Whistleblower blues

U.N. Whistleblower Receives Historic Defamation Payout, Still Wants Job Back
Thursday, September 17, 2009 By Ben Evansky

I find the reporter for this fox news story favorably pulling for the woman that was woefully wronged for doing the right thing. The reporter is pointing out the fact that Maria Veiga was fired after she discover corruption and disclosed it to authorities while employed for the U.N.'s weather agency in Switzerland. As an auditor for this organization she was just doing her job the reporter indicates, and reports the woman is only just now getting justice after 4 years. She received a settlement of $476,098 for defamation, harrassment and wrongful termination paid by the International Labor Office Administrative Tribunal.


I say hoorah for this reporter bringing out the facts and reporting the issue because this woman stood up with integrity against those in higher positions than herself and refused to look the other way as requested, or else face losing her job and reputation. I'm elated to know some one still has scruples in this world.


First of all I like the fact she could find a lawyer that would go against corruption instead of being a party to it. Her lawyer Edward Flaherty, says "While the decision is a victory, more needs to be done to protect whistleblowers and the U.S. taxpayer." He goes on to say "Who is looking out for the U.S. taxpayer?" "It just reinforces the sad state of affairs of whistleblowers around the world, it doesn't matter if they work for a government, an international or multinational organization. Despite the great discussion of how whistleblowers should be encouraged and protected, the reality is that they end up suffering." I am curious now to see how this historic settlement plays out in the future as a positive for any of us that might have to blow the whistle on corruption. I'm sad for Veiga that she feels not entirely vindicated though, because she has not been given her job back. It further angers me that the persons involved in the wrong doing have not been punished yet so they go unscathed while she is nursing her battle scars. Even the official who instructed her to cover up the fraud was re-elected to a second term. I have a stake in this article because it is U.S. money being funneled to this organization in large amounts and that is my money. Veiga probably does not realize she is a Heroine in the eyes of many Americans because she took a stand and was wronged for doing right. Society seems to reward only those who gain by dubious means these days. I felt the despair in her statement, "It is completely unfair that WMO Secretary General and other harassers have not been sanctioned and yet continue to hold their positions, while the person who has been harassed and defamed is out of a job," she wrote. "It is totally unfair that I am kept away from my job and had my professional career and personal life destroyed. It means that who has the courage to bring to light fraudulent behaviors and practices will be out in any way."


I'm glad the author used this forum to point out and name names by saying the "WMO is one of the most powerful voices in the global warming debate, and as the co-founder of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change wields tremendous influence over global warming policy." He is obviously wanting to push the truth about corruption and seems to invite his readers to want to find out about this issue as if he is the "whistleblower" on the big bad guys. The truth hurts the bad guys only in the pocket book, but for the good guys like Ms. Veiga, the truth hurts her entire being. May she find eventual peace.