STUDENTS INDEPENDENT UNION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PRISHTINA
Prishtina
Sept. 22, 1997
Dear Sir,
We feel free to inform You that the Students Independent Union of the Albanian University of Prishtina, starting from the day of the beginning of the new academic year, 1 October, 1997 is going to organize peaceful, non-violent, students' protests with the intention to release with no conditions premises and university room-space for delivering instructions in the Albanian language,as they have been occupied by Serbian regime since 1991.
As You may know, in 1991, about 1,000 Albanian professors and assistants and 200 administrative workers, adding to them more than 27,000 Albanian students, were expelled by Serbian police forces from their university buildings, after 21 years of successful work of the University, only due to the fact that they were Albanians and studied in thei Albanian. However, the students and teachers, aided by the Albanian population, have resisted this occupation and violence by continuing their classes in extremely difficult conditions in private houses. This is the seventh academic year that the University of Prishtina has worked outside is official buildings.
Therefore, the protests have the intention to have the official buildings released, as they are the property of the University. The peaceful protests will be organized and kept under full control by the Students Union, which is a non-political organization and the sole students organization at the University of Prishtina. The Students Union has made the required preparations for the protests. It will not allow involving of some political force or tendency in the protests with any requests that are outside of our own ones. The Students Union is determined to avoid the use of force, causing of conflict or any physical excess.
Accordingly, we ask You, dear Sir, to send some representatives of Yours to observe our peaceful protests, so that they may inform You appropriately about our noble intention, to protect and to realize peacefully our fundamental human and national rights for studying freely in our mother tongue, that is guaranteed by international covenants. We shall do our utmost to take care of your representatives in these conditions.
We feel free to ask You to forward this information to the ones You find it convenient to make their contribution to this action of ours.
Your observation on our peaceful protests would contribute much to avoid any escalation for the situation otherwise tense in Kosova.
Extending my great thanks to You in advance for Your understanding, I remain
Sincerely Yours,
President
Bujar Dugolli
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Albanian
Students Network - AlbStud-L (Alba-Net)
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S T U D E N T P R O T E S T S '97 !
! Protests Against the Serbian occupation
of University buildings !
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http://www.alb-net.com/
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UNIVERSITY OF PRISHTINA
Since the students - the Students
Independent Union of the University of Prishtina has undertaken the initiative
to organize peaceful protests for releasing the occupied buildings of the
University;
Since the students had prior talks
with the state institutions, political subjects and other associations,
from whom they had formal support, and hope that they will offer their
concrete help too;
Since the University has offered
support to the students' initiative for these protests and have
expressed their readiness to organize peaceful,
cautious, many-sided and dignified protests;
The University Organization Council
distributes to the public opinion in the country and abroad the following
PLATFORM
1. Students' protests are organized for the purpose of releasing university buildings and other premises occupied by the Serbian regime in 1991.
2. Students' protests are calm, peaceful and nonviolent.
The whole activity about the organization
of protests will be in the function of peaceful protests. The opinion in
the country and abroad will be notified in due time with the slogans and
placard (shouts, etc.), which will be used by the students in and
during the protests. The opinion will be notified in due time about other
adequate actions which will enable better organization and realization
of peaceful protests. The media and other international bodies will be
informed and invited in due time.
3. Preparation and realization of peaceful protests will be done by the Students Protest Council of the University and other sub-councils of faculties and high pedagogic schools (two year colleges), in close cooperation with the University, faculties and high pedagogic schools.
4. Students Council for the organization of protests is open and ready to cooperate and coordinate the work with institutions and other relevant subjects and associations on the basis of their concrete declarations for the support offered to the peaceful protests as well as for the measures and the extent of support they offer.
5. The general or specific prepared strategy for the realization of protests and the exact time of organization will be offered to the public opinion, dependent on the time, the suitable moment and favorable circumstances.
6. The new academic year begins in time. The University will be working uninterruptedly all the time. The teaching process will be adapted to the peaceful protests and their duration, in accordance with the decision of competent authorities and pursuant to the regulation in force, the purpose of which should be implementation of students' requests.
Prishtina, 15.09.1997
Organization Council
http://www.republic-kosova.org/government
STUDENT PROTESTS BEGIN ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, UPS SAYS
Protests will be peaceful, and in no will the students resort to violence, student leaders assure
The student protest manifestations will start as scheduled - on Wednesday, 1 October 1997 - a statement of the leadership of the recently established Protest Committee of the Students Union of the Prishtina University (UPS) carried by today's Albanian-language press said.
The two Prishtina-based newspapers, Bujku and Koha ditore, have carried today (Tuesday) the UPS statement noting that it [the statement] was faxed to their editorial boards last evening at around 22:30 hrs. "After the meetings with President Ibrahim Rugova, and discussions with an international delegation headed by Mr. Richard Miles, the Protests Committee of the Independent Union of Students of the Prishtina University has decided that protests will begin as scheduled, that is on October 1st", the statement read.
Both the Albanian newspapers carried today the detailed program of the protests manifestations, including a list of 31 printed slogans, expected to be displayed during the protests. All the students of the Prishtina University are invited to show up at the USP headquarters at Velania neighborhood in Prishtina, os as to be provided with identification badges. The peaceful marching of students will be kicked off in Velania on Wednesday at 10:30, the statement said.
