<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 http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><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="country-region" downloadurl="http://www.5iantlavalamp.com/"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="place" downloadurl="http://www.5iantlavalamp.com/"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="PersonName" downloadurl="http://www.microsoft.com"/>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Arial Narrow";
panose-1:2 11 5 6 2 2 2 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:Arial;
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
@page Section1
{size:595.3pt 841.9pt;
margin:70.85pt 70.85pt 70.85pt 70.85pt;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</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=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Hi Philippe<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>IT for Change supports the letter.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>However, though this does not affect our
support, a bit of editing may add great value to the document. Especially
please consider replacing<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=3 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>We therefore call on the Iranian
authorities to <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>maintain the respect of their
peers throughout the international community by honoring the commitments they
have frequently and freely made in this regard, by abandoning further actions
against ICTRC and allowing the activities to proceed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><b><font size=3 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>with<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><b><font size=3 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><b><font size=3 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>We therefore call
upon the Iranian authorities to honor their commitments made in various international
forums, including at WSIS, with regard to freedom of expression and the rights and
roles of civil society, by allowing ICTRC to carry on its lawful activities,
and abandoning any further actions against them, while rescinding all earlier
actions that prevent it from carry on its lawful activities. <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I must repeat that if it is difficult to
make these changes because of any reason, our supports stand even for the present
version of the letter. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Parminder <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=gray face="Arial Narrow"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:gray'>________________________________________________</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=gray face="Arial Narrow"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:gray'>Parminder Jeet
Singh</span></font><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=gray face="Arial Narrow"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:gray'>IT for Change, <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangalore</st1:place></st1:City></span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><i><font size=2 color=gray face="Arial Narrow"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:gray'>Bridging
Development Realities and Technological Possibilities</span></font></i></em><font
size=2 color=gray face="Arial Narrow"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Arial Narrow";color:gray'> </span></font><font color=navy><span
style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=gray face="Arial Narrow"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:gray'>Tel: (+91-80)
2665 4134, 2653 6890</span></font><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=gray face="Arial Narrow"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:gray'>Fax: (+91-80)
4146 1055<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'><a href="http://www.itforchange.net/"
title="http://www.itforchange.net/"><em><i><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial
title="http://www.itforchange.net/"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:navy;text-decoration:none'>www.ITforChange.net</span></font></i></em></a></span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div style='border:none;border-left:solid blue 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
plenary-admin@wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin@wsis-cs.org] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>CONGO WSIS - Philippe Dam<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, July 11, 2007
11:23 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">plenary@wsis-cs.org</st1:PersonName>;
bureau@wsis-cs.org; governance@lists.cpsr.org<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Cc:</span></b> rbloem@ngocongo.org; '<st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">CONGO</st1:place></st1:country-region> -
Philippe Dam'<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [WSIS CS-Plenary] Closure
of ICTRC Office in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tehran</st1:place></st1:City>
- Letter for support open for signature<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Importance:</span></b> High</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=FR style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Dear all, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=FR style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>A couple of months ago, I forwarded an e-mail
received from our WSIS colleague Mr. Sohrab Razzaghi, announcing that the
office of the NGO he is the Executive Director of was closed and sealed</span></font><span
lang=EN-GB> </span><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>by the Revolutionary Court without any legal justification
or accusations. Apparently the situation has not evolved and that the staff was
prevented to work. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>This is of particular concern for all of us because
the <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>focal points for West Asia</span></b> <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>and the <st1:place w:st="on">Middle East</st1:place></span></b>
within the <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Civil Society Bureau</span></b>
during the WSIS preparatory phase were member of the ICTRC. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>A group of NGOs have drafted a support letter
regretting the closure of the ICTRC office and asking for clarification to the
Iranian Authorities. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>You are invited to consider signing this support letter.
