Speaking as someone who was both astonished and appalled by the ICA being so
ready to be used in a government public relations exercise in China, despite
a jolly time being had by all, I can quite understand why people are
expressing puzzlement over the SAA worrying about records rather than
people.
Nevertheless, trying with great difficulty to be dispassionate about an
obscene programme of deliberate genocide, and looking at the "big picture",
if we as a professional community do not highlight this situation with
regard to a nation's documentary heritage, then who will?
Of course the issue has to be approached with the utmost sensitivity with
regard to the numerous individual human tragedies escalating daily, but I
think it is up to us a profession to highlight the fact that this systematic
destruction is being carried out. It is clearly part of a planned agenda to
destroy a nation's distinct identity and national memory, along with the
horrifying mis-treatment of the female Albanian population of Kosovo now
being reported.
Perversely, the Serb actions with regard to these historical records adds
proof to what we are continually trying to demonstrate; that the archives of
any organisation or institution - national, corporate or whatever - are a
priceless and irreplaceable component of that institution's identity, the
loss of which would damage its future development. Clearly, the Serbs at
least believe so.
I support the action of the SAA, and believe that the Society should produce
something similar. Thank you, Sarah, for bringing this to our attention.
As a sad postcript, I must stress that these are my own personal views, and
I do not in any way speak for my employer who facilities I am employing to
express them.
David Hay
* (0171) 492 8799
* (0171) 242 1973
* [log in to unmask]
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Flynn, Sarah J [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Thursday, April 15, 1999 9:42 AM
> 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]
>
> ******
>
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