Twitter
Facebook
Google+
Instagram
Within days for the General Assembly of the Pan American Taekwondo Union in Sucre, Bolivia, the feeling that there will be no elections continues in the air, although many do not want to accept that this is practically decided.
On September 17 we published the article entitled Have PATU elections been suspended in Sucre? sparking discomfort on PATU leader, Ji Ho Choi, and motivated us to communicate directly with him to hear his impression. That interview was titled: Ji Ho Choi assures that there will be elections in Sucre
According to the notification sent by the Secretary General of PATU, it reports about the progress in the organization of the Pan American Taekwondo Championships to be held in Sucre and also discloses the various applications for positions within the Pan American Union and reads as follows: “PATU elections for the Executive Committee and Board for the next four years will be held during the General Assembly as specified in its statutes.” But according to Article 20 paragraph 6 of the WTF Statutes, the Continental Unions shall hold elections six months after the elections of the World Federation, therefore PATU elections in Sucre, would have to be for one year instead of four years since the WTF elections will be held in July 2013.
If you read this paragraph carefully, speaking of elections for the next four years, But according to Article 20 paragraph 6 of the WTF Statutes, the Continental Unions shall hold elections six months after the elections of the World Federation, therefore PATU elections in Sucre, would have to be for one year instead of four years since the WTF elections will be held in July 2013.
Since the article disclosed the various applications for positions and the only opposition for Ji Ho Choi was the president of the Panamanian Association of Taekwondo, Dr. Varo Barragán, we decided to call and consult him on this subject, to which he replied as follows:
“Tomorrow I will be informing Roberto Beltrán Ramonetti that I will not travel to Bolivia and therefore withdraw my candidacy for president of PATU and I will proceed to explain the reason why: A few months ago I had an accident that kept me retired therefore I was not able to travel to the World Championship held in Egypt, where I was invited to referee and also given the circumstances of the location of the Pan American Championship, I will not able to be present and I do not seem right to run for a candidacy if I can not be there. On the other hand I would like to prepare well for the elections that will be in about a year or year and a half, six months after the elections of The World”
Do you believe there will be elections now?
I personally think it makes sense that they do not take place, because if they would have to be repeated again within such short time, I do not consider them worth now. But that’s my personal opinion.
But you say it based on personal experience, right?
Look, I’m the oldest president of all the Pan-American Union since 1989, I have seen many presidents come and go, I was once PATU president for a year and I know how it works and personally I think that it would be foolish to make elections now. I think the same board should continue and elections should be held under the new rules of the World Federation.
Dr. We thank you very much for your attention and for this important announcement which confirms that if there would be elections in Sucre, we will not have you as a candidate. Furthermore we wish you a prompt recovery and we also hope to see you soon.
Thank you very much and let me inform you that I was invited to the World Team Championships for Teams to be held in Aruba, so we’ll be seeing soon.
Claudio Aranda, Exclusive masTaekwondo.com
Translation: Silvana Ramírez Cuevas