Newsletter on the campaigns of the Transnational Radical Party
- N·8, November 4, 1996
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* Editor: Sandro Ottoni, Ilica 8 - 10000 Zagreb (Croatia) -
Tel/Fax. +385-1-277.959 - e-mail S.Ottoni@agora.stm.it -
WWW-Url: http//:www.agora.stm.it/pr - Telnet: Agora.stm.it
* Distribution: Alberto Novi - rue Belliard 89 - Rem 508,
1047 Bruxelles (B); Tel.+32-2-2304121, Fax +32-2-2303670.
Published in Albanian, Bulgarian, Czech, Croatian, English,
Esperanto, Italian, French, Polish, Rumanian, Russian and
Spanish.
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Dear Friends,
We open this "Transfax" with news that is both good and important: thanks to the support of the European deputies who are members of the Transnational Radical Party, Wei Jingsheng was awarded the 1996 Sacharov Prize by the European Parliament, an award that we hope will constitute a valid incentive for those who struggle for democracy in China and around the world.
Along with this positive result we report more good news from the European Parliament in relation to the budget talks for 1997. New lines of finance have been approved in favor of the democratic initiatives in China and Tibet, for the International Tribunal, and for numerous other voices.
In the meantime, in New York, the battle for the establishment of an International Tribunal by 1998 begins. Although there is strong general agreement on the date of commencement, there is considerable resistance
manifest on certain issues of procedure.
After the paid advertisements appeared in favor of the Tribunal two major international daily newspapers and their support of that same Tribunal, the secretary of the Transnational Radical Party has asked in a recent press release for the additional mobilization of international public opinion and has solicited monetary contributions for the continuation of the campaign of pressuring the member states of the UN.
Good Work
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DEMOCRACY IN CHINA: WEI JINGSHENG, THE MOST NOTED CHINESE DISSIDENT, RECEIVES THE 1996 SACHAROV PRIZE FROM THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT.
Strausburg, Oct. 24th, 1996- by proposal of the Radical Alliance Group and the Liberal and Reformatory Group, the European Parliament awarded the 1996 Sacharov Prize to Chinese dissident WEI Jingsheng. He received 348 votes against the 229 votes for his competitor, Morejon ALMAGRO, the imprisoned Cuban dissident.
The secretary of the Transnational Radical Party and Deputy member of the European Parliament, Olivier Dupuis, declared that:
"The attribution of the prize to Wei Jingsheng, the symbol of the fight for democracy in China and for a dialogue with Tibet, is a great victory for all those persons around the world who fight in favor of the installation of democracy in China and for liberty in Tibet.
It is equally a great day for the Transnational Radical Party, which is involved, with its friends at "Human Rights in China" and the "Federation for Chinese Democracy," in the campaign for the attribution of the Nobel Peace Prize to Wei Jingsheng in 1997."
In an interview in Radical Radio, Wei Shanshan, the sister of Wei Jingsheng, commented that: "The fact that my brother received this prize will be of help in improving his conditions and it will also have general repercussions in favor of his case. Because every time that other states and other people interest themselves in my brother's cause, the echo of this sentiment becomes even stronger, and every time this happens the Chinese government improves its attitude towards him. Therefore, I think this will be greatly beneficial."
For more information: LIBERTY FOR TIBET/DEMOCRACY FOR CHINA FAX-
tel. +36-1-266.34.86 - 266.09.35
fax. 11.87.937
e-mail M.lensi@agora.stm.it
WWW-Url: http//:www.agora.stm.it/pr
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PERMANENT INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL
Initiatives in support of the Plenipotentiary Conference for the institution of a Permanent International Tribunal in 1998.
* APPEAL OF THE PARLIAMENTARIANS AND PERSONALITIES FOR THE INSTITUTION OF A PERMANENT INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL (International Herald Tribune [Oct.28th], Le Monde [Nov. 3rd].
