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UN GATE, August 24 – How corrupt and unaccountable is today's United Nations?

 Well, in November 2020 Inner City Press went to attend and report on a UN Dispute Tribunal proceeding about a case of sexual harassment in the UN, a proceeding which was announced as open to the public, as US court cases are. 

 But when Inner City Press signed in and gave its name, it was excluded. Later, when it obtained and published evidence presented in the case, a UN Dispute Tribunal judge ordered it to destroy the evidence or be banned from all future proceedings. 

 This while UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres falsely claims to have zero tolerance for sexual harassment and abuse, while himself banning Inner City Press from UN briefings now for 1249 days.

  Now on August 24, Inner City Press - without any recording of which it was baselessly accused after UN sex abuse evidence was leaked to it by UN staff disgusted with Guterres' cover ups - live tweeted another UNDT proceeding from Nairobi, about collusion with the Ethiopian government, here:

now a case in UN kangaroo court in Nairobi. UNDP Country Director Samuel Bwalya is charged with conspiring with minister of Ethiopia goverment.

Bwalya's "lawyer" Edwin had his cross examination cut off by UNDP representative Esther Shamash. Then he was cut off altogether.

 Bwalya's "lawyer" is back. UN "judge" Rachel Sikwese immediately rules to exclude evidence, and questioning, in this case about UN colluding with Ethiopia government / Minister.  Now on next question, UNDP's Shamash objects. And the document is out.

The witness, who is being protected by UNDP's rep and it seems the judge, seems to be named Helina Tadisse. But that camera is not on. Unclear how any finder of fact would make a judgment about credibility.

 Balwya's lawyer: So the Minister was very happy with the UN's work? Witness: He was satisfied, yes.  Balwya's lawyer: In processing the procurement contract- Witness: I don't recall. I don't remember. Balwya's lawyer: You don't remember. UNDP: Asked and answered!

 Balwya's lawyer: If we can go into the report, I will conclude. Judge: We are waiting. UNDP "counsel" - These matters are not before the tribunal. [Inner City Press: Like UN claims its giving of Uighur names to China is not in case of  Emma Reilly

 Bwalya's lawyer: Did you provide that to the ATA? Witness: I may have, I don't remember. Bwalya's lawyer: That doesn't help me much. UNDP's "counsel" - I'm being blindsided. [Reference to a bundle that is apparently not public.]

Now Judge lets UNDP "lawyer," who reps UNSG  @AntonioGuterres , run the table. Guterres has had Inner City Press banned from UN briefing for 1249 days - and  @UN_Spokesperson  doesn't answer it questions, or Quinn Emanuel letter, video here.

  On evidenc destruction-gate, banned Inner City Press' timely appeal has been "deferred" from Guterres' kangaroo Appeals Tribunal, until October 2022 at least, while his Melissa Fleming refuses to answer even a major US law firm - this is impunity, see below.

Now this UN report complains, "15. During the reporting period, the holding of public hearings remotely raised its own set of difficulties. The registries experienced difficulties in controlling the access to the virtual public gallery, which is not problematic in the physical courtroom. It is also more difficult to control whether the public abide by the Tribunal’s instructions, in particular the prohibition of recording the hearing." No, UN staff disgusted with Guterres' cover ups leak.

The deferral: "The June 2021 Synopsis file of UNAT judgments was published.  They heard only 32 appeals, and the last appeal number heard in the session was 1468. So Inner City Press'  appeal number 1502 won't be considered at a minimum until the late October 2021 session.    The current estimated time from submitting an appeal to being considered is almost one year.   Speedy justice?  The Guterres Administration knows and exploits this.  A typical UNDT case takes at least 18 months and then the appeals process takes at least a year.   Hence why the Administration appeal every successful UNDT judgement by a staff member, it costs them nothing, while it costs the staff member plenty, as well as delaying any justice they may end up getting, which is usually little. Guterres' UN is corrupt - and cannot be allowed to continue banning the Press which reported on it.

  In the case Inner City Press was ordered to destroy evidence of who-done-it, even the UNDT has found Padula guilty - but has insisted that he be anonymized, that is, covered up for. The shameful order is here, and recites for example that the person - Padula - covered up for

.“grabbed [AA’s] face, held her closely, leaned forward and attempted to kiss her”; b. “when [AA] resisted [the Applicant] kissing her, [he] forced [AA’s] head down and kissed her on the forehead”;  c. “grabbed [BB’s] face, held her closely, leaned forward and attempted to kiss her”; d. “tried to move physically close to [AA] and [BB] while dancing, despite their attempts to keep [him] at a distance”; e. “attempted to grab [CC’s] face; when she blocked her face with her hands, [the Applicant] grabbed her hands and tried to pull them apart; when she resisted, [he] fell on her forcefully”; and f. “took and pulled [CC’s] hands to try to get her to dance, despite her resistance”.

  But in Guterres' UN they do not want the public to know who did this - and the Press which exclusively published and name and evidence is banned and its written questions not answered. On the morning of February 4, 12 hours before publishing this when no answer was received from Guterres, Dujarric, Fleming, Amina J. Mohammed et al., Inner City Press in writing asked this: "what are SG Guterres comments and more importantly action on the UN Dispute Tribunal on Feb 3 confirming sexual charges against Padula - while having told Inner City Press to destroy all evidence or remain bannned, and maintaining Padula's name sealed, confirming the cover-up culture under Guterres?"

 The UN claims it has to protect the identity of Padula (and will NOT report him to NYPD for any criminal offense) because they have to protect the identity of the VICTIMS - it's like Guterres' rationale for covering up genocide and mass killing, for example in Cameroon.

  Inner City Press is even banned from submitting questions by WebEx, on which the International Monetary Fund for example answers its questions, as it did on February 4 about the Burma coupl. The only difference is Guterres and his corruption.

   On December 21 Inner City Press filed a formal appeal with the UN Appeals Tribunal, full filing here on DocumentCloud.

 And now in late January Guterres' long time Portuguese lawyer Miguel de Serpa Soares has responded, that Guterers is not waiving immunity, impunity response on Document Cloud here. Impunity.

 On the morning of January 26 Inner City Press emailed Guterres and his spokespeople this question: " Given that the UNDT order destruction of evidence concerning sexual harassment inside the UN, why is SG Guterres not waiving immunity?" No answer.

We will have more, including listing more of those complicit in the UN's cover up of abuse. Watch this site.

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