WHO announces the dismissal of Peter Ben Embarek, head of mission on the origin of Covid-19 in China

2023-05-10 17:45:00

DISMISSAL – The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Wednesday May 3, 2023 that it had dismissed Peter Ben Embarek, head of the international mission responsible in 2021 for investigating the origins of Covid-19 in China. The Danish scientist, who claimed that a leak of the virus from a laboratory was “highly unlikely” and the animal was “presumably originally” of the pandemic, is accused of sexual harassment. His dismissal dates back “to last year” but has hitherto been passed over in silence. A particular attitude that raises questions.

The facts date back to 2015 and 2017. Marcia Poole, spokesperson for the WHO, explained to Reuters that this global institution became aware of these accusations in 2018, without giving further details. It’s the Financial Times which reveals that no disciplinary action has been taken against him. Peter Ben Embarek for his part mentioned “one incident” occurred in 2017, “settled immediately amicably”.

A nuanced assertion by Marcia Poole who pointed out in a e-mail to the Associated Press (AP) that other allegations could not be fully investigated because “the victim(s) did not wish to engage in the investigative process”.

Head of mission in China despite ongoing investigations

Three years after becoming aware of these accusations, despite ongoing investigationsthe Danish scientist was still appointed in 2021 head of the international mission in China to investigate the origins of the coronavirus.

Wednesday, May 03, the spokesperson announces the news. Peter Ben Embarek has been fired “Last year”i.e. in 2022, “following findings of sexual misconduct against him which were substantiated by investigations and disciplinary proceedings”the WHO statement said in a statement to the Post.

“Due process was followed and his name was entered into the United Nations ClearCheck screening database to prevent his hiring or re-hiring by UN agencies”she added.

The scientist told Reuters he disputes the harassment charges and opposes the penalties. He did not comment further as he is bound with the WHO by confidentiality agreements until a resolution is found. “I am not aware of any other complaints and no other complaints have ever been brought to my attention”, did he declare.

“I duly contest the classification of harassment and I have good hope in the defense of my rights”, he adds. His dismissal may be appealed to the internal legal organs of the United Nations. It is not known whether these instances were entered by the person concerned or not.

A special treatment or a public relations strategy?

The announcement by the WHO of the dismissal of Peter Ben Embarek a year after his effective ousting raises many questions. A particular attitude considering the fact that this institution has faced numerous accusations of sexual harassment against its staff in recent years.

In May 2021, the WHO investigated on allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in the Democratic Republic of Congo during the Ebola outbreak. 21 personnel were accused of sexually abusing people out of a total of 83 alleged perpetrators linked to the 2018-2020 mission.

Recently, on April 25, 2023, the WHO announced that it had fired one of its doctors for sexual harassment. “Dr. Temo Waqanivalu has been terminated from WHO following findings of sexual misconduct against him and related disciplinary proceedings”, WHO spokeswoman Marcia Poole said on Tuesday. an email to the AP.

“Sexual misconduct of any kind by anyone working for WHO – whether as staff, consultant, partner – is unacceptable”, she added. The facts date back to 2018, during a conference in Berlin.

The world organization announced the dismissal of Temo Waqanivalu immediately after the implementation of this, unlike the ousting of Peter Ben Embarek, announced a year later.

At the end of the mission in China, the team led by this Danish scientist concluded that the COVID-19 originated “very probably” bats before the disease was transferred to humans. A leak from a Chinese laboratory has been described as “highly unlikely”.

A link with Peter Daszak and the EcoHealth Alliance scandal?

His dismissal came several months before the United States Department of Energy’s findings that the laboratory leak thesis as the origin of Covid-19 was “most likely”. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) followed suit with the US Department of Energy, saying that “the origin of the pandemic is most likely linked to a laboratory incident in Wuhan”.

In a report released Monday, April 17, 2023, the US Senate claimed that a “bio-containment failure” during research on a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 is causing “an unintentional incident”. THE “Available evidence supports the theories of a lab leak”conclude the authors of a report after 18 months of investigation.

If the WHO spokeswoman did not give more details on the timing of the announcement of the dismissal of the Danish scientist, another element raises questions.

In China, Peter Ben Embarek conducted the survey along with zoologist Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth Alliance. This organization, based in the United States and funded by the Antony Fauci Institute, made headlines for conflicts of interest with the Wuhan Virology laboratory when its expertise was sought to discover the origin of Sars-CoV- 2.

As an expert, Daszak’s research could not be independent and neutral. This has been verified by its positions, which have bluntly dismissed the thesis of a laboratory leak. He maintained a relationship with Dr Shi Zhengli, the director of research in Wuhan, and helped fund research on the “gain of function” of coronaviruses carried by bats.

CThis earned him to be ousted from a study commissioned by the UN, published by The Lancet.

Could Peter Ben Embrarek ignore these facts, including during his scientific exchanges with Daszak? In any case, this would have given the WHO no reason to retain it.