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By Matthew Russell Lee, Video, Video II, Filing

UNITED NATIONS GATE, February 10 – The UN Secretariat's and its Kenya Resident Coordinator Siddharth Chatterjee's kids-glove approach to the Kenyatta government continues. In Nairobi on December 27 police used tear gas against people protesting the police's killing of 23 year old student Carilton David Maina, video here. And from Sid? Nothing - as from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, then off on a murky junket with costs UNdisclosed, whose spokesman Stephane Dujarric had not answered a single one of Inner City Press' written questions in more than a week. The refusal to answer the most basic questions has continued from Dujarric, despite his on camera promise. Meanwhile Inner City Press exclusively published video of Guterres telling UN staff it is impolite and arrogant to ask governments about human rights, here. On February 10 from the African Union summit in Addis Ababa Dujarric on Kenya issued this: "Today, the Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, the President of the Republic of Kenya.  The Secretary-General expressed his condolences on the terrorist attack in Nairobi which caused numerous deaths and injuries in January. He commended the Government’s response in this regard and reiterated the United Nations support to the Government’s efforts in countering terrorism, preventing violent extremism and sustaining peace.      They also exchanged views on the main peace, security and humanitarian challenges facing the region." It's called polite - or, the death of the UN. Many of the refused questions concern Guterres' covering up for UN briber China Energy Fund Committee. And a story we are tracking in Kenya is the seeming offering of the Port of Mombasa as collateral for a loan - we'll have more on this, the tightening Belt and Road.  Earlier in December Miguna Miguna, who was deported to Canada without any comment or response from the UN, was confirmed as Kenyan and awarded $70,000 in damages. This is to be paid by Interior Minister Fred Matiangi and the Permanent Secretary for Immigration Gordon Kihalangwa and not taxpayers. The UN of Antonio Guterres and Sid doesn't have to worry - they have complete impunity, having roughed up and banned the Press then refused to lift legal immunity, and not processing the two internal complaints filed. From Nairobi to New York, call it a circus of impunity. On December 14 Inner City Press, banned from the UN for the 163rd day by Guterres, submitted questions in writing including " December 14-4: On Kenya, what is the SG's and separately RC Chatterjee's comment on Miguna Miguna having been illegally deported to Canada and “tortured,” and the court awarded of $70,000 damages because of it?" Needless to say, no one let into the UN noon briefing asked about Kenya, or anything anywhere in Africa. And Guterres and his spokesmen did not answer. This is today's UN. Kenyatta has nominated as the country's Ambassador to Turkey a General whom the UN said was responsible for allowing hundreds of South Sudanese to be slaughtered when he was Force Commander of the UN Mission there,  Johnson Ondieki. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, of course, a man of impunity and censorship, tried to take the edge off that UN finding. But reward as an Ambassador? When the finding was under Ban Ki-moon, Sid's father in law who promoted him without recusal? We'll have more on this. And on this: on September 24, as Guterres had Inner City Press barred from an event about banks profiting from slavery, he met with Kenyatta then put out this gushing read-out: "Today, the Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya.  They exchanged views on the recent positive developments with regard to peace and security in the region, notably in South Sudan and Somalia.  The Secretary-General noted the commendable mediation efforts of Kenya and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member States in the South Sudan peace process." Meanwhile Kenyatta shows up in a press release as a champion of youth with UNICEF, which earlier in the month banned Inner City Press even from a book event, following the corruption of Guterres. Here is the press release, read right to the bottom - hope springs eternal, no even discredited UN award is never not ultimately doled out for money once the watchdogs are roughed up and banned: "NEW YORK, 21 September 2018 – World leaders will launch a new partnership to get every young person into quality education, training or employment by 2030, next week at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly. Generation Unlimited will tackle the global education and training crisis currently holding back millions of young people and threatening progress and stability. Generation Unlimited – which forms part of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Youth 2030 Strategy – will complement and build on existing programmes that support adolescents and young people.

