On Burundi, Inner City Press Asks UN About Grenades,What Is Bathily Doing?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 18 -- While UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson was at the African Union summit in Johannesburg where Burundi was discussed, Burundian independent media wrote to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon about the crackdown against them, sending to a copy to Inner City Press and the Free UN Coalition for Access, which is now online here.

 On June 16, after first declining to confirm receipt, the UN said the letter was received or "logged in." But what will be done? 

On June 18, Inner City Press asked UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq:

Inner City Press: in Burundi, today there was a grenade attack in the capital that injured three and also a deadly grenade attack, I believe, yesterday.  And I'm wondering it doesn't seem like things are whatever the UNOCA [United Nations Office in Central Africa] individual is doing… calming down.  So, I'm just wondering is there any… what is the UN, what is the current status of the UN and other efforts to bridge the gap prior to an election that will have the current president on the ballot?

Deputy Spokesman:  We are continuing with our efforts.  As you know, our representative from the UN Office from Central Africa, Abdoulaye Bathily, is in touch with the various parties and he is continuing with these efforts.  We are concerned about the violence, including the various incidents that you just mentioned, and we are worried about the situation on the ground, which is why we are continuing to work with the parties and see what can be done to make sure that if elections are held that they will be safe, that they will be inclusive, that people can vote without fear and that the elections will be fair.

  But does that assume a run for a third term, and therefor a boycott of the parliamentary elections -- a set up for domination and even (further) constitutional change? We'll have more on this.

   On June 16, Inner City Press asked about reports of the arrest and even torture of MSD leader Leonidas Nimpagaritse. UN Deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said "we'll check;" Inner City Press asked what the UN's electoral mission is doing and it remains UNclear.

  As lead spokesman Stephane Dujarric answered Inner City Press on June 15, Haq said that UNOCA chief Bathily is in a sense replacing Said Djinnit for the UN on Burundi, to coordinate with the African Union.Transcript:

Inner City Press:  I wanted to ask you two things on Burundi.  One is you had said that the DSG and Mr. [Said] Djinnit would be in the [AU] summit.  Do you have… what was the term, what, if any, progress was made particularly on UN involvement in either replacing Mr. Djinnit or trying to address the ongoing disquiet there?  And also there was a letter of five or more Burundi media that was directed to the Secretary-General on June 11th.  I saw a copy was sent to Ms. [Susanna] Malcorra basically asking for the UN to get involved because they had to flee the country because their stations had been burned and closed and they have been threatened with violence by the Government.  What is the response of the UN system?

Spokesman:  I will take a look to see if we received that letter.  On Burundi, the Secretary-General requested his special representative and Head of UN Mission in Central Africa, Abdoulaye Bathily, to carry out consultations to ensure the effective participation of the UN in the international facilitation called for by the African Union Peace and Security Council to quote “to create conditions conducive to the holding of free, transparent and credible elections in Burundi, as well as on the matters on which the parties disagree” — which is what the African Union Peace and Security Committee issued.

  But when Inner City Press asked Haq for the UN's view of the AU sending (military?) observers to Burundi, Haq did not comment. So what of Nimpagaritse?

   Ban's UN has said little amid the closing down of independent media in Burundi, other than generalities when FUNCA and Inner City Press have asked about it. Now what will they do?

 The letter is from Bob Rugurika of Radio Publique Africaine, Patrick Nduwimana of Radio Bonesha FM, Anne Niyuhire of Radio Isanganiro, Innocent Muhozi of Radi-Tele Renaissance, Alexandre Niyungeko of UBJ and the Association Burundaise de radiodiffuseires, here.

 On June 12 Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric:

Inner City Press: In Burundi, documents emerged, a ruling, legal opinion by the ministers of justice of the East African Community states, and they read very closely the constitution and the Arusha declaration and they say that a third term would be illegal, that he’s not eligible, that it's clear the first term was under the Constitution.  I'm wondering, one, is there any response by the Secretariat, that it's been sort of not addressing this question?  And was Mr. Djinnit aware of this ruling during the time of this facilitation?  And if so, why didn't it speak more clearly on the subject?

Spokesman Dujarric:  I think that Mr. Djinnit is one of our more experienced diplomats, experienced negotiator, mediator.  I'm sure he was aware of everything he needed to be aware of.  I don't have a response to that....

Inner City Press:  Is the DSG [Deputy Secretary-General] aware of this document as he goes to the African Union Summit…?

