From mentor at alb-net.com Tue Jun 6 00:15:47 2000 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2000 00:15:47 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [Kcc-News] Kosovo's Libraries Cleansed Of Albanian Books (RFE/RL, 31 May 2000) (fwd) Message-ID: http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2000/05/F.RU.000531145854.html Serbia: Kosovo's Libraries Cleansed Of Albanian Books By Jolyon Naegele Kosovo's libraries lost almost half their books over the last decade to ethnic cleansing. RFE/RL correspondent Jolyon Naegele reports that a new study says many of the libraries were purged of Albanian-language books even before hostilities erupted in 1998. Prague, 31 May 2000 (RFE/RL) -- The International Federation of Library Associations estimates that at least $6.7 million will be needed to rescue Kosovo's libraries, damaged by a decade of neglect and a year and a half of fighting. It says most of the books that survived are either outdated or irrelevant to locals because of their language or subject matter. The association's report, just made public, says that Serbian authorities followed a systematic policy of destroying Albanian-language literature. The authors, two Scandinavian library experts, based their report on a survey they conducted earlier this year in libraries throughout Kosovo. The authors do not attempt to define who destroyed what when, but rather they focus on the libraries' current needs. UNESCO, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the Council of Europe supported the survey financially and logistically, along with four Scandinavian librarians' associations. One of the co-authors is Carsten Frederiksen, deputy director of the Copenhagen-based library federation. He says Albanian librarians had been fired long before the war. "What has happened is actually that all ethnic Albanians in Kosovo were removed from the libraries or fired or sacked about 10 years ago, and that no new books in the Albanian language have been acquired since 1991. And in this sense you might speak of ethnic cleansing in the libraries." The report says some 100,000 books in Albanian belonging to the National and University Library were destroyed between 1991 and 1995, in what the authors of the survey describe as a "process of ethnic cleansing." They say this process also occurred in almost all public libraries in Kosovo during the 1990s. The torching of libraries in Kosovar Albanian communities during the fighting in 1998 and 1999 was just the culmination of a long policy. As a result, the survey says, "a large share of local public and school libraries need total reconstruction of buildings and collections." Last autumn, the National and University Library of Kosovo (sponsored by the Kosovo Foundation for an Open Society), conducted its own survey and found that two-thirds of Kosovo's 180 libraries had been "annihilated" between 1990 and 1999. Over 900,000 books -- or almost half of all library books in Kosovo -- had been destroyed. The Scandinavian report does not seek to duplicate that survey. But it does respond to controversial accusations made last year by the Belgrade daily "Glas Javnosti" alleging that Kosovar Albanians had destroyed at least four Serbian libraries and burned 2 million Serbian books. The Scandinavian authors say this allegation is unfounded, and they insist that Kosovo's public libraries never contained 2 million Serbian books. The authors say they cannot absolutely rule out that ethnic Albanians may have destroyed some libraries which the Belgrade authorities had renamed "Serbian cultural institutions." But they say they saw no indications in the libraries they visited that Serbian books had been systematically destroyed. Rather, they say that in areas where the greatest Serbian destruction of Albanian property occurred -- in western and central Kosovo -- books in Serbian were the only ones that survived. The survey lists the most pressing problems facing the National and University Library as missing, damaged or outdated equipment, including electricity and telephone lines. Missing Albanian books should be replaced, the survey recommends, and English-language university books should be acquired. The Kosovo survey team has submitted its report to UNESCO and the UN administration in Kosovo, UNMIK, including a three- to four-year action plan. The plan proposes the formation of a temporary library consortium that would include local activists, major international donors, and international organizations to provide professional expertise and advice. The plan also proposes 11 special programs that would address such areas as administration, reconstruction, and training, as well as set up a mobile library service, and cultural heritage and youth programs. Frederiksen says "a very rough estimate" of the funding needed for these measures is $6.7 million. He is optimistic about the chances for raising this money. "Our intention is of course that some of the government agencies in Europe or North America are willing to go into this project. And I think that some of the Scandinavian countries, for instance, we have quite a long experience both in public libraries and especially in mobile libraries, which is one of the suggestions we make to be introduced in Kosovo." The survey says projects and activities so far have been sporadic and largely ad hoc, and that at present, no systematic effort exists to address the needs of Kosovo's libraries. But Frederiksen notes the Kosovo Foundation for an Open Society already has responded to the recommendations of his report and has initiated several projects. These include reconstruction of three public libraries, translation of scientific literature for university use, and delivery of Albanian-language children's books. ? 