sreda, 30.1.2008 10:48
Do you speak English?
tako tako ampak tokrat je epizoda duhamorne nadaljevanke brez podnapisov
Rafael Zupančič Raf Nove Fužine 40 1000 Ljubljana - Slovenia Phone: + 386 31 738 129 E-mail: rafael.zupancic@guest.arnes.si
Ljubljana, 28 th of January 2008
Mrs. Carlotta Besozzi, EDF Director 39-41, Rue du Commerce 1000 – Brussels Belgium
SUBJECT: Protest against discrimination leaded by Mr. Boris Šuštaršič.
Dear Mrs. Carlotta Besozzi, EDF Director,
I have in front of me the English translations of papers that have been distributed to you and many other organisations and institutions inside the EU signed by Mr. Boris Šustaršič, President of Muscular Dystrophy Assosiation and NSIOS - Slovene National Council of Disabled People's Organisations (correct translation of the NSIOS must be National Council of Slovene Disability Organisations).
In these papers, my name has been used and various allegations made which are untrue and are not only slanderous but also symbolise a wider discrimination disabled people in Slovenia and the wider EU.
I am writing to your organisation to protest against the lies told in the NSIOS papers about myself and my activities in the field of disability rights in Slovenia. I have proof and witnesses to show that over many years Mr. Šustaršič has discriminated against me personally and many other disabled people, on the sole grounds that we do not agree with, or share, his ideas and views. In December 2007, I had the opportunity to explain, in the Slovenian Parliament, the details of the misrepresentations made against me to the Committee for Petitions and Human Rights. At this session I gave the President of the Committee a detailed file with proof that Mr. Boris Šustaršič has been, for many years, acting illegally as the President of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (at least from 2003 to 2007) and how he has exploited his privileged position to discriminate against myself and many other disabled people. On the same day as my Committee presentation, Mr. Šustaršič was confirmed as a State Councillor for Social Welfare despite the fact that he has consistently acted outside the due legal procedures and there is a case pending about these matters in the Constitutional Court of Slovenia. His appointment, however, means that he effectively has legal immunity now and is untouchable – probably for the next five years.
For more than 15 years he had used public money, not to provide services, but to use legal procedures to silence individuals and to close down the smaller and newer disability organisations in Slovenia.
I cannot explain here in detail all the tragic stories about, and implications of, his actions, but I would like to clearly say as a Slovenian and EU citizen I have had enough of his insinuations and manipulations against successful projects which truly promote the independent living of disabled people.
I went on hunger strike because of his actions against independent living in front of the Slovenian Parliament in the summer of 2005. The Slovenian authorities did nothing and our so- called democratic government effectively sanctioned me being removed from my accommodation and quite literally I was thrown on the street - despite my disability which requires full time caring support, and without any chance to defend my dignity and integrity.
In a subsequent legal case, the Regular Court recognised both state and institutional discrimination against me. I therefore had a moral victory, but this could never compensate for all the damage done to me.
I am writing to request that EDF take action to stop Mr. Boris Šustaršič continuing to undertake illegal activities which discriminate against disabled individuals and the organisations of disabled people.
I see you are an organisation that believes in self-advocacy, which campaigns for the right of disabled people to be fully involved in European policy-making process and you are a democratic organisation, in which it is your members who decide upon your work programme and policy positions. Please then, do something in this case if we are to fight for the inclusion of disabled people in society as a right and challenge the out-of-date charitable approaches to disability.
With compliments,
Rafael Zupančič Raf
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