On
Yemen, ICP
Asks UK Of
Hadi Rebuffing
Ceasefire, Not
Meeting UN
Envoy
By
Matthew
Russell Lee,
Follow Up to
Exclusives
UNITED
NATIONS,
November 17 --
While in Yemen
the Houthis
and
ex-President
Saleh's GNC
both announced
agreement to a
ceasefire, in
Riyahd exiled
president Hadi
indicated he
did not agree.
The UN on
November 16
admitted to
Inner City
Press that
Hadi did not
even meet with
UN envoy
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed.
On November
17, Inner City
Press asked UK
Ambassador to
the UN Matthew
Rycroft if
this was his
understanding
of Hadi's
position. Tweeted
video here.
From
the UK's
transcript:
Inner
City
Press:
Any idea if
President Hadi
is for the
ceasefire or
not for the
ceasefire, in
your
understanding?
Amb Rycroft:
So last I
heard,
President Hadi
was not for
the ceasefire
brokered by
Secretary
Kerry, who was
in the region
recently. We
commend his
efforts, his
energy, his
continued
momentum
throughout his
mandate,
including on
this important
issue. I think
he’s made a
huge amount of
progress by
getting that
ceasefire
agreed, but I
think not by
President Hadi
and indeed not
by the
government of
Yemen, as
things
currently
stand.
Inner City
Press: Does
President Hadi
not want to
meet with the
UN Envoy?
Because some
people had
said that he
went to Riyadh
and was unable
to meet with
Hadi?
Amb Rycroft: I
hadn’t heard
of that. I was
aware that
President Hadi
had taken some
persuasion
even to
receive the
roadmap, never
mind to engage
constructively
on it. But we
call on him,
and indeed all
of the parties
in Yemen, to
engage
constructively
on the
roadmap, which
is a good,
final offer
from the
Special Envoy
of the UN,
which I think
has the full
backing of the
Security
Council. I
certainly hope
so. And our
draft
resolution,
which sets
forth that
support by the
Security
Council for
the Special
Envoy and his
roadmap, as
well as for
other things
like the
Cessation of
Hostilities
and the
humanitarian
access that
continues to
be in play,
and we will
keep that out
there as a way
of moving in
the right
direction on
Yemen towards
a political
agreement.
The Saudi led
coalition
bombed the
funeral of the
father of
Yemen interior
minister Jalal
al-Roweishan
in Sana'a on
October 8, the
same day the
UN Security
Council met
about
airstrikes in
Syria.
Inner
City Press
asked Saudi
Arabia's
ambassador to
the UN
Abdallah Yahya
A.
Al-Mouallimi
to confirm it
was an Saudi
strike and
explain it. He
said, "I am
not aware of
it." Vine
video here.
Inner
City Press
asked him more
questions on
November 3, video here. He said
investigations
are
proceeding,
and money
being offered.
On
November 16,
Inner City
Press again
asked Ban
Ki-moon's
spokesperson
about the
failures of
Ban's or Saudi
Arabia's envoy
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed.
From the UN's
November 16
transcript:
Inner
City Press: on
what Secretary
[John] Kerry
announced
yesterday as a
ceasefire
agreed to by
the Houthis,
and it's since
been said that
the GPC
(General
People’s
Congress)/Saleh
side also
agrees to it
and the
roadmap, I'm…
I wanted to
ask you again,
because
yesterday, and
I guess… I
think it
happened later
in the day
than the
briefing here,
at the State
Department
briefing, the…
the briefer,
Ms.
[Elizabeth]
Trudeau, was
asked
repeatedly
why… what was
the [Abd
Rabbuh Mansur]
Hadi
position?
And she said…
this is a
direct quote…
she said, "As
to the
conversations
with the
Yemeni
Government, we
believe that's
the role of
the UN Special
Envoy, and we
direct you
there."
So I'm
wondering, can
you state what
has been the
status of… of
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed's
discussions
with the Hadi
Government and
with Mr. Hadi,
in
particular?
And what is
their position
on a ceasefire
that John
Kerry's
announced and
that two
parties have
said that they
will… would…
would or will
respect as
early as
Thursday?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, at this
stage, like I
say… like I
told you
yesterday,
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
has been
travelling
throughout the
region.
I believe, in
more recent
days, he's
been in Amman,
Jordan.
But before
that, he had
been in Sana'a
and in Riyadh,
talking with
the different
parties.
There are
assurances on
different
sides. I
don't want to
characterise
at this point
the position
of the Hadi
Government.
That's really
for them to
describe.
But he has had
good
discussions
with Saudi
officials and
others.
We've been in
touch with
people
throughout the
region.
We'll have to
see whether a
cessation of
hostilities
takes hold
tomorrow, but
we've been
very
encouraged,
including by
Secretary of
State John
Kerry's
efforts.
And what we'll
do is see what
happens
tomorrow and
react
accordingly.
But there have
been some good
signals on… by
various sides.
ICP
Question:
Was the envoy
able to meet
with President
Hadi when he
was in
Riyadh?
Because I've
heard that he
wasn't and he
was
snubbed.
And can you
just… did he
meet or
not? If
he met,
great.
If he didn't,
say it.
Deputy
Spokesman:
No, I wouldn't
call it a
snub, but, no,
they did not
meet.
