1. ADVERTISEMENT
An Open Letter to the Hon. Mike Rann MP, Premier of South Australia.
Premier, why do you vilify the Macedonian Community of
South Australia, and its heritage?
Multicultural SA, the agency responsible for advising the Government on all matters in relation to Mr Rann, you are also the Minister for Social Inclusion. Two of the nine operational principals of the
multicultural and ethnic affairs in South Australia, has the following Vision statement: Social Inclusion Board espoused by Mon. David Cappo (Commissioner for Social Inclusion - South
“To achieve an open inclusive and equitable multicultural society, where cultural, linguistic, religious Australia) include;
and productive diversity is understood, valued and supported”. 1. Fundamental to engaging people in the economic and social life of the community is the
However, Premier, none of this seems to apply to the Macedonian Community of South Australia, importance of respecting people, their voices and their ‘agency’
and your persistent criticisms of Macedonians and their heritage are simply out of step with both local 2. Systems and bureaucracies must always be orientated to SERVE people and community
and international public opinion and recent developments. and not vice versa.
On the ‘name’ issue alone, 127 countries have recognised the Republic of Macedonia under its Further, Mon. Cappo states “Government bureaucracy has a habit of developing such contracts and
constitutional name to date, while you Mr Rann still adhere to the notion that the name is “not relationships of such uneven power that the individual is disempowered in the process. This I believe would be
recognised, because no nation should steal the history and symbols of another nation.” a systemic abuse of human dignity.”
Mr Rann, you have been promoting this line for a decade or more while the international community (VALUES AND PUBLIC POLICY: FAIRNESS, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL CHANGE, Centre for Public Policy Conference,
moves in the totally opposite direction. 26-27 FEB 2009)
Why is that Mr Rann? Premier, it is without doubt that our community is reeling under this ‘abuse of human dignity.’
The Macedonian Community has been part of the South Australian landscape for over 70 years. How can we, as responsible community leaders, simply stand by while your actions are full of venom,
intolerance and hypocrisy towards the Macedonian Community and its heritage, as evidenced by
Our Grandparents came from the ravages of the Balkans to enable our children to live in a free and your self-righteous bluster below?
democratic society. We have willingly contributed to this great state and country with vigour, whilst
enjoying and promoting the benefits of a true multi-cultural society. Well Mr Rann, we can’t, and we won’t!
We live and stand by the sacred principles of this great country – equality, egalitarianism, mateship, We respectfully seek your apology and a considered response to our complaint within seven days,
democracy and a fair-go for all. How is it a ‘fair go’ Mr Rann for you to force labels upon us? and demand that you desist with your anti-Macedonian rhetoric. Further, as concerned constituents
and electors, we now seek an urgent meeting with you, to assure us that, if re-elected, your biased
Time and time again, you choose the Macedonian Community as a soft target to denigrate and vilify views will not be elevated to the level of official government policy, so that we must again fear the
while you pursue and appease the larger Greek vote. How can we now trust you Mr Rann, trust removal of our basic rights, in a manner reminiscent of the policies and practices which originally
that you will protect our rights to express ourselves ethno-culturally, to self-identify with an origin drove our forebears to seek refuge in this wonderful country in the first place.
of choice, without having to provide you with a doctoral dissertation about history to prove our
Sincerely Yours,
claims?
Macedonian Community of Adelaide & SA Inc.
Will you, Mr Premier, defend our right, as loyal South Australians, to “exist” as we freely choose to, Macedonian Community VMRO-DPMNE of Adelaide & SA Inc.
even as others stronger and better organized deny that right? Or will you, and your cohorts, choose to Macedonian Orthodox Church Community Sv. Naum of Adelaide & SA
deny, compromise and emasculate our rights on the basis of your preferred reading of history?
In this latest attack on Macedonians (see transcript below) you maintain the stance Premier that Transcript
Macedonians are thieves of ancient history, while you further accuse the democratically elected Mike Rann, Premier of South Australia
government of the Republic of Macedonia of ‘stirring up trouble in the most dangerous way’ by Offending Macedonians at the Dimitria Festival, Adelaide
presenting their case to the European Union! Yet, name issue aside Mr Rann, it is the case that Greece November 15th 2009
and Macedonia are developing a sound relationship, and particularly in trade and commerce.
”Unfortunately in recent times again, the issues are being raised again in ‘FYROM’ and I thought the
The idea that you can claim free licence to criticize a foreign government while giving suburban speeches craziness was over but now the European Union wants the issue of the name of Macedonia dealt with by
is outrageous, and makes this State look plainly mediocre on the world stage. It is extraordinarily un- December. And once again we have a leader in Mr Ivanov who is stirring up trouble in the most dangerous
statesmanlike! These two states are attempting to consolidate an enduring relationship as neighbours, way. We have seen them name their airport after Alexander the Great... makes no sense whatsoever... their
which is vitally important for a peaceful and stable Europe, So why are you “stirring up trouble in a major highway named after Alexander the Great. And now it’s being stirred up once again as it was in
dangerous way” Mr Rann? the early 90’s for political reasons in the slavic State. And none of this makes any sense. Some people you
Mr Rann, you continue to hurt the good name of the Macedonian people, and you constantly accuse know interestingly just a few months ago in May, a whole group of very distinguished Greek scholars came
the Macedonians of stealing history and you offend this proud community at every opportunity. out and had written to the new President of the United States, President Barack Obama and have said
That is NOT acceptable. to him, told him the real history of Macedonia. Told him about the fact that the Greek Macedonians were
there centuries and centuries before, the history of Phillip of Macedon, the history of Alexander the Great
When did the people of South Australia empower you to ‘remain firm and unswerving in our support’ & Hellenism. And that’s why this centre is so important. It’s important for you but it’s also important
for the official Greek position of denying the Macedonian identity? Is this now a SA government for the rest of us. To have a centre that celebrates the great Hellenic tradition, the Greek tradition of
policy? Is this Labor policy? If so, this too is NOT acceptable. Makethonia. And so I promise you that we will remain firm and unswerving in our support for your cause.
If re-elected, will you apply multicultural policies universally, or only to a selection of community People sometimes say to me ‘but why is this important?’ It is important because no one is entitled to steal
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groups which meet your own particular points of view? another nation’s history or culture. That is why it’s important.”
Written and Authorised by V. Tanevski, T. Kuzmanov, Rev. J Sumracki on behalf of The Macedonian Communities of South Australia 148 Crittenden Rd Findon SA 5023