http://www.slobodan-milosevic.org/news/smorg-rpt011005.htm
HARADINAJ SITUATION THREATENS TO UNLEASH MASSIVE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO
www.slobodan-milosevic.org - January 10, 2005
Written by: Andy Wilcoxson
Introduction
The Hague Tribunal’s chief prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, has reportedly
prepared an indictment against Kosovo prime minister, and former KLA
commander, Ramush Haradinaj. Belgrade’s B92 radio and the
Montenegro-based newspaper “Dan” have reported that the indictment,
which has yet to be confirmed by the tribunal, charges Haradinaj with
crimes against Serbs and non-Albanians. [1]
The Kosovo government dismisses as “absurd speculation” reports that an
indictment against Haradinaj has been written. [2]
For his part, Haradinaj denies wrong-doing and dismisses all charges as
Serb fabrications. [3]
Haradinaj is portrayed by Kosovo’s Albanian-media as a hero. When he
was wounded while carrying out an armed attack on an ethnic Albanian
family, Kosovo’s Albanian media reported that he was wounded in an
assassination attempt.
When Haradinaj was lightly injured in an altercation with Russian KFOR
soldiers, he was again portrayed as an innocent victim. The Albanian
media reported that he was an assault victim and accused the Russians
of being racists. They neglected to report that Haradinaj got hit
because he had tried to grab the Russian soldier’s weapon away from him
at a KFOR checkpoint.
The result of the Albanian media’s false reporting was anarchy in the
streets, and rocket and sniper attacks against Russian KFOR troops.
If Haradinaj is indicted, regardless of the circumstances, violence
against Kosovo’s non-Albanians, especially against the Serbs is
practically guaranteed. As we mentioned earlier, Haradinaj says the
accusations against him are “Serb fabrications.” Based on Haradinaj’s
popularity among Kosovo’s Albanians, it is certain that they will see
him as the victim of a Serbian conspiracy if he is indicted. The
Albanian reaction to the perceived “conspiracy” will almost certainly
be violence against non-Albanians, especially against Serbs.
No Excuses for KFOR and UNMIK if Violence Occurs
If Haradinaj is indicted and violence against non-Albanians is the
result, KFOR and UNMIK will bear ultimate responsibility the violence.
KFOR can’t say that it didn’t anticipate violence. KFOR and UNMIK are
being warned of violence by all sides.
Serbian analysts warn of violence. Serbia-Montenegro Army General,
Ninoslav Krstic told Belgrade's "Blic" newspaper, "Kosovo is the
territory of crime and training camps for terrorists. The only new
detail is the potential indictment against Haradinaj. That indictment
could lead to protests that would turn into violence against Serbs
similar to March 17. International forces could be attacked, too" [4]
Albanians are also predicting violence. According to Germany’s Deutsche
Presse-Agentur, UCK veterans warned the U.N. Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)
and NATO-led peacekeepers (KFOR) of "inevitable emotional response of
Albanians, which could easily turn to more violence", as was seen in
March 2004. [5]
The International Crisis Group is also predicting violence. According
to January’s “Crisis Watch” report, an indictment would likely spark
dangerous political crisis, and insurgency from Haradinaj’s native west
Kosovo. [6]
KFOR and UNMIK have been given every warning. They’re being warned by
the Serbs, by the Albanians, and by international organizations. There
is no excuse for anybody to be victimized if Haradinaj is indicted.
KFOR and UNMIK can not say they were caught off guard.
Ramush Haradinaj is hugely popular with Kosovo’s Albanian population.
He enjoys biased coverage from the Kosovo-Albanian media. The Albanian
media portrays him as a hero and, as we shall demonstrate, misleads
their readers in order to protect his reputation.
Ramush Takes a Gun and Takes a Beating
At approximately 1 PM on May 23, 2000 Ramush Haradinaj stopped at a
KFOR check point manned by Russian troops, a fight ensued and Haradinaj
was lightly injured.
According to the Albanian media the incident went down as follows:
Filled with hatred against the Albanians, particularly against former
high-ranking officers and soldiers of the UCK, the Russian troops
attacked the AAK chairman and beat him for no reason at all. It is
suspected that, amidst the Russian troops, there were Serbs wearing a
Russian uniform who knew Mr. Ramush Haradinaj. [7]
KFOR described the incident differently. According to KFOR, Haradinaj
was found to be in possession of weapons without a valid permit, and a
fight broke out when the Russian KFOR troops seized his weapons.
A KFOR spokesman told AFP that "Mr. Haradinaj himself attempted to
seize either the weapon of the Russian soldier or his own weapons that
had been taken, and in an altercation, Mr. Haradinaj got hit." The
spokesman added, "We can confirm that the Russian soldier acted with
absolute minimum force." [8]
The Albanian media never reported that Haradinaj got hit because he
tried to grab a weapon away from the soldier. They reported that he was
“beaten” because the Russians were “filled with hatred against
Albanians.”
