From mentor at alb-net.com Fri Jan 7 11:45:50 2000 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Fri Jan 7 11:45:50 2000 Subject: [Kcc-News] Human Rights and Freedoms in Kosova from December 19 until 26 December 1999: Weekly Report #477 Message-ID: ____________________________________________________________________ RELEASE THE KOSOVAR POLITICAL PRISONERS FROM SERBIA NOW! Sign the petition at: http://www.khao.org/appkosova/app_online.htm ____________________________________________________________________ K?SHILLI P?R MBROJTJEN E T? DREJTAVE E T? LIRIVE T? NJERIUT COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS Rr. Zdrini, 38000 Prishtin?-Kosov?; tel. 381 (0) 549006 fax: 381 (0) 38 549007 E-mail:kmdlnj at albanian.com cdhrf at albanian.com http://www.albanian.com/kmdlnj REPORT NO. 477 On the situation of human rights and freedoms in Kosova from 19 until 26 December 1999 During this week, according to the available data, 3 Albanians were killed; 3 citizens were wounded, 2 of whom are Albanians (one died in a mine accident) and one is Serb. A girl was kidnapped and there was a kidnap attempt of two other youngsters. Family members identified 31 Albanian civilians, killed by Serbian forces in the end of March this year. CHRONICLE Killing 20 December. ? Mejdi Sylejmani (about 50) from Sadovina e Jerlive was killed at about 16.00, in the entrance of Vitia. 22 December. ? An Albanian citizen was killed due to the shots fired from a car heading towards Lipjan and another one was wounded. 23 December. ? The corpse of Riza Sokoli (43) from Dollova (Klina) was found at the Ura e Hekurit near Klina. Mass graves ? reburials, identifications SK?NDERAJ: Last days, until 23 December, according to the clothes and other personal things of the killed persons, exhibited in the building of the District Council in Sk?nderaj, family members identified 31 Albanians, executed by the Serbian forces on 28 March in Izbica, when 127 Albanian civilians were executed. Later on, several other executed Albanian civilians were buried in that grave, therefore there were corpses of over 150 Albanian civilians in that mass grave. In order to eliminate traces of the crimes, in the end of May, Serbian forces took the corpses from this grave towards unknown direction. Some of them were found in the mass graves in Suhodoll (Mitrovica) and Bruznik and Novolan (Vushtrri). So far, the following were identified: Mehmet Hajra, Qerime Hajra (39), Halit Rrustemi (52), Bajram Bajra (34) and Muhamet Emra (39) ? Izbica; Rexh? Duraku (87), Bel Duraku (71), Avdullah Duraku (55), Hajriz Shala (77), Hysen Shala (36), Milazim Zeka (53), Jahir Zeka (45) and Sheremet Tha?i (51) ? Buroja; Rrahim Tahiri (80), Rrahim Krasniqi (70) and Sadik Sherif Hoti (67) ? Vojnika; Halit Musliu (62), Muhamet Musliu (46) and Naim Musliu (23) ? Klina e Poshtme; Shefqet Hoti (56) and Vehbi Hoti (26) ? Marina; Osman Dajaku (59) ? Rakinica, Murat Draga (35) ? Le?ina, Selman Uk? Loshi (78) ? Padalishta and Ilaz Bajra (68) ? Kllodernica (Sk?nderaj) as well as Hamz? Qupeva (49), Hajdar Bajraktari (52) and Tahir Hoti (56) ? Jashanica; Azem Kuqica (70) and Hamdi Do?i (44) ? K?rrnica and Sabit Qallpeku (39) ? Shtupel (Klina). VUSHTRRI: On 24 December, an unidentified corpse wrapped up in a plastic bag was found in a grave in Duboc. Wounding in mine accidents GJILAN: On 20 December, Nexhat Ali Zymberaj (1952) from Burica e Karadakut stepped on a mined field in Logja and suffered severe wounds. He was taken to the Prishtina Hospital urgently. Wounding RAHOVEC: On 20 December, late in the evening, in the quarter where the Serbs, Roma and hashkali live, a Roma called Gafurr severely wounded a Serb named G?rkoviq (18). Disappearances and kidnappings GJAKOVA: On 19 December, at about 19.30, in the vicinity of the Catholic Church in Gjakova, 4 persons in a white ?Ford van attempted to kidnap an 18-year-old boy. On 22 December, at about 23.30, in ?arshia e Vog?l in Gjakova, two unknown persons kidnapped a girl, who according to an eyewitness was from Peja. She was a guest in Gjakova. PRISHTINA: On 22 December, three unknown persons attempted to kidnap a girl (pupil) from Prishtina. On noticing the KFOR patrol, they released her and ran away towards unknown direction. Due to the slippery road, they could not manage to go very far, so KFOR British soldiers could catch them and hand them in to the UNMIK police. Trials - On 22 December, the District Court in Kurshumlia (Serbia) convicted Senad Begu and Selim Azemi, both from Podujeva, to 8 months of imprisonment each for ?illegal felling of trees?. They were kidnapped on 14 September by Serbian policemen and civilians, while they were cutting woods in their own forests in the vicinity of Merdar, on the border Kosova-Serbia. Ill-treatment, attacks, provocations FUSH?