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Subject: Albanians still in Serbian prisons!
From: Ivo Skoric <ivo@reporters.net>
Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 22:20:05 -0400
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http://balkansnet.org/albin.html
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Subject: (Fwd) Arrest (from otporna-lista)
From: Ivo Skoric <ivo@reporters.net>
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 12:10:40 -0400
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More meaningless behavior of Serbian authorities:
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
RESISTANCE (OTPOR!) Info
After the action DINAR FOR HIS RESIGNATION, TWO ACTIVISTS OF OTPOR HAVE
BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
Branko Ilic and Vukasin Petrovic, activists of the student movement
RESISTANCE! (OTPOR!), have been arrested today, around 16.30h in the Knez
Mihailo street, upon the end of the action "Dinar za smenu" (Dinar for his
resignation).
The activists of OTPOR! Branko Ilic, student of the Faculty of Philology,
and Vukasin Petrovic, student of the Faculty of PoliticaL Sciences, have
been, by the testimony of Ivan Marovic who was present during this
incident, taken into custody by un-uniformed persons with police
[identification?] to the police station in Majka Jevrosima street.
"Branko Ilic, was arrested only one day after he announced the begining of
the October student protest on a rally of retired citizens which took place
on Thursday. Vukasin Petrovic was identified as a activist of OTPOR! by the
police because he had on him a badge with a clenced fist, which is the
symbol of OTPOR! This clearly shows the paranoid fear the regime has of its
students, and the clenched fist - the symbol of resistance. The barrel
which colected donations made by the citizens for the resignation of
Slobodan Milosevic all day long, ended up in the police station. The
police, in my opinion, exactly knew who they should arrest, since they
clearly approached us in the crowd of Knez Mihajlova street" - stated Ivan
Marovic, activist of OTPOR!
Legal representatives of OTPOR! Slobodan Homen (063-200-695) and Nenad
Konstatinovic (064-112-07-89) are trying to find out what is happening to
Ilic and Petrovic, while we are sending this release.
Belgrade, 17th september
RevKom
Contact :
Ivan Marovic (063-325-139)
Dejan Randjic (063-613-315)
eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/otporna_lista
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Subject: Re: No Subject
From: Ivo Skoric <ivo@reporters.net>
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 12:32:42 -0400
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Check this out:
http://croatia-vs-yugoslavia.com/index.htm
ivo
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Subject: (Fwd) Landsdown Declaration on the Civil Future of Kosov@
From: Ivo Skoric <ivo@reporters.net>
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 1999 15:19:15 -0400
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------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> READ & DISTRIBUTE FURTHER <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
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Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com
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Kosovapress http://www.kosovapress.com/
Kosova Information Center http://www.kosova.com/
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http://www.usip.org/oc/events/landsdowne.html
Released: 14 Sept 1999
The Lansdowne Declaration
September 13, 1999
We, the individuals identified below, gathered at Lansdowne Center in
Virginia, September 9-13, 1999, with the faciliation of a team assembled
by the United States Institue of Peace, have reached consensus on a
framework of basic principles, practices and procedures to help guide
Kosova during and after its transition to democratic self-rule.
Representing a broad spectrum of Kosovar Albanian leadership from civil
society groups, political movements, humanitaran and professional
institutions, we commend these results to our people. We appeal to the
international community to reflect upon and respect the fruits of our
deliberations. And we underscore the sincerity of our stance favoring a
plural society which welcomes all Kosovars. We state the determination
of the people and political forces of Kosova to achieve:
- the liberation of all those citizens of Kosova detained and imprisoned
illegally, as well as those who have been illegally subject to judicial
processing,
- the liberation of those kept in Serbia as hostages, many of whom are
children,
- the accounting for all missing persons,
- and the prosecution of war crimes.
Protection of those who bear judicial witness to war crimes is of equal
importance. We pledge our cooperation with those outside Kosova who
share these aims and we demand the full cooperation of relevant
international organizations. Finally, we would take this occasion to
express our profound thanks to the U.S. Government and people for their
support and to the United States Institute of Peace for its professional
conduct of the meetings.
The pages below are organized under the headings of Political Process;
Strengthening Civil Society; and Economic Reconstruction, Revitalization
and Reform in accordance with the structure of our deliberations at
Lansdowne.
