Under
Guterres, After 89% of UN Staff Vote to
Strike & Actions Spread, Threat to
Dock Pay
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Video,
1st
Person
UNITED
NATIONS, March
21 – Hours
after UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres, who
always flies
first class
and is headed
to Lisbon
March 16-18 on
the public
dime on the
flimsiest of pretexts,
gave a self
congratulatory
speech in
Geneva in
February at
the Human
Rights
Council's 37th
session, "his"
UN staff there
began a work
stoppage in
protest. The
vote was set
for March 15
on a strike -
and Guterres'
head of UN
Geneva issued
a renewed
threat, which
the staff
unions say is
contrary to
international
law. Over 89%
of UN staff
have voted to
strike, and a
letter
went to
Guterres
opposing his
administration's
threat made
before the
vote. (The UN
is getting
more lawless:
on March 14 it
admitted to
investigating
"leakers"
a/k/a
whistleblowers,
video here).
In New York, a
march took
place on
Monday, March
19, video here -- tellingly, YouTube of UN
partner Google
finds the
video "not
appropriate
for all
advertisers.
Strikes are
being prepared
at the UN in
Geneva and
Bangkok, at
the ILO, UNEP
and possibly
at the WHO.
This would be
the UN's first
ever global
strike. The
chant was ICSC
Stop - but
Antonio
Guerres,
ostensibly
back from
another
weekend in
Lisbon, did
not come down
or respond.
Letters have
been directed
to him. On
March 20 Inner
City Press
asked
Guterres'
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, who
insisted twice
that Guterres
and the
Secretariat
have no
relation to
the ICSC. But
Inner City
Press has
gotten
negative
reviews from
Geneva of
Guterres'
Deputy
Secretary
General Amina
J. Mohammed's
attempt to get
the staff to
back off. "Is
she the point
person?" Inner
City Press
asked
Dujarric. This
was not
answered -
we'll have
more on this,
and on her
failing "power
grab" of the
UN's system of
resident
coordinators,
as Ajima
Mohammed heads
again to "her"
Nigeria, on
the public
dime, first
class all the
way. At 10:30
pm on March
21, a snow day
in New York,
Guterres'
OHRM, an
official who
had told Inner
City Press on
camera that
whistleblowers
are welcome
(though "we
prefer it
internal")
sent this out:
"Broadcast
message to all
staff on
Strikes and
work
stoppages. In
view of the
recent call
for
participation
in strikes and
work stoppages
initiated by
various staff
representative
bodies across
duty stations,
I would like
to clarify the
issue of
participation
of staff
members in
strikes or
work
stoppages.
Without
prejudice to
whether staff
members have a
right to
engage in
strikes or
work
stoppages,
strikes or
work stoppages
resulting in
the
non-performance
of a staff
member’s
functions are
considered
non-authorized
absences.
In accordance
with paragraph
10 of annex I
to the Staff
Regulations[1]
unauthorized
absence could
trigger the
withholding of
a part of
their salary
proportionate
to the period
of such
unauthorized
absence.
For further
information
please refer
to the
frequently
asked
questions.
Martha Helena
Lopez,
Assistant-Secretary
General for
Human
Resources
Management,
Department of
Management [1]
« No salary
shall be paid
to staff
members in
respect of
periods of
unauthorized
absence from
work unless
such absence
was caused by
reasons beyond
their control
or duly
certified
medical
reasons ."
Threat by
footnote: this
is today's UN.
On March 16,
Inner City
Press asked
Guterres'
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq, UN
transcript here: Inner
City Press:
There was a
vote taken
yesterday by
UN staff in
Geneva, and
more than 89
per cent of
them voted to
go on strike,
and they also…
there was a
letter that
was sent to
the
Secretary-General
by… I want to
make sure I
get this
right.
By Public
Services
International,
saying that…
that… that
basically
complaining
that the
threat sent by
Mr. [Michael]
Møller was
contrary to
international
labour
law.
