On
Yemen UN
Refuses To
Answer on
Ceasefire
Violations
Just Cammaert
Travelogue
Guterres
M.I.A.
By Matthew
Russell Lee, CJR PFT NY
Post List
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, December 26 – UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres on March
27 lavished
praised on
Saudi Crown
Prince
Mohammed bin
Salman now accused
with respect to
Jamal Khashoggi,
accepting
a $930 million
check from the
Saudis and UAE,
with not a
word of the
Saudi led
bombing
campaign that
has killed
civilians and
caused cholera
in
Yemen. And on
December 21the
UN Security
Council
approved 15-0
a stripped
down Yemen
resolution.
Inner City
Press has put
it online here
on
Scribd.
On December
26, after
asking Guterres
seemingly also
absentee
Spokesman
Stephane Dujarric
why even
the day's UN "highlights"
were not online as
of 12:07 pm,
Inner City
Press in
writing asked:
"December
26-4: On
Yemen, what is
the SG's
knowledge of,
comment and
action on
report that
clashes
erupted
Wednesday (Dec
26) in Yemen's
Hodeida. The
sound of heavy
artillery
could be heard
to the east of
the Red Sea
city, with
clashes
stopping after
a few hours.
An official
for the
Saudi-led
alliance said
on Tuesday
that 10
pro-government
troops have
been killed
since the
ceasefire went
into force,
accusing the
Huthis of 183
violations.
The rebels, in
turn, said on
the same day
that they have
recorded at
least 31
violations in
the past 24
hours by
pro-government
troops. What
is the UN
doing?" While
still
declining to
answer any
specific Inner
City Press questions,
including about
Guterres'
conflict of
interest, the
Office of the
Spokesperson
belated put
online this,
nothing on the
violations:
"The first
joint meeting
of the
Redeployment
Coordination
Committee
(RCC) convened
today in
Hudaydah city.
Both parties
worked to
clear mine
fields to
enable
Government of
Yemen
Representatives
to the RCC to
cross the
front line so
to enable them
to take part
in the
meeting.
Both parties
acknowledged
that this was
a historic
moment and
reiterated
their
commitment to
implementing
the Stockholm
Agreement.
After positive
discussions on
the terms of
reference of
the RCC and
the key
priorities of
upholding the
ceasefire,
humanitarian
access and
redeployment,
the meeting
adjourned. The
RCC will
reconvene
tomorrow, when
the parties
are expected
to present
confidence-building
proposals to
the RCC Chair
[General
Patrick
Cammaert]."
The man who
covered up the
UN standing
by while
journalist
John Gatluak was
killed in
South Sudan.
This is Guterres'
UN. Inner City
Press has
also twice now
asked:
"December
24-1: Beyond
the 35
questions from
Inner City
Press you
refused to
answer last
week, still
set forth
below for
promised
answer, this
is a
reiterated
request past
deadline that
you (1) state
when SG
Guterres left
his position
on the
Gulbenkian
Foundation,
(2) state why
Gulbenkian was
not listed on
SG Guterres'
public
financial
disclosure
which covered
2016; (3)
explain how it
is not a
conflict of
interest for
SG Guterres to
have refused
to start an
audit of CEFC
in the UN, as
requested by
Inner City
Press in
January 2018,
given CEFC's
bid for the
oil business
of Gulbenkian.
Also, again,
state why
under SG
Guterres there
have been no
updates to the
UN public
financial
disclosures
since those
filed for
2016. Also,
again, explain
your refusal
to answer any
of Inner City
Press'
questions this
week despite
USG Smale's
statements to
GAP, me and
UNSR David
Kaye."
From December
23 email
without location:
"General
Patrick
Cammaert and
his advance
team arrived
in Hudaydah
this evening
(23 December).
Prior to his
arrival in the
city, he met
with the
Houthi
appointees to
the
Redeployment
Coordination
Committee in
Sana’a, where
he was
reassured of
their
commitment to
the
implementation
of the
Stockholm
agreement.
General
Cammaert is
encouraged by
the general
enthusiasm of
both sides to
get to work,
immediately.
One of the
priorities in
the coming
days will be
the
organization
of the first
joint RCC
meeting, which
is projected
for 26
December. Stéphane
Dujarric,
Spokesman for
the
Secretary-General
23 December
2018." On
December 22
from the same
spokes- / hatchetman,
still
with a dateline -
note that neither
he nor Guterres has
made
even
canned comment
on the
Saturday night
budget marathon
that Guterres
skipped but
banned Inner
City Press covered, here:
"Retired
General
Patrick
Cammaert,
Chair of the
Redeployment
Coordination
Committee
(RCC), landed
in Aden,
Yemen, this
afternoon (22
December),
where he held
a face-to-face
meeting with
the Government
of Yemen
appointees to
the RCC
mechanism.
During the
discussion,
General
Cammaert
stressed that
the success or
failure of the
Stockholm
Agreement
rested solely
with the
parties. He
urged the
Government of
Yemen and
Coalition
forces to
uphold the
ceasefire,
which came
into effect on
00:00 18
December, and
sought their
commitment and
cooperation to
secure the
unhindered
flow of
humanitarian
aid into and
across the
country as a
matter of
urgency. He
also discussed
modalities for
the convening
of the first
joint RCC
meeting in
Hudaydah or
environs as
early as 26
December.
General
Cammaert will
travel to
Sana'a
tomorrow to
meet with the
Houthi
appointees to
the RCC to
convey similar
messages,
after which he
and his team
will depart
for Hudaydah.
New
York, 22
December 2018.
New York, 22
December 2018.
Stéphane
Dujarric,
Spokesman for
the
Secretary-General."
This is the
spokesman who
did not answer
a single one
of Inner City
Press' 35 written questions
this week,
including this
one on
Guterres'
conflict(s)
of interest.
