Stealth Chinese Resource Deals Link UN's Obasanjo to Congo and Kabila, Conflict of Interest Alleged

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/drc1obasanjo112408.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 24 -- The UN's envoy to the Congo, former Nigerian president Olesegun Obasanjo, appears to have a conflict of interest. One of rebel general Laurent Nkunda's main critiques of the Congolese government of Joseph Kabila is the $9 billion resource deal Kabila signed recently with China. On Monday at the UN, Inner City Press asked Mr. Obasanjo about Nkunda's claim.

Obasanjo said that when Nkunda spoke of economics, the Chinese contract was one of the particular issues he raised. Obasanjo added that "I raised it to Joseph Kabila, who said 'all that passed through the National Assembly.'" Video here, from Minute 18:15.

But, Inner City Press asked "with all due respect," isn't that controversy similar to the one embroiling Obasanjo in Nigeria, about his $8 billion railroad contract with China? Couldn't that be a conflict of interest? Obasanjo said no, it has no bearing, "the railroad was fully disclosed and approved." He said that the "present administration is not saying it is not going with the railroad," only that it is looking for additional funds.

Nigerian sources tell Inner City Press that this is not the case, the allegation in Lagos is that, like Kabila, Obasanjo did not tell his legislature about his Chinese deal.

Directly contrary to Obasanjo's statement Monday at the UN, a recent Nigerian headline has it that the Federal Government "may revoke $8bn rail contract." The article states that

"The Chief Economic Adviser to President Umaru Yar’Adua, Mr. Tanimu Yakubu, who gave the hint during the Abuja Business and Investment Roundtable on Thursday, described the contract as illegal. Yakubu claimed that since Obasanjo did not present the project and its budget to the National Assembly, the current administration would not condone it because of its stand on rule of law. 'For an administration that prides itself in the rule of law, I don’t see how an illegality will be strictly adhered to in the name of continuity,' he said. The $8bn contract was awarded to Chinese Civil Engineering and Construction Company in 2006 as a turnkey package entailing the design, construction and maintenance of about 1,315 kilometres of standard gauge double track railway line from Lagos to Kano."

The similarity to the critique, including by Nkunda, of Kabila's Congo contract is striking. How can Obasanjo, given the allegations against him, be seen as non-conflicted on the similar issue in Congo? Why didn't the Ban Ki-moon administration vet this obvious potential conflict before deploying Obansanjo to the Congo?

Separately, Inner City Press on Monday asked Ban's spokesperson Michele Montas about reports that UN Peacekeepers in Goma allowed Kabila's army to seize rebels from UN custody. Ms. Montas replied that one peacekeeper was injured, but that it was "settled without further injury or complication," that the rebels continued with the convoy. Video here, from Minute 13:47. But the UN's own Congo spokesman Lt.-Col. Jean-Paul Dietrich has been quoted that

"there were 10 surrendered rebels among the 23 and that they were to have been turned over to the military Monday. 'But because of this incident, it was agreed on the spot to hand them over.' On Monday, Dietrich said he did not know where those detained had been taken."

This is at odd with that the UN in New York said on Monday, that the rebels were not handed over, but rather continued on with the UN peacekeepers. Which is it?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/drc1obasanjo112408.html

UN Talks Child Soldiers But Lets Recruiters Off, On Manipur a Slow Start

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un4caac112008.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 20 -- On children and armed conflict, as the UN's envoy on the issue Radhika Coomaraswamy appeared at the UN Thursday with three previous child soldiers, Inner City Press asked about seeming impunity. In Congo, UNICEF has issued press releases about child freed from warlord Peter Kerim.

But long after the victims were out of harms way, earlier this week the UN's Alan Doss told Inner City Press that Kerim is still a free man in Kinshasa. Ms. Coomaraswamy said that the International Criminal Court process takes time, as evidence is collected. But Kerim cut his deal, including apparently with the UN system, back under Kofi Annan, two years ago. He has gotten away with a war crime, but still at the UN photos of child soldiers are displayed in the lobby at genteel receptions, Ambassadors congratulate either other, briefing rooms are filled.

At Thursday briefing on the topic, a woman from Warner Brother rose to defend their film "Blood Diamond," and to ask Ismael Beah why he doesn't speak more. From the audience there was laughter, and a questioning of "who let this lady in?"

Beah's fellow child soldier Grace took a decidedly different line, saying that Joseph Kony of the Lord's Resistance Army must be arrested and tried. Beah on the other hand said again that a move to arrest recruiters might mean that "I wouldn't be here talking to you."

Inner City Press at last asked Ms. Coomaraswamy what her office has done about recruitment in Manipur in India. She said they are investigating "NGO reports," then specified that she meant Human Rights Watch. But there are groups working "on the ground," which recently visited the UN. They have most recently send Inner City Press the story of a journalist killed in Manipur, Konsam Rishikanta. Soon there may be a reception in their honor. But what is actually being done?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un4caac112008.html

As Spain Admits It Used International Cooperation Funds for UN's $25 Million Dome, UN Denies and Ban Ignores

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ban3ceiling111808.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 18, updated -- With controversy swirling about the use of Spain's government's international cooperation funds for the new $25 million ceiling of the UN's human rights room in Geneva, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday said, "I understand that the construction of this magnificent dome involved techniques that were never used before, and that materials were used in new combinations. We can see the results. They are stunning."

On Monday, Inner City Press had asked Ban's Deputy Spokesperson Marie Okabe for the Secretary General's comment on the use of international cooperation for the ceiling. Ms. Okabe responded, as transcribed by the UN, "Matthew, I don’t know anything about where funding of donation is coming from. As far as the UN is concerned, the Spanish contribution is coming from a Foundation; and that's where the donation is coming from."

Later on Monday, Ms. Okabe's office sent Inner City Press an e-mail about "ur statement at briefing," that "the cost of the renovations to the new Human Rights Council and Alliance of Civilizations (Room XX) at the Palais des Nations were entirely funded by ONUART, a foundation in place to collect public and private money from Spanish society." Inner City Press published it.

But then from Spain's Mission to the UN, Inner City Press obtained two statements, admitting that 40% of the costs were paid from Spanish government funds, of which 500,000 euros, over half a million dollars, came from Spain's budget for international cooperation / development aid and international organizations. Click here and here for the Spanish statements, which specify when government funding was granted and that on December 28, 2007, Spain's Department for International Cooperation disbursed 500,000 euros for the ceiling.

This entirely contradicts the UN's position that only foundation money was used.

In fact, Ban's Office has previously mis-spoken about Spain, claiming for example that a proposed Peacekeeping information technology which Spain wants in Valencia has already been approved by the General Assembly's budget committee when it has not. Click here for that.

On Tuesday at the UN's noon briefing in New York, Inner City Press asked UN Associate Spokesperson Farhan Haq, now that the use of government money including from a fund for development aid and international organizations had been established, whether Ban and the UN think this is a appropriate. Video here, from Minute 12:19.

Haq said that Ban's response was contained in his above-quoted speech, which made no mention of the funding. Video here, from Minute 22:40. When Inner City Press asked if Ban's speech should be read as the UN's response to the question it asked on Monday, Haq said "that would be putting words in [Ban's] mouth." But how to get an answer, beyond his aesthetic review that the dome is "stunning"?

