Informazione
"Erased". An answer to Franc Majcen
[ Risposta a Franc Majcen, iniziatore del referendum recentemente
tenutosi in Slovenia per formalizzare definitivamente la
discriminazione ai danni di 18mila persone: i cosiddetti
"cancellati"... ]
Dear Mister Majcen,
we absolutely disagree with your point of view.
The Yugoslav Army never attacked Slovenia. Quite on the contrary,
Slovenian separatists attacked the Yugoslav Army in order to secede
from the Federation. They did it with the malicious support of some
western countries, and against the own (Federal) Constitution, which
foresaw pacific procedures to grant "independence" to the "constitutive
Nations".
The attack by Slovenian separatists costed also the lives of several
young and innocent Slovenian soldiers within the Yugoslav Army.
SFRJ was not an "antidemocratic", neither an "antieuropean" nor a
"totalitarian" country. Those who abandoned brotherhood and unity are
the major responsibles for the bloodbath which followed Slovenian
"declaration of indipendence".
We would hope all "new independent Republics" from ex-RFSJ, and their
citizens, will live long in peace and prosperity; but we fear this
will be impossible. These are very small, weak countries, with no
economic and no politic power. You have now German investors on your
territory, and Italian military airplanes in you sky.
Is it really better now than before 1991?
National Coordination for Yugoslavia (Italy)
PS. The Balkans are within Europe, not outside; and Slovenia is within
both - has always been within, actually.
> Da: "majcenf"
> Data: Lun 24 Mag 2004 13:39:28 Europe/Rome
> A: crj-mailinglist-owner
> Oggetto:
>
> Lep pozdrav Franc Majcen
Respected Citizens !
I am Franc Majcen from Gornja Radgona. As initiator of threefold
signing of petition for call for referendum about “the erased” I wish
to present my view of the process of solving of this problem. Problem
that didn’t exist was created and oversized by the politics of ruling
elite which wants to create new voters regardless of the price paid by
Slovene citizens. Decisions which jeopardize social security of the
citizens is unacceptable because this Act is rehabilitating the
speculators which didn’t respect Slovene law. Now, under the disquise
of rectification of injustice they want to recognize retroactively the
rights to those who are not eligible to that rights. It is not
acceptable to recognize retroactively the rights to those who left
Slovenia and emigrated, but after they found out their mistake they
returned. To present the departure with aggressor Yugoslav Army as
prolongation of service with old employer is contrary to any logic of
lawfulness.
It is also important to know that members and supporters of Yugoslav
Army were (and still are) the core of antidemocratic and antieuropean
political movement. They were the enforcers of totalitarian regime and
in every sense the opposers of democratic movements in Slovenia.
In the first place the promoters of such Act should understand the
concept of permanent residence. Permanent residence is not a human
right but the right which is acquired by the individual upon fulfilment
of certain obligations. This rights can be revoked if the law is not
observed. Therefore all the talking about human rights in this case is
baseless.
The Law is written agreement of the rules of behaviour. This Act in
this procedure is not agreement but the enforcement of the mode of
solution of the parliamentary majority to the opposition minority. This
means that parliamentary majority is imposing its solution on the way
of offending the minority and labeling it as xenophobic because of
opposition’s legitimate remarks about the Act in itself and because of
desire to grant the rights to the people that are not eligible to it.
I am convinced that the Act is not rectifying the injustices but is
rehabilitating the specolators who didn’t respect Slovene Law. The most
disputable is the a ruling of Constitutional Court that demands the
reimbursment of the rights to everybody. The Constitutional Court has
the role of determining the unconstitutional content of acts and laws.
The legal solution in Law is by the principle of division of authority
in the hands of parliamment which in such cases should obtain wider
consensus and not enforcing solution to the minority.
It is unacceptable that the Law is granting retroactively the rights
to the people that didn’t respect obligations by the Constitutional Act
which accurately prescribed the settlement of the status, the terms and
timetable. The period of 6 months was prescribed for settlement of
citizenship. Additional 2 months were available to those who didnc´t
arrange any status even after 6 months. Despite 8 months period 10% of
the residents from other republics of former state didn’t settle their
status. The fact, that thousands of invitations to arrange the status
were mailed and returned to the Registrations Offices with remarks
“unknown recipient”, is solid ground for a claim that those people
departed and emigrated from Slovenia. Such departure of the country
without preliminary notice of departure is in Law regulated as
cessation of permanent residence. Regardless to this all who didn’t
arrange their status till 26th February, 1992 were moved from the
register of permanent residents to the register of foreigners without
status. Even after missed period, all those who actualy lived in the
country had a possibility to settle their status under somehow more
strict conditions provided by the Foreigners Act from 1991. Those
conditions are not in clash with 32nd article of the Constitution which
asserts that it is possible to forbid the entrance into the country to
the foreigner and to limit the duration of stay. It is inadmissible to
subsequenty apologize for not respecting the Law with excuse that it
was weak and unconstitutional. Unconstitutionality of the Act needs to
be proved. Until then it is obligatory to respect the Law as it is
regardless on how it’s content.
Very important is to know that The Foreigners Act 1991 was accepted and
was valid 6 months before the Constitution was brought into effect.
That means that Constitution was in effect 6 months after Foreigners
Act. So it is futile to hold Foreigners Act unconstitutional.
Appealing on the ignorance of the Law can not be the pretext for
violating the law. To trespass the prescribed period has the
consequence of lossing he rights. This fact should be known by some
Slovene lawyers who defend such poorly written Act as it is presented
to the parliament. Despite the fact that they have twice written the
law that was rejected by the Constitutional Court, they are still
confident in their infallibility. The period for application for
granting rights is ten times too long. In addition, the fact that this
application will be proceeded by the Interior Ministry is a reason to
worry about. By my opinion the applications would be more promptly
solved by Registration Ofiices which are more closely involved in
certain problems. Such remarks on behalf of ill-written Act are
strictly ignored.
The rights of an individual are limited by the rights of others.
Therefore a granting of rewards for disobedience of the law is contrary
to international and elementary law. Disrespect of the law is not
rewarded by any law and appealing to international institutions is a
bad kind of pretending an ignorance.
Entirely oposing to international law is the fact that representative
of “the erased” ,Mr. Krivic, participated in drafting and forming this
Law. Balkan way of solving the problems “prosecutor is also the judge”
is not acceptable for Europe where Slovenia is heading. Manipulation
with human rights and insulting with faschist titles is cheap seducing
of the public and creation of new voters regardless of the price to be
paid by the citizens of Slovenija in the case that proposed law come
into effect.
The decomposition of social order is not permissible by the
Constitution. Therefore the proposed solution is not acceptable in this
respect. Ignorance of the question of compensations is a special case.
How is it possible to promise a solution to be drafted after the amount
of compensations will be due to payment, if the amount is available
today taking into account the claims of the representative of “the
erased” of 150.000 SIT monthly for past 10 years? What is the reason of
firefighting after the house is burnt down?
Those facts should be taken into accont by the members of the
parliament and find the solution acceptable for Slovene citizens and
put it into the Constitutional Act. This is the only way to avoid
further politization of the problem and to avoid intolerance. If they
are aware that they are representatives of all citizens they must find
acceptable solution.
Thank You.
------------------
This is translation of interview with initiator of request for
referendum Franc Majcen for Vecer newspaper on 4th of October 2003.
Speculations didn’t succeed
Franc Majcen from Gornja Radgona has put in an application for
referendum on the case of “erased”, because he thinks that the “erased”
are to blame for their situation and now they want to get rich by
speculations.
------------------
Vecer newspapers : Mr. Majcen do you think that injustice happened to
“erased”?
Majcen : “I think of another question : why 190.000 people could arrang
their status and why those 18.000 didn’t do it ? I am convinced that
the major contribution came from their sense of superiority,
humiliating stance against Slovenian nation and belief that
independence movement will fail. This speculation didn’t succeed. I am
sure that in 99 percent they must blame themselves for their present
situation. Many of them left Slovenia together with Yugoslav army, then
they returned and started to lament about their fate.”
“Erased” truly didn’t appealed for citizenship, therefore they should
became foreigners with permanent residence as Chinese in Yugoslavia
became an foreigner in Slovenia.
“A Chinese had a valid documents but these people should start to
arrange their documents. This was obligation by law at that time. Why
didn’t they arrange their documents?”
Because they could not do it immediately. After “erasure” they should
temporarily reside for 8 years to get permanent residence. But to apply
for temporary residence you must leave Slovenia to foreign country
where you aply for permission and wait some years. Some commited
suicide because of harsh formal procedures.
Suicide is not related to “erasure” but to distress in which a man is
involved in certain moment. Slovenes also commit suicides.
Statistically it is clear that more Slovenes die of suicide than of
traffic accidents, but nobody asks why.
From your initiative for referendum it seems that you like to punish
all those that departed Slovenia with Yugoslav Peoples Army. But only
those who commits criminal offence can be punished.
This is not a punishment. Presidency of Slovenia issued repeatedly an
invitation to those people to join Teritorial Defence. Nobody was
forced, everyone left voluntarily. Those people left their families
because of their career.
How do you know why they left Slovenia?
This is widely known. They publicly threatened that they will return.
They had a chance to change sides but they refused. Those who left
speculeted that independence of Slovenia will not succeed. They were
convinced that they will victoriously come back. Now these people
request monetary compensation from Slovenia.
Do you know that among “erased” there are members of Teritorial Defence?
I say that to those who experienced injustice there should be
recognition of injustice, but not to those who speculate. There is
certainly an injustice in the case of members of Teritorial Defence.
But that is not the case for those who left Slovenia because of career.
What kind of moral did they have to leave the family if they were
afraid?
Probably you can’t know what did they mean. For this reason we have a
law which says that we can punish people for what they do notfor what
they think. Even if they were against independence and they thought
that independence will fail, this is not a reason for canceling of
permanent residence.
The Constitution itself prohibits the spreading of hatred and calling
for war. This is what they violated with their military actions. The
canceling of permanent residence is not punishment. This is legal
consequence of their departure. The foreigner which moves out –
Yugoslav army moved out – must report this to competent authority, else
the permanent residence ceases. Why didn’t they report?
Because they didn’t want to leave, they wanted to stay.
If they wanted to return they should report departure by current law.
But they speculated, they knew very well for all the consequences.
Billions of dollars worth of material, weapons and everything possible
they removed from Slovenia, now they want to get compensations. What is
the logic of that? Let them request the compensations from those to
whom they gave all that wealth.
But this was done by army, ordinary soldiers are not responsible for
that.
In Slovenia the Yugoslav army disintegrated and capitulated. Nobody had
any authority to influence those soldiers. Yugoslav army coldn’t exert
any influence because it capitulated. They left voluntarily.
Borut Mekina
-------------
[ Risposta a Franc Majcen, iniziatore del referendum recentemente
tenutosi in Slovenia per formalizzare definitivamente la
discriminazione ai danni di 18mila persone: i cosiddetti
"cancellati"... ]
Dear Mister Majcen,
we absolutely disagree with your point of view.
The Yugoslav Army never attacked Slovenia. Quite on the contrary,
Slovenian separatists attacked the Yugoslav Army in order to secede
from the Federation. They did it with the malicious support of some
western countries, and against the own (Federal) Constitution, which
foresaw pacific procedures to grant "independence" to the "constitutive
Nations".
The attack by Slovenian separatists costed also the lives of several
young and innocent Slovenian soldiers within the Yugoslav Army.
SFRJ was not an "antidemocratic", neither an "antieuropean" nor a
"totalitarian" country. Those who abandoned brotherhood and unity are
the major responsibles for the bloodbath which followed Slovenian
"declaration of indipendence".
We would hope all "new independent Republics" from ex-RFSJ, and their
citizens, will live long in peace and prosperity; but we fear this
will be impossible. These are very small, weak countries, with no
economic and no politic power. You have now German investors on your
territory, and Italian military airplanes in you sky.
Is it really better now than before 1991?
National Coordination for Yugoslavia (Italy)
PS. The Balkans are within Europe, not outside; and Slovenia is within
both - has always been within, actually.
> Da: "majcenf"
> Data: Lun 24 Mag 2004 13:39:28 Europe/Rome
> A: crj-mailinglist-owner
> Oggetto:
>
> Lep pozdrav Franc Majcen
Respected Citizens !
I am Franc Majcen from Gornja Radgona. As initiator of threefold
signing of petition for call for referendum about “the erased” I wish
to present my view of the process of solving of this problem. Problem
that didn’t exist was created and oversized by the politics of ruling
elite which wants to create new voters regardless of the price paid by
Slovene citizens. Decisions which jeopardize social security of the
citizens is unacceptable because this Act is rehabilitating the
speculators which didn’t respect Slovene law. Now, under the disquise
of rectification of injustice they want to recognize retroactively the
rights to those who are not eligible to that rights. It is not
acceptable to recognize retroactively the rights to those who left
Slovenia and emigrated, but after they found out their mistake they
returned. To present the departure with aggressor Yugoslav Army as
prolongation of service with old employer is contrary to any logic of
lawfulness.
It is also important to know that members and supporters of Yugoslav
Army were (and still are) the core of antidemocratic and antieuropean
political movement. They were the enforcers of totalitarian regime and
in every sense the opposers of democratic movements in Slovenia.
In the first place the promoters of such Act should understand the
concept of permanent residence. Permanent residence is not a human
right but the right which is acquired by the individual upon fulfilment
of certain obligations. This rights can be revoked if the law is not
observed. Therefore all the talking about human rights in this case is
baseless.
The Law is written agreement of the rules of behaviour. This Act in
this procedure is not agreement but the enforcement of the mode of
solution of the parliamentary majority to the opposition minority. This
means that parliamentary majority is imposing its solution on the way
of offending the minority and labeling it as xenophobic because of
opposition’s legitimate remarks about the Act in itself and because of
desire to grant the rights to the people that are not eligible to it.
I am convinced that the Act is not rectifying the injustices but is
rehabilitating the specolators who didn’t respect Slovene Law. The most
disputable is the a ruling of Constitutional Court that demands the
reimbursment of the rights to everybody. The Constitutional Court has
the role of determining the unconstitutional content of acts and laws.
The legal solution in Law is by the principle of division of authority
in the hands of parliamment which in such cases should obtain wider
consensus and not enforcing solution to the minority.
It is unacceptable that the Law is granting retroactively the rights
to the people that didn’t respect obligations by the Constitutional Act
which accurately prescribed the settlement of the status, the terms and
timetable. The period of 6 months was prescribed for settlement of
citizenship. Additional 2 months were available to those who didnc´t
arrange any status even after 6 months. Despite 8 months period 10% of
the residents from other republics of former state didn’t settle their
status. The fact, that thousands of invitations to arrange the status
were mailed and returned to the Registrations Offices with remarks
“unknown recipient”, is solid ground for a claim that those people
departed and emigrated from Slovenia. Such departure of the country
without preliminary notice of departure is in Law regulated as
cessation of permanent residence. Regardless to this all who didn’t
arrange their status till 26th February, 1992 were moved from the
register of permanent residents to the register of foreigners without
status. Even after missed period, all those who actualy lived in the
country had a possibility to settle their status under somehow more
strict conditions provided by the Foreigners Act from 1991. Those
conditions are not in clash with 32nd article of the Constitution which
asserts that it is possible to forbid the entrance into the country to
the foreigner and to limit the duration of stay. It is inadmissible to
subsequenty apologize for not respecting the Law with excuse that it
was weak and unconstitutional. Unconstitutionality of the Act needs to
be proved. Until then it is obligatory to respect the Law as it is
regardless on how it’s content.
Very important is to know that The Foreigners Act 1991 was accepted and
was valid 6 months before the Constitution was brought into effect.
That means that Constitution was in effect 6 months after Foreigners
Act. So it is futile to hold Foreigners Act unconstitutional.
Appealing on the ignorance of the Law can not be the pretext for
violating the law. To trespass the prescribed period has the
consequence of lossing he rights. This fact should be known by some
Slovene lawyers who defend such poorly written Act as it is presented
to the parliament. Despite the fact that they have twice written the
law that was rejected by the Constitutional Court, they are still
confident in their infallibility. The period for application for
granting rights is ten times too long. In addition, the fact that this
application will be proceeded by the Interior Ministry is a reason to
worry about. By my opinion the applications would be more promptly
solved by Registration Ofiices which are more closely involved in
certain problems. Such remarks on behalf of ill-written Act are
strictly ignored.
The rights of an individual are limited by the rights of others.
Therefore a granting of rewards for disobedience of the law is contrary
to international and elementary law. Disrespect of the law is not
rewarded by any law and appealing to international institutions is a
bad kind of pretending an ignorance.
Entirely oposing to international law is the fact that representative
of “the erased” ,Mr. Krivic, participated in drafting and forming this
Law. Balkan way of solving the problems “prosecutor is also the judge”
is not acceptable for Europe where Slovenia is heading. Manipulation
with human rights and insulting with faschist titles is cheap seducing
of the public and creation of new voters regardless of the price to be
paid by the citizens of Slovenija in the case that proposed law come
into effect.
The decomposition of social order is not permissible by the
Constitution. Therefore the proposed solution is not acceptable in this
respect. Ignorance of the question of compensations is a special case.
How is it possible to promise a solution to be drafted after the amount
of compensations will be due to payment, if the amount is available
today taking into account the claims of the representative of “the
erased” of 150.000 SIT monthly for past 10 years? What is the reason of
firefighting after the house is burnt down?
Those facts should be taken into accont by the members of the
parliament and find the solution acceptable for Slovene citizens and
put it into the Constitutional Act. This is the only way to avoid
further politization of the problem and to avoid intolerance. If they
are aware that they are representatives of all citizens they must find
acceptable solution.
Thank You.
------------------
This is translation of interview with initiator of request for
referendum Franc Majcen for Vecer newspaper on 4th of October 2003.
Speculations didn’t succeed
Franc Majcen from Gornja Radgona has put in an application for
referendum on the case of “erased”, because he thinks that the “erased”
are to blame for their situation and now they want to get rich by
speculations.
------------------
Vecer newspapers : Mr. Majcen do you think that injustice happened to
“erased”?
Majcen : “I think of another question : why 190.000 people could arrang
their status and why those 18.000 didn’t do it ? I am convinced that
the major contribution came from their sense of superiority,
humiliating stance against Slovenian nation and belief that
independence movement will fail. This speculation didn’t succeed. I am
sure that in 99 percent they must blame themselves for their present
situation. Many of them left Slovenia together with Yugoslav army, then
they returned and started to lament about their fate.”
“Erased” truly didn’t appealed for citizenship, therefore they should
became foreigners with permanent residence as Chinese in Yugoslavia
became an foreigner in Slovenia.
“A Chinese had a valid documents but these people should start to
arrange their documents. This was obligation by law at that time. Why
didn’t they arrange their documents?”
Because they could not do it immediately. After “erasure” they should
temporarily reside for 8 years to get permanent residence. But to apply
for temporary residence you must leave Slovenia to foreign country
where you aply for permission and wait some years. Some commited
suicide because of harsh formal procedures.
Suicide is not related to “erasure” but to distress in which a man is
involved in certain moment. Slovenes also commit suicides.
Statistically it is clear that more Slovenes die of suicide than of
traffic accidents, but nobody asks why.
From your initiative for referendum it seems that you like to punish
all those that departed Slovenia with Yugoslav Peoples Army. But only
those who commits criminal offence can be punished.
This is not a punishment. Presidency of Slovenia issued repeatedly an
invitation to those people to join Teritorial Defence. Nobody was
forced, everyone left voluntarily. Those people left their families
because of their career.
How do you know why they left Slovenia?
This is widely known. They publicly threatened that they will return.
They had a chance to change sides but they refused. Those who left
speculeted that independence of Slovenia will not succeed. They were
convinced that they will victoriously come back. Now these people
request monetary compensation from Slovenia.
Do you know that among “erased” there are members of Teritorial Defence?
I say that to those who experienced injustice there should be
recognition of injustice, but not to those who speculate. There is
certainly an injustice in the case of members of Teritorial Defence.
But that is not the case for those who left Slovenia because of career.
What kind of moral did they have to leave the family if they were
afraid?
Probably you can’t know what did they mean. For this reason we have a
law which says that we can punish people for what they do notfor what
they think. Even if they were against independence and they thought
that independence will fail, this is not a reason for canceling of
permanent residence.
The Constitution itself prohibits the spreading of hatred and calling
for war. This is what they violated with their military actions. The
canceling of permanent residence is not punishment. This is legal
consequence of their departure. The foreigner which moves out –
Yugoslav army moved out – must report this to competent authority, else
the permanent residence ceases. Why didn’t they report?
Because they didn’t want to leave, they wanted to stay.
If they wanted to return they should report departure by current law.
But they speculated, they knew very well for all the consequences.
Billions of dollars worth of material, weapons and everything possible
they removed from Slovenia, now they want to get compensations. What is
the logic of that? Let them request the compensations from those to
whom they gave all that wealth.
But this was done by army, ordinary soldiers are not responsible for
that.
In Slovenia the Yugoslav army disintegrated and capitulated. Nobody had
any authority to influence those soldiers. Yugoslav army coldn’t exert
any influence because it capitulated. They left voluntarily.
Borut Mekina
-------------
ITALIANI, POPOLO DI EROI (*)
"Mercenario mi sembra un pò una parolaccia; ma è quello che siamo;
anche se è una parolaccia, secondo il dizionario è una persona che
svolge un'attività militare contro pagamento; ed è quello che noi
facciamo"
Paolo Simeone, arruolatore di Fabrizio Quattrocchi
Fonte: intervista alla TV della Svizzera,
http://www.uruknet.info/.?p=3104
(*) e di santi e di navigatori eccetera eccetera
"Mercenario mi sembra un pò una parolaccia; ma è quello che siamo;
anche se è una parolaccia, secondo il dizionario è una persona che
svolge un'attività militare contro pagamento; ed è quello che noi
facciamo"
Paolo Simeone, arruolatore di Fabrizio Quattrocchi
Fonte: intervista alla TV della Svizzera,
http://www.uruknet.info/.?p=3104
(*) e di santi e di navigatori eccetera eccetera
IRAQ: TRA I MILITARI ITALIANI CONTRABBANDIERI DI OPERE D’ARTE?
COMUNICATO STAMPA di UN PONTE PER...
Il quotidiano iracheno Al Sabah, nell’edizione del 24 maggio scorso, (
http://www.alsabaah.com/20040524 )
ha pubblicato la notizia del ritrovamento di reperti archeologici in
un’automobile appartenente al contingente militare italiano che stavano
per essere contrabbandati verso il vicino Kuwait.
L’auto sarebbe stata intercettata da funzionari di dogana della
provincia di Thi Quar che è compresa nella zona affidata al contingente
italiano. Nell’articolo è affermato che non si tratta di un episodio
isolato ma che appartenenti alle forze della coalizione stanno da tempo
praticando operazioni di contrabbando e stanno trafugando reperti da
nuovi siti archeologici.
Il quotidiano Al Sabah appartiene all’Iraqi Media Network che gestisce
l’informazione nel paese per conto della Coalition Provisional
Authority.
La stessa testata nei giorni scorsi aveva riportato la notizia dei
ripetuti saccheggi perpetrati nel museo di Nassirya e dell’incendio
appiccato alla biblioteca del museo che ha distrutto gran parte del
materiale librario storico e archeologico conservato.
Il direttore del museo di Nassirya, Ameer al-Hamadani, nel luglio dello
scorso anno, dichiarava alla stampa italiana che era ben felice
dell’arrivo dei nostri militari confidando che avrebbero potuto fare la
guardia ai 612 siti archeologici della regione, tra questi la biblica
Ur dei Caldei e numerosi siti sumeri e assiro-babilonesi, evitando i
saccheggi.
Immaginiamo che oggi il direttore sarà stato costretto a ricredersi:
non solo i militari italiani non proteggono il patrimonio archeologico
dai saccheggi ma, come sembra, alcuni di essi contribuiscono a
contrabbandare reperti millenari, testimoni della storia più antica
della civiltà, che finiranno nel mercato antiquario illegale che non si
fa troppe domande sulla provenienza.
Associazione di Volontariato Internazionale – ONG -"Un ponte per…"
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, n.132 - 00185 Roma
Tel. 06-44702906 - Fax 06-44703172
Mail to: uff-stampa @ unponteper.it; www.unponteper.it
COMUNICATO STAMPA di UN PONTE PER...
Il quotidiano iracheno Al Sabah, nell’edizione del 24 maggio scorso, (
http://www.alsabaah.com/20040524 )
ha pubblicato la notizia del ritrovamento di reperti archeologici in
un’automobile appartenente al contingente militare italiano che stavano
per essere contrabbandati verso il vicino Kuwait.
L’auto sarebbe stata intercettata da funzionari di dogana della
provincia di Thi Quar che è compresa nella zona affidata al contingente
italiano. Nell’articolo è affermato che non si tratta di un episodio
isolato ma che appartenenti alle forze della coalizione stanno da tempo
praticando operazioni di contrabbando e stanno trafugando reperti da
nuovi siti archeologici.
Il quotidiano Al Sabah appartiene all’Iraqi Media Network che gestisce
l’informazione nel paese per conto della Coalition Provisional
Authority.
La stessa testata nei giorni scorsi aveva riportato la notizia dei
ripetuti saccheggi perpetrati nel museo di Nassirya e dell’incendio
appiccato alla biblioteca del museo che ha distrutto gran parte del
materiale librario storico e archeologico conservato.
Il direttore del museo di Nassirya, Ameer al-Hamadani, nel luglio dello
scorso anno, dichiarava alla stampa italiana che era ben felice
dell’arrivo dei nostri militari confidando che avrebbero potuto fare la
guardia ai 612 siti archeologici della regione, tra questi la biblica
Ur dei Caldei e numerosi siti sumeri e assiro-babilonesi, evitando i
saccheggi.
Immaginiamo che oggi il direttore sarà stato costretto a ricredersi:
non solo i militari italiani non proteggono il patrimonio archeologico
dai saccheggi ma, come sembra, alcuni di essi contribuiscono a
contrabbandare reperti millenari, testimoni della storia più antica
della civiltà, che finiranno nel mercato antiquario illegale che non si
fa troppe domande sulla provenienza.
Associazione di Volontariato Internazionale – ONG -"Un ponte per…"
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, n.132 - 00185 Roma
Tel. 06-44702906 - Fax 06-44703172
Mail to: uff-stampa @ unponteper.it; www.unponteper.it
Voce jugoslava - Jugoslavenski glas : DAN MLADOSTI
Svakog utorka, od 14,00 do 14,30 sati, na Radio Città Aperta, i valu FM
88.9 za regiju "Lazio", emisija
"Jugoslavenski glas".
Emisija je u direktnom prijenosu. Moze se pratiti i preko Interneta:
http://www.radiocittaperta.it
Kratke intervencije na telefon (0039) 06 4393512. Emisija je
dvojezicna, po potrebi i vremenu na raspolaganju.
Podrzite taj slobodni i nezavisni glas, kupujuci knjige, video kazete,
brosure, koje imamo na raspolaganju. (Par kopija "Menzogne di guerra" -
Nato lazi, od J. Elsesera, video "I dannati del Kosovo", "Da se ne
zaboravi" - tri dokumentarca), itd. Pisite nam na jugocoord @
tiscali.it, ili fax +39 06 4828957.
Trazimo zainteresirane za usvajanje na daljinu, t.j. djacke stipendije
za djecu prognanika. Odazovite se.
Ogni martedì dalle ore 14,00 alle 14,30,
"VOCE JUGOSLAVA"
su Radio Città Aperta, FM 88.9 per il Lazio. La trasmissione si può
seguire, come del resto anche le altre della Radio, via Internet al
sito:
http://www.radiocittaperta.it
La trasmissione è bilingue (a seconda del tempo disponibile e della
necessità) ed in diretta (brevi interventi allo 06 4393512).
Sostenete questa voce libera e indipendente acquistando video cassette,
libri, bollettini a nostra disposizione ("Menzogne di guerra " di J.
Elsasser, video "I dannati del Kosovo" di M.Collon, etc). Possibili
adozioni a distanza (borse di studio). Scriveteci all'indirizzo :
Jugocoord @ tiscali.it,
tel/fax 06 4828957. Contattateci.
Program - programma 25.V.2004
1. Jucer, danas sutra, datumi ...da se ne zaboravi:
25. maj rodjendan Josipa Broza Tita i DAN MLADOSTI.
2. "Od Triglava do Vardara...." Razmirice i "tapsanja" medju "bivsim"
zemljacima.
3. Razno. Obrana S. Milosevica
1. Ieri, oggi, domani, date da non dimenticare:
25 maggio compleanno (presunto) di Josip Broz Tito. Nella RFSJ è la
GIORNATA DELLA GIOVENTU'.
2. "Dal monte Triglav al fiume Vardar, dal Danubio al Mare Adriatico":
continuano le diatribe e "pacche alle spalle" tra i nostri "ex"
compaesani.
3. Varie. ICDSM - continua la difesa di S. Milosevic.
Svakog utorka, od 14,00 do 14,30 sati, na Radio Città Aperta, i valu FM
88.9 za regiju "Lazio", emisija
"Jugoslavenski glas".
Emisija je u direktnom prijenosu. Moze se pratiti i preko Interneta:
http://www.radiocittaperta.it
Kratke intervencije na telefon (0039) 06 4393512. Emisija je
dvojezicna, po potrebi i vremenu na raspolaganju.
Podrzite taj slobodni i nezavisni glas, kupujuci knjige, video kazete,
brosure, koje imamo na raspolaganju. (Par kopija "Menzogne di guerra" -
Nato lazi, od J. Elsesera, video "I dannati del Kosovo", "Da se ne
zaboravi" - tri dokumentarca), itd. Pisite nam na jugocoord @
tiscali.it, ili fax +39 06 4828957.
Trazimo zainteresirane za usvajanje na daljinu, t.j. djacke stipendije
za djecu prognanika. Odazovite se.
Ogni martedì dalle ore 14,00 alle 14,30,
"VOCE JUGOSLAVA"
su Radio Città Aperta, FM 88.9 per il Lazio. La trasmissione si può
seguire, come del resto anche le altre della Radio, via Internet al
sito:
http://www.radiocittaperta.it
La trasmissione è bilingue (a seconda del tempo disponibile e della
necessità) ed in diretta (brevi interventi allo 06 4393512).
Sostenete questa voce libera e indipendente acquistando video cassette,
libri, bollettini a nostra disposizione ("Menzogne di guerra " di J.
Elsasser, video "I dannati del Kosovo" di M.Collon, etc). Possibili
adozioni a distanza (borse di studio). Scriveteci all'indirizzo :
Jugocoord @ tiscali.it,
tel/fax 06 4828957. Contattateci.
Program - programma 25.V.2004
1. Jucer, danas sutra, datumi ...da se ne zaboravi:
25. maj rodjendan Josipa Broza Tita i DAN MLADOSTI.
2. "Od Triglava do Vardara...." Razmirice i "tapsanja" medju "bivsim"
zemljacima.
3. Razno. Obrana S. Milosevica
1. Ieri, oggi, domani, date da non dimenticare:
25 maggio compleanno (presunto) di Josip Broz Tito. Nella RFSJ è la
GIORNATA DELLA GIOVENTU'.
2. "Dal monte Triglav al fiume Vardar, dal Danubio al Mare Adriatico":
continuano le diatribe e "pacche alle spalle" tra i nostri "ex"
compaesani.
3. Varie. ICDSM - continua la difesa di S. Milosevic.
da Mauro Gemma riceviamo e giriamo:
------------
CONFERENZA INTERNAZIONALE DI SOLIDARIETA’ CON IL POPOLO IRACHENO IN
LOTTA
Parigi, 15 maggio 2004
“LOTTIAMO ANCHE PER VOI”
Corrispondenza di Remy Herrera
http://www.resistir.info
21 maggio 2004
Lo scorso 15 maggio, a Parigi, si è svolta la prima conferenza di
solidarietà con il popolo iracheno in lotta. Circa un migliaio di
organizzazioni militanti hanno dato la loro adesione o hanno assistito
a questo incontro. La lista delle adesioni da tutto il mondo –
provenienti da oltre una quarantina di paesi – è impressionante. A
fianco di responsabili politici come l’ex presidente algerino Ahmed Ben
Bella o l’ex primo ministro portoghese Vasco Gonçalves, figurano
prestigiosi intellettuali progressisti, come il franco-egiziano Samir
Amin, lo statunitense James Petras o la cubana Isabel Monal. Anche alti
responsabili di movimenti sociali o di partiti politici di tutti i
continenti hanno firmato l’appello di appoggio a questa conferenza.
Numerosissime le firme pervenute dall’America Latina, specialmente dal
Brasile: dal Partito Comunista del Brasile (PCdoB) al coordinamento
nazionale del Movimento dei Lavoratori “Sem Terra” (MST).
Il comitato organizzatore, che comprendeva in particolare l’iracheno
Subhi Toma e i francesi Georges Labica – che ha presieduto la
discussione -, Jean-Pierre Page e Bruno Drweski, aveva invitato ed è
riuscito a far venire in Francia numerosi compagni iracheni della
resistenza interna. Le loro testimonianze hanno fatto riferimento
soprattutto ai combattimenti che hanno avuto luogo in questi ultimi
giorni a Fallujah, cercando di spazzare via la cortina fumogena della
disinformazione diffusa dalle truppe statunitensi, e hanno provocato
profonda emozione tra il pubblico presente. Tutti adesso comprendiamo
che è un popolo intero a lottare contro l’aggressore imperialista, e
non solo qualche elemento isolato oppure proveniente dalla vecchia
guardia presidenziale o dal partito Baath. Tutti sappiamo che quando un
popolo intero si getta in questo modo nella lotta, è invincibile. Le
sue sofferenze potranno anche essere immense e protrarsi a lungo, ma la
sua vittoria è solo questione di tempo. Gli Stati Uniti saranno
sconfitti in Iraq, come lo sono stati nel passato in Vietnam.
I compagni presenti hanno dichiarato che a Fallujah, ad esempio,
migliaia di persone venute dalle campagne hanno tentato di entrare in
città, per portare il loro sostegno ai combattenti iracheni, che sono
arrivate donne e vecchi trasportando munizioni e rischiando la vita,
che i medici si sono visti obbligati a rompere l’accerchiamento dei
loro ospedali per soccorrere i feriti, ridotti in condizioni orribili.
La resistenza irachena è riuscita ugualmente ad unire, di fronte al
nemico imperialista comune, componenti eterogenee del popolo – che
qualcuno sosteneva si odiassero a tal punto, che solo la presenza
dell’occupante sembrava impedire che si massacrassero l’un l’altre -:
sunniti, sciiti ed anche cristiani…Si sono visti anche operai tipografi
comunisti, venuti da una lontana regione del paese, difendere le
moschee esposte ai colpi dei soldati della coalizione imperialista. Gli
Stati Uniti conducono la guerra per il petrolio, gli iracheni quella
per la libertà. “Ci hanno tolto tutto, non abbiamo più nulla da
perdere”.
I compagni hanno anche affermato che i maltrattamenti inflitti ai
prigionieri iracheni non rappresentano assolutamente fatti isolati,
perpetrati da individui che disobbediscono agli ordini dei loro
superiori e che abusano dei poteri ricevuti. Le torture vengono
organizzate dall’alto. Le violenze perpetrate contro civili iracheni
(in particolare contro donne e bambini) sono sistematiche. L’obiettivo
degli Stati Uniti è quello di annientare completamente un popolo. Più
di 130.000 iracheni sarebbero attualmente incarcerati dalle truppe di
occupazione, in differenti punti del paese. Tra essi, un migliaio di
donne che non sono state accusate di alcun crimine, se non di quello
che non si è riusciti a catturare i loro mariti. Più di 600 bambini di
meno di 13 anni sono ugualmente trattenuti come ostaggi dall’esercito
statunitense, per esercitare pressione sui padri che stanno nella
resistenza. Si sono registrate numerose violenze anche sui bambini. Non
c’è dubbio che il numero degli iracheni uccisi sia di gran lunga più
alto dei 50.000 dichiarati dai media occidentali.
Sono giunti da ogni parte messaggi di appoggio al popolo iracheno. A
nome di un popolo, la cui cultura della resistenza provoca
l’ammirazione di tutto il mondo, ha parlato l’ambasciatore di Cuba in
Iraq, Ernesto Gomez Abascar, che è rimasto a Baghdad fino al 18 aprile,
molto tempo dopo la partenza delle altre rappresentanze diplomatiche.
Il suo discorso è stato salutato da nutriti applausi e da grida di
“Viva la revolucion cubana, viva!”. Anche uno dei massimi responsabili
della Federazione dei Sindacati di Siria ha preso la parola per
richiedere il ritiro delle truppe di occupazione, lo smantellamento di
tutte le armi di distruzione di massa in Medio Oriente e la pace nella
regione. Compagni spagnoli, portoghesi, italiani, britannici, ecc.,
hanno espresso il loro appoggio al popolo iracheno in lotta per la sua
liberazione. Perché è proprio in Iraq che si trova oggi il primo fronte
della lotta antimperialista. “Noi combattiamo anche per voi…Abbiamo
bisogno della vostra solidarietà!”.
Traduzione di Mauro Gemma
---------
L'Avana. 19 maggio 2004
Fonte: www.granma.cu
Realizzata a Parigi la Conferenza di Solidarietà con la Resistenza del
Popolo Iracheno
La Prima Conferenza lnternazionale di Solidarietà con la Resistenza del
Popolo lracheno è stata realizzata a Parigi sabato scorso, con la
partecipazione di circa 100 rappresentanti di organizzazioni politiche,
sociali e personalità di più di 40 paesi.
I partecipanti, tra i quali c’erano anche diversi membri della
resistenza irachena, hanno sottolineato la necessità di incrementare la
solidarietà con la lotta di questo popolo arabo contro gli occupanti
stranieri per ottenere la vera indipendenza.
La criminale repressione delle truppe degli Stati Uniti e della Gran
Bretagna, le torture e il genocidio contro la popolazione civile sono
stati condannati.
I rappresentanti del popolo iracheno presenti alla Conferenza hanno
dato informazioni sulla lotta del loro popolo, la strutturazione di una
resistenza patriottica nazionale al di là delle sette e le ideologie
politiche, partendo dal sentimento patriottico del popolo,che respinge
l’occupazione e l’appropriazione delle risorse.
La Conferenza ha denunciato la farsa che si pretende organizzare il
prossimo 30 giugno con il passaggio della sovranità e del potere,
mentre si incrementa la repressione e si afferma che le truppe
straniere, che costituiscono l’oppressione, rimarranno nel paese.
L’imperialismo cambierà alcuni volti, tra i quali quello
dell’amministratore coloniale Bremer che verrà sostituito
dall’ambasciatore Negroponte, esperto in guerre sporche e con molta
esperienza nella repressione del movimento popolare e rivoluzionario in
America Centrale e America Latina.
I partecipanti alla Conferenza hanno invitato a denunciare i piani
imperialisti, a lavorare per la ritirata delle truppe che accompaganno
le forze dell’impero in questa avventura coloniale e a denunciare il
ruolo della grande stampa che serve i loro interessi.
E’ stato accordato di continuare le mobilitazioni popolari contro la
guerra e contro l’occupazione, di realizzare azioni di strada perché i
fratelli iracheni che lottano contro l’occupazione sentano l’appoggio
internazionale delle masse e di organizzare il prossimo 30 settembre,
data accordata nel Foro Sociale di Mumbay, un mobilitazione speciale di
solidarietà con la resistenza del popolo iracheno.
Una delegazione del Partito Comunista di Cuba ha inviato a questa
Conferenza il suo messaggio di solidarietà con il fratello popolo arabo.
------------
CONFERENZA INTERNAZIONALE DI SOLIDARIETA’ CON IL POPOLO IRACHENO IN
LOTTA
Parigi, 15 maggio 2004
“LOTTIAMO ANCHE PER VOI”
Corrispondenza di Remy Herrera
http://www.resistir.info
21 maggio 2004
Lo scorso 15 maggio, a Parigi, si è svolta la prima conferenza di
solidarietà con il popolo iracheno in lotta. Circa un migliaio di
organizzazioni militanti hanno dato la loro adesione o hanno assistito
a questo incontro. La lista delle adesioni da tutto il mondo –
provenienti da oltre una quarantina di paesi – è impressionante. A
fianco di responsabili politici come l’ex presidente algerino Ahmed Ben
Bella o l’ex primo ministro portoghese Vasco Gonçalves, figurano
prestigiosi intellettuali progressisti, come il franco-egiziano Samir
Amin, lo statunitense James Petras o la cubana Isabel Monal. Anche alti
responsabili di movimenti sociali o di partiti politici di tutti i
continenti hanno firmato l’appello di appoggio a questa conferenza.
Numerosissime le firme pervenute dall’America Latina, specialmente dal
Brasile: dal Partito Comunista del Brasile (PCdoB) al coordinamento
nazionale del Movimento dei Lavoratori “Sem Terra” (MST).
Il comitato organizzatore, che comprendeva in particolare l’iracheno
Subhi Toma e i francesi Georges Labica – che ha presieduto la
discussione -, Jean-Pierre Page e Bruno Drweski, aveva invitato ed è
riuscito a far venire in Francia numerosi compagni iracheni della
resistenza interna. Le loro testimonianze hanno fatto riferimento
soprattutto ai combattimenti che hanno avuto luogo in questi ultimi
giorni a Fallujah, cercando di spazzare via la cortina fumogena della
disinformazione diffusa dalle truppe statunitensi, e hanno provocato
profonda emozione tra il pubblico presente. Tutti adesso comprendiamo
che è un popolo intero a lottare contro l’aggressore imperialista, e
non solo qualche elemento isolato oppure proveniente dalla vecchia
guardia presidenziale o dal partito Baath. Tutti sappiamo che quando un
popolo intero si getta in questo modo nella lotta, è invincibile. Le
sue sofferenze potranno anche essere immense e protrarsi a lungo, ma la
sua vittoria è solo questione di tempo. Gli Stati Uniti saranno
sconfitti in Iraq, come lo sono stati nel passato in Vietnam.