-KOSOVA: On 19 December, at about 21.30, in ?agllavica (Prishtina), some Serbs attacked Abdylmenaf Rrustemi, a teacher with the ?Hivzi Sylejmani? Gymnasium in Fush?-Kosova, while he was travelling by car to Prishtina. They broke the car door. PRISHTINA: On 19 December, after 22.00, several cars were damaged due to a grenade explosion in ?Dardania? quarter. MITROVICA: On 20 December, at 13.30, a group of Serbs attacked the office of the Albanian Republican Party, which is in the northern part of the town. The very same day, by the order of the UNMIK regional administrator in Mitrovica, Stefan De Mistura, the UN flag was removed from the Mitrovica Hospital, which is in the northern part of the town, as the Serbian medical staff refused the return of 22 Albanian doctors in this hospital. De Mistura stated that the UN flag would be raised in this hospital, when the Albanian doctors and patients would return. Until then, there will be no aid for this hospital. On 23 December, at about 12.30, in ?7 Shtatori? quarter, in the northern part of the town, two Serbs severely ill treated Aslihane Hakif Begu (49) and her son Shpend Shasivar Begu (15), living in this quarter, and threatened them with killing if they move in this part of the town again. The very same day, Bahri Pllana (brother of Basri Pllana, a collaborator of the Serbian regime) threatened with fire weapon the medical staff in the Health Care Centre in Mitrovica and opened fire in the stomatology ward, when windows got broken. On going out, he threatened the citizens, insulted a girl and pointed his weapon at a youngster, who on self-defence wounded him on his hand. Bahri was taken to the French military hospital. Through an anonymous phone call made to the so-called ?Serbian District Council?, which operates in the northern part of the town, the paramilitary organisation ?Beli Orlovi? (White eagles) claimed the responsibility for the attack on the office of the Albanian Republican Party in Mitrovica. The prisoners and prisons PRISHTINA: An Albanian citizen introduced with his initials A. I. from Banja e Sijarin?s (Medvegja), who was released from the military prison of Nish (Serbia) on 17 December and who lives with his family in Shkup, managed to take a list with the names of 15 Albanian prisoners in Nish, even though their number is much higher. According to him, the following were on the same floor with him: Ded? Markaj, Frano Komoni and Haxhi Pajazitaj - from Gjakova; Robert Gashi, Jani or Toni Prela, Laz?r Krasniqi and Sokol Ndue ? from Korenica (Gjakova); Fatmir Shashivar Memaj, Kujtim Ekrem Memaj, Nexhmedin Haki Ajazaj and Elez Kurtaj ? from Zhur (Prizren); Ibrahim Tahiri and Abdyl Morina ? from the district of Rahovec; Jeton Dalip Krasniqi from Bu?a (Dragash) and Gani Shukriu from the district of Prizren. PEJA: The following were released from the prison of Leskovc (Serbia): Beqir Tahir Loxha, Xhevat Ram? Bajrami and Vllaznim Brahim P?rgjegjaj from Vitomirica and Agron Ibrahim Koll?aku from Peja. They were arrested by Serbian forces 7 months ago. SUHAREKA: On 24 December, Sokol Ymer Kabashi (1972) from Dardhishta (Suhareka) was released from the prison of Prokuple (Serbia). He was arrested on 24 January 1999 on the border with Hungary in Kelebi of Subotica (Vojvodina). PRISHTINA: On 20 December, at about 6.00 am, UNMIK police, in cooperation with KFOR, arrested an Albanian (32), under the suspicion that within two month he had committed 5 killings in Llukar. Eastern Kosova ? (Presheva, Bujanoc, Medvegja) BUJANOC: On 21 December, at about 19.00, 7 Serbian policemen entered the ?Teuta? pizzeria in Bujanoc, where they provoked, insulted on a national and family basis and threatened with liquidation the waiter Lirim Sherifali Nazifi (1979). On leaving, policemen ill-treated Hevzi Bilall Ahmeti (1947), a pensioner, owner of the building. PRESHEVA: These days, 100-150 members of Serbian