On S.
Sudan, ICP Asked
of Yambio
Double
Standard, UN
Says Up to
Staff If Stay
in Camp
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
August 6 --
The UN speaks
a lot about
how it has
opened its
camps in South
Sudan to
protect
civilians. But
recently when
Inner City
Press asked
about the UN
refusing to
allow
civilians
fleeing
fighting from
entering its
Yambio camp,
the UN first
said it didn't
know, then
tried to
explain the
refusal away,
see below. Now,
after more Inner
City Prss
question,
there is a
longer UN
answer. Video
here.
On August 6,
after Inner
City Press
asked again
about the
seeming double
standard in
Yambio --
national staff
staying in the
camp for
safety while
civilians except
it seems for
hotel guests
kept out --
Dujarric was
handed this:
UN
Spokesman
Dujarric:
"UNMISS tells
us that after
assessing the
security
situation and
engaging with
state
authorities,
no civilians
were admitted
to the
protection
into its base
in Yambio.
UNMISS’s Open
Gate policy is
implemented as
a last resort
when the
mission
believes that
civilians are
under imminent
threat. The
mission has
increased
patrols in
Yambio town
and its
surroundings
in an attempt
to restore a
sense of
safety and
security and
provide a
reassuring
presence. My
understanding
is that no one
from the
hotels were
let in. And I
do know, you
mention
national
staff,
national staff
have IDs. If
they need to
stay in the
camp and sleep
in their
offices,
that’s fine.
Inner City
Press: But
wouldn’t you
say that’s
kind of
inconsistent?
UN
Spokesman
Dujarric: No,
it’s not. I
think, UNMISS
has done a
tremendous
job, and
that’s
probably not
even a good
enough word,
in opening its
camps to more
than 100,000
people. As we
all know,
these
peacekeeping
camps were not
designed to
house this
number of
people. The
idea to open
up the gates
was really a
last resort,
if people are
under
imminent
threat. It’s a
hard call,
that a mission
obviously has
to do. They
made the call
in this
particular
incident.
Obviously if
national staff
feel, I’m not
aware that
national staff
were told they
had to stay in
the camp. If
national staff
feel they
would rather
stay in their
offices, no
one would kick
them out. No
one would kick
me out of my
office if I
don’t want to
go home...
Inner City
Press: Some
people see
this incident
as either a
shift in
policy by the
UN, or an over
deference to
the
government.
UN
Spokesman
Dujarric: I
don’t think
there’s been a
change in
policy. As
we’ve reported
in the last
month or so
here, there’s
often an
increase, an
uptick, in the
number of
civilians that
are allowed
into camps. So
I don’t think
there’s a
change in the
policy. The
Open Gate
policy is a
last resort.
Decision was
made in this
particular
case, but it’s
been
absolutely no
change in
policy. On the
press issue, I
think as I
said our
colleagues at
UNMISS are
very much
concerned over
the recent
closure of
media outlets
in South
Sudan, and
they reiterate
that a free,
diverse, and
independent
media is one
of the
cornerstones
of an
independent
society.
Inner
City Press: on
Yambio in
South Sudan,
in a follow-up
question to
yesterday,
Farhan gave an
answer that
seemed to
acknowledge
that civilians
were not
allowed in the
camp but
saying things
had calmed
down
now.
What I want to
ask is I’ve
since heard
two things,
one that
hotels in
Yambio were
closed during
this fighting
which people
are basically
saying was a
retaliatory
attack by
Government
forces on
civilians and
that the UN
did take in
hotel
residents into
the
camp.
And I’m also
told that
national staff
didn’t go home
and stayed
within the
camp. So
I wanted to
know, maybe
you will need
to ask them,
but how is
this
consistent, if
it’s safe
enough for
civilians not
to be let in
the camp, why
did the UN
keep its
national staff
inside the
camp and allow
in generally
more affluent
people from
visiting
Yambio into
the camp but
not those who
live there?
Spokesman:
I don’t know,
Matthew.
We can check
with the
mission.
Eight hours
later, there
was no answer.
But when asked
again at noon
on August 6,
Dujarric
read-out the
above..
Inner
City Press:
there are
these reports
of UNMISS in
South Sudan,
the Yambio
base, turning
away civilians
seeking
protection
inside the
base from
fighting
between the
Government and
rebels, and it
seems to be
true, because
UNMISS is
quoted as
saying that,
pursuant to
their mandate,
they informed
the Government
that it’s
their… it’s
their duty to
protect
people.
Spokesman
Dujarric:
I… I… I’m
happy… I’m
happy to
check.
