UNITED NATIONS
GATE, April 21 –In Sri Lanka
churches and hotels have been
bombed, on Easter Sunday. The
death toll quickly rose to 138
including at least nine
non-Sri Lankans or
"foreigners," as the stories
had it. Amid the many calls
for calm, from the UN which
has so badly failed Sri Lanka,
there has been the silence
that has become even more
characteristic under Antonio
Guterres. In fact, since April
18 it is not even clear WHERE
Guterres is; his public
schedule only says that he is
on "annual
leave" again, presumably
in Lisbon. Perhaps the UN
Security Council, chaired this
month by Germany along with
France, will speak even before
Guterres does. During the
killings in 2008 and 2009 the
UN Security Council did not
hold a single formal meeting
about Sri Lanka, as Inner City
Press reported before being
targets by the UN and roughed
up and banned under Guterres.
On April 18, Inner City Press
asked Guterres and his two
spokesmen in writing, "April
18-3: On Sri Lanka,
please immediately provide the
UN's read out of yesterday's
SG meeting and separately
confirm or deny this Sri
Lankan government account: "UN
Secretary-General António
Guterres has offered support
for Sri Lanka's reconciliation
efforts. Minister of
Finance Mangala Samaraweera
who is in New York to
represent Sri Lanka at the
Financing for Development
Forum of the UN Economic and
Social Council called on the
Secretary-General of the
United Nations. At the
meeting, the Secretary-General
recalled his visits to Sri
Lanka in the past including
his first visit in 1978.
Stating that he was impressed
by the peaceful resolution of
the recent political crisis in
Sri Lanka." The only response
has been this: "I am on leave
and will return on Monday, 31
December. Please call
the spokesperson's office at
212-963-7160 for
assistance. Thank you --
Farhan Haq." From lead spokesman
Stephane Dujarric, who has
written dismissively of the
Sri Lanka (and Burundi and
Cameroon and Haiti) coverage
of Inner City Press to those
who has asked him in writing
why he banned
Inner City Press from his
briefing and from the UN for
290 days, nothing at all.
We'll have more on all this.
Once Mahinda Rajapaksa who
oversaw the 2009 war crimes
dubbed the bloodbath on the
beach on October 26 was named
the country's prime minster by
Sirisena whom UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres has
praised, Guterres was very
slow in making any comment,
despite or continuing the UN's
shameful history on Sri Lanka
including pulling out and
allowing and covering up the
slaughter in 2008 and 2009.
Jump cut to 2019 and there's this
footage of a non violent
protest by Puttalam villagers
protesting against a proposed
garbage landfill in Aruwakkalu
being cracked down on by
police - typically, the UN has
said nothing. Hanaa
Singer Guterres' resident
coordinator, the replacement
of 27 of whom he refuses to
answer on even on how much it
costs the public, has grinned
and met with Rajapaksa, a war
crimes suspect, with this read
out: "The UN resident
coordinator in Sri Lanka,
Hanaa Singer, paid a courtesy
call to the Leader of the
Opposition, Mahinda Rajapaksa
last evening
(03). Singer
stated that she is a strong
believer of south-north
cooperation and said that Sri
Lanka would be a great role
model as she has set a great
example in achieving the SDGs
set out by the UN.
They also discussed the
current political environment
of Sri Lanka. The postponement
of the provincial council
elections for over a year was
pointed out by the Leader of
the Opposition. He mentioned
that the government seemed to
have no intention of holding
the long-overdue
elections. Singer
asked the Leader of the
Opposition regarding his
vision for the future of Sri
Lanka, to which he responded
that two key issues that
needed immediate attention
would be the economy and
reconciliation. He was of the
view that with discipline and
leadership a suitable solution
could be found for both
issues." And Guterres looks
on, a corrupt censor. Guterres
is killing what remains of the
UN's credibility. On March 22
Inner City Press had asked
Guterres, Amina J. Mohammed,
Alison Smale and spokesman
Farhan Haq and others "March
22-2: On Sri Lanka, what is
the SG's comment and action on
that the final text of the HRC
resolution failed to address
Sri Lanka’s failure to meet
its commitments to date.
