Call for the relevant institutions to act upon the alleged malpractices, unlawful treatment, corruption and violation of human rights revealed in the published telephone communications
25.03.2015 We, the CSOs members of the Platform for Fight against Corruption, are closely monitoring of the activities for publishing recorded telephone communications.
We believe that the published records should be investigated, due to existing basis for suspicion for illegal phone-tapping, and for the purpose of determining the person/entity that has recorded the conversations and violated the privacy of the citizens.
Since the contents of the records indicates to possible illegal activities, we look for special and careful investigation. Regardless of the source of these recorded conversations, their contents suggests presence of corruption, including mass breach of duty, which are punishable acts prosecuted by law. We would like to remind that “corruption”, means condition in which among other things institutions are “privatized” for the interests of governing political parties and individuals. This causes imbalanced and illegitimate political power used for accomplishing individual interests, as opposed to the public interest and the interest of the citizens. Such condition, further reinforced with the condition of controlled media, is referred to as state capture, in which the rule of law is seriously undermined.
The CSOs Platform for Fight against Corruption wants to address the following institutions:
1. The Public Prosecution should immediately commence legal proceeding for prosecution of unknown persons for unauthorized and illegal phone-tapping and initiate legal proceedings for all the alleged malpractices, unlawful treatment, corruption and violation of human rights, mentioned in the published records, and should especially investigate the indications from the records that:
– Ministry for Interior (MoI) had the function of preventing political action during the elections;
– There was violation of the voting right via illegal issuance of identification documents;
– MoI resources were used as a headquarters of a political party;
– There has been manipulation in the execution of the right to social welfare and benefits;
– The Public Revenue Office (PRO) operated in a selective manner with regard to conducting controls and charging penalties;
– There were pressures and threats for loss of the job position on Public Administration employees.
2. The Public Prosecution should commence legal proceedings to determine whether any MIA resources have been used for illegal phone-tapping and the results of the investigation should be conveyed to the public.
3. The State Commission for Prevention of Corruption should issue a statement with regard to the cases and to take measures within its competencies.
4. The Court Council should initiate legal proceedings for irresponsible and unlawful working of the judges for whom there are indications of working under the influence of officeholders.
We find that the role of the institutions of the system is irreplaceable with regard to the ascertainment of the citizens that they live in a country that is ready to protect their interests, rights and freedoms.
Unless the addressed institutions inform the public that they shall take measures to investigate the allegations within the following 30 days, we shall hold the opinion that they are not acting in line with their duties by right of office.
Skopje, March 25, 2015.
Editor’s note: CSOs Platform for Anti-Corruption is founded on December 9th, 2014 by 15 CSOs: Association for Democratic Initiatives, Institute for Democracy ‘Societas Civilis’ Skopje, Civil Society Research Center, Coalition ‘All for fair Trials’, KONEKT, Macedonian Center for International Cooperation, Foundation Metamorphosis, MOST, Ohrid Institute, Transparency International Macedonia, Transparency Macedonia, Foundation Open Society Macedonia, Forum CSRD, Center for Civic Communications and Center for Research and Policy Making. The Platform aims towards proactive, dynamic and enabled civil society that will have important role in the fight against corruption. The Platform strives towards being corrective of the conditions, and will also collaborate and communicate with all the parties concerned, including the state institutions, political parties, business community and international community. Furthermore, it will monitor and analyze the legal framework and current public policies and activities for suppression of corruption, and will initiate public debate on the quality of the legal regulations, as well as legal amendments wherever necessary. The Platform will also work on the increase of citizens’ awareness for the fight against corruption.
