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By Matthew Russell Lee, CJR Letter PFT Q&A

UNITED NATIONS GATE, January 23 – Despite Sudan's Omar al Bashir being indicted for genocide, Antonio Guterres has met with him, as acknowledged to Inner City Press by Guterres' deputy spokesman Farhan Haq on 29 January 2018 (before Guterres had Inner City Press roughed up and banned from the UN for 177 days now) - and, we are now told by UNHCR sources, in 2012, see below. Now Bashir under fired it offering as an inducement for support raises and new housing to "his" police. (At the UN Guterres has used UN Security to rough up the critical Press and put it without due process on a non-public "barred" list that his official in charge of media access Alison Smale said she has nothing to do with, but would take under advisement - then nothing, including no answers to questions.) On January 23 US State Department deputy spokesperson Robert Palladino issued this: "The United States is concerned about the increasing number of arrests and detentions, as well as the escalating number of people injured and killed, following four weeks of protests across Sudan.  The United States supports the right of the Sudanese people to gather peaceably to voice their demands for political and economic reform and a more peaceful and inclusive Sudan.  We condemn the use of violence, including the use of live fire, and the excessive use of tear gas by the Sudanese security forces.  A new, more positive relationship between the United States and Sudan requires meaningful political reform and clear, sustained progress on respect for human rights.  This must include prohibiting the security services’ use of arbitrary detention and excessive force against protesters, and ending the government’s harassment and intimidation of journalists, human rights defenders, political opposition, medical personnel, students, and other civil society actors.  We urge the government to release all journalists, activists, and peaceful protesters who have been arbitrarily detained, and to allow those facing charges full access to legal representation and the opportunity to seek legal review of their detention.  We also call on the government to allow for a credible and independent investigation into the deaths and injuries of protesters.  Moreover, to address the legitimate grievances of the population, the government must create a safe and secure environment for public expression and dialogue with the opposition and civil society in a more inclusive political process." On January 14 Inner City Press asked Guterres and his spokesman Stephane Dujarric, who had promised to answer, "On Sudan, what is the SG's comment and action on that Sudanese security forces Sunday fired tear gas and real bullets on Khartoum North Hospital and other medical facilities in other towns said a statement issued by the Sudan Doctors’ Syndicate? Again, please state when and why Mr Guterres met Omar al Bashir." But there has been no answer.  Rather, now on January 17 a statement by Michelle Bachelet whom Guterres picked as Rights Commissioner and who has said nothing about Guterres' own roughing up and banning of the Press, now for 196 days. Here's from Bachelet: "Credible reports of the use of excessive force, including live ammunition, by State security forces against protestors across Sudan over the past month are deeply worrying, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said Thursday. Bachelet called on the Government to protect the exercise by all of their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, regardless of their political affiliations.  The demonstrations since 19 December 2018 have taken place in a number of cities across Sudan, including Wad Madani, Port Sudan, Al-Qadarif, Atbara, Berber, Dongla, Karima, Al-Damazin, Al Obeid, Khartoum, Sinar, Bara, Nyala and Omdurman. The Government has confirmed that 24 people have died in the course of the protests, but other credible reports suggest the death toll may be nearly twice as high. Many others have been injured. According to information received, security forces have also followed some protestors into the Omdurman Hospital and fired tear gas and live ammunition inside the premises of the hospital. Reports also suggest that police fired tear gas inside Bahri Teaching Hospital and Haj Al-Safi Hospital. These two hospitals are in Khartoum North, where a large protest was organized by opposition groups.  Authorities have also confirmed that up to 6 January, at least 816 people were arrested in connection with the demonstrations. Reports indicate that these include journalists, opposition leaders, protestors and representatives of civil society.  “A repressive response can only worsen grievances,” High Commissioner Bachelet said.  “I am very concerned about reports of excessive use of force, including live ammunition, by Sudanese State Security Forces during large-scale demonstrations in various parts of the country since 19 December." So she calls for freedom of expression? Everywhere but in the UN, where Guterres banned critical Inner City Press even from her own events? Under Guterres and now Bachelet, the UN is rotting into hypocrisy, mere words from arrogant absentees. We'll have more on this. Back on 20 December 2018, banned Inner City Press asked Guterres and his spokesman Stephane Dujarric and Farhan Haq, "December 20-2: On Sudan, what is the SG's comment and action on the anti-government protests that started on Wednesday in northern Sudan and have been spreading to other cities?" Even by 7 pm on December 28 with more journalists arrested in Sudan, for example Ahmed Younes from Al-Sharq Alowsat newspaper and Maha Al-Tilib from Attayar newspaper, both just for reporting on the protests in Wad Nubawi, Omdurman, there was no answer at all, nor to 46 other questions Inner City Press has submitted including on conflicts of interest by Guterres. It turns out the UN has become so corrupt under Guterres that one of lead Spokesman Stephane Dujarric's Associate Spokespeople Ms Keishamaza Rukikaire who actually seems to care or at least re-tweet about Sudan has been ordered not to answer banned Inner City Press' written questions about Sudan, etc, see here. Finally after 7 pm on December 28, from Guterres' spokes - / hatchetman Stephane Dujarric, this: "The Secretary-General is following with concern developments in the Republic of Sudan, including the reported violence and fatalities. He appeals for calm and restraint and calls on the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the deaths and violence. He extends his condolences to all those who have lost loved ones in the violence.
The Secretary-General emphasizes the need to safeguard freedom of expression and peaceful assembly." Meanwhile AI counts at least 37 dead, and now there's video of Al-Sudani newspaper journalist Yassir Abdallah taken to hospital  after being assaulted by security personnel who fired ammunition into newspaper’s office. The protests have spread and Bashir's Rapid Support Forces are being deployed in Khartoum. Still silence from Guterres, now on a murky publicly funded junket with a major conflict of interest. In Sudan Bashir has suspended universities in Khartoum and sought to cut the Internet. Guterres is missing in action, not even disclosing where he is or how much it costs the public. Birds of a feather.

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