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

Fri Jan 12 03:11:18 PST 2007

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Re: [Imc-africa] Fwd: Visa clearence letter delegates Mali/Nigeria
From:    "Njoki Njoroge Njehu" <daughtersofmumbi at gmail.com>
Date:    Fri, January 12, 2007 5:25 am
To:      "Oduor Ongwen" <ongwen at sodnet.or.ke>
Cc:      "Onyango Oloo" <onyango.oloo at sodnet.or.ke>
         fab at in-no.org
         "Edward Oyugi" <Edward at sodnet.or.ke>
         okarajulius at yahoo.com
         "Wahu Kaara" <wahukaara at yahoo.com>
         njoki at igc.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oduor,

I couldn't agree more with you more!

Getting a Brazilian visa with a Kenyan passport in the US was no picnic.
After many visits to the Brazilian embassy and no less than 4 different
letters of 'recommendation', I finally got a visa for WSF 2002, even though
I had two visas to Brazil in 2001!

No organ or person in the 2007 WSF Organizing bears responsibility and
Fabian owes an apology.

We have much to do and this is an unnecessary distraction and unjust
expectation - among other things.

Pamberi ne Chimurenga!

Njoki

On 1/12/07, Oduor Ongwen <ongwen at sodnet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>  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 â€“ almost racist â€“ 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 mon*ths 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 participant*s. 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
>
>
>   __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
> _______________________________________________
> Imc-africa mailing list
> Imc-africa at lists.indymedia.org
> http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-africa
>

-- 
Njoki Njoroge Njehu (Ms.)
Executive Director
Daughters of Mumbi Global Resource Center/ Solidarity Africa Network
P.O. Box 23306 â€“ Lower Kabete - 00604
Nairobi, KENYA
Phone/Fax: +254-20-418-0282
Mobile : + 254 723 229 426
Email: daughtersofmumbi at gmail.com
SKYPE: solidarityafrica
URL: www.daughtersofmumbi.org (currently under construction)

The Daughters of Mumbi Global Resource Center is inspired by values drawn
from four meanings of MÅ©mbi in the GÄ©kÅ©yÅ© language & culture:
â€¢ Creator â€“ connecting to the environment which must 'include human
beings
as a species worth saving';
â€¢ Clan â€“ pledging to build united, just, & caring communities and
relationships at all levels;
â€¢ First Mother â€“ honoring women's roles in anchoring family &
community and
linking to our respective diverse cultural roots; and
â€¢ Potter â€“ recognizing dignity in the work of our hands, especially
women's
work and creativity.

-- 
Fabian Frenzel

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

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.indymedia.org/pipermail/imc-africa/attachments/20070112/ee956a2b/attachment.html 