Czechoslovakia
THE RADICALS FAST IN VIEW OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CIVIC FORUM
Prague, January 8, 1991. Richard Stockar, Jaromir Soukup and Paolo Pietrosanti have begun a fast in order to avert rash decisions on the future of the Civic Forum. "The Civic Forum, the political organization which obtained, with its Slovakian partner, VPN, the quasi-absolute majority at the elections last June in Czechoslovakia, is experiencing a moment of hardship, and there is an increasing danger of a split and a disintegration". (...) "The next Assembly could be crucial. The interests at stake are not only the future of a single political organization, but the idea of democracy and its possible evolution. "Our fast", stated the Radicals, "aims at establishing a dialogue and supporting all those who will take part in this crucial assembly for the future of the Civic Forum".
------------------------------------------------------------------Hungary
MEETING WITH THE EMIG (ASSOCIATION OF TRANSYLVANIAN HUNGARIANS)
Budapest, January 14, 1991. Upon the invitation of the EMIG association, Olivier Dupuis from the Radical Party's federal Council illustrated the history and the major battles of the Radical Party, as well as its most important current goals. During the discussion that followed the meeting, Dupuis suggested to make the Radical Party into a concrete instrument of dialogue and coexistence between the different ethnic communities in Rumania.
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Soviet Union
DEMONSTRATION ON THE RED SQUARE AGAINST THE VIOLENCE OF THE ARMED FORCES IN LITHUANIA. FOUR RADICALS ARRESTED.
Moscow, January 14, 1991. 7 people, among whom Radicals Alla Stepanova (directress of the Cinematographic School of the Moscow Youth), Olga Kerzina, Vadim Malkin and Aleksej Miroshnikov, demonstrated on the Red Square against the violence carried out by the Soviet armed forces in Lithuania. Their banners read: "Blood in Lithuania, an unforgivable disgrace for Russia", "For our and your freedom"...After a few minutes, the demonstrators were arrested by the Army.
------------------------------------------------------------------Soviet Union - Azerbaijan
THE SITUATION IN LITHUANIA. MESSAGE FROM THE RADICAL ASSOCIATION OF AZERBAIJAN TO PRESIDENT LANDSBERGIS.
Baku, January 14, 1991. In a message to President Landsbergis, the Radicals of Baku categorically condemned the Soviet military intervention in Lithuania.
------------------------------------------------------------------Soviet Union
SEVERAL PERSONALITIES FROM LENINGRAD SIGNED THE RADICAL PARTY'S PETITIONS.
Leningrad, January 14, 1991. Nina Katerli, Boris Strugacki, Mikhail Efros and Elena Efros, exponents of the cultural milieu of Leningrad, signed the petitions for the establishment of an alternative civil service; the petitions are addressed to the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union and to the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation. Nina Katerli and Mikhail Efros also signed the petitions for the abolition of tourist visas.
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Soviet Union
CRIMINAL PROCEEDING INSTITUTED AGAINST ILJA LINSKIJ, MEMBER OF THE RADICAL PARTY, ON COUNTS OF "EVASION FROM THE MILITARY SERVICE".
Moscow, January 14, 1991. Ilja Linskij's mother was officially informed of the fact by the authorities. She was summoned to appear before the Prosecutor's Office of Zelenograd (District of Moscow) and was questioned by the investigating judge, Andrej M. Perminov. Mrs Linskij was informed that her son Ilja risks a sentence of up to three years' imprisonment.
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Czechoslovakia
DEMONSTRATION FOR LITHUANIA
Brno, January 15, 1991. Over 100 people took part in the demonstration against the Soviet intervention in Lithuania in front of the Soviet Consulate in Brno, promoted by the Radicals of Brno and with the adhesion of other political forces. The demonstrators drew a large cross on the ground with candles, and hung a Soviet flag with a skull on the Consulate's front entry, a symbol of danger, piracy or death.
After a brief speech delivered by Radical Petr Patka on the situation in the Gulf and in the Baltic region, the demonstration was concluded with a minute's silence to commemorate the Lithuanian citizens killed.
