War Criminals Discussed at UN, Uganda and Somalia Outshined by Darfur

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
www.innercitypress.com/iccngos112907.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 29 -- Indictments of the International Criminal Court should not be sidestepped with "some form of fancy amnesty" as threatened in Uganda, Ethiopia should join the Court, and Ban Ki-moon should have more publicly urged the arrest of the ICC's two Sudanese indictees. These were among the positions pushed Thursday at the UN, just before the two-week meeting of the 105 ICC member states. Inner City Press asked Ndifuna Mohammed of Uganda's Human Rights Network about the failure to arrest the Lord's Resistance Army indictees. He asked with a question about the argument Uganda's Museveni government recently had with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, urging the DRC to "flush out" the LRA rather than arrest them. Video here, from Minute 41:26. He also questioned why the ICC has not investigated, much less indicted, any in Uganda's army, for war crimes not only in Acholiland but also Karamoja, where villages are burned in the name of disarmament. "The Karimojong took to buying weapons to re-sell them to the government," he said, shaking his head. Then the violence escalated.

Inner City Press also asked if there are any moves afoot to investigate war crimes in Somalia. William Pace of the Coalition for the ICC responded that "we continue to insist that Ethiopia, the capital of the African Union, will ratify the Rome Statute" of the ICC. It might be added that Ethiopia benefits from numerous UN sub-headquarters. Richard Dicker of Human Rights Watch responded on Uganda, that "we're not critical" of UN agencies for "meeting with Joseph Kony or possible the late Vincent Otti." Inner City Press had asked the panel for any insight into Otti's fate, and followed up by asking about the obligations of state parties to the ICC and of UN agencies to arrest indictees on sight. Dicker's answers was round-about: that Uganda had referred the LRA to the Court because they couldn't apprehend them. Fine. But can UN officials stand next to indictees and do nothing? Apparently yes.

Dicker and Osamn Hammaida, identified on the flier as a "Sudanese activist," both criticized Ban Ki-moon for either not having raised the ICC indictments to president Bashir, or not having made this public after their meetings. Inner City Press asked Dicker if HRW was as insistent about the UN raising the continued freedom and impunity of the Uganda indictees. Dicker responded that the Uganda case presented the ying and yang of justice and of peace. And Sudan doesn't? Dicker spoke about China's responsibility, and mentioned the Olympics. Somewhere, Mia Farrow and maybe Spielberg were smiling. But about Uganda's LRA, nothing. Nor about war crimes in Nepal and Colombia. Selective focus continues to plague the field of international criminal justice.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/iccngos112907.html

At UN, Abkhazia IDPs Urged to Cite Precedents While Kosovo Is Distinguished

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
www.innercitypress.com/idpabkhazia112907.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 29 -- Georgia's deputy foreign minister George Manjgaladze spoke at the UN on Thursday, not about the turmoil in Tblisi or of the missiles and shoot-outs with Russia, but rather those displaced from Abkhazia. There was talk of ethnic cleansing and of the right to return. Inner City Press asked what the UN mission in Georgia could be doing to help on the issue, and how lessons from the UN's work in Kosovo and Congo might be applied. Video here, from Minute 1:14:49. Lawyer Paul Williams said the UN should set up "look, see" visits back to Abkhazia, and arrange for property restitution. He cited Bosnia as a precedent, estimating restitution rates there as high as 93%. He said that few Serbs have returned to Kosovo, and that displacement in Congo continues still.

Mr. Manjgaladze, when he spoke, said there's a role for the UN's refugee agency as well as UNOMIG. He said he expects the UN's Department of Peacekeeping Operations to begin the review of UNOMIG that Georgia has requested.

In the final minutes, the debate heated up, when the question was asked, what is Russia recognizes as independent Abkhazia (and South Ossetia), if other so recognize Kosovo after December 10? Paul Williams, after disclosing that his law group represents Kosovo, urged Georgia in this scenario to come out quickly with the argument that Kosovo is unique and not a precedent. But as told, Kosovo sounds like... Darfur. It's strange when lawyers start downplaying the importance of the system of precedents known as stare decisis -- especially just after urging Georgia to pursue the rights of IDPs in the European Court of Human Rights, under another precedent. Arbitrary but interesting, a story sure to further break, on December 10 or before.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/idpabkhazia112907.html

UN's No-Bid Contractor in Darfur an "Inside Job," Ex-Auditor Says, Congo Dodges

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
www.innercitypress.com/paedrcacabq112807.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 28 -- For two days, the UN has declined to answer whether Pacific Architects & Engineers, the Lockheed Martin subsidiary given the $250 million no-bid contract for Darfur peacekeeping infrastructure, currently holds the contract for air field support to the UN's Congo mission, MONUC. Tuesday, Inner City Press was told that the June 2007 MONUC Headquarters Committee on Contracts minutes it obtained and published were superseded by a change in "contract strategy" in October 2007 -- just when the UN signed the no-bid Darfur contract with PAE.

Meanwhile, the now-retired Office of Internal Oversight Services auditor of PAE's past contract with MONUC, whose findings resulted in both a scathing report by the UN's Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and in his being pulled out of the Congo told Inner City Press on Wednesday that favoritism for Los Angeles-based PAE by senior peacekeeping officials, who he emphasized are both American, goes back to at least 2001. "It's an inside job," Edwin Nhliziyo said in a phone interview. He states that he provided the evidence the lead to the statements about PAE in the ACABQ report, including in Paragraph 89 that

"the choice of PAE/Daher over the lowest bidder raises many troubling questions. It appears to have been rejected owing to several factual and interpretation errors committed during the technical evaluation and points-based rating exercise. It was claimed that the lowest bidder had not provided a list of equipment for any of the seven airfields to be serviced. This was erroneous: the lowest bidder had provided a detailed list of equipment with supplementary information...Other errors related to technical evaluation of services to be provided for emergency/crash rescue services and hours of operation. These errors led to awarding a significantly lower rating to the lowest bidder."

