On September
27, Inner City
Press directly
asked
Chatterjee
about it, on Periscope. here.Vine
here.Chatterjee
hardly
answered the
long-standing
questions; nor
did Ban's
spokesman.
Neither set up
the requested
interview.
Doosan
is providing
the nuclear
reactor. Ban's
friend and
mentor Han
Seung-soo,
whom Ban
appointed to a
senior UN
position
(which conveys
diplomatic
immunity) is
on the board
of directors
of Doosan and
has engaged
closely with
UAE on issues
of Korean
trade
promotion and
business.
Han has most
recently served
on the jury of
the UAE Energy
Prize.
Meanwhile,
Ban's other
brother Ban
ki-sang served
as an advisor
to Keangnam,
which
developed
properties
in UAE for South
Korean
expatriates
and
businesses.
On
October 6,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman
Farhan Haq
again about
Ban's nephew's
fraud
conviction,
and a surreal
email Ban sent
to UN staff
about...
fraud. Many
staff called
it hypocrisy.
Beyond
the Vine video
here,
second
half. From the UN
transcript:
Inner
City
Press: I
wanted to ask
you about an
email that the
Secretary-General
sent, I think,
to all staff
about fraud
yesterday.
It was a blast
e-mail, a UNHQ
(United
Nations
Headquarters)
broadcast.
And it was
sort of
instructed
staff to… that
fraud is a
serious
matter.
There's
something
called the
2017
Leadership
Dialogue.
And I guess,
what triggered
the
e-mail.
In having read
it and
published it,
it's not
clear.
Is this
something
that's being
newly
announced?
Why was this
anti-fraud
e-mail sent
yesterday?
Deputy
Spokesman:
There are a
number of
internal
e-mails that
go out from
time to
time.
This is simply
another one of
those, and
it's on a
topic that the
Secretary-General
feels is
important.
ICP
Question:
And I guess…
because I'd
asked you this
before, and I
keep… I go…
you had said
that… to
somehow to ask
Colliers if
the individual
who's listed
in the
newspaper as
the nephew of
the
Secretary-General
as working for
them at the
time that the
fraud that he
was just
convicted of
occurred.
But I'm asking
you… I want
to, I guess,
just
reiterate.
As the UN,
doesn't the UN
have a duty,
if it has
existing
contractors…
and I just
went by 45th
Street
today.
The sign is
still up, so
the UN is
doing business
with
Colliers.
If a
newspaper,
widely
circulated,
says an
employee of
their company
was convicted
of fraud,
isn't there
some follow up
totally
outside of the
familial
relationship
of the
Secretary-General?
Deputy
Spokesman:
We do not
determine the
staffing of
Colliers.
You would have
to ask them
that.
Have a good
afternoon.
On
October 5,
just hours
after Ban's
replacement
was selected
and his deputy
spokesman told
Inner City
Press Ban will
no longer hand
out top posts
(as he did,
for example,
to his own son
in law on
August 26),
Ban sent his
first
post-Guterres
email to UN
staff,
shamelessly
about...
fraud:
Date:
5 October 2016
at 2:01:33 PM
GMT-4
Subject:
Message from
the
Secretary-General
to Staff on
Fraud and
Corruption
Dear
colleagues,
Anyone who
works for the
United Nations
has a
fundamental
responsibility
to act with
honesty and
integrity at
all
times.
The vast
majority of
staff take
pride in
honouring this
responsibility.
But we operate
in uniquely
high-risk
environments
that expose
our activities
to significant
risks. Fraud
and corruption
not only
betray the
trust placed
in us by
Member States;
they damage
our
operations,
our authority
and our
credibility,
making it more
difficult for
all of us to
do our work.
The
comprehensive
Anti-Fraud and
Anti-Corruption
Framework,
issued through
Information
Circular
ST/IC/2016/25
on 9 September
2016, is
designed to
help staff
promote and
maintain a
culture of
integrity and
honesty across
the range of
our operations
and
activities.
It details how
our
Organization
acts to
prevent,
detect, deter,
respond to and
report on
fraud and
corruption.
The United
Nations has a
zero-tolerance
approach to
fraud and
corruption.
This means
that the
administration
will actively
pursue all
allegations,
and will take
all necessary
disciplinary
and
contractual
measures when
wrongdoing is
established.
The 2017
Leadership
Dialogue – the
discussion
that all
managers
should have
every year
with staff who
report to them
– will focus
on this
Framework. I
hope it will
stimulate
discussions
between staff
and managers
at all levels
on how the
Framework can
be applied.
Together, we
must make
every effort
to promote the
highest
ethical
standards for
our United
Nations, as we
serve the
world’s
people.
Warm regards,
The
Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon"
On October 2,
Ban's deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq
replied that
Ban has had
"no contact"
with his own
nephew.
So
on October 4,
Inner City
Press asked
about Ban's
nephew's
connection
with UNDP's
property
manager, UN
transcript
here:
Inner
City Press: I
understand
that you'd
said the
Secretary-General
has had no
contact with
his nephew
Bahn Joo-hyun,
but given that
the article
says that the
acts that he
engaged in
were while he
was an
employee of
Colliers
International,
which, if you
remember this,
there was
back-and-forth.
Their plaque
is still up on
the FF
Building on
45th
Street.
I wanted to
know, this is
a UN question
as opposed to
a
Secretary-General,
if he doesn't
speak to
him. Is
this
individual, a
nephew of the
Secretary-General,
still employed
by
Colliers?
If so, does
this finding
by a court
trigger any
review of the
UN's contracts
with Colliers?
Deputy
Spokesman:
You would have
to check with
Colliers
whether he's
an
employee.
I wouldn't
comment on
someone who is
not UN
personnel.
Amid all this
- and while
refusing to
answer basic
questions -
Ban Ki-moon
has found a
group to
praise and
flatter him,
with
photographs no
less. This was
sent to Inner
City Press
this afternoon
by an amazed
recipient, we
publish it
here:
"Dear
colleagues,
UNCA is
pleased to
inform you
that a Photo
Exhibition
presenting the
10 years of
United Nations
Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon,
will take
place at the
end of
November.
Submissions
are now open
to all UN
photographers
to send their
photos of Ban
Ki-moon in
action during
his tenure.
