UNDP funds Maoist-Communist Liberation Army in Nepal with Rs 1 Million

@ http://www.myrepublica.com  

GHANASHYAM OJHA 

• Each disqualified PLA combatant to get Rs 800,000* to one million
• Disqualified combatants including minors to be released in next one month

KATHMANDU, April 4: The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has proposed an attractive economic package of Rs 800,000 to one million for each disqualified PLA combatant, besides other alternatives, for getting them to leave the camps. 

A highly-placed government source said UNDP, as requested by the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction, has also proposed vocational training, offer of foreign jobs and education to the disqualified combatants of the Maoist People´s Liberation Army (PLA).

Some 5,000 PLA combatants including at least 2,000 minors, who were disqualified by the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) in its verification process, have been living in the PLA’s 28 camps since 2006.

Despite strong pressure from national and international rights bodies including the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal) to release the disqualified PLA combatants including minors from the camps, the Maoist leadership hasn’t yet taken any serious initiative in this regard.

The PLA commanders in a meeting with Maoist Chairman and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal in the second week of March urged the latter to immediately take the initiative for releasing the disqualified combatants. They had warned the prime minister that they couldn’t bear the cost of accommodating the disqualified combatants any more. The PLA commanders, however, urged the Maoist leadership to arrange better alternatives for the disqualified combatants before releasing them from the camps.

Each of the 19,602 PLA combatants receives Rs. 5,000 from state coffers.

Prime Minister Dahal, during UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s visit to Nepal last October, assured the latter that the disqualified PLA combatants would be released soon.

A PLA deputy commander said the disqualified combatants will be released in the next one month if the government okays the UNDP proposal.

“The release of disqualified combatants is very important for proceeding with the integration process for Maoist combatants,” said the deputy commander, preferring to remain unnamed.

(*corrected)

