[IGFmaglist] Concerns related to visa for Indonesia

Tue Oct 8 15:36:10 EDT 2013

+1
Ricardo

On Mon, Oct 7, 2013 at 9:39 AM, Vladimir Radunovic <vladar at diplomacy.edu>wrote:

> Dear colleagues, Moedjiono,****
>
> ** **
>
> I support an urgent discussion regarding the visa issues. ****
>
> If we do not act immediately (and hopefully allow visa on arrival with
> some valid confirmation for the trip), not only the diversity and quality
> of the inputs at the IGF will be degraded, but some parts of the programme
> might be endangered also (eg. Veronica is one of the key pillars of the
> organisation of Orientation sessions each day; other sessions and events
> will suffer also).****
>
> The IGF is in less than two weeks, and this should be resolved within the
> next day or two.****
>
> ** **
>
> Best,****
>
> ** **
>
>                 Vlada****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* Igfmaglist [mailto:igfmaglist-bounces at intgovforum.org] *On Behalf
> Of *Sanja Kelly
> *Sent:* 04 October 2013 18:23
> *To:* amessinoukossi at yahoo.fr; Patrick Ryan
> *Cc:* KI Ditj Aptel Anthonius Malau; KI DJOKO AGUNG; MAG List IGF; MAG
> List IGF; Ditj Aptika Kiki (Rizki Ameliah)
> *Subject:* Re: [IGFmaglist] Concerns related to visa for Indonesia****
>
> ** **
>
> I will echo what others have said. I have heard from at least 10 civil
> society organizations from around the world who have had extremely hard
> time getting their visas. As most NGOs don't have funds to travel to
> another country, and then wait for days until their visa is processed, I am
> very concerned and think we need to discuss this asap. ****
>
> ** **
>
> I appreciate that our Indonesian hosts are trying to deal with this, but
> the problems seems to persist. ****
>
> ** **
>
> Sanja****
>
> ** **
>
> Sanja Tatic Kelly****
>
> Project Director, Freedom on the Net****
>
> Freedom House****
> ------------------------------
>
> *From:* Igfmaglist [igfmaglist-bounces at intgovforum.org] on behalf of
> Kossi Amessinou [amessinoukossi at yahoo.fr]
> *Sent:* Thursday, October 03, 2013 3:14 PM
> *To:* Patrick Ryan
> *Cc:* MAG List IGF; KI Ditj Aptel Anthonius Malau; Ditj Aptika Kiki
> (Rizki Ameliah); MAG List IGF; KI DJOKO AGUNG
> *Subject:* Re: [IGFmaglist] Concerns related to visa for Indonesia****
>
>
> This problem ils global. I suggest to indonesia goverment to help us.
>
>
>
> Le jeudi 3 octobre 2013, Patrick Ryan <patrickryan at google.com> a écrit :
> > Hi all,
> > To add to Veronica's point, I'm also hearing more about this concern.
>  Could we set up a call to discuss the resolution of this topic?  I fear
> that a resolution sometime next week is too late.  Many people in these
> countries are holding off from making their travel commitments because of
> this uncertainty, and I fear that a resolution of this next week may be too
> late for many.
> > Our Titi Akinsanmi (now at Google, and a former MAG member) is another
> example similar to Veronica's.  Titi holds a Nigerian passport and Nigeria
> is not on the list of countries eligible for Visa on Arrival.  To
> complicate things, Titi will be flying from South Africa, and the airlines
> rigorously verify credentials at check-in and often upon boarding the
> plane.  So even a new dispensation to allow Nigerian nationals a Visa on
> Arrival will not work in her case because the airlines and other
> checkpoints are likely to stop her from getting on the plane.  Titi is
> constantly traveling on business, and needs her passport for that, and
> getting a visa for her is practically very, very hard.
> > Could we set up a call to discuss the best way to process cases like
> Veronica and Titi?  The pragmatist in me doesn't think that we can come up
> with a global solution given the time-----but we should, hopefully, be able
> to create a process for rapid processing of special cases like Veronica and
> Titi and others.  If we could identify a couple people with the MInistry of
> Foreign Affairs in Indonesia who can correspond directly with individuals
> in this situation and resolve their dilemmas (which are likely to be unique
> in each case), I'll bet that most of the problems can be solved quickly.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > Patrick
> > ------
> > patrick ryan
> > public policy & gov't relations sr. counsel, free expression and int'l
> relations
> > patrickryan at google.com | +1.512.751.5346
> >
> > On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 7:33 AM, <moedjiono at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Dear Ms. Veronica,
> >> Referring to Indonesian regulation and special case of IGF meeting,
> MCIT has sent letter to MoFA and Director General (Department) of
> Immigration to solve several cases like yours. We would like to ease the
> visa process. Hopefully, you will get good news next week. Thank you.
> >> Best regards,
> >> Moedjiono
> >> Powered by Telkomsel BlackBerry®
> >>
> >> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> >> From: Veronica Cretu <veronicacretu at gmail.com>
> >> Date: Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 2:53 AM
> >> Subject: [IGFmaglist] Concerns related to visa for Indonesia
> >> To: "Igfmaglist at intgovforum.org" <Igfmaglist at intgovforum.org>
> >>
> >>
> >> Dear MAG colleagues, greetings!
> >> I have just arrived back this morning from Kiev, Ukraine where I
> approached Indonesian Embassy and asked for support in facilitating the
> visa issuing process.
> >> In line with my not very positive experience, I would like to urge
> Indonesian colleagues to follow up with MFA and their Embassies abroad and:
> >> - At LEAST inform their posts about the upcoming event  (dates, place,
> what is  IGF, etc);
> >> - Ask Embassies to provide support in getting visas the same day -
> especially in cases when people come from a country that does not have an
> Indonesian Embassy and have a long distance to drive (in my case 1000 km
> both ways).
> >> Indonesian Embassy in Kiev/Ukraine refused to give me the visa
> (regardless of the letter from UN, etc.). They did not say from the very
> beginning that they are not going to issue it there, in Ukraine, They
> accepted all the documents/papers and kept me in the city till 5 PM in the
> afternoon, asking me to call them and check each 30-40 minutes whether
> there is any news (me being on roaming) instead of allowing me to
> explain/give more details/talk to Ambassador, Council, etc. The final
> answer was that they need confirmation from the Indonesian Embassy in
> Romania on whether or not they agree with Ukrainian side issuing the visa
> for me, and that the final confirmation from Romania might come in several
> days.
> >>
> >> I consider that if a country accepts to host an event like IGF, it
> takes all aspects into consideration, treats all stakeholders interested to
> contribute, engage and participate with respect and makes everything that
> it takes to have a smooth, professional and rapid response when it comes to
> visas!
> >>
> >> I do really hope that the 2013 IGF in Indonesia will be far more
> enjoying and exciting than my visa related experience:)!
> >> I will keep contributing online and provide whatever support I can
> during the IGF via remote participation/support/coordination!
> >> With very best,
> >> Veronica
> >>
> >> --
> >> Veronica Cretu
> >> President, "CMB" Training Center,
> >> Republic of Moldova - www.cmb.md
> >>
> >> Member of the Steering Committee,
> >> Open Government Partnership (OGP);
> >> http://www.opengovpartnership.org/governance-staff-donors
> >>
> >> Member of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group
> >> To the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
>
> --
> Sent from amessinou Mobile****
>
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