Macedonian plot update

I blogged about this Macedonian plot about 2 weeks ago, but now the New York Times has reported on it. The New York Times report by Nicholas Wood includes rather gruesome photos and more information about how the plot has come to light:

Instead of offering troops to support American soldiers fighting in Afghanistan, as other countries in the region had done, senior officials and police commanders conceived a plan to "expose" a terrorist plot against Western interests in Skopje, police investigators here say.

The plan, they say, involved luring foreign migrants into the country, executing them in a staged gun battle, and then claiming they were a unit backed by Al Qaeda intent on attacking Western embassies.

On March 2, 2002, this plan came to fruition when Interior Minister Ljube Boskovski announced that seven "mujahedeen" had been killed earlier that day in a shootout with the police near Skopje. Photos were released to Western diplomats showing bodies of the dead men with bags of uniforms and semiautomatic weapons at their side.

At the time, diplomats in Skopje questioned the government's story, but it was not until the nationalist-led government lost elections in September 2002 and a new center-left administration came to power that the police began to investigate the shooting in earnest. The full extent of the state's involvement in the incident has only emerged in the last two weeks.

Let's see, 'conservative' nationalist politicians cook up phony anti-terror plot and cover it up; 'center-left' administration comes to power and eventually uncover the truth. This is just more evidence that good, competent governance comes from center-left parties, not right-wingers. (My political bias is showing!)

Well, it's safe to say many people in Macedonia have known or suspected the truth about this plot for quite a while. It is an exageration to suggest that 'just now' the truth is coming to light. Maybe it's more accurate to say that the truth is finally coming to the attention of the SCLM.*

*So-Called Liberal Media

Father, let me dedicate All this year to you
In whatever earthly state You will have me be
Not from sorrow, pain, or care Freedom dare I claim;
This alone shall be my prayer: Glorify Your name.
--from New Year's Hymn by Lawrence Tuttiett, 1864 (alt.)

Macedonia--our ally in the fight against terror

It is gratifying that the coalition of the willing has such enthusiastic members; apparently Macedonia killed 7 innocent Pakistanis in a phony raid to demonstrate its willingness take part in the 'war against terror. (CNN story, posted 30 April 2004)
Police spokeswoman Mirjana Konteska described

a meticulous plan to promote Macedonia as a player in the fight against global terrorism that involved smuggling the Pakistanis into Macedonia from Bulgaria, housing them, and then coldly gunning them down.

The killings, she added, were part of an attempt to "present themselves as participants in the war against terrorism and demonstrate Macedonia's commitment to the war on terror."

Since breaking away from Yugoslavia in 1991, Macedonia has been eager to win U.S. political and economic support in its search for acceptance into the Western camp of nations.

[snip--2 police generals and a former Interior Minister are among those involved.]

The so-called "Rastanski Lozja" action was carried out in March 2002 by special Macedonian police who claimed to have eliminated a terrorist group allegedly plotting to attack international embassies and representatives in Macedonia.

Konteska said that the seven Pakistani men were in fact illegal immigrants who were lured into Macedonia by promises that they would be transferred to Western Europe.

[snip--more on the investigation into the crime]

At the time, senior police officials said the seven men were killed after a police patrol was ambushed. Police claimed that assault rifles, hand grenades and ammunition were found near a van used by the Pakistanis.

Konteska said the plan to set up the Pakistanis and kill them was made by top police officials in February 2002, when the seven men were brought into the country from Bulgaria and housed in Skopje, the capital.

On March 3, they were taken by police to Rastanski Lozja, about three miles (5 kilometers) northeast of Skopje, and gunned down by special police, Konteska said.

"They lost their lives in a staged murder," said Konteska.

After the killings, the U.S. Embassy released a statement that said U.S. personnel were "not aware of any indication that there was a specific threat" to the embassy.

Just when I think nothing can shock me anymore . . .