UN Peacekeeping Spin Omits Haiti Cholera, Chad, UNMEE, Minova Rapes, #Ladsous2013

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 30 -- The UN too often presents as facts what are merely its aspirations on paper. For example, this morning UN Peacekeeping tweeted that it "helps countries torn by conflict create conditions for lasting peace."

That would be nice.

  But it ignores failed UN missions like that between Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), or the MINURCAT mission that was thrown out by Chad.

  It ignores and papers over that the UN mission in Haiti, MINUSTAH, nearly certainly brought cholera and not peace to that country, which killed over 7,000 people. Then the UN tersely dismissed legal claims about the cholera, saying they were "not receivable."

  There are, of course, tens of thousands of well meaning actual peacekeepers. But the UN doesn't even properly protect them. As simple one example, why didn't the peacekeepers in South Sudan have APCs? Why weren't the pilots there told of the dangers, where to avoid? There are no answers.

  The UN Peacekeeping tweet linked to its website. Clicking through, there's a video and even mural of George Clooney but no mention of cholera there. Rather, it claims that it is "guided by... impartiality."

  Today, that's not true. In Mali, the UN is being drafted as it was in Cote d'Ivoire into being an adjunct to French military action. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN is setting up an "intervention brigade" which the DRC government says is to "eradicate" the M23 group.

UN Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous, the fourth Frenchman in a row to hold the position, has become so aligned with the DRC authorities that Ladsous for months refused to answer Inner City Press questions about 126 rapes in Minova by the DRC Army: November 27, December 7and December 18 - & April 25.

No amount of propaganda or social media sleight of hand can make up for this stonewalling and lack of accountability. #LADSOUS2013. Watch this site.

As US Supreme Court's Narrow Reading of FOIA Rights in McBurney Case Voids ICP Delaware Win, Pushing for a FOIA at UN

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 29 -- The US Supreme Court is not a beat Inner City Press covers day to day, but this time we must. In Monday's decision in McBurney v. Young, Justice Samuel Alito ruled that Virginia limiting its Freedom of Information Act responses to state residents does not burden interstate commerce, and that no Constitutional right was at stake.

Inner City Press pursued and won an earlier case against a similar Delaware law, winning in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals that the rights or "privileges and immunities" to be a journalist were impacted by being denied access to records about HSBC.

The litigants in McBurney v. Young reached out to Inner City Press, it was was an amicus, along with other publications.

Now Inner City Press' earlier win in Lee v Minner is, in effect, erased, and it's back to the drawing board. More fights, for more information, now at and through the UN, including through the new Free UN Coalition for Access. 

  Just as Alito's logic doesn't seem to make sense when applied to Delaware, a state which because it incorporates businesses from all over has impacts well beyond its own citizens, it would make less sense applied to the United Nations.

 On that, compare the type of documents about UN inner working obtained by Inner City Press under US FOIA from the Voice of America (samples here and here and here) with the outright refusal of the UN to even state who it allowed into Inner City Press' office during a non-consensual raid on March 18, 2013. 

 The difference? The UN has no FOIA. But FUNCA is fighting for it. Watch this site.

As UNTV Broadcasts Propaganda of UNCA, It Won't Explain Why or Any Rules, Says "Ask Bill Miller"

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 29 -- What is UN Television and why  and under what rules does it show outside-produced propaganda shows?

  That UNTV produces its own propaganda had become a UN fact of life. 

   It produces shows like "21st Century," paying its hosts how much it will not say, to describe for example its good works in Haiti without mentioning that it brought cholera there, killing over 7,000 people.

  But why does UNTV repeatedly show outside shows, most recently one in which UN Correspondents Association president Pamela Falk gushes about the overthrown of Gaddafi in Libya and claims that UNCA is a "trade association of all the correspondents of the United Nations"?

  That claim is patently false, and Pamela Falk - or Pamela False, her new name -- knows it. Back on February 22, in an on the record session in front of the official who run UNTV, Stephane Dujarric, Falk screamed at Inner City Press not to write about her, and not to dare write to her employer, CBS. (She would, however, send Inner City Press a censorship threat from her CBSNews.com e-mail address.)

  Now she has appeared in an “interview” with Global Connections Television, a venue which says its interviews “UN agencies and their ambassadors.” Again, which one is Falk?

  After Falk filmed the segment on April 3, multiple sources told Inner City Press she demanded in advance no questions about the Press or the Free UN Coalition for Access. Inner City Press wrote about that on April 4, here.

