Off Somali Coast, Norway, UN and Kenya Make Plan for Drilling Rights, Pirates of the Pen

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/los1somalia041909.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 19 -- While the international press focuses on the teenage Somali pirates who took the American ship Maersk Alabama and captain Richard Phillips and were killed, Kenya and Norway and the installed Somali government are quietly dealing the continental shelf off Somalia away to the benefit of the former two.

While the press says Somalia has no government, Kenya with Norway's and the UN's behind the scenes assistance has filed with the UN a “Memorandum of Understanding” between itself and the “Transitional Federal Government of the Somali Republic,” ensuring that Somalia will be unable to later object to Kenya's claim to undersea oil drilling rights.

The related 15-page memo, also filed with the UN, makes the UN's and Norway's role clear. It recites that Special Representative of the Secretary General Ahmedou Ould Abdallah

"initiated the preparation of preliminary information indicative of the outer limits of the continental shelf of Somalia beyond 200 nautical miles... In the preparation of this material the SRSG accepted an offer of assistance from the Government of Norway... Both the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate have been involved in the preparation... All of the expenses related to the preparation of the present submission have been covered by the Government of Norway."

Norway, of course, is a major oil producer. Absent safeguards that do not appear to be in place, it is viewed as a conflict of interest for Norway to pay for and prepare a filing about drilling rights for an African country described as having no government. And yet little has been said, and the UN has accepted the filing. Call them pirates of the pen.

As one close observer put it to Inner City Press, “Ould Abdallah started the whole process -- the UN asks Somalia to submit papers and the UN special envoy Ould prepares the papers Somalia is submitting -- why waste time, have the UN and Mr. Ould Abdallah directly handle things instead of abusing the poor colonial era chiefs such as the Transitional Federal Government.”

For this Somali government, the deal was signed by Abdirahman Abdishakur, the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, whom Inner City Press last saw in June 2008 at the UN-sponsored (and paid-for) talks of Somali expatriates held in a luxury hotel, the Kempinski, in Djibouti.

The UN has been remarkably untransparent about financing in Somalia. Most recently, Inner City Press asked Mr. Ould Abdallah about the UN's financing of not only the Djibouti talks but now also Somali parliamentarians. (Inner City Press also asked about a UN-affiliated humanitarian worker now held by kidnappers for months; Ould Adballah has yet to revert with the promised update information.)

On financing, Ould Abdallah affably told Inner City Press to ask his spokeswoman, who in turn referred Inner City Press to the UN Development Program. UNDP produced boilerplate, with no funding amounts nor the recipients of the funding:

From: UNDP Spokesman
To: Inner City Press
Sent: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:47 am

The Djibouti peace process is led by the UN political office (UNPOS) and funded by various donors, for which UNDP plays an administrative and logistical support role. As far as the start-up package is concerned, donors contributed to the project and their contributions have been channeled by UNDP in 2008 to provide some basic infrastructure support to the TFG institutions. This includes computers, office furniture, travel costs to/from Somalia and some rehabilitation of office buildings. In total, around 6.5M USD has been disbursed for this project, financed by a consortium of donors (EC, DFID, Norway, Sweden, USAID, Italy).

Now, the UN participates in Norway's and Kenya's grab for Somalia's undersea drilling rights. Italy of course is the former colonial power. What roles might other countries, including Permanent Five members of the UN Security Council, have? Watch this site.

Footnote: the one pirate -- the “leader” -- captured in the Maersk Alabama incident is only16 years old. Inner City Press asked UN Associate Spokesman Farhan Haq if the UN has any concerns under the rubric of its Children and Armed Conflict mandate about the United States putting the 16 year old, who presumably began group pirating while a minor, on trial as an adult in the U.S. Federal Court for the Southern District of New York. Haq expressed no concerns. Video here.

Inner City Press asked UNICEF, “what is UNICEF's comment on the calls to put a reportedly 16 year old Somali 'pirate' on trial, in the US or elsewhere? Is UNICEF doing anything about children recruited into or active in Somali piracy?” UNICEF spokesman Chris Debono answered:

Subj: Re: Q re children in Somalia (piracy)
From: [Spokesman at] unicef.org
To: Inner City Press
Sent: 4/13/2009 5:06:04 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

Hi Matthew, if children are accused of crimes, they should be treated in compliance with international standards of juvenile justice and with the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The UN recently advised on and praised an episode of the U.S. television show Law and Order which took the position that the mantle (and defense) of child soldier applies to an individual who began combat as a minor, even if acts of combat (or piracy) continues after the sixteenth birthday. But would this UN stand up to the United States with this position on a Somali pirate? The same UN which is taking Norwegian money to put in play Somalia's drilling rights? Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/los1somalia041909.html

Sri Lanka Denies UN's Claimed Advocacy for Staff, UK's Browne Said on the Way

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/bansri3lanka041809.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 18 -- As in Sri Lanka the “bloodbath on the beach” progresses, the United Kingdom is proclaiming its own diplomatic push at the UN. Sources tell Inner City Press that Gordon Brown's envoy to Sri Lanka, whom the government rejected, is headed to New York to “to visit the UN to speak both with UN spokespersons, whose public statements have been very much in step with ours, as well as with those who do not share all of our views.”

The latter group includes Security Council veto-wielding members China and Russia, both of which have fought to not have Sri Lanka put on the Council's agenda, and confined the last “informational” briefing by top UN humanitarian John Holmes to the basement of the UN, not the Council chamber or consultation room. Diplomatic protocol being what it is, one would at least expect the Permanent Representatives of the two countries to meet with Mr. Browne and hear him out. Some wonder if it is Des Browne who might finally get the US Obama administration's mass crimes expert Samantha Power involved.

If it is true that the UN through its spokespersons are “in step” with the UK, then the UK is not asking for a cease-fire. Inner City Press asked Ban Ki-moon if he was making such a call, and he did not. On April 17, Ban's Associate Spokesperson Farhan Haq responded to Inner City Press' question if Ban's envoy Vijay Nambiar was asking for a cease-fire by saying that the UN is only asking that heavy weapons not be used.

The UN has also dissembled, it seems, on its advocacy with the Sri Lankan government for its own staff members. On April 13, Inner City Press began asking why the UN had not spoken up about its staff members detained without freedom of movement in the government's camps. Both Haq and then Holmes said that they had been pushing hard with the government.

But now Sri Lankan “Resettlement” Minister Rishad Baduideen has said that the first the government heard from the UN about the issue was on April 15 -- two days after Inner City Press wrote and asked about it.

Then, UN resident and humanitarian coordinator Neil Buhne finally wrote a letter to the government, and his office admitted that 11 UN staff members and their families are being detained in camps in Vavuniya.

