Press release (abbreviated)
by the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO).
Office of the General Secretary - The Hague. jan 10th 1992.
International UNPO-conference about human right aspects of
"population transfer".
On januari 10th '92 an international UNPO-conference will
start in Tallinn (Estonia) on several aspects of population
transfer. Population transfer, the migration of great number
of peoples in or out of certain areas, is common practice in
international politics. This phenomenon causes lots of poli-
tical and social problems especially for indigenous peoples.
Experts and government commissioners from all over the world
will discuss this topic together with representatives of
UNPO-members and of other countries and peoples. The confe-
rence will be open for press and interested people.
UNPO is an independent international organisation of coun-
tries and peoples, which are not adequately represented in
the international community.
PROGRAM:
jan 11 How does population transfer violate human rights?
Is population transfer legal under international law?
jan 12 Which methods can be developed to solve problems
created by population transfer?
jan 13 Recommendations and conclusions.
PRESS CONFERENCE MONDAY jan 13th 1992 at 12:00 (local time).
ADDRESS: Olympic Yachting Center
Regati pst 1
Pirita (12 km from centre Tallinn)
CONTACT: Ms Julie Berriault
Tel: +7 0142 452472 (Soviet telephone system)
Fax: +7 0142 452864
Tel: +46 10 744443 (radiotelephone via Sweden)
Fax: +46 10 186594
INFO: UNPO Info/media centre
P.O.BOX 85878
2508 CN The Hague
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 70 3603318 (office hrs 08:00 - 16:00 UTC)
Fax: +31 70 3603346 (weekend 11:00 - 13:00 UTC)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Addition from NativeNet facilitator, Gary Trujillo:
(The following information comes from a document which I picked up during a
visit to the U.S. office. I take responsibility for any typographical
errors.)
Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
Founded in The Hague on February 11, 1991
Secretariat San Francisco Office
(information as above) 347 Dolores Street, Suite 206
San Francisco, California 94110
U.S.A.
Phone: (415) 626-0995
Fax: (415) 626-0865
Summary
Throughout the world, many nations and peoples struggle to regain their
lost countries, maintain their cultural identity, and establish basic human
and economic rights. Some of these groups who have been dispossessed of
their countries now live in exile, some are ethnic minorities who exist as
second-class citizens in the land of their ancestors, and some are ethnic
*majorities* [italics in original], who do not even have the right to vote.
Most of these nations and peoples feel isolated in their struggle and have
no international forum in which to be heard.
The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), a non-aligned
organization dedicated to nonviolent programs and solutions, offers an
international forum as well as much needed services for those nations and
peoples whose causes and needs are not adequately addressed in existing
international bodies.
UNPO held its first preparatory meeting in Tartu, Estonia, in September
1990. In view of the fast pace of change occurring everywhere in the world,
participants at that meeting resolved to officially found the organization
and endow it with necessary authority as soon as possible.
The Founding Assembly, the first general assembly of participating nations
and peoples, was held in February 1991 in The Hague, the Netherlands. The
Covenant of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization was adopted
by participants to serve as the Organization's Charter. It was signed by
representatives of member Nations and Peoples in the Peace Palace at the
Hague.
The Founding Assembly elected the following officers:
Chairman: Dr. Linnart Mall (Estonia)
Vice Chairman: Erkin Alptekin (East Turkestan)
President of the Steering Committee: Lodi G. Gyari (Tibet)
General Secretary: Dr. Michael C. van Walt van Praag
Page 2
There are a large number of nations and peoples of the world, yet only 159
states are represented in the U.N. Many of the nations and peoples which
are not recognized by any existing international body have lost or are facing
the loss of their homeland, their cultural identity, or the opportunity to
support themselves. In frustration, some groups turn to violence; others
live in quiet isolation, painfully watching the unraveling of their way of
life. Many of these groups are victims of human rights abuses, forced
assimilation, and sometimes, genocide.
The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) promotes the
interests of and provides services for those nations and peoples who are not
adequately represented in existing international organizations. UNPO is
dedicated to nonviolence and believes that by providing professional
assistance for these nations and peoples to express their grievances and
needs in legitimate forums and through nonviolent means, it can reduce the
motivation for violence and increase the possibilities of resolutions to
these problems. In addition, UNPO will provide a community of support for
those nations and peoples who have long felt alone in their struggle.
The term "unrepresented nations and peoples" covers a broad spectrum. The
term may include occupied countries, federated states, ethnic or cultural
majorities or minorities, colonies or indigenous peoples. Examples which
would fit this definition would include the Tibetans, the Baltic states,
East Timorese, West Papuans, Mongolians of Inner Mongolia, the inhabitants
of the Chittagon Hill Tracts, Western Saharans, Eritreans, the Greek
Minority of Albania, Native American nations, Kanaks, Uighurs, Armenians,
Kurds, and Albanians of Kosovo, to name but a few.
The only thing these nations and peoples have in common is the fact that
they are unrepresented in the international community. UNPO does not
maintain or suggest that there are any other similarities in the position of
these nations and peoples.