Despite the pledges made in
Resolution 30/1, there
continues to be impunity for
violations of international
human rights and humanitarian
law. The absence of
accountability and the slow
progress on other fronts has
disillusioned many victims’
groups and eroded hopes for
the transitional justice
process. What does this say
about the UN system and
accountability - and
credibility?" No answer for
days now - in fact, on March
22 Guterres was misusing
his security and even the NYPD
to target Inner City Press to
be held back unlike others.
Now Guterres' pick for human
rights commissioner Michele
Bachelet is virtue signaling
about Sri Lanka - when she has
done nothing
at all about Guterres'
destruction of human rights in
the UN system, his throwing of
envoy Haysom under the bus in
Somalia for raising human
rights issues, his roughing up
and banning of the Press from
entering the UN, even for
Bachelet's dubious events. But
here's what Bachelet has
sputtered about Sri Lanka: "UN
High Commissioner for Human
Rights, Michelle Bachelet said
Wednesday that a newspaper
article quoting a senior Sri
Lankan official “seriously
misrepresents” her discussion
of the recent UN Human Rights
Office report1 on Sri Lanka
with a Government delegation
attending the Human Rights
Council in Geneva on March
20.
Monday’s article in Sri
Lanka’s Daily Mirror newspaper
cited a member of the
Government delegation,
Northern Province Governor Dr.
Suren Raghaven, claiming the
High Commissioner “admitted
that certain facts
incorporated in the UNHRC
report against Sri Lanka could
not be condoned whatsoever.”
It also said he claimed she
had advised two of her senior
officials who attended the
meeting “to be more
responsible and cautious
hereafter.”
“Neither of these claims are
true,” Bachelet said. “Either
the newspaper misunderstood
the Governor, or the Governor
misunderstood – or misquoted –
me.” The High Commissioner
said she stands fully behind
the report and the oral
statement2 she made when
presenting it to the Human
Rights Council, and that she
believes it fairly and
objectively reflects the
situation in Sri
Lanka.
“I am deeply disappointed by
the spin that has been put on
my discussion with the Sri
Lankan Government delegation,”
she said, noting that other
news outlets in Sri Lanka were
also continuing to
significantly misrepresent the
Human Rights Council process
in Geneva." Bachelet's
complaints against this media
would be more credible if she
raised a finger to defend the
rights of the press to cover
the UN even if her boss
Guterres doesn't like it.
We'll have more on this. Shavendra
Silva, who despite his
UN documented role
in the killings in 2008 and
2009 was allowed for a time to
advise the UN Secretary
General on Peacekeeping and
host a movie
screening with the
pro-Guterres correspondents group,
has been named Army Chief of
Staff. On January 29 Inner
City Press asked Guterres,
Alison Smale, Amina J.
Mohammed and spokesman
Stephane Dujarric, "January
29-3: On Sri Lanka, given the
newly assembled evidence
regarding Shavendra Silva,
formerly UN Peacekeeping
adviser now Sri Lanka Army
Chief of Staff, how can the SG
and USG Lacroix continue to
deploy Silva's troops as
peacekeepers? What vetting is
taking place? What is the SG's
and USG's comment and action
on this individual as chief of
staff of an army the UN has
been taking troops from?" With
no answer for a week, on the
the morning of February 7
Inner City Press asked the
same group: "February 7-3: On
Sri Lanka and the death
penalty what is the SG's
comment and action on
President Sirisena saying that
starting in 3 months drug
dealers will be executed by
hanging." No answer to that.
