Source 11 : Email from MOWCAP SG announcing his resignation
From: MOWCAP Secratary-General, September 25, 2022
To: MOWCAP Chair, MOWCAP Vice-chairs, MOWCAP/RSC Chair
Subject: MOWCAP Secratary-General Role
Dear colleagues,
I am writing to let you know I have decided to step down as MOWCAP Secretary-General effective immediately. I have advised Kwibae to contact Joe from UNESCO Bangkok to confirm the possibility of Linh Anh acting in the SG role until at least after the MOWCAP General Meeting in November 2022.
In terms of my reasons for this decision, the main factor is my unwillingness to continue to deal with the politics and negativity that I currently see surrounding the MoW/MOWCAP program.
I took on the SG MOWCAP role as I wanted to make a positive difference in our region. While I feel I have been able develop some positive programs—for example the MOWCAP-ACC grants which has delivered results for memory institutions from across the region—my time over the last 1.5 years (mostly weekends!) has been taken up dealing with petty issues relating to the politicization of the MoW program.
This was evident in the update of our MOWCAP register guidelines where the task was made extremely difficult through interference from outside parties, and in many cases, what I saw as the intervention of national interests —rather than a collective care for the best outcome for our region—into our Bureau discussions.
Unfortunately, this same negatively has been evident in the last few months with the misuse of the new MOWCAP contestation rules to make blanket and general contestations about nominations under the regional register. I believe this is a deliberate blocking tactic designed to sideline nominations indefinitely and to avoid any open debate and discussion.
Unfortunately,this tactic also eats up the valuable time and resources of the MOWCAP SG.I understand the same tactic has also been applied at the international level, however, the main difference with MOWCAP is that the UNESCO has a paid Secretariat to dedicate time to address the general “contestations”.
What is even more unfortunate is that this tactic deeply undermines the cooperation and dialogue between people and memory institutions which has been the central factor of MOWCAP over the last 24 years.
I think this is shameful behavior, however, I don’t have the time or energy to deal with this anymore. In summary, I will not be using any more of my time to address these petty issues and facilitate “dialogue” especially when the starting point is a position of bad faith. In terms of steps moving forward, I hope that UNESCO can play more of a leading role in addressing these issues.
I have worked on a handover note that I will share with Kwibae and I will also be available to support Linh Anh if she has any questions about the SG work. I will be closing down my MOWCAP email address in the next few weeks, however, feel free to reach out to me at my Gmail address if needed.
Despite the challenges to MOWCAP over the last few years one of the great positives has been the people I have met, and friendships formed. I look forward to staying in touch in personal capacity.
All the best,
........
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