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Kosova Communication 236 -- 09/10/95From: kosova@gn.apc.org (Kosova Information Centre)Kosovo News DirectoryKosova CommunicationBulletin of the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Kosova4th year, No 236 , 9 October 1995CONTENTS[01] President Rugova Receives Swedish and Finnish Diplomats[02] LDK General Board Meets in Prishtina[03] Terror Continues in Kosova says Albanian Foreign Minister[04] Resolution on the former Yugoslavia[05] Amnesty International on Kosova trials[06] Serbian bust replaces Albanian monument.[07] Serbian Helsinki Committee writes to Milosevic[08] Ill-treatment of journalists[09] Belgrade announces census[10] Serbian violence continues[01] President Rugova Receives Swedish and Finnish DiplomatsThe President of the Republic of Kosova Dr.Ibrahim Rugova received on 5 October in Prishtina Mr. Goran Jacobsson, Charge d'Affaires of the Swedish Embassy, and Mr. Ilpo Manninen, Charge d'Affaires of the Finnish Embassy in Belgrade.
Dr. Rugova informed the Danish and Swedish diplomats about the situation in Kosova amidst the unabated Serbian regime's systematic repression. He also spoke about Serbia's efforts to colonize Kosova by resettling Serb refugees from Croatia and other parts of former Yugoslavia to Kosova. The Swedish and Finnish envoys to Belgrade, stated that their countries followed the situation in Kosova closely, adding that a peaceful and negotiated settlement to the Kosova issue should be pursued. Developments in the region were also discussed in the meeting.
[02] LDK General Board Meets in PrishtinaThe General Board of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) met on 4 October in Prishtina to discuss the current situation in Kosova and the international position of Kosova.The following conclusions were reached by the LDK General Board: 1. The General Board evaluated the grave situation in Kosova, and, in this respect, called for international support towards the peaceful policies and sacrifices that the people of Kosova have been making for many years now. 2. The Board reaffirmed the results of the 1991 popular referendum on Kosova's independence and neutrality, urged the placement of an international civil administration and the recognition of the new reality in Kosova. 3. Called for an end to Serbian repression and violence, 4. The LDK General Board assessed the need for the start of a dialogue on Kosova under the mediation of a third party, which would avert a conflict.
[03] Terror Continues in Kosova says Albanian Foreign MinisterAlbanias foreign minister, Alfred Serreqi, speaking at the 50-th Session of the UNO General Assembly, pointed out, amongst others, that the Republic of Albania was deeply concerned about the grave situation in Kosova.The Serbian military-police regime that has been installed in Kosova and ensued by the elimination of autonomy that this federal unit of former SFRY enjoyed, is continuing widespread terror against the Albanian population in Kosova, said Serreqi and added that police brutality is present every day and in every part of Kosova. Mr. Serreqi went on to say that As though this extremely tense and eruptive situation were not enough, the Belgrade authorities are sending now to Kosova as colonists Serb refugees from Croatia and Bosnia. This grave provocation, under the disguise of humanism for Serb refugees, is in reality part of the old plan of the Belgrade authorities to carry out ethnic cleansing in Kosova inhabited in 95 per cent by Albanians and forcefully change the ethnic-demographic composition. Further, he stated that the Republic of Albania holds that the United Nations, the Major Powers and NATO should anticipate and take adequate measures in order to prevent a conflict in Kosova, demilitarise its territory, protect human and national rights of Albanian there, put an end to ethnic cleansing and Serb colonisation, reopen the institutions of Kosova, create a climate for dialogue between the Albanians and the Serbs of Kosova, between Prishtina and Belgrade, start and continue dialogue in the presence of a third party.
[04] Resolution on the former YugoslaviaOn 27 September 1995, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted Resolution 1066 (1995) on the situation in some parts of the former Yugoslavia. Paragraph 12 of the resolution states: The assembly calls on the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) to refrain from altering the ethnic balance in Voivodina, Kosovo and in the regions on the Bulgarian border through the settlement of the Croatian Serb refugees and to respect the rights of the ethnic minorities in the country. The positive response of the Federal Government, its providing of full information and its co-operation with the international community will be important for improved relations with the Council of Europe.
