At UN, Rapporteurs Run Wild, De Zayas on Richard Falk, Jean Ziegler, the Process in Geneva

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 29 -- Halfway through UN human rights rapporteurs week, with three press conferences a day ranging from Iran to democracy, North Korea to migration but excluding transnational corporations, it's time for a review.

Monday after Inner City Press asked Alfred de Zayas, the UN's "Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order," about France controlling UN Peacekeeping four times in a row, a more in depth questions and answer was possible.

  Inner City Press asked de Zayas about the gloss that his mandate was created by Cuba, the blockade on which was being denounced by state after state on Tuesday morning.

 De Zayas said there was a yearly General Assembly resolution on the topic, and finally Cuba proposed a mandate and expert on the topic, which Jean Ziegler in mind.

But the way selections are made, he said, is by a group of five ambassadors (he named them), and one of them said no to Zeigler. And so de Zayas got the post at the last minute, with an OK from US Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Eileen Donahoe. The US is not favor the mandate. He will meet with the US Mission in New York this week (not with Samantha Power, he noted) and ask how they'd like to see the mandate used.

  After he got the mandate he was hounded, de Zayas said, for a book he wrote about German suffering and displacement in World War Two. Inner City Press on Monday asked obliquely for his views on the Nuremberg trials: not positive. Inner City Press put this in a story which de Zayas retweeted. He says he wants coverage; hence this story.

  All this is lower profile, he acknowledged, than Richard Falk. He described Falk at a gathering of UN rapporteurs, isolated, with the other rapporteurs not wanting to be seen as associated with him. But Falk is not concerned with that. (Inner City Press has previously reported on US diplomat Rick Barton joking about Richard Falk as his tennis partner. Small world.)

  Inner City Press asked de Zayas if the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights offers any training for rapporteurs. He said there is an "induction," two days in length, in which rapporteurs are told to "first do no harm" -- oh that the UN in Haiti had followed that advise, now in the time of cholera -- and to not needlessly antagonize governments. 

  Just do your work, de Zayas said the rapporteurs were told, and perhaps through time some good will come of it. Perhaps. We'll have more, deeper into Rapporteurs Week. Watch this site.

   

On Syria in Geneva, Pinheiro Report Has No Qatar or Del Ponte, Ladsous' Clouseau-Like Probe of Qatar Role in Golan Kidnappings?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 4 -- As the Syria report of the UN Commission of Inquiry was released and debated in Geneva Tuesday morning, the report was as noteworthy for what was not in it as for what was.

  When panelist Carla Del Ponte said publicly there were "serious suspicions" of chemical weapons use by the rebels, CoI chairperson Paulo Pinheiri quickly put out a press release undercutting it. 

  And lo and behold, his report says in Paragraph 138 that while "it is possible that anti-Government armed groups may access and use chemical weapons... there is no compelling evidence that these groups possess such weapons or their requisite delivery systems."

So there are "strong suspicions" (Del Ponte) but according to Pinheiro's final report, no "compelling evidence"? How to square these two?

On June 3 Inner City Press exclusively reported that despite a statement by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Office of the Spokesperson that video said to indicate rebel use of chemical weapons at Khan Al-Asal was being processed by the UN's Angela Kane for submission to Ban's prober Ake Sellstrom, this has not taken place. Then again, Pinheiro wouldn't even consider the footage.

  Likewise, while the Pinheiro report recites the repeated kidnapping of UN peacekeepers in the Golan in Paragraph 72, it does not even mention the allegation of involvement from Doha, Qatar. During the debate, it was (mis?) stated that Ban's head of Peacekeeping Herve Ladsous is investigating Qatar's role.

  Ironically, Qatar in its speech denounced the abduction of people. Really?

  Pinheiro did speaks against the transfer of weapons in to Syria. At the UN in New York on June 3, the UK's Alistair Burt told Inner City Press his country wants the flexibility to do just that. 

While Botswana said talks could lead to an "amicable" resolution, it's hard to imagine any denouement that would be "amicable."