Edwin Nhliziyo, who audited this contract in the Congo, goes further, and says that the irregularities began with then-head of UN peacekeeping's Field Administration and Logistics Division pushing for PAE to get a MONUC air field contract, despite an offer by South Africa to provide the services. Once PAE got the contract, South Africa continued to get paid for providing services, that PAE was also paid for, without doing any work. In one sample instance, according to Nhliziyo, PAE charged the UN for 28 employees to man two fire engines on an airfield which saw only two flights per week.

Nhliziyo conducted his investigation for OIOS, which in turn did not want to issue the audit. The underlying information made its way to ACABQ, and the above-quoted report resulted. Amazingly, UN peacekeeping continued contracting with PAE, and as Inner City Press reported earlier this week, went out of its way to try to award PAE a 2007 to 2010 Congo contract, despite having submitted a bid double the size of another qualified bidder. Even this windfall wasn't enough for PAE and its parent Lockheed Martin - they then tried to triple the size of the contract they were awarded. PAE had done this before, as the ACABQ report found (in Paragraph 99).

Tuesday, Inner City Press asked if PAE had been given the Congo contact, and was told an answer would be given. It wasn't so on Wednesday this follow-up:

Inner City Press: yesterday I had just asked a pretty simple question on whether this PAE contractor, the one that was chosen 'no-bid' in Darfur, in fact got the Congo air field services contract? That seems like a fair, factual question. Can you say if they got that contract? It's a new question.

Associate Spokesperson: About air field support?

Inner City Press: Correct

Associate Spokesperson: Yes, regarding that, what we were told by procurement is that this is a closed case, since it was never acted upon by the Headquarters Committee on Contracts. It was submitted to that Committee in June of 2007, but was not reviewed by the Committee, as the contract strategy changed between June and October, when the Contracts Committee made a final contract recommendation to the Controller. So the case was determined to be irrelevant.

Inner City Press: So who got the contract? Who is providing air field support in Congo, for how much, given that the minutes are public, showing that they… You see what I mean? That was the question. Who's doing it?

Associate Spokesperson: I've given you the information I have, which is, again, to recap, that the contract strategy did change and the information that you had raised pertains to a case that was determined to be irrelevant given the change of that.

Question: And can I… About a week ago it had been said that the Department of Field Support, or someone, would come and brief about these PAE issues. Is it still… when is that going to take place?

Associate Spokesperson: It's probably not the Department of Field Support, because they're not the ones who handle. What I have on that is that the Procurement Division stands ready to explain any UN Secretariat procurement activities, in particular, the rules of contract award, for which the UN applies best value for money in the case of a request for a proposal. As we said yesterday, we will wait for the debates on the budget to conclude, in the Fifth Committee, and then... where the Secretariat will answer questions raised by Member States, and then after that we can get a briefing for you by someone in procurement.

Beyond the refusal to state who has the UN's Congo air field contract (this on top of the refusal to say how much PAE has been paid to date on the no-bid Darfur contract), the statement that it's "not the Department of Field Support, because they're not the ones who handle" is directly contradicted by the UN's own head of DPKO Jean-Marie Guehenno, who Tuesday outside the Security Council answered Inner City Press' question about the UN's justification of the Darfur no-bid contract by saying, "that's between DFS and the organs of the General Assembly." There is also the April 2007 letter from DFS head Jane Holl Lute to Warren Sach, pushing PAE for a sole source contract. This, by the way, ran afoul of a recommendation ACABQ had made about PAE in the Congo, in Paragraph 87:

"The Committee is of the opinion that the role played by the Field Administration and Logistics Division in the evaluation and award of the contract contravenes a basic procurement principle. In the Committee's opinion, the Field Administration and Logistics Division should not have been so actively involved in advocating a particular recommendation. To avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, departments that prepare requisitions for services and products are barred from recommending providers of those products and services."

And yet the head of DFS, the successor to the Field Administration and Logistics Division, expressly named PAE, to the Controller, for a sole source contract in April 2007. Wednesday, sources told Inner City Press that the six months $250 million contract may already have been extended. This exploration will continue.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/paedrcacabq112807.html

At UN's DESA, Still No Accountability for Faked Work of Greek Center, New Chief Says

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
www.innercitypress.com/desazukang112807.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 28 -- The new head of the UN's Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Sha Zukang, spoke for his first time to the UN press corps on Wednesday. He addressed it head-on, saying he has been called "bad-tempered... aggressive, emotional and tough." It is "all true in a way," he said. "I hope you like me. If not, I don't mind." He added, "I am incapable of not saying what I think." Here's hoping.

Inner City Press asked for an update on the Office of Internal Oversight Services investigations of DESA: Guido Bertucci, the Thessaloniki Center for "Public Service Professionalism," and consultants' contracts. Sha Zukang pulled out a piece of paper and read out from it. "My colleague provided this, anticipating some questions from you," he said. "Don't ask further questions, I don't know the details."

In sum, OIOS released its audit of the Thessaloniki Center on August 2, 2007. While Sha Zukang said that DESA has fully implemented Recommendations 3 and 4, and part of the first recommendation, it is significant to consider the one still unacted upon:

"The Department should establish accountability for the inefficient use of consultants, including the irregular sign-off of a consultant's contract indicating that deliverables had been provided when no such deliverables had actually been received."

This is as good a definition of corruption as any. But where is the accountability? Sha Zukang said to wait for the end of the year. One month remains. The OIOS report, A/62/176, also says that "[i]n its response to the draft audit report, the Department did not accept responsibility for the failure of the project. In addition, the Department rejected three of the four recommendations made by OIOS." Sha Zukang pointed out that the "OIOS investigative taskforce" did reach a finding of "no inappropriate conduct" with regard to one consultant, Catherine Elizabeth Gazzoli. Good for her. As to the rest of the investigation, Sha Zukang said it is still pending, with "no available timeline for completion." Typical OIOS.

DESA's Johan Scholvinck answered Inner City Press' question about the report being launched, on the "World Social Situation 2007." Scholvinck said that DESA is an "analytical" body, without much of an "operational" side (which may be a blessing, see above), and that DESA does not try to overlap with the International Labor Organization. Rather, DESA works with the ILO, as well as with the World Bank, on such issues as youth employment.

