[kictanet] ICANN meeting and security concerns

[Harry Delano]

Alice,

If indeed this is true, it'd be, really, really sad...

Hope, the meeting is not cancelled..

Regards,
Harry 

-----Original Message-----
From: kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke
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Behalf Of alice at apc.org
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 2:59 PM
To: harry at comtelsys.co.ke
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: [kictanet] ICANN meeting and security concerns

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ICANN meeting and security concerns 

20 01 2010
By rebecca wanjiku
Comments: 0

Available in: English 

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! 

Ends

by rebecca 


Sent from my BlackBerryR smartphone from Zain Kenya
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