I compagni presenti hanno dichiarato che a Fallujah, ad esempio,
migliaia di persone venute dalle campagne hanno tentato di entrare in
città, per portare il loro sostegno ai combattenti iracheni, che sono
arrivate donne e vecchi trasportando munizioni e rischiando la vita,
che i medici si sono visti obbligati a rompere l’accerchiamento dei
loro ospedali per soccorrere i feriti, ridotti in condizioni orribili.
La resistenza irachena è riuscita ugualmente ad unire, di fronte al
nemico imperialista comune, componenti eterogenee del popolo – che
qualcuno sosteneva si odiassero a tal punto, che solo la presenza
dell’occupante sembrava impedire che si massacrassero l’un l’altre -:
sunniti, sciiti ed anche cristiani…Si sono visti anche operai tipografi
comunisti, venuti da una lontana regione del paese, difendere le
moschee esposte ai colpi dei soldati della coalizione imperialista. Gli
Stati Uniti conducono la guerra per il petrolio, gli iracheni quella
per la libertà. “Ci hanno tolto tutto, non abbiamo più nulla da
perdere”.
I compagni hanno anche affermato che i maltrattamenti inflitti ai
prigionieri iracheni non rappresentano assolutamente fatti isolati,
perpetrati da individui che disobbediscono agli ordini dei loro
superiori e che abusano dei poteri ricevuti. Le torture vengono
organizzate dall’alto. Le violenze perpetrate contro civili iracheni
(in particolare contro donne e bambini) sono sistematiche. L’obiettivo
degli Stati Uniti è quello di annientare completamente un popolo. Più
di 130.000 iracheni sarebbero attualmente incarcerati dalle truppe di
occupazione, in differenti punti del paese. Tra essi, un migliaio di
donne che non sono state accusate di alcun crimine, se non di quello
che non si è riusciti a catturare i loro mariti. Più di 600 bambini di
meno di 13 anni sono ugualmente trattenuti come ostaggi dall’esercito
statunitense, per esercitare pressione sui padri che stanno nella
resistenza. Si sono registrate numerose violenze anche sui bambini. Non
c’è dubbio che il numero degli iracheni uccisi sia di gran lunga più
alto dei 50.000 dichiarati dai media occidentali.
Sono giunti da ogni parte messaggi di appoggio al popolo iracheno. A
nome di un popolo, la cui cultura della resistenza provoca
l’ammirazione di tutto il mondo, ha parlato l’ambasciatore di Cuba in
Iraq, Ernesto Gomez Abascar, che è rimasto a Baghdad fino al 18 aprile,
molto tempo dopo la partenza delle altre rappresentanze diplomatiche.
Il suo discorso è stato salutato da nutriti applausi e da grida di
“Viva la revolucion cubana, viva!”. Anche uno dei massimi responsabili
della Federazione dei Sindacati di Siria ha preso la parola per
richiedere il ritiro delle truppe di occupazione, lo smantellamento di
tutte le armi di distruzione di massa in Medio Oriente e la pace nella
regione. Compagni spagnoli, portoghesi, italiani, britannici, ecc.,
hanno espresso il loro appoggio al popolo iracheno in lotta per la sua
liberazione. Perché è proprio in Iraq che si trova oggi il primo fronte
della lotta antimperialista. “Noi combattiamo anche per voi…Abbiamo
bisogno della vostra solidarietà!”.
Traduzione di Mauro Gemma
---------
L'Avana. 19 maggio 2004
Fonte: www.granma.cu
Realizzata a Parigi la Conferenza di Solidarietà con la Resistenza del
Popolo Iracheno
La Prima Conferenza lnternazionale di Solidarietà con la Resistenza del
Popolo lracheno è stata realizzata a Parigi sabato scorso, con la
partecipazione di circa 100 rappresentanti di organizzazioni politiche,
sociali e personalità di più di 40 paesi.
I partecipanti, tra i quali c’erano anche diversi membri della
resistenza irachena, hanno sottolineato la necessità di incrementare la
solidarietà con la lotta di questo popolo arabo contro gli occupanti
stranieri per ottenere la vera indipendenza.
La criminale repressione delle truppe degli Stati Uniti e della Gran
Bretagna, le torture e il genocidio contro la popolazione civile sono
stati condannati.
I rappresentanti del popolo iracheno presenti alla Conferenza hanno
dato informazioni sulla lotta del loro popolo, la strutturazione di una
resistenza patriottica nazionale al di là delle sette e le ideologie
politiche, partendo dal sentimento patriottico del popolo,che respinge
l’occupazione e l’appropriazione delle risorse.
La Conferenza ha denunciato la farsa che si pretende organizzare il
prossimo 30 giugno con il passaggio della sovranità e del potere,
mentre si incrementa la repressione e si afferma che le truppe
straniere, che costituiscono l’oppressione, rimarranno nel paese.
L’imperialismo cambierà alcuni volti, tra i quali quello
dell’amministratore coloniale Bremer che verrà sostituito
dall’ambasciatore Negroponte, esperto in guerre sporche e con molta
esperienza nella repressione del movimento popolare e rivoluzionario in
America Centrale e America Latina.
I partecipanti alla Conferenza hanno invitato a denunciare i piani
imperialisti, a lavorare per la ritirata delle truppe che accompaganno
le forze dell’impero in questa avventura coloniale e a denunciare il
ruolo della grande stampa che serve i loro interessi.
E’ stato accordato di continuare le mobilitazioni popolari contro la
guerra e contro l’occupazione, di realizzare azioni di strada perché i
fratelli iracheni che lottano contro l’occupazione sentano l’appoggio
internazionale delle masse e di organizzare il prossimo 30 settembre,
data accordata nel Foro Sociale di Mumbay, un mobilitazione speciale di
solidarietà con la resistenza del popolo iracheno.
Una delegazione del Partito Comunista di Cuba ha inviato a questa
Conferenza il suo messaggio di solidarietà con il fratello popolo arabo.
Conferenza
Mercato della guerra: dall'Iraq al Piemonte
Guerra e globalizzazione
Lunedì 31 maggio 2004 ore 12:30
Aula Magna Politecnico di Torino
corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24
-Quale futuro per l'Iraq? - Sherif El Sebaie, redattore di AlJazira.it
-Conflitti dimenticati - Fulvio Poglio, redattore di Warnews.it
-Il mestiere delle armi in Piemonte - Francesco Bonavita, FIOM CGIL Alenia
-Ideologia del libero mercato, guerra e movimento per la pace -
Vittorio Agnoletto (Forum Sociale Mondiale)
Ore 14:30
Proiezione dei film
-`L'arcobaleno e il deserto - Emergency in Iraq' di Antonio Di Peppo e
Guido Morozzi
durata 25 minuti
-`Fotoricordo' di Tamara Bellone e Piera Tacchino durata 35 minuti
con interventi su "Cultura di pace e diritti umani" di collaboratori
di Peacereporter, Emergency, CGIL Lavoro e Società, AlJazera,
Coordinamento Nazionale per la Jugoslavia, R.S.U. Politecnico.
Mercato della guerra: dall'Iraq al Piemonte
Guerra e globalizzazione
Lunedì 31 maggio 2004 ore 12:30
Aula Magna Politecnico di Torino
corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24
-Quale futuro per l'Iraq? - Sherif El Sebaie, redattore di AlJazira.it
-Conflitti dimenticati - Fulvio Poglio, redattore di Warnews.it
-Il mestiere delle armi in Piemonte - Francesco Bonavita, FIOM CGIL Alenia
-Ideologia del libero mercato, guerra e movimento per la pace -
Vittorio Agnoletto (Forum Sociale Mondiale)
Ore 14:30
Proiezione dei film
-`L'arcobaleno e il deserto - Emergency in Iraq' di Antonio Di Peppo e
Guido Morozzi
durata 25 minuti
-`Fotoricordo' di Tamara Bellone e Piera Tacchino durata 35 minuti
con interventi su "Cultura di pace e diritti umani" di collaboratori
di Peacereporter, Emergency, CGIL Lavoro e Società, AlJazera,
Coordinamento Nazionale per la Jugoslavia, R.S.U. Politecnico.
From: "Roland Marounek"
Date: Mon, 24 May 2004 00:15:54 +0200
To: <alerte_otan @ yahoogroupes.fr>
Subject: [alerte_otan] DE LA YOUGOSLAVIE A L'IRAK : L'EUROPE FACE AUX
GUERRES D'AUJOURD'HUI ET DE DEMAIN
DE LA YOUGOSLAVIE A L’IRAK
L’EUROPE FACE AUX GUERRES D’AUJOURD’HUI ET DE DEMAIN
BILAN ET RESPONSABILITES DES INTERVENTIONS MILITAIRES OCCIDENTALES
Un ancien Ministre belge occupant d’importantes fonctions lors du
déclenchement des guerres balkaniques reconnaît avoir été alors
conditionné par la médiatisation ambiante de ce conflit et dénonce
aujourd’hui les grandes impostures qui servirent à justifier
l’agression de l’OTAN contre la Yougoslavie. Il dialoguera et débattra
de la scène internationale et des responsabilités actuelles et passées
de l’Europe avec un économiste égyptien, observateur lucide et engagé
de la situation internationale, et avec le Directeur de la revue
«Alternatives Sud» et co-fondateur du Forum Social Mondial, à
l’invitation de l’Espace Marx.
VENDREDI 28 MAI A 19H30 : CONFERENCE-DEBAT
A l’Espace Marx : 4, rue Rouppe – 1000 Bruxelles
Avec la participation de :
Samir AMIN
(professeur universitaire et écrivain égyptien, Directeur du Forum du
Tiers Monde)
Guy SPITAELS
(ancien Ministre, auteur du livre « L’improbable équilibre »),
François HOUTART
(Directeur du Centre Tricontinental et Président du BRrussels Tribunal)
Modérateur : Vladimir CALLER (journaliste)
P.A.F. : 4 euros
(étudiants, chômeurs : 1,50 euros)
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Date: Mon, 24 May 2004 00:15:54 +0200
To: <alerte_otan @ yahoogroupes.fr>
Subject: [alerte_otan] DE LA YOUGOSLAVIE A L'IRAK : L'EUROPE FACE AUX
GUERRES D'AUJOURD'HUI ET DE DEMAIN
DE LA YOUGOSLAVIE A L’IRAK
L’EUROPE FACE AUX GUERRES D’AUJOURD’HUI ET DE DEMAIN
BILAN ET RESPONSABILITES DES INTERVENTIONS MILITAIRES OCCIDENTALES
Un ancien Ministre belge occupant d’importantes fonctions lors du
déclenchement des guerres balkaniques reconnaît avoir été alors
conditionné par la médiatisation ambiante de ce conflit et dénonce
aujourd’hui les grandes impostures qui servirent à justifier
l’agression de l’OTAN contre la Yougoslavie. Il dialoguera et débattra
de la scène internationale et des responsabilités actuelles et passées
de l’Europe avec un économiste égyptien, observateur lucide et engagé
de la situation internationale, et avec le Directeur de la revue
«Alternatives Sud» et co-fondateur du Forum Social Mondial, à
l’invitation de l’Espace Marx.
VENDREDI 28 MAI A 19H30 : CONFERENCE-DEBAT
A l’Espace Marx : 4, rue Rouppe – 1000 Bruxelles
Avec la participation de :
Samir AMIN
(professeur universitaire et écrivain égyptien, Directeur du Forum du
Tiers Monde)
Guy SPITAELS
(ancien Ministre, auteur du livre « L’improbable équilibre »),
François HOUTART
(Directeur du Centre Tricontinental et Président du BRrussels Tribunal)
Modérateur : Vladimir CALLER (journaliste)
P.A.F. : 4 euros
(étudiants, chômeurs : 1,50 euros)
Attention : LA SEANCE COMMENCERA A 19 HEURES 30 PRECISES.
SOUS LES AUSPICES DE LA FONDATION JACQUEMOTTE
(fjj.timmermans.eliane @ skynet.be)
Pour vous désabonner de cette liste de diffusion, envoyez un email à :
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(deutsch / english / srpskohrvatski)
[ Il settimanale tedesco DER SPIEGEL, in un recente articolo dai toni
allarmati sulla esplosione dei pogrom lo scorso marzo e sul perdurare
delle violenze degli irredentisti pan-albanesi, definisce semplicemente
"conigli" i soldati tedeschi dell'UNMIK apparentemente incapaci di
difendere le persone ed il patrimonio storico-artistico della
provincia... ]
THE RABBITS OF KOSOVO
DIE HASEN VOM AMSELFELD
ZECEVI SA KOSOVA
(R. Flottau, O. Ihlau, A. Szandar, & A. Ulrich - DER SPIEGEL)
=== ENGLISH ===
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/decani/message/81752
Der Spiegel, Germany
May 3, 2004
German soldiers: The Rabbits of Kosovo*
*In German Original: Amsfeld - Field of blackbirds (in Serbian - Kosovo
Polje)
Serious criticism of the German KFOR contingent in the restless
province of Kosovo: German UN policemen accuse the Bundeswehr (German
Army) of humiliation and defeat during violence by Albanian extremists.
By Renate Flottau, Olaf Ihlau, Alexander Szandar, Andreas Ulrich
The voice of the German UN policeman betrayed panic. "When will you
finally came," pleaded the man over the radio, "For God's sake, we
urgently need support."
In front of the building of the UN police in the town of Prizren, in
the sector of the German KFOR peacekeeping force in the restless
province Kosovo, the unbridled mass of Albanian nationalists raged for
hours. They set out on a hunt for Serbs and their alleged protectors.
Stones flew and Molotov cocktails, flames covered the light brown earth
next to the turned over and destroyed police cars. Confronted with this
orgy of hate, several dozen UN officials had sought sanctuary in the
police station and barricaded themselves. Many were bleeding.
"Come quickly, we need assistance," repeated the German policeman again
and again over the radio. But nobody came and the military sent no
assistance. The UN employees were probably saved from the worst only by
the circumstance that on the second day of the March riots, the madness
of the Albanians turned toward the burning of the church of Sveti Spas
(Christ the Savior) and the settlement where 2,000 Serbs had lived
before the war.
During the recent riots in Kosovo 19 people were killed, 8 Serbs and 11
Albanians, the latter primarily in self-defense by threatened UN
policemen and KFOR soldiers. According to the balance sheet of UNMIK,
the UN civil administration of this international protectorate, there
were about 900 injured, among them 65 members of the international
forces. Twenty-nine churches and monasteries, as well as about 800
houses belonging to the Serbian minority were destroyed, while several
thousand Serbs saved themselves by fleeing.
With these acts of violence probably the last illusions of a possible
reconciliation of the national communities and the building of a
multiethnic democracy have been destroyed. In the war for human rights
in 1999 NATO bombers expelled the murderous military machinery of
Serbian ruler Slobodan Milosevic from Kosovo and enabled the return of
800,000 Albanian refugees. Five years later the international community
must recognize that it has gambled away its moral and military victory
and that its ambitious mission is in danger of failing. Many of the
victims of yesterday are the criminals of today. Like the former
Belgrade despot, Albanian extremists are now carrying out bloody ethnic
cleaning in order to create a Serb-free state of Kosovo - centering on
the historic Field of Blackbirds (Kosovo Polje) where an army of
Serbian knights bled in the battle against the Turks in 1389 and
created the myth of the Serbs as victims.
"We reacted quickly," lieutenant general Kammerhoff said of the
engagement of the 20,500 KFOR troops, which he has commanded since last
October. German defense minister Peter Struck also highly praised the
"prudent behavior" of his 3,600 soldiers: "They reacted rationally,
preventing an escalation and thus protecting human lives."
That is Berlin's version. Reports of eyewitnesses in Prizren, however,
reveal a completely different picture. Not only Serbs, but also UN
officials, troops from other KFOR contingents, Albanian human rights
activists and independent journalists accuse the Bundeswehr of failure
and even cowardice. The Bundeswehr played a sad, perhaps even very
shameful role in restraining the violence. The German soldiers ran
away, hiding like rabbits in their barracks and emerged again with
armored vehicles only once the Albanian crowd had calmed down, having
completed its work of destruction. So far no other such harsh
accusation has been heard against the international missions of the
German military.
The failure to stop this naked terror reminded some Balkans observers
of Srebrenica: After the fall of the Bosnian city in July 1995, the
Dutch UN officer Karremans was toasting the Serb general Mladic while
thousands of Muslims were removed for execution.
"Their intervention was a failure, they should withdraw," said Bishop
Artemije of the Serbian Diocese of Kosovo and Metohija, speaking of the
Germans. And Father Sava Janjic, the spokesman for Decani monastery,
added: "After what the Germans have done in two world wars, we want
them to leave the Balkans."(*)
But the German UN policemen, too, felt abandoned by the German
soldiers. Herbert Fischer Drumm, the police pastor in
Rhineland-Palatinate, discovered "signs of trauma" in some of the 278
German policemen with whom he personally spoke, "because their calls
for assistance to KFOR fell on deaf ears". Many officials, the minister
said, ask themselves why the soldiers were there in the first place if
they could not offer them assistance.
Reports of the frustrated policemen have been presented, in the
meanwhile, to UNMIK. Their Finnish boss Harri Holkeri, Albanian
newspapers report, allegedly had a bitter dispute with the KFOR
commander Kammerhoff. The reports are now being evaluated. "KFOR must
reexamine its concept of security," demanded Saxonia-Anhalt interior
affairs minister Klaus Jeziorsky (CDU), who returned last week with his
colleague from Hamburg Udo Nagel from a visit to Kosovo. Nagel is also
of the opinion that "KFOR must able be to protect UN employees".
After an inspection tour of Kosovo on 5 and 6 April, the chairman of
the German task group for international police forces, North
Rhine/Westphalia police inspector Dieter Ve, summarized the results of
his findings in a report and sent it to the German interior ministry
and provincial interior ministers. His conclusion: "During violent
unrest KFOR is not adapted to calming the situation. Cooperation
between Kfor and Unmik is not coordinated."
In Prizren "despite constant requests for assistance to KFOR" not one
soldier appeared in order to support the police. KFOR "proved to be
unable to carry out its assigned tasks".
UN police commissioner Stefan Feller is also quoted in the report as
saying that KFOR is not up to calming of riots, that the military not
sufficiently trained and prepared. KFOR could not guarantee "security
tasks assigned to it and provide protection for the Serbian population".
"For weeks a steady increase in tension could be felt," German police
officers in Prizren told Der Spiegel. They do not want to give their
names and rank because they are presently under UN command and any
statement could have legal consequences.
The pressure was concretely directed against the some 100,000 Serbs
remaining in the province and against UNMIK, which has began to conduct
an investigation against the former Kosovo Liberation Army for war
crimes. The rhetoric of the Albanian nationalists became more sharp, as
did the political graffiti written on the walls. "It was clear that
something was going to happen," said one official, "we just didn't know
when." Eruptions of Albanian violence during which Serbian villages,
monasteries and churches were systematically attacked have occurred on
several occasions since the end of the war. However, earlier KFOR
peacekeeping forces with 50,000 troops were considerably more agile.
"We are expected to work miracles," complained the very first UN
administrator, Bernard Kouchner of France, after periodically
reoccurring outbursts of ethnic hate.
This time the – unproven – claim that two Albanian boys were chased by
Serbs into the river Ibar and drowned led to the explosion of violence.
First in Kosovska Mitrovica and then in almost every other town and
city in the crisis-ridden province, including Prizren.
There, according to the debriefing of German policemen, about thousand
demonstrators marched through the city center on 17 March, chanting
"UCK, UCK" (KLA, KLA) and "UNMIK, ARMIK" (Unmik is the enemy). People
from the surrounding villages joined them; obviously they were
Islamists, recognizable by their long beards.
At 5:30 p.m. the first houses in the old part of the city began to
burn. The Serbian seminary was set on fire with the approval of the
gathered residents, stones flew at the civil administration building,
automobiles were destroyed. Not a sign of KFOR, although anxious
eyewitnesses requested intervention by German officers several times by
telephone.
Only when the flames threatened to spread to the surrounding houses did
Argentine UN police special forces approach, remaining at a safe
distance of 300 meters. Their attempt to disperse the crowd with
teargas was countered with a hail of stones and bottles. The South
Americans dropped their clubs and protective shields and fled.
The German KFOR appeared for the first time when the rioters took a
fire truck and drove to the UNMIK building. The appearance of the
military had an obvious effect. The mass continued on, nothing stopping
it in its march of destruction.
Between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. the mass rioted in the old part of town on
the slope beneath the ruins of a Byzantine castle. The houses of
Serbian refugees were set on fire. A company of KFOR soldiers, guarding
the Serbian church of St. George from behind barriers of sandbags, fled
with the clergy and the remaining Serbs into the barracks. The
demonstrators applauded, set fire to the church and 56 more houses and,
in the end, the Orthodox church of the Holy Virgin of Ljevis, not far
from the municipal building. German defense minister Struck once had
said that this church is "a symbol of lasting peace brought by our
mission".
Some extremists continued on up the river Bistrica to the monastery of
Holy Archangels. The approach road could have been easily blocked with
a few armored vehicles, especially since master sergeant Udo Wambach
and 19 soldiers of the Bundeswehr were stationed in the 14th century
monastery.
About 200 demonstrators sent a delegation under a white flag to the
Germans and ensured them that nothing bad would happen to them, that
"we only want to burn down the monastery". The KFOR protectors
evacuated six monks and their two visitors to their armored vehicles
and drove them to the other side of the Bistrica. The monastery was
then burned down.
Master sergeant Wambach was expressly commended for his "outstanding
act" in mid-April by the deputy defense minister, Walter Kolbow, during
his visit to Prizren. No medal was issued but nevertheless a note was
included in his personnel file. According to the commendation, the
sergeant avoided "by his prudent behavior and courageous action, an
escalation of violence, preventing bloodshed and protecting the human
lives entrusted to him".
When night fell, the fire from the burning of the old part of town
illuminated the sky over Prizren. The next morning, on Thursday, March
18, smoke still could be seen rising above the rubble. But now
everything was calm.
At about 12:30 p.m. the mass again went into action. Since all Serbian
institutions were destroyed, the hatred of the Albanians was directed
now against the municipal administration, the UN civil administration
and the two police stations.
The first attacks began at about 3:00 p.m. and targeted the police
station in the city center. Calls for assistance directed to KFOR
remained unanswered. Stones flew at the house, automobiles were
overturned, no soldiers anywhere were to be seen. KFOR obviously had
not used the time to consider the reexamine its concept of engagement
in order to prevent renewed unrest.
This was followed by an attack on the police headquarters only a
kilometer away. Policemen from different nations, including Germans,
were exposed to a constant hail of stones and Molotov cocktails. The
extremists were receiving support and refills from a nearby gas
station. Gunshots rang out.
"We pleaded with KFOR for assistance," reported one official. "They
told us that the soldiers were on their way but nothing happened." The
one thing which the policemen was a military vehicle from which
soldiers on a nearby hillside were observing the orgy of violence. "I
felt like scum," wrote a German policeman in his report. "The worst
thing," said another official, "is that the rioters achieved their
goals. The soldiers merely watched the progression of ethnic cleansing.
Our mission failed."
Only when the rioters in Prizren began to throw grenades into the UNMIK
building did German KFOR intervene. It sent a few armored vehicles and
the situation calmed down immediately.
The German contingent in Prizren did not report any injuries during the
two days of chaos. That is really commendable. Other KFOR contingents,
including the Italians, the Greeks and the French, reported numerous
injuries. Didn't these KFOR soldiers have the same orders as the
Germans? Did they act on their own initiative or were they simply more
courageous?
The Swedish battalion which attempted to protect the Serbs in the
village of Caglavica from the Albanian arsonists had 14 men inured. "We
were surprised and now we are waiting for the next round," junior
officer Andersson admitted to reporters. "We will pay these Albanians
back." In Mitrovica, where most of the casualties occurred, French KFOR
troops and UN police prevented the Albanians from arriving in the
Serbian, northern part of the city.
Why was it not possible to protect the monasteries in Prizren, a
journalist from the Canadian "Chronicle Herald" asked some German
officers. Their response: "It is not in our mandate to hurt innocent
civilians in order to protect an old church."
Colonel Dieter Hintelmann, the commander of the German KFOR contingent
in Prizren, defended himself with a similar line: "We acted exactly
according to our regulations.
Protection of buildings is not the task of the Bundeswehr in Kosovo. It
is allowed to fire only in self-defense."
Every soldier has a little pocket edition of the "Rules of Engagement".
They do not foresee the protection of buildings with the use of weapons
and shooting at demonstrators who are throwing Molotov cocktails at
churches or monasteries. The chapter on "rules for the use of military
force" gives the soldier clear recommendations: "You have the right to
repel attacks against KFOR personnel, KFOR material and persons under
the protection of KFOR." It is precisely this right, the German
policemen criticize, that the Bundeswehr in Prizren unfortunately
failed to use.
"The leaders of the demonstrations knew exactly that as long as they do
not attack us, we cannot shoot," said Hintelmann. An authorization for
the raging mob? "I cannot order soldiers to shoot into a crowd of
people which includes children," said the officer. "Columns of
demonstrators including women and children blocked the military base
and prevented reinforcements."
The officer has received strong support from his superiors back at home.
"The essence of our task is to protect human lives," said the mission
command administration in Potsdam, where Hintelmann's military
commanders are located. The unit was right to concentrate "on
protecting the Serbian population and UN employees." Although German
policemen also waited for it in vain.
Accusations that the Germans withdrew in cowardly fashion are
"completely absurd" for the chief of the Bundeswehr. According to
effective German law, the military is not allowed to use teargas or
fire rubber bullets at crowds, Struck explained, merely "to fire
warning shots into the air".
The foreign affairs minister ("I am not one of those people who accuse
soldiers") has also protected the troops. "Our soldiers have carried
out a lot of things under substantial risk and enormous pressure," said
Joschka Fischer (Green Party), "They have saved many people and this
prioritization was correct."
However, both the Germans in Prizren and in Berlin grant one thing:
They were surprised by the rebellion, which in just a few hours spread
throughout the entire area of conflagration. Kfor reconnaissance units
and the secret services of several countries failed.
At the same time, none other than the Germans praised themselves for
their outstanding contacts with the population, in part thanks to a
historical bonus: during the World War II, the Albanians supported the
Wehrmacht in the fight against Serbian partisans and even sent Hitler
an entire SS division named after their national hero, Skenderbey(**).
Anyone "who attacks Serbian enclaves or cultural properties in Kosovo
in the future will confront Kfor," general-lieutenant colonel
Kammerhoff announced, suggesting by the firmer posture an implicit
acknowledgement of failure. An internal "progress report" speaks of
"the need to act in order to bring riots under control".
Minister Struck would now like to equip the Bundeswehr with teargas and
pepper spray. Unlike police, however, the Bundeswehr considers teargas
to be a chemical agent. Chemical weapons are internationally banned and
the Bundeswehr is not permitted to use them. In order to equip the
soldiers with teargas or pepper spray, the legislation must first be
changed, including the "law on the implementation of the convention on
chemical weapons". In letters addressed to internal affairs minister
Otto Schily and foreign affairs minister Joschka Fischer, Struck asked
for their "support" so that the Bundeswehr in the future during
international missions "can react adequately beneath the threshold for
the engagement of firearms".
The nationalistic demons in the Balkans may offer KFOR the opportunity
to act again very quickly. Something else can happen again at any
moment, experienced UN policemen fear: after a new incident, at the
next elections but certainly no later than 2005 if the Albanians want
to achieve the independence of the province while the Serbs, with the
support of Belgrade, seek its division into ethnic cantons.
Joerg Lembke, a policeman from Hamburg who is busy in Kosovo on the
identification of bodies from the civil war, does not trust either
UNMIK nor KFOR peacekeeping forces with security. Lembke asked his
colleagues for their correct address and, if possible, a photo of the
house where they live: "So we can prepare a evacuation plan for when we
need to withdraw as fast as possible."
ERP KIM Info-service remarks:
* Fr. Sava was referring to German army, not to Germans in general.
** More about Skenderbey SS division you can find at:
http://www.kosovo.com/skenderbeyss.html
=== DEUTSCH ===
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/decani/message/81752
Die Hasen vom Amselfeld
Renate Flottau, Olaf Ihlau, Alexander Szandar, Andreas Ulrich
DER SPIEGEL
http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/0,1518,297969,00.html
Schwere Vorwürfe gegen die deutsche Kfor-Schutztruppe in der
Unruheprovinz Kosovo: Deutsche Uno-Polizisten werfen der Bundeswehr
vor, bei den Ausschreitungen albanischer Extremisten gekniffen und
versagt zu haben.
Die Stimme des deutschen Uno-Polizisten überschlug sich vor Panik.
"Wann kommt ihr endlich", schrie der Mann flehentlich in das Funkgerät,
"um Himmels willen, wir brauchen dringend Unterstützung."
Vor dem Gebäude der Uno-Polizei in der Provinzstadt Prizren,
Einsatzsektor der deutschen Kfor-Friedenstruppe in der Unruheprovinz
Kosovo, wütete seit Stunden der entfesselte Mob albanischer
Nationalisten. Er machte Jagd auf Serben und deren vermeintliche
Beschützer. Steine flogen und Molotow-Cocktails, Flammen züngelten auf
hellbrauner Erde neben umgekippten und demolierten Einsatzwagen. Vor
der Orgie des Hasses hatten mehrere Dutzend Uno-Beamte sich in den
Polizeiposten gerettet und verbarrikadiert. Viele bluteten.
"Kommt schnell, wir brauchen Hilfe", hämmerte der deutsche Polizist
wieder und wieder in das Sprechgerät. Doch niemand kam, das Militär
schickte keinerlei Hilfe. Wohl nur der Zufall, dass an diesem zweiten
Tag der März-Ausschreitungen im Kosovo sich in Prizren der Amoklauf der
Albaner dann dem Abfackeln der Kirche Sveti Spas sowie einer Siedlung
zuwandte, in der vor dem Krieg 2000 Serben lebten, mag die
Uno-Mitarbeiter vor dem Schlimmsten bewahrt haben.
Bei dem jüngsten Aufruhr im Kosovo wurden 19 Menschen getötet, 8 Serben
und 11 Albaner. Letztere meist in Notwehr von bedrängten Uno-Polizisten
und Kfor-Soldaten. Nach einer Bilanz der Unmik, der Uno-Zivilverwaltung
dieses internationalen Protektorats, gab es etwa 900 Verletzte,
darunter waren 65 Angehörige der internationalen Kräfte. Es wurden 29
Kirchen und Klöster sowie etwa 800 Häuser der serbischen Minderheit
zerstört, mehrere tausend Serben retteten sich durch Flucht.
Zerstoben sind mit diesen Gewalttaten wohl auch die letzten Illusionen
über eine mögliche Aussöhnung der Volksgruppen und den Aufbau einer
multiethnischen Demokratie. In einem Krieg um Menschenrechte hatten
1999 Nato-Bomber die mörderische Militärmaschinerie des
Serben-Herrschers Slobodan Milosevic aus dem Kosovo vertrieben und 800
000 albanischen Flüchtlingen die Rückkehr ermöglicht. Beklommen muss
die internationale Gemeinschaft fünf Jahre danach erkennen, dass sie
diesen moralischen und militärischen Sieg zu verspielen, ihre
ehrgeizige Mission zu scheitern droht. Viele der Opfer von gestern sind
die Täter von heute. Wie einst der Belgrader Despot, betreiben nun
albanische Extremisten das blutige Geschäft ethnischer Säuberungen, um
den "serbenfreien" Staat "Kosova" zu schaffen - rund um das historische
Amselfeld (Kosovo Polje), auf dem 1389 das serbische Ritterheer im
Kampf gegen die Türken verblutete und den Opfermythos der Serben schuf.
"Wir haben schnell reagiert", beschreibt Generalleutnant Holger
Kammerhoff den Einsatz der 20 500 Mann starken Kfor-Schutztruppe, die
er seit vergangenen Oktober kommandiert, bei den jüngsten Unruhen. Und
auch Verteidigungsminister Peter Struck lobt das "umsichtige Verhalten"
seiner 3600 Soldaten in höchsten Tönen: "Sie haben besonnen reagiert,
eine Eskalation verhindert und so Menschenleben geschützt."
Dies ist die Berliner Version. Berichte von Augenzeugen in Prizren
ergeben indes ein ganz anderes Bild. Nicht nur Serben, sondern auch
Uno-Beamte, Soldaten anderer Truppenkontingente, albanische
Menschenrechtler oder unabhängige Journalisten werfen der Bundeswehr
Versagen, ja Feigheit vor. In der Bekämpfung der Ausschreitungen habe
sie eine klägliche, wenn nicht die blamabelste Rolle gespielt. Die
deutschen Soldaten seien weggerannt, hätten sich wie Hasen in den
Kasernen versteckt und seien mit gepanzerten Fahrzeugen erst wieder
erschienen, als sich der albanische Mob ausgetobt und sein
Vernichtungswerk vollendet hatte. Solch harsche Beschuldigungen hatte
es noch bei keinem der Auslandseinsätze deutscher Militärs gegeben.
In dem Versagen vor dem nackten Terror glaubten einige
Balkan-Beobachter gar einen Hauch von Srebrenica zu verspüren: Als nach
dem Fall der bosnischen Stadt im Juli 1995 der holländische
Uno-Offizier Karremans dem Serben-General Mladic zuprostete, während
Tausende Muslime zur Exekution abtransportiert wurden.
"Ihr Einsatz war ein Fehlschlag, sie sollten abziehen", grollte Bischof
Artemije von der serbischen Diözese Kosovo-Metohija über die Deutschen.
Und Vater Sava Jancic, Sprecher des Klosters Decani, fügte hinzu: "Nach
dem, was die Deutschen in zwei Weltkriegen getan haben, wünschen wir
uns, sie würden vom Balkan verschwinden."
Doch auch die deutschen Uno-Polizisten fühlten sich von den deutschen
Soldaten im Stich gelassen. "Anzeichen von Traumatisierung" hat Herbert
Fischer-Drumm, Polizeipfarrer in Rheinland-Pfalz, bei manchem der 278
deutschen Polizisten in persönlichen Gesprächen registriert, "weil ihre
Hilferufe an die Kfor auf taube Ohren stießen". Viele Beamte, so der
Pfarrer, fragten sich, wozu die Soldaten überhaupt da seien, wenn sie
ihnen nicht Beistand leisten könnten.
Berichte der frustrierten Polizisten liegen unterdessen der
Unmik-Verwaltung vor. Deren finnischer Chef Harri Holkeri, melden
albanische Zeitungen, soll dazu einen vehementen Disput mit dem
Kfor-Kommandeur Kammerhoff geführt haben. Die Berichte werden jetzt
ausgewertet. "Die Kfor muss ihr Sicherheitskonzept überdenken", fordert
Sachsen-Anhalts Innenminister Klaus Jeziorsky (CDU), der vergangene
Woche mit seinem Hamburger Kollegen Udo Nagel von einem Besuch im
Kosovo zurückkehrte. Auch Nagel ist der Ansicht, "Kfor muss in der Lage
sein, die Uno-Mitarbeiter zu schützen".
Nach einer Inspektionsreise am 5. und 6. April fasste der Vorsitzende
der Bund-Länder-Arbeitsgruppe International Police Task Force, der
nordrhein-westfälische Polizeiinspektor Dieter Wehe, die Ergebnisse in
einem Bericht zusammen und schickte sie an das Bundesinnenministerium
sowie die Innenminister der Länder. Wehe kommt zu dem Schluss: "Die
Kfor ist bei gewalttätigen Unruhen zur Lagebewältigung nicht geeignet.
Die Zusammenarbeit zwischen Kfor und Unmik ist nicht abgestimmt."
In Prizren sei "trotz ständiger Hilfeersuchen an die Kfor" kein Militär
erschienen, um die Polizei zu unterstützen. Die Kfor "erwies sich als
unfähig, die ihr übertragenen Aufgaben zu gewährleisten".
Auch Uno-Polizeichef Stefan Feller wird in dem Bericht mit den Worten
zitiert, die Kfor sei den Unruhen nicht gewachsen gewesen, das Militär
nicht ausreichend ausgebildet und vorbereitet. Die Kfor konnte "die ihr
zugewiesenen Objektschutzaufgaben nicht gewährleisten und auch nicht
den Schutz der serbischen Bevölkerung aufrechterhalten".
"Seit Wochen schon wurde die Stimmung immer angespannter", berichten in
Prizren deutsche Polizeibeamte dem SPIEGEL. Sie wollen Namen und
Dienstgrad nicht genannt sehen, weil sie derzeit der Uno unterstellt
sind und jede Aussage rechtliche Folgen hätte.
Der Druck habe sich konkret gegen die noch etwa 100 000 Serben der
Provinz und die Unmik gerichtet, die wegen Kriegsverbrechen auch gegen
die einstige Kosovo-Befreiungsarmee UÇK zu ermitteln begann. Reden
albanischer Nationalisten wurden schärfer, ebenso die politischen
Schmierereien an Häuserwänden. "Es war klar, dass etwas passieren
würde", so ein Beamter, "nur nicht wann." Eruptionen albanischer
Gewalt, bei denen Sprengkommandos systematisch serbische Dörfer,
Klöster und Kirchen attackierten, hatte es seit Kriegsende mehrfach
gegeben. Nur war seinerzeit die Kfor-Schutztruppe mit 50 000 Mann noch
wesentlich agiler. "Man erwartet von uns Wunder", stöhnte schon als
erster Uno-Verwalter der Franzose Bernard Kouchner über die periodisch
wiederkehrenden Ausbrüche des ethnischen Hasses.
Diesmal führte die - unbewiesene - Behauptung, zwei albanische Jungen
seien von Serben in den Fluss Ibar getrieben worden und dort ertrunken,
zur Gewaltexplosion. Zunächst in Kosovska Mitrovica und dann in fast
allen Städten der Krisenprovinz, auch in Prizren.
Dort marschieren, so der Einsatzbericht deutscher Polizisten, am 17.
März etwa tausend Demonstranten durch das Zentrum, skandieren "UÇK -
UÇK" und "Unmik - armik", die Unmik ist der Feind. Menschen aus den
umliegenden Dörfern stoßen hinzu, offenkundig auch Islamisten, an ihren
langen Bärten erkennbar.
Um 17.30 Uhr brennen die ersten Häuser in der Altstadt. Die
Theologische Fakultät der Serben wird unter dem Beifall der Bevölkerung
in Brand gesetzt, Steine fliegen gegen die Zivilverwaltung, Autos
werden demoliert. Von der Kfor ist nichts zu sehen, obwohl besorgte
Augenzeugen mehrmals die deutschen Offiziere telefonisch zum Eingreifen
aufgefordert haben.
Erst als die Flammen auch auf die umliegenden Häuser überzugreifen
drohen, nähern sich Spezialeinheiten der argentinischen Uno-Polizei.
Allerdings nur mit einem Sicherheitsabstand von 300 Metern. Ihr
Versuch, die Menge mit Tränengas aufzulösen, wird mit einem Hagel von
Steinen und Flaschen gekontert. Die Südamerikaner lassen Knüppel und
Schutzschilde fallen und fliehen.
Die deutsche Kfor lässt sich erstmals blicken, als die Randalierer ein
Löschfahrzeug kapern und zum Unmik-Gebäude fahren. Das Erscheinen des
Militärs zeigt offenbar Wirkung. Der Mob zieht weiter, wird an seinem
Vernichtungsmarsch nicht gehindert.
Zwischen 18 und 21 Uhr wütet der Pöbel in der Altstadt am Hang
unterhalb der Ruine einer byzantinischen Burg. Die Häuser serbischer
Flüchtlinge werden angezündet. Ein Zug Kfor-Soldaten, der hinter
Sandsackbarrieren die serbische Kirche St. Georg bewacht, flüchtet mit
Geistlichen und den verbliebenen Serben in eine Kaserne. Die
Demonstranten applaudieren, räuchern die Kirche aus, zünden 56 Häuser
an und schließlich auch, nicht weit vom Bürgermeisteramt, die
griechisch-orthodoxe Kirche Heilige Jungfrau von Ljeviska. Über die
hatte Verteidigungsminister Struck einst gesagt, sie sei ein "Symbol,
dass der Frieden währt und unser Einsatz ihn brachte".
Einige Extremisten ziehen weiter, flussaufwärts an der Bistrica entlang
zum Kloster des Heiligen Erzengels Michael. Der Zufahrtsweg wäre mit
ein paar Panzern zu blockieren, zumal an dem Bauwerk aus dem 14.
Jahrhundert die Bundeswehr stationiert ist - Hauptfeldwebel Udo Wambach
mit 19 Soldaten.
Die etwa 200 Demonstranten schicken eine Delegation mit weißer Fahne zu
den Deutschen und versichern, ihnen werde kein Leid geschehen, "wir
wollen nur das Kloster abfackeln". Die Kfor-Beschützer setzen sechs
Mönche und zwei Besucher in ihre gepanzerten Fahrzeuge und fahren durch
das Niedrigwasser der Bistrica davon. Das Kloster wird niedergebrannt.
Hauptfeldwebel Wambach wird für seine "hervorragende Einzeltat" Mitte
April bei einem Prizren-Besuch von Verteidigungsstaatssekretär Walter
Kolbow ausdrücklich belobigt. Kein Orden, aber immerhin ein Vermerk in
der Personalakte. Der Feldwebel habe, so die Würdigung, "durch
umsichtiges Verhalten, mutiges Verhandeln eine Eskalation der Gewalt
vermieden, Blutvergießen verhindert und die ihm anvertrauten
Menschenleben geschützt".
Als die Nacht einbricht, erhellt der Feuerschein der brennenden
Altstadt den Himmel über Prizren. Am nächsten Morgen, Donnerstag, 18.
März, rauchen die Trümmer noch immer. Aber es bleibt zunächst ruhig.
Gegen 12.30 Uhr tritt der Pöbel erneut in Aktion. Da sämtliche
serbischen Einrichtungen zerstört sind, richtet sich der Hass der
Albaner nun gegen die Stadtverwaltung, die Uno-Zivilverwaltung und die
beiden Polizeistationen.
Die erste Attacke trifft gegen 15 Uhr die Polizeiwache in der
Innenstadt. Hilferufe an die Kfor bleiben erfolglos. Steine fliegen
gegen das Haus, Autos werden umgeworfen, von Soldaten ist nichts zu
sehen. Die Kfor hatte die Zeit offenkundig nicht genutzt, das
Einsatzkonzept zu überdenken, um erneuten Unruhen zu begegnen.
