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SINCE the Middle Ages, Upper Silesia has been a place of co-existence for
various nations - according to Gemeinde Lexicon fuer die Regierungsbezirk Oppeln
(Berlin, 1912) there were exactly 1.133.149 Poles, 709.310 Germans, 88.051
bilinguals and 11,200 others living in the 22 counties of Upper Silesia. This
inter-penetration of Polish, German and Czech cultures created strong feelings
of supra-national community and regional separateness amongst Upper Silesians.
After World War I, this consciousness gave fruit in a separatist movement. In
1919 Doctor Ewald Latacz had organised the Związek Górnoślązaków (Union of
Upper Silesians), which before the plebiscite confirming their Polish status,
has been campaigning under the slogan "Upper Silesia for Upper Silesians"
and demanded the creation of a "free Silesian state". Its continuation
was Związek Obrony Górnoślązaków (Union for the Defence of Upper Silesians),
led by Jan Kustos and dissolved after his death in 1934. In Cieszyn-Silesia (former
Austrian Silesia) from 1909 onwards Józef Kożdoń's Śląska Partia Ludowa (Silesian
Peoples Party) was active. While Kustos' movement rallied Polish Silesians, who
saw the future of Upper Silesia in a union with Poland, the SPL had a more
pro-German character. The Polish Republic respected the economic and cultural
separateness of Upper Silesia and in July 15, 1921 granted autonomy to
"Województwo Śląskie". The autonomous status of the Silesian
Province, was suppressed in May 6, 1945, by the communist regime.
Although native Upper Silesians are now a minority in Katowice province, the
autonomist ideas are still alive. The most important values of the autonomists
are a "Christian value of life", labour, freedom, family, tolerance,
regional tradition and nature. They put stress on ecology, because Upper Silesia
is a very polluted industrial region. Autonomists postulate the revival of
Silesian culture, building of self-governments in communes and counties, and the
preservation of health of Upper Silesia's inhabitants.
The main force of autonomist movement is Związek Górnośląski (Upper Silesian
Union). ZG was created under a strong influence of the Catholic Church. This is
not a political party, but broad social and cultural movement. Związek is based
on the territorial, not ethnic foundations. Their principal task is struggle for
the "regionalization" of Poland - the transformation of the Republic
into a federation of autonomous regions. Upper Silesian Union publishes Nasza
Gazeta (Our Paper) monthly.
More radical traditions of Kożdoń have been reanimated by Ruch Autonomii Śląska
(Movement for the Autonomy of Silesia), founded in Rybnik in January 13, 1990.
The first leader of the RAS was Paweł Andrzej Musioł, but he was expelled and
now Rudolf Kołodziejczyk is the chairman. After ten months, they published the
first issue of their bulletin Śląski Ruch Autonomiczny (now called Jaskółka
Śląska - The Silesian Swallow). The first Congress of the Movement took place
in June 29, 1991 in Wodzisław-Bierułtowice.
The RAS demands "the right of self-determination" for Upper Silesia:
initially the restitution of pre-war autonomy (the so-called Statut Organiczny)
and in the future "full autonomy" within the European Union. Ruch
supports the Związek Ludności Narodowości Śląskiej (Union of Population of
Silesian Nationality), which propagates the idea of a "Silesian nation".
In the economic sphere the Movement demands the protection of native Upper
Silesians from unemployment - they want to stop Upper Silesian migration. The
RAS also appeals to Upper Silesian exiles in Germany to come back to their
Motherland. This faction of autonomist movement collaborates with radical
right-wing groups in Poland: in 1991 their MP* was elected famous Polish
far-right politician Kazimierz Świtoń, in 1997 they were in block together
with ultra-conservative Unia Polityki Realnej.
"NASZA GAZETA": Katowice, ul. Stalmacha 17, skr. 458.
Jarosław Tomasiewicz
* MP = Member of Parliament
The above reads "Germanization of Slavs". In recent weeks articles in
major media, in Slavic, German, English, French and other languages, have
appeared about what may be referred to as Europe's "Last of the Mohegans".
