For me I am shocked at the reckless media over-blowing of this issue, perhaps in response to recently published regulations to govern broadcast regulation to protect our country from degenerating to the pre-elections media inflamed tensions leading to the sad 2007-08 Post elections violence. Regards, Alex On Fri, Jan 22, 2010 at 1:24 PM, McTim <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Bill, > > I haven't cross posted to ALAC or any other list, but want to give NCUC > members a first hand perspective. > > Nairobi is no less safe now than when ICANN decided to hold its March 2010 > meeting here. Last weeks violence happened because police banned a > demonstration from happening after Friday prayers. The Jamaican cleric was > deported last night. It was a very, very small scale skirmish. I've been in > far worse riots in Washington D.C. > > It would be an over reaction IMHO to cancel or move the March meeting from > Nairobi at this point. Kenyan and other African stakeholders who are > looking forward to the meeting would be very annoyed indeed, and with good > reason. > > -- > Cheers, > > McTim > > On Fri, Jan 22, 2010 at 12:36 PM, William Drake > <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >> >> I don't know whether all NCUC people are aware of the debate going on >> about the Nairobi meeting, and how many are planning on attending. But >> below with apologies to Adam is a useful cross posting from the extended >> Nairobi discussion on the ALAC list. >> Apparently only 300+ people have registered so far. The board is having a >> call tonight to make a decision; it seems cancelation is a real possibility. >> I sat next to one boardie at dinner last night (at the ICANN Studienkreis >> in Barcelona) who said he was for canceling and repurposing the funds to >> allow AC/SOs to hold their own, disaggregated meetings. >> Bill >> >> Begin forwarded message: >> >> From: Adam Peake <[log in to unmask]> >> Date: January 21, 2010 8:48:50 AM GMT+01:00 >> To: ALAC Internal List <[log in to unmask]> >> Subject: Re: [ALAC-Internal] ICANN meeting and security concerns >> Reply-To: ALAC Internal List <[log in to unmask]> >> >> Rebecca's posted a follow-up to her article. Worth a look, not about >> security, but ICANN and Africa in general >> <http://wanjiku.co.ke/eng/articles/main/uxn1264057592/> She also reminds us >> there's an AFTLD meeting planned the week before the ICANN meeting, >> important training for the region. (I should have remembered, I hope to go >> to a few of the sessions :-)) >> >> I have a couple of projects with people in Kenya and East Africa so hear >> some general comments. The following is not a security assessment! >> >> Background: There was a demonstration in the city last Friday over the >> deportation of a Muslim cleric, Abdullah al-Faisal, who was in the country >> illegally. Faisal <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdullah_el-Faisal> was >> convicted of racial hatred (I am not sure that's the name of the actual >> crime) in the UK, jailed and then deported. He found his way to Kenya >> around New Year and was preaching. He is now being jailed in Kenya while >> awaiting deportation and this led to demonstrations by some of the Muslim >> community in downtown Nairobi that turned violent with about 7 people being >> shot, one killed. The Kenyan police are not subtle, though they claim shots >> were fired from the demonstration. >> >> The demonstrations were pretty violent with gangs of Kenyan youths seeming >> to have joined in on the side of the police, and all this happened in the >> downtown area close to where a number of the ICANN hotels are and the >> conference center where the meeting will be held. The central Mosque is in >> downtown, that's why people were there. The area where the demonstration >> happened seemed to be quite constrained. The concern for ICANN seems to be >> that the trouble was in downtown near the meeting location and hotels >> (although my understanding is the demonstration did not reach either.) >> ICANN knows there are areas of the city where you simply do not go, and >> these are the areas where there was violence after the elections a couple of >> years ago, but last Friday's violence was in downtown and this is new. >> >> That said, three friends were out to dinner in downtown Nairobi last >> Friday and they didn't know of the troubles until one of them got some calls >> about ICANN's concerns! Sometimes news footage can make things look much >> worse than they are, and perhaps this is the case here? >> >> Not trying to pretend this isn't serious, just that more information would >> be helpful. The UN has a very large office in Nairobi, location of the UN >> Environment Programme and UN-Habitat, both global programs. It would be good >> to know what the UN security assessment is, particularly if it has changed >> since last Friday's violence. >> >> People in Nairobi seem to think it's a one off, although there might be a >> demonstration this coming Friday (which would be bad timing for the board >> meeting!) But my very non-expert sense