From: hrcoord@igc.org (Human Rights Coordinator)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.greek
Subject: Women Arrested for Opinions
Date: 14 Apr 92 18:31:00 GMT
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1473100045:000:2998
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!hrcoord    Apr 14 11:31:00 1992


From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: Women Arrested for Opinions

/* Written  9:07 pm  Apr 14, 1992 by peg:greenleft in cdp:greenleft.news */
Greek parties stir up chauvinism

By Mike Karadjis

Four women have been arrested in Athens for handing out leaflets 
supporting self-determination for the Macedonian people and 
opposing the chauvinist hysteria which has gripped Greece in 
recent months.

The four were handing out a leaflet which stated, ``We are not 
endangered by `Skopia' [the Greek government's term for the 
Macedonian republic], but by the hypernationalism which is likely 
to drag the country to war''.

It concluded: ``The neighbouring peoples are not our enemies. 
Down with nationalism and war.'' It claimed that the government 
and political parties are using the cover of the name 
``Macedonia'' to intensify aggressive and racist policies against 
the neighbouring people.

The authorities were further annoyed that in the leaflet the name 
yugoslav (without a capital) Macedonia was used instead of the 
compulsory Greek newspeak, ``Skopia''.

Earlier this year, four people were sentenced to six months in 
prison for putting up posters calling for the recognition of 
``Slavic Macedonia''.

Likewise, when Communist Party leader Aleka Papariga mentioned a 
``Slavophone'' minority in parliament, without even using the 
word Macedonian, she created a virtual uprising from chauvinist 
MPs across the political spectrum and a vicious media assault.

For months now, editorials and articles in daily newspapers from 
the right, ``left'' and centre have openly advocated the 
dismemberment of Macedonia.

For example, a recent article in the left-liberal paper Avghi 
claimed that Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria should divide Macedonia 
and then Greece should give its share to Albania in exchange for 
southern Albania, where there is a big Greek minority.

The extent to which this chauvinism cements ``consensus'' was 
recently shown when a leader of the Left Coalition was 
interviewed on the Macedonian issue in the openly fascist 
newspaper Eleftheri Ora.

This has been reflected in the Greek-Australian press. An 
editorial in the April 6 issue of the right-wing Greek Herald 
asks whether, in the event of EEC recognition of Macedonia with 
any name that includes the word ``Macedonia'', Greeks ``will take 
up arms and march on Skopia''.

There is strong pressure from the EEC for Macedonia to be 
recognised as ``Slavic Macedonia'', which pleases neither Greece 
nor Macedonia. In the event of Macedonian compromise on this, the 
Greek government of the right-wing New Democracy appears deeply 
divided.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis appears likely to accept a compromise 
to prevent Greek isolation from western allies. But the ambitious 
foreign affairs minister, Antonis Samaras, is opposed to any 
compromise which includes the name Macedonia. The main opposition 
Social Democratic Pasok party is also playing the chauvinist card 
against Mitsotakis.