From kosova at jps.net Tue Mar 7 01:00:32 2000 From: kosova at jps.net (kosova at jps.net) Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2000 22:00:32 -0800 Subject: [A-PAL] A-PAL Newsletter, No. 012 Message-ID: Welcome to Albanian Prisoner Advocacy List -- Prisoner Pals Newsletter, No. 012, February 28, 2000 This report highlights the developments on the prisoner issue for the week of February 20, 2000. ========================================== A-PAL STATEMENT: ========================================== URGENT ACTION APPEAL We need all APAL advocates to email the UN Security Council who will hear about the prisoner situation this week on March 6. ***Please note, the US is now well informed and has pledged to do everything it can to help our cause. But no other countries, including Canada, UK, Netherlands, and France have made such statements. (More information below.) This week saw the release of thirteen Albanian prisoners by Judge Nikola Vazura now in Pozhrevac, but formerly of the District Court of Prizren. However, Serbia human rights workers have notified us that as many as 90 resistance activists have been arrested lately in crackdowns on civil liberties. While the main focus of A-PAL is the welfare of the Albanian prisoners, we are gravely concerned about the need for justice and rule of law on both sides of the Serb/Kosova border FOR ALL CITIZENS. Basic civil and human rights must be established on before any sensible long-term dialog about the future of either state can take place in an appropriate atmosphere of respect and peace. As you send your emails to the UN Security Council and your Parliamentarians, remind them that the A-PAL issue and other gross legal violations within the Serb justice system are a major component of regional destabilization and the prevention of peaceful democratic reform and change. As one imprisoned Serb leader said this week, we are now part of a dictatorship in Serbia. This cannot be ignored. Meanwhile, the UN is finally waking up to its responsibilities! There are hints that a UN resolution to act on the prisoner issue is in the works. APP director Shukrie Rexha presented a proposal for UN action to Bernard Kouchner at the Transitional Council meeting last week. Kouchner will be meeting with the Security Council on March 6th (tentative date.) Those fifteen countries need to hear from YOU before this meeting! As the main proponents of the Geneva Conventions and other basic human rights standards, these countries, as co-signers of the conventions, bear direct responsibility for the welfare and dignity of the prisoners. Kouchner will request that the trials be stopped and that a special envoy be appointed. I urge you as well to ask that the UN request the broadest possible amnesty and an investigation into the disappearance of thousands of Albanians as well as the experiences and trials of the prisoners to be conducted by the ICTY. Association of Political Prisoners (APP) has filed a request for investigation into the prisoner situation with John Ralston of ICTY, the Hague. Any families with specific information on maltreatment or torture by guards, police, judges and wardens should document this information in Prishtina with OSCE Human Rights, UNHCHR, HLC, and the APP office. Families with released prisoners who were tortured should be sure to email the UN Security Council. YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE DEAD TO HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS. ========================================== THIS WEEK?S TOPICS: ========================================== * IWPR'S Balkan Crisis Report: Detective Offers Kosovo Pow Hope * KosovaPress: Statement of Kosova Transitional Council on detainees and missing persons * KosovaPress: Joschka Fischer and Otto Schily will visit Prishtina * KosovaPress: Protests in front of the UN Palace in Gjeneva * FreeB92 Daily News: Student activists arrested * ICRC: Missing persons from the Kosovo crisis * United Nations: Kosovo Transitional Council calls for urgent action on missing and detained persons * Relief Web: UN Kosovo envoy to bring issue of missing/detained persons before Security Council * KosovaPress: In Pozharevc began the trial of 25 Albanians * KosovaPress: More than 3.500 missing persons in Kosova * KosovaPress: It is evident to have some more massive graves * KosovaPress: In Kuks are buried 132 victims from Kosova * BBC: ICRC urges Belgrade to find missing * Voice of America: Red Cross/ Kosovo * Beta Daily News: Helsinki Committee Demands Flora Brovina's Release * Grupa 484: Press Release - President Mihajlovic Indicted * Free Serbia: Joschka Fischer visited Kosovo * FreeB92 Daily News: Current state of the judiciary in Serbia catastrophic * Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia: Student Forum: Confidence Building Measures between Serbs and Albanians ========================================== QUOTES OF THE WEEK: ========================================== The Helsinki Committee's chairwoman, Sonja Biserko, told a press conference that Brovina had faced "a classical political trial" and that "she was to set an example, because, being a doctor, a female activist and a poetess, she is the symbol of the emancipation of ethnic-Albanian women and Albanian society." "To Flora Brovina the trial means" that the Serbian and Yugoslav authorities "want to destroy the core of the Albanian society's emancipation", February 25, 2000. Dr. Kouchner, who describes the issue as "an open wound" for Kosovo, has raised the issue of missing persons with every foreign government he has visited since he was appointed the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, UN spokesperson, Susan Manuel said. He has continued to demand that detainees in Serbian prisons be released "immediately and without conditions," she added, February 23, 2000 Pierre Kraehenbuehl, head of ICRC's taskforce for the Balkans, February 25, "We hope the authorities will provide answers that can shed light on the fate of those missing," he told a news briefing in Geneva. "The uncertainty has been traumatizing for the families. As in Bosnia, exhumations will lead to further clarifications and some cases of further confirmed deaths." ========================================== FULL REPORTS AND ARTICLES BEGIN HERE: ========================================== IWPR'S BALKAN CRISIS REPORT Detective Offers Kosovo Pow Hope February 22, 2000 (...) A Serbian detective is promising to break the logjam in Kosovo prisoner exchanges. By Milenko Vasovic in Belgrade A year after NATO's intervention in the Kosovo crisis, there are thousands of people still held prisoner in Serbia, Kosovo and elsewhere. Few enjoy the prospect of early release. Under the terms of the Geneva Convention, all prisoners of war should be released once hostilities cease. However, Bureaucratic oversights and other complicating factors have muddied the situation in Kosovo. The principal complication revolves around whether the conflict was international in nature, or an internal Yugoslav affair. The Yugoslav authorities say the matter was an internal issue, not an international conflict. Thus, they argue, the Geneva Convention does not apply. The international community says it does. Yet, when NATO signed the Kumanovo agreement with the Yugoslav military prior to their departure from Kosovo, they left the prisoner release off the document. As a result, international agencies that normally operate in these situations find themselves working in a grey area. The International Committee of the Red Cross, for example, argues that even though it still visits these individuals it cannot advocate the prisoner's release because Kosovo is still part of Yugoslavia, not a foreign state. At the same time, Belgrade is getting round the argument by charging many of those detained with civilian offences, in the main with charges of "terrorism". Under the Geneva Convention anyone charged with a civilian offence can still be detained. However, despite the logjam, some do go free. The latest release involved six people. Three Serbs, and three Kosovo Albanians. Their exchange was secretive. The Serbs, from Orahovac, were released at Orazje in Montenegro. The Albanians, rounded up during NATO air strikes, were handed over at a NATO camp -- Merdari -- on the 29 of January. The man who arranged the deal, Zivorad Jovanovic, who owns a detective agency called OZNA, says there are more such releases in the pipeline. Also known as Zika Beli, Jovanovic used to be a police inspector. A man, apparently, with a good reputation in Kragujevac, where OZNA is based. Jovanovic says he co-operates with the Centre for Peace in the Balkans, which passes on details of his activities to the International Red Cross, KFOR and the Albanian government. OZNA, its internet website (www.ozna.co.yu) says, "discovers everything" and specialises in finding missing people. Details of a few of its success are given on the website. Jovanovic does undertake a number of other tasks such as general security, surveillance, and private investigating. Additional services include transporting large amounts of cash, such as the three million dollars the website reports was successfully taken out of Kosovo as part of a real estate sale. The vast majority of those in detention are Kosovo Albanian males, arrested in the run-up to the conflict or during NATO's bombardment. But groups of Serbs are also thought to be captive in Kosovo and even in neighbouring Albania. Estimates of numbers range from 2,000 to 70,000, though most human rights observers think the number is around 3,000. Some of the Albanian prisoners were already in Serbia, but others were hastily transferred to Serbia from prisons in Kosovo during the Yugoslav troop withdrawal. They include combatants from both sides of the conflict but also many civilians, including some reportedly snatched as Serb forces left the province a year ago. Many do not even know what charges they face. However, under outside pressure Serbia's courts are quickly processing dozens of cases -- a legal process that outside observers say contravenes many human rights procedures. When the Kumanovo agreement -- securing the withdrawal of Yugoslav forces from Kosovo and the arrival of NATO troops -- was signed last year, the issue of prisoner releases was overlooked as pressure mounted to get the deal signed away. NATO sources however have been quoted as stating the prisoner releases were in the original draft Kumanovo document but excised when Yugoslav military officers said the issue wasn't theirs to negotiate. It was more important to give the Serbs a document that they could sign than quibble about the prisoner issue, one US official has been cited as stating. Nevertheless, it is still an issue that has received very little attention, even though it affects a great many lives. Not least the prisoners themselves. The majority languish in Serbian prisons where there is convincing evidence of maltreatment at the hands of their captors. Many are denied access to lawyers. One a group, held in Nis, has been prevented from seeing a lawyer because they do not hold identity papers. Albanian Belgrade-based lawyer, Husnija Bitici, says he is not allowed access to his Albanian clients in the Sremska Mitrovica prison. In one case he has been denied access five times to visit 12 of his clients. "The porter denied me entry without even allowing me to talk to anyone in a position of authority," Bitici said. More disturbingly, there are also cases of Serb lawyers ransoming their clients to their families back in Kosovo. An unofficial "prisoner market" operates in near Podujevo, close to the provincial border with Serbia proper. It works in the other direction too. OZNA says that an Albanian Driza Meriti came to them offering 20.000 German marks to help find and release his son who was imprisoned somewhere in Serbia. Meriti claimed he could help trace some Serbs missing since October. He offered ten Serbs in exchange for his son, according to OZNA's boss. Jovanovic is quick to add that the agency does not accept the exchange of people kidnapped after September 1st 1999. This is in order to prevent further abductions. Clearly, the releases secured by OZNA could not have been achieved without the knowledge of the Serbian government and military courts of the Yugoslav Army. It is probable that the regime does not want the public to find out that it is cooperating with the Kosovo Albanians. Therefore, it has decided to hide behind a private detective agency. Reactions to such events are mixed. It is clear, some Belgrade lawyers argue, that the releases are accomplished "outside the legal framework". One of Serbia's opposition parties, Democratic Alternative (DA), says it is not clear whether the released Albanians were "guilty" of any crime and, if so, who gave them their freedom. The three Albanians were detained during the conflict in Kosovo and were given sentences ranging from 12 to 14 months. Two of them served time in Pozarevac prison and one of them was detained in Sremska Mitrovica. The released Serbs had been kidnapped by KLA members, after NATO ended their air strikes and the withdrawal of the Serbian police and army from Kosovo was underway. It is believed that they were detained in a private prison somewhere in the vicinity of Kosovska Kamenica. These prisons are still managed by the KLA, despite the presence of KFOR troops and UNMIK police -- the official successor to the Kosovo Liberation Army. Of course, this is not the first time that the Yugoslav or Albanian sides have exchanged prisoners. Several similar deals were struck during the months of conflict prior to NATO's intervention. At the beginning of 1999, the Yugoslav side secretly asked OSCE representatives to mediate in the release of eight soldiers abducted by the KLA. Though Belgrade insisted it was an unconditional release, nine KLA members were exchanged for the eight Yugoslav soldiers. The precise number of Serbs that the Albanians have detained and kidnapped is not known. At Musutiste, near Suva Reka, 160 Serbs were imprisoned, however it is thought they were taken elsewhere before the arrival of KFOR troops. According to OZNA, there are three prisons in Albania where Serbs are held. They are located in Kukes, Tropoje and Ruhase. All those captured and detained could be consoled by the fact that the exchanges are expected to continue. Even if they are outside the legal framework. Milenko Vasovic is a journalist with Blic daily in Belgrade ========================================== KOSOVAPRESS Statement of Kosova Transitional Council on detainees and missing persons February 23, 2000 Prishtin?, February 23 (Kosovapress) - The Kosova Transitional Council(KTC) discussed the situation of detainees and missing persons which is priority issue for the Security of Kosova. The authorities of Serbia have detained a large number of ordinary persons -mostly Kosova Albanians -during the last years, but in particular during the conflict of 1999. These persons are currently held unlawfully regardless of fabricated trials that have started as hostages in Serb civilian and military prisons and on occasion in juvenile correction centers. The KTC calls on the UN security Council to demand from Belgrade to: - Immediately grant the ICRC unconditional access to all detention facilities in the FRY to verify the number of detainees from Kosova to Serbia, - Immediately stop all ongoing trials against detainees to UNMIK, acting on behalf of the Joint Interim Administration, for their release or trial, as appropriate. So- called political prisoners should be released immediately without preconditions. The KTC also insists that Belgrade cooperate to the fullest with the international authorities concerned in clarifying the destiny of the of the large number of missing people from Kosova. In this respect, the KTC also calls on political leaders from Kosova to assist in the clarification of the whereabouts of missing persons of non-Albanian Communities, in particular after 10 June 1999. http://www.kosovapress.com/english/shkurt/23_2_2000.htm ========================================== KOSOVAPRESS Joschka Fischer and Otto Schily will visit Prishtina Kosova Transitional Council Meeting Pristin?, February 24 (Kosovapress) - Yesterday morning the Kosova Transitional Council was in the process of meeting. Their main topics on the agenda were the situation in Mitrovica and the issue of missing and detained persons. Dr. Bernard Kouchner is proposing to take the issue of missing and detained people from Kosova before the UN security council when he goes to New York in early March. He is asking the KTC to issue with him, a joint statement from the people of Kosova, addressed to the international community expressing concern over the fate of detainees and missing persons. He has taken this issue very personally and seriously and has raised it with every foreign government he has visited since being named the Special Representative of the Secretary- General. Dr. Kouchner continues to demand that detainees in Serbia prisons be released immediately and without conditions. He cites the International Committee for the Red Cross in saying that while at least 496 Kosova Albanians have been released from detention since last June. More than 1,600 remain in Serbian jails. In addition, the many persons who remain missing continue to be what he calls a open wound for Kosova. Some 3,000 people are unaccounted for, these are mostly Kosova Albanians. The fate of missing persons from non-Albanian communities is also of grave concern, which has been recorded a list of 346 missing Serbs, most of whom disappeared after last June. This includes and 39 Yugoslav army soldiers missing in action. ========================================== KOSOVAPRESS Protests in front of the UN Palace in Gjeneva February 24, 2000 Prishtin?, February 24 (Kosovapress) - Kosova Popular Movement's Party, the branch outside of Kosova has appealed to all Albanian migrate persons to take part in the protest that will be organized in front of UN headquarter in Gjeneva. The demonstration will be held on February 26, 2000 and will demand by the International Community to solve the problem of Mitrovica, to express the deep concern about thousands of Albanian who are continuing to be held in the Serb jails as hostages. The protestors also will demand from UN to stop the Serb terror against the Albanian population of Presheva, Bujanoci and Medvegja. ========================================== FREEB92 DAILY NEWS Student activists arrested February 24, 2000 ZRENJANIN, Thursday - Police in the Vojvodina town of Zrenjanin today arrested six activists from the student resistance movement Otpor and one opposition member of parliament. The seven were involved in an Otpor demonstration in central Zrenjanin. A group of ten police had earlier confiscated a megaphone and posters from activists preparing for the demonstration. http://www.freeb92.net/archive/e/ ========================================== ICRC . Missing persons from the Kosovo crisis : ICRC response February 24, 2000 The fighting may have stopped in Kosovo, but many thousands of people cannot find real peace whilst the fate of their family members remains unknown. For the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), tackling the humanitarian issue of missing persons is one its most important operational priorities in Kosovo and elsewhere in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) today. Regrettably, neither the plight of detainees nor of missing persons was specifically addressed in the agreement signed in Kumanovo between NATO and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or the subsequent UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of June 1999. Nevertheless, the ICRC, on the basis of its internationally-recognised mandate, assumed a lead role on the issue of missing persons and successfully negotiated in Belgrade access to the detainees the authorities notified as being still in detention following the Kosovo crisis. By February 21 2000, over 4,400 names of missing persons had been collected directly from families; over 1,400 of whose fate the ICRC has been able to clarify, mainly through its detention visits (see table below for detailed breakdown). The majority of the remaining almost 3000 still reported as missing are Kosovo Albanians, but they also importantly include Serbs, Roma and people from other communities. Families visiting ICRC offices both in Kosovo and elsewhere in FRY anxious for news of their relatives is a daily occurrence; it is clear that the anguish in no way diminishes but increases as time goes by. They find it impossible to rebuild their lives in a fundamental way whilst the uncertainty prevails. The ICRC's commitment is aimed exclusively at trying to help families in their quest to know the truth. It is and will remain active in using all the means available to provide answers; through dialogue with the concerned authorities in Belgrade and Pristina, through following up credible and reliable information on-the-ground and cooperating with other organisations active on the issue through a coordination group it has established and chairs (UNMIK and the international police, OSCE, OHCHR, ICMP and others). On February 21 & 22, 2000, the ICRC officially submitted to the authorities in Belgrade and Pristina the names of the missing people it had so far gathered with the urgent request that they provide any information they may have which would shed light on the fate of individuals as quickly as possible for the sake of the families. This step was part of an ongoing operational process which began in earnest with the massive return of refugees to Kosovo in June, 1999. After helping to bring tens of thousands of people who had temporarily lost contact with their relatives back in touch, the ICRC was able to begin to establish just how many people remained unaccounted for. ICRC teams were mobilised in all of its offices in Kosovo to systematically visit towns and villages to encourage families to come forward with the information of missing relatives. Most of the names gathered were from Kosovo Albanians reporting that their family members had been arrested, but in Kosovo and also elsewhere in FRY the ICRC was also gathering information from hundreds of families of Serbian, Roma and other communities who were reporting that their relatives had been abducted by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) or civilians. At the same time, the authorities in Belgrade notified and allowed access to around 1700 detainees which not only enabled the ICRC to clarify the fate of some of the tracing cases it had gathered, but was a source of considerable comfort to families on the outside. The scale of the problem So far, as from February 1 2000, the ICRC has gathered and recorded the following information on missing persons: Persons reported as unaccounted for during the Kosovo crisis 01.01.98 to 01.02.2000 Total number of persons unaccounted for: 4,434 Total number of persons whose fate has been clarified: 1,447 of which - confirmed dead 102 - confirmed alive 1,345 of which: - visited in prison 1,297 Total number of persons that remain unaccounted for: 2,987 of which: - persons reportedly arrested by the Yugoslav 1,875 Armed and Security Forces or abducted by Serb civilians: - persons reportedly abducted by the Kosovo Liberation Army or Kosovo Albanian civilians: 346 - persons for whom there is no information on 766 whereabouts: Visits to people currently detained in relation to the Kosovo crisis 01.02.2000 Kovovo - Persons visited in KFOR places of detention 54 FRY - Persons visited in places of detention in FRY 1571 (Serbia and Montenegro) - Persons released by the authorities and 415 transported by the ICRC to Kosovo Measures taken by the ICRC Visits to detainees: while the ICRC had been visiting Kosovo Albanian prisoners held by the Serbian authorities for many years before the current crisis, these visits had to be broken off during the conflict between NATO and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1999 for security reasons. In June 1999 the ICRC was able to negotiate the resumption of these visits and by July it had registered some 1'700 detainees, whose families were immediately informed. Further visits have been taking place continuously since then which have enabled ICRC to establish the fate of almost 1'300 people reported missing. Approaches to the authorities concerned: repeated efforts were made during the internal conflict between the Serbian security forces and the KLA, through KLA field personnel and their political counterparts, to try to establish the fate of some 150 Serb civilians whose families had