Gun-Loving Macedonian Mayor's Idea Shot Down

The mayor of Struga, Ramiz Merko

Ramiz Merko, mayor of the south-western town of Struga, is finding the political bullets whizzing at him from all directions.

What has drawn flak is his recent suggestion that exceptions should be allowed to the current ban on use of guns at weddings.

“It is customary to shoot once while the bride is taken from her home or when a family is parting from its daughter," Merko told the local daily newspaper, Dnevnik. "That is a custom that survived throughout the ages.”

Merko said the use of firearms to celebrate was common in his municipality and was part of the tradition of the Albanian people. Ethnic Albanians make up the majority of the population in western Macedonia. The mayor is himself Albanian.

“I respect the law and I am against shooting [a lot] during celebrations, but one traditional gun shot should be allowed,” he continued.

The mayor suggested that the authorities should consider changes to the law, allowing “moderate shooting” at nuptials.

The police are far from convinced this is a step forward.

“That is out of the question,” Stefan Dimov, police spokesperson for southwest Macedonia, said. “The police will never allow or assist in such a practice as it is strictly against the law.”

An anti-gun police campaign, called “Let’s Celebrate without Guns”, has been running for several years, aimed at raising awareness about the danger of gun use.

But use of firearms and even automatic weapons remains widespread in Macedonia, especially in western, mainly Albanian parts. The situation is most critical in the summer months when big weddings are often staged.

However, the unauthorized use of firearms in a public place is a criminal offence and the fine varies from 600 to 1,000 euros plus seizure of the offending weapon.

Many go unpunished. Police say celebrations accompanied by shootings go unnoticed by the authorities as people often choose not to report them.

Xhabir Derala, head of Civil, a local NGO that has been initiating actions to control privately-held weapons, says Merko's idea of a worthy tradition is in fact a dangerous “cult”.

He says the police alone cannot do much to prevent shooting frenzies at celebrations.  "Society as a whole and the local authorities should be the first to act and raise awareness,” he said.

“Merko may want to appeal to the local people but he is obviously ignorant about the law,” Derala added.