Until then, “Minister Baduideen said he had not received a letter from the UN and unless they receive a formal complaint that they cannot look into it, and as and when they do they will discuss it with the military officials.... Meanwhile [the spokesman for] UNCEF director Ann Veneman was quoted by the Inner City Press as saying the UNICEF and UN systems staff visiting the area were in contact with their staff in the camps and that they have been prevented from leaving the camps.”

So the government denies that the UN raised the issue until April 15. Who is to be believed? Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/bansri3lanka041809.html

On Sri Lanka, With 4500 Dead, UN Won't Ask Cease-fire, Nambiar May Brief Council But in Basement, Mexico Clarifies

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
www.innercitypress.com/bansri2lanka041709.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 17 -- As the UN has told diplomats in Colombo that the civilian death count in North Sri Lanka since January 20 has risen from 2683 to 4500, in New York UN Associate Spokesman Farhan Haq on Friday declined to confirm the UN's figures or their release. Inner City Press asked Haq if UN envoy Vijay Nambiar, who met with Sri Lanka's president and his brother, the Defense Minister, is asking for a cease-fire. Haq answered that the UN is only asking that heavy artillery not be used. Video here, from Minute 14:16.

Inner City Press, which reportedly exclusively on Thursday morning on Nambiar's selection and mission to Sri Lanka, asked Nambiar for an update. To his credit, Nambiar responded, but said he is unable to comment. Inner City Press had asked April's UN Security Council president Claude Heller of Mexico if Nambiar will brief the Council upon his return. Heller, on camera, said that a lunch meeting next week between Council members and Ban Ki-moon will allow for a report on Nambiar's trip. Video here.

Since then, Inner City Press has learned from multiple Council sources that there may be a willingness by the Council to hear directly from Nambiar, but not in the Council chamber or consultation room, only in the basement in the same "informal inter-active dialogue" format used for John Holmes briefing.

Relatedly, Inner City Press has again sought comment from the Mexican Mission to the UN about what, if anything, Mexico committed to Sri Lanka's Foreign Secretary. He initially said that Mexico promised to keep Sri Lanka off the agenda, seeing it as similar to Mexico's conflict in Chiapas. Heller, respondin on camera to a question from Inner City Press, called this inaccurate. Sri Lanka repeatedly the claim, and when Inner City Press sought formal comment, the Mexican Mission's affable spokesman Marco Morales provided this:

Subj: RE: here's "Sri Lanka stands by statement on Lanka-Mexico talks
From: [NY/UN spokesman at] sre.gob.mx
To: Inner City Press
Sent: 4/17/2009 10:59:45 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time

Matthew, in the spirit of clarifying our position, this is what we have to say:

Mexico understands that Sri Lanka is not an item in the Security Council agenda, and we have not sought to make it one. That has been our position before the members of the Council and before the government of Sri Lanka. Nevertheless, Mexico – along with other members of the Security Council, the UN Secretary General and other agencies in the UN system – has stressed its concerns about the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka. We have also supported the actions implemented by the Secretary General and UN agencies on this matter.

We consider of the utmost importance to keep information on the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka flowing regularly to the Council in the most appropriate format agreed upon by its members. The government of Sri Lanka has been forthcoming in providing the Council with information, but we think it would be appropriate for other independent sources to lend further credence to this information. We have also encouraged the government of Sri Lanka to further cooperate with the United Nations.

So, Mexico did make certain commitments or assurances to Sri Lanka -- on information and belief, that Sri Lanka would not this month be added to the Council's formal "Program of Work." At the same time, Mexico "think[s] it would be appropriate for other independent sources to lend further credence to this information."

Since Sri Lanka has barred journalists from the conflict zone -- and is now reportedly asking even pro-government media to leave -- what these "independent sources" of information would be remains unclear.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/bansri2lanka041709.html

UN's Skanka and Asbestos Consultant ATC Non-Compliant with Clear Air Act

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
www.innercitypress.com/un1asbestos041609.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 16 -- As questions mount about the UN's procurement practices and the place of safety in its rehabilitation plans, it has emerged that the UN's asbestos consultant, ATC Environmental Inc., has been slapped with orders by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for non-compliance with Clear Air Act standards "regarding the proper handling and disposal of asbestos materials in demolition and renovation operations."

The UN's general contractor Skanska also has had problems with asbestos, and is being sued for mishandling it in California, in a case just now changing venue. While some argue that criminal charges were dropped, that appears to only have been after a no-contest plea and the payment of a fine, and for testimony. Most relevantly, Skanska engaged in the contested conduct in order to cut corners and meet deadlines. How much more tempting, with in an immunity protected job for the UN?

On April 7, Inner City Press asked the UN Spokesperson's office to provide the name of the UN's asbestos consultant. Nothing was provided until, in connection with questions about another crime-plagued UN contractor, Petrocelli Electric, Inner City Press reiterated the question. ATC Environmental, the answer came back.

The question is, how could the UN select a company being charged with asbestos and Clean Air Act non-compliance as its asbestos contractor? Thursday, the UN Staff Union's two highest officials, speaking to the Press about the dangers posed by the UN's Capital Master Plan, noted that neither the UN nor its contractors can be sued, leading to even less accountability.

The UN Staff Union, as Inner City Press reported yesterday morning and aske about at noon, has passed a resolution calling for a postponement of the relocation of UN staff to building which have not been risk-assessed. The Staff Union on Thursday said that only the building on 45th Street which houses the head of UN Security, David Veness, has been risk-assessed. They called for action against Veness and the head of New York UN Security, Bruno Henn.

But they spoke also about the head of the Capital Master Plan Michael Adlerstein, noting that he gives assurances everything is fine when it is not. Inner City Press has obtained a copy of Adlerstein's written response to the last Staff Union resolution, and puts it online here. As the CMP gets delayed and becomes surrounded by more questions, the pat assurances given to the Department of Management's Angela Kane and Catherine Pollard will be useful to return to. And we will stay on this topic.

From the UN's April 7 transcript:

Inner City Press: I just wanted to know if the Capital Master Plan or the UN has an asbestos consultant and who it is?

Spokesperson: I have no idea. I can ask for you, of course, who the asbestos consultant is. The major reason for redoing this building is the, essentially the asbestos that we have in the walls, so…

Inner City Press: No. I know. I think it’s very responsible to remove the asbestos. I just want to know who the consultant is.

Spokesperson: I don’t have that information, but I can ask the Capital Master Plan for you.