The Albanian media’s irresponsible reporting of the incident, coupled
with Haradinaj’s influence in the ethnic Albanian community, led to a
series of terrorist attacks against Russian KFOR troops.
Five attacks occurred on the day of the incident. Shots were fired at
Russians guarding two dams in Kosovo, and two anti-tank rockets hit a
Russian military base at Kijevo, wounding two men. [9]
In addition to terrorist attacks, angry demonstrations broke out in the
Albanian community. Thousands of ethnic Albanian demonstrators gathered
in Prizren to demand the withdrawal of Russian KFOR troops. [10] In
Decani angry Albanian protestors blockaded the town for more than an
hour. [11] In Malisevo angry Albanian mobs shouting “UCK! UCK!” clashed
with KFOR solders and blockaded the town. [12]
KFOR witnessed the angry demonstrations and the terrorist attacks that
came about after this incident. Surely they are aware that a war crimes
indictment against Haradinaj would spark an even bigger reaction from
the Albanians.
Haradinaj wields considerable power, especially in western Kosovo. The
UN administrator in Pec told London’s Observer newspaper, “[Ramush
Haradinaj] can very easily bring the area to a halt.” [13]
The “Attempted Assassination” of Ramush Haradinaj
Unable to stay out of trouble after his row with the Russians, Ramush
and his brother Daut Haradinaj almost got themselves killed while
carrying an armed attack out against a rival ethnic Albanian family.
The Kosovo Albanian media portrayed Haradinaj as the victim, and
branded the incident a “horrendous assassination attempt against two of
the most prominent figures of the war in Kosova.” [14]
According to this, and similar Albanian media reports, The Haradinaj
brothers were driving home when they were wounded in an attack with a
hand-held mortar. [15]
The Albanian-language KosovaPress agency even went so far as to concoct
a motive. According to their report an “armed group” (which they did
not name) was behind the so-called “assassination attempt.” They
reported that:
The members of this group carried out the assassination attempt against
the Haradinaj brothers in order to remove them from the political scene
and from the leading structures of the TMK (Kosovo Protection Corps)”
[16]
The Kosovo-Albanian press, in its zeal to portray Haradinaj as the
victim of an assassination attempt, generally did not report a number
of crucial facts which indicate that Haradinaj was not wounded in an
assassination attempt. Rather, Haradinaj was wounded while carrying out
an armed attack against a rival ethnic Albanian family’s house.
Sadik Musaj told AFP that Haradinaj came to his house in Streoc at 1:00
am on Friday, July 7, 2000. He said that Haradinaj was armed with an
assault rifle, and that a gang of Haradinaj’s men, armed with guns and
grenades, surrounded his house. [17]
According to the Musaj family, Haradinaj showed up at their house and
shouted, "Give yourselves up, otherwise you and your entire family will
die." [18]
Sadik Musaj said that Haradinaj had come to kidnap him and that a
grenade had gone off in a struggle, wounding Haradinaj. [19]
UN police said that an exchange of fire had taken place between a group
of men led by Haradinaj and members of the Musaj family. [20]
AFP’s reporter saw bullet holes in the outside walls of the Musaj
family home, in its windows, and in cars parked outside the house,
along with a crater where the grenade had exploded. [21]
AFP reported that the investigation into the affair was stifled under
US pressure and that Ramush was treated in a US Army hospital in
Germany before returning to Kosovo. [22]
Obviously Haradinaj was not the victim of an attempted assassination.
He was wounded while carrying out an armed attack.
Further indication that Haradinaj is responsible for the incident is
the fact that his AAK party gave conflicting accounts of the incident
to Agence France Presse. Consider the following two excerpts from AFP’s
coverage of the incident.
Here is what AFP reported on July 7th:
An AAK source told AFP that Haradinaj had been injured by an explosive
projectile fired at his car as he returned to his home in Pec, in the
west of Kosovo just after midnight. [23]
Now here is what AFP reported on July 12th:
The AAK have said that Haradinaj and his men had gone to the house to
talk to the Musaj family, who they said were linked with the FARK, a
guerrilla group which was a rival to the KLA, when a family member
through a grenade. [24]
See the difference? On July 7th the AAK told AFP that Haradinaj was
just driving down the road when somebody fired a grenade at his car. On
July 12th, when UN police confirmed that an exchange of fire had taken
place, the AAK changed their story and admitted that Haradinaj had gone
to the rival Musaj family’s house, but “just to talk”... in the wee
hours of the morning. Musaj is a criminal and a terrorist himself and
does not deserve sympathy, but Haradinaj was not his victim.
Ramush Haradinaj: Psycho Killer
In spite of the violent consequences that will undoubtedly flow from
any action against Haradinaj, it is important to bring him to some sort
of justice. To allow a psychopath who will murder his own people to
remain free, and even be the prime minister, is sheer insanity.