Dann der Angriff auf das einen Kilometer weiter gelegene
Polizeihauptquartier. Polizisten aus verschiedenen Nationen, auch
deutsche, sind einem Dauerfeuer aus Steinen und Molotow-Cocktails
ausgesetzt, von der nahen Tankstelle kriegen die Extremisten immer
wieder Nachschub. Schüsse fallen.
"Wir haben die Kfor um Hilfe angefleht", berichtet ein Beamter. Die
Soldaten kämen gleich, heißt es. Doch nichts geschieht. Das Einzige,
was die Polizisten sehen, ist ein Militärauto, in dem Soldaten von
einem nahen Hügel aus die Gewaltorgie beobachten. "Ich kam mir vor wie
der letzte Dreck", schreibt ein deutscher Polizist in seinem Rapport.
"Das Schlimmste" sei, so ein anderer Beamter, dass die Randalierer ihre
Ziele erreicht hätten: Die Soldaten schauten zu, als die ethnische
Säuberung ein Stück weiter vorangetrieben wurde, "unsere Mission ist
gescheitert".
Erst als die Randalierer von Prizren in den Hof des Unmik-Gebäudes
Granaten werfen, greift die deutsche Kfor-Truppe ein. Sie schickt
gepanzerte Fahrzeuge, und die Situation beruhigt sich sofort.
Das deutsche Kontingent in Prizren hatte während des zweitägigen Chaos
keine Verletzten zu beklagen. Das ist schön. Aus anderen
Kfor-Kontingenten wurden zahlreiche Verletzte gemeldet, zum Beispiel
bei den Italienern, Griechen, Franzosen. Hatten diese Kfor-Soldaten
nicht dieselben Direktiven wie die Deutschen? Handelten sie auf eigene
Faust, oder waren sie schlicht mutiger?
14 Verwundete gab es beim schwedischen Bataillon, das versuchte, das
Serben-Dorf -aglavica vor den albanischen Feuerteufeln zu schützen.
"Wir waren überrascht und warten jetzt auf die nächste Runde",
vertraute Unteroffizier Andersson Reportern an, "wir werden das diesen
Albanern heimzahlen." In Mitrovica, wo es die meisten Toten gab,
verhinderten französische Kfor-Soldaten und Uno-Polizei, dass die
Albaner in den serbischen Nordteil der Stadt gelangen konnten.
Warum es denn nicht möglich war, die Klöster zu schützen, werden in
Prizren deutsche Offiziere von einem Journalisten des kanadischen
"Chronicle Herald" gefragt. Ihre Antwort: "Es ist nicht unser Mandat,
unschuldige Zivilisten zu verletzen, um eine alte Kirche zu schützen."
Auf ähnlicher Linie wehrt sich Oberst Dieter Hintelmann, der Führer des
deutschen Kfor-Kontingents in Prizren: "Wir haben genau nach unseren
Bestimmungen gehandelt."
Objektschutz ist nicht die Aufgabe der Bundeswehr im Kosovo. Geschossen
werden darf nur in Notwehr.
Jeder Soldat hat eine kleine "Taschenkarte" mit den "Rules of
Engagement", den Einsatzvorschriften, dabei. Gebäude mit Waffengewalt
zu schützen und auf Demonstranten zu schießen, die MolotowCocktails in
Kirchen oder Klöster schleudern, ist darin nicht vorgesehen. Das
Kapitel "Regeln für die Anwendung militärischer Gewalt" macht den
Soldaten eindeutige Vorgaben: "Sie haben das Recht, Angriffe
abzuwehren, die sich gegen Kfor-Personal, Kfor-Material und unter
Schutz von Kfor stehende Personen richten." Doch von diesem Recht,
schimpfen deutsche Polizisten, machte die Bundeswehr in Prizren leider
keinen Gebrauch.
"Die Anführer der Demonstrationen wussten genau, solange sie uns nicht
angreifen, können wir nicht schießen", sagt Hintelmann. Also ein
Freibrief für den rasenden Pöbel? "Ich kann doch nicht auf eine
Menschenmenge schießen lassen, in der sich auch Kinder befanden",
erklärt der Offizier. Demonstrationszüge, in denen auch Frauen und
Kinder waren, hätten das Feldlager blockiert und so das Ausrücken von
Verstärkung verhindert.
Massive Rückendeckung erhält der Offizier von Vorgesetzten in der
Heimat.
"Kern unserer Aufgabe ist es, Menschenleben zu schützen", so das
Einsatzführungskommando in Potsdam, Hintelmanns vorgesetzte
militärische Dienststelle. Zu Recht habe sich die Truppe "darauf
konzentriert, serbische Bevölkerung und Uno-Mitarbeiter zu schützen".
Darauf allerdings warteten die deutschen Polizisten vergebens.
Vorwürfe, die Deutschen hätten feige gekniffen, sind auch für den
Bundeswehrchef "völlig absurd". Nach den geltenden deutschen Gesetzen
dürften die Soldaten weder Tränengas einsetzen noch mit Gummigeschossen
in eine Menschenmenge schießen, sondern, erläutert Struck, nur
"Warnschüsse in die Luft abgeben".
Auch der Außenminister ("Ich gehöre nicht zu denen, die Vorwürfe gegen
die Soldaten erheben") nimmt die Truppe in Schutz. "Unsere Soldaten
haben unter erheblichem Risiko und unter enormem Druck Großes
geleistet", so der Grüne Joschka Fischer, "sie haben viele Menschen
gerettet, diese Priorität war richtig."
Eines hingegen räumen die Deutschen in Prizren wie in Berlin
mittlerweile ein: Sie wurden von dem Aufstand, der sich binnen Stunden
zum Flächenbrand ausweitete, völlig überrascht. Die Kfor-Aufklärung und
diverse nationale Geheimdienste hatten versagt.
Dabei hatten sich gerade die Deutschen gerühmt, ihre Kontakte zur
Bevölkerung seien hervorragend, wobei ihnen auch ein historischer Bonus
zugute kam: Im Zweiten Weltkrieg unterstützten Albaner die Wehrmacht im
Kampf gegen serbische Partisanen und schickten Hitler sogar eine
SS-Division, benannt nach ihrem Nationalhelden Skanderbeg.
Wer im Kosovo "künftig einen Angriff auf serbische Enklaven oder
Kulturgüter startet, wird auf die Kfor stoßen", kündigte
Generalleutnant Kammerhoff unterdessen eine härtere Gangart an, damit
implizit ein Fehlverhalten einräumend. Von einem "Handlungsbedarf für
die Aufgabe riot-control" spricht ein interner "Sachstandsbericht" der
Truppe.
Minister Struck möchte die Bundeswehr nun mit Tränengas und
Pfefferspray ausrüsten. Anders als bei der Polizei gilt Tränengas für
das deutsche Militär als chemischer Kampfstoff. Chemiewaffen aber sind
international geächtet, ihre Anwendung ist der Bundeswehr nicht
erlaubt. Um die Soldaten mit Tränengas oder Pfefferspray auszurüsten,
müssen erst Rechtsvorschriften geändert werden, darunter das
"Ausführungsgesetz zum Chemiewaffenübereinkommen". In Briefen an
Innenminister Otto Schily und Außenminister Joschka Fischer bat Struck
um "Unterstützung", damit die Bundeswehr künftig bei Auslandseinsätzen
"unterhalb der Schwelle des Schusswaffeneinsatzes angemessen reagieren"
könne.
Die nationalistischen Dämonen auf dem Balkan dürften der Kfor schon
sehr bald erneut Gelegenheit zum Handeln bieten. Es könne jederzeit
wieder losgehen, fürchten erfahrene Uno-Polizisten: Nach irgendeinem
neuen Zwischenfall, bei den nächsten Wahlen, spätestens aber 2005, wenn
die Albaner die Unabhängigkeit der Provinz durchpauken wollen und die
Serben, von Belgrad gestützt, eine Aufteilung in ethnische Kantone
(siehe Kostunica-Interview Seite 146).
Jörg Lembke, Polizist aus Hamburg und im Kosovo mit der Identifizierung
von Leichen aus dem Bürgerkrieg beschäftigt, traut jedenfalls in Sachen
Sicherheit weder der Unmik noch der Kfor-Schutztruppe. Seine Kollegen
hat Lembke aufgefordert, ihre exakte Anschrift, möglichst mit einem
Foto ihres Hauses abzugeben: "Dann können wir einen Evakuierungsplan
ausarbeiten, damit wir möglichst schnell rauskommen."
=== SRPSKOHRVATSKI ===
http://www.apisgroup.org/article.html?id=1859
Der Spiegel, Nemacka
3 maj, 2004
Kukavicluk nemackih vojnika
ZECEVI SA KOSOVA
Ozbiljni prekori upuceni nemackim snagama KFOR-a u nemirnoj pokrajini
Kosovo: Nemacki UN policajci optuzuju Nemacku vojsku (Bundeswehr) da su
ponizeni i porazeni u nasilju albanskih ekstremista
Renate Flottau, Olaf Ihlau, Aleksander Szandar, Andreas Ulrich
Hamburg, 3. maja - Glas nemackog policajca UN odavao je paniku. "Kad
cete vec jednom doci", molio je covek preko radio-veze, "za boga
miloga, hitno nam je potrebna podrska".
Ispred zgrade policije UN u Prizrenu, sektoru nemackih snaga Kfora na
Kosovu, razularena masa albanskih nacionalista je satima pravila nered.
Oni su krenuli u lov na Srbe i njihove navodne zastitnike. Letele su
kamenice i molotovljevi kokteli, plamen je prekrio svetlo braon zemlju
pored prevrnutih i demoliranih vozila. Pred takvom orgijom mrznje vise
desetina sluzbenika UN se sklonilo u zgradu policije gde se
zabarikadiralo. Mnogi su krvarili.
"Dodjite brzo, potebna nam je pomoc", ponovio je nemacki policajac vise
puta preko radio-veze. Ali, niko nije dosao, vojska nije poslala pomoc.
Saradnike UN je od najgoreg spasila slucajnost to sto se drugog dana
martovskih nemira na Kosovu ludilo Albanaca u Prizrenu okrenulo ka
paljenju crkve Svetog spasa i naselju u kojem je pre rata zivelo 2.000
Srba.
Prilikom nedavne pobune na Kosovu ubijeno je 19 ljudi, osam Srba i 11
Albanaca koje su uglavnom ubili ugrozeni policajci UN i vojnici Kfora u
samoodbrani. Prema bilansu Unmika, civilne uprave UN ovog medjunarodnog
protektorata, bilo je oko 900 povre- djenih, medju kojima 65 pripadnika
medjunarodnih snaga. Unisteno je 29 crkava i manastira kao i oko 800
kuca pripadnika srpske manjine, dok je vise hiljada Srba pobeglo i tako
se spasilo.
Ovim nasiljem srusene su i poslednje iluzije o mogucem pomirenju
nacionalnih zajednica i izgradnji multietnicke demokratije. U ratu za
ljudska prava NATO bombarderi su 1999. godine proterali ubilacku vojnu
masineriju srpskog despota Slobodana Milosevica sa Kosova i omogucili
povratak 800.000 albanskih izbeglica. Medjunarodna zajednica sada posle
pet godina mora da prizna da je proigrala ovu moralnu i vojnu pobedu,
njena ambiciozna misija preti da propadne. Mnoge tadasnje zrtve su
danasnji zlocinci. Kao nekad beogradski despot sada albanski
ekstremisti vrse krvavo etnicko ciscenje da bi stvorili drzavu Kosovo
bez Srba - oko istorijskog Kosova Polja na kojem su srpski vitezovi
1389. godine krvarili u borbi protiv Turaka i stvorili mit o Srbima kao
zrtvama.
"Mi smo brzo reagovali", opisuje general-potpukovnik Holger Kamerhof
angazovanje 20.500 ljudi u sastavu Kfora kojima on komanduje od oktobra
prosle godine. I nemacki ministar odbrane Peter Struk hvali "oprezno
ponasanje" svojih 3.600 vojnika: "Oni su reagovali razumno, sprecili su
eskalaciju i tako zastitili ljudske zivote".
Ovo je verzija Berlina. Izjave ocevidaca u Prizrenu, medjutim, na kraju
odaju drugaciju sliku. Ne samo Srbi, vec i sluzbenici UN, vojnici
drugih kontingenata, albanski borci za ljudska prava ili nezavisni
novinari prebacuju Bundesveru da je zakazao pa cak i da se poneo
kukavicki. U suzbijanju nemira Bundesver je odigrao jednu zalosnu, ako
ne i najsramotniju ulogu. Nemacki vojnici su pobegli, sklonili se poput
zeceva u kasarnu i ponovo izasli sa oklopnim vozilima tek kada se
albanska rulja smirila i zavrsila svoj rusilacki posao. Do sada se nije
mogla cuti ovako teska optuzba na racun nemacke vojske u nekoj drugoj
misiji u inostranstvu.
Neuspeh da se spreci ovaj teror mnoge balkanske posmatrace podseca na
Srebrenicu: kada je nakon pada ovog bosanskog grada u julu 1995. godine
holandski oficir UN Karemans nazdravio srpskom generalu Mladicu dok su
hiljade muslimana odvodjene na egzekuciju.
"Njihova intervencija bila je neuspesna, oni bi trebalo da se povuku",
rekao je vladika rasko-prizrenski Artemije o Nemcima. A otac Sava
Janjic, portparol manastira Decani, dodao je: "Nakon onoga sto su Nemci
ucinili u dva svetska rata, mi zelimo da oni odu sa Balkana".
Medjutim, i nemacki policajci UN su osecali da su ih nemacki vojnici
ostavili na cedilu. "Znake traumatizacije", primetio je Herbert
Fiser-Drum, pastor pri policiji u Rajnsko-falackoj oblasti, kod nekih
od 278 nemackih policajaca sa kojima je licno razgovarao, "zato sto
njihovi pozivi u pomoc upuceni Kforu nisu naisli na prijem". Mnogi
sluzbenici, kaze ovaj svestenik, pitali su se zasto su vojnici uopste
bili tu kada nisu mogli da im pruze podrsku.
Svedocenja razocaranih policajaca predocena su, medjutim, upravi
Unmika. Njihov sef Hari Holkeri, izvestavaju albanske novine, navodno
je imao zestoku raspravu sa komandantom Kfora Kamerkofom. Izvestaji se
sada proveravaju. "Kfor mora da preispita svoj koncept bezbednosti",
zahteva ministar unutrasnjih poslova pokrajine Saksonija Anhalt - Klaus
Jeciorski, koji se prosle nedelje vratio sa svojim hamburskim kolegom
Udom Nagelom iz posete Kosovu. I Nagel je misljenja da "Kfor mora da
bude u stanju da zastiti saradnike UN."
Nakon posete Kosovu 5. i 6. aprila predsedavajuci nemacke radne grupe
za medjunarodne policijske snage policijski inspektor Severne Rajne i
Vestfalije Diter Ve, sazeo je rezultate svoje provere u izvestaj i
poslao ga saveznom ministarstvu unutrasnjih poslova kao i ppokrajinskim
ministrima unutrasnjih poslova. On je dosao do zakljucka: "U nasilnim
nemirima Kfor nije prigodan za smirivanje situacije. Saradnja izmedju
Kfora i Unmika nije uskladjena".
U Prizrenu se "uprkos stalnim pozivima u pomoc upucenim Kforu" nije
pojavio nijedan vojnik da zastiti policiju. Kfor "se pokazao
nesposobnim da obavlja zadatke koji su mu dodeljeni".
U izvestaju se navode i reci sefa policije UN Stefan Feler da Kfor nije
dorastao smirivanju nemira, da vojska nije dovoljno obucena i
pripremljena. Kfor nije mogao da garantuje "zadatke zastite objekata
koji su mu dodeljeni i da pruzi zastitu srpskom narodu".
"Vec nedeljama se osecala sve napetija atmosfera", kazu nemacki
policijski sluzbenici u Prizrenu. Oni nisu zeleli da se navedu njihova
imena i cinovi jer su sada pod komandom UN i svaki iskaz povlaci pravnu
posledicu.
Pritisak se konkretno usmerio na nekih 100.000 Srba u pokrajini i na
Unmik koji je zbog ratnih zlocina poceo da vodi istragu protiv
nekadasnje Oslobodilacke vojske Kosova. Retorika albanskih nacionalista
je postojala ostrija, bas kao i politicke poruke na zidovima kuca.
"Bilo je jasno da ce se nesto dogoditi", rekao je jedan sluzbenik,
"samo se nije znalo kad". Erupcija albanskog nasilja prilikom cega su
se sistematski napadala srpska sela, manastiri i crkve bilo je u vise
navrata od kraja rata. Samo sto su svojevremeno zastitne snage Kfora sa
50.000 vojnika bile znatno agilnije. "Od nas se ocekuje cudo", jadao se
je jos prvi administrator UN Francuz Bernar Kusner povodom izliva
medjunacionalne mrznje koji su se periodicno ponavljali.
Ovog puta je - nepotvrdjena - tvrdnja da su Srbi naterali dva albanska
decaka da skoce u Ibar u kome su se udavili, dovela do eksplozije
nasilja. Najpre u Kosovskoj Mitrovici, a onda u gotovo svim gradovima
ove krizne pokrajine, pa i u Prizrenu.
Tamo, prema pricanju nemackih policajaca, 17. marta marsira oko hiljadu
demonstranata kroz centar grada skandirajuci "OVK - OVK" i "Unmik -
armik", Unmik je neprijatelj. Ljudi iz obliznjih sela su se
prikljucivali, ocigledno da su bili islamisti jer su imali duge brade.
U 17.30 sati pocinju da gore prve kuce u starom gradu. Srpska
Bogoslovija je zapaljena uz odobravanje okupljenih stanovnika, kamenice
su bacane na civilnu administraciju, automobili su demolirani. Od Kfora
ni traga, mada su zabrinuti ocevici vise puta telefonom trazili od
nemackih oficira da intervenisu.
Tek kada je vatra pretila da zahvati okolne kuce priblizavaju se
specijalne jedinice argentinske policije UN. Doduse, ostaju na
bezbednom odstojanju od 300 metara. Njihov pokusaj da rasteraju gomilu
pomocu suzavca izazvao je bacanje kamenica i flasa. Juznoamerikanci su
bacili palice i zastitne oklope i pobegli.
Nemacki Kfor se mogao videti tek kada su nasilnici uzeli vatrogasno
vozilo i dovezli se do zgrade Unmika. Pojava vojske ocigledno je imala
efekta. Masa nastavlja, nista je ne sprecava u njenom rusilac kom marsu.
Izmedju 18 i 21 cas masa pravi nerede u starom gradu na obronku ispod
ostataka vizantijske tvrdjave. Kuce srpskih izbeglica su zapaljene.
Jedna ceta vojnika Kfora, koja iza barikada od dzakova peska stiti
srpsku crkvu Svetog Georgija, bezi sa duhovnicima i preostalim Srbima u
jednu kasarnu. Demonstranti aplaudiraju, pale crkvu i jos 56 kuca i
konacno, nedaleko od opstine, pravoslavni Hram bogorodice Ljeviske. O
njoj je nemacki ministar odbrane Struk svojevremeno rekao da
predstavlja "simbol ocuvanja mira koji je donela nasa misija".
Neki ekstremisti nastavljaju dalje uzvodno duz Bistrice do manastira
Svetih arhangela. Put do tamo se mogao blokirati sa nekoliko oklopnih
vozila pogotovo sto je u toj gradjevini iz 14. veka stacioniran
Bundesver - narednik Udo Vambah sa 19 vojnika.
Oko 200 demonstranata salje delegaciju sa belom zastavicom kod Nemaca i
uverava ih da im se nece desiti nista lose, "mi zelimo samo da zapalimo
manastir". Zastitnici iz redova Kfora sklanjaju sest monaha i dva
posmatraca u svoja oklopna vozila i odvoze ih preko Bistrice. Manastir
je spaljen.
Narednika Vambaha je za njegovo "istaknuto delo" sredinom aprila
izricito pohvalio zamenik ministra odbrane Valter Kolbov prilikom
posete Prizrenu. Nema ordena, ali beleska ulazi u dosije. On je, kako
glasi ocena, "opreznim ponasanjem i odvaznim delovanjem izbegao
eskalaciju nasilja, sprecio krvoprolice i zastitio ljudske zivote koji
su mu povereni".
Kada se spustila noc vatra iz starog grada je obasjavala nebo iznad
Prizrena. Sledeceg jutra u cetvrtak 18. marta iz rusevina se jos uvek
vije dim. Ali za sada je sve mirno.
Oko 12.30 masa ponovo stupa akciju. Unistene su sve srpske ustanove,
mrznja Albanaca se sada usmerava na gradsku upravu, civilnu
administraciju UN i dve policijske stanice.
Prvi napadi pocinju oko 15 casova i pogadjaju policijsku strazu u
centru grada. Pozivi u pomoc upuceni Kforu ostaju bez uspeha. Kamenice
lete na kuce, prevrcu se automobili, a vojnici se ne mogu nigde videti.
Kfor ocigledno nije iskoristio ovo vreme da preispita svoj koncept
angazovanja kako bi sprecio nove nemire.
Zatim sledi napad na glavni policijski stab udaljen kilometar odatle.
Policajci iz razlicitih drzava, medju njima i Nemci, izlozeni su
konstantnim napadima kamenica i molotovljevih koktela. Iz obliznje
pumpe ekstremisti dobijaju podrsku. Puca se.
"Mi smo molili Kfor za pomoc" kaze jedan sluzbenik. Rekli su nam da
vojnici stizu odmah. Ali, nista se ne desava. Jedino sto policajci vide
jeste vojni automobil u kojem vojnici sa obliznjeg brezuljka posmatraju
orgijanje nasilja. "Osetio sam se kao poslednji bednik", pise nemacki
policajac u svom izvestaju. "Najgore je", kaze jedan drugi sluzbenik,
sto su izgrednici postigli svoje ciljeve: vojnici su posmatrali kako je
etnicko ciscenje otislo korak dalje, "nasa misija je propala".
Tek kada su nasilnici u Prizrenu bacili granate u dvoriste zgrade
Unmika nemacki Kfor se umesao. Poslao je oklopna vozila i situacija se
odmah smirila.
Nemacki kontingent u Prizrenu nije tokom dvodnevnog haosa prijavio da
je imao povredjene. To je bas lepo. Drugi kontingenti Kfora su
prijavili veci broj povre- djenih, na primer Italijani, Grci, Francuzi.
Zar ovi vojnici Kfora nisu imali iste direktive kao i Nemci? Da li su
oni radili na svoju ruku ili su jednostavno bili odvazniji?
U svedskom bataljonu koji je pokusao da zastiti Srbe u selu Caglavica
od albanskih vatrenih djavola bilo je 14 povredjenih. "Mi smo bili
iznenadjeni i sada cekamo sledecu rundu", priznao je podoficir Anderson
reporterima, "mi cemo se osvetiti ovim Albancima". U Mitrovici, gde je
bilo najvise mrtvih, francuski vojnici Kfora i policija UN su sprecili
da Albanci stignu u severni deo grada. Zasto nije bilo moguce zastititi
manastir pitao je nemacke oficire jedan novinar kanadskog lista
"Hronikl herald". Njihov odgovor: mi nemamo mandat da povredjujemo
neduzne civile da bismo zastitili jednu staru crkvu".
Sa slicnim recima brani se pukovnik Diter Hintelman, komandant nemackog
kontingenta Kfora u Prizrenu: "Mi smo postupali tacno po nasim
propisima".
Zastita objekata nije zadatak Bundesvera na Kosovu. On sme da puca samo
u samoodbrani.
Svaki vojnik ima kod sebe mali "dzepni spisak" sa "pravilima
postupanja". Tu nije predvidjeno da se zgrade stite uz upotrebu oruzja
i pucanje na demonstrante koji bacaju molotovljeve koktele na crkve ili
manastire. Poglavlje "pravila za upotrebu vojne sile" daje vojnicima
jasne preporuke: "Imate pravo da se branite od napada koji su usmereni
na osoblje Kfora, materijal Kfora i osobe koje se nalazi pod zastitom
Kfora". Medjutim, ovo pravo, kritikuju namacki policajci, Bundesver u
Prizrenu na zalost nije iskoristio.
"Predvodnici demonstracija su tacno znali da mi ne mozemo da pucamo ako
nas ne napadnu", kaze Hintelman. Dakle, povlastica za pobesnelu masu?
"Ja ne mogu da naredim da se puca u gomilu ljudi u kojoj se nalaze i
deca", kaze oficir. Kolone demonstranata u kojima su bile i zene i deca
blokirali su poljski logor i tako sprecili pojacanje. Snaznu podrsku
oficir dobija od pretpostavljenih u domovini.
"Sustina naseg zadatka je da zastitimo ljudske zivote", kaze komanda za
rukovodjenje misije u Potsdamu gde se nalaze Hintelmanovi vojni
pretpostavljeni. S pravom su se snage "koncentrisale na to da zastite
srpsko stanovnistvo i saradnike UN". Doduse, na to su cekali i nemacki
policajci uzaludno.
Optuzbe da su se Nemci kukavicki povukli za sefa Bundesvera su "potpuno
apsurdni". Prema vazecim nemackim zakonima vojnici ne smeju da upotrebe
suzavac niti da pucaju gumenim mecima u gomilu ljudi vec, kako obja-
snjava Struk, samo da "ispale pucnje upozorenja u vazduh".
I ministar inostranih poslova ("Ja ne pripadam onima koji optuzuju
vojnike") uzima trupe u zastitu. "Nasi vojnici su ucinili puno toga uz
ogroman rizik i pod enormnim pritiskom", rekao je Joska Fiser, "oni su
spasili puno ljudi i ovaj prioritet je bio ispravan". Nasuprot tome,
jednu stvar priznaju i Nemci u Prizrenu i oni u Berlinu: svi su bili
potpuno izena- djeni pobunom koja se za samo par casova prosirila na
celu pokrajinu. Izvidjacke jedinice Kfora i tajne sluzbe raznih drzava
su zakazale.
Pri tome su se bas Nemci hvalili da su njihovi kontakti sa stanovni-
stvom bili izuzetni pri cemu im je koristio i svojevrsni istorijski
bonus: u Drugom svetskom ratu Albanci su podrzalli Vermaht u borbi
protiv srpskih partizana i cak su poslali Hitleru jednu SS diviziju
nazvanu po njihovom nacionalnom heroju Skenderbegu.
Svako ko "ubuduce napadne srpske enklave ili kulturna dobra na Kosovu
suocice se sa Kforom", najavio je general-potpukovnik Kamerhof zescu
reakciju priznaju- ci tako implicitno pogresno pona- sanje. "O potrebi
delovanja da bi se nemiri stavili pod kontrolu" govori jedan interni
izvestaj trupa.
Ministar Struk bi sada zeleo da opremi Bundesver suzavcem i drugim
slicnim hemikalijama. Za razliku od policije suzavac za nemacku vojsku
predstavlja i hemijski borbeni materijal. Hemijsko oruzje je, medjutim,
medjunarodno zabranjeno, njegova upotreba nije dozvoljena Bundesveru.
Da bi opremio vojnike suzavcem i slicnim hemikalijama prvo moraju da se
izmene pravni propisi, medju kojima i "zakon o primeni sporazuma o
hemijskom oruzju". U pismima upucenim ministru unutrasnjih poslova Otu
Siliju i ministru inostranih poslova Joski Fiseru, Struk je zamolio za
"podrsku" kako bi Bundesver ubuduce prilikom misija u inostranstvu
mogao "da reaguje adekvatno "ispod praga upotrebe vatrenog oruzja".
Nacionalistickim demonima na Balkanu Kfor bi vrlo brzo mogao ponovo da
pruzi priliku da deluju. U svakom trenutku ponovo bi moglo da desi
nesto, strahuju iskusni policajci UN: nakon nekog novog incidenta, na
sledecim izborima, ali najkasnije 2005, ako Albanci zele da ostvare
nezavisnost pokrajine, a Srbi uz podrsku Beograda podelu na etnicke
kantone.
Jerg Lembke, policajac iz Hamburga koji se na Kosovu bavi
identifikovanjem leseva iz gradjanskog rata ne veruje po pitanju
bezbednosti ni Unmiku, a ni zastitnim snagama Kfora. Lembke je od
svojih kolega trazio njihove tacne adrese, eventualno sa fotografijom
kuce: "Onda mozemo da razradimo plan evakuacije kako bismo sto pre
mogli da se povucemo."
[ Il settimanale tedesco DER SPIEGEL, in un recente articolo dai toni
allarmati sulla esplosione dei pogrom lo scorso marzo e sul perdurare
delle violenze degli irredentisti pan-albanesi, definisce semplicemente
"conigli" i soldati tedeschi dell'UNMIK apparentemente incapaci di
difendere le persone ed il patrimonio storico-artistico della
provincia... ]
THE RABBITS OF KOSOVO
DIE HASEN VOM AMSELFELD
ZECEVI SA KOSOVA
(R. Flottau, O. Ihlau, A. Szandar, & A. Ulrich - DER SPIEGEL)
=== ENGLISH ===
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/decani/message/81752
Der Spiegel, Germany
May 3, 2004
German soldiers: The Rabbits of Kosovo*
*In German Original: Amsfeld - Field of blackbirds (in Serbian - Kosovo
Polje)
Serious criticism of the German KFOR contingent in the restless
province of Kosovo: German UN policemen accuse the Bundeswehr (German
Army) of humiliation and defeat during violence by Albanian extremists.
By Renate Flottau, Olaf Ihlau, Alexander Szandar, Andreas Ulrich
The voice of the German UN policeman betrayed panic. "When will you
finally came," pleaded the man over the radio, "For God's sake, we
urgently need support."
In front of the building of the UN police in the town of Prizren, in
the sector of the German KFOR peacekeeping force in the restless
province Kosovo, the unbridled mass of Albanian nationalists raged for
hours. They set out on a hunt for Serbs and their alleged protectors.
Stones flew and Molotov cocktails, flames covered the light brown earth
next to the turned over and destroyed police cars. Confronted with this
orgy of hate, several dozen UN officials had sought sanctuary in the
police station and barricaded themselves. Many were bleeding.
"Come quickly, we need assistance," repeated the German policeman again
and again over the radio. But nobody came and the military sent no
assistance. The UN employees were probably saved from the worst only by
the circumstance that on the second day of the March riots, the madness
of the Albanians turned toward the burning of the church of Sveti Spas
(Christ the Savior) and the settlement where 2,000 Serbs had lived
before the war.
During the recent riots in Kosovo 19 people were killed, 8 Serbs and 11
Albanians, the latter primarily in self-defense by threatened UN
policemen and KFOR soldiers. According to the balance sheet of UNMIK,
the UN civil administration of this international protectorate, there
were about 900 injured, among them 65 members of the international
forces. Twenty-nine churches and monasteries, as well as about 800
houses belonging to the Serbian minority were destroyed, while several
thousand Serbs saved themselves by fleeing.
With these acts of violence probably the last illusions of a possible
reconciliation of the national communities and the building of a
multiethnic democracy have been destroyed. In the war for human rights
in 1999 NATO bombers expelled the murderous military machinery of
Serbian ruler Slobodan Milosevic from Kosovo and enabled the return of
800,000 Albanian refugees. Five years later the international community
must recognize that it has gambled away its moral and military victory
and that its ambitious mission is in danger of failing. Many of the
victims of yesterday are the criminals of today. Like the former
Belgrade despot, Albanian extremists are now carrying out bloody ethnic
cleaning in order to create a Serb-free state of Kosovo - centering on
the historic Field of Blackbirds (Kosovo Polje) where an army of
Serbian knights bled in the battle against the Turks in 1389 and
created the myth of the Serbs as victims.
"We reacted quickly," lieutenant general Kammerhoff said of the
engagement of the 20,500 KFOR troops, which he has commanded since last
October. German defense minister Peter Struck also highly praised the
"prudent behavior" of his 3,600 soldiers: "They reacted rationally,
preventing an escalation and thus protecting human lives."
That is Berlin's version. Reports of eyewitnesses in Prizren, however,
reveal a completely different picture. Not only Serbs, but also UN
officials, troops from other KFOR contingents, Albanian human rights
activists and independent journalists accuse the Bundeswehr of failure
and even cowardice. The Bundeswehr played a sad, perhaps even very
shameful role in restraining the violence. The German soldiers ran
away, hiding like rabbits in their barracks and emerged again with
armored vehicles only once the Albanian crowd had calmed down, having
completed its work of destruction. So far no other such harsh
accusation has been heard against the international missions of the
German military.
The failure to stop this naked terror reminded some Balkans observers
of Srebrenica: After the fall of the Bosnian city in July 1995, the
Dutch UN officer Karremans was toasting the Serb general Mladic while
thousands of Muslims were removed for execution.
"Their intervention was a failure, they should withdraw," said Bishop
Artemije of the Serbian Diocese of Kosovo and Metohija, speaking of the
Germans. And Father Sava Janjic, the spokesman for Decani monastery,
added: "After what the Germans have done in two world wars, we want
them to leave the Balkans."(*)
But the German UN policemen, too, felt abandoned by the German
soldiers. Herbert Fischer Drumm, the police pastor in
Rhineland-Palatinate, discovered "signs of trauma" in some of the 278
German policemen with whom he personally spoke, "because their calls
for assistance to KFOR fell on deaf ears". Many officials, the minister
said, ask themselves why the soldiers were there in the first place if
they could not offer them assistance.
Reports of the frustrated policemen have been presented, in the
meanwhile, to UNMIK. Their Finnish boss Harri Holkeri, Albanian
newspapers report, allegedly had a bitter dispute with the KFOR
commander Kammerhoff. The reports are now being evaluated. "KFOR must
reexamine its concept of security," demanded Saxonia-Anhalt interior
affairs minister Klaus Jeziorsky (CDU), who returned last week with his
colleague from Hamburg Udo Nagel from a visit to Kosovo. Nagel is also
of the opinion that "KFOR must able be to protect UN employees".
After an inspection tour of Kosovo on 5 and 6 April, the chairman of
the German task group for international police forces, North
Rhine/Westphalia police inspector Dieter Ve, summarized the results of
his findings in a report and sent it to the German interior ministry
and provincial interior ministers. His conclusion: "During violent
unrest KFOR is not adapted to calming the situation. Cooperation
between Kfor and Unmik is not coordinated."
In Prizren "despite constant requests for assistance to KFOR" not one
soldier appeared in order to support the police. KFOR "proved to be
unable to carry out its assigned tasks".
UN police commissioner Stefan Feller is also quoted in the report as
saying that KFOR is not up to calming of riots, that the military not
sufficiently trained and prepared. KFOR could not guarantee "security
tasks assigned to it and provide protection for the Serbian population".
"For weeks a steady increase in tension could be felt," German police
officers in Prizren told Der Spiegel. They do not want to give their
names and rank because they are presently under UN command and any
statement could have legal consequences.
The pressure was concretely directed against the some 100,000 Serbs
remaining in the province and against UNMIK, which has began to conduct
an investigation against the former Kosovo Liberation Army for war
crimes. The rhetoric of the Albanian nationalists became more sharp, as
did the political graffiti written on the walls. "It was clear that
something was going to happen," said one official, "we just didn't know
when." Eruptions of Albanian violence during which Serbian villages,
monasteries and churches were systematically attacked have occurred on
several occasions since the end of the war. However, earlier KFOR
peacekeeping forces with 50,000 troops were considerably more agile.
"We are expected to work miracles," complained the very first UN
administrator, Bernard Kouchner of France, after periodically
reoccurring outbursts of ethnic hate.
This time the – unproven – claim that two Albanian boys were chased by
Serbs into the river Ibar and drowned led to the explosion of violence.
First in Kosovska Mitrovica and then in almost every other town and
city in the crisis-ridden province, including Prizren.
There, according to the debriefing of German policemen, about thousand
demonstrators marched through the city center on 17 March, chanting
"UCK, UCK" (KLA, KLA) and "UNMIK, ARMIK" (Unmik is the enemy). People
from the surrounding villages joined them; obviously they were
Islamists, recognizable by their long beards.
At 5:30 p.m. the first houses in the old part of the city began to
burn. The Serbian seminary was set on fire with the approval of the
gathered residents, stones flew at the civil administration building,
automobiles were destroyed. Not a sign of KFOR, although anxious
eyewitnesses requested intervention by German officers several times by
telephone.
Only when the flames threatened to spread to the surrounding houses did
Argentine UN police special forces approach, remaining at a safe
distance of 300 meters. Their attempt to disperse the crowd with
teargas was countered with a hail of stones and bottles. The South
Americans dropped their clubs and protective shields and fled.
The German KFOR appeared for the first time when the rioters took a
fire truck and drove to the UNMIK building. The appearance of the
military had an obvious effect. The mass continued on, nothing stopping
it in its march of destruction.
Between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. the mass rioted in the old part of town on
the slope beneath the ruins of a Byzantine castle. The houses of
Serbian refugees were set on fire. A company of KFOR soldiers, guarding
the Serbian church of St. George from behind barriers of sandbags, fled
with the clergy and the remaining Serbs into the barracks. The
demonstrators applauded, set fire to the church and 56 more houses and,
in the end, the Orthodox church of the Holy Virgin of Ljevis, not far
from the municipal building. German defense minister Struck once had
said that this church is "a symbol of lasting peace brought by our
mission".
Some extremists continued on up the river Bistrica to the monastery of
Holy Archangels. The approach road could have been easily blocked with
a few armored vehicles, especially since master sergeant Udo Wambach
and 19 soldiers of the Bundeswehr were stationed in the 14th century
monastery.
About 200 demonstrators sent a delegation under a white flag to the
Germans and ensured them that nothing bad would happen to them, that
"we only want to burn down the monastery". The KFOR protectors
evacuated six monks and their two visitors to their armored vehicles
and drove them to the other side of the Bistrica. The monastery was
then burned down.
Master sergeant Wambach was expressly commended for his "outstanding
act" in mid-April by the deputy defense minister, Walter Kolbow, during
his visit to Prizren. No medal was issued but nevertheless a note was
included in his personnel file. According to the commendation, the
sergeant avoided "by his prudent behavior and courageous action, an
escalation of violence, preventing bloodshed and protecting the human
lives entrusted to him".
When night fell, the fire from the burning of the old part of town
illuminated the sky over Prizren. The next morning, on Thursday, March
18, smoke still could be seen rising above the rubble. But now
everything was calm.
At about 12:30 p.m. the mass again went into action. Since all Serbian
institutions were destroyed, the hatred of the Albanians was directed
now against the municipal administration, the UN civil administration
and the two police stations.
The first attacks began at about 3:00 p.m. and targeted the police
station in the city center. Calls for assistance directed to KFOR
remained unanswered. Stones flew at the house, automobiles were
overturned, no soldiers anywhere were to be seen. KFOR obviously had
not used the time to consider the reexamine its concept of engagement
in order to prevent renewed unrest.
This was followed by an attack on the police headquarters only a
kilometer away. Policemen from different nations, including Germans,
were exposed to a constant hail of stones and Molotov cocktails. The
extremists were receiving support and refills from a nearby gas
station. Gunshots rang out.
"We pleaded with KFOR for assistance," reported one official. "They
told us that the soldiers were on their way but nothing happened." The
one thing which the policemen was a military vehicle from which
soldiers on a nearby hillside were observing the orgy of violence. "I
felt like scum," wrote a German policeman in his report. "The worst
thing," said another official, "is that the rioters achieved their
goals. The soldiers merely watched the progression of ethnic cleansing.
Our mission failed."
Only when the rioters in Prizren began to throw grenades into the UNMIK
building did German KFOR intervene. It sent a few armored vehicles and
the situation calmed down immediately.
The German contingent in Prizren did not report any injuries during the
two days of chaos. That is really commendable. Other KFOR contingents,
including the Italians, the Greeks and the French, reported numerous
injuries. Didn't these KFOR soldiers have the same orders as the
Germans? Did they act on their own initiative or were they simply more
courageous?
The Swedish battalion which attempted to protect the Serbs in the
village of Caglavica from the Albanian arsonists had 14 men inured. "We
were surprised and now we are waiting for the next round," junior
officer Andersson admitted to reporters. "We will pay these Albanians
back." In Mitrovica, where most of the casualties occurred, French KFOR
troops and UN police prevented the Albanians from arriving in the
Serbian, northern part of the city.
Why was it not possible to protect the monasteries in Prizren, a
journalist from the Canadian "Chronicle Herald" asked some German
officers. Their response: "It is not in our mandate to hurt innocent
civilians in order to protect an old church."
Colonel Dieter Hintelmann, the commander of the German KFOR contingent
in Prizren, defended himself with a similar line: "We acted exactly
according to our regulations.
Protection of buildings is not the task of the Bundeswehr in Kosovo. It
is allowed to fire only in self-defense."
Every soldier has a little pocket edition of the "Rules of Engagement".
They do not foresee the protection of buildings with the use of weapons
and shooting at demonstrators who are throwing Molotov cocktails at
churches or monasteries. The chapter on "rules for the use of military
force" gives the soldier clear recommendations: "You have the right to
repel attacks against KFOR personnel, KFOR material and persons under
the protection of KFOR." It is precisely this right, the German
policemen criticize, that the Bundeswehr in Prizren unfortunately
failed to use.
"The leaders of the demonstrations knew exactly that as long as they do
not attack us, we cannot shoot," said Hintelmann. An authorization for
the raging mob? "I cannot order soldiers to shoot into a crowd of
people which includes children," said the officer. "Columns of
demonstrators including women and children blocked the military base
and prevented reinforcements."
The officer has received strong support from his superiors back at home.
"The essence of our task is to protect human lives," said the mission
command administration in Potsdam, where Hintelmann's military
commanders are located. The unit was right to concentrate "on
protecting the Serbian population and UN employees." Although German
policemen also waited for it in vain.
Accusations that the Germans withdrew in cowardly fashion are
"completely absurd" for the chief of the Bundeswehr. According to
effective German law, the military is not allowed to use teargas or
fire rubber bullets at crowds, Struck explained, merely "to fire
warning shots into the air".
The foreign affairs minister ("I am not one of those people who accuse
soldiers") has also protected the troops. "Our soldiers have carried
out a lot of things under substantial risk and enormous pressure," said
Joschka Fischer (Green Party), "They have saved many people and this
prioritization was correct."
