Q & A   Civil society organizations and politics   In the pre-election period, as it usually happened before, surges occurred that have also affected civil society organizations, independent of their will. So part of their activities have been qualified as party campaigns by representatives of the government or some political parties, and the organizations themselves as party colored. A lot of questions are imposed as a result of such conditions: Do political parties use (misuse) civil society organizations and their leaders to realize their own goals? Do members of the civil society organizations use their own organizations for promotion of some party agenda? Can members of civil society organizations be members of political parties and actively involved in the party policy? Three leaders of the civic sector have shared their views on part of these questions.   Real or forced questions? For the past few years the non-governmental sector has been mostly accused of money laundering. Then it was accused of being part of some “international conspiracy against Macedonia’s integrity and sovereignty”. The third accusation was of being “quasi non-governmental sector”, that is, citizens’ associations being instruments of the political parties. All three accusations were becoming frequent and in operation when associations and foundations in groups or mutually expressed their attitudes to relevant political issues: 2001 clash, corruption and organized crime, decentralization, territorial organization referendum, EU integration, American recognition of the constitutional name etc. And one more thing, such non-substantiated and general accusations have sometimes been made by activists of the non-governmental sector, too.      However, the last attack against “Megjashi” showed that even the issues that are not dominantly political can cause an attack against a citizens’ association that is far from politics. This time the attack was made by a high official in the Government and the prime minister’s party. How did we react, that is, how we react to such accusations and attacks? I think that most often we reacted / react with least resistance, that is, we chose / choose not to react. We equaled / equal the party and the political and we chose the attitude that was reduced to a kind of a political autism. However, the attack by Geramitcioski is another dramatic signal that the civic sector being apolitical does not guarantee immunity against political/party attacks. Can members of citizens’ associations be members of political parties and actively involved in the party policy? In principle the answer is clear: Yes. It is a human right, it is guaranteed by our Constitution. But the real question is: Do citizens’ associations have regulations and procedures which will disable their misuse in interest of party careers or ambitions to be a member of the parliament or a minister?   Vladimir Milcin, Executive Director of FOSIM   Civil society, politics and political parties The questions require an integrated answer in spite of the fact that it needs much more space.   Membership in civil society organizations and political parties The right of association (both civic and party) is an inviolable human right and freedom. This right must not be limited.   Misuse of civil society organizations and their leaders This attitude has an installed valuable attitude that people are incapable of independent reasoning and can be misused and in this case in only one direction, which puts political parties in a position of power. I believe that generally, people are capable of independent reasoning and independently and consciously decide to support certain value, interests etc. That is why we can talk about use.   Agendas of civil society associations and political parties A man is a political entity. It is expected people and organizations to have their attitude to politics. Lack of an attitude (especially massive) to relevant issues is a worse condition than having an attitude. When an organization has an attitude, it is normal that the political attitude will be similar to the one of a political party. Especially in Macedonia, where the whole spectrum of political options is covered. In future there will be a need for civil society organizations to represent and lobby for their attitudes in the country, including the political parties. I think that it is legitimate for a civil society organization to affect the agenda of a political party. It is unclear what someone’s agenda is.   Clash of interests Legally allowed does not necessarily mean ethically. The law talks about organizations, but not individuals within organizations. Therefore a step beyond is necessary, and it is clash of interests management. Apart from the legal regulations, it is necessary that most, especially members of the organs and managements, publicly declare financial or managerial relations and interests. It does not mean declaration of party membership, but declaration (not ban) of participation in management, in a civil society organization and a political party. It is not important who speaks (and which position from), but what arguments he/she has. Eventually, with either existing or non-existing clash of interests, certain agendas will look like some other agendas. Then it is not important who speaks and what his/her position is, but what arguments he/she has. When photos of Abu Grabe were published in the States, no one asked the question if the newspaper that had published them was pro-democratic, but if the photos were real. It is not important if someone is a member of position or opposition, but what his/her arguments are.   