On Sri Lanka, "No Strong Request" Anymore for Council Meeting, Japan's Mediation Results, N. Korean Missile on Horizon?

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/unsc4srilanka021809.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 18 -- As meetings begin on the need to reform the UN Security Council, the disposition of a member's request for a briefing about the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka exemplifies flaws in how the body functions.

In early February, as the pace of civilian death escalated in northern Sri Lanka, Mexican Ambassador Claude Heller asked for a briefing in the Council on the issue. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin responded that such a briefing would be improper. Churkin later confirmed this to Inner City Press, on camera, adding that while the issue could for example be raised in the General Assembly, it is not on the Security Council's agenda.

Inner City Press last week asked Mexico's Heller for the status of his request. He said that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had sent an envoy, that the request was still live, and that he and Mexico believe that Sri Lanka can be discussed in the Council.

But later on February 18, this month's Council president, Japan's Yukio Takaso, replied to Inner City Press' follow-up question by stating that "at this moment, there is no strong request for a member." Video here, from Minute 5:43. Inner City Press asked, weren't you tasked to mediate between Mexico and Russia on this issue? Ambassador Takasu said, "yes, I am tasked to coordinate this position, this disagreement, I have been trying to narrow differences." By his account, the result of his narrowing has been to push the issue of Sri Lanka even further from discussion or briefing in the Security Council.

Other Security Council Ambassadors have told Inner City Press that Takasu has been very solicitous of Russia, for example apologizing profusely to Churkin for not being able to block some uses of the word "Georgia" with respect to Abkhazia, which Russia, followed only by Nicaragua, has recognized as independent from that country. (For the record, Takasu is solicitous of the Press as well, scrupulously takes all questions, at least as President.) In this scenario, Japan which wants a permanent seat on the Council is bending over backwards during the month of its presidency to please the existing Permanent Five, Russia included.

A close observer of Japanese foreign policy, speaking on condition of anonymity because of a need to continue to deal with those involved in the policy, surmises that since Japan's national position is to keep the Sri Lanka issue out of the Council, Takasu's mediation as president was impacted by the goals of his nation. Takasu often says, "putting on my chapeau" as Japanese Ambassador, as opposed to ostensibly non-national Council president. But, this close observer said, in the case of Sri Lanka, Japanese foreign policy may have been implemented in part by its role as monthly president.

Footnote: In a somewhat similar issue on the Council's horizon, Inner City Press asked Mr. Takasu if the reports that North Korea is moving toward testing a long-range missile have been mentioned among Council members, and how the Council might react to such a test. Takasu replied that the issue, which he is known to be discussing, has not arising in the Council, and that "it is not useful to speculate" on the "expected response by the Council." Video here, from Minute 10:25.

Close observers predict that Japan would request a Security Council meeting, and even draft a "product" for that meeting, rather than simply relying on the framework of the Six Party Talks on North Korea. Ironically, since Libya will be Council president in March, an implicit position seems to be, if you are going to test the missile, do it in February...

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unsc4srilanka021809.html

In Sri Lanka, Civilians Deaths Counted at 1898 by Locals, UN Refuse to Estimate As It Did in Afghanistan, Gaza and Elsewhere

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ban7srilanka021809.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 18 -- As the UN belatedly dispatches its top humanitarian official John Holmes to discuss the conflict in Sri Lanka, it still refuses to call for a cease fire or even to estimate the number of civilian casualties to date. "The UN does not have a mandate to go and count bodies," its Deputy Spokesperson Marie Okabe told Inner City Press on Wednesday, when asked about a UN report of 2,118 civilian casualties in Afghanistan in 2008. In the absence of a UN estimate of civilians killed so far in 2009 in Sri Lanka, we note local sources' count of 1898. A senior UN official told Inner City Press that because Sri Lanka's government so carefully monitors anything about its offensive against Tamil Tiger-held areas, including going "absolutely nuts at the International Red Cross" for their projections, the UN is reluctant to issue any estimate about Sri Lanka -- or, apparently, a cease fire call.

Inner City Press asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Spokesperson Michele Montas for the UN's estimate, and whether it was higher or lower than in the Gaza conflict earlier this year. Ms. Montas said she would look into it, and subsequently added to the transcript of the briefing was the line, "The Spokesperson later clarified that the United Nations does not generally issue casualty figures. When the recent United Nations flash appeal for Gaza was launched, for example, it attributed its casualty figures to the Palestinian Ministry of Health."

At the UN's February 18 noon briefing, Inner City Press asked Ms. Montas' Deputy Marie Okabe for the source of the UN's recent report of 2,118 civilian casualties in Afghanistan in 2008. Ms. Okabe said the UN has to rely on "local authorities." Inner City Press noted the UN's dispute with the authorities of Myanmar about how many people died in the wake of Cyclone Nargis last year. Ms. Okabe replied that local authorities include "hospitals, NGOs, people on the ground." But why then no estimate at all about Sri Lanka? Ms. Okabe said she had "nothing to add to what Michele [Montas] told you yesterday." Video here, from Minute 11:19.

Since there is nothing to add, we can only cite the addition attached here, which tabulates over 5000 injured, and 1898 killed, since January 1. It lists dates and place-names since January 26. If government or UN figures emerge we will report them.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban7srilanka021809.html

On Congo, US Role Avoided as Austria Pushes Call for Planning Past France, UK and Uganda

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/drc1austria021709.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 17 -- In the wake of reports of hundreds killed in northern Congo by the Lord's Resistance Army, following an offensive against the LRA partially funded and planned by the United States, and another hundred civilians killed in the Kivus, the UN Security Council members met Tuesday and afterwards released a short statement of a "convergence of their views."

Although bland, Council sources tell Inner City Press that the France, the UK and Uganda initially opposed issuing even this statement, which called on "all parties" to protect civilians, and for the "governments in the region to coordinate with MONUC," the UN Mission in the Congo. A new Council member so far little noticed, Austria, pushed to have the statement issued, gained support from fellow non-permanent members like Mexico and Costa Rica, and after some back and forth the three opponents gave in. In the Council's typical fun-house practice, France which initially opposed issuing a statement but which has much history in the region ultimately was the sponsor of the statement.

The French-founded group Medecins Sans Frontieres has criticized MONUC for failing to protect civilians from the LRA. Inner City Press asked top UN humanitarian John Holmes about the critique, and he responded that MSF ought not to criticize the UN, but only the LRA. He said the Council had done its part by authorizing 3000 new troops for MONUC. Inner City Press asked how many of those will go to north Congo where the LRA continues rampaging. "That's up to the force commander," Holmes said. Video here, from Minute 2:28.

So there does not appear to be a concrete plan in place to protect civilians from the LRA.

