The Broken Rifle, 73

No 73, Fe bruary 2007

Agains tal lm il itaris m

Editorial

W h y an antim il itaris tpe rs pe ctive is im portantfor al ls ocialm ove m e nts Th e W orl d SocialForum is now 6 ye ars ol d. Since th e be ginning in Porto Al e gre in 2001, itgre w , itins pire d re gionalproce s s e s , and it ch ange d. W ith th e s ucce s s ofth e W orl d SocialForum cam e inte re s t from th e traditionall e ft, and from l e ftis tgove rnm e nts . Braz il 's pre s ide nt Lul a s pok e atth e W orl d SocialForum , and th e Ve ne z ue l an gove rnm e ntins trum e ntral is e d th e “pol yce ntric” forum in Caracas to prom ote th e “Bol ivarian re vol ution”. So is th e W SF e m bracing ol d-fas h ione d traditionall e ftpol itics , and doe s it abandon its ow n principl e s ?Doe s th e W SF fal linto th e ol d trap ofoppos ing one s ide ofth e pol iticals pe ctrum – (US) im pe rial is m – and turning a bl ind e ye on h um an righ ts viol ations and m il itaris m w h e n th e y occur on th e l e fts ide ofth e pol iticals pe ctrum , according to th e s im pl e principl e “th e e ne m y ofm y e ne m y is m y frie nd”?

Th e principl e s ofth e W orl d SocialForum

Th e Ch arte r ofPrincipl e s ofth e W orl d SocialForum [1] goe s back to 2001. Th e firs tparagraph ofth is ch arte r s e ts outth e bas is ofth e W SF: “Th e W orl d SocialForum is an ope n m e e ting pl ace for re fl e ctive th ink ing, de m ocratic de bate of ide as , form ul ation ofpropos al s, fre e e xch ange ofe xpe rie nce s and inte rl ink ing for e ffe ctive action, by groups and m ove m e nts ofcivils ocie ty th atare oppos e d to ne ol ibe ral is m and to dom ination ofth e w orl d by capitaland any form of im pe rial is m , and are com m itte d to buil ding a pl ane tary s ocie ty dire cte d tow ards fruitfulre l ations h ips am ong H um ank ind and be tw e e n it and th e Earth .”

Paragraph 5 s tate s : “Th e W orl d SocialForum brings toge th e r and inte rl ink s onl y organiz ations and m ove m e nts ofcivils ocie ty from al lth e countrie s in th e w orl d”, and itth us e xcl ude s gove rnm e nts and m il itarie s . Paragraph 9 e ve n s pe l l s itout, th ough a bitw e ak e r: “Ne ith e r party re pre s e ntations nor m il itary organiz ations s h al lparticipate in th e Forum . Gove rnm e ntl e ade rs and m e m be rs ofl e gis l ature s w h o acce ptth e com m itm e nts of th is Ch arte r m ay be invite d to participate in a pe rs onalcapacity.”

Paragraph 10 is aboutim portantval ue s : “Th e W orl d SocialForum is oppos e d to al ltotal itarian and re ductionis tvie w s ofe conom y, de ve l opm e ntand h is tory and to th e us e ofviol e nce as a m e ans of s ocialcontrolby th e State . Ituph ol ds re s pe ctfor H um an Righ ts , th e practice s ofre alde m ocracy, participatory de m ocracy, pe ace fulre l ations , in e q ual ity and s ol idarity, am ong pe opl e , e th nicitie s , ge nde rs and pe opl e s , and conde m ns al l form s ofdom ination and al ls ubje c-

Europe an Union force (EUFO R) pre s e nts its dis s uas ion force in K ins h as a, DRC, 20 Jul y 2006. 2000 EU troops provide d additionals upportto M O NUC during th e e l e ctoralpe riod. © M O NUC Ph oto/Rom ain De s cl ous tion ofone pe rs on by anoth e r.”

And paragraph 13 m e ntions as one ofth e obje ctive s to “s tre ngth e n and cre ate ne w nationaland inte rnationall ink s am ong organiz ations and m ove m e nts ofs ocie ty, th at– in both publ ic and private l ife – w il lincre as e th e capacity for nonviol e nts ocialre s is tance to th e proce s s ofde h um aniz ation th e w orl d is unde rgoing and to th e viol e nce us e d by th e State ”.

Th e Bam ak o appe al[2], w h ich is s om e w h ata de parture from th e s e principl e s , w as pas s e d at th e pol yce ntric W SF in M al i in January 2006. Th e Bam ak o appe al is ful lofth e ol d-fas h ione d rh e toric ofth e l e ft, and puts a s pe ciale m ph as is on th e w ork ing cl as s – in fact, ital m os ts e e m s as ifth e te rm “civilorganiz ations ” us e d in th e Ch arte r ofPrincipl e s dis appe are d from th e l anguage ofth e Bam ak o appe al . For e xam pl e , th e Bam ak o appe aluncritical l y cal l s for w ide ning “th e s ol idarity cam paigns w ith Ve ne z ue l a and Bol ivia, s ince th e s e are pl ace s w h e re pe opl e are buil ding ne w al te rnative s to ne ol ibe ral is m and crafting Latin-Am e rican inte gration”. H ow e ve r, th e Bam ak o appe alre cognis e s “th atth e fail ure s ofth e Sovie ts ys te m and th e re gim e s th ataros e from de col oniz ation re s ul te d l arge l y from th e ir de nialoffre e dom and th e ir unde re s tim ation ofth e val ue ofde m ocracy. Th e de ve l opm e ntofal te rnative s m us tinte grate th is factand

give pre -e m ine nce to buil ding de m ocracy”.

H ow e ve r, m os ts trik ingl y, in both th e originalCh arte r ofPrincipl e s and in th e Bam ak o appe al , any anal ys is ofm il itaris m in its e l fis com pl e te l y abs e nt. Anti-m il itaris m is s e e n as anti-im pe rial is m , and is l im ite d to oppos ing US and NATO m il itary action, butdoe s note xpand to oth e r actors .

W h y antim il itaris m ?

In its 19 9 0 s tate m e nt“Nonviol e nce and arm e d s truggl e ” [3], W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnationalw rite s : “In our vie w , l ibe ration m ove m e nts are auth e ntic to th e e xte ntth atth e y s tre ngth e n popul ar s e l f-re l iance and s e l f-organis ation and re fl e ct th e as pirations ofth e e xcl ude d.

Th e y m ay contain m any diffe re nt s ocialgroups and pol iticalte nde ncie s , butth e y de pe nd on th e participation ofth e pow e rl ess.

