KUMANOVO OPERATION “MH - 2”

KUMANOVO OPERATION “MH - 2”

For Kumanovo, or Karadak Region, we had no plan, nor did we intend to prepare and justify a military operation. After the Skopje Tsrna Gora operation the following villages remained free: Loiane, Vaksintse, Slupchane, Otlia and Mateiche, itself located at the foot of Skopje Tsrna Gora, i.e. 10 to 15 km northwest of Kumanovo. All residents of the aforementioned villages were living free, traveling and working in the cities Kumanovo and Skopje. The old road from Loiane through Mateiche - Umin Dol - Arachinovo was free of traffic. The space north of all the aforementioned villages was under the control of the Army and the Interior Ministry.

In this entire space that covered the aforementioned villages and the village Lipkovo, as their municipal centre, there lived over 25,000 inhabitants, mostly of Albanian nationality.

It is especially interesting to note that almost all of the information that the Intelligence and Counterintelligence Agencies in the Republic of Macedonia received was about uprisings by Albanian citizens in Gostivar, Debar and even Kichevo. The Agencies had no information that would indicate that something was amiss on the southern slopes of Skopje Tsrna Gora, especially in Lipkovo. The Chief of the Interior Ministry in Kumanovo handled all information about what was happening in the villages Loiane, Vaksintse, Slupchane, Otlia, etc.

ARM had no data for preparations, particularly with arranging defense for the villages. ARM units were providing security outside of the villages from Skopje Tsrna Gora up to the Kosovo, Yugoslav border, especially on the roads of the villages from Izvor to Zlokukiane and from Slupchane to Dumanovtse. There was no movement at all in the village Tanushevtsi except for ARM vehicles. There were not many local inhabitants in Karadak and most of them were elderly. After the Skopje Tsrna Gora operation, i.e. Karadak Region, particularly in Brest, Malina Maala, Goshintse, Dumanovtse, Belanovats, by decision of the Republic of Macedonia’s Government, the border zone was extended to 10 km and ARM fully occupied and took full control of that space. The last point that ARM controlled was the temporary Shotra observation

facility (684 m.) located between the villages Loiane and Miratovats (in Yugoslav territory) from which, among other things, the old road from the village Loia to Mitrovats, Yugoslavia was observed. In fact, that part of the Yugoslav border was guarded by Yugoslav army border guards. KFOR troops on Yugoslavia’s territory controlled the watchtower in the village Stanchich (D. Zlokukjane).

The roads were open and operated normally and the people in the Skopje Tsrna Gora villages lived normal lives throughout the entire month of April 2001. ARM units, located north of the designated villages, interacted with the villagers on a daily basis.

At the end of April 2001, with the death of two soldiers and the capture of a soldier in the village Vaksintse, our enemy opened our eyes and forced us to focus our attention on what was going on with the people in the villages Loiane, Vaksintse, Slupchane, Orizare, Otlia and Lopate.

The murder of two of our soldiers was a “cowardly” act committed in the village Vaksintse when the patrol was returning from the Shotra observation post to Kumnovo. Then, instead of calling it for what it was, some public circles and some “friendly” western media services called it “a criminal act committed by some crazed criminals and not by members of the KLA”. Similarly, they also alluded that the soldier who was taken prisoner had been taken to Skopje. All these developments motivated us to become more interested in the Kumanovo - Karadak Regions, especially the settlements along the old road leading from Yugoslavia to Mateiche - Umin Dol.

The day after our two soldiers were murdered and the one captured in Vaksintse, Colonel Robert E. Lynch, American Military Attaché accredited in the Republic of Macedonia, wanted to see me. I immediately received him. During our conversation he began to convince me that our soldiers, murdered in the village Vaksintse, were killed by criminals. He even told me the name of one of the perpetrators. He then asked me not to allow ARM to take measures because the peaceful citizens living there did not approve of what the perpetrators of this insidious act had done. I may have reacted a bit harshly during our conversation but I simply said: “Colonel, you

brought special forces from the U.S. to free a single captured pilot in Bosnia, do you seriously think that our captured soldier is worth any less?! What would you do if two of your soldiers were killed in the same way!?” In the end I told him that it was my decision in regards to what ARM was going to do - and whatever it was, I said, I was going to propose it to the President of the Republic of Macedonia at our meeting that evening. If he accepts the proposal, I will carry it out. I then asked him: “Why are you talking to me about all this, you should be talking to Chief of Staff General Iovo Andreevski.” He then said: “I did speak with Chief Iovo and he sent me to talk to you.”

