Monatsbericht
Oktober 2000 der
Menschenrechtsorganisation
KMDLNJ
/ CDHRF Prishtina
REPORT ON THE VIOLATION
OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND
FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS
IN KOSOVA
DURING OCTOBER 2000
Report on the situation of human rights and freedoms in Kosova during the month of October
-A month after the changes in Belgrade, hundreds
of Albanians are still being kept in the prisons of Serbia (an alibi to
the Serbian regime to keep the situation in Kosova tense), whereas thousands
are missing
- international pressure is to be put on the
Belgrade regime to respect human rights and freedoms and the norms of the
international conventions and western civilization
-the number of the killed has decreased. Yet,
different provocations, threats, criminal attacks, robberies and usurpations
continue
October was the month of the elections in Kosova.
No incidents were reported during the pre-electoral campaign and the voting
process itself (which could burden the situation in Kosova and put a question
mark on the legality of the elections). All the political parties that
participated in the elections recognized the results and promised to do
their utmost in building and rebuilding life in Kosova and in making the
necessary preparations for the general elections, which will have a substantial
importance for the status and the future of Kosova. Turks, Bosnians, Hashkali
participated in the elections. Members of the Bosnian and Hashkali communities
were very active in the pre-electoral campaign.
The people of Kosova showed high awareness during
the elections. The pre-electoral campaign and the voting process were so
successful that Bernard Kouchner, the UN head administrator in Kosova,
stated that he was proud of what had happened in Kosova during the month
of October. General Carlo Cabigiosu stated the election day was the calmest
day since the arrival of the NATO troops in Kosova. Daan Everts, the Head
of the OSCE Mission in Kosova, shared similar views.
The violations of human rights and freedoms during
the month of October were not as numerous as those during the previous
months. These violations were not related in any way to the elections or
their results.
Isolation mostly affects those who seek it
The general impression on the first democratic
elections in Kosova was flawed by the fact that the Serbs did not participate
in them. In September, some 44.000 Serbs from Kosova participated in the
parliamentary and presidential elections of Yugoslavia. Almost 100% voted
for Slobodan Milosheviq and his regime, respectively for the SPS - for
those who caused the tragedy in Kosova.
The participation of the Serbian minority in
the Yugoslav elections and their results in Kosova could be regarded as
a provocation for the Albanians and the other communities in Kosova - a
provocation that could have resulted in numerous consequences. Yet, this
did not happen. Thanks to the attitude of the Albanians no incidents were
reported in Kosova. Isolation mostly affects those who seek it.
In Serbia, new elections were announced for December
2000. The requests to hold these elections in the Serbian enclaves in Kosova
could provoke the Albanians and the other communities in Kosova. They could
burden the situation of the remaining Serbs and hinder the chances of those
who want to return and live together with the Albanians and the other citizens
of Kosova.
Kosova still faces numerous problems
Kosova still faces numerous problems. More than
800 Albanians are still being kept in the prisons of Serbia. Some 3000
Albanians are still unaccounted for. The people of Kosova seek information
on their fate. Some 450 Serbs and members of other minority communities
are considered missing.
The Serbian National Council (KNS) and other
institutions representing the Serbs continue to raise the issue of the
Serbs who went missing before, during and after the war in Kosova. The
CDHRF has tried to investigate these cases. Yet, it has always come across
a wall of silence built by the Serbian authorities. Despite all this, the
families of the abducted are continuously seeking information on their
beloved.
The Albanian prisoners and the unaccounted for
(regardless of their nationality) are being kept as hostages in the hands
of the Serbian regime. The selective release of a number of prisoners shows
the dangerous games that the Serbian regime is playing with the fate of
the people in its hands. Therefore, the protests of the Kosovars for the
release of the Albanian prisoners and for information on the missing continued
in Kosova and abroad (in front of the UN offices in Geneva). Serbia continues
with its old ways despite the fall of Slobodan Milosheviq and the inauguration
of Vojislav Koshtunica as president of “Yugoslavia”.
The first thing that is done after radical changes
affecting totalitarian regimes is the release of the political prisoners
who opposed such regimes. After the inauguration of Vojislav Koshtunica,
a Serbian journalist, who had the courage to write the truth about the
events in Kosova, was released.
Under the pressure of the international public
opinion, Flora Brovina was released. 3-4 Albanians were released as well
(on having served their prison terms). Yet, the doors for the majority
of the Albanian prisoners – who are innocent, are still being kept closed.
