NEDISY has questioned the response of AKEL and EDON to allegations concerning the Board of Directors of the Youth Board of Cyprus (ONEK) and its president. The Democratic Rally youth wing said neither organisation had called for explanations, investigations, accountability or resignations, despite the claims having been in the public domain for three days.
Allegations concerning ONEK
According to NEDISY, the allegations relate to funding, a potential conflict of interest, the alleged failure to implement decisions backed by a majority of the Board of Directors, and questions surrounding declared academic qualifications.
The organisation also referred to an EDON statement issued last February, in which it spoke of “institutional impropriety” at ONEK and demanded immediate action from the government.
NEDISY statement in full
“We are deeply struck by AKEL’s deafening silence.
“In any other case, AKEL and its youth wing would already have demanded explanations, investigations, accountability and resignations. Yet in the case of ONEK, following extremely serious allegations concerning funding, a conflict of interest, failure to implement decisions taken by the majority of the Board of Directors and questions surrounding declared academic qualifications, it has chosen silence.
“For three days, the public has been faced with extremely serious allegations concerning the operation of ONEK’s Board of Directors and its president.
“Unlike the rest of society, however, AKEL does not appear to have been particularly shocked by these reports.
“It is, at the very least, paradoxical. EDON has known for months that there were very serious problems at ONEK. Last February, in its own statement, it spoke of ‘institutional impropriety’ and demanded immediate action from the government. Today, however, now that the allegations have become specific and concern funding and a conflict of interest, its concern for accountability appears to have vanished.
“AKEL knows very well how to demand resignations, independent investigations and accountability when serious allegations emerge. It is difficult to understand why there is now such silence.
“And because this silence has become deafening, the question is simple: why, unlike in every other case, are AKEL and its youth wing now choosing not to speak?
“The very least one would expect is for them to show the same concern for transparency and accountability today that they so readily demonstrate in every other case.
“Concern for transparency cannot be switched on and off along party lines or only when convenient.
“Deliberate silence in the face of such serious allegations is a political choice.”
