Inner City Press: Investigative Reporting from the United Nations

UN Stonewalling, Ban Nepotism Complaint from UNITAID, French Want Police?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, December 27, updated -- The UN, which preaches for rule of law all over the world, it seen by those inside it as wracked with corruption, nepotism and conflict of interest.

Inner City Press receives many such complaints, some of which it asks UN spokespeople about, some of which it publishes.

But of late the spokespeople of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon have simply stopped answering questions, and have even given answers to questions Inner City Press has been asking to other media but not to Inner City Press. (The belated rationale, distinguishing Press questions about the presence of UN personnel in conflict zones from their relocation, doesn't hold water.)

On the morning of December 27, Inner City Press asked Ban's top three spokesmen for an explanation, and for response on deadline to the following questions, including about complaints received about the hiring in the UN system, arranged by Philippe Douste-Blazy, of Ban's youngest daughter:

Please provide the Secretariat's response to the allegation, received by Inner City Press, that "Hyun Hee Ban has been hired without a legitimate selection process by the UN agency UNITAID," that "she has a P3 contract, unlimited duration, NO SELECTION PROCESS;" and that "Philippe Douste-Blazy, chairman of executive board of UNITAID, arranged the deal."

Has she been hired by UNITAID?

Unless no: at what level? What rules or safeguards, including regarding the hiring of family members of high UN system officials, apply? In this context, please describe the recruitment, and any role played by Philippe Douste-Blazy.

Dec 27 - 2 Also on personnel: please deny or confirm / comment on the UN Secretariat's consideration of current ACABQ vice chair Richard Moon of the UK to head OCSS in the Department of Management, specifically what safeguards are in place given the potential for conflict of interest in offering a job to a person ostensibly objectively analyzing the Secretariat's budget and human resources proposals at ACABQ.

Dec 27 - 3 Please state when UN Police Adviser Orler's contract expires or when she is expected to leave, and please deny or confirm / comment that the Secretariat is considering a French replacements despite France already occupying DPKO.*

The occupant at the top spot of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Herve Ladsous, is the fourth Frenchman in a row in the post, and by most accounts by far the worst. On November 27 he refused to answer Press questions about Congolese Army rapes in Minova, then summoned into the hall a handful of favored media, video here. We will have more on this as well.

* Update: after 5 pm on December 27, one question -- not on UNITAID -- was responded to, thusly:

From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Thu, Dec 27, 2012 at 5:08 PM
Subject: Question
To: Matthew Russell Lee [at] innercitypress.com

On the Police Adviser: DPKO advises that the post of Police Adviser is a rotational post that is filled by active-duty officers on secondment from national service, normally for a limited period. The current Police Adviser has been in service since 2009 and a note verbale has been circulated to seek nominations from member states to the post. The selection process is in progress.

Note on note: It's from the Note Verbale that sources tell Inner City Press that France, despite already controlling, and not well, DPKO wants to grab the Police Adviser post too. Watch this site.

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