1995-2000 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc. From mentor at alb-net.com Tue Jun 6 00:15:47 2000 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2000 00:15:47 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [Kcc-News] Kosovo's Libraries Cleansed Of Albanian Books (RFE/RL, 31 May 2000) (fwd) Message-ID: http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2000/05/F.RU.000531145854.html Serbia: Kosovo's Libraries Cleansed Of Albanian Books By Jolyon Naegele Kosovo's libraries lost almost half their books over the last decade to ethnic cleansing. RFE/RL correspondent Jolyon Naegele reports that a new study says many of the libraries were purged of Albanian-language books even before hostilities erupted in 1998. Prague, 31 May 2000 (RFE/RL) -- The International Federation of Library Associations estimates that at least $6.7 million will be needed to rescue Kosovo's libraries, damaged by a decade of neglect and a year and a half of fighting. It says most of the books that survived are either outdated or irrelevant to locals because of their language or subject matter. The association's report, just made public, says that Serbian authorities followed a systematic policy of destroying Albanian-language literature. The authors, two Scandinavian library experts, based their report on a survey they conducted earlier this year in libraries throughout Kosovo. The authors do not attempt to define who destroyed what when, but rather they focus on the libraries' current needs. UNESCO, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the Council of Europe supported the survey financially and logistically, along with four Scandinavian librarians' associations. One of the co-authors is Carsten Frederiksen, deputy director of the Copenhagen-based library federation. He says Albanian librarians had been fired long before the war. "What has happened is actually that all ethnic Albanians in Kosovo were removed from the libraries or fired or sacked about 10 years ago, and that no new books in the Albanian language have been acquired since 1991. And in this sense you might speak of ethnic cleansing in the libraries." The report says some 100,000 books in Albanian belonging to the National and University Library were destroyed between 1991 and 1995, in what the authors of the survey describe as a "process of ethnic cleansing." They say this process also occurred in almost all public libraries in Kosovo during the 1990s. The torching of libraries in Kosovar Albanian communities during the fighting in 1998 and 1999 was just the culmination of a long policy. As a result, the survey says, "a large share of local public and school libraries need total reconstruction of buildings and collections." Last autumn, the National and University Library of Kosovo (sponsored by the Kosovo Foundation for an Open Society), conducted its own survey and found that two-thirds of Kosovo's 180 libraries had been "annihilated" between 1990 and 1999. Over 900,000 books -- or almost half of all library books in Kosovo -- had been destroyed. The Scandinavian report does not seek to duplicate that survey. But it does respond to controversial accusations made last year by the Belgrade daily "Glas Javnosti" alleging that Kosovar Albanians had destroyed at least four Serbian libraries and burned 2 million Serbian books. The Scandinavian authors say this allegation is unfounded, and they insist that Kosovo's public libraries never contained 2 million Serbian books. The authors say they cannot absolutely rule out that ethnic Albanians may have destroyed some libraries which the Belgrade authorities had renamed "Serbian cultural institutions." But they say they saw no indications in the libraries they visited that Serbian books had been systematically destroyed. Rather, they say that in areas where the greatest Serbian destruction of Albanian property occurred -- in western and central Kosovo -- books in Serbian were the only ones that survived. The survey lists the most pressing problems facing the National and University Library as missing, damaged or outdated equipment, including electricity and telephone lines. Missing Albanian books should be replaced, the survey recommends, and English-language university books should be acquired. The Kosovo survey team has submitted its report to UNESCO and the UN administration in Kosovo, UNMIK, including a three- to four-year action plan. The plan proposes the formation of a temporary library consortium that would include local activists, major international donors, and international organizations to provide professional expertise and advice. The plan also proposes 11 special programs that would address such areas as administration, reconstruction, and training, as well as set up a mobile library service, and cultural heritage and youth programs. Frederiksen says "a very rough estimate" of the funding needed for these measures is $6.7 million. He is