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UNMIK-KFOR-UNHCR-UNMIK Police Press Briefing, 02 July 2001 UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel Susan Manuel SRSG SRSG Hans Haekkerup is currently meeting with major Kosovo Albanian editors. After his vacation, he will hold a similar meeting with Serb media. Additionally, this afternoon at 2p.m. he meets the Norwegian defence minister. IAC Tomorrow the IAC meets: on the agenda is a discussion of FRYOM
refugees. Also to be discussed is a draft regulation making four
minor amendments to the Regulation 2000/16 on the registration of
political parties. The department for Democratic Governance and
Civil Society requested these amendments on the registration of
political parties. The amendments are as follows: US action against some Kosovo Albanians Regarding the decree issued by US President Bush last Thursday regarding the freezing of assets of 23 people including several Kosovo Albanian and members of the KPC, UNMIK takes the issuing of such a list and order by the US extremely seriously. At this point we are considering what if any consequences there will be here regarding Kosovo members of the list. The SRSG will decide upon UNMIK's response in the coming days. Ombudsperson's report Regarding the Ombudsman's report issued last week on the so called Executive Order: In his report no. 3, the Ombudsman concluded that the deprivations of liberty imposed under the Executive Orders issued by the SRSG do not conform to recognized international standards…Our position is that the authority for law and order and public safety is vested in the SRSG acting on behalf of the Secretary-General and the Security Council, according to Resolution 1244. Article 13 of the European Convention on Human Rights recognizes there may be exceptions to the conventions principles in certain emergency situations. This is acceptable in European courts. The situation in Kosovo is analogous to emergency situations envisioned in the human rights conventions. We emphasize that UNMIK's mandate was adopted under Chapter 7, which means that the situation calls for extraordinary means and force can be used to carry out the mandate. Any deprivation of liberty by an Executive Order is temporary and extraordinary, and its objective is the effective and impartial administration of justice. Currently in Kosovo there are three persons detained under Executive Order (the bus bombing suspects). We had additional 4 persons detained under executive order: one was tried and acquitted, one is indicted and awaiting trial (under judicial detention) and two were released after one month. Prizren Regional Administrator In Prizren, after two years, Mr. Lennart Myhlback of Sweden has left his post as Regional administrator. Acting RA is his former Deputy, Mr Rudolf Hoffmann, of Germany. Bus Service The administrative Department of Transport and infrastructure will take over as operator and administrator of Kosovo's freedom of movement bus service from UNHCR and the Danish Refugee Council. The service covers 5000 kilometres of roads each week and serves 30,000 people throughout Kosovo. The operating costs are 400,000 DM per month and donor assistance will be sought to continue it. The Swiss govt ahs just announced a 1.3 million dm donation to keep service running through October. To mark the transfer of responsibility and donation, there will be a handing over ceremony in the Cultural centre, Gracanica on 5 July at 1 p.m….Repubs from UNMIK DTI, KFOR, NGOs Missions of the EU and Swiss govt. All press are invited. Sqdrn. Ldr. Roy Brown Operation Eagle At the beginning of last month, COMKFOR, Lieutenant General Skiaker, ordered a shift of our main effort, from the Presevo Valley and the Ground Safety Zone, which had been successfully relaxed at the end of May, to the border with the FYROM. The aim of this of change of focus was to disrupt and interdict the supply of men, weapons and materiel to ethnic Albanian extremists in northern FYROM in order to prevent their use of Kosovo as a rear area and safe haven and to help bring an early resolution of the crisis. Operation Eagle saw the deployment of an additional two task forces to the border region, almost doubling our strength there, while a comprehensive Kosovo wide plan also envisaged preventing the unchecked movement of commercial vehicles through the province - this part of the plan having been implemented in the past few days. In the past month (June 01) KFOR has clearly demonstrated its commitment to securing the borders of Kosovo with Albania and with the FYROM: In the Multinational Brigade South Area of Responsibility, particularly the region south of Dragas, 83 individuals attempting to cross into Kosovo were forced to turn back into Albania by the actions of KFOR, and 34 individuals were detained for illegally crossing the Albania / Kosovo border. This does not mean that the sum of