At UN, Ban Stands By as Ali Treki Stands Behind Anti-Gay Comments, U.S. Yet to React

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un1gay100209.html

UNITED NATIONS, October 2 -- Despite a vote in the UN last December supporting the decriminalization of homosexuality, not only the Libyan President of the General Assembly Ali Treki, but now also Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, refuse to follow through on that vote.

On September 18 in the UN briefing room, Ali Treki said homosexuality is "not acceptable." Inner City Press wrote the first, and for a time only, story about his comments, online with video links here. Soon, however, the quotes were picked up and denounced in the U.S. Congress, not only by Barney Frank of Massachusetts but also Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, and by newspapers as far away as Australia.

On October 2, Treki held his next press conference, and Inner City Press twice asked him to respond to the criticism of his remarked. "I answered before," Treki replied, I have no need to answer again. Video here. Then, speaking of the Goldstone report, he said that "a violation of human rights in any country concerns the whole of humanity."

As Inner City Press told Treki, this is (for) news. Disparities between human rights pronouncements and their application to particular situations or groups of people seem newsworthy.

When Ban Ki-moon's Associate Spokesperson Farhan Haq took questions later on October 2, Inner City Press asked if the Secretariat had anything to say about homosexuality and human rights, whether there is a UN position on gay rights, and whether Ban Ki-moon thinks Treki's comments reflect well on the UN system. Video here, from Minute 18:52.

The UN has no specific position expressed by member states, Mr. Haq said. And he and the Secretary General will have no comment on the President of the General Assembly's publicly stated position. Haq added that Ban supports the human rights of everyone.

Afterwards, it was explained to Inner City Press that the Secretariat's Office of Legal Affairs had provided Ban with a memo that last December's meeting on the decriminalization of homosexuality, sponsored in the first instance by France and the Netherlands but supported by Argentina and others, is just "a declaration by a member state in a formal meeting" and does not have the legal status of a resolution of the General Assembly.

Even if one accepts this legal(istic) argument, nothing precluded or precludes the UN Secretariat from taking a position of principle. Nothing has been said for two weeks. And now?

To some, the UN Secretariat's dodging of the issue is reminiscent of Ban Ki-moon's first day as Secretary General, when in response to a question about the execution of Saddam Hussein, Ban said that the UN has no position on the death penalty. He later amended that answer. It is noted that Ban travels the globe, city after city, including those with significant gay populations.

Others wonder why, for example, not only the French but also U.S. Missions to the UN have had no response to Treki's public comments two weeks ago. One wonders if, from the left and right, Frank and Ros-Lehtinen are asking the U.S. Mission to the UN to say or do anything. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1gay100209.html

At UN, China Raises Afghan Killings to Block Debate of Myanmar's, Burma Off Month's Council Agenda

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/unsc1civilians100209.html

UNITED NATIONS, October 2, updated -- China has raised the killing of Afghan civilians, in response to a proposal to include Myanmar and Protection of Civilians in the footnotes of October's UN Security Council program of work, Inner City Press has learned.

In connection with what is usually a routine beginning of the month Council meeting, China disputed the possibility that the "umbrella" topic of Protection of Civilians might be loophole through which the activities of Burma's Than Shwe military government could be raised.

So China, as Russia has done in the past, said that the killing of civilians in Afghanistan by the U.S. and NATO is also relevant.

October's Council president, Vietnam, is having to run the debate. The Council members had a customary breakfast, and then retired to the consultation room.

The few reporters at the stakeout drifted away. At 10:39, only Inner City Press remained at the stakeout, under the now vacant space where a tapestry "after" Picasso's Femme Sur l'Echelle used to be. It was entirely silent. Watch this site.

Update of 11:10 a.m. -- A Council diplomat tells Inner City Press that all except China said, Afghanistan is on the agenda anyway, under an ISAF item.

