September 16, 2014

Stop the special war against the civil society!

The systematic attack on civil society as a whole, especially human rights activists, journalists, intellectuals and artists is unprecedented. Lately these attacks are intensified through extremely vulgar disqualifications, lies and manipulations aimed to discredit any attempt to think and speak differently from the government.

Human rights, peace and stability in the Republic of Macedonia are in concerning state. It is a statement of all relevant organizations and institutions in the world and in our country. These findings on the situation in the country have been supported by international indexes to determine the degree of democracy, rule of law and human rights, freedom of speech and the media, and the index for peace and stability, in which Macedonia is experiencing a downfall on regular bases. Civil society organizations in the country have been alarming the public eye about the threat to democracy and human rights, but they remain invisible to the public because of the massive control of media by the government.

The public institutions are abused and completely politicized. They work exclusively in the interests of the ruling parties. The boundary between the institutions of the state and the ruling parties is nonexistent. The electoral system is totally corrupt and contrary to basic democratic principles, rules and laws.

Political dialogue has been dead for years, and our country is counted among the several European countries that have established the existence of political prisoners and where the fear to speak in front of the open threat of persecution and other pressures from the government is strongly present everywhere.

The police is militarized and out on the streets, using armored vehicles which are mounted with machine guns in full military equipment and did not abstain from use of force and brutality to prevent or suppress peaceful protests.

Nationalism and religious intolerance that both ruling parties promote through abuse of power and control of public institutions, smaller parties and the media, are causing divisions, tensions and violence between ethnic and religious communities in the country.

It endangers the peace, stability and reputation of the Republic of Macedonia.

Without dialogue there is no peace and freedom!

In ahead of several international celebrations of important dates, such as the International Day of Peace, September 21, the International Day for Tolerance, 16 November and the International Human Rights Day, December 10, once again, clearly, loudly and unambiguously, we ask the government to stop their policies and practices in which, in the end, the victims are the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia.

Furthermore, we call upon the government to stop the special war against civil society and to give space for free thought and action, as stipulated in the Constitution and international documents that oblige Republic of Macedonia.

We call upon all Citizens of the Republic of Macedonia to support peace, tolerance and respect for human rights and freedoms and join us in our efforts to restore democracy in the country.