[WSIS CS-Plenary] Reservation on process - list of speakers for Tunis

[Carlos Afonso]

Robert, I fully share your concerns and your protest.

fraternal regards

--c.a.

Robert Guerra wrote:

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> On 4-Oct-05, at 6:14 AM, Gurstein, Michael wrote:
>
>> I'm also unclear as to rules, procedures and priorities/strategies
>> here...
>>
>
> Michael:
>
> I will be more blunt.  Let me be more harsh. I know my comments will  
> be controversial - but i need to express to this list what I  
> expressed verbally several times during the recent prepcom in Geneva.
>
> It is my personal view that the Civil Society (CS) process for   
> nomination of speakers names for the summit as developed at PC 3, is  
> - well, a farce.
>
> The  developed a criteria, one that it left ngos less than a week to  
> consult, one that only allowed those who had ONLY been already been  
> involved and/or attended the wsis process to participate is  
> unacceptable. Furthermore, the selection committee hastily created  
> has - no - clue about who in fact would be a visionary, high level  
> speaker (meaning only head of organizations need apply).
>
> At phase one CS was given well over a month to consult to its  
> constituencies. However this time, this was not possible. This is not  
> due to the ITU, which in fact DID notify the civil society bureau  
> (CSB) through CONGO about the need to consult and submit names by the  
> first week in Oct. Despite recieving generous funds (well over  
> 150,000 CHF) to help co-ordinate CS @ wsis , CONGO for some reason  
> dropped the ball and did not start the process well in advance. In  
> fact, the issue was not raised until late in the first week of the  
> prepcom.
>
> Leaving such a key and important issue almost until the end seriously  
> compromises the ability of CS to find high level names to speak at   
> the very key summit events. For me this lack of leadership is ,  
> completely, unacceptable.
>
>
> Three things to note :
>
> 1. NO funding of any kind is available for potential speakers to  
> travel to, and attend the wsis summit (if they are selected)
> 2. As was the case in the Geneva phase, it is the ITU that has the  
> ultimate decision on the selection. Thus, the process has always  
> allowed for  Individuals and/or organizations to contact and submit  
> names to the ITU
> 3. Again, as i mentioned earlier - the selection criteria and process  
> as developed at the prepcom is not one I support. I have protested  
> quite vocally against its process, specifically only favouring an  
> elite few who have had the chance to attend an existing official WSIS  
> prepcom event.
>
> Serious incidents have already arisen due to the lack of an open and  
> clear process.   For example, on Friday hours before the 2nd plenary  
> session the gender caucus had to deal with the issue of   Saida  
> "nomination" as an  an "excellent" personal to speak on behalf of the  
> gender caucus at the summit. Magaly Pazello, the meeting chair  
> refused. She reminded the attendees that  a process had to be  
> followed first. After the meeting,  Saida and agents basically  
> swarmed and intimidated Magaly outside the serpentine bar. Luckily  
> the swarming was witnessed by several (non-tunisian) government  
> delegates.
>
>
> One has to ask the question,  will well known Tunisian agents be  
> recommended as speakers at the summit ? If so, will we be OK with  
> them speaking on the behalf of Civil Society ? Well, we have to deal  
> with the issue...
>
> I have transmitted my concern and serious reservations about the last  
> minute process that has been developed on this issue to the Canadian  
> govt officials involved in the WSIS.
>
> In the meantime, i would  recommend the process be re-opened,  
> allowing for suggestions of persons that might be good speakers to be  
> further elaborated and developed in line with the comments sent by  
> Michael Gurstein and others.
>
> regards,
>
> Robert
>

-- 
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Carlos Afonso
diretor de planejamento
Rede de Informações para o Terceiro Setor - Rits
Rua Guilhermina Guinle, 272, 6º andar - Botafogo
Rio de Janeiro RJ - Brasil         CEP 22270-060
tel +55-21-2527-5494        fax +55-21-2527-5460
ca at rits.org.br            http://www.rits.org.br
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