Albanian Terrorism in Kumanovo

[Bill77]

And the bullshit begins......
I just watched the Al Jazeera news. They are suggesting ethnic tension has been brewing ever since that Ohrid Agreement and is now exploding due to slow implementation of this agreement Not the victim card again.....


And Ramo......take it to the public forum where everyone can see your threats. Show some transparency mate, I have no interest talking to you in private.

"I will make you cry for being a ignorant Macedonian human being" ......I'm not sure what you mean by this mabe others can help help me understand. Cheers.

[Volokin]

Macedonia police 'killed in shootout'

Five police officers have been killed and more than 30 wounded in an operation against gunmen in northern Macedonia, according to the government. Shots were fired during the day in the town of Kumanovo.

Macedonian Interior Minister Gordana Jankulovska said on Saturday that five police officers had been killed in fighting in the north of the country.

Her statement came after exchanges of gunfire throughout the day in the town of Kumanovo, where there is a large ethnically Albanian population.

Jankulovska told a news conference that some of the gunmen had been killed, but she did not say how many. The minister also said police had no information about possible civilian casualties in the day-long gun battle.

Interior Ministry spokesman Ivo Kotevski had said earlier that police had come up against a "well-trained terrorist group."

Past scene of trouble

The ethnically-mixed town is located some 40 kilometers (25 miles) northeast of the capital, Skopje, not far from the border with Kosovo. The region was a particular hotspot when ethnic Albanians, who make up about a quarter of Macedonia's population of some two million, took up arms in 2001.

The conflict then lasted six months and ended with a peace deal that guaranteed extra rights to dissatisfied ethnic Albanians.

The country is currently gripped by a political crisis, with both the government and the opposition accusing each other of plotting to destabilize the country for their own ends. The government is being accused of seeking to protect its position while the opposition is alleged to be seeking to seize power.

http://www.dw.de/macedonia-police-killed-in-shootout/a-18441699

Kumanovo, Macedonia: Five police officers died and dozens were wounded in a day-long gun battle in an ethnic Albanian suburb of northern Macedonia, as the threat of armed conflict was added to a political crisis rocking the ex-Yugoslav republic.



The Balkan country's interior ministry said an unspecified number of gunmen were also killed, but that it had no information on civilian casualties during clashes that began before dawn on Saturday and stretched into the evening.

An armed patrol in the streets of Kumanovo after the clashes. Photo: AFP

Police said that acting on information about an "armed group" they had launched an operation in an ethnic Albanian district of the northern town of Kumanovo, 40 kilometres north of the capital Skopje. The region saw heavy fighting during an ethnic Albanian insurgency in 2001.

Units of special police in armoured vehicles locked down the neighbourhood and helicopters circled overhead. A Reuters photographer reported hearing heavy automatic gunfire and loud explosions. Black smoke rose over the town and residents were seen leaving the area carrying belongings.

The events will deepen concern in the West over stability in Macedonia, where the government is on the ropes over allegations by the main opposition, the Social Democrats, of illegal wire-tapping and widespread abuse of office.
An ethnic Albanian family crosses the Presevo border crossing between Serbia and Macedonia on Saturday.

An ethnic Albanian family crosses the Presevo border crossing between Serbia and Macedonia on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Protesters demanding the resignation of conservative Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski clashed with police this week and the opposition is threatening to rally thousands on May 17.

Observers fear political leaders on either side may try to stoke ethnic tensions as leverage.

'Dark scenario'

"The situation on the ground remains highly critical," Interior Minister Gordana Jankulovska told a news conference. She said some gunmen had surrendered, without saying how many.

"The action will continue until every last terrorist is caught," Ms Jankulovska said.

A ministry spokesman, Ivo Kotevski, said the group was planning "terrorist acts" and had "infiltrated" the country from a neighbouring state, without saying which.

Macedonia's neighbours are Albania, Greece, Kosovo, Serbia and Bulgaria, and Macedonia has previously identified armed men in the country as coming from Kosovo.

Opposition leader Zoran Zaev, who has been releasing damaging wire-taps he says were recorded by the government and leaked to him by a whistleblower, appeared to suggest Saturday's operation was carried out to create a diversion.

"I call on Nikola Gruevski to immediately . . . explain who wants to destabilise Macedonia, why and with what purpose," he said. "This dark scenario will not work. The citizens see who has an interest in such a scenario."

