By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Video Q&A
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - SDNY/FOIA
UN GATE, Sept 21 – Each day, the current United Nations less accountable. And Inner City Press, banned now for the 1277th day by Secretary General Antonio Guterres continues to report on it, on August 16 publishing a UN internal memo about moving international staff to Kazakhstan. On August 16, 17 and 18 it in writing asking Guterres and his UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming about it - no answer. And no one they let in ask, or seeming had the memo, below.
On September 21, even while banned Inner City Press covered what it could of the entrances to the lawless "honor system" UNGA, for example Nigeria and Bangladesh, then Bolonsaro and Biden. From inside(rs), these pool reports, forwarded to Inner City Press by disgusted insiders and which we publish because the UN has banned all but its colluding handpicked scribes:
In the GA: "Chinese Ambassador is speaking to the FM of Chile, who sits next to him in the GA; they took a photo together. 9:05 SG Speaking. 9:10 Biden has not yet arrived. The Afghan delegation is in the seat - 4 members present, including the Ambassador. The Myanmar Ambassador has not been present since the beginning of the GA; the seat is empty, behind the vacant seat were sitting two female diplomats. 9:30AM Russia - PR Nebenzia and DPR Polyanskiy are sitting there. 9:30AM France is represented only by Franck Gellet (part of the delegation coming from Paris) 9:30 UK Ambassador is not present, DPR James Kariuki is present After the end of Bolsonaro's speech, the president kept his mask when walking back but disregarded the 6 feet distance - he hugged one person on the way to his seat (another one was his wife). US – Kerry and Blinken were sitting in the US seat about 10 mins before Biden's arrival. Biden came from behind the GA podium at 10:01 Ambassador of the US joined the seat of their mission in the GA hall - she was sitting next to Blinken. During Biden's speech, the Austrian Chancellor seemed not entertained, checking his phone, then he started examining his UNGA badge and cracking his fingers following that. Following the end of Biden's speech, US Ambassador, Kerry, and Blinken left." Inner City Press vlog from First Avenue here.
Leaving the GA, addition: "Biden was asked when leaving: What is you're reaction on the situation on the southern border? President responded: "we will get it under control" Bolsonaru [sic] when leaving refused to answer if he would encourage Brazilians to vaccinate and if he had a conversation with mayor [sic] De Blasio." We'll have more on this.
On September 18, in violation of NYC COVID law and of basic free press principles, this: "Dear colleagues, MALU has just informed us that there will be a stakeout on Monday, September 20th at 11:40 am with the Secretary-General and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Boris Johnson, following the Informal Leaders Roundtable on Climate Action. A limited number of only five (5) RESIDENT media, as well as a couple of photographers will be accommodated. RSVPs will be taken on a first come first served basis. Please send your name to contactus@unca.com no later than 4:00 PM TODAY (09/18) with the subject line "STAKEOUT RSVP" if you want to attend. The first 5 names will receive a confirmation from the UNCA Office and will be sent to MALU. Only those who received the confirmation email will be able to attend the stakeout. (No need to reply if you do NOT want to attend). *** If you are selected and cannot attend the stakeout PLEASE inform us ASAP as there will be a waiting list. If you are not at the stakeout by 11:40 am your spot will be given to the first in line on the waiting list. We will send a note when RSVP's reach capacity. Thank you for your attention and cooperation. Valeria Robecco President, United Nations Correspondents Association."
Note: The UK Mission to the UN refuses Press questions, including about its failure on its failures in its former colony Southern British Cameroons (Ambazonia).
The UN has neither responded to or offered any explanation when a lawyer's letter - to UN official Fleming, and Tal Mekel, and to each UNCA Executive Committee member - urged them to have a dialogue about ending the UN's banning and censorship of Inner City Press.
On August 9, an independent (minded) journalist asked Dujarric about the letter, video here,
Spokesman: There has been no change in Mr. Lee's status.
Question: Has the letter been answered? Do you plan to answer it?
Spokesman: It's been received. Whether or not it's been answered, I don't know yet.
The letter was received by the UN's Melissa Fleming, Maria Luiza Vioti and Tal Mekel and to each UNCA Executive Board member, to them citing UNCA's stated goals that it has a charter to supposedly uphold.
What's next? Since the letter, Inner City Press has published exclusive stories not only from the U.S. court systems but about the United Nations, including its agencies UNOPS, UNFPA, UNITAR and UNESCO. (Also credited in AP, Daily Mail, and Nigeria's Sahara Reporters, amid answers from the IMF.)
But none of its written questions have been answered by the UN Spokespeople, and it remains banned from entry to the UN's briefings. This must end.
***
Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron.