However, both the Germans in Prizren and in Berlin grant one thing:
They were surprised by the rebellion, which in just a few hours spread
throughout the entire area of conflagration. Kfor reconnaissance units
and the secret services of several countries failed.
At the same time, none other than the Germans praised themselves for
their outstanding contacts with the population, in part thanks to a
historical bonus: during the World War II, the Albanians supported the
Wehrmacht in the fight against Serbian partisans and even sent Hitler
an entire SS division named after their national hero, Skenderbey(**).
Anyone "who attacks Serbian enclaves or cultural properties in Kosovo
in the future will confront Kfor," general-lieutenant colonel
Kammerhoff announced, suggesting by the firmer posture an implicit
acknowledgement of failure. An internal "progress report" speaks of
"the need to act in order to bring riots under control".
Minister Struck would now like to equip the Bundeswehr with teargas and
pepper spray. Unlike police, however, the Bundeswehr considers teargas
to be a chemical agent. Chemical weapons are internationally banned and
the Bundeswehr is not permitted to use them. In order to equip the
soldiers with teargas or pepper spray, the legislation must first be
changed, including the "law on the implementation of the convention on
chemical weapons". In letters addressed to internal affairs minister
Otto Schily and foreign affairs minister Joschka Fischer, Struck asked
for their "support" so that the Bundeswehr in the future during
international missions "can react adequately beneath the threshold for
the engagement of firearms".
The nationalistic demons in the Balkans may offer KFOR the opportunity
to act again very quickly. Something else can happen again at any
moment, experienced UN policemen fear: after a new incident, at the
next elections but certainly no later than 2005 if the Albanians want
to achieve the independence of the province while the Serbs, with the
support of Belgrade, seek its division into ethnic cantons.
Joerg Lembke, a policeman from Hamburg who is busy in Kosovo on the
identification of bodies from the civil war, does not trust either
UNMIK nor KFOR peacekeeping forces with security. Lembke asked his
colleagues for their correct address and, if possible, a photo of the
house where they live: "So we can prepare a evacuation plan for when we
need to withdraw as fast as possible."
ERP KIM Info-service remarks:
* Fr. Sava was referring to German army, not to Germans in general.
** More about Skenderbey SS division you can find at:
http://www.kosovo.com/skenderbeyss.html
=== DEUTSCH ===
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/decani/message/81752
Die Hasen vom Amselfeld
Renate Flottau, Olaf Ihlau, Alexander Szandar, Andreas Ulrich
DER SPIEGEL
http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/0,1518,297969,00.html
Schwere Vorwürfe gegen die deutsche Kfor-Schutztruppe in der
Unruheprovinz Kosovo: Deutsche Uno-Polizisten werfen der Bundeswehr
vor, bei den Ausschreitungen albanischer Extremisten gekniffen und
versagt zu haben.
Die Stimme des deutschen Uno-Polizisten überschlug sich vor Panik.
"Wann kommt ihr endlich", schrie der Mann flehentlich in das Funkgerät,
"um Himmels willen, wir brauchen dringend Unterstützung."
Vor dem Gebäude der Uno-Polizei in der Provinzstadt Prizren,
Einsatzsektor der deutschen Kfor-Friedenstruppe in der Unruheprovinz
Kosovo, wütete seit Stunden der entfesselte Mob albanischer
Nationalisten. Er machte Jagd auf Serben und deren vermeintliche
Beschützer. Steine flogen und Molotow-Cocktails, Flammen züngelten auf
hellbrauner Erde neben umgekippten und demolierten Einsatzwagen. Vor
der Orgie des Hasses hatten mehrere Dutzend Uno-Beamte sich in den
Polizeiposten gerettet und verbarrikadiert. Viele bluteten.
"Kommt schnell, wir brauchen Hilfe", hämmerte der deutsche Polizist
wieder und wieder in das Sprechgerät. Doch niemand kam, das Militär
schickte keinerlei Hilfe. Wohl nur der Zufall, dass an diesem zweiten
Tag der März-Ausschreitungen im Kosovo sich in Prizren der Amoklauf der
Albaner dann dem Abfackeln der Kirche Sveti Spas sowie einer Siedlung
zuwandte, in der vor dem Krieg 2000 Serben lebten, mag die
Uno-Mitarbeiter vor dem Schlimmsten bewahrt haben.
Bei dem jüngsten Aufruhr im Kosovo wurden 19 Menschen getötet, 8 Serben
und 11 Albaner. Letztere meist in Notwehr von bedrängten Uno-Polizisten
und Kfor-Soldaten. Nach einer Bilanz der Unmik, der Uno-Zivilverwaltung
dieses internationalen Protektorats, gab es etwa 900 Verletzte,
darunter waren 65 Angehörige der internationalen Kräfte. Es wurden 29
Kirchen und Klöster sowie etwa 800 Häuser der serbischen Minderheit
zerstört, mehrere tausend Serben retteten sich durch Flucht.
Zerstoben sind mit diesen Gewalttaten wohl auch die letzten Illusionen
über eine mögliche Aussöhnung der Volksgruppen und den Aufbau einer
multiethnischen Demokratie. In einem Krieg um Menschenrechte hatten
1999 Nato-Bomber die mörderische Militärmaschinerie des
Serben-Herrschers Slobodan Milosevic aus dem Kosovo vertrieben und 800
000 albanischen Flüchtlingen die Rückkehr ermöglicht. Beklommen muss
die internationale Gemeinschaft fünf Jahre danach erkennen, dass sie
diesen moralischen und militärischen Sieg zu verspielen, ihre
ehrgeizige Mission zu scheitern droht. Viele der Opfer von gestern sind
die Täter von heute. Wie einst der Belgrader Despot, betreiben nun
albanische Extremisten das blutige Geschäft ethnischer Säuberungen, um
den "serbenfreien" Staat "Kosova" zu schaffen - rund um das historische
Amselfeld (Kosovo Polje), auf dem 1389 das serbische Ritterheer im
Kampf gegen die Türken verblutete und den Opfermythos der Serben schuf.
"Wir haben schnell reagiert", beschreibt Generalleutnant Holger
Kammerhoff den Einsatz der 20 500 Mann starken Kfor-Schutztruppe, die
er seit vergangenen Oktober kommandiert, bei den jüngsten Unruhen. Und
auch Verteidigungsminister Peter Struck lobt das "umsichtige Verhalten"
seiner 3600 Soldaten in höchsten Tönen: "Sie haben besonnen reagiert,
eine Eskalation verhindert und so Menschenleben geschützt."
Dies ist die Berliner Version. Berichte von Augenzeugen in Prizren
ergeben indes ein ganz anderes Bild. Nicht nur Serben, sondern auch
Uno-Beamte, Soldaten anderer Truppenkontingente, albanische
Menschenrechtler oder unabhängige Journalisten werfen der Bundeswehr
Versagen, ja Feigheit vor. In der Bekämpfung der Ausschreitungen habe
sie eine klägliche, wenn nicht die blamabelste Rolle gespielt. Die
deutschen Soldaten seien weggerannt, hätten sich wie Hasen in den
Kasernen versteckt und seien mit gepanzerten Fahrzeugen erst wieder
erschienen, als sich der albanische Mob ausgetobt und sein
Vernichtungswerk vollendet hatte. Solch harsche Beschuldigungen hatte
es noch bei keinem der Auslandseinsätze deutscher Militärs gegeben.
In dem Versagen vor dem nackten Terror glaubten einige
Balkan-Beobachter gar einen Hauch von Srebrenica zu verspüren: Als nach
dem Fall der bosnischen Stadt im Juli 1995 der holländische
Uno-Offizier Karremans dem Serben-General Mladic zuprostete, während
Tausende Muslime zur Exekution abtransportiert wurden.
"Ihr Einsatz war ein Fehlschlag, sie sollten abziehen", grollte Bischof
Artemije von der serbischen Diözese Kosovo-Metohija über die Deutschen.
Und Vater Sava Jancic, Sprecher des Klosters Decani, fügte hinzu: "Nach
dem, was die Deutschen in zwei Weltkriegen getan haben, wünschen wir
uns, sie würden vom Balkan verschwinden."
Doch auch die deutschen Uno-Polizisten fühlten sich von den deutschen
Soldaten im Stich gelassen. "Anzeichen von Traumatisierung" hat Herbert
Fischer-Drumm, Polizeipfarrer in Rheinland-Pfalz, bei manchem der 278
deutschen Polizisten in persönlichen Gesprächen registriert, "weil ihre
Hilferufe an die Kfor auf taube Ohren stießen". Viele Beamte, so der
Pfarrer, fragten sich, wozu die Soldaten überhaupt da seien, wenn sie
ihnen nicht Beistand leisten könnten.
Berichte der frustrierten Polizisten liegen unterdessen der
Unmik-Verwaltung vor. Deren finnischer Chef Harri Holkeri, melden
albanische Zeitungen, soll dazu einen vehementen Disput mit dem
Kfor-Kommandeur Kammerhoff geführt haben. Die Berichte werden jetzt
ausgewertet. "Die Kfor muss ihr Sicherheitskonzept überdenken", fordert
Sachsen-Anhalts Innenminister Klaus Jeziorsky (CDU), der vergangene
Woche mit seinem Hamburger Kollegen Udo Nagel von einem Besuch im
Kosovo zurückkehrte. Auch Nagel ist der Ansicht, "Kfor muss in der Lage
sein, die Uno-Mitarbeiter zu schützen".
Nach einer Inspektionsreise am 5. und 6. April fasste der Vorsitzende
der Bund-Länder-Arbeitsgruppe International Police Task Force, der
nordrhein-westfälische Polizeiinspektor Dieter Wehe, die Ergebnisse in
einem Bericht zusammen und schickte sie an das Bundesinnenministerium
sowie die Innenminister der Länder. Wehe kommt zu dem Schluss: "Die
Kfor ist bei gewalttätigen Unruhen zur Lagebewältigung nicht geeignet.
Die Zusammenarbeit zwischen Kfor und Unmik ist nicht abgestimmt."
In Prizren sei "trotz ständiger Hilfeersuchen an die Kfor" kein Militär
erschienen, um die Polizei zu unterstützen. Die Kfor "erwies sich als
unfähig, die ihr übertragenen Aufgaben zu gewährleisten".
Auch Uno-Polizeichef Stefan Feller wird in dem Bericht mit den Worten
zitiert, die Kfor sei den Unruhen nicht gewachsen gewesen, das Militär
nicht ausreichend ausgebildet und vorbereitet. Die Kfor konnte "die ihr
zugewiesenen Objektschutzaufgaben nicht gewährleisten und auch nicht
den Schutz der serbischen Bevölkerung aufrechterhalten".
"Seit Wochen schon wurde die Stimmung immer angespannter", berichten in
Prizren deutsche Polizeibeamte dem SPIEGEL. Sie wollen Namen und
Dienstgrad nicht genannt sehen, weil sie derzeit der Uno unterstellt
sind und jede Aussage rechtliche Folgen hätte.
Der Druck habe sich konkret gegen die noch etwa 100 000 Serben der
Provinz und die Unmik gerichtet, die wegen Kriegsverbrechen auch gegen
die einstige Kosovo-Befreiungsarmee UÇK zu ermitteln begann. Reden
albanischer Nationalisten wurden schärfer, ebenso die politischen
Schmierereien an Häuserwänden. "Es war klar, dass etwas passieren
würde", so ein Beamter, "nur nicht wann." Eruptionen albanischer
Gewalt, bei denen Sprengkommandos systematisch serbische Dörfer,
Klöster und Kirchen attackierten, hatte es seit Kriegsende mehrfach
gegeben. Nur war seinerzeit die Kfor-Schutztruppe mit 50 000 Mann noch
wesentlich agiler. "Man erwartet von uns Wunder", stöhnte schon als
erster Uno-Verwalter der Franzose Bernard Kouchner über die periodisch
wiederkehrenden Ausbrüche des ethnischen Hasses.
Diesmal führte die - unbewiesene - Behauptung, zwei albanische Jungen
seien von Serben in den Fluss Ibar getrieben worden und dort ertrunken,
zur Gewaltexplosion. Zunächst in Kosovska Mitrovica und dann in fast
allen Städten der Krisenprovinz, auch in Prizren.
Dort marschieren, so der Einsatzbericht deutscher Polizisten, am 17.
März etwa tausend Demonstranten durch das Zentrum, skandieren "UÇK -
UÇK" und "Unmik - armik", die Unmik ist der Feind. Menschen aus den
umliegenden Dörfern stoßen hinzu, offenkundig auch Islamisten, an ihren
langen Bärten erkennbar.
Um 17.30 Uhr brennen die ersten Häuser in der Altstadt. Die
Theologische Fakultät der Serben wird unter dem Beifall der Bevölkerung
in Brand gesetzt, Steine fliegen gegen die Zivilverwaltung, Autos
werden demoliert. Von der Kfor ist nichts zu sehen, obwohl besorgte
Augenzeugen mehrmals die deutschen Offiziere telefonisch zum Eingreifen
aufgefordert haben.
Erst als die Flammen auch auf die umliegenden Häuser überzugreifen
drohen, nähern sich Spezialeinheiten der argentinischen Uno-Polizei.
Allerdings nur mit einem Sicherheitsabstand von 300 Metern. Ihr
Versuch, die Menge mit Tränengas aufzulösen, wird mit einem Hagel von
Steinen und Flaschen gekontert. Die Südamerikaner lassen Knüppel und
Schutzschilde fallen und fliehen.
Die deutsche Kfor lässt sich erstmals blicken, als die Randalierer ein
Löschfahrzeug kapern und zum Unmik-Gebäude fahren. Das Erscheinen des
Militärs zeigt offenbar Wirkung. Der Mob zieht weiter, wird an seinem
Vernichtungsmarsch nicht gehindert.
Zwischen 18 und 21 Uhr wütet der Pöbel in der Altstadt am Hang
unterhalb der Ruine einer byzantinischen Burg. Die Häuser serbischer
Flüchtlinge werden angezündet. Ein Zug Kfor-Soldaten, der hinter
Sandsackbarrieren die serbische Kirche St. Georg bewacht, flüchtet mit
Geistlichen und den verbliebenen Serben in eine Kaserne. Die
Demonstranten applaudieren, räuchern die Kirche aus, zünden 56 Häuser
an und schließlich auch, nicht weit vom Bürgermeisteramt, die
griechisch-orthodoxe Kirche Heilige Jungfrau von Ljeviska. Über die
hatte Verteidigungsminister Struck einst gesagt, sie sei ein "Symbol,
dass der Frieden währt und unser Einsatz ihn brachte".
Einige Extremisten ziehen weiter, flussaufwärts an der Bistrica entlang
zum Kloster des Heiligen Erzengels Michael. Der Zufahrtsweg wäre mit
ein paar Panzern zu blockieren, zumal an dem Bauwerk aus dem 14.
Jahrhundert die Bundeswehr stationiert ist - Hauptfeldwebel Udo Wambach
mit 19 Soldaten.
Die etwa 200 Demonstranten schicken eine Delegation mit weißer Fahne zu
den Deutschen und versichern, ihnen werde kein Leid geschehen, "wir
wollen nur das Kloster abfackeln". Die Kfor-Beschützer setzen sechs
Mönche und zwei Besucher in ihre gepanzerten Fahrzeuge und fahren durch
das Niedrigwasser der Bistrica davon. Das Kloster wird niedergebrannt.
Hauptfeldwebel Wambach wird für seine "hervorragende Einzeltat" Mitte
April bei einem Prizren-Besuch von Verteidigungsstaatssekretär Walter
Kolbow ausdrücklich belobigt. Kein Orden, aber immerhin ein Vermerk in
der Personalakte. Der Feldwebel habe, so die Würdigung, "durch
umsichtiges Verhalten, mutiges Verhandeln eine Eskalation der Gewalt
vermieden, Blutvergießen verhindert und die ihm anvertrauten
Menschenleben geschützt".
Als die Nacht einbricht, erhellt der Feuerschein der brennenden
Altstadt den Himmel über Prizren. Am nächsten Morgen, Donnerstag, 18.
März, rauchen die Trümmer noch immer. Aber es bleibt zunächst ruhig.
Gegen 12.30 Uhr tritt der Pöbel erneut in Aktion. Da sämtliche
serbischen Einrichtungen zerstört sind, richtet sich der Hass der
Albaner nun gegen die Stadtverwaltung, die Uno-Zivilverwaltung und die
beiden Polizeistationen.
Die erste Attacke trifft gegen 15 Uhr die Polizeiwache in der
Innenstadt. Hilferufe an die Kfor bleiben erfolglos. Steine fliegen
gegen das Haus, Autos werden umgeworfen, von Soldaten ist nichts zu
sehen. Die Kfor hatte die Zeit offenkundig nicht genutzt, das
Einsatzkonzept zu überdenken, um erneuten Unruhen zu begegnen.
Dann der Angriff auf das einen Kilometer weiter gelegene
Polizeihauptquartier. Polizisten aus verschiedenen Nationen, auch
deutsche, sind einem Dauerfeuer aus Steinen und Molotow-Cocktails
ausgesetzt, von der nahen Tankstelle kriegen die Extremisten immer
wieder Nachschub. Schüsse fallen.
"Wir haben die Kfor um Hilfe angefleht", berichtet ein Beamter. Die
Soldaten kämen gleich, heißt es. Doch nichts geschieht. Das Einzige,
was die Polizisten sehen, ist ein Militärauto, in dem Soldaten von
einem nahen Hügel aus die Gewaltorgie beobachten. "Ich kam mir vor wie
der letzte Dreck", schreibt ein deutscher Polizist in seinem Rapport.
"Das Schlimmste" sei, so ein anderer Beamter, dass die Randalierer ihre
Ziele erreicht hätten: Die Soldaten schauten zu, als die ethnische
Säuberung ein Stück weiter vorangetrieben wurde, "unsere Mission ist
gescheitert".
Erst als die Randalierer von Prizren in den Hof des Unmik-Gebäudes
Granaten werfen, greift die deutsche Kfor-Truppe ein. Sie schickt
gepanzerte Fahrzeuge, und die Situation beruhigt sich sofort.
Das deutsche Kontingent in Prizren hatte während des zweitägigen Chaos
keine Verletzten zu beklagen. Das ist schön. Aus anderen
Kfor-Kontingenten wurden zahlreiche Verletzte gemeldet, zum Beispiel
bei den Italienern, Griechen, Franzosen. Hatten diese Kfor-Soldaten
nicht dieselben Direktiven wie die Deutschen? Handelten sie auf eigene
Faust, oder waren sie schlicht mutiger?
14 Verwundete gab es beim schwedischen Bataillon, das versuchte, das
Serben-Dorf -aglavica vor den albanischen Feuerteufeln zu schützen.
"Wir waren überrascht und warten jetzt auf die nächste Runde",
vertraute Unteroffizier Andersson Reportern an, "wir werden das diesen
Albanern heimzahlen." In Mitrovica, wo es die meisten Toten gab,
verhinderten französische Kfor-Soldaten und Uno-Polizei, dass die
Albaner in den serbischen Nordteil der Stadt gelangen konnten.
Warum es denn nicht möglich war, die Klöster zu schützen, werden in
Prizren deutsche Offiziere von einem Journalisten des kanadischen
"Chronicle Herald" gefragt. Ihre Antwort: "Es ist nicht unser Mandat,
unschuldige Zivilisten zu verletzen, um eine alte Kirche zu schützen."
Auf ähnlicher Linie wehrt sich Oberst Dieter Hintelmann, der Führer des
deutschen Kfor-Kontingents in Prizren: "Wir haben genau nach unseren
Bestimmungen gehandelt."
Objektschutz ist nicht die Aufgabe der Bundeswehr im Kosovo. Geschossen
werden darf nur in Notwehr.
Jeder Soldat hat eine kleine "Taschenkarte" mit den "Rules of
Engagement", den Einsatzvorschriften, dabei. Gebäude mit Waffengewalt
zu schützen und auf Demonstranten zu schießen, die MolotowCocktails in
Kirchen oder Klöster schleudern, ist darin nicht vorgesehen. Das
Kapitel "Regeln für die Anwendung militärischer Gewalt" macht den
Soldaten eindeutige Vorgaben: "Sie haben das Recht, Angriffe
abzuwehren, die sich gegen Kfor-Personal, Kfor-Material und unter
Schutz von Kfor stehende Personen richten." Doch von diesem Recht,
schimpfen deutsche Polizisten, machte die Bundeswehr in Prizren leider
keinen Gebrauch.
"Die Anführer der Demonstrationen wussten genau, solange sie uns nicht
angreifen, können wir nicht schießen", sagt Hintelmann. Also ein
Freibrief für den rasenden Pöbel? "Ich kann doch nicht auf eine
Menschenmenge schießen lassen, in der sich auch Kinder befanden",
erklärt der Offizier. Demonstrationszüge, in denen auch Frauen und
Kinder waren, hätten das Feldlager blockiert und so das Ausrücken von
Verstärkung verhindert.
Massive Rückendeckung erhält der Offizier von Vorgesetzten in der
Heimat.
"Kern unserer Aufgabe ist es, Menschenleben zu schützen", so das
Einsatzführungskommando in Potsdam, Hintelmanns vorgesetzte
militärische Dienststelle. Zu Recht habe sich die Truppe "darauf
konzentriert, serbische Bevölkerung und Uno-Mitarbeiter zu schützen".
Darauf allerdings warteten die deutschen Polizisten vergebens.
Vorwürfe, die Deutschen hätten feige gekniffen, sind auch für den
Bundeswehrchef "völlig absurd". Nach den geltenden deutschen Gesetzen
dürften die Soldaten weder Tränengas einsetzen noch mit Gummigeschossen
in eine Menschenmenge schießen, sondern, erläutert Struck, nur
"Warnschüsse in die Luft abgeben".
Auch der Außenminister ("Ich gehöre nicht zu denen, die Vorwürfe gegen
die Soldaten erheben") nimmt die Truppe in Schutz. "Unsere Soldaten
haben unter erheblichem Risiko und unter enormem Druck Großes
geleistet", so der Grüne Joschka Fischer, "sie haben viele Menschen
gerettet, diese Priorität war richtig."
Eines hingegen räumen die Deutschen in Prizren wie in Berlin
mittlerweile ein: Sie wurden von dem Aufstand, der sich binnen Stunden
zum Flächenbrand ausweitete, völlig überrascht. Die Kfor-Aufklärung und
diverse nationale Geheimdienste hatten versagt.
Dabei hatten sich gerade die Deutschen gerühmt, ihre Kontakte zur
Bevölkerung seien hervorragend, wobei ihnen auch ein historischer Bonus
zugute kam: Im Zweiten Weltkrieg unterstützten Albaner die Wehrmacht im
Kampf gegen serbische Partisanen und schickten Hitler sogar eine
SS-Division, benannt nach ihrem Nationalhelden Skanderbeg.
Wer im Kosovo "künftig einen Angriff auf serbische Enklaven oder
Kulturgüter startet, wird auf die Kfor stoßen", kündigte
Generalleutnant Kammerhoff unterdessen eine härtere Gangart an, damit
implizit ein Fehlverhalten einräumend. Von einem "Handlungsbedarf für
die Aufgabe riot-control" spricht ein interner "Sachstandsbericht" der
Truppe.
Minister Struck möchte die Bundeswehr nun mit Tränengas und
Pfefferspray ausrüsten. Anders als bei der Polizei gilt Tränengas für
das deutsche Militär als chemischer Kampfstoff. Chemiewaffen aber sind
international geächtet, ihre Anwendung ist der Bundeswehr nicht
erlaubt. Um die Soldaten mit Tränengas oder Pfefferspray auszurüsten,
müssen erst Rechtsvorschriften geändert werden, darunter das
"Ausführungsgesetz zum Chemiewaffenübereinkommen". In Briefen an
Innenminister Otto Schily und Außenminister Joschka Fischer bat Struck
um "Unterstützung", damit die Bundeswehr künftig bei Auslandseinsätzen
"unterhalb der Schwelle des Schusswaffeneinsatzes angemessen reagieren"
könne.
Die nationalistischen Dämonen auf dem Balkan dürften der Kfor schon
sehr bald erneut Gelegenheit zum Handeln bieten. Es könne jederzeit
wieder losgehen, fürchten erfahrene Uno-Polizisten: Nach irgendeinem
neuen Zwischenfall, bei den nächsten Wahlen, spätestens aber 2005, wenn
die Albaner die Unabhängigkeit der Provinz durchpauken wollen und die
Serben, von Belgrad gestützt, eine Aufteilung in ethnische Kantone
(siehe Kostunica-Interview Seite 146).
Jörg Lembke, Polizist aus Hamburg und im Kosovo mit der Identifizierung
von Leichen aus dem Bürgerkrieg beschäftigt, traut jedenfalls in Sachen
Sicherheit weder der Unmik noch der Kfor-Schutztruppe. Seine Kollegen
hat Lembke aufgefordert, ihre exakte Anschrift, möglichst mit einem
Foto ihres Hauses abzugeben: "Dann können wir einen Evakuierungsplan
ausarbeiten, damit wir möglichst schnell rauskommen."
=== SRPSKOHRVATSKI ===
http://www.apisgroup.org/article.html?id=1859
Der Spiegel, Nemacka
3 maj, 2004
Kukavicluk nemackih vojnika
ZECEVI SA KOSOVA
Ozbiljni prekori upuceni nemackim snagama KFOR-a u nemirnoj pokrajini
Kosovo: Nemacki UN policajci optuzuju Nemacku vojsku (Bundeswehr) da su
ponizeni i porazeni u nasilju albanskih ekstremista
Renate Flottau, Olaf Ihlau, Aleksander Szandar, Andreas Ulrich
Hamburg, 3. maja - Glas nemackog policajca UN odavao je paniku. "Kad
cete vec jednom doci", molio je covek preko radio-veze, "za boga
miloga, hitno nam je potrebna podrska".
Ispred zgrade policije UN u Prizrenu, sektoru nemackih snaga Kfora na
Kosovu, razularena masa albanskih nacionalista je satima pravila nered.
Oni su krenuli u lov na Srbe i njihove navodne zastitnike. Letele su
kamenice i molotovljevi kokteli, plamen je prekrio svetlo braon zemlju
pored prevrnutih i demoliranih vozila. Pred takvom orgijom mrznje vise
desetina sluzbenika UN se sklonilo u zgradu policije gde se
zabarikadiralo. Mnogi su krvarili.
"Dodjite brzo, potebna nam je pomoc", ponovio je nemacki policajac vise
puta preko radio-veze. Ali, niko nije dosao, vojska nije poslala pomoc.
Saradnike UN je od najgoreg spasila slucajnost to sto se drugog dana
martovskih nemira na Kosovu ludilo Albanaca u Prizrenu okrenulo ka
paljenju crkve Svetog spasa i naselju u kojem je pre rata zivelo 2.000
Srba.
Prilikom nedavne pobune na Kosovu ubijeno je 19 ljudi, osam Srba i 11
Albanaca koje su uglavnom ubili ugrozeni policajci UN i vojnici Kfora u
samoodbrani. Prema bilansu Unmika, civilne uprave UN ovog medjunarodnog
protektorata, bilo je oko 900 povre- djenih, medju kojima 65 pripadnika
medjunarodnih snaga. Unisteno je 29 crkava i manastira kao i oko 800
kuca pripadnika srpske manjine, dok je vise hiljada Srba pobeglo i tako
se spasilo.
Ovim nasiljem srusene su i poslednje iluzije o mogucem pomirenju
nacionalnih zajednica i izgradnji multietnicke demokratije. U ratu za
ljudska prava NATO bombarderi su 1999. godine proterali ubilacku vojnu
masineriju srpskog despota Slobodana Milosevica sa Kosova i omogucili
povratak 800.000 albanskih izbeglica. Medjunarodna zajednica sada posle
pet godina mora da prizna da je proigrala ovu moralnu i vojnu pobedu,
njena ambiciozna misija preti da propadne. Mnoge tadasnje zrtve su
danasnji zlocinci. Kao nekad beogradski despot sada albanski
ekstremisti vrse krvavo etnicko ciscenje da bi stvorili drzavu Kosovo
bez Srba - oko istorijskog Kosova Polja na kojem su srpski vitezovi
1389. godine krvarili u borbi protiv Turaka i stvorili mit o Srbima kao
zrtvama.
"Mi smo brzo reagovali", opisuje general-potpukovnik Holger Kamerhof
angazovanje 20.500 ljudi u sastavu Kfora kojima on komanduje od oktobra
prosle godine. I nemacki ministar odbrane Peter Struk hvali "oprezno
ponasanje" svojih 3.600 vojnika: "Oni su reagovali razumno, sprecili su
eskalaciju i tako zastitili ljudske zivote".
Ovo je verzija Berlina. Izjave ocevidaca u Prizrenu, medjutim, na kraju
odaju drugaciju sliku. Ne samo Srbi, vec i sluzbenici UN, vojnici
drugih kontingenata, albanski borci za ljudska prava ili nezavisni
novinari prebacuju Bundesveru da je zakazao pa cak i da se poneo
kukavicki. U suzbijanju nemira Bundesver je odigrao jednu zalosnu, ako
ne i najsramotniju ulogu. Nemacki vojnici su pobegli, sklonili se poput
zeceva u kasarnu i ponovo izasli sa oklopnim vozilima tek kada se
albanska rulja smirila i zavrsila svoj rusilacki posao. Do sada se nije
mogla cuti ovako teska optuzba na racun nemacke vojske u nekoj drugoj
misiji u inostranstvu.
Neuspeh da se spreci ovaj teror mnoge balkanske posmatrace podseca na
Srebrenicu: kada je nakon pada ovog bosanskog grada u julu 1995. godine
holandski oficir UN Karemans nazdravio srpskom generalu Mladicu dok su
hiljade muslimana odvodjene na egzekuciju.
"Njihova intervencija bila je neuspesna, oni bi trebalo da se povuku",
rekao je vladika rasko-prizrenski Artemije o Nemcima. A otac Sava
Janjic, portparol manastira Decani, dodao je: "Nakon onoga sto su Nemci
ucinili u dva svetska rata, mi zelimo da oni odu sa Balkana".
Medjutim, i nemacki policajci UN su osecali da su ih nemacki vojnici
ostavili na cedilu. "Znake traumatizacije", primetio je Herbert
Fiser-Drum, pastor pri policiji u Rajnsko-falackoj oblasti, kod nekih
od 278 nemackih policajaca sa kojima je licno razgovarao, "zato sto
njihovi pozivi u pomoc upuceni Kforu nisu naisli na prijem". Mnogi
sluzbenici, kaze ovaj svestenik, pitali su se zasto su vojnici uopste
bili tu kada nisu mogli da im pruze podrsku.
Svedocenja razocaranih policajaca predocena su, medjutim, upravi
Unmika. Njihov sef Hari Holkeri, izvestavaju albanske novine, navodno
je imao zestoku raspravu sa komandantom Kfora Kamerkofom. Izvestaji se
sada proveravaju. "Kfor mora da preispita svoj koncept bezbednosti",
zahteva ministar unutrasnjih poslova pokrajine Saksonija Anhalt - Klaus
Jeciorski, koji se prosle nedelje vratio sa svojim hamburskim kolegom
Udom Nagelom iz posete Kosovu. I Nagel je misljenja da "Kfor mora da
bude u stanju da zastiti saradnike UN."
Nakon posete Kosovu 5. i 6. aprila predsedavajuci nemacke radne grupe
za medjunarodne policijske snage policijski inspektor Severne Rajne i
Vestfalije Diter Ve, sazeo je rezultate svoje provere u izvestaj i
poslao ga saveznom ministarstvu unutrasnjih poslova kao i ppokrajinskim
ministrima unutrasnjih poslova. On je dosao do zakljucka: "U nasilnim
nemirima Kfor nije prigodan za smirivanje situacije. Saradnja izmedju
Kfora i Unmika nije uskladjena".
U Prizrenu se "uprkos stalnim pozivima u pomoc upucenim Kforu" nije
pojavio nijedan vojnik da zastiti policiju. Kfor "se pokazao
nesposobnim da obavlja zadatke koji su mu dodeljeni".
U izvestaju se navode i reci sefa policije UN Stefan Feler da Kfor nije
dorastao smirivanju nemira, da vojska nije dovoljno obucena i
pripremljena. Kfor nije mogao da garantuje "zadatke zastite objekata
koji su mu dodeljeni i da pruzi zastitu srpskom narodu".
"Vec nedeljama se osecala sve napetija atmosfera", kazu nemacki
policijski sluzbenici u Prizrenu. Oni nisu zeleli da se navedu njihova
imena i cinovi jer su sada pod komandom UN i svaki iskaz povlaci pravnu
posledicu.
Pritisak se konkretno usmerio na nekih 100.000 Srba u pokrajini i na
Unmik koji je zbog ratnih zlocina poceo da vodi istragu protiv
nekadasnje Oslobodilacke vojske Kosova. Retorika albanskih nacionalista
je postojala ostrija, bas kao i politicke poruke na zidovima kuca.
"Bilo je jasno da ce se nesto dogoditi", rekao je jedan sluzbenik,
"samo se nije znalo kad". Erupcija albanskog nasilja prilikom cega su
se sistematski napadala srpska sela, manastiri i crkve bilo je u vise
navrata od kraja rata. Samo sto su svojevremeno zastitne snage Kfora sa
50.000 vojnika bile znatno agilnije. "Od nas se ocekuje cudo", jadao se
je jos prvi administrator UN Francuz Bernar Kusner povodom izliva
medjunacionalne mrznje koji su se periodicno ponavljali.
Ovog puta je - nepotvrdjena - tvrdnja da su Srbi naterali dva albanska
decaka da skoce u Ibar u kome su se udavili, dovela do eksplozije
nasilja. Najpre u Kosovskoj Mitrovici, a onda u gotovo svim gradovima
ove krizne pokrajine, pa i u Prizrenu.
Tamo, prema pricanju nemackih policajaca, 17. marta marsira oko hiljadu
demonstranata kroz centar grada skandirajuci "OVK - OVK" i "Unmik -
armik", Unmik je neprijatelj. Ljudi iz obliznjih sela su se
prikljucivali, ocigledno da su bili islamisti jer su imali duge brade.
U 17.30 sati pocinju da gore prve kuce u starom gradu. Srpska
Bogoslovija je zapaljena uz odobravanje okupljenih stanovnika, kamenice
su bacane na civilnu administraciju, automobili su demolirani. Od Kfora
ni traga, mada su zabrinuti ocevici vise puta telefonom trazili od
nemackih oficira da intervenisu.
Tek kada je vatra pretila da zahvati okolne kuce priblizavaju se
specijalne jedinice argentinske policije UN. Doduse, ostaju na
bezbednom odstojanju od 300 metara. Njihov pokusaj da rasteraju gomilu
pomocu suzavca izazvao je bacanje kamenica i flasa. Juznoamerikanci su
bacili palice i zastitne oklope i pobegli.
Nemacki Kfor se mogao videti tek kada su nasilnici uzeli vatrogasno
vozilo i dovezli se do zgrade Unmika. Pojava vojske ocigledno je imala
efekta. Masa nastavlja, nista je ne sprecava u njenom rusilac kom marsu.
Izmedju 18 i 21 cas masa pravi nerede u starom gradu na obronku ispod
ostataka vizantijske tvrdjave. Kuce srpskih izbeglica su zapaljene.
Jedna ceta vojnika Kfora, koja iza barikada od dzakova peska stiti
srpsku crkvu Svetog Georgija, bezi sa duhovnicima i preostalim Srbima u
jednu kasarnu. Demonstranti aplaudiraju, pale crkvu i jos 56 kuca i
konacno, nedaleko od opstine, pravoslavni Hram bogorodice Ljeviske. O
njoj je nemacki ministar odbrane Struk svojevremeno rekao da
predstavlja "simbol ocuvanja mira koji je donela nasa misija".
Neki ekstremisti nastavljaju dalje uzvodno duz Bistrice do manastira
Svetih arhangela. Put do tamo se mogao blokirati sa nekoliko oklopnih
vozila pogotovo sto je u toj gradjevini iz 14. veka stacioniran
Bundesver - narednik Udo Vambah sa 19 vojnika.
Oko 200 demonstranata salje delegaciju sa belom zastavicom kod Nemaca i
uverava ih da im se nece desiti nista lose, "mi zelimo samo da zapalimo
manastir". Zastitnici iz redova Kfora sklanjaju sest monaha i dva
posmatraca u svoja oklopna vozila i odvoze ih preko Bistrice. Manastir
je spaljen.
Narednika Vambaha je za njegovo "istaknuto delo" sredinom aprila
izricito pohvalio zamenik ministra odbrane Valter Kolbov prilikom
posete Prizrenu. Nema ordena, ali beleska ulazi u dosije. On je, kako
glasi ocena, "opreznim ponasanjem i odvaznim delovanjem izbegao
eskalaciju nasilja, sprecio krvoprolice i zastitio ljudske zivote koji
su mu povereni".
Kada se spustila noc vatra iz starog grada je obasjavala nebo iznad
Prizrena. Sledeceg jutra u cetvrtak 18. marta iz rusevina se jos uvek
vije dim. Ali za sada je sve mirno.
Oko 12.30 masa ponovo stupa akciju. Unistene su sve srpske ustanove,
mrznja Albanaca se sada usmerava na gradsku upravu, civilnu
administraciju UN i dve policijske stanice.
Prvi napadi pocinju oko 15 casova i pogadjaju policijsku strazu u
centru grada. Pozivi u pomoc upuceni Kforu ostaju bez uspeha. Kamenice
lete na kuce, prevrcu se automobili, a vojnici se ne mogu nigde videti.
Kfor ocigledno nije iskoristio ovo vreme da preispita svoj koncept
angazovanja kako bi sprecio nove nemire.
Zatim sledi napad na glavni policijski stab udaljen kilometar odatle.
Policajci iz razlicitih drzava, medju njima i Nemci, izlozeni su
konstantnim napadima kamenica i molotovljevih koktela. Iz obliznje
pumpe ekstremisti dobijaju podrsku. Puca se.
"Mi smo molili Kfor za pomoc" kaze jedan sluzbenik. Rekli su nam da
vojnici stizu odmah. Ali, nista se ne desava. Jedino sto policajci vide
jeste vojni automobil u kojem vojnici sa obliznjeg brezuljka posmatraju
orgijanje nasilja. "Osetio sam se kao poslednji bednik", pise nemacki
policajac u svom izvestaju. "Najgore je", kaze jedan drugi sluzbenik,
sto su izgrednici postigli svoje ciljeve: vojnici su posmatrali kako je
etnicko ciscenje otislo korak dalje, "nasa misija je propala".
Tek kada su nasilnici u Prizrenu bacili granate u dvoriste zgrade
Unmika nemacki Kfor se umesao. Poslao je oklopna vozila i situacija se
odmah smirila.
Nemacki kontingent u Prizrenu nije tokom dvodnevnog haosa prijavio da
je imao povredjene. To je bas lepo. Drugi kontingenti Kfora su
prijavili veci broj povre- djenih, na primer Italijani, Grci, Francuzi.
Zar ovi vojnici Kfora nisu imali iste direktive kao i Nemci? Da li su
oni radili na svoju ruku ili su jednostavno bili odvazniji?
U svedskom bataljonu koji je pokusao da zastiti Srbe u selu Caglavica
od albanskih vatrenih djavola bilo je 14 povredjenih. "Mi smo bili
iznenadjeni i sada cekamo sledecu rundu", priznao je podoficir Anderson
reporterima, "mi cemo se osvetiti ovim Albancima". U Mitrovici, gde je
bilo najvise mrtvih, francuski vojnici Kfora i policija UN su sprecili
da Albanci stignu u severni deo grada. Zasto nije bilo moguce zastititi
manastir pitao je nemacke oficire jedan novinar kanadskog lista
"Hronikl herald". Njihov odgovor: mi nemamo mandat da povredjujemo
neduzne civile da bismo zastitili jednu staru crkvu".
Sa slicnim recima brani se pukovnik Diter Hintelman, komandant nemackog
kontingenta Kfora u Prizrenu: "Mi smo postupali tacno po nasim
propisima".
Zastita objekata nije zadatak Bundesvera na Kosovu. On sme da puca samo
u samoodbrani.
Svaki vojnik ima kod sebe mali "dzepni spisak" sa "pravilima
postupanja". Tu nije predvidjeno da se zgrade stite uz upotrebu oruzja
i pucanje na demonstrante koji bacaju molotovljeve koktele na crkve ili
manastire. Poglavlje "pravila za upotrebu vojne sile" daje vojnicima
jasne preporuke: "Imate pravo da se branite od napada koji su usmereni
na osoblje Kfora, materijal Kfora i osobe koje se nalazi pod zastitom
Kfora". Medjutim, ovo pravo, kritikuju namacki policajci, Bundesver u
Prizrenu na zalost nije iskoristio.
"Predvodnici demonstracija su tacno znali da mi ne mozemo da pucamo ako
nas ne napadnu", kaze Hintelman. Dakle, povlastica za pobesnelu masu?
"Ja ne mogu da naredim da se puca u gomilu ljudi u kojoj se nalaze i
deca", kaze oficir. Kolone demonstranata u kojima su bile i zene i deca
blokirali su poljski logor i tako sprecili pojacanje. Snaznu podrsku
oficir dobija od pretpostavljenih u domovini.
"Sustina naseg zadatka je da zastitimo ljudske zivote", kaze komanda za
rukovodjenje misije u Potsdamu gde se nalaze Hintelmanovi vojni
pretpostavljeni. S pravom su se snage "koncentrisale na to da zastite
srpsko stanovnistvo i saradnike UN". Doduse, na to su cekali i nemacki
policajci uzaludno.
Optuzbe da su se Nemci kukavicki povukli za sefa Bundesvera su "potpuno
apsurdni". Prema vazecim nemackim zakonima vojnici ne smeju da upotrebe
suzavac niti da pucaju gumenim mecima u gomilu ljudi vec, kako obja-
snjava Struk, samo da "ispale pucnje upozorenja u vazduh".
