ABSTRACT: With an almost daily series of press releases, the Radical Party is trying to keep the press constantly informed of the non-violent initiative under way, without receiving, in Italy, any result; the releases, therefore, assume the function of a daily yet clandestine testimony of the Satyagraha - or collective hunger strike - which several thousand people are participating in.
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PRESS RELEASE
Rome 17 March 1994
To the urgent attention of the editor-in-chief
FIVE DAYS AGO OLIVIER DUPUIS, PRESIDENT OF THE RADICAL PARTY'S GENERAL COUNCIL, STARTED A HUNGER STRIKE ADDRESSED AT THE MEMBERS OF THE FIFTH PERMANENT COMMISSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND AT THE PONTIFF. THE SATYAGRAHA WILL LAST FROM 21 TO 25 MARCH. MANY PEOPLE ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE EASTER MARCH.
While Olivier Dupuis has reached the fifth day of his hunger strike, several dozens people have already announced their participation in the hunger strike, addressed at the members of the Fifth Commission of the United Nations, which must make a final decision on the allocation that will allow the ad hoc tribunal on crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia to finally become operative.
Olivier Dupuis is the President of the Radical Party's General Council, and last Saturday 12 March he started a hunger strike. From Monday 21 March to Friday 25 in several countries, including outside Europe, the RP will organize a collective hunger strike (or Satyagraha) addressed to the members of the United Nations Fifth Commission but also to the Pope in the hope that on the day of the Catholic Easter he will speak in favour of the establishment of the permanent penal tribunal on crimes against humanity, and to urge a moratorium on capital executions, with a view to achieving a complete and total abolition of the death penalty in the world. These are the objectives of the Easter March, which will start at 9 o'clock of 3 April from the Capitol after a passage in front of the Quirinal, where the president of the republic will greet the marchers. In the meanwhile more and more people are sending their adhesion to the initiative, which is promoted by the Radical Party, the mayor of Rome, Francesco Rutelli, C
aritas Diocesana headed by the Right Reverend Mons. Di Liegro, the "Hands Off Cain" Association, the world parliamentary campaign for the abolition of the death penalty by the year 2000. The March was presented during a press conference by Emma Bonino, Francesco Rutelli, Muhamed Kresevljakovich, the mayor of Sarayevo. The "No peace without justice" committee continues to receive the adhesions for the Easter march on the part of mayors and town councils, regions, associations and bodies, including from abroad. Among these, that of the martyr cities of Guernica and Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad).
Radical Party
18 March 1994
press release
To the kind and urgent attention of the
editor-in-chief
Rome, 18 March - On the 3rd of April an Easter March will take place in Rome to urge the establishment of the permanent international tribunal on crimes against humanity, and to obtain a universal moratorium on capital execution sin the world, with a view to achieving the total abolition of the death penalty in the world by the Year 2000.
Olivier Dupuis has been fasting for the past six days to establish a dialogue with the members of the Fifth United Nations Commission, so that it decide on the allocation that will enable the ad hoc tribunal on the crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia to become fully operative.
Many people from several European countries will participate in this hunger strike from 21 to 25 March: Italian, Bulgarian, Russian, Spanish, Belgian and Croatian citizens...
As far as the Easter March is concerned, following is a first list of adhesions from towns of Italy:
Ancona, L'Aquila, Brindisi, Rieti, Pesaro-Urbino, Savona, Padova, Livorno, Pescara, Forlì, Firenze, Siena.
Adhesions are also coming from Italian provinces are regions. The March is organized by the Radical Party, the mayor of Rome, Francesco Rutelli, Caritas Diocesana, "Hands off Cain", the campaign for the abolition of the death penalty by the Year 2000.
Radical Party
19 March 1994
press release
THE BANNERS OF VUKOVAR, OSIJEK AND ZARA AT THE EASTER MARCH. OLIVIER DUPUIS AT HIS SEVENTH DAY OF HUNGER STRIKE. MONDAY DOZENS OF EUROPEAN CITIZENS WILL GO ON A HUNGER STRIKE.
Rome 19 March - Among the dozens of municipalities and local boards that are announcing their participation in the Easter March, there are the martyr cities of the war in the former Yugoslavia: Osijek, Vukovar, and Zara, with their banners. Also participating is Muhamed Kresevliakovich, the mayor of Sarajevo, among the first to join the initiative. He announced it at the press conference to present the March, in Rome. Other banners of martyr cities will open the march: Guernica, Volgograd (former Stalingrad) Cassino and other cities.
Particularly important is the adhesion of Patricia Kreiner, the mayor of Cape Town.
Olivier Dupuis, the president of the Radical Party's General Council, has been fasting for seven days to dialogue with the members of the Fifth Commission of the General Assembly of the United Nations, which is called to decide on the allocation of the 33 million dollars destined to the functioning of the Tribunal in war crimes in the former Yugoslavia.
From Monday 21 to 25 dozens of European and non-European citizens will go on a hunger strike in parallel with the meeting of the U.N. Commission. Among these, MPs from Italy, Bulgaria, Georgia as well as the vice president of the European Parliament, Maria Magnani Noya.
Radical Party
21 March 1994
press release
OLIVIER DUPUIS AT HIS NINTH DAY OF HUNGER STRIKE; 124 CITIZENS ARE FASTING TO OPEN A DIALOGUE FOR THE EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF THE TRIBUNAL ON WAR CRIMES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.
Rome, 21 March - While Olivier Dupuis, the president of the Radical Party's General Council, has reached the ninth day of his hunger strike, 124 citizens from Italy, Georgia, Hungary, Russia, Albania, Bulgaria, have started a hunger strike to dialogue with the members of the Fifth Commission of the General Assembly of the United Nations, which is called to decide on the allocation of some 33 million dollars for the tribunal on war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia.