Consider the following excerpt from London’s Observer newspaper:
A former British soldier, who served with the Kosovo Verification
Mission, described [Haradinaj] as 'a psychopath', and accused him of
terrorising his own troops and the local population into loyalty. 'He
would beat his own men to maintain a kind of military discipline,' he
said.
'Someone would pass him some information and he would disappear for two
hours. The end result would be several bodies in a ditch.'
The ex-soldier man said he saw Ramush 'deal with' an Albanian family
who had let Serb police into their house. The incident matches a human
rights report by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe last year which told how seven masked men entered a house in the
village of Gornja Lucka. Two men were beaten. A third was taken away
and never seen again.
During this time Haradinaj maintained daily contact with American
military personnel, the ex-soldier said - a link taken over by Nato at
the beginning of the bombing.
Another alleged victim of Ramush's men was Suad Qorraj, who had
operated a satellite telephone for a rival KLA commander during the
war. His family say he went missing on 23 June 1999, two weeks after
the end of the war. On 1 August Suad's charred remains were found in a
forest. [25]
As violent as Haradinaj is towards his own people, he is even more
vicious in his treatment of Kosovo’s Serbs.
According to Vladan Batic, Serbia's former Justice Minister,
"Haradinaj personally executed 67 killings, ordered at least 267
killings, and ordered or organized the kidnappings of at least 400
people." [26]
On June 12, 1999 Haradinaj raped an underage girl that the KLA was
holding prisoner at the Pastrik Hotel in Djakovica. [27]
The fact that Kosovo elected a rapist, a pedophile, and a murderer to
the office of prime minister is the best argument against its
independence. The fact that the UNMIK allowed them to do it raises
serious questions about the intentions of the international community,
especially the Americans, in Kosovo.
Black-Ops
Many suspect that the United States supports Ramush Haradinaj. During
the time of the Kosovo Verification Mission Haradinaj was said to have
maintained daily contact with American military personnel. [28]
When Haradinaj attacked the Musaj family (and the Albanian media said
it was an assassination attempt against Haradinaj). The United States
was accused by UN police of withholding evidence, and blocking an
investigation into the incident.
It is hard to dismiss these accusations as simple anti-Americanism in
the UN establishment since the man in charge of the UN investigation
was Fred Pascoe, an American police officer. [29]
According to the London Observer:
Ramush Haradinaj, a former commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army
(KLA), was the key US military and intelligence asset in Kosovo during
the civil war and the Nato bombing campaign that followed.
In the latest twist in the saga of an increasingly flawed electoral
process, United Nations police in the province complain that US
personnel withheld evidence about a gunfight involving Haradinaj, who
is now leads a key political group.
UN investigators say US officials from their country's main base, Camp
Bondsteel, removed forensic evidence from the scene of the gun battle,
including bullets retrieved from walls. The scene, in the western
village of Strellc, is well out of the US Army's area of
responsibility, in the south-east Kosovo.
Following the shooting Haradinaj, known in the province simply as
Ramush, was flown by helicopter to Camp Bondsteel and on to be treated
for sharpnel wounds at a US Army hospital in Germany. UN investigators
were denied access to him then. [30]
Agence France Presse gave a similar account saying:
The investigation into the affair was stifled under US pressure,
according to a senior UN policeman, and Ramush was treated in a US Army
hospital in Germany before returning to Kosovo. [31]
Haradinaj’s relationship with the Americans continued even after the
incidents with the Russians and the Musaj family. His party officials
were invited to discuss the future of Kosovo at a meeting organized by
the US State Department, and he went to Washington on a fund-raising
trip and as the guest of a US Congressman, Benjamin Gilman. [32]
It is suspicious that the Americans would want to block that
investigation. As mentioned earlier, Ramush’s brother Daut was his
accomplice. Daut Haradinaj has been blacklisted by the US Government
because he is a threat to Balkan stability. [33]
Conclusion
If Haradinaj is indicted, violence against Kosovo’s non-Albanians
should be expected. Albanians will almost certainly view Haradinaj as
the victim of a Serbian conspiracy and take their revenge on the
remaining Kosovo Serbs. However, a violent criminal like Haradinaj must
be brought to justice no matter how angry it makes the Albanians.
KFOR should facilitate the immediate return of the Army of Serbia and
Montenegro to Kosovo as guaranteed by Annex 2.6 of UNSC Resolution 1244.
The ethnic cleansing of Kosovo’s non-Albanian population that has
occurred on KFOR’s watch demonstrates that KFOR is unable or unwilling
to protect Kosovo’s non-Albanian population. The Serbia-Montenegro Army
should be retuned to the province in order to safeguard the
non-Albanian population.
