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Kosova Communication 303, 97-05-26
From: Kosova Information Centre - London <[email protected]>
Kosova Communication
Bulletin of the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Kosova
6th year, No. 303, 26 May 1997
CONTENTS
[01] Trial of 20 Albanians Opens in Serb Court in Prishtina
[02] Kosova Government condemns Prishtina trial
[03] Helsinki Watch condemns the trial of Albanians
[04] Amnesty International: Unfair trial could risk aggravating political
tensions
[05] Another Serbian trial of Albanians to begin soon
[06] PPK is for peaceful policies
[07] Montenegrin government targets Ulqin
[08] UE pressurises Belgrade for an office in Prishtina
[09] Three political activists arrested
[10] A Serb breaks into a flat of an Albanian
[11] Serb Policemen Rename Albanian School in Prishtina
[12] Chronicle of violence
[01] Trial of 20 Albanians Opens in Serb Court in Prishtina
Prishtina, 19 May - A trial of 20 Kosova Albanians, charged with "planning
acts of terrorism" and affiliation with the National Movement for
Liberation of Kosova, opened today (Monday) at the Serb-run District Court
in Kosovas capital Prishtina.
The names of the Albanians standing trial are : Avni Klinaku, Muj Prekupi,
Liburn Aliu, Dylber Beka, Gani Baliu, Nebi Tahiri, Shaban Beka, Hajzer
Bejtullahu, Enver Dugolli, Emin Sallahu, Shukrie Rexha (f), Naser Tahiri,
Dulah Sallahu, Ragip Berisha, Burhan Hasani , Majlinda Sinani (f), Arsim
Ratkoceri and Baton Ratkoceri. Fatmir Humolli and Agim Kuleta will be tried
in absentia. Until the beginning of the trial Arsim Ratkoceri and Baton
Ratkoceri were not mentioned at all and no one new of their arrest.
According to the charges, the defendants are accused that since December
1992 until the day they were arrested, they had formed a "gang" to endanger
"the territorial integrity of the FRY" and to secede Kosova and other
Albanian inhabited areas and join Albania. They have been indicted also
for allegedly publishing a magazine called "lirimi" (Liberation),and
providing weapons and ammunition, and having committed "terrorist acts" and
planed the assassinations of Members of the Serbian Ministry for Interior.
Nicholas Hill, Second Secretary of the US Embassy in Belgrade, Ivon
Terlingen, a UN human rights commissioner, as well as representative of the
Belgrade-based Humanitarian Law Fund, were also attending the Mondays court
proceedings.
Defence lawyers requested that the defendants statements made during the
investigations proceedings be excluded, for, as they argued, they were made
exclusively during or after exhaustive torture, interrogated without the
presence of their lawyers etc. Statements of the defendants did not conform
with the Law on Penal Procedure and some of the statement didnt even have
signatures of the defendants.
The defendants whose hearing took place yesterday pleaded not guilty.
They told the court they had been brutally tortured during the
investigations and were forced to make self-incriminating confession.
The defendants refused to present their defence, for as they stated, they
did not recognise the Serbian court. In addition, they said it was but in
vain to attempt to defend themselves before another Serbian regime staged
trial - its outcome having been decided in advance, outside the courtroom.
[02] Kosova Government condemns Prishtina trial
Bonn, 22 May - In a communiqu regarding the staged trial that recently
started in Prishtina against 20 Kosova Albanians the Government of the
Republic of Kosova states that the Belgrade authorities have always tried
to stigmatise the movement in Kosova twith terrorsm, therefore it needed to
invent and try enemies. The Government of the Republic of Kosova highly
appreciates the stand of the falsely charged people, those who stand for
our national freedom, and their refusal to recognise this farce of a
trial. The Government offers its strong support to the freedom loving
innocent citizens and apologises to them for its insignificant support
through its policies of non-resistance, patience and humiliation.