Generation Unlimited leaders group members:

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, Founder and Chairman, BRAC; H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; Mr. Gordon Brown, UN Special Envoy for Education, United Nations; Ms. Julia Gillard, Chair, Global Partnership for Education; Mr. António Guterres, Secretary General, United Nations; H.E. Mr. Paul Kagame, President, Republic of Rwanda; President Jim Kim, President, World Bank Group; Ms. Graça Machel, Founder, Graça Machel Trust; Mr. Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer, Unilever; Ms. Vibhu Sharma, Co-Chair, Global Partnership for Children with Disabilities Youth Council.

Generation Unlimited board members: Ms. Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen, Chief Executive Officer, Plan International; Ms. Alice Albright, Chief Executive Officer, Global Partnership for Education; Mr. Ahmad Alhendawi, Secretary-General, World Organization of the Scout Movement; Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); Ms. Harriet Baldwin, Minister of State, Department for International Development, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Mr. Sigve Brekke, Chief Executive Officer, Telenor Group; Ms. Sarah Brown, Executive Chair, Global Business Coalition for Education; Ms. Ilwad Elman, Director, Elman Peace Centre; Mr. Tony Elumelu, Founder, The Tony Elumelu Foundation; Ms. Henrietta Fore, Executive Director, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF); Mr. Michael Froman, Vice Chairman and President of Strategic Growth, Mastercard; Mr. Napoleón García, Youth Director, Nuestro Tiempo and Censura Cero; Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Chief Executive Officer, World Bank; Mr. José Ángel Gurría, Secretary General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); Mr. Per Heggenes, Chief Executive Officer, IKEA Foundation; Ms. Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Minister of Finance, Republic of Indonesia; Mr. Safiqul Islam, Director of Education, BRAC; Ms. Sigrid Kaag, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, The Netherlands; Ms. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund; Ms. Lise Kingo, CEO and Executive Director, United Nations Global Compact; Mr. Michael Kocher, General Manager, Aga Khan Foundation; Ms. Shamma bint Suhail bin Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of Youth, United Arab Emirates; Ms. Rosemary Mbabazi, Minister of Youth, Republic of Rwanda; Mr. Norbert Meder, Chief Executive Officer, SOS Children’s Villages International; Ms. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, European Union; Mr. Sobel Aziz Ngom, Founder and Executive Director, Social Change Factory; Mr. Hernán Rincón, Chief Executive Officer, Avianca Holdings; Mr. Guy Ryder, Director-General, International Labour Organization (ILO); Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Mr. Justin van Fleet, Director, The Education Commission; Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake, Secretary General's Envoy on Youth, United Nations; Mr. Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations

Generation Unlimited champions group members: Mr. Alexander De Croo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Development Cooperation, Kingdom of Belgium; H.E. Mr. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, President, Republic of Kenya." And there it is! As Erik Solheim uses public funds to flee Nairobi where he's supposed to work. This is Guterres' UN.

