MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-01-16

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From: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>

CONTENTS

[01] NEIGHBOURS EXHIBIT RESERVEDNESS TOWARDS MACEDONIAN INITIATIVE

[02] DNEVNIK: `MACEDONIA SUPPORTS US SECI INITIATIVE ON COOPERATION IN SOUTH EAST EUROPE'

[03] MACEDONIA NOT COVERED BY THE MANDATE ON FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

[04] EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON CIVIL AVIATION ADMITS MACEDONIA IN JULY

[05] STUDENT PROTESTS CONTINUE

[06] `PELAGONIJA' STRIKERS DECIDED TO SACK DIRECTOR AND EXECUTIVE BOARD

[07] PEACEFUL PROTEST OF VRANESHTICA POPULATION

[08] EXPORT OF 300 000 LAMBS UNCERTAIN

[09] CUSTOMS MEASURES AND LEGISLATION TO COUNTER SMUGGLING

[10] PETROL SCANDAL IN SVETI NIKOLE: `PETROL OF INADEQUATE QUALITY, BUT COULD NOT DAMAGE VEHICLES'

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[11] `ANNUAL REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN MACEDONIA'

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 16 January, 1997

[01] NEIGHBOURS EXHIBIT RESERVEDNESS TOWARDS MACEDONIAN INITIATIVE

[02] DNEVNIK: `MACEDONIA SUPPORTS US SECI INITIATIVE ON COOPERATION IN SOUTH EAST EUROPE'

Macedonian diplomatic circles have stated off the record that the initiative is clearly outlined and necessary, and not entailing the confinement of Macedonia within regional boundaries. Thus it is compatible with the Macedonian policy on regional cooperation. `Dnevnik' reports that the Macedonian diplomacy evaluated that the latter would entail considerable progress - particularly with respect to economy, the improvement of traffic and transportation, of goods transportation and of investment opportunities in the country. To the Macedonian diplomacy the initiative is favourable due to its connection with to the OSCE. Another argument used in this context is the fact that it is based on procuring funding of existing international financial institutions, i.e. it does not include new reallocations of means - nor does it `give false hope' to its member-states.

With respect to this initiative the USA endeavours to oppose Europe and its activities in this region; the same Macedonian diplomatic sources stated that the US initiative did indeed not blend too well into European arrangements.

Contrary to this, however, it embodies the right step to bring its member- states together.

Based on the most recent information published in `Vecher' even Croatia - the most skeptic side - has joined the `SECI' Initiative.

[03] MACEDONIA NOT COVERED BY THE MANDATE ON FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

This request has been justified by the fact that the Government thinks Macedonia should not be covered by a mandate referring to Former Yugoslavia, stressing that this was not due to the essence of the Rapporteur's work. The Macedonian Government furthermore underlined its readiness to cooperate with the UN on the protection of Human Rights.

In this context it has also been mentioned that Macedonia is being covered by several mandates as regards this issue.

According to expectations - `Vecher' reports - the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur is expected to be transformed within a transitory period of one year.

[04] EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON CIVIL AVIATION ADMITS MACEDONIA IN JULY

[05] STUDENT PROTESTS CONTINUE

Cyril and Methodius' University Rectorate yesterday. From there they marched on to the premises of the Students' Federation. During this action students aired their revolt with both the Government view on the bill affecting the Pedagogical Faculty and the attitude of the Students' Federation Chairman Toni Mirchevski who is said to have failed their trust. Talks between the assembled students and Federation representatives nevertheless brought forth an agreement to continue peaceful protests until a satisfactory response is obtained by the Government and the Parliament.

It has also been agreed upon to demonstrate in front of their premises today, as well as in front of the Rectorate - whereas the latter is also to be `besieged' tomorrow during the session of the University Senate.

While emphasizing that the students had received the support of many citizens and businesses, Toni Mirchevski stated that the Students' Federation should distance itself from the demand for the Rector's and the Senate Chairperson's resignation - as well as for that of the Minister of Education. These requests had been aired by Mirjana Kitanovska, the Chairperson of the Students' Federation at the Pedagogical Faculty, during the peaceful protests two days ago. The same demands have not been supported by the student representatives of the faculties of metallurgy and economy - with the explication that this had not been the issue during the preparatory stages of the protest.