Update of 1:10 p.m. -- When Vietnam's Ambassador held a press conference as Council president, Inner City Press asked about the omission of Myanmar from even the footnotes of the program of work. We operate by consensus, he answered, and it is not in the footnotes. So, those who proposed Burma's inclusion let it drop. We aim to have more on this -- watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unsc1civilians100209.html

UN Counters Galbraith Fallout with Unnamed Official, Sampler Next for Kabul?

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un1elections100109.html

UNITED NATIONS, October 1 -- Charged with covering up electoral fraud to benefit Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan, the UN in New York on Thursday, in a background briefing to the Press, argued that it is not the UN's role to uncover or publicize fraud. Rather, the speaker who insisted on being identified only as a senior UN official said, the UN makes recommendation for procedures to be put in place so that fraud can be detected.

But if the UN's recommendations are dismissed, or if implemented are then revoked, does the UN say anything? No, the senior official said, why should we? The Independent Electoral Commission isn't breaking any laws.

Inner City Press asked the official if Afghan law provides for any penalty for those found guilty of fraud. I don't know, the UN official said, adding that the Elections Complaints Commission, three of whose five members are appointed by the UN, has no power to impose criminal penalties.

The official provided by the UN, answered again and again that he was baffled by the critiques made by the UN's just fired deputy envoy to Afghanistan, Peter Galbraith. Inner City Press asked if Galbraith's letter to Ban Ki-moon is true in saying that Eide ordered UN staff not to talk about the election and fraud. I can't imagine Kai doing that, the official said. He allowed that the UN has rules about how staff can talk, and Kai might have reminded UNAMA staff of the rules.

Critique the UN's management, Galbraith said that only weak organizations punish those who disagreed in internal debates. The official said that went beyond his remit, as did Ban Ki-moon's decision to suspend any UN assistance to the November elections in Honduras. That was Ban's decision, a Ban spokesperson has said. But, as with the firing of Galbraith, who will explain it on the record?

Footnotes: The Times of London has reported that, to replace Galbraith, the U.S. is pushing the UN to try Donald "Larry" Sampler. He worked with a USAID contractor, and is in fact a Facebook friend of Gary K. Helseth, accused of accused of corruption in Afghanistan with the UN Office of Project Services. Some Sample(r).

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1elections100109.html

At UN, Iran's Mottaki Says Protesters Are Dealt With, Nuclear Sites All Reported

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/iran1mottaki100109.html

UNITED NATIONS, October 1 -- In Iran "there are some people, a limited number of people, who look for trouble and want to create unreal," Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki told the Press on Thursday. "It is very clear how they should be dealt with." Video here, from Minute 31:55.

During a Q&A session at the UN in New York, nearly all of which dealt with nuclear issues, Inner City Press asked Mottaki about a story of post-election torture, rape and exile, which Inner City Press heard from Ebrahim Sharifi by cell phone on September 21. Sharifi states that he joined the non violent street protests then was picked up, blindfolded and held for a week.

Inner City Press asked Mottaki if he acknowledged the veracity of any such charges, if people can file complaints in Iran and what he thinks of the call for a UN General Assembly special envoy to Iran on human rights issues. Video here, from Minute 25:43, Mottaki's reponse here from Minute 27:08.

Mottaki's more then five minute answer became with calling the June elections "the most glorious presidential elections in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran." Mottaki claimed the skeptics, once they received an explanation, were convinced. This left a few trouble makers -- "it is very clear how they should be dealt with."

Mottaki said that Iran has vibrant NGOs, which rather than complain in Geneva to the Human Rights Council come to the UN in New York to participate in workshops about the rights on women.

On Iran's nuclear program, Mottaki said that other than Qom, there are no other sites not reported to the IAEA. The press conference ended with a report for a newspaper in Israel calling for the floor, without receiving it. He was told by the UN's spokesperson that the UN is an "inter-governmental body... we cannot do anything about what member states do." Apparently not.

