UN Global Compact Moves To Explicit Pay to Play Membership Fee, ICP Scoop Confirmed

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive confirmed

UNITED NATIONS, September 28 – The UN Global Compact, which allowed now convicted UN briber Ng Lap Seng's firm to join with no due diligence, is now moving toward more explicit pay-to-play, imposing a compulsory membership fee of $10,000, disgusted UN whistleblowers exclusively told Inner City Press. The initial proposal, they say, was for $100,000; they say the Global Compact has run into financial difficulties with a mere voluntary membership fee on this form, here. But given the number of companies that use UN Global Compact membership to "blue-wash" abusive practices, should the blue-wash be so explicitly put up for sale under 2017 Secretary General Antonio Guterres? After exclusively publishing the whistleblowers' story, Inner City Press asked Guterres' spokesman, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: the Global Compact, until now, the Global Compact has not charged companies for joining.  Some people have said it's kind of a blue-washing, that some companies joined; like Ng Lap Seng's firm joined.  I wanted to know whether you can confirm or deny that there's a consideration to now charge $10,000 fee for companies to join the Global Compact. Spokesman:  I'm not aware, but you can contact the Global Compact and ask them." This is called passing the buck. Or should the Global Compact simply be disbanded? On September 28 Dujarric's Deputy Farhan Haq said yes, in January 2018 the Global Compact will start charging larger companies. Inner City Press asked about the obvious conflict of interest. We'l have more on this. In similar UN "no due diligence" news, the last head of the UN Department of Public Information Cristina Gallach did no due diligence as Ng Lap Seng's fundees bought events in the UN lobby and even the UN's slavery memorial (UN audit here), then evicted Inner City Press which asked her about her connections with Ng's South South Awards. New head of DPI Alison Smale has done nothing about this. We'll have more on this - and on this: how far will the UN go to get positive media coverage, and to punish and hinder, if still not prevent, critical oversight? Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's 2015 to Honduras and El Salvador was given entirely positive coverage by South South News, the $300,000 a month bribery conduit of now convicted Macau-based businessman Ng Lap Seng. Click here for that coverage, still online.

Now in emails obtained and published by Inner City Press, and provided for comment to Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric, it is shown that South South News president Francis Lorenzo, who has pleaded guilty, wrote to UN official Yiping Zhou about the coverage: “Dear yiping enclose [sic] see the first report of our coverage of the trip of the SG to El Salvador.”

Zhou wrote back, “Great job covering the SG's visit. We should do more for the SG, and other heads of UN organs especially also for our  UNDP Administrator Helen Clark. Please find my letter of support” - a letter supporting Ng's now-disgraced, never-built Macau conference Center.

So the UN supported Ng's corrupt plan, in response to positive coverage of Ban Ki-moon by Ng's South South News. On August 21, Inner City Press asked Ban's, now Antonio Guterres', spokesman Stephane Dujarric: UN Transcript here: Inner City Press: in the Ng Lap Seng trial, one of the exhibits that was used that’s since been released and published, has Mr. Yiping Zhu, who I understand has left the system, writing to Francis Lorenzo, saying “great coverage of the Secretary-General’s visit” — this was a visit to Honduras and El Salvador in 2015 — “we should do more for the SG and other heads of UN organs, especially for our UNDP administrator Helen Clark.  Please find my letter of support.”  And attached to that was a letter of support for the Macau Convention Centre.

So, just on its face, it looks like a quid pro quo.  Thank you for positive coverage by South-South News of the trip, and here’s a support for a now highly dubious discredited convention centre.  Is… are you comfortable with this, with this…

Spokesman:  Listen, I haven’t seen the letter.  What is clear is that Mr. Yiping Zhu no longer worked for this organisation, and Mr. Lorenzo never has. [Note: Lorenzo has a un.org email address.]
Inner City Press:  Right, but he was the representative.  He was the envoy of the Secretary-General. So, can you say whether Ban Ki-moon had any…

Spokesman:  No.  Ban Ki-moon had no knowledge of any of this, those activities.

  How does he know? On August 22, Inner City Press emailed Dujarric, at his supposed request, a copy of Zhou's and Lorenzo's message and these questions: "Attached is the email and letter of Ban Ki-moon's envoy on South South Cooperation Yiping Zhou, stating “Great job covering the SG's visit. We should do more for the SG, and other heads of UN organs especially also for our UNDP Administrator Helen Clark. Please find my letter of support” - for Ng Lap Seng's Macau conference center. This is again a request for UN comment on the appropriateness of this - and also, since you said yesterday that Ban Ki-moon had no knowledge of this, that his envoys were encouraging positive coverage in this way, the basis of that statement, or a statement that Ban Ki-moon has been asked about this, and his answer... Writing on this today.Please confirm receipt." But Dujarric left five hours later with no answer, not even confirming receipt. The UN is corrupt. Zhou was Ban Ki-moon's personal Envoy on South South Cooperation. And like Zhou's letter for Ng's project, Ban wrote a "personal 'Thank You' note" to South South News Afaf Konja "for her coverage of his official visit, calling her a 'champion for South-South Cooperation.'"

These names came up repeatedly during the Ng Lap Seng prosecution, begun by then-US Attorney Preet Bharara with the question, Is bribery business as usual at the UN? The answer was and is, Yes.

And when Inner City Press pursued the Ng Lap Seng bribery scandal, seeking to cover a meeting of the UN Correspondents Association who took full page ads from Ng' South South News and provided the venue for Ng's photo op with Ban (Cipriani 42nd Street), Inner City Press was evicted from the UN Press Briefing Room, then its long time office in the UN, where it still remains restricted under Ban's successor Antonio Guterres.

On August 16, Inner City Press asked Guterres about the Ng guilty verdicts; Guterres declinedto answer. The UN still contains corruption, and still punishes and restricts the Press which covers it.

Beyond the corruption, it is a conflict of interest to have the same UN Department which views its role as promoting positive coverage of the UN be the one to decide, without rules or free press constraints, which media get full access, and which like Inner City Press are evicted and restricted.

The incoming head of the UN Department of Public Information Alison Smale, replacing Cristina Gallach who partied at Ng's South South Awards and did no due diligence on his events and sponsorships in the UN, will have to deal with this. We'll have more on this.

