PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATION OF ALBANIANS IN GREEK EPIRUS According to information published last night on the Albanian language site dervina.com, a paramilitary formation calling itself the Chama Liberation Army (OVCh - Oslobodilacka vojska Chame) has appeared in the region of Epirus in northwest Greece, along the border with Albania. The Albanians in Epirus call this region Chamuria. Together with news of the appearance of the the OVCh, the same site has also placed two video clips from the Albanian television program News 24. News 24 reports that the appearance of the OVCh is tied to the previous statement of Vasil Bollanos, the mayor of Chimara municipality in Valona region in Albania, who said that an autonomous province of Omonia should be formed, just like the one demanded by the Albanians in Kosovo. Omonia has a majority Orthodox Christian population, which declares itself as Greek. A video clip published on the drevina site shows eight masked and armed fighters. One of them is sitting at a table decorated with small flags of the USA and the EU reading a communique announcing the formation of the OVCh. The wall of the room in which the video was shot is decorated with the flag of Albania and a map of Chamuria. The Athens press has called on the Greek government to react sharply to the video and to demand that the US company Yahoo provide them with the address and information regarding the country of origin of the video. At this time there is no information regarding the political force or party that might be behind the OVCh. In recent days Bolanos has reinforced his position on the autonomy of southern Albania, demanding independence for the region. In an interview for Tirana media Bolanos said that what Omonia is asking for is no different than what the Albanians are demanding in Kosovo, meaning the secession of parts of Albanian territory inhabited by the Greek minority. "It's for the good of the Balkans and the Greek minority in Albania," said the mayor of Chimara.