There will be
a total of 25
photos
selected to be
exhibited at
the opening of
the event with
the attendance
of the
Secretary-General.
Cia
Pak,
Scannews, will
coordinate the
submissions.
Please see the
instructions
below on how
to submit your
work.
Best regards,
Giampaolo
Pioli
UNCA
President"
We'll
have more on
this.
Meanwhile,
"court has
ruled a nephew
of U.N.
Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon
pay $590,000
in damages to
a South Korean
construction
firm that was
at the center
of a major
lobbying
scandal last
year. The
Seoul Northern
District Court
recently
handed down
the sentence
to Ban
Joo-hyun, son
of the U.N.
chief's
younger
brother Ban
Ki-sang, on
charges of
fabricating
documents that
allegedly
expressed the
Qatari
government's
intention to
buy a
high-rise
building
belonging to
the firm,
Keangnam
Enterprises
Inc.
"Ban Joo-hyun,
who was an
executive of a
U.S. real
estate
investment
company at the
time, is
accused of
receiving the
money from
Keangnam
Enterprises in
2014 in
exchange for
arranging the
sale of the
skyscraper in
Vietnam to the
Qatari
government. In
the process,
he reportedly
told Keangnam
that he could
use the
influence of
his uncle to
directly
contact the
Qatari king."
Ban's deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq on
October 3,
when Inner
City Press
asked,
declined
comment except
to say that
Ban has "no
contact" with
his nephew.
His brother's
son? We'll
have more on
this.
Inner
City Press was
informed by
whistleblowing
UN staff that
Ban is now
attempting,
contrary even
to a new
feather-bedding
rule his
issued to
place his
staff wherever
they want in
the UN system,
to place his
longtime
personal /
appointments
secretary Eun
Ha (Isabelle)
Kim as a P-3
Professional
in the UN
Office of
Protocol.
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric on
September 29
said he has
"no idea"
about such a
position,
while accusing
Inner City
Press of
dragging
people -- Kim?
Or Mr Ban?" -
through the
mud. Video
here.
On
September 28
Inner City
Press
published
more, from
even more
complaining
staff. They
tell Inner
City Press
that Ban
ALREADY broke
the rules,
promoting
Isabelle Kim
from General
Service to a
P-2
professional
position, and
now ordering
the Office of
Protocol to
create a P-3
post for Ms.
Kim. Staff are
angry that the
rules Ban
applies to
them do not
apply to those
close to Ban.
On September
28, Dujarric
told Inner
City Press
vaguely that
there are many
many to move
from G to P,
General to
Professional.
(Inner City
Press
previously
asked Ban's
deputy about
UN Staff Rule
4.16 (ii)
which states
the following:
"Recruitment
to the
Professional
category of
staff from the
General
Service and
related
categories in
the United
Nations
Secretariat:
recruitment to
the
Professional
category at
the United
Nations
Secretariat of
staff from the
General
Service and
related
categories
having
successfully
passed the
appropriate
competitive
examinations
shall be made
within the
limits
established by
the General
Assembly. Such
recruitment
shall be made
exclusively
through
competitive
examination."
So did Ms. Kim
take and pass
this required
competitive
exam? Dujarric
didn't answer,
in fact ran
off the podium
to avoid Inner
City Press'
follow up
question, to
confirm or
deny Ms. Kim
is Mrs Ban's
niece. Video
here. From
the
UN transcript:
Inner
City
Press:
I've asked
Farhan [Haq]
about this
kind of
indirectly,
but I wanted
to ask you
directly to
get a
confirmation
or
denial.
We've received
sort of
complaints
from a variety
of staff
members that a
longtime aide
of the
Secretary-General
Eun-ha Kim, or
Isabelle Kim,
may be in line
for a P3
position in
Protocol.
The reason I'm
asking you
this is
because it's
not… it's more
than one
person that
said this
would be
wrong.
Their question
is, how does a
person go from
general staff
to
professional
staff?
Is it through
a competitive
exam, and if
it's not, what
is the
loophole…?
Spokesman:
I'm not going
to… I mean,
you know, you
may want to
drag…
Inner City
Press:
It's not
dragging.
Spokesman:
…drag people
through the
mud.
Inner City
Press:
So you say.
Spokesman:
And I'm not
going to go
into the
details of
individual
staff members'
cases, because
I don't think
it's fair for
anyone who
works in this
organization.
But all the
rules are
being
followed, and
this case does
not involve
the
Secretary-General.
ICP
Question:
You say
dragging
through the
mud, but my
question is,
I'm saying
staff members
at var… a
variety of
levels have
said, since
this G to P
wall, which
they think is
wrong, applies
to them and
you have
people with
PhDs that
can't do it,
they're
extremely
interested to
know how
somebody close
to the
Secretary-General
could do it?
Spokesman:
There are
various ways
of people to
go from G to P
in this
organization.
ICP
Question:
I read Farhan
a rule that…
Spokesman:
And I've seen
it, and I'm
telling that
you all the
rules are
being
followed.
ICP
Question:
Is there
currently a
P-3 post in
protocol that
exists?
Spokesman:
I have no
clue.
Thank you
Ms. Kim, we
note, was with
Ban (and Han
Seung-soo and
others) up to
fifteen years
ago, when Han
was President
of the General
Assembly and
Ban, his chief
of staff.
Also
on that dream
team: current
South Korean
ambassador to
the UN and Ban
promoted Oh
Joon, former
Ban promotee
Yoon Yeocheol,
Kim
Bong-hyun
who previously
told Inner
City Press to
cover Ban more
positively,
and others - click here for the
list, still
online for
now.
Inner
City Press
also asked Ban
Ki-moon's in
law if he had
been present
at and played
a role in the
Jaffna
Hospital
massacre in
Sri Lanka. He
did not deny
this --
rather, he
said it was
not
"pertinent."
He said he
would answer
at an
"opportune
time."
Inner
City
Press:
the
Secretary-General's
son-in-law,
Siddharth
Chatterjee.
I know I'd
asked you in
writing, maybe
ten days ago
to be able to
ask him the
questions that
your office
hadn't
answered.
And I did find
him in the
lobby
yesterday, and
he said to me,
"Oh, we'll
find an
opportune
time."
