On CAR, UN's Gaye Talks of Arrests & Judges But Silent on Sangaris Rapes

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 5, updated -- When peacekeepers from France allegedly raped children in the Central African Republic and the UN learned about it a year ago, the UN and UNICEF did nothing, until UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous asked to fire the whistleblower in March of this year.  Inner City Press asked UNICEF about its role, here.

When the UN's envoy to CAR Babacar Gaye addressed the Security Council on August 5, referring repeatedly to justice, arrests and serious crimes, he did not once refer to the French soldiers' alleged rape of children there. This is how the UN tries to make some issues disappear. As reported below, even the Panel Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has named to look into the CAR rapes may not even travel to the country.

Update: an African ambassador mid-meeting complained to Inner City Press that while the Bangui Forum said that those displaced or "cleansed" from CAR must be allowed to vote, now unelected people there are saying this will not happen. Elements to the press are being prepared, the Ambassador told Inner City Press.

  Gaye on August 5 told the Security Council:

  “MINUSCA continues to use its urgent temporary measures to arrest spoilers where the state lacks the capacity to do so. In that regard, I also welcome the transitional authorities' decision to establish the Special Criminal Court to investigate serious crimes committed since January 1, 2003. I call upon donors to support the court with financial donations and secondment of international magistrates."

  So - international magistrates to judge CAR "spoilers" - but no judging in Bangui of French soldiers' alleged rapes there?

 Gaye also said, “Despite the availability of funds and progress initiating voluntary disarmament of the ex-Seleka in Bangui, we are yet to regroup and disarm the combatants throughout the country. Indeed, most of the signatories would like to respect their commitments as per the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration agreement, but recent political developments have raised doubts, in particular among the ex-Seleka. In the meantime, MINUSCA is working closely with the transitional authorities to move the process forward in order to establish a situation conducive to calm and transparent elections...

   “The Central African Republic authorities announced the electoral calendar: a constitutional referendum on the 4th of October, a first round of presidential and legislative elections on the 18th of October, and a second round on the 22nd of November. In the meantime, 478,000 voters have been registered primarily in Bangui, and the process is getting underway in the rest of the country.

   “The anti-Balaka stronghold of Boy-Rabe and the Muslim-dominated PK5 remain the hot spots in the capital city. MINUSCA is using a robust approach to restore rule of law in both areas, as demonstrated by the search and arrest operation that took place in PK5 three days ago."

  So Herve Ladsous' MINUSCA is making arrests in PK5, but did nothing when it learned of child rapes by French troops.

  About the Panel that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon belatedly announced, Inner City Press on August 4 asked if they will travel to CAR to do any interviews. Ban's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq insisted "that is nothing we could know in advance." But what about not only the Panel's budget, which Inner City Press asked Haq about -- what about UN Security if the Panel were to, as it should, conduct interview and collect evidence in CAR?

 From the UN's August 4 transcript:

Inner City Press: Two questions about the Central African Republic.  One is just there was a study report, I guess, it came out on Friday by Amnesty International about the… this sort of forced conversion of Muslims in the Central African Republic and the fact that many of the people that left are basic… those were thought to come from Chadian or Sudanese grandparents are not returning.  I wanted to know if… I don’t know if you had some response or the UN had some response about how its mission can deal with those two issues.

And the other one has to do with the panel on the sexual… the allegations of the child sexual abuse in CAR by Sangaris.  I wanted to know if the panel… I know you’re going to say they’re independent, but there’s a… whether they are, in fact, going to travel to the country to do any interviews.  And the reason I’m asking is, what is their budget?  Where does the budget of the panel come from?  And what is the budget of the panel?

Deputy Spokesman:  At this stage, they are free to go about their work as they see fit.  They will submit figures on their budget once they’ve completed their work.  At this stage, it’s a work in progress.  We don’t have nor do we ask for details about what their work is going to be.  They will complete it, and then they will inform us of what their work is.  So whether it includes travel on the ground or not, that’s their call, and it’s nothing that we would learn in advance.

Regarding the Amnesty International report, of course, we’re concerned about the situation there.  You’ll have seen what our own human rights officers on the ground have been saying about the situation, and it’s a tremendous cause for concern, both the displacements and the sort of inter-community and inter-ethnic and interreligious violence that there’s been.

Inner City Press:  Could I just… to understand the budget issue.  Obviously, they’re supposed to pay for it out of their own pocket and get reimbursed, or how is the actual work of the panel being paid for currently?

Deputy Spokesman:  We have different accounts that can deal with expenses, such as unforeseen expenditures, like new panels.  Regarding what specific accounting they will do, that… you know, that will become clearer as… you know, once they’ve gone about their work, so we’ll have to wait and see what they submit for their budget.

   Now both the UN's outgoing -- gone -- "Ethics Officer" Dubinsky and the three person panel UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon named to investigate are under fire. On July 31, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric:

Inner City Press: I wanted to ask you about... Ms. Dubinsky, the Ethics Officer contract extension, which would give her a lifetime pension, and the extension was given just as she discussed investigating Mr. Kompass on the Central African Republic rape allegations.  And I’m asking you this because the head of Aids-Free World and Code Blue, you say you respect, as well as the Government Accountability Project, both find that an extreme… extremely troubling timing and say that it calls for… demands Secretary-General Ban’s personal attention, the idea of a conflict of interest of giving $12,000 a year for life to the person that was investigating the whistle-blower of these rapes.  What’s your response?

Spokesman Dujarric:  Indeed, I ... very much respect the work that Ms. Dubinsky has been doing over the last five years.  I know the Secretary-General does as well.  This is her last day.  She’ll be retiring as of tomorrow... I think in accordance with UN staff regulations and staff rules, the authority for the selection of staff members at D-2 Level and above rests with the Secretary-General including the retention of staff members beyond the retirement age should the need arise.  The Secretary-General attaches great importance to the selection and appointment of senior managers as a priority seeks to have smooth transition during a change in leadership.  We’re not in a position to discuss individual staff members’ contracts.  The UN has an obligation to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of all staff records.  As I mentioned, her term ends today.  Again, the Secretary-General is grateful for her work.  And I think, you know, what is also of concern, I think, is the fact that some of her personal data was leaked, was leaked to the press and personal information concerning her.

Inner City Press:  Who’s the next Ethics Officer?  If the rationale for giving the extension was continuity…

Spokesman:  We hope to announce someone in due time.

