RE: WHY CAN'T PITA DO MORE ??? RE: There is hope..., Al-Quds news paper 26/4/01

["Bassem" <belwazir@hally.net>]

Dear All,

This issue is very important and sensitive and an inquiery has to be opened
to identify if any PITA members are involved in any missconduct. Our
successful handling of this matter is crucial to PITA's credibility.

However, before any judgments we have to find out the facts. We should press
for these facts from Mr. Abu Middain and Mahmoud Haj - Ministry of Finance.

After that we should request that due process is implemented and legal
action is taken against those involved (PITA and non PITA members).

Then if they are proven guilty, we should take our role in adopting
appropriate PITA action as per our bylaws as Dr. Mashour noted.

We should not rush and interogate anybody at this point. It is not our job.
Please remember that a defendant is inoccent until proven guilty.


As a board member, I assure all that the board in its last Saturday's
meeting agreed not to drop this issue and to conduct a full inquiery in this
scandal.


Regards

Bassem





-----Original Message-----
From: Mashhour Abudaka [mailto:abudaka@pita-palestine.org]
Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2001 12:03 PM
To: Members of PITA
Subject: RE: WHY CAN'T PITA DO MORE ??? RE: There is hope..., Al-Quds news
paper 26/4/01


Dear Members,
I have some private contacts from members requesting members meeting
specifically on this issue.
Please feedback if you like a meeting next Saturday 3.00 PM! , Place PITA
office
On the agenda
1- Ready to you PITA letter to Minister Abu Medain and up-date if any
2- What else PITA could do

Regards
Mashhour Abudaka

-----Original Message-----
From: Sam Bahour [mailto:sbahour@palnet.com]
Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2001 6:32 PM
To: Members of PITA
Cc: Abudaka@pita-palestine.org
Subject: RE: WHY CAN'T PITA DO MORE ??? RE: There is hope..., Al-Quds news
paper 26/4/01

Tareq,

That falls perfectly in line with what I wrote:

"...making a wider inquiry in hopes of gaining insight/awareness to what
has/is happening..."

Salaam,
Sam


On 6 May 2001,, Tareq Maayah wrote:

