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

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Video
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - CJR - PFT

UN GATE, March 18 – When Tanzania's John Magufuli would arrest and threaten journalists and critics and Inner City Press would ask the UN of Antonio Guterres for comment, there never was any. In 2018 Inner City Press asked Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, here. He promised an answer - then had Inner City Press thrown out of the UN, still out, no appeal.

 Now Magufuli has died (RIP), and as Inner City Press wrote yesterday, one c[ould] expect a canned condolence from Guterres, seeking to grab a second term by bottling up the applications to debate of all opponents. And now on March 18, here it is, the robo-condolence: "The Secretary-General was saddened to learn of the death of H.E. Mr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, President of the United Republic of Tanzania. He extends his deepest condolences to the President’s family and to the Government and people of Tanzania.     Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General   New York, 18 March 2021." How could the world improve if the UN is this corrupt? Guterres must go.

  Previously, Guterres rolled up in three large SUV vehicles to the publicly-funded mansion he usually lives alone in, just before the COVID-19 pandemic spread in March Video here, & YouTube and Facebook.

In October 2020, among with questions on Guterres' cover up of his links to UN bribery firm CEFC China Energy, Inner City Press asked him and Amina J. Mohammed and Melissa Fleming, "On Tanzania / Zanzibar what are the comments and actions if any of SG Guterres on that the Zanzibar Electoral Commission has barred an opposition presidential candidate from campaigning in the Tanzanian elections for the next five days.  Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad of ACT Wazalendo party becomes the second opposition candidate in the country to be restricted from campaigning by the electoral body.  He was accused by a rival party, Demokrasia Makini, of violating electoral regulations" and "On Tanzania, what are the comments and actions if any of SG Guterres on that police in Tanzania have blocked the convoy of opposition presidential candidate, Tundu Lissu, after he defied a ban not to campaign for a week.  The ban by National Electoral Commission (NEC) was imposed following complaints from the ruling CCM party and the opposition NRA party.  The parties accused Mr Lissu of falsely claiming that President John Magufuli had held a secret meeting with district bosses with the intention of influencing the outcome of the polls." Days later, no answer.

 Now on October 26, through maskless spokeesman Stephane Dujarric, this: "As Tanzanians prepare to take part in the general elections scheduled for 28 October, the Secretary‑General calls on all national stakeholders to ensure that the polls are conducted in an inclusive and peaceful manner.  In this regard, the Secretary-General recalls that an inclusive electoral process and a broad effective participation of political parties and their candidates, particularly women, remain essential for safeguarding the progress made by the United Republic of Tanzania in consolidating stability, democracy and sustainable development.        The Secretary-General urges all political leaders and their supporters to participate in this exercise peacefully and refrain from violence. He further calls on the authorities to provide a safe and secure environment, which will allow Tanzanians to exercise their civil and political rights.       The Secretary-General reiterates the commitment of the United Nations to support the country’s efforts to promote sustainable development and build a prosperous future.       Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General   New York, 26 October 2020." Empty statement, totally corrupt.

 Guterres' own guards rough up and ban the Press, here.

  On September 12, still-banned Inner City Press went to check out the UN and Belarus protest across from it on 43rd Street, where it covered the UN after Guterres had it roughed up. Sept 12 Periscope here. Guterres sides with dictators - and his Melissa Fleming has not acted on Inner City Press' application a full week previous for access to briefing to cover UNGA Week 2020. We'll have more on this.

 As Inner City Press reported on August 4 when Haq and Melissa Fleming had it removed before it could ask a question on Guterres' lame "policy brief" on COVID-19 and education, Guterres' embargoed video was filmed July 23. This shows guilty knowledge.

  In March at public expense his wife Catarina Vaz Pinto was with him, just as she was in September 2019 in expensive seats at the US Open tennis tournament as Guterres - and she? - censored the Press.

   Catarina Vaz Pinto is no longer only Lisbon's Minister of Culture - she is now, somewhat absurdly, the "Minister of International Relations" of the city. In that role she was in Madrid, at an event making light of the spread of Coronavirus which Guterres is helping spread, while UN Spokesperson Stephan Dujarric and Melissa Fleming refuse all Inner City Press questions.

***

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
SDNY Press Room 480, front cubicle
500 Pearl Street, NY NY 10007 USA

Mail: 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 2006-2020 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com for