On DR Congo, Inner City Press Asks UN of Fighting ADF Without Gov't, FDLR Left Alone

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, December 2 -- Amid reports the UN in the DR Congo is fighting the ADF without the government's support, while refusing to similarly fight the FDLR, Innner City Press on December 2 asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, transcript here:

Inner City Press:  there are very detailed quotes from South African military officials saying that the Government said, “Don't do it,” and that the Government is trying to use non-cooperation or orders against the attack on ADF as leverage to both reduce the troop strength of MONUSCO [United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo] and to get the war… generals accused of war criminals to participate in UN war activities.  So, it seems like you should… like, is that not the case?  Do you maintain that the Government is fully cooperating with this…?

Spokesman:  I think what I'm telling you is that the UN operates its… fulfils its mandate in these particular instances in support of the Government.  As for operational or tactical details, I don't have those.

Inner City Press:  Just the one follow-up on that would be, if it's, as seems to be, at least, South Africa is stating, the UN feels comfortable taking military actions that it thinks is in support of the Government without the Government's full support.  Why hasn't it taken any of those against the FDLR [Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda], where the lack of Government cooperation is used as the excuse?

Spokesman:  I think each operation has its own… is sui generis, and I'm not going to second-guess the military decisions taken by the commanders on the ground."

 Inner City Press on October 7 exclusively reported the MONUSCO mission's use of 76 rockets and 400 rounds of ammunition near Pinga, which sources told Inner City Press resulted in civilian death, which Ladsous' DPKO then reflexively denied or covered up. Inner City Press raised this within the Security Council's P3 members as well, so far without effective response or reform.

 Now Le Monde belatedly chimes in -- with a storyagreeing that MONUSCO is failing, but also trying to say that Ladsous' DPKO is being falsely accused. If so, they have only themselves to blame: rather than respond to Inner City Press' October 7 noon briefing question with details, the UN had a carefully worded statement which remains at odds with what Inner City Press is informed as said at the internal DPKO / DFS meeting about the incident.

  And why WAS Ladsous' DPKO deploying this amount of force against a "minor" group and not the FDLR? Inner City Press has previously noted Ladsous' role in 1994, including this memo. We -- but perhaps not Le Monde -- will have more on this.

   Sources tell Inner City Press of a DPKO meeting concerning an excessive use of force by the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), through its Force Intervention Brigade, using 76 rockets or missiles and up to 400 rounds of ammunition near Pinga in Eastern Congo, ostensibly against the Mai Mai Cheka group.

   But at least one civilians was killed. There was no impartial investigation, the sources say. Rather, Ladsous' DPKO went in itself, and conveniently “discovered” a gun near the killed civilians, much like  some police departments “drop a piece” after a questionable shooting.

   Inner City Press is informed, by different sources, that this has been discussed among senior officials in Ladsous' DPKO, at the DPKO / DFS Directors' meeting on the morning of October 7.

   So why wasn't this said at the Security Council and stakeout where Kobler bragged to Inner City Press about the “zero tolerance” policy (while Ladsous has, on camera, linked rape to “R&R”)?

What is the mechanism to disclose the killing of civilians under Ladsous' DPKO? We'll have more on this - and on Ladsous including one of his meetings during UN General Assembly debate week. Ladsous' spokespeople, far from answering questions, go so far as to direct UNTV boom microphone operators to avoid Inner City Press, evenpreventing the Press from asking any questions to Mali's Foreign Minister Abdulaye Diop last week. We'll have more on all this.

In DR Congo, UN Envoy Kobler Calls for Action on FDLR & ADF in Beni, But Like Envoy Still Silent on Collusion

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, December 7, more here -- After more attacks in Beni in Eastern Congo, UN envoy Martin Kobler has today called for joint UN and Congolese Army actions against the perpetrators. 

  Not addressed are allegations that the Congolese Army FARDC has colluded with these and some other rebels, including the FDLR.  

 Questions have only grown as to why the UN's Force Intervention Brigade was deployed only against the M23, and not the ADF or FDLR.  

 Put atop UN Peacekeeping is Herve Ladsous, who argued for the escape of FDLR genocidaires into East Congo as France's Deputy Permanent Representative in 1994. Ladsous has refused to answer Press questions about this - videos here - and now about covering up rapes in Darfur, here.

   Earlier in the week amid continued slaughter in Eastern Congo, with the government having thrown UN rights expert Scott Campbell out of the country, on December 2 there was an "urgent" press release by the Team of Special Envoys.

