Amid UNGA Spat With India, Pakistan Cites Kashmir With Photo Seemingly From Gaza

By Matthew Russell Lee, photos India, Pakistan

UNITED NATIONS, September 24 – After India's foreign minister Sushma Swaraj in her UN General Assembly speech said while her country exports IT, Pakistan exports terrorists, Pakistani Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi asked for the right of reply at the end of Saturday's UNGA session. She morphed India as the biggest democracy into the biggest hypocrisy - and raised up a photograph showing the impact of the use of pellet guns. But it appears the photo used was not from Kashmir, but from Gaza. What next? 

The day before on Friday, Inner City Press had asked the Commissioner General for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Pierre Krähenbühl, about UNRWA's policies on social media. Inner City Press asked about another UN agency, UNHCR, being less than transparent after a staffer called for “harder repression” of Anglophones in Cameroon; another example was UNRWA illustrating the situation in Palestine with a photo from... Syria. So these things happen, but UNRWA is under different pressures to issue corrections, including by funders. What will Pakistan do? Will we find out by the Daily Dawn? We aim to have more on this - and on UN Spokespeople being less responsive than government's Ambassadors, because the UN or at least its Spokesman is apparently under no pressure or metric to be responsive. After UN Secretary General met with Yousef Al Othaimeen, the Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the UN issues a read-out that "they discussed a number of issues of mutual concern, including counterterrorism, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, and Afghanistan, as well as resolving the plight of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar." Inner City Press tweeted photohere. Then the UN "re-issued" the read-out, dropping Somalia and the plight of the Rohinga, and adding the Middle East peace process: "The Secretaries-General discussed a number of issues in OIC’s area of responsibility, including counterterrorism, Syria, Libya, Iraq, Yemen, the Middle East Process and Myanmar. The Secretaries-General agreed to strengthen cooperation between the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations." So who complained? Myanmar about the "plight of the Rohingya"? The OIC about no MEPP? Who said, drop Somalia? We aim to have more on this. On September 22, Guteres met with Cameroon's 30-plus year President Paul Biya, he met Saturday morning with DR Congo holdover Joseph Kabila, now with white in his beard, and the prime minister of Togo, where protesters against the father and son in power for 50 years are being shot and killed. Inner City Press covered the meetings, or photo ops, here. There was also Sri Lanka (Sirisena without accountability) and Libya's Serraj. While no read-outs have issued yet, the Cameroon read-out refers only to the political situation in the country - that would be, the killing and jailing of Anglophones. This is today's UN. 

Bax Bought Anti-Aircraft Gun in Somalia, But Could Reappear Elsewhere in UN System, Through Loopholes?

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive series

UNITED NATIONS, August 10 -- Two months after Inner City Press asked UN envoy to Somalia Nicholas Kay about the UN Office of Project Services report(s) on UN figure David Bax on which it has exclusively reported, this time that Bax while in Somalia purchased an anti-aircraft gun SA-7 (video here), Inner City Press was told by sources on August 7 that Bax has been terminated for "unauthorized purchase of a weapon." 

But terminated throughout the UN system?

 Given how this makes the UN system look, Inner City Press thought the UN spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, would at least confirm, or try to deny, this report and provide the UN's perspective. Instead, when Inner City Press asked, Dujarric repeated said to "ask UNOPS."  So Inner City Press asked:

"At today's UN noon briefing I asked the spokesman to confirm or deny that Mr Bax's contract has been terminated / is over, and that there has been a finding on the alleged purchase of a weapon in Somalia. I was told to 'ask UNOPS' and was later by the Spokesperson's Office provided with your email as UNOPS' spokesperson. The above question is on deadline, thanks."

   Then on August 10, this:

"Mr Lee, Thank you for your message. There have been allegations of misconduct against members of personnel on UNOPS contracts in connection with projects in Somalia over recent years. UNOPS takes such allegations seriously. We have systems and process in place to manage investigations of such incidents.

As a rule, we do not divulge names of subjects of investigations, nor do we make investigation reports public. The reason for that is simply that personnel who are subjects of investigations or interviewed in connection with them should be able to expect full confidentiality.

In this case, the investigation has been completed. We can confirm that the person concerned is no longer an employee of UNOPS.

Jon Lidén | Director | Communications Practice Group | Copenhagen, Denmark | UNOPS"

  The investigation is completed, and Bax is no longer an employee of UNOPS. It shouldn't have to be asked, but given the many (intentional) loopholes in the UN's "zero tolerance" policies, could Bax re-appear, as a directly UN Mine Action Service staffer or otherwise? 

