Inner City Press Asks UN's Juan Mendez of US Torture Report, Guantanamo, Obama's Prison Trip

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 20 --  When the UN Special Rapporteur on torture Juan E. Méndez held a press conference on October 20, Inner City Press asked him for his view of the only partial release of the US Senate's report on CIA torture, about Guantanamo Bay and whether he thought President Barack Obama's visit to a prison might make his long-pending request to visit US prisons move faster. Video here.

   Mendez said there should be more release(s), and accountability. He said he had had to request the US' conditional offers to visit Guantanamo Bay and US prisons, as he would not be allowed to speak with all prisoners. He praise Obama's visit, but still - Mendez can't get in.

On October 16 when the Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child Benyam Dawit Mezmur held a press conference at the UN, Inner City Press asked him about US President Barack Obama's decision to continue to provide military aid to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Somalia, and South Sudan, despite all four being on the UN's (and US') lists on children and armed conflict. Video here.  

    Benyam Dawit Mezmur said that while the US is the lone holdout on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the issue can still be gotten-at under the Optional Protocol. Inner City Press asked about the sexual abuse of children in the Central African Republic by French and UN peacekeepers.

   Benyam Dawit Mezmur replied that the Committee is asking France about the alleged sexual abuse of children, and will conduct a review in January. We aim to have more on this.

  At the press conference, there were only two correspondents, as there was an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Palestine at the same time. Inner City Press on behalf of the Free UN Coalition for Access thanked Benyam Dawit Mezmur for the briefing but suggested that in the future postponement of briefings, so that more journalists could attend, be considered. UNCA wasn't present at all; nor has it disclosed the extend of funding and connection by indicted David Ng and Frank Lorenzo and their affiliates.

 Also on the UN, when the UN find a staff member using the UN's email system to trafficking in sexual images of minors, a crime, what does it do? On October 16, Inner City Press asked UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq about this paragraph from a UN report it had dug up:

“49. A staff member sent, through the Organization’s e-mail system, pornographic material, including pornographic material involving a minor, and failed to report that another staff member had sent the staff member inappropriate material though the Organization’s e-mail system. Disposition: dismissal.”

  Inner City Press asked, was that all that happened, dismissal? Such that the person could, for example, work in a day care center? Haq said in instances the UN waives immunity.

  Inner City Press asked, how would law enforcement know that the person had used the UN's email system for child porn? Haq said there have been cases in which the UN told local authorities. Inner City Press asked, did it do so in this case? Apparently, the UN will not answer this. For now. Here are other paragraphs:

46. A staff member stored pornographic material, including pornography involving a minor, on the staff member’s United Nations computer, distributed other pornographic material through the Organization’s e-mail system and failed to report that another staff member had sent the staff member inappropriate material through the Organization’s e-mail system. Disposition: dismissal.

47. A staff member sent, through the Organization’s e-mail system, and stored on the staff member’s United Nations computer, pornographic material involving a minor and, on other occasions, distributed, through the Organization’s e -mail system, other pornographic material. Disposition: dismissal.

 48. A staff member sent, through the Organization’s e-mail system, pornographic material involving a minor and, on three other occasions, distributed other pornographic material through the Organization’s e-mail system and stored pornographic material on the staff member’s United Nations computer. Disposition: dismissal.

 The report is entitled "Practice of the Secretary-General in disciplinary matters and cases of criminal behaviour, 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015."

We'll have more on this. Watch this site.
   

UN Experts Urge Transparency on Drone Deaths, As UN Peacekeeping Withholds Reports on Its Killing of Civilians in Mali, Shootings in Haiti

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 29 -- After the US said it will review the deaths of Warren Weinstein and Giovanni Lo Porto by drone strike, the UN on April 29 announced that four of its Special Rapporteurs said the report should be released, subject to narrow national security exemptions.

