14 K. Serbs hurt in clashes with police

Blerim - You are completely wrong. Besides which, I am sure that many Albanians also do not or cannot pay their electricity bills.

In many European countries providers are not allowed to cut off electricity to homes. They can take legal action to get the money, but for years it has been illegal not to provide electricity. It is a basic human right.

I understand the fact that it is very difficult living without electricity. However, this should not be considered as politically related. Everywhere in the world people pay for what they get, why should people of Kosovo, regardless their ethnicity, be an exception?!

Regards,
Blerim, Prishtina

These Serbs of central Kosovo may have no choice but to eventually move north of the Ibar where they will have safety in numbers and have their electricity via Belgrade and UNMIK. Of course this would be the ethnic cleansing of central Kosovo, probably Pristina's intention anyway.

I note also that it is not just homes that have their electricity cut off. Schools and health centres too -- we are talking about children and the sick here. Shame on Pristina! And on KFOR and EULEX for their indifference!

I'm italian and if I don't pay my bills the ENI company cut electricity.
It is normal.

Kate,
electricity is not a human right. Also Albanians do pay their electricity, we don't turn on every appliance in our homes with 50 light bulbs 24/7.

KEK won't turn back the power until its' been paid, even if it takes years. Furthermore, KEK doesn't accept your "money" that Serbian Dinar is NO GOOD.

>> "In many European countries providers are not allowed to cut off electricity to homes. They can take legal action to get the money, but for years it has been illegal not to provide electricity. It is a basic human right."

name the country you can refuse to let the power company to even read the meter, don't pay for 9-10 years and still lets you have /use unlimited power.

Why not give the Serbs the most basic human right on earth, freedom of movement and allow them to access employment where they can and get a salary. They live in ghettos with no basic rights at all. Only 30 percent of all the residents in Kosovo pay electricity bills and as Serbs make up less that 5 percent of the present population who is to blame for the main deficit. Cutting off electricity and water to the enclaves/ghettos has been a tactic used to get rid of the Serbs and has been used effectively and with inpunity against the Serbian population for the past 10 years. Having spent many nights in enlcaves I never remember one night where the electricity was on all night.

Remember folks, the US Ambassador to Serbia called this trainwreck a "functioning state".

kate,
During my time in Kosovo, I knew of many Albanian families who did not and could not pay their electric bills and guess what? They were disconnected and were not reconnected unless they worked out a payment and/or payment plan.
In this village not only are they not paying but refusing to allow meters to be read.
The simple solution would be for the Serbian or Russian govt to pay those bills, but then that would go against their interests.
Don't know about Europe or UK but in the US no pay, no play.

Dear Kate, I don't know in which country you live but here in England if you don't pay your bills you'll end up in court with huge amount of money to be paid (lawyers, court fees etc). In Albania some people are having their electricity cut off simply because they haven't paid their bills.

I think the Kosovo albanians are forgetting where they get most of their electricity from? Yes! Serbia. But, I don't blame the K-albanians, I blame the Serbian government for being fools. Cut of the power to Kosovo and Presevo and let them taste their own medecine.

I agree with Kate…

Cutting off electricity to Serbian enclaves is a political move by Prishtina… Many families in Kosovo are unable to pay their electric bills – the unemployment is huge, there are no jobs, there is no money. However, the Serbs are targeted… why not use some of the millions donated by international communities to help the needed, the poor, the unemployed, and the minority? Kosovo is not tolerant of their minorities, they are not democratic, they are not multiethnic, they are not lawful, - Kosovo government does not have equal rights for all.

Electricity as a basic human right is a controversial topic, but most people would agree that it was. Case in point being what's happening in Gaza.

Most civilised governments would not cut off electricity, especially to the poor Serbian communities who have already been so marginalised on the basis of ethnicity. That in itself goes against the UN and EU charters.

It is the Serbian government's job to jolt the UN and EU into living up to these responsibilties.

There has also been some extremely dubious dealings over the monopoly of electricity in Kosovo - as I am sure you know.

This move to leave Serbian and other communities without power is not only heartless and savage, but also projects an extremely bad image of the Kosovan regional government to the rest of the world.

Albanian from Albania etc:

"Dear Kate, I don't know in which country you live but here in England if you don't pay your bills you'll end up in court with huge amount of money to be paid (lawyers, court fees etc). In Albania some people are having their electricity cut off simply because they haven't paid their bills."

Firstly, England is my own country. Thank you for your expertise but I have already said that people who don't pay their bills would be taken to court to get the money back. If they couldn't pay, they certainly wouldn't have their electricity cut off - there would be outside assistance.