The response came six days later: ATC... Then from the April 15 transcript:

Inner City Press: the Staff Union has put out a report that the Security Service here has failed to do the security-risk analysis required, they say, by the General Assembly, of this building and of all the buildings to which people will be moved under the Capital Master Plan. So they’re calling for a suspension of any transfer of staff to those buildings until the required, they say, security-risk analysis has been done. Is the UN aware of their call? Does it acknowledge that these assessments were required and weren’t done, and what’s their response?

Associate Spokesperson: I’m not aware of the Staff Union motion. However, I’d like to point out that we’ve been evaluating security as part of the Capital Master Plan project, and that also includes security in the swing space, and we’ll continue to evaluate that.

Inner City Press: They claim that there is some formal document that has been done in Geneva, Vienna, and every other place, but has not been done here, and they specifically say that the head of the local security here, Bruno Henn, is responsible for not doing it.

Associate Spokesperson: I am not aware of those details. The basic point is, however, that we do continue to look into security in all the UN premises, including the swing space premises.

We'll see.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1asbestos041609.html

At UN, Serbia Complains of UNMIK Budget Cuts, Russia Speaks of Law

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: Exclusive
www.innercitypress.com/unmik1budget041609.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 16 -- In a rare mix at the UN of the work of the Security Council and the Budget Committee, Serbia has put onto the Council's April 16 agenda “the fact that the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo budget proposal for the next financial year provides for extensive cuts.”

In an April 15 letter to Council president Claude Heller of Mexico, not made public until this article and upload, Serbia argues that the proposed budget cuts would jeopardize UNMIK's ability to carry out the work Serbia and Russia say its has under Council Resolution 1244 (1999), and criticizes UN Envoy Lamberto Zannier for failing to sign the laws adopted by the Assembly of Kosovo. Such signing would not, it seems, require money.

Kosovo and its supporters, of course, disagree. Kosovo loudly said that it no longer needs UNMIK. Earlier this week, the Kosovar delegation walked out of a meeting of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) held in the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica, because it was told that the law required it to be represented by UNMIK, or under the name of UNMIK and not Kosovo. (The Serbian letter refers by name to CEFTA). The incident in Montenegro sparked something of a name-plate war, less gruesome than the renewed reports that the Kosovo Liberation Army took and traded in organs during the war, charges that EULEX now says there is not enough evidence to investigate.

Nothing so messy is on the Council's Thursday agenda. A Western diplomat told a handful of reporters that it involved a budget matter. Inner City Press later asked Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin if this was accurate. No, he said, it is about respect for the Security Council and its resolutions, about respect for international law. Could it also be about the name-plate? And how will the Council deal with a complaint about one of its Mission's budgets? Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unmik1budget041609.html

UN Sends Nambiar to Sri Lanka, Quiet Diplomacy and Ships Off the Beach?

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: Exclusive
www.innercitypress.com/bansri1lanka041609.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 16, published 11 am, updated 12:20 -- With even the UN now speaking of a “bloodbath on the beach” in Northern Sri Lanka, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has quietly sent his titular chief of staff Vijay Nambiar, a former Indian diplomat, to the region to try what the UN is calling “quiet diplomacy.” Inner City Press is told by well placed sources in and outside of the UN that at first the Sri Lankan government said no, as they have to proposed UK envoy Des Browne. Then they relented, and Nambiar set out.

At Thursday's UN noon briefing, when Inner City Press asked UN Associate Spokesman Farhan Haq to formally confirm that Mr. Nambiar is the envoy and is in Sri Lanka, Haq confirmed both, video here.

Some in Ban's inner circle wonder if it is wise to send an Indian for the job, given India's large Tamil population and response to the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. But perhaps that, along with Nambiar's ties with the Chinese, is what has made Sri Lanka feel comfortable.

Separately, an idea is percolating to send or even rent boats to park just off the beach, so that if the Sri Lankan government undertakes the final offensive many are predicting, even in the UN, at least there are ships for some civilians. That such ideas are circulating in the UN, while Ban's chief of staff heads to Colombo, to many indicate that things are coming to a head.

In the 27 months of the Ban Ki-moon administration, even many of Nambiar's former colleagues in the diplomatic corps have expressed sympathy for him. On paper, he is Ban's chief of staff or chef de cabinet, a powerful position held, under Kofi Annan, by the UK's Mark Malloch Brown. But Ban's real chief of staff is Nambiar's deputy Kim Won-soo. The power lines are constantly evident, for example at a ceremony this year when senior UN official signed their Compacts with Ban and then a dozen got in line to speak to Kim while Nambiar stood to the side.

Could a mission by Nambiar to Sri Lanka rehabilitate his stature in the UN, show what he and not Kim is capable of? As Inner City Press noted with regard to the United States -- click here for video -- the death toll in Sri Lanka may be Barack Obama's and his advisors' “problem from hell.” That's the title of a book by Obama adviser -- and recent Hilary Clinton adversary -- Samantha Power, now on Obama's National Security Council. Her commitment to the principles in the book, given her continued silence, are being called into question by some. The UN, of course, is supposed to stand for and with civilians in harm's way, and with more than quiet diplomacy.

Sri Lanka loudly rejected the envoy named by the UK, Des Browne. In a government statement from Colombo on which Inner City Press yesterday sought comment from the UK Mission to the UN, the rejection of Des Browne is reiterated. Is Nambiar viewed differently? His supporters point out that he has “connections with the Chinese,” which might be helpful.

Nambiar was India's ambassador to China, and speaks fluent Chinese. China has resisted even discussing the deaths in Sri Lanka in the UN Security Council chamber, on the theory that is it a purely internal matter. UK diplomats publicly take a different view, but some question their commitment to stopping the carnage in Sri Lanka. Zimbabwe, like Sri Lanka, played an anti-colonial card when the UK raised its voice. But in that case the UK pushed forward with a draft sanctions resolution.

Here, the UK resists even criticizing Sri Lanka's detention of UN staff, offering justifications such as that perhaps the UN staff are able to continue to carry out their UN work while in detention in the camps.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/bansri1lanka041609.html

On Sri Lanka, UN Speak of Siege, Calls Cease-Fire Unrealistic, Only Private Diplomacy

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
see Sri Lankan government statement, Inner City Press update 4/18

UNITED NATIONS, April 15 -- As military action recommences in northern Sri Lanka, the UN's top humanitarian John Holmes on Wednesday repeated government assurances that it would be in "siege mode." Inner City Press asked Holmes, given his estimate of 100,000 civilians trapped in 17 square kilometers, if the UN is asking for a cease-fire. Holmes said that "a cease-fire is not available, we are trying to achieve something realistic." Video here, from Minute 23:14.

