by Stephen Lendman

He's a longstanding imperial tool. He consistently violates core UN Charter provisions - notably Chapter XV, Article 100.

It mandates secretary-generals "not (to) seek or receive instructions from any government or from any other authority external to the Organization."

"Each Member of the United Nations undertakes to respect the exclusively international character of the responsibilities of the Secretary-General and the staff and not to seek to influence them in the discharge of their responsibilities." He broke every major pledge made - including working for nuclear disarmament, advancing global health, sustainable development, education, saving lives, promoting democracy, supporting justice, championing human rights, and "creating a new dimension for the responsibility to protect."

His record reflects failure and betrayal. He consistently spurns UN Charter provisions. He's complicit with US, NATO and Israeli crimes of war, against humanity and genocide.

He blames victims for imperial lawlessness committed against them. He consistently defends the indefensible.

He's dismissive of fundamental rule of law principles, human rights and other democratic values.

Leila Zerrougui is Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. She's a legal expert on human rights and administration of justice.

She called for holding Israel responsible for "grave crimes against children" in last summer's Gaza war.

She accused its forces of willful attacks on schools, hospitals and UN shelters. Ban rejected her request.

His spokesman Stephane Dujarric said he hadn't made a final judgment - despite overwhelming, indisputable evidence of Israeli high crimes, murdering over 500 Palestinian children in cold blood.

A late April UN report blamed Israel for seven attacks on UN schools in Gaza - used as safe haven shelters.

At the time, Ban vowed to "spare no effort to ensure that such incidents will never be repeated."

He took no action whatever to do so. He unjustifiably accused Hamas of using these facilities to attack Israeli soldiers.

He ignored cold, calculated, premeditated IDF aggression. He failed to call for prosecuting Israeli war criminals. He's done nothing to hold them accountable.

On August 5, 2014, 129 organizations and distinguished individuals addressed him in an open letter.

They called on him to hold Israel responsible for high crimes or resign, saying in part:

"We, the undersigned Palestinian human rights and community-based organizations, are extremely disappointed by your performance, notably by your biased statements, your failure to act, and the inappropriate justification of Israel’s violations of international humanitarian law, which amount to war crimes."

"(Y)our statements have been either misleading, because they endorse and further Israeli false versions of facts, or contrary to the provisions established by international law and to the interests of its defenders, or because your words justify Israel’s violations and crimes."

"You have undeniably assumed a biased position toward the current attack on Gaza and Israeli violations in the West Bank by failing to clearly condemn Israeli unlawful actions in the occupied Palestinian territories, while, on the other hand, not hesitating to accuse - sometimes mistakenly - Palestinian combatants in Gaza of violations of international law."

"(Y)our statements endorse Israeli excuses to unlawfully, indiscriminately target" noncombatant civilians.

You "recklessly endorse (Israel's) version of facts, (irresponsibly) blaming Hamas" for its high crimes.

"(Y)ou make no distinction between oppressors and victims in all your statements."

"(Y)ou adopt and advocate Israeli false stories" while ignoring Palestinian hard truths.

"You do not maintain peace and security; nor do you ensure human rights."

It's "evident you have not…fulfill(ed) your mandate…(Y)our statements have not only allowed the continuance of Israel's killing our people, but also, encouraged States to continue providing Israel with impunity."

"As you cannot say the truth, we advise you to either drastically change your positioning - not only in words, but also in your efforts to, through the UN, effectively end the current conflict - or resign."

"For us, if you continue playing this role, you prove what our people feel, that you are a partner in, or at least an enabler of, the ongoing violations of international humanitarian law committed by Israel against our families, children, women, elders - against our people."

Ban disgraces the office he holds. He supports what demands condemnation and accountability.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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