With UN Silent on Fowler, Ambassador Whispers, "He's Alive" in Niger

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un5fowler013009.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 30 -- With the UN's silence about the disappearance of its envoy to Niger, Robert Fowler, growing stranger by the day, Inner City Press on January 29 made inquiries in and out of the UN. Outside the Security Council chamber, Inner City Press asked outgoing Council president Jean-Maurice Ripert of France if Fowler and his colleagues were raised in that morning's closed-down session on international humanitarian law including the protection of UN personnel, or earlier in the month. "Not publicly," Ripert answered.

Later, at a reception a block from the UN, Inner City Press and a colleague asked the lead Ambassador of a Permanent Five member of the Security Council about Fowler's status. He was asked, "is Fowler alive?"

"Yes," the Ambassador answered.

"How do you know?"

"You asked, and I answered. I cannot say more. But we do not have immediate fear for Mr. Fowler's safety. But no one speaks about it. It's quite extraordinary."

[Ed.'s note: the above was quickly picked up, without attribution and therefore double UNsourced, here.]

Inner City Press has asked about Fowler at the UN's noon briefing a half a dozen times. Responses have ranged from "please respect the privacy of his family" to "we have nothing new to report." See December 19 video here, from Minute 10:45. Afterwards off-camera, a senior UN official told Inner City Press to stop asking, it might make "insurance problems."

The UN Development Program, whose driver Soulmania Mounkaila along with Louis Guay was also abducted, has refused comment, including on why no UN security accompanied the trio on their way to and from a Canadian-owned gold mine.

There are theories about French nuclear power deals in Canada and Nigerois uranium; some point to President Manadou Tanya's crackdown on anyone thought to be in communication with the Tuareg "Mouvement des Nigeriens pour la Justice" (MNJ). The Permanent Five ambassador who told Inner City Press on January 29 that Fowler and presumably his colleagues are alive said, "it's complicated." But the UN is not making it any better.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un5fowler013009.html

At UN, of Somalia and Sandwiches, Susan Rice at France's End of Presidency Shindig

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/dag1rice013009.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 30 -- A week after Sudan's mission to the UN invited hundreds of guests to a river-view reception to celebrate its take-over of the Group of 77 UN voting bloc, France's mission held a relatively smaller and more exclusive shindig, to mark the end of its Security Council presidency. Sudan's event was inside UN headquarters, catered by Aramark in the Delegates' Dining Room, complete with lobster tails and a Sudanese flag made of ice. France invited Council Ambassadors and select bureaucrats and journalists to its 44th floor office a block from the UN in 1 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza.

"This is from the best caterer in New York," French Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert said, gesturing at the macaroons and chiding a reporter who confused them with meringue. Waiters, one of them German, circulated with champagne. The buzz of the evening was the wait for Susan Rice. We have to tell her, Ripert said, that most Ambassadors leave after the first hour.

Hour three of the reception approached when Susan Rice showed up. Jounalists quickly swarmed around her. Her staff had promised Q&A outside the Council in the morning, which then never took place. But now the questions were personal. One reporter asked if her husband worked at NBC. Ms. Rice shook her head. ABC, she said, with George Stephanopoulos. She noted that she is the only female Permanent Representative on the Council.

Inner City Press asked about Somalia, the incongruity of the Obama administration being less willing to vote to send UN peacekeepers to that country that Bush in his final days.

Ms. Rice asked, why incongruous? The US has a history in Somalia. And so does Susan Rice.

When Inner City Press asked about the Somali Transitional Federal Government's loss of control of Baidoa, Rice said, what is this, a press conference? She's yet to hold one. We hope to explore these issue on the record at the stakeout, and not then at receptions. At this one, Rice jokingly asked for canape recommendations; Inner City Press noted again that Zagat's Mark Kornblau is said to be the pick for the US Mission's spokesman, as memorialized for now in this one and only report. To that we can add this tidbit from a source inside the mission: the Zagats are big donors to the Democratic Party.

Rice's deputy Alejandro Wolff, who also attended last week's Sudan event, chatted with UK Permanent Representative John Sawers, then with Ripert in French about the wonders of Los Angeles. Ripert said that during France's six months atop the European Union, there were 650 meetings of internal coordination. "C'est un travail de fou," he said: it's work for a crazy man. The UN's head of management Angela Kane came and went. Outside the city lights swirled. It felt like a new era.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/dag1rice013009.html

UN's Gambari Is Not Sure to Meet Than Shwe, Myanmar Refugees Are Sold Out as Courtesy by UNHCR

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/undpa1myanmar013009.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 30 -- The UN on January 30 confirmed that envoy Ibrahim Gambari is traveling to Myanmar from January 31 through February 4. What they would not say, however, is who Gambari will meet with. Inner City Press asked if, unlike Gambari's last trip, he has an appointment with regime strongman Than Shwe. UN Deputy Spokesperson Marie Okabe said only, senior government officials. But how senior?

Earlier in the month, Inner City Press asked for the UN's response to the National League for Democracy, that they will not discuss the planned 2010 election without discussion the 2008 constitution, adopted during the chaos after Cyclone Nargis. The UN does not want to answer that question publicly. Perhaps it will be like Gambari's last trip, with embarrassing questions piling up while the UN remain silent.

This is a pattern with the UN. Agence France Presse of January 30 reports that the UN's refugee agency UNHCR refused to comment on the condition of teenage refugees from Myanmar held in Thailand, out of "courtesy" to Thailand's government. Inner City Press asked Ms. Okabe to confirm or deny the AFP account. Ms. Okabe said, you have yesterdays' hand-out. Yes, but is the AFP not true? Does UNHCR decline to tell the truth out of courtesy to governments? It wouldn't be the first time.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/undpa1myanmar013009.html

At UNDP, Ad Melkert Surfaces in Race for Top Post, Opposes Disclosure, Like UNOPS' Jan Mattsson Retaliates

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/undp1racemelkert012909.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 29 -- As competition for the top spot at the UN Development Program heats up, the agency's embattled Deputy Administrator Ad Melkert has publicly thrown his name into contention. The nomination will ultimately be made by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who loudly urged all of his senior officials to make public financial disclosure, so that conflicts of interest could be identified.

Melkert, when asked for his views by Inner City Press in 2007, openly disagreed with Ban's call for transparency. "No, I'm not in favor of financial disclosure put online," Mr. Melkert said. That "oversteps the privacy of people.. no one is served by having it online." Video here, from Minute 37:55 through 44:41.

Such an approach, UNDP insiders say, would ill-serve the agency at this time. It remains unclear, including thanks to flip-flopping by Melkert, whether even audits of UNDP's work can be released to the public by the member states which pay for the work. To have the agency led by an official who himself refuses to make the most minimal public disclosure would surely be a step backward, as would rewarding and promoting an official so closely identified with retaliation against whistleblowers within UNDP. He once said, "You ain't seen nothing yet," and that remains the case.

The Dutch press says that the U.S. and Norway are also interested in the post. They miss, then, the word on the UN street of a possible switch of Ban's Indian chief of staff Vijay Nambiar to the UNDP, and interest of Jan Mattsson, the Swedish head of the UN Office of Project Services.

