UN's Nambiar Makes No Comment on Myanmar Crackdown on Free Speech & AIDS Patients

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 27 -- Twenty four hours after UN Headquarters in New York refused to confirm that envoy Vijay Nambiar would be visiting Myanmar, Nambiar had already posed for pictures with Aung San Suu Kyi. He had not, however, issued any comment on a new law signed as he arrived by Than Shwe, which criminalizes any speech by new parliamentarians that may “endanger national security, the unity of the country or violate the constitution.”

Nor had Nambiar commented on reports of a Yangon center for patients with HIV/AIDS being harassed by the military government merely because Aung San Suu Kyi had visited it.

On November 26 in lieu of the UN's usually noon briefing, which was canceled, Inner City Press asked among other questions for Haq to “please confirm or deny that Vijay Nambiar is going to Myanmar this weekend, and unless deny, please state his program of work. Separately, please respond to the criticism 'Win Tin expressed extreme disappointment that Ban’s 2010 report to the UN General Assembly on Burma’s human rights situation failed to seriously address violations against ethnic minorities.'”

Haq replied, “I don't have a confirmation concerning Mr Nambiar. I can tell you that we are still working out a program for the Special Adviser. I have no comment on the SG's human rights report, which speaks for itself.”

While never updating this, report indicate that Nambiar would like to visit Than Shwe in his jungle capital. There is no indication that he will meet with the ethnic groups most targeted by the government.

Al Jazeera, to which Nambiar granted his one and so far only interview about his role in the “white flag” killings in Sri Lanka had this to say about Nambiar: “He is a former Indian ambassador to China and is believed to have a good relationship with Beijing, a key ally of the Myanmar government.”

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's “human rights” report also did not even mention the recommendation by the UN's Special Rapporteur that Ban set up an international panel of inquiry into war crimes in Myanmar.

In a November 22 speech at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, Ban bragged that

“Two years ago, when Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar, the government was initially reluctant to open its door to international relief. It was impossible, for me, to stand by and see politics get in the way of saving lives. We pressed the government quite hard. Eventually we got a breakthrough. Aid began to flow. Many thousands of lives were saved. We did the same in Darfur.”

There are skeptics as to both statements, on Myanmar and Darfur. Watch this site.

Disbanding in Ludlow Street Basement, Palmyra Leaves Mark, Economy Be Damned

By Matthew Russell Lee

NEW YORK, November 26 -- In the Cake Shop basement on Ludlow Street, the quintet Palmyra played what have been been its last show. The band's lead singer Gina Pensiero is headed to LA. Between song she asked the crowd for its advice. “Don't go!” was the reply.

“Something constructive,” she retorted. As she sang of Michigan, her father was in the front row. The trumpet player Kenny Roebuck put on his mute, twanged his background lyrics. The bass and drums Largo brothers put a happy face on things, the former on Korg synthesizer. Guitarist Karl Sturk hawked the band's five song cassette tape: $5 dollars each, and they'd only made 25 copies. Given this economy, no wonder Gina's headed west.

The songs were heartfelt, authentic, necessary. (Click here for their MySpace space). But with Gina headed West, what will become of Palmyra? Upstairs in the Cake Shop, a Friday night crowd thronged, and apricot beer from Ithaca was sold. Surely there are other bands. But not another Palmyra.

Palmyra on Nov. 26, drummer not shown, but heard (c) MRLee

Before, however, there was a pigtailed Korg keyboard singer named Heather Duby. She too sounded earnest, with Tommy Yunish on electric guitar behind. When finally her lyrics were heard, they were about being unfaithful. She is not leaving New York, and she pitched her Facebook page. (Here's her MySpace.) Could she be Palmyra's vocalist? It's worth at least a try, before the boys disband.

Footnote: a longer shot for Gina's replacement would be the plaid shirted leader of the Heliotropes, who played the Matchless Bar in Greenpoint last summer. Click here for that - the advice is (too) freely given.

As UN Leaves Central African Town of Birao, Rebels Oust Civilians, UN Has No Answers

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 26, updated below -- When Chad make it clear it wanted the UN's MINURCAT peacekeeping mission to leave its territory by November 30, there was some discussion of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations maintaining some of the Central African Republic presence of the MINURCAT force.

“It would have to be re-named,” Inner City Press was told. It was never down, and the UN peacekeepers turned over the town of Birao to the Central African Republic armed forces (FACA) two weeks early, on November 15.

Days later, the town fell to rebels of the Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace, with numerous soldiers killed and civilians chased out of town and into the bush.

On the morning of November 26, Inner City Press on deadline was the Office of the Spokesperson for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (OSSG) these questions:

“does the UN acknowledge that its November 15 handoff of Birao in CAR led quickly to a rebel takeover? How many have been displaced? What advance planning did the UN do? What is being done now?”