A detailed program of the marching lists by name all the 13 Prishtina-based faculties as well as Teachers Training Colleges and the order their students are to appear in the 5-manned row. The upper part of the students' wearing should be white, they will all wear badges; it will be the students exclusively who will carry the banners and placards; there will be students wearing different badges who will be responsible for keeping the order, some of the instructions say.
The students will march from the Velania neighborhood, through the Prishtina square and the Students Center [a complex of faculties, dormitories, sports halls and students restaurants, occupied by Serbs for half a dozen years now], to return back to the starting point, at Velania, the statement said.
The UPS statement calls on the citizens of Prishtina to render solidarity to the peaceful protests of the students. Citizens should stand on both sides of the students row, so as "to show solidarity and protect them". Both the students and citizens are instructed to remain quite during the whole time while the marching goes on.
The Protest Committee statement said that similar events will be staged in all other towns of the Republic of Kosova where the institutions of higher education [technical and teachers training colleges - Mitrovica, Gjilan, Ferizaj, Gjakova, Peja and Prizren] of the Prishtina University are.
Meanwhile, a Students Union placard
with the slogan "University, Kosova, Students
- Tomorrow Is Late" has been displayed in many places in
the Kosova capital, Prishtina. Amongst the banners and printed slogans
that the students are expected to hold during the march are the
banner of University and the Emblem of University,
"UPSUP - Non-Political Organization", "Students'
Protests Are Peaceful", "Peaceful Access to
University Buildings and Compounds", "Unconditional Vacation
of University Buildings", "Buildings Belong to Our University",
"UNESCO - Where Are You?", "Everyone Has the Right
to His Own Education"
(Article 19, 1948 Declaration), "Discrimination
in Education Is a Violation of the Universal
Declaration 1948", "No Violence", "Dignity", "The
Youth Wants a Secure Future", "Hello Europe, Where Are You?", "We
Are Europe, Too", "Stop Gross Violation of Human
Rights of Individuals and Peoples", "Stop
Racism, Discrimination, Colonization, and New Apartheid",
"Apartheid and Genocide Are Crimes Against Humanity", "Release
the Imprisoned Students and Teachers", etc.
Meanwhile, at a press conference
held today (Tuesday) in the premises of the
Albanian-medium University of Prishtina, leaders of the Protests
Committee (PC) of the Students Union confirmed that
the protest will begin tomorrow, 1 October
1997. Albin Kurti, member of the PC USP recalled
that preparations for protests have been held over the past
couple of months, and that during the whole time
intensive talks were held with the political
parties and institutions in Kosova to ask for their
support. He said that a Protest Committee and sub-committees in
all the faculties and colleges were set up in the
meantime. Albin Kurti said that the Protest
Committee in Prishtina is the sole competent and decision-
making body for the protests. Any other comments or suggestions
will be seen as advice to considered duly by the Committee. Members
of the Protest Committee by and large repeated all the details and
instructions for the protests carried by the today's press. Albin
Kurti said that in the meantime four councils have
been set up to carry out practical assignments,
such as the one responsible for the placards and
badges, and the one for information. He said that each council is
made up of three students and two teachers. In every
1000 students, there will be 30 responsible
for order, he said
Driton Lajçi, a member of the Protest Committee, recalled that representatives of dozens of international organizations and of the Belgrade-based embassies in Belgrade have been invited to observe the protests.
Albin Kurti told reporters that the Protest Committee will meet again today with the President of the Republic of Kosova, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova to "to consult with and talk about some details regarding the protests in the coming days". Asked by a questioner how would the Committee proceed in case the Serbian police forces intervene in the very first day, and if the people will join students in their marching, Albin Kurti said "the students will avoid using force, while it is up to the police how they will act. "We will sit down, think of other methods, but in no way will we resort to violence", he concluded.
CDHRF's Invitation addressed to the international human rights associations, diplomats and the press
Dear Sir(s),
Due to the forthcoming
students' protests of the University of Prishtina
for the release of university facilities, on October l,l997,
we invite you herewith to take part in the protests as
observers, in order to monitor the situation
and events, so that this monitoring will be
complete and general.
Concil for the Defence
for Human Rights and Freedoms will monitor
the situation in spite of the difficulties and obstacles by police
and other mechanisms of violence of Serbian current regime. We
are doing this, for the reason that there are signs of forthcoming
violence against peaceful protesters. This "preludium" of
violence towards Albanian peaceful protesters, is being applied
against those, who, as a token of solidarity with
students, are walking in Prishtina and other
towns of Kosova in the evening hours. There
are many cases, when Albanian students are being beaten
during and after the walks. The gravest case, is that of Arben
Mehmeti from Prishtina, who was subjected to the brutal torture
by the Serbian policemen. His jaw got broken, due to what he
underwent twofold surgery. He is still on hospitalisation.
Dear sir(s),
Your presence will influence
as a preventive measure, while your impartial
information will sensibilize the democratic public opinion.
The CDHRF's service will be available to all of those, who are
interested in monitoring the situation on the spot.
Prishtina, 26 September 1997
dr. Pajazit Nushi,
chairman of CDHRF