In
Yemen, ICP
Asks Who's In
UN Compound,
UN Vehicle,
AC4S, If Ban
Raised
Airstrikes
By
Matthew
Russell Lee,
Exclusive
follow up
UNITED
NATIONS,
November 11 --
The UN
Secretariat's
bungling of
Yemen
mediation has
become ever
more clear,
according to
multiple
sources and
documents
exclusively
seen by Inner
City Press,
see below.
On November 10
Inner City
Press heard
from its
sources that
in Sana'a a
vehicle with a
UN flag was
stopped and
found to
contain
weapons and
that the
driver has
been detained.
What is the UN
doing? Who is
staying in the
UN compound,
the former
Sheraton
Hotel?
On
November 11,
Inner City
Press asked UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric,
transcript
here:
Mr.
Lee?
Inner City
Press: I was
reading the
readout of the
Secretary-General’s
meeting with
the King, and
it seemed to
say that the
Secretary-General
hopes that all
sides of the
conflict would
take extreme
care not to
cause civilian
casualties.
Did he ask the
Saudi King to
stop
airstrikes?
Spokesman:
I think the
readout is
very
clear.
It speaks for
itself.
I think the
Secretary-General,
either
directly or
through
myself, has
also been very
clear on the
issue of the
Saudi-led
coalition
airstrikes.
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to ask
again about
this issue of
the
contractors.
One of whom
is, you know,
deceased.
You’d said
earlier… I’d
asked you what
company they
worked
for. And
you started to
say something
and you
stopped.
It seems like
it’s a company
called
AC4S.
The reason I’m
asking you is
the website of
this company
says, “We work
with Homeland
Security.”
It’s a very
mil… I’m not
saying that
it’s an
intelligence
company, but
is it wise… I
guess I want
to ask you, is
it wise for
the US… for
the UN,
impartial
international
agency, to be
flying in
people and to
be employing
them in the
compound whose
company is
closely
aligned with
the US
military?
And,
secondarily,
are the people
staying in the
former
Sheraton Hotel
compound, now
the UN
compound, with
the UN flag,
are they all
UN people or
are there
non-UN
people?
Because this
has turned out
to be a matter
of some
controversy in
some
[inaudible]…
Spokesman:
The UN is
operating in
what is
arguably a
very dangerous
situation in
Yemen.
We have found
accommodations
that meet our
security
needs.
They are run
by an outside
company, and
the
contractors
were working
for that
company.
I’m not able
to… I can’t
confirm that…
the name of
the company
you gave me,
because I
don’t have
that
information.
Inner City
Press: the
question
that’s arisen
is UN staff
safety.
Is it wise to
place UN
personnel in
the same
location as
people
seemingly
aligned with
the US
Government, at
a time that
they’re being
air-struck by…
Spokesman:
The safety and
security of UN
staff is
incredibly
important,
obviously.
When we make a
decision to
continue to
operate in
what is
arguably a war
zone, with a
small “W,” we
have to make
the necessary
arrangements.
There are no
perfect
arrangements.
We make what…
the best
possible
arrangements
to allow our
staff to
continue to
deliver
essential
humanitarian
aid in the
best possible
conditions in
a very, very
difficult
place to
operate.
Question:
And just one
more.
This is
something that
I’ve heard so
I wanted to
ask you.
Maybe you’ll
shoot it down
now or later
today, that a
car bearing a
UN flag was
stopped in
Sana’a and is
said by those
who stopped it
to have
contained
weapons,
plural, not
just DSS
[Department of
Safety and
Security] or
otherwise…
Spokesman:
I don’t… you’d
have to give
me a bit more
details, and I
can check.
Inner City
Press:
Has a UN
driver, a
driver of a UN
vehicle been
detained?
Spokesman:
I don’t know.
How
not? As to the
compound, it is
run, research
finds, by
AC4S, which
says it
"provides a
wide variety
of services to
the U.S.
Federal sector
both in the
United States
homeland and
abroad. With a
focus on
Special
Operations,
Cyberspace,
Diplomacy and
Homeland
Security, AC4S
is able to
deliver
solutions to
our customers
globally in
the toughest,
most demanding
and austere
environments.
If it’s a
tough
neighborhood
AC4S is
probably
there. We
provide
support in
four
lines-of-business
including
C5ISR,
Cyberspace
Operations,
Mission
Support
Services and
Professional
Support
Services."
On October
26 Inner
City Press reported
that its
sources
exclusively
told it of
a new low,
that the UN
brought into
Sana'a what
the Houthis
call two
members of US
intelligence,
with the cover
identification
that they work
for the
company
running the
former hotel
now occupied
by the UN.
But, the
sources say,
security in
Sana'a
recognized the
two and they
were now
detained.
On October 30,
Inner City
Press asked UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
it, video
here, transcript here
and below.
Dujarric
acknowledged
he knew about
two
"contractors."
On
November 2 the
US Statement
Department was
referring
questions to
this
UNresponsive
UN: "We’re
aware of those
reports. Due
to privacy
considerations,
I’m not going
to comment on
them...
I would direct
your questions
to the UN."
It
was the US,
not the UN,
that disclosed
that one of
the two is
deceased. On
November 10
Inner City
Press asked
the UN, video
here, transcript here:
Inner
City Press: I
wanted to ask
you about
Yemen.
The
contractors,
what you
described as
contractors, I
guess it's
sad, but I
wanted you to
confirm what
the State
Department has
said, which is
that one of
them has died,
John
Hamen.