Lansdowne Workshop Participants
Journalists
Aferdita Kelmendi (Director of Radio/TV 21)
Baton Haxhiu (Chief Editor, Koha Ditore)
Shaban Arifaj (journalist)
Dukagnin Gorani (journalist)
Gani Dili (journalist, women's issues)
Independent
Ylber Hysa (head of Kosova Associations for Civic Initiatives)
Mahmut Bakalli (head of Kosovo media board)
United Democratic League (LBD)
Bajram Kosumi
Mehmet Hajrizi
Hyadet Hyseni
Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK)
Naim Jerliu
Edita Tahiri
Bujar Bukoshi
Alush Gashi
Party of Democratic Unity (PBD)
Bardyhl Mahmuti
Shaban Shala
Jakup Krasniqi
Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK)
Hashim Thaqi
Rame Buja
Fatmir Limaj
Azem Syla
Zhavit Haliti
Non-governmental organizations and activists
Palok Berisha (Mother Teresa Society)
Xheraldina Vula (Radio 21, Women's NGO)
Sevdije Ahmeti (Director, Organization for Protection of Women and
children)
Marte Palokaj (Mother Teresa Society)
Edi Shukriu (activist, women's issues, president of LDK Women's
Forum)
Vjosa Dobruna (Doctor, Organization for Protection of Women and
Children)
Shkelzen Maliqi (Analyst, Open Society Institute)
Pajazit Nushi (Council for the Protection of Human Rights and
Freedom)
Arben Koca (chairman of youth council in Skenderaj)
Ariana Xerxa (Humanitarian Law Fund)
Economists
Riza Sapunhaxiu (economist, formerly Kosovska Bank, World Bank)
Shefqet Cana (Joint Kosovo Bank)
Ahmet Shala (Professor of Economics)
Muhamet Mustafa (Riinvest)
Local Officials
Bajram Rexhepi (Mayor of Mitrovica)
Adem Bajri (attorney, Peja)
Ardian Gjini (Vice Mayor of Gjakova)
U.S. Participants
Conference Chair
Chester Crocker, Chairman of Board of Directors of the U.S.
Institute of Peace (USIP)
Conference Advisor
Harriet Hentges, Executive Vice President, USIP
Conference Director
Dan Serwer, Director of the Balkans Initiative, USIP
Sub-Group Chairmen
Michael Froman, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
Hal Saunders, Director of International Affairs, Kettering
Foundation
George Ward, Director, Training Program, USIP
Conference Organizers
Burcu Akan, USIP
Kristine Herrmann, USIP
Lauren VanMetre, USIP
Christina Zechman, USIP
Political Process
We began by looking forward five to ten years into Kosova's future. We
decided that the following nine elements were essential to a future of
peace and prosperity for all Kosovars:
- Self-determination based on a referendum conducted under international
auspices.
- The rule of law, under which all Kosovars will be able to live without
fear;
- Under the law, guarantees for human rights and individual liberties;
- Government institutions that are responsive and serve the needs of
civil society;
- A functional multi-ethnic society that includes equal opportunity for
all;
- A free economic market with protection for those members of society
who are at risk;
- Integration of Kosova into international institutions.
- An international role that provides for the protection of Kosovars and
their rights; and
- An updated education system that provides opportunities for
advancement to Kosova's most precious resources, its youth, and
contributes to building civil society.
We then agreed to examine five of these categories in order to identify
the institutions and processes that are essential to their realization.
In order to establish the rule of law, we identified the need for:
- A constitution;
- Elections;
- Agreement on and adherence to a political code of conduct.
Essential to human rights and individual liberties are:
- A functioning, unitary judicial system based on international human
rights conventions;
- Enforcement of respect for individual and collective rights;
- Systematic respect for laws.
In order to develop responsive government institutions, the following
are important:
- Adequate financial resources;
- A professional civil service;
- A functioning, unitary judicial system;
- Effective and democratic police;
- Effective defense of Kosova's territory, through transformation of the
KLA into a national defense force and integration into the Partnership
for Peace.
A functional, multi-ethnic society depends upon:
- Adequate legislation;
- Confidence-building measures by government and civil society;
- Intercommunal dialogue;
- Merit-based employment decisions;
- Where necessary, affirmative action to ensure minority rights.