those two numbers represents the total number of people that tried to enter Kosovo illegally, as some individuals may have tried more than once. 53 individuals were detained for illegally crossing the Kosovo / FYROM border (in both directions). Some of these were stopped with mules and pack horses carrying various supplies to the extremists. Eight others were forced to abandon attempts to cross the border with FYROM by the vigilance of KFOR troops. In the eastern sector, soldiers from KFOR's Multinational Brigade East detained 121 individuals, in the border region, on suspicion of being members of the so called NLA. They have also seized a significant number of weapons and equipment and discovered of a limited number of small weapons caches while other suspected members of the armed groups have been observed but escaped attempts at capture. Additionally, we have in the past week, stopped and searched almost 1500 vehicles, many of them lorries and trucks, in order to prevent weapons being smuggled through Kosovo. This requires close coordination and considerable effort on the part of the soldiers involved. The fact that we have been able to maintain freedom of movement on the roads during this ongoing vehicle search operation is, in itself, testament to its success. What these figures show is that KFOR is efficiently doing its job. Robust patrolling and vigilant observation, backed by a good flow of information and relentless endeavour, on the part of KFOR soldiers, is making life extremely difficult for the extremists and forcing them to seek alternative lines of supply. We are meeting our primary task of maintaining a safe and secure environment here in Kosovo and by our successful actions against the supply routes of the so called NLA, promoting peace and stability in the southern Balkans region. Exercise Rapid Guardian Exercise Rapid Guardian will run from 10-20 July. Routine reinforcement exercises will start with a paratrooper drop near Pristina airfield involving approximately 250 men and women of the US Airborne forces. More details and media opportunities will be arranged. Derek Chappell Mitrovica Murder Investigation UNMIK Police are investigating the murder of a 47-year-old Albanian man that occurred last night in South Mitrovica. Around 2300, the police received an anonymous telephone call that a man had been shot and taken to the Moroccan Hospital. The shooting took place in the Tunalii Pare area of the city. Witnesses told police that the two male suspects who shot and killed the man, had then fled the scene on foot. The deceased's name is being withheld awaiting notification of the family. Istok Bodies Recovered At 3:00 PM on Sunday, July 1, the police at ISTOK received a telephone call concerning the discovery of two dead bodies in the village of Cerrolluka Banja. Patrol Units and investigators responded and found the two bodies inside a well. The victims have been notified as two Roma males, aged 19 and 26. They had both been reported as missing since 10 pm on June 30. The bodies have been recovered and an investigation has been started to determine the cause of death and the circumstances by which they came to be in the well. Public Assistance Solves Burglary On 25 June the Ibar Football Club in Leposavic was broken into. Thieves
stole almost 5,000 DM worth of sporting equipment. As a result of an
anonymous tip called in by a member of the public, police located the
stolen property on June 27 and returned it to the club. Surrender of illegal weapons Over the past week, UNMIK Police and KFOR have conducted numerous
searches of private homes and recovered unlawfully held weapons such as
rifles and pistols. This focus of attention on illegal weapons is part of the overall plan to inform the public about the new law, to provide an amnesty period and then to follow that with strict enforcement. Although the amnesty is over officially, we will still respect those people who seek to voluntarily hand in weapons. Do not wait for us to search your home or your car. If you have weapons that you know contravene the new law - call the Police or KFOR to come and collect them. Follow up in Prostitution Enforcement Following the police operation of June 16th in Prizren to raid bars believed involved in prostitution, a joint team of UNMIK Police, Fire Inspectors and Health Inspectors from Prizren municipality have conducted further examination of these businesses. The purpose is to unite and direct all official resources in a single effort to control criminal activity in public businesses. As a result of these examinations two bars, the 'Regina' and the 'Mobile', have been closed. UNMIK Police in Prizren will be assuring that they remain closed. This coordinated approach will be repeated throughout Kosovo, directed against bars and cafes in which illegal activity is suspected. Prostitution Arrests On the 28th of June, police received an anonymous complaint that led to
