On S
Sudan, ICP
Asks Why Media
Banned From UN
Camps, Spox
Says
Exceptional
By Matthew
Russell Lee,
Follow Up To
Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS, July
20 -- In the
UN's continued
withholding of
news and
answers about
South Sudan,
the reports of
the UN's own
knowledge of
abuses are now
being withheld
from its own
impacted
national
staff.
As Inner City
Press has
reported
including
leaks, the UN
on February 19
and April 16
ousted and
evicted
it, petition
here, and
on July 10
Inner City
Press was
ordered by Ban
Ki-moon's UN
Security to
leave the UN
Security
Council
stakeout while
other favored
correspondents
could stay.
This is
censorship.
Below
is another
internal UN
system
document
leaked to
Inner City
Press,
including on
harassment of
UN staff by
the Salva Kiir
government,
backlash
against Ban
Ki-moon's
proposals
covered up by
the UN in its
public
statements
(Inner City
Press asked
the UN about
it, below).
And also below
was the US'
warning for
July 20, the
demonstration
which
featured,
among other
things, the
old post of
the UN's last
SRSG packing
heat.
On July 20,
Inner City
Press asked
the UN about
journalists'
open letter to
Ban Ki-moon to
end his
mission's
banning of
media from the
UN camps. Video here.
Inner City
Press: an open
letter to Ban
Ki-moon, in
South Sudan a
number, almost
all media
organizations
have written
an open letter
to Ban Ki-moon
urging that
after a week
of being ban
from entering
that they be
allowed to
access and
report on the
protection of
civilian sites
and UN House
in Tomping say
that there is
no basis for
keeping them
out, that they
are unable to
report, so
they have
asked him
directly in
this open
letter that
I'm staring at
to change the
policy and
allow them
access.
What is the
overall policy
of the UN and
why hasn't it
been
implemented,
if it is what
I think it is,
in this case?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, I'll
check. I
mean, as you
know, we've
had security
concerns about
the various
sites,
including
Tomping, given
the events of
last time, so
there has been
a need to make
sure that the
populations
that we're
caring for in
those areas
will be
protected.
Beyond that I
will check if
there is
anything.
Inner City
Press:
Sure.
Even in other
circumstances
the UN sees
the benefit of
having a
reporting of
even the
dangerous
situations.
They know that
it's
dangerous.
They want a
report on it.
Deputy
Spokesman:
Certainly.
And we try to
open up sites
as quickly as
we can, but we
try to do that
with respect
for the
security
concerns; and,
as you know,
the last week
and a half has
been a fairly
exceptional
circumstance
in that
regard.
"U.S. Embassy
Juba, South
Sudan,
Security
Message for
U.S. Citizens:
Demonstration
in Juba on
July 20
The government
of South Sudan
has announced
that it is
sponsoring
ademonstration
against the
IGAD-proposed
and
AU-endorsed
increase of
UNMISS troops
to Juba.
The protest is
scheduled to
take place in
Juba on
Wednesday
morning, July
20, beginning
at SPLM House
and moving to
the John
Garang
Memorial.
U.S. Citizens
are advised to
avoid the
areas in which
the
demonstration
will take
place. Even
demonstrations
intended to be
peaceful can
turn
confrontational
and escalate
into
violence."
Here's recent
UN document,
and what Inner
City Press
asked UN about
it:
"The fighting
might reignite
despite a
ceasefire.
Troops are
moving in
Malakal,
Nassir, Bor
and Unity.
A
recommendation
has been made
to relocate
all UN Staff
currently in
Juba to the UN
House Compound
of the UNMISS
Compound,
Tomping -
action was
taken by FAO
already.
There have
been
demonstrations
by the Dinka
against the
arrival of
additional
International
troops today,
18 July 2016.
UNMISS
incoming
passengers
have been
facing
difficulties
with local
authorities at
the airport in
Juba. The
president of
South Sudan
has instructed
the local
authorities
not to allow
foreign
soldiers into
South Sudan.
UNMISS
soldiers are
considered
foreign. The
Special
Representative
of the
Secretary-General
(SRSG) for
South Sudan is
trying to work
out a solution
with the
Ministry of
Foreign
Affairs and
the Ministry
of Interior.
3300 IDPs are
currently in
the UNMISS
compound –
Tomping, Juba,
however they
will be
transferred to
the Protection
of Civilians
(POC) area.
