By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, June 22 -- As the U.S. House of Representatives was broadcast by C-SPAN with Periscope and Facebook Live video, the contrast with the UN could not be clearer. Based on Inner City Press live-streaming an event in the UN Press Briefing Room on January 29, Ban Ki-moon's head of “Public Information” Cristina Gallach ousted then evicted Inner City Press.
First, Gallach claimed that it was illegal to film the event. Then, from an interpreters booth. But others are allowed in there. And the Handbook Ban's Gallach cited to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is not online, or on the UN's iSeek intranet. It is a scam.
How can the UN speak for free press when it lies to evict the Press which questions it? Why do NGOs like CPJ say nothing, just hoping to get invited in? We'll have more on this.
How does the UN under Ban Ki-moon and his "Public Information" chief Cristina Gallach pretextually evict the critical Press from its long time office and confine it to minders, hindering further reporting on their corruption?
This UN "Aide Memoire," which Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric called "leaked" and refused to answer questions on, shows how - as does this Gallach's letter of May 25, 2016. On June 16, Inner City Press was belatedly provided with a copy of the questions UN Special Rapporteurs Kaye and Forst sent to Gallach on February 25, put it online here:
So Inner City Press asked Ban Ki-moon's Spokesman Stephane Dujarric about the letter(s), Video here, Vine here, UN Transcript here:
Inner City Press: I've become aware today of a letter that was sent by Special Rapporteur David Kaye and Special Rapporteur Michel Forst to Ms. [Cristina] Gallach of DPI [Department of Public Information] on 25 February, asking about ouster and eviction of Inner City Press. And her response was two months later, and she referred to an altercation in this room that required… so I'm asking you. You were here. Other than you turning off my phone, was it an altercation? Is that an accurate statement?
Spokesman Dujarric: Matthew, Matthew… I have not… I will not comment on your personal issues.
Inner City Press: You're saying it's a personal issue. This was a letter sent to the Special Rapporteur.
Spokesman: And the letter, if you want to ask for the letter, you could ask the Special Rapporteur.
Inner City Press: No, I've seen the letter.
Spokesman Dujarric: Matthew, Matthew… I have not… I will not comment on your personal issues.
Inner City Press: You're saying it's a personal issue. This was a letter sent to the Special Rapporteur.
Spokesman: And the letter, if you want to ask for the letter, you could ask the Special Rapporteur.
Inner City Press: No, I've seen the letter.
And below is Gallach's letter, here, which itself calls for action.
