Guatemala's
Jimmy Morales Raises CICIG and
Velasquez at UN, Then Fake-out
at the Stakeout
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, August
25 – When Guatemalan President
Jimmy Morales came to New York
to meet with UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres on
August 25, media mostly
Spanish and Inner City Press
set up a stakeout in the UN
Secretariat lobby, to
afterward hear his views on
Ivan Velasquez and the future
of the CICIG. The meeting
began at 5 pm, but it was well
after 6 pm when Guterres came
down to his waiting car and
driver. Inner City Press
asked, Que pasa con la CICIG?
But Guterres merely waved.
Moments later his spokesman
Stephane Dujarric, who
declined to answer or even
confirm receipt of written
questions from Inner City
Press, issued this canned
read-out: “The
Secretary-General met today
with H.E. Mr. Jimmy Morales,
President of Guatemala.
They discussed the regional
situation in relation to the
Northern Triangle of Central
America and its impact on
migration and refugee flows.
They also exchanged views on
security and justice. In
this context, the
Secretary-General reiterated
the United Nations’ commitment
to the fight against impunity
and corruption, and the
Organisation’s continuing
support to the mandate of the
International Commission
Against Impunity in Guatemala
(CICIG). The Secretary-General
also reiterated his confidence
in Commissioner Ivan
Velásquez.” Now, it seemed,
the Jimmy Morales stakeout
would be more interesting. But
it was not to be. Reporters
who had been in touch with
Morales' team said that now
their calls were ignored or
even hung up on. Morales never
came. Pro-tip from the Free UN
Coalition for Access: this is
not the way. More to come.
***
Feedback:
Editorial [at] innercitypress.com
Past
(and future?) UN Office: S-303, UN, NY 10017 USA
For now: Box 20047,
Dag Hammarskjold Station NY NY 10017
Reporter's mobile (and weekends):
718-716-3540
Other,
earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in
the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.
Copyright
2006-2017 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other
permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com
for
|
,