Inner City Press:  Has she been spoken with by the panel on these rapes...

Spokesman:  I don’t know.  The panel is independent.  I’ve made it a point to have no contact with them unless asked to, and I won’t ask them who they plan to talk to.

Inner City Press:  And just finally, the Government Accountability Project, again a respected organization, has now said that two of the three panellists are not, in fact, independent because of the dangling of future UN appointments in front of the--

Spokesman:  I think the panel put together is an extraordinary panel.  I think everyone can always find something to argue with.  They are… they are people of great ethical standard.  They are people who have had great legal careers, have been outspoken human rights defenders, have done great reform work in the case of the Canadian Armed Forces.  I would ask people to judge the panel on its report and to be a little bit patient and see what they come up with.

  But there is an ever-growing pattern here.

  After BuzzFeed's Jina Moore documented that when an aid worker was allegedly raped inside UN Peacekeeping's Bentiu "Protection of Civilians" site in South Sudan, the UN system did little to nothing -- until on July 27, in transcribing Spokesman Stephane Dujarric's answerto Inner City Press' questions, the UN added in a parenthetical that Nobert did not work for the UN.

 On July 30, Inner City Press asked Dujarric about yet another case in this unfolding scandal, this one again involving one of Herve Ladsous' peacekeeping missions, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Video here.


From the UN's transcript:

Inner City Press: I’m sure you’ve seen the story in The Guardian, actually by one of our colleagues or former colleagues here, Roger, about the systematic rape by an air contractor of the MONUSCO [United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission] in the DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo].  And they basically say that there’s some pretty horrendous evidence or descriptions of what happened, that the UN kept paying the contractor after, with some idea of rehabilitating it.  But I wanted to ask you about, there was an OIOS [Office of Internal Oversight Services] investigation of it, and it seems since it’s also a vendor, it obviously brings up this other… this case in Bentiu, which it was a vendor, and the UN said it could do nothing.  First, what can you say to those who say it’s pretty horrendous to continue to pay a contractor which raped an underage girl in the DRC?

Spokesman Dujarric:  What is…  What is horrendous is what happened to the victim and what was done to the victim by those two employees of UTair.  We go back to a story that was, in fact, reported, I think, when it happened a few years back.  Our understanding is that the contractors have been… at the time, were removed and fired from the company.  Both the DRC judicial authorities and the Russians were informed of the… of our investigation into the case.  As we explained in the article, a procedure was put in place at the time to monitor the vendor and the behaviour of the vendor and its staff.  That monitoring mechanism continues.  Every six months, it is reported to our colleagues in the Department of Management, who review it.

I think…  Again, I think the issue of vendors and contractors is a very legitimate one to explore.  Given the criticality of air support, there was a discussion among the Department of Management.  A system was put in place to ensure that this particular company was monitored and monitored on a regular basis, and that continues to do… we continue to do that.  The behaviour of our vendors and the staff that work for them should be at the same level of ethics and behaviour that we expect of our own staff, as they represent us.

Inner City Press:  And was there any accountability for the victims or victims in the DRC, was there actually any accountability, either criminal or civil?

Spokesman:  Again, those… the findings of the OIOS investigation, the UN investigation, were presented to both the DRC and to the Russian authorities, and I think you’d have to ask for them what happened on the criminal end.  As you know, we have no criminal authority.

Inner City Press: In the South Sudan case, where it was also an alleged rape by an employee of a vendor, was any information given to the authorities of either South Sudan…?

Spokesman:  I think we’re still… what happened to Megan Nobert is being looked into.  As I’ve said, both here and in interviews, she suffered horrendously, and our heart goes out to her.  The… you know, UNICEF [United Nations Children’s Fund], which was the agency that had the contract with the vendor for which her accuser… the alleged attacker worked for, was in contact with the vendor, got him removed.  I know our colleagues at UNICEF are absolutely appalled by what happened to Ms. Nobert.  And when I have more information, I’ll share it with you.

Question:  One final thing.  Do you see this as a pattern?  And two, for example, since it’s a UN system, did UNICEF impose any of these similar rehabilitation and reporting requirements on…

[inaudible]

Spokesman:  Like I said, I don’t have all the facts surrounding this case.  I think, again, I would say that we expect…  I wouldn’t call it a pattern.  I think there are hundreds, if not more, of vendors and contractors that work on behalf of the UN who do a spectacular job, partner agencies, partner humanitarian NGOs [non-governmental organizations].  But we do expect anyone who works on behalf of the United Nations to behave to the same ethical standards.  I will…

Inner City Press: The pattern I was asking about is a pattern of a lack of accountability.  Because the UN is working in places that may have not very good… not… not very developed judicial systems and because the UN itself is immune…

[inaudible - the reference was to the UN shirking responsibility for introducing cholera into Haiti]

Spokesman:  I think it’s obviously something we need… it’s something we need to look at.  Our ability to prosecute people criminally is obviously not there.  It’s up to national… either the authority where the crime took place or the citizenship of where the people worked."

  Shouldn't the UN provide some protection and accountability for aid workers in the employ of non-governmental organizations funded by the UN system, particularly inside UN "protection" camps like that in Bentiu?

 Given the vendor issue in both the DRC and South Sudan cases, Inner City Press for the Free UN Coalition for Access opines that it would have been better if the Guardian had linked to BuzzFeed on South Sudanin its otherwise good story.

 On July 28, Inner City Press asked the UN's top humanitarian, Emergency Relief Coodinatory Stephen O'Brien, about the case. Video here. O'Brien said he had recently been in the Bentiu camp but, not speaking specifically of the case he said he did not know, to his credit he said that facts should be looked into and investigated. But will they be?

  Minutes later Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric why such an investigation was not done in this case -- did it turn on the fact that the alleged victim did not work for the UN system but for a UN fundee? Video here.

   The UN to its July 27 transcript added, "[The Spokesman later clarified that Ms. Nobert did not work directly for the UN. She was employed by an NGO doing contract work for a UN agency.]" Compare to actual briefing, video here.

  She worked for Nonviolent Peaceforce, which received a $1 million grant from UNICEF for child protection in South Sudan, click here for that.

