E/CN.4/1503 page 32
secular republics, they recognize the equal rights of their citizens, but expect the population to conform to a simplified pattern designed to give the nation cohesion, when in practice broad sections of that population are ill prepared to give up their individuality, whether this be in terms of attachment to particular customs, to a native language, to a traditional mode
of education or
livelihood, or to living in a particular
village or area.
65. In some instances, real tensions in a society have suc- cessfully been camouflaged, at least for a short time, by the use of minorities as scapegoats to divert attention from issues and/or to preserve the influence of those in Perusal of the summary records of the Commission on Human Rights' Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination
and Protection of Minorities bears this point out.
broader
power.
66. In this twentieth century, firearms of every description
have become much more freely available than ever before.
Frequently, elements which resist change have taken to the use of force, with or without help from outside, or have opted to
leave their country or perhaps each in turn. Often those
who leave are the young and educated who, seeing no opportunity
in their own homeland for what has come to be called "upward
mobility" unless they conform, leave hoping for a better chance
outside.
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67. These problems are always exacerbated when the country has
already been levelled by war. The world has seen even within
the decade we have studied the virtual destruction of several
countries' economies. The resulting chaos with shortages
as
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