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Ban Ki-Moon's shame: 'Why is UN chief against Gaza aid convoys?' - Arab News


Blog by Stuart Littlewood at Arab News:
Why is UN chief against Gaza aid convoys?

So just what did the secretary-general of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, think he was doing last week when he attempted to scupper the latest humanitarian effort by sending a letter to governments around the Mediterranean calling on them to use their influence to discourage any more flotillas such as the one due to sail toward the end of June, which he says "carry the potential to escalate into violent conflict"?

There is, of course, nothing potentially violent about an unarmed mercy ship. There is everything potentially violent about an illegal naval blockade that the United Nations should have squelched long ago.

A press release from Ban’s office said that flotillas were not helpful in resolving the basic economic problems in Gaza, though the situation there remains unsustainable, and that assistance and goods destined to Gaza should be channeled through legitimate crossings and established channels. No, Mr Ban. What has been unhelpful in resolving the basic economic problems in Gaza is the yellow-bellied failure of the UN to discharge its duty to implement its own resolutions and enforce humanitarian law. The secretary-general ought to remind himself of Security Council Resolution 1860 (2009), which emphasizes "the need to ensure sustained and regular flow of goods and people through the Gaza crossings" and calls for "the unimpeded provision and distribution throughout Gaza of humanitarian assistance, including of food, fuel and medical treatment."

“Unimpeded”, Mr Ban, as in unimpeded. Do we need to buy a megaphone? So what is this talk about using "legitimate crossings and established channels"? Everyone knows that those channels, operated by the criminal blockader itself, are designed to impede the flow of everything and everyone to and from Gaza.It's bad enough that US President Barack Obama is busy rewriting international law, circumventing inconvenient UN resolutions and trying to give his Zionist friends the green light to keep the Palestinian lands and resources they have already stolen and create opportunities for them to grab more. But who are you working for, Mr. Ban Ki-moon? Why aren't you, as secretary-general, exhorting member states around the Mediterranean to do their duty under the UN Charter and ensure that the aid gets through to Gaza direct?

I hear that back home in Korea Ban’s nickname is "Ban-chusa”, tagging him as a blasted pen-pusher. Some say he’s noted for his subservience. In other words, he’s a yes-man. As if we hadn't enough of them already.

If you cannot uphold international law or insist on compliance with the raft of UN resolutions requiring an end to Israeli occupation and a permanent halt to interference with the Palestinian territories, Mr. Ban, you bring the UN into disrepute. You should pack your bags and clear off back to Korea.

The secretary-general’s spokesman, Martin Nesirky, sings the same tune and says that Freedom Flotillas are useless. He urges the government of Israel to take further meaningful and far-reaching steps to end the closure of Gaza, within the framework of Security Council Resolution 1860, and emphasizes that the operation of legitimate crossings must be adequate to meet the needs of Gaza's civilian population. That’s real bright when everyone and his dog knows you can "urge" Israel all you like but the regime will take no notice until it is forced to...

...A letter two months ago to my Member of Parliament about the need to protect the next Gaza flotilla from unlawful interference has gone unanswered. What arrangements were being made, I wanted to know, to defend these civilians from the sort of murderous harassment on the high seas that caused worldwide uproar last year? The Mediterranean is full of NATO ships at the moment in the service of freedom and democracy, or so we’re told. It would not surprise me if the brass hats have agreed to steer well clear of the area where Israel does its marauding and leave the Zionist extremists free to terrorize and assault the unarmed crews and passengers of a brave little fleet of mercy ships. more

— Stuart Littlewood is a businessman-turned-writer. His book, Radio Free Palestine tells of the plight of the Palestinians under Israeli occupation. For details visit www.radiofreepalestine.co.uk

(Courtesy: Redress Information & Analysis)
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