 "The experts stressed that, subject to redactions on the grounds of legitimate national security, their results must be open to public scrutiny, and, where appropriate, adequate reparation to victims and their families must be offered," the UN said. 

  But the UN itself doesn't live up to this. When UN Peacekeepers in Mali this year killed three civilians, the UN never released the report, and UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous refused to answer basic Press questions about it. Video here, Vine here.

  When Inner City Press asked the Office of the UN Spokesperson about this withheld report, and another one about UN Peacekeepers shooting at unarmed demonstrators in Haiti, the excuse for withholding was that these are "internal" documents. So much for transparency. 

 Doctor, heal theyself.

The experts urging transparency on April 29 were Juan Méndez, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; Christof Heyns, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Ben Emmerson, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism; and Gabriela Knaul, Special Rapporteur on independence of judges and lawyers. 

 What do these UN Experts think of UN Peacekeeping's and Ladsous' performance?

On April 2 Ladsous appeared at the UN Security Council media stakeout but after reading a prepared statement refused to answer Press questions about the underlying Tabankort agreement with the MNLA which led to the Mali shooting. Video I here.

  Inner City Press also asked about shooting at civilians by Ladsous' peacekeepers in Haiti, caught on video, and asked if that withheld report would be released. Ladsous said, I do not respond to you. Video II here.

  Inner City Press asked if it isn't now a pattern, peacekeepers shooting at unarmed civilians not only in Mali but also Haiti, and if Ladsous will take responsibility.

  Ladsous' spokesman Nicholas Birnback then grabbed the UNTV microphone and moved it away from Inner City Press. This happened before with Ladsous and his previous spokesman. Video here, story here. At that time, after the Free UN Coalition for Access complained, the UN Spokesperson told FUNCA it would not happen again. Now it has. Accountability?

 Tellingly, the Ladsous scribe who angled for and got the first question asked pointedly if the peacekeepers in Mali weren't from Rwanda. Ladsous leered and said the Troop Contributing Country, then spoke again at the end to lay the blame on them. Video II, here, near end.

  In the public record is Ladsous' 1994 memo supporting the escape of the Hutu genocidaires who formed the FDLR into Eastern Congo, where now Ladsous' MONUSCO finds one excuse after another NOT to neutralize the FDLR as it did the largely Tutsi M23 armed group.

  Accountability? 
   

On US Torture Report, Does UN's Ban Ki-moon Agree Convention Against Torture CAT Requires Prosecution, or Does Cat Have His Tongue?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, December 11 -- After the much anticipated US torture report was released on the morning of December 9, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had no direct comment. 

  Now, does Ban agree that the UN Convention Against Torture, UNCAT, requires prosecution? Or has the cat got his tongue?

   At the December 9 UN noon briefing in New York Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric for a comment from Ban Ki-moon, which was expected.

But Dujarric said that there was no comment, that the UN was following it. Video here, and embedded below. 

  Fully 24 hours later, at the December 10 noon briefing, Dujarric read out a statement from Geneva by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid.

  Inner City Press asked Dujarric why Ban hadn't commented in his own name. He is commenting through me, Dujarric replied, and stands with Prince Zeid's comments.
 
  Inner City Press asked if Ban stands with the comments of UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in combating terrorism Ben Emmerson, that there should be prosecutions. Apparently not -- the answer was UNclear.  Video here.

  Now on December 11, the UN's Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan E. Mendez has said

“the example set by the United States on the use of torture has been a big draw-back in the fight against such practice in many other countries throughout the world... I travel to parts of the world in my capacity of UN Special Rapporteur on torture and I can attest to the fact that many states either implicitly or explicitly tell you: ‘Why look at us? If the US tortures, why can’t we do it?’ We have lost a little bit of the moral high ground, but it can be regained and it should be regained.”