Furthermore, the attitude towards the Albanian prisoners is still the same
(during the first few days of the month of October, Zahrije Podrimçaku,
an activist of the Sub-CDHRF in Drenas, was subjected to torture in the
prison in Pozharevc – two years ago she was imprisoned on the charges of
“terrorism” and “hostile activity”).
This proves that the Democratic Opposition in
Serbia (DOS) is not willing to release the Albanians abducted by the regime
of Slobodan Milosheviq. The selective release of the Albanian prisoners
and the procedure to adopt a law on amnesty gives way to the fears of the
Kosovars that the Serbian regime will not release all the prisoners and
help in finding those who are unaccounted for. These issues are being used
as an alibi to the Serbian regime to keep the situation in Kosova tense.
This proves that pressure is to be put on the
Belgrade regime to respect the fundamental human rights and freedoms of
the innocent – even if they are opponents of the regime. A society that
does not respect the fundamental human rights and freedoms cannot be regarded
as democratic. Such games with the lives of innocent people (who went missing
more than 18 months ago) are among the gravest violations of human rights
and freedoms and can almost be compared to the persecution of the Jews
during WWII. International pressure is to be put on the Belgrade regime
to respect human rights and freedoms and the norms of the international
conventions and western civilization!
The keeping of 2 million Kosovars in a state
of anxiety on the fate of 4000 of their fellow citizens is a big burden
that keeps the tensions high.
“The killers are of the same kind with those that always threatened Kosova”
Compared to the previous period, there were not
so many killings in the month of October. 10 killings were reported (9
Albanians and one Serbian child that died in a mine accident). The perpetrators
of these crimes were not identified. This is very concerning as it creates
a feeling of insecurity among the citizens. Unidentified persons shot dead
the driver of the Health Care Center in Prishtina, while carrying the monthly
salaries for the employees. Two clerks who were accompanying him were lightly
injured. The killing occurred at the Health Care Center in Prishtina. The
assaulters sprayed the eyes of the victims, killed the driver, wounded
the clerks and stole more than DM 200.000. These are typical criminal acts.
The police could not identify the killers.
A jeweler was killed in the vicinity of his house
in Ferizaj. 4 kg of gold were stolen. A teacher was killed in the vicinity
of the Health Care Center in Klina. Two killings were committed in the
municipality of Gjakova. One of the killed was a successful businessman.
An Albanian villager was killed in the outskirts of Peja. Another killing
occurred in a restaurant in Vitia. The perpetrators and the motives of
these crimes remain unknown.
A very grave case was the killing of Behar Sh.
Bogaj, a pupil, who was hit by a car on the road between Prishtina and
Peja, while going to school. Such cases, which are caused by careless drivers,
can only be qualified as killings.
Grief for the victims of the Serbian terror
The exhumation of those who were killed by the Serbian forces continues. On October 7, 39 Albanians, who were killed by the Serbian police forces, were reburied in Vushtrri. Hans Haven, an expert of the Hague Tribunal, stated: “It was confirmed that most of the victims died violently”. The very same day, the corpses of 126 Albanians were brought to Skënderaj. 86 corpses were reburied in the village of Qirez, 34 in Rezalla and 6 in Kuçica.
Mines continue to represent a threat to the people of Kosova
Mines and cluster bombs continue to represent
a threat to the people of Kosova. One Serb was killed and two were wounded
when their tractor hit a land mine. The incident, which has occurred in
a Serbian village, has raised inter-ethnic tensions.
The citizens should be aware of the threat that
these weapons represent. On the other hand, those who continue to lay mines,
which threaten the lives of innocent people, especially children, are true
criminals.
There are many traumatized people who have turned
to criminal activities. During the last few months, there were several
cases of armed robberies, which were accompanied with killings and woundings.
A number of international NGOs were looted. A number of attacks on KFOR
soldiers were reported as well. There were also attacks against the members
of the UNMIK police and the KPS.
The action for the collection of weapons continued.
Hundreds of soldiers and policemen were involved in these actions. Many
weapons were seized (including bombs, grenades and other explosive device).
Yet, there were also many cases when people handed in their weapons voluntarily.
KFOR announced that a number of weapons were handed in to them voluntarily
in the region of Klina. A man handed in his gun, revolver and 144 rounds
of ammunition.
