UN Didn't Respond on Its Role in DRC Fighting, Then Chides Inner City Press, Ends Briefing, No Follow Up

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 29 -- If the UN tells the press it is not involved in a military action, when that changes and a member of the UN's Force Intervention Brigade gets killed, shouldn't the UN be expected to provide an update?

  On October 29, UN Spokesperson Martin Nesirky ended the noon briefing by telling Inner City Press to "be careful" about reporting he'd said the UN was not involved in the fighting -- he'd only said not involved "at that time," on October 25.

  Inner City Press asked to be allowed a follow-up question, but Nesirky ended the briefing. Video here and embedded below.

  But the reality is, when what Nesirky said on October 25 about the UN not being involved seemed to no longer be true, when a FIB member was killed, Inner City Press on Sunday, October 27 wrote to Nesirky and his acting deputy and asked them to explain.

They never answered that e-mail. Monday's noon briefing was canceled in favor of two songs on a piano in the Dag Hammarskjold Library Auditorium. Still no answer from Nesirky's office.

Then when asked to explain at Tuesday's noon briefing, Nesirky criticized Inner City Press, saying "be careful" about reporting he'd said the UN was not involved in the fighting -- he'd only said not involved "at that time," on October 25. But why no update? Why no answers?

On October 25, Inner City Press asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson Martin Nesirky if the Tanzanian component of the UN's "Force Intervention Brigade" was involved in the Congolese Army's fighting with the M23:

Inner City Press: I wanted to know whether MONUSCO can say who began this fighting. There is also a DRC citizen, Catherine Gihombo, who was shot by FARDC and is now being treated in hospital, and I wanted to know if MONUSCO was aware of any civilian casualties caused by the DRC army, and also it is said that theTanzanian artillery of the Force Intervention Brigade has become part of it in some way, I am asking you whether they can confirm or deny that.

Spokesperson Nesirky: Well, on the last, as we have said, the Mission is monitoring what is going on; it is not actively involved at the moment. With regard to the other two questions, I will check on the civilian casualties, whether there is any further update for the Mission on that. And with regard to the very first question about who started it, at this point, I do not have clear information on that. I think the Mission is still looking into it, and obviously what is most important is stopping it at this point.

In the days afterward, the UN provided no information on civilian casualties, and no update to the public statement that the Force Intervention Brigade was not involved.

In fact, the UN and various envoys on the Great Lakes issues calls for restraint.

Then it emerged that a Tanzanian soldier in the FIB had been killed in Kiwanja. Inner City Press asked for an explanation, in writing, of the October 25 statement that the FIB was not involved, and this new announcement:

"On Friday I asked if UN Force Intervention Brigade was involved in fighting between FARDC and M23 and was told 'no.' Now I hear that a Tanzanian soldier in the FIB was killed in fighting in Kiwanja. Please confirm (or deny) this, and describe UN and Force Intervention Brigade in fighting between FARDC and M23."

This question was not answered for two days. Inner City Press asked at the October 29 briefing and was told to be careful about reported what Nesirky said on October 25. But despite the direct request, he never updated what he had said. We will have more on this. Watch this site.

Footnote: We note that the pattern of refusal to answer questions (and now, no follow up) began with Herve Ladsous, video here, UK coverage here. But it ill serves UN Peacekeepers, and the UN.

   

UN's John Ging Rings CAR Alarm, Doesn't Want Military Escort, UN "Peacekeeper" Ladsous Behind Walls

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 29 -- The Central African Republic has been falling apart; in August the UN Security Council took no action on its due to the vacations of senior diplomats from France, which "holds the pen" for the Council on the CAR.

  Now Secretary General Ban Ki-moon proposes 250 troops, then 560, as security in the country. Inner City Press asked John Ging, the operations director of Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, if the idea is to use these troops to protect aid workers.

  No, Ging said. "On the guard force, it will be deployed in support of the security of UN staff on the ground. For us on humanitarian side of the UN, we will not engage the guard force excepy as a last resort. We don't want to be escorted in our regular duties."

  This is what some aid groups in the Eastern Congo have been telling Herve Ladsous' UN Peacekeeping: they don't want to be seen as part of a military response, particularly in the Congo where the UN has become a party to the conflict.

  But even in CAR, Ging said, they want a firewall between humanitarians and military security. Ging said the force might be called if "offices are under attack."He said, "we try create a security environment based on an acceptance culture in communities built around delivery" of services.