ghanashyam@myrepublica.com

Suspend UNDP Activities in North Korea, Again

by Brett D. Schaefer

WebMemo #2387

Heritage Foundation

With its launch of a long-range Taepo Dong-2 missile this past weekend, North Korea violated the 2006 United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1695 and 1718. These resolutions forbid North Korea from nuclear testing or ballistic missile launches and imposes arms and financial sanctions on North Korea. Despite international condemnation of North Korea's violation of U.N. resolutions, China and Russia have so far prevented the U.N. Security Council from taking effective action. The council may resume discussions, but negotiations are unlikely to yield a strong statement or additional sanctions. However, there are other U.N. organizations, such the U.N. Development Program, involved in North Korea despite its intransigence. The U.S. should seek to suspend these activities as a clear signal of international displeasure with Pyongyang. Little Leverage The failure of the Security Council to enforce its own resolutions is both a travesty and a testament that there are often drawbacks to relying on multilateral bodies to be the primary enforcer of efforts to prohibit or sanction undesirable activities. Considering the dim chances of strong action by the Security Council, the U.S. should seek to use other levers to pressure North Korea. Unfortunately, aside from Security Council actions and financial sanctions like those applied by the U.S. and allied countries to good effect in the past, such levers are few and far between. By its own choice, North Korea is an isolated country that strictly controls the activities of international organizations and non-governmental organizations operating in its borders. Actions that might lead another country to consider modifying its behavior have little impact on North Korea. For instance, one of North Korea's few links with the international community is the extensive provision of food assistance. North Korea has been dependent on international food assistance since the 1990s, and the World Food Program estimates that nearly 9 million people (over a third of the North Korean population) require food aid.[1] However, the barbaric indifference of the North Korean government to the suffering of its own people makes this an unlikely point of pressure: North Korea has shown little hesitation in letting its citizens starve to make political points. Indeed, in March 2009, months before an ongoing aid agreement between the U.S. and North Korea was due to expire, the North Korean government abruptly informed the U.S. that it would no longer accept food assistance and ordered five non-governmental organizations involved in distributing the food aid to leave the country.[2] The UNDP Lever One possible lever, however, is to reverse the January 2009 decision of the U.N. Development Program (UNDP) to return to North Korea. UNDP originally suspended its North Korean activities after information provided by whistleblowers to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations led the U.S. to question the organization about its practices and activities. Based on the information it received, the U.S. initiated an investigation that "uncovered sloppy personnel practices that gave North Korean officials access to sensitive information; poor oversight of funds, including some diverted to Pyongyang's pockets; and illegal transfers of dual-use technology."[3] The information gleaned from these inquiries and subsequent media attention led the UNDP executive board to suspend its activities in North Korea in March 2007. The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs conducted its own investigation into the activities of the UNDP in North Korea and in a January 2008 report confirmed that deficiencies in UNDP rules, procedures, and management permitted North Korea to dictate the composition of UNDP staff, access hard currency, and avoid standard monitoring procedures for projects and financial transactions. An independent audit commissioned by UNDP[4] and released in May 2008 similarly confirmed "how routinely, and systematically, the agency disregarded U.N. regulations on how it conducted itself in Kim Jong-Il's brutal dictatorship, passing on millions of dollars to the regime in the process."[5] Resumption of UNDP Activities After securing assurances from UNDP on a number of measures to prevent further mismanagement,[6] the UNDP executive board voted in January 2009 to resume activities in North Korea.[7] The reforms implemented range from ineffectual to, potentially, substantive improvements. One ineffectual reform is the process for employing locals. The report acknowledges that "no private labour market exists in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," so UNDP will now be able to choose among three hand-selected DPRK candidates for a job instead of just one. Among the more substantive changes, UNDP: Will not permit "cash advances to the Government"; Will "have unhindered access to project sites, as necessary for the implementation, monitoring and oversight of its programmes"; "Will verify delivery of all equipment to project sites"; and Will "ensure that international personnel conduct an annual physical verification of project equipment against inventories." To the extent that the executive board enforces these changes, they are welcome. In the past, however, vigilance has not been the board's strong suit. In contrast to willingly repudiating food aid already in the pipeline, the government of North Korea values resumed UNDP activities. Pyongyang protested the suspension of UNDP activities in March 2007 and pressed for their resumption in 2008. It is easy to see why. Under the previous UNDP arrangement, the government was able to circumvent the U.N.'s anti-proliferation sanctions and secure "dual-use" technology (including computers, software, satellite-receiving equipment, and spectrometers) that could be used for its nuclear and military programs. Pyongyang was able to launder funds using UNDP accounts, and UNDP staff concealed evidence of North Korean efforts to circulate counterfeit $100 bills. With the only real check on future misuse of UNDP programs and funds a historically cavalier UNDP executive board--now unhelpfully chaired by Iran--Pyongyang likely and reasonably expects to make good use of UNDP in the future. Hurting the Government, Not the People Suspending the recently renewed UNDP program in North Korea would signal displeasure from the international community and is a step that could likely be made with few programmatic consequences, since UNDP activities have only just resumed. Most importantly, the seven UNDP projects,[8]unlike the food aid that was repudiated by Pyongyang, cannot reasonably be argued to immediately relieve the suffering of those most affected by the depredations of the North Korean government--the people of North Korea. The decision to renew UNDP activities in North Korea sent precisely the wrong signal earlier this year by rewarding a government that has demonstrated little willingness to cooperate with the international community or take steps to reduce the suffering of it own citizens. Failing to suspend UNDP activities in the wake of North Korea's recent defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions would only compound the error. Brett D. Schaefer is Jay Kingham Fellow in International Regulatory Affairs in the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, a division of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies, at The Heritage Foundation. [1]"North Korea Refuses U.S. Food Aid," BBC, March 18, 2009, athttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7949785.stm (April 7, 2009). [2]The U.S. government and the North Korean government reached an agreement in June 2008 wherein the U.S. would donate 500,000 metric tons of food to North Korea, of which 80 percent would be distributed by the World Food Program and 20 percent by non-governmental organizations. [3]Editorial, "Return to Pyongyang: A Reform Lesson at the U.N., of All Places,"The Wall Street Journal, January 29, 2009, at http://online. wsj.com/article/SB123318920435726765.html (April 7, 2009). [4]Miklos Nemeth, Chander M. Vasudev, and Mary Ann Wyrsch (External Independent Investigative Review Panel), "Confidential Report on United Nations Development Programme Activities in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 1999-2007," United Nations Development Programme, May 31, 2008, athttp://www.undp.org/dprk/docs/EIIRP_Final_Report_31 %20May.pdf (April 7, 2009). [5]George Russell, "Report Shows U.N. Development Program Violated U.N. Law, Routinely Passed on Millions to North Korean Regime," Fox News, June 12, 2008, athttp://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,365676,00.html (April 7, 2009). [6]Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme and of the United Nations Population Fund, "Proposed Measures for the Resumption of Programme Operations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," December 12, 2008, at http://www.undp.org/execbrd/word/dp 09-8.doc (April 7, 2009). [7]KBS World Radio, "UNDP to Resume NK Projects in March," January 23, 2009, athttp://english.kbs.co.kr/news/newsview_sub.php?menu=8&key= 2009012313 (April 7, 2009). [8]The seven projects are a sustainable rural energy development program, improved seed production for sustainable agriculture, strengthening of the food and agriculture information system, reduction of post-harvest losses for food security, small wind energy promotion, statistics for the Millennium Development Goals/quality of life report for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and support project for environment program. See United Nations Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme and of the United Nations Population Fund, "Proposed Measures."