The publication of the summary of the report, Mendez said, is but “a first step in the direction of fulfilling other US obligations under Convention against Torture, namely to combat impunity and ensure accountability, by investigating and prosecuting those responsible... In the past, I have engaged the US Government on a number of cases referenced in the CIA report and I will carefully study the replies I have received and the facts now revealed in this report. There is no doubt that ‘torture programs right after 9/11 have made the matter of terrorism worse’ and the torture that has taken place has been a breeding ground for more terrorism.”

   So does Ban Ki-moon agree that CAT now requires prosecutions? Or has the cat got his tongue? Watch this site.

The UN Security Council churned on -- UN Peacekeeping chief refused to answer a simple Inner City Press question as he left the Council, here-- even with some of the countries which hosted “black sites” for torture members of the Council.

An Amnesty International representative said that countries that are members of the International Criminal Court, which hosted such sites, could be acted against by the Court. UN expert Ben Emmerson chimed in, calling for prosecutions:

“the summary of the Feinstein report which was released this afternoon confirms what the international community has long believed - that there was a clear policy orchestrated at a high level within the Bush administration, which allowed to commit systematic crimes and gross violations of international human rights law.. The identities of the perpetrators, and many other details, have been redacted in the published summary report but are known to the Select Committee and to those who provided the Committee with information on the program... Torture is a crime of universal jurisdiction. The perpetrators may be prosecuted by any other country they may travel to. However, the primary responsibility for bringing them to justice rests with the US Department of Justice and the Attorney General.”

But still, from Ban Ki-moon, silence. Watch this site.

   

While UN Looks Into Western Sahara Death of El Wali, Silence at the Stakeout

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 27 -- When UN torture expert Juan Mendez  held a press conference after addressing the General Assembly's Third Committee on October 21, Inner City Press asked about the death in Moroccan custody of Western Sahara rights activist Hassan El Wali. Video here.

   Mendez, the UN's Special Rapporteur on Torture, confirmed he has been asked to look into El Wali's death, and said that he is but can't speak about it at this juncture. 

  So when the UN Security Council had one of its semi-annual meetings on Western Sahara on October 27, and UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous and envoy Christopher Ross went into the Council, Inner City Press waited outside with the expectation that afterward someone, at least, would speak at the stakeout.

  As the afternoon dragged on, Inner City Press was informed that the UN Secretariat was warned NOT to let the Frente Polisario representative speak at the UNTV stakeout. The Free UN Coalition for Access has asked why for example the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu can speak on UNTV -- last time he spoke, Ladsous to the side blocked Inner City Press' camera, Vine here -- but Polisario cannot. There has been no explanation. Click here for story from October 2013,hearkening back to the UN "pulling the plug" on Polisario in 2007.

  As it turned out the focus on October 27 was on NO ONE speaking on the UNTV stakeout. Morocco's current Ambassador Hilale, like his predecessor polite but noticeably more open, was present but did not speak at the stakeout. The situation outside the Security Council was, apparently, one of lobbying, or for some of spinning state media.

  A diplomat told Inner City Press, "they tell us the African Union is not part of the mandate, fine. But 'Referendum' is in the name of the mission. When is it going to happen?"

  The UN was supposed to hold a referendum and hasn't. Now the focus is on no one being able to speak about it on the UN Television stakeout. This is today's UN.

DC footnote: In further silence news, on October 20 US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Catherine Novelli was listed as meeting with Western Sahara driller Kosmos Energy's CEO Andy Inglis. There has been no read-out.

   

At UN, Inner City Press Asks of Obama Administration Position on CIA and Torture Treaty, Mendez Banned from Bahrain, Western Sahara Death

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 21 -- When UN torture experts Juan Mendez and Claudio Grossman held a press conference after addressing the General Assembly's Third Committee on October 21, Inner City Press asked about the Obama administration mulling arguing that the torture treaty does not apply to the CIA or overseas military jails, as well as about Bahrain and Western Sahara. Video here.

