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By Matthew Russell Lee, CJR Letter PFT Q&A

UN GATE, August 17 – After in Khartoum non violent protesters were shot, then a "power sharing" deal reached, now Omar al Bashir who was indicted for genocide and found with $130 million in cash in his house has been sentenced to a mere two years in a center for the elderly. UNSG Guterres thinks he will escape even that, including by banning the Press which dares ask about his use of funds, now for 529 days.

 On July 5, while Guterres' spokesperson's office was still withholding a UNSC statement on Libya, it issued a typically empty statement by Guterres who took photos with Bashir, see below.

 On August 17, with Guterres going so far as to leave his schedule entire blank for two weeks and refusing to say where he is, how much public money he is spending, this: "The Secretary-General warmly congratulates the Sudanese people on the occasion of today’s important signing ceremony of the documents on transitional civilian authority in the Republic of Sudan. He applauds the role of the African Union and Ethiopia in having mediated the Sudanese-led talks.   The Secretary-General looks forward to engaging with and supporting the transitional governing institutions. He reiterates the commitment of the United Nations to assist the transition process as it seeks to achieve the long-standing aspiration of the people of Sudan for democracy and peace.  The Secretary-General also underscores the importance of paving the way for Sudan’s socio-economic recovery and setting the country on a path of sustainable development benefiting Sudan’s diverse and vibrant society. The UN stands ready to work with international partners and assist Sudan in this endeavour.  Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General New York, 17 August 2019." Empty statements XVII.

 Meanwhile the UN's man is Haysom, whom Guterres threw under the bus on Somalia, then said: "The Secretary-General is encouraged by the agreement reached between the Forces for Freedom and Change and the Transitional Military Council on 5 July towards the establishment of transitional governing bodies.  He congratulates the African Union and Ethiopia for their role in mediating the Sudanese-led talks and commends the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for its support to the process.     The Secretary-General encourages all stakeholders to ensure the timely, inclusive, and transparent implementation of the agreement and resolve any outstanding issues through dialogue.  He also welcomes the parties' commitment to conducting an independent investigation into the violence perpetrated against peaceful protesters, including the events on 3 June.       The Secretary-General expresses his solidarity with the people of Sudan and reiterates the commitment of the United Nations to assist in the transition process.     Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General  New York, 5 July 2019." We'll have more on this.

  On June 30, after Guterres at the G20 in Osaka praised Xi of China without mentioning the Uighurs or Hong Kong, he was also silent on this: tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Sudan’s capital Khartoum, nearly Omdurman and elsewhere in the country Sunday calling for civilian rule nearly three months after the army forced out Omar al-Bashir, who had just taken a family photo with Guterres . A government official low-balled that at least seven people had been killed and 200 injured during the demonstrations. And Guterres? Praising autocrats and censoring the Press, 363 days and counting. #DumpGuterres.

  From Khartoum on June 3, the thirtieth anniversary of China's massacre in Tiananmen Square on which Guterres had "no particular comment" despite repeated written questions from Inner City Press he has banned, includes that Sudanese security forces have moved against a protest sit-in camp, besieging the site and setting fire to tents.

Now on June 11 from the UN Security Council which Guterres has banned Inner City Press from staking out like Xinhua and others, this: "The Members of the Council strongly condemned the recent violence in the Republic of the Sudan and expressed their regret for the loss of lives and injuries amongst civilians. The Members of the Council expressed their deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured. The Members of the Council called for the immediate cessation of violence against civilians and emphasised [sic] the importance of respect for human rights and of ensuring full protection of civilians, accountability and justice. The Members of the Council took note of the announcement by the Transitional Military Council to investigate the incidents. The Members of the Council encouraged the Secretary-General to continue to support regional and international efforts, in particular those led by the African Union, to facilitate and agree on a national transitional process for the benefit of the people of Sudan, and without prejudice to future agreements of Sudanese stakeholders and, as stated by the African Union, without external interference. The Members of the Council called upon all stakeholders to continue working together towards a consensual solution to the current crisis. The Members of the Council reaffirmed their strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of the Sudan." We'll have more on this.

  Inner City Press asked Guterres and his spokesman Stephane Dujarric in writing: "June 3-1: On Sudan, what is the SG's comment and action on that today Sudanese security forces have moved against a protest sit-in camp of non violent demonstrators, besieging the site and setting fire to tents, witnesses and protest leaders said. Machine gun fire and explosions were heard; protest organizers said at least five people were killed?"

 Dujarric did not by day's end acknowledge much less answer this and other Inner City Press questions including on Cameroon and Sri Lanka. At the noon briefing to those he allowed in - who called it "important" - Dujarric said, " The Secretary-General... urges all parties to act with utmost restraint." Yeah, to Guterres those non violent protesters definitely have to show more restraint. And on Tiananmen Dujarric said Guterres has no particular comment. He is corrupt and killing the UN.

