Jugoinfo
*** Prese di posizione e valutazioni sul rapporto OSCE "Kosovo/Kossova
nei fatti e nelle parole" riguardante la situazione dei diritti umani in
Kosmet nel periodo ottobre 1998 - ottobre 1999 (i documenti OSCE si
trovano alla URL: http://www.osce.org/kosovo/index.htm ):
- UN COMMENTO DI CHOSSUDOVSKY da "Emperor's Clothes"
- LA POSIZIONE DEL GOVERNO DELLA RFJ
*** Riepilogo delle violazioni della Risoluzione 1244 del Consiglio di
Sicurezza dell'ONU al 10 gennaio 2000 (Min. Esteri RFJ -
http://www.mfa.gov.yu/ oppure http://www1.mfa.gov.yu/)
---
Cooking the books -
NATO's ethnic cleansing claims challenged
by
Michel Chossudovsky (Revised 2-10-00)
Emperors Clothes - www.tenc.net
NATO's justification for bombing Yugoslavia on humanitarian grounds has
been refuted by the Western alliance's own official figures and
documentary evidence. The recently released OSCE report entitled "As
Seen, As Told: Analysis of the Human Rights Findings of the OSCE Kosovo
Verification Mission" suggests that the allegation of mass deportations
is a fabrication. 1
Although heavily slanted in its main conclusions, the OSCE figures
suggest that there were proportionately more Serbs (as a percentage of
population) fleeing Kosovo than ethnic Albanians which puts an obvious
question mark on NATO's assertion that organized mass expulsions of
ethnic Albanians were taking place.
According to OSCE numbers and Kosovar Albanian sources on population
size and distribution, an estimated 45.7 percent of the Albanian
population and 59.5 percent of the Serb population had fled Kosovo
during the bombings (i.e. from 23 March to 9 June 1999).2
The OSCE report summarises the balance-sheet of ethnic Albanian refugees
as numbering 862,979. In a secluded footnote at the bottom of the main
table, the report nonetheless acknowledges that: "In addition [to the
862,979 ethnic Albanian refugees], more than 100,000 Serb IDPs
[Internally displaced persons] are estimated to have left Kosovo and to
have been registered in Serbia and Montenegro". 3 Whereas ethnic
Albanians (including those who fled to Montenegro) are categorized as
"refugees", Serbs who fled Kosovo during the same period are casually
identified as "Internally Displaced Persons". The figures for ethnic
Albanians are very precise in contrast to those indicated for the Serbs
in the footnote. The number of refugees belonging to other ethnic groups
who fled the province during the bombings is not even acknowledged.
According to Kosovo Albanian sources, the Province had a total
population of 2.1 million of which 90 percent are ethnic Albanians, 8
percent Serbs and 2 percent are other ethnic groups.4 Based on these
figures (which are accepted both by NATO and the post-conflict KLA
provisional government) there were an estimated 1.89 million ethnic
Albanians and 168,000 Serbs in Kosovo.
In accordance with the above population breakdown, the exodus of Serbs
(as a percentage of population) was larger than that of the ethnic
Albanian population. According to OSCE numbers (from UNHCR sources), it
is estimated that 45.7 percent of the Albanian population and more than
59.5 percent of the Serb population fled Kosovo during the bombings
(i.e. from 23 March to 9 June 1999).
In other words, Serbs --who ostensibly were not the target of "ethnic
cleansing perpetrated by the Serbs"-- had also fled the theatre of the
war in Kosovo. If there had been a deliberate and cohesive policy of
ethnic cleansing and massacres directed against ethnic Albanians, the
percentages would have been markedly different and this is something
which NATO was cautious not to reveal to public opinion while the
bombings were ongoing.
The above estimates depend on the veracity of the OSCE-UNHCR refugee
figures as well as on the reliability of the data on population size and
distribution. In estimating these percentages, we have accepted official
OSCE-UNHCR refugee numbers at face value, namely that the OSCE Report
has not artificially "inflated" the number of ethnic Albanian refugees
nor has it "deflated" the number of Serbs who fled Kosovo during the
bombings with a view to vindicating NATO's claim of ethnic cleansing. We
have also taken Kosovar Albanian assumptions pertaining to population
size and distribution. In other words, the percentages are derived from
their numbers! Moreover, it should be emphasised that the percentage of
Serbs who left Kosovo estimated at 59.5 percent is based on the 100,000
figure given by the OSCE. Yet the OSCE report states that the number of
Serbs who fled Kosovo during the same period is "more than 100,000".
Accounting for biases in the OSCE-UNHCR figures and margins of error in
the data on population, the estimates do not support NATO's allegation
of a policy of mass deportation directed against ethnic Albanians.
Ironically, the OSCE Report rather than using Kosovar Albanian sources
on population, acknowledges the assumptions of Belgrade's 1991 Census
data (also in a discrete footnote) which indicates the ethnic Albanian
population at 82 percent of total population. Yet the Census was
boycotted by ethnic Albanians and the figures were never recognised by
the parallel provisional government of Kosovo. Why does the OSCE
acknowledge Belgrade's 1991 Census when NATO and KLA statements
repeatedly indicate that the ethnic Albanian population is at 90
percent? Evidently, the use of the 1991 Census data by those who have
rejected it, is in this case to their political advantage. Based on the
1991 Census figures, the estimated percentage of each population group
which fled Kosovo would be 53.7 percent for the ethnic Albanians and
more than 51.5 percent for the Serbs.5 Yet even in this case, NATO's
claim of mass deportations is not borne out.
The refugee crisis, we were told repeatedly during the War was limited
to ethnic Albanians. According to the Western media, Serb civilians had
been protected by the Serb police and Armed forces. The large scale
exodus of Serbs from Kosovo prior to June 9, 1999 (acknowledged by the
figures contained in the OSCE Report) was simply not mentioned. To
reveal the numbers would have discredited NATO's main justification for
launching its "humanitarian war".
FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH
Other documentary evidence including an official report of the German
foreign ministry published prior to the War, confirms that there was no
evidence of "ethnic cleansing" in Kosovo in the months immediately
preceding the bombings. Who is lying? German Foreign Minister Joschka
Fischer had justified NATO's intervention pointing to a "humanitarian
catastrophe", yet the internal documents of his own ministry stated
exactly the opposite: "Even in Kosovo an explicit political persecution
linked to Albanian ethnicity is not verifiable. The East of Kosovo is
still not involved in armed conflict. Public life in cities like
Pristina, Urosevac, Gnjilan, etc. has, in the entire conflict period,
continued on a relatively normal basis. The actions of the security
forces [were] not directed against the Kosovo-Albanians as an ethnically
defined group, but against the military opponent [KLA] and its actual or
alleged supporters."...6
Moreover, a report of the United States Committee on Refugees (USCR)
confirms a significant reduction in the number of refugees and
internally displaced persons in the period following the signing of the
October 13, 1998 agreement between U.S. Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke
and Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) President Slobodan Milosevic.
According to USCR, the overall refugee situation had improved with the
entry of the OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (KVM). The USCR report
also confirms that "KLA ethnic cleansing of ethnic Serb civilian
population pockets intensified in December [1998]" substantiating the
results of the German Foreign Office intelligence report. But we were
told time and again that the Serbs rather than the KLA had been
responsible for ethnic cleansing in the months leading up to the War...
7
The OSCE-UNHCR figures on the number of refugees rather than supporting
NATO's main justification for waging the war, suggest that more than
half the Serb population had also fled Kosovo during the war. This
tendency could be explained by the fact that the KLA had been
responsible for relaying intelligence to NATO pertaining to potential
targets in the bombing operation. Moreover, a history of the war also
suggests that the massacres and atrocities directed against the Serbs by
the KLA Military Command (amply documented for the period after June 9)
had already commenced prior to the arrival of KFOR forces in Kosovo.
NATO'S TWO "HUMANITARIAN PREMISES" INVALIDATED
NATO's pretext for bombing Yugoslavia on humanitarian grounds rests on
two central premises: 1) the alleged indiscriminate mass killings of
Albanian civilians (premise number one); 2) the implementation of a
deliberate policy of mass deportations or "ethnic cleansing" (premise
number two). Both these premises have now been refuted by NATO's own
evidence and documentary evidence
The alleged indiscriminate mass killings of Albanian civilians had
earlier been invalidated by the FBI and European forensic teams working
under the auspices of the Hague Tribunal (ICTY) casting doubt on NATO's
justification for waging the war. The forensic and police investigators
had uncovered several hundred bodies in grave sites in Kosovo as opposed
to the 10,000 to 100,000 civilian massacres claimed by NATO and Western
governments as a pretext for waging the War. British Prime Minister Tony
Blair had announced that President Milosevic was "set on a Hitler style
genocide equivalent to the extermination of the Jews during World war
II".8 " "Genocide is starting," stated German Defense Minister Rudolf
Scharping.10...
The Hague Tribunal (ICTY) (while upholding the war crimes indictment
against members of the Yugoslav government), has acknowledged the
exhumation"the allegations of indiscriminate mass murder, rape
camps,...crematoriums, mutilation of the dead have not been borne out"
by the police investigations and forensic evidence. 12
NO REMAINING LEG TO STAND ON
Since the release of the forensic reports
--which have invalidated premise number one--, the policy of mass
deportations against ethnic Albanians (premise number two) is now being
upheld by NATO and the Western media as "a sufficient justification" for
launching the war. In the words of Madeleine Albright "opposing ethnic
cleansing is central to our values... We are reaffirming NATO's core
purpose as a defender of democracy, stability and human decency on
European soil."13 Yet NATO's claim of mass deportations has now also
been refuted by the figures contained in the OSCE report. NATO has no
remaining leg to stand on. Official documentary evidence (including the
forensic reports and the data on the number of refugees) unequivocally
refute NATO's two central postulates for waging the war. What then was
the justification for the humanitarian bombings? What was the hidden
agenda? Ultimately the truth must prevail, public opinion must be
informed and those who are responsible for waging this criminal war must
be brought to trial.
NOTES
1. OSCE, Kosovo/ Kosova, As Seen, As Told, An analysis of the human
rights findings of the OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission, October 1998 to
June 1999, Warsaw, 1999.
2. Ibid
3. Ibid.
4. Figures for 1993. See Albania Worldwide Web, GOTOBUTTON BM_1_
http://www.albanian.com/main/. See also Musa Limani, Pristina, The
Association of Lawyers of Kosova, 1992. Kosovar Albanian estimates place
the population of Kosovo at 2.3 million for 2000.
5. The Government of Yugoslavia 1991 Census data for Kosovo identified a
total population of 1,956,196 of which 82.2 % are Albanians, 9.9 % Serbs
and 7.9 % other ethnic groups. The Census was boycotted by the ethnic
Albanian population. During the 1990s, the evidence suggests that
Kosovar Serbs left the Province in large numbers.
6. Intelligence Report from the German Foreign Office, January 12, 1999
to the Administrative Court of Trier.
7. See USCR GOTOBUTTON BM_2_
http://www.refugees.org/world/countryrpt/europe/yugoslavia.htm
8. Quoted in Peter Gowan, Kosovo; the war and its aftermath, Labour
Focus on Eastern Europe, no. 64, 1999, p. 26.
9. CBS , May 17, 1999.
10. Quoted in Peter Gowan, op. cit.
11. Reuters, 10 November 1999.
12. Wall Street Journal, 31 December 1999.
13. Quoted in Time Magazine, May 17, 1999, p. 25-26.
C Copyright by Michel Chossudovsky, Ottawa, February 2000. All rights
reserved. Permission is granted to post this text on noncommercial
community internet sites, provided the essay remains intact and the
copyright note is displayed. The text can also be photocopied for
non-commercial distribution. To publish this text in printed and/or
other forms contact the author at chossudovsky@... or fax:
1-514-4256224.
Copyright, Michel Chossudovsky, Ottawa, February 2000
* Recent articles by Michel Chossudovsky:
"Seattle and Beyond: Disarming the New World Order"
http://emperors-clothes.com/articles/chuss/seattle.htm
"NATO's Reign of Terror in Kosovo"
http://emperors-clothes.com/articles/chuss/chossnato.htm
"The KLA: Grim Origins"
http://emperors-clothes.com/articles/chuss/kla.html
---
POSITIONS AND COMMENTS
of the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia concerning the
OSCE
Report "Kosovo/Kossova As Seen, As Told" on the situation of human
rights
in Kosovo and Metohija in the period from October 1998 to October 1999
After careful examination of the OSCE/ODIHR Report "Kosovo/Kossova As
Seen, As Told", Parts I and II, on the human rights situation in Kosovo
and
Metohija from October 1998 to October 1999, certain questions inevitably
arise, questions that have not been answered by its authors. There is,
first of all, the question of the purpose and justification of resorting
to
an armed aggression against a sovereign country, in violation of all
norms
and principles of international law, and secondly the question of the
respect for the fundamental principles of the OSCE.
OSCE reports have received great attention in the world public and media
and have again raised serious doubts as to the reasons and consequences
of
the NATO aggression as well as to the real record of performance of the
international administration and the military presence in Kosovo and
Metohija. The Federal Government considers that the data cited and the
methodology used in collecting and presenting information need a
critical
analysis and evaluation, both from the point of view of the truthfulness
of
the statements and data presented and the method of selecting them, but
also from the point of view of the (political) effects wanted to be
achieved by them.
A one-sided presentation of facts in the report, which does not at all
make use or mention of the findings of the authorities in the FR of
Yugoslavia regarding events that are being reported on, represents an
attempt at justifying the NATO aggression against the FR of Yugoslavia
after the event. The very publication of the report by the OSCE
represents
an abuse of that organization already instrumentalized for political
purposes, for the second time (the KVM presence in Kosovo and Metohija
being used to prepare for the NATO aggression). Such abuse has most
seriously undermined the credibility of OSCE, which may have
unforeseeable
consequences on its prestige and possibilities for future activity.
1. Although it was not the intent of the report, it revealed in a
documented fashion that there was no humanitarian crisis in Kosovo and
Metohija before NATO aggression, and that problems in this Serbian
province
were at least not that serious to provoke the most brutal interference
in
the internal affairs of a sovereign State, a gross violation of its
sovereignty and territorial integrity and disrespect of the basic OSCE
principles.
It is clear from the report that prior to NATO aggression there was no
violence against Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija (except actions
against
the terrorists of the so-called KLA). These actions of "the army and
paramilitary units were confined to the areas where the so-called KLA
had
its bases". It is also clear from the report that the activities of the
Yugoslav authorities in Kosovo and Metohija were directed against a
terrorist and separatist organization which openly advocated "an armed
struggle until liberation". It documented illegal activities carried out
by
Albanian separatists (establishment of parallel institutions and
administration, boycotting of elections and the establishment of the
so-called KLA which is being described as "a paramilitary group of
Kosovo
Albanians whose purpose is separatism through armed struggle").
Consequently, legitimate reactions of the authorities in the Province
against terrorist and separatist activities cannot be described as
"repression against the Albanian population". The assertion is not true,
either, that "human rights violations were the cause and effect of
conflicts in Kosovo and Metohija", because it was well-documented that
the
terrorist activities of the so-called KLA commanded appropriate
legitimate
response of the authorities, aimed at their suppression.
The cited information clearly proves that the tragic plight of the
Kosovo
population followed "the NATO humanitarian intervention", i.e. the armed
aggression against the FR of Yugoslavia, in which thousands of people
were
killed and there was a mass exodus of the population fleeing the bombs.
In
other words, the "military intervention" was directly responsible for
the
wave of the ethnic cleansing. Instead of being prevented it is going on
to
the present day in the presence of UNMIK and KFOR.
2. The relevant authorities of the FR of Yugoslavia kept the
international
public and the OSCE Chairman-in-Office regularly informed of the illegal
actions by terrorists and separatists in Kosovo and Metohija (See the
set
of documents delivered to the CiO, Mr. Knut Vollebaek, Norwegian Foreign
Minister, on 1 March 1999.).
The terrorist actions of Albanian separatists in Kosovo and Metohija,
prior to the consent of the FRY to accept an OSCE Mission in its
territory
as a sign of its good will, had assumed such proportions that they
required
energetic measures by the authorities. In a one-year period, from 1
January-31 December 1998 alone, in Kosovo and Metohija there were :
- more than 1,885 terrorist attacks, in which 288 persons were killed
and
561 wounded;
- 1,129 terrorist attacks against police personnel and facilities, which
left 115 police officers dead and 403 wounded;
- the remaining 756 attacks were made against civilians, with 173 people
killed and 158 injured.
- During the same period, 308 persons (293 civilians and 15 policemen)
were abducted. Of this number 31 civilians and 3 policemen were killed,
while 143 abducted civilians and 9 policemen are still unaccounted-for.
Following the deployment of OSCE verifiers to Kosovo and Metohija,
terrorist activities did not cease. Only in the period from 13 October
1998
-20 March 1999 (after the agreement reached by the President of the FRY
S.
Milo{evi} and US Special Representative Ambassador R. Holbrooke), a
series
of terrorist attacks, murders and abductions took place in the presence
of
KVM, namely:
- 1,048 attacks (371 against civilians and 677 against police);
- 154 people (127 civilians and 27 policemen) were killed;
- 148 (81 civilians and 67 police officers) sustained serious injuries;
- 100 persons (93 civilians and 7 police officers) were kidnapped (16
killed:14 civilians and 2 policemen and the fate of 37 civilians and 4
policemen is yet unknown);
- 56 terrorist attacks on VJ forces (2 soldiers killed, 9 seriously and
21
slightly injured).
3. Since its deployment in Kosovo and Metohija in October 1998, the OSCE
Kosovo Verification Mission openly defended the separatist movement and
the
terrorist KLA there and adopted a benignant and uncritical attitude
towards
it. This is evidently the reason why the above information was left out
of
the report, because it will clearly show that there was an increase in
terrorist actions during the presence of KVM; that roadblocks were set
up
hindering freedom of movement; that kidnappings and arms smuggling were
frequent occurrences. Moreover, strategically important facilities were
marked in this period. In this way, the OSCE and its Mission were
grossly
abused and they played a role contrary to the goals of this
Organization.
The report singles out, as the most glaring illustration of the alleged
repressive policies of the government before the aggression, the
previously
overmagnified and overexploited "events" in the media in the villages of
Ra~ak, Rakovina and Rogovo (that are referred to as "executions"). In
these
villages, according to the report, there were mass killings of "Kosovo
Albanians by the Yugoslav/Serbian forces". The report made by the team
of
independent forensic experts did not confirm the accusations levelled by
KVM Head W. Walker.
The evidence of the crimes that had allegedly been committed in Kosovo
and
Metohija before the aggression, was taken as "eye-witness" statements
from
refugees in camps in Albania and Macedonia. In view of the fact that
this
part of the report contains most serious accusations levelled at the
actions taken by "police, paramilitary and the military" against the
civilian population - mostly those of Albanian nationality - (torture,
rape, missing persons, arbitrary detention, wanton destruction of
property
and looting, use of civilians as human shields, forced expulsions,
etc.),
it would be logical that it also contains findings of Yugoslav
authorities
concerning the events in question, considering that they were timely
presented and submitted to KVM. Instead, the drafters of the report have
confined themselves to "interviewing eye-witnesses on the ground" and
making public their statements as testimonies of "witnesses for the
prosecution", thus ignoring the reports of the legitimate authorities, a
fact which is both essentially and methodologically unacceptable and
cannot
help get an objective picture of events.
