The Need For Circassian Institutional Work
By: Adel Bashqawi
01, February, 2015
It is no secret to anyone, that the Circassian nation has suffered greatly and it is still trying hard to defend the national dignity, survival and identity in the face of the evil ambitions and exterior invasion, which was exposed over tens of years for murder, genocide, occupation, exclusion, displacement, forced deportation and exile abroad and away from the Circassian homeland located in the North Caucasus.
After the elapse of more than 150 years since the end of the devastating war waged by the Tsarist Russian Empire against Circassia, it is the duty of the Circassian individuals and institutions, whether at homeland or in Diaspora, to do what their national and humanitarian imperative dictate them to do where everyone works on cooperation and coordination among themselves in order to take into account the requisites that require the development of partnership mechanism with the international organizations that follow the United Nations bodies especially the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and in respect to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of indigenous Peoples, as well as government and non-government institutions and organizations in the world, especially in the States of the European Union and its affiliated organs, which are interested in human rights and oppressed peoples issues.
The invading Russian Empire forces had perpetrated crimes of genocide and ethnic cleansing against the Circassian people, which are considered crimes against humanity, punishable under international law, which are no statute of limitations for any passage of time. These tragedies had devastating, serious and painful repercussions, where the effects had impact on the overall population of Circassia with all its spectra, where the urgent components that need attention in order to address them and work on circulating and spreading them in an urgent manner is the Adigha language that seems in light of the current situation, sliding towards the deep hollows of extinction, which is closely linked with the necessary elements to maintain the Circassian culture and what is associated with it such as literature, prose, poetry, studies, arts, science, archiving, and handicraft & traditional Industries, and with the importance of the need for the perpetrators and the international community to recognize the genocide, the right of return and the restoration of the legitimate rights, especially what is related to the right of self-determination based on the international legitimacy.
The Circassian people combines the Abzakh, Beslany, Bzhadugh, Egherukoy, Hatuqwai, Kabarday, Kemirgoy, Mokhosh, Natuqwazh, Shapsugh, Ubykh, and Zhana, which are required to stand united in the face of exclusionary projects and plans related to the liquidation of the “Circassian Question” whether through dispersion and division of the Circassian regions in the North Caucasus or through the Russian authorities attempt of trying to maintain the status quo which consists of imposing denial of the Circassian rights, neglecting the Circassian Diaspora subject, and dwarfing Circassians by promoting and maintaining their present status permanently in the current places of residence through cooperation with some of the heads and members of the boards of the Circassian associations, related either directly or indirectly with the International Circassian Association.
The Circassian Action Common Mechanism
In order to achieve the ambitious crucial goals of the Circassian nation, it should be relied on the basics and perspectives of managing a joint Circassian mechanism of action in the present and the future by means of coordination and consultation through the following key elements:
– The formation of constituent committees to coordinate and oversee the establishment of one or more leading Circassian organizations to solicit on achieving the goals of the Circassian nation concerning the restoration of its legitimate rights, and to turn into permanent institutions through democratically elected members and administrations beside interaction with all members.
To induce sub-committees with wide powers which operate in accordance with established goals in the whereabouts of the Circassians, whether at home or in Diaspora, and operate within local communities as dictated by the surrounding circumstances and events for the purpose of emphasizing on the unity and integrity of the Circassian territories.
Develop an integrated program, embodies both horizontal and vertical organizational structures, by the consistent with its duties, and what needs to be done in all walks of life, in order to raise awareness at different levels, and multiple forms, among the members of the Circassian people, for the sake of participating in the Circassian national duty, at all levels and fields.
Clarify the methods that will be followed for coordination and cooperation in order to be adopted in the revitalization of the direct and indirect contact with members of the Circassian communities, with no exception, and strengthen the joint links between all Circassians living in the Circassian homeland and their peers in Diaspora.
Work on the establishment of an independent Circassian media system through the use of audio, visual and electronic ways and means to work on addressing the Circassians and the world alike, in order to expose racist and fascist methods pursued in the past and still by the Russian successive governments.
Holding seminars, meetings and conferences specialized in the “Circassian Question”, and demand from the United Nations, the European Union countries, the United States of America and all human rights organizations to perform their humanitarian duty to recognize the right of self-determination and the restoration of the Circassian confiscated rights.
Push for promoting social, cultural, civil, economic and political activities, in order to support the various paths of the “Circassian Question” wherever and whenever possible.
Most importantly, act within a pattern of allowing anyone who can provide the required effort according to mutual respect with others, self-confidence, listening to creative opinions presented away from selfishness and self-ego behavior, and not to let anyone to make the subject tied to a certain individual or any particular party!
Future Expectations
The intransigence had been shown by the Russians and still, showed dvina grudge for all that is Caucasian and/or Circassian, forgetting or overlooking that justice will be done inevitably, and everyone will regain his rights. What is regrettable though, is that some people are maintaining strong ties of friendship with those who do not recognize in the first place that the Circassians got a Circassian homeland, however they are denying them the right to exercise their legitimate rights and their right to their homeland, according to the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/), the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/DRIPS_en.pdf) and even according to Russian laws. To consider the existence of a case that shall be defended by all legitimate ways and means requires hard work, and no one who got a heart pulsing with life and hope would condone that, because who loses his homeland would lose everything, “truth will prevail, and the rest ‘with the passage of time’ will disappear”.