UN Procurement Under Fire, Ignored by CEB, Rot Starts From Within

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis

UNITED NATIONS, April 6 -- Scandals in the UN system's procurement operations arose last month and this on Capitol Hill but not, apparently, in the system's Chief Executives Board meeting convened yesterday in Paris by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. This despite a Joint Inspection Unit report that the UN purported to take seriously, which called for CEB action.

   Flaws in UN Peacekeeping's procurement, including the $250 million no-bid contract to Lockheed Martin's PAE in Darfur, came up in a negative vote cast on the nomination as deputy Homeland Security chief of Jane Holl Lute, that contract's main promoter in the UN.

   In a March 11 meeting behind closed doors with the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Ban was asked about the UN's transparency and accountability, including in procurement. Recent scandals include not only systemic flaws on contracting, but specific instances of continued payments to the so-called Indian Enron Satyam and erasure of a $3 million entry in the UN Procurement database, and contracting with firms like Petrocelli Electric, whose principal has just been indicted for bribery, and National Mobile Television, which is going bankrupt, as Inner City Press reported over the weekend and confirmed at Monday's noon briefing.

   Just before Ban's DC trip, when Inner City Press askedBan's Deputy Spokesperson Marie Okabe about a damningJoint Inspection Unit report on UN procurement which had just become public, Ms. Okabe responded by reading aloud a statement that, among other things, the report

"does not always provide a clear indication as to which UN organization the findings pertain to.  Nevertheless, of the 22 recommendations issued by the JIU, the following applied to the UN Secretariat.  Eight were already in place in the UN Secretariat prior to the Note.  Three would require an Enterprise Resource Planning system. Three would require coordination with the high-level Committee of Management.  Five are accepted, and three would require additional clarification from the Inspectors as their recommendation is too vague. It should also be noted that the amounts in question relating to the corporate consultancies are a highly specialized element of procurement.  This represents an average of $15 million expenditure, as indicated on page 5 of the Note... Don’t ask me any more questions, because this is all I have."

  Inner City Press asked, "Is it possible to know which of the five recommendations the UN is actually going to act on?"

  The UN's Marie Okabe answered, "I have just said I have nothing further on this."

  Later, while Inner City Press was in Washington covering Ban Ki-moon's trip there and subsequently controversy, including admonition by President Barack Obama's spokesman Robert Gibbs, Ms. Okabe's office e-mailed Inner City Press a more detailed answer.

Subj: Further information re: your questions on the JIU report
From: unspokesperson-donotreply [at] un.org
To: Inner City Press
Sent: 3/11/2009 12:25:13 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time

The recommendations indicated below have been accepted by the United Nations Secretariat. As indicated yesterday, it should be noted that the UN Secretariat disagrees with several findings contained in the Note. Due to the lack of clarity in the Note, it was not possible to ascertain which findings related to which UN Organization. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the UN Secretariat agrees with the spirit of the recommendations reflected below and will take steps to implement.

Recommendations (as numbered in the Note):

The executive heads of the United Nations system organizations should:

 #(2) establish procedures to record, monitor, follow up, and evaluate the outcome of consultancy reports.

#(3) The executive heads of the United Nations system organizations should ensure that there are clear policies and procedures in place to guide staff under what circumstances to resort to corporate consultancy services.

#(4) develop an effective monitoring and reporting mechanism for waivers of competition.

#(8) provide clear guidelines and sensitize personnel for the proper documentation of the procurement process, and monitor its implementation.

# (17) ensure that the proper application of performance evaluations are enforced and monitored.

  An Inner City Press procurement expert finds this Secretariat's response to the JIU report on procurement misleading, a rapid response intended to cover up the report. In the actual JIU report, the 22 recommendations are addressed equally to "The executive heads of the United Nations system organizations."  It was done that way because, in the view of the JIU, all UN organizations have similar procurement problems.  

CEB meeting on April 5: "something smells in this temple," procurement ignored?

The note never singles out any individual organizations, except where it collected statistics. And only 15 Organizations responded to their questionnaire.
Page 2 of the report (in the introduction) states that in creating the report, the JIU inspectors examined 72 case files, including 26 -- or 36% -- from U.N. Secretariat procurement.

When they say the Secretariat had 8 recommendations in place before the note, that is a common UN way of obscuring things, since they don’t tell you which 8. Or when they had systems put in place. Or whether the JIU agreed that they had done things effectively. Or whether their remedies were more than nominal. One indication that they are covering up is the number of Secretariat case files that the JIU examined. U.N. compliance with reports like this is always done in this fashion, so no outsider can judge whether they did anything or not. But the report, as mentioned above, never singles out the Secretariat.

To say that three of the JIU recommendations would require coordination by the High Level Committee on Management means that it would require action by all the United Nations system organizations, as a whole. The HLCM is a network of all the Under Secretaries General for Management, right under the executive heads, etc. In other words, the Secretariat is admitting that it is party to at least three problems that require system-wide resolution.

