Petition For Transparency and Accountability UPEACE Submitted

On October 3, 2007, Ms. Rebecca Davis, a UPEACE alumna, electronically submitted the 'Petition for Transparency and Accountability at UPEACE' to Mr. John Maresca, UPEACE Rector, and the members of the UPEACE Council, on behalf of the petition signatories. Below is a copy of the cover letter sent by email, and the email responses received from Mr. Maresca and Ambassador Mohamed Sahnoun, Vice-Chair of the UPEACE Council and Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General.

Copy of the cover letter:

The Rector
University for Peace
P.O. Box 138-6100
Ciudad Colon
Costa Rica

October 3, 2007

Dear Sir,

Sub: Petition for Transparency and Accountability at the University for Peace

Greetings. As you may be aware, members of the University for Peace (UPEACE) student and alumni community have initiated an open petition to request the UPEACE administration and the UPEACE Council Members to take certain actions towards ensuring transparency and accountability in all workings of UPEACE.

We request your attention to our petition, attached herewith, which has been signed by 273 signatories, including 167 members of the UPEACE faculty, staff, students and alumni community.

Please also find attached testimonials written by UPEACE faculty, staff, students and alumni signifying their personal and professional experiences with Prof. (Dr.) Ronnie de Camino Velozo. We believe that the loss of Prof. de Camino's full-time or resident faculty status at UPEACE shall greatly impact the quality and integrity of UPEACE programmes.

We hope that you will find our requested actions to be in the spirit of peaceful, open and accountable participation of all UPEACE members in the development of UPEACE, and shall call for an open meeting to discuss these actions, inviting the participation of representatives of faculty, staff, field personnel, students and alumni.

Thanking you,

Sincerely,

Signatories of the Petition for Transparency and Accountability at UPEACE


Response from Mr. John Maresca, UPEACE Rector:

Dear Rebecca,

I acknowledge receipt of the documents you sent me with your e-mail message of October 2, 2007.

I will study these documents carefully, and will give the ideas and suggestions they contain full
consideration.

With best regards, John Maresca


Response from Ambassador Mohamed Sahnoun, Vice-Chair of the UPEACE Council and Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General:

Dear Rebecca Davis,
I am glad to acknowledge receipt of your message and I
will give it my full attention as requested. Transparency
and accoutability are absolutely essential indeed.
Sincerely
M.S.