is further demonstrations in >> downtown are not likely to continue, they can't afford the city center to be >> disrupted, its the hub of the city, the area around the law courts, >> administration etc. That said, there is certainly ongoing tension with the >> Muslim community. >> >> There is some talk of moving the ICANN meeting to the UN center. There are >> a couple of problems with this. The UN center is out of the city, not many >> hotels near, and it is on a road known for traffic jams (traffic during rush >> hour in Nairobi is bad generally). And that road has construction planned >> for the next few months so the jams at the moment are terrible. It will be >> a nightmare to get to. As it's out of the city, and is also seen by many >> Kenyans as a bit of a separate 'country' (it's not easy to get in, all the >> usual UN security clearances needed) any meeting held there would not see >> many locals. Not good for the meeting generally, very bad for At Large in >> particular. >> >> I think the article Patrick forwarded makes clear that there's a feeling >> that ICANN's concerns are a typical over reaction to events in a developing >> country. The demonstrations probably the only piece of news about Kenya the >> world's press has picked up on in weeks. And violence in Africa is often >> the only news we see. It becomes a stereotype. I am not trying to downplay >> the seriousness of this situation, but be aware of that point of view. >> Comments from African colleagues on this general point might he helpful. >> >> Unless the security assessments have changed, assessments by the UN or >> perhaps major embassies such as the EU, I am happy to stick to arrangements >> in place (and no doubt anyway being updated to reflect any changes.) >> >> For what it's worth, a very high level of security has been planned for >> the conference center and hotels. The conference center is used to handling >> high level meetings, ICANN is quite small by comparison to many. >> >> If there's any change, a move from Nairobi to another city, or a change of >> planned conference venue in Nairobi, let it be based on a fact based >> independent assessment. ICANN owes Kenya and Africa that. >> >> Thanks, >> >> Adam >> >> >> >> Perhaps it would be useful to Vanda in the upcoming Board meeting on this >> >> issue (Friday) for us to have IN THIS LIST, some opinion / discussions >> on >> >> this issue... >> >> For example it is My view that unless serious and substantial *security >> >> risks* exist (and I assume the Board will have some access to proper >> >> briefings on any that do) AND I do NOT mean street crime that can happen >> any >> >> where in my view... Then we should hold the Nairobi meeting either as >> >> planned (or with relevant modifications / precautions arranged... >> >> *IF* however for what ever good reason there is the meeting is moved (and >> it >> >> should be MOVED *not* Cancelled we have way too much to do we need this >> F2F >> >> opportunity... Then it must be clear that this is not for any phobic >> reason >> >> rather a matter of real risk mitigation or management AND if that did >> >> happen then significant effort into outreach and regional activities MUST >> be >> >> undertaken by ICANN (in partnership with others perhaps) to >> >> also effectively mitigate the 'opportunities lost' by the meeting Not >> being >> >> held as planned... >> >> What are your thoughts?? >> >> And Yes I will go wherever it is held... Preferable in Nairobi... >> >> CLO >> >> 2010/1/21 Patrick Vande Walle <[log in to unmask]> >> >> FYI >> >> http://wanjiku.co.ke/eng/articles/main/pte1263978626/ >> >> In March 2008, Nairobi was supposed to host Internet Corporation for >> >> Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) meeting. This is a huge meeting, >> >> ICANN uses about $ 2 million for these meetings, am sure you know what >> >> it means for the economy. >> >> But the events that followed the 2007 elections meant that the meeting >> >> was cancelled, it was such a shame but that was understandable; after >> >> all, you do not want the people who control internet resources to fall >> >> into the traps of rival tribal gangs or to be caught in the cross fire. >> >> After another round of presentations last year, the Kenya delegation led >> >> by Kenic and the Communications Commission of Kenya was able to convince >> >> the ICANN community that Kenya is safe enough, and they agreed to host >> >> the meeting this March. >> >> We have been busy sweeping the roads and upgrading the hotels just to >> >> make sure that the most important ICANN community is happy, but they >> >> have never been, and I do not think they will ever be, if you ask me. I >> >> have been talking to sources within the organizing committee and ICANN >> >> has always had one niggling problem after another. >> >> Last Friday's fracas with the muslims seems to have tipped the balance; >> >> ICANN now is contemplating moving the meeting to another safer city. >> >> > >> >> But if you ask me or any other ordinary Kenyan, I think ICANN does not >> >> understand the country