A hunger strike for dialogue addressed at the members of the U.N. Commission to urge them to remove all remaining obstacles or bureaucratic delay to the full operativitiy of an institution whose creation has already been decided and which awaits this decision to become operative, and so that the first segment of international law with binding force can be created, so that the world become capable of prosecuting and not leaving the war criminals unpunished.
The radical party has been among the promoters of the international campaign that lead to the establishment of the Tribunal on the former Yugoslavia. At the same time it is operating in order to establish the permanent international tribunal, for the creation of which, and for the moratorium on capital executions with a view to abolishing the sanction throughout the world, on 3 April citizens, mayors, MPs and authorities will gather in Rome.
Radical Party
21 March 1994
release
FIFTH U.N. COMMISSION: SESSION HAS BEGUN. THE PASSAGE OF THE PREVENTIVE BUDGET OF THE AD HOC TRIBUNAL EXPECTED BY 31 MARCH. THE RADICAL PARTY HAS URGED A MEETING WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION, MR. HADID.
New York, 21 March - The session of the Fifth Commission (Budget) of the Assembly of the United Nations has begun. Among the items on the agenda there is the passage of the preventive budget of the ad hoc tribunal on war crimes in the former Yugoslavia. The Commission is waiting to receive the final text of the budget from the organ charged with drafting it, the CABQ.
At this time the CABQ is preparing the budget after receiving the integrations asked during the past weeks. The principle, whereby the budget will be an integral part of the United Nations' regular budget seems by now to have been accepted by all states. But there remain serious problems for that which concerns the division of the funds on the part of the single countries. A consistent minority wants to adopt the criterion of the division in effect for the peacekeeping missions, i.e. that the poor countries are allowed smaller or no contributions.
A further problem has been raised by France, in relation to the budget items envisioned to finance the prisons for the war criminals. The CABQ, once it has overcome the difficulties, should be able to complete the final text by Thursday.
From Friday on the Commission will dispose of the final text for the approval within the limit of March 31st.
The Radical Party has asked for a meeting in New York with the Chairman of the Commission, the Algerian HADID, to illustrate the radical initiatives and the initiatives of the "no peace without justice" committee for the Easter March and the hunger strike to dialogue on the part of hundreds of people and parliamentarians. The meeting with Mr. Hadid should take place on Thursday March 24th.
Radical Party
22 March 1994
press release
47 BANNERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND THE ADVERTISEMENT OF OLIVIERO TOSCANI FOR THE EASTER MARCH. 163 CITIZENS AT THEIR SECOND DAY OF HUNGER STRIKE.
Rome, 22 March - To date, over 47 cities are scheduled to take part with their banners in the Easter March of April 3rd, to urge a universal moratorium of executions and the creation of a permanent tribunal for crimes against humanity. The banners of the martyr cities of Vukovar, Osijek, Zara, Guernica and Coventry will open the march, followed by many others, including those of Budapest, Rome, Ancona, Bologna, Brindisi, Caserta, Firenze, Forlì, Frosinone, Genova, Grosseto, L'Aquila, Livorno, Padova, Pesaro Urbino, Pescara, Rieti, Savona, Siena, Sondrio, Terni, Torino, Venezia.
The mayor of Sarajevo, the first to join the initiative, announced he will do all he can to take part in the demonstration, compatibly with the terrible situation of his city.
Particularly significant are the adhesions of the Mayor of Jerusalem, Ehud Olmert and of the mayor of Cape Town Patricia Kreiner, who have often sent faxes to express their total approval of the objectives of the march.
- BENETTON AND OLIVIERO TOSCANI ADVERTISE THE EASTER MARCH -
A press conference will take place tomorrow at the headquarters of the Radical Party in Via di Torre Argentina 76 with Oliviero Toscani, Emma Bonino, Ginadonato Caggiano, Olivier Dupuis, on the information campaign for the march. The manifesto censured by the jury as a Benetton advertisement and granted by Benetton and Toscani to the Radical Party to advertise the march.
Tenth day of hunger strike for Olivier Dupuis and second day of hunger strike for 163 citizens from all over the world. The radical party's initiative is addressed to the members of the Fifth Commission of the United Nations, which should pass the preventive budget of the ad hoc tribunal for war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia by next week. Among the strikers Adem Demaqi, Sacharov prize for peace, Maria Magnani Noya, vice president of the European Parliament, Hans Janiyschek, president of the earth foundation and several personalities and MPs from 16 countries of the world.
Radical Party
24 March 1994
press release
EASTER MARCH: TO DATE 61 BANNERS ARE ANNOUNCED, NOT JUST FROM ITALY, 32 PF WHICH FROM CHIEF TOWNS. DUPUIS AT HIS 12TH DAY OF HUNGER STRIKE, WHEREAS OTHER 236 PEOPLE FROM 18 COUNTRIES ARE ON A HUNGER STRIKE, INCLUDING 17 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.
Rome, 24 March - Several and significant adhesions are coming in for the Easter March, to be held on April 3rd at 9:00 from the Capital in Rome to be concluded in St.Peter's Square, after stopping in front of the Quirinal, where the march will be greeted by the President of the Republic, Scalfaro.
Among the objectives of the march is the establishment of the permanent international tribunal on crimes against humanity and the moratorium on capital executions with a view to obtaining the complete abolition of the death penalty in the world by the Year 2000.
Among the numerous cities, provinces and regions that will participate in the March, 61 banners of municipalities are announced so far, 5 of which non-Italian, and 32 from chief towns. Among the banners announced are those of Budapest, Trieste, Mantova and Ferrara.