A recent UNOPS financial statement trashed those staff members who have dared complain of how they were treated, click here for that. Dutch and Swedish retaliators, then, are among those in the race to head up UNDP. Inner City Press has asked Ban's spokesperson's office if the short list will be public, as it was under Kofi Annan. There has been no answer.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/undp1racemelkert012909.html

UNHCR Fundraiser Van Praag's Departure Presaged by Irregularities, Staff Complaints

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un1hcrfunds012909.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 29 -- The UN refugee agency's director of external relations and fundraiser Nicholas Van Praag has abruptly left UNHCR, which has refused to provide any explanation. "An official confirmed, however, that he had already vacated his office at UNHCR's headquarters in Geneva." Inner City Press has obtained a copy of the staff's complaint directed in November 2008 to UNHCR High Commissioner Antonio Gutteres, and publishes it here.

In the letter, Staff Council chairperson Guy Avognon recites the adverse finding of the agency's Inspector General of Van Praag's administration of Private Sector Fundraising, as well as favoritism toward a small number of employees, friends who Van Praag brought in.

Avognon notes that "between 15 November and 22 December 2006, the Inspector General's Office carried out an ad hoc inspection of the Private Sector Fund Raising Unit, of which Mr. Van Praag is the acting Head. The inspection identified a number of serious problems and shortcomings and made a series of 12 recommendations to address them (INS/06112, March 2007). Since then, Mr. Van Praag has failed to submit an implementation report to the IGO (see 'Report on activities of the Inspector General's Office,' NAC.9611057, 21 July 2008) as is required."

Previously, Guterres and his Deputy Larry Johnstone have turned a deaf ear to staff complaints. After Inner City Press interviewed Johnstone and quoted his comment that UNHCR could not find qualified staff in Africa, Johnstone claimed that he had never said it, deriding Inner City Press as merely online media. Dissatisfaction with UNHCR leadership has only grown since then. Whether the abrupt departure of Van Praag can change anything is not clear.

The complaints against Van Praag, who before his three years at UNHCR spent 17 years at the World Bank, were widespread, and ignored by senior leadership. The letter complains "of systematic discriminatory treatment and harassment and, on the other hand, about the privileged treatment of a small number of staff recently hired by the Director under controversial circumstances, some of whom are reported to be personal friends of Mr. Van Praag. The Staff Council has been in contact with the Office of the Mediator, the Joint Medical Service and the Staff Welfare Office. They have all confirmed that they have received similar complaints about Mr. Van Praag's conduct and the adverse effects that it is having on his staff, in terms of their welfare and health. They also confirmed that these complaints were brought to your attention and to that of the Deputy High Commissioner."

In an "if-asked" handed to Inner City Press at the UN's noon briefing on January 29, UNHCR says it has visited 12 teenage Rohingya boys and "plans to discuss the team's findings with the Thai government and jointly decide on next steps." But while UNHCR brags that it has finally managed to visit some of the Myanmar refugees in custody in Thailand, what about those uncerimoniously towed back out to sea? What is UNHCR doing?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1hcrfunds012909.html

At UN, Arab Commission for Human Rights Out for Year in 18-0-1 Vote, Member List Demanded

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un4ngoalgeria012809.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 28 -- Algeria's terrorism complaint against Rachid Mesli, the human rights advocate who spoke for the non-governmental organization Arab Commission for Human Rights at the UN in Geneva last June, resulted on Wednesday in the group's suspension from the UN for one year. Click here for previous coverage by Inner City Press.

By a vote of 18 in favor and one abstaining, the group will also be required to turn over a list of all of its "members and associates" before it can be considered for reinstatement. We hope this sets an example, Algeria's representative said after the debate and vote, in the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs. But what sort of example does it set?

Mesli has been granted refugee status in Switzerland. He was accused of terrorism in 1999, in a trial criticized by Amnesty International. Most countries on the UN's Committee on NGOs said that a conviction in any member state is enough to establish guilt. While neither Algeria nor the UN's head staffer for the Committee, Hanifa Mezoui, would agree to release to the Press any part of the complaint, Inner City Press obtained a copy of Algeria's January 14 letter and attachments, and puts them online here. Egypt called this the product of "a competent court whose verdict is unquestionable."

Egypt ultimately made the proposal that a list of all members and associates be provided. The U.S. said it did not oppose such forced disclosure, but wanted more evidence of Mesli's guilt. The US agreed that the Arab Commission for Human Rights should be sanctioned for allowing Rachid Mesli of the separate, unaccredited group Alkarama, to testify in its place.

The United Kingdom, which had initially expressed reservations, ultimately voted in favor of the punishment. After the vote, the UK's representative said it "seems heavy-handed."


Guinea, on the other hand, in the run-up to the vote said that the punishment should be more harsh. India said that "the UN must respect each member state" and the verdicts its courts reach. One wondered if Pakistan clearer those charged with involvement in the recent Mumbai bombings, if India would respect such a verdict.

While the U.S. belatedly spoke of due process, it has in the past bounced groups from the UN over the objections of other states. A game of chicken took place on Wednesday morning, with the US Mission, now under Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton and Susan Rice, seeming not to want to stand alone in voting no, or even to call for a vote. Sensing weakness, Egypt and Cuba pointed out that unless a member asked for a vote, it would be adopted by consensus. Ultimate the U.S. did call for a "recorded vote, for the record." The US was informed that the roll call would do just as well. And then it went 18 in favor, none against, and the lone abstention.

Footnote: Debate moved on to a Brazilian gay and lesbian group, which a number of states including Qatar implied is involved in pedophilia. The contrasts was marked, with the same states who opposed any delay in suspending Arab Commission on Human Rights asking for more and more information about the gay advocacy group, and saying no vote should be taken until all the questions were answered. And so it goes at the UN.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un4ngoalgeria012809.html

UN Dodges on Sri Lanka and Congo, Burma, Kosovo and Afghanistan, Hides Behind Good News Press Releases

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ossg1dodges012809.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 28 -- On hotspots ranging from Sri Lanka to the Congo, Afghanistan through Kosovo to Burma, the United Nations' communications strategy appears to be to focus on good news, or news that makes the UN itself look good, and then refuse to answer questions. Wednesday at the UN's noon briefing Deputy Spokesperson Marie Okabe claimed that press releases she had read out loud about Sri Lanka and the Congo answered unrelated and more difficult questions. Video here, from Minute 15:04.

Inner City Press asked for confirmation or denial that UN national staff members were fired at by the Sri Lankan government, a senior advisor to which Ban Ki-moon met with earlier this week. Ms. Okabe said she had read a statement on Sri Lanka. But the statement was unrelated, blaming the Tamil Tigers for not letting injured people flee. Video here, from Minute 5:15. Did the government, with whom Ban Ki-moon just met, fire on UN staff? She would not say.

Likewise on the Congo, where the UN spends $2 billion a year, Inner City Press asked for confirmation or denial of reports that the integration of the CNDP rebels into the Congolese army, already praised as good news by the UN, has in fact been postponed. Okabe said she had read a statement, and chided Inner City Press for missing it. But the statement dealt only with the UN belatedly being allowed to play a role in the joint Congolese - Rwandan assault on a different rebel group, the FDLR. Just because a country is mentioned by the UN, most often in a light flattering to the organization, doesn't mean that questions have been answered.

At Wednesday's noon briefing, 14 of Ms. Okabe's 18 minutes were devoted to reading out press releases. Video here.

