Tragedy
There were 15 victims between the ages of 20 and 79, including an older man and his paralyzed son and a woman who suffered from cerebral palsy. There were explosions, and then screams. According to one witness, there was no fire extinguisher in the makeshift hospital. The building burned in two minutes flat, when it should have withstood the flames for two hours. And the building was built by a company owned by former Deputy Prime Minister Koco Angusev in what many said was not a transparent tender.
Macedonia has faced yet another tragedy in the deaths of 15 citizens and the injuries of another 11 in the fire that tore through a temporary Covid-19 hospital in the city of Tetovo on September 8, as Macedonia celebrated 30 years of independence. It was a sad end to what should have been a joyous day even when one takes into account how the current government has ravished Macedonia these past four years.
I titled this column “Tragedy” (when I could have titled it “Tragedy in Tetovo” which would have also been appropriate) for a reason: this particular tragedy is one of many that have befallen Macedonia since the current regime of Zoran Zaev and Ali Ahmeti took control of the government over four years ago.
These tragic deaths and injuries – through an intense fire, a horrible, awful way to die – should serve as a wake-up call for Macedonians of all backgrounds, ethnicities, classes, and more. It should serve as a catalyst to bring people out to, at a minimum, demand accountability and, at a maximum, usher in a new government.
On the accountability front, after a great deal of public pressure, the health minister, Venko Filipce, and his deputy, Ilir Hasani, at the very least offered their resignations to Zoran Zaev, the prime minister. Zaev, however, did not accept them outright, saying that, well, accidents happen and no one is to blame for accidents and, well, a thorough investigation must be carried out.
What he didn’t mention and yet what everyone knows is that his minister, Filipce, is needed for the upcoming local elections on October 17 and his resignation would not help the ruling party, the Socialists.
In all likelihood, it was an accident. However, even when there are horrible disasters that are accidents, there needs to be accountability.
Piety, a virtue, has two main meanings, one in a religious sense, and another in natural sense. In its religious meaning, it means dutifulness to one’s religious beliefs. In the other sense, it means “fidelity to natural obligations.” In this tragedy, Filipce and his deputy, Hasani, should exercise their “fidelity to natural obligations” and have their resignations accepted by Zaev.
And then Zaev should resign.
We will see.