So it wasn't
clear to me…
and he also
said, as to
some of the
questions,
"They're not
pertinent."
I don't know
if that
referred to
whether who
the selection
panel was or
who the other
candidates
were.
But it led me
to want to ask
you, did your
office, in
fact, ask him
ten days when
I asked you
whether he
would answer
the
questions?
Because it
seemed like he
was unaware of
the
request.
That's how he
came off.
Spokesman:
I think
everyone is
aware of your
interest in
speaking to
Mr.
Chatterjee,
and it's not…
you're welcome
to contact
whomever you
want and
request an
interview.
Whether or not
they grant you
one is really
up to them.
ICP
Question:relatedly,
because
there's now…
I've seen this
controversy
around the
resident
coordinator
for
Syria.
And some
people are
saying it's
Mr. Ali
Al-Za’tari to
replace Mr.
[TYacoub El]
Hillo.
And I just
wanted to
know, was the
same process
used?
Can you say a
little bit
more about the
inter-agency
panel, DOCO…?
Spokesman:
The
inter-agency
panel… every
resident
coordinator
goes through
the same
process with
the
inter-agency
panel. A
recommendation
is then sent
to the
Secretary-General,
whether it's
Mr. Za’tari or
any of the
other
ones. I
told you
many-a-times
on his… on Mr.
Chatterjee
that the
Secretary-General
stayed away
from that
process.
We do expect
the new
humanitarian
coordinator,
resident
coordinator,
to arrive in
Damascus very
early next
month and to
take up his
position.
There is an
acting…
somebody
acting in that
stead until
his arrival.
ICP
Question:
But in the
same way that
I asked you
whether UNDPA
(Department of
Political
Affairs) and
the
Secretariat
was… played a
role in the
Kenya resident
coordinator,
because it
seems that
it's clear
that they did
in Syria… so
did they in
Kenya?
Spokesman:
I will not go
into any
further detail
than I already
have.
Further?
Ban's
spokesman
Dujarric has
refused to
provide basic
information
about the
promotion, and
about
Chatterjee's
military
activities in
Sri Lanka. Nor
has he
responded to
Inner City
Press' written
request for
information or
to interview
Chatterjee, a
UN official
who blocks
Inner City
Press on
Twitter.
But
Ban Ki-moon's
son in law has
hung around
New York for
more than a
week, meeting
with bankers
and set on
September 27
to meet Ban's
deputy
Eliasson. Ban
didn't recuse
himself from
promoting his
son in law,
but does this
side-step.
Inner City
Press at noon
on September
27 asked Ban's
deputy
spokesman if
Chatterjee, as
resident
coordinator,
will answer
questions on
the way up or
down. “We'll
certainly
convey your
request.” Vine here.
While less
than an hour
before
Chatterjee's
visit to his
father in
law's 38th
floor there
was no answer,
Chatterjee
appeared in a
staged
Facebook Live,
where he said
“the Secretary
General”
without
disclosing
that Ban is
his father in
law. Vine
here.
So
Inner City
Press went to
ask Chatterjee
about it.
First, it told
the UN Media
Accreditation
and Liaison
Unit (MALU),
to avoid any
pretextual
action as in
February of
this year by
Ban's head of
communications
Cristina
Gallach. Then
it set up in
the lobby.
After getting
other quotes
or responses
from
Ambassadors
and a foreign
minister,
Chatterjee and
other man came
down.
Inner City
Press asked,
Who were the
other
candidates?
Who was on the
panel? No
answer. Inner
City Press
asked about
the Jaffna
Hospital.
Chatterjee
turned back
and said he
would set up a
time to talk -
strange, Inner
City Press has
been
requesting
that for some
time - but to
“turn that
off,” meaning
the authorized
Periscope.
Vine
here.
Inner City
Press remained
to ask more
questions. At
a certain
point the
minder(s),
officers and
elevator man
left - and
then the cars
left. It was
over.
But Ban's
increasing
lawlessness is
not limited to
his son in
law, nor to
his mentor Han
Seung-soo, who
despite
MOONlighting
as a UN
official and
board member
of Standard
Chartered Bank
and Doosan,
this week
dodged Inner
City Press'
questions
unlike Jacob
Zuma and
Sheikh Hasina,
here.
Exposing or
even inquiring
into the ever
increase
irregularities
in the Ban
Ki-moon
administration
give rise, as
Inner City
Press found
earlier this
year and
during this
General
Assembly
debate week,
to
retaliation.
Ban
and Gallach
are giving
Inner City
Press' long
time work
space to an
Egyptian state
media, Akhbar
Al Yom, whose
representative
Sanaa Youssef
rarely comes
to the UN --
contrary to
the stated
requirement
for resident
correspondent
accreditation,
which has been
stripped from
Inner City
Press -- and
never asks any
questions.
During
UNGA debate
week, Inner
City Press
could only
cover a
meeting on
Yemen if accompanied
by a minder(Gallach
was asked
about this, on
camera)
who asked who
Inner City
Press wanted
to interview;
it was locked
out of the
media
"bullpen" then
urged,
mid-edit, to
leave the
small "focus
booth" it's
been reduced
to using. Team
Ban has been
informed of
all of this,
responding
that "time"
will somehow
solve it. How?
On
September 23
Ban's and
France's head
of
peacekeeping
Herve Ladsous
said openly,
"I never
answer your
questions,
Mister" when
asked about
rapes;
Ladsous' UN
spokesman got
Ban's UNTV to
keep the
microphone
away from
Inner City
Press. Video
here.
After
being told
that Ban's son
in law is in
New York,
Inner City
Press has
asked Ban's
spokespeople,
fully four of
them:
"This
is a request
to interview
the UN's
Resident
Coordinator in
Kenya Siddarth
Chatterjee,
appointed to
the job by his
father in law
Ban Ki-moon,
in light of
[him saying /
Tweeting to
another of his
father in
law's
officials,]
“Look forward
to seeing you
at UNGA." It
seems he has
appeared at
the Princeton
Club in NY.
"Since
the OSSG has
declined to
answer several
questions
about Resident
Coordinator
Chatterjee,
this is a
request for
the interview.
Please advise
asap."
So
far, nothing.
Chatterjee, as
we've noted,
blocks Inner
City Press on
Twitter -
strange, for a
UN Resident
Coordinator.