Spokesman:  I think the DSG is fully aware of the situation in Burundi and would be looking forward to his discussion with Mr. Djinnit.

  We'll see.

Two days after civil society groups in Burundi wrote to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon how his envoy Said Djinnit should be removed from the role, here, on June 10 Djinnit issued a press statement "taking note" of this position - and stepping down or back. 

  On June 11 Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric whose decision the resignation was -- Djinnit's, he said -- and if the UN is going to try to replace him as facilitator.

  Dujarric said that UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson is headed to the African Union meeting in South Africa on June 14, along with Djinnit, and will be holding discussion including on Burundi there. Dujarric mentioned it is a question of which organization a facilitator should represented.

  Inner City Press has received a copy of the same civil society groups' which requested that Djinnit step down new letter to the East African Community for an emergency summit.

   Inner City Press for the Free UN Coalition for Access asked Dujarric about the spokesman for the police and security ministry blaming ongoing demonstrations on journalists, at least 50 of whom have already fled the country.

On Burundi, Inner City Press Asks UN About MSD's Leonidas Nimpagaritse, What Are UN's Bathily and MENUB Doing?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 16 -- With UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson at the African Union summit in Johannesburg where Burundi was being discussed, Burundian independent media wrote to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon about the crackdown against them, sending to a copy to Inner City Press and the Free UN Coalition for Access, which is now online here.

 On June 16, after first declining to confirm receipt, the UN said the letter was received or "logged in." But what will be done? Inner City Press asked about reports of the arrest and even torture of MSD leader Leonidas Nimpagaritse. UN Deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said "we'll check;" Inner City Press asked what the UN's electoral mission is doing and it remains UNclear.

  As lead spokesman Stephane Dujarric answered Inner City Press on June 15, Haq said that UNOCA chief Bathily is in a sense replacing Said Djinnit for the UN on Burundi, to coordinate with the African Union.Transcript:

Inner City Press:  I wanted to ask you two things on Burundi.  One is you had said that the DSG and Mr. [Said] Djinnit would be in the [AU] summit.  Do you have… what was the term, what, if any, progress was made particularly on UN involvement in either replacing Mr. Djinnit or trying to address the ongoing disquiet there?  And also there was a letter of five or more Burundi media that was directed to the Secretary-General on June 11th.  I saw a copy was sent to Ms. [Susanna] Malcorra basically asking for the UN to get involved because they had to flee the country because their stations had been burned and closed and they have been threatened with violence by the Government.  What is the response of the UN system?

Spokesman:  I will take a look to see if we received that letter.  On Burundi, the Secretary-General requested his special representative and Head of UN Mission in Central Africa, Abdoulaye Bathily, to carry out consultations to ensure the effective participation of the UN in the international facilitation called for by the African Union Peace and Security Council to quote “to create conditions conducive to the holding of free, transparent and credible elections in Burundi, as well as on the matters on which the parties disagree” — which is what the African Union Peace and Security Committee issued.

  But when Inner City Press asked Haq for the UN's view of the AU sending (military?) observers to Burundi, Haq did not comment. So what of Nimpagaritse?

   Ban's UN has said little amid the closing down of independent media in Burundi, other than generalities when FUNCA and Inner City Press have asked about it. Now what will they do?

 The letter is from Bob Rugurika of Radio Publique Africaine, Patrick Nduwimana of Radio Bonesha FM, Anne Niyuhire of Radio Isanganiro, Innocent Muhozi of Radi-Tele Renaissance, Alexandre Niyungeko of UBJ and the Association Burundaise de radiodiffuseires, here.

 On June 12 Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric:

Inner City Press: In Burundi, documents emerged, a ruling, legal opinion by the ministers of justice of the East African Community states, and they read very closely the constitution and the Arusha declaration and they say that a third term would be illegal, that he’s not eligible, that it's clear the first term was under the Constitution.  I'm wondering, one, is there any response by the Secretariat, that it's been sort of not addressing this question?  And was Mr. Djinnit aware of this ruling during the time of this facilitation?  And if so, why didn't it speak more clearly on the subject?

Spokesman Dujarric:  I think that Mr. Djinnit is one of our more experienced diplomats, experienced negotiator, mediator.  I'm sure he was aware of everything he needed to be aware of.  I don't have a response to that....

Inner City Press:  Is the DSG [Deputy Secretary-General] aware of this document as he goes to the African Union Summit…?

