As UNSC Takes Kuwait Flight to Burma, Murky On Who Can Cover, Kachin Ignored, Tax Evading Envoy?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 27 – The UN Security Council, venue this month of four failed draft resolutions on Syria, was dis-invited from visiting Iraq. But the circus continues, with insider media. Earlier, the UN invited (some) correspondents: "members of the Security Council have agreed to send a mission to Iraq, Bangladesh, and Myanmar during the period from 26 April to 2 May 2018... Please inform the Office of the Spokesperson by close of business on Friday, 13 April, if you are interested in traveling on this Council trip." Inner City Press expressed interest but was, predictably now, turned down. A P5 spokesman, said, audible to those not bought in, that is was not set in stone that "Security Council Report" would go. But it apparently has. SCR "reports" that "the Security Council embarked on a visiting mission to Bangladesh and Myanmar yesterday evening (26 April). The first stop for the delegation is Kuwait City, where the Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah will host a dinner for the delegation. A Kuwaiti plane will be used to transport the Council delegation during the visit to Bangladesh and Myanmar that will start the following day. During the visiting mission, which will take place from 28 April to 2 May, the Council delegation will visit Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka; refugee camps near Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh; Myanmar’s capital Naypyitaw; and northern Rakhine state in Myanmar." What about Kachin, which Inner City Press asked about twice this week? Guterres has belatedly chosen an envoy: Christine Schraner Burgener. But she was hauled in by the Germany foreign ministry to explain Swiss spying on German tax agents looking into murky tax evasion bank accounts in her native Switzerland, here. Inner City Press asked Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric - dodged - and the a tax evasion panel in Dujarric's briefing room on April 27.  on October 26, speaking of UN Security Council proposals on Myanmar at a quiet film event hosted by one of the too-quiet proponents, Yanghee Lee was quoted going beyond what she said in the UN: "#UN Special Rapporteur on #Myanmar: #SecurityCouncil needs to adopt strong #Burma resolution- appeals to #China #Japan& #Russia not to block." The inclusion of Japan is surprising - or not. Because on October 27 in the UN's ECOSOC Chamber, the Japanese Mission to the UN's Counselor Mr. Hajime Kishimori chose as his story to an audience about sexual violence against women the time at a camp for Myanmar refugees in Thailand he asked a (male) chef to contribute Japanese recipes to the "refugee mothers." Video here,from 31:15. He talked about an under-covered WAW meeting in Tokyo, and an upcoming fifth "Peaces" event in the UN. Kishimori recounted bringing UNIQLO clothing from Japan to refugee women in Nepal, Ethiopia and Tanzania. Some of the audience marveled at the panel's lone male using as his examples to women, cooking and clothes. The moderator Alison Smale said nothing, perhaps because Japan is the rapporteur of the Committee on Information, in which self-interested speeches about language rights allow DPI to claim it is doing a good job. Then why is Antonio Guterres ordering outside consultants? And why was DPI's propaganda coverage of his trip to CAR needed, and so-stand alone? The mostly knee-jerk anti Chinese of Japanese media Sankei Shimbun, while missing more and more stories at the UN, has switched to a scribe named Kevin Pinner who brags online of his time as a copywriter in Shenzhen for "Chinavasion Wholesale Ltd, I named products, generated slogans." Slogans indeed. Now Pinner is uselessly typing up quotes on Palestine that are not used, talking about his boss and then falling asleep in the bullpen, sidling up to state media using "Sonkei... the right wing smallest of the major Japanese papers" as a calling card, gushing a pedigree of Chinese media (great) and Swiss magazines - the state media had not heard of Sankei. On April 27 he was not even at the UN noon briefing where the PGA meeting with the  Korean Ambassador was announced. On April 18 at a stakeout on Syria covered by Inner City Press, present were other Japanese media but not Sankei. Its Mayu Uetsuka now "covered" Stormy Daniels, with cookie cutter comparisons of the US and France and swipes at evangelicals, absurdly under the rubric "Reading the United States." And why not Canada, with superficial coverage of a mere "motion" about the South China Sea? The irony is that with all this mechanical (and apparently hypocritical) anti China energy, they didn't cover the CEFC bribery scandal at the UN. Meanwhile they missed even the story of the US Committee on Human Rights in North Korea, see Inner City Press' coverage here. This reading will continue. Uutsuka, an embarrassment even to her predecessor Jun Kurosawa and, in Paris Mina Mitsui actually covering Syria, previously "reported" on MLK events in Memphis, while using UK-based corporate wire coverage of the issues impacting its own readership. We'll have more on this - and on this: amid the killing and displacement of Rohingya from and in Myanmar's Rakhine State, on November 10 UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres citing a resolution pending in the General Assembly's Third Committee which would request him "to appoint a special envoy on Myanmar." On December 26, after it was finally approved on Christmas Eve, Inner City Press asked the UN when Guterres will act. In due course, whatever that means. As of April 12, he has done nothing. On April 17, Inner City Press asked Guterres' Assistant SG Ursula Mueller if during her five day trip to Myanmar the issue of the mandated envoy was even broached. She said it was not. (Her full briefing is archived on UNTV, including Inner City Press' question to her on the UN's mis-handling of the crackdown in Cameroon on Anglophones). While Mueller was briefing, Inner City Press received this from the UN: "Hi, Matthew.
Your request to join the Council delegation to Bangladesh and Myanmar was unfortunately not accepted." So who was accepted, and why? We may have more on this. At the day's noon briefing a correspondent - not this one - asked "The Security Council has set a date for its trip to Myanmar, Bangladesh and Iraq.  I'm wondering what the Secretary-General hopes to see from that trip and if you have a status update about the selection process for a Special Representative to the country.