It's also
reported that
the UN has
been somehow
involved in
trying to get
them
released.
What's the UN
statement,
given that you
flew them in
there?
Spokesman:
I… we've been
informed by
the State
Department of
the death of
one of the
contractors.
And,
obviously, we
send our deep
condolences to
his family, to
his wife, to
his
children.
The other
contractor, as
far as I
understand,
remains in
custody, but I
have nothing
to share with
you as to
discussions
that may be
going on.
Question:
And one last
thing on
Yemen.
It seems like
if the
Secretary-General
is in Saudi
Arabia and
talking about
Yemen, is the
envoy, Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed, there
or is he in
Mauritania?
Spokesman:
I don't have a
location of
the
envoy. I
don't think
he's in
Riyadh.
Obviously, the
Secretary-General's
trip was very
quickly
arranged, and
I don't think
the envoy was
able to get
there.
[He later said
that Mr. Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
was on his way
to Riyadh.]
Question:
Is it on track
for 15
November, the
talks?
Spokesman:
We will
announce… as
he said, we
will announce
a date when
we're ready.
Three
hours after
the UN noon
briefing at
which Inner
City Press
asked about
the envoy not
being in
Riyadh, the UN
sent this
reply:
From: UN
Spokesperson -
donotreply
[at] un.org
Date: Tue, Nov
10, 2015 at
3:45 PM
Subject:
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
To:
Matthew.Lee
[at]
innercitypress.com
Cc: Stephane
Dujarric
"In response
to your
question about
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed's
whereabouts,
we can inform
you that he is
currently
traveling to
Riyadh and
expects to be
there for
11-12
November."
But Ban
Ki-moon, who
left for Saudi
Arabia on
Sunday
November 8,
will be back
in New York
City on
November 11.
Some envoy.
Later
on November
10, Inner City
Press asked
UNOCHA's John
Ging about
response to
the cyclones
that have hit
Yemen, video
here.
After Inner
City Press'
October 26
report and
October 30
noon briefing
questions, on
October 31
Reuters "reported"
a piece citing
an unnamed UN
spokesperson
about two
"contractors,"
with no
mention of the
Houthis claim
they work with
US
intelligence,
which by now
had also been
reported,
along with
Inner City
Press' October
30 Q&A
with Dujarric,
by Al-Akhbar.
But it's
worse. Reuters
initially
(mis) reported
that "'Two
contractors
have been
detained and
the Deputy
Secretary-General
(Jan Eliasson)
is looking
into it,' a
U.N. spokesman
said without
elaborating or
confirming if
the two were
American
citizens."
Then a day
after that,
Reuters blamed
the UN for its
correction to
"'Two
contractors
have been
detained and
DSS
(Department of
Safety and
Security) is
looking into
it,' said a
U.N.
spokesman."
Inner
City Press:
maybe you can
confirm or
deny that two
individuals
flew in to
Sana’a on a UN
plane have
been detained
by the Houthis
who accuse
them of being
US
intelligence
individuals.
What was the
protocol for
getting on a
UN plane to
Sana’a?
Does the UN
have a
position of
not flying in
intelligent
members of a
UN member
state?
Spokesman:
I'm aware of
two people who
I believe are
UN contractors
and their
situation.
I don't have
an update on
it. The
protocol for
flying on UN
planes and on
UN
humanitarian
flights is
pretty
clear. I
can give you
the
details.
We do not, we
do not
knowingly fly
in or out
combatants.
Inner City
Press: I
just wondered,
could you
maybe say what
kind of
contractors
they
are? I
heard and
reported they
were making a
building that
the UN works
in. Is
that true?
Spokesman:
That's my
understanding.
We'll
have more on
this.
Meanwhile the
Houthis are
denouncing UN
envoy Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmad and his
(mis)
representation
to the
Security
Council
regarding what
they agreed
to. This has
happened
before and the
goal seems to
be delay to
allow for more
air strikes.
There's work
of
mercenaries,
in essence,
including from
Colombia in
Aden, joining
the troops
from
ICC-indicted
Sudan.
A
new level of
dysfunction
was hit with
the deployment
in Aden of
hundreds of
troops from
Sudan, putting
ICC-indicted
Omar al-Bashir
on the same
side as the US
and UK. (Inner
City Press is
exclusively
informed that
"UN" envoy
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
is working on
a similar
Saudi deal
with his
native
Mauritania,
see below.)
Now
Inner City
Press is
reliably and
exclusively
informed of a
letter,
drafted by
Saudi Arabia
and conveyed
to UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon by
envoy Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed, which
has Ban
thanking Hadi
and stating
that the
Houthis have
agreed without
reservation to
implementing
UN Security
Council
Resolution
2216.
They have not
- this is just
another
misleading
move by the
envoy, not a
third strike
but a fourth.
But more
fundamentally,
why would Ban
Ki-moon even
consider
signing a
letter that
was drafted by
Saudi Arabia?
Ban's Deputy
Secretary
General Jan
Eliasson,
arguably
undermining
the envoy,
recently
traveled to
Saudi Arabia
and then Iran.
Inner City
Press is
reliably and
exclusively
informed that
the Saudis
snubbed
Eliasson,
denying
several of his
meeting
requests and
finally
providing him
only with the
Foreign
Minister, just
before he
left. In Iran,
complaints
against envoy
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
were lodged,
that he does
not have the
trust of the
Houthis. What
kind of envoy
is this? What
kind of UN?