  This seems honorable, as does Ging. Inner City Press thanked him for the Free UN Coalition for Access for doing a briefing about his trip, and suggested that other Departments -- UN Peacekeeping of the taciturn Herve Ladsous, and the Department of Political Affairs under Jeffrey Feltman -- should also start or revert to doing briefings on trips.

  Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson Martin Nesirky, as soon as Inner City Press said other departments should do briefings, cut in as if to block like a wall and said, "What's your question?" Video here, from Minute 21:29.

  Well, Ladsous' predecessors Alain Le Roy and Jean-Marie Guehenno do them; Ladsous is in another former French colony, Cote d'Ivoire. Will he return and take questions? Watch this site.

   

South Korea Ban DPRK Tweets, But UN Kirby Calls It Vibrant, As Censors Speak from Holy Seat

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 29 -- With "human rights in the DPRK" the topic, the UN press briefing room was almost full Tuesday afternoon. But the UN's "Mister North Korea"(previously "Mister Sri Lanka") Marzuki Darusman was not present, having to return to his native Indonesia.

Rather, the briefing was by Michael Kirby and Sonja Biserko of the Commission of Inquiry. Inner City Press asked Kirby about South Korea's National Security Act which prohibits even re-tweeting information from North Korea.

  Kirby defended South Korea as a "vibrant" state where even even this type of law is not really enforced. He apparently took this to be a question akin to one he recounted from China, about human rights in Canada. He said Australia too has issues on economic migrant on which the UN would speak forthrightly.

  Well, no. Inner City Press specifically asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson's office for any Ban comment on Australia's out-sourcing of asylum seekers, on which Ban had taken a blue-washing call from Kevin Rudd. No Ban comment ever emerged on that -- or, it seems, on South Korea's National Security Act.

  Kirby has a very high impression of the UN -- he said the world has only gotten better since the formation of the UN in 1945, and that "no organ" of the UN would get involved in regime change. Apparently he never heard of Libya.

  The UN moderator gave the first question to the UN Censorship Alliance, UNCA, which sent a person who lost election to the board. Kirby answered, on camera, that he had sat in UNCA seat (and been thrown out), that he didn't know there was a "holy seat."

  The second question went to an UNCA board member -- what can be done to North Korea? -- and so it proceeded. When Inner City Press was called on, fifth, it thanked Kirby on behalf of the Free UN Coalition for Access @FUNCA_info and told him as guest he should sit where he likes, that there are not or should not be any holy seats in the UN press briefing room.

  The UN moderator made sure to give the first UNCA questioner the last question too, seemingly so she could say, "speaking again from holy seat with its little sign." Little indeed. Watch this site.

   

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

By Matthew Russell Lee

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

   

On DR Congo, France Said "Our Own Come First," Rwanda Insisted Civilian Deaths Be In UNSC Statement Too; ICJ Footnote

By Matthew Russell Lee, With exclusive audio

UNITED NATIONS, October 28 -- When the UN Security Council met about Eastern Congo at France's request on Monday afternoon, France proposed a press statement only on the death of a Tanzanian member of the UN's Force Intervention Brigade.

  Rwanda counter-proposed a longer statement but was told those issues could be considered later. Rwanda agreed to that, but held firm that the death of Rwandans by shelling from the DRC should be included.

   Inner City Press is informed that Rwanda directly challenged the idea that the UN Security Council should first and foremost be concerned with "one of our own." Rwanda said that its citizens are people too.

   While it was France which made the proposal, and holds the pen (and more) on DRC, there was an attempt to make this fight one of Rwanda against the Troop Contributing Countries. 

  But Rwanda is one of the largest TCCs, and said they would have no objection, if one of their peacekeepers were killed in Darfur, to including civilians in a press statement. There are no first and second class citizens, Rwanda said.

  It's worth nothing that not all TCCs have UN Peacekeeping missions in or next to their countries.

  Rwanda then suggested that two statement be issued. France, to avoid that, agree to include those killed in Rwanda -- and in the DRC -- in "their" statement, below (along with footnote on the International Court of Justice "private" meeting of Monday.)
condolences for the loss of civilian lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in Rwanda following shells landing on its territory."]

    On Friday the UN Security Council expressed concern about renewed hostilities in Eastern Congo, called for "maximum restraint and de-escalation" and for a political solution. Video here.

   Inner City Press asked if the UN Mission MONUSCO was involved in the fighting and was told, by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon spokesperson, no.