Mendez, the UN's Special Rapporteur on Torture, confirmed that he has still not gotten to visit Bahrain, after having two invitations canceled at the last minute. He said he recently asked Bahrain's foreign minister to name another date, but it has still not happened.

Other countries that have canceled invitations, Mendez went on to say, include Guatemala and Thailand (which, along with Costa Rica, lost in the UN Human Rights Council elections earlier on October 21).

The US imposed conditions on a visit to Guantanamo Bay which Mendez could not accept. Mendez did not answer the Obama administration / extra-territoriality question, leaving it for Grossman, the chair of the UN Committee Against Torture. Video here. He gave a long answer, repeatedly saying his answer was NOT about the United States. Talk about deference.

On Western Sahara, Inner City Press asked Mendez about the death in Moroccan detention of Hassan El Wahi in Dakhla. Mendez confirmed he has been asked to look into it, and said that he is but can't speak about it at this juncture. Watch this site.

   

After DC Photo Op, Gambia Attacked Journalist, Now Cancels UN Human Rights Special Rapporteurs' Visits

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 12 -- While in Washington for last week's Africa Summit, the Gambian delegation attacked a journalist, then refused to waive immunity and left the US, quick.

Some wondered even then at some African leaders being blocked but Yahya Jammeh of Gambia being there, photo ops at all.

Now Gambia has blocked entry by two UN human rights experts, the Special Rapporteurs on torture, Juan E. Méndez, and summary, extrajudicial and arbitrary executions, Mr. Christof Heyns.

They say that “in a letter dated 6 August 2014, the Government of The Gambia informed the UN independent experts that the visit is no longer suitable due to an 'unexpected commitment.' The Special Rapporteurs have reached out to the Government for an explanation but have received none to date.”

Speaking of dates, is there any link between the date of the DC beat-down and this letter canceling the UN's human rights visits?

And what repercussions have there been for Joseph Kabila's entourage's attack on critics in Washington? We'll have more on this.

   

At UN, Inner City Press Asks Expert Juan Mendez of US Prisons, Bahrain Banning, Chelsea Manning

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 22 -- When the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan Mendez came to the UN on Tuesday, Inner City Press asked him about delays on his request to visit prisons in the United States, and how these compared to the banning of his visit by Bahrain, a US ally.

  Mendez said to visit prison, or Guantanamo Bay, he needs to be able to visit all parts and speak with inmates, but that the US refuses. 

  In fact, he said, his request on prisons -- the Federal ADX in Colorado and state prisons in California, New York and Pennsylvania -- has been pending at the US State Department since May 18, 2013, with no response.

  He said there is pervasive use of solitary confinement, characterized as "prison management" rather than discipline. This way, he said, the US courts don't require due process.

  There are some who think that the US Federal court system is enough of a protector of rights, or in any event, more protective than, say, the UN. 

  But in this case, Mendez is pointing at a loophole allowed the US courts, as long as the authorities use the magic words, "Prison management." (A review of FISA courts would likewise be useful -- we ask about that soon.)

On Bahrain, Mendez said the situation is not static, and not necessarily getting better - call that diplomacy.

  There were questions that were not able to be asked, for example about flogging and amputations in Saudi Arabia. But time did not permit. This is another reason that the UN automatically giving the first question to the UN Correspondents Association's Executive Committee is a bad idea: the questions are predictable and skew and politicize the press conferences.

As so often happens, particularly in 2012 and now in 2013 under Pamela Falk of CBS, UNCA used the first question to ask about Syria. (They hosted Saudi sponsored Syria rebel Ahmad al Jarba for a faux UN briefing in July.) The second question was on Cuba and Iran. 

  Only after was Inner City Press, after counter-thanking for the new Free UN Coalition for Access @FUNCA_info, able to ask about the United States, the elephant in the room. (Upstairs, the UN has threatened to suspend or withdrawInner City Press' accreditation for merely hanging a FUNCA sign on the door to its shared office, when UNCA has five signs.)