Especially if they were elderly or had children.

Schools and health centres etc. would never have their electricity cut off. I agree with Iowe 100% - this is shameful.

This is a matter of cutting off whole communities, therefore it absolutely is a basic human right and illegal.

Where is the UN? Why are they not protecting as they are obliged by law to do? The Serbian government must push on this matter.

Also, there must be many Albanian communities where residents have not or could not pay their bills. Have they been cut off in the same way? Have their schools etc. been cut off? I doubt it, but if so, it is equally shameful and backward.

But don't worry, Albanian from Albania etc (I say this because I genuinely can't remember the full name), because if you ever face the UK courts I am sure you will qualify for legal aid and not pay a penny in court costs. Another basic human right for those who genuinely can't afford to pay their bills.

The only way to survive is to FIGHT BACK.

"Today's protest march was led by women and children"

Putting women and children first, a Hamas tactic to get headlines. Memo to radicals: it is still illegal to block highways because you don't want to pay the bill. And be men and lead next time.

Mike, Kosova PAYS Serbia for the electricity. It's a commodity, bought and sold in the market.

Blerim, Prishtina "why should people of Kosovo, regardless their ethnicity, be an exception?!"

I couldn't agree more, so why don't you start be refunding the Serbian taxpayer his dues for the unpaid albanian bills of the 80's and 90's?

I*L*L*O*G*I*C*A*L - you never fail to live upto your name. At least Serbia has it's own currency, internationally recognised. This is one thing among many others which the "State" of Kosovo can't get legitimised. If you print Mickey Mouse on your banknotes, at least the world will recognise the symbols, that might help you create a Kosovo currency.

Alban - in answer to your question - the UK. It's ILLEGAL for utility providers to cut off customers, even when they can't pay, i.e. electricity, gas, water and telecoms. But only civilised countries provide this service. When the albo's wouldn't pay their bills in the 80's and 90's, Serbia didn't cut off their supplies.

Having power is not a basic human right... YOu mustr pay for it.

Then I want my own jet.. It is a basic human right... Just kidding. I must pay for it just like these people regardless of ethnicity should pay their bills

1: The EU has provided over 400 million Euro in 'energy assistance' to Kosovo since 1999:

ec.europa.eu/enlargement/archives/ear/publications/main/documents/EnergyKosovoJuly07.pdf

Not to mention the 'misappropriation' of quite of these funds.

2: Even albanian NGO's have protested against the price rises:

http://www.botashqiptare.tv/index.php/sq/lajme/1-politics/9-kosovo-ngos-against-electricity-price-hike

And from the same link:

"Beside the technical problems, the power company's main woes stem from the thousands of illegal connections stealing power from the grid, and from consumer's refusal to start paying for electricity which they got for free throughout the 1990s , when Serbian authorities, and bills, had little formal reach in Kosovo."

So Albanians themselves payed no bills for a long, long time and still continue to illegally appropriate electricity from KEK.

So, KEK has upped prices despite receiving massive funds, service has not improved (cut-outs) and 'illegal connections' in great numbers by kosovo albanians as indicated in the article.

Add to this that it is only serb villages being cut off and it looks fairly clear that this is being used by Pristina as a political weapon to enforce their 'sovereignty' over the few remaining Serbs.

So the Serbs are supposed to pay up and the Albanians don't have to pay for a decade of free electricity?

Who are you kidding?

If representatives of these villages want Belgrade “to start negotiating with those in Kosovo with jurisdiction in the matter”, isn’t easier for them to start talking to Prishtina directly. Belgrade is too detached and frankly a bit too far to have a coherent view of what's going on in the villages. Even if we were talking about Mitrovica, Prishtina is one third of the distance that the town has with a significant Serbian equivalent. It will be more natural and less expensive for Serbs to look towards Prishtina rather then Nish, lets say. More importantly BG is trying to retract from a previous dependency policy and hence the proposal last month to start cutting out double pay for officials. But even if BG is prepared to pay the outstanding electricity bill for the rest of eternity, that’s hardly the solution to Serb survival in Kosova. What happens to jobs, education, taxes, infrastructure projects, services and a 1000 little things like that?

People, let's not forget to mention the brave and honorable Kosovo Albanian Police force. It must have been a very difficult action to beat Serbian women and children, but they seem to have succeeded. They should be awarded medals for such bravery under these circumstances. Those women, children and babas certainly needed to be taught a lesson.

Hip Hip Hooray for the Kosovo Albanian Police force - true Albanian heroes.
First Class!

