Human Rights Violations against Non-albanian Kosovars

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# Orthodox Press: Kosovo and Metohija Chronicle, August 29

 
Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church
PRAVOSLAVLJE PRESS

Kosovo & Metohia Events
Belgrade, August 29, 1999

The bloody circle is tightening more and more around the remaining Serbs in Kosovo and Metohia. The armed attack of the Albanians that happened on August 26, showed clearly that they intend to pursue to the very end their goal - systematic extinguishing of the Serbs, together with their churches and homes. Last night, around 21:00, the Albanians fired grenades at the monastery of the Patriarchate of Pec (dating from 13th century, the residence of the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church). A missile fell in the vicinity of the monastery. Fortunately, no one got hurt. The Italian soldiers in KFOR have gone in pursuit of the attackers.
     The areas of Gnjilane, Vucitrn, Kosovska Mitrovica, and Gracanica, where the last groups of the Serbs are situated, are now the places of the severe bloodshed and piles of ashes. Yesterday, all Serbian houses in Vrnica and Vukos villages (the municipality of Vucitrn) were completely destroyed and burned to the ground. Gornja and Donja Vrnica villages numbered 40 Serbian houses, and Vukos village 34 houses. Even the graveyards in these villages were demolished. The Orthodox church of Christ the Saviour, whose dedication His Holiness Pavle the Serbian Patriarch headed eight years ago, was destroyed in Vrnica. KFOR soldiers have not allowed the persecuted Serbs to visit these villages, explaining them that the armed Albanians are located at the foot of the hill Cicevica, consequently, KFOR cannot guarantee them safety. Around 1620 Serbian families have been expelled from the area of the municipality of Vucitrn. There are only 5 villages out of 39, in which the Serbs lived only three months ago.
     The Albanian terrorists do not allow the Serbs to sell their agricultural produces in Gnjilane. At the entrance into the town, KLA members maltreat the Serbian peasants and spill their merchandise. In this manner Jordan Kitanovic’s merchandise - which he carried intending to sell it - was destroyed and he himself was beaten. On the other side, KFOR soldiers still search the Serbian houses on the basis of the Albanians’ false accusations. In Kmetovac village several Serbian houses were searched, and Stojan and Dragutin Nackovic were detained due to legal possession of weapons. Serbian houses in Vitina and Gnjilane are still being set on fire.
     The Serbs are also being arrested in the area of Kosovska Mitrovica, on the basis of the Albanians’ charges, even on the basis of the anonymous calls. The investigation concerning the detained Serbs is being conducted by an Albanian judge, who comes specially from Pristina for this reason.
     Due to permanent attacks and threats, the Serbs in the area of Obilic do not feel safe and therefore leave their homes. The Serbs who have stayed there suffer for the the shortage of food and medicines.
     Two evenings ago, a body of a sixty-year-old Serbian woman was found in Prizren, and another body of a Serbian woman, aged between 35 and 40, who had been beaten to death, was found in Belo Polje.
     Bearing in mind that this systematic expelling of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohia takes place in the presence of the International community, we wonder whether the International community will be able, one day, to provide again the space for living to the expelled Serbs. Maybe it would be easier to protect the Serbs on their hearths, than to bring them back after all the destruction and killing, if the real goal of the International community is that the Serbs continue to live in this region.

Bishop of Hvosno
Atanasije

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