[Community-Discuss] [rpd] Lobbying Allegations against Wafa Dahmani

[Arnaud AMELINA]

Hi, community and PWG members

I noticed that lobbying for votes for afrinic BoD is being used to divert
attention  from serious issue raised by WAFA.  Enough has been said, but  I
wonder if I should condemn  Dewole, Afrinic pdp  cochair,  campaign  for
board candidates, using national NOG  list and turning AFRINIC board
election  to nationalism. (*l)
let be serious, show maturity and address real issues.


(*) http://abuja.forum.org.ng/pipermail/ngnog-discuss/2019-June/005259.html

Arnaud

On Thu, Jul 4, 2019, 07:30 Andrew Alston <Andrew.Alston at liquidtelecom.com>
wrote:


> Badru,

>

> Yet again – you have not read my emails.

>

> *I fully the support the right to lobby in public forms*

>

> *I fully support the right of any individual to have their say*

>

> *I fully support the right of any member to change the rules using due

> process as defined*

>

> I have said this, over and over again.  I have also been very blunt about

> the fact that yes, I have lobbied, and I make no apology for that because I

> believe that the right to lobby in the pursuit of ones goals, and I believe

> that essentially, elections are political processes and democratic in

> nature, and democracy doesn’t work without that aspect of it.

>

> However, what I fundamentally disagree with – is misrepresentation of who

> we represent – something I have never done – and I fundamentally disagree

> with people who are in a directly conflicted position taking a stand which

> deepens that conflict, especially when the neutrality directly relates to

> things that affect this community.

>

> I will quote from one of the emails I sent – which was to an email list

> containing many members:

>

> I will quote from two separate emails that I have sent over the years to

> lobby in previous elections – these were sent to email lists that were not

> AfriNIC – they were not sent to individuals unsolicited – and there are

> many on this list who can attest to the accuracy of these emails.

>

> *Email 1:*

>

> *I am not going to tell any of you how to vote – What I tell you above is

> my perspective, and yes, its biased towards what I have seen and how well I

> know the candidates.  What I will say however, is that it is absolutely

> critical that the South African members get online and vote – or show up at

> the meeting and vote – or send proxies – whichever – but have your voice

> heard.  As we move into a time when v4 is running out (AfriNIC is into its

> final /8), and when we move into an environment where so much is changing

> with that runout – and particularly when we have managed to turn an

> organization around – we need to ensure that we have strong candidates that

> represent the community and can keep the organization alive.  Because

> without AfriNIC – without a registry – we end up in trouble – and no one

> really wants the alternative scenarios.*

>

> *So what I will ask is, look at the candidates, consider them not from a

> geo-political perspective, not from a linguistic perspective, but consider

> them on the merits and what they have achieved – and then vote as you

> feel.  Their CV’s are all online.*

>

> *Email 2:*

>

> *As such, for those of you who are opting to issue proxies and wish to

> issue proxies to myself or via myself, this is how I will be voting.  Those

> of you who are voting electronically, I encourage you when the slate comes

> out to study each and every candidate – but I am confident that what I have

> said above will ring true, and I ask every member of this list to get out

> there and use your vote, either for one of these candidates or otherwise

> one of the others when the slate comes out – but please, make sure you

> vote, either via proxy or via online or in person.  I cannot stress how

> many critical issues are going to come up in the next year or two, and

> without a strong and independent board we could face serious issues.*

>

> Both emails quote above are a matter of record for the world to see – and

> here is the major difference – a.) No where do I misrepresent who I am

> speaking for b.) I explicitly state – these are MY views, accept them or

> reject them, but – please vote – because its important to have your voice

> heard.  Had Wafa sent an email saying “Hi, I’m Wafa, and these are my

> specific views on each candidate, and this is why I will be voting the way

> that I am, and if you like these choices, feel free to vote with me, but if

> you don’t, still have your say in the way you see fit”, I would be here,

> backing her to the hilt – however, what I saw was a.) a misrepresentation

> by implication of who was represented and b.) a blatant display lacking of

> neutrality from the chair of the appeals committee – particularly in light

> of the PDP and the position of co-chair – and I believe that brings the

> integrity and neutrality of said appeals committee into question when it is

> critical that trust in that committee remains high, which is why I agree

> with Sander when he called for her to step down to maintain the integrity

> of the appeals process.

