Inner City Press: Investigative Reporting from the United Nations

Hiring of Ban's Son in Law to Lobby UN Confirmed by IFRC, No Safeguards

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 16 -- With a second term for Ban Ki-moon stalled in the UN Security Council due to a lack of endorsement by the Latin American and Caribbean states group, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has now partially answered questions about their hiring of Ban's son in law as Chief Diplomatic Officer, including lobbying Ban and the UN.

The IFRC says it doesn't see any need for safeguards, hiring a son in law to lobby his father in law at the UN. They also say the IFRC didn't initially know Siddarth Chatterjee is related to the Secretary General of the UN, until he was “shortlisted” for the Chief Diplomat Officer.

Then they say this close family relationship played no role in selection, and requires no safeguards or recusals. We'll see.

Ban & book; rights communications withheld to keep access

Here are IFRC's response, from its (sole) media relations officer:

Q: At today's UN noon briefing I asked the spokesman for Ban Ki-moon to confirm that Ban's son in law Siddharth Chatterjee has been selected to work for IFRC, on information and belief as chief dipomatic officer, and if there are any safeguards in place regarding lobbying or diplomacy by a relative. On both questions, the UN spokesman said I should “ask IFRC.” So now I am, in writing 1) confirm that Ban's son in law has been selected by IFRC.

Confirmed.

Q2) please state what role his relation to Mr. Ban played in his selection. None.

Q3) Was IFRC aware? The search and short-listing of Mr. Chatterjee was carried out by an independent recruitment company. The IFRC has full trust in the methods and diligence of this company. When Mr. Chatterjee was shortlisted the IFRC became aware of his connection through marriage to the UNSG but this factor played no role whatsoever in Mr. Chatterjee’s final recruitment. Mr. Chatterjee’s professional background has been thoroughly checked and referenced by the independent recruitment company, the outcome of which showed conclusively that Mr. Chatterjee was a highly-accomplished and well qualified candidate for this challenging position at the IFRC. The IFRC will assess Mr. Chatterjee on his performance in his current role and not entertain unsubstantiated rumours which may have followed him from the UN.

Q4) Are there are safeguards in place? Safeguards against what?

Q5) please describe the position of chief diplomatic officer, including all ways it may intersect with the UN system.

The newly adopted Strategy 2020 established Humanitarian Diplomacy as one of the three enabling actions to deliver on the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent’s (IFRC) strategic aims and to strengthen the coherence and impact of our collective voice. According to Strategy 2020, Humanitarian diplomacy is a multi-directional effort that highlights the needs and rights of vulnerable people, whilst striving to give them a strong voice in all negotiation processes. IFRC seeks to prevent and reduce vulnerability by using appropriately the auxiliary role of National Societies in order to achieve greater access to people in need, and by drawing attention to the causes and potential consequences of emerging or re-emerging vulnerability. IFRC promotes the image of the Movement through its worldwide network of informed representatives who can project its work more widely. This is complemented by strong external partnerships and a diversified and expanded resource base.

Under the direction of the Under Secretary for Humanitarian Values & Diplomacy, the Head, International Relations (Chief Diplomatic Officer), will implement the humanitarian diplomacy goals of Strategy 2020. Working with such external actors as opinion leaders, decision-makers, policy-makers, corporate leaders, academics, think-tanks and other stakeholders within governments, international, multilateral, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, civil society groups, regional groupings, professional networks, representative organizations, and other global entities, he/she will leverage the Red Cross/Red Crescents’ collective voice at local, national, regional and global levels.

So -- Ban's son in law with “work with...intergovernmental organizations,” presumably including the UN, to “leverage the Red Cross/Red Crescents’ collective voice.” That's called lobbying, by one close family member of another. No need for safeguards? Watch this site.

* * *

In Central African Republic, UN Abandons Obo Like Birao, New Nigerian SRSG to Hear CAR Alarm?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, May 4 -- Months after civilians in the Birao area of the Central African Republic were abandoned when the UN Peacekeeeping mission MINURCAT pulled out, a call has gone up to establish at least some kind of UN presence in CAR's Haut-Mbomou prefecture and its capital Obo.

Only two international medical NGOs serve the area, where children are abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army, according to Laura Perez of the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center.

Inner City Press asked Ms. Perez why the UN was constrained from at least purporting to serve the area. She replied that there is a weekly airplane flight to Obo but that the UN Department of Safety & Security says UN staff can only go with a military escort, which hasn't been arranged.

Previously, Inner City Press has reported on nepotism and mismanagement in the UN mission in the Central African Republic. In late 2009, Inner City Press had asked SRSG Sahle-Work Zewde, Special Representative of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Head of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in the Central African Republic (BONUCA) about a series of BONUCA hires of relatives of the head of the UN Department of Political Affairs Africa II Division, Sammy Buo. She said she would look into it, take action and report back.

UN's Ban and Bozize, protection of civilians esp in Obo not shown

Nine months later, having heard nothing from her or about any changes, Inner City Press asked her for an update. “I don't want to speak about the past,” she said.

Inner City Press asked, “But are the individuals, including the former employee of the Executive Outcomes private military firm, still employed by the UN in the CAR?” She would not answer.

How can the UN credibly preach transparency and anti-corruption if these are its practices?

