On Mali, After French Fraud Fakeout by Gerard Araud, UNSC Press Statement, But No Answers

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, May 20 -- After fighting in Kidal in northern Mali, former colonial power France convened a UN Security Council meeting on May 20. Then French Ambassador Gerard Araud came to a very controlled stakeout: he did not take Press questions about Mali calling the MNLA the sole aggressors, and "narco-terrorists."

  As the Free UN Coalition for Access has noted, later on May 20 like here, as Araud enters his final days as France's Ambassador to the UN he has, on April 15 for example, attacked a longtime Lebanese correspondent telling him, "You are not a journalist, you are an agent." Click here for that.

  With that hanging in the air, Araud found it easier to deal with"interlocutors" on Twitter, for example on Mali, here. But May 20 at the UN, he did not address or follow the International Monetary Fund in questioning Ibrahim Boubacar Keita's purchase of a new Boeing 737 jet for $40 million. So what did the UN peacekeeping mission, Bert Koenders and Herve Ladous, know and when did they know it?

   None of this is answered in the ham-handed UNSC press statement issued at 10 pm on May 20, of which Inner City Press publishes the full text:

Security Council press statement on Mali, 20 May 2014

The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the violent clashes in Kidal on 17 and 18 May in the context of the Malian Prime Minister’s visit in Kidal, which resulted in the death of Malian Defense and Security forces personnel, as well as eight civilians, including six government officials. They expressed their deepest condolences to their families as well as to the Government of Mali.

The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the unacceptable seizure by force of administrative buildings, including the Governorate, the taking of hostages by armed groups, notably MNLA, as well as the attacks on the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). They called for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of armed groups from the Governorate building and for their return to their previous positions in the framework of the cantonment process.

The members of the Security Council insisted on the need for those responsible for these actions to be identified and held accountable. They underlined that these actions undermine efforts towards peace and security in northern Mali, particularly in the region of Kidal, and constitute a grave violation of Security Council resolution 2100 (2013), which calls on all rebel armed groups to put aside their arms and cease hostilities immediately, and of the Ouagadougou Preliminary Agreement of 18 June 2013.

The members of the Security Council called on all parties to act with restraint and refrain from any further violence that could threaten civilians. They reiterated their support for the restoration of the authority of the Malian State over its entire territory, including in Kidal. They further reiterated that only a credible and inclusive negotiation process can bring long-term peace and stability throughout the country, respecting the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Mali. They called for the resumption as soon as possible of the cantonment process and of sincere peace talks between the Malian government and the armed groups signatories and adherent to the Ouagadougou Preliminary Agreement.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support to MINUSMA in the implementation of its mandate and the French forces acting in support of the Mission.

  So, don't worry about the government in Bamako? Nor IBK's jet?

   As Inner City Press reported last week, despite not having required Security Council approval, Ladsous has been soliciting drones or "unarmed unmanned aerial vehicles" for Mali. Inner City Press has twiceasked UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric to explain the solicitation without approval, but no answer has been given.

  Despite speeches by Annick Girardin, the French secretary of state for development, what did France's outgoing ambassador to the UN Gerard Araud do or say about these issues during the Security Council trip to Mali that he led?

  Actually, France has stealthily lined up to get paid by other UN member states for "air field services" in northern Mali through a letter of assist regarding which Araud refused to answer Press questions in December (then stopped answering Press questions altogether). So as one wag put it, France could get paid to service Air IBK -- if IBK ever visited and negotiated in northern Mali.

   Back in January regarding gang rape charges against UN peacekeepers in Mali the UN told Inner City Press, "the Government of Chad has further advised the Department of Peacekeeping Operations that it has completed the national investigation."

    On April 9, Inner City Press asked DPKO chief Herve Ladsous what the results of the completed investigation had been, but he refused to answer, click here for that.

