Question: What do the Asia/Pacific cadidates feel about the rigid borders that the ICANN rules are drawing around each region? Will some area's not feel orphaned in this setup? As a future Board member, what would you propose to do about it? --Joop T. www.idno.org

Nominee Replies

Sureswaran Ramadass - posted on 2000-09-30 05:24:38 There should be new borders drawn up based on the number of net users currently and potentially. This would give the Asian region a fairer share of allocations and seats. Lulin Gao - posted on 2000-09-20 01:54:04 I have no major objection to the existing ICANN election rules in terms of geographic regions. I would propose that the number of representatives for each region be inceased in the future with a view to maintain a more at large representation on the ICANN board and, in the meantime, a more balanced and coordinated development of the Internet around the world. Masanobu Katoh - posted on 2000-09-15 13:29:30 Dear ICANN Member: There was a discussion of this matter at the July ICANN meetings in Yokahama. It was recommended that ICANN should make reference to existing international norms for regional distribution of countries and to assign countries to geographic regions on the basis of the United Nations Statistics Division's current classifications of Countries or areas, codes and abbreviations, and Composition of macro geographic (continental) regions and component geographical regions, as revised 16 February 2000. In my view, following this approach is the best way to proceed for the present. Our purpose is to include, not exclude people in our region. Over time, ICANN may wish to revise or change its regional definition to better suit our stakeholders. Sincerely, M Katoh Johannes Chiang - posted on 2000-09-13 08:15:40 I can imaging how the people from your area feel. So, I mentioned in my web-page for the nominee-section on ICANN site. 1. To develop, in the first place, the policy and strategies towards an Asia- Australian-Pacific Information Village, because the AAP region covers the largest area of the world and a diversity of cultures, languages, volks.. It's our chance but we need a fair distribution of Internet resources. 2. my position if elected: To allow at-large membership to determine majority, if not all, increase director seats for the Asia-Australian-Pacific Region. Please reference ny web-page and my web-site, and keep discussing with me. I'll do my best. Hong Jie Li - posted on 2000-09-12 21:20:02 I understand your feeling.Actaully,in many aspects Australia and New Zealand is quite different from Asia countries. I think this situation should be seriously considered by ICANN. I think maybe we should subdivided Asia-Pacific region and make Australia and New Zealand become another region, just like Latin America.