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<TITLE>Re: [governance] What IGF is for? ONI Asia event rattled by UN</TITLE>
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<FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'>I have been trying to find out exactly what happened here and a lot of the media reports are wildly inaccurate. What people who were there believe to be the cease is roughly as follows.<BR>
<BR>
The Chinese Government did complain about a poster in a public area. If it had been inside the door instead of outside the door, there would have been no issue that the security police apparently felt compelled to act on.<BR>
<BR>
The workshop went ahead as planned after the dispute about the poster.<BR>
<BR>
One person who was fortunately present during the whole event was (I may have the title wrong here) was the UN Under Secretary for Freedom of Expression. He has requested a full report on the incident from the IGF Secretariat.<BR>
<BR>
It is not clear who exactly the Chinese complaint was to. It was not to the host country, the Chinese know that’s not the appropriate way to do things. It would appear that the complaint may have been direct to the UN Security Unit who have travelled to all the IGFs and work closely with the Secretariat. Whether the Secretariat proper had any strong role in the decision is unknown to me and to those close to the event.<BR>
<BR>
The other thing I have just learnt is that there was a Chinese objection to the event taking place well before this incident and before IGF at all. It should not be surprising to anyone that the Chinese complained or that the Secretariat properly ruled the workshop should go ahead. This then might be an incident in response to that ruling – but I don’t know.<BR>
<BR>
However, as regards action – I am about to write to Markus Kummer on behalf of the Caucus and express our concerns about the incident and ask if he can give any further information about the restrictive action and its rationale. That doesn’t preclude any other action but I think we should seek more information as to why the action was taken before going much further. Hopefully they will respond quickly.<BR>
<BR>
Ian Peter<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
On 16/11/09 4:34 AM, "Shahzad Ahmad" <<a href="shahzad@bytesforall.net">shahzad@bytesforall.net</a>> wrote:<BR>
<BR>
</SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'><FONT FACE="Arial">Dear Eric and colleagues,<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"> <BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">Following links host the video evidence of what happened there.<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"> <BR>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-kxYt2LwKc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-kxYt2LwKc</a><BR>
<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">and<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"> <BR>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/fikratube#p/a/u/0/axMpYddEomc">http://www.youtube.com/user/fikratube#p/a/u/0/axMpYddEomc</a><BR>
<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">You may also like to take a look at this:<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"> <BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><a href="http://preview.tinyurl.com/y9y3mua">http://preview.tinyurl.com/y9y3mua</a><BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"> <BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">Will get the jpeg of poster and post it here though I don't know if list allows the attachments.<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"> <BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">best wishes and regards<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"> <BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">Shahzad<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"> <BR>
</FONT></SPAN><BLOCKQUOTE><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"> <BR>
----- Original Message ----- <BR>
<BR>
<B>From:</B> Eric Dierker <<a href="mailto:cogitoergosum@sbcglobal.net">mailto:cogitoergosum@sbcglobal.net</a>> <BR>
<BR>
<B>To:</B> <a href="governance@lists.cpsr.org">governance@lists.cpsr.org</a> ; Hempal Shrestha <<a href="mailto:hempalshrestha@gmail.com">mailto:hempalshrestha@gmail.com</a>> ; Shahzad Ahmad <<a href="mailto:shahzad@bytesforall.net">mailto:shahzad@bytesforall.net</a>> <BR>
<BR>
<B>Cc:</B> Ginger Paque <<a href="mailto:gpaque@gmail.com">mailto:gpaque@gmail.com</a>> ; Jeremy Malcolm <<a href="mailto:jeremy@ciroap.org">mailto:jeremy@ciroap.org</a>> ; McTim <<a href="mailto:dogwallah@gmail.com">mailto:dogwallah@gmail.com</a>> <BR>
<BR>
<B>Sent:</B> Sunday, November 15, 2009 9:35 PM<BR>
<BR>
<B>Subject:</B> Re: [governance] What IGF is for? ONI Asia event rattled by UN<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Perhaps before you jump on such a bandwagon you should get the recording of the event. You should get more than one person (witnesses) account. Security anywhere is not prone to throw things on the floor. Why is no copy of the poster posted?<BR>
<BR>
It is not that I am skeptical of being used by Harvard and Oxford publicists in order to get the word out or publish a paper or sell a book. Keep in mind the ONI group is not representative of the persons supposedly being wrongfully censored/filtered. In fact I see no Tibetan or Chinese component to this Academic gathering of western intelligencia. Advocacy is touted on the website but I see no constituent that they are advocating for.<BR>