Footnote: Mottaki, before traveling to DC, wiled away the evening of September 29 at Indonesia's Independence Day celebration in the UN Delegates' Dining Room. There were satays, rice and noodles. One attending, chewing, snarked that at such receptions, the quality of the food is in inverse proportion to the amount of democracy in the hosting nation.

Inner City Press has previously written about, and sampled, Iran's kebab diplomacy, click here for that. Thousands of years of culture...

And see, www.innercitypress.com/iran1mottaki100109.html

At UN, Politics Pollute Budget Advisory Post, Sources Say, of ACABQ and Revolving Doors

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un4acabq093009.html

UNITED NATIONS, September 30 -- In a switch that may more accurately reflect the UN than the speeches given here in the past week, political pressure has resulted in steering a top UN budget advisory job away from a Thai citizen who came in first place in the interviews.

The executive secretary position in the UN's Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions or ACABQ has been open since it was vacate by Mark Gilpin. Of the applicants, the first place finisher was Dennis Thatchaichawalit of Thailand, currently serving as a Chief of Service at the D-1 level in the UN's Program Planning and Budget Division.

But well placed sources tell Inner City Press that the Under Secretary General of the ACABQ, Susan McLurg of the United States, intervened to move up the third place finisher, Shari Klugman, currently a D-1 in the Ted Turner financed UN Fund for International Partnerships.

The Secretary General's office on the 38th floor, sources say, gave its blessing to this legerdemain. Members of the ACABQ, many of whom know the UN well from previous service for their countries on the Fifth (Budget) Committee, are grumbling about what they call corruption. A senior UN official who Inner City Press asked about switch shrugged and said, "That's how the UN works."

Inner City Press telephoned Ms. Klugman on September 30 and she genially confirmed that she begins as executive secretary of ACABQ on October 1. Inner City Press then asked UN Spokesperson Michele Montas about the hiring. Ms. Montas did not answer, saying it is a "General Assembly matter." But sources say that the Secretariat had not only the normal, but an abnormal, role in the selection of Ms. Klugman, and bypassing of Mr. Thatchaichawalit, who had been rated higher. If the Secretariat provides any further information, it will be published on this site.

See Inner City Press' previous ACABQ stories: 1st 2nd 3rd

The ACABQ is one of the few bodies which can oversee the UN that is quasi independent. When even the ACABQ staffing is politicized, in a fashion some participants in the selection process call open, there is no oversight at all.

Inner City Press previously interviewed and profiled Ms. McLurg's predecessor Rajat Saha, on his views of the need for reform of the ACABQ. After the interview and Saha's return to India, Inner City Press learned that before he left, he got his daughter a UN staff job.

The ACABQ reviews and opines on UN Secretariat budget proposals, among other things. If its officials can be influenced or appear to be influences by job offers to themselves or family members, the oversight function is undermined. So too if there are irregularities in the application, interview and rating processes to fill the top staff job.

Footnotes: Inner City Press has had simple request to confirm or deny UN hiring pending with UN spokespeople for weeks now. Longer time UN hands note that Saha's predecessor Vladimir Kuznetsov ended up in jail for impropriety, since sent back to Russia. And beyond ACABQ, the General Assembly's Fifth (Budget) Committee is also a launching pad for jobs with the Secretariat.

Recently, Egypt's representative on the Fifth Committee Hesham Mohamed Eman Afifi was awarded a P-4 post in UN peacekeeping's Department of Field Support. DFS chief Susana Malcorra, who Inner City Press was able to directly ask about the hiring, said it was through the normal process. But should the revolving door between the budget committee, and the agencies whose budgets it votes on, be closed or slowed down? Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un4acabq093009.html

UN's Solar Powered Cattle Prod Deployed by Dictators, Then a Party, Red and Green Mix

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/unred1green092909.html

UNITED NATIONS, September 29 -- It was the UN General Assembly of the solar powered cattle prod, in which for example the representative of Guinea gave a speech about climate change just after his government killed more than 150 protesters in Conakry.

