ICANN meeting and security concerns

[Carlos A. Afonso]

Ooops, I am not among the ones who rush to register, but after reading
this msg from Bill & Adam, I did my registration right away. However, I
think this number will not be the main deciding factor.

frt rgds

--c.a.

William Drake 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 <ajp at glocom.ac.jp> Date: January 21, 2010 8:48:50
>> AM GMT+01:00 To: ALAC Internal List
>> <alac-internal at atlarge-lists.icann.org> Subject: Re:
>> [ALAC-Internal] ICANN meeting and security concerns Reply-To: ALAC
>> Internal List <alac-internal at atlarge-lists.icann.org>
>>
>> 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 <patrick at vande-walle.eu>
>>>
>>>> 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 ALAC-Internal at atlarge-lists.icann.org
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -- Cheryl Langdon-Orr (CLO)
>>> _______________________________________________ ALAC-Internal
>>> mailing list ALAC-Internal at atlarge-lists.icann.org
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>>>
>>>
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>>
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>>
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>
> *********************************************************** William
> J. Drake Senior Associate Centre for International Governance
> Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies Geneva,
> Switzerland william.drake at graduateinstitute.ch
> www.graduateinstitute.ch/cig/drake.html
> ***********************************************************
>
>
>

--

Carlos A. Afonso
CGI.br (www.cgi.br)
Nupef (www.nupef.org.br)
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new/nuevo/novo e-mail: ca at cafonso.ca
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