By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, September 2 -- On the day Sudan pushed fighting into Blue Nile State, while being accused of bombing and using food as a weapon in adjacent Southern Kordofan, Inner City Press on September 1 asked the US and French delegations consulting on the UN Security Council's agenda for September if Kordofan was on it.
"There's a meeting on Sudan," new US Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis told Inner City Press.
"Will Kordofan be dealt with?" Inner City Press asked the French charge d'affaires Martin Briens. "We certainly hope so," he said.
Later the President of the Security Council for September, Nawaf Salam of Lebanon, told Inner City Press that the hope is to deal with Kordofan during the pre-scheduled -- that is, regular and routine -- meeting on Sudan and South Sudan. That is on September 8.Salam confirmed to Inner City Press that during the bilateral meetings on Thursday, the program of work was not changed.
To some it appears that Sudan has been downgraded on the Council's agenda, with the the interest in Syria and in trying to send a UN mission to Libya.
But even in South Sudan, the death rate has escalated, at least in cattle fights, and the UN's own human rights expert there Benedict Sannoh was beaten by South Sudan police while lying on the ground. OHCHR has informed Inner City Press:
On Benedict Sannoh's injuries: he suffered what his hospital medical report described as 'a blunt trauma to the head,' as well as injuries to his back and legs. However, fortunately no bones are broken, and it looks like there will not be any permanent injuries. He was released from the UN hospital in Sudan after five days and is now recuperating outside the country.
Wrong time to look away. Watch this site.