> Greetings Sam and all,
> Let us remember that HP is a member in PITA and it is only natural that
> we inquire with them. We have not yet judged HP at all. The issue must
> be tackled on the principle level and that can be done through different
> measures like the one I mentioned in my first message. In addition, the
> issue must be tackled on the individual level and firm actions must be
> taken.
> Once more this is important for PITA.
>
> Let us inquire with the HP local office. Maybe we get an answer that is
> a relief.
>
> Tareq Maayah
> CEO
> __________________________________________________
> SIEMENS Information and Communication Technologies Ltd.
> Al-Massyoun Heights
> P.O. Box 1133
> Ramallah, Palestine
> Tel.: +970 2 296 5740
> Fax: +970 2 296 5742
> Some International Operators are still using the Israeli code 972
> __________________________________________________
> Important Note: This e-mail  may contain trade secrets or
> privileged, undisclosed or other-wise confidential information.  If you
> have
> received this e-mail in error, you are hereby notified that any review,
> copying or distribution of it is strictly prohibited. Please inform us
> immediately and destroy the original transmittal. Thank you for your
> cooperation.
>
>
>  -----Original Message-----
>  From:        Sam Bahour [SMTP:sbahour@palnet.com]
>  Sent:        Sunday, May 06, 2001 6:13 PM
>  To:  Members of PITA
>  Cc:  Abudaka@pita-palestine.org
>  Subject:     RE: WHY CAN'T PITA DO MORE ??? RE: There is
> hope..., Al-Quds news  paper 26/4/01
>
>  Mashhour, Tareq and all,
>
>  If I may weigh in (God forbid) on this issue;-)
>
>  I agree with Tareq of the critical nature of this issue and I
> also agree with
>  Mashhour that we cannot play the role of the judge and
> jury...given our legal
>  system is just as demobilized as every other infrastructure
> institution in the
>  country, I am not holding my breath for justice to be served.
>
>  In the meantime, I suggest that we adopt Tareq's approach of
> making a wider
>  inquiry in hopes of gaining insight/awareness to what has/is
> happening but
>  we should not rush to put PITA in the role of the judicial
> system.
>
>  Maybe Tareq or someone can volunteer to articulate the issue of
> Palestine
>  being "labelled" and multinational firms "potentially
> contributing" to the mess
>  we are in via a solid op-ed to the local media ... at the end of
> the day we can
>  only educate and pick our business partners.
>
>  ...just like in economics, if there was no demand for corrupt
> practices supply
>  would not be so abundant.
>
>  Regards,
>  Sam
>
>
>
>  On 6 May 2001,, Tareq Maayah wrote:
>
>  > Mashhour, let us be clear, we all know what we are talking
> about. And I
>  > mean it. We need to ask HP to give us an explanation. The
> issue is more
>  > important than names. The issue is about PITA.
>  > Tareq
>  >  -----Original Message-----
>  >  From:     PITA [SMTP:abudaka@pita-palestine.org]
>  >  Sent:     Sunday, May 06, 2001 1:35 PM
>  >  To:       Tareq Maayah; Members of PITA
>  >  Subject:  RE: WHY CAN'T PITA DO MORE ??? RE: There is
>  > hope..., Al-Quds news paper 26/4/01
>  >
>  >  Tareq,
>  >  I am in agreement with the tone of your msg but very
>  > disappointed to see you
>  >  mentioning names. If we want to be a respectable country
> surely
>  > we cannot
>  >  start pointing finger until there is a formal indictment and
> a
>  > verdict,
>  >  which is not available in this case. I am sure you will not
> be
>  > happy if
>  >  someone, God forbid, starts dragging you company name in some
>  > un-acceptable
>  >  financial deals! All what we have here are rumors and counter
>  > rumors
>  >  PITA has asked for details and we hope will we will get these
>  > details. Also
>  >  we can ask for transparent and procurement procedure.
>  >
>  >  Let us think how to deal with this matter definitely the PNA
> has
>  > a lot to
>  >  answer on this subject.
>  >  Regards
>  >
>  >  Mashhour Abudaka
>  >
>  >  -----Original Message-----
>  >  From: Tareq Maayah [mailto:tareq.maayah@ict.siemens.com]
>  >  Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2001 12:48 PM
>  >  To: 'abudaka@pita-palestine.org'; Members of PITA
>  >  Subject: WHY CAN'T PITA DO MORE ??? RE: There is hope...,
>  > Al-Quds news paper
>  >  26/4/01
>  >
>  >  Hi Mahhour,
>  >  I am just wondering why nothing else can be done at this
> time.
>  > HP is a
>  >  member of PITA and should immediately be asked to provide an
>  >  explanation.
>  >  This is a real test for PITA. Is PITA going to act when
> needed
>  > against
>  >  practices that hinder the development of the sector. OR is
> PITA
>  > going to
>  >  be another 3rd world country organization that provides lip
>  > services
>  >  only while its members (HP and others) are working against
> the
>  > benefits
>  >  of the sector which they claim they would like to develop for
>  > their own
>  >  good.
>  >  I  warn, that if this issue goes unchecked then all other
>  > international
>  >  companies will refrain from even looking at Palestine as we
> will
>  > all be
>  >  "labeled".
>  >  Please remember that this issue comes about when all donor
>  > countries
>  >  (and even Arab countries) are restricting their help to us on
>  > the basis
>  >  that we are corrupt. This case shows that international
>  > companies are
>  >  adding to the corruption. I propose that we send an urgent
>  > message to
>  >  the American consulate (commercial section) and inform them
> of
>  > the issue
>  >  and ask them to provide clear directions to American
> companies
>  > to work
>  >  in Palestine in accordance to a clear code of business
> ethics.
>  > We should
>  >  also forward this letter to all other international and Arab
>  > commercial
>  >  sections in Palestine.  BUT most importantly, HP as a member
>  > should be
>  >  asked to clear its position or be expelled from PITA in a way
>  > that
>  >  clears our reputation. What would be the position of Paltel,
>  > which we
>  >  all fight its monopoly ( as an impediment to the development
> of
>  > the
>  >  sector)?  If they see a member of PITA engaged in such
>  > practices? DO we
>  >  owe Patel an apology?
>  >
>  >  Guys, we need to act fast.
>  >
>  >  The above is only a personal opinion.
>  >
>  >  Tareq
>  >
>  >
>  >          -----Original Message-----
>  >          From:   PITA [SMTP:abudaka@pita-palestine.org]
>  >          Sent:   Sunday, May 06, 2001 9:49 AM
>  >          To:     Members of PITA
>  >          Subject:        FW: There is hope..., Al-Quds news
> paper
>  > 26/4/01
>  >
>  >          Dear members,
>  >          To keep you informed, PITA has sent a letter to
> Minister
>  > Abu
>  >  Medain in
>  >          connection to this article, PITA offered its support
> to
>  > the
>  >  minister and in
>  >          this letter PITA asked for further information
> regarding
>  > the
>  >  case.
>  >          Obviously, as a responsible organization we could do
>  > nothing
>  >  further in this
>  >          regards except to request the governmental
> departments
>  > to have
>  >  clear and
>  >          transparent procurement procedures. As soon as we get
>  > the
>  >  minister reply I
>  >          will keep you informed.
>  >
>  >          Meanwhile, if you have any question please do not
>  > hesitate to
>  >  directed to me
>  >          or simply send it to the board or you can send it to
> all
>  > members
>  >  at
>  >          members@pita-palestine.org advocacy is one of PITA
> major
>  >  strategic
>  >          interests, definitely PITA should not let this case
> die
>  > away.
>  >
>  >          Regards
>  >
>  >          Mashhour Abudaka
>  >
>  >          -----Original Message-----
>  >          From: general-request@itsig.org
>  >  [mailto:general-request@itsig.org]On Behalf
>  >          Of Sam Bahour
>  >          Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2001 3:21 PM
>  >          To: general@itsig.org
>  >          Subject: There is hope...
>  >
>  >          Read today, before tomorrow's edition is posted...
>  >
>  >          http://www.alquds.com/today/front/news2.html
>  >
>  >
>
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>  Sam Bahour, Partner
>  Applied Information Management (AIM)
>  P.O. Box 2323, Ramallah
>  West Bank, Palestine
>  Tel. 970/2-(0)2-298-1566
>  Fax. 970/2-(0)2-298-1567
>  Cell.970/2-(0)59-378-278
>  E-mail: sbahour@palnet.com or
>  sbahour1998@alum.kellogg.northwestern.edu
>  http://www.aim-palestine.com
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>  Information and Communications Technology Research & Consulting
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>