If KFOR refuses to allow the Serbia-Montenegro Army to protect its
citizens on its own territory in Kosovo-Metohija, and the further
ethnic cleansing of the non-Albanian population is the result, then
KFOR will have intentionally facilitated ethnic cleansing.
KFOR and UNMIK can not pretend to be caught by surprise if violence
breaks out against non-Albanians as the result of a Haradinaj
indictment. Serbs, Albanians, and the international organizations don’t
agree on much regarding Kosovo, but they all agree that violence is
very likely if Haradinaj is indicted.
Footnotes
[1] B92, Dan; January 5, 2005; Haradinaj "handed indictment"
[2] BBC Worldwide Monitoring; January 6, 2005; Kosovo officials deny
Hague issued indictment against premier; Source: Koha Ditore, Pristina,
in Albanian 6 Jan 05 p2
[3] The Economist (U.S. Edition); January 1, 2005; Young and wanted;
Kosovo's prime minister
[4] Blic; January 5, 2004; Covic and Krstic warns: Haradinaj into the
Hague Tribunal, then attacks on Serbs
[5] Deutsche Presse-Agentur; January 3, 2005, Monday; Kosovo again on
world's list of potential hot spots
[6] International Crisis Group; 1 January 2005; Crisis Watch #17
[7] BBC Summary of World Broadcasts; May 25, 2000, Thursday; Russian
troops accused of beating Kosovo Albanian party leader; Source:
Kosovapress news agency web site in Albanian 23 May 00
[8] Agence France Presse – English; May 24, 2000, Wednesday; Two
Russians wounded after row with Albanian ex-guerrilla
[9] Ibid.
[10] BBC Summary of World Broadcasts; May 27, 2000, Saturday;
"Thousands" protest against beating of ethnic Albanian leader; Source:
Kosovapress news agency web site in Albanian 25 May 00
[11] BBC Summary of World Broadcasts; May 26, 2000, Friday; Kosovo
Albanians in Decani protest at arrest of party leader Haradinaj;
Source: 'Rilindja', Pristina, in Albanian 24 May 00
[12] BBC Summary of World Broadcasts; May 26, 2000, Friday; Russian
Kfor troops, Kosovo Albanians clash over attack on Ramush Haradinaj;
Source: 'Zeri', Pristina, in Albanian 24 May 00
[13] The Observer; September 10, 2000; Pg. 23; Investigation: America
'covered up' for KLA ally: US officials are accused of withholding
evidence linking a Kosovo politician to a gunfight and war crimes
[14] BBC Worldwide Monitoring, July 9, 2000, “Kosovo parties condemn
‘assassination attempt’ against former rebel leader” / Kosovapress news
agency web site in Albanian 8 Jul 00
[15] Ibid.
[16] BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, July 14, 2000, “UN mission said
to know ‘armed group’ which attacked Kosovo Albanian leader,” /
Kosovapress news agency web site in Albanian 11 Jul 00
[17] Agence France Presse – English, July 9, 2000, Sunday,
“Ex-guerrilla chief attacked us: Kosovo Albanians”
[18] Ibid.
[19] Agence France Presse – English, July 12, 2000, Wednesday, Ally of
injured political leader shot dead in Kosovo: party
[20] Ibid.
[21] Agence France Presse – English, July 9, 2000, Sunday,
“Ex-guerrilla chief attacked us: Kosovo Albanians”
[22] Agence France Presse – English, October 25, 2000, Wednesday
“Ramush Haradinaj: Kosovo's heavyweight outsider”
[23] Agence France Presse – English; July 7, 2000, Friday; Ethnic
Albanian former guerrilla leader wounded: KFOR
[24] Agence France Presse – English; July 12, 2000, Wednesday; Ally of
injured political leader shot dead in Kosovo: party
[25] The Observer; September 10, 2000; Pg. 23; Investigation: America
'covered up' for KLA ally: US officials are accused of withholding
evidence linking a Kosovo politician to a gunfight and war crimes
[26] BBC Worldwide Monitoring; December 5, 2004, Sunday; Former Serbian
justice minister says Kosovo premier "war criminal"; Source: FoNet news
agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 1350 gmt 5 Dec 04
[27] Blic; December 5, 2004; New Kosovo Prime Minister committed
numerous crimes
[28] The Observer; September 10, 2000; Pg. 23; Investigation: America
'covered up' for KLA ally: US officials are accused of withholding
evidence linking a Kosovo politician to a gunfight and war crimes
[29] Ibid.
[30] Ibid.