I ministar inostranih poslova ("Ja ne pripadam onima koji optuzuju
vojnike") uzima trupe u zastitu. "Nasi vojnici su ucinili puno toga uz
ogroman rizik i pod enormnim pritiskom", rekao je Joska Fiser, "oni su
spasili puno ljudi i ovaj prioritet je bio ispravan". Nasuprot tome,
jednu stvar priznaju i Nemci u Prizrenu i oni u Berlinu: svi su bili
potpuno izena- djeni pobunom koja se za samo par casova prosirila na
celu pokrajinu. Izvidjacke jedinice Kfora i tajne sluzbe raznih drzava
su zakazale.
Pri tome su se bas Nemci hvalili da su njihovi kontakti sa stanovni-
stvom bili izuzetni pri cemu im je koristio i svojevrsni istorijski
bonus: u Drugom svetskom ratu Albanci su podrzalli Vermaht u borbi
protiv srpskih partizana i cak su poslali Hitleru jednu SS diviziju
nazvanu po njihovom nacionalnom heroju Skenderbegu.
Svako ko "ubuduce napadne srpske enklave ili kulturna dobra na Kosovu
suocice se sa Kforom", najavio je general-potpukovnik Kamerhof zescu
reakciju priznaju- ci tako implicitno pogresno pona- sanje. "O potrebi
delovanja da bi se nemiri stavili pod kontrolu" govori jedan interni
izvestaj trupa.
Ministar Struk bi sada zeleo da opremi Bundesver suzavcem i drugim
slicnim hemikalijama. Za razliku od policije suzavac za nemacku vojsku
predstavlja i hemijski borbeni materijal. Hemijsko oruzje je, medjutim,
medjunarodno zabranjeno, njegova upotreba nije dozvoljena Bundesveru.
Da bi opremio vojnike suzavcem i slicnim hemikalijama prvo moraju da se
izmene pravni propisi, medju kojima i "zakon o primeni sporazuma o
hemijskom oruzju". U pismima upucenim ministru unutrasnjih poslova Otu
Siliju i ministru inostranih poslova Joski Fiseru, Struk je zamolio za
"podrsku" kako bi Bundesver ubuduce prilikom misija u inostranstvu
mogao "da reaguje adekvatno "ispod praga upotrebe vatrenog oruzja".
Nacionalistickim demonima na Balkanu Kfor bi vrlo brzo mogao ponovo da
pruzi priliku da deluju. U svakom trenutku ponovo bi moglo da desi
nesto, strahuju iskusni policajci UN: nakon nekog novog incidenta, na
sledecim izborima, ali najkasnije 2005, ako Albanci zele da ostvare
nezavisnost pokrajine, a Srbi uz podrsku Beograda podelu na etnicke
kantone.
Jerg Lembke, policajac iz Hamburga koji se na Kosovu bavi
identifikovanjem leseva iz gradjanskog rata ne veruje po pitanju
bezbednosti ni Unmiku, a ni zastitnim snagama Kfora. Lembke je od
svojih kolega trazio njihove tacne adrese, eventualno sa fotografijom
kuce: "Onda mozemo da razradimo plan evakuacije kako bismo sto pre
mogli da se povucemo."
[ Una dettagliata analisi sul "genocidio amministrativo" attuato negli
ultimi 13 anni in Slovenia ai danni di quegli abitanti che si sono
rifiutati di chiedere la cittadinanza del nuovo staterello monoetnico.
Staterello che oggi - avendo dimostrato di garantire i prerequisiti
richiesti, spec. fedelta' all'Occidente e riforma in senso
neoliberista dell'economia - e' entrato a far parte della Unione
Europea...
Vedi anche:
LA SLOVENIA TRA NATO ED UE (english / italiano / po slovenskom)
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/message/3459
"IZBRISANI", "ERASED", "CANCELLATI"
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/message/3365
LA SLOVENIA E LE "FRATERNE UNIONI DI POPOLI"
http://auth.unimondo.org/cfdocs/obportal/
index.cfm?fuseaction=news.notizia&NewsID=3082 ]
http://preventgenocide.org/europe/slovenia/
News Monitor for Slovenia, 1998 to 2004
Focusing on coverage of the Izbrisani (Erased Citizens) issue,
concerning "administrative ethnic cleansing'
Slovenia ratified the Genocide Convention on July 6,1992.
Previously the Yugoslavia ratified the Convention on August 29, 1950.
Slovenia became a party to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the
Additional Geneva Protocols of 1977 on March 26, 1992.
Slovenia ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
on December 31, 2001.
The Izbrisani (Erased residents) Issue in Slovenia:
An introduction by Jim Fussell (Feb. 26, 2004), followed by news articles.
On February 26, 1992, the newly independent state of Slovenia deleted
the names of some 30,000 residents from the nation's civil registries.
The targeted population, which came to be known as izbrisani (erased
residents) were not of Slovenian ancestry, but were so-called 'new
minorities" including ethnic Serbs, ethnic Croats and ethnic Bosnian
Muslims, ethnic Albanian Kosovars and ethnic Roma which the government
sought to force out of the country. (In contrast 'old minorities'
include ethnic Italians and ethnic Hungarians, specifically mentioned
in the December 1991 Constitution.)
Twelve years later the Slovenian Government has still not yet
acted to fully redress this massive violation of human rights. Critics
of this radical action by the Slovenian government have sometimes
characterized the mass erasure as 'soft genocide' or 'administrative
genocide." A more appropriate term is probably 'administrative ethnic
cleansing' or 'civil death.' By whatever description, redress for the
mass 'erasure' is still badly needed. In other historical contexts
this kind of radical action which in and of itself is a massive
violation of human rights, has been a step toward more extreme actions
including mass expulsion and even genocide. In the case of Slovenia,
the izbrisani were targeted for elimination solely on account of the
non-Slovene groups into which they were born. Furthermore, this
'administrative ethnic cleansing' on February 26, 1992 in Slovenia can
be viewed as a contributing factor to the radicalization in former
Yugoslavia which only a few months later saw violent ethnic cleansing
in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The policy of "mass erasure", which could also be called mass
denationalization, must especially be condemned because it was a
partially successful policy, causing over one-third (12,000 out of
30,000) of the targeted population to leave Slovenia. When officials
asked an izbrisani for his old Yugoslav passport the top right corner
would be cut off, making the document useless and marking the bearer
for further discrimination. The izbrisani (erased residents) were not
forced out at gunpoint and their homes were not burned down as in
Bosnia, nevertheless they lost their jobs, medical benefits and
sometimes were deported for minor offenses. The multiple possible
translations of the term "izbrisati" (erase, red pencil, rub out,
score out, scratch out, delete, expunge, obliterate) shows the impact
the policy might have on a person. In Slovenia, seven izbrisani
committed suicide. Ultranationalist politicians characterized the
izbrisani as war criminals, swindlers and undesirables.
The radical 'mass erasure' of February 26, 1992 took place eight
months after Slovenia declared independence from Yugoslavia on June
25, 1991. The erasure occurred just days after Slovenian Athletes
participated for the first time in Olympic competition at the XVI
Winter Olympic in Albertville, France. Acceptance into the United
Nations was still three months away (May 22, 1992). Notably, Slovenia
was not at war at the time the 'mass erasure'. The previous summer war
with Yugoslavia had lasted only a few weeks ending a with European
Union sponsored agreement calling for withdrawal of Yugoslav Federal
troops from Slovenia and the demobilization of Slovenian troops.
Furthermore the 'mass erasure' came after the completion of a new
Constitution is which Slovenia committed itself to protect human
rights and fundamental freedoms (Article 5, and Articles 61 to 63).
For the past 12 years the status of the 18,000 izbrisani who
remained in Slovenia in limbo status, has been unresolved. This year,
after much delay and pressure from Human Rights groups, the European
Union, and judges within Slovenia, the government may soon act to
reverse the policy and compensate the victims of erasure.
Presently Slovenia is scheduled to join the European Union on May
1, 2004 and will also soon join NATO. The European Union and Council
of Europe are providing important guidance toward a positive
resolution of this issue. If this should occur the case of Slovenian
izbrisani may become an important precedent for other countries which
have pursued policies of mass denationalization. Other countries which
have pursued such policies include Cambodia (ethnic Vietnamese 1993),
Myanmar (Rohingya Arakanese 1992) and Syria (Kurds 1962). Another set
of countries conducted mass denationalization followed by mass
expulsion, including Ethiopia (Persons with Eritrean affiliation
1998), Bhutan (Lhotshampas - ethnic Nepalis 1991), Vietnam (Hoa -
ethnic Chinese 'boat people', 1978-1979), France (ethnic Germans in
Alsace-Lorraine 1918-1920). Seen together, these cases along with that
of Slovenia, demonstrate that policies of this type can create
large-scale international refugee problems.
Mass Erasure (or mass denationalization) can not be viewed solely
as a matter of domestic policy, but must be viewed as a matter of
international concern. Civil Society organizations within a country
and outside it, along with regional intergovernmental organizations
(such as the European Union) must hold countries which engage in
policies accountable for their actions. This case of a massive human
rights violation is quite different from other cases of atrocities,
massacres, crimes against humanity and genocide. Still if global civil
society is to truly prevent genocide instead of only halting it or
afterward assisting the victims, we must also look at cases such as
this one. Some governments will not stop with mere 'civil death', but
will seize opportunities to take still more radical measures such as
internment, expulsion or physical elimination of targeted population
groups.
[For a related global survey of this issue, see Jim Fussell's
report Group Classification on National Identification Cards as a
Facilitating Factor in Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing, presented at
Yale University in Nov. 2002]
An organization Drustva izbrisanih (Stran Drustva izbrisanih
drzavljanov Republike Slovenije - Society of Erased Residents of
Slovenia www.geocities.com/drustvo_izbrisanih/izbrisani.html) has been
established for izbrisani to advocate for restoration of their
citizenship.
See also the online forum: http://izbrisani.siol.net/ and
www.dostje.org/Izbrisani/izbrisani.htm
See also the Mirovni inštitut/Peace Institute's report "THE
ERASURE: 'Eleven Years After' " by Jasminka Dediæ February 27, 2003
www.mirovni-institut.si/eng_html/publications/Erasure.doc
Articles and Reports on the Izbrisani Issue, 2000 to 2004
Helsinki Monitor Slovenia, statement N° 9, Restitution of Permanent
Residence Permit to the Erased Citizens, 11 December 2000
www.insightnewstv.com [date not known] Slovenia: The Erased People
Duration: 8'58" Director: Ron McCullagh Producer: Mariana van Zeller
Imagine waking up one morning and discovering that you no longer
exist. That's happened to 130,000 people in Slovenia. People who had
been born or had lived most of their lives in this newly independent
state have discovered that their government has 'erased' them from all
public records. They have lost their jobs. Their children have been
turned away at the school gates. Pensions have vanished. Suddenly they
have no health insurance. Many have been evicted from their homes.
When Slovenia seceded from Yugoslavia and became independent in 1991,
one of the first acts of the new government was to remove non-ethnic
Slovenes from the public registries. Their votes had counted in the
referendum for Slovenian independence, but now they're not welcome in
the new republic. In Slovenia they are known as the 'erased people'
and their lives have become Kafkaesque. The Helsinki Monitor of
Slovenia has documented 6,500 cases of what they call "civic death,"
or "administrative genocide." Ten years ago construction worker Franjo
Herman became one of those people. Born in Croatia, he moved to
Slovenia in 1955. Like all former Yugoslavs he had had the right to
live anywhere in what was then a united Yugoslavia. Deregistered, he
lost all his social security benefits. In August 2000 he was diagnosed
with cancer. Franjo paid his National Insurance until the day he was
'erased'. They refused to treat him at the hospital. They said he
wasn't insured. Mr Herman died a year ago, untreated and unrecognised
by the state he had lived in for nearly fifty years. Officials of the
European Union were horrified at the actions of the nation whose
independence they had brought about. They pressurised Slovenia's
authorities to adopt legislation to deal with the injustices. That law
took effect in August 1999. It gave 'the erased' three months to apply
for citizenship. Only 14,000 people took up the offer, although 70,000
of these people, according to UNHCR, were still living in Slovenia.
Critics, including a senior judge, now say the legislation was
impractical - many people simply didn't know the law existed, others
couldn't get required documents in the time allowed. Those who
overcame the obstacles found more hurdles to jump - they needed to
prove they had lived in Slovenia before independence. How do you do
that when there are no records of your existence? And it's still
happening. Two years ago Milenko Zoric tried to extend his driving
license. The Ministry of the Interior said he couldn't. He was no
longer 'in the computer.' Apparently he was a Slovenian no more.
Officials told him that because he'd been out of the country for more
than three months he was now an illegal alien. Desperate, many have
fled. Those who have stayed behind live in fear of arrest, abuse and
deportation. The latest EU report on enlargement says: 'Slovenia
continues to respect human rights and freedoms.'
Ljubljana Life 29 June 2002 (Weekly Bulletin in English )
www.geocities.com/ljubljanalife/ by Brian J. Pozun
Helsinki Monitor (HM) filed suit against former Interior Minister
Igor Bavc(ar, present Interior Minister Rade Bo hinec and head of the
national police force Marko Pogorevec this week at the Ljubljana
district court. In 1992, thousands of people were erased from the
register of permanent residency and left with no legal status in the
country; nearly 6000 of them have sought the assistance of HM. The
suit accuses the three of abuse of position and official rights as
well as irresponsible execution of their duties. On Monday, head of
the Slovene branch of HM Neva Miklavc(ic( Predan called the erasure an
"administrative genocide."
Ljubljana Life 22 February 2003 (Weekly Bulletin in English )
www.geocities.com/ljubljanalife/ by Brian J. Pozun
Week of the Erased in Ljubljana Upon independence from Yugoslavia,
the Slovene government undertook what some have called a "soft
genocide" by revoking the residency status of nearly 30,000 people who
were living in Slovenia at the time but who did not have, or otherwise
qualify for, citizenship in the newly independent Slovenia. Wednesday,
26 February, marks the eleventh anniversary of the so-called izbris
(erasure). The Society of the Erased, which is working for a
resolution of the issue, organized a week of events to mark the
anniversary, beginning with a screening of a documentary produced by
the BBC about the situation. Other events included one round table
called "Erasure, Legal Error or Ideology?" and another "The People
Without." The Society also held a lecture for foreign ambassadors. The
highlight was Wednesday's protest march, which passed by both the
parliament building and the office of the president. The week ended on
Friday with a reception at Gromka club at Metelkova. In November,
Internal Minister Rado Bohinc and State Secretary Bojan Bugar ic(
confirmed that the erasure was illegal, although the Constitutional
Court came to the same conclusion in 1999. In October 2002, Bohinc
promised to resolve the issue within one month's time, however,
nothing has been done yet. According to unofficial estimates, there
are between 3000 and 4000 people in Slovenia who were erased from the
registries and have not yet been able to regulate their status.
Ljubljana Life 4 July 2003 (Weekly Bulletin in English )
www.geocities.com/ljubljanalife/ by Brian J. Pozun
Constitutional Court restores the "Izbrisani" On 3 April, the
Constitutional Court finally resolved the case of the so-called
izbrisani ("erased"). The izbrisani are citizens of other republics of
the former Yugoslavia who were living in Slovenia at the time of
independence but who did not have, or otherwise qualify for,
citizenship in the newly independent country. The government revoked
their permanent resident status and erased them wholesale from the
registries. The act has been called a "soft genocide" by activists.
The Court has ruled that the Law on the Regulation of the Status of
Citizens of Other Successor States to the Former Yugoslavia from 1992
is unconstitutional, and that all of the izbrisani must have their
residency rights returned. The government has six months in which to
bring the law into alignment with the constitution, based on the
Court's decision. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, there
were 18,305 citizens of other Yugoslav republics living in Slovenia in
1992 who had permanent resident status, though unofficial accounts put
the figure as high as 30,000. Of the Ministry's figure, 12,937 have
applied for citizenship under procedures introduced later. Some 10,713
have since gotten citizenship. But according to unofficial estimates,
3000 to 4000 people are still without formal legal status in the country.
Radio Free Europe/ Rado Liberty 3 Nov 2003 From: Ivo Skoric Balkan
Report Vol. 7, No. 36, 31 October 2003
RESTORING 'THE ERASED' IN SLOVENIA. Slovenian political vocabulary
is full of peculiar expressions that in their simplicity belie the
historical import packed into them. For example, the "pregnanci"
(expellees) are the 63,000 Slovenes forcibly deported by the Axis
powers during World War II (see "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 13 June 2003),
and the "optanti" (choosers) are the 130,000 ethnic Italians who fled
to Italy when Zone B of the Free Territory of Trieste was incorporated
into Yugoslavia in 1954 (see "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 31 May 2002). A
new term was added to this lexicon in 1992: the "izbrisani" (erased
ones). On 26 February of that year, the Slovenian authorities deleted
from the official records all non-Slovenian residents who had not
applied for citizenship in the new state. Nearly 30,000 people were
affected by the decision. The reasons for not applying for citizenship
were various. Many of those who failed to do so belonged to the social
underclass and were ignorant of the requirement. Some had criminal
records and were reluctant to make contact with the authorities. Still
others opposed Slovenian independence from Yugoslavia on principle,
and made a political decision not to comply. Altogether, over
one-third of the "erased" left Slovenia permanently and renounced
their residency, but 18,000 remained without official status. Under
pressure from the EU, in 1999 Slovenia adopted the Act on Regularizing
the Status of Citizens of Other State Successors of the Former SFRY in
the Republic of Slovenia, giving the "erased" a second chance to
regulate their status. The law required that applicants prove
permanent residency in Slovenia prior to independence as well as
current residency in Slovenia. Some 12,000 people took advantage of
the new law -- 7,000 received citizenship, and 4,800 obtained
permanent or temporary residency. However, critics faulted the
three-month deadline, arguing that it was often insufficient to allow
time to gather the necessary paperwork from Slovenia's cumbersome
public administration system. An 18 April "Delo" interview with the
president of the Society of Erased Residents of Slovenia, Aleksandar
Todorovic, revealed the mixed feelings of some erased persons toward
their host country. "I didn't apply for citizenship because that would
be agreeing to discrimination against myself," he declared. "I'm a
foreigner with permanent residency, and that's what I wish to remain."
A new law being debated in the National Assembly this week will grant
permanent residency status to nearly all the remaining 4,200
unregulated cases from the 1992 erasure, excepting those convicted of
crimes against the state or against humanity. Most significantly, this
"third chance" will be a blanket decision instead of applying on a
case-by-case basis, and will take effect retroactively. The erasures
have been an embarrassment to Slovenia's otherwise fairly good record
on human rights, with unpleasant social consequences for those who
refused to comply. Driver's licenses and identity cards were
confiscated when presented for renewal, state health insurance was
cancelled and free health care denied, and pensions were lost. While
this fell far short of the atrocities committed elsewhere in
Yugoslavia, critics of Slovenia have used hyperbole to characterize
the erasures as "civic death," "administrative genocide," or "soft
genocide." Jasminka Dedic, a researcher at Ljubljana's Peace
Institute, recently noted that because the erasures affected almost
exclusively non-Slovenes, and particularly nonindigenous Roma and
former Yugoslav Army (JNA) officers, the action was ethnically and
socially discriminatory. Dedic also observes that Slovenia differs
from other postcommunist successor states, where non-naturalized
long-term residents (e.g., Russians in Estonia or "Slovak Roma" in the
Czech Republic) have not been stripped of their previous status, even
if citizenship is difficult to attain (paper available at:
www.mirovni-institut.si/eng_html/ publications/Erasure.doc). On the
other hand, many Slovenes are incensed by the concessions being made.
The non-parliamentary Party of the Slovenian Nation (SSN) has
characterized the erased as traitors who left Slovenia in 1991 in the
hope that it would be reconquered by the JNA, only to return later to
take advantage of its relative prosperity. Repeated attempts to launch
a popular referendum on the issue have also been struck down.
Opposition parties warn that the erased could take advantage of the
new law to demand up to 600 billion tolars ($3 billion) in damages,
"Delo" reported on 29 October. Majda Zupan of the New Slovenia party
(NSi) warned that such a claim would amount to 300,000 tolars ($1,500)
per Slovenian citizen -- well over the average monthly wage, the news
site 24ur.com reported on 28 October. The right-wing Slovenian
National Party (SNS) has condemned the proposed law, saying that it
rewards those who gambled against Slovenia's future. The United List
of Social Democrats (ZLSD), along with the other coalition parties,
favors resolving the issue once and for all for the sake of "human
rights and a state based on the rule of law," according to a 10
October statement from Milan Potrc, the head of the ZLSD parliament
group. Notwithstanding the opposition, the law is expected to pass,
finally turning the question of the "izbrisani" from an ongoing civic
debate into another footnote in Slovenian history. (Donald F. Reindl,
dreindl at indiana.edu)
Radio Prague 9 Jan 2004 www.radio.cz/en Slovenia's forgotten
minorities [09-01-2004] By Ksenija Samardzija-Matul Slovenia's
president has launched a blistering attack on what he calls "elements
of intolerance" in his country. He was speaking after parliament
approved a referendum, which seeks to overturn a Constitutional Court
decision to restore permanent residency status and other rights to
minority groups living in Slovenia. It concerns around 20,000 people,
mostly Croats, Bosnians and Serbs who were living in Slovenia before
it won independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. They were
originally stripped of their permanent residency because they did not
apply for Slovene citizenship by 1992. In April 2003 the
Constitutional Court ordered that the status of citizens of the former
Yugoslavia who were erased from the population registry in February
1992, must be reinstated from that date onward. Although the decision
refers to the fulfilment of basic human rights the issue caused a rift
on the political scene. Miran Potrc, head of the United List of Social
democrats wants a quick implementation of the Constitutional Court's
decision: "Our party wants Slovenia to respect the rule of law, we
want a Slovenia that follows human rights and the clear and concrete
decisions of the Constitutional Court. The Constitutional Court has
stated repeatedly - the last time in April --which the erased have
been deprived of their rights. We want the decision of the
Constitutional Court to be implemented. I believe that a referendum in
this case would be extremely useless and harmful. No legal proceedings
will be solved, and everything will result in misunderstandings and a
lot of interpersonal disputes and political discord. This, of course
is not useful. If we want to continue respecting the rule of law in a
country where people living together have understanding and care for
each other, we have to solve this problem sooner or later. Delaying
the problem and trying to find a solution by carrying out a referendum
is not useful." Slovenia's opposition parties however claim that the
people in question were not erased in the first place and Zmago
Jelincic head of the Slovene Nationalist party viewpoint on this topic
differs completely from the intensions of the Slovene government.
"They were not erased from any register, but were simply not filed in
the citizens register because they did not want to. The Slovene
National Party is concerned about the estimated financial consequences
of this decision as we are certain that restitution claims of the
erased could be as high as 1 billion euros or possibly even up to 4
billions. We are convinced that all expenses will be transferred to
the taxpayer's shoulders. With this ruling the constitutional court
has annulled the act of independence and activities connected to it
and also disgraced all independence fighters and equalled them to
those who were acting against Slovenia's independence." And it looks
like there will be a referendum on the erased. But the question is, is
it really useful to let voters decide on issues such as the erased or
other minorities. And is there a point in carrying out the referendum,
if the outcome has no effect on the Constitutional Court's decision.
Slevenska Tiskovna Agencija (STA) Slovene Press Agency
www.sta.si/en/ Interior Ministry Starts Issuing Decrees on the Erased
Ljubljana, 03 February (STA) - The Interior Ministry on Tuesday
started issuing the decrees on the permanent residency of the erased
that reinstate their permanent residency status for the period they
were without it. The decrees are based directly on the 2003 ruling of
the Constitutional Court, the ministry said in a press release.
Slevenska Tiskovna Agencija (STA) Slovene Press Agency
www.sta.si/en/ Another Referendum Petition Filed as "Erased" Story
Continues Ljubljana, 03 February (STA) - Slovenia looks set to head to
another referendum, but not on the technicalities act on the erased,
as might be expected. Much to the dismay of the opposition, parliament
rejected amendments to the decree on the referendum on the
technicalities act on the erased at Monday's extraordinary session.
Opposition lawmakers struck back, submitting late in the night 1,000
voters' signatures in support of a legislative referendum on a second
piece of legislation on the erased, the systemic bill.
Associated Press 5 Feb 2004 A 'genocide' through paperwork By
WILLIAM J. KOLE
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia -- On a bright morning in 1992, Zoran
Vojinovic awoke to the realization that he no longer existed. Not on
paper -- when his identity card expired, officials refused to renew
it. Not at the hospital -- when he got sick and sought treatment, he
was told he had lost his health benefits. Not in government computers
-- when he asked an agency for help in finding a job, he was turned
away as an illegal alien. Vojinovic, 29, is among 18,000 people in
Slovenia known ominously as "the erased ones" -- non-Slovene residents
whose names were deleted from the population registry a year after the
country declared independence from Yugoslavia. Under pressure from the
European Union, which Slovenia joins in May, voters will decide in a
referendum, likely next month, whether to restore permanent residency
and rights to those who suffered what critics call "administrative
genocide." "In Bosnia, fascists walked around doing horrible things
with weapons. Slovenia did the same thing with paperwork," said
Aleksandar Todorovic, an archaeologist born in Serbia who heads the
Association of Erased Persons. For the erased, it's a question of
recovering dignity and the right to drive a car, get health care, own
property and collect pensions. Permanent residency also would carry
the option of citizenship. The dispute also underscores the murky Cold
War-era pasts confronting the EU as it expands to take in a part of
the continent stained by nationalism and strife. Most of the erased
were Bosnians and Serbs stripped of their rights in February 1992
after declining offers of citizenship. Many say they were hesitant
because of unrest in Bosnia and Croatia, and thought Slobodan
Milosevic might retake Slovenia. Nearly all 18,000 lost their jobs,
and at least seven people committed suicide in despair. Some were
arrested for simple offenses such as jaywalking and were deported for
lack of documents. Zoran Vojinovic , 29, was erased even though he was
born in Slovenia to Serbian parents and has never left. Deputy
Interior Minister Bojan Bugaric, acknowledging that the erasure was a
"mistake," said his office approved retroactive residency for 40
people this week and would issue permits to others. Parliament is
expected to enact a law soon laying out guidelines for seeking
damages. But the government is under fire by boisterous right-wing
opposition parties who could use the dispute to make gains in October
parliamentary elections. Vojinovic now has a job supervising a
cleaning crew at a shopping mall. "I was cheated, and Slovenia should
be ashamed," he said.
Slevenska Tiskovna Agencija (STA) Slovene Press Agency
www.sta.si/en/ Erased Referendum Question Largely Unconstitutional
Ljubljana, 26 February (STA) - The Constitutional Court has found that
most parts of a question proposed to be put at a referendum on the
systemic bill on the erased violates the Constitution. The court said
that as many as five of seven points enumerated in the question are
unconstitutional.
Slevenska Tiskovna Agencija (STA) Slovene Press Agency
www.sta.si/en/ Protest in Support of Erased Staged in Ljubljana
Ljubljana, 26 February (STA) - Some hundred people gathered for a
protest in the centre of Ljubljana on Thursday to bring the problem of
the erased to the public's attention. Moving from Zvezda Park to the
near-by parliament building, the protesters, a few dozen of them
dressed in white overalls sprayed red, unveiled a banner saying
"Freedom Is Diversity".
BBC 26 Feb 2004 Referendum question on "erased" violates
constitution, Slovene court rules February 26, 2004 Excerpt from
report by Slovene television on 26 February [First Announcer] The
Constitutional Court has ruled that the question in the motion to call
a referendum on a systemic bill on the erased [citizens from former
Yugoslav republics who had been unlawfully erased from the Slovene
population register in 1992] filed by Coalition Slovenia [a coalition
of opposition parties Slovene Democrats and New Slovenia] is
unconstitutional in all its most important points. [Second announcer]
The National Assembly sent the questions together with the motion to
the Constitutional Court for examination. The court's verdict means
that at the referendum on 4 April we will not be deciding on both
bills on the erased, but only on the technicalities bill. [Reporter S.
Rakusa] [Passage omitted] The chairman of the [Social] Democrats
[Janez Jansa] who, in case it was unsuccessful, had announced a new
referendum motion, was today reserved. [Jansa] After studying this
ruling, the Slovene Democratic Party will decide what to do in the
future, more precisely, what to do to prevent the enforcement of the
law in line with which decrees [on reinstatement of residence rights]
would be issued retrospectively without any kind of selection, which
would enable the filing of high compensation claims. [Passage omitted]
[Reporter] The LDS [Liberal Democracy of Slovenia party] and the
United List [of Social Democrats] expected this kind of verdict. [LDS
executive director Bogdan Biscak] We hope that with this the
referendum mania in Slovenia will be over. But at the same time we
fear that Coalition Slovenia will continue blocking the adoption of
legislation in this area and the settlement of this issue. [Passage
omitted] (Source: BBC Monitoring / Television Slovenia, Ljubljana) .
BBC 26 Feb 2004 Slovenia: Erased citizens write to CoE about their
plight February 26, 2004 Text of report in English by Slovene news
agency STA Ljubljana, 26 February: Marking twelve years since they had
been deleted from the population register, the erased citizens [from
former Yugoslav republics] on Thursday [26 February] wrote a letter to
the Council of Europe (CoE), saying they decided for the move because
they feel the only institutions they can trust in Slovenia are the
Constitutional Court and the ombudsman. The letter was addressed to
Alvaro Gil-Robles, the CoE human rights commissioner, and the CoE
Commission Against Racism and Intolerance. It informs the CoE about
the latest developments in the attempts to solve the problem of the
erased, the efforts made by the erased and the responses of the
politicians to the problem. The Association of the Erased has so far
addressed three calls to the state and the public, which have all been
ignored. Because the solving of the issue is taking so long, many of
the erased might not live to see the day when the story gets to an
end, the association wrote. "The shame of Slovenia, which is also our
home, will rise to unthought-of proportions," the association
believes. The letter was addressed to the CoE as the association held
its third assembly in Ljubljana on Thursday, exactly 12 years since
the erasure. Presenting the efforts of the erased, Aleksandar
Todorovic, the president of the association, said that the media are
the chief means with which the erased are fighting for their rights.
While the seven founding members of the association needed primarily
courage, the association now needs better organization, said
Todorovic. "We have managed to become the main political topic in
Slovenia, and the problem is also institutionalising," he said.
Todorovic also said that members should be solving their problems on
the principle of solidarity as this is the only way to solve all
problems. Matevz Krivic, a former constitutional judge who legally
represents the erased, said the association finds the current
situation worse than that a year ago. Last year there was still hope
that the problem could be solved within Slovene borders, while this
hope is gone today. "We have won in a legal way, but the more we win
legally, the more we lose politically," said Krivic. The assembly of
the erased is just one of the activities staged within the "Week of
the Erased", reminding the public of the illegal and unconstitutional
removal of 18,305 people coming from former Yugoslav republics from
the Slovene population registry, which happened twelve years ago, to
the day. Thursday also marks two years since the erased started
organized efforts in a bid to get their rights back. (Source: BBC
Monitoring / STA news agency, Ljubljana)
For Slovenian coverage of the Izbrisani Issue see
Slevenska Tiskovna Agencija (STA) Slovene Press Agency www.sta.si/en/
www.mladina.si/tednik/200239/clanek/izbrisani/
Prevent Genocide International
info@...
ultimi 13 anni in Slovenia ai danni di quegli abitanti che si sono
rifiutati di chiedere la cittadinanza del nuovo staterello monoetnico.
Staterello che oggi - avendo dimostrato di garantire i prerequisiti
richiesti, spec. fedelta' all'Occidente e riforma in senso
neoliberista dell'economia - e' entrato a far parte della Unione
Europea...
Vedi anche:
LA SLOVENIA TRA NATO ED UE (english / italiano / po slovenskom)
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/message/3459
"IZBRISANI", "ERASED", "CANCELLATI"
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/message/3365
LA SLOVENIA E LE "FRATERNE UNIONI DI POPOLI"
http://auth.unimondo.org/cfdocs/obportal/
index.cfm?fuseaction=news.notizia&NewsID=3082 ]
http://preventgenocide.org/europe/slovenia/
News Monitor for Slovenia, 1998 to 2004
Focusing on coverage of the Izbrisani (Erased Citizens) issue,
concerning "administrative ethnic cleansing'
Slovenia ratified the Genocide Convention on July 6,1992.
Previously the Yugoslavia ratified the Convention on August 29, 1950.
Slovenia became a party to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the
Additional Geneva Protocols of 1977 on March 26, 1992.
Slovenia ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
on December 31, 2001.
The Izbrisani (Erased residents) Issue in Slovenia:
An introduction by Jim Fussell (Feb. 26, 2004), followed by news articles.
On February 26, 1992, the newly independent state of Slovenia deleted
the names of some 30,000 residents from the nation's civil registries.
The targeted population, which came to be known as izbrisani (erased
residents) were not of Slovenian ancestry, but were so-called 'new
minorities" including ethnic Serbs, ethnic Croats and ethnic Bosnian
Muslims, ethnic Albanian Kosovars and ethnic Roma which the government
sought to force out of the country. (In contrast 'old minorities'
include ethnic Italians and ethnic Hungarians, specifically mentioned
in the December 1991 Constitution.)
Twelve years later the Slovenian Government has still not yet
acted to fully redress this massive violation of human rights. Critics
of this radical action by the Slovenian government have sometimes
characterized the mass erasure as 'soft genocide' or 'administrative
genocide." A more appropriate term is probably 'administrative ethnic
cleansing' or 'civil death.' By whatever description, redress for the
mass 'erasure' is still badly needed. In other historical contexts
this kind of radical action which in and of itself is a massive
violation of human rights, has been a step toward more extreme actions
including mass expulsion and even genocide. In the case of Slovenia,
the izbrisani were targeted for elimination solely on account of the
non-Slovene groups into which they were born. Furthermore, this
'administrative ethnic cleansing' on February 26, 1992 in Slovenia can
be viewed as a contributing factor to the radicalization in former
Yugoslavia which only a few months later saw violent ethnic cleansing
in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The policy of "mass erasure", which could also be called mass
denationalization, must especially be condemned because it was a
partially successful policy, causing over one-third (12,000 out of
30,000) of the targeted population to leave Slovenia. When officials
asked an izbrisani for his old Yugoslav passport the top right corner
would be cut off, making the document useless and marking the bearer
for further discrimination. The izbrisani (erased residents) were not
forced out at gunpoint and their homes were not burned down as in
Bosnia, nevertheless they lost their jobs, medical benefits and
sometimes were deported for minor offenses. The multiple possible
translations of the term "izbrisati" (erase, red pencil, rub out,
score out, scratch out, delete, expunge, obliterate) shows the impact
the policy might have on a person. In Slovenia, seven izbrisani
committed suicide. Ultranationalist politicians characterized the
izbrisani as war criminals, swindlers and undesirables.
The radical 'mass erasure' of February 26, 1992 took place eight
months after Slovenia declared independence from Yugoslavia on June
25, 1991. The erasure occurred just days after Slovenian Athletes
participated for the first time in Olympic competition at the XVI
Winter Olympic in Albertville, France. Acceptance into the United
Nations was still three months away (May 22, 1992). Notably, Slovenia
was not at war at the time the 'mass erasure'. The previous summer war
with Yugoslavia had lasted only a few weeks ending a with European
Union sponsored agreement calling for withdrawal of Yugoslav Federal
troops from Slovenia and the demobilization of Slovenian troops.
Furthermore the 'mass erasure' came after the completion of a new
Constitution is which Slovenia committed itself to protect human
rights and fundamental freedoms (Article 5, and Articles 61 to 63).
For the past 12 years the status of the 18,000 izbrisani who
remained in Slovenia in limbo status, has been unresolved. This year,
after much delay and pressure from Human Rights groups, the European
Union, and judges within Slovenia, the government may soon act to
reverse the policy and compensate the victims of erasure.
Presently Slovenia is scheduled to join the European Union on May
1, 2004 and will also soon join NATO. The European Union and Council
of Europe are providing important guidance toward a positive
resolution of this issue. If this should occur the case of Slovenian
izbrisani may become an important precedent for other countries which
have pursued policies of mass denationalization. Other countries which
have pursued such policies include Cambodia (ethnic Vietnamese 1993),
Myanmar (Rohingya Arakanese 1992) and Syria (Kurds 1962). Another set
of countries conducted mass denationalization followed by mass
expulsion, including Ethiopia (Persons with Eritrean affiliation
1998), Bhutan (Lhotshampas - ethnic Nepalis 1991), Vietnam (Hoa -
ethnic Chinese 'boat people', 1978-1979), France (ethnic Germans in
Alsace-Lorraine 1918-1920). Seen together, these cases along with that
of Slovenia, demonstrate that policies of this type can create
large-scale international refugee problems.
Mass Erasure (or mass denationalization) can not be viewed solely
as a matter of domestic policy, but must be viewed as a matter of
international concern. Civil Society organizations within a country
and outside it, along with regional intergovernmental organizations
(such as the European Union) must hold countries which engage in
policies accountable for their actions. This case of a massive human
rights violation is quite different from other cases of atrocities,
massacres, crimes against humanity and genocide. Still if global civil
society is to truly prevent genocide instead of only halting it or
afterward assisting the victims, we must also look at cases such as
this one. Some governments will not stop with mere 'civil death', but
will seize opportunities to take still more radical measures such as
internment, expulsion or physical elimination of targeted population
groups.
[For a related global survey of this issue, see Jim Fussell's
report Group Classification on National Identification Cards as a
Facilitating Factor in Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing, presented at
Yale University in Nov. 2002]
An organization Drustva izbrisanih (Stran Drustva izbrisanih
drzavljanov Republike Slovenije - Society of Erased Residents of
Slovenia www.geocities.com/drustvo_izbrisanih/izbrisani.html) has been
established for izbrisani to advocate for restoration of their
citizenship.
See also the online forum: http://izbrisani.siol.net/ and
www.dostje.org/Izbrisani/izbrisani.htm
See also the Mirovni inštitut/Peace Institute's report "THE
ERASURE: 'Eleven Years After' " by Jasminka Dediæ February 27, 2003
www.mirovni-institut.si/eng_html/publications/Erasure.doc
Articles and Reports on the Izbrisani Issue, 2000 to 2004
Helsinki Monitor Slovenia, statement N° 9, Restitution of Permanent
Residence Permit to the Erased Citizens, 11 December 2000
www.insightnewstv.com [date not known] Slovenia: The Erased People
Duration: 8'58" Director: Ron McCullagh Producer: Mariana van Zeller
Imagine waking up one morning and discovering that you no longer
exist. That's happened to 130,000 people in Slovenia. People who had
been born or had lived most of their lives in this newly independent
state have discovered that their government has 'erased' them from all
public records. They have lost their jobs. Their children have been
turned away at the school gates. Pensions have vanished. Suddenly they
have no health insurance. Many have been evicted from their homes.
When Slovenia seceded from Yugoslavia and became independent in 1991,
one of the first acts of the new government was to remove non-ethnic
Slovenes from the public registries. Their votes had counted in the
referendum for Slovenian independence, but now they're not welcome in
the new republic. In Slovenia they are known as the 'erased people'
and their lives have become Kafkaesque. The Helsinki Monitor of
Slovenia has documented 6,500 cases of what they call "civic death,"
or "administrative genocide." Ten years ago construction worker Franjo
Herman became one of those people. Born in Croatia, he moved to
Slovenia in 1955. Like all former Yugoslavs he had had the right to
live anywhere in what was then a united Yugoslavia. Deregistered, he
lost all his social security benefits. In August 2000 he was diagnosed
with cancer. Franjo paid his National Insurance until the day he was
'erased'. They refused to treat him at the hospital. They said he
wasn't insured. Mr Herman died a year ago, untreated and unrecognised
by the state he had lived in for nearly fifty years. Officials of the
European Union were horrified at the actions of the nation whose
independence they had brought about. They pressurised Slovenia's
authorities to adopt legislation to deal with the injustices. That law
took effect in August 1999. It gave 'the erased' three months to apply
for citizenship. Only 14,000 people took up the offer, although 70,000
of these people, according to UNHCR, were still living in Slovenia.
Critics, including a senior judge, now say the legislation was
impractical - many people simply didn't know the law existed, others
couldn't get required documents in the time allowed. Those who
overcame the obstacles found more hurdles to jump - they needed to
prove they had lived in Slovenia before independence. How do you do
that when there are no records of your existence? And it's still
happening. Two years ago Milenko Zoric tried to extend his driving
license. The Ministry of the Interior said he couldn't. He was no
longer 'in the computer.' Apparently he was a Slovenian no more.
Officials told him that because he'd been out of the country for more
than three months he was now an illegal alien. Desperate, many have
fled. Those who have stayed behind live in fear of arrest, abuse and
deportation. The latest EU report on enlargement says: 'Slovenia
continues to respect human rights and freedoms.'
Ljubljana Life 29 June 2002 (Weekly Bulletin in English )
www.geocities.com/ljubljanalife/ by Brian J. Pozun
Helsinki Monitor (HM) filed suit against former Interior Minister
Igor Bavc(ar, present Interior Minister Rade Bo hinec and head of the
national police force Marko Pogorevec this week at the Ljubljana
district court. In 1992, thousands of people were erased from the
register of permanent residency and left with no legal status in the
country; nearly 6000 of them have sought the assistance of HM. The
suit accuses the three of abuse of position and official rights as
well as irresponsible execution of their duties. On Monday, head of
the Slovene branch of HM Neva Miklavc(ic( Predan called the erasure an
"administrative genocide."
Ljubljana Life 22 February 2003 (Weekly Bulletin in English )
www.geocities.com/ljubljanalife/ by Brian J. Pozun
Week of the Erased in Ljubljana Upon independence from Yugoslavia,
the Slovene government undertook what some have called a "soft
genocide" by revoking the residency status of nearly 30,000 people who
were living in Slovenia at the time but who did not have, or otherwise
qualify for, citizenship in the newly independent Slovenia. Wednesday,
26 February, marks the eleventh anniversary of the so-called izbris
(erasure). The Society of the Erased, which is working for a
resolution of the issue, organized a week of events to mark the
anniversary, beginning with a screening of a documentary produced by
the BBC about the situation. Other events included one round table
called "Erasure, Legal Error or Ideology?" and another "The People
Without." The Society also held a lecture for foreign ambassadors. The
highlight was Wednesday's protest march, which passed by both the
parliament building and the office of the president. The week ended on
Friday with a reception at Gromka club at Metelkova. In November,
Internal Minister Rado Bohinc and State Secretary Bojan Bugar ic(
confirmed that the erasure was illegal, although the Constitutional
Court came to the same conclusion in 1999. In October 2002, Bohinc
promised to resolve the issue within one month's time, however,
nothing has been done yet. According to unofficial estimates, there
are between 3000 and 4000 people in Slovenia who were erased from the
registries and have not yet been able to regulate their status.