We'll have
more on
this.
after many
more deaths it
seems it will
happen
again -
Guterres' UN
is preparing to
smiling
take another
$500 million
and keeps partnering
with MBS' MiSK
Foundation. Now
with the UK
draft UN Security
Council
resolution on
Yemen stalled
like
the African
Union's,
exclusive here,
now on
whether or not
to include
Iran in
Operative
Paragraph 9 as
a violator of
the
arms embargo
- US says yes,
Russia says no
-- US
Secretary of
State Mike Pompeo met
his counterpart
from Oman on
December
19, triggering
this read out
from his
deputy
spokesperson
Robert
Palladino:
"Secretary
Michael R.
Pompeo met
today with
Omani Minister
Responsible
for Foreign
Affairs Yusuf
bin Alawi bin
Abdullah.
The Secretary
thanked the
Minister for
Oman’s
positive
engagement on
many regional
issues,
including its
role in
helping
facilitate UN
consultations
on Yemen in
Sweden.
The Secretary
and the
Minister
agreed on the
importance of
parties
building upon
momentum from
the
consultations
by
implementing
agreements,
continuing
engagement,
de-escalating
tensions, and
ceasing
ongoing
hostilities.
The Secretary
and the
Minister
underscored
their support
for UN Special
Envoy Martin
Griffiths and
the next round
of Yemen
consultations.
The Secretary
and the
Minister
discussed the
January 1
elimination of
B-1 visa
reciprocity
fees and
increased visa
validities in
A, B, and G
classifications,
which will
benefit U.S.
and Omani
travelers, and
promote trade
and
investment." UK
Foreign
Secretary
Jeremy Hunt on
December
19 bragged
to the Parliament "I
have
instructed our
mission in New
York to resume
working on our
draft
Resolution
with Security
Council
partners, with
a view to
adopting it
later this
week. We will
ask the
Security
Council to
vote on the
draft within
the next 48
hours... Britain
has been able
to play this
role because
of our network
of
friendships,
including our
partnership
with Saudi
Arabia and the
UAE, and
because we are
a country that
steps up to
its
responsibilities."
Not on FOIA -
the UK mission
has withheld from
Inner City Press
nearly all
requested
documents on
Yemen, all on
Cameroon and
on the UK
Mission's role
in UK USG
Alison Smale's
now 168 day ban
on Inner City
Press. Asking about the UK
Yemen draft at
the UN
Delegates Entrance
gate, UK
deputy
Ambassador
Jonathan Allen
refused any
answer to
Inner City
Press, as he
hand slapped
with UN
official
Mladenov. On
December 19 at
the UNSC
stakeout Smale
- and the UK?
- ban Inner
City Press
from, Allen
stopped and
serviced Gulf
media and
waved away
UNTV, a
boom-mic man
from a
previous
UN(CA) bribery
vehicle, so
that no one
else would
hear. This is
today's UK,
and UN. v. On
De
Watch this
site.scl
Mhnaer
Despite Guterres'
British envoy
Martin
Griffiths
posting that the
parties in
Sweden agreed on
"An immediate
cease-fire
shall enter
into force in
the city of
Hodeidah" and
publications
like the Los Angeles
Times reporting
it as such, the air
strikes
continue. And
not a peep out of
Guterres, on
a murky
junket
trip to
Qatar.
On December
17, Inner City
Press at the
UN Delegater Cates
Gate asked
diplomats fs
from Swedeen,
Russia and Kaaazakstan
about it.
Periscope
video here.
Later after a
noon briefing
from which
Inner City
Press wwas
banned, the UN
sent this out:
"Statement on
the
Implementation
Of The
Agreement On
The City Of
Hudayda And
Ports Of
Hudayda,
Salif, And Ras
Isa
- -
Amman 17
December 2018
- The
ceasefire in
Hudayda shall
enter into
force at 00:00
on 18 December
2018, local
time. The
Redeployment
Coordination
Committee
(RCC), the
joint
committee in
charge of
implementing
the Hudayda
Agreement, is
expected to
start its work
swiftly to
translate the
momentum built
up in Sweden
into
achievements
on the
ground." by
GuterresWe'll
see - watch
this site." say
On
December 14
Griffiths told
the UN
Security
Council that
Guterres had
success with
MBS at the G20
in Argentina; UK
Ambassador
Karen Pierce
thanked MBS by
name. Griffiths
said that long
time UN
insider
Patrick
Cammaert will
go as head of
verification.
But as Inner
City Press
reported
before
Guterres had
it roughed up
and banned,
Cammaert when
sent to investigate
the UN's
failure at the
Terrain
Hotel in South
Sudan
ignored or
covered up the
murder of
journalist
John Gatluak,
amid UN negligence.
Will it be
different
here? Guterres has
banned Inner
City Press
from entering
the UN to ask,
and his
spokesmen have not
answered any
of Inner City
Press' written
questions in
days. Today's
UN is corrupt. On
December 11
the UN announced:
"The
Secretary-General
will take part
in the closing
day of the
Intra-Yemeni
political
consultations,
on Thursday,
13 December."
There, Guterres
was asked,
"what are the
main areas of
disagreement
regarding the
Central Bank?"
While
blathering on
with more
praise of
Saudi Arabia,
Guterres entirely
ignored this
Central Bank
question.
Maybe his
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric will
claim
Guterres
didn't hear it,
just as
Dujarric
dissembled
that Guterres
never heard
Inner City
Press'
15-second long
question about
Cameroon,
before Inner
City Press
was
roughed up and
banned from
the UN, now
162 days and
counting. And
check out
what Antonio Guterres
said before
that,
there in Sweden: "I
would like to
thank the
Saudi-led
coalition, the
Sultanate of
Oman, and the
Government of
Kuwait for
their concrete
support to
make this
happen." Thanking
the Saudi-led
Coalition
again.
And not a word
on his ongoing
cover
up of
harassment at
UNAIDS and
elsewhere. On
December
10 Guterres'
UN Relief
Chief Mark
Lowcock of
the UK told
correspondents
in a briefing
Inner City
Press was
barred from by
Guterres that
Saudi Arabia
and the UAE
will be giving
another $500
million. Inner
City Press was
banned from
being present
and
asking, Will
Guterres again
grin taking
the check,
and not even
mention their
airstrikes
much less
Jamal Khashoggi?
