Every now and also the European institutions decide to come to terms with history ... If you pass this resolution, would be a blow to many of the hypocrisies that are the Council of Europe a uneffective body. We can only hope that in the good faith of our representatives!
Motion the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe: "The need for international condemnation of crimes of communism"
I. Draft resolution
1. The Assembly refers to its resolution 1096 (1996) on measures to dismantle the inheritance of the old forms of totalitarian communist government.
2. The totalitarian communist regimes that existed in Central and Eastern Europe in the last century, and that always exist in many countries around the world, without exception, have been marked by massive human rights violations. These violations, who varied according to culture, country and historical period, included the murders and executions, whether individual or collective, deaths in concentration camps, death c on hunger, deportation, torture , forced labor and other collective forms of physical terror.
3. The crimes were justified in the name of the theory of class struggle and the principle of dictatorship of the proletariat. The interpretation of these two principles to legitimize the "elimination" of the categories of persons regarded as pests to build a new society and, consequently, as a hostile totalitarian communist regimes. In each country, the victims were mainly national. This was particularly the case for the populations of the former USSR where there was a much larger number of victims than those of other nationalities.
4. The Assembly recognizes that despite the crimes of totalitarian communist regimes, some European communist parties have worked to bring about democracy.
5. The fall of totalitarian communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe was not followed by either an international investigation into comprehensive and thorough, nor a debate on the crimes committed by these regimes . In addition, the crimes in question were not condemned by the international community, as was the case with the horrible crimes committed in the name of National Socialism (Nazism).
6. Consequently, the general public is hardly aware of the crimes committed by totalitarian communist regimes. Communist parties are legal and still active in some countries, even when sometimes do not even have distanced themselves from the crimes committed by totalitarian communist regimes in the past.
7. The Assembly is convinced that awareness of history is one of the conditions to be met to prevent similar crimes occurring in the future . In addition, the moral judgments and punishment of crimes committed play an important role in education on the younger generations. A clear position of the international community on this past may serve them as a reference for their future action.
8. In addition, the Assembly believes that victims of crimes committed by totalitarian communist regimes, still alive or their families are calling for compassion, understanding and recognition of their suffering.
9. remain totalitarian communist regimes in some countries of the world, and crimes continue to be committed. National interests should not prevent countries to criticize the current totalitarian communist regimes , when these deserve to be criticized. The Assembly strongly condemns all those violations of human rights.
10. The debates and condemnations which have taken place so far at national level in some Member States of the Council of Europe can not dispense with the international community from taking a clear position on the crimes committed by totalitarian communist regimes. Has a moral obligation to do so without waiting.
11. The Council of Europe is well placed to launch such a debate at the international level. All the former communist countries of Europe except Belarus, are now members, and the protection of human rights and the rule of law are fundamental values \u200b\u200bthat it defends.
12. Consequently, the Parliamentary Assembly strongly condemns the massive human rights violations committed by totalitarian communist regimes and pays tribute to the victims of these crimes.
13. In addition, calls on all communist or post-communist its Member States that have not yet done so to review the history of communism and their past, clearly distance themselves from the crimes committed by totalitarian communist regimes and condemn them unequivocally .
14. The Assembly considers that the clarity of this position taken by the international community help to continue the reconciliation. Also, to be hoped that historians will encourage the world to continue their research objectives which are to establish and monitor the performance of the facts objectively.
II. Draft recommendation
1. The Parliamentary Assembly refers to its resolution 1096 (1996) on measures to dismantle the inheritance of the old forms of totalitarian communist government and its resolution ... the need for international condemnation of crimes of totalitarian communist regimes
2. The Assembly believes that is urgent need to organize a thorough and exhaustive international debate on the crimes committed by totalitarian communist regimes waiting to inspire compassion, understanding and recognition for all those who have been touched by these crimes.
3. She believes that the Council of Europe, an organization that includes the rule of law and protection of human rights, should take a clear position on the crimes committed by totalitarian communist regimes.