Ljubljana Life 4 July 2003 (Weekly Bulletin in English )
www.geocities.com/ljubljanalife/ by Brian J. Pozun
Constitutional Court restores the "Izbrisani" On 3 April, the
Constitutional Court finally resolved the case of the so-called
izbrisani ("erased"). The izbrisani are citizens of other republics of
the former Yugoslavia who were living in Slovenia at the time of
independence but who did not have, or otherwise qualify for,
citizenship in the newly independent country. The government revoked
their permanent resident status and erased them wholesale from the
registries. The act has been called a "soft genocide" by activists.
The Court has ruled that the Law on the Regulation of the Status of
Citizens of Other Successor States to the Former Yugoslavia from 1992
is unconstitutional, and that all of the izbrisani must have their
residency rights returned. The government has six months in which to
bring the law into alignment with the constitution, based on the
Court's decision. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, there
were 18,305 citizens of other Yugoslav republics living in Slovenia in
1992 who had permanent resident status, though unofficial accounts put
the figure as high as 30,000. Of the Ministry's figure, 12,937 have
applied for citizenship under procedures introduced later. Some 10,713
have since gotten citizenship. But according to unofficial estimates,
3000 to 4000 people are still without formal legal status in the country.
Radio Free Europe/ Rado Liberty 3 Nov 2003 From: Ivo Skoric Balkan
Report Vol. 7, No. 36, 31 October 2003
RESTORING 'THE ERASED' IN SLOVENIA. Slovenian political vocabulary
is full of peculiar expressions that in their simplicity belie the
historical import packed into them. For example, the "pregnanci"
(expellees) are the 63,000 Slovenes forcibly deported by the Axis
powers during World War II (see "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 13 June 2003),
and the "optanti" (choosers) are the 130,000 ethnic Italians who fled
to Italy when Zone B of the Free Territory of Trieste was incorporated
into Yugoslavia in 1954 (see "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 31 May 2002). A
new term was added to this lexicon in 1992: the "izbrisani" (erased
ones). On 26 February of that year, the Slovenian authorities deleted
from the official records all non-Slovenian residents who had not
applied for citizenship in the new state. Nearly 30,000 people were
affected by the decision. The reasons for not applying for citizenship
were various. Many of those who failed to do so belonged to the social
underclass and were ignorant of the requirement. Some had criminal
records and were reluctant to make contact with the authorities. Still
others opposed Slovenian independence from Yugoslavia on principle,
and made a political decision not to comply. Altogether, over
one-third of the "erased" left Slovenia permanently and renounced
their residency, but 18,000 remained without official status. Under
pressure from the EU, in 1999 Slovenia adopted the Act on Regularizing
the Status of Citizens of Other State Successors of the Former SFRY in
the Republic of Slovenia, giving the "erased" a second chance to
regulate their status. The law required that applicants prove
permanent residency in Slovenia prior to independence as well as
current residency in Slovenia. Some 12,000 people took advantage of
the new law -- 7,000 received citizenship, and 4,800 obtained
permanent or temporary residency. However, critics faulted the
three-month deadline, arguing that it was often insufficient to allow
time to gather the necessary paperwork from Slovenia's cumbersome
public administration system. An 18 April "Delo" interview with the
president of the Society of Erased Residents of Slovenia, Aleksandar
Todorovic, revealed the mixed feelings of some erased persons toward
their host country. "I didn't apply for citizenship because that would
be agreeing to discrimination against myself," he declared. "I'm a
foreigner with permanent residency, and that's what I wish to remain."
A new law being debated in the National Assembly this week will grant
permanent residency status to nearly all the remaining 4,200
unregulated cases from the 1992 erasure, excepting those convicted of
crimes against the state or against humanity. Most significantly, this
"third chance" will be a blanket decision instead of applying on a
case-by-case basis, and will take effect retroactively. The erasures
have been an embarrassment to Slovenia's otherwise fairly good record
on human rights, with unpleasant social consequences for those who
refused to comply. Driver's licenses and identity cards were
confiscated when presented for renewal, state health insurance was
cancelled and free health care denied, and pensions were lost. While
this fell far short of the atrocities committed elsewhere in
Yugoslavia, critics of Slovenia have used hyperbole to characterize
the erasures as "civic death," "administrative genocide," or "soft
genocide." Jasminka Dedic, a researcher at Ljubljana's Peace
Institute, recently noted that because the erasures affected almost
exclusively non-Slovenes, and particularly nonindigenous Roma and
former Yugoslav Army (JNA) officers, the action was ethnically and
socially discriminatory. Dedic also observes that Slovenia differs
from other postcommunist successor states, where non-naturalized
long-term residents (e.g., Russians in Estonia or "Slovak Roma" in the
Czech Republic) have not been stripped of their previous status, even
if citizenship is difficult to attain (paper available at:
www.mirovni-institut.si/eng_html/ publications/Erasure.doc). On the
other hand, many Slovenes are incensed by the concessions being made.
The non-parliamentary Party of the Slovenian Nation (SSN) has
characterized the erased as traitors who left Slovenia in 1991 in the
hope that it would be reconquered by the JNA, only to return later to
take advantage of its relative prosperity. Repeated attempts to launch
a popular referendum on the issue have also been struck down.
Opposition parties warn that the erased could take advantage of the
new law to demand up to 600 billion tolars ($3 billion) in damages,
"Delo" reported on 29 October. Majda Zupan of the New Slovenia party
(NSi) warned that such a claim would amount to 300,000 tolars ($1,500)
per Slovenian citizen -- well over the average monthly wage, the news
site 24ur.com reported on 28 October. The right-wing Slovenian
National Party (SNS) has condemned the proposed law, saying that it
rewards those who gambled against Slovenia's future. The United List
of Social Democrats (ZLSD), along with the other coalition parties,
favors resolving the issue once and for all for the sake of "human
rights and a state based on the rule of law," according to a 10
October statement from Milan Potrc, the head of the ZLSD parliament
group. Notwithstanding the opposition, the law is expected to pass,
finally turning the question of the "izbrisani" from an ongoing civic
debate into another footnote in Slovenian history. (Donald F. Reindl,
dreindl at indiana.edu)
Radio Prague 9 Jan 2004 www.radio.cz/en Slovenia's forgotten
minorities [09-01-2004] By Ksenija Samardzija-Matul Slovenia's
president has launched a blistering attack on what he calls "elements
of intolerance" in his country. He was speaking after parliament
approved a referendum, which seeks to overturn a Constitutional Court
decision to restore permanent residency status and other rights to
minority groups living in Slovenia. It concerns around 20,000 people,
mostly Croats, Bosnians and Serbs who were living in Slovenia before
it won independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. They were
originally stripped of their permanent residency because they did not
apply for Slovene citizenship by 1992. In April 2003 the
Constitutional Court ordered that the status of citizens of the former
Yugoslavia who were erased from the population registry in February
1992, must be reinstated from that date onward. Although the decision
refers to the fulfilment of basic human rights the issue caused a rift
on the political scene. Miran Potrc, head of the United List of Social
democrats wants a quick implementation of the Constitutional Court's
decision: "Our party wants Slovenia to respect the rule of law, we
want a Slovenia that follows human rights and the clear and concrete
decisions of the Constitutional Court. The Constitutional Court has
stated repeatedly - the last time in April --which the erased have
been deprived of their rights. We want the decision of the
Constitutional Court to be implemented. I believe that a referendum in
this case would be extremely useless and harmful. No legal proceedings
will be solved, and everything will result in misunderstandings and a
lot of interpersonal disputes and political discord. This, of course
is not useful. If we want to continue respecting the rule of law in a
country where people living together have understanding and care for
each other, we have to solve this problem sooner or later. Delaying
the problem and trying to find a solution by carrying out a referendum
is not useful." Slovenia's opposition parties however claim that the
people in question were not erased in the first place and Zmago
Jelincic head of the Slovene Nationalist party viewpoint on this topic
differs completely from the intensions of the Slovene government.
"They were not erased from any register, but were simply not filed in
the citizens register because they did not want to. The Slovene
National Party is concerned about the estimated financial consequences
of this decision as we are certain that restitution claims of the
erased could be as high as 1 billion euros or possibly even up to 4
billions. We are convinced that all expenses will be transferred to
the taxpayer's shoulders. With this ruling the constitutional court
has annulled the act of independence and activities connected to it
and also disgraced all independence fighters and equalled them to
those who were acting against Slovenia's independence." And it looks
like there will be a referendum on the erased. But the question is, is
it really useful to let voters decide on issues such as the erased or
other minorities. And is there a point in carrying out the referendum,
if the outcome has no effect on the Constitutional Court's decision.
Slevenska Tiskovna Agencija (STA) Slovene Press Agency
www.sta.si/en/ Interior Ministry Starts Issuing Decrees on the Erased
Ljubljana, 03 February (STA) - The Interior Ministry on Tuesday
started issuing the decrees on the permanent residency of the erased
that reinstate their permanent residency status for the period they
were without it. The decrees are based directly on the 2003 ruling of
the Constitutional Court, the ministry said in a press release.
Slevenska Tiskovna Agencija (STA) Slovene Press Agency
www.sta.si/en/ Another Referendum Petition Filed as "Erased" Story
Continues Ljubljana, 03 February (STA) - Slovenia looks set to head to
another referendum, but not on the technicalities act on the erased,
as might be expected. Much to the dismay of the opposition, parliament
rejected amendments to the decree on the referendum on the
technicalities act on the erased at Monday's extraordinary session.
Opposition lawmakers struck back, submitting late in the night 1,000
voters' signatures in support of a legislative referendum on a second
piece of legislation on the erased, the systemic bill.
Associated Press 5 Feb 2004 A 'genocide' through paperwork By
WILLIAM J. KOLE
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia -- On a bright morning in 1992, Zoran
Vojinovic awoke to the realization that he no longer existed. Not on
paper -- when his identity card expired, officials refused to renew
it. Not at the hospital -- when he got sick and sought treatment, he
was told he had lost his health benefits. Not in government computers
-- when he asked an agency for help in finding a job, he was turned
away as an illegal alien. Vojinovic, 29, is among 18,000 people in
Slovenia known ominously as "the erased ones" -- non-Slovene residents
whose names were deleted from the population registry a year after the
country declared independence from Yugoslavia. Under pressure from the
European Union, which Slovenia joins in May, voters will decide in a
referendum, likely next month, whether to restore permanent residency
and rights to those who suffered what critics call "administrative
genocide." "In Bosnia, fascists walked around doing horrible things
with weapons. Slovenia did the same thing with paperwork," said
Aleksandar Todorovic, an archaeologist born in Serbia who heads the
Association of Erased Persons. For the erased, it's a question of
recovering dignity and the right to drive a car, get health care, own
property and collect pensions. Permanent residency also would carry
the option of citizenship. The dispute also underscores the murky Cold
War-era pasts confronting the EU as it expands to take in a part of
the continent stained by nationalism and strife. Most of the erased
were Bosnians and Serbs stripped of their rights in February 1992
after declining offers of citizenship. Many say they were hesitant
because of unrest in Bosnia and Croatia, and thought Slobodan
Milosevic might retake Slovenia. Nearly all 18,000 lost their jobs,
and at least seven people committed suicide in despair. Some were
arrested for simple offenses such as jaywalking and were deported for
lack of documents. Zoran Vojinovic , 29, was erased even though he was
born in Slovenia to Serbian parents and has never left. Deputy
Interior Minister Bojan Bugaric, acknowledging that the erasure was a
"mistake," said his office approved retroactive residency for 40
people this week and would issue permits to others. Parliament is
expected to enact a law soon laying out guidelines for seeking
damages. But the government is under fire by boisterous right-wing
opposition parties who could use the dispute to make gains in October
parliamentary elections. Vojinovic now has a job supervising a
cleaning crew at a shopping mall. "I was cheated, and Slovenia should
be ashamed," he said.
Slevenska Tiskovna Agencija (STA) Slovene Press Agency
www.sta.si/en/ Erased Referendum Question Largely Unconstitutional
Ljubljana, 26 February (STA) - The Constitutional Court has found that
most parts of a question proposed to be put at a referendum on the
systemic bill on the erased violates the Constitution. The court said
that as many as five of seven points enumerated in the question are
unconstitutional.
Slevenska Tiskovna Agencija (STA) Slovene Press Agency
www.sta.si/en/ Protest in Support of Erased Staged in Ljubljana
Ljubljana, 26 February (STA) - Some hundred people gathered for a
protest in the centre of Ljubljana on Thursday to bring the problem of
the erased to the public's attention. Moving from Zvezda Park to the
near-by parliament building, the protesters, a few dozen of them
dressed in white overalls sprayed red, unveiled a banner saying
"Freedom Is Diversity".
BBC 26 Feb 2004 Referendum question on "erased" violates
constitution, Slovene court rules February 26, 2004 Excerpt from
report by Slovene television on 26 February [First Announcer] The
Constitutional Court has ruled that the question in the motion to call
a referendum on a systemic bill on the erased [citizens from former
Yugoslav republics who had been unlawfully erased from the Slovene
population register in 1992] filed by Coalition Slovenia [a coalition
of opposition parties Slovene Democrats and New Slovenia] is
unconstitutional in all its most important points. [Second announcer]
The National Assembly sent the questions together with the motion to
the Constitutional Court for examination. The court's verdict means
that at the referendum on 4 April we will not be deciding on both
bills on the erased, but only on the technicalities bill. [Reporter S.
Rakusa] [Passage omitted] The chairman of the [Social] Democrats
[Janez Jansa] who, in case it was unsuccessful, had announced a new
referendum motion, was today reserved. [Jansa] After studying this
ruling, the Slovene Democratic Party will decide what to do in the
future, more precisely, what to do to prevent the enforcement of the
law in line with which decrees [on reinstatement of residence rights]
would be issued retrospectively without any kind of selection, which
would enable the filing of high compensation claims. [Passage omitted]
[Reporter] The LDS [Liberal Democracy of Slovenia party] and the
United List [of Social Democrats] expected this kind of verdict. [LDS
executive director Bogdan Biscak] We hope that with this the
referendum mania in Slovenia will be over. But at the same time we
fear that Coalition Slovenia will continue blocking the adoption of
legislation in this area and the settlement of this issue. [Passage
omitted] (Source: BBC Monitoring / Television Slovenia, Ljubljana) .
BBC 26 Feb 2004 Slovenia: Erased citizens write to CoE about their
plight February 26, 2004 Text of report in English by Slovene news
agency STA Ljubljana, 26 February: Marking twelve years since they had
been deleted from the population register, the erased citizens [from
former Yugoslav republics] on Thursday [26 February] wrote a letter to
the Council of Europe (CoE), saying they decided for the move because
they feel the only institutions they can trust in Slovenia are the
Constitutional Court and the ombudsman. The letter was addressed to
Alvaro Gil-Robles, the CoE human rights commissioner, and the CoE
Commission Against Racism and Intolerance. It informs the CoE about
the latest developments in the attempts to solve the problem of the
erased, the efforts made by the erased and the responses of the
politicians to the problem. The Association of the Erased has so far
addressed three calls to the state and the public, which have all been
ignored. Because the solving of the issue is taking so long, many of
the erased might not live to see the day when the story gets to an
end, the association wrote. "The shame of Slovenia, which is also our
home, will rise to unthought-of proportions," the association
believes. The letter was addressed to the CoE as the association held
its third assembly in Ljubljana on Thursday, exactly 12 years since
the erasure. Presenting the efforts of the erased, Aleksandar
Todorovic, the president of the association, said that the media are
the chief means with which the erased are fighting for their rights.
While the seven founding members of the association needed primarily
courage, the association now needs better organization, said
Todorovic. "We have managed to become the main political topic in
Slovenia, and the problem is also institutionalising," he said.
Todorovic also said that members should be solving their problems on
the principle of solidarity as this is the only way to solve all
problems. Matevz Krivic, a former constitutional judge who legally
represents the erased, said the association finds the current
situation worse than that a year ago. Last year there was still hope
that the problem could be solved within Slovene borders, while this
hope is gone today. "We have won in a legal way, but the more we win
legally, the more we lose politically," said Krivic. The assembly of
the erased is just one of the activities staged within the "Week of
the Erased", reminding the public of the illegal and unconstitutional
removal of 18,305 people coming from former Yugoslav republics from
the Slovene population registry, which happened twelve years ago, to
the day. Thursday also marks two years since the erased started
organized efforts in a bid to get their rights back. (Source: BBC
Monitoring / STA news agency, Ljubljana)
For Slovenian coverage of the Izbrisani Issue see
Slevenska Tiskovna Agencija (STA) Slovene Press Agency www.sta.si/en/
www.mladina.si/tednik/200239/clanek/izbrisani/
Prevent Genocide International
info@...
[Sullo stesso argomento vedi anche:
World Peace Council (Athens, May 2004)
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/message/3523
World Peace Council on Milosevic, Kosovo and the Hague Tribunal
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/message/3505
Atina: Svetski savet za mir o Milosevicu, Kosovu i haskom tribunalu
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/message/3503
BEOGRADSKI FORUM na skupstini Svetskog saveta za mir
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/message/3524 ]
www.resistenze.org - osservatorio - lotta per la pace - 17-05-04
Relazione sul Consiglio Mondiale della Pace (WPC),
che si è svolto ad Atene dal 5 al 10 Maggio 2004
Ho partecipato come delegato dei " Nuovi Partigiani della Pace "-
Forum contro la guerra e Associazione " SOS Yugoslavia " ( per
l'Italia, Forum contro la guerra, era anche presente il compagno S.
Franchi da Bologna), a questa Assemblea mondiale delle forze
antimperialiste e della pace, che si è rivelato un evento politico e
qualitativo nei suoi contenuti, inaspettato persino dagli
organizzatori. Penso che bastino due dati per comprendere la portata
del dibattito, del confronto e delle proposte di lavoro che si sono
espresse nei cinque giorni : 54 paesi rappresentati dai vari
movimenti, attraverso circa 160 delegati ( dall'Africa alle Americhe,
dall'Asia all'Europa e al Medio oriente) .
L'assemblea che si svolge ogni quattro anni a livello mondiale e
annuale a livello delle cinque zone in cui è suddiviso il WPC ( che
corrispondono ai cinque continenti), è stata ospitata dal Comitato
Greco per la Pace e la Distensione Internazionale, di cui va
sottolineata una impeccabile ed efficiente capacità organizzativa, si
è svolta attraverso un programma di lavori preparati in varie riunioni
continentali, per l'Europa vedere l'altra mia relazione di marzo
sull'incontro di Lisbona in Nuove Resistenti N.75 del 10-04 ( nel
nostro sito: www.resistenze.org ) , aveva come parola d'ordine:
per la lotta dei popoli contro l'ordine mondiale imperialista, per la
pace e la giustizia.
L'agenda dei lavori era la seguente:
Relazione sulle attività svolte dal WPC, dall'ultima Assemblea del 2000
Relazioni dei Coordinatori Regionali
Relazione sulla situazione finanziaria del WPC
Proposte di emendamenti sugli incarichi dirigenti e sulle questioni
organizzative interne del WPC
Presentazione del Piano di attività e lavori per il futuro
Elezione del nuovo Comitato Esecutivo
Il primo giorno vi è stata la relazione del Segretario Esecutivo sulle
attività svolte nei quattro anni 2000-2004 dal WPC a livello
internazionale : Conferenze, Risoluzioni, Manifestazioni, Campagne.
Una discussione e chiarimenti sulla relazione da parte delle varie
organizzazioni.
Al pomeriggio assemblea delle zone regionali, cioè dei cinque
continenti, con rapporto sullo stato dei movimenti e della lotta per
la pace nei vari paesi, sia quelli presenti che quelli rappresentati
dai coordinatori regionali perché impossibilitati ad essere presenti.
Il secondo giorno vi è stata la relazione dei coordinatori regionali
all'Assemblea generale sulla situazione delle varie aree regionali,
poi vi sono stati gli interventi per ogni paese di ciascuna
organizzazione locale sulle proposte di lavoro su cui era stata
incentrata l'agenda di questa Assemblea mondiale, come indicata sopra;
e qui vi è stato il mio intervento per l'Italia che potete leggere al
fondo di questa sintetica relazione. E' poi seguito una
interessantissima e importante Conferenza di ufficiali ed ex ufficiali
di vari paesi ( Grecia, Portogallo, Russia, Bulgaria, DDR e Germania
occidentale) sul tema di costruire un coordinamento europeo di
militari per la pace, la distensione e l'amicizia dei popoli, contro
le Basi straniere nei paesi sovrani, sulla funzione di difesa
nazionale e non imperialista degli eserciti.
Il terzo giorno discussione finale sugli emendamenti proposti, di
seguito la presentazione da parte delle Segreteria Esecutiva della
Bozza di Risoluzione finale dell'Assemblea e conseguente discussione e
definizione finale della Risoluzione dei lavori di questa sessione del
WPC.
Elezione del nuovo Comitato Esecutivo ( così formato: rappresentanti
di Portogallo, Vietnam, Egitto, Messico, Congo Brazzaville, che sono
anche i coordinatori regionali, a cui sono stati aggiunti Francia,
Giappone, Senegal e USA) ; Segretario e Sede centrale degli uffici
del WPC: Grecia; elezione dei tre Co Presidenti: Argentina, India e
Palestina ed elezione del Presidente del WPC per i prossimi quattro
anni il compagno Orlando Fundora del Movimento per la pace e la
sovranità popolare di Cuba.
L'ultima giornata di lavori si è incentrata con la discussione sulla
definizione della Risoluzione finale e sulle proposte di Risoluzioni
di solidarietà presentate dalle organizzazioni locali: Palestina,
Iraq, Korea, Cuba, Vietnam e altre tra cui quella sulla Jugoslavia e
sul Tribunale dell'Aja ( co presentate dalle Associazioni della Serbia
Montenegro Sloboda e Forum Belgrado, insieme alla nostra Associazione
SOS Yugoslavia). La Risoluzione finale dell'Assemblea mondiale 2004
del WPC definitiva, verrà elaborata in questi giorni dalla nuova
Segreteria Esecutiva sulla base delle proposte ed emendamenti
discussi, e poi presentata ufficialmente. La troverete sui prossimi
numeri di Nuove Resistenti appena comunicata.
Al pomeriggio si è poi svolta la Maratona della Pace ( …42 Km da
Maratona ad Atene) che il Comitato greco per la Pace organizza ogni
anno e che quest'anno ha avuto nell'incontro e partecipazione dei 150
delegati mondiali, un momento ancora più significativo dal punto di
vista della fratellanza e della solidarietà militante tra i popoli,
era dedicata ai popoli sotto aggressione dell'imperialismo ed ha visto
la partecipazione di migliaia di manifestanti nel tragitto intero e
nell'unificazione con i delegati del WPC proprio davanti alla sede
dell'Ambasciata degli USA, completamente circondata e protetta dalle
forze di polizia greche. Posso dire senza timori che è stato un
momento di emozioni e commozione generali l'incontro e l'unificazione
dei due cortei, che hanno marciato insieme tra slogan e canti
internazionalisti ( tra cui Bella Ciao che sapevano quasi tutti), e
tra centinaia di passanti che applaudivano e ci abbracciavano lungo le
strade, fino al comizio finale dove hanno preso la parola oltre al
Comitato greco, la rappresentante del Movimento per la Pace
statunitense, un compagno di Cuba e il rappresentante della Repubblica
Democratica Popolare di Korea, in un atmosfera serale ateniese densa
di entusiasmo e solidarietà militante internazionalista, non facili da
vivere a livello di massa nel nostro paese.
Gli esiti e le indicazioni del Piano di lavoro, potranno essere lette
nella Risoluzione finale che faremo conoscere attraverso il sito
www.resistenze.org e nei nostri materiali informativi, cerco di dare
qui in modo sintetico gli elementi generali attraverso cui si è
sviluppata la discussione dei delegati dell'Assemblea, che, va tenuto
presente, riportavano a loro volta riflessioni e valutazioni di quelle
altre decine di paesi che non erano fisicamente presenti a questo
meeting, ma sono parte del WPC e che avevano discusso e proposto le
loro valutazioni nei meeting continentali e che i coordinatori hanno
espresso nei loro interventi.
Un elemento comune di fondo di tutti gli interventi è stata la
denuncia della politica aggressiva portata avanti dall'imperialismo
USA, attraverso la strategia della cosiddetta lotta al terrorismo, che
dopo l'11 Settembre ha trovato la giustificazione ad aggressioni
dirette come nella guerra all'Afghanistan e all'Iraq, e minacce sempre
più pressanti e violente ad altri stati sovrani come Cuba, RPD di
Korea, Siria, Iran, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Bielorussia ed altri, che
sono considerati i prossimi obbiettivi della politica di dominazione
statunitense e che in realtà sono popoli che difendono la propria
indipendenza, sovranità e libertà; su questo importanti e
chiarificatori sono stati gli interventi dei compagni di Siria,
Venezuela e Zimbabwe che hanno spiegato e descritto quali sono le
tecniche e i modi per mettere sotto pressione un paese non asservito
ai loro interessi e pianificarne la destabilizzazione.
Da tutti è stata denunciata la sfacciata violazione del Diritto
Internazionale e della Carta delle Nazioni Unite, continuamente
calpestate, così come la nuova dottrina della Nato che di fatto l'ha
resa la nuova forza militare internazionale al servizio degli
interessi della politica USA e delle multinazionali. Così come la
dottrina della guerra preventiva che di fatto è la sanzione del
"diritto" statunitense, di colpire chiunque in qualunque forma,
ostacoli interessi o strategie della politica economica e militare
imperialista. E' anche stato denunciato lo sviluppo di nuovi tipi di
armi nucleari da usare in conflitti di cosiddetta bassa intensità, da
parte degli Stati Uniti, proprio mentre il movimento per la pace
mondiale, sta preparando grandi manifestazioni per il 60° anniversario
dei bombardamenti di Hiroshima e Nagasaki, una tappa nella campagna
per l'abolizione delle armi nucleari.. Nella stessa Europa si va verso
l'esercito europeo, un processo di militarizzazione reazionaria
dell'Unione Europea. Una forte denuncia e la necessità di lavorare
contro la presenza di basi straniere nei vari paesi, è stata espressa
da tutti i delegati, non ritenendola come parola d'ordine secondaria,
bensì di estrema attualità; in questa ottica molto significativo
l'intervento del delegato del Bangladesh che ha denunciato pressioni e
ricatti al governo locale per fargli accettare la costruzione di una
base militare Usa nella Baia del Bengala..
Nelle conclusioni dei lavori oltre a rilevare i vari punti di analisi
e di proposte di lavoro, emerse nei vari interventi, il segretario del
WPC ha sottolineato la necessità di portare avanti all'interno del
movimento per la pace mondiale, la coscienza di costruire una
strategia comune in tutti i campi, contro e per il superamento del
modello sociale capitalistico, essendo questo e le sue politiche
fondate sul profitto e l'imperialismo, i veri nemici della pace, della
giustizia sociale, e della solidarietà e amicizia tra i popoli. Questo
uno dei compiti su cui il WPC si fa portatore e la cui esistenza sono
stati e saranno fondamentali, nella costruzione di questa coscienza e
obbiettivo storico.
Qui sotto si può leggere il mio intervento messo agli atti
dell'Assemblea mondiale del WPC di Atene, Maggio 2004.
Atene 9-05-2004-05-17
Prima di tutto vi ringraziamo per l'invito a partecipare a questa
Assemblea e ci complimentiamo con il Comitato Greco per la Pace e la
Distensione Internazionale per l'eccezionale organizzazione.
Vi porto il saluto dall'Italia del Forum contro la guerra, del
Movimento dei " Nuovi Partigiani della Pace" e dell'Associazione " SOS
Yugoslavia".
Non intendo portare ulteriori elementi o ripetere interessanti e
ponderati contributi, già portati da competenti e stimati delegati in
quest'Assemblea, entro direttamente nel merito delle proposte di
lavoro e relativo futuro piano d'azione. Relativamente alle proposte e
iniziative indicate nella discussione di ieri e già affrontate nella
riunione del WPC Europeo di Lisbona in Marzo, vi confermiamo la nostra
più completa e convinta adesione e disponibilità a portarle avanti.
Sulla proposta della iniziativa sulla campagna per il disarmo
nucleare, che condividiamo, chiedo, se possibile di aggiungere alla
denuncia ed alla discussione, l'aspetto riguardante il problema delle
armi e delle bombe all'Uranio impoverito, un sempre più attuale
problema, relativo alle presenti e future guerre imperialiste e della
Nato. Come " SOS Yugoslavia" e " Nuovi Partigiani della Pace" abbiamo
da anni un grosso lavoro di studio, denuncia e informazione di questo
tema, con il contributo scientifico di docenti universitari e studiosi
degli " Scienziati e scienziate contro la guerra" che sono schierati
in prima persona nella lotta per la pace. Un lavoro che mettiamo a
disposizione del WPC.
Sulla proposta inerente l'iniziativa sulla questione della
militarizzazione europea, noi pensiamo che sarebbe importante unire
questa tematica a quella delle Basi straniere e della Nato, perché
pensiamo che questo è un problema centrale e attuale, da porre e
portare avanti all'interno del dibattito e della riflessione del
movimento per la pace mondiale.
Sulla proposta delle giornate di solidarietà con la lotta del popolo
palestinese in Settembre, riteniamo che sarà possibile organizzare un
iniziativa locale in coordinazione col WPC, esistendo già da anni un
lavoro di sostegno e solidarietà con la causa palestinese, portato
avanti dal Comitato di Solidarietà col popolo palestinese.
Sottopongo inoltre all'attenzione di questa Assemblea la proposta di
una iniziativa internazionale riguardante la regione del Kosovo
Metohija, parte della Repubblica di Serbia, perché non va inteso come
un problema locale, in quanto è una regione occupata dopo una
aggressione imperialista contro un paese sovrano e indipendente. E
anche perché è parte del problema riguardante le Basi militari
straniere e la Nato, essendo stata costruita illegalmente la più
grande base statunitense dai tempi della guerra del Vietnam: Camp
Bondsteel. E un'altra è in costruzione nella stessa regione: Camp
Goldsmith. Tutto questo rende quest'area una continua fonte di
pericoli per un processo di pace e rischi di nuovi focolai di guerra
in Europa, come dimostrato negli avvenimenti di Marzo scorso. Sostengo
inoltre la proposta di una ferma presa di posizione e denuncia
dell'illegale e illegittimo Tribunale dell'Aja, uno strumento
espressione di interessi e strategie di dominio degli USA e della Nato.
L'eccezionale esito di questa Assemblea mondiale del WPC, è la
dimostrazione dell'esistenza di una tendenza positiva e costruttiva
all'interno del movimento per la pace, che esprime una necessità di
unità e confronto più alto e avanzato politicamente, su una scala
internazionale delle esperienze e attività nazionali. Il risultato
quantitativo e qualitativo, come apporti di analisi ed esperienze
dirette portate nei lavori, fa emergere la necessità e la realistica
possibilità di lavorare ad un coordinamento e confronto stabili, delle
forze e realtà antimperialiste che sono nel movimento per la pace
internazionale. NON con approcci dogmatici o settari, ma per
arricchire e contribuire all'elevamento del dibattito e confronto NEL
movimento per la pace generale. Noi pensiamo che questo, non solo è
necessario ma è anche possibile.
Anche nel Forum Mondiale di Mumbay dello scorso Gennaio, nella
risoluzione finale è stata indicata la necessità della lotta
all'imperialismo e la connessione tra liberismo e guerra.
Più forte sarà il movimento antimperialista, più forte sarà la lotta
per la pace.
Pensiamo anche, che la presenza del WPC al Forum Europeo di Londra ,
sia utile per contribuire alla discussione del Forum ed è un'occasione
per portare le analisi e i contenuti espressi e approvati in questa
sessione mondiale del WPC, all'interno del movimento per la pace.
In questo momento storico preciso, penso che è necessario e un dovere
affermare chiaramente una risoluzione forte di sostegno e solidarietà
con la Resistenza del popolo iracheno, dove si affermi senza indugi :
- Fuori le truppe straniere dalla terra irachena, con Onu o senza Onu
- Indipendenza nazionale, Sovranità nazionale, Non ingerenza, Libertà
per il popolo iracheno e per tutti i popoli e paesi.
Noi pensiamo che nella lotta contro le guerre imperialiste, la pace
non si chiede ma si deve conquistare e che per i popoli non ci può
essere pace senza giustizia sociale.
Il Forum contro la guerra, i " Nuovi Partigiani della Pace", " SOS
Yugoslavia", in Italia lavorano e lavoreranno su questi obbiettivi e
in questa prospettiva, e si sentono parte della battaglia e delle
proposte di questo WPC.
Vi ringrazio ancora della possibilità di essere intervenuto. Buon lavoro.
Enrico Vigna, Italia
World Peace Council (Athens, May 2004)
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/message/3523
World Peace Council on Milosevic, Kosovo and the Hague Tribunal
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/message/3505
Atina: Svetski savet za mir o Milosevicu, Kosovu i haskom tribunalu
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/message/3503
BEOGRADSKI FORUM na skupstini Svetskog saveta za mir
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/message/3524 ]
www.resistenze.org - osservatorio - lotta per la pace - 17-05-04
Relazione sul Consiglio Mondiale della Pace (WPC),
che si è svolto ad Atene dal 5 al 10 Maggio 2004
Ho partecipato come delegato dei " Nuovi Partigiani della Pace "-
Forum contro la guerra e Associazione " SOS Yugoslavia " ( per
l'Italia, Forum contro la guerra, era anche presente il compagno S.
Franchi da Bologna), a questa Assemblea mondiale delle forze
antimperialiste e della pace, che si è rivelato un evento politico e
qualitativo nei suoi contenuti, inaspettato persino dagli
organizzatori. Penso che bastino due dati per comprendere la portata
del dibattito, del confronto e delle proposte di lavoro che si sono
espresse nei cinque giorni : 54 paesi rappresentati dai vari
movimenti, attraverso circa 160 delegati ( dall'Africa alle Americhe,
dall'Asia all'Europa e al Medio oriente) .
L'assemblea che si svolge ogni quattro anni a livello mondiale e
annuale a livello delle cinque zone in cui è suddiviso il WPC ( che
corrispondono ai cinque continenti), è stata ospitata dal Comitato
Greco per la Pace e la Distensione Internazionale, di cui va
sottolineata una impeccabile ed efficiente capacità organizzativa, si
è svolta attraverso un programma di lavori preparati in varie riunioni
continentali, per l'Europa vedere l'altra mia relazione di marzo
sull'incontro di Lisbona in Nuove Resistenti N.75 del 10-04 ( nel
nostro sito: www.resistenze.org ) , aveva come parola d'ordine:
per la lotta dei popoli contro l'ordine mondiale imperialista, per la
pace e la giustizia.
L'agenda dei lavori era la seguente:
Relazione sulle attività svolte dal WPC, dall'ultima Assemblea del 2000
Relazioni dei Coordinatori Regionali
Relazione sulla situazione finanziaria del WPC
Proposte di emendamenti sugli incarichi dirigenti e sulle questioni
organizzative interne del WPC
Presentazione del Piano di attività e lavori per il futuro
Elezione del nuovo Comitato Esecutivo
Il primo giorno vi è stata la relazione del Segretario Esecutivo sulle
attività svolte nei quattro anni 2000-2004 dal WPC a livello
internazionale : Conferenze, Risoluzioni, Manifestazioni, Campagne.
Una discussione e chiarimenti sulla relazione da parte delle varie
organizzazioni.
Al pomeriggio assemblea delle zone regionali, cioè dei cinque
continenti, con rapporto sullo stato dei movimenti e della lotta per
la pace nei vari paesi, sia quelli presenti che quelli rappresentati
dai coordinatori regionali perché impossibilitati ad essere presenti.
Il secondo giorno vi è stata la relazione dei coordinatori regionali
all'Assemblea generale sulla situazione delle varie aree regionali,
poi vi sono stati gli interventi per ogni paese di ciascuna
organizzazione locale sulle proposte di lavoro su cui era stata
incentrata l'agenda di questa Assemblea mondiale, come indicata sopra;
e qui vi è stato il mio intervento per l'Italia che potete leggere al
fondo di questa sintetica relazione. E' poi seguito una
interessantissima e importante Conferenza di ufficiali ed ex ufficiali
di vari paesi ( Grecia, Portogallo, Russia, Bulgaria, DDR e Germania
occidentale) sul tema di costruire un coordinamento europeo di
militari per la pace, la distensione e l'amicizia dei popoli, contro
le Basi straniere nei paesi sovrani, sulla funzione di difesa
nazionale e non imperialista degli eserciti.
Il terzo giorno discussione finale sugli emendamenti proposti, di
seguito la presentazione da parte delle Segreteria Esecutiva della
Bozza di Risoluzione finale dell'Assemblea e conseguente discussione e
definizione finale della Risoluzione dei lavori di questa sessione del
WPC.
Elezione del nuovo Comitato Esecutivo ( così formato: rappresentanti
di Portogallo, Vietnam, Egitto, Messico, Congo Brazzaville, che sono
anche i coordinatori regionali, a cui sono stati aggiunti Francia,
Giappone, Senegal e USA) ; Segretario e Sede centrale degli uffici
del WPC: Grecia; elezione dei tre Co Presidenti: Argentina, India e
Palestina ed elezione del Presidente del WPC per i prossimi quattro
anni il compagno Orlando Fundora del Movimento per la pace e la
sovranità popolare di Cuba.
L'ultima giornata di lavori si è incentrata con la discussione sulla
definizione della Risoluzione finale e sulle proposte di Risoluzioni
di solidarietà presentate dalle organizzazioni locali: Palestina,
Iraq, Korea, Cuba, Vietnam e altre tra cui quella sulla Jugoslavia e
sul Tribunale dell'Aja ( co presentate dalle Associazioni della Serbia
Montenegro Sloboda e Forum Belgrado, insieme alla nostra Associazione
SOS Yugoslavia). La Risoluzione finale dell'Assemblea mondiale 2004
del WPC definitiva, verrà elaborata in questi giorni dalla nuova
Segreteria Esecutiva sulla base delle proposte ed emendamenti
discussi, e poi presentata ufficialmente. La troverete sui prossimi
numeri di Nuove Resistenti appena comunicata.
Al pomeriggio si è poi svolta la Maratona della Pace ( …42 Km da
Maratona ad Atene) che il Comitato greco per la Pace organizza ogni
anno e che quest'anno ha avuto nell'incontro e partecipazione dei 150
delegati mondiali, un momento ancora più significativo dal punto di
vista della fratellanza e della solidarietà militante tra i popoli,
era dedicata ai popoli sotto aggressione dell'imperialismo ed ha visto
la partecipazione di migliaia di manifestanti nel tragitto intero e
nell'unificazione con i delegati del WPC proprio davanti alla sede
dell'Ambasciata degli USA, completamente circondata e protetta dalle
forze di polizia greche. Posso dire senza timori che è stato un
momento di emozioni e commozione generali l'incontro e l'unificazione
dei due cortei, che hanno marciato insieme tra slogan e canti
internazionalisti ( tra cui Bella Ciao che sapevano quasi tutti), e
tra centinaia di passanti che applaudivano e ci abbracciavano lungo le
strade, fino al comizio finale dove hanno preso la parola oltre al
Comitato greco, la rappresentante del Movimento per la Pace
statunitense, un compagno di Cuba e il rappresentante della Repubblica
Democratica Popolare di Korea, in un atmosfera serale ateniese densa
di entusiasmo e solidarietà militante internazionalista, non facili da
vivere a livello di massa nel nostro paese.
Gli esiti e le indicazioni del Piano di lavoro, potranno essere lette
nella Risoluzione finale che faremo conoscere attraverso il sito
www.resistenze.org e nei nostri materiali informativi, cerco di dare
qui in modo sintetico gli elementi generali attraverso cui si è
sviluppata la discussione dei delegati dell'Assemblea, che, va tenuto
presente, riportavano a loro volta riflessioni e valutazioni di quelle
altre decine di paesi che non erano fisicamente presenti a questo
meeting, ma sono parte del WPC e che avevano discusso e proposto le
loro valutazioni nei meeting continentali e che i coordinatori hanno
espresso nei loro interventi.
Un elemento comune di fondo di tutti gli interventi è stata la
denuncia della politica aggressiva portata avanti dall'imperialismo
USA, attraverso la strategia della cosiddetta lotta al terrorismo, che
dopo l'11 Settembre ha trovato la giustificazione ad aggressioni
dirette come nella guerra all'Afghanistan e all'Iraq, e minacce sempre
più pressanti e violente ad altri stati sovrani come Cuba, RPD di
Korea, Siria, Iran, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Bielorussia ed altri, che
sono considerati i prossimi obbiettivi della politica di dominazione
statunitense e che in realtà sono popoli che difendono la propria
indipendenza, sovranità e libertà; su questo importanti e
chiarificatori sono stati gli interventi dei compagni di Siria,
Venezuela e Zimbabwe che hanno spiegato e descritto quali sono le
tecniche e i modi per mettere sotto pressione un paese non asservito
ai loro interessi e pianificarne la destabilizzazione.
Da tutti è stata denunciata la sfacciata violazione del Diritto
Internazionale e della Carta delle Nazioni Unite, continuamente
calpestate, così come la nuova dottrina della Nato che di fatto l'ha
resa la nuova forza militare internazionale al servizio degli
interessi della politica USA e delle multinazionali. Così come la
dottrina della guerra preventiva che di fatto è la sanzione del
"diritto" statunitense, di colpire chiunque in qualunque forma,
ostacoli interessi o strategie della politica economica e militare
imperialista. E' anche stato denunciato lo sviluppo di nuovi tipi di
armi nucleari da usare in conflitti di cosiddetta bassa intensità, da
parte degli Stati Uniti, proprio mentre il movimento per la pace
mondiale, sta preparando grandi manifestazioni per il 60° anniversario
dei bombardamenti di Hiroshima e Nagasaki, una tappa nella campagna
per l'abolizione delle armi nucleari.. Nella stessa Europa si va verso
l'esercito europeo, un processo di militarizzazione reazionaria
dell'Unione Europea. Una forte denuncia e la necessità di lavorare
contro la presenza di basi straniere nei vari paesi, è stata espressa
da tutti i delegati, non ritenendola come parola d'ordine secondaria,
bensì di estrema attualità; in questa ottica molto significativo
l'intervento del delegato del Bangladesh che ha denunciato pressioni e
ricatti al governo locale per fargli accettare la costruzione di una
base militare Usa nella Baia del Bengala..