  And so on April 23 Inner City Press put the question to the UN's Mali envoy Bert Koenders. More than three months after the DPKO told Inner City Press the investigation was completed, Koenders said it will only be finished in "two or three weeks." Video here, from Minute 3:39.

   Even though by his account the investigation is not finished, he said "we have found very little evidence of sexual violence by Chadian troups... at first glance some of the accusations have not bee proven." 

   While Koenders unlike Ladsous at least purported to respond to this question, and one about Dutch attack helicopters bound for Mali, there is a lack of clarity. Beyond the "completed" investigation by Chad, is there another, UN investigation? Are there preliminary findings based on which Koenders said what he did? As with the rapes in Minova in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by DPKO's partners in the Congolese Army, we will continue to pursue this issue.

  Inner City Press also asked about the five Dutch helicopter's Mali's foreign minister Abdulaye Diop had told it about earlier in the morning. Koenders said, "We welcome contribution of Dutch government," specifying three Apache attack helicopters in May, and two transport helicopters in September or October. 

  Koenders cited all information fusion, being the ears and eyes on extremist groups. Earlier, Inner City Press asked Foreign Minister Diop if such information will be shared with his government, or only within MINUSMA and its troop contributing countries. Diop said he didn't know. So this, too, will require clarification

  As an aside, later on April 23 the UN's envoy to Somalia Nicholas Kay complained of the lack of helicopters from the AMISOM mission. It left one wondering about how the UN is run: did the Netherlands give the copters to Mali because one of its nationals is the UN's envoy there? We hope to have more on this.

  On April 23 when Inner City Press asked Malian foreign minister Diop for an update on dialogue in Kidal, and on the stated investigation of the shooting of civilian demonstrators there, he replied that he is too new in the position to answer on the probe. He said there is a new chief negotiator for the armed groups and what he called, in a Nixonian phrase, the "silent majority." Where did the last ten weeks go?

  Back on January 16 the UN Spokesperson's Office sent Inner City Press this response, which does not answer the question of accountability. But here it is, in full:

Subject: Your question on Mali
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Thu, Jan 16, 2014 at 3:23 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com

In response to your question about the follow-up to the allegations of sexual assault by United Nations peacekeepers in MINUSMA in September 2013, we have received the following information:

The Department of Peacekeeping Operations officially notified the Government of Chad of these allegations in late September. The Government of Chad officially responded, saying that it would take responsibility for the investigations. The Government of Chad has further advised the Department of Peacekeeping Operations that it has completed the national investigation, and the United Nations awaits advice on the outcome of the investigations and follow-up accountability measures as appropriate.

  The UN is waiting for "advice" -- but will it ever make it public? How else can the UN's stated Human Rights Due Diligence Policy be assessed?

  On January 17, Inner City Press asked UN acting deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq about it. From the UN's transcript, video here and embedded below:

Inner City Press: On Mali, I wanted to thank you for this written answer you gave yesterday afternoon that Mali has said that its completed its investigation of the alleged rape in Mali by the Chadian troops. And it said that the UN awaits advice on the outcome of the investigation. And what I wanted to know is whether… what part of that is going to be made public, given both the human rights due diligence policy, etcetera? I appreciate you saying that the investigation is finished, but, has… did they clear the soldiers? Were the soldiers found guilty? Where does it stand?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson Haq: As we emailed to you, the Mission does await advice on the outcome of the proceedings. We know that there have been proceedings regarding the case. You know this is a case regarding sexual assault and so, we await further information from that. We’ll try to make public what we can of the information that we receive.

Inner City Press: So, they literally just told you that it’s complete, but…no indication on what was done? I guess I wonder when --

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: The information I have in the email that was sent to you is the information we have. If we have any further updates, we’ll share it with you at that point.

  Two weeks later, nothing. So what will members of the Security Council ask, find and make public?

  One of the UN's other too-few criticisms of military action in north Mail, the shooting into a crowd of protesters in Kidal on November 28, was disputed in the Security Council on January 16.

