By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, March 27 -- The plan for a “parallel” French force to rule Mali, alongside a Mission of UN Peacekeeping which is headed by the fourth Frenchman in a row, Herve Ladsous, shows how riddled with conflicts of interest and vestiges of colonialism the UN has become.
Later today the UN Security Council will be briefed on the plan, with a vote slated for April.
As Inner City Press reported on March 25, France which also “holds the pen” of the Council on the failed former (?) colony of the Central African Republic opposed following on CAR an African Union Communique listing seven Seleka and rebel leaders, including Seleka's Paris based spokesman, for a travel ban and asset freeze.
Because who knows better what's right for Africa than France?
The parallel UN and French force proposed for Mali by Ladsous' DPKO is reminiscent of what France obtained in Cote d'Ivoire, with the Force Licorne running -- in short shorts -- alongside the UN Mission which it also through DPKO controlled.
Recently Inner City Press asked Amnesty International's West Africa expert to assess the performance on human rights and accountability in Cote d'Ivoire, for crimes committed by the side the France favored and favors. AI called it appalling.
Why think it would be better in Mali?
History is allowed to repeat itself in part because of the lazy and craven media coverage of the UN and its -- or Ladsous' and France's -- plans.
Take for example the Reuters story by Michelle Nichols and Louis Charbonneau. It consists of mere re-types of the plan “written by Ban Ki-moon” -- who recently in connection with the launch of Tom Plate's book of breezy conversationsadmitted writing very very little. There is no analysis, much less of any conflict of interest by France.
Charbonneau, concerned UN reporter, shakes with Ban, Timermon not shown (c) Luiz Rampelotto
On March 26, Charbonneau of Reuters was mocked by Argentina's foreign minister Timerman for asking what he clearly viewed as a planted UK question about the Malvinas -- or in Reuters' speak, Falkland -- Islands.
Did Reuters mention this? Seems not. So why did Charbonneau go and demand the first (and failing that, second) question at the press conference of four ministers from Latin America?
To fly the limp flag of UNCA, the UN Cowardice Association of which he is first vice president and Concerned UN Reporter in chief. At least we can say, not only the UK but also France can be channeled. Watch this site.