On the inclusion of Bosco Ntaganda, indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Count, in the Congolese army with which the UN work, Holmes said, "Let's see." Council president Yukio Takasu told Inner City Press that while Bosco was not raised by name in the Council's closed-door consultation, there was discussion that those who kill civilians should be prosecuted. Video here, from Minute 7:46. As Holmes said, let's see.

Japan's Ambassador Takasu, who as president read out the Council's statement, likewise couldn't say how many of the 3000 troops would go to the north. He said more than troops are needed, mentioning helicopters and "planning." Inner City Press asked about the U.S. having helped the Ugandan military with planners, money and intelligence -- did Takuso or Council members think that the U.S. should have "coordinated with MONUC," as the statement called on "governments in the region" to do? Did the US' role even come up inside the Council?

"Not specifically," Ambassador Takasu said. Video here, from Minute 6:06. Council sources confirmed this. Perhaps the new US administration is getting a honeymoon at the UN and Security Council as well.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/drc1austria021709.html

In Sri Lanka, UN Has Casualty Estimate But Won't Release, Why No Cease Fire Call Is "Theoretical Question," Ban's Office Says

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ban6srilanka021709.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 17 -- With civilians dying daily in the conflict between the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tiger militia, on Tuesday Inner City Press asked Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson Michele Montas for the UN's estimate of civilian deaths, and whether it is higher or lower that the 1200 figure used in the Gaza conflict earlier this year. Ms Montas replied that "we are trying to save people, not count bodies." Video here, from Minute 22:48.

But Inner City Press, as well at least one other correspondent at Tuesday UN noon briefing, have been informed of an informal UN estimate of civilian death, higher than that in Gaza. Ms. Montas was asked, and denied, that the withholding of the UN estimate is politically motivated. Inner City Press reiterated the yes or no question, is the estimate higher or lower than the figure that UN used in Gaza. "I cannot tell you," Ms. Montas said. "I have to go back and see. We have no observers." Video here, from Minute 26:40.

Inner City Press has asked for confirmation that Sri Lanka's president has invited Ban for a visit, and asked if that meant to the whole country including the Vanni region, or only to a portion. Ms. Montas confirmed the invitation, but said that no decision has been made. Watch this site.

Ms. Montas had read out a statement that the UN calls on the Tamil Tigers and the government to "refrain from fighting in areas of civilian concentration." Inner City Press inquired into the phrasing, different that the cease fire calls issued by Ban Ki-moon regarding Gaza, the Congo and other recent conflicts. Ms. Montas called it a "theoretical question." But when Inner City Press last week asked Ban Ki-moon directly if he was calling for a cease fire in Sri Lanka and if not, why not, Ban answered that he couldn't, because Sri Lanka is not on the Security Council's agenda.

This is ironic, because in 2007 -- before being told by Sri Lanka's president and his senior advisor that the end of the Tamil Tigers is near, if the UN will just look the other way for a time -- Ban Ki-moon did call for a cease fire in Sri Lanka, which wasn't then on the Security Council's agenda either. Even Ban's office backpeddled on February 13, acknowledging that he has the power to call for a cease fire. But not the will?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban6srilanka021709.html

At UN, Russia Maintains Sri Lanka Issues Not in Council, UK Disagrees But Does Not Act, No Ceasefire Call, Even by Holmes

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ban5srilanka021309.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 13 -- As reports emerged from Sri Lanka of involuntary detention centers for civilians, and a government minister acknowledged 40 civilian deaths a day in the conflict zone, at the UN Russia's Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said "we believe believe the Security Council must stick to items on its agenda." He said there are "other fora" for information about the fighting in Sri Lanka.

Inner City Press asked if that meant a so-called Arria Formula meeting of the Council, as was held the day before about the situation in Darfur. No, Churkin said, pointing instead to the UN General Assembly as the "broader public of the UN," and adding that "some informal meetings took place where people were informed of the humanitarian situation." Video here, from Minute 6:38.

It was unclear what meetings Russia's Ambassador was referring to. The spokesperson for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, when asked Friday to comment on the new casualty figures and the reports about the camps, made much of the fact that Ban mentioned Sri Lanka in his travelogue briefing to the Council on February 9. Video here, from Minute 13:10.

Several Ambassadors have told Inner City Press that Ban merely mentioned his call from New Delhi to Sri Lanka's president, and did not call for any ceasefire or cessation of hostilities to protect or remove civilians.

UK Ambassador John Sawers, who Thursday had not heard that his Prime Minister's envoy to Sri Lanka Des Brown had been blocked, now confirmed the stand-off, and said his Foreign Minister had called his Sri Lankan counterpart earlier on Friday. Given Sawers' expressions of concern -- "I've spoken about Sri Lanka here before," he said, referring to his earlier response that Sri Lanka is not comparable to Darfur, where the UK called on the government to stop hitting rebel positions -- Inner City Press asked why the UK was not using its Permanent seat on the Council to at least get a briefing in the Council on Sri Lanka. "We are sympathetic to the Council receiving a briefing," he said, adding that this was "made clear to Council colleagues." Video here, from Minute 2:30.

Mexico's Ambassador Claude Heller, who has yet to speak at the Council stakeout microphone, stopped outside to talk to Inner City Press. He said that the Mexican request for a briefing (which Inner City Press exclusively reported on eight days ago, here) has not been dropped -- "segimos conversando," he said, the conversation continues -- and said said that Ban Ki-moon has sent a "special envoy" to Sri Lanka, from whom the Council might later heard a briefing upon his return. But who is this envoy? Ban said his political director, while Department of Political Affairs chief Lynn Pascoe mentioned only the head his unit for the region.

Mexican Ambassador Heller, when asked about other Latin member states saying that the conflict in Sri Lanka is only an internal matter, not appropriate for the Council, said "the Council can get information on anything." We'll see.

It should be said as an aside, to answer some heated letters we receive, that to be concerned for trapped civilians is not to support terrorism. These accusations, strikingly, resemble some used in the recent Gaza conflict.

The UN's Humanitarian Coordinator John Holmes, when asked about the controversial camps and whether he would call for a ceasefire, said that little is known about the camps, that the UN has little access to the zone. He said that causalities couldn't be counted accurately because there are "no journalists present." He said, regarding the humanitarian crisis, "if a ceasefire would help, I would be in favor." Video here, from Minute 12:57.

Rather like the UK, one noted, sympathetic to a briefing in the Council on Sri Lanka, but not requesting one. We're told the UN's position is in flux. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban5srilanka021309.html

t UN, Chad's Attempt to Re-Rent Peacekeepers' Air Strips Covered Up in Council

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/chad1airstrips021409.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 14 -- Chad's government, led by Idriss Deby, attempted to reclaim air strips built in the country by European Union peacekeepers and then rent them for profit to the incoming United Nations force, sources tell Inner City Press. The UN Security Council met on February 13 about the peacekeeping mission, known as MINURCAT. Afterwards, this month's Council president Yukio Takasu told the Press that an air strip issue, which he did not explain, had been resolved just before the meeting.