After the UN
Security
Council's
praise of
talks
ostensibly
committed to
UN envoy
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
was not
updated after
Hadi canceled
participation
in the talks,
then the Saudi
led coalition
bombed Oman's
Ambassador's
house in
Sana'a.
The Saudi
Mission to the
UN, doling
out
information
selectively as
always,
tweeted a photo of a
meeting
between its
Ambassador and
the deputy
ambassadors of
Security
Council
members the UK
and US, of the
EU - and UN
humanitarian
deputy
Kyung-hwa
Kang. What did
Kyung-hwa
Kang, if not
the
Ambassadors,
say about the
airstrikes?
The UN's envoy
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed,
after
complaining
about his
leaked email
showing his
marginalization
from Yemen
talks, that
Hadi had
committed to
come to talks.
The Security
Council
praised him in
a Press
statement.
Then Hadi
canceled. It
is similar to
the UN's
ceasefire-that-wasn't,
and the failed
"talks" in
Geneva in
which the UN
never gave the
Houthis passes
to get into
the UN
building,
after allowing
them to be
delayed along
the way so
that Ban never
met them
(while meeting
with an
individual on
the US Al
Qaeda
sanctions
list.)
In many
contexts it's
"three strikes
and you're
out," in this
case faux
ceasefire and
two talks that
never
happened. But
the Security
Council has
not updated
its Press
Statement of
praise; some
members
apparently
simply work
around the UN
envoy. We'll
have more on
this.
On September 5
as airstrikes
on Sana'a
picked up
force, there
was no comment
from the UN or
its envoy
Ismail Ould
Cheihk Ahmed.
Nor on
September 6.
On September
7, the UN
finally spoke
-- not about
the airstrikes
but about a
leak.
On September
8, Inner City
Press asked UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujrarric if
he was denying
the veracity
of the UN
email Inner
City Press
published,
below.
Dujarric did
not deny it. Video here. Inner City Press on
September 9
asked
Dujarric's
deputy, below,
on September 9
about Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed.
Inner City
Press
exclusively
reported the
following: on
August 27-28
in Muscat, the
US and UK, the
EU Ambassador
to the UN and
Saudi
intelligence,
met with the
Houthis --
without the UN
and its envoy
present, or
even sources
say aware of
the meeting.
These sources
say that the
UN's Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed was on
vacation in
his native
Mauritania,
and was
entirely out
of the loop.
On September
10, Inner City
Press asked UK
Ambassador
Matthew
Rycroft if the
UK had met
with the
Houthis and
GPC in Muscat,
without the UN
Envoy present.
Video
here. The
answer, as
transcribed by
the UK
Mission:
Inner
City Press:
There was a
letter from
the Envoy that
seemed to
imply that.
Amb Rycroft:
There has been
a lot of
different
types of talks
in Morocco and
different
engagements
with others.
The United
Kingdom and
other
countries are
involved in
some but not
all of those
talks –
depending on
the format.
Whether or not
we are there
or not we are
very
supportive of
Ismail and his
work.
Meanwhile
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
says the same
parties will
now meet with
him. Replay?
On September
9, Inner City
Press asked UN
Deputy
Spokesperson
Farhan Haq, video here, transcript
here:
Inner
City Press: I
saw the
statement by
the Envoy that
leaks may be
distorting.
But I wanted
to ask a
factual
question,
which is that
there are
reports, and
some are
confirming,
that there
were meetings
in Muscat by
the US, UK, EU
[European
Union]
ambassador to
Yemen, the
Houthis and
Saudi
intelligence
that took
place in
August, 27th
and
28th.
And I wanted
to know, it
seems that the
UN's Envoy
wasn't
present.
Was this by
choice?
Was he not
invited?
Was he
unaware?
What's his
role in these
talks that are
taking place
between the
parties that
I've named in
Muscat?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, I
wouldn't have
any
confirmation
about any of
the meetings
that do not
involve Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed, the
Special
Envoy.
He has been
present in
Muscat as well
as in Riyadh
in recent days
and has used
his time in
those two
cities to talk
to many of the
key players
representing
the Government
of Yemen,
Ansar Allah
and the
General
People's
Congress, and
so he is
continuing
with his
efforts to get
the parties to
talk to each
other and to
get a halt to
the
fighting.
And beyond
that, I
wouldn't have
any details on
any meetings
that take
place outside
of his
purview.
The September
10 briefing by
this envoy to
the UNSC was
requested by
the UK -
which, it
seems, met
with the
Houthis
without Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed.
Sources also
note to Inner
City Press
that the Saudi
have "dissed"
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed,
relegating him
only to
meeting with
Saudi
intelligence,
not diplomats
as was
previously the
case with the
UN. This too
is
embarrassing
to the UN.
Hence the
Sunday evening
statement:
"The
Special Envoy
for Yemen of
the
Secretary-General
of the United
Nations,
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed,
is disturbed
by press
reports
regarding the
leak of
internal
United Nations
correspondence.
The content of
these reports,
especially in
some Yemeni
media outlets
and Internet
sites,
constitute
distortions
and
misinterpretations.
These reports
do not reflect
the position
of the Special
Envoy or of
the United
Nations."
A
well placed UN
source told
Inner City
Press that the
replacement
envoy should
never have
commented on
the leak,
especially
while
remaining
silent on the
increased
airstrikes and
Qatar sending
troops and
Apache
helicopters.
Perhaps
the discomfort
is with the
reference to
the US
National
Security
Council's
"Eric
Polovski"
(that is, Eric
Pelofsky)
being "on
board."
