Inner City Press -- Investigative Journalism from the United Nations

UN's Annan Dodges Danger and Set-Backs in Gabon, Geneva, Tibet, Sudan, Disclosure Form Also for Successor?

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN

UNITED NATIONS, October 5 -- Two non-events in Geneva were downplayed by the UN on Thursday. Amid reports of a threat against the UN's Palais des Nations building, Gabon's president Omar Bongo cancelled a negotiating meeting involving Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the leader of Equatorial Guinea to discuss disputed islands thought to be oil-rich.

Mr. Annan in Gabon, March 2006

With Bongo a no-show, Mr. Annan did not travel to Geneva. In New York, his spokesman downplayed both the threat and the Gabonese setback. Inner City Press asked:

Question: Does the Secretary-General have any comment on Gabon not showing up for this meeting about the island that it has a dispute over, with Equatorial Guinea?

Spokesman: This is an issue the Secretary-General has been working on for quite some time, the territorial dispute between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The meeting I think that you are referring to had not been officially announced by us.

But AP of September 29 had reported:

"Kofi Annan will meet with the presidents of Gabon and Equatorial Guinea next week to try to resolve a dispute between the two nations over control of several islands in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea. The talks between Gabon's President Omar Bongo and Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea will take place Oct. 2-4 in Geneva, said Marie Heuze, director of the U.N. information service in Geneva."

So does Mr. Annan's spokesman's "us" not include statements by his counterpart in Geneva, the director of the UN information service there? The attempt seems to be to downplay difficulties in Mr. Annan's final three months in office. Earlier in the year, the UN's in-house News Service of February 27 gushed that

"Hailing the Presidents of Gabon and Equatorial Guinea for showing 'incredible flexibility' toward resolving a border dispute, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said today that the two leaders were determined to resolve the issue before the end of the year. Mr. Annan hosted a mini-summit between President El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba of Gabon and President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea in Geneva this morning and said both leaders had 'agreed to press ahead with immediate negotiations on the delimitation of their maritime and land borders. They showed incredible flexibility, good will and determination to press ahead and resolve this issue in the next few months and definitely before the end of the year,' Mr. Annan told the press after the meeting. 'I think it will be important for them to resolve this issue as quickly as possible and it will also be a good message for the continent, a continent wracked by conflicts and tensions, that two leaders come together and resolve their differences very, very peacefully.'"

That Africa is wracked by conflicts is undisputable. Also at Thursday's noon briefing, Inner City Press asked, about the Ivory Coast, if the UN had any response to Laurent Gbabgo's political party's threat to retaliate against citizens of countries which suggest that he hold an election or leave power. The spokesman paused as a written statement was carried into the briefing room, which he then read out:

"The Secretary-General deplores the inflammatory remarks made on 2 October by the President of the Front Populaire Ivoirien, Affi Nguessan, which contained threats against citizens of other members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) living in Cote d'Ivoire. The Secretary-General calls on all Ivorian political leaders and their followers to exercise the utmost restraint at this critical juncture and stresses that those instigating or committing violent acts will be held personally responsible by the international community. He also emphasizes the responsibility of the Ivorian Defense and Security Forces to protect the civilian population including ECOWAS citizens as well as other foreigners residing in Cote d'Ivoire. The Secretary-General urges the Ivorian leaders to pursue dialogue and work with ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations to break the current impasse and agree on new transitional arrangements that should lead to elections."

The UN's prepared transcript of Thursday briefing omits the question, and puts the statement as the lead item in the briefing, when it was the last item. Compare to the video, available on the UN's web site and here. It is good for Kofi Annan to have a statement ready on human rights issues. But why then no response, at noon nor by close of business, to reports that China has shot and killed at least two Tibetans seeking to flee into Nepal? At noon Inner City Press asked:

Question: There are reports, including on BBC, that China has shot people trying to flee Tibet into Nepal? I don�t know if either the Secretariat or UNHCR can confirm it, perhaps later today, and also what UNHCR�s position is on Nepal�s treatment of people fleeing Tibet, whether they are in fact�

Spokesman: I have not seen these reports, but we can put you in touch with UNHCR and see what they have to say on that.

UNHCR has said nothing, even now.

Tibet per UNHCR

In fact, UNHCR has not responded to a request for information, four days ago, about a pending deportation-for-torture to Uzbekistan nor about UNHCR's activities and contacts in Somalia. AndMr. Annan, in dodging comment on Gabon's Bongo's pulling-out of the meeting also neglected to comment on Bongo's shut-down of a news publication for three months for daring to report on the island dispute and Bongo's attempt, flexible or corrupt, to sell the island. At the UN, particularly these days, there's an attempt by many to focus only on the good news, on the most Polyanna interpretation.

