| In
Corrupt UN Of Guterres Crisis Deepens at
UNESCO Including Its Security Service As
DSS
By Matthew
Russell Lee &
sources,
Exclusive
UN GATE, Nov 8 – Inner
City Press has
already
written
several times
about the
controversial
management of
the crisis in
UNESCO's
security
service,
generated by
the
incompetent
decisions of
its chief,
Frenchman
Nicolas
Hergot.
Today,
a UNESCO staff
association
alerted us to
a new peak in
the crisis
reached by the
administration
of the
security
service with
the dismissal
without
notice, four
days ago, of
one of the
security staff
members. "We
are deeply
shocked," said
a staff
member. "We
don't
understand how
UNESCO could
have reached
so rapidly
that level of
tolerance of
irregularities.
The staff
member in
question had
nearly 20
years of
service
without the
slightest
negative
comment on the
quality of his
performance.
His
only 'sin' was
to ask for an
explanation of
Hergot's
recent
decisions, and
he did so
within the
rules", added
our
source.
This is the
deep trouble
where UNESCO
is today, as
is the entire
UN. The rules
are only
applied in
cases when it
suits the
administration.
In
most other
cases,
misconduct is
fully covered
up. In
addition,
another
serious
incident was
reported
during the
recent night
session of
UNESCO's
Executive
Board, which
occurred when
several
renovation
workers
entered the
restricted
UNESCO
premises
without any
security
checks.
Security
personnel were
not ordered to
intervene and
the
ambassadors
had to take
care of their
own security.
Despite the
number of
obvious
violations of
all security
rules, despite
the despicable
working
athmospere at
the security
service,
despite the
number of
challenges to
its management
practices,
Director
General Audrey
Azoulay still
maintains
Hergot in his
position.
Another
example of
French
solidarity at
work.
The Head of
the Service
Hergot was
even allowed
to go on leave
the last week
before the
major event
for UNESCO,
its General
conference. A
laxity that
has never been
observed
before. These
serious
errors,
potentially
endangering
the safety of
staff,
ministers and
ambassadors,
will most
probably not
be followed by
disciplinary
measures.
Moreover,
Nicolas Hergot
decided to
entrust the
responsibility
for most of
the security
services,
including
during the
General
Conference, to
the private -
and of course
French -
company
PROTECTIM.
The
contract
signed by
UNESCO with
PROCTON was
examined by
the
Headquarters
Committee of
Member States
and some of
them objected
to it. How far
should the
corruption of
the security
service go and
how many
incidents
should occur
before the
member states
decide to
react to the
disorganization
of the
security
service which
is responsible
for their own
protection.
Inner
City Press has
also been
informed of
Nicolas
Hergot's
decision to
terminate all
contracts for
UNESCO's
temporary
security
guards
operating on
supernumerary
contracts.
Aimed
at justifying
the hiring of
the French
company
PROTECTIM,
this hostile
move further
weakens the
security unit.
The alarming
security
situation at
UNESCO is not
new.
But it
is now
reaching new
levels of
incompetence
and
disorganization.
Yet, as one
internal
source put it,
"Despite firm
instructions
from his
superiors,
Nicolas
Hergot, a
product of the
French police,
will hardly be
able to adapt
his French
police style
to UNESCO's
international
environment.
His
appointment is
a mistake. He
is destroying
our service".
This is
clearly a case
study in how
the French DG
is imposing a
French modus
operandi on
UNESCO.
DG Azoulay's
usual puppies,
Human
Resources
Director
Kazumi Ogawa
and ADG for
Management
Nicholas
Jeffreys,
instead of
addressing the
infirmities of
the security
service, will
continue to
put
intimidating
pressure on
its staff
members, who
now have even
less and less
room to defend
themselves
after the
brutal firing
of one of
their
colleagues.
The message
they all got
is crystal
clear: either
keep your
mouth shut or
you're
out.
This is UNESCO
today - a UN
agency
propitious to
the
flourishing of
anti-democratic
governance,
corruption,
anti-constitutional
political
moves, sexual
performances-based
promotions,
abuse of power
and nepotism.
It mirrors the
worse, far
worse, UN
Secretariat of
Guterres which
also engages
in censorship,
roughing up
and banning
the Press
Guterres
doesn't like,
like any dictator.
We
will have more
on that.
***
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