Even
the UK's weak Yemen
resolution was
stalled. But
now on December
3 Kuwait has
said it will
be transporting
Houthi representatives
to Stockholm,
Sweden on December
4 for talks, here.
We'll
have more on
this. On
November 21 at
the UN Delegates
Gate Inner
City Press
asked the UK
Political
Coordinator
Stephen Hickey who
said "working
on it," which
was echoed
by the
Kuwait
diplomat Inner City
Press asked.
Meanwhile on
November 23 this
from UK SRSG Martin
Grifftiths,
speechifying
in Hodeidah: "I
arrived
earlier this
morning from
Sana’a and
have received
a very warm
welcome from
senior
representatives
here. I am
very grateful
to them for
organizing
this visit.
The attention
of the world
is on
Hudaydah.
Leaders from
every country
have called
for us all to
keep the peace
in Hudaydah. I
have come here
today with my
good friends
and
colleagues,
the
Humanitarian
Coordinator,
Lise Grande
and The World
Food Programme
Country
Director of
Yemen, Stephen
Anderson to
learn
first-hand how
we can help to
keep that
international
pledge to
protect the
people of
Hudaydah from
further
devastation.
I welcome the
recent calls
for a halt in
the fighting
in Hudaydah.
This is an
essential step
if we are to
protect the
lives of
civilians and
build
confidence
among the
parties. As
you know I
plan and hope
to bring the
parties
together in
Sweden very
soon for
political
consultations.
I had the
privilege of
meeting
yesterday in
Sana’a with
the Ansarallah
leadership.
Among other
things, we
talked about
how the UN
could
contribute to
keeping the
peace in
Hudaydah, and
I am here to
tell you today
that we have
agreed that
the UN should
now pursue
actively and
urgently
detailed
negotiations
for a leading
UN role in the
Port and more
broadly."
Given that UNSG
Guterres not
only smiled
taking Saudi
MBS' check but
continues to
partner with
MBS' Misk
Foundation,
how much crediblity
does his UN have? Lowcock
and Fore the
day before
said, "We
remind all
parties to the
conflict of
their
obligation to
abide by the
fundamental
rules of
distinction
and
proportionality
and to take
constant care
– at all times
– to spare
civilians and
civilian
infrastructure,
including Al
Thawrah
Hospital and
all other
health
facilities."
Maybe Lowcock
and Fore
should tell
their Boss
Antonio
Guterres to at
least stop
partnering
with MBS' Misk
Foundation -
and to stop censoring and
banning the
Press. On
November 19 Inner
City Press asked
questions of
five
other Security
Council
members at the
gate to which
it is
confirmed by
UN censorship,
inside Kuwait's
UN Ambassador
Mansour
Al-Otaibi told
scribes that
"some Council
members don't
see this is
the right time
to table a
draft
resolution," said
he has "many
problems" with
the draft. Asked if
there could
be a vote this
week he said "I
doubt it."
MBS is riding
high, with
UN Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres still
partnering with him
and saying
though
his censoring
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric that
no formal
request
to probe the
murder of
Jamal
Khashoggi has
been received,
even after his
"pull aside"
meeting with
Turkey's
foreign
minister. Pull
aside
indeed.
Earlier on
November 19,
Inner City
Press on November
19 asked five
UN Security
Council
ambassador if
it the draft
had been
circulated to
the Council's
ten elected
members. Kazakhstan's
Permanent
Representative
and Sweden's
Deputy Carl
Skau politely said
no. The UK's
Jonathan Allen
did not
answer; the
Netherlands'
Karel von
Oosterom won't
even
turn. US Ambassador
Nikki Haley, out by
the end of the
year, passed
by with entourage
and no answer.
Video here.
This
as Inner
City Press, banned
from
the UN now 138 days
by corrupt
Antonio
Guterres, is
informed by
those who've
seen it that
Griffiths
has a "pathetic"
page and a
half document,
which would have
the the
Houthis
handing over
all heavy weapons
to... Hadi, in
his Saudi
hotel. "Fat
chance," these sources
says, adding
"fat Hadi" and
others above
named. While
the UK draft
which will NOT
be voted on in
the Security
Council on November
16 purports to
call for accountability
for all those
responsible
for war
crimes, Hadi's
Yemen on
November 15 voted
against the
ICC in the
UN's Third
Committee
- so you can
see how much
this means.
To
this has the UN
under Guterres
sunk. The
UN, given
its record under
Guterres from
Cameroon to
Haiti will almost
certainly
hold no one accountable,
except perhaps
media which
reports on
what Guerres
actually does
and doesn't
do.
Guterres'
Youth Envoy has
an ongoing
deal with
MBS's Misk
Foundation,
even now. Another
pantomime:
the UK
which
continues to
sell weapons to
Saudi Arabia, said
it was coming to
the Security
Council for
action to end
the war in
Yemen. Then it
proposed not
even a
resolution but
only a
statement,
which at least
three members
of the Council
have said it
not strong
enough. On
November 8
Inner City Press
at the UN
Delegates
Entrance Gate
asked the UK
Mission's
Political
Coordinator if
there will, in
fact, be a
UNSC resolution.
He replied politely
that it's too
early
to tell. But
it's getting
late. Now,
belatedly, the
UN High Commissioner
for Human
Rights Michelle
Bachelet has
put out the
statement below,
while saying
nothing about
Guterres' UN partnering
with MBS' Misk
Foundation and
also continuing
its ban
on Inner City
Press which asks, now
hitting 129
days. Nor, notably,
does the statement
mention the
UAE, where
former UN
official Bernardino
Leon cashed
out to the UAE
Diplomatic
Academy. Here's
the statement
in full: "UN
High
Commissioner
for Human
Rights
Michelle
Bachelet on
Saturday
expressed
outrage at the
“unconscionable
toll” that the
escalation of
hostilities in
Al Hodeidah
was taking on
an already
“deeply
frightened and
starving”
population in
Yemen.
Bachelet urged
the Saudi-led
Coalition, the
Houthi forces
and all those
supplying arms
to the parties
to the
conflict to
take immediate
steps to end
the suffering
of civilians
in Yemen.