  The Envoys on December 2 called for action to be taken against the ADF and, once again, the FDLR. Now on December 7, Kobler's call, Google translated:

Kinshasa, December 7, 2014 - "I am deeply shocked by the brutal massacres last night in the localities of Ahili and Manzanzanba. I condemn in the strongest terms these despicable acts that aim to maintain a climate of terror in the region, "railed the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in the DRC.

"The proliferation of joint actions MONUSCO-FARDC is vital urgency and I call on all partners to strengthen cooperation to enable more immediate interventions and increase preventive patrols," insisted Martin Kobler.

Note to editors:

1. A team of MONUSCO and the FARDC and PNC are on hand to check the facts and secure the area.

2. The killings took place in the two localities Ahili and Manzanzanba west of Maimoya in the great north of the North Kivu province.

3. On December 3, the Head of MONUSCO, the Ambassador of Great Britain in DRC, Tim Morris, and representatives of the US embassies and France had visited Blessed to express the same voices concern after the terrorist attacks in recent weeks in the territory of Beni.

4. On 5 December, Mr. Kobler had returned to Erengeti call for stronger joint action MONUSCO-FARDC. He also asked the people to maintain direct contact with the forces of MONUSCO to facilitate immediate interventions.

  As to the Congolese Army FARDC, it's worth noting that US Ambassador Samantha Power tweeted last week, "Nov 20 ADF massacre of 80+ in DRC just latest appalling atrocity. If true, reported FARDC collusion deplorable. Need investigation & justice."

  The Envoys' statement make no mention of this possible FARDC collusion.

  The Special Envoy's making today's call are UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region Said Djinnit, the US Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Russ Feingold, the African Union Special Representative for the Great Lakes region Boubacar Diarra, the European Union Senior Coordinator for the Great Lakes region Koen Vervaeke, the Belgium Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Franck de Coninck and UN SRSG Martin Kobler.

  Back on October 27 with the Democratic Republic of the Congo the topic in the UN Security Council, Inner City Press put questions to UN envoy Martin Kobler and Great Lakes envoy Said Djinnit after the meeting, video here.

  On the FDLR, Inner City Press asked Kobler of Rwandan Ambassador Gasana's statement that Rwanda told the UN of locations where the FDLR was not mixed in with civilians, but not action was taken.

  Kobler said that the region had put the deadline for disarmament at January 2 -- two days after Rwanda's two year Security Council membership ends -- and Djinnit added that "pressure should start" on January 2. Start?

  Inner City Press' question about the more than 100 disarmed fighters who died of starvation in a DRC Army camp was not answered. 

  After Kobler referred to the UN's stated Human Rights Due Diligence Policy, Inner City Press asked him if any UN support was withdrawn over the DRC Army's 130 rapes in Minova and only two convictions. Kobler's answer did not mention any aid suspended. 

  Finally, as Kobler said "au revoir," Inner City Press asked why another MONUSCO drone had crashed. Kobler to his credit returned to the microphone and cited weather, while saying the investigation is not complete. We'll have more on this. 

  Earlier in the Council, Kobler recounted an attack on the UN base in Beni and praised "decisive action" by peacekeepers to turn it back.

 But wire services reported that UN "peacekeepers fired live rounds to disperse hundreds of people protesting outside a UN base in the eastern Congolese town of Beni." Inner City Press on October 22 asked UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq to confirm or deny this live fire.

  Haq, who had read-out a vague account of events in Beni, video here,said that's not the information the UN has. So has the UN sought any correction from Reuters, and from Voice of America which despite its budget just re-ran the Reuters story?

  Later in the UN Security Council meeting, Rwanda's Ambassador Gasana noted that while the UN is spending $2 billion a year on its mission in the DRC, the FDLR militia is still there. Not present at the meeting was UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous: 1994 memo here,2014 Vine here.

  The DRC's speech, eight pages in length, defended the government's expulsion of UN human rights official Scott Campbell, mentioning him eight times - but did not update or mention even once the DRC Army's 130 rapes in Minova, for which only two soldiers were convicted. We'll have more on this.

  And overall, should the UN be using live fire on protesters? Should the UN be working with the Congolese security forces who unquestionably use such live fire, even according to the UN?

After the DR Congo government of Joseph Kabila threw UN human rights official Scott Campbell out of the country, on October 21 Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for the Security Council to consider taking action on it.

  But why does his Department of Peacekeeping Operations under Herve Ladsous continue working with the Congolese security forces, as it continued even with the Army units involved in 130 rapes in Minova in November 2012?

