The Foundation Open Society – Macedonia and the Contemporary Art Center – Skopje strongly condemn the destruction and the forcible removal of an exhibition of a group of civic activist in Tetovo who used art as a form of protest.
A group of civic activists from Tetovo, “# Transformers”, on 11 November 2019 through three photo installations from several locations in Tetovo, along with unfulfilled campaign promises by the Municipality, expressed their outrage against the inaction of local authorities in solving the problems that Tetovo residents face on a daily basis. This form of protest is their right guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia, and the complete destruction and removal of the exhibition by several persons with an official car from the Municipality of Tetovo presents a direct violation of the Constitution, the Law on Public Gatherings and relevant international standards
We give our full support to the # Transformers activist group, the “Loja” Center and the “Eco Guerilla” Association who have informed the public of the event. We urge the Municipality of Tetovo and the Ministry of Interior’s competent structures to take immediate action to clarify the circumstances of the case and to immediately establish the responsibility of all persons involved in the event. The obstruction of the right to peaceful protest, as well as the unlawful use of an official car of the Municipality of Tetovo, directly attack the freedom of expression and the guaranteed human rights and freedoms that directly conflict with the values we as a society want and need to cultivate.
We, at the Foundation Open Society – Macedonia and the Contemporary Art Center – Skopje, actively support citizens in their efforts to make a change for the better. We believe that creative activism, as a form of civic activism, in addition to clearly visualizing problems can contribute to solving them. Art, when put into operation, can really make a difference. This action by Tetovo activists aims to improve the living conditions in the city and its surroundings, to put pressure on the authorities, but more importantly, to foster co-operation to resolve burning local issues. In this regard, we believe that such gross violations of human rights should not happen in the Republic of North Macedonia, and we, therefore, insist that this event in Tetovo is urgently resolved.
Foundation Open Society- Macedonia
Contemporary Art Center – Skopje
Photo: Eco Guerilla
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15 November 2019