“The Saudi-led
Coalition and
pro-Hadi
forces, the
Houthi forces
– and those
who supply
arms or other
support to the
parties to the
conflict – all
have the power
or the
influence to
stop the
starvation and
killing of
civilians, to
give some
reprieve to
the people of
Yemen,”
Bachelet said.
“Violations by
one party to
the conflict
do not give
carte blanche
to the others
to fight back
at all costs.
Even wars are
regulated by
law – all
parties to the
conflict are
bound to
respect
international
humanitarian
law and human
rights law as
applicable.”
According to
information
received by
the UN Human
Rights Office,
at least 110
airstrikes
were carried
out in Al
Hodeidah,
Sa’ada and
San’a between
31 October and
6 November,
with further
intensification
since then.
Coalition
warplanes have
been hovering
at low
altitude in Al
Hodeidah City
since Thursday
morning, as
Houthi forces
fire
anti-aircraft
missiles and
mortars, and
violent street
clashes
continued. At
least 23
civilians have
been confirmed
dead in Al
Hodeidah since
24 October,
but the real
toll may be
much higher.
Some 445,000
people have
been
internally
displaced in
Al Hodeidah
since early
June.
There are also
serious
concerns about
the fate of
900 detainees
in the Central
Prison and six
pre-trial
detention
facilities in
Al Hodeidah
City. The
Central Prison
was hit on
Monday morning
by two mortar
shells,
injuring five
people and
cutting off
power and
water to the
prison. Armed
confrontations
are also
reportedly
taking place
very close to
the main Al
Thawra
hospital in Al
Hodeidah.
The High
Commissioner
called for an
immediate end
to the
military
escalation,
which also
risks
exacerbating
the
catastrophic
food
insecurity of
some 14
million people
across the
country. She
urged the
Saudi-led
Coalition to
immediately
remove
restrictions
on the safe
and
expeditious
entry into
Yemen of
indispensable
humanitarian
supplies and
other goods
“The parties
to the
conflict must
allow the
free, regular
and unimpeded
passage of
food and other
humanitarian
relief and
must not take
actions that
would deprive
civilians of
their rights
to food and
health,” she
said.
“I call on all
those with
involvement or
influence in
the conflict
to facilitate
the access to
humanitarian
relief that
the people of
Yemen so
desperately
need.”
“I also remind
States that
the Geneva
Conventions
stipulate that
all States,
including
those not
involved in
the armed
conflict, have
the obligation
to take
measures to
ensure respect
for the
Conventions by
parties to a
conflict.
Conditioning,
limiting or
refusing arms
transfers is
one measure,”
Bachelet
added.
The UN Human
Rights Office
has documented
that between
26 March 2015
and 8 November
2018, there
have been a
total of
17,640
civilian
casualties in
Yemen,
including
6,872 dead and
10,768
injured. The
majority of
these
casualties -
10,852
resulted from
airstrikes
carried out by
the Saudi-led
Coalition." On
November 9, the Washington
Post reported
"The Trump
administration
is ending the
practice of
refueling
Saudi-coalition
aircraft." But
other,
typically,
quoted
predatory Reuters (on
which we'll have
more). Whether
this pre-empted
the coming
oversight in
Congress is
not yet
clear. But how much
will it help
starving
Yemenis?
UNSG
Guterres
called the
Saudi-led coalition
"good child killers,"
and put
the Press
which
questions him
on his secret
banned list
including
"political activists."
We'll
have more on
this. On
September 25,
after
meeting the Saudi
foreign
minister,
Guterres
gushed, "The
Secretary-General
met with H.E.
Mr. Adel
Al-Jubeir,
Minister of
Foreign
Affairs of the
Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia. The
Secretary-General
and the
Foreign
Minister
discussed
regional
issues of
mutual
interest,
including
Yemen and
Syria. The
Secretary-General
expressed
appreciation
to Saudi
Arabia for its
support to the
ongoing
reconciliation
process in the
Horn of Africa
and United
Nations youth
initiatives."
Not
a word on the
bombing of
school bus. Earlier
on
September 25
the UK Mission
to the UN
closed to the
press - all
press, apparently
- its event on
Addressing
Malnutrition
in Yemen. To his
credit, ICRC's
Peter
Maurer
released his
remarks, here,
including
calling for
"ceasing the
transfer of
weapons if
there is a
clear risk of
violations of
international
law." That
should mean
the host of
the meeting
would stop
such sales - and, as
didn't
happen this week,
incoming UN
Security
Council member
Germany would as
well. We'll
have more on
this. On
September
14 the NRC's
Saleem
Al-Shamiri in
Hodeidah said,
"Stability
within
Hodeidah is
becoming worse
and fear about
what might
happen
continuing to
increase.
Those
remaining in
Hodeidah know
they could
lose
everything,
including
their lives,
but for many,
it is not a
simple
decision to
leave. To
leave is to
abandon
everything
people know
and have
worked for,
with no
certainty
about the
future. If
people leave,
they don’t
know where
they will go,
how they will
find shelter,
what they will
eat. Many fled
here already
and the war
followed.
They’re tired
of running. One
of our
colleagues
here is
expecting her
baby any day.
These are
terrifying
circumstances
for her
delivery. She
says it is now
too late, too
uncertain and
too expensive
for her family
to leave. No
baby should be
born into a
situation like
this.”
The weekend of
7-9 September
marked one of
the deadliest
in Yemen’s war
so far, with
more than 84
conflict-related
fatalities
reported
within
Hodeidah
health
facilities
alone,
according to
reports
received from
Safer Yemen.
Fighting is
now pressing
in on Hodeidah
city from
several sides,
including
heavy ground
clashes and
sustained
aerial
bombardments.
Civilians in
Hodeidah
reported
airstrikes in
close
proximity to
the city’s
southern and
eastern
borders,
including up
to fifty
strikes on the
city fringes
on Wednesday
alone.
Houses, farms,
a flour mill
and a soft
drink factory
were among
civilian
buildings hit
by airstrikes
across
Hodeidah
governorates
over the last
fortnight.