 On October 21, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Stphane Dujarric: 

Inner City Press: Let me ask on the Scott Campbell expulsion, it seems like the Secretary-General is asking the Security Council to take action but the Secretariat itself has the power.  Can you say that… what would you say to those who say MONUSCO continues to actively work with the DRC army and police and to provide material support to FARDC [Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo] actions.  This is something that DPKO itself could suspend.  Are they asking the Security Council to tell them to enforce some policy, or what?

Spokesman Dujarric: The Security Council will have to decide what it needs to do.  MONUSCO obviously has a mandate that it's implementing.  It's continuing to work to implement its wide mandate.  I think the Secretary-General's call to the Government of the DRC could not be clearer.

Inner City Press: But does MONUSCO work in support or in conjunction with the units named in Mr. Campbell's report in terms of the Congolese police?  Does the human rights due diligence policy of DPKO apply to this instance?

Spokesman Dujarric: I will… my understanding is they do not, but we'll see what more details we can dig up.

  Twenty four hours later, no "details" had been dug up, or at least none were provided to Inner City Press. So Inner City Press asked Haq, yes or no, does MONUSCO work with those Congolese security units. Video here.

 Haq said they are police, not the army. So? Does the UN not know who it is working with? Or does it only not want to say?

Back on Friday October 17 Inner City Press asked Dujarric:

Inner City Press: I wanted to ask the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo said it’s throwing Scott Campbell, the human rights UN person in the country, out of the country.  And Lambert Mende has been quoted saying this has taken place.  What’s the reaction to that? 

  Dujarric had a prepared statement, beginning "On the issue of Scott Campbell, we’ve seen the reports.  None of these reports have been confirmed to us." (Full exchange on video here.)

   But Campbell has already LEFT the DRC by then: a UN statement issued on October 19 says "Mr. Campbell left the DRC on Friday for long planned holidays."

  UN Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous still supports the DRC Army units which committed over 130 rapes in Minova in November 2012 after losing a battle to the M23 rebels, despite only two soldiers being convicted of rape. What message did Ladsous send by non enforcing the UN's claimed Human Rights Due Diligence Policy?

  And after using its Force Intervention Brigade to "neutralize" the M23 - dozens of the disarmed fighters were put in a DRC Army camp and starved to death -- Ladsous' MONUSCO has yet to even try to neutralized the genocide-linked FDLR. What message has that sent?

   When Kabila was in Washington in August, his entourage beat up protesters and left the country without prosecution, as recounted below.

Six weeks after Inner City Press began asking the UN questions about its MONUSCO mission flying the FDLR's sanctioned leader from Eastern Congo to Kinsasha, on August 7 the Press was able to ask MONUSCO chief Martin Kobler directly. Video here and embedded below.

   But the night before Kobler's appearance, along with Mary Robinson and Russ Feingold, at the UN Security Council's Democratic Republic of the Congo debate, DRC President Joseph Kabila's bodyguards were beating up protesters 200 miles south in Washington. US State Department deputy spokesperson Marie Harf on August 8 said:

"We are troubled by the attacks against several protesters by members of the official delegation from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  It was Wednesday evening.  Take the right to freedom of expression very seriously, and violence against peaceful protesters is totally unacceptable.  We communicated our concern to the delegation in the strongest possible terms.  We requested waivers of immunity to permit those involved to face prosecution, and if such waivers were not issued, we required that the immediate departure from the country of the individuals involved.  They did not waive immunity and the individuals involved left the country on Thursday."

 So amid the speeches in the Security Council on Thursday, August 7, officials from the DRC were leaving the US after attacking protesters and refusing to waive immunity.

   On August 7 in New York, Kobler said it had been transparent, than when the UN Security Council's sanctions committee denied the waiver requested by Herve Ladsous, the FDLR leader was returned "to the bush."

  Inner City Press asked, isn't he subject to an arrest warrant in Rwanda? Kobler said he was unaware of that.

  On the mere two convictions for the 130 rapes by the Congolese Army in Minova in November 2012, Kobler said the legal process was OK --video here -- but that the investigation was not sufficient.

  The third Press questions, which Kobler did not answer, concerned the rehabilitation of General Amisi after a failure to investigate the charges against him. We will have more on this.

  On back June 27 amid reports that the UN flew a sanctioned militia leader of the FDLR militia on a UN aircraft in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Stephane Dujurric about it at the UN noon briefing on June 27:

Inner City Press: why did MONUSCO [United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo] fly him to Goma to Kisangani and then to Kinshasa when, in fact, I think there’s an arrest warrant for him?