Afterwards, several Council Ambassadors speaking to Inner City Press on condition of anonymity said they were disgusted that a government like Deby's, which took power by a coup d'etat and has since at least twice been saved from overthrow by French military intervention, would try to make money off peacekeeping mission which indirectly also keep Deby in power. They confirmed that Deby's play was to lay claim to the infrastructure improvement built by the EUFOR peacekeepers, sent in response to reported refugee flows from Darfur, and then re-rent it at a profit to the UN.

Inner City Press in late 2008 reported exclusively that landing fees Deby's Chad was imposing had grounded the peacekeeping force, click here for that.

The impending hand-over of the Chad and Central African Republic mission from the European Union to the UN already faces problems. Poland, the second largest troop contributor, is considering pulling back its 400 soldiers before they would be "re-hatted" as UN peacekeepers. Inner City Press asked Ambassador Takasu if this prospective Polish pull-out had been discussed. Takasu said that troop levels were discussed, but not Poland by name.

A source in the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations tried explaining to Inner City Press the statements from Poland as part of a re-organization of the Polish military, and not any criticism of UN Peacekeeping as such. Some surmise that as the global financial crisis spread, some countries may reduce their level of contributions to the UN, including troops and police. They get reimbursed for these, and developing countries use UN Peacekeeping missions to make money. Salaries are paid not to the peacekeepers but to their countries, which pocket a percentage of the money.

But Chad's attempted extortion, as the host of a peacekeeping mission which helps keep its president in power, is a new low, Inner City Press as told by disgruntled Council Ambassadors. Watch this site.

Footnotes: when the Security Council members visited Chad in mid-2008, Deby declined to meet with them. While France's Ambassador told the Press it was because Deby was not in the country, it was known Deby had already returned earlier from Libya. Inner City Press and others on the trip asked France's Permanent Representative to the UN to explain the discrepancy, which has led to tensions.

France's support for Deby's regime, despite it human rights violations including recruiting child soldiers, calls into question much of what France says at the UN and in the Council, Ambassadors told Inner City Press on Friday, describing France's strained congratulations of Deby for backing-down on his extortion play. [In fairness, France's Permanent Representative is traveling and was not in Friday's meeting] When asked for France's position on the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka and putting it on the Security Council's agenda or at least getting a briefing, the response Thursday was that France's position wasn't known.

In memoriam -- we are compelled to note, and mourn, the death of Africa expert Alison Des Forges, who was killed in the crash of Flight 3407 from Newark to Buffalo on February 12. Her reports on the region helped many civilians. She will be missed.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/chad1airstrips021409.html

On Georgia, Behind the UN's Word Games, Russia Bases Approach, What Will Obama Do?

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/unsc1basesabkhazia021309.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 13 -- As the Security Council on Friday passed a resolution concerning the UN Observer Mission in Abkhazia, Georgian diplomats were worried. This is another step, one told Inner City Press, to a loss of sovereignty. Inner City Press asked Georgia's Ambassador on-camera how the resolution impacts territorial integrity, and about the military bases Russia has said that it plans for South Ossetia and Abkhazia. He replied that would be a "brutal breach" of international law, and that Russia has been "rebuked." Video here, from Minute 2:46.

Russia's Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, next up, called Abkhazia a sovereign state which can make agreements to allow bases from any country it likes. Inner City Press asked him about Georgia's territorial integrity. Churkin predicted that "some colleagues will interpret elements of the resolution" as supporting Georgia's claim, but noted that there is "no reference" to territorial integrity in the resolution. Video here, from Minute 6:38. Inner City Press also asked why the foreign minister of Abkhazia had not come to the Council. He didn't ask, Churkin replied.

As predicted, the UK's John Sawers emerged and pointed at parts of the resolution he said support Georgia's continued claim. Inner City Press asked about Russia's planned bases, is it true the UK rebukes them? Video here, from Minute 1:49. Sawyer replied that the UK supports the territorial integrity of Georgia, and so bases could only legal go there with Georgia's consent.

That consent will not be given, while Russian bases seem more and more likely.

Inner City Press asked the Georgian Ambassador if with the new U.S. Administration saying it wants to get along better with Russia, things might just keep sliding away. He replied that Georgia and the U.S. share values, and Georgian territorial integrity is one of these values.

But might it implicitly be traded away for fewer Russian missiles, or continued use of Kyrgyzstan?

Footnote: on another matter, some interpreted the lack of a sound system during the Abkhazia stakeout, and the banging and clashing sounds from just outside, as a sign of the low place the issue now has on the UN's agenda. But it may just be that the outside contractor which runs UN TV is cutting corners, storing furniture from other closed-down offices inside the UN, moving to terminate long-time sound men, and no longer providing a boom microphone at the stakeout, except when the U.S. speaks. That's what some are saying.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unsc1basesabkhazia021309.html

UN's Congo Mission Critiqued by General, UN Fires Back, Blames the USA, ICC Follies

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/drc2diaz021309.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 13 -- The UN Mission in the Congo, even as it defers to Rwandan troops to fight the Hutu militia FDLR long in the Kivus, is under fire from other quarters. Doctors without Borders said MONUC did not protect civilians from the Lord's Resistance Army. The UN called the report "totally unfounded." Now MONUC's former force commander, General Diaz Villegas, in his end of mission report has said MONUC in most of the country is only capable of "auto-protection," while civilians get killed. Inner City Press asked UN spokesperson Michele Montas on February 11 if the UN has any response to the report. He was only there two weeks, she said, then said all other questions should be directed to the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

Inner City Press' inquiries with DPKO, an interchange on background and quick questions to DPKO chief Alain Le Roy and other senior UN official in the hall, glean that the UN is mad to General Diaz. While acknowledging that he was there three weeks and not two, the background briefer questioned why Diaz would have fled the country instead of staying the trying to change MONUC's strategy. But in his report as quote in El Pais, Diaz says the Mission's Alan Doss said that he was in charge.

Interestingly, DPKO's position is that they expend political capital appointing a European general to lead a mission like MONUC. The Africans ask why, if it is their continent and they supply many or most of the troops, a European is chosen. And then Diaz flees, compounding the problem. Whistleblower or coward? That appears to be the question.

Alain Le Roy, who graciously takes questions that the spokespeople for some reason will never answer, said that he was in Kabul when the UN called Doctors without Borders "totally unfounded." He asked for a more credible response, and later a detailed letter went from Doss to MSF. But why is the UN's first reaction always one of defending the indefensible?

