2010 no.2 £3.00 (free to members)

SHIRLEY WILLIAMS TENDING THE GARDEN LECTURE CONTENTS EVENTS

14th September Executive 7.00pm NLC Letter from the Chairman 3

18th–22nd Lib Dem Autumn Conference, Liverpool. Election Results LI(GB) AGM 2010 September The 2010 General Election and its Implications 4 14th-15th ELDR Congress, Helsinki October The Democrats Dilemma 6

15th-17th Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru/Welsh Burma’s Electoral framework 7 October Liberal Democrats' Autumn Conference 2010 Castle of Brecon Hotel, Brecon Liberal Democrats Autumn Conference... The International Bits... 8

13th-14th LI Executive Cape Town at Liverpool November Sudan How the West lost the South 10 3rd-4th Scottish Liberal Democrats Conference, Perth. March 2011 LIBG fringe meeting – Sir Menzies Afghanistan Forum 11 Campbell on Afghanistan. Annual General Meeting 12 Spring 2011 LI Congress Panama? News from Scotland 13

Moeders voor Vrede

Ronnie Fraser

For bookings & other information please contact the Treasurer leader convicted for involvement in demonstration below. NLC= ,Whitehall Place, LI supports the Catalan nation, says Secretary General SW1A 2HE Underground: Embankment Zille vows to fight Information Bill 14

Reviews;

The Struggle for Tibet by Wang Lixiong and Tsering Shakya

Czechoslovakia, the state that failed, by Mary Heimann

The Cartoons that Shook the World, by Jytte Klausen 15

Understanding the politics of heritage, edited by Rodney Harrison

Liberal International (British Group) ALDE and MEP’s call for a prompt response to Pakistan disaster 16 Treasurer:Wendy Kyrle-Pope, 1 Brook Gardens, Barnes, London SW13 0LY Equatorial Guinea’s opposition condemns executions email [email protected] Garden Party InterLiB is published by the Liberal International (British Group). Views expressed therein are those of the authors and are not necessarily the views of LI(BG), LI or any of its constituent parties.

Comments and articles can be sent to Lockhart & Hastings, Creative Media Centre, 17 & 45 Robertson Street, Hastings TN34 1EA email [email protected]

2 Interlib 09 2010 Letter from the Chairman

his summer has been busy with a raft We also plan to engage more actively in of LIBG events, including the Annual political campaigns, whether lobbying the TTim Garden Lecture given by Shirley British government about Trident renewal Williams, a Forum on Afghanistan and a or embassies of third countries about garden party courtesy of Barbara and human rights and other international issues Robert Woodthorpe-Browne. Elsewhere where we believe we can make a difference. events were developing at a rather faster Within the LIBG Exec there have also pace. been several changes over the summer. The political landscape in the UK has succeeded changed dramatically since the last edition as President, as Malcolm had served the of InterLIB went to press. Following just maximum three year term. Moira Brett and five days of post-election negotiations (very Ahmad Mallick stepped down as short by international standards – Australia, Membership Treasurer and Treasurer to be currently engaged in its own coalition dis- replaced by Adrian Trett and Wendy Kyrle- cussions has taken far longer to form a gov- Pope respectively, while David Griffiths ernment, while The Netherlands frequently stepped down as Vice-President after endured protracted coalition negotiations) decades of dedicated work with both LIBG the Liberal Democrats found themselves in and Liberal International in a range of dif- a coalition government with the ferent roles. I would like to think them, Conservatives. As Deputy Prime Minister, and everyone else who has not returned to has an important international the Executive, most warmly for everything as well as domestic role, with a particular they have done for LIBG over the years. focus on one emerging power: China. We really are grateful to all of them for Meanwhile, Jeremy Browne MP has their sterling efforts. become a Minister of State in the Foreign Like all voluntary organisations, LIBG work, or topics you would like to see debat- and Commonwealth Office and while there really does rely on the commitment of indi- ed – or better still might prove to be a use- is no Lib Dem in the Department for viduals. There are still some spaces on the ful campaigning issue - do let us know. International Development, outgoing LIBG Executive, so if you think you might like to A full schedule events plus a Conference President Malcolm Bruce MP is Chair of get more involved, please don’t hesitate to update will be sent out in the next few the important International Development contact me. weeks; highlights are likely to include meet- Committee in the House of Commons. We are currently planning our events ing discussion Trident replacement and the These domestic political changes will diary for the year. The aim will be to have role of the Commonwealth in the 21st undoubtedly have important ramifications monthly events through working other like- Century. internationally. Over the coming months minded groups, including the Lib Dem I hope to see many of you at Conference LIBG will seek both to keep members Friends of India and the Ethnic Minority or one of our forthcoming events. briefed about important aspects of British Liberal Democrats. If you have any sugges- foreign policy and to help affect that policy. tions for other groups with which we might With best wishes, Julie Smith

ELECTION RESULTS LI(GB) AGM 2010

President: Members of the Executive: Treasurers: Secretaries: Simon Hughes MP Dr Phil Bennion Hon.Treasurer: General Secretaries: Barbara Emerson Wendy Kyrle-Pope Dirk Hazell/Wendy Kyrle- Vice Presidents: Julie Smith Hon. Membership Secretary Pope John Melling, Mark Smulian Adrian Trett Admin Secretary: Robert Woodthorpe- Anneleise Waugh Dirk Hazell Browne Allan Siau Ming Witherick Adrian Trett Editor of Interlib: Chair: Dirk Hazell Stewart Rayment Dr Julie Smith J.E. C.Asquith Vaudev Patel

Interlib 09 2010 3 The 2010 General Election and its Implications :

ir Marshal Lord Garden, whom we all knew as Tim, was an outstanding defence strategist, thinker and public servant. In Aall three roles he flew high. Such was his ability as a pilot that he was able to range from bombers to helicopters, and from practicing to instructing, in his illustrious RAF career. He was also a thinker, a man who contributed ideas well beyond the requirements of his responsibilities as a senior military officer. He took a postgrad- uate degree in international relations at Magdalene College, Cambridge, in the early 1980s. It was his wider understanding of the world in which military power operates that made him such an effective director of defence studies for the RAF,a visiting professor at Kings College London, and an outstanding commander of the Royal College of Defence Studies. I lectured there on several occa- sions to an impressively international audience of senior officers and civilians, potential members of a mutually respectful and close net- work that stretched to many countries.Tim, outgoing, informal, never constrained by rank or pomposity, moved easily among them making friends. Tim understood better than most of us that defence strategy had to take account of a dramatically changing world, in which traditional Cold War assumptions about relative influence and power no longer held good. His analyses and conclusions were grounded in thorough study of the facts, and in respect for truth, however uncomfortable. His moral courage was as unfailing as was his courtesy. Tim recognised the limitations of national power in this new world.That was one of the reasons for his early interest in European security. He supported closer cooperation in procurement and on peacekeeping operations with other EU countries, although those still remain far from fully realised. His work was recognised by the award to him by President Chirac of the Legion d'honneur. It was Tim’s commitment to European integration that made the Liberal Democrats the obvious party for him; both he and his wife Sue begin to reflect this transformation in relative power – and it is were committed and active members, she standing as a Parliamentary always worth remembering that with power goes responsibility.The candidate for Finchley in the 2005 General Election, he becoming failure to alter our institutional structures has left the Great Powers the Party’s defence spokesman in the after his eleva- of 1945 with a much resented leadership role, but also with dispro- tion to the peerage in 2004, just in time to make a searing critique portionate responsibility for maintaining order and the rule of law. I of the UK’s involvement in what he called “the rush to war” in Iraq. can sum this up quickly.The permanent members of the United Would Tim have been an enthusiastic supporter of the coalition? Nations Security Council are exactly the same as they were in 1946. Incapable of self-deception, or indeed of deception of any kind, he A combined effort in September 2004 by the strongest candidates would undoubtedly have recognised the scale of the economic chal- for permanent places on the Security Council, India, Brazil, Japan lenge both to the and to the . He and Germany, got nowhere. would have understood that the scale of the challenge is such that In the great financial institutions created at Bretton Woods in partisan obsessions and even passionate preoccupations have to be 1944, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, voting put on one side to ensure our economic survival. Being Tim, he power is based on financial contributions. Taking the IMF as an would have realised too that the current growth projections and illustration, this means that the UK has a larger vote than China, and investment prospects for the UK, for the Euro zone and for the Italy a larger vote than India. In addition, the presidency of the United States,around 2%, as compared to the emerging powers, par- World Bank is traditionally held by an American, that of the IMF by ticularly China at over 12% and Latin America at 10%, spell out the a European.To his credit, the World Bank’s President Robert further relative decline of the West – not quite “Der Untergang des Zoellick has recently negotiated an increase in its capital in Abendlandes” forecast by Oswald Spengler in his notorious book, exchange for some shift of voting powers from the Europeans to the but an imitation of it. emerging markets of China, India and Brazil The institutional structure of the post-war world does not even But even the more recent decision-making-bodies, the G8 and the