optimistic about the chances for raising this money. "Our intention is of course that some of the government agencies in Europe or North America are willing to go into this project. And I think that some of the Scandinavian countries, for instance, we have quite a long experience both in public libraries and especially in mobile libraries, which is one of the suggestions we make to be introduced in Kosovo." The survey says projects and activities so far have been sporadic and largely ad hoc, and that at present, no systematic effort exists to address the needs of Kosovo's libraries. But Frederiksen notes the Kosovo Foundation for an Open Society already has responded to the recommendations of his report and has initiated several projects. These include reconstruction of three public libraries, translation of scientific literature for university use, and delivery of Albanian-language children's books. ? 1995-2000 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc. From mentor at alb-net.com Tue Jun 13 12:45:50 2000 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 12:45:50 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [Kcc-News] A-PAL Anniversary Report (fwd) Message-ID: Welcome to Albanian Prisoner Advocacy List -- Prisoner Pals Newsletter A-PAL ANNIVERSARY REPORT June 09, 2000 Association Of Political Prisoners Kosova Action Network THE WAR IS NOT OVER UNTIL THE PRISONERS COME HOME -- Jaime Shea, NATO spokesperson, 02/05/00 On June 10, 1999, over 2,000 Albanians were illegally taken to Serb prisons. Tragically, nearly one thousand are still there a year later. This action was the result of both the United States Administration's desire to end the NATO bombing as quickly as possible and the on-going failure of the West to create a comprehensive, just peace plan for Kosova that would protect the rights of all the people in Kosova. A-PAL takes this opportunity of the one year anniversary to look back at the prisoner issue since January, 2000. The continuing illegal detention of the remaining 950 Albanians in Serbia is a disconcerting comment on the failure of the West to implement a just peace in Kosova . CALL FOR JUSTICE The International Government Organizations: OSCE, UN, NATO, EU, EP, and the U.S. MUST stand up against the Serb Ministry of Justice's abuses and INSIST on the rule of law -- Equal for ALL. Outside groups must focus on the principle of human rights throughout the region; these principles must be upheld with consequences for those who fail to do so. This urgent need was made clear during the UN Security Council members visit to Kosova. Within Serbia this means the following actions must be implemented: 1. The Immediate Release of all Albanian Prisoners 2. The Arrest of Indicted War Criminals 3. Free Elections -- Not Civil War Within Kosova this means the following actions: 1. The Adoption of the Tolerance Platform Endorsed by KTC, KFOR and Serb Kosova leaders 2. To Install Judges and Trials 3. To Aid ICRC in locating 150 missing Serbs 4. To Aid ICRC in locating over 3,000 missing Albanians 5. To Begin War Crimes Trials FAILURE TO DEMAND FOCUS ON THE PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE WILL RESULT IN FURTHER UNNECESSARY VIOLENCE AND DESTRUCTION. SUGGESTED ACTION: Use the compiled quotations listed below to advocate for justice and equality for all those suffering illegal imprisonment in Serbia. Email to the addresses listed below. Now is the time, more than ever, to email the UN Security Council members. Emphasize that the rule of law should be the primary need and focus for all agencies and officers in the region. Violating guaranteed human rights because you were ordered to do so is no excuse for condoning illegal behavior. Not until all sides - Serbian people themselves, NATO and the West, Kosovar Albanians - put the principles of justice foremost and act to enforce laws on all sides will the situation begin to move forward towards peace and away from war. ========================================== EMAIL ADDRESSES / CONTACT INFO: ========================================== * The European Court of Human Rights, Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France: e-mail webmaster at courtl.coe.fr or telephone + 33-3-88-412018 * United States of America: usaun at undp.org * Canada: canada at un.int * United Kingdom: uk at un.int * Ukraine: ukrun at undp.org * Tunisia: tunun at undp.org * Russian Federation: rusun at un.int * Malaysia: mysun at undp.org * Netherlands: netherlands at un.int * Jamaica: jamaica at un.int * France: france at un.int * China: chinun at undp.org * Canada: canada at un.int * Bangladesh: bangladesh at un.int * Argentina: argentina at un.int * Representative Engel's office (Chairman of the Albanian Caucus): jason.steinbaum at mail.house.gov * National Albanian American Council: naacdc at aol.com * Doris Pack: Chairperson-Southeast Europe Delegation: dpack at europarl.eul.int * Emma Bonino: ebonino at agora.stm.it * Elmar Brock: Chairman Human Rights ebrok at europarl.eu.int * Bart Staes: bstaes at europarl.eu.int * Patricia McKenna: mckennap at iol.ie * Heidi Hautala: hautala at vihrealiitto.fi * Ole Krarup: ole.kraup at jur.ku.dk * Daniel Cohn-Bendit: dcohn-bendit at europarl.eu.int * Cecelia Malmstrom: cecelia at liberal.se * Hans_gert Poettering: hpoettering at europarl.eu.int * Per Gahrton: pgahrton at europarl.eu.int * Jose Pomes Ruis: pomes at abc.ibernet.com * Christina Prets: eu-buero.prets at members.at * Heidi Ruhle: hruhle at europarl.eu.int * Elisabeth Schroedter: eschroedter at europarl.eu.int * Staffan B. Linder: sbl at moderat.se * Gunilla Carlsson: gcarlsson at europarl.eu.int * Den Dover: ddover at demon.uk * Olivier Duhamel: oduhamel at europarl.eu.int * Olivier Dupuis: o.dupuis at agora.stm.it * Marialiese Flemming: mflemming at europarl.eu.int * Karl Heinz Florenz: kflorenz at europarl.eu.int * Michael Gahler: mgahler at europarl.eu.int * Vasco Graca Moura: vgm at mail.telepac.pt * Marco Pannaella: m.pannella at agora.it * Mihail Papayannakis: papagiannakis at syn.gr * Slobodan Milosevic--President of FRY- fax: 011-381-11-636-775 * Vlajko Stoijiljkovic--Minister of Int. Affairs -- 011-381-11-3617-508 * Zoran Sokolovic-- Federal Minister of Internal Affairs-- 011-381-11-361-7730 * Zivadin Jovanovic--Fed. Minister of Foreign Affairs-- 011-381-11-367-2954 ========================================== Here is a list of Ministry of Justice officials who have participated in the unfair trials and detentions of Albanians and Serbs. Please forward this list to your foreign affairs leader, the Security Council, and the EU. Ask that these people be investigated for violating or knowing of approximately 60 different international human rights laws regarding law enforcement. Urge, besides the investigation into the Dubrava massacre, an investigation into the 20,000 documented rapes of Albanian girls and women carried out by Serb forces (www.khao.org/report023.htm). Ignoring these crimes and allowing them to continue on after the war is an international disgrace. * Milomir Lazic ? Leskovac, Investigation judge * Goran Petronijevic ? Belgrade, Now presiding over the mass trial of the 145 Gjakova deportees * Dragolub Zdravkovic - Judge of Nis district court * Goran Despotovic - Presheva Municipal Court * Aleksandar Obradovic - Deputy Prosecutor in Nis * Nikola Vazura - Pozharevac District Court Judge * Dragisa Slipjepcevic - Judge in Belgrade District Court * Marina Milanovic - Judge in Nis District Court; Sentenced Dr. Flora Brovina to a 12 year prison sentence * Danica Marinkovic - Investigating Judge in Nis; Investigated Racak massacre * Stipe Marusic - Director of Pozhrevac Prison * Lubomir Cumburovic - Former Director of Prishtina and Lipjan Prisons where thousands of Albanians were brutally tortured and murdered; now at Sremska Mitrovica Prison ========================================== THE YEAR IN QUOTES: ========================================== December, 1999: Flora Brovina's husband, Ajri Begu: "It was not Flora who was put on trial, it was the medical profession. It was a trial against all brave people, humanists, who stood in the way of the regime." December, 1999: Holly Cartner, "This trial is proceeding at the whim of Serbian political authorities, not the facts of the case. This is the pattern we've seen again and again in such trials against ethnic Albanians from Kosovo. We will call on the court to resist political pressure and to judge this case on the basis of facts. This is an opportunity to re-impose the rule of law in Serbia's judicial system." January, 2000: Shukrie Rexha, Association of Political Prisoners, Prishtina: "Let us not forget our beloved ones who are not with us. Thousands of Albanians are being tortured in Serb prisons. they fight for life simply because they are Albanians." January, 2000: Shemsi, age 15: "I cannot forget my time in prison. I worry all the time now that the people I left behind there will die." February, 2000: Barbara Davis: UNHCHR Belgrade: "Albanians in Serb prisons are in a kind of legal vacuum. There is no one to intervene on their behalf." February, 2000: Bernard Kouchner, UNMIK head: Demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all Kosovar Albanian prisoners. February, 2000: Sonja Biserko, Helsinki Human Rights/Belgrade: "Flora Brovina faced a classic political trial. The Yugoslav authorities want to destroy the core of Albanian society's emancipation." February, 2000: Carl Bildt, UN Special Envoy to FYR: "There is no proper peace agreement for Kosova." February, 2000: US Ambassador Richard Holbrooke: "The international community is handicapped by the regime in Belgrade and the large number of war criminals still at large." February, 2000: John Menzies, Kosova Advisor, US State Dept.: "The continued detention of Albanians in Serbia remains a tragic and vexing issue for the international community." March, 2000: Albin Kurti, Nis trial: "This court has nothing to do with truth or justice. It serves the policies of the Milosevic regime." March, 2000: Rep. Eliot Engel, US House of Representatives: "Belgrade has no jurisdiction over Kosova and no authority to imprison Kosova residents." March, 2000: Rep. Christopher Smith, CSCE Comm. Chairperson: "The U.S. Administration agreed to drop the prisoner issue from the technical agreement in order to expedite the cessation of the NATO air campaign. No human rights expert was included on the team who negotiated the military technical agreement." March, 2000: "How can I be free when my soul is in prison?" D. Pllana, Prishtina family member. March, 2000: Mahmouti Bardyl, Vice-president of Kosovo's Democratic Progress Party, "We demand that the war criminals be arrested and convicted and their hostages