------------------------------------------------------------------Italy
THUMBS DOWN OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT ON THE REFERENDUMS FOR THE REFORM OF THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM. STATEMENT BY PEPPINO CALDERISI, RADICAL, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN FEDERALIST GROUP OF THE ITALIAN CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES.
Rome, January 17, 1991. "The partycratic leadership has confirmed its nature. Once again, when referendums are concerned, it has denied rights instead of asserting them. The sentence that declared the most significant referendums unacceptable (those on the Senate and on the municipalities), eliminated the only instrument that could have brought to a democratic reform of parties and of politics. The Socialists have nothing to rejoice about. The referendums would have been the only occasion to seriously discuss the Socialist proposals for institutional reforms, which will now be set aside once again, like all the others. (...)
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Soviet Union
DEATH PENALTY. THE FIGURES PUBLISHED.
Moscow, January 17, 1991. "Izvestiya" has published the figures concerning sentences to death penalty, which had been kept secret until now. According to informations provided by the Soviet Ministry of Justice, 770 people were executed in 1985, 344 in 1987, 276 in 1989. According to Vladimir Gubarev from the Ministry of Justice, the number of executions in 1990 was higher compared to 1989.
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Italy
OFFICIAL FOUNDATION OF THE FORUM OF DEMOCRATS, A MOVEMENT FOR THE REFORM OF POLITICS AND PARTIES.
Rome, January 17, 1991. After the conventions and initiatives of these last years, the time has come to formally found and give birth to a movement for a democratic Reform, which has the ambition of being capable of operating in the country and in the institutions for the passage from the rule of parties to a real democracy. 1991 must be and will be the year of the great confrontation on the reform of politics and of the parties", stated the three coordinators of the newly-founded movement, Professor Massimo Severo Giannini and members of Parliament Aldredo Biondi and Giovanni Negri.
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Soviet Union
ASSEMBLY OF THE RADICAL PARTY
Moscow, January 17, 1991. About 70 people partook in the meeting of the members of the Radical Party of Moscow, which was held at the Institute of Historical Archives. Attending the assembly were also Radicals from Leningrad, Riga, Baku, Kuybyshev, Kiev, Lvov, Magadan, Nijni Novgorod, Khabarovsk and Malgobek (Tchetcheno-Inguchia). The meeting was opened by Aleksandr Kalinin, member of the Radical Party's Federal Council, and deputy of the Mossoviet. In his address, Kalinin illustrated the recent events in the Soviet Union as the possible prelude to the establishment of a military dictatorship, and stressed the need for a non-violent resistance. Nikholaj Khramov, a radical from Moscow, asked for an at least symbolic participation of the Soviet Union in the Gulf. Radical Dmitrij Chrekhov, member of the Magadan Soviet, underlined the persistence of the disastrous situation in Soviet prisons, and asked the Radicals to engage in the defence of the rights of the imprisoned.
Among those who participated: Radicals Murad Nashkhoev, Ali Rasizade, Juris Lomanovskis, Nikolaj Shtromberger, Vladimir Surmach, the environmentalist deputy of the Sterlitamak Soviet, Vasilij Skorin, and Jurij Kazanskij, member of the "Chtchit" military union. At the conclusion of the meeting, the participants publicly read a protest against the criminal actions carried out by the Soviet military troops in Lithuania.
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Italy
PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE GULF BY MARCO PANNELLA, MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, PRESIDENT OF THE RADICAL PARTY'S FEDERAL COUNCIL.
Rome, January 20, 1991. Concerning the events in the Gulf, Pannella stated: "After the demonstration of force, unity, determination and overwhelming supremacy, also from a military point of view, provided by the allied forces of 28 nations, in a context of legitimacy established by the United Nations, it is possible (and therefore dutiful) to return to a policy based on embargo and sanctions,immediately and unilaterally and for a pre-established period of a few weeks.