And… and I'm
just
wondering,
one, has he
received this
letter?
Two, what does
he say… to… to
that high
level of… of
staff voting
to strike, and
there's some
plan for a
march on
Monday here in
New York, I'm
sure you've
gotten that
e-mail.
So what… I
guess it seems
like this is
getting… it's
not a 50/50
issue.
It seems like
a large
percentage of
the staff feel
this is a
problem.
What is the
Secretary-General
doing to
address it?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, there's
no prohibition
against
strikes, but
Mr. Møller, I
believe, was
reminding the
staff of the
relevant
regulations
that we have
as
international
civil
servants.
And beyond
that, we'll
have to see
how this plays
out. I
do believe
that the
management of
the United
Nations
continues to
be in dialogue
with staff,
and we'll try
to see what we
can do to
address their
concerns.
Inner City
Press: I
guess I just…
I'm now
looking more
closely at the
letter.
It says, "It
is frankly
astonishing to
see the UN so
clearly
undermine the
fundamental
rights which
the labour
movement
fought for a
century to
achieve.
With this in
mind, we
implore you to
publicly
affirm the
right of UN
workers to
take part in
industrial
action."
Does the
Secretary-General
believe that
UN staff have
a right to
take part in
industrial
action?
Deputy
Spokesman:
We believe
that the right
to strike is
part of
customary
international
law." Here is
the NYC
notice: "Join
us in a march
around the
circle in
front of the
Secretariat to
ask from the
ICSC:
TRANSPARENCY,
IMPARTIALITY,
EQUAL PAY FOR
EQUAL WORK, NO
PAY CUTS,
PROTECTION OF
OUR ACQUIRED
RIGHTS We will
be marching
for 15
minutes, rain
or shine. Let
us show the
ICSC that UN
staff is
watching and
demands fair
treatment.
Staff members
in some duty
stations have
voted for
strike or work
stoppages!
When: Monday
19 March 2018,
1:15-1:30 PM
Where: Circle
at 42nd Street
entrance to
the
Secretariat.
Participation
in an event
organised by
the Staff
Union is
considered
official
business."
From Geneva,
this staff
union notice
to staff:
"Dear
Colleagues,
Thank you for
voting today.
We know some
of you queued
for up to 20
minutes to
exercise your
right. The
results
communicated
to us by the
polling
officers are
as follows:
Yes: 1,040
(89.4%)
No: 120
Invalid and
blank votes: 3
With the
requirement of
a simple
majority, the
Council now
has the legal
basis to call
a strike.
The first day
of strike is
tomorrow
(Friday 16
March 2018).
Work resumes
on Monday and
we will
communicate
next steps.
Please
therefore stay
at home.
You do not
need to inform
your
supervisor nor
be concerned
with how
services will
be maintained.
Missions will
be informed
that meetings,
security and
other services
will not be
running as
planned, and
they will now
be able to see
the direct
impact of
their
decisions
concerning our
pay and
conditions. We
understand
that some
important
meetings are
being
cancelled
tomorrow and
moved to
Monday as a
result. The
results of the
vote are
hugely
positive and
show your
courage in
saying a big
NO to efforts
by the ICSC
and our
employer to
weaken our
conditions of
service, in an
arbitrary
manner. You
also said NO
to
intimidatory
emails from
management.
Please share
the news with
your
colleagues.
You may also
wish to insert
the following
out-of-office
message in
your email:
'Due to
ongoing
industrial
action at the
United Nations
in Geneva I
will not be
able to reply
to your
message today.
Thank you for
your
understanding.'
Thank you for
your support
today and
let’s all move
forward in
solidarity.
Public
Services
International,
which
represents
public sector
workers around
the world has
also sent this
letter to
Secretary-General
Guterres."
