By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, February 11 -- 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. But so far the UN has declined to confirm even that.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric on February 11 said:
"the [former] Assistant Secretary-General in charge of [Political Affairs] Oscar Fernández-Taranco has been tasked by the Secretary-General to liaise with the Government and he's doing just that. The Secretary-General is personally committed to the stability and positive development of Bangladesh. Bangladesh, as you know, is a critical partner of the United Nations in many areas. And obviously, I think, as we've said here a number of times, we are very much concerned about the violence and the loss of life that's occurred in Bangladesh since the beginning of last year."
So Inner City Press asked Dujarric:
Inner City Press: You said that 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.
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, nothing. So it goes with the UN and Bangladesh.
We note that Biswal's 11 am February 11 meeting with Bangladeshi Ambassador to the U.S. Mohammad Ziauddin...
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.
