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National Endowment for Democracy     News and Information     Fall 2000 Newsletter

Veteran democrats, front-line Balkan activists, and U.S. and Western European donors gathered at the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin on June 29 in an effort to foster collaboration among those working for a democratic breakthrough in Yugoslavia as well as to further consolidate recent democratic gains in the Balkan region as a whole. "Promoting Democracy in Southeast Europe - Experiences and New Approaches," was the theme of the international conference which convened just three months before the September 24 elections and ensuing demonstrations that finally forced Slobodan Milosevic from power in Serbia.

The meeting's 246 participants included representatives of the nongovernmental sector from Albania, Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montengegro, Poland, Romania and the U.S. The Serb contingent was a formidable combination of key activists from opposition political parties and groups like the student movement Otpor, independent media, human rights and civil society groups, as well as three democratically elected mayors.

U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and German Foreign Minister Joschka Fisher addressed the meeting which was organized by NED; the Friedrich Ebert and Konrad Adenauer Stiftungs, two of Germany's political party foundations; and the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe, an initiative of the EU established in June 1999 to foster regional cooperation and democracy in the region.

Albright Committed to Cooperation "As democracy has spread, truly global cooperation on its behalf has become possible. However, this has also made democracy more vulnerable in more places and Southeast Europe is a prime example," said U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in her keynote address. With respect to Serbia, she said, "We cannot impose a democratic solution on Serbia from the outside in, but we can help Serbs build one from the inside out."

The Secretary emphasized the need for continued assistance to democratic forces, not just before, but after a democratic transition begins. She encouraged a regional approach to democratic transition and consolidation, emphasizing the special role that can be played by those democrats in Central and Southeast Europe who have already made transitions to free markets

Fourteen Colombian mayors observed a moment of silence during a press briefing on September 28 in Washington, D.C. when they received the news that another of their colleagues had been assassinated. The mayors had come to Washington to draw attention to the terrible risks faced by those who struggle to carry out their duties as elected officials, especially in regions no longer controlled by the Colombian government, but by armed groups in the ongoing civil war.

Despite the extensive press coverage that the Colombian armed conflict has received, the toll exacted on local, elected mayors has gone untold. Mayors in Colombia are on the front lines of the armed conflict, particularly in isolated, rural communities. The mayors' visit came just one month before the local elections held October 29, which the mayors predicted would be cause for more intimidation and violence against candidates. Guerrillas and paramilitaries vowed to disrupt the elections by targeting those candidates they deemed "corrupt."

During their two-day visit the mayors' delegation, which included Juan Gomez, Mayor of Medellín, and Omar Garcia, mayor of San Vicente del Caguán in the FARC-controlled zone, met with members of the US Congress, multi-lateral agencies and the media. The mayors also participated in a half-day conference cosponsored by NED and Georgetown University focusing on the crisis of local governance in Colombia. The Federation of Colombian Mayors, who organized the delegation, has figured prominently in articulating the needs of the embattled mayors before the central government in Bogotá, as well as in direct dialogue with the prominent armed groups to allow the local elections to proceed without violence.

Chilling statistics illustrate the threat to local government in Colombia: An average of one mayor per month is assassinated by guerrillas or paramilitaries In 1997 during the previous mayoral elections, 56 candidates for local office were assassinated and more than 100 were kidnapped In the last 4 years, 28 Mayors and 462 Councilmen have been assassinated. Another 25 mayors have been forced to flee under death threats.

Nearly 500 democratic activists, scholars and practitioners from every corner of the world will convene in São Paulo, Brazil, November 12-15 for the second assembly of the World Movement for Democracy. The theme of the assembly will be "Confronting the Challenges to Democracy in the 21st Century." Participants will share their experiences in building democracy at the grassroots and formulate practical steps that the international community can take to promote democracy globally. Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso will address the opening session of the assembly, which will be held in the Latin American Parliament and Memorial.

