By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, February 17 -- Amid the violence in Bangladesh,UN official Oscar Fernandez Taranco appeared on the schedule of US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal on February 11, to meet at 3:45 pm. Inner City Press surmised, since Taranco was previously sent to Dhaka for the UN, that it was about Bangladesh. And the UN confirmed this, later.
On February 17, Inner City Press asked UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq:
On February 17, Inner City Press asked UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq:
Inner City Press: there was a report that Mr. [Oscar Fernández-]Taranco is going there on a visit, and this was denied by the Permanent Mission here, Ambassador [Abdul] Momen, who said he has not spoken to him. Can you… is Mr. Taranco seeking to go to the country, and why hasn't he spoken with the Permanent Representative here in New York?
Deputy Spokesman Haq: Well, right now on the first question: There's currently no plan at this point for Mr. Fernández-Taranco to travel back to Bangladesh. He has been there before. He has been tasked by the Secretary-General to be in contact with the Government and the opposition and he will continue with those efforts. But, at this point, like I said, there's no travel to announce.
Deputy Spokesman Haq: Well, right now on the first question: There's currently no plan at this point for Mr. Fernández-Taranco to travel back to Bangladesh. He has been there before. He has been tasked by the Secretary-General to be in contact with the Government and the opposition and he will continue with those efforts. But, at this point, like I said, there's no travel to announce.
Back on February 12, Inner City Press asked UN Department of Political Affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman if Taranco in Washington had been addressing Bangladesh. Feltman genially replied, yes, that among other issues. Even though Taranco, as a product of the UN's so-called Five Year Rule, moved to the Peacebuilding Department, he is still the UNHQ's man on Bangladesh.
Later at the February 12 noon briefing, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, saying he was answering Inner City Press' questions from the day before, confirmed that Taranco's meeting with the US State Department's Biswal had addressed Bangladesh. Was that so hard?
On February 11, Inner City Press had asked Dujarric: UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric on February 11 said:
Inner City Press: Mr. Taranco is still involved in this issue. I notice that he's meeting this afternoon with Nisha Biswal, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia. Is it fair to assume that that's what that meeting is about? And how would you characterize it?
Spokesman Dujarric: I think it's not fair to assume anything. I'll now see if I can actually get you some facts, as opposed to assumptions.
But seven hours later, there was nothing. Then on February 12, Feltman then Dujarric.
When on February 5 Inner City Press asked the UN, which uses Bangladesh soldiers as peacekeepers, this ensued:
Inner City Press: In Bangladesh, the… things seem to be getting worse. Former Prime Minister has been charged with arson and… which she says she doesn't do. The power's been turned off to the opposition party and basically the authorities are using violence on protestors. So, I'm wondering, what's the response of the Secretary-General? Is there any [Department of Political Affairs] or other UN involvement in trying to mediate it? And with senior military officials making statements about what they'll do to civilians, what's the impact on Bangladesh as a peacekeeping contributing country?
Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq: Well, the political process is separate and apart from the issue of peacekeepers in UN missions, who are under the control ultimately of the mission. Regarding the situation in Bangladesh, we've made our concerns known. As you know, officials, including the senior officials from our Department for Political Affairs, have repeatedly visited Bangladesh, trying to meet with the leaders there and make sure that the crisis can be resolved peacefully. As you know, we continue to have our concerns that that hasn't happened and that there has been violence. We have continually encouraged and continue to encourage the authorities to allow for peaceful protest and for the right to peaceful assembly. And beyond that, we'll continue to be in touch with the leaders of the two main parties, trying to make sure that they can resolve their differences.
So what if anything is the UN doing? Watch this site.