Th e l ibe ration th e y s e e k cannot e ntailth e oppre s s ion ofoth e rs but s h oul d re s pe ctth e righ ts ofal l :we are onl y too aw are ofth e dange r th attoday's l ibe rators coul d be com e tom orrow 's oppre s s ors .”

“Th e re is noth ing rom antic aboutth e e xpe rie nce ofw ar, incl uding re vol utionary w ar. W e can unde rs tand th e re as ons for re s orting to arm e d s truggl e , butw e w arn agains tits cons e q ue nce s . No m atte r h ow jus tth e caus e , no m atte r h ow m uch arm e d s truggl e is a m e th od ofl as tre s ort, w arfare de -

ge ne rate s . Dis crim inating s abotage te nds to bl ur into indis crim inate attack s k il l ing non-com batant civil ians and bringing re pris al s.

Localconfl icts e ruptinto s e l f-pe rpe tuating fe uds be yond any pol iticalcontrol ;viol e nce be com e s a patte rn for h andl ing confl ict.

Ifth e m il itary s truggl e is to bring ul tim ate victory, th e n an arm y is re q uire d – an arm y ofs ol die rs w il l ing to k il lto orde r, ope rating w ith firm ch ains ofcom m and, and de pe nde nton w e apons s uppl ie rs w h o w is h to e xpl oitth e s truggl e, e ith e r for pol iticalinfl ue nce or profit. M il itary ne ce s s ity com e s to tak e priority ove r h um an or s ocial cons ide rations .”

Th e re are pl e nty ofe xam pl es, and th e re is note nough s pace to anal ys e th e m h e re . So s om e “s naps h ots ” w il lne e d to be s ufficie nt: ► Afte r th e victory ofth e Sandinis tas in Nicaragua in 19 79 , th e US l aunch e d a cam paign of l ow -inte ns ity w arfare and s upporte d th e contras . As a re s pons e , th e Sandinis ta gove rnm e ntofNicaragua introduce d cons cription, in orde r to be abl e to re cruits ufficie nt num be rs ofyouth for a m il itary s truggl e agains tth e contras . ► Th e arm e d inde pe nde nce s truggl e in Angol a s ince th e continue d on page 2

Pe opl e 's Struggl e s , Pe opl e 's Al te rnative s is th e th e m e ofth e W orl d SocialForum in Nairobi, a th e m e , w h ich ce rtainl y is of re l e vance to antim il itaris ts and pacifis ts . And a th e m e , th atis al s o ve ry re l e vantin th e African conte xt, w h e re pe opl e s truggl e agains tne o-col oniale xpl oitation, and agains tw ar and viol e nce .

Since th e be ginning ofth e W orl d SocialForum proce s s in 2001, antim il itaris ts and pacifis ts h ave re m aine d m ore on th e s ide l ine s ofth is proce s s , th us m is s ing th e opportunity to e ngage in a de bate w ith m ove m e nts from al love r th e w orl d. Ce rtainl y, th e re are diffe re nce s ofopinion, ofs trate gy, and m os tim portantl y ofte n a diffe ring vie w on th e us e ofviol e nce . W h il e w e s h oul d s tand firm in our com m itm e ntto pacifis m and antim il itaris m , w e s til lh ave a l otto l e arn from oth e r m ove m e nts – butal soal otto give .

Nonviol e nce h as a h uge re pe rtoire oftool s and e xpe rie nce in practicing re algras s roots de m ocracy, e m pow e ring pe opl e , and buil ding al te rnative s . Th is e xpe rie nce – ofte n de rive d from anarch is m and fe m inis m – is val uabl e for th e W orl d SocialForum proce s s , w h ich s truggl e s w ith is s ue s s uch as participatory de m ocracy, de cis ion m ak ing and oth e rs . Not th atw e h ave al lth e ans w e rs – far from it– butw e can contribute our val uabl e e xpe rie nce .

W e th ink itis now notth e tim e to s iton th e fe nce and criticis e th e W SF and oth e r m ove m e nts from a puris tpe rs pe ctive . Itis tim e to e ngage w ith oth e r m ove m e nts , to us e th e s pace provide d by th e W orl d SocialForum – notuncritical l y – in orde r to be partofth e de ve l opm e ntofne w al te rnative s and ne w s trate gie s to ch ange th e w orl d. Be caus e ch ange – radical , re vol utionary ch ange – is ne e de d, ifw e w antto bre ak outofth e cycl e ofviol e nce , pove rty, e nvironm e ntalde s truction, and pote ntialnucl e ar ove rk il l .

Andre as Spe ck & Javie r Garate

Th e Brok e n Rifl e Th e Brok e n Rifl e is th e ne w s l e tte r ofW ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnational , and is publ is h e d in Engl is h , Spanis h , Fre nch and Ge rm an. Th is is is s ue 73, Fe bruary 2007.

Th is is s ue ofTh e Brok e n Rifl e w as produce d by Andre as Spe ck and Javie r Garate . Spe cialth ank s go Jan van Crie k inge , Abrah am G. M e h re te ab, and M attM e ye r. Ifyou w ant e xtra copie s ofth is is s ue ofTh e Brok e n Rifl e , pl e as e contact th e W RI office , or dow nl oad it from our w e bs ite .

W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnational , 5 Cal e donian Road, London N1 9 DX, Britain te l+ 44-20-7278 4040 fax + 44-20-7278 0444 info@ w ri-irg.org h ttp://w ri-irg.org/pubs / br73-e n.h tm

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Th e Brok e n Rifl e No 73, Fe bruary 2007

W orl d SocialForum 2007 – Nairobi, K e nya

Gl obalInitiative on W ar Profite e rs

O ne ofth e m ain pil l ars th at s upports w ar and m il itaris m is e conom ics . Itis in w ar tim e s w h e n w ar re l ate d corporations m ak e th e ir big k il l ings .

In Africa th is be com e s ve ry cl e ar, w h e re th e gove rnm e nts th atare “prom oting pe ace ” for th e re gion, atth e s am e tim e are facil itating th e trade ofs m al l arm s and th e e xpl oitation of naturalre s ource s Il l e gals m al larm s pos e a m ajor th re atto publ ic s afe ty th rough outce ntraland e as t Africa, e ncouraging crim e w h il e fue l l ing and prol onging confl ict.

Sm al larm s and l igh tw e apons s uch as as s aul trifl e s are e s pe cial l y s uite d to th e irre gul ar w arfare th atis s til lw ide s pre ad in th e re gion be caus e th e y are ch e ap, e as y to us e , w ide l y avail abl e and durabl e . Bl ade d w e apons l ik e m ach e te s h ave al so be e n w ide l y us e d in confl icts in Rw anda and Burundi.

