[governance] Reply to Milton's blog post

[Suresh Ramasubramanian]

It of course appears to depend on the entitlement of a regime to those rights. At least according to US perception.

The world has recently seen a rather large scale clearout of tinpot dictators .. by the country's own people.  And any sanctions against those countries have been lifted.

As a parallel there was South Africa during the apartheid regime, though their blacklisting wasn't as near total a the one against say Iran or Cuba.

--srs (iPad)

On 17-Dec-2012, at 21:24, parminder <parminder at itforchange.net> wrote:

> 
> On Sunday 16 December 2012 03:24 AM, Olivier MJ Crepin-Leblond wrote:
>> Dear all,
>> 
>> I've been asked by several people to post my reply to Milton's blog post
>> here, to widen the discussion. Please find below.
>> 
>> --- snip --- snip --- snip ---
>> 
>> But for some governments this was not enough! They insisted on the right
>> of States to telecommunication services and put it on a par basis with
>> Human Rights. They argued the Rights of States was the same as the
>> Rights of individuals. One of the most balanced Countries, Switzerland,
>> expressed its outrage. Tension was rising fast. We got lectured by some
>> countries that oppress their people about Human Rights. And then Iran
>> called for an abrupt end to the discussion, after having intervened more
>> than any country in the past 2 weeks, and called for a vote — when I
>> remind you that on many many occasions Dr. Touré and the Chair has
>> assured us there would be no vote.
>> This derailment was self-inflicted and this was the drop that got the
>> vase to overflow.
> Dear Olivier,
> 
> thanks for your detailed comments. There are a few aspects of what happened at Dubai that I will like to comment upon. However, since you stress the point of vote on the clause that 'all countries have right to access international telecom networks' as one of the most important ones let me respond to you on this.
> 
> Collective rights are a recognised category under UN human rights system. Why do you think that the collective entity of a country should *not* have a right to international telecom networks.... Isnt it something basic that must underpin any global treaty on international telecom? What does an international telecom treaty mean without stating such a right. It is most surprising, even shocking, for me that people from civil society should be speaking against such a right. I can understand why US doesnt want it, but global civil society ???
> 
> Before you say anything about collective entities like a country, I will remind you that below you do proudly refer to your participation in such an entity. You say that you are proud that 'your' country did not sign. Why would other people not legitimately resist and be unhappy/ angry if their country is denied access to international telecom. And what would your response as someone from global civil society be to the plight of such people - in existing sanctioned countries and potential ones.
> 
> And you also seem to be proud that you were representing 'your country' and were able to influence its decision.... Can other people not legitimately have such collective feeling, and collective rights....
> 
> parminder
> 
>>  Where the heck was the consensus? What kind of shotgun
>> tactics are those? It was obvious by the numbers that the countries
>> opposing the aggressive manner in which this was conducted, would lose a
>> vote.
>> For me, sitting in this room, this was Game, Set and Match. My country,
>> the UK, did not sign and I am ever so glad they did not. Yes, I had a
>> say in the matter since I was a full UK delegate, one of the many
>> countries which brought multiple stakeholders at the table and guess
>> what, most of these countries have not signed. Does this not tell you
>> something?
>> 
>> So that is my personal assessment of what happened and I was at the
>> heart of it. I saw some very ugly stuff going on there, stuff which I
>> would really like the Internet to be preserved from.
>> 
>> But I am sad too. I am sad because I also heard some very valid concerns
>> from developing countries that they were not able to participate in the
>> multi-stakeholder model because of lack of funding, lack of
>> understanding and a lack of proactive work from our “own” side.
>> I am planning to report fully to ICANN on the matter – we should do more
>> to bridge the gap. At the moment, these countries only have two fora in
>> which they can participate and that’s the IGF where nobody listens to
>> them and the ITU where they have a voice. During the hour that followed
>> the dramatic vote, I went to see my “opponents”. Many of us did – and
>> whilst not apologizing for not signing, we exchanged business cards and
>> I intend on following up. In fact, many European countries are intent on
>> following up with countries that do not appear to have hidden intentions
>> are are genuine about the level of despair they displayed at this
>> conference. Because sadly, there was despair too. This is the start of a
>> better dialogue, one which we must make efforts in promoting, reaching
>> out, building capacity.
>> 
>> In closing, I’d say that this was not only a failure of the ITRs and the
>> ITU, it was a failure of Internet Governance too. Civil Society has the
>> ability to bridge the gap – and I know of several governments that have
>> understood this. Let’s work together to ensure we will never live again
>> a similar WCIT full of mistrust and despair.
>> 
>> Olivier
>> (speaking entirely on my own behalf)
> 
> 
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