ICP Asks UK Why UNSC Meetings on Yemen & Burundi Are Closed, If Kay Still Wants Libya SRSG

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, March 1 – With the United Kingdom taking over the Presidency of the UN Security Council for March, Ambassador Matthew Rycroft on March 1 took 20 questions from the media. Inner City Press asked him why the meetings on Burundi on March 9 and on Yemen on March 29 are both closed door. Video here.

  On Burundi, Rycroft referred to France as the penholder. On Yemen -- on which the UK holds the pen -- he said sometimes there is a benefit to a closed door discussion. Fine: but what's the problem with an open briefing, then closed consultations? The Free UN Coalition for Access will continue to pursue this.

  On Yemen Inner City Press also asked if the UK's findings as it looks into more than 250 incidents of the Saudi led coalition will be shared with the Security Council. It remains unclear.

 At the end, Inner City Press asked Rycroft if Nick Kay is still a candidate to be UN Envoy to Libya. Rycroft said the UK supports current envoy Martin Kobler but if he is to be changed, it should be fast, there is momentum.

  Rycroft said that civil society will be invited to participate in the month's wrap up session, a first. Boris Johnson will chair the March 23 meeting on South Sudan, and something on Somalia later that day. We'll have more on this.

As In Burundi Nkurunziza's November 7 DEADline Looms, Belated UN Security Council Meeting After It on November 9, French Pen-Holders

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 6 -- As killings in Burundi increase, on October 23 Inner City Press asked UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft about the status of the draft Presidential Statement in the UN Security Council. He said there are differing views, but the UK is concerned about the "threat of genocide." Video here.  On November 3, Inner City Press again put a Burundi questions to Rycroft, now President of the Security Council for November. Video here, story here.

 On November 6, a belated Security Council meeting on Burundi was announced -- from Paris, by French foreign ministry spokesperson Romain Nadal. Why the delay? Why announced in that way?

Update: the UK Mission to the UN as president of the Council for November has confirmed there will be a meeting on Burundi on Monday, here.

  The son of human rights defender Pierre Claver Mbonimpa has reportedly been murdered, after Pierre Nkurunziza tweeted that "No one living abroad should consider himself superior to those who stayed in Burundi, since most of them have left their families here."

 The UN Security Council has yet to speak or even meet on this, but now US Ambassador Samantha Power has put out this statement, here.

  Behind the continued killing, here's an issue: Inner City Press is informed that a number of Burundian civil society leaders and journalists have improperly been flagged to Interpol as if their passports had been stolen. This has made it impossible, for example, for Vital Nshimirimana to travel to a speak about the crisis in Burundi at a conference in (Ban Ki-moon's native) South Korea.

  Inner City Press on November 4 asked the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights' Ivan Simonovic and UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric about this. Dujarric responded with this statement:

"The Secretary-General is gravely concerned over the persistent political impasse and the mounting violence in Burundi, where killings continue to be reported on a regular basis, both in Bujumbura and in provinces in the interior.

"The Secretary-General underlines that the only way out of the crisis in Burundi is to end to the violence and begin an inclusive and genuine political dialogue, as called for by the AU Peace and Security Council, the East African Community and the Security Council

"The Secretary-General notes that Ugandan Defence Minister Crispus Kiyonga visited Burundi last week in an effort to restart dialogue. The Secretary-General urges the Burundian authorities to continue their engagement with the Facilitator to find a political solution to this worrying situation. He reiterates the readiness of the United Nations to support all efforts to that end."

  We'll have more on this.  Interpol often brags at the UN how it is useful on the issue of foreign fighters. It's Secretary General Jurgen Stock spoke before the UN Security Council on May 29, 2015. But what about when Interpol is misused by a government like Pierre Nkurunziza? What do it, the Security Council and its members do that? Watch this site.

 On November 2 Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric about two speeches given in Burundi (the full text of one is below). Video here, UN transcript here:

Inner City Press: In Burundi, there was a speech by the President of the Senate [Révérien Ndikuriyo] saying that opposition neighborhoods may be razed [or raided. Some] people are calling it a genocide speech.  There's also a speech by the President, saying anyone who doesn't disarm within the next five days will be treated as an enemy of the State.  So, I'm wondering, not to overdo it, but things seem pretty serious.  I wanted to know:  what is the UN doing?

Spokesman:  "It's clear that those in position of power, whether in Government or in the opposition, have a responsibility not to incite fear or hate of any kind.  I think that's very important and that whatever security measures the Government takes fully comply with international law and respect for the right of people to freely assemble and protest."

 After Burundi was elected to the UN Human Rights Council with 162 votes on October 28, on October 31 security forces in Burundi opened fire on a funeral procession in Buringa, killing many.  These are the Burundian forces that UN Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous keeps in service, offering waivers while the Government keeps the payments?

  It is reported the Burundian authorities are accusing a medical NGO of offering treatment to insurgents, and are ready to attack. Frankly, the weak UN Security Council Presidential Statement which France belatedly proffered in the Council, then didn't even hold a question and answer stakeout about, is woefully insufficient, as is the UN Secretariat's response.