The Ugandan
military
convoy is
escorting
Ugandans that
were trapped
in the
capital, Juba
during the
heavy fighting
out of South
Sudan.
The IGAD
summit in
Rwanda and New
York propose
to fortify the
UN Mission in
South Sudan
and the
strengthening
of Civilian
Protection.
This may
however
increase the
animosity
against the
United
Nations.
Thirty percent
of the shops
in Juba are
open, however
most shops
managed by
foreigners
closed. There
is a shortage
of food, water
and fuel in
Juba and the
border to
Uganda is
closed.
Looting of
NGO’s inside
and outside of
Juba is
ongoing - this
may continue
for a period
of time.
All program
criticality
level 1 and 2
staff
currently
outside Juba
must be
cleared for
travel by the
Designated
Official
before
proceeding to
Juba. It
remains the
responsibility
of Agency
Security Focal
Points and
Security
Officers, and
UNMISS heads
of sections to
seek security
clearance for
this travel
from the Chief
Security
Officer.There
is an outbreak
of cholera in
Juba town,
Tomping and
Duk."
On July 19,
Iner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq,
UN Transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: I've
seen a UN memo
which links
these
hindrances
with orders by
Salva Kiir to
oppose any
foreign troops
coming
in. Says
that… that
UNMISS is
viewed as
foreign
troops, and
that the
level… that
there's an
anticipation
that the level
of animosity
will increase,
given the
Secretary-General's
call for
troops and an
arms
embargo.
So I wanted
to, I guess,
get you to
say… do you…
this is what
the memo says,
but are you
willing to say
that there's…
there's a
connection,
that this is a
pattern of
harassment
based on the
Secretary-General's
proposals, and
how do you…
how do you
propose to
protect staff
from this
harassment or
respond to it?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, I
wouldn't link
it to the
Secretary-General's
proposals.
Our basic
point is that
there has been
increased
harassment of
personnel.
There have
been increased
levels of
obstructions.
There have
been increased
denials.
Those are all
clear, and
those cannot
and must not
be allowed to
stand.
We have to be
able to go
about our work
with… without
any sort of
hindrance like
that.
Regarding why
there's a…
different
types of
harassment
from the
population, I
wouldn't
conjecture
what the
reasoning
is. I do
believe that
if there's any
coordinated
effort to
obstruct our
work, that has
to be halted
immediately.
Inner City
Press:
Right.
This memo also
says that the
Special
Representative,
I guess Ms.
[Ellen
Margrethe]
Lřj, is trying
to work out a
solution with
the Ministry
of Foreign
Affairs and
the Ministry
of
Interior.
Is that… is it
fair to say
that she's
trying to… is…
is it… is it
simply to… to
ensure free
movement of UN
staff, or is
it to actually
get permission
to bring in
the troops
that have been
voted on by
the African
Union?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, in terms
of the
permission and
consent for
troops, that
is ultimately…
this is
something also
that is being
considered by
the Security
Council, and
we'll leave
some of this
in their
hands.
As you know,
the Council is
considering
the matter,
and we're not
getting in
advance of
that. But
regarding Ms.
Lřj's
discussions,
of course she
is in regular
touch with the
authorities in
South Sudan to
make sure that
we can go
about our work
without any
hindrance.
Inner City
Press:
And I just
wanted to ask
one… and
thanks for the
statement on
Alfred
Taban.
There's this
other
journalist in
South Sudan,
George Livio,
who's been now
in prison for
a year.
And he's an
employee of
the UN's radio
station
there.
And I wanted
to know, and
some people
there want to
know, has
UNMISS made a
similar
call?
What progress
has been made
in terms of
getting Mr.
George Livio
freed?
Deputy
Spokesman:
We continue to
work on all of
these
issues.
Throughout the
situation in
South Sudan,
we've been
trying to make
sure that
freedom of
expression and
freedom of the
media is
upheld, and
our Human
Rights Office
does monitor
and
investigate
all of these
cases.
After Ban
Ki-moon's
unsuccessful,
some say
self-serving
whistlestop
African tour,
Uganda's
Yoweri
Museveni has
said no way to
any arms
embargo. Wires
like Reuters,
quick to
regurgitate in
other
instances the
economics of
arms sales,
didn't do so
here. But here is a document
Inner City
Press has
obtained, of
South Sudan's
Paul Malong
asking
Museveni's
UPDF for end
user
certificates
on weapons.
