<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)">
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="State" downloadurl="http://www.5iamas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="City" downloadurl="http://www.5iamas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="place" downloadurl="http://www.5iantlavalamp.com/"/>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Verdana;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"\0027\5B8B\4F53";}
@font-face
{font-family:"\@\0027\5B8B\4F53";}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoPlainText, li.MsoPlainText, div.MsoPlainText
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@page Section1
{size:369.75pt 484.5pt;
margin:33.9pt 0in 48.25pt 0in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:566690170;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:-1917158192 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0B7;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="2050" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Hi everyone,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>There was some agreement on this list a few days back that IGC will do
well to engage the IGF process by posing some issues/ questions, especially with
respect to the mandate of the IGF given in the Tunis agenda vis-à-vis its
present structure, activities, and future possibilities.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>I am not sure how we can interpose such a statement from the IGC into
the IGF process, but assuming there should be some way to do it, I am proposing
a draft of a few issues that I think are necessary to be raised. Some of these
issues have been picked up form the list discussions – like funding developing
country CS participants, transparency on IGF processes and easy availability of
information, and possibility of setting up working groups around specific
issues…. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Since, I assume any such position will be issued in form of a statement;
I have also put these questions in a rough statement kind of a draft. It for everyone’s
consideration. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>To repeat, it is a rough first draft, so that others can contribute and
work collaboratively. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Parminder <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Some Questions from the Internet Governance Civil Society
Caucus to the Internet Governance Forum <o:p></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>We consider the IGF as one of the most important
outcomes of the WSIS process, and it promises to be an innovation in the arena
of global governance. Quite appropriately, such an innovation is being tried in
connection with the governance of a phenomenon, the Internet, that itself
represents the greatest innovation of our times, and which promises to alter
the very nature of global interactions, and therefore also global public policy
spaces. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 face=Verdana><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>It is also to be expected that such an innovation will
go through elaborate rites of passage, and accompanying pains. We are all
together in this process, and the IGC promise all the cooperation and
assistance to the IGF process on behalf of the civil society constituencies
that it represents. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 face=Verdana><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Since we are in the formative stages of this unique
governance innovation, it is important that we often introspect on where are we
headed and how close are we to our original intent and mandate. It is in this
connection, and with an entirely constructive purpose, that we want to address
the following issues to the IGF process. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 face=Verdana><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 face=Verdana><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font
size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>What exactly
constitutes the IGF? Is it only an open space, where everyone can come and
express opinion? If so, how is this open space different from any other
open space where free discussion can take place? What is the special UN
character and legitimacy of the IGF? How is it (to be) expressed in
practice? (This brings us to the earlier question – how is it different
from any other discursive space, and if different, how is this
‘difference’ to be expressed in practice?)<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 face=Verdana><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font
size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>If we look at the
mandate of the IGF in paragraph 72 of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Tunis</st1:State></st1:place> agenda some parts of this
mandate, like part (a), (b) and (d), can adequately be fulfilled by IGF
remaining just as an open discursive space. However, there are other parts
of the mandate – like part (c) ‘…interface with appropriate…
institutions’; (e) ‘….advice all stakeholder….’; (k) ‘… help find
solutions…’ ; and most significantly, part (g) ‘… identify emerging
issues….and make recommendations…’; all of which clearly bespeak an strong
element of agency on the part of the IGF. We are not sure how IGF plans to
meet these parts of its mandate, which is a point we request clarification
on. For instance, in terms of part (c), what is IGF’s plan for and means
of interface with, say, ICANN. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 face=Verdana><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font
size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>IGF will meet once a
year. What happens to the periods in between? Internet is a fast changing
terrain, and a number of public policy issues keep cropping up by the day.
Some of these may be very urgent, and require some immediate response. How
does IGF organize itself between the annual meetings? Other than the
consideration of urgent issues coming up, it is in any case important to keep
up some year round engagement and preparations for effective-ness of IGF’s
annual meetings. There have been suggestions of forming ‘working groups’
in the IGF process around important issues and areas, and some precedent
is found in other WSIS follow-up activities, including WSIS action
line-wise follow up mechanisms. Will IGF explore such a mechanism of
‘working groups’ on different issues working, on an ongoing basis, through
virtual as well as face-to-face means? <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 face=Verdana><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font
size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>We also will like to
see more transparency and inclusiveness in IGF processes. Information
about the manner of MAG and SAG selections, their processes and outcomes
should be made available more transparently, and efficiently. We are very
concerned about the fact that while there may already be issues about
representation of developing counties and other disadvantaged interests in
IGF bodies – the MAG and the SAG – the situation is made worse by the fact
that there are no provisions to cover the travel of the members from such
groups to participate in various IGF deliberations. This makes the balance
of ‘actual representation’ in the IGF even worse, and we will like to know
what does IGF plan to do about this issue? A global public policy space
where seats are acquired as per capacity to pay (or self-fund) is a
dangerous proposition. This issue stands out even more strongly in the
context of the fact that the IGF is mandated to ‘strengthen and enhance
the engagement of stakeholders in existing and/or future Internet governance
mechanisms, particularly those from developing countries’ (part f of
paragraph 72 of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Tunis</st1:State></st1:place>
agenda).<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 face=Verdana><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font
size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Part (i) of paragraph
72 of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Tunis</st1:State></st1:place>
agenda mandates IGF to ‘promote and assess’ implementation of WSIS
principles in Internet governance processes. We will like to know how does
IGF plan to do this? Paragraph 61, speaks of the ‘need to initiate……..a
transparent, democratic, and multilateral process’ which could ‘envisage
creation of a suitable framework or mechanisms’ for IG. And paragraphs 69,
70 and 71 call for a process of ‘enhanced cooperation’ for </span></font>development
of ‘globally-applicable principles on public policy issues’, a process
which should have been initiated by the first quarter of the 2006. We do
not see any activity in this regard at all, which is a non-fulfillment of
an express mandate given by the WSIS. How does IGF propose to engage with
this issue? In this respect, it may be important to note that many people
had expected some linkages between such new IG related global processes
and the IGF, whereby IGF plays a facilitative role. <o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 face=Verdana><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Once again we express our strong appreciation for the
value that the IGF brings to global policy arena, and we hope that its
relevance is enhanced in keeping with the expectation of the WSIS from it. The
above exercise is an attempt in that direction, and we commit ourselves to full
cooperation with the IGF process. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 face=Verdana><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 face=Verdana><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Parminder Jeet Singh<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>IT for Change, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangalore</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Tel: (+91-80) 2665 4134, 2653 6890<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Fax: (+91-80) 4146 1055<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>www.ITforChange.net <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>