Families of victims suspect foul play at mass grave site

PRISTINA A fire that broke out at a location suspected of containing the remains of Serb civilians kidnapped and killed in Kosovo has been localized. This is according to a statement on Tuesday made by a spokesperson of the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX. Families of victims suspect foul play at mass grave site However, Irina Gudeljevic "could not specify whether and to what degree the fire endangered the investigation into the missing persons at the site, and noted that more details about the proceedings would be released later in the day," Tanjug reported. The fire broke out on Saturday, while firefighters started putting it out on Monday. The families of the missing and kidnapped person expressed their suspicion on Monday that the fire at Zilivode, near Oblic, was started on purpose in order to destroy the evidence about the existence of the mass grave. Similar actions were undertaken in previous years in cases of crimes committed against Serbs, a letter sent by the families stated. The families of the victims expressed their outrage over the fact that the fire broke out as excavation teams reached the depth of 25 meters which, as satellite photos showed, holds the remains of at least 26 persons. EULEX forensic medicine experts and their colleagues from the Pristina Department of Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Kosovo Security Force, recently resumed work at the site, which as halted four years ago. The remains of 26 missing Serbs, including nine miners from the Belacevac coal mines, who were kidnapped in 1998, are believed to be buried at the site, in a coal mine 25 meters below the surface. A total 1,796 people are listed as missing in Kosovo, including 537 Serbs and other non-Albanians. Fire is seen on the surface at Zilivode (Tanjug) Cause unknown Representatives of the EU mission in Kosovo said in a statement later on Tuesday that the cause of the fire in Zilivode "has not been established yet and EULEX has launched an investigation into the case". EULEX Forensic Medicine Department official Alan Robinson stated that EULEX would prepare the assessment of security level regarding the continuation of works at the site hit by the fire. In a written statement, Robinson stated that "considerable damage has been done to the site which is believed to hold the remains of some of the missing Serbs". "This constitutes an important step back for EULEX as regards the assessment of the site, as considerable damage has been inflicted on the walls that now have to be pulled down," Robinson said and added that the works on the excavation "had to be interrupted". EULEX will perform the security assessment as regards the continuation of works, but for the time being, it is too early to issue any early estimates, he said. Tanjug

Families of victims suspect foul play at mass grave site

However, Irina Gudeljevic "could not specify whether and to what degree the fire endangered the investigation into the missing persons at the site, and noted that more details about the proceedings would be released later in the day," Tanjug reported.

The fire broke out on Saturday, while firefighters started putting it out on Monday.

The families of the missing and kidnapped person expressed their suspicion on Monday that the fire at Žilivode, near Oblić, was started on purpose in order to destroy the evidence about the existence of the mass grave.

Similar actions were undertaken in previous years in cases of crimes committed against Serbs, a letter sent by the families stated.

The families of the victims expressed their outrage over the fact that the fire broke out as excavation teams reached the depth of 25 meters which, as satellite photos showed, holds the remains of at least 26 persons.

EULEX forensic medicine experts and their colleagues from the Priština Department of Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Kosovo Security Force, recently resumed work at the site, which as halted four years ago.

The remains of 26 missing Serbs, including nine miners from the Belaćevac coal mines, who were kidnapped in 1998, are believed to be buried at the site, in a coal mine 25 meters below the surface.

A total 1,796 people are listed as missing in Kosovo, including 537 Serbs and other non-Albanians.

Cause unknown

Representatives of the EU mission in Kosovo said in a statement later on Tuesday that the cause of the fire in Žilivode "has not been established yet and EULEX has launched an investigation into the case".

EULEX Forensic Medicine Department official Alan Robinson stated that EULEX would prepare the assessment of security level regarding the continuation of works at the site hit by the fire.

In a written statement, Robinson stated that "considerable damage has been done to the site which is believed to hold the remains of some of the missing Serbs".

"This constitutes an important step back for EULEX as regards the assessment of the site, as considerable damage has been inflicted on the walls that now have to be pulled down," Robinson said and added that the works on the excavation "had to be interrupted".

EULEX will perform the security assessment as regards the continuation of works, but for the time being, it is too early to issue any early estimates, he said.