4. Consequently, the Assembly urges the Committee of Ministers: i.
the need to establish a Committee composed of independent experts, who shall collect and analyze information and legislation related to human rights violations committed under totalitarian communist regimes different ;
ii. to approve an official statement in support of international condemnation of crimes committed by totalitarian communist regimes, and to honor the victims of these crimes , regardless of their nationality;
iii. to launch a public campaign to raise awareness of crimes committed by totalitarian communist regimes in Europe ;
iv. to organize an international conference on crimes committed by totalitarian communist regimes with the participation of representatives of governments, parliamentarians, academics, experts and NGOs.
v. urge the Member States of the Council of Europe that were governed by totalitarian communist regimes:
a. to ensure establish committees composed of independent experts to collect and analyze information on violations of human rights committed under totalitarian communist nationally waiting to work closely with a committee of experts of the Council of Europe ;
b. to review their laws to make it fully compliant with Recommendation (2000) 13 of the Committee of Ministers on a European Communication Policy Archives ;
c. to launch a national campaign to raise awareness crimes committed in the name of communist ideology, including the revision of textbooks and introduction of a day commemorating the victims of communism and the opening of museums ;
d. to encourage local communities to establish memorials that pay tribute to the victims of communist regimes totalitarian.
III. Justification
I. Introduction
1. The fall of Communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe in the early '90s, has opened many discussions on the political and legal assessment of the acts and crimes committed in the name of communist ideology. The responsibility of the authors of these acts and any continuations against them, are now dealt with public issues. In all communist countries in the past, debates have taken place in this regard at the national level and many have adopted specific laws on "decomunistizzazione" and / or purification.
2. In all the countries concerned, this aspect has been considered as one element of a wider process of dismantling the system previously in operation and transition to democracy. It was perceived as a matter of internal order and the orientations given by the international community, in particular by the Council of Europe, were centered on the prevention of violations of human rights.
3. In this spirit, two reports of the Parliamentary Assembly on measures to dismantle the totalitarian communist regimes have been developed M. Espersen, and M. Severin on behalf of the Committee of Legal Affairs and Human Rights in 1995 and 1996. The first was referred to the Commission after an Assembly debate, the second led to the adoption of the resolution 1096.1996).
4. However, the Council of Europe, like other international governmental organizations, has not yet started a general assessment of the communist regimes, seriously examine the crimes committed in their name nor condemned them publicly. As it is difficult to understand why, there have been no serious discussions, in-depth, on the ideology that has been the source of a widespread terror, violations massive human rights, the death of millions of people and that has governed the fate of entire nations. While the Nazis, another totalitarian regime of the 20th century, under investigation, was sentenced at the international level, the authors of the crimes were considered, similar crimes committed in the name of communism have never been the subject of investigations, nor or any international condemnation.
5. The absence of international condemnation may be partially explained by the existence of countries whose governments continue to adhere to Communist ideology. The desire to maintain good relations with some of them may deter some from political actors deal with this topic difficult. Also, many politicians still active argued in one way or another, the communist regimes. For obvious reasons, prefer that the issue of liability is not treated . There are, in many European countries, communist parties that have not formally condemned the crimes of communism. Finally, and this is not the least important elements of communist ideology such as equality or social justice still seduce many members of the political class, who fear that the condemnation of the crimes of communism is treated as a condemnation of 'Communist ideology.
6. The rapporteur, however, is convinced of urgent need for a public debate on the crimes of communism and their condemnation at international level . This debate and this sentence should act without further delay for several reasons. First, as regards the perception of the public, should be clear that all crimes, even those committed in the name of an ideology which calls for the most respectable ideals like equality and justice, are to blame, and that this principle does not admit any exception . This is particularly important for younger generations who have no personal experience of communist regimes. A position clear the international community on this past may serve as their reference for their future action.
7. would seem that a kind of nostalgia for communism is still present in some countries, hence the danger that the Communists take over power in one or other of these countries. This report should contribute to a general awareness of the history of this ideology.
