On
Burundi, UN
Belatedly
Confirms
Mayuyu
Repatriation
to ICP After
Telling It
Mayuyu “Not On
Any Roster”
By Matthew
Russell Lee,
Follow Up On
Exclusives
UNITED
NATIONS,
August 24 --
UN Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric told
Inner City
Press on
August 24 that
Burundian Lt.
Col. Alfred
Mayuyu was
deployed to
the UN
Peacekeeping
Mission in the
Central
African
Republic
(MINUSCA) in
July but is
being
repatriated to
Burundi
effective
immediately. Vine I here.
This followed
Dujarric's
deputy Farhan
Haq on August
5 telling
Inner City
Press that
Mayuyu was not
on “any
roster” of
MINUSCA, video
here.
Inner
City Press
asked
Dujarric, if
that was not
intentional
misrepresentation,
what does it
say about UN
Peacekeeping's
“vetting”
under chief
Herve Ladsous
if they can't
even find the
name of a high
profile human
rights abuser.
Vine
II here.
This, Dujarric
did not
explain.
Beyond
the Vine here.
He said not to
“extrapolate
from this one
incident” -
ironic, in
that he, USG
Cristina
Gallach and SG
Ban used a
simple event
Inner City
Press wanted
to cover as a
pretext to
evict it.
We'll have
more on this
Inner City
Press will
continue on
this.
On August 24,
it also asked
about new mass
graves found
in Burundi. UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to ask
you about
Burundi, the
one about Mr.
Mayuyu, which
I've asked
about…
Spokesman:
I have an
answer for
you.
ICP
Question:
You do?
Good.
Also, there's
been a report
also in Radio
Publique
Africaine
about mass
graves.
The group
APRODH, run by
Mr. Mbonimpa,
said they
found
mass graves,
including of
people who dug
the graves
buried to
eliminate
witnesses.
So, I wanted
to, I guess,
get that one
in the
hopper.
But, on Mr.
Mayuyu…
Spokesman:
I can confirm
from our
colleagues in
peacekeeping
that
Lieutenant
Colonel Alfred
Mayuyu from
Burundi, who
was deployed
to UN
peacekeeping
mission in
Central
African
Republic as a
military
observer in
July this year
is to be
repatriated
with immediate
effect.
The Permanent
Mission of
Burundi has
been notified
of the
Secretariat's
decision.
ICP
Question:
This is not to
be
mean-spirited,
but, on 5
August,
standing where
you are,
Farhan said,
Mayuyu is not
on any
roster.
And so, I'm
left
wondering…
I don't
believe
necessarily
that there's
any kind of
misrepresentation,
but how can
the mission
not know
who's…?
Spokesman:
I can only
give you the
information I
have… I have
now. I'm
not sure if
those were
Farhan's exact
words.
I'm sure he
was speaking
with the
information
that he had at
the
time.
The point is
that we looked
into the
matter, and I
can confirm
that
information to
you this
morning.
ICP Question:
f the mission
is not able to
actually even
run a name…
run a name
through its
roster…?
Spokesman:
I think you're
extrapolating
from this one
incident.
Again, ironic,
in that he,
USG Cristina
Gallach and SG
Ban used a
simple event
Inner City
Press wanted
to cover as a
pretext to
evict it.
We'll have
more on
this.But Inner
City Press
will continue
on this. Watch
this site.
Shouldn't the
UN
Spokesperson
be expected to
provide an
explanation
why his Office
told
the Press
a
controversial
Burundian
colonel was
NOT with UN
Peacekeeping
when a
respected
radio station
in Burundi says
the colonel
was
repatriated?
It would seem
so. But it's
not the case
in today's UN.
On August 22,
Inner City
Press asked
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon's lead
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric for
just such an
answer:
To: Stephane
Dujarric [at]
un.org
From: Inner
City Press
Date: Mon, Aug
22, 2016 at
3:13 PM
Cc: Farhan Haq
[at] un.org,
FUNCA [at]
funca.info
Subject: Press
Q again about
Burundi's
Mayuyu - I was
told "not on
roster," now
RPA says he's
repatriated:
confirm/deny,
explain
"I have asked
your Office
repeatedly
about
Burundian
Lieutenant-colonel
Alfred Mayuyu
being deployed
to MINUSCA in
the Central
African
Republic
despite his
human rights
record in
Burundi,
including in
connection
with Dec 12,
2015.
I was told, by
Farhan Haq,
that Mayuyu
was not on any
MINUSCA
roster.
Last week I
heard Mayuyu
was in fact
being
repatriated
(with the
flight paid
for the UN,
not Burundi)
and aimed to
ask at today's
abruptly-ended
briefing.
Now the below
has been
published by
Radio Publique
Africaine,
that Mayayu IS
being
repatriated.
Please
immediately
confirm or
deny, and if
confirm,
please explain
why I was
told, after
repeated
questions,
that Mayuyu
was not on any
roster."
With no
email
response, even
just to
confirm
receipt, from
Dujarric Inner
City Press at
the August 23
noon briefing
asked again, UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to ask
you about this
Burundian
Lieutenant
Colonel Mr.
Mayuyu.
I’d asked a
couple of
times here and
was told he’s
not on any
roster, and
now Radio
Publique
Africaine in
Burundi has
reported that
he was
deployed and
has been
repatriated.
So what is
the… what are
the
facts?
And if he was
there, why was
it said from
this podium
that he wasn’t
there?
Spokesman:
I hope to have
something on
that a bit
later today or
tomorrow.
Inner City
Press:
How can the
mission not be
able to say?
He’s a
commanding
officer…
Spokesman:
As I said, I’m
trying to
harvest facts.
Since Dujarric
has a history
of rushing out
of the
briefing room
with questions
unanswered,
Inner City
Press began a
Periscope
video.
Dujarric said,
gesturing at
Inner City
Press'
Periscoping
phone, “You
know it’s also
live on the
web.”
Inner City
Press:
I
understand.
But I have to
be ready…
Spokesman:
Of course.
Inner City
Press:
to…[inaudible]
Spokesman:
And I want
people to see
that I am the
lazy Spokesman
that you say I
am.
Inner City
Press:
All
right. I
did email
about Mayuyu…
Spokesman:
I’m
lazy.
That’s what I
can tell you.
The
reference was
to a hashtag,
#LazySpox
a/k/a (in
French)
#DroleDePorteParole.
And eight
hours later
and counting,
still no
answer of any
kind.
On July 29 the
UN Security
Council
adopted a
resolution to
send up to 228
UN Police to
Burundi, with
four
abstentions:
China, Egypt,
Venezuela and
Egypt.
Surprisingly,
Russia voted
yes. Here
is the French
text;English
is
below.
Minute before
the UN
Security
Council was to
vote on the
draft
resolution to
send up to 228
police to
Burundi,
French
ambassador
Francois
Delattre spoke
with his
Chinese
counterpart, tweeted
photo here, while
Angola's
ambassador
spoke with US
Ambassador
Samantha Power
and her
deputy, David
Pressman.
(Blurrier
photo tweeted
here.)
But what has
been done on
the resolution
so far? Alexis
Lamek, deputy
ambassador of
its author,
France, first
declined to
answer Inner
City Press'
question, said
he would
revert, Vine
here, and
see below.
On August 22,
Inner City
Press asked
again and
Lamek said,
“We are
speaking with
the different
stakeholders,”(Vine here) saying after Inner
City Press
followed up
that includes
the
government.
Ban
Ki-moon's
Spokesperson's
Office under
Stephane
Dujarric told
Inner City
Press, after
repeated
requests about
Ban's head of
peacekeeping
Herve Ladsous
taking Lt. Col
Alfred Mayuyu
into the UN
mission in the
Central
African
Republic
MINUSCA
despite human
rights abuses
that Mayuyu
was not on any
roster of the
UN. That said
publicly on
August 5 and
never
supplemented.
Vine
here;
Video
here, UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to ask
on
Burundi,
I'd asked you
about
Lieutenant
Colonel
Mayuyu,
deployment…
people
continue to
say that he's
actually being
deployed to
CAR (Central
African
Republic), and
they've linked
him to a unit
that was
involved in…
in… in torture
and other
abuse in
December
2015. So
what… is that,
in fact, being
re… I don't
know if you
looked into
it, but I did
ask it
here. Go
ahead.
Deputy
Spokesman:
Yes. I
did look into
that. As
far as I'm
aware from our
colleagues in
MINUSCA
(United
Nations
Multidimensional
Integrated
Stabilization
Mission in the
Central
African
Republic),
they're not
aware that
this person is
on any of
their
rosters.
They're
continuing to
check to see
whether it was
under a
different name
or something,
but no.
At this point,
we don't have
that.
Last week
Inner City
Press heard
that Mayuyu
was, in fact,
repatriated
from CAR, with
the UN and not
Burundi paying
for the
flight. Since
Dujarric's
office, beyond
participating
in evicting
Inner City
Press from the
UN, and refusing
questions
on
restrictions
since, didn't
even
acknowledge
its last round
of written
questions,
Inner City
Press intended
to ask
in-person at
the August 22
noon briefing.
But Dujarric
left abuptly.
Now, RPA
reports Mayuyu
has been
repatriated.
Inner City
Press has
asked Dujarric
and his deputy
Farhan Haq,
who gave the
August 5
answer, in
writing for an
explanation.
Watch this
site.
On August 19,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq
what if
anything the
UN has done
about the
abduction by
government
security of
another
journalist.
Haq said the
UN hopes he
“found” - so
the UN didn't
even contact
the
government? Vine here; UN
transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: on
Burundi, I
wanted to ask
you, there's
now a call…
there was
obviously Jean
Bigirimana.
There's
another
journalist,
Gisa Steve
Irakoze, of a
radio station,
one of the few
independent
radio stations
in the
country, has
been abducted,
the word RSF
uses, by the
National
Security
Agency.
And I wanted
to know… it's
kind of a
pressing case…
is the team on
the ground,
rather than
just a later
report, are
they in any
way involved
in trying to
ask the
Government to
release this
journalist
who's also
diabetic and
hasn't eaten
in two days by
some accounts?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, we're
aware of the
latest
reports, and
we are
concerned
about any
efforts that
would harm the
right of
Burundians to
the freedom of
expression and
any crackdowns
on the
media.
So, of course,
we hope that
this will be
resolved and
that the
person will be
found and
found safely
soon.
