MHRMC - Press Release
MHRMC Condemns Violence Against Macedonians in Albania
March 12, 2005
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The Macedonian Human Rights Movement of Canada (MHRMC) is outraged in its findings that ethnic Macedonians are frequently subject to shootings
and other forms of violent attacks within the Mala Prespa/Golo Brdo region of Albania.
The MHRMC has learned that on December 1, 2004, two ethnic Macedonian citizens of Albania, Jani Nesto (40) and Sotir Nestor (40) from the village
of Pustec, were heavily wounded while coming under gunfire by a band of Albanian Cacaks, who proceeded to shoot at them and their vehicles with
Kalashnikov assault rifles while the two were making their way home from Korca.
According to Edmond Temelko, the president of the “Prespa Society” – the organization which protects the rights of the ethnic Macedonian minority
in Albania – this has been the third such incident in the last year.
“We believe that these violent armed attacks are based purely upon political motives, aimed at scaring the Macedonians of Mala Prespa. We contacted
the police in Korca and the Helsinki Committee in Albania because of this gross violation of human rights and freedoms of the Macedonians of Albania
and we expect the relevant institutions to undertake the necessary steps to protect the freedoms of mobility and property and the lives of the
Macedonians of Albania.”
The Macedonian Human Rights Movement of Canada condemns these attacks and urges that a full investigation be undertaken in order to bring the
perpetrators to justice and to prevent such attacks from occurring again.
The MHRMC also asks the international community to carry out its own investigations in regards to the treatment of the ethnic Macedonian minority
in Albania and to demand that the Albanian government grant its minorities the human rights that are guaranteed by all international human rights
conventions
Bill Nicholov, President
Macedonian Human Rights Movement International
Address: 157 Adelaide St. West, Suite 434, Toronto, Canada M5H 4E7
Tel: 416-850-7125 Fax: 416-850-7127
E-mail: info@mhrmi.org
Website: www.mhrmi.org
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