Spokesman:  I think the DSG is fully aware of the situation in Burundi and would be looking forward to his discussion with Mr. Djinnit.

  We'll see.

Two days after civil society groups in Burundi wrote to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon how his envoy Said Djinnit should be removed from the role, here, on June 10 Djinnit issued a press statement "taking note" of this position - and stepping down or back. 

  On June 11 Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric whose decision the resignation was -- Djinnit's, he said -- and if the UN is going to try to replace him as facilitator.

  Dujarric said that UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson is headed to the African Union meeting in South Africa on June 14, along with Djinnit, and will be holding discussion including on Burundi there. Dujarric mentioned it is a question of which organization a facilitator should represented.

  Inner City Press has received a copy of the same civil society groups' which requested that Djinnit step down new letter to the East African Community for an emergency summit.

   Inner City Press for the Free UN Coalition for Access asked Dujarric about the spokesman for the police and security ministry blaming ongoing demonstrations on journalists, at least 50 of whom have already fled the country.

  Back on June 10, Inner City Press and the Free UN Coalition for Access had asked Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric about the Nkurunziza government's order banning entry into the studios of five radio and TV stations. Video here. Djinnit's statement claims there was consensus on May 28 on re-opening these:

"commended the Burundian parties, in particular, for the set of recommendations adopted by consensus at the May 28 dialogue session, on the right to information and the reopening of private radio and television stations damaged during the May 13-14 events." 

 Here is the full text of Djinnit's statement, which Inner City Press earlier photographed and Tweeted in French and English:

PRESS STATEMENT

The Special Envoy of the Secretary General for the Great Lakes Region, Said Djinnit, and members of the facilitation team that joined and supported the dialogue between the Burundian parties, met today in Bujumbura with members of the diplomatic corps. During this meeting, the Special Envoy briefed the participants on the dialogue who [sic] he facilitated starting from 5 May 2015, at the request of the Burundian parties who had agreed, by themselves, on the agenda as well as the list of participants.

The Special Envoy recalled that during the dialogue, the parties maintained diverging views on the candidature of President Nkurunziza for a third term. He highlighted the progress made on the four agenda items, namely: the appeasement measures and mutual commitments; the management of the electoral calendar; guarantees for the holding of free, transparent, inclusive and peaceful elections; and protection of Constitutional rights and freedoms. The conclusions of the dialogue are reflected in the attached May 29 press communique.

The Special Envoy commended the Burundian parties, in particular, for the set of recommendations adopted by consensus at the May 28 dialogue session, on the right to information and the reopening of private radio and television stations damaged during the May 13-14 events. He encourages the parties to implement these recommendations without delay.

The Special Envoy takes this opportunity to thanks all the Burundian parties for their cooperation during the dialogue that he facilitated with impartiality and, on which he reported faithfully to the Emergency Summit of the East African Community which took place in Dar-es-Salaam on May 31, and the relevant UN organs. The Special Envoy expresses his deep gratitude for the support extended to him in his role as facilitator by the East African Community, the International Conference for the Great Lakes region, the African Union and the UN including the Secretary General, the Security Council and the Peace Building Commission. He also thanks the external partners of Burundi including the European Union, the United States, France, Belgium and many others who came forth to help during the dialogue process.

Mr. Said Djinnit thanks all the Burundian parties for the facilitation role they entrusted to him on May 5. He duly takes note of the position expressed a few days ago, on his role as facilitator by some Burundian parties.
In his capacity as the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, Mr. Djinnit remains committed, in collaboration with relevant regional organizations, to continue to work toward preserving and consolidating peace, democracy and stability in Burundi in accordance with the objectives of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region, signed in Addis Ababa on February 24, 2013.

 The Special Envoy encourages the Burundian parties to continue their dialogue with a view to create conditions conducive to holding free, fair, inclusive and peaceful elections. He stresses the importance of preserving the legacy of teh Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement as enshrined in the Constitution. He reiterates his appeal to all parties to exercise restraint and to refrain from any acts likely to increase tension and violence.

  After the UN Security Council, the United States and the UN Peacebuilding Configuration on Burundi on May 15 issued statements urging calm in the country given the return of Pierre Nkurunziza to presumably run for a third term, on May 29 Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric about UN Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous accepting an allegedly abusive Burundian police officer Godefroid Bizmama into his MINUSMA mission in Mali. Video here, and embedded below. 

