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  • Exclusive: UN Emails Show New Rapes in CAR, Ladsous' Contingents

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    Matthew Russell Lee
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    New UN Rapes In CAR Revealed in Feb 11 Emails, Ladsous' Congolese Connections By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive UNITED NATIONS, February 12 -- Amid a litany of rape charges against UN Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous, Inner City Press has exclusively obtained UN emails showing another round of sexual abuse of minors in Ouaka prefecture in the Central African Republic by UN Peacekeepers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Click here to view. The emails, dated February 11, 2016, describe at least four underage victims, two of whom were impregnated by the rapist UN peacekeepers. Middle management at the UN, further up the email chain, notes at the major of sexual abuse in CAR has been committed by the battalions from the DRC and the Republic of Congo. Well placed sources tell Inner City Press these two countries' soldiers have been in the UN MINUSCA mission nearly entirely due to Ladsous and, more outrageously, the / his French government due to its political relations with the Republic of Congo and DRC. Ladsous, as Inner City Press has reported, told Burundi's Vice President that he is "pragmatic" about human rights; even on camera, Ladsous linked the rapes to "R&R," click here for video. While Ladsous' DPKO and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Office of the Spokesperson announced that the DRC contingent would be pulled out of Bambari and CAR in late Janaury, Inner City Press is informed this never happened: they are still there. Ladsous' DPKO, and now the UN Spokesperson's Office, are engaged in misleading the press and public, and doling out what information they provide to only the friendliest media. For recent example, Inner City Press for weekly has reported on and asked about the repatriation from CAR of Burundian troops charged with abuse during the crackdown on opponents of Pierre Nkurunziza's third term. Even after Inner City Press obtained and published on February 9 proof of three repatriations, all UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric told Inner City Press is that he would seek an update. Simarily, Ladsous' lead spokesman Nick Birnback told Inner City Press DPKO would have something to say about the particular Burundian officers in CAR Inner City Press asked him about. Then Ladsous' spokespeople including Ismini Palla gave their limited confirmations to Reuters and Agence France Presse, who published it without credit or context. (Neither media reported on Ladsous linking rape to R&R). In a February email by UN official Anthony Banbury, soon to leave the UN after some heartfelt tears of outrage at peacekeepers' rapes, it is said: "We have a pack of predatory criminals and rapists, preying on young girls, under the banner of the United Nations. How can we stand by? In my view that battalion should be ordered to cease operations today, same with the RoC battalion, and be confined to camp and guarded full time so they cannot continue to abuse children. While we would pay a short-term price in terms of operations, we would gain so much in terms of the integrity and reputation of the UN, in the CAR and internationally, and we would almost certainly prevent more rapes of minor girls. We simply cannot sustain the argument that the benefit these troops are bringing to the UN and PoC is greater than the harm they are doing." What will the UN do? What will France, with new foreign minister Jean Marcc Ayrault, do? How long can Ladsous - and the Congolese contingents - remain in place? Back on January 27 asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Spokesman to confirm new allegations in the Central African Republic by Republic of Congo and DR Congo troops.. The spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, declined. But on February 4, it was confirmed. On February 11, Inner City Press exclusively reported and then asked the UN about, member states went to the UN's 38th floor to ask where Ban's response to the issues and Deschamps report is. It was due by the end of January, a

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    New UN Rapes In CAR Revealed in Feb 11 Emails, Ladsous' Congolese Connections By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive UNITED NATIONS, February 12 -- Amid a litany of rape charges against UN Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous, Inner City Press has exclusively obtained UN emails showing another round of sexual abuse of minors in Ouaka prefecture in the Central African Republic by UN Peacekeepers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Click here to view. The emails, dated February 11, 2016, describe at least four underage victims, two of whom were impregnated by the rapist UN peacekeepers. Middle management at the UN, further up the email chain, notes at the major of sexual abuse in CAR has been committed by the battalions from the DRC and the Republic of Congo. Well placed sources tell Inner City Press these two countries' soldiers have been in the UN MINUSCA mission nearly entirely due to Ladsous and, more outrageously, the / his French government due to its political relations with the Republic of Congo and DRC. Ladsous, as Inner City Press has reported, told Burundi's Vice President that he is "pragmatic" about human rights; even on camera, Ladsous linked the rapes to "R&R," click here for video. While Ladsous' DPKO and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Office of the Spokesperson announced that the DRC contingent would be pulled out of Bambari and CAR in late Janaury, Inner City Press is informed this never happened: they are still there. Ladsous' DPKO, and now the UN Spokesperson's Office, are engaged in misleading the press and public, and doling out what information they provide to only the friendliest media. For recent example, Inner City Press for weekly has reported on and asked about the repatriation from CAR of Burundian troops charged with abuse during the crackdown on opponents of Pierre Nkurunziza's third term. Even after Inner City Press obtained and published on February 9 proof of three repatriations, all UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric told Inner City Press is that he would seek an update. Simarily, Ladsous' lead spokesman Nick Birnback told Inner City Press DPKO would have something to say about the particular Burundian officers in CAR Inner City Press asked him about. Then Ladsous' spokespeople including Ismini Palla gave their limited confirmations to Reuters and Agence France Presse, who published it without credit or context. (Neither media reported on Ladsous linking rape to R&R). In a February email by UN official Anthony Banbury, soon to leave the UN after some heartfelt tears of outrage at peacekeepers' rapes, it is said: "We have a pack of predatory criminals and rapists, preying on young girls, under the banner of the United Nations. How can we stand by? In my view that battalion should be ordered to cease operations today, same with the RoC battalion, and be confined to camp and guarded full time so they cannot continue to abuse children. While we would pay a short-term price in terms of operations, we would gain so much in terms of the integrity and reputation of the UN, in the CAR and internationally, and we would almost certainly prevent more rapes of minor girls. We simply cannot sustain the argument that the benefit these troops are bringing to the UN and PoC is greater than the harm they are doing." What will the UN do? What will France, with new foreign minister Jean Marcc Ayrault, do? How long can Ladsous - and the Congolese contingents - remain in place? Back on January 27 asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Spokesman to confirm new allegations in the Central African Republic by Republic of Congo and DR Congo troops.. The spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, declined. But on February 4, it was confirmed. On February 11, Inner City Press exclusively reported and then asked the UN about, member states went to the UN's 38th floor to ask where Ban's response to the issues and Deschamps report is. It was due by the end of January, a