The other senior UN official, who asked not to be quoted by name, said that the fault was the Americans', who funded the Ugandans' attack on the LRA and provided satellite photos, but no back-up. Why don't you ask them, he suggested. While we intend to, questions about the UN should be answered, too.

And more than is usually the case, some Congo questions were answered Friday afternoon by UN Humanitarian Coordinator John Holmes. He returned Wednesday from the Congo, providing a description of "positive dynamics" in the Kivus, including the integration of the CNDP militias into the Congolese army, and describing civilian suffering in the aftermath of the three-country offensive against the LRA. His long diplomatic training showed through -- he said the assault on the LRA, which has been going to badly, might work out for the best. Inner City Press asked about the MSF report, and he split the difference between MONUC and Le Roy, stating that he found the report "exaggerated," but that MONUC can do more.

Unlike Spokesperson Michele Montas earlier on Friday, who said MONUC does not have access to the zones of the Kivus in which the Rwandan-Congolese offensive against the FDLR is taking place, Holmes said the UN has 41 positions, and hasn't heard reports of the level of killing by the FDLR -- 100 civilians -- reported by Human Rights Watch. He said he hopes those reports are false. Or would that be, "totally unfounded"?

Holmes also defended MONUC by stressing they will not work or "sit at the table" with indicted war criminal Bosco Ntaganda, although he has now been integrated into the Congolese Army, with whom MONUC decidedly works. Earlier on Friday, Inner City Press asked the head of the State Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC, Liechtenstein's Christian Wenaweser, for his view on Bosco's freedom and incorporation into an army the UN works with. "We are evaluating the situation," he said, and "can't comment." Video here, from Minute 17:44.

Also on the Congo, Inner City Press asked Wenaweser about the ICC's trial against militia leader Thomas Lubanga, in which the first witness virtually recanted, after Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo had left the court, too hastily, some felt. Wenaweser acknowledged it was "a rocky start," but said "I'm sure the Chief Prosecutor knows what he's doing." We'll see.

Update of 4 p.m. Friday -- we are compelled to note, and mourn, the death of Congo expert Alison Des Forges, who was killed in the crash of Flight 3407 from Newark to Buffalo on February 12. Her reports on the DRC helped many civilians. She will be missed.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/drc2diaz021309.html

At UN, Merkel's Economic Proposal Absent, Dreams of UN Credibility, Benon Sevan

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/unga1merkel021309.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 13 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel proposed a UN Economic Security Council while at the recent World Economic Forum in Davos. But at the UN on February 11, when Inner City Press asked the president of the UN's Economic and Social Council, Sylvie Lucas of Luxembourg, about Merkel's proposal, Ms. Lucas said the idea has not been raised to the UN and is "not necessarily a very well defined idea." Video here, from Minute 36:27.

Inner City Press also asked Ms. Lucas, Luxembourg's Ambassador, how ECOSOC's talk-fest on the global financial crisis lines up and works with the process started by President of the General Assembly Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, headlined by economist Joseph Stiglitz. Ms. Lucas' lengthy response, replete with high-level meetings, interactive dialogues and other UN buzz words, appeared to mean that the two processes are not fully coordinated. Video here, from Minute 31:02. Then on February 13, d'Escoto's spokesman said the processes are coordinated, in ways he'll explain next week.

A key d'Escoto staffer this week told Inner City Press that the hook d'Escoto has is the "legitimacy" of the General Assembly, or perhaps of the UN. By way of analogy, he told the story of a respected lawyer jurist, whose client balked at the high price tag of his opinion memo. The lawyer flipped to the last page and tore off the signature. There, he said, now I will give it to you for free. The point, the PGA staffer said, is that it is the name that is important, not the content. The G-20 need us, he said.

Believers in the UN name, in the primacy of the so-called GA-192 over groups like the G-20, should then be more concerned about that which inevitably makes the UN look bad. This week, for example, the UN's own Administrative Tribunal said the UN must pay the legal fees of Benon Sevan, formerly head of the UN Oil for Food Program for Iraq, who when charged with bribery fled to Cyprus, which refuses to extradite him. Inner City Press asked Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson if Ban had any comments on the case, any regrets about using UN money to pay the fees of an official formerly charged with corruption. He has no comment, the spokesperson said. Perhaps because it is not on the Security Council's agenda, the excuse given for Ban not calling for a cease fire in Sri Lanka? Click here for that.

Ms. Lucas was asked about a sentiment bubbling up from the ECOSOC subsidiary Commission on Social Development meeting in the basement, that the bailouts of banks in the developed world should some how be related to financial for development. Jamaica expressed it strongly in the CSD, more recently a "senior UN official" was quoted as saying a push will be made at the upcoming G-20 meeting. We'll see.

Footnote: when asked about the Merkel proposal, Ms. Lucas encouraged Inner City Press to "see that with my German colleague." That same day, the German Mission to the UN was holding a session on financing the UN, which excluded a number of reporters who actively but critically cover the issue. Two days later, Germany's Ambassador made what is becoming a rare appearance at or outside the Security Council, singing the praises of an Abkhazia resolution which the Georgians, right after Germany spoke, described as a slow slide toward loss of territorial integrity. What where is the Merkel proposal? Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unga1merkel021309.html

On Sri Lanka, Still No UN Cease Fire Call, UNICEF is Blocked, Japan Presence Wasted

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ban4srilanka021209.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 12 -- While the UN on Sri Lanka again declined Thursday to call for a cease fire, it wasted an opportunity to engage Japan's minister for Sri Lanka, Yasushi Akashi, to help it regain balance and credibility on the issue. Akashi met with Ban Ki-moon's deputy, Asha-Rose Migiro, on the 38th floor at noon. Inner City Press asked, both the UN spokesperson and Japan's Ambassador, about the purpose of the meeting. "Just a courtesy call," both said. If true, that's a shameful waste.

Inner City Press asked the head of the UN's Department of Political Affairs, Lynn Pascoe, what the UN is going to protect Tamil civilians and ensure their rights. Pascoe replied that Ban has sent "my division chief to the area" -- apparently, the political director Ban referred to on February 10 -- and that Ban spoke with the president. Pascoe said that the humanitarian problem is "well reported," contrary to Ban's acknowledgement on February 10 that is it "under-reported." But Pascoe said that the UN is also concerned with longer term "accommodation between the communities." Video here, from Minute 4:27.

Asked if the UN is calling for a ceasefire, he correctly acknowledge that the UN has in the past called for a ceasefire. Now, he said, the concern with with the civilian population. Why Ban stopped calling for a ceasefire, and what that might have to do with the meeting three weeks ago with the senior advisor and brother to Sri Lanka's president, a meeting that Pascoe as well as Vijay Nambiar attended, should still be explained.

Of Mexico's request for a Security Council briefing no Sri Lanka, sources tell Inner City Press that pressure's been brought to bear against the request by some of Columbo's allies, who insist that it is a purely internal matter. Why or whether Mexico will cave to this is not known.

