Buhne recall, UNDP closure, UN fallacy?

The Associate spokesman for the UN Secretary-General has said that the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Neil Buhne, who was recalled to New York due to the ‘evolving situation in Sri Lanka’ after the fast unto death protest by a government Minister, will not be returning to Sri Lanka.

 

In reality his time in Sri Lanka has come to an end.

 

The UN statement last week claimed that;

 

 

“The Secretary-General finds it unacceptable that the Sri Lankan authorities have failed to prevent the disruption of the normal functioning of the United Nations offices in Colombo as a result of unruly protests organized and led by a Cabinet Minister of the Government.

 

In light of the evolving situation, he is recalling the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Neil Buhne, to New York for consultations.  He has also decided that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Centre in Colombo will be closed.”

 

However it was later revealed that the UN has not closed down any UN offices in Sri Lanka. A UN spokesman here clarified that the UNDP regional office located at Independence Square has been relocated to Bangkokaccording to a decision made earlier in the year.  Hence the UN statement slyly portrayed this decision taken a year ago attempting to attribute it the ‘evolving situation’ in Sri Lanka.

 

Also it seems that the Bhune’s recall was due his time in Sri Lanka ending and not due to the protests outside the UN in Colombo.

 

 

 

Transcript from yesterday’s press breifing;

 

Associate Spokesperson:  As far as that goes, on the Panel, yes, we do expect them to meet sometime in New York in the coming weeks.  I don’t have a concrete date for you just yet.  On Mr. Buhne, we did ask him and I don’t believe he will be available for a briefing.

 

Question:  You’d said his time is coming to an end.  What does that mean?  His service for the UN or in Sri Lanka?  That was the statement that you used yesterday.  You said he was arriving yesterday but his time was finishing.

 

Associate Spokesperson:  In Sri Lanka.  You saw our statement last week in which we said that he had been recalled.  So that’s the point.  He’s been recalled, and now he is here in New York for consultations with UN officials.

 

Question:  So that’s over?  He is not going back at all?

 

Associate Spokesperson:  Not that I am aware, no.

 

Question:  Who is taking his place?

 

Associate Spokesperson:  That would remain to be determined.