> Hi to all,
>
> I must confess I feel not at ease with current situation.
>
> The choice of Indonesia as an incorporation country has been a political
> choice: to show that open/libre software is an opportunity for all
> country, whatever their development level.
Joseph has already pointed out that the country of incorporation is
Malaysia, not Indonesia. However, mistake aside, the primary reason for
the choice of country for incorporation were pragmatic ones: Molly Cheah
has been the driving force behind the second attempt to incorporate
OSHCA, and Molly lives in Malaysia. However, there were secondary
reasons why Malaysia was thought to be a good choice: it is one of the
leaders of the non-aligned group of countries (and has been for many
decades, including during the Cold War), which means that Malaysian
foreign policy did/does/will not follow in lock-step with that of the
previous superpowers (US/EU and USSR), the current superpower (US) or
the future superpowers (BRIC: Brasil, Russia, India, China). As a
result, Malaysia can maintain cordial relations and engage in dialogue
with a very wide range of countries, far more easily than, say, the US,
UK or Australia could. That is important, because although FOSS will
play an important role in health in rich Western countries, in the
near-term at least that will only be a small role, whereas there is
little doubt (at least in my mind) that FOSS will play a very major role
in health in developing and transitional countries, and very soon. It
sends out the "right message" to have OSHCA incorporated in a
developing/transitional country. Key audiences for that "message"
include WHO and other UN agencies, as well as international and national
philanthropic and donor agencies (which are an important target for
OSHCA's lobbying/advocacy role: if these agencies fund health
information systems in poorer countries, and they increasingly are, we
want to convince them, and/or the aid recipients, to seriously consider
FOSS as a more sustainable long-term solution).
> Nandalal is very right when he says that the population is not the
> government, however, Indonesia can appear as quite extreme in the domain
> of military violence (remember the recent massacres in East Timor), of
> massive corruption and of human rights violation.
As Syd pointed out, which country would be acceptable? For many
potential participants in OSHCA, the US, UK and Australia would be
unpalatable because those countries have participated in an illegal war
against Iraq which has caused the deaths of tens of thousands of
civilians and has brought the country to the brink of a even bloodier
civil war. Sweden perhaps? But then Sweden still has a large arms
industry and exports weapons to lots of regimes with a less than perfect
human rights record. It is very hard to find a perfect home for OSHCA.
So we compromise, and in my view, Malaysia is a very reasonable compromise.
> David could have remember all this earlier... however, I think that Tim
> is taking David's problem much too lightly (no problem... just have 2
> lists). My opinion is that if, do to the choice of the incorporation
> country, we let a single person behind, it means that the choice of this
> country is a mistake.
I didn't take Dave's issue lightly, and spent some time discussing the
issue with him off-list (because the discussion was definitely
inappropriate for the openhealth list). However, it was fairly clear to
me that Dave's position could not be changed by mere argument and that
it probably represented an irreconcilable difference with the current
direction of OSHCA (which is that of incorporation in Malaysia).
The reality is that in order to make decisions, either in timely
fashion, or at all, it may not always be possible to keep everyone
happy. That's the nature of life. OSHCA should strive to keep as many of
its members or potential members happy and comfortable with its
directions and actions, but from time-to-time, some people will
disagree. We are then left with the choice of OHSCA becoming paralysed
until the disagreement can be resolved - which may be never - or moving on.
Of course, Dave is still very, very welcome to join OSHCA at some future
time should his position change. Perhaps there might be a US chapter of
OSHCA formed in the future, and Dave may care to join that? And of
course, membership of OSHCA or agreement to abide by its membership
rules is not required to participate in the openhealth discussion list.
> Don't expect to let the political matters outside Oshca... if David is
> out, it means they are already in, and it is a deadly poison. Better
> really address this issue as early and honestly as possible.
OSHCA is a non-political organisation. That doesn't mean that it is
insensitive to or unaware of the political realities that exist in the
world, just that it will not takes sides on any political question. But
health and the need for healthcare is universal, and computers are also
remarkably non-partisan, so we don't expect to have to deal with a lot
of political issues in the normal business of OSHCA.
Tim C
> Tim.Churches a écrit :
>
> >David Forslund wrote:
> >
> >
> >>I apologize for bringing this up, but it does affect my relationship
> >>with OSHCA
> >>since it is being incorporated in Malaysia. I will be unable to support
> >>OSHCA
> >>in Malaysia because of the politics/human rights issues I see happening
> >>in that country.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >I am sorry that you feel that way, Dave. However, it is your call and I
> >don't think it is productive or wise to try to change your mind.
> >
> >We will have a separate OSHCA mailing list established very shortly
> >which will handle all OSHCA business, and this openhealth list can be
> >devoted purely to more general health informatics issues. I hope you
> >will continue to participate in the openhealth list, because your
> >technical expertise is greatly valued.
> >
> >Tim C
> >
> >
> >
> >>K.S. Bhaskar wrote:
> >> > Please, let's keep the discussion on this mailing list focused on
> >> > Free/Libré and Open Source Software (with a broad interpretation of
> >> > software, so discussion of ICD codes and OSHCA incorporation are within
> >> > the scope of the group) as it pertains to healthcare. There are plenty
> >> > of other forums for other topics.
> >> >
> >> > Thank you very much.
> >> >
> >> > Regards
> >> > -- Bhaskar
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
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