[governance] Re: [bestbits] Letters from Indian Civil Society organisations to the Chair of NetMundial regarding appointment of civil society co-chair

Thu Apr 10 06:25:58 EDT 2014

I agree with Ian.

These seem to be unfounded allegations.  In short a smear campaign
with zero evidence behind it.

"Deepening the controversy, Bhatia also appears to be particularly
close to one of the civil society bodies on the MAG. Media for Change
is a trust operated by Subi Chaturvedi, an assistant professor at
Delhi-based Lady Shri Ram College for women. "

Being "particularly close" is not evidence of any wrongdoing.

I agree with Anriette.  It is also impolitic.

-- 
Cheers,

McTim
"A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A
route indicates how we get there."  Jon Postel

On Thu, Apr 10, 2014 at 5:10 AM, parminder <parminder at itforchange.net> wrote:
> Ian
>
> Your response is well I dont know whether I should call it shocking or
> amusing... As the article shows, it is not about Subi but what and who is
> behind her. One question occurs to me to ask you and I will be happy if you
> respond to it. Would you have been as indifferent if you had learnt on
> considerable evidence that someone had been planted into the position of
> civil society co chair of NetMundial by say, the Iranian government? Why
> would a similar subversive act of US big business look any different to you,
> and your supporters here?
>
> parminder
>
> PS: The shocking part are the considerable allegations your email below
> makes about the Indian civil society groups involved and the journalist/
> newspaper who wrote the article... I simply dont know what to make of your
> stance.
>
>
> On Thursday 10 April 2014 12:53 PM, Ian Peter wrote:
>
> Hi Parminder,
>
> I did respond last time you posted information on this several weeks back,
> but let me respond again as this is escalating.
>
> Firstly, I agree with you and the Indian civil society groups that the
> appointment and the way it was undertaken was less than optimal. I also
> agree that far more experienced candidates in the area of internet
> governance were available – including from India, and including women from
> India.
>
> However, despite her inexperience in internet governance areas, Subi
> Chaturvedi appears to be quite active in civil society issues, particularly
> feminist issues. I am concerned that what is happening is that this is
> becoming an increasingly personal attack on a young Indian woman whose only
> “crime”, as far as I can see, is being ambitious. And there are plenty more
> of us who share that.
>
> The newspaper article clearly was written with the assistance of some civil
> society groups or members to discredit her. It is not regular “news”, and
> may or may not be accurate in all of its assertions. However, it has the
> elements of a personal attack.
>
> So I am personally uncomfortable with pursuing this any further, while
> recognising that it was important for Indian NGOs to make the initial
> contact with the Chair to express reservations. Someone has given less than
> optimal advice to the Chair, and we may not have the best civil society rep
> appointed, but I believe the most important thing now is not to pursue
> personal attacks and to work as best we can during NetMundial in the
> prevailing circumstances.
>
> Ian Peter
>
>
>
>
> From: parminder
> Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2014 3:47 PM
> To: governance at lists.igcaucus.org ; mailto:bestbits at lists.bestbits.net
> Subject: [governance] Re: [bestbits] Letters from Indian Civil Society
> organisations to the Chair of NetMundial regarding appointment of civil
> society co-chair
>
>
> I wonder if civil society groups have any response to the below...
>
> this issue was first brought to the notice to global civil society groups a
> few weeks back when almost all civil society organisations from India wrote
> a letter against appointment of Subi as co chair of NetMundial... It was
> most disappointing to face a stony silence from the global networks with
> regard to that representation, which is indeed disrespectful of the Indian
> civil society.
>
> Now, we have a newspaper report which not only produces evidence of
> plagiarism against Subi but , much more importantly, also shows clearly who
> is behind her installation as NetMundial Co chair - the US big business. And
> still no response.
>
> May I request the IGC co-cos to take up this issue. And also 1Net steering
> committee members, and civil society members of the executive committee and
> high level committee.
>
> At least please respond to the issue.
>
> If civil society reps wont respond to this issue, I am not sure what they
> would respond to, and in which manner they then 'represent' civil society...
> Here there is practically the entire Indian civil society involved in IG
> writing a representation, about issues that are now further exacerbated by
> the news report in a top national daily of India. And we find no visible
> support.
>
> Thanks
>
> parminder
>
> On Tuesday 08 April 2014 11:31 PM, Rishab Bailey wrote:
>
> Dear All,
>
> Further to the letter from Indian civil society groups to the Chair of
> NetMundial (regarding the appointment of the civil society co-chair for the
> meeting), please find attached:
>
> (a) the original letter from members of Indian civil society to Prof.
> Virgilio Almeida,
> (b) follow up email from members of Indian civil society to Prof. Virgilio
> Almeida;
> (b) response of Prof. Almeida to Indian civil society groups.
>
> Also do note a recent article published in a leading Indian newspaper giving
> some of the context behind this:
> http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/executive-of-telecom-giant-that-aided-nsa-spying-is-on-india-s-cyber-security-panel/article1-1205483.aspx
>
> Two of the documents referred to in the above article (concerning plagiarism
> charges) are also attached to this email.
>
> Regards,
> Rishab Bailey
> (for the Society for Knowledge Commons, India)
>
>
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