To demonstrators, activists, the police, and other citizens of Macedonia,
We have been closely and apprehensively following what had been happening in Macedonia in the past months and days, and we feel a human and activist need to support all of you out in the streets in your efforts to fight for the principles of democracy and rule of law and justice, to seek a resolution of the substantiated charges for concealing perpetrators of murder, corruption, abuse of authority and to protest police brutality.
Nonviolent demonstrations in Skopje, and as of yesterday, also in Bitola, Prilep, Kumanovo and Kavadarci, give hope to all in the region that change is possible, and that sooner or later it will come to all who rule imperiously, instead of being in the service of all citizens.
We salute your struggle for freedom, a struggle against fear, deception, threats and manipulation. We particularly applaud your unity in nonviolent struggle, irrespective of and across ethnic boundaries, all citizens together.
We hope that the police who stand facing their friends, family, neighbours and community will know how to keep calm and resist using force, that they will heed their conscience and preserve democracy and human rights in Macedonia.
We appeal to all citizens in the streets to take care of themselves, of others around them, and not to allow provocations or nationalist or other prefixes to this civic initiative.
In the hope that the Macedonian authorities will place public interest before personal interest, we appeal to them to do all in their power to prevent further violence in the streets and unlawful detentions and to quickly and efficiently respond to the demands of the demonstrators.
We are with you wholeheartedly
Group of peace activists from the region of the former Yugoslavia
- Regionalni mirovni savet/ Регионален Мировен Совет/ Këshilli Rajonal Paqësor
- Tamara Zrnović, Bijeljina
- Александра Богдановска, Скопје
- Nataša Okilj, Stara Pazova
- Katarina Milićević, Kragujevac
- Davorka Turk, Zagreb/Sarajevo
- Nenad Vukosavljević, Beograd
- Ivana Franović, Beograd
- Adnan Hasanbegović, Sarajevo
- Amer Delić, Zavidovići
- Čedomir Glavaš, Bratunac
- Jasna Dimitrijević, Beograd
- Mirjana Trifković, Bijeljina
- Nedžad Horozović, Sarajevo
- Albulena Karaga, Kërçovë/Shkup
- Lulzim Hakaj, Mitrovica
- Marijana Stojčić, Beograd
- Tanja Tomić, Bijeljina
- Vildana Džekman, Sarajevo
- Refik Hodžić, New York
- Ranka Kojčinović, Vukovar
- Tanja Javorina, Zagreb
- Lejla Huremović, Sarajevo
- FAK – Feministički antimilitaristički kolektiv, Sarajevo