The previous day, Okabe had reneged on a commit to take questions after the UN system guest, Thoraya Obaid, had finished delivering her good news of the day. Inner City Press afterwards asked a simple question, for confirmation or denial of a quote by the UN's envoy to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, that the UN Mission there will increase from 1500 to 2000, with a budget rising from $81 million in 2008 to $150 million in 2009. Twenty four hours later, no answer had been provided, so Inner City Press asked again. That's up to the General Assembly, Okabe said. Is that a denial of the UN's Kai Eide's quote? And why wasn't that answers, such as it is, sent to Inner City Press?

Another previously asked question, about Serbia's protest to Ban Ki-moon about a new Kosovo security force, was answered only be saying Ban received the letter. Inner City Press asked on Wednesday, what was the response. I don't have anything on that, Okabe said. When I do, it will be sent to you.

In other responses, on Thailand's position that those fleeing Myanmar can return without fear, Okabe referred to a week-old statement by UNHCR. Video here, from Minute 17:17. Okabe said that what Ban Ki-moon thinks needs to be done in Gaza is clear, a position that many don't share, particularly as regards to the shifting calls for investigations, whether indepedent or by Israel. We'll have more on this.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ossg1dodges012809.html

As Bolivia Votes, Questions of Gaza, Treason and "Dishonorable" Media, Indigenous on Move

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un1bolivia012709.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 27-- In Bolivia, a new Constitution has been adopted by a 60% to 40% vote, granting guaranteed representation to indigenous people in the legislature and allowing President Evo Morales to run for re-election in 2011. Another reported provision, however, makes it a crime of treason to oppose national unity. Inner City Press on Tuesday at the UN asked Bolivia's Deputy Permanent Representative Pablo Solon a series of questions, about treason, freedom of the press, Gaza and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. Video here, from Minute 6:50.

Ambassador Solon said that Bolivians "can't be acting to seek the disintegration of the state." He explained Morales' statement that he will forego local press conferences because only 10% of journalists in Bolivia are "honorable" as an attempt to express that reporting is "guided by the owners of media rather than the journalists themselves." Inner City Press asked for a comment, or percentage estimate, of the honor of correspondents at the UN and in the US. Solon declined to go there, saying that media should be independent.

One correspondent asked Solon about a report in the Los Angeles Times that the new constitution would allow Morales to dissolve parliament. Solon called this "false and baseless." Perhaps the job cuts at the LA Times have come too far. Then again, the Bolivian mission staffer who promised to send Inner City Press and the LAT citer the most recent copy of the Constitution had not done so, 12 hours later. For the draft that Inner City Press has access to, click here.

Inner City Press asked about Bolivia's expulsion of Israel's Ambassador. Video here, from Minute 15:18.


Solon said, we have broken diplomatic relations, which is more than expelling an ambassador. He explained that even though Gaza's far away, it is a precedent which undermines the multilateral organization of the UN.

Given the predominance of Latin countries in the Axis of 10 which on January 15 supported Ecuador's amendments on Gaza over the EU's and Egypt's compromise position, Inner City Press asked Solon to comment on the analysis that Latins are more committed than the Arab states. We are a pacifist country, Solon said. He did not say that Latin Americans are far enough away as to support or at least talk to Hamas. What other way forward is there?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1bolivia012709.html

As UN Buzzes for Rice, Taste Tester Kornblau Said To Be in Wings, Congo Questions Boil

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/rice1kornblau012709.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 27 -- The UN press corps was buzzing Monday for the arrival of Susan Rice, the Obama Administration's choice for Ambassador to the UN. In the jostle at the Security Council stakeout while Ms. Rice met with Ban Ki-moon, journalists tried questions on each other. "Given your role in the genocide in Rwanda, what will you do about Darfur?" suggested one boyish reporter. "Since you fiddled while Rwanda burned," added another.

Arrangements were made for who would ask the first question -- there was no agreement among the media, but the US Mission even suggested that Gaza would be a good one. And Gaza was in fact asked, twice, like Darfur and Iran. Ms. Rice declined however to answer a shouted question about Somalia, which she told Congress is not ready for a peacekeeping mission, complex or not. And the three questioners she called on did not raise the slaughter in the Congo, nor what should happen with captured rebel Laurent Nkunda.

Inner City Press was asked, who will the new US spokesperson be? Word on the street, which the US Mission on Tuesday declined to confirm or to deny, is that the choice is zeroing in on one Mark Kornblau, currently employed by Zagat's as, among other things, a taste tester as well as Director of Communications.

Kornblau has previously been a spokesman for candidates John Edwards in 2007 (click here for his quote for Edwards on health care) and John Kerry in 2004, for Senators Evan Bayh and Debbie Stabenow, and a certain Congressman Wu. The significance, sources say, is that he does not come from within the State Department. And at the UN there are near-nightly diplomatic receptions, most recently for Sudan, to please a taste tester's buds.

The US Mission to its credit has finally provided a copy of the initial complain by Algeria against the Arab Commission for Human Rights, and takes issue with Inner City Press' initial report that they were not transparent. Duly noted; how Susan Rice deals with UN reform remains to be seen. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/rice1kornblau012709.html

UN Bans Propaganda, Then Refuses to Take Questions, Crackdown in Gaza's Wake?

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ban1propaganda012709.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 27 -- Accused during the Gaza conflict of being ineffective, the UN's media operation has sought to crack down on and cut off the Press. Last week UN Spokesperson Michele Montas declaimed that briefings are "not for propaganda." This week, Deputy Spokesperson Marie Okabe read out a series of press releases and then refused to take questions even about them during the briefing, despite having made an on-camera commitment to do so.

On January 21, members of the Press asked Ms. Montas to explain Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's backing away from a call for an independent investigation of the bombing of UN facilities in Gaza. While one correspondent hearkened back to destruction in Lebanon on 1996, Inner City Press asked Montas to explain how Ban could commit to Israel's Ehud Olmert that Hamas' rockets would be part of any investigation. Video here, from Minute 18:56.

Of course it would include that, Montas answered. But if as she'd said, Ban doesn't control where the investigation is done, how can he know its scope?

The next day, Ms. Montas began the briefing by reading out a statement that among other things the briefing room is not to be used for propaganda. Video here. She said that Inner City Press had been there when this statement was adopted, between the UN Department of Public Information and the UN Correspondents' Association. Video here, from Minute 24:10.

Inner City Press asked if, as written, this applies not only to the media, but to propaganda from the briefing room podium. Ms. Montas said, "We usually try to avoid to have people on the podium who give propaganda, in the case of UN briefers." Video here, from Minute 25:20.

On January 23, Montas made a point of telling the correspondent who asked about Lebanon on 1996 to keep his questions "short and to the point." Video here from Minute 41:58.

Ms. Montas' deputy Marie Okabe took over the briefings on January 26 and 27. On the first of those two days, she took but did not answer Inner City Press' questions about UN system contracting with Satyam, the so-called Indian Enron, and said that the widely-reported nomination of UN Assistant Secretary General Jane Holl Lute to be deputy head of US Homeland Security was not yet official, and so she wouldn't say if Lute will continue working at and for the UN even while nominated for a US government post.

The one answer Okabe did later provide was to say that a complaint Algeria filed with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs on January 14 against a non-governmental organization would not be released, click here for that.

On January 27, things hit a new low. Because the UN decided to have the head of the UN Population Fund Thoraya Obaid come to the noon briefing to speak about President Barack Obama renewing funding to her agency, Ms. Okabe said that she would take questions after Ms. Obaid spoke. Okabe took three questions -- none from Inner City Press -- prior to Ms. Obaid's presentation. (Obaid did not answer about Satyam, just as she has declined to make even the minimal public financial disclosure urged by Ban Ki-moon, click here for her refusal.)