DESA has an implicit recommendation for the World Food Program, tucked into the report on page 140:

"the World Food Programme (WFP) has been a major driver of food-for-work schemes... those engaged in what is often onerous labor end up burning more calories than are gained."

How or if WFP chief Josette Sheeran Shiner will respond is not yet clear. She has yet to speak to the UN Headquarters press corps.

Wednesday, Sha Zukang recited the litany of issues on which DESA works, and said that since he assumed his post on July 1, he has been trying to focus more on the central mandate, "development for all." He said, twice, "it is a lot of work," adding ""without much outcome or productivity." Inner City Press welcomed him -- such candor is rare at UN Headquarters. Here's hoping.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/desazukang112807.html

EU's Solana Admits Chad Force Delay, UK Does Not Want to Pay

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
www.innercitypress.com/chadsolana112807.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 28 -- For its peacekeeping mission to Chad, the European Union has not been able to obtain commitments for ten helicopters. Unlike the hybrid African Union - UN mission in Darfur, where the lack of helicopters is blamed on the government's veto of non-African pilots, Chadian president Deby has told EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana that there are "no problems."

Wednesday at the UN, Inner City Press asked Solana whether the EU and UN were having to compete for helicopters, and to explain the supposed lack of ten copters in the entire European Union. "You interpret that countries are mean," Solana said, "but that is not the case." Video here, from Minute 12:21. Rather, he pointed to the use of helicopters in Afghanistan, saying that the number of helicopters "used is way beyond that expected three years ago." So now both the Darfur and the Chad peacekeeping missions are delayed for lack of copters?

Inner City Press also asked Solana about report that the UK is opposing a French proposal that some of the costs of the Chad mission be shared throughout the EU. The UK, it is reported, does not want to pay for anything in Chad, saying it is already paying in Afghanistan and Iraq (quite different missions, it has been pointed out). Solana said this dispute might be a problem "in the future." Video here, from Minute 9:52.

Solana's positive spin on Chad extended to answering a question about the expanded fighting in the North by saying that Deby has told him that there are no special problems today. Hundreds of people killed, no special problem? It's a wonderful life...

And see, www.innercitypress.com/chadsolana112807.html

As India and Experts Criticize UNDP on Climate, It Shuts Computer Access

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
http://www.innercitypress.com/undphdr112707.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 27 -- As the issue of global warming has gained more and more currency within the UN system, the UN Development Program has jockeyed for position. This is reflected in the theme of this year's UNDP Human Development Report, "Fighting Climate Change." Tuesday at UN Headquarters, UNDP's Claes Johansson took questions about the report. Inner City Press asked for UNDP's response to criticism from UN environmental expert R.K. Pachauri, that the report is "questionable," and by India, that it is "misconceived." Johansson said that UNDP "welcomes the debate." But who, Inner City Press asked, does UNDP speak for? Apparently not even for itself: Johansson called the HDR, for which UNDP claims so much credit, an "independent" report. For the record, it is copyrighted to UNDP.

If development is uniquely the mandate of UNDP -- often, UNDP says it cannot champion or even respect human rights because they might be inconsistent with development -- why this striking shift into the climate change debate, generally the province of other specialized UN bodies? Johansson said that if global warming is not dealt with, there can be no development. Many, but not UNDP, would say the same of human rights, or of transparency, including in procurement. While UNDP launches its "independent" report, UNDP sources noted it was limiting access to its procurement database -- click here for the (leaked) memo -- concerned about leaks like Inner City Press' recent reporting on UNDP having paid for Tony Blair's ten rooms in Jerusalem. Further secrecy will never be the answer.

At an earlier briefing, under embargo at the time, UNDP's Olav Kjorven said that UNDP "gives advice" to countries to not, for example, engage in destructive palm oil projects. He acknowledged that there are bad projects. But what does UNDP do about them? When Inner City Press asked for UNDP's response to the call, by Al Gore and others, for a moratorium on the construction of new coal-fired power plants, until clean technology actually exists, Kjorven declined to give a UNDP view, saying it is a "political issue to be negotiated." It would see the percentage by which emissions should be reduced is also political, and is certainly "to be negotiated" -- but that did not stop UNDP from wading in. Where's the consistency?

Here's something in which UNDP is consistent: not reporting the average income in North Korea, and not including North Korea since 2001 in the comparisons in its Human Development Index. North Korea is off of UNDP's map...

And see, http://www.innercitypress.com/undphdr112707.html

As Darfur Is Debated at UN, Lockheed No-Bid Contract Questions Dodged

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

UNITED NATIONS, November 27 -- As UN Peacekeeping chief Jean-Marie Guehenno warned the Security Council Tuesday of the risk of "humiliation" in Darfur, he and the Ambassadors of three of the five Permanent members of the Council dodged questions, raised in the General Assembly's budgetary committee, about the UN's $250 million no-bid Darfur contract with Lockheed Martin. UK Ambassador John Sawers told Inner City Press, "You're mentioned this to me once before... The Secretary-General has made a response and it is now before the Fifth Committee." The issue was the one raised last week in the Fifth Committee by the Russian Federation and others: when the UK voted for the Darfur peacekeeping mission on July 31, did it know the a $250 million sole-source contract was involved? Amb. Sawers' answer was that "I arrived here in August and don't know the chain of events." Video here, from Minute 5:08. Presumably the UK Mission to the UN has a memory that goes back before August, and the question has been put to the UK Mission.

Jean-Marie Guehenno, asked what the UN's response is to the questions raised in the Fifth Committee about the Lockheed contract, dodged the question by saying "these are the kind of things that are discussed between the Department of Field Support and the organs of the General Assembly that deal with financial matters."

Those "organs" are in the UN's basement. One wag who traveled Tuesday between the media scrum in front of the Security Council on the UN's second floor, where no one would address Lockheed's windfall, and the basement where the windfall is in question, called this a case of "Upstairs, Downstairs." If Mr. Guehenno can't or won't speak for DFS, where is the head of that agency, who one week ago when asked about the Lockheed arrangement at a panel discussion on Accountability at the UN said that it was not the right forum to discuss particular contracts. Some say these evasions are advised.

On Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said, backing away from the microphone, "I'll have to get back to you on that." French Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert said, smiling, that "as long as the Committee checks that the procedures were right and fully respected," it is okay. Video here, from Minute 5:17. Since the Fifth Committee publicly raised doubts last week, no public response has been made. Six days ago, a number of UN correspondents asked for such a briefing, which has yet to be provided.

At Tuesday's UN noon briefing, the following was asked:

Inner City Press: It seems that the PAE, the company that has now the Darfur infrastructure contract, was named the winner of the air field support contract for MONUC, despite not being the lowest bidder. They bid 35 million and an Australian company, Patrick Defence, bid 18. And now documents emerge showing that they were nevertheless selected. So it's left me wondering... Is it the UN’s policy to choose the lowest qualified bidder, when they do a bidding operation, and if they don't, why wouldn't they choose it, the lowest...

Spokesperson: Well, it depends on the qualifications, also, of bidders. You can have a lower bid that does not fit the requirements that are asked for in this specific task. I don't have any specifics on this issue that you mentioned, on that PAE contract. I can get more information for you on this. However, the policy is to get, of course the lowest bidder, but also someone who can actually properly carry on the contract.

Inner City Press: it seems they were called "qualified." but I understand maybe there's some difference. There are only two things, as you look into that, I would ask you, if you could, which would be: one, did PAE -- there seemed to be some dispute in the middle of this year whether PAE would get the Congo contract or not -- to find out who has that contract, and if there's any relation between that contract and the Darfur contract.

Spokesperson: I don't think there is any relationship between the two, but I can get more for you on it.

We're still waiting. Watch this site.

Inner City Press also asked Mr. Guehenno how the Justice and Equality Movement's threats against Chinese engineers may impact the commitments he won in his recent trip to Beijing. Guehenno answered that the UN takes the threats seriously, and that diversity of peacekeepers is a goal and a strength (diversity of contractors and suppliers apparently less so).

Guehenno specifically criticized, with merit, Sudanese a proposal to "temporarily disable the communications network" of peacekeepers. Discussing the "Status of Forces Agreement" (SOFA), Guehenno said there is an Egyptian special forces unit that should be included in the hybrid force. Some say the Egyptian unit is already off the table. Guehenno's quaintest line: "I will also apprise the Council on the challenges we have encountered in our discussions with the Government of Sudan on the UNAMID SOFA." Sitting on the UNAMID sofa...

Both Amb. Ripert and Sawers were asked about the missing helicopters: is there an African country which would contribute them? Amb. Sawers said "yes," but declined to name a country. "They are lacking," said Amb. Ripert. So are answers. Developing.

And see, http://www.innercitypress.com/uklockheed112707.html

Lockheed Unit Given No-Bid UN Contract in Darfur Reneged on Congo Air Bid, Memos Show

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
http://www.innercitypress.com/paehccdrc112607.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 26 -- A Lockheed Martin subsidiary awarded a $250 million no-bid UN contract for infrastructure in Darfur had, only earlier this year, been offered the UN's air field services contract in the Congo despite not being the low bidder, and nevertheless reneged on its bid and held out for more money, documents show. About the Darfur contract, member states on the UN's budget committee have asked more than 100 questions, the answers to which will apparently been held confidential. The irregularities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo air field services contract, demonstrated in minutes of a UN Headquarters Committee on Contracts meeting of June 27, 2007 obtained by Inner City Press and placed online here, call into even greater question why the Lockheed subsidiary Pacific Architects & Engineers was presented internally as the only solution in Darfur, to be awarded $250 million for six months with two three-month renewal options. These questions will be pursued.

In the lead-up to its June 27 meeting, the Headquarters Committee on Contracts was told by the UN's Procurement Division that PAE and a joint venturer, ESKO, had been declared the winner for all Congo-related air field services except those through Entebbe, for $35,813,579. The Entebbe, Uganda portion was awarded to a company called UNHAS, Entebbe Handling Services, for $24 million. Initially, on February 27, "both vendors... accepted their respective portions of the (split) award." Memo, Paragraph 4. But once contracts were drafted, "PAE / ESKO reversed their position and declined to accept the split award." Rather, PAE / ESKO proposed adding more services to their contract, to raise the amount due to over $114 million. Memo, Paragraph 10.

The UN's Department of Peacekeeping Operations disagreed with PAE / ESKO's argument, and proposed to award their portion to the "next bidder," Australia-based Patrick Defence Logistics - PDL. Strangely, PDL had initially lost out despite submitting a bid, deemed qualified, of $18 million, 50% lower than PAE / ESKO's $36 million bid. Memo, Paragraph 14.

Given that the lowest qualified bidder than not been selected, the Headquarters Committee on Contracts "queried the price difference between PAE / ESKO and Patrick Defence." The UN's Procurement Services dryly "replied that the difference is substantial. For the three line items proposed to be awarded to Patrick Defense in the amount of USD 18.6 million, the PAE / ESKO price was $33.5." Choosing PAE / ESKO's higher bid was justified, without further explanation, as a "best value exercise." Minutes at Paragraph 3.15.

News analysis: UN sources, anonymous from fear of retaliation, note the PAE's already-inflated Congo contract became linked with the $250 million the UN was going to award for infrastructure in Darfur. While the latter should, in the normal course, been put out to bid, instead in April 2007, UN peacekeeper's Department of Field Support pushed for PAE to be given the contract "sole source," without bidding. Given the irregularities in the 2007 Congo air field services contract, shown in this document, and previous criticism of PAE's over-changing the UN, it is more and more surprising that the Darfur contract was steered to Lockheed's PAE.

The questions raised last week in the UN's Fifth Committee will, it now appears, now be publicly answered. In fact, Fifth Committee sources tell of an emerging position that some of the requested documents will not be provided even to the Committee. Whistleblowers note that procurement documents were previously provided, in full, to the General Accounting Office, and for various prosecutions. Wednesday at the UN's noon briefing, three journalists (two beyond this one) requested a formal briefing by UN peacekeeping (ideally, the head of the Department of Field Support, who pushed for the sole source contract). Inner City Press on Monday asked for an update; "we've asked," was the answer. Particularly in light of these new documents, and other developments, the time for disclosure and the promised transparency is now. Instead, some high UN officials' response to these revelations, according to well-placed sources anonymous for fear of retaliation, has been to try to crackdown on whistleblowers or, through the re-accreditation process, on the media which reports on the Lockheed and procurement documents. Developing.