Stunning to Inner City Press was that later on Tuesday afternoon, Haq read out a statement to the UN press corps repeating word for word the e-mail Ms. Okabe had sent Inner City Press on Monday afternoon. Apparently Ban's Spokesperson's Office did not call the Spanish mission. If they had, they would have received the same admissions that Inner City Press did. In fairness to Spain, it is arguing that while the 500,000 euro came from the agency for international cooperation, Spain is not going to list the money as development aid for OECD purposes. Whatever this argument's merit or lack thereof, the UN's two-day insistence that only foundation money was used is not excused, and is indicative. Questions still have to be answered.

Footnote: In fact, while Ban Ki-moon's statement, even what he writes by long-hand in guest books, is carefully scripted for him by speechwriters, his spokespeople increasing just wing it, saying for example on Monday and again on Tuesday that the Geneva ceiling was entirely funded by a foundation, and saying on Tuesday that there currently are countries not allowed to vote in the General Assembly due to a failure to pay dues.Video here.

In fact, the countries behind on dues are given waivers under the UN's Article 19. If the General Assembly gives more of these waivers budgets will become even tighter, making the use of development aid for a flashy stalactite-draped ceiling all the more questionable.

Update of Nov. 18, 6:25 p.m. -- after the Associate Spokesman as earlier reported above decided to wing it not only about the funding of the UN's Geneva dome but about countries denied voting rights in the General Assembly, at 6:09 p.m. the following correction went out, that the seven " those countries, by General Assembly resolution 63/4 (and Article 19), have been granted voting rights. So currently there are no UN Member States that are without voting rights."

So there's a correction on a later-arising matter, but continued hair-splitting and stonewalling on the issue of where the funds for the UN's Geneva dome came from, including Spain's International Cooperation budget. No correction, no amplification, but rather continued stonewalling, even in the face of the written statement from the Spanish mission, which Inner City Press provided by hand to the Associate Spokesman. He had said, "check with the Spanish mission" to see if where they funds came from different from the UN's statement, all from a foundation.

This must have meant, where the foundation got the funds from, because the UN already knew from whence the actually end-stage check came. But once Spain specified that the government paid into the foundation, suddenly the UN claimed that was consistent with its previous answer. How many of the UN's other answers are, if examined, like this?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban3ceiling111808.html

Bolivian President and Nicaraguan Priest Slam Catholic Hierarchy, French Copters Not in Darfur

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/unga1morales111708.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 17 -- Bolivian president Evo Morales took questions from the Press on Monday, flanked by UN General Assembly president Father Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann. Inner City Press asked both men to respond to a comment to the Pope by a conservative Bolivian cardinal, Julio Terrazas, that Morales is not working "for all the people."

Morales began by apologizing to "Father Brockman," saying that his history is as a union organizer. He said that while many in the Catholic Church support "my changes," the hierarchy does not. He said it was inappropriate for Terrazas to participate in referendum campaigns for the break-away of richer areas of Bolivia. He recounted an approach by the hierarchy, which told him a particular Church minister wanted to speak with him, alone. He called an attempt to bribe him, which he rejected. Video here, from Minute 38:15.

Father Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, formerly the Sandinista foreign minister of Nicaragua in a government with other priests including Ernesto Cardinal, said that "the hierarchy is not the Catholic Church... the Church is the people." He said that "unfortunately there is not a single case in history in which the hierarchy has been in support of revolution for the dispossessed."

While the examples of Camilo Torres and others came to mind, d'Escoto concluded by saying he wouldn't be surprised if Jesus, if he came today, were excommunicated. And then the two men left.

Also in answering the church and state question, Morales said that in order to serve Bolivia, he has had to meet with terrorists, he has had to meet with genociders. In this latter category he has put his predecessor Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, whose extradition he has requested from the United States. The question of the wider genocide of indigenous people in the Americas and elsewhere did not come up on Monday.

Footnote: Moralez was about throwing the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency out of his country. He accused DEA of participating in the protests against him. Inner City Press asked him to confirm a statement by his minister of defense, Walker San Miguel, that Bolivia is asking for France's help in replacing the U.S.'s ostensibly anti-drug funding to Bolivia of $32 million a year. Most of that money, Morales said, goes back to the US. He confirmed talks with Brazil, Russia and France, saying these talks involved getting helicopters, perhaps with emergency loans.

If these countries have copters, why are none of them in Darfur?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unga1morales111708.html

In UN's Culture of Peace, Pomp and Sleaze Compete With Middle East Politics

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un1peacecult111208.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 12 -- As a two-day "Culture of Peace" extravaganza began at the UN, three luxury tour busses with golden tire rims and blackened windows burst out of traffic on 42nd Street. They turned into the UN's compound, disgorging an entourage in dish-dash robes. Some carrying what observers called Aladdin lamps were whisked past security, to the side of the metal detectors. Meanwhile the Press was barred from the area in front of the General Assembly chamber, even blocked from covering the Security Council meeting at which, ironically, the Al Qaeda sanctions committee was being discussed.

Trying to reach the meeting by way of the UN's basement, Inner City Press stumbled on a gaggle of security officers in front of Conference Room A. Minutes later, the Permanent Observer of Palestine came out, with another larger flotilla behind him. In the emptied room were tipped over water bottles and crossed Israeli and Palestinian flags.

On the day before the conference, the UN's envoy Terje Roed Larsen was spotted on the fourth floor by the bank, in an expensive brown coat said to be of camel's hair. Beyond working in or through the UN, he heads a think-tank on the other side of First Avenue which is said to receive substantial Saudi funding. This conflict of interest is not disclosed, because Roed Larsen has not made the public financial disclosure that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on all senior envoys like Roed Larsen to make. The man, it's said, has protectors. He is a diplomatic entrepreneur, who in this case seems to have arranged the lucrative renting-out of the UN's vacuum for two days.

The night before the conference, there was bitter and some said petty talk about the impending deployment in the General Assembly hall of ceremonial chairs which are supposed to only be used during the annual General Debate in September. Suspects in veering from the past include Protocol and the head of the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management, Shaban Shaban, who had yet to hold a press briefing. "If you let the Saudis break even this precedent," one well-placed staff member complained, "then others will ask start asking the same." But what others will rent out hotels and pay other delegations' costs?

General Assembly President Father Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, asked about the event, said that while he wrote the invitation letter, the idea had come from Saudi Arabia and Ban Ki-moon. He did not answer Inner City Press' question about the role of Terje Roed Larsen. When asked about the pending GA resolution against the defamation of religion, he said he hadn't heard about it, adding regarding the United States that "those who live under glass houses shouldn't throw bombs." How about those in a glass building?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1peacecult111208.html

UN's D'Escoto Favors Banning Defamation of Religion, But Hasn't Seen the Resolution

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/pga1religion111108.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 11 -- On the eve of a UN conference about the "Culture of Peace," General Assembly President Father Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann was asked for his views on a pending, controversial and one thought well-known resolution targeted at the defamation of religion. First, Mr. d'Escoto admitted that he'd never heard of the resolution. Then, when nevertheless asked if he favored such a resolution despite freedom of expression concerns, he said "Defamation of religion should be banned." Video here, from Minute 35:52.

Thus, d'Escoto blithely waded into a major UN controversy, pitting free speech advocates against, in this case, the Organization of the Islamic Conference. D'Escoto said that Islam and "the religion of my country" -- Roman Catholicism -- should be respected and protected from defamation. Nicaragua at present has a near total ban on abortion, seemingly even in cases of rape. Would questioning that prohibition be a defamation of religion?

