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• Date: 03/12/2008

  Thousands take to the streets to demand independence for West Papua

  

  West Papuans criticise the Indonesian rule and demand control over natural resources, especially copper mines · Those who display the national flag face imprisonment, police reiterate · The Netherlands recognized the independence of Papua in 1961, but the country was later annexed by Indonesia.

• Date: 02/12/2008

  Which historical memory to choose? Aureli M. Escarré provides the answer

  

  OPINION. Aureli Argemí, President and founder of the Escarre's International Centre for Ethnic Minorities and Nations (CIEMEN) reflects on the process of reaffirming historical memory, taking the figure of the Abbot Escarré as an example, to mark the hundredth anniversary of his birth.

• Date: 28/11/2008

  Greenland: an Arctic independence movement

  

  PEOPLES AND NATIONS TODAY. Almost completely out of the blue, a small nation with a population of approximately 60,000 has hit the headlines alongside the word ‘self-determination’. On November 25, 2008 Greenland took another step towards amicably severing ties with Denmark, its former colonizer. It remains uncertain whether Greenlanders will opt for autonomy or full independence, but one thing is clear: the people of Greenland will be the ones to decide.

• Date: 21/11/2008

  Peoples and nations today: Flanders

  

  DOSSIER. When nationalists predict which will be the next European nation to achieve statehood, Scotland and Flanders almost always top the list. Flanders has its own parliament, dominated by pro-autonomy and pro-independence groups, and today threatens the very existence of the federal state of Belgium, at one of its lowest points since state reforms began in 1970.

• Date: 20/11/2008

  Sri Lanka claims the capture of a key rebel defence line on Tamil territory

  

  The pressure from the Sri Lankan military on the rebel guerillas continues, the same guerillas who still have control over the North East of the island · Amnesty International has put out a warning on the humanitarian crisis currently taking place in Wanni, where the fighting is centralized, provoking 300,000 displaced civilians · Last week, the Sri Lankan Government rejected a cease fire from the Tamil Tigers.

• Date: 19/11/2008

  Over 30,000 in Pristina to protest against UN six-point plan

  

  Organizers say Ban-Ki Moon’s plan would divide Kosovo in two by legitimizing parallel institutions set up by Belgrade in Serb areas · Vetevëndosje! and some 30 organisations more back the demonstration.

• Date: 17/11/2008

  Thousands take to the streets of Madrid to demand self-determination for Western Sahara

  

  March called by NGOs and a group of personalities in defence of Sahrawi territory · Slogans include ‘Freedom and independence for the Sahara’ and ‘Morocco guilty, Spain responsible’ · Spain abandoned the former colony 33 years ago.

• Date: 14/11/2008

  Right to self-determination on World Social Forum agenda thanks to Catalan organization

  

  CIEMEN to organize a space devoted to the theme of ‘collective rights of stateless peoples’ at the next WSF · Preliminary meeting in Barcelona is attended by delegates from stateless nations around the world.

• Date: 14/11/2008

  Peoples and nations today: Brittany

  

  DOSSIER. Reunification of historic Brittany, Breton-medium education and recognition of Brittany’s Celtic heritage are some of the main battlegrounds for political parties and civil society in Brittany today. The Bretons have made ground by exerting considerable collective pressure – the network of Breton-language, or Diwan, schools, is a good example of their achievements to date – despite the fact that they have just as little autonomy as any other region of France.

• Date: 11/11/2008

  ‘Minorities’ behind Obama’s victory: ‘Yes, we can’

  OPINION. Aureli Argemí, president of CIEMEN, analyses the results of the US elections earlier this month, highlighting the importance of the minority vote. Argemí explores the relationship between democracy and respect for marginalized groups.