[NYC-L] [Kcc-News] Petition for Kosova Missing Persons Inquiry

[Mentor Cana]

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  Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News: http://www.alb-net.com/index.htm
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			WE ARE ALL MISSING THEM

Petition text Link: http://www.kan-ks.org/index1.html

Sign it at:
   http://www.kan-ks.org/cgi-bin/gb1/guestbook.cgi?action=add

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
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