On August 18,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman
Farhan Haq, Vine here and here,
UN
transcript:
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to ask
you about
Burundi.
There have
been… first,
there's some…
there are
various Tutsi
members of the
army, some who
are out of the
country, who
are basically
trying to…
saying they
don't want to
go back
because they
face
imprisonment
or
killing.
There's…
there's… some
nine have gone
missing.
Six have been
killed.
So, I wanted
to know
whether this
is something
that the
Special
Adviser or the
team on the
ground is
concerned
about, a
seemingly
ethnic split
in the army,
and how this
also impacts
the impending
deployment of
800 Burundian
troops to the
Central
African
Republic.
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, as for
the deployment
of troops,
that's a
process that
is under way,
and we'll see
how that is
carried out,
but it will
follow the
normal
guidelines for
vetting.
Regarding the
situation on
the ground in
Burundi, the
Special
Adviser does
continue to be
in touch with
the Government
and other
sides.
We are trying
to work with
the various
communities to
make sure that
the country
continues to
deal with its
problems in an
inclusive
manner.
Continues??
So far, here
have been two
economic
responses. On
August 16,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman
Farhan Haq, Vine here, UN
transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: it's
widely
reported that
the Burundian
Government has
closed the
border with
Rwanda and
stopped all
trade between
the two.
So, I wanted
to know if
there's a… any
response by
the UN and its
Special
Adviser.
And also,
what's been
done since
the… since in
mid-July the
Security
Council passed
the resolution
to deploy 220
police, what
exactly has
DPKO
[Department of
Peacekeeping
Operations]
and the
Secretariat
done to
implement or
begin
implementing
that
resolution?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, we are
in touch with
potential
police-contributing
countries, and
what we're
trying to do
is see whether
we can
construct a
police
presence in
accordance
with the
mandate
provided by
the Security
Council.
ICP
Question:
Has the
Secretariat
communicated
with the
Pierre
Nkurunziza
Government?
Because
they've said
publicly that
they're not
going to take
the police.
Deputy
Spokesman:
We are in
touch with the
Nkurunziza
Government,
including
through the
Special
Adviser.
ICP
Question:
And what about
the
trade?
What about the
cutoff of
trade?
Is the UN
taking note of
that?
Deputy
Spokesman:
I am aware of
the media
reports.
I'm not aware
of any
particular
reaction we
have. As
you know, for
most of these
sorts of
matters, we
encourage
countries to
deal with any
differences
with each
other through
bilateral
means.
If there's
anything more
to say, I'll
let you know.
ICP
Question:
Sure.
I'm only
asking because
isn't there
also a guy
working on
Great
Lakes?
It seems to be
the problem in
Burundi is
becoming a
regional
issue, so I'm
wondering
whether the UN
sees it as
such.
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, I
haven't seen
any comment
from that
particular
Adviser on
this, just so
far.
Inner City
Press asked
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon's
spokesman
Farhan Haq on
August 10
about bodies
found in
Burundi's
rivers, UN
transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: on
Burundi, I’d
asked you
about the
journalist
that’s been
missing and
that his
publication
Iwacu says
that he’s been
killed.
But in
investigating
a body found
in a river,
something
called the
National
Committee on
Human Rights
of Burundi
went and they
found more
bodies in the
river.
So it gives
me… I guess I
wanted to
know, since
the UN has
people,
including,
supposedly,
human rights
observers, on
the ground, do
they accompany
the Government
commission
when they go
to investigate
bodies in a
river?
Some people
are saying 11
bodies have
been
found.
Certainly, two
have been
found.
One is
supposed to be
a
journalist.
Given that the
Government is
accused in
some of these
cases of being
the killer,
what’s the
UN’s role with
its team on
the ground?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, the
human rights
monitors in
Burundi follow
up on any
allegations of
human rights
atrocities,
and then they
report back on
them, and as
you know,
those reports
are available.
ICP
Question:
Right, but
specifically,
I guess, do
they… are they
in Bujumbura
reading about
this, or do
they accompany
the Government
to go to the
site of
bodies?
Deputy
Spokesman:
You can see
the
reports.
They give
details about
the work that
they do in
their periodic
reports.
ICP
Question:
Right but in
this instance,
I guess I’m
just asking
you now, since
there’s a dead
journalist,
when would
they report on
it?
Deputy
Spokesman:
We would have
to see.
Obviously,
every so
often, they
have the
periodic
reports in
which they
describe the
work that
they’re doing.
On August 9,
Inner City
Press asked
French Deputy
Ambassador
Alexis Lamek,
now that the
government of
Burundi has
said it
rejects the
deployment of
UN Police,
what next? He
said, “I will
come back to
you.” Vine
here.
He didn't.
At the
August 9 noon
briefing,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman
Farhan Haq
what the UN
Secretariat is
doing, to get
the police
deployed. His
answer cited
Burundi's
sovereignty
and
cooperating
with the
government. Vine here.
On August 8,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq, UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: I'd
asked before
about this
journalist
from Iwacu
called Jean
Bigirimana,
and now his
publication,
Iwacu, seems
to indicate
that his body
has been
found.
And there are
number of
press freedom
organizations,
human rights
organizations
saying that it
has to be
investigated.
With the UN's
presence
there, what
steps has it
taken since he
was
disappeared
and the
publication
went public
with his
disappearance?
Has anything
been done by
the UN on this
case?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, we do
monitor the
situation of
human rights
in the
country.
We don't have
any particular
report on this
case to share
at this
point.
But they are
looking into
the
circumstances
of all of the
potential
human rights
violations in
the
country.
Obviously, any
harassment,
let alone
killing, of
any journalist
merits a
strong
reaction and
would need to
be fully
investigated
by the
authorities on
the ground.
I wanted
to ask on
Burundi,
something new
and then one
as a follow-up
question.
There's
reports there
of a mass
grave of 12
bodies being
unearthed in
Ngozi, and so
I wanted to
know if it's
something that
has reached
your office or
if the UN's
going to have
any role in
examining
that.
And also, I'd
asked you
about
Lieutenant
Colonel
Mayuyu,
deployment…
people
continue to
say that he's
actually being
deployed to
CAR (Central
African
Republic), and
they've linked
him to a unit
that was
involved in…
in… in torture
and other
abuse in
December
2015. So
what… is that,
in fact, being
re… I don't
know if you
looked into
it, but I did
ask it
here. Go
ahead.
Deputy
Spokesman:
Yes. I
did look into
that. As
far as I'm
aware from our
colleagues in
MINUSCA
(United
Nations
Multidimensional
Integrated
Stabilization
Mission in the
Central
African
Republic),
they're not
aware that
this person is
on any of
their
rosters.
They're
continuing to
check to see
whether it was
under a
different name
or something,
but no.
At this point,
we don't have
that.
Regarding a
mass grave in
Ngozi, of
course, we're
concerned
about any
reports of
mass graves,
and I'll look
and see
whether we
have anything
further about
this
particular…
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to ask
you, in
Burundi, among
the various
things
happening is a
move by the
Government to
either disbar
or arrest a
number of
human rights
lawyers that
have… have
both advocated
for victims of
torture and
other abuse
and have been
pretty high
profile
internationally,
sending out
reports,
including
Vidal
Nshimirimana.
So, I wanted
to know, since
you have a
team on the
ground there
and there
seems to be a
feeling that
human rights
defenders and
lawyers that
work on that
should be
defended, what
has the UN
done in this
public
announcement
by the
Government
that they
should all be
disbarred?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well,
certainly, we
believe that
all human
rights
defenders
everywhere
should be able
to go about
their work,
and we would
have concerns
if there's any
effort to
prevent human
rights lawyers
or other human
rights
activists from
going about
their work,
and that is to
be
avoided.
And, yes, we
do have team
on the ground
to monitor any
problems with
human rights
that are
recorded.
Threats have
been made
against any UN
Police who
deploy -
including
threats by pro
Nkurunziza
officials who
were invited
to the talks
in Arusha
supported by
the UN. From
the UN, the
silence has
been...
deafening.
Meanwhile,
here is the
Nkurunziza
government's
belated
justification
for breaking
off UN
Committee
Against
Torture
dialogue, put
online by
Inner City
Press here.
On July 30 in
Bujumbura, the
CNDD-FDD rally
at the French
embassy which
Inner City
Press had reported
in advance on
July 29
featured
French
Ambassador
Gerrit Van
Rossum
engaging with
the CNDD-FDD
crowd and
their signs
about Rwanda.
Inner City
Press tweeted
photo here.
On August 1,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq, UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to ask
you about
Burundi.
Following the
resolution on
Friday, which
authorizes up
to 228 police,
I wanted to
know what the
Secretariat is
thinking in
terms of
actually
deploying and
seeking
consent, in
light of… over
the weekend,
there were a
number of
protests in
Bujumbura and
a number of
people
including some
invited to the
Arusha talks
have issued
threats that
anyone
deployed will
be killed, so
what is the
Secretariat
going to do
now?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, we are
aware of
that. At
the same time,
of course, the
Security
Council has
spoken.
They have made
clear what
their wishes
are and we
will follow up
on that.
And, of
course, from
our
standpoint,
the next thing
to do will be
to reach out
to potential
police-contributing
countries and
see what… how
quickly we can
get a police
force that
will comply
with the
request for
the Security
Council.
ICP
Question:
Sure, without
actually
asking what
was said at
the stakeout
by Ambassador
[François]
Delattre that
consent is
absolutely
needed, so
what is the
process for…
for the UN
seeking
consent?
And also just
on these
threats,
including
death threats,
since the UN
supports these
Arusha talks,
does it seem
inconsistent
to you that
people invited
and
participating
in the talks
would be
publicly
issuing death
threats to UN
police?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well,
regarding
that, I'll
leave it to
the
facilitators
of the Arusha
talks to
discuss the
Arusha talks,
but, from our
standpoint,
what we want
to do is make
sure that any
mandate…
Security
Council-mandated
force is able
to go about
its
work.
And as with
every other
country, we
then deal with
the host
Government to
make sure that
will happen.
The UN of Ban
Ki-moon and
Herve Ladsous
plans to
accept 800
more soldiers
from Burundi
for "service"
in the Central
African
Republic,
Inner City
Press was
exclusively
informed and
got the UN to
confirm on
June 23. But
why?
