UNMIK-UNMIK Police-KFOR- Press Briefing, 03 June 2002

UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel
UNMIK Police Spokesman Barry Fletcher
KFOR Spokesman Drew Andersen

UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel

The SRSG will hand over the 6000-year old terracotta figure known as the “Goddess on the Throne " to the Museum of Kosovo, this afternoon at 15.00. Media are invited.

The BPK will hold press briefing tomorrow at 2 p.m. in the BPK auditorium to introduce the new director Kim Rhee. BPK regulators of banking, pensions and insurance will brief media on their supervisory role.

From the courts, on 27 May, an international prosecutor filed an indictment against two Kosovo Albanians for two counts of murder, six counts of kidnapping and terrorism against Kosovo Serbs in Gnilane on 19 June 1999.

UNMIK Police Spokesman Barry Fletcher

Homicide

A tragedy occurred in Pristina on Saturday. At about 3:00 in the morning, a group of teenage boys were playing with a pistol in an apartment in Dardania while watching a video. A 17-year-old boy pointed the pistol at an 18 year-old boy and pulled the trigger. He may have believed the pistol was unloaded but it was not. The 18 year-old died of a gunshot wound to the head.

The exact circumstances of this incident are still under investigation. However, even if it is found to be an accident, one young person is dead and another’s life is probably ruined.

The weapons amnesty we and KFOR operated earlier this year is over, so it is no longer possible to turn in firearms anonymously. However, anyone who calls the police to surrender an illegal weapon is very unlikely to be arrested.

Arrest For Rape

On May 25th, a 16 year-old girl was raped in Gnjilane. UNMIK Police arrested the suspect on May 28th. The 15 year-old suspect was the victim’s boyfriend.

Border Police Activity

Every government has both the right and the responsibility to control its borders/boundaries so that freedom of movement does not offer opportunities for criminals and violators. The efforts of the UNMIK Border Police, which includes KPS officers, are a good example.

So far this year, 1447 people and 980 vehicles were refused entry into Kosovo, 758 suspect documents were seized, and 189 people were detained for illegal border crossing.

Arrest For Grenade Attack

On May 28th, police responded to a report of an explosion near a primary school in Pristina. The investigation discovered that two K-Albanian men were involved in a dispute and one of them threw a hand grenade at the other’s residence. Fortunately, there were no injuries. The suspect turned himself in to police on May 29th.

Arrest For Attempted Murder

On May 29th in Shalic Village (Mitrovica Region), a K-Albanian man was found inside a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound to the knee. Police arrested the suspect, another K-Albanian male, and recovered the AK-47 rifle used in the crime. Investigators have confirmed the motive for the shooting was a blood feud and the suspect shot the victim in retaliation for a killing that occurred on May 29th 14 years ago.

KFOR Spokesman Drew Andersen

Questions:

Q: Susan; what is the reaction of UNMIK on the report of International Crisis group?

SM: The report hasn’t been released yet; we haven’t seen it here in UNMIK. Thgere was a leaked release of the report to some media. From that, it sounds as if it is basically a retrospective look at the situation in Mitrovica, not a forward looking report and we are looking forward in Mitrovica.