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    11K views3 pages

    Exclusive: UN Emails Show New Rapes in CAR, Ladsous' Contingents

    Uploaded by

    Matthew Russell Lee
    New UN Rapes In CAR Revealed in Feb 11 Emails, Ladsous' Congolese Connections By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive UNITED NATIONS, February 12 -- Amid a litany of rape charges against UN Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous, Inner City Press has exclusively obtained UN emails showing another round of sexual abuse of minors in Ouaka prefecture in the Central African Republic by UN Peacekeepers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Click here to view. The emails, dated February 11, 2016, describe at least four underage victims, two of whom were impregnated by the rapist UN peacekeepers. Middle management at the UN, further up the email chain, notes at the major of sexual abuse in CAR has been committed by the battalions from the DRC and the Republic of Congo. Well placed sources tell Inner City Press these two countries' soldiers have been in the UN MINUSCA mission nearly entirely due to Ladsous and, more outrageously, the / his French government due to its political relations with the Republic of Congo and DRC. Ladsous, as Inner City Press has reported, told Burundi's Vice President that he is "pragmatic" about human rights; even on camera, Ladsous linked the rapes to "R&R," click here for video. While Ladsous' DPKO and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Office of the Spokesperson announced that the DRC contingent would be pulled out of Bambari and CAR in late Janaury, Inner City Press is informed this never happened: they are still there. Ladsous' DPKO, and now the UN Spokesperson's Office, are engaged in misleading the press and public, and doling out what information they provide to only the friendliest media. For recent example, Inner City Press for weekly has reported on and asked about the repatriation from CAR of Burundian troops charged with abuse during the crackdown on opponents of Pierre Nkurunziza's third term. Even after Inner City Press obtained and published on February 9 proof of three repatriations, all UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric told Inner City Press is that he would seek an update. Simarily, Ladsous' lead spokesman Nick Birnback told Inner City Press DPKO would have something to say about the particular Burundian officers in CAR Inner City Press asked him about. Then Ladsous' spokespeople including Ismini Palla gave their limited confirmations to Reuters and Agence France Presse, who published it without credit or context. (Neither media reported on Ladsous linking rape to R&R). In a February email by UN official Anthony Banbury, soon to leave the UN after some heartfelt tears of outrage at peacekeepers' rapes, it is said: "We have a pack of predatory criminals and rapists, preying on young girls, under the banner of the United Nations. How can we stand by? In my view that battalion should be ordered to cease operations today, same with the RoC battalion, and be confined to camp and guarded full time so they cannot continue to abuse children. While we would pay a short-term price in terms of operations, we would gain so much in terms of the integrity and reputation of the UN, in the CAR and internationally, and we would almost certainly prevent more rapes of minor girls. We simply cannot sustain the argument that the benefit these troops are bringing to the UN and PoC is greater than the harm they are doing." What will the UN do? What will France, with new foreign minister Jean Marcc Ayrault, do? How long can Ladsous - and the Congolese contingents - remain in place? Back on January 27 asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Spokesman to confirm new allegations in the Central African Republic by Republic of Congo and DR Congo troops.. The spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, declined. But on February 4, it was confirmed. On February 11, Inner City Press exclusively reported and then asked the UN about, member states went to the UN's 38th floor to ask where Ban's response to the issues and Deschamps report is. It was due by the end of January, a

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    Re: Fw: New allegations of incidents of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

    reportedly committed against minors by members of the DRC battalion in


    Ngakabo (Ouaka Prefecture) !)
    Anthony Banbury to: Mercedes Gervilla
    Atul Khare, Cristal Tojeiro, David Haeri, Elizabeth Rolando, Herve
    Cc: Lecoq, lsmini Palla, Muhammad Asim, Sylvain Roy, Maqsood
    Ahmed, El Ghassim Wane, Milan Trojanovic, Diane CORNER, Nick