  In a statement prepared like a defense attorney, trying raise reasonable doubt, Mali's Permanent Representative Sekou Kasse said that the UN Mission MINUSMA elements closest to the shooting were 400 meters away, precluding them from "objective" testimony. 

  The argument made was one must wait for the ballistic analysis ordered by the Malian government itself. Inner City Press asked Mali's foreign minister on April 23. Watch this site.

   

At UN, West Africa Envoy Said Djinnit Brags About Guinea, Dodges Press on Mali: Fakeout at the Stakeout

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 10 -- On West Africa, UN envoy Said Djinnit gave a surprisingly upbeat (some said, self-serving) briefing to the Security Council on Wednesday morning. The UN said, by e-mail then at the noon briefing, that Djinnit would take press questions at 12:30.

The noon briefing ended at 12:22, and Inner City Press and two other members of the Free UN Coalition for Access went immediately to the Council stakeout, ready to question Djinnit. But even after Council members streamed out of the chamber, he did not appear.

Trying to ensure that questions could be asked,@FUNCA_info asked both the UN Spokesperson's office and the Department of Political Affairs, which oversees Djinnit's Dakar-based operation, where Djinnit might be. Neither answered, but another staff member told Inner City Press Djinnit claimed he had come to the stakeout, “you guys weren't there,” so he left.

  If he went, it was before 12:30. Click here to view the day's noon briefing (the announcement that Djinnit would appear at approximately 12:30 is at Minute 2:40), and note that it began at noon and was 22 minutes long. The new Press Briefing Room is right next to the Security Council and stakeout: no eight minutes there.

  One wag mused, given Djinnit's excuse, what should we think of his report and statement to the Council?

Djinnit found a way to brag about now only Guinea but Guinea Bissau. The real question is, with three UN envoys in the mix - Djinnit, Bert Koenders of MINUSMA andRomano Prodi of, well, Bologna -- how could it be that it was Blaise Campaore of Burkina Faso who mediated and made the deal about Kidal?

And -- this is a question -- has that deal now been broken? MINUSMA engaged with attacker outside Kidal. Is MINUSMA covered by the International Criminal Court? Click here for that. These are questions Djinnit should have taken and answered, and should still answer. Watch this site.

   

At UN, Cameron "Understands" A There's a Syria Question from Reuters & UNCA, Censors on Sri Lanka

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, May 15 -- With UK prime minister David Cameron at the UN and promoted to "do a stakeout" -- that is, take question, presumably not pre-ordinated and pre-screened -- a flock of UN correspondents left the scheduled Syria vote in the UN General Assembly and went to Cameron's stakeout.

  But once there, there was a scam. Cameron came out, read a statement and then said, I understand there is a question from UN Reuters.

   Understand how? From whom?

   Inner City Press asked the UK Mission to the UN how this came about, and now understands it was not them but "Number 10's press people."

   So did Cameron also understand what the question was going to be?

   Once called on, Reuters' Louis Charbonneau of Reuters asked a softball question about Syria, but only after branding it, saying, "On behalf of the UN Correspondents Association" -- an organization which spent most of its meetings in 2012 trying to get smaller investigative Press thrown out of the UN.

In fact, Charbonneau himself first filed a stealth complaint with the UN against Inner City Press, then Reuters supported Voice of America's formal request to get Inner City Press'accreditation "reviewed," according to documents obtained from VOA under the Freedom of Information Act. Click here for that.

Charbonneau of Reuters and UNCA, shaking with Ban Ki-moon (c) Luiz RRampelotto

  Later when asked at an on the record meeting to explain his and UNCA's role, Charbonneau refused, and told Inner City Press "the fundamental problem is your web site." Click here for audio.

At a minimum, the new Free UN Coalition for Access would say that the organizers of a stakeout at the UN -- in this case, "Number 10's press people" -- should tell correspondents in advance that they have already chosen who can ask questions. Otherwise, the independent media is being used as extras, as in a film.

