PRESSEERKLÄRUNG ZUM TAG DES FLÜCHTLINGS
Göttingen, den 1. Oktober 1997
Besondere Sensibilität bei Rückführung von Flüchtlingen
nach Bosnien gefordert - GfbV warnt
vor Abschiebung albanischer Flüchtlinge nach Serbien und in den
Kosovo
Die Präsidentin des Verbandes der Flüchtlinge und Vertriebenen
von Bosnien-Herzegowina,
Mirhunisa Komarica, hat gemeinsam mit dem Präsidenten der Gesellschaft
für bedrohte Völker
International (GfbV International), Tilman Zülch, an die deutsche
Bundesregierung appelliert, bei der Rückführung von Flüchtlingen
nach Bosnien besonders sensibel vorzugehen.
"Rückkehrer sind überall dort, wo Wiederaufbaumaßnahmen
eingeleitet wurden,
hochwillkommen. Doch sie sind in all jenen Gebieten, in denen kein
ausreichender Wohnraum
vorhanden ist, eine nicht tragbare Belastung für das kriegszerstörte
Land", erklärte Frau
Komarica, die auch Mitglied des Vorstandes der GfbV-Sektion Bosnien-
Herzegowina ist und
deren Flüchtlingsverband die Interessen von 1.560.000 Flüchtlingen
im In- und Ausland vertritt,
am Mittwoch in Sarajevo zum Tag des Flüchtlings am 3. Oktober.
In Städten und Dörfern auf
bosniakisch kontrolliertem Gebiet, in denen der Wiederaufbau noch nicht
begonnen habe und
auch sonst keine humanitäre Hilfe geleistet werde, könnten
nicht noch mehr Menschen auch
nur mit dem Nötigsten versorgt werden.
Zülch und Frau Komarica forderten die europäischen Staaten
auf, Druck auf die Regierungen
Kroatiens und der neuen Bundesrepublik Jugoslawien (Serbien und Montenegro)
auszuüben.
"Sie können die Behörden im kroatisch und serbisch beherrschten
Gebieten Bosnien-
Herzegowinas zwingen, die Vertriebenen aller Nationalitäten zurückkehren
zu lassen."
Nichtkroatische bzw. nichtserbische Flüchtlinge würden dort
in aller Regel nicht aufgenommen
oder mit Gewalt und Terror abgeschreckt. Gegen lokale Herrscher in
diesen Regionen,
aber auch gegen einzelne Gemeinden im bosniakischen Gebiet, die die
Aufnahme
nichtmuslimischer Rückkehrer verweigern, müßten scharfe
Maßnahmen ergriffen werden. Diese Stadt- und Regionalverwaltungen
sollten isoliert und finanziell nicht unterstützt werden.
Außerdem müßte die Bewegungsfreiheit der für
die Aussperrung der Rückkehrer
Verantwortlichen eingeschränkt werden, indem ihnen die Einreise
ins benachbarte Ausland
verweigert werde. Demokratische Oppositionspolitiker in diesen Gebieten
müßten unterstützt
werden.
Die GfbV International forderte die
Innenminister des Bundes und der Länder außerdem dringend auf,
das deutsch-jugoslawische Rückübernahmeabkommen sofort auszusetzen
und Flüchtlinge aus dem serbisch kontrollierten Kosovo nicht mehr
abzuschieben. Dort drohe eine Eskalation der Situation. In Pristina,
der Provinzhauptstadt der ehemals autonomen Provinz, demonstrierten albanische
Studenten seit Tagen für einen freien Zugang der albanischen Jugend
zur serbisch verwalteten Universität und den Schulen. Die GfbV befürchtet
eine blutige Niederschlagung der friedlichen Proteste durch die serbische
Polizei und eine Ausweitung der Repressionen auf die gesamte albanische
Bevölkerung, die rund 90 Prozent der zwei Millionen Einwohner des
Kosovo stellt. 1989 nahm das serbische Milosevic-Regime dem Kosovo die
Selbstverwaltung und errichtete dort ein Apartheid-System. Etwa 500.000
Albaner sind vor Polizeiterror und Unterdrückung ins Ausland geflohen.
Rund 120.000 von ihnen suchten in Deutschland Zuflucht.
__________________________________________________________________________
EINLADUNG ZUR GROSSEMONSTRATION
Bonn/Göttingen, den 2. Oktober 1997
Studentendemonstration für Rückgabe der Schulen und Universität
an Albaner im Kosovo
niedergeschlagen: Kosovo-Albaner und GfbV rufen zur Großdemonstration
in Bonn auf
Die Demokratische Liga für Kosova (LDK) und die Gesellschaft für
bedrohte Völker (GfbV)
haben am Donnerstag zur Teilnahme an einer Großdemonstration
für die Rückgabe der
Schulen und Universität an die Albaner im Kosovo aufgerufen. Zur
Kundgebung am Sonnabend in Bonn in der Beueler Rheinaue werden mindestens
30.000 Teilnehmer erwartet.
Am Mittwoch hatten starke serbische Polizeikräfte mit Schlagstöcken
und Tränengas die
friedliche Demonstration von mehreren zehntausend Studenten und Einwohnern
der kosovo-
albanischen Provinzhauptstadt Pristina gegen das Bildungssystem der
serbischen Machthaber
und für eine Legalisierung ihrer eigenen Schulen und Universität
gewaltsam aufgelöst. "Die rund 1.000 Mann starke Polizeitruppe ging
äußerst brutal gegen die Demonstranten vor", berichtete das
Kosova Information Center in Pristina. Eine Augenzeugin teilte der GfbV
am Mittwoch abend telephonisch mit, es habe rund 250 Verletzte gegeben.
