Inner City Press -- Investigative Reporting From the Inner City to Wall Street to the United Nations

UN Has No Comment on Protests in Abyei of Haroun Flight, Partition of Darfur

UNITED NATIONS, March 10 -- Whether on Abyei or Darfur, despite spending over $1 billion a year the UN has nothing to say, even as Dinka protests confront its flights of indicted war criminal Ahmed Haroun.

On March 9, Inner City Press asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Martin Nesirky about criticism of the UN's lack of protection of civilians in Abyei, then about its silence on Darfur:

Inner City Press: there is a report that the SPLM [Sudan People’s Liberation Movement] has threatened to stop negotiations with the National Congress Party about Abyei and outstanding issues due to the violence. It’s in the Sudan Tribune article, which quotes an SPLM leader for Abyei, saying why is the UN not taking a more active role? Meanwhile, the Sudanese Government newspaper has said that the UN has rejected calls to get involved, either physically… either in the physical protection of civilians or in a way other than simply monitoring. Is that… is the Sudanese Government accurate in saying that UNMIS’s [United Nations Mission in Sudan] role in Abyei is simply to monitor what some said is the destruction of 300 buildings and three villages, or is there a physical protection role that is being implemented there?

Spokesperson Nesirky: Well, two points. One is that you know quite well that the UN Mission in Sudan was instrumental in bringing the sides together just last week. And secondly, as you also know, we told you that an additional company, on top of four companies already deployed in that area, this additional company was being deployed there. So that is extra boots on the ground.

Inner City Press: Where were they when these… not to… obviously they didn’t burn them, but when these villages were burned down — there are satellite photos of the before and the after — is there any… is the attempt of this new company to actually be physically present to stop physical destruction or…? I am just trying to understand what the…?

Spokesperson: The presence of peacekeeping personnel on the ground is supposed to do a number of things. One is, yes, it is monitoring, two, it is to investigate after the fact if they, if it happened somewhere a long way from where they are positioned, and it is also to help people who have been either attacked or need assistance for some other reason. And we have seen that repeatedly. In this particular case, we are aware of those reports that you referred to, and if I have any more details on the location of the peacekeepers in relation to that, I’d be happy to let you know.

More than thirty hours later, there was no answer at all from the UN.

UN's Ban & spox Nesirky, cost of flying ICC indictee not shown

  Also on March 9, Inner City Press asked:

Inner City Press: in Darfur, there is a lot of now criticism by the rebel groups in Darfur that the Government on Monday proposed to add two additional administrative states to Darfur; they are calling it a “divide and rule” regime. I just wonder, given the UN’s role in these negotiations, one, do they think that… what do they make of these criticisms of divide and rule, and two, do they think that the steps that the Sudanese Government is taking to supposedly seek consent of people in IDP [internally displaced persons] camps are sufficient, democratic and the things that the UN would like to see done?

Spokesperson: Well, as I understand it, from the mediation, this has not been formally communicated, this notion of establishing two extra administrative areas in Darfur. This has not been officially communicated to the mediation, and so they are waiting to hear more about that, because, after all, that is one aspect of the negotiations that are going on. They haven’t heard anything officially yet. And if they do, I’ll be happy to let you know.

Again, more than 30 hours later there was no answer from the UN. And so the next day March 10, Inner City Press asked a follow up:

Inner City Press: about this flight of Ahmed Haroun, there has been a new report that when he was flown into Abyei that actually 400 Dinka youth stormed the UN’s compound, angered at his presence and that McClatchy/Miami Herald story says that [Salah] Gosh, who is this former intelligence chief, and Haroun were evacuated by helicopter from their visit to Abyei. So, I wanted to know, one, can you confirm that in fact the UN flew him in and then upon protest by youth, Dinka youth, flew him out? Is that true?

Spokesperson Nesirky: Well, I can tell you that Governor Haroun was transported there and back again. That is correct. I have already said that. As for what happened at the time around the location where the meeting was being held, there were some disturbances that ended peacefully, and if I have more details precisely on what happened, then I’ll let you know.

Inner City Press: when it first came up, it was presented, this is a very positive visit, that he’d brought peace and, in fact, if 400 youth protested him and destroyed vehicles and he left under fire, it seems to… would the UN fly him there again?

Spokesperson: As I say, I would need to check on the precise details. There were protests; that is the case. But also there was a result, in the form of the agreement that I have mentioned before. But if I have more detail, I’ll be happy to give it to you.

And nine hours later, nothing. Nothing at all. And so it goes at the UN.