[governance] FYI: Letter from Bulgarian Internet community to ISOC
Nikola Geshev
nikola.geshev at gmail.com
Sat May 30 12:41:54 EDT 2009
Hello,
Yesterday a letter from people of the Bulgarian Internet community was sent
to ISOC.
You may be intereted to read it.
Kind regards,
Nikola Geshev
Bulgarian Internet Users Group
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ms. Lynn St Amour
President/CEO of ISOC
Dear Ms. Amour,
We would like to bring to your attention the issue that in a public
press-conference on May, 24th, Mr. Veni Markovski, head of the Bulgarian
chapter of Internet Society (ISOC) for more than 12 years and also an ICANN
employee, announced that ISOC Bulgaria supports the candidates of “Coalition
for Bulgaria” (leading party is Bulgarian Socialist Party) for the upcoming
elections for European parliament in Bulgaria. (We attach many newspaper
reports and web links in section III of the appendix. In Section V of the
appendix you may find some reactions of the members of ISOC Bulgaria.)
We are taken aback by the support of ISOC Bulgaria for a political party.
Shouldn't all ISOC chapters be politically neutral? We do not deny the right
of Mr. Veni Markovski to support personally any candidate for the upcoming
elections, only his right to cast an ISOC branch as a supporter for one.
In addition, the current ruling coalition in Bulgaria, lead by the
Bulgarian Socialist Party, took some actions that were highly unpopular
among the Bulgarian Internet users:
-
In 2008, The State Agency for Information technologies (whose advisor is
Mr. Markovski) and the Ministry of Interior affairs tried to introduce a
Decree that would enforce all Internet providers in Bulgaria to collect and
store for a long period practically complete, and personally identifiable
information about anything done by all Internet users (eg. the sites they
visited, the e-mails they wrote etc.) According to the Decree, the police
would be able to access all of this information at any time, without the
need for a court order or an explanation why they might need it, without
leaving any trace that it was accessed, and without informing the Internet
users that they are, or have been tracked.
-
The proposed decree met the strong opposition of the Bulgarian Internet
community. The minister of Interior affairs, Mr. Mihail Mikov wanted to make
this a reality and added the texts in a law for the amendment of “Law for
electronic messages”. When the Bulgarian parliament overthrew the proposed
law, Mr. Mikov insisted for an re-vote. The law was put by the ruling
coalition, headed by BSP, for re-vote four times (which is also against the
Bulgarian constitution). See part IV. of the attached appendix for more
information.
-
Strangely enough, Mr. Mikov is a member of the Internet Society in
Bulgaria, as well as other government oficials who are members of BSP.
-
More information about the mentioned cases is available from the
Bulgarian Helsinki Committee: *
http://www.bghelsinki.org/index.php?module=news&lg=en&id=1099* or from an
online newspaper here: *http://tinyurl.com/qrjpq9* , *
http://tinyurl.com/ot5duv* , *http://tinyurl.com/oqo6xk* , *
http://tinyurl.com/qdjv74* and *http://tinyurl.com/p88ba6*
-
Several pan-European watchdogs have reported in recent years that the
current Bulgarian Government is the most corrupt in the European Union (See
Section II from the attached Appendix). The National Security agency, which
is subservient to the Bulgarian prime minister closed an Internet website
that was spreading information about corruption. You can find more
information from “Reporters without Borders” here: *
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=28543*
We would like to know whether ISOC supports the position of Mr. Markovski,
and seconds his support for parties that strive to implement this type of
legislation.
In case that ISOC doesn't support such positions, we would also like to
know whether their dissent will be only verbal, or will be backed by
actions.
*Bulgarian Internet Users Group*
Attachments:
*I. Articles from “Reporters Without Borders”*
1. Bulgaria - World Report 2009
*http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=31015*
2. Bulgaria - Annual Report 2008
*http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=25469*
3. Former interior minister says “spineless” journalist should be “hit”
*http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=29263*
4. Threats against Frognews stepped up. Censored website Opasnite.net
reappears on Opasnite.eu
*http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=28755*
5. Vicious assault on editor of Frog News
*http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=28692*
6. Security agency closes corruption whistle-blower website
*http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=28543*
*II. Bulgaria is the most corrupt country in the European Union, according
to the Transparency International *
*
http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/report-unveils-eu-corrupt-countries/article-175668
*
*III. Newspaper articles that mention the ISOC Bulgaria support for
“Coalition for Bulgaria”*
1.
“*Duma” newspaper*
1.
Original: *http://www.duma.bg/2009/0509/250509/bulgaria/bul-5.html*
2.
Archive: *http://www.pressboard.info/Preview.aspx?articleid=112957*
3.
Partial translation:
1.
Internet Society supports “Coalition for Bulgaria”
“We support the list of Coalition for Bulgaria for the European
elections, because they are the politicians who work to protect the
interests of Internet users.” It was said by the chairman of the
organization "Internet Society in Bulgaria - Veni Markovski.