On May 2, 2001, at an appointment in Kumanovo, I met with Lieutenant General Chaslav Krstich, Commander of the Yugoslav forces for smashing the so-called OVPBM (Liberation Army of Presevo Valley - Presevo, Bujanovats and Medvedja), otherwise a colleague of mine from Kosovo (he was a commander in Mitrovitsa and I was a commander in Prishtina). It was a secret meeting about which only the President and Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia knew.

The topic of conversation was; exchange of mutual information in connection to the so-called NLA; when Yugoslav forces were going to enter Presevo Dolina; and if Lieutenant General Chaslav Krstich was planning to enter Presevo Dolina on May 25, 2001. I also wanted to know if we needed to do something about the overspill from actions against the OVPBM. Because Lieutenant General Krstich was commander of the operation and had experience in Kosovo from 2 years before, we spoke about professional issues in relation to the execution of an operation against the terrorists and other issues.

At the end of the meeting we concluded that: if we are to plan an operation for Karadak Region, it should be executed by May 25, 2001 while the so-called OVPBM (Liberation Army of Presevo Valley - Presevo, Bujanovats and Medvedja), was still idle. After May 25, 2001 we should be expecting an overflow from the OVPBM forces into Macedonia - i.e. after the Yugoslav army enters that region the enemy would be fleeing into the Republic of Macedonia.

From what we knew and the knowledge we possessed, we figured that we had ample time to plan a complex operation in Karadak Region - Kumanovo. However, due to the incident we experienced in the village Vaksinte we decided to accelerate the decision-making process.

I spent a few days with my colleagues studying the terrain in this region even though I was already familiar with it (from when I had been with the Yugoslav army. At that time the entire southern edge was fortified to defend Kumanovo valley from aggression originating from the east, after the strike defensive position, there were also positions set up on the southern slopes of the Skopje Tsrna Gora - Karadak Regions). In this region there was a unique communications corridor from Kumanovo through Skopje Tsrna Gora, a thoroughfare that connected Kumanovo with the villages Lopate - Slupchane - Izvor - Belanovtse. Ever since the first operation, which took place in that region on March 29, 2001, we knew the importance of that road, especially the branch that extended north to the village Slupchane in the Alasevtse vicinity where we had stationed part of the ARM forces and assets such as tanks, infantry and artillery. North of the village Alasevtse we had the OTG-1 forces which were responsible for providing security to the Malino Maala - Belanovats area. In other words, we had created a semi-circle from north to south around all the villages along the old road from the village Loiane to the village Mateiche.

If we were to perform an operation, our aim would be to fully connect the north with the south regions and merge our forces to the position where OTG-1 was located.

Our biggest problem, the one that weighed on us the most about such an operation, was the civilian population. This space, along with the terrorists, was inhabited by about 20,000 to 25,000 people. According to information we possessed, about 20 to 25 terrorists existed in every village in Lipkovo municipality with Slupchane as their typical stronghold:

The terrorists alone were not a problem for ARM. The problem was the civilian population and what to do with it, where to move it,

because there would be many civilian casualties if we acted under these circumstances.

We were pressured by the international community not to take serious action in that region because there was potential that many civilians would become victims. Basically, there was a change in the way the terrorists behaved in the villages since the previous actions that we had taken against them. They were now scattered everywhere and did not venture outside of the settlements. They came to the villages to convince the civilian population to play the role of hostages and to declare this region a “free territory”. This occurrence happened to coincide with the formation of the joint NLA and OVPBM (Liberation Army of Presevo Valley - Presevo, Bujanovats and Medvedja) command in Gnilane in early May 2001.

(According to the written material in our possession, among other things, it was said that: “In early May 2001 the joint NLA and OVPMB command was formed for the coordination of actions across the entire region. Its reserve headquarters were located in Lipkovo. At the end of the meeting when all this took place, it was concluded that:

1. The “NLA” should connect together all terrorist groups.

2. A free territory should be created similar to the free Kosovo security zone in Serbia (KZB).

3. An organization should be created to participate in negotiations regarding the future status of the Republic of Macedonia.

