In 1991, 14 groups united to form the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples organisation - a sort of alternative United Nations. The 14-strong core included Estonians and Latvians (who have since, of course, achieved their independence) and West Papuans and Tartars. The Masai, the Karen of Burma and Eritreans came to the special session in The Hague as observers and would like full membership.
The principles behind this new body are those of respect for human rights, for the right to self-determination, for democratic principles, and for the protection of the environment. Each member pledges to try to solve conflicts without violence.
As a group they hope to run information networks and management training schemes and to pool their contacts. The organisation has a long list of academic, legal and political experts prepared to help advise and support the organisation. They have established an Urgent Action Council to intervene at the request of members and their groups who are threatened by state violence and bloody conflicts. They believe that the mechanisms of existing bodies are too slow to anticipate and to act on crises before they happen.
The criteria for peoples seeking membership are that:
(1) They are a distinct group; (2) They have their own culture; (3) they have their own language; and (4) they are not members of the UN.
Founding Secretary General Van Walt Van Praag, Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisations, 347 Dolores St, Suite 206, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA tel 415 626 0995; fax 415 626 0865).