The words were strong and the emotions were high as an international congress in Vilnius claimed that communists killed 100 million people throughout the world and appealed to the United Nations and all democratic countries to create a special tribunal fo
Published:
25 June 2000 y., Sunday
Witnesses from Lithuania, Bulgaria, Hungary and other Central European countries spoke about their personal suffering from communist repression. Lithu-anian lawyer Vytautas Zabiela said that the process would have only moral, not legal consequences. Lech Walesa, the former
president of Poland and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, attended the congress held June 12-14. He received the Nobel Peace Prize for fighting against the communist regime when he was the leader of the Polish independent Solidarity trade unions.
"More people were killed in peace time than during two world wars in this part of the world," Walesa said about communist terror.
The congress participants, victims of communist repression, politicians, political scientists and lawyers from 23 countries, said that Vilnius is a symbolic place for such an anti-communist forum. Lithuania lost one-third of its population during Soviet occupation because of killings,
deportations and forced emigration, said Povilas Jakucionis, chairman of the Lithuanian Political Prisoners and De-portees Union. This union and three similar Lithuanian organizations of victims of communism organized the congress.
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
This Saturday, 24 April, the Carlos de Amberes Foundation is hosting two conferences of European experts on the environment and sustainability and immigration policies in the EU, organised by the Allianz Cultural Foundation in the context of the Allianz Alumni Academy.
more »
The Trident-Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai to reopen, following renovations after militant attacks in 2008
more »
Fresh from their wedding in Jamaica, British tourists Siobhan and David Monteith never thought for a minute that a volcano would interrupt their honeymoon.
more »
The streets of Manila filled with a colourful display on wheels, just days before the world celebrates Earth Day’s 40th anniversary.
more »
Tens of thousands of Ugandans flocked to the hilltop palace of Africa’s youngest tribal ruler for two days of noisy parties marking a decade in power for the 18-year-old king.
more »
Colourful warriors leap across the stage at the 6th annual Songjiang Battle Array, in Neimen, southern Taiwan.
more »
Consumers benefit from greater use of European product safety alert system and more effective market surveillance.
more »
Representatives from all Member States are gathering for two days in Zaragoza from 15 to 16 April to discuss how migrant integration can become a driver for social cohesion in the EU.
more »
The much heralded "citizens initiative" to change EU laws has been given a cautious welcome by MEPs. Under the scheme - a major innovation of the Lisbon treaty - a million people can back a plan to introduce European legislation.
more »
Football shares Europe's values of integration, solidarity and social inclusion, and can play a significant role in helping the EU to promote them, especially at the local level where clubs are part of their local communities.
more »