Armed Liberation Movements - Protect the Human Beings!

Situation:

Everywhere in the world groups of people are being oppressed, threatened and persecuted. Evidence for the beginning of massive oppression: Those in power forbid ethnic groups to speak their own languages (Kurds in Turkey, Albanians in Kosova). When oppression and terror become ethnic cleansing, such groups of people often see no other possibility than to struggle for their freedom and security by force of arms.

The Position of the VirGlob-SP

For social democrats, thinking and acting means to support conflict resolution by peaceful means, to help prevent the first signs of oppression, and, where no armed power protects the people, to move heaven and earth to see that UNO troops supply protection.

Means of pressure without arms are: Condemnation and ostracism by other nations, as well as by the media; suspension of development aid and contributions from the World Bank; banning of trade and transportation, as well as formally accusing, sentencing, and punishing through international courts.

If a liberation movement takes up arms in another country, social democratic parties outside the country should refrain from commenting on this difficult decision.

Whenever a liberation organization takes up arms in one's own country, the social democratic party should not be transformed into an armed organization or support an armed organization, but should rather, according to possibilities, continue to exert political influence.