On Zimbabwe Inner
City Press Asked UN
Guterres
No Answer Now Elders
Robinson After UAE Cover Up
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Vid here,
CAR
photos
UNITED
NATIONS GATE,
January 18 -- Amid
the crackdown
in Zimbabwe,
when Inner
City Press in
writing on
January 16
asked
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres, his
Deputy Amina J
Mohammed,
Communicator
Alison Smale
and spokesman
Stephane
Duajrric,
there was no
answer at all.
Pastor Evan
Mawarire of
the #ThisFlag
movement has
been arrested
- and nothing
from Guterres,
Mohammed,
Smale and
Dujarric, who
promised on
camera to
answer
questions
(Smale
promised in
writing).
Here's what
Inner City
Press asked:
"January 16-1:
On Zimbabwe,
what is the
SG's comment
and action on
that police
and military
have launched
a massive
crackdown in
Zimbabwe after
what appears
to be have
been a
widespread
breakdown of
public order
linked to food
and fuel
shortages in
the
impoverished
country.
Access to the
internet and
social media
was shut off
for most of
Wednesday, and
armed soldiers
were
patrolling the
streets of
major cities
as
unidentified
men were
reported to be
sweeping
through poor
neighborhoods
of Harare, the
capital, and
beating people
at random?" No
answer at all,
while Dujarric
is tweeting
about
expensive
restaurants.
Now as is
common in the
UN of Guterres
who says human
rights
questions to
governments
like Somalia's
are "impolite"
and "arrogant"
(video here),
he has
outsourced
supposed
concern to the
Human Rights
Commissioner
he picked (to
cover up his
censorship)
Michelle
Bachelet, or
actually her
spokesperson,
see below. Now
this from The
Elders and
Mary Robinson,
who recently covered
up for a
UAE royal's
imprisonment
of one of his
daughters:
"The Elders
today
expressed deep
concern at the
worsening
social and
economic
crisis in
Zimbabwe amid
reports of
killings,
arrests and
intimidation
of opposition
and civil
society
figures and a
shutdown of
internet
access.
Repression and
violence would
further erode
trust in state
authorities
and imperil
Zimbabwe’s
much-needed
transition
towards a more
inclusive,
prosperous and
sustainable
future.
Zimbabwe’s
leaders need
to be
extremely
cautious in
their use of
the security
services. The
Elders
expressed
particular
alarm at the
use of live
ammunition by
police and
security
services in
recent days,
especially
given the
findings of
the official
commission of
inquiry into
the
post-election
violence of 1
August where
six people
were killed by
live rounds in
Harare.
Mary Robinson,
Chair of The
Elders,
said:
“The
Government of
Zimbabwe has
conspicuously
failed to
address
economic
problems in a
way that
protects the
rights and
livelihoods of
ordinary
citizens,
including
provision of
fuel, food and
medical
supplies.
Closing down
the internet
and cracking
down on civil
society is not
the way to
restore calm;
rather,
President
Mnangagwa
needs to
demonstrate
inclusive and
responsive
leadership to
try to repair
social
fractures.” OK
- but what
about that
imprisoned
young woman in
the UAE, Sheikha
Latifa bint
Mohammed
al-Maktoum?
On Zimbabwe,
from the UN's
script:
"SOUNDBITE
(English) –
Ravina
Shamdasani,
spokesperson,
Office of the
High
Commissioner
for Human
Rights
(OHCHR): “On
Zimbabwe, we
are deeply
troubled by
the
socio-economic
crisis that is
unfolding in
the country
and the
repression of
large-scale
protests
following the
Government
decision to
increase fuel
prices. We
call on the
Government to
find ways of
engaging with
the population
about
legitimate
grievances and
to stop the
crackdown
against
protesters.”
Close-up,
journalists.
SOUNDBITE
(English) –
Ravina
Shamdasani,
spokesperson,
Office of the
High
Commissioner
for Human
Rights
(OHCHR): “The
bottom line is
that the use
of live
ammunition by
security
forces was
used,
excessive
force was
used. We don’t
have
verification
on the exact
number of
people who
were killed or
injured, but
there are
doctors’
associations
that are
putting
numbers out
there, likely
more than 60
people were
treated in
hospital for
gunshots
wounds. This
is not the way
to react to
the expression
of economic
grievances by
the
population.”
Close-up,
journalists.