Especially now
that the UN
has belatedly
acknowledged
that the new
rape charges
in CAR are
against
Burundi? And
now that
Burundi has
“discontinued
its
interactive
dialogue” with
the UN
Committee
Against
Torture? On
July 29 Inner
City Press
asked Ban
Ki-moon's
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq
about this;
the generic
response
indicated to
some that
Ban's office
is not even
aware of it.
After
breaking off
interactive
dialogue with
the UN
Committee on
Torture,
Burundi and
its “keeper of
the seals”
turned in a
written
response that
many find less
than credible.
Inner City
Press is putting
it online here
on Scribd.
En francais.
Watch this
site.
As if in a
parallel
universe, on
July 28 the
French mission
to the UN
circulated and
put “in blue”
its belated
draft
resolution on
Burundi, which
as obtained by
Inner City
Press would
among other
things
“authorize a
ceiling of 228
United Nations
individual
police
officers for
the United
Nations police
component as
referred to in
paragraph 13
of this
resolution,
headed by a
United Nations
senior police
adviser, to be
deployed in
Bujumbura and
throughout
Burundi, and
requests the
Secretary-General
to ensure
their
progressive
deployment.”
Inner City
Press has
obtained the
draft - not
from the
French mission
- and
exclusively puts
it online here.
During this
process,
amazingly,
Burundi's
Permanent
Representative
to the UN
Albert
Shingiro has
been on
vacation.
Sources tell
Inner City
Press his goal
is to be able
to say he
wasn't here,
it wasn't his
fault. But
will that
work?
And if
Pierre
Nkurunziza,
who is slated
to come to the
UN General
Assembly high
week in
September,
does not
accept the 228
police? Inner
City Press is
told of splits
in the
CNDD-FDD
party. We'll
have more on
this.
Inner City
Press: I know
that there is
this idea that
there is
screening and
due diligence,
but civil
society in
Burundi are
saying that a
Lieutenant
Colonel
Miyuyu, who
was within the
military
police during
December 2015
during torture
and killings,
has arrived in
Bangui and is
being deployed
to UN, the
mission there,
MINUSCA
[United
Nations
Multidimensional
Integrated
Stabilization
Mission in the
Central
African
Republic].
And so, I'm
wondering, in
particular,
this is a
particular
individual,
they say he is
charged with
an attack on a
funeral
convoy, the
kidnapping of
somebody
called Hermes
Nwindagoma and
so it very…
they have a
lot of
evidence and
I'm wondering
what due
diligence did
DPKO
[Department of
Peacekeeping
Operations] do
before
bringing this
individual to
CAR [Central
African
Republic] if,
in fact, he is
there?
Deputy
Spokesman:
I'll see what…
whether there
has been any
concerns
raised about
this
individual in
question; if
so, how have
they been
handled.
On July 26,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq, Vine here, UN
transcript
here:
Inner City
Press:
in Burundi a
high-profile
journalist
there named
Jean
Bigirimana of
IWACU was
arrested on
Friday by
Government
intelligence,
and it's not
clear where
he's been
taken and his
family has
complained.
And I'm
wondering
whether the UN
and its
country team
on the ground
are looking
into this case
and if they
have anything
to say
particularly
about getting
him released
or at least
brought in
front of a
judge?
Deputy
Spokesman:
I'll have to
see whether
there's been
any specific
action that's
been taken
about that
case.
Eight hours
later,
nothing.
That's Ban and
free press-
Ban ON free
press.
On July 25,
Inner City
Press asked
French
Ambassador to
the UN
Francois
Delattre about
the status of
his draft
resolution to
sending 228
police - in
process,
building
consensus -
and if France
is in contact
with
Nkurunziza to
see if there
will be
consent. In
contact, he
said.
Inner City
Press: I want
to ask about
some other
talks, talks
in Arusha on
Burundi have
broken up
again.
Many people
including many
of the
opposition are
saying they
are pretty
ineffective
and not
inclusive, so
I wanted to
know what is
the UN's
readout of
these talks
and what the
next steps
are?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, I mean,
at this stage
we are
evaluating;
but we need to
make sure that
you can make
some
headway.
We have been
very
supportive of
the effort to
have the
Arusha
talks.
Ultimately,
it's important
that you have
inclusive
talks and an
inclusive
process.
Jamal Benomar
has been
paying
attention to
this process
and we'll have
to see from
him what his
evaluation is
on next steps
after this.
Inner City
Press: on
Burundi, there
are
photographs
online of
basically
somebody being
beaten in the
streets of
Bujumbura by
the guard of
Mr. [Alain
Guillaume]
Bunyoni, the
Minister for
Public
Security and
people who
took the
pictures have
been arrested
and wanted to
know, back to
this idea,
there is a
team on the
ground, what
is the team on
the ground
doing?
Are they aware
of this
incident that
they can
verify?
Spokesman:
I have not
received any
updates from
them.
Obviously, we
have people on
the
ground.
The general
situation is
worrying to
us, especially
the rights of
people to be
able to
demonstrate
and
demonstrate
freely.
There will be
discussions in
Arusha,
hopefully very
inclusive
discussions in
order to find
a solution and
a political
way forward to
the current
crisis in
Burundi and we
will be
participating
in
those.
We will be
participating
in those
discussions.
On July 13,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
about the
assassination
of Hafsa
Mossi, Vine
here, UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: in
Burundi a
parliamentarian,
the East
African
Parliamentarian,
Hafsa Mossi,
has been
assassinated
in the capital
and some
people say
that she was
threatened by
hardliners in
the CNDD-FDD
party; but in
any event what
is the…?
Spokesman:
No. I
just saw the
report.
I do expect a
statement to
be issued a
bit later on
that very
topic.
Nearly seven
hours later,
this:
The
Secretary-General
condemns the
assassination
of Hafsa
Mossi, former
Burundian
Minister for
East African
Community
Affairs and
Member of the
East African
Legislative
Assembly, in
Bujumbura this
morning. He
extends his
deepest
condolences to
Ms. Mossi’s
family. This
despicable act
of violence
only serves to
promote
divisions,
entrench
mistrust, and
destabilize
the country.
The
Secretary-General
reiterates the
need to
intensify
efforts to
find a
negotiated
settlement to
the crisis in
Burundi and
calls on all
parties
concerned to
engage fully
and in good
faith in the
peace process
led by the
East African
Community
(EAC). The
United Nations
will continue
to provide
assistance to
the EAC-led
dialogue
process and
its
Facilitator,
former
President of
the United
Republic of
Tanzania H.E.
Mr. Benjamin
Mkapa.
And what about
the lack of
inclusiveness?On
July 12, Inner
City Press
asked UN
Spokesman
Duajrric about
the talks, and
the African
Union's
AMISOM, UN
transcript
here:
Inner City
Press:
On Burundi, I
wanted to ask
you:
There are a
lot of
complaints
that the talks
are reviving
but there are
many groups
saying that
they weren't
invited, that
most… most…
that it's not
inclusive
enough.
I wanted to
know whether
Mr. [Jamal]
Benomar or the
Secretary-General
has any
view.
And also there
are people
complaining
again about
deployment of
known… of
alleged human
rights
abusers, this
time to AMISOM
[African Union
Mission in
Somalia].
And I know
I've asked you
before, what's
the role of
DPKO
[Department of
Peacekeeping
Operations]…?
Spokesman:
AMISOM is an
African
Union-led
mission, so I
think you
should ask
them. On
the talks, Mr.
Benomar and
his team will
be present at
the next round
of talks, and
we very much
hope that they
will be as
inclusive as
possible.
Inner City
Press: in the
case of the
Burundians
that… that
Stéphane said
yesterday that
he named them
as the
nationality
charged in the
most recent
charges, I
guess, you
know, he
didn't… what
did the
mission
respond to the
UN in terms of
what they're
supposed…
steps they're
supposed to
take, and what
is the
connection
between that
process and
the impending
deployment in
September of
800 more
Burundian
troops to [the
Central
African
Republic]?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Stéphane, I
believe, made
clear that if
there are
problems that
are
unresolved,
there are a
number of
steps that can
be taken, and
those would
include
changes made
to… involving
the
repatriation
of troops or
contingents.
So, that
remains the
case as we try
to get to the
bottom of what
these latest
allegations,
which date
from May,
entail.
We have
informed the
Permanent
Mission of
Burundi by
note verbale
of… of these
allegations
and the need
to take steps,
and we're now
going to be in
dialogue with
them about
what their
follow-up is.
Inner City
Press: on
Friday, you’d
said that
you’d say the
nationality.
I wondered,
can you say
when… when the
Burundian
Mission was
informed that
its… its
personnel is
charged with
these rapes?
Spokesman:
It was
informed
either today
or Tuesday.
Inner City
Press:
Okay.
What I wanted
to know is,
does either
what was asked
about torture
in Burundi or
these new
sexual
allegation
claims, is
DPKO
(Department of
Peacekeeping
Operations)
still
intending to
bring in 800
more Burundian
troops in
September?
Spokesman:
I think the…
we have to let
the
investigation
go through on
this
particular
case. As
for any
country, all
options remain
on the table,
including
repatriation.
Inner City
Press:
And do… also
Burundi.
I just wanted
to… is the UN
aware that the
talks that had
been scheduled
for July 9th
through 12th
in Arusha have
been
postponed?
Is that your
understanding?
Spokesman:
I don’t have
any
information on
that.
Later on July
7 Inner City
Press asked
Ladsous why he
was preparing
to pay Burundi
for 800 more
soldiers; he
refused to
answer. Vine
here.
On July 7
Human Rights
Watch entirely
omitted this
prospective
deployment,
and the UN
Security
Council's lack
of action on
Burundi during
the entire
month of June
when penholder
France was
president of
the Council,
in HRW's
report on
torture in the
country. What
is behind this
myopia? On
this, we'll
have more.
On July 6,
Mkapa's PA
tweeted, "For
reasons beyond
our control,
the 9-12 July
#BurundiCrisis
dialogue in
Arusha is
postponed. New
dates to be
announced
shortly." But
who will be
invited?
On July 1 in
Burundi,
Pierre
Nkurunziza
used the
"celebration
day to
appreciate the
National
Defense forces
and National
police
commands
including
promoting some
of them to
senior ranks.
In a Decree
dated 1 July
2016, Army
Chief of
Staff, General
Prime
Niyongabo was
promoted to
the highest
level in the
Army of
Burundi as
Lieutenant
General, his
Deputy,
General Joseph
Ndayishimiye
was promoted
to the rank of
Major General.
The National
Intelligence
Service (NIS)
Administrator
General,
General
Etienne
Ntakirutimana
was promoted
to the rank of
Major General.