An estimated 30 per cent of Macedonia's 2 million people are ethnic Albanians. Guerrillas took up arms in 2001, clashing with security forces before the West brokered a peace deal offering the Albanian minority greater rights and representation and the insurgents entered government.

But implementation has been slow and tensions sometimes flare. Many citizens, regardless of ethnicity, are frustrated at the glacial pace of development and integration with the West. Macedonia's bid to join the European Union and NATO is blocked by a long-running dispute with Greece over the country's name.

"I thought it would never come to this again," an unidentified ethnic Albanian man told Macedonian television on the outskirts of Kumanovo. "It's so scary, we can't stay here."

http://www.smh.com.au/world/gunfire-explosions-in-macedonia-as-police-battle-armed-group-20150510-ggy5d6.html

Widely being reported and confirmed by the government that 5 police officers have been killed. Casualties unknown on the Albanian side.

[EgejskaMakedonia]

Al Jazeera are hopeless and have adopted an anti-Macedonian agenda for quite some time now. They still refer to Macedonia as 'FYR of Macedonia' in most of their articles.

But it'll be interesting to see how most western media outlets will report on this issue. Many are using the word terrorists now, albeit in quotation marks. Given the recent frequency of terror attacks, and the rise of IS, surely they can no longer call these extremeists 'rebels' or 'freedom fighters' or whatnot. But given the interests of the US in the Balkans are at threat again, it wouldn't surprise me if they follow the same line as 2001. Although this time I don't think the western public will be as naive.

[Bill77]

Al Jazeera are hopeless and have adopted an anti-Macedonian agenda for quite some time now.

The network is sometimes perceived to have mainly pan-Arab nationalist and Islamist perspectives ....ah forget it, let's not go down the path

Jk

[Gocka]

This is why despite all of VMRO's corruption the majority of Macedonians don't want to touch SDSM. They are a joke of a political party and although it hurts me to say it, I'm almost sure that unless Gruevski is toppled by force, SDSM still couldn't win an election even after all the scandals. When is the last time they gave the public a good reason why they should be in power other than maintaining that the current government should not be in power.

Zaev's attempt to capitalise on this is pathetic.

[Volokin]

Gunfire, explosions rock Kumanovo, NLA claims responsibility for the attack

Explosions and heavy gunfire rocked Kumanovo as the police still evacuates the area. Media reports that a spate of detonations and intensified machine gun fire was heard from a south-western part of the city since early Saturday morning.

The "National Liberation Army" claimed responsibility for this morning events, statements that contradict what police spokesman Ivo Kotevski has said earlier. MIA announced that it had launched an operation against a terrorist group that was planning attacks on institutions in Macedonia.

In their statement the forces of the National Liberation Army, also attack Gruevski-Ahmeti.

Hospital officials say that at least 30 people (15 police officers) have been seriously wounded after special police units in armored vehicles launched an operation in a suburb of Kumanovo. The number of killed is suspected to be 3.

Several houses were apparently burnt. Helicopters circled the whole region of some 100,000 people and an interior ministry spokesman said he had information on "casualties" but refused to say how many.

The opposition has begun small but daily protests demanding the resignation of conservative Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, and is threatening to rally thousands on May 17. The leader of the opposition Zoran Zeav urged Gruevski to resign, while their concern over the situation in Macedonia have expressed EU, US, OSCE, Albania and Kosovo.

http://english.albeu.com/news/news/gunfire-explosions-rock-kumanovo-nla-claims-responsibility-for-the-a/198356/

Macedonia: Group of 70 terrorists is eliminated as a threat – report

Published: May 9, 2015 at 6:18 pm
Modified: May 9, 2015 at 8:06 pm

KUMANOVO – As stated by reporters from the scene, a group of 70 terrorists is eliminated as a threat. Macedonian media report that 27 of them surrendered carrying white sheets, and the rest of the group is killed.

Earlier today special police units in armored vehicles have locked down a suburb of Kumanovo, some 40 kilometers north of the capital of Macedonia, Skopje. There were reports of a gunfire early on May 9 in the mainly ethnic Albanian city and unconfirmed reports of injuries, including at least 20 police officers.

Macedonian police announced that in Kumanovo is a terrorist group that came from “abroad”, reports Plusinfo.

