Inner City Press





In Other Media-eg New Statesman, AJE, FP, Georgia, NYTAzerbaijan, CSM Click here to contact us     .



These reports are usually available through Google News and on Lexis-Nexis
,



Share |   

Follow on TWITTER

Home -

These reports are usually available through Google News and on Lexis-Nexis

CONTRIBUTE

(FP Twitterati 100, 2013)

ICP on YouTube

More: InnerCityPro

BloggingHeads.tv
Sept 24, 2013

UN: Sri Lanka

VoA: NYCLU

FOIA Finds  

Google, Asked at UN About Censorship, Moved to Censor the Questioner, Sources Say, Blaming UN - Update - Editorial

Support this work by buying this book

Click on cover for secure site orders

also includes "Toxic Credit in the Global Inner City"
 

 

 


Community
Reinvestment

Bank Beat

Freedom of Information
 

How to Contact Us



As UN Bans Inner City Press 708th Day It E-Asks Spox Dujarric of UNECA Cameroon Turkey LKA UN Rape Honduras Covid UN Rape S Sudan Fleming 3000+ UNanswered

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon IMF
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - CJR - PFT

UN GATE / SDNY COURT, June 10 –  Inner City Press on 5 July 2018 was banned from entering the UN, two day after it was physically removed from conducting interviews outside meeting about the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' $6.7 billion budget.

  Then Guterres' Department of Global Communication, run by Melissa Fleming, issued a letter banning Inner City Press from the UN - for life. With no due process, no right of appeal.  Guterres has put the UN in the US Press Freedom Tracker, here. Guterres' Spokesman Stephane Dujarric falsely promised on camera that he would be answering banned Inner City Press' questions - but see below.

     On June 10 after Guterres again refused to answer but the IMF did answer, here, and before an amateur UN noon briefing by Stephane "French Whine" Dujarric, previously the face of UN lies on cholera in Haiti, now amid his and Guterres' cover up COVID-19's spread by the UN to and in Mali and in South Sudan with a national staff bus without social distancing -- Inner City Press asked Guterres, here and now of an official flying out while under quarantine and internationals "working out" in Tomping, Inner City Press submitted yet more questions (blocked by Dujarric's screener Florencia Soto Nino on +1 917 226 7816 and Dujarric himself on +1 917 622 7652; he directed some favored scribes to Eri Kaneko on +1 917 208 8910) including asking for an immediate response about the UN South Sudan transcript leaked to it and the basis on which it continues to be lawlessly banned from entering to ask questions in person. Now also on the basis for withholding publicly funded UN video from the Press. There was no answer from Farhan Haq on +1 917 592 4591, not even a confirmation of receipt, and now UN official like Hua Jiang, Eri Kaneko, now on screen Jennifer Confilio, Adam Smook, Marisela Rivera and others to be named taking public money for a UN briefing blocking email questions about the UN's spread of Covid 19 - May 21 Inner City Press video with commentary here and here, edit here , June 10 video here and here (with Jo'burg Stock Exchange CEO Leila Fourie blathering about her concierge) -- Inner City Press asked:

June 10-1: On the Coronavirus Covid-19 and the UN in South Sudan, immediately provide Inner City Press which has asked for a month SG Guterres' response now to the petition to him from South Sudanese about UNMISS spreading COVID-19, precisely as Inner City Press has asked you all repeatedly in writing, and audibly asked Guterres on Sutton Place, twice now and why he/you are not complicit. Please confirm that UNMISS was told to not permit Inner City Press to ask it / SRSG Shearer or his Francesca Mold any questions. What comment, now that South Sudan's Vice-President Riek Machar has tested positive for coronavirus - and SG Guterres declined for the third time to answer Inner City Press' South Sudan (and SEA) questions what you have refused to answer? 

On Turkey and COVID what are the comments and actions if any of SG Guterres on the investigations into doctors running three professional medical associations in Turkey’s southeast and eastern regions. The authorities should respect both freedom of expression and the important role of healthcare worker associations in informing the public and protecting public health.  Since March 2020, the Turkish authorities have targeted doctors in senior positions in professional bodies, known as medical chambers, in Van, Mardin, and Şanlıurfa for allegedly “issuing threats to create fear and panic among the public” in media interviews and social media posts relating to the Covid-19 outbreak in Turkey. On May 4, a court in Şanlıurfa imposed a travel ban on Şanlıurfa Medical Chamber’s general secretary, Osman Yüksekyayla, and co-chair, Ömer Melik, and required them to sign in with their local police stations, pending the prosecutor’s completion of a criminal investigation 

On Sri Lanka, on which you have refused to answer Inner City Press' questions, what are the comments and actions if any of SG Guterres on that the UN has awarded Sri Lanka’s peacekeeping force, Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps (SLMAC), for their service in South Sudan, despite its history of human rights violations.  The award was presented on 27 May and commended SLMAC on its “medical standards, and commitment of strong contribution to hospital services”.  The granting of this award comes less than 8 months after the UN suspended Sri Lankan troops from peacekeeping due to the appointment of war veteran Shavendra Silva due to concerns over his human rights record  On Sudan, what are SG Guterres' comments and actions if any on that police have fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, protesting against a new United Nations mission for the country.  The protesters, who gathered near army headquarters, accused the government of bringing in occupiers.