Another source
exclusively
told Inner
City Press
that in the
Security
Council's last
meeting on
Yemen, those
raising the
mounting
humanitarian
toll were
Venezuela,
Chile and New
Zealand.
Consider again
this, to USg
Jeff Feltman:
"Dear
Jeff,
Before
traveling to
Jeddah I held
two days of
meetings with
Ansar Allah
and GPC in
Muscat in
which I tried
to convince
them to
improve upon
the 10 points
which they had
submitted to
me earlier.
This was
necessary to
respond to
concerns in
Riyadh that
the
commitments to
the
implementation
of 2216 were
still
inadequate and
failed to
include
recognition of
the legitimacy
of the
government.
AA/GPC
agreed to a
new wording on
UNSC
resolution
2216 that
states
unequivocally
that they are
committed to
the full
implementation
of 2216, (see
document
attached) with
the exception
of article
which infringe
on Yemeni
sovereignty
and those
related to
sanctions.
In
addition, the
new text
includes
acceptance of
the return of
the current
government for
a period of
sixty days
during which a
new government
of national
unity shall be
formed. They
also accepted
to remove
references to
counter-terrorism
and the Saudi
border to
which the GoY
had objected,
as well as the
mandatory
support by the
international
community for
reconstruction
that was in
the earlier
version. The
latter was
particularly
opposed by KSA
and GCC who
did not want
it to be
interpreted as
a form of
mandatory
compensation.
Both Ansar
Allah and GPC
seemed
positive and
showed
considerable
flexibility.
My
meetings
followed two
days of
meetings
between the
Ansar Allah
and KSA
intelligence
officers which
were also
attended by
the US, UK and
Oman. The
discussions
focused on
possible
confidence
building
measures such
as a pullback
from border
areas in
exchanges for
a cessation of
airstrikes and
agreements in
which they
would cease
operations
within Saudi
Arabia. This
was the first
time that
Ansar Allah
have been open
to discuss
limited and
geographically
specific
agreement.
Although they
repeated that
the return of
President Hadi
would be
unacceptable,
they expressed
their openness
to the return
of the
government for
a limited
time. The US
Ambassador,
Matt Tueller
has been
keeping me
regularly
informed of
these
discussions,
which has been
most helpful.
The confidence
building paper
proposed by
the Houthis to
KSA is
attached for
reference.
Although
US officials
were
disappointed
that Saudis
had sent
relatively
junior
representatives,
they still
felt the
meetings were
positive,
largely
friendly and a
good way for
KSA to sound
out Ansar
Allah’s
intentions.
Ansar Allah
and KSA agreed
that there
should be
further
meetings with
hopefully more
senior
representation
although no
dates were
agreed. The
meetings
unfortunately
shed very
little new
light on KSA’s
strategy in
the conflict
or their
willingness to
support a
negotiated
settlement in
the near
future.
The
meetings in
Muscat were of
course heavily
influenced by
the military
developments
in Yemen. The
coalition has
not been able
to make rapid
progress since
their
successes in
Aden, Abyan
and Shabwa in
August. Taiz
remains
contested and
there are
reports that
Ansar Allah
has regained
some territory
which had been
lost in the
past week. The
coalition’s
difficulties
moving
northward
suggest that
an assault on
Sanaa would
likely be
difficult and
time-consuming
than they had
previously
expected.
The
instability
and violence
which have
plagued Aden
following its
capture is
likely also a
source of
concern. The
mostly
pro-independence
Hiraak
fighters are
unwilling to
cooperate
fully with the
GoY in
attempts to
expand
northward.
This leaves
the coalition
dependent on
ground troops
from Islah,
Salafi and
AQAP related
groups, which
UAE is
reluctant to
support.
Conclusion:
I
believe,
following my
discussions in
Muscat, that
we now have a
strong
opportunity to
obtain a peace
deal, and
avoid a
violent
confrontation
in Sanaa, for
the following
three main
reasons:
i) The
revised paper
(attached) is
much stronger
and contains
serious
concessions by
the H/GPC. It
will be
difficult, at
this stage, to
push them
towards
further
concessions.
ii)
The recent
slower advance
of the GoY
affiliated
forces around
Taez and
Maarib could
also offer
another
opportunity.
iii)
The on-going
insecurity and
lawlessness in
Aden, and the
increased
visibility of
AQAP in Aden
region in the
aftermath of
the liberation
of the city by
the GoY and
Coalition
forces, has
started to
raise serious
concerns for
UAE, and in
some KSA
circles.
In
light of the
above, I have
reached the
conclusion
that we should
now move
towards a new
round of
direct talks,
two and half
months after
our first
round in
Geneva. My
recent
shuttling has
now reached a
point whereby
it is becoming
somewhat
transactional
with the
Special Envoy
obtaining a
paper from one
side and
seeking
comments/acceptance
by the other
side. I do not
think we can
sustain this
and I
recommend we
move to a more
strategic
phase. I
recommend
holding this
next round of
talks in Oman
Sultanate as a
first choice,
which seems to
be acceptable
to the Omanis
and all
parties,
especially
KSA. My second
proposed
option would
be Kuwait,
however the
Houthis are
still hesitant
about this
potential
venue.
Ideally, we
should aim at
holding this
meeting before
Eid.
My
discussions in
Jeddah and
Riyadh will be
explicitly in
favour of
moving to
peace talks
phase as
opposed to
continuing
this shuttling
around
papers/proposals.
