At UN on Southern Kordofan, Who Should Call for Probe Was Issue, No One Urging Action

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 18 -- On Southern Kordofan it emerges that the fight in the Security Council on July 15 was about whether the Council should be calling for an investigation of war crimes.

“Navi Pillay is already doing it,” a Council member told Inner City Press. “Why do we have to call for it?”

A UN official confided that a real investigation will show misdeed by the UN peacekeepers from Egypt as well. The conflict of interest is that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was only in Sudan as a component of the peacekeeping mission UNMIS. How can the UN report on itself?

The balance for the UN involves at least four legs: political, peacekeeping, humanitarian and human rights. And they may well be the pecking order, with human rights right at the bottom, at least under Haile Menkerios -- who flew indicted war criminal Ahmed Haroun on a UN copter -- and Ibrahim Gambari in Darfur.

What should future UN envoys do? How should they be judged? Watch this site.

Footnote: Meanwhile the Justice & Equality Movement is bragging that it teamed up with SPLM-North and fought and killed 100 Northern soldiers. It is a war, and the UN sits impotent. We will continue on this.

At UN on Eritrea, Badme Is In Eye of Beholder, Meles Ego Blocks a Deal?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 18 -- On Eritrea's request the UN Security Council will meet on July 19. But the meeting is now turned against Eritrea, with not only Ethiopia and Somalia but also Djibouti, Uganda and other set to attend.

“Eritrea is going to get its [behind] kicked,” a Security Council member told Inner City Press on Monday night. “They're not going to know what hit them.”

When Eritrea's president met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on July 8, he asked for “three hours” to make his case, including against sanctions. But sanctions aren't set by Ban Ki-moon, but rather by the Council.

Just like last September, when Eritrea got thrown out of a meeting on Somalia at the last minute at the insistence of Uganda, now it will be barrage on Tuesday afternoon.

But as more than one Council member told Inner City Press, why not pressure Ethiopia to give back the strip of land in Badme that Eritrea won? “They they'd have no leg to stand on,” as one member put it. “Meles Zenawi is ready to give it back, but he doesn't want Eritrea gloating about it.”

This from a person who called Eritrea repressive, accusing it of not giving passports to any male between 20 and 40 years old.

Will the solution to this problem have to await the next generation of leaders? Watch this site.

In S. Kordofan, UN Says It Can't Move, No Comment on Sudan Currency War

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 18 -- Amid reports of worsening violence in Southern Kordofan, not only at the UN peacekeepers there preparing to leave: even while still there, they “cannot move” even if they see war crimes committed in front of them, the UN told Inner City Press on Monday.

Last week outgoing UN Peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy told Inner City Press that while they cannot patrol or use force, if the peacekeepers saw something happen in front of them, they would respond “as humanitarians.”

But Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Martin Nesirky on Monday disagreed when Inner City Press asked for confirmation of Le Roy's statement. “They cannot move,” Nesirky said, “whether you like it or not or whether we like it or not, the United Nations does not have a mandate to operate there.”

If UN personnel present in a war zone are told by the Secretary General's spokesman that they “cannot move,” what does it mean to repeatedly say “never again”? We'll see.

Beyond saying its peackeepers “cannot move” in Southern Kordofan, the UN didn't even have a comment on North Sudan declaring itself ready for a currency war with South Sudan, refusing to redeem billions in Sudanese pounds circulating in the South.

Inner City Press asked for comment, from envoy Haile Menkerios or new envoy to South Sudan Hilde Johnson, but Nesirky said the UN has nothing to say.

So what is the UN's role in and on Sudan? From the UN's July 18 noon briefing transcript:

Inner City Press: In South Kordofan, I understand that a lot of it rides on the Security Council mandate, but there have been over the weekend more and more reporting of bombing, and of surrendering Nuba soldiers. And so,have any of the existing peacekeepers left the area? Are they there? What are they doing? What does the UN say about events in the last 48 hours in South Kordofan?

Spokesperson Nesirky: Well, I think the answer remains the same as last week. Whether you like it or not or whether we like it or not, the United Nations does not have a mandate to operate there. It is something that, clearly, we had wished to be otherwise. And the Secretary-General made very clear that there should not be any vacuum or gap in our ability to monitor what is happening. But that is the case. That is the case. And as for the presence of the troops, the peacekeeping troops there, they are in the process of moving out as they are required to do under this liquidation resolution. But they have not yet fully withdrawn. That’s where we are.