released, which would have an immediate effect on security." April, 2000: Gradimir Nalic, one of the lawyers defending the group, said the prosecution "had no single evidence which could lead to individually established guilt of any of the defendants." April, 2000: Mehmetali Rexhepi, "The issue of the prisoners is the most sensitive wound." April, 2000: Mr. Kouchner has asked in vain for a special UN envoy to handle the prisoner issue. April, 2000: Juris Dinstbier, UNHR rapporteur for FYR: "The Flora Brovina trial and conviction are absolutely made up. Albin Kurti was convicted without any proof, in total violation of the Yugoslav legal system." April, 2000: Natasa Kandic, HLC/Belgrade: "These 145 Albanians are innocent civilians who were kidnapped from Djakovica eleven months ago." April, 2000: Suzy Blaustein, ICG senior advisor: "If human rights lay closer to the center of policy determination, many of Kosova and Serbia's problems would long since have been resolved." April, 2000: Dr. Flora Brovina: "I am a doctor and a poet. I have committed no terrorist acts." May, 2000: Bejta (released prisoner) confined himself to just a few words on his detention: "Even cows wouldn't be treated like that." May, 2000: prisoner's mother, Hajrije Limaj, age 60, Prishtina: "Even though we are freed of Serb oppression, we continue to cry." May, 2000: UN Security Council Amb. Chowdury of Bangladesh: "It is something that is burning continuously and this aspect needs special attention. The UN Security Council cannot maintain credibility if it fails to address the issue of imprisoned and missing." June, 2000: Louis Sell, ICG Kosovo office: "It's a disgrace that the Serbs were allowed to leave with thousands of prisoners who are really hostages. It's poisoning the atmosphere here." June, 2000: Kosovarja Kelmendi, HLC/Prishtina: "Without a solution to this problem, it's impossible to have peace and stability in Kosova." June, 2000: Richard Mertens, CS Monitor: "Their imprisonment not only has brought pain to the families, it has worsened relations between minority Serbs living in Kosova and majority Albanians, and it has left many Albanians increasingly frustrated with the West." June, 2000: Louis Sell, a former American diplomat who heads the Kosovo office of the International Crisis Group, "It's really a disgrace that [the Serbs] were allowed to leave with thousands of prisoners who are really hostages. While these people were languishing in jail, they just weren't on the screen. But it's poisoning the atmosphere here." June, 2000: Halil Matoshi, a magazine editor who spent eight months in a Serbian prison, "This is like a new bombardment of Kosovo, by Serbian forces," says. "With this case, the problems between Serbs and Albanians will grow worse and worse." -- MAY, 2000 Mr. Petronijevic said the court's decision was unanimous. ?Paraffin tests had established beyond reasonable doubt that those sentenced had used weapons. There might have been shortcomings in the test, but the results must be accepted as valid because they were conducted in wartime conditions. It is impossible to determine your individual guilt, but that is not necessary." ... the mass trial of the 143 Gjakova residents resulted in a total sentencing of 1,632 years in prison... -- We thank you for your support during this past year and wish immediate closure on the prisoner issue on behalf of the Albanian families; for the sake of stabilization, for the sake of peace, and for the sake of our futures, together. ### ========================================== Albanian Prisoner Advocacy List -- Prisoner Pals Newsletter Anniversary Report, June 09, 2000 *** Albanian Prisoner Advocacy List -- Prisoner Pals *** *** Archives: http://www.alb-net.com/pipermail/a-pal/ *** From mentor at alb-net.com Tue Jun 13 12:45:50 2000 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 12:45:50 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [Kcc-News] A-PAL Anniversary Report (fwd) Message-ID: Welcome to Albanian Prisoner Advocacy List -- Prisoner Pals Newsletter A-PAL ANNIVERSARY REPORT June 09, 2000 Association Of Political Prisoners Kosova Action Network THE WAR IS NOT OVER UNTIL THE PRISONERS COME HOME -- Jaime Shea, NATO spokesperson, 02/05/00 On June 10, 1999, over 2,000 Albanians were illegally taken to Serb prisons. Tragically, nearly one thousand are still there a year later. This action was the result of both the United States Administration's desire to end the NATO bombing as quickly as possible and the on-going failure of the West to create a comprehensive, just peace plan for Kosova that would protect the rights of all the people in Kosova. A-PAL takes this opportunity of the one year anniversary to look back at the prisoner issue since January, 2000. The continuing illegal detention of the remaining 950 Albanians in Serbia is a disconcerting comment on the failure of the West to implement a just peace in Kosova . CALL FOR JUSTICE The International Government Organizations: OSCE, UN, NATO, EU, EP, and the U.S. MUST stand up against the Serb Ministry of Justice's abuses and INSIST on the rule of law -- Equal for ALL. Outside groups must focus on the principle of human rights throughout the region; these principles must be upheld with consequences for those who fail to do so. This urgent need was made clear during the UN Security Council