The nation under discussion is referred to as Sorben by W. Germans. The English
call them Wends. They are the Serbo-Łużyczanie. The Luzyczanie of the north
speak a language similar to Polish, in the south the Serbs are closer, in makeup,
to the Moravians. While the 300.000 German minority in Poland is speaking of
migration and assistance from German nationalists, the Łużyczanie-Serbs are
filled with fear of actual extermination. In 1945 German sources noted there
were 500.000 of them. This number, after half a century, has been reduced to
200.000 (50.000 with no German blood!). Most of these 200.000 or 50.000,
depending on your evaluation criteria, reside around Cottbus (Chociebuż) and
Bautzen (Budziszyn). The majority are seeking something similar to what American
and Canadian Indians have (cultural autonomy). They note that street signs in
two languages is not enough. Others state their language is taught in many
schools and, at present, folk events are not hindered (as they were and have
been during the past several hundred years).
These Łużyczanie, as most call themselves, once numbered over a million. They
have been acknowledged by most fair-minded scholars as indigenous inhabitants
for at least the last thousand years. They have resided between the Elbe River
and the Odra. Their relatives resided as far north as the island of Rugen (where
their language was spoken until the 14th century). Being of similar appearance
to Germans they were either assimilated, used as slave labour or simply killed.
It is a fact that even Hamburg was originally part of their home. To deny that
numerous regions, lakes and cities have names that mean something in Slavic
languages would be to dwell on the pure German in a manner of the anti-Polish
revisionist Dr. Weber (who, incidentally, has mostly Slavic physical features).
Monks, such as Fredegar, in 631, acknowledged that the Łużyczanie "were
nothing more than Slavs". German religious leaders couldn't differentiate
between their Slavic neighbours and, thus, referred to them in one or two
categories as Sorben or Wends. The Łużyczanie, in Turn, called the Germans
"Niemcy" (those who are unable to understand). By the VIII century
Niemcy, with fire and sword, assimilated most of the Slavs from the Elbe to the
Oder. In Mexico, a Spanish minority of 10-20% "assimilated" an 80%
native population to Spanish law, language, religion and culture. Here, a 20-25%
German element dominated the local indigenous Slavic inhabitants. It was not
easy. In 1293 these Łużyczanie were such a physical threat in numbers that it
became a crime to speak their own language in public. Even the pure Hitler types
and nazi fanatics would have a tough time manipulating these facts. The death
penalty was enforced! This occured in many cities including Leipzig, and in
1424, Dresden. By the XVI century Germanization was only deemed slightly
necessary. Slavic language (overall) had been eradicated. The Serbo-Łużyczanie
were the only ones to have survived. Their earth was forest with marshy-type
grounds. Because of physical geography a tiny 8.000 km. Region was able to
survive, avoid extermination and retain a unique European heritage.
Because of the complex mentality of what appears to be a need to dominate, only
two small enclaves have survived a German onslaught that has lasted over a
thousand years. One is Chociebuż (Cottbus). The other is Budziszyn (Bautzen).
Many sources, from France, to Rome, to Eastern Europe, show that in the XVI
century Budziszyn still had a very large Slavic population. Nevertheless, many
citizens became mixed with the continuing influx of colonists. These Slavic
people were able to master the Latin and German languages and told their
children what nation they belonged to. It was simply amazing. Fire and sword did
not eradicate them all. I fact, in the XIX century, when nationalism was
officially acknowledged, masses read/heard of history. They commenced their own
fire (intelectually) and they publicly stated who they were.
In 1815, after the Congress of Vienna, Prussia took over this Upper Slavic
region. The Saxons politically owned the Southern Slavic area. During the
so-called Spring of Nations Era, Łużyczanie became so brave that they publicly
sang their national anthem, on the streets. Many homes displayed their national
flag (Blue, Red and White). They were fighting for human rights against a
continuing flow of colonists. The anti-Slavic policies of German hero Bismarck
met diplomatic opposition among these indigenous ethnic Europeans. Slavic
cultural control continued to shrink and decline.