From UN's Yemen “Humanitarian” Meeting, Press Was Banned, Now Lowcock Speaks

By Matthew Russell Lee, Periscope; Video

UNITED NATIONS, September 28 – When a Yemen meeting during the UN General Assembly week was held at 8 am on September 22, new UN Relief Chief Mark Lowcock introduced as speakers the foreign ministers of Sweden and the Netherlands, representatives of Japan and the UAE, and the UN's envoy Ismael Ould Cheikh Ahmed. While billed as a humanitarian meeting, the UAE spoke without irony about outside interference. (Yemen's representative spoke in Arabic; Inner City Press streamed Periscope video). On September 28, Inner City Press asked Lowcock whether he thought the meeting had a sufficiently humanitarian character. He pointed to his concluding statements, which Inner City Press had not heard (see below), saying that the focus should be on humanitarian access, and later lamenting the continuing failure to deploy cranes. The reason Inner City Press was unable to get these views, and others, on September 22 is, in a phrase, UN censorship. To get to the meeting, held in UN Conference Room 5, Inner City Press unlike other no-show reporters like Egypt's Akhbar al Yom was required to get a UN escort or minder, who told Inner City Press it could not ask questions or speak with anyone. This despite UN OCHA staff telling Inner City Press it could wait outside and speak to people as they left. So the UN's retaliatory eviction of Inner City Press 19 months ago for covering the now conflicted UN corruption by Macau based businessman Ng Lap Seng through then PGA John Ashe now results in it, unlike the Saudi and pro-Saudi media in the meeting, being unable to speak to the participants. This has been raised, so far without any response, to Lowcock's fellow Brit, the head of DPI Alison Smale, here. This is today's UN. We hope to report more on Lowcock's views, including hoping that OCHA releases transcripts of what Lowcock says. While Canada joins The Netherlands at the UN in Geneva in calling for an investigation of possible war crimes in Yemen including the Saudi-led coalition's killing of civilians, Canada has continued a $15 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia. When Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held a press conference at the UN on September 21, Inner City Press went early, intending to ask him to explain this incongruity or seeming hypocrisy. Trudeau's spokesman announced that the questioners had been “pre-determined,” but did not explain how. So in a lull after what the spokesman called the last question - would Trudeau be a mediator on Venezuela - Inner City Press asked about Canadian arms sales to Saudi while calling for a probe. At first Trudeau said he was happy to answer the question. Then he said no, he would not reward “bad behavior,” and instead reached out for question in French about day care. (Inner City Press notes that pre-determining questioners is bad behavior. Apparently the CBC journalist who was given the first question agreed to it; the organization only the day before sent an Egyptian state media correspondent as the lone “pooler” in Secretary General Antonio Guterres' meeting with General Sisi.) Eearlier on September 21 when UK minister Alistair Burt came in front of the UN Security Council to speak about accountability for Daesh in Iraq, Inner City Press deferred to a timely question about the referendum in Kurdistan. Then during  lull - identical to that in which it put its question to Trudeau - Inner City Press asked Burt about his quote, about accountability for the bombing of civilians in Yemen by the Saudi-led Coalition with UK bombs, that "Our view is that it is for the Coalition itself, in the first instance, to conduct such investigations. They have the best insight into their own military procedures and will be able to conduct the most thorough and conclusive investigations.” Inner City Press asked how he can say this, given that the Saudis have investigated less than five percent of the killings. Video here. Burt's answer focused on the peace process - what peace process? At least Burt answered, and did not like Trudeau try to call merely asking the question in a lull "bad behavior" - we'll have more on this.

On Kenya, After UNDP Takes Down Webpage, UN Tells ICP To Ask UNDP, But Sid Blocks

By Matthew Russell Lee, Juma Exclusive, this

UNITED NATIONS, September 28 – After the Kenya elections results the UN praised on August 12 were thrown out on September 1, Inner City Press immediately asked the three top spokespeople of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for comment. There was none then, and when Guterres took some media questions on September 5, Inner City Press loudly asked Guterres if he has any update to its praise of Kenay's now reversed election. Video here. Now in Kenya the UN Development Program, run by the son in law of Guterres' predecessor Ban Ki-moon, has quietly taken down the web page bragging about its role in the first round of elections, which Inner City Press cited on September 27. The next day, the webpage was gone. Inner City Press asked UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq, who said to Ask UNDP. Periscope video here. But its head in Kenya, Siddharth Chatterjee, blocks Inner City Press and others. Today's UN is corrupt.The New York City Bar Association has criticized Uhuru Kenyatta for his attacks on the judiciary, while the UN in New York and Nairobi, under Ban Ki-moon's son in law Sid, has remained tellingly silent. It was Chatterjee's UNDP which was still bragging online about its work on the election, including for "transparency." Like the transparency of Sid being promoted by his own father in law without recusal, then blocking and bad-mouthing the Press that reports on it? We'll have more on this. On September 25, Inner City Press asked Guterres's spokesman, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: In Kenya, the… the UN staff member on leave, Roselyn Akombe, has said she's facing death threats.  There's also reports of investigation of her role in the… in the Electoral Commission and the arrest of a… of a member of parliament for allegedly insulting the President, [Uhuru] Kenyatta.  I'm just wondering, what is the UN… the UN, since it has an office in Nairobi and is seeing these things take place, including the arrest of parliamentarians for verbal insults to the President, does the UN have any response to what's taking place…? Spokesman:  I don't have anything on that.  