UNITED
NATIONS,
December 25 --
Benjamin Mkapa
as Burundi
mediator has
kept his mind
on his money,
and his money
on his mind.
Wel placed
sources
exclusively
tell Inner
City Press
that Mkapa
demanded a
raise -- up to
$1500 a day --
and was
rejected.
Mkapa then
took his
demand to the
East African
Community
heads of
state. Will he
get the
payday? By
declaring
Pierre
Nkurunziza
legitimate
because
Ambassadors
still present
their
credential to
him, Mkapa is
working for
the money. But
$1500 a day?
There are
other of his
advisers
gunning for up
to $500 a day,
including one
who is said to
have
previously
help arm
CNDD-FDD
related
groups. We'll
have more on
this.
Amid human
rights abuses
in Burundi and
the Central
African
Republic, on
November 23
Inner City
Press
exclusively
reported and
documented
that the
United Nations
has told the
Burundian
government of
Pierre
Nkurunziza it
must replace,
and cannot
deploy to CAR,
nine officers.
Inner City
Press
exclusively
obtained and published
the UN's
confidential
Note Verbale
with the nine
names,
below.
It said the UN
would closely
review
Burundi's
cooperation.
But is the UN
doing that?
On December
21, Inner City
Press
witnessed PR
Albert
Shingiro's
long talk with
France's
Alexis Lamek
then was told
to "be
balanced."
In the UN
budget
process,
Burundi not
only fought to
cut funding
even for the
small UN
presence
“mandated” by
the UN
Security
Council --
police and
Special
Adviser's team
-- but
proposed over
the top
language.
Inner City
Press, Banned
from access to
the General
Assembly by
Under
Secretary
General
Cristina
Gallach's
eviction
order, still
through
sources got a
copy of the
draft and
exclusively tweeted
a photo here.
Burundi
proposed that
the “residual
activities” --
many of which
have never
begun -- be
downgraded to
the UNCT (UN
Country Team)
in September
2017 since,
Burundi said,
“the political
agreement is
planned for
signature in
June
2017.”
It wants a 50%
vacancy rate,
and “reminds”
the UN to stay
impartial, an
echo of
Shingiro's “be
balanced.” It
praises the
EAC (headed by
a Nkurunziza
loyalist) and
the
“Inter-Burundian
dialogue.”
The UN
Secretariat of
Ban Ki-moon,
as
established,
did nothing to
fight this. For
the US (non)
role, and a
Periscope
video, see
here. But
it has not for
now passed.
Still, the
budget
remained the
same as the
year before,
despite what
was supposedly
mandated by
the Security
Council. No
follow through
by France - nor
by US (Samantha)
Power.
We'll have
more on this.
On December 23
at the last
noon briefing
of Ban's era
of ignoring
genocide, from
Sri Lanka to
the current
risks, Inner
City Press
asked Ban's
spokesman, who
apparently
will stay as
UN spokesman,
UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: there
are reports
that in the
Democratic
Republic of
the Congo, the
FARDC engaged
with and fired
on and killed
some Burundian
soldiers who
had crossed
in. And
I’m… since
there’s a
billion-dollar
peacekeeping
mission there,
does the UN
have any
information…
Spokesman:
I’m aware that
the
peacekeeping
mission and
its
cost.
I’ve just not
received an
update here
from
them. It
doesn’t mean
that they’re
not aware or
just means I
have not been
given an
update.
And
twenty hours
later, no
update either.
We'll continue
on this.
On Burundi 21
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq, UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: on
Burundi.
There’s
reports that
in a place
called
Kagaragara,
some 500
families were…
were forcibly
and without
notice moved
out of their
homes.
The Government
said it’s
because there
are rebels
nearby.
So these
people are in
tents.
And I’m just
wondering,
one, is the UN
coun… team
there aware of
that?
And what do
they say about
it? And,
two, in the
Fifth
Committee,
which is a…
you know,
going to come
to a vote, the
Government of
Burundi is
arguing
against any
deployment of
this Special
Adviser’s team
beyond the
capital, and
I’m wondering,
is the
Secretariat
aware of
it? Are
they… are they
somehow making
their views
known?
Do they
believe that
these people
should be
deployed to
places like
Kagaragara?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Certainly, the
Secretary-General
believes that
the team
should be able
to go wherever
they need to
go in terms of
carrying out
their
mandate.
If there are
places where
we have
specific human
rights
concerns, they
need to be
able to carry
out their
responsibilities.
Of course, the
Fifth
Committee’s
proceedings
are its own
business, and
we leave the
matter [to]
the Member
States.
But we are
always
prepared to
clarify
questions for
Member States
on their
request. And
you had also
asked about
the incident
in
Kagaragara.
We don’t have
a reaction to
it at this
point, but
certainly, the
monitors and
our team are
able to follow
up as
needed.
If there’s
anything
further that
they need to
say, we’ll let
you know on
that.
On December 15
in the UN's
Fifth (Budget)
Committee
meeting in
basement
Conference
Room 3,
Burundi's
representative
- once again,
not its lead
Ambassador
Albert
Shingiro -
said Pierre
Nkurunziza
opposes any
deployment of
the UN Special
Adviser
mission
outside of the
capital.
While France
in the
Security
Council on the
second floor
was drafting a
resolution to
demand
deployment of
UN observers
in Aleppo,
Syria, it has
done nothing
to even seek
compliance
with Security
Council
resolution
2303. Call it
Upstairs,
Downstairs.
As before, the
UN's cynical
abuse of Press
freedom under
Ban Ki-moon
and his head
of
Communication
Cristina
Gallach
emboldens
others like
the Nkurunziza
government.
We'll have
more on this.
On December 9,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq
about
criticism of
the Mkapa
“mediation,” Tweeted
video here,UN
transcript
here
and
below.
Now after the
UN made light
of the denial,
delay and
downgrading of
visas, Burundi
has searched
the homes of
diplomats and,
it's said, UN
functionaries.
Is this
cooperation?
It is due to
Ban Ki-moon's
weakness
and/or
inattention as
he promotes
himself in
VanityMoon
week and for
his run for
South Korea
president.
Many more
Burundians get
searched this
way. But Ban's
failure to
uphold even
his own staff
member's
rights is a
new low for
the UN, and
enables what
is happening
in Burundi.
