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Criticizing undemocratic preparatory process in WSIS
Korean Civil society organizations' statement to the WSIS
Thematic Meeting in Seoul.
WSIS Thematic meeting on "Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships for Bridging the Digital Divide", co-organized by the Ministry of Information & Communication of Korea(MIC) and International Telecommunication Union(ITU) is held from June 23rd to June 24th in Seoul, South Korea. Since the first phase of WSIS 2003, building information society has become a global agenda. This year, when the 2nd phase of WSIS will be held in coming November, global discussion is focusing on internet related public policy issues and global digital divide. This event,
WSIS Thematic meeting on "Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships for Bridging the Digital Divide", is also held as one part of the whole process of WSIS global discussion.
As those people who are confronted with information society issues within society much more than any other society and also grappling with public policy issues which are addressed in this society, we are proud that our government is making this event and actively involved in global discussion. However, we are severely worried at some points such as its modality of communication, substantial discussion, and even some
response direction when the MIC and its subsidiary organizations are bringing in its discourses on WSIS issues. Therefore, we, Korea Civil Society Network and its member organizations, feel the necessity to clarify our positions criticizing some problems which reveals in this WSIS Thematic Meeting.
1. Last the first phase WSIS in 2003, affirmed that in building
information society, the participation, solidarity and cooperation of multi-stakeholders including government, private sector and civil society is essential in decision making process. (2003 WSIS Declaration of Principles). Furthermore, WSIS Korea Forum, which was formed by the MIC, its subsidiary institutes and civil society in 2003, also declared the principle position that "All players of public sector, private enterprises and civil society should make an effort together to form information society, in participating together in decision making process." (2003 WSIS Korea Forum Statement)
2. Therefore, we should express deep concern on the fact that this WSIS Thematic Meeting had never been publicly informed to all member organizations of WSIS Korea Forum. Also, there had been no discussion or consultation on its topic with civil society beforehand for this event. As a result, this event has been solely prepared by the MIC and KADO. We are deeply worried at this unilateral preparation process.
3. In this regard, many civil society members which are involved in the 2nd phase of WSIS, particularly Asian civil society members are wondering why this Seoul event has not been publicly informed beforehand or consulted with civil society members. Now, they are asking these questions to our civil society members in Korea.
4. We feel some serious question at the fact that the disable people's organizations which have deep interest in information accessibility issues and so naturally to be consulted in preparation process because this event's main topic is to bridge the digital divide, but are completely excluded. Furthermore, most global civil society organizations, who are actively participating in 2005 WSIS process, would have had to be contacted and provided with appropriate information for this event. But it is not the case. We think this is clearly a big mistake.
5. We don't see this wrong behavior had not been taken just from administrative mistakes or immature attitude for international activities. Rather, we think that this wrong attitude fundtamentally comes from the present government's persistent policy position that most public policy issues should be handled and led by governments or government-related organizations rather than accepting de facto global consensus and policy principles that close cooperation, solidarity and
participation of multi-stake holders in decision making process are necessary for building information society.
6. Korea government had fundamentally changed the private sector initiating self-regulation mechanism for managing internet address schemes which had been evolved throughout our internet development history and replaced it with state governing mechanism by making "Internet Addressing Scheme Regulation Law". Recently, the MIC has adopted the reinforced governmental regulation framework over broadband internet service. Moreover, the MIC has taken up coherently ignoring
users and netizens' public opinion which have been shown in the public debates on broadband internet pricing issue and mobile phone pricing issue on value added services. As an ICT policy authority, these attitudes are definitely very disappointing and unacceptable.
7. We express our deep worry over this MIC's unilateral, closed and undemocratic working style and attitudes. And this is fundamentally reversing the essence of WSIS declaration principles which are emphasizing the democratic decision making process. Furthermore, we should point out the flaw of the MIC's argument that the governmental initiating role for setting public policy of information society tends to be reinforced at global level. Such an argument is very far away
from today's global landscape of information society in the world.
8. We should point out that the MIC, preoccupied with the task of ICT industry development, has no concern on information society's societal issues at all and less concerned with encouraging the participation and cooperation of multi-stake holders including civil society. Even in international relations, the MIC, solely preoccupied with expanding the export market of ICTs although it seems to be very short-sighted, are
not so active in playing constructive role for building global
information society and its governance mechanism. By arguing solely state-led governance mechanism which seems to be already outdated, we think, the MIC is rather defaming its status as one of pioneer countries in ICT fields and building information society.
9. Therefore, we clarify that this WSIS Thematic Meeting, which has been prepared by the MIC and KADO is just government event and practically excluding most of those discriminated people in digital divide environment and other civil society organizations who are working for the advocacy of those victims. In fact, it has nothing to do with the multi-stake holder participation and cooperation. We hope again that the MIC would open up all decision making process transparently. And we urge that the MIC would support to form or enhance the self-regulatory mechanism at the part of private sector and
civil society rather than over-extending governmental regulatory scope and to ensure the democratic participation structure so that all stake holders could actively participate in.
June 23, 2005
Citizen's Action Network
Cultural Action
Intellectual Property Left
Korean Federation for Environmental Movement
Korean LaborNet
Korean Progressive Network 'Jinbonet'
Korea Women's Associations United
Korean WomenLink
Mediact
PeaceNet
Research Institute of the Differently Abled Rights in Korea
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WSIS and civil society: A backgrounder
We have compiled this backgrounder to give you a complete picture of the WSIS from the perspective of the civil society. Explains academic concepts and issues related to knowledge society, notes activities and concerns of the civil society, and lists actors and organisations involved in the WSIS process as well as links to related Websites.
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