  On Sunday UN envoy Martin Kobler announced that a member of MONUSCO's Force Intervention Brigade or "FIB" had been killed -- how that happened without being involved remains UNclear. Then Kobler toured land re-taken by the Congolese Army which the UN supports, even in the face of mass rape.

  On Monday in front of the Security Council, French Permanent Representative Gerard Araud told the Press about the weekend's developments in the Eastern Congo, "What is happening is great. It is the collapse of the rebels... The DRC army is restoring the sovereignty of the country. It is exactly what we were hoping for."  Exclusive audio here.

  How is this consistent with the Security Council's calls, agreed to and actually drafted by France which "hold the pen" for the Council on the DRC, for "restraint" and for a political solution through the Kampala talks?

  Or some now ask, were those calls just lies or a diversion, at least for some that agreed to or issued them?

  When the Security Council traveled recently to Eastern Congo, France was allowed to hand-pick which media could go on the UN plane and cover the trip. These scribes, predictably, are not raising or reporting these questions.

  Inner City Press asked: will Kobler take and at last answer questions? Or has he fully inhabited the character of his boss Herve Ladsous, who refuses Press questions? Video here,UK coverage here. Here is Ladsous' history in the Great Lakes region, for France.

  We note, in real time, a Kobler response to the Press late Monday, that "now the work starts." Inner City Press said "merci" and asked what's the plan to go after the FDLR?

  Here is another question. Araud said, of the weekend's fighting, "It is exactly what we were hoping for." Who is the "we"? The Security Council? UN Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous? France? Is there any difference between the latter two? Watch this site.

Footnote: In the private meeting on the ICJ, the question was raised why among the 15 judges each of the Permanent Five members always gets one. That is not in the charter. There was no convincing answer. We'll have more on this.

As emailed out by UN past 5 pm:

Security Council Press statement – attacks against MONUSCO

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the attacks by M23 rebel group against the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO) in North Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing one Tanzanian peacekeeper.

The members of the Security Council expressed their condolences to the family of the peacekeeper killed in the attack, as well as to the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and to MONUSCO. They called on the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo swiftly to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.

They also expressed their condolences for the loss of civilian lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in Rwanda following shells landing on its territory.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support for MONUSCO and called on all parties to cooperate fully with the mission.

28 October 2013 

   

At UN, France's Araud Declares "Military End" of M23, Dead Rwandans Added to Statement

By Matthew Russell Lee, With exclusive audio

UNITED NATIONS, October 28 -- After the Security Council met about Eastern Congo at France's request on Monday afternoon, the first announcement came from French Ambassador Gerard Araud.

  He said the M23 has met its "military end." Others noted that while M23 left towns it had controlled, it was not wiped out, a la Sri Lanka (no matter how much it seems France would have liked that.)

   The meeting was called by France on the death of a Tanzanian member of the UN's Force Intervention Brigade or FIB. Inner City Press asked Araud of the UN's role in the military "finishing" of M23.

  Araud, more detailed than in the morning (see below) said that the Tanzanian soldier had his helmet on, but was shot in the neck. 

  Inner City Press understands that in the consultations, the 21 shells into Rwanda from the DRC were raised, leading to the death of two civilians and injuring of ten. Araud told Inner City Press, that is in the press statement. 

    On Friday the UN Security Council expressed concern about renewed hostilities in Eastern Congo, called for "maximum restraint and de-escalation" and for a political solution. Video here.

   Inner City Press asked if the UN Mission MONUSCO was involved in the fighting and was told, by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon spokesperson, no.

  On Sunday UN envoy Martin Kobler announced that a member of MONUSCO's Force Intervention Brigade or "FIB" had been killed -- how that happened without being involved remains UNclear. Then Kobler toured land re-taken by the Congolese Army which the UN supports, even in the face of mass rape.

  On Monday in front of the Security Council, French Permanent Representative Gerard Araud told the Press about the weekend's developments in the Eastern Congo, "What is happening is great. It is the collapse of the rebels... The DRC army is restoring the sovereignty of the country. It is exactly what we were hoping for."  Exclusive audio here.

  How is this consistent with the Security Council's calls, agreed to and actually drafted by France which "hold the pen" for the Council on the DRC, for "restraint" and for a political solution through the Kampala talks?

  Or some now ask, were those calls just lies or a diversion, at least for some that agreed to or issued them?

