New Kosova Report

Amnesty urges justice in Kosovo for the vitims of 10 Feburary, 2007

Tuesday, 12 February 2008

Amnesty International

On the occasion of the anniversary of the unlawful killings of Mon Balaj and Arbën Xheladini, Amnesty International extends the organization’s sympathy to the families of the two men and appeals to the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) that before they leave Kosovo, they ensure that justice is done, and seen to be done, for those families.

Amnesty International continues to urge the authorities open a criminal investigation into the deaths of Mon Balaj and Arbën Xheladini, and the serious injury of up to 80 other persons.

Amnesty International also continues to urge Romania to return to Kosovo the 11 police officers repatriated in March 207, to be questioned as part of a criminal investigation, or otherwise make them available in Romania to the authorities, so to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice and that the families of the deceased as well, as those that were injured, receive full and adequate reparation.

UNMIK has failed to guarantee the right to a remedy to people whose rights have been violated by members of the international community, a consequence of the immunity from prosecution in Kosovo enjoyed by UNMIK personnel and their consequent lack of accountability before the Kosovo courts.

Amnesty International has repeatedly urged UNMIK and the UN to ensure that persons whose rights have been violated by UNMIK over the past nine years receive prompt and adequate reparation, including redress, as required under Article 2 of the International Convention of Civil and Political Rights.

International police taking part in international operations and suspected of violations of human rights should not be allowed to evade justice by hiding behind national borders. UNMIK was mandated by the UN Security Council to re-establish the rule of law and respect for human rights in Kosovo. The UN and contributing countries must ensure that all those responsible for human rights violations, criminal or other wrongful conduct are brought to justice.

Finally, Amnesty International urges the European Union (EU), to ensure that all police from EU member states to be deployed to Kosovo in the future are trained in international standards on the use of force and firearms before their arrival; that clear and comprehensive command and control structures are established for all future deployments; to establish and implement mechanisms to bring to account in Kosovo any law enforcement officers - or any other members of the mission - suspected of violating international standards; and ensure that provisions for reparation including compensation and rehabilitation are enforced.