UN Says Ban Will Accept Alleged War Criminal As His Senior Adviser on Peacekeeping

Sunday January 29, 2012
Matthew Russell Lee Special to Salem-News.com

An alleged war criminal appointed without any push back by Ban Ki-moon to Ban's Senior Advisory Group on Peacekeeping Operations: this is Ban's UN.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon'

(UNITED NATIONS) - Sri Lankan alleged war criminal Shavendra Silva will be accepted onto UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Senior Advisory Group on Peacekeeping Operation, as Ban disclaims any responsibility and will do nothing to stop it, Ban spokesperson informed Inner City Press on January 28.

Acts of Shavendra Silva's battalion in 2009 are described in the UN's own Panel of Experts report on Sri Lanka, and lawsuits have been filed against Silva for war crimes.

On January 27, Inner City Press asked and wrote that in other circumstances, such as Syria's bid to be its regional group's representative on the UN Human Rights Council, efforts have been made at the UN including by the Secretariat to avoid or reverse nominations like this one which would be an embarrassment and make a mockery of the UN's stated principles.

After Inner City Press asked at the UN noon briefing on January 27 if Ban would say or do anything, spokesman Martin Nesirky said "Matthew, don't press your luck" and that he "might have something a little later."

When nothing came by close of business that day, Inner City Press put the question directly to UN Peacekeeping, including chief Herve Ladsous of France and Susana Malcorra, reportedly slated to be promote by Ban to his Deputy Secretary General,

So far neither UN Peacekeeping official has responded with any comment on how appointing an alleged war criminal to the Senior Advisor Group would impact the credibility of DPKO or DFS.

Back on October 24, Malcorra told the General Assembly's committee on peacekeeping that Ban

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"had taken steps to fulfil his mandate to create a Senior Advisory Group comprising five eminent persons of relevant experience; five representatives from major troop countries; five representatives from major financial contributors; and one member from each regional group... If the Group was to be appointed, it would be important for Member States to complete their responses to the Secretary-General’s request for nominations."

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Malcorra asked member states to send Ban "nominations," which to some implies that Ban did not have to accept any and all names submitted, for example that of an alleged war criminal. Would Ban similar put on his Senior Advisory Group the chief of Sudan's military, who has been indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court?Read Full Article