Inner City Press: Investigative Reporting from the United Nations

On Sudan, UN Ban Admits Limits on Peacekeepers, Gambari Summoned, Change Pledged

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, September 9 -- In Darfur a week ago, UN Peacekeepers refused a request by the relatives of those killed and injured by janjaweed in the Tabarat Market to go to the location and try to protect those injured.

Inner City Press obtained and published an internal document of the joint UN-African Union Mission in Darfur, UNAMID, which said that approval had to be sought before the peacekeepers could go even to a site where injured people were dying.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon held a brief media availability on September 9, and Inner City Press asked him about the Tarabat Market killings, the restrictions on movement on UNAMID, and the failure of the other UN Mission in Sudan, UNMIS, to view the body of killed Darfuri student Mohamed Musa when they were told of his death on February 12 of this year.

Mr. Ban acknowledged problems in obtaining the “support” of the Sudanese government, and said that he summoned UNAMID chief Ibrahim Gambari to his recent retreat in Austria to discuss these and other problems. The Justice and Equality Movement rebels in Darfur have demanded Gambari's resignation for failure to protect civilians.

While Ban's candor was surprising to some, to characterize the UN's decision to await approvals before endeavoring to protect civilians as a problem of “administrative support” from the Sudanese authorities misses the point.

A billion dollars are being spent on each mission, UNAMID and UNMIS. They have armed peacekeepers, armored personnel carriers, and helicopters which they have allowed Sudan to block them from using.

Since these restrictions violate the status of forces agreements the UN has with Sudan, it is unclear why the UN -- or mission chiefs Gambari and Haile Menkerios -- accept the restrictions.

Both went to the inauguration of Omar Al Bashir, indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and genocide. Menkerios, the UN has admitted to Inner City Press, simply wants to return to New York in a year's time. He rarely speaks to the press in Sudan. He doesn't want to rock the boat.

Here is the UN's transcript of Inner City Press' questions and Mr. Ban's responses, video here --

Inner City Press: It turns out that, despite the protection of civilians mandate of UNAMID, that in several recent instances, peacekeepers have been telling relatives of victims that they need to get approval before they can leave their bases to go out. Most recently it was at the Tabarat market in Jebel Marra. They told them that they had to get approval before they could go. By the time they went, some people who had been injured were in fact dead. So what I am wondering is, what is the policy of the UN in terms of seeking approval from the Government? There is also a case in Khartoum in which a dead Darfuri student that was allegedly tortured, UNMIS (UN Mission in Sudan) was unable to get access to his body until it was too late. So, what is the policy of the UN in terms of its freedom of movement to protect civilians in Sudan?

SG Ban Ki-moon: In some cases it is true that there was some difficulty in getting smooth administrative support from the Government of Sudan. That has been the subject of continuous consultation with the Sudanese Government. During my visit to Austria last week I called in Mr. [Ibrahim] Gambari to Vienna, and I got a briefing on the situation and how we can ensure a smoother and more effective coordination and support from the Sudanese Government. We are aware of such problems and we will continue to improve the situation.

Inner City Press: Does it violate the Status of Forces Agreement, that the UN hasn’t been to parts of Jebel Marra since February? That is what John Holmes said before he left, that there are whole regions of Darfur they haven’t been able to reach.

SG Ban Ki-moon: There is a Status of [Forces] Agreement, of course. They should be faithful to provide the necessary support and cooperation. In reality, when we are not able to get such support, it really constrains the movement of our people and peacekeepers. We will do our best to improve this situation.

Watch this site.

UN's Ban and Bashir shake hands, protection of civilians not shown

Here is the UNAMID document obtained by Inner City Press:

“At about 1800hrs on 02 Sep 2010, UNAMID Police Advisors received unconfirmed information from locals in Tawilla IDP camp that unidentified armed men attacked Tabarat Market near Maral village about 28kms southwest of Tawilla, where about 30 people were killed and more than 70 others were injured.

“The information was received by the PF Force Commander Major Aimable Rukondo from relatives of victims in Tawilla IDP camp. At about 2030hrs, people from the Tawilla IDP camp gathered near the gate of Tawilla UNAMID Base requesting for assistance to evacuate their relatives who were in Tabarat market. The PF Commander together with the Acting Team Site Commander advised the relatives that prior approval from El Fasher Headquarters is needed before proceeding to the place and with that they were advised to be back to Tawilla Base tomorrow morning for possible medical evacuation movement to Tabarat market once it has been approved by the higher Headquarters.”

Here's from the UN transcript of its September 7 noon briefing; the September 8 is online here.

