Amid More Killings in East Darfur, UN & Ladsous Invisible, UK and US Missions Asked by FUNCA: Any Security Council Action?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 11 -- After "dozens" or now "hundreds" were killed in East Darfur, with the figure of 100 dead on August 10 alone, one wondered if the UN Security Council would meet or issue a Press Statement about it.

  There is a billion dollar "peacekeeping" mission in Darfur, with a protection of civilians mandate. UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous visited Sudan in July; he met with International Criminal Court indictee president Omar al Bashir. 

  Inner City Press has asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon spokespeople what the goals and accomplishments of this Ladsous - Bashir meeting were, without substantive response.

  During this deadly fighting, which spread from Saturday into Sunday, August 11, where WAS the billion dollar UNAMID mission? 

  Where was Ladsous? Before disappearing from sight, Ladsous had his spokesperson Kieran Dwyer spoon-feed an answer to Inner City Press' June 24 question about the UN Mine Action Service in Somalia funneling information to the US with another media. See #LADSOUS2013, The History through Twitter, Part 1 here, Part 2 here.

  The Free UN Coalition for Access, which seeks to open and make more fair access to information not only from reclusive UN Secretariat officials like Ladsous but also from the Security Council, directed a question to the UK and Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant, Council "pen-holders" on Darfur: is any meeting or statement planned? 

  The same was directed by @FUNCA_info to UNAMID and to the US Mission and new Ambassador Samantha Power, who gave a speech Saturday in California to the group behind #KONY2012, Invisible Children.  There's a lot of invisibility going on at the UN. Watch this site.

   

US Samantha Power at #KONY2012 Cites Internet Abuse, But No Mention of Snowden, FDLR, Sri Lanka or Drones

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 10 -- When new US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power gave a speech Saturday night in California at an event of the Invisible Children, launchers of #KONY2012, she spoke of human rights and of governments abusing the internet.

  She did not, however, even mention her own government's surveillance through the National Security Agency, asexposed by contractor Edward Snowden. It would have been easy to mention it, to an enthusiastic audience of students predisposed to like Samantha Power. But no.

  Power urged those in the audience to look into the world's problems, as she did with ethnic cleansing in Bosnia. She cited "Rwandan mothers" and later, villagers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

  But setting aside the US' role in pulling the UN mission out of Rwanda in 1994 -- Power told the Senate the US has nothing to apologize for -- currently the UN Mission in the Congo MONUSCO, overseen by the UN Security Council, is supporting Congolese Army units which have been named as arming the genocidal FDLR militia, and the 391 Battalion, US trained, which raped 135 women in Minova.

  Power could have said, the world in complicated, the US didn't do enough during the slaughter of 40,000 civilians in Sri Lanka in 2009. But she didn't. Nor did she mention that among the US drone strikes in Yemen and Pakistan, civilians and children get killed too. 

   Invisible Children, indeed. Watch this site.

   

As UK Sees Out UNSC Month Atop Turtle Bay, Doubts on Syria, Reform Proposal Born of Ladsous

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 27 -- For the United Kingdom's June presidency of the Security Council, the UK came in with class and went out that way as well, in a reception on a penthouse terrace over Turtle Bay with all and sundry invited.

  In the middle of the month there was a fall off, for example when foreign secretary William Hague came to the Council ostensibly on sexual violence and conflict, and then only took questions about Syria.

  But UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant, to his credit, held 14 media stakeouts during the month, including rare two-a-days on June 7, 13, 18 and 25. Inner City Press raised this as a standard to September's president; we'll see. It's not like you have to answer every question that is asked. But why not take them?

  Usually the UK reception are held at the Deputy Permanent Representative's Park Avenue abode. This one was chez Consul General, even closer to the UN, with a CitiBike rack just outside no less. Even so Ban Ki-moon came in his $100,000 armor Lexus Equus, a gift from South Korea, with a big black SUV behind it. Security, you know. 

  The S-G is so high profile that he was not invited to the more recent G-8 meeting, by the UK no less.

(On that, while Inner City Press accurately reported the UK's appreciated answer to its belated question regarding if Ban had been invited, it understands that another media was told that the non-invite was because David Cameron had met with Ban in May. Whatever. Prime Ministers come and go - just ask Australia.)

  Amid the commotion of France's Gerard Araud, General Assembly President Vuk Jeremic, ECOSOC president Nestor Osorio and others, what Inner City Press found most interesting was the increasing skepticism from other Ambassadors at the Gulf and Western strategy on Syria.

  You see how many more countries abstained last time in the GA, an Ambassador pointed out to Inner City Press. And if they call another vote, they'll get even fewer in favor.

  The proposal floated, there over Turtle Bay, was to make war itself a crime, rather than to use the concept of war crimes as a political tool against presidents the West ends up not liking.