  On June 9, Inner City Press asked Dujarric about civil society opposition to the electoral commission proposing presidential polls for July 15, including it seems for a possible third term. What does UN envoy Said Djinnit think of a third term? Video here.

  Dujarric again refused to answer directly, while calling on Burundians to follow Djinnit. Follow him where?

  Inner City Press asked about Italy suspending inclusion of Burundian forces in its training program, see below: Inner City Press has learned that Jérôme NTIBIBOGORA was rejected by vetting even in 2014. 

  Dujarric replied that this is up to the Italian government. But what is the UN doing, including with respect to 1000 Burundian police slated to begin "peacekeeping" in Somalia on June 11? We'll see. 

  Amid calls to replace UN enovy Said Djinnit as "pro-Nkurunziza," which Inner City Press has asked the UN about, on June 8 another letter went in, signed by Vital Nshimirimana. Inner City Press is putting itonline here (it is in French, and translated by the Free UN Coalition for Access here); it explains the demand that Djinnit be replaced.

  Some note that Ban Ki-moon, now on travel in Central Asia but still quiet on human rights there too, gave in to requests to replace his Yemen mediator Jamal Benomar and ask, why not here? But those requests were from Saudi Arabia. Watch this site.

  On June 8, Inner City Press asked Maman S. Sidikou, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission for Somalia, about Burundian forces serving in AMISOM. 

  Sidikou replied that their "morale" remains high, and that one thousand are coming into Somalia from June 11 to 18. So is there no human rights due diligence for this?

  The UN claims due diligence but gives no details at all. On June 8 Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric:

Inner City Press: On Burundi, I asked you before about Godefroid Bizimana.  Now I'm going to ask about Jérôme Ntibibogora, who is a Burundian police officer who, civil society there, say was involved in an attack against a hospital and firing at protesters.  He's set for deployment in the Central African Republic after being trained by an Italian centre known as CoESPU, a Centre of Excellence for Stability Police Units.

Spokesman Dujarric:  As much as I have everybody's files and names under my fingertips, I will check…

Inner City Press: I've actually heard from the Italian mission that they've put some of their training on hold, but likewise has the UN put anything on hold of deployment of police officers from Burundi?

Spokesman:  I think we'll… you know, there is a Human Rights Due Diligence Policy and people are being screened.

Inner City Press:  But, Godefroid seems to…

Spokesman:  Has he been appointed?

Inner City Press: That's why I'm asking [about Jérôme]..

  Early on June 8, based on more information from Inner City Press' sources in Burundi, Inner City Press asked Italy's Mission to the UN:

"In covering the crisis in Burundi, multiple sources there have informed Inner City Press that a Burundian police officer named Jérôme NTIBIBOGORA, implicated in the crackdown in Bujumbura, is now set to be deployed to the UN Peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic, MINUSCA -- but only after he is “trained” by / in Italy.

"This a Press request for your Mission to confirm or deny that Jérôme NTIBIBOGORA / NTIBIBOGORA Jérôme or any other Burundian police or military personnel involved in putting down protests to Pierre Nkurunziza's attempted third term is scheduled or considered for training or any preparatory work in Italy prior to a deployment with UN Peacekeeping.

"For your information in responding on deadline to this, Inner City Press' sources in Burundi said that Jérôme NTIBIBOGORA / NTIBIBOGORA Jérôme has so far been involved in at least two recent troubling incidents: killings at the hospital of BUMEREC (in Bujumbura) on May 14, 2015 and firing live ammunition at unarmed protesters on June 5, 2015, resulting in the death of a protester named Theogène who was a student at University of Burundi. Overall, what due diligence does Italy do in its work with UN Peacekeeping?"

  The UN Mission of Italy, running for a seat on the UN Security Council against Sweden and the Netherlands, answered also on the morning of June 8:

"Dear Mr. Lee, while at this stage I do not have any information on specific officers from Burundi, I can nevertheless confirm that any training activity by the COESPU (Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units) in Vicenza, Italy, with officers from that country, is currently on hold, due to the ongoing situation in Burundi.

Giovanni Davoli, Spokesperson, Italian Mission to the UN"

  It's appreciated. But are there Burundian officers "in the pipeline"?  Inner City Press asked: "Does “on hold” mean there are no Burundian personnel in the pipeline of your training program, to be deployed to peacekeeping missions? And, once you check in across the Atlantic, can the state the status of any of the individual named, and describe Italy's due diligence policy more generally?"