[31] Agence France Presse – English, October 25, 2000, Wednesday
“Ramush Haradinaj: Kosovo's heavyweight outsider”
[32] The Observer; September 10, 2000; Pg. 23; Investigation: America
'covered up' for KLA ally: US officials are accused of withholding
evidence linking a Kosovo politician to a gunfight and war crimes
[33] U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control, 06/27/2001, Executive Order
of June 27, 2001;
http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20010627a.shtml
HARADINAJ SITUATION THREATENS TO UNLEASH MASSIVE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO
www.slobodan-milosevic.org - January 10, 2005
Written by: Andy Wilcoxson
Introduction
The Hague Tribunal’s chief prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, has reportedly
prepared an indictment against Kosovo prime minister, and former KLA
commander, Ramush Haradinaj. Belgrade’s B92 radio and the
Montenegro-based newspaper “Dan” have reported that the indictment,
which has yet to be confirmed by the tribunal, charges Haradinaj with
crimes against Serbs and non-Albanians. [1]
The Kosovo government dismisses as “absurd speculation” reports that an
indictment against Haradinaj has been written. [2]
For his part, Haradinaj denies wrong-doing and dismisses all charges as
Serb fabrications. [3]
Haradinaj is portrayed by Kosovo’s Albanian-media as a hero. When he
was wounded while carrying out an armed attack on an ethnic Albanian
family, Kosovo’s Albanian media reported that he was wounded in an
assassination attempt.
When Haradinaj was lightly injured in an altercation with Russian KFOR
soldiers, he was again portrayed as an innocent victim. The Albanian
media reported that he was an assault victim and accused the Russians
of being racists. They neglected to report that Haradinaj got hit
because he had tried to grab the Russian soldier’s weapon away from him
at a KFOR checkpoint.
The result of the Albanian media’s false reporting was anarchy in the
streets, and rocket and sniper attacks against Russian KFOR troops.
If Haradinaj is indicted, regardless of the circumstances, violence
against Kosovo’s non-Albanians, especially against the Serbs is
practically guaranteed. As we mentioned earlier, Haradinaj says the
accusations against him are “Serb fabrications.” Based on Haradinaj’s
popularity among Kosovo’s Albanians, it is certain that they will see
him as the victim of a Serbian conspiracy if he is indicted. The
Albanian reaction to the perceived “conspiracy” will almost certainly
be violence against non-Albanians, especially against Serbs.
No Excuses for KFOR and UNMIK if Violence Occurs
If Haradinaj is indicted and violence against non-Albanians is the
result, KFOR and UNMIK will bear ultimate responsibility the violence.
KFOR can’t say that it didn’t anticipate violence. KFOR and UNMIK are
being warned of violence by all sides.
Serbian analysts warn of violence. Serbia-Montenegro Army General,
Ninoslav Krstic told Belgrade's "Blic" newspaper, "Kosovo is the
territory of crime and training camps for terrorists. The only new
detail is the potential indictment against Haradinaj. That indictment
could lead to protests that would turn into violence against Serbs
similar to March 17. International forces could be attacked, too" [4]
Albanians are also predicting violence. According to Germany’s Deutsche
Presse-Agentur, UCK veterans warned the U.N. Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)
and NATO-led peacekeepers (KFOR) of "inevitable emotional response of
Albanians, which could easily turn to more violence", as was seen in
March 2004. [5]
The International Crisis Group is also predicting violence. According
to January’s “Crisis Watch” report, an indictment would likely spark
dangerous political crisis, and insurgency from Haradinaj’s native west
Kosovo. [6]
KFOR and UNMIK have been given every warning. They’re being warned by
the Serbs, by the Albanians, and by international organizations. There
is no excuse for anybody to be victimized if Haradinaj is indicted.
KFOR and UNMIK can not say they were caught off guard.
Ramush Haradinaj is hugely popular with Kosovo’s Albanian population.
He enjoys biased coverage from the Kosovo-Albanian media. The Albanian
media portrays him as a hero and, as we shall demonstrate, misleads
their readers in order to protect his reputation.
Ramush Takes a Gun and Takes a Beating
At approximately 1 PM on May 23, 2000 Ramush Haradinaj stopped at a
KFOR check point manned by Russian troops, a fight ensued and Haradinaj
was lightly injured.
According to the Albanian media the incident went down as follows:
Filled with hatred against the Albanians, particularly against former
high-ranking officers and soldiers of the UCK, the Russian troops
attacked the AAK chairman and beat him for no reason at all. It is
suspected that, amidst the Russian troops, there were Serbs wearing a
Russian uniform who knew Mr. Ramush Haradinaj. [7]
KFOR described the incident differently. According to KFOR, Haradinaj
was found to be in possession of weapons without a valid permit, and a
fight broke out when the Russian KFOR troops seized his weapons.
A KFOR spokesman told AFP that "Mr. Haradinaj himself attempted to
seize either the weapon of the Russian soldier or his own weapons that
had been taken, and in an altercation, Mr. Haradinaj got hit." The
spokesman added, "We can confirm that the Russian soldier acted with
absolute minimum force." [8]
The Albanian media never reported that Haradinaj got hit because he
tried to grab a weapon away from the soldier. They reported that he was
“beaten” because the Russians were “filled with hatred against
Albanians.”