First the
threat, then
the FAQs:
"Dear
colleagues,
Further to my
previous
communication
to you of 26
February 2018
concerning
work
stoppages, and
in
consultation
with the
Department of
Management and
the Office of
Legal Affairs
in New York, I
am
communicating
with you in
view of the
UNOG Staff
Coordinating
Council’s
proposal for a
strike. We
acknowledge
the
dissatisfaction
of many staff
resulting from
recent changes
in their
conditions of
service. We
also reaffirm
that the
United Nations
recognizes and
respects your
freedom of
association
and right to
meet at
appropriate
times on UN
premises in a
non-disruptive
manner. At the
same time, we
as staff
members of the
United Nations
are
international
civil servants
bound by the
Staff
Regulations
and Rules and
by our Oath of
Office to
discharge our
functions and
regulate our
conduct with
the interests
of the United
Nations only
in view and we
are all
reminded that
the Staff
Regulations
and Rules
provide no
basis for
staff members
to be absent
from work
because of a
work stoppage
or
strike.(Signed)
Michael
Møller,
Director-General
of UNOG." The
staff union
replied with a
FAQ: "Dear
Colleagues,
We encourage
you to vote
today at the
following
locations and
times:
Palais des
Nations :
- Porte 6:
09.30 - 12.30
- Porte 40:
13.00 - 16.00
Palais Wilson:
10.30 - 12.30
CCI: 10.30 -
12.30
Motta: 14.00 -
16.00
Bâtiment Du
Pont de
Nemours: 14.00
- 16.00
To vote YES
for a strike
is to oppose
the continuing
degradation of
pay and
conditions,
the policy of
austerity at
the UN, and
the arbitrary
fashion in
which our
conditions of
work are being
determined.
UN staff in
Geneva are not
alone. Other
unions are
also
considering
strikes and
forms of
collective
action. We
must be united
in taking this
campaign
forward! We
should not
back down in
the face of
intimidation.
As staff you
have the right
to freely
express your
opinion.
Please find
below an FAQ
on today’s
vote and what
to do if the
strike is
approved. 1.
Is the strike
legal at the
UN? How to
interpret the
message of the
DG?
According to
the opinion of
our legal
adviser, an
attorney and
professor in
UN
international
civil service
law in Paris,
the DG's
message is
contrary to
the current
state of law.
Indeed, it has
always been
considered
that the oath
of office
cannot be
considered as
incompatible
with the
exercise of
the right to
strike. Even
more
importantly,
UNAT and ILOAT
have since
several
decades
proclaimed the
legitimacy of
strike, the
latter
declaring in
Judgement 615
: "As a matter
of principle,
a strike is
lawful". The
DG's message,
while
intimidatory,
is uninformed
and can safely
be ignored.
2. Why does
the Council
think that the
strike is now
necessary?
We believe we
have exhausted
all means of
reaching
agreement with
our employer
and the ICSC.
During the
meeting last
week in New
York of the
ICSC Advisory
committee on
post
adjustment
questions, it
did not want
to come back
on its
decision on
the pay cut in
Geneva despite
an independent
statistician’s
report showing
the use of the
methodology to
be doubtful.
Further, our
meeting with
the
Secretary-General
did not result
in a
commitment to
address the
current cut,
although there
were
discussions
about future
reform.
3. Is a
minimum number
of voters
required for
the vote to be
valid?
Article 16 of
the Staff
Council’s
rules, which
covers strike
votes, does
not require
one. However,
we encourage
you all,
regardless of
your category
or grade, to
vote. The
strike will
happen if a
simple
majority of
votes cast is
positive.
4. Will the
results of the
vote be
binding on all
staff?
The right to
strike is one
given to each
staff member.
Taking part in
a strike is an
individual
choice and all
staff may take
part.
5. How will
the results of
the strike
vote be
communicated
so as to know
if the strike
is going ahead
tomorrow?
The count will
take place
after voting
closes at 4
p.m. The
results will
be immediately
communicated
by broadcast
at close of
business via
broadcast, on
the Council
website
(www.staffcoordinatingcouncil.org)
and Facebook
(UN staff
unions).
