Fwd: Letter of Concern - CS speakers from WSIS/ Summit

[Meryem Marzouki <marzouki@ras.eu.org>]

Dear all,

I received a copy of this message from Robert Guerra, in order for me 
to inform the caucus.
Best,
Meryem


Début du message réexpédié :

> De: Robert Guerra <rguerra@privaterra.org>
> Date: Mer 12 oct 2005  21:03:30 Europe/Paris
> À: toru.nakaya@itu.int, Charles Geiger <charles.geiger@itu.int>
> Cc: Meryem Marzouki <marzouki@ras.eu.org>
> Objet: Letter of Concern - CS speakers from WSIS/ Summit
>
> Dear Toru and Charles:
>
> In my capacity as focal point on the civil society bureau, I wish to 
> communicate to you both, in your capacity of  as members of the WSIS 
> ES, my  grave concern due to the inclusion of :
>
> Mr. Mohammed Elyes Ben Marzouk
>
> as a civil society speaker at the summit. The person in question has, 
> some months ago, been appointed to the Tunisian parliament by the 
> Tunisian Present. This is a clear conflict, made even worse by being a 
> member of the parliament of the host country. I would hope that this 
> fact be taken into consideration by the ITU and as such , NOT select 
> him as a speaker.
>
> Tunisian officials, specifically governmental agents have already 
> caused sufficient interference at the various prepcoms. Despite strong 
> statements by key governments to prevent this, it is likely that the 
> situation will be worse at the Tunis summit. Having a Tunisian 
> parliamentarian speak as civil society will clearly lead to a reaction 
> by many in Civil society, and likely several goverments as well. I do 
> hope that the ITU reconsider it's decision and instead select a less 
> controversial  person who in fact IS from Civil Society.
>
>
> In the meantime, I shall advise both the Canadian Government 
> Delegation as well as Civil Society human rights caucus about this 
> most troubling development.
>
>
> Yours sincerely,
>
> Robert Guerra
>
>
>
> --
> Robert Guerra <rguerra@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
>
>
>
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> > From: Rik Panganiban <rikp@earthlink.net>
> > Date: October 12, 2005 2:38:10 PM EDT (CA)
> > To: plenary@wsis-cs.org
> > Subject: [WSIS CS-Plenary] CS speakers from ITU for opening, 
> > roundtable and high level panel
> > Reply-To: plenary@wsis-cs.org
> >
> > Dear Colleagues,
> >
> > The WSIS executive secretariat has confirmed to us their nominations 
> > for speakers from civil society. Please find below the list of 
> > speakers for the opening ceremony, high level panel, and roundtables 
> > nominated by the WSIS Secretary General.  We understand that the WSIS 
> > President is the final authority on who will speak in Tunis.
> >
> > We also understand that Ms. Shirin Abadi, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 
> > 2003, is being nominated by a number of caucuses and civil society 
> > groups to speak at the opening ceremony.  Ms. Renata Bloem wants it 
> > known that she would be happy to step aside to allow Ms. Abadi to 
> > address the opening ceremony, if this is acceptable to the WSIS 
> > executive secretariat.
> >
> > Note that the final list of plenary speakers has not been completed, 
> > pending the receipt of the CVs from all of the nominated speakers 
> > from civil society.  Please send those CVs and summaries to me 
> > directly at rik.panganiban@ngocongo.org if you have not already.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Rik Panganiban
> > CONGO
> >
> > ===================================================
> >
> >
> >
> > Opening Ceremony
> > NameTitleOrganizationCountry
> > Ms. Renata Bloem
> > President
> >
> > Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United 
> > Nations (CONGO)
> > Switzerland
> >
> >
> > High-Level Panel
> > Name
> > Title
> >
> > Organization
> >
> > Country
> >
> > Prof. M.S. Swaminathan
> > Chairman
> > MS Swaminathan Foundation
> > India
> >
> >
> > Round Tables
> > Name
> >
> > Title
> >
> > Organization
> >
> > Country
> >
> > Ms. Tatiana Ershova
> > Director General
> > Institute of the Information Society
> > Russia
> >
> > Mr. Monthian Butan
> > President
> > Thailand Association of the Blind
> > Thailand
> >
> > Mr. Simon Davies
> > Director
> > Privacy International
> > UK
> >
> > Mr. Roberto Bissio
> > Executive Director
> > Third World Institute
> > Urguay
> >
> > Mr. Mohanmed Elyes Ben Marzouk
> > President
> > Organisation tunisienne des jeunes médecins sans frontières
> > Tunisia
> >
> > Ms. Anriette Esterhuysen
> > Executive Director
> > Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
> > South Africa
> >
> > Mr. Gbenga Sesan
> > Founding Coordinator
> > Lagos Digital Village
> > TakingITGlobal
> > Nigeria
> >
> >
> > ===============================================
> > RIK PANGANIBAN       Communications Coordinator
> > Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United 
> > Nations (CONGO)
> > web: http://www.ngocongo.org
> > email: rik.panganiban@ngocongo.org
> > mobile: (+1) 917-710-5524
> >
> > * Information on the WSIS at http://www.ngocongo.org/wsis
> > * Information on Millennium+5 at http://www.ngocongo.org/mdg