The Albanian media’s irresponsible reporting of the incident, coupled
with Haradinaj’s influence in the ethnic Albanian community, led to a
series of terrorist attacks against Russian KFOR troops.
Five attacks occurred on the day of the incident. Shots were fired at
Russians guarding two dams in Kosovo, and two anti-tank rockets hit a
Russian military base at Kijevo, wounding two men. [9]
In addition to terrorist attacks, angry demonstrations broke out in the
Albanian community. Thousands of ethnic Albanian demonstrators gathered
in Prizren to demand the withdrawal of Russian KFOR troops. [10] In
Decani angry Albanian protestors blockaded the town for more than an
hour. [11] In Malisevo angry Albanian mobs shouting “UCK! UCK!” clashed
with KFOR solders and blockaded the town. [12]
KFOR witnessed the angry demonstrations and the terrorist attacks that
came about after this incident. Surely they are aware that a war crimes
indictment against Haradinaj would spark an even bigger reaction from
the Albanians.
Haradinaj wields considerable power, especially in western Kosovo. The
UN administrator in Pec told London’s Observer newspaper, “[Ramush
Haradinaj] can very easily bring the area to a halt.” [13]
The “Attempted Assassination” of Ramush Haradinaj
Unable to stay out of trouble after his row with the Russians, Ramush
and his brother Daut Haradinaj almost got themselves killed while
carrying an armed attack out against a rival ethnic Albanian family.
The Kosovo Albanian media portrayed Haradinaj as the victim, and
branded the incident a “horrendous assassination attempt against two of
the most prominent figures of the war in Kosova.” [14]
According to this, and similar Albanian media reports, The Haradinaj
brothers were driving home when they were wounded in an attack with a
hand-held mortar. [15]
The Albanian-language KosovaPress agency even went so far as to concoct
a motive. According to their report an “armed group” (which they did
not name) was behind the so-called “assassination attempt.” They
reported that:
The members of this group carried out the assassination attempt against
the Haradinaj brothers in order to remove them from the political scene
and from the leading structures of the TMK (Kosovo Protection Corps)”
[16]
The Kosovo-Albanian press, in its zeal to portray Haradinaj as the
victim of an assassination attempt, generally did not report a number
of crucial facts which indicate that Haradinaj was not wounded in an
assassination attempt. Rather, Haradinaj was wounded while carrying out
an armed attack against a rival ethnic Albanian family’s house.
Sadik Musaj told AFP that Haradinaj came to his house in Streoc at 1:00
am on Friday, July 7, 2000. He said that Haradinaj was armed with an
assault rifle, and that a gang of Haradinaj’s men, armed with guns and
grenades, surrounded his house. [17]
According to the Musaj family, Haradinaj showed up at their house and
shouted, "Give yourselves up, otherwise you and your entire family will
die." [18]
Sadik Musaj said that Haradinaj had come to kidnap him and that a
grenade had gone off in a struggle, wounding Haradinaj. [19]
UN police said that an exchange of fire had taken place between a group
of men led by Haradinaj and members of the Musaj family. [20]
AFP’s reporter saw bullet holes in the outside walls of the Musaj
family home, in its windows, and in cars parked outside the house,
along with a crater where the grenade had exploded. [21]
AFP reported that the investigation into the affair was stifled under
US pressure and that Ramush was treated in a US Army hospital in
Germany before returning to Kosovo. [22]
Obviously Haradinaj was not the victim of an attempted assassination.
He was wounded while carrying out an armed attack.
Further indication that Haradinaj is responsible for the incident is
the fact that his AAK party gave conflicting accounts of the incident
to Agence France Presse. Consider the following two excerpts from AFP’s
coverage of the incident.
Here is what AFP reported on July 7th:
An AAK source told AFP that Haradinaj had been injured by an explosive
projectile fired at his car as he returned to his home in Pec, in the
west of Kosovo just after midnight. [23]
Now here is what AFP reported on July 12th:
The AAK have said that Haradinaj and his men had gone to the house to
talk to the Musaj family, who they said were linked with the FARK, a
guerrilla group which was a rival to the KLA, when a family member
through a grenade. [24]
See the difference? On July 7th the AAK told AFP that Haradinaj was
just driving down the road when somebody fired a grenade at his car. On
July 12th, when UN police confirmed that an exchange of fire had taken
place, the AAK changed their story and admitted that Haradinaj had gone
to the rival Musaj family’s house, but “just to talk”... in the wee
hours of the morning. Musaj is a criminal and a terrorist himself and
does not deserve sympathy, but Haradinaj was not his victim.
Ramush Haradinaj: Psycho Killer
In spite of the violent consequences that will undoubtedly flow from
any action against Haradinaj, it is important to bring him to some sort
of justice. To allow a psychopath who will murder his own people to
remain free, and even be the prime minister, is sheer insanity.
