Racak and other examples of the "new normal" in Kosovo

Every January 15 for the last 24 years, the old closet with falsifications of recent Kosovo history is opened. The skeletons from Racak, which William Walker expertly packed inside in those January days of 1999, are still rummaged around today by those who want to prove unprovable, explain the inexplicable, and justify what cannot be justified.

Pathologists, judges, historians, journalists, and all those who look at the facts objectively, do not doubt that the "Racak massacre" is a skillful and insidious construction. Although today, more or less, everything is known about this, it is still important to recall the key details.

Therefore, even if in this story we ignore the centuries of turbulent and documented past in the territory of Kosovo, just looking back at the events of 24 or 25 years ago speaks volumes about its essence.

The armed rebellion and terrorist acts of Albanian extremists during 1998 and at the very beginning of 1999 caused the reaction of the official security bodies of the State of Serbia. As any other sovereign state acts in such cases; nothing more and nothing less than that.

Of course, that kind of conflict has never brought happiness to anyone. Well, neither did it bring to the Albanians nor the Serbs in Kosovo, in the last years of the 20th century. But the whole thing was far more perfidiously designed and used than it could have been clear to a common man at the time. A reason was sought for the realization of the plan to seize Kosovo from Serbia. The confrontation between the police and the terrorist group in Racak happened at the "right" moment for the Albanian extremists. Walker's "diplomacy" did its part of the dirty work, and the Western media then finished it.

As we know, Racak was followed by bombs from the NATO alliance. They rained on the heads of the inhabitants of Serbia and Montenegro for 78 days - of course, to the Serbian province of Kosovo and Metohija the most. That was the goal.

Everyone suffered, regardless of ethnic, religious, or other affiliation. The traces of destruction are still there today.

Together with the bombs, however, thick smoke of deception, lies, and manipulation descended on all of us in those days.

From that time until today, a lot of water has flowed through Ibar and the White Drim; the creepy dust has partially settled, but despite that, some would still throw it in our eyes.

The "new normal" that reigned in Kosovo for the past 24 years is based on unsustainable theses, and it is precisely in this fact that the causes of today's misunderstandings and unceasing unhappiness should be sought.

We see what that "new normal" brought us every day. Some illustrative details are certainly worth pointing out at every opportunity.

Here are some:

"The state is dealing with terrorists who kidnap, torture, and kill civilians and police officers and the strongest military alliance in the world sides with terrorists against all provisions of international law."

"They bombard you, they take part of your territory, and they expect you to agree with that and accept the role of a criminal."

"They sign agreements and contracts that they know, in advance, that they will not implement, but they expect you to stick to them."

"They support and help the government that does not implement its obligations, violates its own laws, and persecutes people on ethnic and religious grounds."

"They demand that you respect international norms, and on your example, they are brutally violating them".

“They don't let you tell the truth; they forbid it and punish those who dare to tell it. For example, Ivan Todosijevic from Zvecani, who is being threatened and prosecuted because of his expressed disagreement with the "official" version of Racka".

"They tell you that you are bad and that you need to improve, every time you point out any of the above".

"They demand that you agree to live in a concentration camp so that they can arrest, harass and persecute you as they wish."

"They convince you that you are guilty because you protest because guns are pointed at you every day".

"They believe that the biggest lie can become the truth if they tell it enough times."

"They think you're weak because you're reaching out to them, even though they spat in your face a minute ago."

Is this normal?

Written by: Milos Garic, editor of the Kosovo online portal