The Secretariat says that three recommendations involve Enterprise Resource Planning systems. That is a very strong indicator that what the JIU says about record keeping, lack of evaluations, horrible contract management, etc., applies to the Secretariat. Because that is what the ERPs are for. We do note in the story that several organizations are putting in place Enterprise Resource Planning systems, which are supposed to be a help. Since the ERPs are being managed through consultancies, not only are there sins in record keeping, but the very sins that the report says also belong to the procurement system as a whole are very likely being perpetrated in these acquisitions.

What the Secretariat means by corporate consultancies being only $15 million per year on average is not clear. There is no mention of $15 million on page 5 of the note, and the average of consultancy expenditures across the responding institutions is $21.2 million. But the report also says, at the top of page 5, that 89% of the total outlay went to three organizations, which would total $283 million. For the Secretariat, the total is $76,037,769. If you average that out over 5 years, you get about $15 million annually. But there is no need to average it out, because a table on page 5 lays out the exact numbers for each reporting organization. The Secretariat just doesn’t want you to look at it.

The reason they don’t  want you to look at it is that the bulk of Secretariat consultancy procurement consists of two big numbers, $26 million and $33.3 million, done in 2003 and 2005 respectively. These are big expenditures for SOMETHING, possibly the budgeting for IT or something similar. The secretariat wants you to think this is a drop in the bucket. But it is precisely spending for consultancies involved with information management, restructuring, etc. that are supposedly the improvement of the organization. And they are also the kind of procurements that the first 13 pages of this report criticize severely.

   The report called for CEB action. On March 20, when Inner City Press asked about what some call the Secretariat's JIU coup in choose a new head of the unit, Ban's Deputy spokesperson tried to say it was the March 10 question about the JIU's criticism, including recommendation for CEB action. On April 6, Inner City Press asked

Inner City Press:  At the CEB meeting, was the procurement report by the Joint Inspection Unit that came out, was that discussed?

Spokesperson Michele Montas:  I don’t have any details on what was discussed; I was not there, so I cannot tell you whether there were specifics.  I think they actually focused a lot more on the G-20 meeting that had taken place.  I don’t know how far they went in specific issues like the one you are mentioning.

Question:  I have a procurement question.  It’s become clear that, number one, the electrical contractor for the UN, Petrocelli Electric, the founder has been indicted in the Southern District of New York for bribery.  At the same time, the operator of UN Television, National Mobile Television Venue Services Group, is basically going bankrupt.  Everything is being sold and they’re trying to move their people into the basement area as a final refuge.  How can it be that these contracts were entered into with companies in one case being indicted, and in the other case going bankrupt?

Spokesperson:  Well, in specific cases, when the contracts were entered, of course, there was no indictment and there were no suspicion that there were any wrongdoings.  In terms of the second contract, of course, we can look into this.  There are several companies going under and we cannot predict in advance which company will go under.  I can try to get more information for you from the Procurement Office, but, at this point, as I said, we cannot predict what will happen when we sign contracts. 

  Later in the briefing

Spokesperson:  Matthew, I just got your answer.  It was just brought to me. The contract with the Petrocelli Electric Company covers overall electrical installations, operations, maintenance, alterations and major projects, and remains in place even though the UN has suspended the vendor from participating in any further procurement activity.  That’s what I have for you.  And we’re also aware of the financial difficulties faced by VSG’s parent company, NMT.  The Organization is dealing with the situation in consultation with the VSG management.  So I got your answer pretty fast for you. 

   Fast but is anything fixed? And so it goes at the UN.

While North Korea build $35 Million rocket, UNDP vows to build North "capacities" in good governance

This morning addressing a crowd in Prague, Barack Obama said: 

Just this morning, we were reminded again of why we need a new and more rigorous approach to address this threat. North Korea broke the rules once again by testing a rocket that could be used for long range missiles. This provocation underscores the need for action -- not just this afternoon at the U.N. Security Council, but in our determination to prevent the spread of these weapons.

Rules must be binding. Violations must be punished. Words must mean something. The world must stand together to prevent the spread of these weapons. Now is the time for a strong international response -- (applause) -- now is the time for a strong international response, and North Korea must know that the path to security and respect will never come through threats and illegal weapons. All nations must come together to build a stronger, global regime. And that's why we must stand shoulder to shoulder to pressure the North Koreans to change course.

But while Kim Jong-il don't care about Koreans starving to death, rogue United Nations Agencies like UNDP and WFP claim that they need more funds to feed the north korean people and save north korean kids. 

Why should international community feed North Koreans, when its own government don't care about them? 

Why should american tax-payers money go to "assist" North Korean regime who defies the laws of earth and international community and starve its own people to death while building rockets and nuclear bombs? 