them raiding the 'Vicoria Bar' in Prizren. Three Bulgarian females
were recovered and interviewed. Joint UNICEF/UNMIK Police Commitment to Children's Rights UNMIK Police and KPS are pleased to join with UNICEF in re-affirming and emphasizing the issue of children's rights. All Kosovo Police Stations will soon begin displaying posters summarizing the basic human rights that children have when they are in Police custody. The posters, in five languages, are designed to educate children and as a reminder to police officers. UNICEF and UNMIK Police have been working together for the past two years on juvenile justice issues. Respect for individual rights is the foundation of the police service we are creating. Crime Overview Looking back on the last week, 1 murder case were recorded as compared to 7 in the week before. Three attempted murders were reported as compared to none in the week before. The number of 3 kidnappings is almost exactly the same as the previous week. The number of arsons has dropped from 5 to two cases this week. Across Kosovo, 169 persons were arrested, the majority being in Prizren, Mitrovica and Pec. 15 persons were arrested for outstanding major crimes, 10 of them for murder. Overall crime rate has decreased from 519 cases the week before to 468 cases this week, whereas intimidation and assault cases still form the majority of the reported incidents. Astrid van Genderen Stort Arrivals Total Number of Arrivals from fYROM in Kosovo During May and June: 64,818 Total Number of Arrivals Since the Beginning of the
Conflict: 73,818 Estimated number of returnees approximately 2500 people Overall
Situation On Sunday over 1500 people were reported returning to the area of Skopje. Of these 1500 people some 300 persons without documents managed to cross the border without problems as UNMIK police informed us. At the same time there were also several families who encountered problems due to lack of documents. Some even were refused re entry into fYROM even though they were in possession of ID cards. UNHCR is closely monitoring the return movement. The return movement can be seen as a positive development, however it is important to watch the longer term developments. Even though several thousand people deem the situation safe enough to return for the time being, there are still over 72,000 refugees in Kosovo alone who have so far not been of the same opinion. UNHCR remains extremely cautious and is closely following the situation inside fYROM. As we have seen before, one incident can instantly trigger a large scale movement out of fYROM . Many of those that have returned over the weekend are taking advantage of a slightly calmer period inside fYROM where political negotiations are ongoing, to return to their houses and review the situation. Many people are however still concerned about future developments in the area and the tension has not ceased. Emergency Preparedness With the ongoing insecure situation inside fYROM , UNHCR and other aid agencies in the region remain alert. UNHCR has stepped up its emergency response last week: senior-level staff and emergency staff have arrived to help with the ongoing preparations and the daily refugee work. The transit center in Kacanik is functioning smoothly. During days of large influxes the centre is used to ease the congestion at the border. After registration and initial assistance in the centre refugees are transported to host families in different municipalities. The center is equipped with a medical tent, play tent for children, as well as water and sanitation facilities. It can accommodate up to 300 people over night but can be expanded to accommodate up to 14,000 people if necessary. UNHCR continues to advocate for peaceful solutions to be found in
fYROM. At the same time it however continues to prepare for a worst case
scenario. There is an urgent need for ongoing (financial) support in order
to continue to provide support for the 72,000 refugees that are presently
in Kosovo and to minimize the burden on the host families. UNHCR is
working hard on preventing a crisis rather than be caught in the middle
UNHCR has appealed to the donor community last week and requested
for USD $ 17.5 million to care for the refugees over the next 6 months
period. Q: If a healthy Albanian male wanders around the border area, will he
be arrested? and weapons to the extremists in northern FYROM. Q: 121 suspected NLA fighters have been detained. Is that a total
number? Q: Are the 121 that are currently detained being held for questioning
only? Also, can you provide the total number of NLA members who have
been detained? Q: What do you do with the wounded? Q: You mentioned the prostitution ring involving the Bulgarian
women. Was this case related to the busts you mentioned last
week? Q: What was the evidence you used to arrest them? Q: Is there any truth about the Russian troops pulling out of
Kosovo? |