  The example of Laurent Gbagbo was given. Susan Rice denounced him, twice or three times in her final stake out. But as another African ambassador emphasized to Inner City Press, he had and has a lot of supporters in his country. Should he really be in the Hague?

  This was in part a product of France controlling the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, for four time in a row now.

  So Inner City Press has a proposal: just as it's said that the Secretary General cannot come from a Permanent Five member of the Security Council, why not make it that none of the main UN departments -- DPKO, OCHA, DPA, for example -- can go to the P5? At least make them choose a client -- who might in turn go rogue. Just asking, as they say. Next up in the US. Watch this site.

  

#LADSOUS2013 Puts a Video Face on a Problem from UN to DRC and Haiti, Sudan, Drones and Rape

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, January 27 -- When a person committing or covering up crimes or violations of human rights is barely known by the public, what is the next step?

  Focusing on Joseph Kony of the Lord's Resistance Army from Uganda in 2012, a campaign launched a slick 30 minute video and a Twitter hashtag: #KONY2012.

  At the UN, Inner City Press asked officials and diplomats about #KONY2012.

  More recently, now in January 2013, Inner City Press asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Office of the Spokesperson to respond to Uganda's claims that Kony is in Darfur, where the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations has a $1.5 billion peacekeeping mission. The UN has yet to answer.

   But there another figure, who refuses Press questions about Darfur, Kony and the Congo who deserves to be better known: DPKO chief Herve Ladsous. Click here for a first profile of Ladsous.

 Here is the inital beta video, #LADSOUS2013.  

Despite the Dying in Darfur, UN Takes Less Interest, US Fixed on Kony

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 24 -- A year ago the debate on Darfur and extending the mandate of the UN - African Union mission there was tense, with Permanent Representatives of the P5 countries clashing on how the resolution should be phrased.

   This year despite continued fighting in Darfur, spilling over into South Sudan and Southern Kordofan, there is decidedly less interest. 

  During Tuesday's consultations, three P5 Permanent Representatives never came, and the two that did left as soon as they had spoken in consultations.

   Meanwhile the Permanent Representative of Sudan Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman spoke at length in the chamber, then afterward exclusively to Inner City Press. 

  He denied that his country had bombed into South Sudan, while saying it has the right to bomb in its own borders against those who are rebelling.

   He and outgoing envoy Ibrahim Gambari made much of the LJM formation, created in a sense to negotiate with the government and headed by a former UN staff member, al Sissi Tijani. JEM and the other factions are not much talked about.

   Afterward Inner City Press asked July's Council president about how real LJM is or isn't, and about the factions who've joined the Sudan Revolutionary Front. 

  Osorio said it is complicated, adding that he and unnamed other Security Council members will be going to Darfur in September.

  Inner City Press has been there, in trailers in the El Fasher camp which now has a new mansion. Ibrahim Gambari declined to speak at the stakeout but indicated he'll have a discussion with the Press quite soon. Inner City Press asked him Tuesday about one of the posts it's heard that he may take. I am considering all of my options, Gambari answered.

  In the Chamber, Gambari mentioned a bombing near Tawila on July 18 - the same day the UN sent Inner City Press this:

Subject: Your question on Darfur
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Wed, Jul 18, 2012 at 12:22 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com

On 16 July, UNAMID's Team Site in Tawilla reported heavy shooting and impacts at Kushina village (approximately 29km south east of Tawilla, North Darfur).

Reportedly, a Government of Sudan military helicopter was shot down by an unidentified faction, which led to a firefight between the Government and the faction.

 On the resolution, Deputy Permanent Representatives and political coordinators, not only of the Permanent Five members, last week had meetings until 8 pm, tinkering with the resolution.

  One of Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman's big points was that Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army should not be mentioned in the resolution. 

  Afterward he told Inner City Press, Uganda is a long way from Sudan, the problem should be solved there. But the LRA hasn't been there for years. Some say the UK is not adamant that the LRA be in the resolution, but the US is. Can you say, Kony 2012? Watch this site.

After Central African Republic Happy Talk, Press Asks of Kony, UN Nepotism

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 5 -- When the Prime Minister of the Central African Republic Faustin-Archange Touadera briefed the press at the UN on Thursday, it was mostly happy talk about disarmament. Touadera said that all armed groups are ready to stand down, and he was asked light questions about the technicalities of so-called DDR.

Inner City Press then asked Touadera about the Lord's Resistance Army, how big a problem it is, how his country works with the 100 US military advisers sent by the Obama administration, and whether he thought the Kony 2012 film and phenomenon is helpful, or a problem has Uganda has said.

Touadera adroitly turned the question around, saying that countries should help finance disarmament so that the Central African army can focus on the LRA. He thanked the African Union, and the US for its 100 militaires.