 So at the UN's August 10 noon briefing, Inner City Press asked, video here:

Inner City Press: UNOPS did respond, I'm happy to say, but I want to ask you something and you'll see why.  On the question of whether, faced with reports of having purchased an anti-aircraft gun, Mr. [David] Bax was let go.  They've said:  "The investigation is completed.  We can confirm that the person concerned is no longer an employee of UNOPS."  I don't want to misunderstand this as being that the two being connected, but the reason I want to ask you is if, in fact, it was found, as I've heard, that he did buy an anti-aircraft gun, does this mean that he's banned from UN employment, a zero-tolerance policy, or can a person working for UNMAS [United Nations Mine Action Service], but technically employed by UNOPS be fired by UNOPS and reappear as an UNMAS person?  So, I'm asking… how does it work?

Spokesman Stephane Dujarric:  It's a good… I would almost concede that it's a good question.  I don't know if there's such a ruling as a lifetime ban from working at the UN.  But, clearly, when people… and I don't… I'm not commenting specifically on this case, because I don't know the details of how he was let go.  Obviously, I would hope that, when people apply for a job within the UN system, there is a minimum of reference checks, which would then show that some person has been let go of the UN system in…

Inner City Press:  The reason I ask is because, in the sexual abuse context, sometimes the UN without naming who the people are will say proudly, they'll never serve with us again.  So, it seems like buying… although this is not…

Spokesman:  I can't…

Inner City Press: …civilian personnel.

Spokesman:  I can't answer that question at this point, on this day.  Goodbye.  It's been a pleasure.

 Inner City Press also asked the UNOPS spokesperson, without answer yet:

"For reasons that should be obvious - alleged anti-aircraft gun purchase etc - would like to know if Mr. Bax could simply reappear under an employment contract with UNMAS instead of UNOPS. Also, if other(s) from UNMAS in Somalia are similarly no longer working for UNOPS? Also interested in UNOPS work on bridges in South Sudan - unclear if the work is funded by the South Sudanese government, from within the UN system or otherwise?"

 Before that, from the UN's August 7 transcript:

Inner City Press: one is about UNMAS.  David Bax who used to be the Somalia guy for UNMAS and was moved to Gaza for demining, I wanted to ask you straight up, I’ve heard that UNOPS after this investigation has decided to terminate his contract based on a finding of improper purchase of weaponry, which would be an anti-aircraft gun.  Given the imperative of the UN personnel not being perceived as buying anti-aircraft guns, will you… can you confirm it now or will you today confirm it or not?

Spokesman Dujarric:  I can’t confirm.  The gentleman you mentioned worked for, was contracted for by UNOPS.  I would encourage you to talk to them.

Inner City Press:  I’ve heard there is a communication from UNOPS to UNMAS since all the work that he did was for UNMAS?

Spokesman Dujarric:  That I understand, but his contract was with UNOPS... I can’t speak for them... I’m the Spokesman for the Secretary-General and not the UN system.  I do amplify the message from the UN system and I’m always happy to get a promotion, but I’m not sure I can shoulder that responsibility.  I will find you a press contact in UNOPS in Copenhagen.  We can both go there.

  Meanwhile a senior UN official has told Inner City Press it was internally disclosed that Bax contract was over. Others say the finding include "abuse of authority, sexual harrasment as well as unauthorized purchase of weaponry." This is something on which the UN system, whether UNOPS or UN Mine Action Service with which Bax worked not only in Somalia but also Gaza, should speak. Watch this site.

   Back on June 8, after Inner City Press asked about Bax, Kay was handed a piece of paper and read out that this allegation is under investigation and therefore he can have no comment at this time.

  Inner City Press replied it has heard the UNOPS report is finished, and asked in any event if it or a summary will be made public. Kay said what he had read was all he could say. 

 Inner City Press also asked Somalia's prime minister and Maman Sidikou, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission for Somalia about the geographic scope of the AMISOM mission, including in Somaliland and Puntland (there was no answer on either) and about US stated plans to send an ambassador. Watch this site.

  When the UN Mine Action Service held its annual press conference on April 1, Inner City Press wanted to ask UNMAS Director Agnes Marcaillou about landines in South Sudan and UNMAS' promotion of multiply-accused deminer David Bax from Somalia to Gaza.

  But also at the press conference were Japan's Deputy Permanent Representative and the Dutch Permanent Representative Karel van Oosterom, who it was said had to leave early, to meet with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. 

  So Inner City Press first asked van Oosterom if Dutch Queen Maxine, in Myanmar, would be raising the landmine issues in that country.

   No,  van Oosterom said, the Queen is in Myanmar in her capacity as UN Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development. But he (and UNMAS' Marcaillou) assured that she and other Dutch official raise the landmine issue wherever they go.

  Later, Inner City Press asked Marcaillou about the reported use of landmines in South Sudan and about the disposition of the investigation(s) into David Bax, who whistleblowers in Somalia alleged shared DNA information about Somalia bombers with US intelligence, as well as engaging in conflicts of interest. (Video and background here.)