Holmes acknowledged that UN staff members -- who he pointed out are "local" or "Sri Lankan national" staff -- are held without freedom of movement in the camps set up by the government. Inner City Press asked him why he and the UN did not speak publicly about these detentions until being asked about it. Holmes said that the UN chose "private diplomacy."

But see, Sri Lankan government statement, Inner City Press update

Asked twice if there are other countries in which UN staff are being similarly held but the UN is saying nothing, Holmes said "I can't think of a similar possibility at the moment." Video here, from Minute 6:26.

Left unexplained is why the UN is treating Sri Lanka's government different than, for example, those of Sudan or Israel, condemned by the UN for harming civilians while fighting armed opponents and for any detentions no matter how short in duration.

While the UN expends significant time and diplomatic capital seeking political solutions in Darfur and the Middle East, it is unclear what if anything is being done in the case of Sri Lanka. Inner City Press asked Holmes to comment on Sri Lanka's loud ouster of Norway from a mediating role. "I don't think it's a very helpful step," Holmes said, adding that Norway like anyone else if free to contract the LTTE Tamil Tigers if they wish. Video here, from Minute 17:58.

But it is for precisely such contact, combined with damage to a Sri Lankan embassy in Oslo, that Norway was denounced by Colombo. It is such denunciations which seemed to have worked to make the UN much quieter about abuse of civilians and even UN staff in Sri Lanka than the UN would be in any other country.

Inner City Press asked Holmes if the lack of media coverage has made his humanitarian coordination job more difficult with respect to Sri Lanka. He acknowledged that it has, saying that the lack of press access and of images from "major press outlets" limits knowledge and concern, but it's "beyond our control." The UN can presumably control what it says, for example speaking out about the detention of its staff and the exclusion of the press, much less control its funding of detention camps that violate international humanitarian law. We will continue to follow this.

Footnote: Inner City Press asked the UK Mission to the UN two questions on Sri Lanka early on Wednesday:

Does the UK believe that international law and the rights of UN humanitarian staff are being violated by the now-acknowledged detention of UN staff in the Sri Lankan government's “IDP” camps?

It has been reported this morning that Sri Lanka's “minister also told the British Foreign Secretary that there was concern that the LTTE would continue to consolidate its fortification of the No-Fire Zone.” Please confirm the accuracy of that, and of this and if so, does the UK interpret it as saying that an offensive on the No-Fire Zone and the civilians in it will begin? What did the UK Foreign Secretary say?

As of press time five hours later, the answer has been referral to Minister Miliband's April 12 statement. As more answers arrive we will report them on this site.

Click here for an Inner City Press YouTube video, mostly UN Headquarters footage, about civilian deaths in Sri Lanka.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ocha7srilanka041509.html

UN's Lack of Risk Assessment May Delay Capital Master Plan, Force Exit of Officials

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/uncmp1riskdss041509.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 15, updated -- The UN's multi-billion dollar relocation and rehabilitation Capital Master Plan may be delayed by the failure of the UN's Department of Safety and Security (DSS) to conduct risk analysis of the relocation spaces.

In the third of a series of resolutions complaining about DSS, the Staff Council has unanimously "not[ed] the multiple failures of the Chief of the Security and Safety Services at Headquarters to follow mandated procedures" and has now "request[ed] the Secretary General to suspend all scheduled staff transfers to the new office spaces until such time as the mandated Security Risk Analyses have been properly executed." [Since on-camera UN Associate Spokesperson Farhan Haq said this Resolution 43/5 is not known, Inner City Press puts it online here.]

In recent months, DSS has increasingly been surrounded by scandals, from promotion and placement irregularities exposed in memo leaked to Inner City Press to the death of staff member Jesmel Navoa due to DSS failure or delay in calling New York City's 911 emergency services providers, and to allow them access to UN Headquarters, click here for that story.

The chief of DSS, David Veness, ostensibly resigned in the wake of the deadly December 2007 bombing of the UN in Algeria. He is still however in his office on 45th Street across First Avenue from UN Headquarters -- the only UN building in New York for which a Security Risk Analysis had been conducted. Inner City Press is told by sources that Veness will finally be leaving at the end of April, and that the internal short list process has focused on an American from the U.S. State Department's diplomatic security service.

The man responsible for security of the UN in New York is Bruno Henn. Many DSS officers say Henn is rarely present, and for some time used his official car to drive back and forth to him home in the suburbs. Questions about his educational background and previous employment have gone unanswered by the UN. Now he is being targeted by name by the Staff Union, and blamed for the potentially expensive delay in implementing the Capital Master Plan.

The argument is that a Security Risk Management System complete with SRAs was mandated by the UN Chief Executives Board in October 2004, then by the General Assembly in January 2005. It was implemented at other UN headquarters, in Geneva, Vienna, Nairobi and regional hubs in Thailand, Lebanon, Ethiopia and elsewhere. Only in New York was it not carried out -- and Bruno Henn is blamed.

The counter-argument, as best as Inner City Press can make it out, is that the UN in New York relies on the City's government and its Police Department. But Article 100 of the UN Charter states that "In the performance of their duties the Secretary-General and the staff shall not seek or receive instructions from any government or from any other authority external to the Organization." [Click here for the Charter sections 99 and 100; the former Inner City Press has been citing of late in light of Ban Ki-moon's failure to raise the "bloodbath" in Sri Lanka formally to the Security Council.] More practically, NYC officials have been less than enthusiastic about the UN's security and construction plans.

It is anticipated that the Staff Union, pursuant to its recent resolution, will further brief the Press on April 16. Even before that, Inner City Press will be seek responses from the UN Secretariat, including on specific risks in the current and prospective UN buildings. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/uncmp1riskdss041509.html

In Sri Lanka, UN Staff Denied "Freedom of Movement" But UN Won't Name Them

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
www.innercitypress.com/ocha6srilanka041409.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 14 -- The UN on Tuesday refused to confirm the names of UN staff members held "without freedom of movement" in Sri Lankan government camps, and refused to explain why the UN said nothing about their detention until asked about it by Inner City Press on April 13. UN Associate Spokesman Farhan Haq said that "while the government repeatedly assured" that freedom of movement would be restored, the UN "staff remain in the camps."

Inner City Press asked if this does not violate international law, in that UN staff have functional immunity. Haq did not answer this question, nor explain why the UN had said nothing. He began his reading of his response to Inner City Press' question by saying, "the UN does not disclose the name or location of its staff of their dependents."

But in other cases where UN staff have been detained -- while high profile, consider the UNHCR official taken in Pakistan -- the UN loudly demands their freedom of movement be restored, and in doing so provides their names if not locations. One reporter listening to Haq on Tuesday wondered if he was in fact saying that the UN fears that the Sri Lankan government would affirmative target it UN staff members it holds, if it were sure who they were.

