PressInfo

The Milosevic-West symbiosis In handling the Balkan crisis the last ten years, the United States and European countries could have chosen a pro-active policy based on conflict analysis and a fair, principled implementation. They could have avoided today’s intellectual, political and moral cul-de-sac and avoided the bombing last year. They would not be de facto protectors of Bosnia and occupiers of Kosovo/a. Most Western actors grossly underestimated the complexities of the Balkans, they were occupied with the end of the Cold War, they chose to perceive it all in simplified black-and-white terms. They never acted to only help the parties solve their problems, but were guided by their own more or less nationalist, competing interests in the Balkans. And then, above all, there was the “Milosevic factor.” The West is cosmologically burdened with a tendency to write simplifying, fail-safe recipes for the solution of extremely complex economic, constitutional, historical and...

We are proud to launch TNN, the TFF News Navigator. The Internet permits us to develop a global rather than national focus, to reduce the Western biases of a handful of media conglomerates and to say “no thanks” to standardized and simplified “truths” about matters complicated. TFF’s News Navigator is your tool – a uniquely comprehensive collection of more than 350 links to world news and comments: newspapers, info services, (mega)sites and bureaus as well as magazines of culture, security, alternative economics, media research – and news departments of major international organizations. It gives you access to Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Hindu and many other sources and perspectives on what happens. TNN is remarkably broad but not so big that you get lost – with all links on one page. There are other meta sites with news. But TNN is unique because of its: – choice and combination of alternative &...

Western politicians insist that Slobodan Milosevic must be brought to the Hague Tribunal and stand trial as a war criminal. Media and commentators raise the issue time and again. But there are reasons to believe that this is make-believe. The indictment of Milosevic leaves much to be explained – for instance, why he is indicted only for crimes committed in 1999 but not before – and certain Western countries would hardly want him to be on record in the Hague with a few things that he may know about them. The West would therefore do wise to drop this issue now and let Yugoslavia deal with Milosevic. It seems that few have bothered to read the text of the indictment of Milosevic and four other high-level government officials of Thursday May 27, 1999. Among other things it states: “As pointed out by Justice Arbour in her application to Judge Hunt,...

Milosevic certainly did not even think the thought. The opposition had hoped for it but hardly foreseen it would happened just like that. Western leaders and commentators had predicted about everything else but this: that nonviolence by the many would sweep away the authoritarian power presided over and solidified by Slobodan Milosevic over 13 years. It was a miracle unfolding, minute by minute, in front of our eyes. Unarmed citizens were stronger, finally, than Milosevic’ force. They also achieved in about 24 hours what NATO violence could not achieve in 78 days. It’s yet another remarkable victory for non-violence. But do we see it like that? The power of nonviolence The Shah of Iran lost power mainly due to nonviolent struggle. The Marcos regime in the Philippines did too. Solidarnosc in Poland would not had won had it used violence. The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia is yet another. The East-West...

Svenska Utrikesdepartementet (UD) beslöt vid årsskiftet att dra in sitt organisationsbidrag till TFF för år 2000, utan förvarning, motivering eller dokumentation men med omedelbar verkan. Vi har blivit upplysta om att vi kan söka organisationsbidrag för år 2001, och det kommer vi att göra; fristen är 15 september och UD brukar besluta om bidrag i december. Vi ber Dig därför om att skriva på detta upprop NU så vi kan bifoga Din namnteckning, alla andras samt kopior på de personligt formulerade brev vi redan har fått under året. Vi tror det kommer att verka mest möjligt övertygande på departementet. Återupprättaorganisationsstödettill TFF ” Jag känner till en eller flera av TFF:s verksamheter, dess PressInfos, website, TFF WIRE, stiftelsens undervisare och föredragshållare, dess arbete i det forna Jugoslavien, i Kaukasus eller i Burundi. Förebyggande diplomati, konfliktlösning, fredsbyggande och försoning, som är centrala teman i stiftelsens program, är nu högt prioriterade på mänsklighetens agenda. Forskning,...

The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs withdrew organizational support for TFF for the year 2000, without prior consultation, motivation or documentation but with immediate effect. (Background) We will apply again for the year 2001 and beyond. Swedish NGOs must apply to the Ministry for annual organizational grants by September 15. The Ministry usually decides who to support in November or early December. Therefore, please sign this NOW so we can include YOUR signature together with all the support letters we already have received with our application. That is likely to exert maximum pressure on the Ministry. Restore Support to TFF “I am familiar with one or more aspects of TFF’s work, either its PressInfos, its website, TFF WIRE, its member’s training and lecturing efforts or its work on the ground in ex-Yugoslavia, in the Caucasus or in Burundi. Preventive diplomacy, conflict-resolution, peacebuilding and reconciliation which are central in the foundation’s program have...