"The Government is of opinion that this day to day Serbian scenario was
realisable because it was not opposed by the International Community nor by
Albanians itself. Our people have been continuously beaten, tortured,
sentenced and killed as we were repeating our monotonous refrain, never
disturbing the criminal Serbian regime yet damaging our national
aspirations.
We had never practically made it known to Serbia that we do not accept its
regime. This can be done by protests, demonstrations, non-payment of taxes,
resistance. If necessary, there is no other alternative but to protect the
rights of the nation by force" concludes the statement of Kosova Government
and calls upon all political forces in Kosova to urgently analyse the
situation and their engagement in the practical realisation of the Kosovas
independence.
[03] Helsinki Watch condemns the trial of Albanians
New York, 20 May - Human Rights Watch/Helsinki condemned today the Serbian
governments torture and maltreatment of 20 ethnic Albanians from Kosova who
went on trial yesterday on charges of terrorism.
Human Rights Watch/Helsinki said in a press release issued today that in
"this case, there is ample evidence that both Serbian and international law
have been violated, most egregiously with the use of torture".
The press release further says: In April, while these abuses were taking
place, the European Union granted Yugoslavia preferential trade status.
Such concessions to President Milosevic demonstrate the international
communitys indifference to human rights violations, and remove any leverage
the international community has to improve human rights conditions in
Yugoslavia. "Incidents of torture and political trials after the agreement
with the EU are evidence that the policy of positive encouragement has not
stopped Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic from committing abuses," said
Holly Cartner, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch/Helsinki.
[04] Amnesty International: Unfair trial could risk aggravating political
tensions
London, 16 May - Prior to the beginning of yet another trial of Kosova
Albanians for alleged terrorism, Amnesty International (AI) issued a press
release calling on the Yugoslav authorities to ensure a fair trial in
accordance with international standards which explicitly ban torture or
other ill-treatment and the use in court of evidence obtained by torture.
"Any failure in this respect risks aggravating political tensions in the
province" concludes Amnesty.
[05] Another Serbian trial of Albanians to begin soon
Prishtina, 20 May - A trial of 15 Albanians, accused by the Serbian-
installed authorities in Kosova, is expected to begin in Prishtina on 3
June.
The following Albanians are expected to appear before the Serbian-run
District Court in Prishtina: Besim Rama, Avni Nura, Adem Jashari, Jakip
Nura, Fadil Kadriu, Nuredin Lushtaku, Sahit Jashari, Rafet Rama, Sami
Lushtaku, Ilaz Kadriu, Rexhep Selimi, Hashim Thai, Zenun Kadiu, Ali Januzi
and Idriz Asllani.
The Serbian regime has indicted the accused with terrorism" charges,
pursuant to article 125 of the "FRY (Serbia and Montenegro) penal code.
[06] PPK is for peaceful policies
Prishtina, 23 May - in an interview given to Tetova based "TV Art", Adem
Demai, chair of the Parliamentary Party of Kosova (PPK), speaking on
extraordinary living conditions for Albanians in Kosova stated that, one
cannot find any other European nation that keeps two governments, the
occupying government which with its official mechanisms and financial
police, collects twice as more taxes and other levies from Albanians in
Kosova then from its people in Serbia and they also fulfil their moral
obligation to maintain Albanian education.
Demai also mentioned the recent Albanian-Serbian talks in New York, which
according to him was convened in attempt to persuade Albanians to surrender
and force them to participate in Serbian elections. "We presented our
arguments in front of US mediators, who are close to the US government, and
tried to convince the Serbian opposition to step forward with a unique
Albanian platform", continued Demai and went on to say that they refused
because once they get the power they will deal with Albanians as does
Milosevic.
Speaking on his Partys stance on Kosovas politics, Mr. Demai stated that
although PPK is for peaceful policies it cannot prohibit anybody from
trying other ways, but it cannot support any action beyond peaceful
framework.