In 1912 Łużyczanie wrote, in several locations, the word "Domowina"
(Fatherland). They wanted to preserve a tiny place for themselves. A tiny place
within a large Germany. After 1920 (again) the region faced intensive
Germanizaton. It became easier for countless thousands of children to become
"Germans". Łużyczanie papers, documents and studies were confiscated
and destroyed systematically. Then came the pure and fair Hitler, hero to those
who placed Germans above the European nation. In 1930s (again) massive arrests
were institutionalized. Was the tiny nation of Łużyczanie a threat to Weber
types? Was there a need to succeed at the cost of other, smaller, Europeans? Was
there a need for achievement? Perhaps a thousand years of killings these Slavs
was not enough.
During the cruel Russian/Soviet occupation of E. Germany most official
oppression of Wends came to a halt. Hating Slavs was verboten. Germans were
fearful of Russians and most knew that if it weren't for the Americans, all of
Germany would have been occupied. Yet, still, factories were built and
foreigners were imported from other lands to the "Last of the Mohegans'
home". Because the Germans were afraid of Russians, they financed some of
the harmless cultural needs of the Łużyczanie. One high school were created
and 52 grammar schools taught the native Slavic language. At last folk
activities were officially permitted. The region became a tourist attraction.
Even 2.000 federal positions were reserved for the indigenous Łużyczanie
natives. The Łużyczanie became the official minority. This brings us to
Germany's re-unification.
At this writing German-capitalistic might is attempting to purchase Łużyczanie
cultural sites. Consequently, once again, it looks like the face of death is
looking at this tiny nation. There is real fear of extermination. They are
seeking European brotherhood; they want to be represented in any future European
Parliament. They say that if the Jews are entitled to Israel, they should be
able retain a tiny strip of what is rightfully theirs. Their institutes in
London, and other places, wonder if the world community will be noble enough to
acknowledge their rights. Has the Tito-Hitler-Stalin element disappeared? By
economically and morally supporting the independence of this tiny nation Germans
can gain the respect and admiration of the world. Every effort must be made to
prevent the extermination of Łużyczanie and prove Germany is truly part of the
world community. Only a neo-nazi thought paradigm can prevent the Łużyczanie
from achieving their dream of independence.
Bogdan Nimit
POLISH MINORITY IN LITHUANIA
Although Lithuania wages just struggle for independence we can't forget about problems of national minorities in this country. In Eastern Lithuania about 350.000 Poles live. In opinion of the Sajudis government they are "Polonized Lithuanians" and the government curtails of rights of minority. For example there were 263 Polish schools in Lithuania in 1953, and now this number is reduced to 47. Nationalist Lithuanian groups like "Vilnija" association or Legaue of Lithuanian Liberty (successors of pre-war "tautinkai" party) demand "de-polonization" of Lithuania; newspaper "FSHODNIA LITVA. Gazeta rużnogavendnyh Litvinuv" promotes theory about existence of separate "Wicz" nation. In this situation Poles want to autonomy of their regions (Vilnius and Solechniki). The most radical organisation of Polish minority is Polska Partia Praw Człowieka (Polish Party of Human Rights), established in 1990 by Professor Jan Ciechanowicz. The ultimate aim of the party is creation in USSR the "Eastern-Polish Republic" on the territory of the Republic of Poland annexed by Stalin in 1939.
POLISH SENATORS CALL FOR COOLING RELATIONS WITH LITHUANIA OVER SENTENCED POLES
The Appeals Court in Vilnius on 17 August sentenced four ethnic Poles and one
Latvian - all former local government councilors from the Salcininkai (Polish:
Soleczniki) region south of Vilnius - to up to three-and-a-half years in prison
for trying to create the so-called Polish territorial autonomy in 1990. In April,
they were sentenced by a district court to up to six months in prison; the
Appeals Court, however, increased that sentence following an appeal by the
Lithuanian Prosecutor-General's Office.
In November 1990, a congress of councilors from the Salcininkai and Vilnius
districts (inhabited mostly by ethnic Poles) passed a resolution declaring
Polish autonomy in the Salcininkai district. The congress ruled that the 11
March 1990 parliamentary act restoring Lithuanian independence did not extend to
the Salcininkai region, and it pledged to remain loyal to the USSR Constitution.