We'll have
more on this.
Below is UN's
internal
communication,
signed off on
by the head of
the UN
Department of
Safety and
Security Peter
Drennan.
(UNMISS' Ellen
Loj said on
July 13 to
Inner City
Press, You get
everything as
related to
DSS, Vine
here.)
Now from
within UN DSS,
leaked
exclusively to
Inner City
Press, comes
this: "On 15
July in Juba
on two
occasions
during the day
on the Yei
Road, INGO
vehicles
moving to UN
House PoC 1
and PoC 3 were
stopped by
SPLA.
The occupants
were
reportedly
questioned
aggressively
on a number of
matters before
being allowed
to proceed."
And this: "On
14 July at
about 16:00
hours in
Malakal a
private truck
contracted to
IOM was
stopped by a
group of IDPs
within the
PoC. The
driveSen
McCain and Rep
Bass, those
trapped were
saved. No
thanks to the
UN, we'll have
more on this.
UN leak to
Inner City
Press:
"Exchange of
heavy gunfire
outside the UN
house, at
about 300
meter north of
the main gate
started in the
early hours of
10 July 2016.
Few rounds of
mortar shells
landed close
to POC 1 and
inside the UN
house. IDPs in
large numbers
subsequently
began to seek
refuge inside
the UN house.
Heavy fighting
continued
throughout the
day including
movement of
towed
artillery,
tanks and
troops. Heavy
fire was
observed on
the hill
north-east of
the main
gate.
Fighting
intensified in
the afternoon
near POC-3.
Heavy and
concentrated
mortar rounds
in the
immediate
vicinity of
the UN house
resulted in
the SPLA IO
troops
concentrating
around POC-1
western gate.
The UN Tomping
compound area
also witnessed
build-up of
heavily armed
SPLA soldiers
who took up
positions and
fired bursts
of small arms
weapon.
Multiple
instances of
bursts of
rapid small
arms fire
followed by
heavy weapons
and mortar
were heard
around the
Tomping area
all thought
the day. A
large number
IDPs and
civilians
sought refuge
inside UN
compound in
Tomping. The
western gate
of Tomping was
affected by
heavy fire.
Heavy fighting
resumed this
morning 11
July 2016, at
about 08:50
hours in most
parts of the
city. UN house
and Tomping
compound
witnessed
intensified
heavy
bombardment
with the use
of mortar,
tanks,
artillery and
fires from
helicopter
gunships.
Other areas
that witnessed
armed activity
where within
close
proximity of
WFP, UNICEF,
IOM and UNDP
residential
compounds.
Please see the
attached
Communiqué
electronically
approved by
Mr. Peter
Drennan,
Under-Secretary-General,
Department of
Safety and
Security dated
10 July 2016
for your
information.
The text in
the document
reads as
follows:
1.
In view of the
prevailing
security
situation in
Juba, the
Designated
Official for
South Sudan,
in
consultation
with the
Crisis
Management
Team, has
recommended
the temporary
suspension of
all incoming
and outgoing
official
travel of
UNSMS
personnel to
and from Juba
until further
notice, with
exceptions to
be decided by
the Designated
Official.
2.
I endorse the
above
recommendation
and request
UNSMS
organizations
to comply.
Should any
mission be
deemed of
critical
importance,
advance
coordination
with the
Designated
Official
should take
place for
consideration
and approval.
The security
situation is
continuously
monitored, and
once
permissible,
the suspension
will be
reviewed."
Previously
leaked to
Inner City
Press on early
on July 10:
two fatalities
in UN
"Protection of
Civilians"
camp 3, seven
Chinese
peacekeeper
injured, three
to four
critically.
And the role
of Paul
Malong, see
below.
After more
than three
hours of
meeting, on
July 10 the UN
Security
Council
members
emerged. US
Samantha Power
spoke briefly,
about getting
more troops
from regional
countries.
Inner City
Press then
asked the
Council's
president for
July, Koro
Bessho of
Japan, if an
arms embargo
had been
discussed - no
- and which
countries are
being looked
to. He said he
would not name
names. Video
here.
Belatedly
reaching the
US Security
Council
stakeout on
July 10, Inner
City Press
asked French
Ambassador
Francois
Delattre about
the injured
peacekeepers -
nothing --
then asked US
Ambassador
Samantha Power
about the role
of Paul
Malong, should
he be
sanctioned?