You're welcome to check also with the office in Nairobi." But the head of the UN office in Nairobi, Ban Ki-moon's son in law Siddharth Chatterjee, blocks Inner City Press. Back on September 5 Guterres stopped - and then bragged that his official letter (a belated one on Myanmar) will be in Dujarric's office. Not a single question, or even sentence, was about Africa, where most of the UN's peacekeeping operations are. On September 11, Inner City Press asked Dujarric about Uhuru Kenyatta saying if Raila Odinga is elected president in the re-run election on October 17, his party will remove him from office: "even if he is elected, we have the opportunity in two months, three months to remove him." Dujarric wouldn't criticize even this, and refused Inner City Press' question on UN Roselyn Akombe, except to refer to some written request that has never been shown to the public. Then Dujarric walked off; see this. Back on September 5, three hours after Guterres refused its question, the UN sent Inner City Press this: "Regarding your question on the Kenyan election process, we have the following to say: The United Nations takes note of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the 8 August 2017 presidential elections. The Secretary-General's position, as conferred in previous statements and calls, has been that parties should take their grievances to Court and respect the Court’s decisions, which both Jubilee and NASA have demonstrated today. He reiterates his call on all political leaders and their supporters to respect and abide by the ruling of the Court, as the legal and constitutionally mandated body with the highest authority to decide on this matter." On September 7, Inner City Press asked Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: on Kenya obviously, the drought readout.  But, as I'm sure you know, beyond what you emailed after the Secretary-General's stakeout, the election results were thrown out, and now, there's an enormous fight around the Electoral Commission.   Given that there's one on-hiatus UN DPA [Department of Political Affairs] staffer on the commission and given that person being now ousted from the commission was a former UNDP staffer, there are many people in Kenya wondering what the… if the UN is, in fact, impartial in this case.  What is the UN's view of the… of the Electoral Commission dispute?  And is Ms. Roslyn Akombe still on…? Spokesman:  She's still on special leave.  I think the ruling of the Supreme Court is something we've taken note of.  I think the Secretary-General, in an interview that he did yesterday, I think said it was a sign of democracy, of the democratic process.  From the beginning, I think we have been calling on parties who had grievances to follow the legal pathways.  That has happened.  It is now up to the Kenyans and the established procedures to be followed. Inner City Press: So, I mean, just because as you may have seen, the President [Uhuru] Kenyatta of Kenya has called the head of the Supreme Court a "crook" and said that if he wins on a second term he will "take care of the Court".  So, does that… I didn't see this interview, but is that within… within… in keeping with the Secretary-General's saying that everyone is following the legal procedure? Spokesman:  "That would not be." The dubious August 8 electoral results have been thrown out by the Supreme Court, because the "Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission" IEBC) “failed, neglected or refused to conduct the presidential election in a manner consistent with the dictates of the constitution." At the UN, Secretary General Guterres had very quickly congratulated August 8 "winner" Uhuru Kenyatta; since then Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric has dodged and then refused Inner City Press' questions. On the morning of September 1, Inner City Press asked Dujarric and his top two deputies: "On deadline, what are the comments of the Secretary General and, separately, of the UN's Resident Coordinator in Kenya, and the USG of DPA, on the throwing-out of the August 8 electoral “win” of Uhuru Kenyatta? Again, what is the status of Roselyn Akombe with the UN, especially now? Confirm or deny that the DPA post held by Taye Brook Zerihoun was offered to Monica Juma, and separately if, after August 8, she said she didn't (any longer?) want the position. Please now answer Inner City Press' August 28 questions about Kenya, and the entirely unanswered questions from August 29 and August 30. Please confirm receipt of this email." But Dujarric and his deputies didn't answer, didn't confirm receipt or even put out anything on Kenya. The UN is corrupt. Will Kenyatta still come speak at the UN General Assembly high level week on September 20, scheduled as put online by the Free UN Coalition for Access (also cracked down on by the UN), here? What of the cravenly pro-Kenyatta work of UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya Siddharth Chatterjee, the son in law of former Secretary General Ban Ki-moon whom Ban gave the job without any recusal? When Inner City Press asked its questions, Chatterjee blocked Inner City Press on Twitter and UN Headquarters said that' fine. The UN has become a place of censorship for corruption. We'll have more on this. After the murder of Kenyan electoral official Chris Msando, Inner City Press on August 1 put the question at the UN to Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here and below.  Now on August 28, Inner City Press asked three UN spokespeople this: "In Kenya, it is reported that more than a dozen opposition supporters were killed in Kisumu. What is the Secretary General's, or UN Resident Coordinator Siddharth Chatterjee's, comment and action on this?" Hours after submission - the Spokesman canceled the noon briefing - while one line responses were offered to two other question, there was nothing on this, nothing at all. This is today's UN. After Kenya moved to de-register a second human rights group, Inner City Press asked lead UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric on August 15, UN transcript here and below. Inner City Press has learned, and exclusively reports, that Kenya(tta) foreign ministry officialMonica Juma has been offered a top job in Jeffrey Feltman's UN Department of Political Affairs, to replace Taye-Brook Zerihoun. She was granted six months to "sit" on the job, to help Kenya(tta), as one source put it to Inner City Press.  On August 24, Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: Jeffrey Feltman, being in Somalia... they’re tweeting pictures of him with Farmajo.  But what I wanted to know is, given that he’s so close to Kenya and… is he… where else has he gone on this trip?  I was unaware that he was there.  And can we get some kind of a readout of this trip and whether or not it will include Kenya and… Kenya, if you have any update as more and more people are saying that the results that were put online don’t line up with what was announced and what the Secretary-General congratulated.  Is there any updated statement by the UN? Spokesman:  "Not, not from us here.  There’s a calendar which is playing itself out and there are institutions that are at work on this. And I’ll see what I can get you on Mr. Feltman." Which was, seven hour later, nothing. On August 21 Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here. Five hours later, nothing. Now the dismissive or vague position of today's UN to press freedom is further exemplified by silence on the reported detention at gunpoint of blogger Robert Alai, here. The UN's resident coordinator in Kenya has for example blocked the critical Press on Twitter; UN Spokesman Farhan Haq on August 19 had no specific comment when Inner City Press asked about detentions by Morocco of citizen journalists reporting on the crackdown in Rif. (Lead UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric evicted Inner City Press and still restricts it, for its coverage in the Press Briefing Room of the UN bribery case against now-conficted Ng Lap Seng.) The UN is losing its way, including in Kenya

