Tomë Gashi: Thaçi is an invalid President
(KTV)
The fate of the new Kosovo President, Hashim Thaçi, is now in the hands of judges of the Constitutional Court, the body that two times earlier stepped down two Presidents from their posts, Fatmir Sejdiu and Behgjet Pacolli. It has been five days since the unified opposition deposited its requests with which they contest Hashim Thaçi’s election as Kosovo President.
The opposition has requested an interim measure on this case and then annulment of Kosovo Assembly’s decision of 26 February. Lawyer Tomë Gashi says that opposition is right and he considers that Assembly violated the Constitution on 26 February. He qualified Hashim Thaçi as an invalid President, who was elected under siege, and where only tanks and anti-terrorist units were missing.
Gashi said that violations happened on 26 February since the beginning of the session, and that the Assembly Speaker shares a part of the responsibility for these violations.
The Legislation Committee chairperson, Albulena Haxhiu, who is currently under the house arrest measure for her actions in the Assembly, says that Speaker’s constitutional obligation was to ensure full composition of the legislative body.
Opposition looks into possibility of boycotting Assembly’s work
(RTK1)
The three opposition parties, Vetëvendosje, AAK and Nisma për Kosovën, are looking into another possibility of blocking the Kosovo Assembly’s work. They think that complete boycott of the Assembly is the next step they might take. Decision about this matter is expected to be taken soon.
Ahmet Isufi of AAK said that there are no major divergences among opposition parties regarding this boycott, whereas Aida Dërguti said that everything is on the table and no decision was taken about it.
However, there are different opinions between the opposition parties for the effects that this step might result with. Nisma për Kosovën did not want to make any statement about this issue.
AAK and Vetëvendosje consider Assembly’s work boycott as a democratic manner of opposition’s action.
Mustafa announces sooner Government reshuffling
(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)
Election of Hashim Thaçi as the President of Kosovo has resulted with a number of vacant positions in the Kosovo Government. Prime Minister Isa Mustafa said that Government reshuffling has not started yet.
According to him, this will happen on the forthcoming days as it will be worked on this issue, and the public will be informed on time.
Women and men marched to end violence against women
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
March 8, the International Women’s Day, was not celebrated the same way by all women. Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) organised a protesting march calling on institutions to give more rights to women, and respect them.
KWN Executive Director Igballe Rogova, organizer of this march, said that there is abundant violence against women in Kosovar society, starting from the family and that woman is seen as an object rather than a subject.
A modest number of women, who were also escorted by men, marched from Zahir Pajaziti to National Theatre of Kosovo in Prishtinë/Pristina.
KTV also reported that Kosovo women continue to face many other challenges and employment is one of them. Civil society representatives say that women representation in institutions is not satisfactory, while they also blame women for this situation.
A series of institutional activities were also carried out to mark March 8th. “I think of you” documentary, which covers the topic of war rapes during the war, was screened at the Assembly of Kosovo. On the other hand, PM Isa Mustafa laid flowers at the “Heroines” monument in Prishtinë/Pristina.
Vetëvendosje chose the International Women’s Day to accuse institutions for not supporting women raped during the war. Vetëvendosje chairperson Visar Ymeri said that political goals were above the people’s interest and that is why it is talked very little about the war victims.
Disappointing figures on employment of RAE women
(Klan Kosova)
Situation of Kosovo Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian (RAE) women is not good. Employment in these communities is a problem, even in the cases when females are educated, Klan Kosova reports.
The International Women’s Day, March 8, finds RAE women unequal in society, even with members of the same gender. RAE women do not enjoy adequate employment or education. To confirm this, the “Create” foundation together with other organisations, including the USAID, presented disappointing figures for these marginalised groups.
“We have only 1.5% of RAE girls or young women who are employed in public institutions” stated Arsim Nimanaj of “Create” foundation.
Reasons behind their unemployment include their justification that family did not allow them to work and the insufficient education. While 91% of women of these communities are unemployed, the ones that have a job consider themselves lucky.
According to the “Create” foundation report, 67% of women from these minority communities cannot have savings from their incomes.
Four Vetëvendosje activists arrested
(Most monitored broadcasters, Klan Kosova)
Through a press release issued Vetëvendosje Movement reported that Kosovo Police arrested four of its activists. The arrested activists are Zgjim Hyseni, Egzon Azemi, Arbër Morina and Lekë Isufi.
They were arrested while they were dealing with activities planned for March 8, the International Women’s Day.