The UK's John Sawers, whom Inner City Press has previously asked on-camera why the UK doesn't raise it in the Council, said he didn't know about UK envoy Des Brown being barred from Sri Lanka, but that the UK is concerned. Why not then ask for a briefing? A request to the French mission gleaned a response of, I don't know our position. The third-highest official in the U.S. Mission says her country would be supportive of a briefing, but it has not asked for one. It was explained to Inner City Press, once a request like Mexico's has been made, others wait to see what happens. In this case, silence means or tracks more deaths.

The UN provided a read-out of civilians leaving the Vanni region, but still couldn't say which of its officials or staff are in the region, or not barred from it. UNICEF provided responses to Inner City Press' questions of the previous day:

Inner City Press: Are there areas of Sri Lanka to which UNICEF does not have access?

UNICEF: Yes. On 16 September 2008, the government informed the United Nations that it could no longer guarantee the safety of UN staff in the Vanni (the northern area of Sri Lanka where the LTTE held most of its territory). As a result all UN agencies temporarily relocated out of the Vanni to Vavuniya, the closest government-controlled town.

However, since mid-December UNICEF has sent supplies to the affected populations as part of UN convoys. These include hygiene kits, expectant mothers kits, plastic water tanks, chlorine for safe water, mosquito nets, materials for latrines, education supplies and clothes for children.

Inner City Press: How large and where are these areas?

The UN estimates there are 230,000 civilians trapped in an area that is around 130 square kilometers in the north east of Sri Lanka to whom UN humanitarian convoys currently do not have access. Due to hostilities, UN convoys have not been able to access many of these people for more than three weeks. It is likely that people in this area currently face a scarcity of food and clean water, insufficient health facilities and poor shelter and UNICEF has some grave protection concerns.

Inner City Press: Would UNICEF call for a ceasefire? If not, why not?

UNICEF would welcome a cessation of hostilities.

We'll have more on this -- watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban4srilanka021209.html

As Thailand Admits Sea-Dump of Rohingya, UN Hasn't Studied as Trafficking, Costa in Uganda

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un1rohingya021209.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 12 -- For weeks, scandal has swirled around Thai's practice of pulling boats of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar out to sea and leaving them to the elements. It widely reported that some of the flow of Rohingya is attributable to human trafficking. Thailand's prime minister on Thursday admitted the towing had happened. In New York, the head of the UN Office of Drugs and Crime Antonio Maria Costa while launching a report on trafficking was asked about the Rohinya's plight. We did not look at this, Mr. Costa said. You're not kidding.

Costa was more expansive in his answer to Inner City Press' question about the abuse of human trafficking investigations to identify and deport undocumented migrants. It is a grey zone, Costa said. Just as there is a difference between a twelve year old girl chained to a bed made to "perform" a hundred times a time, he said, and a sex worker, so there is a different between an illegal migrant who wants to come, and a trafficked person who does not. Laws can be abused, in short. But does the UN sound alarms?

Apparently not. Inner City Press asked Costa to name the banks which, he says, have been infused with drug money in the wake of the financial crisis. We work with governments, Costa said. We are not here to criticize governments but to work with them. So what about Myanmar, which pushes the Rohingya out, and denied they ever lived there?

After his briefing, Costa told Inner City Press about his trip to Uganda, and about his blog. He appeared looser than before; he had signed a Compact with Ban Ki-moon. Some say there is trouble at the UN in Vienna. But on Thursday, Costa smiled.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1rohingya021209.html

As UN Chiefs Sign Contracts, Only Some Can See Them, Transparency Still Lacking

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ban1compacts021209.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 12 -- In a quirky but strangely endearing ceremony on Thursday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon signed compacts with two dozen of his senior staff members, taking a photo shaking hands with each and then a group photo like in elementary school. In his prepared remarks, Ban said that "the compacts you have signed will all be published on our intranet site, iSeek. This means we are not only talking about transparency, we are practicing it." But this web site is not available to the public or even member states that UN ostensibly serves.

Under Ban's predecessor Kofi Annan, there was talk of a freedom of information policy for the UN system. It was entrusted to then-Department of Management chief Alicia Barcena. It was never implemented. Thursday Barcena was back, on a brief visit to New York from her new posting with ECLAC in Santiago, Chile. Her successor Angela Kane held a thick binder. Inner City Press asked Ms. Kane, "So you're the master of ceremonies?"

"My department organized this," she answered. "Write nicely about our Organization."

In that spirit, we'll note that the UN's envoy on children and armed conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, chatted about Gaza and the Congo with top humanitarian John Holmes. Deputy chief of staff Kim Won-soo, who didn't sign a Compact, moved to sit next to American Department of Political Affairs chief Lynn Pascoe; one surmised that Sri Lanka was discussed.

Mister Disarmament, Sergio Duarte, came over to wait to speak with Mr. Kim. Vijay Nambiar, the chief of staff last seen strolling 42nd Street at 10 p.m. Wednesday night, help organize the final picture. Why aren't you signing a compact, he was asked. Because I am staff, he answered, this is for line managers. Nambiar has been mentioned to perhaps move laterally to the top post at the UN Development Program, the short list for which Team Ban is also keeping secret, unlike Kofi Annan's list. The UNDP post is described as third-highest in the UN system. The list should be released.

Nor did the UN's Number Two, Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro, sign a compact, though at the ceremony's end, after first they appeared lost, the compact were entrusted into her custody. Then, after photographer's instructions moved the group back behind the desk -- "the Secretary General said to say something when something's broken," the UN photographer said, and this is broken" -- the group snap shot was taken.

Public Information chief Kiyo Akasaka and Mr. Ban bowed to each other after the signing. Four tall men, Messrs Costa, Diarra and Kubis, and to a lesser degree Shaaban Shaaban, towered over Mr. Ban. Mr. Sha was said to be on official travel, and did not appear by TV like Achim Steiner with his name tag, or the trio from Geneva. In from the field were Noeleen Heyzer, Abdoulie Janneh and Anna Tibaijuka, still famous for her critique of Operation Take-Out-the-Trash in Zimbabwe, carried about by Robert Mugabe's security forces. Missing from the UN's Compact ceremony was acting security chief David Veness, or any replacement.

Inga-Britt Ahlenius, last seen chatting at a party for Iran, was the first to sign her Compact. To the surprise of some, technology chief and Assistant Secretary General Choi Soon-hong signed a Compact. The other Under-Secretaries General were encourage to sign contract with their ASGs. Alain Le Roy, then, should draft one with his deputy Edmond Mullet, known to have participated in Ban's meeting later on Thursday with Sudan's Ambassador. That meeting broke up to allow a private tete a tete. One hopes Ban didn't read from notes. Click here for Inner City Press' Sudan coverage of later in the day.