United States should demand an immediate withdrawal of all United Nations and International assistance from North KOrea. North Korea people will only rise against the dictator when they really understand that they got no other options. By "assisting" with a piece of bread the Koreans, we are only extending their agony under the tyrant Kim Jong-il. 

Time has come to say NO to UNDP and other rogue United Nations Agencies who assist dictators like this one. 

Time has come for a regime change and the world to overthrow Kim Jong-il and its communist regime.  

UN Council Sunday at 3 to Meet on N. Korean Missile, Ban on Way to Turkey

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Flash

UNITED NATIONS, April 4-5, midnight -- On North Korea's missile launch, the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Sunday, April 5 at 3 p.m., the Council's Mexican presidency told Inner City Press on Saturday at midnight:

Subj: When will the SC meeting on DPRK missile be?
From: Mexican Mission to UN
To: Inner City Press
Sent: 4/5/2009 12:05:01 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time

Matthew,

I can confirm that we got it. The meeting will convene tomorrow at 3PM. Obviously, Amb. Heller has been in close contact with Amb. Takasu from Japan on this matter. See you tomorrow.

  Just after Tokyo announced that North Korea had, in fact, launched its rocket, Japan's mission to the UN sent the Press this notice, reported online minutes later by Inner City Press:

Today at 22:53, H.E. Mr. Yukio TAKASU, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations requested the President of the Security Council by letter (attached) to convene an urgent meeting of the Security Council to consider the launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, under the Council's agenda item entitled "Non-proliferation / Democratic People's
Republic of Korea".

The time and date of the urgent meeting will be communicated later on. Immediately after the meeting, H.E. Mr. Yukio TAKASU will speak at the Security Council's stakeout.

Please note in advance that for any further inquiry by phone or e-mail on the above-mentioned matter, we will not be able to make any comment.
Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations

    Japan's letter is being put online by Inner City Press here.

  A visit by Inner City Press to the UN Security Council at 11 p.m. found the door locked with a "D" bicycle lock, a food vending machine blinking in the corner. 

  
Mexico's Claude Heller: has letter, meeting set

  While word went out of an emergency Council meeting for Sunday morning, there was grumbling about the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon of South Korea. When firstasked about the impending launch by Inner City Press, Ban's spokesperson had no comment. 

  More recently, when on April 1 Inner City Press asked for comment on North Korea's imprisonment as human shield of two journalists, Ban's spokesperson said it is being monitored, but had no comment:

Inner City Press: Does Ban Ki-moon have any, or does the UN in general, [reaction] to these two journalists that were imprisoned in North Korea and are being, some say held as human shields or whatever, are going to be put on trial.  What’s the UN's response, statement on that?

Spokesperson Michele Montas:  I don’t have a statement at this point.

  And now?

And then came this pre-written response:

Subj: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on DPRK launch

From: unspokesperson-donotreply [at] un.org

Sent: 4/5/2009 12:49:44 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on the DPRK

The Secretary-General regrets that, against strong international appeal, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) went ahead with its planned launch. Given the volatility in the region, as well as a stalemate in interaction among the concerned parties, such a launch is not conducive to efforts to promote dialogue, regional peace and stability.  The Secretary-General urges DPRK to comply with relevant Security Council resolutions, and all countries concerned to focus on ways to build confidence and restore dialogue, including the early resumption of the Six-Party Talks. The Secretary-General will lend his full support to these efforts.

  Click here for a new YouTube video, mostly UN Headquarters footage, about civilian deaths in Sri Lanka.

Japan Requests UN Council Meeting Minutes After N. Korea Missile Flies

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis

UNITED NATIONS, April 4 -- Minutes after Tokyo announced that North Korea had, in fact, launched its rocket, Japan's mission to the UN sent the Press this notice:

Today at 22:53, H.E. Mr. Yukio TAKASU, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations requested the President of the Security Council by letter (attached) to convene an urgent meeting of the Security Council to consider the launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, under the Council's agenda item entitled "Non-proliferation / Democratic People's
Republic of Korea".

The time and date of the urgent meeting will be communicated later on. Immediately after the meeting, H.E. Mr. Yukio TAKASU will speak at the Security Council's stakeout.

Please note in advance that for any further inquiry by phone or e-mail on the above-mentioned matter, we will not be able to make any comment.
Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations

    Japan's letter is being put online by Inner City Press here.

  A visit by Inner City Press to the UN Security Council found the door locked with a "D" bicycle lock, a food vending machine blinking in the corner. 

  
UN's Ban and Japan's Takasu, missile and Council reaction not shown

  While word went out of an emergency Council meeting for Sunday morning, there was grumbling about the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon of South Korea. When firstasked about the impending launch by Inner City Press, Ban's spokesperson had no comment. 