The OSSG had decided to cancel its normal noon press briefing on November 26, a UN work day, but said that it would answer questions. But as 6 pm passed in New York City and the UN grew dark, no answer at all had been provided to the above questions.

The CAR is one of the most neglected countries in the world, now by the UN as well.

UN Won't Confirm Myanmar Visit by Nambiar, Says Rights Report Speaks for Self

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 26 -- Even with the Than Shwe government saying publicly that UN official Vijay Nambiar, the chief of staff to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, is going this weekend to Myanmar, in New York on Friday Ban's spokesman Farhan Haq declined to confirm the trip.

In lieu of the UN's usually noon briefing, which was canceled, Inner City Press asked among other questions for Haq to “please confirm or deny that Vijay Nambiar is going to Myanmar this weekend, and unless deny, please state his program of work. Separately, please respond to the criticism 'Win Tin expressed extreme disappointment that Ban’s 2010 report to the UN General Assembly on Burma’s human rights situation failed to seriously address violations against ethnic minorities.'”

Haq replied, “I don't have a confirmation concerning Mr Nambiar. I can tell you that we are still working out a program for the Special Adviser. I have no comment on the SG's human rights report, which speaks for itself.”

Ban's “human rights” report also did not even mention the recommendation by the UN's Special Rapporteur that Ban set up an international panel of inquiry into war crimes in Myanmar.

In a November 22 speech at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, Ban bragged that

“Two years ago, when Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar, the government was initially reluctant to open its door to international relief. It was impossible, for me, to stand by and see politics get in the way of saving lives. We pressed the government quite hard. Eventually we got a breakthrough. Aid began to flow. Many thousands of lives were saved. We did the same in Darfur.”

There are skeptics as to both statements, on Myanmar and Darfur. Watch this site.

On S. Sudan Vote & Ban's Panel, UN Dodges Questions of Payment, Diaspora Visits

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 26 -- With questions mounting about the registration process for the Southern Sudan secession referendum scheduled for January 9, the UN is withholding basic information about the Panel to which Secretary General Ban Ki-moon “outsourced” key parts of the UN's role.

At media briefings by Ban's spokesperson, Inner City Press has asked about how the Panel is funded, which registration sites they have visited in the United States, Canada, Ethiopia and Kenya, and whether they are implicitly trying to blame the SPML for under-registration of Southern Sudanese in the Northern part of the country and/or in the eight “diapora” countries in which polling would be held.

UN acting Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq has declined to answer many of these questions, referring instead to a separate spokesperson's office set up for the panel. While Inner City Press has sent this “outsourced” office two recent rounds of questions, only one has been answered, and then only partially.

This seems to be a pattern at the UN -- to name a Panel and then refuse to answer questions about the subject matter outsourced to the Panel.

Left unanswered for example is when the registration site in four of the diaspora countries -- Australia, Egypt, Uganda and the United Kingdom -- will be visited and by whom, how much Panel chair Benjamin Mkapa has been paid and by whom, and what he meant when he blamed “some Southerners” for blocking registration in the North of Southern Sudanese.

Herebelow in order are Inner City Press' two rounds of question, both of which were copied to Ban Ki-moon's two top spokespeople without response, the UN Panel spokesman's partial response to the first round, and the second round un-responded to for more than 24 hours:

Hi. I would like responses on deadline to the following questions, as well as those I asked at the OSSG's noon briefings on November 22 and November 19:

How many people work for the Panel?

How much has thus far been paid to these people and to each of the three Panelists?

How much of this has come from the Basket Fund, and how much through UNMIS?

What is the status for each donor or pledger to the Basket Fund?

As asked November 19, has a vote by the Basket Fund group been taken regarding funding the Panel? If not, why not?

How much has been paid from the Basket Fund (or UNMIS) to IOM?

In which of the eight diaspora states have registration sites actually been visited?

Please provide updated registration figures or estimates for each diaspora country, as well as the number and location of registration (and polling) sites in each.

As asked November 22, on the statement “made from the Secretary-General’s Panel on the referendum. There seems to be a lot of controversy about the low numbers of Southern registrants in the North. Some people are putting the number as low as 9,000. So it seemed like, in your statement, you are saying some Southerners are encouraging other Southerners — I just want to understand, because the SPLM [Sudan People’s Liberation Movement] blames it all on Khartoum.”

When the Panel chair referred to “a campaign by some Southern leaders to encourage people not to register and vote outside Southern Sudan” was he referring to any SPLM role or not?

Separately, why is there no Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General briefing on November 26?