Myanmar too spoke of climate change, as did North Korea. Sri Lanka, fresh from its bloodbath on the beach, spoke about "inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to Statehood," as well as about climate change. When red and green are mixed, the results are not pretty.

After the final fight of the General Debate, between Eritrea and Djibouti, Tuesday evening in the UN Delegates' Dining Room was a night of satay, beer and incongruously samosas in commemoration of the 64th anniversary of the independence day of Indonesia. Iranian foreign minister Mottaki arrived, and Deputy Ambassador Liu of China, a delegate from a competing event on 35th Street.

Finally there was talk of Guinea, that it is on the Security Council's agenda for Wednesday. Why was there so little warning of the descent into slaughter? Where was the UN's envoy to West Africa Said Djinnit? A source from Dakar, Senegal described to Inner City Press the grand building where Djinnit works, the road specially paved for him.

It emerged that Ghana's Ambassador in Conakry was beaten up two months ago, clearly a warning sign.

Inner City Press asked the Council's presidency, a press statement? We'll probably do something on that. Various Assistant Secretaries of State have come through the UN last week and this for bilateral, apparently without the knowledge or coordination of the US Mission to the UN. As one example, little is known at the top levels about the war crimes report on Sri Lanka which was due in Congress September 21. On background they say mid-October. But why?

The UN is gloating about the U.S. coming to its position on Myanmar. The relevant Assistant Secretary of State is coming to the UN to meet with a Myanmar delegation, including the minister of science and technology "who's like the number two." Why not Burma's minister of climate change?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unred1green092909.html

At UN, Ban Cannot Stop Sri Lanka's Shooting, Blake's Visit, Report Mid-October

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/untrip9may1srilanka092909.html

UNITED NATIONS, September 29 -- In the wake of the Sri Lankan Army shooting at least two children on the margins of the Manik Farm "Internally Displaced Persons" camp in Vavuniya, Inner City Press on Tuesday asked UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon if, in his September 28 meeting with three Sri Lankan ministers, he sought or gained any commitment for non-use of lethal weapons on unarmed IDPs. Video here, from Minute 32:40.

Mr. Ban proffered a more than 150 word answer, but did not mention any such commitment, even seeking one. He rattled off "three points" -- in essence, resettlement, reconciliation and accountability -- and said "they committed that they will do as we have agreed. But we have to have a close watch and monitor this process."

But will they keep shooting unarmed civilians, including children?

Speaking of war crimes, Inner City Press has continued to inquire into the reason for the delay in the U.S. Department of State's report on war crimes in Sri Lanka, which was due in Congress on September 21. On September 29, a U.S. official on background told Inner City Press, "We are still working on the report. Congress has extended the submission date. We expect to submit the report to Congress in mid-October."

This would tend to rebut reports Tuesday in the Sri Lankan press that the report is delayed "indefinitely," with assistance to the Rajapaksa administration from Israel, citing "the real assets of the Sri Lankan Air Force driving Eelam War 1V were the new Spy planes. Several Cessna 421 , Golden Eagle and two ‘Beechcraft’ super King crafts were bought from the United States for maritime and ground surveillance . Close ground surveillance was carried out by Israeli IAI searcher MK 11 and EMIT Blue Horizon 2 unmanned aerial vehicles."

While the arming may be true, the full disarming of the report does not appear to be.

Just after Mr. Ban's press conference, Inner City Press observed what seemed to be U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake entering the elevators on the UN's second floor. Later in the day, Mr. Blake graciously confirmed to Inner City Press that he was at UN headquarters, holding meetings on the margins of the General Assembly and Tuesday meeting with UN colleagues on the countries in his area of responsibility -- which includes Sri Lanka. We hope to have more on this.

From the UN's September 28, 2009 transcript:

Inner City Press: [On the] children shot in Sri Lanka, did you get a commitment from the Government not to shoot unarmed civilians who leave the camp?