  Not only did UN spokesman Dujarric refuse to identify UNICEF, run by former US government official Anthony Lake, as the UN agency which did not act on the alleged rape, except to provide "contact information" of the contractor -- UNICEF, which was in charge of the bore hole drilling in which the alleged rapist was engaged, has not directly responded on the scandal.

   Nonviolent Peaceforce, meanwhile, has simply published anadvertisement for a(nother) "Senior Programme Manager, Nonviolent Peaceforce, South Sudan," here.

  The alleged rapist, named as Amed Asmail, seems to also be called Ahmad Ismail, whose Facebook page here pictures him playing music,listing in his bio working with "South Sudan -Life For Construction."

 Inner City Press on July 27 asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric what accountability there is when UN agency personnel themselves are raped. Video here, and embedded below.

  Dujarric began by calling it a horrendous act - then said that what the UN system did was give the victim the contact information of the contractor. But, Inner City Press asked, since Sudan-based Life for Construction has let the alleged rapist Amed Asmail's contract expire, how will this "contact information" help the victim?

  Dujarric declined to even identify the agency, which used public funds to contract for water bore holes for the Bentiu camp; when Inner City Press asked if it was UNICEF or IOM, he cut the question off. Video here.

  What we can report is that UNICEF, nearly always in charge of the water cluster for the UN system, said on its website in April 2014, here, that UNICEF

"has maintained staff in Bentiu and is rapidly responding to the urgent needs, drilling new boreholes for water, and today flying in parts for the construction of new latrines. However, UNICEF said it remains hindered by a lack of funding and access."

  UNICEF also sat on reports of the sexual abuse of children in Central African Republic; we'll have more on this.


For now, here's this, and now UN's transcript of briefing - a [parenthetical] was later added, highlighted below in bold:

Question:  Sure.  Questions on Burundi but I wanted to ask you something, you may have anticipated coming.  It was a story which was on Friday on BuzzFeed, quite detailed, about an aid worker in the UNMISS camp (United Nations Mission in South Sudan) in Bentiu, who alleges that she was raped by a UN vendor or contractor working for Life For Construction.  Basically the gist of the article is that the UN did absolutely nothing and OIOS (Office of Internal Oversight Services) said they could not investigate and there are no recording or reports of sexual abuse or exploitation by vendors anywhere in the UN, DPKO (Department of Peacekeeping Operations) or other systems.  So I wanted to know, what is your response to it?  What does the UN owe people in its protection of civilian camps if they are raped there, and why was nothing done in this case?

     Spokesman:  Well, I think this was clearly a horrendous act and I think people who work, aid workers, humanitarian workers, who work within UN camps are owed the best possible protection, that's clear.  In this particular case, the agency for which Ms. Nobert worked is greatly concerned for the well-being and safety and security of all those working with it to deliver humanitarian assistance anywhere in the world and it took these particular allegations very seriously.  [The Spokesman later clarified that Ms. Nobert did not work directly for the UN. She was employed by an NGO doing contract work for a UN agency.] When it became clear that the person accused of the attack on Ms. Nobert was, in fact, an employee of a company hired to undertake work for the agency and not an UN staff member, the agency concluded it was not a position to conduct an investigation into the alleged actions of that person itself.  All of the agencies private contractors are aware of the high standard of conduct the agency accepts from their staff and the agency gave Ms. Nobert the contact details of the employer of the person accused of attacking her, so that she could take her complaint directly to the company.  The agency also instructed the company to remove the individual immediately from any project involving the agency. 

However, given the highly sensitive nature of the allegations, the agency had to respect both the need for Ms. Nobert to raise her very serious complaint with those who can take actions and the rights of the accused person for due process.  It therefore did not share the specific nature of the complaint with the contractor, allowing Ms. Nobert to decide on how and when she wanted to do that.

The agency concerned believes that in this complex circumstance it did the best it could to support Ms. Nobert, to take her complaint forward.  I think it's clear that, in any of these cases, we also need to take a look how we responded and how we can do better in responding to horrendous cases like this one.

     Question:  Thus seems to imply… obviously, Life for Construction, they have already terminated the individual, so there is no more relationship between them. So is there… what is the UN saying is the accountability mechanism for this alleged rape?  And, two, you keep saying the agency. Was the agency in charge of boring water holes in the Bentiu camp?  Was it UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), was it IOM (International Organization for Migration)?  Which agency are you speaking of?

     Spokesman:  As the article makes clear, Ms. Nobert specifically requested the agencies she had contacts with shall not be named and we will respect her wishes.

     Question:  Who is in charge of boring the water holes?

     Spokesman:  That is what I have to share with you and, if I have, more I will share with you. 

See above - and InnerCityPress.com

   

ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda Answers Press on Central African Republic, Palestine, Libya, Transcript Here

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, May 12 -- After International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda briefed the UN Security Council about Libya on May 12, she emerged from the Chamber and agreed to answer some questions; Inner City Press asked some, starting with the Central African Republic. Because it was not at the UN Television stakeout, Inner City Press has transcribed it here, including on Palestine / Israel and Libya:

Inner City Press: On CAR, where is your inquiry, and will you look at the allegations of abuse by peacekeepers if you move forward?

Bensouda (A) - We’re moving forward. I’m sure you’ve heard that I have announced the opening of investigations into CAR. Two parallel investigations are ongoing right now, and my investigators are already in the field. I have decided to open on both sides the Balaka, anti-Balaka and the Seleka. And the investigations are moving in parallel. At the moment my investigators are collecting information. I just want to remind you that we are focusing on ICC crimes of course, war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide, that have been committed within the context of the conflict that is ongoing. And this is happening. I in fact am trying to have larger presence of investigators in the field...

Q: This is actual investigation?

A: No, this is not a preliminary investigation. This is an investigation. And that is why I said in this particular case we are looking for the ICC crimes, and persons who bear responsibility for those crimes...

Q: What kind of collaboration are you getting?

A: It’s good. In CAR, we’re getting good cooperation, and the government has been very helpful. They’re still continue to be helpful. We’re also in contact with other actors in the field, to collect information, and we’re receiving information. At the moment, we’re collecting. You can receive a lot of information but of course it has to be relevant to the crimes we’re investigating. So, it’s not just to pick up the information, and have a lot of information, but to make an assessment that this information is relevant.

Inner City Press: Does the UN provide information, in CAR?