The main work of the assembly will be pursued in more than 20 hands-on workshops designed to address issues that are common across regions (see box) and to set practical goals, such as increasing women's participation in politics; creating a democratic youth network; and linking democracy research institutes. In anticipation of the São Paulo assembly, networks of democrats have convened in Istanbul, Turkey; Mexico City, Mexico; Bangkok, Thailand; and Abuja, Nigeria; to prepare regional agendas and workshops. The preparatory meetings have also provided opportunities for involvement in the World Movement to individuals who will be unable to attend the meeting in Brazil.

The World Movement for Democracy was launched in February 1999 at its first assembly in New Delhi, India, where nearly 400 democrats from more than 80 countries gathered to explore networking with one another across borders, cultures, and professional backgrounds. An international steering committee was established to provide guidance to the World Movement.

"The World Movement is inspired by the belief that global economics and instant communications have provided new opportunities and potential for collaboration among democrats on a worldwide scale," said Carl Gershman, a member of the World Movement Steering Committee and President of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). "The networks established through the World Movement will help democrats everywhere to respond to the new challenges of globalization." The World Movement is staffed by NED in its offices in Washington, D.C.

The people of Yugoslavia have taken a dramatic step, ending the dictatorship of Slobodan Milosevic and moving to rejoin the international community as a democracy.

While congratulating the new President, Vojislav Kostunica, and the Serbian people, we must acknowledge that a great deal of work needs to be done.

The transition to democracy will not be easy. President Kostunica faces immense challenges-picking up the pieces from a decade of authoritarianism and ethnic conflict. The costs of Milosevic's iron-handed rule have been devastating: in loss of human life, a decimated economy, a web of corruption and criminality, a breakdown of the social fabric of the country.

In applauding the victory for democracy in Yugoslavia, we in the United States and Europe must also recognize our own commitment to reinforcing the democratic gains there and throughout the Balkans.

Last summer, in Berlin, at a forum on "Promoting Democracy in Southeast Europe," (see cover story) cosponsored by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), Secretary of State Madeleine Albright spoke words I believe are directly relevant to the changing configuration of forces in Yugoslavia. She said: "democracy may be the most stable form of government in the long run, but in the short run it is among the most fragile. The leaders of new democracies are often required to implement dramatic economic and political reforms in countries with little democratic tradition and a host of inherited problems. In such situations, democratic processes must be relentlessly nurtured, for their success cannot be assumed." Last summer, in visits to East Central and Southeast Europe, I observed first hand efforts to promote democracy there.

In Warsaw, NED President Carl Gershman and I joined leaders of other nongovernmental organizations at the World Forum on Democracy, sponsored by Freedom House, which coincided with a "Toward a Community of Democracies" meeting of foreign ministers that was testament to the success of the Polish transition to democracy.

I also visited the northern Greek city of Salonika for events that highlighted cooperation in the region. As a founding director, I attended the inauguration of the Center for Democracy and Reconciliation in Southeast Europe. The Center's Southeast European Joint History Project, brings together professors of history from throughout the Balkans to discuss ways in which history is used to manipulate political and social relations in the region. The scholars, who form an area-wide network, plan to contribute to more constructive, less nationalistic, history textbooks. The Center is also organizing meetings where young parliamentarians from the region can talk with each other and with MPs from Western Europe. Even with the defeat of Milosevic in Yugoslavia and such efforts as I have described, Southeast Europe remains a deeply troubled part of the world.

Since its founding in 1983, NED has played a significant role in supporting democrats throughout Eastern Europe and the Balkans. NED and other democracy-promoting foundations in the West must not fail to assist the peoples of Southeast Europe as they move toward fully free and open systems of self-government.

Whoever is elected President of the United States-I write only days before November 7-and to the Senate and House of Representatives, I hope the tradition of strong bipartisan support for the National Endowment for Democracy continues. Democracy has come a long way in the century just past but there's still a long way to go-and NED must be there.

On September 20, 2000 three prominent Egyptian Human Rights activists addressed a forum cosponsored by NED and Johns Hopkins University School for Advanced International Studies focusing on "Threats to Civil Society in Egypt and the Arab World." Featured speaker Negad Borai, former director of the Group for Democratic Development (GDD) and Board Member of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR), was joined by Mohamed Zarei, Director of the Center for Assisting Prisoners and Hafez Abo Saeda, Secretary General of the EOHR. The proceedings were taped and rebroadcast across the Middle East by Al-Jazeera, the Arab world's equivalent to CNN.