4 Interlib 09 2010 G20, are anachronisms.The G8 consists of four European countries, insisted on its right to enrich part of its LEU stock up to 20%, a together with Canada, Russia, the United States and Japan. In an much higher level than is required to feed civilian power reactors. effort to make the G8 more representative, a new body called the The timing of the Turkish-Brazilian deal also weakened its original Outreach Group, consisting of China, India, Brazil, Mexico and purpose. But it would have been much more constructive to raise South Africa was bolted on in 1995.The G8, it was announced, was questions with Turkey and Brazil about these aspects, and to ask for to become the new permanent council for international economic renegotiation, than to dismiss the deal out of hand. Both of these co-operation. But it has already been superseded by the G20, the important non nuclear powers were angered by the reaction to nearest thing to a globally representative group. Formed in 1999, it their proposal. includes all the world’s richest and largest countries. But it lacks the The success of international efforts to prevent proliferation and to formal legitimacy of its older forerunners. move towards a massive reduction of nuclear weapons hangs in the The disjunction between power and responsibility is well illus- balance.The review conference said the right things but took few trated in the final conclusions of the recent review conference on concrete steps towards non-proliferation and disarmament. the Treaty.The proposals for nuclear disarma- The agreement between the partners in the UK’s new coalition ment put forward by the P5, the recognised nuclear powers, despite government states that Britain’s nuclear deterrent will be main- some welcome evidence of progress such as the new START treaty tained, that its renewal will be scrutinised to ensure value for between Russia and the United States, were deemed by some non- money, and that Liberal Democrats will continue to make the case nuclear weapons countries to be too cautious and too slow in mov- for alternatives. ing towards the abolition of nuclear weapons. Rather than the So let me take the opportunity so helpfully offered. . detailed, dogged work of strengthening the IAEA and pressing Nuclear weapons are very expensive weapons seeking a role and ahead with a collection of disarmament measures from fissile mate- purpose in the post Cold War world. It is difficult to find one. rial cut-off to getting rid of tactical nuclear weapons, some mem- Against terrorists, they would be far less effective than conventional ber-states proposed a big fix, a global convention to be held in weapons or the soft power of men and women with the skills to 2012 charged with drawing up a convention to outlaw all nuclear reach people’s hearts and minds.Against psychotic states like North weapons by 2025. Korea, a nuclear attack would almost certainly lead to retaliation The other major focus was to convene a regional conference in capable of destroying much of the population and the economic 2012 on the establishment in the Middle East of a Weapons of Mass infrastructure too of our ally South Korea.Against other current Destruction Free Zone. For some member-states, this would entail nuclear powers, their usefulness is again questionable, since these are the of Israel, still stubbornly silent on its nuclear role.That now our partners or allies. silence will be made more difficult by the willingness of the United We do not have to decide between a vastly expensive like for like States government and of the new Foreign Secretary William renewal (which would send all the wrong signals to would-be Hague in the UK to reveal details of the exact number of warheads nuclear powers) and abolition at this point in time.We can reduce each state possesses. For other member states, the proposed NFZ our nuclear position stage by stage, at each stage encouraging others should deal peacefully with Iran’s nuclear aspirations in the region. to join us in a global move towards nuclear disarmament. The conference might even find answers to the insufferable For the United Kingdom, that first stage could be a reduction in wretchedness of Gaza, a situation being brilliantly exploited by the number of Trident carrying submarines from four to three. Hamas and its Iranian godfather. Before he left office, the former Prime Minister The traditional Great Powers may find themselves isolated and was considering such a step. It could be achieved by not replacing irrelevant if they cannot build new bridges with the emerging the first of the submarines to be taken out of service. countries. It does not help that some of these emerging countries The second stage, based on the recent research appearing in have remained outside the NPT and are now making their own RUSI’s Journal (the Royal United Services Institute) would be to bilateral deals with nuclear powers inside the NPT. The Indo-US keep the Trident submarines in port, with at least one on alert sta- deal of 2008, bypassing the NPT and leaning on the Nuclear tus able to sail in a developing crisis situation.The present very Suppliers Group to bend their own rules, was a troubling innova- expensive “continuous at sea” strategy made sense at the height of tion, brought about by President Bush’s desire to build a strong the Cold War when Warsaw Pact nuclear weapons were at high alliance with India against terrorism. Now Pakistan is seeking alert levels, but it seems excessive now.With at least one submarine approval for a deal with China to supply her with two new nuclear on alert status, the United Kingdom would keep a smaller but still reactors.This would be in contravention of the NSG rules, since effective deterrent, and would save an estimated seven billions Pakistan is not a signatory of the NPT, nor does it accept IAEA pounds a year. inspection or international safeguards on reactors. It also has a This proposed stage by stage reduction would enable the United much more fraught internal security position than India. The Kingdom government to take into account technological and polit- NPT’s rules are being eroded, and can only be reconstructed by ical developments over the next few years.The commitment of the bringing the so called nuclear armed states within the system. Obama administration to nuclear weapons minimisation and even- Nor does it help for the P5 to dismiss efforts by non-nuclear tual abolition remains staunchly strong; a number of influential weapons states to bring potential proliferators in from the cold. non-nuclear powers are trying to extend nuclear-free zones beyond Turkey is a key player in this respect, a secular state but also a mod- Latin America and Africa to Central Asia and the Middle East. If erate Muslim country.The joint Turkish-Brazilian attempt to revive these initiatives are successful, there may well come a time when the Vienna group’s proposal to enrich under IAEA safeguards, a our own reduced deterrent should be put on the global negotiating substantial part of Iran’s stock of LEU outside Iranian territory, table. It would be a mistake of the first order to get locked into a returning HEU in fuel rod form to supply Iran’s isotope producing more expensive modernised nuclear deterrent with a lifetime of research reactor.The deal was far from perfect – for instance Iran several decades.

Interlib 09 2010 5 The UK’s contribution to the nuclear weapons debate has been platform, missile and warhead. Such costs would put further pres- impressive and appreciated internationally.We should not retreat sure on a defence budget which is already finding it difficult to from it. By maintaining the high quality of our technical work on retain coherence. Nor is it clear that such systems could contribute verification and our remarkable joint research with Norway, we will to our security needs beyond deterring indeterminate future sustain that contribution.We should add to it an offer to train some nuclear threats.The constraints of the NPT would cause further of the new generation of inspectors that the IAEA will require, and complications. we should propose a study of cyber threats to the command and “The most sensible answer is likely to be that we should keep the control systems on which nuclear peace depends. Trident system going with life extension programmes, when need- Let me give the last word to Tim Garden himself.This is what he ed.We can have a useful public debate about the future of UK said about Trident on his own website not long before his untimely nuclear weapons, but we would be foolish to rush into decisions death: that are likely to prove costly and irrelevant.” “Any radically new nuclear system, whether ballistic or cruise (Quote from Tim’s website on Trident) missile based, would involve significant development costs for the Shirley Williams, Co-President (2002-06); Leader of the