Inner City Press began d'Escoto's press conference by welcoming and thanking him, urging him to "speak freely." Of Inner City Press' three inter-related questions, only the first one was responded to, at great length. Video here, from Minute 0:48.

Questions about why the meeting with Ban Ki-moon to which d'Escoto invited member states had been closed to the press and public, and what member states had said, were left answered. So too a question about the role in the Culture of Peace conference of Ban's envoy Terje Roed Larsen. D'Escoto did let drop that he himself didn't come up with the idea, that it was first raised by Ban after he met with Saudi officials. Since Roed Larsen accepts Saudi funding and often does their bidding, his fingerprints are all over this one. But he does not disclose his finances, even those which are a conflict.

D'Escoto said that we are all morally bankrupt, and that there is a need to "bail out humanity." He said that being in New York when the financial crisis broke, he was surprised to hear greed being cited, since that is a moral concept.

D'Escoto praised Obama, and even more so a group of Cuban "heroes" who infiltrated Miami's anti-Castro groups and were imprisoned by the U.S. for their troubles. This last had not been asked for. A reporter had asked about the U.S. bombings in Pakistan and Syria; d'Escoto responded that "torture and jails, that will be on the tenth."

A recent and velvet-glove interview of d'Escoto that appears in The Nation magazine notes an ear condition he has. That perhaps explains some of the disjointed answers. But not knowing about a major controversial General Assembly resolution coming down the pike is striking. His spokesman works hard, but someone on his staff should have better prepared d'Escoto Brockmanm. We will have more on this.

News analysis: many reporters at the UN like d'Escoto as a good quote; some other for his politics. But if he is supposed to be the check and balance on Ban Ki-moon and the Secretariat, Tuesday's performance was troubling. All many fronts, things must improve at the UN.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/pga1religion111108.html

In Nepal, UN Is Counting Guns But Not Controlling, Terai Cries Misunderstood

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un1minterai111108.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 11 -- Even one of the UN's better moves in recent years, assisting the demilitarization process in Nepal, is shrouded in mandates misunderstood, communications missed or misreported, support from Headquarters not constant.

The UN's envoy to Nepal Ian Martin briefed the Press on Monday. It was three days after he spoke before the Security Council, drawing comment in public from only one delegation, that of this month's Council president Costa Rica. Then they repaired -- or Riperted, to use the similarly-sounding name of the Ambassador of France -- to the closed consultations room. It is not known if the following questions, asked Monday by Inner City Press, were addressed in the consultations room.

Inner City Press asked Martin about two reported letters to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, during his recent visit to Kathmandu, from independence fighters from the Terai plains region. Martin addressed not these letter and claims but those of parliamentarians, some of whom met with Ban during his visit.

So Inner City Press asked Martin to respond to the Nepali opposition's comments that he over-favors the Maoists, perhaps according to one representative because he himself is a Communist. "I'm not asking if you are a Communist, given the history of that question," Inner City Press said. But what about the criticism?

Martin's response showed yet another misunderstood UN mandate. These opponents, he said, see the Maoists still using their own armed security, and blame the UN for it. But all the UN does is count and register guns, Martin said. As he is misunderstood, he has urged that this policy with regard to the Maoists maintaining their own armed security be revisited. Is that after UNMIN has left?

Inner City Press asked about the beating death of a Kathmandu businessman in one of the Maoist cantonment sites in May. Martin replied that three Maoists have been asked to surrended to police, but none have. One has even resurfaced with the Maoists forces. So much for an end to impunity. Perhaps a pattern can be discerned here.

What is the UN's view of the Maoists demand that its fighters killed during the war be compensated as martyrs? Martin said inscrutibly that all classes of victims should be made whole, equitably. He went on to claim that he and even Ban Ki-moon are not pushing for have UNMIN's mandate, which expired in January 2009, extended. Coulda fooled us...

Footnotes: This month's Security Council president Jorge Urbina of Costa Rica has made a point of saying that more of the Council's work should be in public. But like another UN official, apparently while he tries to lead by example, no one is following. At the November 7 session, he alone among the members spoke in the open session.

Afterwards, Inner City Press asked him on the record what was said in consultation, if for example Western Sahara had been raised. Only then did Amb. Urbina acknowledge the item. Why not at least disclose the agendas of consultations, unpacking the oft-used "Other matters"?

On November 10, Inner City Press asked Martin, as a longtime UN official, if he thought that more of the Security Council's work could or should be done in public. Martin declined to comment on the issue, even in the abstract.

Finally, Martin's New York support team from the Department of Political Affairs, present at the November 10 briefing, has now directly been asked for an update on what DPA's loudly-announced team of Stand-by Mediators has done for the past eight months. Getting an answer shouldn't be like pulling teeth but for now it feels that way. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1minterai111108.html

At UN, Election of International Court of Justice Judges Is Archaic, Somali and French Electioneering, Cameroon as Spoiler

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/gasc1icj110608.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 6 -- Five judges for the International Court of Justice were to be elected Thursday, with both the General Assembly and Security Council simultaneously considering lists of nine names. In front of the Security Council, a representative of the Somali mission handed out flyers for their candidate Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf. A French representative handed out the biography of Ronny Abraham, and told Inner City Press that "if the African candidates get a majority, it will all have to be re-voted."

The other candidates are Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh (Jordan), Sayeman Bula-Bula (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Antonio Augusto Cançado Trindade (Brazil), Miriam Defensor Santiago (Philippines), Christopher John Greenwood (United Kingdom), Maurice Kamto (Cameroon), Rafael Nieto-Navia (Colombia).

Inner City Press asked South Africa's Dumisani Kumalo about the three African candidates. Pointing at the U.S. Deputy -- and soon to be Acting -- Permanent Representative Alejandro Wolff, Kumalo said, "Now he has an African president, he's talking about judges."

The African Group endorsed the Somali candidate -- the Somali representative handed Inner City Press a copy of the endorsement -- but the candidates of DR Congo and Cameroon did not withdraw. And so messages flew back and forth between the Assembly and Council.

Some wondered, how did they do this before the Internet? Others were more practical: how would the new five rule on Serbia's case challenging the legality of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence?

The process is archaic and Kibuki-like

"When five candidates (and no more) have an absolute majority in either body, the president will notify the other president of the outcome. The results are kept confidential by each president and are disclosed only to members of the second body after their own voting is concluded. (However, it is always possible that the numbers will leak from Security Council delegations.) In the event that the five candidates elected by one are not the same as those elected by the other, both will proceed (independently) to new balloting to fill the unresolved seats. As before, the results of each body will be compared only after the required number of candidates has achieved an absolute majority in each. This process will continue for three meetings, when, if all vacant positions are still not filled, the Council and the General Assembly may decide to convene a conference of six members (three from each) to recommend a candidate for the respective acceptance by the General Assembly and Security Council."

At 10:35 a.m., the voting began in the Security Council.

At 10:45, Jorge Urbina, this month's Council president, said the counting could begin, tied to the process in the General Assembly. The GA process was suspended, by PGA d'Escoto Brockman, to 11:30. The Council followed suit.

And in the Delegates' Lounge, the Ambassadors milled about....

Update of 11:26 a.m. -- In the big-screen TV in the Delegates' Lounge, George Bush's Rose Garden speech was played live, to a large crowd. One Middle Eastern Ambassador scoffed to Inner City Press, "Now he sees the light." Similarly, of the Non-Alligned Movement's letter to the Council about the bombing of Syria, he said "too late."

