Amid Ladsous' Stonewalling, Who Shot Peacekeepers, Probing with Khartoum?

By Matthew Russell Lee

 

UNITED NATIONS, October 23 -- The day after UN Peackeeping boss Herve Ladsous refused to answer Inner City Press' questions about Kadugli in South Kordofan and deadly attacks on peacekeepers in Darfur, the UN had no further information on Darfur and could not confirm or deny the reported killing of two children by shelling in Kadugli.

  Nor could or would the UN or Department of Peacekeeping Operations say whether the six recently injured peacekeepers in Eastern Congo were attacked by the M23 or the FDLR or Mayi Mayi militia.

  On October 22, according to DPKO's transcription, Inner City Press asked:

 

Question (Matthew Lee, Inner City Press): A question about Sudan. You said that you are right-sizing the Darfur force, but it seems like five peacekeepers have been killed there this month – first four at the beginning of the month and then a South African recently. And at least it seems that the attack was done with anti-tank guns and other very serious weaponry. What steps is UNAMID going to take to protect the peacekeepers? And also the peacekeepers that you have in Kadugli in Southern Kordofan, I wanted to know do they have any at least observing mandate? Can they, if they become aware of fighting or attacks on Kadugli? I heard that you mentioned in the Council in the South Sudan, Sudan briefing, you mentioned stuff about Kadugli, is that as DPKO or simply passing it on from others?

 

USG Ladsous: Mister, I told you already that I would answer your questions when you stop making insulting insinuations about me. Thank you.

 

Question (Matthew Lee, Inner City Press): What is insulting about these questions? Peacekeepers are dead. Can you answer the question?

 

Spokesperson Nesirky: Moving on.

  On October 23 Inner City Press asked Nesirky again about reports that the Darfur peacekeepers were attacked with anti-tank weapons, to stop any investigation of human rights abuses in Hashaba. Nesirky still did not have the specifics of the attack, but said UNAMID is committed to investigating.

  But as Inner City Press asked, investigating WITH the government? This is the type of question, with all due respect, that Under Secretary General Ladsous is being paid to address.

  Even further back, six Indian peacekeepers in the DRC were injured. Some reported said by the M23 mutineers, some said by the FDLR or Mayi Mayi militia. Since fortunately they survived -- as of last report, given DPKO's chief's communications strategy, one never knows -- don't they have some idea who attacked them? Nesirky said he would check.

  Again, this is the type of question, with all due respect, that Under Secretary General Ladsous is being paid to address.

 

And that, is no "insulting innuendo" -- Ladsous' justification for refusing to answer questions including about deadly attacks on UN Peacekeepers under his "command." Watch this site.