Free Republic

Tue 24 Aug 2004 Macedonian town threatens to bid for independence CHRISTIAN JENNINGS A MACEDONIAN town is threatening to declare its independence in protest at government plans to devolve increasing power to ethnic Albanians. Struga is a lakeside town in the south of the former Yugoslav republic, with a population of 37,000, a majority of whom are Macedonian Slavs. Along with a caucus of citizens its mayor is threatening to secede from the state. "We are investigating whether we can acquire some kind of independent status within Macedonia," says Struga’s mayor, Romeo Dereban, sitting in an office with four telephones,...

Ever since the Macedonian government decided to wed decentralization of power with territorial realignments, the 64 million dollar question has been whether or not the people would someday rebel. Up to now, the gradual whittling away of the country has been met with at most dark grumblings and complaints. Yet while continuing to richly deserve their label as the most apathetic, fatalistic and lethargic people in the Balkans, the disgruntled Macedonians are starting to show some signs of life. Thursday night riots in the southwestern city of Struga left over 30 injured, including 17 police officers, numerous wrecked cars, and...