Later in the hallway -- Inner City Press has been told, "this is not a press conference, just a photo op" -- the UN's top lawyer Patricia O'Brien committed to take a look at seeming abuses of the UN's logo and name by corporations. We hope to have more on this, and on the USGs who have still not followed Ban's urging to make at least some minimal public financial disclosure.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban1compacts021209.html

Sudan Pre-Indictment Frenzy at UN, Gun-Jumping by Ocampo Alleged, AU in Town

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/unsc3bashir021209.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 12, updated -- The pending indictment of Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court was the talk of the UN on February 12. The New York Times reported that the decision to indict has been made. The ICC issued a denial. Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson was pelted with questions if the ICC President gave Ban a sealed envelope with the news -- denied -- and whether he last meeting with Bashir was as heated as portrayed in the Times. Inner City Press caught up with Sudan's Ambassador to the UN, walking the UN's second floor in his national dress and cobra shoes, and asked him what he made of the pending indictment.

"They are telling us our country is too big," he said, adding that news of the indictment made "some brothers in Doha say we will arrest the president." Inner City Press asked who had made this threat. "Khalil," he answered, naming the head of the Justice and Equality Movement, which Sudanese troops recently faced down in South Darfur.

The UK's draft presidential statement on that topic is now officially dead: it "did not have unanimity," Security Council president Yukio Takasu said at the stakeout, confirming what Inner City Press wrote two days earlier, quoting a Libyan diplomat that his country would not agree without a paragraph taking note of the African Union's recommendation that the ICC process be suspended for one year.

Inner City Press asked Sudan's Ambassador if it had ideas on who was the New York Times' source?

"I think it was water-testing by the New York Times," he said.

So they are working together?

"They are all conspirators."

Others says the Times was just desperate for a scoop. One wag quipped this is the first instance of Carlos Slim journalism. Others cited Judy Miller and Jason Blair.

But even Sudan's Ambassador conceded the indictment would probably soon issue. He said that ICC Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo spoke days ago at Yale and said that the pre-trial chamber's work was done, and the indictment would issue in days. Inner City Press asked if this was taped, and the Ambassador promised a transcript.

Ban Ki-moon at his press conference this week expressed satisfaction that Sudan had only bombed the outskirts of the town in South Sudan, and that JEM had left. Sudan's Ambassador opined that Ban "wanted to say, I was advised not to talk to the President but I did, and look at the results I got. He did it for his own sake." He said another phrase, but for diplomacy's sake we leave it out.

There is diplomacy at work. An Arab League (and African Union) diplomat told Inner City Press that despite the ICC denial, the decision has in fact been made, but some countries are pressuring the ICC to hold off on announcing. If the Doha talks between Khartoom and JEM are the reason, expect them to go on and on.

There will be a meeting between the Security Council and the African Union and Arab League at 4 p.m. in the UN's basement.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unsc3bashir021209.html

UN Mistakes Sri Lanka for Zimbabwe, Access to Vanni Doubtful, UNICEF No Comment Yet

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ban3srilanka021109.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 11 -- The day after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called the crisis in northern Sri Lanka "under-reported" and spoke of sending a UN humanitarian assessment team there when he finds it appropriate, the level of UN's un-engagement in Sri Lanka became clear. Inner City Press, which asked Ban why he hasn't called for a ceasefire, on Wednesday asked Ban's spokesperson Michele Montas for information about Ban's assessment mission idea, whether the Sri Lankan government would grant access, and what level of UN official has been allowed into the Vanni region since September 2008.

Ms. Montas responded that "where Ms. Bragg will go with the delegation is going to be determined" once there, "if it can enter Vanni" is not known, but it will aim "wherever we have the highest civilian casualties." Video here, from Minute 12:52.

But as Inner City Press pointed out, the UN's Catherine Bragg is going to Zimbabwe, not Sri Lanka. Oh I see, Ms. Montas apologized. She acknowledged that the UN people given access are "operational people working on the ground." She added, "He feels that it is needed." But would the government give access? "We don't know yet," Ms. Montas said.

While on the one hand Ban's spokesperson went beyond his February 10 comment that he would send humanitarian assessment teams "whenever I think it is appropriate," but saying "he feels that it is needed," to mistake Zimbabwe for Sri Lanka raises more questions.

Later on Wednesday, Inner City Press asked the head of one of the UN humanitarian agencies, UNICEF's Ann Veneman, if the UN has had difficult accessing north Sri Lanka and especially Vanni. "We have difficulties with access now for our humanitarian work," Ms. Veneman answered, adding that she was in Northern Sri Lanka in 2005 and that her agency would get more information to Inner City Press. Video here, from Minute 30:05

Shortly after the press conference, Inner City Press e-mailed questions to UNICEF's spokesman:

"Are there areas of Sri Lanka to which UNICEF does not have access? How large and where are these areas? Have there been changes in the past days, weeks and months? Has there been any changes in recruitment or use of child soldiers in that time frame, to UNICEF's knowledge? What is UNICEF's view of the current upsurge in conflict's impact on children and women? Would UNICEF call for a ceasefire? If not, why not? Writing on this today."

The UNICEF spokesman left a voice mail, "I am not waking up any of our people in Sri Lanka on this one," he said. One reporter, hearing this, quipped that the UN has long been asleep in and on Sri Lanka. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban3srilanka021109.html

UNDP Advisor Serves Lobbyist for Nigeria, No Comment on Niger Driver Missing

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/undp1lobby021109.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 11 -- Can a UN official work at the same time on the advisory board of a law firm lobbying for sitting governments from Nigeria and Liberia? This appears to be the case of the UN Development Program's Mr. Raja Kaul, described as a "chief technical advisor" for a UNDP/Regional Bureau for Africa project called "Regional Project for Capacity Development for Negotiating and Regulating Investment Contracts." Last week, Mr. Kaul showed up in a press release that Mr. Kaul has been appointed to an "advisory board" for a Washington DC-based lobbying firm which is a registered foreign agent for the governments of Liberia and Nigeria, KRL International.

Paragraph 41 of the document "Standards of conduct for the international civil service" , which applies to UNDP, states that it is "improper for international civil servants to engage, without prior authorization, in any outside activity, whether remunerated or not, that interferes with that obligation or is incompatible with their status or conflicts with the interests of the organization.

On February 9, Inner City Press posed to UNDP's chief spokesman a series of simple questions, including "how is Raja Kaul's service on the advisory board of a law firm lobbying for Liberia (and Nigeria) consistent with his UNDP role? Who approved this? Will it be discontinued?"

Two days later, there has been no answer.

Likewise, no answer to the other questions posed, including

--"please respond to the critique of UNDP Solomon Islands that

"the project fund (issued by UNDP) was diverted under approval of the Ministry's Director, the Permanent Secretary, the Minister and probably UNDP to purchase office furniture and to facilitate a provincial tour undertaken by the Director and his team."

