[A-PAL] Deadline - March 31, 2002

[kosova at jps.net]

Albanian Prisoner Advocacy List -- Prisoner Pals Newsletter
January 29, 2002

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A-PAL STATEMENT:
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FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT A-PAL: COME ON! ALL PRISONERS MUST GO HOME.

With 180 Albanian prisoners remaining in Serbia and a U.S. Congressional
deadline for their release set by March 31, 2002, WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Another month has passed, 12 weeks since the November 5 agreement about the
release of the remaining prisoners to UNMIK, and still only a handful of
prisoners have been released. Many readers have questioned a discrepancy in
the actual number of prisoners. ICRC lists 196 Albanians with 180 of them
being from Kosova. UNMIK counts only those from Kosova and lists the number
now at 160. Last Friday, the final four hostages in the Ferizaj group went
home.

However, by today, January 29, 2002, Serb justice authorities should have
handed over all documents on Kosova Albanians to the UNMIK judicial pillar
officials. UNMIK officials as well as several international judges will
review all the cases--both political and criminal--and the remaining
prisoners should be either released or transferred to Dubrava Prison by
March 31, 2002.

While this might seem like good news, and well-deserved relief to the many
waiting families and A-PAL advocates, the track record of Serb officials in
keeping such promises is abysmal. During the past two and a half years, such
deadlines often meant nothing more than a brand-new flurry of excuses: no
money to pay court workers, lost documents, judges out sick, new demands for
Serb war criminals to be sent to Serbia, only a handful of releases, and so
on. And still today, desperate families are being contacted by Serb lawyers
asking for bribe money to expedite the prisoners' releases.

Imagine what fear the prisoners left behind must have - thinking that they
will be forgotten. Because of this, once again we ask you, our readers, to
contact your local foreign affairs leaders. Urge them to support the US
Congressional deadline of March 31, 2002, and to place conditions on all
future aid to Serbia/FRY if the prisoners are not released by the deadline.
Also, encourage European leaders to block membership in the Council of
Europe if war criminals are not handed over and the prisoners not released.

To date, over 17,700 emails have been sent to world leaders on behalf of the
innocent prisoners. Over 1,000 members have joined the campaign to free
them.  We need everyone to participate at this crucial time.  It takes only
moments for you to help in this well-organized effort.  Help the remaining
prisoners GO HOME.  Do not allow Serb officials to continue Milosevic's
policies towards Albanians.  The repression MUST STOP.  Together, WE can
Stop It.  Please, join our efforts NOW!
http://www.dbein.bndlg.de/APP/


Sincerely,

Alice Mead * Naida Dukaj * Rizah Xhakli
A-PAL coordinator * A-PAL coordinator * APP Prishtina

Divi Beinecke * Valerie Hughes * Nexhmi Kelmendi
Euro A-PAL Action * Kosova Ireland Solidarity * APP Prishtina

Trish Porter * Wolfgang Plarre
A-PAL activist * A-PAL compiler and archivist

Mentor Cana * Bernie Sullivan
Alb-net coordinator * A-PAL UK

Anders Wessman * Bart Staes
Sweden-Kosov@ Union * MEP-A-PAL supporter

Olivier Dupuis
MEP-A-PAL Supporter


JOIN over 1,000 advocates at our EUROPEAN A-PAL ACTION!

EMAIL-ACTION: RELEASE THE PRISONERS NOW!
TË LIROHEN MENJËHERË TË BURGOSURIT!
LASST JETZT DIE GEFANGENEN FREI!
ODMAH OSLOBODITE ZATVORENIKE!
http://www.dbein.bndlg.de/APP/
http://www.khao.org/appkosova



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ICRC PRESS RELEASE
Pristina, January 28, 2002

ICRC CONTINUES TO ACCOMPANY DETAINEES BACK TO KOSOVO

On Friday (25.01.2002) the International Committee of the Red Cross
accompanied four detainees back to Kosovo. The detainees have been released
by the authorities in Belgrade. Three detainees have been released from
Sremska Mitrovica prison and one from Nis prison. All of them are from
Ferizaj/Urosevac region.

There are still 196 ethnic Albanian detainees out of which 180 are from
Kosovo. The ICRC will continue to register, visit, facilitate family visits,
exchange Red Cross Messages, and when released by the authorities in
Belgrade, they will be accompanied back home by the ICRC Belgrade and
Pristina teams.

For further information contact Nada Doumani, tel 044 115 036

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Në vazhdim është kumtesa e së premtes e cila si duket për shkaqe teknike nuk
i ka arritur imejllat e juaj, për këtë arësye e dërgojmë sërish.

KUMTESË SHTYPI
Prishtinë, 28 Janar 2002

KNKK VAZHDON TË SHOQËROJË TË BURGOSURIT PËR NË KOSOVË

Të premten (25.01.2002), Komiteti Ndërkombëtar i Kryqit të Kuq shoqëroi
katër të burgosur për në Kosovë. Të burgosurit janë liruar nga autoritetet
në Beograd. Tre të burgosur janë liruar nga burgu i Mitrovicës së Sremit dhe
një nga burgu i Nishit. Të liruarit janë nga Ferizaji.

Janë edhe 196 shqiptarë të burgosur prej të cilëve 180 janë nga Kosova. KNKK
do të vazhdojë të regjistrojë të burgosurit, do ti vizitojë, do të
organizojë vizita familjare, do të shkëmbejë porosi të Kryqit të Kuq, dhe
kur të lirohen nga autoritetet e Beogradit, ata do të shoqërohen për në
shtëpi nga ekipet e KNKK nga Beogradi dhe Prishtina.

Për më shumë informata kontaktoni Vjosa Osmani, tel 241 518/241 520, 249
114/249 115

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