  Global Connections was asked, back then, for a review copy of the show. None was provided. Now it is online, and is being broadcast propaganda style in the UN's lobby.

  So on April 29, Inner City Press asked the Department of Public Information's chief -- who was himself interviewed by Global Connections Television's Bill Miller earlier this year, a seemingly conflict of interest causing segment we have yet to review -- to provide FUNCA "a similar 15 minute broadcast slot on UNTV. Please say when (soon) or explain why now, and the applicable content neutral rules."

  The response came from, who else, Dujarric. Instead of explaining any rules, or why this propaganda is on UNTV, he snarked "If you would like to appear on Bill Miller's show, you should contact him directly."

  That is obviously not the point. Rather, why is UNTV showing (repeatedly) an outside show, which is now promoting UNCA, which sought to get media thrown out of the UN?

FUNCA noted to DPI's chief with its request for rules, "the broadcast on UNTV also again raised the question of DPI's lack of impartiality or of allowing space for more than a one party system."

As noted, earlier t

his month, Dujarric threatened Inner City Press about a single tweet that mentioned World War Two and UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous who owes his JOB to France's veto power won in WW2.

  Dujarric has refused to explain how photos taken during a non-consensual raid of Inner City Press' office on March 18 were leaked to BuzzFeed on March 21, right after that publication contacted Ban's spokesman with questions about the raid. We will continue to push on all this. Watch this site.

Dujarric is UNCA's main supporter (and even an opponent of anything more than a one party system) and here are just a few reasons. Dujarric complained when Inner City Press published audio of UNCA president Pamela Falk screaming in an on the record meeting, audio here and here. What next? Watch this site.

Amid CAR Alarm, A Renewed MICOPAX Force or the Return of South Africa to DIG Oil?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 29, updated -- The Seleka rebels took over Bangui in the Central African Republic: now what?

  South African troops suffered at least 13 deaths, and left. Now there are talks between Seleka and South Africa for some to return. There's also talk of South Africa's DIG Oil prospecting near the the southeast town of Carnot.

  The African Union force, UN Department of Political Affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman told Inner City Press, is neither big enough nor does it have the “right composition” currently to do the job.

  In the short term the only solution, he said, is for an African led force.

  But, one observes, won't that recruitment conflict with the higher profile one for Mali?

  It's reported that Seleka's Michel Djotodia was spending $3500 a night on the presidential suite in Bangui's fanciest hotel, a relic of the era of Gaddafi's Libya, like the one in N'djamena. And so it goes in FranceAfrique. Watch this site.

Update of 7:15 pm - there is or will be a UNSC press statement, but it will not be read out at the stakeout, no questions (like Ban Ki-moon took no question on Syria, even as he spoke on it.) CAR Fatigue? 

Or the World Body following the Head?

Update of 7:23 pm - not read at the stakeout, but here's the press statement:

Security Council Press Statement on Central African Republic

The members of the Security Council heard a briefing by Mr. Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs on the situation in the Central African Republic.

The members of the Security Council expressed strong concern at the worsening humanitarian and security situation, and the weakening of the Central African Republic institutions. They called on competent authorities to restore peace and security in Bangui and outside of Bangui by deploying adequate forces. They called on all parties to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access in the country. They called on “Seleka” leaders to ensure that all “Seleka” armed groups abstain from all violent action and be regrouped without delay into cantonment sites, according to the Libreville agreement.

The members of the Security Council expressed serious concerns at reports of human rights violations and abuses. They emphasised that those responsible for violations and abuses of international humanitarian and human rights law, including those involving violence against civilians, torture, summary executions, sexual and gender-based violence and recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, must be held accountable. They called for a swift investigation of those cases in order to bring to justice all such perpetrators.

The members of the Security Council recalled their support for the efforts of the Economic Community of the Central African States (ECCAS) and the African Union to solve this crisis. They expressed their support for the transition process and the results of the N'Djamena Summit, in the framework of the Libreville agreements of January 11, 2013. They encouraged the continued strong involvement of the ECCAS and the African Union and called for the strengthening of MICOPAX with a view to restoring security and helping restructure Central African security forces, in accordance with the N'Djamena Declaration of April 18.

The members of the Security Council, looking forward to the first meeting of the International Contact Group in Brazzaville on May 3, called for the quick implementation of the N’Djamena Declaration and encouraged the Prime Minister to fully exert the executive powers vested in him by the Libreville agreement and the N’Djamena Declaration. They called for the restoration of the rule of law and the reestablishment of constitutional order. They further called for the swift designation of an inclusive government and the holding of elections within 18 months, recalling that according to the N’Djamena Declaration of April 18, the transitional Head of State, the Prime Minister, members of the transitional government as well as some members of the National Transition Council will not run for election.

