UNMIK ON AIR

17. JAN 2003

CRIME WATCH

(LUAN QORRAJ)

unmik ON Air Jingle

Hello and welcome to UNMIK radio’s Crime Watch edition.

Crime Watch jingle up and keep under

Starting from today, every Friday, you will be able to listen to the radio edition of Crime watch. On every show we will bring you details of cases that, despite intensive police investigations, still remain unsolved.

Music up and fade under link

Ever since the end of the war there have been a number of murders, which are believed to be politically motivated. One of those murders happened after the first municipal elections and has shocked the kosovan public, by it’s timing and, by the choice of the victim. We are talking about the murder of Ismet Rraci (53), the head of Klina municipal Assembly and also heading of the municipal branch of LDK.

Ismet Rraci was a very well known figure, as an LDK activist; since it’s beginnings he became an all-respected figure and during the 90’s – when, because of his stands, he suffered numerous arrests and ill treatments by the notorious Serbian police forces.

During the first Election the LDK party swiped the polls in Klina and Mr. Ismet Rraci was appointed as the head of the municipality – a move, which was more then welcomed by the Majority of Klina residents.

Later, in the morning of April 24, 2001, the body of Ismet Rraci was found by the staircase of the apartment building in which he and his family were living. He was killed on his way to work and the last person to see him alive was his wife Mrs. Xhemile Rraci:

Xhemile Rraci: He went out early and I always saw him off but I didn’t do it that day. He sometimes left at ten to eight, sometimes a quarter to eight. When he had a lot to do, he would say “I have a lot to do today” and he left even at 25 to 8. When I saw my husband off I closed the door and went on with my own work around here.

Ismet Rraci walked out of the door, same as any other morning, he had no personal security whatsoever, although he had had numerous anonymous phone calls threatening his life. While Rraci was walking down the stairs an unknown suspect, who is believed to be a young adult male, opened fire and killed Mr. Rraci with multiple shots from a firearm with a silencer. It is believed that the murderer had information about Mr. Rraci’s routine and was waiting for his victim.

Although it is strongly believed that the murder was politically motivated, same as in most other high-profile murders, no arrests have been made yet.

Nexhat Gashi is Peja’s regional Investigator and he has been involved with the investigation since the beginning. When asked to give an update on the situation he said that the police does have some leads but not enough evidence to make any arrests yet.

Nexhat Gashi: We received some information, which is very useful for the police, especially for the investigators, but they should be useful for the justice organs as well, the court. So we continue to work on solving this case and we think that the citizens will help us.

The problem, says Nexhat Gashi, is that the police believes that someone must have seen something but that they are not coming out with the information:

Nexhat Gashi: We have been working and are constantly working. But the reality is that we need a strong testimony. We are looking for this testimony from witnesses, we think that someone from the community knows something and we expect that they will help us with this case.

On the morning of the 23rd of April 2002 a very well respected political figure was killed in what appears to be a professional assassination. The reason why Mr. Rraci was killed is still unknown to the justice organs, and so is the man who killed him. KPS spokesman, Refki Morina pleads the public to give whatever information they may have and help in solving this case.

Refki Morina: Do you have any information concerning this case? At 8 o clock in the morning. One of you must have been there, must have seen the case, something that has to do with the case. Please, do not hesitate. Call crime watch. Call our confidential number and you will help in solving this case, so that possible perpetrators will face justice.

The number to call, if you have any information about this case, or any other criminal activity is: 038 504 604 6666- again– 038 504 604 6666. Do not hesitate in calling, a police officer is waiting on the other side of the line and if you are concerned about your own safety, you shouldn’t worry, all calls can be made anonymously.

With this we close today’s first edition of UNMIK on air’s Crime Watch. Thanks for listening and stay tuned for more.