members visit to Kosova. Within Serbia this means the following actions must be implemented: 1. The Immediate Release of all Albanian Prisoners 2. The Arrest of Indicted War Criminals 3. Free Elections -- Not Civil War Within Kosova this means the following actions: 1. The Adoption of the Tolerance Platform Endorsed by KTC, KFOR and Serb Kosova leaders 2. To Install Judges and Trials 3. To Aid ICRC in locating 150 missing Serbs 4. To Aid ICRC in locating over 3,000 missing Albanians 5. To Begin War Crimes Trials FAILURE TO DEMAND FOCUS ON THE PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE WILL RESULT IN FURTHER UNNECESSARY VIOLENCE AND DESTRUCTION. SUGGESTED ACTION: Use the compiled quotations listed below to advocate for justice and equality for all those suffering illegal imprisonment in Serbia. Email to the addresses listed below. Now is the time, more than ever, to email the UN Security Council members. Emphasize that the rule of law should be the primary need and focus for all agencies and officers in the region. Violating guaranteed human rights because you were ordered to do so is no excuse for condoning illegal behavior. Not until all sides - Serbian people themselves, NATO and the West, Kosovar Albanians - put the principles of justice foremost and act to enforce laws on all sides will the situation begin to move forward towards peace and away from war. ========================================== EMAIL ADDRESSES / CONTACT INFO: ========================================== * The European Court of Human Rights, Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France: e-mail webmaster at courtl.coe.fr or telephone + 33-3-88-412018 * United States of America: usaun at undp.org * Canada: canada at un.int * United Kingdom: uk at un.int * Ukraine: ukrun at undp.org * Tunisia: tunun at undp.org * Russian Federation: rusun at un.int * Malaysia: mysun at undp.org * Netherlands: netherlands at un.int * Jamaica: jamaica at un.int * France: france at un.int * China: chinun at undp.org * Canada: canada at un.int * Bangladesh: bangladesh at un.int * Argentina: argentina at un.int * Representative Engel's office (Chairman of the Albanian Caucus): jason.steinbaum at mail.house.gov * National Albanian American Council: naacdc at aol.com * Doris Pack: Chairperson-Southeast Europe Delegation: dpack at europarl.eul.int * Emma Bonino: ebonino at agora.stm.it * Elmar Brock: Chairman Human Rights ebrok at europarl.eu.int * Bart Staes: bstaes at europarl.eu.int * Patricia McKenna: mckennap at iol.ie * Heidi Hautala: hautala at vihrealiitto.fi * Ole Krarup: ole.kraup at jur.ku.dk * Daniel Cohn-Bendit: dcohn-bendit at europarl.eu.int * Cecelia Malmstrom: cecelia at liberal.se * Hans_gert Poettering: hpoettering at europarl.eu.int * Per Gahrton: pgahrton at europarl.eu.int * Jose Pomes Ruis: pomes at abc.ibernet.com * Christina Prets: eu-buero.prets at members.at * Heidi Ruhle: hruhle at europarl.eu.int * Elisabeth Schroedter: eschroedter at europarl.eu.int * Staffan B. Linder: sbl at moderat.se * Gunilla Carlsson: gcarlsson at europarl.eu.int * Den Dover: ddover at demon.uk * Olivier Duhamel: oduhamel at europarl.eu.int * Olivier Dupuis: o.dupuis at agora.stm.it * Marialiese Flemming: mflemming at europarl.eu.int * Karl Heinz Florenz: kflorenz at europarl.eu.int * Michael Gahler: mgahler at europarl.eu.int * Vasco Graca Moura: vgm at mail.telepac.pt * Marco Pannaella: m.pannella at agora.it * Mihail Papayannakis: papagiannakis at syn.gr * Slobodan Milosevic--President of FRY- fax: 011-381-11-636-775 * Vlajko Stoijiljkovic--Minister of Int. Affairs -- 011-381-11-3617-508 * Zoran Sokolovic-- Federal Minister of Internal Affairs-- 011-381-11-361-7730 * Zivadin Jovanovic--Fed. Minister of Foreign Affairs-- 011-381-11-367-2954 ========================================== Here is a list of Ministry of Justice officials who have participated in the unfair trials and detentions of Albanians and Serbs. Please forward this list to your foreign affairs leader, the Security Council, and the EU. Ask that these people be investigated for violating or knowing of approximately 60 different international human rights laws regarding law enforcement. Urge, besides the investigation into the Dubrava massacre, an investigation into the 20,000 documented rapes of Albanian girls and women carried out by Serb forces (www.khao.org/report023.htm). Ignoring these crimes and allowing them to continue on after the war is an international disgrace. * Milomir Lazic ? Leskovac, Investigation judge * Goran Petronijevic ? Belgrade, Now presiding over the mass trial of the 145 Gjakova deportees * Dragolub Zdravkovic - Judge of Nis district court * Goran Despotovic - Presheva Municipal Court * Aleksandar Obradovic - Deputy Prosecutor in Nis * Nikola Vazura - Pozharevac District Court Judge * Dragisa Slipjepcevic - Judge in Belgrade District Court * Marina Milanovic - Judge in Nis District Court; Sentenced Dr. Flora Brovina to a 12 year prison sentence * Danica Marinkovic - Investigating Judge in Nis; Investigated Racak massacre * Stipe Marusic - Director of Pozhrevac Prison * Lubomir Cumburovic - Former Director of Prishtina and Lipjan Prisons where thousands of Albanians were brutally tortured and murdered; now at Sremska Mitrovica Prison ========================================== THE YEAR IN QUOTES: ========================================== December, 