Several weeks later, the Salcininkai council obeyed Moscow's order to recruit
for the Soviet Army, while the rest of Lithuania ignored that order. After the
breakup of the USSR in 1991, the main Salcininkai district opponents of
Lithuania's independence - Salcininkai council head Czeslaw Wysocki and two
other persons - fled to Belarus or Russia. According to "Gazeta
Wyborcza," those sentenced now were "less important members" of
the Salcininkai council.
Three Polish senators who observed the trial - Anna Bogucka-Skowronska (Freedom
Union), as well as Stanislaw Marczyk and Zygmunt Ropelewski (Solidarity
Electoral Action) - told journalists that the verdict was a political decision.
"The verdict is a hostile act toward Poles living in Lithuania, it is a
distinct signal that the [Lithuanian] state looks unfavorably at their national
aspirations. ..As a senator, I think that Poland should now look at
Polish-Lithuanian relations with less enthusiasm," "Gazeta
Wyborcza" quoted Bogucka-Skowronska as saying.
Former Polish Senat chairman Andrzej Stelmachowski, head of the
"Polonia" association for maintaining ties with Poles abroad, said the
trial had a "pure political nature," adding that "we should take
political actions in Poland," according to BNS.
Janas Senkevicius (Jan Sienkiewicz), a Lithuanian parliamentary deputy of Polish
origin and leader of Lithuania's Polish Electoral Action, said the four
detainees will appeal to the Supreme Court. He pledged that his party "will
do everything to make sure that the trial reaches the international level,"
BNS reported.
On 20 August, Jan Widacki and five Polish prominent public figures - Marek
Edelman, Jerzy Giedroyc, Jacek Kuron, Adam Michnik, and Jan Nowak-Jezioranski -
published an open letter to Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus asking him to
pardon the five detainees "in the name of good future Polish-Lithuanian
relations." The letter criticizes those politicians in Poland who "in
a brutal way" try to pressure Lithuania's independent judiciary. At the
same time, the signatories say: "It is our deepest conviction that
Lithuania is able to make a generous gesture toward the persons who - regardless
of their past culpability - in no way threaten its independence or territorial
integrity any longer."
Racist Terror in Northern Czech
After the "velvet revolution" racist incidents increased in Czech. The
"storm-troopers" of a racist violence are skinheads and Nazi-punks
organized into Fan-Club "Victoria Żiżkov" - semi-athletic club which
is supported by Czechoslovakian Republican Party. In March 8th 1990 racists
proclaimed a "racial war" against Gypsy (about one million) people and
in Teplice, Decin, Ceska Lipa and other cities street fights between Gypsy and
racist hooligans arose. Culminating point of the terror were incidents in Plzen:
gangs of skinheads and nazi-punks possessed the town and terrorised inhabitants
for over two days. Racists killed one Turkish TIR driver and wounded some
workers from Viet-Nam. In the same time hooligans attacked coloured people
(especially from Viet-Nam, but also e.g. black Canadian) in streets of Prague.
Police didn't intervene. President Havel had to send army to northern Czech,
Gypsy folklore festival procured special protection. Hooligans stopped their
actions after Havel's appeal but Czechoslovakian Reps still challenge to racial
struggle.
The Divorce of an "Unhappy Marriage"
Popularity of Slovakian nationalists is still growing: Slovakian National Party
got 16 % of votes in the recent election and one month later 21 % Of people
wanted to vote for the SNP (in the same public opinion sound Christian
Democratic Movement lost 4 % and liberal Society Against Violence - 2 %).
Chairman of SNP Vitiazoslav Moric claims his party is the strongest one in
Slovakia: "Christian democracy and SAV aren't political parties, they are
only movements", he said to several thousands of adherents during meeting
in Bratislava.
In August 14th SNP together with 9 other nationalist groups (Stur's Association,
Independent Slovakians' Party, Slovakian National Democratic Movement etc.)
issued proclamation which demands total independence and sovereignty for the
Slovakian Republic. "72-years-long marriage Czechs and Slovakians is
unhappy, and therefore we should divorce as quick as possible" - SNDM
claimed.
