By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, October 30 -- With the UN Security Council meeting behind closed doors Wednesday about Western Sahara, the Frente Polisario complained to Inner City Press that they were told they could not speak at the UN Television stakeout.
In the past, they have, including one time that the then-head of the UN Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit, a Moroccan national, had the cameras turned off. (Click here for that Inner City Press story). But since then, Polisario has spoken at the stakeout, often before or after Morocco's Ambassador Loulichki.
But now something has changed. Inner City Press checked, and learned that UN Security this time was told that Polisario should not be allowed to speak. No one wanted to say where the order came from.
The Media Accreditation and Liaison unit only has jurisdiction on the media side of the railing. UN Television camera-people, those predating the new outside contractor Team People, remembers Polisario speaking.
So where did the order come from?
The Free UN Coalition for Access @FUNCA_info contends that the rules about this should be made clear and transparent. We note that among UNCA's Executive Committee is a representative of Moroccan state media; the former MALU chief from Morocco was also with UNCA, including known as the UN Censorship Alliance. Watch this site.
