Dear Mehman (and Wikimedia folks in copy for transparency),

I am contacting you as you are currently the highest responsible person (Vice-Chair) in the Affiliations Committee.

As Manavpreet Kaur (current AffCom's Staff Liaison) is candidating for a Movement Charter Drafting Committee, and AffCom is for (at least) months showing issues about its work, which I consider that would be detrimental for the work of the Movement Charter Drafting Committee if they would be present there, and it is unclear what it Manavpreet's role in these AffCom's issues, I ask you to  publicly respond to the questions below. (I have already asked Manavpreet to respond them but she have stated that she won't be able to respond them [1] [2])

(I present the questions first and the context below, so it is easier for low-involved folks to get the core part)

Questions:

  1. Do you personally consider the AffCom's happenings presented below to be in line with Wikimedia Foundation Guiding Principles (especially Transparency and Accountability)?
    1. If not, has Manavpreet done already something to rectify AffCom's activity to be in full alignment with them? What has Manavpreet done?
    2. If yes, please briefly clarify how (in your opinion) they are showing Transparency and Accountability.
  2. What is Manavpreet's role in the AffCom's happenings presented below? (have Manavpreet supported / encouraged / decided them? or have Manavpreet tried to prevent them / discourage them? or have Manavpreet just fully neutraly executed decisions that leaded to them? have Manavpreet presented objections that the decisions are against Wikimedia Foundation Guiding Principles or similar rules / recommendations / ...? or something else? please be concrete)
  3. As much of the presented cases show AffCom's issues about clear, proactive communication, do you consider Manavpreet to be capable enough to clearly, proactively, helpfully communicate in the high responsibility role of Movement Charter Drafting Committee member?
    1. If it is not Manavpreet who is the source of AffCom's communication issues, who is?
  4. Do you believe that Manavpreet will not "import" AffCom-like issues to the Movement Charter Drafting Committee? If yes, on what basis?

Context:

I am in contact with Manavpreet mostly because of her role of Staff Liaison of Affiliations Committee (AffCom), which relates with my roles of (ex)Chair of some Wikimedia Affiliations. While AffCom have for years reputation of slowresponsedness, it was understanable because of its structure (which, in turn, is understanable because of its high responsibilities) and was rather only a little anoyance, not a big deal. But that have changed (for worse) at least several months ago and AffCom is still very reluctant to provide more information about it. Several specific cases for ilustration:

I understand that Manavpreet personally is not an AffCom and not a voting member. At the same time, I understand that Manavpreet is a paid staff member whose job is liaisoning for AffCom and is often in contact with at least some affiliations and proposed affiliations. So Manavpreet's responsibility to AffCom is still present, although I do not know what is its span.


[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Manavpreet_Kaur#Your_role_in_AffCom%27s_issues_in_relation_to_your_Movement_Charter_Drafting_Committee_member_candidacy
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Diff/22236019

Looking for your answers!
KuboF Hromoslav (Michal Matúšov)