Please pass
the news onto
your
colleagues
once it is
out.
6. What should
you do on
strike day?
Please do not
come to work
during the
whole day. No
demonstration
or picket line
is planned
this time.
7. What
measures can
the
organization
take against
staff who
strike?
According to
jurisprudence
and
international
ILO norms, an
employer may,
but is not
required to,
deduct salary
pro rata for
the days of
strike. We are
not clear how
the counting
of striking
staff would
take place and
how the
organization
would proceed
to deduct pay
without a wave
of protests.
8. Should you
inform
delegates that
you will not
be servicing
their meeting
on Friday?
Heads of
department are
responsible
for informing
delegates and
meeting
participants
of the strike.
The
Director-General
will also
inform
permanent
missions.
9. Can
consultants
and interns
take part in
the strike?
We encourage
consultants
and interns to
take part.
However, they
should first
discuss this
with their
supervisor,
who may well
be striking.
10. Can
security staff
go on strike?
Like all
staff,
security staff
may go on
strike." Inner
City Press on
March 12 asked
Guterres'
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, UN
transcript
here: Inner
City Press: I
wanted to ask
you that the
staff in
Geneva have
scheduled in
writing a vote
on a strike,
they've told
me that
there's some
mulling of
retaliation if
people vote
for a strike
or go on
strike by Jan
Beagle of
Department of
Management.
So, I just
wanted to ask
you… in
advance, not
to hinder the
vote, of
course.
This is all
being done in
a… kind of a
way the union
does
things.
They're having
a vote in
various places
on Thursday,
but what can
you say about
the
Secretary-General's
respect for
the right to
collective
bargaining?
Spokesman:
As a matter of
principle, we
have a respect
for
unions.
People should
feel to free…
feel free to
vote the way
they want to
vote. I
can assure you
that there is
no retaliation
planned of any
kind.
The issue of
collective
bargaining is
a principle
itself.
It doesn't
really apply
to… I mean,
the UN pay
structure is
done, as you
know, through
a different
way, through
the
International
Civil Service
Commission
(ICSC). Inner
City Press: I
guess their
idea is, if
they, in fact…
if people vote
for a strike
and as a last
resort… last
time, there
was a work
stoppage, and
there was
message from
Michael Møller
saying that
there could be
administrative
penalties for
actually
having… this
is what I
mean.
It's like,
obviously,
people can
organize, but
if they
organize to
actually take
collective
action…
Spokesman:
I think there
are rules in
place, and
those rules
need to be
respected."
Rules? Inner
City Press has
obtained the
strike vote
notice, here:
"Dear
Colleagues, A
consultation
on a proposal
for a strike
has been
requested by
the Staff
Coordinating
Council, as
per article 16
of the
Regulations on
Representation
of the Staff
of the United
Nations Office
at Geneva. The
Polling Board
therefore
invites all
staff to reply
to the
following
question: Do
you agree to
resort to a
strike of one
or more days
against the
ongoing
deterioration
in your pay
and conditions
of service, if
all means of
reaching
agreement with
our employer
and ICSC fail?
Please find
below the
statement of
reasons making
it advisable
to call a
strike, as
proposed by
the Staff
Coordinating
Council:
Following your
recent
demands, the
UNOG Staff
Coordinating
Council has
decided to
call for a
referendum to
resort to one
or more days
of strike.
