26th December 2023, Kathmandu
In a decisive victory, Advocate Baburam Aryal secured the position of president of The Asia Pacific School on Internet Governance (APSIG President) with an impressive 21 votes, outshining his opponent, Mubasir Sargana of Pakistan, who garnered 15 votes.
Dr. Govinda Kumar of India emerged as Vice-President with the highest tally of 21 votes, while Nepal’s Shreedeep Rayamajhi and Pakistan’s Waqas Hassan each gathered 16 votes for the second Vice-President position.
Waqas Hassan’s triumph in the second round for Vice-President, securing 18 votes against Rayamajhi’s 15, marked a noteworthy outcome. Regrettably, Bangladesh’s Iqbal Ahmed was eliminated in the first round, having secured nine votes for the Vice-President position.
The election, addressing vacant posts for Chairman and two Vice-Chairpersons of the Board of Directors, spans a two-year tenure. Sri Lanka’s Sagarika Wickramasekara was elected Secretary, and Shah Zahidur Rahman of Bangladesh claimed the Treasurer position uncontested.
APSIG, actively promoting internet development and capacity building in Asia and the Pacific, engages members from the region in a multi-partnership framework.
APSIG President Baburam Aryal
Aryal, an accomplished lawyer in cyber law, cyber security, telecommunications law, and media law, presently heads the Digital Freedom Coalition and leads the Internet Governance Institute. His dedication extends to crucial issues such as equal internet access, online child security, digital literacy, and human rights in the digital era.
Aryal’s election signals a renewed commitment to advancing internet governance principles both regionally and globally.
Under his leadership, the APSIG is poised to navigate evolving challenges and opportunities in the digital landscape, ensuring continued progress in the years ahead.