Inner City Press: [inaudible -- per the UN]

Spokesperson: I think it’s very important here to look at the reality. The reality is that the Security Council passed a resolution. The reality is that the Government of Sudan did not allow the mission to continue. Did we want it to be otherwise? Yes, we did. That’s why the Secretary-General went to Khartoum. It’s regrettable that we do not have the ability to do what needs to be done.

Inner City Press: Is it Alain Le Roy, when at the stakeout, he’d said they have no mandate to use force or to patrol, but if they witness things, they will respond as humanitarians. So, have they witnessed anything? Have they responded? He seemed to say that they wouldn’t just sit entirely idly by, that there was some sort of baseline--

Spokesperson: Well, they are not in a position to do that, they are not in a position to move. They are not in a position to move, and that’s the reality. That’s the reality at the moment, okay.

Inner City Press: this just less, less physical violence, but there is this idea of a currency war that South Sudan is creating its new currency and so North Sudan has said it is going to create a new currency and won’t redeem any of the Sudanese pounds that are in circulation in South Sudan. I am just… one, I am wondering if the UN has any comment, and two is, is this the kind of issue that Menkerios would work on or who is there? It seems to be…

Spokesperson: No, I don’t think we have any comment on that at the moment. If that changes, I’ll let you know.

Inner City Press later sent the question to the spokespeople of the International Monetary Fund, which is ostensibly a part of the UN system:

“We've seen the IMF Survey stating on South Sudan that 'the parties have not yet agreed on what will happen with the Sudanese pounds that are currently circulating in the South.' But the deputy governor of the Central Bank of Sudan, Badr al-Deen Mahmood, has said the north is ready for a 'currency war.' Central Bank governor Mohamed Kheir al-Zubeir say said: 'We do not want to buy [the old currency]. We want them to surrender it to us because it is valueless.'

This is a request for the IMF's view of this 'currency war.'

The IMF has a briefing later this week. Watch this site.

As Libya Rebels Recognized by Contact Group, UN Stance Unchanged

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 18 -- What has been the impact of the Contact Group on Libya last week deeming the National Transitional Council as the legitimate government?

At the UN, none. A spokesman for the chair of the Libya Sanctions Committee said that there are not changes to the sanctions or arms embargo. (In any event, as Inner City Press covered, France parachuted weapons into the Nafusa mountains.)

At Monday's UN noon briefing, Inner City Press asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Martin Nesirky if the UN would change its decision to silence the NTC's representatives, Abdurrahman Mohamed Shalgam and Ibrahim Dabbashi:

Inner City Press: with the decision by the Contact Group to recognize the National Transitional Council as essentially the Government of Libya, I wonder [what] that changes. I know that the UN Secretariat gave these courtesy passes to former Ambassador Shalgham and his deputy, Ibrahim Dabbashi. But then it imposed some conditions that they couldn’t speak at the stakeout, but they could come into the building. Does the Contact Group decision about who is the legitimate representative of Libya change anything about the Secretariat’s decision on these two diplomats that have gone to the Benghazi side?

Spokesperson Nesirky: Not to my knowledge, because the Contact Group is not responsible for recognizing or otherwise.

Inner City Press: Could we get Ian Martin? Is it possible, given Ian Martin’s now even more prominent role in this, you know, transition in Libya, to have him either do a stakeout or come to the this room just to describe what his work is and where it stands?

Spokesperson: We can certainly ask.

So far, nothing. Watch this site.

Footnotes: while Dabbashi most recently predicted to Inner City Press that Gaddafi would be "gone by mid-July," it's now July 18, and he's still there...

A question put to the IMF's spokespeople on Monday, whether the Contact Group's decision changed in any way the Bretton Woods institution's previous stance of not working with the National Transitional Council has so far not been answered. It will be asked at the IMF's next briefing.

In Cote d'Ivoire, Choi Wants to Leave, Delayed Elections & Douekoue Process

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 18 -- After Choi Young-jin briefed the Security Council Monday about Ivory Coast, he did an interview with Korea Broadcasting. Then he took five questions from Inner City Press at the regular UN Television camera. He essentially confirmed that he is leaving, saying that he'd told Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that it makes more sense to have a new envoy in place for the “next chapter in Cote d'Ivoire.”