Ban is
untransparent
as well - his
spokesman
Dujarric
refused to
answer Inner
City Press on
who paid for
Ban's vanity
photographer
Giles Clarke
to travel to
Burundi and
take photos
promoting Ban
and Pierre
Nkurunziza?
Inner City
Press: I want
to ask you
about
Burundi.
It’s been…
yesterday,
you’d said
that the… the…
under that
note verbale,
the… the UN is
watching the
country.
There are
reports
overnight of
search…
searches of
the homes of
diplomats and,
at least in
one account,
it says UN
functionaries.
So I wanted to
know, is the
UN aware of
these searches
by the
Government?
Also of a
statement in
the Fifth
Committee this
morning by
Burundi that
they are
opposed to the
deployment of
any the
Special
Adviser’s team
to any
provinces
beyond the
capital.
Does that fall
into the
cracks…?
Spokesman:
I have not
seen
personally the
reports that
you mention
out of
Burundi.
I will ask our
colleagues on
the
ground.
And as I said
yesterday,
we’re
obviously
monitoring the
actions of
Burundi, and
we’ll… a
decision will
be taken
accordingly.
ICP
Question:
But so the
flights that
were listed on
the memo that
was leaked
have already
taken place,
the actual…?
Spokesman:
I’m not aware
of the memo
that was
leaked.
I’m just
trying to
answer your
question.
ICP
Question:
Okay.
The flights
were… can you
get an update
on the
actual…?
Spokesman:
I will try to
get as much of
an update as I
can.
On
December 14,
with Ban still
not having
answered,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's lead
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, tweeted
video here,
UN
transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to ask
you about
Burundi.
On Friday, I'd
asked you
about the
request by the
opposition
there to the
Secretary-General
to… that the
current
mediator
should be
recused and
that the UN
should become
more
involved.
I believe you
have some kind
of a
statement.
I wish you'd
released
it. But
I also wanted
to ask you
about the
status of the
UN; in its
note verbale
to Burundi
said that they
would closely
watch
cooperation by
the Burundians
with the UN
system to do
this
deployment to
the Central
African
Republic.
And given that
it's my
understanding
that Burundi
is denying
visas to… to
the UN Mission
there and
putting people
on… on
one-month
tourist visas
in order to
keep hold over
them, are they
cooperating?
Spokesman:
I think the
letter, from
what I
understand,
states it,
that we will
be watching
the
situation.
I don't have
an assessment
to share with
you. On
Burundi, I
can't speak to
Mr. [Benjamin]
Mkapa.
Obviously,
from our end,
Mr. [Jamal]
Benomar is
mandated by
the Council to
support this
inclusive
dialogue and
he will
continue to
work on those
issues.
Inner City
Press
Question:
But if the
note verbale
said that
we're watching
you to have
you cooperate,
and I guess
I'm asking you
factually, do
you deny that
Burundi has
denied visas
and given
one-month
visas…?
Spokesman:
I'm not
denying
it. What
I'm saying is
that the
situation
continues to
be assessed.
On December
12, Ban's
spokesperson's
office
canceled its
daily noon
briefing, and
has refused to
answer written
questions from
Inner City
Press,
including
about Burundi.
But during a
closed door UN
Security
Council
session on The
Gambia,
which Inner
City Press
alone staked
out, suddenly
a half dozen
US Mission
picked media
showed up
(including
one, US state
media Voice
of America,
which
previously “saw
Liberians” in
Burundi).
Samantha Power
came out, with
spokesman and
three US-paid
bodyguards,
and launched a
speech about
Gambia. Not on
UNTV, which
global
taxpayers
including
Americans are
paying for,
but for the
handpicked
media. Inner
City Press'
Periscope went
dead from
covering the
UN General
Assembly, but
it managed an
audio
recording. Audio
here.
Inner
City Press
asked Samantha
Power, What
about Burundi
where the
mediator now
says Pierre
Nkurunziza is
legitimate?
But Power did
not answer: no
follow
through. The
UN and even
its Security
Council have
become a
circus that
you pay for.
Drain Turtle
Bay.
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to ask
you, on
Burundi, on
Burundi,
there's now an
open statement
by the CNARED
or… you know,
the main
opposition
group calling
explicitly
open… open
letter for the
replacement of
Mr. Mkapa or
for the UN to
send its own
mediator.
And they're
tying it to
Mr. Mkapa,
saying at the
Bujumbura
Airport, that
Pierre
Nkurunziza is,
of course,
legitimate
because
Ambassadors
that arrive in
the country
present him
their
credentials;
therefore,
he's
legitimate.
So they say he
can't be the
mediator on
the topic of
opposition and
legitimacy if
he's made such
statements.
I wanted to
know, is the
UN aware of
this call by
the main
opposition
group and…
and… it's been
made before in
a letter but…
and what's
their response
to it?
Can somebody
be a mediator
when they've
already given
their opinion
on the
underlying
question?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Yes, I believe
we've received
a letter in
regards to
this
particular
issue in… in
the past week
or so.
Regarding
President
Mkapa, of
course, he's
not a UN
mediator.
He has a
status outside
of the UN
process.
But if… if
Jamal Benomar
has any
particular
views on this
issue, I'll
let you know.
Inner City
Press:
But isn't
Jamal's office
charged with…
with providing
technical
assistance to
that
mediation?
And if now one
of the parties
has gone… said
public… I
think the
letter was
written before
his more
recent
statements…
Deputy
Spokesman:
Yeah.
Inner City
Press:
…about the
legitimacy of
Pierre
Nkurunziza.
Deputy
Spokesman:
And I believe
Mr. Benomar is
evaluating the
situation.
If he has a
response,
we'll
certainly make
you know…
we'll make you
aware of it.
On
December 5,
Ban's lead
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric read
out a canned statement
about 16
Gabonese and,
yes, 25
Burundi troops
identified by
OIOS.
Inner City
Press asked,
how can it be
that the UN,
led by
Peacekeeping
chief Herve
Ladsous,
decided to
bring in 800
more Burundian
troops AFTER
the finding of
the 25? Tweeted
video here.
Inner City
Press: the way
to incentivise
is to say no
further
deployments.
I remember
there was a
police
conference, a
UN police
conference,
that Burundi
was disinvited
from, that was
told not to
come.