On Kenya, After UNDP Takes Down Webpage, UN Tells ICP To Ask UNDP, But Sid Blocks

By Matthew Russell Lee, Juma Exclusive, this

UNITED NATIONS, September 28 – After the Kenya elections results the UN praised on August 12 were thrown out on September 1, Inner City Press immediately asked the three top spokespeople of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for comment. There was none then, and when Guterres took some media questions on September 5, Inner City Press loudly asked Guterres if he has any update to its praise of Kenay's now reversed election. Video here. Now in Kenya the UN Development Program, run by the son in law of Guterres' predecessor Ban Ki-moon, has quietly taken down the web page bragging about its role in the first round of elections, which Inner City Press cited on September 27. The next day, the webpage was gone. Inner City Press asked UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq, who said to Ask UNDP. Periscope video here. But its head in Kenya, Siddharth Chatterjee, blocks Inner City Press and others. Today's UN is corrupt.The New York City Bar Association has criticized Uhuru Kenyatta for his attacks on the judiciary, while the UN in New York and Nairobi, under Ban Ki-moon's son in law Sid, has remained tellingly silent. It was Chatterjee's UNDP which was still bragging online about its work on the election, including for "transparency." Like the transparency of Sid being promoted by his own father in law without recusal, then blocking and bad-mouthing the Press that reports on it? We'll have more on this. On September 25, Inner City Press asked Guterres's spokesman, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: In Kenya, the… the UN staff member on leave, Roselyn Akombe, has said she's facing death threats.  There's also reports of investigation of her role in the… in the Electoral Commission and the arrest of a… of a member of parliament for allegedly insulting the President, [Uhuru] Kenyatta.  I'm just wondering, what is the UN… the UN, since it has an office in Nairobi and is seeing these things take place, including the arrest of parliamentarians for verbal insults to the President, does the UN have any response to what's taking place…? Spokesman:  I don't have anything on that.  You're welcome to check also with the office in Nairobi." But the head of the UN office in Nairobi, Ban Ki-moon's son in law Siddharth Chatterjee, blocks Inner City Press. Back on September 5 Guterres stopped - and then bragged that his official letter (a belated one on Myanmar) will be in Dujarric's office. Not a single question, or even sentence, was about Africa, where most of the UN's peacekeeping operations are. On September 11, Inner City Press asked Dujarric about Uhuru Kenyatta saying if Raila Odinga is elected president in the re-run election on October 17, his party will remove him from office: "even if he is elected, we have the opportunity in two months, three months to remove him." Dujarric wouldn't criticize even this, and refused Inner City Press' question on UN Roselyn Akombe, except to refer to some written request that has never been shown to the public. Then Dujarric walked off; see this. Back on September 5, three hours after Guterres refused its question, the UN sent Inner City Press this: "Regarding your question on the Kenyan election process, we have the following to say: The United Nations takes note of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the 8 August 2017 presidential elections. The Secretary-General's position, as conferred in previous statements and calls, has been that parties should take their grievances to Court and respect the Court’s decisions, which both Jubilee and NASA have demonstrated today. He reiterates his call on all political leaders and their supporters to respect and abide by the ruling of the Court, as the legal and constitutionally mandated body with the highest authority to decide on this matter." On September 7, Inner City Press asked Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: on Kenya obviously, the drought readout.  But, as I'm sure you know, beyond what you emailed after the Secretary-General's stakeout, the election results were thrown out, and now, there's an enormous fight around the Electoral Commission.   Given that there's one on-hiatus UN DPA [Department of Political Affairs] staffer on the commission and given that person being now ousted from the commission was a former UNDP staffer, there are many people in Kenya wondering what the… if the UN is, in fact, impartial in this case.  What is the UN's view of the… of the Electoral Commission dispute?  And is Ms. Roslyn Akombe still on…? Spokesman:  She's still on special leave.  I think the ruling of the Supreme Court is something we've taken note of.  I think the Secretary-General, in an interview that he did yesterday, I think said it was a sign of democracy, of the democratic process.  From the beginning, I think we have been calling on parties who had grievances to follow the legal pathways.  That has happened.  It is now up to the Kenyans and the established procedures to be followed. Inner City Press: So, I mean, just because as you may have seen, the President [Uhuru] Kenyatta of Kenya has called the head of the Supreme Court a "crook" and said that if he wins on a second term he will "take care of the Court".  So, does that… I didn't see this interview, but is that within… within… in keeping with the Secretary-General's saying that everyone is following the legal procedure? Spokesman:  "That would not be." The dubious August 8 electoral results have been thrown out by the Supreme Court, because the "Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission" IEBC) “failed, neglected or refused to conduct the presidential election in a manner consistent with the dictates of the constitution." At the UN, Secretary General Guterres had very quickly congratulated August 8 "winner" Uhuru Kenyatta; since then Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric has dodged and then refused Inner City Press' questions. On the morning of September 1, Inner City Press asked Dujarric and his top two deputies: "On deadline, what are the comments of the Secretary General and, separately, of the UN's Resident Coordinator in Kenya, and the USG of DPA, on the throwing-out of the August 8 electoral “win” of Uhuru Kenyatta? Again, what is the status of Roselyn Akombe with the UN, especially now? Confirm or deny that the DPA post held by Taye Brook Zerihoun was offered to Monica Juma, and separately if, after August 8, she said she didn't (any longer?) want the position. Please now answer Inner City Press' August 28 questions about Kenya, and the entirely unanswered questions from August 29 and August 30. Please confirm receipt of this email." But Dujarric and his deputies didn't answer, didn't confirm receipt or even put out anything on Kenya. The UN is corrupt. Will Kenyatta still come speak at the UN General Assembly high level week on September 20, scheduled as put online by the Free UN Coalition for Access (also cracked down on by the UN), here? What of the cravenly pro-Kenyatta work of UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya Siddharth Chatterjee, the son in law of former Secretary General Ban Ki-moon whom Ban gave the job without any recusal? When Inner City Press asked its questions, Chatterjee blocked Inner City Press on Twitter and UN Headquarters said that' fine. The UN has become a place of censorship for corruption. We'll have more on this. After the murder of Kenyan electoral official Chris Msando, Inner City Press on August 1 put the question at the UN to Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here and below.  Now on August 28, Inner City Press asked three UN spokespeople this: "In Kenya, it is reported that more than a dozen opposition supporters were killed in Kisumu. What is the Secretary General's, or UN Resident Coordinator Siddharth Chatterjee's, comment and action on this?" Hours after submission - the Spokesman canceled the noon briefing - while one line responses were offered to two other question, there was nothing on this, nothing at all. This is today's UN. After Kenya moved to de-register a second human rights group, Inner City Press asked lead UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric on August 15, UN transcript here and below. Inner City Press has learned, and exclusively reports, that Kenya(tta) foreign ministry officialMonica Juma has been offered a top job in Jeffrey Feltman's UN Department of Political Affairs, to replace Taye-Brook Zerihoun. She was granted six months to "sit" on the job, to help Kenya(tta), as one source put it to Inner City Press.  On August 24, Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: Jeffrey Feltman, being in Somalia... they’re tweeting pictures of him with Farmajo.  But what I wanted to know is, given that he’s so close to Kenya and… is he… where else has he gone on this trip?  I was unaware that he was there.  And can we get some kind of a readout of this trip and whether or not it will include Kenya and… Kenya, if you have any update as more and more people are saying that the results that were put online don’t line up with what was announced and what the Secretary-General congratulated.  Is there any updated statement by the UN? Spokesman:  "Not, not from us here.  There’s a calendar which is playing itself out and there are institutions that are at work on this. And I’ll see what I can get you on Mr. Feltman." Which was, seven hour later, nothing. On August 21 Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here. Five hours later, nothing. Now the dismissive or vague position of today's UN to press freedom is further exemplified by silence on the reported detention at gunpoint of blogger Robert Alai, here. The UN's resident coordinator in Kenya has for example blocked the critical Press on Twitter; UN Spokesman Farhan Haq on August 19 had no specific comment when Inner City Press asked about detentions by Morocco of citizen journalists reporting on the crackdown in Rif. (Lead UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric evicted Inner City Press and still restricts it, for its coverage in the Press Briefing Room of the UN bribery case against now-conficted Ng Lap Seng.) The UN is losing its way, including in Kenya

On Kenya, After UNDP Takes Down Webpage, UN Tells ICP To Ask UNDP, But Sid Blocks