4. One may rightfully raise the question of the credibility of the
so-called "evidence of the crimes" committed by police, VJ and
paramilitary
forces in the period during the aggression, from 24 March to 9 June
1999,
since KVM withdrew from Kosovo and Metohija on 20 March 1999, i.e.
before
the onset of the aggression and was not present there while it was on.
It should be noted that the report did not at all keep track of the
crimes
committed by the NATO alliance in Kosovo and Metohija in that period,
although they were widely reported in international media and
well-documented by the competent Yugoslav authorities (See the White
Paper,
Part I and II).
The list of crimes and irreparable losses caused by the aggression is
endless:
- More than 2,000 civilians died. This figure is not final given that
the
identification of all victims has not been completed;
- More than 7,000 people were wounded and in most cases they will remain
permanently disabled;
- Eighty-two bridges were damaged or destroyed;
- 422 school facilities (school buildings, university colleges, student
dormitories, etc.) were knocked down or damaged;
- 48 health institutions (hospitals, out-patient clinics, health
stations,
etc.) were damaged or destroyed;
- 74 TV transmitter, relay and repeater sites were demolished or
destroyed;
- Essential infrastructure (power plants, transformer yards, power
distribution system, oil installations, numerous factories, traffic
routes,
etc.) were destroyed or severely damaged, as well as great many other
civilian facilities (See the White Paper);
- Over 2.5 million citizens of the FR of Yugoslavia have remained
without
the basic means of subsistence;
- Total material losses due to the aggression amount close to US$ 100
billion.
- Total quantifiable losses (due to the sanctions imposed by the
international community, due to the secession of the republics of the
former SFR of Yugoslavia as well as those due to the NATO aggression) in
the period 1991-2010 have been estimated at US$ 200 billion. It is worth
noting that the sanctions, as a flagrant violation of the basic human
rights, have not been devoted any attention in the OSCE report.
Negative effects on the overall development of the FR of Yugoslavia and
the standard of living of its population will be felt for decades to
come.
5. Regrettably, the OSCE report does not at all deal with the
consequences
of the aggression on the enjoyment of fundamental human rights of the
entire population of the FR of Yugoslavia. Contrary to NATO's propaganda
machine, which sought to create a picture of mass human rights
violations
and vulnerability of the Albanian population in Kosovo and Metohija
prior
to NATO aggression, the report, nevertheless, clearly indicates that
following the start of "air strikes", there was chaos, uncertainty and
fear
(of the bombing) and the population fled in massive numbers, which is
something that the Yugoslav authorities cannot, obviously, be blamed
for.
Civilian losses inflicted by the NATO aggressors have been completely
marginalized. Even if they are mentioned, they are justified by the
well-known NATO logic of blaming again the Yugoslav authorities for
using
"human shields" to protect facilities and equipment. Thus, massive
deaths
among the Albanian civilian population, references to which could not be
avoided, were also blamed on the "Serbian forces" and not attributed to
the
fact that this was the region where the largest number of bombs had been
dropped since the end of the Second World War. During the aggression
against the FR of Yugoslavia:
- 35,000 sorties were conducted, involving more than 1,000 aircraft and
206 helicopters;
- More than 10,000 cruise missiles were launched;
- 79,000 tons of ordnance (156 cluster bombs containing 37,440
bomblets).
The report makes no mention of the documentary evidence on the aerial
bombardment nor material losses caused by it. There are no photographs,
either, of the aftermath of the strikes and we are talking here about
the
proportionately most bombed region in the history of warfare. Even the
published photographs are not authentic, as evidenced by the bombing of
the
"Prizren League" building, which was struck down in the aggressors'
attack
on 28 March 1999 (White Paper, p.p. 227 and 228). The report wrongfully
pointed out that the building was "destroyed by the Yugoslav security
forces in March 1999" (Report, p. 334). Such examples make all other
cited
information seen in a relatively different light whose credibility may
be
brought into question.
Consequently, the OSCE report, which would otherwise make NATO
responsible
for the serious crimes against civilians and for breaches of the Geneva
Conventions, was grossly abused as a tool to justify the aggression. Its
purposes were even defined in NATO language ("preventing Yugoslav
military
and security forces from continuing repression of civilians and
deterring
their further military actions against their own population"), in
contravention of all OSCE principles which were not referred to therein.
Rather than condemning NATO aggression, the report deliberately omitted
any references to it, using the NATO terms for it such as
"intervention",
"bombing" or "air strikes" or "air campaign". Most often, only certain
dates (before or after 24 March 1999) are mentioned, thus suggesting
that
the brutal murders of the civilian population and massive destruction of
civilian facilities are the result of the same "repressive policy"
continued by other means. An impression may be gained, therefore, that
NATO
bombs killed no one (but they actually killed 2,000 people) and that
Serbian security forces were responsible for all casualties during the
"air
strikes", which was why they were targeted by NATO.
The report also lacks what UNMIK and KFOR obviously do not want to talk
about, and that is a politically devastating record of the war, because
this region is now less secure than it used to be; the ethnic cleansing
is
going unhampered and local administration is not functioning.
After UNMIK and KFOR took responsibility, massive human rights abuses by
Albanian terrorists and terrorist gangs take place, which is extremely
worrying. Between 10 June 1999 and 6 February 2000 alone, in their
presence,
- a total of 4,249 terrorist attacks were made;
- of this number 4,030 were against Serbs and Montenegrins;
- and 126 against other ethnic communities;
- 93 against Albanians;
- 889 persons were killed;
- 784 persons were wounded;
- 834 were abducted and missing (75 killed, 6 escaped, 31 released, 722
still unaccounted-for);
- more than 350,000 were expelled;
- more than 50,000 homes were burned down; and
- over 80 churches and monasteries were demolished.
At the same time, more than 200,000 criminals and looters from
neighbouring Albania were allowed to enter this Serbian province
illegally
(See the Memorandum of the FRY Government of 3 November 1999).
7. Despite its efforts to prove the contrary, the OSCE cannot conceal
an
evident conclusion that the tragic plight of the Kosovo population is a
direct consequence of the NATO aggression; that thousands of people were
killed during the aggression and not before it; and that an unimpeded
ethnic cleansing of the Province of its Serbs, Roma, Muslims, Turks,
Goranci and other non-Albanians is now under way, in the presence of
UNMIK
and KFOR.
While the report blames the Yugoslav authorities for all problems in the
past, it is clear that no one bears responsibility for the current
situation there, characterized by a climate of impunity. Terror, ethnic
cleansing, organized international crime, drug and arms trafficking,
human
smuggling, money laundering, abuse of humanitarian aid, etc. continue.
Concurrently, there is a lack of action to prevent such crimes, the lack
of
an effective system of protection of the population as well as of the
functioning of local administration. The report does not point, as it
has
done in Part I, to the responsibility of office holders in Kosovo and
Metohija (i.e. UNMIK and KFOR) or blames them for the present situation.
As
a result, there is a continuing spiral of crime; an ineffective
protection
of the basic human rights of non-Albanians and non-functioning local
government. In this part, the report only takes note of human rights
violations (ranging from murders to expulsions, harassment,
intimidation,
arson and looting).
The report reveals a number of problems arising out of inoperation of
the
military and civilian missions in Kosovo and Metohija, notably
non-fulfilment of the mandate under UN Security Council resolution 1244
(1999). Instead of taking energetic steps and applying existing laws of
the
Republic of Serbia and those of the FR of Yugoslavia, UNMIK reacts by
issuing appeals, statements and regulations that are not either enforced
or
are not in conformity with the above-mentioned resolution. The lack of
vigorous action by the relevant representatives of the international
community makes them accomplices in the crime of ethnic cleansing that
is
under way. The conclusion to be drawn is that the only thing that
members
of the international community are seriously concerned for is their own
safety and security.
Part II of the report, covering the period following the take-over of
responsibility by UNMIK and KFOR, may lead to the conclusion that the
current violence against Serbs is massive and systematic in all parts of
Kosovo and Metohija, apparently with the intent to scare off the
non-Albanian population and create a mono-ethnic Kosovo and Metohija.
The
key elements of UNMIK's and KFOR's mandates, as defined in Security
Council
resolution 1244 (1999), have not been implemented, i.e. to create a
secure
environment in which all refugees and displaced persons can return home
in
safety, to ensure conditions for a peaceful and normal life for all
inhabitants of Kosovo and Metohija, to maintain a multi-ethnic and
multi-confessional character of the Province, as well as to demilitarize
the so-called KLA. KFOR and UNMIK have failed to ensure free movement in
Kosovo and Metohija and also, with their tolerant attitude towards the
terror of the so-called KLA, are accessory to the blockading and
ghettoization of segments of the Serbian and other non-Albanian
populations
herded into several enclaves in Kosovo and Metohija (Orahovac,
Gora`devac,
Kosovo Polje). The report failed to point to the responsibility of those
who have undertaken to establish law and order and guarantee security
for
all citizens. They will not take the consequences for such failure,
either.
Thus, the recognition that UNMIK has been incompetent (or unwilling) to
halt the final stages of the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and Metohija and
to
establish civil administration, is revealed in all its devastating
brutality.
Belgrade, 7 February 2000
---
VIOLATIONS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 1244 (1999)
OVERVIEW
1. Affirmation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the FR of
Yugoslavia: United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999)
unambiguously confirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the
FR
of Yugoslavia in Kosovo and Metohija (preambular para 10; Annex 2 para
8).
The Resolution limits the mandate of the international security (KFOR)
and
civilian (UNMIK) presence to the establishment of conditions for an
unimpeded return of all refugees and displaced persons (paras 1 and 5,
Annex 1; paras 1 and 4, Annex 2), safe environment (op. para 9 c),
preservation of the multi-ethnic, multi-confessional and multi-cultural
character of Kosovo and Metohija and of the basic civilian and
administrative functions (operative para 11 b), with a view to ensuring
conditions for a political solution on the basis of the establishment of
a
substantial autonomy within the FR of Yugoslavia (operative para 10).
2. Security of citizens: The Government of the FR of Yugoslavia notes
with
concern that KFOR and UNMIK have not fulfilled their obligation
to guarantee security to all citizens in Kosovo and Metohija and to
ensure
a safe environment for the return of all refugees and internally
displaced
persons (op.para 9 c; Annex 1 para 5, Annex 2 para 7).
KFOR and UNMIK, and the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative B.
Kouchner in particular are, since they ignore the mandate they have been
entrusted to and grossly violate UN SC resolution 1244 (1999), directly
responsible for the lawlessness and chaos prevailing in the Province,
for
massive crime, usurpation of the State and private property as well as
for
terror, killings, abductions and ethnic cleansing of Serb and other
non-Albanian population.
3. Genocide and ethnic cleansing: Since the deployment of KFOR and
UNMIK,
on 12 June 1999, more than 350,000 non-Albanians, primarily Serbs,
Montenegrins, as well as Roma, Muslims, Turks, Goranci and others have
been
forcibly driven out of the Province. As many as 768 Serbs were killed
and
673 abducted. Not a single perpetrator of these serious criminal acts
has
been arrested or brought to justice, which clearly demonstrates the
efficiency of UNMIK police and their protective attitude towards
Albanian
terrorists. Most of these serious crimes have been committed by the
members
of the so-called KLA, later absorbed into the so-called Kosovo
Protection
Corps (KPC).
The remaining Serbs in the Province have been subjected to constant
terror and provocation, herded into few enclaves. KFOR and UNMIK lack
any
serious willingness and readiness to protect the remaining Serbs and
members of other non-Albanian ethnic groups in Kosovo and Metohija,
exposed
to constant terror and pressure to leave the Province, whereby KFOR and
UNMIK became direct accomplices in ethnic cleansing and genocide in the
southern Serb Province. A telling example of this is a several
months-old
blockade of Orahovac by Albanian terrorists, who have virtually turned
this
town into a first Nazi ghetto in post-war Europe.
4. Destruction of cultural monuments: In their genocidal campaign of
wiping out all Serb heritage, Albanian terrorists so far destroyed or
damaged more than 80 monasteries and churches of the Serb Orthodox
Church,
some of which date back to the XII century and represent a part of not
only
Serbian but world cultural heritage.
5. Tolerant attitude and support to terrorists: By their tolerant
attitude
towards a systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing and genocide against
Serb
and other non-Albanian population, KFOR and UNMIK bear sole
responsibility
for the violation of the provisions of UN SC resolution 1244 (1999) on
the
preservation of a multi-ethnic, multi-confessional and multi-cultural
character of the Province. KFOR and UNMIK's failure to implement UN SC
resolution 1244 (1999) or gross violations thereof, represent the cause
of
lawlessness and chaos in the Province.
6. Violation of the UN Security Council mandate: UNSG Special
Representative and Head of UNMIK B. Kouchner with his arbitrary and
unilateral decisions continuously and flagrantly violates the mandate
set
out in UN SC resolution 1244 (1999) and related documents. B. Kouchner
has
issued 25 regulations so far, all of which have no basis in UN SC
resolution 1244 (1999), and are aimed at severing all ties of the
Province
with the Republic of Serbia and the FR of Yugoslavia, i.e. at completely
separating the Province from the constitutional, legal, economic,
customs,
monetary and banking system of the FR of Yugoslavia and the Republic of
Serbia, which is in direct contravention of UN SC resolution 1244 (1999)
and related documents, reaffirming the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of the FR of Yugoslavia in Kosovo and Metohija.
Kouchner has illegally seized all legislative, executive and judicial
power in the Province (Regulation 1999/1 of 25 July 1999). By his
regulation 1999/3 of 31 August 1999, he established a separate customs
service. By his regulation 1999/4 of 2 September 1999, Kouchner
illegally
transferred monetary functions to local authorities and introduced the
German Mark as a legal tender. With regulations 1999/16 and 1999/17 of 6
November 1999 and regulations 1999/20 and 1999/21 of 15 November 1999,
he
introduced a "Central Banking and Payments Authority", i.e. a separate
banking system in Kosovo and Metohija.
- By Kouchner's regulation 1999/5 of 4 September 1999 on an Ad Hoc Court
of Final Appeal, de facto a supreme court of the Province, was actually
established, while regulations 1999/6 and 1999/7 of 7 September 1999
regulated the administration of justice and prosecution in the Province,
favouring Albanians, with a large number of KLA members including among
judges. Disastrous consequences are evident: so far, no terrorist has
been
brought to justice or convicted of serious crimes against the Serbs and
other non-Albanian population.
- Entrusting the regulation of the importation, transportation,
distribution and sale of petroleum products regime to illegal local
authorities controlled by KLA, otherwise a prerogative of the State
sovereign rule (regulation 1999/9 of 24 September 1999), constitutes a
gross violation of UN SC resolution 1244 (1999).
- The same situation prevails concerning the control of payments and
services, post and telecommunication services, granting permits for the
establishment of financial institutions and registration of vehicles,
all
of which are uniformly regulated in the entire territory of the FR of
Yugoslavia (regulations 1999/11 of 13 October 1999, 1999/12 of 14
October
1999, 1999/13 of 16 October 1999 and 1999/15 of 21 October 1999).
- UNMIK has been illegally issuing personal documents (vital statistics
records, intention to issue personal IDs) to citizens, without the
official
FRY State symbols, on the pretext that Albanians would not accept
documents
with official symbols of the FR of Yugoslavia and the Republic of
Serbia.
The policy of giving in to the Albanians is also in evidence in
connection
with the registration of the population.
- The FRY State property has been illegally transferred to foreign legal
persons (taking control of "Beopetrol" and "Jugopetrol" companies,
forcible
seizure of "Beobanka" branch offices, assigning mobile telephone network
service to French "Alcatel").
- By Kouchner's decision, Kosovo and Metohija has been taken out from a
single power supply system of Serbia and the FR of Yugoslavia and
connected
with the power supply systems of Albania and Macedonia, grossly
violating
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the FRY.
- By preventing the activities of media outlets in Serbian and forcible
seizure of their premises and equipment, favouring at the same time the
media in Albanian, not only has destroyed a single media system of the
FR
of Yugoslavia and Republic of Serbia but encourages discrimination based
on
ethnicity, contrary to the basic intentions of the SC Resolution on the
preservation of the multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-confessional
character of the Province.
- Without prior approval of the competent FRY authorities, KFOR and
UNMIK
have established international transport between the Province and some
States, including those with which the FR of Yugoslavia does not have
diplomatic relations. The establishment of local air, railway and other
transport between the Province and other parts of the single FRY
territory
has been prevented, which is particularly unacceptable.
7. Establishment of illegal organs of administration: By a fait
accompli
tactic, without consulting legal representatives of the Republic of
Serbia
and the FR of Yugoslavia, Special Representative Kouchner has illegally
established the so- called Interim Administration Council, de facto
provincial "Government", comprised exclusively of Albanians, mostly
leaders
of the terrorist so-called KLA and Albanian separatist political
parties,
in an attempt to legalise an ethnically pure Kosovo and Metohija,
contrary
to UN SC resolution 1244 (1999).
8. Blocking a political settlement: UNMIK and B. Kouchner do not accept
dialogue and co-operation with representatives of the Governments of the
FR
of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Serbia on questions of interest for
the
stabilisation of the overall security, economic and political situation
in
the Province.
The contact between UNMIK and the Government of the FR of Yugoslavia
concerning substantial autonomy and self-government in Kosovo and
Metohija
(Resolution op.para 11 a; Annex 1 para 6 and Annex 2 para 5) has not
been
established. UNSG Special Representative Kouchner persistently continues
to
ignore repeated requests of the Government of the FR of Yugoslavia
addressed to the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council to start
negotiations on substantial autonomy in Kosovo and Metohija (op.para 11
a;
Annex 2 para 8) between the legitimate representatives of the Republic
of
Serbia and the FR of Yugoslavia and the representatives of all ethnic
communities in Kosovo and Metohija.
9. Control of the State border: KFOR and UNMIK do not carry out their
obligation to control the State border of the FR of Yugoslavia towards
Albania and Macedonia (op.para 9 g), which is why more than 200,000
foreigners came to the territory of the FRY, including a large number of
the terrorists of the so-called KLA and criminal gangs, especially the
narco-mafia, illegal arms and white slave traders, etc., whereby Kosovo
and
Metohija has become the centre for the expansion of organised crime
throughout Europe. Illegal entries to the FR of Yugoslavia have not
stopped
despite the assurances by KFOR and UNMIK that they consistently
implement
their obligations arising from the Resolution, regarding the
safeguarding
of the FRY international border.
10. Return of the Army of Yugoslavia (VJ) and police: The return of the
agreed number of members of VJ and Serb police in Kosovo and Metohija is
still unjustifiably prevented and delayed (Annex 2 para 6), which
additionally encourages Albanian terrorists to continue with their daily
terror against the Serb and other non-Albanian population with a view to
completing the ethnic cleansing of the Province.
11. Demilitarisation and disarming of the so-called KLA: Terrorist so-
called KLA has not been disarmed or demilitarised, which represents one
of
the most serious examples of gross violation of UN SC resolution 1244
(1999) (op.para 9 b and op.para 15). Only a token quantity of antiquated
arms were surrendered. Secret arms caches of terrorists are being
revealed
every day. The border with Albania and Macedonia has not been closed,
whereby KFOR and UNMIK continue to enable the entry of armed terrorists
and
large quantities of arms in the Province. This has been testified to by
daily armed attacks of Albanians on Serb enclaves, buses and other means
of
transport carrying Serb and other non-Albanians as well as against their
houses, land and other property.
