In UN Security, Henn Won't Talk to Panel, DM on KFC, Gun Removed?

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/undss1hennkfcgun111209.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 12, updated -- With two UN Security officers still on suspension for KFC's Colonel Sanders' impersonator having a photo op with the President of the General Assembly Ali Treki, it has emerged that the Chief of Headquarters security, Bruno Henn, has refused to appear before the panel investigating the promotions scandal exposed by Inner City Press. Story here, leaked memo here.

Henn has said he will only answer questions in writing, according to multiple sources, none of them on the panel. This is similar to a police officer refusing to take a Breath-a-lyzer test. But within the UN Department of Safety and Security, some avail themselves of due process, while others cannot.

Sometimes the pressure comes from outside of DSS. It has emerged that it was not the DSS which initiated the two KFC suspensions, but the Department of Management. The disciplinary action was taken quickly, before review, so that the UN could say that something was done, staff union sources tell Inner City Press. The UN Spokesperson has said to not ask anymore questions about KFC, ostensibly to not give publicity, but most people say, from shame. There has still been no press conference by DSS chief Gregory Starr.

Meanwhile, UN Security sources have been abuzz for day saying that Captain Mark Hoffman has had his pistol revoked or placed on restriction. The UN Spokesperson's office was asked, in writing, if as some in Security are saying it involved a law enforcement incident -- reminiscent of Winona Ryder -- in Florida. This was denied, and Associate Spokesperson Farhan Haq added that Hoffman was in Florida looking at colleges. Thou dost protest too much?

At Wednesday's noon briefing, Inner City Press asked Deputy Spokesperson Marie Okabe on the record the more limited question of if Mark Hoffman's gun has been suspended. We looked into that, and no, she said. The UN transcript claimed that Hoffman's name was inaudible:

Inner City Press: Security sources here say that Captain [inaudible], who has had his gun removed. I’d like to know if that’s true and if so why.

Deputy Spokesperson Marie Okabe: I have not heard anything of that sort.

Inner City Press: Can you check?

Deputy Spokesperson Okabe: We did. Okay. Thank you very much.

Compare to video, here, at Minute 14:50. And multiple sources, including within DSS, say Hoffman's gun is on suspension, contrary to what Ms. Okabe said at the November 11 noon briefing. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/undss1hennkfcgun111209.html

At UN, Press Table Relocated by Implicated Security Official, Under Picasso Pretext, of Porno and Preferential Treatment

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/undss6chaos042709.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 27, updated -- A senior UN security officer, part of promotion irregularities exposed by a memo leaked to this publication by Department of Safety and Security whistle blowers, on Monday morning ordered the relocation of the press table that for three years has been to the side of Security Council entrance.

Captain Mark Hoffman, named for one of the now-questioned promotions in the leaked memo, pointed at the table and Inner City Press and told an officer under his command, that has to move. Asked for an explanation, he said, it is “blocking the Picasso.” There is a tapestry replica of “Femme Sur l”Echelle,” Woman on the Ladder, along the wall.

Inner City Press moved the table away from the front of the replica. Captain Hoffman persisted, no I am going to move it away from the Security Council. Inner City Press suggested that he ask the UN's Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit, which is charged with ensuring the media access to newsmakers at the Security Council and elsewhere. Hoffman announced his intent to MALU's chief, and had the officer under his command move the table to a back area where diplomats and others are allowed to smoke.

While Inner City Press assisted the officer in moving the table, it appears that Captain Hoffman's reasoning to order the relocation of a table that has been in the same spot for at least three years was retaliatory.

Beyond the promotion irregularity leak, which has given rise to a formal demand by the UN Staff Union for an independent outside investigation including of Captain Hoffman's superior Bruno Henn, last week following the arrest of UN employee for child pornography, Inner City Press asked the Office of the Spokesperson to confirm or deny that several senior DSS officers have been informed that they are under investigation for similar -- but non-child -- issues.

Inner City Press asked the Office of the Spokesperson

(5a) The child porn guilty plea, on which I am asking for updates on what the UN does, was by "Jose Antonio Ortega Osona, 40, a Spanish citizen who lives in New York, pleaded guilty Friday in Dartmouth provincial court to a Criminal Code charge of possessing child pornography and a Customs Act charge of smuggling prohibited goods."

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9011475.html

(5b) Finally, for now, a simple factual question best answered in this format / medium:

please confirm or deny that there are several senior DSS / SSS officers at UNHQ in NY who have received letters of reprimand for pornography, and explain any difference of treatment from that accorded on the same charges to a lower level staff member. To ensure your answer, I suggest you ask OHRM, OIOS and DSS.

While the Spokesperson's Office has yet to answer the question, DSS sources tell Inner City Press that Hoffman is among the officials now belatedly being considered not for promotion but demotion. We continue to await the Spokesperson's Office's answers to the questions asked last week.

A lower level UN official lost his job for viewing and forwarding pornography, as Inner City Press reported. Many now complain that higher ups engaged in the same behavior are being given preferential treatment. To cover the Security Council from a table that has for at least three years been open to all reporters is not preferential treatment. But its arbitrary removal is viewed as retaliation, as yet another sign of lawlessness in the UN, in this case by a purported representative of the law. We will have more on this.

Update of 11:30 a.m. -- after the above report, the table's relocation was partial revoked, and the table moved back to the side of the Security Council entrance. "I got calls from the highest levels," Captain Hoffman came to Inner City Press to say, quite affably. Let's hope it stays that way.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/undss6chaos042709.html