|
UNMIK-KFOR-UNMIK Police-UNHCR Press Briefing, 13 August 2001 UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel Susan Manuel SRSG Mr. Haekkerup returns this afternoon. There is no IAC or KTC meeting this week. Manaj Trial Tomorrow in the Peje/Pec courts a trial opens against 8 suspects in the murder of Shaban Manaj, an LDK leader who was killed during the summer of 2000. The suspects are all from Klina. The presiding judge is Renata Winter. Though the trial will open tomorrow, the next session will be on the 3rd of September. Howard Rhoades KFOR & NLA At various stages during the year KFOR has summarized for you, the successes it has achieved, as a result of our determination to interdict supplies transiting through Kosovo and destined for the NLA. The previous week has been equally successful, as we have continued to detain suspect individuals and seize significant quantities of weapons. There has been a further 27 individuals detained this week after having illegally crossed into Kosovo from either Albania or the FYROM whilst a number of others have been forced to turn back as a result of the vigilance of KFOR patrols. Last week also saw the discovery of 54 boxes of ammunition each containing over 700 rounds near to Brodosavce. This totaled over 41,000 rounds altogether which we believe were destined for the NLA. A search of Donja Stubla, in Multinational Brigade East resulted in the discovery of 20 AK 47 rifles, and a further 2100 rounds of ammunition. Yesterday saw the detention of fifteen men and a foreign Journalist in
the vicinity of Gorance after they had been observed acting suspiciously.
After a search of the area by Polish and Ukrainian soldiers the following
items were found. Cell phones, Motorola base station units, 50 sleeping
bags, flak jackets and helmets, binoculars and other military equipment
including uniforms and boots. For some months we have been working to this end and since early June it has been the focus of our main effort. Since the beginning of June, 484 individuals have been detained, KFOR soldiers have seized over 600 rifles, 140 pistols and some 113 rockets. More than a thousand anti-tank weapons, up to 1400 grenades and mines and in excess of 132,000 rounds of ammunition have also been seized. Let me end by quoting Lt General Skiaker, KFOR's commander: "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 determination, on the part of KFOR soldiers, is making life extremely difficult for the extremists." KPC Event Now for details of a Media Event for those interested which takes place in Multinational Brigade Centre: On Wednesday 15 August at 11.00am o'clock, Commander of the Kosovo Protection Corps, General Ceku together with Lt. General Skiaker (COMKFOR) will attend a press conference and prize giving ceremony at Batlava. The ceremony is the culmination of a tough course run by British soldiers in a wide variety of skills which are intended to train KPC personnel in their role as an emergency relief corps. For those wishing to attend a mini bus will be provided to take Journalists to the ceremony which will leave the UNMIK building at 0930 hrs Wednesday morning. Please register your interest with Ian Frazer or Major David Reynolds at Multinational Brigade Centre.
Internal Investigation Concludes Several weeks ago a story was published that alleged the involvement of UNMIK Police officers in the movement of women for the purposes of prostitution. We stated that these accusations would be thoroughly investigated and that we would inform you of the results once they are available. The investigation has now been concluded. Two officers were found to have contravened the Code of Conduct. They have been repatriated. Two other officers have received letters of reprimand. Whilst the four committed professional misconduct, to varying degrees, evidence was not found to support criminal charges. Allegations of Concealed Bodies Accusations were made in the Serbian media during the middle of July that bodies were concealed in Radinjicko Lake, near Dakovica. The allegation was that the bodies of murdered Serbs were concealed, possibly in a container truck submerged in the lake. UNMIK Police have now completed an examination of the lake. The police helicopter conducted an aerial assessment on July 26. A suspicious shadow was noticed under the water near a point on the shoreline to which there was vehicular access. A team of KFOR divers assisted UNMIK Police on 5 August, searching the area of suspicion and other possible sites. Nothing out of the ordinary was found. We understand the genuine concern that these accusations raise in both communities and we will thoroughly investigate all such reports. Armed Raid Releases Prisoner At 530p on Sunday, 12 August two UNMIK Police officers were guarding a Bosnian female who was receiving treatment at the hospital in Northern Mitrovica. The 45 year old woman was being held on trafficking and prostitution charges. Seven armed men with an AK-47 rifle entered the hospital and attempted to take the prisoner. A fight developed, in which the group pointed the assault rifle at the officers and removed her from the hospital, escaping in two vehicles. We are conducting enquiries to locate the prisoner and to identify and locate the armed gang who freed her. Overview Looking back on the past week, there were no murders reported for the second week in succession. Six kidnappings were reported as compared to four the previous week. Reported arsons increased slightly from five to six cases. Across Kosovo, 102 persons were arrested, the majority being in Pristina, Gnjilane and Prizren. Ten persons were arrested for outstanding major crimes like murder, grievous assault and rape. Overall the crime rate increased from 509 cases the week before to 565 cases this week, whereas intimidation and assault cases still form the majority of the reported crimes. Astrid Van Genderen Stort Total Number of Arrivals Since the Beginning of the Conflict: 80,663
Estimated number of returnees approximately 24,789 Estimated Total remaining 55,874 Overall/refugees/returnees Refugees past 3 days 2128 The escalation of the fighting in fYROM led to an increase in the number
of arriving people and a sharp decrease in those returning. Over the past
three days over 2128 people entered into Kosovo, while only 200 were reported
returning back (mostly to check out property and the situation). Most of the new arrivals came from Skopje and its surroundings Saraj, Hasanbeg and Haraqina/Aracinovo (where the water situation is reportedly bad). As of 11 August new arrivals were also from the village of Ljuboten, close to where the mine incident had taken place. The village had been under heavy attack over the weekend. Others came from Kumanovo, Gostivar, Sillar and Gllumov as well as some families from Tetovo, who had been previously displaced in Skopje. Several arrivals came for the second time, having returned to fYROM before because of the peace negotiations, now fearing that the outcome after all might not be so positive. Most of these returned to their former host families. Most of the new arrivals that crossed Blace border came on foot and several of these needed additional transportation and/or accommodation assistance. An interviewed man from Saraj reported that there has been a lot of shooting
around his village, coming from the direction of Djordje Petrov neighborhood
where reportedly Albanian shops were being destroyed. There were others
from Rashe, and Bojane where army helicopter gunships. had been deployed.
UNHCR is extremely concerned about the ongoing intensive fighting in fYRoM and urges all parties to follow the road towards peaceful reconciliation and the signing of the peace agreement, in order to prevent further unnecessary killings and massive displacement. Questions: Q: Why do you think the Macedonian government blamed you so aggressively
yesterday that you haven't been doing enough? From what you said yesterday,
this means that the Macedonian government is lying. Q: But they said up to 600 people have entered, is that a lie? Q: What are the indications in both cases at the beginning and the end
of he crisis, of UNMIK and KFOR's responsibility? Q: To continue on this issue, I know that at the beginning of the crisis,
there was a joint commission established between KFOR and the Macedonian
government to control the border, is it still working? Q: One question, to go back to an old issue when on the border there
were reporters killed from shelling on the Macedonian side. KFOR said
they would have information, where are we at on that? Q: Question to KFOR police, two days ago there was a routine check on
Sunny Hill, and we have information that there was ammunition and weapons
found in two houses searched by the police.
|