In UN Decolonization Committee, US Absent From Meeting On Puerto Rico & Vieques, Western Sahara Next

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 22 -- With Puerto Rico the topic of the UN's Decolonization Committee on Monday afternoon, the outside speakers cited the inability to vote for US President to the environmental destruction of Vieques by US bombs. Afterward member states spoke, including Nicaragua on the Monroe Doctrine and Sandino. Cuba's resolution was brought up for decision -- and passed without a vote.

   Inner City Press ran downstairs to basement Conference Room 3 as Cuba was speaking after the vote. Venezuela's Permanent Representative was there, along with his Bolivian counterpart and others. But the seat of the United States, like those of France and the UK beside it, were empty. Periscope video for now here. “It's always like this,” one delegate told Inner City Press. The UN is a strange place.

  (Cuba's Deputy Permanent Representative said that the UN Department of Public Information last Monday said that webcasting of the Committee was guaranteed, but this was later brought into question as has been raised to theFree UN Coalition for Access.)

  While the chairperson of the meeting said that the agenda for June 23 had yet to be decided, Inner City Press had heard it will be Western Sahara. In that case, it seems doubt that Morocco will follow the US and “just say no,” not show up.

  One thing that may be different this year is the revelations in the Morocco cables leaked by or on “Chris Coleman” Twitter account. Earlier on June 22, Inner City Press asked the UN Spokesman who it was in the UN, who called Anders Kompass a “sleaze-bag.” Video here.  We'll have more on this.