On
November 10,
having been
informed by
sources that
Hadi and his
team rebuffed
the “UN” envoy
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
and his or
John Kerry's
roadmap, Inner
City Press
asked UK
Ambassador
Matthew
Rycroft about
it. Rycroft
said all sides
should engage,
including
explaining
what they
don't like
about the
roadmap. Video
here.
From the UK
transcript:
Inner
City Press: On
Yemen, the
reports that
President Hadi
declined to
meet with the
Envoy – is
that your
understanding?
And where do
you think
things stand
on this
Roadmap?
Amb Rycroft:
Well where
things stand
is that I
think that the
whole of the
Security
Council
supports the
Roadmap. We
have a draft
resolution, as
you know, that
is sort of in
the works that
are out there
that would
offer that
full support
in terms of a
textual
resolution. We
are, all of
us, providing
our full
support to the
Special Envoy.
We are
encouraging
him to engage
with all the
parties. It’s
not just Hadi,
but some of
the others too
have their
concerns with
aspects of the
Roadmap. No
one is going
to be
completely
happy with
every part of
it, but it is
a sensible,
balanced,
thought
through,
careful
proposal and
we encourage
all the
parties to
engage on it.
And if they
don’t like it
to tell us
why, and to
negotiate from
that as a
starting
point.
Meanwhile
Inner City
Press hears of
protests
directed at
the UN in
Sana'a for UN
support of the
blockade of
Yemen by the
Saudi-led
Coalition.
Exclusively,
Inner City
Press is
informed that
despite Bna
Ki-moon's
teams constant
refrain that
his decision
to remove the
Saudi-led
Coalition from
the UN's
Children and
Armed Conflict
annex for
Yemen, this
will not
happen during
Ban's
remaining 50
days as
Secretary
General. The
report is
finished,
Inner City
Press is told,
if it is
reopened now
it would be an
even worse
precedent,
allowing
others to
lobby to get
off the list
at any time.
The decision
will await
March, and
Ban's
successor.
So Ban
Ki-moon's
sell-out of
Yemen and its
children is
complete, it
is concluded.
On
November 7
Inner City
Press
exclusively
reported that
not only is
“UN” envoy
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed's
roadmap
dictated by
outgoing US
Secretary of
State John
Kerry, but
that there are
complaints
among IOCA's
team, about
no-show
employees
parked in
Sweden and his
deputy “Gluck”
whom no one
wants to work
with.
More troubling
from a US
perspective is
that Inner
City Press is
told about
pressure
brought to
bear on Saleh,
making his
support
Kerry's
roadmap in
order to
“free” his son
/ once
successor,
under
essential
house arrest
in the UAE. Is
this the way
US foreign
policy is
supposed to
function?
Can Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed even
meet with
Hadi? We'll
see - watch
this site.
After
Saudi Arabia
was re-elected
to the UN
Human Rights
Council on
October 28,
with the votes
of 152 of the
193 member
states, the
Saudi-led
Coalition's
bombing of
Yemen picked
up pace,
including
killing
detainees in
Al Hudaydah.
On
November 3
Abdallah Yahya
A.
Al-Mouallimi
told Inner
City Press
this was an
entirely
military
target.
Detainees? Video here.
Much
has been said
about the
Yemen draft
resolution
being worked
on by the
penholder the
UK, without
circulation to
the 15
Security
Council
members. On
November 1 UK
Ambassador
Matthew
Rycroft told
the Press
about the
draft; at 5 pm
Council
president for
November Fode
Seck of
Senegal also
referred to
it.
A
draft was
obtained by
Inner City
Press and was
exclusively
published on
November 1,
see below: it
does not
condemn the
airstrikes but
demands a
cessation of
hostilities,
and for the
envoy to
report back in
15 days. AP
gave credit to
Inner City
Press on
November 2.
Now
Inner City
Press can
exclusively
report that
“UN” envoy
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed's
roadmap is in
fact a product
of the US
State
Department,
and that IOCA
only belatedly
presented it
to a lower
level
administrator
in the Yemeni
/ Hadi foreign
minister. The
envoy has been
criticized
and, we're
told, is about
to be cut off
by the Houthi
side. And
while Saudi
Arabia's
Ambassador
answered Inner
City Press
diplomatically
on November,
it seems the
Saudis are no
fans of this
roadmap
either. “It
was all about
Kerry's
legacy,” as
one source put
it to Inner
City Press.
On
October 31
outside the UN
Security
Council, envoy
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
came out to
take
questions. But
Ban Ki-moon's
deputy
spokesman said
he would only
take two
questions
because he had
to meet Ban --
strange, given
that Ban's
scheduled only
listed him at
4 pm, three
hours in the
future.
Inner City
Press asked,
quite audibly,
if weapons
sales to Saudi
Arabia by the
UK and US is
helpful to his
mandate. Ban
Ki-moon's
deputy
spokesman cut
in, awarding
the question
to another.
After that,
Inner City
Press asked
again, if US
fueling of
Saudi
warplanes
helps the
envoy's
mandate. He
did not
answer.
Video
here.
He
walked down
the hall where
Inner City
Press under
Ban's
censorship
order can't go
without a
minder but
others can.
But where was
he headed,
with three
hours until
his listed
meeting with
Ban?
The
next day
November 1,
Ansar Allah's
spokesman
mocked Ban's
envoy, full
Arabic
statement
obtained and
published by
InnerCityPro.com
here.
