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Posted in Asia, Boycott Novell, Free/Libre Software, Novell at 10:47 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
[was: "Novell Does Not Like Being Criticised," but corrected later]
Achtung Polizei
WHY WOULD Novell and/or its affiliates organisers of a Free sofwtare conference suppress friendly opposition to Novell? A group of Free software supporters spread material that explains why Novell is harmful to freedom, but they needed to confront policemen just to voice their views.
What ever happened this world we’re living in? Arky has some photos and a concise explanation.
=> ↺ some photos and a concise explanation
Here is blow by blow account of trouble that brewed up on the second day of National Conference on Free Software 2008 in Cochin university. The activists put up posters against the Novell Corp (the main sponsor of this event) at the Free Software exhibition complex.
The organisers called up Kochi police and man handled the Anivar Aravind a former student of the Cochin University and a well known free software activist.
Here are some comments that add to the overall message.
In theory anyone should be free to promote free software; in practice what’s happening is quite alarming. What’s free software without free speech and free thought and its own brand of dissent and how can this conference’s organizers miss that?
I’m glad Anivar and others stood up. Conference organizers’ discomfort with them is understandable, but they clearly don’t “get” free software, which is clearly a grassroots movement that has nothing to do with police state. They don’t get it at all when they send police to handle known faces in the community.
[...]
I’m willing to be corrected of all this “prejudice”, but what just happened has only substantiated my worries. I’m glad you were there to report this incidence, let’s now look forward to the organizer’s version of The Truth (TM).
With censorship and control, it is easier to tell one's twisted version of the 'truth'.
=> control | one's twisted version of the 'truth'
The following addendum also adds rather disturbing information:
I updated the blog and posted few more photos from the main venue of the event and preparations for the protest.
Most of the mobile phones were taken and pictures deleted, I was lucky enough to get out in time.
“Quickly. Quickly. Got to destroy the evidence.”
Fortunately, the word is spreading pretty fast.
=> ↺ spreading
Free Software Activist Anivar Aravind is mishandled by police at National Conference on Free Software 2008 organized in Cochin university. The Free Software activists where protesting against the biggest enemies of Free Software, Novell who is the sponsor of the event !!!!
This is also discussed in local mailing lists. Here are some early messages.
On Sun, Nov 16, 2008 at 2:04 PM, Praveen A wrote:
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rakesh 'arky' Ambati
Date: 2008/11/15
Subject: [FSUG-Bangalore] Boycott Novell Protesters Man-handled at
National Conference on Free Software 2008
To: fsf-friends@mm.gnu.org.in, fsug-bangalore@mm.gnu.org.in
"Novell offers enterprise infrastructure software and services that
help customers leverage proprietary and open source solutions. These
solutions lower cost ..." www.novell.com
It is evident that the services from Novell Corp do not respect nor
appreciate "freedom", as conceived and promoted by Free Software
Foundation.
Whose agenda are being protected, when Free Software activists' are
refused to register their disagreement through non-violent means of
protest ?
What is wrong in voicing objections to concerns about hijacking the
services of Free Software communities where the ends and means do not
justify any of the principles of Free Software ?
CK Raju,
IIT Kharagpur
There is more from Delhi.
From: Linux Lingam
Date: 2008/11/16
Subject: Re: [ilugd] Fwd: [FSUG-Bangalore] Boycott Novell Protesters
Man-handled at National Conference on Free Software 2008
To: The Linux-Delhi mailing list ,
rahul@efyindia.com, pkr@cybermedia.co.in
that is the first instance of an MNC taking a visibly hostile and
tangible stance against foss and foss-supporters in india. does not
bode too well if that MNC also happens to be a partner of microsoft.
novell owes an apology to the indian foss community.
meanwhile, i don't know about you,
but i haven't touched openSUSE or any novell product since their
controversial tie-in with microsoft.
regards
niyam
Thanks to all those who organised this awareness campaign. We were not informed about this until after the act.
The actions taken against innocent dissemination of information speak volume about suppressors of Freedom. It makes them look intolerant and desperate for control of minds. █
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