International chronology of the Radical Party: 1986


10/11 JANUARY - Italy: Florence - Seminar

15 JANUARY - Belgium: Brussels - Antimilitarism

16 JANUARY - Belgium: Brussels - Antimilitarism

14-15 FEBRUARY - Italy: Rome - Hunger

JUNE - Italy: Rome - Hunger

JUNE EP: Strasbourg - Conference, "Conscientious affirmation"

JUNE - Holland: The Hague - European Union

30 JUNE - Poland: Warsaw - POUP Congress

AUGUST

4 SEPTEMPER - Belgium: Brussels - Antimilitarism, Nonviolence

29 OCTOBER - 2 NOVEMBER - Italy: Rome - XXXII RP Congress (First Session)

NOVEMBER - EP: Strasbourg - Human Rights in Syria


10/11 JANUARY - Italy: Florence - Seminar

Seminar on "Conscientious affirmation" (NR no. 22/19986/10

15 JANUARY - Belgium: Brussels - Antimilitarism

Soviet dissidents Pliusc and Kuzneisov and the French Admiral Sanguinetti take part in a press conference to support Dupuis.

Demonstration outside the law courts.

16 JANUARY - Belgium: Brussels - Antimilitarism

Olivier Dupuis’ appeal is heard. He is sentenced to two years imprisonment by the military court. Soviet dissidents Pliusc and Boukowsky and the French priest Cardonnel testify in his favour. (NR no. 271?1985 p.2 - NR no. 22/1986 p.2)

14-15 FEBRUARY - Italy: Rome - Hunger

Under the aegis of the highest Italian institutions, Food and Disarmament International organizes a second international conference to make public the Manifesto of Heads of State against death from starvation and for the right to life and to freedom, signed by 18 African Heads of State. (NR no. 24/1986 p.2, ARP)

(NR no.89/1986 p.9) Italian Parliamentary Motion on Ethiopia and Somalia (NR no.24/1986 p.3)

JUNE - Italy: Rome - Hunger

The Italian Chamber of Deputies unanimously passes a resolution engaging the Government to convene the European Council to fight death from starvation, and to sensitize the UN Security Council to the inherent security threat. The resolution calls for a concrete follow-up to the appeal launched by the Heads of State with their Manifesto.

JUNE EP: Strasbourg - Conference, "Conscientious affirmation"

Second International Conference on conscientious objection/action, organized by the Radical Group in the European Parliament. Particular attention is devoted to the dramatic situation of Greek conscientious objectors sentenced to many years imprisonment.

JUNE - Holland: The Hague - European Union

Radicals and Federalists demonstrate for European political union while a European Council meeting is in progress in The Hague. The Dutch Police prevent demonstrators from going near the building in which EC Heads of State and Government are "under siege".

30 JUNE - Poland: Warsaw - POUP Congress

A group of Radicals, including Pietrosanti, Novelli and Italian deputy Franco Corleone, unfurl a banner in front of the building where Gorbachev is speaking at the congress held by Polish communists to celebrate Jaruzelski’s victorious "normalization" policy. They also hand out leaflets for the release of 250 political prisoners and a thousand or so conscientious objectors held in prison. They are detained for two days, given dry bread, rancid lard and water, then tried and deported.

Media coverage: BBC-TV the same evening; International Herald Tribune - front page with photo - the next day.

AUGUST

Radio parolaccia (Radio Curse)

4 SEPTEMPER - Belgium: Brussels - Antimilitarism, Nonviolence

Olivier Dupuis is released after serving eleven months. He explains the motives behind "Conscientious affirmation" in a letter to the Belgian Defence Minister. (NR no.225/1986 p.5)

29 OCTOBER - 2 NOVEMBER - Italy: Rome - XXXII RP Congress (First Session)

Eleven thousand members in 1986. Suspension of activities or extraordinary campaign for 5,000 new members in Italy and Europe, in 1987.

Motion approved

( Domenico Modugno at the Congress)

NOVEMBER - EP: Strasbourg - Human Rights in Syria

Approval of Radical amendment "freezing" EC relations with Syria because of the country’s systematic violation of human rights.