>

> So – I see no inconsistency with what I have said in the last 48 hours or

> what I have said, or done, over the years.  What I do see from you – yet

> again – is a highly selective reading of what I have said for your own

> purposes.

>

>

>

> Andrew

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> *From:* Badru Ntege <badru.ntege at nftconsult.com>

> *Sent:* Thursday, 4 July 2019 07:03

> *To:* Andrew Alston <Andrew.Alston at liquidtelecom.com>; wafa DAHMANI <

> wafa at ati.tn>; Paschal Ochang <pascosoft at gmail.com>

> *Cc:* community-discuss <community-discuss at afrinic.net>

> *Subject:* Re: [Community-Discuss] [rpd] Lobbying Allegations against

> Wafa Dahmani

>

>

>

> Andrew

>

> The archives of a number of mailing lists you belong to have many similar

> emails authored by you prior to elections.  We have also seen emails by you

> asking an entire community of ISPA not once but a number of times to act in

> a particular way.

>

> Supporting a particular slate of candidates is not new in AfriNIC nor is

> it new any election.

>

> And when you talk about neutrality ???  its like the Kettle calling the

> Pot Black.

>

> Anyone in our bottom up position is free to lobby for a particular

> outcome.

>

> As a board member you also lobbied and also ferried people to AGMM’s to

> strengthen your number of positions.  (you have denied this many times so

> lets call it a standing allegation)

>

> The AfriNIC membership  time and time have shown their ability to make up

> their minds in elections after listening to many different views either

> shared on the floor by candidates, in the corridors by supporters on

> through email.

>

> I see nothing wrong here at the moment.

>

> However, if the community thinks that something has to change we also have

> mechanisms in place to make the necessary changes to course correct.

>

> Regards

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> [image: signature_1558140432] [image: signature_1470109083]

>

>

>

> *From: *Andrew Alston <Andrew.Alston at liquidtelecom.com>

> *Date: *Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at 8:16 PM

> *To: *wafa DAHMANI <wafa at ati.tn>, Paschal Ochang <pascosoft at gmail.com>

> *Cc: *community-discuss <community-discuss at afrinic.net>

> *Subject: *Re: [Community-Discuss] [rpd] Lobbying Allegations against

> Wafa Dahmani

>

>

>

> Wafa,

>

> While I agree you have the right to campaign for anyone you so please –

> and I believe that is very much the case –

>

>

>

> a.)    Your email was read as an implication that the ASO was supporting

> said candidates – which I don’t think anyone believes – and the question

> has been asked in multiple regions to clarify this

>

> b.)    As a member of the appeal committee – you have to maintain a

> position of total neutrality – this email clearly demonstrates that you are

> in no way neutral on issues inside the PDP – since it advocates for the

> election of co-chairs with no reasons given why – and requests immediate

> mobilization to meet “our strategy”.  This email casts serious aspersions

> on the neutrality of the appeals committee.

>

> Furthermore – can you please clarify to this list – what exactly is this

> strategy and who owns this strategy – you email in this regard was explicit

> – there is a strategy – it is held by multiple individuals outside of the

> purview of the general community – and it concerns the placement of members

> of the board and the PDP – and I think it is only fair that if lobbying is

> being done – it is transparent and open – and as such – I would like to

> know what this strategy is and where it comes from.

>

> This email however, was entirely and totally unacceptable in my eyes – NOT

> because you lobbied – I believe as I have said many times that this is your

> right.  It is unacceptable because it implies positions on behalf of other

> groups who I for one do not believe share that position, it is unacceptable

> because it is a clear indication of lack of neutrality in a context where

> neutrality is required, and coming on the heels of what I view as a blatant

> and unfounded attack on a non-profit foundation – well – it really

> highlights certain things.