Some:
"the UN envoy
to Yemen in
briefings
presented to
the Security
Council to
provide cover
for the
countries of
aggression,
as experienced
by the Yemeni
people from
the reality of
a painful and
unfortunate
result of
brutal
aggression,
and
contributes
one way or
another with
the help of
the
executioner
against the
victim and
prolong the
war and the
adoption of
fallacies and
fabrications
do not hear
but channels
of
disinformation
for the
countries of
aggression....
not realizing
that such acts
foolish had
violated his
mission as an
envoy of
peace, turning
to war
exercises
shipping
confessional
of the
platform is
supposed that
the UN, which
is fueling the
conflict and
rivalry and
stoke the fire
of hostilities
between the
people of the
nation.
"While
recognizing
that the
United Nations
is only a
platform to
beautify the
colonial
American
policies in
the region and
the world, but
the slope,
which reached
its envoy to
Yemen is a
disgrace to
the
institution
exposed its
role by
exposure
representatives
angels of the
executioners
service, and
assure that
the
institution
will not be
able to play
an active and
positive role
in the Yemen
only when it
is able to
clarify the
situation and
repair what
was destroyed
envoy slipped
dangerously
ramp by
turning to the
worst trumpet
internationalist
states
aggression."
Earlier
on October 31
Inner City
Press asked UK
ambassador
Matthew
Rycroft if
Hadi should
cede power. Beyond the Vine video here;
UK transcript
here:
Inner
City Press:
Should
President Hadi
cede power to
a new vice
president.
That’s what
people are
saying is in
the Road Map.
Is it time for
him to put the
larger picture
ahead of
himself?
Rycroft: We
support the
Special
Envoy’s Road
Map, and
you’re right
that part of
the Road Map
is on the
political
process and a
longer term
political
settlement for
Yemen, and the
other part of
it is the
security. And
taken
together, they
provide a
balanced
package that
will allow all
of the
relevant
parties to
move forward,
including in
the longer
term a new
governing
structure and
new governing
people to take
Yemen forward.
Inner City
Press put the
same question
to French
Ambassador
Francois
Delattre, who
said it would
require too
long an
answer. Video
here: including
Inner City
Press' "you
know where to
find us."
Watch this
site.
InnerCityPro.com
obtained and
published the
National
Delegation's
response to
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed's
proposed
roadmap, here.
On
October 27,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, UN transcript
here:
Inner
City Press:
Wanted to ask
you about
Yemen.
Seems that the
Secretary-General's
envoy, Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed, has put
forward a
roadmap which
would involve
the Vice
President, Ali
Mohsen
al-Ahmar,
stepping down
and Mr. [Abd
Rabbuh
Mansour] Hadi
transferring
his powers to
a new Vice
President.
I want… I
guess I wanted
to say… if
this is… you'd
said that they
have the same
view.
Yesterday,
you'd said the
envoy and the
Secretary-General
are as
one. So
I wanted to
know, will the
Secretary-General
be calling
various
parties to the
conflict, such
as Saudi
Arabia, to ask
them to… to
urge them to
accept this
proposal with
the Vice
President
stepping down
and the
President
[inaudible]…
Spokesman:
My
understanding
is that
certain
documents were
leaked that
were shared,
so we're not
going to
comment on
these leaked
documents.
I think it's
not a surprise
that, in any
mediation
negotiation
effort,
different
plans are put
forward, and
what we very
much hope is
that all the
parties
involved will
support and
continue to
support the
work of the
Special Envoy.
ICP
Question:
And today, the
International
Monetary Fund,
at its
briefing,
expressed
greater
concern about
this plan by
Mr. Hadi, who
may not be
long for his
powers, to
move the
Central Bank
to Aden,
saying it's a
very
complicated
process.
I wanted to
know, on the
humanitarian
front, does
the UN have
any update on
steps that
have been
taken and… and
does it have
any renewed
call that the…
the Central
Bank not be
moved at this
[inaudible]
time…
Spokesman:
No specific
information on
where that
plan
lies. I
think the
Special Envoy
answered that
question that
in fact, you
had asked him,
and I don't
see any reason
why his
opinion has
changed in any
way.
On
October 24,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, UN transcript
here:
Inner
City Press: I
was, I guess,
expecting
something on
Yemen.
What's the
status… people
are reporting
that the
airstrikes
have resumed
or even picked
up escalation
— the
expiration.
And there's
also some
reports that
the Saudi-led
coalition was
targeting what
little
agricultural
land there is
in the
country, and
there are
picture…
troubling
pictures of
starving
people being
brought down
from mountains
to clinics. So
what exactly
is the plan of
the UN?
What's their
read on… on
how the
bombing has
resumed?
And
[inaudible]…
Spokesman:
It's clear
that the
bombing has
resumed.
I think the
pause,
although very
short, gave
respite to
some
Yemenis.
It allowed us
to start some
humanitarian…
some
humanitarian
distribution,
though some
were blocked,
notably some
continue to be
blocked in
terms of
entering
Taizz. The
Special Envoy
is in… is in
Yemen.
He, as you saw
over the
weekend, has
asked for… had
asked for an
extension and
asked for a
renewed
commitment to
the
pause.
And he will
continue… he
will continue
to advocate
for that.
