UNMIK-KFOR Press Briefing: 13 November 2000
UNMIK Spokeswoman Claire Trevena
KFOR Spokesman Major Steven
Shappell
UNMIK Police Spokesman Derek Chappell
UNMIK Spokeswoman Claire Trevena
SRSG in New York
The SRSG Dr. Bernard Kouchner is in New York this week where he will address the United Nations Security Council. He will be giving them an update on the municipal elections and discuss what has been happening here over the last few months as well as obviously looking towards the future
IAC
There will be no IAC tomorrow – this is because Dr Kouchner is in New York and Ibrahim Rugova and Hashim Thaci are at the ceremony to mark the 5th anniversary of the Dayton Peace conference.
Municipal Assemblies
The swearing in took place Saturday in 26 out of the 27 municipalities
where election results were certified in Kosovo. Many of the ceremonies
were delayed because of arguments about the flying of the Albanian
national flag at the ceremonies. In some municipalities the PDK walked
out. In Pristina Dr. Kouchner said there should be a policy of
inclusiveness which allows the flying of all communities’ flags. This
was reflected in a number of municipalities. But the wrangling led
to delays in some ceremonies and the cancellation, until Tuesday, of the
swearing in at Pec/Peja.
Many of the appointed minority members
attended.
Prisoners
As you know the situation in Serb jails has calmed down. All Albanian prisoners from Sremska Mitrovica have been to a Belgrade detention center. 63 were moved from Pozarevac to Smederevo and Cuprija, 45 moved from Nis to a detention center in Vojvodina.
The list of those people from Sremska Mitrovica and Pozarevac has been given to the families here. We expect the list of those in Nis to be handed over shortly.
Dr. Kouchner has been in touch with a number of governments to try to
help resolve the issue. We are also in regular touch with the co minister
for justice in Belgrade as well as human rights lawyers in Belgrade.
Health Conference
Wednesday will see the department of Health and Social Welfare hold a health policy conference all day at the Grand Hotel here in Pristina. It will be looking at a comprehensive health policy for Kosovo, for the period of the Interim administration and one which can be built on for the future of Kosovo. That conference starts at 9 o’clock at the Grand Hotel.
KFOR Spokesman Major Steven Shappell
Weapons Cache Destruction
On 17 November 2000, Multinational Brigade East will conduct a weapons cache destruction event at Camp Bondsteel. The weapons to be destroyed were seized from a weapons cache recently discovered near the village of Dac Mala. Beginning at 11:00 a.m., the weapons to be destroyed will be on display for members of the media. Following a lunch at the Camp Bondsteel dining facility, the weapons will be destroyed by controlled explosion. Transportation for the media will be provided, departing the CPIC at 9:00 a.m. and returning by 3:00 p.m. Interested media representatives should contact KFOR Media Operations in the CPIC in Prishtina / Pristina.
Irish President to Visit Troops
On 18 November 2000, the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, will visit Kosovo. During her trip, she will visit the KFOR Irish Transport Company located at Camp Clarke in Lipjan / Lipljan. She will also visit KFOR Commander Lt. Gen. Carlo Cabigiosu. Members of the media are cordially invited to accompany President McAleese during her visit to Kosovo. The media tour includes transport to the airport for arrival of the President’s party, briefing at Camp Clarke followed by lunch and a dedication ceremony, and a media opportunity at KFOR Headquarters in Prishtina / Pristina. Transportation will depart the Coalition Press Information Centre at 9:45 a.m., returning at approximately 3:30 p.m. Interested media representatives should contact KFOR Media Operations in the CPIC in Prishtina / Pristina.
UNMIL Police Spokesman Derek Chappell
Murder of Ashkalis in Dosevac
In the case of the murdered Ashkalis in Dosevac last Thursday, UNMIK Police have created a special management team to oversee and direct the investigation. 24 investigators are now working directly on this inquiry. Daily reports are being filed and Dr. Kouchner is being personally advised on the progress.
Interviews and statements are being collected and the evidence from the crime scene and from the post mortems is being processed.
