In this time of crisis, I hope you will forgive me for posting here something
that probably belongs on another list. I've been trying to push forward
a proposed non-violent solution to the Kosovo problem. I don't like
the idea of NATO attacks on Serbia, and so I've come up with another
idea that just might work. I'd consider it a great personal favour if
you read this, give me your comments, and perhaps most important,
please FORWARD it to someone who might take it seriously.
Briefly, what I'm suggesting is that a very different ultimatum should
be given to the Serbs: Stop Killing or We Recognize Kosovo as
Independent.
It is a matter of principle: Nations do NOT shell their own county --
so if the Serbs continue shelling Kosovo villages it PROVES that Kosovo
is NOT a part of Yugoslavia, and the world community should therefore
recognize Kosovo.
I am NOT suggesting we recognize Kosovo now, I am saying we give them
that ultimatum, with a very short deadline. Mr. Milosevic surely does
not want the world to recognize Kosovo independence, so I am sure he
will back off.
Here's my suggested wording for the ultimatum -- I've tried to be
as diplomatic as possible:
We of the west take Mr. Milosevic at his word and understand that
Yugoslavia has a problem with terrorists. We offer our assistance
in bringing them to justice. Terrorism is unacceptable and the
whole world should help to stop it.
Of course the peaceful people of Yugoslavia want to avoid any
property damage or the loss of any innocent civilian lives, and
that is something we can help with. We have police trained in
the fine art of catching criminals without harming the innocent,
and can share that expertise with the Yugoslavian police.
If it is necessary to temporarily evacuate a region as part of this
police effort, we can help provide the evacuated citizens with food,
shelter, safety, and can provide Yugoslavia financial aid towards
some form of compensation for property damage.
It seems that some poorly disciplined people in the Yugoslavian
military have gotten involved in this matter and have committed
some acts of violence themselves, which has resulted in innocent
people being killed, and much property damage. Obviously these
soldiers have forgotten that Kosovo is part of Yugoslavia, because
we all know that a nation does not shell or bomb its own citizens.
Of course the situation would be different if Kosovo was not part
of Yugoslavia, in which case the Yugoslav government might
"legally" declare war on Kosovo and send soldiers to defend their
homeland. Unfortunately many countries in the west know the
English proverb that "Actions speak louder than words" and have
taken the irresponsible actions of a few Serbian soldiers as
a declaration that Kosovo is indeed a separate country -- and some
of these countries want to take the Kosovo side in what they now see
as a war between nations.
That would be a terrible mistake, so it is imperative that
Mr. Milosevice immediately take control of his forces, stop the
shelling of villages, and discipline those responsible for the
deaths of innocent civilians. If he does not do so it may be
difficult for us to restrain those in the west who think the
shelling of villages as proof that Kosovo is an independent
country in need of help. Some of us even talk of giving Kosovo
a seat on the UN and all the financial and military aid it might
need. That can all be avoided if Mr. Milosevic quickly takes
control of his forces and limits them to the strict rules of
civilian police.
I first thought this up when the Russians were attacking Chechnya and
I'd also suggest it applies to Kurdish regions of Iraq and Turkey.
I believe this is a PRINCIPLE that should be enshrined in International
Law, and should always come as an ultimatum to any country that
over-reacts to what they call terrorism.
I propose this as a "carrot and stick" approach: the carrot is
police aid to help catch terrorists using the moderate careful methods
of civilized countries, the stick is recognition of Kosovo as an
independent country.
I am very serious about this and want peole to take it seriously.
In fact, I think we should get the process started -- get the people in
Kosovo to pick out a UN ambassador, reserve them a specific seat at the
UN General Assembly, write up a grand declaration of Kosovo independence,
hire a band to play the Kosovo national anthem, and finally say that
this will all go into effect on a certain day and hour unless the Serbs
stop their attacks.
That's the "stick", and the "carrot" should be gotten ready too: we should
prepare an assortment of neutral international law-enforcement people
and specialists in terrorism to go into Yugoslavia (including Kosovo)
to help the Serb police find and arrest the people he says are terrorists,
who should be tried in an international court, to ensure them a fair trial.
That may not be a very tasty carrot, but it is something Mr. Milosevic
says he wants -- Kosovo stays in Yugoslavia, and the terrorism will
stop.
Some of you may have gotten so angry at Serbian aggression that you
look forward to NATO military action, but I'm sure that military
action will cause deaths, which the Serbs will call martyrs. That
will make things worse. Killing doesn't help, it makes things worse.
But what I am suggesting won't kill anybody and will stop the Serbian
aggression.
This will work. It will bring a halt to the killing, or most of it.
Mr. Milosevic does not want Kosovo recognized as an independent country,
so he will go along with the deal. Then later, in peace, we can work
out a genuine solution to the problem. Genuine solutions don't come
at times of war, they come from times of peace. We CAN work out a
compromise to please both sides, but not while the bullets are flying.
Again I ask you: PLEASE read, comment, and FORWARD this to others for
their reaction. I truly believe it is a good idea, and that it should
at least be discussed -- even if I am wrong about it, it is an idea
that should be considered.
dpw
Douglas P. Wilson [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.island.net/~dpwilson/index.html
http://www.SocialTechnology.org/index.html