Einigen Demonstranten sollen die Hände gebrochen worden sein. Die
Studentenführer Albin Kurti und Driton Lajci sowie der Rektor der
albanischen Untergrund-Universität Pristina, Ejup Statovci, sollen
nach unbestätigten Berichten verhaftet worden sein.
Die Albaner, die rund 90 Prozent der zwei Millionen Einwohner des Kosovo
stellen, leben seit
der serbischen Machtübernahme in der ehemals selbstverwalteten
Provinz 1990 in apartheid-
ähnlichen Verhältnissen. An der Universität in Pristina
und in den Schulen wurden serbische
Lehrpläne eingeführt. Seitdem werden Hunderttausende albanische
Kinder, Jugendliche und
Studenten in Hinterzimmern und Privathäusern in Untergrundschulen
unterrichtet, wo sie
ständig mit Überfällen der serbischen Polizei rechnen
müssen.
Wir laden Sie herzlich ein zur
Großkundgebung
am Sonnabend, den 4. Oktober 1996, um 12 Uhr
in der Beueler Rheinaue, in Bonn-Beuel
Elsa-Brändtström-Str./Höhe Kreuzherrenstr.
Es sprechen: Abgeordnete des deutschen Bundestages aller Parteien (angefragt),
Vertreter
albanischer Parteien und Verbände aus dem Kosovo, Vertreter der
LDK und der GfbV.
Weitere Informationen:
Hafiz Gagica, Vorsitzender der LDK Deutschland, Tel. 0711 211 630,
Felicitas Rohder, GfbV-Referentin, Tel. 0551 499 06 28.
PRESS RELEASE
ALBANIAN/AMERICAN WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION "Motrat
Qiriazi"
c/o AACF 1 Dag Hammerskgold Plaza, New York,
N.Y. 10011
Tel: (212) 207-9893 Fax: (212) 207-9888
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shqipe Malushi
October 2, 1997
At: (212) 675-4380 ext 351
PEACEFUL PROTESTS-STUDENTS SEEK RIGHT TO EDUCATION
It has been seven years since the educational
institutions in Kosova, former
Yugoslavia have been suspended by the Serbian
government. The Albanian
students have been banished from their only opportunity
to receive an
education and continue their lives as professionals.
In order not to fall
backwards, the Albanian students were forced
to continue their education in
the private houses under completely unacceptable
educational conditions.
On October 1st 1997, Albanian students gathered
in Prishtina in unison to
peacefully demonstrate and protest the violation
of all human rights with the
request to be able to open their schools and
university so they can continue
their education and not be shunned by the world.
More than 20,000 protesters have joined the students
in their peaceful
demonstrations. According to Kosova Information
Report the police brutality
once more has exceeded all the legal rights of
the citizens. Throwing gas
bombs and violently attacking the demonstrators.
There have been many
casualties according to the reports.
The Serbian press uses these demonstrations to
propagate and instigate the
violence on their behalf. The untruths
told about Albanians once more place
Kosova in a very dangerous situation. We hope
that the International
Community will remain aware about the missuese
of these dangerous facts
against the peaceful demonstrations.
In the course of peaceful demonstrations of the
Albanians of Kosova in the
1990s, in the violent clashes with the police,
32 Albanians died (including
children down to 9 years-old), and 142 were seriously
injured and several
hundred people were denied medical help.
The Albanian/American Women's Organization "Motrat
Qiriazi," are gravely
concerned about the present situation in Kosova.We
feel responsible to
support all the members of our community whohave
families in Kosova, as well
as inform the American organizations about the
truthful events in Kosova at
the present time. We appeal to all the organizations
and individuals to
support the peaceful protests of the Albanian
students who are only seeking
equal rights for their education, and an opportunity
to be fee from a long
lasting oppression.
"We must support student protests with all our
will, with hope that there
will not be many casualties like there were in
the '90s," said Hane Selmani,
AAWO president, "It is about the basic freedom
and the future of our
children."
[This press release has been sent to: Hillary
Clinton, The White House Office
For Women's Outreach, the New York Press, and
Educational institutions]
__________________________________________________________________
ALBANEWS Site of the Day: "World Factbook
Page on Albania"
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/factbook/al.htm
__________________________________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ALBANEWS Site of the
Week <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
! K O S O V A STUDENT PROTESTS
'97 http://www.alb-net.com/
!
Protests Against the Serbian Occupation
of University Premises !