We are highly
concerned
about the
security of
the Hodeidah
Port complex,
including
milling
facilities
housing enough
to feed 3.5
million Yemeni
people.
Aid agencies
in Yemen have
identified
close to
500,000 people
that had fled
homes in
Hodeidah
between June
and August. So
far in
September,
55,000 people
have been
displaced from
across the
governorate,
leaving more
than half a
million at
heightened
risk of hunger
and exposure
to diseases,
including
cholera.
ECHO reports
that the
number of
suspected
cholera cases
in Yemen has
now increased
for the
12thweek in a
row, to 9,245
suspected
cases. This
number adds to
more that
133,000 cases
of suspected
cholera
through 2018
thus far.
By 13
September,
seven vessels
were berthed
at Hodeidah
port, carrying
a 79,000
metric tons of
food and over
30,000 metric
tons of
critically-needed
gas oil. An
additional
three vessels
are queued to
deliver food
and fuel in
the coming
days. Food and
fuel
deliveries
through
Yemen’s Red
Sea Ports have
held steady
since June but
any disruption
or threat to
the safety of
shipments
could strangle
the Yemeni
economy and
impact access
to food for
more than 20
million
people." Inner
City Press, which
previously
at the UN
Security
Council
stakeout asked US
Ambassador
Nikki Haley
questions
about Jeffrey
Feltman and Cameroon
has now been
banned from
the UN for 70
days and
counting and
so asks like this,
on September
11.
We'll have more on
this. On
September 10 the new
UN High
Commissioner
for Human Rights
Michelle Bachelet
has had this to
say on Yemen
in her
opening speech: "Regarding
Yemen, I urge
all parties to
take stock of
the gravity of
the findings
of the Group
of Eminent
Experts. They
have
identified a
number of
individuals
who may be
responsible
for
international
crimes, and
that
confidential
list is now in
the Office. It
is crucial
that there be
continued
international
and
independent
investigations
into all
allegations of
violations of
international
humanitarian
law and war
crimes –
particularly
in light of
the apparent
inability of
the parties to
the conflict
to carry out
impartial
investigations.
Last month's
shocking
strike on a
bus carrying
schoolchildren
was followed
by another
horrific
series of
airstrikes
which left
dozens of
civilians and
children
killed and
injured in Al
Hudaydah. I
note the
recent
statement by
the Coalition
acknowledging
mistakes over
the airstrike
on the school
bus in Sa’ada,
and I will be
closely
following what
steps are
taken to hold
the
perpetrators
accountable
and provide
remedy and
compensation
to the
victims. There
should be
greater
transparency
over the
coalition’s
rules of
engagement and
the measures
taken to
ensure that
such tragedies
are not
repeated. The
recent Saudi
royal order
which appears
to provide a
blanket pardon
to members of
the Saudi
armed forces
for actions
taken in Yemen
is very
concerning." So
why has
Guterres done
a favor to
Saudi Arabia
putting it on
the "good child
killer"
list? We'll
have more on
this, and on
Bachelet's
response
(or not) to
the evidence
provided to
her on and
since her
first day
about shameful
censorship
of the Press
at and by the UN
Secretariat as
it pursues
the UN's role in
Yemen,
deferring to the
Saudis and
their armers.
And on this: On
September 8
Guterres' envoy
Martin
Griffiths
lavished
praise on the
government /
Hadi
delegation he
spent three
days with
in Geneva, in
a press
conference
featuring
qestions cut
off by the UN
and
from which though
in Geneva
Inner City
Press was banned
from by New
York-based,
Moscow
junketing Alison
Smale for
Guterres, soon
to be Lisbon
bound. After
Griffiths,
Hadi's Foreign Minister
Khaled Al
Yahami took
over the UN room to
denounce coup
plotters
and deny that
Sudan and Egypt
wouldn't open
their air
space. What
about the
injured
being able to
get to Oman?
Griffiths,
vetted by the Saudis before Guterres
gave him the
post
ostensibly for
the Brits,
wouldn't say.
He said every
action has a
repurcussion.
We'll
have more on
this. On
September 7,
with
the UN declining
to answer
basic
questions from
banned Inner
City Press
including
"September
6-3: On Yemen,
what is the
SG's response
to that the
Yemeni
government is
considering
not extending
the UN teams’
missions in
the country
after they
have proven
their bias,
Yemen’s human
rights
minister
Mohamed Askar
said on
Thursday,"
this from NRC
protection
and advocacy
adviser in
Yemen Suze
van Meegen: “This
week was due
to mark a
turning point
in Yemen’s
conflict as
parties
convened in
Geneva to
chart a way
forward.
Instead, we
have passed
another week
full of
violence and
devoid of
promise. While
parties to the
conflict
continue to
operate on the
basis of
differences,
Yemenis are
united in
their
experience of
violence,
deprivation
and grief.
Yemenis I met
this week all
tell me that
they are
losing hope in
the
possibility of
any solution
to the current
situation.
They are
exhausted,
People are
reaching their
tipping
point.”
The situation
in Hodeidah
city remains
exceptionally
fragile. Heavy
fighting is
currently
taking place
at the city’s
western and
southern
outskirts,
closer than at
any other
point since
the offensive
on Hodeidah
commenced in
June,
including
around
Hodeidah
airport, on
the city’s
southern
border.
Airstrikes and
helicopter
attacks have
been reported
across several
districts
south of
Hodeidah city,
and missiles
launched from
Yemen at
targets in
both Saudi
Arabia and the
Red Sea.
Reports
indicate that
jets have been
hovering over
Hodeidah city
for up to 16
hours a day.
Citizens in
Hodeidah
described
increasingly
militarised
conditions
inside the
city this
week, with an
increasing
number of
checkpoints,
trenches and
jersey
barriers
installed
across the
city. Most
residents stay
inside their
houses to try
to protect
themselves.
Tension in and
around the
city continues
to keep
prevent tens
of thousands
of city
residents from
returning.