   Marcaillou spoke passionately about South Sudan, where UNMAS found cluster bombs were used but could not find by whom. She said UNMAS coordinated a statement on the landline allegation, by IGAD with the UN Mission UNMISS. Later she said that UNMAS dogs were used to check if explosives were being brought into UNMISS protection of civilians site.

  On Bax, the answer was less convincing.  Marcaillou as she did last year pointed to an investigation by the UN Office of Project Services - but this time acknowledged that she had not seen the whole UNOPS report. 

This is the case even though Bax is a UNMAS employee - it's that UNMAS outsources its human resources activities to UNOPS. But shouldn't Marcaillou as UNMAS director have access to investigative reports about UNMAS staffers? We'll have more on this.

Footnote: After the briefing, Inner City Press mused whether the Netherlands, running for one of two Western European and Other Group seats on the UN Security Council against Italy and Sweden, would be upping its contributions to UNMAS.

    Karel van Oosterom replied that “currently, tender process under way for for years 2016-20. Share UNMAS will depend on quality its proposals.”

  This level of detail is appreciated. And wouldn't one think that assessment would include UNMAS' transparency, including whether it demands and gets access to investigative reports about UNMAS staff like Bax and the issues raised? We'll have more on this.

   

UN Terminates Bax For Buying Anti-Aircraft Gun in Somalia, Inner City Press Is Informed, Asks UN & UNOPS

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive series

UNITED NATIONS, August 7 -- Two months after Inner City Press asked UN envoy to Somalia Nicholas Kay about the UN Office of Project Services report(s) on UN figure David Bax on which it has exclusively reported, this time that Bax while in Somalia purchased an anti-aircraft gun SA-7 (video here), Inner City Press was told by sources on August 7 that Bax has been terminated for "unauthorized purchase of a weapon."

 Given how this makes the UN system look, Inner City Press thought the UN spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, would at least confirm, or try to deny, this report and provide the UN's perspective. Instead, when Inner City Press asked, Dujarric repeated said to "ask UNOPS." When Inner City Press asked who that UN "logistics" agency's spokesperson is, Dujarric said he would check. From the UN's transcript:

Inner City Press: one is about UNMAS.  David Bax who used to be the Somalia guy for UNMAS and was moved to Gaza for demining, I wanted to ask you straight up, I’ve heard that UNOPS after this investigation has decided to terminate his contract based on a finding of improper purchase of weaponry, which would be an anti-aircraft gun.  Given the imperative of the UN personnel not being perceived as buying anti-aircraft guns, will you… can you confirm it now or will you today confirm it or not?

Spokesman Dujarric:  I can’t confirm.  The gentleman you mentioned worked for, was contracted for by UNOPS.  I would encourage you to talk to them.

Inner City Press:  I’ve heard there is a communication from UNOPS to UNMAS since all the work that he did was for UNMAS?

Spokesman Dujarric:  That I understand, but his contract was with UNOPS... I can’t speak for them... I’m the Spokesman for the Secretary-General and not the UN system.  I do amplify the message from the UN system and I’m always happy to get a promotion, but I’m not sure I can shoulder that responsibility.  I will find you a press contact in UNOPS in Copenhagen.  We can both go there.

 Update: Inner City Press has been informed that the UNOPS spokesperson is Jon Liden, who has been asked:

"At today's UN noon briefing I asked the spokesman to confirm or deny that Mr Bax's contract has been terminated / is over, and that there has been a finding on the alleged purchase of a weapon in Somalia. I was told to 'ask UNOPS' and was later by the Spokesperson's Office provided with your email as UNOPS' spokesperson. The above question is on deadline, thanks."

  Meanwhile a senior UN official has told Inner City Press it was internally disclosed that Bax contract was over. Others say the finding include "abuse of authority, sexual harrassment as well as unauthorized purchase of weaponry." This is something on which the UN system, whether UNOPS or UN Mine Action Service with which Bax worked not only in Somalia but also Gaza, should speak. Watch this site.



   Back on June 8, after Inner City Press asked about Bax, Kay was handed a piece of paper and read out that this allegation is under investigation and therefore he can have no comment at this time.

  Inner City Press replied it has heard the UNOPS report is finished, and asked in any event if it or a summary will be made public. Kay said what he had read was all he could say. 

 Inner City Press also asked Somalia's prime minister and Maman Sidikou, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission for Somalia about the geographic scope of the AMISOM mission, including in Somaliland and Puntland (there was no answer on either) and about US stated plans to send an ambassador. Watch this site.

  When the UN Mine Action Service held its annual press conference on April 1, Inner City Press wanted to ask UNMAS Director Agnes Marcaillou about landines in South Sudan and UNMAS' promotion of multiply-accused deminer David Bax from Somalia to Gaza.

  But also at the press conference were Japan's Deputy Permanent Representative and the Dutch Permanent Representative Karel van Oosterom, who it was said had to leave early, to meet with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. 

  So Inner City Press first asked van Oosterom if Dutch Queen Maxine, in Myanmar, would be raising the landmine issues in that country.

