By Matthew Russell Lee, SG exclusive; video
UNITED NATIONS, October 5 – Belatedly the UN Security Council heard of Myanmar and the Rohingya last week - before the meeting Inner City Press asked the representatives of the UK, Sweden and France about the UN Country Team's performance, or under-performance, under Renata Lok-Dessalien. Video here. On October 5, Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric more about Dessalien. From the UN transcript: Inner City Press: again about Ms. [Renata] Lok-Dessallien, in this case, saying that she suppressed a report about the UN's role in Rakhine State. And it has, again, quotes from people that work for the UN, saying that… that the… the Human Rights Up Front, which was announced with some fanfare by your previous Secretary-General you spoke for, has not been implemented. So I wanted to ask, just factually, does the report exist? Did she suppress it? and his statement that he, the SG, stood behind her, while… while, obviously, a good thing to stand behind your officials, seems to have sent a message to staff that, even if you speak up and say my supervisor retaliated against me for raising human rights in an internal UN meeting, that the Secretary-General will, out of hand, reject your claims and side with your boss. How would you respond to that? Spokesman: Okay. So, let's take the granular first. I don't agree at all with your analysis. If people have grievances, there are all sorts of internal systems they can go through. They can also… there's a very strong whistleblower protection that's available to every staff member of this organisation. The Secretary-General does stand by Renata Lok-Dessallien, the Resident Coordinator and the team that she leads in Myanmar. There was a report. It was not spiked in any way. It was presented to the UN country team in April, and I think, far from suppressing information or censoring ourselves, I think, in our dialogues with the Myanmar authorities, the UN system has consistently urged the leaders of Myanmar, whether the military or civilian leadership, to uphold their responsibilities. I think, if you look at the public statements from the Secretary-General, if you look at the public statements earlier this year from the Resident Coordinator, and from the team, I think they have been clear and to the point. We engage with the authorities of Myanmar as we engage with the authorities in any country. We engage constructively with them. Engagement does not mean that we lose our principles. On the contrary, I think we stand strong on our principles. I think the Secretary-General, in his statement to the Security Council, whether by letter or in present to the security… excuse me, in his statement that he did in person to the Security Council, was extremely clear about his message to the Myanmar authorities. And we will continue to be clear both in our public statements and in our private conversations with the authorities. Inner City Press: So just… thanks. The Guardian quotes a UN official in Yangon, quote, “Human Rights Up Front isn't being implemented. It just isn't. They can say that they are ticking some boxes, but, in terms of actions that lead to results, we're seeing nothing.” And the other… I just wanted to… because there is a perception. You're saying that, if staff go internally, then the Secretary-General won't automatically side with their supervisor. But, if they go public…? Spokesman: This is not… this is… the statements that I'm making I've… have to do with the attacks that the Resident Coordinator has been subject to, the attacks that the UN team in Myanmar has been subject to. Let's not forget where responsibility lies in terms of protecting people. It lies with the Government. That's where the responsibility lies. Any assessment of our public statements in the last year, in the last few months, have been clear in us raising our concern about the situation, the human rights situation, in Rakhine State, about the lack of humanitarian access. I think we have been very clear. Now, current, past staff members, people talk to the press. That's their business. I think we've said what we have to say." On September 29, after a BBC report which featured Lok-Dessalien's former chief of staff saying staff were retaliated against for raising human rights, Inner City Press asked UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokesman if these allegations of retaliation will be investigated. Apparently not - the spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, insisted that Guterres stands behind Lok-Dessalien. This is NOT whistleblower protection, and discourages people from coming forward. (As does the UN Security surveillance camera above the UN media bullpen area, which Inner City Press asked about and Dujarric reformed to answer on, video here). After the briefing, Dujarric's office mailed out: "The United Nations strongly disagrees with allegations against the UN Resident Coordinator in Myanmar, Renata Lok-Dessallien. The Secretary-General has full confidence in the Resident Coordinator and her Team. The UN has consistently and strongly focused on protection of human rights and inclusive development on behalf of all the people of Myanmar, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or citizenship status. The Resident Coordinator has been a tireless advocate for human rights, conflict prevention, and humanitarian and development assistance in Rakhine State. She has drawn attention to rights abuses and called for credible investigations; advocated against incitement to violence; and supported efforts to promote inter-communal harmony. The UN in Myanmar, led by the Resident Coordinator, works with a wide array of government and non-government partners to help enhance Myanmar’s capacities to tackle root causes of conflict, to strengthen democratic institutions, to expand access to justice and to reduce poverty. Human rights stand at the center of everything the UN does, and this includes the rollout of the Human Right Up Front by her team." Right. Senior UN officials exclusively tell Inner City Press that in the prior months, Guterres repeatedly rejected detailed recommendations made directly to him by some of his officials to become more active on the crisis. The officials tell Inner City Press that Guterres responded