[kictanet] ICANN meeting and security concerns

Fri Jan 22 10:30:56 EAT 2010

This security issue and the meeting is multifaceted. However, security assessments are often made in regard to context (i.e Adam's question if Friday and worse will recur). I think the answer to that question, in regard terrorists, would be similar in any country. The probability is 50:50. Europe got a bomber on a US bound flight...No one, anywhere in the world, can be guranteed that a terrorist will not strike them. The Kenya govt., long before ICANN Nrb plans, has been working  closely with Americans on terrorism - so intelligence is as good as it can be.

There are broader issues here that make Kenya a very weak partner to ICANN. A board meeting is being planned to discuss security in Kenya and the input of local organisers is not central to that meeting. This is an unfair set up that is likely to work against the meeting being held in Nairobi. This naming and numbering institution needs to be democratised so that all players have equal power. Then no one will be threatening to cancel a meeting (without good and objective reason) where govt agencies (who already have enough to do) are already in planning mode.

rgds, Wamuyu

________________________________
From: Adam Peake <ajp at glocom.ac.jp>
To: wamuyulearn at yahoo.co.uk
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Sent: Wed, 20 January, 2010 16:50:39
Subject: Re: [kictanet] ICANN meeting and security concerns

At 12:36 PM +0000 1/20/10, Grace Bomu wrote:
>This would be unreasonable. There are many high profile meetings going
>on in Nairobi despite our insecurity problems. In addition, conference
>tourists who come to Nairobi venture out to social spots in search of
>entertainment on their own.
>It is a high time we  got more reps into the decision making organs of
>ICANN. Any Kenyans running?

Grace, Hi.  Good idea, and ICANN's nominating 
committee is taking applications for candidates 
now <http://nomcom.icann.org/>

I too hope the meeting happens. Looking forward 
to seeing many of you in a couple of months, and 
hopefully at the KICC or a bar in town, not stuck 
on a bus for hours on the way to or from the UN 
:-)

How many local people would bother to attend of 
the meeting was at the UN? Understand from 
Rebecca's comment it's something like a separate 
country and a pain to get in. ICANN meetings 
should be open. That's one of the requirements of 
the request for proposals for holding a meeting. 
And I think McTim's right, the host country 
paying for a gala dinner is another requirement 
(ICANN picks up the rest of the bill for the 
meeting, everything from conference rooms to 
power.)

A thought, or really a question about last 
Friday's disturbances.  Were they a one off, or 
might they happen again? Is this a permanent or 
semi-permanent change, or will the trouble pass 
and be over when the Jamaican guy is deported and 
things calm down?  I know this is impossible to 
answer 100%, and I'm definitely not looking for 
an official position on this, but what do those 
of you in Nairobi think?  If I were an ICANN 
board member thinking about the meeting, this 
might be useful to hear comments on.

Adam

>On 1/20/10, alice at apc.org <alice at apc.org> wrote:
>>  Home
>>
>>  About
>>
>>  Contact
>>
>>  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 BlackBerry® smartphone from Zain Kenya
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>
>--
>Sent from my mobile device
>
>Grace L.N. Mutung'u (Bomu)
>+254721898732
>+254736091242
>  Kenya
>
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