Macedonian students harassed

By Ray Fulcher

MELBOURNE — On March 14, students attempting to establish a Macedonian club at Melbourne University were harassed and forced to pack up their stall by members of the Hellenic club.

The three women staffing the Macedonian stall were overwhelmed by around a dozen men from the Hellenic club, who surrounded their stall and prevented them from distributing material. At the same time, the Hellenic club students distributed misleading propaganda from the Greek consulate claiming that Macedonia had always been Greek.

A meeting of the Activities Committee on March 25 heard from both clubs and Resistance, which supported the Macedonians' right to establish their club. The committee reaffirmed a 1994 decision that any denial of a group's Macedonian identity constituted racism. It also deplored actions like March 14, saying that any "physical intimidation" of students was unacceptable.

However, both clubs have been banned from distributing material until the matter is clarified by the Student Representative Council.

From GLW issue 226