With
Ban's Son-in-Law Leaving UNOPS, Now Said in Line to Lobby UN for IFRC
By
Matthew
Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS,
May 18 -- When the UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon's son in law
Siddharth Chatterjee in
2009 was given
the top Middle East job for the UN
Office of Project Services in Copenhagen, issues of nepotism were
raised by the Press and angrily denied by Ban's spokesmen at the UN.
In
March of this year
when Inner City Press asked
about Chatterjee leaving UNOPS, where
sources described him as ineffective and called “the furniture,”
the UN first tried not to answer, then said
“Chatterjee
left his position as UNOPS Regional Director for Europe and the
Middle East in July 2010 and, after taking accumulated annual leave,
went on special leave without pay until 31 May, of this year, 2011.
The end of the special leave without pay coincides with the end of
his period of secondment to UNOPS from UNICEF.”
Some
thought that
this leave from the UN system meant an end to nepotism, an end to
Chatterjee trading off his connection to the top man in the UN
system.
Now,
multiple
sources tell Chatterjee is lining up to be given the job of “chief
diplomatic officer” for the International Federation of Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies, overseeing a “New York Delegation to
the UN” based at 420 Lexington Avenue.
That
is, IFCR is
reportedly hiring Ban Ki-moon's son in law to lobby (or engage in
“diplomacy” with)... Ban Ki-moon.
Ban and spokesman, son in law not shown,
previous questions not answered
Here
is the UN's transcript of the March 15 noon briefing:
Inner
City
Press:
I asked a simple question whether the son-in-law of the
Secretary-General was still being paid by UNOPS, [United Nations
Office for Project Services] as well as whether his educational
things may be being paid. Farhan [Haq] said, “Ask UNOPS”. So, I
sent them an e-mail, I don’t have an answer, but I also notice that
Farhan is listed as the New York Spokesman for UNOPS on their web
page. So, I just, I think you may… maybe you have an answer to it
and so then all of this is now moot, but, what is the answer?
Spokesperson:
It
is, Matthew. First of all, UNOPS will probably be sending you the
e-mail saying what I am going to say, which is that Mr. [Siddarth]
Chatterjee left his position as UNOPS Regional Director for Europe
and the Middle East in July 2010 and, after taking accumulated annual
leave, went on special leave without pay until 31 May, of this year,
2011. The end of the special leave without pay coincides with the
end of his period of secondment to UNOPS from UNICEF. And during his
special leave without pay, Mr. Chatterjee does not receive any
payments or funding from UNOPS. And for your information, a new
Regional Director for Europe and the Middle East joined UNOPS on 4
October 2010. That’s what I have for you, okay.
After
that, Inner
City Press sent these follow up questions to Haq and Martin Nesirky.
They
responded,
“please contact UNOPS. The information provided at the briefing
today came from UNOPS.”
Inner
City Press then sent the follow to UNOPS, still with no response:
Hello.
Yesterday
I
was told to “ask UNOPS” about the S-G's son in law
and I emailed Copenhagen questions (although Farhan Haq is listed as
New York contact for UNOPS).
I
have
yet
to receive any e-mail response from UNOPS, so I had to ask
at the noon briefing, and Mr. Nesirky read out a response, saying he
expected I'd get an email from UNOPS. I still haven't, so I emailed
Nesirky and Haq, UNOPS New York contact. Now I get a reply to that
saying “ask UNOPS.” This seems like a run around: I would like an
answer, in writing, today, to the below:
1.
You
said
that Chatterjee is on leave without pay until May 31, 2011,
when his secondment from UNICEF runs out. Will be remain in the UN
system as a staff member after May 31st?
2.
UN
staff
rule 5.3(a)(i) says that "Special leave may be granted
at the request of a staff member holding a fixed-term or a continuing
appointment for advanced study or research in the interest of the
United Nations, in cases of extended illness, for child care or for
other important reasons for such period of time." For what
reason did the UN approve leave without pay for Chatterjee?
3.
Who
made
the decision to place Chatterjee on leave without pay?
Watch
this
site.