M il l ions ofl ive s h ave al re ady be e n l os tin th e re gion, and th e s uppl y ofarm s to both gove rnm e nts and re be lgroups continue to grow .

In 2000, 10 countrie s s igne d th e Nairobi De cl aration on Sm al l Arm s and Ligh tW e apons and in 2002 th e Eas tAfrica Pol ice Ch ie fs Com m itte e w as form e d.

Th e Com m itte e h as s e tup a program m e to re gis te r and cl as s ify fire arm s . H ow e ve r, ongoing ins tabil ity pre s e nts m ajor ch al l e nge s for th e s e and oth e r initiative s .

Th e top th re e s m al larm s e xporte rs during 2006 w e re : th e Unite d State s $533,000,000, Rus s ia $130,000,000 and Ch ina $100,000,000 (Figure s in US dol l ars , Source s : CRS, SIPRI and UN w e bs ite ) Th e ControlArm s Cam paign, founde d by Am ne s ty Inte rnational , O xfam , and th e Inte rnationalAction Ne tw ork on Sm al lArm s , e s tim ate s th at th e re are ove r 600 m il l ion ite m s ofs m al larm s in circul ation, and th atove r 1135 com panie s bas e d in m ore th an 9 8 diffe re nt countrie s are m anufacturing s m al larm s as w e l las th e ir various com pone nts and am m unition. W orl dw ide , an ave rage of ove r 500,000 de ath s are caus e d by th e us e ofs m al larm s e ve ry ye ar, approxim ate l y one de ath pe r m inute .

Th e e xpl oitation ofnatural re s ource s e s pe cial l y ofm ine ral s in Africa is al s o a w ay ofprofite e ring from w ar. In m any cas e s th e s e e xpl oitations bring dis pl ace m e ntand fue l s l ocalconfl icts as ith appe ns for e xam pl e in th e De m ocratic Re publ ic ofCongo.

You w il lfind a furth e r anal ys is on th is in th e articl e on W ar Profite e rs in Congo in th is Brok e n Rifl e.

W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnational is de ve l oping a Gl obalInitiative Agains tW ar Profite e rs . W ith th e aim to coordinate and s upport l ocalcam paigns agains tw ar profite e rs atan inte rnationall e ve l .

Atth e W SF w e w il lbe giving a w ork s h op on w ar profite e rs w ith a s pe ciale ye on h ow to ch al l e nge itin Africa.

Ifyou w antto k now m ore pl e as e contactth e W RI office at info@ w ri-irg.org.

Re v ol ut ionary Nonv iol e nce in Af rica: Ol d Com m itm e nts , Ne w H ope s Col l e cte d by M attM e ye r For advocate s ofre vol utionary nonviol e nce – th e inte rconne cte d com m itm e ntto radicals ocial ch ange and th e s trate gie s and tactics ofunarm e d “s oulforce ”– th e h is tory and conte m porary s truggl e s th rough outth e contine ntofAfrica provide rich e xam pl e ofgre ath ope .

From th e e arl y Pan-Africanis t m ove m e nts , w h e n Gh anian l e ade r K w am e Nk rum ah w as de s cribe d as th e Gandh i ofAfrica, to th e s ucce s s e s ofth e antiaparth e id m ove m e nt, to gras s roots w om e n’s groups curre ntl y fos te ring confl ictre s ol ution and dial ogue , th e contine ntde rivative l y cal l e d “dark ” a ce ntury ago and popul arl y s e e n as noth ing but “w ar-torn” today in facth as m ore e xam pl e s ofpos itive , pacifis taction th an m os tpl ace s on th e pl ane t. In th e forth com ing Africa W orl d Pre s s tw o-vol um e col l e ction Se e ds ofNe w H ope : Pan African Pe ace Studie s for th e Tw e ntyFirs tCe ntury (2008, e dite d by J. Atiri and M . M e ye r, s e e w w w .africaw orl dpre s s book s .com ), acade m ics and activis ts h ave com e toge th e r to docum e ntand dis cus s th is burge oning m ove m e nt. Be l ow are s om e e xce rpts from a s e l e ction of e s s ays , w h ich al s o incl ude w ork from W RI’s ow n Jorge n Joh anns e n, Ch e s te rfie l d Sam ba, Jan Van Crie k inge , K ous s e togue K oude , and M arianne Bal l é M oudoubou, as w e l las from Sil via Fe de rici, Yas h Tandon, IPRA’s Be rnade tte M uth ie n, Trans ce nd’s Rais Ne z a Bone z a, Jos e ph Se bare nz i, and El avie Ndura.

Atth e tim e ofth e l ibe ration m ove m e nts , th e re ce rtainl y w as a l otofh ope , ye tth e re w e re al so continue d from page 1 19 60s l e ad to pol iticalinde pe nde nce in 19 75, butw as im m e diate l y fol l ow e d by a civilw ar, th atl as te d until2002. In th is w ar, outs ide actors – aparth e id South Africa, th e USA, and th e Sovie tUnion and Cuba, w h ich s e ntits m il itary to s upportth e M PLA – pl aye d an im portant rol e. ► Eritre a w on inde pe nde nce from Eth iopia afte r de cade s ofarm e d s truggl e by th e EPLF w h ich e nde d in 19 9 1. H ow e ve r, s ince form alinde pe nde nce in 19 9 3, Eritre a h as e m bark e d on a pol icy ofm il itaris ation and h um an righ ts viol ations . Al lEritre an youth – boys and girl s – are s ubje ctto m il itary s e rvice prior to l e aving s ch ool , and pe nal tie s for drafte vas ion or de s e rtion incl ude torture , de ath , im pris onm e nt, and e ve n im pris onm e ntofre l ative s .

Th is l is tcoul d be e xte nde d.

Ve ne z ue l an pre s ide ntH ugo Ch ave z de m ande d in 2005 th atth e W SF ne e ds to “add a s trate gy of pow e r” to its age nda [4]. I don't agre e w ith Ch ave z ve ry ofte n, but h e re I do. Buta s trate gy ofpow e r re q uire s an anal ys is ofpow e r, and in th is anal ys is antim il itaris m diffe rs gre atl y from Ch ave z ' popul is tanti-

th e s e e ds ofth e troubl e s to com e , as l e ade rs re l ie d too h e avil y on th e s am e m e th ods and tactics th atth e col onialrul e rs h ad e m pl oye d. Today, th e re are s til la l otoftroubl e s . Ye t, tim e and tim e again– in conve rs ations w ith gras s roots activis ts , atconfe re nce s w ith profe s s ors and al te rnative e conom is ts , and in th e pre s e ntations containe d in th is vol um e – w e s e e th e s e e ds ofne w h ope . M y ow n h ope s for Africa today ce nte r around th e be l ie fth atw e w il love rcom e th e l im itations th atoccur w h e n pe opl e be com e s e duce d by pow e r.