Spokesman:  No, no update on the process to find a Special Envoy for Myanmar from the Secretary-General.  What we hope is that the Council will show unity on the trip.  It will help improve the situation in Myanmar, in terms of helping the Government implement the Annan… the conclusions of the [Kofi] Annan panel.  And we also very much hope that it will help refocus the attention of the international community on the plight of those Rohingya refugees who have fled to Bangladesh and the need… the continuous need to fund the humanitarian operations.  As you know, we're coming up to the monsoon season, which will create even newer and more challenges to them." Inner City Press has timely asked to go, specifically to Rakhine State; it is noted that a spokesperson said there will be three spots and "it is not Gospel" that Security Council Report will be one of them. Receipt of Inner City Press' request has been confirmed. We'll have more on this. On March 21 at the UN noon briefing Inner City Press asked Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, video here, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: on Myanmar, the President, as you may have seen, has resigned for… reportedly due to health reasons, Mr. Htin… H-t-i-n K-y-a-w.  And I wanted to know whether this… who is the UN's interlocutor on… it seems like it's been a long time on the envoy, so it probably seem… would indicate that the… on the Government side, there's some thoughts of what the name should be.  Does this change at the very… at the top or at least the titular top of the Government in Myanmar have any impact on the process?

Spokesman:  Well, the process is ongoing, and we consult with various parties.  Obviously, as with the dispatch of any envoy, country-specific envoy, there are discussions that are had with the Government… the Government in place, whatever Government that is, and I have no reason to believe that that's not going on there.
Inner City Press: And I… I’ve seen that the Secretary-General met twice pretty recently with Kevin Rudd, including one quite recently.  And I wanted to know, is there any readout on that?  His name was at one point floated.  I don't know if he would take this job or I don't know if he's being considered for it, but what's the… especially with two meetings so close to each other…

Spokesman:  No, I'm aware of the meetings…
Inner City Press: …[inaudible] request of Mr.  Rudd?

Spokesman:  I'm aware of the… of the rumours, which are… which are exactly that.  Mr. Rudd, I think, has an appointment here at the Japan Society, if I'm not…

Inner City Press: Asia.