ICP
Question:
Does he
consider… does
the
Secretary-General,
who removed
the Saudi-led
coalition from
the children
and armed
conflict annex
on Yemen,
consider the
intentional
bombing of
agricultural
land to also
be something
relevant to
his
consideration
before he
leaves of
putting them
back on the
list?
Spokesman:
The… if there
was
intentional
bombing of
agricultural
land, that
would fall
under the
intentional
targeting of
civilian
infrastructure,
which is
prohibited by
international
law.
Yeah.
Yeah -
like, what are
Ban Ki-moon
and his envoy
DOING about
any of this?
While
the US took no
action on the
strike by its
ally Saudi
Arabia which
it support, on
October 12 it
bragged of
Tomahawk
missiles at
Houthi
positions. On
October 15 it
alluded to a
possible radar
malfunction
while, along
with UK
Minister
Tobias
Ellwood,
welcoming the
Saudis' own
self-investigation.
On
October 17 in
front of the
UN Security
Council, Inner
ity Press
asked UK
Ambassador to
the UN Matthew
Rycroft about
this, Beyond
the Vine video
here, UK
transcript
here:
Inner
City Press: On
the Yemen
funeral
bombing, does
the UK think
that the
Saudi-led
coalition that
does the
self-investigation
is enough or
that there
should be a
more serious
investigation?
Amb
Rycroft: Well,
whenever there
are
allegations,
we insist that
the Saudis
investigate
them. The
Saudis have
been
investigating
this one and
they have
committed to
doing it fully
and thoroughly
and quickly
and
transparently.
And that is
going on and
we welcome
that. And we
will look at
the results of
that and if
anything
further is
required then
we will make
up our minds.
On
October 15
Ellwood said,
"Welcome Saudi
report into
funeral
attack.
UK will look
at it closely
to see that
lessons are
learned."
Last
week Inner
City Press
asked three
separate Ban
Ki-moon
spokespeople:
"Beyond
the other
pending
questions,
what is the
Secretary
General's
comment on the
United States'
announced
Tomahawk
missile
firings into
Yemen? Please
list the
highest Saudi
officials USG
O'Brien met in
his most
recent trip to
Riyadh, and
who he
requested to
meet with."
Even by
the next day,
October 13, at
noon there had
been no
answer. So at
the October 13
noon briefing
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, UN transcript
here:
Inner
City Press:
I'd asked you
this in
writing but
maybe you'll
have a
statement.
The US has
announced that
it fired
Tomahawk
missiles at
Yemen, they
say at
radar-controlled
and
Houthi-controlled
territory,
which they say
targeted their
boat.
The Houthis
deny it, say
it may have
been Saudi
Arabia.
Has the US
communicated
anything to
the UN about
this use of
force on
Yemen?
And does the…
does the
Secretary-General
have any
concern about
the
escalation?
Spokesman:
No, I'm not
aware of any
official
communication.
The Special
Envoy for
Yemen urges
all the
parties to
exercise
maximum
restraint in
order to bring
the violence
down, and he
will continue
to focus his
efforts on
securing a
recommitment
to the
Cessation of
Hostilities.
Right.
On
October 12 in
the UN's Third
Committee, the
US speech on
Children and
Armed Conflict
didn't mention
Ban's dropping
of Saudi from
the list. The
UN's Cristina
Gallach's DPI
didn't put the
video online,
eight hours
later.
And
where was
Ban's envoy
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed?
In Saudi, and
silent. This
is Ban's UN
On
October 10 UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon held a
two-question
stakeout and
spoke about
the airstrike
-- he did not,
however, say
that he was
putting Saudi
Arabia and the
Coalition back
on the
Children and
Armed Conflict
annex he took
them off of.
Inner City
Press asked
audibly, Are
you putting
them back on
the list? Vine here. Ban did not answer.
On
October 11,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, UN
transcript
here:
Inner
City Press:
there are
controversy in
a number of
countries, but
the UK and the
US are two of
them, about
continued arm
sales to Saudi
Arabia.
And I wonder,
given the
things that
the
Secretary-General
said at the
stakeout
yesterday,
does he
believe that
countries
should review
under the new
arms… you
know… control
treaty, arms
sales to Saudi
Arabia at this
time?
Spokesman:
I think, you
know, the
Secretary-General,
I think, a few
months ago had
already spoken
to this when
he was in
London.
First of all,
all those
countries that
sell weapons
have a
responsibility
that those
weapons are
used in a way
that does not
violate
international
human rights
law,
international
humanitarian
law, as a
broader point,
that those
States who are
parties to the
arms trade
treaty need to
set an example
in fulfilling
one of the
treaty’s main
purposes,
which is
controlling
the arm flows
to actors that
may use them
in a way that
breach
international
humanitarian
law.
ICP
Question:
Right.
And so… and so
a double-tap
airstrike on a
funeral
building would
qualify as… as
the type of…
[inaudible]
Spokesman:
I think
there’s no… I
think the
Secretary-General
could not have
been clearer
that there’s
absolutely no
excuse for
what happened
yesterday.
At the October
10 UN noon
briefing,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric what
it would take.
Beyond
the Vine video
here. It
remains
unclear. Ban's
envoy Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed is
delaying his
briefing of
the Security
Council from
October 20 to
the 31st --
some urgency
-- and when
Inner City
Press asked
about the
Interior
Minister's
critique of
the envoy,
Dujarric
insisted the
envoy has no
control.
