Vevčani, Republic of
In a self organized
referendum in 1996, 99 percent of the population of Vevčani voted for the
“independent republic of Vevčani” and thereby declared
independence from Macedonia.
The inhabitants were proud
of their independence that helped them keep peace, while the rest of the region
was in war. “We look radical, but we just want to make sure that nobody
manipulates us,” said Nenad Batkovski, the self declared consul of
Vevčani in Skopje. Macedonia has ignored the claim of the inhabitants of
Vevčani. For outsiders it is difficult to say whether Vevčani is an
independent country or not. The inhabitants claim to have weapons and munitions
ready, just in case….
In 1997 mayor Vasil
Radinovski was arrested. After a hunger strike and protests of the inhabitants
he was released. “Our Muslim neighbours live in peace with Vevčani.
They come to trade and for the healthy springs” says Vasil Radinoski.
Vevčani is now flourishing, compared to other “ghost villages”
in Macedonia. “Macedonia can learn a lot from us; real democracy is based
on freedom, not on ethnicity” says Vasil Radinovski.
Ličnik
To emphasize its
independence, Vevčani has its own flag, its own coat of arms, its own
passport and its own money, the Ličnik. The Ličnik is named after the
saint of Vevčani, Saint Spas, which the inhabitants call Ličnik
(beautiful). Tourists can buy the Ličnik as a souvenir. It is not an
official currency, to avoid problems with Macedonia. The banknotes are issued
in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 Ličnik.
Civil courage
A dispute arose when the
Struga authorities decided to use the Vevchani water system, built by the
villagers through their own labour and finances. The reason? To supply a nearby
group of newly built “dachas” owned by eminent Macedonian
Republican functionaries. The villagers, fearful of the impact on their
irrigation needs, started a program of civil resistance to prevent pipes being
laid across their land. Branka Magaš poignantly describes what next
occurred during Aug 1987:
THE AUTHORITIES RESPONDED
BY SENDING IN A SQUAD OF SPECIALLY TRAINED RIOT POLICE: ARMED WITH DOGS AND
ELECTRIC PRODS, THEY ATTACKED THE INHABITANTS, INCLUDING SMALL CHILDREN IN
THEIR MOTHERS' ARMS. SEVERAL ENDED UP IN HOSPITAL. WHILE THE PIPES WERE BEING
LAID, THE YOUTH OF VEVCHANI ORGANIZED A HUNGER STRIKE.
http://mak-truth.com/hr_intell.htm
Links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JsixngilN0
http://www.fabian-vendrig.eu/balkan/mk/history/vevcani.html
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Vevchani_Municipality.png
http://umdiaspora.org/content/view/163/54/
http://www.kosmix.com/topic/Vevchani
