The imperialist governments, which maintain tens of thousands of troops in Yugoslavia under the NATO banner, from Bosnia to Kosova to Macedonia itself, are backing Skopje in the fighting. Washington has led the way in providing military and financial assistance to the government of President Boris Trajkovski.

Until the clashes began in February, Macedonia had escaped the wars that had broken out in different regions of the Yugoslav federation over the last decade, involving the armed forces of Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia, as well as Albanian nationalist forces in Kosova.

Long-standing national grievances by Albanians are at the center of the volatile situation. Their struggle to gain language rights and to overcome discrimination in employment and education in Macedonia is part of their historic fight for national self-determination in Yugoslavia. That struggle is not confined to Macedonia's borders, but has also involved Albanians in neighboring Kosova and in the region near its border with Serbia.

Albanians constitute around 35 percent of Macedonia's population of 2 million. The majority of the population is identified as Slav. Between 60 and 80 percent of the 200,000 people in Tetovo are Albanian, a figure typical for the northwest of the country.

Skopje governments have their own record of abuse and violence against Albanians. In one instance, the former mayor of Gostivar, Rufi Osmani, was jailed for one and a half years in 1997 for insisting that the Albanian flag be displayed alongside the Macedonian flag in the southern city. Albanian organizations have raised the demand for schools to be established offering instruction in the Albanian language. The once-outlawed university of Tetovo was granted permission to teach in the Albanian language only last year.

Along with Kosova, Macedonia--formally independent since 1991 -- is the least developed region of the Yugoslav federation. Official unemployment today stands at 30 percent; among Albanians it is double that. The country's present coalition government, elected in November 1998, includes the Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA), and is pledged to address such inequalities.

The government's failure to make progress on these issues has undermined support for the official Albanian parties.

The leaders of the insurgent forces have raised similar demands to those espoused by the DPA. The New York Times reported that the National Liberation Army "and some of its commanders have demanded that equality of ethnic Albanians be included in the constitution, that Albanian be made an official language in Macedonia, and that Albanians have representation in government and police structures.... The police and army are dominated by Slavs, even in the Albanian-populated western part of the country.

"The rebels argue that the politicians have tried for 10 years to achieve these demands through the political process, but have failed," continued the report.

While condemning the violence, the DPA's leaders have tried to shore up their popularity by distancing themselves from aspects of the government's military mobilization. On March 16 the party's leader, Arben Xhaferi, threatened to pull out of the coalition if a proposal to declare a nationwide state of emergency was carried through.

"We are going to hold on until civilians start getting hurt," said Xhaferi as Skopje's offensive got under way on March 20. "If the situation degenerates, we will have no other option but to withdraw from the government."

The Financial Times reports that "Menduh Thaci, deputy leader of the DPA [has warned] that his party's popularity has slipped since the current round of violence started last month."

The flare-up of armed clashes has alarmed some better-off Albanians in Macedonia. "I really thought we had rid Macedonia from politics of ethnic extremism, but now I'm very worried," said Iso Rusi, who edits an Albanian-language magazine in Skopje. "I don't want somebody from the outside to come and liberate me."

Many Albanians around Tetovo, on the other hand, have made their opposition to the government's stepped-up military presence clear. They have reportedly formed armed self-defense groups in several villages. The NLA has also had success in recruiting local residents to its ranks as the fighting has intensified.

The NLA leaders and many of its cadre gained experience fighting under the banner of the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA). The two organizations share the "UCK" acronym in the Albanian language. The KLA won a wide following in Kosova for its armed fight against the invading forces of the Serbian military in 1998. Its leadership welcomed and collaborated with the 1999 U.S.-led air war against Serbia, and afterwards with the occupying NATO forces.

Reflecting its political vulnerability, Skopje coupled the preparation of its military assault with the promise of a "package of reforms designed to increase minority rights for the ethnic Albanians and weaken the appeal of extremists wanting to break up the multiethnic republic," drawn up in consultation with European Union officials, reported the Financial Times.

As it opened its artillery barrage, the government issued an ultimatum giving the NLA forces 24 hours to withdraw or "face being wiped out." An NLA spokesperson said the rebels would ignore the deadline, claiming that "our ammunition is plentiful, and casualties are light." The insurgents reportedly control six villages within 10 miles of Tetovo, including Selce, which serves as their headquarters.

The reported casualties have been modest during the clashes of February and March, with one civilian dead and a number wounded. Thousands of people have left Tetovo. According to the New York Times, "More than 3,000 ethnic Albanians have left Macedonia for Albania and Serbia, and more than 7,000 ethnic Albanians and Slavs have been displaced in Macedonia."

The imperialist powers have increased their aid to the Macedonian government. NATO secretary general Lord Robertson has called for 1,400 troops to be sent to Kosova's southern border. "NATO is committed to tightening control of the border and troops will be put in place to do that," he said on March 19, adding that "the number of troops in the border region will be adequate and the objective will be pursued with considerable vigor." The aim of the action was "to cut the ethnic Albanian rebels' supply routes," reported a Reuters correspondent.

When fighting began in February, 150 U.S. troops were moved to the border zone between Macedonia and Kosova, a sector of the NATO occupation which falls under Washington's control. The U.S. command has passed on photographs taken by pilotless reconnaissance planes of NLA strongholds to the Macedonian army.

Discussions in Washington, according to the New York Times, have "focused on supplying money to the Macedonian government and on giving it the mettle to hold back the guerrillas." The Bush government, speaking for the dominant power in NATO and its Kosova occupation force (KFOR), has for the time being ruled out sending its troops into Macedonia. "We'll work with NATO to develop a strategy that will help Macedonia protect herself," said Bush on March 20.

While no government has called for such intervention, several European powers, "including Austria, Greece, and France, suggested KFOR's mandate should be changed" to permit a more active role, according to the Financial Times.

German troops are among the NATO forces already stationed in Macedonia as backup for the KFOR occupation of Kosova. A German logistics base close to the scene of the fighting around Tetovo was hit by stray gunfire on March 16. "We are prepared to act resolutely...and with heavy equipment," said German defense minister Rudolf Scharping in response. Four Leopard Two battle tanks, described as "German's most potent battlefield armor" in a CNN report, were moved to the camp from Kosova for "protection."

Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin has called for "decisive political and, if the need comes, military actions by the international community [to] prevent the conflict from spreading over the whole Balkan region." The Russian foreign minister condemned the "extremism" of the Albanian insurgents, while the Ukraine government donated four military transport helicopters to the Macedonian military.  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home