special units were situated in Presheva. They were stationed in the Youth House in Presheva and during the patrol, they usually go in groups of 15-20 members. KFOR interventions KA?ANIK: On 26 December, in the vicinity of Doganaj, at the cross-road Tetova-Brezovica, KFOR Polish soldiers stopped the Albanian sportsmen, who were on their way to Brezovica for the activity ?All in snow?, previously announced by the Ski Federation of Kosova. Moreover, soldiers opened fire thrice on the tyre of the car, in which was Hajrush Demaj, chairman of the Ski Federation of Kosova. Prishtina, 26 December 1999 Information Service From mentor at alb-net.com Mon Jan 17 12:11:22 2000 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Mon Jan 17 12:11:22 2000 Subject: [Kcc-News] KOSOVAR-PRISONERS: Dr. Flora Brovina & Albin Kurti Message-ID: ____________________________________________________________________ RELEASE THE KOSOVAR POLITICAL PRISONERS FROM SERBIA NOW! Sign the petition at: http://www.khao.org/appkosova/app_online.htm ____________________________________________________________________ http://www.khao.org/appkosova.htm ASSOCIATION OF POLITICAL PRISONERS KOSOVA ACTION NETWORK KOSOVA HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION FROM: ALICE MEAD amead at maine.rr.com Jan. 14, 2000 PUBLIC PRESSURE AIDING IN RELEASE OF KOSOVAR PRISONERS AS SERBIA'S SIX MONTH DETENTION DEADLINE PASSES There is reason to hope that the widespread public pressure regarding the Albanian prisoners detained in Serb prisons is leading to far more releases, stated Natasa Kandic, executive director of the Humanitarian Law Center. Her human rights organization is working for the release of all the prisoners. The vast majority of them are being held without charges or evidence and the six month holding period is long past. Dr. Flora Brovina, whose trial received international publicity and whose harsh sentence of 12 years in prison based on a forced confession and a photograph as evidence, is up for appeal possibly this Monday, January 17th. Kandic urges all those who spoke out about the trial at that time, to speak out again on the unfairness of the court's proceedings and the blatant lack of evidence. Albin Kurti, the student activist who led the demonstrations to reopen the University of Prishtina, was arrested in late April, 1999 and after being severely tortured at the police station in Prishtina, was sent to Lipjan Prison with his father and brother, who were released in late May. Albin was transferred to Pozhrevac Prison until the last week in December, 1999. He is now being held in Nish, yet according to HLC in Belgrade, there is no evidence against him, he has never had a court hearing, and there are no charges. He has been detained for eight months at this point, well past the six month deadline, and his case (which does not exist at this point) is so grievously flawed that it should be immediately dismissed, stated Kandic. She added that the majority of prisoners continue to suffer in the prisons without any formal charges against them. According to Yugoslav law, they should be dismissed as well. Kandic believes that Albin Kurti's case may be up for review very shortly, that being the probable reason he was recently transferred to Nish. She urges human rights advocates to act quickly on behalf of protecting the civil rights of both Brovina and Kurti. From mentor at alb-net.com Sat Jan 22 23:20:45 2000 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Sat Jan 22 23:20:45 2000 Subject: [Kcc-News] Washington Post: Kosovar Prisoners - By Kurt Bassuener and Eric A. Witte (January 22, 2000; Page A19) Message-ID: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/2000-01/22/098l-012200-idx.html Kosovar Prisoners By Kurt Bassuener and Eric A. Witte Saturday, January 22, 2000; Page A19 Seven months after NATO halted its bombing campaign against Serbia, the fate of thousands of Kosovar Albanian prisoners remains unresolved. Many of those taken to Serbia proper before, during and immediately after the conflict are not even charged with criminal wrongdoing. A prominent doctor and human rights leader has been sentenced to a long prison term on flimsy charges. Kosovo Albanian students in Belgrade are being tried and tortured on charges of "terrorism," and a lawyer representing a number of prisoners recently had to