The speakers emphasized that while there is the semblance of democracy in Egypt in terms of the existence of institutions, elections, NGOs, and political parties, the long-term sustainability of democracy in Egypt is facing serious and fundamental threats. They spoke of the negative repercussions of Emergency Law in Egypt, which has been in effect for close to twenty years, and often compromises due process and the rule of law. They also warned that the arrest of Saad Eddin Ibrahim, a prominent leader of Egyptian civil society, and increased government crackdowns in general suggest that the future existence of Egyptian human rights organizations is in serious jeopardy.

In his remarks, Borai outlined the many ways that the Egyptian government has clamped down on civil-society since the adoption of new laws limiting the activities and funding of nongovernmental organizations in May of 1998. Tactics used by the government to intimidate or limit the activities of those working to build civil society include: trying civilians in military courts; eliminating local elections for mayors; eliminating the election of university deans; efforts to control student unions; and criminalization of political activities by opposition parties. Borai was especially troubled by the government's repression of professional unions and associations.

"The backbone of Egypt's civil society [professional unions] has been paralyzed. The excuse as always, is to prevent the Islamists from infiltrating them."

Government harassment of human rights organizations has forced most organizations to close voluntarily. An example cited by Borai was the case of his own organization, the Group for Democratic Development, which closed due to excessive government harassment including an incident in which school teachers who participated in its democracy awareness program were fined a month's salary. Other organizations like the EOHR, were banned from receiving funds, forcing bankruptcy.

The panelists also noted that the government exercises total control over electronic media in Egypt, and that while it is legal to run independent newspapers and publications, the licensing process favors only government cronies that parrot the government-controlled press. "It is easier to enter paradise than to start an independent party or newspaper," said Borai.

It has been 18 months since Olusegun Obasanjo was sworn in as president of Nigeria, signaling the return of civilian rule in Africa's most populous country. The initial euphoria that greeted the Obasanjo regime has, however, been tempered by the complex political and economic problems facing the country.

The past 12 months have seen mounting religious and ethnic tension in Nigeria. One of the worst problems facing the country has been religious tension, pitting Christians against Muslims. Another is ethnic conflict, which has left tens of thousands of Nigerians dead over the years. Many Nigerians now fear the violence might tear apart Africa's most populous country.

Violence in the oil-producing Niger Delta continues to simmer as a result of the legacy of oppression and corruption in the resource-rich region. After 15 years of military rule, during which soldiers and police waged war on civilians, violence has become a hard habit to break. Civilian relations with the police and the military are deteriorating, due to recent violence between civilians and the police.

One particularly notorious incident occurred in the town of Odi, where a confrontation between the police and a group of youths left a half dozen police officers dead. In retaliation police completely leveled Odi, a town of 60,000, and in a frenzy of violence committed indiscriminate rapes, beatings and killings. The incident highlighted the long-simmering tensions between Nigerian citizens and the military/police and the continued cycle of violence.

One of the Nigerian groups playing a key role in examining this historically contentious relationship is the Center for Law Enforcement Education in Nigeria (CLEEN), a Lagos based NGO which has catalyzed discussion on the need for reform of the Nigerian police. Formed in 1996, CLEEN has been at the forefront in organizing civilian input into the discussion about police reform.

Earlier this year, CLEEN organized a civil society forum on police reform in Nigeria. Representatives of 25 NGOs from all over the country, the Nigerian Ministry of Police Affairs and the Nigeria Police force attended the forum, which identified areas for reform.

The conference led to the creation of the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria, which will focus on police operations and accountability, training and development in the police force, gender and policing, legislation, and community- police relations.

Although a formal structure, Police- Community Relations Committees, have been in existence since 1989, these committees were geared toward polishing the tarnished image of the police. CLEEN's efforts have been aimed at overcoming the legacy of suspicion and replacing it with practical efforts to bring the police and communities together in finding a solution.