The president of the General Council of the Radical Party, Olivier Dupuis, has been fasting for 12 days to establish contact with the members of the Fifth Commission of the United Nations General Assembly, which must decide in these days on the budget of some $33 million that will make the international court on crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia operative at last. The hunger strike for dialogue is also addressed to the Pope, whom the Easter March will ask to speak in favour of the objectives of the march itself.
So far 236 citizens from 18 countries, among whom 17 MPs, are joining the hunger strike addressed at the members of the United Nations Fifth Commission. Among the latest adhesions are those of:
Georges Flagothier, Belgian senator of the social-Christian party; Kolio Paramov, MP, Bulgaria; Simeon Pavlov, Secretary-general of the Christian-Republican party of Bulgaria; Paul-Joseph Benker, environmentalist senator, Belgium; Yosif Marinov, Mayor of Dobrich, Bulgaria; Teresa Ganza Aras, MP, HSLS, Croatia; David Dzhanelidze, MP, Georgia; Adnan Kemura, Chairman of the committee for solidarity with Bosnia; Adem Demaqi, Sakharov Prize, Kosovo; Arben Xhaferi, President of the party of democratic prosperity, Macedonia; Andrej Gjuric, MP, Czech Republic; Jozef Jarab, Rector of the university of Olomouc, Czech Republic; Jozef Vavrousek, former minister for the environment, Czech Republic; Vasile Diacon, former Members of Parliament, jurist, Romania; Sandor Nagy, former MP, Serbia; Hans Janitschek, Chairman Earth Foundation, US.
Radical Party
25 March 94
release
"BUDGET OF THE TRIBUNAL ON WAR CRIMES TO BE PASSED BY 31 MARCH"
New York, 25 March - The Chairman of the Fifth Commission of the United Nations Assembly, Ambassador Hadid, received yesterday in New York Marino Busdachin of the Radical Party to inform him of the situation of the passage of the budget of the tribunal for war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia.
First of all Ambassador Hadid meant to thank the Radical Party and the "No peace without justice" committee for their work in support of the initiative of the Tribunal, namely the 300 people who are taking part in a collective hunger strike addressed at the chairman of the commission and its members.
"I do not intend to deceive them" - Hadid said - "I am personally committed to this battle and we trust that the obstacles preventing the approval of the budget will be eliminated. I personally am optimistic. The UN missions of the major countries and the Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali himself are strongly committed to equip the Tribunal with an ordinary budget of the United Nations Assembly allowing the tribunal to operate effectively".
The Ambassador also informed Marino Busdachin about the fact that the CABQ, the preparatory commission, will release the text to be discussed by Friday 25 March. From Monday 28 on the Commission will tackle the debate which, according to the existing agreements, should be completed with a positive vote by the deadline of 31 March.
On concluding the meeting, Ambassador Hadid wanted to express the commitment and the excellent work carried out by the Italian mission at the United Nations in favour of the establishment of the International Tribunal.
Radical Party
26 March 1994
release
OPEN LETTER FROM THE RADICAL PARTY TP THE EDITORS OF THE ROMAN NEWSPAPERS IL MESSAGGERO, IL CORRIERE DELLA SERA, REPUBBLICA AND IL TEMPO. NON-VIOLENT INITIATIVES ON THE FOUR NEWSPAPERS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED.
Rome, 26 March 1994
Dear editor,
on 3 April, Easter Day, an international demonstration will take place in your city, Rome.
It is an Easter March to urge a universal moratorium of capital executions and the establishment of a permanent penal tribunal on crimes against humanity.
The March is promoted by the Mayor of Sarajevo, Muhamed Kresevliakovic, the Mayor of Rome, Francesco Rutelli, the Director of Caritas Diocesana, the Right Reverend Mons. Di Liegro, the "Hands Off Cain" organization, an association that struggles for the abolition of the death penalty in the world by the Year 2000, and by the Radical Party.
The March will begin at 9:00 from the Capitol, at 10 it will be greeted by the President of the Republic at the Quirinal, and will end in St.Peter's Square.
The March will be opened by the banners and the mayors of 70 Italian cities, and by those of some ten martyr cities of foreign countries; dozens of other cities in the world have joined the initiative: Japan, African countries, America, Israel, etc.
The posters of the unknown Croatian soldier by Oliviero Toscani will be exposed in 30 advertisement spaces (format 3x6). The posters have been granted by Benetton, so that we could use them to inform the population of the Easter March, and we gratefully accepted them. We presented them during a press conference with Oliviero Toscani, Emma Bonino and others. As of 12 March, Olivier Dupuis, President of the General Council of the Radical Party, started a hunger strike addressed at the members of the Fifth Commission of the United Nations General Assembly, urging it to pass the budget of the international tribunal on war crimes in the former Yugoslavia, the first segment of international law.
From 21 March some 250 citizens, including dozens of MPs, started a hunger strike as well.
Hundreds of faxes and telegrams were sent from all over the world to the Chairman of the Fifth Commission, who said he trusted that the international pressure organized by the Radical Party is extremely useful for a positive outcome of the meeting.
The march, that will present the Pope with a petition addressed to him by thousands of people, ask the Holy Father to urge the powerful of the earth to enact a moratorium of capital executions in the world, with a view to obtaining a complete abolition by the Year 2000 and the creation of a permanent international penal tribunal.
You and your newspaper, Mr Editor, did not write one word on this subject.
We assume this occurred because of the electoral campaign which occupied all the space. Now the campaign is over: the elections have been held, and you might perhaps want to compensate your citizens for the censorship that struck us and them. The fact that a citizen of Rome is not informed that his/her mayor is the promoter of an international initiative that will take place in his/her city is really incredible.