The Director
General of the
National
Police André
Ndayambaje was
awarded a
prize for
protecting
national
integrity.
Army
Spokesperson
Colonel
Gaspard
Baratuza1
Pierre
Nkurikiye were
also awarded a
prize."
It was noted,
"Following an
active rights
activist’s
campaign Col
Gaspard
Baratuza was
prevented to
deploy as
peacekeeper in
the MINUSCA
because the UN
had to verify
the
allegations
that he issued
a wrong and
contradictory
report."
So even the UN
thought the
better of
Baratuza;
Nkurunziza
gives him an
award. Now
Ladsous wants
to award /
reward
Nkurunziza
with global
taxpayers
money for
"peacekeepers"
while the
current
contingent is
charged with
rape, and Ban
Ki-moon's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric
withholds the
nationality of
new accuseds
in the Central
African
Republic.
On July 1,
Dujarric said
the
nationality
information
would be
released later
that afternoon
- then left at
3 pm. Inner
City Press
inquired with
Ban Ki-moon's
spokesperson's
office;
Dujarric was
emailed.
Nothing, for
six Vive La
France days
now, as
Ladsous
prepares to
pay Nkurunziza
more, via
Commerzbank in
Paris. This is
today's UN.
From June 30:
Inner City
Press:
yesterday, at
the Human
Rights
Council, High
Commissioner
Zeid gave his
presentation
on Burundi,
and he
reported on…
on several
hundred
extrajudicial
executions,
various things
committed by
the
Government.
So I wanted to
know, you
previously
said or it's
been said that
the continued
deployment of
the Burundian
peacekeepers
in CAR
[Central
African
Republic] is
going
forward.
And I wanted
to know, does
this change
anything, that
the UN itself
is reporting
instances of
torture,
extrajudicial…
you know,
things done by
Government
forces…?
Spokesman:
I think all
deployments
are constantly
under
review.
If we have an
update, I will
share that
with you.
Five
hours later,
nothing, as
Dujarric left
the UN after
arranging some
B-roll for a
profile. We'll
have more on
this
On June 29,
Inner City
Press asked UN
spokesman
Farhan Haq
about Mugamba,
UN
transcript
here:
Inner City
Press:
On Burundi, I
just wanted to
know if you
have anything
on
Mugamba.
This was the
place where
the President
had said
disarmament
was required
or there would
be a
crackdown, and
now there are
reports that
there is, in
fact, a crack…
you know,
fighting and a
number of
people
dead.
And I wanted
to know, since
especially the
UN sort of had
advanced
notice this
would take
place, given
the threat, is
the UN present
in any
way?
Does it have
any estimate
of
casualties?
What's going
on?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, we've
made our
concerns known
about Burundi,
including
about Mugamba,
in past
weeks.
So I'd refer
you back to
that. If
there's
anything
further to say
at this point,
I'll check and
see whether
there's
anything.
When
the Burundi UN
Peacebuilding
Configuration
met on June
20, Pierre
Nkurunziza's
Ambassador
Albert
Shingiro said
his government
will not talk
with
“putschist and
their allies.”
It was unclear
how this
applies to
human rights
defenders such
as
Pierre-Claver
Mbonimpa.
Shingiro's
claims about
press freedom,
too, rang
false. He was
tweeting hate
speech uner
another name.
And he
mentioned the
M23.
Now Inner City
Press hears
that troops
from the
Burundi
military -
well, some
part of it,
CNDD FDD and
Imbonerakure
-- are being
sent into
Eastern DR
Congo, to hunt
down
opponents.
Whose uniform
will they be
wearing? What
does Ladsous'
UN
Peacekeeping
know - and
say?
On June 27,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Farhan Haq, UN
transcript
here:
Inner City
Press:
In Burundi,
there… people
are saying
that there
have been a
deployment or
is being a
deployment of
the… of army
soldiers from
certain units
into Eastern
DRC
(Democratic
Republic of
the Congo) to
hunt down
perceived
opponents or
push…
putschists.
And given this
and given that
MONUSCO
(United
Nations
Organization
Stabilization
Mission in the
Democratic
Republic of
the Congo) is
there, is
MONUSCO aware
of any
deployment by
Burundian
military to
conduct
operations
with FARDC
(Armed Forces
of the
Democratic
Republic of
the Congo) in
Eastern Congo?
Deputy
Spokesman:
I'm not aware
of anything
from
that.
I'll check
with MONUSCO
whether
they've seen
anything more
recent, but
I'm not aware
of any
incursions by
Burundian
troops.
Inner City
Press:
But would
they… it may
be at the
invitation of
the
Government.
Would MONUSCO
be informed of
that?
Deputy
Spokesman:
If it's at the
invitation of
the
Government,
you also need
to check with
the Government
of the
DRC.
It’s
ultimately…
that's for
them to
answer.
I can see what
information
MONUSCO has,
but for that,
you really do
need the DRC
Government's
information.
On human
trafficking,
which Inner
City Press has
reported on,
"Deputy Public
Prosecutor
Liévin
Ndayisenga, in
a letter
n°555/111/688/2016
dated 23 June
2016 addressed
to four
companies
including
Royal
Services,
International
Recruiting
Company,
Burundi
Recruiting
Company and
Burundi
General
Services,
under RMP
155809/NLI
urged the four
companies to
stop their
activities and
'help
repatriate
girls and
women sent
abroad
illegally.'"
Meanwhile even
Saudi Arabia
has
called for
a pause in the
human
trafficking.
The UN,
typically, has
done nothing.
Watch this
site.
On DRC,
Shingiro
quoted UN
experts that
the “M23” in
DRC are trying
to overthrow
Nkurunziza. He
did not reply
to a quote
from his
party's
Imbonerakure
youth wing,
“We will rape
and impregnate
our enemy's
women and
girls” to
create more
Imbonerakure.
This phrase
hung in the
air of
Conference
Room 7,
unresponded
to.
Shingiro, it
now appears,
has been
living at
least a double
life online.
On June 21 his
photograph
with UN
official
Mogens
Lykketoft and
Under
Secretary
General for
Public
Information
Cristina
Gallach was
tweeted, not
from
@AShingiro but
rather from
@jabaga70,
one which many
in Burundi
have long
associated
with hate
speech. See
below.
So it was
fitting that
Shingiro was
told by the
UN's Herve
Ladsous, with
his own
history,
here, that
unlike the
Burundi Police
being
repatriated
from CAR as
first reported
by Inner City
Press and
confirmed by
UN Police's
Stefan Feller,
Ladsous plans
to take 800
soldiers from
Burundi to
replace those
leaving in
September.
Inner City
Press:
yesterday,
you'd said
that DPKO
[Department of
Peacekeeping
Operations]
is, in fact,
considering
bringing these
800 Burundian
soldiers
in. I'm
just using
this as an
example.
How would you
describe… at
what level are
they going to
vet
people?
Only at the
level of
commanders, at
the level of
individuals,
at the level
of
battalions?
How does it
work?
Deputy
Spokesman:
The standard
vetting
procedure
applies, and
it applies for
all
officials.
There are, as
you know, many
times when we
have rejected
specific
individuals
because they
did not meet
our standards
in terms of
vetting.
In the case of
the Burundian
police, you'll
have seen that
we have also
decided that
there's a
larger problem
at work, so
we're at
present not
accepting
police
contributions…
further police
contributions
from
Burundi.
At the same
time, we
review the
records of all
countries, and
if there are
concerns about
other sorts of
countries or
other sorts of
contingents,
that would be
shown.
But, I think
the very fact
that we took
this action
that we did
shows that we
are taking
very seriously
the human
rights
concerns that
are associated
with those
particular
police.
Inner City
Press: I
guess I’m just
saying that
there seem to
be some people
in Burundi who
don't
understand
this
distinction
between police
and
military.
Is it in
writing
somewhere, the
basis on which
this
determination
is made?
Deputy
Spokesman:
This is
something
that's being
reviewed
constantly.
If there's any
need to adjust
our pattern,
that will
happen.
But, we
already looked
at concern at
that
particular
record.
Given how
contradictory
this is -
repatriation
of police but
not soldiers -
Inner City
Press on June
23 asked Ban
Ki-moon's
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq to
confirm it. Video here, UN
transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: I'd
asked before
Stéphane
[Dujarric],
and now I have
a little bit
more. On
the Burundians
that are in
CAR [Central
African
Republic], the
police
contingent, we
were told,
will return in
July and not
be replaced in
Burundi.
There are 800
troops that
are supposed
to run… their
term runs out
in
September.
And I've been
told that now
Mr. Ladsous
has met with
Mr. Shingiro,
and it seems
that they're
going to be
replaced from
Burundi, that
he's asked
them for names
and commanders
of those who
would return
in
September.
Is it accurate
to say that
the police are
not being ret…
are not coming
back to CAR,
but the
troops, in
fact,
are?
And, if so,
what's the
difference in
terms of the
human rights
decision?
Deputy
Spokesman:
There is a
difference in
terms of the
relative
positions of
responsibility
regarding the
human rights
problems that
we have
determined in
Burundi.
As a result of
that, it was
believed that
it would not
be appropriate
to have
Burundian
police, and so
they are being
sent back
without
replacement.
Question:
Right.
So, the
finding is
that the
soldiers are
not implicated
in the human
rights
problems in
Burundi.
Deputy
Spokesman:
There's a
difference in
terms of what
was found to
be the
responsibility.
This is
something that
we believe is
a problem
applying to
the use of
Burundian
police.
This is the UN
of Ban and
Ladsous. We'll
have more on
this.
At the
June 22 noon
briefing,
Inner City
Press asked
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon's
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq
what the UN
will do about
an ambassador
found to be
moonlighting
in hate
speech. Video
here,UN Transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to ask
you something
about Burundi
and how the UN
responds to
statements by
diplomats.
There’s a
growing
controversy
that the
ambassador of
Burundi to the
UN, Albert
Shingiro,
yesterday,
tweeted a
photograph of
himself at the
International
Day of Yoga
but through an
account....
that says
things about
the number of
Tutsis in the
Government
should be
reduced; the
number of
Tutsis should
be
reduced.
So it’s clear
from the way
it’s phrased
that he is the
other
account.
And so people…
what I’m
wondering is,
you have
Albert… you
have Mr. Dieng
issuing
statements
about, you
know, threats
of genocide in
different
places.