I particularly encourage all formerly CSB members to look into it, in support
for our partners during the WSIS process.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I’ll be happy to forward your signatures to the
coordinators of this initiative.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>All the best, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=FR style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Philippe<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:120%'><st1:PersonName ProductID="Philippe Dam" w:st="on"><b><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=FR style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:
120%;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>Philippe Dam</span></font></b></st1:PersonName><b><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=FR style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:
120%;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold'><br>
<u1:PLACE u2:st="on"><u1:COUNTRY-REGION u2:st="on"><u3:country-region u4:insAuthor="Inter" u4:insDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z" u4:endInsAuthor="Inter" u4:endInsDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z"><u5:COUNTRY-REGION u6:endInsDate="2005-06-07T16:35:00Z" u6:endInsAuthor="Inter" u6:insDate="2005-06-07T16:35:00Z" u6:insAuthor="Inter"><u5:PLACE u6:endInsDate="2005-06-07T16:35:00Z" u6:endInsAuthor="Inter" u6:insDate="2005-06-07T16:35:00Z" u6:insAuthor="Inter"><u3:place u4:insAuthor="Inter" u4:insDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z" u4:endInsAuthor="Inter" u4:endInsDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z">CONGO
-</u3:place></u5:PLACE></u5:COUNTRY-REGION> WSIS CS Secretariat <br>
</u3:country-region></u1:COUNTRY-REGION></u1:PLACE><ns0:country-region u7:insAuthor="Inter" u7:insDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z" u7:endInsAuthor="Inter" u7:endInsDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z"><u1:PLACE u2:st="on"><u1:COUNTRY-REGION u2:st="on"><ns0:place u7:insAuthor="Inter" u7:insDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z" u7:endInsAuthor="Inter" u7:endInsDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z"></ns0:place></u1:COUNTRY-REGION></u1:PLACE></ns0:country-region>11,
Avenue de <u1:PERSONNAME u2:st="on" ProductID="la Paix"><ns0:PersonName u7:insAuthor="Inter" u7:insDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z" u7:endInsAuthor="Inter" u7:endInsDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z" ns1:ProductID="la Paix">la
Paix</ns0:PersonName></u1:PERSONNAME><br>
CH-1202 <u1:PLACE u2:st="on"><u1:CITY u2:st="on"><ns0:City u7:insAuthor="Inter" u7:insDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z" u7:endInsAuthor="Inter" u7:endInsDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z"><ns0:place u7:insAuthor="Inter" u7:insDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z" u7:endInsAuthor="Inter" u7:endInsDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z">Geneva</ns0:place></ns0:City></u1:CITY></u1:PLACE><br>
Tel: +41 22 301 1000<br>
Fax: +41 22 301 2000<br>
E-mail: </span></font></b><span lang=FR><a href="mailto:wsis@ngocongo.org"
title="mailto:wsis@ngocongo.org
mailto:hhumanrights@hyprolink.ch"><b><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial
title="mailto:wsis@ngocongo.org
mailto:hhumanrights@hyprolink.ch"><span
title="mailto:wsis@ngocongo.org
mailto:hhumanrights@hyprolink.ch"><span
title="mailto:wsis@ngocongo.org"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:
120%;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>wsis@ngocongo.org</span></span></span></font></b></a></span><b><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=FR style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:
120%;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold'><br>
Website: </span></font></b><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:Arial;
color:navy;font-weight:bold'><a href="blocked::http://www.ngocongo.org"
title="BLOCKED::http://www.ngocongo.org
http://www.ngocongo.org"><font
color=navy title="BLOCKED::http://www.ngocongo.org
http://www.ngocongo.org"><span
title="BLOCKED::http://www.ngocongo.org
http://www.ngocongo.org"><span
title="BLOCKED::http://www.ngocongo.org"><span lang=FR style='color:navy'>www.ngocongo.org</span></span></span></font></a></span></font></b><b><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=FR style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:
120%;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold'> </span></font></b><span
lang=FR><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:120%'><b><font size=3 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span
lang=FR style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:120%;color:red;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:120%'><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:Arial;color:navy;
font-weight:bold'>The Conference of NGOs (<u1:PLACE u2:st="on"><u1:COUNTRY-REGION u2:st="on"><ns0:country-region u7:insAuthor="Inter" u7:insDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z" u7:endInsAuthor="Inter" u7:endInsDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z"><ns0:place u7:insAuthor="Inter" u7:insDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z" u7:endInsAuthor="Inter" u7:endInsDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z"><u8:place u7:st="on"><u8:country-region u7:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">CONGO</u8:country-region></u8:place></ns0:place></ns0:country-region></u1:COUNTRY-REGION></u1:PLACE></st1:country-region></st1:place>)
is an international, membership association that facilitates the participation
of NGOs in United Nations debates and decisions. Founded in 1948, <u1:PLACE u2:st="on"><u1:COUNTRY-REGION u2:st="on"><ns0:country-region u7:insAuthor="Inter" u7:insDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z" u7:endInsAuthor="Inter" u7:endInsDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z"><ns0:place u7:insAuthor="Inter" u7:insDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z" u7:endInsAuthor="Inter" u7:endInsDate="2006-04-04T12:16:00Z"><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region u7_x003a_st="on" w:st="on">CONGO</ns0:place></ns0:country-region></u1:COUNTRY-REGION></u1:PLACE></st1:country-region></st1:place>'s
major objective is to ensure the presence of NGOs in exchanges among the
world's governments and United Nations agencies on issues of global
concern. For more information see our website at <a
href="blocked::http://www.ngocongo.org/" target="_blank"
title="BLOCKED::http://www.ngocongo.org/
http://www.ngocongo.org/">www.ngocongo.org</a></span></font></b><b><font
color=red><span lang=EN-GB style='color:red;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=FR
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>