ROME – FAO Director General Qu Dongyu has rejected a request by the head of the Evaluation Division for the UN agency to start a new defamation lawsuit against the Italian Insider after the newspaper disclosed the work harassment and systematic bullying in the division, FAO sources said Wednesday.

 Qu told the evaluation division head, Clemencia Cosentino, that starting another laswsuit would just subject the FAO to further adverse publicity from press freedom NGOs and staff given that lengthy and expensive lawsuits, apid for with donor funds earmarked to help the poor, brought by the previous director general against the Insider chief editor failed to silence the Insider.

 On the other hand Qu failed to take action to curb the toxic atmosphere in the crucial division and gave a significant raise to a consultant who staff say is one of the henchwomen of the divisional director involved in maintaining the reign of fear in the department that has led to some 30 percent of staff going sick with stress disorders, the sources added.

 jf