reported them abducted. Similar approaches on behalf of Kosovo Albanians were conducted with the authorities in Belgrade. Further efforts have been made at a local level since the ending of hostilities in Kosovo. Regrettably, no firm information on the plight of the 150 people, and the others reported since, has so far been forthcoming. Tracing in the field: extensive efforts have been made by ICRC field teams in towns and villages throughout Kosovo to urge the population to come forward with information. A system of "tracing by event" was introduced, in which details were gathered of people who disappeared or were allegedly detained/abducted at the same time. Based on the ICRC's experience in Bosnia & Herzegovina, this could help provide additional information leading to the clarification of cases. Families were also invited to notify their missing relatives to the ICRC or the Yugoslav Red Cross in FRY. Co-ordination with other agencies: the ICRC has been officially recognised as the lead agency in the question of missing persons in Kosovo, and has established a co-ordination group with other organisations to share information. It strongly encourages the continuation of the exhumation and identification process begun last year and has a good working relationship with those involved. Further action to be taken Support for families: ICRC is reviewing ways in which it can better help the families shoulder their burden of grief and uncertainty, for example through fostering the creation of family associations, through psycho-social support and by referrals to legal or other practical advice. The ICRC is aware of the unique responsibility it carries in being accessible to the families both in Kosovo and elsewhere in FRY: its sole responsibility is towards the families and their needs. Continued field work: aware that other families might not yet have come forward with information on their missing relatives, the ICRC will continue to register new information and subsequently submit it to the authorities concerned, and will follow up on allegations of arrest or abduction. Visits to detainees: visits to detainees in FRY will continue for as long as prisoners are held. Similarly, ICRC will continue to provide transport back to Kosovo for those who are released (the great majority of the 495 detainees released have been escorted home in this way). In Kosovo ICRC has access to persons detained by KFOR and the UNMIK police. In all cases the purpose of the visits is the same: the try to ensure that the prisoners have decent material and psychological conditions of detention, that they are treated humanely, and to enable them to keep in contact with their families through Red Cross messages. Contacts with the authorities: having submitted to the authorities the information it has gathered so far, the ICRC will continue to maintain dialogue with them on the issue and urge them to take all steps to establish the fate of persons who disappeared in areas under their authority. The ICRC considers that it is the responsibility of the concerned authorities to spare no effort in seeking to provide answers. http://www.icrc.org/icrceng.nsf/Index/003497DCE053D9E24125688F004F4856?Opend ocument ========================================== UNITED NATIONS Kosovo Transitional Council calls for urgent action on missing and detained persons February 23, 2000 FEBRUARY 23 -- The Kosovo Transitional Council (KTC) today urged the international community, and the UN Security Council in particular, to put maximum pressure on Belgrade authorities to release all detainees from Kosovo held unlawfully in Yugoslav prisons. The KTC said in a statement issued following its regular meeting that Belgrade should also be pressured to cooperate with international authorities in clarifying the destiny of a large number of missing persons. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), some 3,000 other people, mostly Kosovo Albanians, remain unaccounted for. The head of the UN Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK), Dr. Bernard Kouchner promised to deliver the statement and raise the issue when he briefs the Security Council on Kosovo in early March. The KTC called on the Security Council to demand the Belgrade government immediately grant the ICRC unconditional access to all detention facilities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to verify the number of detainees from Kosovo, estimated at some 1,600. The KTC also urged the Security Council to demand that Belgrade stop all ongoing trials against detainees from Kosovo and hand over all those detainees to UNMIK, acting on behalf of the Joint Interim Administration, for their release or trial, as appropriate. So-called political prisoners should be released immediately without preconditions, the KTC said. The KTC also called on political leaders from Kosovo to assist in the clarification of the whereabouts of missing persons from the non-Albanian communities, including 346 Serbs, most of whom disappeared after 10 June 1999, according to the ICRC. The KTC also called for the creation of a 'United City' of Mitrovica and underlined the crucial need to find a political solution to the situation in the ethnically divided city. The KTC demanded that expulsions be prevented, that freedom of movement be facilitated and that all those who fled their homes, including Albanians and Serbs, be enabled to return safely. The KTC urged representatives of the Kosovo Serb community to join the Joint Interim Administrative Structure as soon as possible, as a political solution could be achieved only through a "joint effort of the representatives of the international community in Kosovo and of political forces from Kosovo." http://www.un.org/peace/kosovo/news/kosovo2.htm#Anchor48 ========================================== RELIEF WEB UN Kosovo envoy to bring issue of missing/detained persons before Security Council February 23, 2000 Source: UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) The head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Dr. Bernard Kouchner, plans to bring the issue of missing and detained persons from Kosovo before the UN Security Council in early March, a UNMIK spokesperson said in Pristina today. Dr. Kouchner, who describes the issue as "an open wound" for Kosovo, has raised the issue of missing persons with every foreign government he has visited since he was appointed the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, UN spokesperson, Susan Manuel said. He has continued to demand that detainees in Serbian prisons be released "immediately and without conditions," she added. Quoting International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) estimates, Dr. Kouchner has said that while nearly 500 Kosovo Albanians have been released from detention since June, more than 1,600 remain in Serbian jails. In addition, some 3,000 people, mostly Kosovo Albanians, remain unaccounted for. The fate of missing persons from non-Albanian communities is also of grave concern, Ms. Manuel said. The ICRC has recorded a list of 346 missing Serbs, most of whom disappeared after 10 June 1999, when UNMIK and the international peacekeeping force, KFOR, assumed responsibility for administration and security in Kosovo http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/92401099 86cb1aa48525688e00773916?OpenDocument ========================================== KOSOVAPRESS In Pozharevc began the trial of 25 Albanians February 25, 2000 Prishtin?, February 25 (Kosovapress) - At supreme court in Pozharevc (Serbia) has began the trial of 25 Albanians, who are accused for "terrorist actions". The name of accuses are in this list as follows: Azia Temaj (30), Eshref Hoti (30), Idriz Berisha (34), Malush Morina (50), Jakup Byty?i (39), Tefik Hoti (35), Muharrem Byty?i (45), Isuf Rrahmanaj (40), Hysni Asllani (41), Muhedin Byty?i (47), Hamz? Isakaj (22), Ramiz Hajrullahu (43), Hysen Beiqraj (20), Muharrem Mustafaj (23), Haxhi Ukaj (45), Ramadan Mustafaj (35), Samedin Byty?i (49), Nevruz Saqjani (32), Meriton Krasniqi (22), Naim Hoti (34), Blerim Zymberaj (20) dhe Osman Fetahaj (52). Most of the prisoners are from villages Pitkiviq, Damjan, Dob?rdol dhe Drenoc. On lack is accused and Kadri Mustafa from the village Pitkoviq, where he is accused as being as a commander of KLA. In this trial is accused as well a teenager H. M. 17 years old, he also is from the village Pitkiviq. http://www.kosovapress.com/english/shkurt/25_2_2000.htm ========================================== KOSOVAPRESS More than 3.500 missing persons in Kosova February 25, 2000 Prishtin?, February 25 (Kosovapress) - Council for Human Rights in Prishtina has reacted against the International Committee of Red Cross that 3.500 persons are missing in Kosova during the period February 1998 till 2000. This Council has announced the list of missing persons which is not yet definitive. Large protests for the release of the Albanian prisoners are continuing Gjakov?, February 25 (Kosovapress) - Today, again in Gjakova were held protests for the release of the political prisoners who are continuing to be kept in the Serb jails. The protestors held in their hands the photos of their loved ones as well as the transparences in which was written "Release the prisoners ", "Find the missing persons". The editor of Kosovapress asked one old women until when they are going to protest and she with tears shown in her face answered: Without the release of our sons and daughters there is no freedom for Kosova. The children do not want the toys that brought for them by different international organizations, they want their parents back home. ========================================== KOSOVAPRESS It is evident to have some more massive graves February 25, 2000 Prishtin?, February 25 (Kosovapress) - At municipal of Mitrovica and Vishtria. It is evident that there are some more massive graves, where criminals serb of Belgrade regime have buried the Albanians during the last year war. It is supposed that French gendermarie in Mitrovica has found out the criminals serb, who had committed the massacres on the unarmored Albanians. Close to the prison in Mitrovica, it is found a massive grave, where there are supposed to be 80 persons. While to the pother part, north in Mitrovica criminals have buried 20 persons. Another massive grave it is some where in the inside the city. According to French gendermarie reports in this place criminals Serb have brought four lories with dead bodies, but it is not known exactly the number of victims. Also in Vushtri, inside the sport hall, Roms have buried many people and then they have cemented the spot. ========================================== KOSOVAPRESS In Kuks are buried 132 victims from Kosova February 25, 2000 Kuks, February 25 (Kosovapress) - At the city graves in Kuks, during the period 28 March 1998 till 13 June 1999 are buried 132 victims from Kosova war. This number includes and eight members of KLA, who were killed at the battle of Pashtriku. Also there are 20 children. Till now there are reburied only 32 victims at the martyrs graves in Landovic of Prizreni, where were buried and five unidentified in Kuks. The boarding school officials demand help Gjakov?, February 25 (Kosovapress) - The student's boarding school "Sadik Stavileci" in Gjakova is in a very difficult situation. According to the director of the boarding school, Mr. Hajrullah Hana , this institution must be repaired completely. The capacity of the boarding school is 280 beds for students. Actually in this boarding school are placed only 35 pupils, mainly from Albania and from the villages of the district of Dukagjini. But more pupil and students can be placed there only if the conditions will be proved soon. Until now UNMIK officials in Gjakova have offered 250 beds and blankets. The competents are inviting all of those who have appropriate facilities to help immediately. ========================================== BBC ICRC urges Belgrade to find missing February 25, 2000 The International Red Cross has called on the Serbian authorities to help establish the fate of nearly three-thousand people still missing in Kosovo. A senior Red Cross official Pierre Kraehenbuehl said a complete list of their names had been handed over to the authorities in Belgrade. He said most of them were ethnic Albanians, but there were around four-hundred Serbs still unaccounted for since the end of the Serb control of Kosovo last year. The official said many of those reported missing earlier had been later found in prisons in Serbia and Montenegro. >From the newsroom of the BBC World Service http://news2.thls.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_656000/656652.stm ========================================== VOICE OF AMERICA Red Cross/ Kosovo February 25, 2000 VOICED AT: INTRO: The International Committee of the Red Cross says nearly three-thousand people remain missing and unaccounted for in Kosovo. Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports this is the first time the Red Cross has issued precise figures on the number of people who disappeared during the war in Kosovo. TEXT: The Red Cross says it has received the names of nearly 45-hundred missing persons in Kosovo from family members. Of these, it says more than 13- hundred were found alive, most of them in prisons in Serbia and Montenegro. Another 110 are confirmed dead. The head of the Red Cross Task force for the Balkans, Pierre Kraehenbuehl, says it is a big relief for families when they finally learn what has happened to their missing loved ones. /// KRAEHENBUEHL ACT ONE /// One cannot underline sufficiently and stress sufficiently how traumatizing the uncertainty about the fate and whereabouts of a close relative can be. We have learned how destabilizing an issue missing persons can also be in a post-war environment. It is obvious that so many individual cases of disappearance remain unsolved impacts negatively on dialogue between communities and the possibility for reconciliation. /// END ACT /// The Red Cross says the vast majority of those who disappeared during the Kosovo conflict are ethnic Albanians. But about 400 Serbs as well as gypsies and other ethnic groups are included among the missing. Mr. Kraehenbuehl says a number of agencies are in the process of exhuming and identifying bodies in Kosovo. He says he expects these exhumations will lead to further clarifications and in some cases confirmations of deaths. But, he says, he does not know if Serbian authorities are secretly detaining some of the missing people. /// KRAEHENBUEHL ACT TWO /// The question of whether we think that we have seen all those in detention today is very much open. We feel that we have had a thorough look at persons now in detention throughout Serbia and Montenegro. But, of course we do not exclude, it is not possible to exclude, that some other persons would still be in detention that we have not seen to date. /// END ACT /// Mr. Kraehenbuehl says most of the names of the missing were gathered from Kosovo Albanians who reported their family members had been arrested. But, he says, the Red Cross also has gathered information from hundreds of families of Serbian, gypsy and other communities. They reported their relatives had been abducted by the Kosovo Liberation Army, the K-L-A. He says the Red Cross has received no answers from the K-L-A as to what happened to the missing. (Signed) NEB/LS/JWH/LTD/KL/Eurasia/Europe 25-Feb-2000 09:31 AM EDT (25-Feb-2000 1431 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America Byline: Lisa Schlein Dateline: Geneva http://gopher.voa.gov:70/00/newswire/fri/RED_CROSS_-_KOSOVO ========================================== BETA DAILY NEWS Helsinki Committee Demands Flora Brovina's Release February 25, 2000 The Helsinki Human Rights Committee for Serbia on Feb. 24, demanded the release of the Albanian Women's League founder, the poetess Flora Brovina, who was recently sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment. Brovina, serving her sentence in the Zabela prison near Pozarevac, was sentenced for association with the purpose of carrying out hostile activities. She was arrested in Pristina on Apr. 22, 1999, and after several weeks in the Lipljan prison, was transferred to Pozarevac. The Helsinki Committee's chairwoman, Sonja Biserko, told a press conference that Brovina had faced "a classical political trial" and that "she was to set an example, because, being a doctor, a female activist and a poetess, she is the symbol of the emancipation of ethnic-Albanian women and Albanian society." "To Flora Brovina the trial means" that the Serbian and Yugoslav authorities "want to destroy the core of the Albanian society's emancipation", Sonja Biserko was quoted as saying. ========================================== GRUPA 484 Press Release - President Mihajlovic Indicted February 24th, 2000 Belgrade PRESS RELEASE: ON THE INDICTMENT AGAINST THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW DEMOCRACY PARTY MR. DUSAN MIHAJLOVIC On February 24th, 2000 media transmitted TANJUG news that the Third Municipal Prosecutors Office has submitted a proposal for indictment to the Third Municipal Court against the president of the New Democracy party Mr. Dusan Mihajlovic for the criminal act of spreading false information and disturbance of citizens, from the article 218 of the Criminal Code, in connection with his statements made in the show "Who is guilty to us?" that was broadcast on ITV Studio B on February 22nd, 2000. President Mihajlovic has not received the indictment yet and he learned about it trough media simultaneously with other citizens and members of the New Democracy. The New Democracy thinks that the beginning of this process represents the first practical step on the path of realisation of the conclusions of the speech of Slobodan Milosevic on non-existence of the opposition in Serbia. The mechanism of the "verbal delict" that has been used is typical for the undemocratic regimes. But, by releasing the indictments trough media, by intimidating citizens, by arresting those who don't think the same and political rivals, the regime can not ban the truth, neither it can frighten citizens nor prevent necessary democratic changes. By such moves the regime only demonstrates its impotence to solve the crisis in which we are. The trial against the stands of the New Democracy clearly shows that the regime takes our party as a dangerous and great rival. The New Democracy knows that its publicly expressed stands are not criminal acts. We believe that the judicial bodies will also understand that and that they will respect the law. Otherwise, The Third Municipal Prosecutors office will have to indicte for the same criminal act bodies of the New Democracy party that adopted these stands, as well as all other members of the New Democracy who are completely accepting them and spread them as their personal beliefs. The freedom of thought and of the public word can not be prevented by intimidation and by organisation of the constructed political trials. ========================================== FREE SERBIA Joschka Fischer visited Kosovo February 25, 2000 German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said on Friday Germany would send more police to Kosovo, but it would take time for the province's wounds to heal. "The hate here is great and the graves are deep," Fischer said during a one-day visit to Kosovo. He met the German commander of KFOR NATO-led peacekeeping forces, General Klaus Reinhardt, United Nations officials and leaders of the Albanian and Serb communities. , Fischer said the situation in Kosovo was similar to that in Bosnia after the 1992-1995 war that accompanied the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. "The international community is facing here a situation like Bosnia after the Dayton peace accord," he said. "Countries involved here should keep their promises." He was referring to complaints by NATO's outgoing Supreme Commander, U.S. General Wesley Clark, that some countries were not contributing enough troops to the KFOR peacekeeping force. Fischer said Germany would increase its contribution to the U.N.-run UNMIK civilian police force to 420 from 256. He also said Germany would contribute six judges and a prosecutor to help get Kosovo's legal and judicial system on its feet. Fischer said conditions were not yet right in Kosovo to arrange for the return home of some 180,000 Kosovo Albanian asylum seekers in Germany. "We hope in due course with all the efforts being done that conditions will be created for their safe and prosperous return," he said. 3,000 missing in Kosovo, says Red Cross Nearly 3,000 people are still missing in Kosovo, the vast majority ethnic Albanians, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Friday. This humanitarian agency said it had asked Serb authorities in Belgrade and Kosovo Albanian leaders in Pristina this week to help clarify the fate of those unaccounted for. The missing comprise 2,400 Kosovo Albanians and 400 ethnic Serbs with the remainder Gypsies, Muslims or other minorities, according to Pierre Kraehenbuehl, head of ICRC's taskforce for the Balkans. "We hope the authorities will provide answers that can shed light on the fate of those missing," he told a news briefing in Geneva. "The uncertainty has been traumatizing for the families. As in Bosnia, exhumations will lead to further clarifications and some cases of further confirmed deaths." The ICRC has no figure for the number killed in the conflict. The United States estimates that Serb forces killed about 10,000 Kosovo Albanians between March and June 1999. International investigators said in November they had unearthed 2,108 bodies from nearly 200 grave sites in Kosovo. In all, 4,434 people were reported missing by their families between January 1998 and the end of the conflict in the Serbian province in June 1999, according to an ICRC statement. It has clarified the fate of 1,447 people, including 102 confirmed dead. Most of the rest were tracked down in prisons. Of the 2,987 people who remain unaccounted for in Kosovo, 1,875 were reportedly arrested by the Yugoslav armed and security forces or abducted by Serb civilians. Some 346 were allegedly abducted by the Kosovo Liberation Army or by Kosovo Albanian civilians. There is no information on the circumstances of the disappearance of the other 766 people, the ICRC said. ? Copyrights Free Serbia, 1999. http://anon.free.anonymizer.com/http://www.xs4all.nl/~freeserb/news/e-petak2 5februar.html ========================================== FREEB92 DAILY NEWS Current state of the judiciary in Serbia catastrophic February 26, 2000 BELGRADE, Saturday - The twelfth conference of the Serbian Lawyer's Association took place in Belgrade today. In his opening speech, Belgrade lawyer Radoslav Nedic stated that the current state of the judiciary in Serbia was catastrophic, the prosecutor's offices passive and under regime control with the courts ruling in favour of the regime. http://www.freeb92.net/archive/e/ ========================================== HELSINKI COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN SERBIA Student Forum: Confidence Building Measures between Serbs and Albanians Appeal to the Ministry of Justice Republic of Serbia February, 2000 We, the participants of the student forum, organized in Skopje on 15 and 16 January 2000 by the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia within its project Confidence Building Measures between Serbs and Albanians", demand: 1. Immediate and unconditional release of all Kosovo Albanians imprisoned againts whom no charges were brought; 2. Immediate suspension of all ongoing legal proceedings against Kosovo Albanians; 3. Revision of all the court proceedings launched against Kosovo Albanians since March 24th 1989, until today. Zdravko Jankovic Fisnik Halimi Sandra Sljepcevic Heroina Telaku Vladimir Markovic Bashkim Fazliu Emilija Andrejevic Eliza Hoxha Vladimir Cvetkovic Artan Muhaxhiri Nenad Glisic Xhelal Ramadani Individuals and organizations willing to support this initiative are invited to join the appeal. ========================================== Additional updates of the Kosovar political prisoners, including those sentenced, missing and released, may be found at: http://www.khao.org/appkosova/appkosova-database.htm http://www.khao.org/appkosova/appkosova-report0037.htm http://www.khao.org/appkosova/appkosova-report0038.htm http://www.khao.org/appkosova/appkosova-report0041.htm Very useful statistics and update from ICRC on missing persons from Kosovo can be found at: http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/60c532db df49f6878525688f006f80d4?OpenDocument Archives of the A-PAL Newsletters may be found at: http://www.khao.org/appkosova.htm Albanian Prisoner Advocacy List -- Prisoner Pals Newsletter, No. 012 From kosova at jps.net Sat Mar 11 18:06:57 2000 From: kosova at jps.net (kosova at jps.net) Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2000 15:06:57 -0800 Subject: [A-PAL] A-PAL Newsletter, No. 013 Message-ID: Welcome to Albanian Prisoner Advocacy List -- Prisoner Pals Newsletter, No. 013, March 06, 2000 This report highlights the developments on the prisoner issue for the week of February 27, 2000. ========================================== A-PAL STATEMENT: ========================================== International Crisis Group Senior Consultant, Suzy Blaustein, from her CSCE Hearing report on prisoners: "It was U.S. officials in Washington who allowed the issue of Albanian prisoners to be dropped from the negotiating table (Kumoanovo), nevertheless, that pragmatic omission does not in any way relieve the parties of the obligation to release all POWS and civilians detained and arrested during the armed conflict. This obligation is incumbent upon all signatories to the Third and Fourth Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Protocol II of 1978." There are times when democratic governments fail to actively support the very international human rights laws that they themselves have signed. When that happens, the citizens of those countries must call their leaders to task and remind them of their obligations to provide equality under the law for "the very least of us". In this case those 1,300 Albanians still suffering in Serb prisons. Our immediate initiative now is to email the members of the UN Security Council, as described below, to remind them of their obligations under the Geneva Conventions. Not only should they appoint a special envoy and ask the International War Crimes Tribunal to investigate this ongoing violation of the Geneva Conventions, but they should request the "broadest possible amnesty" and should appoint a neutral country to serve as the advocate for the prisoners, a role usually assigned to the ICRC, who in this case have been unusually weak in assisting prisoners and their families. In that case, according to the Conventions, a neutral country should be present to ensure their fair and humane treatment, medical care, and legal services. We hope you will read the narrative of recently released prisoner, Enver Hashani, to remind yourself that the prison system in Serbia is inhumane and brutal. In addition to the Albanian prisoners, more and more Serbs are being arrested because of their political beliefs and their attempts to move towards a more democratic government. Grupa 484 has asked us to help spread the word on the record number of beatings and arrests now being suffered by Serbs, especially with Resistance movement members. While we at APP want to remain focused on the specific problem of the Albanians imprisoned during the NATO war, we believe that equality under the law is a moral imperative. Serb human rights leaders and lawyers have played a key role in the survival and release of the imprisoned Albanians. They have shown far more integrity and courage than the ICRC and UNHCHR, who are supposed to perform these roles, but don't in Serbia for fear of being forced to leave. The beatings, harassment, and imprisonment Serb resisters now face, are crimes eerily similar to those the Albanians faced in Kosova under the 10 years of oppression from Belgrade. For ten years, they begged for lawful intervention and support and never received it. Must we all now wait for a bloody civil war within Serbia? The international community must bring light to bear on the Serb justice system and its role in promoting and maintaining social violence and oppression. In this capacity, ICRC and UNHCHR have so far performed disgracefully. If the UN Security Council fails to respond to Bernard Kouchner in his pleas for help in asking for a Special Envoy and amnesty on March 6, 2000, then they too, will have performed disgracefully. ========================================== THIS WEEK?S TOPICS: ========================================== * LAWYERS COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: Appeal of the criminal conviction of Dr. Flora Brovina * COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE: The Plight of Kosovo's Displaced and Imprisoned Detailed * STATEMENT AT THE CSCE HEARING CHAIRED BY CHRISTOPHER SMITH: John Menzies-Special U.S. Advisor on Kosovo-- Comments on Albanian Prisoners * ASSOCIATION OF POLITICAL PRISONERS: Interviews conducted in Kosova, January/February 2000 * HUMANITARIAN LAW CENTER COMMUNIQUE: Thirteen Kosovo Albanians released * ALICE MEAD: Letter to Vice President Albert Gore * AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE: Serb opposition leader faces trial on March 7 * THE ASSOCIATED PRESS: Congressional commission espouses plight of ethnic Albanians, Serbs * KOSOVAPRESS: Taken from the daily newspaper "Kosova sot" * KOSOVAPRESS: A prisoner it is released from prison of Nishi * KOSOVAPRESS: The process of prisoners will be debated in OSCE * KOSOVAPRESS: Protests for the release of Albanian hostages * KOSOVAPRESS: From the Serb jails today were released 23 Albanians * KOSOVAPRESS: Hunger strike of the Albanian prisoners who are being kept in Prishtina's prison * WOLFGANG PLARRE: Letter to US Security Council * AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE: Number of victims buried in Kosovo still unknown - Robinson * HUMANITARIAN LAW CENTER COMMUNIQUE: Presevo Mayor On Political Trial * KOSOVAPRESS: Tha?i's Address to the Kosovar Residence * HELSINKI COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN SERBIA: Student Forum: Confidence Building Measures between Serbs and Albanians * OTPOR! (RESISTENCE!): List of arrested and taken in activists * HUMANITARIAN LAW CENTER COMMUNIQUE: Presevo Mayor On Political Trial * REUTERS: Serb opposition party says police detained members ========================================== QUOTES OF THE WEEK: ========================================== John Menzies, Kosovo Advisor for US State Department, February 28,at CSCE Commission Hearing, "The continued detention of Albanians in Serbia remains a tragic and acutely vexing issue for the international community..." He went on to add that Canada, Italy, and Japan are three countries besides Finland who have embassies and diplomatic relations with Belgrade. CSCE Commission Chairman, Chris Smith, (NJ)- "We know all too well that few efforts to build democratic values and a tolerant society in Kosovo or elsewhere in the region can succeed without addressing the role of Slobodan Milosevic and the need for democratic change in Serbia itself." Radoslva Nedic, at 12th Conference of the Serbian Lawyers Association: "The current state of affairs of the Serbia judiciary is catastrophic, the prosecutor's office passive and under regime control with the courts ruling in favor of the regime." Carl Bildt, UN Special Envoy to the Balkans: The UN must continue to search for peace in the region, especially in Kosovo. There is no proper peace agreement in Kosovo." UN US Ambassador Richard Holbrooke: "The international community is handicapped by the regime in Belgrade and the large number of war criminals still at large." ========================================== WEEK?S REQUESTED ACTION: ========================================== Email the members of the UN Security Council countries and inform them of the unjust situation regarding the 1,600 prisoners. Ask them to appoint a Special Envoy from both the UN and the International War Crimes Tribunal, requesting the broadest possible amnesty from the Serb Ministry of Justice. This amnesty is what they would have been granted under the Geneva Conventions. The prisoners should have been released on June 10, 1999, but these terms were dropped from the Kumanovo Agreement. Members of the UN Security Council through December, 2000. The presidency rotates each month and is listed as well. The fifteen countries are: 1. United States of America: usaun at undp.org (Pres/January,2000) 2. United Kingdom: uk at un.it 3. Ukraine: ukrun at undp.org 4. Tunisia: tunun at undp.org 5. Russian Federation: rusun at un.int (Pres/December) 6. Malaysia: mysun at undp.org (Pres/August) 7. Netherlands: netherlands at un.int (Pres/November) 8. Jamaica: jamaica at un.int (Pres/July) 9. France: france at un.int (Pres/June) 10. China: chinun at undp.org (Pres/May) 11. Canada: canada at un.int (Pres/April) 12. Bangladesh: bangladesh at un.int (Pres/March) 13. Argentina: argentina at un.int (Pres/February) 14. Mali (do not have e-mail address) (Pres/September) 15. Namibia (do not have e-mail address) (Pres/Oct.) The primary function of the Security Council is maintain peace and security in accordance with the principles of the UN. These include the Geneva Conventions. The prisoner issue is a violation of Geneva Conventions 3 and 4. All parties here are co-signers, and are therefore responsible for the welfare of the prisoners. Remind these countries that the Geneva Conventions of 1949 were enacted for situations just like this one. It is their sworn duty to carry out these policies. The Conventions are a minimum standard. They are not optional. The NATO war in Kosovo was ended with an international agreement, not a local agreement, therefore the Conventions apply. Also, RECOMMEND methods of adjusting settlements to disputes that are a threat to peace. Ask for a Special Envoy to reach a settlement on behalf of the prisoners in accordance with the Geneva Conventions and international standards regarding detention and arrests, use of torture, and lack of fair trials. Another function is to formulate plans and to supervise the international court of justice. Ask for a Special Envoy from ICTY to systematically investigate the "disappearances" thousands of missing Albanians. YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE DEAD TO HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS. ========================================== FULL REPORTS AND ARTICLES BEGIN HERE: ========================================== LAWYERS COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS Appeal of the criminal conviction of Dr. Flora Brovina March 2, 2000 Honorable Balsa Govedarica President of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Serbia Honorable Dragomir Stojanovic President of the Criminal Division of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Serbia REF: Appeal of the criminal conviction of Dr. Flora Brovina Dear President Govedarica: The Lawyers Committee for Human Rights (Lawyers Committee) writes regarding the prosecution of Dr. Flora Brovina, a medical doctor, poet, and human rights activist. On December 9, 1999, Dr. Brovina was convicted by the District Court in Ni? of conspiracy to commit the crime of terrorism. She was sentenced to 12 years in prison. She has appealed her conviction and sentence to the honorable Supreme Court of the Republic of Serbia. The Lawyers Committee is a non-governmental organization which works to ensure that governments protect human rights and respect the rule of law. Our office has reviewed the trial record and court judgment in this case, which we understand is one of approximately 950 pending prosecutions against ethnic Albanians arrested in Kosovo and subsequently transferred to various jurisdictions within Serbia for trial. After examination of the court record in Dr. Brovina?s case, as well as the testimony of trial observers, we write to share our concerns about the prosecution, and to inform the court of certain considerations of international law which have application to the case. We appeal to your honorable President of the Supreme Court of Serbia in the spirit of judicial fairness and impartiality consecrated in Yugoslav and international law. We note that responsibility for reviewing and correcting errors of domestic and international law by the District Court now lies with the Supreme Court of Serbia. Since questions of international law raised in this case might arise in the large number of similarly situated cases likely to come before this and other appellate courts in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY or Yugoslavia), we believe it is imperative that we communicate with you. Like its predecessor State, FRY is a Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Yugoslavia ratified in 1971 and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Convention Against Torture), which Yugoslavia ratified in 1991. Customary international law likewise binds the FRY. FRY officials have expressly acknowledged this fact in several international proceedings. Several legal provisions reinforce these international standards within Yugoslav law. First, the supreme law of the FRY ? its Federal Constitution - incorporates the international treaties to which the FRY is a party, as well as customary international law, into national law. In addition, international law requires that every court of the FRY apply its national codes of criminal law and procedure in a manner that is consistent with international standards. Likewise, both the Convention Against Torture and the ICCPR require that States Parties conform their own procedural law to international norms, and that they apply that law equally and in a non-discriminatory manner. We believe that FRY?s legal obligations were in full force at the time of Dr. Brovina?s arrest, and continue to the present. First, we note that the FRY had not acted to trigger the provisions of ICCPR, Article 4, which permit limited derogation from some ICCPR provisions during severe public emergencies. The 1949 Geneva Conventions apply during armed conflict and govern the treatment of persons detained during such conflict. Common Article 3 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions guaranteed certain basic protections to Dr. Brovina and other non-combatants. Relevant facts in the case of Dr. Flora Brovina Our understanding of the facts of this case are that Serbian forces arrested Dr. Brovina in Pri? tina, Kosovo on April 20, 1999. She was indicted by the Ni? District Attorney on October 20 with conspiracy to commit the crime of terrorism and other offenses under paragraph 1 of Article 136 and Article 125 of the Yugoslav Criminal Law. According to the information which the District Attorney filed with the District Court, the factual basis for the charges stemmed from Dr. Brovina?s work as a pediatrician and as the founder of the Albanian League of Women. Over the first month of her detention, Dr. Brovina was interrogated for more than 200 hours in 18 separate sessions. These interrogations typically extended from 7:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon, without food or time to rest. Dr. Brovina was afforded no opportunity to meet privately with her attorney during the month-long interrogation. Her family was unable to locate her during the two months she was detained in Kosovo during which time the police moved her numerous times among unofficial makeshift detention cells. She reported also that she was denied the medication she normally takes for her painful angina condition. The police extracted a confession from Dr. Brovina, who acknowledged signing the statement only to escape further mistreatment. She testified that the purported admission of guilt contained in the confession was untrue and was the product of coercion. It appears from the record that Dr. Brovina was tried and convicted on the basis of this confession, supported by one photograph of her next to an alleged KLA member and some medicines found in her possession. It also appears the District Court may have allowed the prosecution to travel to Montenegro to take the testimony of a witness without affording Dr. Brovina the opportunity to confront or question this individual. On December 9, 1999, the last day of trial, the District Attorney expanded the charge against Dr. Brovina, which was originally based on acts allegedly committed before the declaration of the state of emergency in FRY, to include acts alleged during the state of emergency. It is our understanding that the expansion of the factual basis for the charge permitted the District Court to impose a more severe sentence pursuant to Article 139 of the Yugoslav Criminal Law. The new charges also permitted the court to admit the confession which had not been proffered into evidence until the new charges were made. Prior to accepting the confession, the court made no inquiry into Dr. Brovina?s allegation that the confession had been coerced. Later that day, the District Court sentenced Dr. Brovina to twelve years in prison. Dr. Brovina subsequently made a timely appeal of her conviction and sentence. Of the facts summarized here--the length of detention, the extent of uncounseled interrogations, the lapse prior to the issuance of charges, the sudden change in the charges and the introduction of the confession?none are disputed, except the allegations of mistreatment. It is also not disputed that the court made no effort to determine whether the confession, which resulted from this prolonged custodial interrogation, had been coerced. In light of these facts, we wish to draw to your attention some fundamental legal principles which we believe compel the conclusion that Dr. Brovina?s conviction rests on a violation of her basic rights. International legal provisions guarantee several rights to a detainee such as Dr. Brovina. In particular, a person has a right to prompt notice of the charges against her; the right to challenge the lawfulness of detention; the right to assistance of counsel; the right to trial within a reasonable time; and, most importantly, the right not to be tortured in an attempt to coerce a confession. At trial, two other fundamental rights come into play. A defendant may not be surprised by new charges or evidence for which there has been no adequate opportunity to prepare and the trial process should not admit a confession, which is the product of coercion, mistreatment or torture. PRE-TRIAL RIGHTS Access to counsel and family during initial detention period We believe that the 30-day interrogation period, during which time Dr. Brovina was not informed of the charges against her and was denied access to her lawyer, cannot be reconciled with long-established principles of international law. Dr. Brovina?s right to be informed of the reasons for her detention are grounded in Article 9(1) of the ICCPR, which protects against arbitrary detention and only allows for the deprivation of liberty in accordance with law and Article 9(4) of the ICCPR, which entitles a detained person to a prompt judicial determination the lawfulness of her deprivation of liberty. Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions also guarantees Dr. Brovina?s right to be informed of all the charges against her in order to prepare her defense. TORTURE AND MISTREATMENT We also believe that the conditions of Dr. Brovina?s detention rose to the level of mistreatment and possibly torture. According to the United Nations Human Rights Committee (HRC), the enforcement body of the ICCPR, States are obliged to provide detainees and prisoners with services that will satisfy their essential needs. (General Comment No. 21/44 of April 6, 1992). Article 3 of the Geneva Convention also requires observation of the right to receive necessary medical care. It is our assessment that the length and circumstances of Dr. Brovina?s interrogation, including the denial of medication, rest and food triggers application of the Convention against Torture which defines torture as "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession to the level of torture under these treaties." (Article 1(1)). Article 7 of the ICCPR prohibits torture ? or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment ? and is a norm of customary international law that also belongs to the category of jus cogens, i.e. peremptory norms accepted and recognized by the international community of states, as a whole, as norms from which no derogation is permitted. TRIAL RIGHTS: DENIAL OF RIGHT TO PREPARE A DEFENSE By allowing the prosecution to add the charge that Dr. Brovina committed unspecified acts during a period of national emergency, the District Court prevented Dr. Brovina from preparing a defense to the new charge. The fundamental right to a fair hearing, as provided for in Article 14 of the ICCPR, establishes that everyone shall be entitled "to be informed promptly and in detail in a language which he understands of the nature and cause of the charge against him" (section (3)(g)) and "adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defense and to communicate with counsel of his own choosing" in the determination of formal charges (section (3)(b)). CONVICTION BASED ON COERCED CONFESSION Furthermore, the change in the charge allowed the prosecution to admit the confession, which formed the basis for Dr. Brovina?s conviction. In the determination of any criminal charge against him or her, everyone is entitled "Not to be compelled to testify against himself or to confess guilt" (ICCPR, Article 14(3)(g)). This provision aims to prohibit any form of coercion, whether direct or indirect, physical or mental, and whether before or during the trial, that could be used to force the accused to testify against him/herself or to confess guilt. Article 15 of the Convention Against Torture and Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions prohibit admission of, and conviction based upon, coerced confessions. When allegations are made that a confession resulted from coercion, Article 12 of the Convention against Torture requires a judge to initiate an inquiry into these claims to verify the legality of a confession. A judge has the authority to consider an allegation of coercion or torture at any stage of the proceedings (HRC, General Comment 13, para.15 of April 13, 1984). In the case of Dr. Brovina, when the court failed to investigate her treatment during interrogation, and then made the resulting confession the centerpiece of her conviction, the court violated non-derogable duties under the ICCPR and the Convention Against Torture, as incorporated into Yugoslav law by article 16 of the Constitution. The circumstances of Dr. Brovina?s detention, confession, trial, and sentence raise serious questions regarding the validity of the judicial process in this case under FRY and International law. For this reason, the Lawyers Committee respectfully urges you to consider how the legal principles discussed above support the appeal of Dr. Brovina?s conviction. We also hope that every appropriate measure will be taken to ensure that future judicial proceedings be brought in accordance with international law. The Lawyers Committee appreciates your attention to this important matter and will continue to follow developments in this case. Sincerely Robert O. Varenik Director, Protection Program Cc: Mr. Petar Jojic, Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice of FRY Mr. Dragoljub Jankovic, Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Serbia http://www.lchr.org/media/brovinaltr0300.htm ========================================== COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE The Plight of Kosovo's Displaced and Imprisoned Detailed February 28, 2000 WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- "We know all too well that few efforts to build democratic and tolerant societies in Kosovo or anywhere in the region can succeed without addressing the role of Slobodan Milosevic and the need for democratic change in Serbia itself. Until that occurs, the international community will continue to be challenged in the region," said Commission Chairman Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ) at today's hearing "Kosovo's Displaced and Imprisoned" held by the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Commissioner Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-VA) and Ranking Commissioner Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) also attended. Testifying before the Commission were: Ambassador John Menzies, Deputy Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State for Kosovo Implementation, U.S. Department of State; Bill Frelick, Director of Policy, U.S. Committee for Refugees; His Grace Artemije, Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Prizren and Raska; Andrzej Mirga, Chairman, Project on Ethnic Relations Romani Advisory Council, and Co-Chair, Specialists Group on the Roma of the Council of Europe; Susan Blaustein, Senior Consultant, International Crisis Group; and Ylber Bajraktari, a political analyst from Kosovo. Smith emphasized that during this time of attempted reconciliation, "it is particularly important