New opportunity for nationalist manifestations was the recent 52nd anniversary
of death of Catholic priest Andrej Hlinka, the leader of the Slovakian national
movement. During the 100 thousands of people strong meeting in Ruzomberok,
separatists passed a resolution about a sovereignty of Slovakia again. Slovakian
nationalists also try to rehabilitate Hlinka's successor - priest Jozef Tiso,
who was the President (1939-1945) pro-Hitlerite "Slovakian State" -
the only (except IIIrd Reich) country in Europe, which accepted anti-Jewish
"Nurnberg laws". In July in Banovce village the plaque in
commemoration of Tiso was unveiled - supreme dignitaries of Slovakian Catholic
Church took part in this celebration.
Czecho-Slovakia is disrupted by another, unexpected separatism: the Movement for
Self-Government - Society of Silesia and Moravia, which wants a creation of the
separate republic of these Czech regions. This party, similar to north-Italian
"Lombardian League", got 11 % Votes in Parliamentary election.
On The Edge of a Civil War
In April any Serbian shot at Croatian leader Franjo Tudjman during pre-election
meeting. On May unknown perpetrator wounded Miroslav Mlinar - the chief of
Serbian Democratic Party in Croatia. Another SDP activist Zdravko Zecević cut
down all trees in front of his house and he bought a gun... In Zagreb after
football match Croatian supporters of "Dynamo" Zagreb and Serbians -
"Crvena Zvezda" Belgrade fans waged all-night street riots.
Now Serbian militia patrols streets of inhabited by Serbians cities in Krajina
(Knin, Bankovac, Srb). Roads are barricaded, ties of friendship and
neighbourhood snapped, mixed families go through a crisis. The resolution of the
Croatian Parliament proclaims: "We stay in face of armed insurrection
against Croatian state..."
Serbians in Krajina (about 12 % of inhabitants of Croatia) endeavour after
autonomy because they are afraid of Croatian nationalism. Before the election
activists of ruling now Croatian Democratic Union demanded rehabilitation of
so-called Independent Croatian State (NDH), created by Hitler in 1941. Fascists
led by Ante Pavelic murdered about one million of Serbians, Gypsys and Jews
then. Croatian nationalists think about annexation Bosnia and Herzegovina, part
of Vojvodina and Adriatic seaside of Montenegro.
Also ruling in Serbia neo-communists of Slobodan Milosevic want to change
borders. In November in Montenegro the referendum will be executed regarding the
union with Serbia. The next aim of Serbian expansionists is eastern and central
regions of Bosnia (Serbians are 32 % of population of the republic) and at least
part of Croatia territory (southern section of Croatian seaside, Krajina,
Slavonia). Democratic election will alter nothing: Serbian opposition is more
nationalistic than Milosevic. Oldest Yugoslavian dissenter Milovan Djilas
prophesies: "After the fall of communism nationalisms will explode in
multinational Yugoslavia. The nationalism could be stronger than aspiration for
democracy..."
Anti-Semitic Incidents in Poland
"Dobry Żyd to martwy Żyd" (Good Jew Is Dead Jew!) - this slogan was
written in Umschlagplatz in Warsaw on monument in commemoration of Jews
martyrology. Also in Kielce someone painted the plate commemorating anti-Semitic
pogrom on July 1946. Before then in this town two bomb attacks were perpetrated
- during the performance of Jewish folklorist group "Nuje Tag" and the
meeting with Seweryn Blumsztajn (organized by editorial staff of Solidarność
paper "Gazeta Wyborcza"). Frequent street anti-Semitic excesses gave
occasion to Parliamentary interpellation by deputy Ryszard Zieliński (Christian
Social Union), who demands police protection for Jews - even chief-rabbi of
Poland complains of cases of blusterings, pushes and abuses in a streets.
The Polish anti-Semitism is still alive. During public opinion sound (made by
government Public Opinion Research Centre) 1,3 % of people answered the question
"Who rules in Poland?" - JEWS (and 4,1 % - the Parliament).
