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As UN Policeman Stabs Liberian Counterpart, No
Justice in Monrovia, No Comment in NY
Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of
Inner City Press on the UN: News Analysis
LONDON, November
14 -- Two days after a UN Police
officer from Jordan reportedly stabbed a member of the Liberian
National Police
force, the UN in New York said it hadn't heard of the report.
But the UN
Mission in Liberia, when subsequently queried by Inner City Press,
provided a
two-paragraph formal statement of concern about the report, saying it
would
investigate and inform the government of Liberia of the results. Not
only would
the UN Policeman be immune, however -- the incident at best shows that
the UN
in New York stays out of touch with bed news from the mission in the
field.
The UNMIL
statement provided to Inner City Press by the Chief of UNMIL Radio
is dated
November 13 and states
The United Nations Mission in
Liberia (UNMIL) has learned with dismay of a case of alleged serious
misconduct
by a Jordanian Formed Police Unit (FPU) officer which occurred early in
the
morning of Wednesday 12 November. According to reports, the Jordanian
FPU
officer allegedly assaulted a Liberia National Police (LNP) officer
following
an argument. The LNP officer reportedly sustained serious injuries
requiring
treatment at the ELWA Hospital, after being struck on the head and the
hand by
a 'sharp instrument'. The LNP officer has now been released from the
hospital.
Jordianians with UN in Africa, UNMIL stabbing not shown
UNMIL wishes to make clear that
it takes very seriously all allegations of misconduct committed by any
UNMIL
staff member. UNMIL has informed the Liberian authorities that a full
investigation of this incident is being conducted and the findings of
the
investigation will be shared with the Government of Liberia.
Inner City
Press had asked, and what is going to
happen? The response does not mention that this UN Police Office
would if
the past is any guide enjoy immunity from any prosecution in Liberia.
Would
Jordan prosecute him?
Footnote: Ban
Ki-moon's Associate Spokesman Farhan
Haq, who a day after the UNMIL press release said that he hadn't seen
it, also
said on Friday that Ban will be in Geneva on Monday and Tuesday,
ostensibly
only meeting with Special Representatives of the Secretary General like
UNMIL's
Loj. Haq did not mention Spain's boast that Ban will be there in
celebration of
Spain's use of $25 million, including aid funds, for s
stalactite-draped
ceiling in the name of human rights. Click here
for that.
Click here for Inner City
Press Nov. 7 debate on the war in Congo
Watch this site, and this Oct. 2 debate, on
UN, bailout, MDGs
and this October 17 debate, on
Security Council and Obama and the UN.
* * *
These
reports are
usually also available through Google
News and on Lexis-Nexis.
Click
here
for a Reuters
AlertNet piece by this correspondent
about Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army. Click
here
for an earlier Reuters AlertNet piece about the Somali
National
Reconciliation Congress, and the UN's $200,000 contribution from an
undefined trust fund. Video
Analysis here
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