Democratic Palestine : 20 (ص 32)
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- Democratic Palestine : 20 (ص 32)
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Copenhagen
World Peace Conference
In late October, 2,500 delegates from peace and anti-nuclear groups, progressive parties and countries,
solidarity organizations and liberation movements gathered in Copenhagen, Denmark, for the World
Peace Congress. This was the biggest non-governmental, international peace conference ever held in a
western country. It marked the UN International Year for Peace.
The conference was divided into topic centers. Topic center
no. | dealt with «Peace and Justice», emphasizing the linkage
between these two concepts, and the necessity of eliminating
the nuclear threat and the arms race altogether. It was noted
that the millions spent on the arms race «could significantly
improve the situation of 2/3 of humanity (referring particu-
larly to the developing countries) and solve the problem of
famine.»
Topic center no. 2 on disarmament focused on the situation
after the Reykjavik summit, noting that the Soviet Union’s
proposals «have opened new prospects... for the endeavor of
the peace movement» and labeling the SDI as «the principal
obstacle to reaching a world free of nuclear weapons.»
Topic center no. 3, entitled «Peace and Liberation», focused
on the need for eliminating apartheid. Criticism was voiced of
«the illegal behavior of the Reagan Administration, Israel and
the apartheid regime» and of the US and Britain’s «abusive use
of the veto» to protect South Africa against sanctions. The
conflict in the Western Sahara was raised and deplored as a
remaining vestige of colonialism, worsened by the Moroccan
regime’s illegal occupation. Also touched upon was the «con-
tinued occupation by the US army of a part of Korean territory
and the use of South Korea as one of the largest nuclear bases
in the region.» Also, the nuclear alliance between South Africa
and ‘Israel’ was denounced. Many participants raised the
Palestinian issue, stressing that peace in the Middle East is
inseparable from restoring the rights of the Palestinian people.
There was condemnation of the Israeli army’s repression of the
civilian population in occupied Palestine and South Lebanon.
There was much condemnation of the aggressive US policy
in Latin America, especially the use of «the territory of
Panama, El Salvador and Honduras to launch attacks on
Nicaragua.» Repression in Pakistan was brought up, as was
the necessity of Puerto Rico’s independence. Based on the view
that «liberation, anti-apartheid, anti-racism, anti-zionism and
world peace issues cannot be separated,» this topic center dis-
tinguished itself by forwarding concrete proposals. It advo-
cated campaigns for sanctions against South Africa, for the
release of all political prisoners there and in Namibia, and for
greater support to the ANC, SWAPO, POLISARIO and
Nicaragua. It was also suggested that 1987 be proclaimed
Palestine Year.
Other topic centers dealt with «Peace and Human Rights»,
«Peace and Human Needs», «Living for Peace» and «Peace
and Trust».
SOLIDARITY WORK WITH PALESTINE
Our correspondent took the opportunity to discuss the state
of the solidarity work with the Palestinian people, with various
Danish organizations working in the Palestine Campaign.
Hanne Christensen, a leading activist, explained: «The Pales-
tine Campaign was formed in 1982, immediately after the
Israeli invasion of Lebanon. Before that, solidarity work was
carried out by various organizations... In 1982, all these
gathered in the same framework, and new forces entered,
including trade unions which had not previously been involved.
We were more than 20 organizations. We had a very big
demonstration against the Israeli invasion with 15-20,000
people. It was the second biggest anti-imperialist demonstra-
tion ever held in Denmark... Alot of ordinary people reacted
32
very strongly. They were shocked by the invasion. All their
ideas about Israel as a democracy, and a way to solve the
Jewish problem, were shaken...»
A comrade of the Danish Communist Party added: «When
there were attacks on the Sabra-Shatila refugee camps, a group
of us went to the US embassy and painted the Palestinian flag
on their grass and on Israel’s Place (a square in Copenhagen).
Every time we made demonstrations, more organizations came
to take part. We have changed public opinion a little, but we
must do still more.»
Hanne continues, «The activities of the campaign continued
to be strong and effective for a year... Then things returned to
almost how they had been before 1982... When the bourgeois
media does cover the Middle East, they try to confuse people
by the way they describe Syria, Jordan, the forces in Lebanon,
etc... We are not capable of confronting this kind of misin-
formation... It doesn’t make things easier that the PLO is not
united and one doesn’t know exactly what the PLO will do. We
are confronted with that kind of question every time we try to
convince the trade unions to be more active in solidarity with
the Palestinians.»
«We try to emphasize the situation in the West Bank and
Gaza, where you have a very clear situation - there is the occu-
pation and how it treats the Palestinians... You can take a
stand on these things, criticizing Israel and its base. You can
develop support to the Palestinian people and their right to
exist and have political activities... We have talked about other
ways of strengthening the solidarity. One is to connect Israel
with South Africa; if people are against apartheid, they should
be against Israel too, because it is exactly the same.
Also, Israel is a nuclear power. The peace movement should
not accept that nuclear power be used as a form of pressure,
and that’s how Israel will use it. It is not just that the regional
conflict could endanger world peace because the US or Soviet
Union will start using atomic weapons, as some Say. It is more
obvious that Israel will use them first...»
Preben Moller Hansen is the chairman of the Danish
Seaman’s Union, and leader of Fealles kurs klubben, a militant
labor organization that recently formed a new political party
which bases its work on Leninism. Referring to their interna-
tional contacts, Preben noted, «We have friendly relations
with the PFLP. This is our best contact in the Middle East. We
also have contact with the PLO office here, but we haven’t
done much with this, because we understand that Mr. Arafat is
on a wrong course... We have to support the groups that fight
in Lebanon for the interests of the working class, and we have
the opinion that the PFLP is doing that.»
Asked about the Israeli- Jordanian policy for joint rule of the
occupied West Bank, he replied: «No normal, thinking man,
even if he is far away from Palestine, can accept Camp David,
for it means a defeat for the working class. On the other hand,
King Hussein comes with his plan which nobody can accept.
You have only one way and that is to fight for your own
country on your own grounds, not on other people’s...
Otherwise you will be as slaves for 100 years. You must try and
get Palestine in your own way.»
Preben concurred with others involved in the Palestine
Campaign, that the division in the PLO detracts from the
solidarity work with Palestine. He also pointed out that many - هو جزء من
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