Choi had previously said he would stay through the parliamentary elections, but that seems to no longer hold. Inner City Press asked about these; Choi said they were slated for the end of the year but face a number of challenges, including looted electoral offices and consideration of adding 50 to 75 seats.

Inner City Press asked Choi about the the continued “house arrest” of Laurent Gbagbo: does the UN think that he should be charged? Choi described his visit to Gbagbo, including Gbagbo jokingly asking his doctor if he's healthy, but did not opine on detention without charge.

Pressed, Choi said that there are processes underway at the International Criminal Court and in Cote d'Ivoire, but they are in “preliminary” stages. So much for the UN and habeus corpus.

Nor has action been taking on the killings in Douekoue, which Choi said were “two thirds” committed by forces supporting Ouattara. Inner City Press asked Choi what has been done and he described meeting with Ouattara, who in turn called in the prime minister and zone commanders and promised no impunity. We'll see.

Footnote: as Choi left the Security Council stakeout, Inner City Press joked to him that since Ban Ki-moon ran for a second term without any alternative candidate, he hadn't needed anyone to run his campaign as Choi did in 2006. Choi and his two aides laughed and then were gone.

Inner City Press asked the Korea Broadcasting crew, thinking they might have insight into Choi's next assignment, in Seoul or for the UN, "what do you think he'll be doing next?" One said, "Having lunch."

At UN, Bamba of Cote d'Ivoire Confirms Detention of “Spoilers,” Choi Leaving

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 18 -- As Choi Young-jin gave his final briefing as UN envoy to Cote d'Ivoire on Monday, outside the Security Council Inner City Press asked Ivorian Permanent Representative Bamba about the continued detention of former officials who served under Laurent Gbagbo, including as prime minister and foreign minister.

Inner City Press asked, “Are they still held in the Pergola Hotel?”

“No,” Bamba said. “They have been taken up north.”

Inner City Press followed up, “On what charges?”

“They are spoilers,” Bamba said. “They are trying to give people the false hope that Gbagbo will return. If they stopped that, there'd be no reason to keep holding them.”

Leaving aside the legality of this type of detention -- Choi should have something to say about it, before he leaves -- Inner City Press asked Bamba about the status of the International Criminal Court's inquiry into Cote d'Ivoire. Bamba said it is “progressive... in Chamber Two.” But what about Douekoue?

Bamba confirmed to Inner City Press that Choi is leaving. He said he doesn't yet know who will replace him. As Inner City Press reported last month, the buzz in the UN is that Bert Koenders will get the job, as fellow Dutchman Ad Melkert leaves the UN's Iraq post with UNAMI. As to who will replace Melkert, we'll have more, and soon -- the Security Council meets on Iraq on July 19.

For now we can say that "carpetbagger" Michael von der Schulenburg has competition, including from other Germans. Watch this site.

As UN Sends Staff to Kyrgyzstan, Rights Report Author Still Banned

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 17 -- After the Kyrgyz Parliament voted to bar entry by Kimmo Kiljunen, the author of a report on the ethnic violence in that country, the UN on May 26 told Inner City Press that it wasn't their report, “that’s really a matter for the Kyrgyz authorities and Mr. Kiljunen.”

Meanwhile two UN staffers from the Policy and Mediation Unit of the UN Department of Political Affairs headed to Kyrgyzstan this weekend, Inner City Press has learned.

When Miroslav Jenca, special representative of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for Central Asia, emerged after briefing the UN Security Council midday on Friday, Inner City Press asked him about Kyrgyzstan, Kiljunen and his report.

Standing with two aides, Jenca told Inner City Press that he has been pushing for “implementation” of the report's recommendations. He spoke about presidential elections, and said the UN Department of Political Affairs is involved in this as well, but will not be “too” involved.

“So, not like in Cote d'Ivoire?” Inner City Press asked. Both of Jenca's aide laughed. Jenca himself said said there's discussion of allow Kiljunen in to have a dialogue with the Parliament -- but that has not happened yet.

Nor, it seems, has Jenca or the UN done anything about the December 2009 murder in Altamy, Kazakhstan of Kygyz journalist Gennady Pavlyuk, who was thrown from a sixth story window with this legs and arms bound. The Kazakh police are now saying it was mere robbery. Where is the UN on this?