    11/02/2016 03:26PM

    This is simply unbearable. We have a pack of predatory criminals and rapists, preying on young girls,
    under the banner of the United Nations. How can we stand by? In my view that battalion should be
    ordered to cease operations today, same with the RoC battalion, and be confined to camp and guarded
    full time so they cannot continue to abuse children. While we would pay a short-term price in terms of
    operations, we would gain so much in terms of the integrity and reputation of the UN, in the CAR and
    internationally, and we would almost certainly prevent more rapes of minor girls. We simply cannot
    sustain the argument that the benefit these troops are bringing to the UN and PoC is greater than the harm
    they are doing.
    Mercedes Gervilla
    From:

    To:
    Cc:
    Date:
    Subject

    Dear Mercedes, Attached additional information ...

    11/02/2016 07:24:08 AM

    Mercedes Gervilla/NY/UNO
    Atul Khare/NY/UNO@unhq, Anthony Banbury/NY/UNO@unhq
    Herve Lecoq/NY/UNO@unhq, Elizabeth Rolando/NY/UNO@unhq, Cristal Tojeiro/NY/UNO@unhq,
    David Haeri!NY/UNO@unhq, lsmini Palla/NY/UNO@unhq, Sylvain Roy/NY/UNO@unhq,
    Muhammad Asim/NY/UNO@unhq
    11/02/2016 07:24AM
    Fw: New allegations of incidents of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse reportedly committed against
    minors by members of the DRC battalion in Ngakabo (Ouaka Prefecture)

    Dear Mr. Khare and Dear Tony,


    I have just received from Carmen the attached document summarizing the cases and
    allegations. A summary is also provided in the exchange below.
    The facts are disturbing as is the fact that it would seem that many among the troops
    concerned, including Commanding officers were well aware of the abuse to which these
    children were being subjected.
    I also regret to inform you that in addition to these new 4 cases, there will likely be two more
    relating to the information shared by Reuters earlier on. This would place the number of cases
    for MINUSCA, barely one month into the year, at 22. This equals the number of allegations for
    the entire 2015 period.
    While the cases are not recent, they nonetheless confirm the widespread nature of the
    violations of the DRC contingent. The likelihood that there are more cases is great. Also, as I
    have shared before, we are likely as vulnerable as regards the RoC contingent and we should
    not wait to hear of more cases before we follow through on decisions regarding this contingent
    as well. I note that DRC and RoC (only 2 out of the many countries deployed to MINUSCA)
    account for the majority of allegations.
    I strongly believe that support to MINUSCA requires a project approach that includes a well
    publicised call for resources, french speaking, to buttress its capacity in several areas and
    functions. We will not be able to stop past offenses, but we need to strengthen ourselves to

    prevent new ones from occurring. We will be discussing the priorities MINUSCA has shared
    with us during this morning Crisis Team VTC, but we will need to go beyond traditional
    approaches and reinforce not just the CDT but other functions in support and military and
    police to put in place robust prevention and deterrence efforts and implement as a matter of
    priority several of the actions identified in the matrix being finalised by the lOT in consultation
    with OMA, PD, CDU and others.
    A CC is being d.rafted and will be with us today. It would be good to alert the CdC in advance.
    I will continue to keep you informed.
    Mer
    Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphon_~--
    From: carmen Perez-Salas
    Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2016 6:47 AM
    To: Mercedes Gervilla [UNHQ]
    Cc: Sylvain Roy [UNHQ]; Desiree Roberts; Diakaridja Bakayoko
    Subject: FW: New allegations of incidents of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse reportedly committed against
    minors by members of the DRC battalion in Ngakabo (Ouaka Prefecture)
    Dear Mercedes,
    Attached additional information provided by Child Protection in relation to Ngaboko new cases. CDT is
    drafting CC with all the information.
    Regards
    Carmen
    Carmen Perez-Salas
    Chief Conduct and Discipline Team
    MINUSCA-Bangui

    From: Carmen Perez-Salas


    Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2016 11:15 AM

    Dear Charles,
    Thanks for the detailed information.
    CDT forward the information to 0105 and will proceed drafting CC informing HQ of the new allegations,

    as usual procedures.
    We will keep you informed of any further developments.
    Regards
    Carmen
    Carmen Perez-Salas
    Chief Conduct and Discipline Team
    MINUSCA-Bang~i

    From:
    Sent: Thursday, Februar'{ll, 201_6 10:56 AM_
    To: Carmen Perez-Salas

    Dear Carmen,
    Herewith sharing with you a report I have just received from UNICEF indicating four minor girls aged
    between 16 and 17 years were victims of sexual exploitation and abuse allegedly committed by
    members of the DRC battalion in the locality Ngakobo in the Ouaka prefecture. The incidents reportedly
    occurred between 2014 and 2015. Two of the victims allegedly had babies consequent to the
    relationships they had with the soldiers. The report highlights UNICEF gathered information of the
    allegations during a field evaluation mission to Ngakobo on 11 February. The report is shared with you
    as received for further action.
    Regards.

    Charles Fomunyam
    Child Protection Advisor
    MINUSCA H/Q;
    Bangui- Central African Republic;

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