12. Transformation of the so-called KLA: The establishment of the so-
called Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC), which is made up of members of the
terrorist so-called KLA (in Albanian translation "corps" means "force"),
has actually legalised this terrorist organisation as well as its former
leadership and enhanced its combat organisational structure. While the
leadership of the so-called KPC has retained a wide authority through
"transformation" - its members publicly carry light weapons and they
hide
their heavy weapons in hide-outs whose location is known to KFOR. At
the
same time, "KPC" leadership or the former leaders of the terrorist
so-called KLA publicly state that "KPC", as a parallel structure of the
so-called KLA, represents a model for the future "Kosovo Army".
13. Security and freedom of movement for international representatives:
Passive attitude of KFOR and UNMIK towards several-months long Albanian
blockade of the deployment of a Russian KFOR contingent in Orahovac,
confirms their protective stance towards Albanian terrorists and
represents
an open violation of UN SC resolution 1244 (1999) on security and
freedom
of movement of KFOR and UNMIK, as well as other international
organisations
(op.para 9 h).
14. Legal status of the UN peace-keeping mission: Proceeding from the
fact
that Kosovo and Metohija is part of the sovereign territory of the FR of
Yugoslavia, the Government of the FR of Yugoslavia, as the host, has
initiated, since the deployment of international security and civilian
presence under the auspices of the United Nations in Kosovo and
Metohija,
the conclusion of an appropriate agreement with the United Nations
concerning the legal status of this mission, which did not take place
due
to the refusal on the part of the United Nations.
15. Para-diplomatic missions and visits by foreign officials: UNMIK has
allowed the illegal establishment of para-diplomatic missions of some
countries in Kosovo and Metohija, in a gross violation of the principle
of
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the FR of Yugoslavia.
Despite the repeated official protests by the Government of the FR of
Yugoslavia addressed to the Security Council, the Secretary-General and
KFOR and UNMIK, an illegal practice continues of establishing
"diplomatic
offices" of foreign States in Kosovo and Metohija, which constitutes a
drastic violation of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) and Article
2
of the Vienna conventions on diplomatic and consular relations, as well
as
a hostile act towards a receiving country whose sovereignty is
flagrantly
violated, because it is done without its prior consent.
Ignoring the warnings and overriding the official protests by the FR of
Yugoslavia an unacceptable practice is being continued of not notifying
the
visits of foreign officials to Kosovo and Metohija, thus violating the
provisions of SC resolution 1244 (1999) and Annex 2 paras 5 and 8, and
the
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the existing Yugoslav visa
regime.
The Government of the FR of Yugoslavia insists that this illegal
practice
be immediately terminated and that the behaviour of all factors in the
Province be strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Resolution
and the applicable international conventions and practice.
16. Responsibility of KFOR and UNMIK: KFOR and UNMIK are responsible for
disturbing developments in the Province. By failing to comply with the
clear responsibilities under SC resolution 1244 (1999) and the relevant
documents or by interpreting them arbitrarily as well as by an
inadmissibly
tolerant attitude towards Albanian terrorists, KFOR and UNMIK bear full
responsibility for the crimes of genocide and systematic ethnic
cleansing
that are being perpetrated against Serbs and other non-Albanian
population
in their presence, thus using the UN peace-keeping mission as a smoke
screen and actually becoming accomplices in these serious crimes.
17. Responsibility of the UN Security Council: Under SC resolution 1244
(op. paras 19 and 20), the Security Council guarantees its
implementation.
In view of the tragic situation in Kosovo and Metohija and systematic
violations of all crucial provisions of UN SC resolution 1244 (1999) and
the Military Technical Agreement, the FR of Yugoslavia demands that the
Security Council undertake without delay most energetic steps and
measures
for their consistent implementation and prevent all attempts at
departing,
postponing to carry out or arbitrarily interpreting the provisions of
this
Resolution.
In that context, the Government of the FR of Yugoslavia energetically
demands that the Security Council rescind, without delay, all illegal
decisions of UNSG Special Representative B. Kouchner and take other
measures, as may be necessary, to have the situation in Kosovo and
Metohija
restored to its previous state.
All decisions of KFOR and UNMIK which are contrary to the Resolution and
related documents imply either their gross violation or arbitrary
interpretation, particularly regarding strict respect for the
sovereignty
and territorial integrity of the FR of Yugoslavia in the southern Serb
Province, are considered by the Government of the FR of Yugoslavia null
and
void and cannot have any legal effect.
Belgrade, 10 January 2000
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
nei fatti e nelle parole" riguardante la situazione dei diritti umani in
Kosmet nel periodo ottobre 1998 - ottobre 1999 (i documenti OSCE si
trovano alla URL: http://www.osce.org/kosovo/index.htm ):
- UN COMMENTO DI CHOSSUDOVSKY da "Emperor's Clothes"
- LA POSIZIONE DEL GOVERNO DELLA RFJ
*** Riepilogo delle violazioni della Risoluzione 1244 del Consiglio di
Sicurezza dell'ONU al 10 gennaio 2000 (Min. Esteri RFJ -
http://www.mfa.gov.yu/ oppure http://www1.mfa.gov.yu/)
---
Cooking the books -
NATO's ethnic cleansing claims challenged
by
Michel Chossudovsky (Revised 2-10-00)
Emperors Clothes - www.tenc.net
NATO's justification for bombing Yugoslavia on humanitarian grounds has
been refuted by the Western alliance's own official figures and
documentary evidence. The recently released OSCE report entitled "As
Seen, As Told: Analysis of the Human Rights Findings of the OSCE Kosovo
Verification Mission" suggests that the allegation of mass deportations
is a fabrication. 1
Although heavily slanted in its main conclusions, the OSCE figures
suggest that there were proportionately more Serbs (as a percentage of
population) fleeing Kosovo than ethnic Albanians which puts an obvious
question mark on NATO's assertion that organized mass expulsions of
ethnic Albanians were taking place.
According to OSCE numbers and Kosovar Albanian sources on population
size and distribution, an estimated 45.7 percent of the Albanian
population and 59.5 percent of the Serb population had fled Kosovo
during the bombings (i.e. from 23 March to 9 June 1999).2
The OSCE report summarises the balance-sheet of ethnic Albanian refugees
as numbering 862,979. In a secluded footnote at the bottom of the main
table, the report nonetheless acknowledges that: "In addition [to the
862,979 ethnic Albanian refugees], more than 100,000 Serb IDPs
[Internally displaced persons] are estimated to have left Kosovo and to
have been registered in Serbia and Montenegro". 3 Whereas ethnic
Albanians (including those who fled to Montenegro) are categorized as
"refugees", Serbs who fled Kosovo during the same period are casually
identified as "Internally Displaced Persons". The figures for ethnic
Albanians are very precise in contrast to those indicated for the Serbs
in the footnote. The number of refugees belonging to other ethnic groups
who fled the province during the bombings is not even acknowledged.
According to Kosovo Albanian sources, the Province had a total
population of 2.1 million of which 90 percent are ethnic Albanians, 8
percent Serbs and 2 percent are other ethnic groups.4 Based on these
figures (which are accepted both by NATO and the post-conflict KLA
provisional government) there were an estimated 1.89 million ethnic
Albanians and 168,000 Serbs in Kosovo.
In accordance with the above population breakdown, the exodus of Serbs
(as a percentage of population) was larger than that of the ethnic
Albanian population. According to OSCE numbers (from UNHCR sources), it
is estimated that 45.7 percent of the Albanian population and more than
59.5 percent of the Serb population fled Kosovo during the bombings
(i.e. from 23 March to 9 June 1999).
In other words, Serbs --who ostensibly were not the target of "ethnic
cleansing perpetrated by the Serbs"-- had also fled the theatre of the
war in Kosovo. If there had been a deliberate and cohesive policy of
ethnic cleansing and massacres directed against ethnic Albanians, the
percentages would have been markedly different and this is something
which NATO was cautious not to reveal to public opinion while the
bombings were ongoing.
The above estimates depend on the veracity of the OSCE-UNHCR refugee
figures as well as on the reliability of the data on population size and
distribution. In estimating these percentages, we have accepted official
OSCE-UNHCR refugee numbers at face value, namely that the OSCE Report
has not artificially "inflated" the number of ethnic Albanian refugees
nor has it "deflated" the number of Serbs who fled Kosovo during the
bombings with a view to vindicating NATO's claim of ethnic cleansing. We
have also taken Kosovar Albanian assumptions pertaining to population
size and distribution. In other words, the percentages are derived from
their numbers! Moreover, it should be emphasised that the percentage of
Serbs who left Kosovo estimated at 59.5 percent is based on the 100,000
figure given by the OSCE. Yet the OSCE report states that the number of
Serbs who fled Kosovo during the same period is "more than 100,000".
Accounting for biases in the OSCE-UNHCR figures and margins of error in
the data on population, the estimates do not support NATO's allegation
of a policy of mass deportation directed against ethnic Albanians.
Ironically, the OSCE Report rather than using Kosovar Albanian sources
on population, acknowledges the assumptions of Belgrade's 1991 Census
data (also in a discrete footnote) which indicates the ethnic Albanian
population at 82 percent of total population. Yet the Census was
boycotted by ethnic Albanians and the figures were never recognised by
the parallel provisional government of Kosovo. Why does the OSCE
acknowledge Belgrade's 1991 Census when NATO and KLA statements
repeatedly indicate that the ethnic Albanian population is at 90
percent? Evidently, the use of the 1991 Census data by those who have
rejected it, is in this case to their political advantage. Based on the
1991 Census figures, the estimated percentage of each population group
which fled Kosovo would be 53.7 percent for the ethnic Albanians and
more than 51.5 percent for the Serbs.5 Yet even in this case, NATO's
claim of mass deportations is not borne out.
The refugee crisis, we were told repeatedly during the War was limited
to ethnic Albanians. According to the Western media, Serb civilians had
been protected by the Serb police and Armed forces. The large scale
exodus of Serbs from Kosovo prior to June 9, 1999 (acknowledged by the
figures contained in the OSCE Report) was simply not mentioned. To
reveal the numbers would have discredited NATO's main justification for
launching its "humanitarian war".
FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH
Other documentary evidence including an official report of the German
foreign ministry published prior to the War, confirms that there was no
evidence of "ethnic cleansing" in Kosovo in the months immediately
preceding the bombings. Who is lying? German Foreign Minister Joschka
Fischer had justified NATO's intervention pointing to a "humanitarian
catastrophe", yet the internal documents of his own ministry stated
exactly the opposite: "Even in Kosovo an explicit political persecution
linked to Albanian ethnicity is not verifiable. The East of Kosovo is
still not involved in armed conflict. Public life in cities like
Pristina, Urosevac, Gnjilan, etc. has, in the entire conflict period,
continued on a relatively normal basis. The actions of the security
forces [were] not directed against the Kosovo-Albanians as an ethnically
defined group, but against the military opponent [KLA] and its actual or
alleged supporters."...6
Moreover, a report of the United States Committee on Refugees (USCR)
confirms a significant reduction in the number of refugees and
internally displaced persons in the period following the signing of the
October 13, 1998 agreement between U.S. Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke
and Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) President Slobodan Milosevic.
According to USCR, the overall refugee situation had improved with the
entry of the OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (KVM). The USCR report
also confirms that "KLA ethnic cleansing of ethnic Serb civilian
population pockets intensified in December [1998]" substantiating the
results of the German Foreign Office intelligence report. But we were
told time and again that the Serbs rather than the KLA had been
responsible for ethnic cleansing in the months leading up to the War...
7
The OSCE-UNHCR figures on the number of refugees rather than supporting
NATO's main justification for waging the war, suggest that more than
half the Serb population had also fled Kosovo during the war. This
tendency could be explained by the fact that the KLA had been
responsible for relaying intelligence to NATO pertaining to potential
targets in the bombing operation. Moreover, a history of the war also
suggests that the massacres and atrocities directed against the Serbs by
the KLA Military Command (amply documented for the period after June 9)
had already commenced prior to the arrival of KFOR forces in Kosovo.
NATO'S TWO "HUMANITARIAN PREMISES" INVALIDATED
NATO's pretext for bombing Yugoslavia on humanitarian grounds rests on
two central premises: 1) the alleged indiscriminate mass killings of
Albanian civilians (premise number one); 2) the implementation of a
deliberate policy of mass deportations or "ethnic cleansing" (premise
number two). Both these premises have now been refuted by NATO's own
evidence and documentary evidence
The alleged indiscriminate mass killings of Albanian civilians had
earlier been invalidated by the FBI and European forensic teams working
under the auspices of the Hague Tribunal (ICTY) casting doubt on NATO's
justification for waging the war. The forensic and police investigators
had uncovered several hundred bodies in grave sites in Kosovo as opposed
to the 10,000 to 100,000 civilian massacres claimed by NATO and Western
governments as a pretext for waging the War. British Prime Minister Tony
Blair had announced that President Milosevic was "set on a Hitler style
genocide equivalent to the extermination of the Jews during World war
II".8 " "Genocide is starting," stated German Defense Minister Rudolf
Scharping.10...
The Hague Tribunal (ICTY) (while upholding the war crimes indictment
against members of the Yugoslav government), has acknowledged the
exhumation"the allegations of indiscriminate mass murder, rape
camps,...crematoriums, mutilation of the dead have not been borne out"
by the police investigations and forensic evidence. 12
NO REMAINING LEG TO STAND ON
Since the release of the forensic reports
--which have invalidated premise number one--, the policy of mass
deportations against ethnic Albanians (premise number two) is now being
upheld by NATO and the Western media as "a sufficient justification" for
launching the war. In the words of Madeleine Albright "opposing ethnic
cleansing is central to our values... We are reaffirming NATO's core
purpose as a defender of democracy, stability and human decency on
European soil."13 Yet NATO's claim of mass deportations has now also
been refuted by the figures contained in the OSCE report. NATO has no
remaining leg to stand on. Official documentary evidence (including the
forensic reports and the data on the number of refugees) unequivocally
refute NATO's two central postulates for waging the war. What then was
the justification for the humanitarian bombings? What was the hidden
agenda? Ultimately the truth must prevail, public opinion must be
informed and those who are responsible for waging this criminal war must
be brought to trial.
NOTES
1. OSCE, Kosovo/ Kosova, As Seen, As Told, An analysis of the human
rights findings of the OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission, October 1998 to
June 1999, Warsaw, 1999.
2. Ibid
3. Ibid.
4. Figures for 1993. See Albania Worldwide Web, GOTOBUTTON BM_1_
http://www.albanian.com/main/. See also Musa Limani, Pristina, The
Association of Lawyers of Kosova, 1992. Kosovar Albanian estimates place
the population of Kosovo at 2.3 million for 2000.
5. The Government of Yugoslavia 1991 Census data for Kosovo identified a
total population of 1,956,196 of which 82.2 % are Albanians, 9.9 % Serbs
and 7.9 % other ethnic groups. The Census was boycotted by the ethnic
Albanian population. During the 1990s, the evidence suggests that
Kosovar Serbs left the Province in large numbers.
6. Intelligence Report from the German Foreign Office, January 12, 1999
to the Administrative Court of Trier.
7. See USCR GOTOBUTTON BM_2_
http://www.refugees.org/world/countryrpt/europe/yugoslavia.htm
8. Quoted in Peter Gowan, Kosovo; the war and its aftermath, Labour
Focus on Eastern Europe, no. 64, 1999, p. 26.
9. CBS , May 17, 1999.
10. Quoted in Peter Gowan, op. cit.
11. Reuters, 10 November 1999.
12. Wall Street Journal, 31 December 1999.
13. Quoted in Time Magazine, May 17, 1999, p. 25-26.
C Copyright by Michel Chossudovsky, Ottawa, February 2000. All rights
reserved. Permission is granted to post this text on noncommercial
community internet sites, provided the essay remains intact and the
copyright note is displayed. The text can also be photocopied for
non-commercial distribution. To publish this text in printed and/or
other forms contact the author at chossudovsky@... or fax:
1-514-4256224.
Copyright, Michel Chossudovsky, Ottawa, February 2000
* Recent articles by Michel Chossudovsky:
"Seattle and Beyond: Disarming the New World Order"
http://emperors-clothes.com/articles/chuss/seattle.htm
"NATO's Reign of Terror in Kosovo"
http://emperors-clothes.com/articles/chuss/chossnato.htm
"The KLA: Grim Origins"
http://emperors-clothes.com/articles/chuss/kla.html
---
POSITIONS AND COMMENTS
of the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia concerning the
OSCE
Report "Kosovo/Kossova As Seen, As Told" on the situation of human
rights
in Kosovo and Metohija in the period from October 1998 to October 1999
After careful examination of the OSCE/ODIHR Report "Kosovo/Kossova As
Seen, As Told", Parts I and II, on the human rights situation in Kosovo
and
Metohija from October 1998 to October 1999, certain questions inevitably
arise, questions that have not been answered by its authors. There is,
first of all, the question of the purpose and justification of resorting
to
an armed aggression against a sovereign country, in violation of all
norms
and principles of international law, and secondly the question of the
respect for the fundamental principles of the OSCE.
OSCE reports have received great attention in the world public and media
and have again raised serious doubts as to the reasons and consequences
of
the NATO aggression as well as to the real record of performance of the
international administration and the military presence in Kosovo and
Metohija. The Federal Government considers that the data cited and the
methodology used in collecting and presenting information need a
critical
analysis and evaluation, both from the point of view of the truthfulness
of
the statements and data presented and the method of selecting them, but
also from the point of view of the (political) effects wanted to be
achieved by them.
A one-sided presentation of facts in the report, which does not at all
make use or mention of the findings of the authorities in the FR of
Yugoslavia regarding events that are being reported on, represents an
attempt at justifying the NATO aggression against the FR of Yugoslavia
after the event. The very publication of the report by the OSCE
represents
an abuse of that organization already instrumentalized for political
purposes, for the second time (the KVM presence in Kosovo and Metohija
being used to prepare for the NATO aggression). Such abuse has most
seriously undermined the credibility of OSCE, which may have
unforeseeable
consequences on its prestige and possibilities for future activity.
1. Although it was not the intent of the report, it revealed in a
documented fashion that there was no humanitarian crisis in Kosovo and
Metohija before NATO aggression, and that problems in this Serbian
province
were at least not that serious to provoke the most brutal interference
in
the internal affairs of a sovereign State, a gross violation of its
sovereignty and territorial integrity and disrespect of the basic OSCE
principles.
It is clear from the report that prior to NATO aggression there was no
violence against Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija (except actions
against
the terrorists of the so-called KLA). These actions of "the army and
paramilitary units were confined to the areas where the so-called KLA
had
its bases". It is also clear from the report that the activities of the
Yugoslav authorities in Kosovo and Metohija were directed against a
terrorist and separatist organization which openly advocated "an armed
struggle until liberation". It documented illegal activities carried out
by
Albanian separatists (establishment of parallel institutions and
administration, boycotting of elections and the establishment of the
so-called KLA which is being described as "a paramilitary group of
Kosovo
Albanians whose purpose is separatism through armed struggle").
