[Community-Discuss] Our Cameroon case as one case study in solving an Internet shutdown in a country.

[Janvier NGNOULAYE]

Our  Cameroon case as one case study in solving an Internet shutdown in a
country.
The facts:
- in november 2016 the government  of Cameroon shut down Internet in two
regions in Cameroon
- in december I convened the  ISOC Chapter Officers meeting  to noting and
deploring that government action,
- in january 2017, I convened the Chapter board meeting to reacting against
that action of the government, that board meeting ended up with 2 main
actions: - a) one statement in line with the ISOC vision,  -b) and a letter
to the government through the Minister of telecommunications. You can read
that statement below, which had been sent to  various  mailing lists. The 2
pages letter sent to the government mentionned the impact of that shutting
down on the national economy, with the advices, recommandations and
training tracks, to solve the issue for the sake of every stakeolder. (I
can share that letter  to the government with you inbox)
- As the Chapter is part of the steering committee of the Internet exchange
point of Cameroon (CAMIX), I also raised the issue with the ISP during one
of the CAMIX monthly meeting, where the members strongly supported that
Chapter statement on the matter.
- At the same time, other national civil organizations and abroad also
raised up the statement against that suspension of the Internet.
- With all these actions, the governement removed the suspension of
Internet  in April and today the Internet is working every where around the
country.
 A lesson learn here is that, as an ISOC Chapter, we did not only  make a
statement against the suspension, but we also met the goverment and  the
ISP with advices and practical recommandations. In the meantime, we did not
make any insult word to them because of  their action. Our approch was more
collaborative with all the stakeolders.

Unfortunately some misinformation and misunderstanding have been circulated
saying that I supported the suspension of the Internet. Please, do not
trust  thoses wrong informations on me.  My committement so far is  to work
and will  continue to work for the open access of Internet for everyone and
erverywhere as well  at the national and regional  level as  at global
level.
Hopefuly  that this mail clarified everything now .

I remain at your disposal to give more details you may need.
Warm regards

Dr. Janvier Ngnoulaye
Senior Lecturer of Computer Science and Educational technology
University of Yaounde I, Cameroon
Executive Committee member of the Internet Exchange Point of Cameroon
President of ISOC Cameroon Chapter
Tel: +237 677 72 03 34



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Janvier NGNOULAYE <jnoulaye at gmail.com>
Date: 2017-02-03 13:56 GMT+03:00
Subject: Statement and clarifications of ISOC Cameroon on the Internet
shutdowns in Cameroon
To: Internet Governance <governance at lists.igcaucus.org>, willi uebelherr <
willi.uebelherr at riseup.net>
Cc: ISOC Internet Policy <internetpolicy at elists.isoc.org>


​Dear Internet member Community,
Many misundertanding have been circulated throught lot of mailing lists
about the Internet shutdowns in Cameroon.
Please note that.
1) ISOC Cameroon Chapter with all the members do not support any form of
Internet shutdowns.
2) After the Annual General Assembly hold on 28 january 2017, the members
of the Chapter condemned that action in Cameroon and took the resolution to
engage in conversations with the government. We will keep you updated on
the development undertaken.
3) ISOC Cameroon Chapter is in line with the statement that Internet
Society published as a reference for such matters (
https://www.internetsociety.org/lets-keep-internet-everyone)
Thank you for any support and advice to us on the ground.

------------------------------
Janvier Ngnoulaye, Ph.D
ICT Teacher at the University
President of the ISOC Cameroon Chapter.
Activist of "The Internet is for everyone"
http://www.internetsociety.cm/
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