A: When we deploy to the field, any field, we try to work with our partners on the ground. Sometimes for reasons of confidentiality, given the different mandates that we have, the UN and us, this is not information that we readily want to announce to everyone, that this is happening. But we try as much as we can to work with our partners in the field. Because sometimes these cases…

About Palestine, as you already know, I have announced the opening of a preliminary examination into the situation in Palestine. This was following the declaration that has been made this year, on the 2nd I believe, by Palestine on the article 12-3 of the Rome Statute accepting the jurisdiction of the ICC.

Following that, after careful assessment by my office, I decided that all the  criteria I need, according with my policy of the office and the Rome Statute, all the criteria has been met for me to open a preliminary examination into the situation in Palestine. You will recall this is not an investigation. This is a preliminary examination. It does not have a time line. It depends on the circumstances of the, the facts and the circumstances will determine whether I move fast or it will take time.

I also want to say that at this moment contrary to what --- said, that someone is brought before the ICC, this is not the case in a preliminary examination. I need to clarify that, In a preliminary examination, I need to make a determination checking whether ICC crimes have been committed in this situation. Also, whether there are any national proceedings, addressing those crimes, Also, whether the gravity of those crimes, we have to assess the gravity, and also to assess the interest of justice. Will it be against the interest of justice if ICC were to intervene. So these are the 4 things I’m looking for right now. It’s a process. At the end of it, a determination will be made, whether to start an open investigation, or not open an investigation, or still go on collecting, because maybe I do not have enough yet.

Q: You want to hear both sides?

A: I have been very clear that I’m looking at both sides to the conflict. I’m encouraging both sides to provide my office with information. I believe it’s in the best interest of both sides to provide me with the information I need. I have said from the very beginning, and I continue to say, that I’m going to conduct this preliminary examination in the most impartial manner, and independent manner.

Q: What about the illegal settlements, is that part of your territory?

A: It could potentially be part of what we are looking at. But now, proceeding will be  declaration, that was made, you will recall that it covers the events in Gaza last summer, August of 2014, going forward, June of 2014 going forward.

Q: How do you feel about the new report on Gaza?

A: As I was trying to explain, what I’m doing now, I’m not investigating any particular incident. I’m collecting information.

Q: You’re not going to act on that specific report?

A: It is premature for me to say on what incident I will act. This is what I’m trying to explain. What I’m doing now is collecting information to make sure that ICC crimes have been committed. It’s not yet an investigation. But information that will assist my office to make this determination is always welcome.... It has no timeline. This is very quiet process. Receiving information from all reliable sources, it can be two sides, it can be outsides of the two sides, who have any information to share with my office, this will be taken into account in our analysis. That’s what we will do.

Q: Have you received any information from different parties?

A I am receiving information. I am receiving information not yet from different parties, but we will see. I encourage all parties to provide my office with information that is important in this process, and I think it’s in the best interest of all sides to provide my office with information.

Q: What is being done with regard to Libya?

A: I don’t think Libya said they wouldn’t comply. I think they said they would comply within the limits of their national sovereignty. But what is happening right now is that we are having good cooperation with the prosecutor’s office about, not only Saif al Islam. Last time I reported to the Council I talked about the memorandum of understanding and the burden sharing between my office and the Libyan authorities.

It has gone all the way to the appeals chamber and they have confirmed that the case of Saif al Islam is still admissible before the ICC. They are urging the Libyan government to transfer Saif al Islam Gaddafi to the court. As you know, just in April, I think 8th of April the ICC judges have decided to send to the Council a non compliance of Libya on the Saif case.

Q: Has that gone to ..

A: It’s gone to the Council.

Q: But they didn’t speak to it.

A: Not yet. But it is with them.

Q: If the country is deemed non compliant, what will they do?

A: I know that the Council, what I urged them to do is call on Libya to respect their obligations with respect to cooperation with ICC. Even today I repeated it.

Q: Why are you hanging onto this case?

A: I think it’s unfortunate for you to say, given the fact that 1970 was very clear in the mandate given to the prosecutor of the ICC to investigate and prosecute this crime. The case of Saif al Islam Gaddafi, and of Senussi, and of Gaddafi deceased was brought to the court based on the evidence that we collected and brought to the judge for warrants to issue against them. It’s a judicial process which must take its course. It was also a judicial process and I’m sure you will not doubt the profile of the cases I brought. I’ts not a question of high profile, but we’re following a case. Because Saif al Islam Gaddafi was not a president.

.. But we also have a judicial process. We’re not just interfering in Libya without jurisdiction. We were given jurisdiction to start this case based on a resolution by this Council. (cross talk) We are doing what we can. You will see that a lot of circumstances around this case are not under our control. But what we can control we are doing.

  Then Bensouda was summoned away. Surreally, down the hall a Chinese diplomat Fu Cong, China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva for Disarmement Affairs Fu Cong was speaking in front of the (closed) NPT meeting. Again, Inner City Press' transcript:

“We do not want to debate in a public way with the Japanese delegation, because this [NPT] is not the forum. There was an appropriate forum to discuss all the indicia but this is not the one... Our position is that because again, we do not want to see this cause linked with the particular historical event, which actually again, we sympathize with the survivors, but they need to blame the people who started the war in the first place. So this is not as simple as the first use of nuclear weapons. Why nuclear weapons were used on Japanese territory? There was a reason to this. The reason being the Japanese government at the time started the war. And commited atrocities. And the nuclear weapons were used to stop the war so the civilians of other countries can be saved.”

  Earlier, inside the Security Council, Bensouda put the onus on member states to go after their own nationals who join ISIS there or elsewhere. But there were questions.

  Bensouda said, "I have also taken note of this Council's call for accountability for the use of violence against civilians and civilian institutions by groups purportedly claiming allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, ISIL, or Daesh. My Office considers that ICC jurisdiction over Libya prima facie extends to such alleged crimes. I recall however the principle that States, in the first instance, bear the primary responsibility to investigate and prosecute their nationals who have joined forces with ISIL/Daesh and are alleged to be commitment Rome Statute crimes."

  In the speeches that followed, Venezuela complained of ICC only half-acting in Libya - and NOT acting on Palestine.

 One also wondered: with the ICC having opened an investigation into the Central African Republic, would Bensouda assert jurisdiction over the alleged conflict related sexual abuse by French soldiers in the Sangaris force there of CAR children as young as nine? We'll see.

  The day before on May 11, as the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini prepared to brief the UN Security Council on the EU's proposal to try to stop unauthorized migration to Europe from Libya, Angola's Permanent Representative Ismael A. Gaspar Martins stopped and told the press that you don't deal with refugees with bombs.

  So when Mogherini came to take questions at the Security Council stakeout, Inner City Press with hand raised sought to ask her about this view. Video here and embedded below.

  After questions were handed to Reuters, two Italian media and the New York Times, and Agence France Presse got a question answered by blurting it out, Inner City Press asked about Angola's view.

 Mogherini told Inner City Press, "we discussed this and share the view that there is no military solution."

   Inner City Press said, what about attack helicopters?

  Mogherini said, "We're talking about a naval operation."

  But that of course can involve military force, including airstrikes by attack helicopters. But no follow-up was possible. While an African journalist had his hand up the whole time, more Italian journalists were called. A Kurdish journalist who asked about Iraq was told by Mogherini that she only answers on topic.

  Afterward, as before, Mogherini did a separate stakeout only for Italian media, Inner City Press tweeted photo here, rebuffing the only question asked in English, then leaving.

 The Free UN Coalition for Access is troubled by this continued approach.

 Back on April 28 when Mogherini came to take questions outside the Security Council, it was announced that after the "international" media, she would do a separate stakeout just for media from her native Italy. 

  Then the questions handpicked for Mogherini were all Western and Gulf (Saudi), particularly on the issue of Iran. An Iranian journalist was rejected. Chosen were Reuters, NYT, BBC jumping in and France 24, specifically selected, with a copycat Libya question.

  At the end - or, before the Italian only stakeout -- Inner City Press asked, Sudan, Burundi, anything? But there was not. Nor on Western Sahara, on which EU members earlier on April 28 pushed a resolution without human rights monitoring for a UN peacekeeping mission, MINURSO.

 On Sudan, the questions are obvious: over 90% vote for al Bashir, cover up of Tabit rapes. But in Burundi, the EU's Patrick Spirlet has been quoted that the EU will give 80 elections observers - even as radio stations are closed and people killed. What's the answer?

Maybe they're just getting it together.

 The Security Council - with its EU members - will hear about Burundi on April 28. Watch this site.

(The new Free UN Coalition for Access challenges such one-sided use of the UN Security Council stakeout. The old UNCA, UN's Censorship Alliance, won't. It is run by Giampaolo Pioli of Italy.)

 On April 27 Inner City Press asked Ban's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq, and got in response an "if-asked." Transcript here

Inner City Press:  On Burundi, over the weekend, the ruling party nominated the current president for a third… to run for a third term.  And there have been crackdowns by the police, the closure of a radio station, Radio Public Africaine, and others… I'm wondering other countries have spoken.  What is the UN's response to what's happened?

Deputy Spokesman Haq:  Yeah, we're following the situation in Burundi very closely and we're deeply concerned over the violence over the weekend, including of a number of deaths following the announcement that the president would seek a third term and we urge a swift investigation into the violence.  Said Djinnit, the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes is in Bujumbura to convey the UN’s concerns and work with all parties on defusing tensions.

  Perhaps as Ban does more and more, he will "outsource" the rest of the UN's reaction to Geneva, while he for example cavorts with those who, like in Burundi, go after independent journalists. 

  In Burundi, the RPA was raided and told to stop live-streaming the crackdown. 

 Where is the UN Security Council, and its "pen-holder" on Burundi, on this?
 
   

In Central African Republic, As French Disarm & Shoot Muslims in Bambari, UN Gives Spin to Inner City Press, of Ladsous and Araud

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, May 23 -- After reports of French soldiers shooting into a crowd in Banbari in the Central African Republic, Inner City Press on May 23 asked UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric about it:

Inner City Press: in the Central African Republic, in Bambari, there’s these reports of the French Sangaris force, at least according to some, firing into the crowd and a number of deaths.  And I wanted to know, is the Mission there aware of it?  And also, what’s the status of the various other instances where it’s been said that the human rights component of the UN Mission in CAR ( Central African Republic) was going to look into things?  Did they ever issue a report on their findings?  What’s happened in those cases?

Spokesman Dujarric:  I’ll check on both of those.  [He later shared a press release on Bambari, issued jointly by the United Nations, African Union, European Union and France.]

  But the press release shared, only in French, seemed more propaganda than investigation. As Google-translated:

Subject: Your question on Bambari
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: 2014-05-23 13:11 GMT-04:00
To: Matthew Russell Lee [at] innercitypress.com
Cc: Stephane Dujarric [at] un.org

Please see below a joint Communique by the UN in the CAR, AU, EU and France:

Representatives of the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union and the Central African Republic in France and find deeply regret the events that took place Thursday, May 22 Bambari.

These representatives had visited May 21 Bambari, alongside the representative of the Central Government, to remind armed groups in Bambari the need to implement the resolutions of the Security Council of the United Nations and confidence-building measures implemented by international forces. The interviews conducted in this framework and meeting with the people at the end of this movement had led to a consensus for the peaceful implementation of these measures. The events raise the next strongest condemnation.

Peace in Central is the objective of the Central African people, the transitional government and the international community. It calls on all armed groups to cease violence and choose the path of dialogue and political debate to assert their expectations and claims groups.

  Observers say locals in Bambari were outraged that France's ambassador did not mention the threat from Christian anti-Balaka forces, and that France tried to disarm the Muslims with anti-Balaka so near. Is the UN totally captured by France? Will it get even worse as Frenchman Herve Ladsous take more control of the UN mission in CAR?

  France putting Muslims at risk in CAR is exactly when the UN's Navi Pillay warned about on January 20 -- but when Inner City Press asked outgoing French Ambassador Gerard Araud about it, he claimed there WAS not Pillay report, just as he claimed on May 22 that a US pilot in Syria "of course" would be taken to the International Criminal Court, click here for that.

   Back on May 1, a week after French troops reportedly killed five civilians in the "Cameroonian district" of the PK5 neighborhood in Bangui, Central African Republic, Inner City Press asked UN Humanitarian John Ging about it, and about the killing by ex-Seleka forces of three MSF aid workers and 13 patients in Boguila. Video here,and embedded below.

  Ging, making a plea for more international help, mourned the dead MSF colleagues but seemed to say that the only people raising questions about the troops who have come to CAR are those inciting violence. He did not mention killings by the Chadian troops; nor did he directly address that French soldiers killed five civilians, according to spokesman for the Muslim community in PK5 Abakar Moustapha. 

