At UN, As Ban Poses with Korean Tourism Czar, Press Is Banned, No Read-Out Until Two Days Later

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/unban1ktpc020910.html

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 9, updated Feb. 11 -- The schedule of photo opportunities by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for February 9 contained only one item, a 10 a.m. courtesy call with his new Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict, Margot Wallstrom. Then at 9:40 a.m. in an alert to UN correspondents, another item was added: a 5:20 p.m. photo op with the head of the Korea Tourism Promotion Corporation, Lee Cham.

Several correspondents scratched their heads, asking Inner City Press by e-mail what to make of the addition. Ban Ki-moon has complained that the media unfairly portrays him as playing to an audience in his home country, South Korea. Most recently, his top adviser Kim Won-soo gave an exclusive on the record interview to JoongAng Ilbo, while eschewing such interaction with non-Korean press. [Update of February 11 -- Ms. Soung-ah Choi has stated, on the record, that JoongAng Ilbo did not have an exclusive interview with Kim Won-soo." There's more to this, but that for now is the on the record version.]

Why then would Ban Ki-moon so openly not only meet with a Korean tourism group, but seek to publicize the meeting with a photo op? To find out, Inner City Press went to cover the photo op. Camera in hand, Inner City Press waited on the ground floor of the UN's new building, dubbed UN-KIA or Bantanamo.

A UN photographer arrived, and Inner City Press traveled up in the elevator with him. On the third, executive floor, Inner City Press submitted to a screening with an electronic wand, and agreed to leave a laptop out in the anteroom.

But just before the photo op began, Mr. Ban's South Korean spokesperson Ms. Choi Soung-ah came up, as the UN's own photographers were entering, and announced that Inner City Press could not enter. You'll have to wait for MALU, she said, referring to the UN's Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit.

It was obvious to all that MALU would not arrive on time. So to cite this rule was to exclude Inner City Press from the photo op that the UN itself has publicized.

Afterwards, Inner City Press requested from the UN Spokesperson's Office a read out of Ban's meeting with the Korean Tourism Promotion Council. Four hours after the meeting and the request, no read out was provided. [Update: one was finally received on February 11, see below.] Nor was the UN Photo shot of Ban and the Korea Tourism official put on UN.org. [This remained true as of 2 p.m. on February 11.] So who was the photo op for? Watch this site.

Footnote: while some correspondents wondered why Ms. Choi Soung-ah (or Soung-ah Choi) was in the Executive Office while more senior spokespeople were six blocks south in their space under the cafeteria, it is perhaps explained by Ms. Choi's stated jurisdiction: Asia including Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Also earlier on Tuesday, chief Spokesperson Martin Nesirky has said that "within hours" Ban would be calling Sri Lanka's president Mahinda Rajapaksa, presumably to express concern about crack down on opponents and the press.

After the Korean Tourism meeting, Ban had still not made the call, and four hours later, still no read out had been provided. The read out will have to be approved, Inner City Press was told. By who -- Ms. Choi? Mr. Pascoe and Mr. Kim are in North Korea. So could it be DPA's Hitoki Den? We'll have more on this. [See February 10 update, here.]

Update of February 11 -- the following read-out was received by Inner City Press from Soung-ah Choi on February 11 (it may have been sent before then, but the reason for the delay is, at Ms. Choi's request, "off the record") --

Mr. Lee Cham, President of the Korea Tourism Organization, paid a courtesy call on the Secretary-General this afternoon.

The two discussed the economic impact of tourism - both inbound and outbound - on developed and developing countries, and the significant contributions it can have on the global economy and development.

The Secretary-General highlighted the importance of sustainable tourism, and the management of resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity. This, while helping to generate income, employment, and the conservation of local ecosystems.

An update was also provided at the February 11 UN noon briefing about the North Korea trip of Mr. Pascoe, Mr. Kim and other others: the gift they brought for Kim Jong-Il was a leather bound copy of the UN Charter in all six of the Organization's working languages...

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unban1ktpc020910.html

UN Says It "Cannot Name and Shame" on Sexual Violence, Silence on Congo Report

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un1sexviol020910.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 9 -- The UN on February 9 bragged about its work against Sexual Violence in Conflict, introducing Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's new Special Representative on the topic, Margot Wallstrom.