People
remaining in
Hodeidah
report that
more than half
of all
businesses,
shops and
services have
closed,
including
whole blocks
of shopfronts
locked up
following the
departure from
the city of
owner-operators.
A shopkeeper
selling fabric
and clothing
told NRC staff
that he had
not sold a
single item
since the
second week of
August.... On
September 4, with
the UN declining
to answer
basic
questions from
banned Inner
City Press
about the previous,
non-Saudi
approved UN
envoy, this:
"UN Special
Envoy For
Yemen Affirms
Commitment To
Southern
Participation
In The
Political
Process: Amman,
4 September
2018 - Since I
assumed my
role as
Special Envoy
in March this
year, I have
consistently
affirmed that
there will be
no peace in
Yemen if we do
not listen to
a broad
cross-spectrum
of Yemeni
voices,
including
southern
groups, and
make sure that
they are
included in
the efforts to
reach a
sustainable
political
settlement. In
the past few
months, I have
consulted with
numerous
southern
groups to
reach a
consensus on
their
meaningful
participation
in the
political
process. I
have been
encouraged by
their openness
to dialogue
and to a
peaceful
resolution for
their
concerns. I
remain
committed to
reaching a
consensus with
them on their
participation
in the
political
process, and
look forward
to continuing
our
discussions in
the coming
weeks. I
urge all
Yemeni
stakeholders
to work
together to
create a
conducive
environment
for
negotiations
to end the war
and for the
stabilization
of the economy
and delivery
of basic
services to
the Yemeni
people."
We'll
see.
Also, Spain
under Pedro
Sanchez is
said to be belatedly
reviewing
its arms
sales to the Saudis.
Better late
than never - the
UN, it seems,
never
reviews anything,
no more how
outrageous or
ultimately
incriminating.
Where was UNSG
Guterres? In
China, after rebuffing
basic
questions from
banned
Inner City
Press on
August 31, here.
On
August 2,
the day
after the implicated
UK took over
presidency
of the UN
Security
Council while
denying
Press requests
under FOIA
and for
access, British
nominated (and
Saudi
vetted) UN envoy
Martin
Griffiths was to
brief the Council
and then a Press-less
press stakeout
(which he
later
canceled) -
when, just
before the
meeting, the
Saudi and Emirati
led Coalition
reported
bombed the
Al-Thourah
Hospital in Hodeidah,
killing 55
civilians.
While Griffith in
his speech
didn't even
mention these
airstrikes
(and he has
not answered
Inner City Press' online
question to
him about
why), on August 3
the
Saudi
Mission,
dutifully
amplified by
Al Arabiya to
which the UN
gives a ten
meter long
office that
Guterres and
his Deputy and team
often cravenly
appear in, blamed
the bombing on
the Houthis.
Seems like it
might require
an objective
investigation -
unlike the scam
45 day"review"
the UN held
to ban Inner
City Press for
life,
while turning
itself over to
the likes of
Al Arabiya. On
August 24 after
yet more
killing of
civilians by
the Saudi and
Emirati
Led Coalition
from which
Antonio
Guterres
smiling took a
$930 million
check, this:
"“We are
appalled by
conflict that
appears
entirely
ungoverned by
the laws of
war and
astounded at
the silence of
the many
governments
enabling it.
We cannot
comprehend any
possible moral
justification
for killing
civilians
fleeing to
safety as
their towns
become
battlegrounds.
Attacks on
civilians have
become a
deadly trend
in Yemen’s
war. The new
media reports
of civilian
casualties
follow recent
coalition
strikes on a
busload of
school
children that
killed 51
people, and
over three
years of
ceaseless
violence from
both parties
to the
conflict on
homes,
markets,
hospitals,
schools and
farms. More
than 350,000
Yemeni people
have fled
violence along
Yemen’s west
coast since
the beginning
of June,
adding to the
three million
displaced
through the
course of the
war. People
forced to flee
are not simply
numbers, they
are
individuals
forced to
leave
everything
they have
behind in an
effort to stay
alive.
This war is
not only a
Yemeni
problem, it is
a global one.
The multiple
nations
supplying
intelligence,
arms and
logistical
support to
enable the
violence are
implicated in
a conflict
that has
killed
thousands and
will not
subside
without
conscious and
meaningful
action.
The UK, US,
France, Iran
and all others
contributing
to the
conflict in
Yemen must use
their
influence to
bring about an
immediate and
permanent end
to the
violence. We
call on the
countries
funding and
fuelling the
war to ensure
that civilians
and civilian
infrastructure
are protected
from attack,
and that
humanitarian
aid is allowed
to reach those
who need it.'" The
UK and France
are both
complicit in
the killing of
civilians in
Cameroon by
Paul Biya -
and in the
lifetime ban
Guterres'
Alison Smale
imposed on
Inner City Press on
August 17. On
August 13,
for a UN noon
briefing
Inner City remained
banned from, it e-mailed
the spokesmen
for Antonio
"$930 Million
Guterres this
question:
"August 13-2:
On Yemen, what
is the comment
of the SG and,
separately,
his envoy
Griffiths on
reports that
Saudi and
Emirati Led
Coalition-backed
militias
actively
recruit
al-Qaida
militants, or
those who were
recently
members,
because
they’re
considered
exceptional
fighters. One
Yemeni
commander who
was put on the
U.S. terrorism
list for
al-Qaida ties
last year
continues to
receive money
from the UAE
to run his
militia,.
Another
commander,
recently
granted $12
million for
his fighting
force by
Yemen’s
president, has
a known
al-Qaida
figure as his
closest aide.
In one case, a
tribal
mediator who
brokered a
deal between
the Emiratis
and al-Qaida
even gave the
extremists a
farewell
dinner. What
does the UN
know / say /
do about this?" Even when
Inner City
Press submitted the
question
again, to Guterres'
email address
and that of his
Deputy SG and
Communicator
UK USG Alison
Smale, there
has been no
answer more
than two days
later, in the
face of this:
"A senior US
official says
the UAE paid
money to
tribal leaders
in Yemen to
rout al-Qaeda
from its
strongholds.