Such strike
action may be
required as
part of the
campaign to
determine pay
and conditions
in a more
balanced,
participatory,
fair and
transparent
manner. The
serious and
ongoing
deterioration
in employment
conditions for
all staff
categories in
all duty
stations has
resulted from
the decisions
of the
International
Civil Service
Commission
(ICSC). For P
staff in
Geneva this
includes 3.6
percent pay
cut in the
February pay
slip (to be
followed by a
further
estimated 1.5
percent pay
cut in June)
and the
outcome of the
compensation
review,
including the
unified salary
scale, less
frequent step
increments and
decreased
education
grant. For GS
staff, it
includes a
review of the
compensation
and salary
survey
methodology,
due to start
this summer,
that will
likely, as
things stand,
lead to
further
reductions in
pay (Cuts have
already been
implemented to
GS pay by 10
percent in
Bangkok and 25
percent in
Tokyo). The
ICSC breached
an earlier
understanding
reached in
July 2017 that
the pay cut
for P staff in
Geneva would
not exceed 3
percent. This
is one of
several
examples of
ICSC
decision-making
lacking
accountability,
transparency
and based on
erroneous
calculations.
There have
been
distortions in
the official
methodology
and there are
serious
concerns about
the
professional
independence
of the body.
As a result,
staff have
lost
confidence in
the ICSC and
are
disappointed
that the UN,
contrary to
some
specialized
agencies, has
already
implemented
the ICSC’s
cuts. The
strike would
be a tool of
last resort,
should other
means of
reaching
agreement with
our employer
and ICSC fail.
For these
reasons, the
Council
advises you to
vote yes. The
consultation
will be held
on Thursday 15
March 2018."
While we'll
have more on
this, in
February the
response by
Guterres' UN
was to issues
threats
against the
collective
action, below.
So at the
February 26
noon briefing
Inner City
Press asked
Guterres'
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
the stoppage,
the threat,
and Guterres
automatically
flying first
class. From
the UN transcript:
Inner City
Press: I'm
sure you know
that there was
a work
stoppage at
the UN in
Geneva today
during the
opening of the
Human Rights
Council.
And I've seen
a… an email
from Michael
Møller to
staff there
essentially
saying that
they can be
disciplined
for… for this
work
stoppage.
And maybe I'm
misreading it,
but that's
how…
Spokesman:
I have not
seen the
email, so I
can't comment
on it. Inner
City Press:
What is the
right of the
UN staff to…
if they have a
grievance —
you were just
talking about
the right to
peaceful
protest — if
they have a
grievance to…
as… you know,
have a… have a
work stoppage,
half-day work
stoppage, in
order to get
the
Secretary-General's
attention?
Spokesman:
I don't know
the
intricacies of
the staff
rules
concerning
work
stoppages.
Obviously,
people have a
right to… have
a right to air
their
grievances.
Staff also
have
responsibility
towards their
work. And what
does the
Secretary-General
think of their
grievances?
A lot of the
them are…
they're kind
of
economically
related, and I
wanted… what
does he think
of them?
Spokesman:
I haven't seen
their… the
list of
grievances.
I know there
are issues
relating to
the
International
Civil Service
Commission.
But,
otherwise, I
haven't seen
the
particulars…
Inner City
Press: I'd
asked before
about the
travel budget
and had been…
had been… I'd
seen it said
that the
Secretary-General
and the Deputy
have a right
to, in every
instance,
travel… travel
first
class.
And it was
said that this
is for safety
reasons.
And just in
looking into
it, there's a
big
controversy in
the US right
now about
Scott Pruitt
and… and… and
others for
travelling
first class,
they say,
wastefully.
And a US
Senator from
Louisiana said
he never
travels first
class because
his
constituents
would be
offended.
And I'm just
wondering,
what is the…
what is the
unique safety
issue for the
Secretary-General
that he must
always, in
every case,
fly first
class?
And I'm
relating it, I
think, to the
issues that
are… have
arisen today
in Geneva
leading to the
work stoppage.
Spokesman:
First of all,
the travel
rules are
approved by
the General
Assembly.
The
Secretary-General
and the Deputy
Secretary-General
also often
travel
business when
first class…
because an
increasing
number of
flights,
planes, in
fact, do not
have first
class, so they
often also do
travel
business.
Thank you." So
the only way
Guterres does
NOT fly first
class is if
it's full. On
February 27,
Inner City
Press asked
Dujarric
again, from
the UN
transcript,
Inner City
Press:
yesterday,
you'd said you
were… you had
not seen the
“list of
grievances of
this work
stoppage in
Geneva”.