  More recently, when on April 1 Inner City Press asked for comment on North Korea's imprisonment as human shield of two journalists, Ban's spokesperson said it is being monitored, but had no comment:

Inner City Press: Does Ban Ki-moon have any, or does the UN in general, [reaction] to these two journalists that were imprisoned in North Korea and are being, some say held as human shields or whatever, are going to be put on trial.  What’s the UN's response, statement on that?

Spokesperson Michele Montas:  I don’t have a statement at this point.

  And now?

And then came this pre-written response:

Subj: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on DPRK launch

From: unspokesperson-donotreply [at] un.org

Sent: 4/5/2009 12:49:44 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on the DPRK

The Secretary-General regrets that, against strong international appeal, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) went ahead with its planned launch. Given the volatility in the region, as well as a stalemate in interaction among the concerned parties, such a launch is not conducive to efforts to promote dialogue, regional peace and stability.  The Secretary-General urges DPRK to comply with relevant Security Council resolutions, and all countries concerned to focus on ways to build confidence and restore dialogue, including the early resumption of the Six-Party Talks. The Secretary-General will lend his full support to these efforts.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unsc2dprk040409.html

UN's Administrative costs of managing donors money skyrocket to 13%

Yes the United Nations is charging donors for managing their contributions for the world poorest a swapping 13%.

For every dollar that world tax-payers contribute towards foreign/external aid, United Nations will get 13 cents for its bureaucratic, corrupt and criminal machinery. 

While the world leaders call for more REGULATIONS in Finance system, they forgetting that the only way to assist the poor countries is to provide direct contribution to them in a form of loans either thru IMF or World Bank. Channeling funds thru United Nations or its agencies not only will not help the poor, but will worsen their situation since the money for sure will only make it to the local government cronies or UN corrupt machinery.

SAY STOP TO THE UNITED NATIONS 

CALL YOUR MP AND SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

U.N.'s Participation in Earth Hour Is Full of Hot Air, Critics Say

By Joshua Rhett Miller

In what it's calling a "vote for the future of planet Earth," the World Wildlife Fund wants every light in the world to go dark for one hour on Saturday as a symbolic gesture to call for action on climate change.

It's called Earth Hour — and among the places where the lights will go out are the Eiffel Tower, the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing, the Pyramids of Giza and Niagara Falls.

And, for the first time in the event's three-year existence, the New York headquarters of the United Nations will also go dark, a move officials say will save $102, a figure that fluctuated wildly from its whopping initial estimate of $81,000 when requested from U.N. officials. After the story appeared on FOXNews.com, a spokeswoman called back to say their estimate was incorrect and the savings was $24,000, but then called back a third time to say it was really $102.

Earth Hour — 8:30 to 9:30 p.m in every time zone on the planet — promises to be “the largest demonstration of public concern about climate change ever attempted," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said earlier this month.

Click here for video.

But critics say the U.N.'s participation in the event is a "self-serving," thinly guised "gimmick" to sway public opinion ahead of the U.N.-led conference in Copenhagen in December at which world leaders will seek to approve a new global warming treaty.

"It's like a lot of what the U.N. does — it's a gimmick, it's empty, it's shallow and it's not going to lead to anything," said Thomas Kilgannon, president of Freedom Alliance, a Virginia-based nonprofit organization founded by Oliver North.

"The bigger problem is that they're doing this leading up to the conference in December. They're trying to consolidate their authority to push their agenda."

WWF organizers say nearly 2,900 cities worldwide will participate in Earth Hour, with at least 250 American cities among them, including Chicago, Dallas, Miami and San Francisco. Plenty of celebrities have signed on to the cause, including musicians Alanis Morissette, Melissa Etheridge and Wynonna Judd, as well as actors Edward Norton, Cate Blanchett, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick.

And, of course, the United Nations.

"It's an attention-grabbing gesture that they expect to pay off for them big time," Claudia Rosett, a journalist-in-residence at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, told FOXNews.com. "For the U.N., climate change is the biggest cash cow of all time. They expect it to pay off for them big-time at the enormous and unaffordable expense of this and future generations."

Critics like Rosett say the U.N.'s role in Earth Hour is merely the public face of its much larger push to reorder the world's economy with new taxes, tariffs and subsidies for greenhouse gas abatement.

Click here for the details on the U.N.'s new plan to combat climate change.

"It's an immensely destructive gesture," Rosett said. "The U.N. has been busy manipulating and politicizing the science on this for years.... The whole climate obsession has the potential to make Oil for Food look like a drop in the ocean."

Based on average energy consumption levels from 2006-08, U.N. spokeswoman Vannina Maestracci said the world body's New York headquarters will save $102 while observing Earth Hour. Maestracci initially estimated the savings would be $81,000 before revising it to $24,300. She ultimately estimated the savings would be just $102 for the darkened hour.