Wednesday's
remarks
followed AP
investigation
outlining how
Emirati forces
cut secret
deals with the
militants to
get them to
abandon
territory. The
official says
money "has
exchanged
hands" and
that it often
went to
"sheikhs in
areas that
have
collaborated
or allowed
al-Qaida to
exist." He
didn't
elaborate on
how much was
paid, but says
the Emiratis'
payments to
tribal sheikhs
allowed them
to 'ally
themselves to
the Emiratis.'" One wag
might note the
handed
$930 million
check, half
Emerati, to
Guterres; the UAE
already bought the
UN's
Bernardino
Leon and, some
say, Ghassam
Salame. Today's UN
under Guterres
is corrupt,
and censors.
On
August 9, for
a UN noon briefing
Inner City remained
banned from, it e-mailed
the spokesmen
for Guterres
this question:
"August 9-3:
On Yemen, what
is the SG's
comment and
action on 'airstrikes
in northern
Yemen have
targeted a
busy market
and a bus,
killing at
least 20
people,
including
children, and
wounding as
many as 35.
ICRC said a
hospital
supported by
the
organisation
had received
dozens of
casualties
after the
attack at a
market in
Dahyan in
Sa’ada
governorate.'"
At the UN
Security
Council, from
which Guterres
has
also banned Inner
City Press, UK
Deputy
Ambassador
Jonathan Allen
was asked "the
reaction to
the bombing of
a school bus
in northern
Yemen? Dozens
of very young
children,
videos showing
many under the
age of ten
injured and/or
killed in a
strike that
the Saudis say
was justified. Allen: Well,
we've seen
those reports.
It's very
important as
we've said
repeatedly
that all
parties to the
conflict in
Yemen adhere
to
International
Humanitarian
Law. Where
there is an
incident of
this sort,
it's important
this
investigated
thoroughly and
the
conclusions of
that
investigation
are shared and
are learned
from and we'll
be calling for
that in this
incidence as
well. As
President, I'm
afraid I don't
have anything
to say on
that. This is
not something
that the
Council has
discussed
recently. Q: Has
anybody asked
the Presidency
to discuss it
in AOB?
Allen: As
of this
moment, I am
not aware of
any such
requests." At
the beginning
of the month the
UK prepped the
correspondents
it feeds cake to,
as it
sells bombs to
Saudi
Arabia -
while refusing
to answer questions
from Inner
City Press on
Yemen, Western
Sahara and Cameroon.
On
July 30 Guterres'
sleazy basis
for roughing
up and banning
Inner City
Press for 27
days and
counting was reported
in the Columbia
Journalist
Review: Guterres'
spokesman Stephane
Dujarric has
gone
further, in an article
published July
30 by the
Columbia
Journalism
Review. Dujarric - who
Inner City
Press
directed to
the CJR
reporter to -
is quoted
that " Lee
Periscoped
while
shouting, 'Fuck
you!'
repeatedly.
(Lee says he
was
complaining
that Dujarrac
had given the
Al Jazeera
crew a private
interview, and
excluded him.)
'He
creates an
atmosphere of
incivility
within our
working
environment,'
Dujarrac says."
This is a lie.
Inner City
Press on June 19
when Dujarric
gave a "private
briefing" to Al
Jazeera about
Nikki Haley
and Mike
Pompeo
announcing the
US pull out
from the UN
Human Right
Council said
in the hall
that is was a
"sleazefest."
After closing
the door of
the focus booth
it has been
confined to work in
for two years
by
Dujarric, and long
after the Al
Jazeera trio
including
James Bayes
and Whitney
Hurst were
done, said on
Periscope, F-You. Periscope
video - still
online
during this 27
day "investigation" -
here.
So
Dujarric is a
censor,
justifying the
beating up and
banning of a
journalist for
something he
broadcast in
a soundproof
booth to his
audience. This
is disgusting, all
the more so
because as
Inner City
Press has reported,
Dujarric told
an
interlocutor
on June 20,
before the two
beat-downs of
Inner City Press,
that things
would be worse
for it. Guterres and
Dujarric and
it seems Smale
are.. thugs. Disgusting.
On Yemen, the
CJR article
quotes Inner
City Press:
"The Saudis
buy UK weapons
to bomb
Yemen—but the
UN envoy to
Yemen is
British." All
true.
On July 5,
hours before
Guterres' (and
the UK's and
Saudis') envoy
Martin Griffiths briefed
the UN
Security Council,
Guterres' UN
banned Inner
City Press
from entering,
and it has
been banned
for 12 days
and counting
since. Fox
News story here
("UN roughs
up, ejects,
bans reporter
from
headquarters:
Caught on
tape");
petition to
Guterres here;
GAP blogs I
and II (“Harassment
of US
Journalist
Intensifies at
the
UN”). On
July 30 (Inner
City Press is
still banned from
the UN with no
end in sight),
US State Department
spokesperson Heather
Nauert issued a
read-out
including that
"Secretary
Pompeo met
today in
Washington, DC
with Oman’s
Minister
Responsible
for Foreign
Affairs, Yusuf
bin Alawi, who
participated
in the July
24-26
Ministerial to
Advance
Religious
Freedom.