SOUNDBITE
(English) –
Ravina
Shamdasani,
spokesperson,
Office of the
High
Commissioner
for Human
Rights
(OHCHR): “We
understand
that access to
WhatsApp and
Facebook was
also blocked
at some point,
internet
access was
shut down and
it apparently
resumed. There
are reports
that it has
been shut down
again. The
Government has
been saying
that this is
to deal with
misinformation
that is
spreading on
social media.”
Close-up,
camera.
SOUNDBITE
(English) –
spokesperson,
Office of the
High
Commissioner
for Human
Rights
(OHCHR):
“There was
some use of
violence by
the protesters
as well, fires
were set.
Shops and
businesses
were looted;
as always,
it’s difficult
to determine
who did this.
Was it
opportunist
taking
advantage of
the chaos to
do that? Was
it the
demonstrators
themselves?
It’s very
difficult to
understand
that. It’s
very difficult
to manage a
situation like
that.”
Close-up,
journalist.
Close-up,
journalist.
Close-up,
journalist."
Even as the UN
was bragging
how much it
cares for
Central
African
Republic and
its residents
- while UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres
refuses to
answer Inner
City Press'
questions
about rapes
committed
there by his
peacekeepers
from Cameroon
- on 13
December 2018
another
scandal came
into focus,
the UN Mission
MINUSCA
standing by
while more
than 100
civilians were
killed in
Alindao, see
below. That
one, at least
the UN
admitted there
is a an issue.
Not this one,
yet: on
January 14 at
noon Inner
City Press in
writing asked
Guterres, his
Deputy SG
Amina J.
Mohammed, USG
Alison Smale
and Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric (the
last two have
promised
answers, here
and here)
questions
including:
"January 14-2:
On Central
African
Republic,
please
immediately
provide the
SG's comment
and action on
photos of
videos of blue
helmeted
peacekeepers,
apparently
from the UN's
Mauritanian
contingent,
carrying
wounded /
killed people
near Ippy." No
answer at all,
even as
Spokesman
Dujarric
tweets about
expensive
restaurant on
Manhattan's
Upper East
Side, here
- so Inner
City Press
which has been
asked to
report on his
outrage, which
includes video
and photos of
blue helmet
dragging and
"bragging" out
corpses, now
uploads some here.
A full 24 hour
later, Inner
City Press
again in
writing asked
Guterres,
Amina J.
Mohammed,
Alison Smale,
Dujarric and
others: "On
Central
African
Republic,
please
immediately as
you did not
yesterday
provide the
SG's comment
and action on
photos of
videos of blue
helmeted
peacekeepers,
apparently
from the UN's
Mauritanian
contingent,
carrying
wounded /
killed people
near Ippy. To
ensure your
prompt
response, here
are two of the
photos." And
nothing -
totally
unaccountable.
This is
Guterres' UN.
Even though
the UN simply
stonewalls
rather than
seeking to
answer, we'll
note that some
say this
footage is
front when
"anti-balaka"
tried to free
people
imprisoned by
the
Mauritanian UN
peacekeepers -
and the the UN
Group of
Experts
published a
photo with the
blue helmets
omitted.
Guterres
self-serving
and censorious
decision to
rough up and
ban the Press
at the UN
which asks
about this,
leaving a
briefing room
with no one
asking and
none of the
promises
answers to
written
questions -
this is the
disgusting
state to which
Guterres has
brought the UN
- not even
responding to
PHOTOGRAPHS of
blue helmets
defiling the
cadavers of
African
civilians.
We'll have
more on this.
This comes
after UN
negligence
leading to the
death of 100
civilians in
Alindao in
CAR. Inner
City Press
wrote about it
on December
13, and on the
morning of
December 14,
still banned
from the UN by
SG Antonio
Guterres after
163 (now 186)
days,
submitted
questions
including this
to Guterres,
his deputy
Amina J.
Mohammed,
Alison Smale,
Stephane
Dujarric and
Farhan Haq:
"December
14-1: On CAR,
what is the
SG's comment
and more
importantly
action on
reports that
UN
peacekeepers'
fleeing
contributed to
the killing of
100 civilians
in Alindao?
Who will be
held
accountable?"
Haq held an in
person
briefing at
which no one
allowed in
asked about
the UN killing
100 people
through
negligence. At
2:40 pm Haq
sent Inner
City Press
this:
"Regarding
your first
question, we
have the
following to
say: We have
seen the
Amnesty report
and we are
taking
extremely
seriously the
atrocities
committed
against
civilians in
Alindao. We
have requested
the Government
to investigate
these crimes
against
civilians with
our support
and for
perpetrators
to be held
accountable.
