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<font face="Optimum">Dear all,<br><br>
Salaams and warm greetings to all! This message is not related to the
previous messages and for this I apologise. I am posting it today,
because of the lack of time in order to accomplish what I am going to
suggest to this list.<br><br>
As some of you are aware, a few of us from the Asia Caucus were present
at the recently concluded symposium held by JCAFE in Tokyo, Japan.
Taratta-san thought it a good idea for us to meet and discuss some of the
issues that have been afloat on this list and the CS-Plenary list for a
while, and so on the 14th, Taratta-san, Al Alegre, Jhin Hia (Jimbonet),
Mavic and I (Isis International-Manila) met briefly.<br><br>
Al will soon be reporting on the whole of our discussions that we had in
Tokyo, but I was tasked with the responsibility of raising an issue with
this list that I have been concerned about for a while. This issue
is basically the notion of the Asia Caucus giving support to certain key
issues within the overall advocacy areas that are being lobbied for by
Civil Society in the WSIS process. Let me explain:<br><br>
1.<x-tab> </x-tab>Our observation is
that that the regional caucuses are given some extra importance, as
compared to issue-based caucuses, particularly in matters related to
representation (speakers for example), and also in relation to the issues
that the regional caucuses support.<br><br>
2.<x-tab> </x-tab>By and large, the
Asia Caucus has been the least visible in terms of promoting a
particularly political position or issue, although, we know that the Asia
Caucus members have taken leadership in several issue based
caucuses. In contrast, the Latin American Caucus and the Africa
Caucus have taken very strong and visible positions on issues and in
particular have been very focal around development issues taken as
representatives of the South.<br><br>
3.<x-tab> </x-tab>I feel that it is
time for the Asia Caucus to use its clout as a regional caucus, and give
strong backing to four or five key issues that the Civil Society is doing
lobbying around. Some of the issues that Asia Caucus members have
been particularly active in are the following: internet governance,
privacy and surveillance issues, intellectual property rights, gender
issues, communication rights, right to development. <br><br>
4.<x-tab> </x-tab><b>My suggestion is
that in the next ten days (until 30th October), we have a discussion on
this list of the issues that the Asia Caucus could/should give its
concrete and stated backing to. <br><br>
</b>5.<x-tab> </x-tab>I have offered
to compile a short two to three page document that will encapsulate our
concerns on the issues that we agree by consensus to give support to.
Once that is prepared, I will circulate it on this list for comments
(hopefully by 4th October) and then once finalised we can forward it to
the different lists (by 7th October), as well as use it in our lobbying
for Prep Com 3A hopefully.<br><br>
6. <x-tab> </x-tab>For this process to work
smoothly, I would suggest the following:<br><br>
i.<x-tab> </x-tab>when you reply this
message, list down the top five issues that you think the Asia Caucus
should give support to, and why. <br>
ii.<x-tab> </x-tab>keep the messages brief,
and have them all follow the subject heading listed above.<br>
iii.<x-tab> </x-tab>I would also kindly request
those who are not a part of the Asian Caucus that are signed onto this
list, to refrain from posting their opinions immediately, since I think
the initial recommendations should come from those
located/working/originating in Asia and/or in the Asia Caucus. Once the
document has been compiled, of course, all are free to comment on
it.<br><br>
Alright, that's all for now. I look forward to hearing from you all
in the next ten days. <br><br>
Susanna<br>
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