On the basis of these reasons, which surely coincide with those of your readers, we invite you to inform of this event, which will be extremely important. Should you decide not to, our non-violent will express itself in defense of our rights and of those f your readers.
We are referring to the possible occupation of the offices, of the blocking the switchboards and any other non-violent action that will seem adequate and necessary. We will have fun.
Yours faithfully.
Radical Party
28 March 1994
press release
Rome, 28 March 1994
NOT A WORD ON THE NEWSPAPERS ON THE EASTER MARCH. WE REPUBLIC THE PRESS RELEASE OF SATURDAY 26 MARCH, AS UP-TO-DATE AS ALL THE REST. IN THE MEANWHILE, OLIVIER DUPUIS IS AT THE 16TH DAY OF HUNGER STRIKE. AGESCI LAZIO AND COMUNITA' S.EGIDIO HAVE ALSO GIVEN THEIR SUPPORT TO THE INITIATIVE.
70 CITIES WITH THEIR BANNERS AT THE EASTER MARCH; 46 EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS URGE THE FIFTH COMMISSION; DUPUIS AT HIS 14TH DAY OF HUNGER STRIKE; PINTON, MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, AND KADIR, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT, ADD THEIR NAMES TO THOSE OF THE 246 CITIZENS WHO SUPPORT THE HUNGER STRIKE. ON THE AD HOC TRIBUNAL THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FIFTH UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION MEETS THE RADICALS, AND ASSURES THE BUDGET OF THE TRIBUNAL IN WAR CRIMES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA WILL BECOME FULLY OPERATIVE AT THE END OF THE MONTH. STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FIFTH UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION.
On the basis of the information available to the organizers, to date the banners of the following cities will participate in the demonstration of April 3rd along with other 63 banners from Italian cities: Saragozza, Valencia, Budapest, Coventry, Osijek, Vukovar e Gernika. The march, whose objective is the establishment of the permanent tribunal and the suspension of capital executions, will depart at 9:00 from the Capitol to arrive in St.Peter's Square, and is promoted by the mayor of Sarajevo, the mayor of Rome, the Right Reverend Mons. Luigi Di Liegro, director of Caritas Diocesana in Rome, the "Hands Off Cain" association for the abolition of the death penalty in the world by the year 2000, and by the Radical Party. The following cities will participate in the initiative: Cape Town, Brighton, Gerusalemme, Barcellona, Varsavia, Zurigo, Bratislava, Nevers, Toledo, Graz, Stoccolma, Durazzo.
Forty-six members of the European Parliament sent a letter to the members of the Fifth Commission of the United Nations, urging the adoption of the preventive budget and the allocation that will allow the effective functioning of the ad hoc tribunal on crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia.
In the meanwhile, the non-violent action of dialogue of Olivier Dupuis, the president of the General Council of the Radical Party, continues. Dupuis is at his 14th day of hunger strike, which is addressed also at the Pope, so that on the day of the Catholic Easter he may make an appeal in favour of the establishment of the international tribunal and a moratorium on capital executions, which are the objectives of the Easter March.
Michael Pinton, a member of the European parliament, and Kadir Kadir, vice president of the Bulgarian parliament, add their names to those of the 248 citizens who have been fasting since 21 march to support the nonviolent initiative promoted by the radical party.
The chairman of the Fifth Commission of the United Nations Assembly, Ambassador Hadid, received yesterday in New York Marino Busdachin of the Radical Party to inform him of the situation of the passage of the budget for the tribunal on war crimes in the former Yugoslavia.
First of all, Ambassador Hadid thanked the radical party and the "no peace without justice" committee for the work they are carrying out to support the initiative of the tribunal and namely its 300 strikers.
"I do not intend to deceive them", Hadid declared, "I am personally committed to this battle, and I trust that the obstacles that prevent the passage of the budhet will be eliminated. I personally am optimistic. The United Nations mission of the most important countries and the Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali himself are committed to equip the tribunal with an ordinary budget of the United Nations Assembly allowing the tribunal to operate effectively".
The Ambassador them informed Marino Busdachin that the CABQ, the preparatory commission, will release the text to be discussed by Friday 25 March. As of 28 March the Commission will begin the debate which, according to the existing debates, should conclude itself with a positive vote by the deadline of March 31st. On concluding the meeting, the Ambassador Hadid wanted to underline the commitment and excellent work carried out by the Italian mission at the United Nations in favour of the establishment of the international tribunal.
Radical Party
29 March 1994
press release
THE EASTER MARCH APPROACHES IN THE NEAR SILENCE OF THE PRESS, THE ADHESIONS OF THE BUDDHIST COMMUNITIES. OLIVIER DUPUIS AT HIS 17TH DAY OF HUNGER STRIKE. MORE THAN 303 CITIZENS FROM MANY COUNTRIES OF EUROPEAN AND ELSEWHERE ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE HUNGER STRIKE.
Rome, 19 March - The day of the Easter March is approaching, and the "no peace without justice" committee continues receiving adhesions, whereas the press is practising al almost total silence on the march and on the hunger strike which Olivier Dupuis and over 303 people have been carrying out. Among the latest adhesions to the march those of Geshe Sonam Chamchub, Tibetan Lama, of the Institute of Buddhist studies Samanta Bhadra; Piero verni, President of the Italia-Tibet association, Sung-Liming, representative of the Federation for Democracy in China. More than 70 banners will be exhibited at the Easter March and several other that represent Italian and foreign local agencies, all united in the objectives of the march, the establishment of the permanent international penal tribunal and the moratorium on capital executions in the world, with a view to obtaining the total abolition in the world by the Year 2000.