Spokesman:  …mis… the Asia Society, my mistake.  But there is no specific readout of that meeting." Why not? Meanwhile, on Myanmar, Japan's Abe government's ambiguous position was highlighted back in October 2017 when UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee urged the country, still then on the UN Security Council, not to block a Council resolution, here. Now, after pro-Abe media Sankei Shimbun claimedbreathlessly from Singapore via Hideki Yoshimura that its Myanmar sources assured it Rohingya would begin returning from Bangladesh on March 16, the government has in fact built chain link fences to prevent such returns. As initially with an Okinawa do-gooder story, until now no retraction. 
Instead, opting for now instead like Mayu Uetsuka of Sankei Shimsun, here, to jump on the U.S. gun control bandwagon, while having ignored the UN itself promoting and advertising automatic weapons, tanks and even rocket launchers in its 1-B basement. (Inner City Press exclusive series, here, video here.) Are these glaring omissions known to correspondents Hiroyuki Kano, Krose Etsuia and even, in London, Okabe Shinbun? To say nothing of actually detained Tatsuya Kato who at least then defended press freedom, with Jun Kurosawa UNdeclared? On March 19, Inner City Press asked Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujrric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press:  I wanted to ask yoy about a Myanmar-proposed law and international NGOs [non-governmental organizations] which would regulate, it purports not only international NGOs but at the UN, to the degree that it's separate from that.  I know that OCHA [Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs] sometimes coordinates with NGOs that have these concerns, but it would regulate the UN, as well.  Is the UN aware of this law?  Do they believe it would apply to them?  And what's the status — and I'm sorry to ask you this again, but — of the envoy that was discussed in September and fully mandated in December? Spokesman:  There's no update on the envoy.  The discussions are ongoing.  I mean no updates to announce.  The discussions are obviously very much ongoing.  We're aware of the law.  You know, the presence of the UN is regulated through the Charter and through international obligations that Member States have.  But, obviously, I've… we've seen the law as being debated, but I will leave it at that principled response." Yeah, principled. On March 8, Inner City Press asked Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: if you have any comment.  The US Holocaust Memorial Museum stripped a human rights award from Aung San Suu Kyi based on her response or… or lack of response in the Rohingya.  I wanted to know if you have any kind of, I guess, comment on… on that and also what the status of the envoy… many Member States now, whenever the issue comes up, are saying they urge António Guterres to move forward? Spokesman:  Consultations are being had.  And I have no particular comment on the decision… the, as we say, the sovereign decision of the US Holocaust Museum." For envoy a name in circulation, rightly or wrongly, is Kevin Rudd of Australia. It would be quite a come-down, since as Inner City Press reported (as picked up in Australia), Rudd tried for UN Secretary General in 2016. But hope springs eternal, and Rudd always tries to show a sympathy to China's position. What might he think of the China Energy Fund Committee bribery scandal which Inner City Press, alone among the UN press corps, is covering? This week Rudd met with Guterres, but there has been no read-out (we've asked). We'll have more on this. 

On Myanmar, UN Guterres Picks Diplomat Questioned About Swiss Spying on Tax Evasion, ICP Asks, Sankei Doesn't

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 27 – Amid the killing and displacement of Rohingya from and in Myanmar's Rakhine State, on November 10 UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres citing a resolution pending in the General Assembly's Third Committee which would request him "to appoint a special envoy on Myanmar." On December 26, after it was finally approved on Christmas Eve, Inner City Press asked the UN when Guterres will act. In due course, whatever that means. As of April 24, he had done nothing, and Inner City Press asked the President of the General Assembly about it. Now it's said at the UN that Guterres has belatedly chosen an envoy: Christine Schraner Burgener. But she was hauled in by the Germany foreign ministry to explain Swiss spying on German tax agents looking into murky tax evasion bank accounts in her native Switzerland, here. Inner City Press asked Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric - dodged - and the a tax evasion panel in Dujarric's briefing room on April 27.  on October 26, speaking of UN Security Council proposals on Myanmar at a quiet film event hosted by one of the too-quiet proponents, Yanghee Lee was quoted going beyond what she said in the UN: "#UN Special Rapporteur on #Myanmar: #SecurityCouncil needs to adopt strong #Burma resolution- appeals to #China #Japan& #Russia not to block." The inclusion of Japan is surprising - or not. Because on October 27 in the UN's ECOSOC Chamber, the Japanese Mission to the UN's Counselor Mr. Hajime Kishimori chose as his story to an audience about sexual violence against women the time at a camp for Myanmar refugees in Thailand he asked a (male) chef to contribute Japanese recipes to the "refugee mothers." Video here,from 31:15. He talked about an under-covered WAW meeting in Tokyo, and an upcoming fifth "Peaces" event in the UN. Kishimori recounted bringing UNIQLO clothing from Japan to refugee women in Nepal, Ethiopia and Tanzania. Some of the audience marveled at the panel's lone male using as his examples to women, cooking and clothes. The moderator Alison Smale said nothing, perhaps because Japan is the rapporteur of the Committee on Information, in which self-interested speeches about language rights allow DPI to claim it is doing a good job. Then why is Antonio Guterres ordering outside consultants? And why was DPI's propaganda coverage of his trip to CAR needed, and so-stand alone? The mostly knee-jerk anti Chinese of Japanese media Sankei Shimbun, while missing more and more stories at the UN, has switched to a scribe named Kevin Pinner who brags online of his time as a copywriter in Shenzhen for "Chinavasion Wholesale Ltd, I named products, generated slogans." Slogans indeed. Now Pinner is uselessly typing up quotes on Palestine that are not used, talking about his boss and then falling asleep in the bullpen, sidling up to state media using "Sonkei... the right wing smallest of the major Japanese papers" as a calling card, gushing a pedigree of Chinese media (great) and Swiss magazines - the state media had not heard of Sankei. On April 27 he was not even at the UN noon briefing where the PGA meeting with the  Korean Ambassador was announced. On April 18 at a stakeout on Syria covered by Inner City Press, present were other Japanese media but not Sankei. Its Mayu Uetsuka now "covered" Stormy Daniels, with cookie cutter comparisons of the US and France and swipes at evangelicals, absurdly under the rubric "Reading the United States." And why not Canada, with superficial coverage of a mere "motion" about the South China Sea? The irony is that with all this mechanical (and apparentlyhypocritical) anti China energy, they didn't cover the CEFC bribery scandal at the UN. Meanwhile they missed even the story of the US Committee on Human Rights in North Korea, see Inner City Press' coverage here. This reading will continue. Uutsuka, an embarrassment even to her predecessor Jun Kurosawa and, in Paris Mina Mitsui actually covering Syria, previously "reported" on MLK events in Memphis, while using UK-based corporate wire coverage of the issues impacting its own readership. We'll have more on this - and on this: on April 24 Inner City Press asked the President of the UN General Assembly Miroslav Lajcak, as transcribed by his Office: Inner City Press: on Myanmar, the General Assembly voted that the Secretary-General should appoint an envoy. That was in December. Now it’s April. There’s still no envoy… What do you say to the lack of an envoy?