S-G Ban: Now, on Sri Lanka, yesterday we had an extensive discussion with the Prime Minister. And the Foreign Minister and Defense Secretary were also present in the meeting. They were the key people in managing this situation. I made three points clearly again, which I did during my visit, and which was repeated and urged again during Mr. [B. Lynn] Pascoe's visit earlier this month. First, that all IDPs should be resettled, as they had promised, by the end of January. There should be extra measures taken, particularly during this monsoon season, because their suffering will be much, much more serious during this wet season. They should immediately begin to reach out to minority ethnic groups, including Tamils. Then, I emphasized the importance of instituting immediately this judiciary accountability process for violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Those were three points, and they committed that they will do as we have agreed. But we have to have a close watch and monitor this process.

So was there any "commitment from the Government not to shoot unarmed civilians who leave the camp?" Apparently not.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/untrip9may1srilanka092909.html

UN Debate Ends with Eritrea vs. Djibouti, N. Korea Abductees Absent, Solar Cattle Prod

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un64ga4m092909.html

UNITED NATIONS, September 29 -- The UN's General Debate ended with a whimper on Tuesday afternoon, with a final speech by the Observer of the Holy See, then two rounds of bickering by Eritrea and Djibouti. The former, speaking in English, accused the major powers of seeking to dominate regions by manufacturing crises and then "managing" them through the Security Council.

It has previously noted that Djibouti has military bases of both the U.S. and France, being used to train the army of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government, whom the Al Shabaab insurgent and others call illegitimate invaders.

Djibouti replied that Eritrea, in its short existence, has started wars with Yemen, Sudan, Ethiopia and now Djibouti. It characterized Eritrea as being full of "defiance and denial." There was a further round of back and forth, leading to some frowning by President of the General Assembly Ali Treki, who was waiting to give his wrap up speech.

Inner City Press has previously covered Saturday night's fights between Iran and the UAE, and Serbia and Albania. Surprisingly, the perennial issue of Japanese abductees in North Korea didn't give rise to a right of reply back and forth as in previous years. At Tuesday morning's press conference, Inner City Press asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon:

Inner City Press: Japan had raised to you the issue of the abductees, but then in the readout of your meeting with the DPRK, it didn’t seem that the issue came up. Could you explain if that is the case?

S-G Ban: This abductee issue of Japan has been a long pending issue. I have made my points clear on many occasions, that this should also be resolved within a bilateral context. We said yesterday that the relationship with Japan, which is one of the important participants of the six-party talks, as well as one of the important regional countries, it would be desirable to engage in bilateral talks to improve their bilateral relations.

Inner City Press also asked Mr. Ban about Sri Lanka, but that's another story. Watch this site.

Footnote / analysis: in the absence of world leadership, this General Debate was a playground for crackpots and dictators who crush their opponents while giving speeches about climate change. The item of the Debate, as Inner City Press has coined it, might be a solar powered cattle prod.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un64ga4m092909.html

France Calls Bongo's Gabon Satisfactory, Its Oil Not Crucial, Guinea to Council?

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/franco1phony092909.html

UNITED NATIONS, September 29 -- With the son of long time Gabonese strongman Omar Bongo having already been congratulated by French President Nicolas Sarkozy for his victory in a now contested election, French economic interests have been the target of protests in Port Gentil. Tuesday at the UN, Inner City Press asked France's Secretary of State for Cooperation and Francophony Alain Joyandet for his the Sarkozy administration's view of the court challenges to Ali Bongo's election, and about Total. Video here, from Minute 14:28.

Joyandet answered that the constitution was "fully respected," the election "only suffered from a few weaknesses or irregularities," and that "the institutional situation is satisfactory and we are pleased with it." Maybe this explains the protests?

He argued that Bongo pere gave "forty years of stability."About Total, Joyandet said that Gabon only represents three percent of its oil supply "so Gabon is not strategically crucial." One wanted to ask about Total in Burma / Myanmar, but Joyandet's focus is Africa.

