- Source: Battle of Lojane
The Battle of Lojane was an apparent military engagement between the Macedonian security forces and Albanian insurgents belonging to the NLA. The occurrence of a battle in the village remains uncertain, as per Stevo Pendarovski, the former interior ministry spokesman. According to him, Macedonian forces faced no opposition from the NLA, as the village had been deserted by both the NLA and Albanian civilians before the Macedonian Army and police forces entered.
Background
Macedonian forces shelled the village on 6 May. On 8 May, Macedonian forces initiated a significant offensive in the Kumanovo-Lipkovo region under the codename Operation MH-2, commencing at 8:00 a.m. The operation began with Macedonian security forces engaging in demining activities in the fields, followed by an assault on the villages of Slupčane, Ljubodrag, Lopate, and Orizare. The offensive was executed by a mechanized battalion with artillery support. However, around 2 p.m., the operation was abruptly halted by orders from Boris Trajkovski, conveyed over a phone call to General Pande Petrovski. Later that evening the two ministries reaffirmed their call for residents in villages including Lojane, Matejče, Slupčane, Otlja, Orizare, Vaksince and to promptly evacuate their homes. The evacuation process was scheduled to commence the next day, after which Macedonian security forces would resume their military actions.
On 16 May 2001, Macedonian army again shelled the village of Lojane, setting homes on fire.
On 24 May 2001, Macedonian security forces launched another general offensive against the NLA in Kumanovo. Macedonian security forces recaptured Lojane on 26 May. On 27 May 2001, Macedonian security forces confirmed that they had recaptured the village.
A1 reported that on August 22, NLA insurgents attacked Macedonian security forces in Ropalce by firing automatic weapons from Lojane and other villages. Assuming that the NLA had already regained control of the village by that time.
Aftermath
Human Rights Watch concluded that Macedonian forces were arresting and beating Albanian civilians during and after their offensive from 24 to 26 May 2001.
See also
Vaksince offensive
Operation Vaksince
Operation MH-1
Operation MH-2
References
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