But when asked why the UN's Mission in the Congo MONUC works with Army united accused of mass rape by the UN's own Special Rapporteur Philip Alston, and why the UN never disclosed any discipline for Sri Lankan peacekeepers sent home from Haiti after being accused of sexual abuse, the UN had no answers. Video here, from Minute 16:23.

Inner City Press asked Alain Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, about a portion of Alston's report describing that

"In Shalio (near Busurungi in North Kivu) it appears that the FARDC, led by Colonel Zimulinda, attacked a makeshift camp of Rwandan Hutu refugees on 27 April 2009. The FARDC surrounded the camp, shot and beat to death at least 50 refugees and burnt the camp to the ground. It also appears that some 40 women were abducted from the camp. A small group of 10 who escaped described being gang raped, and had severe injuries; some had chunks of their breasts hacked off. It is not known what has happened to the other 30 women."

Inner City Press has previously asked MONUC chief Alan Doss about the report, after it came out in October. Doss never announced any suspension of support to Zimulinda's unit. Rather, he made a misleading announcement of the end of the Kimia II operation. Soon thereafter, it was replaced by another operation, Amani Leo, in which MONUC supports questionable units of the Congolese Army.

Le Roy on February 9 said that the UN is "vetting unit by unit." He blurred a word, or made a Freudian slip, saying that "Alan Doss knows [or does] very well, each times there is full evidence" of abuse by a unit, "we stop our support." Video here, from Minute 18:50. So does Alan Doss do this well? Or is the claim that he "knows" very well the policy?

Inner City Press asked why, four months after Alston's report, which was followed by others (with Zimulinda called "Zimurinda"), the UN has apparently done nothing. Video here, from Minute 19:18. There was another recent report of the UN and accused mass rapist Bosco Ntaganda, which some in the UN think was unfair. But what about Zimulinda?

Why does it take the UN four months to study Alston's short report? Why has it taken the UN eight months and counting to "investigate" and act on Alan Doss' six line email to UNDP asking them to show "leeway" and give his daughter a job? Does Doss "do" well, or simply "know" well?

At the UN, is it all about who you know?

Le Roy answered a question by referring to a new UN web site purporting to provide transparency into the disposition of allegations of sexual abuse or exploitation by UN peacekeepers. Inner City Press pointed to a particular page, here, which reports that the UN made 82 communications about abuse to Troop Contributing Countries in 2009, and got 14 "responses."

Inner City Press asked, were the responses indications of prosecution? Or merely letters in response? This, Le Roy did not answer. He said "we cannot name and shame," because TCCs don't want it. But nor should the UN give blue helmets and immunity to soldiers who, if they rape, suffer only "repatriation." More disclosures should be made -- we will continue to pursue this. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1sexviol020910.html

UN's Ban to Call Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa about Fonseka's Arrest, Nambiar Questions

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/unban1fonseka020910.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 9, updated -- A day after his spokesman dodged questions about Sri Lanka's arrest of opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka, on Tuesday afternoon UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon "intends to speak" with President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Mr. Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky announced the scheduled telephone call in response to a follow up question by Inner City Press. Video here, from Minute 7:36. Nesirky had a prepared statement, "urging the authorities to follow due process of law" and "provide all necessary protections" in the run up to "Parliamentary elections."

Inner City Press had asked on February 8 if the Rajapaksa administration's violent arrest of Fonseka was the type of "provocative act" which Ban had counseled against. Nesirky had declined to apply Ban's general statement to the facts on the ground.

On February 9, Inner City Press contrasted the Rajapaksas' dissolving of parliament and calling for snap elections with their arrest of their main opponent. Could the coming elections be considered free and fair?

Previously Ban declined a request at the UN provide safeguards of fairness to the presidential round of elections, which Fonseka has challenged as riddled with fraud. After that vote, Ban even expressed "relief" at how well it had done.

Now that journalists have been harrassed, censored and prosecuted and the main opponent arrested, might Ban and the UN at least attempt to provide some type of safeguards for the second, Parliamentary round?