[06] `PELAGONIJA' STRIKERS DECIDED TO SACK DIRECTOR AND EXECUTIVE BOARD

The Strike Board has also established intensive contacts with the Privatization Agency, the Ministry of Urbanism and with the Dept. of Justice in order to solve the privatization problems of the company - as current procedures appear to be the certain doom of this contractor.

The cooperation with the appropriate Trade Union has been assessed as insufficient, in spite of the fact that employee interests are still being represented through the latter.

In the meantime `Pelagonija' employees have suspended their one-month long strike as management has promised to forward withheld pay for both domestic and foreign projects.

A few hundred `Mavrovo' employees are continuing their strike in front of company HQ, awaiting another meeting with their General Director.

[07] PEACEFUL PROTEST OF VRANESHTICA POPULATION

The protest is reported to have gone by orderly, in a tranquil atmosphere, while slogans mainly demanded the `depolitization' of the judiciary.

[08] EXPORT OF 300 000 LAMBS UNCERTAIN

Based on the quantity of sheep and the growth rate of flocks app. 300 000 heads are to available for export this spring.

Responsible European Commissions, however, have so far failed to review the embargo on the export of lambs (imposed on 17th July last year), as it has been requested by Macedonia. Macedonian livestock breeders support this by stating that the disease has been successfully countered in Macedonia - and that small livestock had neither been endangered nor required inoculation. For the sake of obtaining a positive solution of this issue the Macedonian Radio reports that the Macedonian Government has decided to conduct another bacteriological examining of livestock under the auspices of an EU member- state institute. According to Macedonian Veterinary Authorities there is a possibility to lift the embargo earlier after the Conference of Veterinary Services and Institutes of East European countries, scheduled for this month in Terrano (Italy). Direct damage - according to several estimates - brought about by the hoof- and-mouth disease are to cost Macedonia 150 million denars, whereas collateral damage (e.g. export blockades) will amount to at least 15 million dollars.

[09] CUSTOMS MEASURES AND LEGISLATION TO COUNTER SMUGGLING

At the `Novo Selo' checkpoint (Strumica) towards Bulgaria a smuggler who has succeeded in transporting 12 tons of cheese into Macedonia, according to unofficial information. This had been achieved during around 50 enterings of the country throughout the past three months. It has been revealed that the smuggled cheese had been hidden in a secret compartment within the petrol tank of the lorry, with a capacity of uo to 200 kg.

Thus the Constitutional Court of Macedonia has decided to review the Customs Law on yesterday's session, as there are ambiguous provisions, such as those outlining that only goods up to 1 000 DM are to be sold at Duty Free Shops.

This, in the opinion of the instigator of this initiative, is restricting market freedom. The court has rejected this appeal as Duty Free Shops are being covered by specific legal provisions due to their different legal status.

[10] PETROL SCANDAL IN SVETI NIKOLE: `PETROL OF INADEQUATE QUALITY, BUT COULD NOT DAMAGE VEHICLES'

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[11] `ANNUAL REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN MACEDONIA - Cases and Responses - Capital Punishment AD HOC'

(`Helsinki Committee for Human Rights' - 10th issue, December 1996)

THE JUDICIARY: Although the state has declared its commitment to an independent judiciary system, in reality this seems to be implemented according to the needs of state policy. The election and appointment of judges in the Republic of Macedonia has left room for suspicion in the impartiality of those elected and appointed. This is all the more the case as the latter consisted only of such supported by the incumbent party. These suspicions are only heated up by the election of the Chair of the most relevant Court of Appeals (the one in Skopje) of a person that has been actively involved in the country's political life over a longer period of time - as this is denoted a deed unworthy of a state governed by law. It does not suffice to declare the independence of a judge, he has to be essentially impartial and capable of obtaining the public's trust, its faith into justices, the court system and judiciary procedures.

INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS: by means of succession the Republic of Macedonia has inherited several significant international agreements on human rights from the Former Yugoslav Federation. These papers embody a `ready to use' instrument which is legally binding (see Appendix 2). What remains of great interest, however, are the instruments / means for the protection of human rights existing within the Council of Europe. The Republic of Macedonia has signed the most important ones, and ratification procedures are still in progression, i.e. in their final stage. The compiling of an in-depth (expert) analysis on the compatibility of domestic legal provisions and practice to those of the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as the imminent examining of the former by Council of Europe experts reflects the seriousness involved in addressing this issue. The Helsinki Committee expects the Government to thoroughly consider objections expressed by both domestic and international experts, and to conduct all necessary adaptations within domestic law to international standards. In addition to this the already mentioned agreements (see Appendix 1) should be ratified as speedily as possible.