We also take
seriously any
allegation of
underperformance.
MINUSCA is
investigating
the response
of our
peacekeepers
at the time of
the attack and
we will take
appropriate
measures based
on the
findings.
At the time of
the attack,
the Mission
had 48
peacekeepers
in the area
and was trying
to protect the
3,000 IDPs who
have moved to
our temporary
operating base
to seek
protection.
Our capacity
was just not
enough to deal
effectively
with the
complexity,
scale and type
of the attack.
MINUSCA
immediately
sent
reinforcements
from Bambari
to help
contain the
violence but
due to the
poor
infrastructure,
they arrived
in Alindao 36
hours later.
Once the
reinforcements
were on the
ground,
MINUSCA was
able to
execute more
efficiently
its protection
mandate. We
are currently
protecting
around 17,000
civilians in
Ouaka
prefecture.
The Mission
continues to
engage with
the UPC and
anti-Balaka
representatives
on ending all
the violence
against
civilians in
Alindao and
Ouaka
prefecture. A
human rights
mission and a
surge team are
in the city as
part of the
measures to
work with the
communities to
ease tensions,
as well as
relaunch
dialogue and
political
engagement.
As the Amnesty
report
acknowledges,
MINUSCA is
working hard
to protect
civilians in
various parts
of the country
within its
limited
resources.
Despite
operational
and logistical
challenges,
the Mission
has saved
countless of
lives and it
will continue
to execute its
protection
mandate." But
consider: "According
to multiple
eyewitnesses,
UN
peacekeepers
did not engage
an attack by
an armed group
but instead
retreated in
an armoured
vehicle to
their central
base, leaving
thousands of
civilians
unprotected at
the camp in
Alindao on 15
November.
An immediate
and impartial
inquiry must
focus, in
particular, on
whether the
United Nations
Multidimensional
Integrated
Stabilization
Mission in the
Central
African
Republic
(MINUSCA)
failed in its
duty to
protect the
lives of more
than 18,000
people
residing at
the site.
“Scores of
civilians at
the displaced
persons camp
in Alindao
were massacred
after the UN
peacekeepers
charged with
protecting
them failed to
take action to
fend off their
armed
attackers,”
said Joanne
Mariner,
Senior Crisis
Response
Adviser at
Amnesty
International."
Now if only
Amnesty would
stand up to
the UN, or at
the very least
answer
its mail,
about Inner
City Press
being "BARRED"
by UN Security
from a
December 10
Human Right
Day event in
the UN
moderated by
Amnesty's
Sherine
Tadros. We'll
have more on
that - and on
this: Guterres
says he has a
"zero
tolerance"
policy for
sexual abuse,
exploitation
and harassment,
and for
retaliation. But
when Inner
City Press
asked
Guterres' deputy
spokesman Farhan
Haq on March
15 about
Michel
Sidibé's reported
threats of retaliatory
investigations
against those
making
and offering
support to sexual
harassment
complaints at
UNAIDS, Haq said
this is entire
a matter for
UNAIDS. Earlier
Inner City
Press story here; exclusive
publication of
whistleblowers'
international
condemnation
of retaliation
and favoritism
in Sidibe's
UNAIDS, below.
On November
14,
the 134th
day Guterres
has banned
Inner City
Press -- the
UN data dumped
after
four pm five
rape charges
against six
Cameroonian UN
"peacekeepers"
in the Central African
Republic, on
which the Paul
Biya
government has
not even responded
to the UN, a case
of sexual
exploitation
by a UN
civilian staffer
in DR Congo.
Photo here.
Inner
City Press,
banned amid
its critical
coverage of
impunity in
and of Guterres'
UN, would have
to wait to ask for
more
information -
apparently
asking is
"harassment,"
according to
Guterres' spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric. But
even though
Inner City
Press emailed
in the
question
before Dujarric's
laughing noon
briefing on
November
14, at which
none of those
present asked
about these just
disclosed UN
rapes and Dujarric
did not bring
them up, afterward
still no answer. Nor a
full day
later, so Inner City
Press submitted
this on
November 16,
before a briefing
Dujarric said
he would keep
short so he
and his
interlocutors
could
go have lunch:
"November
16-5: AGAIN -
On sexual
exploitation
and abuse and
the new
charges
against
Cameroonian
peacekeepers
in CAR put
online
yesterday,
please now
provide all
further
if-asked
information
about these
abuses, as for
example you
did when asked
in person by
those not
banned from
the previous
briefing about
the Nigerian
peacekeeper(s)."