These were partially responded to by the Panel's spokesman:

Matthew, The Panel will have 38 staff when it reaches full deployment, which is expected by the end of this month. They are paid regular salaries just like any other UN staff members.

Any questions about the basket fund should be directed to UNDP.

Registration sites have been visited in Canada, Ethiopia, Kenya and the United States. Staff are about to visit sites in Australia, Egypt, Uganda and the United Kingdom as well.

IOM is conducting registration in the diaspora countries, so it will have the figures on the number of people registering and the number of sites. The Southern Sudan Referendum Commission will have the equivalent information for within Sudan.

The Panel chair was referring to Southern leaders and not to any specific SPLM role.

This response openly evaded the question for example of how much Benjamin Mkapa has been paid, as well as declining to answer questions about the Basket Fund to which the spokesman, and the Office of the Spokesman for Ban Ki-moon, has repeatedly made reference. And so these follow ups were submitted more than 24 hours ago to both UN offices:

Thanks but I again ask, with emphasis: How much has thus far been paid to each of the three Panelists? What you sent implies that they are “like any other UN staff members.” Are the three Panelists paid “When Actually Employed”? When have they so far been actually employed? How much have they been paid and by / through which mechanism: UNMIS or Basket Fund?

Please specify (with address) the registration sites the Panel has already visited in Canada, Ethiopia, Kenya and the United States, and will visit in Australia, Egypt, Uganda and the United Kingdom including date and who visit(ed).

And I am still asking for your (and OSSG/UNMIS) response or update on para 14 ofUnited Nations A/65/571 of 12 November 2010, Financing arrangements for the United Nations Mission in the Sudan for the period from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011, Report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions

“14. Concerning the requirements for the Secretary-General’s Panel, the Committee noted that, in paragraph 78 of his report to the Security Council on the Sudan (S/2010/528), the Secretary-General had indicated that it was expected that UNDP would contribute an amount of $0.9 million. Upon enquiry, the Committee was informed that the provision of those funds was uncertain, as the UNDP project documents for the referenda in the Sudan did not include the activities of the Panel and it would, therefore, require a decision by the basket fund steering committee. As such, no immediate disbursements could be made to facilitate the deployment of Panel support staff. The Committee was informed that should UNDP succeed in mobilizing resources for supporting the Panel, reimbursement to UNMIS would be made. The Advisory Committee is of the view that the Mission should continue to pursue this issue with UNDP and requests that further information on the status of the contribution be included in the context of the performance report.”

What is the status? What has UNMIS / DPKO / the Secretariat done? On deadline, thanks.

And after 24 hours and counting, no answer at all. Watch this site.

From the UN's November 22 transcript:

Inner City Press: I want to ask about Sudan on the statement that you made from the Secretary-General’s Panel on the referendum. There seems to be a lot of controversy about the low numbers of Southern registrants in the North. Some people are putting the number as low as 9,000. So it seemed like, in your statement, you are saying some Southerners are encouraging other Southerners — I just want to understand, because the SPLM [Sudan People’s Liberation Movement] blames it all on Khartoum.

Acting Deputy Spokesperson Haq: Well, that was just a summary of a press conference that President Mkapa held in Khartoum, and I’d just refer you to the transcript of that. We have that available in our office.

Inner City Press: And does the Secretary-General’s Panel have any role in overseeing these sites, these eight Diaspora voting sites in Africa, the United States, Australia? Are they going to visit any of those sites? And there is some controversy now about the IOM [International Organization for Migration] role in it. It’s not exactly clear to me who is funding the IOM for that work, but what is the Panel’s role on these other sites?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: No, you can check with the Panel itself about the sites. It’s looking at the whole referenda process, which includes sites for Southerners to vote in the North.

Inner City Press: But isn’t his Panel — I have had some problem in the past getting responses from the Panel, so I just wanted to know, it’s the Secretary-General, he set up the terms of reference, it’s his delegated Panel, right?

On Sudan, UN Won't Confirm Darfur Conflict or Panel's Diaspora Work, Outsourced by Ban Ki-moon

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 24 -- On Sudan, the UN is either negligent or deceptive or both. Repeatedly this month Inner City Press has asked the UN to confirm or deny reports by rebel groups in Darfur of government attacks and bombings.

Acting Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq has said he will look into it, or that Ibrahim “Gambari is in Darfur,” or on November 24, that UNAMID's report of its daily activities doesn't mention the bombings, so they are not confirmed. Video here, from Minute 8:25.

But UNAMID's daily reports are full of happy talk, about the number of patrols conducted. They never mentioned that UNAMID had not visited much less protected civilians for months in Jebel Marra.