 Now from Burundi this speech, of which we will run a Google Translate:

I told you that there is no Island in Burundi; you can not say "I hide behind the window and the police pass and then I throw a grenade at them," Do you think that when they take notes and pictures they do not see how these people carry? (...) Do you think it is not well recorded somewhere? As I told, you are the leaders of the District, will give them the message because you know each of you, and if you do not know the people you lead, you are good for nothing! Go warn them so that tomorrow there is no regret. I will say this clearly: intimez orders to your subordinates, say the heads of Groups of 10 households, in the case of guns, collect them; if it grenades, collect them too. (...) I do not know if you enter me! Hein !! Go to Mogadishu first, and you'll know what it is that the National Army. (...)

You will stay here in Bujumbura, you will not go into the bush, and if you try, we will not spare you; the bush is already undermined, reserved for something else; you will stay in homes. You will fall here in homes. We will solve everything right here in homes. (...) And we do not do the feelings when it's time to take action! And I told you clearly. I said the same to common people, and he loves me, citizens do not reproach me so far! If we start this is over. If you hear the signal with an instruction that it must end, emotions and tears have no place! It's like that, you are the Heads of Districts, go talk to the residents of your neighborhood, if someone says "I accept to die", then you say to those who will execute the mission "on this part, we must pulverize "(ie ed exterminate", they are to die for! I order you, come on! You are the Heads of Districts, and you have under your command the heads of Groups of 10 households. Go to this message clearly! (...).

I said something in passing that it is even possible to have more opportunities to get the parcels. Yes, it is possible to get some plots. I do not know if you grasp what I mean! If you really want to have plots (note "work" and) you will have! Go forward the message, and do not say "if they still derive" What are you going to change if they shoot? I know how guerrilla works because I was part of a guerrilla. (...) They come out of the houses and we measure ourselves with them on the heights of the mountains and into the bush. Go to Cibitoke in Bukinanyana! I went there two days later (note saying the attacks of rebel groups), were fired at them even hidden under rocks. (...) You have elected summers, people trust you, tell them the truth! Do not play the game "never mind, we launched a grenade at a police officer" and you start to sing (celebrate). And the message that I give you is light. Go with this message and pass it on!

There are people who induce others into error, saying, "go ahead, all is well, there is no problem, we will join you" and suddenly you see 100 people killed in a short period time Cibitoke, more than one hundred were killed within a period of time. In just two days, more than 100 people on the ground! 70 guns seized! Here.

Mutakura and Cibitoke is what area? What is the length of Cibitoke District? (...) How many meters separate the 1 st and last Avenue? Will measure! Do not behave like children of the city! NO! Do not behave as citizens. Will measure the number of meters (length) between the various Avenues of Cibitoke area! The District has Mutakura how many Avenues? I tell you sincerely, go warn them so they do not come to say "if I had known."

I understand you to say that we know Mogadishu, military aircraft jumped directly to the battlefield, and advanced pulling immediately. And here, now Mogadishu is secure! Let no man therefore mistaken in believing specialist. Parachuter is not a problem. Even if you go into the forest of Kibira parachutists shall go the same way (note that Mogadishu) and only one of you will survive and this is one that will make the report. Even in houses (note in Quarters) it will be poor. (...) If it is decided that a serious operation should be done in a given place, after being thoroughly prepared, it will be perfectly realized. No one will go to Muyinga, Kirundo nobody will go. No! Everything will be resolved even there (in neighborhoods). There is one thing you do not understand, perhaps, when he says (note President Nkurunziza with his maxim "Who will light the fire, it will burn the home itself!) That one who dares, everything will end with him is that if you burn tires, it is yourself that will suck the suffocating smoke; if you start firing bullets, all will end at home. If you sow disorder in the District, it is in your District that all will end and any attempt will be destroyed thereby! (...) The day will be given permission to work and that the current restraint would come to an end, where will you go? If we were to say, "now, work! "Proceed with the kora operation (work)! In the event that either you that we intimate the order to take action, as you continue to float you and to be around these "people", say months how you could do it!

Have you learned so far that an order had been given to work? Have you learned? Wait! The day we say work, you'll see the difference! The police is currently hiding to shelter grenades, but you will see the difference on the day they receive the message to work. (...) The day they receive the order to truly work on behalf of the country and for the safety of Neighbourhoods, they will operate seriously! It will not be like now when we try to be lenient including pulling arms for ... ..huuuummm ... .When they are ordered to work seriously, they will work.

It is not yet ordered them to work. Currently, we are still light (...) The day we let go the people and that the order of work will be given to you station! Even hidden under the bed, you will be evicted. The Day they will be told, "Work! ", too bad for you. I know that even the police are not happy, they say "that lets us do the work as we have learned, we are tired of making us throw grenades from behind!" Now they ask we give them permission to work to put into practice what they have learned and these stories will end.

In areas of peacekeeping missions, they refused to keeping the peace forces to shoot, but after we gave them the order to fire. Initially, we had shot and we lost men, but afterwards, they were told to "take action" and it was finished in zero seconds. Simply give permission to work, the fire draws fire and continue.

With us in the savannas of Kumoso (Ed South East of Burundi in the provinces of Makamba, Rutana and Ruyigi), when there are bush fires extinguish and protect areas not yet reached, we burned some not orientions reached yet and the fire in the direction of the first two fires met in the middle and it was their end! This is how we do in the Kumoso during the dry season. It does not extinguish bush fires with dry banana leaves or with leaves of the trees! NO! If you bring the leaves of trees, they burn before your eyes and there is even the risk that you will leave life. When you see a bushfire surprise you, you give yourself away, you light a second fire, you oriented toward the first and they meet in the middle. That's it.