   No,  van Oosterom said, the Queen is in Myanmar in her capacity as UN Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development. But he (and UNMAS' Marcaillou) assured that she and other Dutch official raise the landmine issue wherever they go.

  Later, Inner City Press asked Marcaillou about the reported use of landmines in South Sudan and about the disposition of the investigation(s) into David Bax, who whistleblowers in Somalia alleged shared DNA information about Somalia bombers with US intelligence, as well as engaging in conflicts of interest. (Video and background here.)

   Marcaillou spoke passionately about South Sudan, where UNMAS found cluster bombs were used but could not find by whom. She said UNMAS coordinated a statement on the landline allegation, by IGAD with the UN Mission UNMISS. Later she said that UNMAS dogs were used to check if explosives were being brought into UNMISS protection of civilians site.

  On Bax, the answer was less convincing.  Marcaillou as she did last year pointed to an investigation by the UN Office of Project Services - but this time acknowledged that she had not seen the whole UNOPS report. 

This is the case even though Bax is a UNMAS employee - it's that UNMAS outsources its human resources activities to UNOPS. But shouldn't Marcaillou as UNMAS director have access to investigative reports about UNMAS staffers? We'll have more on this.

Footnote: After the briefing, Inner City Press mused whether the Netherlands, running for one of two Western European and Other Group seats on the UN Security Council against Italy and Sweden, would be upping its contributions to UNMAS.

    Karel van Oosterom replied that “currently, tender process under way for for years 2016-20. Share UNMAS will depend on quality its proposals.”

  This level of detail is appreciated. And wouldn't one think that assessment would include UNMAS' transparency, including whether it demands and gets access to investigative reports about UNMAS staff like Bax and the issues raised? We'll have more on this.

   

At UN, Of Palestine & Iran Deal, Saudis on Book & Parachutists

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 23 -- The quarterly Middle East open debate of the UN Security Council ended with replies by Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Israel again, whose representative Israel Nitzan said, in Arabic, Talk is cheap. (He lived in Egypt, as another Security Council member told Inner City Press.)

  Iran said that Israel had been using the Iranian nuclear program controversy as a smoke-screen to distract from Palestine. Saudi Arabia said Israel "wrote the book" about harming civilians (some say if so, maybe Saudi Arabia has read it, for its campaign in Yemen.)

 Malaysia strongly denied Israel's allegation that Hamas parachutists trained in Malaysia. Inner City Press has been directed to the "IDF Blog" for this, and we may have more on this. For now, here is IDF Blog post, and here a Malaysian publication calling out IDF Blog for saying a Malaysian mall was in Gaza. What's in a mall?

  When it was over, New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully returned to the Security Council president's office and met with at least one major Asian state. 

  Talk turned to breathless over-reporting of Obama moving out of the ostensibly (only) now bugged Waldorff Astoria, and to John Kerry's trip to New York on July 24 to try to sell the Iran Deal at CFR and organizations named at the June 22 Time Square rally. 

  In UN-world, New Zealand's July 30 debate on Small Island Developing states is on the horizon, with hopes it will not rain that day. Things ended with a whimper and not a bang in the Security Council. But it was only Thursday. Watch this site.

 Earlier on July 23 the UN's Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov said or read in the Security Council:

  “The Israeli - Palestinian conflict is increasingly entangled in the tectonic shifts of the Middle East. Given the region's massive transformation, it is imperative, perhaps more than ever before, that a permanent settlement be found, based on the concept of two states, Israel and a sovereign, contiguous and viable Palestine, living side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition.

  “Despite continuing security coordination in the West Bank, today the two sides are further apart from that goal than ever. Support for the two-state solution among both Palestinians and Israelis is fading away. The current situation on the ground is not sustainable as the two-state solution continues to be under threat including from settlement construction, security incidents, occupation-related violence, and lack of Palestinian unity.

  “While settlement expansion had slowed of late, planning for related infrastructure has not ceased. I am concerned by reports about the imminent approval of new residential units in the occupied West Bank. Such a decision will inevitably damage the prospects for peace and increase the risk for political escalation. I urge the Israeli authorities to reconsider this action. Settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the very essence of the viability of a future Palestinian state.

  “Meanwhile the Palestinian people rightly expect their leaders to act to advance unity and empower their government to take control of the border crossings in Gaza, implement civil service integration, pay public sector salaries and ensure that the governance framework between the West Bank and Gaza is integrated under a single authority. These efforts will pave the way for much delayed elections to take place. I call on all Palestinian groups to avoid in-fighting and find common ground, on the basis of non-violence and reconciliation, to achieve national unity which is critical for a two-state solution.