M y h ope s and e xpe ctations are th at, once again, pe opl e 's m ove m e nts w il lfl ow e r. O nl y in th is w ay w il lw e be abl e to ach ie ve a re alpe opl e 's de m ocracy.

– Pan African e l de r and W W II Cons cie ntious O bje ctor Bil l Suth e rl and African w om e n are pione e ring pe ace initiative s , m ixing in innovative w ays th e l ate s tre s e arch and th e orie s in nonviol e ntconfl ictre s ol ution and traditionalconfl ict-re s ol ution m e ch anis m s . Th e y are ofte n re inte rpre ting th e l atte r, adapting traditions to conte m porary probl e m s and e xpanding w om e n's rol e s . African w om e n pl ay m any rol e s in confl ict: as victim s , as pe rpe trators , and as l e ade rs in pre ve nting, e nding, and h e al ing th e w ounds ofconfl ict. . . African w om e n's pe ace initiative s range from initiating dial ogue be tw e e n e ne m y groups , as in th e unde rground ne tw ork s e s tabl is h e d by w om e n from north e rn and s outh e rn Sudan;to m obil iz ing w h ol e s e ctors ofcom m unitie s to pre ve nt viol e nce , as th e w om e n ofth e W ajir Pe ace Group do in north e rn im pe rial is m .

Pow e r is ce ntral . Pow e r not onl y in th e s e ns e ofpow e r ove r – th e pow e r ofone group ofpe opl e to dom inate anoth e r group ofpe opl e (s tructuralviol e nce ). An unde rs tanding ofpow e r is al s o crucialto figh t pow e r ove r and viol e nce : pow e r w ith as th e pow e r ofpe opl e acting toge th e r in co-ope ration, to ach ie ve th ings th e y w on'tbe abl e to ach ie ve on th e ir ow n;and pow e r to do s om e th ing, bas e d on s k il l s , k now l e dge , conviction. An anal ys is ofpow e r ne e ds to incl ude an anal ys is of th e s tate .

According to Gus tav Landaue r, “th e State is a condition, a ce rtain re l ations h ip be tw e e n h um an be ings , a m ode ofh um an be h aviour;w e de s troy itby contracting oth e r re l ations h ips , by be h aving diffe re ntl y.”

[5] Th is is e ve n m ore im portantfor anti-m il itaris ts . Landaue r puts it q uite bl untl y: "W ar is an actof pow e r, ofm urde r, ofrobbe ry. itis th e s h arpe s tand cl e are s tl ife e xpre s s ion ofth e s tate . Th e s truggl e agains tw ar is a s truggl e agains t th e s tate ;w h oe ve r ge ts invol ve d in pol itics ofth e s tate , e ve n from th e s tandpointofre vol ution, is a party to th e w ar."

Th e W orl d SocialForum and antim il itaris m Th e Ch arte r ofPrincipl e s ofth e

K e nya;to ide ntifying ne w ch al l e nge s to pe ace , s uch as th e w ork on H IV/AIDS and confl ictunde rtak e n by Fe m m e s Africa Sol idarité;to re inte grating ch il d s ol die rs back into civil ian s ocie ty, as done by th e w om e n ofJam ii Ya K upatanis h a in Gul u, Uganda.

Th e y are h e al ing th e w ounds of w ar, as Pro Fe m m e s /Tw e s e H am w e in Rw anda are atte m pting in buil ding Pe ace Vil l age s w h e re H utu and Tuts i w idow s and orph ans rol e m ode ll iving toge th e r. In s o doing, African w om e n are re inte rpre ting tradition and e xpanding th e publ ic s pace for w om e n.

– Inte rnationalFe l l ow s h ip ofRe concil iation office r Sh e l l e y Ande rs on Afte r th e w ar be tw e e n Eritre a and Eth iopia in 19 9 8-2000, w h ich cl aim e d te ns ofth ous ands ofl ive s on both s ide s and m aim e d and dis figure d m any youngs te rs , dis pl ace d th ous ands ofcivil ians , and cons um e d th e nationaltre as ury, th e num be r ofcons cie ntious obje ctors incre as e d. Curre ntl y, th ous ands ofEritre ans obje ctto m il itary s e rvice . Th e y are force d to l e ave Eritre a and l ive in e xil e.

Cons ide rabl e num be rs ofth e m are in Libya, Eth iopia, Sudan, and parts ofEurope s e e k ing pol itical as yl um . In Eritre a, cons cie ntious obje ction is taboo. Cons cie ntious obje ctors are cons ide re d cow ards l ack ing patriotis m . Th e re is no al te rnative civil ian s e rvice . De s e rtion is punis h abl e by up to five ye ars im pris onm e nt, and in w artim e th e punis h m e ntincl ude s th e de ath pe nal ty. Due to its m il itaris tic nature , th e gove rnm e ntdoe s nottol e rate inde pe nde ntNGO s , h um an righ tgroups , inte rnational obs e rve rs , or re porte rs . . . Butw e W orl d SocialForum is ope n to antim il itaris tpe rs pe ctive s , buts uch a pe rs pe ctive is notye tpartofit. Th e Bam ak o appe all ack s any anti-m il itaris tpe rs pe ctive , and th us l e ads in th e w rong dire ction.

Th e anti-gl obal is ation m ove m e nt, th e radicalgay/l e s bian m ove m e nt, th e fe m inis tm ove m e nt, th e anarch is tm ove m e nt, are s om e of th e pl ace s to e xpl ore and buil d ne w re l ations h ips , w h e re w e aim to ove rcom e s tructuraland cul turalviol e nce . Affinity groups , com m unity groups , nonviol e ntdire ctaction, but al s o th e de ve l opm e ntofal te rnative s – s q uats , food-coops , al te rnative h ous ing, e tc – are pl ace s w h e re w e can contractoth e r re l ations h ips , be h ave diffe re ntl y, notw ith th e aim to be com e partofth e s tate , butto dis s ol ve th is form oforganis ing h um an re l ations w h ich is bas e d on (s tructural ) viol e nce , and w h ich cre ate s viol e nce – w ith in s ocie ty and gl obal l y.