There was also
one in Addis
and a protest
in Bangkok,
and the staff
union here is
getting on
board.
So, the… the…
it's a pretty
straightforward
list of
grievances,
and I wanted
to know what
either yours
or, even more
importantly,
the
Secretary-General's
response to
it, which is
to suspend
the… the sort
of deference
and
implementation
of ICSC,
International
Civil Service
Commission,
rulings since
2016 and to
“reform the
ICSC in terms
of…”?
Spokesman:
I think
reforming… the
issue of
reforming the
ICSC is one
that is not in
the
Secretary-General's
hands. I
think people
have
grievances.
They're
expressing
themselves,
and there are
procedures
through which
they can
continue to
express
themselves.
Inner City
Press:
Right, but
does he
believe that
they should
continue to
implement…?
Spokesman:
"I think I've
answered that
question."
Well, no.
Here's the
UN's
response:
"Dear
colleagues, I
refer to the
communication
from the UNOG
Staff
Coordinating
Council with
the title “Pay
cut”
announcing
work stoppages
to be
organized in
the context of
a “Global day
of Action”.UN
Geneva
recognizes and
respects the
right of staff
to freedom of
association.
Staff are
allowed to
meet on the UN
Geneva
premises in a
non-disruptive
manner. UN
Geneva also
acknowledges
the
dissatisfaction
of staff
resulting from
the ISCS’s
determination
on post
adjustment for
a number of
duty stations.
Notwithstanding
the above,
staff are
reminded that
actions which
disrupt or
otherwise
interfere with
any meeting or
other official
activity of
the
Organization,
may be
considered
contravening
the
obligations
under staff
rule 1.2 (g).
This includes
any and all
conduct which
is intended,
directly or
indirectly, to
interfere with
the ability of
staff or
delegates to
discharge
their official
functions.
Based on
guidance from
UNHQ, staff
are also
reminded that
action, such
as work
stoppage or
other
collective
action, may be
considered as
unauthorized
absence, and
may result in
administrative
consequences
in line with
the staff
regulations
and
rules.(Signed)
Michael Møller
Director-General
of UNOG."
UNreal.
Guterres cited
the February
24 resolution
on Syria in
the UN
Security
Council, and
his work on
Myanmar, where
he defended
his
pro-government
Resident
Coordinator
Renata Lok
Dessallien to
the end. But
he did not
mention his
other failures
in 2017, for
example that
in Cameroon
where he went
and took 36
year ruler
Paul Biya's
golden statue,
and has done
nothing on the
torching of
houses and
refoulement of
at least 47
people from
Nigeria, while
his Deputy
Amina J.
Mohammed was
right there.
He coasted
through; on
February 27 in
Geneva he
faces a half
day strike by
UN staff in
Geneva. This
as his
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric
insists to the
Press that a
victim of
sexual
harassment by
the UN system
in India is not
even alleging
harassment,
while both and
UN Global
Communicator
Alison Smale
continue to
restrict
Inner City
Press which
asks.
We'll have
more on this.
Last week, EU
Special
Representative
for Human
Rights Stavros
Lambrinidis
held
"conversation"
at the EU's
offices in New
York on
February 20,
Inner City
Press thought
there would be
Q&A, to
ask for
example if
there is a
"penholder"
system within
the EU which
would explain
their silence,
like France,
on human
rights abuses
in Cameroon
and elsewhere.
But
Lambrinidis,
was in a
reflective, or
self-satisfied,
mood. He said
he's done a
great job in
the last five
years and
criticized
unnamed
countries for
using Europe's
freedoms to
come peddle
their
subsidized bad
ideas. He used
France as an
example of a
good human
rights record,
and emphasized
his Greek
roots, even
throwing in a
reference to
ouzo. Inner
City Press has
to leave and
sprint back to
the UN by 7
pm, the
censorship
curfew imposed
on it for two
years now for
reporting on
UN corruption.