And see, http://www.innercitypress.com/paehccdrc112607.html

At UN, Targeting of Civilians Decried, Cluster Munitions Defended, Knicks Less So

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

UNITED NATIONS, November 20 -- In the UN Security Council on Tuesday, there was unanimity that targeting of civilians in armed conflict should be limited. Speaker after speaker decried it, although some, such as Nepal, did not favor additional reporting on the topic. The UN's humanitarian coordinator, Sir John Holmes, told Inner City Press after the session that he disagreed, that given the importance of the issue, at least all UN missions should report on it. He said that consideration should be given to referring to the International Criminal Court those who use rape as a tool of war. Asked if sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become more or less prevalent since he spoke strongly about it to the Council and reporters in September, Holmes said there has been no improvement on the ground, but that as more people talk about it, perhaps it will get better. Here's hoping. Inner City Press asked if he or OCHA has taken a position on last week's resolution in the General Assembly to condemn rape as a instrument of government policy. Holmes said no. The American representative Jackie Wolcott, meanwhile, told the Council that "the U.S. believes that cluster munitions continue to be legitimate weapons when employed properly and in accordance with existing international humanitarian law."

In his concluding remarks to the Council, Holmes said that the actions in Chad of French NGO L'Arche de Zoe, accused of kidnapping 103 or more children, were not representative of the work of humanitarians. He said that national laws and customers should not be used against humanitarians. When asked afterwards what he meant, Holmes said he was responding to the statements of China's representative, that humanitarians should respect local customs. Video here. Inner City Press asked if he was saying that L'Arche de Zoe was unfairly charged with child trafficking. No, Holmes said, reiterating previous condemnation of the group, including by UNICEF.

UNICEF has said that its assistance to L'Arche de Zoe is to be blamed on a junior international staffer in Chad who neglected to check the group's two names against an OCHA list or database of groups. Holmes subsequently told Inner City Press he was not aware of any such list, and that it would be controversial to maintain one. Tuesday OCHA's spokesperson provided a follow-up answer. There are lists of group who have for example signed up to be part of the OCHA's Consolidated Appeal Process, and "Triple W" lists of who does what, where. But the OCHA spokesperson emphasized that these are not lists of "approved" groups, that it is not OCHA's role to approve groups, that is up to national governments, which whom agencies like UNICEF should check. And so what safeguards are in place to try to make sure that this doesn't happen again, UN agencies like UNICEF or the refugee agency UNHCR helping an NGO to kidnap and traffic children? The question remains, and we will continue to explore it.

Footlocker footnote: following the Security Council's daylong gabfest about civilians and armed conflict, spiced by the U.S.'s defense of the use of cluster bombs, U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad took the Council members to the New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden. It was Ban Ki-moon's first trip to MSG, and he was greeted by boos -- at Knicks guard Stephon Marbury, of course. Jackie Wolcott (no more Sanders) was there as well, along with Clyde the Glide Drexler and pundit Bill Walton. Owner Jim Dolan, booed by cooled by his vanity rock band, told the Council members if the Knicks won, they'd have season tickets. The Knicks lost. Who has the veto, of Marbury as starter? Who can impose targeted sanctions? Who can score more than 82 points against a Golden State team that doesn't even feign defense? It was all a temporary respite from the storm gathering around the UN's no-bid $250 million contract with Lockheed Martin - click here for more on that, and watch this site.

See also, www.innercitypress.com/civcluster112007.html

On UN's No-Bid Lockheed Contract, Russia Demands Investigation, Why Council Was Misled

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

UNITED NATIONS, November 20 -- With questions still unanswered about the UN's no-bid $250 million contract with Lockheed Martin for infrastructure in Darfur, on Tuesday the Russian Federation asked for an investigation of the contract, and noted that neither it nor other Security Council members were told about Lockheed arrangement, which dates to April 2007, before the Council approved by Darfur hybrid peacekeeping force on July 31, 2007. The sole-source contract's first promoter, Assistant Secretary General Jane Holl Lute, declined to substantively answer questions posed by Inner City Press at a public forum on UN accountability, where Rajat Saha, the outgoing chairman of the UN's Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions speaking in his personal capacity, chided Ms. Holl Lute for lack of planning and spoke of a growing "mistrust between the Secretary-General and the member states." For the second day in a row, series of questions were posed by member states in a formal session of the UN General Assembly's budget committee, with answers requested in a public, formal session. But despite a commitment by the UN spokesperson to provide basis information such as how much money has been paid to Lockheed Martin since the contract's announcement on October 15, the subsequently answer had no dollar figure, and none of the terms of the contract.

As luck or irony would have it, at least two officials involved in the no-bid contract were on Tuesday morning speaking at a UN University public forum about accountability, held at the New York offices of the African Union. Secretary General for Management Alicia Barcena began the proceedings with a 24-minute speech mentioned the need for ethics training in procurement. Inner City Press has previously asked Ms. Barcena questions about the Lockheed contract, answers to which she left to Warren Sach, currently UN Controller and reportedly soon to be shifted to Assistant Secretary General for procurement, with Japan touted to take over the Controller spot.

On the panel that followed, Jane Holl Lute derided those who say that transparency means letting everyone know everything all the time. That's "gossip... which is also prevalent" at the UN, she said. Inner City Press asked about the no-bid contract with Lockheed Martin, and about member states' criticism of the process Monday in the Fifth Committee. "I wasn't in the Fifth Committee yesterday," Ms. Holl Lute responded, adding that this was not the right forum to discuss a particular contract, but that all rules were followed. The outgoing chairman of the UN's Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions Rajat Saha, sitting next to Jane Holl Lute, publicly advised her that more planning should have been done, earlier -- that is, that that $250 million contract should have been put out to bid.

