By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, September 3 -- The capture and continued holding of 45 UN Peacekeepers in the Golan Heights, while their UN vehicles now drive around with black Al Nusra Front flags, gives rise to many questions about the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations.
But things are arranged for DPKO chief Herve Ladsous to avoid the tough questions, just as he has announced he will not respond to questions of media whose questions he doesn't like. Video here and here and here.
Inner City Press on September 2 asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric:
Inner City Press: the Philippines military has complained that the military force commander of UNDOF asked or ordered the Filipino peacekeepers to lay down their weapons in some sort of in relation to the Fijians and they refused to do so and has asked, as they say, for an investigation of the commander. Could you explain under what circumstances the UN central peacekeeping or force commander would ask peacekeepers to lay down their weapons in the face of a hostile group and why?
Spokesman Dujarric: Again, as the situation is ongoing and the situation in the Filipinos and Fijians are obviously linked, I'm not getting into the detail of it. What I will say is that we will respond to any formal request made by Member State. Its normal procedure of review of action being taken and after review action be taken by mission once the situation has concluded. So, I think we have to get through this is extremely volatile situation. The safety of all our peacekeepers here is foremost on our mind. It's at risk. We have seen the kind of area they are operating on and I think we need to let this — we need to let all of this conclude and then we can address it more formally.
Inner City Press: for troop-contributing countries, are you aware of any other case in which peacekeeping has asked peacekeepers to essentially surrender and are they supposed to obey those orders? Usually they complain the other way and they are ordered to fight and they won't fight. Are you aware of any other case when they are ordered to surrender?
Spokesman Dujarric: And I think every situation is different, and as I said what is foremost on our mind is the safety of our soldiers.
Since Dujarric on September 2 said he couldn't or wouldn't answer, when he moderated a supposed press briefing by Herve Ladsous on September 3, it was expected he would call on Inner City Press to put these questions to Ladsous. But now Dujarric has internalized Ladsous' censorship.
Dujarric gave the set-aside first question to the UN Correspondents Association, whose Executive Board never complained about Ladsous' selective answers -- and in fact tried to get Inner City Press to change its reporting on Ladsous. Later on September 3 UNCA's President loudly offered “free food” at an event with the Ladsous spokesperson who rationalized his non-answering, see video here.
Dujarric gave the next question to Reuters, then to France 24. This is how the UN works, or doesn't. The new Free UN Coalition for Access is opposing these trends at the UN, of which Ladsous is only one example, albeit an extreme one.
Only once Ladsous had left did Dujarric call on Inner City Press to ask a question -- which he then proceeded to essentially not answer. Inner City Press asked about the black-flagged UN vehicles, and about public and widely reported comments by Ireland's minister of defense that no more Irish troops will be send to the UNDOF mission until it is reviewed.
Dujarric didn't substantively respond, saying no formal communication has been received from the Irish government.
UNCA's President's soft ball question, unpressed, was about Filipino Colonel Ezra James Enriquez. Ladsous said he has “tendered his resignation” but that “is a matter for them.” For whom? It's now reported that Ezra James Enriquez has “left his post.”
There is more to be said. Watch this site.