Kate i appreciate that you replied back. You and me we know very well that there are no freebies in this world. I am for some sort of help towards families in need but this is up to the government. The electric company can't aford to waste all this megawats otherwise they will go bust. Cheers

"Tell me please, what would serbian electrical company do to someone who wouldnt pay bills for 9 years and wouldnt even allow them to read the electrical meter?
(afrim hoxha, 8 March 2009 18:25)"

-- Certainly not send in the police to beat up the protestors. Because if they did, and the protestors were Albanian, you'd be screaming bloody murder.

This is just a ploy to make life as miserable as possible for the Serbs. All the comments from Albanians saying serbs must pay for electricity etc- who pays for their basket case 'country' they haven't a penny they've made themselves!! What hypocrites!! What excuse did the Albanians use when they tried to stop Russian donated medicines and food being sent to the Serbs? Kosovo is all Serbian anyway so they Albanians have no right to go pushing serbs around. What a mess in they still born country of 'kosovar'!!

The UN should take care of this. The UN is in charge of Kosovo. Not the provincial government.

The UN should act now. Remember, 1244 is still valid!

Alban #32 wrote:

"You are lucky we aren't as 'humanitarian' as Serbia was in the 1980-1990's"

Yes, I'm sure the K-Serbs are quite thankful for the K-Albanian humanitarinism. Lucky for them.

Let's bring NATO back to finish their "Humanitarian Bombing"

Alban also wrote: "B92, why don't you mention that these 'women and children' wounded 8 Kosovo police by throwing rocks"

Yes, again Alban, you are correct. That is why I suggested that the K-Albanian police force should recieve medals. Battling against women, children and babas is no easy work. Only the bravest could survive such battle. The wounded must receive accolades.

Pss, here are the few relevant points relating to non-payment according to
British Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29) F5,
F4Non-payment of suppliers’ charges
2. — (1) Where a customer has not, within the requisite period, paid all charges due from him to an electricity supplier in respect of the supply of electricity to any premises or the provision of an electricity meter, the supplier may—
(a)
install a pre-payment meter on the premises; or
(b)
disconnect the premises,
“requisite period” in our case extends over ten years.

To Afrim Hoxha #26:

The Serbian government would do what it did back in the 80's and 90's - continue to provide electricity to the K-Albanians that refused to pay their utility bills...

Hypocricy - Thy name is Kosova.

Albanian from Albania: "The electric company can't aford to waste all this megawats otherwise they will go bust."

Actually how it works in the UK is that the non-payer appears in court and if it is found that they could have paid, they will be made to pay the amount plus all court expenses, and most probably a fine.

Or an agreement is reached to pay in instalments - so no, the electricity company won't go bust.

Plus there is rarely a culture in developed countries where everybody feels they have the right to free electricity!

Emma and Diana - I agree with both of your comments and happy International Women's Day from the UK (where unfortunately it is not known about!).

Alban
You mentioned putting women and children first, I would like to remind you that when the Archangels monastery in Prizren was burnt to the ground in March 2004, the 500 strong mob coming up Zupa valley from Prizren was headed by women and small children all holding missiles and some holding dangerous weapons. Women also blocked the road outside the German base in Prizren. Ask German KFOR for the photos. iseult henry

"it has been illegal not to provide electricity. It is a basic human right."

...and basic human rights should be controlled and provided by us all together, i,e the state. In this case Serbia.

Nearly two millennia ago, in his Life of Agricola, Roman historian Tacitus put these words in the mouth of a Germanic chieftain; Calgacus describes the Romans thus: "Ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant." They create a wasteland, and call it peace.

... and please let me add happy International Womens Day to those brave women who tried to protest peacefully against having their electricity cut.

Unfortunately the UN, EU and gang seem nowhere in sight when it comes to allowing peaceful protest or the return of electricity to whole communities - both legal human rights under the UN.

My mother's neighbour in Zemun (municipality of Belgrade) who is an ethnic Albanian has cheated with his electricity meter by putting some sort of magnet in/on it.The people from electric distribution knocked on his door one day and figured that he was fraudulent. However two days later when they came along with the police, he had a new meter saying that he had to replace it because it was broken. Needless to say this new meter was without the magnet.So they went home as they did not had the evidence anymore! The whole matter was made even worse by him yelling out slogans that they can behave such and so and discriminate him because he is an Albanian!
I wonder how long will the Serbs be fooled by the Albanians. It seems they just deserve it, because if you get fooled more than once, if you let yourselves be frequently tricked- there is a not such a nice word for it.