PGA Lajcak: It’s not for me to answer this question. I’m sure that procedures are taking place in the Secretariat, but I am not familiar with the details."  Procedures? For sixteen weeks? On April 20, Inner City Press asked Guterres' deputy spokesman Farhan Haq two questions about Myanmar, the Kachin and press freedom. From the UN transcript: Inner City Press:  I wanted to ask about Myanmar.  There's… not in Rakhine State, but the Kachin minority has put out a call saying that, basically in… in… in light of the increased fighting, there are about 2,000 people that are… have fled their villages and are without any health care or anything, and I'm wondering, what… what… is the UN aware of this?  And what are they doing about it?

Deputy Spokesman:  Yeah, I just read out at the top of the briefing a note by Knut Ostby.  I don't know if you heard what he said about his concerns about the Kachin State, but I would refer you back to that.  In addition to that, our humanitarian colleagues say that more than 160,000 people are currently targeted for humanitarian assistance in Kachin and Shan States, including around 107,000 internally displaced people who have been displaced by the continuing violence.  Many people in those areas have been displaced multiple times in a continued cycle of violence, and access to many of those in need, and particularly those in non-Government-controlled areas remains extremely limited.  The escalation and fighting since earlier this month is deeply concerning.  It's the responsibility of all parties to the conflict to ensure that civilians are protected at all times and reports of fighting close to civilian areas, including villages and existing camps for the displaced, are unacceptable.

Inner City Press: And I also wanted to ask… also in Myanmar, in the case of the two journalists… Reuters journalists that were locked up, there's been a development in which a… a police officer has testified that he was part of a plot to… essentially to set them up, that he was threatened with arrest himself if he didn't get Wa Lone.  And so, my question is, is the UN following this and what do they think of this new development?

Deputy Spokesman:  Yes, we are following and are aware of this.  As you know, we have called for all media to be treated fairly in Myanmar and the Secretary-General in particular has called for the release of these journalists." On April 17, Inner City Press asked Guterres' Assistant SG Ursula Mueller if during her five day trip to Myanmar the issue of the mandated envoy was even broached. She said it was not. (Her full briefing is archived on UNTV, including Inner City Press' question to her on the UN's mis-handling of the crackdown in Cameroon on Anglophones). While Mueller was briefing, Inner City Press received this from the UN: "Hi, Matthew.
Your request to join the Council delegation to Bangladesh and Myanmar was unfortunately not accepted." So who was accepted, and why? We may have more on this. At the day's noon briefing a correspondent - not this one - asked "The Security Council has set a date for its trip to Myanmar, Bangladesh and Iraq.  I'm wondering what the Secretary-General hopes to see from that trip and if you have a status update about the selection process for a Special Representative to the country.