At the Security Council stakeout, for example, the Ambassador of Greece was asked for his response to the Sudanese mission's letter rejecting any UN peacekeepers in Darfur, and his response was to ignore the letter, says that Sudanese President Al-Bashir had said nothing marginally less combative. Many reporters shook their heads. One wag muttered, "Everything's okay in Darfur, then." Another correspondent inquired into the platters of food being carried into the Security Council: "Can't deal with Darfur on an empty stomach, right?" The spokesman quickly clarified that the food was for a Slovakian side event in the Security Council area.

In the UN General Assembly, in the basement, contradictory testimony continued on Western Sahara. At day's end, with yet more witnesses to go on the Polisario Front, the UK's Deputy Permanent Representative said on the record that "the United Kingdom does not believe that the principle of territorial integrity is applicable to the decolonialization of Gibraltar."

On the integrity front, it is anticipated that beyond the after-shocks to the right, Friday at the UN the calls for Mr. Annan's long-delayed financial disclosure to be made public will grow, not despite but in part in furtherance of the precedent it would set. Developing...

At the UN, Ban Ki-Moon's Track Record on Myanmar Criticized by ASEAN Parliamentarians on Human Rights

UNITED NATIONS, October 4 -- Criticism of apparently incoming UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon came from an unexpected quarter on Wednesday, on a timely issue in the Security Council: Myanmar.

Speaking for the Asian Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus, Mr. Djoko Susilo of Indonesia said, when asked about Ban Ki-Moon's track record on Myanmar, "I have to say regarding Mister Ban Ki-Moon when he was foreign ministers, as a member of Caucus, we are not quite happy... you are quite right." Video here at Minute 18:16.

Inner City Press had asked, in the context of South Korea-based Daewoo Corporation's reported plan to develop natural gas fields off Myanmar's western coast, what the Caucus thought of South Korean foreign minister Ban Ki-Moon's positions on Myanmar. Video here at Minute 13:28. Mr. Susilo called Daewoo's engagement with the Myanmar government "regrettable," and also said of Ban Ki-Moon that "we hope for a significant change in policy."

The United States, which pushed to get Myanmar on the UN Security Council's agenda on September 15, has supported Ban Ki-Moon as Secretary-General, as has China, whose extensive business and military ties with Myanmar came up repeatedly at Wednesday's press conference. A question arose about whether China would veto any substantive Security Council resolution on Myanmar. The panelists, including Ms. Loretta Ann P. Rosales of the Philippines, said hopefully they will continue reaching out to Chinese parliamentarians. Efforts may also be made with India, which as inquired into by Inner City Press has developed military ties with the government of Myanmar.

U.S. Ambassador John Bolton has cited Myanmar's export of opium as a threat to international peace and security, the term of art triggering compulsory action under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Since then, the head of the UN's Office on Crime and Drugs told Inner City Press that virtually all of the world's opium and heroin is coming from Afghanistan, and that Myanmar like Laos is on its way to having no opium exports. Inner City Press asked the ASEAN panelists about this discrepancy.

John Ungphakorn, who was a Thai parliamentarian until the recent military coup, responded defensively that it is not only opium, but amphetamines, which are produces in Myanmar. Whether there is evidence of this is unclear. So to a claim pushed on Inner City Press at the end of the briefing by an advocate in the audience with a business card from the "National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma," who whispered that North Korea is providing nuclear technology and materials to Myanmar. Developing...

In other human rights news, also discussed at the UN on Wednesday was t he plight in Europe of the Roma and Sinti, also called Gypsies. Roma women have been subject to forced sterilization in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and are provided substandard education and discriminated against in income European Union members Romania and Bulgaria. These and other reports were given by Mr. Romani Rose, Chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, in preparing of an exhibit about the Holocaust to open at the UN in January 2007.

The questions focused primarily on current discrimination, including in Ukraine. Video here, from Minute 26:45. Mr. Rose described Roma's living conditions as dire and "Third World." He criticized many European countries' practice of identifying to news media that alleged criminals are Roma. He analogized to apartheid the construction of a dividing wall in the Czech Republic. While criticizing educational fairness in Hungary, he said that Hungary is further along in improving treatment to Roma, and in living up to commitments made to enter the EU. He did not address whether the UN's new Human Rights Council (or new Secretary-General) bode well for the treatment of Roma. Developing...

At the UN, Cagey Council President of the GA on the Bottom of the Sea, of Stolen Chairs, Uzbek Human Rights and Georgia

UNITED NATIONS, October 3 -- From deep sea bottom trawling to cagey answers on war crimes, the full range of the UN was Tuesday on display. Incoming Security Council president Kenzo Oshima took somewhat fewer than twenty questions on his plan of work for the month, from Lebanon to North Korea, Ban Ki-Moon to Cote D'Ivoire.

