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By Matthew Russell Lee, Periscope, Patreon

UN GATE, Jan 15 – How useless is Antonio Guterres as UN Secretary General? Well, on Libya when he met Mohammed El-Taher Hammuda Siala back on February 8, his bogus read out spoke of "progress" since the Berlin conference, which he used as an excuse to stop over at this real home in Lisbon and at which he did not even meet Serraj. This time, Inner City Press banned now 927 days asked in writing where else he is stopping over, and at what cost. No answer from Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, who on camera promised answers. Now he blocks Inner City Press on WhatsApp for his pathetic social club webcasts still often from his Upper East Side penthouse or UNexplained house on the Hamptons (from there, he turns off his camera).

  Now on January 15 Inner City Press is reporting that one of the few credible UN officials Jan Kubis will be sent to Libya by desperate Guterres, with no envoy on Western Sahara and still banning Inner City Press. We'll have more on this.

 Also on corruption, on Libya, now this letter to Guterres: "Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations  Ms. Stephanie Williams, Acting Special Representative: The undersigned Libyan human rights organizations, while affirming our support for Libyan political dialogue,  remain deeply disturbed by reports of financial bribes offered for the purpose of obtaining political gain that purportedly took place during the sessions of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum held in Tunis this month. We call for a full transparent investigation, with a record of the findings made public as well as the immediate exclusion of members of this forum found to be involved in the alleged bribery.  We welcome and support the aim of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum to bring an end to the exacerbating political and humanitarian crisis and establish peace, stability and development in Libya.  However, shocking news circulating of the involvement of some participants in the forum to “buy” votes for some candidates aspiring to hold positions in the government and in the Presidency Council, places the integrity of the entire dialogue process into question.  Promise of a full administrative investigation into the matter, was made by the UN Support Mission in Libya’s (UNSMIL) acting representative Stephanie Williams in a press conference at the end of the first round of the political dialogue. The undersigned organizations are closely following the developments... We thus affirm that the United Nations has a moral and ethical obligation to continue the administrative investigation procedures, announce its results, and immediately act accordingly. Moreover, we maintain that such acts of bribery are criminalized in accordance with the relevant criminal legislation at the national level and remains the responsibility of the Attorney General of the office in charge of public prosecution.  Recalling that Libya has ratified the Anti-Corruption Convention, we demand the following:   Ms. Stephanie Williams’ press conference (SG Special Representative, UNSMIL): Minute 34:  https://fb.watch/1PWZX68dvj/  Firstly, Recommendations to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya:  To continue the administrative investigation announced by the mission and to take all measures to help reveal the truth. To declare the results of the investigation, publicly announce the members of the dialogue involved in acts of corruption and exclude them from the remaining dialogue sessions and replace them with others. To inform the public opinion of the results of the investigation and provide the Libyan Attorney General with the details of the investigation and its results. To prevent anyone who is proven to be involved in incidents of corruption from running for sovereign positions, whether in the Presidential Council or the government. Secondly, Recommendations to the Office of the Public Prosecutor in Libya:  To take the necessary legal measures and to start an urgent criminal investigation into the incident. To refer those involved to the national justice system in accordance with the law. To publicly announce the results of the investigation and the procedures that will follow. Signatory organizations:  Defender Center for Human Rights The National Forum for Dialogue Support Independent Organization for Human Rights “Bilady” Foundation for Human Rights Aman Organization Against Discrimination The Transients Foundation for Migrants Aid and Humanitarian Work Libyan Women’s Platform For Peace Youth for Tawergha Libyan Organization for Independent Media ‎ Salemtom Organization for Comprehensive Development‎ Lawyers for Justice in Libya."

  The idea of Guterres, who has banned Press for asking about his links to UN briber CEFC China Energy, investigating anything is sadly laughable. Dujarric won't answer, but takes thinly veiled terrorist questions. Watch this site.

  Meanwhile unanswered for months are questions such as these, submitted in writing, including to Guterres' incoming Communicator Melissa Fleming: "On UN sex exploitation and cover up(s), as Inner City Press asked on August 9 without any response to day, This is a Press request that you immediately provide all if-asked and additional information about the new allegation of SEA announced at 12:01 pm today, apparently of SE by a Tanzanian "peacekeeper" in DR Congo - and also why previously published charges are no longer in the data to which UN Peacekeeping Conduct and Discipline points, including what if being done for these victims and any steps taken to avoid this constant repetition of abuse despite the SG's ostensible commitments. Again, are new allegations being buried elsewhere on the data page? Inner City Press is asking in writing because banned from the noon briefings and any follow up questions, now for more than a year. Today as before none of Inner City Press' written questions, including on Cameroon, have been answered. This is a request that you immediately confirm receipt of these questions." Again, as Dujarric's office closed on August 13, no answers, no response. This is the UN's cover up of UN sexual abuse, and it's now on Melissa Fleming as well. Inner City Press also asked, ".  August 13-6: Given that the SG's public schedules for August 2, August 5, August 6, August 7, August 8, August 9 and now August 13 are entirely blank, not even "all appointments internal" as before but just blank, given that Poland's Foreign Minister was not able to meet with the SG on August 3, nor Pakistan PR Maleeha Lodhi on August 7 (tweeting "As the SG is away"), please immediately state where the UNSG is, now and for the next three weeks, and at what cost to the public. Additionally, since public officials from Trump to de Blasio to Corey Johnson all disclose where they are, and given the UN system travel scandals at UNRWA, UN Women and previously UNEP, explain why Mr. Guterres' lack of transparency is not part of the problem. Given the Secretariat's communication failures, state when exactly Ms. Fleming takes over from Alison Smale, whether Ms. Fleming is still has stated on her profile at UNHCR (Chief Communications  @Refugees as of August 7) and if she is answering some/any of her e-mail there." Nothing. We will stay on this.

  On August 10 France called an emergency UN Security Council meeting. Inner City Press, still banned from entering the UN by Guterres now for 404 days went to check it out. There was no one in the $15 million mansion Guterres sometimes lives in, here (he's been missing for a week); Inner City Press cannot enter the UN (UN gate Periscope here), but there was only one person at 4:30 pm at the UNSC stakeout. Tweeted photo here.

   Now, with Guterres still then on vacation he didn't even have the class to admit, the names of the UN dead have emerged: a Libyan, a Jamaican and a Fijian: Hussein Elhader, Clive Peck and Seniloli Tabuatausole, respectively. Guterres still missing, corrupt, having just given a UN humanitarian job to the UAE so active in Yemen and wannabe in Libya: "The following is the text of a joint statement by the governments of France, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.  Begin text:  The governments of France, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States welcome the announcement of a truce in Libya on the occasion of Eid el-Adha in response to the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General (SRSG) with the support of the Security Council (UNSC press statement on Libya of 11 August), and invite all parties to effectively cease hostilities across Libya. We stand ready to assist the UN Mission in monitoring the observance of the truce and address any attempt to break it." We call BS.

   So Inner City Press covered the vapid meeting by UNTV - nearly identical speeches, mostly by deputy ambassadors including in the case of France. Afterward at the stakeout only one ambassador, Russia's deputy, spoke. In response to a softball question from a state media he said, It was in the open, draw you own conclusions. And that was it. The UN under Guterres: irrelevant and corrupt.

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