   Even during this follow-up on US jails, a long-time UNCA-ite tried to cut off Inner City Press' question, then insisted on referring to Bradley rather than Chelsea Manning.

  Mendez to his credit said, "now Chelsea Manning," and referred to solitary confinement conditions. His fellow panelist Claudio Grossman spoke of the need for norms, for statistics, for the right to appeal. Malcolm Evans of the SPT said his sub-committee's work is confidential; that cut off most questions.

  It was noteworthy that the UN's chosen press corps representative was more one-sided and politicized than the UN officials or expert themselves, particularly Mendez. We will continue to follow and report on this work, particularly but not only on US prisons and Bahrain. Watch this site.

  

At UN, Bahrain Banning of Human Rights Expert Mendez Slammed, Ban Defended, Falk's UNCA Circus

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, May 25 -- Amid renewed protest and crackdown in Bahrain, at the UN in New York on Friday Inner City Press asked the Chairperson of the UN Committee Against Torture Claudio Grossman about torture expert Juan Mendez being banned from Bahrain. Video here, from Minute 11:09.

  Grossman called it "regrettable;" his fellow panelist and chair of the Human Rights Committee Nigel Rodley went further, saying he could not think of a single good reason Mendez could be barred.

  Both were in New York for the 25th meeting of human rights treaty bodies, so Inner City Press asked them about complaints that the bodies are too slow in processing reports and individual complaints.

  Rodley agreed, saying it is painful to issue a decision on an individual's communication three or four years after it is filed, particularly if the complaint was about slow justice in the complainant's country. Yes, UN, practice what you preach: a slow decision on justice being too slow is typical of today's UN.

  Another panelist mentioned that the world spent $18 trillion to save banks since 2008, and that $50 million would save human rights (or the "human rights system," he corrected himself). Bail out, any one?

  Inner City Press asked about Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's role with the bodies -- he claimed to have played a role in the case of detention in North Korea -- and about Navi Pillay only being given a half a second term as a form of discipline or censorship. Video here from Minute 34:34.

  Grossman waved off the latter question, and on the first praised Ban Ki-moon for "receiving" the treaty body chairs last November. Can you say, craven?

Footnotes: As Grossman, Radley and the other panels came into the briefing room, Pamela Falk of CBS News whispered to their handler, to be sure to get the first question. But when she got it, it was a softball: what about getting more signatures on the treaties (which she didn't name), especially the US? Video here, from Minute 1:47.

  Why did Falk come and at the end pass out her business card, demanding that of the panelists? To promote herself, sure - but as president of the UN Correspondents' Association. 

 UNCA's Executive Committee has gone from trying to get the Press thrown out of the UN in 2012 to anonymous social media to that effect in 2013, while acquiescing to a reduction in media workspace in front of, and access to, the Security Council. (The Free UN Coalition for Access, for which Inner City Press offered counter-thanks, is fighting the reduction.)

  Falk comes to ask made-up question, on which she files no stories. She posted a photograph of the press conference -- with an inaccurate caption, naming people who were not on the podium. She concluded by asking of the treaty bodies had moved to send Syria to the International Criminal Court -- not their role. Video here from Minute 30:10.

  But when the UN Security Council met with Kenya about their ICC case, Falk was nowhere to be seen; nor was Louis Charbonneau her First Vice President or factotum of Reuters, which appears to not have filed a story about the Security Council session with Kenya. This is their "journalism."

Two Tales of UN Rapporteurs, Richard Falk, Juan Mendez & Bahrain, As DPI Leapt at a Single Tweet by Inner City Press

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 23 -- Why did UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemn the 9/11 comments of UN Special Rapporteur Richard Falk, but today refuse to comment on Falk's comments on the Boston bombings?

   Inner City Press asked Ban's deputy spokesman Eduardo Del Buey this question on April 23, and once Del Buey twice didn't answer it, the Press posited one explanation (to see if it might shake free some clarification.) 