The moment Obaid had finished, Ms. Okabe stood up to go. The lights were turned off. In the half light Inner City Press asked, what about the Q&A? Go ahead and ask me now, Ms. Okabe said. Inner City Press asked four questions, ranging from an increased budget for the UN in Afghanistan and a "loss of confidence in the UN" by Congo and Rwanda, to the exclusion of the press from an ostensibly opening meeting on human rights at the UN in Geneva. "Ask Geneva," Ms. Okabe said. But this is UN central, this presumably is where the orders come from. Isn't it?

To her credit, Okabe called Inner City Press later on Tuesday to ask to be reminded of the Afghanistan question, and her Office sent a copy of a statement from Geneva. The theory of this case is that these orders to crack down on and exclude the press come from higher up. Someone on the 38th floor -- guess who? -- saw the rambunctious questions about Gaza on January 21, and told Montas to crack down, the theory goes. And things have progressed, or regressed, from there. The purpose of this piece is to provide a snapshot. We will continue to follow the process.

Footnotes: while on Ban's Middle East trip, not only the Korean media Yonhap but also Seoul Broadcasting were given privileged access. When it appeared that only three reporters could go with Ban to Gaza, provisions were made for Korean involvement. Others pointed out, Korean is not one of the six working languages of the UN. But the goal of such coverage does not appear to be UN promotion. So some media are increasingly excluded, while others are beckoned in.

Heard at the stakeout: in the run-up to Susan Rice's stakeout on January 26, it was suggested that the UN Correspondents' Association get the first question. The US Mission to the US worked with this, asking even what the question would be. Other reporters rebelled, saying there was no precedent for this. The level of control at the UN continues to grow. Take for example this leaked document that Inner City Press has obtained scripting Ban Ki-moon ostensibly informal and wide-open January 5, 2009 Town Hall meeting with staff which listed, in advance, the staff members who would be permitted to ask questions. How long before UN press conferences, and even the questions to be asked, are exposed to be like this?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban1propaganda012709.html

As UN's Ban Meets Sri Lankan Enforcer, His Kim Has Eyes on S. Korea, Nambiar Considers a Reverse Mark Malloch Brown?

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ban1srilanka012609.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 26 -- With civilians and journalists being killed hourly in Sri Lanka, the UN's Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday meant with one of that country's president's brothers, Basil Rajapaksa. While another brother who has American citizenship serves as Defense Secretary during the assault on Tamil Tiger strongholds, Basil who reportedly has a U.S. green card is known in Sri Lanka as "the enforcer."

A source on the UN's 38th floor analogized Basil to Ban's senior advisor Kim Won-soo, but then noted that Ban usually meets with heads of state, foreign ministers or Permanent Representatives, not an "M.P., Senior Presidential Advisor" as Basil is identified on Ban's late-provided daily schedule. Even as a Member of Parliament, Basil was appointed, not elected. Some have sought to have him indicted for war crimes, click here for that.

Inner City Press went up to the 38th floor for the photo opportunity belated provided for the meeting. Ban was accompanied by, among others, his political advisor Nicolas Haysom and his chief of staff Vijay Nambiar (more about whom is below). Basil was accompanied by four members of the Sri Lankan mission to the UN.

After the photos were taken, Inner City Press and a handful of others there to document the meeting were ushered out. So what did they later discuss? Could it be the killing and beating of journalists?

Two weeks ago, Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickramatunga was ambushed by killers on motorcycles. Then Upali Thennakoon, editor of the Sinhalese language weekly newspaper Rivira, was beaten and stabbed by a gang of thugs, also on motorcycles, as he drove to work. Previously, gunmen destroyed the studios of MBC, Sri Lanka's largest private broadcaster.

Recently in the U.S. Congress criticism of Sri Lanka on this score was heard. Basil, it seems, is on a tour to Washington and New York to try to explain away these killings.

Footnotes: inside the UN word circulates that Vijay Nambiar may be in consideration to take over for the departing Kemal Dervis atop the UN Development Program. This would be consistent with the United Kingdom's long-rumored desire to gain the chief of staff position. Ironically, it would be a "reverse Mark Malloch Brown," referring to the now UK minister who moved from UNDP to become Kofi Annan's chief of staff.

Of Kim Won-soo, sources tell Inner City Press that during Team Ban's recent jaunt through the Middle East, Mr. Kim was adamant that media priority be given to South Korea's Yonhap News. While interested in Gaza in Seoul is relatively low, interest in Ban Ki-moon, including as a potential presidential candidate, is high. Perhaps there is interest in Mr. Kim as well.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban1srilanka012609.html

At UN, Algeria Seeks Ouster of "Terrorist" NGO, Secret Complaint Withheld by UN

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un2ngoalgeria012509.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 25 -- A secret complaint was lodged at the UN by Algeria on January 19 against the non-governmental organization the Arab Commission for Human Rights.

While the complaint, set to be ruled on in a closed-down meeting on January 26 has yet to be publicly released, it appears to allege that the group allowed its spot before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on June 11, 2008 to be taken by another NGO, Alkarama, which is critical of Algeria's and others' records with regard to political prisoners, freedom of the press and related issues.

The complaint gets more explosive with the statement that NGO representative, Mr. Rachid Mesli, has been charged in and by Algeria with terrorism, and is on the UN Security Council's Resolution 1267 terrorism list.

While invocation of terrorism has become the ultimate trump card in such debates, the UN's Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions has previously had to consider whether "Rachid Mesli is a prisoner of conscience, who was detained solely because of his activities as a human rights advocate." See, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/2000/4/Add.1 at 82, available here. Amnesty International said that those proceedings against Mesli "clearly violated international standards for fair trial."

Neither Algeria nor the UN Committee have been willing for the past week to release to the Press any of the documents or evidence that make up the case.

But Mesli's prepared remarks for June 11, 2008 remain online on Alkarama's web site, here, and state of Algeria that

"nothing should justify maintaining the state of emergency and the exorbitant powers granted to military intelligence services (DRS). This is the situation which resulted from the cancelling of the electoral process of 1992, causing 200,000 deaths and more than 10,000 disappearances. The mechanism of UPR should not be a false door to reality and be consistent with the findings of Treaty monitoring bodies and special procedures. This is not just for the Human Rights Council's credibility but also for the entire system of protection of human rights in the United Nations."

Algeria's complaint was discussed on January 19 and January 23 in the NGO Committee of the Economic and Social Council, with a decision on whether to suspend or withdraw the group's UN accreditation now scheduled for Monday, January 26, in closed-down "informal" consultations. Inner City Press, which first reported the controversy, then asked the chief of the UN's NGO Section, Hanifa Mezoui, for a copy of the written complaint that Algeria filed.

Ms. Mezoui answered, "Not yet, because we are not even dealing with the case. You will have all the paper you need on Friday."

Inner City Press reiterated that it would like to see the complain, if only to prepare to report further on it on Friday. Again Ms. Mezoui said no, "because today it will be only confusing, scaring people."

Thanking Ms. Mezoui for her advice on how to report, Inner City Press reminded her that when a country files a letter with the Security Council, for example, it becomes a public document available to the press, whether or not it might be frightening or confusing.