Inner City Press: There’s also, and I’m sure African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) is aware of this, reports that UNAMID said they confirmed some of, of up to 37 people killed in a village, in a market — Tabarat Market near the town of Tawilla — that said that the United Nations peacekeepers were told of the attack and said that they could not go to pick up even the wounded until they got approval from Al-Fasher. What I want to know is whether, how long it took them to respond and whether this approval included approval from the Government in Khartoum and if so, whether if any of the people expired there of their injuries might have been saved had the United Nations actually gone to protect civilians?

Spokesperson Haq: Well, first of all, this process of approval is a standard procedural process. But in terms of the details, on 4 September a UNAMID patrol gained access to the Tabarat area. It observed that Tabarat was practically deserted and reported the presence of Government police in the area. Today, 7 September, a UNAMID mission travelled to Tawilla to further assess the impact of the violence. UNAMID has made efforts to assist in evacuating some of the injured victims by air to Al-Fasher. In terms of our estimated casualties, the Tabarat incident left more that 50 people dead and a large number injured.

Inner City Press: Tawilla, to my understanding there’s a Peacekeeping unit there… that there are peacekeepers stationed there. Is that true? So did UNAMID sort of buttress its presence there and why weren’t those people able to go after they were told by relatives of those injured that this attack had taken place in the market?

Spokesperson: I think I have some further details for you for afterwards, but basically in terms of the ability to gain access, as soon as we gained access, that was on the 4 September, a UNAMID patrol did go into the area. The difficulty is in dealing with access to areas on the ground.

Inner City Press: Just one last… that means that… somebody there gave me a copy of a United Nations document showing that the relatives of the deceased or the injured had approached the UN peacekeepers of Tawilla and were told “we can’t go there tonight. We have to come back tomorrow because we need approval from Al-Fasher.” And I’m just wondering, how does the approval process work? Is it as simple as calling UNAMID in Al-Fashir and they say yes you can go out, or does it involve reaching the Government if their offices are closed or not and how does it…

Spokesperson: It varies from case to case, but ultimately it depends on dealing with authority on the ground to make sure that approval is in place for our deployment.

* * * *

In Darfur, As UN Is Blocked from Tabarat Killing Site, It Claims It Resists Sudan Restrictions

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 8 -- While in Sudan the UN claims to be “insisting” on its rights to free movement under its agreements with the government, in practice the UN refuses to go out to sites where civilians have been killed without first receiving government approval, it has emerged.

The most recent case in point is the Tabarat Market in North Darfur, where more then 50 people were killed earlier this month. As Inner City Press documented with internal UN documents, the UN peacekeepers nearby at Tawilla told relatives of those killed and injured that they could not go to the site without approval from El Fashir, and it now appears clear, from Sudanese authorities.

On September 7, UN acting Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq told Inner City Press that “this process of approval is a standard procedural process.” Since the Security Council has given the UN Mission, UNAMID, a mandate of protecting civilians, for Haq to call awaiting approval to offer protection “standard” seemed strange.

Later on September 7, Inner City Press asked UN Peacekeeping deputy chief Atul Khare about the restrictions which Haq had called standard. Khare intoned that such restrictions would be in violation of the UN's agreements with the government of Sudan.

However, UNAMID has said that “[o]n 7 September, a UNAMID on its way from El Fasher to Tarabat was stopped by a Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) convoy and were informed by the commanding officer not to return before two days.”

The UN accepting this restriction seems to contradict what Atul Khare said on September 7, video here.

It also seems to contract what Haq told Inner City Press, that “on 7 September, a UNAMID mission traveled to Tawilla to further assess the impact of the violence.” Rather, UNAMID describes a convoy from El Fashir to Tabarat being stopped and not allow to proceed.

Inner City Press asked Haq on September 8 to explain these contradictions, to state what the UN's actual policy is about awaiting approvals to move and accepting restrictions on movement. Haq simply re-read what he had said the previous day. Video here, from Minute 10:28

Despite the document obtained and published by Inner City Press about the September 2 to 4 delay, and UNAMID's admission of being blocked on September 7, Haq claimed that “we do not require approval.” He went on to say that “different parties inform us of actions, combats, which affect our movements.”

But the delay from September 2 to 4 was not based on any communication of danger by the government, rather on a policy of not moving out from a UN base like Tawilla, even to a site of killing of civilians like the Tabarat Market, without approvals from El Fashir and, it's clear, the government of Sudan.

Inner City Press asked Haq to explain the delay announced by the UN peacekeeping “people at Tawilla” on September 2.

“I don't speak for the Tawilla people,” Haq said, refusing to take any more questions on the matter.

Sources in Sudan tell Inner City Press that it is well known that the UN accepts restrictions on its movement. In fact, even the UN's John Holmes, before he left, said that the UN has since February accepted a restriction on any movement to Jebel Marra.

According to Khare, this violates the UN's rights to movement under its agreements with the government. Why dissemble about it? Where is the Security Council, and members like the U.S. -- silent so far on this -- the UK and France -- on this? Watch this site.

