Re: [Int-koordination] Fwd: PPI statement on the Bordelais affair

[alios <markus.barenhoff AT piratenpartei-nrw.de>]

Hi Michael, Hi Patrick!

As I'am not sure if Patrick has subscribed the int-koordination list an as 
long as you didn't added him as BCC, your reply might not have reached 
Patrick, I'll fwd it here.

greetz
alios

On Friday, 5 April 2019 16:12:45 CEST michael john sinclair wrote:
> On monday there is a PPI board meeting if you can be present i can foward
> your letter for the meeting.Best regards Mickey SinclairTeam Int Koord.
> 
> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
> 
>   On Fri, 5 Apr 2019 at 15:09, Patrick Breyer<europa AT patrick-breyer.de>
> wrote:   Hallo,
> 
> ich habe dem PPI-Vorstand mal was zu seinem Statement geschrieben.
> Vielleicht könnt ihr das gebrauchen/aufgreifen.
> 
> Beste Grüße
> Patrick
> 
> 
> -------- Weitergeleitete Nachricht --------
> Betreff: PPI statement on the Bordelais affair
> Datum: Thu, 04 Apr 2019 14:02:00 +0000
> Von: Patrick Breyer <europa AT patrick-breyer.de>
> Organisation: Team Patrick Breyer (Piratenpartei)
> An: Guillaume Saouli - PPI <guillaume.saouli AT pp-international.net>,
> vorstand AT piratenpartei.de
> 
> Dear Guillaume, dear PPI board members,
> 
> I am referring to your statement on the Bordelais affair
> (https://www.piratenpartei.de/2019/03/15/waehlerinformation-betreffend-unser
> e-liste-zur-europawahl-2019/ ) and, being PPDE's lead candidate in the
> upcoming elections to the European Parliament (but not a member of its
> board), I would like to ask you some questions on your text.
> 
> First of all I agree with many parts of your statement, including not
> tolerating any downplaying or victim blaming, thanking Julia for her
> great work, pointing out the importance of our movement's credibility
> etc. But other parts of the text don't seem to be fair to me:
> 
> 1) Have you studied what the PPDE board (
> https://www.piratenpartei.de/2019/03/15/waehlerinformation-betreffend-unsere
> -liste-zur-europawahl-2019/ ) and I
> (https://www.patrick-breyer.de/?p=575559#en ) have published on the affair?
> It is important to know the facts before making a judgement. Did you
> present your draft statement to PPDE's board beforehand so they could
> comment?
> 
> 2) Your statement criticizes PPDE's board for "lack of action and
> oversight" and "apathy, lack of common sense and lack of leadership".
> 
> What exactly is the action you believe was lacking, and how would it
> have prevented the terrible outcome of the affair?
> Unless you can say specifically what other course should have been
> taken, it would be better not to voice such criticism.
> 
> In hindsight it was certainly a mistake to trust Gilles Bordelais to
> honor his promise to step down. However I don't think this mistake is
> fairly appreciated with words such as "apathy" or "lack of common sense".
> 
> 3) The headline of your statement "Sexual harassment cannot be accepted
> in our circles" can be read as suggesting that PPDE is accepting sexual
> harassment in its circles. Do you intend to say that?
> I am sure you are aware that the party has instituted proceedings to
> expel Gilles Bordelais, so I don't think such allegation is fair.
> 
> Likewise, your text says: "we have no right to ask for votes when we
> tolerate oppression and unequal power dynamics". In the context, this
> can be read as saying that PPDE tolerates oppression. Is this what you
> intend to express?
> 
> 4) You are saying that due to "the apathy, lack of common sense and lack
> of leadership displayed by its board", "the entire movement is now
> paying for this and most likely will for a long time, in addition to the
> actual victims who will live with their experiences forever".
> 
> Pointing out the devastating damage done to the movement is fair, but
> the sexual harassment took place before the PPDE board had any
> knowledge. So it is unfair and unacceptable to blame the board for the
> victim's suffering. Certainly the victim is likely to be as appalled as
> PPDE by itss failure to have Bordelais removed from the list of
> candidates, but your statement does not make it clear that this is what
> you mean.
> 
> 5) Your statement alleges "that so-called legal obligations were
> prioritized over what was morally right". What do you mean by this? In
> which way were legal obligations prioritized?
> 
> 6) You end by presenting your apologies to Julia and her team "for the
> ordeal they have endured", apparently due to the actions of PPDE's
> board. It appears to me that the greatest part of the ordeal they went
> through is due to the actual harassment, the bringing complaints,
> dealing with terminating Bordelais employment etc. None of this can be
> attributed to PPDE. So I don't think it is fair to indirectly attribute
> the "ordeal they have endured" to PPDE's board.
> 
> 
> I myself am dissatisfied with some decisions the board took (or didn't
> take), and have myself voiced loud criticism at various stages. However
> I insist that we should deal with the affair fairly and seek a common
> approach, rather than begin blaming one another publicly. If you are
> prepared to answer my questions I am confident PPDE's board should be
> happy to issue a joint statement with PPI to replace your post, and
> accept that part of responsibility that can fairly be attributed to
> them. In PPDE's post I mentioned above they already express regretting
> the failure of having Bordelais removed from the list, and having
> trusted him to honor his promise to step down.
> 
> Best regards
> Patrick