And since Ban has said he is considering appointing a panel on investigating Sri Lanka war crimes, and presidential brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has since rejected any UN investigation, will Ban raise then announce the panel, which UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston and others have called for? Watch this site.

Footnote: Also on the war crimes front, Sri Lanka'a Ambassador to the UN Palitha Kohona has now denied that the UN's Vijay Nambiar was even in Sri Lanka at the time LTTE leaders were executed while surrendering with white flags.

Inner City Press, which has asked the question publicly without public answer, understands that the UN is being asked again for the specifics of Mr. Nambiar's involvement, whether he was given and conveyed assurances of safety and legal compliance from the Rajapaksas which were then violated.

On February 9, Inner City Press asked as it had on February 8 about attempts by Kohona and Sri Lanka's foreign minister to reach Mr. Ban to cancel a press conference on war crimes by UN Special Rapporteur Alston, which request was referred to Nambiar. The day after he said he would find out, Neskiry on Tuesday had no answer. Video here, from Minute 9:50. He called it a small thing -- as Inner City Press had, in an abundance of caution -- but again said he would "look into it." We'll see.

Update of 5:55 pm, Feb. 9 -- Inner City Press inquired and was told that Ban Ki-moon has yet to make his call to President Rajapasa. It will be quite late tonight, Inner City Press was told. What about getting a read-out, especially in light of talk the UN in New York will be closed on February 10 for snow? The read-out will have to be approved, was the response. We will be here: watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unban1fonseka020910.html

At UN, US Official's Pitch, like Obama's Speech, Omits Darfur, Congo, Anti-Corruption

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un1usofficial020810.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 8 -- Forty days into 2010, a self-described "United States official" gave a background briefing to select UN correspondents about the achievements of the U.S. at the UN in 2009, and its priorities for 2010. In the half an hour session, there was no mention of the word "Darfur," or even Sudan or any country in sub-Saharan Africa. Were the region's problems all solved in 2009, or are achievements hard to come by?

The US official emphasized two 2010 priorities -- Iran and Haiti -- and spoke proudly of President Barack Obama's day presiding over the UN Security Council. The official argued, when asked, that recent criticism of the Administration's performance at the UN in 2009 came only from those who do not like engagement or the year's achievements.

The Save Darfur Coalition, following President Obama's State of the Union speech last month, issued a press release expressing disappointment that Darfur had not been mentioned, contrary they said to the Obama campaign's statements before getting elected.

This is not merely word- or bean-counting. The trend of speaking less about Darfur has extended from the US Mission to the United Nations itself, as Inner City Press has reported on, here. In context, the US official's failure to mention Darfur even in opening remarks to UN correspondents was surprising, news and note-worthy.

NGOs like the Enough Project and Global Witness speak about the impact on civilians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and elsewhere from the unregulated exploitation of natural resources, by rebel groups and even units recently integrated into the Army with which the UN Mission, MONUC, works.

The US official, in half an hour including 11 questions, did not mention the Congo, or resource exploitation. Nor were Asian human rights issues like Myanmar and the war crimes in Sri Lanka mentioned.

During 2009, Sri Lanka was blocked from the Council's agenda by China and Russia, which just lent Sri Lanka $300 million to buy more weapons. At the UN, the US said very little about this as tens of thousands of Sri Lankan civilians were killed in 2009. And Monday it was not mentioned by the US official.

While the US Mission controls who to invite and who to call on, after the session a rosy reporter who was called on agreed that no sub Saharan Africa issue was mentioned, but blamed it equally on the press corp. Only Western Sahara and Polisario were raised, he said. Not Sudan, nor the Congo, Zimbabwe or even Somalia.

Others, including Inner City Press, noticed the lack of claims, much less questions, about trying to root out corruption and mismanagement and abuse in the UN. The US used to be the only country doing this, and now it has stopped.

For example, the head of the UN's mission in the Congo, Alan Doss, has supposedly been getting investigated for eight months now about a six line e-mail in which he asked the UN Development Program to "show leeway" and give his daughter a job. No accountability, and not a word from the US Mission.