  Italian Mission spokesperson Davoli replied:

"Dear Matthew, in general, single participants, before being accepted into the courses, are screened trough the resources available to us and to our partners in COESPU, to make sure they are compatible with the values of the Center.

On this particular individual, we are checking with Italy if we have any record, which means we won’t get any more details before tomorrow. In any instances, the participation of officers from this particular country is on hold, therefore there is no Burundian in the pipeline, until further notice.

Giovanni Davoli, Spokesperson, Italian Mission to the UN"

  Inner City Press renewed its questions on June 9, and got this reply:

"Dear Matthew, I can confirm that Jérôme NTIBIBOGORA has never attended nor is expected to attend courses at CoESPU. His candidature was submitted twice and rejected twice by COESPU.
On the first occasion, in 2014, this officer did not pass the vetting in place for these courses (as per mail yesterday); on the second occasion, already in 2015, all Burundi candidatures were already on freeze.

Giovanni Davoli, Spokesperson, Italian Mission to the UN"

   

On Boko Haram, Still No UN Security Council Action on Multinational Joint Task Force, Chapter VII & Funding Questions

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 11-- The long-delayed UN Security Council resolution on Boko Haram and the Multi-National Joint Task Force has still not been adopted, two months and counting since the French presidency of the Council in which it was predicted.

  Inner City Press is informed by the Permanent Representative of one of the MNJTF countries that the hold up has been the change of government in Nigeria, and continuing questions under Buhari whether Nigeria would accept a resolution under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, or only Chapter VI. But where is the funding?

  On June 11 the head of the UN Office on Central African Abdoulaye Bathily told the Security Council that 

“Boko Haram remained a serious threat to the Lake Chad Basin region. The dire humanitarian situation in this region, resulting from attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram, continued to affect the population, including hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians in Cameroon and Chad. Insecurity and insufficient resources continued to strain the already stretched response capacities of governments and UN entities in the affected countries.

  “The Economic Community of Central African States demonstrated its commitment to address the Boko Haram threat during several Summits of Heads of State and Government. The deployment of Chadian groups to the border areas of Cameroon and Nigeria and the recent inauguration of the Headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force on Boko Haram signaled increasing cooperation between States in the fight against Boko Haram.

  “Military operations have put Boko Haram on the defensive, but recent attacks by the terrorist group highlight the need for the affected states to remain vigilant and engaged. While the fight against Boko Haram is not over, we must start looking ahead to the stabilization phase in order to secure military gains. This will involve international support" --

 But where is the international support?
  
  Back on March 30 Inner City Press asked French Ambassador Francois Delattre if it is agreed that the resolution, which faces other issues about the trust fund and financing, should be under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

  Delattre reiterated that negotiations continued; he is understood to later have told another diplomat that consultations at the Deputy Permanent Representative or Permanent Representative level would be needed. Nothing came of it.

Since then the scandal of France's Sangaris force in the Central African Republic has broken and continues to develop...

  Back on January 19, with Boko Haram reaching beyond Nigeria, Chad has sent its forces into Cameroon. Inner City Press asked Chad's ambassador to the UN if his country wants a UN resolution and UN funding.

  Yes, he said, unfortunately the Security Council has yet to ask but is expected to adopt a Presidential Statement later on January 19 (see below.)

  A Presidential Statement, of course, doesn't provide any funding for soldiers.

  Back on December 8, Inner City Press reported on the push by  Chad, Cameroon and others to get a UN Security Council resolution. They hoped for it that month, but later other Council members told Inner City Press of resistance from members who wanted to see more details; theses sources complained of Security Council double standards.

  Chad, which already expressed anger that the UN's "Sahel" office is not headquartered in one of the Sahel countries and at being taken for granted by, among others, its predecessor as Security Council president, still seems ready to push for a resolution - and funding.  

  The Presidential Statement read out past 6 pm on January 19 urged more planning, while praising Chad or at least the vote in Chad's National Assembly. The rush was before a January 20 meeting in Niger. What's that phrase? "Show me the money."

 The Security Council's January 19 Presidential Statement, S/PRST/2015/4, "takes note of the decision of the Lake Chad Basin Commission Member States and Benin to operationalize the Multinational Joint Task Force, including through the establishment of a joint Headquarters and the deployment of national contingents, to conduct military operations against Boko Haram.”

   It "welcomes the vote by the National Assembly of Chad on 16 January 2015 which authorized Chadian armed troops and security forces to assist Cameroonian and Nigerian soldiers in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists.”