Update of 11:31 a.m. -- the fix may well be in. Inner City Press asked the DR Congo Permanent Representative how he likes the chances of his country's candidate. "We will elect one African judge," he said cryptically. He had no flyers in his hands.

Update of 3:25 p.m. -- four of the five have made it, there is still a run-off of the African candidates. Those who've made it are Ronny Abraham (France), Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh (Jordan), Antonio Augusto Cançado Trindade (Brazil) and Christopher John Greenwood (United Kingdom).

Now the run-off, between Sayeman Bula-Bula (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Maurice Kamto (Cameroon) and the endorsed candidate, as the Somalis are emphasizing, Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf. Oh, Cameroon...

Update of 3:37 p.m. -- a source inside the Security Council tells Inner City Press that "Yusuf the Somali" has won the Council vote...

Update of 3:59 p.m. -- The DR Congo, whose candidate received only two votes in the last General Assembly round, withdrew him from consideration, urging the GA to ensure representation of all great civilizations on the ICJ. Does this mean two more votes for the Somali?

Update of 4:06 p.m. -- the Permanent Representative of Guinea-Bissau, citing General Assembly Rule of Procedure 150, has thrown the Assembly into chaos, or at least silence, asking to know under which Rule an attempt is being made to call the next vote. Giunea-Bissau has its problems, but it apparently knows the rules...

Update of 4:18 p.m. -- the disagreement is whether there were two sessions or meeting in the morning in the General Assembly, or whether by suspending in morning, it was all a single meeting.

Update of 4:31 p.m. -- the Perm Rep of Guinea-Bissau insists "this is serious!" The Perm Rep of Jamaica, presiding over the meeting, says it was a single meeting in the morning. It is a stand-off. Only at the UN.

Update of 4:44 p.m. -- as negotiations continue on two tracks, on the legal question of "how many meetings" and the political question of one of the African candidates dropping out, Inner City Press asked the DR Congo Ambassador for his views, now that DRC withdrew its candidate. The numbers don't look good for Africa, he said, raising the specter of the Philippines candidate getting the final seat.

Divide and conquer, an African diplomat called it. Lack of unity, said another. Inner City Press suggested a "judge-off" in which the three remaining candidates each write a draft decision on this case. Let the most erudite or inscutible win!

Update of 5:10 p.m. -- the Representative of Cameroon has demanded an explanation, from the Legal Office, which the Jamaican chair says would take the meeting past 6 p.m.. "We are all very reasonable people," the rep of Guinea-Bissau says.

But where in the world in OLA chief Patricia O'Brien?

Update of 5:17 p.m. -- the Rep of Benin asks if the DR Congo candidate was entitled to withdraw. There is groaning.

Update of 5:29 p.m. -- the vote was finally taken in the General Assembly, and a 15 minute break declared to count the paper ballots. In the Delegates' Lounge, there was grumbling about Cameroon, and a question: who is working for whom?

Update of 5:55 p.m. -- the fifteen minutes have long since past, but still no announcement of vote. The GA Secretary says its simple, it's not a meeting "until you have the numbers." So still no meeting, by this definition. But it is six o'clock, and the session is opening again.

Update of 6:03 p.m. -- the dispute about "how many meetings" is now described an a philibuster. Meanwhile the Ambassadors of South Africa and Libya are summoned to the Council. There is talk of Somalia getting congratulated. Perhaps the fix is in.

Update of 6:06 p.m. -- in the General Assembly, the Somali candidate just won, with 116 votes, to Philippines' 52 and Cameroon 21 (and some bad feelings). Now the Council.

Update of 6:17 p.m. -- it's done. And even after the vote, Cameroon complained about the procedure, that the Council and Assembly voted on diffrent lists. Most says "sour grapes;" one Cameroonian tells Inner City Press that "promises were made" and questions in whose interest it is to put a "failed state" representative on the ICJ. But as some saying, looking at the resumes, just because it's a failed state doesn't make him a failed candidate. We'll continue to follow this, but for now, signing off, from the 2d story of the UN.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/gasc1icj110608.html

In UN Council, Myanmar and Mugabe in Footnotes, Demand for Tony Blair, Kosovo Wide Open

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/sc81nov110408.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 4, 10:30 am, updated -- With proxy wars raging in the Congo, Somalia and elsewhere, the Costa Rican presidency of the UN Security Council began with a breakfast Tuesday morning. Ambassador Jorge Urbina greeted dozens of diplomats and freeloaders at the Council's entrance. Several of each stopped and spoke with Inner City Press, together painting a picture of the coming month's program of work.

"Myanmar and Zimbabwe are in the footnotes," one well-placed source confided, adding that the U.S. put Myanmar on, and the UK "peace and security in Africa," in this case the code word for Mugabe. The Kosovo meeting was going to be closed, but since the Serbian foreign minister -- "who seems to live in New York," one staffer snarked -- wants to speak, or even his president Tadic, it will an an open session.

There is a footnote on the Middle East, which Inner City Press is told means Tony Blair, the still-outstanding request that he come and briefing the Council, since he serves as envoy to the Middle East Quartet. Last week, even UNRWA's Karen AbuZayd noted that many hats Blair wears, wondering what if anything he accomplishes.

Urbina is said to favor meetings being open, rather than private consultations. Whether that means he will describe Council dynamics at the stakeout microphone, as neither the Belgian or Chinese Ambassadors were willing to do, remains to be seen.

Update of 1 p.m., while in Amb. Urbina's press conference: he has confirmed that Zimbabwe is on, but in response to Inner City Press' request that in the spirit of transparency he disclose which delegation asked to put it on, he said "the Council as a whole." He confirmed that Tony Blair has been asked to briefing the Council, some time ago, but has yet to respond.

That there will be no debate in his month on Protection of Civilians, he ascribed to delay by the Secretariat, and that John Holmes will only report in December. The November 22 to 28 trip, he refused to state the destination, or if the press can go. Still it was heady stuff, and may bode well for the month.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/sc81nov110408.html

As Arms Trade Treaty Opposed by Zimbabwe and USA, Ukraine Denies Shipping Tanks to S. Sudan

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un2att103108.html

UNITED NATIONS, October 31 -- As a resolution "toward an arms trade treaty" passed at the UN with only the U.S. and Zimbabwe voting against it, the planned destination of the tanks hijacked in their Ukrainian ship off the coast of Somalia became more clear. Two African Ambassador to the UN tell Inner City Press that the tanks were meant for South Sudan, that not Kibaki but Odinga is aware of and even involved in this stealth weapons flow. Meanwhile, Inner City Press on October 30 asked Ukraine's Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev about his country's shipment of the tanks, and of other weapons to Georgia. Video here, from Minute 27:30.

Ambassador Sergeyev, after insisting that the tanks were meant for Kenya because Kenya so declared, upon pressing acknowledged that "this is the responsibility of the destination" country. Thus, he appeared to argue that under current law, Ukraine bears no independent due diligence responsibility to ascertain where its weapons actually end up, and for what purpose.

An arms trade treaty is needed, but what passed Friday essentially sets up a series of meetings. Even so, the U.S. and Zimbabwe opposed it. Belarus, notably, abstained on all votes except voting "yes" to retain Operative Paragraph 4, setting up a February 27, 2009 meeting in New York. Does the Belarusian representative simply want to travel to New York on that day, or was this extraneous vote cast by mistake?