Instead
of answering
the earlier
questions,
Team Ban
arranged for
Chatterjee's
military
commander
Dalvir Singh
to slam in Huffington
Post Inner
City Press'
“accusations
of human
rights
violations
against
Chatterjee.
Major
Chatterjee was
a star member
of my
battalion, the
10th Para
Special
Forces, and at
no time was my
battalion or
any member of
my unit ever
involved in
any form of
human rights
violation.”
"Ban
last month,
his son-in-law
sit da-Kenya
resident
coordinator of
the United
Nations
whether the
chatter in the
decision to
appoint. The
United Nations
Office of the
resident
coordinator as
the national
diplomatic
missions to
individual
countries hit
greets.
Chapman, Mr.
ban's youngest
daughter,
popping
Hyun-Hee's
husband.
Hyun-hee and
Chae was
elected
Secretary
General of the
UN ban popping
were married
in 2006.
Hyun-Hee Mr.
currently
UNICEF Kenya
Office is
known to be
being worked
on.
This
has never been
a textbook
case of '
human
resources '
Office, saying
the issue
would be
raised by the
professional
journalist
Matthew Lee of
inner city
press, the
media. Lee
shunned the
press ban this
personnel
(recusal) not
to apply
points to
criticize. He
said, "would
call into
question the
qualities of
chatter, nor
at the UN for
a long time,
one of those
who deny that.
But he is
considering
ban evasion
law that might
have the
application
lies, "he
said.
India
is a special
forces work on
the chatter
when the
matter was a
Huffington
Post Moon vir
Singh retired
warden
contributed
from popping
"always was a
priority
public than
himself," and
Office
personnel are
raised
allegations of
the accused
journalists.
He was working
as a
journalist for
the
"qualification
(credential)-RI,
suspicious and
ethics
awareness as
the UN's
bloggers" and
not "evil?" is
appealed
Not
on the basis
of the human
rights abuses
of false
attacks
". Lee,
the reporter
himself the
last few
years, a
series of
critical
reports about
the ban were
taken with
them, and
because of
this, the UN
resident
journalists
deprived of
his or her
eligibility
status.”
On
September 17,
as Inner City
Press covered
the UN
Security
Council
meeting on
Syria, under
Ban's eviction
order it was
first locked
out of the
UNSC stakeout,
then told to
leave the UN
by a UN
Security
officer. This
is Ban's UN.
We'll have
more on this.
On
September 15,
Inner City
Press again
asked Ban's
spokesman
about
Chatterjee's
record in Sri
Lanka -- no
answer - and
the panel that
"recommended"
him to Ban. Vine here,UN
transcript
here, with
the UN using
many more
"inaudibles"
than on other
questions:
Inner
City Press:
the last you
answered about
promotion of
the
Secretary-General’s
son-in-law
into the top
post in Kenya
was that you
hoped that at
least the
agencies or
some
information
about this
inter-agency
panel could be
provided, and
I think it
should
be. So I
wanted to know
do you have
now any
information on
that…?
[inaudible]
Spokesman:
I don’t have
an update, but
if I have
something, I
will share it
with you.
ICP
Question:
And I’d asked
you in writing
about… it goes
back some time
but about the
son-in-law’s
activities in
Sri Lanka as
part of the
Indian
peacekeeping
force.
And since he’s
gotten his
commander to
write an op-ed
saying that
questions
about this are
unreasonable…
[inaudible]
Spokesman:
Whatever words
I’ve had to
say about… on
this issue, I
have
used. I
really have
nothing else
to add…
[inaudible]
ICP
Question:
Right, but you
said… the last
thing you said
was you would
look into the
inter-agency
panel…
[inaudible]
Spokesman:
I have
nothing…
[inaudible]
Yes, that I
said. On
the rest, I
have nothing
else to add.
Meanwhile
Ban's son in
law is using
the first
place his
military
commander
dumped his
piece to run
propaganda
interviews
linking
himself to the
SDGs.
Singh's
/ Team Ban's
piece from its
first
version to
its second
picked up
links to Team
Ban's raid on
Inner City
Press' office,
and material
from the UN
Censorship
Alliance.
These
suggestions
came from
within Ban's
UNHQ.
Dalvir Singh
wrote “To
attack the UN
Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon
who happens to
be
Chatterjee’s
father-in-law,
using his
service in Sri
Lanka is not
only absurd
but deserves
to be
condemned in
the strongest
possible
terms.” And
then the
threats began.
This is a new
low.
In
Ban's cases,
these
"familial
dealing"
include not
only the son
in law
promoted
without
recusal or
transparency,
now lashing
out at the
Press by proxy,
but also the
nephew,
"Dennis Bahn,"
with a company
managing UN
real estate,
during the
name of the UN
and his uncle
to drum up
more business,
see below.
Now
there is a
scandal and conviction
in South Korea
with Ban's -
and his nephew
Bahn's --
fingerprints
all over it.
"South
Gyeongsang
Governor Hong
Joon-pyo was
found guilty
Thursday of
taking money
from the late
businessman
and politician
Sung Wan-jong
and sentenced
to 18 months
in prison,
ending his
presidential
ambitions.
Hong, 62,
stood trial on
charges that
he accepted
100 million
won ($91,601)
from the late
Sung, former
chairman of
the Keangnam
Enterprises."
Ban's brother
Ban Ki-sang
was a
consultant to
Keangnam for
seven years;
Ban's nephew
Dennis "Bahn
Joo-hyun said
to a contact
at Keangnam
that he would
invite his
high-profile
uncle to a
social
gathering,
where members
of the Qatar
Investment
Authority
would be
present."
For
alleged
violation of
of the ICSC
Standards, UN
system
whistleblowers
such as Moncef
Kateb of WIPO have
been fired.
But Ban does
it openly:
something
about a fish
and from the
head, see also
below.
The
response to
Inner City
Press'
questioning
has been, as
happened in
2012, threats.
To this has
the UN
descended
under Ban.
After
Inner City
Press asked
about the
textbook case
of nepotism of
Ban and his
son in law, video here, Ban's spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric replied
that an
inter-agency
advisory panel
had been
involved,
before Ban
signed the
letter
appointing his
own son in law
to the post.
