In
UN Library Inner City Press Is
Ordered to Leave Jane's
Defence Oil Event It
Registered For
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS,
June 6 – The UN Library
advertised and hosted a
presentative by Jane's Defence
Industry Solutions IHS Markit
on June 6 at 11 am. Inner City
Press registered, clicking the
box "Media Representative,"
and got an email confirming it
was registered. It went to the
UN Library's Room L-133 at
11:02 am only to hear, from
the podium, that is was
"Chatham House Rules," that
what was said could be
reported but not attributed.
Strangely, someone was being
allowed to film the event,
with assurances not to show
the audience. The presentation
ranged from oil blocks being
offered in Southern Lebanon to
losses of Turkey and Saudi
Arabia. Inner City Press was
typing a tweet with a quote,
without attibribution, when it
was tapped on the shoulder.
"You can't do that," an
officious man who will remain
unnamed said. Inner City Press
countered that it had
registered and was obeying
Chatham House Rules, and that
the man should not be reading
Inner City Press' laptop over
its shoulder. "You'll have to
leave," an equally officious
woman came to say. Inner City
Press voluntarily left,
despite having registered as
media and following the stated
rules. What is wrong with
today's UN? We'll have more on
this. The UN which
earlier this year hosted
advertisements for rocket
launchers and tanks on June 5
was asked about a display in
its lobby for Jane’s Defence
Industry Solutions complete
with fighter jet, American
flag and photo of the Chinese
Army. The spokesman for
Antonio Guterres the UN
Secretary General, Stephane
Dujarric, said he hadn't seen
the display just one story
below his office. Inner City
Press asked, UN transcript
here: Dujarric: Let me look
close to the screens as I go
downstairs, and I'll try to
answer and find… to your
question. Mr. Lee?
Inner City Press: I
can't resist. I have
some other things, but --
Spokesman:
When have you ever resisted?
[Note: As Dujarric has been
informed, Inner City Press
*has* resisted for more than a
month the entirely legal
live-streaming from the New
York City sidewalk of UN
Sec-Gen Antonio Guterres' $60
million mansion, first
streamed by Inner City Press
with its lights ablaze as
Guterres told others to turn
their lights off. A self
styled intermediary said these
streams caused security
issues, so Inner City Press
has “resisted” live streaming
for more than a month. But not
change, still restricted. It
was just a pretext?]
The June 5
transcript continued: Inner
City Press: In light of the
tank and other military
equipment that was advertised
in the 1B area of the UN, this
was late… said to be about…
only about a Member State, I
guess I… I just wonder, in
this case, these days there
are the signs up saying that
the UN is not in any way
endorsing any Member State
thing. This is… would
you acknowledge… even before
you look into this, are the
ads that are next to the… next
to the café that talk about
these library meetings with
publications, these are
endorsements. I mean,
these are…
Spokesman: I'm not going
to acknowledge anything until
I see it.
Inner City Press:
All right, but when you do see
it… can we watch you see it?
Spokesman:
When I see it, I'll tell you.”
Seven hours later, nothing -
and the ad still up. Watch
this site.
***
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