buy his way out of custody after being held for more than a week. The Serbian justice ministry admitted last summer to holding roughly 2,000 prisoners, and the International Committee of the Red Cross attested to slightly more. A U.N. official said 5,000 are incarcerated, and the local Society for Political Prisoners estimated as many as 7,000. There are no misconceptions about the severe conditions these prisoners likely endure -- especially since NATO troops in Kosovo discovered many Serb-run police stations that doubled as torture centers. Some of those who have been released -- only some 400 thus far -- can attest to the horrific conditions of the prisoners. Flora Brovina, a doctor, poet and human rights activist sentenced last month to 12 years in prison for supposedly aiding the Kosovo Liberation Army, has been mistreated in prison. She stated at her trial that she was thankful she had been beaten "only once." One of the prisoners released has since died as a result of the savage beatings inflicted by Serbian police. Prisoners such as Brovina are the lucky ones, though: At least Serbia admits to their incarceration. Many of the families of those missing have fallen prey to unscrupulous people who purport to have information about their loved ones, or even offer to gain their freedom -- for large sums of money, naturally. Why should the international community make this issue a priority when there are so many other areas of Balkan policy that need urgent attention? Partly because of the brutality with which these prisoners are being treated and partly because securing the release of these prisoners and resolving the fate of the missing will contribute to the social stability of Kosovo. Many Kosovar refugees returned to find their fields sown with mass graves and mines or their relatives and neighbors executed. The grief of some surviving Kosovars has driven them to bloody revenge and many times to cold-blooded murder -- often of innocent, elderly or infirm Serbs who could not conceivably be guilty of the "ethnic cleansing" that brought NATO intervention. While the brutal killings conducted by Serb forces will not be forgotten, the prisoner issue is the one critical obstacle to future coexistence between Kosovar Albanians and Serbs that can most easily be removed. Every prisoner has family, friends and acquaintances distressed and radicalized by their incarceration. The unresolved fate of the thousands of missing feeds the abhorrent wave of violent intolerance that has swept over Kosovo. Serbian leader and indicted war criminal Slobodan Milosevic has recognized that keeping a large stable of Kosovo Albanian prisoners maintains a high frustration level in Kosovo, making the jobs of international peacekeepers that much more difficult. With the end of the war, the West clearly has little remaining leverage over Milosevic, short of rewarding him with reconstruction funds or lifting sanctions -- both of which alliance leaders correctly have ruled out. But while there is no obvious road map for freeing the Serb-held prisoners, several options are available to the West. U.S. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke should actively seek partners to push through a U.N. Security Council resolution. while the United States chairs the council this month. Peacekeeping troops and the U.N. refugee agency could act as the post-transfer vetters -- distinguishing true criminals (who ought to remain incarcerated -- in Kosovo rather than Serbia) from political detainees. It is critical that the United States, the European Union, Canada and as many other democracies as possible coordinate their policies to exert maximum pressure on Belgrade to release the prisoners. Milosevic has long relied on divergent policies among the Western allies to help diffuse pressure and maintain power. Now that he is finally a defeated and indicted war criminal, such disunity is unconscionable. There are no guarantees of success, but the costs of trying to free the Kosovar prisoners are minimal. Doing so would bolster other critical Western efforts in the Balkans, and could bring freedom for these forgotten victims or the Kosovo war. Kurt Bassuener is associate director of the Balkan Action Council. Eric A. Witte is program coordinator at the International Crisis Group. ? Copyright 2000 The Washington Post Company