That is why we often pay visits to people. Populations within the country are awakened. That is why they say that anyone who is not from their local needs. We can not accept to be served a menu which we do not know how it was prepared, we do not eat a food which we know how to prepare. But you, because of the culture and mentality of the city, you accept everything! This then poses a problem.

You did it is said that only the military or police are doing what they are told? We still use the sweetness! (...) Do you think the government will accept its police continue to be killed so that he could allow them to work! At one point he will say NO and order will be given to complete the task. (...) When giving the order to take action, tear gas are no longer a tool. When we realize that there is need to work in a given place and a decision is made to take action, it does not take itself with tear gas. Tear gas is used only when citizens run into the street to stop them ...... but when we say that there is a real mission to carry out somewhere when you have to work working.

It begins by identifying the place of performance of the work. We do not go to work where there is no sufficient volume of work; we go where there is work and I know that in such cases, everything works and successfully.

Then the one who suggested that working with Kamenge and Kinama, that's a point but I think it is not necessary. Is it worth telling residents to get out of these neighborhoods? What would eventually be your role? Should I use whistles? Are you not the Heads of the District? It is not necessary to extract the whole area of ??the world. You do not point the objects, you control people and no person must live in the city without being identified, given that there are administrative structures to the base with Heads of Groups of 10 households. You should not even wait until there is a transaction (note the Kora operation), you should instead, on your own initiative, saying: "In this place there are elements that 1,2,3,4,5 are not in order "and you will be sending you a message by phone to advise those who are to save and you call the police for taking action and you will return afterwards. Do-not I even said there way to be rewarded with plots? Eh ... it's not a game ... I am like that ... do not look at me! I'm used to the war.

https://soundcloud.com/journ-burundi/reverien-ndikuriyo-le-pdt-du-senat-illegitime-promet-de-raser-des-quartiers-de-la-capitale

 On October 28, Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric about another threat. From the UN transcript:

Inner City Press: this is a tweet from the official account of Pierre Nkurunziza, President of Burundi:  "No one living abroad should consider himself superior to those who stayed in Burundi since most of them have left their families here."  So people see this as an open-source threat to retaliate against the families of those who have fled the country.  And I'm wondering…

Spokesman:  I haven't seen the tweet.  I shall look at it.

 Inner City Press showed it to him on his way out. Earlier on October 28, Burundi got 162 votes for the UN Human Rights Council, less than the other also unopposed candidates, but still enough to get on the Council. The UN Security Council had just issued a Presidential Statement, here, which gave weight to the Museveni "mediation," and which the US later "welcomed." Usually it's the penholder (France) which speaks. But not here, not on Burundi (see Ladsous, below).

 On October 27, the UN said Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called the AU (below); Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric is any closer to naming the envoy he called "immanent" months ago. Dujarric said he should have used another word.

 Inner City Press asked Dujarric of reports that Burundian police in the UN's MINUSCA mission in Bangui have not received benefits in months, and of a letter sent to Ban and Herve Ladsous about the Burundian troops. Dujarric said he would check on both. Here is the full text of the UN's read-out:

"Today, the Secretary-General called H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, to discuss the situation in Burundi.

The Secretary-General welcomed the decision made by the African Union’s Peace and Security Council on 17 October to address the political impasse and deteriorating security situation in Burundi. He noted that such comprehensive and resolute action could offer Burundi the opportunity to put an end to the continuing violence and find a consensual political solution on the way forward.

The Secretary-General assured the Chairperson of the African Union Commission that the United Nations stands ready to provide any support necessary to advance the implementation of the measures agreed upon by the members of the African Union Peace and Security Council. " 

  On October 28 Burundi is poised for election to the UN Human Rights Council, as one of five African Group candidates for five seats. Meanwhile on October 26, the European Union adopted the letter to President Pierre Nkurunziza that Inner City Press asked the UN about last week, here.

  Can EU members on October 28 not vote against Burundi's "Human Rights" Council candidacy at this time? And other Western NGOs coming to the UN early this week to set forth their positions, will they just phone it in with regard to Burundi? Watch this site.

 Also on October 23, Inner City Press asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon:

Inner City Press: I wanted to ask on Burundi, just this morning the UK Ambassador said that the UK is concerned of a threat of genocide, is the word that he used, so I'm wondering under Rights Up Front what are your thoughts about Burundi and what the UN or the Secretariat can do.

SG Ban: "On this genocide issues, I hope there should be some creative investigations by the relevant experts and there should be, first of all, a clear understanding and investigations.  And if the conclusion is that there were such kind of genocide issues, then there should be accountability, justice must prevail and perpetrators must be brought to justice."

  But what is the UN Secretariat DOING about it?

 On October 22, Inner City Press asked Ban's deputy spokesperson Haq:

Inner City Press: I wanted to ask you a question about Burundi.  The EU is preparing a letter to invite the Burundian parties to Brussels to have a discussion about diffusing the situation.  And I wanted to know, not just what does the UN think about it, but is there any UN role in this?  And, if not, what does it say about the UN sort of action on Burundi?  It's one thing to defer maybe to the AU but this is the UE.  What is the UN doing about this?

Deputy Spokesman:  We are following up with all the various initiatives by regional parties including the African Union and the European Union and, of course, our Envoy dealing with the Great Lakes Region has been appraised of this so we are continuing to follow-up.

ICP:  But, I mean, is the EU really, can you… it is a regional organization but is it a regional organization with respect to Burundi?

