By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, April 27 -- After Morocco threatened and threw out the civilian component of the UN's MINURSO mission, Inner City Press obtained the UN's Western Sahara report as it had been approved by Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson on April 18, and exclusively in full text published it on Scribd here. This came days after Ban Ki-moon's UN threw its journalistic files out onto First Avenue. Video hereand here (Periscope).
Now Inner City Press has from diplomatic sources the updated "Group of Friends" draft resolution, below, which if unchanged would not be unanimous. Those expressing opposition include Angola, Uruguay and Venezuela, and to some degree New Zealand.
On April 27 after the UN Security Council closed door meeting on Western Sahara, French Ambassador Francois Delattre and his Russian counterpart Vitaly Churkin came out. The former quickly left -- earlier when Inner City Press asked what, "What about Chissano?" he'd said, "I'll have to get back to you" -- but Churkin stopped and spoke.
On Western Sahara, Churkin said that "the tone of the consultations tells me that these expert discussion are not going to be easy. Tomorrow the vote cannot take place. We'll try on Friday, or Saturday. Some Council members did not feel it was strong enough. We need to continue the mandate and we do believe it should be returned to its full capacity.... There is always room for improvement... some delegations will express this view in much stronger terms.”
So here now from diplomatic sources is the updated Group of Friends draft:
Updated draft resolution on Western Sahara
The Security Council,
Recalling and reaffirming all its previous resolutions on Western Sahara,
Reaffirming its strong support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to implement resolutions 1754 (2007), 1783 (2007), 1813 (2008), 1871 (2009), 1920 (2010), 1979 (2011), 2044 (2012), 2099 (2013), 2152 (2014), and 2218 (2015),
Reaffirming its commitment to assist the parties to achieve a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara in the context of arrangements consistent with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, and noting the role and responsibilities of the parties in this respect,
Reiterating its call upon the parties and the neighbouring states to cooperate more fully with the United Nations and with each other and to strengthen their involvement to end the current impasse and to achieve progress towards a political solution,
Recognizing that achieving a political solution to this long-standing dispute and enhanced cooperation between the Member States of the Maghreb Arab Union would contribute to stability and security in the Sahel region,
Welcoming the efforts of the Secretary-General to keep all peacekeeping operations, including the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), under close review and reiterating the need for the Council to pursue a rigorous, strategic approach to peacekeeping deployments, and effective management of resources,
Recognizing the important role played by MINURSO on the ground and the need for it to fully implement its mandate,
Expressing concern about the violations of existing agreements, and calling on the parties to respect their relevant obligations,
Taking note of the Moroccan proposal presented on 11 April 2007 to the Secretary-General and the serious and credible Moroccan efforts to move the process forward towards resolution; also taking note of the Polisario Front proposal presented 10 April 2007 to the Secretary-General,
Encouraging in this context, the parties to demonstrate further political will towards a solution including by expanding upon their discussion of each other’s proposals,
Taking note of the four rounds of negotiations held under the auspices of the Secretary-General and recognizing the importance of the parties committing to continue the negotiations process,
Encouraging the parties to resume cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees in implementing the January 2012 updated Plan of Action on Confidence Building Measures, including programs focused on linking people who have been divided for more than 40 years due to the conflict,
Stressing the importance of improving the human rights situation in Western Sahara and the Tindouf camps, and encouraging the parties to work with the international community to develop and implement independent and credible measures to ensure full respect for human rights, bearing in mind their relevant obligations under international law,
Encouraging the parties to continue in their respective efforts to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Western Sahara and the Tindouf refugee camps, including the freedoms of expression and association,
Welcoming in this regard, the recent steps and initiatives taken by Morocco, and the role played by the National Council on Human Rights Commissions operating in Dakhla and Laayoune, and Morocco’s interaction with Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council,
Commending the technical visit of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to Western Sahara in April 2015, and to the Tindouf refugee camps in July-August 2015, and strongly encouraging full continuing cooperation with OHCHR, including through facilitating further visits to the region,
Recognizing the impact of torrential rains in October 2015 on the Tindouf refugee camps and welcoming the plan of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to convene a donor briefing,
Reiterating its request for consideration of a refugee registration in the Tindouf refugee camps and inviting efforts in this regard,
Stressing the importance of a commitment by the parties to continue the process of negotiations through the United Nations-sponsored talks,
Recognizing that the consolidation of the status quo is not acceptable, and noting further that progress in the negotiations is essential in order to improve the quality of life of the people of Western Sahara in all its aspects,