<BR>
In fact I believe there is a UN policy against advertising for the sale of a commodity, service or goods at the events. A poster promoting a book would be in violation of a very good rule.<BR>
<BR>
--- On <B>Sun, 11/15/09, Hempal Shrestha <I><<a href="hempalshrestha@gmail.com">hempalshrestha@gmail.com</a>></I></B> wrote:<BR>
<BR>
</FONT></SPAN><BLOCKQUOTE><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><BR>
From: Hempal Shrestha <<a href="hempalshrestha@gmail.com">hempalshrestha@gmail.com</a>><BR>
Subject: Re: [governance] What IGF is for? ONI Asia event rattled by UN<BR>
To: <a href="governance@lists.cpsr.org">governance@lists.cpsr.org</a>, "Shahzad Ahmad" <<a href="shahzad@bytesforall.net">shahzad@bytesforall.net</a>><BR>
Cc: "Ginger Paque" <<a href="gpaque@gmail.com">gpaque@gmail.com</a>>, "Jeremy Malcolm" <<a href="jeremy@ciroap.org">jeremy@ciroap.org</a>>, "McTim" <<a href="dogwallah@gmail.com">dogwallah@gmail.com</a>><BR>
Date: Sunday, November 15, 2009, 4:21 PM<BR>
<BR>
Dear Shahzad and friends in ONI, <BR>
<BR>
It indeed is an act of great concern on the commitment of the freedom of expression. We stand united against this incident. Further, this should not create an opportunity for others to hurt the good work that is happening at IGF. So, +1 for the idea of registering the concern about the incident with concerned stakeholders/authority. <BR>
<BR>
In Solidarity.<BR>
<BR>
Hempal Shrestha<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
On Sun, Nov 15, 2009 at 5:38 PM, Shahzad Ahmad <<a href="shahzad@bytesforall.net">shahzad@bytesforall.net</a> <<a href="http://us.mc839.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=shahzad@bytesforall.net">http://us.mc839.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=shahzad@bytesforall.net</a>> > wrote:<BR>
<BR>
</FONT></SPAN><BLOCKQUOTE><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"> </FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">Dear Colleagues,<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"> <BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">Did discuss this with quite a few friends here and most of them agree for a joint action. How and what I don't know but probably civil society representatives speaking on the plenary can mention this appalling event and register the concern. Just a suggestion and then I will really suggest MAG members to take this up with IGF.<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"> <BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">But I would really urged on the caucus members attending IGF to take this up strongly otherwise, such things will keep happening more and more in future too. <BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"> <BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">best wishes<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"> </FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">Shahzad<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"> <BR>
</FONT></SPAN><BLOCKQUOTE><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"> <BR>
----- Original Message ----- <BR>
<B>From:</B> Ginger Paque <<a href="http://us.mc839.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=gpaque@gmail.com">http://us.mc839.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=gpaque@gmail.com</a>> <BR>
<B>To:</B> <a href="governance@lists.cpsr.org">governance@lists.cpsr.org</a> <<a href="http://us.mc839.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=governance@lists.cpsr.org">http://us.mc839.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=governance@lists.cpsr.org</a>> ; Jeremy Malcolm <<a href="http://us.mc839.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jeremy@ciroap.org">http://us.mc839.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jeremy@ciroap.org</a>> <BR>
<B>Cc:</B> McTim <<a href="http://us.mc839.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=dogwallah@gmail.com">http://us.mc839.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=dogwallah@gmail.com</a>> <BR>
<B>Sent:</B> Sunday, November 15, 2009 7:58 PM<BR>
<B>Subject:</B> Re: [governance] What IGF is for? ONI Asia event rattled by UN<BR>
<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">I do not think a boycott is the answer. It removes the people who most object to the action... I think an effort should be made to bring this up as an issue. Can the IGC coordinate on this?<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><BR>
Jeremy Malcolm wrote: <BR>
</FONT></SPAN><BLOCKQUOTE><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial">On 15/11/2009, at 4:02 PM, McTim wrote: <BR>
<BR>
<BR>
</FONT></SPAN><BLOCKQUOTE><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial">Shahzad, <BR>
<BR>
Truly outrageous, your group should really complain to Markus and get <BR>
your books back immediately, with an apology. <BR>
<BR>
I think this shows how misguided it is to have gov'ts play an <BR>
increasingly large role in IG. <BR>
</FONT></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><BR>
+1 <BR>
<BR>
Am I overreacting, or should those who do not have workshop commitments organise a boycott of the IGF tomorrow, and let the Secretariat know why? <BR>
<BR>
In any case, I hope as many people will tweet and blog about this appalling action. <BR>
<BR>
</FONT></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"> <BR>
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