Press Release
Press Release
MHRMI and ARCAM Gala Banquet on June 1, 2013 in Toronto
Commemorating the 65th Anniversary of the Plight of the Detsa Begaltsi and the 100th Anniversary of the Fateful Partition of MacedoniaShow your support by booking your tickets now. Please call 416-850-7125 or email info@mhrmi.org.
Macedonian Human Rights Movement International (MHRMI) and the Association of Refugee Children from Aegean Macedonia (ARCAM) are pleased to announce our Gala Banquet on June 1, 2013. We will be commemorating the 65th anniversary of the plight of the Detsa Begaltsi and the 100th anniversary of the fateful partition of Macedonia.
Our special guests will include the Editor of Nova Zora and member of Vinozhito, Dimitri Jovanov, member of Vinozhito from Kukush, Tanas Trajanov, and TV Sonce journalist and MHRMI International Coordinator Slavko Mangovski.
Macedonian Child Refugees (Detsa Begaltsi) were evacuated from Greece as children during the Greek Civil War of 1946-1949. To escape the bombing of Macedonian villages by the Greek army, children aged 2-14 were evacuated by the Red Cross and settled across Europe. Most of the evacuations occurred 65 years ago, in 1948. The Detsa Begaltsi have consistently been denied entry into Greece simply because they assert their Macedonian ethnic identity.
After the Balkan Wars of 1912-13, the Treaty of Bucharest tragically partitioned Macedonia among Serbia, Greece, and Bulgaria, while a small part was given to Albania in 1919. Upon annexation of Macedonia's territory, each country began terrorist campaigns aimed at killing, expelling or forcibly assimilating the indigenous Macedonian population.
The Republic of Macedonia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, while Macedonians in Aegean Macedonia (annexed by Greece), Pirin Macedonia (annexed by Bulgaria) and Mala Prespa and Golo Brdo (annexed by Albania) are still being persecuted simply for being Macedonian.
Macedonian Human Rights Movement International works relentlessly to help Macedonians overcome the human rights abuses that they face on a daily basis throughout all parts of Macedonia. MHRMI, and our partners the Australian Macedonian Human Rights Committee, are the only organizations in the Macedonian diaspora that finance and organize Macedonian human rights activities in the Balkans. Among our many initiatives are:
•The purchase and financing of the only Macedonian radio station in Lerin and TV station in Korca, Albania;
•The only Macedonian language classes throughout Aegean Macedonia and Albania, including the opening of another kindergarten in Korca;
•The funding of Nova Zora, Narodna Volja and other Macedonian newspapers and publications in Aegean Macedonia, Pirin Macedonia and Mala Prespa/Golo Brdo;
•The crucial Our Name is Macedonia campaign, which demands an immediate end to the "name negotiations";
•The operation of human rights offices for Macedonians in Bulgaria, Greece and Albania;
•Demanding recognition and support for Macedonia and Macedonian human rights in Washington, Ottawa, Brussels and throughout the world.
The MHRMI and ARCAM Gala Banquet will take place on June 1, 2013 at St. Clement of Ohrid Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral and Banquet Centre, 76 Overlea Blvd in Toronto. Dinner will be at 7pm and admission is $50/adult, $20/student and children under 12 are free.
Music by 'The Boys from Bouf'
For tickets or more information, please call 416-850-7125, email info@mhrmi.org, or visit www.mhrmi.org, www.facebook.com/mhrmi, twitter.com/mhrmi.
Make a concrete difference for Macedonian human rights and show your support by attending The MHRMI and ARCAM Gala Banquet or please donate by visiting www.mhrmi.org/donation.asp.
Thank you in advance for your interest and support.
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Macedonian Human Rights Movement International (MHRMI) has been active on human and national rights issues for Macedonians and other oppressed peoples since 1986. For more information: www.mhrmi.org, twitter.com/mhrmi, www.facebook.com/mhrmi, info@mhrmi.org, 1-416-850-7125.