[05] Amnesty International on Kosova trialsAmnesty International (AI) filed in September a report on a series of trials against the alleged "members of the Defence Ministry of the Republic of Kosova" and other individuals who have allegedly been involved in organizing a clandestine Albanian army in Kosova. This report - which in 12 pages focuses on a group of 16 who were initially under investigation, and who were found guilty and convicted on 17 July 1994 - brings an account of investigation procedure, court proceedings, charges, breaches of the legal procedure, etc., expressing AI's concern over defendants' accounts, namely that they had been subjected to ill-treatment and torture after their arrest. AI expresses its concern that 'all the defendants were convicted in a trial which did not meet the requirements of a fair trial as specified in international standards.' AI appeals 'to the authorities to order an independent and impartial investigation into the allegations that the defendants in this case were tortured or otherwise ill-treated following the arrest.' The organization also called for a review of the case 'on the grounds that they did not receive a fair trial in accordance with the international standards for the fair trials.'
[06] Serbian bust replaces Albanian monument.On 2 October in front of the Prishtina Philological Faculty , a bust of the Serbian nationalist Vuk Karadzic was unveiled. The statue is replacing the monument commemorating the Albanian victims of fascists killed in 1944 , which Serbian authorities destroyed in 1994.In the unveiling ceremony , the Rector of the Serbian run University of Prishtina, R. Papovic stated that further Serbian monuments were to be erected around the University campus.
[07] Serbian Helsinki Committee writes to MilosevicThe Serbian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights wrote to Slobodan Milosevic regarding the convictions of Albanians in Kosova during 1995. The letter denounces the harsh sentences, the use of torture and the violation of judicial procedure. The Serbian Helsinki Committee stated that the government of Yugoslavia with a gesture of good will should show its constructive approach and consequently contribute towards the finding a solution for this problem and demands amnesty for everyone who was convicted in these trials.
[08] Ill-treatment of journalistsA comment published by Prishtina based Bujku states that the Belgrade regime is continuing its wide campaign of repressing, maltreating and imprisoning Albanian Journalists. It underscores the fact that hundreds of Albanian journalists and reporters had undergone torture and ill-treatment in prisons and Serbian Courts, all charged of reporting in Albanian about the wrongdoing, tortures, maltreatments and other violence on Albanians in Kosova co-ordinated by the imposed regime. Journalists have been convicted of endangering public order or violating territorial integrity of SFRY and FRY
[09] Belgrade announces censusBelgrade authorities have recently announced that a census is to be held in 1997. Dragisa Bjeloglav, Deputy Chairman of the Federal Institute for Statistics has stated that this census will give an outline of the number of inhabitants, their age, sex and ethnic identity.The last census in Former Yugoslavia, in 1991, was remembered as an act that preceded the violent campaign of massive ethnic cleansing in different parts of former Yugoslavia. The result of these violent actions was displacement of millions of people. Albanians did not participate in that census. However despite their peaceful attitude , they did not escape Serbian violence and quiet ethnic cleansing; Since then more than 100,000 Kosova Albanians have been forced to flee their country each year.
[10] Serbian violence continuesSerbian violence continued unabated during the past month throughout Kosova.In the commune of Vitia only during September, the Serbian police have tortured 6 and ill-treated 3, 4 persons were summoned for so called 'police informative talks', four others were plundered, whereas Serbian police, under the pretext of arms searches, raided on three Albanian families. Serbian police stationed in Ferizaj, have summoned to the police station 38 Albanian residents of this district; 15 others were detained for periods of several hours to three days; under the pretext of arms searches the Serbian police searched 9 Albanian homes. Police also raided on Albanian institutions of this town and interrupted cultural and sporting activities. In many Kosova communes Serbian police have regularly confiscated markets and private shops of Albanians. On the 30th of September, a squad of Serbian financial police intervened in Mitrovica market and seized a large amount of money from Albanian shop owners and traders. It also intervened in the village of Zhabar i Eperm and seized money from Albanian workers. In the village of Gllavatin near Vushtrri, on 29th September, Serbian police searched the home of Bejte Sadiku (87) for the 13th time under the pretext of looking for weapons. Bejte Sadiku was taken away and brutally tortured by the police. In one single week Serbian police intervened 5 times against this family. |
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