ELECTRONICAL BULLETIN OF VEXILLOLOGY from CATALONIA

By JAUME OLLE.

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LEZGIZTAN

Communication from Aliev Samur, Press secretary of "Savdal", not dated, received on 27 February 1988.

Aliev Samur thanks me in his communication for my interest in the struggle for the reunification and the independence of the Lezgin people. He informs me that he knows the situation of the Basque and Catalan peoples, found in a situation similar to that of the Lezgin people, divided between two countries: Russia (Dagestan) and Azerbaijan.

The struggle for the reunification and the independence of the Lezgin nation is spearheaded by the "Savdal" movement, its name meaning "Unity".

There are half a million Lezgins. Lezgistan is a mountainous country. Green in the flag symbolizes the country’s fertile lands. Blue stands for the clear sky above Lezgistan. And the eagle is the guide of the mountain people. The word "Lezguin" (Lezgy) makes direct reference to the eagles: in Lezgin language "an eagle" sounds as "lek"; in old times the Lezgins were called "leky", this word meaning "an eagle".

The symbols used by Savdal are the only that represent the Lezgin nation. The Lezgins of Dagestan possess a National Soviet, but this Soviet does not have any symbol of his own and uses those of Dagestán.

The seal or coat of arms shows the Samur river, frontier between Russia and Azerbaijan. The bridge connects both countries. The ten-pointed star represents the unity of the Lezgin-speaking peoples. The eagle represents the nation. The name on the bridge means "unity" (Savdal) and on both sides the name of the country is written (though not mentioned, it seems to be in Russian and Lezgin)

ESCUDO DE LA PROVINCIA DE INTIBUCA (HONDURAS)

Communication from Augusto Néstor López Milla, departmental governor, dated 11 December 1997.

The department lacks of its own flag and even official coat of arms. Nevertheless it uses a coat of arms designed when the Departmental Commission for Development of Intibuca was created.

SECCESION WITHOUT SUCCES IN LOWER CONGO

KINSHASA, July 6 (Reuters) - A self-proclaimed king who has called for the independence of three of the 11 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been arrested along with dozens of supporters, government officials said on Monday. ``King'' Bernard Mizele was arrested at the weekend in the town of Muanda in the western province of Bas-Congo. Mizele fled there after eight militiamen and soldiers were killed in clashes between his guards and government troops conducting a weapons search around his home in the capital Kinshasa on Thursday. Military officials said Mizele's militia were surprisingly well-organised and they suspected the support of members of the late Mobutu Sese Seko's army. The officials said the secessionists would be brought before a military tribunal, probably on Tuesday. Mizele, who leads a ``government'' with over 30 ministers, wants independence for Bas-Congo, Bandundu and Kinshasa. The three provinces, including the capital, make up part of the ancient Kongo Kingdom which, prior to colonial rule, embraced parts of neighbouring Congo-Brazzaville and Angola. Mizele is believed by some in the capital to have magic powers but is widely considered an eccentric. His secessionist programme commands little popularity, even among his own ethnic group, the Bakongo of Bas-Congo. His secessionist designs have got him into trouble before. He was imprisoned in 1995 and 1996 under Mobutu, but was released shortly after President Laurent Kabila ousted Mobutu in a military campaign in May 1997. ``For the time being he's in jail. He'll have to answer for what happened last Thursday. If he's a madman, he will get the appropriate treatment,'' a government official told Reuters.

CHANGES IN BOUGAINVILLE

Postcourier - 7 August 98

Ona leads under new banner.

THE BOUGAINVILLE rebel faction led by Francis Ona has a new name and identity.

The faction is known as the Mekamui National Chief's Assembly and its armed forces as the Makamui Defence Force.

Rebel leader Francis Ona revealed this yesterday saying the change of name was necessary to avoid confusion with other rebel factions now carrying the BIG/BRA banner.

The name was changed through a presidential decree, he said.

He said that one of these factions is led by Joseph Kabui and Sam Kauona.

Mr Ona said the new identity is part of major reforms on the original secessionist government in an attempt to rebuild confidence.

He claimed the good name of the Bougainville Interim Government and Bougainville Revolutionary Army have been tarnished by power hungry people using BIG/BRA for their own purposes.

He said the change was voted on last week by more than 700 chiefs and supporters who met in Guava, Panguna from July 28-31.

Mr Ona said that during the meeting, the chiefs re-affirmed their support for him and for independence for Bougainville.

He said chiefs from all over Central and South Buogainville attended the meeting. He added that a big contingent of chiefs from North Bougainville including Buka were prevented from boarding a ship to Arawa by members of the security force in Buka.

Mr Ona said that Mr Kabui and Mr Kauona were invited to the meeting but did not attend.

``However, 10 chiefs from Borumai area, who are supporters of Kabui and Kauona attended the meeting,'' he said.

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