Likewise a recent decision harshly criticizing the performance of another UN Under Secretary General, Shaaban Shaaban. The UN's own Dispute Tribunal has ordered the UN to pay $20,000 -- perhaps by Shaaban personally -- but the Ban Ki-moon administration has simply said it will appeal. No word from the US Mission.

The US official said that the new team doesn't disagree just for the sake of disagreeing. But on issues ranging from Darfur to anti-corruption in the UN, what were the accomplishments or even attempts in 2009? Contrary to what the US official said, the critique is not only from the right. The seeming lack of focus, and more importantly accomplishment, on Darfur, Congo and Somalia, is a concern that is growing from the Left as well. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1usofficial020810.html

As Sri Lanka Arrests Fonseca, Censors War Crimes and Calls Nambiar, UN and Ban Ki-moon Stay Quiet

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/lanka1dpaban020810.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 8 -- Even after the Rajapaksa administration in Sri Lanka confirmed arresting its top electoral rival Sarath Fonseca, at the UN in New York Secretary General Ban Ki-moon through his spokesman had nothing directly to say about it.

Inner City Press asked about the arrest, about statements by presidential brother and Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa that "there will be no UN investigation, and about who is handling Sri Lanka for Mr. Ban. Video here, from Minute 44:04.

Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky said the UN is "aware of news reports" of the arrest but cannot confirm them. Perhaps the government's confirmation of the arrest didn't reach the UN.

Nesirky reiterated a previous canned statement, that Ban calls on "all parties and their supporters" to "avoid provocative acts" including in "post electoral stages."

Inner City Press asked if the arrest of the main opposition candidate, for having spoken publically about war crimes -- specifically by the president's brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa -- would constitute a provocative act, in Ban's view. Video here, from Minute 46:23.

"You've heard what I've said," Nesirky responded. He has also said that Ban is considering making appointments to lead to an independent investigation of war crimes in Sri Lanka.

Last week, in another context, Ban said he calls for credible domestic investigations or if not, by implication, outside international investigation as was done in Guinea. But with Gotabaya Rajapaksa rejecting any investigation, what is Ban waiting for, if he meant what he and his spokesman have been saying?

Nesirky also said he was unaware of a telephone call from Sri Lanka's foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama, asking to speak to Mr. Ban to cancel the press conference by UN Special Rapporteur on Summary Executions Philip Alston.

(Inner City Press wrote about the call on February 4, here. As an aside, we note that Children and Armed Conflict UN envoy Patrick Cammaert has not help the expected press conference open his return from Sri Lanka in December, until now.)

The call was re-routed to Ban's chief of staff, Vijay Nambiar, about whose objectivity many in the Tamil diaspora, and in Sri Lanka, have raised questions, including but not only in light of Nambiar's brother Satish's op-ed praising the conduct of the military assault on northern Sri Lanka. There are more subtle questions about the stated and unstated policies of India and other regional powers.

Nesirky said that the UN's Department of Political Affairs "has people looking closely at Sri Lanka," as does the "S-G's team." But are they not aware of the perception about Mr. Nambiar's objectivity? Or do they just not care?

This is not just a matter of keeping up with the news from Sri Lanka: when Ban Ki-moon was picketed and protested in midtown Manhattan while receiving a humanitarian award, placards spoke directly to this Nambiar(s) question. Ban skirted the protesters and their signs on the way in and out of the ceremony. But mightn't these "looking closely" staffers have taken a look?

About this referred call, Nesirky said, "I can find out." We'll have more on this. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/lanka1dpaban020810.html

As Haitians Protest Aid Blockage, Corruption, UN Calls It Political, Murky Land Deals

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/haiti2undp020810.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 8 -- A protest of "hundred of Haitian" women in Petionville on Sunday was characterized on Monday as merely political by the UN's humanitarian coordinator Kim Bolduc.

Inner City Press asked Ms. Bolduc about the protesters, who accused Petionville's Deputy Mayor of hoarding aid so it didn't reach those most in need. Inner City Press asked, does the UN have any response?