Instead, at the February 7
noon briefing before setting
off on a junket with Guterres,
Dujarric read out a statement
including: "I’ve been asked
about recent statements made
in Sri Lanka regarding UN
peacekeeping... Sri Lanka is a
very important contributor to
UN peacekeeping... The aim is
to ensure rapid deployment of
Sri Lankan peacekeepers to the
field." It is ever. No one
allowed in to the briefing
asked any follow up. Now this,
on the eve of Guterres showing
up in Geneva to claim
commitment to press freedom
and human rights: "a letter
sent to UN High-commissioner
for Human rights by this group
stated that: “We want to
bring to your attention that
some of the current Tamil
Members of Parliament - who
have access to international
diplomatic community - don’t
speak for Tamil victims like
us. They got elected on the
promise that they will get
justice for victims like us.
But now they are protecting
the Sri Lankan Government from
facing international
justice.” “Many of us
personally and voluntarily
handed-over many of our family
members, including Babies and
Children, to the Sri Lankan
Security forces at the end of
the war in May 2019 in
reliance on assurances that
they would be safe. But almost
ten years have passed, but
there is no answer from the
Government about those we
surrendered and they all
remain disappeared.”
“Even though the war has ended
about ten years ago, Tamils
are still waiting for justice
for the mass atrocities
committed by the Sri Lankan
Government. According to UN
and other international
organizations tens of
thousands of Tamils were
killed, disappeared and
numerous Tamil women were
sexually assaulted and raped
by the Sri Lankan Security
Forces, in the final six
months of the war that ended
in May 2009.” “UN Human
Rights Council passed two
Resolutions on abuses
committed against Tamil people
including about the
disappeared. Sri Lanka
voluntarily co-sponsored Human
Rights Council Resolution 30/1
and 34/1 and assured to the UN
body, that they will fulfill
the requirements of the
Resolution. But two year
extension has passed but Sri
Lanka did not fulfill its
promise and voluntary
commitment to the UNHRC."
We'll have more on this --
under Guterres even though an
accused war criminal is now
the chief of army staff in Sri
Lanka the UN is seeking to
ramp up its use of his
soldiers, to South Sudan --
where the UN already kills
civilians - Lebanon and
Mali. Guterres is
silent; his fig-leafed
acceptance of implicated Sri
Lankan soldiers as
peacekeepers will foreseeably
continue - and it has, through
February 7 and counting.
Guterres and his spokesman
Stephane Dujarric have refused
to answer any of the written
questions of Inner City Press
whom they had roughed up and
banned amid its Sri Lanka and
human rights questions. Now
ITJP has said, "the United
Nations cannot in good
conscience continue to deploy
peacekeepers from an Army
headed by a man who allegedly
repeatedly and knowingly
committed war crimes against
hundreds of thousands of
civilians. Major General Silva
of course is not alone in
being promoted post-War –
there is a pattern of
rewarding, honouring and
promoting alleged
perpetrators, deploying them
in prestigious UN jobs, as
diplomats and in the former
conflict areas to administer
the very people they defeated.
This is a text book case of
impunity. 4 CAREER 1.1.
SRI LANKAN ARMY Major General
Shavendra Silva commanded the
58 Division during the final
phase of Sri Lanka’s Civil
War2 . He reported to General
Jagath Jayasuriya, the Vanni
Security Force Head Quarters
(SFHQ) Commander. One report
said Shavendra Silva in early
2009 had 22 battalions under
his command as opposed to the
usual 9 in a Division3 ”. He
is currently the Colonel of
the Gajaba Regiment and has
remained loyal to the former
Defence Secretary and
President’s brother, Gotabaya
Rajapaksa, after the War4 . He
was promoted to Adjutant
General of the Sri Lankan Army
in 2017 by the Sirisena
Government. In 2019, he was
appointed Army Chief of Staff5
. 22 Jun 1964: Date of Birth.