Spokesman:  No, no update on the process to find a Special Envoy for Myanmar from the Secretary-General.  What we hope is that the Council will show unity on the trip.  It will help improve the situation in Myanmar, in terms of helping the Government implement the Annan… the conclusions of the [Kofi] Annan panel.  And we also very much hope that it will help refocus the attention of the international community on the plight of those Rohingya refugees who have fled to Bangladesh and the need… the continuous need to fund the humanitarian operations.  As you know, we're coming up to the monsoon season, which will create even newer and more challenges to them." Inner City Press has timely asked to go, specifically to Rakhine State; it is noted that a spokesperson said there will be three spots and "it is not Gospel" that Security Council Report will be one of them. Receipt of Inner City Press' request has been confirmed. We'll have more on this. On March 21 at the UN noon briefing Inner City Press asked Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, video here, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: on Myanmar, the President, as you may have seen, has resigned for… reportedly due to health reasons, Mr. Htin… H-t-i-n K-y-a-w.  And I wanted to know whether this… who is the UN's interlocutor on… it seems like it's been a long time on the envoy, so it probably seem… would indicate that the… on the Government side, there's some thoughts of what the name should be.  Does this change at the very… at the top or at least the titular top of the Government in Myanmar have any impact on the process?

Spokesman:  Well, the process is ongoing, and we consult with various parties.  Obviously, as with the dispatch of any envoy, country-specific envoy, there are discussions that are had with the Government… the Government in place, whatever Government that is, and I have no reason to believe that that's not going on there.

Inner City Press: And I… I’ve seen that the Secretary-General met twice pretty recently with Kevin Rudd, including one quite recently.  And I wanted to know, is there any readout on that?  His name was at one point floated.  I don't know if he would take this job or I don't know if he's being considered for it, but what's the… especially with two meetings so close to each other…

Spokesman:  No, I'm aware of the meetings…
Inner City Press: …[inaudible] request of Mr.  Rudd?

Spokesman:  I'm aware of the… of the rumours, which are… which are exactly that.  Mr. Rudd, I think, has an appointment here at the Japan Society, if I'm not…

Inner City Press: Asia.

Spokesman:  …mis… the Asia Society, my mistake.  But there is no specific readout of that meeting." Why not? Meanwhile, on Myanmar, Japan's Abe government's ambiguous position was highlighted back in October 2017 when UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee urged the country, still then on the UN Security Council, not to block a Council resolution, here. Now, after pro-Abe media Sankei Shimbun claimedbreathlessly from Singapore via Hideki Yoshimura that its Myanmar sources assured it Rohingya would begin returning from Bangladesh on March 16, the government has in fact built chain link fences to prevent such returns. As initially with an Okinawa do-gooder story, until now no retraction. 
Instead, opting for now instead like Mayu Uetsuka of Sankei Shimsun, here, to jump on the U.S. gun control bandwagon, while having ignored the UN itself promoting and advertising automatic weapons, tanks and even rocket launchers in its 1-B basement. (Inner City Press exclusive series, here, video here.) Are these glaring omissions known to correspondents Hiroyuki Kano, Krose Etsuia and even, in London, Okabe Shinbun? To say nothing of actually detained Tatsuya Kato who at least then defended press freedom, with Jun Kurosawa UNdeclared? On March 19, Inner City Press asked Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujrric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press:  I wanted to ask yoy about a Myanmar-proposed law and international NGOs [non-governmental organizations] which would regulate, it purports not only international NGOs but at the UN, to the degree that it's separate from that.  I know that OCHA [Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs] sometimes coordinates with NGOs that have these concerns, but it would regulate the UN, as well.  Is the UN aware of this law?  Do they believe it would apply to them?  And what's the status — and I'm sorry to ask you this again, but — of the envoy that was discussed in September and fully mandated in December? Spokesman:  There's no update on the envoy.  The discussions are ongoing.  I mean no updates to announce.  The discussions are obviously very much ongoing.  We're aware of the law.  You know, the presence of the UN is regulated through the Charter and through international obligations that Member States have.  But, obviously, I've… we've seen the law as being debated, but I will leave it at that principled response." Yeah, principled. On March 8, Inner City Press asked Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: if you have any comment.  The US Holocaust Memorial Museum stripped a human rights award from Aung San Suu Kyi based on her response or… or lack of response in the Rohingya.  I wanted to know if you have any kind of, I guess, comment on… on that and also what the status of the envoy… many Member States now, whenever the issue comes up, are saying they urge António Guterres to move forward? Spokesman:  Consultations are being had.  And I have no particular comment on the decision… the, as we say, the sovereign decision of the US Holocaust Museum." For envoy a name in circulation, rightly or wrongly, is Kevin Rudd of Australia. It would be quite a come-down, since as Inner City Press reported (as picked up in Australia), Rudd tried for UN Secretary General in 2016. But hope springs eternal, and Rudd always tries to show a sympathy to China's position. What might he think of the China Energy Fund Committee bribery scandal which Inner City Press, alone among the UN press corps, is covering? 