Affirming full support for the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Ambassador Christopher Ross and his work in facilitating negotiations between the parties, and, welcoming to that effect his recent initiatives and ongoing consultations with the parties and neighbouring states,
Affirming full support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara and Head of MINURSO Kim Bolduc,
Noting with concern that MINURSO’s ability to fully carry out its mandate has been affected as the majority of its civilian component, including political personnel, cannot perform their duties within MINURSO’s area of operations,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 19 April 2016 (S/2016/355),
1. Decides to extend the mandate of MINURSO until 30 April 2017;
2. Emphasizes the urgent need for MINURSO to return to full functionality;
3. Requests the Secretary General to brief the Council within 120 days on whether MINURSO has returned to full functionality and expresses its intention, if MINURSO has not achieved full functionality, to consider how best to facilitate achievement of this goal;
4. Reaffirms the need for full respect of the military agreements reached with MINURSO with regard to the ceasefire and calls on the parties to adhere fully to those agreements;
5. Calls upon all parties to cooperate fully with the operations of MINURSO, including its free interaction with all interlocutors, and to take the necessary steps to ensure the security of as well as unhindered movement and immediate access for the United Nations and associated personnel in carrying out their mandate, in conformity with existing agreements;
6. Emphasizes the importance of the parties’ commitment to continue the process of preparation for a fifth round of negotiations, and recalls its endorsement of the recommendation in the report of 14 April 2008 (S/2008/251) that realism and a spirit of compromise by the parties are essential to achieve progress in negotiations;
7. Calls upon the parties to continue to show political will and work in an atmosphere propitious for dialogue in order to enter into a more intensive and substantive phase of negotiations, thus ensuring implementation of resolutions 1754 (2007), 1783 (2007), 1813 (2008), 1871 (2009), 1920 (2010), 1979 (2011), 2044 (2012), 2099 (2013), 2152 (2014), and 2218 (2015) and the success of negotiations;
8. Affirms its full support for the commitment of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy towards a solution to the question of Western Sahara in this context and calls for renewed meetings and strengthening of contacts;
9. Calls upon the parties to continue negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General without preconditions and in good faith, taking into account the efforts made since 2006 and subsequent developments, with a view to achieving a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara in the context of arrangements consistent with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, and noting the role and responsibilities of the parties in this respect;
10. Invites Member States to lend appropriate assistance to these talks;
11. Requests the Secretary-General to brief the Security Council on a regular basis, and at least twice a year, on the status and progress of these negotiations under his auspices, on the implementation of this resolution, challenges to MINURSO’s operations and steps taken to address them, expresses its intention to meet to receive and discuss his briefings and in this regard, and further requests the Secretary-General to provide a report on the situation in Western Sahara well before the end of the mandate period;
12. Welcomes the commitment of the parties and the neighbouring states to hold periodic meetings with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to review and, where possible, expand confidence-building measures;
13. Urges Member States to provide voluntary contributions to fund confidence-building measures agreed upon between the parties, including those that allow for visits between separated family members, as well as food programmes to ensure that the humanitarian needs of refugees are adequately addressed;
14. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary measures to ensure full compliance in MINURSO with the United Nations zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to keep the Council informed, and urges troop-contributing countries to take appropriate preventive action including predeployment awareness training, and other action to ensure full accountability in cases of such conduct involving their personnel;
15. Decides to remain seized of the matter.
On April 26, the UN Security Council “Arria formula” meeting Inner City Press first reported on April 22 took place in the UN's basement, without formal UN interpretation and with the so-called “Group of Friends” which has no African countries on it still dominating the process.
Inner City Press, despite the eviction and being denied access to the "EZTV" view of the meeting Ban's UN gave to its favored scribes, covered the meeting and publishes Morocco's letter opposing any interaction between African Union envoy Chissano with the Security Council, here.
After the meeting, Chissano in the hallway outside UN Conference Room 12 told the Press, We have asked the Security Council to set a deadline. That's for a referendum on self-determination.
While the UN's favored scribes ran quotes from Chissano off the EZTV feed the UN gave them while not putting it on the Internet webcast for the interested public, Inner City Press has obtained andpublished Chissano's talking points for the meeting, here.
Venezuela and Uruguay complained about the “Group of Friends” drafting process; other said that France's approach to Morocco's ouster order ultimately undermines the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, which France has controlled four times in a row, now via underminer-in-chief Herve Ladsous.