By Matthew Russell Lee, Juma Exclusive, this

UNITED NATIONS, September 28 – After the Kenya elections results the UN praised on August 12 were thrown out on September 1, Inner City Press immediately asked the three top spokespeople of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for comment. There was none then, and when Guterres took some media questions on September 5, Inner City Press loudly asked Guterres if he has any update to its praise of Kenay's now reversed election. Video here. Now in Kenya the UN Development Program, run by the son in law of Guterres' predecessor Ban Ki-moon, has quietly taken down the web page bragging about its role in the first round of elections, which Inner City Press cited on September 27. The next day, the webpage was gone. Inner City Press asked UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq, who said to Ask UNDP. Periscope video here. But its head in Kenya, Siddharth Chatterjee, blocks Inner City Press and others. Today's UN is corrupt.The New York City Bar Association has criticized Uhuru Kenyatta for his attacks on the judiciary, while the UN in New York and Nairobi, under Ban Ki-moon's son in law Sid, has remained tellingly silent. It was Chatterjee's UNDP which was still bragging online about its work on the election, including for "transparency." Like the transparency of Sid being promoted by his own father in law without recusal, then blocking and bad-mouthing the Press that reports on it? We'll have more on this. On September 25, Inner City Press asked Guterres's spokesman, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: In Kenya, the… the UN staff member on leave, Roselyn Akombe, has said she's facing death threats.  There's also reports of investigation of her role in the… in the Electoral Commission and the arrest of a… of a member of parliament for allegedly insulting the President, [Uhuru] Kenyatta.  I'm just wondering, what is the UN… the UN, since it has an office in Nairobi and is seeing these things take place, including the arrest of parliamentarians for verbal insults to the President, does the UN have any response to what's taking place…? Spokesman:  I don't have anything on that.  You're welcome to check also with the office in Nairobi." But the head of the UN office in Nairobi, Ban Ki-moon's son in law Siddharth Chatterjee, blocks Inner City Press. Back on September 5 Guterres stopped - and then bragged that his official letter (a belated one on Myanmar) will be in Dujarric's office. Not a single question, or even sentence, was about Africa, where most of the UN's peacekeeping operations are. On September 11, Inner City Press asked Dujarric about Uhuru Kenyatta saying if Raila Odinga is elected president in the re-run election on October 17, his party will remove him from office: "even if he is elected, we have the opportunity in two months, three months to remove him." Dujarric wouldn't criticize even this, and refused Inner City Press' question on UN Roselyn Akombe, except to refer to some written request that has never been shown to the public. Then Dujarric walked off; see this. Back on September 5, three hours after Guterres refused its question, the UN sent Inner City Press this: "Regarding your question on the Kenyan election process, we have the following to say: The United Nations takes note of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the 8 August 2017 presidential elections. The Secretary-General's position, as conferred in previous statements and calls, has been that parties should take their grievances to Court and respect the Court’s decisions, which both Jubilee and NASA have demonstrated today. He reiterates his call on all political leaders and their supporters to respect and abide by the ruling of the Court, as the legal and constitutionally mandated body with the highest authority to decide on this matter." On September 7, Inner City Press asked Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: on Kenya obviously, the drought readout.  But, as I'm sure you know, beyond what you emailed after the Secretary-General's stakeout, the election results were thrown out, and now, there's an enormous fight around the Electoral Commission.   Given that there's one on-hiatus UN DPA [Department of Political Affairs] staffer on the commission and given that person being now ousted from the commission was a former UNDP staffer, there are many people in Kenya wondering what the… if the UN is, in fact, impartial in this case.  What is the UN's view of the… of the Electoral Commission dispute?  And is Ms. Roslyn Akombe still on…? Spokesman:  She's still on special leave.  I think the ruling of the Supreme Court is something we've taken note of.  I think the Secretary-General, in an interview that he did yesterday, I think said it was a sign of democracy, of the democratic process.  From the beginning, I think we have been calling on parties who had grievances to follow the legal pathways.  That has happened.  It is now up to the Kenyans and the established procedures to be followed. Inner City Press: So, I mean, just because as you may have seen, the President [Uhuru] Kenyatta of Kenya has called the head of the Supreme Court a "crook" and said that if he wins on a second term he will "take care of the Court".  So, does that… I didn't see this interview, but is that within… within… in keeping with the Secretary-General's saying that everyone is following the legal procedure? Spokesman:  "That would not be." The dubious August 8 electoral results have been thrown out by the Supreme Court, because the "Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission" IEBC) “failed, neglected or refused to conduct the presidential election in a manner consistent with the dictates of the constitution." At the UN, Secretary General Guterres had very quickly congratulated August 8 "winner" Uhuru Kenyatta; since then Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric has dodged and then refused Inner City Press' questions. On the morning of September 1, Inner City Press asked Dujarric and his top two deputies: "On deadline, what are the comments of the Secretary General and, separately, of the UN's Resident Coordinator in Kenya, and the USG of DPA, on the throwing-out of the August 8 electoral “win” of Uhuru Kenyatta? Again, what is the status of Roselyn Akombe with the UN, especially now? Confirm or deny that the DPA post held by Taye Brook Zerihoun was offered to Monica Juma, and separately if, after August 8, she said she didn't (any longer?) want the position. Please now answer Inner City Press' August 28 questions about Kenya, and the entirely unanswered questions from August 29 and August 30. Please confirm receipt of this email." But Dujarric and his deputies didn't answer, didn't confirm receipt or even put out anything on Kenya. The UN is corrupt. Will Kenyatta still come speak at the UN General Assembly high level week on September 20, scheduled as put online by the Free UN Coalition for Access (also cracked down on by the UN), here? What of the cravenly pro-Kenyatta work of UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya Siddharth Chatterjee, the son in law of former Secretary General Ban Ki-moon whom Ban gave the job without any recusal? When Inner City Press asked its questions, Chatterjee blocked Inner City Press on Twitter and UN Headquarters said that' fine. The UN has become a place of censorship for corruption. We'll have more on this. After the murder of Kenyan electoral official Chris Msando, Inner City Press on August 1 put the question at the UN to Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here and below.  Now on August 28, Inner City Press asked three UN spokespeople this: "In Kenya, it is reported that more than a dozen opposition supporters were killed in Kisumu. What is the Secretary General's, or UN Resident Coordinator Siddharth Chatterjee's, comment and action on this?" Hours after submission - the Spokesman canceled the noon briefing - while one line responses were offered to two other question, there was nothing on this, nothing at all. This is today's UN. After Kenya moved to de-register a second human rights group, Inner City Press asked lead UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric on August 15, UN transcript here and below. Inner City Press has learned, and exclusively reports, that Kenya(tta) foreign ministry officialMonica Juma has been offered a top job in Jeffrey Feltman's UN Department of Political Affairs, to replace Taye-Brook Zerihoun. She was granted six months to "sit" on the job, to help Kenya(tta), as one source put it to Inner City Press.  On August 24, Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: Jeffrey Feltman, being in Somalia... they’re tweeting pictures of him with Farmajo.  But what I wanted to know is, given that he’s so close to Kenya and… is he… where else has he gone on this trip?  I was unaware that he was there.  And can we get some kind of a readout of this trip and whether or not it will include Kenya and… Kenya, if you have any update as more and more people are saying that the results that were put online don’t line up with what was announced and what the Secretary-General congratulated.  Is there any updated statement by the UN? Spokesman:  "Not, not from us here.  There’s a calendar which is playing itself out and there are institutions that are at work on this. And I’ll see what I can get you on Mr. Feltman." Which was, seven hour later, nothing. On August 21 Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here. Five hours later, nothing. Now the dismissive or vague position of today's UN to press freedom is further exemplified by silence on the reported detention at gunpoint of blogger Robert Alai, here. The UN's resident coordinator in Kenya has for example blocked the critical Press on Twitter; UN Spokesman Farhan Haq on August 19 had no specific comment when Inner City Press asked about detentions by Morocco of citizen journalists reporting on the crackdown in Rif. (Lead UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric evicted Inner City Press and still restricts it, for its coverage in the Press Briefing Room of the UN bribery case against now-conficted Ng Lap Seng.) The UN is losing its way, including in Kenya

On Kenya, After UNDP Takes Down Webpage, UN Tells ICP To Ask UNDP, But Sid Blocks