that we are alert around the time of important anniversaries, such as the anniversary of the NATO bombing that is forthcoming." He also said that "we must keep our focus on potential Hot Spots that might devolve into another Kosovo, areas such as southern Serbia or Montenegro. And we must make every effort to remember the forgotten and vulnerable in Kosovo -- the Roma, Conscientious Objectors, Muslim Slavs and those Albanians accused by extremists to have been collaborators with the Serbian regime." Smith called upon the Clinton Administration to raise the public level of attention to the status of Albanian prisoners of conscience in Serbia and to call upon the Serbian regime to comply with international law and release them. Menzies, speaking for the Clinton Administration, said that "gradually, peace is taking hold, and the resolution of the questions posed by the displaced and imprisoned are important factors in building that peace. The key to the return of all citizens of Kosovo is security." However, Menzies said, "The continued detention of Albanians in Serbia remains a tragic and acutely vexing issue for the international community. Given our lack of diplomatic relations with Belgrade, it is difficult for the U.S. Government to directly pressure the Milosevic regime on this issue." Bishop Artemije recommended, "KFOR should be more robust in suppressing vi)L(jKWK9ternational police should be brought to Kosovo. Finally, the international community, especially the U.S., should make clear to Kosovo Albanian leaders, that they cannot create an ethnically cleansed state under the protectorate of western democratic governments." Andrzej Mirga commented, "The most devastating effect on minds and feelings of those belonging to minorities is the fact that the same atrocities which were associated with Serbs during the conflict are taking place now in the presence of international forces .... Until civil society, rule of law, and moderation are achieved it is hard to believe that these minorities will feel secure." Susan Blaustein noted, "It was U.S. officials in Washington who allowed the issue of the Albanian prisoners to be dropped from the negotiating table . Nevertheless, ... the pragmatic omission of the prisoner issue from the military-technical agreement that brought the conflict to a much-desired close does not in any way relieve the parties to that conflict of the obligation to release, immediately upon the cessation of hostilities, all prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians detained in the course of armed conflict. This obligation is incumbent upon all signatories to the Third and Fourth Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the accompanying Protocol II of 1978.. " Ylber Bajraktari humanized the numbers by citing cases, such as: 24-year-old Albin Kurti, a former leader of the non-violent student movement; Flora Brovina, a prominent pediatrician and human rights activist; Ukshin Hoti, a Harvard graduate considered by some to be a possible future leader of Kosovo; and, Bardhyl Caushi, Dean of the School of Law, University of Pristina. Frelick recommended, "The U.S. Government and other donors should direct bilateral funding to international nongovernmental organizations to develop alternative networks to deliver humanitarian assistance in Serbia. This will not only establish alternative networks for the delivery of humanitarian assistance, thus breaking the Yugoslav Red Cross' monopoly and introducing healthy competition that will hopefully make the YRC more accountable as well, but will also encourage the development of an active and vibrant local NGO sector in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY)." Regarding resettlement, Frelick said, "The United States should institute refugee processing out of Podgorica, Montenegro; President Clinton should issue a presidential determination permitting the United States to consider admitting certain categories of internally displaced persons in the FRY as refugees for purposes of the U.S. resettlement program; and, the following vulnerable groups such as: a) Roma and Hashkalija (gypsies) who fled from Kosovo to Serbia proper, Montenegro, or Macedonia would have a well-founded fear of persecution if returned to Kosovo. b) Ethnic Albanians from Kosovo who fled from Kosovo to Serbia proper or Montenegro because of threats or persecution at the hands of ethnic Albanian nationalists who accuse them of collaborating with the Serbian regime ruling Kosovo until June 1999 and who have a well-founded fear of persecution if returned to Kosovo. A relatively small number of ethnic Albanians fled Kosovo. c) Serbian conscientious objectors. d) Gorani, Slavic Muslims who fled Kosovo into Serbia proper or Montenegro. e) The refugees who continue to live in collective centers in Kosovo. f) Members of Albanian-Serbian mixed marriages. g) Ethnic Albanians from Serbia proper (mostly Presevo) who have fled into Macedonia. h) Other ethnic and religious minorities from Kosovo." Background Approximately two years ago, a decade of severe repression and lingering ethnic tensions in Kosovo erupted into full-scale violence, leading eventually to NATO intervention in early 1999 and UN administration immediately thereafter. The conflict in Kosovo was ostensibly between the Serbian and Yugoslav forces controlled by Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic -- since indicted for war crimes -- on the one hand, and the Kosovo Liberation Army which arose from more militant segments of Kosovo's Albanian majority on the other. As with previous phases of the Yugoslav conflict, however, the primary victims have largely been innocent civilians. Over one million ethnic Albanians were displaced during the conflict, as well as over 100,000 Serbs and tens of thousands of Roma in the aftermath of the international community's intervention. Senseless atrocities were frequently committed throughout this process of forced migration. Many remain unable to return, and the recent violence in the northern city of Mitrovica demonstrates the continued volatility of the current situation. Meanwhile, a large number of Kosovar Albanians, removed from the region while it was still under Serbian control, languish in Serbian prisons to this day. ========================================== STATEMENT AT THE CSCE HEARING CHAIRED BY CHRISTOPHER SMITH John Menzies-Special U.S. Advisor on Kosovo-- Comments on Albanian Prisoners February 28, 2000 The continued detention of Albanians in Serbia remains a tragic and acutely vexing issue for the international community. Given our lack of diplomatic relations with Belgrade, it is difficult for the U.S. Government to directly pressure the Milosevic regime on this issue. However, the State Department has, since last summer, consistently worked to raise the public and diplomatic profile of this issue, and to leverage key players inside Serbia who can make a difference. To this end, we are supporting indigenous human rights NGOs working in this area such as the Humanitarian Law Center and others who are monitoring and in some cases defending these prisoners in sham court proceedings. Meanwhile, we have provided $350,000 to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) mission in the FRY [Federal Republic of Yugoslavia], which was appointed by SRSG [Special Representative of the Secretary-General Bernard] Kouchner to lead the international effort to secure the release of the detainees. These funds are directly supporting UNHCHR efforts to monitor trials and secure the release of all detainees. According to the Humanitarian Law Center, there are at least 1300 persons illegally held in Serbian prisoners, including women and children. It should be noted however that there may be more than 1300 detainees in Belgrade-controlled prisons, indeed some estimates are as high as 5000. We are pleased that through the work of the High Commissioner on Human Rights and the Humanitarian Law Center, some women and children have been released for humanitarian reasons. Regrettably, the five to six hundred released to date have secured their freedom through Kosovar Albanian families paying ransoms to corrupt Serbian officials. In some cases, as much as DM 50,000 has been paid for a single prisoner -- an average detainee currently costs DM 10,000. We have also repeatedly raised the matter diplomatically with UNMIK, the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross), the International Commission on Missing Persons, and bilaterally with NATO member states. We have made it emphatically clear that there can be no reintegration of the government of Serbia into the international community without prior release of these prisoners. We have publicly registered our concern in these cases over the apparent lack of due process, condemning Serbia's actions as an example of their disregard for international norms of behavior. Others in the international community are also making efforts to promote release of these prisoners. For example, the Finnish government has negotiated with Belgrade for the release of prisoners. Many international, as well as U.S., NGOs are active on the issue. The UK and Belgium offices of Amnesty International and Pax Christie, along with the Association of Political Prisoners in Kosovo, continue to advocate tirelessly for the release of prisoners. Courageous NGOs in Serbia are also working this; the Belgrade-based NGOs Humanitarian Law Center, with a staff of only three lawyers, and the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights continue to defend Albanian prisoners. The truth is that European nations are in a better position than the U.S. to take the lead on this issue. Some of our European allies, like Italy, have representation in Belgrade and can pressure the Milosevic regime. Canada and Japan also have representation in Belgrade. It may also be possible to encourage greater Russian participation. In addition, the U.S. has begun a dialogue with the Community of St. Egidio to engage the FRY government on the issue. ========================================== ASSOCIATION OF POLITICAL PRISONERS Interviews conducted in Kosova, January/February 2000 March 01, 2000 By Alice Mead How did the 2,000 Albanians come to be in Serb prisons in the first place? They were transferred there on June 10, 1999, when the Serbs realized that US and NATO military advisors had agreed to strike the clause describing the terms for release of all prisoners following the cessation of armed hostilities. These 2,000 people were considered "expendable" as the US and NATO hurried to end the air war as quickly as possible. Here are statements from a few who have been released. The others said when I was released, please do all you can to help us. I have seen wounded men in prison. Men with no eyes. Some men had lost many family members in the war. I heard others scream from the torture and I had no power to help. I cannot forget this. HALIL MATOSHI Avije Village, Prishtina Released February 1, 2000 SHEMSI MUSLI Shtrumbullova Village, Gllogoc Arrested May 28, 1999 Age 14 I was arrested on May 28 early in the morning in my yard. Many police and paramilitary came in my yard. They came first at 5:00 a.m. to the village and into our yard at 7:00 a.m. There were many refugees staying here from other villages. Of the many men arrested, I think maybe only seventeen were from here. The police took a piece of rope and tied my wrists together behind my back. I had no shoes on, it was so early. They asked where my father was, I was afraid to say because he was with KLA, so I said my uncle was here. I was very scared. They asked how old I was, and I said 14. They said I had to go with them. They kept the rope on my wrists. They took me to the Gllogoc police station. There they tortured us. They hit us all over with metal bars, on the back. They hit us with chairs, and on my back with a baseball bat. All day they hit us. Many police came to torture us. They used electric shock too. Eight or nine police tortured us all night. We stayed at the police station for three days or five days. Then we went to Lipjan and on June 10th to Pozharevac Prison in Serbia. I still had no shoes to wear and my legs were very cold. The trip from Lipjan by bus was terrible. I can't forget it no matter how hard I try. We were handcuffed and put on the bus at 7 a.m., with no food and water. We were on that bus til 11 p.m., all without food and water, and it was very hot. All the time, they tortured us. I was very tired and I didn't want to go to Serbia. They made us sing Chetnik songs and told us from that day we were not Albanians any more. Sing in Serb, they told us. When we got to Pozharevac, it was late at night. The guards tortured us when we got there. They beat us in a long corridor of guards with clubs. They beat the children and old men just like everyone else. I was put in a cell with many men. Finally a friend there gave me some shoes to wear. I never had a lawyer, not once. I don't know why I was in prison. The ICRC came twice. I was very scared the whole time and there wasn't enough to eat, I lost one half my weight. Even now, after I have been home two months, I am still scared. My wrists are scarred from the handcuffs, but my back is healed. One boy is still there and I am afraid he will die. I worry about it all the time. We could never wash. There was no heat and hardly any food. My neighbor died from the torture. One day the guards came in November. They called me and some other minors and sent us into isolation cells. Four of us in each one. We thought now we would die. On November 18, they searched us and said we were terrorists, KLA, they insulted us. They brought us clothes and said put them on. Then on the 19th, they took us to a bus. We didn't know where we were going, but we thought maybe to be executed. There were 21 of us on the bus. They drove us to the border. We got off and they insulted us some more and then said "walk." We started walking across the border and finally ICRC came and the KFOR searched us. That's how we found out we were released. It was on November 19, 1999. ICRC brought me home. Now I'm back in school in the eighth grade. SABRI MUSLIU Shtrumbullova Village, Gllogoc Arrested age 14 yrs. On May 28, 1999 at home That day the police came to the village, 320 men were arrested from our village. Many were from other villages staying here because their homes were destroyed. I have four other brothers. My father was trying to hide all of us in different places so the soldiers wouldn't see us all at once. At five a.m., the police surrounded the village. We heard their voices outside. I was with my father in the house. They took us outside. They tortured my father there, 3 or 4 of them. They took our money and my mother's jewelry and made her stand against the wall and put her hands on the wall and stay there. I wanted to put my shoes on but they wouldn't let me. The police took me and my father to the Gllogoc police station. That's where we were tortured the most. They hit us with metal bars and a baseball bat mostly on the back and arms. You can see the big bruises on my arm where they hit me seven months ago. These big bruises, the doctor here said they are thrombosis. The bruises are where they hit me with the metal bars. They hit me on the back of the head too with a Kalishnikov rifle with my father watching. I sat down on the floor because I was so tired and they hit me for that. I have problems from that now. The doctor here said it is head trauma. I have bad headaches all the time. And I have a tremor in my hands. I smoke a lot, too. The second day, the police gave us the paraffin test to see if we had been touching gunpowder. Then after a few days, they let my father go and took me to Lipjan prison in handcuffs. The handcuffs left these scars on my wrists. At Lipjan everyone was tortured. We had only a very small piece of bread to eat and no way to ever sleep. We were always very hungry. SABRI'S FATHER I was arrested on May 28, 1999, together with Sabri, and I spent three days in the Gllogoc Police Station with the others. After three days in Gllogoc, we were taken to Lipjan. The police first tortured me here in the yard in front of my home. But then at the police station, it was terrible. They hit us with metal bars. They beat my fourteen year old son in front of me because he sat down. I saw this . I don't know why they released me and took my boy. BEDRI YMERI (uncle of Plerrat Isufi from Sankoc Village) Shtrumbullova Arrested May 28, 1999 I was also brought to the Gllogoc Police station for three days. There I was tortured a lot. There was one policeman who tortured us the most. And there was one high-level policeman from Prishtina there. They put all the Albanian men in the big room with many doors. They said we had to play a game. The Albanians had to stand in the doorways and stop the ball. The police stood in the middle with four balls which they kicked at us very hard, so hard that there was almost no chance to stop them. If you dropped the ball, you would be tortured more. They called me for that game, but I am not young. I said I was too old. But they said I must play. Four police kicked the balls at me, and somehow I stopped them all, and I wasn't tortured any more. They released me after three days. But they took my 16 year old nephew Plerrat and he is still now in Pozharevac. He was not released with the other boys. No one knows why not. Our family had a letter from him in January around New Years. He said for us to please send food, because they don't have enough. He said he couldn't say more than that. Plerrat has never had a lawyer. He's been there since June 10th, 1999. Plerrat's house had been burned, so he was staying in Prishtina with another uncle. That's where he was arrested in the street outside his uncle's house. The police did a paraffin test in the road and said he was a terrorist. He is tall for his age, but weak and thin. According to Shemsi, Plerrat doesn't know why he is in prison. He keeps telling people there that he is a high school student. The time the ICRC came to Pozhrevac, he asked them, "Why am I here?" They said they didn't know. RREHMAN OLLURA Detained in Pozharevac Released December 12, 1999 I was taken to Pozharevac on June 10th from Lipjan by bus. We were tortured a lot on that bus ride. We had no food or water. At some point I was unconscious. We were beaten by clubs. I was put in one room with 40 men. The room was 7 meters by 5 meters. We were always hungry. We didn't have blankets and it was cold. My family tried to find me for one month in July, 1999. They hired a lawyer from Nis named Obrat Mishic. He visited me six times for five minutes each time while the guards stood close by us. I had confessed to nothing no matter how much I was tortured. I think that helped in my release. I didn't want the lawyer to help me with a trial because I was not guilty of anything. So why would I need a lawyer? Plerrat Isufi, the boy, was in my room at Pozharevac. He was kept with the men. All the minors were. They tortured them the same as us. One of the worst things was that we could always hear the screams of the men being tortured. No one can forget hearing that. That and the bus ride to Serbia were the two worst things. FAMILY OF MUHAMET MIFTARI Shtrumbullova Died in Pozharevac. Body arrived on January 23, 2000 FIKRIE MIFTARI (his daughter, age 26) Shtrumbullova, Gllogoc My father was a quiet man, who wanted his seven children, five girls and two boys, to be educated. He respected that. When the war came, we wanted to leave Kosova and go to Macedonia, but he refused, so we all stayed to be with him. My younger brother, Bujar, age 18, was in KLA and he was killed. My father was arrested in our home by the police on May 28. 20 special police came inside our house and destroyed everything. There were paramilitary too, with no hair only berets. They stayed here from 9 to 10 a.m. We gave them money and jewelry. There were refugees staying here from other villages that had been destroyed with us. They took my father to Gllogoc police station, and then to Lipjan and then to Pozharevac. We were worried about him because every day he had to take medicine for his ulcer. So we hired a lawyer, Hyseni Bitucci, to go see how he was. In the meantime, we went to every protest in Prishtina and signed the petition to ask for release of prisoners in September, but nothing happened. The lawyer visited him in prison and told us that our father was not well. He was cold and weak. We sent a package but he did not receive it. We tried again. But by the time that package arrived, he was dead. No one helped us, no UN people and no Albanian politicians. Why does Kouchner and UNMIK do nothing? If you want all the prisoners returned in a coffin like my father, then continue to do nothing. If you can't help us, leave us. HER UNCLE: All the men here today are in mourning for my brother who we buried a few days ago. The ICRC brought us his body from Pozharevac on January 23. We asked for an autopsy to see how he died. I don't have the documents for that yet. The other prisoners say he died from torture. He died in the prison hospital on January 17th, but we were not called for almost one week. When we asked agencies and UNMIK for help, they said they couldn't help us. Why are they here, then? In this tiny village just outside of the town of Gllogoc, each family has a story to tell. When Mohammed Miftari was returned home dead, the whole village went into mourning, seven months after the war ended. Until the prisoners are returned home, the villagers in hundreds of villages across Kosova live in a state of chronic anxiety over their missing loved ones, who they know full well are being treated in an appalling manor with no real hope of justice. Hundreds of families have resorted to raising approximately $10,000 in bribe money to have their relative's case "expedited" and to obtain his release. In the words of John Menzies, Special US Advisor on Kosovo for the US State Department, speaking on the complexity of the prisoner issue. The continued detention of Albanians in Serbia remains a tragic and vexing issue for the international community?s. We have repeatedly raised the matter diplomatically with UNMIK, the ICRC, the International Commission on Missing Persons, and bilaterally with the NATO states. We have publicly registered our concern in these cases over the apparent lack of due process, condemning Serbia's actions as an example of their disregard for international norms of behavior. (Statement at the CSCE Hearing in Washington, DC, on February 28, 2000, chaired by Christopher Smith.) Menzies goes on to explain the difficulty the US has in pressuring Serbia at this time due to lack of diplomatic relations. However, Menzies adds, "the truth is that European nations are in a better position than the US to take the lead on this issue. Some of our European allies, like Italy, have representation in Belgrade and can pressure the Milosevic regime. Canada and Japan also have representation in Belgrade. It may also be possible to encourage Russian participation." With regard to the plight of the prisoners, The US government has been both receptive to the input from small human rights groups and NGO's and directly demonstrated their sense of responsibility with a non-binding resolution passed by the U.S. House of July 14, 1999, demanding for the unconditional release of the Albanian prisoners in Serbia. They are now ratifying a second resolution in both House and Senate. They have contributed $350,000 to UNHCHR in Belgrade to aid in the monitoring of the trials. In Europe, getting out-spoken support on this issue has been hard. Basically there has been one sponsor for the Parliament's two resolutions, EP member Bart Staes of the Human Rights Committee. And the truth is that there is nowhere near the level of international awareness and commitment to action in enforcing human rights norms that is needed. The effort that the Association of Political Prisoners has put into getting a plan of action from the European Parliament and the United Nations, who are the guardians of peace, security, and human rights has been an uphill battle to say the least. No single leader nor country is willing to emerge as the leader of a diplomatic effort. Neither is the ICRC. According to the 1949 Geneva Conventions, of which all countries in the UN are co-signatories, prisoners detained following an armed conflict are to be released. If there are additional circumstances that warrant their continued detention, the prisoners should have either the ICRC or a neutral country to serve as their advocate, to ensure that they can see their family members, have unrestricted legal representation, have humane conditions, and had a fair, public, impartial trial. No country has stepped forward to take that role. But someone must. The Geneva Conventions are not optional. And if democracies don't enforce them, who will? Not only that, but the Conventions are minimum standards. Albanian politician Bardhyl Mahmuti, Vice President of the PDP, Thaci's party, sees the West's failure to vigorously pursue and prosecute war criminals as closely linked to their inattention to the prisoner issue and the anguish it has caused thousands of Albanian friends and family members. He noted that although some NGO's have worked very hard on this, notably the Humanitarian Law Center in Belgrade and the Association of Political Prisoners in Prishtina, that they lack support in their efforts from international organizations and European governments. "For this reason, Serbia has become a safe haven for criminals, where they can walk the streets freely," Mahmuti says. Mahumuti spent seven and a half years in Pozharevac penitentiary during the 1980's as a political prisoner. He has visited the villages now following the war. "People who have suffered collective trauma here cannot heal overnight, especially if there is no hope for justice for what they have suffered. There will be no normal life here until people can begin to see that there will be justice." An appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, Torture Division demonstrates the futility of finding a way to investigate the human rights abuses these prisoners have undergone. Clearly severe torture is a standard and wide-spread method in the Serbian justice system. But because neither Serbia nor Kosovo are European Commission members, they do not fall within the jurisdiction of the European Court. This means that prisoners in both places cannot protest the torture they suffered. And an indicted war criminal who is the leader of Serbia can do what he wants within his own boundaries. Do not think that it is only Albanian prisoners who are suffering in these prisons. In the past two weeks, over ninety Serbian Resistance movement activists have been beaten and imprisoned. These prisoners' relatives and friends have appealed to the Association of Political Prisoners for help in making the outside world aware of this problem. International officials must be made to realize that the Serbian justice system is a major tool in the on-going destabilization and lawlessness of both Serbia and Kosova. If the European Court is out of the picture, that leaves the only possible intervention by a petition to the International War Crimes Tribunal for Yugoslavia in The Hague. The Association has asked for an investigation into the prisoner issue as a violation of Geneva Conventions 3 and 4. We have yet to have a response. RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: 1.Email the UN Security Council and demand they appoint a special envoy/neutral country to investigate the prisoner problem and come up with a solution. 