[ALAC] Proposed statement of the ALAC regarding the current situation in Egypt

[Wolf Ludwig]

Dear all,

I entirely agree with Olivier's reflections on a statement like this and 
to limit it to something "crafted with caution" and focusing on "technical 
aspects" like the draft proposal -- what I support.

For the rest regarding the current situation in Egypt and HR aspects 
like FoE, freedom of assembly etc., I think, it's the role of the Coalition 
on Internet Rights and Principles (IRP) and others to pronounce 
themselves on broader aspects. As I could follow on the IRP list today,
they will disseminate a statement today as well.

Best,
Wolf


Olivier MJ Crepin-Leblond wrote Tue, 01 Feb 2011 15:21:
>Dear all,
>
>sustained discussions have recently taken place on one of the RALO
>lists, whether the ALAC should comment on the current political
>situation in Egypt, focussing in particular on the suspension of
>Internet service in the country. I have personally monitored the
>discussion and members of the ALAC ExCom have held daily discussions
>about the matter. I have also discussed the possibility of a statement
>with other constituency Chairs and some Board members.
>Rod Beckstrom has published a Blog post on:
>http://blog.icann.org/2011/01/status-report-on-the-dns-in-egypt/
>He has steered away from making any kind of political statement, and I
>suspect that this was for a reason.
>
>Egypt's GAC representative is Ms. Manal Ismail. She works for the
>Telecom Regulation Authority (TRA) - but their Internet is cut too.
>The ccNSO representative is EGregistry.eg - and they are cut from the
>Internet as well.
>The ICANN manager for relations in the Middle East, Mr. Baher Esmat, is
>also based in Cairo - and he's also off-line.
>Many more participants in ICANN Supporting Organisations and Advisory
>Committees, including ICANN fellows are also based in Egypt.
>
>I have managed to speak to a couple of my own friends in Cairo. They
>explained that, like all Egyptians, they are worried about the security
>situation, their own personal security included. This is particularly
>important.
>
>Whilst I understand that the current action by Egypt breaks ICANN's Core
>Value #1, it is my firm view that any statement might bring more harm
>that good to ICANN and its friends at the present moment, if it is not
>crafted with caution. This is a complex political situation which
>surpasses ICANN's sphere of influence, and I should seriously recommend
>that ALAC keeps a low profile about this because of the political
>implications for our friends on the ground.
>
>That said, the Internet Society has released a Q&A document focussing
>primarily on the technical implications of the shut-down of Internet
>services in Egypt. It is very useful, and I propose that for the time
>being, we support this Q&A and point our members to it.
>
>I am therefore asking the ALAC to endorse the following statement in an
>accelerated vote and procedure:
>
>--- cut here ---
>
>Statement of the ALAC regarding current situation in Egypt
>
>The ALAC is concerned by the impact of developments in Egypt on the
>ordinary Internet user. In the light of ICANN's responsibility for IP
>address  and AS number policy, and its core value of 'preserving and
>enhancing the operational stability, reliability, security, and global
>interoperability of the Internet', we endorse the ISOC statement and Q&A
>as expressed at http://isoc.org/wp/newsletter/?p=3100
>
>Signed: The At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC)
>
>--- cut here ---
>
>I hope that this will receive support and in this case, Heidi will
>swiftly follow-up with regards to voting procedures.
>
>In the meantime, and until the situation on the ground gets resolved, we
>wish all the Best to our Egyptian friends in this time of troubled
>politics in their country.
>
>Best regards,
>
>Olivier Crepin-Leblond
>ALAC Chair
>
>_______________________________________________
>ALAC mailing list
>ALAC at atlarge-lists.icann.org
>https://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac
>
>At-Large Online: http://www.atlarge.icann.org
>ALAC Working Wiki: http://st.icann.org/alac
>

comunica-ch
phone +41 79 204 83 87
Skype: Wolf-Ludwig
www.comunica-ch.net

Digitale Allmend
http://blog.allmend.ch -

EURALO - ICANN's Regional At-Large Organisation
http://euralo.org