Kumanovo Group goes on hunger strike, warn clashes with police from tomorrow

Disappointed by the treatment and conditions at the Shutka prison, a part of the Kumanovo Group from Sunday have gone on hunger strike. Val Zekij, one of the Group members in his statement sent to Macedonia's News Journal, has counted the main causes for the start of the strike.

“The main reason is that now one year our request for transfer from Shutka prison to Idrizovo has been ignored. That is injustice. Zijadin Sela's attackers have not been convicted for two months and their demand has been accepted to move to the open prison, and we are denied this request. They're grounded for terrorism, we for terrorism. Why does this selection take place”, Zekij asked?

Because of cold weather and poor conditions, the state of health of a part of the strikers has begun to deteriorate rapidly, whereas at the moment the worst is Shefqet Hallach. Even so, they are not going to interrupt the strike.

We don't interrupt the strike until our demands are met. Tomorrow we're even going to radicalize it, and if we need it, we're going to start a fight with the prison guards and police. We're living in inhumane conditions. Hygiene is at the lowest level. There is no heat even though temperatures have dropped below freezing. Food does not meet any standard. Food brought back by family members also brings him back. I don't understand what prison this is, nor does he have any food to give us, nor does his family allow us to be supplied with”, Zekij has been expressed.

At present, nine members of the Kumanovo Group are also in the Shutka prison. Val Zekiaj for Gazeta News has given the version of why their request is being rejected.
Our request for transfer to Idrizovo has been accepted in August, but with the intervention of Sinisha and Memeti being rejected. They are afraid of our joining a prison because this is how the beginning of Kumanovo's betrayal” will be revealed, Zekiaj points out.

He also accuses the Kosovo state, which is not interested in the fate of members of the Kumanovo Group.

“And continue physical abuse against us. But our state is weak, because in the case of the Kumanovo Group members has tried to sue Macedonia before international courts and win the case”, Zeka pointed out in the statement sent to Gazeta News, adding that now 44 months are held in isolation and no one gives responsibility for this mistreatment.