State who is UNECA's Chief, New Technologies and Innovation Section, and respond to the criticisms from UN staff and ex-staff of Guterres' and Dujarric's handling of the murder of George Floyd and protests since.  

  On SEA as I asked each of you on the afternoon of June 4 with no answer whatsoever, this is a request that you immediately provide the "if asked" information about the new April 2020 UN child rape allegations in CAR against UN "peacekeepers" from Egypt and Cameroon, data dumped on June 4 after 2:30 pm - the eighth in a month, no answers, UNSG complicit as with the new April 2020 child rape charge against a UN civilian "peacekeeper" in South Sudan - the seventh in a month, no answers, UNSG complicit -  data dumped at 3 pm on June 1, after the Gabonese on May 18, after that of May 14 regarding Cameroon regarding child rape by Cameroon UN Peacekeeper in 2019, and May 12 disclosed sexual exploitation in South Sudan by an UNMISS civilian - please state the nationality and all info

 On Cameroon immediately provide the comments and actions (and apology) if any of SG Antonio "Golden Statue" Guterres to that Buea-based journalist Samuel Wazizi a/k/a Samuel Ajiekah Abuwe is reported dead. According to Equinoxe Television, he died within a few days in detention from wounds and injuries sustained after his arrest - that is, he was killed by Biya's forces. SG Guterres refused to answer on June 4, while - and please explain the difference - the IMF an hour later answered Inner City Press, see e.g., here.

Now, what about missing journalist Njoka Kingsley? 

Also on South Sudan, what are the comments and actions if any of SG Guterres and separately his SRSG on that a South Sudanese businessman and former intelligence officer says he has launched a new rebel group and intends to overthrow what he calls the corrupt leadership of the country.  The government has not yet commented.  Kerbino Wol has called it the Seventh of October Movement - a reference to the day of a riot at the detention facility where he was held without trial for two years.  

On Burundi what are the comments and actions if any of SG Guterres on that an appeal court in Burundi has upheld the decision to jail four journalists who were arrested in October while reporting on a rebel attack in the north-west of the country.  Térence Mpozenzi, Agnès Ndirubusa, Egide Harerimana and Christine Kamikazi from an independent publication, Iwacu, were accused of "an attempt on the nation's security".  Friday's ruling means they are to serve the rest of their two-and-a-half-year jail terms.

  What are the comments on June 4 of SG Guterres on the anniversary of the abuse at Tiananmen Square? 

On Zimbabwe what are the comments and actions if any of SG Guterres on that the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has called for an independent investigation into the alleged abduction and abuse of MP Joana Mamombe, and youth leaders Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova - a reflection of its deep mistrust of state institutions and the police’s ability to investigate itself. 

On Kyrgyz Republic what are the comments and actions if any of SG Guterres on that Kyrgyz security services detained a well-known rights defender on dubious grounds on May 29, 2020, and on May 31, a court ordered him placed under house arrest. Kyrgyz authorities should lift the two-month home arrest order imposed on Kamil Ruziev, the activist, drop all bogus charges against him, and investigate allegations that Kyrgyz security services have threatened him

On SEA as I asked each of you on the afternoon of June 2 with no answer whatsoever, this is a request that you immediately provide the "if asked" information about the new April 2020 child rape charge against a UN civilian "peacekeper" in South Sudan - the seventh in a month, no answers, UNSG complicit -  data dumped at 3 pm on June 1, after the Gabonese on May 18, after that of May 14 regarding Cameroon regarding child rape by Cameroon UN Peacekeeper in 2019, and May 12 disclosed sexual exploitation in South Sudan by an UNMISS civilian - please state the nationality and all info 

On Honduras, immediately explain the basis of SG Guterres' May 21 statement about 85,000 COVID-19 tests to Honduras - there, people tell Inner City Press free tests have not arrived but the government is selling them for $250.

