The UN as proved by Hillel Neuer, the director of the International Pressure Group UN Watch, is a joke. Who can forget for instance the recent minute’s silence observed impeccably by many for the death of Kim Jong Il at the general UN Assembly? In what other arena would it be deemed socially acceptable?
I myself think these displays of public affection, which in the UN’s case they take deadly seriously, should be treated as disdainfully as flatulence is treated in modern society, especially in public places, such as libraries, pubs and meeting halls. Truly, the UN seems to living in another universe. Until they come back to the land of reality, they cannot have a leg to stand on.
Even the Guardian, not known for abandoning far left leaders in times of crisis seemed disdainful, with their headline on 23rd December 2011 shouting in front of your eyes: “UN holds minute silence for Kim Jong Il, after acceding to North Korea’s request for this”. What next? Flowers for Mugabe? Roses for Putin? A horse’s head for Lukashenko and some radioactive waste for Ahmadinejad and a big gun for Assad to shoot his people with?
I also agree with Nick Cohen, and incidentally Ian Gow, who wrote on the Bosnian conflict that those who just look on or impose sanctions have blood on their hands. This holds true today in Syria. I honestly think just because you cannot intervene in some areas, doesn’t mean you just ignore suffering. Of course, it doesn’t mean you intervene willy-nilly, but I can’t stand the cold-hearted realist arguments which ignore morals.
In all of this, thanks to the work of groups such as UN Watch, there is some hope that people will mobilise across the world against the forces of absurdity. I, in my own little way will help and I urge others to do the same. Syria, more than ever, needs our help now. After intense lobbying UNESCO unilaterally elected Syria to the Human Rights Committee, the decision has been overturned. It couldn’t have been done without the support of 55 parliamentarians across the world who are shining lights of morals and principle.
The U.S., after some prompting from Fox News, took the lead immediately asking for the request to be reviewed. They were joined thanks to Al Arabiya News by the Arab league. Although the Arab league’s work seemed to be more of a hindrance than a help, as they seemed to protect the oppressor in their work.
To the best of Hillel Neuer’s knowledge, this is the first time in UNESCO history that a dictatorship faces expulsion from one of its committees. Surely that’s something to be proud of and perhaps next year, we may see the back of Assad in real life too!