They are a well-trained and well armed group of Albanians, as reported by some Macedonian media. PR of Macedonian Interior Ministry said that police was attacked with bombs and snipers.

In the police action against the group, which, according to a police estimate includes more than 50 people, 20 policemen and civilians were wounded, some of them, with serious injuries, were transported to the hospital in Skopje.

It has been confirmed that three policemen died in the hospital, although the exact number of victims is still not known.

According to unconfirmed information, members of the terrorist group are wearing UCK (KLA – Kosovo Liberation Army) uniforms, and they are trying to break through to the city center.

The clashes followed the appearance of armed groups in the hills around Kumanovo.

Albanian media quoted a statement of the so-called “National Liberation Army” (NLA), which claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying that the army and police carried out “terror against civilians” and announced even fiercer attacks on the security forces of Macedonia.

“We will continue to attack the police and the army without mercy. We will fight to the end to unite territories with Albanian population. Today we are stronger, and tomorrow we will be even stronger. We are everywhere.”

The National Liberation Army (Albanian: Ushtria Ēlirimtare Kombėtare – UĒK; Macedonian: Ослободителна народна армија – ОНА, Osloboditelna narodna armija – ONA), also known as the Macedonian UĒK, is a militant organization closely associated with the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).

Macedonian media report that the police is evacuating a part of the population of Kumanovo and that army’s helicopters are flying over Skopje.

The Serbian Special Forces are sent to border with Macedonia.

http://inserbia.info/today/2015/05/macedonia-fighting-continues-serbian-special-forces-sent-to-border/

Albanian and Serbian news reporting that the NLA has taken responsibility for the attack.

[Gocka]

This whole situation doesn't make sense to me.

If you are UCK and what is your goal, what did you plan to accomplish from this?

You send 30 guys to Kumanovo to kill people and cause chaos, but why Kumanovo? Also why practically in the middle of the city? They were destined to fail, and the former UCK was not naive and stupid, which is what this whole attack looked like, naive and stupid.

The UCK used hit and run tactics, because they were not equipped for a full on war, they hid in the hills and in Albanian villages on the Kosovo border, and then ran into Kosovo for cover when it got intense.

Kumanovo is too far from the Kosovo to flee to. They would have had to attack and immediately run even then the heat would probably catch up before they got away. So it leaves me asking what exactly was the plan here?

Then there is the question of motivation. No one wants to touch this, not Kosovo, not Albania, not the Muslim institutions, not even the Albanians in Macedonia. Who exactly are they fighting for? I thought maybe Muslim extremists coming back form Syria and Iraq, but somehow I doubt they would have surrendered although one of them did commit suicide.

I almost want to say that the 30 terrorists were tricked by who ever sent them or motivated them to do what they did. That they came into this thing having certain expectations and they didn't pan out. It almost seemed like they got stuck in Kumanovo and that it wasn't supposed to happen this way, hence the eventual surrender.

30 people is way to many for a Muslim extremist type jihad attack. One guy with a bomb in the city center would have caused much more destruction.

30 people isn't enough to wage war against even the Macedonian army.

Why start your attack so far from a position you can retreat from.

Lets say it was politically staged, do we really think that Gruevski and co are sophisticated enough and cruel enough to pull off a theater of this magnitude? The police who died are people that are known to others, they are real people. They are corrupt but would they really start a small war just to deflect attention? Do you know how many people would have to be involved for something like this to be faked? Its just not plausible.

Could the simplest explanation be the real one? That a group of naive terrorists from UCK thought it would be a good time to wage war and either severely underestimated the speed and magnitude with which the armed forces could react, or just planned out their attack really poorly. Even if that's true I still don't see an obvious motive other then to destabilize Macedonia.

No matte how you cut it something doesn't add up.

[Gocka]

If there were indeed 70 of these animals then we should all commend our armed forces for putting them down with only 5 killed on our side. 70 people is a large group that honestly could could have killed hundreds of people. From what I saw we have come a long way from 2001 and are much better equipped and trained.

These terrorist cowards will never win, and if they have a death wish let them come again, and we can once and for all end this.

[julie]

Whatever is happening, its a result of instability. and its quite frightening.
70 people is a large group of people to enter into a country, and armed. Particurlarly radicalised Kosovo Albanians
What is happening with Macedonian border control ?
At a time globally, countries have been ramping up security in border protection, Macedonia has failed dismally

How are arms meant to come into a country so easily, and to that magnitude.