Consequently, legitimate reactions of the authorities in the Province
against terrorist and separatist activities cannot be described as
"repression against the Albanian population". The assertion is not true,
either, that "human rights violations were the cause and effect of
conflicts in Kosovo and Metohija", because it was well-documented that
the
terrorist activities of the so-called KLA commanded appropriate
legitimate
response of the authorities, aimed at their suppression.
The cited information clearly proves that the tragic plight of the
Kosovo
population followed "the NATO humanitarian intervention", i.e. the armed
aggression against the FR of Yugoslavia, in which thousands of people
were
killed and there was a mass exodus of the population fleeing the bombs.
In
other words, the "military intervention" was directly responsible for
the
wave of the ethnic cleansing. Instead of being prevented it is going on
to
the present day in the presence of UNMIK and KFOR.
2. The relevant authorities of the FR of Yugoslavia kept the
international
public and the OSCE Chairman-in-Office regularly informed of the illegal
actions by terrorists and separatists in Kosovo and Metohija (See the
set
of documents delivered to the CiO, Mr. Knut Vollebaek, Norwegian Foreign
Minister, on 1 March 1999.).
The terrorist actions of Albanian separatists in Kosovo and Metohija,
prior to the consent of the FRY to accept an OSCE Mission in its
territory
as a sign of its good will, had assumed such proportions that they
required
energetic measures by the authorities. In a one-year period, from 1
January-31 December 1998 alone, in Kosovo and Metohija there were :
- more than 1,885 terrorist attacks, in which 288 persons were killed
and
561 wounded;
- 1,129 terrorist attacks against police personnel and facilities, which
left 115 police officers dead and 403 wounded;
- the remaining 756 attacks were made against civilians, with 173 people
killed and 158 injured.
- During the same period, 308 persons (293 civilians and 15 policemen)
were abducted. Of this number 31 civilians and 3 policemen were killed,
while 143 abducted civilians and 9 policemen are still unaccounted-for.
Following the deployment of OSCE verifiers to Kosovo and Metohija,
terrorist activities did not cease. Only in the period from 13 October
1998
-20 March 1999 (after the agreement reached by the President of the FRY
S.
Milo{evi} and US Special Representative Ambassador R. Holbrooke), a
series
of terrorist attacks, murders and abductions took place in the presence
of
KVM, namely:
- 1,048 attacks (371 against civilians and 677 against police);
- 154 people (127 civilians and 27 policemen) were killed;
- 148 (81 civilians and 67 police officers) sustained serious injuries;
- 100 persons (93 civilians and 7 police officers) were kidnapped (16
killed:14 civilians and 2 policemen and the fate of 37 civilians and 4
policemen is yet unknown);
- 56 terrorist attacks on VJ forces (2 soldiers killed, 9 seriously and
21
slightly injured).
3. Since its deployment in Kosovo and Metohija in October 1998, the OSCE
Kosovo Verification Mission openly defended the separatist movement and
the
terrorist KLA there and adopted a benignant and uncritical attitude
towards
it. This is evidently the reason why the above information was left out
of
the report, because it will clearly show that there was an increase in
terrorist actions during the presence of KVM; that roadblocks were set
up
hindering freedom of movement; that kidnappings and arms smuggling were
frequent occurrences. Moreover, strategically important facilities were
marked in this period. In this way, the OSCE and its Mission were
grossly
abused and they played a role contrary to the goals of this
Organization.
The report singles out, as the most glaring illustration of the alleged
repressive policies of the government before the aggression, the
previously
overmagnified and overexploited "events" in the media in the villages of
Ra~ak, Rakovina and Rogovo (that are referred to as "executions"). In
these
villages, according to the report, there were mass killings of "Kosovo
Albanians by the Yugoslav/Serbian forces". The report made by the team
of
independent forensic experts did not confirm the accusations levelled by
KVM Head W. Walker.
The evidence of the crimes that had allegedly been committed in Kosovo
and
Metohija before the aggression, was taken as "eye-witness" statements
from
refugees in camps in Albania and Macedonia. In view of the fact that
this
part of the report contains most serious accusations levelled at the
actions taken by "police, paramilitary and the military" against the
civilian population - mostly those of Albanian nationality - (torture,
rape, missing persons, arbitrary detention, wanton destruction of
property
and looting, use of civilians as human shields, forced expulsions,
etc.),
it would be logical that it also contains findings of Yugoslav
authorities
concerning the events in question, considering that they were timely
presented and submitted to KVM. Instead, the drafters of the report have
confined themselves to "interviewing eye-witnesses on the ground" and
making public their statements as testimonies of "witnesses for the
prosecution", thus ignoring the reports of the legitimate authorities, a
fact which is both essentially and methodologically unacceptable and
cannot
help get an objective picture of events.
4. One may rightfully raise the question of the credibility of the
so-called "evidence of the crimes" committed by police, VJ and
paramilitary
forces in the period during the aggression, from 24 March to 9 June
1999,
since KVM withdrew from Kosovo and Metohija on 20 March 1999, i.e.
before
the onset of the aggression and was not present there while it was on.
It should be noted that the report did not at all keep track of the
crimes
committed by the NATO alliance in Kosovo and Metohija in that period,
although they were widely reported in international media and
well-documented by the competent Yugoslav authorities (See the White
Paper,
Part I and II).
The list of crimes and irreparable losses caused by the aggression is
endless:
- More than 2,000 civilians died. This figure is not final given that
the
identification of all victims has not been completed;
- More than 7,000 people were wounded and in most cases they will remain
permanently disabled;
- Eighty-two bridges were damaged or destroyed;
- 422 school facilities (school buildings, university colleges, student
dormitories, etc.) were knocked down or damaged;
- 48 health institutions (hospitals, out-patient clinics, health
stations,
etc.) were damaged or destroyed;
- 74 TV transmitter, relay and repeater sites were demolished or
destroyed;
- Essential infrastructure (power plants, transformer yards, power
distribution system, oil installations, numerous factories, traffic
routes,
etc.) were destroyed or severely damaged, as well as great many other
civilian facilities (See the White Paper);
- Over 2.5 million citizens of the FR of Yugoslavia have remained
without
the basic means of subsistence;
- Total material losses due to the aggression amount close to US$ 100
billion.
- Total quantifiable losses (due to the sanctions imposed by the
international community, due to the secession of the republics of the
former SFR of Yugoslavia as well as those due to the NATO aggression) in
the period 1991-2010 have been estimated at US$ 200 billion. It is worth
noting that the sanctions, as a flagrant violation of the basic human
rights, have not been devoted any attention in the OSCE report.
Negative effects on the overall development of the FR of Yugoslavia and
the standard of living of its population will be felt for decades to
come.
5. Regrettably, the OSCE report does not at all deal with the
consequences
of the aggression on the enjoyment of fundamental human rights of the
entire population of the FR of Yugoslavia. Contrary to NATO's propaganda
machine, which sought to create a picture of mass human rights
violations
and vulnerability of the Albanian population in Kosovo and Metohija
prior
to NATO aggression, the report, nevertheless, clearly indicates that
following the start of "air strikes", there was chaos, uncertainty and
fear
(of the bombing) and the population fled in massive numbers, which is
something that the Yugoslav authorities cannot, obviously, be blamed
for.
Civilian losses inflicted by the NATO aggressors have been completely
marginalized. Even if they are mentioned, they are justified by the
well-known NATO logic of blaming again the Yugoslav authorities for
using
"human shields" to protect facilities and equipment. Thus, massive
deaths
among the Albanian civilian population, references to which could not be
avoided, were also blamed on the "Serbian forces" and not attributed to
the
fact that this was the region where the largest number of bombs had been
dropped since the end of the Second World War. During the aggression
against the FR of Yugoslavia:
- 35,000 sorties were conducted, involving more than 1,000 aircraft and
206 helicopters;
- More than 10,000 cruise missiles were launched;
- 79,000 tons of ordnance (156 cluster bombs containing 37,440
bomblets).
The report makes no mention of the documentary evidence on the aerial
bombardment nor material losses caused by it. There are no photographs,
either, of the aftermath of the strikes and we are talking here about
the
proportionately most bombed region in the history of warfare. Even the
published photographs are not authentic, as evidenced by the bombing of
the
"Prizren League" building, which was struck down in the aggressors'
attack
on 28 March 1999 (White Paper, p.p. 227 and 228). The report wrongfully
pointed out that the building was "destroyed by the Yugoslav security
forces in March 1999" (Report, p. 334). Such examples make all other
cited
information seen in a relatively different light whose credibility may
be
brought into question.
Consequently, the OSCE report, which would otherwise make NATO
responsible
for the serious crimes against civilians and for breaches of the Geneva
Conventions, was grossly abused as a tool to justify the aggression. Its
purposes were even defined in NATO language ("preventing Yugoslav
military
and security forces from continuing repression of civilians and
deterring
their further military actions against their own population"), in
contravention of all OSCE principles which were not referred to therein.
Rather than condemning NATO aggression, the report deliberately omitted
any references to it, using the NATO terms for it such as
"intervention",
"bombing" or "air strikes" or "air campaign". Most often, only certain
dates (before or after 24 March 1999) are mentioned, thus suggesting
that
the brutal murders of the civilian population and massive destruction of
civilian facilities are the result of the same "repressive policy"
continued by other means. An impression may be gained, therefore, that
NATO
bombs killed no one (but they actually killed 2,000 people) and that
Serbian security forces were responsible for all casualties during the
"air
strikes", which was why they were targeted by NATO.
The report also lacks what UNMIK and KFOR obviously do not want to talk
about, and that is a politically devastating record of the war, because
this region is now less secure than it used to be; the ethnic cleansing
is
going unhampered and local administration is not functioning.
After UNMIK and KFOR took responsibility, massive human rights abuses by
Albanian terrorists and terrorist gangs take place, which is extremely
worrying. Between 10 June 1999 and 6 February 2000 alone, in their
presence,
- a total of 4,249 terrorist attacks were made;
- of this number 4,030 were against Serbs and Montenegrins;
- and 126 against other ethnic communities;
- 93 against Albanians;
- 889 persons were killed;
- 784 persons were wounded;
- 834 were abducted and missing (75 killed, 6 escaped, 31 released, 722
still unaccounted-for);
- more than 350,000 were expelled;
- more than 50,000 homes were burned down; and
- over 80 churches and monasteries were demolished.
At the same time, more than 200,000 criminals and looters from
neighbouring Albania were allowed to enter this Serbian province
illegally
(See the Memorandum of the FRY Government of 3 November 1999).
7. Despite its efforts to prove the contrary, the OSCE cannot conceal
an
evident conclusion that the tragic plight of the Kosovo population is a
direct consequence of the NATO aggression; that thousands of people were
killed during the aggression and not before it; and that an unimpeded
ethnic cleansing of the Province of its Serbs, Roma, Muslims, Turks,
Goranci and other non-Albanians is now under way, in the presence of
UNMIK
and KFOR.
While the report blames the Yugoslav authorities for all problems in the
past, it is clear that no one bears responsibility for the current
situation there, characterized by a climate of impunity. Terror, ethnic
cleansing, organized international crime, drug and arms trafficking,
human
smuggling, money laundering, abuse of humanitarian aid, etc. continue.
Concurrently, there is a lack of action to prevent such crimes, the lack
of
an effective system of protection of the population as well as of the
functioning of local administration. The report does not point, as it
has
done in Part I, to the responsibility of office holders in Kosovo and
Metohija (i.e. UNMIK and KFOR) or blames them for the present situation.
As
a result, there is a continuing spiral of crime; an ineffective
protection
of the basic human rights of non-Albanians and non-functioning local
government. In this part, the report only takes note of human rights
violations (ranging from murders to expulsions, harassment,
intimidation,
arson and looting).
The report reveals a number of problems arising out of inoperation of
the
military and civilian missions in Kosovo and Metohija, notably
non-fulfilment of the mandate under UN Security Council resolution 1244
(1999). Instead of taking energetic steps and applying existing laws of
the
Republic of Serbia and those of the FR of Yugoslavia, UNMIK reacts by
issuing appeals, statements and regulations that are not either enforced
or
are not in conformity with the above-mentioned resolution. The lack of
vigorous action by the relevant representatives of the international
community makes them accomplices in the crime of ethnic cleansing that
is
under way. The conclusion to be drawn is that the only thing that
members
of the international community are seriously concerned for is their own
safety and security.
Part II of the report, covering the period following the take-over of
responsibility by UNMIK and KFOR, may lead to the conclusion that the
current violence against Serbs is massive and systematic in all parts of
Kosovo and Metohija, apparently with the intent to scare off the
non-Albanian population and create a mono-ethnic Kosovo and Metohija.
The
key elements of UNMIK's and KFOR's mandates, as defined in Security
Council
resolution 1244 (1999), have not been implemented, i.e. to create a
secure
environment in which all refugees and displaced persons can return home
in
safety, to ensure conditions for a peaceful and normal life for all
inhabitants of Kosovo and Metohija, to maintain a multi-ethnic and
multi-confessional character of the Province, as well as to demilitarize
the so-called KLA. KFOR and UNMIK have failed to ensure free movement in
Kosovo and Metohija and also, with their tolerant attitude towards the
terror of the so-called KLA, are accessory to the blockading and
ghettoization of segments of the Serbian and other non-Albanian
populations
herded into several enclaves in Kosovo and Metohija (Orahovac,
Gora`devac,
Kosovo Polje). The report failed to point to the responsibility of those
who have undertaken to establish law and order and guarantee security
for
all citizens. They will not take the consequences for such failure,
either.
Thus, the recognition that UNMIK has been incompetent (or unwilling) to
halt the final stages of the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and Metohija and
to
establish civil administration, is revealed in all its devastating
brutality.
Belgrade, 7 February 2000
---
VIOLATIONS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 1244 (1999)
OVERVIEW
1. Affirmation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the FR of
Yugoslavia: United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999)
unambiguously confirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the
FR
of Yugoslavia in Kosovo and Metohija (preambular para 10; Annex 2 para
8).
The Resolution limits the mandate of the international security (KFOR)
and
civilian (UNMIK) presence to the establishment of conditions for an
unimpeded return of all refugees and displaced persons (paras 1 and 5,
Annex 1; paras 1 and 4, Annex 2), safe environment (op. para 9 c),
preservation of the multi-ethnic, multi-confessional and multi-cultural
character of Kosovo and Metohija and of the basic civilian and
administrative functions (operative para 11 b), with a view to ensuring
conditions for a political solution on the basis of the establishment of
a
substantial autonomy within the FR of Yugoslavia (operative para 10).
2. Security of citizens: The Government of the FR of Yugoslavia notes
with
concern that KFOR and UNMIK have not fulfilled their obligation
to guarantee security to all citizens in Kosovo and Metohija and to
ensure
a safe environment for the return of all refugees and internally
displaced
persons (op.para 9 c; Annex 1 para 5, Annex 2 para 7).
KFOR and UNMIK, and the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative B.
Kouchner in particular are, since they ignore the mandate they have been
entrusted to and grossly violate UN SC resolution 1244 (1999), directly
responsible for the lawlessness and chaos prevailing in the Province,
for
massive crime, usurpation of the State and private property as well as
for
terror, killings, abductions and ethnic cleansing of Serb and other
non-Albanian population.
3. Genocide and ethnic cleansing: Since the deployment of KFOR and
UNMIK,
on 12 June 1999, more than 350,000 non-Albanians, primarily Serbs,
Montenegrins, as well as Roma, Muslims, Turks, Goranci and others have
been
forcibly driven out of the Province. As many as 768 Serbs were killed
and
673 abducted. Not a single perpetrator of these serious criminal acts
has
been arrested or brought to justice, which clearly demonstrates the
efficiency of UNMIK police and their protective attitude towards
Albanian
terrorists. Most of these serious crimes have been committed by the
members
of the so-called KLA, later absorbed into the so-called Kosovo
Protection
Corps (KPC).
The remaining Serbs in the Province have been subjected to constant
terror and provocation, herded into few enclaves. KFOR and UNMIK lack
any
serious willingness and readiness to protect the remaining Serbs and
members of other non-Albanian ethnic groups in Kosovo and Metohija,
exposed
to constant terror and pressure to leave the Province, whereby KFOR and
UNMIK became direct accomplices in ethnic cleansing and genocide in the
southern Serb Province. A telling example of this is a several
months-old
blockade of Orahovac by Albanian terrorists, who have virtually turned
this
town into a first Nazi ghetto in post-war Europe.
4. Destruction of cultural monuments: In their genocidal campaign of
wiping out all Serb heritage, Albanian terrorists so far destroyed or
damaged more than 80 monasteries and churches of the Serb Orthodox
Church,
some of which date back to the XII century and represent a part of not
only
Serbian but world cultural heritage.
5. Tolerant attitude and support to terrorists: By their tolerant
attitude
towards a systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing and genocide against
Serb
and other non-Albanian population, KFOR and UNMIK bear sole
responsibility
for the violation of the provisions of UN SC resolution 1244 (1999) on
the
preservation of a multi-ethnic, multi-confessional and multi-cultural
character of the Province. KFOR and UNMIK's failure to implement UN SC
resolution 1244 (1999) or gross violations thereof, represent the cause
of
lawlessness and chaos in the Province.
6. Violation of the UN Security Council mandate: UNSG Special
Representative and Head of UNMIK B. Kouchner with his arbitrary and
unilateral decisions continuously and flagrantly violates the mandate
set
out in UN SC resolution 1244 (1999) and related documents. B. Kouchner
has
issued 25 regulations so far, all of which have no basis in UN SC
resolution 1244 (1999), and are aimed at severing all ties of the
Province
with the Republic of Serbia and the FR of Yugoslavia, i.e. at completely
separating the Province from the constitutional, legal, economic,
customs,
monetary and banking system of the FR of Yugoslavia and the Republic of
Serbia, which is in direct contravention of UN SC resolution 1244 (1999)
and related documents, reaffirming the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of the FR of Yugoslavia in Kosovo and Metohija.
Kouchner has illegally seized all legislative, executive and judicial
power in the Province (Regulation 1999/1 of 25 July 1999). By his
regulation 1999/3 of 31 August 1999, he established a separate customs
service. By his regulation 1999/4 of 2 September 1999, Kouchner
illegally
transferred monetary functions to local authorities and introduced the
German Mark as a legal tender. With regulations 1999/16 and 1999/17 of 6
November 1999 and regulations 1999/20 and 1999/21 of 15 November 1999,
he
introduced a "Central Banking and Payments Authority", i.e. a separate
banking system in Kosovo and Metohija.
- By Kouchner's regulation 1999/5 of 4 September 1999 on an Ad Hoc Court
of Final Appeal, de facto a supreme court of the Province, was actually
established, while regulations 1999/6 and 1999/7 of 7 September 1999
regulated the administration of justice and prosecution in the Province,
favouring Albanians, with a large number of KLA members including among
judges. Disastrous consequences are evident: so far, no terrorist has
been
brought to justice or convicted of serious crimes against the Serbs and
other non-Albanian population.
- Entrusting the regulation of the importation, transportation,
distribution and sale of petroleum products regime to illegal local
authorities controlled by KLA, otherwise a prerogative of the State
sovereign rule (regulation 1999/9 of 24 September 1999), constitutes a
gross violation of UN SC resolution 1244 (1999).
- The same situation prevails concerning the control of payments and
services, post and telecommunication services, granting permits for the
establishment of financial institutions and registration of vehicles,
all
of which are uniformly regulated in the entire territory of the FR of
Yugoslavia (regulations 1999/11 of 13 October 1999, 1999/12 of 14
October
1999, 1999/13 of 16 October 1999 and 1999/15 of 21 October 1999).