Since Haq on Tuesday acknowledged that assurances the UN has "repeatedly" gotten from the Sri Lankan government have been false, one wonders how Ban Ki-moon and other UN officials have continued to recite the assurances they have gotten that the government is not or will not use heavy weapons in the so-called No Fire Zone.

The spokesman for UNICEF director Ann Veneman sent Inner City Press a written response on Tuesday, that

Subj: Re: Q re if there are staff in "IDP" camps in Sri Lanka
From: [Spokesman at] unicef.org
To: Inner City Press
Sent: 4/14/2009 5:09:12 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time

Re. your questions yesterday I can confirm that there are UNICEF staff in the camps. UNICEF has access to the camps so we are able to contact them. UNICEF and UN system colleagues are currently in discussions with authorities about their situation. We will not confirm the names of those staff affected.

Inner City Press has been provided with some names, along with requests that they be published, but holds off for now. Watch this space.

OCHA spokeswoman Stephanie Bunker yesterday replied:

Subj: Re: Q if there are UN system staff / family in Sri Lankan government's "IDP" camps, and if so...
From: [OCHA at] un.org
To: Inner City Press
Sent: 4/13/2009 3:17:39 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time

Among those tens of thousands of people who have managed to flee the No Fire Zone in northern Sri Lanka, we are aware that some UN and NGO staff and their dependents have managed to flee as well. As far as we know, they are still in the camps for displaced people set up in the area, and we have repeatedly asked the Government of Sri Lanka to allow them freedom of movement so that they can eventually resume their role as aid workers. While the Government has repeatedly assured us that this request would be met, the staff still remain in the camps. [Inserted into UN transcript here.]

Inner City Press' sources in Sri Lanka say that OCHA chief John Holmes was informed of these people while he was in Sri Lanka, that local staff dissatisfaction with his public silence about it has been growing. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ocha6srilanka041409.html

In Afghan Scandal, UNDP Failed to Oversee, Despite Taking 7% Fee, Dervis and Turkey's Akbank

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
www.innercitypress.com/undp1feeunaid041409.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 14 -- After the UN Development Program and UN Office of Project Services repeatedly refused information requests from the U.S. government about missing and misallocated aid money, UNDP spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Tuesday told the Press that "there were lapses, perhaps, in responding" and they he estimates $1.5 million will be returned. But the U.S. government report -- online here -- puts the missing money at over $7 million; a collection agency had to be hired.

Dujarric on Tuesday said that the lesser known agency UNOPS was responsible for the work, that $25 million was, to UNDP, "pass through" money. But what oversight did UNDP provide for the seven percent fee that Dujarric says it charged? Clearly, very little. Funds were reported moved to projects in Sri Lanka, Sudan, Haiti and Dubai. Click here for a 2007 Inner City Press report on UNOPS in Dubai, cracking down on a whistleblower; here for UNOPS' own open bragging about Dubai.

In fact, UNDP has something of a conflict in purporting to oversee or watchdog UNOPS. The director of UNOPS, Jan Mattsson, who notably has refused to follow Ban Ki-moon's call for basic public financial disclosure, was to work at UNDP. Mattsson has been noticeable absent in defending UNOPS against it recent back to back scandals, leaving that job to his also scandal-scarred deputy.

Inner City Press asked, and Dujarric did not answer, which of the individuals named in the U.S. report are still in the employ and pay of UNDP. Carlos Haddad, for example, who refused repeated request for information -- is he there?

Dujarric referred to the "acting Administrator" leading the response to this most recent UNDP scandal. To many, this lacks credibility. Ad Melkert, twice passed over for the agency's top job and tapped by insiders to leave, proclaimed during UNDP's tight-lipped response to a previous scandal that "you ain't see nothing yet." We still haven't.

All of this take place mere weeks before new Administration Helen Clark arrives. Will she move to clean up UNDP, to improve or cancel its lax "pass through money" programs?

Footnote: previously Administrator Kemal Dervis, who quickly landed another UN gig advising Ban Kid-moon for the G-20 in London, has now taken a post with Akbank in Turkey. Inner City Press asked the UN's spokesman if this might implicate the anti-revolving door rules announced by yet another previous UNDP Administrator, Mark Malloch Brown, in the final weeks of the Kofi Annan administration. The spokesman said he wasn't yet sure of the facts of the case. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/undp1feeunaid041409.html

At UN, d'Escoto Fears for Obama's Life, Dubious of Responsibility to Protect, Gustavo Gutierrez to Be Invited

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/pga1r2pobama041409.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 14 -- The responsibility to protect, a doctrine that if a government cannot or does not serve its people others may step in to do so, was called by the President of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday a "new cosmetic improvement" on the "right to intervene." Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, formerly Nicaragua's foreign minister, said that R2P reminds him of the United States' interventions in Latin America "to protect its interests."

Inner City Press asked d'Escoto about his appointment earlier this month of former Indian Ambassador to the UN Nirupam Sen as his advisor on the Responsibility to Protect, as well as on the global financial crisis, and asked if d'Escoto is a supporter of or skeptic about R2P. D'Escoto answered that he has "reservations" about R2P, and may organize an interactive panel on the topic.

D'Escoto has already scheduled for June 1-3 a meeting on the global financial crisis. Inner City Press asked, in light of d'Escoto's public praise of Barack Obama, who might come to the event from the U.S. government. D'Escoto answered that he "hopes God protects Obama," comparing him to Martin Luther King. Immediately after that, d'Escoto praised a book asserting that the CIA killed John F. Kennedy.

When Hillary Clinton engaged in such free association on the campaign trail, there was a fire storm. For d'Escoto, it was one of his least controversial statement. He began the press conference by referring to the UN's failure to bring about a Palestinian state. Asked about his past, he said he is more of a Sandinista today than in 1979.

On why Sen sought and took the post, on April 6 Inner City Press asked d'Escoto's spokesman Enrique Yeves

Inner City Press: I’ve noticed now subsequent to that [inaudible] on the website of the President, a letter appointing Nirupam Sen of India as “Special Senior Adviser” on three topics, including responsibility to protect. First, is the Ambassador a proponent of the responsibility to protect or a doubter, and does this position involve a G-4 visa; do these positions, these Special Adviser positions? And what’s the difference between the Special Advisers, the Senior Advisers and Specials? Is this along the lines of Mr. De Schutter’s or is it something else?

