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>> Writers’ group urges Quebec to succour their persecuted colleagues

by EVE KRAKOW

Photos by JASON FELKER

In May 1993, Algerian writer Tahar Djaout was assassinated. In shock, writers and intellectuals at the Carrefour des littératures in Strasbourg, France, launched an appeal to their colleagues worldwide. They felt it necessary to create a structure that could provide tangible support for writers suffering persecution.

Within a few days, 300 writers from around the world signed a petition, and the International Parliament of Writers (IPW) was born. Its goal is to protect the freedom of intellectual creation wherever it is threatened, in particular, by developing a network of “Cities of Asylum” for writers.

“It is impossible for a writer to write in peace when he knows that writers elsewhere are being tortured,” explains Joël Des Rosiers, vice-president of the Union des écrivaines et des écrivains québécois (UNEQ), and one of the writers who answered the call.
UNEQ therefore chose to “declare war on war” at its Festival international de la littérature this week, by bringing in a number of writers who have experienced war, fear and persecution in their countries—and by re-launching their appeal to make Montreal a City of Asylum. “It is in a spirit of solidarity with those who resist oppression in all parts of the world that we are trying to mobilize municipalities,” says Des Rosiers.

Specifically, a City of Asylum (or ville refuge) provides the writer with lodging and a monthly allowance for a period of one to two years, depending on the agreement. The city facilitates procedures for obtaining visas and residence permits, assists the writer’s integration into the literary and social community and helps promote their work through readings, translation and publication. About 35 cities are now part of the network; most are in Europe, with two in the U.S. and one in Mexico. However, there are none in Canada.
“The writers welcomed into cities of asylum are not refugees,” specifies Christian Salmon, writer and executive director of the IPW, in Montreal at the UNEQ’s invitation. “They are ambassadors of human and cultural diversity. Everywhere today, people talk about defending cultural diversity. Here is a concrete project to do so.”

Writers blocked

In 1995, on his return from a meeting in Strasbourg, Des Rosiers and his colleagues approached municipal, provincial and federal authorities to convince Montreal and Quebec City to join the network. Initially, the reaction was favourable. “Mayor Bourque even stated his commitment publicly, in the presence of Nigerian Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka,” Des Rosiers recalls. (Soyinka was president of the IPW after Salman Rushdie; the current president is Russell Banks.) “Municipal officials had found a budget for the project, and an apartment—the deal was practically sealed.”

At the last minute, however, the city backed down. Des Rosiers says officials were concerned about what would happen to the writer at the end of the two-year contract.
Christian Salmon says although this is a common initial concern, it is unfounded. “In the five years since cities have begun hosting writers, we’ve never had a problem.” The contract with the writer is very explicit, he explains. “The idea is to support writers for an initial period, to allow them to start creating again.” In the past, some writers have returned to their home country, while others have remained in the host city on an autonomous basis, having created contacts and found work writing, editing or teaching; others have gone on to a third country.

In April 1999, UNEQ called on the mayors of the two cities to reconsider their refusal, to no avail. Des Rosiers now hopes the creation of the new city will open new doors. However, while Salmon and Des Rosiers meet with government officials this week, it is important to realize that being a City of Asylum is not just an administrative matter, Salmon emphasizes.
“Being a City of Asylum doesn’t mean anything unless citizens are involved,” he says. “It’s imperative that all those who are interested in literature and in encouraging dialogue between civilizations—writers, journalists, librarians, bookstore owners, university professors—take ownership of the project, and don’t just leave it up to the bureaucrats.”
To date, the network has hosted nearly 100 writers from various countries. More information on the Cities of Asylum and the International Writers Parliament can be found at www.autodafe.org. :