Among the questions asked Tuesday in the GA's budget committee, by the UN's own write-up, were

"Was the company awarded the contract the only one capable of fulfilling all aspects of the contract? Was there no other company? It appeared that there was at least one other competitor in the field that could do the same work. There were also several smaller companies currently providing services to AMIS. Could the contract not have been split up and put through competitive bidding? Given that approval for the contract had been given on 25 April, what was the point of having a Headquarters Committee on Contracts review? Why had the Headquarters Committee on Contracts been made to rush through a decision by 31 August, despite not having sufficient information?"

After these questions, and Russia's request for an investigation of the contract, and criticism of the Security Council members not having been provided with pertinent information about the April request and decision to go sole-source in Darfur prior to the UNAMID vote on July 31, it is reported that

Bock Yeo, the Officer-in-Charge of the Peacekeeping Financing Division, told the Committee that the Secretariat had carefully recorded all the questions that had been raised and was preparing a detailed response in writing to all of them. The Controller and the head of procurement would be at the next informal meeting of the Committee to address questions relating to the single-source contract.

Informal meetings, it should be noted, are closed to the press and public. What was that, again, about transparency? In response to Inner City Press' questions at Tuesday noon briefing about the contract, and how much money has been paid out, this word was once again cited. From the transcript:

Question: It's a $250 million contract. Was all that money paid at once? Is it paid in installments? Mr. Guehenno said... that there's some danger of not actually doing the deployment if the helicopters are not given and a variety of things happen. In that case, would all of the money still be paid? And are they in fact already building the camps?

Spokesperson: They are already building the camps, yes.

Question: And how much of the $250 million has been already transferred to them? Can we find that out?

Spokesperson: Okay, I don’t have that number, but I can ask DPKO or the Controller's Office to find out for you what has been dispersed so far.

Question: And do we know if, as Mr. Guehenno, at least, raised the possibility, if a decision is made for whatever reason either to delay or to not deploy, is the UN legally responsible to still pay the full $250 million or is there some... Can this, at least, provision of the contract be explained? Whether the UN is on the hook for the full amount or not the full amount?

Spokesperson: I'll try to get the information for you. (Video here)

Apparently DPKO and the Controller, when asked, refused to provide the information about how much has been paid, and the terms of the contract. This is what Inner City Press was sent after the noon briefing:

Subj: your question on Sudan at briefing
From: unspokesperson-donotreply [at] un.org
To: matthew.lee [at] innercitypress.com
Date: 11/20/2007 1:47:47 PM Eastern Standard Time

The $250 million is for the Heavy Support Package, which is the current UN phase of operation in Darfur until the establishment of the hybrid operation that has been mandated by the Security Council to take place before.

The $250 million will be tapped as needed in accordance with the logistical requirements on the ground.

As the SG himself said yesterday, "Abut the issue of contracts – this contract has been authorized by me, considering the extraordinary special circumstances where we couldn't find any proper companies able to carry out such projects. That particular company was the only one that was immediately available and that has been doing similar construction there, and there are practical timelines which the United Nations should meet – the deadlines. Therefore, for me, it was necessary to take some extraordinary measures by authorizing that. But I would like to make it again quite clear that I will make it most transparent and accountable in carrying out contract procedures."

Does that mean that the contract or its terms will, as requested and previously promised, be made public? Does it mean that the now-promised response to the above-quoted Fifth Committee questions will be made public? Watch this site.

At the UN, No "Coalition of the Willing" for Somalia, as Body Count Continues to Rise

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

UNITED NATIONS, November 19 -- As Somalis have been driven from their homes by tank fire and mortars, as civilians have been killed, including by the UN-based Transitional Federal Government, what has the UN Security Council done? Monday they had consultations, on a report by the Secretary-General which said Somalia is too dangerous for a UN peacekeeping force, that a "coalition of the willing" should be considered. Inner City Press asked Council president for November Marty M. Natalegawa if any Council member, during their closed-door meeting, had expressed willingness. No, Amb. Natalegawa conceded. He said that the Council urged the Secretariat to proceed with Somalia planning, and that it supports the TFG. Video here.

Off-camera, South African Ambassador Dumisani S. Kumalo expressed frustration at Ban Ki-moon and the Council's major powers. He asked if Iraq, to which Mr. Ban wants to send more UN workers, is so much safer than Somalia. He said that the UN's Department of Peacekeeping Operations does not want to go to Somalia. Amb. Kumalo criticized major power for offering two-tier peacekeeping, doing Somalia on the cheap with African Union troops without the right equipment. Burundi, he said, is willing to send peacekeepers to Somalia, but lacks the air transport.

The French mission began the morning by stressing that its navy has finally followed through on a promise from months ago, to escort World Food Program ships to Somalia. Inner City Press asked where the escorts join up with the WFP deliveries. From Mombassa to Mogadishu, the answer came back. Meanwhile, the UN's spokesperson's office told Inner City Press that no UN forces were involved in the recent freeing of kidnapped sailors.

From Somalia itself, an Inner City Press correspondent has recently offered the following account, from

"lower Shabelle specifically in the regional capital of Marka (Merca)... There was fighting in the region and it spread to Marka. The fighting was between two groups of the TFG soldiers that were allied with different factions of the TFG administration in the region. When the fighting stopped the TFG soldiers rounded up some young men from the city and detained them. Then eight bodies were dumped on the beach area of the city. They had gunshot wounds but they also had their throats slit. People gathered there to see the mutilated bodies."

And see, www.innercitypress.com/r2psomalia111907.html

Headed to Beijing, UN's Peacekeeping Chief Dodges On Darfur Pilots and Post-Coup Fiji

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

UNITED NATIONS, November 16 -- Tactical helicopters "are not like renting a car at the airport," UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Marie Guehenno told reporters Friday, on the eve of flying to Beijing to meet with Chinese officials. Inner City Press had asked if the UN has any indication if Sudan would accept Chinese pilots for the six needed tactical air and 18 transportation helicopters. Mr. Guehenno did not answer directly, rather saying that the pilots and helicopters would come from the same country. So will he be asking China for some or all of the copters? Asked directly what his message for Chinese officials about Darfur will be, he said that "it's important that all members of the [Security] Council impress upon Sudan the fact that the UNAMID [mission] is there to help all people of Sudan" but must "be robust."

