EUROPE

Some change seen in misguided “terrorism” terminology

 It is both human and politic to call our enemies, those whom we hate and with whom we disagree, “dirty” names. The Chinese called outsiders barbarians, Europeans had equally insulting names for each other and especially for non-whites, and during the past World, Korean, and Indochinese Wars right up to Iraq full use is made of the vocabulary of bile. In the interlude of the Cold War years, partisanship determined the spin: Our freedom fighter is your terrorist and the other way round. During the past six years, differences in usage were blurred, mainly because of the simple-minded exhortations by US President George W. Bush and his Administration.  Everybody who stood up against government and regimes, from the benign protest to the murderous attack, was called a terrorist. It became clear that this practice is not only short-sighted but harmful and more thoughtful people began to criticize the indiscriminate usage.

The official, public assessment went astray even before the Bush administration launched its “war on terror.”  By declaring nearly every militant group around the world outlaws—be they fighting for self-rule, against occupation, or against government corruption or repression—the government managed to thoroughly dilute the picture of the critical target. The Uyghurs in Xinxiang, Tibetans, Tamils, Basques and others may pose problems to government and people in their countries but they are not the same. Placing them in the same category has confused  the definition of the danger

and blurred the focus on one group, such as al-Qa’ida, making it harder to settle disputes which are at the heart of most militant movements (banditry and commercial piracy excepted).

An allied high official, the British Secretary for International Development, Hilary Benn, finally pointed out the flaw in blurring differences between militant groups and their partisans. Addressing an American audience in New York on 16 April, he said: “In the UK, we do not use the phrase ‘war on terror’ because we can’t win by military means alone, and because this isn’t us against one organized enemy with a clear identity and coherent set of objectives.” He added that by lumping all militants together they are made to feel a part of something bigger and are given strength. Benn did not address the issue of calling all anti-government militants “terrorists,” a practice that was quickly picked up by regimes in China, Burma, and Russia, especially after the United Nations Security Council sanctioned it.

(No. 443, May 2007)

France

UMP candidate supports EU, opposes Turkish membership

 The main contender for the presidential candidacy of the governing Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), Minister of Interior Nicolas Sarkozy (born 28 January 1955), strongly supported the European Union (EU) in a talk at a European think-tank in Brussels on 8 September but proposed a number of radical changes. Rather than waiting for a constitution to be adopted, member states should approve a “mini-treaty” to abolish members’ veto right, create the position of a EU foreign minister, and suspend admission negotiations with Turkey which he opposes. The minister’s candidacy was undercut by the president who told a TV audience on 19 September, that the UMP should field more than one presidential candidate. Three days later, the president further snubbed the minister who had attacked judges who are soft on crime, be expressing his full confidence in judges and defended their independence (22-09).

Corsican nationalism: The Independent Corsican Nation (CNI) movement organized the 25th Nationalist Days on 5-6 August at Corte, Corse-du-Sud Department, reported Le Monde. At a forum, speakers attacked the president of the Corsican Assembly who belongs to the governing party, over  excessive construction and despoiling of natural sanctuaries, while others demanded the release of so-called political prisoners who were convicted for assassination, bombings, and other offenses. The outpouring of nationalist sentiments under the slogan of “Corsican soil for Corsicans” was preceded by a recent series of attacks on government offices and equipment.

Presidential candidates: Former Prime Minister Lionel Jospin (born 12  July 1937) announced that he would not be a candidate of the Socialist Party (PS) for president (29-09). The PS Secretary François Hollande (born 12 August 1954) also ruled himself out as a candidate (30-09) while his partner, Ms. Sëgolène Royal (born 22 September 1953), made her candidacy official on the same day. Former Finance Minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn (29 April 1949) and former Prime Minister Laurent Fabius (born 20 August 1946) also declared their candidacies (29-09).

Montenegro

 Country regains independence after 88 years

Montenegro declared its independence on 3 June and is expected to become the 192nd independent member of the United Nations during the last week this month. It resumed its independent status which it gave up on 1 December 1918 when it joined the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later Yugoslavia and until a few days ago Serbia and Montenegro.

This action did not come unexpectedly and a provision in the Constitutional Charter of 4 February 2003 which created Serbia and Montenegro allowed either republic to hold a referendum on independence from the union after three years.

A popular referendum was held in the Montenegro portion of Serbia and Montenegro on 21 May on independence in which 86.3 percent of eligible voters took part. A majority of 55.5 percent voted in favor of independence which was recognized by Serbia’s president on 23 May. Since then the European Union (EU) and most major states have recognized the new state. Serbia becomes the successor of the former Serbia and Montenegro, assumes its international obligations and continues membership in international and regional organizations while Montenegro has to make new application for admission.

Profile

Montenegro

Crna Gora

Capital: Podgorica (Titograd 1944-1991) (Cetinje 1912-1944)

Area: 13,812 sq km

Population: 650,575 (1998), 62 percent classified as Montenegrins, 9 percent as Serbs (but inhabitants declared themselves as 43 percent Montenegrin and 34 percent Serbs).

Density: 47 pers./sq km

Presidential system, 4-year term; limited to 2 terms. The president is elected by the legislature. He serves as chief of state.

Government: Headed by the prime minister.

Unicameral legislature: Montenegrin Assembly/Skupstina Crne Gora 77 members, 4-year term.

President: Filip Vujanovic (DPSCG)(born 1 September 1954), since 13 June 2003

Prime Minister: Milo Djukanovic (DPSCG) (born 15 February 1962), since 8 January 2003

Political parties:

Bosniak Democratic Coalition-Harun Hadzic

Civic Party of Montenegro (GPCG)

Democratic Alliance of Montenegro (DSCG)

Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro (DPSCG), successor to the former ruling League of Communists of Montenegro (SKCG)

Democratic Serbian Party (DSS)

Democratic Union of Albanians (DUA)

Group for Changes (GP)

Liberal Alliance of Montenegro

Liberal Party of Montenegro (LPCG)

Party of Democratic Prosperity (PPD)

Patriotic Coalition for Yugoslavia (PKJ)

People’s Party of Montenegro (NSCG)

People’s Socialist Party of Montenegro (NSSCG)

Serbian People’s Party of Montenegro (SNSCG)

Social Democratic Party of Montenegro (SDPCG)

Socialist People’s Party of Montenegro (SNPCG)

Developments

Montenegro declared its independence from Turkey in 1878 and remained the Kingdom of Montenegro from 1882 until 1 December 1918 when it joined the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.

(Source: Independent Nations, Global Survey No. 1I, August 2005). (June 2006)

United Kingdom

Liberals searching for leader

Right up to his resignation announcement on 7 January, Charles Kennedy, 46, maintained he would continue to lead the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The Member of Parliament for the Highlands and Islands constituency had held the position since 1999. Until recently he was seen as a nice person but lacking vision and LDP front benchers became concerned that the party would lose some 40 seats in the next election especially after Kennedy confirmed that he has a problem with alcohol. A new leader will be elected during the next two months by 2 March from among three candidates: Acting leader and Deputy Leader, Sir Menzies Campbell, 64, of Scotland; President Simon Hughes, 54, a lawyer and representing Southwark North and Bermondsey in Parliament; Mark Oaten, 41, a public relations consultant representing Winchester in Parliament; and David Laws, 40,  an investment banker representing Yeovil in Parliament. The last two candidates are found on the right of the party, pro-business and less supportive of social support. (Jan. 2006)

Selected reports published in the International Observer