They didn't
come.
They were very
upset about
it. A
decision was
made that,
based on human
rights issues
in the
country, they
shouldn't
come.
What would you
say to those
who say this…
this sexual
abuse… 25
cases that
OIOS finds
cause to
believe were
sexual abuse
is pretty
serious and
yet the
response is
less so than
was…?
Spokesman:
I think no one
here is
debating the
seriousness of
the
issue.
There is due
process.
That process
is being
followed.
We're doing
all we can to
keep you
updated in the
most
transparent
way
possible.
OIOS has done
its
investigation
in the
presence of
Gabonese and
Burundian
national
investigative
officers.
We await with
great interest
the report,
reporting back
from those
countries to
see what
measures have
been
taken.
There… I think
it's important
for the
process to
play
out.
There are all
sorts of
different
options.
We, as we've
done in the
past,
repatriate the
whole
contingent.
We can also…
as the
resolution
says, we can
also block all
countries from
deploying
again.
We can bar
commanding
officers from
being deployed
if they don't
apply the
right command
responsibilities.
What is
important is
that the
process plays
itself out
along
established
lines.
ICP
Question:
I just say
because it's
kind of
ironic… there
are actually
flights that
have already
been scheduled
by Ethiopia
Airlines to
fly 800 more
peacekeepers
in right at
this time, so
I just…
Spokesman:
Well, I think
you may see
the irony in
it. I
don't.
Inner City
Press:
Is there a
deadline?
Spokesman:
We've asked
that they be
completed
within six
months.
Inner
City
Press: I
want to ask
you about the…
the
announcement
you made of
the sexual
abuse in the
CAR. My
question is
about the
Burundian
contingent.
In around
mid-November,
I'd asked, I
guess… looked
back at it; it
was Farhan
[Haq] that
day, about
specifically
that number,
25 Burundians
charged,
because people
inside the
building knew
that that was
the number:
25. They
said that
there is
strong
evidence
against
them. So
I'm wondering,
now can you
explain how
after that
date DPKO
(Department of
Peacekeeping
Operations)
wrote a letter
to Burundi
saying we're
going to take
800 more
peacekeepers;
we're watching
you
closely.
How is it
consistent to
be watching
you closely…
if 25
Burundian
peacekeepers
committed
rape, isn't
that grounds
to not…
Spokesman:
First of all,
I think we're
looking at
accusations.,
right? I
think… so
that's…
everyone
deserves due
process.
We're talking
about
individuals,
right, who may
have committed
horrible
crimes, and if
they did, they
should face…
they should
clearly face
justice.
Following
consultations
with relevant
offices within
the system,
the
Secretariat
has decided to
continue with
the deployment
of Burundian
troop
battalion in
the Central
African
Republic.
The deployment
of the
Burundian
troops will
remain under
close review
based on the
evolving
situation in
Burundi and
cooperation
with the
UN. The
conduct of
Burundian
troops in the
Central
African
Republic will
also be
closely
monitored.
Just to give
you an
example, we
reviewed the
names of the
new incoming
Burundian
troops.
Nine
individuals,
for various
reasons, were
excluded at
our request
from the
rotation.
If you look
back at
Security
Council
Resolution
2272 on sexual
abuse, it
gives the UN
the authority
to bar troops
wholesale from
a
country.
We will…
we've… we're
in the middle
of a process
here.
We… the UN has
concluded what
it is
responsible
for.
We've
concluded our
investigations,
and I would
stress that,
during those
investigations,
the national
investigative
officers from
Burundi and
Gabon were
also
present.
Once we get
the
information
back from
those two
countries to
see what they
have done, the
sort of
investigations
they've done,
the
accountability
they've done
for each of
these alleged
crimes, we'll
then consider
whether the
various
provisions of
2272
apply.
And at this
point, we
can't exclude
any option,
but we do need
to let the
process play
itself out.
ICP
Question:
But I have
two…
thanks.
I have two
follow-ups.
One is that…
is that the
UN… various
parts of the
UN system
have… has…
have been
critical of
the judiciary
process in
Burundi.
For example,
there are
journalists
missing.
There are
cases… and
also, over the
weekend,
basically, a
new… It seems
that the… the
Arusha Accord
and the
constitution
are being
overridden in
terms of the
makeup between
Hutu and Tutsi
in the
army.
This has been…
I was going to
ask you that
separately
from
this.
But, given the
things that
are going on,
it seems… I
understand due
process, but
from my
understanding,
the… I guess
what I'm
saying is this
same number,
25, is what
I'd heard
three weeks
ago. And
so it seems
like people in
the system…
and from what
I was told,
there's, in
some
instances,
video
evidence, cell
phone video
evidence.
So due process
or not, it
seems like,
how desperate
is the UN for
peacekeepers
in CAR to
continue to
work with this
battalion that
has problems
at home…
Spokesman:
Whoa,
whoa.
We're not…
Matthew, all
the people
that were
accused,
right, have
been rotated
out.
They're gone,
right?
We're talking…
the Burundian
troops that
are coming in
are different
units; they're
different
people.
We've excluded
people based
on a
review.
It's clear
that no one
who is accused
while the
process is
ongoing would
be allowed
back.
And we expect
the Burundian
military to do
an
investigation
and to bring
the
perpetrators
to justice.
ICP
Question:
But they can
go to AMISOM
(African Union
Mission in
Somalia),
right?
Just one last
question.
For example…
that's why
I've asked you
before, about
whether the UN
is part of its
financial
support to
AMISOM.
Has any human
rights review
[inaudible]…?
Spokesman:
The UN does
not provide;
the European
Union does.
We'll have
more on this -
because the UN
including its
US/UN official
Jane Holl Lute
claims “zero
tolerance,”
that's not
what this is.
And even these
25 could
redeploy to
AMISOM in
Somalia
tomorrow. This
is a joke.
Zero
credibility.
It's impunity
day everyday
in Ban
Ki-moon's UN.
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
spokespeople
questions
about the note
verbale in
writing on
November 25:
no answer. On
November 28,
Ban's lead
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric told
Inner City
Press he would
“take a look
at it.” On
November 29,
he had nothing
- but the
paperwork for
more
deployments by
and payment to
the Nkurunziza
government
emerged.
