On
Swiss Uighurs, UN Dodges, China Accuses US of Post-Torture Double
Standards, Won't Cooperate, Iran Talks?
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, February 26 -- With China having protested Switzerland's
decision to accept from Guantanamo Bay two Uighurs, Inner City Press
asked both China diplomats and UN counter terrorism officials about
the case. The officials, from the UN's Committee on Security Council
Resolution 1267, dodged the question by pointing to the narrow scope
of their work.
Inner
City Press
asked, is the East Turkestan Islamic Movement on the 1267 list, does
it exist, and are its alleged members supposed to be return to the
accusing country, China?
The answer
was that the 1267 committee only
deals with travel bans and asset freezes. It was said that perhaps
the U.S. and China had a duty to notify the Committee -- until it was
explain that the two Uighurs are not named on the list.
Organizational bans do not automatically apply to all of a group's
members, they said.
The
Chinese
diplomats were more straight forward. "I am always amazed why
America does this -- if the two are no threat, settle them here, this
is an immigration country. But if you think they are dangerous for
national security, as we believe, then why not return them to us?"
Inner
City Press
responded that some of the Uighurs, it seems, were just leather
jacket merchants in Afghanistan. The Chinese diplomat said, "some
re-engage in terrorism. Under the Bush administration, America
invited Chinese police to Guantanamo Bay to talk to these guys. Now
they say the two would be tortured in China. But they have already
been tortured in Guantanamo Bay. We cannot beat the record of the
Americans."
Three Uighurs arrive in Bermuda in 2009, Swiss,
China and Iran not shown
A
second Chinese
diplomat walked over. "And now the Americans ask us to
cooperate," he said, shaking his head.
Footnote:
China's Mission to the UN is, it seems, boycotting effort to impose
more sanctions on Iran. The Number One is leaving, and the Number
Two, while smiling, is leaving too. Is Hillary Clinton's timeline of
an Iran resolution in 30 to 60 days realistic? Watch this site.
At
UN, China Says It's Slandered, No Haiti Relations Due to Taiwan
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, January 28 -- "China does not have diplomatic relations
with Haiti," a senior Chinese diplomat confirmed to Inner City
Press over spicy shredded chicken Thursday night at the Chinese
Mission to the UN. The reason is that Haiti still recognizes Taiwan.
"But
we search
our search and rescue," the diplomat continued. Inner City Press
informed him that the UN, earlier this week, told the Press that the
Chinese search and rescue team, after digging out Chinese casualties
under the Christopher Hotel, "returned to Beijing."
"That's
just a
rumor," the diplomat protested, adding the UN humanitarian chief
"John Holmes denied that." But UN Haiti spokesman David
Winhurst said that it was true, the Chinese "returned to
Beijing."
"We
don't
care that they think," another Chinese diplomat told Inner City
Press.
Inner
City Press
had suggested that whoever becomes the next Chinese Ambassador to the
UN make more of an effort of stating the country's position at the
stakeout, as for example both the French and American Ambassadors
have done in recent days. The diplomat shrugged. "If you want
clarifications or facts, you can call us. But we don't care what they
think."
About
the
International Monetary Fund requiring a reduction in size of the
"Chinese" deal with the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
the Chinese diplomat scoffed that it was a deal not by the Chinese
government, but "companies." He said of the Joseph Kabila
government, "They are sitting on riches but don't have the money
to dig them out. We provide that, and the give us minerals, like
copper."
He
added that the
Chinese deal with Guinea, right after the 2009 massacre, was by a
Hong Kong based company.
In Haiti, China's search, shredded chicken and
slander not shown
At
the Chinese end
of Security Council presidency reception on Thursday night, the
Permanent Representatives of such
Council members as Russia, the UK, Brazil, Mexico and Austria milled
around with the Sudanese counterpart. The US was represented by
Deputy Alejandro Wolff.
General
Assembly
President Ali Treki, with bodyguard, put in an appearance. There was
Moutai -- cut off when one reporter got too boisterous -- and
blackened pepper steak. "We don't care what they think,"
the diplomat had said -- but this did not appear to apply to, or
undermine, the Mission's hospitality. But African resource deals?
Watch this site.
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