  “Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas recently spoke and reaffirmed their desire for peace. This is a welcome sign. But, words need to be translated into concrete and sustained actions on the ground. Measures undertaken to improve the situation must not be considered an end unto themselves but part of a broader political framework with the goal of achieving a final status agreement. Now is the time to act decisively to reverse the growing perception that the two-state solution is on life-support, slowly dying a death 'by a thousand cuts.'"

On July 20 after the UN Security Council held a closed "Arria formula" meeting about Gaza, there was supposed to be a 1:30 pm press conference with three of the people who spoke in the meeting: Sara Roy of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University, Vance Culbert of the Norwegian Refugee Council and Tania Hary of Gisha, the  Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, an Israeli NGO.

  But on the morning of July 20 while the Security Council met on and approval the Iran nuclear deal, the UN announced that the press conference on Gaza was canceled.

  Inner City Press went down to Conference Room 3 in the UN basement and asked, when the meeting ended, why there would be no press conference on Gaza. Palestine's Permanent Observer Riyad Mansour, then the ambassadors of Jordan and Malaysia, indicated they would come up in front of the Security Council and do a question and answer stakeout. Periscope video for now here.

  But up at stakeout, while the UN Television cameras were still there (presumably for a 3 pm meeting about Ukraine), there were no UNTV personnel. Inner City Press for the Free UN Coalition for Access went into the UN Spokesperson's office and told a representative that three ambassadors -- Jordan, Malaysia and Palestine - wanted to speak at the stakeout and to send UNTV staff. There was a nod.

  But for twenty minutes, the UN sent no one. In the interim, the Ambassadors of Jordan and Malaysia apologized and left. Riyad Mansour remained and spoke to Inner City Press (broadcasting live on Periscope, here), the New York Post and Kurdish Rudaw media (in Arabic). Sara Roy also left.

  Inner City Press asked Riyad Mansour if he expected any UN Security Council draft to emerge from the meeting; he said to wait for the Council's open debate on the Middle East in three days' time.

  Mansour noted that Security Council's unity in approving the Iran nuclear deal, and said that in the Arria formula meeting on Gaza the Ambassadors of Russia and Spain noted this as well. He said that in the room he'd seen representatives of both Egypt and Israel.

  Inner City Press also asked Mansour about the International Criminal Court. He noted that the ICC has in essence re-opened the case of the Marvi Marmara ships, at the request of Cosmoros and Turkey. Video here. Twenty minutes after the request to the UN, no one came to enable this to be on UNTV as other states at the UN are. We'll have more on this.

There is a lot of talk about the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, but it's funding appeals are not met. And so on June 29, 2015,  this statement from its spokesperson:

"Today UNRWA announced that 85 per cent of all 137 international personnel on short term contracts will be separated in a phased process which will last until the end of September. 35 per cent of the 137 internationals will see their contracts end in the coming four weeks. Another 50 per cent will end by 30 September without further extension or renewal. UNRWA is taking this measure to reduce costs as much as possible without reducing services to refugees. 

"UNRWA has a deficit to the end of the year of 101 million USD and we will continue with our robust efforts in resource mobilization. As things currently stand, with stringent austerity measures already in place beyond today’s announcement, the Agency should be able to continue with life-saving services to the end of the year. These include our health programs, relief and social services, sanitation and emergency projects for which we have funds.  UNRWA’s school system for half a million children across the Middle East in Jordan, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory and Syria are essential but some difficult decisions may be needed in coming weeks if the deficit is not filled."

  We'll have more on this. Back on April 6 amid news that ISIS has taken over most of the UN's Yarmouk camp for Palestinian refugees in Syria, the UN Security Council scheduled an urgent meeting on April 6 at 11:30 am, to get a briefing by video from Pierre Krähenbühl, the Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA.

   Inner City Press arrived early, and saw going into the Council the UN's head of Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman. The State of Palestine's Permanent Observer to the UN Riyad Mansour spoke outside the Security Council, saying “we are concerned about the safety and well-being of our people,  About 2000 were able to run to safety away from the camp on their own. We hope that the Security Council will adopt a position to secure a safety passage through UN agencies to save and protect the 16,000 now in the refugee camp and we hope that all countries will help in securing this objective of safety passage, security passage and for the refugees to be safe.”

  Inner City Press asked Mansour whether he expects a Security Council resolution on the question of Palestine this month. He answered -- video here -- always ready, but that the key is the political will to implement such a resolution. He said that the independence of Palestine would eliminate sixty to seventy percent of extremist recruitment in the Middle East.

  Later, Inner City Press asked UNRWA's Krähenbühl if UNRWA is in contact with ISIS (no) and who he thinks might influence them. His reply -- video here -- cited the “broad spectrum” including of religious leaders. 

 Inner City Press asked where the displaced refugees have gone. He said there are an additional 44,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, not all from Yarmouk. Overall, he said that of 560,000 Palestinians in Syria before, now 460 to 470,000 remain, with half of them having been displaced.