Was he
told, did he
convey the
message, at
least as a
bridge? If
not, should he
be replaced?
The EU's Yemen
representative
has already
moved on.
We'll have
more on this.
The US
says John
Kerry called
the Saudis -
but says
nothing about
any UN
Security
Council
action. Here
is the US
statement:
"Secretary
Kerry spoke on
October 9 to
both His Royal
Highness
Deputy Crown
Prince
Mohammad Bin
Salman and
Foreign
Minister Adel
al Jubeir
regarding the
situation in
Yemen.
Secretary
Kerry
reiterated our
deep concern
about the
October 8
attack on the
funeral hall
in Yemen that
resulted in a
large number
of civilian
casualties. He
welcomed the
Deputy Crown
Prince's
commitment to
launch a
thorough and
immediate
investigation
of the strike
and urged him
to take urgent
steps to
ensure such an
incident does
not happen
again. The
Secretary also
reiterated the
need for an
immediate
cessation of
hostilities,
and the Deputy
Crown Prince
stated his
desire to
institute a
renewable
72-hour
cessation as
soon as
possible,
provided the
Houthis will
agree.
"The Secretary
also noted, as
part of the
broader
de-escalation
effort, the
Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia's
legitimate
request that
the Houthis
pull back
weapons from
Saudi Arabia's
border and
respect its
territorial
integrity. The
Secretary
expressed
appreciation
for the Deputy
Crown Prince's
support for
returning the
Houthi/ Saleh
negotiating
delegation to
Sana'a as soon
as possible to
facilitate the
UN-led
political
process.
Secretary
Kerry
emphasized
that the
United States
will work
closely with
all parties to
establish the
cessation of
hostilities
and revive the
political
process."
No word of any
UN Security
Council
action.
The
UK, which
"holds the
pen" on Yemen
in the
Security
Council, has
issued a
comment - with
no mention of
trying to do
anything in
the Council.
Perhaps they
are or will;
we are
following
this. But for
now, only this
from the UK:
"UK
Minister for
the Middle
East, Tobias
Ellwood,
expresses
concern
following an
airstrike
which hit a
funeral hall
in Yemen and
will raise
concerns with
the Saudi
Ambassador to
London Foreign
Office
Minister
Tobias Ellwood
said:
'I am deeply
concerned by
reports of an
airstrike
hitting a
funeral hall
in the Yemeni
capital Sana’a
yesterday. The
scenes from
the site are
shocking. I am
raising my
concerns with
the Saudi
Ambassador to
London today
and urge the
Saudi-led
coalition’s
announced
investigation
into the
incident to
take place as
a matter of
urgency.
'There can be
no military
solution to
this conflict.
We urge all
sides to
recommit to
political
talks and to
implement a
cessation of
hostilities.'"
So - no UN
Security
Council
reaction?
We'll await
more,
particularly
from the UK as
penholder.
UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon, who
removed the
Saudi
coalition from
the UN
Children and
Armed Conflict
annex on
Yemen, offered
what he called
his "sincere"
condolences.
France, whose
foreign
minister Jean
Marc Ayrault
declined to
answer
Inner City
Press'
question on
October 8
about the
Saudi bombing,
now says it is
"shocked" -
without
mentioning
Saudi Arabia.
The Security
Council, in
which the UK
"holds the
pen" on Yemen,
has yet to say
anything.
Now
Interior
Minister Jalal
Rwichan has
issued a
statement,
forwarded to
Inner City
Press, stating
that Ban
Ki-moon's
envoy Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed was told
of a cessation
in hostilities
for the
funeral, that
on that basis
people went -
and were
killed. He
says not to
trust the UN
or its envoy
anymore. This
has been a
trend under
Ban Ki-moon,
in Sri Lanka
and elsewhere.
We'll have
more on this.
After
the French
resolution
failed in the
Security
Council, its
foreign
minister Jean
Marc Ayrault
came to the
stakeout.
Inner City
Press asked
him, loudly,
if he thinks
the Saudi
bombardment of
Yemen should
also be taken
up by the
Security
Council, after
an airstrike
on a funeral
most recently.
He did not
answer,
despite the
question being
repeated. Vine here. He left.
While
Ambassador
Matthew
Rycroft of the
UK, which
holds the
Council's
“pen” on
Yemen, also
did not
answer, Vine
here, New
Zealand's
ambassador
when Inner
City Press
asked if his
country also
thinks the
Saudi-led
coalition
should stop
bombing Yemen
said, “I do.”
Vine
here.
But by
the end of the
meting,
following a
walk-out by
the UK, US and
others, the UK
as "penholder"
on Yemen in
the Security
Council had
not, according
to the
president,
circulated any
draft Press
Statement.
Watch this
site.
UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon has
let the Saudi
led coalition
off the
Children and
Armed Conflict
annex on
Yemen, while
Saudi Arabia
runs for a
Human Rights
Council seat.
How much lower
can the UN
get?
After
a UAE warship
was hit - and
sunk - off the
Yemeni coast
near Mocha,
Inner City
Press on
October 3
asked Ban
Ki-moon's
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq for
a comment, and
if the UN
knows if it
was a warship
or as claimed
an aid
ship.
See October 6
US travel
warning,
below.
On
October 4 Haq
returned with,
"it doesn't
sound as if it
was on a
humanitarian
mission." Vine video here.