Deputy Spokesman:  That is question for the European Union, not for me.

ICP:  Have you been contacted I guess is my question?

Deputy Spokesman:  But regarding this, we have been in touch with a variety of regional bodies including through the office of the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region but also through our Department of Political Affairs and will keep appraised of all the various actors in this.

  Back on October 20, Ban's deputy spokesperson Haq cited back to a written statement by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon more than a week ago; he said generally that MONUSCO like all UN mission affirms the right of freedom of the press. Really?

  Later on October 20 after Inner City Press asked UN rapporteur on torture Juan Mendez about Guantanamo and US prisons, in the hall after waiting through a number of questions in Spanish Inner City Press asked him if he'd received complaints about, or acted on, Burundi. No, he said, not yet. Really?

Update: later on October 20 it was announced that the UN's Jeff Feltman will briefing the Security Council behind closed doors on October 21. But what outcome with the Council's penholder, France, even ask for?

  On October 16 Inner City Press asked Haq if the UN thinks the government can investigate itself. This was based on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's October 15 statement that

"The Secretary-General condemns the killing of nine civilians and two police officers in Bujumbura on 13 October... He urges Burundian authorities to undertake a rigorous and prompt investigation into the circumstances and motives behind these despicable crimes in order to ensure that their perpetrators are brought to justice."

  So can the Nkurunziza government investigate itself (as the UN purports to be investigating or "auditing" itself in the wake of corruption revelation about former Presidnet of the General Assembly John Ashe among others)? Inner City Press asked this question (video here) as well as following up on this, from October 13:

Inner City Press: the Burundi question is one that maybe you can check with DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations].  Burundian human rights activists say that an officer, Jerome Ntibogora, N-t-i-b-o-g-o-r-a, who was accused of being involved in killing people in a… in a hospital after they fled from the Government, has now been deployed to MINUSMA [United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission] in Mali.  So I wanted to…

Spokesman Dujarric:  Let's see what we can find out.

  Dujarric did not come back with an answer, by this deputy when Inner City Pres asked again on October 16 said he, Ntibogora is not being deployed. We'll see - watch this site.

Amid crackdowns in Burundi by security forces, and allegations of sexual abuse by Burundian peacekeepers serving under the UN flag, UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous on October 1 held a meeting with Burundian Vice President Joseph Butore.

  Inner City Press has already tweeted a photograph of the meeting, but has now received the complete UN read-out, which raises more questions about Ladsous.

   On the crackdown, Ladsous assured Butore that he has a “pragmatic approach” and is of no mind to question what happens in any country, does not involve himself in "domestic affairs."

   On the sexual abuse allegations, Ladsous spoke only in platitudes, without requiring or even inquiring into any actions taken by the Burundians on the alleged abuse.

   Even though Burundi was already given a “grace period” to bring appropriate equipment into the Central African Republic for the MINUSCA mission, they have not done so. In the meeting, according to the read-out, Butore "acknowledged" the substandard equipment.

   Butore requested, and Ladsous for now granted, yet another extension to bring the requirement equipment -- until March 2016 for light equipment, and to June 2016 for heavy equipment.



  Is this safe - even for the Burundian soldiers at issue? While speaking through press releases, Ladsous' spokespeople, far from answering questions, go so far as to direct UNTV boom microphone operators to avoid Inner City Press, even preventing the Press from asking any questions to Mali's Foreign Minister Abdulaye Diop last week. We'll have more on all this.

ICP Asks UK Rycroft About Burundi Threats, CAR Rapes Report, FOIA

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 3 -- When UK Ambassador Matthew Rycroft held his Program of Work press conference about his upcoming month atop the Security Council on November 3, Inner City Press asked him about further threats in Burundi and if he expects the Council to take up the already-delayed UN panel of inquiry report into alleged peacekeeper rapes in the Central African Republic. Video here.

  Rycroft, who previously told Inner City Press of concerns about the threat of genocide in Burundi, said he paying close attention to developments in Burundi and that the Security Councill will take it up under Any Other Business or AOB.

 On the Central African Republic rapes and report, Rycroft said generally that those response should be held accountable. But will the Security Council get a copy of, and review and act on, the report Ban Ki-moon has commissioned?

  Back on October 30, Rycroft took and even answered Twitter questions for an hour, as the Council adopted a resolution about its Working Methods.

  Questions ranged from Yemen and the DR Congo to peacekeepers' sexual abuse, NGO involvement and transparency to the public of the Council's closed-door proceedings. Inner City Press asked Rycroft what he would do to make the Council more accessible to those impacted by it, for example in Burundi,  Yemen, Libya and Haiti, and if he or his Deputy Peter Wilson will hold question and answer stakeouts after closed consultations.

  The latter, Rycroft answered in the affirmative, adding that the UK mission will be using Periscope as well.
  On November 3, Inner City Press for the Free UN Coalition for Access said that since Rycroft had already committed to this (and thanked him), the FUNCA request is for the UK Presidency to experiment with a Security Council (Presidency) Freedom of Information Act or procedure. We'll have more on this.
 
  How to supplement stakeout over coverage by UNTV is a question Inner City Press has been working and 'Scoping on; the UK take will be interesting to see.

   Asking about the MONUSCO mission in the DR Congo, and by Inner City Press about the mission's failure to try to “neutralize” the FDLR militia, Rycroft replied with worry for civilians and the hope that the government will work with MONUSCO.

