On
Burundi, US
Supports AU
Not Sending
Observers,
What of UN's
UNclear
Position?
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, June
29 -- As in
Burundi the
crackdown on
those opposing
or even
questioning a
third term for
Pierre
Nkurunziza
proceeds, now
with the head
of the
Parliament
having to flee
the country,
there
are
attempts to
ban or dodge
questions,
including by
the UN. Then
there is what
seems like
outright
obfuscation,
see below.
On
the evening of
June 29, the
US State
Department put
out this
statement:
"The
United States
is deeply
disappointed
that the
government of
Burundi moved
forward with
parliamentary
elections
today despite
woefully
inadequate
conditions for
them to be
credible,
disregarding
the strong
urging of the
African Union,
the UN
Secretary
General and
many other
voices calling
for a
delay.
We call on
President
Nkurunziza to
place the
welfare of his
country and
people ahead
of his wish to
serve a third
term by
heeding the
calls for
dialogue and
demonstrating
respect for
the Arusha
Agreement,
including its
provisions on
term
limits.
"We urge the
Burundian
government to
return to the
table and to
participate
seriously in
the political
dialogue
facilitated by
UN Special
Representative
Bathily, AU
Special Envoy
Fall, and
their East
African
Community and
International
Conference on
the Great
Lakes Rregion
colleagues. We
want all
stakeholders
to reach
consensus on
new electoral
dates and find
a political
solution for
this crisis.
"The United
States
supports the
AU’s decision
not to send
electoral
observers in
recognition
that free,
fair and
credible
elections are
impossible
given the
current
security
situation and
the closure of
political and
media
space.
We share the
AU’s concern
about the
hardships
facing the
people of
Burundi and
urge President
Nkurunziza to
cooperate
fully with the
AU and
regional
organizations
to resolve the
current crisis
and enable
credible
elections to
go forward at
a later date."
If the US
supports the
AU position,
what of the
UN's UNclear
position?
On June 28,
both UN
Secretary
General and
the UN's MENUB
said that the
MENUB mission
IS observing
the
legislative
election,
unlike the
African Union
which
announced that
it would not,
due to
conditions not
being met.
But in a
parallel
universe, on
June 29 the
head of the UN
Development
Program Helen
Clark tweeted
that "UN is
not observing
and has
withdrawn from
support to the
conduct of the
election."
Then after
Inner City
Press noted
it, Clark
deleted it.
Thus does the
UN try to have
it both ways.
Later on June
29 along with
a question
about climate
change Inner
City Press
asked Ban
Ki-moon about
Burundi, and
if the UN is
observing. Video here. From the UN's own
transcript:
Inner
City Press:
Because it is
the day of the
election in
Burundi, I
have to ask
this, where
does it stand
for the
international
community for
an election
that is taking
place without
any observers,
what can be
done? What is
the next step
forward?
SG Ban
Ki-moon: "Let
me briefly
answer your
question about
the current
situation in
Burundi.
Yesterday, all
day long, I
have been
speaking to
some African
leaders in the
region,
including
President
Kikwete of
Tanzania who
is acting as
President of
the East
African
Community. I
have also
spoken to AU
Chairperson
Madame Zuma,
as well as
President Zuma
of South
Africa. They
are the
leaders who
have been
constantly
engaging in
this. I have
been
expressing my
serious
concern that
while all the
opposition
political
parties have
boycotted -
and even the
Vice-President
and the
Parliamentary
speakers –
they have all
condemned and
criticized
President
Nkurunziza and
left their
country
because of
their serious
concern. While
UNDP and the
United Nations
have withdrawn
our electoral
support there,
our United
Nations
observation
team is now
observing this
election
process. Now
it seems that
the election
has been
continuing. I
reiterated my
appeal to all
Burundian
political
leaders to
consider the
wider interest
of the people
of their
country and to
resolve
political
issues through
dialogue in
order to
preserve peace
and strengthen
national
reconciliation.
I also
emphasize the
responsibility
of the
Government of
Burundi to
ensure that
the elections
take place in
a secure
environment
and also to
guarantee the
safety and
security of UN
observers, so
that they can
perform their
mandated
responsibilities
free from
intimidation
and
harassment.
This is
mandated by
the Security
Council. This
is what I can
tell you at
this time. I
am very
closely
observing and
watching and
coordinating
and consulting
with African
leaders. Thank
you."
While the
answer is
appreciated,
it remained
unclear what
Clark had
meant, and the
UN's stance on
the elections
and observing
them. Inner
City Press
asked for a
yes or no
answer, was
Clark wrong in
saying the UN
is not
observing -
and no clear
answer was
given.
We also note
that while
Laurent Fabius
of France, the
UN Security
Council
penholder on
Burundi, was
doing this as
a joint press
encounter with
Ban, Fabius
did not answer
on Burundi at
all. We'll
have more on
this.
, 
