CSO Reps to EITI: 'We will not be silenced'

More than 100 CSO representatives present in Lima, Peru last February 23 chanted ‘we will not be silenced’ to a defiant EITI Secretariat and EITI Association after the international MSG elections pushed through without quorum and amidst irregularities.

The protests and boycott came in the midst of strong urging from the Publish What You Pay coalition to uphold due process in the acceptance of nominees to the election. The coalition raised the fact that EITI Secretariat accepted CSO nominees from questionable organisations without consultation or approval of the concerned constituency. The six nominees deemed questionable by PWYP later withdrew. Outgoing-EITI Chair Clare Short, however, claims no irregularities were made further aggravating the issue at hand.

An uproar in social media followed after various institutions released statements and dismay to the turnout of events. CSO reps from the Asia Pacific called “upon those involved in this transgression to be held accountable in order for EITI to continue with its credibility and integrity intact.”
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The issues were already brought to the table during the first international EITI MSG meeting with PWYP’s new Executive Director Elisa Peters outlining conditions that the coalition has set. EITI Chair Fredrik Reinfeldt has committed to resolving issues mentioned.