Inner City
Press: in
Burundi,
there's an
attack on the
presidential
adviser, Willy
Nyamitwe.
And it's
unclear sort
of who did
it. They
accused
Rwanda.
There are
pictures
circulating
today saying
this was an
intra-government
thing by
General
Bunyoni's
forces.
Is the UN
itself looking
into who
attacked him?
Spokesman:
We have no way
of knowing who
may have
committed the
attack, but,
obviously,
regardless of
who may have
committed it,
is something
we condemn, as
we condemn all
forms of
violence,
especially
political
violence.
ICP
Question:
I'd asked, I
guess, two
days ago,
there's a
widely, at
least in
Burundi,
reported
letter by the
opposition to
the
Secretary-General
saying that…
that the
Mkapa/Museveni
process has
not worked at
all.
Today,
[Benjamin]
Mkapa put out
another
statement.
I just wanted
to make sure
that the
Secretariat
has, in fact,
received a
request that
that process
be
superseded.
Is that…
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to ask
you on
Burundi, on
Burundi, you
gave the
readout of
Prince Zeid's
statement in
Geneva about
the pos… the
problems in
Burundi.
And both… I…
he and the
panel of
experts seem
to both… to
believe that
the UN
peacekeeping
should… should
stop using
Burundian
peacekeepers
given the
human rights
issues both in
CAR [Central
African
Republic] and
in Burundi.
So given that
I've now seen
a deployment
order for
flights
beginning on
10 December
to… to, in
fact, send
more Burundian
troops to CAR
than are
currently
there, up to
800, and it's
dated 28
November, I'm
wondering,
either from
this podium or
sometime
today, can
you… can the
UN explain why
the
Secretariat
and DPKO are…
are… are
rejecting this
human rights
recommendation
to not take
the
peacekeepers
and how that's
consistent
with Rights Up
Front and
consistency of
the system?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well,
regarding
that,
following
consultations
with all
relevant
offices within
the UN system,
the
Secretariat
has decided to
continue with
the deployment
of the
Burundian
battalion in
the Central
African
Republic.
The deployment
of the
Burundian
troops will
remain under
close review
based on the
evolving
situation in
Burundi and
cooperation
with the
UN. The
conduct of the
Burundian
troops in the
Central
African
Republic will
also be
closely
monitored.
And regarding
what, what
you've been
asking about
people's
individual
records, one
thing I can
say is that,
following a
review of the
CVs of the
proposed
incoming
battalion,
nine
individuals
were excluded
from the
rotation.
ICP
Question:
And I… just
one follow-up,
because I've
seen that
letter on the
nine and
published
it. But
I wanted to
ask you, I've
also… since
you've gone
this far,
since the
letter, the
note verbally,
says it's
based on
cooperation by
the Government
of Burundi
with the UN
system, given
this week…
this past
weekend's
demonstration
against the
UN, and
allegation by
the ruling
party that the
UN is
distributing
weapons, and a
memo that's
come out
showing that
government
employees were
required to
protest the
UN, is that
cooperation?
And who… who's
reviewing it
under what
time frame,
given that
they're going
to fly 2
December?
Deputy
Spokesman:
We will
evaluate all
these
developments,
but regarding
the weekend
events, of
course, you're
aware of what
my colleague
Stéphane said
at the start
of this
week.
In front of
the UN
Security
Council on
November 29
Inner City
Press asked
French
Ambassador
Francois
Delattre about
the protests.
midtown
Manhattan.
He replied
that Burundi
was one of the
topics
discussed by
new Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres when
he was in
Paris. Video
here. From
the French
Mission's
transcript,
this time
included by
them:
Inner City
Press Q: What
about the
Burundi
protests
against the
UN? Do you
intend to do
anything on
Burundi, there
were major
protests
against the
UN. They said
that the UN is
trafficking
weapons in the
country,
pretty much
ignored the
call...
Amb Delattre:
We remain
completely
mobilized on
Burundi. This
was one of the
topics of
discussion
when Antonio
Guterres and
then Ban
Ki-moon went
to Paris a few
days ago.
Thank you for
mentioning it,
this remains
for us a key
priority. And
as we speak we
work on the
implementation
of resolution
2303.
We'll
see.
This is an
attempt by
outgoing UN
Peacekeeping
chief Herve
Ladsous to
protect the
Nkurunziza
government and
his CAR
mission
accused of
sexual abuse
from Human
Rights
recommendations
that no more
Burundian
peacekeepers
by used and
paid by the
UN.
But as even
Ladsous' terms
-- "full
cooperation"
with the UN -
was
immediately
rejected by
the Nkurunziza
goverment with
a mandated
protest of the
UN scheduled
for November
26 - Ban
Ki-moon's UN
stayed silent.
On November
28, after
Ban's
spokespeople
left entirely
unanswered the
Burundi
questions
Inner City
Press
submitted to
them on the
morning of
November 25, a
day on which
they got paid,
Inner City
Press at the
(next) noon
briefing asked
Ban's lead
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press:
I have some
questions on
Burundi, many
of which I
sent to your
office on
Friday and
were not
answered.
One has to do
with this note
verbale
between the UN
and the
Government of
Burundi, where
it says that
nine officials
are not to be
deployed, but
says that the
rest of the
things can be
deployed but
will be
subject to the
full
cooperation of
the Government
of Burundi
with the UN
system.
And, as you
know, on
Saturday,
there was a
protest in
Burundi at
which it was
mandatory to
attend the
protest if
you're a
Government
official, and
the UN has
been accused
by the
chairman of
the ruling
party of
having
distributed
weapons in
connection
with what they
say is a plot
against
them. So
I wanted to
know couple of
things.
Also… finally,
I just want to
get your
answer to
this.
There's a
French company
called OMP
Solutions,
which is
online saying
it sold
uniforms and
provided
services for
pay in
connection
with the
Burundian
deployment.
So I wanted to
know how many
UN Missions
this French
compay,
they're
promoting it,
and many in
Burundi now
allege that
the fact that
the head of
peacekeeping
is from France
and that this
company is
openly selling
services only
to Francophone
Africa
deployments
creates a
conflict of
interest.
So those were
the questions.
Spokesman:
I don't know
about the
company.
We can try to
find
out. You
can look on
the
procurement
website to see
if they do any
business with
the UN.