UN's Ban and Sudan's Bashir, restrictions on movement and bleed-outs not shown

* * *

On Darfur, UN Admits 50 Dead in Tabarat, Khare Says Sudan Shouldn't Restrict Movement

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, September 7 -- The killings in Darfur were described to the UN Security Council late on Tuesday, by UN Peacekeeping deputy Atul Khare. Afterwards Inner City Press asked first US Ambassador Susan Rice, then Khare, about the killings, and restrictions on the UN's ability to protect civilians in Darfur.

Khare repeated, even read from, the notes read out earlier on Tuesday by acting Deputy UN Spokesman Farhan Haq in response to Inner City Press' questions. The UNAMID mission, he said, was able to get to the Tabarat Market on September 4 and found it almost empty. It went back on September 7 and now estimates that 50 people were killed.

But what, Inner City Press asked, about the document it obtained showing that UNAMID peacekeepers initially declined to go to Tabarat, saying they needed approval from El Fashir and, it seems, Khartoum?

Khare said that would be a restriction on the movement of UNAMID, and therefore impermissible. Video here.

But earlier Haq said that such approvals were “the normal procedure.” Video here, from Minute 10:21. Which is it?

Khare in the Council, "normal" restrictions on UNAMID not shown

Susan Rice, surprisingly to some, deferred to Khare. Video here. Equally surprising, it was France and not the U.S. which requested the Darfur briefing. While some say that it is Scott Gration minimizing the upsurge in killings in Darfur, of late the US Mission to the UN is hardly leading on the issue. The rapes in Congo are terrible, but the US Mission should be able to lead on more than one issue at once, shouldn't it? Watch this site.

Khare said that in the IDP camp in West Darfur, nine people were killed, and more injured. Those who are followers of Abdul Wahid Nour did not accept transport to Zalingei, fearing for their lives -- or fearing being turned over by UNAMID to the government. They were treated in the camp. Inner City Press asked Khare to respond to JEM's request that the UN's (and African Union's) Ibrahim Gambari resign, for failure to protect civilians. Khare declined to answer. But afterward, outside on First Avenue, he promised that he and his staff will be a font of answers. We look forward to it.

Update of 8:40 pm -- from the US Mission transcript:

Inner City Press: we understand that France called for some kind of consultation at the end on Darfur and the killings. Can you say what information was transmitted and the what the US thinks of the events in Zalingei Camp and also in Jebel Marra where the janjaweed apparently killed 50 people over the weekend?

Ambassador Rice: Well, we just heard a brief summary of what information is available to the Secretariat on the violence that occurred over the last several days in Darfur. Obviously we are gravely concerned about it, we are awaiting further information and so there is still much that is unknown. I will let Assistant Secretary General Khare, since he is here, give you any more detail.

* * *

As Darfuris Lay Dying, UN Leak Shows Failure to Respond, Stonewalling, UNSC Soon?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 4 -- Proof of UN inaction on slaughter in Darfur, received today by Inner City Press, is matched by silence from the UN, in Sudan and at the level of UN Spokesperson.

Amid reports of dozens killed by janjaweed in the North Darfur village of Tabra, Inner City Press on the morning of September 4 sent questions to the spokesman for the joint UN - African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Chris Cycmanick, as well as to the spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Martin Nesirky, and the spokeswoman for UNAMID chief Ibrahim Gambari.

Nesirky replied that UN was “aware of the reports [and] checking further.” Eight hours later, however, no further information was provided. Cycmanick never responded, but was quoted by CNN that “men on horses and camels slaughtered 37 and left 30 injured at a market elsewhere in Darfur... it was unclear who was responsible for that attack.”

Well, one reason the UN could claim a lack of knowledge of killing of dozens of people in the Tabarat Market in Tabra was that the UN peacekeepers told family members of those killed and wounded -- some of whom later died -- that they could not go to the site of the attack, until approval from El Fasher and ultimately from the Sudanese authorities.

Inner City Press has now obtained the following account from inside UNAMID:

UN's Ban in North Darfur, delay and failure to respond not shown

While the above only refers to need approval from Al Fashir, that could be obtained quickly. But the background here is the UN's accepting of the need to get Sudanese authorities' approval to move, even in cases of medical emergency.

Not only is this inconsistent with UNAMID's protection of civilians mandate -- it also calls into question the UNAMID spokesman's statements (and refusals to answer media requests), and Ban Ki-moon's spokesman's ostensible inability to provide information about the UN's actions.

What will Ban Ki-moon, and the UN Security Council, do? Watch this site.

These reports are usually also available through Google News and on Lexis-Nexis.

Click here for a Reuters AlertNet piece by this correspondent about Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army. Click here for an earlier Reuters AlertNet piece about the Somali National Reconciliation Congress, and the UN's $200,000 contribution from an undefined trust fund. Video Analysis here

Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.

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