Is the UN
aware that the
ambassador of
Burundi is
responsible
for an
account, which
has tweeted
what can be
described as
nothing but
hate
speech?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, I
wouldn’t be
able to make
the inference
about
different
tweets that
you’re
making.
Ultimately, it
would be up to
the Permanent
Mission of
Burundi to see
how its
communications
are being
handled.
Certainly, we
expect all
Member States
to abide by
the basic
norms in their
communications,
including an
avoidance of
any sort of
rhetoric of
hate.
This came
after Inner
City Press questioned Gallach about
her role in
the Ng Lap
Seng / ex-PGA
John Ashe
scandal,
including the
UN's own
Office of
Internal
Oversight
Services has
found that
Gallach's DPI
did no due g
of Ng's
entities
sponsorship of
the UN's
slavery
memorial, and
of an illegal
one-person art
show in the GA
lobby
featuring Ban
Ki-moon. Audit
here, at
Paragraphs
37-40 and
20(b).
Now
Gallach and
ultimately Ban
are giving
Inner City
Press' long
time shared
office to an
Egypt state
media which
rarely comes
to the UN - in
violation of
DPI policy -
and leaving
Inner City
Press confined
to minders,
often Banned
from covering
even Security
Council
events. We'll
have more on
this.
On June 10, UN
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric
refused to
take Inner
City Press'
Burundi
question,
justifying it
as opening the
podium to
French Foreign
Minister
Ayrault, who
did not begin
for another 20
minutes and did
not once
mention or
take Press
question on
Burundi.
Outright human
trafficking is
among the
issues. Inner
City Press on
June 13 asked
Ban Ki-moon's
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric,
UN transcript
here
and below. On
June 17, Iner
City Press
asked Dujarric
why the logic
for
repatriating
the Burundian
police in CAR
doesn't apply
to the 800
Burundian
soldiers in
CAR, video
here,
UN Transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: it was
said in this
room that the
police
contingent of
the Burundians
in CAR, when
they leave,
will not be
replaced from
Burundi, but
the question
has arisen,
there's also a
military
soldier,
non-police of
800 soldiers,
and so does
the… doesn't
the same logic
apply?
What is the
plan of DPKO
[Department of
Peacekeeping
Operations]
when these 800
soldiers' term
runs
out?
Will they be
replaced from
within…?
Spokesman:
When we have
something to
update you on
that, I will.
We'll see. On
June 16, after
getting not
even
confirmation
of receipt
from Dujarric
and his deputy
to questions
on Burundi
submitted in
writing, Inner
City Press
asked
Dujarric, UN Transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to ask
you about
Burundi.
I'd sent you
this
yesterday, but
I'll ask it
again.
And what I
wanted to ask
you is, of the
students that
were now…
there are now
several
hundred
students that
have been
expelled, and
there's one
that's been
photographed
as having been
tortured for
defacing the
photograph…
allegedly
defacing the
photograph of
Pierre
Nkurunziza.
And so, I'm
wondering,
again, given
you'd
mentioned this
million
dollars, what
exactly is the
UN doing about
that and about
the
outstanding
threat to… to
crack down on
Mugamba, a
Tutsi… largely
Tutsi
community?
People are
fleeing…
Spokesman:
I think it's
important the
Government
uphold its
responsibilities
to protect its
people to
ensure that
there is
freedom of
expression and
freedom of
speech.
The Special
Envoy has a
team on the
ground, and
they continue
to engage.
Inner City
Press: to tie
what you
announced in
the top of
this million
dollars, how
will this
actually help
protect
people…?
Spokesman:
Well, I think
this will
enhance the
capacity of
Mr. Benomar's
office on the
ground.
We'll have
more on this.
Since he said
he hadn't seen
the report,
Inner City
Press asked
him about it
again on June
14 along with
two other
Burundi
issues. UN
transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: on
Burundi.
First, there's
a report of a
soldier that
was throwing a
grenade into a
crowd.
It exploded,
killed him and
others.
And I wanted
to know, I
guess, you
know, both on
this, on the
sort of
ongoing
violence, on
230 students
now expelled
from school
for drawing on
the
President's
picture and on
the human
trafficking
thing that I
asked you
about
yesterday
that's
actually… I
mean, there've
been… there's
a Bloomberg
story about
it.
There's
various public
reports about
the
allegations
and pictures
of people in
the
airport.
What is the
UN, the
Burundi team
or Secretariat
doing?
Spokesman:
You know, the…
our team
remains on the
ground.
We're trying
to work
towards a
political
solution to
the current
crisis.
I don't have
anything else
with any more
detail to give
you.
Inner City
Press:
UNICEF put out
a statement
some weeks ago
about
students, I
think it was
referring to
the same…
Spokesman:
No, no, we've
expressed our
concern about
different
parts of the
current
situation in
Burundi,
including
limits on
freedom of the
press and
limits on
freedom of
expression.
Inner City
Press:
Just one
thing.
Who in the UN
system deals
with human
trafficking?
I know it's
something the
UN is
against.
If, in a
country where
there is a
human rights
team on the
ground, there
are
photographs
of… of dozens
of girls in
the airport…
Spokesman:
I think it
goes around
human rights,
UNHCR, and
other parts
and UNICEF, as
well.
Okay.
Not okay. From
June 13:
Inner
City Press: I
wanted to ask
you about
Burundi.
I wanted to
ask you this
on Friday, but
I'll ask it to
you now.
There's fairly
well-documented
reports of
what seems to
be human
trafficking,
i.e., women
and girls
being flown
from Bujumbura
to Saudi
Arabia and
Oman.
The President
has bragged
about
contracts he
has to provide
workers.
The Minister
for Health has
provided
certificates,
and people are
saying they're
going under
false names,
and it may…
it's exactly
what the UN's
been
condemning.
Was the UN
aware of it,
and what does
it say about
it?
Spokesman:
The UN may be
aware of
it. I'm
not personally
aware of
it. I
haven't seen
the
reports.
I do know,
however, that
three of the…
three human
rights experts
are on their
way to
Burundi.
In fact,
they're
scheduled to
arrive
today.
They will be
there through
17 June.
They will
obviously meet
with the usual
actors, the
Government,
national civil
society,
victims of
human rights
violations,
humanitarian
organizations,
and other
parties
operating in
Burundi.
And the
report… they
are scheduled
to issue their
final report,
I think, later
this summer in
Geneva.
But what about
human
trafficking of
"young
Burundian
girls to Saudi
Arabia and
Oman. Over the
reporting
period, more
than 110 girls
flew to Oman
and Saudi
Arabia. Many
were allegedly
granted
passports
under fake
names and age.
Recruitments
are being
conducted by a
large network
of CNDD-FDD
members. In a
press
conference
held on 30
December 2015,
President
Nkurunziza
stated that a
country that
he did not
name had asked
Burundi to
supply 120 000
workers; but
he said that
the same will
be done in
accordance
with the law
of the land.
Josiane
Nijimbere
authorized the
request of
Salah Alder
Feeri to
proceed with
medical tests
for recruited
clients to
collect their
passports at
the national
immigration
office."
Things
have come to
this.
Meanwhile in
terms of
covering this,
the UN after
ousting Inner
City Press,
evicting its
office and
moving to give
it to Egyptian
state media
Akhbar Elyom
which targets
independent
journalists,
now while
exposed in
mis-statements
refuses to
return access
or office,
click here for
that.
Back on May 31
Inner City
Press was
informed by
sources that
Burundi's
forces
deployed to
Central
African
Republic are
slated this
summer to be
returned to
Burundi, and
there are no
plan to
replace them.
Inner City
Press was
exclusively
told by UN
sources, and
exclusively
reported, that
Burundi is NOT
invited to
this week's UN
Police event
at UN
headquarters,
despite a
protest by the
Nkurunziza
government.
(Then there
were
Nkurunziza's
threat in
Mugamba, which
Reuters said
were against
"criminal
gangs.")
After Inner
City Press exclusively
reported
and asked
about both of
these (May
31 video here),
the UN
confirmed
both. See
below. Inner
City Press
also asked
about the
arrest of
students for
drawing on the
photograph of
Pierre
Nkurunziza.
On June 6,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, UN transcript
here and
below.
On June 8,
having
obtained the
repatriation
letter, Inner
City Press
asked Dujarric
to confirm it.
He refused (so
we published
it here),
and later
refused a
question about
what the UN
told a U.S.
Senate
Committee was
its
justification
for evicting
Inner City
Press. Video
here, UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press:
this has come
up in here,
and it has to
do with the, I
guess,
described
repatriation
of the
Burundian
police in
MINUSCA
(United
Nations
Integrated
Stabilization
Mission in the
Central
African
Republic) and
CAR.
There were
some doubts
expressed in
Burundi, and I
want to ask
about a
letter.
I've now seen
the letter of
repatriation,
and it seems
to say that
this will take
place on 31
July, that it
was based on
an 22 April
meeting held
with the
Burundian
Foreign
Minister and
other… so I
want you to
confirm those
two things and
also that
Burundi was
actively
disinvited
from the
UNCOPS (United
Nations Chiefs
of Police
Summit) event
that was held
last week.
Spokesman:
What I can
tell you about
UNCOPS is that
Burundi, with
a long record
of service in
UN peace
operations,
for which we
remain
grateful;
however, given
the current
allegations of
serious and
ongoing human
rights
violations in
Burundi, a
decision was
made here at
UN
Headquarters
to postpone
engaging
Bujumbura in
decisions on
future
deployment of
their national
police force
and peace
operations.
As for the
other dates,
I'm not in a
position to
confirm.
Inner City
Press:
And just on
UNCOPS, that
event, it says
repeat… in a
number of
places, that
there were 100
countries
represented,
but nowhere
did I find a
list of the
countries.
Is there some…
can I ask you
to, like… who
would have
that?
Spokesman:
We can try to
find the list.
[He issued the
list of
participants
following the
briefing.]
The UN
inserted that
it issued the
list - but it
did not issue
or provide the
"Handbook" it
told the
Senate Inner
City Press
violated. And
on the UNCOPS
list was Saudi
Arabia, we'll
have more on
that.
From the June
6 transcript:
Inner City
Press: On
Burundi, I'd
asked on
Friday of
Farhan whether
this incident
in which
teenager
students are
being… now
they've been
arrested.
It's actually
developed
since then and
face five to
ten years in
jail for
drawing an X
on the
forehead of
Pierre
Nkurunziza,
the
President.
