Smilkovci lake killings

Smilkovci lake killings
Part of 2012 Republic of Macedonia inter-ethnic violence
Smilkovci lake killings
Location	Smilkovci Lake, near the village of Smilkovci, Butel Municipality, Greater Skopje
Coordinates	42°01′06″N 21°28′58″E / 42.018342°N 21.482713°E / 42.018342; 21.482713Coordinates: 42°01′06″N 21°28′58″E / 42.018342°N 21.482713°E / 42.018342; 21.482713
Date	April 12, 2012 19:45[1] (UTC+1)
Target	Ethnic Macedonian civilians
Attack type	Mass murder
Weapons	Automatic firearms
Deaths	5
Perpetrators	Five ethnic Albanians charged by Macedonian police[2]
Assailants	Alil Demiri, Afrim Ismailoviq, Agim Ismailoviq, Fejzi Aziri, Haki Aziri and Sami Luta including numerous other co-conspirators (see below)

The Smilkovci Lake killings (Macedonian: масакарот кај Смилковското езеро, "massacre at Smilkovci Lake") were carried out on 12 April 2012.^[3] Five ethnic-Macedonian civilians were shot and killed by ethnic Albanians beside an artificial lake near the village of Smilkovci just outside the Macedonian capital Skopje.^[4]

The Macedonian Ministry of Internal Affairs claims the attack was carried out with the intent to "incite fear and insecurity"^[5] and labelled it a "deliberate terrorist act aimed at destabilizing the country".^[4] The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights criticized the Ministry of Internal Affairs for prematurely labeling the suspects "guilty".^[6]

On 30 June 2014, following an 18-month trial, Alil Demiri, Afrim Ismailoviq (alias Afrim Ismaili), Agim Ismailoviq (alias Agim Ismaili), Fejzi Aziri, Haki Aziri and Sami Luta were each sentenced to life imprisonment.^[7] Alil Demiri and Afrim Ismailoviq were tried in absentia as they are currently serving prison sentences in Kosovo relating to the unlawful possession of weapons;^[7][8] extradition procedures are under way. One defendant, Rami Sejdi, was released due to a lack of evidence.^[9][10]

Background

It was widely speculated that the killings were closely related to the inter-ethnic tensions from earlier in the year. The police and the Interior Ministry called for calm among ethnic groups in Macedonia and said to avoid any speculation from Macedonian and foreign media.

Incident

Four of the five men killed were between eighteen and twenty years of age. They were: Filip Slavkovski, Aleksandar Naḱevski, Cvetančo Acevski and Kire Tričkovski—while the fifth, Borče Stefanovski, was 45 years old.^[11] It is believed that Stefanovski had witnessed the murder of the younger men by chance only to be murdered himself not long afterwards and a short distance away from the initial killings.

Aftermath

In the early morning of 1 May 2012, the Macedonian special police commenced operation "Monster" during which 20 suspects were arrested.

Early police work

After the residents from the villages where the victims lived heard about the killings, angry mobs blocked the freeway near the Lake of Smilkovci. A group among the mob smashed the windows of a vehicle belonging to a reporter for the private TV station "24 News" and threw stones at passing buses.

The Interior Minister, Gordana Jankulovska, the day after the incident, in a press-conference said that "more than one perpetrator" killed five fishermen and that "by this point we (the police) are still unable to say that the killings were ethnic-related because the police has no suspects".^[12]

On 15 April, the Macedonian police established contacts with the police in neighboring countries and found a car that is assumed to have been used by the killers near the border with Kosovo. The Interior Minister said that the police has found the "profile" of the killers but not their identity.^[13]

The police said that they would not give any further information for the good of the investigation.

Operation "Monster"

In the early hours of 1 May 2012, some 800 police officers raided 26 properties which resulted in the arrest of 20 individuals on various charges. These individuals were confirmed by the Macedonian interior minister Gordana Jankulovska to be followers of Islamic fundamentalism, some of which had fought in conflicts in Pakistan and Afghanistan.^[14][15] The arrests took place in the villages Šuto Orizari, Jaja Paša and Aračinovo. Various weaponry was found in the houses of the arrested individuals.^[16] Also, among the seized items, National Liberation Army propraganda was present.^[17][18] The police used special investigation measures such as surveillance and phone tapping during the operation.^[19]

