Serb police terror in Kosovo

GREEK HELSINKI MONITOR

(Greek National Committee of the International Helsinki Federation)

& MINORITY RIGHTS GROUP - GREECE

(Greek Affiliate of Minority Rights Group International)

P.O. Box 51393, GR-14510 Kifisia, Greece; tel. 30-1-620.01.20; fax: 30-1-807.57.67;

e-mail: office@greekhelsinki.gr      http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

//1998

 

TOPIC: Serb police terror in Kosovo

 

The cooperating organizations Greek Helsinki Monitor and Minority Rights Group - Greece distribute the latest press release of the International Helsinki Federation

 

Serb Police Terror Must End; US and EU Must Mediate

 

Vienna, Pristina, Podgorica and Belgrade, 2 March 1998. The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) and the Kosovo Helsinki Committee urge an immediate end to Serbian reprisal-terror missions in Kosovo, which have resulted in the deaths of at least16 Kosovo Albanians and four Serbs in the past two days. Kosovo Albanians in the Drenica region are reported to have been shot indiscriminately in punishment for acts of violent resistance and self-protection against Serb repression.

 

The use of force by Serb forces is excessive and violates international standards governing the conduct of law enforcement officers. Serb police forces have shot at civilians from helicopters, have destroyed civilian homes with grenade launchers, and have killed civilians for no justifiable reason. The dead range in age from 16-78 years.

 

In a demonstration in Pristina today, over 100,000 persons took to the streets in peaceful protest against Serbian state terror against Albanians in the Drenica region. Serbian riot police intervened by force, using tear gas, water cannons and truncheons, breaking up the protest by force. Over 100 Albanians are thus far reported to have asked for medical help due to police violence. In addition there were reports of Serbian civilians attacking peaceful protesters. Four persons were seriously injured when an unmarked automobile rammed the crowd. Other injuries were reported when a police water cannon truck rammed other peaceful protesters. One person was reported shot in the head by a Serbian civilian.

 

The IHF and constituent Helsinki Committees are deeply concerned that Serb police manhunts continue, resulting in shoot-outs and other violence in which innocent civilians are the victims. Such violence can spiral out of control and further endanger security in Kosovo and in region.

 

We call for immediate and efficient international pressure to convince the government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to withdraw its forces and create conditions in which an internationally mediated settlement can take place, and to restore the human rights of all inhabitants in Kosovo.

 

For more information:

 

International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Aaron Rhodes, Executive Director     +43-1-402 73 87

 

Kosovo Helsinki Committee

Gazmend Pula, Chairperson               +381-38-26 153