>

> So again – myself, and I am sure others, would like to know about this

> strategy and who “our” is in the context of ths.

>

>

>

> Thanks

>

>

>

> Andrew

>

>

>

>

>

> *From: *wafa DAHMANI <wafa at ati.tn>

> *Date: *Wednesday, 3 July 2019 at 18:50

> *To: *Paschal Ochang <pascosoft at gmail.com>

> *Cc: *community-discuss <community-discuss at afrinic.net>

> *Subject: *Re: [Community-Discuss] [rpd] Lobbying Allegations against

> Wafa Dahmani

>

>

>

> Hello All,

>

>

>

> I can campaign for anyone and its perfectly normal and I was speaking in

> my personal behalf.

>

>

>

> I understand that my salutations can be confusing, but I sent this email

> in my personal capacity.

>

>

>

> Being a volunteer at ASO - AC does not strip me off my rights to my

> personal opinions nor does it mean I can not campaign for my preferred

> candidates.

>

>

>

> In anycase, the ASO - AC has its own procedures and communication channels.

>

>

>

>

>

> Wafa Dahmani

>

>

>

> Member AFRINIC Appeal Committee

>

> Global IGF MAG member

>

> ASO / AC excom member

>

>

> ------------------------------

>

> *De: *"Paschal Ochang" <pascosoft at gmail.com>

> *À: *"community-discuss" <community-discuss at afrinic.net>, "rpd" <

> rpd at afrinic.net>

> *Envoyé: *Mercredi 3 Juillet 2019 16:09:18

> *Objet: *[rpd] Lobbying Allegations against Wafa Dahmani

>

>

>

> Hello all, this was posted under the thread of allegations against Larus

> Foundation so I did the honors of opening it as separate thread so that

> this two issues can be dealt with separately. This was posted as an

> allegation towards Wafa and the mail displays a act of lobbying. Can this

> honorable community be clarified on this allegations please.

>

>

>

> Dear,

>

>

>

>  My name is Wafa Dahmani from Tunisia, an active member of the African

> community and more specifically AFRINIC: member of the appeal committee;

> ASO / AC excom member and Ex Chair of Governance Committee '(GC) at AFRINIC.

>

> I contact you to solicit your votes for the following candidates:

>

>

>

> Board of Directors:

>

> North Africa (seat 1)

>

>

>

> Habin Youssef

>

> West Africa (seat 2)

>

>

>

> Ly Ousmane

>

>

>

> South Africa (seat 5)

>

>

>

> Mpisane Vika William

>

>

>

> East Africa (seat 6)

>

>

>

> Nkusi Robert Ford

>

>

>

> Non-regional (seat 7)

>

>

>

> Eshun Benjamin Adzenyamebeye

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Election Number Resource Organization Number Council

>

>

>

> Mustapha Ben Jemaa

>

>

>

> Election Policy Development Working Group

>

>

>

> Komi Elitcha

>

> Sami Hassan

>

>

>

> Election Governance Committee

>

>

>

> Daniel Nanghaka

>

> Ladies and Gentlemen, in the context of our strategy  and in order to

> preserve AFRINIC's interests for Africa and to be able to choose the right

> candidates for North Africa in the long term, it is desirable to join all

> our efforts and vote for these candidates who presents the best choice for

> an adequate board

>

>

>

> the de facto vote online through your interface with AFRINIC is very

> simple for all categories except the policy development Working group where

> we want you to mobilize your teams on the spot to vote for our candidates

>

> We strongly solicit your support

>

>

>

> Thank you

>

>

>

> Wafa Dahmani

>

>

>

> member AFRINIC Appeal Committee

>

> Global IGF MAG member

>

> ASO / AC excom member

>

>

>

>

>

>

> _______________________________________________

> RPD mailing list

> RPD at afrinic.net

> https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/rpd

> _______________________________________________

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> Community-Discuss at afrinic.net

> https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/community-discuss

>

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