(Moment here).
We'll have
more on this.
The deference
of the
UN system's
and many of
its member
states to
Cameroon's
corrupt
35-year
president Paul
Biya, and
their
complicity in
his
recent
crackdown,
continues. UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres
accepted
Biya's golden
statue in late
October 2017;
now in
February his
humanitarian
adviser Ursula
Muller goes to
Cameroon and
won't even
visit the
Anglophone
areas where
Biya,
disproportionately
in Geneva, is
killing
people. Inner
City Press on
February 20
asked
Guterres'
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric,
video here,
UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: I'd
asked you last
week, with
Ursula Mueller
heading to
Cameroon,
whether, in
fact, she
would go to
the Anglophone
areas.
One reason I'm
asking is,
since you were
here, a study
by the
Organized
Crime and
Corruption
Reporting
Project has
said that Paul
Biya of
Cameroon has
spent 4 and a
half years
during his
tenure in
Geneva, at a
cost of some
$200 million
to the country
that he's… up
to a third of
the year, he's
gone.
So, I wanted
to ask you
whether… given
that the
Secretary-General
took that
golden… the
golden statue
— and you
never did get
back on what
the gift
registry
number was —
where is
it? And
does he have
any second
thoughts given
this troubling
report of an
absentee rule…
Spokesman:
I have not
seen the
report.
I'm not going
to comment on
the coming and
goings of
Heads of
States,
whether
they're from
Security
Council
chambers or
from their own
country.
The… my
understanding
is that Ms.
Mueller will
not be going
to the
Anglophone
areas.
That's what I
was told.
Inner City
Press: Is
there a reason
for
that?
Because she
had a litany
of what she
considered the
problems of
the country,
and if you do
just a simple
news search,
you'll see
that this is
a…
Spokesman:
No, I
understand.
I'm sure the
overall
humanitarian
situation in
the country
will come up
in
discussions."
The overall
situation? The
new report
details Biya's
long stays
outside of the
country in
Geneva, while
his military
kills
Anglophones
and the
country
declines. Biya
has spent four
and a half
years in
Geneva, at a
cost of $65
million in
hotel fees and
$117 million
for chartered
private plane,
sometimes left
"on stand-by"
for weeks at a
time. The
report goes
one level
down: "One of
Biya’s closest
confidants,
Joseph Fouda,
a military
officer and
special
advisor, has
accompanied
him on at
least 86
trips,
amounting to
more than
three years of
travel since
1993. He
prefers a room
on a top floor
of the
Intercontinental.
Another close
confidant,
Martin Belinga
Eboutou, 78,
has spent
nearly three
years
travelling
with the
president
starting in
1987, when he
was Cameroon’s
ambassador to
Morocco. The
president
attempted to
buy a brand
new private
jet in 2004,
but his staff
reportedly cut
corners on the
deal, buying a
defective
plane covered
by a fresh
coat of paint
that nearly
crashed on its
first flight.
Since then,
the president
has chartered
at least
several
private
aircraft,
including a
luxury jet
formerly owned
by the
government of
Kazakhstan."
Still UN
Secretary
General,
himself a murky
first class
flyer,
smilingly took
Biya's golden
statue and has
done nothing;
his advisers
Khassim Diagne
and the
outgoing head
of Political
Affairs have
assured him of
Biya's bona
fides or the
wisdom of
doing...
nothing. The
UN has failed.
The UN refugee
agency UNHCR
in Abuja early
on January 30
told Inner
City Press
that it has as
yet no comment
on the blatant
forced
repatriation
or refoulement
to Cameroon of
Sisiku Ayuk
Tabe and 46
others while
it seeks
"explanations
through
official
channels."
