[governance] [bestbits] Please Cameroon did not shut down the Internet !!!

Thu Jan 26 10:58:48 EST 2017

Hi to all,
It seems to me that the problem of access to Internet in Cameroon is very
much amplified here on the Net. There are 10 regions in Cameroon, the
problem of access to the Internet is only concerning 2 Regions. These 2
regions actually has some political or social crisis. The government and
other stakeholders in these 2 areas are looking for suitable solutions.
Meanwhile, the government has seen fit to cut these two regions of Internet
access and Western Union money transfer services, for the sake of the
entire population of these 2 regions.
Internet works well everywhere else in the other 8 regions. I'm sending
this mail from Yaounde in Cameroon.
So the situation is not a disaster as some seem to publish on the Net.  The
ISOC Chapter can only encourage the government and the other stakeholders
to seek lasting peace solutions, even if it involves a temporary suspension
of Internet and Western Union services.

ISOC Cameroon Chapter
President

2017-01-26 15:45 GMT+01:00 Renata Aquino Ribeiro <raquino at gmail.com>:

> Hi
>
> Indeed, this is a terrible situation, which can happen in any country,
> which is why everyone should take action.
> I'd think bringing in ISOC and other organizations will help deepen these
> efforts.
>
> On Thu, Jan 26, 2017 at 11:36 AM, Deji Bryce Olukotun <deji at accessnow.org>
> wrote:
>
>> Thank you, Arsène for the introduction and the summary.
>>
>> Judith, as Arsène explained, the #KeepitOn coalition
>> <http://accessnow.org/keepiton> (111 organizations from 51 countries) is
>> pushing back against the shutdown. Our efforts are being led by Julie Owono
>> from Internet Without Borders
>> <http://internetwithoutborders.org/fr/regional-internet-blackout-in-cameroon/>
>> .
>>
>> At present, we are fighting the shutdown in several ways:
>> - open letter to government officials and agencies to restore access
>> - media outreach
>> - Tweet action at Cameroonian officials
>> <https://act.accessnow.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1921&ea.campaign.id=62870&ea.tracking.id=tile>
>> (please support!)
>> - outreach to telcos operating in the country, including a statement
>> from the Global Network Initiative
>> <http://globalnetworkinitiative.org/news/gni-concerned-about-restrictions-internet-access-cameroon> (Microsoft,
>> Google, Facebook, Investors, academics)
>> - outreach to international officials at the UN and AU
>> - coordination with local groups in Cameroon
>> - coordinating with CDN's and other measurement entities
>>
>> We welcome any ideas or suggestions about how to get the internet turned
>> back on. With each passing day, people are at increased risk of human
>> rights violations and the economy is losing money. We'll reach out to ISOC
>> to coordinate as well.
>>
>> Best,
>> Deji
>>
>> On Thu, Jan 26, 2017 at 3:44 AM, Arsène Tungali <arsenebaguma at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Judith,
>>>
>>> Thanks for sharing this with us. What's going on in Cameroon is just a
>>> shame. For colleagues who have never experienced Internet shutdown, please
>>> understand that it is a nightmare.
>>>
>>> On this note about Cameroon, several organizations including Access Now
>>> and Internet Without Borders
>>> <http://internetwithoutborders.org/fr/regional-internet-blackout-in-cameroon/>are
>>> doing a lot of advocacy and statements
>>> <https://act.accessnow.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1921&ea.campaign.id=62870&ea.tracking.id=Email&ea.url.id=836199>,
>>> letters have been sent to officials in Cameroon to ask them to bring back
>>> the Internet. A hashtag about this has been started and you can take action
>>> as well: #BringBackkOutInternet
>>> <https://twitter.com/hashtag/BringBackOurInternet?src=hash>.
>>>
>>> You can learn more about the #KeepItOn
>>> <https://twitter.com/hashtag/KeepItOn?src=hash> campaign here
>>> <https://www.accessnow.org/keepiton>.
>>>
>>> Eduard Snowden sent in a tweet
>>> <https://twitter.com/Snowden/status/824312606596988933> where he said: "*This
>>> is the future of repression. If we do not fight it there, it will happen
>>> here*" and I cannot agree more with him because it is just going from
>>> one country to another. Over 8 countries in Africa, including mine the DRC,
>>> have experienced shutdown and no one knows who is next. Acces Now has
>>> reported <https://www.accessnow.org/keepiton>15 Internet shutdowns
>>> across the world in 2015 and 56 in 2016
>>>
>>> If there is any question about all the statements and campaigns, I am
>>> happy to help or convey your questions since I am involved, on a personal
>>> capacity, in these movements advocating and fighting Internet shutdowns
>>> across Africa.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>> Arsene
>>>
>>> PS: Copied is Deji Olukotun who works on Advocacy for Access Now.
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------
>>> **Arsène Tungali**
>>> Co-Founder & Executive Director, *Rudi international