Spokesperson: No, he is a Special Adviser. In this particular case -- as you know, Ambassador Sen had ended his work in the Mission here -- he has been so involved in many of the issues that he talked with President d´Escoto and they both agreed that it would be a very good idea to start giving him advice on all these issues that are mentioned in the letter until the end of the presidency of President d´Escoto. And…

Inner City Press: Is it a paying position, does it involve a G-4 visa?

Spokesperson: It is not a paid position. And on the G-4 visa, to be honest, I don’t know, but I can find out for you.

Inner City Press: Is this the exact same phrasing and status as Mr. De Schutter, Noam Chomsky and…?

Spokesperson: That’s correct. As you know, none of these Special Advisers are getting any salary or have any contractual arrangement as such.

Inner City Press: [inaudible] Ambassador Sen will come as required or will he be based here?

Spokesperson: He is based here and he has already been giving advice since 1 April, which is when his assignment started.

Inner City Press: I’m sorry, I forgot to follow up. On responsibility to protect, can you say something about whether he is thought to be a proponent or a doubter on responsibility to protect?

Spokesperson: Well, I think this is a question for him to answer than for me. But obviously, you will have a chance to talk to him.

See above -- d'Escoto is a doubter, or "has reservations." On April 7, Inner City Press asked

Inner City Press: To this question yesterday of the G-4 visa, did you get to the bottom of it? Whether the Special Adviser, particularly the new one…?

Spokesperson: I understand now that it is up to the [ United States] State Department to decide on this issue, because the Permanent Representative of India is entitled to a G-1 visa and he is now informing the State Department of his new status and he will know what kind of visa he is going to get.

Inner City Press: But it’s the position of the President of the General Assembly that these part-time…this is a part-time position, right? It’s a part-time Special Senior Adviser?

Spokesperson: Correct. I have asked him. Well, I already did and he said he is waiting for an answer from the State Department, so we don’t know yet.

Inner City Press: But he’s definitely seeking one and it’s based on that position?

Spokesperson: Yes, that’s correct.

And so, as soon as he obtained the assignment, Sen applied to the State Department for the visa status...

On Tuesday, D'Escoto described upcoming trips to Venezuela and Cuba, and to Alaska to meet with indigenous people. He has invited to the UN for an April 22 event about "Mother Earth Day" the theologian Leonardo Boff, saying he asked Lula if Boff could come. The Mother Earth Day, sponsored by Bolivia, will feature Bolivian president Evo Morales, who Tuesday ended a five-day hunger strike or fast. Afterwards Inner City Press asked if fellow theologian Gustavo Gutierrez would also be coming. Good idea, d'Escoto said, thank you for reminding me, I'll see if Gustavo can come. And then d'Escoto was gone.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/pga1r2pobama041409.html

In Sri Lanka, UN Staff Detained in IDP Camps, Names Provided to UNICEF and OCHA, Double Standard Alleged

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis

UNITED NATIONS, April 13 -- As the Sri Lankan government's detention camps for those leaving the northern conflict zone have become the subject of international controversy, quietly staff members of the United Nations and their families have themselves been interred in the camps, with the UN saying nothing until asked, it emerged on Monday. Inner City Press at the April 13 UN noon briefing asked spokesman Farhan Haq, video here from Minute 13:36 --

Inner City Press: This is on Sri Lanka. There have been some reports that in the camps that have been set up outside the conflict zone from which people can’t leave and can’t receive visitors, that there are some UN staff in these camps -- from OCHA [the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs] and some of the specialized funds programs and agencies. Is the UN aware of any of its staff members that are either held incommunicado or are in camps that they can’t leave from? And if they’re aware, what’s the UN doing about securing their freedom of movement and release from these camps?

Associate Spokesperson Haq: I am not aware of that one, but we’ll check with OCHA and see what they have to say on that.

Inner City Press then e-mailed the spokespeople for OCHA and UNICEF, repeating the question. OCHA spokeswoman Stephanie Bunker replied first:

Subj: Re: Q if there are UN system staff / family in Sri Lankan government's "IDP" camps, and if so...
From: [OCHA at] un.org
To: Inner City Press
Sent: 4/13/2009 3:17:39 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time

Among those tens of thousands of people who have managed to flee the No Fire Zone in northern Sri Lanka, we are aware that some UN and NGO staff and their dependents have managed to flee as well. As far as we know, they are still in the camps for displaced people set up in the area, and we have repeatedly asked the Government of Sri Lanka to allow them freedom of movement so that they can eventually resume their role as aid workers. While the Government has repeatedly assured us that this request would be met, the staff still remain in the camps. [Inserted into UN transcript here.]

Inner City Press' sources in Sri Lanka say that OCHA chief John Holmes was informed of these people while he was in Sri Lanka, that local staff dissatisfaction with his public silence about it has been growing.

Some there ask, if the government of Sudan for example interred UN staff members, OCHA and Ban Ki-moon, to say nothing of the U.S., France and UK on the Security Council, would surely loudly scream. Why not in Sri Lanka?

Inner City Press has been provided by local sources with names of staff on information and belief detained in the Sri Lankan government camps including in Vavuniya, even an assistant field coordinator. Inner City Press has put these names to OCHA's Ms. Bunker and to UNICEF's spokesman, who replied

"I am not aware of any UNICEF staff in this situation, but I have been away from the office for a few days. I have asked my colleagues in Sri Lanka and will respond when I get a response from them, hopefully tomorrow."

He has been supplied for four UNICEF staff names. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ocha5srilanka041309.html

UN's Ban "Dismayed" By Fiji Coup, But Won't Forego Peacekeepers, Helen Clark on Spot

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ban1fiji041309.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 13 -- After the military coup in Fiji in late 2006, then-Secretary General Kofi Annan said that unless democracy was soon restored, the UN would stop using Fijian peacekeepers. More than two years later, not only has democracy not been restored, now according even to the UN the Constitution has been abrogated, the judiciary dismissed and elections put off for another five years. Current Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on April 10 expressed "deep dismay" at this, saying he "strongly deplores these steps."

On April 13, Inner City Press asked Mr. Ban's Associate Spokesman Farhan Haq is Ban's "deep dismay" means that finally Kofi Annan's threat, to stop using and paying for peacekeepers from Fiji will be implement. Haq responded that future use of troops from Fiji will be on a "case by case basis." Video here, from Minute 9:39.

But after the coup, the UN continued to rotate Fijian soldiers in and out of Iraq, and Haq admitted their numbers were not capped. Now even with Ban's stated "deep dismay," nothing is said to have changed. How deep is that dismay, again?

