[governance] FYI: Letter from Bulgarian Internet community

Sun May 31 10:52:16 EDT 2009

All,

I believe that what Jefsey writes about platinum 
members of ISOC being able to designate areas for 
standardization (presumably in the IETF, since 
that's where that happens) is and incorrect.  The 
quote below does not come from the page he 
references.  The actual quote on that page is:

"Supporting our Platinum Program gives your 
company the ability to focus your contributions 
specifically on the essential work of the IETF 
and our Standards activities.."

Supporting the standards activities in general is 
not the same as, as he suggests,  specifically 
designating areas or projects to be supported in 
the fields of standards.

George

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At 10:56 AM +0200 5/31/09, jefsey wrote:
>Je présente mes excuses au lecteurs francophones 
>à qui ce mail est copié. Il m'est apparu que 
>l'importance des documents présentés et le sujet 
>considéré le méritaient.
>jfc
>--------
>Nikola, Milton,
>The letter of Nikola and the answer of Milton 
>are serious points worth to careful 
>consideration. Thank you, in particular at a 
>time the French Government wants to introduce a 
>similar legislation to the Bulgarian one (they 
>all more or less copy and adapt Patriot Act).
>
>I do not think ISOC makes any mystery about 
>this. ISOC consider they are the owner of the 
>IETF which has "strong participation from the 
>computing, networking, and telecommunications 
>industries, from companies large and small" 
><http://www.isoc.org/isoc/membership/orgwhyjoin/membership2.pdf> 
>http://www.isoc.org/isoc/membership/orgwhyjoin/membership2.pdf, 
>where ISOC "Platinum Sponsorship Program allows 
>companies to specifically designate areas or 
>projects to be supported in the fields of 
>Standards".
>
>I currently oppose at key IETF/WG-IDNABIS that 
>reading of the IETF by some IETF/ISOC preeminent 
>persons. However, I think the best way to oppose 
>is to build aside and make the two resulting 
>stakeholders to cooperate. This is why I first 
>introduced the Internet Users Contributing Group 
>(http://iucg.org and its main iucg at ietf.org 
>mailing list) to permit users to contribute to 
>the technology they use. I also have introduced 
>the http://isoc-ipv6.org open proposition of a 
>"usage oriented IPv6" ISOC Chapter : at this 
>stage ISOC Secretariat said they did not wish to 
>support it because there already is an effort by 
>them to support the "technical IPv6" (IMHO the 
>lack of IPv6 development comes from this 
>misunderstanding between a technical need and a 
>user lack of information and documented need).
>
>My idea is that the more the users (the Chapter 
>should represent) can be active or even leading 
>at ISOC the best it is and the more ISOC can 
>really represent everyone.
>jfc
>
>
>At 19:41 30/05/2009, Milton L Mueller wrote:
>
>>Content-Language: en-US
>>Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
>> 
>>boundary="_000_75822E125BCB994F8446858C4B19F0D77B2209E2SUEX07MBX04adsy_"
>>
>>Nikola:
>>It is good to know that there is an independent 
>>group of Bulgarian Internet users.
>>
>>ISOC has a rather checkered history when it 
>>comes to defending rights of individuals on the 
>>Internet. While there are many strong 
>>supporters of Internet freedom in its ranks, as 
>>well as dedicated technical veterans of the 
>>highest caliber, its international 
>>organizational staff and business connections 
>>often lead it in strange directions. And as 
>>they become more interconnected with 
>>authoritative Internet governance institutions, 
>>ISOC often pursues agendas that 
>>are....puzzling, to put it mildly. It is useful 
>>to recall in this context ISOC's role in 
>>promoting the discredited gTLD-MoU, which would 
>>have put WIPO and the ITU in a key governance 
>>role, and would have allowed WIPO and INTA to 
>>have almost untrammeled authority over 
>>resolving domain name trademark disputes. 
>>ICANN's UDRP, with all its flaws, was quite 
>>liberal compared to what ISOC, WIPO, INTA and 
>>ITU cooked up for us a dozen years ago.
>>
>>Milton Mueller
>>Professor, Syracuse University School of Information Studies
>>XS4All Professor, Delft University of Technology
>>------------------------------
>>Internet Governance Project:
>><http://internetgovernance.org/>http://internetgovernance.org
>>
>>
>
>At 18:41 30/05/2009, Nikola Geshev wrote:
>
>>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> 
>>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/qrjpq9 ,  
>>http://tinyurl.com/ot5duv , 
>><http://tinyurl.com/oqo6xk> 
>>http://tinyurl.com/oqo6xk ,  
>>http://tinyurl.com/qdjv74 and 
>><http://tinyurl.com/p88ba6> 
>>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> 
>>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> 
>>http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=31015
>>
>>
>>2. Bulgaria - Annual Report 2008
>>
>><http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=25469> 
>>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> 
>>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> 
>>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> 
>>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> 
>>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>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> 
>>http://www.duma.bg/2009/0509/250509/bulgaria/bul-5.html
>>2.	Archive: 
>><http://www.pressboard.info/Preview.aspx?articleid=112957> 
>>http://www.pressboard.info/Preview.aspx?articleid=112957
>>3.	Partial translation:
>>1.	Internet Society supports Coalition for Bulgaria
>>2.	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> 
>>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>http://www.novinar.net/?act=news&act1=det&stat=center&mater=Mjk1Mzs2MQ 
>>==
>>2.	Archive: 
>><http://www.pressboard.info/Preview.aspx?articleid=112952> 
>>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.
>>2.	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> 
>>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> 
>>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> 
>>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> 
>>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/>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> 
>>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/>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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