My full support goes out to the Serbians. This is not a simple matter of unpaid bills but rather handing money over to the mafia and their criminal structures.

Keep the protests up, day in day out and victory is ours. Continue in your attempts to block the road and that in itself will cost more to "police" time than the cost of any demands.

Once the brain figures out the daily costs of keeping the road open with 20 police they will soon cave in.

The main blame rest with Belgrade!
This is a tiny village who refuse to pay for the electricity being pushed by Belgrade, to try to score some political point. This dispute can easily end if the local people come to some sort of arrangement or payment plan with the authorities. However when you have these people not even recognising the authorities it is impossible to help them. The Kosovo government even offer to right off all the previous bills in return for the villagers to sign new contract but they refused.
This is just a game being played from politician in Belgrade claiming to be the protectorates of Serbs in Kosovo.
If the Serb commentators really care about these Serbs they can offer to pay all the village electricity bills and stop “throwing petrol to the fire” .

Mike, Kosova PAYS Serbia for the electricity. It's a commodity, bought and sold in the market.


...with money they received from outside sources, aka donations. I wonder how this travesty of a state would be able to pay their bills if it weren't for the stupidity of the western countries giving them millions of dollars/euros. If the donor countries were to cut off the welfare spicket and the Kosovo "govt" couldn't pay their bills to Serbia, how would they react to having all of their power shut off...not to well I bet. The ethnic Albanians would probably start up with their usual antagonistic rhetoric and then start their terrorist activities up again to try and force the Serbian nation to give them what they want, none of those in charge of this so called state has worked a honest day in their life (sorry, organ trafficking doesn't count, neither does weapons, drug and human trafficking). I yearn for the day when the West stops paying tribute money to the thugs and criminals who have taken over Kosovo & Metohija. The founding fathers of my country are looking down from above with disgust over what my govt has been doing for the past 15-20 years in this region, as well as, the rest of the world.

interesting, let´s not forget, there is no legitimate albanian power in the southern serbian province that could even talk of having the competence to cut serbian citzens off from electricity - in their own land!

guys, you don´t seem to get it.

if you are attacking civilians, THEN it´s high-time that the serbian state takes appropriate actions.

if not, it would be the proof of an quisling-regime that is not protecting the own citizens.

There is no political reason here. Not that the serbs of Shillovo do not pay their bills but they dont even allow the electrical company to read the meters. Tell me please, what would serbian electrical company do to someone who wouldnt pay bills for 9 years and wouldnt even allow them to read the electrical meter?

Even if KEK are in their own right, politicaly they are shooting themself in the foot on this case. Come on K-alb you are the ones at power now (so to speak), not the persecuted ones anymore, you should learn to take care of your image and use more sophisticated policies to show signs of good will to small, vulnerable minorities and calm them down,cotherwise it is going to backfire and damage your international credit one day or an other...

Dear BH_NYC,

Here in UK, pending that you are UK permanent resident/citizen, you would have not only free electricity, but also free house plus money for nothing (for life). In the USA, money for taxis gos mainly to the Army, while in UK it goes mainly to social security.

I hope that you are doing well in USA and that you are not affected with the current crises.

I would have moved to UK if I was that dumb to believe that over there you can use as much electricity as you want for free. Or that the electricity is a human right?! Human need? Yes. But, right?? Food is our basic need and it's NOT FREE. UK Government may help the unemployed with some type of social benefits but when you go to Tesco's you will still have to pay for your food and water. Try and take it without paying and you'll see what happens weather you're rich or poor, old or young. Same thing with utility bills. First you get a couple of red ones, then the bailiffs, then the bailiffs accompanied with police and in many cases you even get evicted from your property. I don't think any UK resident could say that they've never heard of pensioners being evicted from their property for unpaid Council Tax, unless these residents only read Serbian media.

Ron,
For once you are 100% right. The UN should have addressed this problem and had the electricity shut off years ago before they turned that authority over to the Kosovo govt.

If Tadic did this to Albanians in Presevo he'd be indicted by the Hague for crimes against humanity already.

BH_NYC - Do your homework a little more diligently. If you live in the UK and you can't afford to pay for your utility bills, it is ILLEGAL for utility suppliers to cut off your service. This issue is very simple. I live in the UK so i know what I'm talking about. You live in the US and know diddly squat about UK law. comment on what you know, not on what you would like to believe to suit your argument and justification of disguised Albanian oppression.

To:
Comment 51. Please read comment 50, there's your answer.

To; Milorad and Kate, I am a strong supporter of both our governments' policies in almost all important issues and I have no reason to attack UK despite your provocations.
The discussion here is weather we should make stealing legal for the poor, and you seem to think it already is legal in some countries.

