[ALBSA-Info] [Kcc-News] CDHRF: NEW WAVE OF VIOLENCE IN KOSOVA (03/18/2004)

[Kosova Crisis Center News and Information]

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http://www.cdhrf.org/2004English/Index2004_english.htm

COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS & FREEDOMS
Prishtina, Kosova

NEW WAVE OF VIOLENCE IN KOSOVA

The escalation of the situation in Kosova after the incident in the village
of Çabër, in which three Albanian children drowned in the Ibri River while
fleeing from a group of Serbs who were chasing them, was not surprising for
the CDHRF. In its previous press releases, the CDHRF has warned of the
threat for the escalation of the situation and has identified the causes
which could lead to it. The accumulated frustration due to the difficult
economic situation in Kosova, grave security situation and the lack of
political prospects has resulted in the escalation of the situation.
According to the CDHRF, the blame for such a situation falls upon the
following: Serbia, UNMIK and the provisional institutions of Kosova (the
Presidency, the Government, and the Assembly).

After the end of the war in Kosova, Serbia continued to manipulate with the
Serbs in Kosova as well as those who have returned to Kosova or were
planning to do so. It has established parallel systems and supported them
in different ways. UNMIK and KFOR have failed in carrying out their
mission. They have created the provisional institutions of Kosova, which do
not have any powers, and together with Belgrade they are making decisions
on the future of Kosova, excluding the Albanians who comprise the majority
in Kosova out of the decision-making processes. They have unarmed the
Albanians but have not worked in preventing the arming of the Serbs (most
of the Albanians killed during the recent events have been shot by Serbs).

The provisional institutions of Kosova have proved to be completely
inefficient and have succumbed to the pressure of the international
community, working against the interests of Kosova and against the mandate
given to them by the voters, by presenting a false picture to the people of
Kosova with whom they have manipulated all this time. They did not have a
vision for the protection of minorities and their integration in society.

They lacked any initiatives in this direction. All their actions were
carried out upon the insistence of the international factor and were used
for political marketing. They were not able to defend any interests other
than their own as well as those of their parties. They are part of the
crisis, which they cannot solve due to the fact that they themselves have
helped its creation.

CDHRF continues to monitor the situation which is calmer than yesterday.
Yet, in certain areas, the situation is out of control, especially in
Obiliq where fire has been set to many Serb-owned houses and efforts have
been made to set fire to the Serb Orthodox Church. Large numbers of people
are protesting in Prishtina, mainly secondary school pupils and students.

CDHRF condemns all acts of violence and calls upon the authorities to bring
to justice all those who have exercised violence, which has resulted in
tens of killed, hundreds of wounded, the destruction of many houses, the
displacement of many citizens, the destruction of sacral buildings, etc.

CDHRF calls upon UNMIK and KFOR to remove all the road blocks and disarm
the Serbs as a precondition for the stabilization of the situation.

Otherwise, the consequences will be much graver. CDHRF calls for an
investigation regarding the cases when excessive force was used by the
UNMIK police, KFOR soldiers and Serb members of the KPS against the
Albanian protestors.

CDHRF calls upon the provisional institutions of Kosova to work in calming
the situation as they too are responsible for its escalation. It demands
from them to take responsibility for the created situation.

CDHRF expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the killed and
wishes a soon recovery to all those wounded and injured.

Prishtina, 18.03.2004
Behxhet Shala, executive director
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