UNMIK Police will direct all necessary resources to identify and arrest those responsible for this barbaric attack. We will continue to update you on developments.
Joint UNMIK Police Royal Marines Commando Operation in Pristina
One month ago, on 14 October 2000, UNMIK Police in cooperation with 45 Commando Royal Marines conducted a search operation in Pristina in connection with a number of serious crimes. As you may remember, a total of 25 persons were arrested. As wear nearing the end of the 30-day detention period I would like to advice you on the status of the case. First, four persons are still in detention. The necessary forensic results are not yet completed in Germany. We are requesting an additional 30-day period of detention. I will continue to inform you of any new development in this case.
Suspicious death in Urosevac
On the morning of 11 November, in the village of Urosevac, a 13-year old Ashkali-Roma boy left home to walk into the town. When he failed to return his family became worried and started to search for him. The boy's brother, in the course of the search, entered an abandoned house and found a burnt corpse, which tragically appears to be that of the 13 year old boy. UNMIK Police were notified and attended the scene. Due to the condition of the body it is not possible to determine the cause of death until a post mortem is competed. It has not been established how the fire was started or whether the victim was set on fire or caught fire accidentally.
Murder in Kosare village, Dakovica
At 15.30 hours in the afternoon of 12 November, a car containing 3 people was driving from Kosare towards Batusha. It appears that shots were fired into the driver's side of the car by a person standing on the side of the highway. The driver was killed and the car subsequently went out of control and crashed. A male passenger received serious injuries and is being treated in a local hospital. UNMIK Police are following a line of inquiry in this case. There appears to be no ethnic or political motive of this crime.
Murder in Stpelj village, Klina
At 20.13 hours last night in Klina, a Kosovo-Albanian man was murdered in the village of Stuplj. The 34-year old male had heard gun shots outside his house and went to investigate the source of the shooting. Once outside, he was shot a number of times by unknown assailants. He was taken to Pec/Peya hospital where he was pronounced dead. The crime scene was sealed off and due to the late hour and darkness it was not possible to conduct a detailed examination. That is being done this morning in the day light. At the present time there is no obvious motive.
I always try and find a good news story. Sometimes it is harder than others. In the town of Gnjilane, UNMIK Police together with the Kosovo Police Service have been conducting an operation against illicit drugs. Over the past week, 4 persons have been arrested and a total of 24 packets of heroin have been recovered. What is remarkable about this is that much of the information leading to the arrests has been forthcoming from the population of the town, who have shown a increasing willingness to cooperate with both the KPS and UNMIK Police.
Kosovo Police Service Anniversary
This coming Saturday 18 November is a significant date in the postwar development of Kosovo and in the evolution of policing here. It is the anniversary of the first graduating class of the Kosovo Police Service (KPS). In November 1999, 174 men and women graduated from the new Police Training Academy. These officers are now performing independent patrol throughout much of Kosovo. These men and women displayed real courage in committing themselves to be police officers so soon after the conflict ended. Since November 1999 about 2700 officers have followed their example and graduated from the Police College. I would like to invite all of you to attend the Kosovo Police Academy in Vushtri/Vucitrn on Saturday 18 November at 15:00 hours for an Anniversary Celebration to mark this important accomplishment.
To give you an overview of crime over the past week, indications are that major crimes have increased. This continues a trend established two weeks ago which saw violence crimes rise after a long period of steady decline. Last week the police recorded 95 major crimes throughout Kosovo as opposed to 78 the previous week. Seven murders were recorded, an increase on the six reported the previous week. Nine attempted murders were reported compared to two the previous week and nine aggravated assaults were reported compared to three the previous week. During the past week police arrested 105 persons throughout Kosovo for a variety of criminal offences. Eleven of them were for outstanding major crimes, five of those arrested are for previous murders.
Questions
Q: How would you explain the recent rise in the crime rate?
DC: I really don’t have any explanation. It is more remarkable given the period of calm and tranquility leading up to the election. It is possible that given the success of the election, there are elements within Kosovo society that don’t want to see an evolution into a democratic province or it could be just that there is a violent trend within Kosovo society that is exacerbated by the number of weapons that are in private hands.