... “It is
important to support politicians who share our values and
defend the idea of
using the Cyrillic alphabet in the virtual space”, also
stressed Markovski
and thanked the Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev, who is a
member for years
of the Internet Society.
2.
“*Monitor” newspaper*
1.
Archive: *http://www.pressboard.info/Preview.aspx?articleid=112935*
2.
Partial translation:
1.
The support of the Internet Society in Bulgaria for “Coalition for
Bulgaria” for the European parliament elections was presented
personally by
the President of the Governing Board of the organization,
Veni Markovski.
According to him, it is important to support politicians who share the
values of the organization to use the Internet without
restrictions and to
protect the rights of consumers. Markovski added that Prime
Minister Sergey
Stanishev and President of the State Agency for Information
Technologies and
Communications Plamen Vachkov also enjoy the support of the
Internet Society
in Bulgaria.
3.
“*Novinar” newspaper*
1.
Original: *
http://www.novinar.net/?act=news&act1=det&stat=center&mater=Mjk1Mzs2MQ
*==
2.
Archive: *http://www.pressboard.info/Preview.aspx?articleid=112952*
3.
Partial translation:
1.
Yesterday, the Internet Society - Bulgaria issued a statement that
supports the list of the Coalition for Bulgaria and its candidates in
elections to the European Parliament.
Cause the organization to stand behind the red party was that
Stanishev shared values of society and the internet worked on consumer
protection in the virtual space. Close relationship between
the organization
and the prime minister date for quite some years. During the
celebration of
the 10th anniversary of the Internet Society - Bulgaria in
2006, Stanishev
attended as special guest.
4.
“*Vsekiden” online edition*
1.
Original: *http://www.vsekiden.com/?p=51400*
2.
Partial translation:
1.
Internet Society - Bulgaria supports the list of Coalition for
Bulgaria for the elections to the European Parliament (EP).
This was said at
a press conference by Veni Markovski, Chairman of the Board of the
organization. It is important to support politicians who
share the values of
the Internet Society - Bulgaria to use the Internet without
restrictions and
protection of consumer rights, explained Markovski. He added
that the Prime
Minister and President of BSP Sergey Stanishev and President
of the State
Agency for Information Technologies and Communications Plamen
Vachkov also
enjoy the support of the Internet Society in Bulgaria, which
are members for
years.
*5. “24 Chasa” newspaper*
1. Original: *http://www.24chasa.bg/Article.asp?ArticleId=140197*
2. Partial translation:
Internet Society - Bulgaria supports the list of Coalition for Bulgaria for
the elections for the European Parliament (EP), in which Ivaylo Kalfin and
Christian Vigenin are included, BTA reported.
"It is important to support politicians who share the values of the Internet
Society - Bulgaria to use the Internet without restrictions and protection
of consumer rights, said President of the organization Veni Markovski.
He added that Sergey Stanishev and the President of the State Agency for
Information Technologies and Communications Plamen Vachkov also enjoy the
support of the Internet Society in Bulgaria, which are members for years.
According to Ivaylo Kalfin, Internet is free space, where one must respect
the laws, but not to impose restrictions.
*6. “Gradski” online newspaper*
1. Original: *http://www.gradski.bg/show.php?storyid=724067*
2. Partial translation:
Internet Society - Bulgaria supports the list of Coalition for Bulgaria for
the elections to the European Parliament (EP), in which Ivaylo Kalfin and
Christian Vigenin participate. This was told by Veni Markovski, Chairman of
the Management Board of the organization.
It is important to support politicians who share the values of the Internet
Society - Bulgaria to use the Internet without restrictions and protection
of consumer rights. Prime Minister and President of BSP Sergey Stanishev and
President of the State Agency for Information Technologies and
Communications Plamen Vachkov also enjoy the support of the Internet Society
in Bulgaria, which are members for years, explained Markovski.
*7. “Trud” newspaper*
* *1. Original: *http://www.trud.bg/Article.asp?ArticleId=140199*
2. Partial translation:
* *Internet Society - Bulgaria stood behind BSP
Internet Society - Bulgaria supports the list of Coalition for Bulgaria for
the elections to the European Parliament (EP), which Ivaylo Kalfin and
Christian VIGENIN, BTA reported.
"It is important to support politicians who share the values of the Internet
Society - Bulgaria to use the Internet without restrictions and protection
of consumer rights, said President of the organization veins Markovski.
He added that Sergey Stanishev and President of the State Agency for
Information Technologies and Communications Plamen Vachkov also enjoy the
support of the Internet Society in Bulgaria, which are members for years.
According to Ivaylo Kalfin Internet is free space, which must respect the
laws, but not to impose restrictions.