Ukraine's Ambassador Sergeyev used Inner City Press' question about its arms sales to Georgia as an opportunity to blame August's conflict on Russian "interference." The main purpose of Ambassador Sergeyev's press conference on October 30 was to distribute his country's "non-paper" resolution about the 1932 famine or Holodomor.

The UN's General Committee has twice failed to vote on including the issue in its agenda. The first time, since President d'Escoto Brockmann had called for a vote, U.S. Deputy -- and soon reportedly to be Acting -- Permanent Representative Alejandro Wolff insisted that no more speaking be allowed. This infuriated Kazakhstan's Ambassador, leading to a stand-off which Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin likened to Wolff knocking down a person getting off a bus.

The second blocking of vote was by Wolff, as it turns out. In further inquiry into Ambassador Churkin's charge that the U.S. blocked d'Escoto from calling a vote on the issue on October 23, Inner City Press has learned that, having no other way to block a vote, Wolff filibustered d'Escoto in his office throughout the time of the meeting, asking questions about the painting's on the office wall, Martin Luther King, etcetera. This infuriated Ambassador Churkin, leading to his October 28 45-minute press conference on nothing but the famine question.

It appears unlikely that Ukraine's resolution will pass; even its supporters belittle the resolution off the record. It was 75 years ago, they say. But some like to poke the Russian bear with a stick, any stick. Russia, for the record, abstained from the Arms Trade Treaty resolution, as did China. While the UK voted for it, and rushed to the Security Council stakeout to brag about their vote, to come full circle to Kenya, it is reported that its tanks are of British origin.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un2att103108.html

Despite Condi Rice Memo, UN's Nimetz Claims to Act Alone, Name Issue Arms Congo

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un1nimetz102908.html

UNITED NATIONS, October 29 -- What does the UN Secretariat do when leaked documents published in a country to which it has sent a mediator present that mediator as operating in league with a major and interested power? On Wednesday, Inner City Press asked Ban Ki-moon's Deputy Spokesperson to comment on a widely-discussed media report which included a U.S. State Department memo about a proposed end to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia name issue, a proposal strikingly similar to that of Ban's envoy Matthew Nimetz. The Deputy Spokesperson said, "I am not aware of those media reports."

Moments later, one of her colleagues e-mailed to Inner City Press a two paragraph response:

"Mr. Nimetz has decided to offer an on-the-record response. The following response is attributable directly to him.

'In response to your various requests for clarification about my role, let me respond by stating that I have followed the same protocol over the years since 1999, and this follows the methodology used by Secretary Vance who preceded me as UN mediator in the "name" discussions. I prepare the material I present to the Parties solely by myself (occasionally with technical support from the UN's professional staff) and I neither send copies nor discuss the content with anyone else. I normally prepare the papers on my own computer and print and deliver the papers personally to the Representatives.

'As to discussions with third parties, I have always been available to discuss the general issue of the negotiations with representatives of Member States, as was the case with Secretary Vance when he performed this role. The 'name' issue is of broad international interest and affects all Governments concerned about the region and about their relationships with the two Parties. Over the years a number of Governments have asked to discuss the status of the negotiations with me, and I believe it is proper, and important, to keep the international community generally informed. However these discussions are intended to help other Governments understand the situation, and I am not influenced by the views of any particular Government, and no Government has ever attempted to influence the ideas that I present to the Parties or the course of the discussions. I hope this clarifies the situation.' M.Nimetz"

A person who has seen both Nimitz' proposal and the State Department memo, in full, tells Inner City Press they are nearly identical, and clearly related. Other UN envoys, such as Terje Roed Larsen, are viewed as not impartial. And what does the UN system do?

Footnote: beyond the "name issue" appearing in exchange for votes for the five open Security Council seats earlier this month, now it is reported that "senior sources in Congo’s Foreign Ministry have said that Athens has offered 100 tanks, 1000 mine throwers and some airplanes, which the Greek Armed Forces want to get rid of, in exchange for Congo’s changing its decision to use Macedonia’s constitutional name. Greece has offered some of the weapons for free, while the rest – at very low prices." A hundred tanks in Congo-Brazzaville is a bit much. Mine throwers, or even flame throwers, could do the trick. But what's that, about an arms trade treaty?

Sources say there may be some other name game flip-floppers in Latin America in the near future.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1nimetz102908.html

At UN, Chomsky and Ramsey Clark Advise Nicaraguan Assembly President, Socialists and Socialites, Kennedy Expenses?

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/unga1advisers102608.html

UNITED NATIONS, October 26, updated Oct. 31 -- A mix of leftists like Noam Chomsky and socialites like Michael and Eleonora Kennedy have quietly been named special senior advisors to UN General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto Brockman, Inner City Press has learned. On October 22, Inner City Press asked the spokesman for d'Escoto, Enrique Yeves, to confirm that Canadian leftist Maude Barlow had been named an advisor on water. Yeves said yes, and that her name and others had never been announced. Inner City Press asked for a list of advisors, which has now been received.

Beyond Chomsky, Slobodan Milosevic defender Ramsey Clark and historian Howard Zinn are among those formally advising d'Escoto, a Nicaraguan priest who previously served as the Sandinistas foreign minister. (Click here for a previous Inner City Press story). The list of 15 outside advisers, and three from within the UN, includes liberation theologian Leonardo Boff -- but not his brother Clovodis, also a theologian -- and Brother David Andrews of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, doctor Kevin Cahill, former Algerian foreign minister Mohammed Bedjaoui and Belgian sociologist Francois Houtart.

While listed as an outsider, Olivier De Schutter is concurrently a UN Rapporteur, on the right to food. The UN personalities include ECLAC chief Alicia Barcena -- whose name is misspelled, click here for the full list as received by Inner City Press-- economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram, and the Saudi chief of UNFPA Thoraya Obaid, which seem strange given Nicaragua's complete ban on abortion.

Inner City Press asked Yeves if d'Escoto would comment on Nicaragua's banning of the non-governmental organization Oxfam, as a stooge of Western interests. Yeves declined to comment. D'Escoto previously told Inner City Press that at the UN, the democratization he is calling for does not mean openness to the media. One then is left wondering who is advising d'Escoto on which advisers to select, or who put in a good word for the socialites Michael and Eleanor Kennedy, described viewing the world out the window of their Central Park South apartment.

We also note the law practice of Michael Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, and that his wife Eleanora has served on the board of directors of the MADRE organization. Doctor Cahill is described as having been "caught behind the lines" in Managua.

Inner City Press asked Yeves if any of these advisers are being compensated, or having their travel and expenses paid by the UN. Such so-called Daily Sustenance Allowance payments can told hundreds of dollars a day. An answer is anticipated this week.

From the list provided to Inner City Press:

SPECIAL SENIOR ADVISORS TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE 63RD SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1. Brother David Andrews CSC (USA).