The purpose of Mr. Guehenno's meeting with reporters, held on the UN's 37th floor, appears to have been to promote his four day visit to Beijing to Chinese national press. Guehenno's spokesman, who ultimately passed his boss a note to say "last words" and "thank them," pointedly told journalists to limit themselves to questions "on topic." So, for example, it was not allowed to ask what would happen with the UN's $250 million no-bid award to Lockheed Martin if, as Guehenno has threatened, the UNAMID is not deployed. That is a question that should, however, be answered.

One reporter asked about the UN accepting peacekeepers from non-democratic countries and those accused of human rights abuses. Guehenno responded that he does not favor excluding troops from such countries. Inner City Press asked about ex Secretary-General Kofi Annan's statement, in late 2006, that unless Fiji's coup d'etat was overturned, there could be an impact on Fijian service in UN peacekeeping missions. While what Mr. Guehenno had said put him at odds with his then-boss' policy, Friday Guehenno said that there's "a limited number of Fijians in a guard unit, under the responsibility of our colleagues in the Department of Safety and Security, protecting the mission in Iraq." He added that "we have spoken frequently with the Fijian authorities because we believe it was be good for the reputation of the country to return to civilian law." But Annan tied it to peacekeeping, and the UN has repeated rebutted reports that the number of Fijian peacekeepers in use had expanded. Which is it?

Guehenno was asked, does the "Zero Tolerance" policy apply only to sexual abuse? To all crimes, he answered, adding that the UN "didn't hire" an officer put forward by a country, unnamed, because of issues in his background. He said it can't be "hearsay," though, apparently referring to the Rwandan officer accepted, over protests, as the Deputy Force Commander for UNAMID. Afterwards it was pointed out that one of the Sri Lankan soldiers recently repatriated from the UN's mission in Haiti complained of mixed messages: the UN hands out condoms, an anti-HIV policy that originated in the Security Council, while treating sex -- well, sex for pay -- as a crime. Even the accused must be listened to.

While in Beijing, for a China - ASEAN seminar on Challenges Facing Peacekeeping and Regional Cooperation, Guehenno says he will meet with representatives of China's Defense and foreign affairs ministry, and "maybe from the Office of the Prime Minister." China, Guehenno emphasized, is now the 13th largest peacekeeping contributor to the UN, the second largest of the Security Council's permanent five members, after France, whose UN commitment is focused in Lebanon. Guehenno conceded that others in the P-5 will say they do peacekeeping through UN authorized missions, such as in Afghanistan. Still, he said, it is important for P-5 members to "show solidarity." Mr. Guehenno was, to his credit, polite and earnest as always.

Asked about the future of UNIFIL in Lebanon, Guehenno said he hasn't yet been briefing by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who upon arrival in Beirut on November 15 told reporters "I will take no questions at this point." On November 16 he said "As-Salamu Alaykum" (in New York he was quoted about "my man Jay-Z"), and answered five questions. He said he met with General Graziano and told him that "because of my very heavy schedule, I was not able to visit UNIFIL this time." He said, "UNIFIL is here to stay as long as necessary." So there.

See also, www.innercitypress.com/copterfiji111607.html

UN Backslides on Fix-Up Commitments, Bloomberg Repeats Threat to Cease School Visits

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

UNITED NATIONS, November 13 -- While the UN on Tuesday claimed that it had agreed to New York City Mayor Bloomberg's timeline for minimum safety repairs of the UN Headquarters building, the City's response to the UN notes two items as "not satisfactory," and reiterates the threat to prohibit public school visits to the UN. The City's letter, obtained by Inner City Press and put online here, accuses the UN of backsliding on previous timeliness for "compartmentalization" and for installation of smoke detectors.

"Building separation" was to have begun on January 8, a date that the UN's November 5 letter ignores. The City's Commissioner for the UN, Consular Corps and Protocol, Marjorie B. Tiven -- who is also Mayor Bloomberg's sister -- writes that "in previous meeting with the UN we had been told these dates were attainable. Your letter states only that a contract will be awarded by mid-December... That is not satisfactory."

On smoke detectors, the City required that 50% be installed by January 8 "and 100% by March 31, 2008, dates the UN had previously agreed were achievable." Commissioner Tiven writes that the UN's November 5 letter "states that the contract would be signed by the end of November 2007 and work completed 24 months after the signing of the contract. That is not satisfactory." Then Commissioner Tiven reiterates the threat: if the deadlines, including those listed above, are not met, "the City will have not choice but to direct the cessation of all public school visits to the United Nations, and if warranted, the City will take additional action as well." The letter is copied to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, U.S. Secretary of State Rice, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad, and the Mayor.

How then to explain the following statements, questions by Inner City Press, at Tuesday UN noon briefing? From the transcript:

Deputy Spokesperson: The Secretary-General and the Head of the Department of Management, Alicia Barcena, are in complete agreement with the Mayor in terms of concerns for the safety of visitors and staff and others who occupy this building, which I mentioned to you yesterday... I think we are moving along, and the city and UN continue to address these measures as expeditiously as possible.

Inner City Press: Yes, one follow-up on that. There seemed to be this very concrete issue of compartmentalization, which I guess means fire doors and also something to do with the fan system, which the city seems to think should be repaired by January. Is this...

Deputy Spokesperson: There is a benchmark date set for that and we've agreed to that. [Video here]

But the City's letter notes that the UN has not agreed to the benchmark dates, has in fact backed away from previous commitments. How these problems develop will be reported on this site.

News analysis: It would be important for the UN to stand by its commitments, and if for some reason backing away from commitments is seen as necessary, to be transparent, including to the press, about such changes. The earlier City letter was reported in the Washington Times of November 12, and New York Sun of November 13. Did the UN think that the City's November 13 letter wouldn't become public? This same pattern, with larger financial stakes, has taken place in connection with the UN's no-bid $250 million contract to Lockheed Martin for Darfur peacekeeping infrastructure: the UN said it had to go "sole source" following the Security Council's July 31 resolution on Darfur, but then a memo emerged, obtained and published by Inner City Press, showing the move to sole source as early as April 2007. Each time, the UN's response seem to be to try to track down the leak, to go after whistleblowers. But the City is free to release its letters.

