UNMIK/PR/1026
Friday, 29 August 2003

Call to Action on the International Day of the Disappeared

PRISTINA – The Office on Missing Persons and Forensics (OMPF) calls for action to establish the fate and whereabouts of missing persons as countries around the world affected by forced disappearance observe the International Day of the Disappeared tomorrow.

OMPF stresses that the issue of missing persons must not be forgotten and that families have a right to know what happened to their family members.

OMPF urges the Serbian authorities, the government of Kosovo, all political parties and international organisations involved in activities relating to missing persons to speed up the process to lessen the trauma to the families and to bring to justice those responsible for the fate of missing persons.

“Approximately 4,000 people are missing in Kosovo. Where are they? OMPF believes not enough is being done to establish the fate and whereabouts of missing persons. If the Serbian authorities, all political parties, family associations and the international community do not facilitate better cooperation, the silence will truly be deafening, ” said Jose Pablo Baraybar, head of OMPF.

· OMPF calls on all those involved in any capacity in the missing persons operation to hasten the process not to forget the suffering of the people.

· OMPF calls for urgent action and exchange of information to establish the fate and whereabouts of approximately 4,000 persons missing in Kosovo.

· OMPF urges the international community to assist to whatever extent possible, in discovering the fate of those who disappeared to end the suffering of the affected families and to bring to justice those responsible for the fate of missing persons.

For Press requiring further information, please contact Office on Missing Persons and Forensics (OMPF) on 038 504 604 5153.