1987

In a letter to members Marco Pannella proposes "the achievement of European political union with nonviolence" while hoping that "...the Internationals of the parties will be flanked, and in many respects substituted, by an international or transnational Party..." (NR no.8 - 1987 p.2-3)

Important personalities like Sulamit Aloni, Sharanski, Rita Levi Montalcini, Eugene Ionesco and Basile Guissou join the Party.

JANUARY - Italy: Rome/Poland: Warsaw - Democracy

A torchlight procession in which thousands of Polish refugees participate arrives outside the hotel where General Jaruzelski is staying during his official visit to Italy. The Radicals denounce the unlimited credit offered by the Italian Government to the man who brought "democracy" to Poland.

Contemporaneously, Radical activists distribute leaflets in Warsaw where, for about an hour, they succeed in broadcasting through a loudspeaker mounted on a car, a recorded message: "Your freedom is our freedom".

JANUARY - EP: Strasbourg - European Federalism

Marco Pannella proposed himself as a candidate for the Presidency of the European Parliament to put an end to the power games and to place European Union at the top of the agenda. Jacques Delors was to be elected, however, and follow the strategy of a low European profile. During the debate on North-South relations, Pannella presents an "opinion" in which he stresses the fact that hunger constitutes a major threat to security.

JANUARY - Italy: Rome - Dying of Hunger

Francesco Rutelli denounces the bending of the Italian law on "hunger in the world".

6 FEBRUARY - Italy: Rome - RP Federal Council

A report by Giovanni Negri advocates: "The Party and number of international members must be expanded in relation to the 10,000 Italian members (...) to a transnational dimension..."

12 FEBRUARY - Italy: Rome - Human Rights, Poland

Jaruzelski is "tailed" by demonstrators during his official visit.

13 FEBRUARY - Italy: Rome - Human Rights, Poland

Nonviolent torchlight procession with Solidarity, in which two thousand Polish refugees participate. (NR no.39 - 87 insert)

FEBRUARY - EP: Strasbourg - Ecology

Document presented jointly by various groups to standardize EEC norms governing the production of CDS (chlorofluorocarbons) which damage the ozone layer. (NR no. 291 - 87 pp. 32-33)

FEBRUARY - EP: Strasbourg - Human Rights

A Radical resolution urging the Soviet Government to grant permission to emigrate to refusniks is passed unanimously. Particular reference is made to the symbolic cases of Ida Nudel, Josef Begun, Grigory Lemberg, Alexei Magarik, Marat Osnis, Dora Konstantinovskaja, Grigory and Natalia Rosenstein, and Cherna Goldort, five of whom received permission to emigrate within the year. (NR no. 291 - 87 p.32-33)

26 FEBRUARY - 1 MARCH - Italy: Rome - XXXII RP Congress (Second Session)

Motion approved

25 MARCH - Italy: Rome - European Federalism

During the official ceremony to mark the 30 ^th anniversary of the signing of the EEC treaties, at which the highest authorities of the Community are present, Radical deputies arrive at the Capitol, carrying a coffin with the European flag draped over it.

They mourn the federalist hopes and aspirations to European political union that have died.

APRIL - EP: Strasbourg - Human Rights, Hunger

Speech by Emma Bonino supporting the Jewish community in Syria, and approval of Radical amendments against compulsory deportation from Ethiopia and for the enforcement of the Helsinki agreements (Helsinki Final Act, Helsinki Document). At the Plenary Assembly, and in the presence of King Baudouin I, Bonino also strongly contested the Belgian Government’s failure to apply the "Survie" law against death from starvation.

21 April - Belgium: Brussels - Dying of Hunger

Thousands of people take part in a demonstration organized by Food and Disarmament International and the Radical European group for the enforcement of "Survie" law. (NR no.291 - 87 p.32-33)

MAY - EP: Strasbourg - Antimilitarism, Death Penalty

The Committee on Legal Affairs and Citizens’ Rights approves an "opinion" in favour of elaborating an EC directive regarding conscientious objection, after Olivier Dupuis presents a petition signed by 26,000 EC citizens.

The Parliament approves a resolution, presented by Bonino, condemning the death penalty inflicted, also in the case of minors, by many American States, and asks that clemency be granted to sixteen-year-old Paula Cooper. (NR no.291 - 87 p. 32-33)

4 JUNE - Italy: Mogliano, Veneto - Death Penalty

Demonstration held outside the residence where U.S. President Ronald Reagan is staying, to obtain a pardon for Paula Cooper, a minor condemned to death in the State of Indiana. (NR no.291 - 87 p.33 - document on EP)

JUNE - Belgium: Brussels - Antimilitarism

Demonstration for the release of Greek conscientious objector Mikailis Maragakis, sentenced to four years imprisonment by the Salonika military court.

In Brussels, Radical activists occupy a conference room where the Greek Prime Minister was to have made a speech.

JUNE - EP: Strasbourg - Human Rights

Following a speech made by Marco Pannella during a debate on Turkey, the concept of "genocide" perpetrated against the Armenian minority in that country, is recorded in the final document.

29/30 JUNE - Belgium: Brussels - European Federalism

During the European summit held to inaugurate the semester, a large procession of Radicals and activists from the European Federalist Movement marches through the city streets to obtain a consultative referendum on a United States of Europe. When the official cars arrive, 40 activists sit in front of the entrance, and are attacked and hit by a number of officials. Marco Pannella and several other activists are carried off by the police. Various protesters are held for hours in different police headquarters, which were "guarded" by fellow Radicals, until their release.

