SHOTS FIRED AT POLICE IN NORTHERN MACEDONIA ALMOST

UNCLAS SKOPJE 000864

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR DS/IP/EUR, DS/IP/ITA FROM RSO, EUR/SCE PAUL PFEUFFER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PTER PREL PGOV MK
SUBJECT: SHOTS FIRED AT POLICE IN NORTHERN MACEDONIA ALMOST
CERTAINLY CRIMINAL NOT POLTICAL


Summary
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1. (SBU) The shots fired on October 24 at a three person
Macedonian border police patrol near the town of Kodra Fura
sparked media speculation that the incident was a politically
motivated attack by ethnic Albanians. Ministry of Interior
(MoI) officials told us, and OSCE monitors confirmed,
however, that there is no/no evidence the attack was
politically motivated. Xhezair Shaqiri (aka Commander
Hoxha),who is based in nearby Tanusevci, denied any
responsibility for the incident. MoI officials said that
they believe the attack may have been the work of smugglers -
possibly illegal woodcutters - disturbed during their
criminal activity. End Summary.

Border Police Shot At, One Killed
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2. (U) On October 24, 2007 at approximately 1300hrs a
Macedonian border police unit was on patrol near the small
border village of Kodra Fura, approximately two kilometers
from the northern Macedonian town of Tanusevci. The police
patrol was driving a 4X4, off-road vehicle, en route to the
village of Kodra Fura when they came under fire. One
Ministry of Interior (MoI) police officer was hit by rifle
fire in the attack. As the driver attempted to evade the
attack, the MoI vehicle turned over and rolled down the
mountainous terrain, suffering substantial damage. The
incident, especially the motor vehicle accident it sparked,
resulted in the death of one police officer and left two
other officers in critical condition.


3. (SBU) The MoI stated that they have information that a
criminal gang of smugglers might have committed the armed
attack. The Minister of Interior (Gordana Jankuloska) made
public the testimony of one of the survivors from the attack,
who stated that it was carried out by a group of five to six
armed men with automatic weapons. The MoI stated that
criminal gangs smuggle goods over the Macedonia-Kosovo border
and that these gangs are typically armed and dangerous. RSO
talked to OSCE representatives who frequently visit the area
and had visited the incident site and talked with local
residents. The OSCE representatives confirmed that there was
no/no evidence that the attack was politically motivated.


4. (U) Xhezair Shaqiri (aka Commander Hoxha),a former Member
of Parliament and ex-commander of the illegal Albanian
paramilitary groups of KLA and NLA, who lives in Tanusevci,
denied any involvement in or knowledge of this attack.
Although the investigation is on-going, all information
points to this being an isolated event involving a group of
thugs and/or smugglers engaged in illegal actives near the
border. Members of the Macedonian special police units have
stepped up patrols along the country's northern border region
and will actively pursue those responsible for this attack.

Comment
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5. (SBU) Given what we know so far, this appears to be an
isolated criminal event in which the host government police
forces are responding in an appropriate manner with the
appropriate level of force. While an incident in which
smugglers shoot at a police patrol is obviously problematic
from a law enforcement perspective, the attack does not
appear to have any wider political implications. We believe
that the media and political reaction to this attack will be
and deserves to be short-lived.
MILOVANOVIC