As UN Council Can't Agree on Kordofan Statement, UNclear Who's Still There

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 15, updated at end -- After UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos gave a closed door briefing about Southern Kordofan to the Security Council, the New York representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic came to present the issue to the press.

Inner City Press asked Simonovic who in the UN system, or which unit, was being able to report from Southern Kordofan, and what he and his Office made of allegation that UN peacekeepers, even before their mandate expired on July 9, didn't do enough to protect civilians in Kordofan.

Simonovic said that reporting is difficult because on July 9 “we lost our mandate [and] our presence.”

It was not clear who Simonovic meant when he said “we.” The Amos-headed UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs? Or are all representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights attached to the UN Mission in Sudan, which ended on July 9?

Simonovic indicated that they were tied to the Mission. One wonders if they tried to negotiate with Omar al Bashir's government before then to be able to stay. If not, why not? Simonovic took two questions from Inner City Press -- he dodged the question of inaction by Egyptian peacekeepers, perhaps because his Office is entirely aligned with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations -- and then he left.

It is important that the UN be clear on what expired on July 9. On July 13 Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Martin Nesirky about the bombing in Kordofan:

Inner City Press: There are these reports of continued bombing in Kadugli and South Kordofan. It says the UN has reported, I guess to BBC, that these bombs are falling. One, can you confirm that? And two, this would seem to indicate that the UN is at least in a position to report what they hear or see. I am just trying to figure out what the UN presence in Kordofan is going to be between now and the end of August. Is there going to be some kind of at least visual observation and reporting?

Spokesperson Nesirky: Well, it depends on what you mean by the UN, Matthew, because there is a UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) which is now being liquidated, because that’s what has to happen. And there are other members of the UN family, so to speak, who would also presumably be in the area, too. That’s the first point. The second is that I would need to check with my colleagues to see whether they have any further information on the bombings that you have referred to. But we’ve made clear, I have made clear from here, that the UN Mission in Sudan is in now the phase of winding down. It no longer has a mandate to operate. It’s not what we wanted, but it is a fact. And so, therefore, it is not possible for the Mission — the previous Mission — to be active in patrolling and so on. I would need to find out if these reports are correct and where they emanate from.

Inner City Press: There are these reports of continued bombing in Kadugli and South Kordofan. It says the UN has reported, I guess to BBC, that these bombs are falling. One, can you confirm that? And two, this would seem to indicate that the UN is at least in a position to report what they hear or see. I am just trying to figure out what the UN presence in Kordofan is going to be between now and the end of August. Is there going to be some kind of at least visual observation and reporting?

Spokesperson Nesirky: Well, it depends on what you mean by the UN, Matthew, because there is a UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) which is now being liquidated, because that’s what has to happen. And there are other members of the UN family, so to speak, who would also presumably be in the area, too. That’s the first point. The second is that I would need to check with my colleagues to see whether they have any further information on the bombings that you have referred to. But we’ve made clear, I have made clear from here, that the UN Mission in Sudan is in now the phase of winding down. It no longer has a mandate to operate. It’s not what we wanted, but it is a fact. And so, therefore, it is not possible for the Mission — the previous Mission — to be active in patrolling and so on. I would need to find out if these reports are correct and where they emanate from.

Two full days later, Nesirky had not provide any information in this regard. Now Simonovic has said that the human rights monitoring in Southern Kordofan was so aligned with UN peacekeeping that “we lost our mandate and presence.”

Later on Friday Security Council president Peter Wittig came and read out some “elements to the press” summarizing the Council's discussion. A real Press Statement could not be agreed on.

Inner City Press asked if the satellite photographs reportedly of mass graves had been discussed. Wittig replied that Amos had used different sources.

Later, Amos released a statement with this sentence in which the word “grave” appears three times: “We do not know whether there is any truth to the grave allegations of extra-judicial killings, mass graves and other grave violations in South Kordofan.”

Inner City Press asked Wittig why this wasn't even a Press Statement, and wouldn't go on the Council's web site. We thought speed was important, Wittig said. But what is being accomplished? Who is even trying?

Upate of 5:56 pm -- sources in the negotiations says that "some delegations" wanted to list the specific allegation (though not including the satellite photos), and others wanted to "welcome" OHCHR's intention to issue a report in the future -- both were blocked, or could not be agreed by 2pm. Hence the mere "elements to the press." Watch this site.