But
eight hours
later, the UN
Security
Council issued
a condemnation
of the attack
on this UAE
"vessel."
So on
October 5,
Inner City
Press asked UN
spokesman Haq
again, if what
he said about
the UAE ship
not being on a
humanitarian
mission still
stands.
He said,
"Yes," and
"that was the
information I
had." Vine
video here.
But the UN
Secretariat
has not given
any update,
much less
correction. So
what precedent
does this
Security
Council Press
Statement
create?
And
what about the
precedent Ban
Ki-moon set by
dropping the
Saudi-led
coalition from
the Children
and Armed
Conflict annex
for killing
children in
Yemen? Saudi
Arabia is now
running for a
seat on the
Human Rights
Council. On
October 6
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Farhan Haq, Beyond the Vine video here,
UN
transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: Given
that the
Secretary-General,
whether you
called it
removed or
temporarily
removed or
suspended
Saudi Arabia
from that
Children in
Armed
Conflicts List
what… what
message does
it send?
Obviously, one
of the things
that people…
that Member
States might
weigh is
whether a
candidate for
the Human
Rights Council
is on one of
the annexes of
Children in
Armed Conflict
or sexual
violence or
any of the
other, sort
of, lists of
shame.
So how should
they read this
removal?
Are they going
to be put back
on during this
campaign
season?
Are they
remaining off
during
it? And
doesn't he
then
acknowledge
that he's had
some impact on
the way in
which they
will be
evaluated for
this position?
Deputy
Spokesman:
I think if you
look at the
website, it
makes clear
that Saudi
Arabia is
currently
temporarily
suspended
while a review
is ongoing.
ICP
Question:
Which is a
different
status than
people that
are on the
list.
Deputy
Spokesman:
It's also a
different
status from
people who are
not on the
list entirely.
From
the UN's
October 3
transcript:
Inner City
Press:
on Yemen, I
wanted to know
if the UN
system has any
comment or
knowledge of
this reported
sinking of a
UAE (United
Arab Emirates)
warship.
Some are
saying it was
an aid
convoy.
The Houthis'
side is saying
it was a
warship
enforcing a
blockade on
them.
Since it's a
pretty
high-profile
incident that
has the
potential to
result in
reprisals,
what's the
UN's
understanding
of what the
ship
was? Was
it an aid
ship, or was
it part of the
military
operations of
the Saudi-led
coalition?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, we're
aware of the
latest
reports, but
we'll need to
get some
further
information
about the
nature of this
vessel before
we make any
particular
comment.
Question:
Given the UN's
role in the
humanitarian
operation in
Yemen, do
countries like
the UAE
coordinate
with UN if
they're, as
they say,
moving medical
supplies from
one place to
another, or is
it just,
everyone goes
it alone?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, as you
know, we do
have a
verification
and inspection
mechanism
that's
designed to
help expedite
the process by
which aid gets
into Yemen,
and so we do
expect that
countries will
use that
mechanism.
On Yemen,
Inner City
Press on
October 4
asked UK
Ambassador to
the UN Matthew
Rycroft how
his country
reviews its
arms sales to
Saudi Arabia
and other
members of the
Saudi-led
Coalition that
has been
bombing Sanaa,
Saada and
elsewhere. Beyond the Vine video here,
UK transcript
here:
Inner
City Press: Q:
On Yemen,
what’s the
process for
the UK to
review its
sale of
weapons to the
Saudi-led
coalition?
That seems to
be an issue.
What would it
take to stop
that flow?
Amb
Rycroft: The
UK has a very
clear set of
arms control
policies in
place, and
they are of a
very high
standard
indeed, and we
use those to
make sure that
we are
satisfied with
any arm sales
to anywhere
around the
world,
including in
relation to
Yemen.
Inner
City Press:
But the
airstrikes on
MSF (Medecins
Sans
Frontieres),
did that
trigger some
sort of second
review?
Amb
Rycroft: Well,
we continue to
look at all of
our policies
in relation to
Yemen. We
provide
political
support to the
Saudi-led
coalition, we
are not
members of the
coalition, and
whenever there
is any one of
these
incidents, or
allegations of
incidents,
then we are
the first to
call on the
Saudis
themselves to
be following
up and
investigating.
Rycroft began
with this,
about the
Human Rights
Council
session and
resolution:
Amb
Rycroft: on
Yemen I just
wanted to
reassure you
that the UK
did not block
a text from
the Human
Rights Council
in Geneva last
week calling
for an
investigation.
In fact, the
UK worked very
hard to get as
strong a text
as possible,
and we got
consensus. And
we’re very
glad that it
was agreed by
consensus.
But it was
weak.
The UN
Secretariat of
Ban Ki-moon's
bungling of
Yemen
mediation has
become ever
more clear,
according to
multiple
sources and
documents
exclusively
seen by Inner
City Press,
see
below.
And see
this Vine,
& this.
On
October 3
Inner City
Press asked
Vitaly Churkin
of Russia,
president of
the Security
Council for
October, about
the sinking of
the UAE ship.
He said there
is a draft
Press
Statement
pending but
there's a need
to check more.
He added that
the UN is a
cynical place,
"in some
places they
want to whip
it up, in
other places
they want to
hush it up."
Churkin
noted Russia
abstained on
the last
resolution -
and said that
the UK blocked
an
investigation
because they
sold $6
billion in
weapons, the
US is involved
too.