- UNMIK has been illegally issuing personal documents (vital statistics
records, intention to issue personal IDs) to citizens, without the
official
FRY State symbols, on the pretext that Albanians would not accept
documents
with official symbols of the FR of Yugoslavia and the Republic of
Serbia.
The policy of giving in to the Albanians is also in evidence in
connection
with the registration of the population.
- The FRY State property has been illegally transferred to foreign legal
persons (taking control of "Beopetrol" and "Jugopetrol" companies,
forcible
seizure of "Beobanka" branch offices, assigning mobile telephone network
service to French "Alcatel").
- By Kouchner's decision, Kosovo and Metohija has been taken out from a
single power supply system of Serbia and the FR of Yugoslavia and
connected
with the power supply systems of Albania and Macedonia, grossly
violating
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the FRY.
- By preventing the activities of media outlets in Serbian and forcible
seizure of their premises and equipment, favouring at the same time the
media in Albanian, not only has destroyed a single media system of the
FR
of Yugoslavia and Republic of Serbia but encourages discrimination based
on
ethnicity, contrary to the basic intentions of the SC Resolution on the
preservation of the multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-confessional
character of the Province.
- Without prior approval of the competent FRY authorities, KFOR and
UNMIK
have established international transport between the Province and some
States, including those with which the FR of Yugoslavia does not have
diplomatic relations. The establishment of local air, railway and other
transport between the Province and other parts of the single FRY
territory
has been prevented, which is particularly unacceptable.
7. Establishment of illegal organs of administration: By a fait
accompli
tactic, without consulting legal representatives of the Republic of
Serbia
and the FR of Yugoslavia, Special Representative Kouchner has illegally
established the so- called Interim Administration Council, de facto
provincial "Government", comprised exclusively of Albanians, mostly
leaders
of the terrorist so-called KLA and Albanian separatist political
parties,
in an attempt to legalise an ethnically pure Kosovo and Metohija,
contrary
to UN SC resolution 1244 (1999).
8. Blocking a political settlement: UNMIK and B. Kouchner do not accept
dialogue and co-operation with representatives of the Governments of the
FR
of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Serbia on questions of interest for
the
stabilisation of the overall security, economic and political situation
in
the Province.
The contact between UNMIK and the Government of the FR of Yugoslavia
concerning substantial autonomy and self-government in Kosovo and
Metohija
(Resolution op.para 11 a; Annex 1 para 6 and Annex 2 para 5) has not
been
established. UNSG Special Representative Kouchner persistently continues
to
ignore repeated requests of the Government of the FR of Yugoslavia
addressed to the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council to start
negotiations on substantial autonomy in Kosovo and Metohija (op.para 11
a;
Annex 2 para 8) between the legitimate representatives of the Republic
of
Serbia and the FR of Yugoslavia and the representatives of all ethnic
communities in Kosovo and Metohija.
9. Control of the State border: KFOR and UNMIK do not carry out their
obligation to control the State border of the FR of Yugoslavia towards
Albania and Macedonia (op.para 9 g), which is why more than 200,000
foreigners came to the territory of the FRY, including a large number of
the terrorists of the so-called KLA and criminal gangs, especially the
narco-mafia, illegal arms and white slave traders, etc., whereby Kosovo
and
Metohija has become the centre for the expansion of organised crime
throughout Europe. Illegal entries to the FR of Yugoslavia have not
stopped
despite the assurances by KFOR and UNMIK that they consistently
implement
their obligations arising from the Resolution, regarding the
safeguarding
of the FRY international border.
10. Return of the Army of Yugoslavia (VJ) and police: The return of the
agreed number of members of VJ and Serb police in Kosovo and Metohija is
still unjustifiably prevented and delayed (Annex 2 para 6), which
additionally encourages Albanian terrorists to continue with their daily
terror against the Serb and other non-Albanian population with a view to
completing the ethnic cleansing of the Province.
11. Demilitarisation and disarming of the so-called KLA: Terrorist so-
called KLA has not been disarmed or demilitarised, which represents one
of
the most serious examples of gross violation of UN SC resolution 1244
(1999) (op.para 9 b and op.para 15). Only a token quantity of antiquated
arms were surrendered. Secret arms caches of terrorists are being
revealed
every day. The border with Albania and Macedonia has not been closed,
whereby KFOR and UNMIK continue to enable the entry of armed terrorists
and
large quantities of arms in the Province. This has been testified to by
daily armed attacks of Albanians on Serb enclaves, buses and other means
of
transport carrying Serb and other non-Albanians as well as against their
houses, land and other property.
12. Transformation of the so-called KLA: The establishment of the so-
called Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC), which is made up of members of the
terrorist so-called KLA (in Albanian translation "corps" means "force"),
has actually legalised this terrorist organisation as well as its former
leadership and enhanced its combat organisational structure. While the
leadership of the so-called KPC has retained a wide authority through
"transformation" - its members publicly carry light weapons and they
hide
their heavy weapons in hide-outs whose location is known to KFOR. At
the
same time, "KPC" leadership or the former leaders of the terrorist
so-called KLA publicly state that "KPC", as a parallel structure of the
so-called KLA, represents a model for the future "Kosovo Army".
13. Security and freedom of movement for international representatives:
Passive attitude of KFOR and UNMIK towards several-months long Albanian
blockade of the deployment of a Russian KFOR contingent in Orahovac,
confirms their protective stance towards Albanian terrorists and
represents
an open violation of UN SC resolution 1244 (1999) on security and
freedom
of movement of KFOR and UNMIK, as well as other international
organisations
(op.para 9 h).
14. Legal status of the UN peace-keeping mission: Proceeding from the
fact
that Kosovo and Metohija is part of the sovereign territory of the FR of
Yugoslavia, the Government of the FR of Yugoslavia, as the host, has
initiated, since the deployment of international security and civilian
presence under the auspices of the United Nations in Kosovo and
Metohija,
the conclusion of an appropriate agreement with the United Nations
concerning the legal status of this mission, which did not take place
due
to the refusal on the part of the United Nations.
15. Para-diplomatic missions and visits by foreign officials: UNMIK has
allowed the illegal establishment of para-diplomatic missions of some
countries in Kosovo and Metohija, in a gross violation of the principle
of
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the FR of Yugoslavia.
Despite the repeated official protests by the Government of the FR of
Yugoslavia addressed to the Security Council, the Secretary-General and
KFOR and UNMIK, an illegal practice continues of establishing
"diplomatic
offices" of foreign States in Kosovo and Metohija, which constitutes a
drastic violation of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) and Article
2
of the Vienna conventions on diplomatic and consular relations, as well
as
a hostile act towards a receiving country whose sovereignty is
flagrantly
violated, because it is done without its prior consent.
Ignoring the warnings and overriding the official protests by the FR of
Yugoslavia an unacceptable practice is being continued of not notifying
the
visits of foreign officials to Kosovo and Metohija, thus violating the
provisions of SC resolution 1244 (1999) and Annex 2 paras 5 and 8, and
the
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the existing Yugoslav visa
regime.
The Government of the FR of Yugoslavia insists that this illegal
practice
be immediately terminated and that the behaviour of all factors in the
Province be strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Resolution
and the applicable international conventions and practice.
16. Responsibility of KFOR and UNMIK: KFOR and UNMIK are responsible for
disturbing developments in the Province. By failing to comply with the
clear responsibilities under SC resolution 1244 (1999) and the relevant
documents or by interpreting them arbitrarily as well as by an
inadmissibly
tolerant attitude towards Albanian terrorists, KFOR and UNMIK bear full
responsibility for the crimes of genocide and systematic ethnic
cleansing
that are being perpetrated against Serbs and other non-Albanian
population
in their presence, thus using the UN peace-keeping mission as a smoke
screen and actually becoming accomplices in these serious crimes.
17. Responsibility of the UN Security Council: Under SC resolution 1244
(op. paras 19 and 20), the Security Council guarantees its
implementation.
In view of the tragic situation in Kosovo and Metohija and systematic
violations of all crucial provisions of UN SC resolution 1244 (1999) and
the Military Technical Agreement, the FR of Yugoslavia demands that the
Security Council undertake without delay most energetic steps and
measures
for their consistent implementation and prevent all attempts at
departing,
postponing to carry out or arbitrarily interpreting the provisions of
this
Resolution.
In that context, the Government of the FR of Yugoslavia energetically
demands that the Security Council rescind, without delay, all illegal
decisions of UNSG Special Representative B. Kouchner and take other
measures, as may be necessary, to have the situation in Kosovo and
Metohija
restored to its previous state.
All decisions of KFOR and UNMIK which are contrary to the Resolution and
related documents imply either their gross violation or arbitrary
interpretation, particularly regarding strict respect for the
sovereignty
and territorial integrity of the FR of Yugoslavia in the southern Serb
Province, are considered by the Government of the FR of Yugoslavia null
and
void and cannot have any legal effect.
Belgrade, 10 January 2000
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
ANCHE GREGORIO E' AGLI ARRESTI DOMICILIARI
Ci giunge notizia che finalmente anche Gregorio Piccin, l'ultimo dei
cinque compagni arrestati lo scorso 7 dicembre ad essere ancora
trattenuto in carcere, e' stato trasferito nella sua abitazione, dove e'
sottoposto agli arresti domiciliari.
Ovviamente questo non ci consente di abbassare la guardia: la campagna
di solidarieta' deve andare avanti per ottenere quantomeno
* la fine immediata della manovra diffamatoria avviata sui mezzi di
dis-informazione, per la quale sono gia' state sporte alcune denuncie;
* il decadimento delle accuse piu' insensate (art. 270 e 270bis);
* la liberta' di movimento dei compagni.
A questo proposito diffondiamo il comunicato giuntoci dal Comitato per
la liberta' di Sergio Spina, alle cui proposte noi ADERIAMO come
iniziativa di controinformazione sulle questioni internazionali e della
guerra imperialista. CRJ
>
> Vi inviamo il documento elaborato dal Comitato per la libertà di
> Sergio Spina (v. arresti 7 Dicembre 1999), pregandovi di diffonderlo.
> Vi invitiamo, inoltre, ad aderire alle future iniziative che verranno
> via via proposte dal comitato stesso.
> Per informazioni e adesioni: comitato.libero@...
>
>
> COMITATO PER LA LIBERTA? DI SERGIO SPINA
>
>
>
> Questo documento si propone di riavviare, in seguito all?arresto di
> Sergio Spina e dei suoi compagni, una discussione politica che abbia
> il compito di porre, all?attenzione di tutti, i temi che tale vicenda
> ha riproposto con forza.
>
> Siamo dell?idea che i punti evidenziati debbano trovare un ampio
> consenso da parte di uno schieramento, il più vasto possibile, che
> abbia a cuore la difesa dei diritti della persona e le garanzie delle
> regole democratiche per tutti i cittadini.
>
> Riteniamo che, pur nella condanna netta di ogni forma di terrorismo
> come strumento di contrapposizione antagonista, tuttavia non
> ripeteremo l?errore commesso in passato, per cui la condanna netta del
> terrorismo ha impedito un?analisi seria su un movimento che in modo
> legittimo rivendicava la possibilità di costruire una società diversa.
>
> Pensiamo sia giunto il tempo di stabilire che l?antagonismo sociale
> sia l?espressione che raccoglie il disagio di tanti, e che governo,
> magistratura e forze dell?ordine debbano smetterla di riproporre il
> teorema secondo il quale l?antagonismo sociale diventa unicamente
> veicolo di reclutamento per organizzazioni terroristiche.
>
> A nostro avviso, sono quattro i punti prioritari per avviare una seria
> discussione che permetta di fare chiarezza sulle garanzie di libertà
> del cittadino in una democrazia come quella italiana.
>
> 1) NEGAZIONE DEI DIRITTI DELLA PERSONA
>
> L?arresto di Sergio Spina e dei suoi compagni evidenzia a nostro
> giudizio due questioni principali: la prima riguarda l?uso della
> carcerazione da parte dei magistrati inquirenti, non come forma di
> prevenzione di presunti atti terroristici, bensì come strumento di
> pressione - là dove non si hanno idee chiare - che porti gli arrestati
> a collaborare facendo i nomi di tutti coloro che hanno conosciuto nel
> loro percorso politico, nella speranza di arrivare per tentativi a una
> qualche "verità".
>
> La seconda questione, certo non meno grave, riguarda la diffamatoria
> campagna di stampa che ha visto, via via, Sergio Spina indicato prima
> come "cattivo maestro", poi "mente" del gruppo, in quanto più anziano;
> in seguito, punto di raccordo con organizzazioni terroristiche
> collegate all?omicidio D?Antona; infine, il grande salto che ipotizza
> collegamenti con il terrorismo internazionale, sia islamico che
> europeo.
>
> Tutto questo ha prodotto, e continua a produrre, un evidente disparità
> tra chi diffama e chi è diffamato: Sergio Spina, infatti, nella sua
> condizione di totale isolamento, sia pure agli arresti domiciliari,
> non è messo nelle condizioni di difendersi.
>
> 2) NO ALLA GUERRA
>
> Riteniamo essenziale esprimere il più profondo e convinto NO alla
> guerra.
>
> L?aggressione della Nato all?ex -Jugoslavia non solo non ha conseguito
> il risultato di portare la democrazia e la pacifica convivenza tra
> Serbi e Kossovari, ma, al contrario, ha seminato morte, distruzione ed
> accrescimento dell?odio.
>
> Tutto ciò ha prodotto giustamente una reazione del movimento pacifista
> internazionale, che ha visto - soprattutto in Italia - lo svolgersi di
> innumerevoli manifestazioni democratiche e di massa contro la guerra.
>
> È utile far notare che, mentre nessun processo è stato istituito per
> giudicare crimini di guerra - dei quali si è macchiato anche il nostro
> paese, in palese violazione della Costituzione Italiana - assistiamo
> per contro alla volontà del governo di strumentalizzare piccoli
> episodi (come il danneggiamento avvenuto nel settembre scorso ai danni
> di una ditta che lavora al progetto Aviano 2000) per sfuggire a quelle
> che sono le proprie responsabilità.
>
> In questo contesto si inserisce l?ambiguità della magistratura, che da
> un lato dichiara marginali gli episodi in questione, escludendo nello
> stesso tempo collegamenti con gruppi terroristici, e dall?altro
> continua ad applicare un regime fortemente restrittivo, assolutamente
> sproporzionato alle accuse.
>
> 3) LEGGI SPECIALI
>
> Riteniamo anacronistico, a distanza di oltre vent?anni dall?entrata in
> vigore delle leggi speciali, nate dalla presunta necessità di
> contrastare il terrorismo dilagante in quegli anni, il fatto che esse
> non solo non vengano rimosse, in quanto l?emergenza terrorismo è
> finita da un pezzo, ma vengano utilizzate in modo spropositato per
> colpire, oggi, cinque persone - ci chiediamo quante domani -
> lasciandole marcire in carcere per anni, là dove - in una condizione
> di democrazia "normale" - sarebbero state condannate al massimo per
> pochi mesi.
>
> Tutto ciò ci impone una riflessione comune sulla necessità di una
> grande mobilitazione che costringa il parlamento italiano a cancellare
> quelle norme, restituendo ai cittadini il diritto-dovere di essere
> giudicati in proporzione ai reati commessi secondo la normativa
> ordinaria.
>
> 4) A CHI GIOVA?
>
> Non possiamo davvero pensare che la strategia tesa a criminalizzare
> tutti i movimenti antagonisti, sia alla guerra che alle tante forme di
> ingiustizia con cui ci si scontra quotidianamente, sia da attribuire
> al caso.
>
> Tutto ciò è frutto, a nostro giudizio, della volontà precisa di
> tacitare ogni forma di antagonismo, per andare in modo spedito verso
> quell?odioso progetto, denominato "pensiero unico".
>
> A conferma che quanto diciamo non sia frutto di un teorema, ci
> soccorrono commentatori di importanti quotidiani nazionali, i quali,
> pur precisando che è legittimo opporsi, fanno comunque notare che la
> partecipazione a qualunque forma di antagonismo fa sì che le
> organizzazioni terroristiche traggano risorse umane per scardinare
> l?ordine democratico.
>
> Insomma, un invito non tanto velato a rimanere tutti a casa.
>
> Noi non solo non rimarremo a casa, ma invitiamo tutti ad uscire dalla
> condizione di isolamento nella quale ciascuno di noi si trova, per
> costruire ovunque comitati, gruppi di iniziativa e quant?altro possa
> concorrere al ristabilimento della civiltà del diritto e della libertà
> di manifestare il dissenso.
>
>
>
> Bologna, 9 Febbraio 2000
>
> IL COMITATO PER LA LIBERTA?DI SERGIO SPINA
>
>
>
>
>
> Per informazioni ed adesioni: comitato.libero@...
Ci giunge notizia che finalmente anche Gregorio Piccin, l'ultimo dei
cinque compagni arrestati lo scorso 7 dicembre ad essere ancora
trattenuto in carcere, e' stato trasferito nella sua abitazione, dove e'
sottoposto agli arresti domiciliari.
Ovviamente questo non ci consente di abbassare la guardia: la campagna
di solidarieta' deve andare avanti per ottenere quantomeno
* la fine immediata della manovra diffamatoria avviata sui mezzi di
dis-informazione, per la quale sono gia' state sporte alcune denuncie;
* il decadimento delle accuse piu' insensate (art. 270 e 270bis);
* la liberta' di movimento dei compagni.
A questo proposito diffondiamo il comunicato giuntoci dal Comitato per
la liberta' di Sergio Spina, alle cui proposte noi ADERIAMO come
iniziativa di controinformazione sulle questioni internazionali e della
guerra imperialista. CRJ
>
> Vi inviamo il documento elaborato dal Comitato per la libertà di
> Sergio Spina (v. arresti 7 Dicembre 1999), pregandovi di diffonderlo.
> Vi invitiamo, inoltre, ad aderire alle future iniziative che verranno
> via via proposte dal comitato stesso.
> Per informazioni e adesioni: comitato.libero@...
>
>
> COMITATO PER LA LIBERTA? DI SERGIO SPINA
>
>
>
> Questo documento si propone di riavviare, in seguito all?arresto di
> Sergio Spina e dei suoi compagni, una discussione politica che abbia
> il compito di porre, all?attenzione di tutti, i temi che tale vicenda
> ha riproposto con forza.
>
> Siamo dell?idea che i punti evidenziati debbano trovare un ampio
> consenso da parte di uno schieramento, il più vasto possibile, che
> abbia a cuore la difesa dei diritti della persona e le garanzie delle
> regole democratiche per tutti i cittadini.
>
> Riteniamo che, pur nella condanna netta di ogni forma di terrorismo
> come strumento di contrapposizione antagonista, tuttavia non
> ripeteremo l?errore commesso in passato, per cui la condanna netta del
> terrorismo ha impedito un?analisi seria su un movimento che in modo
> legittimo rivendicava la possibilità di costruire una società diversa.
>
> Pensiamo sia giunto il tempo di stabilire che l?antagonismo sociale
> sia l?espressione che raccoglie il disagio di tanti, e che governo,
> magistratura e forze dell?ordine debbano smetterla di riproporre il
> teorema secondo il quale l?antagonismo sociale diventa unicamente
> veicolo di reclutamento per organizzazioni terroristiche.