While UN Dodges Kordofan Mass Graves Photos, Talks of Statement on Access

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 15 -- Amid reports of mass graves in Sudan's Southern Kordofan state, the UN Security Council scheduled a briefing by UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos on Friday morning. The session was behind closed doors, and Khartoum's Deputy Permanent Representative buzzed around outside, trying like the Press to glean what was said inside.

Inner City Press asked a number of exiting diplomats if the satellite images said to be of mass graves were discussed. No, three diplomats said, including one from a delegation responsible for calling the briefing.

When Valerie Amos came out at 11:15, Inner City Press asked her about the satellite photos: “do you believe them?”

She paused and said, “These are allegations that have to be investigated, in my view.”

But do you have access, Inner City Press asked, in order to investigate?

“Access is a huge problem,” Amos replied. “We've been asking since the sixth of June, we have not had a positive response from the Government of Sudan.” She said some NGOs got into their offices in Kadugli, but have no more access than that.

She said the UN is being told to deliver aid only “through national NGOs, but they do not have capacity.”

The Security Council, it has been noted, used Chapter Seven of the UN Charter to authorize what it called the protection of civilians in Libya. Some wonder, why not move in that direction here? Is it less important?

“Ask the members of the Security Council,” Amos told Inner City Press. Watch this site.

Footnote: after the briefing and these questions, Council members indicated that a press statement on Sudan is being worked on at the experts' level and will issue. Edmond Mulet of Peacekeeping told Inner City Press he briefing the Council on the progress of deploying the Ethiopian troops in Abyei.

Ivan Simonovic of the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights came out. He said to “wait until the noon briefing” to ask questions. Sources tell Inner City Press he attended the consultations but didn't say anything. Ah, human rights.

After UN's Nuclear Meeting on Syria, Russia Calls It History, Damascus a Campaign

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 14 -- Even before the UN Security Council began meeting Thursday afternoon about the Dair Alzour in Syria, China's Deputy Permanent Representative Wang told the Press that “the issue shouldn't be here, it no longer exists.”

A Russian representative called Inner City Press aside and said, “We are only here because we are Council members. The Council is for threats to international peace and security, not for history.”

After Israel bombed Dair Alzour, the facility was destroyed. After the briefing -- and after for example French Ambassador Gerard Araud walked by the media assembled outside without saying anything -- Syria's Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari came out.

First he read to the press from former International Atomic Energy Agency director ElBaradei's book, “The Age of Deception,” about Israel's attack. Then he said that even if there were radiation at the site, it could have come from the bombs Israel had used.

Inner City Press asked Ja'afari if he thought the push to have this debate in the Security Council was related to the stalled draft resolution on the crackdown in Syria. Video here.

Ja'afari said yes, it is an “orchestrated campaign against my country... They try to mobilize all agencies against Syria.” He spoke on (BlackBerry) camera about the European draft resolution, the attempt to put language about the crackdown into the UNDOF resolution (click here for Inner City Press' story on that) and to this “nucear” issues, adding, “they are so polite, they call it implementation of the safeguard agreement.”

Inner City Press asked him, “What's the next move?”

Ja'afari answered, “biological or chemical.” Video here. And then he was gone.

As South Sudan Celebrates Its Touchdown at UN, Darfur & S. Kordofan Face Deadly Blitz from Al Bashir

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 14 -- At the end of a long day and a much longer process, South Sudan Vice President Riek Machar told Inner City Press that people in Darfur could take hope from his country's admission to the UN on July 14. “It can be done,” he said. “Omar al Bashir needs peace.”

Inner City Press asked Machar about the plight of Nuba peole in Southern Kordofan. “Bashir needs to abide by what was agreed in Addis,” Machar said. “If he does that, everything can work out.”

But speaking to the Security Council on July 13, US Ambassador Susan Rice said Khartoum is “wavering” on the June 28 agreement with the SPLM-North. Inner City Press asked her at the Council stakeout, “they've actually kind of totally broken it. They've said that they don't stand behind it. What's your understanding of where it stands?”

Ambassador Rice reiterated there, “the Government of Sudan did sign an agreement. And it would be most unfortunate if they formally reneged on that agreement.”