Something that Macedonia has in common with Australia is the 2 party preferred voting system. It is annoying, because these 2 parties will always hold a monopoly in governance.
I will never understand the preferential voting system and allocation, especially seeing that both parties are only in it to serve their own interests, and not their electorate in Australia - and this seems to be the case with Macedonia

Will there ever be an opportunity to change this in Macedonia ? There is a ( albeit very small lately ) accountability and transparency in governance in Oz

I do not see this ending well in Macedonia.
Neither party is accountable, transparent, and blatantly obvious with the laissez faires approach Gruevski has with the years long playing games with Macedonia's soveriegnty in not tearing up those 2 treasonous agreements (IA and OFA) and declaring them null and void.

People are protesting for a reason. They have that right. Pity it took them years to wake up, the govt needs to listen as to reasons why they are disenchanted.

This is corporate globalisation, it is happening everywhere, however, Macedonia cannot afford instability, it is a powder keg in the Balkans

[Volokin]

May 10, 2015, Sunday @ 09:10 in Politics » DOMESTIC

*Macedonian Interior Minister Gordana Jankuloska informed that five policemen were killed and about 30 were wounded in the serious confrontation that erupted early Saturday morning in the city of Kumanovo, when police moved to detain a large armed terrorist group that was planning attacks on strategic targets. The fighting took place in a largely ethnic Albanian part of the city, a densely built area, which Jankuloska said added to the casualties on the side of the police.

But the Minister added that there was no possibility to delay the action given the type of threat the group posed. The police action is still going on, and Jankuloska said that there are casualties on the part of the terror group as well. About 20 members of the group were captured, and several dozen men, women and children were also recovered from the houses the group was using as strongholds, with police working to determine whether some of these civilians acted as logistical support for the group.

"Operations on the ground are continuing and will continue until we are sure that every last one of the terrorists has been neutralized. Members of the group put in fierce resistance, even after 16 hours of continuous fighting, and were using various grenade launchers, bombs, automatic weapons and snipers. The Interior Ministry responded accordingly, with exceptional caution, investing enormous efforts to prevent potential civilians casualties. Following 18:00h the main resistance was overwhelmed and a group of about 20 persons surrendered. They are being processed. Units on the ground continued to act, due to information that another group is hiding in the houses in the area and is refusing to surrender. After a sustained exchange of fire, part of this group also surrendered, but the remainder re*doubled their attacks on our officers, and in this stage we sustained heavy casualties", Jankuloska said, adding that the resistance put in even after most of the group was captured shows how determined and ruthless the terrorists really were.

"Zarko Kuzmanovski (1981), Nenad Serafimovski (1987), Saso Samoilovski (1982) are the names of the policemen who were killed today, while the names of the two other officers who were killed will be revealed after their families have been notified. I want to bow and express my condolences to the families of these patriots who will forever be in our memories. We will always remember all others who took part in this action. They protected the integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Macedonia, regardless of their ethnicity and religious creed. They fought together against an exceptionally dangerous terrorist organization that was a major threat to our state, and especially to the peace and security of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia", Minister Jankuloska said at the opening of the press conference.

Responding to media questions, she said that the group included Macedonian citizens and citizens of one neighbouring country, which she didn't identify. Jankuloska said the Interior Ministry has information how long the group was staying in Macedonia, but at this point it can't be shared with the public. Jankuloska also said that she can't share details about the political aims of the group, or whether they had uniforms or insignia.

http://www.independent.mk/articles/17304/Macedonian+Interior+Minister+At+least++Policemen+Killed%2C++Injured+in+Kumanovo+Incident

R.I.P

[EgejskaMakedonia]

The network is sometimes perceived to have mainly pan-Arab nationalist and Islamist perspectives ....ah forget it, let's not go down the path

Jk

I saw one of their reports on the news this morning (probably the same one you saw). It was absolute bullshit and was subtly justifying the actions of the terrorists. I'm not sure whether the Australian channels have broadcasted what happened, but the papers seemed to have covered it online. Hopefully people can begin to understand what Macedonians, and even the Serbs have had to deal with over the past few decades.

[stoja11]

They didn't surrender!!! According to Albanian media there are only 2 injured UCK / KLA / Terrorists whatever, 3 dead Albanian civilians, more than 30 injured police men and 7 dead police man.