2. Ms. Maude Barlow (Canada).

3. Mr. Mohammed Bedjaoui (Algeria).

4. Mr. Leonardo Boff (Brazil).

5. Mr. Kevin Cahill (USA).

6. Mr. François Houtart (Belgium).

7. Mr. Noam Chomsky (USA).

8. Mr. Ramsey Clark (USA).

9. Mr. Richard Falk (USA).

10. Mr. Michael Kennedy (USA).

11. Ms. Eleonora Kennedy (USA).

12. Mr. Olivier De Schutter (Belgium).

13. Mr. Joseph Stiglitz (USA).

14. Sir John E. Sulston (UK).

15. Mr. Howard Zinn (USA).

From the transcript of the October 22 UN noon briefing, video here:

Inner City Press: Did the President name Maude Barlow of Canada as a sort of expert on water -- did I miss that?

Spokesperson: That’s correct, that’s correct.

Inner City Press: Was that announced …?

Spokesperson: Well, I think it is part of the experts he has been calling to help him, and I don’t think there was a formal announcement, because he has many experts who are helping him.

Inner City Press: Are there experts’ names who haven’t been announced here?

Spokesperson: Sure. I think we distributed them at the beginning of the presidency, but probably you are right -- it was not really noticed so I will prepare a full list and distribute it.

Inner City Press: Not to be crass, but does that kind of status, does that trigger like daily subsistence allowance, (inaudible) visa, what is the purpose of that post?

Spokesperson: There is no financial or contractual arrangements involved. These are senior advisers for the President from different countries, different sectors, different nationalities, who are providing this service out of their own initiative, or in agreement with the President of the General Assembly, but without any formal administrative contract or arrangement, that should be clear.

Inner City Press: If they fly around and go to meetings, who’s paying -- is the UN paying for that, or are they paying for that?

Spokesperson: That’s a good question -- I can check that for you.

We will await further answers.

Update of October 31 -- a reader we much respect has questioned the use of the term "leftist" in the article above. Perhaps we used it too loosely; the irony we aimed at was that several thinkers who critique the UN from what we perceive to be the left, or said otherwise, not from the right, are now in line through d'Escoto to get UN travel and hotel funds. An Under Secretary General remarked to Inner City Press, about Ramsey Clark being on the list, that "it is probably consonant with d'Escoto's own thinking." Which of course is d'Escoto's right. His Office's reasoning in naming these 15 advisors without making any public announcement seems worthy of note. But his invitation to, for example, his adviser Joseph Stiglitz raised the level of debate, click here for Inner City Press' October 30 story. And keep those comments coming.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unga1advisers102608.html

UNDP's Dervis Admits Paying Saakashvili Unwise, Dodges on Congo Security and Kosovo Fees

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/undp1gadervis102208.html

UNITED NATIONS, October 22 -- After the UN Development Program had defended paying salary to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili since Inner City Press exclusively reported on it, on Wednesday UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis belatedly acknowledged that payments to such high officials "raises questions" and "may not be desirable."

Under the rubric of UNDP's lack of impartiality, and as limited by UNDP to post-conflict situations, Inner City Press asked Dervis about the Georgia program, about UNDP paying or processing the salary of an ex-UN employee who now works for the Kosovo government, and about a judgment against UNDP in favor of the widow of a UNDP consultant sent without security to Eastern Congo and killed. On this last, Dervis read an apology from notes, while mistakenly locating the murder, and UNDP's negligence, as having been in Kenya. Video here, from Minute 28:15.

After Inner City Press had reported on UNDP's Georgia program, in which it funneled money from George Soros' Open Society Institute to President Saakashvili and his inner circle, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denounced the program as a "privatization of the UN." Wednesday Inner City Press asked Dervis to respond to the criticism.

While quickly saying, "I fully agree with the Russian foreign minister," Dervis did not step away from processing such money for OSI or other -- apparently any other -- private foundation. UNDP takes a fee in such deals, although in recently months UNDP's spokesman has repeatedly declined to provide information about the fees UNDP charges. Ironic in light of this stonewalling, Dervis three times said that programs like that in Georgia "must be transparent."

Regarding the verdict against UNDP of 143,000 pounds, Dervis said that UNDP now has the ability, through the freedom of so-called ex gratia payments, to provide support in such circumstances. Given the now-admitted inadvisability of UNDP's program to pay Georgia's president, it is doubtful that giving UNDP less oversight in payments is advisable. But what Dervis did not address -- along with the Kosovo question, which he did not answer at all -- was the lack of security that UNDP provided to Joe Comerford when they sent him to the Congo, where he got killed. Click here for more on the case.

This seems to be a pattern with UNDP, which was criticized in the UN's recent reports about the December 2007 bombing of UN premises in Algiers Yet Dervis has yet to take any questions on UNDP's actions before the Algiers bombing, and his spokesman declined to comment on or even confirm UNDP's vacature of its premises in Amman, Jordan, despite the UN's head of security confirming it to Inner City Press. Transparency, indeed...

And see, www.innercitypress.com/undp1gadervis102208.html

At UN, W. Sahara Resolution Approved, Exploitative Fishing Continues, Pascoe's Murky Trip

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un3colonies102108.html

UNITED NATIONS, October 21 -- The lingering question of Western Sahara came up for a vote on Tuesday in the UN's Fourth Committee. Inner City Press interviewed two representatives of the Polisario Front. Both expressed moderated satisfaction with the resolution about to be voted on. The key is Operative Paragraph Two, said the first, pointing to a section saying that the General Assembly "strongly supports Security Council Resolution 1754 (2007), by which the Council called upon the parties to enter into negotiations without preconditions... which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara." He went to say that "the rest is bull [excrememt]."

Morocco, on the other hand, likes the subsequent paragraphs, and pushed for inclusion of such concepts as political realism, which some equate not only with Elliot Abrams but further back with Henry Kissinger -- who incidentally is slated to appear at the UN on October 24, with Hans Blix and others.

The second Polisario representative present at Tuesday's vote, referring to Monday's voting-down of Argentina's language that self-determination must be qualified by any question of sovereignty that may exist, blamed Argentina for not simply making a resolution about the Falklands Island, instead of putting other situations like Western Sahara into jeopardy.

Last week, Inner City Press asked the UN's former envoy to Western Sahara Francesco Batagli about the European Union's agreement with Morocco which the EU claims gives its members permission to fish off the coast of Western Sahara. Batagli said Spain is using the agreement to exploit Western Saharan waters, while Sweden disagreed on these grounds with the EU's agreement with Morocco.

Batagli, who also served in Kosovo, said he left the UN because he was embarrassed. In Western Sahara, he said, the Moroccan flag was allowed to fly over that of the UN. They sent me there without no tools, he said, echoing another UN envoy, to Myanmar

The non-governmental diplomatic service that brought Batagli to the UN told Inner City Press that the UN's Lynn Pascoe was then going to Rabat to try to convince the Moroccan government to accept as Ban's envoy to Western Sahara the American Christopher Ross. Pascoe was seen in the UN on Monday, eating Chinese food. Was his trip to Rabat successful? "Morocco is trying to humiliate Ross," one of the Polisario representatives told Inner City Press.

"Not a good start," Inner City Press commented.

"For whom?" came the response. "For Ross? Or for Morocco?"

While the meeting was to start at 3, at 3:18 the crowd was still milling around. The chairman, Argentine himself, gaveled open the meeting. By 3:24, the resolation had been rubber stamped, and the first speaker began: Jean-Maurice Ripert of France, which actively keep human rights out of the Western Sahara process. Droits de l'homme, mon oeil. The meeting was over by 3:33.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un3colonies102108.html

At UN, Musing of One-Term Ban by Obama and Russia, Ramos-Horta in the Wings

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/obama1horta101708.html

UNITED NATIONS, October 17 -- With Barack Obama opening a ten point lead over John McCain three weeks before the U.S. Presidential election, in the UN the question is being asked, what would an Obama administration mean for the UN? Inner City Press' inquiries and interviews have gleaned a theory that runs like this: Obama would want to put his imprint on the UN. Ban Ki-moon is viewed as the choice of George W. Bush.