The Democrats Dilemma Dennis Graf

bama's overall approval rating has dipped below 50% in program, is popularly thought to be a failure, even though large recent polls and he has slipped to a dangerous 36% among numbers of jobs were saved. However, it's much easier to sell a plan Othe majority white voters.A few months ago he was at 49% which creates jobs than one which saves them.We still have high among these people, a high figure for a Democratic President. In rates of unemployment and improvements have been modest and spite of this, Obama is still probably the single most popular elected slow. And, indeed, most Americans don’t understand that we have a public official on the national scene and the leftist “spin” is that most world wide economic sickness, something which directly impacts Presidents, Reagan and Clinton included, suffered this level of public our economy. disapproval at comparable points in their tenure. The Republican Obama has done something that no one has been able to do for (GOP) party, especially the Congressional members, is not especially decades – he has reformed our wildly expensive and inefficient liked or trusted by most people, but still – they rate usually a few health care delivery system. Six months ago this was thought impos- points higher in generic polls. Americans are very angry and uneasy sible. It’s an unwieldy solution filled with problems, primarily the and they seem to distrust everyone in political life. issue of effective cost control, but it also does provide some very It's clear, and a number of GOP leaders have said this from the good things. It will cover large numbers of people – though not beginning, that the Republicans intended to sabotage the Obama everyone – who are now left out of the system. In exchange for Presidency, no matter the cost to the nation. They have been “the mandated coverage, the insurance industry has agreed to not drop party of no” and people don't seem to mind.This seems to be pay- people when they get sick, not to reject those who have pre-existing ing off and the Republicans are expected to take over the House medical conditions and to not impose a life time limit on benefits. and gain seats in the Senate in the coming November elections. One would think that this would all be very popular. It is not.A The conventional wisdom when Obama came into office was majority hates it, though it's clear that most of them really don't that he would be an inspiring public figure, a golden tongued understand the new health care law. (Americans seem to get their communicator, a man who could sell his programs to the broad political education from Rupert Murdoch's Fox Network.) Most American public. It was thought that he might even find it possible people do have coverage with which they're satisfied, though the to bring Democrats and Repubicans together to finally tackle some most satisfied ones are younger people who are less likely to be of our immense national problems. That has not been the case; sick.Americans are highly individualistic and many, quite frankly, when Obama speaks, he seems a touch professorial, an “elitist,” even don’t care if other people can’t get medical care. Republicans speak foreign, and to many critics, lacking in “passion.”We have some for these people. The GOP,to a man, fought every provision of the serious social pathology here; around a quarter of the public thinks bill and now they complain about not having been consulted. The it likely that Obama is not even an American citizen. In the US, voters who dislike “Obamacare” especially object to the individual though, a black man who shows emotion and “passion” makes mandates to buy insurance. We already have mandatory car insur- many white people uneasy and I’m sure that Obama realizes this. ance, but the Right says that it’s possible, at least in theory, to avoid In his short time Obama has accomplished a great deal. He driving. (It’s very possible to use only public transport in most of should receive some credit for pulling America, and the world, back Europe, but except perhaps for New York City, this is not possible from the brink of another cataclysmic Great Depression. But voters in the United States.) have very short memories. The public was outraged by the TARP Obama has also been able to push through a bill which brings program, the so-called “bank bailout.”Though this was started dur- back a limited amount of financial regulation.This is, of course, ing the Bush administration, most people assume this to be an highly unpopular with the business community and money will Obama decision. The “stimulus,” a costly and difficult to explain soon start flowing away from him. Obama had a surprising amount

6 Interlib 09 2010 of support from the financial people when he ran for the Presidency the papers of anyone they thought might be here illegally. Now, in in 2008, but then the opposition was even more frightening. John Europe this would not be an especially dramatic step, but in the US McCain seemed old, pale, unhealthy, a cancer survivor and not quick – it is. Both parties are treading very carefully. The Democrats witted in the debates, even somewhat erratic. His choice of Sarah hope to have a long term political gain from the rapidly expanding Palin made many long time Republicans vote for Obama. Hispanic vote – primarily people of Mexican background – who John McCain in his current attempt to remain in the US Senate are frightened by the anti immigrant and sometimes anti Hispanic has turned sharply to the far right and Palin has blossomed into an rhetoric from the far Republican right. unlikely media celebrity with some real political influence, though This week, one of the national stories has been a Republican cry not one with much insight. People wonder if she might run for to change the Fourteenth Amendment, a clause in the Constitution the Presidency. I think not.The current stable of Republican which declares that any child born in the US is automatically a US Presidential candidates looks quite thin, but one person often men- citizen. (It was originally inserted to safeguard the citizenship of tioned is Jeb Bush, the brother of George W.Bush, and a former former slaves.) Many Republicans, including some in the leader- governor of Florida, one of the largest states. ship, are in favor of “discussing changes.”The Hispanics have a far It’s difficult to explain, but in the United States, we have given higher than average birth rate and since a large proportion of them the Supreme Court an immense amount of power.They can invali- will probably vote Democratic in the future, one can see the reason date laws passed by Congress and signed by the President.Their behind this GOP ploy. Texas is one one of the largest states and word is final. These 9 people, a majority now Roman Catholic it almost always votes Republican, but if the Hispanic population (and ultra conservative) and the remainder Jewish, serve for life and continue to grow at the present rate – a time will come when Texas can be removed only through impeachment, a process which has would be lost to the GOP. It is generally believed that without never been done or even seriously tried. Texas,the Republicans would not be able to win the Presidency Their most frightening and unpopular recent decision was the but the Republicans are willing to take this risk in order to win in Citizens United case which struck down long existing campaign the next election . reform laws and essentially declared that business corporations (and The other minority group currently under suspicion are the our weak labor unions) could spend virtually unlimited amounts of Muslims. Many Americans feel that this is one of the few groups money in any election at any time, to defeat any candidates they about them that they are allowed to hate and it’s not uncommon to disliked, even in local races. Any boundaries seem porous. hear unpleasant things from otherwise sensible people. Today's news Democrats in Congress are trying now to formulate some laws story is whether Muslims should be allowed to built a “community which would mandate that these contributors at least be identified, center” in Lower Manhattan, fairly close to the site of 9-11, some- though courts could strike those down, too.We have what is really thing they quite clearly have a legal right to do. Obama has sup- a form of legalized bribery. ported them. Most Democrats are not saying anything. Republicans The American political attention span is very short right now are attacking the President's statements. and we seem to require a news event of the week, something It does seem strange that Republicans are willing to alienate two designed to fill the noisy and hyperactive cable news networks. The large groups of people – Hispanics and now Muslims – for a short BP oil disaster is no longer in the news. (Most people here didn’t term political advantage, but right now they're brimming over with especially identify the company as British.) Last week the “big self confidence. story” was the new draconian Arizona immigration law. This would – it has been delayed by a judge – require Arizona police to check Dennis Graf is an activist and political commentator in Minnesota.

administration. In December 2008 Liberal International visited the Burmese-Thailand border on a fact-Finding Mission. In its resolu- tions from the 55th Congress in Belfast and 56th Congress in Burma’s Electoral framework fails to Cairo , LI reaffirms that the Burmese National Convention should meet international standards end the impunity towards the violations of the citizen's human rights and move towards a democracy that genuinely reflects the wishes of the Burmese people. I cooperating organization the National Democratic Institute On 13th August the Burmese government announced, that on (NDI), claims that Burma's Electoral framework is fundamen- 7th November it will hold its first election in two decades, and Ltally undemocratic and as it fails to meet basic international has called on the country's political parties to submit their lists of standards.The NDI report states that the process surrounding candidates before 30th August.Aung San Suu Kyi, is however Burma's first national elections since 1990 “is clearly designed to prevented from taking part in the election due to the country's guarantee a pre-determined outcome and, therefore, does not meet election law which prohibits her and more than 2,000 other even the very minimum of international standards…The elections, political prisoners from participating in elections.“This election appear to be designed to gain international acceptance for an ille- is a sham and a farce,” said Mr. Moe Zaw Oo, Chair of the gitimate process.” Four identified areas in particular in which the Foreign Affairs Committee of NLD-LA.The upcoming election constitution and the new election laws fall short of basic interna- will be the first since 1990, when Aung San Suu Kyi and the tional standards are; a government based on the will of people, basic NLD won the election with a landslide victory, a result that human rights, freedom to stand for election and impartial election would be rejected by the junta.

Interlib 09 2010 7 Liberal Democrats Autumn Conference... The International Bits...

here is a solid International focus to the Lib Dems’Autumn transformation of the conference fringe… who are some of these conference with the International Development policy paper, people and where do they come from? With the Defence Review TAccountability to the Poor. David Hall Matthews commented there is much focus on those issues, and Climate Change attracts a on this in the last interLib.There is also Mole Valley’s motion on lot of attention in both domestic and international fields.Will Human Rights & the . delegates stand the pace of an agenda from 7.15 in the morning to The mysteries of power have brought about something of a 10.00 at night! Reports of any meetings will be welcome.