The members of the Security Council expressed concern over the recent pause of operations to counter the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in the Central African Republic.  They urged all countries concerned to resume their efforts to address the threat posed by the LRA, as soon as possible.

The members of the Security Council supported and saluted the efforts of the United Nations, including through BINUCA and its staff, in a very challenging environment, to address the crisis. They expressed their willingness to consider further options to stabilise the Central African Republic.

29 April 2013 

On Syria, UN Defends Ban Ki-moon's Questionless Encounter, After $2B Renovation, Still No Wi-Fi

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 29 -- When UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon refused to take any questions on his Syria chemical weapons probe, after much promotion of his “press encounter” on the topic, media dissatisfaction was widespread.

  Inner City Press, after uploading video of the question-less encounter and some of the disorganization which preceded it(haphazard screening of print journalists, elevators up to the 38 floor and then down again, stakeout in a UN lobby location without wi-fi), conferred and for the Free UN Coalition for Access submitted a letter of complaint to the Department of Public Information.

  FUNCA primarily complained that Ban should take questions from the media; that is the purpose of a “press encounter.” By contrast, Syria's Permanent Representative Bashar Ja'afari has scheduled a press conference for April 30 at 10:30 am at which it seems sure he will take questions. Why doesn't Ban?

  DPI has been sitting on specific requests submitted by FUNCA on April 18 and before, including a dozen proposed reforms to its archaic Media Accreditation rules and Access Guidelines (to which the old UN Correspondents' Association is a party, or collaborator).

  But this time DPI sent back a response quickly, albeit not from its chief but rather the head of UNTV, and main UNCA partner, Stephane Dujarric.

  On Ban's questionless press encounter or “fakeout at the stakeout,” Dujarric wrote:

From: Stephane Dujarric [at] un.org
Date: Mon, Apr 29, 2013 at 4:17 PM
Subject: Fw: FUNCA response to S-G's press "encounter" this morning, outstanding questions, thanks
To: funca [at] funca [dot] info
Cc: Isabelle Broyer [at] un.org

Thank you for the email you addressed to DPI this morning regarding issues you had with the Secretary-General's appearance before the press.

I'm truly sorry that you felt the event was not organized properly and wasted your time. I would ask you to show some flexibility. Due to the large number of journalists present, a decision was made to change the location of the event to one that would be more comfortable all those involved, including the Secretary-General. Sometimes things change at the last minute and we just all have to go with the flow.

As for the event itself, you complain that the Secretary-General took no questions and that it should not have been called a “press encounter.” I frankly don’t know what to call an event when the Secretary-General encounters the press but a “press encounter.” There are clearly different types of press encounters and sometimes questions are taken and sometimes they are not depending on the circumstances.

No one wants to waste your time but please understand that your presence is not mandatory and that you are free to attend or not to attend any event at the UN. I have no way of guaranteeing that press events at the UN will not be a waste of your time. In planning these events we can only hope that you will find them useful.

There is currently no wi-fi in the north end of the Secretariat lobby but I do very much hope that wi-fi coverage will be extended through out the building as soon as practicable.

  The response largely speaks for itself. But just on the last point: no wi-fi after a $2 billion renovation?

  Would the UN call Ban speaking to UNTV (run by Dujarric) a "press encounter"?

 And will Ban hold another "encounter" after Syria's press conference on April 30? Or will a Western power's ambassador do it?

Footnote: We said Dujarric is UNCA's main supporter (and even an opponent of anything more than a one party system) and here are just a few reasons. Dujarric complained when Inner City Press published audio of UNCA president Pamela Falk screaming in an on the record meeting, audio here and here.

This month, Dujarric threatened Inner City Press about a single tweet that mentioned World War Two and UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous who owes his JOB to France's veto power won in WW2.

  Dujarric has refused to explain how photos taken during a non-consensual raid of Inner City Press' office on March 18 were leaked to BuzzFeed on March 21, right after that publication contacted Ban's spokesman with questions about the raid. We will continue to push on all this. Watch this site.

On Madagascar, Ban Ki-moon's UN Answers But Seems to Condone Censorship

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 29 -- You might think that the UN would have something to say when a country bans a political figure from “making any political statement or participating in any political rally” But you'd be wrong.

