Board of Peace is 'delusion of power' from 'power-crazy' Trump - Mary Robinson

James Cox

Former president of Ireland Mary Robinson has called the controversial Board of Peace a "delusion of power" from "power-crazy" US president Donald Trump.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland on Monday, Mrs Robinson said Ireland or any "self-respecting country" should not even consider joining the Board of Peace.

She pointed out that its charter does not even mention Gaza, and gives overriding executive power to Mr Trump.

Mr Trump first proposed the Board of Peace last September when he announced his plan to end the Gaza war. He later made clear the board's remit would be expanded beyond Gaza to tackle other conflicts worldwide.

The US president will be the inaugural chairman of the board and it will be tasked with promoting peace around the world and working to resolve conflicts, according to a copy of the draft charter seen by Reuters.

Mr Trump is also shielded from removal as the board's chair expect for in the case of a unanimous vote on incapacity, and is also given the right to choose his successor.

Most Western allies have declined invitations, partly because Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Belarus’s Alexander Lukashenko were invited. Permanent membership also requires a payment of $1 billion. 

“It’s not a board of peace. It’s a board of power of one person. The chair for life is president Trump. He disinvites if he wants to,” Mrs Robinson said.

“He has not invited any country from sub-Saharan Africa. That’s the continent that’ll have the largest population in the world in 2050, ignored completely.

“It’s a delusion of power, which is where president Trump, I think, is now. He’s had the power of the US unfettered, within the country and outside ... It’s gone to his head.”

Mrs Robinson said the UN is need of reform, but should not be replaced.

Asked about fatal shootings carried out by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Minnesota, and the Trump administrations refusal to investigate, Mrs Robinson said: "Trump and his administration have used a barrage of lies to muddy every scene ... Everything is now lies upon lies. They’re not supposed to be believed, they’re supposed to just confuse people. But they’re no longer confusing people, because they’re looking at the videos. This is a very serious moment when there is no truth and people know it.”

Asked whether the term "fascism" was appropriate, she replied: "I’ve certainly seen the elements that built up fascism in Germany. The elements are there. There’s no doubt about it.”