No progress in case of K. Serb kids shooting

UNMIK has yet to make any concrete progress in the case of an attack committed five years ago, victim Bogdan Bukumiric said. Bukumiric sent a letter to UNMIK, which was answered by Robert L. Dean, acting director of the UNMIK Department of Justice, who said that “investigations are on going and we are gathering statements from a large number of witnesses, but along with that, unfortunately, no evidence was found to identify the perpetrator of the crime.” No progress in case of K. Serb kids shooting Dean explained that “a new official was added to the case to further investigate it, and the investigation is now focusing on finding new witnesses,” adding that “it is too early to know what will be uncovered by the investigation. Bukumiric said written to UNMIK Chief Lamberto Zannier on several occasions in regard to the crime in which two Serb children were killed and four injured in the Kosovo enclave of Gorazdevac, demanding an update on how the investigation is progressing five years after the crime. He reminded that the attacker shot the children, playing near the Bistrica River, in the back, and that he lost two friends, Ivan Jovovic and Panta Dakic. Along with Bukumiric, Marko Bogicevic, Dragana Srbljak and Djordje Ugrenovic were also injured. Visibly shaken and disappointed by the reply he received, Bukumiric said that it has been five years of repeating the same routine answers, which is too little for the surviving victims and even less for the families of the murdered. “Now, after another year, there is a new official on the case who will look into it further… it seems they are on purpose making sure that this horrible case is never uncovered, just like many that have been committed against Serbs in Kosovo,” he said. Bukumiric, 15 at the time of the attack, was severely injured when a shooter or shooters fired from the direction of the Albanian village of Zahac. He was operated on six times and was in a coma for six days. After a long struggle, Bukumiric was able to finish high school but he unsure if he will be able to continue with his studies He is currently living in the Belgrade suburb of Bezanija with his father and brother, in an apartment he received from the Kosovo Coordination center. He went back to his hometown of Gorazdevac for the first time after the incident in March 2004 and continues to visit often, but says he always has a hard time talking to the friends who were also by the river on the day of the attack. Bukumiric describes how walking by the river sends chills down his spine. “At that time I ask myself, what did we children do to deserve this.”

No progress in case of K. Serb kids shooting

Dean explained that “a new official was added to the case to further investigate it, and the investigation is now focusing on finding new witnesses,” adding that “it is too early to know what will be uncovered by the investigation.

Bukumirić said written to UNMIK Chief Lamberto Zannier on several occasions in regard to the crime in which two Serb children were killed and four injured in the Kosovo enclave of Goraždevac, demanding an update on how the investigation is progressing five years after the crime.

He reminded that the attacker shot the children, playing near the Bistrica River, in the back, and that he lost two friends, Ivan Jovović and Panta Dakić.

Along with Bukumirić, Marko Bogićević, Dragana Srbljak and Đorđe Ugrenović were also injured.

Visibly shaken and disappointed by the reply he received, Bukumirić said that it has been five years of repeating the same routine answers, which is too little for the surviving victims and even less for the families of the murdered.

“Now, after another year, there is a new official on the case who will look into it further… it seems they are on purpose making sure that this horrible case is never uncovered, just like many that have been committed against Serbs in Kosovo,” he said.

Bukumirić, 15 at the time of the attack, was severely injured when a shooter or shooters fired from the direction of the Albanian village of Zahač.

He was operated on six times and was in a coma for six days.

After a long struggle, Bukumirić was able to finish high school but he unsure if he will be able to continue with his studies

He is currently living in the Belgrade suburb of Bežanija with his father and brother, in an apartment he received from the Kosovo Coordination center.

He went back to his hometown of Goraždevac for the first time after the incident in March 2004 and continues to visit often, but says he always has a hard time talking to the friends who were also by the river on the day of the attack.

Bukumirić describes how walking by the river sends chills down his spine.

“At that time I ask myself, what did we children do to deserve this.”