Apart from the primary assailants, Afrim Ismailoviq (alias Afrim Ismaili), Agim Ismailoviq (alias Agim Ismaili), Alil Demiri, Fejzi Aziri and Rami Sejdi, police have also laid charges against a number of co-conspirators and associates. In the home of Nazif Memeti police found a handgun and ammunition. Ibrahim Zajdini was in possession of an automatic firearm, several magazines of ammunition and, among other items, a hand grenade. Sixty-year-old grandmother Feride Bilalli was found to be in possession of a substantial amount of ammunition for automatic firearms, ammunition belts for machine guns, military camouflage clothing with National Liberation Army insignia and symbols, as well as National Liberation Army identity cards and photo-albums. Isni Asani and Ramadan Asani, father and son, were also found to have weapons in their home. A special report to the Public Prosecutor has also been filed against Qezmedin Demiri, Haki Aziri, Muamer Qailovski (alias Muamer Qaili), Besim Hajdari, Mervan Memeti, Abdula Rashitov (alias Abdula Rashiti), Suraj Asipi, Mirvet Ismailoviq (alias Mirvet Ismaili), Kimet Demiri, Qani Aziri and Rami Xhaviti.^[20][21]

On 3 May 2012, thirteen of the arrested twenty suspects were released from police custody and against four others charges have been raised for unauthorized arms possession.^[22][23]

Protests

Throughout Macedonia, many protests were organised in a variety of cities and villages, two of which turned violent: in the village of Smiljkovci from where the victims came from and in the city of Skopje.

The Skopje protest was organized by youths. The protesters wanted to march in the Saraj Municipality where there is an Albanian-speaking majority. The protesters ware stopped by the police and there started a 10-minute conflict between the police and the protesters.^[24] The protesters were recorded chanting “a good Albanian is a dead Albanian” and “gas chambers for the Albanians”.^{[25][26][27][28]}

Another large, but peaceful, protest was organised in Bitola where the Macedonian demonstrators marched through the main street of Širok Sokak and lit candles for the victims under Bitola's Clock Tower. The protest was said to have been organised by Čkembari.^[29]

Operation "Monster" reactions

Albanian Protesters holding a sign reading "I am Muslim and I am not terrorist" and holding the Black Flag of Jihad

Albanian protesters holding the Black Flag of Jihad

On 4 May 2012, fifteen to twenty thousand ethnic Albanians protested in Skopje demanding the release of the arrested Albanians, chanting "God is One", "To be an Albanian is not a Crime", "Allah is Great", "Death to Christians", "War on Christians", "UÇK", "See you in the Mountains", "Greater Albania" and brandished Al Qaeda insignia. The protestors later hurled stones at police and also managed to smash the windows of a bus stop. Shukri Alia, blacklisted by the EU and sought by the Macedonian police for murder and armed attacks on two Skopje police stations, is leading the efforts to organise new protests. Police said they believe he is hiding in Kosovo. Kosovo Internal Affairs Minister Bajram Rexhepi said if it is ascertained that any of the murder suspects are hiding there, they will be arrested.^{[30][31][32][33][34]}

On 5 May 2012, US Republican politician, Joseph J. DioGuardi, who is of Albanian descent and is a member of the Albanian Lobby^[35] in the United States, stated:

“The Macedonian and Serbian governments have designed a well-orchestrated top secret plan, aiming to compromise and stain the "freedom-loving" Albanian people in front of the world public opinion. Albanians are facing brutal tortures which have taken ultra-nationalist connotations. The Albanian people are not terrorists."^[36]

A former rebel commander from the NLA, Xhezair Shaqiri, has said that he will start a Guerrilla war to protect the Albanian population in Macedonia and the valley of the Morava River. He held meetings with the former members of the National Liberation Army and Kosovo Liberation Army (UÇK) and discussed the need to protect the Albanian population in Macedonia and South Serbia against "ethnic cleansing".^[37]

On 11 May 2012, five ^[38] to ten thousand^[39] Albanians protested in front of the government building in Skopje, Macedonia demanding fair trials for the arrested. They waved Albanian flags and the Black Flag of Jihad and shouted, "Muslims are not Terrorists!", "We are not Terrorists, we are Muslims", "KLA (Kosovo Liberation Army)", "Greater Albania" "Die, infidels!", "Murderers", "Death to the Giaours",^[40] "UÇK" and smashed windows in government offices and court buildings. Six policemen, one reporter and one cameraman were lightly injured. The demonstrators also carried banners saying "Serbs and Macedonians" were responsible for the quintuple murder.^{[41][42][43][44][45]}

On 15 May 2012, Peter Stano, the spokesperson of the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule stated:

"Protests are staged as a result of the thorough investigation by Macedonian authorities following the murder of five young fishermen. The European Commission has a clear position about these protests - we urge the protests to stop and the authorities in Macedonia to be left alone to complete the investigation, while those who have committed that grisly crime to be tried in accordance with country's laws."^[46]

The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights assessed that the Ministry of Internal Affairs has "pressurized the media and the courts of law" by prematurely labeling the suspects as "guilty for the crime, which is not in accordance with European standards". They also raised concerns over Haki Aziri who was under witness protection program but went missing for 6 days only to show up in the court afterwards.^[6]

See also

• 2012 Republic of Macedonia inter-ethnic violence

References