Now in 2011, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is promoting Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde to head the UN Office in Nairobi. Inner City Press asked Ms. Perez and her fellow panelists at the UN on Wednesday where the process stands on replacing Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde, and to assess the UN's performance.

Eva Smets of the Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict declined to grade the UN's performance, but said that more resources at needed. Belgium's Permanent Representative to the UN Jan Grauls, who chairs the UN Peacebuilding Commission for CAR said that a replacement for Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde is just about to be named.

Further reporting by Inner City Press, confirmed by other missions, concludes that “a Nigerian woman” is about to be named.

The Danish Refugee Council's Patrice Effebi, in French, spoke of children demobilized from the Armée populaire pour la restauration de la République et la démocratie (APRD).

Grauls said that UN envoy Radhika Coomaraswamy will travel to CAR in October. While calling the Security Council, on which he used to serve, secretive he offered praise to the opening up of the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, which he attended this week. Grauls left for a teleconference with the World Bank about aid. Will it, the new SRSG or anything get the UN into Obo? Watch this site.

Back in September 2010, before a UN "high level" event about CAR, Inner City Press made inquiries about the UN's problems with nepotism and even the hiring of mercenaries appear not to have been solved.

In late 2009, Inner City Press had asked Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde, Special Representative of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Head of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in the Central African Republic (BONUCA) about a series of BONUCA hires of relatives of the head of the UN Department of Political Affairs Africa II Division, Sammy Buo. She said she would look into it, take action and report back.

Nine months later, having heard nothing from her or about any changes, Inner City Press asked her for an update. “I don't want to speak about the past,” she said.

Inner City Press asked, “But are the individuals, including the former employee of the Executive Outcomes private military firm, still employed by the UN in the CAR?” She would not answer.

How can the UN credibly preach transparency and anti-corruption if these are its practices?

Inner City Press asked the World Bank's representative for the region about the Bank's and IMF's freezing of work with the Bank of Central African States. She acknowledged the freeze, but said that the CAR hadn't been hurt. If true, what does this way about the Bank of Central African States' work?

Finally, Inner City Press asked Jan Grauls, Permanent Representative of Belgium,about the World Food Program's recent call for $15 million to feed 600,000 people in CAR. Ambassador Grauls distinguish humanitarian aid from the peacebuilding funds he has been raising, but said that agriculture is among the best way to disarm former rebels. We have another question in and with Ambassador Grauls; watch this site.

UN's Ban and Ms. Zewde, action on nepotism in CAR not shown

Inner City Press formally asked the director of DPA's Africa II Division Sammy Kum Buo the following questions:

Mr. Buo -- I am writing a story about this morning's Security Council session on BONUCA / Central African Republic. I am also covering management issues in BONUCA and DPA and am writing for you to confirm or deny on deadline each of the following [about BONUCA staffers]

Is Gabriel Buh Kang a relative of yours? A cousin?

Is BONUCA staffer Ekei a relative of yours? Your niece?

What is the status of Brindou Germain Kabran ?

When in CAR, have you stayed with Brindou Germain Kabran?

Did you still collect DSA? Please provide records.

What can you say about the case of Gozo Tshamala?

On deadline, Matthew

Mr. Buo is also accused of hiring a former mercenary from Executive Outcomes, in violation of UN rules. While Mr. Buo has refused to respond, Inner City Press has discussed the matter with other Mission officials and finally, on December 21, with Mr. Buo's boss in DPA, Haile Menkerios. Mr. Menkerios confirmed he is aware of the issue. Inner City Press asked Mr. Menkerios what DPA's response would be. It is a management issue, Mr. Menkerios replied, that will be responded to in a management way.

But has it been?

Summary:

Subject: BINUCA

From: Name withheld due to retaliation concerns

To: matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com

Dear Matthew Please innercity should absolutely look into this matter which is serious WHAT IS GOING ON IN BONUCA/BINUCA?

DPA has created a new mission called BINUCA to replace BONUCA starting January 2010 in Central Africa Republic. For more than 9 years, BONUCA a DPA led mission was plagued with nepotism and favoritism... Of particular importance is the role played by Mr Sammy Kum Buo, the Director of Africa II, very famous with his absence of political judgment (remember Rwanda where he was advising the SRSG Booh Booh) who had succeeded in appointing a niece called Ekei as Administrative Assistant, a cousin called Gabriel Buh Kang in the finance section... the recruitment of the security Officer, Antonio de Jesus a former memeber of Executive Outcome was done in violation of all the recruitment rule procedures. Buo is trying to maintain in the mission his friend Brindou Germain Kabran where he lives when he is mission in CAR despite he, receiving the DSA.. His fellow Cameroonian... Marie Claire Bikia, recruited as administrative Assistant, is trying to be promoted Gender assistant. She went several times in Turin for gender training.

In order to cover this integrity issues, Sammy Kum Buo with the support of or not of Lynn Pascoe is currently deciding on the future of the staffs by trying to impress upon the new SRSG, the Ethiopian diplomat, Ms Zewde who is in her first experience in the UN and doesn't know the administrative procedure. Sammy Kum Buo would like to keep his cousin, niece and friends and sacrifying the other staffs. This is UNACCEPTABLE Inner city press should try to raised this issue

Consider it done, or started. 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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