Drenica Group members found guilty

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Former KLA members have been sentenced with over half a century of imprisonment for crimes committed in Kosovo between 1998 and 1999. Although the prosecution had emphasized that this case should not be seen as judgement of KLA, but only individual guilt or innocence, the most senior KLA leaders were sentenced on Wednesday for war crimes.

They were sentenced mainly on the testimony of Witness A, who, according to the indictment, was tortured and mistreated by the former KLA commanders.

The trial panel found former KLA general commander Sylejman Selimi guilty and sentenced him to six years of imprisonment in the case known as Drenica I.

Former commander of Drenica zone Sami Lushtaku has also been found guilty and he was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.

Sabit Geci, Jahir Demaku, Avni Zabeli, Ismet Haxha and Sahit Jashari were acquitted.

Only an hour later, EULEX trial panel also declared the verdict for the other case known as Drenica II case, where all the defendants were found guilty.

Even in this case, former KLA general commander Sylejman Selimi was sentenced to 8 years, while Jahir Demaku, Zeqir Demaku and Isni Thaçi were sentenced to 7 years imprisonment each for the criminal offence of cruel treatment, torture and humiliating and degrading treatment against Kosovo citizens.

For the offence of maltreatment of detainees, Agim Demaj, Bashkim Demaj, Driton Demaj, Selman Demaj, Fadil Demaku, Nexhat Demaku were all sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Defence lawyers did not agree with these verdicts, saying that internationals hardly take fair decisions for KLA commanders.

The PDK MP Fadil Demaku, who was sentenced to three years imprisonment, said that these decisions have nothing to do with justice.

KLA war organizations opposed the verdicts against their fellow combatants in Drenica I and Drenica II case. According to KLA war veterans’ organizations; these verdicts demonstrate that these trials are orchestrated by Belgrade and a constant effort for criminalization of KLA liberation war. They called on Kosovo Assembly MPs not to vote in favour of Special Court establishment.

Assembly MPs Rexhep Selimi and Daut Haradinaj reacted against sentencing of former senior KLA officials. Vetëvendosje Movement and Nisma për Kosovën also reacted against their sentencing.

None of the governing parties, LDK and PDK, commented the verdicts.

On the other hand, Skenderaj/Srbica and Gllogovc/Glogovac citizens consider Mitrovica Basic Court verdict for sentencing Drenica Group as unjust and political, while they announced protests. When the verdict will become plenipotentiary, these two municipalities would need to enter new elections.

Plaque for missing Serb journalist placed again

(RTK2)

For the fourth time, the Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS) and Association of Journalists of Kosovo-Metohija (DNKiM) placed a commemorative plaque for their missing colleagues Djuro Slavuj and Ranko Perinic. They went missing on 21 August 1998 in the road between Velika Hoca/Hoça e Madhe and Rahovec/Orahovac. On this occasion, representatives of journalists from Kosovo and Serbia place a plaque with inscription: “We are looking for them.”

“We are looking for them, we will find them,” representatives of the associations stated on Wednesday.

UNS Secretary General Nino Brajovic said: “We will find them”. Brajovic said that kidnappers of Slavuj and Perinic are near, but the hand of justice is far away. He called on Kosovo Police, Prosecution, KFOR and UNMIK to launch an investigation and identify their kidnappers.

A similar plaque was also placed last year at the same place, but it was removed by someone after only two weeks.

Budimir Nicic, President of DNKiM, emphasized that Ambassadors, Head of the EU Mission and Head of EULEX Mission, the OSCE Ambassador, were invited to take part, but they did not come.

KAF heads to Assembly, Government ready without votes of Serb ministers

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF) headed towards the Assembly. Kosovo Government sent the constitutional changes that open way to KAF establishment to the Assembly. Although 30 June was mentioned as the last date when these amendments must be changed, it is likely that they will be included in Friday’s session of the Assembly, when the constitutional changes that open way to establishment of Special Court will also be discussed.

Prime Minister Isa Mustafa said that Kosovo will not be built an army on ethnic grounds, but rather an army that will serve all citizens of Kosovo.

However, Serb ministers of the Government voted against these changes and they do not guarantee their vote at the Assembly, if a prior debate is not held with them.

KSF minister, Haki Demolli, said that adoption of amendments would open way to creation of legal basis, whereas the Ministry of KSF would be called as the Ministry of Defence, while KSF would be called as the Armed Force.

Speaker Veseli received Albanian representatives from north

(Most monitored broadcasters, Klan Kosova)

Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli received Albanian political representatives of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north. Speaker Veseli expressed his interest about the security situation. The news that he received from Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north representatives were not that good.

Following the meeting, Speaker Veseli expressed his concern about non-implementation of Brussels agreements reached in the talks between Kosovo and Serbia.

Delays caused in reconstruction of Albanian houses and delays in return of IDPs in Kosovo north demonstrate that situation in this area is not satisfactorily.

Speaker Veseli underlined that while construction of Albanian houses is being blocked, a new wave of constructions, in particular construction of collective buildings in which Serb community members are being accommodated, is happening.

Representatives of Albanian residents informed Speaker Veseli that Serbs are massively being placed in this part of Kosovo. Nazim Ismajli, representative of Albanians in the north said that the colonization of this part is happening.

However, Albanians in the north are faced with poor economic situation, too.

Ismajli said that only Serbs are employed in the municipality of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north. According to him, Albanians enjoy no employment rights there.

After this meeting, Speaker Veseli expressed his support to the idea for launching a humanitarian campaign for the construction of houses in the northern part of Kosovo. Still over 426 houses, belonging to Albanians in the north, are usurped whereas another 200 houses need to be constructed and reconstructed.