An international role involving the United Nations, OSCE, NATO, the
U.S.A. and the ICRC is essential to:
- Full implementation of UNSCR 1244 throughout the territory of Kosova;
- Secure the release of prisoners detained for political reasons;
- Ensure the prosecution of war criminals;
- Protect the safety of those who bear witness to war crimes and other
offenses against humanity;
- Defense of the Albanian populations in Presheva, Bujanoc, and
Medvegja, which are exposed to repression, discrimation, and ethnic
cleansing;
- Bearing in mind the temporary absence of Kosovar political and
judicial authorities, the issuance of new travel and identity documents
for the Kosovar people.
As a further step, we agreed to outline the elements of a political code
of conduct. We arrived at the following:
All individuals, political parties, and other groups should:
# During this transitional period, resolve to establish, attend, and
not boycott a political consultative forum that, meeting regularly,
would be open to all political forces. The forum would meet and be
chaired on a rotational basis. Its initial meeting would be facilitated
by the U.S. Institute of Peace. The forum would operate in full respect
of the legitimate roles of international organizations.
# Build support for formulas for unified organs of government and
administration based on democratic principles and international
obligations.
# Be guided above all by democratic values in striving toward the
paramount goal of a more prosperous and secure future for all who live
in Kosova.
# Respect pluralism and the fair competition of political ideas and
political programs. Corruption, intimidation, violence and other
pressures are antithetical to democracy and must be excluded.
# Promote the transparency of the political process, including party
programs, party structures, and party activities.
# Respect diversity, including the protection of the identity of
minorities (i.e., ethnic, confessional, political, and social groups),
ensuring free access to the political system for the latter. All forms
and measures of discrimination that would endanger the identity of
minorities must be rejected.
# Pledge their determination to agree upon mechanisms for the conduct
of democratic elections under international supervision and resolve to
respect the results of those elections. Elections must be properly
prepared with international support and with due regard to establishment
of necessary social conditions, for example, adequate housing. See also
the report on civil society regarding elections.
# Preserve the institutions that have sustained the people of Kosova
during times of difficulty, including families and non-governmental
organizations.
# Actively recognize that the contributions of women and men to the
political process are crucial.
# Extend political debate as widely as possible in Kosova, support the
political parties in regenerating their programs and organizations to
adapt to newly created conditions and the necessity for a healthy
political atmosphere in Kosova.
Strengthening Civil Society
The Albanian people of Kosova have developed strong institutions of
civil society, although they have not necessarily used that term.
Identifying the elements of those foundations and naming them as such
could be a useful step in strengthening civil society in the next stage
of Kosovar development. Among those elements, we count those instances
in which citizens came together to accomplish important objectives
without the help of government. We specifically note the following:
# a growing tradition of citizens taking personal responsibility over a
long historical period, refusing to bow to repression, protesting openly
and organizing underground and demonstrating a strong will to govern
themselves;
# solidarity among Kosovar Albanians and Albanians in other countries;
# increasing consciousness among Kosovar Albanians of the importance of
education and national culture for development of a civil society;
# formation of women's NGOs in the late 1980s with the effect of laying
early foundations for civil society ;
# the formation of human rights NGOs;
# establishment of the Mother Teresa Society in 1990 as a base for
assistance when Kosovar Albanians were forcibly removed from their jobs
and lost their incomes and their right to medical care and health
insurance;
# the "alternative structures" developed by citizen initiative after
Kosova's autonomy was suspended to provide education, medical services
and political organizations to Albanians in Kosova;
# establishment of Radio 21 and TV 21, Radio Koha and TV Koha, Kosova
press news agency and Radio Kosova e Lire as an institution that was
active in the war zones;
# deliberate engagement of the Albanians to end the practice of blood
feud and revenge through mediations;
# development of the Students' Independent Union;
# the actions of some newspapers to continue publishing despite
Belgrade's efforts to stop publication;
# formation of the Kosova Liberation Army and of a national network of
its supporters by conducting dialogues with citizens in town after town;
# a tradition of tolerance, especially among different religious
traditions;
# creation and gradual increase of opportunities for citizen assembly.
# development of awareness for protection of personal rights and
liberties.
