Dear all: Please see the below. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Vittorio Bertola <vb@bertola.eu> Date: 09-Feb-2007 13:30 Subject: Re: [At-Large] Question To: Roberto Gaetano <roberto@icann.org> Cc: alac@atlarge-lists.icann.org, Alan Levin <alan@futureperfect.co.za> Roberto Gaetano ha scritto:
Folks,
This question is mainly directed at our African colleagues, but I am not subscribed to that region's list and also think that this could raise a discussion of general interest.
The Board will consider in the next weeks the request for delegation of the .eh ccTLD for West Sahara.
I must add that I have been quite vocal on the Board list, trying to push the point of view that if the delegation meets the usual requirements, then the contested situation in the country should not be a basis for its rejection. [To recap: Western Sahara is (apart from a few island territories such as the Cayman Islands etc.) the only remaining colony in the world. It used to be a Spanish colony until 1975, when the ongoing rebellion of the Polisario Front - the fighting organization of the local Sahrawi people - prompted Spain to abandon it. Then, even if the United Nations recognized its right to self-determination and an independent republic was proclaimed, it was militarly occupied by Morocco, that claims to have rights to its territory. This prompted a war that lasted until the 90's, when both sides agreed to a UN peace plan that foresaw a referendum on the future status of the territory. Unfortunately, no agreement has ever been reached on who would be entitled to vote, and so the situation is stuck. The territory is presently divided by a wall, with 2/3 of the territory including all major cities and resources staying under Moroccan rule, and 1/3 of desert being under the control of the Polisario Front. Of course, all of the above is subject to different interpretation depending to whom you talk to.] Specifically, I would be concerned if ICANN, in front of a technically valid application, refused to approve it for fear of an upset reaction by some governments (starting from Morocco). I think that governments - especially the ones of the neighbouring countries - are not the only or even the main stakeholder in the matter. I also assume that we, as the At Large, are the constituency that has the duty to represent the interests of the local users of the Internet in Western Sahara, or, "the people" if you like, and this is why I'm not too keen on letting this request be let down too easily (even if, of course, I still have to see whether the request is appropriate and meets the requirements). Of course, any direct contact with groups and Internet users in Western Sahara would be useful. Also, I would of course take any collective views on the matter, if different from the above. -- vb. Vittorio Bertola - vb [a] bertola.eu <-------- --------> finally with a new website at http://bertola.eu/ <-------- _______________________________________________ ALAC mailing list ALAC@atlarge-lists.icann.org http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac_atlarge-lists.icann.org www.alac.icann.org www.icannalac.org -- -- Regards, Nick Ashton-Hart PO Box 32160 London N4 2XY United Kingdom UK Tel: +44 (20) 8800-1011 USA Tel: +1 (202) 657-5460 Fax: +44 (20) 7681-3135 mobile: +44 (7774) 932798 Win IM: ashtonhart@hotmail.com / AIM/iSight: nashtonhart@mac.com / Skype: nashtonhart Online Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashtonhart