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On Way to Myanmar and Than Shwe, Banning the Press
at UN
Byline:
Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at
the UN: News Analysis
UNITED NATIONS,
May 20, updated 8:45 p.m. --
Myanmar's general Than Shwe, who has repeatedly
refused to take telephone calls from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,
will
reportedly meet with Ban later this week. This was announced by Ban in
a
carefully choreographed appearance at the Security Council stakeout on
Tuesday
morning. Before Ban arrived, his personal rostrum was set up, complete
with
glass of water covered with a white napkin with UN logo.
Then
one of his
spokespeople came down, to tell the press that only "one or two
questions" would be taken, and to whisper to technicians that some
media
-- one reporter in particular -- should not be given a chance to ask a
question. This is hitting a new low of control and censorship, but
who's
counting? What's not yet clear is if Ban himself is aware of these
shameful snubs
on press freedom. There is at least one such attack, in connection with
his
trip to Myanmar, of which he is known to be aware. We'll see.
Ban and his rostrum, control of questions not
shown - but known?
In
his prepared remarks, read from notes, Ban announced that the UN has
permission
for the use of nine World Food Program helicopters. He said that 25% of
those
needing help are being served; others use a figure of 10%. As Ban
spoke, UK
Foreign Minister David Miliband and France's human rights minister Rama
Yade
waited to the side. When Ban finished, technicians under the watchful
eye of UN
media staff quickly unplugged Ban's rostrum and moved it to the side.
No one
else can be seen behind it. The rostrum, with its sticker from www.Sound-Craft.com,
is meant to convey authority. Who knew
that this is only maintained by affirmatively
trying to freeze particular questions, or reporters, out?
Footnote: Minister
Miliband spoke of the concern of
"European nations" for "Myanmar and
Burma." Once inside the Security
Council chamber, he called it simply
Myanmar. Rama Yade spoke in English, then
was
reminded by Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert and his team to say it again in
French.
Minister Miliband, before Rama Yade spoke,
said "we'll [or will] be able to answer your questions after the
meeting." Video here,
at Minute 2:07. It is pointed out that Ms. Yade herself never promised
to return to answer questions -- on that, we stand corrected. Of
course, the press had been alerted that she would be at the stakeout
after 9:30 and before 9:45; the assumption that this would include
answering some questions was apparently misplaced. There are some
questions to be asked, and one day soon they will be. Watch this site.
* * *
These reports are
usually also available through Google
News and on Lexis-Nexis.
Click
here for a Reuters
AlertNet piece by this correspondent
about Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army. Click
here
for an earlier Reuters AlertNet piece about the Somali National
Reconciliation Congress, and the UN's $200,000 contribution from an
undefined trust fund. Video
Analysis here
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