When challenged about the son taking over from a father widely accused of corruption, Joyandet answered that "there are other democracies where the son has followed the father... we're in a country where it happened."

On Guinea, where the death toll of protesters has risen past 150, Joyandet said that his foreign minister Bernard Kouchner has called for a meeting with other European countries, that ECOWAS should take the lead but he expects the issue to be raised at the United Nations. We'll see.

Footnote: on Cote d'Ivoire, Joyandet said that UN envoy Choi has said that the obstacles to an election at the end of November are only technical, not political. Joyandet said, in essence, this is the last change for Cote d'Ivoire and Laurent Gbagbo. Unanswered was: or what?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/franco1phony092909.html

At UN, North Korea Brags, Kouchner Baffled by Burma, Zelaya by BlackBerry

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un64ga3m092809.html

UNITED NATIONS, September 28 -- The UN's General Debate grew even more surreal on Monday. North Korea said its people are happy and have nothing to envy. The ousted president of Honduras Mel Zelaya spoke to the General Assembly through his foreign minister's BlackBerry, pushed up against the microphone.

Meanwhile, the representative of the coup leader of Guinea spoke unmolested, even as more than 70 protesters of the coup were shot dead in Conakry. Few commented on this, even as a throng of Guinean shouted outside the UN that the dictatorship should not be allowed to speak. When all you have is bauxite, oppression draws little notice.

Myanmar, on the other hand, now has natural gas. This explains the sudden ease of pressure, Hillary Clinton's announcement that the U.S. will "engage" with the junta. Inner City Press is told that at the beginning of last week's meeting of the Group of Friends on Myanmar, France's Bernard Kouchner said, we don't know what to do. Apparently the view of the oil company Total now rule.

About North Korea, the head of the UN's Department of Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe, pursued into the hallway after his briefing by reporters for Japanese media as well as Inner City Press, acknowledged that while Japan had raised to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon the issue of the abductees in North Korea, Ban never raised it to North Korea when he met them.

Meanwhile Angola spoke of its basketball team's wins, Timor-Leste spoke pro-Cuba. Namibia spoke pro Western Sahara, as Hugo Chavez has, while Guinea's junta favored Morocco. And Malaysia denounced those who in the run up to the Copenhagen climate change meeting are seeking to "Steal the Deal." On September 29, seemingly the ending day of the Debate, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon with speak and, one assumes, take questions for half an hour. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un64ga3m092809.html

In Somalia, WFP Charged With Diversion to Kenya, Says DSS Protects It, But DSS Can't

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/wfp4somalia092809.html

UNITED NATIONS, September 28 -- The World Food Program's Josette Sheeran on Monday said that in Somalia WFP relies on the UN's Department of Safety and Security, while it investigates "charges of diversion of food into Kenya." Video here, from Minute 34:50.

When Inner City Press asked the UN's Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia Mark Bowden the same questions on September 23, he said he was sure there was no diversion of aid, but admitted that there are areas of Somalia where DSS can't go, where the UN relies on the "security of the agencies concerned." Video here, from Minute 15:50

So if WFP says it relies on DSS and not mercenaries, but DSS says it cannot protect WFP in some areas and relies on WFP, logically one of the two statements is false.

Inner City Press asked UN Spokesperson Michele Montas about this Monday at noon. Video here, from Minute 10:43. She said "Ask WFP."

Inner City Press pointed about the inconsistency been what Ms. Sheeran and Mr. Bowden said, and asked for an answer from UN DSS. When one is received it will be published on this site. For now we note again that Somali sources tell Inner City Press that food is being used as a political weapon.

