By Rebecca Flemming PEOPLE MAY have been surprised to see the reconstruc tion of an Athenian trireme -the warship with three banks of oars that was the backbone of Athenian military and imperial might in the 5th century BC - plying up and down the Thames over the last few weeks.
It was here on loan from the Greek navy. ostensibly to celebrate the 2,500th anniversary of the reforms of Solon in 594/3 BC which laid the foundations for the birth of Athenian democracy.
Propaganda
But this event was swamped oy a wave of propaganda in support of the Greek government's policy towards Macedonia.
The central core of this policy is the claim that "Macedonia is Definitely Greek: Solon Greek". The results are twofold. The internal dimension is the pretence that Greece is completely ethnically homogenous.
the tact war were are are numbers of people living in Greek Macedonia who feel themselves to be nationally and culturally distinct from the rest of the population and speak a Slavic language is denied completely.
This denial is supported by an education system that aims to "correct this odd dialect and other customs, the threat of imprisonment of anyone who calls themselves a Macedonian (a threat that was recently carried into practice on a leading Macedonian activist) and official support for Greek nationalism, especially in the The external corollary to this is that the Macedonia once contained within the Yugoslav federation is alleged not to be Macedonia at all but a Slav usurper of that title with expanThe Western powers, including Britain, have endorsed that view in their refusal to recognise the ex-Yugoslay territory either as an independent state or as Macedonia. The region is referred to as Skopje, after its capttal city.
This policy has its roots in ancient history. It is part of a continuing battle over the legacy of donian King who had conquered an empire stretching from Greece and Egypt to India by the time he died, aged 32, in 323 BC.
The modern Greek claim that he was a Hellene and his heirs populate modern Greece has long troubled archaeologists inproach to ancient Macedonian THISTOTY But this problem has been thrown strongly into relief by the collapse of Yugoslavia, and the real possibility of a secessionist. ing in Greek Macedonia to reunite a divided people.
A movement which would also impact upon Bulgaria, wich has a sarger macedonial population).
The answer of the government has been vicious repression, and the kindling of dangerous Greek chauvinist and religious fires.
This policy has been centrally focused on the fictional Macedonians, but also effects other non-existent minorities such as Albanians. The West has so far been a willing supporter.
The fugitive warlord, General Farah Aldeed is now SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No. 47, July-August 1993. Page 7 In northern Somalia, clan militias have already been marginalised. control. Morgan is the son-inlaw of the hated ex-dictator Stad Barre who was deposed in 1991.
There is an alternative to the UN occupation of Somalia and the murderous raids and attacks on Somalis. Women's groups, clan elders, religious associations and voluntary groups can be key agencies in the distribution of food ald and demilitarisation of society.
In northern Somalia, where an independent Republic of Somaliland has been declared, clan militias have already been marginalised.
We should press for the recognition of the northern Republic. Already Somali exiles and refugees have been collecting money for the rebuilding of schools, hospitals, homes and roads destroyed by Barre.
Throughout this century Somalis in Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya and present-day Somalla has agitated for union.