This is the text of the international appeal by political and cultural personalities, promoted by the Transnational Radical Party and "No Peace Without Justice"- an international committee of citizens, mayors, and parliamentarians and published by payment in several important international daily newspapers:
"BRING TO JUSTICE WAR CRIMINALS NOW AND FOREVER"
We, the undersigned,
considering the number of war crimes committed against humanity that remain unpunished around the world,
LAUNCH A SOLEMN APPEAL TO THE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS
that they will, within their power, arrest and assure justice for those responsible for war crimes committed in the ex-Yugoslavia and in Ruanda,
and renew the mandate for the Preparatory Committee to convoke the Plenipotentiary Conference for the institution of the International Criminal Court by 1998.
The appeal, which was launched by European Commissioner Emma Bonino, has gathered the signatures of support of more than 30 international figures of state, including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Bosnian President Alija IZETBEGOVIC, Haitian President Jean-bertrand ARISTIDE, former President of the European Union Jacques DELORES, ex- government leaders
Giuliano AMATO, Felipe GONZALES, Raymond BARRE, Mario SOARES, Adolfo SOARES, Michael ROCARD, Leo TINDEMANS, Wilfried MARTENS, and Gaston THORN.
With the preceding the Appeal to the Parliamentarians, Secretary of the United Nations, and Preparatory Committee was published, along with the
signatures of 600 supporters. The New York Times and Le Monde also
repeated the appeal in expressing support for the International Tribunal in various articles.
* THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS ASSEMBLY MEETS A MEMBER OF THE RADICAL DELEGATION
New York, Oct, 30th, 1996- The president of the 51st Assembly of the United Nations, the Malaysian ambassador Zigali, received a delegation
of promoters of the appeal (Gianfranco Dell'Alba, Marino Busdachin, Marco Perduca) and has committed to receiving a delegation of Parliamentarians
of the world for the consignment of signatures in support of the worldwide Parliamentary Appeal.
*UNITED NATIONS: THE CLOSURE OF THE PREPARATORY DEBATE FOR THE RESOLUTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL.
New York 10.31.96- The debate by the VI commission for the preparation of a rough draft of a relative resolution for the International Tribunal and on the progress of works by the Preparatory Committee has closed. The debate saw the intervention of 89 member nations, the majority of whom were in favor of the 1998 date for the institution of the Tribunal, thanks to the last minute change of position by the United States, India, and others. While the date appears to be consolidated new difficulties have occurred in relation to the schedule and procedure regarding the work that is required of the Preparatory Committee for the completion of the Tribunal's statutes. Once again, France, Japan, China, and the United Kingdom manifest their resistance by postponing the procedures.
A period of closed door consultations will now begin in order to arrive at a definite resolution for the General Assembly.
*INTERNATIONAL PARLIAMENTARY APPEAL TO THE SECRETARY OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE PREPARATORY COMMITTEE.
The collection of signatures for the appeal continues. As of today, 652 Parliamentarians, from 54 nations, have signed the appeal.
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RADICAL INITIATIVES IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
STRAUSBURG, OCT. 24TH, 1996- FINANCIAL LAW OF THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR 1997: VARIOUS AMENDMENTS APPROVED AS A RESULT OF THE PROPOSAL BY PARLIAMENTARIANS DELL'ALBA AND DUPUIS OF THE A.R.E.
PERMANENT INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL
- Creation of a new budget line in favor of the activities of the International Criminal Courts,and the establishment of a permanent international Criminal Court, with a budget of 3 million ECU.
- The funding is destined to also finance preparatory work for the constitution of a permanent international Criminal Court.
WAR AGAINST DRUG ADDICTION
- Possibility of financing the comparative study of the impact of the various laws in the war against drug addiction.
- Reduction and/or relocation of 1.500.000 ECU allocated for the European Observatory on drugs and addiction, as a result of the scarce activities of that institution.
HUMAN RIGHTS
- Possibility of the financing of non-governmental organizations that operate in Burma for the defense of human rights.
