On
Thailand's
Descent to
Martial Law,
US Speaks, UN
Silent,
UNrelevant
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, May
20 -- Thailand
is one of the
few countries
where the UN
could have
played the
mediating role
for which it
was created.
But after
martial law
was declared,
the UN stayed
silent, even
as the "full
respect for
democratic
principles"
its spokesman
"very much
hoped" for on
May 15 lay trampled.
The US State
Department
spokesperson
issued this:
“We
are aware of
reports that
Thailand’s
army has
declared
martial law
and are
monitoring
developments
closely. We
remain very
concerned
about the
deepening
political
crisis in
Thailand and
urge all
parties
to respect
democratic
principles,
including
respect for
freedom of
speech. We
understand the
Royal Thai
Army announced
that this
martial
law
declaration is
not a coup. We
expect the
Army to honor
its
commitment to
make this a
temporary
action to
prevent
violence, and
to not
undermine
democratic
institutions.
The United
States firmly
believes all
parties must
work together
to resolve
differences
through
dialogue and
find a way
forward. This
development
underscores
the need for
elections to
determine the
will of the
Thai
people.”
From the UN, issues
like Israel
and Palestine,
Iran and North
Korea have
been taken.
But Thailand?
Inner
City Press: on
Thailand, it’s
been now that
the electoral
commission
there has said
that elections
won’t be able
to be held
by 20 July due
to unrest. And
the military
has said, has
sort of
made some
comments about
acting if
there remains
unrest, I’m
wondering does
the UN… I know
that there
have been some
statements
by the
Secretary-General
in the past,
does the UN
have any role,
any
comment on
this? Is it
offering to
play some role
in trying to
get
the country
back on a
democratic
path?
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric: You
know, as
always and in
general terms,
the
good offices
are available
should they be
called upon by
both sides
in any issue;
but obviously,
we are
watching the
situation
carefully
with concern.
We’ve seen the
violence over
the last few
days but
we very much
hope that both
sides and all
sides really
will show
restraint and
show full
respect for
democratic
principles,
the rule
of law and
human rights.
But four days
later, when
the military
declared
martial law,
there was nary
a peep out of
Ban Ki-moon's
UN. The UN has
become
irrelevant, on
Thailand as
for example on
Libya.
On May
19, after days
of chaos
throughout
Libya, Inner
City Press
went to the UN's
noon briefing
and asked UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric
if the UN had
any comment or
response to
the storming
of the
parliament and
the seizure of
airports,
which have led
to the closure
of countries'
embassies and
consultates in
the country.
No, Dujarric
had nothing.
Later on May
19 a one page
press release
was placed in
his UN
Spokesperson's
Office -- not
emailed out
nor announced
by email -- in
which the
UNSMIL
mission, with
none of its
officials
quoted,
“expressed
deep concern.”
Why is the UN
phoning it in,
even on Libya?
Sources tell
Inner City
Press that
Secretary
General's
envoy in Libya
Tarek Mitri,
“a perfectly
nice guy,” has
shown little
interest in
Libya -- they
say he hoped
to get a
position in
the new
government of
his native
Lebanon but it
did not come
through.
Mitri
was
Information
Minister when
Fouad Siniora
was prime
minister. But
for now he
hasn't gotten
a new Lebanon
post.
Why isn't he
even quoted in
UNSMIL's bland
and belated
May 19 press
release? This
is the state
of the UN at
present. This
is its legacy.
While
the UN talks a
lot about
women's rights
and political
participation,
activists in
Libya tell
Inner City
Press a
different
story.
They
describe a May
20, 2013
meeting with
UN envoy Tarek
Mitri at which
he called the
Convention for
the
Elimination of
Discrimination
Against Women
(CEDAW)
"nothing."
They
say the new
agency UN
Women promised
to give them
information
how to reach
UN Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon and
didn't, and
did not attend
a May 30
follow up
meeting. Now
the 35% quota
for women is
about to be
eliminated.
And where is
the UN?
On
June 19 at UN
Headquarters
in New York,
Inner City
Press put
these
questions to
Mitri, and
then to Ban's
deputy
spokesperson
Eduardo Del
Buey.
Mitri
said it was up
to the women
to do more,
including a
"sit in" he
said he
encouraged
them to hold.
He admitted
saying
"wala’ishi" or
"nothing" as
to CEDAW,
explaining
that he meant
that a
Parliament
could not be
sued. Video
here and
embedded
below.
"I
have spoken to
the media on
three
occasions on
this, the UN
did everything
it said it
would," Mitri
insisted.
"They are
nascent,
sometimes they
are able to
act more
decisively. It
is easier for
the UN to
support
Libyans rather
than act on
behalf of
them."
Del
Buey said Ban
Ki-moon
supports
women. Well,
despite UN
Women not
giving the
email address,
Ban is set to
receive a
letter from
Libya on this,
Inner City
Press has
learned. So
we'll see.
Watch this
site.
, 