It might also be attributable to not knowing or having been told of the letter -- also on Tuesday, receipt of a letter from biofuels trade associations could not be confirmed, and a question earlier in the week about submission of evidence of alleged corruption in UN's Kosovo mission UNMIK has still not been answered. Still...

On the UN side, some real estate-minded pundits speculate that beyond a concern for safety, the Bloomberg Administration may also be seeking to gain some leverage and influence over upcoming UN decisions that can impact the City's economy. Pending General Assembly approval, the UN will eventually be moving thousands of employees out of its headquarters to repair it. Where these employees go will impact local real estate markets. The City is also said to have its eye on the two building across First Avenue from the Headquarters. Could the UN help stoke up real estate values in Long Island City, Queens? Inner City Press asked the chief of the UN's rehabilitation project, Michael Adlerstein, who the UN's real estate broker is. After some hesitation, in halting transparency, he answered: Newmark. In New York, real estate is a major game in town.

There is, upon reflection, at least one further angle. If Bloomberg does through his hat and money into the Presidential ring, without having a foreign policy beyond a private jet, having publicly tiffed with the UN could be of use. This is not lost on the November 14 New York Post, nor in the release of the second letter to CBS and others. Watch this site.

See, www.innercitypress.com/nyc2un111307.html

In Liberia, UN Staff Complain of Disparities in Promotions, Silence from Field Support

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

UNITED NATIONS, November 1 -- While the head of UN Peacekeeping bragged Wednesday about the success of the UN Mission in Liberia, a complaint by UNMIL local staff of racial discrimination in high level promotion is pending, apparently unresolved. Dozens of staff members signed on to a two-page letter sent to the head of the UN's Department of Field Support, Jane Holl Lute on October 3. Inner City Press was provided with a copy -- now placed online here -- and then faxed a copy to the attention of Ms. Lute for comment. None has been received, just as no response was received to a printout of a complaint of gem trading by UN Congo staff which Inner City Press provided earlier this year to Ms. Lute. Combined with the no-bid $250 million contract given to U.S.-based Lockheed Martin for the upcoming Darfur mission, the questions surrounding UN Peacekeeping and Field Support continue to grow, barely responded to be the Departments.

In their letter to Ms. Lute, the UNMIL staff complain of "racial imbalance that is being perpetrated by UNMIL Administration in this Mission.... the replacement of black top managers / section chiefs with whites... which in the end will ruin the very fabric for which the United Nations was formed."

Examples are given:

"the former CISS Henry Thompson (a black) was replaced by Melva Crouch (a white), thus paving the way for subsequent replacement of blacks by whites in the ISS sections. Former Chief of Transport (CTO) Mr. Justin Norris (a black) left the mission for almost eight months how and his deputy Crispin Bispham was been Officer in Charge and performing with diligence... why can't he be appointed to the position as CTO? Or is it that he is black therefore can not serve in that position?... Why can't Mr. Crabbe be appointed / preferred on a post he has been serving on for fourteen months now? Is it because of the color of his skin or what? We have just been informed that a white is coming to serve as Chief Engineer of UNMIL... UNMIL is a black mission in a black country; we expect to see nothing but racial balance when talking about top level managers and / or section chiefs... Urgently awaiting a redress."

Four weeks after Ms. Lute received the letter, Inner City Press asked by fax for a comment on it and description of action taken. Inner City Press also asked about Ms. Lute's role in the sole source Lockheed Martin contract for UNAMID. No answer was received; Staff Union sources say nothing has been done.

Reportedly, UNMIL's Director of Administration Stephen Lieberman has spoken of the "lack of qualifications" among Liberians, which should interest president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

There are other problems at UNMIL, beyond the abuse of local staff. A Pakistani battalion was shown to be charging $20 a night to those staying in its base. Inner City Press asked at a recent noon briefing, and was later given a canned statement by UNMIL. The questions multiply. Now Ellen Loj, former Danish Ambassador to the UN, is being sent to head the mission. Perhaps she can address these issue. We'll see.

At UN, Salva Kiir Speaks on Sudan, Uganda and LRA's Otti Mystery

At UN, Salva Kiir Speaks on Sudan, Uganda and LRA's Otti Mystery

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

UNITED NATIONS, November 6 -- Salva Kiir, first vice president of South Sudan, began his trip to the U.S. with a UN stop on Tuesday. He met with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and then spoke to the press. Aside from two mysterious answers he was generally upbeat, saying that just has he built bridges between Eritrea and the National Congress Party of Omar al-Bashir, he aims to do the same between al-Bashir and George W. Bush. ("I hope so," Sudan's Ambassador to the UN Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamad said with a smile when asked later about this comment by Inner City Press.) He said, in Arabic, that he has high hopes to get the Comprehensive Peace Agreement back on track upon his return to Sudan. On Darfur, he urged the rebel movements to re-unify, adopt a common negotiation position and a single delegation to what the UN has been calling the third and final stage of the talks in Sirte, Libya.

Inner City Press asked Kiir, in his trademark black cowboy hat, about the Lord's Resistance Army's talks with Ugandan president Museveni, and the International Criminal Court's indictments of Joseph Kony, Vincent Otti and two other LRA leaders. Kiir said that there is almost peace in Uganda, that an LRA delegation is in Kampala, and that if a peace agreement is signed, "the local community" will ask the ICC to drop the indictments. Not addressed is whether the ICC could, should or would accept such a request, based on alternative local arrangements.

Inner City Press asked Kiir directly if he know if Vincent Otti is alive. There are reports that Otti is dead; some of these reports say that Joseph Kony killed him. Kiir said these are rumors, that someone can be sick and them become restored. Video here. While there was some laughter at the press stakeout at this line, a source with knowledge of the LRA process, Kiir and Northern Uganda tells Inner City Press that the answer only gives more credence to the reports of Otti's demise. We'll see.

The other mystery in Kiir's answers concerned non-Sudanese now in Darfur. Kiir said there are "foreigners" in Darfur, brought there by the National Congress Party. He was asked, who are they? Not necessarily from Chad, Kiir said. Mysteries, mysteries...

And see, http://www.innercitypress.com/kiirotti110607.html