As far as any
link between…
conflict of
interests
between the
fact that the
head of
peacekeeping
may be… is
French and
that the
company may be
French, I
think, is
completely out
of the
question.
Inner City
Press:
My question
is…
Spokesman:
(cutting in)
Mr. [Hervé]
Ladsous is an
international
civil
servant.
There are a
lot of the
companies that
do business
with the UN
where its
nationals are
also
there.
To me that's a
non-issue.
On the… we've
seen these
reports of
accusing the
UN of
participating
in weapons
trafficking.
I can tell you
that we,
obviously,
categorically
deny any
allegations of
weapons
trafficking in
Burundi, which
are untrue,
without basis,
and extremely
dangerous.
The UN has
been working
to support the
Burundian
people, with
extensive
humanitarian
development
efforts, and
has also been
supporting
efforts to
find a
political
solution to
the crisis in
Burundi.
Inner City
Press:
One follow-up
on that.
The reason for
the follow-up
is… is this,
is that the
letter… this
note verbale,
which was
never
announced from
your platform,
but we… Inner
City Press
obtained it
and published
it on
Wednesday,
said… it goes
against what
the Panel of
Experts
propose, which
was to not use
Burundian
peacekeepers
anymore be…
due to the
human rights
issues.
And so,
clearly,
somebody… and
I'd like… I
think you
should be able
to announce…
to say
this.
Who overrode
the human
rights, given
Rights Up
Front and
other things,
who made the
decision to
continue the
deployment?
Spokesman:
Let me take a
look. I
haven't seen
the note
verbale.
Let me take a
look at it.
By the time
Ban's
spokesperson's
office closed
hours later,
nothing.
On
November 25, a
day on which
the UN was
open and Ban
Ki-moon's
Spokesperson's
office had
many people in
and getting
paid, Inner
City Press in
the morning
submitted this
question:
“In Burundi
tomorrow Nov
26 there is
scheduled to
be a
demonstration
against the UN
Panel of
Experts, in
which
government
employees are
required to
participate.
(Photo
attached).
Please before
the event
provide the UN
Secretariat's
/ Ban
Ki-moon's
comment - and,
separately,
how it will be
acted on under
the Note
Verbale about
Burundian
troops in
MINUSCA which
Inner City
Press obtained
and published
on November
23.”
Neither that
day, nor in
the two days
since, has Ban
Ki-moon's
spokesperson's
office provide
any response.
This as UN
staff members
in Burundi
call in,
scared of the
targeting. Ban
Ki-moon,
Ladsous and
others
including UN
“Communications”
/ censorship
chief Cristina
Gallach,
have failed,
and are
responsible.
#BanGenocide.
Even the UN's
“Note Verbale”
to the
Burundian
government
which Inner
City Press
exclusively
obtained and
published said
that “the
deployment of
Burundian
troops to
MINUSCA will
remain under
close review,
based on the
evaluation of
the situation
in Burundi,
the full
cooperation of
the Government
of Burundi
with the
entire United
Nations
system” -- click
here for
exclusive
photo.
Not only has
the Pierre
Nkurunziza
government
since the Note
Verbale openly
rejected the
three members
of the UN
Panel of
Experts
replacing the
three it
previously
declared
Persona Non
Grata -- now
mandatory
protests of
the UN Panel
have been
decreed for
Saturday,
November 26. Letter
here.
This is the
opposite of
the “full
cooperation”
Ladsous and
Ban Ki-moon
said is
required to
continue
paying
Burundi. So
will the UN
payments and
deployment
immediately
end?
Neither
Ladsous nor
Ban Ki-moon
have lived up
to “Rights Up
Front” to
date. So
incoming
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres, who
should fire
and replace
Ladsous and
Under
Secretary
General
Cristina
Gallach who
has censored
Inner City
Press as it
reports on
human rights,
has been
written to, by
the RDB to
demand a new
UN mediator.
We'll have
more on this.
There's more.
Inner City
Press then
reported on
the "100%
French" firm,
OMP Solutions,
which makes
money selling
equipment,
uniforms and
services to
Troop
Contributing
Countries in
UN
Peacekeeping
operations run
by Ladsous.
Now OMP
Solutions has
responded to
Inner City
Press with
this
paragraph,
which raises
more questions
than it
answers:
"In 2014,
Burundi was
selected by
the UN to take
part in the
“Minusca”
peacekeeping
operation in
the Central
African
Republic.
Burundi chose
the OMP
Solutions
group to
supply its
personnel for
the operation
carried out on
behalf of the
UN. The 5-year
contract
between the
Government of
the Republic
of Burundi and
the OMP
Solutions
group involved
the supply of
equipment and
maintenance in
operational
condition of
this
equipment,
along with
accompaniment
for the
deployment of
one battalion
(750 troops)
and 2 Police
forces (140
men per FPU).
This contract
covered the
equipment with
which the
troops would
be supplied
(mobile
kitchen, solid
toilets,
generators,
tents,
uniforms,
logistical
vehicles,
etc.); under
no
circumstances
were any
weapons to be
supplied. In
July 2016, the
UN decided not
to relieve the
Burundi Police
forces present
in the CAR.
This meant
repatriating
the equipment
and men to
Burundi
following the
UN’s decision.
The Buderrundi
battalion
should be
relieved in
December 2016.
95% of the
equipment
specified in
the contract
was delivered
by OMP
Solutions to
the port of
Douala in
Cameroon.
These goods
were then
transported to
the theatre of
operations by
the UN (Sibut,
Bangui) Each
year, the UN
dedicates
nearly $7.5
billion to
Peacekeeping
Operations
around the
world. The
States who
want to take
part in these
operations
submit their
applications
to the UN,
which then
examines the
intervention
conditions and
declares
whether or not
the States are
eligible."
We'll
have more on
this. The
company's website says:
"Through a
global and
integrated
commercial
offer, OMP
SOLUTIONS has
been
implemented
for African
countries
seeking to
match all
requirements
set by the
United Nations
regarding
eligibility
and
reimbursement
for
Peacekeeping
Operations.
OMP Solutions
is a 100%
French
Joint-Venture
bringing
together the
“Groupe Marck”
and Ineo
Support
Global, a
subsidiary of
ENGIE,
heightening
the
associate’s
International
visibility."