5 Mar 1984: Joined Sri Lankan
Army, aged 20. 1987: Head of
the Presidential Security Army
Unit. 1992: 2nd in Command of
8th Battalion of the Gajaba
Regiment in Mannar. 1998-90:
His unit was based in Elephant
Pass. 1995-6: (22 Aug 1995 - 1
Jan 19966 ) Commanding
Officer, 8th Battalion of the
Gajaba Regiment. 2008-9: In
the Vanni as Task Force 1
Commander, then 58 Division
Commander. Commanded the Air
Mobile Brigade Jan–Sep 2010:
Commander of the Commando
Regiment. Jul 2010: Promoted
as the youngest Major General
in the Sri Lankan Army and
became the Operations
Director7 . 2 para 116, OHCHR
Investigation into Sri Lanka
(OISL), Sep 2015,
A/HRC/30/CRP.2. 3 “In early
2009, Brig. Shavendra Silva
had about 22 battalions under
his command, though an
infantry Division comprised
three brigades each consisting
of three battalions”. P’karan
suffers irrevocable loss at
Anandapuram, 11 Dec 2012, The
Island,
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=68084
4
https://www.facebook.com/Major.General.shavendra.silva/posts/we-will-never-hand-over-this-war-to-the-next-generationpresident-mahinda-rajapa/815949115103954/
4 “Many felt that the Defence
Secretary, himself a one-time
commanding officer of the
first battalion of the Gajaba
Regiment, too, was supportive
of Brig. Silva.”
https://lrrp.wordpress.com/tag/58-Division/
5 President receives list of
nominees for Army’s CDS
position, Sri Lanka Mirror, 1
Jan 2019,
https://srilankamirror.com/news/12293-president-receives-list-of-nominees-for-army-s-cds-position
6
http://222.165.180.163/gajabaregiment/8-gajaba-regimen
7 Major General takes over as
the deputy head of the Sri
Lanka's UN Mission, 18 Oct
2010, JDS Lanka,
http://jdsrilanka.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/major-general-takes-over-as-deputy-head.html
5 2010-2015: Deputy Permanent
Representative to the United
Nations in New York, a
position that afforded him
diplomatic immunity from a
prosecution attempt made
against him for alleged war
crimes8 . 2010-2015
Alternative Representative of
Sri Lanka to the United
Nations Special Political and
Decolonization Committee 9.
2011: Speaks (on video) to
disparage British citizen,
Vani Kumar, and Sri Lankan
Government doctor, Dr.
Varatharajah, who appeared in
the Channel 4 documentary on
Sri Lanka10. 2015: Attended a
47-week course in National
Security and Strategic
Studies, Delhi11. 2017:
Promoted by President Sirisena
to Adjutant General of the Sri
Lankan Army. Mar 2017: The
Mullaitivu court refuses to
call Shavendra Silva to
testify in a mass-enforced
disappearance case12. May
2018: Silva is awarded another
medal on the anniversary of
the War end13. He oversees War
Anniversary celebrations14.
2018: Involved in running
military garment factory,
“Ranaviru Apparel”15. 9 Jan
2019: Appointed Chief of Army
Staff16 21 Jun 2019: Due to
retire." We'll have more on
this. US Rep Eliot Engel
who district includes portions
of The Bronx has said online @HouseForeign,
"I’m
concerned over
the
appointment of
Shavendra
Silva, named
by the UN as
playing a
major role in
orchestrating
war crimes, as
Sri Lanka’s
Army Chief of
Staff. This
could have
ramifications
for U.S.-Sri
Lanka defense
cooperation.
Appointing someone the UN
believes is a war criminal to
serve as Chief of Army staff
is how not to demonstrate your
sincerity in holding war
criminals accountable." But
what does today's UN believe?
The finding on Silva was under
Ban Ki-moon. At today's UN,
Guterres and his spokesmen are
refusing to answer the written
Sri Lanka questions of Inner
City Press, which Guterres has
had physically banned
from the UN hindering coverage
of for example China Energy
Fund Committee bribery. On the
morning of December 18 Inner
City Press in writing asked
Guterres and his spokesman
Stephane Dujarric, "December
18-1: On Sri Lanka, what is
the SG's comment and action
now that President Maithripala
Sirisena accused newly
reappointed Prime Minister
Ranil Wickremesinghe of
corrupt leadership in a
scathing speech in which he
voiced doubts about their
ability to work together and
signaled the two-month-long
political crisis is far from
resolved?" Two days later, no
answer to this or any other
Inner City Press question.