Spokesman Dujarric: I’m not aware of any other services provided to him by MONUSCO.

 But it turns out that UN Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous flew the sanctioned FDLR leader from Eastern Congo to Kinshasa. Rwanda complained about this, in writing, on June 26.

  On July 16, Inner City Press asked Rwanda's Deputy Permanent Representative what has been Ladsous' Department of Peacekeeping Operations' response. 

  There has BEEN no response - in more than three weeks. Video here, and embedded below.

  Little more than an hour later, Ladsous floated into the Security Council to talk about Central African Republic -- without having answered a written complaint from a Security Council member in more than three weeks. We call this: unaccountable. 

Dujarric on June 27, and in the subsequent times Inner City Press asked, insisted that not only Mary Robinson (who today left her post as the UN's Great Lakes envoy) but also US envoy Russ Feingold requested the waiver, and that the FDLR leader Gaston Iyamuremye a/k/a Rumuli had not traveled to Rome, arguing that only that was important.

  Inner City Press disagrees -- why would UN Peacekeeping underHerve Ladsous given his history on Rwanda, representing France in the Security Council in 1994 arguing for the escape of the genocidaires into Eastern Congo, fly a sanctioned FDLR figure linked to the genocide around? 

  On July 15,  Haq said Rumuli  was escorted from Kinshasa back to the east. Video here.

  Inner City Press asked about MONUSCO escorting Rumuli.

  Haq said what he had read did not say MONUSCO did the escorting. So who did? And if not the UN, how does the UN know where Rumuli went? Watch this site.

   

On DR Congo, Envoys Belated Call for Action on FDLR & ADF, Silent on Reported Collusion by Congolese Army

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, December 1, more here -- Amid continued slaughter in Eastern Congo, with the government having thrown UN rights expert Scott Campbell out of the country, on Tuesday came a "urgent" press release by the Team of Special Envoys.

  The Envoys are now calling for action to be taken against the ADF and, once again, the FDLR.

  The Envoys "encourage the DRC government to engage a robust military action against this group with the support of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DRC and its Force Intervention Brigade.  The Envoys also call for similar action against all the other armed groups in the region, chief among them the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, which have been under international pressure to dismantle by 2 January or face military action. The Envoys take note of the start of the voluntary relocation to Kisangani of some FDLR elements. They urge the FDLR to take advantage of the situation and to fully surrender and disarm as requested by the leaders of the region. Likewise, the group of Envoys recalls the urgency to complete the demobilization process of the former 23 March Movement (M23) combatants, in coordination with concerned regional states."

   Of course, the Force Intervention Brigade was directed against M23 -- but not the ADF, nor the FDLR. Many have questioned whether it will ever be used against FDLR, including due to the top position at UN Peacekeeping being held by Herve Ladsous, who argued for the escape of the genocidaires into Eastern Congo as France's Deputy Permanent Representative in the Security Council in 1994.

  As to the Congolese Army FARDC, it's worth noting that US Ambassador Samantha Power tweeted last week, "Nov 20 ADF massacre of 80+ in DRC just latest appalling atrocity. If true, reported FARDC collusion deplorable. Need investigation & justice."

  The Envoys' statement make no mention of this possible FARDC collusion.

  The Special Envoy's making today's call are UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region Said Djinnit, the US Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Russ Feingold, the African Union Special Representative for the Great Lakes region Boubacar Diarra, the European Union Senior Coordinator for the Great Lakes region Koen Vervaeke, the Belgium Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Franck de Coninck and UN SRSG Martin Kobler.

  Back on October 27 with the Democratic Republic of the Congo the topic in the UN Security Council, Inner City Press put questions to UN envoy Martin Kobler and Great Lakes envoy Said Djinnit after the meeting, video here.

  On the FDLR, Inner City Press asked Kobler of Rwandan Ambassador Gasana's statement that Rwanda told the UN of locations where the FDLR was not mixed in with civilians, but not action was taken.

  Kobler said that the region had put the deadline for disarmament at January 2 -- two days after Rwanda's two year Security Council membership ends -- and Djinnit added that "pressure should start" on January 2. Start?

  Inner City Press' question about the more than 100 disarmed fighters who died of starvation in a DRC Army camp was not answered. 

  After Kobler referred to the UN's stated Human Rights Due Diligence Policy, Inner City Press asked him if any UN support was withdrawn over the DRC Army's 130 rapes in Minova and only two convictions. Kobler's answer did not mention any aid suspended. 

  Finally, as Kobler said "au revoir," Inner City Press asked why another MONUSCO drone had crashed. Kobler to his credit returned to the microphone and cited weather, while saying the investigation is not complete. We'll have more on this. 