  Given questions about the government's commitment to go after the FDLR as it did the M23, and given that DPKO's Herve Ladsous said the mission could go after the FDLR on its own, why hasn't it? This question hasn't been answered, nor any comment or action on Ladsous, on camera, including peacekeepers' rapes to “R&R.”

 Rycroft was urged to engage with the Saudi mission about airstrikes in Yemen - one wonders, aren't weapons being sold? - and to open up to NGOs. To this, he agreed; it was pointed out not only that the usefulness of NGO submissions is uneven, but that the UN has allowed in the NGOs of the now-indicted Ng Lap Seng, Frank Lorenzo and Sheri Yan. We'll have more on this.

Back on September 23, Inner City Press asked Rycroft similar questions not in the UN but a dozen blocks away at a Digital Diplomacy / “Soft Power” event by Facebook and Portland Communications. #Periscope video [was] here.

   Rycroft told Inner City Press that the best Security Council meetings he's been in have allowed in outside voices; he noted it is still not the custom to tweet from inside consultations, though perhaps it should be.

  Inner City Press asked the US State Department's Moira Whelan about US Ambassador to Libya Deborah Jones quitting Twitter back in March, after one of her tweets about bombing of the Tawerga was attacked. Whelan said the State Department wants to support its diplomats when they come under fire; Rycroft said if a diplomat's intentions were good and well-considered, they should be supported even if things go wrong.

   Facebook's Katie Harbath mentioned that India Prime Minister Modi would be meeting with Mark Zuckerberg; an hour later at the Indian delegation's press conference in the Waldorf Astoria's huge Empire room, there was confirmation of this and other tech meetings for Modi. (Inner City Press asked about UN Peacekeeping, whose chief Herve Ladsous recently linked UN rapes to “R&R” on video, here.)

  There was talk of the UN and social media; from Inner City Press' and the new Free UN Coalition for Access' perspective, the UN itself far too infrequently responds and engages, and much of the corporate press corps resents new media coverage of the UN, for example with the old UN Correspondents Association's Valeria Robecco saying multimedia is NOT a photographer to block coverage of the Pope's visit, click here for that. But we will continue: watch this site.

Before UK Presidency of UN Security Council in November, Amb Matthew Rycroft Fields Questions on Yemen, DR Congo, Ladsous, Tells FUNCA Will Stake-out

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 30 -- As the UK takes over presidency of the UN Security Council for November, its Permanent Representative Matthew Rycroft took and even answered Twitter questions for an hour on the morning of October 30, as the Council adopted a resolution about its Working Methods.

  Questions ranged from Yemen and the DR Congo to peacekeepers' sexual abuse, NGO involvement and transparency to the public of the Council's closed-door proceedings. Inner City Press asked Rycroft what he would do to make the Council more accessible to those impacted by it, for example in Burundi,  Yemen, Libya and Haiti, and if he or his Deputy Peter Wilson will hold question and answer stakeouts after closed consultations.

  The latter, Rycroft answered in the affirmative, adding that the UK mission will be using Periscope as well.

  How to supplement stakeout over coverage by UNTV is a question Inner City Press has been working and 'Scoping on; the UK take will be interesting to see.

   Asking about the MONUSCO mission in the DR Congo, and by Inner City Press about the mission's failure to try to “neutralize” the FDLR militia, Rycroft replied with worry for civilians and the hope that the government will work with MONUSCO.

  Given questions about the government's commitment to go after the FDLR as it did the M23, and given that DPKO's Herve Ladsous said the mission could go after the FDLR on its own, why hasn't it? This question hasn't been answered, nor any comment or action on Ladsous, on camera, including peacekeepers' rapes to “R&R.”

 Rycroft was urged to engage with the Saudi mission about airstrikes in Yemen - one wonders, aren't weapons being sold? - and to open up to NGOs. To this, he agreed; it was pointed out not only that the usefulness of NGO submissions is uneven, but that the UN has allowed in the NGOs of the now-indicted Ng Lap Seng, Frank Lorenzo and Sheri Yan. We'll have more on this.

Back on September 23, Inner City Press asked Rycroft similar questions not in the UN but a dozen blocks away at a Digital Diplomacy / “Soft Power” event by Facebook and Portland Communications. #Periscope video [was] here.

   Rycroft told Inner City Press that the best Security Council meetings he's been in have allowed in outside voices; he noted it is still not the custom to tweet from inside consultations, though perhaps it should be.

  Inner City Press asked the US State Department's Moira Whelan about US Ambassador to Libya Deborah Jones quitting Twitter back in March, after one of her tweets about bombing of the Tawerga was attacked. Whelan said the State Department wants to support its diplomats when they come under fire; Rycroft said if a diplomat's intentions were good and well-considered, they should be supported even if things go wrong.

   Facebook's Katie Harbath mentioned that India Prime Minister Modi would be meeting with Mark Zuckerberg; an hour later at the Indian delegation's press conference in the Waldorf Astoria's huge Empire room, there was confirmation of this and other tech meetings for Modi. (Inner City Press asked about UN Peacekeeping, whose chief Herve Ladsous recently linked UN rapes to “R&R” on video, here.)

  There was talk of the UN and social media; from Inner City Press' and the new Free UN Coalition for Access' perspective, the UN itself far too infrequently responds and engages, and much of the corporate press corps resents new media coverage of the UN, for example with the old UN Correspondents Association's Valeria Robecco saying multimedia is NOT a photographer to block coverage of the Pope's visit, click here for that. But we will continue: watch this site.
 

