Roughly three weeks ago, protests began against the government in Macedonia (FYROM). The folks protesting said the government was "corrupt" and spying on them. Big surprise, I figured - like the rest of the Balkans, the regime in Skopje is run by a vassal of Washington, so what else were they expecting?
But then these opposition activists ignored the Albanian terrorists - who came in from Kosovo and tried to take over a village, then seemed surprised when Macedonian police and military actually dared attack and kill a bunch of them (who were later given heroes' funerals in "Kosovo", to wit).
In fact, these protesters claimed the government had staged the whole thing as a way to defeat the protests! So I looked into the whole thing a bit, and found an all too familiar pattern. Soros, NED, "human rights activists," an opposition politician polling terribly but crusading against "corruption," the fact that the government favored a Russian-backed pipeline (can't have that, oh no)...
Then there was the hashtag. My knowledge of the language spoken in Macedonia (FYROM) is a little rusty, but I thought it weird that the hashtag they were using was "#протестирам" (or even "#protestiram" for reasons unfathomable; unlike the occupied Serbs, I was not aware that even in the wildest self-hating fantasies the Macedonians would give up on Cyrillic).
I looked up the Macedonian phrases for "I protest" (протестираат) and "we protest" (протестираме). Neither matched. So what does the word actually mean in Macedonian? Is it even Macedonian at all?
To me, it sounds like a foreign consultant picked something that maybe sounded Macedonian-ish, but was based on their knowledge of "Croatian" (a dialect most Westerners who bother studying the region tend to learn). Except they goofed, since in actual modern Croatian, the word for protest is "prosvjed," so the proper form would have been "prosvjedujem/prosvjedujemo."
I can't be sure, though. I was ready to reach out and ask, to borrow a phrase, "I'm confused. Can somebody help me?"
But then today, I saw this from a "media fact-checker" backing the protesters.
Let's say I'm much less confused now.
(see Disclaimer at top right of page)
But then these opposition activists ignored the Albanian terrorists - who came in from Kosovo and tried to take over a village, then seemed surprised when Macedonian police and military actually dared attack and kill a bunch of them (who were later given heroes' funerals in "Kosovo", to wit).
In fact, these protesters claimed the government had staged the whole thing as a way to defeat the protests! So I looked into the whole thing a bit, and found an all too familiar pattern. Soros, NED, "human rights activists," an opposition politician polling terribly but crusading against "corruption," the fact that the government favored a Russian-backed pipeline (can't have that, oh no)...
Then there was the hashtag. My knowledge of the language spoken in Macedonia (FYROM) is a little rusty, but I thought it weird that the hashtag they were using was "#протестирам" (or even "#protestiram" for reasons unfathomable; unlike the occupied Serbs, I was not aware that even in the wildest self-hating fantasies the Macedonians would give up on Cyrillic).
I looked up the Macedonian phrases for "I protest" (протестираат) and "we protest" (протестираме). Neither matched. So what does the word actually mean in Macedonian? Is it even Macedonian at all?
To me, it sounds like a foreign consultant picked something that maybe sounded Macedonian-ish, but was based on their knowledge of "Croatian" (a dialect most Westerners who bother studying the region tend to learn). Except they goofed, since in actual modern Croatian, the word for protest is "prosvjed," so the proper form would have been "prosvjedujem/prosvjedujemo."
I can't be sure, though. I was ready to reach out and ask, to borrow a phrase, "I'm confused. Can somebody help me?"
But then today, I saw this from a "media fact-checker" backing the protesters.
Defending #Mariupol is admirable/breathtaking task. Task legends are made of.
My support for #Ukraine.
#Macedonia
http://t.co/Ouql9hFA4K
— Vladimir Petreski (@VPetreski) June 7, 2015
Lavishes praise on the Banderite regime in Ukraine, cites Interpreter as the authoritative source, in another tweet praises Soros for "helping" Macedonia - and oh, funded by USAID. Greeaat.Let's say I'm much less confused now.
(see Disclaimer at top right of page)
5 comments:
Those protests were mainly run by Albanians.
Well, yes and no. I mean, I know some Macedonians who took part, and still support Zaev because "Gruevski is corrupt." They obviously haven't learned a damn thing from the example of Serbia...
There's a recent investigation which uncovered the kidnapping of hundreds of migrants traveling through Macedonia (Syrians, Yemenis, Afghans, Libyans, etc.) who were intercepted and kidnapped by an Albanian gang and are held in a house - 300 in one house! Packed like sardines. The Albanians turn on the internet so they can contact relatives for money - it is an extortion campaign. The house was found after 2 former captives escaped during the recent battle with Macedonian police: during that skirmish (even though the home wasn't attacked) the Albanians took every one out into a wooded area and left. The 2 interviewed and a Yemeni left/escaped but the others were too fearful to leave, so they are back in captivity. The house was found because the 2 used GPS coordinates on their phones when they were held. The captives/refugees/migrants are beaten and threatened and surrounded by armed Afghani guards.
There should be greater coverage of this for several reasons: 1) it may prompt authorities to rescue the kidnapped 2) it may discourage migrants from using this route 3) stopping it would cut off Albanian criminals and terrorists from yet another lucrative crime scheme
Tracking down Macedonia's migrant kidnap gang (Albanians kidnapping hundreds of refugee migrants and extorting them) http://www.channel4.com/news/tracking-down-macedonias-migrant-kidnap-gang
Haven't heard of that, James - thanks for the tip!
Here's another: Macedonian media reported the OSCE was aware of the terrorist activity and thought an attack was imminent yet didn't share this info with any Macedonian authorities.
http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/27534/45/
Dnevnik: OSCE Knew of Kumanovo Attack, Had Direct Contact with Terror Leader
"The OSCE mission (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) in Skopje knew Kosovo terrorists were preparing an attack on the police station in Goshince three weeks prior it happened, however did not inform the Macedonian security services..."
And it ends with how Macedonia has asked the OSCE to leave but it won't and now this new incident has provided them with an excuse to extend their stay for another 3 years:
OSCE has no Plans to Leave, Despite being Asked to Leave - Twice
OSCE opened its Office in Skopje in September 1992. To this day has constantly continued its mission, constantly finding reasons for it, although it was originally planned to stay only during the Yugoslav civil war in the early 1990's. Its existence in Macedonia was particularly called into question during the past ten years. OSCE appears to seek out conflict to extend its mandate. Sources in the OSCE office in Skopje claim that the Kumanovo incident will be used to extend its mandate for at least three more years. OSCE employs 140 people in Skopje, hundred local and forty foreigners. Has an annual budget of 6,257,200 euros.
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