Despite the emergence of Kosova from under repressive Serbian rule,
obstacles to further development of a broadly based democratic civil
society remain:
- lack of guaranteed security for citizens;
- suspicion or mistrust among present Kosovar organizations;
- residual "prejudices" from the period of socialist rule;
- absence of a rule of law and an independent judiciary;
- absence of a political culture with a tradition of opposition within
the system;
- a mentality of oppression or victimhood that limits realization of the
full capacities of independence;
- broad ignorance of what civil society is;
- absence of agreed practices to assure fairness in political life;
- exclusion of women from many political and economic activities, mainly
because of the economic and political situation and partly as a result
of a traditionally patriarchal mentality;
- presence of domestic violence;
- a hostile relationship between Serbs and Albanians that reflects Serb
refusal to acknowledge wrongs done and a demand that Serbs be held
accountable for what they did;
- limited media workers, equipment, resources and coverage;
- absence of enough opportunities for citizens, especially women, to
talk together and to learn from one another;
- actions by international organizations and some international NGOs
that show lack of respect for Kosovar civil society and confine space
for its development;
- the traditional educational curriculum of the school system, which in
its present form is not conducive to developing civil society;
- the lack of a census of the population, including the population in
temporary refuge, which would enable issuing identification cards and
travel documents;
Against that background, we propose the following areas of work and
specific projects for developing civil society in Kosova:
# Reconceptualization of the citizen as the central political actor in
whom ultimate power resides, in contrast to the former view of the
citizen as oppressed or victimized. This will require significant
changes in educational curricula and projects to increase opportunities
for citizens to experience an effective role in influencing decisions on
the future of their communities.
# A transitional period perceived as a time interval necessary for
establishing democratic institutions in Kosova as well as other elements
that define a civil society. This will require public and media
discussion of the idea of a transitional period. It will also require a
widely agreed timetable for preparing free and fair elections, including
systematic identification of the necessary steps laying the foundation
for that event.
# Broad acceptance of principles and practices to govern social and
political interactions. These include: resolving differences through
dialogue, mediation and other non-violent means; respect for diverse
views; dialogue rather than confrontation as the norm for communication;
mutual respect in rivalry; openness in dialogue; tolerance; awareness of
common interests and differences; commitment of all individuals;
equality of all individuals; keeping one's word. This will require
educational programs and deliberately developed experiences that model
peaceful ways of resolving potential conflict.
# Creation of opportunities at all levels of society for dialogue that
will identify local needs and a conscious effort, from that dialogue, to
frame the choices among fundamental social and political philosophies.
This will require active programs to promote community dialogues and to
make them part of normal political life.
# Creation of opportunities in which relationships among majority and
minorities can be healed and improved and of methods for assuring an
appropriate role in social, economic and political life for minorities
and women. This will require educational institutions, political
organizations and NGOs to make inclusiveness an active part of their
programs.
# Encouragement of citizens in playing the greatest role possible in
the revival of the economy. This will require providing materials for
reconstruction of homes and public facilities and support of small
business.
# Legitimation of citizens' work, in collaboration with security
authorities, to enhance local security. This requires acceptance of
local organizations by the authorities.
# Many of these projects require the rapid creation of normal
conditions for the work of the media, in particular for the independent
media. Above all, this requires urgent creation of an effective
telecommunications system in Kosova and repairing radio and TV systems.
This can only be done with the help of the international community. It
requires immediate collaboration between media organizations and
potential funders to identify technical and program needs, particularly
providing necessary equipment and education of professional journalists
from the younger generation.
# Comprehensive registration of citizens is essential to holding
elections and to all aspects of administering effective services for
citizens.
# Respect for the rights of citizens to express their free will through
referenda on vital social issues and statehood.
# Adopting and respecting a new legal framework for NGO operations, for
political organization, for protection of property and the free market,
for conservation of the environment, for protection of minorities and
other special groups such as the physically and mentally handicapped,
students and young people.
We call on the citizens and leaders of Kosova to contribute in every way
possible to development of a strong civil society and on international
organizations to recognize that this development is critical to
developing democracy.
Economic Reconstruction, Revitalization, and Reform
Kosova faces several challenges on the economic front. First, it must
engage in the immediate reconstruction of fundamental components of its
economy which were damaged or destroyed during the war. Second, it must
revitalize competitive sectors of its economy where production has
severely declined or come to a halt as a result of both the war and
Belgrade's policies during the 1990's. Third, it must undergo the
process of reform as part of the transition to a market economy. Fourth,
it must put in place institutions and policies to attract foreign
investment.