In doing s o, w e “w il lincre as e th e capacity for non-viol e nts ocial re s is tance to th e proce s s ofde h um aniz ation”, as th e W orl d Social Forum aim s to do, and l e arn to practice “re alde m ocracy, participatory de m ocracy, pe ace fulre l ations , in e q ual ity and s ol idarity, am ong pe opl e , e th nicitie s , ge nde rs and pe opl e s , and conde m ns al lform s of dom ination and al ls ubje ction of

s e e th atre fus ing m il itary s e rvice pave s th e w ay for pe ace . W e ne e d de m ocracy and th e rul e of l aw . Th e pe opl e ofEritre a are in a pol itical , s ocial , and e conom ic cris is . W e urge ntl y ne e d a h e al th y de m ocratic pol iticalatm os ph e re , a cons titutional l yel e cte d l e ade rs h ip, and a m ul tiparty pol iticals ys te m . Th e re is al s o an urge ntne e d for th e re l e as e ofal lpol iticalpris one rs and cons cie ntious obje ctors . Th e ide as and te ach ings of cons cie ntious obje ction are pacifis tin nature .

Th e y are bas e d on h um anity and m oral ity. W e be l ie ve th atth e y can s tand agains tth e de ce iving, confus ing propaganda ofnational unity and nationals ove re ignty, w h ich are de vas tating and al w ays provocative .

– Eritre an Anti-M il itaris t Initiative co-founde r and CO Yoh anne s K idane Ifpe rh aps pe opl e h ad com e to Africa and h ad s h are d th e re s ource s e q uitabl y, pe rh aps w e w oul d ne ve r h ave h ad th e confl icts th atw e h ave . Butth e y w e re nots h are d e q uitabl y. Anyw h e re in th is w orl d, unl ess we l e arn to s h are re s ource s e q uitabl y w e are notgoing to e njoy pe ace .

Unl ess we l e arn to re s pe ctoth e r pe opl e ’s h um an righ ts – w om e n’s righ ts , e nvironm e ntal righ ts – w e w on’tk now pe ace . W e e ve n go m us tbe yond th atand s ay th atth e re are oth e rs w h o l ive on th is pl ane tbe s ide s us , th e h um an s pe cie s . W e h ave th e oth e r s pe cie s , and th e y too h ave a righ t to be re s pe cte d. O nl y th e n can w e be gin to l ive pe ace ful l y.

– Gre e n Be l tM ove m e nt founde r and 2004 Nobe lPe ace Laure ate W angari M aath ai

one pe rs on by anoth e r.”

In its 19 9 0 s tate m e nt, W RI w rite s : “Th e re m ay be tim e s w h e n its e e m s th atnonviol e nce h as fail e d. H ow e ve r, w e are convince d th at, ifactive nonviol e nce brings re pre s s ion, arm e d s truggl e w il lprovide a pre te xtfor e ve n m ore ruth l e s s re pre s s ion. Ifactive nonviol e nce cannotbring ch ange rapidl y, no oth e r form ofpopul ar re s is tance w il lbring victory in th e s h ortte rm . A ne w s trate gic fram e w ork w il lbe ne e de d, bas e d on buil ding up th e confide nce and coh e s ion ofth e pe opl e th rough activitie s roote d in l ocalcom m unitie s .” [6] W e are convince d th ata pe rs pe ctive ofnonviol e nce and antim il itaris m is crucialfor al ls ocial m ove m e nts e ngage d in th e s ocial forum proce s s .

Andre as Spe ck

Note s : 1 2 3 4 5 6

h ttp://w w w .forum s ocialm undial.org.br /m ain.ph p?id_ m e nu=4& cd_ language =2 h ttp://w w w .ope ns pace forum .ne t/tw ik i /tik i-re ad_ article.ph p?articleId=66 h ttp://w ri-irg.org/s tate m nt/libs trug.h tm h ttp://w w w .ips te rraviva.ne t/TV /W SF2005/vie w s tory.as p?idne w s =170 Gus tav Landaue r, For Socialis m . StLouis , Mis s ouri, 19 78 (Ge rm an: Be rlin 19 11) h ttp://w ri-irg.org/s tate m nt/libs trug.h tm

Th e Brok e n Rifl e No 73, Fe bruary 2007

W orl d SocialForum 2007 – Nairobi, K e nya

CO NGO (DRC) and W ar Prof it e e rs A trage dy forgotte n by th e gl obalpe ace m ove m e nt?

Afte r de cade s ofcol onial is m , dictators h ip and w ars , on 6 De ce m be r 2006, th e De m ocratic Re publ ic ofCongo (DRC) s w ore in its firs t fair and fre e l yel e cte d pre s ide nt s ince inde pe nde nce from Be l gium in 19 60, Jos e ph K abil a.

Th e s ix-ye ar civiland inte rnationalw ar in Congo th ath as k il l ed m ore th an four m il l ion pe opl e and dis pl ace d anoth e r tw o m il l ion m ay h ave ‘official l y’ e nde d, butth e dying h as ce rtainl y not. Eve ry day in Congo, a de adl y com bination of confl ict-re l ate d atrocitie s (in w h ich rape is w ide l y us e d as a w e apon by al lpartie s invol ve d), s tarvation, pove rty and dis e as e k il l s ove r 1,200 pe opl e . Th is confl ictis for s ure one ofth e m os tunde r-re porte d h um an trage die s ofour l ife tim e , ye titis one ofth e m os tl e th als ince W orl d W ar II. De cade s ofunre l e nting viol e nce , pove rty, and dis e as e h ave cre ate d w h atth e Unite d Nations h as cal l e d th e gre ate s t h um anitarian ch al l e nge now facing th e w orl d.

Congo h as a l ong h is tory ofpl unde r and w ar profite e ring. Extre m e l y rich in cobal t, diam onds , coppe r, gol d and oth e r rare m ine ral s , Congo attracte d th e inte re s tofth e Europe an im pe rial is tpow e rs onl y atth e e nd ofth e 19 th ce ntury. Atth e Confe re nce ofBe rl in (1884– 1885) th e th e n Be l gian k ing Le opol d II s ucce e de d in ge tting re cognition for h is cl aim s ove r th is e norm ous te rritory. In h is pe rs onalnam e , th e k ing cre ate d th e s o-cal l e d ‘Congo Fre e State ’, in w h ich a brutale xpl oitation ofw il d rubbe r, ivory and tim be r w ood s tarte d s oon. Itis s aid th at ne arl y h al fofth e popul ation ofth e Congo Bas s in dis appe are d be tw e e n 1880 and 19 20 as a dire ctor indire ctre s ul tofth is ruth l e s s col onialpl unde r.

