LEMKIN SPENT A LIFETIME GETTING ‘GENOCIDE' RECOGNISED IN INTERNATIONAL LAW
A story of our ties
Steve Cramer introduces LEMKIN’S HOUSE, a historical tale about the man who fought to get the crime of genocide acknowledged.
he conceptualisation of numbers and scale of
mass death has always been difficult for us. as individuals. to calculate. Be it the many thousands of Iraqi civilians to die since March 2003. or the numbers involved in the Nazi holocaust. or the entire wiping out of the race of the 'l‘asmanian aboriginal. it‘s hard to conceptualise each of the multiple individual tragedies involved. The media produce ligures. distance shots of bombs exploding. and arty graphics. all contributing to rendering a personal. flesh and blood event into an abstraction. The last century has hammered home that old maxim oi' Stalin‘s: ‘()ne death is a tragedy; a million is a statrstrc.~ The term ‘genocide‘ is now commonly Ust to describe these forms of mass extinction. but few know the story ol’ the man who invented the term. and then spent a lifetime attempting to bring the concept recognition in international law. Raphael Lemkin was born to Jewish parents in eastern Poland in l‘)()l. As an international lawyer for the Polish government. he lirst became a crusader against genocide in l933. when he sought to bring international awareness to the massacre of (‘hristian Assyrians by Iraqis in Persia. It must not have occurred to him at the time. yet this liberal crusade would soon take on a deeply personal dimension with the Nazi invasion of Poland. Lemkin was wounded in the conflict and escaped. alter much suffering and journeying. to neutral Sweden. lie and one of his brothers would be the only survivors ol‘ the Holocaust from an extended lamin ol' 4(). Lemkin‘s passionate campaign in the post—war world
had the initial ellect ol' having the crirrre ol' genocide recognised for the specific event ol' the Nuremberg trials. but it applied to no other international conllict. 'I'he ar'dtrous campaign lot" international recognition continued for the rest oi his life. By IUSI. ('hina. France and l‘) other countries had r'atil‘ied a l‘.\' proposal to recognise the crime. but there was still no universal approval. and tlrerelore no obligation for the international cornrrrunity to act against mass race crimes. Its most corrrplete talil'lcatlorl occurred \\llL‘ll the last ol the nations to hold out against approving the law (almost inevitably. the l'SA) recognised its validity in I‘ltiti. nearly three decades alter l.eml\‘in‘s death.
It's an important story. this one. and the nearest we can come to its l‘ullest and most personal telling is American writer ('atherine l‘illonx‘s play. I.t'iii/u'n's House. This production premiered some time ago under the direction of New York director Jim .\lirione in Sarejevo tor the Bosnian company Karnerni 'l'eatar‘ 55. It has since torrred liar and wide. and is making its UK premiere here in Scotland at the Roxy All House.
followed by a spell at the Arches in (ilasgovv. as part of
the Ya Basia! l‘estival. ('oinciding with the (SN summit. this piece has as much to say to its today as it rrriglrt have done over a hall century ago when the campaign began. A mix of theatrical styles indicative of its diverse artistic origins. this piece might be as entertaining as it is socially and historically instructive. Lemkin’s House, Roxy Art House, Edinburgh,
Thu 30 Jun—2 Jul, then touring.
Theatre
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* Globaleyes Some fine physical theatre to kick off the various events surrounding the G8. this piece by Chicken Shed. a London company. takes us on an epic journey through the processes of globalisation and its effects on culture, from individuals to institutions. A potentially fascinating night from a company sponsored by Body Shop founder Anita Roddick, among others. Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Wed 2? Jun-Sat 2 Jul.
* Bard In the Botanlce A mighty variety of Shakespeare, all to be seen in the open air, where it was written to be performed. The programme includes a revival of Scott Palmer ’s Lear and a new staging of Romeo and Juliet. Bring a brolly to Glasgow's Botanical Gardens just in case. Botanic Gardens, Glasgow, Wed 22 Jun— Sat 23 Jul.
* When Harry Met Sally A bit mainstream, of course. but you know what you're getting. Yes. the familiar Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal movie is rendered into stage life by Gaby Roslin and Jonathon Wrather. Boys. beware, you're about to be dragged to a rom-com. See preview. page 90. Theatre Royal, Glasgow. Mon 27 Jun-Sat 2 Jul.
* Lemkln’s House The moving and fascinating story of Raphael Lemkin, the man who invented the term 'genocide'. and pursued its enactment in international law for a lifetime. An evening of intriguing theatre from a mix of international artists. See preview, left. Roxy Art House, Edinburgh, Thu 30 Jun—2 Jul, then touring.
. whim .'.l-.t.' lr’rTHE LIST 87