Political Refugees Trickle Into Lerin After 55 Years of Greek Apartheid
Source: Rainbow/Vinozhito
www.florina.org
On August 20, 2003, Vinozhito (the Rainbow Party) hosted a symbolic reception for the Macedonian political refugees who were permitted to enter Greece. The reception included relatives of the refugees who are living in Greece and are members of Rainbow Party.
The Macedonian child refugees (Detsa Begaltsi) -- ethnic Macedonians born in Greece -- fled their ancestral homes as children during the Greek Civil War (1946-1949). For many this was the first time they were able to be with their families in 55 years. Greek officials callously misrepresent this group as "enemy collaborators and criminals," even though the refugees were small children when they fled.
As a matter of fact their return home had been blocked by Greek authorities because of their refusal to deny their Macedonian ethnic heritage. Those political refugees who agreed to declare themselves as "Greeks by genus" were allowed to repatriate in 1982. The change of policy to allow entry to "non-Greek" political refugees was the result of a recent decision by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After more than five decades of separation the political refugees can enter Greece for a maximum of 20 days from August 20, 2003 to October 30, 2003. A number of refugees were turned away by border authorities because their passports listed their birth village using the old Macedonian name.
www.florina.org
On August 20, 2003, Vinozhito (the Rainbow Party) hosted a symbolic reception for the Macedonian political refugees who were permitted to enter Greece. The reception included relatives of the refugees who are living in Greece and are members of Rainbow Party.
The Macedonian child refugees (Detsa Begaltsi) -- ethnic Macedonians born in Greece -- fled their ancestral homes as children during the Greek Civil War (1946-1949). For many this was the first time they were able to be with their families in 55 years. Greek officials callously misrepresent this group as "enemy collaborators and criminals," even though the refugees were small children when they fled.
As a matter of fact their return home had been blocked by Greek authorities because of their refusal to deny their Macedonian ethnic heritage. Those political refugees who agreed to declare themselves as "Greeks by genus" were allowed to repatriate in 1982. The change of policy to allow entry to "non-Greek" political refugees was the result of a recent decision by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After more than five decades of separation the political refugees can enter Greece for a maximum of 20 days from August 20, 2003 to October 30, 2003. A number of refugees were turned away by border authorities because their passports listed their birth village using the old Macedonian name.