Consider the following excerpt from London’s Observer newspaper:
A former British soldier, who served with the Kosovo Verification
Mission, described [Haradinaj] as 'a psychopath', and accused him of
terrorising his own troops and the local population into loyalty. 'He
would beat his own men to maintain a kind of military discipline,' he
said.
'Someone would pass him some information and he would disappear for two
hours. The end result would be several bodies in a ditch.'
The ex-soldier man said he saw Ramush 'deal with' an Albanian family
who had let Serb police into their house. The incident matches a human
rights report by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe last year which told how seven masked men entered a house in the
village of Gornja Lucka. Two men were beaten. A third was taken away
and never seen again.
During this time Haradinaj maintained daily contact with American
military personnel, the ex-soldier said - a link taken over by Nato at
the beginning of the bombing.
Another alleged victim of Ramush's men was Suad Qorraj, who had
operated a satellite telephone for a rival KLA commander during the
war. His family say he went missing on 23 June 1999, two weeks after
the end of the war. On 1 August Suad's charred remains were found in a
forest. [25]
As violent as Haradinaj is towards his own people, he is even more
vicious in his treatment of Kosovo’s Serbs.
According to Vladan Batic, Serbia's former Justice Minister,
"Haradinaj personally executed 67 killings, ordered at least 267
killings, and ordered or organized the kidnappings of at least 400
people." [26]
On June 12, 1999 Haradinaj raped an underage girl that the KLA was
holding prisoner at the Pastrik Hotel in Djakovica. [27]
The fact that Kosovo elected a rapist, a pedophile, and a murderer to
the office of prime minister is the best argument against its
independence. The fact that the UNMIK allowed them to do it raises
serious questions about the intentions of the international community,
especially the Americans, in Kosovo.
Black-Ops
Many suspect that the United States supports Ramush Haradinaj. During
the time of the Kosovo Verification Mission Haradinaj was said to have
maintained daily contact with American military personnel. [28]
When Haradinaj attacked the Musaj family (and the Albanian media said
it was an assassination attempt against Haradinaj). The United States
was accused by UN police of withholding evidence, and blocking an
investigation into the incident.
It is hard to dismiss these accusations as simple anti-Americanism in
the UN establishment since the man in charge of the UN investigation
was Fred Pascoe, an American police officer. [29]
According to the London Observer:
Ramush Haradinaj, a former commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army
(KLA), was the key US military and intelligence asset in Kosovo during
the civil war and the Nato bombing campaign that followed.
In the latest twist in the saga of an increasingly flawed electoral
process, United Nations police in the province complain that US
personnel withheld evidence about a gunfight involving Haradinaj, who
is now leads a key political group.
UN investigators say US officials from their country's main base, Camp
Bondsteel, removed forensic evidence from the scene of the gun battle,
including bullets retrieved from walls. The scene, in the western
village of Strellc, is well out of the US Army's area of
responsibility, in the south-east Kosovo.
Following the shooting Haradinaj, known in the province simply as
Ramush, was flown by helicopter to Camp Bondsteel and on to be treated
for sharpnel wounds at a US Army hospital in Germany. UN investigators
were denied access to him then. [30]
Agence France Presse gave a similar account saying:
The investigation into the affair was stifled under US pressure,
according to a senior UN policeman, and Ramush was treated in a US Army
hospital in Germany before returning to Kosovo. [31]
Haradinaj’s relationship with the Americans continued even after the
incidents with the Russians and the Musaj family. His party officials
were invited to discuss the future of Kosovo at a meeting organized by
the US State Department, and he went to Washington on a fund-raising
trip and as the guest of a US Congressman, Benjamin Gilman. [32]
It is suspicious that the Americans would want to block that
investigation. As mentioned earlier, Ramush’s brother Daut was his
accomplice. Daut Haradinaj has been blacklisted by the US Government
because he is a threat to Balkan stability. [33]
Conclusion
If Haradinaj is indicted, violence against Kosovo’s non-Albanians
should be expected. Albanians will almost certainly view Haradinaj as
the victim of a Serbian conspiracy and take their revenge on the
remaining Kosovo Serbs. However, a violent criminal like Haradinaj must
be brought to justice no matter how angry it makes the Albanians.
KFOR should facilitate the immediate return of the Army of Serbia and
Montenegro to Kosovo as guaranteed by Annex 2.6 of UNSC Resolution 1244.
The ethnic cleansing of Kosovo’s non-Albanian population that has
occurred on KFOR’s watch demonstrates that KFOR is unable or unwilling
to protect Kosovo’s non-Albanian population. The Serbia-Montenegro Army
should be retuned to the province in order to safeguard the
non-Albanian population.