What
safeguards are
in place to
ensure that
Ladsous, the
fourth French
official in a
row to head UN
Peacekeeping,
does not abuse
the total
discretion he
has asserts to
keep the
Burundians in
MINUSCA in
CAR, to
benefit French
business?
We'll have
more on this.
The
UN's own Panel
of Experts
recommended no
further UN use
of Burundian
peacekeepers;
the Nkurunziza
government
declared the
three panel
members
Persona Non
Grata. When
three new
panel members
were named
this week, the
UN's Dorian
Lacombe, a
former
spokesman to
Ladsous, sent
it to numerous
UN
correspondents
who do not
even cover
Burundi, but
not to Inner
City Press
which does.
Here are nine
Burundian
officials
that, “on the
basis of a
review of the
personal
history
profiles” of
which the UN
has told
Burundi's
government to
exclude and
name
replacements
for by
December 1:
Maj. Ferdinand
NIYONGABO
Capt.
Deogratias
AHISHAKIYE
Capt. Epitace
NDUWAMAHORO
Capt. Medico
NZITUNGA
Capt. Diomede
SINZUMUNSI
Capt.
Jean-Marie
NINDAGARITSE
Capt. Richard
GATERETSE
Capt.
Dieudonne
NTUKAMAZIMA
Lt. Prosper
NIWRUNZIZA
Separately,
Burundian who
Ladsous has
used in the
CAR mission
stand accused
of sexual
abuse and
exploitation,
as Inner City
Press has
also
exclusively
reported, here.
We'll have
more on this.
The UN of Ban
Ki-moon can't
even handle
attacks on
Ban's own
envoys
correctly, or
keep its story
straight. Nor
will it stand
by its own
humanitarian
staff's
finding of
famine.
Inner City
Press was leaked
an email
by UN Office
for the
Coordination
of
Humanitarian
Affairs that
specifically
cited famine
in Kirundo and
other
prefectures.
But in a UN
Peacekeeping
Configuration
meeting on
November 18,
OCHA's
representative
made a point
of saying,
just before
Burundi's
Ambassador
Albert
Shingiro
spoke, that
there is no
famine in
Burundi,
unlike the
Press has
reported. The
UN
presentations,
including by
UN “resident
coordinator”
Paolo Lembo,
ignored all
the things
that the UN's
own Panel of
Experts said
make out a
risk of
genocide.
The
Peacebuilding
Configuration
on Burundi
has, at times,
done some good
work. But the
OCHA
presentation
on November
18,
particularly
in light of
OCHA's own
internal
communications
about famine,
was shameful,
and raising
questions
about who
should head
OCHA in 2017.
It was said
that PBC chief
Taranco was
briefing the
new Secretary
General during
the meeting.
What are
Antonio
Guterres'
views and
ideas on
Burundi? We'll
report what we
find. Watch
this site.
Burundi's
Pierre
Nkurunziza
government is
faced with
documented
allegations of
sexual abuse
and the
impending
repatriation
of
peacekeepers.
Meanwhile, as
reflected in
the Council of
Ministers
November 16 agenda
tweeted here
by Inner City
Press, changes
to the
constitution
are afoot in
Burundi,
reported to
remove term
limits.
Nkurunziza
wants to buy
time,
paralyzing the
outside
mediation,
until his
fraudulent
internal
process can be
used to change
the
constitution
and term
limitsand
allow him to
remain in
power.
Inner City
Press on
November 14
exclusively
reported that
the UN system
says it has
documentary
evidence of
sexual abuse
by no fewer
than 25
Burundian
“peacekeepers.”
Separately,
six other of
Burundi's
deployees are
failing the
human rights
vetting that
occurs but
which can, in
Ban's UN, be
overriden.
On this basis,
those closest
to this human
rights issue
urge, as
recommended by
the
Independent
Panel which
Burundi has
thrown out of
the country,
that no more
Burundian
troops be
deployed to
Central
African
Republic.
But UN
Peacekeeping
under Herve
Ladsous, the
sources tell
Inner City
Press, wants
to ignore this
evidence and
human rights
recommendations
and keep
paying the
Nkurunziza
government.
Meanwhile that
government has
taken to
demanding that
the UN World
Food Program
pay it money
to pay its own
Burundian
government
staff
ostensibly to
do UN work.
Not only is
WFP staying
quiet: now
they are using
another wire
service to
deny the
famine that
was exposed in
the OCHA email
that Inner
City Press
exclusively
published,
below. This is
what Ban
Ki-moon's UN
has come to,
despite claims
of “Rights Up
Front.” We'll
have more on
this.
On
October 20
Pierre
Nkurunziza
wrote a letter
to Ban
Ki-moon,
trying to
paralyze the
UN process.
Inner City
Press asked
about the
letter at the
UN noon
briefing on
November 11
and November
14. Then
a wire service
was found to
write only
about the
letter, not
about the
rapes or
repatriations,
no context.
What does Ban
care? He wants
to run for
office in
South Korea -
and maybe to
get term
limits
extended.
Inner City
Press on
November 10
reported from
Burundian
sources of
attempts by
the Pierre
Nkurunziza
government to
“PNG” or
persona
non-grata
Ban's Special
Adviser on
Conflict
Prevention
Jamal Benomar,
who covers
Burundi among
other
countries.
On November
15, for the
third time,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq to
confirm the
letter. This
time he
claimed he had
confirmed the
exchange, last
week. Video
here form
19:30.
But here's the
November
11 UN
transcript:
Deputy
Spokesman:
I don't have
anything to
say in
particular
about
diplomatic
correspondence.
What I do have
to say is that
Jamal Benomar
continues to
go about his
work as a
Special
Advisor,
including his
work on
Burundi.
Inner City
Press:
Did the
Secretary-General
write farewell
letters to
Heads of State
such as Mr.
Nkurunziza?
Does that --
seems like a
pretty --
Deputy
Spokesman:
I believe he
will be in the
process.
I don't know
whether that's
all written,
but I believe
that as he
ends his term,
he will be
writing
letters to the
various Heads
of State.
That's
confirmation?
Or cover up?
We'll have
more on this.
On
November 11,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq to
confirm the
“PNG” was in
fact a letter
replying to
Ban Ki-moon's
canned
farewell
letter as Ban
leaves
December 31
(seemingly to
run for
President of
South Korea
and get term
limits there
extended,
though both
dreams may be
dying).