(Later UNHCR
issued a short
statement.) On
January 31,
Inner City
Press again asked
UN Secretary
General
Antonio Guterres' Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, UN
transcript
here and
below. When
Inner City
Press on
February 8 put
the
refoulement
question to
Francois
Delattre, the
UN Ambassador
of France
which has
supported Paul
Biya's 36-year
rule, Delattre
replied that
"We always
have views but
no comment
from me at
this stage."
Video here.
That is
irresponsible
- or another
sign of
France's
responsibility
for what is
happening in
the region.
We'll have
more on this -
and now on
Germany. Angela
Merkel's
"personal
representative
for Africa" Gunter
Nooke
showed up in
Yaounde on
February 15
trying as he does
elsewhere to
drum up business. With
him was
Ambassador
Hans Dieter
Stell; there
was according
to CRTV "the
exchange of
gifts symbolic
of Cameroon's
legendary
hospitality."
Another golden
statue like
UNSG Guterres
took? At UN
headquarters,
as
Inner City Press
alone asked,
Germany's
Ambassador
procured a
publicly
funded post
for his wife
by merely
emailing
Guterres'
chief of
staff. Inner
City Press asked
Dujarric and his
deputy Haq -
no real answer
- while
the only other
question asked
about it was
how the
information
about the job
had leaked.
The media asking that
is given full
access to the
UN by the UN
Department of
Public
Information of
British Alison
Smale, a major
Germanophile
who
continues to
have Inner
City Press
restricted, its long
time work
space given to
a no-show
no-question
Egyptian state
media.
We'll have
more on this.
The
United Kingdom's silence about
the plight of Anglophone
residents of the former
British Southern Cameroons
persists even in the face of a
Freedom of Information Act
request from Inner City Press.
More than five
months ago on 15 August 2017
Inner City Press asked the UK
government for records
concerning Cameroon. After
repeatedly extending the time
to response, now the UK has
denied access to all
responsive records, letter here,
saying that "the release of
information relating to the
UK’s discussion on UN business
could harm our relations and
other member states of the
United Nations (UN)."
Here
on Patreon is the full denial
letter, from which Inner City
Press is preparing an appeal,
on Yemen as well - it has 40
working days.
This is shameful
- the UK is also exiting
transparency.
On February 6 in
front of the UN Security
Council, Inner City Press
asked the United Kingdom's
Deputy Ambassador Jonathan
Allen for the UK's comment on
Nigeria's forced repatriation
of 47 to Cameroon. From the UK
transcript: Inner City Press:
Nigeria did a forced
repatriation of 47 Cameroonian
leaders. The UNHCR said it was
illegal. The US has commented
on it. Does the UK have any
view? Amb Allen: I’m afraid I
wasn’t aware of that before.
I’ll have to get back to you
on the details." Video here.
At day's end, a UK Mission
spokesperson sent Inner City
Press a short comment, here.
As
Inner City
Press pursues
these
questions at
the UN, again
it remains restricted
to minders by
the head of
the UN
Department of
Public
Information
Alison Smale,
who it is
noted is
British - and
functionally a
censor. A
retaliator,
too? As noted,
Smale has not
explained why
Inner City
Press' long
time work
space is
assigned to
no-show,
no-question
Egyptian state
media Akhbar
al Youm.
On Cameroon
and Yemen, UK Denies Inner
City Press FOIA Request
After 170 Days, Preparing
to Appeal, 40 Work...
by Matthew
Russell Lee on Scribd
Meanwhile
the French government, which
claims at the UN and elsewhere
that human rights is in its
DNA, has ignored the
refoulement, limited its
condemnation instead, via Foreign
ministry
spokeswoman
Agnes Von der
Muhll, on "new
killings of law enforcement
officials that took place on 1
February in Cameroon."
In Yaounde,
France's Ambassador Gilles
Thibault is focusing, like
Reuters' ostensibly charitable
arm, on the cultivation of
pepper, see here.
This is colonialism.Are these
the relations that the UK
claims would be hurt by
complying with FOIA? Watch
this site.
***
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