US Ambassador Eileen Donahoe praised the opposition's "awareness campaigns" -- apparently PSAs by the FSA, Public Service Announcements by the Free Syrian Army. But what about the Al Nusra Front? Watch this site.

Exclusive: UN's Malcorra Met Syria on New Rep to Damascus, US Banking Blockage Raised, Sarin Suspicions

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, May 31 -- Syria's Permanent Representative Bashar Ja'afari was summoned Thursday to meet UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's chief of staff Susana Malcorra, topic undisclosed.

So at the May 30 UN noon briefing, Inner City Press asked Ban's deputy spokesperson Eduardo Del Buey:

Inner City Press: Syrian Permanent Representative [Bashar] Ja’afari said he wrote to the Secretary-General to complain about Robert Serry’s briefing, that it didn’t mention sufficiently from his view the Golan Heights and the kidnapping of peacekeepers. Can you confirm the receipt of that letter? And also, he was summoned to meet with Susana Malcorra, and I’d like to know, one, if it’s true, and two, what the purpose of the meeting was.

Deputy Spokesperson: Well, Matthew, I don’t have any information on the receipt of a letter that you refer to, and secondly, we don’t have any information on any meeting that may have taken place. As Mr. [Hervé] Ladsous said yesterday, the meeting between United Nations officials and members of the diplomatic corps of the Permanent Missions, we don’t usually report on them.

But we do, and exclusively: Malcorra's topic to Ja'afari was to notify or seek approval of a new UN system official in Damascus, for the UN Development Program. And Ja'afari raised again the UN's duty to ensure that the Host Country, the United States, made it possible for all UN diplomatic missions to have bank accounts. "They are trying to use it as leverage," Ja'afari told Inner City Press.

After reports of Al-Nusra arrests in Turkey, having sarin gas, Inner City Press asked Ja'afari what he made of it. He said, the US trying to distance itself from Al-Nusra.

When US Ambassador to Geneva Eileen Donahoe announced she had met Friday with the Commission of Inquiry on Syria, Inner City Press posed the question: did CoI member Carla Del Ponte say anything about her "strong suspicions" of rebel use of chemical weapons, which the Al Nusra arrests in Turkey seem to support? So far, no response. It's called social media, not a one way street. Watch this site.

In Syria Debate in Geneva, South Korea Admits Rebels' Abuse -- But Calls Qatar, Turkey and US Resolution Balanced

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, May 29, updated -- In the "urgent" debate on Syria at the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday, South Korea acknowledged abuses by the opposition but called the resolution drafted by Qatar, Turkey and the US "balanced."

Many disagreed with that. India noted that the draft ignored rebels' misdeeds and was "one-sided."

Russia called the draft "counter-productive," questioning why if the US was a co-drafter the Geneva conference the US and Russia are talking about is not mentioned in the HRC draft. Some wondered: did Qatar and Turkey not want it in?

The UK, represented by former Deputy at the UN Karen Pierce, talked against about referring Syria to the International Criminal Court, for both sides. But considering the case of Cote d'Ivoire, the ICC has yet to act on the Ouattara side's crimes.

The US' Ambassador Donahoe called for a halt to the assault on Al-Qusayr. Some wondered back: did the US ask for ceasefire in Sri Lanka, for example, as it closed it on the bloodbath on the beach?

Bahrain speechified about attacks on unarmed civilians -- something they know about quite well, having most recently blocked the visit of UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan Mendez.

Like the UAE which has been a pass-through, Qatar denounced the entry into Syria of weapons and militias, both of which it sponsors.

Italy cited the Paulo Sergio Pinheiro led panel on Syria, without mentioning that panel member Carla Del Ponte spoke of strong suspicions of chemical weapons use by the the opposition.

Spain, also in financial straights, acknowledged rebel abuses,perhaps a veiled reference to the eating or mere "mouthing" of hearts and lungs. 

 It was noted that the fancy ceiling of the Human Rights Council was paid for by Spain, which misleadingly called it international humanitarian or development aid. There's a lot of urgent misleading, in the Human Rights Council. But we continue to cover it. Watch this site.