But Haq
refused to
confirm, which
would have in
context
supported
Ban's envoy.
From the November
11 transcript:
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to ask
you on Burundi
and I don't
know if you
addressed
this, but
there are a
lot of reports
floating
around that
Pierre
Nkurunziza has
written to Ban
Ki-moon asking
that Jamal
Benomar be
either -- I
guess he
couldn't be
replaced as
Special
Advisor on
Conflict
Prevention but
no longer be
the
interlocutor
from the UN
system.
And I will
also, that's
what is
reported
there, that he
has been
PNGed.
I've also
heard it may
have just been
a letter back
from Mr.
Nkurunziza to
Ban Ki-moon
responding to
a farewell
letter
saying:
and also your
Envoy is
leaving.
Can you
clarify
this?
Because this
is wide -- has
he been asked
to replace him
or is it just
an off-handed
comment in a
letter?
Deputy
Spokesman:
I don't have
anything to
say in
particular
about
diplomatic
correspondence.
What I do have
to say is that
Jamal Benomar
continues to
go about his
work as a
Special
Advisor,
including his
work on
Burundi.
Inner City
Press:
Did the
Secretary-General
write farewell
letters to
Heads of State
such as Mr.
Nkurunziza?
Does that --
seems like a
pretty --
Deputy
Spokesman:
I believe he
will be in the
process.
I don't know
whether that's
all written,
but I believe
that as he
ends his term,
he will be
writing
letters to the
various Heads
of State.
On November
14, Haq called
on first on
AFP, which
asked about
possible PNG,
with no
reference to
any letter.
Inner City
Press when
finally called
on asked
again about
the letter and
Haq said some
farewell
letter have
begun.
Later on
November 14
APF wrote
about the
letter,
quoting none
other than
Burundi's
often-absent
Ambassador
Albert
Shingiro.
Whistleblowers
leaked the
email below to
Inner City
Press; Inner
City Press has
asked the
listed author
for comment
and has still
received none.
The email is
below. On
November 8 at
noon, Inner
City Press
asked UN
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
it. The
UN internal
email says
famine. Having
asked, the
author and
Dujarric, we
re-publish the
email in full,
below.
From:
Nazzarena
Ferraro /OCHA
To: Micaela
Malena at
unhcr.org
Date:
07/11/2016
10:40
Subject:
Mouvements of
populations
from Kirundu
Muyinga,
Cankuzo et
Ruyigi.
Dear
Micaela,
We are trying
to follow up
at the inter
sector level,
on the
movements of
populations
across the
borders with
Tanzania,
during the
past two
weeks.
Such movements
would be in
connection
with the
latest
phenomena of
droughts,
insufficient
harvest and famine
in Kirundu
Muyinga,
Cankuzo et
Ruyigi.
According to
governmental
and UN
agencies,
populations
are attempting
to cross into
Tanzania from
various border
points.
Do you have
any
information
that you can
share with the
inter-sector
on these
movements of
populations?
Are you aware
of any
incidents
relating to
Tanzanian
custom
authorities
refusing entry
permission to
Burundian
individuals or
groups? (an
incident would
have occurred
at the entry
point in
Kasange, pls
see the
attached Map
for easy of
reference).
Do you have
any
information on
incidents
occurring at
the border
with Rwanda,
involving
Burundian
Citizens?
What are the
legal
provisions
governing the
relationships
between
Tanzania and
Burundi –
regarding
movements of
persons within
the territory
of the two
country?
Aren’t
Tanzania and
Burundi part
of the same
regional
Treaties or
Accords – East
African
Community and
others?
Then in this
case,
shouldn't
Burundian
citizens
allowed entry
into Tanzania,
regardless of
whether or not
they are
seeking
humanitarian
protection or
asylum ?
Grateful if
you could
share any
information
during the
inter-sector
meeting today
Nazzarena
Ferraro,
Humanitarian
Affairs
Officer, OCHA
Burundi office
|Bujumbura,
Burundi |UN
Office for the
Coordination
of
Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA)
On October 25,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric,
Video
here
On October 24,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press:
some
journalists
were arrested,
reportedly
while
investigating
mass
graves.
It was an
American
journalist,
J.C. [Julia]
Steers, and a
Burundian
journalist,
Gildas, and
their
driver.
This has gone
out all over
the
world.
There's a list
that's emerged
of enemies of
the State put
out by the
CNDD-FDD.
So what I
wonder is,
what… if he's
there and
these things
are taking
place, how… do
these
constructive
meetings
involve
talking about
journalists
being arrested
for trying to
document
[inaudible]…
Spokesman:
We're very
much aware of
the arrests of
the
journalists,
something
that's very
regrettable to
say the
least.
We understand
that both the
journalists
and the
driver, who
was also
arrested, have
now been
released.
We are in
touch with our
colleagues at
the Human
Rights Office
in Bujumbura
and trying to
look into the
exact
circumstances
of what has
happened.
It is clear
that there is
a need for the
media and the
press to be
able to
operate freely
in Burundi and
every other…
every other
place for that
matter.
ICP
Question:
And what about
the lists that
emerged?
Are there any
steps being
taken by the
UN to make
sure the UN
itself doesn't
target media
that are
listed on the
list?
Spokesman:
The UN is not
in the
business of
targeting
media.
At the UN in
New York, when
a photo of Burundi's
Ambassador's
empty seat
during the
first speech
by Ban's
successor
Antonio
Guterres is
tweeted out,
threats
including
death threats
ensue. Then
again, today's
UN has no
respect for
freedom of the
press, even in
its own
headquarters,
evicting
its perceived
critics and
restricting
them to
minders.
So where is
the US, UK, EU
and others?
Watch this
site.
On October 13,
after the UN
Security
Council had a
closed door
meeting about
Burundi and
Inner City
Press just
outside the
Council asked
about leaving
the ICC and
the Mkapa or
Museveni
process, a
draft Security
Council press
statement was
proposed and
put “under
silence” until
10 am on
October 14.
But, Inner
City Press has
exclusively
just learned,
major changes
were proposed
- and accepted
by the drafter
and pen
holder,
France.
France's
approach to
Burundi can be
contrasted to
the
position(s) it
took on its
recent Syria
draft. We have
put
the marked up
draft online,
here.
