By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, June 11 -- After Uganda's foreign minister Sam Kutesa became the next UN General Assembly President on June 11, Inner City Press asked him about both New York Senators' protests to his candidacy based on Uganda's anti-gay law.
Kutesa said that opposition to him is based on "mis-understanding;" he said his position is that homosexuality is a private matter, or is okay if kept private.
Kutesa said that opposition to him is based on "mis-understanding;" he said his position is that homosexuality is a private matter, or is okay if kept private.
Inner City Press asked Kutesa if he would meet with Schumer. Kutesa said he would be happy to, "I have a lot of respect for him;" he said the statements attributed to Schumer, "if they are correct, it was because he was not very informed."
Afterward two African Permanent Representatives asked Inner City Press if these questions will go on all year. One noted that the US did not speak in the meeting - and nor did the Latin American and Caribbean group GRULAC, reflecting they could not or did not agree on a statement.
Inner City Press also asked Kutesa about South Sudan; he said he supports "the peace initiative spearheaded by our leaders in IGAD in Ethiopia and Kenya." He said that he had just issued a statement on his ownership interest in Entebbe Handling Services - on which UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric never before the meeting corrected his statement in the noon briefing two days before.
Afterward two African Permanent Representatives asked Inner City Press if these questions will go on all year. One noted that the US did not speak in the meeting - and nor did the Latin American and Caribbean group GRULAC, reflecting they could not or did not agree on a statement.
Inner City Press also asked Kutesa about South Sudan; he said he supports "the peace initiative spearheaded by our leaders in IGAD in Ethiopia and Kenya." He said that he had just issued a statement on his ownership interest in Entebbe Handling Services - on which UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric never before the meeting corrected his statement in the noon briefing two days before.
Dujarric was asked of accusations that Kutesa was chair and still part owner of Entebbe Handling Services (ENHAS) and if ENHAS does business with the UN.
Dujarric said, “I do not think they have any contracts with MONUSCO The President of the General Assembly is not a staff member of the UN. And again, we’re checking on the veracity of the reports that have been floating around, Matthew.”
Since then, Dujarric has not provided any information or updated the transcript. But even the most cursory search find many ENHAS contracts with missions of UN Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous, including MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
From the “2013- 2014 Acquisition Plan - UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO),” there's “ENHAS Airfield services in Entebbe, $1,860,000” - click here to view.
See also, “2013 PO Awards for Field Missions - Others” listing “Entebbe Handling Services Ltd ( ENHAS ) Training, other $50,847, 13SOA-130654, 13RFP-130022” and “Entebbe Handling Services Ltd ( ENHAS ) Training, other $147,279, 14SOA-140105, 14RFP-140003.” Click here.
So why would Dujarric deny it? Then not either look into it or provide a correction?
Similarly, Inner City Press has repeatedly asked Dujarric about how Ban's supposed Human Rights Due Diligence Policy applies to the mere two convictions for 130 rapes in Minova by the DRC Army. MONUSCO's Martin Kobler said the policy is clear, but his boss Herve Ladsous refuses to answer the Press questions.
Ladsous has also refused to explain why he is procuring drones to be based in northern Mali, before any approval for this. And Dujarric provides no answers.
Last week Dujarric's deputy Farhan Haq answered Inner City Press that Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir was killed. But it was an assassination attempt - he was not killed. Haq simply doctored the transcript to make it appear he hadn't said “killed,” but never told the Press the transcript was changed.
This was, media could report what the UN Office of the Spokesperson said - then have it not line up with that was said, or in the case of ENHAS, what the public record shows. This is unacceptable, and the new Free UN Coalition for Access will pursuing this. Watch this site.