Instead, Dujarric waited until
the December 20 noon briefing
to read this out: "The
Secretary-General welcomes the
resolution of the political
crisis in Sri Lanka through
peaceful, constitutional
means, and applauds the
resilience of the country’s
democratic institutions.
The Secretary-General calls on
all political actors to seize
the opportunity of the
appointment of the new cabinet
to resolve outstanding
political differences in the
same spirit of respect for
democracy and in the interest
of the people of Sri Lanka."
Dujarric has tried to spin
supporters of Inner City
Press, at least those in
Europe, that even while
censoring he respects Inner
City Press keeping the Sri
Lanka issue alive in the UN
briefing room. No, he doesn't.
No answers on Sri Lanka in
weeks, even as Sri Lanka media
report a disorganized visit by
Mari Yamashita Asia Pacific
regional director of the UN
Department of Political
Affairs whose director
Rosemary DiCarlo's chief of
staff handed
the Departments website(s) to
her photographer husband,
still being covered up.
Guterres and the above named
enablers are killing the UN.
And what are they
accomplishing on Sri Lanka?
What are they even trying?
Inner City Press will continue
to asked - and to report. On
November 14,
Inner City
Press asked
the UN in
writing:
"November
14-1: On Sri
Lanka, what is
the SG's
comment and
action on that
“Sri Lanka’s
parliament
passed a
no-confidence
motion against
newly
appointed
Prime Minister
Mahinda
Rajapaksa on
Wednesday,
presenting a
standoff with
the opposition
and throwing
the country
deeper into
turmoil.
Deputies from
Rajapaksa’s
party rejected
the voice vote
as illegal”? On November
15, with lead
spokesman Stephane
Dujarric back
from a week long junket
to Japan with
no
transcript,
his deputy Farhan Haq
sent this: "On
question Nov
14-1, we can
say the
following: We
reiterate that
following
democratic
processes
remains the
only viable
way of
resolving
disagreements
in a peaceful
manner and
maintaining
the confidence
of Sri Lankan
people in the
rule of law
and
institutions.
We will
continue to
follow the
developments
in Sri Lanka
closely." We
publish it in
full,
immediately
after receipt.
Even
Guterres' earlier phone call
was portrayed as productive by
Sirisena, with no response
from Guterres. Inner City
Press which has been banned
from the UN for 134 days and
counting, which even Ban
Ki-moon didn't do, has been
asking Guterres spokesmen
about Sri Lanka where Sirisena
has now dissolved parliament,
not even reconvening it on
November 14. While delaying
answer Inner City Press'
questions on Sri Lanka - on
which spokesman Dujarric
disingenuously spins critics
that he respects Inner City
Press' coverage of - Guterres'
Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq
said - video here
after much delay -- "we
have been informed of the
latest developments. We
certainly hope that the
regular constitutional
procedures will be followed,
and we'll keep monitoring the
situation to see what happens
after that." Regular
constitutional procedures?
Now more than a day later - a
day late and a dollar short,
as they say - this from
Guterres via deputy spokesman
Farhan Haq, who did not answer
a single one of Inner City
Press' more than ten questions
on November 8 and 9 despite
USG Alison Smale's promise to
UNSR David Kaye that questions
will be answered, this: "The
Secretary-General learned with
concern of President
Maithripala Sirisena's
decision to dissolve Sri
Lanka's parliament and move to
new parliamentary elections on
5 January 2019.
The Secretary-General
underlines the utmost
importance of respecting
democratic processes and
institutions and resolving
differences in accordance with
the rule of law and due
process. He renews his call on
the Government to ensure peace
and safety for all Sri Lankans
and uphold its commitments to
human rights, justice and
reconciliation.
Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman
for the Secretary-General, New
York, 10 November 2018." Where
is Dujarric, who responded to
criticism of ban of Inner City
Press with lies but also an
admission that Inner City
Press alone kept in focus at
the UN briefing Sri Lanka as
well as Haiti, Burundi and the
UN Budget Committee? Now he
has banned Inner City Press
questions from the noon
briefing for 129 days and
counting. Guterres is
failing on Sri Lanka - and he
is poised to raise money on
December 5 for a committee
headed by the former landlord
of Rajapaksa's ambassador
Palitha Kahona, Giampaolo
Pioli, who despite or because
of this connection held a "UN
screening" of Rajapaksa's war
crimes denial film "Lies
Agreed To" in the the UN Dag
Hammasarkjold Library under
the banner of the UN
Correspondents Alliance. But
now Sirisena has given his
read out of the call,
characterizing it as very
positive for the "new
government." And now Kohona,
UN Censorship Alliance bigwig
Pioli's former tenant, has
gone public
in favor of the coup, and
China, seemingly like Guterres
who has yet to even audit
China Energy Fund Committee's
bribery in the UN: "trumpeting
the dangers posed by
Rajapaksa, allegedly an ally
of China. He has also been
described as authoritarian and
poer hungry. This may have
gone down well with certain
sections of the Indian
establishment but not
necessarily with the vast
majority of Sri Lankans who
entertain historical
sympathies for China. While it
is true that Rajapaksa
obtained significant loans
from China to fund development
projects, to characterise him
as pro China is a convenient
excuse for not understanding
him well or simply succumbing
to assessments provided by
Ranil and the NGO
community." And, “I had
a very successful telephone
conversation with the UN
Secretary General António
Guterres last evening. I
assured him that the
appointment of the new Prime
Minister has been done in
keeping with the Constitution
of Sri Lanka,” President
Sirisena tweeted after his
phone conversation.
He had met the UN Resident
Coordinator in Sri Lanka,
Hanaa Singer, the previous day
and apprised her of the
prevailing political situation
in Sri Lanka." Singer sings
the praises of Sirisena. On
October 31, as Guterres was
trying to get Inner City Press
thrown out of Park East
Synagogue before his speech,
Inner City Press sent his
spokesmen questions including
"October 31-4: On Sri Lanka,
what is the SG's comment and
action on that “Speaker Karu
Jayasuriya has written to
President urging him to
reconvene Parliament
immediately. In a letter to
the President, Jayasuriya said
that he has received a request
from 125 Parliamentarians to
reconvene Parliament. He said
that the political instability
in the country can be resolved
only by reconvening
Parliament”? While ignoring
the other questions including
about Guterres' attempted
censorship at the synagogue,
his deputy spokesman Farhan
Haq past 1 pm on November 2
sent this canned readout to
Inner City Press: "On your
question October 29-1, we have
the following: The
Secretary-General spoke by
telephone with H.E. Mr.
Maithripala Sirisena,
President of Sri Lanka, on 1
November. The
Secretary-General informed the
President that he was
following the latest
developments in Sri Lanka with
concern and offered assistance
in facilitating a dialogue
with all the parties to
resolve the situation. He
emphasized the Government’s
responsibility to ensure
peace, security and respect
for the rule of law. The
Secretary-General urged the
President to revert to
Parliamentary procedures and
allow the Parliament to vote
as soon as possible. He
encouraged the Government to
uphold its earlier commitments
to human rights, justice and
reconciliation, in line with
Human Rights Council
resolutions." In Sri Lanka it
was reported
that on the afternoon of
October 29 "US Ambassador to
Sri Lanka, and a Special Envoy
to the United Nations will
meet with Speaker Karu
Jayasuriya at Parliament at
3pm and 3.30pm respectively,
the Speaker's Office
confirmed." Inner City Press
asked Guterres Spokesman
Stephane Dujarric in writing,
"please immediately deny or
confirm if there is a UN
Special Envoy meeting the
Parliament speaker, if confirm
state who she or he is, with
whom including which states
the SG consulted, if he has
raised the crisis to the UNSC
and if not, why not, and last
week's UNanswered question on
the harassed Tamil
journalist(s)." The journalist
harassment question was not
answered - of course not - but
this came: "On question 29-1,
the Resident Coordinator met
with the Speaker of Parliament
and conveyed the importance of
respecting democratic values
and constitutional provisions
and the process, upholding the
rule of law and ensuring the
safety and security of all Sri
Lankans." An attempt to look
up the UN Resident Coordinator
on UNDP Sri Lanka's "About Us
- Our Team" page found only
Latin filler or nonsense,
photo here
("Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet,"
etc.) Typical information
dead-zone from the UN, which
refuses to answer Inner City
Press' questions for days
despite a claimed
commitment this would
happen from Guterres' Under
Secretary General Alison Smale
to UN Special Rapporteur on
Freedom of Expression David
Kaye. There was an ascerbic
answer on October 30. Inner
City Press asked, "
October 30-2: On Sri Lanka,
please state the name of the
UN Resident Coordinator who
met the Parliament speaker
yesterday, and explain why the
UN Team website for country,
rather than having this name,
has Latin nonsense filler."