Footnote: Inner City Press asked Ms. Sheeran and Jeff Sachs next to her about WFP's $400,000 "food distribution simulation" for the spouses of G-8 leaders in Rome earlier this year. While Inner City Press broke this story at the time of the G-8 meeting, it is understand for example that the Swedish press is following up. Ms. Sheeran as if reading from notes, said that the "Rome based agencies were invited to host" the G-8 spouses, and thought it important to hear from beneficiaries of aid.

But to flying kids from Ghana for a simulated "food distribution" for politicians' spouses? As one WFP staffer asked, would Ms. Sheeran think of doing this with Food Stamps recipients in the U.S.? Sachs never answered, after he spoke about partnering with Ericsson. We hope to have more on this.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/wfp4somalia092809.html

Guinea Speaks at UN as Junta Kills Over 150 in Conakry, First Avenue Echoes

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/unga64guinea092609.html

UNITED NATIONS, September 28 -- As those in the UN General Assembly listened to the foreign minister of Guinea-Conakry give a speech ranging from his military regime's preference for Morocco over Western Saharan, China over Taiwan, in Conakry his government shot and killed at least 150 people protesting the dictatorship.

Even just outside the UN's compound on First Avenue, a throng of Guineans protested, with signs calling coup leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara a liar and a killer. But most of the UN took no notice.

At the September 28 noon briefing, the spokesman for the President of the General Assembly was asked about the vote barring another coup leader, that of Madagascar, from speaking. Inner City Press asked why, by this logic, other coup leaders couldn't be barred. Video here, from Minute 19:44.

The response was that the Madagascar was was unique, sui generis to re-coin a phrase from Kosovo. But why?

In July of this year, Inner City Press asked the UN's envoy to Western Africa Said Djinnit what if anything the UN had done when previous Guinean president Lansasa Conte used his diplomatic status and immunity to traffic cocaine to Europe.

Djinnit said that he had been working with the leaders of the country, and appeared to blame Lonsana Conte's son(s) for the coke. But what was the UN doing in the run up to this bloodbath in Conakry?

Inner City Press inquired with the UN Spokesperson's office an hour after the Guinean speech, asking would there be some statement coming about about the killings in Guinea? There's something in the works, Inner City Press was told. Words but what action? Watch this space.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unga64guinea092609.html

At UN, Silence on Uighurs, OIC "Keen" on China, Quiet on UNESCO Election

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/oic1uighurs092609.html

UNITED NATIONS, September 28 -- As the UN General Assembly debate winds down, amid talk of repressed demonstrations this year in Iran and Honduras and elsewhere, almost nothing has been said about the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in western China.

Inner City Press on September 28 asked Ekmelledin Ihsanoglu, the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, for the OIC's action and views on what Ihsanoglu in his response diplomatically called the "July events." Video here, from Minute 40:18.

While expressing "concern and sadness," and saying that it is OIC's mandate to protect Muslim minorities, Ihsanoglu went out of his way to praise China's "very good record with the Muslim world." He said OIC is "keen to preserve good relations." It is this keenness, for many countries springing from economic interests, that has led to the striking absence of commentary about one of the summer's main international news stories, that of the Uighurs.

The keenness is not, according, returned. Unlike Russia, China has not even sought Observer status at the OIC, despite its Muslim population.

Ihsanoglu said that a delegation from the OIC was allowed to go to "Urumqi, only Urumqi, not Kashgar." Even with only this visit, he said the OIC has done more than any other group. He said other human rights watchdogs were silent, "I still don't understand." He answered Inner City Press, "Maybe you can help me to understand that." The answer is in Ihsanoglu's own phrase, being "keen to preserve good relations" with China.

Inner City Press also asked for OIC's view of the Egyptian minister candidate's loss for the top post at UNESCO, a question Ihsanoglu declined to answer before turning to another questioner. Inner City Press has also wanted to ask him about the killing of Boko Haram's leader in Nigeria, the fighting in Yemen, and calls for OIC action on Kashmir, regarding which a closed door meeting was held later on Monday in the UN's basement. Even Gaddafi in his speech mentioned Kashmir, making all the more notable the silence on the Uighurs.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/oic1uighurs092609.html

As Sri Lankan IDPs Shot, UN's Pascoe Says Camps To Be "Thinned Out," Council Should Meet

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/untrip8may9srilanka092609.html

UNITED NATIONS, September 28 -- Just after the Sri Lankan Army shot people leaving the Manik Farms camps in Vavuniya, Sri Lanka's Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Secretary of Defense met in New York with the UN's highest officials.

