[governance] Statement by IGC on Huan Qi's sentencing

[ian.peter at ianpeter.com]

Well I'm not sure of the objective David.

But if it is, as you suggest, to be clear that despotic behaviour is 
unacceptable in the world community, I woud prefer a broader letter 
including cases such as Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange. And perhaps 
a very broad range of internet activists who have been imprisoned, and 
perhaps addressed to UN or something.

This just looks a little Sinophobic to me in its current form.

------ Original Message ------
From: david_allen_ab63 at post.harvard.edu
To: "ian.peter at ianpeter.com" <ian.peter at ianpeter.com>
Cc: "Salanieta T. Tamanikaiwaimaro" 
<salanieta.tamanikaiwaimaro at gmail.com>; "Marie Georges" 
<ma.georges at orange.fr>; "Norbert Bollow" <nb at bollow.ch>; "governance" 
<governance at lists.riseup.net>
Sent: 4/08/2019 3:46:14 AM
Subject: Re: [governance] Statement by IGC on Huan Qi's sentencing

>Do we actually believe our actions will secure his release?
>
>Or rather, have the opportunity tp be clear that despotic behavior is 
>unacceptable in the world community?  And so, want to be clear on the 
>fact.
>
>Which is the realistic option?
>
>David
>
>
>>On Aug 3, 2019, at 1:29 PM, ian.peter at ianpeter.com wrote:
>>
>>I am not happy with the tone of this.
>>
>>If you actually want something to happen and for China to listen, I 
>>would suggest removing phrases such as "Huang Qi's persecution and 
>>imprisonment reflects China’s continued repression of free speech."  
>>That will achieve nothing towards securing a release.
>>
>>I think earlier on Chaitanya was alluding to the need for a more 
>>diplomatic post, when he suggested (along with a third suggestion 
>>which everyone rejected)
>>
>>- Huang Qi has greatly strengthened China as a country by bringing to 
>>the foreground these issues (corruption & human rights issues).
>>- It is our (my) view that he should be honoured as a strong 
>>contributor to society.
>>
>>I can see the logic in including such phrases and in phrasing a letter 
>>so that it is not so much an attack on a country who we are asking to 
>>take a specific action to free someone who we believe has been 
>>wrongfully imprisoned.
>>
>>
>>
>>Ian
>>
>>
>>----- Original Message ------
>>From: "Salanieta T. Tamanikaiwaimaro" <governance at lists.riseup.net>
>>To: "Marie Georges" <ma.georges at orange.fr>
>>Cc: "Norbert Bollow" <nb at bollow.ch>; "governance" 
>><governance at lists.riseup.net>
>>Sent: 3/08/2019 2:45:52 AM
>>Subject: Re: [governance] Statement by IGC on Huan Qi's sentencing
>>
>>>Dear All,
>>>
>>>Please suggest revisions. When there is consensus and we finalise, we 
>>>can release the statement to China's ambassador to Geneva who is on 
>>>the MAG.
>>>
>>>Proposed Draft
>>>The Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus is deeply concerned by 
>>>the sentencing of online activist Huang Qi to 12 years in prison.  
>>>Huang has been honored multiple times by Reporters Without Borders 
>>>for his courage in exposing corruption and human rights violations in 
>>>China through his website, 64 Tianwang.
>>>
>>>Huang Qi's persecution and imprisonment reflects China’s continued 
>>>repression of free speech.  We urge the Chinese government to uphold 
>>>its international commitments related to fair trial guarantees and 
>>>the rule of law.  We call on China to immediately release Mr. Huang, 
>>>and to allow him access to his family, medical care, and legal 
>>>counsel as soon as possible.  We also call on China to end undue 
>>>restrictions on the freedom of movement of his family and those who 
>>>assisted him.
>>>
>>>We note that China is a member of the United Nations Human Rights 
>>>Council this year. The Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus calls 
>>>on China to aspire to subscribe to the Charter of the Internet Rights 
>>>and Principles which was developed by the Dynamic Coalition on 
>>>Internet Rights and Principles within the Internet Governance Forum 
>>>and is available on the OHCHR website.
>>>
>>>
>>>On Fri, 2 Aug 2019, 5:48 pm Marie Georges, <ma.georges at orange.fr> 
>>>wrote:
>>>>Complete agreement with you Norbert.
>>>>Marie
>>>>
>>>>Envoyé de mon iPhone
>>>>
>>>> > Le 2 août 2019 à 10:24, Norbert Bollow <nb at bollow.ch> a écrit :
>>>> >
>>>> > On Fri, 2 Aug 2019 03:38:08 +0530
>>>> > "Chaitanya Dhareshwar" (via governance Mailing List)
>>>> > <governance at lists.riseup.net> wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >> - A reasonable middle ground between sentencing (law) and 
>>>>honouring
>>>> >> commitment to free speech would be to give a Community Service
>>>> >> sentence
>>>> >
>>>> > I would strongly object to anything that calls anything a 
>>>>"reasonable
>>>> > middle ground" which is not fully in alignment with all human 
>>>>rights
>>>> > including the right to free speech.
>>>> >
>>>> > Greetings,
>>>> > Norbert
>>>> > ---
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>>>>
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