January 14, 2009
Dato' Yeoh Choo Hock
Secretary General
FIBA Asia
Attn: FIBA Asia Executive Board Members
Re: Official Complaint and Sanction against Patrick Baumann
1. Racial Discrimination Against Asians;
2. Dismissal of the Unsigned from the FIBA Youth
Commission Without Due Process.
Dear Dato' Yeoh,
During the FIBA Asia Executive Board meeting in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran on August 31, 2008, I was advised to file a formal complaint against Mr. Patrick Baumann for his racist remarks and his dismissal of the undersigned as a member of the FIBA Youth Commissioner without due process, and hope this will be taken up during the next FIBA Asia Executive Committee Meeting come January 19, 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
First, the racist remarks.
This happened during my first appearance at the FIBA Youth Commission meeting in Geneva, Switzerland in November 2007. There, I was verbally abused in front of many foreign dignitaries and members of the FIBA Youth Commission.
Secondly, my dismissal from the FIBA Youth Commission in May 2008 without due process!
I was dismissed as a member of the FIBA Youth Commission without ever citing the reasons for my ouster. It was a disgusting disrespect of a person's right to know what violations or charges are being hurled at him. It certainly has no place in a civilized society. This does not speak well of Baumann, who ironically claims to be a lawyer. The right to due process is sacred.
Now, may I know what FIBA Asia intends to do with my complaints? Will we just allow Patrick Baumann to bully us Asians in case we do not agree with his dictatorial policies? Or do we fight for what is right and truthful? And the humiliating attacks against Asians, do we just keep quiet and cover our faces because of our personal interests? Or do we resist racism within the FIBA organization and declare ourselves equal to people of any race?
Today, I ask you all, where does FIBA Asia stand in all of my accusations against Baumann?
I condemn, in the strongest terms, FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann's boorish behavior and unfair treatment of the undersigned, an Asian. To belittle Asians, as the despotic Baumann has done, is truly unacceptable.
Furthermore, to put on record, I am protesting the way FIBA has treated the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), a member in good standing with the FIBA since 1936 which was unceremoniously kicked out of the organization a few years ago because of Baumann's machinations and undue interference in our local basketball organization.
The Bangkok Agreement that was signed on February 4, 2007 should be respected because the agreement called for the merger as a national basketball federation in the Philippines to be known as BAP-SBP, and not SBP, a diversionary tactic that is being perpetuated by SBP's Manuel Pangilinan and its cohorts.
Even Baumann was a signatory to the Bangkok Agreement. But now he disowns it to suit his needs. Interfering with what is an internal matter. Mr. Baumann shamelessly is siding with Mr. Pangilinan's group for his own financial interests. FIBA Asia was also signatories.
Kindly be informed that the truly elected officials of the BAP-SBP are Honorable Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte and Honorable Prospero A. Pichay Jr. as BAP-SBP Chairman and BAP-SBP President, respectively; and Mr. Christian D. Tan is elected as the BAP-SBP Executive Director.
It's NOT those personages who were named in a bogus election, such as the moneyed Mr. Manuel Pangilinan and disgraced Mr. Emmanuel Eala. Mr. Eala is a disbarred lawyer whom our Supreme Court has ruled as guilty of immorality and whom our professional league-PBA, even kicked out as its commissioner. Now, Pangilinan is conspiring with Eala to destroy the BAP.
We should never tolerate the misdeeds of Baumann for this may later affect the honor and respect of the FIBA itself. If this happens, it will be a disgrace to the entire international sporting community.
Please help guide us. We are seeking for what is fair, truthful and just, not only for me and the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) but also for Asians in general. In God's will, the truth shall prevail and only the truth shall set us free.
Respectfully yours,
GRAHAM C. LIM
Secretary General
Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP)
cc. FIBA Asia Members
Dato' Yeoh Choo Hock
Secretary General
FIBA Asia
Attn: FIBA Asia Executive Board Members
Re: Official Complaint and Sanction against Patrick Baumann
1. Racial Discrimination Against Asians;
2. Dismissal of the Unsigned from the FIBA Youth
Commission Without Due Process.
Dear Dato' Yeoh,
During the FIBA Asia Executive Board meeting in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran on August 31, 2008, I was advised to file a formal complaint against Mr. Patrick Baumann for his racist remarks and his dismissal of the undersigned as a member of the FIBA Youth Commissioner without due process, and hope this will be taken up during the next FIBA Asia Executive Committee Meeting come January 19, 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
First, the racist remarks.
This happened during my first appearance at the FIBA Youth Commission meeting in Geneva, Switzerland in November 2007. There, I was verbally abused in front of many foreign dignitaries and members of the FIBA Youth Commission.
Secondly, my dismissal from the FIBA Youth Commission in May 2008 without due process!
I was dismissed as a member of the FIBA Youth Commission without ever citing the reasons for my ouster. It was a disgusting disrespect of a person's right to know what violations or charges are being hurled at him. It certainly has no place in a civilized society. This does not speak well of Baumann, who ironically claims to be a lawyer. The right to due process is sacred.
Now, may I know what FIBA Asia intends to do with my complaints? Will we just allow Patrick Baumann to bully us Asians in case we do not agree with his dictatorial policies? Or do we fight for what is right and truthful? And the humiliating attacks against Asians, do we just keep quiet and cover our faces because of our personal interests? Or do we resist racism within the FIBA organization and declare ourselves equal to people of any race?
Today, I ask you all, where does FIBA Asia stand in all of my accusations against Baumann?
I condemn, in the strongest terms, FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann's boorish behavior and unfair treatment of the undersigned, an Asian. To belittle Asians, as the despotic Baumann has done, is truly unacceptable.
Furthermore, to put on record, I am protesting the way FIBA has treated the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), a member in good standing with the FIBA since 1936 which was unceremoniously kicked out of the organization a few years ago because of Baumann's machinations and undue interference in our local basketball organization.
The Bangkok Agreement that was signed on February 4, 2007 should be respected because the agreement called for the merger as a national basketball federation in the Philippines to be known as BAP-SBP, and not SBP, a diversionary tactic that is being perpetuated by SBP's Manuel Pangilinan and its cohorts.
Even Baumann was a signatory to the Bangkok Agreement. But now he disowns it to suit his needs. Interfering with what is an internal matter. Mr. Baumann shamelessly is siding with Mr. Pangilinan's group for his own financial interests. FIBA Asia was also signatories.
Kindly be informed that the truly elected officials of the BAP-SBP are Honorable Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte and Honorable Prospero A. Pichay Jr. as BAP-SBP Chairman and BAP-SBP President, respectively; and Mr. Christian D. Tan is elected as the BAP-SBP Executive Director.
It's NOT those personages who were named in a bogus election, such as the moneyed Mr. Manuel Pangilinan and disgraced Mr. Emmanuel Eala. Mr. Eala is a disbarred lawyer whom our Supreme Court has ruled as guilty of immorality and whom our professional league-PBA, even kicked out as its commissioner. Now, Pangilinan is conspiring with Eala to destroy the BAP.
We should never tolerate the misdeeds of Baumann for this may later affect the honor and respect of the FIBA itself. If this happens, it will be a disgrace to the entire international sporting community.
Please help guide us. We are seeking for what is fair, truthful and just, not only for me and the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) but also for Asians in general. In God's will, the truth shall prevail and only the truth shall set us free.
Respectfully yours,
GRAHAM C. LIM
Secretary General
Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP)
cc. FIBA Asia Members
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