Lessons from the march in 2/21
contents
The protest (march 40km from KM (Mitrovica) to PR (Pristina)) for 'One KosovA' in the 21st of February, the first action of Kosovo Albanians as a nation. 400,000 people (20% of the population) from all over KosovA took part in.
NB. KosovA = Albanian Kosovo
Due the declining situation in Mitrovica from the end of January, the national and ethnic emotion among the people were getting stronger and stronger and the situation became like a flame-barrel. Any kind of drastic action was inevitable to be planned. From 3 days before the march (since the information was from the crowd, its accuracy is suspicious), the event had been informed with radios and TVs. People started acting from 1 day before. Actually from all KosovA (Albanian Kosovo), they (from kids to eldery... though the majority was from 18-40) gathered. (Few shops in Pristina opened at that day). The event itself had started from Pristina at 0800 in the morning. The people with Albanian red flags (sometimes US, German, Canada, UAEflags) marched with occupying all 2 lanes to Mitrovica. Lots of people on the way supported them by cheering or supplying foods. Also many people in cars headed for KM. Therefore, all the traffic between Pristina and Mitrovica was paralyzed. As an inevitable result, when the mass reached to the bridge in KM (the north end of KosovA), there had been conflicts with KFOR in front of the bridge until 1800 (curfew time). KFOR tried to control the crowd with concentrating all available force (usually KM is under French control, but USA, German soldiers were seen) onto this area, reserving certain areas, using shields, wall-formation, and tears gas. Because of the fact that KFOR dare to use forces (as usual) to keep the order in KM, that people achieved the purpose (walk until KM), and that most of them don't carry food with them (it was significant that only 2-3 out of 200 had rucksack), people started returning home.
The way to return took much more time for most of them because there were relatively much less cars than the amount of people, there was a mayhem on the road, and most of people were so tired (that they can't avoid hitting a girl on the street). The traffic jam (involving KFOR vehicle) had lasted until 2230 (in Vuc(h)itrn (the city between KM and PR)... even more to PR). The situation cooled down by the following morning.
All the shops opening had run out of bread to having too much demand for supply.
shield and rod are the basic
equipments against riot
3 days were (are) long enough to make any preparation
it was obvious that lots of people would gather
Usually man takes 7hours to walk 40km. So do Albanians
It is a hard job to walk 6hours without supply (drinking and eating)
The roads from Pristina to Mitrovica has just 1 line each.
400,000 WALKING people will be enough to paralyze the road
The population in Mitrovica is around 150,000 total. usually there are maximum 20 buses there
Even with all the vehicles in Mitrovica, it is impossible to carry 400,000 people at the same time
There were lots of cars heading for Mitrovica, but most of the cases, WITH PEOPLE. the empty cars usually ignored the hitchhikers to KM though expecting arrival time and fuels would be the same (and they wouldn't have any additional cost).
As it was shown in the Flag Day (11/28) and the New Year's day, KFOR can preserve several areas, but they are not capable enough to manage the crowd and clear the traffic. People could have noticed this point
Therefore, returning journey would be on foot for most of the people
Since the road is crowded, the returning journey would take more time.
for the reasons 8-9, people should walk more than 40km.
If going back to Pristina, estimated arrival time will be later than 2200
Sunset is around 1745. After that, serious cold comes.
People supporting in the street will stop supplying after dark.
Therefore, the returning journey will be harder
200,000 people with such a hard work would require plenty of food
Therefore, the one who provide much more food supply than usual could make profit in addition to contribute that event.
Because of the crowd, few cars from outside would pass people to Mitrovica
People usually spend 7-9 hours with hiking and mountaineering. In such cases, they carry foods, cloths, and water
Since most people are convinced of the importance of the day, they could predict the size of the event. The following situation with crowd would be predictable.
Therefore, if they are from outside Mitrovica, they should think of the returning journey (on foot) and prepare for it.
Also, as the march itself was the purpose, people would find themselves without any plan for afterwards in KM (Mitrovica), as soon as they reached there.
and the bridge is in front of them
Since KFOR is the 'Stability Force', they shouldn't allow the mass to crowd the bridge
even against 5,000 people, KFOR couldn't tame them without using force
400,000 is much bigger than 5,000
Therefore, the crash in front of the bridge between KFOR and the crowd would be inevitable and it was predictable that KFOR would use something severe to keep the order.
When KFOR soldiers started using tears gas, some soldiers were also suffered since they didn't have enough time to wear the masks.
KFOR was not prepared enough to use the gas.
Since lots of the KFOR vehicle was stuck on the road, either (or both?) their reservation of the road or expectation of the crowd was not perfect enough.
It would be much quicker to return for military vehicles if they go through Pec
If people learned from the past and could think logically, everything could be predictable. However, lots of people had to walk back without supply in the cold weather, all shops suffered shortage of bread, and lots of people were hurt (or involved in the crash) at the bridge. Though the climax of the event (0800-1500) was successful, the case also cleared the point that Albanians still have rooms to be improved in terms of planning and organizing something. Similarly, we cannot stop thinking that such an Albanian character led the bog of guerilla war in Kosovo (since they can't see what they are doing). Also KFOR seems not to be strong enough to control the Albanian mass completely. Problem is still staying there. Since the community itself seems not to be capable enough to improve that point so far (if it can, the problem could have been corrected from inside), some strong action from outside will be effective.
for related topics, also see pictures, and OUR journey to KM (the link will be effective after 2/25).
All the pictures are taken from KosovA TV program. All copy rights are reserved to them.
