[governance] Proposal for IGC to formally respond to "Please Cameroon did not shut down the Internet !!!"

Sun Jan 29 17:48:35 EST 2017

We do not have jurisdiction or locus to speak to Cameroon's local ISOC
chapter. We can if there is consensus.put out a statement though.
On 30/01/2017 11:43, "Norbert Bollow" <nb at bollow.ch> wrote:

> (Cc list trimmed)
>
> Being fully in agreement with the points that have been made very
> eloquently in regard to this issue by multiple people including
> Milton and Mawaki, and being apalled by the stance which the current
> president of ISOC Cameroon Chapter seems to have taken, I wonder whether
> it might make sense for IGC to issue a statement in the form of a
> letter to the ISOC Cameroon Chapter, in which we would urge the ISOC
> Cameroon Chapter to adopt a clear stance that regional Internet
> shutdowns are not acceptable in regard to any region and not justifiable
> in any way.
>
> Greetings,
> Norbert
>
>
> On Sun, 29 Jan 2017 17:57:51 +0000
> Mawaki Chango <kichango at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Thanks all trying to report out of Cameroon.
> >
> > Like others, I was struck by the implications from Janvier's
> > reporting, or rather his attempt at a "mise au point" which
> > completely missed the mark, I'm sorry.
> >
> > Government is blocking Internet access only in 2 regions out of 8, so
> > the situation is not that bad as the whole Cameroon being shutdown
> > and we should chill?
> >
> > Oh, and money remittance operations to those 2 regions are also
> > suspended, but not a big deal really?
> >
> > And you say that's done by the government for the sake of the whole
> > population in those 2 regions? How's that? We just need to swallow
> > that assertion made by you or the government and keep moving, nothing
> > to see here?
> >
> > Interesting enough, the other 6 regions don't need that security and
> > safety which is supposed to be found in shutting down the Internet
> > (do you really think if there was a real terrorism threat from a
> > section of the population accessing the Internet, that threat will go
> > away by maintaining access only for their neighbors?) It's all in the
> > (government)  motivation, isn't it? If one cannot question the actual
> > government's motivation in taking such extreme measures then it's
> > going to be hard to come to a consensus on lasting peaceful solutions.
> >
> > I myself was born francophone and still a national of the same African
> > francophone country of birth, and I can relate to that notion of
> > "pleins pouvoirs"-- not to say  "pouvoir absolu"-- found in some of
> > our countries, which Joash was referring to. But I would urge ISOC
> > Cameroon to try to relate also to the global culture of individual
> > rights, particularly in the age of the Internet. Then whatever you'll
> > be able to accept as the right of any Cameroonian, should be the
> > right of all Cameroonians without distinction of language, ethnicity,
> > religion, political views or location, etc.
> >
> > And, addressing the government here, I personally can't even begin to
> > understand what is so difficult to understand in the notion that
> > being a bilingual country is an asset, an advantage rather than a
> > threat or drawback.
> >
> > So yes, we get it, not the whole of Cameroon is cut off from the
> > Internet. But no, that doesn't make it any more acceptable that
> > "only" a couple of regions are targeted by what seems like a
> > punishment for a "crime de lèse majesté".
> >
> > Now the question on our table here is what we, global civil society
> > coalitions, can do about a situation like this. I recall working for a
> > short while at APC on those universal periodic reviews (hope I'm not
> > messing up with that heavily acronym based terminology) at the UN
> > Human Rights Council, and Cameroon was up for review at some point.
> > Has any progress been made since? Any other course of action to look
> > into?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Mawaki
> >
> >
> > On Jan 28, 2017 4:37 PM, "Mwendwa Kivuva"
> > <Kivuva at transworldafrica.com> wrote:
> >
> > It is quite unfortunate the situation in Cameroon, especially how
> > people argue out human rights issues when the pinching shoe is on the
> > neighbors leg, when their "enemy", imagined or real, is being
> > persecuted.
> >
> > ______________________
> > Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya
> > twitter.com/lordmwesh
> >
> >
> >
> > On 28 January 2017 at 18:19, Nyangkwe Agien Aaron
> > <nyangkweagien at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Dear All
> > >
> > > I am right here in Douala Cameroun. And when I read Janvier, I will
> > > want many people to understand one thing. Mister Janvier is
> > > francophone. To many francophones, rights belong to authorities and
> > > not peoples . People must fear not respect authorities because the
> > > said authorities have all powers (they call it in french (plein
> > > pouvoirs) to do and undo on every citizen.
> > >
> > > To him, a Sous Prefet can ask for internet to be suspended in some
> > > part of Cameroon, he is in his right as an authority. Currently, a
> > > Supreme Court Atorney General, Mr Paul Ayah Abine is arrested and
> > > is in detention without due process. The same is the case another
> > > Magistrate in Buea who was arrested and ferried to Yaounde a day
> > > ago. Their crime; for supporting the anglophone call for a
> > > federation.
> > >
> > > To the likes of Janvier, it is the Government that gives liberty
> > > (C'est le gouvernement qui donne la liberté in French)
> > >
> > > The civilized world must act against such egregious obscurantism
> > >
> > > Agien Nyangkwe
> > >
> > > On Sat, Jan 28, 2017 at 8:03 AM, Evelyn Namara
> > > <evelyngeek at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > >> Dear all,
> > >>
> > >> As a person who has been on the side of the shutdown, it is not
> > >> right and justifiable to shutdown the Internet, even for a few
> > >> regions. Mr. Janvier, your comments in this email hit me so hard.
> > >> As a person who has some level of authority, you should be
> > >> concerned and fight for all rights of all citizens.
> > >>
> > >> The 6 million plus people who make up the 2 regions that are
> > >> deprived of the Internet also matter. Everyone matters, and like
> > >> the Internet Society always says "The Internet is for everybody".
> > >>
> > >> Let's all fight and make leaders accountable.
> > >>
> > >> I stand with the people of Cameroun.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> On Fri, Jan 27, 2017 at 12:08 PM, Joash Moitui
> > >> <joash.moitui at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> Thank you all.
> > >>>
> > >>> This is a vital interesting topic. Having lived in Cameroon for 3
> > >>> years, I would say that the shutdown in these two region is no
> > >>> different from shutdowns witnessed in Uganda and Gambia for
> > >>> instance. It is simply the political elite using their political
> > >>> influence to prevent the human rights violations calling for
> > >>> federation in these areas. The two areas made up of Anglophones,
> > >>> who have been marginalized largely because of their language and
> > >>> their calls for federation have been met by internet shutdown and
> > >>> full force of security agents. It is this that the Cameroon
> > >>> government does not want to be easily distributed within the
> > >>> social media.
> > >>>
> > >>> Joash
> > >>>
> > >>> On 27 Jan 2017, at 10:56, Nonhlanhla Chanza
> > >>> <nonhlanhlachanza at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>> I still weep blood for those two regions. I have never been
> > >>> convinced by the argument that there might be circumstances that
> > >>> justifies a shutdown. So many places in turmoil and war in the
> > >>> world but people have access still to the Internet.
> > >>> On 26 Jan 2017 17:59, "Janvier NGNOULAYE" <jnoulaye at gmail.com>
> > >>> wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>>> 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
>
>
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