By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, November 4 -- With the UN still providing no update on its investigation of Somalia UN Mine Action Service boss David Bax, first reported by Inner City Press, his work alongside US-based Bancroft Global Development arose Monday at the UN.
Inner City Press asked Anton Katz, Chair of the UN "Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination" about the Group's report on Somalia - and if he has met David Bax. (He has, in Cape Town.)
The report states for example that
"The Working Group was informed by UNMAS that to avoid this problem, their agreement with Bancroft requires that when conducting EOD and counter-IED operations, Bancroft employees must remain a minimum of 500 metres behind any front line. This type of rule might serve as an appropriate safeguard in other contracts as well... The Working Group notes that at least one employee of Bancroft pleaded, and was found, guilty in a South African court of, inter alia, recruiting persons for mercenary activities in Côte d’Ivoire and providing logistical support for the venture [See High Court of South Africa (Transvaal Provincial Division), case number A2850/03 of 2 and 20 May 2005 (ZAGPHC 248).]"
Why are the UN, AMISOM and UNMAS working with Bancroft Global Development? What do they do together? Inner City Press has been informed by whistleblowers beyond Somalia that Bax has been part of the process by which genetic and DNA information from IED bombings have been transferred to US intelligence.
After Inner City Press first reported this -- and others have tried to rehabilitate Bax -- the UN said that UNOPS is investigating, and that it would have nothing to say while it does. But the UN has still said nothing. UN investigation as a way to sweep things under the carpet?
Katz was highly specific, distinguishing Mark Thatcher in Equatorial Guinea and the "Dogs of War" from privatized security in prisons. He discussed Syria and Jihadists, Libya, WEOG and tellingly at the request of UNCA's 2013 president Pamela Falk, drones. Will any of these answers to make-work questions ever see the light of day? Her electronics made noise, and she claimed to speak for "the UN correspondents" -- but that is not true.
As with November's Security Council president, Inner City Press offered thanks for the briefing for the new Free UN Coalition for Access, which will continue to push for increased transparency from the UN on cases like that of Bax. Watch this site.