  But second, what did Number 10 consider before handing this question to Reuters' UN bureau chief? We'll have more on this.

Footnote: As Inner City Press told the UK Mission, it would have asked Cameron about going to Sri Lanka for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, given its "accountability" record and Cameron's statements on accountability in Syria. 

  UNCA, it should be noted, has used anonymous social media accounts, active even on May 15 during all this, to falsely accuse Inner City Press of being funded by terrorists, triggering death threats. These are not only Ban's UN, but now Number 10's, partners?

On Syria, UN Defends Ban Ki-moon's Questionless Encounter, After $2B Renovation, Still No Wi-Fi

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 29 -- When UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon refused to take any questions on his Syria chemical weapons probe, after much promotion of his “press encounter” on the topic, media dissatisfaction was widespread.

  Inner City Press, after uploading video of the question-less encounter and some of the disorganization which preceded it(haphazard screening of print journalists, elevators up to the 38 floor and then down again, stakeout in a UN lobby location without wi-fi), conferred and for the Free UN Coalition for Access submitted a letter of complaint to the Department of Public Information.

  FUNCA primarily complained that Ban should take questions from the media; that is the purpose of a “press encounter.” By contrast, Syria's Permanent Representative Bashar Ja'afari has scheduled a press conference for April 30 at 10:30 am at which it seems sure he will take questions. Why doesn't Ban?

  DPI has been sitting on specific requests submitted by FUNCA on April 18 and before, including a dozen proposed reforms to its archaic Media Accreditation rules and Access Guidelines (to which the old UN Correspondents' Association is a party, or collaborator).

  But this time DPI sent back a response quickly, albeit not from its chief but rather the head of UNTV, and main UNCA partner, Stephane Dujarric.

  On Ban's questionless press encounter or “fakeout at the stakeout,” Dujarric wrote:

From: Stephane Dujarric [at] un.org
Date: Mon, Apr 29, 2013 at 4:17 PM
Subject: Fw: FUNCA response to S-G's press "encounter" this morning, outstanding questions, thanks
To: funca [at] funca [dot] info
Cc: Isabelle Broyer [at] un.org

Thank you for the email you addressed to DPI this morning regarding issues you had with the Secretary-General's appearance before the press.

I'm truly sorry that you felt the event was not organized properly and wasted your time. I would ask you to show some flexibility. Due to the large number of journalists present, a decision was made to change the location of the event to one that would be more comfortable all those involved, including the Secretary-General. Sometimes things change at the last minute and we just all have to go with the flow.

As for the event itself, you complain that the Secretary-General took no questions and that it should not have been called a “press encounter.” I frankly don’t know what to call an event when the Secretary-General encounters the press but a “press encounter.” There are clearly different types of press encounters and sometimes questions are taken and sometimes they are not depending on the circumstances.

No one wants to waste your time but please understand that your presence is not mandatory and that you are free to attend or not to attend any event at the UN. I have no way of guaranteeing that press events at the UN will not be a waste of your time. In planning these events we can only hope that you will find them useful.

There is currently no wi-fi in the north end of the Secretariat lobby but I do very much hope that wi-fi coverage will be extended through out the building as soon as practicable.

  The response largely speaks for itself. But just on the last point: no wi-fi after a $2 billion renovation?

  Would the UN call Ban speaking to UNTV (run by Dujarric) a "press encounter"?

 And will Ban hold another "encounter" after Syria's press conference on April 30? Or will a Western power's ambassador do it?

Footnote: We said Dujarric is UNCA's main supporter (and even an opponent of anything more than a one party system) and here are just a few reasons. Dujarric complained when Inner City Press published audio of UNCA president Pamela Falk screaming in an on the record meeting, audio here and here.

This month, Dujarric threatened Inner City Press about a single tweet that mentioned World War Two and UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous who owes his JOB to France's veto power won in WW2.

