UN Torture Expert Dodges on Libya, Manning & Cambodia ECCC, O'Brien 1-WayTalk

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 18 -- With the UN's Human Rights (Third) Committee considering a proposal introduced by Thailand which would reign in Special Rapporteurs and Representatives under charges of double standards, UN Torture expert Juan E. Mendez on Tuesday notably took sides.

Mendez was asked, by Inner City Press, about charges that Libya's Transitional National Council is engaging in torture.

Mendez replied that while he had -- rightly -- called on Gaddafi's forces not to torture, since Gaddafi's fall he has "not received any complaint that I could act upon, even though we did early on when Gaddafi very much in charge call on his forces" call for compliance, since then "I haven't received any complaint."

But the charges against the TNC are made by, among others, Amnesty International. Does AI not file its complaints with Mendez? Or in Mendez unable to read the newspapers and begin an inquiry? Who complained to him about Gaddafi, leading to his public call?

Likewise, while Mendez was blocked from visits complying with international law with Bradley Manning, charged with providing information to Wikileaks, Mendez on Tuesday said he has had "productive communications" with the US.

Long-time UN official Mendez, whose jobs have included advising on the prevention of genocide, also seemed to go soft on the UN of Ban Ki-moon when Inner City Press asked him about the widespread criticism of Ban and his top lawyer Patricia O'Brien for failing to stand up for the independence of the UN funded Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.

Mendez said, "I have read about some concerns [about] the role of UN [but] nothing that I have read falls under my mandate as special rapporteur on torture." Well, the cases being blocked concern not only genocide but also torture under the Khmer Rouge. So will no one in the UN system be willing to speak about errors in Ban's handling of Han Sun and the ECCC?

Patricia O'Brien, who has refused to answer any questions from the press because, Ban's spokesman has said, as chief counsel it would hurt her work, has now written a defensive letter to the editor of the New York Times. One way communication is apparently okay: just not any questions. So it goes in today's UN.

On Cote d'Ivoire, UN Silent Until Asked about Ouattara's FRCI in Duekoue

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, March 28 -- As forces supporting Alassane Ouattara announced they have taken over the town of Duekoue and moving in on Guiglo, the UN in New York had Cote d'Ivoire announcements only about Abidjan: shelling by Gbagbo forces, stoning of UN vehicles, presumably by supporters of Gbagbo. What kind of reporting is this?

Inner City Press asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Martin Nesirky if he could confirm the fighting in Duekoue and if, as he had just done in calling for both sides in Libya to stop shooting, the UN is watching, reporting on and calling for restraint by both sides in Cote d'Ivoire.

Nesirky pulled out a piece of paper and read that the UN Mission in Cote d'Ivoire, UNOCI or in French ONUCI, confirmed “fresh fighting” in Duekoue as the FRCI forces “continue to push forward.”

Nesirky made no comment on this “pushing” by Ouattara's Ivory Coast Republican Forces. Nesirky said that local people are seeking UN protection. From whom?

When the UN speaks of civilians displaced by fighting, it strongly implies that this displacement is entirely attributable to actions of Gbagbo supporters. But some are questioning that, saying that the one sided nature of the UN's reporting undermines its credibility. We are seeking further information.

Nesirky was also asked about the UN's investigation of the leak of the UN Mission in Cote d'Ivoire's military plans to use its attack helicopters. He confirmed there is an investigation, but wouldn't say more about it. One wag asked, could the UN have its own Bradley Manning? Watch this site.

With PJ Crowley Out For Speaking, US Mission Silent on Darfur & UN Corruption

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, March 13, updated -- The ouster from the State Department of spokesman PJ Crowley for calling the Defense Department's treatment of accused Wikileaker Bradley Manning “counterproductive and stupid” was not unexpected.

But viewed from the UN, it looks particularly stupid and counterproductive.

Crowley's too infrequent visits to the US Mission to the UN's new briefing room were bursts of news and on-the-record quotes that differed from the usual silence from USUN.

In September 2010 during the UN General Debate, Crowley led a press conference including Samantha Power, and took questions from a range of media. During the session, Inner City Press got an on the record response about Sudan, and later from Crowley an answer on Myanmar he couldn't give the first time around.

By contrast, the US Mission to the UN rarely holds press briefings or even informal stakeouts in front of the Security Council. While the previous US Mission spokesman routinely briefed journalists before Council meetings, the US is now noticeably absent from such session. A non permanent member, India, holds month dinner press briefings by its Ambassador, unlike US Perm Rep Susan Rice.

It is not just about face time. Ten days ago, Inner City Press e-mailed the three top USUN spokespeople a simple request for the US position on the UN in Sudan providing free flights to Ahmed Haroun, indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes in Darfur.

After four days of silence from the US Mission -- during which time the UK Mission to the UN, for example, submitted a response -- Inner City Press reminded lead USUN spokesman Mark Kornblau of the questions, now including one about violence in Sudan's contested Abyei region. I just got back, he quipped, I'm going to pretend I didn't get your e-mail.

Still having no response, Inner City Press asked an associate spokesperson who is now leaving the Mission. She said that an answer would be forthcoming. But still, none has been.

Perhaps the blame runs higher, in that Susan Rice despite her public statements about Darfur has had little to say on the topic of late. Rice is loath to criticize any action by the UN, including the UN Mission in Sudan flying an indicted war criminal around.

Under Rice, USUN has had little to nothing to say about improving UN management, remaining silent for example on the UN's recently exposed mishandling a contract with PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

Perhaps the silence comes from the Secretary herself, Hillary Clinton, who POLITICO said never left Crowley crack her inner circle of Philippe Reines and counsel Cheryl Mills.

Here's hoping that Crowley's replacement Mike Hammer brings better performance, or at least more civility, to the US Mission to the UN. Second and third changes are usually the American way. But from here, it looks like the wrong person had to leave, and for the wrong reasons.