Ms. Mezoui said, "we're not going to give you the document now, because you heard what happened. It is still under review with no decision. Whatever you write would be...". Her voice trailed off.

This is why the UN needs a Freedom of Information rule, to require the release of documents.

Inner City Press asked the Algerian representative for a copy, but none was given. She did, however, provide Inner City Press with an explanation on the night of January 23 during a reception commemorating Sudan taking over the Group of 77 and China. Notably, Sudan also chairs the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs, and its Deputy Permanent Representative pushed Algeria's complaint, Agenda Item 8, forward throughout the week. His boss, the Permanent Representative, on January 23 told Inner City Press with some mirth that the two NGOs will be thrown out. We'll see.

Some wonder if the complaint, and some other countries' support for the complaint, doesn't spring from human rights testimony delivered by the groups. Cuba spoke in favor of the complaint, noting that it too has faced NGOs who try only to undermine the nation. [Twice last week the U.S. representative on the Committee refused to provide the Press with a copy of the Complaint, saying both times that he doesn't have "instructions" yet from Washington. The UK representative suggested the Monday proceeding, which will be closed to the Press. It should be noted that both the US and UK governments deploy the terrorism moniker to their advantage.]

The UN is run and owned by member states, a number of speakers on January 23 argued, and these governments should not be subject in the UN to critiques that are "unsubstantiated." But what if they are substantiated?

The Algerian representative told Inner City Press that Mr. Mesli has been charged with "providing communications equipment" to a terrorist group, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

The Algerian representative twice asked Inner City Press if it has an interest in the group, Alkarama. There were no other media organizations seated in the ECOSOC Committee on NGO meetings on January 19 and January 23.

There is the question of whether or not Mr. Mesli is a terrorist, although Algeria is sure to claim that since their courts say so, it is so. There is the question of whether it is in fact without precedent for accredited NGOs to allow other to speak. But there is also the question of why the UN feels it can without basic documents like this complaint, and then seek to deliberate and rule on it in secret.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un2ngoalgeria012509.html

At UN, As Sudan Heads Group of 77 and China, Ban Offers Praise Despite War Crimes

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/g771sudan012309.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 23 -- The surreal nature of the UN was on display on Friday, culminating in a party for Sudan, replete with melting ice sculptures of fish and the Sudanese flag, on the occasion of the take-over of the Group of 77 and China by a nation whose president the International Criminal Court prosecutor wants locked up for crimes against humanity.

All day, the UN dodged the irony. At 11 a.m., Ban Ki-moon through his Deputy Asha Rose Migiro congratulated Sudan. At noon, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesperson Michele Montas if, on the day she had read out the condemnation of Sudan for war crimes, Ban had any comments for Sudan or for the "incongruity" of the two announcements --

Inner City Press: in your opening, you read two items that seemed to be sort of related, but you didn’t relate them. One, Mr. Ban Ki-moon had congratulated Sudan on becoming the head of the G-77 and you also read out this report by UNAMID, among others, that Sudan had violated international law in the Kalma camp. Has Ban Ki-moon said anything to Sudan on that? Do you see these as in any way related? Do you have any comment on these two seemingly incongruous facts?

Spokesperson Montas: They are not incongruous facts. Both are true and both are directed towards different aspects of the issue.

Inner City Press: So his congratulation remains the same, even given today’s findings?

Spokesperson Montas: Yes. [Video here.]

Now to be fair, in the UN system nominations like Sudan's are made by regional groups, and others just vote them along. But some wonder if the head of an organization ostensibly committed to human rights should congratulation, without further elaboration, Sudan without any further comment.

Inner City Press asked a senior UN official, the head of Peacekeeping, if he thought Sudan's new position atop the G-77 might give it more leverage in negotiations with the UN. While he demurred, he did not disagree with Inner City Press' analysis that not only does the G-77 chair legitimate Sudan, it also gives it power over the UN budget process. Ban Ki-mute might -- might! -- call or want to call President Al-Bashir to demand cooperation with UNAMID, the UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur. And now Sudan could say, do you want your human resources, ERP or other proposals to pass the General Assembly's budget commitment, where the G-77 has much power?

Footnote: Sudan's party Friday night in the Delegates' Dining Room was the most expensive spread that the UN's contractor Aramark provides. It included lobster, shrimp on ice, chocolate cover strawberries, and the above-noted ice sculptures. Attendees included interim U.S. Permanent Representative Alejandro Wolff. It's said his incoming boss, Susan Rice, will present her credentials to Ban Ki-moon on Monday, January 26 at 10:30 a.m., and has already requested a meeting with her Sudanese counterpart.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/g771sudan012309.html

UN Agency Tests Terror with Microsoft and Kennedy, UN FOIA Called For But Denied

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/foia1unicri012209.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 22 -- A little known UN agency, the Turin-based Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, held a conference on "security governance" at the UN on Thursday. Microsoft, despite the well known security flaws in its software, was invited to present, along with Kerry Kennedy of the RFK Foundation. Ms. Kennedy, it emerges, will be "partnering" with UNICRI to develop and disseminate a human rights curriculum for kids.

At a mid-day press conference, Inner City Press asked Ms. Kennedy if she or the RFK Foundation had played any role in the UN's September 2007 conference on the victims of terrorism, and whether she believes the UN should have a Freedom of Information Act and better whistleblower protection -- the lack of which in the US's Abu Ghraib prison scandal in Iraq she has commented on.

Ms. Kennedy said she was not been a part of the September victims' event, but that she believes that more openness and information is important with anything associated with government, like the UN. She said of the UN, "I would be in favor of making those as rigorous and open as possible." Video here, from Minute 11:44.

Later, Inner City Press asked UN Assistant Secretary General Robert Orr, who had introduced both Ms. Kennedy and the Microsoft representative, to justify the UN's lack of a FOIA. He said that member states had rebelled at paying "the costs associated with FOIA." Video here, from Minute 35:14. But if those costs are mostly related to redacting and concealing information, and nearly all records are not electronic, this should not be a bar.

Orr encouraged questions to the director of UNICRI, Sandro Calvani. Inner City Press asked Mr. Calvani how UNICRI is funded. He said it is all "extra-budgetary," that one third of the funds from from the Italian government, and other funds from "corporations" including "US corporations." Like Microsoft? He said that UNICRI unlike the UN Secretariat "can take risks," and doesn't need concensus for what it does How nice, to have all of the powers of the UN with none of the accountability.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/foia1unicri012209.html

With Ban Ki-Moot Mute, Obama's US Nixes Gaza Investigation Cite in UN Council

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/banki1moot012209.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 22 -- Returning voiceless from the Gaza Strip and Israel, the UN's Ban Ki-moon sat Wednesday afternoon in the Security Council chamber, listening as his American chief of Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe read out his call for an investigation of Israel's bombings of UN facilities, in the first instance by Israel itself, and for humanitarian aid and reconstruction. While the shift to self-investigation became the focus of the press corps waiting impatiently at the stakeout, inside the consultations room the negotiation of a Council press statement took a surprising turn.

Libya proposed, and most members agreed to, a paragraph mirroring Ban's muted investigation call. But the United States, represented for now by civil servant Alejandro Wolff, was having none of it. Inner City Press is told by sources in the meeting that the US would not agree to any reference to investigations. These sources marveled that, even with Obama now in power, this would be the US position. They contrasted it to the Council's reaction to an Israeli bombing in Lebanon during the 2006 war, or to an immediate denunciation of a Sudanese attack on a convoy, which after denying, Sudan apologized for.