On April 26 at noon, Inner City Press asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Martin Nesirky about Madagascar:

Inner City Press: About Lalao Ravalomanana, the wife of the Marc Ravalomanana, she returned to the country in March, apparently she was asked to commit to the Government of [Andry] Rajoelina that she wouldn’t make any political statements as a condition of returning and visiting her ailing mother. Now, she is announcing that she is going to run for President, so a lot of people saying, since the UN has had some involvement in this, what did the UN think of this condition on her return, and do they believe that she has an absolute right to make political statements and to run for office? What’s their position on this growing crisis as some call it?

Spokesperson Nesirky: I’ll check. I don’t think we have any immediate position on that, but I’ll certainly check for you, Matthew.

  Seventy two hours later there was no response. As noted, it wasn't that the Department of Political Affairs did not work -- as Inner City Press reported, DPA met on April 26 with the Western European and Other Group, which then met with Qatar about its Syria resolution. (Spoiler alert: WEOG sources tell Inner City Press they demanded changes to an Operative Paragraph.) But there no response from DPA or Ban's office.

  Until the afternoon of April 29. Then, the UN sent Inner City Press this response:

Subject: Your question on Madagascar
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Mon, Apr 29, 2013 at 3:31 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com

Regarding your question from last week on Madagascar: It is up to the Special Electoral Court, which is in charge of receiving electoral disputes and proclaiming the final results of the presidential and legislative elections, to decide on the validity and qualifications of all prospective candidates. The court has been established by the Malagasy authorities. The Court has been receiving candidatures for the forthcoming presidential elections since 8 April 2013 and the deadline for the submission of candidates expired on 28 April. The Malagasy authorities have been complying with the 2011 SADC Roadmap.

Tellingly, there is nothing on freedom of speech, of assembly or of expression. But as to the Special Electoral Court, which is slated on May 3 to decide on all 48 people who have submitted applications to be candidates for president.

The head of the Special Electoral Court, Jean-Michel Rajaonarivony, was head of the High Constitutional Court (HCC) when this court approved the power transfer to Andry Rajoelina in March 2009, thus officializing Rajoelina’s Coup d’Etat. We learn from Wikileaks that in officializing the transfer of power to Rajoelina, “The High Court (HCC) told SADC [Southern African Development Community] that it deliberately took a political decision … when it falsely declared the March 17 decrees to be constitutional”.

As head of the HCC, Jean-Michel Rajaonarivony also approved the constitution that was voted on in a referendum in November 2010 and put into practice in December 2010:“neither the opposition nor most of the international community recognized the constitution due to considerable irregularities both in its drafting and in the conduct of the referendum”

So in March 2009 Jean-Michel Rajaonarivony ignored his mandate to uphold the Constitution when he approved transferring power to Andry Rajoelina for political reasons. As for the November 2010 constitutional referendum, he decided that international standards for free and fair elections were not necessary in order to do what Rajoelina wanted.France, for its part, supported the 2010 constitution by saying it “is a political reality that the international community must take into consideration”

Lalao Ravalomanana and former president Didier Ratsiraka are two potential candidates for president who on the surface do not seem to meet the requirement that candidates reside in Madagascar for 6 months prior to the election. Lalao Ravalomanana is arguing that she returned in July 2012, but was kicked out manu-militari by the Rajoelina security forces in a way that violated her human right to return to her country. The UN condoned her forced exile by keeping silent about this incident.

What is the UN becoming? We'll have more on this.

Of US Bags of Cash in Afghanistan, UN Says Nothing, Oil for Food and LOTFA Echoes

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 29 -- After the US giving “bags of cash” to the Hamid Karzai government in Afghanistan was exposed and confirmed, Inner City Press on Monday asked UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky if the UN Mission there had known, and what it now said.

  Nesirky said he's “seen the media reports on that” -- good job -- but “I don't have anything for you on that.” Video here, from Minute 20:08.

  How is that possible? The UN preaches about anti-corruption, at least when it is not a Permanent Five member of the Security Council passing around the bags of cash.

  Last Friday Nesirky's predecessor and spokesman for Kofi Annan, Fred Eckhard, said that the Oil for Food scandal was not so much Annan's fault as that of the powerful countries, P-5 members of the Security Council.

  But now, Ban Ki-moon's UN has nothing to say about the passing of bags of cash to the government in a country in which the UN has a mission.

  Then again, the UN system in Afghanistan has its own corruption scandal, the Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan. So perhaps it's in no position to preach.

  One thing to remember: the UNAMA Mission's chief, Jan Kubis, is in the mix to succed Ban Ki-moon as Secretary General. 