I have first
indications
that Abu Ali
and Matt
Tueller are
supportive of
this new
approach. In
this regard,
it was
important to
time my visit
to Jeddah
before the
meeting
between King
Salman and
President
Obama
tomorrow. Eric
Polovski –
White House
NSC – who was
just recently
in Muscat is
also fully on
board on this.
I am
conscious that
the
implementation
of this new
proposal
depends very
much on the
GoY's openness
and the KSA
genuine
support (and
not only on
what I am
hearing from
Abu Ali). But
this proposal
is also the
only way to
keep the UN's
efforts at the
center of the
mediation
process and to
avoid a
fatigue among
our various
stakeholders,
especially the
H/GPC. This is
why I once
again need the
support of the
SG and the P5.
Best
regards.
Ismail
Muscat
Principles for
a Solution to
the Political
Crisis in
Yemen
Commitment by
all parties to
implement
relevant UNSC
resolutions
including
resolution
2216,
according to
an
implementation
mechanism to
be agreed
upon, and
without
infringing on
national
sovereignty,
and with
reservations
regarding the
sanctions
against Yemeni
citizens.
A
permanent and
comprehensive
cease-fire by
all parties
with the
withdrawal of
all armed
groups and
militias from
the cities,
according to
an agreed
mechanism to
avoid any
security and
administrative
vacuum along
with lifting
of the land,
sea and air
blockade.
Agreement
on neutral
monitoring
instrument in
order to
verify
implementation
of the
mechanisms
mentioned
above that
will be agreed
upon, under
the auspices
of the United
Nations.
To
respect
international
humanitarian
law, including
the elements
relating to
the protection
of civilians
and the
release of
prisoners and
detainees from
all parties,
including
those
mentioned in
UNSC
resolution,
and to
facilitate
humanitarian
relief and
allow the
entry of
commercial
goods, food,
medical
supplies, oil
derivatives
and other
essential good
without
restriction.
Kaled Bahah’s
government,
formed by
consensus,
returns and
performs its
tasks as a
caretaker
government for
a period not
extending 60
days, during
which a
government of
national unity
is formed, in
a way that
does not
violate the
constitution.
To
resume and
accelerate
United
Nations-brokered
negotiations,
according to
the UNSC
resolution.
All
parties are
obliged to
hand over
heavy weapons
to the State
in accordance
with the
outcomes of
the
Comprehensive
National
Dialogue."
Note:
the "Eric
Polovski" in
the above
would seem to
be Eric
Pelofsky. Just
saying.
On September 1
the Office of
the High
Commission for
Human Rights
raised its
estimate of
civilians
killed to
2,112 (from
March 26 to
August 27),
with 4,519
civilians
injured in
that period in
what OHCHR
called a
"conservative
estimate."
OHCHR cited an
airstrike on
Taiz on August
20 which
killed 53
civilians.
OHCHR said
"Fifty-three
of these
civilian
deaths
occurred on 20
August,
reportedly as
result of a
series of
airstrikes by
Saudi-led
coalition
forces that
hit 20 homes
near Salah
Palace in
Taiz.
According to
local reports,
active
fighters in
the Houthi
popular
committees
were believed
to be based in
the Salah
Palace at the
time."
Believed?
Question to
OHCHR in this
case: what is
international
law?
Or
this one:
"attacks by
coalition
forces on
Hodeidah port,
which is a key
entry point
for
humanitarian
supplies and
commercial
imports into
Yemen."
UN Relief
Chief Stephen
O'Brien on
August 19 told
the UN
Security
Council, "To
date only 18
percent, some
$282 million,
of the $1.6
billion
requested
through the
Yemen
Humanitarian
Response Plan
has been
received. UN
agencies have
still not
received the
funding from
Saudi Arabia
of $274
million
pledged in
April."
After O'Brien
said that,
Inner City
Press asked
Yemen's
Permanent
Representative
at the UN,
down the hall
toward the
Trusteeship
Council
Chamber, about
it. He told
Inner City
Press, among
other things,
that explains
the request
for a UN
"liaison" in
Riyadh.
After the
Security
Council's
triplet of
meetings on
Yemen, Syria
and South
Sudan ended on
August 19,
Inner City
Press asked
New Zealand's
Permanent
Representative
Gerard van
Bohemen "On
Yemen. Mr
O’Brien said
that Saudi
Arabia haven’t
paid the
pledge and
that there was
some dispute
about the UN
sending maybe
somebody to be
a liaison,
what was said
about actually
getting aid
unblocked?"
Ambassador van
Bohemen
replied, "I
think you need
to talk to him
about it. What
he explained
was there’s
been quite a
complicated
discussion
going with the
Saudi
government
about the
terms on which
the money will
be made
available, but
he knows the
detail about
it, I don’t."
We still hope
to have more
on this.
On August 7
Inner City
Press was
informed that
as Houthis and
Saleh's GPC
headed to Oman
for
consultations
on August 8
and 9, the
UN's
replacement
envoy Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed was not
even initially
invited. He
had to beg to
get included,
which after
sweating has
been allowed,
in the run-up
to his
briefing on
August 12 to
the Security
Council.
On
August 12,
Inner City
Press asked
Yemen
Permanent
Representative,
outside the
Council
meeting,
questions
ranging from
the
destruction of
schools and
health care
facilities in
Sa'ada by
Saudi
airstrikes to
when,
according to
him, the
Houthis might
be "driven"
out of Sa'ana.
Video
here. He
said in a few
weeks - and
added that the
Oman talks
were "not UN."