Saturday 18th afternoon Sunday 19th afternoon 20.00-21.00 ● ADS, Amnesty International, Oxfam 13.00-14.00 F18 Question and Answer Session: & Saferworld: Making the International ● ALDE & Lib Dem Friends of Nick Clegg MP Arms Trade Bulletproof. Palestine:The Strangling of Bethlehem, is F19 Policy Motion: Human Rights and Hilton Liverpool – Rooms 6/7 it time for sanctions? the 'War on Terror' Hilton Liverpool – Grace Suite 1 F20 Speech: Jeremy Browne MP 21.15-22.30 F21 Policy Motion: Accountability to ● CentreForum & RSPB: How to save F10 Report: European Parliamentary the Poor (International Development the planet & save money. Party Policy Paper) ACC Hall 3B

20.00-20.15 18.15-19.30 ● Say No to Trident (A Lib Dem ACT ● LDEG: Inaugural Schumann Lecture Monday 20th morning Group) & Lib Dems for Peace & – MEP,Leader in the Security: The Real Cost of Trident. & former prime 07.15-08.30 Jury Inn – Suite 6 Minister of Belgium on the Future of ● CER & BNE: Europe’s crisis, what role ● Ethnic Minority Lib Dems & Europe in a Global context. for Britain? Chinese Lib Dems: The Impact of the ACC Hall 1B ACC Hall 11A Immigration Cap on Communities. ●CentreForUm, Business for New Hilton Liverpool – Meeting Room 2 Europe & Aviva: Britain, Europe & a ● CAABU & Lib Dem Friends of shifting global order. Monday 20th afternoon Palestine: Accounting for War Crimes. ACC Hall 11A Hilton Liverpool – Meeting Room 6/7 ● Lib Dem Friends of Pakistan: 13.00-14.00 Pakistan High Commission Annual Buffet ● Defence Matters & Dods: Defence Reception Review 2010,Afghanistan & beyond. Sunday 19th morning (contact 07956 873076 ACC Hall 2N [email protected]) ● Institute of Development Studies: 07.15-08.30 ACC Hall 11B Where did all the aid go? Lessons for ● London Detainee Support Group: ● Foreign Policy Centre, BBC World effective development. The Real Cost of Indefinite Immigration Service Trust & ActionAid UK: Can aid Jurys Inn – Suite 6 Detention. help poor people hold their leaders to ● The Foreign Policy Centre, Jury Inn – Suite 9 account? International Alert & Care Jurys Inn – Suite 7 International UK: Conflict afflicted states, 13.00-14.00 ● Oxfam GB & Robin Hood Tax is it time to rethink development? ● EMLD & Friends of Turkey: Turkey Coalition: Can a Robin Hood Tax help Jurys Inn – Suite 8 & her developing foreign policy. protect the poor of the planet? ● Transport Hub, ABTA & Flying ACC Hall 11B Hilton Liverpool – Grace Suite 3 Matters: Can holidays abroad be a force ● Greenpeace, Pugwash UK & WMD ● Lib Dems for Peace & Security: for good? Awareness Project: Why is now the time What are we doing in Afghanistan? Jurys Inn – Suite 10 to reduce nuclear weapons? Hilton Liverpool – Meeting Room 1 Jurys Inn – Suite 9 ● UNICEF UK, Christian Aid & 18.15-19.30 ● Action Aid with Women Lib Dems: Climate Clinic: Responding to global ● CentreForum & Institute of On the Frontline:Women, Peace & climate change. Chartered Accountants: The Coalition & Conflict. Climate Clinic @ Hampton by Hilton – Europe. Hilton Liverpool – Meeting Room 3 mezzanine floor Jurys Inn – Suite 8

8 Interlib 0192010 ● Foreign Policy Centre, Coca-Cola Tuesday 21st afternoon others: What is the Lib Dem vision for GB, Coca-Cola Enterprises & Standard 13.00-14.00 international development? Chartered: From poverty to prosperity, big ● Christian Aid: Taxing Times, a role for ACC Hall 11A business in poor countries. tax in international development. ● VSO: Should I stay or should I go? Hilton Liverpool – Meeting Room 2 Hilton Liverpool – Grace Suite 1 Development & Migration. ACC Hall 13 ● WWF-UK: Scraping the bottom of the ● Save the Children: Afghanistan, ● Holocaust Education Trust: When barrel, a future fuelled by hard to reach Pakistan – how do we win the peace? everything is Auschwitz you deny the holo- carbon comes at what cost. Holiday Inn Express – Britannia 1 caust.Anti-Semitism reinvented. Hilton Liverpool – Meeting Room 4/5 ● RSPB, WWF-UK & Climate Jurys Inn – Suite 6 Change: Rainforests, protecting species & 20.00-21.15 climate? 20.30-22.00 ● LIBG: Democracy & Human Rights in Climate Clinic @ Hampton by Hilton – ● Lib Dem Friends of Kashmir: the Developing World. John Alderdice & mezzanine floor Kashmir, its future in a Lib Gordon Lishman. ● Foreign Policy Centre, SABMiller & Dem/Conservative coalition. ACC Hall 11A Business Action for Africa: The truth ACC Hall 11B ● Chinese Embassy: China, an emerging about trade, igniting or impeding African economy & a progressing country. development? 22.00-!!! ACC Hall 11B Novotel – Albert Johnson Room ● Glee Club ● Foreign Policy Centre & European Hilton Liverpool – Grace Suite 1 Azerbaijan Society: Securing the 17.30-19.00 Caucasus, conflict, energy & opportunities. ● BBC World Service: BBC live radio Jurys Inn – Suite 7 broadcast ‘World have your say’ Wednesday 22nd morning ● Refugee Council, Still Human Here ACC Hall 11A & UNHRC: Asylum Policy: honouring 08.00-09.00 our refugee protection commitments. 18.15-19.30 ● BBC World Service & BBC World Jurys Inn – Suite 8 ● Lib Dem Friends of India: Annual News: Breakfast (invitation) ● WorldVision & Saferworld: The dinner reception (invitation) – ends 22.30 AAC Hall 12 Afghan, Somali… & me; engaging in fragile ACC Hall 3A countries. ● Tobacco Retailers Association: Hilton Liverpool – Rooms 4/5 Tackling tobacco smuggling together. Wednesday 22nd afternoon ● Lib Dem Friends of Israel: ACC Hall 4B Israel/Palestine, is peace possible? Hilton ● ESRC Genomics Network: Pills or 13.00-14.00 Liverpool – Rooms 6/7 progress, improving healthcare in Africa. ● APPG on Kurdistan Region in Iraq ACC Hall 13 & Kurdistan Regional Government: Is ● & Medical Aid for Britain being left behind in Kurdistan & Tuesday 21st morning Palestinians: Gaza life support, is aid a fail- Iraq? 10.00-11.30 ure in politics? ACC Hall 4B ● Jeremy Browne Foreign Affairs briefing Jurys Inn – Suite 1 ● Amnesty International: Defending the Hilton Liverpool, Grace Suite 2 defenders – human rights & UK foreign 20.00-21.15 policy. ● BOND, Christian Aid, Oxfam, Save ACC Hall 13 the Children, Amnesty, Saferworld &

LIBERAL INTERNATIONAL AT LIVERPOOL

e will have a stall (D12) focused on human rights abuses and Human Rights in the Developing World on Monday at 8pm in at this year’s Federal Conference. Please come and see us, the Arena Conference Centre, Hall 11A. Speakers: Lord Alderdice, Wrenew your membership and find out how to become Convenor of the Lib Dems in the House of Lords and immediate more involved in LIBG. As always, we ask members to do a stint past-President of Liberal International, and Gordon Lishman, Chair on the stall, because even with our friends from Liberator next door of the Human Rights Committee of the Liberal International. it is embarrassing when people can’t speak to us.We need to build Chair: Dr Julie Smith, Chair of LIBG. up membership, and with the Coalition boosting interest now is the In addition, there will be a Foreign Affairs briefing by Lib Dem time to reel them in. If you are able to volunteer time before the Minister of State in the Foreign Office, Jeremy Browne MP,on start of the conference please email Dirk Hazell on Tuesday 21st September from 10am to 11am.Venue tbc.This event [email protected] is organised jointly with the Parliamentary Candidates’Association Our Fringe Meeting this year will be on the theme Democracy (PCA) and the Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG)