and how it operates. Since 1998, Kenya has never >> >> been secure, according to US and UK embassies, yet its their >> >> installations that make us targets. >> >> For whatever reasons, the country has always been rated poorly security >> >> wise, but which city is safe? New York? J' Burg? Cairo? Cassablanca? Am >> >> sure this is open to debate. >> >> I think ICANN has its double standards; if they were truly concerned >> >> about the security, the meeting in Seoul would not have taken place; >> >> South Korea is always under alert because of North Korea nuclear >> >> intentions. >> >> The meeting in Mexico city would not have gone on, after all every one >> >> there is said to carry a gun and the senior executives within ICANN >> >> membership were at risk of kidnappings. But the meetings took place. >> >> So, why all the security farce about Nairobi? >> >> > >> >> I would love to point out a similar incident during the 2005 or around >> >> there Cricket world cup, where New Zealand forfeited their match with >> >> Kenya in Nairobi because of security situation. Sri Lanka agreed to play >> >> their match in Nairobi provided they were given top notch security, the >> >> government obliged. >> >> By the time the plane carrying the Sri Lanka cricket team entered the >> >> > Kenyan air space, they were escorted by helicopter gunships and all the >> >> other stuff you see in the movies. But Sri Lanka soon realized that no >> >> one was bothered with them; we whipped them and by the time they were >> >> going back to the airport, they took taxis and realized that no one cares. >> >> In short, ICANN should know that they will come, they will hold their >> >> meeting, they will go away, and no one will probably remember they were >> >> > here. How many people know about ICANN and what it does? How many people >> >> know that the people present are online millionaires? >> >> ICANN has made demands that the meeting be moved to the UNEP Complex in >> >> Gigiri, and that the government should pay for all the charges bla >> >> bla... I think this is a move to alienate themselves from the ordinary >> >> kenyans. Getting to Gigiri is hectic let alone getting through the mean >> >> UN security staff. >> >> Trust me, I have had my share of security incidences in Nairobi, but I >> >> do not think its worth canceling a meeting. >> >> >From my sources, I am told the government is paying for the gala dinner >> >> and all that, in other countries, ICANN has paid for that. So I think >> >> this is just a way for ICANN to make their demands and demonstrate their >> >> authority. >> >> I am not saying that security measures should be ignored, but just know >> >> that poor security rating means more hardship allowance for the UN and >> >> embassy staff, so its in their interest to show Kenya on fire all the >> time. >> >> One thing you should know that Kenya is a highly political company, all >> >> year round, stupid politics and we the media love it and exalt it, so >> >> deal with that. When you come and when you go, we will remain the same, >> >> and it does not mean ICANN will change anything, so get over it. >> >> By the way, most people who will come will be holed up in lavish 5-star >> >> hotels where the thugs will not reach. The insecurity problem is for >> >> people like us who will have to walk home and deal with the neighborhood >> >> thugs. >> >> The upshot of it is that ICANN should come, hold their meeting, give us >> >> the revenue, visit Maasai Mara and all the other areas, and go home. I >> >> am sure there will be enough cops guarding everywhere. >> >> So, insecure or not, I think the meeting should go on. If you guys are >> >> not convinced, then you can move the meeting to wherever you want! >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> ALAC-Internal mailing list >> >> [log in to unmask] >> >> >> http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac-internal_atlarge-lists.icann.org >> >> ALAC Wiki: http://st.icann.org/alac >> >> At-Large Website: http://atlarge.icann.org >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> Cheryl Langdon-Orr >> >> (CLO) >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> ALAC-Internal mailing list >> >> [log in to unmask] >> >> >> http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac-internal_atlarge-lists.icann.org >> >> ALAC Wiki: http://st.icann.org/alac >> >> At-Large Website: http://atlarge.icann.org >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> ALAC-Internal mailing list >> [log in to unmask] >> >> http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac-internal_atlarge-lists.icann.org >> >> ALAC Wiki: http://st.icann.org/alac >> At-Large Website: http://atlarge.icann.org >> >> *********************************************************** >> William J. Drake >> Senior Associate >> Centre for International Governance >> Graduate Institute of International and >> Development Studies >> Geneva, Switzerland >> [log in to unmask] >> www.graduateinstitute.ch/cig/drake.html >> *********************************************************** >> >> > > > > >