Inner City Press has obtained from its diplomat sources these elements of the US draft:
"Noting with concern that the expulsion of MINURSO civilian personnel in March 2016 has significantly affected MINURSO’s ability to carry out its functions,
Emphasizes strongly the need for MINURSO to return to full functionality immediately.
Requests the Secretary General to brief the Council within 60 days on whether MINURSO has returned to full functionality and expresses its intention, if MINURSO has not achieved full functionality, to consider immediate steps to facilitate achievement of this goal;
Affirms its full support for the commitment of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy towards a solution to the question of Western Sahara in this context and calls for renewed meetings and strengthening of contacts;
Calls upon the parties to continue negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General without preconditions and in good faith."
Inner City Press' diplomatic sources inform it that the French and the Spanish are trying to introduce amendments to the US draft, “to manage an honorable exit for Morocco since the decision to expel the civilian and political component has been taken by the King himself who claims that this decision is irrevocable.” We'll have more on this.
On April 27, the same UN Correspondents Association which got Ban's Spokesman Stephane Dujarric on January 29 to order Inner City Press out of the UN Press Briefing Room will take the Western Sahara issue behind the closed doors of the clubhouse the UN gives it, publicized only to those who pay UNCA money. Inner City Press will not be there.
It is ironic that UNCA held a meeting it claimed was "closed" in the UN's presumptively open Press Briefing Room, then pretends a meeting in its clubhouse, publicized only to those who pay it money, is open. THe UN's use of Inner City Press' January 29 coverage as a pretext to evict it is revealed more each day as retaliation and censorship.
The UN, or at least its Department of Public Information under Cristina Gallach, Spain's highet UN official and ultimately Ban, did not facilitate coverage of this meeting. Gallach's and Ban's no due process cut in Inner City Press' accreditation then eviction denied it access to the Security Council stakeout on Western Sahara and to viewing the Arria formula meeting.
While those whom the UN left in their offices while stealing Inner City Press' could watch the proceeding on so-called EZTV, those without could not: it was not on the UN Webcast for the public. Why not? We'll be pursuing this. For now, this modest proposal.
After unexplained delays Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's final report came out, and from the Eliasson version it changes "must" to "should" in Paragraph 91 and drops and entire line from Paragraph 92: "The Security Council confirmed the Mission's political functions in Resolution 1056 (1996) and subsequent resolutions extending the mandate."
With whom was Ban "negotiating" before this changes and omissions?
On April 25, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman about the changes, and about the Arria formula meeting it exclusively reported on Friday, April 22, video here, UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: on Western Sahara, now that the final report is out, in comparing it to the version that was signed off on by Deputy Secretary-General [Jan] Eliasson, there are a number of changes, all of which go to the appeasement or to the side of Morocco. For example, paragraph 91 is switched from "must do something" to "should". [Paragraph] 92 drops a line about the mission's political function. And paragraph 72 drops a reference to "investment not benefiting the residents of Western Sahara". So, because of these changes, because this has happened in previous years, what explains… I mean, I probably wouldn't be asking if there were changes going the other way, but if all were done this way, can you describe the interaction between the Secretariat and Morocco prior to the finalization of the report?
Spokesman Stephane Dujarric: No, first of all, I think it's a problem… you know, you put online a document that was not final. Documents are final once they're published in all [six] languages, and they are the Secretary-General's reports. Contacts were had with both parties, but I think, you know, you can… what I will tell you is that the report is… the final report is the one that's out as an official UN document. And, as I've said… told you before, I can't attest to the veracity of what you've put online with what may be the Deputy Secretary-General's signature.
Inner City Press: Okay. There's supposed to be an Arria Formula meeting on Tuesday. It's been requested by Angola. And I wanted to know whether the Secretary-General would have any involvement in it and if you think it would be useful for the Council to hear from the African Union about Western Sahara.
Spokesman: The Council is a master of its own domain. It will… an Arria Formula meeting is not for me to comment on it. There will be a more formal meeting, I believe, on Wednesday, which the Secretariat will participate.
The Ban / final version also for further example drops a statement in Paragraph 72 that Morocco's investments do not benefit the population.
The Eliasson version said "poverty continued to affect the population disproportionately and that it was not reaping the benefits of the considerable investments being made." The Ban Ki-moon version drops this line. There's more of this, on which we'll have more.
On April 21, Inner City Press asked Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric about the report, if Ban has a mediator between himself and Morocco, and about fraud. Video here, from the UN transcript.
