Inner City Press: Investigative Reporting from the United Nations

With Ban Ki-moon's Son In Law Set to Lobby UN for IFRC, UN Won't Answer on Safeguards, Says "Ask IFRC"

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 14 -- Amid questions of nepotism, last month Inner City Press exclusively reportedreported that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's son-in-law Siddharth Chatterjee, given promotions in the UN system during Ban's tenure, was in line to lobby the UN as chief diplomatic officer of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

On June 14, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky for confirmation and to state what safeguards if any the UN had in place in connection with an immediate relative being involved in lobbying the Secretary General.

Ban's spokesman wouldn't state if Ban's son in law can lobby him. Rather, Nesirky asked, “Who might see that as a problem?” Who, indeed.

But since Nesirky said “ask the IFRC,” Inner City Press did, first calling IFRC's Mission to the UN on Lexington Avenue in New York. There the liaison, already aware of Inner City Press' questions about Ban's son in law, provided the name of a spokesperson at IFRC's Geneva headquarters, Paul Conneally.

Inner City Press asked Mr. Conneally to

1) confirm that Ban's son in law has been selected by IFRC.

2) please state what role his relation to Mr. Ban played in his selection. Was IFRC aware? Are there are safeguards in place?

3) please describe the position of chief diplomatic officer, including all ways it may intersect with the UN system.

I have other questions about IFRC's substantive work, but the above is on deadline.

The first response was that Conneally was traveling, and to direct questions to two other IFRC staff members, including the acting manager of the media and public communications team. Neither responded, but Mr. Conneally replied, “Am just landing in Heathrow. Will revert asap.”

But hours later there had been no reversion.

Ban and spokesman, son in law not shown, questions not answered

Ban Ki-moon is pushing for re-appointment for a second five year term as Secretary General June 16 in the Security Council, and June 21 in the General Assembly. Watch this site.

From the UN's June 14 noon briefing transcript:

Inner City Press: could you confirm that the Secretary-General’s son-in-law, Siddarth Chatterjee, has been named the Chief Diplomatic Officer of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), and state whether that will in any way have to do with dealing with the UN or lobbying the UN in any way on that organization’s business?

Spokesperson Nesirky: I that’s something that you could ask the International, the IFRC. Ask them.

Inner City Press: But I guess, in terms of UN protocol, if a family member of the Secretary-General was in a position of lobbying the Organization, would the UN take any, whatever, precautions? Would there be any mechanism to address what some would see as a problem?

Spokesperson Nesirky: Who might see that as a problem?

Inner City Press: I guess a family member lobbying for an outside organization — I think many people would see it as a problem. It is a structural problem.

Spokesperson Nesirky: I think, well, first of all, as I say, you ought to check with the IFRC. That would be the first course of action. The second is that in all matters, there are clear ethical rules and procedures, and I am sure that in any such case that they would be strictly adhered to.

Inner City Press: Do they apply here? Are there any rules?

Spokesperson Nesirky: I just said they would be strictly adhered to.

But what rules is Ban's spokesman claiming he's complying with? And why would it be up to IFRC to answer this? Watch this site.

* * *

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.

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.

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

Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.

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