We note that our objective is not to reconstruct pre-war Kosova or even
to recreate pre-1989 Kosova, but to build a new, open, integrated and
free market economy capable of carrying Kosova into the next century.
Reconstruction
In addition to the great human and psychological impact of the war on
Kosovars, Kosova suffered significant material damage during the war in
a broad range of sectors. We identify the following areas as priorities
for immediate reconstruction and, with the winter fast-approaching, call
on the international donor community to focus its efforts on ensuring
adequate assistance and the appropriate distribution of that assistance
to areas in need throughout Kosova:
- Housing
- Water supplies
- Electricity
- Telecommunications
- Agricultural production
- Educational institutions
- Health facilities
We also call on the donor community to develop a program through which
proposals for modest infrastructure projects for Kosova, including at
the level of the local community, can be funded. Efforts should be made
to ensure that reconstruction is pursued consistent with prudent urban
planning.
In order to help restart Kosova's economy, including its construction
and construction materials sectors, we call on the donor community to
use local, Kosovar resources to the greatest degree possible in the
reconstruction effort.
Revitalization
The war greatly damaged Kosova's economy, but before the war, Kosova's
economy suffered from the expropriation and asset-stripping of major
industrial properties. There is an urgent need to revitalize factories
that are idle, mines that are closed, farms that are lying fallow, and
thermoelectric plants that are operating well below capacity. (This
should be done in a manner consistent with environmental interests.)
This is critical to creating jobs for Kosovars which, in turn, is
critical to avoiding social upheaval.
# Revitalizing these properties will require outside support, and we
call on the donor community to devote substantial resources to providing
the critical inputs necessary to restart these assets.
However, the most significant obstacle appears to be uncertainty about
who has the authority to make decisions regarding these assets:
# We call on UNMIK and KFOR to allow these properties to be revitalized
immediately.
# We call on UNMIK to create a process to resolve as quickly as
possible issues regarding the status of these and other
state/socially-owned properties, including who has the authority --
before and after elections -- to make decisions regarding the operation
and sale of these assets. In our view, pre-1989 property rights should
be presumed to be the
# We call for a process by which transactions involving
state/socially-owned properties during the 1990's, including
transactions involving foreign investors, can be evaluated to determine
their legal status.
Reform
We strongly recommend to Kosova-wide and international institutions that
Kosova should build its own, open, free market economy integrated into
regional and Euro-Atlantic institutions, and that this general
perspective should define its political, legislative and administrative
orientation.
As part of the transition process, we will privatize major state assets,
recognizing that the public sector may have a continuing interest in
some of them and that there are a number of different models for
privatization:
- We support the privatization of major state assets as soon as
possible following elections.
- Before elections, we call on the political parties and other relevant
institutions to work with Kosovar experts and experts from the
international community to prepare proposed strategies for
privatization, including by learning lessons from other transition
economies.
We recognize the importance of creating a well-regulated banking system
and a payments system and believe that that process should begin as
quickly as possible.
We note that one of Kosova's strengths is its small and medium-sized
enterprises, including its family businesses. We believe that Kosova's
development strategy should emphasize this sector and that Kosova should
create a strong network of support for this such enterprises, including
facilities to finance their investment.
# Pending the development a full-fledged banking system, we call on the
donor community to create as quickly as possible a development fund
which could finance the creation and expansion of small and medium-sized
enterprises as the first step toward recreating a banking system.
We believe it is important that Kosova develop a credible fiscal system,
including by developing a transparent and responsible budget and a tax
system that, over time, will provide sufficient revenue to fund the
government bodies and the appropriate scope of government-supported
activities.
- In that regard, we recommend that Kosova take care to develop
governmental bodies and government-supported institutions (e.g., health
and education institutions) which are efficient.
- We recognize that a reform program will cause economic dislocation
and, therefore, call for a well-targeted social safety net and other
programs, including education and training programs and programs to
support the development of small businesses, designed to help Kosovars
adjust to the market economy.
Recognizing the size of Kosova's market, we recommend that Kosova should
focus on the development of export-oriented industries, including the
following:
- Agriculture/farming/wine production
- Food processing
- Electricity
- Minerals
- Metals/metal processing
- Rubber
- Textiles/leather goods/handicrafts
We are committed to free trade and to integration with the rest of the
region, Europe and the international trading system.