What I do know
is that the UN
mission in
South Sudan is
currently
protecting
more than
100,000
civilians, but
I will check
on this
particular
case.
Inner City
Press:
Yeah.
And if you
can... explain
why they turn
them away.
Spokesman
Dujarric:
Have a
wonderful
time.
We’ll see you
at 1.
On
August 4,
Dujarric's
deputy Farhan
Haq returned
with this:
"We
were asked
yesterday
about the
situation in
Yambio, South
Sudan. The UN
Mission there
(UNMISS) says
that the
security
situation has
improved and
that the
majority of
the civilians
have returned
home. As you
know, opening
UNMISS
compounds to
civilians is
and will
remain a last
resort
measure.
"Right now,
the Mission is
protecting
civilians by
various means
to create
security
conditions for
a safer
environment.
These include
engaging with
local
authorities
and conducting
patrols.
UNMISS has
increased
patrols in an
attempt to
restore a
sense of
safety and
security in
Yambio by
patrolling day
and night and
providing a
reassuring
presence."
Apparently
this
circumlocution
is how the UN
acknowledges
that it did
not allow
civilians
fleeing
fighting from
entering its
camp.
This comes as
the UN has
proved unable
or unwilling
to provide any
accountability
for, much less
protect, an
aid worker in
its Bentiu
camp was was
allegedly
raped by an
employee of
UNICEF
contractor
Life for
Construction,
click here for
that.
Back
on July 1, UN
Secretary
General issued
a statement
condemning an
attack on the
UN's
Protection of
Civilians site
in Malakal,
specifically
asking for an
investigation
from Riek
Machar and
Johnson Olony.
But on July 8,
after UN
Peacekeeping
chief Herve
Ladsous
briefed the
Security
Council behind
closed doors
about South
Sudan, and
Inner City
Press asked
him about
Malakal when
he came out of
the Council,
Ladsous
refused to
answer. Periscope
video here for
now. (He
also refused
to answer if
the Central
African
Republic
sexual abuse
investigation
panel has
spoken with
him yet.)
So
when the
Security
Council's
president for
July Gerard
van Bohemen of
New Zealand
came to the
stakeout,
Inner City
Press asked
him if Malakal
and how the UN
can better
protect
civilians was
discussed. He
answered that
this was not
discussed in
the
consultation;
neither was
Riek Machar's
public
comments that
fighting will
continue as
long as Salva
Kiir, whose
term expires
on July 8,
remains in
power. Periscope
video here,
for now.
Inner
City Press Q:
On South
Sudan, as to
UNMIS, was
there a
discussion of
the incident
in Malakal
where an IDP
was killed?
And, Riek
Machar has
said he’ll
keep fighting
as long as
Salva Kiir
stays in
power, and
that Salva
Kiir's term
expires today,
July 8. Did
this come up?
A: Neither of
those specific
situations
have been
discussed
today.
How
could neither
of this -- the
Machar
comments and
especially the
killing at
Malakal and
how the UN
could do
better -- have
been raised by
or to Ladsous?
We'll be
seeking more
on this - and
on the CAR
sexual abuse
panel. Watch
this site.
Of
the UNSC
sancctions,
one of those
now
sanctioned,
without a
listed
passport, is
Peter Gadet,
regarding whom
Inner City
Press has
previously
asked the US
State
Department,
here. The
individual
WITH the
passport is
Marial
Chanuong Yol
Mangok,
Passport no.:
R00005943,
South Sudan.
Here's the
full list,
from US
Ambassador
Samantha
Power's July 1
statement:
"Today,
the Security
Council took
strong action
in support of
a peaceful end
to the
conflict in
South Sudan by
sanctioning
six South
Sudanese
individuals
for fueling
the ongoing
conflict and
contributing
to the
devastating
humanitarian
crisis in
their country.
Major-General
Marial
Chanuong Yol
Mangok;
Lieutenant-General
Gabriel Jok
Riak;
Major-General
Santino Deng
Wol;
Major-General
Simon Gatwech
Dual;
Major-General
James Koang
Chuol; and
Major-General
Peter Gadet
will now be
subject to a
global travel
ban and asset
freeze for
their
contributions
to a conflict
that has
left more than
6.5 million
people in need
of
humanitarian
assistance and
forced more
than 2 million
from their
homes."