  Earlier in the Council, Kobler recounted an attack on the UN base in Beni and praised "decisive action" by peacekeepers to turn it back.

 But wire services reported that UN "peacekeepers fired live rounds to disperse hundreds of people protesting outside a UN base in the eastern Congolese town of Beni." Inner City Press on October 22 asked UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq to confirm or deny this live fire.

  Haq, who had read-out a vague account of events in Beni, video here,said that's not the information the UN has. So has the UN sought any correction from Reuters, and from Voice of America which despite its budget just re-ran the Reuters story?

  Later in the UN Security Council meeting, Rwanda's Ambassador Gasana noted that while the UN is spending $2 billion a year on its mission in the DRC, the FDLR militia is still there. Not present at the meeting was UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous: 1994 memo here,2014 Vine here.

  The DRC's speech, eight pages in length, defended the government's expulsion of UN human rights official Scott Campbell, mentioning him eight times - but did not update or mention even once the DRC Army's 130 rapes in Minova, for which only two soldiers were convicted. We'll have more on this.

  And overall, should the UN be using live fire on protesters? Should the UN be working with the Congolese security forces who unquestionably use such live fire, even according to the UN?

After the DR Congo government of Joseph Kabila threw UN human rights official Scott Campbell out of the country, on October 21 Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for the Security Council to consider taking action on it.

  But why does his Department of Peacekeeping Operations under Herve Ladsous continue working with the Congolese security forces, as it continued even with the Army units involved in 130 rapes in Minova in November 2012?

 On October 21, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Stphane Dujarric: 

Inner City Press: Let me ask on the Scott Campbell expulsion, it seems like the Secretary-General is asking the Security Council to take action but the Secretariat itself has the power.  Can you say that… what would you say to those who say MONUSCO continues to actively work with the DRC army and police and to provide material support to FARDC [Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo] actions.  This is something that DPKO itself could suspend.  Are they asking the Security Council to tell them to enforce some policy, or what?

Spokesman Dujarric: The Security Council will have to decide what it needs to do.  MONUSCO obviously has a mandate that it's implementing.  It's continuing to work to implement its wide mandate.  I think the Secretary-General's call to the Government of the DRC could not be clearer.

Inner City Press: But does MONUSCO work in support or in conjunction with the units named in Mr. Campbell's report in terms of the Congolese police?  Does the human rights due diligence policy of DPKO apply to this instance?

Spokesman Dujarric: I will… my understanding is they do not, but we'll see what more details we can dig up.

  Twenty four hours later, no "details" had been dug up, or at least none were provided to Inner City Press. So Inner City Press asked Haq, yes or no, does MONUSCO work with those Congolese security units. Video here.

 Haq said they are police, not the army. So? Does the UN not know who it is working with? Or does it only not want to say?

Back on Friday October 17 Inner City Press asked Dujarric:

Inner City Press: I wanted to ask the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo said it’s throwing Scott Campbell, the human rights UN person in the country, out of the country.  And Lambert Mende has been quoted saying this has taken place.  What’s the reaction to that? 

  Dujarric had a prepared statement, beginning "On the issue of Scott Campbell, we’ve seen the reports.  None of these reports have been confirmed to us." (Full exchange on video here.)

   But Campbell has already LEFT the DRC by then: a UN statement issued on October 19 says "Mr. Campbell left the DRC on Friday for long planned holidays."

  UN Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous still supports the DRC Army units which committed over 130 rapes in Minova in November 2012 after losing a battle to the M23 rebels, despite only two soldiers being convicted of rape. What message did Ladsous send by non enforcing the UN's claimed Human Rights Due Diligence Policy?

  And after using its Force Intervention Brigade to "neutralize" the M23 - dozens of the disarmed fighters were put in a DRC Army camp and starved to death -- Ladsous' MONUSCO has yet to even try to neutralized the genocide-linked FDLR. What message has that sent?

   When Kabila was in Washington in August, his entourage beat up protesters and left the country without prosecution, as recounted below.

Six weeks after Inner City Press began asking the UN questions about its MONUSCO mission flying the FDLR's sanctioned leader from Eastern Congo to Kinsasha, on August 7 the Press was able to ask MONUSCO chief Martin Kobler directly. Video here and embedded below.