Congo gaine d inde pe nde nce from Be l gium on 30 June 19 60 unde r pre s ide ntK as avubu and th e ch aris m atic and popul ar prim e m inis te r Patrice Lum um ba. Th e re fol l ow e d a pe riod ofgre atins tabil ity and fore ign m il itary inte rve ntion, incl uding by th e Unite d Nations .

Th e m ine ral -rich province s ofK atanga and South K as ai, w ith th e active s upportofcol onialcom panie s and m e rce narie s , s oon e ve n de cl are d th e ir inde pe nde nce . In 19 65 itw as final l y arm y col one lJos e ph M obutu’s s e cond coup d’e tatth atm ark e d th e be ginning ofa 32 ye ars rul e by a w e s te rn-back e d dictator – h e ch ange d h is ow n nam e to M obutu Se s e Se k o and th atofh is country in Z aire . M obutu and th e e l ite around h im pl unde re d th e nation's w e al th s o de e pl y th atth e corrupt s ys te m be cam e com m onl y k now n as a ‘k l e ptocracy’. Th is s ys te m col l aps e d in M ay 19 9 7 w h e n th e troops ofl ife l ong re be lLaure nt-Dés iré K abil a, Jos e ph ’s fath e r, h e l pe d de pos e th e al re ady te rm inal l y il l M obutu.

L-D ‘M z e e ’ K abil a coul d onl y s e iz e pow e r in Congo w ith th e m as s ive m il itary s upportofRw anda and Uganda and th e us e of ch il d s ol die rs . O n Augus t19 9 8.

Rw anda and Uganda back e d a re be l l ion agains tL-D K abil a's w e ak and corruptgove rnm e nt– a w ar dubbe d “Africa's Firs tW orl d W ar” be caus e ofits s im il aritie s w ith w h at h appe ne d in Europe in 19 14: ne arl y al lth e ne igh bouring countrie s and m any arm e d non-s tate groups

from th e Congo as w e l las from oth e r 'inte rnal ' w ars ofth e Africa Gre atLak e s re gion (Uganda, Rw anda, Burundi, Sudan). Troops m ainl y from Z im babw e , Nam ibia, Ch ad and Angol a s e cure d th e K abil a re gim e ’s s urvival , w h e re as Uganda’s M us e ve ni and Rw anda’s K agam e w e re th e prim ary back e rs ofth e re be l l ion. Rw anda jus tifie d inte rve ntion in Eas te rn DRC by s e curity conce rns ove r Inte rah am w e re be l s bas e d in th atpartofth e country.

Butth e re w e re al s o ve ry im portant e conom ic m otivations be h ind Rw anda’s and Uganda’s actions .

In January 2001, L-D K abil a w as as s as s inate d by h is bodyguards in circum s tance s th at re m ain uncl e ar, l e aving h is s on Jos e ph in pow e r.

Th e w ar bore de s tructive e ffe cts on th e al re ady ve ry w e ak pol iticals tructure s , e s pe cial l y th e de facto divis ion ofth e country be tw e e n th e w e s te rn and s outh e rn parts , control l e d by th e K abil a gove rnm e ntand its al l ie s , and l arge te rritorie s in th e north and th e e as t occupie d by various re be lorganis ations , m il itias and inte rve ning arm ie s from th e ne igh bouring countrie s . Infigh ting and pow e r s truggl e s aboutth e controlofth e m ine ralw e al th w ith in th e re s pe ctive te rritorie s in th e re be lh e l d parts h ave re s ul te d in a h um anitarian catas troph e . Al m os t9 0% of th e w ar victim s are civil ians , m os tl y victim s ofs tarvation, dis e as e and crim inalviol e nce as a re s ul tofth e com pl e te l aw l e s s ne s s . Rape h as be e n w ide l y us e d as a w e apon in th is w ar.

Al th ough a pe ace de als igne d in 2002 unde r South African aus pice s s uppos e dl y e nde d th e ‘conve ntional ’ w ar, figh ting continue s in th e e as tofth e country be tw e e n re be lm il itia, th e Congol e s e arm y and UN M O NUC-force s , caus ing m any civil ian cas ual tie s .

Since th e s tartofth e trans itionalgove rnm e ntin June 2003, arm e d groups l ink e d to ne igh bouring countrie s and corruptCongol e s e gove rnm e ntofficial s h ave continue d il l icite conom ic e xpl oitation in th e country. A th re e -ye ar inve s tigation by a Pane lofExpe rts , conve ne d by th e Unite d Nations Se curity Councilin 2000, found th ats oph is ticate d ne tw ork s ofh igh l e ve lpol itical , m il itary and bus ine s s pe rs ons in cah oots w ith various re be lgroups w e re inte ntional l y fue l l ing th e confl ictin orde r to re tain th e ir controlove r th e country’s naturalre s ource s . In a s e rie s ofcontrove rs ialre ports , th e Pane l e xpos e d th e vicious cycl e ofre s ource -drive n confl ictth ath as tak e n h ol d ofCongo.

“Th e re 's a w orl dw ide profitinte re s tth atth e pre s e ntpl unde ring m e ch anis m s tays in pl ace . Th e re are an e norm ous num be r ofpe opl e s iph oning offCongo's re s ource s . ...

Th e re 's th e Congo gove rnm e nte l ite , al lk inds ofEurope an and North Am e rican firm s , a h uge num be r of African firm s , and e s pe cial l y th e el ite s from ne igh bouring countrie s .

It's a ve ry vas tand com pl e x ne tw ork profiting from th e w ar and its e xpl oitation.”

In its O ctobe r 2002 re port, th e Pane lal s o accus e d doz e ns ofw e s te rn com panie s ofviol ating a s e tof gove rnm e nt-back e d inte rnational s tandards for re s pons ibl e corpo-

rate be h aviour k now n as th e ‘Guide l ine s for M ul tinationalEnte rpris e s ’.

An April2004 re portby RAID (Righ ts & Accountabil ity in De ve l opm e nt), e xam ine d th e UN Pane l ’s al l e gations agains t40 com panie s and incl ude d additionale vide nce atte s ting to th e com panie s ' invol ve m e ntin h um an righ ts viol ations , corruption and/or il l e galre s ource e xpl oitation. M os tO ECD gove rnm e nts re fus e d to inve s tigate th e Pane l ’s al l e gations and in th e face ofth e ir inaction, inte rnational NGO s s tarte d to fil e com pl aints and publ ic aw are ne s s cam paigns unde r th e nam e ‘No Bl ood on m y Ce l lPh one ’, conce rning th e pl unde r ofth e ve ry rare m ine ralcol tan.

Abouta doz e n com pl aints al l e ging viol ations ofth e O ECD ‘Guide l ine s for M ul tinationalEnte rpris e s ’ w e re s ubm itte d to th e Am e rican, Be l gian, Britis h , and Dutch gove rnm e nts .