4. Help and reinforcements for these tasks should be obtained from Kosovo from the Prizren and Bitina training centres (400-500). There are also 900 people available from the training centres in the villages Iunak and Paprachane allocated for the border of the Republic of Macedonia and for the Kosovo and Serbia border. NLA and OVPBM Volunteers will also be sent, etc.

5. Before May 25, 2001 “OVPMB” will plan: KZB (Kosovo Security Zone in southern Serbia) sector B, after Serb forces penetrate, will perform extractions in two directions:

First direction - Kosovo; Second direction - Northern Macedonia.

... “The international community (the US, European Union and NATO) will further coordinate activities to keep events in the Republic of Macedonia under control, allowing only limited actions on the part of the Republic of Macedonia’s security forces while simultaneously putting pressure on the Government of the Republic Macedonia to allow greater concessions to the Albanians.”

... “The international community will not allow close cooperation, especially military cooperation, between the Republic of Macedonia and Yugoslavia in opposing Albanian extremism for the sake of holding Yugoslavia under control and to harness Russia’s influence in this region.”)

However, we decided to plan an operation, primarily as a warning that we were serious if they did not hand over the captured soldier held in the village Vaksintse.

The idea behind the operation was: To hatch a military plan for the zone to the right: the villages Loiane and Strazha. To the left: the villages Mateiche and Strima. For the main forces to engage in the direction of the villages: Opae - Lopate - Orizare - Slupchane -Alasevtse and the subsidiary villages Vaksintse and Strazha.

The aim of the operation was to penetrate between the villages Slupchane and Lipkovo and to merge with the forces in the village Alasevtse and the villages along the old road in order to isolate the communication corridors and, in the second phase, perform terrorist clean-up in the villages.

The plan was accepted in its entirety with the condition that before the operation was started it would be publicized, by all means possible, and inform the population so that it could evacuate.

Along with the announcements there was also an ultimatum given to the village Vaksintse to hand over the captured soldier. Because of the seriousness of the situation, when the captured soldier was not handed over within the specified time we began to conduct cautionary actions in the village Vaksintse on May 3, 2001. These

actions were carried on outside of the village - in certain combat areas.

All these actions were carried out while we were still preparing for the upcoming military operation and to warn the population to leave the villages. Due to the large number of residents present in the villages, the top state leadership had agreed not to perform a classic type combat operation. The terrorists were certainly hiding among the people, holding them hostage and refusing to let them leave. A small number of people, mostly women and children, fled their villages. When questioned they told us that armed men were present in their villages. These men spoke a strange language and asked the people to pay a certain amount of money before they would be allowed to leave. In addition o that we found out that the residents in these villages were harassed, abused, robbed and some were even raped.

We asked the International Red Cross to assist us with the evacuation of people, but that produced no results.

We could no longer wait, the decision to conduct the operation was approved by the President of the Republic of Macedonia and was scheduled to start on May 8, 2001. During the evening of May 7, 2001, Zvonko Kashirski, Director of Public Safety from the Interior Ministry, called me and said: “General, I was asked to go to the British Embassy where they gave me a videotape of the entire area in front of the villages Orizari, Slupchane and Vaksintse and on it there are things that will surprise you!” I said: “Come over to General Headquarters and bring the tape with you!”

Around 20:00 hours, on May 7, 2001, Zvonko Kashirski arrived and we watched the videotape in the office of the Chief of Staff. Present were myself, Iovo Andreevski and Zvonko Kashirski. The moment the tape began to roll, I recognized the terrain: the villages were recorded in advance from the front and from the back including places and roads - mostly belonging to the villages Otlia, Slupchane and Vaksintse.

It was scary to watch - the entire terrain was covered with modern anti-tank obstacles, minefields, trenches, etc. I said to Zvonko

Kashirski: “If this is true and the entire terrain is really covered with obstacles like it is shown here, then NATO must have put them there. NATO is the only one that possesses such equipment. I am not sure that the terrorists possess this kind of equipment!” Iovo Andreevski, as an expert engineer, said: “It was certainly placed there intentionally because conditions were favourable. I cannot dispute that, but nowadays our forces will uncover something from everything we saw on this tape.” After our discussions and reviews, I asked everyone to keep the videotape a secret and not tell anyone. Zvonko Kashirski then said: “General Pande, all my people already saw the tape.” So I asked him: “Who are all these people of yours?” He said: “General Risto Galevski, Zoran Iovanovski and others.”

