7th General
Assembly
The Hague 24, 25 and 26
June 2005
Member resolution in support of the Mari people
27.06.05
Having met at the VII UNPO General Assembly in The Hague, the
Netherlands, 24-26 June 2005.
 Considering
that since the last UNPO General Assembly in 2001 things have changed
for the worse for the Mari People and that the new President of the Republic
of Mari El has started to implement policies in violation of constitutional
Rights and Freedoms of the Mari People as well as the other peoples of
the Republic of Mari El.
Considering that during the years of his presidency, the Maris
have lost political power in their own republic, and were not allowed to
represent the Republic of Mari El in the highest representative bodies
of the Russian Federation.
Realising that the Mari people have lost the ability to protect
and assure their language and culture as levels of Mari language instruction
in schools have significantly been curtailed.
Further noting increased censorship of the media and grave infringements
of the Mari Peoples freedom of speech, which prevent any form of opposition
from voicing their opinion, and punishes those who disobey, as was the
case with the beating and killing of 3 journalists in 2001 and the beating
of the All-Russia Mari National Movement on 4 February 2005.
Realising that on the 4 March 2005, the European Commission expressed
its concern regarding the news about repression directed against the leaders
of the opposition movements; journalists; and state officials representing
indigenous people of the Republic of Mari El and that the European Parliament
accepted, on 12 May, 2005, the resolution
about the violation of human rights and democracy in the Republic of Mari
El.
Further realising that the Appeal
on Behalf of the Mari People, which requires the Russian authorities
to take immediate steps in order to stop the persecution of democratic
opposition in the Republic of Mari El, has gained the support and pledge
of 10,000 people from more than 60 countries and several international
organizations, including UNPO.
The UNPO General Assembly
Supports the Appeal on Behalf of the Mari People.
Calls upon the Russian Federation to cease their harassment and persecution
of the Mari people and the degradation of their language and culture and
to investigate and punish those who have and continue to commit crimes
against indigenous people.
Calls upon the re-institution of the Mari language use in all
levels of education and all forms of media as well as the abolishment of
censorship practice which prevents freedom of speech.
Calls on the Russian Federation to allow and support a monitoring
process to take place in the Mari Republic, Udmurt Republic, Komi Republic
and other Finno-Ugric regions to access the ongoing situation and take
positive measures for its improvement.
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