“Th e gove rnm e ntofth e DRC m us tactprom ptl y on th e re com m e ndations ofa Congol e s e parl iam e ntary inve s tigation th at uncove re d il l e galnaturalre s ource e xpl oitation and profite e ring from arm e d confl ict”, s aid a l e ading group ofinte rnationalh um an righ ts , e nvironm e ntaland aid organis ations in Jul y 2006.

In June 2005 th e Lutundul a Com m is s ion, a s pe cialCongol ese NationalAs s e m bl y com m is s ion l ed by th e courage ous parl iam e ntarian Ch ris toph e Lutundul a, s ubm itte d a re porton its inve s tigations into m ining and oth e r bus ine s s contracts th atre be l s and gove rnm e ntauth oritie s s igne d be tw e e n 19 9 6 and 2003. Itfound th atdoz e ns ofcontracts are e ith e r il l e galor ofl im ite d val ue for th e de ve l opm e ntofth e country and itre com m e nds th e ir te rm ination or re ne gotiation. Itfurth e r re com m e nds judicialaction agains ta num be r ofs e nior pol itical and corporate actors invol ve d in th e s e ope rations . “For ye ars , Congo’s pol iticians h ave s truck de al s th ate nrich th e m s e l ve s butprovide no be ne fitto th e Congol e s e publ ic.

Profits from s uch de al s h ave ofte n com e atth e cos tofe norm ous s uffe ring and l os s ofh um an l ive s ”, s aid th e coal ition ofNGO s .

Th e Lutundul a Com m is s ion re portdraw s atte ntion to th e ongoing il l e gale xpl oitation and

3

Th e Righ tto Re fus e to K il l

re com m e nds an im m e diate m oratorium on th e s igning ofne w contracts untilafte r th e e l e ctions .

W h il e carrying outth e inve s tigation, s om e m e m be rs ofth e com m is s ion w e re th re ate ne d and th e y found pol iticians , official s , and com pany e xe cutive s unw il l ing to ans w e r q ue s tions . O fficial s from th e Unite d Nations and th e Be l gian Se nate , both ofw h ich h ad inve s tigate d naturalre s ource e xtraction in th e Congo be tw e e n 2000 and 2003, w ith h e l d im portantinform ation re garding s om e ofth e il l e gal de al s , citing conce rns ove r confide ntial ity.

In its re port, th e com m is s ion corroborate s th e ce ntralfindings of th e UN Pane lofExpe rts and oth e r inve s tigations , w h ich concl ude d th atbe l l ige re nts w e re m otivate d by th e ir de s ire to e xpl oitCongo’s m ine raland e conom ic w e al th . Be l l ige re nts us e d s om e ofth e ir profits to finance furth e r m il itary ope rations th atofte n invol ve d w ide s pre ad h um an righ ts abus e s agains tcivil ians and viol ations of inte rnationalh um anitarian l aw .

“Th e m e s s age ofw ar and trans ition in Congo is th atviol e nce w ork s . W ith outa firm re s pons e , th e de s tructive e ffe cts ofth is l e s s on are ve ry l ik e l y to be fe l tfor a l ong tim e to com e ”, e xpl ains Tim oth y Rae ym ae k e rs , a re s e arch e r w ork ing for th e Unive rs ity ofGh e nt ‘Confl ictRe s e arch Group’. Th e auth or s e e s opportunitie s in im proving th e l iving conditions ofth e Congol e s e popul ation by counte ring th e s ys te m atic e xpl oitation of Congo’s re s ource s by a s m al lbut pow e rfule l ite . Th e y give concre te re com m e ndations in th e fie l d of agricul turalre form , th e m ining s e ctor and e conom ic inte gration.

Pl unde ring from il l e galm ining by gove rnm e ntofficial s and th e irre gul ar m il itias h as be e n running into bil l ions a ye ar. "Th is is m one y th at m us tbe us e d for th e be ne fitofth e Congol e s e pe opl e ".

Jan van Crie k inge Al onge r ve rs ion w ith s ource s h as be e n publ is h e d in W RI's w arprofite e rs -ne w s e m ail ne w s l e tte r, avail abl e at h ttp://w ri-irg.org/pubs /w arprof-0612.h tm

Since th e founding ofW ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnationalin 19 21, th e righ tto re fus e to k il l– cons cie ntious obje ction – h as be e n atth e core ofW RI's w ork .

Al th ough th is righ tto today re cognis e d as an inte rnational s tandard, itis in practice ofte n notgrante d, and th os e w h o cl aim th e ir righ tare th row n into pris on, or w ors e (s e e for e xam pl e th e articl e on Eritre a in th is Brok e n Rifl e ).

W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnational s upports cons cie ntious obje ctors and de s e rte rs w h e re ve r th e y are . Th e focus of th e w ork is s upportung groups and m ove m e nts ofobje ctors in th e ir s truggl e for th e re cognition ofth e ir righ t. Inte rnational Cons cie ntious O bje ctors ' Day – 15 M ay – is us e d e ve ry ye ar to h igh l igh ta particul ar s truggl e . In 2007, th e focus is on cons cie ntious obje ctors in Col om bia.

In addition, W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnationalm aintains an e m ail al e rts ys te m (co-al e rt) in cas e s ofim pris onm e ntor arre s tofa cons cie ntious obje ctor.

Inte rnationals ol idarity and prote s tcan h e l p to prote cta cons cie ntious obje ctor in pris on, and in s om e cas e s facil itate th e ir re l e as e .

W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnational 's w ork for th e righ t to cons cie ntious obje ction is cl os e l yl ink e d to our antim il itaris t pe rs pe ctive : to figh tagains tw ar and th e caus e s ofw ar. For W RI, cons cie ntious obje ction is not aboutindividual s be ing e xe m pte d from m il itary s e rvice , butaboutfurth e ring th e antim il itaris tcaus e to abol is h w ar and m il itaris m . In th is , th e righ tto cons cie ntious obje ction is a tool , butnotan e nd in its e l f.

W RI's Righ tto Re fus e to K il l program m e publ is h e d a m onth l y e -ne w s l e tte r in Engl is h , Fre nch , and Spanis h , w ith update s on cons cie ntious obje ction and m il itary s e rvice . M ore inform ation is avail abl e at h ttp://w ri-irg.org/co/rrk -e n.h tm .

Ifyou h ave any q ue s tions , pl e as e contactth e W RI office at info@ w ri-irg.org.