For this reason, combined ironically with Russia's increasing dissatisfaction with Ban on issues ranging from Kosovo through the UN Development Program's funneling of Open Society Institute funding to Georgian President Saakashvili -- admittedly before Ban's time -- to Ban's agreement with NATO, a movement grows to limit Ban to one term. An exit strategy is devised: Ban will run for highest office in his native South Korea, and the Asian Group will get to keep the Secretary-General post for another five to ten years, as the African Group did when Kofi Annan replace the one-term Boutros Boutros Ghali.

But which Asian candidate emerges at the next Secretary-General? You'll read it here first: Jose Ramos-Horta, current president of Timor Leste, former Nobel Peace Prize winner. Ramos-Horta threw his hat in the ring to become UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, saying he was being considered even when sources say he wasn't. Among Obama's foreign policy advisers is Samantha Power, whose book Chasing the Flame deals at length with Timor Leste and Ramos-Horta.

But here's an incongruity, into which Inner City Press inquired this week before writing this story: Ramos-Horta is asking the UN to stop investigating the killing of civilians in East Timor in 1999, saying "we want a good relationship with Indonesia." This, in UN and other circles, is known as impunity. Inner City Press has asked Ban's spokesperson about Ramos-Horta's request, and to comment on it, which has been resisted.

On October 13, Inner City Press asked, "there are these reports that Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste has asked the UN to stop its inquiry into violence committed in the past in Timor-Leste. The reports don’t say where the request was made. Was it made to the Secretariat?"

Spokesperson Michele Montas said, "As far as I know, there was no official request." On October 14, Inner City Press followed up

Inner City Press: yesterday I had asked you about Ramos-Horta and whether he’d asked for the UN to not investigate the events of 1999. Now he’s being quoted in a pretty reputable paper as saying 'as Head of State, I did not authorize the UN to investigate the crime from 1999.' Does that mean the UN is going to stop…?

Spokesperson: As I said yesterday, there is no official request to stop the investigation. We have not received one, we have not received any communications on the subject from the President. Those are just media reports and statements reported by the media. And at any rate, as you know, we do not comment on statements attributed to leaders unless we receive an official statement or letter on that subject.

Inner City Press: If you were to receive, if this call was put in writing to the UN, would that end all UN investigations of the violence in 1999?

Spokesperson: Well, you know, there are two specific processes going on at the same time. There is no linkage between the Commission for Truth and Friendship, which is a bilateral mechanism between Timor-Leste and Indonesia. The UN has nothing to do with that one. It was set up in 2005 to look into the events of 1999. There is a second process, [a United Nations process], which is what they call the SCIT – which is a continuation of the serious crimes panels that were set up and working during 2002-2005. Those serious crimes panels were closed in 2005. All the case files were handed to the prosecutor in Timor-Leste. So, that process was brought back when UNMIT was established and it was agreed to set up that serious crime panel again simply to continue to assist the Office of the Prosecutor-General. So, this is our role, this is what we’re doing, and as I said, I will not comment on what was said.

Spinning away this incongruity may be a job for Samantha Power.

(Click here for story of Samantha Powers' May 2008 appearance at the UN, "Chasing the Flame with Cheese Cubes, US Progressives at UN Launch Campaign Funded by eBay."

Friday footnote: Or, as one wag said in front of the General Assembly on Friday when Iceland complained of broken promises, of country which took funding commitments and promised to vote for Iceland for a Security Council seat, maybe Obama will face such broken promises, through the so-called (Tom) Bradley effect or otherwise. In which case, we'll analyze John McCain's views and prospective impacts on the UN.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/obama1horta101708.html

On Sudan and ICC, Uganda Likes Deferral, Austria and Mexico Want Justice, Iceland Denounces UK

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/unga2scvote101708.html

UNITED NATIONS, October 17 -- Five new Security Council members were elected Friday at the UN, and afterwards these five, plus losing Iceland and the three Western Permanent Five members spoke to the media. Inner City Press asked questions of all nine speakers, mostly about Sudan but also about North Korea, Myanmar and the UK's freezing of Icelandic bank assets. On this last -- and also Friday's vote and broken promises of support -- Iceland is disappointed.

Uganda began, saying they will focus on the African continent. Inner City Press asked if Uganda supports the suspension or deferral of the International Criminal Court's prosecution against Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir. The Ugandan representative said his country supports -- and thus presumably would vote for -- a deferral of prosecution so that "justice can be reconciled with the need for stability." Video here, from Minute 1:23.

Inner City Press then ask French Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert, who had just praise the five new members, what he thought of Uganda's position, and about suspending the ICC's proceedings against Al Bashir. "Once again," he said, "it is a procedure internal to the ICC... no one has raised it in the Security Council." He added "if it were raised tomorrow, we would not vote in favor of it." Video here, from Minute 19:49. U.S. Ambassador Alejandro Wolff likewise said the suspending proceedings against Al Bashir is "not an issue to take up at this point" in the Council. Video here, from Minute 7:12.

Austria's Foreign Minister, after being asked about "right wing tendencies" in her country and saying the country's foreign policy will not change, was asked for her position on the ICC and Sudan. She said Austria supports the rule of law and is against impunity -- how surprising -- and supports the ICC and its work. Video here, from Minute 42:17. When Inner City Press asked then if there are any circumstances in which Austria would vote to suspend the process against Al Bashir, for example if indictee Ahmad Harun is arrested or even turned over to The Hague, she said "you will understand that I will not respond to questions formulated in a way not example the questions posed" and will not "speculate on specific voting patterns in the future." So the door is open.

Inner City Press asked the Mexican representative for his country's views, since there are so few Latin American issues on the Council's agenda, on how the UN should deal with the situation in Myanmar, and the ICC and Sudan. He said there's Haiti and there was Central America, but that Mexico will look broader. He said Mexico is committed to international justice. Video here, from Minute 45:18.

Footnotes: An interesting contrast, sadly out of sequence, can be found in the answers to Inner City Press of Iceland's Foreign Minister, who said the UK's freezing of Icelandic bank assets "under a terror law" was "not helpful" (video here, from Minute 23:48) and UK Ambassador John Sawers, who claimed that the problem "has been resolved between capitals" in a way that makes clear "the need to protect... invest[ors] in Iceland." Video here from Minute 4:54. If the UK believes in the rule of law, how can it freeze an unrelated Icelandic bank's assets, using an anti-terrorism law?

Inner City Press asked Japan's Ambassador if he thinks the Council has been doing enough on North Korea. He said that while the Six Party Talks are showing some promise, the Council should cast a "supportive eye." He spoke about the abduction issue and said while progress has been promised, it has not been forthcoming. Video here, from Minute 12:20. He didn't mention the fights North Korea and Japan have been having in the UN, during the General Debate and this week in the Third Committee. Click here for Inner City Press' story about Russia and Georgia and their war of words on October 16 in the Third Committee.

