[Privsec] WSIS / CS speaker Background Notes and Recommendation

[Robert Guerra]

Below is a copy of the email just sent by the  WSIS CS speaker  
nomination committee to the ITU for their consideration and review.

Some comments:


1. Simon Davies is on the list... :)

2. Two Tunisians have also been recommended -  Marzouk &  Khemakhem

Both of them were appointed by the Tunisian president to the Tunisian  
Parliament in Aug (05). A fact neither of them cared to mention in  
the bio/CV they submitted to the nomination committee.

As soon as this fact is known, there will be a strong reaction from  
many in Civil society (CS)- especially the human rights caucus. A  
very strong signal will go to the ITU and the press regarding the  
fact that two Tunisian parliamentarians have been "recommended " to   
speak at the summit on behalf of "civil society". It is hoped that  
the ITU, upon learning of this will not accept the two Tunisian names.

Will the ITU do the right thing, well - don't know. Does this WG want  
to issue a statement ?


3. On a more positive note, Ms. Shirin Ebadi, the nobel peace prize  
laureate for 2003 has been accepted the invitation to be Civil  
Society's opening speaker.

Her bio can be found @  http://nobelprize.org/peace/laureates/2003/ 
ebadi-bio.html

In regards to her nomination:

* The ITU has to approve the recommendation . It assumed by those in  
CS that they will. Again, will the ITU do the right thing, well -  
don't know...

*  One of the  Tunisian parliamentarians on the nominating committee  
(yes, they are everywhere)  specifically objected to having Ms. Ebadi  
be the opening speaker. As a result her nomination was sent to the  
ITU with the reservation of the "Arab Caucus" (meaning, the Tunisian  
Caucus).




regards,

Robert

--
Robert Guerra <rguerra at privaterra.org>
Managing Director, Privaterra <http://www.privaterra.org>





Begin forwarded message:




> From: Rik Panganiban <rikp at earthlink.net>
> Date: October 17, 2005 12:40:14 PM EDT (CA)
> To: "Robert Guerra [c]" <rguerra at privaterra.org>, "Guru at ITfC"  
> <guru at itforchange.net>, ladhp.ligue-africaine at wanadoo.fr, Tracey  
> Naughton <tracey at traceynaughton.com>, Chekib Dhaouadi  
> <chekib_dhaouadi at yahoo.fr>
> Subject: Fwd: Speaker Background Notes and Recommendation of Ms. Ebadi
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
>
>
>
>> From: Rik Panganiban <rikp at earthlink.net>
>> Date: October 17, 2005 12:37:25 PM EDT
>> To: Toru Nakaya <toru.nakaya at itu.int>
>> Subject: Speaker Background Notes and Recommendation of Ms. Ebadi
>>
>>
>> Dear Mr. Nakaya,
>>
>> Please find attached a cover letter to Mr. Utsumi as well as 3  
>> attachments related to the letter:
>>
>> 1. Background information on recommended speakers from civil society
>> 2. Letter from Human Rights Caucus recommending Ms. Shirin Ebadi  
>> dated 12 October 2005
>> 3. List of endorsing entities to Ms. Ebadi’s recommendation (as of  
>> 16 October 2005)
>>
>> Please transmit this to Mr. Utsumi.
>>
>> Rik Panganiban
>> on behalf of the selection committee
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>> ===============================================
>> 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
>>
>> * Information on the WSIS at http://www.ngocongo.org/wsis
>> * Information on Millennium+5 at http://www.ngocongo.org/mdg
>>
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>





--
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