that for the UN to become more active might create problems for "The Lady," Aung San Suu Kyi, and the military. So the UN stood by, as it did in Sri Lanka in 2008-2009 and in Rwanda before that, always with an excuse. There was even a ten point plan presented early on to Guterres, on which he never acted. On September 25, UK Deputy Ambassador Jonathan Allen in the Council said, "Burma needs to allow in humanitarian aid from the UN... The humanitarian needs inside Rakhine vastly exceed the Red Cross’s activities. Only the UN and its partners can provide life-saving aid.... There needs to be a process so that those who fled can register as refugees and return home safely, even if they don’t have documents. Burmese authorities should participate with the UN fact-finding mission. The situation in Burma strikes many of us around the table with particular poignancy… We want to see further progress to democracy, and we want Burma to thrive…this crisis now casts a deep shadow over Burma and its international reputation…Should they fail to do so, they will find themselves on the wrong side of history, and this Council will be ready to take further action." After Allen, Nikki Haley said: "We have seen images of acts no person should ever have to endure. We have seen women and children fleeing their homes with only the clothes on their backs…we’ve heard reports of men, women and children rounded up, detained, and some brutally killed…a baby who died fleeing violence in Rakhine States. I’ve also met with Burma’s national security advisor. We’ve supported regional efforts to de-escalate the violence….and still, the exodus out of Burma continues while the government refuses to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation. I condemn violence against other minority communities in Rakhine. We cannot be afraid to call the actions of the Burmese authority what they appear to be: a campaign to cleanse the country of an ethnic minority. The Burmese government claims it is battling terrorists. If this is true, let them allow media and humanitarian aid in to back up their claims.... The government has a responsibility to restore the rule of law and prevent attacks by citizens in its name. An already dire situation has been made even worse by some rhetoric coming from official channels. The time for diplomatic words has passed. We must now consider action against Burmese military figures. The Burmese military must respect human rights. Those accused should be removed from command and prosecuted. I’d like to appeal to the goodness and hope for the future that exists in the hearts of the majority of you. I know you’re sickened by the images of violence. The goal of an open, democratic Burma is still possible. Hold fast to that vision. Don’t give up on it. Every Burmese man, woman and child is a child of God." On September 18, Inner City Press asked Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: In Myanmar, I heard from some people that work in the Department of Political Affairs [DPA], and I wanted to get you to respond to this, the idea being that the Secretary-General has been urged for some time, in fact months, to be more vocal or be more active on the issue of the plight of the Rohingya and that, at least at an earlier stage, his analysis was that this might put Aung San Suu Kyi in a difficult decision with the military. Is that an accurate depiction? And, if so, has the plight changed so much, or does he think he might have gotten involved earlier? Spokesman: I would say it's an accurate description. I think anyone who would have read or seen the Secretary-General's statements on the situation in Myanmar over the last two weeks could only say that he's being vocal and being extremely vocal on the situation. There is a time for diplomatic engagement. There's a time for speaking out more loudly. There's a time for speaking out loudly and remaining engaged diplomatically. The Secretary-General has a number of tools in his kit, and he uses them as he sees fit. Inner City Press: And has he spoken to Aung San Suu Kyi since…Spokesman: Not since about ten days ago. We, obviously, very much are looking forward to hearing what she will have to say in the speech she's scheduled to deliver, I think it's about Tuesday in Myanmar, and I think late tonight here in New York." On September 15 Guterres spokesman arranged a background briefing for his favored correspondents, with senior UN officials we will leave UNnamed - but did not inform or invite Inner City Press, who asks him many questions, including about Myanmar. To this has the UN descended. The UN Security Council's September 13 meeting on Myanmar was a closed affair, after which the President of the Council, Ethiopia, read a statement that "acknowledg[ed] the attack on the Myanmar security forces on August 25," as if the problem began then. It goes back decades. And even in April of this year, this memo was sent to Secretary General Guterres: "The United Nations in-country presence in Myanmar continues to be glaringly dysfunctional. Strong tensions exist within the UN country team, the humanitarian parts of the UN system find itself having to confront the hostility of the development arm, while the human rights pillar is seen as complicating both. The impact of this dysfunctionality is a growing irrelevance of the UN in guiding and defining the international community’s efforts to address the challenges confronting Myanmar." After that, the UN in June 2017 said that Resident Coordinator Lok-Dessallien was being rotated out and the position advertised. But this week Inner City Press asked and found that she is still there; on September 14 Inner City Press asked Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric why didn't happen and he said she it does, he'll say. The UN's hands are not clean, either, some say. To the Ethiopian ambassador on September 13, Inner City Press asked if there was talk of UN envoy, without answer. Periscope video here. In terms of the UN Secretariat, while it said in June that dubious UN Resident Coordinator Renata Lok-Dessallien was being rotated out and the position advertised, when Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric on September 12 who the Resident Coordinator in Myanmar is, he first said he didn't know, then after the briefing