Is this the change you could believe in, the source asked. It remains to be seen. Council leadership predicted that new US Ambassador Susan Rice will arrive in New York on Monday. But even absent his Rice, isn't Obama already in charge?

The Secretariat's press availability, like the Council briefing, was handled by Lynn Pascoe. Inner City Press started it off, asking who exactly it is that Ban wants to do the investigation. Pascoe reiterated the new line, "in the first instance... a report from Israel." Video here, from Minute 1:58.

But reporter after reporter zeroed in on the change. The Washington Post followed up on Inner City Press' question, noting that both John Ging and John Holmes had called for an independent investigation.

Pascoe grew testy, reminding the Press that Ban went to get a ceasefire and got one, we're not saying he got it alone -- Ban's spokesperson used this very same formulation -- but it was gotten. Give Ban the man a break, was the implication. And one wanted to, at least for a day. But he runs the risk of morphing from Ban Ki-Mute to Ban Ki-moot.

On the Obama front, Inner City Press asked Pascoe is he anticipates any change in his status, will it remain the same? Pascoe dodged that part of the question, saying that of course the UN wants to work with the US. As he walked away from the microphone he was asked, "Did you vote for Obama?" Amid laughter, he did not answer. Video here, from Minute 16:05.

Footnote: Ban to his credit, even unable to speak, did come to the stakeout. When the open meeting ended, he emerged with his entourage. While they may have preferred that he make a bee line to the elevators, Ban came over to the Press, shaking hands. An otherwise critical correspondent commented of Ban, he's a gentleman. Ban apologized for his voice, and for not taking questions. Why not by e-mail, Inner City Press asked. If Obama's glued to his BlackBerry, how to engage with Ban Ki-Mute?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/banki1moot012209.html

As Olmert Brags of UN's Rocket Focus, Ban Loses Voice

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/gaza1muteban012109.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 21 -- As Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert brags that he got a commitment from the UN's Ban Ki-moon that "any UN investigation of the damage resulting from the war in Gaza includes the damage Palestinian-fired rockets caused in Israel's south," Ban's spokesperson Michele Montas on Wednesday said the first investigation Ban is asking for is by Israel itself. The steps after that aren't clear, Ms. Montas said. Mr. Ban couldn't speak for himself. He has cancelled a press availability, and will reportedly only appear at the Security Council, but not speak. "Cat got your tongue, Ban Ki-Mute?" one wag snarked. Laryngitis, a more serious source told Inner City Press.

Inner City Press asked Ms. Montas to confirm a Ha'aretz report that Ban had agreed to Olmert's request. She nodded and confirmed, but upon follow-up questions acknowledged that Ban does not control what investigations are done. Questioned repeatedly about negative comments in the region about Ban, Ms. Montas said that a person who cannot be accused of not having the interest of Gazans at heart has praised Ban's performance.

It emerged that Ms. Montas was referring to the UN system's own John Ging, Gaza chief of the UN Relief and Works Agency. While Ging did on January 20 offer effusive praise of Ban as articulate and inspiring, it must be noted that Ging is part of the UN.

On the other hand Robert Fisk, a journalist long covering the region, has written that " Ban said it would not be up to him to launch a war crimes tribunal. It was pathetic."

Near the end of Wednesday's noon briefing, Ms. Montas explicitly denied that Ban has been conveying Israel's conditions to Hamas. Time did not allow Inner City Press this follow-up: since Tony Blair has said that the Quartet, of which the UN is a part, has said the Quartet will only deal or even speak with Hamas if it recognizes Israel, does Blair speak for Ban? Does Ban speak with Blair? Today, at least, Ban can't speak.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/gaza1muteban012109.html

As JPMorgan Chase Shutters WaMu Branches, Regulators Missing, Commitments Gone

Byline: Matthew R. Lee of Inner City Press on Wall Street
www.innercitypress.com/jpmc1wamu012309.html

NEW YORK, January 23 -- JPMorgan Chase is moving to closed down dozens of the Washington Mutual bank branches the government allowed it to acquire last year with no public notice or comment period. In Dallas, Chase has targeted 23 WaMu branches for closure, and another six in Fort Worth. In the Chicago area, Chase says it will shutter 57 WaMu locations. More branch closings will follow across the nation.

Community and consumers groups are belated protesting the acquisition, which was a one of a slew of so-called emergency transactions on which no Community Reinvestment Act comments were considered, including the accession of Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to bank holding company status, and Bank of America's now discredited acquisition of Merrill Lynch.

JPMorgan Chase benefited from regulator-protected acquisitions not only of WaMu but, before that, of Bear Stearns. As first reported by Inner City Press, Bronx-based Fair Finance Watch submitted to the Federal Reserve Board comments on these transactions, but was told that emergency did not allow consideration of the issues raised, including prospective branches closings.

JPMorgan Chase has now told groups who have asked if it will continue Washington Mutual's CRA programs and commitments that since there is no more Washington Mutual, there is no more commitment.

This comes in the wake of JPMorgan Chase's Jaime Dimon reversing himself from a stated commitment to mortgages through brokers to abruptly shutting down Chase's wholesale mortgage unit. While groups are told this will give Chase more control over the terms of loans, brokers point out that Chase ultimately had control in the wholesale business, too. Commitments are made to be broken, apparently, particularly those by companies the federal regulators bailed out or merged out of existence. What, the question grows, is Timothy Geithner's position on this Main Street issue?

Update: later on January 23, community groups were told that JPMorgan Chase plans to close over 40 WaMu branches in New York State...

And see, www.innercitypress.com/jpmc1wamu012309.html

Behind Bank of America's Toxic Assets, Subprime Links Obscured But Continued

Byline: Matthew R. Lee of Inner City Press on Wall Street
www.innercitypress.com/bofa1lewis012109.html

NEW YORK, January 21 -- Bank of America is now headed down a Citigroup-like path. A second serving of TARP bailout funds, government insurance for a widening range of toxic assets, a chief executive on the ropes. While Ken Lewis claimed to have gotten BofA out of the world of subprime, its investment banking arm continued to buy and trade subprime mortgages, and to prop up subprime lenders. Now Lewis implies that the $108 billion in toxic assets being insured by the government came from Merrill Lynch. But a quarter of them come from BofA itself.

As reported by Inner City Press, Bronx-based Fair Finance Watch documented this to the Federal Reserve in Communiuty Reinvestment Act comments filed in opposition to Bank of America's applications for regulatory approval to merge and expand. In its responses to FFW's comments, BofA begrudgingly acknowledged that it did business with, among others:

Ameriquest Mortgage Corporation, since defunct; Saxon, through which Morgan Stanley tells FFW it has stopped lending, Option One, Centex, New Century, bankrupt; Metris (a subprime card lender HSBC later acquired), Delta Financial, First Franklin, WMC (subprime lender owned by GE), Fremont Investment & Loan, rogue subprime lender which told FFW it would only give its Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data if one signed a confidentiality agreement), Capital One, CIT, WFS -- and Ownit, regarding which Bank of America blacked-out a column labeled "ABS/MBS Underwriting," after elsewhere publicly admitting it performs those functions for Ownit’s loans.

