UN Loses Focus on Darfur, Pushes to Silence Questions of it Climate Change Role

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/ban1darfurcc012010.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 20, updated -- Darfur, which along with climate change used to be called the UN's and Ban Ki-moon's top priorities, has fallen further by the roadside.

Days ago, the UN's own broadcaster in Sudan, Miraya FM, reported that "the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM)-Abdul Wahid Nour Faction called on the United Nations/African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) to intervene and rescue civilians from aerial bombings [by the] Sudan Armed Forces in Kutum, North Darfur."

At UN headquarters in New York, Mr. Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky has for the past week resisted in noon briefings taking any questions except about Haiti, telling Inner City Press "today I'm sticking to Haiti." So Inner City Press asked UN top peacekeeper Alain Le Roy about the Darfur report, at the end of a briefing on Haiti on January 18, but has yet to receive any answer.

On January 20, Mr. Nesirky said he would at last take non Haiti question. Inner City Press asked about Darfur and climate change (but was cut off from asking if the UN is doing anything about the 400 killed and 4000 displaced in ethnic and religious clashes in Jos, Nigeria. Ironically, subsequent to this cut-off, the UN Secretariat prepared, approved and issued a canned statement on Nigeria, here.)

Of the Darfur report, by the UN's own radio station and on its ReliefWeb.int, Nesirky said he hasn't heard of it. On climate change, when Inner City Press asked about a quote in the UK Guardian by top US climate negotiator Jonathan Pershing that it is "impossible to imagine a negotiation of enormous complexity where you have a table of 192 countries involved in all the detail."

Nesirky responded that Mr. Ban had seen the Guardian interview, and that Pership had been contacted and said he was misquoted. The Guardian, however, has not run any correction, and it is unclear if Pershing or the UN has requested one.

Inner City Press would have asked, but Nesirky insisted that no further questions could be asked at the briefing. (He said it could be asked afterwards, but as noted he has left unanswered for weeks numerous questions Inner City Press has emailed to him, and even some asked during the briefings this year.)

Inner City Press would also have asked, on Sudan, about the death sentences just imposed on JEM rebels for the attack on Omdurman, on the "sacking" of numerous governors in the run up to an election the UN said it cared about, as well as other questions -- but Mr. Nesirky permitted no more questions, even after a week.

Since the UN says it was able to procure a statement by Pershing that his seemingly anti-UN statement was misquoted, one wonders if the UN saw one of its Darfur experts on Al Jazeera last week, calling "extremist" those who say that Omar al Bashir should actually being put on trial in The Hague, where he has been indicted. Is that now UN policy? Or is the UN just not paying attention? Watch this site.

Update of Jan 20, 6 p.m. -- better late than never, two days after asking, then after a second ask, this was provided:

Subj: Re: Follow-up on your questions
From: DPKO at UN.org
To: Inner City Press
Sent: 1/20/2010 5:51:16 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

Matthew - Here is information from DPKO concerning Darfur:

Following reports of fighting between GoS forces and SLA/AW fighters around Insuru area on 16 January, UNAMID team conducted a security assessment patrol to the area on 17 January. The team visited the scene of attack at Furoge village (40km northwest of Kutum) and interacted with the SLA/AW commanders and locals who reported that on 16 January, at about 12:00 hours, GoS military supported by Arab Militia from Dowa (13km northwest of Kutum) and Birmaza (53km northwest of Kutum) launched an attack at Furoge market area. During the attack, 15 locals were reported killed and 20 others injured. On 18 January, UNAMID Team Site in Kutum carried out humanitarian assistance in the area and offered medical treatment to critically injured patients at Furuge Clinic. The team site also plans to supply water to residents of Furuge.

We'll have more on this, watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban1darfurcc012010.html

At UN, Sen. Boxer Criticizes Firing of Galbraith, No Goldstone Discussion

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un1boxer101209.html

UNITED NATIONS, October 12 -- Senator Barbara Boxer of California, after meeting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, was asked on Monday morning by Inner City Press about Mr. Ban's firing of long time U.S. diplomat Peter Galbraith as the UN's deputy in Afghanistan, for alleging the UN is covering up pro-Karzai voting fraud. Video here, from Minute 4:10

"On Mr. Galbraith, t's a very sad day when someone is dismissed for telling the truth, that's how I feel about it," Senator Boxer replied. Video here, from Minute 6:18.

But did she bring up the firing to Ban Ki-moon during their meeting? Apparently not. When Inner City Press asked Sen. Boxer if she had raised to Ban the UN system's handling of the Goldstone report on Gaza, Boxer testily replied that she had come only on two topics: violence against women, which she said took up 75% of the meeting -- and "that you never asked any questions about" -- and climate change. Video here, from Minute 8:59.

In Sen. Boxer's read out of the violence against women portion of the meeting, she spoke of rapes in broad daylight then turned to an aide for the name of the country. Guinea -- Guinea Conakry.

Inner City Press asked Sen. Boxer about charges that the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo works with Congolese army units which are accused of rape. Sen. Boxer gave an answer that may be news: that of the "five generals," three have been relieved of duty, but two continue to serve. The reference is to five names that the UN gave to President Kabila. But is being relieved of duty enough? And is 60% a passing grade?

On climate change, Inner City Press asked Sen. Boxer to respond to chief U.S. negotiator Jonathan Pershing's statement that if the Congress hasn't passed legislation before the Copenhagen meeting, it will be very difficult for the U.S. to make any specific commitment at that meeting.

Boxer's response was that she does not agree that the U.S. is not making progress. She spoke about court decisions and actions of governors and mayors. But what about the Congress? What about the U.S.'s ability to make a commitment in Copenhagen? Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1boxer101209.html

As Obama Deputy Doubts Copenhagen Outcome, Pachauri Doesn't Hear it, Excuses India and UNEP

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/ban1enviro072009.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 20 -- Climate change and "sealing the deal" at Copenhagen this year has become the mantra of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. In the final days of George W. Bush, many say, Ban played a useful role. Now under Obama, Ban is largely a cheerleader for what he calls the U.S.'s new engagement.

Then on July 13, Obama's deputy special envoy on climate change Jonathan Pershing was quoted that the talks in Copenhagen "will likely be inadequate" and that "real components of climate change to come from 2010 meetings, likely to be held in Mexico."

On July 15, Inner City Press raised Pershing's quote to Janos Pasztor, Director of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Climate Change Support Team, and asked him to comment on it. Pasztor replied that he'd seen the quote, but that he thought it meant that Copenhagen will "not be easy." Video here, from Minute 9:16.

But inadequate was the word. Inner City Press asked if Ban has asked the Obama administration about this. Pasztor said Ban doesn't ask day to day. On July 16, another Ban advisor told Inner City Press that he hadn't even heard of Pasztor's quote.

On July 20, Inner City Pres asked Rajendra Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, about Pershing's quote. Pachauri said he hasn't seen it, that he was surprised, that Pershing is his friend. He said, we have to make Copenhagen work and not look beyond it. Video here, from Minute 19:52.

But that is already happening.

Inner City Press also asked about the comments of the environment minister of Pachauri's native India, that the U.S. has not basis to push India to cap emissions. Pachauri essentially agreed, saying that while there are 1.6 billion people on earth without electricity, 400 million are in India, why should they be capped?

Last week, after meeting with Ban Ki-moon, French president Sarkozy proposed a new world environmental organization to replace the UN Environment Program. Inner City Press asked Pachauri what he thought of it, and what he assessed UNEP. Pachauri said that while France and Germany had proposed it, it would have to be more detailed, and would require the consent of the UN member states. That's a less than ringing endorsement of UNEP...

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban1enviro072009.html