8. On the other hand, as long as victims of communist regimes or their family members are still alive, is not too late to give them a moral reward for their suffering.
9. Last reason, but not less than: communist regimes are still alive in some countries, crimes are still committed in the name of communism . In my eyes, the Council of Europe, Organisation, which includes human rights, the right not to remain indifferent and calm even if those countries do not appear among its members. International condemnation will strengthen the arguments and the credibility of the internal opposition in these countries and could contribute to positive developments. It is the least that Europe, which was the cradle of the communist ideology, can do for these countries.
10. It should be emphasized that, in this report is in no way concerned to give compensation financial assistance to victims of communist crimes, and that the only reward sought is of a moral nature.
11. The 15th anniversary of the fall of communist regimes in many countries provides an opportunity to welcome such an initiative. The Council of Europe is in a good position for this, since about half of the Member States have had experience of communist regimes.
12. In the preparation of this report, the Commission held a hearing with the participation of eminent personalities whose extensive knowledge in this field have made an important contribution to this work. (See the program of the hearing - Annex 1). I also paid a fact-finding mission in Bulgaria (May 16, 2005), Latvia (June 3, 2005) and Russia (16-17 June 2005) (see attached plans visits - Annexes 2-4). I wish to express my gratitude to the delegations of these countries for their help in the preparation of these visits.
13. I should emphasize that this report does not purport in any way to draw a full table of Communist crimes. Historical research should be left to historians and there is already an abundant literature on this subject that I used to prepare this report, the latter being conceived as a political assessment of the crimes of communism.
II. Brief presentation of the communist regimes generic
14. The communist regimes such as those studied in this report, we define a number of features, particularly the sovereignty of a single-party mass bound, at least in words, communist ideology. Power is concentrated in the hands of a small number of party leaders , who are not obliged to account or to comply with the rule of law
15. The party carries on State control such that the boundary between these two notions is not clear, and this control extends also to all aspects of daily life of the population , to an unprecedented degree.
16. The right of association does not exist, political pluralism is abolished and any opposition, any attempt at independent organization, are strictly repressed. On the other hand, the mass mobilization by the party or its satellite organizations is encouraged, and sometimes tax.
17. To ensure their dominance in the public sphere and prevent any actions outside their control, these regimes develop police forces to a point never reached before, establish networks of informers and encourage denunciation . The extent of police training and the number of secret informers have varied according to times and countries, but have always far exceeded the numbers of democratic states.
18. The means of mass communication are monopolized and / or supervised by the State . A rigorous pre-censorship is usually applied. Consequently, the right to information is violated and there is no free press .
19. Nationalization economy, a permanent feature of communism is directly linked to its ideology, requires restrictions on private property and individual economic activity . Therefore, citizens are more vulnerable with regard to the State which has a monopoly on employment and is the only possible source of income.
20. The system of communist power has lasted more than eighty years in the country of his birth, Russia renamed the USSR. In other European countries, its duration was about forty-five. Outside Europe, communist parties are in power for over fifty years in China, North Korea and Vietnam, more than forty years to thirty years in Cuba and Laos. Many countries in Africa, Asia and South America, then under Soviet influence had for a time of communist governments.
21. More than twenty countries on four continents, they can say they were Communists or under the communist regime for a certain period. In addition to the Soviet Union and its six European satellites, the list includes Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Benin, Cambodia (Kampuchea), China, Congo, Cuba, Ethiopia, North Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Mozambique, Vietnam, South Yemen and Yugoslavia .
22. Before of 1989, the number of people who lived under a communist regime was up more than one billion.
23. Their longevity and their expansion led to geographical differences and changes in the practices of these schemes in the countries, cultures and ages. The communist regimes have evolved under the influence of their internal dynamics or in response to the international situation. It is difficult to compare with the power of communist governments in Russia in 1930, Hungary in 1960 or Poland in 1980.
24. However, despite this diversity, we can certainly identify characteristics common to the historical communist regimes, regardless of from country, culture or period. One of the most obvious of these features is the obvious violation of human rights .
0 comments:
Post a Comment