Macedonia to Hold Early Parliamentary Elections, Concerns Over Gun Violence

18 April 2008

Civil NGO appeals to all citizens of Macedonia, especially political parties and community leaders to denounce the use of armed violence and respect laws and democratic principles.

Civil NGO reminds the citizens of the bitter memories of violence in past Elections. The organization believes that the presence and use of weapons in the Macedonian society poses serious threat to peaceful, free and fair elections, and in various ways reflects on the overall situation in the country after the election.

- What you saw your will reap, the old saying goes. In other words, it all depends on the quality of electoral process: development of the situation in society and the functioning of the system afterwards. When weapons talk, all values of democracy, freedom and human rights seize existence, says Civil NGO.

Pre-electoral and the elections date correspond with the period needed for preparations of the Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence � Campaign in Macedonia (initiative of the International Action Network on Small Arms � www.iansa.org) that Civil is organizing for six years now together with a number of NGOs from Macedonia and the region.

At the same time, Civil proceeds with its initiative to establish a network of individuals, groups, organizations and institutions that struggle to overcome gun violence and violence, in favor of cooperation and friendship between neighboring countries, dignity and justice for all.

- Join us. By undertaking this campaign against gun violence and by establishing an action network we will contribute to peaceful, free and fair elections, and by doing so, to participate to the processes of stabilization and security in Macedonia and the region, concludes Civil�s public appeal to the Macedonian citizens.