On November 24, Inner City Press asked Haq if Gambari or mediator Djibril Bassole have any comment on the break with Khartoum by Minni Minnawi, the lone Darfur rebel who signed a deal with Omar al Bashir. No, there was no comment.

Ban Ki-moon on November 22 said he had made Darfur his major priority. Now there are no answers, no comments, no monitoring, nothing.

On November 22, Inner City Press asked whether the panel named by Ban Ki-moon has jurisdiction over, and anything to say about, the polling sites outside of Sudan for the South Sudanese diaspora.

Haq declined to answer, saying to ask the panel's spokesperson. But isn't it Ban Ki-moon's own panel? Can one outsource supposed concern? Ban's spokesperson's office canceled its noon briefing on November 26.

From the UN's November 22 transcript:

Inner City Press: I want to ask about Sudan on the statement that you made from the Secretary-General’s Panel on the referendum. There seems to be a lot of controversy about the low numbers of Southern registrants in the North. Some people are putting the number as low as 9,000. So it seemed like, in your statement, you are saying some Southerners are encouraging other Southerners — I just want to understand, because the SPLM [Sudan People’s Liberation Movement] blames it all on Khartoum.

Acting Deputy Spokesperson Haq: Well, that was just a summary of a press conference that President Mkapa held in Khartoum, and I’d just refer you to the transcript of that. We have that available in our office.

Inner City Press: And does the Secretary-General’s Panel have any role in overseeing these sites, these eight Diaspora voting sites in Africa, the United States, Australia? Are they going to visit any of those sites? And there is some controversy now about the IOM [International Organization for Migration] role in it. It’s not exactly clear to me who is funding the IOM for that work, but what is the Panel’s role on these other sites?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: No, you can check with the Panel itself about the sites. It’s looking at the whole referenda process, which includes sites for Southerners to vote in the North.

Inner City Press: But isn’t his Panel — I have had some problem in the past getting responses from the Panel, so I just wanted to know, it’s the Secretary-General, he set up the terms of reference, it’s his delegated Panel, right?

From the UN's November 24 transcript:

Inner City Press: on Sudan, there are also reports again in Darfur of fighting between the SLA [Sudanese Liberation Army] and the Government in [inaudible] in Darfur. And I wanted to… yesterday, this is now, there are four separate allegations, some by JEM [Justice and Equality Movement], some by SLA, of fighting with the Government. And I am just wondering there hasn’t been either a confirmation or denial by UNAMID [African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur]. Is UNAMID aware of this report and what does it say about these now mounting reports of escalating fighting in Darfur?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson Haq: Well, we’ve received different information from UNAMID about their daily activities; it does not include a confirmation of this particular burst of fighting.

Inner City Press: On the previous ones that have… of the report by JEM of a week’s worth of bombing in the Jebel Marra area, is that something that the UN, UNAMID, has tried to figure out if it’s taking place or…?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: Well, with UNAMID’s mandate, they try to monitor any violations of the agreements on the ground. But they do not — they have not provided a confirmation on this.

Inner City Press: And now that Minni Minawi, who previously had been on board with the National Congress Party, has now come out and said that the National Congress Party has violated the Darfur Peace Agreement and is basically, I am just wondering, this seems like a major development, in that the one peace agreement in Darfur is falling apart, or at least the leader of Minni Minawi’s faction is saying that it’s falling apart. What’s UNAMID’s or Mr. [Djibril] Bassolé’s response to that?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: I don’t believe that he has responded to the particular comments of any precise party. If he does have a comment on what Minni Minawi has said, we will share it.

Ban's spokesperson's office canceled its noon briefing on November 26, and has now been asked "why?" Watch this site.

At UN, No Action on Korea Shootout, Security Council Theater, Questions Banned

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 24 -- The shootout in Korea reverberated throughout Wednesday outside the UN Security Council, while within the Council nothing was done about the showdown.

The Council had two meetings, in the morning on the Congo and at 4 pm about Ivory Coast. The stakeout was full of reporters from Japanese media, who burst into action to chase a mid level North Korean diplomat to no avail.

In the morning the Permanent Representative of South Korea entered the Council's chambers. He did not go into the consultations, however, but only to meet with UK Deputy Permanent Represent Philip Parham. On his way out, he refused to answer any questions.

After the morning's meeting, Susan Rice of the US stayed inside talking with UK Permanent Representative Mark Lyall Grant, after Russia's Vitaly Churkin had left. At the news that the Council would reconvene in the afternoon, the press was all at(w)itter.

But the afternoon session concerned only Ivory Coast, sending three battalions and two helicopters from the UN Mission in Liberia for Sunday's runoff election. After the vote on this resolution, the UK's Lyall Grant told the mass of reporters that on Korea “consultations continue.” He said he would take no questions on camera, even about Ivory Coast.