BofA wrote:

"Bank of America indirectly owns 24.9% of the voting common equity of Ownit... In August 2005, Bank of America, N.A. transferred the Ownit residential mortgage loan portfolio purchased during March 2005 to Asset Backed Funding Corporation (‘ABFC’). ABFC is an affiliate of Bank of America Corporation that is a limited purpose corporation that securitizes residential mortgage loans... ABFC securitized these Ownit loans, along with similar loans from another loan originator, in its approximately $1.2 billion ABFC Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2005-HE2 transaction. Banc of America Securities LLC served as the underwriter in that transaction....

In two separate transactions on March 9 and March 14, 2005 Bank of America N.A. purchased Ownit residential mortgage loans in an aggregate amount of approximately $265 million. These loans were held for the account of Bank of America, N.A. until they became part of the August 2005 securitization described at Item 2.b above. These loans were purchased in a competitive, arms-length process at fair market terms" -- followed by more than half a page blacked out.

This was the level of secrecy in the time leading up to the subprime lending meltdown. Now Ken Lewis implies that the assets being insured by the government all came from Merrill Lynch, when 25% are from BofA itself. Will Ken Lewis go the way of Citigroup's Chuck Prince and Robert Rubin? Many say that he should.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/bofa1lewis012109.html

Planet UN, Filmed in a Parallel Universe, Awaits Spiderman Rescue from Critics

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un1planet012109.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 21 -- In a time before the Oil for Food scandal, in a peacekeeping mission free from rape or sexual abuse, in a Security Council not crippled by five countries' veto power, an hour-long film was made and premiered Wednesday at the UN. The movie's director Romuald Sciora told the Press that there is more to come, including a comic strip in which "Spiderman will save the UN." The film already surrounds the UN with a force field, which apparently did not allow any critics or even much criticism in.

In three acts -- peacekeeping, development and human rights -- the film celebrates the UN. The UN in turn celebrated the film on Wednesday. In the afternoon, the heads of Public Information and Partnerships, Kiyo Akasaka and Amir Dossal respectively, offered praise at a press conference. Inner City Press asked about rape by peacekeepers and the UN's inability to discipline the culprit.

Sciora acknowledged that this is not in the film. He said if member states have more money, rape would be less likely to happen. But the problem is structural: the UN puts blue helmets on nation's soldiers, but takes on no disciplinary power over them. All the UN does, in the case of rape, is send a soldier back to his country, which often does not prosecute. Nevertheless, the UN loudly proclaims "zero tolerance."

Both Messrs. Akasaka and Dossal appear in the film, as do a range of UN characters from Ban Ki-moon and his spokesperson Michele Montas to his senior advisor Kim Won-soo and recent Middle East spokesman Ahmed Fawzi. (Fawzi on Wednesday told the Press that Ban was warned not to travel in Gaza, but wouldn't say from whom the warning had come.)

There are UN supporters from Ted Turner to William Luers, and two Ambassadors, Switzerland's Peter Maurer and France Jean-Maurice Ripert. Despite this last, there appears to be no mention of the Security Council's critical flaw, the veto held by the US, France, UK, Russia and China. These Permanent Five use the veto to put their sins, and those of their closest allies, out of the reach of the. This is another reason the UN loses credibility. But it is not mentioned in the film.

The film appears designed to indirectly counter criticisms made of the UN without mentioning them. Rwanda is mentioned, with Boutros Boutros Ghali correctly blaming the US for wanting to avoid the word genocide, while complaining at any focus on his unacted-on memo showing he knew that genocide was afoot. But corruption and waste, for example, which for some in the US including its Congress are synonymous with the UN, make no appearance in the film. To make an hour-long movie about the UN since 1994 and not mention the Oil for Food scandal, or even the Iraq debate and war, undermines the project's credibility and utility.

Sciora said in French that it is a word of "vulgarization," or popularization, designed for a boy "in Texas" who doesn't know about the UN, to "make him see the world differently." That so much of the film is in French, even from interview subjects who speak perfect English, may make it a hard sell in Texas. That it may be propaganda was not addressed.

Admittedly, there are many attacks on the UN, not all of them fair. As simply one Wednesday example, a New York Daily News story went out on the wires identifying as a UN official the president of a non-governmental organization which comments to the UN, and who was found with child pornography in his bags at JFK airport. Ironically, the UN's own Department of Public Information distributed this internally as a UN-relevant story.

Inner City Press asked DPI chief Kiyo Akasaka if he was aware of the "UNmeMovie.com" project, and he said he was. (Click here for Inner City Press' previous review.) Akasaka's review is that he wouldn't recommend that his family see it. But Planet UN is at least equally one-sided. Where is the balanced film, that analyzes the UN's functioning, accomplishments and failures, and calls it to live up to its laudable goals?

The most concrete achievement shown in the film is the UN's work on children and armed conflict, demobilizing child soldiers from Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army. But now at the LRA rampages through remotest Congo, the UN has no one nearby, only repeats its threat that the LRA's Joseph Kony will face justice. When?

The film ends with four full screens of dense text, leading to not insubstantial laughter in the theater. A film student interviewed by Inner City Press called the production values "amateur" -- it did smack of some sort of UN home movie, with uncles and aunts droning on -- and found it significant that the UN would think this a high profile film project that did it proud. Perhaps, then, the current UN lives in a parallel aesthetic universe as well. To be charitable, Sciora referred to a forthcoming book about the UN, including analysis by Noam Chomsky, who is now a Senior Advisor to UN General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann. Perhaps it will work better in text, or in 2010 in comics.

After the film, a so-called debate was held in the UN basement auditorium, at which four supporters of the UN blamed all problems on the UN's lack of resources, or the inordinate power of the "International Misery Fund," as panelist Ann-Cecile Robert crowd pleasingly called it in French. Lewis Lapham of Harper's Magazine telling did not know about the Millennium Development Goals, but said the UN needs a strong and articulate voice, but no questions were allowed from the audience about this. Does the UN at present have such a voice?

Up in the UN's lobby Wednesday night, Inner City Press asked Sha Zukang of the UN's Department of Economic and Social Affairs why he was not in the movie, while the outgoing Administrator of the UN Development Program is. I only care about results, Sha said, adding that even those the December 2008 budget debate assigned most of the new development posts to regional commissions and not his department, he is still happy. China doesn't need the UN to do development, he said. China, too, operates in a parallel universe. The worlds are supposed to meet at the UN, but sometimes as in this case there is a failure to engage.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1planet012109.html

In Congo, UN Blocked from Civilian Protection, Bosco in the Mix, UK Hears Nothing

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/drc1bosco012109.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 21 -- The joint Rwandan and Congolese offensive on Hutu rebels in the Eastern Congo has involved barring access to UN peacekeepers and to the press, and appears to have involved indicted war criminal Bosco Ntaganda. At the UN on Wednesday, Inner City Press asked UK Ambassador John Sawers about the blocking of Indian peacekeepers and Red Cross workers from areas in which civilians are in danger. "I haven't heard that report," Ambassador Sawers said, while saying of the operation that "taken as a whole... it is good." Video here, from Minute 5:59.

Apparently the Security Council or at least Ambassador Sawers is so focused on the conflict in Gaza that events more directly implicating the UN are being ignored. Minutes later on Wednesday, Inner City Press asked the head of UN Peacekeeping, Alain Le Roy, about event in the Congo. Le Roy confirmed that peacekeepers had been blocked. Has this not been conveyed to the Council or UK Mission to the UN?