Interlib 09 2010 9 Sudan How the West lost the South As a referendum on the future of war-torn Sudan approaches, the West is poised to tick the box and move on. It may regret being midwife to an extreme new Islamist regime in Khartoum. Becky Tinsley

o one familiar with Sudan was surprised that last April’s Darfur. Bashir’s National Congress Party, elected in April’s charade presidential election was brazenly rigged, or that millions of of an election, is tightening the screws of what will be the new Nits black African citizens were denied a vote, or that opposi- North Sudan.The NCP is unashamedly Islamist, the hard-line form tion activists and journalists were intimidated and beaten up. of political Islam entailing complete control of the judiciary, all More noteworthy is what the poll, and the forthcoming referen- aspects of government, civil society and the economy.They openly dum on southern secession, reveals about ‘the international com- confess their hatred of gays, women, Jews, black Africans and, most munity,’ as the Western donor nations are known. Supposedly inde- of all,Arabs who disagree with their version of Islam. pendent observers declared the elections merely flawed by technical Brave Sudanese NGOs are literally risking their lives to speak out and administrative problems. No one was vulgar enough to men- about increasing totalitarianism, but they are ignored because the tion that Field Marshall Omar Bashir, a man indicted for genocide, international community wants the referendum provisions of the ethnic cleansing and war crimes by the International Criminal 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement to be seen as fulfilled.The Court, fixed the vote and claimed victory. CPA, negotiated by the USA, UK and Norway, brought to an end All the signs are the North-South secession referendum in 20 years of conflict between Khartoum and South Sudan, a war January will be a whitewash. But, by ignoring massive human rights that cost the lives of two million mainly black African southerners. abuses and fraud, the west is unwittingly signalling to the wily President Obama’s special envoy, Scott Gration, believes that by Khartoum regime, based in the mainly Arab north, that it can con- rewarding and legitimising Bashir, his regime will respond by stop- tinue to wage war and ethnic cleansing by proxy, with escalating ping killing its own citizens. He calls for carrot and sticks, but, insecurity in the oil-rich south and Darfur. although Khartoum routinely breaks its own commitments, it is Among the dozens of civil society leaders our Waging Peace team never punished. Khartoum draws the obvious conclusions, and con- interviewed in South Sudan, we met none who believed President tinues killing its own people. Bashir will hand over the oil without a fight. So far Khartoum has Earlier this year Gration announced that the war in Darfur was worn down all concerned in negotiations on where the border will over, and urged talk of ‘development’ there rather than protecting be between North and South, and how the divorce will be man- civilians.Yet,since February the Sudanese Armed Forces have been aged.Those familiar with the Darfur peace negotiations will recog- repeatedly attacking villages and murdering unarmed people in the nise the tactics: Khartoum agrees to the big issues, having no inten- Jebel Marra area of Darfur.The toothless UN/African Union peace- tion of sticking to its promises, and then quibbles at length about keepers are so cowed by Khartoum that they have not even asked per- the details. mission to investigate the reported deaths of thousands of Darfuris. The Obama Administration, increasingly siding with Bashir, is said to be strong-arming the Southern Sudanese representatives to MASSIVE DEATH TOLL surrender more oil revenues to Khartoum in a renegotiated alimony No NGOs or media are allowed into a vast region, and no one deal. Most disappointing, the Southern rebels have been bought off knows what is happening there. Humanitarian groups have been at every stage, seduced by Khartoum with ministerial cars and titles. excluded, and charities that have heard survivors’ horrific testimony dare not speak out for fear of being expelled from Sudan.Waging BREATHTAKING ABOUT-TURN Peace’s contacts in Darfur tell of a massive death toll, but the people In a breathtaking about-turn that has left Southern citizens furious whom we contact are increasingly afraid even to talk on the phone: and bewildered, their leaders are now divided on whether or not they know Khartoum is monitoring them. their long-suffering people should want unity with their long-time So, why is the Obama Administration apparently siding with an oppressors in Khartoum.Why? Because those same politicians have indicted war criminal against Sudan’s black African people in the been told they will be included in the new government if Sudan South and Darfur? Is it naivety or cynicism? Or perhaps the US stays unified. Evidently 20 years of bloodshed are forgotten with the president has other priorities, like getting re-elected in an improv- promise of a few Mercedes and international junkets. ing domestic economic climate. It is widely assumed that if the South votes for secession it will One theory is that in place of a well thought out foreign policy, be ruled by corrupt, incompetent, self-interested ‘big men’ and for- the Obama folk automatically do the opposite to the Bush people. mer rebels.There are no grounds to believe life will improve for the Bush, placating his religious right base, stood squarely behind the black African Sudanese who have endured decades of genocide and (mainly Christian) Southern Sudanese. ethnic cleansing by Khartoum’s proxies.To illustrate how poor the But Washington insiders believe the reason why Obama is placat- area is, consider this UN statistic: a 15-year-old girl is more likely ing Khartoum is the war on terror. President Bashir has convinced to die in childbirth than to complete her primary education. the Pentagon he is on their side against Al Qaeda, despite his However, little attention is paid to what will remain of Sudan, avowed Islamism, and despite giving Bin Laden a sanctuary for five including Khartoum, where President Bashir’s power lies, and sever- years.America’s greater security concerns are in neighbouring al marginalised and neglected regions, the most famous of which is Somalia and nearby Yemen where Bashir’s security services are sup-

10 Interlib 09 2010 posedly helping to monitor terrorist training camps. pay lip service to being on our side against Al Qaeda”. The US has just constructed its biggest African embassy in Sudanese democracy activists fear Gration will pressure Darfuri Khartoum, and has built a massive military intelligence listening post civil society groups and rebels to accept meaningless peace deals in Sudan. Only a few in Washington, notably the State Department’s with no specific sanctions if the Khartoum regime breaks its word. Susan Rice, seem concerned that Bashir’s regime are the ideological Sudan’s displaced millions thus have no reason to believe it is safe to brothers-in-arms of the terrorists in both Somalia and Yemen.But return home, meaning justice and lasting peace are a distant as ever Rice has been overruled by Hillary Clinton and Gration. for the long-suffering people of Darfur. According to our contacts in Sudan’s besieged civil society, Meanwhile the voices of the majority of Sudanese, be they Arab Western meddling has left them with the worst of all outcomes: or Africa, Muslim or Christian, have yet to be heard.There is a Field Marshall Bashir emerges massively strengthened from a fraud- word for what the international community has been up to in ulent election, claiming legitimacy in the eyes of both Arab and Sudan: appeasement.Any school child knows there is never a happy African regional bodies.There are also signs that Washington may ending when diplomats chose appeasement over tough decisions. drop its sanctions against Sudan, and the UN will be under immense pressure to suspend the ICC warrant against Bashir.The Becky Tinsley is director of Waging Peace message to dictators around the globe is “carry on as you were, but www.WagingPeace.info