1999: Flora Brovina's husband, Ajri Begu: "It was not Flora who was put on trial, it was the medical profession. It was a trial against all brave people, humanists, who stood in the way of the regime." December, 1999: Holly Cartner, "This trial is proceeding at the whim of Serbian political authorities, not the facts of the case. This is the pattern we've seen again and again in such trials against ethnic Albanians from Kosovo. We will call on the court to resist political pressure and to judge this case on the basis of facts. This is an opportunity to re-impose the rule of law in Serbia's judicial system." January, 2000: Shukrie Rexha, Association of Political Prisoners, Prishtina: "Let us not forget our beloved ones who are not with us. Thousands of Albanians are being tortured in Serb prisons. they fight for life simply because they are Albanians." January, 2000: Shemsi, age 15: "I cannot forget my time in prison. I worry all the time now that the people I left behind there will die." February, 2000: Barbara Davis: UNHCHR Belgrade: "Albanians in Serb prisons are in a kind of legal vacuum. There is no one to intervene on their behalf." February, 2000: Bernard Kouchner, UNMIK head: Demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all Kosovar Albanian prisoners. February, 2000: Sonja Biserko, Helsinki Human Rights/Belgrade: "Flora Brovina faced a classic political trial. The Yugoslav authorities want to destroy the core of Albanian society's emancipation." February, 2000: Carl Bildt, UN Special Envoy to FYR: "There is no proper peace agreement for Kosova." February, 2000: US Ambassador Richard Holbrooke: "The international community is handicapped by the regime in Belgrade and the large number of war criminals still at large." February, 2000: John Menzies, Kosova Advisor, US State Dept.: "The continued detention of Albanians in Serbia remains a tragic and vexing issue for the international community." March, 2000: Albin Kurti, Nis trial: "This court has nothing to do with truth or justice. It serves the policies of the Milosevic regime." March, 2000: Rep. Eliot Engel, US House of Representatives: "Belgrade has no jurisdiction over Kosova and no authority to imprison Kosova residents." March, 2000: Rep. Christopher Smith, CSCE Comm. Chairperson: "The U.S. Administration agreed to drop the prisoner issue from the technical agreement in order to expedite the cessation of the NATO air campaign. No human rights expert was included on the team who negotiated the military technical agreement." March, 2000: "How can I be free when my soul is in prison?" D. Pllana, Prishtina family member. March, 2000: Mahmouti Bardyl, Vice-president of Kosovo's Democratic Progress Party, "We demand that the war criminals be arrested and convicted and their hostages released, which would have an immediate effect on security." April, 2000: Gradimir Nalic, one of the lawyers defending the group, said the prosecution "had no single evidence which could lead to individually established guilt of any of the defendants." April, 2000: Mehmetali Rexhepi, "The issue of the prisoners is the most sensitive wound." April, 2000: Mr. Kouchner has asked in vain for a special UN envoy to handle the prisoner issue. April, 2000: Juris Dinstbier, UNHR rapporteur for FYR: "The Flora Brovina trial and conviction are absolutely made up. Albin Kurti was convicted without any proof, in total violation of the Yugoslav legal system." April, 2000: Natasa Kandic, HLC/Belgrade: "These 145 Albanians are innocent civilians who were kidnapped from Djakovica eleven months ago." April, 2000: Suzy Blaustein, ICG senior advisor: "If human rights lay closer to the center of policy determination, many of Kosova and Serbia's problems would long since have been resolved." April, 2000: Dr. Flora Brovina: "I am a doctor and a poet. I have committed no terrorist acts." May, 2000: Bejta (released prisoner) confined himself to just a few words on his detention: "Even cows wouldn't be treated like that." May, 2000: prisoner's mother, Hajrije Limaj, age 60, Prishtina: "Even though we are freed of Serb oppression, we continue to cry." May, 2000: UN Security Council Amb. Chowdury of Bangladesh: "It is something that is burning continuously and this aspect needs special attention. The UN Security Council cannot maintain credibility if it fails to address the issue of imprisoned and missing." June, 2000: Louis Sell, ICG Kosovo office: "It's a disgrace that the Serbs were allowed to leave with thousands of prisoners who are really hostages. It's poisoning the atmosphere here." June, 2000: Kosovarja Kelmendi, HLC/Prishtina: "Without a solution to this problem, it's impossible to have peace and stability in Kosova." June, 2000: Richard Mertens, CS Monitor: "Their imprisonment not only has brought pain to the families, it has worsened relations between minority Serbs living in Kosova and majority Albanians, and it has left many Albanians increasingly frustrated with the West." June, 2000: Louis Sell, a former American diplomat who heads the Kosovo office of the International Crisis Group, "It's really a disgrace that [the Serbs] were allowed to leave with thousands of prisoners who are really hostages. While these people were languishing in jail, they just weren't on the screen. But it's poisoning the atmosphere here." June, 2000: Halil Matoshi, a