  The Security Council agreed to what's called “Elements to the Press,” which the Council's president for April Dina Kawar of Jordan read out; here's the hard copy, which Inner City Press tweeted in real time:

"The members of the Security Council expressed deep concern regarding the grave situation in the Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria.

The members condemned in the strongest terms the grave crimes committed by Daesh and Jabhet al Nusra against 18,000 civilians in the camp and emphasized the need that such crimes do not go unpunished.

The members called for the protection of civilians in the camp, for ensuring humanitarian access to the area including by providing life-saving assistance, and ensure safe passage and evacuation of the civilians.

The members welcomed UNRWA's efforts in protecting and assisting Palestinian refugees and the need for providing UNRWA with the necessary resources to carry out its mandate in Syria, provide providing the necessary life-saving assistance and evacuate civilians.

 The members reminded all parties of their obligations to work toward the safety, security and protections of the civilians in the camp.

The members called on all parties to immediately implement the relevant Security Council resolutions including SCRs 2139, 2165 and 2191 and in line with the international humanitarian law.

The members recalled SCR 2139 which inter alia calls upon all parties to lift the siege of populated areas, demands all parties allow delivery of humanitarian access and enable rapid, safe and unhindered evacuation of civilians.

The members will look into further measures that can be taken to help in providing the necessary protection and assistance."

   

On Gaza, UN Press Conference Canceled, No UNTV For Palestine, But Inner City Press' Periscope Video Here

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 20 -- After the UN Security Council held a closed "Arria formula" meeting about Gaza on July 20, there was supposed to be a 1:30 pm press conference with three of the people who spoke in the meeting: Sara Roy of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University, Vance Culbert of the Norwegian Refugee Council and Tania Hary of Gisha, the  Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, an Israeli NGO.

  But on the morning of July 20 while the Security Council met on and approval the Iran nuclear deal, the UN announced that the press conference on Gaza was canceled.

  Inner City Press went down to Conference Room 3 in the UN basement and asked, when the meeting ended, why there would be no press conference on Gaza. Palestine's Permanent Observer Riyad Mansour, then the ambassadors of Jordan and Malaysia, indicated they would come up in front of the Security Council and do a question and answer stakeout. Periscope video for now here.

  But up at stakeout, while the UN Television cameras were still there (presumably for a 3 pm meeting about Ukraine), there were no UNTV personnel. Inner City Press for the Free UN Coalition for Access went into the UN Spokesperson's office and told a representative that three ambassadors -- Jordan, Malaysia and Palestine - wanted to speak at the stakeout and to send UNTV staff. There was a nod.

  But for twenty minutes, the UN sent no one. In the interim, the Ambassadors of Jordan and Malaysia apologized and left. Riyad Mansour remained and spoke to Inner City Press (broadcasting live on Periscope, here), the New York Post and Kurdish Rudaw media (in Arabic). Sara Roy also left.

  Inner City Press asked Riyad Mansour if he expected any UN Security Council draft to emerge from the meeting; he said to wait for the Council's open debate on the Middle East in three days' time.

  Mansour noted that Security Council's unity in approving the Iran nuclear deal, and said that in the Arria formula meeting on Gaza the Ambassadors of Russia and Spain noted this as well. He said that in the room he'd seen representatives of both Egypt and Israel.

  Inner City Press also asked Mansour about the International Criminal Court. He noted that the ICC has in essence re-opened the case of the Marvi Marmara ships, at the request of Cosmoros and Turkey. Video here. Twenty minutes after the request to the UN, no one came to enable this to be on UNTV as other states at the UN are. We'll have more on this.

There is a lot of talk about the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, but it's funding appeals are not met. And so on June 29, 2015,  this statement from its spokesperson:

"Today UNRWA announced that 85 per cent of all 137 international personnel on short term contracts will be separated in a phased process which will last until the end of September. 35 per cent of the 137 internationals will see their contracts end in the coming four weeks. Another 50 per cent will end by 30 September without further extension or renewal. UNRWA is taking this measure to reduce costs as much as possible without reducing services to refugees. 

"UNRWA has a deficit to the end of the year of 101 million USD and we will continue with our robust efforts in resource mobilization. As things currently stand, with stringent austerity measures already in place beyond today’s announcement, the Agency should be able to continue with life-saving services to the end of the year. These include our health programs, relief and social services, sanitation and emergency projects for which we have funds.  UNRWA’s school system for half a million children across the Middle East in Jordan, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory and Syria are essential but some difficult decisions may be needed in coming weeks if the deficit is not filled."

  We'll have more on this. Back on April 6 amid news that ISIS has taken over most of the UN's Yarmouk camp for Palestinian refugees in Syria, the UN Security Council scheduled an urgent meeting on April 6 at 11:30 am, to get a briefing by video from Pierre Krähenbühl, the Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA.