These are signs that the Kosovars have begun
to trust KFOR, which is here to provide security for them. Many weapons
were seized in the Albanian villages and the Serbian enclaves. Until now,
the latter were not raided by KFOR and the UNMIK police, due to certain
opportune measures.
Self-isolation in one-national enclaves limits human rights
Self-isolation in one-national enclaves limits
human rights. Such is the situation of the Serbs and of the Albanians in
a number of isolated enclaves in the northern part of Kosova and Mitrovica.
The people living in such enclaves, be they Albanians or Serbs, do not
enjoy the freedom of movement, their children face great difficulties to
go to school, or do not go to school at all. Wherever they go, they are
to be escorted by KFOR or the UNMIK police. In other words, they do not
enjoy some of the most basic human rights and freedoms. Furthermore, different
violations of human rights: usurpations, looting, cases of physical ill-treatment,
inter-ethnic violence, attacks against KFOR soldiers and the UNMIK police,
against members of different international humanitarian organizations and
associations are more frequent in such enclaves. In the course of October,
25 cases of human rights violations were reported in Mitrovica (woundings,
arbitrary detentions and arrests, raids, cases of physical ill-treatment,
robberies, body injuries, usurpations, evictions from flats, etc.).
Serbs from Mitrovica assaulted 12 Serbs working
with the KPS (Kosova Police Service) and 10 Serbs working as interpreters
with the international organizations in Mitrovica. There were also a number
of fights involving different groups of Serbs. By the end of October, in
the northern part of Mitrovica, a group of some 30 Serbs assaulted a member
of the UNMIK police and a policeman of the KPS. Their car was damaged.
The local policeman suffered heavy injuries on his head. In all these cases,
weapons were seized from the perpetrators.
The situation is no better in the enclaves in
the municipalities of Gjilan, Vitia, Rahovec and Graçanica (where
the seat of the Serbian National Council is). The establishment of enclaves
can result in different incidents, which cause insecurity (both individual
and collective).
Other violations of human rights
Among the basic human rights is the right to work.
Thus, the situation in the “Trepça” Combine is very concerning.
After 12 years of being dismissed from work, it is high time to allow the
Albanian workers to return to their jobs.
Other crimes that affect the situation of human
rights and freedoms and that burden the situation in Kosova are robberies
(the robbery at the Health Care Center in Prishtina as well as the looting
of DM 41.000 in Besiana that were destined to be distributed to those on
social assistance), usurpations, etc.
Greater efforts are to be made by all, including
the members of the international police and the KPS. They should do their
utmost to find the perpetrators of these crimes that cause insecurity among
the citizens and burden the situation in Kosova. The recent action of the
international police forces, in which 25 persons were arrested (suspects
in a number of killings, robberies, prostitution and other criminal deeds),
is to be praised, as an efficient measure for the prevention of different
forms of crime (be it individual or organized).
The situation in Presheva, Bujanoc and Medvegja shows no signs of improvement
After the changes in Serbia, people expected that
the situation in the municipalities of Presheva, Bujanoc and Medvegja,
where the majority of the population is Albanian, would change. During
the first few days, there were not so many Serbian policemen in the streets.
The Albanians were not being ill-treated at the checkpoints of the Serbian
police any longer. People started returning to their homes (including the
village of Konçul), which they had fled due to the Serbian repression
and the armed conflicts between the Serbian police and the UÇPMB.
Yet, this situation did not last for long. 2
weeks after the “fall of the dictatorial regime in Serbia”, there were
3 powerful detonations in Bujanoc. A number of people were wounded and
considerable material damage was caused. Under the pretext of searching
for weapons, the Serbian police in the village of Gjergjec near Bujanoc
beat Xhemail Hetemi. The latter was told to take his family and to leave
the village within 10 minutes. Otherwise, they were threatened to be killed.
A few days later, 2 Serbian policemen were killed and 9 were wounded when
their vehicle hit a land mine. The blame was put on the Albanians (despite
the fact that there are no arguments to prove this). 12 Albanians were
arrested and a number of others were ill-treated.
The Serbian forces have not changed their ways.
They continue to provoke the Albanian population in this region in order
to make them leave their homes.
Therefore, the situation has not changed compared
to the period when large numbers of Serbian policeman, soldiers and paramilitaries
were forced to leave Kosova and were stationed in this region.
Prishtina, November 6, 2000
Information Service