In the report, Ban Ki-moon recommends a 12-month extension of the mandate of the MINURSO mission (Paragraph 96). He says wanly in Paragraph 2 that "nothing I had said or done had been meant to take sides, express hostility to the Kingdom of Morocco, or signal any change in the approach of the United Nations to the Western Sahara issue."
The section on "Financial Aspects" does not address the fraud Inner City Press exposed with memos including from Kim Boduc to Herve Ladsous, below.
On April 19, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric about Ban's report, on which he refused to comment. UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: on this Western Sahara report. The copy that I got had, you know, approved by Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson as of 18 April. And I wanted to know, is that the highest… is there… did Ban Ki-moon also sign a copy…?
Spokesman: I'm not going to speak to the veracity of documents that you post online. I can't attest to where they came from, but, obviously, I think anyone who looks at the report, it is the Secretary-General's report, and they go… they all go out with his approval.
Inner City Press: Can you comment on the fact that the financial aspect, Section 8…?
Spokesman: No.
Inner City Press: …paragraphs… oh, you won't.
Typical. This article, included in the UN's "press clips," cites Inner City Press, which the UN explicitly bans from its press clips.
Just before the UN's eviction, Inner City Press asked the UN about it showing the draft in advance to Morocco (the UN replied that this was "consultation"); the eviction and cut in access for Inner City Press was ordered with out due process by Spain's highest UN official, Cristina Gallach. She Banned Inner City Press even from a UN Security Council meeting on Western Sahara, video here. Her orders must be reversed.
This comes as the UN dodges Inner City Press' questions about Morocco and fraud reducing its UN dues payments. On April 14 Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric about MINURSO documents leaked to it showing fraud in the hotels the UN uses, and is used by, in Western Sahara. UN staff leave their I.D.'s at the hotel, meals never served are charged for and taken out of Morocco's dues to the UN.
Inner City Press published a second, even more detailed leaked document, here, even as the UN prepared to oust its files on April 16, right out onto First Avenue. Video here and here (Periscope).
This second document zeroed in on the Sahara Line Hotel and the Hotels Parador - Al Massira. What was the Moroccan government's role in this? Amazingly, a Moroccan board member of UNCA, which has pushed for Inner City Press' eviction, asked to be given advance copies of the next documents.
Well, no. In front of the UN Security Council on the morning of April 15, after Reuters' Michelle Nichols twice cut off Inner City Press' question to Moroccan Ambassador Omar Hilale, finaly he answered and denied that Morocco ever received a memo about this fraud from the UN. Audio here.
But here is the memo, from the UN's Kim Bolduc to Morocco's Minister on MINURSO Hamid Barez, here.
And here is the memo from Bolduc to Atule Khare and Herve Ladsous,which put this fourth Frenchman in a row agop UN Peacekeeping on notie of this fraud more than a year ago. As on the rapes in Central African Republic, what did Ladsous DO, now that we know when he knew?
Here's what Dujarric said about these document: Video here, UN Transcript here.
On April 18, Inner City Press asked Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephe Dujarric, UN transcript here.
Exclusive: UN Memo to Morocco About Hotel Fraud, Hilale Denied to ICP Morocco Received by Matthew Russell Lee
At the April 15 UN noon briefing, Inner City Press asked Ban Ki-moon's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq about it, video here.
Something is wrong here. And despite or because of it, Inner City Press faced eviction order by Spain's highest UN official, Cristina Gallach.
From: Tal Mekel
Date: Tue, Apr 12, 2016 at 6:47 PM
Subject: Office
To: Matthew.Lee [at] InnerCityPress.com
Dear Mr. Lee,
Further to the letter to you from Cristina Gallach, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, on 30 March 2016, we note that you did not remove your belongings from the office by the 6 April deadline as required.
As you have still not removed your belongings, we wish to inform you that your belongings will be packaged on Saturday 16 April 2016 at 10:00 a.m.
After carefully packaging them up, your belongings will be forwarded to Bronx NY headquarters address for Inner City Press that you had listed in your media accreditation application. If you wish us to forward your packaged belongings to another address instead, please let us know as soon as possible.
We request your presence during the packing. Please contact the Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit (MALU) to make the necessary arrangements. If you are not present, the packing and forwarding will still take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday 16 April 2016.
Best, Tal
------------------------------
Tal Mekel
Acting Chief
Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit
United Nations - S-250
New York, NY 10017
Tel: 1-212-963-1504
Fax: 1-212-963-4642
@UNMediaLiaison
http://www.un.org/en/media/
Further to the letter to you from Cristina Gallach, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, on 30 March 2016, we note that you did not remove your belongings from the office by the 6 April deadline as required.
