<div dir="ltr"><div>Hello,</div><div><br></div><div>Congratulations and thank you for providing elements of good quality to allow us to remain in compliance with the principles of our Charter.</div></div><div class="gmail_extra">
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">2013/1/22 Ian Peter <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:ian.peter@ianpeter.com" target="_blank">ian.peter@ianpeter.com</a>></span><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
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<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:13pt;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt">FINAL REPORT, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS</font></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:13pt;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt">With the comments period completed, the Appeals Team can
now present its final report and recommendations as regards the appeal against
the removal from the IGC list of <span>Suresh
Ramasubramanian</span>.</font></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:13pt;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt">OUR FINDINGS ON THE APPEAL</font></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:13pt;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt">We confirm our finding is that Suresh’s removal from the
IGC list was not in accordance with the IGC Charter, for reasons contained in
our interim findings and repeated later in this report. We therefore request
that Suresh be reinstated to the list immediately. (this has already taken
place)</font></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:13pt;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt">OUR RECOMMENDATIONS</font></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:13pt;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt">We also make the following recommendations for
consideration by all IGC members.</font></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt">Recommendation 1. The IGC Charter includes the following
recommendation,. “</font></span><span><font face="Arial"><font color="#3d3d3d"><font style="FONT-SIZE:9pt">The coordinators
may, at their discretion, appoint an advisory team of at least three individuals
to assist them in making the determination of when someone has breached the
posting rules defined in this charter. While all decisions remain the
coordinators' responsibility, any such recommendation from an advisory team will
be made public at the time of either suspension or removal from the
list.</font></font></font></span><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt">” </font></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt">In the case before us which took place while there was
only one active coordinator, we think this advisory team would have been
particularly valuable.</font></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span> </p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt">Recommendation 2. <span></span>We recommend that in future reasons be given
for any removal or suspension, referencing the charter provisions which were
breached and led to the suspension. This is currently not a requirement in the
Charter, but we feel strongly that any suspension, removal, or warning, should
state clearly why this is so, in accordance with the IGC charter provisions.
These are listed below and are quite broad.</font></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span> </p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt">Recommendation 3. We recommend that in future all
removal/suspensions also be communicated to the list with reasons, not only to
the person concerned. Again this is not a current Charter requirement, but we
believe that in the interests of good communication with the list this should
always be followed.</font></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span> </p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span>Recommendation
4. We recommend that, should the co-coordinators choose to review the situation
as regards the suspension of Suresh Ramasubramanian, the number of days already
suspended from the list prior to being reinstated during this appeals process
should be deducted from any 30 day suspension. </span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span> </p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt">Recommendation 5. Finally, we recommend that all list
participants, including those who have been warned in the past, focus their
contributions on the issues being discussed, and not the personalities. If IGC
ever degrades to a forum which does not have a wide range of cultural
differences, political opinions, perspectives, interests,sensitivities, and
differing interests in the broad field of internet governance, it would be a
great pity. However, within this diverse group, all members have a right to
discuss what they feel is pertinent, and all members have a right to disagree.
But none of this should include statements which could be construed by a
reasonable person as being outside of the IGC Charter’s definition of reasonable
conduct, which includes (to quote from the charter)</font></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:13.5pt;MARGIN:10.5pt 0cm;BACKGROUND:white;VERTICAL-ALIGN:baseline"><span><font face="Arial"><font color="#3d3d3d"><font style="FONT-SIZE:9pt">The messages must observe a minimum of decorum,
including:</font></font></font><font style="FONT-SIZE:9pt"><br></font></span><font style="FONT-SIZE:9pt"><span><span><font color="#3d3d3d" face="Symbol">·</font></span></span><font color="#3d3d3d"><span><font face="Arial"> refrain from personal attacks,
insults or slander</font><br></span><span><span><font face="Symbol">·</font></span></span></font><font color="#3d3d3d"><span><font face="Arial"> refrain from offensive or
discriminating language</font><br></span><span><span><font face="Symbol">·</font></span></span></font><font color="#3d3d3d"><span><font face="Arial"> refrain from threats ,
including threats of legal action, on list or off list</font><br></span><span><span><font face="Symbol">·</font></span></span></font></font><span><font face="Arial"><font color="#3d3d3d"> refrain
from excessive and repetitive posting</font></font></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:13.5pt;MARGIN:10.5pt 0cm;BACKGROUND:white;VERTICAL-ALIGN:baseline;WORD-SPACING:0px"><span><font face="Arial"><font color="#3d3d3d"><font style="FONT-SIZE:9pt">Inappropriate postings to the IGC list
include</font></font></font><font style="FONT-SIZE:9pt"><br></font></span><font style="FONT-SIZE:9pt"><span><span><font color="#3d3d3d" face="Symbol">·</font></span></span><font color="#3d3d3d"><span><font face="Arial"> Unsolicited bulk