Nelle conclusioni dei lavori oltre a rilevare i vari punti di analisi
e di proposte di lavoro, emerse nei vari interventi, il segretario del
WPC ha sottolineato la necessità di portare avanti all'interno del
movimento per la pace mondiale, la coscienza di costruire una
strategia comune in tutti i campi, contro e per il superamento del
modello sociale capitalistico, essendo questo e le sue politiche
fondate sul profitto e l'imperialismo, i veri nemici della pace, della
giustizia sociale, e della solidarietà e amicizia tra i popoli. Questo
uno dei compiti su cui il WPC si fa portatore e la cui esistenza sono
stati e saranno fondamentali, nella costruzione di questa coscienza e
obbiettivo storico.
Qui sotto si può leggere il mio intervento messo agli atti
dell'Assemblea mondiale del WPC di Atene, Maggio 2004.
Atene 9-05-2004-05-17
Prima di tutto vi ringraziamo per l'invito a partecipare a questa
Assemblea e ci complimentiamo con il Comitato Greco per la Pace e la
Distensione Internazionale per l'eccezionale organizzazione.
Vi porto il saluto dall'Italia del Forum contro la guerra, del
Movimento dei " Nuovi Partigiani della Pace" e dell'Associazione " SOS
Yugoslavia".
Non intendo portare ulteriori elementi o ripetere interessanti e
ponderati contributi, già portati da competenti e stimati delegati in
quest'Assemblea, entro direttamente nel merito delle proposte di
lavoro e relativo futuro piano d'azione. Relativamente alle proposte e
iniziative indicate nella discussione di ieri e già affrontate nella
riunione del WPC Europeo di Lisbona in Marzo, vi confermiamo la nostra
più completa e convinta adesione e disponibilità a portarle avanti.
Sulla proposta della iniziativa sulla campagna per il disarmo
nucleare, che condividiamo, chiedo, se possibile di aggiungere alla
denuncia ed alla discussione, l'aspetto riguardante il problema delle
armi e delle bombe all'Uranio impoverito, un sempre più attuale
problema, relativo alle presenti e future guerre imperialiste e della
Nato. Come " SOS Yugoslavia" e " Nuovi Partigiani della Pace" abbiamo
da anni un grosso lavoro di studio, denuncia e informazione di questo
tema, con il contributo scientifico di docenti universitari e studiosi
degli " Scienziati e scienziate contro la guerra" che sono schierati
in prima persona nella lotta per la pace. Un lavoro che mettiamo a
disposizione del WPC.
Sulla proposta inerente l'iniziativa sulla questione della
militarizzazione europea, noi pensiamo che sarebbe importante unire
questa tematica a quella delle Basi straniere e della Nato, perché
pensiamo che questo è un problema centrale e attuale, da porre e
portare avanti all'interno del dibattito e della riflessione del
movimento per la pace mondiale.
Sulla proposta delle giornate di solidarietà con la lotta del popolo
palestinese in Settembre, riteniamo che sarà possibile organizzare un
iniziativa locale in coordinazione col WPC, esistendo già da anni un
lavoro di sostegno e solidarietà con la causa palestinese, portato
avanti dal Comitato di Solidarietà col popolo palestinese.
Sottopongo inoltre all'attenzione di questa Assemblea la proposta di
una iniziativa internazionale riguardante la regione del Kosovo
Metohija, parte della Repubblica di Serbia, perché non va inteso come
un problema locale, in quanto è una regione occupata dopo una
aggressione imperialista contro un paese sovrano e indipendente. E
anche perché è parte del problema riguardante le Basi militari
straniere e la Nato, essendo stata costruita illegalmente la più
grande base statunitense dai tempi della guerra del Vietnam: Camp
Bondsteel. E un'altra è in costruzione nella stessa regione: Camp
Goldsmith. Tutto questo rende quest'area una continua fonte di
pericoli per un processo di pace e rischi di nuovi focolai di guerra
in Europa, come dimostrato negli avvenimenti di Marzo scorso. Sostengo
inoltre la proposta di una ferma presa di posizione e denuncia
dell'illegale e illegittimo Tribunale dell'Aja, uno strumento
espressione di interessi e strategie di dominio degli USA e della Nato.
L'eccezionale esito di questa Assemblea mondiale del WPC, è la
dimostrazione dell'esistenza di una tendenza positiva e costruttiva
all'interno del movimento per la pace, che esprime una necessità di
unità e confronto più alto e avanzato politicamente, su una scala
internazionale delle esperienze e attività nazionali. Il risultato
quantitativo e qualitativo, come apporti di analisi ed esperienze
dirette portate nei lavori, fa emergere la necessità e la realistica
possibilità di lavorare ad un coordinamento e confronto stabili, delle
forze e realtà antimperialiste che sono nel movimento per la pace
internazionale. NON con approcci dogmatici o settari, ma per
arricchire e contribuire all'elevamento del dibattito e confronto NEL
movimento per la pace generale. Noi pensiamo che questo, non solo è
necessario ma è anche possibile.
Anche nel Forum Mondiale di Mumbay dello scorso Gennaio, nella
risoluzione finale è stata indicata la necessità della lotta
all'imperialismo e la connessione tra liberismo e guerra.
Più forte sarà il movimento antimperialista, più forte sarà la lotta
per la pace.
Pensiamo anche, che la presenza del WPC al Forum Europeo di Londra ,
sia utile per contribuire alla discussione del Forum ed è un'occasione
per portare le analisi e i contenuti espressi e approvati in questa
sessione mondiale del WPC, all'interno del movimento per la pace.
In questo momento storico preciso, penso che è necessario e un dovere
affermare chiaramente una risoluzione forte di sostegno e solidarietà
con la Resistenza del popolo iracheno, dove si affermi senza indugi :
- Fuori le truppe straniere dalla terra irachena, con Onu o senza Onu
- Indipendenza nazionale, Sovranità nazionale, Non ingerenza, Libertà
per il popolo iracheno e per tutti i popoli e paesi.
Noi pensiamo che nella lotta contro le guerre imperialiste, la pace
non si chiede ma si deve conquistare e che per i popoli non ci può
essere pace senza giustizia sociale.
Il Forum contro la guerra, i " Nuovi Partigiani della Pace", " SOS
Yugoslavia", in Italia lavorano e lavoreranno su questi obbiettivi e
in questa prospettiva, e si sentono parte della battaglia e delle
proposte di questo WPC.
Vi ringrazio ancora della possibilità di essere intervenuto. Buon lavoro.
Enrico Vigna, Italia
Kosovo: la NATO e l'ONU responsabili del "boom" della prostituzione
1. Kosovo: la Forza Internazionale favorisce la prostituzione
Fonte: < alerte_otan @ yahoogroupes.fr >
2. Amnesty accusa la Nato e l’Onu di alimentare la prostituzione in
Kosovo
Fonte : < alerte_otan @ yahoogroupes.fr >
3. Politica Europea : L’incredibile apatia dell’Europa rispetto alla
prostituzione in Kosovo
Fonte: alerte_otan @ yahoogroupes.fr
4. Le basi Nato e la schiavitù sessuale
(elaborazione di MICHEL COLLON)
5. DISPACCI ANSA sullo stesso tema
NOTA: Le traduzioni dei testi 1--4 sono a cura di Curzio Bettio di
Soccorso Popolare di Padova, che ringraziamo calorosamente. I testi
originali - in lingua francese - si possono leggere ad es. alla pagina:
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/message/3491
Nota del traduttore:
Particolarmente interessante questa azione di peace-keeping esercitata
in Kosovo dall’ONU; Kofi Annan non dovrebbe perdersi l’occasione di
gestire dei grandi casini anche in Iraq! Basta che si... risolva, e con
grandi voli charter gestiti dalla Nato, travasi tante belle ragazzine
bionde Moldave, Ucraine, Bulgare o Rumene, o apra una nuova via del
traffico di... badanti Cinesine nel centro del Medio Oriente, per
ovviare alle spese di gestione di una nuova Missione Onu per l’Iraq,
Missione necessariamente umanitaria e garante della democrazia e dei
valori di civiltà dell’Occidente puttaniere e sfruttatore!
=== 1 ===
http://www1.bluewin.ch/infos/index.php/international/20040506:bwf053%c2%a0
Kosovo: la Forza Internazionale favorisce la prostituzione
LONDRA – Secondo Amnesty International (AI), la comunità internazionale
favorisce lo sviluppo della prostituzione in Kosovo. I membri delle
forze di… mantenimento della pace rappresentano il 20 % della
clientela delle reti di prostituzione nella regione.
Con l’arrivo della comunità internazionale in Kosovo nel 1999, “si è
assistito ad uno sviluppo senza precedenti dell’industria del sesso,
basata sulla tratta di donne e di ragazze”, così si è espressa
l’Organizzazione per la Difesa dei Diritti dell’Uomo in un suo
comunicato.
Donne e giovani ragazze, che provengono per la maggior parte dalla
Moldavia, dall’Ucraina, dalla Romania o dalla Bulgaria, sono vendute
come schiave dalle reti di trafficanti. Vengono picchiate, violentate
ed imprigionate da coloro che le hanno comprate.
Visto che soldati e poliziotti della Forza internazionale fanno parte
della loro clientela, queste donne hanno spesso troppa paura per
sfuggire, e le autorità non portano loro alcun aiuto.
Secondo l’Organizzazione, i membri della Missione Interinale per
l’amministrazione del Kosovo delle Nazioni Unite (UNMIK) o della Forza
Internazionale di Pace in Kosovo (KFOR) non hanno mai protetto, tanto
meno rispettato i diritti delle vittime delle reti di prostituzione. Al
contrario, “approfittano delle loro funzioni per sfruttare le donne e
non subiscono alcuna sanzione.”
Dal gennaio 2002 al luglio 2003, 27 militari della KFOR sono stati
sospettati di infrazioni collegate con la tratta di esseri umani,
questo secondo i dati della polizia della UNMIK forniti ad Amnesty. Ma
questa unità non ha potuto fornire indicazioni su eventuali misure
disciplinari prese contro questi militari. Questi militari “godono di
una impunità totale, tanto che la loro immunità non è stata
esplicitamente sollevata presso il Segretario Generale delle Nazioni
Unite”, accusa Amnesty International.
=== 2 ===
http://actu.voila.fr/Depeche/depeche_citoyen_040506172147.35r6m0sn.html
Amnesty accusa la Nato e l’Onu di alimentare la prostituzione in Kosovo
06/05 19:21 “I soldati delle forze Nato in Kosovo (Kfor) e il
personale dell’Onu contribuiscono ad alimentare lo sviluppo della
prostituzione nella provincia della Serbia, il Kosovo, a maggioranza
albanese,” afferma Amnesty International in un rapporto reso pubblico
giovedì 6 maggio 2004.
A Pristina, la Missione delle Nazioni Unite (UNMIK) ha qualificato
questo rapporto come “superato e parziale”, in un comunicato diffuso lo
stesso giovedì, verso la fine del pomeriggio.
Secondo l’Organizzazione per la Difesa dei Diritti dell’Uomo, il "20%"
dei clienti delle reti di prostituzione in Kosovo sono soldati della
Kfor e poliziotti della UNMIK, che contribuiscono in questo modo a
fornire “una parte sostanziosa degli introiti” all’industria del sesso.
"Donne e giovani ragazze sono vendute come schiave. Vengono minacciate,
percosse, violentate e imprigionate da coloro che le hanno acquistate.
Visto che soldati e poliziotti della Forza internazionale fanno parte
della loro clientela, queste donne hanno spesso troppa paura per
sfuggire e le autorità non portano loro alcun aiuto”, deplora in modo
particolare Amnesty.
Secondo Amnesty, i rappresentanti della comunità internazionale
ricorrono “in numero significativo” ai servizi delle donne e delle
ragazze vittime del traffico di esseri umani in questa provincia della
Serbia, a maggioranza albanese, però amministrata dall’Onu dopo il
giugno 1999.
"É scandaloso che coloro i quali sono chiamati a proteggere le donne e
le giovani approfittino della loro posizione per abusare delle donne
impunemente”, ha dichiarato Mme Sian Jones, una ricercatrice di
Amnesty International, che ha partecipato all’elaborazione del
rapporto, in occasione di una conferenza stampa a Pristina.
“La UNMIK (...) trova questo rapporto altamente parziale e considera
che questo non si occupa correttamente della reale e tragica situazione
delle vittime della tratta di esseri umani nei Balcani”, questo secondo
il comunicato della UNMIK.
“Il rapporto contiene numerose generalizzazioni e non sottolinea mai il
punto essenziale: le bande di criminali sfruttano persone
particolarmente vulnerabili, ma comunque le autorità giudiziarie in
Kosovo si stanno occupando di questo problema e stanno registrando dei
successi”, indica il comunicato.
Il rapporto di AI contiene “ informazioni sorpassate (...) presentate
come attuali e produce l'impressione che questo problema, che già
esisteva nel 2001, sia rimasto allo stesso livello nel 2004”, aggiunge
il comunicato.
Dopo l’arrivo della Forza di pace della Nato in Kosovo nel 1999 e
l’insediarsi di un’amministrazione interinale dell’Onu, la provincia si
è trasformata “nella destinazione più importante per il traffico di
donne e di ragazze costrette alla prostituzione”, sottolinea ancora
l’Organizzazione.
Secondo Amnesty, le donne provengono per lo più dalla Moldavia, dalla
Romania, dalla Bulgaria e dall’Ucraina, attraverso la Serbia. Nello
stesso tempo, un numero sempre crescente di donne e ragazze diventano
l’oggetto di traffici nella stessa provincia, per essere inviate
all’estero, specialmente in Italia, nei Paesi Bassi e in Gran Bretagna.
Per contrastare questo flagello, Amnesty lancia un appello alle
autorità del Kosovo,
in particolar modo alla Kfor, per mettere in atto quei provvedimenti
adeguati a porre fine al traffico di donne, ed esige che siano tradotti
davanti ai tribunali i membri civili e militari delle forze di
mantenimento della pace, coinvolti in questa tratta.
Secondo i dati forniti ad Amnesty dalla UNMIK, dal gennaio 2002 al
luglio 2003, 27 soldati della Kfor sono stati indagati per tali atti.
Il Kosovo, dopo il 1999, è sotto l’amministrazione dell’Onu, e la Nato
è incaricata della sicurezza, contando al momento sulla presenza di
qualcosa come 20.000 soldati.
Più di 17.000 soldati della Nato provenienti da 38 paesi e 3.500
poliziotti dell’Onu sono in servizio nella provincia Kosovo.
=== 3 ===
http://www.eupolitix.com/FR/News/200405/a6826cd1-8e7c-415a-ba6b-
29ddbc1f4537.htm
L’incredibile apatia dell’Europa rispetto alla prostituzione in Kosovo
L’organizzazione di difesa dei diritti dell’uomo Amnesty International
esorta l’Unione Europea (UE) ad aumentare il suo sostegno finanziario e
giuridico in favore della lotta contro il traffico di donne in Kosovo.
Questo appello fa seguito ad un rapporto pubblicato questo giovedì
dall’organizzazione, col quale si sottolinea la situazione critica
delle donne e di ragazzine indotte con la forza a prostituirsi in
Kosovo.
“Amnesty International invita l’Unione Europea ad impegnarsi
maggiormente per un’azione finanziaria e giuridica per contribuire alla
lotta contro la deprecabile pratica del traffico di donne e di ragazze,
che sta sviluppandosi proprio alle porte dell’UE”, ha dichiarato Dick
Oosting, il responsabile della sezione europea di Amnesty International.
“Le donne e le ragazze sono avviate alla tratta fuori dal Kosovo, verso
i paesi europei, come l’Italia, i Paesi Bassi e il Regno Unito. Bisogna
agire immediatamente a livello europeo per la prevenzione di tale
traffico, in modo da dare protezione alle vittime, i cui diritti sono
spesso trascurati dalla legge”, ha affermato Oosting.
Il protettorato del Kosovo sotto l’egida delle Nazioni Unite è
strategicamente importante per l’Unione Europea, che destina la sua
prossima fase strategica all’allargamento sui Balcani. Più di 36.000
militari provenienti dai paesi europei prestano servizio nelle forze
della Nato e dell’Onu in questa provincia della Serbia-Montenegro.
É precisamente sulla presenza di questa forza internazionale che
Amnesty punta il dito dichiarandola responsabile dell’aumentare dello
sfruttamento delle donne. Nel suo rapporto, Amnesty sostiene che il 20%
delle persone che usano le donne e le ragazze vittime di questi
traffici sono membri della comunità internazionale e che alcuni, essi
stessi sono implicati nella tratta.
Secondo le inchieste di Amnesty, le donne sono introdotte illegalmente
in Kosovo dalla Moldavia, dalla Bulgaria, e dall’Ucraina, quasi tutte
attraverso la Serbia. Ugualmente, un numero sempre più crescente di
donne e di ragazze della regione, alcune delle quali non hanno più di
11 anni, vengono sfruttate in Kosovo, prima di essere inviate
clandestinamente all’estero.
Sulla base di testimonianze strazianti di donne e di ragazze
intrappolate in queste reti criminali, Amnesty rivela che le giovani
vengono vendute nell’industria del sesso a dei prezzi variabili fra i
50 e i 3.500 euro.
Amnesty esorta quindi l’UE a fornire aiuti ai governi dei paesi
coinvolti, in modo da stroncare alle radici questo traffico e di
mettere in esecuzione in modo opportuno la legislazione vigente
relativa alla protezione dei diritti delle vittime.
La Commissione europea non ha ancora fornito alcun parere ufficiale. In
quanto alla Missione Onu per l’amministrazione interinale del Kosovo
(la UNMIK), questa ha qualificato il rapporto come “altamente
squilibrato” in quanto esso “non affronta in modo adeguato la
situazione reale, che resta comunque tragica”, alla quale devono far
fronte le vittime.
“ In questi ultimi quattro anni, la UNMIK ha preso misure importanti
contro la tratta e la prostituzione in Kosovo” affermano i responsabili
della Missione in una loro dichiarazione.
=== 4 ===
Le basi Nato e la schiavitù sessuale.
Amnesty International sta denunciando “la responsabilità delle truppe
occidentali per il crescente aumento dell’industria della schiavitù
sessuale in Kosovo, un commercio fiorente a causa del quale centinaia
di donne, la maggior parte minori, sono torturate, violentate, e per di
più criminalizzate.”
Quasi 2.000 donne sono state portate via dalla Moldavia, dall’Ucraina,
dalla Russia, dalla Romania dalle mafie locali. Lo stesso fenomeno si
riscontra nella Bosnia occupata dalla Nato dopo il 1995.
Vendute fino a 2.000 Sterline, queste donne sono detenute dai loro
proprietari in condizioni di schiavitù : violentate a titolo di
intimidazione, percosse, minacciate con armi da fuoco, incatenate,
chiuse al buio, con la proibizione di uscire.
Ragazze sempre più giovani della regione sono inserite in ugual maniera
in questo commercio infame : l’80% hanno meno di 18 anni, un terzo meno
di 14 anni.
Il personale internazionale gode dell’immunità : “Amnesty non ha potuto
trovare traccia di alcun provvedimento intentato dai paesi della Nato
contro i loro militari.” Secondo l’Organizzazione, soldati
statunitensi, francesi, tedeschi, italiani sono coinvolti nel racket.
É il momento di ricordare questa analisi fatta dallo scienziato
economico canadese Chossudovsky :
“In Kosovo, la Nato ha fatto un matrimonio di interesse con la mafia”
(citato nel nostro libro “ Monopoly, la Nato alla conquista del mondo”
e nel nostro film “I dannati del Kosovo” -
http://www.lesdamnesdukosovo.chiffonrouge.org/ )
Le basi militari Statunitensi e della Nato si ritiene che dovrebbero
portare la pace e la democrazia in tutto il mondo. In realtà,
favoriscono il saccheggio delle risorse locali per conto delle
multinazionali. Compresa questa immonda industria del sesso. Le nuove
colonie si basano quindi su economie artificiali che corrompono e
degradano quelle regioni.
Fonte : Ian Traynor, The Guardian, 7 maggio 2004
A cura di Michel Collon
=== 5 ===
http://www.ansa.it/balcani
KOSOVO: AMNESTY A UE, CONTRASTARE LA TRATTA DELLE DONNE
(ANSA) - ROMA, 6 MAG - L'Unione europea aumenti il proprio sostegno
finanziario e legale alla lotta per contrastare la tratta delle donne
che vengono costrette a prostituirsi in Kosovo . E' quanto chiede
Amnesty International che oggi ha diffuso un nuovo rapporto sul
fenomeno nel quale sottolinea come '' oggi il personale della comunita'
internazionale presente in Kosovo costituisce il 20% di coloro che si
servono delle prestazioni delle donne e delle adolescenti vittime della
tratta''. ''All'indomani dell'arrivo della comunita' internazionale in
Kosovo, nel 1999, - rileva Amnesty - e' stato registrato uno sviluppo
senza precedenti della cosiddetta 'industria del sesso', basata su
donne e adolescenti vittime di tratta. Si ritiene che nel periodo
1999-2000 il personale internazionale abbia costituito l'80% dei loro
clienti. Nel 2002 il dato sarebbe sceso al 30%, ma il personale
internazionale ha comunque generato l 80% dei proventi dell''industria
del sesso'. Ad oggi, si stima che i clienti delle vittime di tratta
siano costituiti per il 20% da personale internazionale, la cui
presenza in Kosovo non supera il 2% della popolazione locale''. ''Data
l'importanza strategica della presenza dell'Unione europea in Kosovo,
con oltre 36.000 soldati in servizio nella Kfor, chiediamo che sia
fatto di piu', sia sul piano finanziario che su quello legale, per
contribuire a combattere una pratica ripugnante che si svolge proprio
di fronte alla nostra porta di casa'', ha dichiarato Dick Oosting,
direttore dell'ufficio di Amnesty International presso l'Ue. ''Le donne
e le adolescenti vengono trasferite dal Kosovo verso svariati paesi
dell'Unione europea, tra cui Italia, Olanda e Gran Bretagna. Occorre
agire piu' efficacemente per prevenire la tratta e proteggere le
vittime, i cui diritti vengono spesso lasciati privi di tutela
legale''. La maggior parte delle vittime provengono, passando spesso
attraverso la Serbia, da Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria e Ucraina. Allo
stesso tempo, aumenta il numero delle donne e delle adolescenti
kosovare vittime della ''tratta interna'' e poi trasferite all'estero.
Il personale della Missione ad interim delle Nazioni Unite in Kosovo
(Unmik) e della Forza militare internazionale in Kosovo a guida Nato
(Kfor) - fa presente Amnesty - gode di un'immunita' generale, salvo i
casi in cui le inchieste vengano esplicitamente sollecitate dal
Segretario generale dell'Onu o, nel caso della Nato, dai rispettivi
comandanti nazionali. (ANSA). RF
06/05/2004 11:36
KOSOVO: AMNESTY, CON ONU E NATO ESPLOSA PROSTITUZIONE
(ANSA) - BRUXELLES, 6 MAG - Con l'arrivo della comunita' internazionale
in Kosovo rappresentata soprattutto da Onu e Nato, dal 1999 si e' avuta
in Kosovo ''un aumento senza precedenti'' della prostituzione basata
sulla tratta di donne e ragazze. Lo ha denunciato oggi Amnesty
International precisando che mentre nel biennio 1999-2000 questi
stranieri rappresentavano l'80% dei clienti delle donne costrette a
prostituirsi, nel 2002 questa quota e' scesa a circa il 30%. Gli
''internazionali'' - cosi' l'organizzazione per la difesa dei diritti
dell'uomo indica questo tipi di clienti in un comunicato - hanno
assicurato comunque l'80% dei proventi di questa attivita'. Oggi un 20%
dei clienti delle donne sfruttate proviene da questo ambito che
rappresenta solo il 2% della popolazione del Kosovo. Come noto,
l'Alleanza atlantica mantiene circa 20 mila uomini della sua missione
Kfor nella provincia balcanica Amnesty, nel comunicato, riferisce che
secondo la polizia anti-traffico di essere umani e prostituzione
dell'Onu (l'unita' ''Tipu'' dell'Unmik) dal gennaio 2002 al luglio
2003, tra 22 e 27 componenti dela Kfor sono stati sospettati di reati
connessi al traffico di donne. (ANSA). CAL
06/05/2004 16:44
KOSOVO: AMNESTY, TRAFFICO DI PROSTITUTE VERSO ITALIA
(V. ''KOSOVO: AMNESTY, CON ONU...'' DELLE 16:43) (ANSA) - BRUXELLES, 6
MAG - E' in corso attraverso il Kosovo un traffico di donne destinate
alla prostituzione in Paesi dell'Europa occidentale ''tra cui Italia,
Olanda e Regno Unito''. Lo segnala un comunicato di Amnesty
international che fornisce fatti e cifre su questa tratta imperniata
sul protettorato Onu nei Balcani. Le donne fatte passare per il Kosovo,
sostiene l'organizzazione per i diritti umani, provengono dai piu'
poveri Paesi d'Europa dove sono soggette a discriminazioni e violenze
(Moldavia, Romania, Bulgaria, Ucraina). Stando all'Organizzazione
internazionale per la migrazione (Iom), riferisce Amnesty, ''alla
maggior parte delle donne e ragazze oggetto di traffico nel Kosovo e
provenienti dalla Moldavia e' stato promesso un lavoro in Italia''. Le
vittime del traffico sono spesso vendute a piu' sfruttatori durante il
transito a prezzi che variano da 50 a 3.500 euro. (ANSA). CAL
06/05/2004 20:11
1. Kosovo: la Forza Internazionale favorisce la prostituzione
Fonte: < alerte_otan @ yahoogroupes.fr >
2. Amnesty accusa la Nato e l’Onu di alimentare la prostituzione in
Kosovo
Fonte : < alerte_otan @ yahoogroupes.fr >
3. Politica Europea : L’incredibile apatia dell’Europa rispetto alla
prostituzione in Kosovo
Fonte: alerte_otan @ yahoogroupes.fr
4. Le basi Nato e la schiavitù sessuale
(elaborazione di MICHEL COLLON)
5. DISPACCI ANSA sullo stesso tema
NOTA: Le traduzioni dei testi 1--4 sono a cura di Curzio Bettio di
Soccorso Popolare di Padova, che ringraziamo calorosamente. I testi
originali - in lingua francese - si possono leggere ad es. alla pagina:
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/message/3491
Nota del traduttore:
Particolarmente interessante questa azione di peace-keeping esercitata
in Kosovo dall’ONU; Kofi Annan non dovrebbe perdersi l’occasione di
gestire dei grandi casini anche in Iraq! Basta che si... risolva, e con
grandi voli charter gestiti dalla Nato, travasi tante belle ragazzine
bionde Moldave, Ucraine, Bulgare o Rumene, o apra una nuova via del
traffico di... badanti Cinesine nel centro del Medio Oriente, per
ovviare alle spese di gestione di una nuova Missione Onu per l’Iraq,
Missione necessariamente umanitaria e garante della democrazia e dei
valori di civiltà dell’Occidente puttaniere e sfruttatore!
=== 1 ===
http://www1.bluewin.ch/infos/index.php/international/20040506:bwf053%c2%a0
Kosovo: la Forza Internazionale favorisce la prostituzione
LONDRA – Secondo Amnesty International (AI), la comunità internazionale
favorisce lo sviluppo della prostituzione in Kosovo. I membri delle
forze di… mantenimento della pace rappresentano il 20 % della
clientela delle reti di prostituzione nella regione.
Con l’arrivo della comunità internazionale in Kosovo nel 1999, “si è
assistito ad uno sviluppo senza precedenti dell’industria del sesso,
basata sulla tratta di donne e di ragazze”, così si è espressa
l’Organizzazione per la Difesa dei Diritti dell’Uomo in un suo
comunicato.
Donne e giovani ragazze, che provengono per la maggior parte dalla
Moldavia, dall’Ucraina, dalla Romania o dalla Bulgaria, sono vendute
come schiave dalle reti di trafficanti. Vengono picchiate, violentate
ed imprigionate da coloro che le hanno comprate.
Visto che soldati e poliziotti della Forza internazionale fanno parte
della loro clientela, queste donne hanno spesso troppa paura per
sfuggire, e le autorità non portano loro alcun aiuto.
Secondo l’Organizzazione, i membri della Missione Interinale per
l’amministrazione del Kosovo delle Nazioni Unite (UNMIK) o della Forza
Internazionale di Pace in Kosovo (KFOR) non hanno mai protetto, tanto
meno rispettato i diritti delle vittime delle reti di prostituzione. Al
contrario, “approfittano delle loro funzioni per sfruttare le donne e
non subiscono alcuna sanzione.”
Dal gennaio 2002 al luglio 2003, 27 militari della KFOR sono stati
sospettati di infrazioni collegate con la tratta di esseri umani,
questo secondo i dati della polizia della UNMIK forniti ad Amnesty. Ma
questa unità non ha potuto fornire indicazioni su eventuali misure
disciplinari prese contro questi militari. Questi militari “godono di
una impunità totale, tanto che la loro immunità non è stata
esplicitamente sollevata presso il Segretario Generale delle Nazioni
Unite”, accusa Amnesty International.
=== 2 ===
http://actu.voila.fr/Depeche/depeche_citoyen_040506172147.35r6m0sn.html
Amnesty accusa la Nato e l’Onu di alimentare la prostituzione in Kosovo
06/05 19:21 “I soldati delle forze Nato in Kosovo (Kfor) e il
personale dell’Onu contribuiscono ad alimentare lo sviluppo della
prostituzione nella provincia della Serbia, il Kosovo, a maggioranza
albanese,” afferma Amnesty International in un rapporto reso pubblico
giovedì 6 maggio 2004.
A Pristina, la Missione delle Nazioni Unite (UNMIK) ha qualificato
questo rapporto come “superato e parziale”, in un comunicato diffuso lo
stesso giovedì, verso la fine del pomeriggio.
Secondo l’Organizzazione per la Difesa dei Diritti dell’Uomo, il "20%"
dei clienti delle reti di prostituzione in Kosovo sono soldati della
Kfor e poliziotti della UNMIK, che contribuiscono in questo modo a
fornire “una parte sostanziosa degli introiti” all’industria del sesso.
"Donne e giovani ragazze sono vendute come schiave. Vengono minacciate,
percosse, violentate e imprigionate da coloro che le hanno acquistate.
Visto che soldati e poliziotti della Forza internazionale fanno parte
della loro clientela, queste donne hanno spesso troppa paura per
sfuggire e le autorità non portano loro alcun aiuto”, deplora in modo
particolare Amnesty.
Secondo Amnesty, i rappresentanti della comunità internazionale
ricorrono “in numero significativo” ai servizi delle donne e delle
ragazze vittime del traffico di esseri umani in questa provincia della
Serbia, a maggioranza albanese, però amministrata dall’Onu dopo il
giugno 1999.
"É scandaloso che coloro i quali sono chiamati a proteggere le donne e
le giovani approfittino della loro posizione per abusare delle donne
impunemente”, ha dichiarato Mme Sian Jones, una ricercatrice di
Amnesty International, che ha partecipato all’elaborazione del
rapporto, in occasione di una conferenza stampa a Pristina.
“La UNMIK (...) trova questo rapporto altamente parziale e considera
che questo non si occupa correttamente della reale e tragica situazione
delle vittime della tratta di esseri umani nei Balcani”, questo secondo
il comunicato della UNMIK.
“Il rapporto contiene numerose generalizzazioni e non sottolinea mai il
punto essenziale: le bande di criminali sfruttano persone
particolarmente vulnerabili, ma comunque le autorità giudiziarie in
Kosovo si stanno occupando di questo problema e stanno registrando dei
successi”, indica il comunicato.
Il rapporto di AI contiene “ informazioni sorpassate (...) presentate
come attuali e produce l'impressione che questo problema, che già
esisteva nel 2001, sia rimasto allo stesso livello nel 2004”, aggiunge
il comunicato.
Dopo l’arrivo della Forza di pace della Nato in Kosovo nel 1999 e
l’insediarsi di un’amministrazione interinale dell’Onu, la provincia si
è trasformata “nella destinazione più importante per il traffico di
donne e di ragazze costrette alla prostituzione”, sottolinea ancora
l’Organizzazione.
Secondo Amnesty, le donne provengono per lo più dalla Moldavia, dalla
Romania, dalla Bulgaria e dall’Ucraina, attraverso la Serbia. Nello
stesso tempo, un numero sempre crescente di donne e ragazze diventano
l’oggetto di traffici nella stessa provincia, per essere inviate
all’estero, specialmente in Italia, nei Paesi Bassi e in Gran Bretagna.
Per contrastare questo flagello, Amnesty lancia un appello alle
autorità del Kosovo,
in particolar modo alla Kfor, per mettere in atto quei provvedimenti
adeguati a porre fine al traffico di donne, ed esige che siano tradotti
davanti ai tribunali i membri civili e militari delle forze di
mantenimento della pace, coinvolti in questa tratta.
Secondo i dati forniti ad Amnesty dalla UNMIK, dal gennaio 2002 al
luglio 2003, 27 soldati della Kfor sono stati indagati per tali atti.
Il Kosovo, dopo il 1999, è sotto l’amministrazione dell’Onu, e la Nato
è incaricata della sicurezza, contando al momento sulla presenza di
qualcosa come 20.000 soldati.
Più di 17.000 soldati della Nato provenienti da 38 paesi e 3.500
poliziotti dell’Onu sono in servizio nella provincia Kosovo.
=== 3 ===
http://www.eupolitix.com/FR/News/200405/a6826cd1-8e7c-415a-ba6b-
29ddbc1f4537.htm
L’incredibile apatia dell’Europa rispetto alla prostituzione in Kosovo
L’organizzazione di difesa dei diritti dell’uomo Amnesty International
esorta l’Unione Europea (UE) ad aumentare il suo sostegno finanziario e
giuridico in favore della lotta contro il traffico di donne in Kosovo.
Questo appello fa seguito ad un rapporto pubblicato questo giovedì
dall’organizzazione, col quale si sottolinea la situazione critica
delle donne e di ragazzine indotte con la forza a prostituirsi in
Kosovo.
“Amnesty International invita l’Unione Europea ad impegnarsi
maggiormente per un’azione finanziaria e giuridica per contribuire alla
lotta contro la deprecabile pratica del traffico di donne e di ragazze,
che sta sviluppandosi proprio alle porte dell’UE”, ha dichiarato Dick
Oosting, il responsabile della sezione europea di Amnesty International.
“Le donne e le ragazze sono avviate alla tratta fuori dal Kosovo, verso
i paesi europei, come l’Italia, i Paesi Bassi e il Regno Unito. Bisogna
agire immediatamente a livello europeo per la prevenzione di tale
traffico, in modo da dare protezione alle vittime, i cui diritti sono
spesso trascurati dalla legge”, ha affermato Oosting.
Il protettorato del Kosovo sotto l’egida delle Nazioni Unite è
strategicamente importante per l’Unione Europea, che destina la sua
prossima fase strategica all’allargamento sui Balcani. Più di 36.000
militari provenienti dai paesi europei prestano servizio nelle forze
della Nato e dell’Onu in questa provincia della Serbia-Montenegro.
É precisamente sulla presenza di questa forza internazionale che
Amnesty punta il dito dichiarandola responsabile dell’aumentare dello
sfruttamento delle donne. Nel suo rapporto, Amnesty sostiene che il 20%
delle persone che usano le donne e le ragazze vittime di questi
traffici sono membri della comunità internazionale e che alcuni, essi
stessi sono implicati nella tratta.
Secondo le inchieste di Amnesty, le donne sono introdotte illegalmente
in Kosovo dalla Moldavia, dalla Bulgaria, e dall’Ucraina, quasi tutte
attraverso la Serbia. Ugualmente, un numero sempre più crescente di
donne e di ragazze della regione, alcune delle quali non hanno più di
11 anni, vengono sfruttate in Kosovo, prima di essere inviate
clandestinamente all’estero.
Sulla base di testimonianze strazianti di donne e di ragazze
intrappolate in queste reti criminali, Amnesty rivela che le giovani
vengono vendute nell’industria del sesso a dei prezzi variabili fra i
50 e i 3.500 euro.
Amnesty esorta quindi l’UE a fornire aiuti ai governi dei paesi
coinvolti, in modo da stroncare alle radici questo traffico e di
mettere in esecuzione in modo opportuno la legislazione vigente
relativa alla protezione dei diritti delle vittime.
La Commissione europea non ha ancora fornito alcun parere ufficiale. In
quanto alla Missione Onu per l’amministrazione interinale del Kosovo
(la UNMIK), questa ha qualificato il rapporto come “altamente
squilibrato” in quanto esso “non affronta in modo adeguato la
situazione reale, che resta comunque tragica”, alla quale devono far
fronte le vittime.
“ In questi ultimi quattro anni, la UNMIK ha preso misure importanti
contro la tratta e la prostituzione in Kosovo” affermano i responsabili
della Missione in una loro dichiarazione.
=== 4 ===
Le basi Nato e la schiavitù sessuale.
Amnesty International sta denunciando “la responsabilità delle truppe
occidentali per il crescente aumento dell’industria della schiavitù
sessuale in Kosovo, un commercio fiorente a causa del quale centinaia
di donne, la maggior parte minori, sono torturate, violentate, e per di
più criminalizzate.”
Quasi 2.000 donne sono state portate via dalla Moldavia, dall’Ucraina,
dalla Russia, dalla Romania dalle mafie locali. Lo stesso fenomeno si
riscontra nella Bosnia occupata dalla Nato dopo il 1995.
Vendute fino a 2.000 Sterline, queste donne sono detenute dai loro
proprietari in condizioni di schiavitù : violentate a titolo di
intimidazione, percosse, minacciate con armi da fuoco, incatenate,
chiuse al buio, con la proibizione di uscire.
Ragazze sempre più giovani della regione sono inserite in ugual maniera
in questo commercio infame : l’80% hanno meno di 18 anni, un terzo meno
di 14 anni.
Il personale internazionale gode dell’immunità : “Amnesty non ha potuto
trovare traccia di alcun provvedimento intentato dai paesi della Nato
contro i loro militari.” Secondo l’Organizzazione, soldati
statunitensi, francesi, tedeschi, italiani sono coinvolti nel racket.
É il momento di ricordare questa analisi fatta dallo scienziato
economico canadese Chossudovsky :
“In Kosovo, la Nato ha fatto un matrimonio di interesse con la mafia”
(citato nel nostro libro “ Monopoly, la Nato alla conquista del mondo”
e nel nostro film “I dannati del Kosovo” -
http://www.lesdamnesdukosovo.chiffonrouge.org/ )
Le basi militari Statunitensi e della Nato si ritiene che dovrebbero
portare la pace e la democrazia in tutto il mondo. In realtà,
favoriscono il saccheggio delle risorse locali per conto delle
multinazionali. Compresa questa immonda industria del sesso. Le nuove
colonie si basano quindi su economie artificiali che corrompono e
degradano quelle regioni.
Fonte : Ian Traynor, The Guardian, 7 maggio 2004
A cura di Michel Collon
=== 5 ===
http://www.ansa.it/balcani
KOSOVO: AMNESTY A UE, CONTRASTARE LA TRATTA DELLE DONNE
(ANSA) - ROMA, 6 MAG - L'Unione europea aumenti il proprio sostegno
finanziario e legale alla lotta per contrastare la tratta delle donne
che vengono costrette a prostituirsi in Kosovo . E' quanto chiede
Amnesty International che oggi ha diffuso un nuovo rapporto sul
fenomeno nel quale sottolinea come '' oggi il personale della comunita'
internazionale presente in Kosovo costituisce il 20% di coloro che si
servono delle prestazioni delle donne e delle adolescenti vittime della
tratta''. ''All'indomani dell'arrivo della comunita' internazionale in
Kosovo, nel 1999, - rileva Amnesty - e' stato registrato uno sviluppo
senza precedenti della cosiddetta 'industria del sesso', basata su
donne e adolescenti vittime di tratta. Si ritiene che nel periodo
1999-2000 il personale internazionale abbia costituito l'80% dei loro
clienti. Nel 2002 il dato sarebbe sceso al 30%, ma il personale
internazionale ha comunque generato l 80% dei proventi dell''industria
del sesso'. Ad oggi, si stima che i clienti delle vittime di tratta
siano costituiti per il 20% da personale internazionale, la cui
presenza in Kosovo non supera il 2% della popolazione locale''. ''Data
l'importanza strategica della presenza dell'Unione europea in Kosovo,
con oltre 36.000 soldati in servizio nella Kfor, chiediamo che sia
fatto di piu', sia sul piano finanziario che su quello legale, per
contribuire a combattere una pratica ripugnante che si svolge proprio
di fronte alla nostra porta di casa'', ha dichiarato Dick Oosting,
direttore dell'ufficio di Amnesty International presso l'Ue. ''Le donne
e le adolescenti vengono trasferite dal Kosovo verso svariati paesi
dell'Unione europea, tra cui Italia, Olanda e Gran Bretagna. Occorre
agire piu' efficacemente per prevenire la tratta e proteggere le
vittime, i cui diritti vengono spesso lasciati privi di tutela
legale''. La maggior parte delle vittime provengono, passando spesso
attraverso la Serbia, da Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria e Ucraina. Allo
stesso tempo, aumenta il numero delle donne e delle adolescenti
kosovare vittime della ''tratta interna'' e poi trasferite all'estero.
