[Venue-selection] City Selection Input

Darrel Lewis <d@rrel.me> Tue, 23 May 2023 19:03 UTC

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From: Darrel Lewis <d@rrel.me>
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Date: Tue, 23 May 2023 21:02:31 +0200
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Subject: [Venue-selection] City Selection Input
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Hi,

I’ve participated in more than a few meetings over the years, including (if memory serves) the first IETF meeting held in China (2010?).  I remember arguments in support of this meeting, including hopes of changing Chinese policy towards the internet, and recognizing the contributions of Chinese citizens, organizations, and corporations towards IETF efforts.  

Since that time, there has been a steady stream of horrific human rights violations by the Chinese government towards its own and other citizens, which are completely antithetical to the Internet and the IETFs mission and beliefs.  One can only look at the crushing of democratic dissent in Hong Kong to see the hypocrisy of this autocratic government.   How many standards based IETF recommendations, or BCPs regarding encryption are outlawed in their country?  How many people have been arrested, detained without trial, and ultimately killed because of these policies?

One of the classic tenants of the IETF is that we do not believe in Kings.  In the current government in  China we have something even worse.  Tyrants that seek to suborn the very systems that we hold to be fundamental in order to wear a mantle of legitimacy.  We should not, and I believe must not, condone and legitimize this government’s many Human Rights abuses.

Speaking only for myself,

-Darrel Lewis

[Venue-selection] City Selection Input Darrel Lewis