>
> A nostro avviso, sono quattro i punti prioritari per avviare una seria
> discussione che permetta di fare chiarezza sulle garanzie di libertà
> del cittadino in una democrazia come quella italiana.
>
> 1) NEGAZIONE DEI DIRITTI DELLA PERSONA
>
> L?arresto di Sergio Spina e dei suoi compagni evidenzia a nostro
> giudizio due questioni principali: la prima riguarda l?uso della
> carcerazione da parte dei magistrati inquirenti, non come forma di
> prevenzione di presunti atti terroristici, bensì come strumento di
> pressione - là dove non si hanno idee chiare - che porti gli arrestati
> a collaborare facendo i nomi di tutti coloro che hanno conosciuto nel
> loro percorso politico, nella speranza di arrivare per tentativi a una
> qualche "verità".
>
> La seconda questione, certo non meno grave, riguarda la diffamatoria
> campagna di stampa che ha visto, via via, Sergio Spina indicato prima
> come "cattivo maestro", poi "mente" del gruppo, in quanto più anziano;
> in seguito, punto di raccordo con organizzazioni terroristiche
> collegate all?omicidio D?Antona; infine, il grande salto che ipotizza
> collegamenti con il terrorismo internazionale, sia islamico che
> europeo.
>
> Tutto questo ha prodotto, e continua a produrre, un evidente disparità
> tra chi diffama e chi è diffamato: Sergio Spina, infatti, nella sua
> condizione di totale isolamento, sia pure agli arresti domiciliari,
> non è messo nelle condizioni di difendersi.
>
> 2) NO ALLA GUERRA
>
> Riteniamo essenziale esprimere il più profondo e convinto NO alla
> guerra.
>
> L?aggressione della Nato all?ex -Jugoslavia non solo non ha conseguito
> il risultato di portare la democrazia e la pacifica convivenza tra
> Serbi e Kossovari, ma, al contrario, ha seminato morte, distruzione ed
> accrescimento dell?odio.
>
> Tutto ciò ha prodotto giustamente una reazione del movimento pacifista
> internazionale, che ha visto - soprattutto in Italia - lo svolgersi di
> innumerevoli manifestazioni democratiche e di massa contro la guerra.
>
> È utile far notare che, mentre nessun processo è stato istituito per
> giudicare crimini di guerra - dei quali si è macchiato anche il nostro
> paese, in palese violazione della Costituzione Italiana - assistiamo
> per contro alla volontà del governo di strumentalizzare piccoli
> episodi (come il danneggiamento avvenuto nel settembre scorso ai danni
> di una ditta che lavora al progetto Aviano 2000) per sfuggire a quelle
> che sono le proprie responsabilità.
>
> In questo contesto si inserisce l?ambiguità della magistratura, che da
> un lato dichiara marginali gli episodi in questione, escludendo nello
> stesso tempo collegamenti con gruppi terroristici, e dall?altro
> continua ad applicare un regime fortemente restrittivo, assolutamente
> sproporzionato alle accuse.
>
> 3) LEGGI SPECIALI
>
> Riteniamo anacronistico, a distanza di oltre vent?anni dall?entrata in
> vigore delle leggi speciali, nate dalla presunta necessità di
> contrastare il terrorismo dilagante in quegli anni, il fatto che esse
> non solo non vengano rimosse, in quanto l?emergenza terrorismo è
> finita da un pezzo, ma vengano utilizzate in modo spropositato per
> colpire, oggi, cinque persone - ci chiediamo quante domani -
> lasciandole marcire in carcere per anni, là dove - in una condizione
> di democrazia "normale" - sarebbero state condannate al massimo per
> pochi mesi.
>
> Tutto ciò ci impone una riflessione comune sulla necessità di una
> grande mobilitazione che costringa il parlamento italiano a cancellare
> quelle norme, restituendo ai cittadini il diritto-dovere di essere
> giudicati in proporzione ai reati commessi secondo la normativa
> ordinaria.
>
> 4) A CHI GIOVA?
>
> Non possiamo davvero pensare che la strategia tesa a criminalizzare
> tutti i movimenti antagonisti, sia alla guerra che alle tante forme di
> ingiustizia con cui ci si scontra quotidianamente, sia da attribuire
> al caso.
>
> Tutto ciò è frutto, a nostro giudizio, della volontà precisa di
> tacitare ogni forma di antagonismo, per andare in modo spedito verso
> quell?odioso progetto, denominato "pensiero unico".
>
> A conferma che quanto diciamo non sia frutto di un teorema, ci
> soccorrono commentatori di importanti quotidiani nazionali, i quali,
> pur precisando che è legittimo opporsi, fanno comunque notare che la
> partecipazione a qualunque forma di antagonismo fa sì che le
> organizzazioni terroristiche traggano risorse umane per scardinare
> l?ordine democratico.
>
> Insomma, un invito non tanto velato a rimanere tutti a casa.
>
> Noi non solo non rimarremo a casa, ma invitiamo tutti ad uscire dalla
> condizione di isolamento nella quale ciascuno di noi si trova, per
> costruire ovunque comitati, gruppi di iniziativa e quant?altro possa
> concorrere al ristabilimento della civiltà del diritto e della libertà
> di manifestare il dissenso.
>
>
>
> Bologna, 9 Febbraio 2000
>
> IL COMITATO PER LA LIBERTA?DI SERGIO SPINA
>
>
>
>
>
> Per informazioni ed adesioni: comitato.libero@...
VIRTU' MIRACOLOSE DELLA RISIERA DI SAN SABBA?
Insieme a Jeorg Haider, anche il Presidente del Consiglio italiano
Massimo D'Alema ritiene la Risiera di San Sabba il luogo piu' indicato
per un pellegrinaggio riparatorio. Alcuni giornali di oggi 12 febbraio
2000 riportano infatti con enfasi la scelta di D'Alema di trascorrere il
25 Aprile prossimo in quello che fu l'unico campo di sterminio tedesco
su territorio oggi italiano. In questa maniera D'Alema prosegue nel
tentativo di farsi riabilitare e riaccreditare come leader antifascista
e democratico, dopo la sua partecipazione alla marcia pacifista
Perugia-Assisi.
Massimo D'Alema, nei confronti del quale sono state presentate 30
denunce penali per attentato alla Costituzione nata dalla Resistenza,
figura tra i mandanti dei bombardamenti sul petrolchimico di Pancevo,
delle bombe sulle colonne di profughi kosovari, della ri-occupazione
coloniale della Grande Albania, della pulizia etnica oggi in atto in un
settore di questa (il "Kosova"), dell'istigazione alla secessione e
ri-occupazione coloniale anche del Montenegro, del respingimento dei
profughi di razza politicamente scorretta dalle coste italiane nonche' -
a proposito di lager - dell'istituzione sul territorio italiano dei
lager per stranieri privi di documenti.
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
Insieme a Jeorg Haider, anche il Presidente del Consiglio italiano
Massimo D'Alema ritiene la Risiera di San Sabba il luogo piu' indicato
per un pellegrinaggio riparatorio. Alcuni giornali di oggi 12 febbraio
2000 riportano infatti con enfasi la scelta di D'Alema di trascorrere il
25 Aprile prossimo in quello che fu l'unico campo di sterminio tedesco
su territorio oggi italiano. In questa maniera D'Alema prosegue nel
tentativo di farsi riabilitare e riaccreditare come leader antifascista
e democratico, dopo la sua partecipazione alla marcia pacifista
Perugia-Assisi.
Massimo D'Alema, nei confronti del quale sono state presentate 30
denunce penali per attentato alla Costituzione nata dalla Resistenza,
figura tra i mandanti dei bombardamenti sul petrolchimico di Pancevo,
delle bombe sulle colonne di profughi kosovari, della ri-occupazione
coloniale della Grande Albania, della pulizia etnica oggi in atto in un
settore di questa (il "Kosova"), dell'istigazione alla secessione e
ri-occupazione coloniale anche del Montenegro, del respingimento dei
profughi di razza politicamente scorretta dalle coste italiane nonche' -
a proposito di lager - dell'istituzione sul territorio italiano dei
lager per stranieri privi di documenti.
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
SEGNALIAMO:
*** notizie aggiornate su quanto avviene quotidianamente in Kosmet le
trovate ogni giorno SOLAMENTE sulle pagine di SERBIA INFO:
in English: http://www.serbia-info.com/news/index.html
na srpskohrvatskom: http://www.srbija-info.yu
*** LIVING MARXISM e' la rivista inglese che sta facendo da anni un
eccezionale lavoro di controinformazione sulle questioni jugoslave;
sulla situazione in Kosovo-Metohija si veda ad esempio
http://www.informinc.co.uk/LM/documentary/kosovo/docu_frame.html
QUIZ: cosa sai sul Kosmet?
http://www.informinc.co.uk/LM/documentary/kosovo/quiz_frameset.html
PER LA SERIE: "LE PRODEZZE DELL'UCKFOR" abbiamo scelto oggi:
* Attaccato ancora un autobus, per un pelo evitata un'altra strage
(Tanjug 9/2)
* Gravemente ferito un serbo ad Obilic (Tanjug 10/2)
* A Gnjilane lanciata una granata in un negozio (Tanjug 10/2)
* Ancora proteste a Mitrovica (B92 7/2)
* In marzo nuove esercitazioni NATO in grande stile (B92 7/2)
* A Mitrovica grave preoccupazione nel ghetto serbo (Tanjug 4-5/2)
* Scontri tra albanesi-kosovari e francesi a Mitrovica (Tanjug 5/2)
* Pesante aggressione contro un serbo a Gnjilane (Tanjug 5/2)
* Attacchi a ripetizione contro le sedi di organizzazioni umanitarie ad
Obilic (Tanjug 5/2)
* Serbo assassinato a Gnjilane (Tanjug 4/2)
* Attaccato a Prizren un reparto ospedaliero dove sono ricoverate donne
serbe: vari feriti, tra cui un militare tedesco, ma come al solito la
KFOR non interviene (Tanjug 5/2)
* SPECIALE: grazie all'UCKFOR fiorisce in Kosmet il commercio... di
ragazze e minorenni da avviare alla prostituzione nei paesi ricchi
(Tanjug - The Times of London)
* RIEPILOGO delle azioni contro la popolazione non schipetara in Kosmet
nei soli ultimi dieci giorni di gennaio (Ministero degli Esteri RFJ)
---
ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISTS ATTACKED A BUS TRANSPORTING SERBS
LIPLJAN, February 9 (Tanjug) - Ethnic Albanian terrorists shelled a bus
carrying Serbs in the U.N.-ruled Serbian (Yugoslav) province of Kosovo
and Metohija on Wednesday, but missed the target, according to reports
by local amateur radio operators.
The attack took place at around 3:40 p.m. some 3 km south of Lipljan and
barely 500 metres from an international KFOR force checkpoint at the
village of Staro Gacko, the sources said.
Last summer, 14 Serbs were murdered while working in a field in Staro
Gacko.
Wednesday's shell, fired by three ethnic Albanians who had jumped out of
a
red Volkswagen Golf car, exploded just metres from the bus, the radio
operators said.
The Finnish KFOR troops manning the checkpoint witnessed the incident,
but
took no steps against the three attackers, who escaped from the scene.
The troops' statements that they were not authorised to shoot or leave
the
checkpoint and pursue the attackers have caused a storm of protests from
the Serbs, who gathered demanding that KFOR soldiers should leave the
checkpoint, if they can provide no protection.
Last Wednesday, two Serb civilians were killed in the shelling of a bus
of
the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at Kosovska Mitrovica.
ETHNIC ALBANIANS ATTACKED AND GRAVELY INJURE A SERB
OBILIC, February 10 (Tanjug) - Ethnic Albanian terrorists attacked and
gravely injured a Serb in the U.N.-administered Serbian province of
Kosovo
and Metohija on Wednesday, according to reports.
The Serb, Vladimir Subotic of Obilic, near the provincial chief city of
Pristina, was attacked by seven ethnic Albanians, amateur radio
operators
said.
Subotic has been taken for treatment to the Russian battalion hospital
in
Kosovo Polje.
Earlier on Wednesday, a hand grenade was lobbed into the home of a Serb,
but failed to go off.
The international KFOR force and the U.N. civilian mission (UNMIK)
received protest letters from the Obilic-based Protection and Human
Rights
Committee over the recent demolition of the local monument to Serbian
XIVth
century hero Milos Obilic.
ETHNIC ALBANIANS LOBBED A HAND GRENADE INTO A SERB STORE
GNJILANE, February 10 (Tanjug) - Several powerful blasts on Tuesday
shook
Gnjilane in the southeast of the U.N.-administered Serbian province of
Kosovo and Metohija, the Protection and Human Rights Committee in
Gnjilane
said on Thursday.
Ethnic Albanian terrorists lobbed a hand grenade through the window of a
store where local Serbs congregate, but the grenade did not go off, and
was
disposed of by U.N. mission (UNMIK) police in a controlled explosion at
a
safe distance.
Although the same store had already been targeted twice, the
international
KFOR force has shown no disposition to set up a checkpoint in the area.
Several people were hurt by broken glass in the subsequent melee after
the
grenade was thrown in.
Half an hour later, another powerful explosion reverberated in the town,
in the vicinity of two residential buildings housing Serbs.
Shortly afterwards, KFOR discovered a cache with 14 grenades in the
residential-cum-office building of the former insurance company in
downtown
Gnjilane and arrested two ethnic Albanian minors.
According to the Gnjilane Serbian Church Council, ethnic Albanian
criminals ravaged the windows of two Serb bars in the town during the
night
between Wednesday and Thursday, while three days ago, masked attackers
badly beat up a Romany in his home.
Serbs protest in Kosovska Mitrovica (B92 7/2/00)
PRISTINA, Monday - About three thousand Serbs protested in Kosovska
Mitrovica
today following days of violent conflict in the town. Local Serb leader
Oliver Ivanovic spoke to the crowd, calling on them to voluntarily
organise
protection of people and property in the northern part of the divided
town.
Ivanovic also said that despite talk of a multiethnic community, there
had
been too many gruesome crimes for Serbs and Albanians continue living
together. Ivanovic told B292 last night that he had spoken UN civilian
mission head Bernard Kouchner and that a co-ordinated strategy for
stabilising the situation in the town had been agreed
Kouchner said today that he had been shocked by the series of violent
incidents in the town in the past few days, adding that the
international
community would not allow extremists to win in Kosovo and that crime or
a new
war in the province would not be tolerated.
The UN mission chief accused Albanian extremists of last week's attack
on a
UNHCR bus in which two civilians were killed, adding that it was the
first
time in the work of the UN and the UNHCR that a vehicle or a civilian
bus had
been attacked. He also claimed that Serb extremists were blocking Kosovo
Serbs from taking part in the work of the Temporary Administrative
Council.
NATO manoeuvres in Kosovo "crude display of force" (B92 7/2/00)
BELGRADE, Monday - The NATO and KFOR military manoeuvres planned for
Kosovo
next month are a crude display of force and a renewed threat to
Yugoslavia,
Deputy Federal Foreign Minister Nebojsa Vujovic said today. Vujovic told
a
press conference that the exercises would violate international
agreements on
Kosovo. He also criticised a planned census of the province, saying that
the
basic conditions for such a census did not exist while ethnic cleansing
was
in progress and it was still not possible for displaced Serbs to return.
UNMIK AND KFOR UNABLE TO PROTECT THE SERBS
KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, February. 4 (Tanjug) - The head of the Kosovska
Mitrovica district, Zdravko Trajkovic, on Friday strongly protested with
the administrator of the U.N. Civilian Mission in Kosovo and Metohija
(UNMIK) for Kosovska Mitrovica, Mark Marconni, over the latest terrorist
actions by the ethnic Albanians who fired an anti-tank grenade on a bus
near this town and threw hand grenades on a cafe in the predominantly
Serb
northern part of the city.
"These terrorist acts by the ethnic Albanian terrorists and gangs are
the
result of the irresponsible and unprofessional conduct of UNMIK and KFOR
who failed to protect the Serbs, Montenegrins and other non-Albanians
from
the insane activities of the ethnic Albanian terrorists," Trajkovic set
out.
"During your eight-month presence in Kosovo and Metohija, you neither
want, can nor know how to adequately protect the Serbs and Montenegrins
in
this district. I fear, and this has been confirmed a number of times at
the
expense of the Serbs and Montenegrins, that in the future you will also
refuse to carry out the corresponding measures to prevent all terrorist
acts aimed against the citizens," Trajkovic warned.
It is high time for you to understand that you too should take
responsibility for the dangerous ventures of the ethnic Albanian
terrorists
and gangs due to your passive conduct regarding the crimes against
peaceful
citizens in keeping with all international conventions," Trajkovic
stated.
UNMIK, KFOR CLAMP CURFEW ON DIVIDED KOSOVSKA MITROVICA
KOSOVSKA MITROVICA February 4 (Tanjug) - A U.N. civilian mission (UNMIK)
spokesman said on Friday that overnight unrest and violence in both
sectors
of divided Kosovska Mitrovica had necessitated the imposition of a
curfew.
According to Beatrice Lacoste, UNMIK and the international KFor force
have
been forced to restrict movement in both Serb and ethnic Albanian parts
of
this town in the U.N.-administered Serbian (Yugoslav) province of Kosovo
and Metohija between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Rioting broke out after two ethnic Turks and two ethnic Albanians were
murdered, and a cafe was bombed and sprayed with submachine gun bullets,
gravely injuring 15 Serbs and six ethnic Albanians.
The curfew is another proof that the U.N. administration, headed by
Bernard Kouchner, and KFor are incapable of establishing the rule of law
in
Kosovo and Metohija and providing security for all ethnic communities.
Lacoste condemned the terrorist attack in the course of which a grenade
was lobbed into a Serb cafe on Thursday night.
She said that Serbs working for UNMIK were targeted by ethnic Albanian
terrorists also in the south, ethnic Albanian part of the town.
For their safety, UNMIK transferred 31 Serbs into the north,
predominantly
Serb-populated part of Kosovska Mitrovica during the night. Anger that
boiled over after the bombing of the cafe Belami found vent in the
smashing
of shop windows, and sacking of offices and cars belonging to
international
organisations, primarily UNMIK.
By dawn, there were nearly two thousand people in the streets,
protesting
chiefly against the inability of UNMIK and KFor to prevent ethnic
Albanian
violence against Serbs.
CLASH BETWEEN FRENCH TROOPS AND ALBANIANS ON BRIDGE
KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, February 5 (Tanjug) - Several hundred ethnic
Albanians
who gathered on Saturday around 14.00 at the southern end of the bridge
on
the river Ibar in Kosovska Mitrovica are being dispersed by French KFOR
members with shock-bombs.
The clash between the French, who in less than an hour threw over 50
shock-bombs and tear gas, and the Albanians who threw bottles and rocks,
is
still going on.
The Albanians are trying to cross the bridge, in what they are prevented
by the French, who have scores of wounded.
On the bridge near the railway station arrived on Saturday also German
members of KFOR, as a reinforcement to their colleagues in case ethnic
Albanians attempt to cross into the northern part of town, inhabited
mostly
by Serbs.
Explosions of shock-bombs are still heard and smoke and the smell of
tear
gas is blown by the wind into the northern part of Mitrovica.
SERB BEATEN UP
GNJILANE, February 5 (Tanjug) - In Gnjilane on Thursday around 14.30
hours
was seriously wounded a Serb, Ljubomir Antic (66), Gnjilane
church-national
council said.