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W orl d SocialForum 2007 – Nairobi, K e nya

Th e Brok e n Rifl e No 73, Fe bruary 2007

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Nam e : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Addre s s : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _________________________________________________ Date : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Signature : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Re m ains ofth e tw o ye ar w ar be tw e e n Eth iopia and Eritre a atpoint44 ofth e te m porary s e curity z one , M arch 2003, UNM EE Ph oto/J.Aram buru

I s it rans om or f ine ?

An oddity ofl e galprincipl e in Eritre a Th ous ands ofyoung m e n and w om e n fl e d Eritre a and s ough t as yl um in ne igh bouring countrie s l ik e Th e Sudan, Libya, Eth iopia and oth e r countrie s in Europe and th e Unite d State s . Th is e ve n incre as e d afte r Eritre a's w ar w ith Eth iopia from 19 9 8 to 2000 and th e ope n re pre s s ive acts ofth e pre s e ntgove rnm e ntin Eritre a.

Such m as s ive running aw ay ofyoung m e n and w om e n is part ofan e ffortto avoid cons cription or ne ce s s ary afte r de s e rting from th e arm y. According to a procl aim e d re gul ation, nationals e rvice , com pul s ory for al lm e n and w om e n age d be tw e e n 18 and 40, h as be e n e xte nde d inde finite l y from th e original18 m onth te rm ins titute d in 19 9 4. Be s ide s e xce s s ive viol ations ofth e h um an righ t ofdrafte e s , nationals e rvice cons is ts ofm il itary s e rvice and l abour on arm y-re l ate d cons truction proje cts .

Th e righ tto cons cie ntious obje ction to m il itary s e rvice is notre cognis e d by th e Eritre an auth oritie s . Th e re are fre q ue nt round-ups to catch e vade rs and de s e rte rs . O nce in th e h ands of

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th e arm y, th e de s e rte rs face inde finite arbitrary de te ntion, torture , il l tre atm e ntor attim e s s h ooting by th e ir com m ande rs . Th os e are re gul arl y us e d m e th ods ofpunis h m e nts for drafte vas ion, de s e rtion and oth e r m il itary offe nce s in th e Eritre an de fe nce force . H ow e ve r, none ofth e s e m e as ure s s toppe d th e de s e rtion and e vas ion of th os e m e n and w om e n from th e m il itary.

Th e l ate s tm e as ure th atth e gove rnm e ntappl ie d is th e de te ntion ofpare nts ofde s e rte rs and e vade rs as a h os tage s , and to obl ige th e m to pay m one y. For a gove rnm e ntw h ich de pe nds for its h ard curre ncy m ainl y on re m ittance , s uch m e as ure s s e e m to be l ucrative . Butth e h ard factis th at m os tofth e e vade rs h ave no ch ance to re ach countrie s w h e re th e y w oul d be abl e to s e nd back th e rans om m one y to facil itate th e re l e as e th e ir de taine d pare nts .

Th e m ajority ofth e e vade rs are s taying in ne igh bouring countrie s l ik e Sudan and Eth iopia, s trande d in re fuge e cam ps , and are de pe ndantfor th e ir l ive l ih ood on inte rnationalh um anitarian and re fuge e as s is tance organis ations .

According to Am ne s ty Inte rnational ’s ne w s s e rvice No. 329 , th e Eritre an gove rnm e ntin De ce m be r 2006 arre s te d ove r 500 re l ative s , m os tl y pare nts , ofyoung m e n and w om e n w h o h ave e ith e r de s e rte d th e arm y or avoide d cons cription.

Th os e arre s te d w e re th e fath e rs , m oth e rs or oth e r re l ative s ofm e n or w om e n ove r th e age of18 w h o h ave e ith e r fail e d to re portfor nationals e rvice s ince 19 9 4, fail e d to atte nd th e com pul s ory final s ch oolye ar atSaw a m il itary training cam p, abandone d th e ir arm y unit, or l e ftth e country il l e gal l y.

Th e re l ative s h ave be e n accus e d offacil itating th e ir e vas ion ofcons cription or fl igh tabroad.

Th e l ate s tarre s ts h ave tak e n pl ace in th e vil l age s ofCe ntralRe gion s urrounding As m ara, th e capitalcity, in a s w e e p th ats tarte d on 6 De ce m be r 2006. Eve r s ince itins titute d its pol icy ofarre s ting pare nts for th e al l e ge d crim e s ofth e ir ch il dre n, th e gove rnm e nth as be e n re l ying on th e re ports ofth e l ocal(z oba) office s to conductits

raids .

None ofth os e arre s te d h as be e n ch arge d w ith a form alcrim inaloffe nce or tak e n to courtw ith in th e 48 h ours s tipul ate d by th e Cons titution and l aw s ofEritre a.

Th e auth oritie s h ave s tate d th at th e de taine e s m us te ith e r produce th e m is s ing cons cripts or pay a fine of50,000 nafk a (approxim ate l y US$1,200) for e ach m is s ing ch il d. Ifth e y re fus e to com pl y or pay th e m one y, th e y face inde finite pris on te rm s .

Som e fam il ie s coul d be obl ige d to pay for tw o or th re e ofth e ir m is s ing ch il dre n.

Sim il arl y, in Jul y 2005 s e ve ral h undre d re l ative s ofpe opl e wh o h ave e vade d or de s e rte d from m il itary cons cription w e re de taine d in th e South e rn re gion ofEritre a (De bub Re gion). Th e y w e re h e l d incom m unicado, m any in h ars h conditions , and w e re atris k oftorture or il l -tre atm e nt.

Th e Eritre an Antim il itary Initiative h as be e n de nouncing th e unl aw fularre s tofpare nts ofth e m il itary e vade rs . O ur initiative be l ie fs th atth e principl e ofindividual pe nalre s pons ibil ity, th atno one m ay be pe nal is e d for an actfor w h ich th e y are notpe rs onal l yl iabl e , is a fundam e ntalprincipl e of l aw w h ich is re fl e cte d th rough out inte rnationalh um an righ ts l aw .

Th e s e arre s ts ofpare nts ofm il itary e vade rs viol ate th is principl e, and s pe cifical l y th e righ tto l ibe rty and s e curity ofth e pe rs on and th e righ tnotto be s ubje cte d to arbitrary arre s tor de te ntion containe d in th e Inte rnational Cove nanton Civiland Pol itical Righ ts (ICCPR) and th e African Ch arte r on H um an and Pe opl es Righ ts , to w h ich Eritre a is a party.

Abrah am G. M e h re te ab Eritre an Antim il itary Initiative M üh l gas s e 13, 60486 Frank furt/M ain, Ge rm any h ttp://w w w .e ritre an-ai.com