Olivier Dupuis, the chairman of the General Council of the Radical party, is at his 17th day of hunger strike. The strike is addressed at the members of the Fifth Commission of the United Nations General Assembly, who are working in these days in New York in the discussion on the budget of the ad hoc tribunal for war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia, the last obstacle preventing the ad hoc tribunal, the first segment of international and supranational jurisdiction, from become fully operative. With Dupuis at 21 March more than 300 citizens from over twenty countries are participating in the hunger strike, including some twenty members of Parliament.
Enclosed is the flysheet calling the march, an event of great importance, that will present the pope with the appear urging him to speak in favour of the objectives for which the march has been summoned.
Radical Party
2 April 1994
press release
ROME - EASTER MARCH. THE MAYOR OF SARAJEVO: "I WILL GUIDE THE MARCH FROM THE CAPITOL TO ST.PETER'S SQUARE". OLIVIER DUPUIS AY HIS 21ST DAY OF HUNGER STRIKE. MORE THAN 330 PEOPLE CONTINUE THE STRIKE FOR THE FUNDS TO THE TRIBUNAL ON THE CRIMES COMMITTED IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.
Rome, 2 April - Tomorrow at 9:00 the Easter March will depart from the Capitol to St.Peter's Square, where at noon the Pope will pronounce his blessing urbi et orbi. It is to be hoped that he will speak in favour of the objectives of the march, the establishment of the permanent international penal tribunal on crimes against humanity and the moratorium on capital executions in the world with a view to obtaining the total abolition of the death penalty by the year 2000.
The march is promoted by the Mayors of Sarajevo and Rome, by the Radical Party, by the director of Caritas Diocesana, the Right Reverend Mons. Luigi Di Liegro, and by the "Hands off Cain" association.
The march will be opened by the mayor of Sarajevo and by the several dozens mayors from European and non-European cities that will reach Rome with their banners. Mihamed Kresevjakovi, who arrived in Rome a few days before Easter, declared:
"On behalf od the victims, many of whom children, of the city of Sarajevo, on behalf of the dozens of thousands of dead and wounded and not just in Sarajevo but in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole, I invite all citizens of Rome to take part in the Easter March.
I thought genocide belonged to the past, but this is not so.
On behalf of those who have died for lack of medicines and water, on behalf of Olivier Dupuis and the 303 citizens who are on a hunger strike so that the tribunal on the former Yugoslavia may become operative at once, I invite you to take part in the march. All of you must make an effort to that the tribunal may begin functioning and receive the necessary funds in due time.
The hunger strike is an extreme instrument, but a useful one: I remember my own hunger strike last year, whereby I wanted to urge the dispatch of humanitarian aid to Sarajevo."
Olivier Dupuis is now at his 21st day of hunger strike. The strike is addressed at the members of the Fifth Commission of the United Nations General Assembly, for the final approval of the budhet of the Tribunal on war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia. The United Nations commission is carrying on the discussion of the Resolution relative to the functioning of the Tribunal, and has been discussing since thursday evening on the chapter of the United Nations budgets whence the funds of the tribunal should be taken, whether from those of the ordinary budget, or from a special find to be created. The commission has been adjourned until Tuesday, and the mobilization of the hundreds of citizens who sent telegrams and faxes to the members of the United Nations Fifth Commission, and especially the activity of the over 330 citizens who have joined Olivier Dupuis in a hunger strike started on March 21st, are intensifying.
Radical Party
5 April 1994
press release
OLIVIER DUPUIS, PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE RADICAL PARTY, AT HIS 24TH DAY OF HUNGER STRIKE, ADDRESSED TO THE MEMBERS OF THE FIFTH COMMISSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WHICH HAS RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF TELEGRAMS AND FAXES IN THESE DAYS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, WHILE A COLLECTIVE HUNGER STRIKE, OR SATGYAGRAHA HAS BEGIN TODAY, WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF MANY CITIZENS FROM MANY COUNTRIES. THE CRUCIAL DAYS FOR THE BUDGET OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL FOR WAR CRIMES COMMITTED IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.
Rome, 5 April - After the enormous success of the Easter March, the campaign to urge a moratorium on capital executions with a view to obtaining the total abolition of the death penalty by the Year 2000 and the establishment of the permanent international penal tribunal, the first step should be the complete operativity of the international tribunal on war crimes in the former Yugoslavia. The Fifth Commission of the United Nations General Assembly is once again working on the discussion on the budget of this international jurisdictional institution, and while there is complete agreement on the various points relative to the organizational aspects of the tribunal, there us no final agreement on the source of the funds: whether this should be included in the ordinary budget of the United Nations or in a special fund.
This is the last obstacle that still prevents the ad hoc tribunal on war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia from becoming operative for the time necessary to prosecute the persons responsible.
For these reasons Olivier Dupuis, President of the General Council of the radical Party, is now at his 24th day of hunger strike, which is addressed to the members of the Fifth Commission of the United Nations General Assembly, and with Dupuis many citizens from many countries are carrying out a major non-violent action. The adhesions to the hunger strike increase daily, while several hundred faxes have been sent to the members of the United Nations Commission. These are crucial days: the final decision will be taken at the United Nations, and to that end the citizens are invited to send faxes to the United Nations, following this model:
"PASS THE BUDGET OF THE TRIBUNAL ON THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE ORDINARY BUDGET OF THE UNITED NATIONS", at the following number:
001 212 963 30 50.
Luigi Del Gatto, Ricardo Chiavaroli
6 April 1994
press release
NON-VIOLENT HUNGER STRIKE TO URGE THE IMMEDIATE FUNDING OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL ON CRIMES COMMITTED IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
Pescara, 5 April - This morning Luigi Del Gatto, antiprohibitionist radical councillor, and Ricardo Chiavaroli, exponent of the Club Pannella, joined Olivier Dupuis in the hunger strike.