Anti-Semitic accents were heard in various circles, for example during meeting
of right-wing trade-unionists (Solidarność-80 and Free Trade-Unions) in Kielce
("present ministers will escape to Israel after robbery our country")
and during attack peasants' activists against Farmers' Union office in
Sandomierz (shouts: "Jews in government!").
In municipal election in Łódź followers of right-wing Citizens Agreement (ŁPO)
drew Jewish stars (Solomon's seal) on posters of rival Citizens Committee (WKO,
led by Marek Edelman). But organizations, which became members of the Agreement
(e.g. Union of Realistic Policy - UPR, or Catholic Intellectuals Club - KIK)
appeared over-moderate: somebody painted on the door of their office slogan:
"Jewish flunkeys".
Second Cyprus?
Rangers had to escort 400 members of Bulgarian Parliament during its inaugural
July session in Veliko Tarnove. Several hundreds of Bulgarian nationalists,
shouting "We don't want second Cyprus!", tried not to admit 23 Turkish
deputies to the inauguration. Although nationalist the National Rights' Defence
Committee sustained a defeat in the elections (only 2 seats) their
non-parliamentary activity is stronger than ever.
During the meeting in Sofia, leaders of the Committee said to several thousands
of their adherents: "We are defenders of human rights but we oppose
decidedly the admission of any rights for group of alien ethnic
consciousness". After the meeting nationalists organized a march to the
office of Democratic Forces Alliance (main anti-communist opposition bloc, which
is accused of "the treason of national interest").
Another "treason" - for nationalists - was students strike.
"Righteous Bulgarians" from Kardzali (the main centre of nationalist
movement) announced their visit in Sofia following the example of Roumanian
miners from Jiu valley. In a face of threat with riots DFA appealed their
supporters to formation self-defence groups. But, as one Polish observer wrote
once, "even Bulgarian democrats don't like Turks". In so-called
"city of truth" (the camp of anti-communist protesters) was no place
for representatives of Turkish organizations.
"Drink Hungarian Blood!"
"Drink not only vine but also Hungarian blood" - disc-jockey exhorted
visitors of one night-club in Tirgu Mures the day before 50th anniversary of
so-called "second Vienna arbitration". The anniversary of the
agreement, which turned northern Transylvania over to Hungary, for Roumanian
nationalists became the occasion to new wave of anti-Hungarian manifestations.
Their organization "Vatra Romaneasca" connected with Roumanian fascist
emigration (Garda de Fier), in July organized in Bucharest demonstration under
the banners "Transylvania for Roumanians" and "Down with
Hungarian privileges". On August chance for incitement hatred weird death
of Roumanian journalist Gheorge Robu.
Prejudice against Hungarians cements all political camps in Roumania. The
government of National Salvation Front continues the policy of discrimination of
Transylvanian Hungarians in order to exploit anti-Hungarian feelings. A little
example of many ones: vice minister of education Octavian Stanasilu invalidated
examinations for the secondary school certificate in famous Hungarian Bolyai
grammar school. Also anti-communist opposition supports Roumanian nationalism:
for example National Peasant Party retired from negotiation between Hungarians
and Roumanians in Transylvania and appealed to anti-Hungarian manifestation in
Tirgu Mures. In this atmosphere terrorist acts are happening, e.g. demolition of
Hungarian school or fire-raising the "Malev" (Hungarian Air Lines)
office in Bucharest.
Sri Lanka, sometimes called "Paradise Island", is inhabited by two
major communities: 74% of them make up Sinhaleses (usually Buddhists), and 18%
are Tamils, who are Hinduists. The majority of Tamils live in the southern part
of India. They came to Sri Lanka in two groups: the first one in the Middle Ages
and the other during the reign of the British. People from the first group
settled in the northern and eastern part of the island. The others were brought
as workers to the plantations in the central plateau and until today they are
distinct, poorer and less educated community. On the island there are also
Muslim Maurs (descendants of Arabic settlers), Christian Burgers (people of
Dutch descent) and the original residents of the island - Wedds (in 1953 there
were only 715 Wedds).
