Newspaper censors article on Macedonian minority and language

ALERT - GREECE

15 August 2005

Newspaper censors article on Macedonian minority and language

SOURCE: Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM), Athens

(GHM/IFEX) - GHM condemns the censorship by the Greek daily newspaper
"Makedonia" of an article on the banned Macedonian language in Greece
that was to be published on 14 August 2005, in the regular Sunday column
of writer Thanasis Triaridis.

The article, entitled "A short note on a banned language", summarised
the history and the reasons for the prohibition on speaking Macedonian
in Greece, as well as Greece's refusal to recognise national minorities,
such as the Macedonian and Turkish ones. The author concluded that it
was time to lift the ban and teach the language with its songs and its
literature at the schools in the areas where the language is spoken. The
article can be found in Greek at the author's personal web site:
http://www.triaridis.gr/keimena/keimD046.htm

In a postscript, the author relates how "Makedonia" editor Christos
Kapsalis told him that his article could not be published "out of
principle" and asked for another article. The author refused such an
arrangement and informed the editor that he was putting an end to the
18-month collaboration with the newspaper.

GHM considers this censorship a violation of freedom of expression,
symptomatic of the prevailing intolerance towards national minorities in
Greece, and especially the Macedonian minority. Such an attitude is
incompatible with the "state of law" that is supposed to prevail in
Greece, and was denounced in 2004 and 2005 by a number of international
organisations, which urged Greece to recognize its minorities and
respect their freedom of expression and association.

BACKGROUND:
In June 2004, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance
noted that "persons wishing to express their Macedonian, Turkish or
other identity incur the hostility of the population. They are targets
of prejudices and stereotypes, and sometimes face discrimination" and
"encouraged the Greek authorities to take further steps toward the
recognition of the freedom of association and expression of members of
the Macedonian and Turkish communities living in Greece."
(http://www.coe.int/T/E/human_rights/Ecri/1-ECRI/2-Country-by-country_ap
proa
ch/Greece/Greece_CBC_3.asp#TopOfPage).

In May 2004, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
stated that it was "concerned that there is only one officially
recognized minority in Greece, whereas there are other ethnic groups
seeking that status," "regretted the lack of information on the measures
taken by the State party to preserve, protect and promote minority
languages and cultures" and "urged Greece to reconsider its position
with regard to the recognition of other ethnic, religious or linguistic
minorities which may exist within its territory, in accordance with
recognized international standards, and invited it to ratify the Council
of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
(1995)."
(http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/E.C.12.1.Add.97.En?Opendocume
nt)

Finally, in March 2005, the UN Human Rights Committee "noted with
concern the apparent unwillingness of the government to allow any
private groups or associations to use associational names that include
the appellation Turk or Macedonian, based upon Greece's assertion that
there are no ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities in Greece other
than Muslims in Thrace. The Committee noted that individuals belonging
to such minorities have a right under the Covenant to the enjoyment of
their own culture, the profession and practice of their own religion,
and the use of their own language in community with other members of
their group (article 27)." The Committee called on Greece to "review its
practice in light of Article 27 of the Covenant,"
(http://193.194.138.190/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/0b0fece5de7503b0c1256ffc004
89e4
b?Opendocument) which states that "[I]n those States in which ethnic,
religious or linguistic minorities exist, persons belonging to these
minorities shall not be denied the right, in community with the other
members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and
practise their own religion, or to use their own language."

For further information, contact GHM at P.O. Box 60820, GR-15304 Glyka
Nera, Greece, tel: +30 210 347 2259, fax: +30 210 601 8760, e-mail:
office@greekhelsinki.gr, Internet: http://www.greekhelsinki.gr

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of
GHM. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
GHM. _________________________________________________________________
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