South Africa's mission to the UN, preparing celebrations for the birthday of Nelson Mandela upon whose inauguration a song “Black President” was launched, took a lead in celebrating South Sudan's joining the UN on July 14. They wondered why, for example, the people of Western Sahara have had to wait so long, and those of Palestine.

But Thursday was a good news day at the UN. Another longtime South Sudan proponent, Lumumba Stanislaus-Kaw Di-Aping, told Inner City Press that South Sudan is looking to rent space in Uganda House, next door to the US Mission.

His minister Deng Alor, out on First Avenue, invited Inner City Press to visit Juba again, for what would be the third time. Then he got into an entourage of black limousine, the last of which had Virginia license plates.

Months ago in the General Assembly lobby, Lumumba Stanislaus-Kaw Di-Aping told Inner City Press that the strategy of the SPLM was never to go for the touchdown, but in an NFL football analogy to move the ball ten yards at a time, from first down to first down. This week they scored their touchdown.

It was day for dancing, most notably by yet another longtime South Sudan proponent, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth. But while the song “Signed Sealed Delivered, I'm Yours” had one meaning in Juba, it still rang empty Thursday in Kadugli, and through South Kordofan. These struggles continue -- watch this site.

On Somalia Piracy, US Questions Regulating Mercenaries, Egypt Says Crime is Crime

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 14 -- Amid controversy about the use of mercenaries to face off against pirates off the coast of Somalia, the US State Department's Donna Hopkins on July 14 told Inner City Press “there's a robust international effort [about] the use of armed security, private or not, and how it should be regulated, if at all.” Video here, from Minute 13:30.

Earlier in the month, the chairman of the UN's Working Group on mercenaries told Inner City Press that a draft convention to regulate private military contractors is being opposed by large states.

Apparently, even with Blackwater having renamed itself Xe Services and moved to the Middle East, the US is still opposed to regulating mercenaries, including on the high seas.

Hopkins is formally the Coordinator of the Counter Piracy and Maritime Security Bureau of Political Military Affairs at the US State Department, and chairs “Working Group Three” of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. Denmark's Legal Adviser Thomas Winkler declined to say if the use of armed security is good or bad, but added that no ship with armed guards has been hijacked.

Another Contact Group member, Egypt's Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister and Counter Terrorism Coordinator Ashraf Mohsen, adopted an even harder line. Inner City Press asked if the Contact Group has done anything about illegal fishing or the dumping of toxic waste.

“Some will try to justify criminal behavior,” Mohsen said, citing poverty as an excuse for stealing, injustice as a rationale for killing. “Crime is crime... Piracy is a form of criminal behavior. Any justification is unacceptable.”

As if to counteract this position, Mary Seet-Cheng of Singapore said that piracy cannot be solved at sea. The UK's Chris Holtby chimed in about efforts on the rule of law in Somalia, the development of its Exclusive Economic Zone. He did not mention outside involvement in what purported to be Somalia's own Law of the Sea filing. And so it goes at the UN.

As S. Sudan Joins UN, Machar Speaks of Darfur & Eritrea, Ban Silent, No Q&A

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 14 -- South Sudan was admitted to the UN on Thursday morning in New York, its new flag raised on the pole of Mauritius facing First Avenue.

In the General Assembly, US Ambassador Susan Rice on behalf of the host country quoted President Obama, that “after the darkness of war, there can be a new day of peace and progress.” Her speech did not mention the continued war in Southern Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur in the Sudan.

South Sudan's vice president Riek Machar in his speech spoke of these and of Darfur, and called for peace between Eritrea and Ethiopia, and in Somalia. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during his trip to Juba last weekend met with Eritrea's president Isaias Afewerki, and his office issued this read out:

“The Secretary-General met with President Isaias Afewerki in Juba on 8 July 2011. The Secretary-General and President Afewerki discussed peace and security issues in the region in particular the independence of South Sudan, and they agreed to find another opportunity to discuss the role of Eritrea and the complexities of the sub-region.”

Strikingly, the UN's read out of the meeting did not even mention Ethiopia or Somalia. On July 11, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky about it:

Inner City Press: the Secretary-General met with the President of Eritrea. I wanted to know if that was his first meeting with him. And also the readout didn’t seem to make any reference to the widespread allegations that Eritrea supports Al-Shabaab and is a destabilizing factor in Somalia. Was this something that was discussed, or was not in the readout, or not discussed at all?