Inner City Press asked about Uganda, where peace talks include promises of amnesty from indictments by the International Criminal Court, and about Somalia, where the Islamic Courts Union is consolidating power reportedly with the help of foreign fighters. Ambassador Oshima said that some, mostly African countries, want to revisit Somalia and so that will be done. To Inner City Press' question about UN agencies including UNDP and OCHA working with extremists, Amb. Oshima did not respond. On Uganda, he said the peace talks are ongoing and must be deferred to. He avoided the question of impunity if the ICC indictments are not enforced.

Two hours earlier in Amb. Oshima's seat sat Sigourney Weaver, exhorting the press to tell the public about the damage to undersea worlds. The Ambassadors of Australia, New Zealand and Palau spoke in favor of a ban on bottom trawling. Inner City Press asked which countries are opposed -- Spain and Iceland were the two opponents named -- and for an update to its May 26, 2006 story about five specific rogue trawlers.

Funny you should ask, answered a Greenpeace official. Those five boat have been stopped in Russia and their gear is being inspected. Written confirmation was promised. Also promised was an answered by the president of the General Assembly for her and Bahrain's view on stopping bottom trawling and this arrived by phone: "Bahrain has always depended on the ocean for trade, food and pearls," the spokeswoman began. She added that Bahrain wouldn't object to Australia's proposal as long as it takes into account those who make their living from the sea. We get and report answers, then you decide.

There followed a briefing about an advertisement contest for the Millennium Development Goals. The head of the Japan-based advertiser Dentsu spoke, and then was applauded apparently by Densu workers. Inner City Press asked about an MDG ad gone bad in Spain. The briefer, Salil Shetty from UNDP, said the question was not appropriate for the forum and would be answered by press release. One later arrived from Mandy Kibel of the UN Millennium Campaign, who email signature block says the Campaign "supports citizens' efforts to hold their governments to account for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals," stating that

the video clip released recently on You Tube, apparently showing a group of people breaking into the Spanish Parliament and stealing the chair of Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is fake. This has been confirmed by the local advertising agency responsible for this high profile stunt. The agency also confirms that at no time did the team break into the Parliament building or actually steal the Prime Minister�s chair. The team entered the building with due permissions and once inside obtained permission to film. In fact, the pictures of the 'fake' break-in to the Parliament were not filmed at the Parliament at all, but at a private building with full permission. The group also confirms that the chair of the Prime Minister was never removed from the Parliament. The chair shown in the clip was an office chair and it was filmed as it was temporarily removed from the private building with permission. Millennium Campaign Coordinator in Spain, Fernando Casado, said that 'the make-believe stealing of the chair was purely meant as a humorous way to urge Zapatero to stand up against poverty.'

We report, you(tube) decide. Working harder to get out his message was the new Ambassador of Georgia, Irakli Alasania. Inner City Press asked him to follow-up on his predecessor's claims, that the break-away region of Abkhazia is full of money laundering and that the Security Council shuts Georgia out due to Russia's veto power. On the former, evidence has again been promised. On the latter, "let's see what happens next week in the Security Council" was the answer. Okay.

Outside the Security Council on Tuesday, Inner City Press asked Chinese Ambassador Wang for his position on Ivory Coast, where China and Russia last week blocked targeted sanctions. We have to support the peace process was Amb. Wang's answer.

At the noon briefing, Kofi Annan's spokesman said he'll ask the Office of Internal Oversight Services to finally come take questions, in light of a report on integrity and other violations that OIOS has put out. He was asked, in writing, about moving as a lame duck to name for a five-year term a new executive director World Food Program:

'You yesterday stated that the "normal procedures" would be followed. Please elaborate on the "normal procedures." Specifically, is there a selection panel? Who is on the selection panel? Is there a shortlist? How many names are on the shortlist? Did the selection panel develop the shortlist, or are they only interviewing candidates on the shortlist? What is the timeframe for the selection? Will this process be completed within October, November, or December? In previous cases of senior appointments, such as the chief of UNHCR, the UN announced the shortlist prior to the actual selection of Mr. Guterres. Was that "normal procedure"? In this case will the UN announce the shortlist? When?'

We ask, and report answers when we get them. Asked for the Secretariat's view on the Human Rights Council's decision to confine its review of Uzbekistan and the killings at Andijan to a secret, closed-door session. "Transparency is good," the spokesman said. Indeed. Meanwhile UNDP continues to help Uzbekistan's Karimov regime to collect taxes, which are used another other things to demand the return of political dissidents and to torture them.

The UN workday wound down with Alvaro de Soto speaking by video from the Middle East about a new Peacemaker web site, which he said he hasn't yet sufficiently surfed -- perhaps because it requires registration -- and by speeches on Western Sahara in Conference Room 4, one of the more stirring of which came from Botswana. "We cannot allow the passage of time to blunt our memory," Botswana's Ambassador Samuel Outlule urged. Indeed. The statement was followed by the UK bickering with Venezuela, and India and Pakistan trading barbs. And so it goes.