At Friday's noon briefing, Inner City Press asked the spokesman for the President of the General Assembly about the stray votes -- were they write-ins? He said yes. Video here. But how then to explain the vote cast for Australia over Austria in the Western European and Other states Group? Austria, a long-time resident tells us, has a complex about being confused with Australia, even selling t-shirts that "There are no kangaroos in Austria."

We will inquire further into this mystery, and that of the Turkish gifts including chocolate left on each seat in the General Assembly. According to the spokesman, gifts of any kind or value are legal up to the moment when the voting begins. Iceland's problem, one wag said, is that they at least temporarily didn't have the money to buy their way onto the Council. As their Foreign Minister said, like the New York Yankees of late, "maybe next time, maybe soon."

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unga2scvote101708.html

At UN, Russia and Georgia Spar Again on Child Rights, Genocide and Cover-Up Charged

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ga3russia101608.html

UNITED NATIONS, October 16 -- Russia and Georgia, which fought a war in August and pointedly did not meet each other at yesterday's planned meeting in Geneva, re-opened their war of words on Thursday night at the UN. At the end of a routine meeting of the General Assembly's Third Committee, on the protection of children, Russia's representative took five minutes to decry "the crimes of Georgia" in bombing South Ossetia on August 8 "with the assistance of foreigners." The allegation was made that Georgia's other breakaway region, Abkhazia, was slated to face the same fate, which Russia called "genocide."

Georgia, given its right of reply, said that the allegations were false and "we ask for an investigation." The chairman then gave the floor back to the Russian representative, who read into the record stories about particular South Ossetian victims. A car was hit by Georgia tanks, it was recounted, and a mother was "catapulted out." A 14-year old was killed by snipers. An elder spent three nights in a cellar surrounded by dead bodies. "They used knives on a pregnant woman, saying 'this child will fight against us.' Both died."

The Russian representative concluded that there was more to say, but not in "this lofty sphere." The chairman, seeming miffed, gaveled the meeting to a close. Afterwards, the Georgian representative who had spoken in the session emphasized to Inner City Press that the Russian had not responded to her call for an investigation.

Her colleague from the Georgian mission added that Russia could say that anyone had been killed, even Inner City Press -- "but they have to prove it."

It seems clear that the Russia - Georgia standoff will continue in all UN venues and elsewhere. On the aborted Geneva meeting of October 15, Inner City Press on October 16 asked Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson under what authority the UN had blocked the press from even covering the entrance and exit of officials from the meeting, held on UN premises. If the UN just fully excluded the press in Geneva, might they not do it in New York? The spokesperson, as she had on October 15, promised to look into it. We'll see.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ga3russia101608.html

Manipur Conflict in India on UN's Margins Despite Child Soldiers, Impunity and Press Restrictions

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un1manipur101108.html

UNITED NATIONS, October 11, updated -- The decades long insurgency in Manipur in northeast India gets little attention globally, and virtually none within the United Nations. This despite 10,000 deaths in the conflict, the imposition of martial law and restrictions on press access.

Manipur, with 2.2 million residents, was an independent kingdom until colonialized by Britain in 1891. It was incorporated into India at the end of British rule in 1947. Armed rebellion began in 1964 and martial law was imposed in 1980 and remains in place today.

Inner City Press interviewed the founder of the Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network Ms. Binalakshmi Nepram on October 10 after she narrated a short film about the conflict in an ill-attended screening across the street from the UN. Ms. Nepram said that India is so powerful that the issue can never be raised within the UN Headquarters.

Inner City Press asked her if there is any recruitment of child soldiers, as that should trigger involvement, with or without host country consent, at least by the UN's Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy and UNICEF. Yes, Ms. Nepram said, children are incorporated into the fighting. "There are testimonies," she said. She also spoke passionately about the use in Manipur of rape as a weapon of war, which also should trigger UN involvement, unless double standards as is too common rule the day.

Even before receiving these from Ms. Nepram's office in New Delhi. it's worth reviewing the evidence that's in the public record.

In July 2008, Manipur police chief Y. Joykumar Singh said that "about 30 or more children are believed to be missing from different parts of the Imphal valley although many cases have not been reported to the police. So far, 13 cases of abductions have been registered." Radheshyam Singh, police chief of Imphal East district said "it is certain that these children were lured or kidnapped by various outlawed militant groups."

Among the accused recruiters are the Peoples Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, Prepak, both its Vice-Chairman and General Secretary factions and its so-called Cobra Task Force. Local accounts have 45-year-old Muhila Devi, a resident of Pishumthong near Imphal, crying inconsolably and breaking into regular fits when her 14-year-old daughter Surda went missing. "She is a minor and anybody who is holding her captive, please return her to me," a sobbing Devi said, as she blankly stared at her daughter's schoolbag. (The Pioneer, July 21, 2008.)

"Sensation prevailed in Manipur with the disappearance of two little boys July 6 and a separatist later claiming the children have joined the outfit of their own volition. 'The two boys are bent on joining us but we shall not stop them from returning to their families if they want,' Bobby Mangang, commander of the little-known group, the Prepak Cobra Task Force, told a group of journalists who visited the rebel base last fortnight.

"Yengkhom Naobi, 13 and Angom Langamba, 11, missing since July 6, appeared before journalists in Bishenpur district, close to state capital Imphal, and declared they have joined the group on their own. The children are students of Class III and IV. The children were paraded before journalists soon after their mothers had told the media that they were in the custody of the Task Force. Now, parents of Kshetrimayum, a Class VI student, and Wangkheimayum Sohadeva, a Class V student, have said their children are missing since June 19."

This should be enough detail for the UN to finally start working. Ms. Nepram said there is also evidence of Myanmar's military government being involved in the fighting in Manipur. This makes it a threat to international peace and security, the standards for UN Security Council involvement.

Inner City Press also spoke about Manipur with Walter Dorn, formerly a UN Peacekeeper in Timore Leste. Dorn called for the deployment of UN personnel in Manipur, while acknowledging that this would require the consent of the government of India. He said it would take "meetings like this to pressure India." There were less than a dozen people at the October 10 screening, held just across the street from the UN with free samosas and chai tea.

Dorn makes analogies to the UN's role in Timor Leste, Cambodia, Namibia and Central America, and his native Canada's granting of limited autonomy to Quebec. One could not help thinking of the precedent created by those countries recognizing the unlateral declaration of independence of Kosovo.

Film curator Somi Roy, also present, stated that Manipur has a distinct civilization than India's, and that New Delhi police recently produced an insulting booklet telling people from Manipur how to dispose of garbage and for women not to dress too provocatively.

Impunity is one of the biggest problems in Manipur, according to Ms. Nepram. She cites the 1958 Indian Armed Forces Special Powers Act, AFSPA, in which soldiers in "disturbed areas" like Manipur are allowed to shoot to kill while remaining immune from prosecution.

Ms. Nepram said that the continuance of this law is one of the sources of resentment in Manipur, one of the reasons it remains a disturbed area. She expressed frustration that the press does not cover the deaths and abuse, including disappearances and rape by Army soldiers. Foreign media is rarely allowed in Manipur, and then only for ten days at a time. Similar restrictions in Sudan's Darfur region are widely covered and denounced. Why not those in northeast India?

The Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network is still small; its program to help women open bank accounts has to date helped 25 women. It also makes micro-loans to help women entrepreneurs. It began in 2004 in response to the killing of 27-year old Buddhi Moirangthem, and now "will keep documenting the testimonies of women and children gun survivors," including child soldiers. But will the UN listen?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1manipur101108.html