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By Matthew Russell Lee, New Platform

UNITED NATIONS, May 22 – In the UN, even as restricted by colonial Portuguese censor UNSG Antonio Guterres, most decolonization fights are in the Fourth Committee or C-24. On 22 May 2019 before the UN General Assembly voted against UK colonialism over Chagos Islands, 116-6-56, Inner City Press in writing asked "on colonialism and the P5, please immediately state the SG's position on calls for the UK to relinquish control over the Chagos Islands."Guterres and his spokesman Stephane Dujarric did not answer (even as Dujarric used the noon briefing Inner City Press is banned from to talk about the New York Mets).

  Later after the vote UK Karen Pierce used or abused the UNSC stakeout to speak in favor of colonialism. Could the proponents of the GA resolution speak there? Or this just more abuse, like the UN Mission refusing to answer Press questions about Cameroon, here. From Pierce's argument, because unlike the UK Mission and Guterres' UN we are nothing but fair, we publish this: "It supports partners in the Combined Maritime Forces, a multi-national naval partnership comprised of 33 UN Member States, from Latin America to Asia Pacific, whose areas of operation cover 3.2 million square miles and include some of the most strategically important shipping lanes in the world including the Gulf of Aden, Bab al-Mandeb, the Suez Canal, and the Straits of Hormuz.   It is the site of one of the world’s four GPS stations, used widely for military and civilian navigation."

Mauritius on 22 June 2017 got a UN General Assembly vote to seek an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the dismemberment of the Chagos Archipelago by the United Kingdom in 1965. The resolution was approved, on which Inner City Press before it was roughed up and banned now 322 by Guterres first reported from in front of the GA, passed by 94 yes, 15 no with 64 abstaining. (Voting list here, on Patreon).

  Now even banned from any entry of the UN by Guterres who tries to conceal his financial links to P5 powers like China and its CEFC China Energy, through Gulbenkian Foundation whose payments to Guterres went undisclosed in his form covering 2016 (and has other undisclosed colonial business interests through his son Pedro Guimarães e Melo De Oliveira Guterres in Lusophone Africa and Timor, Inner City Press has asked in writing - without response.

Back on 19 June 2017, a photo exhibit is in the UN Secretariat Lobby (along with a sign that this is not an endorsement by the UN). Tweeted photo here.

Mauritius' “Aide Memoire” obtained by Inner City Press had a more than two page section entitled “Actions taken by the UK in violation of international law.” It recounts how the agenda item was put on the agenda of the 71st session of the General Assembly “on the understanding that it would not be considered before June 2017 and that thereafter it may be considered upon notification by a Member State.” It concludes that Mauritius will be submitting a draft resolution, and “would be grateful for the support of all Member States in its endeavor.” Inner City Press tweet of pages 1-4; 5 to 8 (end).

  On June 1 as Inner City Press staked-out of the General Assembly meeting, even with the still-required UN Department of Public Information minder, one well-placed state's Permanent Representative told it “there probably will be a vote.” Another, while sympathetic to Mauritius (or anti-UK), said it might set a tricky precedent for other states. We'll have more on this.

   The day before on May 31 when the UN General Assembly's incoming President Miroslav Lajcak came to take questions in from the GA Hall, Inner City Press asked him as the last question about the bribery case involving former PGA John Ashe, and whether he would commit to disclose who pays for his travel and his staff, and try to codify this in a GA resolution during his year. Video here. Lajcak to his credit stayed and took the question, ending with “There will be no secrets.” If so, that will be rare in today's UN, where basic questions about who is paying who, which staff are seconded, go unanswered. Other questions to Lajcak were about US President Donald Trump. When the UN Security Council's 15 members traveled to Washington on April 24 for lunch with US President Donald Trump, NBC News' Andrea Mitchell in one of many curtain-raisers reported that only the Permanent Members ever chair the Council (false) and that the Elected Ten cannot vote (also false). Trump in five minutes of remarks now online here chided the Council for inaction on Syria, called for action on North Korea and hoped for cost savings and, more importantly, better performance. In one step for UN reform and transparency, a resolution was adopted on April 19 to henceforth webcast to the public the UN Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, which Inner City Press has covered and critiqued for some time. Inner City Press notes that a similar, even more basic reform is needed: due process rules for journalists at the UN, where currently there are none. As to the NGO webcasting, US Ambassador Nikki Haley on April 19 said, “Today's vote will bring increased transparency and accountability to the United Nations. Now all of these meetings and votes will be open for the world to see. This major win at that will greatly assist organizations that stand up to oppressive governments around the world.” We agree: see below. But when will the needed reforms - any reforms - for content neutral accreditation of media at the UN, and due process of some sort before UN censors can throw the Press, happen? After the UN Department of Public Information gave Inner City Press two hours to leave, for having covered an event in the UN Press Briefing Room related to the Ng Lap Seng UN corruption case, there has been no appeals process. Pro-UN media only recently arrived have been given office space; Inner City Press' long time shared office is being given to an Egyptian state media Akhbar al Yom whose correspondent Sanaa Youssef rarely comes in and never asks questions. For fifteen months and for now ongoing, Inner City Press is required to have UN minders to cover events on the Conference Building's second floor, unlike other media. It is lawless censorship and must be addressed.

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