Il personale della Missione ad interim delle Nazioni Unite in Kosovo
(Unmik) e della Forza militare internazionale in Kosovo a guida Nato
(Kfor) - fa presente Amnesty - gode di un'immunita' generale, salvo i
casi in cui le inchieste vengano esplicitamente sollecitate dal
Segretario generale dell'Onu o, nel caso della Nato, dai rispettivi
comandanti nazionali. (ANSA). RF
06/05/2004 11:36
KOSOVO: AMNESTY, CON ONU E NATO ESPLOSA PROSTITUZIONE
(ANSA) - BRUXELLES, 6 MAG - Con l'arrivo della comunita' internazionale
in Kosovo rappresentata soprattutto da Onu e Nato, dal 1999 si e' avuta
in Kosovo ''un aumento senza precedenti'' della prostituzione basata
sulla tratta di donne e ragazze. Lo ha denunciato oggi Amnesty
International precisando che mentre nel biennio 1999-2000 questi
stranieri rappresentavano l'80% dei clienti delle donne costrette a
prostituirsi, nel 2002 questa quota e' scesa a circa il 30%. Gli
''internazionali'' - cosi' l'organizzazione per la difesa dei diritti
dell'uomo indica questo tipi di clienti in un comunicato - hanno
assicurato comunque l'80% dei proventi di questa attivita'. Oggi un 20%
dei clienti delle donne sfruttate proviene da questo ambito che
rappresenta solo il 2% della popolazione del Kosovo. Come noto,
l'Alleanza atlantica mantiene circa 20 mila uomini della sua missione
Kfor nella provincia balcanica Amnesty, nel comunicato, riferisce che
secondo la polizia anti-traffico di essere umani e prostituzione
dell'Onu (l'unita' ''Tipu'' dell'Unmik) dal gennaio 2002 al luglio
2003, tra 22 e 27 componenti dela Kfor sono stati sospettati di reati
connessi al traffico di donne. (ANSA). CAL
06/05/2004 16:44
KOSOVO: AMNESTY, TRAFFICO DI PROSTITUTE VERSO ITALIA
(V. ''KOSOVO: AMNESTY, CON ONU...'' DELLE 16:43) (ANSA) - BRUXELLES, 6
MAG - E' in corso attraverso il Kosovo un traffico di donne destinate
alla prostituzione in Paesi dell'Europa occidentale ''tra cui Italia,
Olanda e Regno Unito''. Lo segnala un comunicato di Amnesty
international che fornisce fatti e cifre su questa tratta imperniata
sul protettorato Onu nei Balcani. Le donne fatte passare per il Kosovo,
sostiene l'organizzazione per i diritti umani, provengono dai piu'
poveri Paesi d'Europa dove sono soggette a discriminazioni e violenze
(Moldavia, Romania, Bulgaria, Ucraina). Stando all'Organizzazione
internazionale per la migrazione (Iom), riferisce Amnesty, ''alla
maggior parte delle donne e ragazze oggetto di traffico nel Kosovo e
provenienti dalla Moldavia e' stato promesso un lavoro in Italia''. Le
vittime del traffico sono spesso vendute a piu' sfruttatori durante il
transito a prezzi che variano da 50 a 3.500 euro. (ANSA). CAL
06/05/2004 20:11
World Peace Council (Athens, May 2004)
1. Declaration of The Assembly of The World Peace Council
2. BELGRADE FORUM AT THE WORLD PEACE COUNCIL
=== 1 ===
Da: "Vladimir Krsljanin" <slobodavk @ yubc.net>
Data: Mer 19 Mag 2004 17:53:07 Europe/Rome
Oggetto: Declaration of The Assembly of The World Peace Council
**************************************
WORLD PEACE COUNCIL
10 Othonos Str, 10557 Athens Greece
Tel.: +30-210-3316326, Fax: +30-210-3224302
http://www.wpc-in.org , e-mail: info@...
**************************************
Declaration of The Assembly of The WPC Athens, May 6-9, 2004
=============================================
The Assembly of the World Peace Council was successfully held on May
6-9, 2004 in Athens, Greece, with the participation of 134 delegates
from
62 Organisations from 47 countries.
After a rich and very fruitful discussion the participants of the
Assembly
concluded with the following declaration to the peoples of the world:
The developments that have taken place since the last WPC Assembly in
May of 2000 have been ones of particular significance and have given
rise
to a situation which is crucial for humanity, one marked by the
intensity of
the increased aggressiveness of the world strategy of the USA as it
strives
to impose and consolidate the new world order of war and oppression. At
the same time day by day it faces increasing political isolation
deriving from
its arbitrary and unilateral acts of violation of human and peoples'
rights.
Humanity is alarmed by the developments regarding world peace and
security in recent years. Never before in recent history have the
peoples stood up and organized such huge protests in the anti-war
movement as those against the imperialist war of the US and its allies
on Iraq. There is a growing worldwide trend towards peace. The WPC has
been and is strongly involved in this movement through its members and
friendly organizations, together with millions of people on all
continents and in all corners of the world.
The terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York and on the Pentagon
on September 11, 2001 was used as a pretext for an overall offensive to
be
launched on the peoples and countries of the world in all sectors. The
announcement of the so-called counter-terrorist campaign by the USA,
with
the support of its allies, serves many purposes and has been used in
order
to unleash two new wars, against Afghanistan and Iraq and to target many
countries that resist US domination or do not align themselves with it.
The WPC condemns terrorist acts, including the ones, which are acts of
state terrorism. Those to blame for these acts should be brought to
justice. The hypocritical and militaristic approach of the USA and the
EU on this issue cannot eliminate the causes of such phenomena. Causes
like the poverty and underdevelopment of the majority of the world's
population, the exploitation and plunder of the natural resources of
the third world by multinational corporations, the accumulated
injustice and oppression of peoples for decades, are factors which are
being used, often by criminal elements which the USA itself has
recruited, trained and financed, for actions which do not have the
slightest relation to the fight of the peoples for their freedom and
national sovereignty, which we firmly defend.
At the same time basic principles of international law and the Founding
Charter of the UN, are being flagrantly violated. The new doctrine is
"might
makes right". Through the new doctrine NATO reserves its rights, to
intervene on a global scale wherever their interests are allegedly at
stake.
In this framework a series of positive international conventions and
accords
signed in the past few years are being abrogated. The goal is, on the
one
hand, to accelerate the further militarization of international
relations,
the setting up of new intervention forces and the development of new
weapons systems and on the other to intensify authoritarianism and
repression inside countries and to pass new laws that restrict or
abolish individual and collective democratic rights. It therefore
becomes a most important task to fight against the "new world order",
defending the rights of the peoples to determine their own fate, and
for a world order of peace based on the peaceful principles of the UN
Charter.
Neo-liberal globalization has been utilized by international capital,
day by
day, as an instrument of unprecedented and exploitation control over
peoples and national policies. Conflicts are increasing; the gap
between developing and developed countries, between rich and poor, is
increasing at a tremendous rate.
In 2001, according to a UN report, one hundred thousand people a day
were dying of starvation, three times more than six years before. Five
million
people have died in the last ten years in Africa in dozens of clashes
and
wars. Three large wars (in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq) have cost
the
lives of thousands of people and caused tremendous destruction. Almost
half of the world's population lives on less than two euro per day
This situation, which is accompanied by rivalry amongst the main powers
to
secure control over and division of the spheres of influence and markets
create tremendous dangers of intensification in warfare and, furthermore
the probability of generalized conflicts having an impact global in
scope.
The US administration has proclaimed the new doctrine of pre-emptive
war,
which runs counter to International law. It has openly listed the states
making up the "axis of evil", thus determining its next targets. Many
countries have been placed on the list, which remains open-ended, ready
to include those countries, peoples and all movements that do not comply
with the domination of the US and its allies.
The USA has adopted the strategy of pre-emptive nuclear strikes,
abandoning the commitment made by all nuclear states to not make the
first use of nuclear weapons. The USA and France are planning to
develop new types of nuclear weapons for use even in urban
battlefields. All nuclear powers must implement their undertakings for
the elimination of nuclear weapons made in the NPT Review Conference in
2000 under article 6. However, the world peace movement has raised its
voice in favor of making the year 2005- 60th anniversary of the bombing
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and a year of the NPT Review conference in
New York- a turning point for the abolition of nuclear weapons
In the recent period it has been announced that a European Army would be
established, which constitutes a further reactionary militarization of
the
EU. At the same time the situation in Palestine deteriorated, while in
Latin
America a plan to intervene in Colombia ha been announced, pressure on
Venezuela has been intensified, increased pressure has been exerted on
Cuba and in Asia events giving rise to tension have been triggered by
the
USA. A further enlargement of NATO has been decided on.
Just as Yugoslavia had been the field for the application of the new
NATO
doctrine previously, Afghanistan and especially Iraq were the first
victims
of the new and horrific doctrine of pre-emptive war.
The policy of military alliances, (NATO, Japan -US security treaty and
others) is being further intensified in order to involve the allies
more the
US strategy and, along this line, US and other foreign military bases
abroad
are also being reinforced and reorganized all over the world. Thus the
movements against US military alliances, NATO and foreign military
bases are growing worldwide. In this context the WPC will support
popular
mobilizations against the NATO summit in Istanbul in June 2004.
All of these decisions, particularly the US pre-emptive attack strategy,
overturn the statutory principles of the UN, as well as the principles
of
international law as they were formulated after the Second World War.
The WPC demands the decolonization of all territories, which remain
under
colonial rule. The WPC expresses its solidarity with the Indigenous
peoples
for their inalienable and indivisible rights, including their rights for
self-determination.
One year after the US-led imperialist invasion and occupation of Iraq
by the
imperialists, the Iraqi people's tragedy continues. In solidarity with
the
resistance of the people of Iraq against the occupation, we demand the
immediate and complete withdrawal of all occupying forces in order to
allow
the Iraqi people to determine their destiny alone.
The Assembly expresses its vehement condemnation of the brutal torture
of
prisoners by the occupation forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo
Base.
We denounce the ongoing NATO occupation of Afghanistan, a "first" on the
Asian continent, which is being used as a model by the US for its future
plans in Iraq.
The genocide of the Palestinian people continues, while new, inhuman and
reactionary measures are being taken by the Israeli government, like the
construction of the wall. The suffering of the Palestinians doesn't
count
for the powerful forces, which back Israel.
In accordance with the UN resolutions, the WPC demands the immediate
withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from all territories occupied in
1967, including the Golan Heights of Syria and the establishment of the
independent state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital,
alongside
Israel. Likewise we support the right of return of the Palestinian
refugees.
The WPC condemns the occupation of the 37% of the Cyprus Republic,
which has continued since 1974, as well as the de facto division of
the country. The WPC salutes the struggle of the Cypriot people-both
Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots- to end the occupation and supports
the efforts to reach a solution soon which will lead to the
reunification of the country.
The WPC takes note of the recent initiatives of India and Pakistan
towards
normalization of bilateral relations, and expresses support for the
peoples'
activities to promote an atmosphere of peace and harmony on the Indian
sub-continent.
The WPC voices its concern over the US pressure on Bangladesh for a
bilateral military agreement to be reached and the establishment of a US
military base to be established in the Bay of Bengal.
The WPC expresses its solidarity with the people of Korea, which is
fighting
against the US hegemonic and hostile policy and for peace on the Korean
peninsula .The WPC supports the peaceful solution of the nuclear problem
between the DPRK and the USA through negotiations. It demands the
complete withdrawal of US troops from the Korean peninsula.
The WPC expresses its sympathy and firm solidarity with the millions of
victims of the toxic chemical AGENT ORANGE used by the USA during the
Vietnam War and calls for action to help alleviate their sufferings.
The WPC expresses its solidarity with the peoples of Yugoslavia in their
struggle against the consequences of the barbarous NATO aggression,
which led to the occupation of part of Serbian territory, Kossovo, and
its
transformation into a NATO protectorate. The so-called Hague Tribunal
is one example of the manipulation of truth and an attempt to
legitimize the
aggression and other crimes of the USA and NATO.
The WPC denounces the imprisonment of the five Cuban political prisoners
who fought against terrorist plans in the United States, while Cuban-
born
convicted terrorists are walking free in the same country. We express
our
firm support and solidarity with the Cuban people which is fighting in
difficult conditions to defend its dignity and sovereignty and demand
the
end of the criminal US blockade against Cuba which has lasted for four
decades.
The WPC demands the immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from
Haiti.
We condemn the acts of the reactionary forces of the local oligarchy to
overthrow the Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela in cooperation with
the USA and its allies in the region and Europe. We support the efforts
for
constructing one society of justice, peace, and solidarity in accordance
with the wishes of its people.
We salute the struggle of the peoples of the Americas against the Free
Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and against the payment of the
foreign debts as well as against the Plan Colombia, which are two
components of the US policy of domination over the resources and wealth
of Latin America and the Caribbean on the one hand and of the military
threat and interference in the region in order to guarantee and protect
its interests on the other. In this context we salute the Bolivarian
Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) as a sovereign proposal against the
neo-liberal plans of imperialism.
Africa is paying the heavy cost of the neo-colonial and imperialist
interventions, combined with sometimes inefficient economic and social
policies, violation of human rights and democratic principles and
various
other forms of social, political and cultural exclusion. Instead of
bringing
more peace and better prospects of a just and sustainable development to
them, the poverty of the African peoples is increasing, dangerously
threatening the lives of millions every day and aggravating the
instability
of their countries. Precious resources are often being wasted on
armaments
instead of being used to efficiently combat pandemics like AIDS and
malaria and for the education and health of the peoples. The WPC
strongly
supports the effective implementation of the UN resolutions on arms
circulation and mine dissemination and use on the continent, as well as
on
its general disarmament.
The WPC denounces foreign interference in the internal affairs of
African
countries and we condemn in particular the imposition of sanctions on
Zimbabwe by the British and US governments.
Challenged by the imperialist attempts of the USA to dominate the world
along with its allies, we the delegates of the Assembly of the WPC,
express
our confidence and trust in humanity for its future. Through the
massive and
coordinated struggles of our peoples we can achieve our objectives. The
21st century has just begun. As never before the peoples of the world
have become conscious of the new dangers, millions of people have
marched in the streets demanding peace and justice. New uprisings of
the peoples and struggles for social transformations will appear. The
new century is holds many surprises for the enemies of the peoples'
demands and rights.
On the occasion of the 55th Anniversary from the foundation of the WPC,
the Assembly calls upon all organizations and movements on the national,
regional and international levels that are ready to work and fight to
defend
peace against imperialist plans, to unite our voices and action for a
world
of peace, equality, justice and solidarity.
******************************************************************
TRUTH
OR SLAVERY, HUMILIATION AND DESTRUCTION OF SERBIAN NATION
http://www.icdsm.org/battle.htm
THE DECISIVE BATTLE FOR TRUTH NEEDS YOUR HELP NOW!
******************************************************************
SLOBODA urgently needs your donation.
Please find the detailed instructions at:
http://www.sloboda.org.yu/pomoc.htm
To join or help this struggle, visit:
http://www.sloboda.org.yu/ (Sloboda/Freedom association)
http://www.icdsm.org/ (the international committee to defend Slobodan
Milosevic)
http://www.free-slobo.de/ (German section of ICDSM)
http://www.icdsm-us.org/ (US section of ICDSM)
http://www.icdsmireland.org/ (ICDSM Ireland)
http://www.wpc-in.org/ (world peace council)
http://www.geocities.com/b_antinato/ (Balkan antiNATO center)
=== 2 ===
BELGRADE FORUM AT THE WORLD PEACE COUNCIL
http://www.artel.co.yu/en/reakcije_citalaca/2004-05-19.html
Belgrade, May 19, 2004
The Assembly of the World Peace Council (WPC) was held in Athens
(Greece) from May 6-9, 2004, in which 167 delegates from 54 countries
and 7 international organisations participated.
The member of the Managing Board of the Belgrade Forum for the World of
Equals, Mr. Dragomir Vucicevic, attended the Assembly.
Taking part in the general debate, Mr. Vucicevic adressed the Assembly
with the following speech:
"Esteemed Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
On behalf of the Belgrade Forum for the World of
Equals, permit me to most cordially thank you for your kind invitation
to attend today's Convention of the World Peace Council. It is my
particular pleasure to extend to you the warmest of greetings of the
Board of Directors of the Belgrade Forum, as well as all of its
members, who are forwarding their wishes for a fruitful dispensation of
this Convention and for every success in your mutual endeavours.
I am extending special greetings and sincere thanks to our hosts, our
Greek friends for their extended solidarity, friendship and aid during
the most difficult periods for the Serbian people.
The Belgrade Forum for the World of Equals is an independent and
voluntary non-government organization which assembles renowned
intellectuals from Serbia and Montenegro. The basic aims of the
Belgrade Forum are: the promulgation of peace, understanding, equality
in international relations, democratic standards, civic, political,
social, economic and cultural rights of individuals. In its pursuit to
achieve these aims, the Belgrade Forum has engaged affirmed supporters
of established humane, democratic and civic principles.
During its five year existence, the Belgrade Forum has organized many
national and international conferences, round tables and other public
gatherings dedicated to current national and international questions.
In many of these conferences we had the honour and pleasure to greet
the participants of the World Peace Council. In the organization of
these activities, the Belgrade Forum has affirmed itself as an
authentic focal point and disseminator of constructive ideas, analysis
and principles.
Our current problems are: the hermetic cloister and imprisonment of all
the media in the country and the absence of any form of financial aid
from the so-called "democratic" authorities who are presently in power,
and who have so far supported the so-called "independent" medias, all
of which have been imported and financed by NATO, Soros and foreign
intelligence agencies. It remains to be seen whether the current
authorities will discontinue with this practice.
The Belgrade Forum has recently organized a Round Table on the fifth
anniversary of the NATO aggression against the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia. Today, like five years ago, we are of the opinion that the
aggression was a crime against peace and humanity. The aggression was
not only a war against the Serbian people, but an overt act against
Europe, against the United Nations, and against the basic principles
which govern relationships in the world. The developments which ensued
in the region after the aggression have confirmed that the instigated
crime has not brought anything constructive either to the Balkans, or
to Europe and the world as a whole.
The tragic consequences of that illegal, inhuman armed attack against
an independent and sovereign country, are visible at every step. Five
years after the aggression, Yugoslavia has disappeared from the face of
the map. This disappearance concluded a process which was initiated at
the beginning of the 1990's with the forcible dissipation of the
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, a process that was aided by
the same international factors who during the aggression of 1999.
rendered the final thrust to the name of Yugoslavia. Serbia and
Montenegro, the successors of the former Yugoslavia, are confronted by
difficult economic, social and political problems. Both in Belgrade and
Podgorica one can talk only of a hypothetical sovereignty, since the
governments in neither of the two republics cannot instigate any
decision without the approval of foreign mentors. The methods of daily
blackmail and threats, to which Serbia and the Serbian people are being
exerted, only prove that the aggression is being continued, using
different methods. In all of this a pivotal place and aim has been
rendered to the Hague Tribunal, which has become an instrument of NATO
retribution against the Serbian people for its resistance to the
break-up of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the
incurred aggression of 1999 against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The continuation of legal proceedings against ex-president Slobodan
Milosevic in circumstances when not a single valid piece of evidence
has been presented to prove the accusations against him has, in the
eyes of the world, turned the Tribunal into a laughing stock, while
international justice and international law have followed suit. By
insisting on the Tribunal process, as well as in the charges against
other high ranking political and military leaders of the Serbian
people, NATO and some of the great powers wish to conceal their
responsibility for the break-up of the former Socialist Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia and for their numerous crimes against peace and
humanity. Further, the Hague Tribunal has become an instrument for the
implementation of colonial authority in the Balkans by the United
States and NATO, all in the interest of their imperial aims.
In the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija we see the
continuance of Albanian terrorism, which is directed against what
remains of the Serbian people. This is attested by the recent bloody
terrorist ventures of the Albanian separatists, instigated on the 17th
and 18th of March of this year against the remaining Serbian population
in Kosovo and Metohija. On the stated dates, more than thirty people
were killed and six hundred badly wounded, more than five thousand
Serbs and non-Albanians were ethnically cleansed and more than three
hundred Serbian houses were burned. What is even more painful, thirty
Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries, dating from the middle ages,
were also torched, where the aim was to destroy any historic vestiges
of the Serbian existence in this region. These bloody acts of terror
and genocide have, unfortunately, been met by meek reactions from
international institutions and factors, which only proves that a policy
of double standards is being continued towards the Serbian people and
the crimes which it sustained.
What are we striving for ?
To preserve what is left of Yugoslavia, the functioning and development
of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro; the termination of further
redrawings of frontiers in the Balkans; the strict respect and
implementation of the Dayton Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina, as
well as Resolution 1244 of the Security Council of the United Nations
pertaining to Kosovo and Metohija.
We are endeavouring for strict respect of the principle that Kosovo and
Metohija is an integral part of Serbia. We are further endeavouring for
the free and safe return of some 300.000 displaced persons from Kosovo
and Metohija, and for the implementation of a programme of
reconstruction of all that has been destroyed or burned since 1999. As
for the final status of Kosovo and Metohija, the same can only be
negotiated in the framework of Resolution 1244 of 1999, and this only
after the safe return of all expelled Serbs and other non-Albanians,
the repatriation of all illegal aliens, the disarming of the terrorist
"KLA" and the termination of terrorism in any colour.
The Balkans are an integral part of Europe, and therefore it goes
without saying that all the accepted standards which pertain to Europe
must also pertain to every region of the Balkans. It is based on these
principles that we endeavour the establishment of a Conference on the
Balkans under the auspecies of the Europena Organization for Peace and
Security, which would discuss frontiers and the rights of national
minorities. We are further endeavouring for the establishment of a free
trade zone in the Balkans, which would act as a conduit for a more
efficient and successful cooperation of all the Balkan countries, and
for their quicker incorporation in the European integration streams.
In the end, permit me to underline our great interest to further
develop and strengthen our good cooperation with the World Peace
Council. It is for this reason that we are rendering our full support
for the expansion and strengthening of the World Peace Council, as an
original international organization fostering peace, equality and
respect for international law.
Tank you for your respect and attention".
The participants of the Assembly adopted, after a rich and very frutful
discution, the political Declaration underlying the need to strengthen
the role of the WPC in achiving the World peace through the opposition
to imperialist wars and policies.
The Declaration has devouted the following paragraph on Yugoslavia:
"The World Peace Council is expressing its solidarity with the peoples
of Yugoslavia in their struggle against the consequences of the
barbarous attack of NATO, which led to the occupation of part of the
Serbian territory, Kosovo and its transformation into a NATO -
protectorate. The so-called Hague Tribunal is one example of
manipulatio of the truth and an effort to legitimize the crimes of the
USA and NATO".
---
BELGRADE FORUM FOR THE WORLD OF EQUALS
Belgrade, Misarska 6/II, 11000 Serbia and Montenegro
T/F; (+381 11) 3245601
E-mail: beoforum @ verat.net
www.belgrade-forum.org
1. Declaration of The Assembly of The World Peace Council
2. BELGRADE FORUM AT THE WORLD PEACE COUNCIL
=== 1 ===
Da: "Vladimir Krsljanin" <slobodavk @ yubc.net>
Data: Mer 19 Mag 2004 17:53:07 Europe/Rome
Oggetto: Declaration of The Assembly of The World Peace Council
**************************************
WORLD PEACE COUNCIL
10 Othonos Str, 10557 Athens Greece
Tel.: +30-210-3316326, Fax: +30-210-3224302
http://www.wpc-in.org , e-mail: info@...
**************************************
Declaration of The Assembly of The WPC Athens, May 6-9, 2004
=============================================
The Assembly of the World Peace Council was successfully held on May
6-9, 2004 in Athens, Greece, with the participation of 134 delegates
from
62 Organisations from 47 countries.
After a rich and very fruitful discussion the participants of the
Assembly
concluded with the following declaration to the peoples of the world:
The developments that have taken place since the last WPC Assembly in
May of 2000 have been ones of particular significance and have given
rise
to a situation which is crucial for humanity, one marked by the
intensity of
the increased aggressiveness of the world strategy of the USA as it
strives
to impose and consolidate the new world order of war and oppression. At
the same time day by day it faces increasing political isolation
deriving from
its arbitrary and unilateral acts of violation of human and peoples'
rights.
Humanity is alarmed by the developments regarding world peace and
security in recent years. Never before in recent history have the
peoples stood up and organized such huge protests in the anti-war
movement as those against the imperialist war of the US and its allies
on Iraq. There is a growing worldwide trend towards peace. The WPC has
been and is strongly involved in this movement through its members and
friendly organizations, together with millions of people on all
continents and in all corners of the world.
The terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York and on the Pentagon
on September 11, 2001 was used as a pretext for an overall offensive to
be
launched on the peoples and countries of the world in all sectors. The
announcement of the so-called counter-terrorist campaign by the USA,
with
the support of its allies, serves many purposes and has been used in
order
to unleash two new wars, against Afghanistan and Iraq and to target many
countries that resist US domination or do not align themselves with it.
The WPC condemns terrorist acts, including the ones, which are acts of
state terrorism. Those to blame for these acts should be brought to
justice. The hypocritical and militaristic approach of the USA and the
EU on this issue cannot eliminate the causes of such phenomena. Causes
like the poverty and underdevelopment of the majority of the world's
population, the exploitation and plunder of the natural resources of
the third world by multinational corporations, the accumulated
injustice and oppression of peoples for decades, are factors which are
being used, often by criminal elements which the USA itself has
recruited, trained and financed, for actions which do not have the
slightest relation to the fight of the peoples for their freedom and
national sovereignty, which we firmly defend.
At the same time basic principles of international law and the Founding
Charter of the UN, are being flagrantly violated. The new doctrine is
"might
makes right". Through the new doctrine NATO reserves its rights, to
intervene on a global scale wherever their interests are allegedly at
stake.
In this framework a series of positive international conventions and
accords
signed in the past few years are being abrogated. The goal is, on the
one
hand, to accelerate the further militarization of international
relations,
the setting up of new intervention forces and the development of new
weapons systems and on the other to intensify authoritarianism and
repression inside countries and to pass new laws that restrict or
abolish individual and collective democratic rights. It therefore
becomes a most important task to fight against the "new world order",
defending the rights of the peoples to determine their own fate, and
for a world order of peace based on the peaceful principles of the UN
Charter.
Neo-liberal globalization has been utilized by international capital,
day by
day, as an instrument of unprecedented and exploitation control over
peoples and national policies. Conflicts are increasing; the gap
between developing and developed countries, between rich and poor, is
increasing at a tremendous rate.
In 2001, according to a UN report, one hundred thousand people a day
were dying of starvation, three times more than six years before. Five
million
people have died in the last ten years in Africa in dozens of clashes
and
wars. Three large wars (in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq) have cost
the
lives of thousands of people and caused tremendous destruction. Almost
half of the world's population lives on less than two euro per day
This situation, which is accompanied by rivalry amongst the main powers
to
secure control over and division of the spheres of influence and markets
create tremendous dangers of intensification in warfare and, furthermore
the probability of generalized conflicts having an impact global in
scope.
The US administration has proclaimed the new doctrine of pre-emptive
war,
which runs counter to International law. It has openly listed the states
making up the "axis of evil", thus determining its next targets. Many
countries have been placed on the list, which remains open-ended, ready
to include those countries, peoples and all movements that do not comply
with the domination of the US and its allies.
The USA has adopted the strategy of pre-emptive nuclear strikes,
abandoning the commitment made by all nuclear states to not make the
first use of nuclear weapons. The USA and France are planning to
develop new types of nuclear weapons for use even in urban
battlefields. All nuclear powers must implement their undertakings for
the elimination of nuclear weapons made in the NPT Review Conference in
2000 under article 6. However, the world peace movement has raised its
voice in favor of making the year 2005- 60th anniversary of the bombing
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and a year of the NPT Review conference in
New York- a turning point for the abolition of nuclear weapons
In the recent period it has been announced that a European Army would be
established, which constitutes a further reactionary militarization of
the
EU. At the same time the situation in Palestine deteriorated, while in
Latin
America a plan to intervene in Colombia ha been announced, pressure on
Venezuela has been intensified, increased pressure has been exerted on
Cuba and in Asia events giving rise to tension have been triggered by
the
USA. A further enlargement of NATO has been decided on.
Just as Yugoslavia had been the field for the application of the new
NATO
doctrine previously, Afghanistan and especially Iraq were the first
victims
of the new and horrific doctrine of pre-emptive war.
The policy of military alliances, (NATO, Japan -US security treaty and
others) is being further intensified in order to involve the allies
more the
US strategy and, along this line, US and other foreign military bases
abroad
are also being reinforced and reorganized all over the world. Thus the
movements against US military alliances, NATO and foreign military
bases are growing worldwide. In this context the WPC will support
popular
mobilizations against the NATO summit in Istanbul in June 2004.
All of these decisions, particularly the US pre-emptive attack strategy,
overturn the statutory principles of the UN, as well as the principles
of
international law as they were formulated after the Second World War.
The WPC demands the decolonization of all territories, which remain
under
colonial rule. The WPC expresses its solidarity with the Indigenous
peoples
for their inalienable and indivisible rights, including their rights for
self-determination.
One year after the US-led imperialist invasion and occupation of Iraq
by the
imperialists, the Iraqi people's tragedy continues. In solidarity with
the
resistance of the people of Iraq against the occupation, we demand the
immediate and complete withdrawal of all occupying forces in order to
allow
the Iraqi people to determine their destiny alone.
The Assembly expresses its vehement condemnation of the brutal torture
of
prisoners by the occupation forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo
Base.
We denounce the ongoing NATO occupation of Afghanistan, a "first" on the
Asian continent, which is being used as a model by the US for its future
plans in Iraq.
The genocide of the Palestinian people continues, while new, inhuman and
reactionary measures are being taken by the Israeli government, like the
construction of the wall. The suffering of the Palestinians doesn't
count
for the powerful forces, which back Israel.
In accordance with the UN resolutions, the WPC demands the immediate
withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from all territories occupied in
1967, including the Golan Heights of Syria and the establishment of the
independent state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital,
alongside
Israel. Likewise we support the right of return of the Palestinian
refugees.
The WPC condemns the occupation of the 37% of the Cyprus Republic,
which has continued since 1974, as well as the de facto division of
the country. The WPC salutes the struggle of the Cypriot people-both
Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots- to end the occupation and supports
the efforts to reach a solution soon which will lead to the
reunification of the country.
The WPC takes note of the recent initiatives of India and Pakistan
towards
normalization of bilateral relations, and expresses support for the
peoples'
activities to promote an atmosphere of peace and harmony on the Indian
sub-continent.
The WPC voices its concern over the US pressure on Bangladesh for a
bilateral military agreement to be reached and the establishment of a US
military base to be established in the Bay of Bengal.
The WPC expresses its solidarity with the people of Korea, which is
fighting
against the US hegemonic and hostile policy and for peace on the Korean
peninsula .The WPC supports the peaceful solution of the nuclear problem
between the DPRK and the USA through negotiations. It demands the
complete withdrawal of US troops from the Korean peninsula.
The WPC expresses its sympathy and firm solidarity with the millions of
victims of the toxic chemical AGENT ORANGE used by the USA during the
Vietnam War and calls for action to help alleviate their sufferings.
The WPC expresses its solidarity with the peoples of Yugoslavia in their
struggle against the consequences of the barbarous NATO aggression,
which led to the occupation of part of Serbian territory, Kossovo, and
its
transformation into a NATO protectorate. The so-called Hague Tribunal
is one example of the manipulation of truth and an attempt to
legitimize the
aggression and other crimes of the USA and NATO.
The WPC denounces the imprisonment of the five Cuban political prisoners
who fought against terrorist plans in the United States, while Cuban-
born
convicted terrorists are walking free in the same country. We express
our
firm support and solidarity with the Cuban people which is fighting in
difficult conditions to defend its dignity and sovereignty and demand
the
end of the criminal US blockade against Cuba which has lasted for four
decades.
The WPC demands the immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from
Haiti.
We condemn the acts of the reactionary forces of the local oligarchy to
overthrow the Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela in cooperation with
the USA and its allies in the region and Europe. We support the efforts
for
constructing one society of justice, peace, and solidarity in accordance
with the wishes of its people.
We salute the struggle of the peoples of the Americas against the Free
Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and against the payment of the
foreign debts as well as against the Plan Colombia, which are two
components of the US policy of domination over the resources and wealth
of Latin America and the Caribbean on the one hand and of the military
threat and interference in the region in order to guarantee and protect
its interests on the other. In this context we salute the Bolivarian
Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) as a sovereign proposal against the
neo-liberal plans of imperialism.
Africa is paying the heavy cost of the neo-colonial and imperialist
interventions, combined with sometimes inefficient economic and social
policies, violation of human rights and democratic principles and
various
other forms of social, political and cultural exclusion. Instead of
bringing
more peace and better prospects of a just and sustainable development to
them, the poverty of the African peoples is increasing, dangerously
threatening the lives of millions every day and aggravating the
instability
of their countries. Precious resources are often being wasted on
armaments
instead of being used to efficiently combat pandemics like AIDS and
malaria and for the education and health of the peoples. The WPC
strongly
supports the effective implementation of the UN resolutions on arms
circulation and mine dissemination and use on the continent, as well as
on
its general disarmament.
The WPC denounces foreign interference in the internal affairs of
African
countries and we condemn in particular the imposition of sanctions on
Zimbabwe by the British and US governments.
Challenged by the imperialist attempts of the USA to dominate the world
along with its allies, we the delegates of the Assembly of the WPC,
express
our confidence and trust in humanity for its future. Through the
massive and
coordinated struggles of our peoples we can achieve our objectives. The
21st century has just begun. As never before the peoples of the world
have become conscious of the new dangers, millions of people have
marched in the streets demanding peace and justice. New uprisings of
the peoples and struggles for social transformations will appear. The
new century is holds many surprises for the enemies of the peoples'
demands and rights.
On the occasion of the 55th Anniversary from the foundation of the WPC,
the Assembly calls upon all organizations and movements on the national,
regional and international levels that are ready to work and fight to
defend
peace against imperialist plans, to unite our voices and action for a
world
of peace, equality, justice and solidarity.
******************************************************************
TRUTH
OR SLAVERY, HUMILIATION AND DESTRUCTION OF SERBIAN NATION
http://www.icdsm.org/battle.htm
THE DECISIVE BATTLE FOR TRUTH NEEDS YOUR HELP NOW!
******************************************************************
SLOBODA urgently needs your donation.
Please find the detailed instructions at:
http://www.sloboda.org.yu/pomoc.htm
To join or help this struggle, visit:
http://www.sloboda.org.yu/ (Sloboda/Freedom association)
http://www.icdsm.org/ (the international committee to defend Slobodan
Milosevic)
http://www.free-slobo.de/ (German section of ICDSM)
http://www.icdsm-us.org/ (US section of ICDSM)
http://www.icdsmireland.org/ (ICDSM Ireland)
http://www.wpc-in.org/ (world peace council)
http://www.geocities.com/b_antinato/ (Balkan antiNATO center)
=== 2 ===
BELGRADE FORUM AT THE WORLD PEACE COUNCIL
http://www.artel.co.yu/en/reakcije_citalaca/2004-05-19.html
Belgrade, May 19, 2004
The Assembly of the World Peace Council (WPC) was held in Athens
(Greece) from May 6-9, 2004, in which 167 delegates from 54 countries
and 7 international organisations participated.
The member of the Managing Board of the Belgrade Forum for the World of
Equals, Mr. Dragomir Vucicevic, attended the Assembly.
Taking part in the general debate, Mr. Vucicevic adressed the Assembly
with the following speech:
"Esteemed Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
On behalf of the Belgrade Forum for the World of
Equals, permit me to most cordially thank you for your kind invitation
to attend today's Convention of the World Peace Council. It is my
particular pleasure to extend to you the warmest of greetings of the
Board of Directors of the Belgrade Forum, as well as all of its
members, who are forwarding their wishes for a fruitful dispensation of
this Convention and for every success in your mutual endeavours.
I am extending special greetings and sincere thanks to our hosts, our
Greek friends for their extended solidarity, friendship and aid during
the most difficult periods for the Serbian people.
The Belgrade Forum for the World of Equals is an independent and
voluntary non-government organization which assembles renowned
intellectuals from Serbia and Montenegro. The basic aims of the
Belgrade Forum are: the promulgation of peace, understanding, equality
in international relations, democratic standards, civic, political,
social, economic and cultural rights of individuals. In its pursuit to
achieve these aims, the Belgrade Forum has engaged affirmed supporters
of established humane, democratic and civic principles.
During its five year existence, the Belgrade Forum has organized many
national and international conferences, round tables and other public
gatherings dedicated to current national and international questions.
In many of these conferences we had the honour and pleasure to greet
the participants of the World Peace Council. In the organization of
these activities, the Belgrade Forum has affirmed itself as an
authentic focal point and disseminator of constructive ideas, analysis
and principles.
Our current problems are: the hermetic cloister and imprisonment of all
the media in the country and the absence of any form of financial aid
from the so-called "democratic" authorities who are presently in power,
and who have so far supported the so-called "independent" medias, all
of which have been imported and financed by NATO, Soros and foreign
intelligence agencies. It remains to be seen whether the current
authorities will discontinue with this practice.
The Belgrade Forum has recently organized a Round Table on the fifth
anniversary of the NATO aggression against the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia. Today, like five years ago, we are of the opinion that the
aggression was a crime against peace and humanity. The aggression was
not only a war against the Serbian people, but an overt act against
Europe, against the United Nations, and against the basic principles
which govern relationships in the world. The developments which ensued
in the region after the aggression have confirmed that the instigated
crime has not brought anything constructive either to the Balkans, or
to Europe and the world as a whole.
The tragic consequences of that illegal, inhuman armed attack against
an independent and sovereign country, are visible at every step. Five
years after the aggression, Yugoslavia has disappeared from the face of
the map. This disappearance concluded a process which was initiated at
the beginning of the 1990's with the forcible dissipation of the
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, a process that was aided by
the same international factors who during the aggression of 1999.
rendered the final thrust to the name of Yugoslavia. Serbia and
Montenegro, the successors of the former Yugoslavia, are confronted by
difficult economic, social and political problems. Both in Belgrade and
Podgorica one can talk only of a hypothetical sovereignty, since the
governments in neither of the two republics cannot instigate any
decision without the approval of foreign mentors. The methods of daily
blackmail and threats, to which Serbia and the Serbian people are being
exerted, only prove that the aggression is being continued, using
different methods. In all of this a pivotal place and aim has been
rendered to the Hague Tribunal, which has become an instrument of NATO
retribution against the Serbian people for its resistance to the
break-up of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the
incurred aggression of 1999 against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The continuation of legal proceedings against ex-president Slobodan
Milosevic in circumstances when not a single valid piece of evidence
has been presented to prove the accusations against him has, in the
eyes of the world, turned the Tribunal into a laughing stock, while
international justice and international law have followed suit. By
insisting on the Tribunal process, as well as in the charges against
other high ranking political and military leaders of the Serbian
people, NATO and some of the great powers wish to conceal their
responsibility for the break-up of the former Socialist Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia and for their numerous crimes against peace and
humanity. Further, the Hague Tribunal has become an instrument for the
implementation of colonial authority in the Balkans by the United
States and NATO, all in the interest of their imperial aims.
In the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija we see the
continuance of Albanian terrorism, which is directed against what
remains of the Serbian people. This is attested by the recent bloody
terrorist ventures of the Albanian separatists, instigated on the 17th
and 18th of March of this year against the remaining Serbian population
in Kosovo and Metohija. On the stated dates, more than thirty people
were killed and six hundred badly wounded, more than five thousand
Serbs and non-Albanians were ethnically cleansed and more than three
hundred Serbian houses were burned. What is even more painful, thirty
Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries, dating from the middle ages,
were also torched, where the aim was to destroy any historic vestiges
of the Serbian existence in this region. These bloody acts of terror
and genocide have, unfortunately, been met by meek reactions from
international institutions and factors, which only proves that a policy
of double standards is being continued towards the Serbian people and
the crimes which it sustained.
What are we striving for ?
To preserve what is left of Yugoslavia, the functioning and development
of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro; the termination of further
redrawings of frontiers in the Balkans; the strict respect and
implementation of the Dayton Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina, as
well as Resolution 1244 of the Security Council of the United Nations
pertaining to Kosovo and Metohija.
We are endeavouring for strict respect of the principle that Kosovo and
Metohija is an integral part of Serbia. We are further endeavouring for
the free and safe return of some 300.000 displaced persons from Kosovo
and Metohija, and for the implementation of a programme of
reconstruction of all that has been destroyed or burned since 1999. As
for the final status of Kosovo and Metohija, the same can only be
negotiated in the framework of Resolution 1244 of 1999, and this only
after the safe return of all expelled Serbs and other non-Albanians,
the repatriation of all illegal aliens, the disarming of the terrorist
"KLA" and the termination of terrorism in any colour.
The Balkans are an integral part of Europe, and therefore it goes
without saying that all the accepted standards which pertain to Europe
must also pertain to every region of the Balkans. It is based on these
principles that we endeavour the establishment of a Conference on the
Balkans under the auspecies of the Europena Organization for Peace and
Security, which would discuss frontiers and the rights of national
minorities. We are further endeavouring for the establishment of a free
trade zone in the Balkans, which would act as a conduit for a more
efficient and successful cooperation of all the Balkan countries, and
for their quicker incorporation in the European integration streams.
In the end, permit me to underline our great interest to further
develop and strengthen our good cooperation with the World Peace
Council. It is for this reason that we are rendering our full support
for the expansion and strengthening of the World Peace Council, as an
original international organization fostering peace, equality and
respect for international law.
Tank you for your respect and attention".
The participants of the Assembly adopted, after a rich and very frutful
discution, the political Declaration underlying the need to strengthen
the role of the WPC in achiving the World peace through the opposition
to imperialist wars and policies.
The Declaration has devouted the following paragraph on Yugoslavia:
"The World Peace Council is expressing its solidarity with the peoples
of Yugoslavia in their struggle against the consequences of the
barbarous attack of NATO, which led to the occupation of part of the
Serbian territory, Kosovo and its transformation into a NATO -
protectorate. The so-called Hague Tribunal is one example of
manipulatio of the truth and an effort to legitimize the crimes of the
USA and NATO".
---
BELGRADE FORUM FOR THE WORLD OF EQUALS
Belgrade, Misarska 6/II, 11000 Serbia and Montenegro
T/F; (+381 11) 3245601
E-mail: beoforum @ verat.net
www.belgrade-forum.org
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