  Moustapha said the French soldiers' raid on a house in the neighborhood when the Senagalese owner was not there led to opposition from residents, to which the French responded with helicopter and gunfire killing five civilians.

   After a previous incident in which the French Sangaris troops were reported to have killed civilians, Inner City Press asked the UN what its mission there would do. Reference was made to an investigation, but no results have been announced. French Ambassador to the UN Gerard Araud stopped responding to such Press questions.

   Now the UN mission in CAR is set to be taken over by FrenchmanHerve Ladsous' Department of Peacekeeping Operations and no longer the Department of Political Affairs. Given the history, will this hold the French forces more or LESS to account?

  Ladsous visited Brazzaville, Chad and now CAR, speaking to a UN microphone. At least Ging answers questions.

   When Chad's Permanent Representative to the UN Mahamat Zene Cherif -- who on April 30 told Inner City Press that Chad will not be any part of MINUSCA -- came to the Security Council stakeout on March 7, beyond asking him about child soldiers Inner City Press asked him about those who have had to flee Central African Republic into Chad. Shouldn't they be able to return to CAR? Video here and embedded below

Mahamat Zene Cherif said while Chad will not force anyone back, they should be able to return. He said that eighty percent of the Muslims have been chased out of the CAR.

How can elections be held this way, he asked.

Inner City Press asked if perhaps those displaced could vote even while in Chad. Mahamat Zene Cherif said the UN could check the feasibility, but that Chad would hope the displaced could return to CAR.

  The day before, Inner City Press tried to ask French Ambassador Gerard Araud about a statement or report by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay that the French Sangaris force first disarming the ex-Seleka had left Muslim community vulnerable to attack by Christian anti-Balaka militias.

  Araud refused to take the question while at the microphone, then from the wings insisted there is no Navi Pillay report. Click here for that.

  What forces allowed 80% of the Muslims in CAR to be chased out? And what responsibility do they bear? Watch this site.

   

UN Dodges on Navi Pillay's Finding France Put Muslims at Risk in CAR, Haiti Cholera Echo?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 21 -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council on February 20, "I am pleased to announce that the Chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry mandated by this Security Council, along with an advance team, will arrive in the Central African Republic to take up their important work."

   Since Ban took only three pre-selected questions afterward, only one of which was on Central African Republic or other African countries like South Sudan or the Democratic Republic of the Congo where protesters were shot in Bukavu, the next day February 21 Inner City Press asked its CAR question to Ban's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq.

   Does Ban think that the Commission of Inquiry he's pleased about should be sure to investigate the January 20 finding by High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay that "the disarmament of ex Seleka by the French forces appears to have left Muslim communities vulnerable to anti-Balaka retaliatory attacks"?

  Haq replied that it's up to Commission of Inquiryto determine what specific acts they will look into, what the acts on the ground are that need to be studied." 

   It seems like a no brainer, that the Commission of Inquiry should look into such a charge, even if or especially because against a Permanent Five member of the Security Council. 

  Tellingly, even on the specific incident in which French Sangaris forces reportedly killed ten people weeks ago, which Ban's spokesperson's office told Inner City Press the UN mission would look into, "they have provided no update."

  It is noted that France's Ambassador at the UN Gerard Araud, when Inner City Press was able to ask him about the UN's moral responsibility for cholera in Haiti, said that moral responsibility is a "vague" concept.

   For the UN in Haiti, and now for France in CAR, accountability seems to always be for others.

   As noted, after the Central African Republic meeting of the UN Security Council on the afternoon of February 20, the UN, African Union and France spoke in that order to the media. Video here and embedded below.

   UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon took three questions, pre-selected by his outgoing spokesperson Martin Nesirky, South African Broadcasting asked if CAR is a genocide -- Ban dodged the question -- and then Al Arabiya asked about Syria. Finally, as foreshadowed at the day's noon briefing, the last of the three questions was on Ukraine. (Ban read from notes).

   That is, even on the Central African Republic's big day at the UN, it was the subject of one-third of the pre-selected questions.

   When the African Union's Smail Chergui came to the microphone, Inner City Press began to ask him about a January 20 finding by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Pillay, that "the disarmament of ex-Séléka carried out by the French forces appears to have left Muslim communities vulnerable to anti-Balaka retaliatory attacks." But a Radio France Internationale reporter jumped in - fine, because this Pillay question would and will not go away.

  Inner City Press asked it again to Chergui, who with Araud standing next to the stakeout listening said that the investigations should be "on every element." Whether than happens, particularly with regard to Security Council Permanent Five member France, remains to be seen.

  And France, as it turns out, won't even take much less answer the question. When French Ambassador Gerard Araud came to the microphone, the first question was give to the same RFI reporter as took it on Chergui. Finally another France 24 reporter was called on -- to ask about Syria.

   So even on former French colony CAR's big day at the UN, it was the subject of only two of the three questions pre-selected for Araud.

  As Araud floated away from the microphone, the special wooden rostrum brought for Ban Ki-moon, Inner City Press asked about Navi Pillay, doesn't France want to respond? There was no response. This is the UN.

Amid the carnage in the Central African Republic, US Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on February 20 announced something of a second plan for the CAR, noting some new contributions and pledges. He said the UN Commission of Inquiry will soon be there. 

  Ban said "I am pleased to announce today Denmark confirmed a contribution of $2 million... Norway has also confirmed today that it will make a donation."

  This gave raise to an obvious question, which Inner City Press posed: how much?

  Norwegian Permanent Representative Geir O. Pedersen answered: "we've already given more than 10 mill USD and will allocate to SG initiative. How much being discussed in Oslo now."

  The International Criminal Court has said it will begin an investigation. The question is whether this will include pursuing what High Commissioner on Human Rights Navi Pillay said on January 20, that France left Muslim communities vulnerable to attack by first disarming the ex Seleka militia.

  What were the legal responsibilities of the French Sangaris force when it intervened?  Did it meet or violate these responsibilities, according to what the UN's own Navi Pillay found?

   At the UN's noon briefing on February 7, Inner City Press asked about convoys of trucks leaving Bangui carrying Muslims away. Is this religious cleansing? Does that violate international law and will the ICC investigate -- ALL responsible parties?  