Dupuis, the president of the General Council of the Radical Party, has been striking for 24 days to ask the members of the Commission of the United Nations General Assembly to make a final and concrete decision on the question of the budget of the international tribunal on war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia.
The UN Commission, after a series of delays, must decide the sum to allocate - and the relative budget item - in order to make operative this new and effective means of international jurisdiction.
The decision of the UN Commission could be made in the upcoming meeting of Friday evening.
Precisely to urge the necessary allocation, hundreds of people from all over the world are joining Olivier Dupuis in a collective non-violent hunger strike, or Satyagraha, and at the same time they are sending from all possible countries telegrams and faxes to the United Nations in order to urge the solution of the problem.
We invite our co-citizens to join the hunger strike, and above all to send a fax with the following text:
"PASS THE BUDGET OF THE TRIBUNAL ON THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE ORDINARY BUDGET OF THE UNITED NATIONS"
The address you should send the message to is:
FIFTH COMMISSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE UNITED NATIONS
UNITED NATIONS' PLAZA
NEW YORK - N. Y. 10017
USA
Fax numbers:
00-1-212-963 3050 or 00-1-212-759 95 38
Radical Party
6 April 1994
press release
OLIVIER DUPUIS AT HIS 25TH DAY OF HUNGER STRIKE; 53 CITIZENS ARE STRIKING FOR THE FINANCING OG THE TRIBUNAL ON WAR CRIMES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. THOUSANDS OF FAXES AND TELEGRAMS HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE FIFTH COMMISSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS ASSEMBLY.
Rome, 6 April - After more than 330 citizens from 20 countries, including 20 members of Parliament, participated in a hunger strike from 21 March, on Tuesday the collective hunger strike has been resumed, with the participation of 53 people from 9 countries of the world, addressed to the members of the Fifth Commission of the United Nations Assembly, which is discuss in in these days on the attribution of the budhet of the international tribunal on war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia.
Olivier Dupuis, the president of the General Council of the Radical Party, is now at his 25th day of dialogue. His aim is to obtain that the Fifth Commission of the United Nations General Assembly pass the budget of the tribunal on the former Yugoslavia as part of the ordinary budget of the United Nations. The point under discussion is exactly this, whether or not the tribunal should be financed from the ordinary budget of the United Nations or from a special fund.
The United Nations Commission has been receiving thousands of faxes sent from many citizens of Europe and from the rest of the world, yesterday encouraged also by Gianfranco Funari during his television program, where Marco Pannella (2) and Olivier Dupuis himself were participating in.
The adhesions to the hunger strike may be notified to the following number: 06/689791, the number of the Radical Party.
The text of the message:
"PASS THE BUDGET OF THE TRIBUNAL ON THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE ORDINARY BUDGET OF THE UNITED NATIONS"
send it to number:
00-1-212-963 30 50 (fax Fifth Commission)
or:
00-1-212-759 95 38 (fax Chairman of the Fifth Commission)
Radical Party
6 April 1994
press release
Sofia, 6 April - 12 MPs from Bulgaria sent the chairman of the Fifth Commission, Hadid, a message in which they ask him to approve the budget of the tribunal on war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia in the framework of the ordinary budget of the United Nations.
Socialist group:
- Kostia Karaivanov, member of the Radical Party - Yovcho Russev, member of the Radical Party - Trifon Mitev
SDS Group:
- Pavel Shopov, member of the Radical Party - Yordan Kutzarov, member of the Radical Party - Dako Mihailov, member of the Radical Party
DPS Group:
- Ilhan Veli, member of the Radical Party, fasted for 2 days - Remizi Osman, member of the Radical Party, fasted for 2 days
Independents Group:
- Redzep Chinar, fasted for 3 days
NSD Group:
- Gospodin Atanassov, member of the Radical Party, fasted for 4 days
Independent MPs of the GOR:
- Kolio Paramov, member of the General Council of the Radical Party, fasted for 2 days - Ilian Iliev
Radical Party
7 April 1994
press release
SIGNATURES COLLECTED FOR THE BUDGET OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL
Brussels, April 7th - Yesterday during a convention on the regions of Europe, 167 signatures were collected on the petition addressed at the Fifth United Nations Commission to urge the inclusion of the allocation of the ad hoc tribunal on war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia into the ordinary budget of the United Nations.