As you have still not removed your belongings, we wish to inform you that your belongings will be packaged on Saturday 16 April 2016 at 10:00 a.m.
After carefully packaging them up, your belongings will be forwarded to Bronx NY headquarters address for Inner City Press that you had listed in your media accreditation application. If you wish us to forward your packaged belongings to another address instead, please let us know as soon as possible.
We request your presence during the packing. Please contact the Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit (MALU) to make the necessary arrangements. If you are not present, the packing and forwarding will still take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday 16 April 2016.
Best, Tal
------------------------------
Tal Mekel
Acting Chief
Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit
United Nations - S-250
New York, NY 10017
Tel: 1-212-963-1504
Fax: 1-212-963-4642
@UNMediaLiaison
http://www.un.org/en/media/
We'll have more on all this. Watch this site.
Dujarric said he would respond to the documents. But the first one has been online for more than 12 hours. Stonefaced, walking out as questions are asked, Ban's UN of Dujarric and Gallach proceeds toward the search and ouster of Inner City Press' journalistic files. Dujarric said if shown the document he would comment. We've put a document online here
All this happens as Ban's Under Secretary General for "Public Information" Cristina Gallach of Spain moves to evict Inner City Press from the UN on April 16 - a Saturday, with the building empty. Ban Ki-moon, his Chief of Staff, Gallach and others have received a formal letter against it.
Already Gallach's unilateral reduction in Inner City Press' accreditation has resulted in it being banned from two Security Council meetings on Western Sahara. On April 14 it was unable to attend a briefing on Western Sahara held in the Delegates Lounge, to which its pass no longer gives it access.
Dujarric claimed that Inner City Press could be taken there with an "escort" who would not remain, as minder; this has not been Inner City Press' experience. We'll have more on this
Even some of those close to Ban tell Inner City Press that Ban cares only a bit, or only belatedly, for the Saharawis, only that he was "personally insulted" by Morocco's protests and wants to retaliate, as his UN did on Inner City Press on February 19 and now. (There has been aletter to Ban from the Government Accountability Project, here, andpetition with 1,280 signatures, here; Courthouse News Service April 6 coverage here; OIOS audit here.)
The UN's head of Political Affairs, past and seemingly future US State Department figure Jeffrey Feltman, is said to head up the UN Secretariat's “dialogue” with those who ousted MINURSO. This as for example Sudan on April 6 echoed those arguments for ouster, after UN DPKO boss Ladsous' droning speech about Darfur.
How long before the echo reaches South Sudan, no matter how much UNMISS and UN agencies try to ingratiate themselves to Salva Kiir? Or DR Congo, same with Joseph Kabila?
While Banned from the Security Council stakeout but not yet from the UN Press Briefing Room, at least not during the increasingly thuggish noon briefings, Inner City Press on April 1 asked Ban's Dujarric about Western Sahara and then censorship, and Dujarric just walked out, saying, "I'm done."
On March 31, Inner City Press asked Morocco's Ambassador Hilale if you would show the proof he was alluding to, to a group of invited Moroccan and French journalists (Inner City Press was not invited, but present) and Hilale said no, saying he would show Dujarric.
Inner City Press also asked Hilale if those from MINURSO in Las Palmas should stay; Hilale replied, "For us, it's over." Video here.
On April 6, Inner City Press asked Ban's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq about Sudan's ambassador also flashing a smart phone, and if Ban or his spokesman Dujarric had followed up on Hillale's offer. From the UN transcript.
On April 1, Inner City Press asked Dujarric, UN transcript here.
Inner City Press asked Duajrric on March 31, before his April 1 walk-out, UN transcript.
Back on March 28, UN transcript here
InnerCityPress.com: I have a question of how the stakeout on Western Sahara on the 24th was run. I can ask now or at the end, whichever you prefer.
Spokesman: Let’s ask later. [See InnerCityPress.com & UN retaliation.]
Meanwhile Ban's head of Communications Cristina Gallach had Inner City Press Banned from covering the UN Security Council meeting on Western Sahara on March 21, and in a Kafka-esque show required a UN minder for Inner City Press on March 24, then misrepresented it to Western Sahara supporters in New Zealand, see below.
When to respond to Morocco's ouster of the MINURSO mission from Western Sahara the UN Security Council met at 8:30 am on March 21, Inner City Press arrived to cover the meeting, as it has Council meetings on the topic each April and October.