By Matthew Russell Lee, Juma Exclusive, this

UNITED NATIONS, September 28 – After the Kenya elections results the UN praised on August 12 were thrown out on September 1, Inner City Press immediately asked the three top spokespeople of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for comment. There was none then, and when Guterres took some media questions on September 5, Inner City Press loudly asked Guterres if he has any update to its praise of Kenay's now reversed election. Video here. Now in Kenya the UN Development Program, run by the son in law of Guterres' predecessor Ban Ki-moon, has quietly taken down the web page bragging about its role in the first round of elections, which Inner City Press cited on September 27. The next day, the webpage was gone. Inner City Press asked UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq, who said to Ask UNDP. Periscope video here. But its head in Kenya, Siddharth Chatterjee, blocks Inner City Press and others. Today's UN is corrupt.The New York City Bar Association has criticized Uhuru Kenyatta for his attacks on the judiciary, while the UN in New York and Nairobi, under Ban Ki-moon's son in law Sid, has remained tellingly silent. It was Chatterjee's UNDP which was still bragging online about its work on the election, including for "transparency." Like the transparency of Sid being promoted by his own father in law without recusal, then blocking and bad-mouthing the Press that reports on it? We'll have more on this. On September 25, Inner City Press asked Guterres's spokesman, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: In Kenya, the… the UN staff member on leave, Roselyn Akombe, has said she's facing death threats.  There's also reports of investigation of her role in the… in the Electoral Commission and the arrest of a… of a member of parliament for allegedly insulting the President, [Uhuru] Kenyatta.  I'm just wondering, what is the UN… the UN, since it has an office in Nairobi and is seeing these things take place, including the arrest of parliamentarians for verbal insults to the President, does the UN have any response to what's taking place…? Spokesman:  I don't have anything on that.  You're welcome to check also with the office in Nairobi." But the head of the UN office in Nairobi, Ban Ki-moon's son in law Siddharth Chatterjee, blocks Inner City Press. Back on September 5 Guterres stopped - and then bragged that his official letter (a belated one on Myanmar) will be in Dujarric's office. Not a single question, or even sentence, was about Africa, where most of the UN's peacekeeping operations are. On September 11, Inner City Press asked Dujarric about Uhuru Kenyatta saying if Raila Odinga is elected president in the re-run election on October 17, his party will remove him from office: "even if he is elected, we have the opportunity in two months, three months to remove him." Dujarric wouldn't criticize even this, and refused Inner City Press' question on UN Roselyn Akombe, except to refer to some written request that has never been shown to the public. Then Dujarric walked off; see this. Back on September 5, three hours after Guterres refused its question, the UN sent Inner City Press this: "Regarding your question on the Kenyan election process, we have the following to say: The United Nations takes note of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the 8 August 2017 presidential elections. The Secretary-General's position, as conferred in previous statements and calls, has been that parties should take their grievances to Court and respect the Court’s decisions, which both Jubilee and NASA have demonstrated today. He reiterates his call on all political leaders and their supporters to respect and abide by the ruling of the Court, as the legal and constitutionally mandated body with the highest authority to decide on this matter." On September 7, Inner City Press asked Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: on Kenya obviously, the drought readout.  But, as I'm sure you know, beyond what you emailed after the Secretary-General's stakeout, the election results were thrown out, and now, there's an enormous fight around the Electoral Commission.   Given that there's one on-hiatus UN DPA [Department of Political Affairs] staffer on the commission and given that person being now ousted from the commission was a former UNDP staffer, there are many people in Kenya wondering what the… if the UN is, in fact, impartial in this case.  What is the UN's view of the… of the Electoral Commission dispute?  And is Ms. Roslyn Akombe still on…? Spokesman:  She's still on special leave.  I think the ruling of the Supreme Court is something we've taken note of.  I think the Secretary-General, in an interview that he did yesterday, I think said it was a sign of democracy, of the democratic process.  From the beginning, I think we have been calling on parties who had grievances to follow the legal pathways.  That has happened.  It is now up to the Kenyans and the established procedures to be followed. Inner City Press: So, I mean, just because as you may have seen, the President [Uhuru] Kenyatta of Kenya has called the head of the Supreme Court a "crook" and said that if he wins on a second term he will "take care of the Court".  So, does that… I didn't see this interview, but is that within… within… in keeping with the Secretary-General's saying that everyone is following the legal procedure? Spokesman:  "That would not be." The dubious August 8 electoral results have been thrown out by the Supreme Court, because the "Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission" IEBC) “failed, neglected or refused to conduct the presidential election in a manner consistent with the dictates of the constitution." At the UN, Secretary General Guterres had very quickly congratulated August 8 "winner" Uhuru Kenyatta; since then Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric has dodged and then refused Inner City Press' questions. On the morning of September 1, Inner City Press asked Dujarric and his top two deputies: "On deadline, what are the comments of the Secretary General and, separately, of the UN's Resident Coordinator in Kenya, and the USG of DPA, on the throwing-out of the August 8 electoral “win” of Uhuru Kenyatta? Again, what is the status of Roselyn Akombe with the UN, especially now? Confirm or deny that the DPA post held by Taye Brook Zerihoun was offered to Monica Juma, and separately if, after August 8, she said she didn't (any longer?) want the position. Please now answer Inner City Press' August 28 questions about Kenya, and the entirely unanswered questions from August 29 and August 30. Please confirm receipt of this email." But Dujarric and his deputies didn't answer, didn't confirm receipt or even put out anything on Kenya. The UN is corrupt. Will Kenyatta still come speak at the UN General Assembly high level week on September 20, scheduled as put online by the Free UN Coalition for Access (also cracked down on by the UN), here? What of the cravenly pro-Kenyatta work of UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya Siddharth Chatterjee, the son in law of former Secretary General Ban Ki-moon whom Ban gave the job without any recusal? When Inner City Press asked its questions, Chatterjee blocked Inner City Press on Twitter and UN Headquarters said that' fine. The UN has become a place of censorship for corruption. We'll have more on this. After the murder of Kenyan electoral official Chris Msando, Inner City Press on August 1 put the question at the UN to Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here and below.  Now on August 28, Inner City Press asked three UN spokespeople this: "In Kenya, it is reported that more than a dozen opposition supporters were killed in Kisumu. What is the Secretary General's, or UN Resident Coordinator Siddharth Chatterjee's, comment and action on this?" Hours after submission - the Spokesman canceled the noon briefing - while one line responses were offered to two other question, there was nothing on this, nothing at all. This is today's UN. After Kenya moved to de-register a second human rights group, Inner City Press asked lead UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric on August 15, UN transcript here and below. Inner City Press has learned, and exclusively reports, that Kenya(tta) foreign ministry officialMonica Juma has been offered a top job in Jeffrey Feltman's UN Department of Political Affairs, to replace Taye-Brook Zerihoun. She was granted six months to "sit" on the job, to help Kenya(tta), as one source put it to Inner City Press.  On August 24, Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: Jeffrey Feltman, being in Somalia... they’re tweeting pictures of him with Farmajo.  But what I wanted to know is, given that he’s so close to Kenya and… is he… where else has he gone on this trip?  I was unaware that he was there.  And can we get some kind of a readout of this trip and whether or not it will include Kenya and… Kenya, if you have any update as more and more people are saying that the results that were put online don’t line up with what was announced and what the Secretary-General congratulated.  Is there any updated statement by the UN? Spokesman:  "Not, not from us here.  There’s a calendar which is playing itself out and there are institutions that are at work on this. And I’ll see what I can get you on Mr. Feltman." Which was, seven hour later, nothing. On August 21 Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here. Five hours later, nothing. Now the dismissive or vague position of today's UN to press freedom is further exemplified by silence on the reported detention at gunpoint of blogger Robert Alai, here. The UN's resident coordinator in Kenya has for example blocked the critical Press on Twitter; UN Spokesman Farhan Haq on August 19 had no specific comment when Inner City Press asked about detentions by Morocco of citizen journalists reporting on the crackdown in Rif. (Lead UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric evicted Inner City Press and still restricts it, for its coverage in the Press Briefing Room of the UN bribery case against now-conficted Ng Lap Seng.) The UN is losing its way, including in Kenya

On Kenya, After UNDP Takes Down Webpage, UN Tells ICP To Ask UNDP, But Sid Blocks

