"In Pravda, as in the rest of the central press, the full text of the decisions of the special session of the Supreme Soviet was not published. Place was not found in the pages of the papers for an article by a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR explaining 'Why I voted for' (it was published only in the republic press). But in fact there were many more deputies who
This note in the high-priestly Pravda is quite startling. * 2. La Nouvelle Alternative 12, Paris, December 1988.
Interview with Estonian writers
«We are
not so
extreme"
REPRESENTATIVES of the Estonian writers' union held the following discussion with Göran Jacobsson, a reporter for Internationalen, paper of the Swedish section of the Fourth International, at the end of 1988.
HE ESTONIAN writers' union is a part of the People's Front, the most popular mass organization in Estonia. "We are something of a catalyst for the People's Front, " Vladimir Beekman said. He was referring to a meeting that the writers' union organized last April 1-2. Journalists, architects, and in fact a large part of the Estonian intelligentsia, also participated in it. It is said that he was a Stalinist before. Today, however, he is a strong supporter of the People's Front.
The writers' union meeting demanded national sovereignty and economic independence. In the two following weeks, people constantly called the union to give their support and ask what they could do to contribute. On April 14, the People's Front
"It is the task of the intelligentsia to put forward this sort of demand, otherwise we would not be of much use," Beekman said.
Earlier, the relations between the Central Committee of the Estonian Communist Party and the writers' union were strained. Beekman explained that the CC is no longer trying to impose its view on the writers. To the contrary, more and more the CC is asking the writers' union for its opinion.
Vladimir Beekman has great confidence in Vaino Väljas, who was recently elected leader of the Estonian Communist Party. "Valjas was formerly a bit uncomfortable, since he was sent off to Venezuela and Nicaragua as ambassador. He has imagination and a positive attitude to change."
The writers' union has 188 members. Most of them live in the republic's capital, Tallin, or in the university city of Tartu. You can be a member if you have two books published. In Estonia, there is a long series of subsidies for writers. Most of them are administered by the writers' union. "Half of our members live by their pens," Beekman explained.
There is a knock on the door of Vladimir Beekman's office. Jaan Kross, Teet Kallas, Paul-Eerik Rummo and Anu Saläar come in. Now nearly all of Estonia's most popular writers are present. We talk about freedom of expression. "We have expressed ourselves up to here. We have nothing more to sav." says Paul-Eerik Rummo.
But they say that an article on Solzhenitsyn has been totally censored by the writers' union's own publication. This was the first intervention in a year. None of them can say what this censorship means. Is the situation tightening up?
None of them believe in the possibility of military intervention. "We are so flexible," Anu Saluäär. "As long as the troops are in the Caucasus, there is no danger for us," Jaan Kross adds.
Paul-Eerik continued: "This is a different situation than in Poland. We have a centrist position. We are not so extreme. We are getting a hearing for our point of view throughout the Soviet Union."
"Of course, Stalinists and Brezhnevites are never going to accept us." Teet Kallas chimes in: "They will never voluntarily give up power."
"We have to wait until they are tired," snorts Jaan Kross. "Sclerosis is doing its "Support for the People's
Front is enormous"
"The support for the People's Front is enormous. In the Estonian republic, there are 1.1 million people qualified to vote. The People's Front collected 900,000 signatures in support of its program. Of these, 150, 000 were non-Estonians resident in the
"Russians and Russia are different things. Here in Estonia, we have six or seven democratic or pro-perestroika groups. In Moscow alone, there are over 300 groups that meet and discuss," Teet Kallas said. "They are more philosophical and not so active. They don't get anything done."
Freedom of expression is one thing. The writers' union is also demanding economic independence. The economic reality is quite another problem.
Some 90 per cent of industry in Estonia belongs to Moscow. The writers explained that the plants have their own workforces. They take raw materials from other parts of the Soviet Union and ship the finished products out of Estonia. "We have no need for such factories," they said.
"A commission came from Moscow to
" Paul Eerik explains. "They said that 55 percent of industry is going to belong to us and that 50 percent of the income will stay here. They all laugh.
"It doesn't seem that we are going to get
----- photo credits and running heads -----
4
Where is the PLO going? (Part I)
The long march...