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As UN Bans Inner City Press 1292d Day No Answer By UN Spox Dujarric on Pandora Papers Brazza Gabon Jordan Kenya Nigeria Tunisia Honduras GA Legal Letter to Fleming

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

UN GATE, October 6 – 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 October 6 after Guterres again refused to answer but the IMF did answer, May 6 here, Feb 25 here, Feb 4 here, here (3 Dec 2020), like here, before not Stephane "French Whine" Dujarric, previously the face of UN lies on cholera in Haiti (and on July 9 saying he will continue hybrid briefings, exclusion of Inner City Press more and more absurd), not Associate "Spokesperson" Florencia Soto Nino who blocks Press on WhatsApp, nor instead his now equally censoring Associate Eri Kaneko, nor new UN Spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay - but instead rape-denying Deputy Farhan Haq, held a briefing before which 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, who now blocks Inner City Press on WhatsApp as well) including on 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 16 video of Kaneko who had briefing go dark and never returned to explain here and here -- who will be held accountable? July 16 and ouster here, July 17 raw and UNTV... August 11 briefing and quarantine violations, Nov 23 here (with those allowed in obsessed by Antony Blinken and Linda Thomas-Greenfield, whom we too will cover, and did even before nomination, here), Feb 11 here, Feb 12 here (short because Honduras coverage, another Guterres cover up), Feb 26 here, March 1 here, March 2 here, March 3 here (Twitter video briefing by Brenden Varma who blocks Inner City Press on Twitter), April 13 here, April 15 here, April 16 here, April 21 here, April 22 here, April 23 here, May 4 here, May 6 here, May 25 stand-up here, May 26 here, June 2 stand-up here, June 3 stand-up here, June 4 here,  June 8 stand-up here, June 17 stand-up here, IMF answer to ICP on June 24 here, VLOG Aug 3 here, Aug 4 here, Aug 9 here & Aug 9 Q&A here, Aug 16 Vlog here, Aug 24 Vlog at UN here, Aug 30 Vlog here, Sept 14 Vlog here, Sept 16 Vlog here, Sept 17 vlog here, Inner City Press has asked:

These written question are posed and responses requested pursuant to the until-now broken commitment the the UN will "continue to answer e-mailed questions from Mr Lee" Inner City Press, here

Oct 6-1: Immediately explain the basis for banning me and Inner City Press from the UN and its briefings when not only the IMF on May 20, 2021 on Sudan and El Salvador, here

and IMF on June 10, 2021: on Tanzania and Cameroon  and on El Salvador

and Wilson Center on May 20, 2021 on North Korea, here, and also on March 26, 2021 the US State Department takes Inner City Press' questions, transcript here 

and May 27, 2021 "Briefing with Acting Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Julie Chung On the Secretary’s Upcoming Travel to San Jose, Costa Rica," "Let’s go the line Matthew Russell Lee.  QUESTION: Sure. Thanks a lot and thanks for taking the question. I had wanted to ask specifically about Honduras. There have been a series of cases in the Southern District of New York where the brother of the president, Juan Orlando Hernandez, his brother Tony was convicted of drug trafficking," see here.

What is the response of SG Guterres' / USG Fleming to the letter sent to her and others by the Quinn Emanuel law firm regarding ending Press censorship?  See "answer" August 9, here: letter received, no change in status - no reply.

After repeated non-answers to the above, on August 9 UN Spokesperson Dujarric was asked "Quinn Emanuel wrote a letter to the UN asking about reinstatement of our colleague Matthew Lee into the UN press corps. Do you have any comment on that?        Spokesman:  No. All I can tell you is that we've received the letter, and I'm not aware of any change to his status... It's been received. Whether or not it's been answered, I don't know yet." How can the UN, which preached press freedom, not even answer a letter for a journalist from a major law firm? What is your answer? When will Inner City Press be restored to resident correspondent status, like various state media?

Explain how it is legitimate for SG Guterres' DGC / USG Fleming and MALU (cc-ed here) to block Inner City Press from even WebEx questions to UNSC President Ireland, whose Alternate Political Coordinator and Spokesperson Eoghan McSwiney wrote to Inner City Press, "We would refer your request for access to the UN and to UN press conferences to the Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit of the UN Secretariat." You are engaged in censorship, no? 

What are the comments and actions if any of SG Guterres, given that UNGA 76 for diplomats coming to NYC does not require vaccination or even a COVID test, to that people entering Ivory Coast will from Monday be required to present a "health pass" showing that they have been vaccinated, or taken a Covid-19 test in the last 72 hours?

