UN's own ReliefWeb site. That's another one you asked the previous week, Nesirky said, as if that were responsive. He said he would revert “when we get an answer.” Video here, from Minute 34:50.
But one would assume that the UN's $1 billion UNAMID mission, headed by Ibrahim Gambari, would be able to answer an e-mail from Ban Ki-moon's spokesman in less than eleven days.
Some surmise that the UN is looking away from abuses in Darfur in order to focus on the referendum in Southern Sudan, on which the UN has scheduled a press briefing for January 5 by two officials who will refuse to let their names be used.
Ban's envoy for the referendum Haile Menkerios on New Years Eve on the record praised the “courage” and leadership of Sudanese president Omar al Bashir, whose forces are accused of the rapes the UN has refused for 11 days to confirm.
Likewise, Nesirky and his deputy Farhan Haq have refused to confirm or deny that Ban's Department of Political Affairs told NGOs that, among other things, they do not expect results from the referendum until February 2.
“When we get an answer,” Nesirky said on January 4, cutting off the question. So does DPA not answer Nesirky's calls?
Or is this all a ruse not to answer simple factual questions that the UN deems inconvenient, such as about rape right next to UN peacekeepers in Darfur?
In front of the UN Security Council on January 4, a diplomat of a Permanent Five member stopped to tell Inner City Press that while the Council will meet at least three times about Sudan this month, “the outstanding issues are more important than the referendum itself.” Watch this site.
