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Policies

Recent developments in Yugoslavia (1973)

  • Date / 1973
  • Location / Yugoslavia (former)
  • Ratifying Body / Board of Directors
  • Status / Archived

The Marshall Josip Broz Tito,
President of the Federal Socialist Republics of Yugoslavia.

Mr President
May I express my deep concern with respect to the recent developments in your country. To avoid misunderstandings I first want to say that I do not want to compare the, in my opinion, serious threat to human freedom in your country with terrible actions of other countries. Nor do I deny the difficulties in your country with respect the various nationalities and their possible disintegrating actions.

However I am troubled by the rumours of liberal Marxists being purged from the ranks of the party, being fired from their (educational) jobs and being deprived of their passports. I am still more upset by the laws of December 1972 concerning educational policy and the security service that entail a substantial limitation of acknowledged human rights.

These developments are in my opinion the more embarrassing as your country has symbolised for many critical humanists in the West a bulwark of socialism with a human face. As such it represented for many of us the hope of a world of equity and liberty. So much the more then are they discouraged by the decline of an inspiring example. In a world without much hope for the near future this is a most saddening and even fatal development.

It is for this reason that I call upon to promote withdraw of the laws of December 1972 so that humanist socialists can do their work and keep up their international relations in a spirit of loyalty and freedom. I am sure that such a policy would substantially contribute to keeping the image of Yugoslavia alive as a country of social justice and human freedom.

Truly yours,
Prof. J.P. van Praag,Chairman
Letter of IHEU Chairman 19.2.1973

Suggested academic reference

'Recent developments in Yugoslavia (1973)', Humanists International, Board of Directors, 1973

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