But Dujarric
has refused to
say who was on
the panel, or
who the other
candidates
were. Nor has
he provided
any
information
about
Chatterjee's
activities in
Sri Lanka.
This
is a new low
for Ban
Ki-moon's UN,
widely viewed
as having
failed in Sri
Lanka in 2009,
and on Yemen
and Burundi
and elsewhere
in 2016.
In
terms of
answering
basic
questions,
when Inner
City Press
last year asked
about the
questionable
real estate
dealings of
Ban's nephew
Joo-hyun
“Dennis” Bahn,
with a company
managing the
45th Street
building of
UNDP and who
used the name
of Ban and the
UN to do
dubious
business,
Ban's
Spokespeople
said they
would not
answer
questions
about Ban
relatives who
are not UN
staff. (Then
Ban and his
USG Gallach
evicted Inner
City Press, NYT
here, petition
here.)
Now they won't
answer basic
questions
about Ban
relatives who
ARE officials
of the UN,
promoted by
Ban without
recusal.
Now we note
that a New
York
underwriter
has put out an
alert
about “Joohyun
Dennis Bahn”
--
“Bulletin:
NYSA000340
To:All New
York State
Agents, Office
Counsel, and
Managers
RE:Louis
Cho, Joohyun
Dennis Bahn,
Dennis Bahn
Effective
immediately,
all
policy-issuing
offices are
instructed not
to accept any
orders or
close any
transactions
involving the
people listed
below without
prior written
approval of
Stewart Title
Insurance
Company Agency
Legal
Services.
Louis
Cho
Joohyun Dennis
Bahn
Dennis Bahn
In the
event you have
an open order
on the people
listed above
please email,”
etc. It's all
in the family.
So is the
sense of
entitlement:
in the midst
of this, only
last month
Ban's nephew
posted this,
about buying
his (seemingly
many)
Mercedes:
"I
have been
purchasing my
Mercedes from
Benzel-Busch
for many years
especially
with Giovanni
Barbaro. This
dealership
provides great
service and
Giovanni is
there to work
with you all
the time. Once
he lent his
own company
car as a
loaner when
there wasn't
one available.
Great overall
experience and
I would highly
recommend this
dealership as
well as
Giovanni."
Ironically,
Ban appointed
a UN Special
Envpy on Road
Safety, Jean
Todt, who is
on the board
of directors
of a company
which runs
cars and even
online poker.
A fish rots
from the head.
When
Inner City
Press first
reported on
Ban accepting
Sri Lankan
military
figure
Shavendra
Silva as an
adviser, and
the background
to the
screening of
the Sri Lankan
government's
war crimes
denial film
"Lies Agreed
To" inside the
UN, the results
included death
threats and
attempts to
get Inner City
Press out of
the UN --
repeated, more
disgustingly,
in 2016.
In
September 2016
an ally of
Ban's son in
law
Chatterjee,
Dalvir Singh,
has called
this series of
articles,
despite Ban's
spokesman's
stonewalling
and refusal to
answer, unfair
--
"scurrilous,
unfounded and
mendacious
accusations"
by a
"blogger."
Dalvir
Singh wrote
that Inner
City Press, “a
blogger of
questionable
credentials....
has hurled
scurrilous,
unfounded and
mendacious
accusations of
human rights
violations
against
Chatterjee.
Major
Chatterjee was
a star member
of my
battalion, the
10th Para
Special
Forces, and at
no time was my
battalion or
any member of
my unit ever
involved in
any form of
human rights
violation.”
Thou dost
protest too
much. Beyond
the Jaffna
University
heli-drop on
October 11,
1987, there
was the Jaffna
hospital
massacre ten
days later on
October 21,
1987.
Here is the
Wiki-time line
(some say this
may explain
Ban's
willingness to
let the Saudi
led Coalition
off the UN's
Children and
Armed Conflict
annex for
attacks on
health and
other civilian
facilities in
Yemen)
"October
21, 1987 - 11h
– The hospital
environment
came under
cannon fire
from the
vicinity of
Jaffna Dutch
Fort and from
overhead
helicopters.
11h30
– A shell fell
on the
Outpatients
Department
(O.P.D)
building.
13h – The
chief
consultant on
duty was
informed that
Indian troops
had been
sighted at
nearby Shanti
Theatre Lane.
13h30
– A shell fell
on Ward 8,
killing seven
persons. The
chief
consultant who
went out with
another doctor
to survey the
situation
spotted some
empty
cartridges,
suggesting
that persons
had been
firing from
inside the
hospital
premises.
14h – The
chief
consultant's
attention was
drawn to the
presence of
some armed
LTTE fighters
inside the
hospital. The
chief
consultant
went with Dr.
Ganesharatnam
and asked the
group to leave
the premises.
The leader of
the group
agreed and
they left.
14h5 –
The chief
consultant was
informed that
another group
of LTTE men
had come
inside. Dr.
Ganesharatnam
requested that
the chief
consultant go
with another
doctor to
speak to the
LTTE group and
ask them to
leave. It is
not clear if
the LTTE men
ever left the
hospital.
14h,
16h – A few
staff members
left the
hospital for
lunch through
the back door.
16h –
Staff heard
shooting for
15-20 minutes
from the
vicinity of
the gasoline
station on
Hospital Road.
No retaliatory
fire from the
hospital was
heard.
16h20
and onward –
According to
an eyewitness,
the IPKF
entered the
hospital
grounds
through the
front gate,
came up along
the corridor
and warned
everybody
inside the
hospital. The
IPKF fired
into the
Overseer's
office and
other offices.
The eyewitness
saw many of
his fellow
workers
killed,
including the
overseer and
an ambulance
driver. The
eyewitness
also saw a
soldier throw
a grenade at a
man, killing
several
people.
According
to another
eyewitness,
the IPKF came
into the
Radiology
room, which
was filled
with people
including the
patients
evacuated from
Ward 8, and
fired
indiscriminately.
Those who
pretended to
be dead by
lying on the
floor escaped
the attack.
Throughout
the night a
few bursts of
fire and
grenade
explosions
were heard.
October
22, 1987 -
8h30 – Dr.
