PCV Matt Barison says: Peace Corps tells PCVs in Uzbekistan: Volunteers / Trainees must avoid becoming involved in the political affairs of their host country



PCV Matt Barison says: Peace Corps tells PCVs in Uzbekistan: Volunteers / Trainees must avoid becoming involved in the political affairs of their host country

Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da
May 19th, 2005

[Excerpt]

So checking my inbox today I received a note from one of the PC admin people in Tashkent. It was not directed at me specifically, but since so many of us are keeping blogs, it does apply to me. Basically she doesn’t want us to blab to the media, which has apparently attempted to contact some PCVs for information:

Volunteers / Trainees must avoid becoming involved in the political affairs of their host country. Any public statement or action which potentially may involve a V/T with host country political issues or other controversial issues within the host country, or which are otherwise matters of official concern to Peace Corps, must be first discussed and reviewed with the Country Director. “Matters of official concern” are those that are related to Peace Corps or U.S. foreign policy, or matters that can reasonably be expected to affect the foreign relations of the United States. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action, up to and including, administrative separation.

…

V/Ts should be aware, however, that public political expression overseas may raise issues of V/T safety and security if the issues could provoke hostility locally. V/Ts should also be aware that, particularly in the area of foreign affairs, some policies or actions of the United States or other countries may relate to political issues or other controversial issues within the host country. A V/T’s statements or actions concerning such issues that may, in the opinion of the Country Director, endanger the safety and security of the individual V/T or the post, or impair the effectiveness of the Peace Corps or the individual V/T, may be grounds for administrative separation or other disciplinary action.

So, since I don’t wish to be separated from my service this early into it, I am going to keep my analysis about the current situation to the previous post for now.

But, this does not mean I am going to be mute about things here in UZ. Those who know me personally know that I certainly don’t roll over in the face of a rulebook. Though in this case I do agree that some comments could endanger the program or other volunteers, I will certainly continue to keep people abreast on the pulse of life here.

When this story was posted in May 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:


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May 7, 2005: This Week's Top Stories "Peace Corps Online" on recess until May 21 7 May Carol Bellamy taking the reins at World Learning 7 May Gopal Khanna appointed White House CFO 7 May Clare Bastable named Conservationist of the Year 7 May Director Gaddi Vasquez visits PCVs in Bulgaria 5 May Abe Pena sets up scholarship fund 5 May Peace Corps closes recruiting sites 4 May Hill pessimistic over Korean nuclear program 4 May Leslie Hawke says PC should split into two organizations 4 May Peace Corps helps students find themselves 3 May Kevin Griffith's Tsunami Assistance Project collects 50k 3 May Tim Wright studied Quechua at UCLA 2 May Doyle not worried about competition 2 May Dodd discusses President's Social Security plan 1 May Randy Mager works in Blue Moon Safaris 1 May PCVs safe in Togo after disputed elections 30 Apr Michael Sells teaches Islamic History and Literature 28 Apr

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May 7, 2005: Special Events "Iowa in Ghana" on exhibit in Waterloo through June 30 "American Taboo" author Phil Weiss in Maryland on June 18 Leland Foerster opens photo exhibition at Cal State RPCV Writers scholarship in Baltimore - deadline June 1 Gary Edwards' music performed in Idaho on May 24 RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

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