What is the UN's response to Inner City Press' Sept 13 application to MALU incluing for WebEx access to hybrid press briefings during UNGA 76, as it has at the IMF? Beyond last night's interim response projecting a decision in one or day days?  From: malu  Date: Wed, Sep 15, 2021 at 8:02 PM Subject: Your U.N. eAccreditation Request has been RECEIVED     Greetings Matthew Lee,  This is to confirm the United Nations Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit (M.A.L.U.) at New York Headquarters has received your request for accreditation...  Upon processing, a    notification email (to the email address registered with the request)will provide the status update, to confirm an approval or rejection, and any additional information which may be required. 

What reason could there be to deny this? Particularly given that only today Sept 16, Inner City Press put questions to the IMF on Guinea, Ukraine and Venezuela (see here and then to IFRC's Francesco Rocca, about Cameroon. If they take questions, how can the UN not now allow Inner City Press, at least for now by WebEx?

Also on censorship, and Tunisia, what are the comments and actions of SG Guterres and separately USG Fleming on that the Tunisian authorities have shut a television station that's been critical of President Kais Saied. Authorities have also arrested one of the channel's TV hosts after he read a popular poem on air about "dictators".  Amer Ayed has been accused of "undermining the security of the state". and, Tunisian authorities have arrested a journalist after he read lines from a popular poem

On corruption and Republic of Congo - Brazzaville (and more, since each of you already did not answer on UNSC president Kenya on Oct 4, and Jordan and Gabon on Oct 5), what are SG Guterres' comments and actions if any on that Sassou-Nguesso owned a company that controlled diamond mines that are among the country’s most valuable assets.

On corruption and Gabon (and more, since each of you already did not answer on UNSC president Kenya on Oct 4),  what are the comments and actions of SG Guterres on that  Bongo and two political associates controlled a shell company in the British Virgin Islands. Bongo was the major shareholder in Gazeebo Investments Ltd., according to a February 2008 email from a Miami attorney who instructed lawyers at Trident Trust to incorporate the company. 

On corruption and Jordan, (and more, since each of you already did not answer on UNSC president Kenya on Oct 4),  what are the comments and actions of SG Guterres on that  King Abdullah II has amassed a secret $100m property empire spanning Malibu, Washington and London.

On corruption and Kenya (and more), what are the comments and actions of SG Guterres on that the Kenyattas' offshore investments include a company with stocks and bonds worth $30m (ÂŁ22m), a foundation where his mother and the president are listed as beneficiaries, and an offshore company that could not be traced back to the Kenyatta family, which was used to buy an apartment in central London now valued at $1.3m (ÂŁ1m)

On France and Algeria what are the comments and actions if any of SG Guterres on that Algeria has banned French military planes from flying over its territory, the French army has said, as the diplomatic row between the two countries intensifies.  The move comes a day after Algeria recalled its ambassador from Paris, accusing France of unacceptable interference in its affairs.

As Inner City Press asked each of you in writing on September 29 without any answer at all - cover up -- On UN sexual exploitation and abuse - alleged - this is a request on the new cases of UN sex abuse in CAR by UN "peacekeeping" troop from Peru - child rape - data dumped at 12:01 pm on September 29, and earlier (unanswered) from Gabon and "the Congo" - and Nepal peacekeeper child rape in DRC - data-dumped at 10:07 am on July 21, 2021 that you immediately provide the "if asked" information...

On Liberia and corruption what are the comments and actions if any of SG Guterres allegations that corruption watchdog deputy alleging Kanio Bai Gbala has  a conflict of interest over a corruption scandal at the National Port Authority.

On support for the Taliban, what are SG Guterres' or his SRSG's or USGS' comments on the US v. Dolowar Mohammed Hossain terrorism trial from Sept 29 here in the SDNY courthouse?

On UN system sexual abuse and exploitation what are SG Guterres comments on WHO staffer put on leave for covering up SEA in DRC - and AGAIN why did Guterres' UN not inform authorities of sexual crimes by Karim Elkorany while working for the UN in Iraq, drugging and raping women, before he was allowed to fly back to NJ, USA, now prosecuted here in SDNY court?

On Honduras, what are SG Guterres' responses to Honduras President JOH mocking the narco trafficking evidence against him by inviting Netflix Narcos to read the SDNY transcripts?

Again, on Nigeria (and since Inner City Press was blocked from DSG Amina J. Mohammed Sept 23 press conference), what are her and Guterres' comments and actions if any on Nigeria's treatment of Igboho and Kanu? And on Ambazonia?