   But the night before Kobler's appearance, along with Mary Robinson and Russ Feingold, at the UN Security Council's Democratic Republic of the Congo debate, DRC President Joseph Kabila's bodyguards were beating up protesters 200 miles south in Washington. US State Department deputy spokesperson Marie Harf on August 8 said:

"We are troubled by the attacks against several protesters by members of the official delegation from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  It was Wednesday evening.  Take the right to freedom of expression very seriously, and violence against peaceful protesters is totally unacceptable.  We communicated our concern to the delegation in the strongest possible terms.  We requested waivers of immunity to permit those involved to face prosecution, and if such waivers were not issued, we required that the immediate departure from the country of the individuals involved.  They did not waive immunity and the individuals involved left the country on Thursday."

 So amid the speeches in the Security Council on Thursday, August 7, officials from the DRC were leaving the US after attacking protesters and refusing to waive immunity.

   On August 7 in New York, Kobler said it had been transparent, than when the UN Security Council's sanctions committee denied the waiver requested by Herve Ladsous, the FDLR leader was returned "to the bush."

  Inner City Press asked, isn't he subject to an arrest warrant in Rwanda? Kobler said he was unaware of that.

  On the mere two convictions for the 130 rapes by the Congolese Army in Minova in November 2012, Kobler said the legal process was OK --video here -- but that the investigation was not sufficient.

  The third Press questions, which Kobler did not answer, concerned the rehabilitation of General Amisi after a failure to investigate the charges against him. We will have more on this.

  On back June 27 amid reports that the UN flew a sanctioned militia leader of the FDLR militia on a UN aircraft in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Stephane Dujurric about it at the UN noon briefing on June 27:

Inner City Press: why did MONUSCO [United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo] fly him to Goma to Kisangani and then to Kinshasa when, in fact, I think there’s an arrest warrant for him?

Spokesman Dujarric: I’m not aware of any other services provided to him by MONUSCO.

 But it turns out that UN Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous flew the sanctioned FDLR leader from Eastern Congo to Kinshasa. Rwanda complained about this, in writing, on June 26.

  On July 16, Inner City Press asked Rwanda's Deputy Permanent Representative what has been Ladsous' Department of Peacekeeping Operations' response. 

  There has BEEN no response - in more than three weeks. Video here, and embedded below.

  Little more than an hour later, Ladsous floated into the Security Council to talk about Central African Republic -- without having answered a written complaint from a Security Council member in more than three weeks. We call this: unaccountable. 

Dujarric on June 27, and in the subsequent times Inner City Press asked, insisted that not only Mary Robinson (who today left her post as the UN's Great Lakes envoy) but also US envoy Russ Feingold requested the waiver, and that the FDLR leader Gaston Iyamuremye a/k/a Rumuli had not traveled to Rome, arguing that only that was important.

  Inner City Press disagrees -- why would UN Peacekeeping underHerve Ladsous given his history on Rwanda, representing France in the Security Council in 1994 arguing for the escape of the genocidaires into Eastern Congo, fly a sanctioned FDLR figure linked to the genocide around? 

  On July 15,  Haq said Rumuli  was escorted from Kinshasa back to the east. Video here.

  Inner City Press asked about MONUSCO escorting Rumuli.

  Haq said what he had read did not say MONUSCO did the escorting. So who did? And if not the UN, how does the UN know where Rumuli went? Watch this site.

   

From DRC to Central African Republic, UN Won't Answer on Leaders Flight or Selection

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 22 -- UN Peacekeeping, what it knows and how its decisions are made, remains shrouded in mystery as questions mount. 

  On April 22 at noon Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric three questions: to confirm that ADF-NALU's leader Jamil Mukulu has left Eastern Congo, and to describe how a replacement of the leader of the Force Intervention Brigade in DRC, and of the forthcoming MINUSCA mission in the Central African Republic, will be chosen. Video here.

  By six pm on April 22, none of these questions had been answered. In fact, Dujarric said he would have to check if the FIB leader James Mwakibolwa is leaving -- MONUSCO already emailed the media that picture -- and didn't answer an Inner City Press question on South Sudan, that the Ghana battalion is still not in Bentiu, either.

   A week after Inner City Press exclusively reported from well-placed sources that the head of the UN Department of Field Service Ameerah Haq will leave this Peacekeeping job in October, for the UN mission in Central African Republic MINUSCA to begin on September 15 an issue has arisen.

   Congo-Brazzaville's Ambassador to the UN Raymond Serge Bale tweeted that the neighboring African countries of the CEEAC should be represented in the leadership of MINUSCA.

  French Ambassador Gerard Araud, taking a break from vituperatively denying blocking human rights monitoring in Western Sahara, tweeted that the contingents of the CEEAC should be integrated into MINUSCA on a priority basis.