We'll have
more on this.
Here's what
was accepted
and emailed
out past
noon:And
On October 12,
Inner City
Press asked
Erastus
Mwencha,
Deputy
Chairperson of
the African
Union
Commission, if
the AU vets
those whom the
Nkurunziza
government
sends to the
AU Mission in
Somalia,
AMISOM. The
answer was no
-- although
Mwencha did
say that
Burundi needs
an inclusive
dialogue.
On October 11,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
the reported
plan to deploy
Nkurunziza
guard
Ildephone
Habarurema to
the
peacekeeping
mission in
Somalia,
AMISOM, to
which the UN
provides
support.
Despite Ban
Ki-moon's
claims about
human rights
first and
vetting,
Dujarric said
the UN has no
role in
vetting to
whom it
provides
support. So
does no one
vet?
On September
20 when
Francois
Hollande the
president of
France, which
“holds the
pen” on
Burundi in the
UN Security
Council, came
to hold a
press
conference,
Inner City
Press went
early to ask
him about it.
But before the
press
conference
began, one of
Hollande's
Team not only
declared rows
of the UN
Press Briefing
Room
“reserved” --
she also
announced
there would be
only four
questions, two
international,
which she
pre-selected.
After
this staged
show, Inner
City Press
asked,
Burundi? What
will you do on
Burundi, and
cited the risk
of genocide in
the day's UN
report.
Foreign
Minister
Jean-Marc
Ayrault turned
and looked --
nothing.
Beyond
the Vine
video, here.
Inner
City Press
went to
formally tell
UN Spokesman
Dujarric, who
has in the
past lent out
the UN press
briefing room
to France, and
then to
others, and
got Inner City
Press thrown
out. Dujarric
said curtly,
“Thanks.”
We'll have
more on this.
"I know,
Matthew, you
had been
asking about
Lieutenant
Colonel Alfred
Mayuyu, and I
can tell you
that it is my
understanding
that he was
repatriated
from MINUSCA
(United
Nations
Mission in the
Central
African
Republic) this
morning.
With the East
African
Community
dialogue
process
stalled -- and
Kenya's
Ambassador to
Burundi Ken
Vitisia is
involved, even
as sources
tell Inner
City Press he
owns / runs
businesses in
Bujumbura.
We'll have
more on this -
and on the
role of Ban
Ki-moon's son
in law
Siddharth
Chatterjee,
who Ban
on August 26
made UN
Resident
Coordinator in
Kenya without
recusing
himself.
As to Ken
Vitisia,
despite or
related to the
scandal of
child
trafficking
from Burundi
on which we've
previously
reported,
Kenya's
Ambassador
recently tweeted
of Burundi,
“great
country
beautiful
girls .need to
visit to see.”
This was
co-directed to
a UN official.
Something is
very wrong
here. We'll
have more on
this.
Chatterjee
tweets thanks
to those who spread
his military
commander's
attack on the
Press and
to other
Kenyan
ambassadors
-what's his
view of
Vitisia, and
of his father
in law's
failure in
Burundi? We
can't ask:
Chatterjee
blocks Inner
City Press on
Twitter, photo
here.
Chatterjee
served in the
Indian Peace
Keeping Force
in Sri Lanka,
involved in
the Jaffna
Hospital
Massacre. This
is today's UN
under Ban
Ki-moon, and
may explain
UNconcern with
Burundi - or
with the
truth, for
example as
regards
Mayuyu. Watch
this site.
On September
4, Inner City
Press asked
Dujarric again
about Mayuyu
and was told
he would
"effort" an
answer on
September 6.
So Inner City
Press asked:
From the UN
transcript:
Inner City
Press: I
want to ask
about Burundi
first... on
Mr. Mayuyu,
which I’d
asked you in
writing, I
just want to
nail this one
down…
Spokesman:
I’m waiting…
Everybody
wants to nail
everything
down.
I’m waiting
for some
information on
that case,
which I have
not yet
received.
On September
7, with
Dujarric not
having sent
Inner City
Press any
update, Inner
City Press
asked him
again - and
was told that
Mayuyu is fact
has NOT been
repatriated,
there are
“discussions
ongoing” with
the Burundian
government. From the UN
Transcript:
Inner City
Press: on this
question of
Burundian
military
figure Mr.
Mayuyu that
I'd asked you
about that
you… first
you'd said it
wasn't on any
roster.
Then it was
said that he
had been
repatriated.
Now some are
saying he
hasn't been…
Spokesman:
No, I didn't…
I didn't… I
think… I
didn't say he
had been
repatriated.
ICP
Question:
So what was
the meaning of
that?
Spokesman:
I said we are
repatriating
him. The
discussions
are ongoing
with the
Government of
Burundi.
As soon as we
have a date, I
will let you
know.
ICP
Question:
Has he joined
the military
observing…
Spokesman:
I'm not aware
of what his
specific role
is.
So the August
5 statement
was mislead,
and the August
24 statement
of “immediate
effect” became
inaccurate,
unless two
weeks can be
considered
“immediate.”
On
September 7
when Inner
City Press was
asking
Dujarric about
nepotism and
Ban Ki-moon
signing the
letter to name
his own son in
law Siddharth
Chatterjee to
the top UN job
in Kenya,
Dujarric said
“ridiculous
accusation”
and walked
out. This is
Ban Ki-moon's
UN. Beyond
the Vine video
here.
Now on August
29, when Ban
Ki-moon's
report is due
on getting
access for the
African Union
observers,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric (in
writing since
Dujarric
canceled the
noon briefing
for the week)
“On Burundi,
please deny or
confirm that
Ban's
Secretariat
has met with
the Permanent
Three members
of the UNSC
and,
separately,
provide a copy
or link to the
SG's report on
Burundi due on
August 28 (on
deployment of
AU observers,
resolution at
para 11).”
To
this, Dujarric
has replied:
“No. Can not
confirm.”
So
where is the
report? Inner
City Press is
told that,
with no
movement
toward
deploying any
of the 228
police in the
July 29
resolution,
the Permanent
Five members
-- France, US
and UK -- met
with “the
Secretariat.”
We'll have
more on this.
Back on
August 24
Inner City
Press asked
Dujarric, if
the August 5
answer 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??
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…
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.
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?
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.
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.
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