   Inner City Press arrived early, and saw going into the Council the UN's head of Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman. The State of Palestine's Permanent Observer to the UN Riyad Mansour spoke outside the Security Council, saying “we are concerned about the safety and well-being of our people,  About 2000 were able to run to safety away from the camp on their own. We hope that the Security Council will adopt a position to secure a safety passage through UN agencies to save and protect the 16,000 now in the refugee camp and we hope that all countries will help in securing this objective of safety passage, security passage and for the refugees to be safe.”

  Inner City Press asked Mansour whether he expects a Security Council resolution on the question of Palestine this month. He answered -- video here -- always ready, but that the key is the political will to implement such a resolution. He said that the independence of Palestine would eliminate sixty to seventy percent of extremist recruitment in the Middle East.

  Later, Inner City Press asked UNRWA's Krähenbühl if UNRWA is in contact with ISIS (no) and who he thinks might influence them. His reply -- video here -- cited the “broad spectrum” including of religious leaders. 

 Inner City Press asked where the displaced refugees have gone. He said there are an additional 44,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, not all from Yarmouk. Overall, he said that of 560,000 Palestinians in Syria before, now 460 to 470,000 remain, with half of them having been displaced.

  The Security Council agreed to what's called “Elements to the Press,” which the Council's president for April Dina Kawar of Jordan read out; here's the hard copy, which Inner City Press tweeted in real time:

"The members of the Security Council expressed deep concern regarding the grave situation in the Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria.

The members condemned in the strongest terms the grave crimes committed by Daesh and Jabhet al Nusra against 18,000 civilians in the camp and emphasized the need that such crimes do not go unpunished.

The members called for the protection of civilians in the camp, for ensuring humanitarian access to the area including by providing life-saving assistance, and ensure safe passage and evacuation of the civilians.

The members welcomed UNRWA's efforts in protecting and assisting Palestinian refugees and the need for providing UNRWA with the necessary resources to carry out its mandate in Syria, provide providing the necessary life-saving assistance and evacuate civilians.

 The members reminded all parties of their obligations to work toward the safety, security and protections of the civilians in the camp.

The members called on all parties to immediately implement the relevant Security Council resolutions including SCRs 2139, 2165 and 2191 and in line with the international humanitarian law.

The members recalled SCR 2139 which inter alia calls upon all parties to lift the siege of populated areas, demands all parties allow delivery of humanitarian access and enable rapid, safe and unhindered evacuation of civilians.

The members will look into further measures that can be taken to help in providing the necessary protection and assistance."

   

Exclusive Series: On Children & War, Amid CAR Panel Delay, Ban to Appear With Zerrougui, Leaving?

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive series

UNITED NATIONS, June 18 -- After UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon decided not to list Israel or Hamas in the annex of his Children and Armed Conflict report -- nor the French troops alleged to have raped children in the Central African Republic -- on June 18 Ban spoke to the Security Council and then, the UN said, to the press.

  To the Security Council, Ban said he regretted the controversy surrounding his report -- which he caused -- and then prepared to do a joint stakeout with Lelia Zerrougui, whose recommendations he ignored. The goal, it seemed, was to show there are no hard feelings. 

   Sources tell Inner City Press that Zerrougui is slated to be leaving her post, to one at the African Union. Cynics told Inner City Press that's why she went semi-public with her recommendation, which Ban ignored. Supporters said she should stay and fight. We'll see.

  And what of the CAR rapes by the French troops? They are mentioned in the text of the report, but not in the Annex. Ban said a Panel would be set up- but hasn't yet done it.

 Inner City Press is exclusively informed that concerned member states will meet not with Ban but his Deputy Jan Eliasson on June 19. Some are concerned Ban might even try to put Eliasson on the "independent" panel, despite controversy about an August 8, 2014 email saying Eliasson would be briefed that afternoon about the CAR rapes. (The UN now says Eliasson didn't learn of them until April 2015.)  We'll see.

  Back on June 8 both Palestine and Israel issued statements, below. Inner City Press beyond reporting on each asked Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric why the French Sangaris force in the Central African Republic, regarding which the UN has evidence of sexual abuse against children as young as nine years told, is not on Ban's list. This remains UNclear.

    Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, issued a statement that “we deeply regret the Secretary-Generals decision to exclude Israel from the list of parties who commit grave violations against children in armed conflict. This decision strikingly contradicts the UN's own evidence and the set criteria on this matter. It is without doubt that Israel, the occupying Power, flagrantly, systematically and grossly commits human rights violations against Palestinian children constituting grave violations that qualify it for such a listing in the annex to the Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict.. The UN's inaction, submitting to the inordinate pressures exerted, sends a most regrettable signal that the same criteria do not apply in all situations for all children, undermining the credibility of the UN system as a whole and the CAAC mechanism in specific.”

