"Violations of human rights are indeed all too common, and if it were permissible to remedy them by external use of force, there would be no law to forbid the use of force by almost any state against almost any other. Human rights, I believe, will have to be Letter from Yugoslavia Serb democ This text was written by "Voices of democratic Serbia" , a group of activists who participate in the pan-European Marches against Unemployment Bombing will only strengthen the present disastrous regime. The military intervention will be misused by the regime's media to create a "stampede" of xenophobia and give additional impetus to the fast-growing extreme forms of nationalism.
The UN sanctions only helped the Milosevic clique to accumulate greater financial and property power over the rest of society. War criminals have not even been arrested, let alone brought to trial by the Hague tribunal, which is incredibly inefficient.
The West has done nothing to stop the Serbian elite's money laundering via banks in Cyprus and elsewhere, and other Mafia type of activities.
Human sufferings and disaster will continue. Evil cannot be opposed by a negative action of bombing and more sanctions. A better strategy would be positive engagement in improving communication and free media in Serbia, and by greater support to democratic forces and individuals inside the country-those groups which kept alive solidarity and support with similar groups in the other ex-Yugoslav republics, even during the most dramatic moments of the recent wars.
The only effective way towards a real democratisation is not through diplomacy "from above" with bombing and hi-tech action from a distance. Instead, there should be much more concrete, intensive support for democratic forcesvindicated, and other injustices remedied, by other, peaceful means, not by opening the door to aggression and destroying the principle advance in international law, the outlawing of war and the prohibition of force."
Recognised principles of international law and world order, solemn treaty obligations, decisions by the World Court, considered pronouncements by the rats ignored peace activists, and independent intellectuals who stood against the war crimes since the beginning of Yugoslavia's transformation; support for the NGOs lobbying for civil society issues; for the independent media, and the democratic political parties.
Bombing of military targets in Serbia will not produce stability and a true democratisation in ex-Yugoslavia and the Balkans. The real source of trouble are the militaristic nationalistic regimes in Belgrade, Zagreb and elsewhere, and the Albanian tradition of tribal intolerance. Across the region, postcommunist "monarchs" have engaged on national-communist adventures.
The recent election results in Bosnia and Herzegovina are a sad reflection of of the dominance of nationalistic forces, despite the terrible human sufferings during the civil war, and despite the considerable political, military and humanitarian involvement of the international community.
The socioeconomic and political transition in the Balkans (and elsewhere) took a disastrous route due to the complete failure of the way in which it was handled and managed by the centres of power. They did not support the regional integration of banking, market, cultural and institutional forces. Such an integration is the best way to improve the slim democratic standards, civic and social progress, and the remains of multicultural society which remain after the Yugoslav type of self-management socialism
Instead, as we know, the international community has always negotiated with (and thus recognised) the "governors" of war. * [The authors of this letter participated in the 1998 EuroMarch summer university in Greece. This text was written at the start of the NATO bombardment]
International Viewpoint #311 May 1999 11
* Kosovo/USA most respected commentators-these do not automatically solve particular problems. Each issue has to be considered on its merits.
For those who do not adopt the standards of Saddam Hussein, there is a heavy burden of proof to meet in undertaking the threat or use of force in violation of the principles of international order.
Perhaps the burden can be met, but that has to be shown, not merely proclaimed with passionate rhetoric. The consequences of such violations have to be assessed carefully—in particular, what we understand to be "predictable." And for those who are minimally serious, the reasons for the actions also have to be assessed-again, not simply by adulation of our leaders and their "moral compass." *
*This article was contributed to the Z-net Internet discussion group in early April 2iv6l20pUY discussion group in early April zizivibe to quore s sichea
ОДИ ert lot hog
Habason sit of suzet pia
-пsq ent лі еледрільо ог tenisps гоготыМ пводолиз.
sif same
Inemyalamenu,