A recent conference in Kaduna State highlights the potential impact of CLEEN's activities on the community. At the conclusion of the meeting, which brought together members of the community, police and politicians, participants agreed to establish Nigeria's first police-community relations forum. The forum will be codified into law and run by a joint committee which will ensure broad participation of Nigerians. This institution will form a foundation from which a new era in community-police relations can be built.

Civil society activists and organizers from ten East Asian countries met October 27-28 in Bangkok, Thailand to discuss the role of civil society in promoting democracy in the region. Joining them for off-the-record roundtable discussions were non-Asian counterparts from Central Europe and Latin America, and democracy experts from Thailand, Korea, Australia, and the United States.

The Bangkok meeting was the third in a series of working conferences sponsored by the Democracy Forum for East Asia, a joint project of the NED's International Forum for Democratic Studies and the Sejong Institute of Korea. Other cosponsors included the Asia Foundation and King Prajadhipok's Institute of Thailand, which served as the local host.

The opening session of the meeting focused on the institutional environment for civil society. Panelists discussed how laws in their respective countries facilitated or impeded the creation and effective operation of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). In some countries NGOs need merely to be licensed by governmental bodies. In others they are registered and regulated by different ministries or by different levels of government, creating confusion and delays when these organizations attempt to respond to new problems in their societies. Several civil society leaders complained that it is easier to establish a for-profit business than an NGO in their countries. And while most countries in the region allow NGOs to operate on a tax-exempt basis, few presently allow tax deductibilty for contributions (although change is expected soon in some places).

But the problems are not entirely on the side of government. Several speakers noted that NGOs are relatively new phenomena that have yet to gain full public trust. Many citizens see NGOs as creatures of foreign funders established solely to criticize the government. And some NGOs have been used to launder money or for other questionable purposes. The second session focused on NGO management, and the need for transparency and democracy in NGO operations. Many NGOs are created and run by charismatic individuals who bring a strong sense of mission to the NGOs they create, but whom make a regular rotation of leadership difficult or impossible. Other organizations are so small that there are few leaders to rotate and few resources to devote to preparing financial disclosure reports. And too many NGOs seek prominent individuals or friends of the founders to serve as board members, rather than competent managers who can run the organization like a business.

In the conference's third session, "Enhancing Policy Advocacy and Effectiveness," participants described the tactics they use to inform and influence the policy process. One participant said that a successful NGO needs to combine "a brain, a heart, and a fist," meaning that intelligence and compassion need to be matched with real social or political muscle. But while some speakers called for NGOs to remain independent, nonpartisan watchdogs, others argued that they should work with government, endorse candidates and political parties, and even encourage NGO leaders to serve in government positions when so doing would advance the policy objectives of the organization.

The final session focused on how NGOs strengthen (and occasionally weaken) democracy. One speaker argued that NGOs contribute to democracy not only by the work they do on particular issues, but by expanding the amount of "democratic space" and contributing to a democratic temperament in society. Others agreed that the early victories of some NGO pioneers enlarged the range of social possibilities by showing citizens that constructive criticism of the government could result in policy changes. But participants also agreed that NGOs are sometimes misused by the media, which prefer simple, sensational stories to solid research on complicated subjects. And some NGO leaders who came of age during the struggle against authoritarian regimes have difficulty adjusting to the new rules of behavior for dealing with the young and admittedly imperfect democracies that replaced them.

"How can we apply what we have learned?" Moderator Marc F. Plattner, codirector of the International Forum, posed this question to conference participants at the final session. The responses ranged from concrete lessons on specific issues to a general desire to improve regional contacts and cooperation among NGOs. Virtually all participants also agreed that since civil society is so crucial to democracy, the Democracy Forum for East Asia should devote another full conference to this topic in the near future.