   And it “welcomes plans for a regional meeting in Niamey, Niger, on 20 January 2015 to discuss the regional response to the threat posed by Boko Haram. The Security Council urges the LCBC Member States and Benin to undertake further planning toward the sustainable, viable and effective operationalization of the Multinational Joint Task Force.”

 Doesn't sustainable mean money? Watch this site.

   

As Obama Deploys on LRA, It's Not With UN, ICC Coverage Unclear

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 14 -- As the UN Security Council discussed the fight against the Lord's Resistance Army on Monday morning, a topic left unclear was whether the American military personnel being sent for that purpose by US President Barack Obama were coordinating with the UN.

US Alternative Representative Jeffrey DeLaurentis, polite but tight lipped with the press, told the Council that as "graciously mentioned by the ambassador of Gabon this morning, President Obama announced last month the United Nations* would deploy a small number of military personnel to the LRA-affected region, in consultation with host governments, to act as advisers to regional militaries pursuing the LRA."

Many speakers did not mention the US deployment, and when Inner City Press after the meeting asked UN Office for Central Africa chief Moussa if the US was coordinating with the UN, he said no, "that's bilateral."

Some wonder why the Obama Administration, so often arguing how good it is to work with the UN, is not working with the UN on this. Weeks ago the UN answered Inner City Press that its Congo mission

"MONUSCO was not consulted about the US decision to send a small group of military advisers to assist the forces that are countering the LRA, before it was officially announced on 14 October. Regarding coordination, there are currently two US information analysts based at the Mission's Joint Information and Operation Centre in Dungu, in Province Orientale... MONUSCO is undertaking operations in a number of areas where armed groups are active. The Mission is also providing support to some FARDC operations in compliance with the human rights and due diligence policy."

So the Obama administration did not consult with the UN Mission on the ground, but has two " information analysts" based at the UN in Dungu. Some also wonder how or if the US is exempting its personnel from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, which the Obama adminstration found so important to do in connection with the Council's Libya resolutions this year.

Inner City Press went from UN to the Council on Foreign Relations, where US Congressman Barney Frank was speaking from 1 to 2 pm, hoping to ask about Obama's deployment against the LRA, which Frank foil Rush Limbaugh strangely praised a month ago. But all journalists except CFR members were shunted into the side Cyrus Vance room, from which no questions could be asked.

Frank said that UN troops play more of a role that people think. Why doesn't the Obama administration's LRA deployment work with them, then?

Footnote: Frank had his audience, including representatives of JPMorgan Chase and other institutions, laughing with jokes about whether "tilting toward China" connoted a pinball machine.

Frank said while Democrats chose the term "recovery" over "stimulus," most people he knows preferred being stimulated to recovery. He said he met "Les Gelb as a section assistant in a foreign relations course taught by Henry Kissinger" -- recently protested as a war criminal at the Waldorf - Astoria. And so it goes.

* - United States.

At UN, Leaked Memo Shows Low Morale and Commuting in Afghan Mission Amid Arrivals of de Mistura and from Dubai

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
www.innercitypress.com/unleak1afgh022210.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 22, updated -- A UN memo leaked to Inner City Press about the UN's embattled mission in Afghanistan UNAMA paints a picture of low morale and a closed down recruitment system as relocated staff prepare to return from Dubai, to Afghan locations from which they'll have to commute.

The memo, sent out by UNAMA chief of staff Peter Schmitz on February 22 and nearly immediately forwarded to Inner City Press, concerns relocation and safety issues in the continuing aftermath of the "Bakhtar Guest House tragedy... in which the UN was directly targeted for the first time."

It announces that by the end of February, 30 additional housing units will be become available. They will, however, be where "the commute takes a lot of time" and exposes staff "to additional risks."

The memo acknowledges that "in the second half of 2009, virtually no new staff joined the mission. Partly, we have ourselves to blame." Now, the UN in Afghanistan and Iraq (UNAMI) have been "given the special authority to issue mission specific one year contracts."

The memo acknowledges that since the UNAMA budget has twice doubled, it is "important that we do not lose credibility in the eyes of the ACABQ [Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions] and Fifth [Budget] Committee."

The testing time is now. Kai Eide, the UN's top envoy who quit in the wake of allegations he covered up Hamid Karzai's electoral fraud, will leave on March 6, when his successor Staffan de Mistura, who even the New York Times described as a faceless bureaucrat, will arrive. According to the memo, "we will be able to discontinue the relocation arrangement in Dubai by 8 March 2010 and have all staff return from there to Kabul."