Afghanistan Forum Stewart Rayment

redictably the Forum on Afghanistan was a pessimistic affair. and appealed to the Russians for military assistance.The Russians Neither the British, Russians nor Americans have ever had any were unsure of the situation –some of their people had been Pclear idea of what they were doing in Afghanistan, nor an killed.The Politburo met for four days.‘Arm the proletariat’ understanding of its peoples and cultures. Kosygin calls Taraki – it would be a ‘fatal mistake to commit Sir Rodric Braithwaite, former British Ambassador to Moscow, ground troops, the situation would get worse’ – the right decision. opened the meeting by quoting an American sergeant, who in In September 1979, the Prime Minister murdered the President, 2001 told him ‘We don’t want to hear any Commie nonsense from again without Russian influence. Russia has real interests in you about a bunch of sorry arses who lost to a bunch of monkeys’. Afghanistan, especially after the US debacle in Iran; legitimate He then ran through a brief history of Afghanistan which made interests – it is on their border.They thought they could do some- the short-comings of such an attitude abundantly clear. thing positive, based on their own experience in central Asia – In 1839 the British invaded Afghanistan on forged intelligence clean water, women, education etc., it might be the same.The and lost Army of the Indus. Army of Russians kill Amin, the Prime Minister, amongst others and send in Retribution burnt and hanged its way a ‘limited contingent’ – four divisions – 80,000 men (they sent 26 to Kabul. A puppet was put in place, divisions to Czechoslovakia).The Russian’s motives were limited – who took the money; twenty years that they wanted a warm water port was without foundation.They later – the British invaded Afghanstan... wanted merely to preserve the regime under a new leader – train Abdur Rahman (1880-1901) – a up the army and police, leaving a docile, subservient neighbour. model Afghan ruler, bribed or killed Instead they got involved in a vicious civil war, as they had feared. the opposition.This worked for twenty The Mujahedeen tried to cut supply routes from the USSR; use years to 1919 when the Afghans invad- mines, ambush the Russians, try to cut caravans.They use helicop- ed India and were again thrown out. ters, mines, ambush.The Russians would mount large operations Britain then gave up the ambition of to clean out a rebel base or close the frontier with Pakistan.These Sir Rodric Braithwaite controlling the Afghans – still celebrat- always succeeded, but they could not then hold the situation. ed in terms of independence. Public opinion turned against the war earlier than the Russians In 1973 King Zahir Shah was deposed by his Prime Minister, previously admitted.They sent out feelers to negotiate as early as Sardar Mohammed Daoud, who took over as president. Daoud 1983. In October 1985 Gorbachev told Kamil to plan on the basis played off USSR and USA.The 1978 Coup, in which the that troops would leave within a year to 18 months. Stingers made Communist Party overthrew Daoud, presented the Russians with little real impact, but took another five years because the Russians a difficult problem.They had not engineering the coup, and were wanted to save face – leave undefeated, with a friendly govern- taken by surprise.The Afghan CP split, murdering each other and ment. American and Pakistan negotiated but took another view – everybody else – mullahs, landowners – why not, they were sim- Fundamentalist Islamic government.The final settlement was to ply following Comrade Stalin. withdraw in good order with a puppet government in place. But In March 1979 there was a rising in Heraz, close to Iran, against President Najibullah was overthrown when Gorbachev cut off the CP.It was bloody, the CP lost control of the town for a week supplies in 1992.The Taliban took over in 1996.

Interlib 09 2010 11 The present war is about a big as the Russian’s. Casualties are heroin. It had little effect on their fighting quality.The poppy is an lower.The Coalition has more troops (smart weapons plus TV,but illegal market, with leakage through to India; if we buy it there is kill enough Afghans to annoy them).The Mujahedeen had more still an incentive to grow.The amount on the market remains the support than the Taliban.American ideology is not welcome.We same if paying over the odds, the growers can buy wheat. should be careful about drawing lessons from history. Should we withdraw where we have Dr Gareth Price, Head of the Asia Programme at Chatham no hope of control? The Russians were House, had been involved with Afghanistan since 1997. He said in the country in a way that we aren’t that Six years later (after little international attention) there is more – effect on perception. Small groups all a sense of failure than optimism.There is a lack of political focus over the place.‘Hearts and minds’ does- on why we went into Afghanistan – women, heroin etc., build up n’t work if there is no understanding of the state vs. take on drugs problem before building up state. A sce- Afghan culture.The next group in nario of the Taliban vs. al Qaeda was possible before 9/11, but not won’t have it and will have to start now. Now we’re seeking moderates within the Taliban. again. Problems remain – the literacy level is low.The average age is 15. Are we capable of succeeding? No. Do we ‘bottom up’ or build up ministries? Minsitries are a façade There is no popular support for Taliban, whilst Afghans are alienated from the opportunities of 2002. but money has been misspent. Instead we Dr Gareth Price The electoral system si complicated; you vote for 5 people (not fuel corruption. parties) – hence the predominance of several warlords.The Taliban What is needed is a regional strategy – with India and Pakistan. narrative actually makes sense. There is too much concentration on the Northern Alliance rather There is stagnation of western policy.The Obama rethink is than the Pashtuns. Do madrasas in Pakistan have a trans-national basically how to get out as quickly as possible with our heads held agenda? Afghanistan is mostly involved with Pakistan; Pakistan sees high – hence return to ‘bottom up’. Karzai should run the gov- Indian aid to Afghans as hostile.The Pashtuns are the largest con- ernment better and the Taliban encouraged to reform. But tributors to the Mujahedeen & Taliban.You can’t run government US/UK public opinion wants to get out asap. without them. At present the Tajiks have the upper hand because Mistakes of the first 7-8 years now recognised and we are trying invasion came from the north, but without Pashtuns there can be another approach, but is it too late? no meaningful government. The chair, Claire Yorke of Chatham House and LIBG, then Better leave them to get on with it – we lack understanding, opened the forum to the floor.Wendy Kyrle Pope said that the skills, intent. effect of the poppy on the Russian army and state devastating and The LIBG Forum on Afghanistan was held on the 24th May at the asked ‘Why not buy the poppy?’The Russians used marijuana, not National Liberal Club.

Security Council. Loss of biodiversity was of grave concern and people did care about this.The threat to Bangladesh and Maldives ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, was also of concern; the global economic crisis and avoiding repetition needed to be 19th July 2010 2addressed.While there were different types of liberal, exploita- tion of the many by the few, greed and willingness to countenance huge debts were not the way to go; the new economic order imon Hughes praised the outgoing President, Malcolm Bruce should not allow such irresponsible conduct; and MP,who had completed three years as President. He hoped to ensuring we were a movement of political renewal, enhancing Ssee more members engaged in more ways and that LI’s voice 3democracy and human rights.We should applaud India’s democ- should be noticed in the UK and elsewhere: LI’s purpose should be racy and economy while noting abuses of minorities and the need more outward-facing and have a wider reach. to protect human rights.We should also argue for human rights in He noted China, Zimbabwe etc. changed opportu- Simon suggested that LI could also be more pro-active in cham- nities for LIBG: pioning the cause of investment in conflict prevention and conflict the UK had resolution.Activism against the arms trade was needed.The World already had the was also looking at nuclear arsenals and there should be more mul- largest Liberal tilateral disarmament: USA and Russia had set good examples. Party in Europe in He believed another generic issue to consider was that of advanc- terms of the share ing and building of democracy, and training tomorrow’s leaders. of the vote but, LI could argue for Turkish membership of the EU and support a unlike others, had long-term peaceful solution for Israel and Palestine. not until May, LIBG should be pro-active in the media on our agenda. Simon Simon Hughes chats with members when our vote wanted LIBG to be noticed on way to Congress, while there and had again risen, been in government since 1945. Being in govern- on our return. ment should strengthen Lib Dems in LI. Simon suggested that LI Simon also argues that LIBG should target key speakers and make should prioritize three issues:- them available to young audiences; also, for example, LIBG should ensuring that dealing with the environmental crisis was seen to be seen to be at forefront of human rights at rallies and demonstra- 1be priority for us: there should be a permanent UN Climate tions. Dirk Hazell

12 Interlib 09 2010 News from Scotland Ronnie Fraser

he death in March of TRL (Ronnie) Fraser was the passing of he annual general meeting of the Scottish committee of LIBG a faithful supporter of the Liberal cause in Scotland and of was held in on June 12th, and the following were TLiberalism internationally. Born in 1929 he was proud of hav- Telected office-bearers: Willis Pickard, chairman; Clive ing been the youngest candidate in the 1950 General Election when Sneddon, secretary; John Barnett, treasurer. he contested the Govan division of Glasgow and used a tent from An event will be arranged to honour the memory of Ronnie which he and his helpers operated. As an agricultural journalist he Fraser, founding member of Liberal International in Scotland, who was particularly well informed about rural affairs and, in the course died earlier this year.To offer the maximum opportunity for atten- of a lifetime of Liberal activity, he was candidate in the former con- dance, this will probably take place during the conference of the stituency of West Aberdeenshire, and then of Banff. Scottish Liberal Democrats in Perth next March. Keenly interested in foreign affairs, especially in the fortunes of Willis Pickard Liberal parties in Europe, he was founder and for many years the Chairman, Scottish committee LIBG first chairman of the Scottish Branch of Liberal International. In latter years he moved from Glasgow to near Dunoon in Argyll where he rejoiced in Liberal success, first by the late Ray Michie and then with MP.All who knew Ronnie Fraser will Moeders voor Vrede cherish his memory. R Ian Elder