2.Institute an investigation under a sub-committee of the War Crimes Tribunal for Yugoslavia to investigate torture and violations of human rights during the NATO bombing campaign. 3.Insist that the Security Council request from the Justice Ministry in Belgrade "the broadest possible amnesty," as described in the Geneva Conventions. 4. Appoint a neutral country to have access to the Serb prison sites, as the UN was allowed to inspect weapons sites. If this can be done for nuclear weapons, it can surely be done for human beings. 5. Provide impartial lawyers for fair, public trials, food for prisoners, blankets and beds, appropriate medical care and secure transport for families to visit loved ones should they be in prison. 6. Appoint human rights observer teams in each prison to report cases of torture and abuse. 7. Punish all judges who fail to enforce and carry out both the constitutional requirements of the State of Yugoslavia and international law. ========================================== HUMANITARIAN LAW CENTER COMMUNIQUE Thirteen Kosovo Albanians released February 29, 2000 Judge Nikola Vazura of the Pozarevac District Court, formerly president of the District Court in Prizren, today ordered the release of 13 Kosovo Albanians who were held in custody for 17 months on charges of seditious conspiracy and terrorism. The Court acquitted Hamid Buzhola and Emri Loshi because of lack of evidence. Defendants Sahit Zyba, Mohamet Sopa, Sulejman Zyba, Urim Zyba, Rifat Sopa, Halit Elshani, Nezir Elshani, Hajrulah Elshani, Bajram Sopaj, Jemin Bajraktari, and Agron Zakoli were found guilty of seditious conspiracy and terrorism and all received sentences of one year and five months in prison. They were ordered released because of jail credit. The 13 Kosovo Albanians, who were arrested by Serbian police in late September 1998, are to be discharged today and taken over by the International Committee of the Red Cross whose representatives will escort them to their homes in Kosovo. ========================================== ALICE MEAD Letter to Vice President Albert Gore February 23, 2000 Request for Investigation of the Albanian Prisoners in Serbia Request for "Broadest Possible Amnesty" At the end of the NATO/Serb conflict, a military technical agreement was signed by Serbia and NATO commanders on June 10, 1999. A second agreement on the status of Kosovo, Resolution 1244, was signed by the UN Security Council. These agreements ended an international conflict over the fate of the province of Kosovo. But, in the agreements, there was no explicit reference to how exactly several thousand Albanian prisoners arrested during the war were to be released as KFOR entered Kosovo. Instead, on June 18, 1999, the Serb Minister of Justice announced that he had moved several thousand Albanians from prisons in Kosovo to prisons in Serbia "for their own protection." From orders at the highest levels of the Serb justice system, then, approximately 2,000 Kosovar Albanians were ordered into "forcible disappearance" in direct violation of the Geneva Conventions Articles 3 and 4, which state that at the cessation of international armed conflict, all prisoners shall be immediately released. The Serb Ministry stated that this was not an international conflict. But that is incorrect. Now in February, 2000, eight months after the Kumanovo Agreement, the vast majority of these Albanian prisoners are still languishing in Serb prisons with no hope for either local or international justice or amnesty as the Geneva Conventions state. The prisoners' rapid transfer and the lack of subsequent information regarding their condition, their charges, and even their whereabouts for the past eight months constitute what Amnesty International calls in its report on the subject, Broken Circle (October, 1999) "forced disappearances." The appalling conditions of their detention are a further violation of the Geneva Conventions as well. These prisoners have suffered wide-scale torture, murder at the Dubrava prison massacre, cruel treatment, degradation, lack of medical care, and their families have been routinely denied access or even information about their charges and site of detention. The International Committee of the Red Cross has been continually hampered in its effort to see prisoners, and the ICRC has not even visited Sremska Mitrovica prison, where conditions are reported to be the worst, since August, 1999. Although the Serb Ministry explains this removal as being for the prisoners' own safety, interviews with released prisoners state that the twelve hour bus rides from Kosovo to Serbia on June 10, 1999 were absolutely terrifying, a psychological and physical nightmare. The detainees were not given any food or water and were tortured constantly on the long rides. When they crossed into Serbia, they were told that they were no longer Albanians, but Serbs. When they arrived at the various prison sites, they were subjected to a long corridor of guards and prisoners beating them with clubs as they entered. This was hardly conducive to their "safety." For weeks, their families were not notified of their whereabouts. The vast majority arrived without court documents, evidence, or charges. Most were arrested on 30-day police warrants, which have expired over six months ago and were rounded up during the conflict. Amnesty International published its investigative report on the disappearances in October, 1999. They give a detailed account of the methods of this program of forced disappearances and recommend that the International War Crimes Tribunal for Yugoslavia assist in the investigation into this mass "disappearance," publish a complete list of all those in prison, investigate the circumstances of these abductions (many were taken off refugee columns especially in the Gjakova region), and bring responsible parties to justice. So far, four months after this report, no international organization has taken action on these very basic recommendations. Amnesty International states that the detention of the prisoners is a violation of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, of which both the US and Yugoslavia are signatories, as are the European countries. Amnesty recommends that the UN, International War Crimes for Yugoslavia, and the International Red Cross work together to investigate these disappearances and to bring those involved in perpetrating them to justice. The Association of Political Prisoners strongly supports this recommendation. Another NGO, the International Crisis Group of Brussels and Washington, DC, also published an investigative report on January 26, 2000 on the prisoner problem. That report pointed out that the prisoner situation was a clear violation of Geneva Conventions 3 and 4, which guarantee the release of all detainees following the cessation of armed conflict. According to ICG, "Thousands of Albanian lives are at stake...reports from recently released prisoners make clear that the prisoners conditions are appalling...they are routinely subjected to torture, and their trials are travesties. (Albanians in Serb Prisons, page i.) They also state that, "Because the war in Kosova between NATO and the FRY was clearly an international armed conflict, the Geneva Conventions of 1949 apply. These state that prisoners must be released without delay following the cessation of hostilities." WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ** The usual first step in such situations, according to the Geneva Conventions is for a request for the "broadest possible amnesty." This is usually done by the ICRC or a neutral country. No country or international organization has done this eight months after the end of the war. We, the Association of Political Prisoners, make this our first demand: That international leaders in the UN Security Council, the ICTY, the Red Cross, the European Parliament, UNHCHR, and OSCE cooperate and make a request for this amnesty together. The US ambassador, Richard Holbrooke, can play a key role in facilitating this important first step. ** The UN and the ICTY need to appoint a team of investigators to find out what exactly has happened to these 2,000 citizens during their detention and report all cases of human rights abuses. Preliminary interviews with released prisoners indicate that human rights violations and maltreatment are widespread. **The judges, wardens, police, and Serb Ministry of Justice need to be held accountable for the actions they have taken in this mass case of disappearances. We are petitioning for an investigation into this situation by the ICTY. **ICRC, UNMIK political administration and police need to develop a concrete plan for the safe return of these detainees to Kosova. Jock Covey is the US-UNMIK administrator best suited to coordinating this task successfully. While the Association of Political Prisoners recognizes the limited contact the US has with the regime in Belgrade, nevertheless the US can take a strong leadership role in resolving this agonizing problem for thousands of Kosovar families and their imprisoned loved ones. Thank you for your attention to this grave matter. Sincerely, Alice Mead Association of Political Prisoners ========================================== AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Serb opposition leader faces trial on March 7 February 29, 2000 BELGRADE, Feb 29 (AFP) - Serb opposition leader Dusan Mihajlovic goes on trial on March 7 on charges he spread false information about the regime of President Slobodan Milosevic, the daily Blic reported Tuesday. There was no immediate official confirmation of the court date, but the Yugoslav state agency Tanjug reported last week that a Belgrade district prosecutor had proposed indicting Mihajlovic of the New Democracy Party for "spreading false information and disturbing citizens." Speaking on a talk show February 22, Mihajlovic fiercely criticized Milosevic and described his government as "terror" and the "first stage of dictatorship." The charges carry a maximum penalty of three years in prison. Mihajlovic said Friday he had "not committed any criminal act, only expressed my political stance and that of my party," while his allies branded the possible charges as "political prosecution." The move was the latest bid by the Milosevic regime to crack down on opponents who have recently joined ranks against the Yugoslav president. "I am not afraid of (going to jail), a prison is for people," Mihajlovic told reporters, adding that he would go to court if summoned. Story from AFP Copyright 2000 by Agence France-Presse (via ClariNet) http://www.clari.net/hot/wed/di/Qyugo-opposition.RZ2T_AFT.html ========================================== THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Congressional commission espouses plight of ethnic Albanians, Serbs February 28, 2000 By David Briscoe WASHINGTON (AP) -- Members of a U.S. government human rights commission urged President Clinton on Monday to put more pressure on Yugoslavia to release ethnic Albanians still held prisoner in Serbia while not tolerating retaliation against Serbs in Kosovo. But an administration official said Europeans could do more to achieve prisoner releases than the U.S. government. Reflecting growing frustration with NATO's inability to resolve the Balkans crisis, the U.S. Helsinki Commission, at a hearing on Capitol Hill, faced a variety of pleas of justice for Kosovo's ethnic Albanians, Serbs and Gypsies, also known as Roma. John K. Menzies, deputy special adviser to the president and the secretary of state for Kosovo, told the commission that peace is gradually taking hold in the U.N.-protected Serb province, but he said resolution of the problem of displaced and imprisoned Kosovars is needed for violence to end. "We are beginning to see results," Menzies told the commission, citing progress in power generation, banking, mining and housing construction. But he added: "The continued detention of Albanians in Serbia remains a tragic and acutely vexing issue." He said the lack of diplomatic relations with Belgrade makes it difficult for the United States to directly pressure Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. "The truth is that European nations are in a better position than the U.S. to take the lead on this," Menzies said, noting that Italy, Canada and Japan all have representatives in Belgrade. He said the Finnish and private non-government groups have conducted some negotiations for prisoners' release. Menzies cited estimates of up to 5,000 ethnic Albanians held in Belgrade-controlled prisons. Most of the few hundred who have been released, he said, have had relatives buy their freedom with ransoms paid to corrupt officials. The Helsinki Commission, made up of senators, House members and representatives of the Clinton administration, issued no declaration at its hearing. But individual members urged Clinton to take a stronger interest. "The people who languish in Serbian prisons are not the cause of ethnic tensions; the war criminals who took them as they fled Kosovo are," said Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md. Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., agreed that the United States should press for the prisoners' release but also said he did not vote for the NATO bombing so the ethnic Albanians, who had been driven out of their homes, could "do the same thing to the Serb population." Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.M., chairman of the hearing, said ethnic Albanians, Serbs and Roma all are suffering. "Many Kosovar Albanians languish in Serbian prisons, seemingly for no reason other than the Milosevic regime's well documented desire to inflict pain on as many innocent people as possible," Smith said. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., committee co-chairman, said in a statement that continued deployment of Western forces in Kosovo does little to stop human rights violations. "People need to get out of the refugee camps and prisons and get back to their homes as soon as possible," Campbell said. http://news.excite.com/news/ap/000228/18/int-us-kosovo or http://www.nj.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?a0719_AM_US -Kosovo&&news&newsflash-washington ========================================== KOSOVAPRESS Taken from the daily newspaper "Kosova sot" February 29, 2000 "Those are terrible ?" -testimony of Enver Hashani -who was released recently from the prison of Nishi Prishtin?, February 29 (Kosovapress) - Familja Hashani from the Obiliq town was very happy.On February 14, Enver Hashani was released from the prison of Nish, who was previously sentenced to six years in prison. "I have paid 20.000 DM for my release", begins the story Enver, while his father said that "now, our father has born for the second time. ". Enver has been arrested on May 31, 1998, at his work place in "Gazifikim". During the arrest and during investigation period he was very bed tortured. Released prisoner report that torture for children and adult is conducted at the same level of violence. The prisoners were poorly clothed, many had no shoes on and were wearing tee shirts. He claims that they were kept in unheated cells, most slept on the floor with no blanket. Requets to see any doctor were met with beatings. Requests to see a doctor are met with beatings. Discharged prisoners suffering from contusions, broken bones head injures, and psychological problem are not being comprehensively treated. Enver says that now, he is not in able to sleep because he fear the people he left behind will die. " I can not forget the moment they treated me by electro-shock, I also remember the time when they put my head into the water, so that I could not breathe."-pointed he. " On 28 July,1998 they sent me to the hospital of Prishtina. I was tortured for several continually so I could not handle anymore. I have stayed at the hospital till September 5, 1998. And on September 23, he was sentenced to six years to prison ",-said Enver. "On February 20, 1999 together with 16 friends he was deported to the prison of Mitrovica e Sremit, so we were treated there in- humanly: "I met there the group of Avni Klinaku, the group of Nait Hasani, the professor Ukshin Hoti and the group of the former police. We were held 45 people in one room." "When NATO bombardments started, on March 24, they placed us in the prison's basements. On April 26, they transferred us from the prison of Mitrovica e Sremit to the prison of Nish. We were still on the bus when the Serb" guards" and civilians invited especially for beating us started to torture us. They beat us by metal and wood steaks. They broke the leg of a friend of mine. Another friend of mine was seriously hurt in her eyes ", shows Enver. "On April 29, they loaded us on buses and brought us to Dubrava prison. On the way to Dubrava they maltreated us very much. I was lucky not to be in the second bus because in the second bus the Serb criminals have cut the ears, the fingers, the nose etc. I saw them later. They were exhausted. "On May 19, was the first NATO bombardment. It happened in the pavilion six, and in that case were killed three Albanians and 7-8 eight others were wounded. During that day, according to some of my friends who counted them, were heard about 40 NATO detonations. On the other day were killed 18, and were wounded a high number. On May 23, The Serb Militaries and police have executed 130 persons. They threw hand grenades and shot all the time. They gathered us in the sport's hall. They threatened to me for execution. They ordered also to one of my friend Sali Zariqi, whose son, 19-20 years old was beside me, to get in the line of those who will be executed but, both of us survived. "On May 24, they loaded us on the tracks and buses and send us to the prison of Dubrava. For 17days we were badly tortured."- Enver claims. We gave sequences of the testimony of Enver Hashani, related to the time he was in prison. http://www.kosovapress.com/english/shkurt/29_2_2000.htm ========================================== KOSOVAPRESS A prisoner it is released from prison of Nishi February 29, 2000 Prishtin?, February 29 (Kosovapress) - Last weak, just couple of days ago a prisoner Enver Hashani was released from prison of Nishi. He was sentenced on six year prison, but after paying a sum of money he get released. He was arrested on May 31, 1998 during his being at work. One period he was at the prison in Prishtina, later on, he was evacuated to some other prisons and during his way to Gjilan, he was stopped near a river where he does not know exactly the place but he was so much maltreated to the death. After, along time he stayed in hospital for treatment. But again he was taken to the prison in Mitrovica for a while, and then again at the prison in Dubrava. During the NATO bombarding they have been purchased to many tortures, where he said is very difficult to describe all these moments, the only person can imagine who has been himself at the serb prisons. Later he was evacuated with some other prisoners at the Nishi prison in Serbia. ========================================== KOSOVAPRESS The process of prisoners will be debated in OSCE March 01, 2000 Prishtin?, March 1 (Kosovapress) - Today met the Interim Administrative Council for Kosova. After the conference, the civil administrator of OSCE Bernard Kouchner stressed that the major security in Kosova especially in Mitrovica we are trying to calm down, then the state of hostage people who are at the serbs prison and the restart of the work of Kosova Telecom were the main point on the today meeting. There were debates about disagreement about political parties, but this is an normal matter for the beginning as a democratic process said Dr. Kouchner. About the Albanian hostages he said that next week he will report it to the Council Security of United Nations, and for that I am waiting the list of these arrested persons. Mehmet Hajrizi, member of this council, he added about the situation at the three municipalities of East Kosova: Preshev?, Bujanoc and Medvegj?. This is just an effort by serb regime for destabilization the Albanian areas and some parts of Kosova said Mr. Mehmet Hajrizi. He also sad that has been discussed about the telecom function of GSM net. And talking about the final project of Mitrovica solution we must undertake very hasten steps to bring peace and security in this region. http://www.kosovapress.com/english/mars/1_3_2000_2.htm ========================================== KOSOVAPRESS Protests for the release of Albanian hostages March 03, 2000 Gjakov?, March 3, ( Kosovapress) - The family members of hostages and those who are missing, together with thousands of protestors have taken part in today's large protest for the release of the Albanian prisoners who are still kept in the Serb jails. The held transparences in their hands in which was written " Release the prisoners", " Find the missing people". The protestors appealed to the International Community and to the UN Security Council Meeting on 6 March, to make pressure to The Serb regime in Belgrade for the release of the Albanians who are kept under the permanent torture in the Serb jails. There is no freedom here In Kosova, without the release of thousands of Albanians who are kept in jails throughout Serbia only because they are Albanians. http://www.kosovapress.com/english/mars/3_3_2000_3.htm ========================================== KOSOVAPRESS >From the Serb jails today were released 23 Albanians March 03, 2000 Prishtin?, March 3 (Kosovapress) - According to the UN High Commission of Human Rights in Kosova, today from Pozharefci prison were released another 23 Albanians, mainly from the district of Rahoveci. According to the their report, those Albanian