Q: Derek, you said that people who were arrested by the joint operation between he commandos and the police about a month ago, four of them have been kept for another month while you are waiting for forensic evidence. A week before that operation, Mr. Sabi Gaci was picked up. Is he still in custody?
DC: I will have to make an inquiry and get back to you. I am not aware whether or not he is in custody. The last time I checked several weeks ago, he was and I believe he is still in custody but I will call you this afternoon and advise you.
Q: You said that during the election campaign and also on election day, there was calm in Kosovo. Why this escalation of violence in Kosovo after a week of quietness?
DC: Well, I think I have answered that. I don’t have an analysis why we are seeing an increase in violence in Kosovo. Possibly people were concentrating on the election, possible people realized that the eyes of the world were on Kosovo leading up to the election. But the fact that elections were held with remarkable peace, tranquility and tolerance show that that is a state that can be created here. I really cannot explain why we have this increase in murders and violent crime weeks after the election.
Q: The two Yugoslav officers who were arrested in September after the Yugoslav elections held in Kosovo, what happened to them? Are they still in jail and if yes, what charges have been filed against them?
DC: Again I do not have that information directly at hand, but if you see me after the press conference I will get you the information.
Q: Do you know how much heroin was found in the 24 packages in Gnjilane? Was it a large find?
DC: They were not large quantities. Most of them were in small packets. I don’t have the exact amount but probably each seizure was several grams.
Q: The weapons find that is to be blown up at the weekend, do you know who owned it? Has anyone been arrested? And the corpses that were found with the weapons have they been identified? And is there a reason if they have not been identified?
SS: I have no information on whether anybody has been arrested yet or whether the corpses have been identified.
Q: Do you know who owned the weapons?
SS: Again, we don’t know, they are still investigating.
DC: I have nothing to add there. No new developments in that case. No arrests have been made.
Q: Are the corpses being treated as murder victims?
SS: I am not aware of the result of the post-mortem to establish the cause of death.
Q: I would like to talk about the flag issue. How is it that in most of the municipalities in Pristina, they allowed the flags to be brought in but did not in some cases? What is the next step? Are they going to allow or not allow national flags in the auditorium of the municipal assemblies?
CT: It was basically quite confused on Saturday but it developed across Kosovo. There is going to be a policy of inclusiveness and this is going to be the future policy. The reason why sometimes it was delayed was that this was essentially being discussed on municipality-by-municipality basis. But Dr. Kouchner made it very clear in Pristina on Saturday when he was addressing the municipal assembly that it should be one of inclusiveness and therefore if one flag was going to be flown then all the flags of the communities that are represented at that assembly must be flown.
Q: So during municipal assemblies’ meetings flags will be flown?
CT: If there are flags, there have to be flags of every community present in the assembly.
Q: What is the stand of UNMIK on the protests going on in front of the National Theatre?
CT: I said in my briefing that we were talking very frequently with Belgrade. Dr. Kouchner has been talking with other governments. Our message is that we are trying very hard to resolve the issue and we hope it is resolved very soon.
Q: Do UNMIK Police or KFOR have any immediate plans of putting back in place free traffic access in central Pristina?
DC: I think the problem of controlling public disorder is always subject to local evaluation. Yes, we could go in, we could clear the streets, we could establish public access to the streets. Sometimes public order requires that you show sensitivity towards the cause and towards the people demonstrating. It might be that temporary inconvenience is more effective than clearing the street strictly in the interest of maintaining the rule of law. In order words if it becomes a serious problem affecting transportation within Pristina, we will obviously evaluate it.
Q: Do you know something about an attack on a Bosniak family near Vitomirica? I think a woman was killed about three days ago.
DC: Yes, there was a case like that. I hear a lady was shot by accident. She was not the target of the attack. They were intending to shoot somebody else but she was hit by gunfire and died but she was not the intended target.
Q: I have information that three or four days ago in Viti in the village of Dobilde, two surveyors together with their wives were arrested by Macedonian Police or military troops. Do you have any information on this case?
SS: I can check but we have nothing right
now.