UN
Peacekeepers
Killed 3 in
Mali With
Excessive
Force, Merely
Sent Home?
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, April
2 -- When UN
Peacekeepers
are
determined, by
the UN itself,
to have killed
civilians by
using
excessive
force, what
accountability
is there?
Quite possibly
none,
according to
the report on
such killings
earlier this
year by UN
Peacekeepers
in Gao in
Mali, released
as a summary
statement by
the UN at noon
on April 2.
Inner City
Press, which
has been
asking the UN
Spokesperson -
since UN
Peacekeeping
chief Herve
Ladsous
refuses Press
questions
-- about the
killings since
they occurred
in January, on
April 2 asked
UN
spokesperson
Farhan Haq if
the report
will be made
public, and if
any verdict or
sentence
against the
peacekeepers
would be made
public. Haq
did not say
yes to either.
A report on
Ladsous'
peacekeepers
in Haiti
firing at
unarmed
demonstrators
hasn't even
been
summarized,
much less
released.
As to
the killings
by
peacekeepers
in Gao, Haq
would not even
publicly state
the
nationality of
the
peacekeepers.
Talk about
impunity. He
said the
Ladsous will
briefing the
Security
Council --
behind closed
doors, of
course --
about the
report, then
will come to
the UNTV
stakeout. But
Ladsous
refuses Press
questions, on
his cover up
of rapes in DR
Congo and
Darfur and
every other
question. Video here, Vine
here.
This
is a new low
in
UNaccountability.
April 2, 2015,
two views:
Here
is the UN's
summary as
read-out by
Haq:
The
Inquiry
launched by
the
Secretary-General
to determine
the facts
surrounding
the violent
demonstration
that took
place on 27
January 2015
in Gao, Mali,
in front of
the United
Nations
Multidimensional
Integrated
Stabilisation
Mission in
Mali (MINUSMA)
Regional
Headquarters
has submitted
its report.
The Inquiry
determined
that members
of a MINUSMA
Formed Police
Unit used
unauthorized
and excessive
force on
civilian
protesters
during the
demonstration,
resulting in
the death by
gunfire of
three
protesters and
the wounding
of four
others.
The Inquiry
also
established
that some
protesters and
organisers of
the
demonstration
bear
responsibility
for the
violence of
the protest,
which included
Molotov
cocktails,
stone throwing
and attempts
to breach the
perimeter of
the Regional
MINUSMA
Headquarters
in Gao. The
Inquiry noted
that MINUSMA
security
forces were
left to face
the protesters
on their own
in violation
of the Status
of Forces
Agreement with
the host
country. Five
MINUSMA police
officers were
wounded during
the event.
The
Secretary-General
profoundly
regrets the
casualties
among
civilians
resulting from
the excessive
use of force
during this
event by the
MINUSMA
personnel
concerned.
He condemns it
as a violation
of the MINUSMA
Directive on
the Use of
Force. The
Secretary-General
is committed
to ensuring
that the
responsible
individuals
are held fully
accountable
for their
actions.
Steps are
being taken in
this regard
with the
authorities of
Mali and the
relevant
police-contributing
country. The
Secretary-General
encourages the
Government of
Mali to take
the
appropriate
steps to
prevent future
such
incidents.
Communications,
management and
crisis
procedures
within MINUSMA
will also be
examined to
prevent the
recurrence of
such acts.
The
Secretary-General
is committed
to ensuring
justice for
the victims
and their
families
according to
local customs
and
appropriate
United Nations
procedures.
MINUSMA is in
contact with
the local
authorities
and with the
individuals
and families
concerned in
this regard.
On behalf of
the United
Nations, the
Secretary-General
expresses his
deepest
apologies to
the victims
and their
families.
The United
Nations, and
MINUSMA in
particular,
remain
committed to
supporting the
stabilisation
of Mali.
, 
