Dear Adam and Friends
I agree with the two letters and would like to endorse the additional
letters which Alan suggested.
"I would suggest that both letters be copied to Adama Samassekou,
President
of PrepCom1. He went out of his way to talk (schmooze?) to us, and he was
very deftly "political" in handling our issues, which I respect--his is not
an easy role. ON second thought, maybe a third letter--addressed to
him--would be in order.
Should another letter be forwarded to the other sponsors of the regional
meeting (i.e., those agencies which worked so hard in raising money to get
NGO people to Japan)? UNDP, GKP, ADB, WACC/BfA, etc.? Would be nice to just
acknowledge their efforts, at the very least to our friends within those
institutions."
Ubonrat
----- Original Message -----
From: "Adam Peake" <ajp@glocom.ac.jp>
To: <communication@wsisasia.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2003 9:09 PM
Subject: [communication 352] letters to Japanese government and WSIS
Executive Secretariat (ES)
> As I mentioned in a note earlier today, there are a couple of letters
> I think we should send to the Japanese government and WSIS ES
> organizers of the Asia Pacific WSIS meeting. We being the NGOs that
> attended the Tokyo meeting, all on this list, I think we are the
> "Asia and Pacific NGO Coordinating Committee. One a letter of thanks,
> and one a letter asking for clarification on some of the process
> issues we endured in Tokyo.
>
> Would like your comments -- on the content and on how (and if) to
> send such letters.
>
> GLOCOM might send them on your behalf (I think some letters need to
> be on paper -- particularly letters of thanks), e.g. using words like
> "we are writing to you on behalf of the NGOs and civil society
> organizations that attended the Asian [and Pacific] Regional
> Conference for WSIS, Tokyo January 13-15, 2003, the organizations and
> members of the Asia and Pacific region NGO and civil society mailing
> list (communication@wsisasia.org), and members of the Asia and
> Pacific NGO Coordinating Committee (AP-NGO-CC.)" Followed by the
> body of the letter (see below) and signed by our director. This
> might be in keeping with the role GLOCOM undertook during the
> conference in supporting NGOs. But it's up to you.
>
> About the letters.
>
> First, a short letter to thank the Japanese ministry for inviting
> NGOs and civil society, and to thank ministry staff for their care
> and attention to our needs throughout the conference. I thought they
> looked after us extremely well (rooms on demand, photocopying on
> demand, etc.)
>
> Second, a letter to the ministry and WSIS Executive Secretariat
> asking for answers regarding the problems we had during the meeting.
> Most are the responsibility of the Japanese ministry, but WSIS
> Executive Secretariat should be aware and may also be able to provide
> some answers. After opening with some general introduction, the
> letter might:
>
> (1) ask for clarification as to the status of NGOs and private
> sector: were both informal?
>
> (2) ask for clarification as to the status of Taiwanese private
> sector representatives.
>
> (3) ask for clarification as to whether is was agreed that
> governments could accredit or deny accreditation to NGO's of other
> countries. [potentially an extremely important precedent, one we
> really don't want coming up again.]
>
> (4) noting our concern that despite being informed prior to the
> conference that accreditation was not required and participation
> would be achieved by a process of registration and some vetting of
> registrations, these conditions were ignored during the conference.
>
> And perhaps also note (I am less certain about this matter) that the
> introduction of PrepCom1 rules, and then not applying those rules
> consistently, for example NGOs accredited under PrepCom1 were denied
> official status within the conference, was a significant
> disappointment.
>
> (5) noting our concern that NGOs were treated as secondary to the
> private sector in the business of the conference. The private sector
> spoke before the NGOs, was listed before NGOs in conference
> materials. This is not consistent with traditional standing of NGOs
> within the UN System and is an unwelcome innovation.
>
> Do you think such letters would be useful? Can you think of any
> significant points to add?
>
> Comments please.
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Adam
> --
>