Students to Picket at Secretary-General's Visit

Harvard students and local peace organizations said they will picket a scheduled appearance by United Nations Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali at Leverett House today.

A flier distributed yesterday for the planned 2:30 p.m. protest questioned U.N. peacekeeping policy in Bosnia. Protesters will display picket signs and pass out fliers before Boutros-Ghali participates in a 3 p.m. panel discussion on "Prospects for Peace-keeping," protest organizer Andras Riedlmayer said.

Boutros-Ghali will receive a citation from the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations for his contributions to world peace and international relations.

Riedlmayer, who is a librarian at the Fine Arts Library, said that such a citation is unwarranted in light of the U.N. failure to successfully mediate the conflict in Bosnia.

"The U.N. Protection Force cannot even act to protect itself, let alone ensure the protection of 'safe areas,' the delivery of aid or the policing of weapons exclusion zones," Riedlmayer said.

"I think it is very bad precedent to honor somebody for failing so conspicuously," he said.

One student leader agreed that, in light of the ongoing problems in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Boutros-Ghali's citation is undeserved.

"I don't think Boutros Boutros-Ghali's record of peacekeeping is stellar," said Mohammed N. Khan '95, president of the Harvard Islamic Society.

Supporters of the protest said they do not expect to sway Boutros-Ghali's opinions on Bosnia but hope that community awareness of the problem will increase.

David L. Bosco '95, Elie G. Kaunfer '95 and Alberto Simpser '95 circulated a letter yesterday which will be presented to the secretary-general this afternoon. By last night, 250 signatures from faculty and students at the College and graduate schools had been gathered at campus locations such as the Science Center and Sanders Theatre.

The letter, written by Bosco, who is associate editorial chair of The Crimson, expresses concern over the U.N.'s role as an impartial observer of Serbian nationalist crimes against humanity.

"The U.N., an organization founded in the wake of Nazi genocide, can and must do much better," the letter says.

The petition's supporters said they see the U.N.'s inaction in Bosnia as symptomatic of a wider problem.

"We're upset about the fact that the entire international community has basically ignored the situation in Bosnia," said Kaunfer, who is the chair of Harvard-Radcliffe Hillel and senior editor of the Crimson. "If Clinton were coming here, we'd present him with the same letter."

Groups backing today's protest include the Bosnia Action Coalition, Students Against Genocide and the Boston-based New England Bosnia Relief Coalition.

Though not involved in the protest, the Harvard Islamic Society signed the petition and will distribute fliers highlighting U.N. failures to keep the peace in Bosnia, Khan said

Supporters of the protest said they do not expect to sway Boutros-Ghali's opinions on Bosnia but hope that community awareness of the problem will increase.

David L. Bosco '95, Elie G. Kaunfer '95 and Alberto Simpser '95 circulated a letter yesterday which will be presented to the secretary-general this afternoon. By last night, 250 signatures from faculty and students at the College and graduate schools had been gathered at campus locations such as the Science Center and Sanders Theatre.

The letter, written by Bosco, who is associate editorial chair of The Crimson, expresses concern over the U.N.'s role as an impartial observer of Serbian nationalist crimes against humanity.

"The U.N., an organization founded in the wake of Nazi genocide, can and must do much better," the letter says.

The petition's supporters said they see the U.N.'s inaction in Bosnia as symptomatic of a wider problem.

"We're upset about the fact that the entire international community has basically ignored the situation in Bosnia," said Kaunfer, who is the chair of Harvard-Radcliffe Hillel and senior editor of the Crimson. "If Clinton were coming here, we'd present him with the same letter."

Groups backing today's protest include the Bosnia Action Coalition, Students Against Genocide and the Boston-based New England Bosnia Relief Coalition.

Though not involved in the protest, the Harvard Islamic Society signed the petition and will distribute fliers highlighting U.N. failures to keep the peace in Bosnia, Khan said