  When the Security Council traveled recently to Eastern Congo, France was allowed to hand-pick which media could go on the UN plane and cover the trip. These scribes, predictably, are not raising or reporting these questions.

  Inner City Press asked Araud, on Monday, if MONUSCO and its FIB had in fact been involved despite the statements that it was not.

  Araud said that the killed "Tanzanian was part of the Force Intervention Brigade. What I heard was the Intervention Brigade went to Kiwanja after the M23 withdrew, to protect civilians. At a roadblock, from the side of the M23, he was killed." He said Martin Kobler would brief the Council by video Monday afternoon.

  But will Kobler take and at last answer questions? Or has he fully inhabited the character of his boss Herve Ladsous, who refuses Press questions? Video here, UK coverage here.Here is Ladsous' history in the Great Lakes region, for France.

  Here is a question. Araud said, of the weekend's fighting, "It is exactly what we were hoping for. Who is the "we"? The Security Council? UN Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous? France? Is there any difference between the latter two? Watch this site.

   

UN Bans Syria & DR Congo Questions In Favor of Piano, Nuremberg & Sri Lanka Double Speak

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 28 -- What stories does the UN want to tell, and what questions should it be required to answer?

On Monday after a weekend of armed conflict in the Congo, with one Tanzanian soldier killed, and with Syria's chemical weapons report due and turned in, the UN did not hold its normal noon briefing.

Why not? Instead Secretary General Ban Ki-moon showed up at noon to read out prepared remarks, but taking no questions, to introduce the pianist Lang Lang as a UN goodwill ambassador. The piano sounded fine -- but why cancel the noon briefing for this?

It is sometimes said that even when the UN noon briefing is canceled, for example for Ban to take two pre-selected questions on Syria, the Spokesperson's office will answer e-mailed questions and "highlights" will be put online.

Well, Inner City Press asked a question by email:

"On Friday I asked if UN Force Intervention Brigade was involved in fighting between FARDC and M23 and was told 'no.' Now I hear that a Tanzanian soldier in the FIB was killed in fighting in Kiwanja. Please confirm (or deny) this, and describe UN and Force Intervention Brigade in fighting between FARDC and M23."

More than twenty four hours later, the question had not been answered, leaving French ambassador Gerard Araud's response, here, as in essence the UN's response.

  After the piano display, and after Ban's UN Censorship Alliance (UNCA) legitimized the cancellation of the noon briefing by asking inane questions like whether Lang Lang will go to Syria, there WAS a press conference in the UN's Press Briefing Room.

  UN special rapporteur Alfred de Zayas spoke on a wide range of topics, including whether the Permanent Five members of the Security Council should have the veto and otherwise control the UN.

  Inner City Press asked Zayas to comment on the P5 controlling the UN's departments -- the US has twice in a row controlled Political Affairs, the UK has had OCHA twice, France has controlled UN Peacekeeping four times in a row, hitting its nadir with Herve Ladous, video here, UK coverage here -- and then something else.

  Cursory internet research found complaints about de Zayas, including for saying this about the Nuremberg trials: "Nuremberg was an exercise in hypocrisy. A continuation of hate and war by the instrumentalization of the administration of justice, a corruption of legal norms and procedures, a pollution of philosophy, a truly Pharisee tribunal."

  Inner City Press asked him about it, and he answered about victors' justice and the ICC (true in the case of Cote d'Ivoire and Libya, for sure); he said UN posts should be subject to geographic distribution. He handed out material at the end, asking for help with "media promotion."

  So what stories are told, and what questions blocks, in today's UN?

  In the morning a more focused rapporteur Pablo De Greiff spoke on "truth, justice, reparations & non-recurrence." Inner City Press asked how these apply to Sri Lanka, a report on which Ban Ki-moon is not only withholding -- its existence is even being denied after Inner City Press exclusively published a leaked copy.

  Pablo De Greiff said he couldn't speak directly about things that are being considered, but that development is not the same thing as reparation, it does not "re-establish the norm." So if the UN ever gets around to stopping withholding (and denying) its own report, maybe it will listen. If the piano is not too loud. Watch this site.

Footnote: The Free UN Coalition for Access @FUNCA_info objected to the cancellation of the noon briefing, and for that reason did not even seek to ask any questions in the piano replacement. De Zayas it thanked "for the opportunity to ask this question" about Nuremberg. With whom did and does the UN consult before deciding that "media" prefers piano over Q&A? We'll have more on this.