[governance] [bestbits] Please Cameroon did not shut down the Internet !!!
ymshana2003
ymshana2003 at gmail.com
Sun Jan 29 20:51:19 EST 2017
....and ...now we see 'What happens when politics are allowed in the governance of the Internet'.
Let us see what people sit in the GAC say about such 'action' if it is politically motivated.
This is just my eecollection of what was discussed during the Global Internet Policy development process a few years ago.
Kind regards
Mshana
Sent from Samsung Mobile
-------- Original message --------
From: Mawaki Chango <kichango at gmail.com>
Date:29/01/2017 23:57 (GMT+06:00)
To: Internet Governance <governance at lists.igcaucus.org>,Kivuva <Kivuva at transworldafrica.com>,"Bits bestbits at lists.bestbits.net" <bestbits at lists.bestbits.net>
Cc: Nyangkwe Agien Aaron <nyangkweagien at gmail.com>,Evelyn Namara <evelyngeek at gmail.com>,jnoulaye at gmail.com, joash.moitui at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [governance] [bestbits] Please Cameroon did not shut down the Internet !!!
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 (111 organizations from 51 countries) is pushing back against the shutdown. Our efforts are being led by Julie Owono from Internet Without Borders.
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 (please support!)
- outreach to telcos operating in the country, including a statement from the Global Network Initiative (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 are doing a lot of advocacy and statements, 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.
You can learn more about the #KeepItOn campaign here.
Eduard Snowden sent in a tweet 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 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,
CEO, Smart Services Sarl, Mabingwa Forum
Tel: +243 993810967
GPG: 523644A0
Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo
2015 Mandela Washington Felllow (YALI) - ISOC Ambassador (IGF Brazil & Mexico) - AFRISIG 2016 - Blogger - ICANN Fellow (Los Angeles & Marrakech). AFRINIC Fellow (Mauritius) - IGFSA Member - The HuffingtonPost UK
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
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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
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