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UN's Ban Says Sri Lanka Was Not Initially In His Speech, As UNDP Goes Off the Record on Sexual Violence

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis

UNITED NATIONS, June 18 -- Less than 24 hours after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was protested as "covering up genocide in Sri Lanka" by a crowd in front of Manhattan's St. Regis Hotel where he received a humanitarian award, Inner City Press at the June 18 noon briefing asked Ban's spokesperson if he'd changed his acceptance speech because of the protest.

  Ms. Montas replied that "it was going to be in his speech, but he put it in front when he saw the demonstration and he was sensitive to the issues they were raising."

   Eight hours later at a UN reception following the premiere of HBO's documentary "Sergio" -- click here for this publication's review -- Inner City Press asked Ban the same question, if the speech was changed by the protest. "I heard you were there," Mr. Ban replied. "It was not in my speech text."

    Inner City Press said that the protesters had included women and children. "It is a free society," Ban said. "I am very much concerned.." Later he returned and added, "I think you journalists, you have a very important duty to send out all the messages." Hence this story. Ban lamented that while people will see a film like "Sergio" and say, let's do something, there is less response "when it comes to real negotiations."

   Inner City Press recounted that earlier on Thursday at a UN briefing about sexual violence, when Inner City Press asked about Sri Lanka, the speaker from the UN Development Program answered and then said "that is all off the record."

    "I don't know why [it is] off the record," Ban said. In entering the reception with the others who'd seen the film screaming, a UN security officer blocked Inner City Press' way. "What are you going to ask the S-G?" he demanded. Later when Inner City Press pointed out the double stands, he related and said, but "take it easy." What -- easy questions only?

UN's Ban, changes speech out of respect, Team Ban blockages not shown

   At the day's noon briefing, Inner City Press had asked Ban spokesperson

Inner City Press: he said in his speech, he said that, while he was there, he met with opposition figures and Tamil leaders. There seems to be some dispute; I think at the airport, as we were leaving, some Tamil leaders were supposed to be led into the airport and weren’t. Is there some way, maybe not from this podium, can we…? What opposition leaders and Tamil leaders did he meet with while he was there?

Spokesperson: I can try to find that out.

   Twelve hours later, no information had been provided. Inner City Press also asked

Inner City Press: In Sri Lanka, this Presidential Commission of Investigation that was set up to look into abuses prior to this year’s upsurge in fighting has been disbanded without imposing any accountability, including for Action Contre la Faim, NGO workers who were killed. What’s been the UN’s, OCHA’s or Mr. Ban’s response to that?

Spokesperson: Well, you know, you heard Mr. Ban’s response about accountability. He said it on Monday during the stakeout; he said it again, was it Monday? He said it here, I think, in his press conference, and you know, that statement stands, you know. He is demanding and asking for accountability. So that stands. I don’t have a reaction to a specific event. But I can stress what I stressed earlier and the remarks he made last time.

Inner City Press: I guess I was also thinking about OCHA. I mean OCHA, John Holmes, has said that the UN is waiting for the findings of this Commission. Now the Commission is disbanded. So this is why…

Spokesperson: I’ll try to see whether we have further reaction to that.

   Despite a request sent Tuesday morning to Holmes spokesperson, no response has been provided. Ban says that journalists are to tell the story. But which story? Watch this site.