Barry FLETCHER, Spokesperson

UNMIK Police Briefing Notes
11 March, 2002

1. ELEVEN SUSPECTS ARRESTED FOR ECONOMIC CRIME

Gnjilane. The Regional Investigation Unit arrested eleven suspects this week in connection with a conspiracy to avoid taxes by smuggling petroleum products across the Kosovo-FYROM border. Four of the suspects are K-Albanian, five are K-Turk, one is Macedonian-Albanian, and one is a citizen of Turkey. The investigation began last September and discovered the group used falsified documents to avoid paying taxes on more than 5,000,000 DM worth of products during 2001. Also discovered was that the group has been operating since 1997, though no information is available on the value of the products smuggled before 2001.

Information on continuing developments in this case is available from the UNMIK Police Press Officer for Gnjilane, who can be reached at 038-504-604-7682.

2. SUSPECT ARRESTED FOR 1999 MURDER

Radoste Village, Prizren. Police arrested a K-Albanian male on 05/03/02 in connection with the 11/07/99 murder of another K-Albanian male. The arrest occurred after a search of the suspect's house discovered evidence linking him to the crime, including the apparent murder weapon - an AK-47 rifle.

Information on continuing developments in this case is available from the UNMIK Police Press Officer for Prizren, who can be reached at 038-504-604-8306.

3. TWO SUSPECTS ARRESTED FOR RAPE

Gnjilane Region. This week, a K-Albanian male reported the rape of his daughter by relatives. The rape occurred during 2001 but the victim did not disclose the crime until after her pregnancy became obvious. Police have arrested two K-Albanian male suspects.

Information on continuing developments in this case is available from the UNMIK Police Press Officer for Gnjilane, who can be reached at 038-504-604-7682

4. FESTIVAL HELD WITHOUT MAJOR INCIDENT

Skenderaj. UNMIK Police and KPS officers provided security/traffic control for the ADEM JASHARI FESTIVAL held during the afternoon & evening of March 7th. An estimated 70,000 people attended the festival and the main problems encountered by police were caused by heavy traffic on the nearby roads. Four arrests were made for illegal weapons: An AK-47 rifle, three pistols, a leather "black-jack", and a switchblade knife were seized. After nightfall, there was sporadic gunfire from the outer edges of the crowd and two incidents where hand grenades were discharged. No injuries were reported. The festival concluded shortly after 2100 hrs.

OVERVIEW

This is our first Monday press conference after the formation of the new government, and the last for Wing Commander Daz Slaven, Royal Air Force, so a review of our progress is in order.

Kosovo continues to move away from the post-conflict era towards a society where most policing activity now involves ordinary crime, and other incidents requiring police attention. For example, UNMIK Police recorded about 500 murders during the second half of 1999, about 250 in 2000, and 136 last year. There have been about 14 so far in 2002 and we can expect significantly less than 100 murders this year. The number of traffic deaths also demonstrates that stability and the rule of law are taking effect: More than 250 people died on the roads in 2000, about 160 died last year, and there have been about 12 so far in 2002. Ethnic murders, arson, looting, and other crimes characteristic of a post-conflict zone are greatly reduced. Most crimes in Kosovo are now motivated by ordinary disputes between people who know each other, or by greed. Also significant is the increasing willingness of people to report crimes to the police and to allow the justice system to do its job. The events I mentioned earlier clearly illustrate this trend.

It may be premature to declare that Kosovo is now acceptably safe and secure. However, enormous progress has been made in a very short time and the achievements of both the international community and the people of Kosovo should not be ignored.

The information in this report is accurate to the extent of the information known at the time of it's writing. However, further investigation may result in changes to what has been reported.

For more information contact the Office of Press and Public Information, UNMIK Police MHQ, 3rd floor, office 72, phone 038-504-604-5071, FAX 5073.