In Other Media-eg New Statesman, AJE, FP, Georgia, NYT,  Azerbaijan, CSM Click here to contact us     .

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive Patreon

UN GATE, Sept 23 -- The UN General Assembly is more corrupt than ever under Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who to conceal his personal financial links to UN briber CEFC China Energy has had Inner City Press entirely banned, even from a "Day of Democracy" Event. Now from inside his corrupt UN, this read out: "The Secretary-General met today with H.E. Mr. Evaristo Carvalho, President of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe. The Secretary-General and the President discussed current economic challenges faced by São Tomé and Príncipe. They also discussed efforts to address climate change." No mention of Guterres' son Pedro Guimarães e Melo De Oliveira Guterres, who makes money in the Lusophone world using his father's and the UN's name, without disclosure or any answers by the UN, its spokesman Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming to the questions of banned Inner City Press. We'll have more on this.

  South Africa is in so much chaos amid calls for its suspension from the African Union for xenophobic violence that its president Cyril Ramaphosa is backing out of the UN General Assembly high  level week. But  International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor claims the country isn't expecting any backlash at UNGA 74. 

  And it won't get any, if cover up man Antonio Guterres who mets  with Pandor on September 22 with not only Inner City Press but any independent press banned, has his way. The UN's read out, with no mention of violence or xenophobia: "The Secretary-General met with H.E. Ms. Naledi Pandor, Minister for International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa.   The Secretary-General and Ms. Pandor discussed regional peace and security issues, as well as efforts to fight climate change.     New York, 22 September 2019." This is Guterres: a cover up man.

   We'll have more on this, even as UNSG Antonio Guterres bans Inner City Press from even entering the UN, to conceal his corrupt links to CEFC China Energy. Video here.

One of South Africa's better former diplomats Jeremiah Kingsley Mamabolo, for years now working for the AU and UN in Darfur, the country has supposedly asked the UN to release him "temporarily" from UN service to come to the UNGA week.

Much as we respect Mamabolo - as a diplomat he urged Team Guterres to stop restricting Inner City Press and was tellingly rejected by the corrupt Guterres - is it proper for a country to be represented, formally, by a current "UN" official?

  Under Guterres all the rules have done about the window, it's every man and woman for themselves. A fish rots from the head, and the rotten fish hear in this instance is Tony "Back Door" Guterres. Inner City Press has a right to enter and cover UNGA high level week as much as propaganda state media from China, South Africa and Qatar - watch this site. And see:

"From: malu at un dot org
Date: Fri, Aug 30, 2019 at 4:23 PM
Subject: U.N. eAccreditation request for Matthew Lee Ref # M5413398 has been declined
To: Inner City Press:

Greetings Matthew Lee from Inner City Press,  Your media accreditation request, with reference no: M5413398, has been declined for the following reason: Media accreditation was withdrawn on 17 August 2018."

In South Sudan, where now security workers have sent a petition to the UN, see below and here, the UN's celebration of Peacekeepers Day included a Salva Kiir general who is on the UN's own sanctions list, Malek Reuben Riak. And for four days and counting the spokesmen for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres have refused to explain why the sanctioned general was celebrated inside the UNMISS compound, nor to say where Guterres is, spending public money.

  Speaking of money, Inner City Press' sources in Juba have sent it a copy of a petition sent to the UN, and  see below.

  Now with not a single answer from the UN to multiple written questions, from banned Inner City Press' sources in South Sudan, this: "UN Security firm employees in South Sudan continue strike  for third day  demanding  fair payment .The Employees of the security firm, Insight, have staged peaceful protest, demanding payment of their salaries in US dollars as indicated in the contract. United Nations Mission in South Sudan had a contract agreement withInsight with the total amount payable by UNMISS for initial $11,055,893.80 per year. There are 6000 thousand guards in South Sudan and UN is paying per one guard almost 600 USD and per one Supervisor 900 USD per month to the company.