Ms. Bolduc said, contrary to Reuters, that there was "no disturbance reported there." Video here, from Minute 23:08. She went on to say that the UN "cannot avoid conflicts" between "groups in power."

She appeared then to in fact be aware of the protest, recounting that a "group of political parties... told people they could ask for more."

Given how much the UN speak of the needs of the poor, while asking for money, it would seem that the UN should listen, and not dismiss, protests by the poor saying, we are not getting enough food.

But the UN, as a club of governments, is most committed to always working through governments. So when a government, even a local one like in Petionville, is protested, some in the UN automatically side with the government. So much for the Millennium Development goals....

Inner City Press also asked Ms. Bolduc about reports that private land owners are getting side commitments for money in exchange for land to shelter and house the displaced, that the UN is involved in. Ms. Bolduc had said no money was changing hands, then told Inner City Press that of course rent would be asked for. Finally, she said that landlords were being "negotiated" with to give or lend for free their land. What's to negotiate, then? We'll have more on this.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/haiti2undp020810.html

As UN Heads to N. Korea, Tale of Two Swedes for Envoy, Kim Jong Il Intrigue Grows

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/unban3korea020710.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 7 -- As the UN's four person team approaches North Korea, sources tell Inner City Press that they will be proposing a UN special envoy. The last was Maurice Strong, until allegations of corruption removed him from the post.

"Swedish," say most sources. Sweden's current Ambassador to Pyongyang, since 2005 and certainly ready for a change, is Mats Foyer. His embassy represents U.S. interests in North Korea, so some might think it strange for him to assume a UN role.

Foyer's predecessor as Swedish Ambassador in Pyongyang, from 2001-2005, was Paul Beijer, currently Swedish Ambassador in Bulgaria. He served as a senior advisor to the Swedish foreign ministry on DPRK issues from 2005 to 2008.

Beijer's views may be gleaned from the following Q & A:

Q: You have served as the Special Advisor to the Swedish Government on Korean Peninsula Issues and as Swedish Ambassador to the DPRK in Pyongyang. What do you think is the best course of action for the international community, and the EU in particular, in the recent crises with the North Korean weapon tests?

Beijer: The DPRK has chosen a path of economic, political and cultural isolation for a very long time. This makes it less susceptible than most countries to the measures in our "toolbox" for international relations. I therefore don't believe there is a "quick fix" to the North Korean nuclear issue.

To leave the DPRK in continued isolation, would, in my personal opinion, not lead to constructive results. Patient diplomacy, dialogue and exchanges holds out the best hope for greater stability and perhaps a resolution to the nuclear issue in the longer run. That being said, I realize that in this age of short political time horizons this is not an easy course for the international community to stick to for a protracted period of time. The Six-Party talks were, and are, a good way to impart an element of long-term stability to a negotiated resolution of the nuclear crisis. These talks should continue.

The EU is contributing very constructively to that process by supporting it, and at the same time not insisting on a seat at the negotiating table. A seven-party process would, for purely practical reasons, be more cumbersome and less likely to lead to a good result.

Like any other effort, the Six-Party process in the end requires North Korea to perceive that it is in its own interest to reach a result. So far, I'm sorry to say, that does not seem to be the case. But the DPRK's own situation is not static, and patience is therefore required on the part of the international community. We too must be able to play a waiting game.

Other sources, though, say that Ban Ki-moon and his most special advisor Kim Won-soo just might propose a South Korean. It would seem to be a conflict, but if Kim Jong-Il accepts, it would be a coup. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unban3korea020710.html

At UN, Kazakh Official Praises Nazarbaev Authority in Karabakh, Dodges on Free Press

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un1kazakh020510.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 5 -- When Kazakhstan's foreign minister Kanat Saudabayev took three questions from the Press in front of the UN Security Council stakeout on February 5, lack of media freedom was unaddressed while the leader Nursultan Nazarbaev was extolled. There was even an echo of Borat.

The UN Charter requires the Security Council to work with regional organizations. The OSCE, of which Kazakhstan took from Greece the chairmanship in January, is one such organization, involved in a number of frozen conflicts on which the UN cannot act, observing elections as the UN says it cannot do, most recently in Sri Lanka.

