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List: KAN-Info[KAN-Info] KAN NOVEMBER NEWSLETTERAlice Mead amead at maine.rr.comWed Nov 26 09:23:12 EST 2003
KOSOVA ACTION NETWORK
NOVEMBER 23, 2003
PRISHTINA, KOSOVA
KAN NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER
ŒWE ARE ALL MISSING THEM-" KAN¹S FAR-REACHING CAMPAIGN TO RAISE
AWARENESS FOR THE RETURN OF THE MISSING TO THEIR FAMILIES
(to help, just sign the online petition at: www.kan-ks.org)
Kosova Action Network¹s broad-based campaign to advocate for the return of
the missing gathered steam during November, 2003. The petition text,
campaign summary by Albin Kurti, plus information about media coverage, and
relief efforts is included later in the newsletter.
Number of signatures gathered so far-
KAN Office- 11 000 Missing families- 10 000
>From Gjakova- 12 500 SIU UP- 6000
KLMDNJ- 20,000 (will give an accurate number during next
week)
(Information submitted by Ilir Hoxha.)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, Ireland KAN activist, Valerie Hughes, handed the petition to
Chris Patten on his recent visit to Dublin. (Moral‹KAN is everywhere!)
----------------------------------------------------------
COPY OF PETITION ŒS TEXT
NOVEMBER 1, 2003
Coordinating Council of Family Associations of the Hostages, Missing and
families with war victims (KKAF), and the network of activists Kosova
Action Network (KAN) consider that:
Four years after the war in Kosova, the fate of over 3.500 persons who were
kidnapped and kept hostage remains unknown. Families of the missing have
the right to know about their loved ones. Revelation of the truth is needed
urgently. The conflict is not over until what has happened to them is
disclosed and justice is implemented. Until now, there were no arrests,
accusations or sentences concerning this issue. Why from out of over 900
bodies found in mass graves in Serbia since the spring of 2001, only 153 of
them have been returned to Kosova?! The Government of Serbia was in the
past responsible for committing the crimes and nowadays it is responsible
for concealing the truth. This Government does not open dossiers and leaves
criminals walking around free. UNMIK has not produce any results, even
though it is able to do so and is the responsible authority.
Inhuman and groundless delay in returning the bodies is a violation of the
1949 Geneva Convention, which states that the disappearance and keeping
secret the evidence about the location of war hostages is a form of
psychological torture to families who are in a state of emotional strain
and anxiety. The crime perpetrated towards those same families continues.
By not seeking and restoring justice for its citizens, UNMIK has also
breached many articles and protocols of the International Convention for
Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) towards victims and their families.
UNMIK as a peace mission can only create peace if it implements justice.
Our main objective is justice and should, by all means, be upheld by those
who govern our country and represent us.
Solution of this criminal situation includes return of hundreds of exhumed
bodies from mass graves in Serbia and bringing to light the fate of over
3.500 Kosovar citizens, with no ethnic, religious or racial discrimination.
This should be of the highest priority which cannot wait any longer.
Taking into consideration all these facts, we, the above-mentioned, are
organizing collection of signatures for the following:
PETITION
that is addressed to the:
- Secretary General of the UN, Mr. Kofi Annan
- U.S. Secretary of State, Mr.Colin Powell
- Commissionner in charge of European Commission External Relations,
Mr.Chris Patten
- EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy,
Mr.Javier Solana
- Special Representative of the Secretary General of UN, Mr. Harri Holkeri
- Assembly, Government, and President of Kosova
and with which we demand:
1. Uncovering of the facts about the fate of Kosova kidnapped citizens and
their return to Kosova. We ask that international aid and loans to Serbia
be conditional upon the opening and publication of police and military
dossiers. We also demand UNMIK should open the dossiers and initiate legal
proceedings.
2. Return to Kosova of about 800 bodies exhumed from mass graves in Serbia
by 24th March 2004. We request forensic evidence for more than 900 bodies
to be submited to Kosova authorities and all further proceedure to be
promulgated in Kosova.
3. An independent investigator to inquire into all issues related to the
transportation and exhumation of these corpses and to initiate the conduct
of the legal prosecution of these crimes.
4. The return of corpses and opening of dossiers, as a non-negotiable and
non-technical issue, to serve as a priority prerequisite in all future
talks between Kosova and Serbia, whenever they take place and regardless of
whom will they be chaired and/or conducted by.
KKAF
Sheremet Ademi
Nesrete Kumnova KAN Linda Gusia Albin Kurti
----------------------------------------------
Re: Summary of the Campaign "We Are All Missing Them."
From: Albin Kurti
The Coordinating Council of Family Associations of the Hostages, Missing and
families with war victims (KKAF), and the network of activists Kosova Action
Network (KAN) organized a petition and started the collection of signatures
on November 1, 2003. The petition was launched with a press conference with
high media attendance by all the Kosovar Press, TV and newspapers, it
reached the headline news on Radio Television Kosova. On the press platform
presenting the campaign was Sheremet Ademi, Nesrete Kumnova and Hysni
Berisha from KKAF and Dardan Velija, Siobhan Cleary and Albin Kurti from
KAN.
