Ker-Lindsay: Report openly on ethnic cleansing (Tanjug)
Williamson’s report openly speaks about ethnic cleansing and absolutely confirms that there is evidence that senior members of the Kosovo Liberation Army organized planned attacks on Serbs and other minorities, said British analyst James Ker-Lindsay. "In many ways the report is stronger than expected. It clearly shows that there is evidence that senior members of the KLA organized planned attacks on Serbs, Roma and other minorities, as well as the Albanians, after the conflict in June 1999," said Ker-Lindsay.
He adds that "the language of the report is especially direct since it talks openly about the ethnic cleansing."
Ker-Lindsay recognizes that many will be disappointed because the report stated that there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations of "widespread organ trafficking." "However, the report insists that there are irrefutable indications that trafficking in organs happened but in a limited extent," said Ker-Lindsay. "Leaving aside that many were sceptical that such crimes ever occurred, it is clear that collecting the evidence will be extremely difficult," he adds.
Ker-Lindsay is confident that Mr. Williamson's report is "an important step forward" in order to achieve the justice. "The investigation has confirmed what many people have known for a long time – KLA committed the crimes," says a British expert.
Ker-Lindsay believes that Serbia must be careful in order not to triumph after the publication of the report because, as he says, he does not justify the "Serbian actions in Kosovo." "The report shows that it was a hateful and brutal conflict, in which the crime was committed on both sides," he said.
Ker-Lindsay says that it is a big question whether the names of high-ranking officials will be on the indictments. "Bearing in mind that the indictment will not be published until the Special Court is established next year, it probably will not affect the efforts to form a new Kosovo government. However, political instability could occur next year, if senior members of the new administration should be charged", says British analyst.