recent released prisoners will arrive home tonight or early tomorrow. The International Red Cross Committee will take care to bring them safe from Serbia to Kosova. http://www.kosovapress.com/english/mars/3_3_2000_2.htm ========================================== KOSOVAPRESS Hunger strike of the Albanian prisoners who are being kept in Prishtina's prison March 03, 2000 Prishtin?, March 3 (Kosovapress) - The prisoners that are being kept in the prison of Prishtina, because of the very bad conditions, today started a hunger strike. The prisoners demanded to meet the prisons KFOR authorities, but they refused that. The hunger strike will continue for two days. The prisoners have strongly appealed to the prisons authorities to make their release immediately. This request have been presented to them by the prisoner's lowers Ramadan Veliqi, Tom Gashi, Haxhi Millaku and Aziz Rexha. Most of the prisoners were former KLA members, and they are being held in prison for no reason at all. According to the lower Tom Gashi, in the prison are being held 78 Albanians. ========================================== WOLFGANG PLARRE Letter to US Security Council March 04, 2000 Dear Lady, Dear Sir, Allow me with all due respect, to draw your attention to the unjust situation of the 1600 Albanian prisoners not released on June, the 10th 1999 who are still being meld in Serbian captivity. As one of the countries which ratified the Geneva Conventions in 1949 you will be familiar with the statutes which stipulate international minimal standards concerning arrest, detention, use of torture and right to fair trials, the idea being to avoid the violation of the human rights of prisoners in such a situation as the one concerning this appeal. Equally I am sure, you must be aware of your co-responsibility for the welfare of these prisoners and the fear that their continued imprisonment represents a serious violation of the above agreement. Thus, I am appealing to you to intervene in the interest of these 1,600 known prisoners and indeed in the interest of all the thousands of missing Albanians who have "disappeared" and respectfully demand the appointment of a Special Envoy, both from the UN and International War Crimes Tribunal whose responsibility it will be to obtaining an extensive amnesty from the Serb. Minister of Justice corresponding to the statues of the Geneva Conventions. In the interest of the maintenance of Human Rights of them and every individual we beg you to bring your influence to bare on this matter thus hopefully bringing this tragic situation to a positive end. (the text above wrote an Austrian woman.) And I beg you too for the release of the non-Albanian humans missing in Kosov at . Not "power" and "might" can solve the problems in Balkans, especially Kosov@ - by my opinion the needs of the humans - Human Rights - are to be respected. I attach two old texts of bible you can find on my startpage since a long time. Sincerely, Wolfgang Plarre http://www.bndlg.de/~wplarre ========================================== AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Number of victims buried in Kosovo still unknown - Robinson March 03, 2000 GENEVA, March 3 (AFP) - UN Human Rights commissioner Mary Robinson has appealed for no let up in the search to find people who disappeared during the Kosovo crisis last year. In a report dated September 1999 but released here Friday she said "it is still unknown how many persons are buried throughout Kosovo, where such graves might be, and who is buried in them." The report will be presented to a session of the UN Commission on Human Rights beginning here March 20 along with another by special rapporteur Jiri Dienstbier on the human rights situation in Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Robinson also called on the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe to maintain efforts to investigate the fate and whereabouts of missing persons. She also described the situation for Serbs, Romanies and other minority communities since the withdrawal of Serb forces from Kosovo as a painful one. "Killings, oppression, harassment, intimidation, expulsion, rape and other violations continue to take place at an alarming rate, particularly targeting the non-Albanian communities of Kosovo," the report said. "It cannot be accepted that a campaign to vindicate the rights of the Kosovar Albanians would be followed by a campaign of atrocities against the Serb, Roma and other minority communities," she said in the report. And she invited the Commission on Human Rights to consider how the international community can "discharge its duty of protecting endangered communities in a situation that is unfolding in full view of the international community". Story from AFP Copyright 2000 by Agence France-Presse (via ClariNet) http://www.clari.net/hot/wed/ai/Qbalkans-rights.Rs3a_AM3.html ========================================== HUMANITARIAN LAW CENTER COMMUNIQUE Presevo Mayor On Political Trial March 02, 2000 The Humanitarian Law Center considers that the criminal proceedings against Riza Halimi before the Municipal Court in Pre?evo are political in nature. Halimi is charged with preventing police officers in the performance of their duty during the demonstrations staged by Pre?evo high school students on 5 March 1998. Because he was present at the demonstrations, police immediately charged him with a misdemeanor, alleging that he had organized the protest without notifying the appropriate authorities as required. Halimi was never summoned before a magistrate and, under the Serbian Law on Misdemeanors, the statute of limitations expires on 5 March this year. Halimi and four town councilors filed a complaint against Pre?evo Police Chief Dragan Miti? and several police officers, charging them with beating and unlawfully arresting participants in the demonstrations. The municipal public prosecutor took no action on the complaint and, instead, instituted criminal proceedings against Mayor Halimi on 25 March 1998. When the court convened on 1 March this year, Judge Goran Despotovi? heard the testimonies of four police officers who were among those who intervened at the demonstrations. The only point the officers agreed on was that they were on the scene on 5 March 1998. None was able to describe and name the officer whom Mayor Halimi allegedly ?grabbed by the elbow or the lapel of his uniform,? nor could they identify their colleague who had brought Halimi in to the police station. One witness stated that Halimi was brought in by a ?young officer,? another said he was certain that one of his older colleagues had done so, the third pointed to the fourth witness and said the two of them had arrested Halimi, which the officer he pointed out denied. The court adjourned until 29 March when other police officers are scheduled to be heard. ========================================== KOSOVAPRESS Tha?i?s Address to the Kosovar Residence (...) Prishtin?, March 4 (Kosovapress) Respected citizens, I am aware that every one is engaged with many different problems of life, in all facilities like in politic, economy, security which are connected with many social aspects and have to do with the rebuilding of our state. You have right to seek for solution of problem Mitrovica, unification this town. You want in Mitrovica to be safe and secure like in other towns. We have struggled that Kosova to be one and undeparted. The held of the prisoners is another concern for all Kosovars. Next week this matter, it will be discussed in OSCE for their ability to cooperate with International Community on their release. It can not have a freedom while they are in prison and isolated. The intensified situation in Presheva ,Bujanoc and Medvegja needs very frequently and correct solution, by respecting the human rights for the citizens who live in these areas. We will try to prevent the Albanian expels from there. Our efforts have been not enough to satisfy the needs of martyrs families, and to the invalids. But this will be our obligation for their right, until we realize that. (...) http://www.kosovapress.com/english/mars/4_3_2000_1.htm ========================================== HELSINKI COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN SERBIA Student Forum: Confidence Building Measures between Serbs and Albanians Appeal to the Ministry of Justice Republic of Serbia February, 2000 We, the participants of the student forum, organized in Skopje on 15 and 16 January 2000 by the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia within its project Confidence Building Measures between Serbs and Albanians", demand: 1. Immediate and unconditional release of all Kosovo Albanians imprisoned againts whom no charges were brought; 2. Immediate suspension of all ongoing legal proceedings against Kosovo Albanians; 3. Revision of all the court proceedings launched against Kosovo Albanians since March 24th 1989, until today. Zdravko Jankovic Fisnik Halimi Sandra Sljepcevic Heroina Telaku Vladimir Markovic Bashkim Fazliu Emilija Andrejevic Eliza Hoxha Vladimir Cvetkovic Artan Muhaxhiri Nenad Glisic Xhelal Ramadani Individuals and organizations willing to support this initiative are invited to join the appeal. To be signed to the petition, email to: demihai at EUnet.yu or biserkos at EUnet.yu ========================================== OTPOR! (RESISTENCE!) List of arrested and taken in activists March 02, 2000 * 21st September 1999. Belgrade, Branko Ilic and Vukasin Petrovic taken in during the action * 29th October '99. Belgrade, 7 activists taken in + material taken * 3 November '99 Belgrade, Djordje Vucicevic taken in while providing leaflets in Student house "Karaburma" * 4th November '99 Belgrade, 5 activists attacked in front of the SPS building + taken material * 6th November '99 Belgrade, 5 activists taken in + material taken * 9th November '99 Belgrade, round 50 activists wounded in the intervention of police * 19th November '99 Belgrade, 7 activists taken in + material taken * 20 November '99 Belgrade, police stopped gluing billboards action and took materials * 21 November '99 Belgrade, 7 activists attacked by police in civil suits on Zeleni Venac * 10th January 00. Belgrade, 3 activists taken in + material taken 11th January 00. Belgrade, action voting for "Resistance heroes" forbidden * 14th February 00. Belgrade, Branko Ilic, Nikola Andric, Milos Milenkovic taken in 16th February 00. Belgrade, 2 activists taken in + material taken * 16th February 00. Belgrade, 1 activist beaten in front of Mc Donald's * 19 February 00. Belgrade, police in civil suits or private security of JUL beaten up Nenad Petrovic * 24th November '99. Ivanjica, 14 activists taken in.... * 24th February 00. Ivanjica ,4 activists arrested, information talk 4th February 00. Paracin, 1 activist taken in, inspection of the car, tribune stopped * 18th January 00. Krusevac, Srdjan Milivojevic, Misa Novakovic, Dejan Petkovic, Dejan Gajic taken in * 19th January 00. Krusevac, Misa Novakovic, Dejan Petkovic taken in * 20th January 00. Krusevac, Srdjan Milivojevic, Misa Novakovic, Dejan Petkovic, Dejan Gajic taken in. * 4th November '99 legitimating of Vladimir Jesic and Stanko Lazendic during the action . * 27th January 00. Backo Petrovo Selo three activists arrested. * 27th January 00. Novi Sad information talk Vladimir Pavlov and Stanko Lazendic. with DB inspectors Markovic i Grujic. * 12th February 00. Sremski Karlovci ,Nemanja Starovic taken in. * 15th February 00. Subotica ,18 activists take in . * 17th February 00. Subotica 15 activists ,information talk. * 20th February 00. Backa Palanka ,Stanko Lazendic and Milan Djilas. * 24th February 00. Zrenjanin 8 activists take in. * 28th February 00. Becej Boris,Negeli trial. * 20th September 99. A DINAR FOR DISMISSLE Kragujevac, Predrag Stankovic, Zoran Matovic,Jelena Urosevic,Predrag Madzarevic,Vojkan Pavlovic,Nikola Kujovic,Darko Milenkovic,Nenad Bankovic,Darko Busarac,Branko Antic,Dejan Markovic and Velibor Stefanovic take in, Zoran Matovic was beaten. * 27th September 99. WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH A PRESIDENT Kragujevac, action stoped by police. * 21th October 99.PAYING RESPECT TO THE VICTIMS OF FASHISM Kragujevac ,police used force to stop action. * 9th December 99. RESIST TO FASHISM Kragujevac , NN persons stoped action by force. * 23rd December 99. FOR EVERITHING YOU HAVE DONE TO US Kragujevac, action stopped by police,cammerman and photo-reporter were taken in. * 2th Febryaru 00. RANSOM FOR THE TRUTH Kragujevac,police stopped action . * 15.th February 00. ALL I HAVE I CARRY WITH ME Kragujevac,police and ununiformed policemen tryed to stop the action,but eventually they did not succeed. * 4th February 00. Paracin ,Branko Antic were taken in. * 16th&17th February Batocina,near Kragujevac,Vuckovic Vladan and Milojevic Dejan were taken in. * 13rd September 99. Nis, Aleksandar Visnjic was taken in for an informative talk,because of problems with Dean of Medical Faculty. * 18th September 99. Nis, A DINAR FOR DISMISSLE ,action was stopped by police Aleksandar Visnjic and Marko Dakovic were taken in. * 19th Septembar 99. Nis , Aleksandar Visnjic was taken in for an informative talk * 12th October 99. Nis , Aleksandar Visnjic was taken in for an informative talk * 14th October 99.Nis , TOUR DE OTPOR! action took place while President Milan Milutinovic was celebreting opening of a reconstructed bridge. One policeman harmed phisically an OTPOR! activists. Lather, police was beating students in front of Building of University. Five students were taken in. * 11th February 00. police stopped ELECTRO-DISASTER OF SERBIA action. Three activists were taken in:Tomislav Dragovic ,Milan Jovanovic and Aleksandar Visnjic. * 13th Avgust 99. Vranje ,two activists were taken in for an informative talk. ========================================== HUMANITARIAN LAW CENTER COMMUNIQUE Presevo Mayor On Political Trial March 02, 2000 The Humanitarian Law Center considers that the criminal proceedings against Riza Halimi before the Municipal Court in Pre?evo are political in nature. Halimi is charged with preventing police officers in the performance of their duty during the demonstrations staged by Pre?evo high school students on 5 March 1998. Because he was present at the demonstrations, police immediately charged him with a misdemeanor, alleging that he had organized the protest without notifying the appropriate authorities as required. Halimi was never summoned before a magistrate and, under the Serbian Law on Misdemeanors, the statute of limitations expires on 5 March this year. Halimi and four town councilors filed a complaint against Pre?evo Police Chief Dragan Miti? and several police officers, charging them with beating and unlawfully arresting participants in the demonstrations. The municipal public prosecutor took no action on the complaint and, instead, instituted criminal proceedings against Mayor Halimi on 25 March 1998. When the court convened on 1 March this year, Judge Goran Despotovi? heard the testimonies of four police officers who were among those who intervened at the demonstrations. The only point the officers agreed on was that they were on the scene on 5 March 1998. None was able to describe and name the officer whom Mayor Halimi allegedly ?grabbed by the elbow or the lapel of his uniform,? nor could they identify their colleague who had brought Halimi in to the police station. One witness stated that Halimi was brought in by a ?young officer,? another said he was certain that one of his older colleagues had done so, the third pointed to the fourth witness and said the two of them had arrested Halimi, which the officer he pointed out denied. The court adjourned until 29 March when other police officers are scheduled to be heard. ========================================== REUTERS Serb opposition party says police detained members March 1, 2000 NOVI SAD, Yugoslavia (Reuters) -- Serbian police detained around 20 members of an opposition party in the northern city of Novi Sad on Wednesday, a party official said. Branislav Pomoriski, head of the Novi Sad board of the opposition Vojvodina Social Democrats League (LSV), said the party members were detained while distributing pamphlets outside the party's headquarters. He told Reuters that those detained included LSV Vice-President Bojan Kostres and a local government deputy, Zoran Petakov. The incident took place shortly before Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Marjanovic was due to inaugurate construction work on a new bridge to replace one destroyed during NATO's bombing campaign against Yugoslavia last year. Pomoriski said the LSV pamphlet called on people to turn up at the ceremony in Novi Sad and protest against what the party described as the country's "fake reconstruction." Police were not immediately available for comment. Local authorities in Novi Sad, controlled by the opposition, last month marked the start of their own project to replace one of the town's three Danube bridges destroyed by NATO bombs. Copyright 2000 Reuters http://robots.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/europe/03/01/yugoslavia.opposition.reut/ind ex.html ========================================== Additional updates of the Kosovar political prisoners, including those sentenced, missing and released, may be found at: http://www.khao.org/appkosova/appkosova-database.htm http://www.khao.org/appkosova/appkosova-report0037.htm http://www.khao.org/appkosova/appkosova-report0038.htm http://www.khao.org/appkosova/appkosova-report0041.htm Very useful statistics and update from ICRC on missing persons from Kosovo can be found at: http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/60c532db df49f6878525688f006f80d4?OpenDocument Archives of the A-PAL Newsletters may be found at: http://www.khao.org/appkosova.htm Albanian Prisoner Advocacy List -- Prisoner Pals Newsletter, No. 013 From kosova at jps.net Mon Mar 13 23:16:51 2000 From: kosova at jps.net (kosova at jps.net) Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 20:16:51 -0800 Subject: [A-PAL] A-PAL Newsletter, No. 014 Message-ID: Welcome to Albanian Prisoner Advocacy List -- Prisoner Pals Newsletter, No. 014, March 13, 2000 This report highlights the developments on the prisoner issue for the week of March 05, 2000. ========================================== A-PAL STATEMENT: ========================================== The past two weeks have seen a further slide into dictatorship in the former Yugoslavia. Serb dissidents are suffering more and more from the repressive justice system, as it becomes even more of a tool for carrying out the repressive policies of the Milosevic regime. It is important for outsiders to remember that the FRY is, at this point, a country run by an indicted war criminal who has for years carried out crimes against humanity and used the military, the police, prisons, and now the court systems as tools of brutal repression. Milosevic has moved his troops to the border of Mitrovica and has placed 40,000 men in Montenegro. Hundreds of Serb dissidents have been beaten, interrogated, and imprisoned. Efforts by outsiders to hold talks concerning the release of prisoners have been nearly futile. Efforts to buy back relatives for thousands of deutsch marks have been the only "success," if paying ransoms for hostages is a success. Another 50 or so prisoners were released this week. If approximately 500 prisoners have been released at about 10,000 Dm a piece that means that Albanian families have paid nearly 1 million deutsch marks in ransom money. In this context of corruption and egregious legal violations, Albin Kurti, former student leader and KLA political spokesman, charged as most Albanians arrested during the war are charged with conspiring to commit terrorism, had his hearing in Nis on March 9th. In a courtroom with only a handful of human rights lawyers and UNHCHR present, he read a statement in Albanian in which he stated that he refused to cooperate at any level with a "court that has nothing to do with truth or justice. It serves the policies of the Milosevic regime which kept Kosova under occupation." Albin's case, like all those thousand other prisoners, should be dismissed immediately. Not only were all normal legal procedures during his arrest, detention, and interrogation, gravely flawed, but under the Geneva Conventions of 1949, all those Albanians arrested during the conflict should have been immediately released in June,1999. For this reason, Alice Mead of the Association of Political Prisoners, has filed a request for a war crimes investigation into the situation of the transfer and detention of the prisoners as an ongoing violation of the Geneva Conventions. The petition for investigation was submitted to John Ralston in The Hague. Ultimately, however, the prisoner issue remains unresolved because of the confusion of the international community and its failure to plan properly for the future legal status of Kosova. How, in good conscience, can the West insist that Kosova remain legally tied to a brutal, corrupt regime that has clearly stated and continues to state that Kosova should be free of Albanians. Serb actions in continuing to disrupt Mitrovica, in blocking any legal justice for Albanians illegally trapped and sold off as hostages in its prisons, and in its repression now of its own citizens should prove to the outside world that Serbia is a nation with a very long road to back to normalcy. Internationals must make clear, and this includes groups like the ICRC, that Serbia has no jurisdiction over Kosovars. This is the heart of the issue. ========================================== THIS WEEK?S TOPICS: ========================================== * CONGRESSMAN ELIOT ENGEL: Resolution H.Con.Res. 265 * KOSOVAPRESS: Opened APP letter to Kouchner, related to his presentation about Kosova in UN Security Council meeting * KOSOVAPRESS: The International Women's Day was celebrated with massive protests throughout Kosova * WASHINGTON POST: Albanian Women Circle Kosovo City * HUMANITARIAN LAW CENTER COMMUNIQUE: Albin Kurti trial opens * AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE: Kosovo student leader defies Serb court * 5TH PERIODIC REPORTS FROM THE OSCE REGION: Political Trial In Serbia * KOSOVAPRESS: Some prisoners are released * AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE: Kosovo Albanian condemned to year in jail by Serb court * FREEB92 DAILY NEWS: Political prisoner disappears * RADIO FREE EUROPE: Kosovo: Women Mark Date Of Their Men's Massacre * KOSOVAPRESS: Another two Albanians sentenced * KOSOVAPRESS: UPSP demands immediately release of Albin Kurti and the other Albanian prisoners * FREEB92 DAILY NEWS: Hague prosecutor wants to make life tough for accused * KOSOVAPRESS: Three prisoners are released from Nishi prison * FREEB92 DAILY NEWS: Opposition activists detained * FREEB92 DAILY NEWS: Albanian villagers sentenced to prison in Leskovac * FREEB92 DAILY NEWS: Thugs sabotage student protest * WASHINGTON POST: Yugoslavia Activist Said Vanishes * GRUPA 484: Pozarevac * FREE SERBIA: Trial to Cedomir Jovanovic * ANEM/IFEX: Media shutdown train picks up speed ========================================== QUOTES OF THE WEEK: ========================================== Rep. Eliot Engel regarding his resolution for the release of prisoners HCR 265, "Belgrade has no jurisdiction over Kosova and no authority to imprison its residents. With this resolution, HCR 265, Congress will go on record demanding their release." Lawyers Committee for Human Rights/NY in an opinion on Flora Brovina's appeal, director Robert Varenik: "We believe that FRY's legal obligations (International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights signed by Yugoslavia in 1971 and the Convention Against Torture signed by Yugoslavia in 1991) were in effect during the NATO air campaign." Other international treaties such as the 1949 Geneva Conventions are incorportated into FRY supreme law. The 1949 Geneva Conventions apply in Brovina's case. The Conventions govern the treatment of persons and non-combatants detained during such conflict. They state that all prisoners detained during the conflict should be released immediately following the cessation of hostilities. Albin Kurti, March 9, 2000, Nis District Court, Serbia. "This court has nothing to do with truth or justice. It serves the policies of the Milosevic regime, which kept Kosova under occupation. Our Student Union was against the Serb regime, which, with military and police forces, committed terror and systematic repression of the Albanian people. . .I have no reason to defend myself nor to respond to any charges. Everything I did, I did voluntarily and with dignity, and I am proud of it." ========================================== WEEK?S