Sivapathasundaram
was seen
walking out of
the hospital
with three
nurses. They
were walking
with their
hands up
shouting, "We
surrender, we
are innocent
doctors and
nurses."[3]
Shots were
fired; Dr.
Sivapathasundaram
was killed and
the nurses
injured.
11h –
An Indian Army
officer turned
up at one of
the wards and
was confronted
by a doctor.
The doctor
explained the
situation to
the officer
and later,
with help of
the officer,
she called out
to her
colleagues and
those who were
injured to
come out with
their hands
up. About 10
staff members
who were alive
were escorted
out. They
found their
colleague Dr.
Ganesharatnam
dead. Later in
the day all
the dead
bodies in the
hospital were
collected and
burned."
Amnesty
International's
1988 annual
report cites
reports of the
Indian Peace
Keeping
Force's rapes
of Tamil women
and
extra-judicial
executions.
Was it from
his son in law
that Ban took
his advice on
Sri Lanka,
before sending
Vijay Nambiar,
brother of
general Satish
Nambiar, for
the “finish”
in 2009?
More to the
point, what is
the
relationship
between Dalvir
Singh's screed
and Ban
Ki-moon? Ban's
son in law has
grateful
re-tweeted
Dalvir Singh's
article;
beyond the
continued
stonewalling
and eviction
of Inner City
Press, the
Guardian wrote
that the only
time Ban got
upset in their
interview was
in defense of
his son in law
Siddharth
Chatterjee. So
Ban Ki-moon is
responsible...
We'll have
more on this.
Dalvir Singh
says of Inner
City Press "I
have noted
that he seems
to be obsessed
with Major
Chatterjee
since 2007
when his
father-in-law
Ban became the
UN
Secretary-General."
If true
- that is, if
not ghost
written by
Chatterjee, or
his father in
law's
handlers, note
the citation
to the UN
Censorship
Alliance - why
would this
Indian
military
figure be
"noting" Inner
City Press'
coverage since
2007? And
doesn't this
just indicate
that Ban
Ki-moon's
ouster and
eviction of
Inner City
Press in 2016,
through Ban's
USG Cristina
Gallach, is
blatant
retaliation
for coverage?
This is
censorship.
This is Team
Ban's response
to questions
and stories
about the John
Ashe and Ng
Lap Seng case,
DPI Gallach's
failure to do
due diligence,
all leading to
ouster and
eviction.
Dujarric
refused to say
who was on the
inter-agency
panel; he told
Inner City
Press to "ask
UNDP," which
in term told
Inner City
Press to ask
something
called the
"DOCO" which
doesn't have a
spokesperson
and has not
answered
questions
submitted
three days
ago.
Dujarric
didn't answer
any of Inner
City Press'
questions
submitted on
Friday
September 2 at
noon, then
rejected
in-person
questions
calling them
"ridiculous
accusations."
Dujarric
canceled his
briefing again
on September
9. Meanwhile
Ban's son in
law
Chatterjee's
response is to
block Inner
City Press on
Twitter, photo
here.
This
is Team Ban's
response to
questions and
stories about
the John Ashe
and Ng Lap
Seng case, DPI
Gallach's
failure to do
due diligence,
all leading to
ouster and
eviction.
Turns
out
Chatterjee, to
get previous
stories
buried, as
offered
goodies only
his father in
law can dole
out - we'll
have more on
this. And on
these places
in Sri Lanka
during the
time frame:
Velvettiturai;
Kokuvil;
Jaffna
Hospital;
Manippai;
Sandilippai;
Chunnakam,
Mallakam,
Uduvil,
Manipay,
Maruthanamadam
and Inuvil;
tellingly,
journalists of
“Eezha Murasu”
and
“Murasoli.”
We'll have
more on these.
Meanwhile,
while blocking
Inner City
Press, Sid
Chatterjee's
followers show
/ tell Inner
City Press Sid
is re-tweeting
US Power, and
photos of his
father in law,
here.
Inner City
Press asked
Dujarric who
was on the
panel that
proposed Ban's
son in law to
him -- through
DPA, it now
appears
-- to
assess if they
were
independent
from Ban, and
who the other
candidates, at
least on the
short list,
were.
Dujarric
has refused to
provide this
information,
and has
refused all
other Inner
City Press
questions
about Ban's
son in law,
including
about his
activities in
Sri Lanka as
part of the
Indian Peace
Keeping Force.
As Ban's
spokesman
knows, Ban was
in Sri Lanka;
the story
can't wait.
So Inner
City Press
reported that
it has been
told of
Siddarth
Chatterjee
posing with
dead and
disfigured
Liberation
Tigers of
Tamil Eelam;
this has been
described as a
war crime.
Inner City
Press twice
this week
asked Dujarric
to describe
and comment on
Ban Ki-moon's
son in law's
activities in
Sri Lanka; it
is all the
more pressing
given the most
recent UN
promotion
without
recusal. Inner
City Press
also asked
what forms and
rules apply, a
question also
ignored by
Dujarric with
respect to a fundraiser
held in the UN
with Ban's
past envoy to
Sri Lanka,
Vijay Nambiar.
Inner City
Press asked
Dujarric to
comment in
this context
on this,
authored by
Ban's son in
law Sid
Chatterjee: no
answers.
And so in
common
journalistic
practice, to
assist reader
in deciding
whether to
believe or not
believe these
reports of
Chatterjee
posing with
dead and
disfigured
combatants in
violation of
the Geneva
Conventions,
we disclose
that one of
the sources
clearly has an
interest:
Chatterjee's
ex-wife Shirpa
Sen.
She is
a medical
doctor; she
has said
Chatterjee
threatened her
to stop
providing any
information to
Inner City
Press and an
Indian
journalist
whose
publication
Chatterjee got
to remove
a report about
one of his
promotions
under Ban from
the Internet.
(Censorship
seems to run
in the
family.)
The
allegation is
that
Chatterjee
dropped her
and then saw
his career
path advance
under his new
father in law,
Ban Ki-moon;
he made
threats to
make the
issues of the
past go away.
We disclose
this because
readers have a
right to know
of the
interest or
animus of the
source of
information.
Here is another
online report;
here on a
court website
is the decision
on the divorce
appeal.
