SHAME

In a few words only... The political elite of the Republic of Macedonia, the government, the president, and the parliament's speaker proved - once and for all - they are supporters of war crimes. They did so, by organizing a spectacular welcoming celebration upon the arrival of Johan Tarculovski from the German prison where he served his prison sentence for war crimes committed in the 2001 ethnic war in Macedonia.

Ljuboten massacre, Macedonia 2001

The Hague Justice Portal brings a profile of this convict, saying that "Johan Tarčulovski ordered planned and organised the crimes during the attack on the Albanian village of Ljuboten on 12 August 2001 and personally took part in the attack himself. [...] Tarčulovski was charged with three counts of murder, wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, and cruel treatment as violations of the laws or customs of war. According to the indictment, Tarčulovski, or members of the police unit which he lead, participated in the murder of seven Albanian men, the destruction of at least 14 Albanian houses, and the beating, humiliation, harassment and psychological abuse of over 100 villagers in Ljuboten."

Ljuboten massacre, Macedonia 2001

This should be enough to make him a person ashamed to the rest of his life. His commanders, too. 

To the contrary, the war criminal has been treated as a hero by the highest institutions in the country. 

The President Ivanov said that Tarculovski's return to the country will help the process of reconciliation. The Interior Minister Jankulovska said she's "proud for welcoming a person who did everything he could in the interest of the Republic of Macedonia. He was welcomed as a national hero..." Asked by a journalist if he find's it right that the government organizes such a welcome to a person convicted of war crimes, the Prime Minister Gruevski answered briefly and ironically: "It is alright".

Victim of torture by UCK, 2001

Meanwhile, the fate of the 12 ethnic Macedonians and 6 ethnic Albanians who went missing during the conflict in 2001 remains unknown. The case of the construction workers who were tortured by UCK fighters, along with the missing persons is closed. Last year, the parliament voted for total amnesty of all cases of alleged war crimes committed by Ali Ahmeti's fighters in 2001. He is now in the same government that used an unknown amount of money and resources to organize the welcoming spectacle on April 11. 

A number of singers and bands at the main square in the capital of Skopje completed the image of shame on the day when this country celebrated a war criminal.

Tarculovski, war crimes trial, ICTY

Tarculovski, President Ivanov
and families, April 2013