On China and COVID-19 what are the comments and actions of SG Guterres and USG Fleming on that human rights lawyer Zhang Xuezhong was "taken away" on Sunday after writing an open letter criticising the Chinese government's COVID-19 response? In his letter,  Zhang said that the country's handling of the coronavirus pandemic was emblematic of deep-rooted issues within the country's leadership.

 To emphasize: on May 14 you data dumped another child rape case by UN peacekeeper from Cameroon in CAR, after May 12 case of sex exploitation case by a civilian UN staffer in South Sudan. Inner City Press immediately wrote to each of you for the if-asked information, always provided pre-Guterres. Provide this information or explain why Guterres is covering up UN sexual abuse.

What are the comments and actions if any of SG Guterres on that Africans in China say they are repeatedly quarantined despite testing negative to the coronavirus? 

  What are the comments and actions of SG Guterres that the lone candidate for PGA, with whom he's had smiling photo ops, Volkan Bozkir is best known for saying, after "drag queen" Conchita Wurst's Eurovision win, "Thank God we no longer participate in Eurovision."

  What are the comments and actions if any of SG Guterres and USG Fleming on that on May 10 Hong Kong police detained two reporters with Student Depth Media? Police also pepper sprayed an Apple Daily photographer who was covering the protests, and choked her while restraining her, according to a report by her employer, which identified the journalist only as “Jessica.” She was treated at the Kwong Wah Hospital for pain in her head and neck and for burning in her eyes, according to that report, which noted that Jessica was wearing a press vest and had her press pass visible at the time of the incident.

  On Uganda, what are the comments and actions if any of SG Guterres on that Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has said it would be "madness" to hold general elections while still dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.  He told the Ugandan broadcaster NBS that if the pandemic was not brought under control by July, then plans to hold the elections in early 2021 would have to be reviewed 

On Sudan, what are the comment and actions if any of SG Guterres on that Sudan has sent 300 military vehicles to South Darfur state following ethnic clashes which have killed dozens of people?  The deputy commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, Major General Abdel-Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, is leading the force.

    Immediately comment and state what SG Guterres is doing about charges made to Inner City Press about his head of UNFPA Natalia Kanem, as having wildly overspent at last year's Nairobi conference, having the public pay for the travel of two close relatives and that she spent $200,000 on a cocktail party, with a restricted guest list; there is a strong suspicion of nepotism as the son and members of the family of the Executive Director and many personal friends participated (at the Summit) at the cost of UNFPA.  

 On the Secretariat's proposal for voting including for UNSC seat, published by Inner City Press on May 1, please explain the proposal for physical voting at different times, and separately how eBallot voting was be verified and validated. This is a question to the Secretariat; it is being cc-ed to the PGA's spokesperson for answer as well. 

On Kenya, on which you singled out Ban Ki-moon's son in law for praise, what has the UN or he done about the government's use of World Bank Covid-19 funds for tea and snacks (see InnerCityPress.com) and that thousands of people have been made homeless in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, after a government excavator flattened their tin-sheet houses in the Kariobangi area.  The demolition was supervised by armed police officers from Monday dawn.  Residents told journalists that they had not been notified to leave.  The Daily Nation newspaper has shared a video on Twitter of the demolitions; and that on March 27, Kenya’s first day of curfew, police in Mombasa allegedly assaulted Peter Wainana, a journalist with one of Kenya’s leading television stations, NTV, long before curfew time. Wainaina was reporting on how police used excessive force against people queuing to board a ferry back home from work ahead of the curfew.  On March 29, police reportedly attacked George Muriithi, a cameraperson for a local television station, Weru, while he filmed police officers and government administrators using violence to enforce social distancing rules on traders in Mintuguu market, Meru County.  On the same day, police arrested three journalists – John Wanyama and Charles Kerecha of Citizen TV, and Mukoya Aywah, an independent journalist – reportedly for violating the curfew in Uasin Gishu and Kiambu counties, despite a government exemption for media from curfew restrictions. The journalists had been asking the public and the police about the curfew implementation.

  In Cameroon, WHO on April 28 gave the government 14 vehicles citing COVID-19. How do the UN - and SG Guterres - assess the Biya government's response to Coronavirus in Cameroon and its prisons? 

In Honduras, President JOH talked up hydroxychloroquin - what does SG Guterres say about that, and about JOH named today in narco-trafficking complaint in SDNY against former Honduran National Police Chief Tigre Bonilla? 

More here.

***

Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron.

Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com
SDNY Press Room 480, front cubicle
500 Pearl Street, NY NY 10007 USA

Mail: Box 20047, Dag Hammarskjold Station NY NY 10017

Reporter's mobile (and weekends): 718-716-3540



Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.

 Copyright 2006-2020 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com for