Amid Eswatini Abuse Inner City Press Asked UN in June, Now Censor Guterres Whispers


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Amid Eswatini Abuse Inner City Press Asked UN in June, Now Censor Guterres Whispers

By Matthew Russell Lee, Video here, Vine here

UN GATE, July 6 -- Amid the crackdown in eSwatini, beginning in June 2021 Inner City Press emailed questions to Stephane Dujarric, the lead spokesman of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, and to Guterres' Global Communicator Melissa Fleming.

First, "On eSwatini, what are the comments and actions if any of SG Guterres on that the internet has been shut off and a curfew imposed in Eswatini, the southern African kingdom formerly known as Swaziland.  Security forces are on high alert as protesters demanding political reforms have vowed to step up their demonstrations.  A journalist told the BBC that overnight there were violent confrontations in the city of Manzini and that the country’s borders and airport remain closed.  Days of protests have left several people in hospital, businesses in the capital, Mbabane, remain closed after some, including those linked to the king, were destroyed.  Sporadic demonstrations over poor wages and political repression have flared up over the years in Eswatini - this most recent one was sparked by the death of law student.  While the government says his death was the result of a car accident, protesters say he was murdered by police.  The protests have highlighted long-running discontent in one of the world’s last remaining absolute monarchies.  King Mswati III, who came to the throne 35 years ago, rules by decree." No answer.

Then: "On eSwatini, on which each of you refused Inner City Press' June 30 question, now what are the comments and actions of SG Guterres and his "team" on that . South Africa is urging "total restraint" from the security forces in neighbouring Eswatini, where activists say eight people have been killed during protests.  The small, landlocked nation is the last absolute monarchy in Africa - and pro-democracy demonstrators are demanding political reforms.  "The South African government calls on the security forces to exercise total restraint and protect the lives and property of the people," read the statement from the foreign ministry.  "We are particularly concerned by reports of loss of life and destruction of properties."  The internet has been shut off." Still nothing. For a week.

Now on July 6, the 1200th day Guterres has banned Inner City Press from the UN, this: "The Secretary-General continues to follow developments in the Kingdom of Eswatini with increasing concern, notably clashes between security forces and demonstrators that have led to deaths and injuries.        The Secretary-General reiterates his call on all stakeholders to refrain from violence and address their differences through inclusive and meaningful dialogue.        The Secretary-General underlines the importance of enabling all Emaswati to exercise their civil and political rights peacefully and urges the security forces to exercise utmost restraint.       The Secretary-General welcomes recent efforts, led by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), to find a solution to the current situation. The United Nations remains committed to working with the Government and the people of Eswatini, and all partners, to ensure a peaceful resolution.          Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General   New York, 6 July 2021." B.S. We'll have more on this, and on reversing Guterres' censorship.

 No answers, despite Dujarric's previous on camera commitment / lie about answering Inner City Press' questions. Video here.

 Worse, Dujarric repeated and expanding on the lies on September 19, video here, claiming that Inner City Press is in touch with UN Media Accreditation - while Melissa Fleming has not answered a single letter and has banned the active Press - 81,000 Twitter followers and counting, covering the courts and #6ix9ine and Halkbank and OneCoin and Doe v. ICE and the Honduras narco regime Guterres also covers up for - from entering to cover the UNGA week.

   Guterres' UN sent this out:

"From: malu malu [at] un.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."

  This is Kafka-esque, and corrupt. We will have more, much more, on this.

***

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