REQUESTED ACTION: ========================================== We continue to need pressure exerted on the UN Security Council, and in particular Ambassador Holbrooke. We would like them to appoint a special envoy to negotiate the release of prisoners in accordance with the Geneva Conventions. We protest the prisoners' ongoing isolation, maltreatment, and torture. All trials should cease at once. We urge the Security Council to order an investigation by the ICTY to bring all those--judges, wardens, guards, and police- in the Serb Ministry of Justice involved with this probable war crime to court. Email the members of the UN Security Council countries and inform them of the unjust situation regarding the 1,600 prisoners. Ask them to appoint a Special Envoy from both the UN and the International War Crimes Tribunal, requesting the broadest possible amnesty from the Serb Ministry of Justice. This amnesty is what they would have been granted under the Geneva Conventions. The prisoners should have been released on June 10, 1999, but these terms were dropped from the Kumanovo Agreement. Members of the UN Security Council through December, 2000. The presidency rotates each month and is listed as well. The fifteen countries are: 1. United States of America: usaun at undp.org (Pres/January,2000) 2. United Kingdom: uk at un.it 3. Ukraine: ukrun at undp.org 4. Tunisia: tunun at undp.org 5. Russian Federation: rusun at un.int (Pres/December) 6. Malaysia: mysun at undp.org (Pres/August) 7. Netherlands: netherlands at un.int (Pres/November) 8. Jamaica: jamaica at un.int (Pres/July) 9. France: france at un.int (Pres/June) 10. China: chinun at undp.org (Pres/May) 11. Canada: canada at un.int (Pres/April) 12. Bangladesh: bangladesh at un.int (Pres/March) 13. Argentina: argentina at un.int (Pres/February) 14. Mali (do not have e-mail address) (Pres/September) 15. Namibia (do not have e-mail address) (Pres/Oct.) The primary function of the Security Council is maintain peace and security in accordance with the principles of the UN. These include the Geneva Conventions. The prisoner issue is a violation of Geneva Conventions 3 and 4. All parties here are co-signers, and are therefore responsible for the welfare of the prisoners. Remind these countries that the Geneva Conventions of 1949 were enacted for situations just like this one. It is their sworn duty to carry out these policies. The Conventions are a minimum standard. They are not optional. The NATO war in Kosovo was ended with an international agreement, not a local agreement, therefore the Conventions apply. Also, RECOMMEND methods of adjusting settlements to disputes that are a threat to peace. Ask for a Special Envoy to reach a settlement on behalf of the prisoners in accordance with the Geneva Conventions and international standards regarding detention and arrests, use of torture, and lack of fair trials. Another function is to formulate plans and to supervise the international court of justice. Ask for a Special Envoy from ICTY to systematically investigate the "disappearances" thousands of missing Albanians. YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE DEAD TO HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS. ========================================== SUGGESTED SLOGANS FOR RALLIES * Belgrade has no jurisdiction over Kosova. * Kosova-Freedom for All! * ICTY- Investigate! You shouldn't have to be dead to have human rights! * UN- enforce the Geneva Conventions or abolish them! * Holbrooke - Enforce the Geneva Conventions or abolish them! * THE UN IS IN VIOLATION OF ITS OWN LAWS - We'll Sue! * Even Prisoners Have Rights. Release the Prisoners (Hostages) NOW! * 500 released at 10,000 DM a piece. One Million DM so far paid by poor Albanian families! ========================================== FULL REPORTS AND ARTICLES BEGIN HERE: ========================================== CONGRESSMAN ELIOT ENGEL Seventeenth District, New York 3655 Johnson Avenue, Bronx, NY 10463 -- 718 796-9700 2303 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 -- 202 225-2464 For release: March 7, 2000 Contact: Jason Steinbaum at 202-225-2464 ENGEL RESOLUTION CALLS FOR RELEASE OF KOSOVAR ALBANIANS IMPRISONED IN SERBIA Washington, DC (March 7) - Rep. Eliot Engel introduced a resolution (H.Con.Res. 265) in the House of Representatives on Monday (3/6) calling for the release of Kosovar Albanians held in Serbian jails since the end of the Kosova conflict. "The time has long passed for Milosevic to release all Kosovar Albanians he locked away in his prisons at the end of the Kosova conflict," Rep. Engel said. Toward the end of the NATO campaign to halt the Serbian and Yugoslav ethnic cleansing in Kosova, a large, but undetermined number of Kosovar Albanians were taken from their homes before and during the withdrawal of Belgrade's police and military forces from Kosova. Today, anywhere from 1,500 to several thousand are still detained by Belgrade. The State Department and human rights groups have called for their release. "Belgrade has no jurisdiction over Kosova and no authority to imprison its residents. With this resolution, Congress will go on record demanding the return of the prisoners," Rep. Engel said. Also on Monday (3/6), Rep. Engel joined U.S. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke at the U.N. Security Council for its session on Kosova. On Wednesday (3/8), he will meet with UNMIK leader Bernard Kouchner to discuss the prisoners and other relevant issues. H.Con.Res. 265 is cosponsored by 17 bipartisan members of Congress and has been referred to the Committee on International Relations, where it awaits scheduling by Committee Chairman Ben Gilman. Last year, the House passed a similar amendment by Rep. Engel calling for release of the Kosovars by a vote of 424-0. Rep. Engel is Co-Chair of the Congressional Albanian Issues Caucus and represents areas of the Bronx and Westchester. ### ========================================== KOSOVAPRESS Opened APP letter to Kouchner, related to his presentation about Kosova in UN Security Council meeting Prishtin?, March 6 (Kosovapress) The war is not ended, not for thousands of Albanian prisoners who are still kept in the Serb jails. We are aware that you will discuss the matter of the Albanian prisoners at the UN Security Council on March 6, 2000. We hope very much in your presentation of this issue during The UN Security Council meeting. At the end of the NATO/ Serb conflict, a military technical agreement was signed by Serbia and NATO Commanders on June 10, 1999. A second agreement on the status of Kosova, Resolution 1244, was signed by the UN Security Council. These agreements ended on International conflict over the fate of the province of Kosova. But, in the agreements, there was no explicit reference to how exactly several thousands Albanian prisoners arrested during the war were to be released as KFOR entered Kosova. Instead, On June 18, 1999, The Serb Minister of Justice announced that he had moved several thousand Albanians from the prisons in Kosova to prisons in Serbia. "for their own protection". From orders at the highest levels of the Serb justice system, then approximately 2.000 Kosovar Albanians were ordered into "Forcible disappearance" in direct violation of the Geneva Conventions, articles 3 and 4, which state that at the cessation of international armed conflict all prisoners shall be immediately released. The Serb Ministry stated that this was not an international conflict, but that is incorrect. Now, in March, 2000 nine months after the Kumanova Agreement, the vast majority, about 2000 Albanian prisoners, are still languishing in Serb prisons with now hope for either local or international justice or amnesty, as the Geneva Convention state. Another 3.500 are considered as missing so their families are very concerned about their destiny. Over 90% of those missing persons have been arrested by Serb Militaries and Police. Some of the family members of those missing claim that before the day when NATO bombardment over Yugoslav Military targets started, they has the possibility to visit their relatives in Serb prisons. After that, they did not hear anything about them. The appalling conditions of their detention are a further violation of the Geneva Convention as well. These prisoners have suffered wide-scale torture, murder at the Dubrava prison massacre, cruel treatment, degradation, lack of medical care and their families have been routinely denied access or even information about their charges and site of detention. Although the Serb Ministry explains this removal as being for the prisoners "own safety", interviews with released prisoners stated that the twelve hour bus rides from Kosova on June 10, 1999 were absolutely terrifying, psychological and physical nightmare. The detainees were not given any food or water and were tortured constantly on the long rides. When they arrived at the various prison's sites they were subjected to a long corridor of guards and as the prisoners passed through the corridor they were beaten with clubs. This was hardly conductive to their "safety". For weeks, their families were not notified of their whereabouts. The vast majority arrived without court documents, evidence or charges. Amnesty International published its investigative report on the disappearances in October, 1999. They give a detailed account of the methods of this program of forced disappearances and recommend that the International War Crime Tribunal for Yugoslavia assist in the investigation into this mass " disappearance", publish a complete list of all those in prison, investigate the circumstances of these abductions ( Many were taken of the refugee columns ) and bring responsible parties to justice. So far, for months after this report, no international organization has taken action on these very basic recommendations. Amnesty International states that a detention of the prisoners is a violation of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, of which and Yugoslavia is signatures as are the European countries. Amnesty recommends that the UN, ICTY and ICRC work together to investigate these disappearances and to bring those involved in perpetrating them to justice. We, as the Association of Political Prisoners, support this recommendation. Another NGO, the International Crisis Group of Brussels and Washington DC, also published an investigative report on January 26, 2000 on the prisoner problem. That report pointed out that the "prisoner situation was a clear violation of Geneva Conventions 3 and 4, which guarantee the release of all detainees following the cessation of armed conflict". According to ICG, "thousands of Albanian lives are at stake? reports from recently released prisoners make clear that the prisoner condition are appalling? they are routinely subjected to torture, and their trials are travesties." They also state that, " because the war in Kosova between NATO and the FRY clearly an International armed conflict the Geneva Conventions of 1949 apply. These state that prisoners must be released without delay following the cessation of hostilities. "The situation for the Kosovar prisoners still to be detained in Serbia continues to be grave. Interviews with prisoners recently released, including fourteen and fifteen year olds, indicate that in many cases, there is not enough food, there is a never ending threat of torture, and lack of medical care and family visits. Despite widespread concern for their well-being, little action to release the prisoners has actually occurred, even though the detention period is long since over. Now families are trying to rise the 12.000-50.000 DM or more to have their family members case "expedited." They are angry that no international organization has taken the lead in investigating this abuse for discharged prisoners and debriefing those who have been abused and tortured. There are still minors in Leskovc, Pozharevac and Mitrovica e Sremit. Released minors report that torture for children and adults is conducted at the same level of violence. Sixteen year old Pleurat Isufi, just sent a letter to his family, begging for food, saying that he is always very hungry. Families are afraid their relatives may die of starvation and torture is on-going. Prisoners taken from their homes last spring are poorly clothed, many had no shoes on and were wearing shirts. They are kept in unheated cells, most sleep on the bare floors with no blanket. Request to see a doctor are meet with beatings. Discharged prisoners suffering from contusions, broken bones, head injures and psychological problems are not being comprehensively treated. All released prisoners report being unable to sleep because they fear the people they left behind will die. Shemsi Musliu, born in a small village near Gllogoc, who recently spent six months in the prisons of Lipjan-Kosova and Pozharevac-Serbia claims: " I can't forget the bus trip from Lipjan prison to Pozharevac happened on June 10, 1999.We went from 7 a m to 11 p m in handcuffs the whole time without food or water. All the way the guards tortured us on the bus. They beat us. They made us sing nationalists songs. When we crossed into Serbia they said: >From this day on, you are not Albanian. You are Serb. I was so tired and so afraid. I have scars here from the handcuffs. I had no shoes and when the police took me from my yard, and my feet and legs were very cold. I lost health, my weight in the prison. We were always hungry. I am worried about my friends to whom I left behind. Every minute, it seems to me that I hear their voices, their scream?.They killed one of my neighbor. His name is Muhamet Miftari, 54 years old. "Of the thirteen prisons that ICRC has been allowed to visit, Mitrovica e Sremit is reported to be the worst and the ICRC has only visited once, since July, 1999. ICRC has not been back to visit Mitrovica e Sremit prison because they are not allowed to talk to prisoners alone, only under supervision of guards. So, they do not go there at all. In Mitrovica e Sremit, prisoners are fed a small amount of bread per day. Those few who have been released are emaciated and very weak. Some of the prisoners there were also in the Dubrava massacre in May, 1999. They were wounded in the shooting and have not received any medical care. Families can not afford lowers and many feel that their relatives has done nothing wrong therefore should not have a lower. It is time for international officials to recognize that this is a matter of the utmost urgency. These prisoners, whatever their reason for being detained ( and 90% of them were detained on police warrants without any charges at all) should be released immediately. Serbia has no jurisdiction over their cases. The Serb Justice system is a major component of regional destabilization and the prevention of peaceful democratic reform and change. We, the Association of Political Prisoners, request as following: - We ask you to appoint a Special Envoy from both the UN and the International War Crimes Tribunal to ask for the broadest possible amnesty from the Serb Ministry of Justice. This amnesty is what they would have been granted under the Geneva Conventions. The prisoners should have been released on June 10, 1999, but these terms were dropped from the Kumanova Agreement. - We request from the UN Security Council to do an investigation into the disappearances of thousands of Albanians as well as the experiences and trials of the prisoners to be conducted by the ICTY. -THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL IC MAINTAIN PEACE AND SECURITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF THE UN?THESE INCLUDE THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS. THE PRISONER ISSUE IS A VIOLATION OF GENEVA CONVENTIONS 3 AND 4. ALL PARTIES HERE ARE CO-SIGNERS, AND ARE THEREFORE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WEL-FARE OF THE PRISONERS. International leaders of UN Security Council, the ICTY , ICRC, the European Parliament, UNHCHR, and OSCE cooperate and make a request for this amnesty together. The US Ambassador Richard Holbrook, can play a key role in facilitating this important first step.We hope very much that the UN Security Council will take urgent steps of action. YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE DEAD TO HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS! Association of Political Prisoners http://www.kosovapress.com/english/mars/6_3_2000.htm ========================================== KOSOVAPRESS The International Women's Day was celebrated with massive protests throughout Kosova March 08, 2000 Prishtin?, 8 mars (Kosovapress) - By the motto "Duke k?rkuar t? dashurit tan? ",that was written in a transparent in English, too, such as "Seeking our dearest ones ", today in Prishtina The International Women's Day was celebrated by massive protest, in which were gathered about 50 thousands women and thousands other citizens who demanded the immediate release of the Albanian prisoners that are still kept as war hostages in the Serb Jails. The protest started at 12.00 hrs , in front of the National Theatre. In this front of the protestors was present the symbol of Albanian resistance, Mr. Adem Dema?i and Mr. Halil Matoshi, who was released lately from the Serb jail. The protestors held in their hands also other written transparent such: " UN Security Council, act immediately to release Albanian prisoners t", "Freedom for all ", "The Albanian prisoners are waiting for our help ", "Release our sons and daughters ", "Where is professor .Ukshin Hoti", "Where is the doctor. Adem Ademi", UN -make the people survive ", "They are kept in prison only because they are Albanians ", "Act today, today will be to late ", "Release my father " etc. The Protestors also held in their hands photos of their family members such as the photo of Ukshin Hoti, Flora Brovina, Dr. Adem Ademi, Avni Klinaku and many of other prisoners. At about 12,30 the protestors started to defile through the main road of the city. After the protest, the Organizing Council of the protest, Mrs. Sevdie Ahmeti, Mrs. Shukrie Rexha and Mrs. Safete Rugova held a press conference. They addressed a statement to Dr Kouchner's office in which they asked the International Community to act immediately otherwise the people there will not be alive for a long time. http://www.kosovapress.com/english/mars/8_3_2000.htm ========================================== WASHINGTON POST Albanian Women Circle Kosovo City March 8, 2000 By Danica Kirka Associated Press Writer KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, Yugoslavia -- Tens of thousands of ethnic Albanian women circled downtown Kosovska Mitrovica today, appealing to the international community to unite Kosovo's ethnically divided city, which erupted in violence a day earlier. An early morning explosion in the northern section sent a shock through the city that had barely settled down after 20 Serbs, 16 French peacekeepers and four ethnic Albanians were injured in a violent firefight Tuesday. The blast turned out to be a harmless explosion in a ruined house that caused no injuries. "It was nothing," said Lt. Matthieu Mabin, spokesman for the French peacekeepers. In their march through the southern side of Kosovska Mitrovica, women clutched photographs of missing sons, nephews and husbands, who they say are held in prisons in Serbia. Kosovo Albanians say there will never be peace in this southern Serb province unless there is a full accounting of the men. The women walked to the edge of the barbed wire stretched across the main bridge over the Ibar river that splits the city in half, only to turn sharply in front of Swedish peacekeepers blocking any further progress. Betullahe Beqiri clutched a photo of her missing son but couldn't bring herself to say his name. "He's married, he has a 3-month-old son," she said, as the picture shook in her hand. "He's never even seen him." Another 5,000 people, led by Kosovo's most famous former prisoner, Adem Demaci, held a similar march through downtown Pristina, the provincial capital 20 miles southeast. Also today, U.N. officials continued registering Serbs to return to their homes on the southern, predominantly ethnic Albanian side of the city. The process was halted Tuesday, after attackers shot into a crowd during a fight, which escalated into a firefight involving the peacekeepers. Up to five Serbs came to the registration office today, but it was not clear whether all of them wanted to return to the two secured buildings. "I don't think that we'll return," said Rade Spasojevic. "Especially because we don't want to live in a ghetto surrounded by tanks and barbed wire." French peacekeepers also began distributing food to ethnic Albanian families who recently returned to three high-rise apartment buildings on the Serb-controlled side of the river. The inhabitants are unable to go out shopping for food. The violence in Kosovska Mitrovica underlines the difficulties NATO faces in attempting to return the town to its prewar, multiethnic status. Tuesday's fight broke out on the Serb-controlled northern side when an ethnic Albanian identified as Luan Miftari attacked an unidentified Serb man with a crowbar, witnesses said. Several Serbs rushed to help the injured man, while others went after Miftari. In the crush, an ethnic Albanian opened fire from the backyard of a nearby house, seriously wounding one Serb. "That created panic," Mabin said Tuesday. He arrived on the scene on foot, backed by armored vehicles. The French headed down a narrow side street, as grenade blasts rang out, injuring several peacekeepers. Four ethnic Albanians have been arrested. Kosovo is a province of Serbia, Yugoslavia's dominant republic. NATO-led peacekeepers moved into Kosovo last June, after a 78-day bombing campaign that ended a yearlong Serb crackdown on ethnic Albanians there. In Sofia, Bulgaria, a leader of the Kosovo Serb minority said today that "Albanian extremists" are an obstacle to lasting peace. Momcilo Trajkovic, who leads the moderate Serb National Council, called for democratic reforms in Yugoslavia and urged the international community to protect Kosovo Serbs from what he called "ethnic cleansing." ? Copyright 2000 The Associated Press http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20000308/aponline103942_000.ht m ========================================== HUMANITARIAN LAW CENTER COMMUNIQUE Albin Kurti trial opens March 10, 2000 The trial of Albin Kurti, a Kosovo Albanian student who was arrested on 27 April last year, opened before the District Court in Nis on 9 March. The Nis District Court has assumed the jurisdiction of the District Court in Pristina, and the judge presiding the panel in this case is Sladjana Petrovic, who was on the bench of the Pristina Court. Albin Kurti stated that he was a citizen of the Republic of Kosovo, that he did not recognize the court and could be tried only by a court of his people, that he refused to answer any questions and did not want a lawyer. The court appointed Branislav Ciric as defense counsel for the accused. Kurti is charged with seditious conspiracy in conjunction with terrorism, specifically for ?involvement during 1998 in organizing a group which was part of the Kosovo Liberation Army?, ?participating in negotiations on the exchange of police officers in Dragobilje and Likovac?, being ?a member of the presidency of the illegal Independent Student Union of Pristina University?, and secretary to Adem Demaci, political representative of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). In his statement to the court, Kurti also said that as a presidency member of the Independent Student Union and its Committee for International Cooperation, he organized demonstrations by ethnic Albanian students for an ?independent Kosovo?, the ?liberation of the University and return of Albanian students and professors who were thrown out by the Serbian regime?, and ?to struggle against the Serbian regime whose police forces occupied Kosovo and repressed the Albanians.? He said it was true that he was Demaci?s secretary and that he took the job because he admired and respected him and wished to support and publicize the KLA policy ?for the attainment of the sacred cause ? an independent Kosovo and the liberation of the Albanians from the fascist regime of Slobodan Milosevic.? As Kurti said he would answer no questions because the court was in the service of day-to-day politics, the prosecutor did not question him. There was therefore no evidence presentation at this session. In order to give the prosecutor time to prepare his closing argument, the court adjourned until 13 March when it is also expected to pronounce