Among the signatories: members of the European Parliament, members of national assemblies, mayors and representatives or official associations of various cities (Germany, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Denmark, Hungary, Switzerland, Lithuania, Norway, Ireland, Poland, Rumania, Austria, Finland, England, France, Luxembourg)
- Catherine LALUMIERE, secrétaire général du Conseil de l'Europe
members of the European Parliament:
- Renzo IMBENI- Adelaide AGLIETTA - Maria Teresa COPPO GAVAZZI - Frédéric ROSMINI - Artur da CUNHA OLIVEIRA - Jürgen SCHRODER (MEP Obs.) - Karmelo LANDA - Pietro MITOLO - Marco LARONI - T.J. MAHER - Doris PACK - Heinz KOHLER - Joachim DALSASS
national MPs:
- Gepa MAIBAUM, MP, Germany - Marius DIAZ BIELSA, MP, Barcelona - John BROWNE
mayors:
- Alexander YANTCHOULEV, Sofia - Liais ENGBERG, Copenhagen - John WINTER, Frederiksburg (Denmark) - Adrian MORUZI, Brasov (Romania) - Jozsef MERASZ, Kecskemet - Gyorgy GEMESI, Godollo (Hungary) - Jean BOBIN, Soissons (France) - M. GUIMCHARD KUMSTLER, Maire Adjoint de Besançon - Sabine GIRARD REYDET, Maire Adjoint de Toulon - J. L. GASQUET, Maire de La Celle Saint Cloud (France) - Herminio TRIGO, Cordoba - Rodriguez VIDAL SUAREZ, Tegueste (Islas Canarias) - Antonio FAMMES SABATER, Sabadell (Spain) - Gregorio ORDONEZ, Maire Adjoint San Sebastian - Ignacio VELAZQUEZ, Melilla - Antonio REMEZES, Lodisa - Juan Carlos LOIDI, Maire Adjoint de Bilbao - Pierre MAILLE, Brest - Valentino CASTELLANI, Torino - Vassilis KALFOPOULOS, vice mayor of Thessaloniki - Bernard FABRE, Maire Adjoint de Montpellier - Riccardo VENTURINI, Borgo Maggiore (Rep. San Marino) - Antoniu RODRIGUES, Maire Adjoint de Lisbona - Curto ABILIO, Guarda (Portugal) - Walter FRONEBERG, Wetzlos (Germany) - Helene LUND, Maire Adjoint de Forum (Denmark) -
Norbert BURGER, Köln - Andrea DI PIERRI, Viggiano - Maria DI SIRIO, Castronuovo di S. A. (Pz) - Ludovico Nevio PUNTIN, Aquileia - Michele DEFILIPPIS, San Donaci - Francesco RUTELLI, Roma - S. BRAGHETTO, vice mayor of Padova - Pasquale CIANI, Atella - Rocco SAMPOGNA, Potenza - Gerardo SETARO, Minolucano
- Othmar KAMER, Stadtpräs. Zurich (Switzerland) - Cristiana STORELLI, regional deputy, Bellinzona (Switzerland) - Zyta GILOWSKA, National Assembly of Local Authorities, Poland - Leon KIEKES, National Assembly of Local Authorities, Poland - Günther PUMBERGER, Osterreische Gemeindebund, 1.Vizepräsident, Austria - Erich PRAMBOCK, Secr. général, Assoc. des villes autrichiennes - Karl BREGARTNER, Städtgebund Osterreich, Bymst. v. Wels, Austria - Markku POHJOLA, National Assembly of Local Authorities of Finland - Albert BORE, Councillor, Birmingham - Luigi CURCIO, Vice Presidente Unione Province d'Italia - Alphonse CRUCHTEN, Directeur de Assoc. Villes et Communes luxembourgeoises, Marcel ERPELDINE, Conseiller communal, Luxembourg - Roy CROSS, Richmondshire D.C., U.K. - Tony PRIOR, Liberal Democrat Leader, Association of district Councils, U.K. - J. DIECKMANN, Secret. general German Assoc. of Cities - Bill MACKAY, Chairman Mendip District Council, UK - Kornelipis PLATELIS, Councilor of Druskininkai CC, Secretary of
the Assoc. of Lithuanian Cities - Aase ERDAL, EC Counselor, Norwegian Assoc. of Local Author. - M. Teresa BONAFINI, Consigliere comunale - Giani FAUSTA, cons. comunale Casale Marittima (Pisa) - Vincenzo AVANTAGGIATI, assessore (Bari) -
Jaume BOSCA MESTRES, Diputacio de Barcelona - M. Dolores CALVET PUIG, Regidora Sabadell (Spagna) - Juan Antonio GOMEZ-ANGULO, Consejal Madrid - Francisco CAMPOS ORTIZ, Consejal Valencia - Ivan TAYLOR, Leader, Plackpool Council - Brian BISHOP, Chairman Argyll & Bute District Council - Andrew TULLY, Vice President Convention of Scottish Local Authorities - John BURKE, Leader Swale BC. England - Derek DOLDING, Leader Thaney D.C. England - Tony CUNNINGHAM, Leader of Allerdale Borough Council - Thomas BOLGAN, President of A.M.A.I. Municipal Authorities of Ireland- Sean Mc MANUS, Vice President of Mun. Auth. of Ireland - Oberto TILOCCA, Consigliere comunale Bolzano - Leone STICCOTI, Cons. comunale Bolzano - Generoso RULLO, cons. Comunale Bolzano - Tino TOMBARI, cons. comun. Pesaro - Mario BARRARA, cons. com. Provincia regionale di Traporno - Francesco VETERE, assessore Programmazione e finanze Provincia di Matera - Vincenzo Antonio MATTEO, assessore di San Donaci - Giovanni FERASIN, asse
ssore PadovaGraham PROCTOR, Councillor City of Chester - denis HEPTONSTALL, East Staffs Borough Council - Gline SNEDDON, Leader, Northeast Fife District Council - Brian CLEMENTS, Leader Poole Borough Council - John ARNOLD, Councillor Southampton City Council - W.J. WILLIAMS, Councillor (Chairman of Policy) Isle of Anglesey B.C. (Wales) - Ken BODFISH, Labour Leader East Sussex County Council - Ian DUNCAN, Chair of arts Committee Brighton council - Carole A. TURNER, Leader of Council Newark & Sherwood District - David BORROW, Leader of Council Preston B.C. - Jose R. BERZOSA, Consejal Vitoria-Gasteiz - Dr. HOFFSCHULTE, Oberkreisdirektor Heinfurt
Radical Party
7 April 1994
press release
MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, MEMBERS OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES, MAYORS FROM MANY EUROPEAN COUNTRIES SENT A FAX TO THE FIFTH COMMISSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS. OLIVIER DUPUIS CONTINUES HIS HUNGER STRIKE, HE HAS BEEN FASTING FOR 26 DAYS. OTHER 60 PEOPLE ARE FASTING TO URGE AN IMMEDIATE DECISION ON THE BUDGET OF THE AD HOC TRIBUNAL IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE ORDINARY BUDGET OF THE UNITED NATIONS.