(Churkin also
said it is
Eastern
Europe's turn
to be
Secretary
General, and
that Russia
does want more
posts -- Inner
City Press
said DPA --
and that there
will be a
meeting on
Western Sahara
on October 18,
and on Burundi
at some still
undefined
date.)
On
October 4
Inner City
Press asked
Churkin again
about Yemen
and he said
the draft
statement was
in the works.
And now?
While awaiting
more, we note
that
Bernardino
Leon while
working
ostensibly for
the UN on
Libya
negotiated a
job with a UAE
diplomatic
institute.
That was just
another piece
of UN for sale
under Ban
Ki-moon. But
now it may be
time for
Bernardino
Leon to work
for that
money. Watch
this site.
On
September 23,
Inner City
Press went up
to document
Ban Ki-moon's
meeting with
Abdu Rabbu
Mansour Hadi.
The latter
walked slowly
in to the room
for the
ceremonial
handshake and
book signing.
Ban Ki-moon
appeared to
position Hadi
(more than one
reader called
Hadi puppet).
Hadi in turn
in term spread
out his hands.
Photos
here and here.
Beyond
the Vine video
here.
Amid
airstrikes on
Yemen, Saudi
Arabia this
week at the UN
has sponsored
a garish
multimedia
display,
workshops and
culminating
event with Ban
Ki-moon, the
Secretary
General who
let the
Saudi-led
Coalition off
the Children
and Armed
Conflict
annex.
In the UN's 1B
basement by
the Vienna
Cafe, a long
TV screen has
shown footage
of palm trees
and
journalists,
holograms
testifying to
a hallway
draped in a
large carpet.
Inner City
Press arrived
at 4 pm for
what was to be
Ban Ki-moon's
get-down, or
most recent
get-down, with
the Saudis.
Ban
Ki-moon
arrived at
4:30 pm and
was led by the
arm around the
exhibit, Inner
City Press
Vine video
here. He was
taken to a
table and put
on virtual
reality
goggles,
presumably
without
cluster bombs
or Yemeni
children
shown. Periscope
video here.
Interviews
were
conducted;
Inner City
Press rushed
up to the UN's
fourth floor,
but the
full-floor
event was
being taken
down. Ban's
next
appearance
would be that
evening, for
South Korea
where he hopes
to be
President.
Watch this
site.
Now it
seems Ban
Ki-moon's UN
is equally out
of it, perhaps
more
intentionally
so. Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric on
September 30
of the much
weakened UN
Human Rights
Council
resolution
which rather
than setting
up a panel
merely
attaches some
UN to Yemen's
whitewash. I
haven't seen
the details,
Dujarric said.
Vine
here.
He
added that
Ban's envoy
Ismael Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
is headed
to... Saudi
Arabia. We'll
have more on
this.
On September
23 it was
quickly over
but to way to
the elevator
down, Inner
City Press ran
into and
greeted UN
envoy Ismael
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed on his
way to the
meeting and
two
representatives
of Human
Rights Watch,
on the UN's
27th floor.
What were they
doing there?
Both were
formerly
journalists
covering or
channeling Ban
Ki-moon, now
with insider
access. Does
it make Ban
Ki-moon feel
better, to
have them
around while
he sells out
Yemen's
children?
Earlier
on September
23, Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, UN Transcript
here:
Inner
City Press:
Given that the
Secretary-General
himself
decided to
remove the
Saudi-led
Coalition from
the Children
and Armed
Conflict
regarding
Yemen, given
that this
airstrike has
killed
children and
women, what's
the status of
putting them
back on?
Spokesman:
Well, they
were… as I
said, they
were not
removed.
It was a
temporary
suspension, as
you can look
on the
document.
I think we are
constantly
looking at and
reviewing the
situation in
Yemen, and
when we have
something to
share with
you, we will.
We're waiting.
It seems clear
Ban gave Hadi
a copy of his
vanity
press book.
Birds of a
feather.
On
September 22,
Inner City
Press asked
the European
Union's
Federica
Mogherini if
the EU has any
role in Yemen.
She said she
had just met
Hadi. And?
The
EU's envoy to
Yemen Bettina
Muscheidt,
viewed as a
possible
replacement
for Ban's
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed,
has moved on
to Libya. At
the UN on
September 23,
Hadi will
deposit...
Yemen's / his
Paris Accord
document. Hot
air. Now the
UN High
Commissioner
for Human
Rights Prince
Zeid, through
Cecile
Pouilly, has
issued a
statement
which makes
sure to equate
Saudi-led
Coalition
airstrikes
with Taizz and
does not
mention Hadi's
move to starve
Yemen's by
moving the
Central Bank:
"We
note with deep
concern the
sharp increase
in civilian
casualties
since the
suspension of
peace talks,
with 180
people killed
and 268
injured in
August. This
represents a
40 per cent
increase
compared to
the civilian
casualties the
previous
month, with 60
killed and 123
injured.
There has been
an increased
number of
attacks
against
protected
civilian
objects, with
at least 41
incidents
affecting
educational
and health
facilities,
markets,
places of
worship,
airports and
civilian homes
in August.
The most
recent
incident took
place two days
ago, on
Wednesday, 21
September,
when an
airstrike hit
a residential
area in the
town of
Hudaydah,
killing 26
civilians,
including
seven
children, and
injuring 24
others, among
them two
children. The
death toll
could be much
higher, as our
team continues
to collect
information.