And he said he
wasn't aware
of it, but
he'd look into
it. So,
I wanted to
know, have you
now verified
this, and… and
do you have
any comment on
that?
And also on
the detention
of… of a
Bonesha F.M.
journalist,
Egide
Ndayisenga?
Spokesman:
On your first
one, no, I
have nothing…
nothing on
that. On
the second
one, I think,
as we've
repeatedly
said, it's
important that
media in
Burundi and
other places
be allowed to
operate…
operate freely
without
harassment.
Question:
Yeah. Is
the country
team there and
the human
rights
observers… I'm
guess I'm
saying these
things are
taking place…
Spokesman:
The fact that
I have nothing
to say doesn't
mean nothing
is
happening.
And that's a
general rule.
On June 6,
this was
reported:
"On 3 June
2016, national
intelligence
agents in
Muramvya
(Centre of
Burundi)
arrested 18
pupils of
Muramvya
Communal
School for
defacing
President
Nkurunziza’s
photo.
Spontaneous
protests
against the
arrests was
followed by
police
crackdown
resulting in 3
being wounded
as police used
live
ammunitions to
disperse
protesters.
Eleven of the
eighteen were
detained at
Muramvya
prison as the
Prosecutor
initiated a
criminal case
against them
over insulting
outrage to the
President. The
schoolchildren,
mainly
teenagers
(aged 14-17
years), if
convicted will
be sentenced
to 5-10 years
of
imprisonment."
There is also,
from Bonesha
FM, the arrest
of journalist
Egide
Ndayisenga.
We'll have
more on this.
On June 2
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: Did you
get an answer
on whether…
two things
that I'd
asked, one,
whether, when
the Burundians
leave the
mission in the
Central
African
Republic,
there will be
any more
Burundians to
return.
And also if
Burundi sought
to attend
this… UN COPS
event.
Spokesman:
They are not
attending.
Whether or not
they sought to
attend, I
think, is a
question for
them.
And on the…
their presence
in Central
African
Republic, I
should have
something
later for you.
On June 3,
Duajrric's
deputy Farhan
Haq said: "On
Burundi, we
have been
asked about
the 15-day
ultimatum
given by the
President to
armed groups
to surrender.
We stress once
again that the
crisis in
Burundi is a
political
crisis, which
will be
resolved only
through a
political
solution.
The
Secretary-General
urges all
stakeholders
to commit to a
genuine,
inclusive
dialogue, in
order to move
forward with
resolving this
crisis.
And in
response to
other
questions
regarding the
Burundian
police units
currently
serving in the
Central
African
Republic, we
have the
following to
say: In
light of the
current
situation in
Burundi, a
decision has
been taken at
UN
Headquarters
not to replace
the units
serving in the
country when
their tour of
duty ends.
This decision
has been
communicated
to the
Burundian
Permanent
Mission to the
UN in New
York."
Inner City
Press: Thanks
for the answer
on the
Burundian
police
decision.
I just wanted,
in order to
understand it,
when you say
in light of
the situation,
is this
because the
police would
be needed back
in Burundi
given unrest,
or is it
because of the
alleged human
rights
violations of
the Burundian
police in
Burundi?
Deputy
Spokesman:
It's the
latter.
This was done
after a study
of the issue,
including by
our own Office
of the High
Commissioner
for Human
Rights.
After
this and the
response Inner
City Press got
from UN
Police, video
here and
see below,
Agence France
Presse wrote
up a story
- with no
credit
whatsoever.
Inner
City Press
asked UN
Police's
Stefan Feller
if the
decision to
not replace
the Burundians
in CAR was due
to the
allegation
there against
them for
sexual abuse
or
exploitation,
or for acts in
Burundi. Video
here.
Feller said it
was for acts
in Burundi.
Inner City
Press asked
Feller to
confirm that
Burundi was
not allowed to
be one of the
100 member
states at the
UN Police
conference. He
confirmed it,
saying the
decision was
made to not
engage with
Burundi about
future
deployments.
Back on May 31
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
Dujarric about
press freedom
in Burundi, video here, UN
transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: on
Burundi, on
press freedom,
there was… on
30 May, the
Minister of
Public Safety
put out a
statement
basically
accusing
various
journalists,
some by name,
of promoting
of crime and
violence.
And so I
wonder whether
the
Secretary-General’s
statements
that he made
in Korea about
free… freedom
of expression,
etc., apply
there and also
in
Egypt.
I’m waiting
for a
statement
there…
[inaudible]
Spokesman:
They apply
across the
board.
We, obviously,
have seen the
reports of new
charges being
brought
against the
Union of
Journalists in
Egypt.
We remain
concerned at
the
situation.
We’re
following it
closely.
Nizar?
So, no answers
on Burundi. On
May 30 the
Minister of
Public
Security Alain
Guillaume
Bunyoni issued
an order
denouncing
journalist
Esdras
Ndikumana and
unnamed social
media users.
And what has
the UN of Ban
Ki-moon said?
Nothing. This
even as Ban
Ki-moon,
campaigning in
South Korea,
purported to
support press
freedom. (Korean
article here,
robo-translation
here.)
We'll have
more on this.
The new
Secretary
General of the
East African
Community
Liberat
Mfumukeko is
also, now, an
Ambassador of
Pierre
Nkurunziza's
government. It
is, even some
participants
tell Inner
City Press, "a
joke." But it
is no joke.
Now the
Mouvement
Citoyen Halte
au troisième
mandat(HTM)
has said:
"By virtue of
the underlying
conflict of
interest
arising from
the
involvement of
the Secretary
General of the
East African
Community East
in the
process; in as
much as he was
appointed by
one party to
the conflict
as Ambassador
Extraordinary
and
Plenipotentiary
by the
government led
by Pierre
Nkurunziza,
the HTM
movement
requires his
recusal for
the rest of
the process.
- Given the
existence of a
case regarding
the illegality
of the third
term of Pierre
Nkurunziza
filed with the
East African
Court of
Justice in
July 2015 (Ref
2 of 2015,
EACSOF Vs
Attorney
General of
Burundi &
the Secretary
General) which
involves
directly the
Secretary
General of the
community; and
the inability
for the Summit
of Heads of
States to
resolve in
time the
Burundian
issue despite
the conclusion
of the
Ministers of
Justice and
Constitutional
Affairs of 15
May 2015 which
has clearly
found M.
Pierre
Nkurunziza
ineligible for
a third term,
the HTM
Movement:
- Requires the
recusal of Mr.
Libérat
Mfumukeko for
the rest of
the process;
-Requires
replacement of
the EAC
Secretariat
team of which
Dr. Anthony
Kafumbe is a
member because
he defends the
above-mentioned
case on behalf
of the
Secretary
General of the
EAC."
Where is the
UN on this?
The UN seems
not to
understand the
most basic
concepts of recusal,
which have
been requested
at the UN in
light of the
OIOS audio of
the ongoing Ng
Lap Seng UN
bribery
scandal. More
on this to
follow.
On May 25,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq
about another
assassination,
of Lucien
Rufyiri. UN
transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: there
are
photographs of
a colonel…
retired
colonel in the
army, high
profile, Mr.
[Lucien]
Rufyiri having
been
assassinated
today in front
of his
house.
There's… and
there's also
reports on
some of the
few
independent
radio stations
of weapons
being
distributed to
the youth
militia.
So now that
this… you'd
said yesterday
that the human
rights
observers of
the UN are on
the
ground.
One, do they
have anything…
have they
looked into
this idea of
the
distribution
of
weapons?
And two, does
the UN have
any response
to yet another
assassination
of a military
figure on a
seemingly
partisan or
ethnic basis?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, we have
expressed, as
you know, our
concerns about
all of the
violence that
has been
affecting the
population in
Burundi.
We want to see
the attacks
against anyone
for any reason
to
cease.
And, as you
know, we do
have human
rights
monitors on
the ground
following up
on the various
reports and
various
allegations.
So we do have
our
concerns.
At the same
time, like I
said, we'll
continue to
offer our
support for
President
Mkapa and his
efforts as
facilitator.
Inner City
Press: on
Burundi, I
wanted
to...obviously,
the talks have
started
again.
I've seen
pictures of
Mr. [Jamal]
Benomar there,
but there are
a lot of...
you know,
the... the...
many people in
the opposition
including the
CNA Red
Coalition, Mr.
Pierre Claver
Mbonimpa,
who've spoken
in this room,
none of them
were
invited.
So does the UN
think the
invitations
made... turns
out the
Secretary-General
of the East
African
community is a
Burundian
ambassador?
So people are
looking at the
process and
saying it's
not an open
one.
Is the UN
giving its
blessing by
Mr. Benomar
being there or
is he
protesting the
limitations?
Spokesman:
I think it's
not about
blessings or
not
blessings.
These talks
are an
important
first step in
trying to deal
with the
current
tensions in...
in
Burundi.
It's obviously
important that
any dialogue,
any talks be
inclusive and
fully
representative
and that the
Burundians
have a prime
responsibility
in finding a
way forward
for a peaceful
and stable
future in
which human
rights are
respected.
Question:
Just one
follow-up. I
want to ask
specifically
about Mr.
Mbonimpa,
because he's a
guy that's won
human rights
awards.
He's clearly a
nonviolent
opposition
figure.
Has the UN
asked...
Spokesman:
I think... as
I said, talks
need to be
fully
inclusive.
Later on May
23, Inner City
Press asked
the joint UNSC
- African
Union stakeout
if the talks
in Arusha are
inclusive
enough. The
African Union
representative
said one party
is missing,
but (somehow)
they are
inclusive. Video here. We'll have more on
this.
With
Burundi troops
accused of
raping
children as
part of UN
Peacekeeping
chief Herve
Ladsous'
MINUSCA
mission in the
Central
African
Republic, as
well as
accused of
abuses in
Burundi
itself, a new
funding
question has
arisen,
involving
Commerbank.
On May 17,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric this
question about
Audace
Nduwumusi -- a
name
conveniently
left out of
the UN
transcript
here.
On May 18,
Inner City
Press asked
again, and
Dujarric said,
"I failed to
get… I failed…
I probably
asked and I
didn't have
the
answer.
So, I will try
to get you
something
tomorrow."
But the next
day, May 19,
Dujarric
announced
nothing. So
Inner City
Press asked
for a third
time, video
here,UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: Third
day in a row
on this
deployment of
Mr. [Audace]
Nduwumusi to
AMISOM
[African Union
Mission in
Somalia].
