Yugo: anti-Dayton politics

[Chris Burford <cburford@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I forward this example of a political response to the Dayton peace
which unlike ultra-leftist pure proletarian anti-imperialist
politics, does accept the reform of the peace settlement. But not
in a reformist way that tails behind the imperialist powers, who
cannot build effective peace.

Chris, London

__________________________________________________________________________



/* Written  2:50 pm  Dec 19, 1995 by DPHR_ZG@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx in 
gn:yugo.antiwar */
/* ---------- "STATEMENT, Civic Peace Conference (" ---------- */
STATEMENT

(Norway - Tromso, December 12-14 1995)

We, representing local based Non Govermental Organisations working for
peace and improvement of the Human Rights situation in different parts of
the former Yugoslavia, participated in the Civic Peace Conference held in
Tromso, December 12-14 1995. During this period we have discussed the
Human Rights situation in the respective areas where we work, and how to
improve our work for Human Rights through national and international
networks.

We highly stress the importance of work done by the local based NGOs in
the process of peace and improvement of Human Rights in all parts of the
former Yugoslavia. The last years experiences have demonstrated that the
authorities cannot be trusted as actors for peace and improvement of Human
Rights. National governments, local authorities and international
organisations can, at best, only provide a framework, for this. In many
areas, the authorities have show a lack of will and ability to do even
this.

International contacts must realise that a process aimed at peace and an
improved Human Rights situation depend to a high extent on the local
people facing the problems in their daily life. Support from the world
outside focus on this level, not only the level of regional and national
authorities.

Local based NGOs have the key role concerning this issue, the
organisations represented at the Civic Peace Conference being a good
example. These NGOs work pratically by helping needy people, especially
refugees, with their material needs and their protection against Human
Rights violations. They also work politically by establishing a continuos
pressure on national and local authorities to improve the Human Rights
situation.
Local NGOs are today s freedom fighters and should be respected as that.

Contrary to the national and international NGOs, the local based NGOs do
not easily fit into an international network for mutual communication and
support.
We therefore stress the need for international network building to benefit
local NGOs with corresponding aims and strategies. Concerning the conctat
between local Norwegian NGOs and local based NGOs in the former
Yugoslavia, this network should be built on such subjects as exchange of
information and people, specific projects and funding of work.

The establishment of personal contacts is of central importance for
network building. We will therefore ask Norwegian authorities and NGOs to
support the network, building by giving opportunities for exchange of NGO
volunteers through conferences, seminars and student exchange programs.
In addition to the establishment of personal contacts and exchanges of
experiences, these arrangements in itself will also have a positive impact
on the work of local NGOs by giving volunteer workers a well deserved time-
out from a hard day-to-day life. We will put particular emphasise on the
need for exchange of young people, to give them and other youths
motivation for future NGO work.

Most of the local based NGOs have a very limited capacity both concerning
human and economical resources. They receive little or no economic support
from international contacts. We ask Norwegian NGOs, local authorities and
the national government for support of our work to improve Human Rights
locally. This support may be given in the form of economic funding of the
work in general, or direct involvement in specific projects.

We also ask for political support in the form of official and non-official
protest against Human Rights violations in our regimes.
We especially want to challenge the city of Tromso to protest against the
many evictions, ethnic discrimination and other violations of Human
Rights.

The friendship relation between Zagreb and Tromso should not stop Tromso
officials from making sharp protests againsts these cases.

We also challenge Norwegian NGOs and local authorities to join our appel
to the Norwegian government concerning the treatment of consciencous
objectors/draft evanders and deserters from the former Yugoslavia.

The Norwegian government and other European governments must lift travel
and visa restrictions to insure that people can move freely to in and out
of their own country. The draft-evanders, conscientious objectors and
deserters must be guaranteed international protection. Refugees from the
former Yugoslavia must not be returned by force. A situation of safety and
stability for the future must be a reality in one s native country before
return can be advised. A general amnesty, secured by law, must be granted
to all returnees.
The Dayton agreement gives no garantee for these problems.

The points listed in this documents must be part of an ongoing integrated
process, and not looked upon as isolated issues. It is also necessary to
have a continous evaluation of the process to secure the position and
views of the local NGOs.
Conferences like this one held in Tromso should be followed up with
similar conferences elsewhere.

University of Tromso, 14 December 1995


Mirjana Radakovic - Group for Direct Protection of Human Rights (AntiWar
Campaign Croatia), Zagreb

Bojan Aleksov - Women in Black, Belgrade

Djuro Koncul - Citizens Forum, Tuzla

Emina Bisanovic - Nova Bosna

Zoran Potic - Civic Link Human Rights Centre, Ljubljana

Dragan Jovanovic - Vojvodina/Narvik

Xhevdet Mujaj - Council for Defence of Human Rights, Prishtina/Tromso

Rainbow Anti Racist Organisation - Tromso

MARK Foundation - Bergen
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