On Douma, No UNSC Member Speaks Publicly After Dag Farm Truce, Syria PR Ja'afari Says He Would Have

By Matthew Russell Lee, Video II Patreon, photos, Vine

UNITED NATIONS, April 25 – After a UN Security Council discussion on Syria during their retreat in Sweden, for which the UN refused to provide the Press with any list of attendees or costs, the Council's President for May, Peru, stood and read "Elements to the Press." Days later on April 25 when the Security Council met in New York about Syria, not a single Council member spoke in the public session, after the briefing by UN aid official Ursula Mueller. It seems to confirm the so-called truce among Council members on Syria rhetoric, at least in public. But the truce does not apply to Syria, whose Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari told Inner City Press on his way out of the meeting, "I told them yesterday, if any of them spoke, I would." His delegation was clearly happy with the Council's silence. We'll have more on this.  These largely repeated and referred to earlier statements, this time stating generically that "the use of chemical weapons is a violation of resolution 2118." This is less that the tweaked resolution's reference to the "reported" use of chemical weapons in Douma. Just the use, generally, would violation a resolution. Staffan de Mistura was there, with black Mercedes in the back; Izumi Nakamitsu, who Inner City Press first reported would be there, was not mentioned. On April 21 the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons team has reached Douma, the OPCW announced. Meanwhile, France, the UK and US have slightly modified their new draft resolution on chemical weapons, now referring to the "reported" use of chemical weapons and calling on Staffan de Mistura to move toward "a constitutional committee comprising representatives of all segments of the Syrian society." The Security Council members are on a retreat in Sweden, with as Inner City Press first reported Disarmament official Izumi Nakamitsu. On the 38th floor the word was that her agenda is "OPCW" - that is, Douma. And North Korea? No other media was up on the 38th floor for this, other than Inner City Press. The UN refused to provide the attendee list; Inner City Press asked at the April 20 noon briefing after reporting onNakamitsu. Is the draft still veto bait? Here's what the OPCW has just said: "The Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) team of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) visited one of the sites in Douma, Syrian Arab Republic today to collect samples for analysis in connection with allegations of chemical weapons use on 7 April 2018. The OPCW will evaluate the situation and consider future steps including another possible visit to Douma. The samples collected will be transported to the OPCW Laboratory in Rijswijk and then dispatched for analysis to the OPCW’s designated labs. Based on the analysis of the sample results as well other information and materials collected by the team, the FFM will compile their report for submission to the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention for their consideration." We'll have more on this. At 9 pm on April 13 US President Donald Trump announced airstrikes on Syria, with the UK and Syria. In the UN, Inner City Press rushed from the phone booth it works in to the UN Security Council, only to find the music and drinkers still pulsing from the UN Delegates Lounge. Video here.  Russia called a UN Security Council meeting and had a draft resolution voted on. It failed, with three in favor (China, Bolivia and Russia), eight against and four abstentions. (Ethiopia called its abstention pragmatic). Video here.Just afterward, France, the UK and US put forward yet anther draft, described by many as veto bait. The draft "demands” that the Assad government negotiate “in good faith, constructively and without preconditions,” and expands the role of the OPCW. On the former, France for one never followed through on its Burundi resolutions; the UK never even sought an Any Other Business briefing on the crackdown in the former British Southern Cameroons. We'll have more on this - and on this: the self-described pro-Abe Japanese newspaper Sankei Shimbun, which missed the Washington news as it misses and bungles the news at the UN. On April 18 at a stakeout on Syria covered by Inner City Press, present were other Japanese media but not Sankei. Its Mayu Uetsuka "covered" Stormy Daniels, with cookie cutter comparisons of the US and France and swipes at evangelicals, absurdly under the rubric "Reading the United States." The actual US lists calls made by Acting Secretary of State Sullivan: "The following is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert: On April 14, 2018, Acting Secretary Sullivan made the following calls to foreign leaders to brief on the strikes in Syria: Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Al Sabah, Czech Foreign Minister Stropnicky, Turkish Under Secretary Yalcin, Iraqi Foreign Minister al-Jaafari." Some wonder, why Czech Republic, where Chinese businessman and briber Ye Jianming remains an adviser to the President? Meanwhile there are reports of air strikes on Jabal Azzan - watch this site. After the UNSC meeting, Inner City Press asked Russia's Vassily Nebenzia if any of the abstentions surprised him. He stopped and said that Russia doesn't twist any arms, it is a sovereign decision of each country. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres left with his entourage; Inner City Press asked quite audibly. so are you going to Saudi Arabia now? He didn't answer; Inner City Press has asked his two top spokesmen now in writing to be informed, hour by hour. It is, after all, public money. Watch this site. The failed draft at the end, “Condemns the aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic by the US and its allies in violation of international law and the UN Charter [and] Demands that the US and its allies immediately and without delay cease the aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic and demands also to refrain from any further use of force in violation of international law and the UN Charter.” Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia mocked the UK and France as having joined a military action based only  on the US Constitution; he used the word "neo colonialism."Moments before, Nikki Haley, entering the UN Security Council at 11 am on April 14 paused and said, The time for talk was over and the time for action had come, that's what happened last night. As she kept walking, there was a shouted question: What is the proof? Vine video here. Earlier on April 14 at the Pentagon, Lt Gen KennethMcKenzie bragged that there had been no military response, and that the deconfliction channel was working with Russia. Earlier still on April 14, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons announced, "The Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) team of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) will continue its deployment to the Syrian Arab Republic to establish facts around the allegations of chemical weapons use in Douma. The OPCW has been working in close collaboration with the United Nations Department of Safety and Security to assess the situation and ensure the safety of the team." There's to be a 9 am Pentagon briefing. Watch this site. At 11:49 pm on April 13 when UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was to leave for Saudi Arabia he issued a statement. In response to Inner City Press' question the UN said, SG is still in NY, then this: "The Secretary-General has decided to delay his scheduled travel to Saudi Arabia." Inner City Press checked - his publicly funded mansion's lights were blazing. But for now long?