Back on May
20, six days
after the UN's
envoy to South
Sudan Ellen
Loj spoke to
the Security
Council and to the
Press at the
Council
stakeout on
May 14, on
the evening of
May 20 the US
State
Department
issued a
statement
about violence
in South
Sudan:
"The
United States
condemns the
intensified
fighting and
violence in
Unity, Upper
Nile, and
Jonglei states
in South Sudan
by the Sudan
People’s
Liberation
Army, the
armed
opposition,
and forces led
by General
Johnson Olony
that have led
to massive new
developments
and had a
devastating
effect on
civilians.
We call on all
armed groups
to immediately
halt offensive
actions taken
in
contravention
of the January
2014 Cessation
of Hostilities
Agreement.
Violations
of
international
humanitarian
norms,
including the
outright
targeting of
civilians
already
vulnerable to
greater harm,
especially
women and
children, and
grave human
rights abuses
and violations
of
international
humanitarian
law by all
sides are
unacceptable.
The
international
community will
hold those who
perpetrate
such abuses
and violations
to account.
We call
on all sides
to silence the
guns
immediately,
permit the UN
Mission in
South Sudan to
investigate
the sites of
all alleged
human rights
abuses and
violations of
international
humanitarian
law, and allow
all
humanitarian
workers
immediate,
free and
unobstructed
access to
conflicted-affected
communities
regardless of
their
locations.
The
human, social,
and economic
costs of this
war have been
devastating
and the
long-suffering
people of
South Sudan
will also bear
the brunt of
the potential
long-term
consequences
of this
escalating
fighting.
Any damage to
South Sudan’s
oil
infrastructure
is an
additional
life-long
wound to the
people and
jeopardizes
South Sudan’s
development
and
rebuilding.
These
resources
belong to all
South Sudanese
people and the
needs of the
nation should
be prioritized
over the
violent
intentions of
a few.
We
will continue
to work for a
better future
for all South
Sudanese
citizens and
condemn those
that
intentionally
jeopardize
their
collective
future."
Inner City
Press on May
15 asked Loj
about the UN
Mission in
South Sudan
base in
Bentiu, and
more generally
about
proposals to
lift UN
immunity,
called Code
Blue, in the
wake of the
alleged rape
of children in
Central
African
Republic by
French
"peacekeepers"
in the
Sangaris
force,
allegedly
covered up by
French UN
Peacekeeping
chief Herve
Ladsous.
(While
the Security
Council, on
which France
has one of
five permanent
veto-wielding
seats, has
taken no
action on this
issue, the
General
Assembly's
Fifth (Budget)
Committee has
summoned Ban
Ki-moon's
chief of staff
to a close
door meeting,
as Inner City
Press first
reported.)
The Council's
statement
mentions for
example the
UNMISS camp at
Bentiu, but
none of the
issues raised
to and by Loj
at her May 14
stakeout and
May 15 press
conference. Video here.
Loj
acknowledged
that the new
Bentiu camp
she had
referred to
the day prior
was not yet
ready, and
that SPLA
intelligence
are sometimes
in front of
the existing
camp. She
again noted
camp
residents, not
only in Bentiu
but also in
Juba, cutting
the wires of
the fence.
Afterward, her
and one of
Ladsous'
spokespeople
said that
journalists
are free to
visit the
Bentui camp
(although
Inner City
Press and the
Free UN
Coalition for
Access have
heard
differently;
we hope to
have more on
this.)
Here is
the Security
Council's May
17 press
statement:
The following
Security
Council press
statement was
issued today
by Council
President
Raimonda
Murmokaité
(Lithuania):
On 14 May, the
members of the
Security
Council were
briefed by
Special
Representative
of the
Secretary-General
Ellen
Margrethe Lřj
on the
situation in
South Sudan.
The members of
the Security
Council
expressed
condemnation
at the renewed
and ongoing
large-scale
violence in
Unity State
caused by the
recent
Government of
South Sudan
offensive and
resulting in
the
displacement
of more than
100,000
civilians and
the suspension
of nearly all
activity and
delivery of
aid to
populations in
the affected
areas, over
300,000
civilians, by
humanitarian
agencies and
organizations.
The members of
the Security
Council
further
expressed
their
condemnation
of the
large-scale
attack
initiated on
15 May by the
SPLM/A (in
Opposition) on
the town of
Malakal, in
Upper Nile
State.
The members of
the Security
Council
underlined
their grave
concern that
as a result of
violence and
increased
insecurity
since the
beginning of
the conflict,
more than
50,000
internally
displaced
persons have
sought shelter
and assistance
at the United
Nations
Mission in
South Sudan
(UNMISS) camp
in Bentiu, and
an additional
nearly 25,000
at the UNMISS
camp in
Malakal, only
further
magnifying a
dire
humanitarian
crisis.