Why is the new PGA Abdulla Shaheed not even disclosing how his campaign was and office is funded, including each staff member, as committed do after the PGA John Ashe scandal in SDNY? cc-ing Ms Grayley too

And, on ongoing censorship of Press by SG Guterres, USG Fleming and Spox Dujarric, to this petition with 9000+ signatures here

On Inner City Press' exclusive reporting into UNTSO's scandal of public sex in the UN van, what are the comments and actions if any of SG Guterres on this, from whistleblower: "the men in the UNTSO car have been charged with transporting a passenger who was not authorized and also for not co-operating with the investigation."  Inner City Press asked, "Thanks - I'd heard they were restored to full pay."  Answer: "Still suspended, but have been getting salary for a year.  Now they have been accused of conduct unbecoming."    Confirm or deny - and explain the long cover up, for/of Michael Antoine.

On Cameroon, what are the comments and actions if any of SG Guterres on the "Cameroon military opening fire at Christians in Bail/Ambazonia worshipping yesterday Sunday?    

On UNDT opacity, on which you have refused to answer, explain why on August 26, a supposedly "public" case was held - but the access link was dead, not only to Inner City Press but to the public at large: "UNDT/NBI/2020/022 (Mancinelli) The Applicant contests the Administration’s finding of misconduct and imposition of a disciplinary sanction against her." 

Given the Aug 24 UNDT case about UNDP Country Director Samuel Bwalya colluding / forging with Ethiopia's government, immediately state how many other cases of UN staff or officials colluding with Ethiopia's government the UN is aware of, and describe each.

On UN sexual exploitation and abuse - alleged - this is a repeated request on the new cases of UN child rap in CAR by UN "peacekeeping" troops from Cameroon - and Nepal peacekeeper child rape in DRC - data-dumped at 11:36 am on August 19, 2021 that you immediately provide the "if asked" information which Inner City Press already asked each of your for without response (cover up), also all those earlier July and the June 15 data-dumped cases none of you have answered Inner City Press on, also about case of child rape in CAR by a Gabon "peacekeeper," a UN civilian child rape in DRC and a UN civil sex abuse case in South Sudan    

  On Honduras, given the March 22 guilty verdict in SDNY court with defense lawyer telling Inner City Press that President JOH has been or will be indicted, here, please immediately explain why SG Guterres' representative in Honduras Mrs. Shackelford on March 11 took and tweeted a selfie with a Honduran military official.

  After UNDT purported to order me to destroy evidence of sexual harassment by UN staff Padula, AGAIN what are the responses of SG Guterres and his consigliere Soares, UN General Counsel now that the appeal has been acknowledged and said to be on ePortal with case number? "Weicheng Lin  9:39 AM  Dear Mr. Lee,  I acknowledge receipt of your filing.   Case: UNAT/2020/1502 Dear Respondents,  We received an Appeal of UNDT Orders 178 (NY/2020) and 179 (NY/2020) filed by Mr. Lee on 21 December 2020.  Mr. Lee who is not a staff member nor a party to the case of the Applicant filed an appeal against these orders with the Appeals Tribunal.  The Registrar accepted the submissions and instructed that they be transmitted to the parties in the UNDT proceedings, and the Secretary-General for comments within 30 days."    How is it acceptable that each of your takes public money and refuses to answer or even acknowledge Press questions, including about UN staff's sexual abuse? 

On SG son Pedro GuimarĂŁes e Melo De Oliveira Guterres, explain how the business of Explorer Investments has been reviewed for conflicts of interest. Explain immediately how Pedro Guterres doing business with Rwanda while Antonio Guterres was UNSG was and is not a conflict, and what was disclosed and to whom.

Immediately explain, given the Amir Dossal was on board of Epstein's procurer Ghislaine Maxwell's Terramar Project and Inner City Press has repeatedly asked you each about in writing, how Spokesman Dujarric's Oct 30 on camera statement is not aware of any other UN connection to Epstein, beyond IPI, was and is not a lie and cover up. 

Again, why did Guterres not list Gulbenkian, linked to CEFC China Energy, in his disclosure covering 2016?  What are Guterres' comments on IPI and Epstein, why would he not say why he left the board? Why has he not quit Club of Madrid? Why was Amir Dossal on Board of Terramar of Ghislaine Maxwell

On Honduras and COVID corruption by the Juan Orlando Hernandez administration, what are the comment and actions if any of SG Guterres on the corruption allegations here? And again, what is the read out of Guterres' panel sent to Honduras? 

  Immediate comments on the leaked audio of OSSC Chediek Inner City Press published Aug 5 on SoundCloud here (1 of 6)  

More here.

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