Spokesperson Nesirky: Well, the readout speaks for itself, Matthew.

Inner City Press: Is that his first meeting with the President of Eritrea?

Spokesperson Nesirky: I’ll check, but on the other topic that you’ve mentioned, I think the readout speaks for itself.

While more than two days later this simple question had not been answered, in the meantime several diplomats at the UN told Inner City Press that what the read out speaks of is a diplomacy by Ban that is far too quiet. Even South Sudan with all the work ahead of it is talking about peace between Eritrea and Ethiopia, including in Somalia. How could the Secretary General not even bring it up?

Ban spoke at the South Sudan festivities on Thursday morning, but unlike President of the General Assembly Joseph Diess, Ban took no questions. (Nor did he on July 12, when he came to the Security Council stakeout but left without taking any questions.)

So Inner City Press went to Thursday's noon briefing, after the South Sudan flag raising and PGA Deiss' stakeout were over.

Several journalists were waiting, but none of Ban's spokespeople ever appeared. Finally Inner City Press was directed to an email of 10 am that day, that “Noon Briefing canceled.”

Inner City Press immediately emailed Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky and his deputy Farhan Haq, asking, “Could you say why there is no noon briefing today?”

A quarter of an hour later, Haq replied, “We had explained to the press via the intercom this morning: Because of the flag raising ceremony for the Republic of South Sudan just before noon, there will be no noon briefing today.”

This does not explain it: the Office of the Spokesperson has more than enough staff to cover the flag raising ceremony -- which like Deiss' stakeout was over before noon -- and the already determined admission of South Sudan to the UN is hardly the only news of the day.

So why did Ban not take questions on July 12, not hold a stakeout like President of the General Assembly Deiss on July 14, and cancel even the normal noon briefing on July 14? Watch this site.

Footnotes: Mauritius gave up its flag pole space because it happened to be right in front of the GA, Inner City Press was told. Inside the General Assembly, making an extra space for the Republic of South Sudan was said to require one of the three Observers to not have a space. Palestine and the Holy See continued to share; the EU was not in. Camera space is going to be taken for extra states under the Capital Master Plan, Inner City Press has been told. We'll be here.

Amid Shots of Mass Graves in Kordofan, UN Won't Back Its Own Reports

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 14 -- With the UN peacekeepers in Southern Kordofan staying in their bases, unable to patrol, there's documentation of mass graves being discovered and of continued bombing, the latter said to be reported by the UN. But by whom in the UN?

Sudan's Ambassador to the UN has said, and top UN peacekeeper Alain Le Roy on Wednesday confirmed, that the UN Mission in Sudan “is over,” and force can no longer be used, even to protect civilians.

Meanwhile the UN's chief humanitarian Valerie Amos told Inner City Press that the future of the UN country team in Sudan is being negotiated with Khartoum. If the UN has told peacekeepers in Kordofan to stand down due to lack of host country consent, the same would seem to apply to all parts of the UN system.

On July 13 Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Martin Nesirky about the bombing in Kordofan:

Inner City Press: There are these reports of continued bombing in Kadugli and South Kordofan. It says the UN has reported, I guess to BBC, that these bombs are falling. One, can you confirm that? And two, this would seem to indicate that the UN is at least in a position to report what they hear or see. I am just trying to figure out what the UN presence in Kordofan is going to be between now and the end of August. Is there going to be some kind of at least visual observation and reporting?

Spokesperson Nesirky: Well, it depends on what you mean by the UN, Matthew, because there is a UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) which is now being liquidated, because that’s what has to happen. And there are other members of the UN family, so to speak, who would also presumably be in the area, too. That’s the first point. The second is that I would need to check with my colleagues to see whether they have any further information on the bombings that you have referred to. But we’ve made clear, I have made clear from here, that the UN Mission in Sudan is in now the phase of winding down. It no longer has a mandate to operate. It’s not what we wanted, but it is a fact. And so, therefore, it is not possible for the Mission — the previous Mission — to be active in patrolling and so on. I would need to find out if these reports are correct and where they emanate from.

But a full 19 hours later, Nesirky had not provide any information in this regard. Meanwhile satellite imagery was released, not by the UN, showing mass graves in Kordofan.

On July 13, the UN's Alain Le Roy said that peacekeepers still could and would respond as humanitarians while in Kordofan. What do they do now? Watch this site.