We are
particularly
concerned at
the situation
in the city of
Taizz, where a
blockade
imposed by the
Houthis-affiliated
Popular
Committees has
caused serious
food, water
and fuel
shortages, and
a near
collapse of
the health
system.
In the light
of the high
civilian
casualty
numbers and
the terrible
suffering of
the civilian
population, we
urge all
parties to
respect their
obligations
under
international
humanitarian
law, including
their
obligation to
respect the
principles of
distinction,
proportionality
and
precaution. We
reiterate our
call for the
setting up of
an
international
and
independent
investigative
body.
In total,
3,980
civilians have
been killed
and 6,909
injured
between 26
March 2015 and
22 September
2016."
Inner
City Press
asked Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric at
noon on
Septmeber 22
about Yemen.
He called the
question
"granular" and
his office
later said,
too little too
late, "The
Secretary-General
condemns the
multiple
airstrikes by
the Saudi
Arabia-led
coalition on
21 September
in the Red Sea
port city of
Hudaydah,
Yemen, which
killed and
injured dozens
of people,
including
children and
women. The
Secretary-General
expresses his
sincere
condolences
and sympathies
to the
families of
the victims
and wishes a
speedy
recovery to
those injured.
The
Secretary-General
once again
reminds all
parties to the
conflict that
they must
fully respect
their
obligations
under
international
humanitarian
law, in
particular the
fundamental
rules of
distinction,
proportionality
and
precaution. He
reiterates his
call for
urgent
measures to
protect
civilians and
civilian
infrastructure.
The
Secretary-General
also urges all
parties to
recommit to
the terms and
conditions of
the 10 April
cessation of
hostilities.
Stressing that
a negotiated
political
settlement
that addresses
the legitimate
concerns of
all parties
remains the
only viable
solution to
the conflict,
he calls for a
new round of
peace
negotiations
facilitated by
his Special
Envoy for
Yemen."
On the Central
Bank, the IMF
later on
September 22
issued this:
“IMF
Managing
Director
Christine
Lagarde met on
September 22
with Yemen’s
President Abd
Rabbuh Mansur
Hadi. Yemen is
going through
a difficult
period, and
the Managing
Director
expressed her
concern for
the adverse
humanitarian
and economic
fallout from
the conflict
which keeps
mounting.
“The Managing
Director and
President Hadi
exchanged
views on the
current
situation and
prospects,
including
preserving the
operational
capacity of
the central
bank system so
as to improve
the financial
stability and
economic and
social
outcomes for
the Yemeni
people.”
On
September 19,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Staphane
Dujarric two
questions on
Yemen: "what
is the
Secretary
General's or
his Envoy's
comment on
Hadi firing
the head of
the central
bank and
moving the
central bank's
headquarters
from Sanaa to
Aden?" and on
"reports that
Saudi Arabia /
the Saudi-led
Coalition
threatened to
shoot down a
UN aircraft...
Please confirm
or deny that."
Two days
later, while
leaving other
questions
unanswered,
Ban's office
sent this
answer to
Inner City
Press:
Date:
Wed, Sep 21,
2016 at 10:52
AM
Subject: Your
question on
Yemen
To:
matthew.lee
[at]
innercitypress.com
Cc: Stephane
Dujarric [at]
un.org
The Secretary
General's
Special Envoy
for Yemen,
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed,
is extremely
concerned by
the recent
inability of
the Central
Bank to pay
salaries due
to lack of
revenue and
shortage of
liquidity.
Millions of
Yemenis
families
depend on
civil service
salaries and
the stoppage
in salary
payments is
expected to
have a
severely
negative
impact.
The Special
Envoy is
advocating
that any
changes in the
Central Bank
ensure a rapid
resumption of
salary
payments and
that these are
provided to
all civilian
civil service
in all parts
of the country
without
discrimination."
What about the
firing, and
proposed
moving? What
about the
reported
threat to UN
plane? And see
below.
On
August 18,
Inner City
Press exclusively
published the
proposal that
Ban's envoy
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
made in
Kuwait.
This was the
proposal
described as
blatantly
one-sided that
led to a
collapse of
the talks, the
Saudi-led
Coalition
increased
airstrikes and
the death of
more
civilians.
According
to local media
the Saudis
threatened to
shoot down UN
aircraft -
click here.
Direct sources
have told
Inner City
Press the UN
envoy wanted
the Sanaa
delegation to
sign a waiver,
and to stop
over in Saudi
Arabia and be
searched.
Would the UN
go public if
this were
true? No,
under Ban
Ki-moon. His
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric has
refused to
confirm or
deny or
comment for
two days now.
Meanwhile
early on
September 21
there was a meeting
on the
humanitarian
situation in
Yemen held in
UN basement
Conference
Room 12, sponsored
by the UK.
In order to
stake it out,
Inner City
Press was
required by
Ban Ki-moon's
eviction order
to seek a
minder, which
are first was
withheld. By
the time Inner
City Press was
escorted, all
participants
were inside
the closed
meeting.
Inner City
Press observed
Grandi of
UNHCR leave
the meeting at
8:30, and WFP
Cousins walk
right by
minutes later.
What is the UN
doing in
Yemen, after
Ban Ki-moon
sold it out?
We'll have
more on this.
, 