In the vicinity of the house where he lives with his wife, Antic was hit
in the back of his head and knocked unconscious.
He regained conscience, after more than one hour, with the help of
troops
of the international forces in Kosovo and Metohija (KFOR), who found him
lying in the street and bleeding.
Antic, who is suffering from loss of balance, and has swellings on his
right eye, nose and head, has been taken to a hospital in Vranje, south
Serbia, for treatment.
Antic who was beaten up did not see his attackers who struck him from
the
back and left him in the street, because they probably though he would
succumb to the blows.
REPEATED BOMB ATTACK ON COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION BUILDING
OBILIC, February 5 (Tanjug) - Albanian terrorists attacked on Thursday
evening around 20.15 hours, for the second time, with a hand grenade the
building of the committee for the protection of human rights in the
center
of Obilic, and set fire to the house of Rade Gajic, the committee said,
radio amateurs from Kosovo and Metohija reported.
None was hurt, but the damages are considerable.
Daily attacks on Serbs in Obilic have not ceased, the committee warned,
pointing out that it was becoming increasingly clear that Albanian
terrorists, by planned actions and in cooperation with the local command
of
the international forces in Kosovo and Metohija (KFOR), were slowly
achieving their planned goal of expelling Serbs from the homes of their
ancestors.
SERB MURDERED IN GNJILANE
GNJILANE, February 4 (Tanjug) - A Serb was murdered in Gnjilane in the
U.N.-administered Serbian (Yugoslav) province of Kosovo and Metohija on
Friday, according to amateur radio operators' reports, quoting the
town's
Serbian Church Council.
A masked murderer rang the bell of the home of the Serb, Branislav
Zivic,
aged 63, at 2:25 p.m., and when Zivic opened the door, pumped four
pistol
bullets into him.
Zivic's wife Marica was in the kitchen at the time.
The Zivics are the last Serb family remaining in their street.
A spokesman for the U.N. civilian mission (UNMIK) police said it
was very hard to trace the murderer, especially in view of the fact
that
the ethnic Albanian neighbours who saw the murder committed were loath
to
cooperate with the police.
ALBANIAN TERRORISTS WOUND SERB WOMEN IN HOSPITAL
PRIZREN, February 5 (Tanjug) - Albanian terrorists on Friday attacked
with
hand grenades one of the hospital buildings in Prizren and wounded
several
Serb women, one of them seriously.
Tanjug has learnt that ethnic Albanian terrorists had obtained
information
that also receiving treatment in one of the hospital buildings were four
Serb women.
Albanian medical personnel only one day earlier did not allow those
patients to be admitted to hospital.
International forces in Kosovo and Metohija (KFOR) in Prizren did not
react at all to the terrorist attack, although in it was also wounded a
German member of KFOR.
---
TRAFFIC IN WOMEN, CHILDREN SINCE ARRIVAL OF KFOR
LONDON, February 5 (Tanjug) - In Kosovo and Metohija since the arrival
of
the international forces (KFOR) in the Serbian province has been
developed
a wide network of prostitution and traffic in women, the London Times
warned Saturday.
The London newspaper pointed out that prostitution and traffic in women
started only after the arrival of KFOR and of the U.N. Civilian Mission
(UNMIK) in Kosovo and Metohija.
According to the Times, the network of prostitution and traffic in women
in Kosovo and Metohija is controled by organized crime, mostly
Albanians,
and the business is developed in several phases.
Local girls are persuaded to work for them, but girls are also brought
from Eastern Europe.
They first go though brothels in Kosovo and Metohija whose main clients
are members of KFOR and other international organizations.
After that the women are transferred through Albania to Western European
countries where they are sold to criminals.
The price of one girl is between three and four and a half thousand D
marks.
The London newspaper has learnt that kidnapping are an increasingly
frequent method of the Albanian mafia in Kosovo-Metohija.
Victims of kidnapping are also children, the Times warned, who are later
sold by Albanian criminals for adoption somewhere in Europe or even for
human organ transplants.
International humanitarian organizations, whose representatives are
present in Kosovo and Metohija, claim that the number of kidnapped women
and children is so high that they do not succeed to help them, while at
the
same time they receive serious threats from the Albanian mafia, the
London
daily said.
-
The Times of London
February 5 2000
EUROPE
Sex slave trade thrives among Kosovo troops
FROM JAMES PRINGLE IN PRISTINA
THE presence of Nato-led troops in Kosovo is supporting a new and
sinister white slave trade trade, in which women from impoverished parts
of Eastern Europe are being bought and sold into prostitution.
The women, some as young as 16, are held captive by gangsters, often
Albanian, and sell sexual favours to troops and businessmen in the seedy
nightclubs springing up around Kosovo.
Others smuggled into the region from Moldova, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania
and beyond are moved further on, into Albania, across the Adriatic into
Italy and from there to brothels in Western Europe, all the time under
the "ownership" of organised crime. Even children are following similar
routes, sold for adoption or, some say, for body parts.
International agencies trying to combat the trade say that it is
expanding rapidly, despite efforts to rescue women from the clutches of
the loosely organised, mafia-style gangs. They say the numbers are
becoming too great for agencies to manage.
Kosovo was not, in the past, a destination for the East European sex
trade, which began with the collapse of communism in 1991, but the lure
of a 45,000-strong army and a large international component has proved
an irresistible draw and bars and nightclubs are springing up across the
province in places such as Gnjilane and Urosevac.
One at Slatina, just outside Pristina and near the HQ of Russian forces,
is the Nightclub International, from which Italian Carabinieri rescued
12 young women last week. Their duties involved dispensing sexual
favours, at about £30 for half an hour, to Russian and American Kfor
troops and other foreign clients.
"These girls who were rescued are terrified and don't understand what
has happened to them," Pasquale Lupoli, chief of mission of the
International Organisation of Migration (IOM) in Pristina, said. "But
they are now in a protected area where security is guaranteed."
The IOM, a little-known Geneva-based governmental agency, was originally
set up to provide travel documents and an assistant network to migrants;
instead, it is engaged increasingly in trying to help the thousands of
girls who are now prisoners in the European sex trade.
Signor Lupoli said that the number of such girls was rising so quickly
that the agency was finding it very difficult to cope. The IOM had also
had difficulties locating a non-government organisation (NGO) to agree
to take care of them. One problem is that the girls are not refugees so
do not come under, say, the UNHCR.
There was, Signor Lupoli said, also some danger. Albanian gangsters are
searching for their "property" and IOM staff have received threats. In
Kosovo, British troops are subject to a strict "no walking out" policy,
but other nationalities' forces, such as the Russians, Americans and
Italians, are less closely monitored. "None of our soldiers goes into
these bars unless on an official mission," one British officer said. "If
they did, they would find themselves on a military charge."
Of the dozen women rescued by the Carabinieri in Slatina, one had been
raped at 14 and all had been maltreated. Like hundreds of similar
victims, they had been sold several times as they were spirited across
Balkan borders from owner to owner.
Greece, too, is a destination for the sex traders. Mirela Stan, 24, of
Romania, and Hitara Antilsova, 29, from Ukraine, were found dead from
the cold on a mountainside near the Greek-Bulgarian border in January.
They perished in an effort to reach their "promised land", a Greek
nightclub.
In Kosovo, the streets were empty recently after dark after a panic that
teenage girls were being kidnapped by the Albanian mafia to be sold into
prostitution. Indeed, some have disappeared.
These days, a young East European woman costs from £1,000 to £1,400
to buy. She first has to pay back her cost, then ostensibly she gets
half of what she makes from prostitution, while the boss retains 50 per
cent. Additionally, the girl has then to pay 10 per cent of her earnings
for board. "Often she ends up with very little or nothing," an IOM
official said. If she is lucky.
---
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA
FEDERAL MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
YUGOSLAV DAILY SURVEY
BELGRADE, 4 February 2000 No. 2876
S P E C I A L I S S U E
CRIMES OF ALBANIAN TERRORISTS AGAINST NON-ALBANIAN
POPULATION IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA
(January 21 - 31, 2000.)
21 January 2000
UROSEVAC - Albanian terrorists in the village of Miras, municipality of
Urosevac, looted, set on fire and destroyed the houses and other
property
of the following Serb families: Miroslava Cicic, Dusan and Vladimir
Dangubic, Mladen and Vukasin Vrtikapa, Sava and Danilo Lugonja, Dosta
and
Djurdje Vitkovic.
The KFOR members present in the village did not intervene.
23 January 2000
K. KAMENICA - In the village of Koretin, municipality of Kosovska
Kamenica, Albanian terrorists stoned the column of Serb vehicles, under
the
protection of Russian KFOR. A vehicle belonging to Negovan Filipovic and
a
bus, operating on Vranje-Kosovska Kamenica line, were stoned.
- Near the village of Bratilovce, municipality of Kosovska Kamenica,
Albanian terrorists disassembled and looted the equipment of a TV
transmitter of the RTV Serbia.
GNJILANE - Albanian terrorists beat and seriously injured, threatening
to
kill him, Vlasta Serafimovic, if he did not immediately leave the family
house and move out of Gnjilane.
UROSEVAC - In the village of Tankosic, municipality of Urosevac,
Albanian
terrorist gangs looted and burned the houses and property of Serb
families:
Jordan Markovic, Dragan Milenkovic, Zivojin and Aleksandar Stojiljkovic,
Slavko and Borivoje Markovic, Zarko Novokmet, Todor Stamenkovic, Slavka
Stankovic, Ljubisa Dimitrijevic, Dusan Velickovic, Vojislav Andjelkovic,
Stanisa Jovic and Dragan Krstic.
The KFOR members, present in the village did not intervene.
VUCITRN- in the village of Banjska, municipality of Vucitrn, Albanian
terrorists planted explosive on a church, damaging and destroying a
large
part of the building in two powerful blasts - entrance area, side wall,
dome and the interior.
24 January 2000
K. MITROVICA - In Kneza Milosa street, in Kosovska Mitrovica, Albanian
terrorists beat and seriously injured with wooden clubs Miomir Antovic
from
the village of Rudare - municipality of Zvecan.
MEDVEDJA - In the village of Svirce, municipality of Urosevac, Albanian
terrorists looted, destroyed and set on fire the property of Serb
families:
Djordje and Mile Simic, Ljubisav Stamenkovic, Zdravko Andjelkovic,
Ljubinka
Mihajlovic, Srba Spasic, Milos and Guta Mitic and Jagoda Petkovic.
ORAHOVAC - On 17 July 1999, Albanian terrorists abducted Djordje
Baljosevic and Dusko Dolasevic, police officers from the fire brigade in
Velika Hoca, who were returning from an official assignment in factory
"Termovent" near Orahovac.
PRISTINA - On 2 August 1999, Albanian terrorists abducted Rade Budimir
in
the front of the building in 14 Kragujevacka street, Pristina.
25 January 2000
GNJILANE - Albanian terrorists threw an explosive device on a food store
owned by Dragan Jovcic, in Laze Stefanovica street. At the time of the
attack, there were 10 Serbs and an Albanian in the store. No one was
hurt.
Substantial material damage was caused.
In another part of Gnjilane, another bomb exploded. It was thrown on a
house of Cemal Saciri, a Turk. The explosion damaged a shop window of a
store belonging to Vojislav Topalovic.
26 January 2000
PRISTINA - Nenad Stamenkovic, from Miljevac village, municipality of
Pristina, residing in Nis, 4 Teslina Street, reported that this brother
Zarko Stamenkovic from Miljevac village, municipality of Pristina (born
12
June 1960) by Albanian terrorists on 22 June 1999, on the road between
Pristina and village of Devet Jugovica.
BUJANOVAC - In the village of Dobrosin, municipality of Bujanovac,
Albanian terrorists attacked by machine-guns, snipers and other
automatic
weapons a police patrol on a regular assignment. Zarko Guberinic, a
police
officer of the Ministry of the Interior (born 22 June 1969 in Djakovica)
sustained light injuries.
- By the main Gnjilane-Bujanovac road, near Silovo village, Albanian
terrorists looted and set on fire the house and "Breza" restaurant on
the
ground floor, owned by Dragan Djokic. The cafe was consumed by fire.
28 January 2000
PODUJEVO - In the village of Glavnik, municipality of Podujevo, Albanian
terrorists stoned a bus of "Nis ekspres", breaking two big side glasses
and
damaging the exterior.
30 January 2000
GNJILANE - The remains of Danilo Djordjevic (51) from Vlasko selo
Nikolicevo near Zajecar, was found on 19 January on the road for Surlane
village, 15 km south of Gnjilane. According to the findings of US
forensic
experts, the cause of the death was a blow to the head. On his hands and
neck there are traces indicating that he was tied by rope, that he was
killed in a cruel way and tortured.
Many accounts confirm that the perpetrators of this crime are Albanians
from an ethnically pure village of Surlane, full of extremists, who
tried
to portray Djordjevic as a Serb terrorist on an assignment.
By his tortured body, a bag full of plastic explosive were found, which
according to the UNMIK representatives should serve as false evidence
that
this alleged Serb terrorist had an intention to blow up and totally
destroy
this Albanian village. UNMIK immediately discounted this possibility
since
the man was only 160 cm tall, weighing 58 kg. He was not a Serb, but a
Vlach from Romania. At the age of 51 he can hardly be a Serb terrorist.
31 January 2000
PRIZREN - Hasim Cuse (60), an uncle of a member of the Temporary
Executive
Council of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija, Sokol Cuse,
who
was reported missing on 18 January, was found dead yesterday in the
place
Dulje, near Suva Reka, in the vicinity of Prizren.
He was shot three times in the head.
Hasim Cuse was last seen in the town on 18 January and he has not been
seen since.
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
*** notizie aggiornate su quanto avviene quotidianamente in Kosmet le
trovate ogni giorno SOLAMENTE sulle pagine di SERBIA INFO:
in English: http://www.serbia-info.com/news/index.html
na srpskohrvatskom: http://www.srbija-info.yu
*** LIVING MARXISM e' la rivista inglese che sta facendo da anni un
eccezionale lavoro di controinformazione sulle questioni jugoslave;
sulla situazione in Kosovo-Metohija si veda ad esempio
http://www.informinc.co.uk/LM/documentary/kosovo/docu_frame.html
QUIZ: cosa sai sul Kosmet?
http://www.informinc.co.uk/LM/documentary/kosovo/quiz_frameset.html
PER LA SERIE: "LE PRODEZZE DELL'UCKFOR" abbiamo scelto oggi:
* Attaccato ancora un autobus, per un pelo evitata un'altra strage
(Tanjug 9/2)
* Gravemente ferito un serbo ad Obilic (Tanjug 10/2)
* A Gnjilane lanciata una granata in un negozio (Tanjug 10/2)
* Ancora proteste a Mitrovica (B92 7/2)
* In marzo nuove esercitazioni NATO in grande stile (B92 7/2)
* A Mitrovica grave preoccupazione nel ghetto serbo (Tanjug 4-5/2)
* Scontri tra albanesi-kosovari e francesi a Mitrovica (Tanjug 5/2)
* Pesante aggressione contro un serbo a Gnjilane (Tanjug 5/2)
* Attacchi a ripetizione contro le sedi di organizzazioni umanitarie ad
Obilic (Tanjug 5/2)
* Serbo assassinato a Gnjilane (Tanjug 4/2)
* Attaccato a Prizren un reparto ospedaliero dove sono ricoverate donne
serbe: vari feriti, tra cui un militare tedesco, ma come al solito la
KFOR non interviene (Tanjug 5/2)
* SPECIALE: grazie all'UCKFOR fiorisce in Kosmet il commercio... di
ragazze e minorenni da avviare alla prostituzione nei paesi ricchi
(Tanjug - The Times of London)
* RIEPILOGO delle azioni contro la popolazione non schipetara in Kosmet
nei soli ultimi dieci giorni di gennaio (Ministero degli Esteri RFJ)
---
ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISTS ATTACKED A BUS TRANSPORTING SERBS
LIPLJAN, February 9 (Tanjug) - Ethnic Albanian terrorists shelled a bus
carrying Serbs in the U.N.-ruled Serbian (Yugoslav) province of Kosovo
and Metohija on Wednesday, but missed the target, according to reports
by local amateur radio operators.
The attack took place at around 3:40 p.m. some 3 km south of Lipljan and
barely 500 metres from an international KFOR force checkpoint at the
village of Staro Gacko, the sources said.
Last summer, 14 Serbs were murdered while working in a field in Staro
Gacko.
Wednesday's shell, fired by three ethnic Albanians who had jumped out of
a
red Volkswagen Golf car, exploded just metres from the bus, the radio
operators said.
The Finnish KFOR troops manning the checkpoint witnessed the incident,
but
took no steps against the three attackers, who escaped from the scene.
The troops' statements that they were not authorised to shoot or leave
the
checkpoint and pursue the attackers have caused a storm of protests from
the Serbs, who gathered demanding that KFOR soldiers should leave the
checkpoint, if they can provide no protection.
Last Wednesday, two Serb civilians were killed in the shelling of a bus
of
the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at Kosovska Mitrovica.
ETHNIC ALBANIANS ATTACKED AND GRAVELY INJURE A SERB
OBILIC, February 10 (Tanjug) - Ethnic Albanian terrorists attacked and
gravely injured a Serb in the U.N.-administered Serbian province of
Kosovo
and Metohija on Wednesday, according to reports.
The Serb, Vladimir Subotic of Obilic, near the provincial chief city of
Pristina, was attacked by seven ethnic Albanians, amateur radio
operators
said.
Subotic has been taken for treatment to the Russian battalion hospital
in
Kosovo Polje.
Earlier on Wednesday, a hand grenade was lobbed into the home of a Serb,
but failed to go off.
The international KFOR force and the U.N. civilian mission (UNMIK)
received protest letters from the Obilic-based Protection and Human
Rights
Committee over the recent demolition of the local monument to Serbian
XIVth
century hero Milos Obilic.
ETHNIC ALBANIANS LOBBED A HAND GRENADE INTO A SERB STORE
GNJILANE, February 10 (Tanjug) - Several powerful blasts on Tuesday
shook
Gnjilane in the southeast of the U.N.-administered Serbian province of
Kosovo and Metohija, the Protection and Human Rights Committee in
Gnjilane
said on Thursday.
Ethnic Albanian terrorists lobbed a hand grenade through the window of a
store where local Serbs congregate, but the grenade did not go off, and
was
disposed of by U.N. mission (UNMIK) police in a controlled explosion at
a
safe distance.
Although the same store had already been targeted twice, the
international
KFOR force has shown no disposition to set up a checkpoint in the area.
Several people were hurt by broken glass in the subsequent melee after
the
grenade was thrown in.
Half an hour later, another powerful explosion reverberated in the town,
in the vicinity of two residential buildings housing Serbs.
Shortly afterwards, KFOR discovered a cache with 14 grenades in the
residential-cum-office building of the former insurance company in
downtown
Gnjilane and arrested two ethnic Albanian minors.
According to the Gnjilane Serbian Church Council, ethnic Albanian
criminals ravaged the windows of two Serb bars in the town during the
night
between Wednesday and Thursday, while three days ago, masked attackers
badly beat up a Romany in his home.