So
how then might
the parties
negotiate? UN
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric said
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
was headed
back to
Riyadh. That
seems to be
his base,
where he works
from - and
for? Watch
this site.
Oman has
received murky
thanks for
France for
facilitating
the release of
a hostage, who
was working
for the Social
Development
Fund there.
Did Oman pay
for France? Or
will others be
released, as
France brought
about in Mali?
On July 28,
Inner City
Press asked
Saudi Arabia's
Permanent
Representative
about Mokha or
Mocha; he
replied that
previous
allegations
about Saudi
airstrikes on
Old City
Sana'a and on
a palace in
Aden once used
by Queen
Elizabeth had
been proven
untrue. We'll
have more on
this.
Inner City
Press asked
Yemen's
representative
about the
talks in Cairo
involving the
United Arab
Emirates,
allies of
former
president
Saleh and,
it's said, the
US and UK. He
replied that
the Yemeni
government -
in exile -
deals through
formal
channels, the
GCC or UN.
He might have
been asked,
which foreign
minister is he
reporting to:
the one named
by Hadi, or
the one - his
predecesor -
named by
Bahah? We'll
have more on
this as well.
After
publishing its
multi-sourced
story, Inner
City Press on
July 22 asked
the UN's
Associate
Spokesperson
about new APC
and weapons in
Aden, and if
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
is on
vacation. Video here. She replied that she
would check -
but did not
revert with
any response
either way.
So on July 23,
amid reports
that without
Cheikh Ahmed
or any UN
presence talks
were occurring
about Yemen in
Cairo, Inner
City Press
asked:
Inner
City Press: on
Yemen,
yesterday
you'd said you
would check on
Mr. Ould
Cheikh Ahmed,
whether, in
fact, he is on
vacation at
this
time.
Did you?
Associate
Spokesperson:
No.
Inner City
Press: You
said leave is
a good
thing.
In the
transcript,
you said, I'll
check on his
vacation.
But yes,
people do take
leave, it is a
good thing,
although there
are people in
Yemen who say,
given that the
humanitarian
pause failed,
it seemed a
strange time
to do
it. So I
just wanted to
know,
factually, is
it, in fact,
the case?
Associate
Spokesperson:
Is it the
fact…?
Inner City
Press:
That he's on
vacation after
the failure of
the
humanitarian
pause.
Associate
Spokesperson:
I don't know
specifically
for the
Special Envoy,
but I can tell
you that, you
know, most
people at that
level at the
UN, all people
at that level
at the UN
continue to
work on their
portfolios
wherever they
are and
whatever
they're
doing.
These are
portfolios
that you can't
just
drop.
And I'm sure
that's the
case also with
the Special
Envoy.
As far as
leave goes,
you know, I'm
not going to
get into a
“who's on
leave when”,
blah, blah,
blah, with
you. I
just… I don't
want to do
that…
[cross talk]
Inner City
Press:
I'm just
saying because
yesterday, you
said, "I'll
check".
Associate
Spokesperson:
Because as you
mentioned… as
you mentioned
yourself, you
know, leave is
part of
working life.
Inner City
Press:
Okay.
Was he also on
leave when UN
staff had to
leave Libya
and he was the
deputy SRSG in
Libya?
Because that's
what I'm told
by the people…
Associate
Spokesperson:
He was also on
leave when
what…?
Inner City
Press:
On leave when
the people
were evacuated
from Libya
that were the
staff members
of the UNSMIL
mission.
Associate
Spokesperson:
Well, I just
said I'm not
going to go
and check his
attendance
sheet.
So
much for
checking.
Inner City
Press asked
the UN where
Cheikh Ahmed
is. UN Deputy
Spokesperson
Farhan Haq
told Inner
City Press
that he has
been "planning
his travels,"
soon to
Riyadh. Yeah,
Inner City
Press was told
by another
less
constrained
but at least
as
knowledgeable
source:
planning his
future travels
while already
on vacation.
Another source
compared it to
then UN envoy
to Pakistan
Jean-Maurice
Ripert going
on vacation
amid national
disasters in
Pakisan and
then losing
his post.
The buzz in
Sana'a, where
Hadi has named
a governor in
exile
described as
an Islamist,
is that Cheikh
Ahmed may well
have known of
the plans to
bring in APC
and weapons to
those fighting
the Houthis in
Aden, and so
"misleadingly"
urged a pause.
Another
compared this
to the UN
luring out
surrendering
rebel leaders
in Sri Lanka -
to their
deaths.
And so from
Aden,
photographs of
brand new
light brown
vehicles,
American-made,
brought in.
Will they end
up in the
hands of Al
Qaeda?
Inner
City Press: I
wanted to
check first if
you have
anything on
Yemen and the
activities of
Ismail Ould
Cheikh
Ahmed.
What's he been
doing in the
last few days,
amid reports
of continued
death and
destruction in
the country?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Yes, Mr. Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
has been
planning his
onward
travels.
The only one
to confirm at
this stage is
that he does
plan very
shortly to
travel to
Riyadh, where
he is to meet
with Saudi
authorities,
authorities of
the Gulf
Cooperation
Council, and
with President
[Abd Rabbuh
Mansour] Hadi
and
Vice-President
[Khaled]
Bahah.
And so, he is
going to try
to talk to
them.
He's
continuing
with his
efforts to see
what can be
done to secure
a humanitarian
pause, even
following the
end of Ramadan
and Eid.
And so, he's
going to
continue with
those efforts
and travel
more broadly
in the region
after
that.
We'll try and
inform you of
other stops as
that
progresses.