*IV. Articles about actions of the current ruling coalition in Bulgaria:*
1.*
http://dnevnik.bg/bulgaria/2009/04/09/702570_parlamentut_othvurli_promenite_za_bezkontrolnoto/
*
1. Translation:
“By 74 votes in favor, 78 against and 3 abstentions, the parliament rejected
amendments to the Law on electronic communications, providing the Ministry
of Interior affairs an uncontrolled access to data from the Internet and
telephone printouts. In the original vote on the amendment there were 89 MPs
for, 74 against and six abstained, so the amendments would have passed on
first reading. The president of the internal committee, Mincho Spasov (NMS),
however called and asked for a re-vote to save "the visit of this law in the
Constitutional Court.” In the re-vote, after the cards of the absent MPs
were gathered, the texts were rejected.
This way the fourth consecutive attempt to provide special services to
obtain traffic data without the permission of the judge failed. In November
2008, the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) repeal the ordinance 40 as
unconstitutional, which under the very vast wording "for the
operational-search activity" Interior Ministry could take the information
and with so-called passive access to servers through a computer terminal, so
as not to impose even send a request to the mobile and internet operators.
In February the parliament even rejected a request of special services for
a similar law that again would eliminate the requirement for the information
to be obtained with the authorization of a judge and an indication of the
grounds for the request. Then a check of “Dnevnik” newspaper showed that
that the text that include the law of the Interior ministry is added in the
proposal, but is unclear by whom, although the Parliamentary commission of
Transport did not vote for it at all. After lengthy discussions MPs rejected
this attempt to smoothly track the data and decided to receive only the
detection of serious crimes and have a sanction of a judge.
Already in the next few days interior ministry leadership reacted strongly
to the changes and announced that it would be prevented from working on the
hot track of crimes that do not keep serious as child pornography for
example. They insisted that the work of the special services is seriously
slowed by the need to obtain court authorization. Politicians replied that
in emergency, data can be collected without the permission of a judge and
then 24 hours later is necessary to obtain such a sanction.
However, only twenty days after the decision of the parliament, the
Interior Ministry has initiated changes in the law on electronic
communications and by members of the BSP, MRF and independent submit them to
parliament. They provide passive access to information through the interface
and again to cast their need for operational-search activity. Changes caused
serious disputes in parliament on the Committee on Transport include
consideration of changes in its agenda an extraordinary and although its
chairman Yordan Mirchev (NMS) and the opposition left, the BSP and the MRF
supported the text. The Commission's decision was challenged, but the
leadership allow him to parliament for consideration in plenary.
Subsequently, the parliamentary committees of internal ordern and European
integration rejected the amendments. As they have a negative opinion of the
parliamentary department responsible for the coordination of legislation
with the European Union. The Ombudsman also objected.
National Assembly Chairman Georgi Pirinski (BSP) a few days ago also agreed
that we must find a right balance between the rights of citizens and the
need not to hamper the work of the Ministry. He told the opponents of the
change that will help texts to be edited so that no one could track people
without control. According to him, and according to the opposition and NMS,
very suspect sought data records for telephone and Internet traffic prints -
330 000 records per year for 40 000 persons.”
*V. Articles about ISOC Bulgaria members disagreement with the statement by
Mr. Markovski*
*1. “Trud” newspaper*
1. Original: *http://www.trud.bg/Article.asp?ArticleId=142971*
2. Partial translation:
Members of the Internet Society - Bulgaria expressed outrage and perplexity,
because of the support for the list of the BSP for the European elections,
claimed by Veni Markovski - Member of the Management Board of the
organization. This was published in a press report from the Blue coalition.
This position is expressed in an open letter to the Board of Internet
Society - Bulgaria, signed by Ivan Kostov, Ekaterina Mihailova, Dimo Gyaurov
and Ivo Tsanev.
The letter states that in the formulation of political support for the BSP,
ISOC Bulgaria and Veni Markovski did not sought the views of members of the
organization.
"We consider inadmissible association called upon to protect the interests
of Internet users to associate itself with the party, known for trying to
restrict information rights and freedoms in Bulgaria," says the letter.
*2. “Dnevnik” newspaper*
1. Original: *
http://www.dnevnik.bg/izbori2009/2009/05/28/726610_predstaviteli_na_siniata_koaliciia_protestirat_sreshtu/
*
2. Partial translation:
Representatives of the "Blue coalition" protest against the support of the
Internet Society Bulgaria to the list of BSP
Representatives of the Blue coalition protest against support for the BSP
list for European elections, claimed by the member of the Governing Board of
the Internet Society Veni Markovski.
In an open letter to the Board of Internet Society – Bulgaria, Ivan Kostov,
Ekaterina Mihaylova (DSB), and Ivo Dimo Gyaurov Tsanev (UDF) expressed
"indignation and perplexity" of the actions of Markovski. Categorically say
that in the formulation of political support for the BSP by Mr. Markovski
has not sought the views of members of the organization. It is inadmissible
for an association called upon to protect the interests of Internet users to
associate itself with the party, known for trying to limited information
rights and freedoms in Bulgaria.
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