Four hours
later, with
Friday about
to end, no
answer at all.
Guterres is
covering up
rapes by
Cameroonian
troops,
while using
state media to
selectively
tell good news
spin about the
few times the
UN can even claim
to work for
accountability.
This non-provision
of if-asked
information is
completely
contrary to
the promise
by Guterres' Global
Communicator
or Censor Alison
Smale to UNSR
David Kaye. Guterres' UN
including
Dujarric functionally
cover up UN
rapes. On
November 5
Guterres'
spokesman Stephane
Dujarric
quickly read out
new allegations
of UN sexual
exploitation
and abuse.
No one in the
room asked about
the 24 alleged
child
rape (one late
set of
softball
questions were
lobbed);
Dujarric said
all the
information,
including
for previous
periods for
comparison
was
in his office
and immediately
available
to those he HASN'T
had roughed
up and banned
from the UN:
Dooj's
Stooges. Inner
City Press
immediately
emailed him,
his deputy,
Guterres'
Global Censor
Alison
Smale, Amina
J. Mohammed,
Maria Luiza
Viotti, Hua
Jiang and
others: "This
is a request
to immediately
be emailed the
UN sexual
exploitation
and abuse data
rattled off in
the noon
briefing Inner
City Press
remains banned
from, and
reiterates
UNSR David
Kaye's 20 July
2018 question
what is the
appeals
process for
this ban,
still not
answered." The
briefing
ended
with Dujarric
joking with his
softball interlocutor,
to whom he'd said
"Vannina
in my
office has
more information,"
video
here, presumably
gone and
returned
Vannina
Maestracci.
But when Inner
City Press
emailed
Dujarric and
his deputy for
this additional
information,
the deputy
Farhan Haq
sent no additional
information, claiming
"The data
provided below
is
exactly
the same as
the data
shared with
the accredited
press.
For
comparisons,
please look at
the Conduct
and Discipline
Unit website,
which includes
previous
data." But
that's only
peacekeeper,
not civilian
staff
information,
much less UNSC
authorized
forces. What's
the additional
information
that Dujarric
said Maestracci
has? From the past, before
Dujarric
and Guterres had
Inner City Press
roughed up and
banned: one,
two, three
strikes and
you're
out. More
than an hour
after he read
it out, and
with none of
the promised
historical data, what
Dujarric read
was emailed to
banned Inner
City Press by
Dujarric's deputy:
"We have been
giving you
regular
updates on
cases of
sexual
exploitation
and abuse in
the UN system
in line with
the
Secretary-General’s
initiative on
increasing
transparency
on these
allegations.
Today I have
an update for
the period 1
July to 30
September
2018. Please
note that not
all the
allegations
have been
fully verified
and many are
in the
preliminary
assessment
phase. During
this period,
the United
Nations
received 39
allegations
involving UN
personnel – 6
for
peacekeeping
and 33 from
agencies,
funds and
programmes. We
also received
25 allegations
involving
non-UN
personnel
working as
implementing
partners.
There were no
allegations
pertaining to
non-UN
international
forces
authorized by
Security
Council
mandate for
this period.
The total
allegations
reported for
this period is
64. 30
incidents
allegedly took
place in 2018;
7 in 2017; 2
in 2016; 6 in
2015 or before
and the date
is unknown for
19
allegations.
From the 64
allegations,
there are 77
victims: 42
women, 24
girls (under
the age of
18), 2 men and
1 boy (under
the age of
18). The age
of 8 victims
is unknown.
The
categorization
of the
allegations
against these
77 victims is
16 as sexual
abuse, 55 as
sexual
exploitation,
4 unknown. Two
(2) are
categorized as
others as they
were
unsubstantiated
following
investigation.
The alleged
perpetrators
are 66 men, 1
woman, and 2
individuals
whose gender
is unknown.
Of the 39
allegations
related to UN
personnel, one
was not
substantiated,
22 are at
various stages
of
investigation
and 16 are
under
preliminary
assessment to
determine if
there is
sufficient
information to
investigate.
Of the 25
allegations
relating to
implementing
partners, 2
have been
substantiated
through an
investigation
and the
perpetrators
were dismissed
by the
implementing
partner. One
allegation was
not
substantiated,
14 are at
various stages
of
investigation,
7 are under
preliminary
assessment and
1 allegation
was closed at
the request of
the victim.