  The UK says it has quietly asked for a closed door meeting of the UNSC, on Tuesday afternoon blocking out a meeting including Cameroon which the UK also blocks out, and blacks out by withholding documents from the Press its Alison Smale bans from the UN, under UK FOIA. Germany too is another quiet sponsor entirely fine with censorship at and by the UN.

  Despite Sudan's Omar al Bashir being indicted for genocide, Antonio Guterres repeatedly met with him, as acknowledged to Inner City Press by Guterres' deputy spokesman Farhan Haq on 29 January 2018 (before Guterres had Inner City Press roughed up and banned from the UN for 281 days now).  On April 11, state media in Khartoum reported that Bashir is out - and from Guterres, silence. Now on April 20, with Guterres on "annual leave" with location undisclosed and his $15 million mansion on New York's Sutton Place empty, suitcases full of more than $351,000, €6m ($6.7m; £5.2m) and five billion Sudanese pounds ($105m) have been found in Bashir's home. From Guterres, silence. What's in HIS mansion?  Guterres likes strongmen like Cameroon's Paul Biya, from whom he took a golden statue. CEFC, which tried to buy the oil company of Gulbenian Foundation whose payments to Guterres were omitted from his public financial disclosure covering 2016, brought $2 million in cash in gift boxes to Idriss Deby in Chad... On April 6 amid protests in Sudan and around the world, there was a protest in front of the UN. Inner City Press filmed the tail end of it, here on YouTube, here on Facebook. Guterres was away, meeting strongman Haftar in Libya as he had met the killing Paul Biya in Cameroon, and taken a golden statue from him. Guterres is the most corrupt Secretary General yet of the UN, and may be its demand. If you want to save the UN, #DumpGuterres: #NoSecondTerm. On the morning of April 8, Inner City Press sent questions to Guterres, Amina J. Mohammed, Alison Smale and Stephane Dujarric who held a briefing these four banned Inner City Press from the 278th day, including: "April 8-1: On Sudan, what is the SG's comment and action if any on that security forces in Sudan have used teargas and baton charges in an effort to break up a protest by tens of thousands of peaceful anti-government demonstrators who have been camped for more than 48 hours in central KhartoumThe demonstrators are calling for the president, Omar al-Bashir, who seized power in a military coup in 1989, to resign. At least one protester, a laboratory doctor, was killed on Saturday when huge crowds surged through the centre of Khartoum. Activists say the number of casualties may be much higher. Again, how many times has Mr. Guterres met with Bashir? Why?"

   On the afternoon of April 8 Dujarric send this out: "The Secretary-General is following closely the demonstrations in Sudan. He appeals to all actors to exercise utmost restraint and avoid violence.  He calls for full respect for human rights, including the freedom of assembly, the freedom of expression, and the release of detained protestors.  He further calls on the Government of the Sudan to create a conducive environment for a solution to the current situation and to promote an inclusive dialogue.       The Secretary-General affirms that the United Nations stands ready to support any efforts agreed by the Sudanese to peacefully resolve the current crisis.     Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General  New York, 8 April 2019." On March 13, this: "ACJPS calls upon Sudanese authorities to urgently investigate the reported torture and custodial death of three University students who were detained by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) for participating in the ongoing protests. Mr Muhajoob Eltaj Muhajoob, a 25-year-old student from Khartoum died on 24 December 2018 shortly after being detained on the same day by NISS of Khartoum. Reliable information indicates that he was subjected to torture including beatings on different parts of his body using horse pipes and sticks while in NISS custody.   In January 2019, ACJPS documented the custodial and suspicious deaths of two students arrested for participating in peaceful protests by NISS in Khartoum and Al Gaderef states. The dead bodies of both students retrieved from River Nile in Khartoum and Al Gederef hospital had serious marks of torture. One of the deceased students had a bullet wound in his mouth and his hair was shaven off.  [Then there are the] 48 University students who remain in NISS custody since protests broke out on December 19 2018, given reports about the torture and ill-treatment. The students were arrested during raids on students' residence by NISS in the states of Khartoum, Sennar and Port Sudan among others." What will Guterres say?  Guterres met with Bashir again, in Addis Ababa. Inner City Press on February 13 before the UN noon briefing run by Guterres' lead spokesman Stephane Dujarric asked him, Alison Smale, Amina J. Mohammed and others: "February 13-2: On Sudan and the ICC, please immediately deny or confirm and read out that " United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met with Sudan’s president on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, said Foreign Minister El-Dirdeiry Ahmed in a statement released on Monday.  The meeting of al-Bashir with Guterres was reported by the official news agency SUNA saying it took place at the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa on the sidelines of the 32nd Ordinary Summit of the African Union." How many times in total has Guterres met Bashir - and any other ICC indictees?" None of these have answered, despite promises including to UNSR David Kaye that they would.

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