Late on November 28, 2006, after Inner City Press asked at that day's noon briefing about it, the UN issued a statement that "The Secretary-General also wishes to stress that further prolongation of the crisis may damage Fiji's international standing, which it has built carefully over the years, as an important contributor to UN peacekeeping operations and more recently as a member of the Peacebuilding Commission." If 29 months followed by suspension of elections for five more years is not "prolongation," what is?

Notably, New Zealand's then-prime minister Helen Clark as reported by Inner City Press in 2007 said, "We've made it very clear to the UN that we do not believe they should be using Fijian troops." Now Ms. Clark is coming in as UN Development Program Administrator, described as the third most powerful position in the UN system. What will she do on this? It will be among her first tests. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban1fiji041309.html

On Sri Lanka, Mexico Invokes Responsibility to Protect, Rebukes Colombo's "Inaccuracies"

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/unscsri8lanka041309.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 13 -- In the midst of a military offensive in Northern Sri Lanka in which over 3000 civilians have been killed, Sri Lanka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has put out a statement that the government of Mexico, which requested UN Security Council briefings on the issue, has now committed to keep it off the Council's agenda.

Citing the statement, Inner City Press on April 13 asked Mexican Ambassador Claude Heller if the Sri Lankan government is accurate that its Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona was told by Mexican vice minister Gomez-Robledo that "they do not have any intention of permitting the Sri Lankan situation to be placed on the Security Council agenda" and that "the Mexican authorities saw the parallels between their own experience in Chiapas and the negative impact of a cleverly manipulated propaganda machine." Statement here, video here from Minute 8:42.

"It is not an accurate statement," Ambassador Heller replied. "We were very clear that in the case of Sri Lanka there is a concern of the responsibility to protect the population." Video here, from Minute 9. The Responsibility to Protect is a doctrine, accepted in the UN General Assembly, that if a country cannot or does not protect its population from harm, the international community can intervene to do so.

Sri Lanka's and Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona's now rebuked mis-summary of their meeting with Mexican officials is not the first case of cognitive dissonance. It has happened regarding telephone calls with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.


Inner City Press asked at the UN noon briefing on March 25:

Inner City Press: There was a statement by the Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka that the country has received no criticism from the UN of how it’s conducting its conflict in the north. He says that Ms. [Navi] Pillay, the Human Rights Commissioner, “is not the UN”, and apparently implies that, in the discussions between the President and the Secretary-General, there’s been no criticism whatsoever of any action of the Government. I wanted to know, is that consistent with your understanding of those calls?

Spokesperson Michele Montas: As far as I know, a number of issues were raised. Humanitarian issues were also raised.

It should again be noted that Sri Lanka's foreign secretary Palitha Kohona, who said the UN High Commission for Human rights "is not the UN" and now blatantly mis-summarizes his meetings in Mexico himself served in and led the UN's Treaty Section. "He knows better," one official told Inner City Press. After a call by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to President Rajapaksa and his brother(s), Sri Lanka summarized that "Mrs. Clinton appreciated the assurances given by the Secretary of Defense that civilians would not be subjected to any attacks by the military, stating the U.S. looked forward to working with Sri Lanka once the current conflict ends.”

The US State Department, to the contrary, said that “The Secretary stated that the Sri Lanka Army should not fire into the civilian areas of the conflict zone... She urged the President to give international humanitarian relief organizations full access to the conflict area and displaced persons camps, including screening centers."

We are preparing a new report on these camps and centers, watch this site.

Inner City Press also asked Ambassador Heller about the wording of the Council's North Korea Presidential Statement, video here from Minute 6:06, article here.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unscsri8lanka041309.html

At UN Council, North Korean Launch Ends in Whimper, Not Bang, Media Decamps

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/unsc9dprk041309.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 13, updated -- With a whimper and not a bang, the UN Security Council is slated to unanimously adopt a presidential statement Monday at 3 about North Korea's "launch" eight days ago, saying it "contravened" -- not that it "violated" -- the Council's 2006 resolution. Over the weekend, Inner City Press put the draft statement online, here. Monday at noon, the spokesman for the Mexican presidency of the Council said no objections had been received by the deadline, thus putting to bed a rumor that Libya might object.

With most of the Japanese press corps having decamped -- click here for an InnerCityPress.org riff about the crews from Tokyo, denounced a "reptile media" by North Korean diplomats -- we are left with the embers of fights fought and misleading Mission statements. Associated Press, for example, has denounced France's Mission to the UN for apparently deceiving it about what Ambassador Ripert said, click here for the AP correction. There has been some push-back to Inner City Press' review of the communications strategies of France, the UK and other Council members, here.

Left unanalyzed in the hoopla about the agreed-to presidential statement is that the underlying sanctions imposed in 2006 are still unlikely to be enforced. Will South Korea actually stop and search ships on their way to North Korea? It is unlikely. Kim Jong-il has won, those trying to flee the country are in worse off state than ever. And so it goes at the UN. If anything transpires, we will live-blog the Council session, below on this page.

Update of 3:11 p.m. -- the Presidency's spokesman has told the Press that there will be no statements by member states in the Chamber, just the read-out by Ambassador Heller, who will then speak at the stakeout. There's grumbling: can the Council expand a sanctions list by a non-binding statement? Duplicitous compromise is a phrase that's used.

Update of 3:59 p.m. -- in a series of back to back stakeouts with the press, the ambassadors of Mexico, the US, China, Japan, Russia, the UK and Turkey all sung the praises of the presidential statement. (Inner City Press asked the one non-DPRK question, to Mexico about Sri Lanka, to be reported later today).

President Heller called the text a positive compromise. Ambassador Susan Rice said that the US views presidential statements, “broadly speaking, as binding” -- a position apparently not shared by the US “plant” in UNAMA, Peter Galbraith, who has told Congress in writing that even resolution, if under chapter 6 rather than 7 of the UN charter, don't have to be complained with. Inner City Press' attempt to ask about the two American journalists DPRK is holding did not result in a response.

Ambassador Takasu put the best face he could on things, saying that at least it was unanimous. (This perhaps implied it was better than a “binding” resolution if even one country, like Libya, has abstained.) Inner City Press and another asked how many companies or entities Japan's wants to be sanctioned. More than three, was the answer.

UK Ambassador Sawers acknowledged that the statement did not impose new sanctions. The Ambassador of China made a statement but took no questions. As he left, he was asked if China will search ships. Russia's Vitaly Churkin took that questions, and said all countries must comply. The Ambassador of Turkey, which chairs the sanctions committee, said the process will start, he is new to it. Then the media decamped and things went back to normal.