Afterward an Ivorian diplomat complained to Inner City Press that his country hadn't been consulted about the resolution to send in the additional troops. By then the major powers have left, the Thanksgiving holiday getting an early start.

The prediction is that North Korea will be discussion on Monday November 29, on resolution 1718 (non proliferation). But what of the non nuclear shootout? A shiny haired South Korean journalist regaled Japanese reporters with tales of Seoul's prowess.

“We don't need the Security Council,” he said, “not this time, not when we fought back.” Reporters scribbled this down, perhaps to become Gospel in Tokyo. Another reporter asked, why is Thanksgiving four days? The UN unceremoniously canceled its Friday press briefing.

At Wednesday's briefing, acting deputy spokesman Farhan Haq denied that Ban Ki-moon has seen a UN memo about Korea, and dodged questions about why Korea had not been in Ban's Monday speech. He pointed at Ban's November 23 statement, that Ban conveyed his “utmost concern” to Lyall Grant. But why then no Council meeting? Watch this site.

On the memo, from the UN's November 24 transcript:

Inner City Press: a memo has emerged for a 6 December meeting of the Policy Committee of the Executive Office of the Secretary-General concerning DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea]. I don’t know if you have seen it, but it’s been leaked and talks about the UN trying “efforts to re-engage with the DPRK”. It seems to have been written before this most recent firing, but I just wonder, first, can you confirm that the document exists and or that there is a 6 December meeting of the Korean Peninsula/DPRK Policy Committee of the Secretary-General’s office? And two, does this raise any, does the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, is a stated desire to re-engage with DPRK in any way changed by recent events?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq: Well, first of all, you’re aware of our general policy not to comment on leaked documents, which applies in this case. In this particular case, as for whether there was a meeting of the Policy Committee on this, no, in fact there was not. The document that was reported on Fox is not something that has been seen by senior UN officials. It was not reviewed by senior UN officials, and therefore it does not have any particular status.

Inner City Press: Is there within DPA [Department of Political Affairs] a unit that specifically focuses on Korea Peninsula/DPRK that provides memos to the Executive Office of the Secretary-General?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: You mean does the Department of Political Affairs have a desk on North Korea?

Question: [inaudible] document, it seems to, unless it’s somehow some lower-level UN official writing his own grandiose projections, it seems to be…

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: Like I said, this is not something that was reviewed by senior officials. It could be a working level initial draft. But it certainly is not something that has undergone any particular review higher up.

Question: Was there at any time a meeting scheduled for 6 December on the topic of DPRK/Korean Peninsula?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: Like I said, this not something that has been discussed at the Policy Committee.

But that doesn't answer the question. Watch this site.

UN Denies Ban's Korea-Less Speech Was For Re-Election, NJ Wrong Venue, It Says

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 24 -- “Do you think the Secretary General would give a re-election speech at a university in New Jersey?” Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson Farhan Haq asked Inner City Press on Wednesday, two days after Ban's “major policy address” at Seton Hall.

Well, yes. Ban's speech, replete with first person references to the effect of “I saved people in Myanmar,” was described a warm up, or off Broadway working out the kinks of, a re-election speech. Suggestion to speech writer Mike Meyer: next time, try to include more about Korea. And it's better to acknowledge UN failures, from the mass rapes in Congo to the shooting of civilians in Haiti, than to ignore them.

Those present at Seton Hall on Monday compared Ban's crowd unfavorably to one drawn by Tony Blair. The questions, as it happens, were pre-screened so as to not be controversial.

Inner City Press asked Haq on November 24 if any thought had been given to including Korea in the speech, given that even days before Ban delivered it, the focus of reporters covering the Security Council was on North Korea and nuclear non proliferation. Haq pointed to Ban's November 23 statement, a day after the speech.

Haq was asked why Ban, in expressing his “utmost concern” about North Korea to Security Council president Mark Lyall Grant, had not asked a meeting on the topic, as he could under Article 99 of the UN Charter. Video here.

Inner City Press asked about a Korean Peninsula / DPRK Policy Committee memo and meeting scheduled for December 6. We don't comment on leaked documents, Haq said, before saying that no senior official had seen the memo.

So is there a unit in the UN Department of Political Affairs which drafts memos for Ban's Policy Committee?

And if this is the Ban administration's attitude to New Jersey, why did Ban go there to receive an honorary degree -- which Haq declined to confirm, hours before it was awarded -- and to deliver a policy speech across the Hudson River? Watch this site.

