By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, August 14 -- The UN saga of Robert Appleton, or really of Ban Ki-moon and Inga-Britt Ahlenius who upon leaving the UN blasted Ban's management, was the subject of a 37 ruling by Judge Coral Shaw of the UN Dispute Tribunal on Tuesday. Inner City Press has obtained a copy of the ruling and puts it online here.
Like Ahlenius, in a way, Judge Shaw is critical of Ban and his team, including then chief of staff Vijay Nambiar. On page 32, the SRG's conduct is found "unlawful." A few pages later Appleton, who after 17 months got a job at the Global Fund, is awarded $30,000 in damages.
The real issue here is the independence of the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services. While Ahlenius was less that accountable, fleeing questions of why she declined to investigate the UN's Inner City Press - exposed sole source contract with Lockheed Martin in Darfur, at least the manner in which she left showed independence and a desire to shake up the UN.
Currently OIOS investigates almost nothing. Whistleblower have little to no confidence in OIOS, nor in the Ethics Office. Some say the Press is their own way to go -- and then some working in the UN try to eject the Press as well. Is that actionable at the Dispute Tribunal? Some say yes. Watch this site.