Previously, Ambassador Sawers said he wasn't aware of the involvement of South Sudan in the offensive against the Lord's Resistance Army elsewhere in the Congo. That botched operation has left in its wake more that 600 civilians killed. What will be the body count in the parts of North Kivu from which UN peacekeepers are being barred?

As to the involvement of Bosco Ntaganda, indicted by the International Criminal Court, UN spokesperson Michele Montas on Wednesday told Inner City Press that "whether Bosco participates in it is not of our concern." Video here, from Minute 23:45.

Not only is the ICC connected to the UN -- its State Parties are meeting in the UN Headquarters basement this week to elect judges -- but the UN and Ban Ki-moon are on record as opposing impunity, and for the enforcement of ICC warrants, for example in Sudan. The UN Secretariat, too, has been entirely consumed by Gaza.

Ms. Montas had read out a statement from the UN's Alan Doss that his mission, MONUC, has not be involved in the offensive which is a "bilateral" arrangement between the governments of Rwanda and the Congo. But Congolese legislators in Kinshasa now say they were not consulted, just as they were not consulted on President Joseph Kabila's $9 billion mineral arrangement with the Chinese. Inner City Press asked Ms. Montas if Doss' formal statement implied that the UN views the agreement with Rwanda as effectively approved by all necessary Congolese authorities. No, Ms. Montas said, MONUC "has nothing to say about that." Video here, from Minute 23:03.

Inner City Press asked the Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to UN, Atoki Ileka, about Bosco and the legislator's protest. Ileka called the former "murky," and pointed out of the legislator that "he comes from the area, he has to say that." People, including the Ambassadors on the UN Security Council, seem to want to close their eyes and hope the offensive against the FDLR works out, certainly better than the one on the Lord's Restistance Army. But what about civilians?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/drc1bosco012109.html

In Gaza, UN's Ban Meets Staff, Ging Sings for Supper, John Holmes Heads to the Strip

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/gaza1travels012009.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 20 -- As its Secretary General Ban Ki-moon showed up in Gaza, the UN's call for an "independent investigation" of Israel's bombings of its facilities morphed into a "demand [for] an Israeli investigation." Inner City Press asked the UN's John Holmes and John Ging what lay behind this new phrasing. Ging said he wasn't sure; Holmes pointed out that the UN has always called for Israel to look into what it did. But he agreed that an Israeli investigation would, by definition, not have the independence originally called for. Video here, from Minute 23:55.

Inner City Press sources in Gaza say that Ban was only "allowed" to travel to and from the UN Relief and Works Agency compound. They also disagree with John Ging's seemingly forced statement that UNRWA staff "unanimously" were inspired by Ban, who Ging also called "articulate." One source scoffed that Ging's January 20 briefing smacked of video footage of American pilots downed in Vietnam. Holmes congratulated Ging for finally putting on a tie in honor of the Secretary General. That's not all he put on, one wage added.

Holmes will be traveling to Gaza. Inner City Press asked if he is coordinating with the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel, who announced the day previously that he will be in Gaza on January 25 and 26. Holmes said he hadn't been aware that Michel would be in Gaza, but that the UN and EU coordinate closely. He said the EU will not have a "rival" reconstruction and humanitarian aid program. He also said that both he and Ban Ki-moon have spoken with Quartet envoy -- and JPMorgan Chase consultant -- Tony Blair several times in the past few days. We'll see.

Inner City Press asked who will remove or defuse the unexploded ordnance in the Strip. Ging said the first step is to identify locations; Holmes' trip will address who will clean it up. Elsewhere, such work is coordinated by the obscure UN Office of Project Services, all of executives are currently in the UN Headquarters basement to convince their Executive Board to allow them to give promotions to themselves, click here for that.

What was billed as a closed meet of the UN's "High Level" group on Gaza was to meet with John Holmes at 3:30 p.m. in basement Conference Room 5, usually reserved for budget committee wrangling. At 3:30 Holmes was nowhere to be seen, while the room filled with junior level staffers from the missions of primarily European Union countries. Holmes came with two staffers at 3:37, first approaching rooms meeting on Nepal and Somalia before being directed to where the youthful Europeans awaited. "High level," Inner City Press joked. "Numerous," Holmes replied, seemingly in reference to the low turn-out at the morning press conference. The doors closed.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/gaza1travels012009.html

At UN, Obama Inauguration Causes Work Halt, Jokes, More Gaza Confusion

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un2obama012009.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 20 -- Much of the UN in New York came to a halt for the inauguration of Barack Obama. In the Delegates' Lounge around a big screen TV a crowd gathered, including the Ambassadors of Switzerland, Rwanda, the Netherlands and Mauritania, where the same Permanent Representative remains from before the coup d'etat.

As on the screen Joe Biden repeated lines from Justice John Paul Stevens, there was a smattering of applause in the UN Delegates' Lounge. It erupted when Obama, after stumbling, took the oath of office. "Finally," someone in the crowd exclaimed. Expectations in the UN are high, probably too high, as elsewhere.

"America is a friend of each nation," Obama intoned, "ready to lead once more." But of what will such leadership consist? Already his Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice has said the time is not right for UN Peacekeepers in Somalia, despite the chaos there. Obama's statements on Gaza have left many at the UN disappointed.

As Obama spoke, General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann and his entourage passed by in the hall. Inner City Press went out and asked the PGA Spokesman about the January 16 vote on Gaza, in which Nicaragua and nine nations, including Syria, Venezuela, Ecuador and Indonesia, voted to sideline an Egyptian and European Union resolution about Gaza. This happens when you are caught in the middle, the spokesman said, promising to get back with answers directly from d'Escoto.

Indonesia's Ambassador had stopped to speak with d'Escoto. Inner City Press stopped him as well, expressing surprising at seeing Indonesia in the Axis of Ten. He laughed and said his votes are not based on how others vote, but the situation on the ground. When asked about Obama, he laughed again. Previously he noted to Inner City Press how popular Obama is in his country, based on living their for a time as a child.

Walking by in the hall in the middle of Obama's speech were, among others, the Ambassadors of Ghana and Burkina Faso; arriving late were their counterparts from Costa Rica and Morocco. Down in the UN's basement in the NGO Committee -- which continued meeting during the inauguration -- a human rights NGO is under attack by Algeria for its human rights complaints. The US representative on the Committee told Inner City Press on January 19 that he is waiting from instructions from Washington, for what will now be a January 23 vote. Will the instructions change, based on Obama's entry?

Rwanda's Ambassador stayed past the end of the inauguration, the poem, the flash of Bill Clinton looking like Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler. A cynic from West Africa sidled up, commenting on the tableau of the Obama and Bush couples. "The Angels and the Devil," he said, "except this time the angel is black and the Devil is white."

Inner City Press asked Kigali's envoy about the current assault on the remaining Hutu rebels in the Congo. Is the UN Mission involved? Yes, he said, on the side of the Congolese government. At Tuesday's UN "noon" briefing, held early in deference to Obama, spokesperson Michele Montas had told Inner City Press the Mission, MONUC, is not involved at all.

The Bushes got on the helicopter which rose into the air. "Do you know where they're going?" the cynic asked. Inner City Press and the Rwandan Ambassador waited to hear. The answer came, "Guantanamo Bay."

Click here for Inner City Press' news analysis earlier on Tuesday about what the incoming Obama Administration may mean for top UN officials from the US, particularly UNICEF's Ann Veneman. A press conference by her would seem in order.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un2obama012009.html