The police intervention at the prison "Idrizovo" yesterday put an end to the uprising of some 400 prisoners, who stayed barricaded in the closed and semi-closed section of the state penitentiary "Idrizovo" in Skopje for four days, "Nova Makedonija" reports. The police action, which also included special task forces, lasted some four hours, following several unsuccessful appeals to the convicts to voluntarily end the riot. According to initial information, but also judging by what could be seen at the scene, in the close contacts between the prisoners and the police, there are no casualties, while visible injuries could be seen on the prisoners when they were being brought in by the police.
The police intervention in the prison was announced by the Minister of Justice Vlado Popovski, who, at the press conference on Sunday, gave the convicts until 12.00 h yesterday to voluntarily end the riot. As it did not come to this exactly at noon, the planned police action began being carried out, with a large number of armed policemen, armored vehicles and ambulance cars, which was also attended by the Assistance Minister in the Interior Ministry Dime Gjurev, the police general Stanoja Bogev and other high police officers.
However, the intervention was preceded by another contact between the prison management and the prisoners. In the presence of reporters, the warden Stojan Ristov appealed to the prisoners who were on the roofs of the objects of the closed and semi-closed section through a megaphone, to peacefully retreat and enable order to be restored in the prison, to which the prisoners responded with the words "we're not listening," "we want the truth," "we want conditions for life," "this is a strike, not a riot," and started singing "we are also children of mother Earth." Twice more, Ristov told them to stick to their last agreements, which was followed by shouting "never, never," "strike, strike" and singing of the Macedonian anthem.
"With this, we used up all legal norms. From this moment on, the police will take the establishment of peace and order in the prison, in its own hands," Ristov told reporters. Around twenty minutes after 12.00h, the police forces started entering the prison. Their representative addressed the prisoners on the roofs again. He gave them 15 minutes to unblock the doors and to start upholding the house rules, "otherwise, we will take all legal measures." The call was repeated twice more, however, the convicts continued shouting "this is a strike," and one of them (who was in the group that negotiated with the prison management) said that the competent organs would bear responsibility for everything that was going to happen. After the end of the deadline, three armored vehicles and two fire-fighting cars positioned themselves around the building of the closed section where most of the prisoners were climbed up on the roof. Then, through two openings in the back part, the police started entering the object. The members of the special task forces were positioned around the approach to the main staircase and the "cleansing" and unblocking of the floors began. Breaking and screeching could be heard as the doors were being unblocked. The prisoners who were being taken in had visible injuries on their bloody heads. Painful yelling and screaming could be heard from the building. It could be heard from the police radio stations that the prisoners were giving resistance, and that 29 participants in the riot had been taken out of the building by that time. The prisoners were being dragged out of the building for more than an hour, however, some 50 of them were still standing on the roof of the building. Then, those that were taken out, were being taken to other prison premises in police vans, i.e. the receiving section. Around 16.00h, the assistant Gjurev and general Bogev entered the building of the closed section. Gjurev stated that the situation was slowly subsiding and that conditions for normal functioning of the prison were being restored. Reportedly, the special units reached the below-roof areas and started taking in the most stubborn convicts who gave resistance. Then, only one person could be noticed on the roof of the building, who was yelling that he wanted to jump off and kill himself. The prison counsellors identified him as Goran Donev- Caki, who started throwing down tiles off the roof, stones and wood, hurting a driver of a police van, in the process. After thoroughly searching the premises, the police started withdrawing. At around 16.45h, the police started taking in the riotous prisoners from the neighboring building of the semi- closed section. As it could be seen, these prisoners were not giving resistance. Firstly, the people identified as organizers of the riot were being taken in, and then the other convict, who were directed toward the building of the receiving section in a row. At around 17.00h, the situation was already brought under control by the prison guards, and the police forces left the prison walls.
In yesterday's press conference, the Minister of Justice Vlado Popovski announced that 354 people were taken in, following the successful police action in the penitentiary "Idrizovo," and 100 have been taken to other prisons in Macedonia.
Minister Popovski announced that the lives and health of the participants were not jeopardized in the police intervention, although the police did use physical means and force to deal with some aggressive rioters. The police did not use any chemical means. Five persons were lightly injured, who were immediately given medical help.
In regard to the organizers of the prison riot in "Idrizovo," minister Popovski stated that 11 people were responsible, of which four were sentenced for murder, while repeated felons sentenced on drug-related charges, dominated the group. In the end, it was said that a detailed announcement would be given by the public prosecutor and the court, after reviewing all relevant facts.
The police intervention in the state penitentiary "Idrizovo" was observed by a couple of diplomatic representatives in Skopje, as well as the representative of the OSCE. Mainly, because there were foreigners from Bulgaria, FRY, Albania, Turkey and other countries among the riotous prisoners. 19 Bulgarian citizens are serving prison terms in "Idrizovo." "I talked with them on a couple of occasions, and they were prepared to withdraw, if all of this is characterized as a strike and not a riot," stated Mr. Dimitrov, ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria in Skopje.