The efforts to
implement the
Secretary-General’s
strategy to
combat sexual
exploitation
and abuse have
continue to be
strengthened.
You’ll
remember that
on 27
September
2018, the
Secretary-General
issued a
Collective
Statement of
the Members of
his Circle of
Leadership in
which they
reaffirmed
their
continued
personal
commitment as
global leaders
to support
efforts to
combat sexual
exploitation
and abuse
across the
United Nations
system. As of
today, that
Statement has
been endorsed
by 49 Heads of
State and
Government and
22 Heads of
United Nations
entities. 72
global leaders
have joined
the Circle of
Leadership.
And also, 100
Member States
are to this
date
signatories to
the voluntary
compact with
the United
Nations to
eliminate
sexual
exploitation
and abuse.
During this
quarter, the
electronic
tool, “Clear
Check” used
for screening
UN staff
dismissed as a
result of
substantiated
allegations of
sexual
exploitation
and abuse, or
who resigned
or were
separated
during an
investigation
is on its way
to be fully
utilized
system-wide."
On
October 24 -
UN Day, and
the 112th day
Guterres has
banned Inner
City Press --
the UN data
dumped at 11 am a
rape charge
against a UN
Volunteer in
DR Congo, as recent
as August
2018. Photo here.
But no
one let into
the UN noon
briefing even asked
about it, or
any question about
anything in
Africa where
the UN - and Guterres'
son Pedro
Guimarães e
Melo De
Oliveira Guterres
- raise their
money. Inner
City Press asked
before noon in writing:
October 24-3:
On sexual
exploitation
and abuse and
the new rape
charges
against the
UNV in MONUSCO
put online an
hour ago,
please now
provide all
further
if-asked
information
about these
abuses, as for
example you
did when asked
in person by
those not
banned from
the briefing
about the
Nigerian
peacekeeper(s)."
More
than an hour
later, this
from Deputy
Spokesman
Farhan Haq:
"Regarding
question 24-3,
we can say the
following:
The UN Mission
in the
Democratic
Republic of
Congo
(MONUSCO) has
received an
allegation of
sexual abuse
involving an
International
UN Volunteer
(UNV). The
allegation
concerns two
Congolese
adult females
and allegedly
took place in
Bunia in
August 2018.
The matter is
being
investigated
by the Office
of Internal
Oversight
Services
(OIOS) and the
United Nations
Volunteers
Programme has
been notified
of the
allegation and
the ongoing
investigation.
MONUSCO
reports that
the alleged
victims were
examined by a
doctor at a
local hospital
on the day of
the reported
incident and
further
referred to
the UN
Population
Fund (UNFPA)
for
appropriate
support, as
per the UN’s
Victim
Assistance
Protocol.
The protection
of and
assistance to
victims is our
top priority.
The Mission
will maintain
contact with
them and
continue to
monitor the
situation."
Nothing on the nationality,
for example,
of the alleged
UN rapist -
why not?
Banned Inner
City Press
cannot ask,
and no one
else does.
Guterres is a
cover up
artist.
On
October 18,
the 107th day
Guterres
has banned
Inner City
Press from
entering the
UN - now on a
secret banned list
along
with "political
activists," see
here, the UN
mid afternoon
data dumped
another case of
sexual
exploitation
by a
Cameroonian
"peacekeeper"
in CAR, photo
here.
On October 19
Inner City Press,
banned from
the UN
briefing for
the 108th day,
asked
questions in
writing
including:
"October 19-3:
On sexual
exploitation
and abuse and
the new
charges
against
Cameroonian
peacekeeper in
CAR put online
yesterday,
please now
provide all
further
if-asked
information
about these
abuses, as for
example you
did when asked
in person by
those not
banned from
the briefing
about the
Nigerian
peacekeeper(s)."
Two hours
after the
briefing, at which
none of those
allowed into the
briefing asked
about this new
sexual
exploitation
outrage, the
UN sent Inner City
Press
this: "Regarding
question 19-3,
we have the
following
information: The
UN
Multidimensional
Integrated
Stabilization
Mission in the
Central
African
Republic
(MINUSCA) has
received a new
allegation of
sexual
exploitation
involving one
member of the
Cameroon
military
contingent
deployed to
the
Mission.