  Back on January 31 Haq said, "I was asked yesterday about alleged killings involving the French troops." The UN Mission "BINUCA is aware, and is in contact with parties allegedly involved." It will "first establish the facts" then "report in due course." Video here, from Minute 8:47.

  What changed? Well, beyond what Inner City Press cited on January 30, since then the Red Cross ICRC has reported that "in one incident this week, marauding gangs with machetes hacked to death a man as French peacekeepers awaited instructions from their base."

   UN acting deputy spokesperson previously on January 30 told Inner City Press, Ask France. Beyond the fact that French Permanent Representative to the UN Gerard Araud refused on January 28 to take the Press' request for France's response to UN High Commission for Human Rights Navi Pillay saying France left Muslim communities vulnerable to attack -- Inner City Press asked, doesn't the UN have a role here?

  On January 30, when Inner City Press cited reports including one from UN (and usually French) favorite Human Rights Watch, Haq said of course if the UN got specific information its office in CAR would look into it. He ended, though, again saying the UN would look to France for the information. Video here.

In any event, here's a link to the HRW report, which says:

"The French Sangaris troops, who are disarming the Seleka, often seem reluctant to intervene and told me they cannot take sides, even when Muslims, now unarmed, are killed in revenge attacks by the anti-balaka."

    On January 28 in front of the Security Council, Araud's spokesperson Frederic Jung ordered the UNTV boom microphone to go first to two correspondents in French. Inner City Press asked about a criticism made in the open Council meeting to the resolution Araud said was presented by France, but Araud said, go ask the critic. But what is France's response to the criticism?

  The European Union's Thomas Mayr-Harting, ever polite, did take the question about France leaving Muslim's vulnerable. Video here and embedded below. But rather obviously, it's not for him or the EU to answer. Perhaps the EU should encourage its member states to answer rather than refuse such human rights questions.

 Mayr-Harting also said he could not confirm the killing in Bangui of the brother of former Seleka #2 Nouredinne Adam. Araud previously pushed back at reports, by Al Jazeera, that Nouredinne Adam was taken into custody by the French Sangaris force. What now of the reported killing of his brother by anti-Balaka?

   Why did Araud, who previously answered even if combatively, now refuse to answer on the critique in the Security Council and before that by Pillay? Absent another explanation, it may be a further attempt to erase thedocument from the NYPD of another French diplomat taken into custody -click here for story and audio; we'll have more, it seems sure, on all this.

  More pressingly on the Central African Republic, what other than spin and trying to get lower UN officials to contradict Pillay is France's response to her critique? 

  France on January 22 selectively promoted one part of what the UN's Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng answered to Inner City Press about the Central African Republic, while ignoring Dieng's admission that after French disarmament, people were killed. 

  Compare UN Video here, from Minute 0:36 to these French tweets, quoting only Dieng's final, face-saving statement.

   That smaller countries under fire from the UN's human rights machinery selectively quote anything that defends them is one thing. But France?

  In the same dynamic through which France today tries to evade the criticism in the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report on the Central African Republic by focusing on a part of another UN officials response, France had tried to claim that its Operation Turquoise in the Great Lakes region in 1994 saved lives. But it also helped genocidaires escape. Plus ca change.

  

  On January 22, Inner City Press asked Dieng about France and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay's January 20 testimony that "the disarmament of ex-Séléka carried out by the French forces appears to have left Muslim communities vulnerable to anti-Balaka retaliatory attacks."

  Dieng replied among other things that there were killings after the first French disarmament, and "we raised it with the Sangaris," the French force. See UN Video here, from 0:36. Inner City Press mused, is that accountability? Will this question be answered by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon new Commissioners on CAR, Jorge Castañeda of Mexico, Fatimata M’Baye of Mauritania and Bernard Acho Muna of Cameroon? 

  The moderator said one more question could be asked. After a lull, Inner City Press asked about those having to flee the country. The UN's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zainab Hawa Bangura replied that this is having a regional impact, namign Chad, Sudan and the Congo. She might have added Cameroon and even Senegal. One wanted to ask her about the findings, yet to be disclosed, on rape allegations against UN peacekeepers in Mali.

 Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Kyung-wha Kang came over and provided additional information, that the the International Organization for Migration is in the lead, at times using airplanes. One wanted to ask her about MSF's critique of the UN in CAR: has it been met? Is the UN really putting Rights Up Front?

  The UN's Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict Leila Zerrougui also briefed the Council, noting 23 children released on January 17. One wanted to ask her for an update on Chad, part of the UN force in Mali while still on the UN's child soldier recruiters' list. Maybe next time.

  Finally Jordan's Prince Zeid emerged; Inner City Press on CAR asked him of the proposed 500 Moroccan guards, and about the mornings presentation on drones by UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous. Prince Zeid said the forthcoming CAR resolution would address the former, and to ask Ladsous about the drones. We'll see.

    On January 14, Pillay's office said it "received credible testimonies of collusion between some Chadian FOMAC elements and ex-Séléka forces."

   At that day's UN noon briefing, Inner City Press sought to pursue this and its implications. From the UN's transcript:

Spokesperson Nesirky: Matthew, last question please? Keep it short.

Inner City Press: I'm sure you've seen the report by the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) about human rights abuses in Central African Republic and what I wanted to ask you is that, they say that the disarming, that the French disarming of some left Muslim communities subject to attack and that Chadian FOMAC (Multinational Force of Central Africa) peacekeepers credibly colluded with ex-Séléka forces that they’re accusing of human rights violations. So, I wanted to know how it works. Given that the Chad Army is also a peacekeeper in the UN force in Mali, does, what happens in the Secretariat or DPKO (Department of Peacekeeping Operations) on a finding such as this, that peacekeepers in one country may have colluded with human rights abusers? What’s the next step?

Spokesperson Nesirky: Well, let's just be clear. This was a team that was deployed, four people who were deployed, to the Central African Republic from the twelfth to twenty-fourth of December. And what they have produced today, and what Ms. Navi Pillay’s office has been talking about today, and she herself has been talking about preliminary findings that describe a cycle of widespread human rights violations and reprisals. And Ms. Pillay has made clear she will give a fuller account of the team’s findings during a special session called by the Human Rights Council, and that’s due to take place in Geneva on 20 January. So, I think I’d rather wait until that and see

  Well, on January 20 Pillay dropped the word "credible." From her statement: "The mission also heard witness accounts alleging the involvement of some FOMAC/ MISCA soldiers in the killing of Christian civilians, which should be further investigated."