Saso Klekovski, Executive Director of MCIC    “Rubicon” around us – and inside us Dear readers, I have a big problem. For the first time after 15 years of pluralism, consciously and without pressure, I have decided to become a member of a political party. I caught some flak! Why did you need such nonsense? You are not “a dirty player”?! You are doing so well with the non-governmental organization?! You’re shooting yourself in your foot!!! You traitor, was it your goal??? Members not from mine, but from some other non-governmental organizations even came to make me “differentiate myself”. As if they were going to impeach me. Ok, they can do it to me, but first “the other thing”. Personally, it really makes me nervous when it is forward considered that I am supposed to say something only if it refers to the phenomenon of handicap. As if I was an apolitical and socially amputated being. As if, beside my handicap, I was not a lawyer, father, hacker, poet, sorehead, loved, patriot at the same time…As if I was from another planet between all these citizens of the Earth who have a right to everything. Where is this from? One combination is related to the handicap, but I would not like to talk about it in this occasion. The other side of the medal is what I want to discuss. There are “theoreticians” (barflies / gossips) who claim that politics is dirty and only dirty politicians and deal with it. This thesis is usually spread by the ones who are already “running” politics, which essentially means “urinating” on the territory and defense against competition in their herd. As if: leave us to “persevere with such dirty job”. The second group is located in the non-governmental sector and they see their mission as triviality and their objective is to “go about their business” just as the old lawyer who did not manage to settle the dispute with the nut in the boundary of the field of two neighbors all his life. So it is about half-parasitic mentality to work on (and charge) regularly, but never to complete it. And suddenly Rubicon! Without any proof, insight, evidence, existence of some myth river is promoted between the two sectors (governmental and non-governmental) and rumors are spread that everyone passing that river endangers the state (individually understood value with non-defined meaning). Rubicon does not exist. I have not crossed anywhere. My life mission is not to work in the non-governmental sector, but to work on equaling handicapped people’s opportunities. Whether it will be through science, politics, guerilla, art, espionage, religion – it is an evaluation of moment and intellect. It’s a pure fact. Handicap should ultimately turn to main streams, shouldn’t it? It is the only possible way of overcoming marginalization. To be clear: No one has the right not only to dispute, but to ask if someone is a member of a political party. There is neither incompatibility nor clash of functions if you are a member of a non-governmental organization and a party member. It is not important who belongs to which side, but what he/she talks and does… I, since I disagree that Rubicon exists, cannot agree that there are banks and bridgeheads on that river. I believe that we are all on the same side and we push, as much as we can and know, in direction to better tomorrow – in my case for handicapped people. It is my choice. That is what politics is for me – Skill of the possible. Zvonko Savreski, former president of Polio Plus and present candidate for a member of the parliament   What does the Law on citizens’ associations and foundations say?   Article 3 Citizens’ associations and foundations cannot carry out political activities or use their property and funds for achieving political parties’ goals. A political activity in terms of paragraph 1 of this Article is considered direct participation in the election campaign and financing political parties.   In accordance with Article 20 of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia, citizens’ associations and foundations are established in order to realize their statutory goals. The activities of numerous organizations registered according to this law certainly have such domains for taking actions that have something in common with political processes and practical carrying out of politics in the society. That dimension of their actions should certainly be further initiated. The intention of this provision is to realize clearer distinction between direct political involvement and color of activities than the one that would refer to other, more specific interests that are expected to cross the limit of closely determined political affiliation. In the realization of their objectives these organizations can formally (declaratively) support a political party or coalition, but they cannot directly take part in the election campaign or finance political parties with their own funds or collect money for them. That means that citizens’ associations or foundations can neither deal with some classical political activities nor can transform themselves in a political party or become a branch of an existing political party. If they realize political activities stated in paragraph 2 of this Article, it becomes a legal basis for their termination. World experiences show that political parties themselves can establish associations or foundations that promote their ideology and principles through their activities and their wider engagement (educational activities, seminars, conferences, research projects etc.), but efforts are made to keep the independence of these organizations’ actions in terms of the current and pragmatic political operations. Comment on the Law on citizens’ associations and foundations, MCIC, 1999