You'd said
that you would
look into what
the role is of
the UN support
to AMISOM
given that
this
individual was
in the leaked
memo and
there's now a
second
individual,
Francois
Niyonzima,
who's said to
have been
involved in
the Mugamba
killings of
late in
Burundi.
What is the
UN's position…
Spokesman:
I don't have
any
information on
the two
individuals
you gave
me. What
I was told is
that under the
UN human
rights due
diligence
policy, UN
support to
non-UN
security
forces must be
consistent
with the UN's
purpose and
principles.
Support cannot
be provided
when there's a
real risk of
the receiving
entity coming…
committing
grave
violations of
International
Humanitarian
Law or Human
Rights
Law. The
policy
outlines the
following
steps the UN
takes when it
is requested
to provide
support,
assess the
risk and
identify
mitigation
measures of
the recipient
committing
violations,
ongoing
monitoring of
the recipient
support,
establish
procedures for
intervention
when violated…
violations are
reported, and
in the case of
AMISOM, risk
assessments
are regularly
updated and
the UN
presence on
the ground
monitors
AMISOM and is
implementing a
number of
mitigating
measures to
prevent
violations and
ensure
accountability
when
violations
occur.
Inner City
Press:
Sure.
And I… and
thanks for
reading that
out. My
question is,
if Mr.
Nduwumusi
appears in a
UN-written
leaked cable
as a person
that was
distributing
weapons to the
youth wing of
the ruling
party in
Burundi,
doesn't his
deployment to
AMISOM to
receive UN
support…?
Spokesman:
I'm not
debating your
question, but
I have no
information or
confirmation
on the
personnel
issues.
So, I will try
to find out,
and I will let
you know.
Inner City
Press:
it sounds from
what you said
yesterday that
the human
rights due
diligence
policy may be
different as
to AMISOM
[African Union
Mission in
Somalia] than
as to, for
example, the
Central
African
Republic.
I ask because
the Burundian
military
official I
have asked you
about is in a
UN-written
cable as
distributing
weapons to the
youth
wing. So
if that isn't
foreseeable
harm if the UN
provides
support… do
you have an
answer on this
personnel
question?
Spokesman:
Well, the
information I
have on
General
[Audace]
Nduwumusi is
that he
departed in
2012, having
previously
served in the
position of
deputy force
commander.
We're not
currently
aware of any
plans for him
to return.
Inner City
Press:
And Francois
[Inaudible]?
[That's
Niyonzima]
Because
there's a
list. I
published it.
Spokesman:
I don't
disagree with
you. I’m
just telling
you, in my
binder…
Inner
City Press:
given the
interest of
the UN system
in Burundi,
I’m hoping
that you have
something on
this.
There were
yesterday and
today some 250
people
arrested
reportedly in
Musaga, which
is a…
perceived to
be an
opposition
neighbourhood.
And there are
pictures all
over the
internet.
People are
saying it’s
another
crackdown.
And so I just
wanted to know
what is the
status of the
UN’s, I guess,
monitoring,
speaking, and
engaging in
this crisis?
Spokesman:
We continue to
have people on
the
ground.
We’re also
eagerly
awaiting a
decision by
the Security
Council on the
way forward
for an
increased UN
presence.
I think as the
crisis grows
every day, our
concern grows
about the need
to have a
political
horizon and to
ensure that
Burundi moves
in the right
direction,
that people’s
rights are
respected and
their freedom
of expression
is also
respected.
Waiting
for the
Security
Council, in
which Ban
Ki-moon's
Herve Ladsous
undermined
proposal with
a statement of
delay the UN
won't even
confirm?
On May
4, Inner City
Press at noon
asked UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric to
confirm or
deny that
Herve Ladsous
told the
Security
Council it
would take 18
months to
deploy 3,000
to Burundi.
Inner
City Press
sources on
this say it is
troubling it
would take the
UN that long.
Others surmise
the Ladsous is
trying to
undermine the
proposal by
making it take
so long, or
saying it
would take so
long.
On May 3,
Inner City
Press asked UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, UN
transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: on
Burundi,
various
countries have
spoken about
the
postponement
of the talks
that were
supposed to
begin in
Arusha under
ex-President
[Benjamin]
Mkapa.
Does the UN
have no
involvement in
them or no
view of
whether it's a
good or bad
thing that
they were
postponed?
Spokesman
Dujarric:
I don't have
anything on
Burundi.
That's
an
understatement.
On May 2, the
US issued
this:
"While
the United
States
strongly
supports the
regionally
mediated
Burundi
dialogue, led
by former
President
Mkapa under
the auspices
of the East
African
Community, we
are
disappointed
the scheduled
dialogue did
not resume
today.
Postponement
of this
dialogue only
serves to
worsen a
crisis that
has already
resulted in
hundreds of
lives lost,
thousands
injured, more
than 260,000
Burundian
refugees
displaced, and
a worsening
economic
situation.
We
call upon all
stakeholders
to ensure the
dialogue
resumes
immediately
and to commit
to
participating
without
preconditions
or redlines.
Burundi’s
political
leaders owe it
to their
citizens to
take concrete
steps to
resolve this
crisis as soon
as possible
within the
framework of
the Arusha
Accords, the
foundation for
peace and
stability in
Burundi.
Now is the
time for all
parties to
cease all
violence and
exercise
restraint and
engage in an
inclusive and
peaceful
dialogue."
But will the
US propose
anything in
the UN
Security
Council, or
encourage the
"penholder,"
France, to? On
April 29,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman, video here, UN
transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: I've
asked you
several times
about the
reported
non-payment of
Burundian
peacekeepers.
I have now
seen a
document that
more than $4
million has
been
transferred by
DPKO
(Department of
Peacekeeping
Operations) to
the Commerce
Bank account
in Paris that
I'd also asked
you
about.
Have they
gotten back to
you about the
multiple
reports that
this money, in
fact, doesn't
go to the
peacekeepers?
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric:
You know, we
pay the
Governments,
and we expect
the
Governments to
ensure that
the
peacekeepers
are given the
money that is
owed to
them.
Inner City
Press:
And if you
hear that they
don't or find
that they
don't, what
would you do?
Spokesman
Dujarric:
We would
expect that
they do, and
I'm sure the
issue would
then be
raised.
Since
the UN and Ban
Ki-moon are
embroiled in
their own
bribery and
corruption
scandal, the
issue was
raised to
Commerzbank,
which replied:
"Please report
potentially
fraudulent
activities to
[Link]"
But
Commerzbank's
link to report
fraud returns,
"The document
you requested
does not exist
on this
server."
For a
bank with
legal duties,
this is a
problem, as is
opening an
account to
receive the
UN's Herve
Ladsous'
payments to
Pierre
Nkurunziza for
troops accused
of rape in the
Central
African
Republic.
We'll have
more on this.
Update: after
this Inner
City Press
story and
complaint,
Commerzbank
belatedly
fixed it s
"Fraud" link.
But what about
the
substantive
behavior?
On April
22, after
three separate
screenings by
UN security,
Inner City
Press was
allowed to the
photo op of
Ban with Alain
Aime Nyamitwe.
Albert
Shingiro was
there too,
taking his own
smart phone
photo. There
was Jamal
Benomar, and
David Nabarro.
Tweeted
photo here.Periscope
video here.
Outside there
was Edmond
Mulet, Ban's
chief of staff
who has
received
correspondence
about the
eviction of
Inner City
Press.
What
would they
discuss?
Mugamba?
(Since Ban's
meeting,
General
Athanase
Kararuza who
spoke against
the killing in
Mugamba had
been
assassinated).
Even more
UNlikely,
press freedom?
On April 21,
amid
published
reports of up
to 150 people
detained
in Mugamba,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
it. He said he
hadn't heard
of it but
would check.
An hour after
the briefing,
this was sent
to Inner City
Press:
From: UN
Spokesperson -
Do Not Reply
un.org
Date: Thu, Apr
21, 2016 at
1:46 PM
Subject: Your
question on
Burundi
To:
Matthew.Lee
[at]
innercitypress.com
Cc: Stephane
Dujarric [at]
un.org
"Regarding
your question
at the noon
briefing: Our
human rights
office was
informed that
on 20 April
2016,
following a
security
incident that
occurred in
Mugamba
commune,
Bururi
province (an
exchange of
gunfire
between
unidentified
armed men and
military
elements,
during which
two people
including a
military lost
their lives),
three persons,
including a
teacher, were
arrested by
the police and
detained in
Mugamba police
station. No
charges were
retained
against them
and they were
finally
released on 21
April 2016
following an
intervention
by the
Regional
police
commissioner."
Is that
all that
happened?
Dujarric also
at the April
21 briefing,
when Inner
City Press
asked why its
office has
been seized -
to be resold,
it seems -
while that of
South South
News, named in
October 2015
in the U.S.
District Court
for the
Southern
District of
New York as Ng
Lan Seng's
vehicle to
bribe the UN,
still has its
office, said
“You have been
afforded quite
a lot of
courtesies.”
Like ouster
by eight UN
DSS guards?
Five boxes of
files dumped
out onto First
Avenue?
On April
20, Inner City
Press asked UN
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
hate speech, UN transcript
here.
Inner
City Press'
sources say
many
opposition
leaders are
worried about
Ban Ki-moon's
typically
waffling
three-option
report because
"the report is
a proposition
to a dictator
rather than
being a
decision
against him...
The corpse of
Jean De Dieu
Ndayikungurukiye
who was
stabbed and
killed by
Imbonerakure
four months
ago in
Nairobi, is
still in
detention.
According to
family members
and other
Burundian
Refugees in
Nairobi,
Burundian
Embassy in
Nairobi
recommended
this
detention."
Hours
after these
claims, and in
retaliation,
the UN sent
Inner City
Press an
eviction
notice for
April 16,
which despite
push back they
implemented.
Even as the
European Union
considers
changes to it
payments for
Burundi
peacekeepers
in AMISOM in
Somalia, so
that less of
the money is
taken by the
Nkurunziza
government for
repression, UN
Peacekeeping
under Ladsous
and Maria
Costa have
made their
pay-out to
Nkurunziza's
government -
no longer
through the
Burundi
National Bank
but through a
bank account
in Paris, at
Commerzbank.
On April
11, Inner City
Press asked UN
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
this: why is
the money not
being paid to
the Burundi
Central Bank?