  While unlike Ban Kubis has to his credit said clearly that he thinks the UN should practice what it preaches (to the contrary, see Ban on the rule of law and then dismissal of Haiti cholera claims), Kubis would have to keep all five of the P-5 happy. This is how the UN system works. Watch this site.

As Khartoum Denies Visa to Ban Ki-moon's Speechwriter Meyer, UN Silent, Tells ICP to "Ask Sudan"

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 29 -- For many weeks Inner City Press has known that Sudan refused to grant a visa request by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's former director of communication Michael Ryder Meyer. But it was said it might be granted, to hold off reporting it.

  Then the spokesperson for the mission in Darfur quit, saying she was not getting UN support. 

  Inner City Press asked, and Ban's spokesperson Martin Nesirky “confirmed that Ms. Elbasri resigned from her position as Spokesperson there. That was effective from 22 April. As with any staff member departing the United Nations, we can’t comment on the specific details surrounding her departure.”

  It's one thing to choose not to respond to a departing or former spokesperson's critique (this has been the case since April 26). But to remain silent when UN officials are denied visas?

  After Sudan's Permanent Representative in the Security Council Monday morning said that there is a smooth process to get visas to Sudan, Inner City Press went to the UN's noon briefing and asked if that is true.

  Ban's spokesman Nesirky said to “ask Sudan.”

  Inner City Press then asked, isn't it true that Ban's former director of communications Michael Meyer is being denied entry? Video here, from Minute 22:40.

  Nesirky said Meyer is “waiting” for a visa. For how long? Why so silent? Now that UNAMID has no spokesperson? What is happened to the UN and UN Peacekeeping, under Herve Ladsous? Video here, for Ladsous' most recent denials on April 25. Watch this site.

On Syria, UNSC to Meets "Privately" With Jordan April 30; Ban's 1-Way Presser Questioned by FUNCA

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 29 -- Tomorrow morning on Syria, the UN Security Council will hold a “private meeting” with Jordan, at Amman's request which also included an invitation for the Council to visit Jordan. 

  A Permanent Five member of the Council asked by Inner City Press said such a visit is unlikely. But why not give the meeting?

  Meanwhile on the staged circus of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's chemical weapons probe press “encounter” without questions or answers, stories were nevertheless written, making it appear the UN is doing something.

  Inner City Press submitted to the UN Department of Public Information “a complaint on behalf of the Free UN Coalition for Access on the way this morning's press 'encounter' by the Secretary General was conducted. Substantively, the Secretary General took no questions, and that is a problem. It is better for the press to be able to ask questions; in furtherance of that, we dispute that it can legitimately be called a “press encounter” if it is entirely one-way.

"Procedurally, correspondents' time was wasted. We appeared at MALU at 9:15 am, only to be told to go down to the lobby. There was a disorganized (and FUNCA says unnecessary) screening including of print journalists. Then once up on the 38th floor we were told to go down to the lobby. There, and this is another FUNCA complaint now via DPI, there was no UN wi-fi working, making it difficult to report.

  "In the future, it would be better for speakers including the Secretary General to come to the briefing room or stakeout, and to take questions.” A range of other questions have been raised to DPI; watch this site.

Sudan Trashes Peacekeepers for Handing Over IDPs &Guns in Darfur, Ladsous No Answers

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 29 -- The UN in Darfur claims to still be “investigating” why its peacekeepers handed over more than 30 internally displaced people to kidnappers back in March.

  But in the Security Council on Monday, Sudan's Permanent Representative Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman brought up not on the handing over of civilians, but also UNAMID handing over of weapons and vehicles to the rebels “without a fight.”

  Listening to Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman but not responding to the issue was UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous. He has thus presided over numerous failures at DPKO on which he refuses to answer questions.

  On April 25 alone, or with spokesman Kieran Dwyer, video here, Ladsous refused to answer Inner City Press questions about Mali (who will disarm the MNLA?), Western Sahara (why does he accept Moroccan license plates on MINURSO vehicles?), Cote d'Ivoire (why is he proposing a drone with no approval?) and the 126 rapes in Minova by the Congolese Army, his partners.

  On that, Ladsous has previously refused Inner City Press questions on November 27, December 7 and December 18. So will he explain the hand over of guns, vehicles and IDPs as hostages? Watch this site.

  Last week in the General Assembly Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman trashed a Temple University professor who has spoken about Darfur, Molefi Kete Asante. It wasn't clear who had set up the panels. We aim to have more on this.