On Iraq, Obama Set to "Play Some Offense," Inner City Press on Who Else May Play: Iraqi Letter to UN Security Council Confirmed

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 9 -- After the US on August 8 announced completion of its second air-drop of aid to Sinjar Mountain in Iraq, President Barack Obama on August 9 said “I don't think we're going to solve this problem in weeks."

   Obama said that the Iraq military when far from Baghdad did not have the commitment to hold ground against an aggressive adversary: that is, ISIL.  So, Obama said, would move to "play some offense."

  So, the question arises, who else is going to play?

 On August 9 Inner City Press was reliably and for then exclusively informed that Iraq had written to the UN Security Council invite any and all UN member states to deliver aid to areas controlled by Islamic State, with Iraq's agreement. [On August 9, the UK mission confirmed this to Inner City Press, below.]

  And so the question arises -- what about aid from Iran? From Russia? From China -- which has told the Press of $4.9 million in medical supplies to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone for ebola?

  At the US State Department's briefing on August 8, much as made of Iraq inviting the US, and only the US, in . But now, would others including Iran be welcome? Shouldn't they be?

  Aid is needed, and not only in Sinjar. 

Update of 10:18 am: Ten hours after publication of the above, Inner City Press asked the UK Mission, president of the Security Council for August, to confirm receipt of Iraq's letter. By email the Mission to its credit quickly responded, "Matthew, I can confirm the UNSC received a letter from the Perm Rep of Iraq that attached a resolution passed by the Parliament of the Republic of Iraq on 7 August, which calls on the UN and hum'n organisations to provide relief to refugees."

  We'll have more on this.

 Back on August 7 US President Barack Obama announced authorization for airstrikes on Iraq. Then three of his Senior Administration Officials (SAOs) held a 50 minute conference call with the press.

First, Inner City Press has reliably been informed that Iraq has only requested such military support from the US. This seem to leave France, which called for the Thursday evening meeting of the UN Security Council and said military action is indeed needed, out in the cold. (We note that France got invited to intervene in Mali, and the Central African Republic -- so there's that.)

On the White House background call, a SAO cited ISIL's “swift” moves Saturday, its “military proficiency,” and said the US coordinated with the Peshmerga. A SAO cited ISIL putting heads on spikes and enslaving women and said that on Sinjar mountain it's 120 degree F, in the day time.

A SAO said Secretary of State John Kerry spoke on August 7 with the foreign ministers of France, the UAE, Turkey and Jordan -- and cited the August 7 UN Security Council meeting (requested by France), see below.

On the military front, a SAO said that during the airdrop, planes were over the area for only 15 minutes, at low altitude (this was later formalized in a Department of Defense statement.)

A SAO confirms no airstrikes yet, but said the US stands ready. A SAO said this is authorized by the US Constitution, to protect US citizens for example in Erbil, also citing a “potential act of genocide”

(Given the numbers cited on Sinjar mountain, Inner City Press couldn't help wondering about 2009 when 40,000 people were cornered & killed in Sri Lanka.)

Finally, the SAOs were asked if President Obama is going to postpone his trip to Martha's Vineyard. A the UN one might ask if the UNSC still going to Belgium? The US SAO wouldn't answer on Martha's Vineyard, said Obama's day started early today with Ambassador Susan Rice, and later including John Kerry by video from Afghanistan -- this could be done on Martha's Vineyard. But what's the technology on the UN Security Council's planned trip? We hope to have more on this - watch this site.

Earlier on August 7 after 6:30 pm, Council president for August Mark Lyall Grant emerged to read a press statement, followed by question and answer stakeouts by French deputy Alexis Lamek and Iraqi Permanent Representative Alhakim.

  Inner City Press asked Lamek if France will take military action. While we'll await the French mission's transcript, Lamek eventually said "that needs to be done indeed."

  Inner City Press asked Alhakim about airdrops, if ISIL has anti-aircraft guns and if the dam has been taken over. This last, he denied, saying that ISIL does not control the dam.

Update: after those stakeouts, a senior US Department of Defense official told the press:

“I can confirm that tonight, at the direction of the Commander in Chief, the U.S. military conducted a humanitarian assistance operation in Northern Iraq to air drop critical meals and water for thousands of Iraqi citizens threatened by ISIL near Sinjar. The mission was conducted by a number of U.S. military aircraft under the direction of U.S. Central Command. The aircraft that dropped the humanitarian supplies have now safely exited the immediate airspace over the drop area.”

  And shortly after that, US President Barack Obama announced he has authorized airstrikes. He took no questions.

  There is a draft resolution in the works, with UK Ambassador Lyall Grant saying that a new draft would be circulated later on August 7. The Security Council leaves on August 8 for a week-long trip to Europe and South Sudan and perhaps some other places for now undisclosed. Some wonder how they will keep up not only with Iraq (and the Levant) but also Gaza and conceivably Ukraine and other matters.

  In a statement from Baghdad, the UN mission UNAMI announced that “over the last 48 hours 200,000 civilians have fled the advance of ISIL, with at least 180,000 crossing into the Dohuk district of the Kurdistan Region.” UNAMI said “up to 200,000 predominantly Yazidi civilians becoming trapped on Jabal Sinjar in territory not controlled by ISIL.”