n 1999 the Belgian branch of Mothers for Peace decided that they would like to help the women of Afghanistan, and in 2002 Iwere given a plot of land where they built a women's house in the village of Istafan, which I think is some 30 miles from Kabul. After 2 years they rethought what they would do - and started YABLOKO leader convicted for working for families, rather than just for women.They not only run involvement in demonstration literacy classes from the women's house (where only women enter) and in surrounding villages, not only enable women doctors to prac- tice in the women's house for their ailments, but also now have arlier this week, leader of Russia's opposition Yabloko party (LI agricultural projects and have sponsored digging wells and organis- Full Member) Sergei Mitrokhin was among several people ing sewage disposal. It is important to stress that local people take Earrested during a demonstration against the destruction of part over the running of the ventures as soon as they are trained and of Khimki forest in order to build a section of the highway running understanding the ethos of the organisation. between Moscow and Saint Petersburg.After Mr. Mitrokhin refused Mothers for Peace (Belgium) have been asked to set up similar to leave the site on police order, he was subsequently escorted to projects in twelve other local towns and villages. court by Russian police, and found guilty of “organized and unsanc- If they were to be given the amount of money that is spent on tioned action”.The YABLOKO protest was joined by a number of ammunition in one day in Afghanistan, they could work many more environmental activists.Testimonies of civilian witnesses defending wonders. Hundreds of women have learned to read and write, and Mr. Mitrokhin were not allowed in court, making the statement of to make garments and things for sale.Their health has improved and the police the only basis for the verdict.The arrest and trial adds a small amount of money brings much happiness in the villages. another incident to the long list of controversial Russian govern- This micro aid works. ment obstruction of the YABLOKO party's political activities. If you want to make contact with Jennie Vanlerberghe the won- “Spending this day in Khimki I saw the functioning of the judicial- derful woman who has led the project, please do jennie.vanler- police-prosecution mafia which have kept the whole district in their [email protected] She is in Afghanistan at the moment, setting up tentacles”, Mitrokhin said.“The police are lying, but the courts one of the new projects, and may have difficulty in responding. I believe these lies and public prosecutors cover all these police have known her for some 20 years, via www.womenwelcome- actions,” he added referring to the court case. women.org.uk She has become a great friend, whose work I respect enormously.The Moeders voor Vrede website is at http://www.mothersforpeace.be - it is in Flemish, but there is a facility to translate it from the Dutch. LI supports the Catalan nation, says Frances Alexander Founder,Women Welcome Women World Wide President,Wycombe Liberal Secretary General Democrats.

8a Chestnut Avenue he LI Secretary General Emil Kirjas has called on Spanish and High Wycombe Catalan parties to comply with the desire of the Catalan peo- HP11 1DJ Tple to recognise Catalonia as a nation to respect the Statute of 01494 439481 Catalonia that was voted by the Catalan people. LI gives its full sup- [email protected] port to the existence of the Catalan nation and the recognition of

Interlib 09 2010 13 the Catalan language, Kirjas said.“We will give our support to our realities than many of the Tibetans based in India. fellow in the Catalan Parliament, the European Commission The years of the Cultural Revolution were indeed awful, but as and where ever necessary' Kirjas continued as he stated that he finds this book makes clear, most of the destruction was carried out by the Court declaration to be 'alarming'. ethnic Tibetans (albeit often under Chinese instigation). Kirjas characterised the 10 July Barcelona demonstrations as 'the Subsequently, much has been rebuilt – I have been round the mag- largest expression for the right to self-determination not only in nificently restored Potala Palace in Lhasa myself – though only a Europe, but ... all over the world' which only did 'demand respect'. fraction of the Tibetan population now live as monks and nuns, ELDR Vice President Marc Guerrero has welcomed LI's position unlike 50 years ago. Is that necessarily a bad thing? This book should saying that 'Catalonia needs international allies...it is very important help readers make up their minds. Jonathan Fryer that the liberal family recognizes our identity and our national aspi- rations despite the opinion of Spain.' REVIEW

Zille vows to fight Information Bill Czechoslovakia, the state that failed,

n the light of the proposed Protection of Information Bill in by Mary Heimann South Africa, Helen Zille, leader of LI Full Member Democratic Yale UP 2009 IAlliance, has vowed in Parliament to use every means available to fight the bill, which she said is the 'gravest legislative threat to our t’s not often that you become engrossed in a book before you’ve constitutional democracy since 1994'.While the government has reached the end of the introduction, but the story of argued that the bill is intended to protect the national interest, its ICzechoslovakia, or Czecho-Slovakia is sad enough to script passage into law would be “unbelievably damaging' to the country, Constipation Street or some equally miserable soap opera.There is a according to Zille. 'We have to use every single mechanism at our myth, national and popularly shared, that the plucky little Czechs disposal (to fight the bill).We want to stop it being passed because (and Slovaks I suppose), under the leadership of Tomá Masaryk we believe it would be unbelievably damaging, ironically, to South clawed their way out of Hapsburg tyranny and established a model Africa's national interest to have the ruling party turn its back on liberal democracy until they were stabbed in the back by their west- the constitution and its hard-won freedoms,” Zille continued as she ern allies at Munich, succumbed to Nazi and Communist dictator- said the bill would allow the cover up of abuse of power and stated ship, rebelled in the Prague Spring (with the promise of Socialism that the bill would have a 'devastating impact' on press freedom and with a Human Face, what ever that is), rebelled again with Glasnost, would effectively 'outlaw' investigative journalism and whistle-blow- but were unable to hold themselves together and became two sepa- ing in relation to the government. rate nations – the Czech and Slovak republics, a triumph of a Earlier Helen Zille had announced the merger between the Europe of the regions. Democratic Alliance with Democrats, which Mary Heimann goes beyond that story; the founding fathers of should strengthen the opposition in next year’s local elections. Czechoslovakia deliberately included substantial minorities, notably of Germans, Hungarians, Poles and Ukrainians within their bound- aries.They did not treat these people particularly well, along with their substantial Gypsy and Jewish populations, and were as much REVIEWperpetrators of the events that led up to Munich as they were vic- tims. Following Munich, in varying degrees many collaborated with the Nazis, not only the quasi-Fascist Catholic regime under Father The Struggle for Tibet by Wang Tiso in the then independent Slovakia, the seeds of authoritarianism having taken root across the country.After the war, more than any Lixiong and Tsering Shakya, other east European country, the Czechs and Slovaks embraced Communism. Dubek actually offered less of a change, but was Verso, 2009, £8.99 buoyed along by popular enthusiasm; the Russians struck back and things ‘normalized’. On the back of the experiences of the Prague ooks on Tibet tend to be very one-sided. Chinese publications Spring, Czechoslovakia was the most hesitant of the Soviet satellites justify the ‘liberation’ of a formerly feudal land and highlight to embrace Gorbachev’s reforms and the last to rebel.Throughout Bthe health and human right horrors of pre-1951 Tibet, while this story, the Czechs had taken a high-handed attitude towards the Tibetan exiles stress the destruction and killings that took place during Slovaks, both of whom continued to mistreat Gypsies, Jews and China’s Cultural Revolution and look back nostalgically to an alleged other minorities. Shangri-la.The truth, as so often, lies somewhere in the middle. Despite the fact that Slovaks have always played important roles on This means that Wang Lixiong and Tsering Shakya volume of the positive side of Czecho-Slovak history – Dub ek not least, they essays (and one interview) has a particular value.Wang Lixiong is a tend to be portrayed as if there is something dodgy about them – writer in the People’s Republic, but shows an understanding of the exclusivity of their nationalism chiefly. It is of course, individuals Tibet’s religious and political aspirations that few of his countrymen who rise above the grey mass and inspire with their example.At the possess. Similarly,Tsering Shakya, while now being a Tibetan exiled Oxford Congress of the Liberal International I found myself with academic in Canada, is far more objective about past and current Eduard Kukan, chair of Demokratická únia (Democratic Union),

14 Interlib 01 2010 with a major cabinet post as the junion member of the then govern- salise is open to debate, but it is always useful to have some clues. ing coalition.‘You certainly dealt with those Gypsies’ he confided For example, the move to West has facilitated a broadening of reli- approvingly – our xenophobic press had whipped up hostility to gious debate and development, which would not be possible in their Slovakian Gypsies trying to seek asylum here and stuck at Calais. I more theocratically controlled homelands. Stewart Rayment assured him that there was nothing wrong with Pikeys. Kukan now sits with the Christian Democrat group in the European Parliament, which is probably just as well. Liberal International has neither Czech nor Slovak member parties at this moment, though Sergej REVIEW Kozlík of Hnutie za demokratické Slovensko (HZDS) sit in the ALDE group in the European Parliament, though not a Liberal, nor even (national conservative). Understanding the politics of heritage, edited by Rodney Harrison REVIEW UP 2010

