Suppressing the National Consciousness of the Macedonians

We find the violation of the human right to freely express your views in the case of Hristos Sideropolus /Hristo Siderov/ and Anastasios Bulis /Tase Bulev/ for what they said for the Greek magazine ,,Ena" in March 1992, concerning the ethnic belonging of Macedonian Slavs. They said the following:

,,Siderov: Where have we reached? The Turks are our enemies, the Bulgarians are enemies, the Albanians are enemies ... In Greece there are one million people that speak Macedonian ... We want to have the rights to unite, to have schools, churches ... I am a Greek citizen with all the responsibilities as such, only with one difference: I belong to an ethnic minority, which my country does not recognize... "

,,Bulev: We are citizens of a country from Lerin to Crit and from Evros to Korfu. We will defend this country if we are recognized as an ethnic Macedonian minority and „I am not Greek, I am Macedonian!".

For these statements the prosecutor accused them of "spreading fake information, that Macedonia is not Greek and that a Macedonian minority exists on Greek territory and that these activities lead to confrontation between those that speak Slavic and others /Greeks/." Whatу is called for is years in jail and fines. The case was heard twice. IMRO - SMD wanted to send its own defender, which was made impossible. Then it turned to the International Organization ,,Amnesty International" in London, which sent an observer to the trial. The case was tried twice and was postponed twice, the second time till 1995.

This case represents a clear violation of par. 10 of the European convention from 1974, as well as art. 30 to art. 35 of Vol. IV of the Convention signed by Greece in 1990 in Copenhagen and par. 9 of the Preambule of the Human rights Conference of CCCE from 1991 in Moscow /facsimile No. 11 of ,,Macedonia" newspaper from 1993/.

SUPPRESSION OF THE RIGHT TO UNITE
FORBIDDING THE MACEDONIAN CULTURAL CENTRE

On April 18, 1990 17 people, citizens of Lerin decided to form an association called "Macedonian Cultural Center", with the following aims, as per its Code.

Article 2 The aims of the Association are the following:

a) cultural, spiritual and artistic advancement of the members, as well as development of the will for collaboration, solidarity and love;

b) cultural decentralization and care for the spiritual and artistic displays and traditions, for the cultural monuments and national traditions;

c) preserving the cultural and natural identity of the district.

Article 3 The above mentioned aims are materialized by legal means, and more precisely through lectures, publications, opening of clubs, book stores, printing newspapers, magazines, books, exhibitions, theatre performances, picture and sculpture exhibitions, musical events, film making sections, .... youth club.

This Application No. 73/296/26/1990 for registering the association was given to the local authority to be registered. The prefect rejected it and did not allow the registration. The founders filed a complaint to the Court of Appeal in Thessalonika, registered under No. 54/1990. Greek newspapers opened deadly fire against the initiative. ,,Elinikos voras" from 12.5.1991 says among other things:

1. The initiative of Sideropolus and the others endangers the unity of the country.

2. The founders of the Macedonian Cultural Center in Lerin execute imperialist directives.

3. This is an attempt to mobilize young Macedonians.

The Court of Appeals in Thessalonika decides that the wish of the 17 Lerin citizens was by creating of this Macedonian Cultural Center to endanger the unity of Greece through secession of Greek Macedonia. This is the Troyan horse of Scopje.

,,Nea Ikologia" newspaper from June 1990 writes: ,,Although Slavo-Macedonians do not exist, officially, they separate themselves from the rest of the Greek citizens. They speak a different language, have other names, customs and songs, a different famity structure, a different religion Ithey are orthodox, hut go by the old calendar!. Since 1912 when Macedonia was incorporated in the Greek state, force against it has been displayed at various levels. It was brutal during the time of Metaxas, immediately after the civil war and during the Junta. Different were also the results of the violence: some Slavo-Macedonians were assimilated, others left the country, many of them declared that although they were Greek citizens, they did not feel such and would preserve their roots. This is so, because if they speak in their dialect in public places they are either fired from work or sent somewhere else. Like for instance last year's fair in Melitis was cancelled because the prefect forbade the local band to play Macedonian songs."