- Creation of a new budget line destined for the co-financing, at the right moment, of commercial action with the Chinese Republic (Taiwan)
- The European Parliament has also adopted an amendment for the raising of consciousness of the ethnic minorities in Europe, like the Rom and Sinti, in order to "reinforce the respect of the ethnic minorities such as Rom."
TIBET
- Insertion, in the budget lines for the cooperation with Asian nations, of a ruling that the finances destined to Nepal must be guaranteed by the non-expulsion, on behalf of the government of that country, of the Tibetan refugees there.
- Renewal of the finances and their increment to 2.6 million ECU in favor of the Tibetan refugees.
- Renewal of finances for initiatives connected with the verification of respect for human rights, in particular in Hong Kong and Macao, and the promotion of information, in particular by radio transmission, for Tibetans, whether in exile or in Tibet, regarding any non-violent action in favor of or in defense of human rights, as well as of democracy in China and Tibet, including the initiatives undertaken by the European Union and the financing of programs of research on Tibet on behalf of the International Institute on Research for Peace (PRIO).
- Insertion of finances destined to sustain the actions conducted by non-governmental organizations that struggle for the defense of human rights in Tibet.
INFORMATION SERVICES
Creation of a new budget line for information consisting of 2 million ECU
destined among other things to the creation of the "development of a European Site" on the Internet and accessible by all institutions. The site should enable any European citizen, no matter where he or she is located, to completely inform himself or herself on many of the objectives of the European Union, on the structure of its institutions, on the politics in progress and those that should be initiated. An electronic mailbox should also be created through which citizens of the European Union can communicate with the various institutions of the Union.
The European Parliament did not approve other amendments presented by the reformist deputies Dupuis and Dell'Alba, among them: an amendment requesting the creation of a special program to prevent the spread of epidemics, an amendment regarding the Albanese university in the Republic of Macedonia, and an amendment intended to promote the use of the international language Esperanto.
Antiprohibitionism
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CORA - BELGIUM/PAA: 60 EUROPEAN DEPUTIES CONDEMN THE PROHIBITIONIST POLITICS REGARDING DRUGS AND THEY PROPOSE A SYSTEM OF PUBLIC CONTROL.
Brussels, Oct. 22nd, 1996- For the initiative of the "Parliamentarians for Antiprohibitionist Action" Association (PAA), 60 European deputies have deposited a proposal of recommendation to the Council regarding the complete failure of prohibitionist politics, the international conventions and demands that the European observatory effect a survey of the efficacy of prohibitionist politics. The supporters who signed the proposal belong to six different political parties (PSE, UPE, ELDR,
GUE, GREEN, ARE), inviting the Council and its member states to:
- establish new regulations for the production, sale, and consumption
of cannabis and its derivatives;
- abrogate the criminal sanctions for the consumers of other illicit substances;
-install a system of public control for the sale of substances that are now illegal, permitting the medical prescription of such substances.
For more information: ANTIPROHIBITIONISM FAX: tel. +32-2-2304121
fax. +32-2-2303670
E-Mail cora.belgique2agora.stm.it
cora.italia@agora.stm.it
(tel. +39-6-689.791)
---------------------REGISTRATION AND CONTRIBUTION FORM------------------
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---------------------------------------------------------------------QUOTE 1996: The registration rate varies from nation to nation according to the 1% criteria of the PIL. It follows the relative rate of the nations which have the largest distribution of the bulletin. For the missing months, see the editorship.
Albania 5 USD - Austria 2.400 ATS - Azerbajian 3 USD - Belgium 6.050 BEF-
Bulgaria 8 USD - Canada 280 CAD - Czech Republic 27 USD - Croatia 35 DEM - Denmark 1.440 DKK - France 1.100 FRF - Germany 330 DEM - Hungary 27 USD -Ireland 80 IEP - Italy 365.000 LIT - Netherlands 330 NLG - Poland 23 USD - Portugal 11.600 PTE - Romania 12 USD - Russia 19 USD - Slovenia 85 DEM - Spain 17.600 ESB - Switzerland 420 CHF - Ukraine 13 USD - United Kingdom 120 GBP - United States 260 USD
