UNPO NEW
COMMON VISION
Democracy as a Fundamental Human Right
Gandhian Nonviolent Civil Resistance as a Tool
Autonomy, Federalism, and Self-Determination
Marino Busdachin Re-Elected as Secretary General
IX UNPO General Assembly
Gandhian Nonviolent Civil Resistance
Regional Autonomies and Federalism in the Context of Internal Self-Determination
European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium
16 – 17 May 2008
The IX UNPO General Assembly was organised at the European Parliament with full attendance of UNPO Members and delegates from all over the world. After two days of discussing the new political common vision of the organization, it was decided to profoundly restructure the Preamble of the Covenant of the organisation, the political driving force of UNPO.
The path to put UNPO and its Member’s central to the international political arena was essential. This document represents a milestone and major change in UNPO history since its foundation in 1991.
The work of the General Assembly has been introduced by Member of the European Parliament and leader of the Nonviolent Radical Party Mr. Marco Pannella. Furthermore two substantial reports on Gandhian nonviolent civil resistance and diverse forms of regional autonomy and federalism were presented. These reports by Ledum Mitee Esq., President of the UNPO General Assembly, and Mr. van Walt van Praag, provided background information on the concepts, including references to key thematic research.
These reports were the prelude to a substantial discussion on the broad sense of the concept of self-determination, resolving to address and fully consider the right of self-determination, ranging from autonomy, devolution, power sharing and federalism. Such a process of self-determination is not, however, unilateral. It is therefore essential to remain in dialogue and push for continued negotiations to resolve the issue in a multilateral context.
The report delivered by Ledum Mitee Esq. entitled ‘Gandhian Nonviolent Civil Resistance’ can be downloaded by clicking here (PDF format, 49kb). To download a copy of the report given by Mr. Van Walt Van Praag on the topic of ‘Regional Autonomies and Federalism in the Context of Internal Self-Determination’, please click here (PDF format, 57kb).
The topics of climate change, potable water and food shortages will have immeasurable devastating effects on the stability in the world today.
The General Assembly resolved to elect Ledum Mitee Esq., leader of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People in Nigeria as the President of the UNPO, and Ms. Maysing Yang, Vice Minister of Oversees Compatriot Affairs Commission of Taiwan as its Vice President. The convention further elected Senator Marco Perduca, member of the Italian Senate for the Democratic Party as Treasurer to the organization. Mr. Marino Busdachin was re-elected for a term of three years as Secretary General by unanimous vote.
Furthermore elections for the UNPO Presidency had the following result; Abkhazia (Mr. Maxim Gunjia), Crimean Tartars (Mr. Abduraman Egiz), East Turkestan (Mr. Dolkun Isa), Khmer Krom (Mr. Thach Thach), Mapuche (Mr. Reynaldo Mariqueo), Montagnards (Mr. Kok Ksor), Sindh (Ms. Humaira Rahman), Somaliland (Mr. Mohamoud Daar), Southern Cameroons (Mr. Nfor Ngala Nfor), Tibet (Mr. Ngawang Choephel), West-Balochistan (Mr. Abdullah Jahmalzi), and Zanzibar (Mr. Seif Sharif Hamad).
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