It is necessary to spare the highest possible number of human lives and hope, and not cause despair, especially on the part of the Iraqi, Kurdish and Kuwaiti populations, which are the first and main victims of the bloody dictatorship of the Baath Party and of Saddam Hussein. (...).
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Italy - Israel
A DELEGATION OF THE RADICAL PARTY RECEIVED BY THE ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO ITALY. SUPPORT TO THE ISRAELI POPULATION, APPRECIATION FOR ISRAEL'S CHOICE TO REFRAIN FROM RESORTING TO MILITARY RETALIATION.
Rome, January 20, 1991. A delegation of the Radical Party consisting of the First Secretary, Sergio Stanzani, the President, Emma Bonino, the Honorary President, Bruno Zevi, Roberto Cicciomessere and Antonio Stango, was received by Mordechai Drory, Ambassador of Israel to Italy during the demonstration of support which was held in front of the Israeli embassy in Rome.
On that occasion, the Secretary of the Radical Party expressed the support of the Radical Party for the population of Israel, which has been a target of indiscriminate Iraqi missile attacks. Such attacks confirm, were it necessary, the terrorist and bloody nature of the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's regime. Stanzani also expressed the support of the Radical Party for the victims, both direct and indirect, military and civilian, of any part or nation engaged in the war in the Persian Gulf and in the Middle East.
He also expressed his deep appreciation for the choice followed so far by the Israeli government to refrain from resorting to military retaliation against the Iraqi territory and armed forces. (...) By demonstrating their support to the Israeli populations, Stanzani said, the Radicals intend to stress the fact that an international order ensuring peace, security and prosperity to all the populations of the Middle East can be established only on the basis of the respect of human rights and on the assertion of democracy.
------------------------------------------------------------------Italy
THE RECOGNITION OF ISRAEL ON THE PART OF THE VATICAN.
Rome, January 21, 1991. In an interrogation to the Prime Minister and to the Foreign Minister, Giovanni Negri and Bruno Zevi, members of Parliament and members of the Radical Party, and Alfredo Biondi, liberal member of Parliament, asked what concrete steps the Italian Government intends to take in order to favour the political-diplomatic recognition of Israel on the part of the Vatican State. "This act", said the members of Parliament, "would ratify the reprise of a formal dialogue which is historically necessary, as well as an extremely significant step in the direction of peace and détente".
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Rumania
RADICAL ASSOCIATION FOR AN ANGLO-SAXON ELECTORAL SYSTEM.
Cluj, January 21, 1991. A Radical association for the introduction in Rumania of a new electoral system, the majority or Anglo-Saxon system, is being constituted in Cluj. Only with this system, which favours the establishment of a bipartisan system, will alternate government, the fundamental principle of democracy, become a real possibility.
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Italy - Gulf
A UNILATERAL SUSPENSION OF MILITARY OPERATIONS AND A TOUGHENING UP OF THE EMBARGO, OF THE SANCTIONS AND THE INFORMATION ACTIONS TOWARD IRAQ BOTH NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE.
Rome, January 21, 1991. In a resolution presented at the Italian Parliament, the members of Parliament of the European Federalist Group asked Government to illustrate the necessity and the appropriateness of a unilateral suspension of military operations and a toughening up of embargo measures, sanctions and information actions toward Iraq to the other governments engaged in the enforcement of Resolution n.678 and to the United Nations Security Council, in order to examine the possibility of obtaining the full enforcement of Resolution n.660 of the U.N.'s Security Council.
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Rumania
INFORMATIVE MEETING ON THE RADICAL PARTY
Tirgu-Mures, January 23, 1991. European federalism, federalism, antiprohibitionism, ecology, human rights, electoral systems and democracy: these are some of the subjects discussed during the informative meeting on the Radical Party organized by the Pro-Europe League.
