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Students Against Genocide (SAGE)
Stanford University
Kosova Solidarity Movement
URGENT! STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS BEGIN WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29:
Students Against Genocide (SAGE) invites you to participate in the Kosova Solidarity
Movement. In particular, we appeal to our colleagues at universities around the world to
join us in supporting the Student Independent Union of the University of Prishtina in
their struggle for basic rights to education. Our targets are (1) University Presidents,
(2) President Clinton, and (3) President Slobodan Milosevic.
BACKGROUND:
Kosova (or Kosovo) was a formerly autonomous region in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The vast majority of the province’s population is ethnic Albanian, whereas the rest
of Serbia’s population is predominantly of Serbian Orthodox faith. In 1989, the
Serbian government unilaterally revoked the province’s autonomy, closed nearly all
schools from primary to University level, and a crackdown on the majority Albanian
population ensued. Of particular note, in 1991 approximately 1000 ethnic Albanian
professors and 27,000 ethnic Albanian students were expelled from the University of
Prishtina by Serbian police and the use of the Albanian language was prohibited there.
This is the seventh academic year that the faculty and students have participated in an
underground university. On October 1, 1997, with international monitors present, the
Student Independent Union organized peaceful, non-violent protests with the aim of
restoring the university premises to the faculty and students and allowing them to resume
instruction in the Albanian language. The protesters were attacked and many injured and
arrested by Serbian riot police leading to a suspension of the protests. Since that time,
no progress has been made in negotiations to end apartheid in the University and high
schools in Kosova. The protests are to resume on October 29, 1997 with international
observers present.
PLAN OF ACTION: WHAT YOU CAN DO!
1)Petition (below)
Please collect signatures! Present completed petitions (paper or e-mail) to:
*your University President (urging him or her to make a public statement of support for
the Kosovo University students)
*send copies to President Clinton, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20500 or email
to President@whitehouse.gov (asking him to do all in his power to pressure the Serbian
government to respect human rights of ethnic Albanians in Kosova)
*send copies to Students Against Genocide, PO Box 9248, Stanford, CA 94309 or email to
borutg@leland.stanford.edu)
*send copies to President Slobodan Milosevic; Tolstojeva 33, 11000
Belgrade, Yugoslavia
*send copies (and letters of support) to the Kosova students at:
UPSUP@albanian.com.
*if you have a web-site, please put the petition on it (and let us know)!:
PETITION TO SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO AN EDUCATION FOR ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN
KOSOVA
Since 1991, after being forcefully expelled, thousands of ethnic Albanian students and
professors have been denied access to the University of Prishtina by Serbian police in
Kosova. On October 1st, 1997, with international observers present, the Student
Independent Union of the University of Prishtina organized peaceful student demonstrations
for the right to education which were met, without warning, by harsh Serbian riot police
attacks. The SIU will resume peaceful protests on October 29, 1997. We, the undersigned
(of ________________ University or College), ask our University President and the United
States President to demand an immediate end to all unjust, cruel and inhumane treatment of
the student demonstrators in Prishtina carried out by the Serbian police units. The
Yugoslavian government must fully recognize the right of every individual to freedom of
peaceful assembly and association (Article 21, Chapter 8 of the Charter of the United
Nations). We also demand that the Albanian majority living in Kosova be granted their
basic right to education (Article 13, Chapter 8 of the Charter of the United Nations),
including the restoration of a bilingual education system in Kosova and the return of the
thousands of ethnic Albanian students and faculty to the University premises. Students are
the future: by supporting their human rights we will help prevent conflict in future
generations.
2)Supporting activities on college campuses:
Please plan to organize an activity on your campus in conjunction with signature
collection and the upcoming student demonstrations in Kosova. SAGE leaders will be pleased
to assist you in your plans. (Contact Borut Grgic, Stanford SAGE President at
borutg@leland.stanford.edu or Mirium Mahlow, Stanford SAGE Vice President at
miri@leland.stanford.edu or Sylvia Iorgova, Stanford SAGE Outreach Coordinator at
blaga@leland.stanford.edu). Ideas include:
a)Petition signing and letter-writing table in the center of campus at noontime. Hint:
offer FREE PIZZA to those who stop to participate!
b)Lecture on Kosova (e.g. by a knowledgeable professor on your campus, or SAGE can help
you find speakers).
c)Candlelight rally: to raise awareness and draw media attention to the Kosova situation.
d)**Remember to visit the University of Prishtina students’ website at:
www.alb-net.com and send a message of support from your university!!** |
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