Serbs protest in Kosovska Mitrovica (B92 7/2/00)
PRISTINA, Monday - About three thousand Serbs protested in Kosovska
Mitrovica
today following days of violent conflict in the town. Local Serb leader
Oliver Ivanovic spoke to the crowd, calling on them to voluntarily
organise
protection of people and property in the northern part of the divided
town.
Ivanovic also said that despite talk of a multiethnic community, there
had
been too many gruesome crimes for Serbs and Albanians continue living
together. Ivanovic told B292 last night that he had spoken UN civilian
mission head Bernard Kouchner and that a co-ordinated strategy for
stabilising the situation in the town had been agreed
Kouchner said today that he had been shocked by the series of violent
incidents in the town in the past few days, adding that the
international
community would not allow extremists to win in Kosovo and that crime or
a new
war in the province would not be tolerated.
The UN mission chief accused Albanian extremists of last week's attack
on a
UNHCR bus in which two civilians were killed, adding that it was the
first
time in the work of the UN and the UNHCR that a vehicle or a civilian
bus had
been attacked. He also claimed that Serb extremists were blocking Kosovo
Serbs from taking part in the work of the Temporary Administrative
Council.
NATO manoeuvres in Kosovo "crude display of force" (B92 7/2/00)
BELGRADE, Monday - The NATO and KFOR military manoeuvres planned for
Kosovo
next month are a crude display of force and a renewed threat to
Yugoslavia,
Deputy Federal Foreign Minister Nebojsa Vujovic said today. Vujovic told
a
press conference that the exercises would violate international
agreements on
Kosovo. He also criticised a planned census of the province, saying that
the
basic conditions for such a census did not exist while ethnic cleansing
was
in progress and it was still not possible for displaced Serbs to return.
UNMIK AND KFOR UNABLE TO PROTECT THE SERBS
KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, February. 4 (Tanjug) - The head of the Kosovska
Mitrovica district, Zdravko Trajkovic, on Friday strongly protested with
the administrator of the U.N. Civilian Mission in Kosovo and Metohija
(UNMIK) for Kosovska Mitrovica, Mark Marconni, over the latest terrorist
actions by the ethnic Albanians who fired an anti-tank grenade on a bus
near this town and threw hand grenades on a cafe in the predominantly
Serb
northern part of the city.
"These terrorist acts by the ethnic Albanian terrorists and gangs are
the
result of the irresponsible and unprofessional conduct of UNMIK and KFOR
who failed to protect the Serbs, Montenegrins and other non-Albanians
from
the insane activities of the ethnic Albanian terrorists," Trajkovic set
out.
"During your eight-month presence in Kosovo and Metohija, you neither
want, can nor know how to adequately protect the Serbs and Montenegrins
in
this district. I fear, and this has been confirmed a number of times at
the
expense of the Serbs and Montenegrins, that in the future you will also
refuse to carry out the corresponding measures to prevent all terrorist
acts aimed against the citizens," Trajkovic warned.
It is high time for you to understand that you too should take
responsibility for the dangerous ventures of the ethnic Albanian
terrorists
and gangs due to your passive conduct regarding the crimes against
peaceful
citizens in keeping with all international conventions," Trajkovic
stated.
UNMIK, KFOR CLAMP CURFEW ON DIVIDED KOSOVSKA MITROVICA
KOSOVSKA MITROVICA February 4 (Tanjug) - A U.N. civilian mission (UNMIK)
spokesman said on Friday that overnight unrest and violence in both
sectors
of divided Kosovska Mitrovica had necessitated the imposition of a
curfew.
According to Beatrice Lacoste, UNMIK and the international KFor force
have
been forced to restrict movement in both Serb and ethnic Albanian parts
of
this town in the U.N.-administered Serbian (Yugoslav) province of Kosovo
and Metohija between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Rioting broke out after two ethnic Turks and two ethnic Albanians were
murdered, and a cafe was bombed and sprayed with submachine gun bullets,
gravely injuring 15 Serbs and six ethnic Albanians.
The curfew is another proof that the U.N. administration, headed by
Bernard Kouchner, and KFor are incapable of establishing the rule of law
in
Kosovo and Metohija and providing security for all ethnic communities.
Lacoste condemned the terrorist attack in the course of which a grenade
was lobbed into a Serb cafe on Thursday night.
She said that Serbs working for UNMIK were targeted by ethnic Albanian
terrorists also in the south, ethnic Albanian part of the town.
For their safety, UNMIK transferred 31 Serbs into the north,
predominantly
Serb-populated part of Kosovska Mitrovica during the night. Anger that
boiled over after the bombing of the cafe Belami found vent in the
smashing
of shop windows, and sacking of offices and cars belonging to
international
organisations, primarily UNMIK.
By dawn, there were nearly two thousand people in the streets,
protesting
chiefly against the inability of UNMIK and KFor to prevent ethnic
Albanian
violence against Serbs.
CLASH BETWEEN FRENCH TROOPS AND ALBANIANS ON BRIDGE
KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, February 5 (Tanjug) - Several hundred ethnic
Albanians
who gathered on Saturday around 14.00 at the southern end of the bridge
on
the river Ibar in Kosovska Mitrovica are being dispersed by French KFOR
members with shock-bombs.
The clash between the French, who in less than an hour threw over 50
shock-bombs and tear gas, and the Albanians who threw bottles and rocks,
is
still going on.
The Albanians are trying to cross the bridge, in what they are prevented
by the French, who have scores of wounded.
On the bridge near the railway station arrived on Saturday also German
members of KFOR, as a reinforcement to their colleagues in case ethnic
Albanians attempt to cross into the northern part of town, inhabited
mostly
by Serbs.
Explosions of shock-bombs are still heard and smoke and the smell of
tear
gas is blown by the wind into the northern part of Mitrovica.
SERB BEATEN UP
GNJILANE, February 5 (Tanjug) - In Gnjilane on Thursday around 14.30
hours
was seriously wounded a Serb, Ljubomir Antic (66), Gnjilane
church-national
council said.
In the vicinity of the house where he lives with his wife, Antic was hit
in the back of his head and knocked unconscious.
He regained conscience, after more than one hour, with the help of
troops
of the international forces in Kosovo and Metohija (KFOR), who found him
lying in the street and bleeding.
Antic, who is suffering from loss of balance, and has swellings on his
right eye, nose and head, has been taken to a hospital in Vranje, south
Serbia, for treatment.
Antic who was beaten up did not see his attackers who struck him from
the
back and left him in the street, because they probably though he would
succumb to the blows.
REPEATED BOMB ATTACK ON COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION BUILDING
OBILIC, February 5 (Tanjug) - Albanian terrorists attacked on Thursday
evening around 20.15 hours, for the second time, with a hand grenade the
building of the committee for the protection of human rights in the
center
of Obilic, and set fire to the house of Rade Gajic, the committee said,
radio amateurs from Kosovo and Metohija reported.
None was hurt, but the damages are considerable.
Daily attacks on Serbs in Obilic have not ceased, the committee warned,
pointing out that it was becoming increasingly clear that Albanian
terrorists, by planned actions and in cooperation with the local command
of
the international forces in Kosovo and Metohija (KFOR), were slowly
achieving their planned goal of expelling Serbs from the homes of their
ancestors.
SERB MURDERED IN GNJILANE
GNJILANE, February 4 (Tanjug) - A Serb was murdered in Gnjilane in the
U.N.-administered Serbian (Yugoslav) province of Kosovo and Metohija on
Friday, according to amateur radio operators' reports, quoting the
town's
Serbian Church Council.
A masked murderer rang the bell of the home of the Serb, Branislav
Zivic,
aged 63, at 2:25 p.m., and when Zivic opened the door, pumped four
pistol
bullets into him.
Zivic's wife Marica was in the kitchen at the time.
The Zivics are the last Serb family remaining in their street.
A spokesman for the U.N. civilian mission (UNMIK) police said it
was very hard to trace the murderer, especially in view of the fact
that
the ethnic Albanian neighbours who saw the murder committed were loath
to
cooperate with the police.
ALBANIAN TERRORISTS WOUND SERB WOMEN IN HOSPITAL
PRIZREN, February 5 (Tanjug) - Albanian terrorists on Friday attacked
with
hand grenades one of the hospital buildings in Prizren and wounded
several
Serb women, one of them seriously.
Tanjug has learnt that ethnic Albanian terrorists had obtained
information
that also receiving treatment in one of the hospital buildings were four
Serb women.
Albanian medical personnel only one day earlier did not allow those
patients to be admitted to hospital.
International forces in Kosovo and Metohija (KFOR) in Prizren did not
react at all to the terrorist attack, although in it was also wounded a
German member of KFOR.
---
TRAFFIC IN WOMEN, CHILDREN SINCE ARRIVAL OF KFOR
LONDON, February 5 (Tanjug) - In Kosovo and Metohija since the arrival
of
the international forces (KFOR) in the Serbian province has been
developed
a wide network of prostitution and traffic in women, the London Times
warned Saturday.
The London newspaper pointed out that prostitution and traffic in women
started only after the arrival of KFOR and of the U.N. Civilian Mission
(UNMIK) in Kosovo and Metohija.
According to the Times, the network of prostitution and traffic in women
in Kosovo and Metohija is controled by organized crime, mostly
Albanians,
and the business is developed in several phases.
Local girls are persuaded to work for them, but girls are also brought
from Eastern Europe.
They first go though brothels in Kosovo and Metohija whose main clients
are members of KFOR and other international organizations.
After that the women are transferred through Albania to Western European
countries where they are sold to criminals.
The price of one girl is between three and four and a half thousand D
marks.
The London newspaper has learnt that kidnapping are an increasingly
frequent method of the Albanian mafia in Kosovo-Metohija.
Victims of kidnapping are also children, the Times warned, who are later
sold by Albanian criminals for adoption somewhere in Europe or even for
human organ transplants.
International humanitarian organizations, whose representatives are
present in Kosovo and Metohija, claim that the number of kidnapped women
and children is so high that they do not succeed to help them, while at
the
same time they receive serious threats from the Albanian mafia, the
London
daily said.
-
The Times of London
February 5 2000
EUROPE
Sex slave trade thrives among Kosovo troops
FROM JAMES PRINGLE IN PRISTINA
THE presence of Nato-led troops in Kosovo is supporting a new and
sinister white slave trade trade, in which women from impoverished parts
of Eastern Europe are being bought and sold into prostitution.
The women, some as young as 16, are held captive by gangsters, often
Albanian, and sell sexual favours to troops and businessmen in the seedy
nightclubs springing up around Kosovo.
Others smuggled into the region from Moldova, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania
and beyond are moved further on, into Albania, across the Adriatic into
Italy and from there to brothels in Western Europe, all the time under
the "ownership" of organised crime. Even children are following similar
routes, sold for adoption or, some say, for body parts.
International agencies trying to combat the trade say that it is
expanding rapidly, despite efforts to rescue women from the clutches of
the loosely organised, mafia-style gangs. They say the numbers are
becoming too great for agencies to manage.
Kosovo was not, in the past, a destination for the East European sex
trade, which began with the collapse of communism in 1991, but the lure
of a 45,000-strong army and a large international component has proved
an irresistible draw and bars and nightclubs are springing up across the
province in places such as Gnjilane and Urosevac.
One at Slatina, just outside Pristina and near the HQ of Russian forces,
is the Nightclub International, from which Italian Carabinieri rescued
12 young women last week. Their duties involved dispensing sexual
favours, at about £30 for half an hour, to Russian and American Kfor
troops and other foreign clients.
"These girls who were rescued are terrified and don't understand what
has happened to them," Pasquale Lupoli, chief of mission of the
International Organisation of Migration (IOM) in Pristina, said. "But
they are now in a protected area where security is guaranteed."
The IOM, a little-known Geneva-based governmental agency, was originally
set up to provide travel documents and an assistant network to migrants;
instead, it is engaged increasingly in trying to help the thousands of
girls who are now prisoners in the European sex trade.
Signor Lupoli said that the number of such girls was rising so quickly
that the agency was finding it very difficult to cope. The IOM had also
had difficulties locating a non-government organisation (NGO) to agree
to take care of them. One problem is that the girls are not refugees so
do not come under, say, the UNHCR.
There was, Signor Lupoli said, also some danger. Albanian gangsters are
searching for their "property" and IOM staff have received threats. In
Kosovo, British troops are subject to a strict "no walking out" policy,
but other nationalities' forces, such as the Russians, Americans and
Italians, are less closely monitored. "None of our soldiers goes into
these bars unless on an official mission," one British officer said. "If
they did, they would find themselves on a military charge."
Of the dozen women rescued by the Carabinieri in Slatina, one had been
raped at 14 and all had been maltreated. Like hundreds of similar
victims, they had been sold several times as they were spirited across
Balkan borders from owner to owner.
Greece, too, is a destination for the sex traders. Mirela Stan, 24, of
Romania, and Hitara Antilsova, 29, from Ukraine, were found dead from
the cold on a mountainside near the Greek-Bulgarian border in January.
They perished in an effort to reach their "promised land", a Greek
nightclub.
In Kosovo, the streets were empty recently after dark after a panic that
teenage girls were being kidnapped by the Albanian mafia to be sold into
prostitution. Indeed, some have disappeared.
These days, a young East European woman costs from £1,000 to £1,400
to buy. She first has to pay back her cost, then ostensibly she gets
half of what she makes from prostitution, while the boss retains 50 per
cent. Additionally, the girl has then to pay 10 per cent of her earnings
for board. "Often she ends up with very little or nothing," an IOM
official said. If she is lucky.
---
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA
FEDERAL MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
YUGOSLAV DAILY SURVEY
BELGRADE, 4 February 2000 No. 2876
S P E C I A L I S S U E
CRIMES OF ALBANIAN TERRORISTS AGAINST NON-ALBANIAN
POPULATION IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA
(January 21 - 31, 2000.)
21 January 2000
UROSEVAC - Albanian terrorists in the village of Miras, municipality of
Urosevac, looted, set on fire and destroyed the houses and other
property
of the following Serb families: Miroslava Cicic, Dusan and Vladimir
Dangubic, Mladen and Vukasin Vrtikapa, Sava and Danilo Lugonja, Dosta
and
Djurdje Vitkovic.
The KFOR members present in the village did not intervene.
23 January 2000
K. KAMENICA - In the village of Koretin, municipality of Kosovska
Kamenica, Albanian terrorists stoned the column of Serb vehicles, under
the
protection of Russian KFOR. A vehicle belonging to Negovan Filipovic and
a
bus, operating on Vranje-Kosovska Kamenica line, were stoned.
- Near the village of Bratilovce, municipality of Kosovska Kamenica,
Albanian terrorists disassembled and looted the equipment of a TV
transmitter of the RTV Serbia.
GNJILANE - Albanian terrorists beat and seriously injured, threatening
to
kill him, Vlasta Serafimovic, if he did not immediately leave the family
house and move out of Gnjilane.
UROSEVAC - In the village of Tankosic, municipality of Urosevac,
Albanian
terrorist gangs looted and burned the houses and property of Serb
families:
Jordan Markovic, Dragan Milenkovic, Zivojin and Aleksandar Stojiljkovic,
Slavko and Borivoje Markovic, Zarko Novokmet, Todor Stamenkovic, Slavka
Stankovic, Ljubisa Dimitrijevic, Dusan Velickovic, Vojislav Andjelkovic,
Stanisa Jovic and Dragan Krstic.
The KFOR members, present in the village did not intervene.
VUCITRN- in the village of Banjska, municipality of Vucitrn, Albanian
terrorists planted explosive on a church, damaging and destroying a
large
part of the building in two powerful blasts - entrance area, side wall,
dome and the interior.
24 January 2000
K. MITROVICA - In Kneza Milosa street, in Kosovska Mitrovica, Albanian
terrorists beat and seriously injured with wooden clubs Miomir Antovic
from
the village of Rudare - municipality of Zvecan.
MEDVEDJA - In the village of Svirce, municipality of Urosevac, Albanian
terrorists looted, destroyed and set on fire the property of Serb
families:
Djordje and Mile Simic, Ljubisav Stamenkovic, Zdravko Andjelkovic,
Ljubinka
Mihajlovic, Srba Spasic, Milos and Guta Mitic and Jagoda Petkovic.
ORAHOVAC - On 17 July 1999, Albanian terrorists abducted Djordje
Baljosevic and Dusko Dolasevic, police officers from the fire brigade in
Velika Hoca, who were returning from an official assignment in factory
"Termovent" near Orahovac.
PRISTINA - On 2 August 1999, Albanian terrorists abducted Rade Budimir
in
the front of the building in 14 Kragujevacka street, Pristina.
25 January 2000
GNJILANE - Albanian terrorists threw an explosive device on a food store
owned by Dragan Jovcic, in Laze Stefanovica street. At the time of the
attack, there were 10 Serbs and an Albanian in the store. No one was
hurt.
Substantial material damage was caused.
In another part of Gnjilane, another bomb exploded. It was thrown on a
house of Cemal Saciri, a Turk. The explosion damaged a shop window of a
store belonging to Vojislav Topalovic.
26 January 2000
PRISTINA - Nenad Stamenkovic, from Miljevac village, municipality of
Pristina, residing in Nis, 4 Teslina Street, reported that this brother
Zarko Stamenkovic from Miljevac village, municipality of Pristina (born
12
June 1960) by Albanian terrorists on 22 June 1999, on the road between
Pristina and village of Devet Jugovica.
BUJANOVAC - In the village of Dobrosin, municipality of Bujanovac,
Albanian terrorists attacked by machine-guns, snipers and other
automatic
weapons a police patrol on a regular assignment. Zarko Guberinic, a
police
officer of the Ministry of the Interior (born 22 June 1969 in Djakovica)
sustained light injuries.
- By the main Gnjilane-Bujanovac road, near Silovo village, Albanian
terrorists looted and set on fire the house and "Breza" restaurant on
the
ground floor, owned by Dragan Djokic. The cafe was consumed by fire.
28 January 2000
PODUJEVO - In the village of Glavnik, municipality of Podujevo, Albanian
terrorists stoned a bus of "Nis ekspres", breaking two big side glasses
and
damaging the exterior.
30 January 2000
GNJILANE - The remains of Danilo Djordjevic (51) from Vlasko selo
Nikolicevo near Zajecar, was found on 19 January on the road for Surlane
village, 15 km south of Gnjilane. According to the findings of US
forensic
experts, the cause of the death was a blow to the head. On his hands and
neck there are traces indicating that he was tied by rope, that he was
killed in a cruel way and tortured.
Many accounts confirm that the perpetrators of this crime are Albanians
from an ethnically pure village of Surlane, full of extremists, who
tried
to portray Djordjevic as a Serb terrorist on an assignment.
By his tortured body, a bag full of plastic explosive were found, which
according to the UNMIK representatives should serve as false evidence
that
this alleged Serb terrorist had an intention to blow up and totally
destroy
this Albanian village. UNMIK immediately discounted this possibility
since
the man was only 160 cm tall, weighing 58 kg. He was not a Serb, but a
Vlach from Romania. At the age of 51 he can hardly be a Serb terrorist.
31 January 2000
PRIZREN - Hasim Cuse (60), an uncle of a member of the Temporary
Executive
Council of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija, Sokol Cuse,
who
was reported missing on 18 January, was found dead yesterday in the
place
Dulje, near Suva Reka, in the vicinity of Prizren.
He was shot three times in the head.
Hasim Cuse was last seen in the town on 18 January and he has not been
seen since.
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
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