[AfrICANN-discuss] About the change of AfriNIC-9 venue!

Eric M.K Osiakwan emko at internetresearch.com.gh
Fri Oct 24 16:00:47 SAST 2008


Vika and All,

Generally, we have to treat such pontification of ignorance and lack  
of understanding with outmost contempt. Time has a way of dealing  
with such matters.

Whats important is the ability of the AfriNIC team to turn around  
quickly and establish a venue for the next meeting and ensure uptake.  
We all need to join the effort to ensure a successful meeting.

Good job, guys.

Eric here



On 24 Oct 2008, at 00:04, Vika Mpisane wrote:

> Hi Adiel,
>
>
>
> It’s really saddening to see that some in the Ethiopian media have  
> seen it fit to write a long, baseless, and frankly ignorant  
> article. I guess it’s safe to assume that political paparazzi is  
> alive & strong in Addis!
>
>
>
> I don’t know what AfriNIC has done to deserve this (I haven’t  
> attended an AfriNIC meeting since Mauritius in 2006), but I’m  
> certain the journalist will need to explain some of the  
> allegations. Has this journalist ever heard of some entities called  
> AfNOG, AfrISPA, Afren & AfTLD? The answer is obviously not!
>
>
>
> I’m also offended in particular by the allegation to the effect  
> that AfriNIC is pushing for dot Africa to operate from South  
> Africa. While I can’t deny or admit this allegation (me being not  
> an AfriNIC member), I’m concerned that it involves South Africa &  
> may end up becoming an accusation against South Africa trying to  
> muscle its way to have dot Africa operated in SA. I’m not at SA  
> government to speak from a position of authority in this regard,  
> but as a South African, I’m greatly displeased with the article it  
> tends to make negative allegations about us.
>
>
>
> I feel sorry for ETC for I don’t think they’ve done anything wrong  
> (I’m subject to correction). And I do hope that when calmness &  
> sanity finally prevails in this journalist’s mind (& possibly in  
> the Ethiopian Ministry of Transport – depending on how blameworthy  
> they are in this). I hope they’ll realize they’ve greatly missed a  
> simple point big time & they went on a crusade of innuendos not  
> only against a particular organisation, but also against another  
> country (this being SA).
>
>
>
> Hope you & the rest of AfriNIC keep well inspite of the baseless  
> accusations. Forward to AfriNIC Mauritius – I’m convinced Mauritius  
> will provide a suitable environment where informed participants  
> will be able to discuss the dot Africa project without undue  
> journalistic & government interference.
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
>
> Vika Mpisane
>
> General Manager
>
> .za Domain Name Authority
>
> &
>
> Treasurer
>
> African Top Level Domains (AfTLD)
>
> Tel: +27 11 275 0082
>
>
>
> From: africann-bounces at afrinic.net [mailto:africann- 
> bounces at afrinic.net] On Behalf Of Anne-Rachel Inné
> Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 9:28 PM
> To: africann at afrinic.net
> Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] About the change of AfriNIC-9 venue!
>
>
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> As you know, the AfriNIC-9 will now be held in Mauritius instead of  
> Addis
> Ababa (Ethiopia) as originally planned. This is a unique situation  
> which
> has affected us all. Many of you have written to us to inquire  
> about what
> happened and to propose your help. Thanks to you all and your  
> continued
> support to what we are trying to do at AfriNIC for our Region.
>
> We sincerely apologize for the short notice in change of venue. The  
> previous
> host, ETC (Ethiopia Telecommunication Corporation) notified us that  
> "for some
> serious reason that needs time to clear and settle", they have been  
> obliged
> to pend and postpone hosting the AfriNIC-9 meeting. After some
> investigations to
> try to understand what is happening, it comes to our attention that
> the decision
> comes from the Government who has requested them to suspend the  
> hosting of
> AfriNIC-9 meeting because they are suspecting AfriNIC to have some
> hidden agenda
> with the meeting in Addis Ababa and which has to do with
> "dotAfrica".  According
> to the article reproduced bellow, the bid for dotAfrica presented  
> by a Company
> (leaded by and Ethiopian) has been sabotaged by AfriNIC which  
> prevent her to
> settle the Headquarters in Ethiopia. According to information we  
> have been
> able to collect, she claimed that AfriNIC want to host "dotAfrica"  
> in South
> Africa or Mauritius so is against Ethiopia interests by doing so.
>
> Let's me precise here that dotAfrica and domain names businesses  
> are not part
> of AfriNIC's activities. This serious misunderstanding of what  
> AfriNIC is
> exactly and its role in the community injected by a person claiming  
> to be the
> defender of Africa, has unfortunately denied Ethiopia a chance to  
> host this
> important African technical community meeting. Indeed, AfriNIC  
> which mission
> is, amongst other to "to support Internet technology usage and  
> development,
> and promoting Internet governance" in Africa welcomes the  
> opportunity to have
> a domain (dotAfrica) that will identify the African landscape on  
> the Internet.
> AfriNIC will probably support any Open, transparent and bottom up  
> initiative
> to have a dotAfrica domain for the region but will never run or  
> participate
> in doing any business related to that domain names or any other.
>
> AfriNIC remains a service to the community and strongly disagree  
> with personal
> interests and political pressures on its bottom up processes.  
> AfriNIC developed
> its legitimacy from the community and will remain a community driven
> organisation
> as are the four other Regional Numbers Registries. We have already  
> run our
> Public Policy meeting in eight  other countries without any issues.  
> Our main
> objective has always been to raise awareness among the local  
> community of  the
> country we are visiting and involve them more into the process.
>
> AfriNIC remains open to all of us.
>
> Let's keep focused on our numerous objectives and challenges in an  
> open
> transparent with a systematic multi-stakeholder approach.
>
> The whole story is now released by the local press and available at:
> http://www.ethiopianreporter.com/content/view/3048/54/. A very  
> quick English
> translation is also attached.
>
> Kind Regards.
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> Adiel A. Akplogan                            Tel. +230 466 66 16
> Chief Executive Officer, AfriNIC            Fax: +230 466 67 58
> adiel at afrinic.net - www.afrinic.net          sip:  
> adiel at voip.afrinic.net
> -------
> Register to attend AfriNIC-9 Meeting in Mauritius: 22-28 November 2008
> http://meeting.afrinic.net/afrinic9/index.htm
>
>
>
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Eric M.K Osiakwan
Director
Internet Research
www.internetresearch.com.gh
emko at internetresearch.com.gh
42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North
Tel: +233.21.258800 ext 7031
Fax: +233.21.258811
Cell: +233.24.4386792




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