UNITED NATIONS GATE, July 23 -- UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says he has a "zero tolerance" policy for sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment, and for retaliation.
But it has become clear what Guterres has a zero tolerance for is criticism, or even questions. Guterres had Inner City Press roughed up twice a year ago and banned since;now he and his spokespeople refuse to answer written questions about UN peacekeepers' child rapes submitted by banned Inner City Press in writing along with questions on UN corruption and Jeffrey Epstein.
But it has become clear what Guterres has a zero tolerance for is criticism, or even questions. Guterres had Inner City Press roughed up twice a year ago and banned since;now he and his spokespeople refuse to answer written questions about UN peacekeepers' child rapes submitted by banned Inner City Press in writing along with questions on UN corruption and Jeffrey Epstein.
At 11 am on the morning of July 23 the UN data dumped a serious new charge, of child rape by a Moroccan UN Peacekeeper in the DR Congo. This comes a week after this pick up in TRT and elsewhere of Inner City Press' scoop on Guterres poised to reward Colin Stewart with re-appointment atop MINURSO despite sexual harassment charges UN staff complain to Inner City Press about. To Guterres, his deputy Amina J. Mohammed and two spokesmen, Inner City Press immediately in writing asked: "This is a Press request that you immediately provide all if-asked and additional information about the new allegation of SEA by a Moroccan UN Peacekeeper - apparently, rape of a child - in the DRC, uploaded after 11 am on July 23, including what if being done for the child victim and any steps taken to avoid this constant repetition of abuse despite the SG's ostensible commitments. Inner City Press is asking in writing because banned from briefing and any follow up questions, now for [more than] a year."
Now the next day July 24, no answer at all from the dozen people at the UN asked the question. Pure cover up for child rape, a new low. The July 24 MONUSCO press conference has a single propagandistic mention of the Moroccan contingent responsible for the child rape: "Elements of the MONUSCO Moroccan force conducted daily patrols, while the Mission's civilian teams worked with local stakeholders to avoid confrontation, on the one hand, between the supporters of the governing candidates, and, on the other hand, between communities." Yeah, between communities.
A senior UN official who, like many lower down in the UN appreciates Inner City Press' accountability reporting about an Organization killing itself with corruption and arrogance,tried to raise the issue but wrote back: " I am sorry to hear that you are still banned from the UN. I was with the SG for a short meeting , we barely managed to cover some of the most important topics and he rushed to another meeting. But I enquired around and I was told that even my continuous efforts would not help. There are apparently also some others that are unhappy with your reporting."
Who might those "some others" be? Deputy SG Amina J. Mohammed, who never answered Inner City Press' questions about her backdating of certificates to send endangered rosewood to China from Nigeria and, yes, Cameroon.
Rosemary DiCarlo, who let her chief of staff corruptly hand over the Security Council's website to her own husband, until an emissary told Inner City Press if it would just stop reporting it could get its office back?
Jean Pierre LaCroix, the sixth Frenchman in a row atop UN Peacekeeping, after Herve Ladsous?
Mark Lowcock, whose UK has led the charge in banning Inner City Press through Alison Smale? There are many, many more, and we will continued to report on all of them, even as we have every right to re-enter like the retirees they give offices to, to not bother corrupt Guterres.
Covering up child rape is too much. #DumpGuterres.
On July 3 Inner City Press immediately wrote to Guterres and his spokesmen, Stephane Dujarric who does the noon briefing with his friends like banning Inner City Press, and Farhan Haq, "This is a Press request that you immediately provide all if-asked and additional information about the new allegation of SEA by a South African UN Peacekeeper in the DRC, uploaded after 11 am on July 3, including what if being done for the victim and any steps taken to avoid this constant repetition of abuse despite the SG's ostensible commitments. Inner City Press is asking in writing because banned from briefing and any follow up questions, now for a year."
Dujarric held his noon briefing, bantering with his correspondents who did not ask about UN sexual exploitation, and refused to answer Inner City Press' written questions about China and Cameroon, Nigeria and censorship. Farhan Haq sent this response: "The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has received a report of sexual exploitation involving a Military staff officer from the Republic of South Africa currently deployed to the Mission. The allegation refers to transactional sex involving an adult woman that allegedly took place from November 2018 to January 2019 and resulted in pregnancy." So the possible making of a child, today's UN answers Inner City Press on. Child rape (and Jeffrey Epstein)? Not so much. Totally corrupt.
Alison Smale's UN News Centre, as pure rape cover up propaganda while refusing outside questions, "reported" that "The United Nations recorded a total of 259 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) during 2018, according to the latest report by Secretary-General António Guterres presented to the General Assembly. Although the figures rose compared with the previous two years, the report shows increased awareness among UN and UN-related staff, and improved and harmonized reporting tools across the Organization." This is cover up of rapes. #DumpGuterres: no second term.