  Dujarric has refused to explain how photos taken during a non-consensual raid of Inner City Press' office on March 18 were leaked to BuzzFeed on March 21, right after that publication contacted Ban's spokesman with questions about the raid. We will continue to push on all this. Watch this site.

As UN Raises Minova Rapes to 70, Ladsous Hasn't Answered, on Regiments 802 or 1001

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, December 5, updated with video -- First the UN said there were 21 rapes in Minova while the Congolese Army FARDC was there in late November.

 But UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous refused repeatedly to answer Press questions, about which FADRC regiments were in Minova at the time, and if his MONUSCO mission works with them, under the UN's Human Rights Due Diligence Policy.

  Click here for video of Ladsous refusing Press questions on the Minova rapes, then taking chosen correspondents into the hall.

  On December 3, the UN told Inner City Press that it had not been able to access Minova to get this information. But as noted, UNICEF was able to deliver medical supplies soon after the rapes, and journalists traveled there.

  From such eye witnesses, Inner City Press knows of at least two FARDC regiments present during the rape spree. But shouldn't it be UN Peacekeeping which discloses what it knows, if its supposed Human Rights Due Diligence Policy is to have any meaning?

   On December 5, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky read out a statement that an inter agency assessment team had gotten to Minova, and upped the number of rapes to 70, saying that the 70 survivors are receiving treatment. (Actually, Inner City Press is informed that at least one of the rape victims died.)

   So Inner City Press asked again, which units of the FARDC, which with the UN works, were present in Minova during the 70 rapes? Video here, from Minute 14:39.

   Nesirky said the statement is all he had, but that the Department of Peacekeeping Operations was listening to the questions.

   Inner City Press then asked, yes or no, whether FARDC regiments 802 and 1001 were in Minova during the time at issue, and whether the UN works with either regiment. Three hours later and counting, there has been no answer. Nor to the previous questions about which FARDC units have re-entered Goma, and which units the UN is working. Here was Ladsous on Nov 27:

  At the Security Council stakeout later on Wednesday, December 5, Inner City Press asked French Ambassador Gerard Araud about the UN's Human Rights Due Diligence Policy. (Unlike Ladsous (here, on Abyei and Sudan), Araud now answers Press questions, click here for Mali coverage.)

  On DRC Araud said that if the UN find units or personnel which engaged in abuse, "the UN should cease supporting these units, that is I think the rules in DRC." Video here, from Minute 11:50. We'll see, in this test case. Watch this site.

UN "Press Encounter" on Chemical Weapons is All Syria, Allows No Questions

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 1 -- With chemical weapons in the news, when UN correspondents were urged to attended a media stakeout or "press encounter" with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the topic from 2:40 to 3:00 pm on Monday, one assumed that questions could be asked. That's what would make it a press "encounter" or stakeout, right?

  Wrong.

  Ban arrived with the head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Ahmed Uzumcu, and launched into prepared remarks. He mentioned Syria three times; it was the only country that he mentioned.

  Then Uzumcu spoke, more briefly, also mentioning Syria. Inner City Press indicated it had a question -- two, actually -- but raised hand. But Ban and his spokesman turned and left. The encounter was over.

  As was the goal, Ban's comments were quickly disseminated. But what about questions?

  Among those that could be asked: are personnel of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons present in Libya, particularly after the events in Benghazi? Which ARE the countries which have not met deadlines to destroy chemical weapons stockpiles? Do these include the host country? Why was this not mentioned?

  The UN Secretariat will be having another 30 minute press "inter-action" on October 2, about the events at the UN of the last week. But it will not be Ban Ki-moon, but rather his new deputy, Jan Eliasson. Watch this site.

Footnote: as Ban's spokesman pointed out to Inner City Press earlier, Ban has had a grueling series of 20 minute meetings to visiting heads of state and foreign minister in the past week. Understandable. But then don't call it a "press encounter," if no questions will be allowed. Some say, just film it up in Ban's office....