judgment. ========================================== AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Kosovo student leader defies Serb court March 09, 2000 NIS, Yugoslavia, March 9 (AFP) - A Kosovar student leader refused to defend himself before a Serb court Thursday and accused Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's regime of "fascism" as his trial on terrorism charges began. As leader of the Kosovo Albanians Independent Student Union, Albin Kurti led street protests against Serbian rule in his home province in 1997 and 1998. He was arrested by Serbian police during NATO's bombing campaign against Yugoslavia last year and if convicted faces up to 20 years in jail for joining a "terrorist group," the term used in Belgrade for the separatist guerrilla movement, the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). Kurti, who worked as an assistant to KLA spokesman Adem Demaci, made a defiant statement as the trial opened in a courthouse in Nis, but refused to mount a defence or respond to prosecution questions, saying he did not recognise the legitimacy of the court. "This court has nothing to do with truth and justice, it serves the policies of Milosevic's regime which has kept Kosovo under occupation," he said. "Our Union was against the Serbian regime, which, with its military and police forces, has committed terror and systematic repression against the Albanian people," Kurti said in Albanian, his words translated into Serbian by an interpreter. As Demaci's assistant, Kurti said he had tried "to present, as best as possible, the KLA and its liberation war." "The KLA liberation war is a justified struggle which has a holy goal -- the independence of the republic of Kosovo and liberation of the Albanian people from Milosevic's fascist regime," he said. "I have no reason to defend myself or to respond to anyone and any charges," Kurti said, adding that he would not answer any questions by the prosecutor or judge. At the end of his speech to the court, he said: "It is not important for me whether you sentence me or for how long." "Everything I did, I did voluntarily, with dignity and I am proud of it and would do it again," Kurti said. The trial, attended by the representatives of the UN Human Rights office in Belgrade, Human Rights Watch and Belgrade non-government groups Humanitarian Law Center and Committee of Jurists, is to resume on March 13. Kurti is among some 1,300 Kosovo Albanians who are still being held in Serbia on terrorism charges, according to the Humanitarian Law Center. In December, ethnic Albanian human rights activist Flora Brovina was sentenced to 12 years in prison for "terrorist activities" in a trial condemned by the United States and international human rights groups. More than 230 Albanians have been released since mid-June, when Belgrade transferred roughly 2,050 prisoners from Kosovo when it was forced by NATO air attacks to withdraw its forces from the southern Serbian province, the centre said. Story from AFP Copyright 2000 by Agence France-Presse (via ClariNet) http://www.clari.net/hot/wed/bx/Qyugo-kosovo-trial.RCR8_AM9.html ========================================== 5TH PERIODIC REPORTS FROM THE OSCE REGION Political Trial In Serbia October - December 1999 On 9 November 1999, following an unfair trial, a County Court in Nis sentenced Dr. Flora Brovina, founder of the League of Albanian Women, to twelve years in prison for "terrorism" during NATO's March-June air strikes. The court described her activities as an "association for hostile activities related to terrorism, carried out during the state of war." Dr. Brovina was arrested by Serbian police in civilian clothes in front of her Pristina apartment on 20 April 1999, during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. A pediatrician and poet, Dr. Brovina was the founder and head of the League of Albanian Women. She was charged with providing food, clothing, and medical supplies to the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), as well as planning terrorist acts. During the war, her clinic provided medical services to women and children still in Pristina. Dr. Brovina was originally held in Kosovo's Lipljan prison, where other prisoners have reported regular beatings and ill-treatment by prison guards, including a cordon of baton-wielding police that met all new detainees. On 10 June, two days before the entry of NATO into Kosovo, she and hundreds of other prisoners were transferred to prisons inside Serbia. The courts in Serbia are often controlled by the government. Defendants, especially Kosovo Albanians in political cases, are often denied due process. Moreover, according to the Helsinki Committee in Serbia, public reactions to Dr. Brovina's fate failed to underline another point that contributed to the verdict: Flora Brovina is a symbol of the emancipation of the Albanian society, which contradicts the usual stereotype of the Albanian woman. The Yugoslav government has acknowledged that approximately 1,900 Kosovo Albanians were being held in thirteen different detention facilities in Serbia in late 1999. All of them have been visited at least once by the ICRC. Some known detainees do not appear on the government's list, such as Albin Kurti, the well-known student activist and former KLA political representative, who was held in Pozarevac prison. Kosovo-based human rights groups claimed that more than 5,000 Kosovo Albanians were missing as of November, in addition to those in detention. It was not known whether these additional 5,000 people are in detention or deceased. +++ Source: Human Rights Watch(HRW)/Europe and Central Asia Division, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, Reuters. For further information please contact the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, phone +381-11-637 542 or 637 116, fax +381-11-636 429, E-mail BiserkoS at eunet.yu or HRW/Europe and Central Asia Division, phone +1-212-290 47 00, fax +1+212+736 13 00, E-mail hrwnyc at hrw.org http://www.ihf-hr.org/reports/periodic/1999-5.htm#YUGOSLAVIA ========================================== KOSOVAPRESS Some prisoners are released March 07, 2000 Gjakov?, March 7 (Kosovapress) - As we got announced today by the office of lawyer Teki Bokshi, that some prisoners are released from Nishi prison. The prisons are: Zenel, Jeton, Isa and Riza Alija from Kodralija of De?ani. Bekim and Naser Kalimashi, Selim and Gani ?ekaj and Smalj Smalj also from municipal of De?ani http://www.kosovapress.com/english/mars/7_3_2000_1.htm ========================================== AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Kosovo Albanian condemned to year in jail by Serb court March 06, 2000 BELGRADE, March 6 (AFP) - A Serbian court jailed an ethnic Albanian Kosovar for one year Monday for "illegal possession of weapons", the independent Beta news agency reported. Sahe Isufi from the western Kosovo village of Bec, was found guilty of stashing two automatic weapons, four grenades and 600 rounds of ammunition in his house in 1999. According to the Belgrade-based non-government organization Humanitarian Law Centre, some 1,300 Kosovo Albanians are still being held in Serbia on terrorism charges. More than 230 have been released since mid-June, when Belgrade transferred roughly 2,050 prisoners from Kosovo when it was forced by NATO air attacks to withdraw its forces from the southern Serbian province, the centre said. Story from AFP Copyright 2000 by Agence France-Presse (via ClariNet) http://www.clari.net/hot/wed/ck/Qyugo-kosovo-justice.RRa7_AM6.html ========================================== FREEB92 DAILY NEWS Political prisoner disappears March 08, 2000 BELGRADE, Wednesday - Political prisoner Bogoljub "Maki" Arsenijevic disappeared last night from Belgrade's Facial Surgery Clinic, where he was being examined. Arsenijevic, the founder of the Civil Parliament of Valjevo, has been serving a three-year sentence in Valjevo prison since being arrested last year in Belgrade. He was beaten at the time of his arrest, suffering a broken jaw among other injuries. Arsenijevic's wife, Snezana, today expressed fear's for her husband's fate in view of the abuse he was exposed to last year during the arrest, saying that the condition of his health would make it difficult for him to escape custody. http://www.freeb92.net/archive/e/ ========================================== RADIO FREE EUROPE Kosovo: Women Mark Date Of Their Men's Massacre March 08, 2000 By Jolyon Naegele The international community estimates that some 10,000 civilians, mainly ethnic Albanians, were killed by Serbian forces last year during the 78 days of NATO air strikes against Yugoslavia. Many Kosovar Albanian women are still trying to put their lives back together without their murdered fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons. RFE/RL correspondent Jolyon Naegele spoke with the women of one family who lost six men in a massacre last March. Krushe e Vogel, Kosovo; 8 March 2000 (RFE/RL) -- Krushe e Vogel is a village where women traditionally married young, raised large families, and rarely worked outside the home. It was also an ethnically mixed village, until a massacre last March. Ethnic Serb residents lived largely in the lower part of the village near the main road. Their homes today are demolished, and their former residents are in exile to the north, in nearby Orahovac (Albanian: Rahovec), or else in Serbia proper. Ethnic Albanians lived in the town's upper part, spread out on its hillsides in an assortment of old peasant houses of mud-brick. These dwellings did not survive torching by the Serbs. But newer homes of brick -- though damaged by fire -- have been repaired and are habitable. It is in this village that Serbian forces staged one of several massacres in the first days of the NATO air strikes in late March (March 25 and 26) last year, forcing the women and children to flee to Albania and slaughtering their men. Serbian soldiers and police killed from 50 to 100 men in Mala Krusha, as it was known to the Serbs, or Krushe e Vogel, as it is known to the Albanians. Nexhmije Hajdari lost her husband and five sons in the massacre. She says the Serbian troops pulled her youngest son, who was 14 years old, right out of her arms. A sixth son survived because he was away fighting with the Kosovo Liberation Army, or UCK. Nexhmije, who is 56, can barely talk. She is sick with grief and uncertainty. Very few of the slaughtered bodies were ever found -- just bits of clothing and charred bones. One of Nexhmije's three daughters-in-law, Selvete Hajdari, speaks for the family as the two other daughters-in-law, Avnije and Shkurte, and their seven fatherless children look on in silence pierced by the occasional crying of a baby. "Before we did not have to work. We had husbands. They earned the money and made things for the family. Now the situation is difficult. Someone has to think, to look out for the children. So, we're starting from scratch." Silvete, who is 36, says the family still has its tractor, but none of the women know how to run it. But she says humanitarian aid has helped ease the burden of supporting a family of 16: "We have been receiving sufficient good help. Now they have started to bring building materials to repair the rooms in the house. The Sisters of Qiriazi [a Kosovar NGO] is running training courses for women to be seamstresses. We have just finished the theory [part] and we are starting the practical part." Selvete says a German non-governmental organization, Kinderberg, has organized women in the village to sew sheets and curtains for a hospital in Prizren, 16 kilometers to the south. Kinderberg has also given the Hajdari women a sewing machine. Working together with Avnije and Shkurte, the women have earned over 500 German marks in recent months from their work. A relative in Switzerland also donated money to enable them to hire a man to repair a fire-damaged room in the main house of the family compound. The adjacent old mud-brick home, where part of the extended Hajdari family lived until a year ago, remains roofless and so damaged as to be irreparable. The physical destruction the Serbs wrought across Kosovo is rapidly disappearing. But the psychological damage caused by the estimated 10,000 civilian deaths, including the executions of most of the inhabitants of Mala Krusa, may never heal. The women of this village once lived a sheltered, though hard way of life. Today, they have been catapulted into what for them was traditionally a man's world. http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2000/03/F.RU.000308135610.html ========================================== KOSOVAPRESS Another two Albanians sentenced Prishtin?, March 10 (Kosovapress) - At the Serb court in Leskoc, another two Albanians are sentenced. Avni Shala 38 years old from village Broqin of Skenderaj is sentenced to 12 years prison, with an penalty accuse for terrorism. And Ismet Beqiraj 41 years old from village Re? of Gjakova, was sentenced to 18 month prison also for enemy activities. http://www.kosovapress.com/english/mars/10_3_2000_2.htm ========================================== KOSOVAPRESS UPSP demands immediately release of Albin Kurti and the other Albanian prisoners Prishtin?, March 10 (Kosovapress) - At the combined Conference by the Independent Student Union of University in Prishtina, and with representatives of ISHL union, it was demanded the release of war hostages and prisoners, who are held at the Serb jails. By this it was confirmed that the students will protest till the end of their totally release. The trial of our friend is unaccepted, we appeal one more to the International communities to be more decedent, our friend Albin Kurti to be released and the other hostage detained during the war, we don't want to happen the same scene as it happen at the prison in Dubrava, it is said on the statement by the conference of UPSB signed by head Driton Laj?i. http://www.kosovapress.com/english/mars/10_3_2000.htm ========================================== FREEB92 DAILY NEWS Hague prosecutor wants to make life tough for accused March 10, 2000 THE HAGUE, Friday - The Hague Tribunal's chief prosecutor said today that she intended to make life difficult for Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and others accused of war crimes. Carla del Ponte said that her absolute priority was the arrest of remaining suspects, adding that she particularly sought the arrest of Milosevic, former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and former head of the Bosnian Serb Army Ratko Mladic, whom she considered responsible for the worst crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia. http://www.freeb92.net/archive/e/ ========================================== KOSOVAPRESS Three prisoners are released from Nishi prison Gjakov?, March 11 (Kosovapress) - Two days ago, after the trial held in town of Nishi, three Albanian prisoners are released from the prison, which were sentenced to 18 months prison. They are Sadik Myftar Zeqiri and brothers G?zim and Arben Abazi. http://www.kosovapress.com/english/mars/11_3_2000.htm ========================================== FREEB92 DAILY NEWS Opposition activists detained March 10, 2000 KRALJEVO, Friday - Two Serbian Renewal Movement activists were today detained by local police in Kraljevo for questioning over party propaganda material. The Kraljevo committee of the Renewal Movement said today that the party workers, one of whom was an elderly invalid pensioner, were harassed for five hours by Kraljevo police after having been detained at a bus station. http://www.freeb92.net/archive/e/ ========================================== FREEB92 DAILY NEWS Albanian villagers sentenced to prison in Leskovac March 10, 2000 LESKOVAC, Friday - The District Court of the Kosovo district of Pec, sitting in Leskovac in Southern Serbia, yesterday sentenced two Kosovo Albanians to prison. Avni Shala, from the village of Brocna was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment on charges of terrorism. The court found that Shala had participated in an armed attack on Serbian police in April 1998. Ismet Beciraj from the village Racaj was sentenced to a year and a half imprisonment after being convicted of conspiring against the state. The Pristina office of the International Red Cross announced today that seven Kosovo Albanians had been released from custody in Kraljevo. Five of those released were from Vucitrn and two from Kosovska Mitrovica. So far about five hundred Kosovo Albanians have been released from prisons in Serbia. http://www.freeb92.net/archive/e/ ========================================== FREEB92 DAILY NEWS Thugs sabotage student protest March 08, 2000 BELGRADE, Wednesday - A student demonstration in front of the Municipal Assembly of the inner Belgrade suburb of Vracar was broken up today by thugs who later escaped into the local office of the ruling Socialist Party of Serbia. The demonstration was to have involved a number of women presenting a cake to the president of the Vracar Socialist Committee, Branislav Ivkovic. Three young men destroyed a table being used by the student activists, before retreating into the Socialist committee offices shouting obscenities. Two of the attackers later emerged again from the offices, shouting pro-Milosevic slogans and challenging student activists to fight. The student and citizen protesters retreated from the situation. http://www.freeb92.net/archive/e/ ========================================== WASHINGTON POST Yugoslavia Activist Said Vanishes March 8, 2000 The Associated Press BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- An opposition activist serving a 3-year prison term for leading violent protests against President Slobodan Milosevic went missing Wednesday while in the hospital under police custody, his wife said. Police brought Bogoljub Arsenijevic, 44, also known as Maki, to the Belgrade hospital Tuesday for follow-up surgery on his jaw bone, which was broken last year when police severely beat him. Later, reports from independent media outlets said he had escaped from police custody. But Arsenijevic's wife, Snezana, told The Associated Press by telephone she had strong doubts her husband had escaped. "He was recovering from surgery, he was all in bandages and in pain when we briefly visited him Tuesday afternoon" in his heavily guarded hospital room, she said. "We were told that he escaped but it all looks very strange... in his condition, he could hardly run away." Snezana said court officials in the couple's home town of Valjevo called her to say her husband had escaped, and that police had confirmed that report to her. But she said her husband had not tried to contact the family in the time that he had been missing. There has been no official comment from police on the reports. Arsenijevic shot to fame last July when he led a charge of 2,000 people against a government office in his native town of Valjevo during anti-Milosevic protests. Several people were injured in the clash, and Arsenijevic went into hiding until the police arrested him several weeks later. During the arrest in August, police also dislocated Arsenijevic's shoulder. Several international and domestic human rights groups protested the police brutality and demanded his release. A court in Valjevo, 50 miles southwest of Belgrade, where he led the charge, sentenced him in November to three years in jail for instigating the violent anti-Milosevic protests. ? Copyright 2000 The Associated Press http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20000308/aponline154135_000.ht m ========================================== GRUPA 484 Pozarevac March 07, 2000 On 7th march 2000, at around 2300h, Marko Milosevic has attacked, with a group of criminals, 19 years old I.P., the activist of the Student Movement RESISTANCE (we won't mention his name because of the safety reasons). He was drawn into the car, where he was torturously beaten all over and taken to the discotheque "Madona", the ownership of Marko Milosevic, the son of the Yugoslav president. He is also beaten there and the barrel of a gun was put into his mouth. Like the culmination they turned on a motor - saw and threatened him by cutting him in pieces. After two hours of torturing, he was swooned with a hit in the head and in that condition thrown out on the street. We believe that any comment is unnecessary. ========================================== FREE SERBIA Trial to Cedomir Jovanovic March 11, 2000 Defender Sinisa Nikolic had charged yesterday Court's authorities for illegal action in trial to his client Cedomir Jovanovic, member of Main Board of Democratic Party, reports Fonet. He had qualified sending information from Jovanovic's informative talk in police from Ministry of internal affairs to Ministry of Information on press conference of Democratic Party as drastic braking of Law because those informations could only be transferred to district prosecutors. Nikolic remanded that Jovanovic was charged by First district prosecutor for insult of honor and respectability of assistant to Republic's minister of information Radmila Visic in articles published in bulletin "Changes" even if "no evidence were brought till today to support charge that Jovanovic was responsible for this". He had expressed doubt that reasons for charges against Jovanovic are law based. Democratic Party announced today that in two days 11.000 citizens had signed petition against political process against Cedomir Jovanovic. Jovanovic's trial is scheduled for Monday, March 13th. ? Copyrights Free Serbia, 1999. http://anon.free.anonymizer.com/http://www.xs4all.nl/~freeserb/news/e-subota 11mart.html ========================================== PRESS RELEASE - FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA (SERBIA) ANEM protests increased repression of media March 10, 2000 SOURCE: Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) (ANEM/IFEX) - The following is an ANEM press release: Media shutdown train picks up speed BELGRADE, March 10, 2000 -- The Association of Independent Electronic Media in Yugoslavia protests the increase in radio and television closures in Serbia this week. The association also protests the Yugoslav government's refusal of a visa to the chairman of the International Federation of Journalists, Aidan White. Television Nemanja and Radio Tir in Cuprija and Radio Golf in Belgrade were closed down on March 9, with the justification that they had not met requirements in frequency licence applications submitted in February 1998. The previous day, Radio Boom 93 in Pozarevac was banned with the same justification. The two Cuprija broadcasters and Boom 93 were not under state control and produced independent news programmes. In view of repeated grave threats from representatives of the ruling coalition in Serbia and the ongoing persecution of the independent media, ANEM considers this the beginning of an operation similar to that in which more than a hundred broadcasters were shut down and their equipment seized during the summer of 1997. Aidan White, chairman of the International Federation of Journalists, was refused a Yugoslav visa for a visit he had planned in support of media targeted in the latest wave of repression. Mr White was granted a visa during last year's NATO intervention, when his visit included condemnation of the bombing of Radio Television Serbia. ANEM demands that the Yugoslav Telecommunications Ministry and all relevant agencies immediately cease this operation of closing broadcasters in Serbia and that visas be issued to any representatives of international media organisations who wish to investigate freedom of expression in this country. For further information, contact Veran Matic, Chairperson, or Marija Milosavljevic at ANEM, Masarikova 5/XVII, 11000 Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia, tel: +381 361 9228, fax: +381 361 9428, e-mail: veran.matic at opennet.org, marija at opennet.org , alternate e-mail: juliab92 at xs4all.nl , Internet: http://www.freeb92.net , http://www.anem.opennet.org ========================================== Additional updates of the Kosovar political prisoners, including those sentenced, missing and released, may be found at: http://www.khao.org/appkosova/appkosova-database.htm http://www.khao.org/appkosova/appkosova-report0037.htm http://www.khao.org/appkosova/appkosova-report0038.htm http://www.khao.org/appkosova/appkosova-report0041.htm Very useful statistics and update from ICRC on missing persons from Kosova can be found at: http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c 8ad5/60c532dbdf49f6878525688f006f80d4?OpenDocument Archives of the A-PAL Newsletters may be found at: http://www.khao.org/appkosova.htm Albanian Prisoner Advocacy List -- Prisoner Pals Newsletter, No. 014