>>> <http://www.rudiinternational.org>*,
>>> CEO,* Smart Services Sarl <http://www.smart-serv.info>*, *Mabingwa
>>> Forum <http://www.mabingwa-forum.com>*
>>> Tel: +243 993810967 <+243%20993%20810%20967>
>>> GPG: 523644A0
>>> *Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo*
>>>
>>> 2015 Mandela Washington Felllow
>>> <http://tungali.blogspot.com/2015/06/selected-for-2015-mandela-washington.html>
>>> (YALI) - ISOC Ambassador (IGF Brazil
>>> <http://www.internetsociety.org/what-we-do/education-and-leadership-programmes/next-generation-leaders/igf-ambassadors-programme/Past-Ambassadors>
>>> & Mexico
>>> <http://www.internetsociety.org/what-we-do/education-and-leadership-programmes/next-generation-leaders/Current-Ambassadors>)
>>> - AFRISIG 2016 <http://afrisig.org/afrisig-2016/class-of-2016/> -
>>> Blogger <http://tungali.blogspot.com> - ICANN Fellow (Los Angeles
>>> <https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2014-07-18-en> & Marrakech
>>> <https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/marrakech55-attendees-2016-03-14-en>
>>> ). AFRINIC Fellow (Mauritius
>>> <http://www.afrinic.net/en/library/news/1907-afrinic-25-fellowship-winners>
>>> )* - *IGFSA Member <http://www.igfsa.org/> - The HuffingtonPost UK
>>> <http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/liza-bel/drc_b_8958150.html>
>>>
>>> 2017-01-26 5:34 GMT+02:00 Judith Hellerstein <judith at jhellerstein.com>:
>>>
>>>> HI All,
>>>>
>>>> Just passing on a note from Mafor Edwan of ISOC Cameroon about the
>>>> Cameroonian Government shut down of the Internet in his country.
>>>>
>>>> I am at a loss for words of yet another country that has cut off
>>>> Internet Access for its citizens. Thanks to ISOC Cameroon for all their
>>>> efforts to resolve this crisis, even though they have not been successful,
>>>> I am glad that they have tried. I am a passionate believer in an open
>>>> Internet. One that is available to all. By connecting the world, working
>>>> with others, and advocating for equal access to the Internet, We can make
>>>> the world a better place.
>>>> Edwan hopes people can share this word about this and hopefully some
>>>> one can reach the President and tell him what a bad idea this is. I told
>>>> him I would share it around. Hope others can do the same
>>>>
>>>> Best,
>>>> Judith
>>>>
>>>> _________________________________________________________________________
>>>> Judith Hellerstein, Founder & CEO
>>>> Hellerstein & Associates
>>>> 3001 Veazey Terrace NW, Washington DC 20008
>>>> Phone: (202) 362-5139  Skype ID: judithhellerstein
>>>> E-mail: Judith at jhellerstein.com   Website: www.jhellerstein.com
>>>> Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/jhellerstein/
>>>> Opening Telecom & Technology Opportunities Worldwide
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -------- Forwarded Message --------
>>>> Subject: Re: [Chapter-delegates] FYI- Constance's blog post about the
>>>> G20 - and the updated Internet Governance timeline
>>>> Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2017 21:49:53 -0500
>>>> From: Queen Mother <edwannfon at gmail.com> <edwannfon at gmail.com>
>>>> To: Dan York <york at isoc.org> <york at isoc.org>
>>>> CC: ISOC Chapter Delegates <chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org>
>>>> <chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org>, Carl Gahnberg <gahnberg at isoc.org>
>>>> <gahnberg at isoc.org>
>>>>
>>>> Good evening Fellow ISOC Delegates,
>>>>
>>>> I bring you sad news about the state of internet access in my home
>>>> country Cameroon.
>>>> I have sobbed uncontrollably for weeks as the govt of my country
>>>> tortures and mimes her citizens and recently has cut off the ability to
>>>> send financial support to our families through western union and has now
>>>> cut off the internet.
>>>>
>>>> Please if you can read the articles below.
>>>>
>>>> Cameroon Cuts Internet in English-speaking Regions
>>>> <http://www.voanews.com/a/cameroon-cuts-internet-in-english-speaking-regions/3682688.html>
>>>> http://www.voanews.com/a/cameroon-cuts-internet-in-english-s
>>>> peaking-regions/3682688.html
>>>>
>>>> How Cameroon pressured mobile operators to shut down the internet and
>>>> stifle dissent
>>>> <https://qz.com/893401/cameroon-pressured-mtn-and-other-operators-to-shut-down-internet-in-bamenda-buea-regions/>
>>>>   https://qz.com/893401/cameroon-pressured-mtn-and-other-opera
>>>> tors-to-shut-down-internet-in-bamenda-buea-regions/
>>>>
>>>> Thank you.
>>>> Mafor edwan
>>>> Vice President #2
>>>> ISOC Cameroon
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> As an Internet Society Chapter Officer you are automatically subscribed
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Deji Bryce Olukotun
>> Senior Global Advocacy Manager
>> Access Now | accessnow.org
>>
>> tel: +1 415-935-4572 <+1%20415-935-4572> | @dejiridoo
>> PGP: 0x6012CDA8
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>>
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>
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