 On a past February 5, Inner City Press asked Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: in Kenya, there was a court order saying to reopen the TV stations that were closed down during Raila Odinga's self-inauguration.  And not all… two have opened, but Citizen TV has not opened.  People have been tear gassed as they protest for opening it.  And I'm wondering, what does the UN think about this, the Government not only closing a TV station but not obeying a court order to reopen it? Spokesman:  Look, I think it's important that there be a climate in which journalists can operate freely.  I think, as we said earlier, it's important that all Kenyan political actors work together to uphold the Constitution and work together to strengthen governance and uphold human rights and the rule of law." Yeah - where's Sid, the head of the UN in Kenya, other than promoting himself? From the UN's January 30 transcript:Inner City Press: on Kenya.  Yesterday, you'd said, you know, sort of generally that the UN is concerned about… the TV stations are still closed there.  The blogger I named has actually since been arrested.  There's been grenade attacks on an MP [military policeman], and another one has been arrested.  So, I know that you expressed concern.  What exactly is the UN… I mean, I know that Mr. [Olusegun] Obasanjo was sent and then left.  Is the UN doing anything about this? Spokesman:  "You know, I think contacts continue to be had, and we would want to see an atmosphere in which media is able to operate freely." Really? When Sid blocks the blogger (reportedly since released but facing charges) and Inner City Press, and the UN continues to restrict Inner City Press? On January 26, after the UN answered Inner City Press that Secretary General Antonio Guterres sent former Nigerian President Obasanjo to Kenya (and this was picked up, crediting Inner City Press, in an article in which both Jubilee and NASA denied any contact with Obasanjo), Inner City Press asked UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq, UN video, transcript here: Inner City Press: I also wanted to ask you about Mediator [Olusegun] Obasanjo's trip to Kenya.  There's now reports in the press there, basically, with both the Government or the Jubilee Party and NASA (National Super Alliance) denying that they had any meeting with him, so I wanted to know did he really… did he go?  And who did he meet with?  Also is there any comment on the NASA Coalition announcing what they call "the authentic results of the August election" saying that Raila Odinga won? Deputy Spokesman:  Well, regarding that, it was in the context of the decisions by the National Super Alliance that the Secretary-General asked former President Obasanjo to visit Kenya.  It's important that Kenyans continue to uphold the 2010 Constitution, and that the opposition carry their political activities within the confines of the law.  We would like to stress the importance for Kenyans to work together to strengthen governance, advance inclusive development, and uphold human rights and the rule of law. Deputy Spokesman:  But did he meet with any representative of the NASA Coalition while he was there? Inner City Press: I believe he reached out with a range of interlocutors as part of his work, and he'll continue to keep with his various contacts." Interlocutors but NOT Jubilee or NASA? Who is paying for this? How much? Back on January 22, Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: I actually want to ask you about one of the things you did comment on on Friday, and it was Uhuru Kenyatta, the President of Kenya, being named as a Global Champion of Youth by UNICEF [United Nations Children’s Fund].  It's given raise rise to a lot of controversy in the country, given the unrest around the most recent election including the killing of youth by the Government.  And I've come to understand that, at least after… I believe after the briefing that we had on Friday, you… you said that… that there is no appointment or you understood there to be no appointment.  Is there an appointment or not of this controversial appointment of Uhuru Kenyatta as a Global Champion of Youth Empowerment by the UN system? Spokesman:  I think that's a question for UNICEF.  My understanding is that the Executive Director spoke about the need for youth to be engaged, and the President said he would support that.  But, beyond that, I'm not aware of any specific appointment. Inner City Press: Okay.  And I also wanted to ask, because you confirmed on Friday that Mr. [Olusegun] Obasanjo was going there in some capacity, and it's also reported that he's going to the inauguration of George Weah in Liberia.  How lengthy was the trip to Kenya? Spokesman:  No, I think it was just a couple days.  I'm not… as far as his presence in Liberia, I'm not aware that's UN business." But it's unclear, apparently by designed. On January 24, Inner City Press asked Dujarric, video here, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: You may have seen that Mr. [Olusegun] Obasanjo, who I know is at least a part-time mediator for the Secretary-General, has issued an open letter calling on President [Muhammadu] Buhari not to run for re-election and to retire.  And I just… I'm assuming that's not as a UN official, but what I want to know is… Spokesman:  That would be a correct assumption. Inner City Press:  But my question is, in cases going forward, given that he was sent to Kenya, but it wasn't announced from here and he… people sort of intuited from there, is it a better practice to say when he's going on a UN mission or not say…? Spokesman:  You know, I think, obviously, to state again, those reports have nothing to do with the UN.  He's not a part-time mediator.  He's, like all the other members of the committee, of the group, he is… they are as-needed mediators.  So, they get called on per case.  You know, obviously, we would like to be as transparent as possible, and there may be a number of other missions that we would like to advance… announce in advance.  Sometimes, it's best to try to do things discreetly so as not to raise pressure or expectations, but… and, while we may want to do that, others may announce things for us.  So, it's on a case-by-case basis. Inner City Press:  And… and thanks.  And you mentioned the private sector, and I wanted to know… I think it was nine days ago, the Secretary-General said he would look into whether China Energy Fund Committee… Spokesman:  Yes, I’m in contact with the Global Compact.  If I have something, I will share it with you.  Thank you, all." Back on January 19, Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, video here, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: I wanted to ask you if Mr. Obasanjo is headed to Kenya.  There's this stand-off between Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta, and it said that…  that I guess…  I don't know if he's… Spokesman:  It's true.  The short answer is it's true.  As you know, the political situation in Kenya is one we've been following closely, especially the ongoing preparation by the opposition, the National Super Alliance, for the swearing-in planned of in January.  It's in that context that the Secretary-General asked the former president Obasanjo who, as you know, is a member of the Secretary-General's High-Level Mediation Panel, to visit Kenya.  It's important that Kenyans continue to uphold the 2010 Constitution, and that the opposition carry their political activities within the confines of the law, and we would like to stress the importance for Kenyans to work together to strengthen governance, advance inclusive development, and uphold human rights and the rule of law. Inner City Press:  And I wanted to ask.  There's some controversy there about…  remember Roselyn Akombe, there was the whole situation where she… as a… as a UN staff member on leave, she called for a boycott of the elections.  It said that she's actually received a promotion, I guess, over the possible opposition of the Kenyan Permanent Representative.  Is it true that she's now the Director of Policy and Planning of DPA [Department of Political Affairs]?  And UNICEF has made Uhuru Kenyatta, despite this controversy, a Global Champion for Youth.  Are these in…  in any way related? Spokesman:  No, not at all.  Ms. Akombe I think has a new job.  And as all staff, they go through a process to get that job." We'll have more on this. The UN's resident coordinator Siddharth Chatterjee, Ban Ki-moon's son in law, is of course silent, other than self-promotion including knee-jerk defense of Amina J. Mohammed for not answering Press questions about her 4000 rosewood signatures, for which 98,000 people have asked Ban's successor Antonio Guterres to investigate. There's still no investigation - nor any comment on the abduction of nine Cameroon opposition officials in Nigeria while Amina J. Mohammed was there.

