----------------------------------Following is an attempt to give an approximate plan of activity which we as Transnational Radical Party could develop in Russia on the field of battle for conscientious objection right and - more wide - in the context of anti-militarist struggle. Exactly to this direction of our activity we should give priority in Russia of 1995.
THE CURRENT SITUATION
Now the draft bill on alternative civilian service, which text is almost the same as that one published in Agora (Conference Radical Party, text 4006), was passed by State Duma (lower chamber of Russian parliament) on December 14, 1994 in the first reading. This draft bill was elaborated by the mixed working group chaired by MP Malkin and composed by MPs from two Duma's committees - on defence and on the public organizations - and formally was tabled by the Duma's Defence Committee.
The second reading should be appointed not later than on March 15, 1995. Then, the third and probably also fourth readings will take place. The working group's members suppose that within the end of the year the bill will be adopted in Duma.
THE AIMS OF RADICAL INITIATIVE
They are very simple. As more than 20 years ago in Italy, we must insist and organize a public campaign around four main points of the bill we want:
1. No examination of conviction must be provided by any commission.
2. Duration of alternative and military service must be equal.
3. The location and kind of service must be matter of choice of the draftee, also the possibility to fulfil the alternative service in the framework of UN humanitarian efforts abroad Russia must be provided.
4. The financing of the alternative civilian service must be accomplished from the funds, withdrawn from the military budget and given to the department responsible for organizing the alternative service (for example, ministry of labour).
Only such a position regarding the conscientious objection bill can be determined as anti-militarist and only such a bill could really contribute to the demilitarization of Russian society and conversion of military structures into civilian ones.
The current draft bill does not respect any of the above mentioned principles.
THE PROPOSED ACTIONS
1. On the first stage of the campaign - starting just from now, there is an urgent need to act immediately - the wide petition campaign would be welcomed. The petition must be addressed to the State Duma, the Federation Council, the President of Russian Federation. It must contain all the four demands to the new bill, mentioned above.
For collecting signatures it will be necessary to organize:
- mailing of letter + petition itself to as much addresses is possible, first of all in Russia, obligatory including old members of 1990, 1991 and 1992 (exactly in that years we conducted the same struggle in USSR and many people at that time have joined the party only because of this campaign) - it will be about 5,000 addresses in Russia, 4,000 in Ukraine, 3,000 in other CIS and Baltic states;
- publication of petition with coupon to sign in the TRANSNATIONAL No 10;
- personalized mailing to the VIPs, mayors, MPs;
- appeal to the "punti di riferimento" in different cities to organize collecting of signatures on the street tables.
This stage should be finished possibly already before the Congress. The amount of signatures which we could expect after such a mailing to about 12,000 addresses is much more than in any other previous initiative (don't forget about the urgency of this question in Russia). If only 1/10 part of the receivers will send back a petition with 20 signatures, it will be already 24,000 of signatures.
The collected signatures (the first part) should be sent by fax to the defence committee of the Duma before the second reading of the bill.
2. By parallel way it could be useful to address also to our Internet subscribers, asking them not only to sign the petition, but also to collect some signatures around them and send to Moscow office.
3. At the days, when the debates on the bill in State Duma will take place (second, third, etc. readings) the manifestation in front of Duma should be organized, possibly forestalled by press conferences.
4. The second mailing addressed to the people, already signed the petition in order to involve also them into the activism, should be organized in Summer.
5. On the base of the network of people and groups, created in course of the campaign, the First All-Russian Anti-Militarist Conference could be convened (in Moscow?).
THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES NEEDED
For the first stage of campaign, in the next month, following money will be necessary (in USD):
Personalized mailing to the State Duma 120
Mailing with appeal for C.O. right
(total 12,137 addresses: 4,741 - Russia,
4,031 - Ukraine, 3,081 - other CIS states,
284 - Baltic states)
envelops 600
printing letters 13,000 copies 600
printing petitions 16,000 copies 700
postal stamps 750
post service 230
stick 25
transport 40
Personalized mailing to VIPs, mayors, etc.
(total 4,072: 1,427 Russia, 443 Ukraine,
367 Moldova, 258 other CIS,
1,577 Baltic states)
envelops 200
paper 100
cartridge for HP LaserJet 100
postal stamps 440
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Total 3,905
THE ALLIES
Already now we collaborate with Committee of Soldiers' Mothers. Since the first steps, the contact (many of which were lost after 1991) with Russian (Movement Against Violence, Youth Anti-Militarist Committee) and foreign (as War Resisters' International) organizations will be established. However, in Russia is no serious movement or organization, acting strong on the field of conscientious objection and anti-militarism. But exactly this Radical initiative have chance to create such a movement - around Radical Party.
MEMBERSHIP
Finally, it's time to say about maybe one of the most important results which we can obtain by means of this anti-militarist campaign: result in terms of membership in Russia.
It will be not an aggravation to say, that there is no and there was no such a "popular" initiative among all Radical activities, as initiative to recognize right for conscientious objection and in generally, anti-militarist campaign. It was already proved in 1990-92 in the USSR. Unfortunately, later this direction of our activity was inclined and we lost almost all what we have. Imagine: 5,000 of members almost without any attempts in 1992 were enlisted also (if not first of all) because we just declared about our good intention in the field of conscientious objection!
4,000 dollars, which are necessary for the first mailing, have a good chance to be refunded by membership (it means 500 members). But moreover, I take courage to be so optimistic about the possibilities of the anti-militarist campaign, that I can consider as realistic one the aim of 10,000 members of 1995 in Russia, which are necessary for self-financing the ordinary expenses in Russia. IF ONLY WE PAY ATTENTION TO CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION AND ANTI-MILITARISM AS OUR PRIORITIES IN RUSSIA FOR 1995. Very much will depend from the first circular letter, which we must send to initiate this campaign.
Another good result, which is possible to expect from this campaign is that not only simple members, but working groups of activists can appear in different Russian cities and towns.
Anyway, I am sure, absolutely sure, that in terms of membership, one big mailing, mobilizing Russian people for this campaign, which costs $ 4,000, is more effective than 10 assemblies, which can cost $ 10,000 together. Of course, they are also extremely important (and even in the context of the campaign). But if the horrible reality is that we absolutely must choose: either $ 4,000 for mailing and $ 1,000 for reunions or $ 1,000 for mailing and $ 4,000 for reunions, I will choose the first possibility without any doubt!
NEXT STEPS: CAMPAIGN AGAINST CONSCRIPTION, OTHER CIS COUNTRIES, ETC.
That is true, that 9 among 10 persons answer us here: why we must struggle for alternative service, if we say vaffanculo to the military conscription at all? Why we need it? This next stage in our anti-militarist campaign can be not less popular, than conscientious objection draft bill initiative.
After the end (this or that) of the initiative for a good Conscientious Objection bill, basing on the network created by means of this initiative, we could think about the next campaign in 1996: campaign for abolishing the conscription in Russia. The respective all-Russian referendum (if we will operate such a powerful network of anti-militarist activists) could be a concrete aim.
By parallel way, identical initiatives in other CIS states would be welcomed in 1996-97, starting from Ukraine, where the conscientious objection law violates brutally the principles, adopted in Europe.
Dear friends!
Dear Olivier, Antonio, Luca and other friends, responsible both for elaborating our plans for the future to be reflected in the secretary's report on the Congress, and for the adopting the budget! I appeal to you, asking to pay your attention to the above described proposals. Please, take the appropriate decisions - both political and financial (of course, in the framework of our possibilities, how else?).
Nikolaj Khramov.