 Even before the Security Council turned from its regularly scheduled Darfur meeting to the urgent session on Iraq, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, not in the UN but "in New York" according to his public schedule, put out a statement calling on those with “resources to positively impact the situation to support the Government.”

 Did that mean air strikes?

On July 25 after the UN Security Council met behind closed doors with the Syria Commission of Inquiry's Paulo Sergio Pinheiro and Karen AbuZayd, the two Commissioners and UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant came to take questions from the press.

  Karen AbuZayd spoke of abuses not only by the government but also, in response to a question, by what she called the Islamic State of Iraq and [Syria], ISIL. 

  Inner City Press when called on asked her about ISIS' takeover of border crossing, renaming as Islamic State and attacks on non-Sunni Muslims in Mosul.

In this context, what did she think of hers or another Commission of Inquiry covering the group's abuses in Iraq as well? Bigger picture, does the state by state focus of the UN make sense in this context?

  AbuZayd said she prefers not to call them “Islamic State,” it give them too much credit. Pinheiro resisted any talk of expanding his Commission's mandate -- Syria is enough.

  A US state media asked about foreign fighters, including pro-government; Pinheiro said that Hezbollah is the only group of foreign fighters he's away of.

 This is strange, given that the UN's own recent report on Syria humanitarian access notes that “on June 29, the Islamic State issued a statement announcing that the Caliphate included people from the following nationalities: Caucasian [sic], Indian, Chinese, Shami (Levantine), Iraqi, Yemeni, Egyptian, North African, American, French, German, and Australians." Watch this site.

Footnote: one wanted to ask AbuZayd about developments -- to put it mildly -- in Gaza, where she used to head UNRWA, but this too was deemed beyond the scope of the stakeout. Another former Gaza hand, John Ging, has been speaking on the topic this week. Perhaps we'll hear from Ms. AbuZayd. We'll be watching.

   

UK's Lyall Grant Pitches Federalism on Somalia, Of Whistleblowers & Security Council Reforms

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 27 -- When UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant took media questions at the end of his month's presidency of the UN Security Council, predictably most of them dealt with Syria and relatedly the Golan Heights.

But at least three of the 14 press stakeouts he did in June were about Somalia, not least about the deadly attack on the UN compound in Mogadishu. So on Thursday Inner City Press asked Lyall Grant three questions about Somalia.

First, how did he view Kenya's role in the Kismayo / Jubaland fighting? Second, would he acknowledge that the way the Security Council drafted the new UNSOM mandate has resulted in Somaliland ordering UNSOM out?

Finally, Inner City Press asked Lyall Grant if he thought the UN and its Department of Peacekeeping Operations should offer a substantive response, and a confirmation or denial, of a Mogadishu whistleblower's allegation that David Bax of the UN Mine Action Service shares information with UN intelligence?

Inner City Press first reported on the allegation on June 22.Despite direct requests to DPKO, UNMAS and even via Twitter to UN envoy to Somalia Nicholas Kay (clearly busy after the bombing, but the question is related), all the UN has said is they won't discuss what the whistleblower sent to Herve Ladsous. But what about the charges, a simple yes or no?

  Lyall Grant did not answer this last, but did offer a lengthy answer on federalism -- like in the UK -- as the solution to Somalia's problems. See transcription, below.

  At the end of the press conference, Lyall Grant listed steps toward transparency, including the 14 stakeouts for which the new Free UN Coalition for Access had thanked him. Inner City Press asked about one of the demands in the past of the “Small Five,” and now of ACT -- that the Council not make final decisions in open debates until it hears from the non-Council members.

  In fact, on topics on which the Council deigns to hear from the non-members, why not give them some role in drafting and negotiating the thematic resolution? Lyall Grant replied that the UK is flexible, even to “radical” ideas like non-Council members at times speaking before Council members.

Reform is slow in the UN -- but a response should be given to the troubling allegations of the Mogadishu whistleblower. Updates should be given on accountability for the 135 rapes in Minova by the Congolese Army, and now on all stepsChad takes to get off the UN child soldier recruiters list, while it is getting paid for peacekeeping in Mali. Watch this site.

Here is the UK Mission to the UN's transcription:

Inner City Press: On behalf of the Free UN Coalition for Access, thanks, not only for this briefing, but that you did fourteen stakeouts so it may be a new record, so that was a good in terms of after consultations. I wanted to ask you about Somalia. Three of the fourteen having been about Somalia and also, not just the bombing, but it seems like, although there’s, I know Mr Feltman’s there and he is saying things are the most positive they’ve been in two decades, it seems like in Kismayo, first I wanted to ask you whether you think that Kenya has some role in the sense of supporting at least one of the parties that wants to make a Jubaland there and also, in Somalialand, whether the Council, in writing the new mandate, may have – obviously there’s been a lot of push back. And finally, I’ve learned that the UN Mine Action Service in Somalia, in Mogadishu, there seems to be allegations that somehow they shared information with US intelligence. And this is something that the UN has failed to deny, despite UN whistleblower there with pretty serious information so I wonder... I don’t know what to say to that. I know that you are a person that, you’re a Permanent Member and you look at the Secretariat a lot. Do you think that this is the type of thing that the Secretariat should either come out and confirm or deny and do you think that there is any way in which a UN agency should share information with the intelligence of a Permanent 5 Member. Thanks.

