Serbian NGO's Answer to the IHF: Against the Logic of War

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Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 21:01:40 +0300 (EET DST)
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Subject: Serbian NGO's Answer to the IHF: Against the Logic of War

From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>

Original sender: Greek Helsinki Monitor <[email protected]>

Serbian NGO's Answer to the IHF: Against the Logic of War


AGAINST THE LOGIC OF WAR

LETTER TO THE INTERNATIONAL HELSINKI FEDERATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS


Dear Friends and Esteemed Colleagues,
 
This letter is an answer to a "request" made by our associates and
friends of long standing, with whom we cooperated for a number of
years on the long-term and far-reaching programme of building a civic
society in the FR of Yugoslavia. This request, which we received in
the midst of war, "humanitarian intervention" and NATO aggression,
that is, in the midst of a collapse of the legitimate spheres of
public and political life, at a time of extraordinary decrees,
military rule and summary trials in Yugoslavia, asks of us to "raise
our voices" and sharpen "political criticism and moral condemnation"
of the regime in Belgrade. Moreover, in this assult of severe western
Alliance action, which has transformed our society into a military
barracks and enthroned Milosevic a charismatic leader and Supreme
Commander, we are expected, if possible, to approve, even greet with
understanding the militarist interventionism of NATO in the FR of
Yugoslavia.
 
Let us say immediately: from the beginning of the destruction of
former Yugoslavia our "civic position" has been clear and unambiguous.
We have been equally opposed both to the ethnic cleansing in Croatia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina and today in Kosovo and to NATO's intervention
in the FR of Yugoslavia. In other words, we fought with equal
decisiveness against the lethal "political self-will" of the Belgrade
regime and the pernicious "militarist self-will" of the western
alliance. In this context, we cannot be expected to unilaterally
denounce local totalitarianism and, at the same time, express
solidarity with the pretensions of global hegemonism. It is our
principal belief that the civic society should function as a permanent
corrective to the state reason, and that NGOs should be supportive of
peace and not war option of their governments.
 
It is unfounded to expect that the chain of violence and an
expansionist military option will lead to a rational political
solution in Kosovo, in the FR of Yugoslavia and in the Balkans. On the
contrary, we fear that in the name of so-called "humanitarian
intervention" we are witnessing the revival of the old, archaic
"figure of war", which we hoped long banished from our culture.
 
Finally, let us remind you: the brutal disintegration of the former
Yugoslavia, and the related nationalist conflicts which culminated in
the ethnic catastrophe in Kosovo, took place "in collusion" with
European policies and international diplomacy. It has been precisely
these unexpected shocks that have dangerously threatened the ideals
and norms of international democracy, which is still the successor to
the liberal and social heritage of "defence of autonomy of the
individual, groups and peoples".
 
In spite of all circumstances, we shall continue to fight persistently
and enduringly for freedom of the individual, for those individual,
civic, collective and human rights which this war has again brought
into peril.
 
* Alternative Academic Educational Network
 
* Association of Citizens for Democracy, Social Justice and Support
for Trade Unions
 
* Belgrade Circle
 
* Belgrade Women Studies Center
 
* Center for Policy Studies NEZAVISNOST
 
* Center for Transition to Democracy
 
* Civic Initiatives
 
* District 0230 Kikinda
 
* EKO Center
 
* European Movement in Serbia
 
* Forum for Ethnic Relations and Foundation for Peace and Crisis
Management
 
* Foundation for Peace and Crisis Management
 
* Group 484
 
* Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia
 
* Society for Peace and Tolerance (Backa Palanka)
 
* Sombor's Peace Group (Sombor)
 
* Student Union of Yugoslavia
 
* Trade Union Confederation
 
* Union for Truth About Anti-Fascist Resistance
 
* Urban Inn (Novi Pazar)
 
* VIN Weekly Video News
 
* Women in Black
 
* YU Lawyers' Committee for Human Rights
 
In Belgrade,
May 21, 1999

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