Update: after the speeches, the sponsors sought a postponement to 5:30 pm Geneva time. Watch this site.

In Geneva, UN Rights Resolution on Sri Lanka Text Passes 25-13, Japan Abstains, Qatar & UAE Against, Ban Censors

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNdisclosed Location, March 21 -- A weakened UN Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka was nevertheless opposed on Thursday by, for example, Qatar and the UAE. Japan, which seeks a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, abstained.

  The resolution passed with 25 in favor, 13 against and eight abstained. Compared to 2012 there was one more “yes” vote, and two fewer No's.

  Most of these who spoke before voting “Yes” went out of their way to praise the Mahinda Rajapaksa government on matters ranging from re-settlement to “infrastructure.” 

  But what about accountability, including by the Rajapaksa family itself, for the 40,000 civilians killed?

  Their representative Mahinda Samarsinghe said there have been other human rights abuses since the 2009 Bloodbath on the Beach. The “no” votes of the UAE and Qatar, given their positions on Syria, were particularly noteworthy. How will Qatar's Al Jazeera cover this?

  When India began to speak, the audio system squealed with feedback. But ultimately India voted yes.

   When US Ambassador Donahoe spoke of working constructively with Sri Lanka, and Ireland for the EU praised the US for “reaching out” to Sri Lanka, it was difficult not toflashback to US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia pressing the flesh with Shavendra Silva, sometimes called Mr Bloodbath on the Beach. Click here for Inner City Press coverage of that surreal reaching out.

  Sierra Leone, where limbs were cut off for at least ten years of civil war, acknowledged that Sri Lanka's conflict was more violent. But again, it was difficult not to compare, that Sierra Leone was and is on the agenda of the UN Security Council, but Sri Lanka never was.

  The role of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was dubious. His administration never called for a ceasefire. Most recently he accepted and then praised without releasing a whitewash report from Japan, after having accepted Shavendra Silva as an adviser on UN Peacekeeping, headed by the fourth Frenchman in a row, Herve Ladsous.

  At the UN in New York, Ban's UN Censorship Alliance, which still tries to call itself the UN Correspondents Association, held a screening of the government's war crimes denial film “Lies Agreed To” complete with commentary from Sri Lanka's Deputy Perment Representative Shavendra Silva and its Permanent Representative Palitha Kohona.

  After Inner City Press covered this, and Ladsous, the UNCA “leaders” started a proceeding to get Inner City Press thrown out, which resulted in it receive death threats from extremist Rajapaksa supporters. UNCA's Executive Committee members' response was, we don't care, it's not our fault, “don't conflate.”

Earlier this week Inner City Press' office was raided by the UN, without notice or consent, and papers searched. UNCA president Pamela Falk of CBS took photographs, which has still not been explained. 

  The UN demanded that Inner City Press remove from YouTube a video it openly filmed -- in its own office -- after the raid. Is it any surprise how little this UN has done on Sri Lanka, including on attacks and disappearances of journalists? Watch this site.

In "Universal Periodic Review," Sri Lanka Spins LLRC But Sent Silva to UN, Burying Petrie Report

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 1 -- When Sri Lanka appeared Thursday for its Universal Periodic Review in Geneva, countries that asked to speak were given 72 seconds each. 

  Defenders of Sri Lanka included Belarus, North Korea, Iran and Turkey -- this last on the theory that it takes toughness to fight terrorism.

  But killing 40,000 civilians? That's the figure cited by the UN, most recently by the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary and Arbitrary Executions Christof Heyns when Inner City Press asked him last week about his action on videos depicting executions of prisoners by the Sri Lankan military.

   During the speed-speeches there are contradictions and ironies everywhere. Qatar, which so loudly calls for accountability in Syria, didn't bring it up on Sri Lanka.

  Sudan said it sympathizes with Sri Lanka on armed conflict. But Sudanese president Omar al Bashir was indicted by the International Criminal Court for Darfur. The Security Council never official met on, much less about an ICC referral, about Sri Lanka.

