Albanian Terrorists Training In Macedonian Mountain Camps

MACEDONIA: LOCALS REPORT "ARMED GANGS" MOVING ABOUT ABOVE TETOVO AREA
BBC Monitoring International Reports - May 13, 2005

Text of unattributed report entitled "Armed groups seen on Mount Sar" published by the Macedonian newspaper Utrinski vesnik on 12 May

Tetovo: Armed gangs with unshaved faces and armed with various types of automatic weapons, mainly infantry weapons, are frequently spotted in the wider region of Tri Vodi, located in the higher parts of Sara [Mount Sar] above the village of Tearce and between the villages of Setole and Germo, as well as above Brezno. Apparently, the largest group is the one seen in the Tri Vodi area and it comprises some 20 unidentified individuals, moving mainly along the River Bistrica in the Melovo area. When coming from Polog, the strangers are generally seen in jeeps, tractors and other heavy vehicles, most of them with licence plates from Switzerland, and some from Kosovo or with no licence plates.

Fire exchange, detonations, bursts of fire or isolated firing are heard from the direction of a new concrete-brick-layered facility in Melovo and its surroundings several times a day. The shooting is believed to be triggered by bomb detonations, submachine guns, automatic weapons and pistols. This area is located under Causica and Kazani peaks on the border with Kosovo, with mountain tracks leading to either side of the border. In addition to the concrete-brick-layered facility, three other makeshift buildings have been erected in the vicinity of Tri Vodi. No relevant institution has confirmed the issuance of construction permits. The previous facilities near Tri Vodi were looted and demolished during the 2001 conflict.

All these details come from stories told by hunters, climbers and other nature lovers. We have learned from them that they have personally seen groups of around 20 individuals or have been intercepted with weapons. The same sources add that smaller groups have also been noticed in the lower parts of the mountains. They say that a group of a dozen people is frequently seen on the mountain path between Setole and Germo. Some claim to have personally seen Daut Rexhepi-Leka among them, which the Tetovo authorities have not confirmed. Reports have further revealed that the group of five to six armed individuals above the village of Brezno was also wearing uniforms. They are allegedly gathered around a certain Kemal and check whoever comes above Brezno. Some hunters have even had serious problems with them as they confiscated some of their hunting equipment and tried to seize their rifles. They claim to be "forest wardens", although with no authorization from the Tetovo forest police.

Our sources say that they are known for destroying the best trees in the forests, which they later sell as firewood. A certain Nafi a.k.a. Mafija is also said to be ruthlessly destroying the forest. He owns a few tractors, which he loads with uncontrollably cut down trees from Sara.

The Tetovo police have neither denied, nor confirmed these reports. Our sources say that the international community representatives in Tetovo, the EU, Proxima [EU police mission] and the OSCE have been informed about the situation, but they, too, have refused to give any official information.

Source: Utrinski vesnik, Skopje, in Macedonian 12 May 05 p 6

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