Dear all,
On 16 Dec., we met Japanese government officials in charge of WSIS
Tokyo meeting. We discussed about 2 hours regarding our questions and
others.
They told the several important things that were not appeared on WSIS
Tokyo web site. Especially following things are very important
information for NGOs.
* WSIS application is accepting now though the official deadline was
over.
* Attitude of Japanese government in terms of WSIS Tokyo has
very mistrustfull. They forgot to invite East Timor. On the other
hand, Japanese government decides not to invite North Korea based on
political judgment.
* One panel discussion of the first day is changed for setting up
organized by NGOs.
Panel discussion by NGOs is welcome. But we have completely severe
shortage of time to prepare and discuss. Therefore announcement for
NGOs are not enough pervaded now. Also some persons and NGOs in abroad
are virtually difficult to arrange to go to Tokyo even if they want to
join official NGOs panel discussion.
From my view point, shortage of time is a usual practice by
government of Japan. I have often experienced such tactics by
them. The more important policy, the less time to discuss they want,
and then they try to decide everything before arising serious critical
public opinions. Regarding WSIS Tokyo meeting, Japanese government can
pose as collaboration with civil society while in reality most of
NGOs have not preparing to join the meeting based on deliberately
discussion and transparent participating process open to all the
people concerned. This is a kind of invisible exclusion
tactics. Therefore we as participants should have very important
responsibility for the civil society.
Regarding North Korea issue, I would like to write a little
bit. Japanese government told frankly about their decision as
political judgment. I astonished their easy assurance of manner. In
Japan, several hundreds of thousand of Korean people live. The
communication issues between ordinary people in Japan and North Korea
are very serious human security issues in spite of political conflict
between them. Not to invite North Korea means that Japanese government
lacks a consideration for political and military conflict within this
region. Rather Japanese government seems to intend to stimulate
military conflict within this region in imitation of Bush. Exclusion of
North Korean is very dangerous for people's security. We should make a
strong protest against the decision of Japanese government.
I summarize the responses from Japanese government as
follows. Sentences following RESPONSE are written responses by
Japanese government. Sentences following # is a response and comment
by oral. Original Japanese version of response is appeared as follows;
http://www.jca.apc.org/~toshi/wsis-tokyo/soumushou_kaitou.html
toshi
JCA-NET
((((((((((^0^)))))))))
toshimaru ogura
ogr@nsknet.or.jp
toshi@jca.apc.org
((((((((((^0^)))))))))
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1. Regarding participation conditions, we require you should accept a
proposal from individual.
RESPONSE: Individual perticipaton has not been permitted by UN
organized meeting so far. From security point of view, individual
participants are difficult. But individuals are able to post their
opinions by e-mail.
# Japanese government makes a guideline for participation in line with
the summit meeting.
# Iran and Afghanistan are able to participate. US and Canada are
observers.
2. We require your explanation what countries and regions are
involved in "ASIA". Also what kind of ground for the definition?
RESPONSE: ESCAP countries except the countries that participated in
other regional meetings are involved in Tokyo meeting. Also Pacific
Ocean countries are involved.
# Middle East countries are not involved.
3. Regarding fellowship, you give very restrict condition for this
such as one person one country, and " the organization must be
officially recognized by its national government" and "The
organization must be endorsed/cleared by respective organization's
country office". We require the reason why you put such very
restrictive conditions for fellowship. Also, it is very unclear the
criteria of the countries you select for fellowship. For example,
East Timor is excluded. Also we require the detail of budget,
criteria of selection, the persons who select and the process of
selection.
RESPONSE: The organizer does not restrict fellowship to one country
one person. The reason of endorsement by government is for confirmation
of visa. East Timor will be involved. The amount of fellowship is US$
90000. Donner will select the donee based on consideration of
activities and regional balance.
# The sentence of "The organization must be endorsed/cleared by
respective organization's country office" is not true intent of
Japanese government. UNDP required this sentence. The countries for
fellowship are selected based on GDP of Word bank Report.
# The donners are UNDP, World Bank, InfoDev, and GLOCOM. ADB has not
yet decided to join as a donner. The donation from GLOCOM was come
from a part of the fund that Japanese government spent to GLOCOM.
# Regarding North Korea, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs opposes to
invite North Korea because of present political situation.
4. We think criteria of fellowship are not fair on selection from NGOs
and civil society view point. Therefore, you should remove the
restrictive criteria, and guarantee all of NGOs, civil society and
individuals concerning about information and communication. Also
you should extend the deadline of application.
RESPONSE: Everyone is possible to apply. Deadline was postponed once
from Dec.8 to 13. Once more extension is very difficult because of
visa and other procedure.
# The deadline was decided based on the countries where may be
difficult to get visa.
5. We require you should guarantee officially to put the voices from
civil society in the Interactive Dialogue on the second day and
others into final report by organizer.
RESPONSE: The all contents in meeting will be included in the final
report. The reports of side events will be included in the panel
discussion on the Dec. 13 organized by NGOs.
# Persons in charge of the NGO panel discussion are Aizu and Peak of
GLOCOM. But They intend to organize the NGO panel discussion
collaborating with other NGOs. (According to Aizu who participated
in this our meeting to government)
6. Regarding final declaration, we require the space for discussion
about it before the meeting and during the meeting. In the
meeting, we require you should prepare specific session regarding
the declaration.
RESPONSE: The panel discussion at the first day and the final session
of the second day may be involved the discussion regarding the draft
of declaration. Private sectors and representatives from NGOS are
intended to participate in drafting process informally by secretariat
of the meeting.
# Participants for drafting may be selected based on the person who
want to do. The representative of NGO panel discussion should
reflect contents at the panel discussion to the drafting.
# Representative of each government will be expected to participate
in the final session of the second day for NGOs.
7. In order to promote the participants from Asia who cannot
understand in English, also to promote in discussion, giving
speeches, and contribution for making final report with them, you
should prepare interpretors between English and local languages.
RESPONSE: It is very difficult to cope with language issues because
Asia has a lot of languages.
# However, English-Japanese translation is available. The reason of
difficulty is depend on budget. The total amount of the budget is
about 100 million yen. Government said that they have never
recognize such translation issues before we proposed. We require
once again that Japanese government should consider seriously how to
cope with this. Also we require that the Ministry of Public
Management should discuss with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
whether or not public officials for translation are able to do
something about this.
8. We require you should publish the draft of declaration in English
and local languages as soon as possible.
RESPONSE: It is also difficult like question 7.
# Draft process is delaying. Japanese government sent questions
regarding the draft of declaration to each government.
9. We require the reason why you choice the Asia Development Bank as
collaborator.
RESPONSE: ADB devotes to develop ICT and proposes support for side
events. Considering the effect of WSIS, Japanese government intends to
promote participation from broad institutions and organizations.
10. Do you intend to treat the issues regarding information society
and electronic government policy in Japan such as the Resident
Registration Network, ID card, privacy protection laws and so on
which are now points in disputes?
RESPONSE: Electric government issue will not be intended to treat as
a specific topic. But it is free to talk with this at any panel
discussions.
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Other things.
We also require Japanese government should revise web site at frequent
intervals.
Japanese government promised that they do not disclose the NGOs
participants lists from abroad to the governments that they come
from. But Japanese government has a responsibility for security
against terrorism.