25/27 JULY - Italy: Rome - General Assembly

The Assembly, open to all members, considers suspending activities due to the lack of democracy in Italy.

8/26 AUGUST - Europe: Radical Trophy - European Petitions

Four groups of Radical activists, about 40 people in all, travel along coastal roads and through resorts in Spain, Greece, and Southeast and Southwest France, collecting thousands of signatures on petitions for a United States of Europe; "Conscientious affirmation"; civilian service in Europe. This type of European action, carried out simultaneously in several countries, was to characterize the still nascent transnational Radical Party.

AUGUST - Greece: Athens - Antimilitarism

Radicals demonstrate in Athens to persuade the Greek Parliament to pass a law recognizing the right to conscientious objection.

SEPTEMBER - Italy: Rome - Transnational Assembly

The RP holds its first "transnational assembly" in which Radical activists from several countries participate.

4 SEPTEMBER - U.S.S.R.: Moscow - Human Rights

Radical activists and the International of the Resistance (led by Vladimir Bukovski) distribute in the underground leaflets urging citizens to refuse to do military service in Afghanistan. Sabrina Coletta, Vittorio Conti, Valentina Pietrosanti and Sergio Rovasio are arrested and deported for this. (NR no. 228 - 87 p.7)

SEPTEMBER - Portugal: Lisbon - ACP EC Assembly

Marco Pannella raises the issue of the Falashas, a minority group of black Ethiopian Jews, who are not permitted to leave their country; but the proposed resolution is not put on the agenda. (NR no. 291 - 87 p.32-33)

15 OCTOBER - Burkina Faso - Sankara

The President of Burkina Faso, Thomas Sankara, is assassinated along with four government ministers, following a military coup. The RP loses one of its staunchest supporters in the fight against death from starvation. (NR no.283-87 p. 8-9)

OCTOBER - EP: Strasbourg - Coup d’état in Burkina Faso

Approval of a resolution condemning the Burkina Faso coup and the assassination of Sankara, and asking that those responsible be brought to justice. (NR no. 291 - 87 p.32-33)

OCTOBER - Europe: Various countries - Media, Meetings

Portugal : O Express publishes an interview with Marco Pannella. During a brief visit, René Andreani and Vittorio Camerini enrol a dozen new members and give interviews to a number of private radio stations.

Turkey : Vincenzo Donvito and Massimo Lensi establish contacts, give interviews, and enrol members from environmentalist, antimilitarist and civil rights organizations.

Greece : Gaetano Dentamaro and Radical MEP Roberto Cicciomessere attend the trial of the first Greek conscientious objector Mikailis Maragakis. Together with Andrea Tamburi, they meet with antimilitarists, environmentalists and leftist groups to discuss European union and "Conscientious affirmation" .

Federal Republic of Germany : Majid Valcarenghi and Paolo Ghersin meet exponents of the Gruenen (Greens) and visit Sannyasin communities (disciples of the Indian guru Baghwan).

Yugoslavia : Sandro Ottoni and Caterina Caravaggi hold interviews and meetings in Ljubljana, Zagreb and Belgrade. Yugoslavia’s proposed entry into the EEC is given full support. Contacts are established with Slovenian young socialists and antimilitarists.

OCTOBER - Turkey: Izmit - Ecology

Environmentalist demonstration, together with 70 Turkish Radicals, against pollution in the Gulf of Izmit.

OCTOBER - Italy: Rome - United States of Europe

Italian deputies from the Radical Party present a bill in the Chamber, calling for a consultative referendum on the United States of Europe and for a mandate to be issued to the next European Parliament to draw up a new draft treaty for the United States of Europe.

10/15 NOVEMBER - U.S.S.R.: Moscow, Leningrad - Meetings, Dissidence

Antonio Stango meets several dissidents, including Lev Timofeev, A. Dubkov and scholar Alexander Lerner, and refusniks Vladimir and Isolda Tufeld. (NR no. 283 - 87 p.6)

26 NOVEMBER - Italy: Rome - Death Penalty

Demonstrations are held outside the Soviet and American Embassies, for the respect of human rights and a pardon for Paula Cooper. (NR no. 291 - 87 p.32-33)

NOVEMBER - Yugoslavia - Media

Marco Pannella takes part in a series of public meetings in Belgrade, Zagreb and Ljubljana, and is interviewed by various newspapers concerning Yugolsavia’s entry into the Common Market and the Radical Party. In Zagreb and Ljubljana he participates in broadcasts on Radio 101 and Radio Student: the voices of youth movements.

DECEMBER - EP: Strasbourg - Antimilitarism

An emergency resolution, presented by the Radical Group, calling for the recognition of the right to conscientious objection in Eastern European countries, is passed unanimously.

DECEMBER - Turkey: Ankara, Human Rights

Demonstration at the airport organized by Turkish Radicals when the leaders of the Kurdish Communist Party and the Turkish Workers’ Party come out of voluntary exile and give themselves up.

Giovanni Negri and Massimo Lensi participate in two citizens’ assemblies. The RP opens an office in Ankara.

24 DECEMBER - Italy

Dozens of European Radical activists and activists from Wolnosc i Pokoj (Freedom and Peace), go on a hunger strike for 15 days to obtain the release of conscientious objectors.

26 DECEMBER - Yugoslavia - Media

The weekly Duga publishes a long interview with Marco Pannella, by Dragos Kalajic. Pannella says: "My greatest wish is to see Yugoslavia join the European Community". (NR no. 1 - 88 p.16). More interviews are featured in Teleks and Mladina in Ljubljana.