  The most vehement defense of Sri Lanka came from Belarus, which called High Commissioner Navi Pillay's work "unbalanced." Sri Lanka intervened to say it has invited Pillay to visit. Why has she not yet gone?

  The United States, which is known to have pushed to limit Pillay to one term, then got Ban Ki-moon to cut her second term in half, had its Geneva Ambassador Eileen Donahoe cite the need for freedom of expression and judicial independence, citing the day's move to impeach the country's chief judge.

  But Donahoe seemed to rely to the Rajapaksa's Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, under which not a single military official has been indicted, much less imprisoned.

  Instead in a move that literally says it all, military official Shavendra Silva, whose division is depicted in the UN's own report as engaged in war crimes, was sent to the UN in New York as Sri Lanka's Deputy Permanent Representative. The US issued a letter that Silva is covered by immunity.

   Then, emboldened, Sri Lanka got Shavendra Silva placed on Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Senior Advisory Group on Peacekeeping Operations. 

  Despite some grumbling, he has not been removed from the SAG, and Ban's spokespeople have refused to confirm to Inner City Press that Silva's name will not be on the SAG report.

   The Sri Lanka delegation claimed to be protecting the rights of internally displaced people. But when Inner City Press last week asked the UN system's Special Rapporteur on IDPs, he said he had concerns and analogized Sri Lanka to Cote d'Ivoire, where IDPs have been killed.

   Near the end of the speeches -- the report will be prepared by India, Spain and Benin by November 5 -- Switzerland called on Sri Lanka to follow up on the UN Panel of Experts recommendations. 

  But some say Ban Ki-moon himself has not followed up.Click here for Inner City Press' October 16 coverage of Ban's meeting with Sri Lankan Minister Samarasinghe.

   Where, for example, is the report into the UN's own actions and inactions during the final stages of the conflict, which was assigned to Thoraya Obaid and then quietly not done, then re-assigned to Charles Petrie who now works in Myanmar? 

  Inner City Press has asked, repeatedly, about the report. The UN won't even say it will be public. Watch this site.

On Pakistan, Sudan Raises Drones, US Balochistan, Sri Lanka Spins Terrorism

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 30 -- The UN Human Rights Council, elections for which are heating up, allowed a mere 80 seconds per speaker on candidate Pakistan on Tuesday in Geneva.

  Speaking back to back, Sri Lanka wished the country best of luck in its fight with terrorism then Sudan raised the US of drone strikes, by the US.

  As UN system Special Rapporteur Christof Heyns responded to Inner City Press last week, this fight in 2009 killed some 40,000 civilians. Is this the luck being wished?

  Sri Lanka soon faces its own so-called Universal Periodic Review, but with even less time per speaker: only 72 seconds.

  On Pakistan, Sudan raised the issue of drone strikes, days after its Ambassador Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman told Inner City Press his country would be filing a complaint against Israel with the UN Security Council for the bombing of the Yarmouk compound in Khartoum.

  The UN Security Council has been closed for five days: first for Eid and the weekend, now two days and counting for Hurricane Sandy in New York.

  Incoming UNSC member Australia raised Malala by name; Brazil offered some praise despite a glancing reference to "recent disturbing developments." 

 Permanent UNSC member UK raised the death penalty; failed UNSC candidate Canada used its time to ask a question, about religious freedom.

  When US Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Eileen Donahoe took the floor, she said Pakistan has a vibrant media and raised Balochistan. She did not mention US drone strikes, which some believe she should have.

  The US is running to keep its seat on the Human Rights Council, and sent official Harold Koh to make its case at UN Headquarters earlier this month. Inner City Press asked about drone strikes, not only in Pakistan but also Yemen and Somalia.

  Koh said these comply with all international laws, a point about which Inner City Press asked Heyns, who is UN system Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary and Arbitrary Executions. He was less sure of their legality.

  But what is or can be resolved in the 80 seconds given on Pakistan? Or the 72 seconds coming up on Sri Lanka? Watch this site.