Amb Lyall Grant: Thank you. I can’t comment at all really on that last question, Matthew, because I am not aware of the facts of that... I wasn’t even aware of the allegation that you referred to. On the role of Kenya: I mean Kenya has been part of the AMISOM force for some time. It wasn’t there originally in Somalia as part of AMISOM of course. They went across the border into Somalia for their own reasons, but they have been integrated into AMISOM and therefore they take instructions from the AMISOM force commander. What is important, in our view, is that there should be a proper dialogue between the centre and the regions. We believe in the territorial integrity of Somalia but it needs to have a federal constitution. It needs to have a proper relationship between the centre and the regions. Many countries, including my own, do have such a system and I think that’s the sort of constitution Somalia will need if it is to hold together, so we want Jubaland, we want Somilaland, we want Puntland, we want all the different regions of Somalia to be constituent parts of the state of federal Somalia, so that is still to be worked out. The government is new. The transition has passed, but it is still a new government and those issues need to be worked through. Now we strongly support the President. He recognises what needs to be done. He is trying to work on the Kismayo issue, but it’s not easy. After twenty years of civil war and conflict in Somalia, where large parts of the country are still being occupied and run by Al-Shabaab, it is not easy for the President and the federal authorities to make progress on the sort of political dialogue and constitutional arrangements that we think is going to be necessary, but there is, as I mentioned before, strong Security Council unity on this issues and there is a lot of international support that is going into Mogadishu, so I think, I’m optimistic. The situation fragile, but I’m optimistic that Somalia has seen... the worst of the history is behind it.

  

UK Positions on Somalialand, Press Freedom, Mau Mau, Echoes & Tweets

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 6 -- The UK is very concerned about Somalia. How else to explain their Africa Minister Mark Simmonds arriving in New York to chair a Somalia meeting of the UN Security Council under the UK's presidency, just as the UK's Nicholas Kay takes over the UN mission in Mogadishu?

  We say Mogadishu because it remain unclear, at least to us, what the UK's stance is on Somalialand, its former colony. The UN system handed over its airspace to Mogadishu as well, despite the impact on flights which could have but were not replaced by the EU-funded "Humanitarian Air Service."

  Somaliland couldn't even get their letter to the Security Council circulated to the 15 members earlier this year. Even news of the letter was tightly controlled. But has that become the UK way?

  As we've inquired into since May, and reported on each day this month, the UK is literally presiding over the roll-back in (new) media access to the Security Council from what existed not only during the Council's renovation relocation but also before it. 

  Before, there was a media worktable right by the Council's entrance and journalists could work there with laptops and speak to diplomats and UN officials like Kay now in as they met in and out of the Council.

Now there is a rule, agreed to by the old UN Correspondents Association executive committee largely dominated by UK favorite Reuters as wells the BBC which for now provides:

"f. The Security Council stakeout area, including the Turkish Lounge, is not to be used as a permanent workspace for the media."

Even a small fold-able table set up by the new Free UN Coalition for Access on June 3, the first working day of the UK presidency, was seized and taken away. Very funny.

  Then when Inner City Press for FUNCA asked UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant if he supported continued media workspace at the Council and if so what he would do about it, Lyall Grant said this is a matter for the UN Department of Public Information and "the journalists" -- it's becoming clear which journalists. Even the UK's transcript of Lyall Grant's press conference mis-represents the questions. Is always easier to dodge a question other than the one asked. Compare transcript to UN web cast video, from Minute 17:32.

Who is responsible? In other news, the UK apologizes for Mau Mau torture - but says it is not liable.

So coming full circle, what will be the UK's position on press freedom in Somalia, say? They want to be close to the new government, and so operate with kid gloves.

Even when, despite their position on blog-style new media reporting at the Security Council, their diplomats respond on social media, as UK ambassador to Jordan Peter Millett did yesterday, they speak in grand principles which are not tied down and applied what's actually in front of them, like Jordon blocking over 200 web sites. We are, as noted, experimenting. Watch this site.

On ICC and Sudan, No UN Response on ICC Indictee Ali Kushayb Rampages, Chad Courted for UN's Mali Mission

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 5 -- Sudan and the International Criminal Court are on the UK Presidency's program of work for the UN Security Council for this morning. A UK government twitter account has announced it will be covering it. (There are obstacles, under the UK Presidency, to independent blog-style social media coverage of the Council, hence today's approach, click here for that.)

  So what is the UN doing about the ICC indictees in Sudan? The UN has offered free flights on UN helicopters to indictee Ahmed Haroun, as Inner City Press covered extensively.

  On June 4, Inner City Press asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson Martin Nesirky:

Inner City Press: in Darfur it is reported that, that, that, that Ali Kushayb, who is one of the ICC [International Criminal Court] indictees, was seen in April as part of an attack on a village; and I wanted to know, since UNAMID is there, are they aware of that? Are they aware of the involvement of an ICC-indicted individual in this attack and, if so, what do they think of it? Do they think that this proves that that the ongoing involvement of these individuals in war crimes?

Spokesperson Nesirky: I’ll check with UNAMID, Matthew. I think you had one other question.

  Yes, but what about that one? In the 19 hours since, no answer from UNAMID or DPKO has been provided. In fact, the update on the Congolese Army's 135 rapes in Minova that Inner City Press asked DPKO chief Herve Ladsous for on May 29 -- he said, "You know I don't respond to you," video here -- has still not been provided.

  How about Chad, which invited indictee Omar al Bashir but is being courted to be part of the UN mission in Mali? So what about the UN and the ICC indictees? Watch this site.