During their reign, The British favoured the minority of Tamils who, as a result
of that, dominated economic, political and cultural realm on the island. After
they had regained the independence, the majority of Sinhaleses started to
equalize disproportions to their advantage. The rights of Tamil language were
limited (in June 1956 a bill was adopted which made sinhala the only official
language), Sinhalese people were allowed to settle in Tamils' areas, Tamils were
dismissed from public departments. The effects were soon visible: between 1970
and 1971 the number of Tamil office workers decreased from 11% to 5%. As in 1969
50% of medical students and 48% of engineering students were Tamils, in 1983
Tamils made up only 22% of students of medicine and 28% of students of
engineering.
This situation caused discontent of Tamils. In 1944 G.G. Ponnambalam formed All
Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC). This conservative party co-operated with
right-wing Sinhalese United National Party (UNP) but this cooperation did not
suit Tamils radicals. Five years later they set up Federal Party (Lanka Tamil
Arasu Kazi, LTAK) led by S. Chelvanayakam and E. Naganathan. After 1956 LTAK,
which advocated (announced) slogans of autonomous Tamils Country, took the lead
of Tamil movement. In the spring of 1958 company of civil disobedience turned
into bloody riots and in June the government broadened rights of Tamil language.
But they were not realized because in September 1959 Prime Minister Bandaranaike
was killed by Buddhist monk.
In June 1972 LTAK, ACTC and Ceylon Workers' Congress, which assembled Indian
Tamils, formed Tamils' United Front (later renamed as to Tamils' United
Liberation Front, TULF), which in May 1976 put forward demand of independence
for "Tamil secular socialist state". Another organization's activity
made TULF become more radical.
In the same year (1972) eighteen-year-old Velupillai Prabhakaran formed
organization named Tamil New Tigers (TNT), which was modelled on Afro-American
Black Panthers. The choice of the symbol was not accidental - Sinhalese lion
(singha = lion) had another opponent. After the police had attacked the Tamils
congress in January 1974 in Jaffna, the Tigers decided to fight and in June the
next year they murdered the mayor of Jaffna. The militants from the organization
were trained in Lebanese camps of maoist People's Liberation Front of Palestine
and attacked the government officers. Since 1976 their official name was
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). In 1981 LTTE was split - an hard-line
Marxist People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) with Uma
Maheswaran as a leader separated from them. As in LTTE most of the members were
people from the caste of fishermen Karava, in PLOTE there were people from the
elite caste of Vellala.
Some new military organizations were formed: Eelam People's Revolutionary
Liberation Front (K. Padmanabha), Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization - TELO
(Sri Sabaratnam), Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students - EROS (V.
Balakumar). We should to pay attention to that last group. Formed in 1975 in
England it recruited Tamil workers from central Ceylon and favoured economic
sabotage. EROS supposedly collaborates with Sinhalese maoist organization JVP
(Peoples Liberation Front).
The turning point is the July 23rd, 1983. The Tigers kill 13 people. In response
Sinhaleses kill Tamils in Colombo and other cities - according to some sources
2000 people were murdered, and many thousands were forced to escape. The
sporadic acts of terror turn into heavy guerrilla warfare. Both sides of the
conflict commit innumerable atrocities. In March 1985 the major organizations of
Tamil guerrilla (except PLOTE) create Eelam National Liberation Front - ENLF. In
summer 1985 the TULF and ENLF representatives conducted negotiations with the
government. In December 1985 the TULF adopted the government's autonomy plans.
In the middle of 1986 LTTE begins to fight other Tamil organizations (e.g.
Sabaratnam was killed by the Tigers in May 1986).
Indian authorities, especially from the state of Tamilnadu discreetly supported
the Tigers. India joined the conflict, what resulted in signing a peace treaty
in July 1987: full citizenship for all Tamils, a wide autonomy for "Tamil
Eelam", unification of the northern and eastern provinces united after a
referendum... However, there was a problem with the Eastern Province, where 58%
of the inhabitants were Sinhaleses or Muslim (though speaking Tamil language)
Maurs, whose Sri Lanka Muslim Congress party did not want any Tamil Eelam. The
Indian peace-keeping forces supervised the realisation of the agreement.