At its most recent meeting in September, the NED Board of Directors elected new members including high-tech guru, Esther Dyson, and three members of the U.S. Senate: Evan Bayh of Indiana, Bill Frist of Tennessee, and Jon Kyl of Arizona. All will begin their three-year term in January 2001. "Esther Dyson will be a unique and dynamic addition to the NED Board," said NED President Carl Gershman. "Her familiarity with Eastern Europe combined with her expertise in both the Internet and emerging economies will make her an invaluable asset to NED and our grantees."

Dyson was listed by Forbes magazine as one of the most powerful women in American business. Beginning as a fact checker and then reporter at Forbes, she moved on to become a securities analyst, a writer of a leading hi-tech industry newsletter, and an investor in Eastern European technology ventures. She evolved into an influential policy expert on issues related to the Internet and is also an author and columnist who focuses on explaining and examining the Internet and digital technologies for the average person. Through her company, EDventure Holdings, Dyson continues to invest in start-up Internet companies and serves on various boards that set policy for the Web.

Evan Bayh was elected to his first term in the U.S. Senate after serving two terms as Indiana's governor. He is the latest in a series of distinguished Indiana legislators who have served the NED Board. Others include current members John Brademas (Chairman), Richard Lugar, and Lee Hamilton and former board member David McIntosh. Both Chairman Brademas and Senator Lugar will conclude nine years of service to the Board in January 2001.

Bill Frist is completing his first term representing Tennessee in the Senate. Well known as the chamber's only physician and transplant surgeon, he plays a leading role on health-related issues. Senator Frist serves on the Committee on Foreign Relations and is Chairman of the African Affairs Subcommittee, reflecting his strong interest in the continent.

Jon Kyl was elected to the U.S. Senate from Arizona in 1994 after serving four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He has a long-standing interest in foreign affairs and national security policy, serving on the Senate's Intelligence and Appropriations committees, and has been a champion of democracy assistance since his days as a Member of the House.

"The Endowment is privileged to have the counsel and support of senators Bayh, Frist and Kyl, who represent the broad, bipartisan commitment to freedom, human rights and democracy that gave birth to the National Endowment for Democracy 16 years ago," said NED Chairman John Brademas.

RHT will use NED support to provide journalism training in four key areas: how to sharpen reporting skills, understanding the ethical issues affecting journalists, how to improve reporting on conflict, and updating journalists on latest new technologies. Burundi, which has experienced violence and political unrest, has a limited number of trained journalists who are capable of providing balanced and accurate coverage of news events.

Burma
Women's Rights and Welfare Association of Burma
The WRWAB will provide its 60 members and other Burmese women with information on basic political concepts, institutions, and systems through a series of civic education workshops. In addition, it will offer women's empowerment and leadership courses for its members.

Colombia
Fundación para un Nuevo Periodismo Iberoamericano (FNPI)
FNPI will develop an alert network to protect journalists against attacks and threats. In addition, FNPI will train journalists in techniques for reporting in situations of conflict and precautionary strategies for protection.

Turkey
International Republican Institute
IRI will encourage Turkey's considerable youth population to become more actively involved in solving their own problems and, consequently, those of their society. Building upon the results of IRI's research into local social and political attitudes, IRI will begin a series of workshops to train youth groups on outreach and integration techniques; move forward with a program of national public service announcements presented by volunteer Turkish celebrities that encourage youth to become active in the civic life of their nation; and institutionalize cooperation among Turkey's youth NGOs through the creation of an interactive web site that would be coordinated by an advisory group of Turkish youth NGO leaders.

Belarus
Kurier
NED funds will help this independent magazine establish itself as a self-sufficient weekly publication. Despite a repressive government, an independent media continues to function in Belarus, making an important contribution to breaching the media monopoly fostered by the Lukashenka regime.

Kyrgyzstan
Youth Human Rights Group
YHRG will conduct civic education classes in 15 high schools in Bishkek and run training seminars on how to teach human rights for students and teachers. YHRG will work to change Kyrgyz attitudes by focusing on young people, educating them about their rights and highlighting their role in promoting democracy within the society. The group will also use weekly radio programs to facilitate its work, and continue monitoring violations of young people's rights and human rights situation in psychiatric institutions. In addition, YHRG will publish a bulletin and provide consultation for a network of NGOs.