The National Talysh Movement

The National Talysh Movement (NTM), representing the Talysh minority in Azerbaijan, aims for the recognition of the Talysh people as a minority in Azerbaijan and seeks an autonomous and confederative status within the State of Azerbaijan. NTM is calling for peaceful reforms geared towards a free, fair and constitutional democracy in which various minorities, including the Talysh, can freely and peacefully express themselves in their own culture and language alongside the Azeri majority.

According to ancient texts, the Talysh have lived in the Talysh Mountains for thousands of years, but the oppression of Talysh cultural and educational rights, and economic neglect of their region, has also been long-term. In June 1993, as a response to the growing political turmoil, Alikram Hummatov announced the formation of the Talysh-Mugansk Autonomous Republic, also known as Talyshstan. However, the self-proclaimed republic was short-lived. By August 1993, with the accession of Heydar Aliyev to power in Baku, Azerbaijan regained control of the region and Hummatov was arrested and given a life sentence.

Due to the ongoing suppression, the TNM continues to struggle for the recognition of its people and autonomous status within a unitary Azerbaijani State. Furthermore, the TNM has been fighting for the implementation of all European Conventions signed by the Azerbaijani Government, improvement of the educational system and infrastructure, and better environmental protection of the region, as well as combating the rise of radicalism in Azerbaijan.

The Government of the State of Savoy

The Government of the State of Savoy currently represents eight Savosian organizations. It has drafted a constitution for the Goverment of Savoy to democratically unite its people. The State of Savoy, located between France, Switzerland and Italy, seeks to gain international recognition of the rights of Savosian people.

The State of Savoy and its people also have a long history. In the eight century, the territory became known as the Kingdom of Savoy, and by the ninth century, with the rise of the House of Savoy, it was named the County of Savoy. By 1720, with the incorporation of Sardinia, the newly formed country became known as the States of Savoy or the Kingdom of Sardinia. After the French Revolution of 1789, Savoy was under occupation. Yet, following the French defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, the Congress of Vienna returned Savoy, Piedmont and Nice to the States of Savoy. By 1860, the territory was annexed to France and the people of the State of Savoy became a minority on their own territory.

Acheh-Sumatra National Liberation Front

Acheh is located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra, bordered by the Malacca Straits, with approximately 4.25 million indigenous Acheh inhabitants. The Acheh-Sumatra National Liberation Front (ASNLF) aims to restore the sovereignty of the State of Acheh and seeks to free its people from all types of foreign colonialism in accordance with the Achehnese values and international law. ASNLF works towards ensuring that the Acheh people can exercise their right to self-determine their political status and economic, social and cultural development without interference from Indonesia.

Since the 13th century, Acheh has been home to Acheh Muslims. The Acheh have a history of political independence and strong cultural resistance to foreign control. The territory was passed from the Dutch to Japan, and then to Indonesia. Indonesia's first President had promised that Acheh would be granted special autonomy with Islamic law governing the Acheh province. However, by 1949, the Indonesian Government dissolved the Acheh province. The Acheh revolted until 1962 when autonomy was granted.

In the 1970s, American oil and gas companies began exploitating Acheh natural resources under an agreement with the Indonesian Government. Unequal distribution of profits between the central Government and the people of Acheh led to increased discontent among locals. Calls for independence intensified. The powerful earthquake and tsunami of 2004 caused massive destruction in the area, but paved way for a peace agreement, which included a ceasefire of hostilities between the Free Acheh Movement (GAM) and the Indonesian Government, the release of jailed GAM members, and an agreement to facilitate the implementation of a greater degree of autonomy in Acheh. While the peace agreement provided some autonomy to the Acheh, ASNLF continues to call for independence, since various injustices and inequalities were not adequately addressed by the 2005 peace agreement.

UNPO would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the newly admitted Members. UNPO looks forward to fruitful cooperation with the National Talysh Movement, State of Savoy and ASNLF, and hopes for strengthened international solidarity among all unrepresented nations and peoples.