But this time, it was unable to access the Security Council stakeout in order to speak with diplomats for its reporting. Video here. Any reporter with a Resident Correspondent pass, as Inner City Press had for eight years, could go to the stakeout. But not Inner City Press, not anymore.
The reason Inner City Press was Banned from stakeout out the Western Sahara meeting was UN Under Secretary General Cristina Gallach's February 19 letter telling it, on two hours notice, to leave the UN after ten years of coverage. Letter here. Gallach never once spoke to Inner City Press before issuing the order.
The results of Gallach's order, which remains in place, is systemic exclusion from covering and staking out events ranging from Sri Lanka counter-terrorism to the process for selecting Ban Ki-moon's successor, from UN Security Council reform to an event about slavery, the UN's memorial to which has funded since indicted and pleaded guilty to bribery at the UN.
After the March 24 UN Security Council consultations on Western Sahara, just after the reading out o the Council's “Press Elements,” things hit a new low. UN Department of Public Information staff, working for Gallach, told Inner City Press it had to leave the Security Council stakeout even as other pro-Morocco journalists were conducting interviews with diplomats.
After Inner City Press stated this was censorship attributable to Gallach, her staff's “solution” was even more Kafka-esque: Inner City Press would require an escort, or minder, as it conducted interviews. Obviously, diplomats desiring to speak on background about Ban's performance on Western Sahara would not do so in the presence of a minder working for Ban's Secretariat.
What has led to this censorship or Banning of the Press at the UN, on Western Sahara, Yemen, Sri Lanka, Burundi and other topics?
While Gallach's February 19 letter is vague, in the “incident” she alludes to Inner City Press sought to report on an event, nowhere listed as closed, held in the UN Press Briefing Room on January 29.
It was a meeting of the UN Correspondents Association, and Inner City Press wanted to cover it to see if the group's having under Giampaolo Pioli taken money from thhe South South News of now indicted Ng Lap Seng's and Vivian Wang's (and Frank Lorenzo, who has pleaded guilty) would be discussed. UNCA's Pioli demanded that UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric ask Inner City Press to leave.
When despite no showing that it was a “Closed Meeting” a single UN Security officer told Inner City Press that Dujarric wanted Inner City Press to leave, it did.
But the disagreement about the right to exclude the press from the UN Press Briefing Room was used by Gallach -- and it seems UNCA “leaders” including Giampaolo Pioli and at least two news services which now operate anonymous troll social media accounts -- to three weeks later, on two hours notice and with no due process, order Inner City Press out.
Because the UNCA trolls, which are followed by and echo Gallach, repetitively tell anyone they can that Inner City Press is not restricted in any way in covering the UN -- which is a lie -- Inner City Press notes not only the obvious - that Gallach is Spain's highest UN official - but also the following:
After the March 24 Western Sahara meeting of the UN Security Council, Gallach tweeted to a questioner from New Zealand who asked, “why did you remove the accreditation of Inner City Press?” Gallach replied, photo here, that “I did not! ICP is fully accredited! Can report from UN.?His privilege to use office was taken out, due to misbehavior.”Photo of Gallach's tweet here.
This is false. On March 21, Inner City Press was unable to reach the stakeout of the UN Security Council on Western Sahara as it had been able, until Gallach's decision of February 19. And on March 25, the moment Security Council president Gaspar Martins finished reading out the elements to the press - and Inner City Press but not the swearing UNCA boss Pioli asked him a question -- UN DPI staff told Inner City Press to leave the stakeout, even as diplomats remain.
Inner City Press said that to report on the meeting, it need to speak to the diplomats, many of whom has in the past spoken with in on background. But now with its Gallach-reduced pass, DPI staff said Inner City Press required an “escort” or minder to remain on the second floor.
What diplomat desiring to speak on background about Ban Ki-moon's questionable performance on Western Sahara would do so in view of a minder from Ban's Secretariat? It is FALSE that Inner City Press is fully accredited. And it is significant that, well before March 25, Gallach has been multiply informed of the impact of the restrictions she imposed without due process. As to Western Sahara, for example, the impacts -and intent? - are clear.
Furthermore, the “misbehavior” repeatedly citing by Gallach illusory. UNCA should have have been trying to hold a “closed” meeting in the UN Press Briefing Room - even Francois Hollande could not do that - and the event was nowhere listed as closed. Inner City Press live tweeted and live streamed it openly, from the booth in the back to avoid the heckling of Pioli's gang.