I thought about it while going back to my office. We will begin the attack tomorrow morning and if what we saw on the videotape was true, then we would have many casualties. On the tape I saw that the road passing through the village Slupchane to the exit, or to the playground, was completely mined with anti-tank mines. I was thinking of contacting President Boris Trajkovski, to inform him and seek a postponement for the operation, but I changed my mind: How do I delay it, what will I say to the commanders who are expected to start the operation tomorrow at 06:00 hours? I was sure President Trajkovski would immediately accept my request to delay it; that would not be a problem. Questions like these going through my mind kept me awake all night. I contacted several of the commanders on the ground and asked them about the situation in the field. They had seen nothing of what we were shown on the tape. There was nothing on the roads... With every question I asked I got a response that was different than on the tape. The only unusual thing they reported was a deep pit dug in the village Slupchane. It was covered with a large iron plate so that vehicles could pass over it.

On May 8, 2001, at 05:00 hours, I was at our command post in Kumanovo.

After I was briefed by the commanders on the ground situation and troop readiness, I withdrew from the operations room and went to my office. It was raining that day and fog covered the villages Slupchane and Vaksintse. Following the operational plan we had

planned to land helicopters north of the village Vaksintse in order to close off the terrorists from escaping on horseback towards Strazha and thus completely close off the wider ring. Unfortunately, because of the fog we could not carry out that task. I used this opportunity however, after consulting with President Trajkovski, to delay the attack for two hours while the fog lifted. Trajkovski was a reasonable person. He said: “General, you decide when to make your move, just let me know.”

I told no one about the videotape, but I did call Giorgi Karakutovski to let him know that the attack was postponed for 2 hours and gave him additional tasks to prepare an artillery exercise along the road through the village Slupchane, which was to last one hour and thus, if there were any anti-tank mines, they would be activated.

For the artillery preparation I ordered the use of 105 m/m, 122 m/m artillery, 128 m/m launchers and 120 m/m mortars. I ordered the carpet bombing to begin at the Slupchane Well in the village Slupchane, along the road to the playground. I did not tell them why I wanted this done, I just said that because the tanks were going to take that route, to make sure the road was not mined.

At 07:00 hours Giorgi Karakutovski showed up again and brought me a telegram sent by Iovo Andreevski from General Headquarters -he said: “General, have a look and see what the telegram says.” The orders were for me and for Karakutovski prohibiting us from carrying out any action in the villages and prohibiting any kind of actions that would cause civilian casualties. “For which I hold General Pande Petrovski and General Giorgi Karakutovski responsible,” he said. The signature of the telegram read:

Chief of Staff of General Headquarters Lt. General Pande Petrovski and was signed by Iovo Andreevski !!

I said to Karakutovski: “I know that I am Deputy Chief of General Staff and not Chief!” We both smiled and I said: “Go do your work and don’t worry. The only person that can undo this plan is the one who approved it!” I was referring to the President of the Republic of Macedonia and not to the Chief of Staff - who is not even familiar with the plan. “Look, he put my name on it and he signed it!” I said.

At 07:30 hours I called in Colonel Stoian Petrovski, head of G-2 intelligence in General Headquarters, and Colonel S. Zengovski, commander of the ARM Special Forces.

I immediately asked them: “Do you, as professionals have any knowledge of what has been set up in front of the villages Vaksintse, Slupchane and Orizari?” Both said that so far they had only seen an uncovered ditch in front of the village Slupchane and when they wanted to pass over it, they had to put down the large sheet of metal to serve as a bridge.

I then told them: “Last night I saw a videotape given to us by the British Intelligence Service which showed me differently, tell me should we go on the attack or not?” Both kept looking at me in silence. “Say something!” I said. “Why are you silent? Is there any truth to all this? If there is then tell me because you will be responsible!” It was cloudy, rainy and gloomy outside but I kept watch on the sky, I then noticed that it was clearing over Skopje Tsrna Gora. It is already 07:55 hours when I ordered: “Gentlemen, we are going to attack according to plan but with a two hour delay!”

We went down to the operations room so that I could issue the order to start the attack.