NCJ Number
179309
Journal
Human Rights Watch Volume: 10 Issue: 1 (D) Dated: 04/1998 Pages: 1-50
Date Published
April 1998
Length
50 pages
Annotation
This report documents human rights abuses related to the work of the police and other law enforcement officials in Macedonia, with an emphasis on police violence and violations of the right to due process.
Abstract
The report reveals and discusses a pattern of abuse that is ignored by Macedonia’s political leaders and tolerated by the international community. The violations cut across ethnic lines; all citizens of Macedonia have suffered violence at the hands of the police, as well as procedural violations, almost always with no recourse through the courts. The common characteristic of victims, rather than ethnicity, is usually oppositional political activity or low socio-economic status. The most serious abuses are use of excessive force by the police at time of arrest and physical maltreatment of those in detention. The practice of “informative talks” - summoning a person to the police for questioning - continues even though it is forbidden by Macedonian law. The report includes data on seeking redress, the national ombudsman and the role of the international community. Notes, appendixes