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Italy - Somalia
INTERROGATION WITH WRITTEN REPLY
Rome, January 23, 1991. Considering the situation in Somalia, members of Parliament and members of the Radical Party René Andreani, Emma Bonino, Peppino Calderisi, Gianni Lanzinger, Gianni Mattioli and Alessandro Tessari asked Government, in an interrogation, which initiatives it intends to assume to launch an urgent aid policy aimed at tackling sanitary and food problems, and to activate informative channels between Somalia and Italy, in relation also to the needs of the Somalian immigrants and refugees living in Europe.
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Soviet Union - Israel
THE RADICALS PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMONSTRATION OF SUPPORT TOWARD THE POPULATION OF ISRAEL.
Moscow, January 24, 1991. Radicals Svetlana Tenianova and Nikolaj Khramov took part, on behalf of the Soviet Radicals, in the demonstration of support to the population of Israel and of condemnation of the fascist regime of Saddam Hussein organized by the "Irgoun Tsioni" organization. The Radicals displayed the flags of Israel and of the European Community.
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Italy
THE SCOURGE OF DRUG-ADDICTION IN THE ABRUZZI REGION AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE INSTITUTIONS AND OF PROHIBITION. STATEMENT BY MARCO PANNELLA.
L'Aquila, January 25, 1991. "As the Radical Party and the antiprohibitionist lists had foreseen, the effect of the new repressive law on drugs aggravated the scourge of drug-addiction and induces those individuals, whom prohibition forces to resort to prohibited drugs, to an increase in violence and death, terrifies those whom it should help and re-integrate in social life, and cause drugs to circulate in a freer way than before, even in barracks, in prisons, as occurs in dramatic proportions in the Abruzzi. (...) Faced to the regional authorities that continue to "sleep", Pannella addressed "an appeal to the public opinion, to the press, to the families, to youth, asking then to organize themselves, joining the Radical Party and the CORA, supporting the activity of the antiprohibitionists, in order to control and as far as possible neutralize the pernicious effects of the law".
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Soviet Union - Kazakhstan
ZIJAHAN SHAJGELDINOV, A RADICAL FROM ALMA-ATA, ARRESTED WHILE COLLECTING SIGNATURES ON THE RADICAL PARTY'S PETITIONS.
Alma-Ata, January 27, 1991. Zijahan Shajgeldinov member of the Radical Party and activist of the International Society for Human Rights, was arrested by the Army while collecting signatures on the Radical Party's petitions for the constitution of the United States of Europe and for the acknowledgment of conscientious objection. He was released after 6 hours and informed that a criminal proceeding had been instituted against him. Among the charges are non-violent resistence to his arrest. Shajgeldinov risks a maximum of 15 days of imprisonment.
------------------------------------------------------------------Rumania
THE RADICAL PARTY SUES DAILY "RENASTERA BANATIAN" FOR LIBEL.
Timisoara, January 27, 1991. A "fascist type of party", "which is making direct attempts to destabilize Rumania",....and other statements of this kind were reported by the Timisoara daily "Renastera Banatian". The Radical Party charged the judicial authorities with the task of establishing the truth. Moreover, it asked its legal representative in Timisoara to ask for 2 million Leu of damage, the publication of the sentence in the ten major Rumanian dailies, and free access for the Radical Party to one page on Renastera Banatian, enabling it to illustrate the Radical Party's real characteristics to its readers.
------------------------------------------------------------------Italy - Somalia
ITALY IS REAPING THE FRUITS OF A CYNICAL AND DIRTY POLICY IN SOMALIA. THE SILENCE OF SOME SECRETARIES OF PARTIES IS UNACCEPTABLE.
Rome, January 28, 1991. Stated Giovanni Negri, Radical, member of the Italian Parliament, on the situation in Somalia: "Democracy and legality are values originated in the West, which should be upheld and asserted in all parts of the world. (...) However, precisely because we believe in Western values, we cannot hide their limits and we cannot approve of silence and complicity. It is no use pretending. For years, Italy filled a murderer like Siad Barre with money. Italy has contributed in arming dozens of bloody dictatorships, whose power or terrorist capacity can presently endanger Tel Aviv and Athens, Rome and London.