The Cartoons that Shook the World, ’ve never been so naïve as to believe that small scale voluntary sector organisations working primarily in the environmental & by Jytte Klausen Iheritage sectors might be immune from politics, but through one of those with which I’m involved, come upon a raft of political Yale UP 2009 problems, which will almost certainly be on-going, I thought this might prove an illuminating title. It is, primarily in opening up the h, those cartoons – the ones of the Prophet Mohammed range of assumptions that we operate in, and the extent too which that appeared in some Danish newspaper some years ago these might be in conflict with equally valid viewpoints. O(2005) and caused a bit of a flap. I couldn’t swear that I’ve My issue is a disused Victorian cemetery, one of the Magnificent seen any of them; even Liberator didn’t republish them, though they Seven, but of no particular national importance as yet discovered. It have been pretty blunt in the past about fundamentalists of any per- does however comprise 27 acres of London’s inner-most woodland. suasion taking it on the chin like any other Joe, and the need to Some while ago, a GLC hangover, the London Advisory Planning confront their absurdities with a bit of fundamentalist Liberalism. Committee, for want of anything better to do, produced a report on Remember ‘Was God an Astroturf ’ or ‘The Gospel according to London’s burial requirements. In a footnote they said that if David Alton’ in the Liberal Review reopened and properly managed, the cemetery could cope with the So why didn’t interLib publish them First & foremost it did not sub-regional demand indefinitely. LPAC’s methods have since been occur to us – who cares about Danmark – as is echoed throughout discredited, but their ideas resonate. If they seriously thought about the book. If we had thought about it then it is likely that enough it, no local authority that didn’t run a burial facility and didn’t have members of the Collective have enough experience of working with to would count their blessings.An emotional issue at the best of British Moslems to have thought better of it, but that aside we times, they are bad news. Suddenly in the wake of a bad by-election would probably have gone along with the European consensus on defeat Labour proposes to reopen the disused cemetery as a Moslem the matter (I don’t think there was any major disclosure in the UK). burial ground, rapidly discovers that this would be ultra vires and , the Danish economic Liberal party aren’t exactly our cup of proposes a secular alternative.The small voluntary body, which actu- tea (Radical Venstre – much more fun) and what I’ve read of them ally carries out practically all of the work in the cemetery park for and Fogh Rasmussen I might even start to doubt their credentials. the borough finds itself inundated over a period of about six weeks There was one UK ‘almost publication’ that Klausen doesn’t seem with concerned phone calls, emails and letters. Naturally they to be aware of.The Cardiff university student magazine Gair Rhydd express opposition to the proposal, which in the wake of the printed them, but the newspaper was pulped by the university inevitable bad publicity is shelved, though lingers in the back of before it could be distributed.The editor,Tom Wellingham, and two many minds.The small voluntary body looses mainstream grant journalists were temporarily suspended and forced to apologise in funding from the council by some coincidence, though it still carries the next issue according to Barry Miles (London Calling, 2010). out most of the work and the council refers probably all of their Gair Rhydd means ‘Free Speech’ in the Welsh language. genealogical enquiries to it. So why read this book? It is a thorough investigation of the events This is small fry by comparison with some of the issues dealt with around the cartoon crisis.We really are a global village and have to by the case studies in the book.There are chunky sections on Bath think responsibly about our possible actions.The global village has and Glasgow which should be studied by those active in such places, yet to acquire a global sense of humour. Moslem governments are if only to get a general background and a different take on the likely to attach significance to things which seem trivial to the West issues. More controversial issues – the Parthenon Marbles, the partly because they can score points in the on-going tit-for-tat of destruction of Babri Masjid and the Hindu temple that preceded it, their relationships with western governments, particularly those try- the Bamiyan Buddhas are instructive; here we meet the cross-cultur- ing to impose their own objectives on them (ie: democracy). al divides. Remains of various indigenous peoples (and the Brutish Moslems living in the west however are hardly likely to want govern- Museum) aside, western imperialism and its assumptions are dealt ments that they may be escaping from to claim to speak for them. with in the practices of Theraveda Buddhism and the Phra Sri There are some useful insights into the workings and thinking of Rattana (aka the Golden) Chedi in Bangkok. some members of immigrant communities; whether these univer- A fascinating and useful book, which with its two companions is

Interlib 09 2010 15 actually part of an course ‘Understanding Global Heritage’.Any member of a local authority dealing with issues of GARDEN PARTY this kind could profitably dip into it. Stewart Rayment

wo MEPs and a Mexican Diplomat graced us with their pres- ALDE and MEP’s call for a prompt ence on the lovely June day of the LI(GB) Garden Party.This Tyear it was held in the gardens of Coleherne Court, kindly response to Pakistan disaster and expertly hosted by Barbara and Robert Woodthorpe-Browne. When not stuffing our faces with the delicious cakes provided by Barbara, the conversation was about the Coalition, the future of the akistan’s troubles have come in three’s – first Lib Dem Party and the economic climate. Baroness Ludford talked finally said what everybody thought about Pakistan and terror- about new exports for Britain (intellectual property, academic sup- Pism, then the floods and finally the cricket.The West’s response port), while the Political & Human Rights Attaché from the has been underwhelming so far, yet potentially it is offered the chance to try to win hearts and minds. Charles Goerens coordinator for ALDE on the European Parliamentary committee on Development (DEVE) (and member of the Luxembourg Demokratesch Partei, DP) called for, in a joint declaration with DEVE President Eva Joly, r an in depth political debate on the humanitarian situation in Pakistan. '20 million people have been condemned to live in absolute distress… What is crucial right now is a rapid response… It's important that the EU stands out and demonstrates what she does best: to in a visible way as the first humanitarian actor in the world” Goerens and Joly pleaded. “The next decades will be marked by large scale catastrophes, which according experts will be more and more frequent… “Let's remem- ber the posture that the EU should take now and in the future,” Goerens further stated. Graham Watson, MEP has further urged the EU to take a lead in climate actions to alleviate future Pakistan floods and climate change. “Until Europe has a concerted and coordinated a policy to combat climate change and help poorer countries to mitigate its impact, such tragedies will hit us more fre- Enjoying the LIBG Garden Party quently and with greater impact”,Watson said. Mexican Embassy, Minister Miguel Jimenez, told us that Mexico was coming out of the recession, at least for the time being. Graham Watson spoke of successful coalitions in Europe, where such a form Equatorial Guinea’s opposition of government is the norm. Garden parties, when the weather and the surroundings are as fine condemns executions as they were this June, are excellent opportunities to catch up with events, both domestic and international, at a gentler, slower pace. Coleherne Court is just over 100 years old, and we enjoyed the n a letter to LI, Equatorial Guinea's opposition leader in exile irony that, just like our Edwardian forefathers, we still enjoy garden Martin-Endje Ngonde Maguga, of the Unión Democrática parties where the great events of the world are discussed. INacional (UDENA) has expressed his disgust and sadness over the Wendy Kyrle-Pope execution of four political opponents.The dissidents were convicted by a military court for their role in a bid to assassinate the country's dictator Teodoro Obiang Nguema in a 2009 attack on the presiden- tial palace. Condemning the executions Mr. Ngonde Maguga, said that the trial was carried out without procedural safeguards, leaving the men to be executed immediately after their sentences without the right to appeal. Mr. Ngonde Maguga also called upon the inter- national community to respond to the ongoing injustice and the lack of respect for human rights in his country.“Esto que parece un acto aislado para la Comunidad Internacional es un hecho que ocurre con relativa frecuencia en Guinea Ecuatorial desde los albores mismos de la Independencia del país hace 42 años (...) Con el paso del tiempo he visto cumplida la razón de la frase de Francisco Macías Nguema, entonces Presidente pronunciada en Malabo a primeros días del mes de febrero de 1969, cuando le oí Graham Watson, Manuel Jiminez, Robert Woodthorpe Browne, decir que el “Presidente puede fusilar, y no pasa nada”. Merlene Emerson and William Parker

16 Interlib 09 2010