Inner
City Press:
There's some
talk of, if
not Mr. Hadi,
other
ministers
trying to
return to
Aden. Is
the UN aware
of that?
Do they have
any comment on
that?
Deputy
Spokesman
Haq:
It's not for
me to discuss
what the
Government of
Yemen is
trying to
do.
Regarding
Aden, we have
been concerned
about the
humanitarian
situation on
the
ground.
Our
humanitarian
colleagues
have been
continuing
even in the
absence of a
humanitarian
pause on the
ground to try
to provide
supplies.
I believe
that, even
though the
pause did not
go forward as
we had wanted,
about 60 per
cent of the
humanitarian
activities
that we had
been planning
did, in fact,
take
place.
And so we were
able to
provide some
aid, although
not nearly
enough.
And, of
course, we
continue to be
concerned
about the
fighting in
Aden.
Back on July
9, UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon
proudly
announced a
humanitarian
pause to start
on July 10 at
midnight.
When the
supposed pause
failed, Inner
City Press was
told on July
14, it took
Ban Ki-moon
more than two
days to speak
with Saudi
Arabia,
through its
foreign and
defense
ministers.
Ban, it was
said, was "in
the air."
Inner
City Press:
Something on
Yemen.
Yesterday, you
said the
Secretary-General
was very, very
disappointed.
So, I wanted
to ask, if you
can say,
starting, I
guess it would
be, Saturday
morning, right
after
midnight, it
became pretty
clear that
there was no
pause.
Did he make
any… did he
make any
actual, like,
calls, meaning
like telephone
calls or in
some… did he
reach
out? And
can you
confirm or
deny that some
within DPA
[Department of
Political
Affairs] had
suggested that
he not put out
that statement
that seemed to
imply that
there was a
pause agreed
to as…?
Spokesman
Dujarric:
No, I… listen,
I'm not…
Secretary-General
was in the air
a large part
of the
weekend.
He's also
attending the
Addis
conference.
People at
various levels
were having
various
contacts.
The
Secretary-General
spoke to both
the Defence
Minister of
Saudi Arabia
and the
Foreign
Minister
yesterday, in
addition to
other contacts
that were had
in the
previous… you
know, on
Monday and
over the
weekend.
As to the
deliberation…
the internal
deliberations
of different
opinions
expressed
within the UN
Secretariat,
I'm not going
to go into
that. At
the end of the
day, it's the
Secretary-General's
call, and the
statement he
issued was
clear.
The day before
on July 13 at
the UN noon
briefing Inner
City Press
asked Ban's
spokesman
Dujarric why
the UN had
made another
"call" for a
pause sound
like a
commitment to
a pause, at
least by the
Saudi led
coalition. Video here.
Dujarric
answered that
envoy Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed had told
the Suadis of
his desire for
a pause. But
that's not
what the UN
said on July
9.
It quickly
became clear
that some of
key parties
had not been
spoken with or
agreed; the
pause's
midnight
beginning came
and passed
amid
airstrikes.
Inner City
Press is
informed by
sources that
Ban Ki-moon
was urged to
not make the
dubious pause
announcement,
including from
within the
UN's own
Department of
Political
Affairs -- but
Ban announced
it anyway.
At best, it
was rolling
the dice. At
worse, on the
very day that
UN is rightly
criticizing
itself for
making false
promises of
protection in
Srebrenica 20
years ago, in
this case
Yemenis were
told there
would be a
pause, and
some perhaps
relied on it,
to their
detriment. And
still the UN
had said
nothing.
After the July
9
announcement,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman if
the Saudis had
been spoken
with. The
answer was,
Hadi told the
Saudis his
position. But
did Hadi ever
agree to the
pause, or just
to the
conditions set
forth in his
letter to UN?
What of Hadi's
responsibilities
to the Yemeni
people?
Now
Saudi Al
Arabiya has
said Saudi
Arabia never
received any
communication
from Hadi to
stop
airstrikes, here.
Someone is
lying.
Where is the
UN's
replacement
envoy Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed? Headed
to Ethiopia,
Ban's
spokesman
said, to meet
with Ban on
the sidelines
of the
Financing for
Development
conference
there. Does
IOCA harbor
ambitions for
another UN
system post,
or back in his
own country?
What sort of a
track record
is this? Watch
this site.
At
the July 10 UN
noon briefing
in New York,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric if
the UN had
spoken with
those in Yemen
opposing the
Houthis but
not supporting
or in contact
with Hadi. Video here. From Dujarric's
answer, it
seems no such
contact has
been made.
So, Inner City
Press asked,
if such a
group fires on
the Houthis
and they fire
back, is the
pause over,
has it been
violated?
We'll see what
happens.
Back
on July 9,
Inner City
Press asked UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, transcript here:
Inner
City Press:
can you, one,
characterize
not the
communications
with Mr. Hadi,
but with Saudi
Arabia that's
running the
coalition, the
Saudi-led
coalition.
And does this
mean the
Secretary-General's
understanding
is no
airstrikes
during this
time period,
and no further
advances or
use of heavy
weapons by the
Houthis?
Does the pause
mean no
firing? What
does it mean
to each of
those two
sides?
Spokesman
Dujarric:
What it means
is that, if
you read the
statement, the
President…
Secretary-General
notes that the
President,
President
Hadi, has
communicated
his acceptance
of the pause
to the
coalition to
ensure their
support.
A humanitarian
pause means no
fighting.
It means no
bombing.
It means no
shooting.
It means no
fighting.