  But the word was leadership - into the leadership, not just as soldiers or contingents to serve under other leadership. Inner City Press pointed this out in reply, and this:

   A problem here is the UN Peacekeeping has been ruled four times in a row now by a Frenchman, most recently long-time French diplomat Herve Ladsous.

  Now Ladsous' co-equal in DFS from South Asia stands to be replaced.

Among the candidates to take over the position, ostensibly co-equal with Ladsous, include American Jane Holl Lute and the current head of the UN Office of Human Resources Management, Catherine Pollard.

  What about an African? Several UN sources muses this would be a perfect time for Ladsous to leave. "Better him than Haq," as one source put it.

  But the alternate theory has Secretary General Ban Ki-moon throwing geographical and ideological balance to the wind in UN Peacekeeping. In this theory, the US would have to give up the Department of Safety & Security -- "he's only an Acting USG," the proponent pointed out -- so as to not have too too many American Under Secretaries General. 

  The shame would be, Kevin Kennedy is one of the better and more accessible USGs, by contrast to Ladsous who refuses Press questions about rapes and UN Peacekeeping from the Congo to Mali, and about theHutu FDLR, click here for video.

  It was back in October 2013 that Inner City Press reported that Ladsous was trying to get Haq out, to assert more control. On October 7, 2013 Inner City Press reported, "While an earlier Ban Ki-moon reform involved splitting Peacekeeping into two separate components, DPKO and DFS, now Ladsous wants to dominate both of them, by pushing Haq out of DFS and installing a person of his own choosing. More on that in a future story." This, is that story. And there will be more, including in connection with MINUSCA and with Araud, at least until he leaves, slated for July. Watch this site.

   

France Won't Go to Rwanda Genocide Memorial, UN Ladsous Questions, DR Congo Then and Now

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 5 -- French foreign ministry spokesperson Romain Nadal has said he is "surprised" at the linking of France to the 1994 Rwanda genocide. He shouldn't be. Beyond the documentary evidence, earlier this year at the UN memorial of the genocide with Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon present France was named as guilty, see below.

  Nevertheless, now France said that its Justice Minister Christiane Taubira will no longer attend the April 7 memorial in Kigali. Ban Ki-moon will be there -- and some wonder if his (or France's) head of UN Peacekeeping Herve Ladsous will go. 

  Rwanda is a major UN troop contributing country, most recently in Central African Republic. But Ladsous, who in 1994 was France's Deputy Permanent Representative at the UN, has his own history. Sample memo here. Ladsous argued for the escape of the genocidaires into Eastern Congo -- where "his" UN Peacekeeping, even now, went after the M23, then the ADF while still not the Hutu militia FDLR.

  When Inner City Press asked Ladsous about his history, in the form of a question, Ladsous responded by refusing to answer any Inner City Press questions, even about precautions against spreading cholera as UN Peacekeeping did in Haiti. Video compilation here, UK coverage here, yet
more here, on what to call the 1994 genocide.

   At the Kwibuka 20 ceremony at the UN on February 27, from the podium France was twice blamed for working with genocidaires and helping them escape into the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

  On the podium Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who has praised French troops even his UN human rights counterpart Navi Pillay noted they'd left Muslim communities vulnerable to attack, looked uncomfortable. 

  Ban mentioned his "Rights Up Front" program, without mentioning its roots in the 2009 failure of his UN in Sri Lanka, as tens of thousands were killed. 

   Following Rwanda's Permanent Representative Gasana, genocide survivor Immaculee Ilibagiza spoke movingly of barely escaping slaughter, but then speaking of forgiveness.  Gerald Caplan said he would be less forgiving, and was. 

   He twice blamed France, specifically for Operation Turquoise which current UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous defended and promoted in the Security Council in 1994 as France's deputy permanent representative, click here for a memo.

   Caplan also mentioned Bill Clinton, for example -- but Clinton has apologized, unlike Ladsous. Instead, Ladsous simply refuses to answer this and other critical questions at the UN, and the UN accepts it, even tried to dictate how Ladsous can be covered.

  Forgiveness is one thing, and censorship is another. The February 27 ceremony was nothing but class. But day to day at the UN, with scribes braying about only the M23 and not the FDLR, it's another story.

  Even earlier on February 27, when Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesperson Martin Nesirky when UN Peacekeeping will go after the Hutu FDLR militia, he responded he would not speak to operational activities that "have not yet started and that might not start." Click here for that.