And here is an
earlier report
of Inner City
Press asking
Ban's
spokespeople
about
Chatterjee's
military
record, in Sri
Lanka Ban's
2009 visit to
which Inner
City Press
covered
in-person
(Inner City
Press has
since been
BANned,
restricted.)
A direct
comment of any
kind from Ban
Ki-moon's
spokesman,
requested all
week, would
have been
preferable.
But
Ban and his
Under
Secretary
General for
Public
Information
Cristina
Gallach should
not be able to
censor by
throwing the
Press into the
street, New
York Times
here,audio
here.
Likewise
Ban's
spokesman
cannot be
allowed to
prevent a
timely article
by simply
refusing to
even
acknowledge
questions
submitted in
writing,
especially
after he began
the week
telling Inner
City Press
(and the Free
UN Coalition
for Access
which asked
for in-person
briefings)
that he would
be answering
questions all
week.
Ban
Ki-moon's
Spokesman did
not answer
these
questions, nor
on September 2
even
acknowledge
receipt of
them. Whatever
comes in,
belatedly, we
will publish.
Update:
late on
September 2,
from UNDP to
which Ban's
spokesman
Dujarric
referred
questions then
refused to
answer any,
came this -
not naming the
panel or other
candidates,
but
immediately
published in
full:
From:
Anjali Kwatra
[at] undp.org
Date: Fri, Sep
2, 2016 at
9:36 PM
Subject: RE:
Press Qs on
Resident
Coordinator
selection
process for
SG's son in
law in Kenya:
who on
inter-agency
advisory
panel, who
were the
candidates,
given nepotism
issues raised
by lack of
recusal,
referred by
OSSG, thank
you in
advance,
-Matthew
To:
Matthew.Lee
[at]
InnerCityPress.com
Dear
Matthew,
Siddharth
Chatterjee was
chosen, in
line with
established
selection
process, by
the
Inter-Agency
Advisory Panel
of the United
Nations. Mr
Chatterjee is
highly
qualified for
this role and
was previously
the United
Nations
Population
Fund (UNFPA)
Representative
to Kenya. He
has also
worked in
senior roles
with the
International
Federation of
the Red Cross
& Red
Crescent
Societies
(IFRC), UN
Peace Keeping,
UNICEF and
UNOPS.
I would need
to come back
to you on your
other
questions.
Best,
Anjali Kwatra
Chief, Media
and Advocacy
United Nations
Development
Programme
Wait -
was Siddharth
Chatterhee
ever with UN
Peacekeeping?
Inner City
Press asked:
"Thanks for
this, but as I
asked UN Spox
this week, and
UNDP earlier
today, this is
a request,
given that the
SG signed the
letter
appointing his
son in law Mr.
Chatterjee UN
Resident
Coordinator in
Kenya, for the
disclosure of
who was on the
inter-agency
advisory panel
and who the
other
candidates, at
least on the
short list,
were
also - please
state when and
in what
capacity Mr.
Chatterjee
was, as you
say, in a
senior role in
UN Peace
Keeping."
This gave rise
to this curt
answer: "All
your questions
need to be
directed to
DOCO. "
So Ban's
Dujarric
referred the
questions
about Ban's
son in law to
UNDP, which
refers then on
to DOCO. When
one Googles
DOCO, one gets
"DOCO The
Donut &
Coffee
Company."
Amid
these UN
scandals,
corruption and
nepotism, Ban
Ki-moon is now
on a two week
tour seemingly
meant to
preview how he
could be as
South Korean
president,
visiting
Singapore,
Myanmar, now
Sri Lanka,
China and
Laos.
For
Ban Ki-moon's
visit to Sri
Lanka, which
is seen as one
of the (many)
major failures
of his UN
tenure, Inner
City Press
asked Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, "On
the SG's son
in law
Siddharth
Chatterjee,
please
describe in
activities in
Sri Lanka
including with
the IPKF --
locations, and
if available
confirmed
kills --
including in
light of this
piece he
authored."
Ban
Ki-moon's
Dujarric
replied, six
hours later:
"It's not for
me to comment
on a staff
member's
writings on an
activity that
preceded
employment
with the UN."
This
seems a
strange
position for
an
Organization
ostensibly
concerned with
human rights.
Could
Shavendra
Silva work for
the UN? Well,
he WAS an
adviser to
Ban.
In
fact, some UN
officials are
required to
sign pledges
regarding
their human
rights
records. So on
September 2 at
noon, Inner
City Press
asked
Dujarric:
"On
the Secretary
General's son
in law
Siddharth
Chatterjee's
activities in
Sri Lanka, you
have not
answered on
what he DID,
stating only
that “It's not
for me to
comment on a
staff members
writings on an
activity that
preceded
employment
with the UN.”
In this light,
please confirm
or deny that
there is a
place a policy
under which UN
officials
including USGs
and ASGs
(please
specify what
level the
Secretary
General's son
in law is at,
as Resident
Coordinator in
Kenya) must
certify
compliance
with human
rights, and
state whether
this covers
time before UN
employment."
Inner City
Press has also
asked
Dujarric:
"This
is a request
that your
Office confirm
or deny that
the Secretary
General did
not
specifically
mention the
UNHRC
resolution
during his
meeting with
Sri Lanka
President
Sirisena, in
light of a
public report
that “The
President told
us that Ban
did not
mention the
UNHRC
resolution
even in the 10
minute
one-to-one
meeting he had
with him. In
fact Ban
expressed
satisfaction
about the way
the Sri Lankan
government is
handling the
issue of
reconciliation,”
a reliable
source in the
President’s
Office" said.
Five
hours later,
no answer.
This is Ban
Ki-moon's UN.
Including
in light of
the recent
non-recusal,
we linked
to and
quote this Sri
Lanka piece by
Ban's son in
law Siddarth
Chatterjee:
“The
Sri Lankan
Army deserves
all our
respect,
gratitude and
admiration.
These are men
who have
proved worthy
of their
calling, and I
pray that
their fortunes
reverse and
they are able
to inflict on
the Tamil
Terrorists(not
Tigers, as
tigers have
honour too), a
final decisive
blow, that
puts the LTTE
in the dust
bin of
history. It is
a period that
calls for
strong nerves,
single-mindedness
(of purpose)
and intuitive
convictions
that success
can still be
yours after
these
reverses. They
are men of
sterling
character, and
I hope they
overcome and
demolish the
LTTE, this
organization
of
pathological
tyrants and
killers.”