 In December as Kenya detained journalist Jerome Starkey, Ban Ki-moon's son in law Chatterjee was entirely silent. Like his father in law has proved to be with the Press in New York, he is at heart a censor. But it makes a mockery of Ban Ki-moon's post Sri Lanka claims of "Rights Up Front," even as Ban angles to run for President on South Korea.

 In fact, in Sri Lanka Ban's son in law is implicated in presumptive war crimes, the Jaffna Hospital massacre and the crushing of civilians with tanks. And it's from him that Ban took his advice on Sri Lanka, where Ban oversaw the killing of more than 40,000 civilians.

 Ban is allowing those scribes who ignore this and praise him to sell access to him on December 16 for $1200 on Wall Street. We'll have more on this.

Tellingly, as the UN's Resident Coordinator in Kenya, Ban's son in law Chatterjee has remained silent not only on the targeting of South Sudanese, but on the protests profiled in a study released by Article 19, here.

Ban's son in law ignores Ban's supposed “Rights Up Front,” given his action in Sri Lanka (see below) and because he is entirely unaccountable: he could only be fired by Ban Ki-moon, his father in law. Nepotism is harmful.

On December 3 Inner City Press reported the ever-increasingly likelihood that Ban Ki-moon's son in law Chatterjee was involved in crimes of war in Sri Lanka, which neither Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric nor Chatterjee himself when asked in the UN lobby was willing to answer.

   For some time Inner City Press has heard that Chatterjee, as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka, was a war criminal. Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Dujarric if Chatterjee was involved in the Jaffna University raid, or the Jaffna hospital massacre, without answer.

   In the UN lobby, Chatterjee said he would answer at an “opportune time.” He has not answered. Chatterjee had his commander, Dalvir Singh, write a defense on Huffington Post and elsewhere, identifying himself as the commander of Chatterjee and of the 10th Para commandos.

And that's the problem. More here and here.

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