UN scribes up in arms against Russel Lee

by Manjula FERNANDO

The United Nations Correspendents Association has expressed displeasure that Inner City Press blogger Matthew Russel Lee is attacking the UNCA and the members of the Board of Examination set up against him, in a reportage which they claimed 'one sided and a distortion of facts'.

In the face of his intense attacks, one of the five members of the Board of Examination has resigned forcing the UNCA to fill up the vacant post with a new member, authoritative sources told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

Lee is investigated by the UNCA for unethical reporting and unprofessional behaviour among other things.

He is being accused of using his website as a weapon for attacking and character assassination of his colleagues who has offended or come to disagreements with him, the sources said.

Lee, writing in his blog on June 21 accused the UNCA examination a 'set up' to get an investigative journalist which he called himself, expelled from the UN, a claim UNCA Executive Board has denied.

Refuting Lee's accusations that the Association has attempted to suspend his UN accreditation, the Executive board has requested Lee to post a full apology in his website for the personal attacks he had made against the on going investigation and the members of UNCA including its President Giampaolo Pioli.

Inner City Press began its attacks on UNCA President following its sponsoring of a screening of Sri Lanka's film, countering the Channel 4's killing fields.