RFE Bias Against Macedonia

Macedonians need a daily internet news magazine that can put a spotlight on media bias against Macedonia. Reality Macedonia could have met that need with more help.

Radio Free Europe is funded by the US and is sensitive to pressure from the Greek lobby. Below is an e-mail that I sent to RFE regarding such bias. My assumption is that they will not correct their errors.

To: Ulrich Buechsenschuetz ub@itinerarium.de
Monday, June 27, 2005
Re: MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT CONFIRMS JAIL SENTENCE FOR MAVERICK CLERIC
June 24, 2005


1. This statement is false. Jovan was tried for "allegedly" inciting religious and ethnic hatred He now stands "convicted" of inciting religious and ethnic hatred.

Serbian Orthodox Bishop Jovan must spend 18 months in jail for allegedly inciting religious and ethnic hatred

Replace with this one:

Serbian Orthodox Bishop Jovan was convicted of inciting religious and ethnic hatred and was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

2. This paragraph makes no sense. The Macedonian Church enjoys the overwhelming support Macedonians. The Serbian and Bulgarian Churches are supported by a few quislings.

In 1967, the communist Macedonian authorities recognized a MPC separate from the SPC and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, which has a much smaller number of Macedonian adherents than the other two. The SPC and other Orthodox churches do not recognize their Macedonian counterpart, regarding it as schismatic. PM

Replace with this one:

In 1967, the MPC declared independence from the SPC, which, in 1945 was denied by Communist leader Tito when the Macedonian republic and the Macedonian language were recognised. For over 20 years Macedonians resented being nominally tied to the SPC, viewing as a vestige of Serbian colonialism. The SPC, branding this move as "schismatic", successfully lobbied other Orthodox Churches to deny recognition to their Macedonian counterpart.


The Original Article
RFE, June 24, 2005


RADIO FREE EUROPE/ RADIO LIBERTY:

"MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT CONFIRMS JAIL SENTENCE FOR MAVERICK CLERIC"

An appeals court in Bitola confirmed on 23 June that Serbian Orthodox Bishop Jovan must spend 18 months in jail for allegedly inciting religious and ethnic hatred, Reuters reported. Jovan, who became a central figure in the long-standing dispute between the Macedonian Orthodox Church (MPC) and the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) when he switched allegiance from MPC to the SPC in 2003, was sentenced in August 2004 (see 'RFE/RL Newsline,' 20 August 2004 and 'RFE/RL Balkan Report,' 23 January and 6 August 2004). Jovan must now surrender to police within eight days or risk arrest. He said after the appeals court handed down its ruling that he is 'ready to go to jail if that is what the court says.'

The central problem is deeply rooted in what historians call the Macedonian Question and interrelated issues involving the traditional Balkan tendency to equate one's nationality with one's religion. In 1967, the communist Macedonian authorities recognized a MPC separate from the SPC and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, which has a much smaller number of Macedonian adherents than the other two. The SPC and other Orthodox churches do not recognize their Macedonian counterpart, regarding it as schismatic. PM"