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Archive for January, 2011
From: Press Info <press-info@ohchr.org>
Date: Fri, Jan 28, 2011 at 12:47 PM
Subject: NEWS RELEASE – Statement by Richard Falk, on recent personal attacks
To: OHCHR-Geneva@ohchr.org, OHCHR-New York Office <OHCHR-New_York_Office@ohchr.org>, Field Presences <Field_Presences@ohchr.org>, Special Procedures Mandate Holders <Special_Procedures_Mandate_Holders@ohchr.org>
NEWS RELEASE
28 January 2011
Statement by Richard Falk, on recent personal attacks
GENEVA – UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Mr. Richard Falk, on Friday flatly denied recent allegations by a lobby group that “he had endorsed the conspiracy theory that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were orchestrated by the U.S. Government and not Al Qaeda terrorists,” and expressed surprise and regret at the ensuing strong personal attacks made on his integrity.
“The pro-Israel group, UN Watch, that created this mess deliberately distorted comments I made, in my personal capacity, on my blog,” Falk said. “Not only that, they then deliberately connected it to my UN mandate on the Palestinian territories, and on that basis started calling for me to be fired from that position.”
“I wish to be absolutely clear,” Falk added. “I do not endorse the theory that the U.S. government orchestrated the 9/11 attacks. What I did do, in my personal blog, in which I was discussing the differing perceptions that develop after political assassinations and deeply tragic events, including the murder of Olaf Palme, the 9/11 attacks and the recent killings in Arizona, was argue that investigations must be, and must be seen to be, transparent, exhaustive and honest.”
Falk expressed his dismay that he had been accused of disrespect towards the memory of 9/11 and its victims and their families. “This was not my intention at all,” he said. “What I stressed is the importance of carefully examining evidence before drawing conclusions about political and legal responsibility for highly tragic events, in particular those that have grave consequences for human rights.”
“I am an academic. I believe in freedom of expression, and the freedom to openly debate even the most difficult issues. I have always been proud that the United States and the United Nations have been among the strongest advocates of freedom of expression,” Falk said. “I am therefore deeply disappointed and surprised by the calculated attack on myself as a person, and on my ability to act as a voice that is not afraid to speak up on the rights of Palestinians, in accordance with the mandate invested in me by the Human Rights Council. The constant muzzling of serious and honest debate on the Palestinian issue in the United States and elsewhere has contributed immensely to the failure to resolve the tragic crisis there for more than half a century, to the detriment of us all.”
END
In 2008, the UN Human Rights Council designated Richard Falk (United States of America) as the fifth Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights on Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. The mandate was originally established in 1993 by the UN Commission on Human Rights.
Learn more about the mandate and work of the Special Rapporteur: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/countries/ps/mandate/index.htm
OHCHR Country Page – Occupied Palestinian Territories: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/MENARegion/Pages/PSIndex.aspx
OHCHR Country Page – Israel: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/MENARegion/Pages/ILIndex.aspx
For more information and media requests, please contact Nikki Siahpoush (Tel.: + 41 22 928 9430 / email: nsiahpoush@ohchr.org) or write to sropt@ohchr.org.
WASHINGTON, January 25, 2011 - UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer testified before the U.S. Congress today, accusing the U.N. Human Rights Council of systematically turning a blind eye to the world’s worst abuses. Click here for full text of Neuer’s testimony.
UN Chief “Condemns” UN Palestine Expert for
“Preposterous” Denial of 9/11 Terror Attacks
WASHINGTON, January 24, 2011 – On the eve of a U.S. Congressional hearing into the U.N. Human Rights Council, the controversial body’s Palestine expert, Richard Falk, was “condemned” today by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his “preposterous” comments questioning whether the 9/11 terrorist attacks were orchestrated by the U.S. government. Mr. Ban said Falk’s remarks were “an affront to the memory of the more than 3,000 people who died in the attack.” Continue reading ‘NGO Says Richard Falk Has “Zero Credibility,” Urges UN Chief to Fire Him’
In reply to UN Watch’s protest, which led to this NY Daily News editorial, we just received the following letter from the U.N., in which — for the first time ever – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemns U.N. Palestine expert Richard Falk for his denial of the 9/11 terror attacks:
UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL
24 January 2011
Dear Mr. Neuer,
In response to your letter to the Secretary-General dated 20 January 2011 on the subject of a recent blog post by Mr. Richard Falk, the Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967:
You are aware, no doubt, that the Special Rapporteurs and other independent experts who represent the Human Rights Council are appointed by the Council, not by the Secretary-General. Their continuance in their jobs is thus for the Council to decide.
That said, I feel very strongly that these representatives, however eminent they may be in their fields, have a clear responsibility to uphold the high standards of the United Nations and the Council.
You specifically refer to Mr. Falk’s allegations of an “apparent cover-up” related to the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. The Secretary-General condemns these remarks. He has repeatedly stated his view that any such suggestion is preposterous — and an affront to the memory of the more than 3,000 people who died in the attack.
Yours sincerely,
Vijay Nambiar
Chef de Cabinet
Mr. Hillel C. Neuer
Executive Director
UN Watch
Geneva
Talk Radio 77 WABC New York, Jan. 13, 2011. Interview of Hillel Neuer, UN Watch executive director. Co-hosted by John Batchelor and Malcolm Hoenlein. Summary: Durban III. THe UN is organizing a conference in commemoration of Durban I – “the worst demonstration of anti-Semitism I’ve seen since World War II” –Tom Lantos. Secretary of State Colin Powell pulled the US from the conference. Amb. Susan Rice said “the Durban Declaration process has included ugly displays of intolerance and anti-Semitism, and we do not want to see that commemorated.” At Durban II, Canada led the way, first to pull out, then also Israel, Italy, US, Germany, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Poland, Australia and New Zealand. Durban III to take place at the UN in New York several days after the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Libya was just elected to the UN Human Rights Council; Saudis are also members. It’s the foxes guarding the chickens.
FULL COMMITTEE BRIEFING NOTICE
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515-0128
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman
January 14, 2011
*REVISED*
You are respectfully requested to attend an OPEN briefing of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, to be held in *Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building (and available live, via the WEBCAST link on the Committee website at http://www.hfca.house.gov):
DATE: ** Tuesday, January 25, 2011
TIME: 10:00 a.m.
SUBJECT: The United Nations: Urgent Problems that Need Congressional Action Continue reading ‘UNW’s Hillel Neuer to testify on Jan. 25 at U.S. Congress’
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