   Is the difference to Ban the relative level of casualties? Or has Falk fatigue set in?

  After that, Del Buey told Inner City Press it could ask only one more question. Since the UN, as it happened, paid 27,000 pounds for a 3 pound UK golf ball detector, to offer false protection to its peacekeepers in Lebanon, that question has to be asked even though, again, there was no answer.

  But there was and is another UN Special Rapporteur question: Bahrain has delayed or Banned the rapporteuer on torture, Juan Mendez. Will Ban have a comment on that? We'll see.

  Ban's reticence at least for now to comment on Falk's theory of the Boston bombings is at odds with his Department of Public Information's “urgent” request to Inner City Press on April 18 to clarify a single tweet that it sent, click here for that.

  The tweet mentioning World War 2 and the new (German, male) police adviser to Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous, who has the job because of France's veto power in the Security Council, which was won along with... World War Two.

  Inner City Press was told, by DPI official Stephane Dujarric, that this tweet was offensive to millions of people, and crossed “all bounds;” Inner City Press was told that it was being “given the chance” to explain it.

  So the UN was threatening an independent media, over which is has no control at all other than accreditation -- which it at times seems to misuse to control content -- while Ban Ki-moon through his Associate Spokesman Farhan Haq says he is “not responsible” for Falk's views, and will not respond for or to them. Strange. Watch this site.

On W. Sahara, As Mendez Favors Ongoing Rights Monitoring, Ladsous' Silence

By Matthew Russell Lee

 

UNITED NATIONS, October 23 -- After the UN's Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan Mendez briefed the General Assembly's Third Committee on Tuesday morning, Inner City Press asked him about his September visit to Morocco and Western Sahara, and if he believes the UN mission MINURSO should have a human rights component.

  Mendez replied that in Western Sahara, and in Morocco, he found evidence of mistreatment in interrogation, especially in connection with demonstrations and when there is a sense that national security is involved.

  Alluding to UN Security Council discussions, he said he heard about it in Layoune. "In my experience, permanent monitoring is always more helpful that once in a lifetime" visits. Should it be by MINURSO or some other entity? He said he is studying that.

  In the Security Council debate about MINURSO, not only Morocco but France opposed any human rights component to MINURSO. Some say that at least during Morocco's remaining 14 months on the Security Council, the addition of such a component is unlikely. But France's seat on the Council is, like four others', Permanent.

  The supervisor of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and thus ultimately of MINURSO is Herve Ladsous, who without any "insulting innuendo" is not only French but has represented France in the Security Council as its Deputy Permanent Representative in and around 1994.

  Earlier in October Inner City Press received contacts from Morocco asking about Ladsous' visit to that country, saying "there was a near total blackout, we didn't even know Ladsous was there!"

  When Ladsous held what was called a press conference on October 22, he did not mention his Western Sahara trip in his opening statement -- there was much on Mali, where France now says it will send drones, and on Syria.

  In what was called the question and answer session, Ladsous refused to answer any Inner City Press question, saying "Mister I told you already that I would answer your questions when you stop making insulting insinuations about me."

  But it is not an insinuation to note France's position on Western Sahara and no human rights component in MINURSO, to note that Ladsous was the Deputy Permanent Representative of France, and to expect him to answer questions for example about his views on the peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara.

  Just for comparison, the current head of the Department of Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman has answered questions about possible conflicts of interest due to his prior service in the US State Department.

  Ibrahim Gambari, who had that DPA job and worked under or in DPKO, has answered questions about any connection between his former roles in Nigeria's foreign service and his UN and African Union work.

  So what is different about Herve Ladsous? As some now surmise, could his thin-skinned refusal to answer Press questions, and characterization of questions as "insulting insinuations," be indicative of actual conflicts of interest of the type Feltman and Gambari took questions on and addressed, in their fashion? Watch this site.