Afterwards, Inner City Press asked the head of the UN's Department of Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe about the shooting incidents, whether the Sri Lankan Army's web site had misquoted him, and why the UN had not convened a meeting about Sri Lankan during the last week's General Debate. Video here, from Minute 55:49.

Of the shooting, Pascoe attributed it to overcrowding in the Manik Farms camps, saying "they need to be thinning it out." He acknowledged that the Sri Lankan Army had put a "different spin" on what he said during his visit this month. Inner City Press asked about the headline "You have better story than is getting out today - Pascoe to President." Inner City Press asked this question ten days ago, without getting any answer.

Pascoe said he was only been referring to de-mining, that he was "surprised" he was quoted "for saying things quite in the way that [he] had said them." But why didn't the UN seek a correction then, as it has when for example Sudan characterized what the UN told them in a bilateral conversation?

Pascoe said that the meeting with Defense Secretary (and Presidential brother) Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama was attended not only by Ban Ki-moon, but also by John Holmes and Vijay Nambiar.

As Pascoe sought to turn to another questioner, Inner City Press reminded him of the unanswered question of why the UN had not set up a meeting during the General Debate, as it did on Myanmar, Somalia and other countries.

Pascoe said there had been some thought "early on" of convening such a meeting about Sri Lanka, but it didn't happen. He added that "it is important for the Security Council to discuss... in their rooms or in the basement." Well, the UN Charter provides for the Secretary General to convene a Security Council meeting, under Article 99. Watch this site.

Footnotes: in continued reporting on the delayed U.S. State Department report on war crimes in Sri Lanka, which was due before Congress on September 21 but was then deferred, Inner City Press has been told that staff for Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont found deficiencies with the report, having nothing to do with the stealth visit of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Meanwhile, in Europe the possible termination of Sri Lanka's GSP Plus tariff benefit is set to be discussed on October 1, and voted on by October 15. We'll see.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/untrip8may9srilanka092609.html

For UN's Darfur Post, Two Tanzanians Said to Compete, from G-20 to G-77, Sudan on Ice

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un3darfur092509.html

UNITED NATIONS, September 25 -- Given the UN's focus on Sudan and specifically Darfur, the position of lead mediator, vacant since the tenure of Rodolphe Adada was not extended, is a hotly contested post.

Inner City Press learned Friday that, beyond the candidacies of long time UN Africa hand Haile Menkerios and previous South African Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, reported exclusively by Inner City Press, Tanzania's Foreign Minister is competing, against Tanzania's UN Ambassador.

While its rare to have two candidates from the same country, the UN and "the West" are said to be looking for the candidate most accommodative of their views.

U.S. envoy to Sudan Scott Gration was asked this week about the ouster of Adada. "That's above my pay grade," he replied. He praised the replacer of UNAMID force commander Martin Luther Agwai. But Inner City Press has learned that Agwai, despite being said to leave the UN, will be paid for three additional months, splitting his time between El Fasher and Manhattan. We will have more on this.

Those returning to the UN from the whirlwind G-20 meeting in Pittsburgh found a reception, complete with lobster, shrimp and an ice sculpture with Sudan's flag in it, underway on the fourth floor. It was the Group of 77 and China reception, hosted by Deng Alor Kuol, the foreign minister of Sudan which chairs the G-77. Information but not liquor flowed. At the end, a clean up worker said the flag of the Republic of Sudan would be put in the dining room's sink. It's hot in there, he said. It melts very fast.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un3darfur092509.html