POLICE HARASSMENT: Several violations of basic human rights by the police have been registered in Macedonia throughout 1996. These are a result of the above all irresponsible and unprofessional behaviour exhibited by individual employees of the Ministry of the Interior who will always resort to `cronyism' to justify their crossing the line. Individual incidents - which have become increasingly frequent during the past few years - are mainly entailed by the obviously undefined role of police in society, as well as by the impossibility for citizens to obtain direct insight and control over police practice via local government structures. Police remains the only entity authorized by the state to use force `if necessary'. Such `necessities' should be clearly codified by the state. Due to varying reasons, however, the police finds itself in situations on a daily basis which require the implementation of measures that have not been positively outlined by the state. As if there were a negative trend of transcending the police into a force of repression over the population who has ceased to consider them a public service. Most recent research has shown that contacting the police has become increasingly unpopular, even in cases where a crime has to be reported. Regardless of this data released by the Ministry of the Interior with respect to incidents of `police harassment' amounts to a total of 20 over the last three years which - according to police authorities - is not too upsetting in terms of violating civic rights.

The Helsinki Committee of Human Rights in the Republic of Macedonia has acquired information on the following cases - as instances of violating basic human rights and liberties: On 16th February 1996, in the early morning hours, four young males (including two minors) of the `Chento' suburb were apprehended without a warrant due to `the founded suspicion of stealing gold jewelry from a house in Skopje'.

The arrest was conducted by two police officers responding to the names `Refik' and `Desim', and ended in the 5th Police Station at `Avtokomanda' in Skopje. There the apprehended have been physically abused over hours. The beating began during transportation (in the vehicle), with the youngest - Igor Stankovikj. The rich police repertoire of truth extraction methods included the `clobbering on the head for educational purposes', beating with truncheons, hitting the soles of their feet, the tying to hot radiators.

All victims possess medical records on the inflicted physical injuries, and criminal charges have been filed as well.

Only two months later, the same police stations made the headlines again. This time by apprehending / abusing Ilija Gligorijadis - on leave of his National Service duty at the time - and secondary school student Toni Popovski from Skopje. The suspicions entertained with respect to these two revolved around their stealing from clubs at the `Avtokomanda' and `Lisiche' suburbs in Skopje and re-selling it. The methods employed at the 5th Police Station were more or less the same - with room for slight modifications according to the skills and views of the `executive'. A police officer by the name Zvonko took out his service gun and put it onto a desk - right next to a baseball bat. Then the `clobbering' commenced: boxing, slapping, battering with truncheons. The soon exhausted Zvonko received back-up in shape of a colleague of Zvonko's whose name the children never heard. Together they examined the `airborne' skills of the already battered Toni - who literally `streaked' from one end of the room to the other during `investigation'. At dawn he is thrown into a police van, and he and his friend `enjoyed' the rally - i.e. the driving skills of both police officers. Once this was over, they were returned to the station and tied to seething radiators `to warm them up' - as the policemen explained.

On 1st March at the Old Railway Crossing crossroads (`Stara Rampa') in Skopje Cvetanka Lazarova was beaten up by police constable Jelka Stoilkovska in broad daylight. On her way home Cvetanka stopped her car in front of the `Evropa' sweets shop - to buy some Turkish delight. Upon doing so she asked the constable whether she could park the vehicle in the street for a couple moments. The latter - in her strictest official tone - told her to `bugger off into the car'. This entailed the remark by Cvetanka on how disgraceful this sort of behaviour was. What followed in reply to this were several hits on Cvetanka's head... witnesses stated that the latter `did not sit on her hands either'. Medical records are available on the physical injuries sustained by Cvetanka, while this time charges have been pressed against her - for assaulting a police officer.

On 9th August - during a routine police razzia of the `Zeleno Pazarche' against illegal peddling - Rakiba Mehmet, the unemployed mother of six, `passed away unexpectedly due to a heart stroke' in front of her six-year- old son.

Forensic experts wrapped up the case by conducting an autopsy which revealed that the deceased had suffered from a coronary disease for ages, and that the anxiety generated by the razzia had been the cause of her death. The daily press reported the statements of her spouse and family according to which Rakiba had never suffered from heart disease...

to be continued...

(end)

mils news 16 January 1997

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