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Protests Started on October
1st <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
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AlbaNews archives: http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/archives/albanews.html
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Statement of the Democratic Party Leader Sali BERISHA on the Students' Protests in Kosova
Tirana, October 1, 1997
Today, in the streets of Prishtina
and other towns of Kosova, students, teachers and
intellectuals started their peaceful
protests for the implementation of the Education
Agreement, for their turn back and the turn back
of all the Kosova students in their schools.
By supporting their just protest for education,
knowledge, freedom and dignity, which are
nowadays guaranteed for all the European
citizens, I invite all the protesters and all the
Albanians in Kosova to demonstrate in these protests,
to withhold, to express their civil spirit
and to avoid the escalation
of violence in cold blood. This way they will testify the high
cause of their requests and the ideals they are protecting. The Prishtina
students are protesting for the worthy values and ideals they share with
their European peers.
To their peaceful protests Miloshevic answered
through violence and police terror by beating,
chasing, maltreating and arresting a great number
of the peaceful protesters.
I invite the Democratic League of Kosova and the
political forces in Kosova to join together in
their support for the students and their right
cause.
I call on the European Union, the USA Government,
the Chancelleries of the greatest European
countries, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy,
Spain and all other friendly countries, members
of this Union to denounce the violence exercised
today on the peaceful protesters in Prishtina,
to support the right requests of the students
of Kosova. I invite them to exert their powerful
pressure on Miloshevic to force him stop all
acts of violence, and to implement without any
hesitation all the right and fair requests of
the students of Kosova.
One Hundred Fifth Congress
Congress of the United States
Committee on International Relation
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Telephone: (202) 225-5021
October 1,1997
The Honorable Madeline Albright
Secretary
Department of State
Washington, D.C.
Dear Madam Secretary:
There
are reports today that Serbian police in Kosovo attacked a massive, but
peaceful
protest by students from the Albanian ethnic
majority in the region, causing several injuries and
arresting many of the protesters. As you are
no doubt aware, over the past several days there
have been peaceful protests of the failure of
the Serbian authorities in kosovo to live up to a
commitment made by President Milosevic over a
year ago to permit the re-opening of schools
for Kosovo's Albanian population. Although today's
protests were the largest demonstrations to
decree, they were nevertheless peaceful and legitimate
reflection of the frustration of the
majority of Kosovars with the denial of their
basic civil and political rights by Milosevic's
government.
I urge
you to communicate the strong concern of the U.S. government about today's
actions by Serbian police which threatened to
ignite a conflict in this volatile region. Milosevic
must be reminded once again of the notice served
upon him by President Bush, and renewed
by President Clinton, that the U.S. has the highest
interest in seeing human rights restored in
Kosovo and in the conflict there being resolved
through peaceful means. An eruption of violence in Kosovo for which Serbia
can be held responsible would result in a strong reaction by this government.
We must let Milosevic be under no misunderstanding that if today's actions
by the Serbian police result in wider disturbances, we will hold him accountable.
With best wishes,
Sincerely
BENJAMIN A. GILMAN
Chairman
______________________________________________________________________
ALBANEWS Site of the Day: "University
of Tetova"
http://www.cc.gatech.edu/people/home/sharri/UTE/UTE.html
Gazeta Albania
"Albania's Leading Independent Newspaper"
3 October 1997
ALBANEWS Version
Prof. Dr. Sali BERISHA hails the joint declaration of the European Union and the USA on Kosova
The Leader of the Democratic Party of Albania Prof. Dr. Sali BERISHA hailed the joint declaration of the European Union and the USA on the police violence exercised yesterday by the Belgrade authorities during the peaceful protests of the students in Prishtina and other towns of Kosova.
This declaration is a support to the right and fair requests of the Albanian students in Kosova on one side, and a condemnation of the violence exercised on the peaceful protesters on the other one. The European Union and the Government of the USA hold as directly responsible for this violence President Miloshevic and the Serb leadership.
Mr. Berisha extends his conviction that a joint
stand by the European Union and the USA Government is the greatest chance
for a right and just solution of the Kosova problem.
Congressman Eliot Engel writes to Albright
I am scandalized by the Serb violence
Additional sanctions should be put on Belgrade
Eliot Engel, the law-maker from New York that chairs the group of US Congress on Albanian problem, said to the VOA that he was annoyed by the brutal intervention of the Serb police forces against the protests of students in Prishtina.
"I am scandalized by what happened and I think that the USA should in the strongest terms let Milishevic and the Serb government that this is not acceptable. We call the Serb government and Miloshevic responsible for their actions".
Congressman Engel said that he was writing a letter to State Secretary Albright to ask her to protest in the strongest terms against such an action undertaken by the Serb government. The lawmaker said that he would take advantage of the occasion to ask the continuation of sanctions against Yugoslavia.
"I am calling on her to continue the sanctions against Serbia and to make Serbia understand that such actions will take to further additional sanctions and that the International Community should not remain in a stand-by mode and should not allow that peaceful protests are oppressed violently. I call on President Clinton to nominate a special envoy to Kosova".