Border Crisis
Macedonia's Albanians and Slavs at loggerheads
While some ethnic Albanian civilians flee fearing that they will be used as "human shields" by the rebels, others chant their support with gusto: "UCK, UCK!" This feature examines the deep rift between Macedonia's Slavic population and its large ethnic Albanian minority (45%).
In godforsaken villages like Tanusevci and Breza we trace the roots of the rising tide of violence and political extremism. Here ethnic Albanians live as second class citizens, lacking basic rights. A decade after the fall of Yoguslavia, they feel let down by the government. "Our aim is not to use force against civilians - be they Serbs or Albanians. Our aim is the rights of Albanians in Macedonia", says a UCK fighter. Meanwhile, some Macedonians protest that "we all have a hard life"...
Produced by ORF Fernsehprogramm-Service GmbH & Co KG – Ref. 0982
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