The members of
the Security
Council
condemned in
the strongest
terms the
repeated
violations of
the Cessation
of Hostilities
Agreement
accepted and
signed by the
Republic of
South Sudan
and the SPLM/A
(in
Opposition) on
23 January
2014, and
underscored
that there is
no military
solution to
this conflict
that has now
lasted more
than 17
months.
The members of
the Security
Council called
upon all
parties to
engage
meaningfully
in the peace
process so as
to bring about
a political
solution to
the crisis and
an end to the
conflict.
They
acknowledged
the IGAD-led
peace process
and urged
renewed
regional and
international
efforts to
swiftly
implement a
common plan
and to table a
reasonable and
comprehensive
solution to
end the crisis
in South
Sudan.
In this
context, they
reiterated
their
willingness to
impose
sanctions
against those
who threaten
the peace,
security, or
stability of
South Sudan as
established in
resolution
2206 (2015),
and noted the
24 March 2015
African Union
Peace and
Security
Council
Communiqué on
South Sudan
and the 12 May
2015 African
Union
Commission
Chairperson’s
Statement on
South Sudan in
this regard.
The members of
the Security
Council
reiterated
their full
support for
UNMISS
peacekeepers
and for the
vital mandate
they are
performing
under very
difficult
conditions,
including to
protect
civilians in
South
Sudan.
They demanded
that all
parties end
intimidation
and harassment
against UNMISS
and
humanitarian
personnel,
cease ongoing
restrictions
on freedom of
movement, and
allow UNMISS
to fully
implement its
mandate.
They further
demanded full
adherence to
the Status of
Forces
Agreement and
permission for
the deployment
of essential
assets and
enablers
currently
being blocked
by the
Government of
South
Sudan.
The members of
the Security
Council
underscored
the importance
of close
cooperation
and
communication
between UNMISS
and the
Government in
addressing
these issues.
The members of
the Security
Council
condemned, and
reiterated
their demand
for an
immediate end
to, all human
rights
violations and
abuses and
violations of
international
humanitarian
law.
They
reiterated
that those
responsible
for violations
of
international
humanitarian
law and
violations and
abuses of
human rights
must be held
accountable
and that the
Government of
South Sudan
bears the
primary
responsibility
to protect
civilians
within its
territory and
subject to its
jurisdiction,
including from
potential
crimes against
humanity and
war crimes.
The Security
Council
renewed its
calls for the
parties to the
conflict to
allow and
facilitate the
full, safe and
unhindered
access of
humanitarian
personnel,
equipment and
supplies to
all those in
need and
timely
delivery of
humanitarian
assistance in
accordance
with relevant
provisions of
international
law and United
Nations
guiding
principles of
humanitarian
assistance.
Loj said
that as a
former
diplomat she
did not favor
any blanket
lifting of
immunity. She
said she has
taken sexual
abuse
seriously,
then said she
is strict
about curfew.
One was left
wondering how
the UN will
reform itself,
if it ever
will.
Let's see how
you write this
up, Loj
genially said.
Well here it
is.
Loosely
transcribed by
Inner City
Press (video
here), Loj
replied on May
14
"Let
me say what
UNMIS has
undertaken in
collaboration
with IOM [the
International
Organization
for
Migration].
Primarily the
project is
primarily
financed by
the Dutch
government.
It’s actually
a new site for
the camp, on
higher ground
and with
better
drainage,
because the
Bentiu camp
was totally
flooded during
the last rainy
season. That
work is being
undertaken as
of this week.
We are hoping
to get it
finished…
As far as the
fence, the
problem with
the fence is
not that UNMIS
is not putting
up the fence.
It’s that even
if the fence
were there,
the problem
with the fence
is that the
IDPs
themselves
cross the
fence in
order to sneak
out...
Yes, we have
had troubles
with the
SPLA,
right outside
the gates, and
we have tried
to solve
it...We are
doing our
utmost to
ensure that
nobody enters
the camp with
weapons. We
are doing
regular
searches in
all camps …
for alcohol
and illegal
substances…"
She then said
that UNMISS
installed
lights, but
people break
them. There
was more to
ask, including
from great
reporters on
the bround.
Inner City
Press asked
for another
question but
was told no,
to ask on May
15. Watch this
site.
After
the May 14
stakeout, Loj
told a story
about UN staff
in Liberia
telling her
all about
Inner City
Press, which
after time she
associated
with her time
on the UN
Security
Council. She
has seen the
UN from that
position and
now two
countries.
, 
