[Imc-africa] [Fwd: RE: Fwd: Visa clearence letter delegates Mali/Nigeria]

Fri Jan 12 03:09:53 PST 2007

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: RE: [Imc-africa] Fwd: Visa clearence letter delegates Mali/Nigeria
From:    "Oduor Ongwen" <ongwen at sodnet.or.ke>
Date:    Fri, January 12, 2007 4:37 am
To:      "'Onyango Oloo'" <onyango.oloo at sodnet.or.ke>
         fab at in-no.org
Cc:      "'Edward Oyugi'" <Edward at sodnet.or.ke>
         okarajulius at yahoo.com
         "'Wahu Kaara'" <wahukaara at yahoo.com>
         njoki at igc.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Fabian,

We are in receipt of your letter of complaint. We do appreciate that there
was delay in your visa processing. We, however, note with concern and
disquiet your patronizing - almost racist - tone. We will not accept to be
lectured and bullied. We are marking 200 years of the abolition of slavery
this year and 50 years since Ghana's independence! We don't have any more
European colony in this continent!

Visa processing is primarily the responsibility of the participants. This
information has been on the web for I don't know how long. However, given
the situation concerning some countries (no less than 10), we offered to
help. You will note that referred countries normally require applications
three months in advance. We have  helped ease entry for these comrades. It
has never been the responsibility of WSF organizers to go applying for and
processing visas for participants. Please respect us even if you have your
prejudices about Africans. You talk about our African comrades whose
participation you are facilitating as if they are a flock of sheep you are
shepherding. This is the kind of attitude we least expect in WSF!

By the way I have attended two editions of the European Social Forum and I
cannot narrate to you the humiliation I had to go through in the Embassies
here in Nairobi. It might amuse you to know that the organizing committee
from Nairobi was refused visas to attend European Social Forum in Athens in
May this year! Please remove those specs so that you can clearly see the
logs in our eyes.

Finally, I want to put it on record that we bear no responsibility.

Oduor Ong'wen

For WSF 2007 Organizing Committee

  _____

From: Onyango Oloo [mailto:onyango.oloo at sodnet.or.ke]
Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 7:41 PM
To: fab at in-no.org
Cc: 'Edward Oyugi'; 'Oduor Ongwen'; okarajulius at yahoo.com; 'Wahu Kaara';
njoki at igc.org; onyango.oloo at sodnet.or.ke
Subject: FW: [Imc-africa] Fwd: Visa clearence letter delegates Mali/Nigeria

Dear Fabian:

The concerns you raise below are issues that need collective reflection,
input and action.

I am therefore forwarding the same to some key members of our Secretariat.

I will update you once I get concrete feedback from my colleagues

Sincerely,

Onyango Oloo
National Coordinator

Kenya Social Forum @WSF 2007 Secretariat

  _____

From: fabian [mailto:fab at in-no.org]
Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 10:28 PM
To: Onyango Oloo
Cc: African IMCs and the imc project in Africa
Subject: Re: [Imc-africa] Fwd: Visa clearence letter delegates Mali/Nigeria

Dear Oloo,
thanks for taking our concerns seriously and forward them to the organizing
team. I am aware that everybody is trying to do their best and I am not
intenting to issue any individual accusations in this matter. Our Visa
Letter Applications are now on the way and I am hoping that our delegates
can travel as planned.
I have to insist never the less to discuss with the WSF office the question
of responsability.
Indeed as I pointed out in the previous email, the changing of tickets that
became necessary because the visa clearance letters weren't processed in
time put our network 700 Euros back. This equals 63.000 Shilling. To your
information we are a very poor network, budgeting on the edge and as things
stand the unnecessary loss of this 700 Euros threatens our ability to
provide the essential travel support for several African members of our
network. This is really dramatic as the WSF is taking place in Africa also
to increase the number of African participants in the WSF.
We are convinced that the responsibilty for the loss of this money should be
accepeted by the WSF office and we hope that in solidarity with the African
delegates of our network who want to come and particiapte in the WSF, the
office will express its goodwill in refunding us the loss of the 700 Euros
for the changing of tickets.
I also like to remind you in this regard, that we issues an emergency
request to the WSF for solidarity funds to help us with travel arrangements.
I am happy to discuss these things with you and hope we find a mutually
agreeable solution.
You can reach me on my mobile 0728282947.

I am hoping for your quick response in this matter
with best regards
Fabian

Am 06.01.2007 um 11:02 schrieb Onyango Oloo:

 Dear John, Fabian and the Indymedia team:

I am forwarding your concerns to the relevant people in the  WSF 2007
Secretariat for immediate action.

Sincerely,

Onyango Oloo
National Coordinator
Kenya Social Forum @ WSF 2007 Secretariat
Nairobi

From: John Bwakali [mailto:jonbwak at yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 06, 2007 1:36 PM
To: African IMCs and the imc project in Africa
Cc: Onyango.Oloo at sodnet.or.ke
Subject: Re: [Imc-africa] Fwd: Visa clearence letter delegates Mali/Nigeria

Fabian and All,
I also share your frustration Fabian and have copied Onyango Oloo the WSF
coordinator for Kenya and colleague in Indymedia this mail. It appears that
Matunga forgot about our people. Even though they are onverwhelmed, the
primary purpose of WSF is people and people participation should then be the
priority. I tried calling you yesterday Fabian but couldn't get through.

Is it possible to call the specific airlline/s? Are they flying Kenya
airways? If so, maybe I could drive to the airport here in Nairobi and talk
to Kenya Airways as I think I can get them there? Just send me an SMS if
their tickets are for Kenya Airways. I know you already sent this info
sometimes back but am not able at this time to dig for it. In the meantime,
could colleagues from these countries please text me so that I can call them
back and discuss this further?

John

fabian <fab at in-no.org> wrote:

john,
I sent this email beneath on the second of January, then it was enough
time to change flights....
why don't matunga read his emails...
it is absolutely impossible to change flights now, on a weekend, with
one of them sceduled for Sunday!
The WSF organization office is responsible for this situation, they
have to come up with a solution.
They have to refund our money. I am really angry, our delegates have
started sending them the scanned passport three weeks ago. They
apparently never arrived. Why would you have an email adress and then
don't get emails?
The information that money is needed for this came only the end of
december. There is not sufficiant information on the website.
and the most rediculous thing is: Our delegates are African delegates,
the whole purpose to do the WSF in Africa is to get more Africans to
the WSF, these people at the WSF office are supposed to co-operate and
not be a mere pain and obstacle to people who try to get things done.
They are probably even paid to fuck up like this!

anyone any ideas what to do?
Fabian

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-- 
Fabian Frenzel

institute of nomadology
http://wiki.in-no.org

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