The
allegation
refers to an
exploitative
relationship
with one adult
woman that
allegedly took
place in
February 2018,
resulting in
pregnancy. The
UN has
informed the
Member State
of the
allegation and
has requested
that a
National
Investigation
Officer be
appointed
within five
(5) working
days. The UN
has also
requested for
the
investigation
to be
completed
within the
reduced
90-days
timeframe. The
alleged victim
has been
referred for
assistance to
humanitarian
partners. The
Mission will
continue to
monitor the
victim needs,
as well as
provide any
additional
assistance
such as the
collection of
DNA samples if
requested to
do so by the
victim."
Inner City
Press contends
the UN needs a
new column
or data point:
if pregnancy
resulted.
How many more
abuses by Cameroonian
soldiers, both
in and outside
of that
country, will
Guterres put
up with? On
October
9, the 98th
day Guterres
has banned
Inner City Press
from entering
the UN in any
capacity, at
12:01 pm as the noon
briefing was
to start, and
banned Inner
City Press'
questions for
the day had
already
been emailed
in, the UN
disclosed yet
more sexual
exploitation
charges, against
two Gabonese
"peacekeepers"
concerning
three women
- no age given - in
the Central
African
Republic. And
Dujarric
didn't even
bring it up in
the briefing
and no one
whom Guterres
allowed into
"his" room
asked about
it. On
October 5, the
94th day Guterres
has banned Inner
City Press
from the UN,
at 12:02 as the noon
briefing
started, and banned Inner
City Press'
questions for
the day had
already
been emailed
in, the UN
disclosed yet
more child
rape charges,
against
four
Mauritanian
"peacekeepers"
against three
minors - no
age given - in
the Central
African
Republic.
Tellingly,
lead Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric then
gave the first
question to
Reuters which
asked not
about the UN's
child rapes but
whether
Guterres, who
is responsible
for them, has
a view on
Brett Kavanaugh and
women
victims. Video here.
On October
3 the UN
disclosed a
case of rape
by "peacekeepers"
from Cameroon,
in the Central
African
Republic. Inner
City Press, unable
to attend the UN
noon briefing
at the order
of Guterres
or, Haq
insisted, only
Alison Smale,
asked in
writing:
"October 4-1:
On the
specific new
case of sexual
abuse (rape)
by a
Cameroonian
peacekeeper in
CAR, please
immediately
provide Inner
City Press all
additional
information in
the possession
of your
Office, unlike
what you did
on Question
October 2-1
which you have
yet to respond
to but
provided
answer(s) off
camera to a
pro-SG
correspondent."
After
the briefing -
apparently
Inner City
Press only gets an
answer if none of
the
pro-Guterres
resident
correspondents
can be
cajoled to ask
-- this:
"The UN
Multidimensional
Integrated
Stabilization
Mission in the
Central
African
Republic
(MINUSCA) has
received an
allegation of
rape of three
adult women
involving six
unidentified
members of the
Cameroon
military
contingent
deployed to
the Mission.
This
allegation
refers to
incidents that
allegedly took
place in April
2018.
Protection of
and assistance
to victims is
our top
priority. All
alleged
victims have
received
medical and
psychosocial
assistance
from an
international
humanitarian
partner, and
the Mission
continues to
monitor their
needs and will
keep them
informed of
the status and
progress of
the matter.
The UN
informed the
Republic of
Cameroon of
the
allegations on
28 September
and has
requested that
a National
Investigation
Officer be
appointed
within five
(5) working
days, and for
the
investigation
to be
completed
within the
reduced
90-days
timeframe." So
it was gang
rape, recent,
by soldiers of
Cameroon
for whom
Guterres
stands accused
of covering up -
this is
what Guterres (or,
sorry,
Smale) wants
to avoid being
asked on camera
and is willing
to have the Press
roughed up
and banned in
order to cover
it up... While
Inner City
Press has repeatedly
asked Guterres'
spokesman
about (lack
of) vetting of
Cameroon
soldiers by the UN, not
only have those
and other
questions not
been answered
- more recently,
Guterres'
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq refused to
respond to
Inner City
Press' written
question and
gave the
answer which may or
may not be true to a
pro-Guterres
correspondent
left in
Guterres' briefing
room. On
October 1 his
UN data dumped
a case
sexual
exploitation
by a Nigerian
UN Police in
DR Congo - a
case listed
as
"substantiated"
but with
little other
information
about any accountability.
Inner City
Press remains
banned
from the UN noon
briefings to
ask. Photo here.