However, the company is getting huge amount of money and paying 200 USD per month for each guards. The duty of the United Nations is to stabilize the country. One of the main tasks and goals is to fight labor exploitation. The United Nations fired a number of national staff member and handed the contract to the private company promoting labor exploitation is very disturbing. Those UNDSS officials   who advised the senior managers are short sighted , corrupted and unprofessional. UN Policy approaches can be tailored to a country’s level of development and economic structure. On focusing the stability of South Sudan, it is more important to work   on providing and facilitating   wealth distribution, public services and social transfers that can raise incomes at the bottom and support access to the labor market.  This will help to reduce the gap between the have   and have-nots and  help young South Sudanese to think of building their country in the future . It enhances stability and security of the country . Currently, one USD is 300 SSP in black market. However, the company is   paying the guards   in the rate of 165 SSP while changing the rate in the black market. This is totally labor exploitation and against the norms of the United Nations. UN cannot say this is non of my business to deal with unfair treatment   while people are over exploited. Some of the Insight security personnel expressed their grievances that  they have been on a strike since day before  because their  demand has not been fulfilled. They had asked to be paid in US Dollars as indicated in their contracts, but the administration refused to comply. We are being treated unfairly because staff from other nations is being paid in US dollars. What is the role of the united Nations in stabilizing the country if they can not think of wealth distribution. After exposing this over exploitation, the administration is working with some government officials to intimidate us by paying 100,000USD. Most of the government offices we visited are reluctant in addressing our grievances.  We request the United Nations to intervene to help us stop   labor exploitation and be paid fairly. The  revitalization of peace and the  reduction of inequality in South Sudan  requires political pressure, and the will and commitment  from all stake holders including the United Nations Mission In South Sudan."

  And here is the response by Guterres' head of Security Peter Drennan who ordered Inner City Press twice roughed up, 20 June 2018 and 3 July 2018 and never even answered his email despite a promise by UN official Jane Connosr:

"From: Peter Drennan <drennan@un.org>  2:58 PM (8 hours ago) To:  [redacted], matthewrlee [at] protonmail.com

 Drennan is entirely corrupt, profiles and has roughed up the Press, should never get another job in security anywhere and should be sued - and jailed.

 This was sent to Inner City Press: "It’s an unpalatable truth  that modern slavery in UNMISS.   Warrior Security workers face working conditions reminiscent of the days of slavery.   The UN DSS managers endorse modern slavery of exploitation and facilitating South African company to get the benefits.  All assigned here has a link with the company getting their benefits... The Warrior Security personnel are requesting the money to be paid in Dollar because the contract signed is in dollar and petitioned to all concerned.  The company in collaboration with UNMISS refuse to pay.  OIOS received information of irregularities in UNMISS officials involved in the exploitation of labor and misappropriation of funds.  UNMISS Managers provided logistical support to foreign businessmen engaged in  Security Company,  CCTV Camera and  Dog Search on doing business without any MOU.  No measure has been taken and all reports have been under cover."

And now the UNMISS circular to the staff regarding the strike, immediately sent to banned Inner City Press by UN staff disgusted by how corrupt and UN and UN DSS have become: "Please be advised that in view of the ongoing strike action by unarmed UN-contracted private security guards (Insight) in Juba, UN staff members are advised to take the following precautionary measures to forestall break-ins of accommodation:  · Do not leave anything valuable or attractive in the front porch (veranda). This includes food items, sneakers, shoes, bicycle, clothes, towels etc.  · Inside your living room, do not place valuable items close to the window.  · Ensure windows are closed at all times." Batten down the hatch - UN corrupt comes home to roost, though not yet for mansion dwelling Guterres.

  Telling of the rot of the UN under Guterres and his outgoing Global Censor Alison Smale, not only did the UN's Radio Miraya blithely ran this tweet, on May 29: "We salute the bravery and professionalism displayed by #UNMISS peacekeepers in #SouthSudan " - Dep Minister of Defence Lt Gen Malek Reuben Riak at #PKDay celebrations" - UNMISS' website apparently calls a war criminal a "bon vivant," like Guterres. The quoted article is by UNMISS' paid Public Information Officer Filip Andersson, his twitter account with a single tweet and 48 followers here. The public is paying for this - and for Guterres to fly to get an award for himself and then disappear for four days. Totally corrupt.

***

Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron.

Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com

Past (and future?) UN Office: S-303, UN, NY 10017 USA
For now: Box 20047, Dag Hammarskjold Station NY NY 10017

Reporter's mobile (and weekends): 718-716-3540

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

 Copyright 2006-2019 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com for