Though she stressed that the U.N. is just one of many institutions across the world observing the event, she acknowledged it's a "strong symbol" in the climate change debate.

"It sends a strong message that we need a new agreement on climate change," Maestracci told FOXNews.com. "It's symbolic. It's part of an effort to mobilize support."

Whatever the savings, Rosett accused U.N. officials of distorting facts to make its participation in the event appear more impactful.

"That's a marvelous figure," Rosett said of the initial estimate. "If turning off the lights of the United Nations will save $81,000 an hour, it would be a great idea to keep them off every day of the year."

WWF spokeswoman Leslie Aun said Earth Hour will serve as a dramatic "visual message that the people of the world" are concerned about climate change.

"This is a reminder to our leaders around the world that people care about this issue," she said. "People told us last year they loved feeling connected to something big."

Asked to estimate how much energy could be saved worldwide during the 60 minutes of darkness, Aun replied, "We don't even calculate the emissions that we save in that hour. That's not the point."

But Bjorn Lomborg, author of "The Skeptical Environmentalist" and director of the Denmark-based think tank Copenhagen Consensus Centre, said the event could actually increase emissions.

"When asked to extinguish electricity, people turn to candlelight," Lomborg wrote in an op-ed in The Australian. "Candles seem natural, but are almost 100 times less efficient than incandescent light globes, and more than 300 times less efficient than fluorescent lights. If you use one candle for each extinguished globe, you're essentially not cutting CO2 at all, and with two candles you'll emit more CO2. Moreover, candles produce indoor air pollution 10 to 100 times the level of pollution caused by all cars, industry and electricity production."

Dr. Kenneth Green, a resident scholar on environmental science at the American Enterprise Institute, said Earth Hour shouldn't even be considered an environmental activity, since there will be no tangible benefits.

"If the U.N. is trying to show it's really committed to the Earth," he said, "they should scrap the giant fleet of black limousines they drive around in and buy hybrid cars in the United States to help the economy of the country they're in.

"That's the real tragedy in what this symbolizes. They’ve taken the one thing that symbolizes man's advancement over animals — that is, man's ability to create light — and they've turned it into a bad thing.

"It's the reversal of the Enlightenment. This is 'the Disenlightenment.'"

CEB meets in Paris in total secrecy, JIU' fate at stake, shrinking resources and greater skepticism from Member States to be discussed

United Nation's Joint Inspection Unit fate is at stake today, while top UN managers meet in total secrecy in Paris. 

Staff close to CEB (UN's Chief Executive Board) confirm that Ban Ki-moon and many others are frustrated with JIU's damaging reports in past year, and are calling for a total overhaul of the body, despite the fact that CEB has no say on it and JIU is mandated and its member elected directly from UN's General Assembly and its member states.

Today CEB is expected to approve a greater role for United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG), who is an ad-hoc parallel structure created from UNDP and a handful of other UN Agencies to counter-balance JIU and take away from UN Member States their last ability to exercise any form of oversight, which they were to accomplish thru JIU. 

Another important element to be discussed is Ban Ki-moon's failure to convince and grab a piece from G20 cake, which world leaders allocated it all to IMF. Ban Ki-moon's performance and his inability to pull together convincing UN reforms, combined with major corruption and mismanagement practices inside the UN, led donors to stay away from United Nations, and focus rather in strengthening the role of IMF and World Bank. 

At G20 many world leaders expressed their will to rather give more recognition to World Bank in development aid agenda, as well as put Bank in driving seat in issues like Carbon Trading and Environment. 

This is a huge blow to Ban Ki-moon and his newly appointed G20-Advisor Mr. Kemal Dervis (former head of UNDP).

Helen Clark prepares to farewell NZ

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 8:03p.m.

 

On April 12 Helen Clark will take over as head of the United Nations development programme and what will be the most senior position ever held by a New Zealander at the UN.

This afternoon she received a standing ovation from political friends and foes alike and for, that partisan bear pit set aside its rivalries and celebrated a politician who was prime minister for nine years, Labour leader for 15 and an MP for almost three decades.

Campbell Live spoke to Helen Clark in Labour's caucus room at Parliament this afternoon.

UN Officials For $10 Tell How to Get UN Jobs, UNA-USA Asked of $1.6 Billion

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis

UNITED NATIONS, April 2 -- How much is getting a job at the UN worth? The question is raised tonight by an event at the UN Association of New York, in which $10 admission is being charged to hear to UN officials speak. The flier says, "Are you intrigued by how to get a job at the United Nations... Join for a $25 introductory membership and attend for free." Otherwise, admission is $10.