--while Messrs. Fowler and Guay are reportedly on a video released to Canada, their UNDP driver Soumana Moukaila is not. Has UNDP received any information about Soumana Moukaila? Why didn't they have security that day in December? Did the Designated Security Officer approve the trip without security?"

UNDP, which helped develop the Canadian-owned gold mine that Fowler was visiting on the day he was abducted, has not answered these or other questions. This is how it has been, under Kemal Dervis and the internal candidate to replace him, Ad Melkert. Would things be better under Helen Clark, UNICEF's Hilde Johnson or the other candidates? It would hardly get worse... Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/undp1lobby021109.html

UN's Ban Defends Lack of Sri Lanka Ceasefire Call, Misunderstands His Powers and Duties, Council President Says

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ban2srilanka021009.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 10 -- As bloodshed and civilian casualties mount in Sri Lanka, at the UN in New York Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was asked by Inner City Press why, unlike in Gaza, the Congo and elsewhere, he has not called for a ceasefire in Sri Lanka. Mr. Ban responded at some length, reading from notes. In essence he said, because Sri Lanka is not on the agenda of the Security Council, he cannot call for a ceasefire. Video here, from Minute 46:31.

Minutes later, Inner City Press asked this month's Security Council president Yukio Takasu of Japan about the Secretary-General's argument, that he cannot ask for a ceasefire if a conflict is not on the Council's agenda. Ambassador Takasu directly disagreed, stating that "the Secretary General has very important responsibility granted in the Charter, he can draw the attention of the international community to any issue that matters to peace and security." Video here, from Minute 5:45.

Ban did say, in response, that he is dispatching his political director to Sri Lanka. Inner City Press understands this is to push for international monitoring of the camps the government has set up outside the Tamil Tiger-held zone. Ban also said he might send "humanitarian assessment team" when he thinks it appropriate. It's worth nothing that the last time UN humanitarian chief John Holmes went to Sri Lanka, he was officially called a terrorist for speaking about the dangers to civilians.

Ban also answered that "respect for the sovereignty of member states is another principle" he makes his decisions by. But this did not keep him from calling for ceasefires in other situations.

Mr. Ban's answer on Tuesday included an admission that the situation in Sri Lanka is "under-reported." But not only does that not explain Ban's failure to follow his own precedents and statements and call for a ceasefire -- the UN Secretariat may be contributing, with its contorted logic rejected by the Security Council president, to the under-reporting of the plight of civilians in Sri Lanka.

Two and a half weeks ago, the senior advisor to Sri Lanka's president, and his brother, came to the UN and met with Ban Ki-moon, as Inner City Press reported. The UN did not issue any read-out of this meeting at the time. Ban referred to it on Tuesday. But it appears that what was discussed was for the UN and Ban to allow the Sri Lankan government time to try to knock out the Tamil Tigers, without facing too much criticism or a ceasefire call. This is the type of communication alleged between Israel and the United States, for the U.S. to use or threaten to use its veto in the Security Council to allow Israel time, to fight Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006, or Hamas in Gaza in 2009. But Kofi Annan in 2006, and belatedly Ban in 2009, called for ceasefires.

Here, Ban is saying that military operations should be conducted in compliance with international law. But he also said, twice on Tuesday about Iran and then Kashmir, that it is his philosophy that problems should be solved by dialogue and not military action. Does this philosophy apply everywhere except Sri Lanka? What is Ban's response to the Security Council president's rejection of his novel argument that he as Secretary General defer to the Council? Watch this site.

From the transcript of Ban's February 10 press conference:

Inner City Press: In your opening statement, you mentioned Sri Lanka, as well as Gaza, and you just also said that everything should be resolved peacefully in Iran, and you also said it now with regard to Kashmir. I was wondering, with the offensive by the Government in northern Sri Lanka, and the hospital was bombed – various things were going on - are you calling for a ceasefire in Sri Lanka, as you have in Gaza and the DRC and elsewhere? And if you're not calling for a ceasefire, can you explain why?

S-G Ban Ki-moon: On this issue, as you may know, I have discussed with the [Sri Lankan] Presidential Special Envoy who visited New York, about two and a half weeks ago. And I discussed this matter very seriously over the telephone with President Rajapaksa, that he should avoid civilian casualties and also help those people caught in the fighting, so that they can be transferred into a very safe zone, and ensure the safety of United Nations humanitarian workers there. He assured me he would give his best effort. There is too much loss of life and that should be the thinking of all sensible people. The Sri Lankan issue is not, in fact, on the Security Council agenda and the respect for the sovereignty of Member States is another principle I firmly bear in mind. However, both the situation in Gaza and Sri Lanka are governed by international humanitarian law. I have consistently expressed my strong concern regarding violations of international standards. First of all, I have expressed consistently my concern at the ongoing violence and drawn attention to the need for a political, and not a military, solution, and also specifically drawn attention to the plight of civilians. To some extent, the situation in Sri Lanka has been under-reported, I think. In any conflict situation, the first thing you want to do is to understand the facts on the ground. I have dispatched, in fact, my political director to the region, to Sri Lanka and I am also considering dispatching some humanitarian assessment team whenever I think it's appropriate.

And when would that be?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban2srilanka021009.html

Darfur Statement Blocked in UN Council By Bashir Indictment Language

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/unsc1bashir021009.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 10 -- The politics of war crimes charges against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir are now blocking passage of a statement about Darfur in the UN Security Council, sources tell Inner City Press. The United Kingdom drafted a so-called Presidential Statement about the stand-off around the South Darfur town of Mahajiriya. But the Council's three African members, supported by Russia and China, proposed including a paragraph taking note of the African Union's position that the International Criminal Court's proceedings against Bashir should be suspended.

France, the Council sources say, called this paragraph controversial. The UK made a direct bilateral outreach to China, asking they back down on the paragraph. The Chinese mission to the UN reportedly said that their instructions from Beijing were to follow, and insist on a Council reference to, the African Union. The UK draft PRST, the sources say, is dead.

Ban Ki-moon was asked on Tuesday if he would meet with Bashir if he is indicted. While this question must already be answered, Ban said he would wait and get advice from his top lawyer Patricia O'Brien. An African diplomat told Inner City Press, "Ban couldn't stop meeting with Bashir, he has two peacekeeping missions there." For now...