On Western Sahara, ICP Asked and UN Confirmed Bir Lehlou Not in Buffer Strip, Draft Here

By Matthew Russell Lee, Periscope, song, II

UNITED NATIONS, April 23 – Draft - On Western Sahara, when the UN Security Council's rare meeting began on March 21, Secretary General Antonio Guterres' personal envoy Horst Kohler walked in with security. Asked if he would speak with the press afterward, he had one word: "No." Amid escalating spin in the run-up to the slatedextension the MINURSO mission - with the R for Referendum still not carried out - on April 18, after Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric entertained questions from multiple of the Moroccan state media the UN gives office space and full access to, Inner City Pressasked, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: Morocco seems to be claiming that both Bir Lehlou and Tifariti are… where the UN has team sites are located within the buffer zone.  Frente Polisario says that's entirely false.  Obviously, this is a dispute about where these meetings take place.  What I wanted to know, it should be pretty straightforward for the UN to say, given how long it's had a mission there, are these two sites, Bir Lehlou and Tifariti, are they within the buffer zone or, as stated otherwise, are they not in the buffer zone?

Spokesman:  I don't have any new language on Western Sahara, so I'll get back you to." And the next day, April 19, he came to the briefing and said "I can say that neither Bir Lahlou nor Tifariti fall within the buffer strip." Asked and answered. 

