Assessment for Roma in Macedonia

Risk Assessment | Analytic Summary | References

Risk Assessment

The Roma in Macedonia are not likely to initiate any rebellious activity. In the past they have been quite passive, without any signs of protest or rebellion, partly because they are not concentrated in a particular region of the country and partly because they lack cohesion. However, in terms of numbers, there are numerous associations and parties that claim to represent the minority. The government did not engage in active acts of repression against their own citizens of Roma origin, although societal attitudes result in political and economic exclusion.

The Macedonian government has improved treatment of minorities following the 2001 insurgency led by the Albanian National Liberation Army (NLA). The post-2001 government has advanced minority interests, though societal discrimination remains. Some initiatives have been passed in regards to the bettering of the Roma standard of life, although there are reserves as to their actual implementation; these measures have been supported by regional organizations, such as the Council of Europe and the OSCE. The conflict in Kosovo had little direct influence over the situation of Macedonian Roma, although the Kosovo Roma refugees were met with discriminatory treatment.

Roma in Macedonia have engaged in protests in the past, though not on a large scale. They do suffer from cultural restrictions and are underrepresented in the national and local administration, but their low level of organization and internal cohesion discourage political activism. The Roma across Europe in general and Eastern Europe in particular do not show signs of coordinated action. In Macedonia, the government is making efforts to democratize and to stop discrimination of the Roma population.

Analytic Summary

The Roma in Macedonia do not concentrate in a particular region of the country, but are spread all over the territory (GROUPCON = 0). The racial distinction that is supposed to set the Roma apart is less relevant than the way of life, costume and appearance that the members of this group share. Most of them still speak their own language, Romani (LANG = 1), together with the language that dominates in the regions where they are located, Macedonian and/or Albanian. A number of Macedonian Roma are Muslim, although some of them practice other religions as well. In the past, they have been treated as an inferior group and suffer from a history of discrimination.

Like the other Roma groups in Eastern Europe, the Macedonian Roma have a higher birth rate than the rest of the population. It is difficult to determine the exact percentage of the general population they represent, because many refuse to identify themselves as Roma, preferring instead to be defined as Albanians or Turks, on the basis of the shared religion with these other minority groups in Macedonia. There is no education in the Romani language at the university level and there are few elementary and secondary schools with the option of Romani language. The other minorities (Albanian and Turkish) have more classes at the secondary level and even some courses at the university level (CULPO399-03 = 2, CULPO599-03 = 1).

A large number of Roma do not participate in elections for various reasons including disenchantment, low education levels, and lack of proper identification documents. The judicial system has failed to remedy the numerous police abuses against Roma; many extrajudicial arrests have been performed, according to Human Rights Watch and the European Roma Rights Center. The Roma are not part of the police, military and state bureaucracy. They are also poorer than the rest of the people and form a large part of the unemployed. However, as stated previously, the government is actively taking states to remedy Roma economic exclusion (ECODIS00 = 3, ECDIS01-03 = 1).

Most of the Roma are interested in gaining equal rights and fair treatment in political and economic life (POLGR403 = 1, ECOGR303 = 1). Culturally they are not restricted; on the contrary, they are even appreciated (particularly their musical and artistic talents).

Since there have been conflicts with ethnic Macedonians not initiated by the government, the Roma would like to enjoy protection from aggression through equal treatment by the police (CULRG503 = 1).

There are numerous associations and parties to represent the Roma minority in Macedonia, among them the Party for Unity of the Roma, the Party for the Full Emancipation of the Roma, the PSERM - Alliance of the Roma in Macedonia, and the Cultural Association of the Roma (GOJPA03 = ). It is unclear how many members these organizations have, but it seems that there is a low cohesion and even competition among these groups. Transnational support for the Roma comes from European institutions and from non-governmental organizations, especially the European Roma Rights center, an organization that provides legal, moral and at times financial support for the Roma all over Europe.

The government in Skopje is taking steps in the direction of improving the situation of the Roma, but overall its attitude has been one of exclusion. Instances of intergroup conflict persist, between Roma and ethnic Albanians and the larger ethnic Macedonian population.

References

Poulton, Hugh "The Roma in Macedonia: A Balkan Success Story?" RFE/RL Research Report, May 1993, 2(19), pp. 42-5.

US Department of State Human Rights Reports for 1990, 1991 and 1993 (all published the February following the year which they cover.)

Lexis/Nexis: All news files: 1990-2003.