In These New Times

This report gives insight into what is happening on the ground in the Serbian province of Kosovo. Unfortunately, its appeal to the State Department will undoubtedly fall on deaf ears.

SERBIAN UNITY CONGRESS(Serbian Unity)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

The Serbian Unity Congress strongly condemns yesterday’s attack on Regional UNMIK representative Luis Perez in the town of Decani, and calls for the UN and the United States to react swiftly and decisively in what has become a series of escalating events in the region.

Shortly after 10pm on Thursday June 12th, Luis Perez, Regional UNMIK representative for Pec, was attacked while returning to his apartment following a regular prayer meeting at the Decani monastery. This is the latest in a series of events in Decani, all of which serve to clearly demonstrate the unwillingness of local Albanians and the Kosovo government to peacefully coexist with their Serb minority.

Several weeks earlier, another UNMIK official, Patrick Buse, was directly threatened by the local KLA “war-veteran” leader Abdyl Mushkolaj and his bodyguards. After these threats Mr. Patrick Buse has suspended his work in Decani. The Municipality of Decani has declared him a “persona non grata” in the city of Decani.

The reason for these attacks revolves around an overt act of defiance by the Municipality of Decani against the UNMIK authority. In 2001, the Municipality illegally changed the Cadastral record and awarded land belonging to the Monastery of Decani to local Albanian businesses. In May of this year, UNMIK issued and executive directive (ED 2008/21) that the Cadastral record be restored. The Municipality of Decani has refused to carry out this judgment.

It is the opinion of the Serbian Unity Congress that these aggressive and insolent acts against UNMIK are an absolute measure of the failure of local Kosovo authorities to work toward any standard of protection of minorities and provision for their safety.

UNMIK officials are just the latest victims. Last year, a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) was launched at the monastery, fortunately hitting the protective wall. The man accused of the crime (Mr. Jeton Mulaj, a Kosovo Albanian) is under arrest for damaging a historical landmark and illegal possesion of a weapon… however, he has yet to stand trial. His attack was clearly motivated by ethnic and religious hatred and is normally classified as an act of terrorism.

A few weeks ago, Mr. Bozidar Tomic (64) was beaten by a Kosovo Albanian male in the town of Decani. While waiting for the beginning of the reconstruction of his house (which was burned by KLA in 1999), Mr. Tomic dared walk from the Monastery to the town center to see about further procedures on the reconstruction. As he entered the town a Kosovo Albanian male (50 years old approximately) asked him what was his name and surname. He answered – Bozidar Tomic. The Albanian began beating him in the street. It was only after several minutes that others from the pub came out and took the attacker away and called the police patrol. Mr. Tomic sustained injuries in his face and abdominal area. He was taken to the Italian Military clinic in Villagio Italia to do some additional medical tests.

The main issue here is the lack of readiness and awareness of the local Kosovo authorities to implement the rule of law, including proper protection of minorities; something which was one of the conditions for some countries to recognize Kosovo’s independence.

It is vital at this critical juncture, in this overt act of defiance against the UN authority, that the United States, as the nation which led the charge for Kosovo independence, also be the one to remind Kosovo authorities, that they were not issued a blank check, but were rather given a long list of standards which they must implement if they want to retain U.S. support.

The SUC calls on the US State Department to demand that the Executive Directive regarding the Cadastral record be followed through completely, that the Decani Munipality follow the judgement of UNMIK and restore the land to the Monastery of Decani. Such actions, if allowed to go on without reprecussions, will serve only to embolden local Kosovo authorities to continue such efforts targeting Serbs and other minorities in the region. It is clear that these events are organized efforts to prevent the rightful return of property, obfuscate the protection of minorities and foster intimidation of international forces and prevent their presence and oversight in this region.

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