Inner City Press asked Minister Saudabayev two questions, but got only one answered. Using his February 15 trip to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia as the hook, Inner City Press asked what Kazakhstan planned to do about Nagorno-Karabakh -- and then, to respond to questions raised about media freedom in Kazakhstan, in connection with its OSCE role. Video here, from Minute 9:43.

Through a translator -- more on him in a moment -- Saudabayev said that there are things in Kazakhstan's favor, in tacking Nagorno Karabakh: president Nursultan Nazarbaev "has high authority with participating parties." Saudabayev walked away without answering.

Inner City Press asked his translator the media freedom questions. He didn't answer that, but spoke about Evgeniy Zhovtis, saying that he's been a human rights lawyer in Kazakhstan for years without incident, but when he "ran over a pedestrian," all bets were off.

It is not political, the translator insisted, contrary to Human Rights Watch. They say

"Ramazan Yesergepov, editor of the newspaper Alma-Ata Info, was sentenced to three years in prison on August 8, for disclosing state secrets, after the newspaper published an article making corruption allegations against local authorities based on classified documents. In June, the independent Almaty weekly Taszhargan had to cease publishing after an appellate court upheld a prior decision awarding Romin Madinov, a member of parliament, 3 million tenge (about US$20,000) in "moral damages" for an article alleging that Madinov's business interests benefited from his legislative work. In September, an Almaty court ordered the weekly Respublika to pay 60 million tenge (about $400,000) in "moral damages" to the BTA Bank, which had sued the newspaper after a March article discussing the bank's possible bankruptcy allegedly cost the bank the equivalent of $45 million in deposits. The appeal is still pending, but the newspaper is not able to pay the fine and will cease publishing if the decision is upheld.

"The government could have easily shown its commitment to freedom of expression by not adopting the July amendments, which were sharply criticized by the OSCE. It also could have established a cap on civil defamation penalties and ensured that investigative journalists like Yesergepov are not unjustly subject to criminal prosecution."

The translator was Roman Vassilenko, previously the spokesman at Kazakhstan's Embassy in Washington. In that capacity, when comedian Sasha Baron Cohen of Borat fame came to the embassy, cameras in tow, Vassilenko had to deal with him. Now he is translating at the UN in New York for the foreign minister, accompanied by a coterie of pro-government Kazakh press.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1kazakh020510.html

Ban Ki-moon's Nesirky Claims UN Pension Fund Not Part of UN, No Answers on Africa as Even Questions Are Restricted

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/ossg2nesmirky020510.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 5 -- "I don't think that's question that I need to answer," UN Spokesman Martin Nesirky told the Press on February 5. Inner City Press had asked about a UN Administrative Tribunal decision in favor of former Secretary General Kofi Annan, reversing the UN Pension Fund and awarded Annan two pensions, as a staff member and as Secretary General. (Click here for Inner City Press' February 4 exclusive report and link.)

"That sounds like something for the Pension Fund to answer, not me," Nesirky said, in what is becoming a trend two months into Nesirky's tenure. Inner City Press explained that the Pension Fund claims its building on Second Avenue is not open to the UN press corps.

"You've just answered your own question," Nesirky said. "It's not part of the UN system." Video here, from Minute 14:42.

Since it decidedly is -- it has the UN's immunity and Nesirky's boss Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for example names a representative, currently Warren Sach -- Inner City Press asked Nesirky to repeat and explain, "the UN Pension Fund is not a part of the UN system?"

Then Nesirky claimed that is not "a question I need to answer."

So what or whose questions does UN spokesman Nesirky acknowledge that he "needs to answer"? Also on February 5, Inner City Press asked straight forward questions about Darfur, for the UN's response to widely reported fighting between rebel groups displacing 10,000 people in an area in which the UN is charged with protecting civilians. Nesirky said only, "Let me find out." Video here, from Minute 14:17.

When Inner City Press asked about UN training of ex-rebels in Nigeria's restive Niger Delta, Nesirky demanded to know how the article in the Guardian newspaper of Nigeria was sourced, what UN official was named. Video here, from Minute 27:23. Inner City Press provided the information, in response to which Nesirky again said, let's find out. Yeah, let's.