The memo concludes with some cheerleading to tell de Mistura what works and what doesn't. Given the UN's lack of whistleblower protections, and di Mistura's insider connections, will such candid recommendations be made or implemented? We'll see. Below is the memo.

After publishing the article above, Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Martin Nesirky about the memo at the February 22 noon briefing:

Inner City Press: on Afghanistan, a memo has emerged from the Chief of Staff of UNAMA, Mr. [Peter] Schmitz, saying among other things, that virtually no new staff have joined the mission in the second half of 2009, and that new units are being, that the relocation from Dubai will take place by 8 March. Can you, one, can you confirm that the move to Dubai will be finished by 8 March? And two, how can it be, what does it mean if the budget is doubled that no new staff have been hired? Galaxy is closed, which used to be the way that they recruited staff. If Galaxy is closed, what’s it been replaced by and what are the plans to actually spend the money that’s been allocated to UNAMA?

Spokesperson Nesirky: Okay. A lot of questions there, and I can’t really go into detail on each of them. What I can say is the Secretary-General has said very clearly that he is concerned about the slow pace of recruitment for positions in UNAMA. There were some fairly stark reasons why that was the case, and he is certainly keen that people should be able to take up posts as soon as possible and should be able to apply for position as soon as possible. On the details, the various technical parts -- I’ll have to come back to you on that.

While still waiting for the "technical" answers, the memo has been syndicated by the WaPo FP, with credit, here. The memo is below.

Kabul, 22 February 2010

Dear Colleagues,

Since 15 December 2009, when we sent the last circular on the security and relocation issues, there have been a number of developments that should improve the situation of the Mission in the weeks and months to come.

Secure Accommodation and Office Space

As you know, the need to provide secure accommodation that meets the higher standards established after the Bakhtar Guest House tragedy, has been a major bottleneck for UNAMA. The good news is that by the end of this month, 30 additional housing units will be come available in UNOCA. Moreover, a further 50 units will be completed by the end of April. As a result, we will be able to discontinue the relocation arrangement in Dubai by 8 March 2010 and have all staff return from there to Kabul.

With 80 units available by the end of April, we should also be able to accommodate the new staff coming on board over the next few months.

It is understood that UNOCA is not an ideal location for those staff who have their offices or frequent meetings in the center of the city. The commute takes a lot of time and exposes them to additional risks even though the use of armoured vehicles has now been mandatory for some time. Therefore, we continue to look for additional accommodation and office space inside the city and we have identified some promising options. Once the negotiations on these options are completed, we will inform staff who wish to be closer to the city.

Recruitment

At the beginning of the year with the 2010 budget coming into effect, UNAMA had a vacancy rate of 44%. The situation had reached a point where the SRSG felt obliged to alert the Security Council that if the staffing back log were to continue, UNAMA would not be able to implement key elements of its mandate.

UNAMA is not the only mission suffering from this situation. We all know that the more stringent recruitment procedures required by the new contractual arrangements, in particular the introduction of a review by the newly established Field Central Review Boards (FCRB), created delays to a degree that in the second half of 2009, virtually no new staff joined the Mission. Partly, we have ourselves to blame because we started too late with the implementation of the new procedures. As a result, numerous recruitment cases were returned to the Mission by the FCRB for further clarifications.

The Department of Field Support and the Office for Human Resources Management have realized that UNAMA (and UNAMI) had reached a choking point. Therefore, we and UNAMI have been given the special authority to issue mission specific one-year contracts to staff who have been interviewed by the Mission and recommended to be placed on the roster concerned for selection.

Moreover, the Field Personnel Division (FPD) of DFS sent a team led by Masaki Sato to assist UNAMA in addressing the back log of cases pending endorsement by the FCRB. As of mid-February, exercising its new authority, UNAMA has issued 53 mission specific contracts. The selected staff should be arriving over the next two months, providing a desperately needed respite. Nevertheless, there are still numerous vacancies yet to be filled. Stephani Scheer, the Chief of Mission Support, together with the team from New York and the Section Chiefs have prioritized the vacancies and established interview panels that will pursue the necessary recruitment steps.

A key element in this context is the issuance of mission specific vacancy announcements. Since the Galaxy system is closed, and since many of those who applied previously never intended to come to Afghanistan, FPD has established lists of candidates who indeed are willing to join UNAMA. If we cannot find any suitable candidates on these lists or if we know of eminently suitable candidates who are not currently in Galaxy, mission specific vacancy announcements can be issued.

