Macedonia's 'Patriotic' NGOs Spark Security Fears

Macedonia should investigate threats of violence made by 'patriotic associations' that support the right-wing VMRO DPMNE party's fight against a proposed new, opposition-led coalition government, warn security experts.

Twenty-two such associations met in the central Macedonian town of Veles last week and formed a joint Macedonian National Front. The group pledged to "defend" the country from the new coalition government and demands made by its ethnic Albanian coalition partners.

In a joint statement issued last week the associations said they would support protests against the announced new coalition government using "all available non-violent or violent means to defend the fatherland".

The 'patriotic NGOs' pointed to ongoing protests against the proposed opposition-led government to justify their stance as respecting "the clearly-stated will of the people as the sole bearer of the sovereignty and statehood of the country".

The threat to use violence has alarmed observers who are concerned the associations could pose a security threat given the already tense political situation in Macedonia.

"The police and the prosecution are obligated to immediately asses these occurrences because we have a call for violence. According to the law, the call for the violent destruction of institutions in itself is a basis for reasonable suspicion for a criminal act," said Ljubomir Gjurceski, a former police chief and security expert.

Blagoja Markovski, a former army spokesperson and security exert, is additionally concerned that some of the 'patriotic association' membership - many of the groups are named after Ottoman-era revolutionaries - appear to work for private security firms and may own weapons.

"Only two state...