   In late January after the Democratic Republic of the Congo sanctions resolution was adopted by the UN Security Council, 15-0, Rwanda's Permanent Representative Gasana emerged from the Council chamber. Inner City Press asked him about his DRC counterpart's comment that Gasana was educated in the Congo. Video here and embedded below.

  Gasana laughed and said he was born in Burundi. He mused that the Congolese might want to adopt him. Then he turned to go.

  Wire services Reuters and Agence France-Presse pursued him to the esclator, where Reuters UN bureau chief asked Gasana about Rwanda being accused of supporting the M23. Gasana replied that the DRC has other problems, for example in Katanga. He said Rwanda is a scapegoat for the DRC's wider problems.

  Reuters insisted that the Group of Experts report had been welcomed by the Security Council resolution.  "Because they need that," Gasana replied. "This is the raison d'etre of the Security Council." 

  Nothing was asked there about the fight in the Council on how to described the 1994 genocide and the compromise language in the resolution. AFP's outgoing scribe was there, but asked nothing. Nor when the DRC Permanent Representative spoke minutes later at the UNTV stakeout, in French. This is how the UN works.

  An hour later at the UN's noon briefing, Inner City Press asked the UN's acting deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq for an update on any accountability for the mass rapes in Minova by units of the Congolese Army the UN supports, and if UN Peacekeeping, led by Herve Ladsous, is investigating links between the Congolese Army and the FDLR militia. On this, Haq said to look at the Council's resolutions. Video here.

  In the January 30 resolution, the language compromised on is "the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, during which Hutu and others who opposed the genocide were also killed."

  Sources exclusively told Inner City Press that the United States resisted calling it a genocide against the Tutsi of Rwanda, even saying that there is a US policy against referring to it in this way.

   Inner City Press has asked the US Mission to the UN for an explanation. It was said one might be forthcoming after the vote.

  Where would such a US policy be written down? It seemed strange, particularly during a time of Holocaust events at the UN, from one aboutHungary to another about Albania.

   On January 29, Inner City Press asked a US Council diplomat, who said spokespeople would be asked. Inner City Press was told to wait for the language to be final, then, for the vote.

  In the Council's January 29 debate, the representative of the DRC spoke about Rwanda and the M23 rebels. Rwanda's Deputy Permanent Representative replied with a series of questions: was it Rwanda who killed Lumumba? Was Rwanda responsible for Mobutu? Who hosted and failed to separate the genocidaires from Rwanda in 1994?

  This continued on January 30 after the vote.  Rwanda Permanent Representative Gasana said UN Peacekeeping should investigate links between the DRC Army and the FDLR.

  The DRC representative asked to be given specifics about links between his country's army the FARDC and the FDLR militia. The resolution voted on provides:

"Noting with deep concern reports indicating FARDC collaboration with the FDLR at a local level, recalling that the FDLR is a group under United Nations sanctions whose leaders and members inchide perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, during which Hutu and others who opposed the genocide were also killed, and have continued to promote and commit ethnically based and other killings in Rwanda and in the DRC, and stressing the importance of permanently addressing this threat"

   As Inner City Press exclusively put online last June, some of these links were even specified in the UN Group of Experts report, for example:

"107. The Group interviewed 10 FARDC soldiers in Tongo, in North Kivu, who reported that FARDC and FDLR regularly meet and exchange operational information. These same sources stated that FARDC soldiers supplied ammunition to the FDLR. Col. Faida Fidel Kamulete, the commander of FARDC 2nd battalion of 601st Regiment based at Tongo, denied such collaboration, but declared to the Group that FARDC and FDLR do not fight each other."

  Going further back, it is impossible not to note, particularly given the lack of explanation or transparency, that US Permanent RepresentativeSamantha Power began her 2001 article "Bystanders to Genocide" in the Atlantic with this sentence: "In the course of a hundred days in 1994 the Hutu government of Rwanda and its extremist allies very nearly succeeded in exterminating the country's Tutsi minority."

  Given that, why would the US Mission be saying it had a policy of describing the genocide as being against the Tutsi minority? Inner City Press asked again: Since I'm told that the US has said that there is a government position not to say the 1994 genocide was against the Tutsis, can you say what that policy is? Why does it exist? Does it apply to other genocides or atrocities?

 As noted, Inner City Press also has pending with the US State Department a number of requests, including a Freedom of Information Act request regarding the Administration's Atrocities Prevention Board.

  A Rwandan diplomat told Inner City Press these were Hutu killed not because of their ethnicity but because they opposed the genocide against the Tutsi. "This is a precedent," the diplomat said. Watch this site.