This was the only one of Inner
City Press' five new questions
on the day that Dujarric's
deputy Farhan Haq responded
to: "On question 30-2, RC
Hanaa Singer’s name is clearly
on the country team website."
But they still didn't fix the
"Our Team" site -they took
down the Latin (guilty
knowledge, mens rea) but now
it is simply blank. The RC is
Hanaa Singer, from Egypt, and
her Tweets gush about
Sirisena, nothing on the coup.
This is Guterres' "reformed"
UN system. Who might this UN
Special Envoy have been, if
Guterres had actually done
something? Previously the UN
sent Vijay Nambiar, who
participated in a murky way in
the White Flag killings. We'll
have more on this. In New
York, Giampaolo
Pioli
is the Chair of the 2018 UNCA
Awards honoring Antonio
Guterres, who has since
similarly sold out civilians
in Anglophone Cameroon, at
Cipriani's in a former bank on
42nd Street. The "insider"
tickets are $100 but for
corporations, including in the
past UN briber Ng Lap Seng,
much more. Now the new face of
UNCA Sherwin Bryce Pease is
trying to erase this history
with belated re-tweets of
Guterres' belated lame
comments on Sri Lanka, after
giving him and USG Alison
Smale their weak green light
to rough up and ban the Press
which asks about the slaughter
of the Tamils and Cameroon's
Anglophones and the UN's
failure. This is the UN
Censorship Alliance: not only
silent on but fully behind the
roughing
up and placing on a secret
permanently banned
from the UN list the Press
which asking about Sri Lanka,
Cameroon, and Guterres' use of
public funds and failure to
edit the UN bribery cases.
This has given rise to
question from the UN Special
Rapporteur on Freedom of
Expression David Kaye, here
- but nothing from this UNCA,
now the UN Censorship
Alliance. Their Executive
Committee members include but
are not limited to Valeria
Robecco, ANSA News Agency,
Melissa Kent,
CBC/Radio-Canada, Jianguo Ma,
Xinhua News Agency, Carole
Landry, Agence France Presse,
Seana Magee, Kyodo News, Nabil
Abi Saab, Al Hurra TV,
Michelle Nichols, Reuters,
Luke Vargas, Talk Media News
and Giampaolo Pioli,
Quotidiano Nazionale, etc.
We'll have more on this. Since
Inner City Press which has
covered the UN's failure on
Sri Lanka since 2008 has, only
under Guterres, been roughed
up and banned, despite a
dubious claim by Guterres'
Under Secretary General Alison
Smale to UNSR David Kaye that
e-mailed questions to
Spokesman Stephane Dujarric
would be answered, asked this
publicly:
"On Sri Lanka, question by
banned Inner City Press to
@AntonioGuterres
@StephDujarric that shouldn't
even have to be asked:
where is the UNSG statement on
coup & installation of war
crimes accusee Gotabaya
Rajapaksa as defense
minister?" From the UN,
nothing.
***
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