From the UN's November 24 transcript:

Inner City Press: I notice in the speech the Secretary-General gave at Seton Hall didn’t really seem to, other than a sort of historical reference to the UN having helped Korea in the past, there seems to have been no mention of events, whether positive or negative, in terms of Korea. I guess I wonder — at the time the speech was given, there was already a lot of discussion at the Security Council of proliferation in Korea. Was there any, in retrospect it looks like this seems to be a big, a kind of a missing, an elephant in the room in terms of that speech, which some people have described as a re-election speech.

Acting Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq: Not every topic needs to come up in every speech that the Secretary-General gives. The Secretary-General spoke quite forcefully on the question of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea just yesterday, and I would refer you to what he said. Beyond that, of course, we have a long-standing concern for the suffering people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, particularly women and children.

Inner City Press: But I guess I wanted to — if you could, and you’re very good at explaining these things. That speech seemed to only portray, there didn’t seem to be any kind of self-criticism of, let’s say, doubts that have arisen in Haiti, or the mass rapes in the Congo. Everything was “the UN is needed and is doing its job, it’s excellent”, and some people have described it as a re-election speech. Is that how we should read that speech? Seton Hall said it was going to be a major policy statement.

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: You’re suggesting that the Secretary-General of the United Nations would do a re-election speech at a university in New Jersey?

Inner City Press: I guess I am asking you.

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: I think your question answers itself.

As UN 3d Committee Ends with Doggerel on Durban III, Budget Battle Looms

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 24, updated -- Amid doggerel about defamation of religion, Durban III and the death penalty, the UN's Third (Human Rights) Committee brought its work to a close on Tuesday night. After 11th hour amendments to the Durban resolution -- calling for a September meeting to commemorate the controversial September 2001 World Conference Against Racism, erased from most people's history by the attacks on the World Trade Towers -- among the Security Council's Permanent Five members, the UK and United States voted against it, Russia and China for it, while France abstained.

While some explanation seemed in order -- see update below -- the speeches after that vote and before the close of the session moved from South Africa on behalf of the Group of 77 and China to India for the Asian Group praising Committee Chair Tommo Monthe for suggesting they “fry the snake in the oil of the snake.” Alongside Finland's praise for the Vienna Cafe there were complaints about the frozen voting machines.

In an annual ritual, the UK delivered a doggerel poem complete with jokes about applying the death penalty to the session. Egypt responded in verse, slipping in lines about Durban and vilification of religion, asking what would be next, human rights and grocery shopping?

Monthe spoke last, awarding himself the gavel and his notes. The representative of Syria, leaving service on the committee, joked that Foreign Occupation would remain an issue close to her heart.

Down in Washington, incoming House powerhouse Ileana Ros-Lehtinen issued a press release calling on the US to “stay away from Durban III, deny it U.S. taxpayer dollars, and oppose all measures that seek to facilitate it.”

As the House Foreign Affairs Committee chairperson next year, the budgetary implications -- largely laughed off by the Committee on Tuesday night -- will become more serious. Watch this site.

Update: the French Mission to the UN's spokesman explains to Inner City Press that "On the Durban resolution, France abstained. There were many elements in the text that we couldn't support, but we support the Durban declaration and want to engage in the Durban process. Hence our vote."

With Garbari in Darfur, UN Won't Confirm Bombings, Ignores Sudan Questions

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 23 -- As the UN rushed Tuesday to do a press conference with Johnson & Johnson, it allowed only a single question, about Darfur. Inner City Press asked if the UN and the UNAMID mission have the capacity or the will to confirm or deny reports of Sudanese government “air raids on large areas in North Darfur on Kariyari, Boba, Furawiya, Wadi Howar and up to Alkhaim.”

UNAMID cannot confirm those reports, replied acting deputy spokesman Farhan Haq. He said Gambari has actually been visiting North Darfur, and we have some information available on that.” But where? Of late Inner City Press has asked for UN confirmation or denial of various government attacks and killing in Darfur, and the UN has brushed off the questions during its briefing, and not responded afterwards.

Meanwhile in his November 22 address at Seton Hall in New Jersey, called his re-election speech, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon claimed that “in Darfur.... for years, conflict raged... today, the mission continues to protect civilians.” Continues?

From the November 23 UN transcript:

Inner City Press: I wanted to know if the UN can confirm that JEM [Justice and Equality Movement] rebels in Darfur are saying that there has been a week of bombing campaigns by the Government in North Darfur, and I am just… There have been a number of questions that have built up for UNAMID [African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur] to either confirm or deny, and Mr. Ban’s speech said that somehow Darfur is now so peaceful. Is UNAMID actually tracking… does it have any capacity or will to report on bombing by the Government in Darfur?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson Haq: UNAMID has not confirmed this attack. Mr. [Ibrahim] Gambari has actually been visiting North Darfur, and we have some information available on that, but there is no confirmation of these particular reported attacks. And with that, I have to clear the room for our next guest.