But the peace is attacked from both sides. Sinhaleses find it as a limitation of
Sri Lanka's sovereignty and a menace of break-up of the state; the splitters
from JVP (so-called People's Patriotic Movement) even commit anti-Indian
terrorist actions. The Tigers do not agree to the disarmament. Consequently, the
warfare begins again already in October 1987 and LTTE forces withdraw to the
Eastern Province. In 1989 on demand of Sri Lanka's government the Indian forces
are evacuated.
The Tigers took advantage of the fact that the Indian army was withdrawn and
took control over the Jaffna Peninsula in 1990. They can effectively put up
resistance to the government's army. They proved it with the attack on the
military base in Mullaitivu where they killed 1000 soldiers. The suicidal
bombing attacks of the LTTE also had far-reaching repercussions: in May 1985 in
Anuradhapura - 146 casualties, a year later on a Bandaranaike airport - 20
casualties, then in April 1987 on a Colombo bus station - 110 casualties. They
killed also Indian Prime Minister R. Gandhi in May 1991 and the president of Sri
Lanka - R. Premadas in May 1993. Since 1983 50000 people have died.
Jaroslaw Tomasiewicz
I am afraid of Germany! Germany is the strongest state of our continent. Your
expansive presence is noticeable in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Slovenia, Croatia,
Lithuania, Ukraine, Russia... everywhere. United Europe is becoming a
"Greater Germany". Helmut Kohl wins Adolf Hitler's war by economic
means, a war for German domination in Europe.
Even a good man becomes dangerous if he has too much power. And you are too
great for our small continent. German hegemony in Europe will not be better than
the American or Soviet one - this is the way towards imperialism and
technocratic semi-totalitarianism. German people, who are free from national
megalomania and chauvinism, should also share this fear with small and
medium-sized nations.
Is there any prospect of stopping the construction of the New Empire? I do not
believe in socialist revolution, explosion of "green"/postmaterialist
consciousness or any other miraculous solution. People are not able to destroy a
state but people can transform, to decentralise, to regionalise the state, the
system. German leftists and anti-nationalists, together with decentralist and
regionalist movements, should proclaim a realisation of the grass-roots, organic
"basic democracy", and even revival of folk culture and dialects, as
their principal aim.
The medieval German "Reich" was a conglomerate of feudal states and
estates, municipal and peasants' republics. The new Germany, if it is to be
peaceful and democratic, should also be a confederation of regions and communes.
The free states of Bayern, Niedersachsen and Franken can coexist with autonomous
districts of national minorities such as Friesen or Sorben, and even - for
example - with "The Free Town of Kreuzberg".
Confederated Germany could be guarantor of European freedom. The "Fourth
Reich" of the Bundesrepublik is a guarantee of Europe's serfdom.
...We understand your hostility against fascism and other kinds of xenophobic
right-wing, but ethnopluralism isn't fascism.
We don't discriminate between place and culture (ethnicity). A place, an
environment is obviously the base. But if people live together in specific
conditions (different from other places), they create their own specific culture
- ethnic culture. Here, in Europe, regions are inseparably connected with their
particular cultures. In North America, probably, there are not so strong
connections between culture and territory - its society is more homogenous.
We are not enthusiasts of the state at all (some of us are anarchists) - and the
nation-state too. We know that national state exterminates regional identities
and autonomies in a similar way to the global supra-state which exterminates
national identity and sovereignty. But we support national as well as regional
resistance against globalism. In our opinion the nation-state is the frontline
now, but the next one will be region. The nation-state is dying, and therefore
we think it is not our principal enemy in presently situation. Our support for
ethnic cultures - ALL ethnic cultures - is support not only for regional (for
example - in Poland - Upper Silesian) and minority (for example - Ukrainian)
identities, but also national ones (Polish). Here, in Eastern Europe, the term
"nation" has a different meaning than in Western Europe. An
Eastern-European nation is not a political (state) community, but cultural
(language, consciousness etc.) one.