Arrests of Albanians in Bujanoc – continuation of ethnic cleansing policies

Early in the morning today, Serb gendarmerie forces searched for weapons, and mistreated and arrested 8 Albanians in the municipality of Bujanoc, some of whom were former members of UÇPMB.

The Serb gendarmerie acting under the orders of Serbia’s Minister of Interior, Ivica Daçiç was brutal, not sparing women and children.

Serbia’s Minister of the Interior, Ivica Daçiç said they were arrested for war crimes against civilians; then he said they were members of a recently created armed unit; and then said they had resisted arrest. Meanwhile, the Government of Hashim Thaçi, not only has done nothing to protect our co-nationals, but hasn’t even found time to react. On the contrary, as is seen clearly, the Kosovo Government is helping Serbia to organize Serbia’s elections in the Republic of Kosovo, as a reward for Serbia’s inhumane treatment Serbia of Albanians, whenever it has the chance.

How much Serbia respects agreements can be seen from the arrest of the brother of Ridvan Qazimi (Commander Lleshi), who was one of the signatories of the Konçul Agreement, killed on May 24, 2001, immediately after signing the agreement which demilitarized UÇPMB, and the peace agreement for UÇPMB’s just war.

These arrests are a continuation of Serbia’s anti-Albanian political policies, which aim to ethnically cleanse the Presheva Valley. An example of such plans is the Municipality of Medvegja, where at one point, 6,500 Albanians lived, but now there are just 600.

Lëvizja VETËVENDOSJE! invites all international and domestic bodies to exercise pressure on Serbia, to immediately stop the repression of the Albanian population there. In addition, Lëvizja VETËVENDOSJE! asks the Kosovo Government to end its indifferent attitude toward Albanians in Serbia, and to behave like the Government of a sovereign state, which is obliged to protect the interests of its co-nationals, wherever they are.

Lëvizja VETËVENDOSJE!