Today, Italy is reaping the fruits of a dirty and cynical policy in Somalia. Now, with the excuse of the Gulf, some secretaries of parties are hiding behind a hypocritical silence.
But soon or later there will a day of reckoning, and it will then become clear that the scornful irony with which the Radicals were dismissed - on issues ranging from Somalia to the arms traffic - was the irony not of the wise, but of the stupid".
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Gulf - Somalia - United Nations
SADDAM AND BARRE ARE NO DOUBT WAR CRIMINALS, AND RESPONSIBLE FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. THE RADICAL PARTY ASKS FOR A "NURENBERG TRIAL" AGAINST THEM AND THEIR PRESTIGIOUS ACCOMPLICES...
Rome, January 28, 1991. "It is absolutely inconceivable for humanity to continue being exposed to so-called "war" crimes, without establishing, at this stage, a correspondent justice to deal with it together with the law, be it international or positive national law.
There can be no doubts that Saddam is a war criminal, and that those who have been collaborating with him for decades, drawing advantages of all kinds by trading in weapons and lethal technologies, are also criminals. The United Nations must be charged with this task, in order to prosecute and sentence all those, from Pol-Pot to Barre, from Saddam to the highest political and economic exponents who have made them capable of harming others and carrying out their crimes. A permanent world court of law against political, war and ecological crimes must be rapidly established.
Concerning this subject, the Radical Party's "1991 project", aimed at creating a system of new international political subjects, addressed to 40,000 members of parliament of the world, to their Assemblies, to the United Nations system, will include a specific section to study and tackle these problems. It is urgent to submit simultaneous and converging motions and legislative initiatives to vote such decisions to many Parliaments, and to the public opinions that correspond to them.
In relation to the crimes committed by Saddam Hussein and Siad Barre, the Radical Party is evaluating the possibility of instituting judicial proceedings against the parties and political and parliamentary exponents who manifestly sabotaged the Radical party's age-old fight against the criminal cooperation between Italy, Siad Barre and Saddam Hussein.
The matter will be on the agenda of the Radical Party's 3rd Italian Congress, to be held in Rome at the Ergife Hotel on February 13-17.
------------------------------------------------------------------Soviet Union
ZIJAHAN SHAJGELDINOV SENTENCED TO PAY 50 RUBLES FOR HAVING COLLECTED SIGNATURES ON THE RADICAL PETITIONS.
Alma-Ata, January 28, 1991. Zijahan Shajgeldinov was prosecuted and sentenced to pay a 50 ruble fine, on counts of "unauthorized demonstration". Shajgeldinov was collecting signatures on the Radical Party's petitions. He was informed that a specific authorization of the municipal council of Alma-Ata is requested for any type of activity, including this one.
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Europe
THE EXECUTION OF EUROPE. ITALY IS INDIFFERENT, DISTRACTED, CO-RESPONSIBLE. FACED TO THE IRRESPONSIBILITY OF MITTERRAND AND THE OTHERS, THE NECESSITY FOR A EUROPEAN SUMMIT TO BE HELD IMMEDIATELY...STATEMENT BY MARCO PANNELLA.
Rome, January 29, 1991. The Italian Government (and even the Parliament so far) is witnessing the first, certain execution of a historical-political reality caused by the Gulf war, with apathy and indifference: the execution of the European Community. I hope the Government will be forced, or induced by Parliament to promote and in any case publicly request an extraordinary European Council, a European "summit", appealing both to the European Parliament and to the Commission.
Such summits were held each time Mitterrand or Kohl or others needed them for their own purposes of propaganda. This summer instead, the European summit was not held on the subject of the German unification and then of the Gulf (...). The despicable chaos in which France first of all but also Germany, Spain and Great Britain (with less responsibilities today) keep the European Community is the equivalent of killing it day by day in the eyes of the Europeans and of the world. Italy takes part in this execution with its negligence and with the foreign policy of De Michelis, and at this point also of Andreotti. The Government must change its attitude, or Parliament must be convoked to give a vote of non-confidence.
