FM Alert, Vol II, No. 27
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Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998 09:21:47 +0300 (EET DST)
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Subject: FM Alert, Vol II, No. 27
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Original sender: Paulette Layton <[email protected]>
FM Alert, Vol II, No. 27
FM Alert, Vol. II, No. 27
July 10, 1998
LAST OF OPPOSITION FIGHTERS EMBARK ON RETURN TO TAJIKISTAN
The last remaining United Tajik Opposition (UTO) guerrillas have begun
returning to Tajikistan. About 150 fighters, out of a group of 500 who
are still in Afghanistan, returned to Tajikistan on July 1. The
guerrillas had been waging a bitter low-intensity struggle to oust the
government of President Imomali Rakhmonov - launching raids from bases
in Afghanistan - until a peace deal reached in June 1997 paved the way
for their return and reintegration into society. The ongoing, albeit
gradual return of opposition fighters is an indication that the peace
plan remains on track. United Nations Undersecretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs Sergio Viera de Mello, who recently visited
Tajikistan, said international support for the peace process will be a
key to achieving lasting stability. Viera de Mello pledged during a
July 4 meeting with Rakhmonov that the UN would continue to offer
humanitarian aid to Tajikistan. The peace process received a further
boost when a parliamentary Conciliation Commission agreed in June on
proposed amendments to the Law on Political Parties. the
Islamic-dominated opposition was critical of the law's original
version, which had banned political parties based on religion.
Rakhmonov has yet to decide whether to abide by the commission's
recommendations and put forward the amendments for approval by the
full parliament.
(For additional information see FM Alerts of May 1 and December 29,
1997).
FMP PUBLISHES UPDATED ROMA BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Forced Migration Projects have published an expanded and revised
edition of its special report "Roma and Forced Migration: An Annotated
Bibliography." The special report contains seven sections, grouping
books, articles and other texts in separate categories, as well as
dividing academic studies on Roma-related topics according to the
geographic focus of the subject matter. The sections on Roma in
Western and Eastern Europe are further divided into individual country
categories. The aim is to provide an extensive and pertinent resource
guide about works dealing with both the Roma's historical and
contemporary socio-economic experiences. David M. Crowe, a professor
at Elon College, compiled new entries and revised many old entries for
the second edition. In particular, the section on the Roma's
experience during the Holocaust has been significantly expanded. The
first edition of the Roma bibliography was published in March 1997.
Copies may be obtained free of charge by contacting the Forced
Migration Projects at
(212) 548-0655, or by e-mail at <[email protected]>.
(The MINELRES Moderator adds: the bibliography is available also
online at http://www.soros.org/fmp2/html/roma2.htm
Boris)
FMP LAUNCHES SEMINAR SERIES ON NONCITIZEN AND REFUGEE CHILDREN
The Forced Migration Projects (FMP) and the Emma Lazarus Fund, both
part of the Soros foundations network, launched a seminar series July
7 that examines issues connected with noncitizen and refugee children.
Questions relating to the treatment and special needs of this
particularly vulnerable segment of displaced persons have not been
adequately addressed in the public discourse. About 40 participants,
drawn from advocates and funders whose work focuses on immigration,
refugee and children's issues, have joined the FMP/Lazarus Fund-led
process to promote discussion. The July 7 meeting featured
presentations by Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF, Iain
Levine of Amnesty International, Wendy Young of the Women's Commission
for Refugee Women and Children and Jeff Wiess, Director of the Asylum
Division at the US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).
Topics at the meeting included the rights violations and victimization
of non-citizen children in both the international and domestic arena,
the difficulties faced by children in negotiating US asylum procedures
and INS efforts to consider the special needs of noncitizen and
refugee children via children's guidelines and a shelter care system.
The next meeting in the series is tentatively scheduled for September
and will examine forthcoming INS guidelines on children in asylum
proceedings.
For more information contact:
The Forced Migration Projects
400 West 59th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10019
tel: (212)548-0655
fax: (212) 548-4676
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.soros.org/migrate.html
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