On October 2
before the
noon briefing
Inner City
Press asked
Haq and
Dujarric,
Smale and Amina J.
Mohammed, "October
2-1: In the
Sexual
Exploitation
case of the UN
Police from
Nigeria in the
DRC, put
online after 5
pm yesterday,
since it is
listed as
“substantiated”
what actions
for
accountability
have been
taken?" No
answer, but Haq took
another, less
specific correspondent
off line, off
camera, for a
pro-UN answer, video
of this
scam, here.
Meanwhile
Guterres' lead
spokesman
Stephane Dujarric,
who on
camera on
September 28
promised Inner
City Press' written
questions
would be
answered, has
since blocked
it on Twitter,
here.
On
September
24, the 83rd day
Guterrs had
banned Inner
City Press
from the UN as a
journalist and
the first
as simply a
person who had
RSVP-ed
to an
event about banks
profiting from slavery,
the UN data
dumped two more
abuses in CAR:
"transactional" sex by a
soldier from
Niger,
UNresponded to -- and
child rape by one
from Cameroon,
Guterres' good
friend. Zero
tolerance
indeed. On
September
17, the 76th
day Guterres
has banned
Inner City Press
from the UN
with no
hearing or
appeal amid
its reporting
on his
inaction on
abuses by Cameroon's
military,
his UN in a
data dump after 5
pm
revealed a new
case of
sexual
misconducted
in the Central
African
Republic by a
soldier from...
Cameroon. Photo here;
there were also
complaints
about soldiers
from Niger and Congo
Brazzaville,
and one about a
Burunian
alleged child
rapist from
three days
ago.
On the morning
of September
14, before the
noon briefing
Inner City
Press was
banned again
by Guterres
from
attending,
Inner City
Press asked
Guterres'
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric in
writing:
"September
18-1: In the
new sexual
exploitation
and abuses
cases, please
explain
whether the
“Congo (the)”
cases, of
exploitation
and alleged
rape of adult,
are about the
same suspect;
explain why in
one MINUSCA
case payments
have been
suspended but
not others
(for example,
not to the
Cameroon
suspect)." But
five hours
after the
briefing,
despite two
promises by
Guterres' Global
Communicator
Alison Smale
that even
banned, Inner
City Press' written
questions
would be
answered,
there was no
answer. This is
not "zero
tolerance" -
it is stonewalling. On
September 14,
the 73rd day
Guterres has
banned
Inner City Press
from the UN
with no
hearing or
appeal, his UN
in a data dump
after 6
pm on Friday
revealed yet
another case
of alleged
child rape, by a "peacekeeper"
from Burundi
in the Central
African
Republic.
Inner City Press is
banned from
the noon
briefing,
where for three days
in a
row there has
not been a
single
question about
anything
in Africa.
Guterres is
killing the UN -
and covering
up child rape.
His "Victims
Rights Advocate"
Jane Connor
said she would
look into his
censorship but
... nothing
has been heard
back from her.
The UN now has
a dictator who
censors
and brings those
around him
down to his
Kafkaesque and
secretive
level. Zero
tolerance,
indeed. We'll
have more on this. On
July 18, even as
Guterres read
a speech about
sustainable
development in
ECOSOC, his UN disclosed
yet another
case of sexual
exploitation, by a
Morocco
"peacekeeper"
in the Central
African
Republic. Inner
City Press published
a report on
that one, and
later noticed
yet another
case, against
a Malawian peacekeeper
in the DRC. On
July 19 before a
UN noon
briefing from
which Inner
City Press was
banned - and
the UN Webcast
of which had
no audio, nearing the
very
definition of
censorship
- Inner City
Press asked
Haq, "Please
provide all
information on
the new sexual
exploitation
and abuse
cases put on
UN website
yesterday
while SG spoke
to HLPF. What
is the stage
of
investigation(s)?"
The question
was plural -
but Haq only
replied
about the
second of the
two
cases, the Maliwian:
"Regarding
your first
question, we
have the
following
information:
The UN
peacekeeping
mission in the
Democratic
Republic of
Congo,
MONUSCO, has
received one
new allegation
of sexual
exploitation
involving a
member of the
Malawian
military
contingent
formerly
deployed to
the
Mission.
The allegation
refers to
transactional
sex with an
adult woman
that allegedly
took place in
March 2016,
resulting in
the birth of a
child.