One of the dead police men is an Albanian which shows they don't have respect for their own race..

[Mariovec]

Several media's last numbers are 7 dead policemen, 5 dead terrorists (one of them taking his own life)

UCK facebook posts video of shootings from their positions..

It's time for the vojska to take over!

[EgejskaMakedonia]

It's time for the vojska to take over!

To be honest, that may be what is required if Macedonia is going to successfully suppress these terrorist attacks for the long-term. If a war/conflict does erupt, I really can't see either major political party putting their foot down and taking action to put an end to these terrorists. They'd probably scurry to the negotiating table and once again erode the sovereignty of Macedonia. The Albanians have already got all the rights a minority could ever hope for, but the next step would probably be to form a federation...and eventually, split from Macedonia.

[Volokin]

May 10, 2015, Sunday @ 10:53
Kosovo National Liberation Army Releases Footage of Attack over Macedonian Policemen The National Liberation Army of Kosovo has released a video of the shooting in Kumanovo on its Facebook page

About 20 hours ago, a photo of certain Fadil Fejzullahut has been published, who is claimed to be a commander of the National Liberation Army of Kosovo.

According to NLA Kosovo sources, Fejzullahut has been killed during the police operation in Kumanovo.

The National Liberation Army of Kosovo has released a video of the shooting in Kumanovo on its Facebook page.

Photos of a suitcase with masks and army clothes have also been made public.

http://www.independent.mk/articles/17309/Kosovo+National+Liberation+Army+Releases+Footage+of+Attack+over+Macedonian+Policemen

UCK facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/International.Laliga?fref=ts

I find it interesting that we have come to a stage where by armed groups declare their involvement via a public Facebook page, but this is actually true.





+ video on page.

That FB page run by the UCK (56k likes) has been pretty active for some time, and although I'm sure it's being monitored, it has been hinting towards action.

This group is far from extinct if you take a closer look.

Google translation from May 7th:

Please lexone and distributed for the sake of the miserable situation of Albanians in Ilirida.
Prayers of a warrior from Ilirida.
Is there ANY met more Albanian Albanian son People coming out of addresses our ethnic territories in Macedonia?
Where are the prophet of Universities? Where are Hoxhollar? Where are the commanders? Where are Skopje guild? ...
Dear brothers and sisters,
Albanians in Fyrom are at the mercy of one or another, it spe (VMRO + SDSM).
Not their fault, but the fault of those scoundrels who voted these courses they abandoned and left alone.
As the son of Kathy and people of this region, looking to establish a coordinating counsel consisting of 6-10 members, from people in authority and that have not yet been holders of State functions in Fyrom, in order to coordinate People in this situation Satan being mbizotėronė in Fyrom.
The reason:
Albanian ethnic Albanian lands in Macedonia At the moment i have only two options, Shkavin O are red, or black Shkavin because Albanian mungonė option.
Del Zaev, shlon weeks ANY allegedly tapping, which is affected feeling yrrish Shqiptarit and they clash with the Militia or ANY stir from Washington State, to the good fortune that no tone happen but according to pull away when it is not manipulated.
Shkavit and red, how do you pull shfytėzonė later Albanians cannon fodder.
But another option is Shkavi Shkijet black or black and holding power,
They truken allegedly Where no control and keep the situation will return to normal State, but as it is known they have only priority as to preserve their wealth and hide the thief and the opposition Dilingjilliqet Makendosko that "dote" comes to power.
My people, please as a fighter of yours that you will not fall in the level of Slavs.
When they are in the intestine they do not want us permission to release the ass.
We are a nation with scrape, clean leti flliqėsirat that they have done.
We are people of my 9 denarshit, my 7 denarshit, 12 mi or social denarshit for so we left our Shkijet.
They have stolen billions and billions and therefore we become party sduhet.
Majftė most have used us, you do Ball shkavit caustic red and black father, who also vetėdisohemi tomorrow when you give them tons vote leta know that no game with us.
With respect your fighter.

If you combine a bleak future, corruption and large scale unemployment in Kosovo, you can begin to view this as a culmination of ethnic Albanian dissatisfaction at the state of their affairs. This could ultimately lead to a wider conflict in northern Macedonia and Preshevo with UCK veterans.