Continued struggle for
more freedom for Scania

Göran Hansson continues to fight for the Region of Scania, but that region is not the same as the political Region of Skåne. And his struggle is aimed at the Swedish State apparatus and for the right to self-determination. Among other things through membership in the organisation UNPO, which protects the rights of nations, peoples and cultural regions.

Today - Monday - Göran Hansson travels to Taipei, the Capital of Taiwan, in order to participate in a conference on human rights. The purpose of the conference is to explore the relationship between the international state system and regional demands for self-determination.

"What will be illuminated there is the rigid pragmatism in the internationals state system in a changing world. Many politicians in Sweden do not realise what is happening, that the nation-states are about to become dissolved and that the regions are for the future."

"We see one example in Russia, a counrty in chaos. And yet politicians in the USA and Sweden, to mention a few, view Moscow as having control over its territories.

"But this is not correct since the state apparatus does not function properly any longer. Within today's Russia there are many republics which do not want to have anything to do with Moscow. Russia is falling apart but we chose not to take that into consideration - we continue to invest time and money into reinstating Moscow as the power centre."

"The international system is based on the egocentric interest of the states and on the official opinion that pragmatic interests such as economy and geopolitics are more important than regional demands for self-determination."

Countries are breaking up
"There are additional large states breaking up - other than Russia - in the Far East for instance. But the world prefers to react to this in the same way it has always done. This has been the standard official reaction during all of the 20th Century and the way some prefer it to continue also in the future."

"One of the issues being brought up at the conference is how the demand for greater regional self-determination is going to become a legitimate and realistic interest within the international system. Particularly as one tool among others to avoid future wars and conflicts with all the human suffering that brings about."

"We see a democracy revolution taking place in Europe today - regionalism. It is imperative that we also become a part of this. And Sweden is not following this path with its cosmetic regional policies in the hands of bureaucrats and civil servants."

Non-violence
In the capacity as committee member for the UNPO Awards, Göran Hansson will also present the organisation's prizes. It is two awards for two individuals who have made significant contributions in the field of human rights.

The two awardees this year are Cheng Yen from Taiwan who is working for the benefit of people in social need in - among other places - in the Far East, Africa and the former Soviet Union. The other is Sulak Sivarksa from Thailand, an advocate for human rights, social justice and democracy with nonviolence as a guiding light.

By Christer Andersson

© SSF