We will continue to get help from FPD. However, the brunt of the time-consuming interview work will have to be borne by us. While it is understood that the steps involved in recruiting staff seem arduous and take time away from our daily work, we must approach this task with a sense of urgency. If we don’t prioritize recruitment now we will not be able to get out of this slump. Moreover, UNAMA’s budget virtually doubled in two consecutive years, 2009 and 2010. This not only shows that Afghanistan is still high on the international agenda, it also places a lot of responsibility on us. It is important that we do not lose credibility in the eyes of the ACABQ and the Fifth Committee which placed a lot of trust in our ability to utilize the additional resources in an effective and efficient manner.

Field Issues

From my regular visits to UNAMA’s field offices, I know that our colleagues in the field have particular hardships to endure. They live in remote locations and their offices and living accommodations are more often not at the standard we would like them to enjoy. Moreover, with the new MOSS and MORSS requirements, many field locations need to be upgraded to a higher category. Where premises cannot be upgraded, new locations have to be found. The CMS has established a priority engineering plan to address these issues. She is also making every effort to improve internet and Lotus connectivity, crucial tools of communication, particularly in remote office locations

Reimbursement of Additional Security Cost

The new security requirements, in particular the need for internal guards (Gurkhas), have increased the cost for office and accommodation security exponentially. The Security Management Team (SMT) has before it a proposal to increase the amount reimbursable to staff for security upgrades. The SMT’s decision is expected shortly. Staff should not suffer financially because of the additional security requirements. The CMS is devising a policy for the various housing situations to ensure that nobody will incur financial losses.

In this context it is important, that those staff members who were the primary lease holders for one of the many guest houses that had to be vacated following the Bakhtar guest house tragedy, approach their landlords to recover any rent they may have paid in advance. The Legal Office will provide assistance, if necessary. In the event that landlords decline to return rent paid in advance, they should make this known to the CMS. A separate circular will be issued in this regard providing more details.

We should, however, keep in mind that efforts to homogenize the salaries and entitlements of all entities in the UN System have not yet come to pass. UNAMA staff will have lesser entitlements than the staff of the agencies, funds and programmes. Hence, while we are trying to interpret our rules and regulations with the maximum benefit for staff in mind, there are things that we cannot not do within the current regulatory framework.

Staff Morale

Following the Bakhtar guest house incident in which the UN was directly targeted for the first time, we all felt somewhat depressed. Moreover, the rather tumultuous unfolding of the elections last year led to vehement and often unfair criticism of the Mission and UNDP ELECT which, no doubt, left some scars on our self-esteem. How we perceive our work and how our work is perceived by others clearly has an effect on our morale.

Two weeks ago, I convened a meeting with all Section Chiefs to address these issues. They raised many of the problems mentioned above relating to secure accommodation and staffing. They also put forward a number of ideas and proposals that we will follow up upon in the near future.

A key to staff morale is also the relationship between staff and their supervisors. Particularly in the remote locations in the field with little opportunity for other than office related activities, inter-personal relations can become strained. Such situations should be addressed in an open and transparent spirit in discussions with the supervisor. No purpose is served if conflicts are left to fester and then turn into formal complaints to the Conduct and Discipline Unit. I would appeal to all managers and supervisors to actively engage with their staff and to nip interpersonal conflicts in the bud.

New Leadership

Mr. Staffan de Mistura has been appointed as the new Special representative of the Secretary-General in Afghanistan. He will have in-briefings in New York during the first week of March and is expected to arrive in Kabul in the course of the second week. Kai Eide will leave on 6 March. A new Deputy Special Representative for Pillar I is expected in early April.

For quite some time, UNAMA has been suffering from the fact that one or the other position of the leadership troika was vacant. With the full complement of senior leaders in place, we should be able to make UNAMA’s structures work in the way that they were designed to.

Invariably, a new SRSG will make changes and adjustments. Change can be a challenge, but it should also be considered as an opportunity. We should all strive to help the new SRSG to settle in and take on his heavy responsibilities. Please be frank in pointing out to him what you believe works and what doesn’t. There is always room for improvement.

There are many challenges ahead, but with an open and collegial approach we can master them.

Cheers!

Peter Schmitz
Chief of Staff
UNAMA
Kabul

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unleak1afgh022210.html