Also still unanswered, despite being submitted in writing to Haq and the Spokesman Martin Nesirky:

1) On Darfur, some question why JMAC data is not on UNAMID's web site, some say it is routinely and selectively leaked. Please respond, and whether these figures include Tarabat market.

2) Please confirm or deny that staff of Mr. Deng's Prevention of Genocide office are asked to work on his books, quantify what amount of time and whether this complies with UN rules, and if the books should be attributed to the UN.

This last question has actually been asked three times without answer, as have questions about the Secretary General's links with Sri Lanka and its leadership, which Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky has said may never be answered.

In Haiti, UN Admits APC in Ditch, In Denial on Shooting & Cholera Origins, Clinic

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 23 -- The UN's dismissive attitude in Haiti to those who question it was on display on Tuesday when MINUSTAH chief Edmond Mulet repeatedly called demonstrations on the possible role of UN peacekeepers in introducing cholera politically motivated.

He insisted that other than a case where 100 people with “machetes and guns” attacked four peacekeepers, they had not fired nor killed any other protester.

Inner City Press asked about a November 17 incident in Cap Haitien where a UN armored personnel carrier fell into a ditch and had bottles thrown at it, after which witnesses say a civilian was shot dead. Mulet acknowledged an APC in a ditch, but denied any exchange of fire.

The UN's Nigel Fisher, and then Mulet, called the Cedimat clinic in the Dominican Republic “independent” and credible. But Mulet confirmed that Cedimat has had a contract with MINUSTAH since 2004. The head doctor specializes in obesity. “Maybe the director general has another specialty,” Mulet said.

On November 22, Inner City Press asked UN acting Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq about reports that a Chilean component of the MINUSTAH force engaged with demonstrators in Cap Haitien in a separate incident on November 15, following which a dead body was found on 24th Street. Video here, from Minute 45:09. To questions about the source of the cholera and how it has been investigated, Haq referred back to previous answers.

Afterward, the UN's deputy for Field Support Tony Banbury, previously quoted that three rapes in the Haitian camp “almost elated him,” was reportedly providing more UN perspective to a wire service based in a country which previously occupied Haiti.

The UN has previously had Banbury give exclusive interviews on topics of wider concern, during his Banbury would deny “conspiracy theories” without having to directly engage the arguments against the UN (for example, in the alleged cover up of the murder of UN staff member Louis Maxwell by Afghan National Forces, click here for that).

While one can debate the appropriateness of such a “spin strategy” anywhere by the UN, in the case of Haiti it has worked particularly badly. The failure to investigate, and statements to the effect that it doesn't matter where the cholera came from, have led to deadly protests against the UN. Deadly for the protesters -- and it is not yet clear how many. Watch this site.

Amid Korea Shots & Worries, UN Ban Silent in NJ Speech, Hours After White House

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 23, updated -- With North and South Korea exchanging fire amid renewed concern about North Korea's nuclear program, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's November 22 speech at Seton Hall, billed alternately as a major policy address or Ban's re-election speech, mentioned Korea only once, in passing and in an entirely positive context.

“We help the helpless to help themselves, just as the UN did for Korea many decades ago,” Ban said, before praising his own performance in Myanmar and Darfur.

Throughout the weekend before Ban gave his major / re-election speech, the wires and UN press corps were full of news of North Korea and its nuclear program. Still, no one in Ban's team modified the speech.

At 4:30 am on November 23, the US White House issued a statement on the Korean shooting. Four hours later, still nothing out of Ban's UN Secretariat. Watch this space.

Update of 10:20 am -- Ban Ki-moon has announced that he has “conveyed his utmost concern to the President of the Security Council.” But President Mark Lyall Grant told the Press no one has requested a meeting on the Korea shootout. S-Gs can request Council meetings, under Article 99 of the UN Charter. So what does utmost mean? What is ut-ter than utmost? Watch this site.

In New Jersey, UN Ban Speech Ignores Haiti, Congo & Sri Lanka, Brags of Darfur

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 22 -- When Seton Hall hosted UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday, it told the Press to expect a “major policy address entitled, 'Can the UN Deliver What the World Needs?'”

At a time when for example the UN is accused of playing a role in the introduction and spread of cholera in Haiti, and has killed at least one Haitian demonstrator, one expected this issue to at least be mentioned in the major policy address. But Ban's speech, as distributed under embargo to the UN press corps, did not even mention Haiti.

Amazingly, Ban's speech praised his and the UN's role in Myanmar and went on that “We did the same in Darfur. For years, conflict raged... today, the mission continues to protect civilians.” This right after the slaughter at Tawila, which even Ban acknowledged raised issues about the UN peacekeepers freedom of movement and protection of civilians.