This was the approach of Nesirky's predecessor Michele Montas, to answer less than half of the questions posed. But even she rarely said, only one more question, or, no more questions for you, as Nesirky increasingly does. At first, Nesirky said he would answer all questions, putting them on a list until they were answered. (Click here for Inner City Press' first month review of "NeSmirky"). But repeated questions at the noon briefing about Somalia have yet to be answered.

Questions put to him in writing about nepotism reaching to the highest levels of the UN have been entirely ignored. In response to a nepotism question about Ivory Coast, he outsourced answering to the UN Mission there, which provided an intentionally misleading answer. Nesirky, even when shown the answer and then a contradicting acknowledgement, had nothing to say.

Apparently that too is "not a question I need to answer," according to Mr. Nesirky. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ossg2nesmirky020510.html

Sri Lanka Lobbies at UN To Be De-Listed Despite Child Soldiers Recruited, Others Barred from School, Lanka's Inside Man

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
www.innercitypress.com/lanka1caac020410.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 4 -- Two months after the UN sent retired Major General Patrick Cammaert to Sri Lanka, his report on Children and Armed Conflict in the country was presented to that sub-committee of the UN Security Council, in a closed meeting in the UN's basement.

The report, a copy of which Inner City Press obtained and exclusively puts online here, notes among other things the re-recruitment of children by a "commander named Iniya Barrathi who was part of the TMVP breakaway faction under Karuna's leadership." Cammaert recommends that that government take action.

But in the meeting, a move was afoot to "de-list" Sri Lanka, from its one connection to the UN Security Council. During the bloodbath on the beach in 2009, despite tens of thousands of cilivians killed, Sri Lanka was never put on the Council's main agenda. A few meetings were held, informally, in the basement.

Children and Armed Conflict, a committee of the Security Council, retained Sri Lanka on its list. It was in this context that Cammaert belatedly went to the country. His report also calls for wider accountability and investigations. But even the UN's Ban Ki-moon, who visited Sri Lanka in May for what many called a "victory tour," has not called for or begun any investigation.

The report has other examples of children still impacted. Cammaert writes of a "visit to the Poonthotam primary school [in Vavuniya]. Half of the classrooms are currently being occupied by the Sri Lank Army (SLA) to host adult surrenderees, disrupting the education of more than half the student population."

With all this unaddressed, Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the UN Palitha Kohona was seen on February 4. He spoke to BBC, he was congratulated in the closed door meeting on Children and Armed Conflict. While he has been missing from the UN in New York for some time, he was still working, calling Ban Ki-moon's chief of staff Vijay Nambiar to try to get canceled a press conference on Sri Lanka by UN Special Rapporteur on Executions Philip Alston.

Ban later distanced himself from Alston and his call that Ban start an investigation. Why cancel the Children and Armed Conflict meeting, if it was to be a venue for celebrating the bloodbath on the beach and lobbying to de-list Sri Lanka from this last UN list? Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/lanka1caac020410.html

As Kofi Annan Wins a Double UN Pension, a Roberta Annan at UNDP

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, February 4 -- Former Secretary General Kofi Annan's fight to receive two pension from the UN has been decided in his favor, in a so far unreported ruling that reversed the embattled chief of the UN Pension Fund, Bernard Cocheme.

The UN Administrative Tribunal's Judgment Number 1495, which Inner City Press has obtained and is putting online here, deals with the narrow question of whether the Pension Fund correctly determined that former S-G Annan should not receive the full pension benefits he believes should be afforded to him.

In his filings before the Tribunal, Annan argued that his understanding of the word "suspended" to mean deferred until a later time. But the Pension Fund argued that the word "suspended" meant that Annan "agreed to forfeit his pension benefits during the period he served as Secretary-General."

The judgment explains that Mr. Annan's case represented an "unprecedented situation for the UNJSPF" in that Annan "was the first UN staff member in the history of the Organization to be elected to this high office."

Despite the seeming double-dipping, Annan is found be eligible to receive both his full pension benefits as a result of his career as a UN staffer, in addition to those benefits provided to a former Secretary-General. (And see Footnote Analysis, below).