  The “pressure exerted” included the United States, which also got Ban to cancel the Yemen talks that had been slated for May 11, click here for that Inner City Press exclusive. Likewise, despite a UN Dispute Tribunal ruling that UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous asked for CAR rape whistleblower Anders Kompass to resign, nothing has been done with regard to Ladsous, the four Frenchman in a row atop UN Peacekeeping. It is not only on CAAC that Ban gives in to inordinate pressure.

   Israel's Ron Prosor put out a statement that “the UN Secretary General was right not to submit to the dictates of the terrorist organizations and the Arab states, in his decision not to include Israel in this shameful list, together with organizations like ISIS, Al Qaeda and the Taliban. However, the UN still has a long way to go. Instead of releasing thousands of reports and lists against Israel, the UN must unequivocally condemn the terrorist organizations that operate in the Gaza Strip. I call on the Secretary General to put an end to the destruction these organizations cause the people of Gaza, when they obstruct humanitarian aid, fire from civilian population centers and use innocents as human shields. Only after these organizations are recognized as terrorist organizations and condemned, can we promote real solutions.”

    Ban's spokesman Dujarric, before Inner City Press asked him about the French Sangaris force in CAR, told reporters to not worry so much about the list. Really? Others, reporting on this, did not mention the French forces' sexual abuse. We'll have more on this.

Back on June 1 In the run up to Ban's decision on whether to include Israel in the UN's list of those abusing children in armed conflict, Inner City Press asked Pierre Krähenbühl, the Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA, for his view.

  Krahenbuhl diplomatically said he'd have no comment until after the decision is made.

 And now?

   

As Ban Ki-moon Is Lobbied to Drop Israel From Children and Armed Conflict Report, UNRWA Head Krähenbühl Defers Comment

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 1 -- In the run up to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's decision, expected June 18, on whether to include Israel in the UN's list of those abusing children in armed conflict, Inner City Press on June 1 asked Pierre Krähenbühl, the Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA, for his view.

  Krahenbuhl diplomatically said he'd have no comment until after the decision is made (we'll return to this). Inner City Press also asked Krahenbuhl about groups saying UNRWA is freezing hiring, and cutting for example radiology. He acknowledged that the freeze is being considered, but said that reports that services would be impacted are untrue. To the Free UN Coalition for Access it is inescapable: as some point freezing hiring must impact services, no?

Back on April 6 amid news that ISIS has taken over most of the UN's Yarmouk camp for Palestinian refugees in Syria, the UN Security Council scheduled an urgent meeting to get a briefing by video from Pierre Krähenbühl, the Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA.

   Inner City Press arrived early, and saw going into the Council the UN's head of Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman. The State of Palestine's Permanent Observer to the UN Riyad Mansour spoke outside the Security Council, saying “we are concerned about the safety and well-being of our people,  About 2000 were able to run to safety away from the camp on their own. We hope that the Security Council will adopt a position to secure a safety passage through UN agencies to save and protect the 16,000 now in the refugee camp and we hope that all countries will help in securing this objective of safety passage, security passage and for the refugees to be safe.”

  Inner City Press asked Mansour whether he expects a Security Council resolution on the question of Palestine this month. He answered -- video here -- always ready, but that the key is the political will to implement such a resolution. He said that the independence of Palestine would eliminate sixty to seventy percent of extremist recruitment in the Middle East.

  Later, Inner City Press asked UNRWA's Krähenbühl if UNRWA is in contact with ISIS (no) and who he thinks might influence them. His reply -- video here -- cited the “broad spectrum” including of religious leaders. 

 Inner City Press asked where the displaced refugees have gone. He said there are an additional 44,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, not all from Yarmouk. Overall, he said that of 560,000 Palestinians in Syria before, now 460 to 470,000 remain, with half of them having been displaced.

  The Security Council agreed to what's called “Elements to the Press,” which the Council's president for April Dina Kawar of Jordan read out; here's the hard copy, which Inner City Press tweeted in real time:

"The members of the Security Council expressed deep concern regarding the grave situation in the Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria.

The members condemned in the strongest terms the grave crimes committed by Daesh and Jabhet al Nusra against 18,000 civilians in the camp and emphasized the need that such crimes do not go unpunished.

The members called for the protection of civilians in the camp, for ensuring humanitarian access to the area including by providing life-saving assistance, and ensure safe passage and evacuation of the civilians.

The members welcomed UNRWA's efforts in protecting and assisting Palestinian refugees and the need for providing UNRWA with the necessary resources to carry out its mandate in Syria, provide providing the necessary life-saving assistance and evacuate civilians.

 The members reminded all parties of their obligations to work toward the safety, security and protections of the civilians in the camp.

The members called on all parties to immediately implement the relevant Security Council resolutions including SCRs 2139, 2165 and 2191 and in line with the international humanitarian law.

The members recalled SCR 2139 which inter alia calls upon all parties to lift the siege of populated areas, demands all parties allow delivery of humanitarian access and enable rapid, safe and unhindered evacuation of civilians.

The members will look into further measures that can be taken to help in providing the necessary protection and assistance."