The UN has
informed the
Member State
of the
allegation and
has requested
that a
National
Investigation
Officer be
appointed
within five
(5) working
days, and for
the
investigation
to be
completed
within the
reduced
90-days
timeframe.
The alleged
victim and her
child have
been referred
to UNFPA for
appropriate
support and
assistance.
The Mission
will continue
to monitor
their needs,
as well as
provide any
additional
assistance
such as the
collection of
DNA samples if
requested to
do so by the
victim."
What
about Morocco?
And
audio? Inner
City Press has
asked. On
July 11 there
were two more
sets of cases,
both
in the Central
African
Republic, photo here:
one by a
peacekeeper
from The (Republic of the)
Congo and another
by a
peacekeeper
from Morocco,
which chairs
the UN
Peacebuilding
configuration
on CAR. This
comes has the
UN has banned
Inner City
Press from
entering the UN
and asking
questions, Fox
News story here,
GAP blogs I
and II,
Independent here,
since
it was
physically ousted
while covering
the UN
Peacekeeping
budget on July
3.
Morocco state
media, by
contrast, are
given by the UN
of Antonio
Guterres and
Alison Smale
multiple
offices and
full access.
Without access,
Inner City
Press sat in
the sun on First
Avenue and
emailed in six
questions, two
of which have
been answered
including this
"if-asked" on
the UN's
trends of
sexual exploitation
abuse. Inner
City Press'
question on
this: "On the
two new sexual
exploitation
and abuse
cases put on
the UN's
website last
night, what
was the age of
the victims
and what is
the response
of the TCC
(Morocco and
Congo-Brazzaville)
and each's
past record in
holding
accusees
accountable?"
UN's if-asked
answer: "regarding
your first
question
below, we have
the following
information:
The UN
Multidimensional
Integrated
Stabilization
Mission in the
Central
African
Republic
(MINUSCA) has
received two
reports of
sexual
exploitation
and abuse.
The first
allegation
involves
thirteen (13)
members of the
military
contingent
from the
Republic of
the Congo,
previously
deployed to
the mission.
Military
contingents of
the Republic
of Congo left
MINUSCA in
early 2017.
The allegation
refers to
exploitative
relationships
with eleven
(11) adult
women that are
alleged to
have taken
place between
2015 and 2017,
resulting in
pregnancies
and the birth
of ten (10)
children.
The UN has
informed the
Member State
of the
allegation and
has requested
that a
National
Investigation
Officer be
appointed
within five
(5) working
days, and for
the
investigation
to be
completed
within the
reduced
90-days
timeframe.
The Field
Victim Rights
Advocate (VRA)
immediately
referred all
alleged
victims for
appropriate
services. The
Mission will
continue to
monitor the
situation and
stands
available to
provide any
assistance in
the future if
requested to
do so by the
victims.
The second
allegation
involves
a member
of the
military
contingent
from Morocco,
previously
deployed to
the mission.
The allegation
refers to an
exploitative
relationship
with an adult
woman that
allegedly took
place between
July and
August 2016,
resulting in
the birth of a
child.
The TCC has
informed that
national
investigation
officers,
already
present in the
mission area,
will conduct
an
investigation
into this
allegation
jointly with
OIOS. The UN
has requested
for the
investigation
to be
completed
within the
reduced
90-days
timeframe.
The Field
Victim Rights
Advocate (VRA)
has referred
the alleged
victim to
UNFPA for
appropriate
services. The
Mission will
continue to
monitor the
situation and
stands
available to
provide any
assistance in
the future if
requested to
do so by the
victim." Inner
City Press has
also asked,
among other
things, "1)
why is this UN
investigation
of the ouster
of a
journalist
taking so
long, and
being limited
to only the
latter of two
“incidents”
and not taking
into account
Lt Dobbins'
motive and my
June 25
notification
to Guterres
and Smale?
Didn't the
Deputy
Spokesman call
me a “repeat
offender” and
cite June 22?
Why have I
still not been
given a copy
of “my
statement,
much less
those of Lt
Dobbins, ASG
Saunders and
the UNnamed
July 3 officer
who tore my
shirt and
twisted my
arm? Is this a
cover up of
retaliation,
and of the SG
and his team's
knowledge?
2) why am I
banned during
this
investigation
so that I
cannot enter
and ask any
questions? Who
made that
decision and
why has it not
been reversed
given the
video of the
incident,
questions
raised by the
Government
Accountability
Project, etc?"
We'll have more on
this.
***
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