NATO forces in Kosovo lack impartiality Windsor Star

NATO forces in Kosovo lack impartiality
Windsor Star (Canada) - April 21, 2004 Wednesday Final Edition

By: Scott Taylor

'No photos" yelled the German military policeman in Prizren, Kosovo and when I did not immediately lower my camera he and his colleague moved toward me menacingly."

Drop your camera -- NOW! they demanded. What I had been trying to photograph was the charred ruins of an 11th-century Serbian Orthodox monastery located in a steep ravine just south of the town of Prizren.

On March 17, during the widespread Albanian rioting throughout Kosovo, the German troops stationed at the monastery had evacuated the monks and abandoned the entire compound. Once the NATO detachment had fled, the mob of Albanians broke into the religious site, destroying some buildings and setting fire to the remainder.

Surveying the terrain, a single narrow approach road flanked by steep cliffs on either side -- I had asked the German soldiers just how it was possible that their detachment could not have protected the ancient monastery.

"You were not here, so you cannot judge the situation," replied the military policeman. "There were only 20 of us stationed here and the Albanian mob from Prizren numbered at least 20." Incredulous at his response, I had questioned him further. "But the Albanians were unarmed and your unit had assault rifles, machine guns and two armoured personnel carriers at your disposal. How could you simply abandon your post?" I asked.

Military failure?

Angered at my accusation of having failed in his duty, the German drew himself to his full height and spat out the words slowly, "Sir, we do not shoot women and children."

I actually laughed out loud at his response and said, "So you retreated from the threat of unarmed women and children and the property you were charged with protecting was destroyed. Would you not call that a complete military failure?"

A German officer appeared on the scene and had overheard this last exchange. He exploded in rage at me and said, "It is not our mandate to harm innocent civilians to protect an old church."

He stormed off before I could ask him what was innocent about a mob wielding molotov cocktails and sledgehammers and why NATO would build a guardhouse and station soldiers at a location they felt no obligation to actually defend.

Later that day, when I visited the main German camp in Prizren, I learned that I was not alone in questioning the failure of the NATO detachment to protect the monastery.

"If Georgian troops were stationed there we would have defended this holy site," said a young corporal from Tiblisi. "We understand the importance of such things. The Germans on the other hand are only intent on maintaining friendly relations with the local Albanians."

The German Brigade in Prizren suffered no casualties during the 48 hours of violent chaos that occurred throughout Kosovo between March 17-19. By contrast, the other NATO contingent and police forces suffered a collective 188 injuries. In addition to the destroyed monastery, two Serbian Orthodox churches and all of the remaining Serb houses in the German sector of Prizren were set ablaze during the riots. However, in those areas where NATO troops actually clashed with the Albanian protesters, the current situation is a little more tense.

"My platoon suffered 14 wounded outside the village of Caglovica," said Cpl. Anderson of the Swedish battalion. "While the incident took us by complete surprise, we are now looking forward to round two with these Albanians -- it will definitely be pay-back time."

Respect the British

At the NATO checkpoint on the administrative boundary between Serbia and Kosovo, members of the Czech battalion now routinely flash Albanian motorists the three extended fingers hand sign symbolizing Serbian nationalism.

In response to these deliberate provocations, the Albanian drivers threateningly draw a finger across their throats at the Czech troops.

"At the height of the recent crisis, NATO reinforced Kosovo with 3,000 soldiers from Bosnia and we are very glad that the majority of these troops were British," said Stephen Moran, the head of the Canadian government's liaison office in Pristina. "While other contingents with Serbs and Albanians (respectively) -- it seems that both factions respect the British."

While the martial ethos of the Brits can rarely be called into question and certainly commands respect, the impartiality of the Kosovo re-enforcements may not live up to expectations. On a fast patrol through Pristina, Pte. McWilliams of the Gloucester Regiment expressed his personal opinion on the March 17 crisis. "I don't know why the Serbs don't get the message. They are not wanted here, so they should go back to their own country," he said.

When it was explained to him that Kosovo still officially remains an autonomous province of Serbia, the young British soldier replied, "You can't claim what you can't defend."

SECTION: EDITORIAL; SCOTT TAYLOR; Pg. A8
SOURCE: Esprit de Corps Magazine