Ban did not mention Sri Lanka, a country where he has been burned in effigy and where after tens of thousands of deaths, the International Crisis Group said the UN's inaction should be investigated.

Not a mention of the mass rapes in Eastern Congo, and the UN peacekeepers' inaction. After each of these incidents, the UN has said it can and will do better. But this is soon forgotten, not even mentioned amid the self congratulation.

This speech is described in house as Ban's re-election speech: "all the great things I have done" (and none of the short falls, none of the need to or commitment to reform - spin, in short.)

An Inner City Press correspondent at the speech reports on questions about the South Sudan referendum, Afghanistan and terrorism, still nothing on cholera in Haiti, mass rape in the Congo.

At Monday's noon press briefing, Ban's acting deputy spokesman was asked if Ban would be receiving an honorary degree, as Seton Hall itself had been announcing since last week. Haq would not confirm it. But the speech, even as embargoed, began with thanks for the award. Ah, communications.

On Sri Lanka, UN Can't Confirm Will Talk to White Flag Silva, Or Report Will Be Public

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 22 -- Will the Sri Lanka accountability panel of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon even ask to interview General Shavendra Silva, now posted in New York as the country's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN?

Inner City Press put this question to Ban's acting Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq on November 22, the day after a widely circulated article “'War Criminal' Gets a UN Job.”

“The deputy permanent representative is an employee of the government of Sri Lanka, I would refer those questions to the government of Sri Lanka,” Haq replied. Video here, from Minute 46:08. The government of Sri Lanka, of course, has arrested and barred entry by journalists covering war crimes. Haq and the UN have referred those questions to UNESCO, which has of late said nothing.

Inner City Press asked, since Ban's panel chief Marzuki Darusman is this whole week in South Korea, how much time the panel members are putting into their review of Sri Lanka. Haq replied “they are putting in considerable time,” adding that “a secretariat putting together information.”

But will Ban's panel even ask to interview Shavendra Silva, who was in charge during the alleged murder of those exiting with white flags, a process in which Ban's chief of staff Vijay Nambiar was involved, having only even purported to explain his role once, to a media now barred by Sri Lanka?

“As you are well aware we have not been putting out a day by day summary of the people from whom the panel gets information,” Haq replied. He said the panel will submit a report to Ban, “then we'll have information.”

But will the report even be public?

Haq said that Ban Ki-moon will decide. So the UN cannot even say it will ask to interview Shavendra Silva, and will in all probability never even make clear if it asked to interview him. Some panel.

Footnote: that a sitting General like Silva would come in the Deputy and not Permanent Representative spot has been marveled at by other diplomats at the UN. Another DPR has even asked Silva about it.

Monday at the UN Security Council, Silva was not seen. Rather, Perm Rep Palitha Kohona handed Inner City Press his statement on "Protection of Civilians," saying "quote from it." Okay: "the Government policy of zero civilian casualties had a deep impact [on] the country's professional armed services." Just ask Shavendra Silva -- if you can.

From the UN's November 22 transcript:

Inner City Press: I want to ask you one thing about Sri Lanka. There is a story in, over the weekend, I guess it’s a confirmation or making more public that the headline story is “War Criminal Gets UN Job”. So, I am asking you to respond; the new Deputy Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka is in fact a general that was allegedly involved in the killing of the white flag people in which, I believe, that the Chief of Staff of the Secretary-General had some phone calls, not in any killing, had some knowledge of — what I wanted to know is whether, one, whether the UN has any response to a story that is entitled, at least, “war criminal gets job”; and two, whether the Secretary-General’s Panel would be interviewing an individual who is in New York City, entering the building, who is widely now linked to an alleged war crime?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq: The Deputy Permanent Representative to the Mission is an employee of the Government of Sri Lanka, so I would refer those questions to the Government of Sri Lanka.

Inner City Press: What about the Panel’s role? I notice that Mr. [Marzuki] Darusman is today in South Korea. I wanted to get a sense on that Panel; how much time is actually being put into the Panel by the three members?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: They’re putting in considerable time, and as you know, they also have a regular secretariat that is beyond the three panellists themselves; the secretariat that is putting together information so that work continues.

Inner City Press: Do they intend to talk to this individual who is now, you know, described in a widely [inaudible]?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: As you are well aware, we haven’t been putting out a day-by-day summary of the people from whom the Panel gets information. They will report to the Secretary-General once they have their advisory report ready. And at that point we’ll have some information on that. But we don’t have…

Inner City Press: This is my last question now on that. Is there any idea yet whether that report will be made public?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: We’ll have to see. As you know, it is an internal body, but it will be up to the Secretary-General to determine what he makes public once he received that information.