Rome, 7 April - During a meeting on the regional and local authorities in Europe, held in Brussels yesterday, with the participation of the mayor of Sarajevo, Muhamed Kresevljakovic, 167 participants added their prestigious names to the initiative for the budget of the international tribunal on war crimes in the former Yugoslavia in the framework of the ordinary budget of the United Nations.
167 people sent faxes to the members of the Fifth Commission (Administration and Finance) of the general Assembly of the United Nations, asking: "Pass the budget of the tribunal on the former Yugoslavia in the framework of the ordinary budget of the United Nations", the same text sent by thousands of citizens from all over the world at number 001 212 963 3050, or at number 001 212 759 9538. Olivier Dupuis, the president of the General Council of the Radical Party, is now at his 26th day of hunger strike. With him, over 60 citizens have been fasting since Tuesday, resuming the Satyagraha, or collective non-violent hunger strike which started on 21 March and ended on 3 April, and which over 330 people took part in.
Radical Party
9 April 1994
press release
TRIBUNAL ON THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA: AT LAST THE FULL LEGAL AUTHORITY. THE WAR CRIMINALS WILL BE PROSECUTED. AFTER OLIVIER DUPUIS' 28-DAY HUNGER STRIKE AND THE HUNDREDS OF PARTICIPANTS AND THOUSANDS OF FAXES AND TELEGRAMS. THE INTERNATIONAL JURISIDICTIONAL INSTITUTION IS OPERATIVE.
Rome, 9 April - The war criminals in the former Yugoslavia will be prosecuted. The Fifth Commission of the General Assembly of the United Nations this night passed the Resolution that rules the legal authority of the international tribunal on war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia. The Tribunal will dispose of $11 million for the fiscal year 1994, and will be authorize to make a rent contract for the facilities necessary to the Tribunal, for a total of four years, hire personnel, and be fully operative. The allocation will in any case be covered by the ordinary budget of the United Nations, to which an expense chapter will be added. It is an achievement of incredible importance, the establishment of an international jurisdictional organ which is called to prosecute the war criminals in the former Yugoslavia, a deterrent for the future.
Olivier Dupuis, President of the General Council of the Radical party, after 28 days of hunger strike addressed at the members of the Fifth Commission of the United Nations general Assembly, has therefore acquired, with the Radical Party, the Easter march and the hundreds of citizens who fasted for many days from 21 March on and until today, with the thousands of faxes and telegrams which reached New York from many parts of Europe and of the world, the positive and final conclusion of a campaign that for months struggled to make the United Nations stronger and ever more capable at the international level of affirming justice and human rights.
Translator's notes:
(1) DUPUIS OLIVIER. (1958). Belgian conscientious objector, surrendered himself to the Belgian justice system and served an 11-month sentence in the prison of Saint Gilles. Worked at the French-speaking edition of "Radical News". Organized and participated in nonviolent and antitotalitarian demonstrations in the countries of Eastern Europe, and was for this reason expelled from Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. Currently coordinates the party's activities in Rumania and Hungary. He is now working on the the project on the "New Party".
(2) PANNELLA MARCO. Pannella Giacinto, known as Marco. (Teramo 1930). Currently President of the Radical Party's Federal Council, which he is one of the founders of. At twenty national university representative of the Liberal Party, at twenty-two President of the UGI, the union of lay university students, at twenty-three President of the UNURI, national union of Italian university students. At twenty-four he advocates, in the context of the students' movement and of the Liberal party, the foundation of the new radical party, which arises in 1954 following the confluence of prestigious intellectuals and minor democratic political groups. He is active in the party, except for a period (1960-1963) in which he is correspondent for "Il Giorno" in Paris, where he established contacts with the Algerian resistance. Back in Italy, he commits himself to the reconstruction of the radical Party, dissolved by its leadership following the advent of the centre-left. Under his indisputable leadership, the party succeeds in
promoting (and winning) relevant civil rights battles, working for the introduction of divorce, conscientious objection, important reforms of family law, etc, in Italy. He struggles for the abrogation of the Concordat between Church and State. Arrested in Sofia in 1968 as he is demonstrating in defence of Czechoslovakia, which has been invaded by Stalin. He opens the party to the newly-born homosexual organizations (FUORI), promotes the formation of the first environmentalist groups. The new radical party organizes difficult campaigns, proposing several referendums (about twenty throughout the years) for the moralization of the country and of politics, against public funds to the parties, against nuclear plants, etc., but in particular for a deep renewal of the administration of justice. Because of these battles, all carried out with strictly nonviolent methods according to the Gandhian model - but Pannella's Gandhi is neither a mystic nor an ideologue; rather, an intransigent and yet flexible politician - h
e has been through trials which he has for the most part won. As of 1976, year in which he first runs for Parliament, he is always elected at the Chamber of Deputies, twice at the Senate, twice at the European Parliament. Several times candidates and local councillor in Rome, Naples, Trieste, Catania, where he carried out exemplary and demonstrative campaigns and initiatives. Whenever necessary, he has resorted to the weapon of the hunger strike, not only in Italy but also in Europe, in particular during the major campaign against world hunger, for which he mobilized one hundred Nobel laureates and preeminent personalities in the fields of science and culture in order to obtain a radical change in the management of the funds allotted to developing countries. On 30 September 1981 he obtains at the European parliament the passage of a resolution in this sense, and after it several other similar laws in the Italian and Belgian Parliament. In January 1987 he runs for President of the European Parliament, obtaini
ng 61 votes. Currently, as the radical party has pledged to no longer compete with its own lists in national elections, he is striving for the creation of a "transnational" cross-party, in view of a federal development of the United States of Europe and with the objective of promoting civil rights throughout the world.