By Matthew Russell Lee, Juma Exclusive, this

UNITED NATIONS, September 28 – After the Kenya elections results the UN praised on August 12 were thrown out on September 1, Inner City Press immediately asked the three top spokespeople of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for comment. There was none then, and when Guterres took some media questions on September 5, Inner City Press loudly asked Guterres if he has any update to its praise of Kenay's now reversed election. Video here. Now in Kenya the UN Development Program, run by the son in law of Guterres' predecessor Ban Ki-moon, has quietly taken down the web page bragging about its role in the first round of elections, which Inner City Press cited on September 27. The next day, the webpage was gone. Inner City Press asked UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq, who said to Ask UNDP. Periscope video here. But its head in Kenya, Siddharth Chatterjee, blocks Inner City Press and others. Today's UN is corrupt.The New York City Bar Association has criticized Uhuru Kenyatta for his attacks on the judiciary, while the UN in New York and Nairobi, under Ban Ki-moon's son in law Sid, has remained tellingly silent. It was Chatterjee's UNDP which was still bragging online about its work on the election, including for "transparency." Like the transparency of Sid being promoted by his own father in law without recusal, then blocking and bad-mouthing the Press that reports on it? We'll have more on this. On September 25, Inner City Press asked Guterres's spokesman, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: In Kenya, the… the UN staff member on leave, Roselyn Akombe, has said she's facing death threats.  There's also reports of investigation of her role in the… in the Electoral Commission and the arrest of a… of a member of parliament for allegedly insulting the President, [Uhuru] Kenyatta.  I'm just wondering, what is the UN… the UN, since it has an office in Nairobi and is seeing these things take place, including the arrest of parliamentarians for verbal insults to the President, does the UN have any response to what's taking place…? Spokesman:  I don't have anything on that.  You're welcome to check also with the office in Nairobi." But the head of the UN office in Nairobi, Ban Ki-moon's son in law Siddharth Chatterjee, blocks Inner City Press. Back on September 5 Guterres stopped - and then bragged that his official letter (a belated one on Myanmar) will be in Dujarric's office. Not a single question, or even sentence, was about Africa, where most of the UN's peacekeeping operations are. On September 11, Inner City Press asked Dujarric about Uhuru Kenyatta saying if Raila Odinga is elected president in the re-run election on October 17, his party will remove him from office: "even if he is elected, we have the opportunity in two months, three months to remove him." Dujarric wouldn't criticize even this, and refused Inner City Press' question on UN Roselyn Akombe, except to refer to some written request that has never been shown to the public. Then Dujarric walked off; see this. Back on September 5, three hours after Guterres refused its question, the UN sent Inner City Press this: "Regarding your question on the Kenyan election process, we have the following to say: The United Nations takes note of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the 8 August 2017 presidential elections. The Secretary-General's position, as conferred in previous statements and calls, has been that parties should take their grievances to Court and respect the Court’s decisions, which both Jubilee and NASA have demonstrated today. He reiterates his call on all political leaders and their supporters to respect and abide by the ruling of the Court, as the legal and constitutionally mandated body with the highest authority to decide on this matter." On September 7, Inner City Press asked Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: on Kenya obviously, the drought readout.  But, as I'm sure you know, beyond what you emailed after the Secretary-General's stakeout, the election results were thrown out, and now, there's an enormous fight around the Electoral Commission.   Given that there's one on-hiatus UN DPA [Department of Political Affairs] staffer on the commission and given that person being now ousted from the commission was a former UNDP staffer, there are many people in Kenya wondering what the… if the UN is, in fact, impartial in this case.  What is the UN's view of the… of the Electoral Commission dispute?  And is Ms. Roslyn Akombe still on…? Spokesman:  She's still on special leave.  I think the ruling of the Supreme Court is something we've taken note of.  I think the Secretary-General, in an interview that he did yesterday, I think said it was a sign of democracy, of the democratic process.  From the beginning, I think we have been calling on parties who had grievances to follow the legal pathways.  That has happened.  It is now up to the Kenyans and the established procedures to be followed. Inner City Press: So, I mean, just because as you may have seen, the President [Uhuru] Kenyatta of Kenya has called the head of the Supreme Court a "crook" and said that if he wins on a second term he will "take care of the Court".  So, does that… I didn't see this interview, but is that within… within… in keeping with the Secretary-General's saying that everyone is following the legal procedure? Spokesman:  "That would not be." The dubious August 8 electoral results have been thrown out by the Supreme Court, because the "Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission" IEBC) “failed, neglected or refused to conduct the presidential election in a manner consistent with the dictates of the constitution." At the UN, Secretary General Guterres had very quickly congratulated August 8 "winner" Uhuru Kenyatta; since then Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric has dodged and then refused Inner City Press' questions. On the morning of September 1, Inner City Press asked Dujarric and his top two deputies: "On deadline, what are the comments of the Secretary General and, separately, of the UN's Resident Coordinator in Kenya, and the USG of DPA, on the throwing-out of the August 8 electoral “win” of Uhuru Kenyatta? Again, what is the status of Roselyn Akombe with the UN, especially now? Confirm or deny that the DPA post held by Taye Brook Zerihoun was offered to Monica Juma, and separately if, after August 8, she said she didn't (any longer?) want the position. Please now answer Inner City Press' August 28 questions about Kenya, and the entirely unanswered questions from August 29 and August 30. Please confirm receipt of this email." But Dujarric and his deputies didn't answer, didn't confirm receipt or even put out anything on Kenya. The UN is corrupt. Will Kenyatta still come speak at the UN General Assembly high level week on September 20, scheduled as put online by the Free UN Coalition for Access (also cracked down on by the UN), here? What of the cravenly pro-Kenyatta work of UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya Siddharth Chatterjee, the son in law of former Secretary General Ban Ki-moon whom Ban gave the job without any recusal? When Inner City Press asked its questions, Chatterjee blocked Inner City Press on Twitter and UN Headquarters said that' fine. The UN has become a place of censorship for corruption. We'll have more on this. After the murder of Kenyan electoral official Chris Msando, Inner City Press on August 1 put the question at the UN to Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here and below.  Now on August 28, Inner City Press asked three UN spokespeople this: "In Kenya, it is reported that more than a dozen opposition supporters were killed in Kisumu. What is the Secretary General's, or UN Resident Coordinator Siddharth Chatterjee's, comment and action on this?" Hours after submission - the Spokesman canceled the noon briefing - while one line responses were offered to two other question, there was nothing on this, nothing at all. This is today's UN. After Kenya moved to de-register a second human rights group, Inner City Press asked lead UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric on August 15, UN transcript here and below. Inner City Press has learned, and exclusively reports, that Kenya(tta) foreign ministry officialMonica Juma has been offered a top job in Jeffrey Feltman's UN Department of Political Affairs, to replace Taye-Brook Zerihoun. She was granted six months to "sit" on the job, to help Kenya(tta), as one source put it to Inner City Press.  On August 24, Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: Jeffrey Feltman, being in Somalia... they’re tweeting pictures of him with Farmajo.  But what I wanted to know is, given that he’s so close to Kenya and… is he… where else has he gone on this trip?  I was unaware that he was there.  And can we get some kind of a readout of this trip and whether or not it will include Kenya and… Kenya, if you have any update as more and more people are saying that the results that were put online don’t line up with what was announced and what the Secretary-General congratulated.  Is there any updated statement by the UN? Spokesman:  "Not, not from us here.  There’s a calendar which is playing itself out and there are institutions that are at work on this. And I’ll see what I can get you on Mr. Feltman." Which was, seven hour later, nothing. On August 21 Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here. Five hours later, nothing. Now the dismissive or vague position of today's UN to press freedom is further exemplified by silence on the reported detention at gunpoint of blogger Robert Alai, here. The UN's resident coordinator in Kenya has for example blocked the critical Press on Twitter; UN Spokesman Farhan Haq on August 19 had no specific comment when Inner City Press asked about detentions by Morocco of citizen journalists reporting on the crackdown in Rif. (Lead UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric evicted Inner City Press and still restricts it, for its coverage in the Press Briefing Room of the UN bribery case against now-conficted Ng Lap Seng.) The UN is losing its way, including in Kenya

At UN, ICP Asked Of Guterres' Pro-Biya Cameroon Read-Out, Now "Concern"

By Matthew Russell Lee, Photo, video

UNITED NATIONS, September 28 – When Cameroon's President for the past 30-plus years Paul Biya came to meet Antonio Guterres, he was accompanied by state media and... Inner City Press. Since the subsequent UN read-out did not mention Biya's abuse of Anglophones, or human rights in any way, Inner City Press on September 26, 27 and 28 asked Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric about these glaring omissions. The first time, Dujarric alluded to "private" diplomacy. 