At UN, Ban Slams Gaddafi Like Gbagbo, Defers on Opponents' Abuses, Myanmar

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 14 -- The UN always says that it is watching, but only sometimes it denounces. So it is in Libya.

Abuses by Gaddafi forces, still prevalent, have been condemned from Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on down. But amid reports of looting and beatings by anti-Gaddafi rebels, the UN in New York stands silent, trying to pass the buck to more distant parts of the UN system.

On July 13 Inner City Press asked Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Martin Nesirky:

Inner City Press: the Libyan rebels are, according to the [reports], responsible for looting and beating people in towns they have taken over in their drive towards Tripoli. These are towns viewed as supporting [Muammar al-] Qadhafi. There have been many UN statements on abuses by the Qadhafi forces. What’s the UN system’s response to these pretty well-documented reports of abuses going the other way?

Spokesperson Nesirky: Well, I would have to check with the relevant folks, for example in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and with our colleagues in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs who have people on the ground in Benghazi. I think it is self-evident that we would condemn abuses, human rights abuses from whichever quarter. But I would want to add there that it is obviously important that the relevant people who would monitor these things — I am thinking of our colleagues who deal with human rights in particular — to be able to comment in detail on that.

This was followed up on:

Question: On this situation that you were just talking about in Libya, that I think Matthew asked you, about the rebels are now being accused of perpetrating attacks against the civilians…attacking civilians inside Libya and that is creating another problem.

Spokesperson Nesirky: Well, I have my work cut out being the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, but I am certainly not the spokesperson for Matthew Lee. So you might want to check with him what he was asking me. But the point that I was trying to make was that human rights abuses by anybody should be condemned and need to be investigated. And it is for the relevant people within the United Nations, particularly those who deal with human rights, to look into this.

This answer implies that Ban Ki-moon does not “deal with human rights,” and doesn't answer why Ban himself would condemn actions by Gaddafi forces, but defer to other “people in the UN.. who deal with human rights” to address documented abuses by anti-Gaddafi forces.

A similar dynamic played out in Cote d'Ivoire, where Ban himself criticized the use by Gbagbo forces of heavy weapons, while deferring to other in the UN system on murders by pro Ouattara and Soro forces in Douekoue and elsewhere.

Even worse is this UN's performance on Myanmar, where Ban's chief of staff Vijay Nambiar, ostensibly in charge of the UN's Good Offices role in Myanmar, has had nothing to say as the Burmese government has launched attacks against the Kachin people, and is now documented to be using Karen captives as slave labor and human shields.

On July 13 Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Nesirky:

Inner City Press: on Myanmar, there has been a report issued documenting the use by the military there of convicts pressed into service, some people call it slave labor or... human shields. It’s a report issued by the Karen Human Rights Group. Is it something that the UN system, particularly the good offices mandate, is aware of, and is it the type of thing that it would be raising to the Government to not be using convicts as human shields for its military?

Spokesperson Nesirky: Well, I would be confident that our colleagues who deal with this topic would be aware of any reports that come out and would want to study them carefully. I don’t have any further details on what they may or may not do, having studied those reports.

Inner City Press: Thanks a lot. I am always trying to figure out what the scope of that good offices office is. I understand, like in almost any country in the world, the Office of Human Rights, the Commissioner, that there is some UN monitoring process. But this seems to be a country that there is a particular GA-mandated unit headed by the Secretary-General’s Chief of Staff. So, when you say “our colleagues”, is that the Office you’re referring to, or is it a more general --

Spokesperson: As you yourself pointed out, there are different parts of the UN system that would be dealing with different aspects of what transpires in Myanmar, or indeed in any other country. And as you well know, there is a country team in place in Myanmar. And outside of Myanmar, there is indeed the good offices mandate and there are those, including in the Office of the High Commissioner, who would be looking at Myanmar through that particular prism of human rights. And they of course coordinate with each other. They don’t work in isolation. If I have anything further on that, of course, I would let you know.

But a full 19 hours later, nothing had been said. Earlier in the week Ed Luck, Ban's adviser on the Responsibility to Protect, said that if inconsistencies or double standards are seen in the Secretariat's actions and statements, it should be brought up.

So it is, from Libya through Cote d'Ivoire to Myanmar. Now what? Watch this site.