By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, August 6 -- After Navi Pillay accepted or was forced to accept a two year than than four year second term as UN High Commission for Human Rights, Inner City Press asked her directly and on camera if this made her less independent, less able to speak out. She declined to answer.
Now Inner City Press has exclusively learned from well placed sources how the two year compromise was reached.
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, at the direction of the United States and others, told Pillay that she could not have a second term, that to make it look better she herself should resign.
Pillay refused, and threatened to go public.
Other states, most prominently Pillay's native South Africa, were enlisted to try to find a solution.
In a cynical new low, South Africa was offered the Under Secretary General of Management position ultimately given to Japan's Yukio Takasu if only South Africa would convince Pillay to leave.
But South Africa refused.
And so the two-year compromise was reached, putting Pillay in a weakened position. Her team and the reportedly herself will now visit Sri Lanka.
Despite 40,000 civilians killed and no accountability -- in fact, one of the generals responsible, even according to Ban's own Panel of Experts report, is still listed as an adviser to Ban Ki-moon -- we'll see what Pillay says, or can say. Watch this site.