Then on September 27 when Inner City Press asked ask, video here, Dujarric said that UN envoy Francois Fall will be going to Cameroon "next week." On September 28, Inner City Press asked Dujarric deputy Farhan Haq if this would be before or after October 1, and Haq said he didn't know. Hours later, Dujarric's office put out this, which many see as too little, too late, with its emphasis on territorial integrity: "The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the situation in Cameroon, including with regard to the recent security incidents in Bamenda and in Douala, and mounting tensions in the South-West and North-West regions related to planned events on 1 October. The Secretary-General has encouraged the Cameroonian authorities to continue their efforts to address the grievances of the Anglophone community. He urges the authorities to promote measures of national reconciliation aimed at finding a durable solution to the crisis, including by addressing its root causes. The Secretary-General supports upholding the unity and territorial integrity of Cameroon and urges all parties to refrain from acts that could lead to an escalation of tension and violence. The Secretary-General believes that genuine and inclusive dialogue between the Government and the communities in the South-West and North-West regions is the best way to preserve the unity and stability of the country.  The Secretary-General stands ready to support these efforts, including through the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA). " We'll see. On September 26, Dujarric replied that Guterres would say there is a time for public diplomacy, and a time for private diplomacy. Video here. Some wonder, how many people have to die, or what kind of people, for it to be time for UN "public" diplomacy? Earlier on September 22 Inner City Press interviewed Southern Cameroonians out on 47th Street, then asked Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric about people killed that very day. UN transcript here and below. The crackdown is also financial: Biya's Minister of Finance has threatened the National Frincne Credit Bank in Bamenda with loss of its license for taking part in the "Ghost Town" expression of desire for independence, or in the first instance a referendum. See letter here. This politicization should trigger action by the "decision making phere" [sic] written about by Biya's state media, the kind of media that the UN and now its new head of Public Information favor over independent press. From the September 22 UN transcript: Inner City Press:  there’s a protest right now of Southern Cameroonians on 47th Street, but more importantly, there’s one in Southern Cameroon where five people have been killed today, as Paul Biya gave his speech, so I’m wondering…  I know the Deputy Secretary-General had some interest in the issue.  There’s Mr. [Francois Lonseny] Fall.  Are they aware of these protests? Spokesman:  "We’ve seen the reports I think we would definitely… we would call on the authorities to show restraint and ensure that people have the right to demonstrate freely." But on the UN's 27th floor, it was all smiles. And much later the UN put this read-out on its website: "The Secretary-General met today with H.E. Mr. Paul Biya, President of the Republic of Cameroon. The Secretary-General appreciated Cameroon’s hospitality towards the refugees.
They discussed the latest political developments in the country, as well as regional issues, including Boko Haram and the situation in the Central African Republic. The Secretary commended Cameroon for its efforts to combat Boko Haram, and reiterated the readiness of the United Nations to support the Government in all areas." No mention of the Anglophone areas, much less the day's killings. This is a new low, even for today's UN. UN Department of Political Affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman had left the floor with the Australian delegation; it was unclear if any UN Human Rights official was present. One of Biya's handlers even signed the UN visitors book in advance for him. When Guterres greeted his next visitor he did so in French then apologized, the last meeting was in French. Back September 19. Guterres ended with two photo ops. The first was Paraguay's President Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara, who spent a long time writing in the UN's visitors' book, followed by a short meeting. Alamy photos here. Next and last was Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Guterres said pointedly, just the signature. But something was lost in translation: he still started writing. Alamy photos here. Then the Press was ushered out. Alreay on the way in before the Paraguay photo op, the Media Entrance on 47th Street was locked. The questions about double standards of media access, including retaliatory restrictions still in place on the investigative Press while no-show, no-question state media like Egypt's Akhbar al Yom have full access have yet to be answered by the official now responsible, Alison Smale. According to a photographer allowed into the smaller "G-200" room, Smale was there to greet "her" Prime Minister, Theresa May. The previous day, Guterres was to have met Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, trying to get Presidential age limits in his country removed, at 4:40 pm on September 18. Inner City Press went, with UN Security, to the 27th floor for the photo op. But moment before, the Security said to change the flag from Uganda to Denmark, or really just UN blue. Then they said to switch it to South Africa for Jacob Zuma. This was attributed to New York City traffic. Alamy photos here. UN Department of Political Affairs official Taye Brook Zerihoun, there for the Uganda meeting, stayed on as he has in his post. Would he stay for Denmark, or South Korea's Moon? Periscope video here. When Italy's Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano took media questions at the UN on September 18, they were all in Italian except for a final chosen question about Donald Trump. Inner City Press insisted and asked, in English, if Italy funds militia in Libya to detain migrants and refugees. Alfano's answer was in Italian, but a handler from the Italian Mission offered a translation: that Italy has denied it. So what due diligence does Italy do, over the funds it gives to the UN-propped up government in Libya? We'll have more on this. Alamy photos here. When US President Donald Trump gave his UN reform speech on September 18, he noted that UN staff have doubled since 2000, but we haven't seen the results. He could have said more: what HAS been seen includes inaction on mass killings in Sri Lanka and Yemen, Myanmar and Cameroon. Not mentioned in Secretary General Antonio Guterres' speech, nor in his answers the two times Inner City Press has asked him, is the UN bribery guilty verdicts in the case of Ng Lap Seng / John Ashe. The UN was shown, only this summer, to be for sale. And nothing has changed. As UN General Assembly week started up on Sunday, the US announced that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson would meet with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov at 9 pm, at Russia's Mission to the UN. Inner City Press after asking Cote d'Ivoire president Alassane Ouattara a question about Myanmar - without answer - biked up to that Mission on 67th Street. There in the half light were dozens of reporters and photographers, waiting for Tillerson to leave. In the street were US body guards with machine guns. Tillerson emerged and said nothing, driving away. Video here. Most of the Western wire service correspondents, one a photographer who'd been at the UN photo op with Ouattara but not the stakeout with Ivorian media, turned and left. Then the spokesman for Lavrov, and before him for now deceased Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, emerged and briefed in Russia. Inner City Press was informed second hard that she said the topics had been Syria, Ukraine and Minsk implementation, and “North Africa.” Later the US State Department said, “U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met this evening in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The two recommitted to deconflicting military operations in Syria, reducing the violence, and creating the conditions for the Geneva process to move forward, pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254.” So what about North Africa? Peacekeepers in Ukraine? Watch this site.