magazine editor who spent eight months in a Serbian prison, "This is like a new bombardment of Kosovo, by Serbian forces," says. "With this case, the problems between Serbs and Albanians will grow worse and worse." -- MAY, 2000 Mr. Petronijevic said the court's decision was unanimous. ?Paraffin tests had established beyond reasonable doubt that those sentenced had used weapons. There might have been shortcomings in the test, but the results must be accepted as valid because they were conducted in wartime conditions. It is impossible to determine your individual guilt, but that is not necessary." ... the mass trial of the 143 Gjakova residents resulted in a total sentencing of 1,632 years in prison... -- We thank you for your support during this past year and wish immediate closure on the prisoner issue on behalf of the Albanian families; for the sake of stabilization, for the sake of peace, and for the sake of our futures, together. ### ========================================== Albanian Prisoner Advocacy List -- Prisoner Pals Newsletter Anniversary Report, June 09, 2000 *** Albanian Prisoner Advocacy List -- Prisoner Pals *** *** Archives: http://www.alb-net.com/pipermail/a-pal/ *** From mentor at alb-net.com Thu Jun 15 14:30:24 2000 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 14:30:24 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [Kcc-News] Kosovars still at political impasse one year after Serb withdrawal (fwd) Message-ID: Kosova Task Force, USA News Update June 15, 2000 As the first anniversary of Serb withdrawal approaches (June 20), journalists in leading newspapers are suffering from a serious bout of collective amnesia. Critics in alliance with the Serb lobby are questioning whether NATO intervention on humanitarian grounds was justified. Instead of acknowledging NATO?s role in the heroic resistance waged by the people of Kosova against genocide, the focus is on whether the number of Serb tanks hit were worth the costs of intervention. The following facts need to be remembered and brought forward to the media's attention. 1 Kosova is still not free. Serbia continues to have political sovereignty over Kosova despite the overwhelming vote for independence by Kosovars in 1991. To deny the aspirations of Kosovars is to ensure new wars and further atrocities. 2 The UN Security Council assigned UNMIK the impossible task of creating a multi-ethnic Kosova subject to Belgrade. Any talk of reconciliation and creation of a multiethnic society is futile so long as there is no acknowledgment of the wrongs done, and if not amends then at least a sense that some measure of justice is being done. 3 NATO went to war against Belgrade not to create some multiethnic and democratic nirvana but to prevent an escalation of Serb attacks against Kosovo's civilian population. 4 Albanian relief from Serb tyranny cannot depend simply on the presence of international forces providing border security. A political settlement with ethnic Albanians as full partners is needed. 5 The upcoming municipal elections are no more than a UN plan to assuage Kosovars and a bid for time in the hope that some sort of compromise short of Koosovar independence will emerge. 6 French peacekeepers in Kosova have been repeatedly accused of cooperating with Serb paramilitaries controlling access to northern Mitrovica. French forces sympathetic to Belgrade have allowed a defacto partition of the mineral-rich region of Mitrovica by the Serbs. 7 War criminals have not been arrested. KFOR and UNMIK civilian police force have deliberately failed to pursue indicted war criminals. Kosova still has no court that can deliver impartial judgments regarding war crimes. 8 About 1200 Albanians are still being illegally held in Serbian prisons, subjected to mock trials that make a parody of justice. Last month, 143 of these prisoners were sentenced to a total of 1632 years in prison. Another 5000 Kosovars are reported missing. The weak international response has fostered a profound cynicism among Kosovars regarding the prospects for realizing other Western promises such as self-governance or real peace. 9 An estimated 20,000 Kosovar women were raped by Serbs. None of these criminals have been arrested. Few services are available for these women to deal with their personal traumas. Local humanitarian groups, including the Red Cross, have estimated that 100 rape-babies were born in January alone. -- ========================================== Justice For All 730 W. Lake St., Suite 156 Chicago, IL 60661, USA Phone: 312-829-0087 Fax: 312-829-0089 Email: kosova at justiceforall.org Internet: http://www.justiceforall.org Visit our website for news and information ========================================== The following organizations constitute the Kosova Task Force, USA: Albanian Islamic Cultural Center, American Muslim Council, Balkan Muslim Association, Council of Islamic Organizations of Chicago, Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan, Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America ( ), Islamic Council of New England, Islamic Medical Association, Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, Islamic Society of Greater Houston, Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Majlis Shura New York, The Ministry of Imam W.D. Muhammad, Muslim Students Association of US and Canada, The National Community.