[07] Montenegrin government targets Ulqin
Ulqin, 22 May - Speaking at a plenary session of the Montenegrin
Parliament, Mehmet Bardhi of the opposition Democratic League, pointed out
that there are serious human rights violations, including the national
rights, in Montenegro. He also stated that the talks on defining the status
of Albanians have not continued yet.
He also spoke about the problem of discrimination in the Commune of Ulqin,
which is inhabited mainly by Albanians. Mr . Bardhi spoke about various
pressures put on the only commune in Montenegro run by the opposition.
During the last six years the republic did not make any investment. During
fifty years of communist rule the state had confiscated all Albanian owned
real property without any compensation at all. The Republican government is
using various court decrees to keep the towns budget blocked.
In ending, Mr. Bardhi stated that if ruling Socialist Party (DPS) genuinely
wished to protect human rights and freedoms, and national rights (as it
claims to), it should primarily respect the constitution, obey laws and
discard discriminating ones and adopt new laws conform to high democratic
standards.
[08] UE pressurises Belgrade for an office in Prishtina
Prishtina, 19 May - The ad-hoc group on former Yugoslavia in a meeting held
recently in Brussels concluded that there has not been a single positive
step from Belgrade since the approval of economic concessions.
The EU minister had expected that Belgrade would accomplish Gonzales
recommendations.
The Serbian Government has done nothing to free the media, start a dialogue
with the opposition, reform the election law no start a dialogue to solve
the issue of Kosova.
The Belgrade regime has two months to reply to the report made by the
Council of Ministers of the EU and to implement the Gonzales
recommendations. Diplomatic channels are to be used to put further
pressure on the regime to allow the opening of a EU office in Prishtina.
[09] Three political activists arrested
Prishtina, 23 May - Serbian police have arrested Musa Berisha, member of
the presidency of the LDK branch in Dean and chair of the Council for
Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms branch, Ali Laji, member of the Kosova
Parliament and Ethem eku , chair of PPK party branch in Peja. Police
stopped them while they were travelling, searched them and their car and
then took them to a police station in Peja.
[10] A Serb breaks into a flat of an Albanian
Fush Kosov, 20 May - The Council for the Defence of Human Rights and
Freedoms (CFDHRF) has reported that a Serb civilian, Sasa Stankovic from
Rubovc village of Lipjan, broke into the flat of Teki Jakupi in Fush&
Kosova a few weeks while he was away.
Teki Jakupi, who has retired from Railway and Transportation Company
"Prishtina" in Fush& Kosova, where he worked for 42 years, has been using
the apartment for 28 years, and has all necessary documentation verifying
ownership.
Mr. Jakupi reported the case to the Serbian police, but they did not bother
to disturb Stankovic and told him that he must wait for the local councils
decision.
According to sources in Fush Kosova, the Serb family have been using all
the furniture they found at the time they broke into the apartment. He is
now homeless and spends the nights at the local train station, or at his
friends houses, while waiting for justice to take place.
[11] Serb Policemen Rename Albanian School in Prishtina
Prishtina, 19 May - Last Saturday, the Serb-installed management of the
"Zenel Hajdini" primary school at Kodra e Trimave neighbourhood of
Prishtina and six Serbian policemen placed a parallel board in front of the
school building, bearing the name of a Serb writer, Aleksa Santic. The
principal of the school, Mr. Ajet Brashori, stated that the school
management, teachers and the students of the school, would organise a
protest meeting Monday. Teaching in the "Zenel Hajdini" school is
conducted in Albanian language only.
It is a purely Albanian school, for there are no Serbs attending school in
the premises of "Zenel Hajdini" elementary school of Prishtina.
[12] Chronicle of violence
Pej, 20 May - On 17 of May Lavdim Muriqi from Peja, who was together with
his sisters, was beaten unconscious by two policemen. The beating was also
witnessed by two forest warders.
Malihev, 22 May - Musli Kryeziu from Pagarushe near Malisheva was searched
for alleged weapons offences. He and his family were severely
maltreated. The police also asked for his son Zenel, who lives abroad.
Kosova Information Centre - London
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