Second Term Fever of Pillay & Ban Triggers Snub of Liu Xiaobo, "UN" Prize to Tiananmen General Chi Haotian

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, December 9 -- Why did Ban Ki-moon and now Navi Pillay hide from the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Liu Xiaobao? Because not only Ban but now also Navi Pillay want second terms in power, which China could block.

When Navi Pillay took the post as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, most understand that she wanted only one term. This was viewed positively, in that she could then do what she thought was right, without worrying about being blocked for a second term.

But recently, sources tell Inner City Press, Pillay has taken an interest in a second term. This, they say, and not any unbreakable other commitment, explains her controversial decision not to even attend the December 10 ceremony in Oslo to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo.

The UN has said that she has another commitment, and that the UN somehow wasn't invited. During Ban's recent four day visit to China, he did not mention the name of the Nobel Peace Prize winner. When his Under Secretary General Sha Zukang handed an award to the general in charge during Tiananmen Square, Ban did nothing.

Inner City Press asked then, and again on November 24:

Inner City Press: finally on this, there is this issue of the award that was given by Under-Secretary-General Sha [Zukang] to Chi Haotian, the General involved in the Tiananmen Square incident. I just, it was left — at the time it was said that, Martin Nesirky said that, Mr. Sha was on UN time while he was in China, but that the Secretariat hadn’t been informed that this award was going to be given. Questions continue. It’s been reported in China that this was a UN award or somehow given in his official capacity. What’s the UN’s final position on whether Mr. Sha was operating as an Under-Secretary-General when he gave it, and if he wasn’t, what’s going, what’s happened since?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq: Mr. Sha, I believe, tried to provide an explanation for his actions. At this point, I don’t have anything further to say about any UN response.

Inner City Press: He gave an explanation to the Secretary-General’s office?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: To the Secretary-General’s office.

Inner City Press: Was it acceptable?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: At this point I don’t have anything further to say. We did receive an explanation.

Chinese media have reported that the general was given a “UN Prize” by Sha Zukang... What will the UN -- and Navi Pillay -- do? Watch this site.

UN's Sha Planned Dining Solo with China General, Says Award Was Surprise

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, November 4 -- For four days, Inner City Press has asked the UN about Under Secretary General Sha Zukang having given a “World Harmony Foundation” award to retired Chinese general Chi Haotian in Shanghai on in late October, just before Mr. Sha stood with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the closing of the Shanghai Expo.

Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky told Inner City Press that Sha was “not on leave” and that the online photograph of the award was the first the UN knew of Sha's involvement. On November 1, 2 and 3 Nesirky has repeated that some UN statement might be coming -- without saying anything more.

On November 4, Inner City Press was able to ask Sha Zukang directly about the award and the controversy. Sha told Inner City Press that “the general came to know I was in Shanghai” and he invited Sha to dinner.

Sha canceled his other plans. “When I was with disarmament we were together, many years ago,” Sha said of Chi Haotian. “I thought it was he and me only. Than I saw the group.”

Inner City Press has previously covered the World Harmony Foundation trying to parlay its $110,000 contribution to the 2009 UN Day concert into photos with Ban Ki-moon.

After Inner City Press ran several exposes, the photo session was canceled. But still Under Secretary General Ibrahim Gambari appeared for photos with the group, made up of businessmen and led by Frank Liu, in the Millennium Hotel across First Avenue from UN Headquarters.

Here, the result was a photo of Under Secretary General Sha, general Chi Haotian and WHF's Frank Liu.

UN's Sha, the General & Frank Liu: no solo dinner shown

“I didn't know what the award was,” Sha told Inner City Press on November 4. “That is what happened. I don't want to issue any clarification.”

Given the controversy, one would assume that Ban Ki-moon's office has asked Sha for an explanation, which is the above. What will happen next? Watch this site.

UN In Denial Over Sha's Award to Chinese General for Foundation UN Took Money From

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 1 -- When UN Under Secretary General Sha Zukang handed a “World Harmony Foundation” award to former Chinese military leader during Tiananmen Square Chi Haotian, for many the UN had hit a new low.

Perhaps for that reason, or in retaliation for USG Sha's drunken insults to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, when Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky on November 1 if Sha gave the award in his personal or official capacity, Nesirky replied that when the reports of the event "surfaced late last week online, that was the first we had heard about it... no further comment for now." Video here, from Minute 13:01.

“Is Sha on leave?” Inner City Press asked. Nesirky said he didn't think Sha is on leave. Of course not - Sha is quoted alongside Ban Ki-moon at the closing of the Shanghai Expo on October 31.

But the UN also knows more about the World Harmony Foundation than it is letting on. As Inner City Press exclusively reported a year ago in October 2009, the UN took $110,000 from the WHF and its chief Frank Liu for a UN Day Peacekeeping concert in connection with which Lui told Inner City Press he was supposed to get a photo with Ban Ki-moon.

When Inner City Press questioned the “pay to play” aspect of the funding and photo-op, the Ban face time was canceled, and instead Liu and associates were given photos with Under Secretary General Ibrahim Gambari.

It was never confirmed if this was in Gambari's personal or official capacity, but it seems clear that the Executive Office of the Secretary General knew about it.

So questions exist as to what the UN knew, and when, about Sha's role in handing Liu's WHF prize to Chi Haotian. Watch this site.