  By dropping the word credible and calling for investigations -- note that UN Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous has allowed Chad to do its own investigation, and then not make public any result -- the can is kicked down the road, so that the UN and France can continue to use Chadian "peacekeepers" in Mali. Rights Up Front?

   That France's military operation in Central African Republic left Muslims to be killed by Christian anti-balaka militia was noted even by the UN Human Rights team that recently visited the country.

   But a dubious wire service quotes the European Union's usually sharp humanitarian chief Kristalina Georgieva that the problem in CAR is "the complicated relations between Chad and Central African Republic."

  That "complication" surely exists. But consider this detailed video report of France and the anti-balaka, here. What does the EU have to say to that? Are these "Rights Up Front," as the UN dubbed its post Sri Lanka failure plan which it now claims to apply to CAR? Disarming one community to be killed by another?

  After the UN's envoy to the Central African Republic Babacar Gaye was asked on January 13 by Inner City Press about Chadian "peacekeepers" and undue influence on CAR from outside, i.e. from France, the UN simply edited it out of its summary.  

 Video here, from Minute 12:06; compare to UN's sanitized summary, here.

  Now on January 14 the UN's own Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reports that its "mission received multiple reports that the disarmament of ex-Séléka carried out by the French forces left some Muslim communities vulnerable to anti-Balaka retaliatory attacks." 

 This might be called the polar opposite of "Responsibility to Protect" -- the affirmative putting of civilians at risk, on religious lines.

  The OHCHR also notes that "witnesses consistently reported that ex-Séléka, wearing the armbands of Chadian FOMAC peacekeepers, went from house to house searching for anti-Balaka, and shot and killed civilians. The team also said it received credible testimonies of collusion between some Chadian FOMAC elements and ex-Séléka forces."

  The UN Human Rights Council takes up CAR on January 20. Will these UN reports of France and FOMAC be addressed?

  On January 13, Gaye said that the problem was the Chadian component of the Seleka rebels; he acknowledged that there was an intention to assign the troops from Chad outside of Bangui. But he said for now they remain there, patrolling with the Sangaris forces of France, both countries' colonist.

  Of Bozize, he said that Michel Djotodia blames human rights violations -- be to discussed in Geneva January 20 -- on Bozize followers, but said Bozize's name had not come up in the talks in Chad. (The UN had refused, when Inner City Press asked, to even confirm that Gaye and his UN mission had any role in the talks in Chad).

  Now that Michel Djotodia has resigned, after that two-day meeting held in Chad, confirmed along with the disproportionate role of Chad and France in CAR is another point.

  The UN has been marginalized even in the Central African Republic. This UN has allowed itself to become, often, a mere fig leaf for big powers, here the former colonial rulers.

   When Inner City Press on January 8 asked UN spokesperson Farhan Haq of any UN role or presence at the next day's meeting in Chad at which France says the country's leadership will be determined, Haq would not directly answer. Video here from Minute 18:50; UN transcript:

Inner City Press: On the Central African Republic, Mr. [Laurent] Fabius and a Defense Minister are both quoted as saying that it will be determined tomorrow at a meeting held in Chad whether the current interim or temporary Prime Minister remains in power, that it will be decided by regional countries. And I wanted to know, given, you know, the UN’s mission and role in the Central African Republic, is the UN attending that meeting? Do they have any… what’s their presence there and what would they say to those who say that there should be more involvement in Central African people in deciding, you know, who the leader is, rather than the neighbouring countries or France?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: I wouldn’t speculate on what the meeting has to accomplish. We’ll actually see what the outcome of the meeting is once it takes place. At this stage, it’s speculative to see what the meeting entails for the leadership of the Central African Republic.

Inner City Press: Is Babacar Gaye going? I just want to know that before it takes place.

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: We’ll try to monitor the meeting as best we can. I don’t have any details to give you right now, but once the meeting happens, we’ll let you know.

 Now what? On January 6 some noted that UN Department of Political Affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman avoided directly answering on France's lack of impartiality in its intervention in its former colony.  

   Feltman seemed to focus on the UN's role on humanitarian issues -- even on that, the UN has been subject to scathing criticism from Doctors Without Borders -- while leaving the finding of a political solution to others.

    Reuters quotes three French officials, two named and one unnamed, opining about who should lead CAR, including, "Djotodia and us, it's not a love story. The quicker he goes, the better things will be. We are making do with him and holding him back."

   And yet Reuters, now the colonial news wire, did not mention FrancAfrique or this colonial relationship, whether such picking of leaders from outside like France did with Ahmad al Jarba in Syria, is appropriate. This is, to some, "the international community."

  Back on January 6 as the Central African Republic consultations of the UN Security Council stretched past 6 pm, Permanent Representatives then even Deputy Permanent Representatives left, even as new Council member Lithuania spoke.

One departing diplomat told Inner City Press that US Ambassador Samantha Power "gave a moving speech" but "it's not longer a time for speeches but action."

Inner City Press asked the diplomat if the sentiment is to move to a UN peacekeeping mission, or stay with MISCA (in which component contingents have fought each other) and the French SANGARIS force, accused of disarming the Seleka but not anti-balaka militia.

  The answer was UNclear. The briefer was the head of the UN's Department of Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, whose statement during the open meeting said "this is the first case for the Secretary General's new Rights Upfront agenda." That was the UN's belated reaction to its own systemic failure during the killing of tens of thousands of civilians in Sri Lanka in 2009.

  But last month Doctors Without Borders pilloried the UN for not protecting civilians, even inside its own compounds, and for not deploying despite requests to Yaloke and Bouca. UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos told Inner City Press she was "disappointed" by MSF's letter. What would Feltman say?

  When finally Feltman emerged, Inner City Press asked him about reports of France disarming the Seleka, not the predominantly Christian anti-balaka. Feltman replied that a "non-discriminatory way" is required, all most be disarmed. He said more coordination is needed between the UN, France's Sangaris, and MISCA. 

 Moments later, Inner City Press asked Jordan's Permanent Representative Prince Zeid, the president of the Security Council for January, about perceived (im)partiality. He responded that the situation is complex, as African members pointed out, and that he and other new Council members had material to work through. We'll see.