his Office e-mailed this: "Regarding your question on Myanmar at today's noon briefing, the Resident Coordinator is Renata Lok-Dessalien." So despite saying she was being rotated out and the post advertised, and despite Guterres saying how concerned he is about Myanmar and the Rohingya, three months and thousands of dead later, she's still in. And the Spokesman, Dujarric, didn't even insert this answer into "his" transcript. On September 13 Inner City Press asked UK Ambassador Matthew Rycroft about criticism of Lok-Dessallein and the country team. From the UK transcript: Inner City Press: There is talk of the country team at the UN being too close to the Government over time. There was criticism of the resident co-ordinator. Does the UK feel comfortable that the country team has been on top of this issue, even prior to this August “terrorist attack” that was referenced in press elements? Amb Rycroft: Well one of the points I made was that several of us around the table, including the UN, have very good and close relationships with various parts of the establishment in Myanmar. Some of us with Aung San Suu Kyi, others with the military, and my point is that it’s time now to be using those relationships to get action and to get an end to this deterioration, rather than allowing those relationships to become an end in themselves and to prevent us from taking action. Periscope video here. We'll have more on this. Rycroft on September 11 said, on Myanmar "we have asked for a formal discussion in the Security Council on Wednesday and that is a next step, which I hope will lead to a public outcome in some way. And I think it’s a sign of the significant worry that Security Council members have that the situation is continuing to deteriorate for many Rohingya who are seeking to flee Rakhine state in Burma and move into Bangladesh. It’s up to the Presidency to work out if it’s an AOB or a consultations. I think it will be a private meeting but with a public outcome of some form." On September 7 Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, who has refused to answer on Coomaraswamy, this about his new boss and Myanmar, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: on Myanmar. I know that the Secretary-General made the statement that he made, but since then, there are reports of villages that people have been chased out of being burned to the ground, and there are also some reports of landmines placed by the Myanmar military on the border with Bangladesh. So, I wanted to know if the UN is aware of these reports and also has the Secretary-General actually placed any phone call to Aung San Suu Kyi? And if he has… Spokesman: As I said yesterday, he has been, over the last few months, in touch with Aung San Suu Kyi, both by phone and through correspondence. We've seen the reports. We're obviously extremely concerned about the reports of continuing violence, especially violence that targets civilians. The reports of land mines is not one we can confirm, but, obviously, if they were to be true, those would be extremely troubling if they were to be confirmed. Inner City Press: If you don't… when… when's the last time, since this is kind of a… it's a fast deteriorating situation. When's the last time that he spoke to her? Spokesman: "I have no… at this point, I have no further details to share with you." On September 4 before a UN Security Council meeting about North Korea, Inner City Press asked UK Ambassador Matthew Rycroft about the recent upsurge of killings and ethnic "cleansing" of the Rohingya in Myanmar. Video here; from the UK transcript: Inner City Press: Will there be another meeting on Myanmar? Given what’s happening? Amb Rycroft: "We are following the situation in Burma very closely as well. If it continues to deteriorate then one of the things that we can do is to hold further meetings to shine a spotlight on the situation there. We call on Aung San Suu Kyi to use all of her many qualities to unite the country, to stop the violence, and to bring everyone together in a way that respects the right of all people in Burma." On August 30, after a closed door Security Council "any other business" meeting about Myanmar, Inner City Press asked UK Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, video here, UK transcript here: Inner City Press: Is there any discussion of the people caught in this no man’s land between Myanmar and Bangladesh? Is there any message to Bangladesh in terms of opening the border? Amb Rycroft: "Yes, several of us raised that issue, a lot of us talked about the responsibilities of Bangladesh as a good neighbour and indeed praised them for what they have been doing so far and encouraged them to continue to do so." Before the meeting, Inner City Press asked Rycroft, video here(with Sweden's deputy Skau's answer too), UK transcript below. On August 31, US Ambassador Nikki Haley said, "“The United States supports democracy for the Burmese people, and we condemn attacks by militant groups in Rakhine State. However, as Burmese security forces act to prevent further violence, they have a responsibility to adhere to international humanitarian law, which includes refraining from attacking innocent civilians and humanitarian workers and ensuring assistance reaches those in need. We call on all members of the Security Council to support the Burmese government in ensuring the rights and dignity of all communities in Rakhine State and throughout Burma." From the UK's August 30 transcript: Inner City Press: Aung San Suu Kyi has said that international aid groups are somehow assisting terrorists. Do you think those comments are helpful? What do you think? Amb Rycroft: "Well as I said I think it’s important that all of the parties de-escalate now to reduce tensions and look to the long-term, including through Kofi Annan’s recommendations." On August 28, Inner City Press asked the top three UN spokespeople - they had canceled the noon briefing - the following: "In Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi has said that international aid NGOs are somehow helping “terrorists.” What is the Secretary General's statement and action on this?" Lead spokesman Stephane Dujarric, who ignored Inner City Press' other questions after evicting and still restricting it, replied, "We expect a statement shortly."