The International Criminal Court's president Philippe Kirsch had been slated to take questions from the Press on Tuesday at 4:25, but midday Tuesday the stakeout chance was cancelled. ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo is said to be in New York -- but where? And why? Some say it is not only about Bashir, but also to fight against a proposal, at the ICC members' February 12 meeting, to establish an office to oversee his and the Court's work, based on this document. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unsc1bashir021009.html

UN's Ban Prepares for a "No" from Obama, Dialogue Except in Sri Lanka

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ban2obama021009.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 10 -- When Ban Ki-moon returned to New York from Gaza earlier this year, he said he'd lost his voice. This month when he came back from travels he briefed the Security Council and then the press. Fourteen media questions were allowed. Gaza and the prospective indictment of Sudan's president Omar al-Bashir came up again and again, while Congo and Somalia, for example, were not asked about. (Inner City Press asked about Ban's failure to call for a ceasefire in Sri Lanka.)

Only once did Ban veer from the questions to unilaterally clarify something, and this concerned his reported invitation for Barack Obama to visit the UN on climate change in March. Ban said he would understand if Obama is busy, he is "just settling in," Ban said. To many, it sounded defensive and craven, as if saying in advance, "if I get dissed, it is no loss of face."

The press conference's first question was about Obama and Iran: has Ban told Obama to start peace dialogue now? Apparently not. Ban was seen Monday night at Iran's celebration in the UN's Delegates' Dining Room of the 30th Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. Tuesday he said that all problems should be resolved by dialogue and not military force -- a principle he did not apply, however, to Sri Lanka.

Next Ban was asked if the foreseen rightward shift after Israel's elections will make peace more difficult. A supporter of Hezbollah, interviewed by Inner City Press at the Iranian celebration, said he hoped "Bibi or the further right wing guy wins," apparently in order to bring the Apocalypse on more quickly.

Ban was asked about the Gaza crossing, then about Myanmar. A UN staffer who works on the issue later told Inner City Press that Ban's envoy Ibrahim Gambari's recent visit was a success, even though Senior General Than Shwe didn't deign to meet with him. "Where is the leverage?" the staffer asked.

Ban had called his meeting with Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe a success. He was pressed on this, and said that Mugabe is happy to work with UNICEF and the World Health Organization, and that the UN's Catherine Bragg will soon visit the country.

The sixth question concerned the so-called Hariri tribunal, investigating the assassination five years ago. The timeline calls into question what the new Bhutto panel can do. Ban said he will be sending his top lawyer, Patricia O'Brien, to The Hague for the formal opening of the tribunal.

Ban was asked if he listens to Obama's speeches, and in response he read out the statement reducing expectations for his mini-climate summit in March. He was asked, in French, about Libya and the financial crisis. Ban's answer, also in French and leading to applause, contained references to "son leadership" and "mon leadership."

Al Arabiya asked about the Hariri tribunal, can justice be expected. Would Ban meet with Sudan's al-Bashir if he gets indicted? The question was not answered; Ban would seek Ms. O'Brien's advice. But clearly the scenario's been thought through. So what is the answer?

Ban was asked about Pakistan and about Kashmir, in response to which he said all problems should be solved by dialogue and not military force. Then Inner City Press asked why this doesn't apply to Sri Lanka. "Because Sri Lanka is not on the Security Council's agenda," Ban replied. This interpretation of the UN Charter was openly rejected, later in the day, by the president of the Security Council, Japan's Yukio Takasu. Video here.

Ban was asked about the Gaza inquiry, and whether Israel should pay for damage to UNRWA. The final question was whether Ban would support suspending the International Criminal Court's process against al-Bashir. Ban appeared to say, if Sudan implements the type of legal proceedings the ICC requires. But would a country put its own sitting head of state on trial?

For the record, the Somalia question if allowed would have been that last week the UN's top envoy for Somalia, Amedou Ould Abdallah said that the press should not have reported on an incident in which African Union troops fired into a crowd in Mogadishu, killing between 25 (according to Bloomberg News) and 39 (according to local sources). He said there should be a moratorium on reporting from Somalia, and compared those who did report to the Mille Colline radio station which stoked genocide in Rwanda. The UN Secretariat has been asked to respond to the comments, but so far there's been no change or retraction. What is your position?

This question was put to the Committee to Protect Journalists' Joel Simon earlier on Tuesday by Inner City Press, and he expressed concern, mostly at the Rwanda analogy. Video here. But what about the UN calling for censorship?

Footnote: The US Mission to the UN, moving en masse to a meeting of the so-called Friends of Georgia on the UN's second floor, could or would not yet speak for Obama. Surprise was expressed that Hillary Clinton didn't immediately appoint her personal spokesman to the same job for the State Department. The talk is of the new Mission spokeman, Mark Kornblau, now set to begin on February 23. And when, as seemed to be Ban's focus on Tuesday, will Obama decide when he's coming to the UN? Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban2obama021009.html

Subprime Non-Bank Lenders Ask Obama and Geithner for Bailout, in Guise of Stimulus

Byline: Matthew R. Lee of Inner City Press on Wall Street
www.innercitypress.com/tarp1afsa021009.html

NEW YORK, February 10 -- The abuse of the subprime-triggered U.S. bailout fund has reached a new high, or low, with a trade association for non-bank subprime lenders asking to be eligible for Troubled Assets Relief Program funds. In a February 5 letter to Barack Obama, copied to Timothy Geithner and Larry Summers, the American Financial Services Association argues that while "to date, the majority of the federal government's financial relief programs have been directed toward assisting depository institutions... a campaign to get credit into the hands of consumers must also encompass finance companies."

AFSA's board of directors includes, as incoming chair, a representative from the financial company World Acceptance. This South Carolina-based company has been described as "below-subprime" by SmartMoney, for example, and as making "small, expensive loans to paycheck-to-paycheck types, mostly in Southern states." Now this type of company is in line to get bailout funds, in the guise of stimulating the economy.

AFSA's letter to Obama goes on to say that "many finance companies rely on bank lines of credit to fund loans to consumers. For this reason, we ask the administration to ensure that, if these banks accept TARP money, they keep these lines of credit open and fluid."

Even prior to the predatory-lending triggered meltdown, consumer groups like Bronx-based Fair Finance Watch documented to the Federal Reserve that, for example, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Wells Fargo were financing and enabling payday lending firms. Inner City Press sued the Federal Reserve under the Freedom of Information Act to gain access to the list of finance companies lent to by Wachovia, since failed and bought by Wells Fargo.

Now the argument is made that banks' should be required to lend to subprime finance companies as a condition of their bailout funds.

These novel arguments are merely an extension of currently accepted abuses. CIT, a finance company with a subprime component, was allowed to become a bank holding company with no public notice or comment, in order to receive bailout funds. Ocwen, a subprime mortgage servicers, has applied to the Federal Reserve to buy a small Texas bank, in order to gain access to bailout funds.

But, AFSA's argument seems to be, why even go through these contortions? Why not openly funnel bailout funds to the very subprime lenders which triggered the crisis? And perhaps Obama, Summers and Geithner will do it.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/tarp1afsa021009.html