NIFF – a New Nordic Institute for Peace Research At a meeting in Stocken, Sweden, on the 24th of July, of Johan and Fumi Galtung, Kai Frithjof and Denisa Jacobsen, Ola and Erni Friholt, Jan Oberg, and Jorgen Johansen, TRANSCEND, TFF, and the ICL/Praxis for Peace agreed to cooperate on the joint launching of the New/Nordic Institute for Peace Research (NIFF according to the Scandinavian abbreviation, with N standing for both New and Nordic). Similar initiatives are also being launched by TRANSCEND and the ICL in Canada and Romania (see next months TRANSCEND circular). The aim of the institute is: – to re-launch peace research in the Nordic countries. The aim of NIFF is to promote the highest quality of research, building upon the TRANSCEND approach of Diagnosis – Prognosis – Therapy, combining clear and powerful critique with creative suggestions for what can be done. As such, it is open to all members...

Participants at a seminar in Ohrid, May 2000 Visit our website training section TFF is also a Peace Training Network. The foundation collaborates with a series of institutions, universities and other NGOs and exchange educators to serve the needs of our clients. Clients have been people in war-torn regions, journalists, NGOs, teachers, youth, former soldiers, human rights activists, UN staff and concerned citizens of all walks of life. The network of TFF trainers and those of the organisations we interact with covers some twenty themes relevant to peace, development, conflict, reconciliation and global conflict-management. Several of our trainers have 20-30 years of experience in public speaking combined with academia, journalism, conflict-resolution, psychology and other relevant themes. So – think of TFF when you think of education and practical skills training. Learn more about what we can do for and with you at our new training section at our website Tell us what...

We are really moved by all the support letters we have received in response to PressInfo 94. To those who worry: we will not close down. TFF means too much to too many, we know that. The transition period will be tough. We will find ways to fly in the future… Most ask what they can do to help us now the Ministry of Foreign has withdrawn its support. We think the best you can do to help TFF is to: 1. MAKE A DONATION We serve people who want to practise non-violent conflict-resolution. We help people in conflicts and war. Our dream has always been to be as people-financed as possible. You can help us by making a donation. If 350 people each donate 100 US$ – or 1500 donate 25 US$ – you have replaced the ministry’s grant! Tell others! Go straight to: http://www.transnational.org/tff/friendfm.html or click the cash register on:...

Under nio år har TFF av UD tilldelats ett årligt organisationsstöd. I år fråntogs stiftelsen detta stöd med omedelbar verkan och utan förvarning eller motivering. Syftet tycks vara att tysta en oberoende, kritisk stämma inom internationell konflikthantering. TFF, Transnationella Stiftelsen för Freds- och Framtidsforskning i Lund, är Sveriges enda icke-statliga center för freds- och säkerhetsforskning. Stiftelsen är den enda inom sektorn forskning och upplysning, som helt berövats bidrag. Sedan 1991 har TFF byggt upp en internationellt ledande kompetens särskilt vad angår Balkans konflikter. I en tid när Sveriges engagemang på Balkan är större än någonsin, med en svensk bataljon i Kosovo/a och stora biståndsinsatser till främst Kosovo/a och Bosnien, borde ett oberoende forskningscenter som TFF snarare ges ökat grundstöd för att bidra till en fördjupad syn på möjligheter och problem då det gäller freds- och försoningsarbete. Organisationsbidrag ges för att skapa kontinuitet och bred debatt om internationella frågor. TFF:s är...

For the past nine years, TFF has received an annual organisational grant from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This year, however, the Ministry has withdrawn this support with immediate effect and without prior consultation or explanation. The aim seems to be to silence an independent, critical voice in the field of international conflict management. TFF is the only non-governmental centre of peace and security research in Sweden. It is also the only one in the field of research and information whose funding has been cut to zero. Since 1991 TFF has built an internationally respected competence, with particular regard to the Balkans. In a period when Sweden’s engagement in the Balkans is larger than ever, with a Swedish battalion in Kosovo/a and considerable aid programs to that province as well as to Bosnia and the Stability Pact, one would believe that an organisation such as TFF would have its grant...

Photos © TFF 2000 Read PressInfo 90 “Lift the Sanctions and Bring More Aid to Yugoslavia” See Pictures of the Humanitarian Situation in Serbia © TFF 2000 Please reprint, copy, archive, quote or re-post this item, but please retain the source.