Letter from Yugoslavia (2) pragmatic grounds.
Where does that leave the question of Serb democrats ignored what to do in Kosovo? It leaves it unanswered. The US has chosen a course of action which, as it explicitly recognises, escalates atrocities and
"predictably"; a course of action that also strikes yet another blow against the regime of international order, which does offer the weak at least some limited protection from predatory states.
As for the longer term, consequences are unpredictable. One plausible observation is that "every bomb that falls on Serbia and every ethnic killing in Kosovo suggests that it will scarcely be possible for Serbs and Albanians to live beside each other in some sort of peace" (Financial Times, March 27). Some of the longer-term possible outcomes are extremely ugly, as has not gone without
A standard argument is that we had to do something: we could not simply stand by as atrocities continue. That is never true. One choice, always, is to follow the Hippocratic principle: "First, do no harm." If you can think of no way to adhere to that elementary principle, then do nothing. There are always ways that can be considered. Diplomacy and negotiations are never at an end.
The right of "humanitarian intervention" is likely to be more frequently invoked in coming years-maybe with justification, maybe not-now that Cold War pretexts have lost their efficacy. In such an era, it may be worthwhile to pay attention to the views of highly respected commentators-not to speak of the World Court, which explicitly ruled on this matter in a decision rejected by the United States, its essentials not even
In the scholarly disciplines of international affairs and international law it would be hard to find more respected voices than Hedley Bull or Leon Henkin. Bull warned 15 years ago that *Particular states or groups of states that set themselves up as the authoritative judges of the world common good, in disregard of the views of others, are in fact a menace to international order, and thus to effective action in this field." Henkin, in a standard work on world order, writes that the "pressures eroding the prohibition on the use of force are deplorable, and the arguments to
This text was written by "Voices of democratic Serbia" , a group of activists who participate in the pan-European Marches against Unemployment Bombing will only strengthen the present disastrous regime. The military intervention will be misused by the regime's media to create a "stampede" of xenophobia and give additional impetus to the fast-growing extreme forms of
The UN sanctions only helped the Milosevic clique to accumulate greater financial and property power over the rest of society. War criminals have not even been arrested, let alone brought to trial by the Hague tribunal, which is
The West has done nothing to stop the Serbian elite's money laundering via banks in Cyprus and elsewhere, and other Mafia type of
Human sufferings and disaster will continue. Evil cannot be opposed by a negative action of bombing and more sanctions. A better strategy would be positive engagement in improving communication and free media in Serbia, and by greater support to democratic forces and individuals inside the country-those groups which kept alive solidarity and support with similar groups in the other ex-Yugoslav republics, even during the most dramatic moments of the
The only effective way towards a real democratisation is not through diplomacy "from above" with bombing and hi-tech action from a distance. Instead, there should be much more concrete, intensive support for democratic forces— peace activists, and independent intellectuals who stood against the war crimes since the beginning of Yugoslavia's transformation; support for the NGOs lobbying for civil society issues; for the independent media, and the democratic political
Bombing of military targets in Serbia will not produce stability and a true democratisation in ex-Yugoslavia and the Balkans. The real source of trouble are the militaristic nationalistic regimes in Belgrade, Zagreb and elsewhere, and the Albanian tradition of tribal intolerance. Across the region, post-
"monarchs" engaged on national-communist
The recent election results in Bosnia and Herzegovina are a sad reflection of of the dominance of nationalistic forces, despite the terrible human sufferings during the civil war, and despite the considerable political, military humanitarian involvement of the international community.
The socioeconomic and political transition in the Balkans (and elsewhere) took a disastrous route due to the complete failure of the way in which it was handled and managed by the centres of power. They did not support the regional integration of banking, market, cultural and institutional forces. Such an integration is the best way to improve the slim democratic standards, civic and social progress, and the remains of multicultural society which remain after the Yugoslav type of self-management
Instead, as we know, the international community has always negotiated with (and thus recognised) the "governors" of war.* [The authors of this letter participated in the 1998 EuroMarch summer university in Greece. This text was written at the start of the NATO bombardment]
International Viewpoint #311 May 1999 11
* Kosovo/USA most respected commentators-these do not automatically solve particular problems. Each issue has to be considered on its merits.
For those who do not adopt the standards of Saddam Hussein, there is a heavy burden of proof to meet in undertaking the threat or use of force in violation of the principles of international order.
Perhaps the burden can be met, but that has to be shown, not merely proclaimed with passionate rhetoric. The consequences of such violations have to be assessed carefully—in particular, what we understand to be "predictable." And for those who are minimally serious, the reasons for the actions also have to be assessed-again, not simply by adulation of our leaders and their "moral compass." * *This article was contributed to the Z-net Internet discussion group in early April a
51019 d is also vital for the more and more