If KFOR refuses to allow the Serbia-Montenegro Army to protect its
citizens on its own territory in Kosovo-Metohija, and the further
ethnic cleansing of the non-Albanian population is the result, then
KFOR will have intentionally facilitated ethnic cleansing.
KFOR and UNMIK can not pretend to be caught by surprise if violence
breaks out against non-Albanians as the result of a Haradinaj
indictment. Serbs, Albanians, and the international organizations don’t
agree on much regarding Kosovo, but they all agree that violence is
very likely if Haradinaj is indicted.
Footnotes
[1] B92, Dan; January 5, 2005; Haradinaj "handed indictment"
[2] BBC Worldwide Monitoring; January 6, 2005; Kosovo officials deny
Hague issued indictment against premier; Source: Koha Ditore, Pristina,
in Albanian 6 Jan 05 p2
[3] The Economist (U.S. Edition); January 1, 2005; Young and wanted;
Kosovo's prime minister
[4] Blic; January 5, 2004; Covic and Krstic warns: Haradinaj into the
Hague Tribunal, then attacks on Serbs
[5] Deutsche Presse-Agentur; January 3, 2005, Monday; Kosovo again on
world's list of potential hot spots
[6] International Crisis Group; 1 January 2005; Crisis Watch #17
[7] BBC Summary of World Broadcasts; May 25, 2000, Thursday; Russian
troops accused of beating Kosovo Albanian party leader; Source:
Kosovapress news agency web site in Albanian 23 May 00
[8] Agence France Presse – English; May 24, 2000, Wednesday; Two
Russians wounded after row with Albanian ex-guerrilla
[9] Ibid.
[10] BBC Summary of World Broadcasts; May 27, 2000, Saturday;
"Thousands" protest against beating of ethnic Albanian leader; Source:
Kosovapress news agency web site in Albanian 25 May 00
[11] BBC Summary of World Broadcasts; May 26, 2000, Friday; Kosovo
Albanians in Decani protest at arrest of party leader Haradinaj;
Source: 'Rilindja', Pristina, in Albanian 24 May 00
[12] BBC Summary of World Broadcasts; May 26, 2000, Friday; Russian
Kfor troops, Kosovo Albanians clash over attack on Ramush Haradinaj;
Source: 'Zeri', Pristina, in Albanian 24 May 00
[13] The Observer; September 10, 2000; Pg. 23; Investigation: America
'covered up' for KLA ally: US officials are accused of withholding
evidence linking a Kosovo politician to a gunfight and war crimes
[14] BBC Worldwide Monitoring, July 9, 2000, “Kosovo parties condemn
‘assassination attempt’ against former rebel leader” / Kosovapress news
agency web site in Albanian 8 Jul 00
[15] Ibid.
[16] BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, July 14, 2000, “UN mission said
to know ‘armed group’ which attacked Kosovo Albanian leader,” /
Kosovapress news agency web site in Albanian 11 Jul 00
[17] Agence France Presse – English, July 9, 2000, Sunday,
“Ex-guerrilla chief attacked us: Kosovo Albanians”
[18] Ibid.
[19] Agence France Presse – English, July 12, 2000, Wednesday, Ally of
injured political leader shot dead in Kosovo: party
[20] Ibid.
[21] Agence France Presse – English, July 9, 2000, Sunday,
“Ex-guerrilla chief attacked us: Kosovo Albanians”
[22] Agence France Presse – English, October 25, 2000, Wednesday
“Ramush Haradinaj: Kosovo's heavyweight outsider”
[23] Agence France Presse – English; July 7, 2000, Friday; Ethnic
Albanian former guerrilla leader wounded: KFOR
[24] Agence France Presse – English; July 12, 2000, Wednesday; Ally of
injured political leader shot dead in Kosovo: party
[25] The Observer; September 10, 2000; Pg. 23; Investigation: America
'covered up' for KLA ally: US officials are accused of withholding
evidence linking a Kosovo politician to a gunfight and war crimes
[26] BBC Worldwide Monitoring; December 5, 2004, Sunday; Former Serbian
justice minister says Kosovo premier "war criminal"; Source: FoNet news
agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 1350 gmt 5 Dec 04
[27] Blic; December 5, 2004; New Kosovo Prime Minister committed
numerous crimes
[28] The Observer; September 10, 2000; Pg. 23; Investigation: America
'covered up' for KLA ally: US officials are accused of withholding
evidence linking a Kosovo politician to a gunfight and war crimes
[29] Ibid.
[30] Ibid.
[31] Agence France Presse – English, October 25, 2000, Wednesday
“Ramush Haradinaj: Kosovo's heavyweight outsider”
[32] The Observer; September 10, 2000; Pg. 23; Investigation: America
'covered up' for KLA ally: US officials are accused of withholding
evidence linking a Kosovo politician to a gunfight and war crimes
[33] U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control, 06/27/2001, Executive Order
of June 27, 2001;
http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20010627a.shtml