Already Touadera had answered that most of the LRA is in the Central African Republic, but then he got asked by the original light journalist if he thinks Joseph Kony is there. The focus of the briefing shifted and again one wondered, it is helpful?

Inner City Press asked Margaret Vogt, the Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA), if the UN is yet in Obo, and if she has acted to reform the critique of the UN in CAR as a "family operation" -- specifically, of DPA's Sammy Buo (for background see here and below).

Vogt responded at length about the "UN family," saying she has created task forces and a "cell" in her office about protection. She said "we are given mandates but not money," and appeared to say the UN has yet to have an ongoing presence in Obo. The UN now has a plane, she said, and so flies back and forth to Obo.

Here, however, was the part of the critique:

Inner City Press formally asked the director of DPA's Africa II Division Sammy Kum Buo the following questions:

Mr. Buo -- I am writing a story about this morning's Security Council session on BONUCA / Central African Republic. I am also covering management issues in BONUCA and DPA and am writing for you to confirm or deny on deadline each of the following [about BONUCA staffers]

Is Gabriel Buh Kang a relative of yours? A cousin?

Is BONUCA staffer Ekei a relative of yours? Your niece?

What is the status of Brindou Germain Kabran ?

When in CAR, have you stayed with Brindou Germain Kabran?

Did you still collect DSA? Please provide records.

What can you say about the case of Gozo Tshamala?

On deadline, Matthew

Mr. Buo is also accused of hiring a former mercenary from Executive Outcomes, in violation of UN rules. While Mr. Buo has refused to respond, Inner City Press has discussed the matter with other Mission officials and finally with Mr. Buo's then-boss in DPA, Haile Menkerios. Mr. Menkerios confirmed he is aware of the issue. Inner City Press asked Mr. Menkerios what DPA's response would be. It is a management issue, Mr. Menkerios replied, that will be responded to in a management way.

But has it been? It is still not sure. Wach this site.

On #KONY2012 Bandwagon, UN Ignores Darfur, Airbrushes Americans in Dungu

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, March 23 -- When the #KONY2012 video went viral and quickly garnered tens of millions of views worldwide, the UN at the highest level was caught off-guard.

Inner City Press asked the spokespeople for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for reaction and to state what they had been doing about Kony's Lord's Resistance Army.

At first there was no reaction. Then the spokesman sent Inner City Press the link to a report from Ban, from November 2011.

Finally on Friday the UN provided a video linked briefing by Ban's Special Representative for Central Africa Abou Moussa, the Deputy Force Commander of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) Major-General Adrian Foster along with the Special Envoy of the African Union for the LRA issue, Francisco Madeira.

They described operations in four countries, without mentioning Sudan or the 100 military advisers the Obama administration has sent. Inner City Press then asked about both, and more generally about the impact of #KONY2012 and of illegal exploitation of natural resources, including by militaries in the region. Video here.

Abou Moussa acknowledged there is controversy about the film -- he did not mention the public masturbation charge against its lead creator -- but said two points remain, that the LRA maims people and that its leaders should be arrested.

Inner City Press asked about reports that the LRA had entered Darfur in Sudan, and asked why this military operation dealt at least on paper only with DRC, Uganda, Central African Republic and South Sudan. The answer was that even the "neighboring states" should be involved and if Kony enters their territory, should arrest him, under the International Criminal Court warrant.

But Sudan's Defense Minister, its President Omar al Bashir and governor Ahmed Harun have themselves been indicted by the ICC and not arrested. In fact, UN Peacekeeping offered free helicopter flights to Ahmed Harun, and Ban's Darfur envoy Ibrahim Gambari most recently partied with Bashir.

Could this undermine the UN's credibility in tracking down ICC indictee Joseph Kony?

Inner City Press asked twice about the 100 American military advisers and was finally told that two of them are in Dungu in the DRC. Where are the other 98 and what have they been doing?

The war in the DRC, described as Africa's World War, was fueled by militaries including from Uganda looting minerals in Eastern Congo. Inner City Press asked what safeguards were in place. First it was said, despite UN Sanctions reports to the contrary, that such looting of minerals is just a "perception."

Then Major-General Adrian Foster described a meeting in Kinshasa on March 15 between the defense chiefs of staff of DRC and Uganda, saying that the "atmospherics" were good.

This was also meant to answer a question Inner City Press asked, including previously to Ban Ki-moon's spokesman, about the Ugandan army saying it has been blocked from DRC, apparently since just before the conduct of the deeply flawed (but scarcely UN commented on) Congolese elections.

It emerged Friday that the Uganda army, the UPDF, still for now cannot or will not enter the DRC.

There is a credible theory that Uganda's government and military have used the Kony issue for years, as a boogie-man and as a way to raise funds. With 5000 troops and 100 American military advisers, will Kony and a band of 200 to 700 fighters be caught? We'll see.