[Chapter-delegates] Fwd: Re: Tracking ISOC issues

[President ISOC-KH]

Dear Ted,

this is going to be a personal mail - but sent to this public forum.

I appreciate that you started to respond personally. But I do not have 
the impression that you are addressing some problems at the level many 
of us are - not only feel - being affected.

"There are many legitimate and important issues raised by the chapters. 
But they may be overshadowed by the way they are presented." Two points: 
1) I think you write in your own language - many of us do not have this 
privilege; please bear with us how we present what is on our hearts. - 
2) I know this argument - I hear it frequently when we speak about the 
inequalities of Internet access, in economic terms asking why it is so 
expensive here compared to neighboring countries, or even ask questions 
about administrative and legal restrictions, censorship and legal action 
against some people under severe duress for raising too many questions 
about the uneven application of law. - Probably you do not face such 
questions; maybe you did not have to face the court, or be physically 
threatened for asking questions, public communication related questions, 
as it happened in our context; but I would be happy to feel free, here, 
to ask without the admonition that my questions are "overshadowed by the 
way they are presented."

Where to vent our common concerns if not it this common forum?

"But while I hope to be the Chapter's best friend and advocate in the 
organization, that cannot happen when I and others are put on the 
defensive" you wrote. I think I can understand your feelings. But I am 
not sure you understand some of ours. It is not about being "on the 
defensive" (we are so often, when we struggle to do our work properly in 
our context). - We have to present our arguments and to try to argue it 
out publicly. Why not be on the defensive in a jointly shared, committed 
environment? - we all defend our positions - and some we have to change. 
For some it is more costly than for others.

"I am looking to the future and cannot redress the perceived inequity of 
the past"  - why not? I had shared a very practical question, and some 
colleagues contacted me in the meantime and said that this is important 
also for them. Should I let our Fellow go to Geneva without medical 
insurance (which so far I cannot find, and even if I find it, we 
probably do not know how to pay). Or just say: Well, this is a risk the 
poor have to bear, but not the rich among us? This is not only a problem 
for Cambodia - so sending us a special contribution does not help the 
many others that do not have international health insurance. What about 
you? You have health insurance, or you just can pay Geneva hospital 
rates from your own, if something should happen to you? We never know.

"I'm willing to take both personal and professional risks" - thanks for 
joining many of us in this. Just a small sideline: Do you also pay your 
Internet access fees (it is said that the Cambodian ones are the highest 
in this region of the world), and the costs for driving around town (on 
the back of a motorcycle taxi, quite prone to accidents) for ISOC 
business, from your own pocket from your salary? Well, I have to do 
(though I have difficulty to do paid work since I took over the task of 
creating an ISOC chapter here, and I was talked into doing it or a 
second year, for "continuity at the start").

As I said - my mail will turn out to be somewhat personal - but I think 
this is OK, as we are all personally committed to work - though ISOC - 
to a better human society where communication is open for everyone.


Norbert Klein
President
ISOC Cambodia Chapter

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