Dispositively, on March 23 UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq did nothing when two non interpreters were in the interpretation booth during the noon briefing. There is no clear rule, at least none that is enforced.
But compared to this disagreement, isn't coming to the UN Security Council stakeout to loudly call another reporter “an asshole” misbehavior? UNCA chief Giampaolo Pioli, who lobbied Gallach to throw Inner City Press out, came to the UN Security Council stakeout on Western Sahara and loudly and repeatedly called Inner City Press “an asshole.” Audio here. Gallach's February 19 letter citing some rule about civility. Will she enforce it on Pioli?
Gallach's ruling must be reversed. Watch this site.
The day after the UN Security Council issued mere Elements to the Press on Morocco's ouster of much of the UN's MINURSO mission, Moroccan media stole a photograph taken by Inner City Press and false said it was Ambassador Omar Hilale flashing the victory sign on the way into a lunch with Ban Ki-moon, here.
In fact, Inner City Press took and tweeted the photo as Hilale and his team gathered in the Turkish Lounge outside the Security Council during one of this week's closed door consultations, on March 21. Notably, the Moroccan publication not only uses the Inner City Press photo without credit - it claims credit itself.
At this same UN Security Council on March 24 UN Correspondents Association boss Giampaolo Pioli repeatedly and loudly told Inner City Press "You are an asshole." Sample audio here. Since then another sample pro-Moroccan troll has snarked, "Maybe you are;" @InnerCityPress replied that Hilale for example never said it. We'll have more on this.
Cristina Gallach, with Qatar's ex-PR, Spain sign, credit UN Photo/Evan Schneider
UN DPKO boss Herve Ladsous went into the Security Council on the afternoon of March 23 without a word or answer. On his way out at 4:30 pm, Inner City Press asked him, Any progress on MINURSO? No answer. Any response to the Tony Banbury op-ed? One in his entourage laughed. Would retaliation follow? For Inner City Press, it already has. Watch this site.
On March 21, having had difficulty getting an answer from Spain's Mission to the UN particularly after Cristina Gallach, the highest Spanish official in the UN system, ousted Inner City Press from its office and the UN without due process -- and from the Western Sahara meeting, Periscope here -- sent this to Spain's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson:
From: Matthew Russell Lee [at] innercitypress.com
Date: Mon, Mar 21, 2016 at 9:15 AM
Subject: Press Q on Spain's position on Morocco ordering out 83 UN/AU staff from MINURSO, and UN doing it, on deadline, thanks
To: cecilia.yuste [at] maec.es
Hello -
This is a Press request to know Spain's position on Morocco ordering 83 UN (and AU) staff to leave “the territory of the Kingdom of Morocco,” as they referred to Western Sahara - and, separately, to UNSG Ban Ki-moon and/or DPKO chief Herve Ladsous deciding to in fact evacuate these staff to Las Palmas.
We have not heard Spain's position from the Mission here - there are other issues - and so put this question to you, on deadline. Please acknowledge receipt and provide substantive response asap.
Thank you in advance,
Matthew Russell Lee, Inner City Press
Office at UN: Room S-303, UN HQ, NY NY 10017 (??)
Cell: 718-716-3540 [& http://www.funca.info/]
Email Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com and this
www.twitter.com/innercitypress and @FUNCA_infowww.InnerCityPress.com
Office at UN: Room S-303, UN HQ, NY NY 10017 (??)
Cell: 718-716-3540 [& http://www.funca.info/]
Email Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com and this
www.twitter.com/innercitypress and @FUNCA_infowww.InnerCityPress.com
Periscope live broadcasts: https://www.periscope.tv/
Feb 26, 2016 Business Insider http://www.businessinsider.
GAP to US Mission, Feb 26, 2016: https://www.scribd.com/doc/
Video of protest in Jaffna, Sri Lanka (in Tamil) https://youtu.be/bKofyMHwJUs
Sri Lanka Sunday Times, March 20, 2016 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/
As the 8:30 am meeting took place, Inner City Press once it got about the retaliatory Ban imposed by UN official Cristina Gallach heard from its sources that this photograph of troops and missiles - note the flag(s) - was circulating among the highest UN officials including DPKO chief Herve Ladsous, and that Morocco was moving to oust even MINURSO military personnel from Dakhla. There were still no other media present at 9:30 am.
Inner City Press arrived at the UN at 8:20 am and as passing through the now required (by UN censorship and retaliation) metal detectors saw a convoy diplomats from the Morocco mission going in.