Among these
Sri Lankan
Army heroes
are several
who would be
put on trial
for war crimes
by any
legitimate /
international
investigation,
an issue which
Ban is
skirting.
We'll have
more on this.
In advance of
Ban's latest
junket, he or
his propaganda
team granted
selected
interviews to
prepare the
ground --
“interview”
conducted in
writing,
without
disclosure of
who wrote the
answers.
Pro-Ban
editorials by
out of date
diplomats were
arranged (for
example here,
see comments).
But how can
blatant
nepotism be
explained
away?
Inner City
Press on
August 26
asked Ban's
spokesman
which of Ban's
aides it was
who spun the
Korea Times on
Ban's chances
to become
South Korea's
president in
2017, video
here.
Under
Ban the UN has
become so
lawless that
Ban's
son-in-law
Siddharth
Chatterjee was
just named
UN Resident
Representative
in Kenya
without Ban
recusing
himself.
Inner City
Press reported
and asked
about this on
August 25. On
August 26,
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric
confirmed that
Ban had not
recused
himself, had
in fact signed
the letter
giving his own
son in law the
job, see
below.
It was
repeatedly
reported that
Ban would be
in Kenya today
for the 6th
Tokyo
International
Conference on
African
Development
Summit,
TICADIV or
TICAD6. Inner
City Press
asked Ban's
spokesman
Dujarric if
Ban would go
there and was
told to wait
with bated
anticipation.
Now Ban is NOT
there - right
after his
promotion of
his own son in
law there was
exposed.
How
is this
acceptable in
an
international
organization?
Or this: Ban's
mentor Han
Seung-soo is a
UN official
allowed to be
on the boards
of directors
of Standard
Chartered,
which has UN
banking
contracts, and
Doosan which
makes sales to
countries Han
gives “UN”
speeches to.
On August 25,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric if
Ban had
recused
himself from
any role in
his
son-in-law's
promotion, video here.
Inner
City Press:
Mr. Chatterjee
was named the
UN
representative
in
Kenya.
So I wanted to
know, what’s
the process
for the naming
of a resident
representative?
And given this
he’s the
son-in-law of
the
Secretary-General,
was there any
recusal
made?
I’m not saying
he’s not
qualified.
I’m not saying
he’s not a
long-time
official.
I’m just
wondering what
is the
process…[inaudible]…
for someone
being named…
Spokesman:
The regular
process was
used.
The fact that
he is, indeed,
the son-in-law
of the
Secretary-General,
I think, does
not take away
anything from
his very
strong service
over the
years…
Inner
City Press:
I’m asking
about the
process.
Spokesman:
Thank you.
Dujarric's
only response
is that
Chatterjee is
qualified.
That was not
the question.
After Inner
City Press
highlighted
this, Ban's
spokesman
Dujarric
returned on
August 26 with
a
"supplemental"
statement,
which still
confirmed that
Ban had not
recused
himself, had
in fact signed
the approval
of his own son
in law for the
promotion. Video here.From
the UN
Transcript:
Spokesman
Dujarric: I
also just
wanted to give
you a little
bit more
details on the
issue you had
raised
yesterday with
Mr. Chatterjee
and expand on
what I'd
said.
Mr. Chatterjee
was chosen
through the
regular
process which
is basically
that the
candidates are
chosen by an
interagency
advisory panel
which… which
does not… and
especially in
this case… did
not involve
the
Secretary-General.
I think he has
been fully
aware of the
situation and
has kept well
away from the
selection
process.
For RCs, the
candidates are
chosen and
recommended by
the
interagency
panel.
The name of
the
recommended
candidate is
then given to
the
Secretary-General
to sign off
on. He
does not
involve
himself… and
as I said,
especially in
this case…
involve
himself in the
selection… in
the selection
process.
And I would
just, again,
reiterate Mr.
Chatterjee's,
I think, very
strong
qualifications
in his career
with ICRC and
the UN over
the years.
Inner City
Press: I
looked into
it, too.
It seemed like
they sent it
to the UNDG
Chair and the
Secretary-General.
That's why I
was asking
yesterday.
Spokesman:
No, I
understand.
The
Secretary-General…
the
Secretary-General
is very aware
of the
sensitivities
of this case
and has stayed
well away from
it. The
final
signature…
because the
way this works
is the
Resident
Coordinator
represents the
UN, and it
needs the
agreement of
the host
country.
So, the letter
of
appointment,
in a sense,
has to be
signed by the
Secretary-General.
But, his name
is given to
him by the
interagency
panel.
Nor
have the
questions
about Han
Seung-soo, who
refuses Ban's
supposed call
for public
financial
disclosure,
been answered.
Instead, Inner
City Press
which has
asked about
each of
Chatterjee's
promotions
though the UN
system under
Ban (for
example to
and from
UNOPSincluding
censorship
by the son in
law, like Ban)
and in the
past ten
months about
Ban's and his
head of
communications
Cristina
Gallach's
links with
the John Ashe
/ Ng Lap Seng
UN bribery
scandal, was
ousted from
the UN in
February 2016
(audio
here) and
had its
investigative
files evicted
onto First
Avenue in
April
(video here).
NYT
here.
Since then
Inner City
Press has been
BANned
from covering
UN events
on the second
floor unless
it has a
minder which
stays with it
all the time;
sometime Inner
City Press is
told there are
not enough
minders, and
coverage is
entirely
prohibited.
This is
censorship
under Ban
Ki-moon.
Gallach's
DPI is giving
Inner City
Press' long
time shared
office to an
Egypt state
media, Akhbar
Al Yom, whose
UN
representative
Sanaa Youssef
rarely comes
to the UN, and
never asks
questions -
Dujarric
refused to
confirm this
obvious fact,
saying he
"does not take
attendance" --
but who is a
former
president of
the
Ban-friendly
UN
Correspondents
Association.
Inner
City Press put
the question
of recusal to
Ban's
spokesman
Dujarric
entirely
civilly,
without
(there)
calling into
question
Chatterjee's
qualification
or history
(including in
Sri Lanka, to
which Ban
Ki-moon was
then headed
for a visit).
Watch this
site.
, 