Inner City Press today exclusively publishes the marked up new Security Council draft resolution, here on Scribd and attached here on Patreon, now proposing that the Council“Expresses concern regarding the Polisario Front’s announcement of the planned relocation of administrative functions to Bir Lahlou, and calls for the Polisario Front to refrain from any such destabilizing actions." Was this really announced? Full text on Patreon, here. Today's UN gives office space and full access to multiple Moroccan state media, including moonlighters as UN staff, while evicting an restricting underdogs. On April 4 after Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita met Guterres -- who gave no read out, as has become his norm -- Morocco arranged a press conference, not in the UN Press Briefing Room but elsewhere. In it, Bourita reportedly threatened military action, and said Guterres spoke to the King by phone (again, no read-out) and to the President of the Security Council. Arranging this was the Moroccan Mission to the UN, which in its last public UNTV stakeout in the UN, last April video here,used the platform to criticize the Press for asking too many questions. Expect more. On April 5 Inner City Press asked Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: a readou of the meeting that the Secretary-General had with the Foreign Minister of Morocco. There are these quotes from the Foreign Minister of Morocco after the meeting saying that all options are on the table; Morocco is considering taking up its responsibility to act if the UN doesn't.  Is it true that the Moroccan Foreign Minister threatened military action in the meeting? And what was the Secretary-General's response?

Spokesman:  Listen I'm challenged enough to speak for the Secretary-General, so I will not speak for any other parties.  The Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister discussed issues of mutual concern.  Including, obviously, the situation in the Western Sahara.
Inner City Press:   No, but, I mean, I guess if he's a conflict-prevention guy and…  and…  and the person that he meets with comes out of the meeting saying, I threaten to take military action…

Spokesman:  The Secretary-General's focus continues to be on prevention of conflict, and that's why he meets regularly with representatives of Member States.

Inner City Press: But I'm saying, with the Polisario Front, their representative at the UN, now recently deceased, with whom on the other side as a conflict-prevention man is Mr. Guterres speaking?

Spokesman:  "As you know, the death of the Polisario representative was very sudden, coming in the last two or three days.  I don't know if they have appointed someone to replace him."

And now Guterres leaves town for another six days. Inner City Press also asked the Dutch military adviser, video here. Back on March 21 when Horst Kohler left the Security Council at 4:40 pm Inner City Press asked him, Was there any discussion of natural resources (exploitation) and the European Court of Justice decision? There was no direct answer. Periscope video here. But Team Kohler took a detour and visited with Moroccan Ambassador Omar Hilale, holding court in the second floor hall where Inner City Press due to censorship, unlike Moroccan state media, cannot go. NowHilale, on the day presidency of the Security Council passes from the Netherlands to Peru, has written threatening military action, usingLatin ("casus belli"). Now on April 2, the Polisario Front has sent a three page latter to the Security Council, denying Hilale's allegations and calling them a smokescreen. Letter, in three photos, here. Even before Inner City Press at 1 pm on April 2 asked the President of the Security Council Gustavo Meza-Cuadra of Peru about the letter - he confirmed receipt - UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the UN's MINURSO "has "not observed any movement of military elements in the northeast territory.  MINURSO continues to monitor the situation closely." On April 3, one of the Morocco state media to which the UN gives office space and full access while evicting and restricting Inner City Press "asked" Dujarric about some media saying the UN was daring to disagree with Hilale, was even siding with Polisario. Dujarric said of course not, and when Inner City Press asked if anything had changed from his statement the day before, Dujarric said he expected to have something later on April 3. Periscope video here. When? In what format? Watch this site. Does the timing of Hilale's letter, not notedalong with the (written) medium by Al Jazeera, spring from the situation on the ground or a plan of April lobbying? All this while Secretary General Guterres, who notably sides with the over-dog in places ranging from Cameroon to Yemen, was on a four day unannounced (but belatedly confirmed to Inner City Press) four day weekend at his real home in Lisbon, missing in action (MIA). On March 21 the two Morocco state media didn't ask anything during the UNTV stakeout. The UN gives them full access, one of them doubling as a UN staff members. This is how the UN works, or doesn't. Some tell Inner City Press at least Kohler is holding meetings, with French Le Drian (opposing any human rights component in the MINURSO mandate), Sweden and the African Union. This last made Morocco mad. The Moroccan mission has lobbied the UN Department of Public Information, now run by Alison Smale, against Inner City Press, frivolously; still, Inner City Press remains restricted in its movements in the UN while covering meetings on the second floor when often Morocco's Ambassador Omar Hilale is buzzing around lobbying. Hilale has a habit of counting how many questions Inner City Press asks.