2.100 posters of B2 format were produced and 950 were distributed to the
activists of KKAF who cover 18 municipalities of Kosova. 250 posters were
distributed by the Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms
(CDHRF) who have offices almost in every municipality (out of 30) in Kosova.
The Students Independent Union of the University of Prishtina (SIU UP)
received 100 posters and put these in the faculties, libraries and
dormitories. Activists from different NGOs (like Kosovo Youth Network and
Integra) who gather young people, helped distribute the posters. KAN
activists put up approx 500 posters in Prishtina. KKAF, CDHRF and SIUUP
until now have put up all the posters they were provided with. Posters were
placed in cafeterias, supermarkets, banks, post offices, bakeries, shops
etc. Next to the poster a pen and a paper were placed, people are asked to
write their name and surname, their date of birth, place of birth and
signature in separate columns.
In order to have as many signatures as possible, Siobhan Cleary designed a
media campaign called "We are all missing them". She directed a 55 seconds
video clip which has been broadcast from the 1st of November three times
during the day mainly at prime time on three national television stations
and 8 local TV stations. A radio version has been produced using the voice
over of the video which is being aired on 10 radio stations. The video and
radio version are online and can be heard and seen on the KAN website. The
script for the video clip was written by Siobhan Cleary, Milot Cakaj and
Albin Kurti. Photographs by Atdhe Mulla, voice over by Luan Jaha and Vlora
from Urban FM . Music and sound engineering by Toton and the video editor
was Liridon of Radio Television of Kosova graphics. We would also like to
thank Besim and Besnik of Radio Television Graphics and to Radio Television
of Kosova for post production facilities.
Two prime time live TV shows on RTK and RTV21 featured KAN activists Ilir
Hoxha, Linda Gusia and Albin Kurti participated together with Sheremet Ademi
and Nesrete Kumnova from KKAF. A live interview with Dardan Velija took
place during the morning program on KTV. There have been many radio
interviews with KAN activists and those from KKAF and the extent of the
coverage has been impressive.
All activists are regularly visiting the shops, cafes and all of the places
where the posters were posted and replacing the signed sheets with new ones.
KAN activists are visiting different towns regionally to see how this
campaign is developing. Xhelal Sveçla and Albin Kurti, on November 11, 2003
were in the municipality of Klina, they had a meeting with over 50 members
from the families of the missing. They were together with Sheremet Ademi,
Nesrete Kumnova, Imer Mllaku, Sana Berisha and Ferdeze Efendija in a meeting
with the Mayor of the Klina Municipality, Ramë Manaj, whose family members
were kidnapped and they are missing too. From this municipality there are
129 persons missing. There were 136, but seven of them were found dead.
Media covered this meeting and Albin Kurti gave an in depth interview for
the main local radio station.
Milot Kelmendi, Siobhan Cleary, Gjeneza Budima and Albin Kurti on November
13, 2003 went to Gjakova. Together with the Mothers of Missing they
collected signatures in the street. Mothers of the Missing in Gjakova set up
a special stall with a banner and tables to gather signitures at the wall of
memory in the town centre. This event had media coverage from all the three
national TV stations and many locals radio and TV stations. In Gjakova there
are 739 missing persons. In the evening there was a live TV show where for
45 minutes Nesrete Kumnova and Albin Kurti were interviewed.
Regarding follow up activities, Gjeneza Budima and Milot Kelmendi will be
visiting municipalities all over Kosova in order to help the families there
to gather as many signatures as possible.
--------------------------------------
RELIEF EFFORT‹UK KAN activist, Bernie Sullivan is organizing a relief effort
to aid families of missing of all ethnicities with his organization, Hope
and Aid and the NGO Samartin¹s Purse.
For further information on how you can help, contact Bernie at:
Hope & Aid Direct www.hopeandaiddirect.org.uk
<http://www.hopeandaiddirect.org.uk>
-------------------------------
Petition support from NAAC/DC
Recently sent to all NAAC Board and Advisory Members
Dear members,
I received the below message from one of our advisory board members Alice
Mead. Thank you.
Valbona Sherifi
Public Relations Coordinator
National Albanian American Council
2021 L Street, NW, Suite 402
Washington, D.C. 20036
Phone: 202-466-6900
www.naac.org
--------------------------------------------------
from Siobhan Cleary, KAN activist/media coordinator for campaign--
The missing person spot runs 55 seconds. For the next three months, it will
be shown on Radio Television Kosova, Koha Vision, Television 21 and seven
local TV stations.
Credits for the Missing Persons Video Clip --
Script: Milot Cakaj, Albin Kurti, Siobhan Cleary
Photographs: Atdhe Mulla
Voice Over: Luan Jaha Vlora of Urban FM
Music and sound engineering: Toton
Editor: Liridon of Radio Television Kosova Graphics
Thanks also to Besim and Besnik of Radio Television Kosova Graphics and to
Radio Television Kosova for their post production facilities.
KAN OFFICE STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS HELD A RETREAT to discuss goals and
methods of achieving those goals.
********************************************************
The KAN office always welcomes volunteers and new members. Contact- Ilir
Hoxha at office @ kan-ks.org.
HAPPY BAJRAM, THANKSGIVING, AND FLAG DAY!_________________
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