Again,
nothing. After
6 pm, Inner
City Press
asked Angola's
Ambassador
about the use
of attack
helicopters;
he said heavy
weapons
shouldn't be
used.
The head of UN
Peacekeeping
Herve Ladsous,
who should
know or quit,
said he
couldn't give
any casualty
figures. Inner
City Press
asked about
the seven
Chinese
peackeepers
seriously
injured it
reported hours
earlier;
Ladsous said
two more,
beyond the
Chinese. Inner
City Press
asked if his
DPKO has dealt
with Paul
Malong. No
answer. Video
here.
Some say the
US has been
too quiet,
even as
aircraft are
prepared in
Djibouti for
an evacuation.
From US
sources,
citing a "hero
from
Benghazi,"
comes word of
US personnel
"trapped" in
Juba, amid
ambushes and
NSA Susan Rice
set to meet
with South
Sudanese
diaspora / in
exile,
including
Pagan Amum as
well as
Bakosoro, see
below.
US officials
Donald Booth
and Susan Page
have been
informed of
SPLA-IO
reinforcements
on their way
and the role
of Paul
Malong, with
Ugandan
backing.
Meanwhile
officials of
the UN, which
has helped in
the cover up,
blithely
tweet "shame
on their
leaders"
-- are they
aware of
Malong?
Now as some of
those fleeing
are forced to
climb over the
UN's closed
gates, with
helicopters
with links to
Uganda's UPDF
over Juba,
here was the initial
memo Inner
City Press
exclusively
published:
“JUBA Nearly
150 soldiers
are reported
dead from
Friday's clash
between South
Sudan's rival
forces loyal
to President
Salva Kiir and
those loyal
to the
First Vice
President Riek
Machar.
The heavy
fighting
occurred on
Friday near
J1, the
Presidential
Palace,
between troops
of the South
Sudanese army
(SPLA) and
protection
unit of the
First Vice
President,
Machar, of the
SPLA in
Opposition.
35 of the
SPLA-IO
soldiers lying
dead and over
80 died from
the SPLA’s
side.
All the
bodyguards of
the First Vice
President who
were deployed
on the street
outside J1
were killed,
said a senior
SPLA officer.
A huge force
came from
nowhere and
joined up with
President
Kiir’s tiger
force and
opened fire on
Machar’s
bodyguards
deployed
outside the
Palace for
protection."
On
July 8 amid
the surge in
violence in
South Sudan,
the UN
Ambassador of
Lithuania,
until recently
on the UN
Security
Council,
tweeted on
Friday that
the Council
would meet
that afternoon
about the
crisis.
But when
ICP asked the
month's
President of
the Council,
Koro Bessho of
Japan, he said
there would be
no Security
Council
meeting that
afternoon. The
Lithuania
ambassador
deleted the
tweet; the
UNTV crew took
down their
camera. This
as, for
example, World
Vision went on
lock-down in
Juba. Ban
Ki-moon, in
China, issued
a canned
statement -
this as his spokesman
refuses Press
questions
about South
Sudan, calling
them "too
granular."
On July 7,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
it, video
here,UN Transcript
here.
Dujarric
refused an
answer,
calling it
"too
granular."
The UN
Department of
Safety and
Security
situation
report covers
up what other
sources say
was the
targeted
assassination
of an SPLA-IO
soldier:
3.
Crime –
Shooting:
On 05 July at
about 10:30
hours in Juba,
UN military
personnel on
patrol
reported a
shooting
incident near
the NISS HQ on
Jebel
Road.
The report
indicated that
an SPLA
soldier who
appeared to
have been shot
was taken away
from the scene
by other Host
Government
security
personnel. The
body of a
deceased SPLA
–IO was
reportedly
later
discovered in
the same
general area.
It could
however not be
ascertained if
this was the
same person
earlier taken
away by HG
security
personnel
neither could
it be
confirmed if
the cause of
death
was as a
result of
gunshots.
On June 21, UN
DSS issued and
Inner City
Press has
obtained and
exclusively
publishes the
below advisory
about South
Sudan - well,
Juba - which
contrasts to
DSS officials'
behavior, for
example in New
York where on
February 19
they pushed
Inner City
Press into the
street
(apparently
ordered to do
so by DPI's
Cristina
Gallach), on
March 10 ordered
it out of the
UN
contrary to
published
rules, and
since then
have harassed
the Press even
when it has a
minder.
, 