On Yemen, they
affirmed the
importance of
continued
support for
the efforts of
UN Special
Envoy Martin
Griffiths and
emphasized the
need for all
parties to
show restraint
to avoid
further
escalation of
hostilities." All
parties. The
UK becomes
president of
the UN Security
Council on August
1; watch this
site. On
July 20, NRC
on Hodeidah said
that "airstrikes,
mortar fire,
missiles and
shelling
continue to
kill, injure
and threaten
the safety of
civilian
populations,
particularly
in At Tuhayat
and Zabid
districts. NRC’s
staff inside
Hodeidah city
have described
it as a “ghost
town”, where
the bulk of
shops and
restaurants
have been
closed by
proprietors
fleeing the
city. Through
the course of
the week,
residents of
Hodeidah city
heard
low-flying
jets and heavy
airstrikes on
the outskirts
of the city. The
price of
women’s
sanitary items
has risen by
more than 15%
since May,
creating major
challenges for
women in
already
challenging
circumstances,
many of whom
are without
access to
clean water. Ali Al
Hajori, in
Hajjah, said
that 'conditions
here are
becoming
worse. People
aren’t only
arriving from
Hodeidah now,
but from areas
in the north
too. They come
in the heat
and dust with
everything
they can
carry, but it
usually isn’t
enough for
them to
survive beyond
a few days. We
are stretching
the aid we
have to reach
as many people
as possible
but it will
never
compensate for
what they lose
by leaving
their homes.' Isaac
Ooko,NRC’s
Area Manager
in Hodeidah said
that 'people
are living in
pathetic
conditions,
not fit for
humans and
completely
untenable for
those who are
most
vulnerable. I
am incredibly
proud of our
teams for
fronting up
each day to
make it
possible for
people to live
with dignity
in a situation
that otherwise
strips it from
them. What
might appear
to be a pause
to the outside
world, doesn’t
feel the same
for those of
us seeing what
it means for
people here.'
Yemen’s
Protection
Cluster
reported
severe damage
to the main
water tanks in
Al Tuhayet
district
earlier this
month, leaving
close to
100,000 people
without safe
water and at
heightened
risk of
communicable
diseases.
NRC’s staff in
Hodeidah are
continuing to
carry out our
usual cholera
prevention
programs,
focused on
ensuring
people have
access to safe
water and
hygiene
material." The
UN has a shameful
record
with cholera,
having killed
over 10,000
people in Haiti
with the
cholera UN
Peacekeeping
brought, with
not a
penny in
restitution.
On
July 13,
unable
to go to the
UN's noon
briefing as it had
been been unable
to attend
Guterres' July
12 press
conference at which
not a single
Yemen question
was asked,
Inner City
Press wrote to
Guterres'
spokesmen: "
Saudi King
Salman has
‘pre-exonerated’
all troops
fighting in
Yemen from any
accountability
issues they
may face over
their conduct
in the war, in
which
thousands of
civilians have
been killed
and wounded. A
statement
announcing the
early pardon,
released by
Saudi Arabia's
state news
agency SPA,
said the
pardon extends
to “all
military men
across the
armed forces”
taking part in
Operation
Restoring
Hope.” Given
that the SG
accepted
Saudi's $930
Million check,
what is his
comment?" There
was no answer
for four days.
On July
17, Guterres'
deputy
spokesman Farhan
Haq e-mailed
Inner City
Press that "Regarding
your earlier
question on
Yemen, we have
the following: We
are aware of
the reported
royal decree
by King
Salman. The
United Nations
does not
endorse
amnesties for
genocide, war
crimes, crimes
against
humanity or
gross
violations of
human rights. The
Secretary-General
has
consistently
reminded all
parties to the
conflict of
their
obligation to
adhere to
international
humanitarian
law, including
taking steps
to protect
civilians and
civilian
infrastructure. We
emphasize once
again that a
negotiated
political
settlement
through
inclusive
intra-Yemeni
dialogue is
the only way
to end the
conflict and
address the
ongoing
humanitarian
crisis." So
what about
that $930 million
check? And the
ongoing ban of
Inner City
Press? We'll
have more on
this. On
June 26 as
Guterres
proposed to
Security
Council to
continue to
list the Saudi
and now Emirati
led Coalition
as "good"
child killers,
Guterres' spokesman
said this
classification
is for parties
who "engage."
Inner City
Press asked if
the $930
million check
was part of the
engagement and
Dujarric
archly said
No. On
June 29,
NRC NRC
staffer, Lolah
Alkahtani, in
Sana’a: "I
am worried
that this war
will kill my
family in
Hodeidah, and
that it will
destroy our
house which my
father built
after spending
all his life
saving for it.
The word
worried
doesn’t even
describe a bit
of how we
feel.”
NRC
staffer,
Saleem
Al-Shamiri, in
Sana’a, said
"My
family in
Hodeidah city
think any
moment a bomb
will explode,
or clashes
will reach
their homes. I
have felt this
situation
myself in
2011, and
understand the
fear and panic
they feel now. While
the past days
have been
quiet, family
and friends I
have spoken to
tell me that
people don’t
dare leave
their houses.
Only a few
grocery shops
are open, and
many people
going hungry.
I sent some
money to my
family so they
can buy food,
as most people
don’t have
anything left
in their
houses. I’m
concerned that
they won’t be
able to find
food or clean
water to
survive while
the offensive
drags on.”
NRC
continued: The
fighting in
Hodeidah
continues but
is on a
relative pause
while the UN
envoy is
allowed
further time
to mediate
between the
parties to the
conflict in an
attempt to
restart peace
negotiations.
The situation
in the wider
Hodeidah area
is volatile,
and fighting
continues in
Hodeidah’s
southern
districts.
Airstrikes
have been
ongoing around
the city
although they
have slowed
this week.
People inside
Hodeidah city
tell NRC staff
that the
situation
continues to
be calm, with
only a few
clashes
reported
during the
night. Some
roads within
the city are
reportedly
closed or
partially
blocked by
defensive
entrenchments.
People inside
the city tell
NRC that most
shops,
especially in
the southern
side of the
city, remain
closed as
shopkeepers
are too scared
to open them.
Electricity is
still
unavailable in
many areas and
water remains
scarce. Most
people do not
leave their
houses unless
it’s urgent.
Many don’t
have adequate
food in their
homes and are
at the brink
of going
hungry.
Money exchange
shops are
reported to
remain mostly
closed. This
is a serious
concern in
Yemen, where
people have
been
struggling
with an
increasing
lack of cash
liquidity in
the past few
years of the
conflict.
Without access
to cash, and
with
reportedly
rising prices
of basic
goods,
civilians who
could
otherwise
survive may be
left without
food and other
necessities." Last
week, Dujarric
spoonfed sound
bytes to Al
Jazeera and is
working with
them to try to
further restrict
Inner City
Press, here -
Inner City
Press was in
fact ousted on
June 22, video
here,
story here.
We'll have
more on this.
***
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