The following is reproduced here at the request of Raf Belliard
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Hemu,
The following is in reply to your recent message concerning our Costambar E-Mail Group and its rules.
Yes, I am still managing the e-mail group and intend to continue to do so.
In your message, you complain "the group's rules are being broken or defiantly ignored" and that it has become "a bashing tool", "political and partisan".
Let me start from the beginning:
The very first person to start using this e-mail group for political reasons was your own husband Yash, when -shortly after the group's inception - a political exchange erupted between him and another person, who no longer resides in Costambar. Since he became President of APC in 2010, regular "President Reports" and others like that have been sent out to the group by him, the last one just a few days ago. None have ever been suppressed. Nor have his personal attacks to others. But you did not complain then.
I find it interesting and amusing - to say the least - that you now suddenly and out of nowhere seem so concerned with the observance of rules. Where were you when just about every printed rule of Costambar's Elections Committee was broken, twisted and massaged for Yash's benefit? I refer you to the written opinion of the PP CASC group of elections observers, which has been submitted to the Civil Court in PP and with which I am certain you are now familiar. If you are so concerned with rules, what kept you from protesting then?
Where were you and your concern for rules, when all of us in the Unity Slate were branded as being "quite ignorant and no class", just because of our opposition to your husband? Where were you when another person in your camp sent an e-mail (not sent by himself but forwarded by your own husband), calling me "a hypocrite"?
You and your camp have done your share of name-calling, politicking and twisting of the rules and you now find it expedient to complain they are not being followed. How about your own recent posting on the Costambar Forum referring to your opposition (us) as "garbage" that should be cleared out of Costambar? Was than not a nasty epithet, or do you really consider us "garbage"? Whose or what rules were you following then? I guess those empowered feel entitled to do whatever they please.
Having learned a great deal in the last 2 1/2 years about how some people operate, it is clear all this is simply a campaign to "muzzle" what cannot be controlled, borne out of the instinctive fear people will find out the truth. In other words: "if it cannot be controlled, it must be destroyed". Just like what happened to CRIC Fund Raising Committee and CRIC itself. Is it now the turn of the Costambar E-mail Group.
Will there now be a new "board decision or resolution" prohibiting people to read the reports sent out to the Costambar E-Mail Group? It would not be surprising, following in the wake of a recent request advising people not to open e-mails deemed "offensive", in clear violation of the right to free expression. Will those reports now be branded as "subversive"? Enclosed as part of this message and for your convenience, is an attachment of the English translation, dealing with the rights of free expression granted by the Constitution of the Dominican Republic. If necessary, your husband - as a lawyer - should be able to explain them to you better than I can. Perhaps while doing so, it might also be beneficial if he explained to Amadeo Luciano that court hearings in the DR (as in most parts of the free world) are open to the public (unless ruled otherwise by the judge), as part of the freedom of expression and that attendance to any audience is not a reason to chastise anyone.
The real message in your message is clear: The time has now arrived to try and destroy the Costambar E-Mail Group, for it cannot be "controlled".
In closing, I leave you with two thoughts:
- "Let he/she who has committed no sin, cast the first stone".
- "Those who can't stand the heat, should get out of the kitchen".
P.S. If the E-mail group reports offend you and disciples so much, just tell me if you or anybody else wants to be removed from the group's list of recipients. I shall do so promptly and inform the rest to erase you from their mailing list. No one has ever been forced to read them against their will. That should not need another "board decision or resolution".
R
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CONSTITUTION OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
(Proclaimed on January 26th, 2010)
Article 49. - Freedom of expression and information. Every person has the right to freely express his/her thoughts, ideas and opinions, through any means, without previous censorship.
1) Every person has the right to information. This right includes the search, investigation, receipt and spreading of any type of public information, through any means, channel or way, in conformity with the Constitution and the law.
2) All informational conduits have free access to official and private news sources of public interest, in conformity with the law.
3) The professional secrecy and the clause of conscience of a journalist are protected by the Constitution and the law.
4) Every person has the right to reply and rectification when feeling affected by transmitted information. This right will be exercised in conformity with the law.
5) The law guarantees equal access to all social and political sectors to the means of communication owned by the State.
Paragraph. - The exercise of these freedoms will be carried out respecting personal honor, privacy, as well as dignity and moral of individuals, specially protecting youth and infancy, in conformity with the law and public order.
Wed Apr 11, 2012 1:00 pm