The judgment raises a question, in the wake of the UN Justice System's other recent judgment, exclusively reported by Inner City Press, which strongly criticized the current DGACM boss Shaaban M. Shaaban. That decision portends a future decision on whether Shaaban should be held personally accountable for the payment of $20,000 in "compensatory damages" to a DGACM jobseeker. On February 3, Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky quietly announced that Ban would appeal the Tribunal's decision, but failed to explain on what basis Judge Adams had erred in his decision.

Nesirky answered Inner City Press' February 3 question by inserting into the "Briefing Highlights" that the UN would appeal. This was not put in the transcript, nor apparently was it conveyed to Inner City Press.

Nevertheless, when Inner City Press on February 4 asked Nesirky about it, he said, you have your answer. But on what basis is Ban appealing? You have your answer, Nesirky said.

Article 12 of the Statute of the UN Administrative Tribunal allows either party to submit a request for revision or correction of judgment. A question is: Will Ban try to request a "revision" or "correction of judgment" in this case?

Speaking of Annan(s), Inner City Press was told by a whistleblower that a relative, Roberta Annan, was given a consultant's contract by UNDP / the Global Environment Fund. Inner City Press asked, and received multiple denials. For example, wehlers [at] thegef.org replied, "we have no employee by the name of Annan."

Inner City Press returned to its sources, and told UNDP the name of the person under whom Roberta Annan was working: Julia Wolf. Then this admission / denial:

Subject: answers
From: Stephane Dujarric at undp.org
To: Inner City Press

Matthew, On Roberta Annan:

There is in fact a "Roberta Annan" working as a UNOPS consultant on a UNDP project on climate change adaptation funded by the GEF. She was hired through a competitive process and her supervisors very much value her work. As for her supposed relationship with Kofi Annan, she has no direct relations with the former Secretary-General and does not know him personally.

Stephane Dujarric
Director of Communications
UN Development Programme

Inner City Press asked , "I want to understand your Roberta Annan answer:

"As for her supposed relationship with Kofi Annan, she has no direct relations with the former Secretary-General and does not know him personally."

As I asked, what IS the family relationship?

"There is in fact a "Roberta Annan" working as a UNOPS consultant on a UNDP project on climate change adaptation funded by the GEF. "

What does the project consist of? Is she based in New York? Why is there a UNOPS consultant on a UNDP project funded by GEF? -- why didn't UNDP hire its own consultant? Please explain.

"She was hired through a competitive process and her supervisors very much value her work."

Please describe the competitive process (by UNOPS?) to hire this consultant: how many applied, how advertised, how many interviewed, etc. Thanks

To which the only reply was

The project in question is www.adaptationlearning.net . You can all the information you need there. As the project is a multi-agency project, there is nothing surprising to find a UNOPS person working there. As I said previously, she was recruited through the usual competitive process.

Regarding Roberta, I really have nothing else to add except to say that she does not know Mr. Annan personally and has no direct family link with Mr. Annan. I am not in the habit and will not start to ask staff about their family genealogy going back several generations.

Again, feel free to publish my response in full.

Watch this site.

Footnote analysis: a long time UN Pension Fund insider whom Inner City Press respects has this analysis of the Annan decision:

1. Irony that UNAT closes its door with what, most likely, will ne the most famous case in its history - 60 years?.

2. it proves what Inner City Press has been saying about Pension Fund: incompetent because has a management gone wild without control.

3. The Pension Board allows Cocheme to manage incompetently or use the Fund to harm or favor people, as they did with staff and consultants.

4. The UN as a whole allows Cocheme to do the wildest things.

5. This time he was stopped.

6. How can Cocheme say that Kofi Annan is not entitled to his pension when the Regulations says that he is? How can he say that they cut he voluntarily agreed to forfeit his pension when the PF Regulations DO NOT ALLOW it. [This part is not clear in the Judgement 1495], but I know it.

7. Where is the Pension Board oversight?

8. Conclusion: the Board that was mislead by Cocheme has the obligation to ask him to resign.

Time will tell. And see, www.innercitypress.com/unpf1annans020410.html