At the UN, As Next S-G is Touted, Annan Claims Power to Make 5-Year Appointments, Quiet Filing and Ivory Coast Concessions

UNITED NATIONS, October 2 -- Ban Ki-Moon appears nearly certain to be the next Secretary-General, it emerged Monday afternoon after a Security Council straw poll. Rather than this month's Council President, Japan's Kenzo Oshima, it was Chinese Ambassador Wang who delivered the news to a crush of reporters, who had assembled to await the equivalent of the Vatican's white smoke signaling a new pope. On the side of the stakeout, the numbers trickled out.

Tharoor's discouragements reportedly included the veto of China. Soon after Amb. Wang's king-maker announcement, word spread that Shashi Tharoor would come down to deliver his concession. When he did, he declined to comment on Ban Ki-Moon's qualifications, beyond the congratulatory fax he'd sent. He was asked, willl you return to India? "I've had no plan B," he answered. And now the planning starts. Including, some say, for one or more last minute stabs in the coming week.

It was already 5:40 when Kenzo Oshima spoke. By gentlemen's agreement, he said, I cannot give the results. I hope there are many gentlemen. Nor would he confirm the Council confirmation vote on October 9, the date named by Ambassador Bolton. Gentlemen, indeed...

On the day the Security Council decided on its nominee as the next Secretary-General, beginning a five year term on January 1, the spokesman for outgoing Secretary-General Kofi Annan told reporters that it is Mr. Annan's position that he can and will hand out five year appointments even in the less then three months remaining in his term.

Inner City Press asked about the candidates to replace James Morris at the UN World Food Program, including the U.S.'s pick, Josette Sheeran Shiner. "That selection process is ongoing," the spokesman said. "We do expect the appointment to be made."

But is it Kofi Annan's position he can and should make five-year appointments at this time?

Also, the spokesman responded to Inner City Press' question about Mr. Annan's financial disclosure form by stating that the form was filed "eleven days ago," subsequently specified as September 22. When last Inner City Press raised it, the spokesman committed to tell reporters when it was filed. From the September 19 noon briefing transcript:

Inner City Press question: An issue arose at his press conference about his financial disclosure. I know many people thought he gave an answer that was unclear and then, Friday, Mark Malloch Brown called the New York Times and said he would be filing. I guess my question is, when will he be filing? Will you tell us when he�s filed? Will any portions of it be made public? Why was there the unclarity about the filing? He said he spoke to lawyers that advised him not to file. Where these UN lawyers? And how do you decide to release information that many people had been asking for?

Spokesman: None will be made public. That form will not be made public as any of the financial disclosure forms of any UN staff members are not made public. They are handled by the ethics office. I think Mr. Burnham, on a number of occasions, gave you detailed briefing on how those forms would be handled and you had the ethics office here as well. The legal advice the Secretary-General gets is privileged, as the legal advice anyone is entitled to get. The Secretary-General from the first moment he entered office, has abided by every commitment required of him by the Organization. If you go back to the Volcker report of 2005, as part of the Volcker investigation, he had to release to the investigators his finances. He did so. I would urge you to look at the conclusion of that report, which says his financial records did not raise any suspicion. As you know, the Secretary General is not a staff member of the Organization. He stopped being a staff member when he became Secretary-General. However, to avoid any misinterpretation of his position he�s decided to voluntarily submit his financial disclosure form. And, I will be happy to tell you as soon as that is done.

But the Spokesman did not announce it, on September 22 or thereafter, until Inner City Press asked again on October 2. Apparently the desire was to have the issue drift away. Now, the filing has been covered by AP.

Meanwhile the UN's Mission in Congo carried Reuters on discussion of the European Union pulling its troops from the Congo on November 30. Even candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba says that's too fast. Inner City Press asked Kofi Annan's spokesman if the Secretariat has a position, and whether it or MONUC have communicated with the EU.

The spokesman said he would check into such communications, but that the UN would like to "see sustained engagement by the international community in Kinshasa and the greater DRC." We'll see.

Also arising at Monday's noon briefing was the statement by UN-installed and -supported prime minister of Cote D'Ivoire, Charles Konan Banny, that

"My mission consists of normalizing the situation, with priority given to unification, freedom of circulation, restructuring the administration, but also identifying populations to pave the way for free, open elections. "Elections should crown this program" and "not constitute an end in themselves."

Monday Inner City Press asked, does this mean that the UN Secretariat is paving the way to allowing Gbagbo to continue to stay in power, despite twice overstaying his mandate? The spokesman answered vaguely that he has no guidance on this. Video here, from Minute 9:45.

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