One gets used to human beings killing one another for what look from the outside to be evil or at least inadequate motives. Just occasionally, conflicts bring up a new horror that shocks partly because of its novelty. The systematic destruction of a nation's archival heritage is one such departure, and we can only register our dismay that it is happen, and trust that it will not be repeated in other theatres of conflict in the future.
My own view on this is that we should probably use the SoA meeting (which I can't attend either) to pass a resolution along the lines of the SAA motion, but we have to recognise that it can't achieve very much; an archive destroyed is gone forever. What would interest me as much is whether, perhaps through the ICA, we can stimulate any kind of effective international action to prevent such a terrible situation arising again, such as identifying likely foci of future ethnic conflict and instituting programmes for the copying of key parts of their archival heritage.
I also think that the way in which the extreme right sometimes denies the Nazi Holocaust suggests that archives are crucial in making nations face up to their past. Perhaps the systematic documentation of Serbian atrocities in Kosovo, and the preservation of that record in both Serbian and international archives should be a long-term policy goal for the UN?
Nick Kingsley
----------
From: Flynn, Sarah J
Sent: 15 April 1999 09:42
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc: Janet Smith (E-mail)
Subject: SAA Statement on Balkans Conflict
Morning everyone
The appended text was sent to the US archives listserv yesterday - apologies
to those of you who have already seen it, also for the lack of punctuation
therein.
It led to various responses on that list - some sarcastic, some earnest -
along the lines of 'why are SAA [the Society of American Archivists]
bothering their heads about the archives while people are being killed?'
Recalling our discussions on this list a few years ago over holding ICA
meetings in China, I wonder a) how the UK archives community feels about the
systematic destruction by the Serbs/Yugoslavs of personal and other records
relating to Kosovar Albanians, and b) if we should look to produce a similar
statement at the SoA AGM next week. I am copying in the Hon Secretary of
the Society, Jan Smith, on this message in case she would like to respond.
yours, never afraid to get a thread going, Sarah
+++++++++
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1999 11:35:00 -0500
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: SAA Resolution on Destruction of Archives in Kosovo and Yugoslavia
Please excuse the cross-postings=2E
On April 14, 1999 the SAA Council voted to approve the following
resolution on the destruction of archives in Kosovo and Yugoslavia:
The Society of American Archivists notes with grave concern reports
of the systematic destruction of archives in Kosovo and war-caused
devastation to archives throughout Yugoslavia
Archives hold the valuable records of the accomplishments of a nation,
of a government's actions, and of its people's lives Destruction of the
archives eliminates a vital link in a nation's connection to its past and
destroys a people's ability to learn about themselves and to defend
their rights and interests
Although felt most deeply by those directly affected, the loss of
archives anywhere in the world is an irreparable tragedy for all humankind
Once destroyed, archives cannot be recreated, and the cultural
patrimony of the world is permanently diminished
With these considerations in mind, the Society of American Archivists
deplores the loss of archives that has taken place to date in the
Yugoslav conflict and urges all military forces to recognize the
significance and sanctity of archives and to take all actions necessary
to protect them to the greatest extent possible wherever they may be
found
******
Sarah J A Flynn
Archivist (Historical Records)
Information Management and Analysis
Glaxo Wellcome Research and Development
Greenford Road
Greenford
Middlesex UB6 0HE
Direct line: 711 2395 / 0181 966 2395
Fax: 711 2240 / 0181 966 2240
Email: [log in to unmask]
******
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|