Dear Toshi,
Thank you so much for providing so much up-to-date and useful information.
As I recently learned that Taiwan's goverment did hold one or two
inter-cabinet meetings and
discussed about WSIS.
I wonder if you would know that if Taiwan, not a member of the UN, is
invited by the Japanese government?
I shall do my part and try to dig out what the goverment has been doing and
whether it is invited.
chien-san , 2 horses
----- Original Message -----
From: toshimaru ogura <ogr@nsknet.or.jp>
To: <communication@wsisasia.org>; <asia-ir@list.jinbo.net>;
<apc-asiair-coord@list.jinbo.net>; <apc.forum@lists.apc.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 11:06 PM
Subject: [communication 151] Responses of Japanese government to the Open
Letter (WSIS Tokyo)
> 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^)))))))))
>
> ===================================================================
> 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.
>
> ----------------
> 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.
>
>
>