[Deaf Arab] Fwd: FACT SHEET ISSUED BY DPI REGARDING THE LONG AWAITED SETTING UP OF ITS ARAB REGION

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From: chairperson.dpi@gmail.com
Date: December 10, 2013 at 11:36:15 PM GMT+2
To: "Mohammed Ali Loutfy" <maloutfy@gmail.com>,"Sylvana Lakkis" <sylvanalakkis@gmail.com>
Cc: "Dorodi Sharma" <osd.dpichairperson@gmail.com>,"Parul Ghosh" <parulghosh1@gmail.com>,"DPI Secretariat" <secretariat.dpi@gmail.com>
Subject: FACT SHEET ISSUED BY DPI REGARDING THE LONG AWAITED SETTING UP OF ITS ARAB REGION
Reply-To: chairperson.dpi@gmail.com

STATEMENT ISSUED BY DPI HEADQUARTERS ON THE EVE OF DPI GLOBAL CHAIR, JAVED ABIDI's VISIT TO BEIRUT, LEBANON FROM 12TH TO 14TH DECEMBER, 2013:

We at the Disabled People's International (DPI) have taken a very serious note of the emergent situation in the Arab region.

We are extremely alarmed at the malafide attempts made by some people at disrupting the integrity and sanctity of DPI.

We have pulled out all the historical records, studied all the available documents, including minutes of the World Council meetings from the past, on the supposed claims made by one Dr. Nawaf Kabbara of being the "representative" of DPI in the Arab Region.

We have been able to make the following findings:

(1) Minutes of the DPI World Council meeting on September 3rd and 4th, 2007 in Seoul, South Korea show that one Dr. Nawaf Kabbara did attend this meeting, where DPI World Council members discussed "the establishment of an Arab Region within the DPI framework" and a motion was passed.

(2) The World Council met again on September 9th, 2007, with Mr. Wilfredo Guzman Jara in the Chair. At this meeting, Dr. Nawaf Kabbara agreed to "take the lead" in establishing the Arab Region.

(3) During the tenure of Mr. Wilfredo Guzman Jara, a meeting of the World Council was held on July 22nd – 24th, 2008 in Panama. Dr. Nawaf Kabbara did not attend this meeting and no report whatsoever was submitted by him on any development vis a vis the setting up of the DPI Arab Region.

(4) Another meeting of the World Council took place on January 25th – 28th January, 2011. Dr. Nawaf Kabbara did not attend this meeting also and no report whatsoever was submitted by him on the establishment of the Arab Region.

(5) The World Council met on 8th and 9th October, 2011 in South Africa. Dr. Nawaf Kabbara again did not attend this meeting as well. However, the Chair of DPI Europe, Mr. Jean Luc-Simon presented the so-called "membership applications forms" from a few countries such as Iraq (2 applications), Yemen, Jordan, Syria, Sudan, Palestine & Afghanistan.

(6)  These applications were merely tabled. No decision was taken on any of these membership applications.

(7) No decision was truly possible as all of them were flimsy and NONE of the 8 applications met the criteria mentioned in the DPI Constitution/By Laws.

(8) According to the DPI's rules,  "Membership Applications must include a copy of the Constitution, a list of Governing Body members, and a description of adherence to the membership principles and purpose of DPI." None of these documents were ever submitted by anyone.

(9) Further, as per DPI By Laws, "Each region must submit an updated list of addresses for its National Assemblies to the Head Office annually." The records from the World Council meeting in Seoul in 2007 onwards reflect that NO REPORT whatsoever, has ever been submitted by the supposed 'Arab Region' that Dr. Nawaf Kabbara seems to have created in his dreams.

(10) At the meeting of the Executive Council of DPI on November 23rd – 24th, 2012 in India, deep concern was expressed that inspite of over 5 years having passed by, Dr. Nawaf Kabbara had failed to establish the DPI Arab Region. As a direct result of this inertia on his part, it was the ordinary disabled people of the Arab region who suffered and were continuing  to suffer with almost no voice at the international level.

(11) The DPI Executive Council unanimously decided to not depend on Dr. Nawaf Kabbara any longer and to take urgent necessary steps to develop the DPI Arab Region.

(12) The DPI Global Chair's Office has undertaken extensive research and fact finding on the Arab Region since November 2012. Based on this thorough research, DPI HQ decided to contact the Lebanese Physical Handicapped Union (LPHU) for information, guidance, and contacts in the Arab Region.

(13) LPHU has greatly supported DPI's efforts to reach the Arab Region. Extremely noteworthy is the fact that within months of this newly formed alliance, LPHU has been able to fund raise and organise a conference of DPOs from the Arab Region on December 12th – 14th, 2013.  

(14) We hope that this Conference would be the first big step towards the establishing of the DPI Arab Region.

(15) DPI is so excited with these developments that DPI's Global Chair, Mr. Javed Abidi (based in New Delhi, India) himself is travelling to Beirut to attend this Regional Conference. Mr. Abidi is a wheelchair user.

(16) It has come to our notice that frantic and desperate attempts were made and are being made by Dr. Nawaf Kabbara inorder to scuttle the progress made thus far to develop the DPI Arab Region.

(17) Based on the above FACTS, we at DPI HQ can categorically and unequivocally state:

1. That, Dr. Nawaf Kabbara has no locus standi to represent DPI in whatsoever capacity;

2. That, one Mr. Abraham Abdalla also has no locus standi to represent DPI in whatsoever capacity;

3. That, the Lebanese Council of Disabled People (LCDP) is NOT a Member of DPI and that, we have our doubts if LCDP is even a DPO in the strict sense of the term;

4. That, LPHU is now the legitimate representative of DPI in Lebanon;

5. That, LPHU has been entrusted with the task of developing the DPI Arab Region; and

6. That, we applaud all the efforts made by LPHU thus far; that, we take note of the sincerity and boldness with which they have taken on this responsibility; and that, we fully support the upcoming event entitled, "The 1st Regional Conference for Reviving the Arab Disability Movement".

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