Kosova Comunication 250 - 30/01/96

From: kosova@gn.apc.org (Kosova Information Centre)

Kosovo News Directory

Kosova Communication

Bulletin of the Minisitry of Information of the Republic of Kosova

5th year, No. 250 , 30th January 1996

CONTENTS

[01] Kosova independence question of survival

The Government of the Republic has been mandated to fight for independence and will deploy all its efforts to that end only - continued Bukoshi.

Finally, Mr. Bukoshi on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kosova reassures its people about its stance that the independence can only be won and only the will of the people will be respected.

[02] Rugova Receives Representatives of International NGOs

President Rugova expressed his appreciation for the work these organizations have been doing amidst grave social and humanitarian conditions in Kosova. He stressed the importance of both governmental and non-governmental presence in Kosova, aimed at following the situation and helping its improvement.

Terry Hesselius, on behalf of the NGO representatives thanked Dr. Rugova for the reception and good cooperation and understanding their activity has been met with by the Kosova NGOs and the population.

[03] Council of Europe on Kosova asylum seekers

The resolution expresses the Assemblys concerns on continuing systematic human rights violations against the Albanian population in Kosova including torture, police brutality, violent house searches, arbitrary arrests, political trials and irregularities in legal proceedings.

The Assembly acknowledges that due to such prosecution, some 340 700 Kosova Albanians have sought asylum in Several Council of Europe member states, for example 230,000 in Germany and 60,000 in Sweden.

The Assembly calls on for the safe and dignified repatriation of rejected Kosova Albanian asylum-seekers and for the renouncement of plans for the systematic mass resettlement of Serbs in Kosova.

The Assembly recommends the organisation of a population census in Kosova in co-operation with the European Union.

[04] Question of Kosova raised

Referring to what Belgrade calls voluntary association of Serbia and Montenegro the OMCT underlines that this voluntary association raises the problem of Kosova and Vojvodina, pointing out that 90% of the population in Kosova are of Albanian origin whose human rights have deteriorated considerably following the Serbian occupation in July 1990.

The OMCT also refers to the Resolution of the Commission on Human Rights (E/CN. 4/1995/L99) which mentions serious acts of discrimination and oppressing practices which target entirely Kosova Albanians and led to major un-voluntary emigration and attempts to change the ethnic structure of Kosova using policies which encourage the influx of Serbs and Montenegrins while harassing ethnic Albanians returning to their father land.

The OMCT highlights the fact that the Serbian authorities, who in the past 4 years, have been persisting in discriminatory policies, have passed 32 law and 470 programmes of a discriminatory nature aimed at the colonisation of Kosova with Serbs. These laws and programmes had dramatic consequences. Namely, 127,000 Albanian have been dismissed from their jobs and have been already replaced by 35,000 Serbs and Montenegrins.

The education system is in similar dire circumstances - 350,000 pupils and students can not be taught in their school buildings.

OMCT hold the Serbian Army and Police responsible for all violations such as killings, torture, degrading inhumane acts, arbitrary arrests, kidnapping and hostage taking.

OMCT states that the report presented is denouncing and shows that it violates human rights including those of children, therefore hitting Albanians the most.

[05] 24 U.S. Representatives Cite Urgency of Resolving Kosova Crisis

They express pleasure that a State Department summary of the Dayton agreement specifically conditions the outer wall of sanctions against Serbia, which deals with normalisation and international financial institution, upon improvements in Kosova.

The representatives urge Mr.Christopher not to lift any of the outer wall of sanctions until Belgrade meets very specific conditions related to Kosova including the cessation of all actions which block the government of Kosova from carrying out its legitimate mandate as freely elected representatives and recognition of the right of the people of Kosova to self-determination.

Finally the representatives state that no further normalisation should occur until these basic requirements are met and President Milosevic, in good faith talks, reaches an accord with the people of Kosova.

The letter was signed by: Eliot Engel, Tom Lantos, Charles Schumer, George Miller, David Bonior, Susan Molinari, John Porter, Peter King, Dana Rohrabacher, Sue Kelley, Sander Levion, James Moran, John Olivier, Robert Torricelli, Gary Ackerman, Steny Hoyer, Frank Pallone, Jos Serrano, Nita Lowey, Martin Hoke, Christopher Smith, Edward Royce, Christopher Sheys dhe Bill Paxon.

[06] Serbian Police raid Prishtina markets

Seized merchandise was loaded into six lorries and sent to an unknown destination. Police also confiscated several transport vehicles.

[07] Another staged trial concluded

All were convicted for alleged weapons offences.

[08] Human rights violations in Kosova continue

The Council states that during the past year the situation of human rights in Kosova has deteriorated.

Demai states that during 1995 there have been over 27,000 violations of human rights. 11,175 people have been tortured and ill-treated by the Serbian Police. 15 people were killed: Abedin A. Ahmeti (1962), Ali Obrinja (1929), Arben Kraja (?), Besim A. Ndrecaj (1956), Ejup Kosumi (1971), Ejup Musliu (1943), Elhami N. Qemi (1965), Ibrahim S.Krasniqi (1972), Imer Musa (1938), Isa M.Berisha (1985), Ismail N. Salihu (1943), Musli I.Krasniqi (1957), Sejdi J. Morina (1918), Shefki M. Latifi (1939), Ymer Agushi (1972). 8 others were wounded.

3,487 cases of arbitrary arrests were recorded as well as 3,296 cases of physical torture and beatings and 3,810 cases of ill-treatment. Among those whose rights were violated were 501 women, 611 children and 157 elderly, 31 of whom were taken hostage.

677 political and human rights activists were ill-treated as well as 59 sportsmen.

There were 9 cases of journalists being ill-treated.

315 Albanian were tried by the Serbian courts for allegedly violating the territorial integrity of FR of Yugoslavia and their separatist activities. They were sentenced to 540 years imprisonment in total.

Military authorities arrested 105 young men. 25 were sent to face Court Marshal and 13 were convicted for desertion. At least 1,635 others were called up to serve in the Serbian Army.

112 individuals were sentenced to up to 60 days imprisonment for allegedly endangering the safety of citizens and other mostly political offences.

There are 60 Albanian political prisoners, sentenced from 6 to 15 years.

328 Albanians were dismissed from their jobs. 53 families were evicted from their flats. There were 507 cases of harassment of pupils, students and teachers.

Police intervened 130 times in educational institutions.

There were 8 cases of Albanians being denied the right to return to Kosova.

During last year 15,000 Serbian refugees, mainly from Krajina, were brought in to aid colonisation of Kosova.

The Passports of 119 people were seized.

During the past year, police robbed many guest-workers coming home for holidays. Many trading companies were robbed. Markets were raided on regular basis. There were additionally 722 recorded cases of seizure of private property by the Serbian authorities.