And see, http://www.innercitypress.com/unsc9dprk041309.html

UN Continues With Contractor FBI Links to Genovese Crime Family, UN TV Loophole

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN:
www.innercitypress.com/un1petrocelli041309.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 13 -- The UN's continuing lack of standards in contracting, and the seedy roots of some of its procurement, are brought into the spotlight by its defense and use of Petrocelli Electric. The firm's founder Santo Petrocelli was indicted for bribery on April 3. He is also reputed by law enforcement sources to have been involved with the Genovese crime family since 1988. Yet when Inner City Press a week ago asked about the matter, UN spokesperson Michele Montas claimed that at the time the contract was entered into, Petrocelli had not been under suspicion:

Inner City Press: I have a procurement question. It’s become clear that, number one, the electrical contractor for the UN, Petrocelli Electric, the founder has been indicted in the Southern District of New York for bribery. At the same time, the operator of UN Television, National Mobile Television Venue Services Group, is basically going bankrupt. Everything is being sold and they’re trying to move their people into the basement area as a final refuge. How can it be that these contracts were entered into with companies in one case being indicted, and in the other case going bankrupt?

Spokesperson Montas: Well, in specific cases, when the contracts were entered, of course, there was no indictment and there were no suspicion that there were any wrongdoings. In terms of the second contract, of course, we can look into this. There are several companies going under and we cannot predict in advance which company will go under. I can try to get more information for you from the Procurement Office, but, at this point, as I said, we cannot predict what will happen when we sign contracts.

Moments later, Ms. Montas was handed a more extensive statement to read

Spokesperson: Matthew, I just got your answer. It was just brought to me. The contract with the Petrocelli Electric Company covers overall electrical installations, operations, maintenance, alterations and major projects, and remains in place even though the UN has suspended the vendor from participating in any further procurement activity. That’s what I have for you. And we’re also aware of the financial difficulties faced by VSG’s parent company, NMT. The Organization is dealing with the situation in consultation with the VSG management. So I got your answer pretty fast for you.

The speed, while appreciated, appeared to reflect that officials in the UN Procurement Division or the Department of Management which is supposed to oversee it had read Inner City Press' earlier story and prepared a response, only to be given to Ms. Montas if the question arose. It was a super-stealth "if asked" that the Petrocelli contract “remains in place.” Days later, the New York Times reported that New York City has long advised all of its agencies to avoid contracting with Petrocelli. So why and how did the UN enter into this contract which, unlike what is has said of the so-called Indian Enron Satyam, it says it cannot or will not get out of?

Sources tell Inner City Press that the Petrocelli contract was shepherded through by since disgraced procurement official Walter Cabrera. Procurement is the appropriate word, as Cabrera was found based on the testimony in federal court of Nishan Kohli to have accepted the services of prostitutes in order to facilitate contracts with now-jailed telecommunications entrepreneur Sanjaya Bahel and his TCIL. What type of an offer did Petrocelli make?

Petrocelli has received other preferential treatment in the UN, even compared to other contractors. As Inner City Press reported in 2007, while UN TV staffers are required to pass through the tourist lines and metal detectors at the 46th Street entrance, fellow outside contractor Petrocelli has been given the right to enter without checking through the staff's 42nd Street entrance.

On the UN and Satyam, expect more news and soon. On the UN's television contract with Venue Services Group of National Mobile Television, which is being sold off in bankruptcy, VSG is barely hanging in, and is said to be desperately looking for a partner and capital infusion. One would expect the UN to scrutinize any party which buys a part of VSG and thus buys its way into the UN. But it is unclear if any procedures for such review are in place. There is talk of a “bridge contract,” which may be awarded to none other than Capital Master Plan controller Skanska. So UN Television would be operated by a construction company? Only at the UN...

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1petrocelli041309.html

With UN's Ban in Laos, Silence on Thai Unrest and Rights, Sri Lanka and Missile

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ban1asia041109.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 11 -- With the Thai government having been forced by protests to call off today's ASEAN summit in Pattaya, from Laos UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's issued an “urgent” statement that “I deeply regret the postponement of the ASEAN and related summits and the consequent postponement of my attendance to the events. I understand the circumstances that led the Thai Government to take this difficult decision.”

Days earlier in New York, Ban's spokesperson Michele Montas had been asked if she or Ban had any views or comments on the already mounting protests in Thailand. On April 8 at the UN's noon briefing, Inner City Press asked Ms. Montas, video here --

Inner City Press: with the Secretary-General attending the [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] ASEAN trip in Thailand, does he have any comment on the unrest that’s taking place there? Does he have any kind of, I guess either guidance, I mean I know on Moldova he said things should be done peacefully. Why in Moldova and not Thailand? Is there some, is the Thailand street violence less serious or what’s the distinction?

Spokesperson: Well, in the case of Moldova, we had people who were killed, so he’s not going to say anything about what is happening right now in Thailand. As far as we know, everything is set for him for the ASEAN summit and the ASEAN-UN summit. So he is going to go there.

Inner City Press: Is there any chance that… There have been some discussions, including by some UN officials that he might go to Myanmar either before or after the ASEAN summit. Is that now…?

Spokesperson: He is not.

The previous day, Ban had issued a statement that he “strongly believes that any disagreements regarding election results should be resolved by peaceful means and calls on all parties to refrain from violence and maintain calm.” It was directed, not at Thailand, the country he was about to visit, but at Moldova.

Also on April 7, Inner City Press asked Ms. Montas what Ban would raise in the only other stop on his Asian tour, Laos:

Inner City Press: yesterday, you announced that the Secretary-General is going to make an official visit to Lao People’s Democratic Republic on his way to the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting. There are a lot of reports right now about Hmong people being pushed out of Thailand into Laos. Human Rights Watch for example has put out a report saying that this is a violation of human rights. Is this one of the issues he is going to raise in Laos?

Spokesperson: Most probably that issue will be discussed. (Video).

But by all accounts, Ban's visit to Laos was “human rights free.” The lone AP headline was “UN Hopeful on Future of Laos” and reported that Ban “cited improvements in health, education, life spans and infant mortality rates as well as greater integration with the global economy. He said the Laotian government was committed to achieving the millennium goals... He also said Laos would have to focus greater attention on the environment.”

So much for human rights. What about MDGs and the militarized “environment” for the Hmong? With time on his hands, Ban could personally try to have an impact on the “bloodbath” in Sri Lanka, but since he has of late declined to even call for a suspension of fighting, it seems unlikely. While several countries plan to go ahead with meetings in Pattaya about North Korea's missile launch, Ban's announcement said his entire visit to Thailand has been postponed in light of calling off the Pattaya ASEAN meeting, which he "deeply regrets." "deeply. By contrast, he only "regretted" North Korea's missile test...

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban1asia041109.html