It means
exactly
that: a
humanitarian
pause in the
fighting that
we've seen, to
enable our
humanitarian
colleagues to
get the aid to
where it's
needed, to
preposition,
and stockpile,
and to reach
the millions
that need it.
Inner City
Press:
Right.
But just for
example,
policing,
who's doing
policing in
these various
cities?
Things happen.
Spokesman
Dujarric:
Obviously I
think… [cross
talk] In any
area in the
country, there
is a… there is
de facto
control and,
obviously,
there is a
need to ensure
safety and
security.
What we're
talking about
is a
humanitarian
pause in the
fighting that
we've been
witnessing for
weeks on end
now.
Inner City
Press:
So just one
last thing on
this. So
the commitment
on airstrikes
is through
President Hadi
to the UN?
Spokesman:
You know, the…
[cross talk]
Obviously,
President Hadi
is a critical
interlocutor
with the
coalition.
And as I've
said, we've
taken note of
the fact that
he's conveyed
to the
coalition his
acceptance.
We expect
everyone
involved in
this conflict
to honor this
humanitarian
pause.
On
July 7 the
UN's Office of
the High
Commissioner
for Human
Rights upped
its estimate
of civilians
killed since
March 27 to
1,528, adding
that one
million people
have been
displaced
since the
beginning of
this round of
the conflict.
To the Saudi
airstrike on
UNDP in
Khormaksar,
Aden, OHCHR
added that
"IOM’s Migrant
Response
Centre in
Basateen, also
in Aden, was
struck by a
mortar and an
airstrike
damaged IOM’s
office in
Harad."
IOM, as Inner
City Press
reported, had
earlier paused
its evacuation
by air of
those seeking
to flee Yemen
due to some
party, which
it left
unnamed,
demanding
information
about those
fleeing BEFORE
the flights
could leave.
Inner City
Press has
asked others
in the UN
about this and
has been told
IOM should
have done the
screening
after the
people were
able to flee.
IOM refused a
direct
question about
caused it to
violate this
best practice,
then stopped
sending the
Press any
information.
There are
countries,
normally vocal
about civilian
deaths, which
are selling
military
equipment to
Saudi Arabia
and its Gulf
allies. Ban
Ki-moon, now
in Oslo, is
relying
entirely on
Saudi-selected
replacement
envoy Ismael
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed, who was
unable to even
get the
parties in the
same room in
Geneva, much
less reach an
agreement.
There remain,
for now,
OHCHR's body
counts.
On June 24,
Inner City
Press asked
the UN's
replacement
envoy Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed about
the request by
the Houthis
and others to
meet not with
him but with
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon, who
did not meet
with them in
Geneva.
Transcribed
here.
On June 25
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's deputy
spokesperson
Farhan Haq to
confirm
receipt of the
letter and if
Ban will meet
them. Haq said
Cheikh Ahmed
is the envoy,
and Ban's
headed to San
Francisco. The
UN Security
Council issued
a Press
Statement, here.
Also
on June 25,
Inner City
Press asked
new UN aid
chief Stephen
O'Brien three
questions
about Yemen:
cholera, the
destruction of
ambulances in
Sa'ada and
about
international
staff. Video
here.
O'Brien
replied that
cholera is a
risk; he had
no information
on WHO it was
that destroyed
the ambulances
in Sa'ada (we
can guess.) On
international
staff, which
the UN
evacuated
earlier, he
spoke of a
rise from 17
to 70, with
the goal of
getting to
200. He would
not say if
they are
anywhere in
the country
outside of
Sana'a, citing
security. But
at least he
spoke - the Free UN Coalition for Access thanked
him.
Here's
from the June
24 stakeout,
as fast
transcribed by
Inner City
Press:
Inner
City Press: On
the parties in
Sanaa
requesting to
meet the
Secretary
General –
what’s your
response?
Cheikh
Ahmed: "This
question was
raised during
our discussion
with the
Houthis, the
GPC and their
allies. The
Secretary
General had
delayed twice
his travel in
order to be
there for the
parties. We
have sent
twice a plane
from Sanaa
which the
delegation
from Sana'a
could not
take..
Therefore the
Secretary
General had a
major
engagement,
which was the
election of
the new
president of
the General
Assembly which
takes place
only once a
year , and he
had to attend
it. But the
Secretary
General will
continue being
engaged on
this."
The ceremonial
elevation of
the President
of the GA who
will take over
in September
was not an
election at
all - no vote
was taken.
Before
the meeting,
UK Ambassador
Matthew
Rycroft
stopped and
told the press
of the danger
of famine in
the country,
and of his
hope for a
Yemen Press
Statement from
the UNSC, in
which the UK
is the
"penholder" on
Yemen. Periscope
video here,
replay
including on
desktop for 24
hours.
Inner
City Press was
digging into
the letter
from political
parties IN
Yemen, asking
for a meeting
with Ban
Ki-moon, NOT
with
replacement
envoy Cheikh
Ahmed. These
parties,
including but
not limited to
the Houthis,
were delayed
in getting to
Geneva so that
they could not
meet with Ban
(who while
there DID meet
with a
US-listed Al
Qaeda
terrorist).
While some are
sure to argue
that Ban now
meeting with
the parties
would undercut
Cheikh Ahmed,
others point
out the the
underlying
resolution
speaks of the
Secretary
General's Good
Offices
INCLUDING his
Envoy. The
envoy is not
the only game
in town - nor,
given his lack
of disclosure,
raised by
Inner City
Press, should
he be. We'll
have more on
this.
, 