But up at the Security Council, the door for "non-resident correspondents" was locked; Inner City Press' current pass downgraded in retaliation by the UN doesn't work on the turnstiles and there was no guard present.
Inner City Press set up in the hall, but from there was unable to put questions -- as it has right to -- to the Permanent Representatives going in.
Seen, through glass, were the Perm Reps of France and Spain chatting amiably; PRs of New Zealand and Ukraine and Russia; American Deputy David Pressman.
At the noon briefing, Inner City Press asked Ban's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq, Vine here (video still not provided)
Later on March 21, along with telling Ban (again) that his Under Secretary General for "Communications" Cristina Gallach and Security had thrown Inner City Press out of its office and the UN as a whole on February 19, Inner City Press asked Ban what he was doing on Western Sahara.
Ban said, "We had a good meeting in the Security Council today."Audio embedded here.
But didn't Haq say it was fine to Ban Inner City Press because there were no Secretariat staff involved? Beyond who is Ban's we, does the justification for censorship stand up?
Beyond having physically thrown Inner City Press out of the UN, twice, does Ban's UN not want the media on its announcement list to cover such a meeting?
Inner City Press had heard of the Monday 8:30 am meeting from sources in the region on Sunday evening.
Why did Ban (or the head of UN Peacekeeping, Frenchman Herve Ladsous) give in? If, in the most positive light, it was for staff safety --which was ignored for example in Sri Lanka -- why has Ban not come out and said that? This is a new low.
Contrary to the analogies UN and DPKO spokesman Stephane Dujarric used, Eritrea kicking out UNMEE for not enforcing its legal right to Badme, or Chad kicking out MINURCAT, Morocco is not the host country of MINURSO. So the note verbale, which in any event should have been sent to the Security Council, is not effective.
But what is the role of Herve Ladsous, the fourth Frenchman in a row atop UN Peacekeeping, in this - and in the ouster of Inner City Press on February 19, ostensibly by his fellow Frenchman Stephane Dujarric and Cristina Gallach, the highest official of Spain in UN System? We'll have more on this.
Meanwhile two tweets from the account of the acting spokesperson for the US Mission to the UN got a lot of play, on both sides of the issue,click here to view.
On March 18 Inner City Press asked Kirby, again, about theGovernment Accountability Project's letter to the US Mission to the UN about UN retaliation against the Press. Kirby said, "I’m also happy to refer you to our mission up in New York City." Later his office put in writing, "On the question on the Government Accountability Project letter, we’d refer you to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations."
But Inner City Press has already asked three at the US Mission about the GAP letter.
After the Security Council met on March 18 about Western Sahara, the Council's President for March, Ambassador Gaspar Martins of Angola, said the members had agreed to work both bilaterally and as Council. Which is it? Left solo, France reflexively defends Morocco.
Sounds bilateral... Watch this site.
On March 14, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric about an upcoming meeting it had heard from other sources about. From the UN transcript.
On March 7, Inner City Press asked Dujarric if Ban had even tried to get to MINURSO's headquarters in El Aaiun -- Dujarric didn't answer that -- and if Ban hadn't in his comment distributed on March 6 given Morocco a veto over the referendum promises even in the name of the MINURSO mission.
Back on March 2, Inner City Press asked Dujarric's deputy Farhan Haq why Ban is not going, while wanly claiming he has the right to do. UN transcript here.
Ban was supposed to go in November 2015 but he canceled it, thinking he could get more political - read, South Korea electoral -- play by going to North Korea. But then North Korea turned him down.
On February 25, Inner City Press asked Dujarric about issues including Western Sahara, after three days reporting on the UN from outside after Ban's head of Communications Cristina Gallach threw Inner City Press out without due process: petition here; weird pro Morocco spin on the ouster, here.
Ahead of Ban's March 1 stop in Spain there was pick up of the fact that Gallach is Spain's highest UN official, and that she ousted the Press from the UN.
Highest Spanish #UN official @cristinagallach removes accreditation of the most critical journalist@innercitypresshttps://t.co/4Tj8Ud4UrD— Ignacio Cembrero (@icembrero) February 27, 2016
In defense of Ban and Gallach, anonymous troll account has taken to tweeting, now at Spanish journalists, that Gallach is fine and didn't throw Inner City Press out of the UN on two hours notice without once speaking to it. But those are the facts. Among the new troll account's followers are Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric and four UNCA board members, plus Reuters bureau chief Louis Charbonneau, who has a history with this, see here.
