MACEDONIA: CALM AFTER THE STORM -- POLICE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SKOPJE 000892

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EUR/SCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KCRM PTER ASEC MK KS
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: CALM AFTER THE STORM -- POLICE
OPERATION IN BRODEC CONCLUDES

REF: SKOPJE 887

SUMMARY


1. (SBU) A major police action against a group of ethnic
Albanian criminals in a village in northwest Macedonia
(reftel) concluded November 8, with six criminals killed and
more than a dozen arrested. The operation appeared to have
been conducted properly, with mixed ethnic patrols conducting
the raid. The police discovered a large cache of ammunition,
explosives, and weapons allegedly smuggled into the area by
the group. Ethnic Albanian reaction to the operation has
been mixed. Governing coalition partner DPA has been
supportive of the operation, while opposition DUI has been
sharply critical of scope of the operation, accusing the
police of using heavy-handed tactics and the MOI of refusing
to release bodies of those killed for prompt burial. Based
on evidence available to date, it appears the GOM succeeded
in an operation to enforce rule of law against a group of
fugitive criminals, although the operation caused some
collateral damage in the village and some villagers appear to
be distraught over the large-scale action. End summary.

POLICE ACTION WRAPS UP IN BRODEC


2. (SBU) The major police action that began November 7
against a criminal group in the northwest village of Brodec
near the Kosovo border (reftel) had concluded by November 8.
According to an OSCE report, the police confirmed six
criminals were killed in gunfire battles with police (one
unconfirmed report suggested Kosovar fugitive and suspected
terrorist Ramadan Shiti had blown himself up with a hand
grenade to avoid capture),and as many as fourteen members of
the group were captured. The MOI did not report any civilian
casualties, although ethnic Albanian media reported 11
civilians were wounded and taken to a hospital in Skopje.
One police officer involved in the raid suffered light
shrapnel wounds, according to an MOI account. The MOI
reported that action still was underway in Kosovo to locate
and arrest one of the members of the group.

OPERATION APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN PROPERLY CONDUCTED


3. (SBU) Following a visit to Brodec on November 8, our
ICITAP adviser and an OSCE police adviser concluded that the
operation appeared to have been professionally handled, with
mixed ethnic police units conducting the initial raid on the
criminal hideout outside of Brodec, and the ensuing
house-to-house search after members of that group fled into
the village. There was no apparent evidence of significant
collateral damage, although some houses were pockmarked by
gunfire and at least one door had been heavily damaged as
police entered a residence. It appeared that members of the
group used the local mosque for shelter and cover; a large
number of expended ammunition cartridges suggested there had
been a heavy firefight in that area.


4. (SBU) Some of the residents interviewed by our ICITAP
adviser said they believed the police had conducted
themselves professionally, while others said the police had
been heavy-handed. During the interviews, the ICITAP adviser
observed some unidentified individuals who appeared to be
attempting to intimidate villagers who were talking to him.

LARGE WEAPONS AND AMMO CACHE DISPLAYED, INVESTIGATORS ON SITE


5. (SBU) Our ICITAP and OSCE colleagues inspected at the site
a large display of weapons -- including heavy machine guns,
grenade launchers, and at least one mortar which police claim
were confiscated from the group. They also observed the
police securing the area, and an investigative judge, public
prosecutor, and forensics team conducting an investigation at
the site. The MOI has announced it will display the weapons
at a military barracks in Skopje and will allow foreign
"police attaches" to inspect the cache.

ENFORCING THE LAW THROUGHOUT MACEDONIA


6. (SBU) PM Gruevski, in a statement during a joint press
conference November 8 with visiting USNATO Ambassador Nuland,

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said the operation reflected the "enforcement of the law
throughout the entire territory of Macedonia," adding that
the operation had been professionally planned and executed.
The EUSR office issued a statement the same day, noting that
-- according to information received from the MOI -- the
operation had been conducted professionally and had not
resulted in civilian casualties. The EUSR statement also
noted the good cooperation between Macedonian and Kosovo
authorities during the operation.

ETHNIC ALBANIAN PARTIES REACT -- DPA POSITIVE...


7. (SBU) Ethnic Albanian governing coalition partner DPA
supported the government operation, with DPA President Thaci
telling us November 9 that it was professionally conducted.
He said it was the first time the police had undertaken an
action of such scope with such little collateral damage and
so few mishaps or mistakes. He claimed there had been no
civilian casualties, and that the police had behaved
appropriately.


8. (SBU) Thaci said it would be important for ethnic
Albanians to recognize that the police could conduct such
raids with precision, and without treating everyone in the
village as a potential criminal. He expected the GOM to pay
for the collateral damage caused, including civilian vehicles
damaged or destroyed by MOI armored personnel carriers and
burned homes.

...DUI REMARKS ARE STILL CRITICAL, BUT MORE RESTRAINED


9. (SBU) Initial DUI comments in the press harshly criticized
the operation, claiming the police had used disproportionate
force and had "committed violence against the eAlbanian
civilian population." DUI also called on the international
community to apply pressure on the MOI to halt the operation,
a request which was roundly rejected. Later DUI comments
were more restrained, although still critical. DUI President
Ali Ahmeti distanced his party from the criminal group, but
said the police had used excessive force in the operation.
DUI VP Arifi criticized the GOM for refusing to release the
bodies of two Brodec residents killed in the raid (she
alleged that one of them was 16 years old) so they could be
buried. NOTE: The bodies of those killed in the raid have
been turned over to the Forensics Unit for examination and
should be returned to the families after that process is
concluded. END NOTE.


10. (SBU) Arifi told us November 9 that she had met with
Brodec residents who were "distraught and traumatized," and
who "distrust the police forces." Although she said she
agreed with the IC position that the operation had been
necessary and conducted professionally, she also said there
was a "growing disgust among the residents of Brodec, who
believed the police had used excessive force" in the
operation. She said villagers also had told DUI officials
that the 13 persons arrested in the sweep were not members of
the criminal group, but were in fact residents who had been
taken from their homes.

COMMENT -- ENFORCING RULE OF LAW


11. (SBU) Based on reports to date, we believe the operation
in Brodec was conducted professionally and effectively, a
successful GOM operation to enforce rule of law in a "former
conflict area." We do not doubt that there might have been
flaws in planning and execution, or that some villagers were
upset over the disruption and damage caused by the raid and
ensuing firefights. At the end of the day, however, this was
not an operation that pitted eMacedonians against eAlbanians,
as evidenced by the use of mixed ethnic patrols. The targets
of the operation were known criminals and fugitives from
justice, including escapees from a prison in Kosovo for whom
international arrest warrants had been issued. As the dust
settles, we will learn more details about the operation and
clarify some questions, including whether there were in fact
civilian casualties, as claimed by some media. We will also
press the GOM to take quick measures to repair the collateral
damage, and encourage the government to work with local
political leaders on confidence building steps that could

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enhance respect for the police.
MILOVANOVIC