Human Rights Violations against Non-albanian Kosovars

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# Orthodox Press: Kosovo and Metohija Chronicle, September 5

Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church
PRAVOSLAVLJE PRESS

Belgrade, September 5, 1999

Kosovo & Metohia Events

Church-National Board in Gnjilane has stated that the family of Tihomir Stojanovic (aged 34) from Paralovo village near Gnjilane, reported Tihomir's missing. Tihomir disappeared on August 17, while travelling with KFOR escort from Paralovo to Gnjilane. At the main road, Tihomir got on the bus which was heading in the direction of Gnjilane, but, unfortunately, he was the only Serb in the bus. Tihomir did not reach his destination, and nothing has been known of him since. Actually, Tihomir arrived from Smederevo, where he lived, so that he could, as a person who knew English language, join the service of the peacekeeping forces and offer his ability to translate. It is astonishing that KFOR could not solve even such a simple case.

Assaults on the Serbs in Gnjilane and vicinity happen continuously, although not all of them are reported on time. The attack on Milorad Kojic and his family at Vrbovac village that happened on August 3, was reported yesterday. They were attacked while carrying out their regular agricultural tasks. The Albanians from Begunce village shot at Jovica Mitrovic and three Serbs from Binac village near Vitina six days ago, but fortunately, no one got hurt.

The Serbs were terrorized even in Pristina. Dragica Nesic and Jela Djokic were assaulted, and Gorica Nacic was kidnapped…

This morning around 6:00, the Albanians from Smolusa village have launched grenades at the Serbian village Dobrotin, near Lipljan, numbering 300 inhabitants. The terrorists have hit the house of Daca Rasic and Trajko Gudzic, thereat wounding his daughter-in-law Jovanka. The Serbs from Gusterica village, about 500 of them, have started to help their neighbours, but KFOR has prevented them from doing it.

It is very worrying that KFOR members decide very easily to undertake actions against the Serbs: even one anonymous report by an Albanian, without any submitted proof on the alleged Serbian terror over the Albanians, or on the possession of weapon, gives enough reason to KFOR soldiers to conduct an investigation against the Serbs and to arrest them; on the other side, KFOR actions having as the aim the protection and release of the kidnapped Serbs, or even identification of the killed, give no results.

Thus, it was natural that the Serbs gathered yesterday in front of the monument erected in the memory of the Serbian heroes in Gracanica, where they expressed their dissatisfaction with their position in Kosovo and Metohia, and with the attitude of KFOR peace-keeping forces towards them.

Bishop of Hvosno
Atanasije

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