UNPO will assist participating nations and peoples ("Participants") to
pursue shared as well as individual goals. It will encourage participating
nations and peoples to exchange experiences, pool resources or otherwise
cooperate to whatever extent they find it useful to do so. However, UNPO
recognizes the great diversity among nations and peoples with regard to
their needs and objectives. In some cases, cooperation with other groups
may be considered disadvantageous by some Participants. UNPO is designed to
permit such choices to be made by each Participant for itself. Just as
membership in the United Nations does not mean agreement among member states
on each other's objectives, policies, or allegiances, so also, participation
in UNPO does not signify any form of allegiance or common purpose except in
valuing self-respect and human rights of all peoples.
Page 3
UNPO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES
UNPO was formed to provide a range of services and to organize activities
for UNPO Participants in the following areas:
* United Nations Representation
UNPO strives to provide its members with access to and assistance
in effectively using U.N. bodies such as the Commission on Human
Rights, its Sub-commission on the Protection of Minorities and
Prevention of Discrimination, specialized agencies, and available
U.N. procedures. It will open offices in New York and Geneva to
closely monitor developments at the U.N., to explore
opportunities for Participants to advance their cause, and,
generally, to provide the facilities of a "diplomatic mission" to
the U.N. for use by UNPO Participants.
* Diplomacy Training
UNPO will provide training in bilateral diplomacy and multilateral
diplomacy, including U.N. diplomacy. Training will include an
introduction to the principal concepts of international relations
and international law of particular relevance to Participants.
* Conflict Management and Resolution
UNPO will provide training in conflict management and resolution
skills, effective negotiation skills, and mediation, with the help
of institutions and experts in the field.
* Integrated Strategic Planning and Professional Assistance
UNPO will provide training in nonviolent strategies and professional
assistance for the development of strategic plans and policies of
Participants. It will make available professional, legal and
public relations advice to help with their implementation.
Page 4
* Media and information Services
UNPO will establish an information service for the dissemination
of information provided by Participants as well as media and
public relations advice. UNPO hopes to create a news agency
service and to obtain radio broadcasting facilities to enable
Participants to present their diverse views to the public and to
communicate with their own people who are often cut off from free
information sources.
* International Conference Forum
UNPO provides a forum for Participants to meet, exchange
experiences, learn from one another, and, to the extent they wish
to do so, to cooperate. General meetings of representatives of
all participating nations and peoples will be held at regular
intervals.
* Promotion of Democracy and Nonviolence
UNPO will provide information and expertise to assist in the
development of democratic institutions and processes. It will
solicit the assistance of international experts to advise on
drafting of constitutions or proposals for constitutional change.
UNPO will also organize training procedures in the use of
nonviolence as an instrument of change, and will provide
information materials and advice on the subject.
* Research Services
UNPO will set up a research service as a resource for Participants.
The research service will be designed to provide individual
Participants with information at their request on specific topics
of particular interest to them.
* Election/Referendum Monitoring
UNPO will make available ad-hoc international teams of observers
to monitor elections or referenda. Teams will be composed so as
to ensure as much as possible their integrity and independence.
* Organization of Conferences
UNPO will take part in and organize international or regional
conferences on issues of interest to the Participants.
Participants may also request the assistance of UNPO in
organizing their own conferences.
Page 5
* Cultural Preservation and Promotion
UNPO will respond to the desires of Participants to preserve and
promote knowledge about their cultural identity and heritage,
manifest in the arts, customs, religions, and education by
assisting in the establishment of programs and projects for this
purpose and by soliciting the assistance of UNESCO and other
governmental and non-governmental organizations
* Protection of the Natural Environment
Of grave concern to many peoples is the destruction of the
environment and, with it, of their way of life, their health, and
the future of their children. UNPO will provide teams of experts
to advise Participants and will seek assistance from other sources
in this field. UNPO recognizes that it is primarily peoples who
are at peace who can devote attention to the environment.
Unfortunately, occupied nations and the lands of indigenous peoples
have often become the sites of industrial and nuclear dumping
grounds.
Page 6
PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES
An Alternative to Violence
By assisting Participants in the development and implementation
of strategies and policies designed to strengthen their position
without the use of violence, UNPO hopes to enhance their
credibility both internationally and in their own communities.
UNPO does not assist or accept the participation of movements
that use terrorism, nor will it permit the organization to be
used in any way for the promotion of violence. Applications for
participation by representatives of national and peoples'
movements will be considered on that basis.
Human Rights Standards
UNPO requires that Participants declare adherence to the
internationally accepted human rights standards as they are
expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the
International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and
Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.
Non-Alignment
UNPO does not advocate one economic or political system over
another, and bears no favoritism whatsoever for any religion,
ideology, or race. It is not the object of UNPO to encourage
"interference" in a sovereign state's internal affairs or to
foment unrest. It is UNPO's position, supported by international
law, that human rights, including group rights--in particular,
the right to self-determination--are not issues exclusively
within the domestic jurisdiction of states.
Page 7
Organizational Status and Structure
UNPO consists of the following organs:
General Assembly: An assembly of representatives of all
participating nations and peoples will be held annually or as
frequently as Participants require. The General Assembly is the
highest decision-making organ of UNPO.
Steering Committee: A steering committee consisting of five to
fifteen Participants executes the activity delegated to it by the
Assembly, advises the Secretariat, and oversees its activities.
Secretariat: The General Secretary heads the Secretariat and is
assisted by the Secretariat staff. Regional coordination offices
will be established, initially for the Americas, Eastern Europe,
and Western Asia.