This is incredibly horrible. Please read the entire article.
Coincidentally Dr. Okin is an old high school friend. While he was in Kosovo, I had been trying to reach him to recommend a psychiatrist in San Francisco. I had no idea he was working on this project.
This article raises a number of disturbing issues:[ul][]What must be done to fix this problem? []Are there other vital areas of UN mis-management that need fixing?[]Should the UN fire responsible higher level employees? []Will they?[]What’s the impact on the UN’s moral authority?[]Should this story get bigger coverage in the media?Why is this situation getting so much less publicity than, say, the treatment of prisoners at Gitmo? [/ul]I am totally horrified by this situation. People close to me have had psychiatric problems, so I particularly empathinze with these patients. To experience such inhuman treatment on top the horror of the war is just too much. I can’t find the words.
Well, this is unconscionable, no doubt, and indicates a dire need for reform of UN accounting and oversight. But I hope no one accuses you of bias in speaking out about these abuses without mentioning similar abuses in non-UN controlled facilities, or abuses which took place prior to the UN involvement. I also hope no one casts aspersions on the source of this report, and it’s endorsement by Human Rights Watch. I hope no one rails about any supposed “pro- Kosovar bias” of The Guardian.
Sorry to be so mean about it, december, but I hope you get the point.
I do get the point. Sure it’s too bad that the UN has been running a “snake pit,” but that’s less important than being one-up on december.
But, your post reminds me of another item to discuss:
[ul][*]Several posters argued that Israel deserved extra-harsh criticism because it had claimed the moral high ground. Why doesn’t that same principle apply to the UN?[/ul]
Are you saying now that perhaps the US should have signed up for the International court, just as most other democracies have?
There have been reports of UN staff actually beiong part of the problem when it comes to sexual slavery in some areas and there has not yet been any documented investigation never mind any action taken against anyone who might be responsible.
Nope, that’s not the point. The point, and LISTEN FUCKING CLOSELY THIS TIME, is that your criticism of the UN’s handling of mentally ill patients in Kosovo should not be taken as implied support for any other organizations currently undertaking such activities, and your condemnation of this particular UN facility should not be confused with a blanket condemnation of the United Nations as an organization. Only a moronic troll would think otherwise.
OK, then why has the actual level of criticism been so light?
casdave – you raise an interesting point. Does the International Court have juridiction over the UN? As a practical matter, would they do a thorough investigation of the UN?
Do you mean the criticism on this board in the two and a half hours this thread has been up, or effective criticism of the situation, as one might find in, say a highly critical two year study, widely disseminated and reported, and endorsed by the same sorts of organizations which criticize Israel?
Don’t sell your high school chum’s efforts so short, december.
I’ve read and seen reports about this stuff on TV and in papers such as the guardian. Newsnight did almost a whole episode about this very thing a while ago.
It is deplorable indeed and should be investigated to the highest level.
Good to see you are now using the guardian as a cite
I take it the point of this is to try and show that some people have a hard-on for Israel and couldn’t give a toss about other areas of possible abuse?
You need to ask?
East Timor
Somalia
Rwanda
Nigeria
Zimbabwe
Natural disasters all round the world.