Mr. Dimitrov stressed that the riot was not a solution and that it should not be forgotten that even convicted prisoners have their own rights.
The representative of the Albanian embassy Nedzip Troci emphasized that there were 17 prisoners - Albanian citizens in the prison, and said that he personally regarded the dissatisfaction of the prisoners as a strike.
The President of RM Kiro Gligorov had a meeting yesterday with the executive secretary of the European Economic Commission with the UN, Eve Bertlo.
In the talks, Mr. Bertlo informed President Gligorov about the activities of the European Economic Commission, stressing its efforts toward the countries in transition, and in that framework, also the possibilities of the Commission promoting the economic policy of Macedonia and its needs for quicker inclusion in the European integrations.
President Gligorov briefed the UN high official on the economic and political situation in the country and the situation in the region, specifically pointing out the losses caused by the international sanctions against FRY and the Greek embargo against Macedonia. Gligorov emphasized that the European Commission could do a lot to help Macedonia overcome the period of transition much easier.
Mr. Bertlo was also received by Prime Minister Crvenkovski and Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski.
According to the Republic Bureau of Statistics, the average paid net income per worker in the country for January, this year, was 8,444 denars (US$ 226.7). In the economy, the average is 8,165 denars (US$ 219.3), and in the non-economy, it is 9,285 denars (US$ 249.3).
The average of the employed in the administration is 9,568 denars (US$ 257), in the health and social institutions 9,316 denars (US$ 250), in the education, science, culture and information 9,114 denars (US$ 245).
In the economy sector, the highest wages were paid in the financial-technical services - 13,504 denars (US$ 363) and the traffic and services 9,420 denars (US$ 253). The lowest wages, on the other hand were paid in the construction - 5,884 denars (US$ 158) and crafts industry and personal services - 6,553 denars (US$ 176).
According to the Bureau of Statistics, 15.6% of the employees in the country did not receive wages in January, of which 19.4% are in the economy and 1.8% in the non-economy sector. These figures do not include the workers that receive wages a couple of months too late, so these people make up 30% of the overall numbers or over 140,000 workers.
The main project for the dam "Bargala" was promoted in Shtip yesterday. The accumulation is to offer Shtip clean drinking water. The dam will be 54 meters high, and the constant inflow of water will be 120 liters per second, with a possibility of 320 liters of water. The water from the accumulation will irrigate 240 hectares of agricultural areas, and the overall investment costs 20 million DM. Beside the money from the local self- contribution, which was set aside for the accumulation, the Republic is also expected to chip in, as well as foreign investments and donations.
Yesterday's promotion, beside representatives of the Government, was also attended by representatives of the team that prepared the project - the Republic Water Supply Department and the auditor of the project "Emo-Hep."
Under conditions when the egg producers are adapting to the market and still have plenty of eggs in stock, it is illogical and unacceptable to have liberal and massive imports of this product. This was said at the session of the Poultry grouping within the Chamber of Commerce of Macedonia.
According to the agreement for the import of eggs, their import from Slovenia is liberal, so large quantities are coming in Macedonia from this country. In addition, there is suspicion that a great part of them are not from Slovenian farms, but from third countries with which Macedonia has not import agreements.
Upon being imported under Slovenian markings, illegal imports have been notices, whereby the eggs are marked as other goods so as to avoid veterinary inspection.
The governor of the National Bank of Macedonia, on the basis of the Law for rehabilitation of the banks, made a decision yesterday determining the unpaid debts to "Stopanska banka" and the manner of their regulation. Following the supervisory control, it was determined that the bank is still owed MCD 7,488.3 million (US$ 200 million). The debts are partially covered by funds of the share capital of the debtors - MCD 1,011.8 million (US$ 27.17 million), then, the selective credits of the NBM toward the "Stopanska banka" - MCD 391.5 million (US$ 10.5 million) and a part of the funds from the separate reserve of the bank - MCD 1,476.3 million (US$ 39.6 million). The rest of the debt - MCD 4,608.3 million (US$ 123.75 million) has been transferred to the Agency for rehabilitation, which will issue bonds to that value, to the benefit of the bank.
Also erased from the balance of the bank is the balance of the branch office is Ohrid, which will work as an independent bank in the future, under the name Ohrid Bank - s.c. Orhid.
The private company "Vita-el" from Strumica, after two years of work, has manufactured the first series of television sets under the trade mark "Made in Macedonia." "Vita-el" manufactures TVs with screens of 37 and 54 cm, and this fall, it plans to start making TVs with 72 cm screens.
The televisions are manufactured according to "Philips" conceptions and contain the latest generation of integral units and other elements of this manufacturer. So far, "Vita-el" has made some 100 television sets, while the production of just as many is underway, following which continued production is planned.
In about a month, the production of video-monitors is expected to start, and then, also monitors for computers and other electronic devices.