[WSIS CS-Plenary] Speakers for the Summit / my position on nominations from Tunisia

[Rik Panganiban]

Robert,

Thanks for clarifying your position.

The Selection Committee is finalizing its list, based on all the  
nominations from the various CS groupings, caucuses, working groups,  
etc.  We will of course take all the committee members views into  
account and will be circulating our final recommendations to the ITU  
and to this Plenary shortly.

Rik Panganiban

On Oct 7, 2005, at 1:17 PM, Robert Guerra wrote:

> [Please note that by using 'REPLY', your response goes to the  
> entire list. Kindly use individual addresses for responses intended  
> for specific people]
>
> Click http://wsis.funredes.org/plenary/ to access automatic  
> translation of this message!
> _______________________________________
>
> With the help of Rik and others, the speakers nominating group is  
> working hard to advance the work done in geneva to ready a list for  
> the ITU. Numerous exchanges have taken  place so far, which is great.
>
>
> In the spirit of transparency and openness, i thought it best to  
> share my position (as focal point on the CSB for North America &  
> Europe) on and about  nominations from Tunisia with the plenary list.
>
>
> My position is as follows....
>
>
> To be honest, the inclusion of  Tunisians as proposed speakers at  
> the summit makes be personally shake in disbelief.  The names  
> proposed (from Tunisia) are not  high enough level persons to speak  
> at the plenary sessions. The caucus they represent  are problematic  
> ones, ones which - many, myself included - believe are clearly  
> infiltrated by the tunisian government .
>
> There far better, and much less problematic speakers that MUST  be  
> considered in their place. As a point of principle, if we are going  
> to consider tunisians for rountables then  we SHOULD also  give an  
> equal chance to "independent" civil society from the country. If  
> that is not possible, then , there is no equal opportunity - no  
> consensus, and as such the safest course of action  would be to not  
> recommend any Tunisians at all to the ITU.
>
> As you might imagine, this is a point of principle for me. I am  
> passionate about this. There needs to be openness and transparency  
> about this - very - sensitive issue.
>
> Recommendation: remove all Tunisian names all together. If this  
> group recommends  one Tunisian name vs. another, we will be lead  
> into a dogfight we can not win. It's a political issue - let the  
> ITU deal with it.
>
> Alternatives: no doubt there are other names from other countries  
> that are not only "less problematic" but, are higher level and  
> involved in information society activities and/or initiatives at a  
> higher level than the Tunisian nominees.
>
>
> --
> Robert Guerra <rguerra at privaterra.org>
> Director, Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR)
> WSIS Civil Society Bureau, Focal Point for North America & Europe
> Tel +1 416 893 0377 Fax +1 416 893 0374
>
>
>



===============================================
RIK PANGANIBAN       Communications Coordinator
Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United  
Nations (CONGO)
web: http://www.ngocongo.org
email: rik.panganiban at ngocongo.org
mobile: (+1) 917-710-5524

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