While
UN
Claims Zero
Tolerance, No
Discipline of
Sri Lankan
Abusers in
Haiti
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
January 10 --
As the UN
praises its
own response
to the
earthquake in
Haiti two
years ago and
even the
cholera
epidemic the
UN alleged
brought after
that,
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon's
spokesman
Martin Nesirky
on Tuesday
could not say
if even one of
the
114 Sri Lanka
soldiers
repatriated
for pedophilia
had been
disciplined.
As
stated in a
report
prepared for
the UN Human
Rights
Council, 111
soldiers and 3
officers from
MINUSTAH’s Sri
Lankan
battalion were
repatriated
due
to allegations
of sexual
exploitation
and abuse of
Haitian
minors.
The UN's then
spokeswoman
Michele Montas
described the
allegations as
transactional
sex with
underage
girls, and
also stated
that once
returned to
national
jurisdiction,
Sri Lanka
would pursue
the case.
On
Tuesday, Inner
City Press asked
Montas'
successor
Nesirky about
the Sri Lanka
case,
after
requesting an
update on
previous
Nesirky
responses
about
alleged abuse
by Brazilian
MINUSTAH
peacekeepers:
Inner
City
Press: it is
Haiti time
now, the two
year
anniversary,
is there
any additional
information
about the
incident in
which the
Brazilian
peacekeepers
were accused
of beating the
water delivery
men; at the
time it was
said it was
going to be
looked into, I
believe, by
MINUSTAH, as
well as the
Brazilians. Is
there any
finding?
Spokesperson:
I think as we
mentioned,
since the
allegations
were made the
case
and the
allegations
were referred
to the
Brazilian
authorities.
And
I think it
would be good
for you to
check whether
the Brazilian
authorities
have any
follow up on
that. If we
hear anything
separately,
then of course
I will let you
know.
Inner
City
Press: Does
that mean the
UN
peacekeeping
mission sends
people
out but even
the
investigation
is outsourced
to the TCC
[troop
contributing
country]
itself, what
does it mean
for the UN to
say
there is a
zero
tolerance, if
it has no role
in
investigating,
much
less
prosecuting
alleged wrong
doing?
Spokesperson:
Well, first of
all, just as I
have mentioned
with regard to
the case
that involves
the Uruguayan
peacekeepers,
MINUSTAH is
actively
engaged in
liaising with
the Haitian
government to
try to help
the
efforts of the
Uruguayan
authorities.
Zero tolerance
policy means
what it says.
Despite what
you may think,
Matthew, it
means what it
says. The
troop-contributing
countries do
have the
sovereign
responsibility
for their
service
personnel
serving in UN
peacekeeping
missions. And
the
Secretary-General
and the
Department of
Peacekeeping
Operations
believes very
strongly that
zero tolerance
means
precisely that
and there must
be
accountability.
When
allegations
are made and
people are
found guilty,
then there
must be
accountability
for that.
Inner
City
Press: there
was a
repatriation
of some 90 or
some Sri
Lankan
peacekeepers.
And it has
never been
said whether
in fact anyone
was
ever
prosecuted.
Does the UN
know whether,
in fact, there
was ever
any
prosecution
brought in
those cases,
and is it
possible to
say
publicly, so
that zero
tolerance
would be
assessed?
Spokesperson:
Let me check.
As you also
know, there
are rather
extensive
records
kept on
allegation
cases, and
then the
follow up, it
is as I have
said on a
number of
occasions,
including
today, it is a
matter for
the
troop-contributing
countries;
it’s a matter
for them; it’s
their
sovereign
responsibility.
And it is
under their
national
legislation.
That doesn’t
mean that the
United Nations
is not
interested;
and doesn’t
follow up, but
it does fall
within the
jurisdiction
of national
authorities.
The zero
tolerance
policy
really is a
crucial facet
of the
peacekeeping
role that the
United
Nations has
and the
Secretary-General
and the
Department of
Peacekeeping
Operations
will continue
to underscore
that.
But
how is it
"zero
tolerance" if
no one is
convicted, or
even fully
brought to
trial?
(c) UN Photo
Sri Lanka
"helps" in
Haiti,
discipline for
abuse not
shown, not
even claimed
The
report
continues that
"despite the
promises to
investigate
and
prosecute the
crimes in Sri
Lanka, no
information is
readily
available on
the status of
the
investigation
or prosecution
there
either. The
organizations
producing this
report were
unable to
obtain
further
information
upon inquiry
to Sri Lankan
officials. Nor
is
there any
information on
the extent to
which the
Government of
Haiti
has sought
information on
these
statuses. The
results of any
investigations
that might
occur are
certainly not
made known to
Haitian
victims,
thereby
precluding
possibility of
reparative
damages
or sense of
justice for
these crimes."
And
so it goes
with this UN.
, 