  Inner City Press has written to both the UN Association of New York and to the larger UN Association of the USA (UNA-USA) of which it is a part, asking on deadline how thisdoes not violate General Assembly Resolution 92(I), which provides that

"Members of the United Nations should take such legislative or other appropriate measures as are necessary to prevent the use, without authorization by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and in particular for commercial purposes by means of trademarks or commercial labels, of the emblem, the official seal and the name of the United Nations, and of abbreviations of that name through the use of its initial letters"

  To charge admission to hear UN officials tell how to get UN jobs clearly seems to a commercial purpose. 

UN's Ban at UNA-USA, authorization of $10 cover charge for jobs not shown

  The two UN officials, Nelly Keita and John Ericson, are part of the Office of Human Resources Management, which in turn is part of the Department of Management, headed by Angela Kane. Ms. Kane has previously said that she does not have time to answer such questions, to ask them at the UN's noon briefing.

   At a recent noon briefing, UN spokesperson Michele Montas was asked the basis for the use by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his officials of a figure of $1.6 billion as how much the U.S. owes to the UN. Ms. Montas told the reporter that she had the information upstairs, then from there said to ask UNA-USA.

   So Inner City Press, along with the request on deadline to explain the $10 (or $25) charge to hear UN officials, has asked for support for and details about the $1.6 billion figure. It was used as Ban called the U.S. the "biggest deadbeat"while reading from talking points prepared, Inner City Press has been told, by the UN Information Center in Washington.

  When answers are provided, they will be published on this site.

With Clark at UNDP, Melkert Is "Expected" to Leave, Dervis' Stealth Service

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis

UNITED NATIONS, March 31 -- A game of musical chairs has begun in the UN system, starting with today's confirmation of New Zealand's former prime minister Helen Clark as the replacement for Turkey's Kemal Dervis at the top of the UN Development Program. Hours before the General Assembly meeting to cap Clark's selection, it emerged that Dervis had quietly been named a Special Adviser to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for the upcoming G-20 meeting in London. 

  The UN had never announced Dervis' appointment, but when Inner City Press asked about a quote from Dervis in the Turkish Press about the appointment, Ban's spokeswoman Michele Montas confirmed it. Video here, from Minute 20:26. Like the ill-fated appointment of Canadian diplomat Robert Fowler as Ban's envoy to Niger, where he and a colleague have been kidnapped, it was never announced. Inner City Press asked, are there other stealth envoys? While the answerseemed to be "no," in today's UN one never knows.

 An African diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity to Inner City Press Tuesday afternoon moments before the GA vote on Clark, said it was unfortunate that no expert from a developing country had been found, even to be a serious candidate for consideration by Ban Ki-moon. He added, "hopefully for the deputy post at UNDP." When Inner City Press asked if that meant current Dutch deputy Ad Melkert would be leaving, the diplomat said that is to be expected. Especially after Ban Ki-moon's still-protested ouster of Tanzanian Anna Tibaijuka from the top spot at the UN in Nairobi in favor of Achim Steiner,  from now on "if the top spot goes to the developed world, the deputy should be from the developing world," he said.

Helen Clark and George W. Bush, circa 2002, Dervis and UNDP not shown

While a newspaper in New Zealand put Clark's prospective pay at $500,000, by Inner City Press' calculation it is $287,000 -- the $189,000 that all Under Secretaries General make, plus a 68% "New York post adjustment" of over $98,000. There's talk of housing subsidy and “other perks,” with a reference to the former director of the UN Millennium Campaign Evelyn Herfkens, who said she couldn't live or entertain appropriately in New York on an Assistant Secretary General's salary, and so illegally took housing subsidy from the Dutch government. Exposed for violating UN rules, she left her post, only to re-surface as a consult or special envoy, still getting Daily Sustenance Allowance and other perks. 

  Meanwhile, UNDP still declines to state how much it pays each member of Somalia's parliament, in a purported response to precisely this question, referred to it by the UN's envoy to Somalia. Other long standing questions remain unanswered. One UNDP insider wondered if Helen Clark, whose husband has said he will not be moving to New York, will be part of the calculation of Ms. Clark's benefits. Watch this site.

Footnotes: In an "only at the UN" moment, at a reception at the Libyan mission on the eve of Clark's confirmation, excited word circulated thatClark had while prime minister criticized Israel for its (mis) use of New Zealand passports, several missions' level of support for Clark went up....

UNDP, which run democracy and voting programs, for example in Kenya, put out a press release on Tuesday saying the UN "General Assembly this morning unanimously approved Helen Clark of New Zealand as the new Administrator." Apparently UNDP jumped the gun, since the vote was held in the afternoon...

While Dervis never explained why he left UNDP -- and now resurfaces still working for the UN -- Turkish sources maintain it was “family reasons,” that his wife did not like him traveling so much. Now he has three jobs, one in Turkey, one at Brookings in Washington and, quietly, with the UN. Few ever truly leave the UN: as they say of a certain type of five cent coin, the UN musical chairs never stop.