| Macedonia Staged 'Terrorist' Killings to Win U.S. |
| mafisKumA |
Macedonia Staged 'Terrorist' Killings to Win U.S. Support
Macedonian police gunned down seven innocent Pakistani immigrants, then claimed they were terrorists, in a killing staged to show they were participating in the US-led war on terror, authorities said.
Police spokeswoman Mirjana Konteska told reporters yesterday that six people, including three former police commanders, two special police officers and a businessman, have been charged with murder.
"That was an act of a sick mind," Ms Konteska said after a two-year investigation. "They ... ordered the brutal murder of the seven Pakistani men."
She 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 US political and economic support in its search for acceptance into the Western camp of nations.
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 the country.
Ms 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.
She refused to name the suspects but said that police generals Goran Stojkov and Boban Utkovski, and senior police official Aleksandar Cvetkovski, were among those allegedly involved.
She also named former interior minister Ljube Boskovski, who is a parliament deputy, in connection with the shootings.
Shortly after the announcement, a parliamentary committee revoked the immunity from prosecution that Boskovski enjoyed as a legislator. Officials said the committee had met earlier in the day following a request from the judge heading the inquiry.
Boskovski, interior minister under the former nationalist government, headed the police during Macedonia’s 2001 ethnic conflict. He was minister when the Pakistanis were killed.
He denied the allegations, telling reporters that he and his associates received a tip about the alleged Pakistani terrorists from unidentified "American intelligence officers".
But Ms Konteska claimed that forensic and ballistic showed the action was staged. She said the investigation was not finished and more suspects could be found.
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.
Ms 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 north east of Skopje, and gunned down by special police, she alleged.
"They lost their lives in a staged murder," said Ms Konteska.
After the killings, the US Embassy released a statement that said US personnel were "not aware of any indication that there was a specific threat" to the embassy.
A US State Department official said that Washington had pressed for a inquiry and was pleased there would finally be one.
In apparent retaliation for the deaths, Macedonia’s consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, was rocked by a bomb blast on December 5, 2002.
Pakistani investigators found three bodies inside - two men and a woman - each with their hands and feet bound and their throats slit. Messages scrawled on a wall referred to Osama bin Laden’s al Qaida group and warned against "infidels".
There was no comment from the US Embassy. Pakistan does not have an embassy in Skopje.
Craig Ratcliff, spokesman for Nato in Macedonia, told the Associated Press yesterday that the "international community at the time did not have a clear picture whether that was an anti-terrorist operation or something else".
He said Nato was pleased about the government investigation, describing it as "very much a positive step".
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| graf |
"Macedonian police gunned down seven innocent Pakistani immigrants, then claimed they were terrorists, in a killing staged to show they were participating in the US-led war on terror, authorities said.
"
kako da ne. they were guilty thats why they were shot. Rubbish like that do not belong in Macedonia. Why is it that these terroist should be seen as innconet. NO WAY !!!
And now they are trying to make Boskovski get the blame. For what ? Dor protecting the country he loves. |
| marko_polog |
Boskovski gets the blame cause he is an enemy of the Albanians, the Anti-Macedonians and most of all gives open criticism to the Western involvement in Macedonian internal affairs(Butler), and being that they are all in power right now, did you expect anything else? |
| graf |
I feel sorry for Macedonia for letting this happen.Macedonia must be strong and not give into this. He will be found not guilty. |
| mafisKumA |
quote:
Originally posted by graf
"Macedonian police gunned down seven innocent Pakistani immigrants, then claimed they were terrorists, in a killing staged to show they were participating in the US-led war on terror, authorities said.
"
kako da ne. they were guilty thats why they were shot. Rubbish like that do not belong in Macedonia. Why is it that these terroist should be seen as innconet. NO WAY !!!
And now they are trying to make Boskovski get the blame. For what ? Dor protecting the country he loves.
ok lets be fair and impartial for a moment. under the same scenario if it were seven innocent Macedonians killed in a foreign land would you feel the same way?
|
| fio |
quote:
Originally posted by graf
I feel sorry for Macedonia for letting this happen.Macedonia must be strong and not give into this. He will be found not guilty.
Однапред се знае дека ќе биде виновен, така одат работите кај нас
|
| BorisVM |
quote:
Originally posted by graf
"Macedonian police gunned down seven innocent Pakistani immigrants, then claimed they were terrorists, in a killing staged to show they were participating in the US-led war on terror, authorities said.
"
kako da ne. they were guilty thats why they were shot. Rubbish like that do not belong in Macedonia. Why is it that these terroist should be seen as innconet. NO WAY !!!
And now they are trying to make Boskovski get the blame. For what ? Dor protecting the country he loves.
Boskovski gets the blame because he is guilty and he is a criminal. There is no conspiracy here against him. If he loves his country so much, why does he live in Croatia? :) |
| OooOo |
quote:
Originally posted by fio
Однапред се знае дека ќе биде виновен, така одат работите кај нас
On e nevin dodeka ne se dokaze deka go storil toa. A ne kaj nas, nego vo cel svet odat rabotite taka.
Druga stvar e zashto se krie od vlastite koga ne e vinoven? Neli sam kje se predadeshe?
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| graf |
BorisVM the reason why he lives in Croatia is because of tax reason eheheh |
| ViennaBoy |
quote:
Originally posted by marko_polog
Boskovski gets the blame cause he is an enemy of the Albanians,
Sakas da kazes deka Menduh Taci, Refet Elmazi etc ne se Albanci??? |