- In that regard, we support the development of regional infrastructure
projects in (e.g., Corridor 8, Pristina-Durres links) and internal
infrastructure projects that facilitate trade.
- We do not believe that it would be wise to adopt high tariffs or
other forms of protectionism.
Attracting and Retaining Foreign Investment
We recognize that the long-term sustainability of Kosova's economy
depends on its capacity to attract foreign investment. To do so, we
propose the following:
# We are committed to working with each other to create an environment
of political stability grounded in democratic principles.
# We note the absolutely critical need for the rule of law. In that
regard, we call for the development of a credible legal system and a
transparent, consistent and reliable regulatory system on which Kosovars
and foreign investors can rely.
# We are committed to fighting official corruption and crime so as to
avoid allowing the market economy to become a criminal economy.
Working Together
To better articulate a common position on these and other economic
issues to the international community, and to develop public and
political consensus on this platform, we recommend that the dialogue
among economic experts and all political forces be continued, including
through the creation of an economic forum.
To contact USIP : usip_requests@usip.org
1200 17th Street, NW, Suite 200, Washington DC, 20036-3011
Telephone: 202.457.1700, Facsimile: 202.429.6063
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mos ban luft, ban dashuri
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Subject: graffiti
From: Ivo Skoric <ivo@reporters.net>
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 1999 15:30:15 -0400
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Check it out:
http://balkansnet.org/graffiti.html
ivo
ps - page is loaded with images and take a while to open
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Subject: Milosevic, clean up your desk, please
From: Ivo Skoric <ivo@reporters.net>
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 11:54:53 -0400
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The U.S. international law lawyers' dream! So they can take over
the country through litigation, with no use of force whatsoever. The
problem is that corporations whose management is uncapable of
holding them together, eagerly and voluntarily accept the
receivership of the U.S. government - if any hostility is encountered
it is at the sacked management level, which can be handled by two
burly guards easily. Taking over a country is a little different.
First, the government which is not capable of running the country,
usually still has a huge loyal police force on the payroll, which is
ready to protect their power or stolen possessions. Second,
corporate culture, while demanding loyalty, never penetrated that
deep into the people's minds as nationalism. There are no people
ready to die for IBM. There are people lead to believe that it is
honorable and delightful to die for their country. Those two slight
problems would impede UN receivership of any country. First could
be handled by building a modern, well equipped and trained UN
response force - which would require agreement between world's
powers (primarily the US, that has 80% of all those modern war
gadgets), that I don't see coming, since the powers would like to
remain powers and not to share their power with the plebeian
countries populating general assembly. Second - the UN needs to
be perceived as a truly independent, neutral entity, like Red Cross,
for example, and it is way to dependent on the financing whims of
the great powers to fill that role. So, essentially it is up to US if
thus lawyers' utopia would ever be implemented. The US has a
history of coming up with excellent ideas for the world peace, but
then backtracking fast on implementation of those same ideas.
Check out what I wrote about that at:
http://balkansnet.org/history.html
ivo
Date sent: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 18:54:07 EDT
Send reply to: Post-Yugoslav discussion list
<ZAMIR-CHAT-
LIST@LISTSERV.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU>
From: Nalini Lasiewicz <LasiewiczN@AOL.COM>
Subject: UN Receivership Concept
To: ZAMIR-CHAT-LIST@LISTSERV.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU
NYT Letters featured a letter from a reader, discussing the challenges for
the United Nations. Here is a very interesting exerpt. I assume that since
this man wrote it for the newspaper, he won't mind being quoted here. :)
Nalini Lasiewicz
==================
To the Editor:
.................
United States law gives courts the authority to place
businesses no longer capable of managing their own affairs
into receivership or conservatorship. Similarly, we need an
international treaty that would give the International Court of
Justice in The Hague the authority to declare the governments
of distressed countries or regions unfit to rule and place them
in a kind of United Nations receivership.
This declaration would serve as a legal trigger for the
deployment of United Nations security forces and
administrators who would restore peace and order, then
return the function of government back to indigenous people
as quickly as possible.
DEAN COURTES
Sacramento, Calif., Sept. 22, 1999
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