e-mail</font><br></span><span><span><font face="Symbol">·</font></span></span></font><font color="#3d3d3d"><span><font face="Arial"> Discussion of subjects
unrelated to the IGC mission and objectives</font><br></span><span><span><font face="Symbol">·</font></span></span></font><font color="#3d3d3d"><span><font face="Arial"> Unprofessional or discourteous
commentary, regardless of the general subject</font><br></span><span><span><font face="Symbol">·</font></span></span></font></font><span><font face="Arial"><font color="#3d3d3d"><font style="FONT-SIZE:9pt"> <font size="3">Sequences of messages by one or more
participants that cause an IGC list to become a hostile
environment</font></font></font></font></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt">It is only appropriate that action should be taken,
should co - coordinators in their best judgement (and where appropriate with
consultation) feel that participants are acting outside of these guidelines. As
members of this list, we feel that there have been a number of cases recently,
involving not only those who have been warned but cases where people have not
been warned, where these guidelines have been broken. It is in the interests of
what we are trying to achieve as civil society that our discourse remains civil,
polite, and courteous. We reject the notion that, because other lists do not
closely moderate or demand reasonable behaviour, this list should not pursue the
standards set in its charter.</font></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span> </p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Lastly, we
wish to record our thanks to Salanieta Tamanikaiwaimaro for her patience and
co-operation during this appeal period, and her dedication to keeping the
Internet Governance Caucus functioning during a difficult time. We trust that
our recommendations are useful in assisting future co-coordinators in dealing
with such situations, and in clarifying the behaviour that can reasonably be
expected from all participants on this mailing list.</p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Thanks also
to those who submitted comments. This appeal is now closed. The Appeals Team
will not be responding formally to any further comments on this particular
matter. </p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt"></font></span> </p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt">The Appeals Team</font></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt">Shaila Mistry, Ginger Paque, Roland Perry , Ian Peter
and Deidre Williams</font><span></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt"></font></span> </p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt">BACKGROUND INFORMATION</font></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt">Reasons for our finding.</font></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:13pt;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:13pt;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt">The Charter outlines a specific process that must take
place before removal on any person from the list, as follows</font></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:13.5pt;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;BACKGROUND:white;VERTICAL-ALIGN:baseline"><strong><span><font face="Arial"><font color="#3d3d3d"><font style="FONT-SIZE:9pt">Suspension of
posting rights</font></font></font></span></strong><span></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:13.5pt;MARGIN:10.5pt 0cm;BACKGROUND:white;VERTICAL-ALIGN:baseline;WORD-SPACING:0px"><span><font face="Arial"><font color="#3d3d3d"><font style="FONT-SIZE:9pt">Failure to abide by posting rules may result in
suspension or removal from the IGC list according to the following
process:</font></font></font></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:13.5pt;MARGIN:10.5pt 0cm;BACKGROUND:white;VERTICAL-ALIGN:baseline;WORD-SPACING:0px"><span><span><font face="Symbol"><font color="#3d3d3d"><font style="FONT-SIZE:9pt">·</font></font></font></span></span><font style="FONT-SIZE:9pt"><font color="#3d3d3d"><span><font face="Arial"> The coordinators will first
warn a subscriber privately of the problem</font><br></span><span><span><font face="Symbol">·</font></span></span></font><font color="#3d3d3d"><span><font face="Arial"> If the problem persists the
coordinators will notify the subscriber publicly on the list of impending
suspension from the list. Suspension will include only posting
rights.</font><br></span><span><span><font face="Symbol">·</font></span></span></font><font color="#3d3d3d"><span><font face="Arial"> If the problem persists the
subscriber's posting rights will be suspended for one (1)
month.</font><br></span><span><span><font face="Symbol">·</font></span></span></font><font color="#3d3d3d"><span><font face="Arial"> Once the subscriber's posting
rights are restored, any further problem will result in another public
warning.</font><br></span><span><span><font face="Symbol">·</font></span></span></font><font color="#3d3d3d"><span><font face="Arial"> If the problem continues to
persist after suspension and a second public warning, the coordinators will be
permitted to either suspend the posting rights for three (3) months or to remove
the subscriber from the list.</font><br></span><span><span><font face="Symbol">·</font></span></span></font></font><span><font face="Arial"><font color="#3d3d3d"><font style="FONT-SIZE:9pt"> <font size="3">Any decision for suspension can be
appealed. Any decision to remove someone from the list will call for an
automatic appeal by the appeals team</font>.</font></font></font></span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:13pt;MARGIN:0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font style="FONT-SIZE:11pt">In this case, the previous private and public warnings
given to Suresh needed to be followed by a one month suspension, not removal
from the list. It has been confirmed in correspondence with both the Coordinator
and with the person removed from the list that the word used in the private
letter advising removal was “removal”, and this was confirmed by the co
ordinator as being the intention. It was this action outside of the process
outlined in the IGC Charter that led to our
decision.</font></p></div></div></div>
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<br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br>SCHOMBE BAUDOUIN<br>CENTRE AFRICAIN D'ECHANGE CULTUREL/<div>ACADEMIE DES TIC<br>At-Large Member<br>NCSG Member<br><br><a href="mailto:email%3Abaudouin.schombe@gmail.com" target="_blank">email:baudouin.schombe@gmail.com</a><br>
<a href="mailto:Baudouin.Schombe@ticafrica.net" target="_blank">Baudouin.Schombe@ticafrica.net</a><br>tél:+243998983491<br>skype:b.schombe<br>wite web:<a href="http://webmail.ticafrica.net" target="_blank">http://webmail.ticafrica.net</a><br>
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