Would Ladsous
pay to an
offshore bank,
in Antigua and
Barbuda or
Panama for
example,
without
looking into
it?
Dujarric said
he does not
have details
on member
states banking
relations; he
did not answer
on offshore
banks. Here
are some
photos, here.
Meanwhile some
also say that
those
repatriated
from CAR under
allegations of
abuse, for
example First
Major Srgt
Zepherin, are
just re-sent
by the
Nkurunziza
government for
“service” with
AMISOM in
Somalia. We'll
have more on
this, too.
On Burundi
Inner City
Press asked UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric on
March 31 about
the death in
prison of
Jacques
Bihozagara.
Unlike several
member states,
but not the
Security
Council's
penholder
France, the UN
had
only this:
"We obviously
would hope
that his death
will be
investigated
in as much of
a public
manner as
possible."
Now the
inadequacy of
the UN's
response is
even more
clear in light
of this
report:
"During his
detention,
Bihozagara was
visited by
several
diplomats who
were assured
he was in safe
custody. On
Saturday
night, reports
indicated that
Burundi
official
demanded that
the deceased’s
family sign
documents
indicating
that he died
of natural
causes or
forget asking
for the body."
On April 5,
Inner City
Press asked UN
deputy
spokesperson
Farhan Haq
about it, UN transcript
here.
We'll
have more on
the UN's
actual
position on
that sort of
practice, or
these type of
offers.
In a
smaller but
similar way,
the UN on
February 19
told Inner
City Press
that if it did
not move eight
years of
investigative
files out of
its UN office,
even the offer
of a reduced
non-Resident
Correspondent
accreditation
would be
withdrawn.
Now
while
threatening to
throw or move
everything
out, the UN is
making even
more troubling
"offers."
Perhaps this
is why the UN
Secretariat
cannot
criticize
Pierre
Nkurunziza's
Burundi;
instead Ban
Ki-moon
praised
Nkurunziza for
half
re-opening a
mere two of
four radio
stations he
closed. New
low for the
UN.
Ban
Ki-moon, his
deputy and
chief of staff
have received
this
sample letter
to reverse
Gallach's
outrageous
decisions,
concluding,
"Your decision
to restore
ICP's full
accreditation
and office
will be highly
appreciated by
many
Burundians
crying out for
peace and
protection
while
promoting the
freedom of
press in
Burundi." As
of this
writing, still
no response
from Ban.
On March 25,
Inner City
Press' sources
reported to it
that "Around 4
am today,
heavily armed
police
surrounded the
zone of
Musaga,
searched homes
without
warrants,
arrested
around five
young men and
killed an old
man by
shooting him
purposeful on
First Avenue
Musaga. Among
the arrested
young men, two
are related as
a sister and a
brother -- the
shocking story
behind these
two is that
the old
brother Arnaud
was shot and
killed by the
police during
the
demonstration."
Meanwhile to
cut off
further
protests, the
government is
regulating SIM
cards - and,
some say, the
French firm
SG2 may be
engaged in
wire tapping
in
Burundi:
"several
technicians of
local
companies have
confided that:
'We were
obliged to
provide SG2
with some 200
free numbers
and to
authorize
their
technicians to
access our
networks. They
connected
their own
systems. We
are sure that
they have the
technology to
carry out
phone-tapping.'
Since the
introduction
of this
system,
international
calls to
Burundi have
become very
expensive, and
Burundians in
the diaspora
now choose to
use Skype or
other calling
systems
(Viber,
WhatsApp,
etc). Soon
people will do
this for local
calls as well,
to avoid being
tapped."
When Burundi
was belatedly
discussed at
the UN Human
Rights Council
in Geneva on
March 22, the
UN Special
Rapporteur on
extrajudicial,
summary or
arbitrary
executions
Christof Heyns
urged the
government of
Pierre
Nkurunziza
against
reprisals on
those who talk
with the UN
Panel of
Experts. But
how will that
be enforced?
On March
22, Inner City
Press was
entirely
unnecessarily
restricted
from reaching
the UN
Security
Council
stakeout to
cover a
meeting on
Western
Sahara, Periscope
on YouTube
here. What
will the US
Mission do?
In
Geneva, Heyns
had to leave;
Rwanda and
South Africa
were added to
the speakers'
list, but only
for the
afternoon
session. Watch
this site.
A week ago
Inner City
Press asked UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric,
about UN (in)
action in
Burundi. UN
transcript
here.
A week
later from
Dujarric, who
threw Inner
City Press out
of the UN
Press Briefing
Room, there
has been no
answer, as on
so many Press
questions to
Ban Ki-moon's
UN on Burundi.
So on March
21, Inner City
Press asked
Dujarric's
deputy Farhan
Haq, UN
transcript
here.
As Burundi's
Pierre
Nkurunziza
government
stepped up the
killing and
censorship of
opponents, its
lobbyists in
the U.S.
capital,
Scribe
Strategies,
were paid
$60,000 to
among other
things set up
interviews
with
US-government
broadcaster
Voice of
America and
the French
government's
France 24.
Nkurunziza's
party the
CNDD-FDD paid
Scribe
Strategies
$59,980 on
November 10,
2015. Scribes
has this month
disclosed, for
the six month
period ending
January 31,
2016, that in
exchange for
this money it
arranged for
example for
Nkurunziza's
adviser to be
"interviewed"
on Voice of
America and
France 24.
Scribe
Strategies
also, during
the reporting
period, was
paid to
arrange for
Sam Kutesa, a
former
President of
the General
Assembly who
was involved
with many of
the same
donors named
in the
corruption
case against
his
predecessor
John Ashe, to
be
"interviewed"
by Voice of
America about
his tenure as
PGA, during
which he was
as now foreign
minister of
Uganda.
On
February 19,
Inner City
Press was
thrown out of
the UN on two
hours notice.
Audio
and petition
here. On
February 22
Inner City
Press was told
it was Banned
from all UN
premises.
After three
days reporting
on the UN from
the park in
front of it,
and stories in
BuzzFeed
and Business
Insider,
Inner City
Press
re-entered the
UN on a more
limited
"non-resident
correspondent"
pass, under
which on March
10 UN Security
ordered it to
leave the UN
as it worked
in the UN
lobby at 8 pm.
Video
here; UN
Spokesman Stephane Dujarric's March 11
justification
here.
The
underlying UN
rule only says
that
non-resident
correspondents
can only come
into the UN up
until 7 pm.
But the UN's
goal, it
seems, is to
prevent or
hinder
coverage of UN
corruption,
which usually
doesn't take
place in the
UN Press
Briefing Room.
(January
29, 2016
and September
8, 2011 --
Frank Lorenzo,
UNdisclosed
-- are notably
exceptions.)
Lobbying the
deciding UN
official,
Under
Secretary
General for
Public
Information
Cristina
Gallach, were
the honchos of
the UN
Correspondents
Association,
including
France 24 and,
as in 2012,
Voice of
America.
Scribes
Strategies'
disclosures do
not (have to)
mention the
Nkurunziza
government's
lobbying in
and around the
UN. We'll have
more on this.
Back on
March 9 when
the Burundi
configuration
of the UN
Peacebuilding
Commission
met, the
conference
room was too
small and the
meeting was
not televised,
at least not
to the outside
world (see
below). There
was talk of
Burundi's
Pierre
Nkurunziza
have allowed
two of four
closed radio
stations to
re-open.
But Special
Adviser Jamal
Benomar said
these two
stations were
not critical
of the
government;
beyond that,
it has emerged
that the
stations'
directors had
to sign a
commitment
about their
future
coverage. Some
in the UN, it
is clear,
would like to
do just this -
in fact,
that's why
Inner City
Press could
not watch the
meeting on UN
in-house TV in
its shared
office the UN
has seized,
and so came to
the meeting.
In
Conference
Room 8, the
Permanent
Representatives
of Tanzania,
Belgium,
Burundi,
Norway, The
Netherlands,
and others,
and Deputies
from France,
Rwanda and
others. France
was given the
floor first in
the debate;
its Deputy
Alex Lamek
after a bland
speech left
the meeting,
his seat taken
by another
French mission
staffer.
Belgium called
for a
re-opening of
all media
without
restriction.
There
were other
speeches, but
Inner City
Press had to
go upstairs,
with its its
currently
reduced access
pass, and ask
the UN's
Deputy
Spokesperson
why Ban had
praised the
re-opening,
with
restrictions,
of only two of
the four radio
stations
closed. Vine
here; UN transcript
here
Deputy
Spokesman
Haq:
Ultimately,
what we want
is for the
media to be
free to do
their work
unconditionally.
On
December 16
Inner City
Press was
banned from
questions to
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon, but
learned from
the mission
MINUSCA that
Baratuza was
already in
Entebbe. Inner
City Press
asked several
Security
Council
members, then
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric on
December17.
Dujarric told
Inner City
Press
Baratuza's
deployment is
suspended and
he is being
repatriated:
"based on the
information
we've received
regarding the
Lieutenant
Colonel, his
deployment has
been
suspended, and
he will be
repatriated
back to
Burundi." Video here. Dujarric told Inner
City Press
this shows the
UN system
working - on a
day when a
report on
rapes was
issued showing
UN
Peacekeeping
under Herve
Ladsous not
sufficiently
vetting for
human rights.
We'll have
more on this.
Amid the
escalating
killings in
Burundi,
summary
executions in
neighborhoods
opposed to
Pierre
Nkurunziza's
third term
stand out. But
Burundi Army
spokesman
Gaspard
Baratuza was
quoted on
December 12
blaming all of
the deaths on
attempts to
steal weapons
to free
prisoners.
Inner City
Press heard
that Mr.
Baratuza was
already in the
process of
being deployed
to the UN
Peacekeeping
mission in the
Central
African
Republic
(MINUSCA) even
when he was
giving these
quotes,
issuing
statements and
speaking to
state-owned
radio, and so
asked
MINUSCA's
acting
spokesperson,
“Is Gaspard
Baratuza of
Burundi's army
getting a
MINUSCA job?”
Ultimately,
after the
questioning,
he didn't.
But the UN
should have to
say more.
Inner City
Press has
repeatedly
asked the UN
how its
Department of
Peacekeeping
Operations
under Herve
Ladsous vets
those who
deploy to UN
missions;
Inner City
Press exclusively
reported
on an October
1, 2015
meeting in
which Ladsous
told Burundi's
Vice President
Joseph Butare
that he is
“pragmatic” on
human rights.