Here in the famous United States of America (USA), no pay, no services. Peoples power is cut off here left and right. How can a company survive if you do not pay? Just because you can't pay, that doesn't mean you freeload from the rest of the people, and definitely not for 10 years.

Here in USA, i have neighbors whose power got cut off, and believe me, he did not get power for a month and he only got power back because he made a fat check out to them for 4 months of non-payment. At least the Serbs got about 9 years of free electricity, here in US its 4 months and you get cut.

BH_NYC:

Nobody is accusing you of attacking the UK, but you just can't seem to get to grips with the fact that it is illegal under UK law to deprive any citizen (or subject to be specific) of power or water.

This hasn't resulted in power companies going bust - believe me. Non payers have to prove that they are genuine, and usually do have to pay what and when they can. If they can pay but won't then legal action would be taken against them, but they are not cut off.

Very few people would go through a lengthy legal process and have their personal finances scrutinised just for free utilities!

There are all sorts of ways for the utilities companies to get their money back, but if people genuinely can't pay then they aren't left to live in a dark hole with no running water.

Good grief, this whole discussion has shocked me that this is not more usual in other countries.

"The Serbian government would do what it did back in the 80's and 90's - continue to provide electricity to the K-Albanians that refused to pay their utility bills..."

You are lucky we aren't as 'humanitarian' as Serbia was in the 1980-1990's

"The EU has provided over 400 million Euro in 'energy assistance' to Kosovo since 1999: "

400 million over 10 years is ....nothing on 2 million people! Serbs owe some 100 million euros if they were to pay for their share since 1999. KEK is cracking down on non-payers and thieves, regardless of ethnicity. The power is a huge share of the budget and there is a lot of import as well, twice as bad.
Those with unmetered are the worst offenders, all winter they leave the heat on and summer they water their land ripping off the power company thousands of euros a year.

B92, why don't you mention that these 'women and children' wounded 8 Kosovo police by throwing rocks?

Have Serbia pay for it then, they are paying salaries and telling Serbs not to cooperate so they should write oen check to KEK. Make it to UNMIK - Kosovo it doesn't matter

So sad... they are just trying to force the Serbs to leave from their own homeland. Half of Kosovo population doesn't pay, yet they are only bothering Serbs.

For 50 years albanians didn't pay their bills and Serbia did not cut off any electricity to them.

When is the next election?

Milorad: "In the USA, money for taxes goes mainly to the Army, while in UK it goes mainly to social security."

BH_NYC - Milorad is right, and your comment (and others) remind me of a visit to NY State, when I was accused of being a 'Lefty Pinko' because I spoke in praise of the National Health Service concept.

You sound almost proud of the fact that poor people can't access basic amenities or help.

Even if my taxes end up paying for some state scroungers and fraudsters, at least they also pay for genuine cases. I would far rather pay for food and heating than war and destruction.

By the way, in the US soldiers returning from war zones seem to be treated even worse in terms of support than in the UK, as far as I can tell.

Maybe some of that defence budget should be used to help people instead of hurting them. It seems that soldiers as well as victims are dehumanised and degraded.

BY_NYC - I still don't understand your point! Are you suggesting that the Serbs pay their bills or else face having their utilities being disconnected, as they would (as you claim) in the UK. i.e. non payment of bills in the UK leads to a disconnection of service?

If that is your point then i'll reiterate mine. It's ILLEGAL in the UK to disconnect somebodies utilities if they CAN'T pay their bill, NOT if they WON'T pay their bill. The two situations are completely different. It's considered an unjustifiable hardship in the UK if you can't pay your bill and hence have your utilities disconnected, and hence it is illegal.

Hopefully that's clarified the situation.

As for Kosovo, in this particular case they could easily reconnect the supply to the Serbs as in reality it's the international community who is picking up the bill for the electricity, etc, so it's being used as a weapon to try to force the Serbs to tow the Albanian line - Why should they, they are in Serbia, not Albania whether you've registered that fact or not.

Someone commented that Serbia sold electricity to Kosovo. I seem to recall that UNMIK or whatever buy it on behalf of KEK? KEK then tries to claw back the money.
**

"You are lucky we aren't as 'humanitarian' as Serbia was in the 1980-1990's"

What, as humanitarian as when Kosovo had full autonomy from 1974 onwards. Indeed the Serbs and others remember it fondly for rampant discrimination and intimidation. Not that a riot in Pristina university over bad food rapidly turned into a big demostration demanding independence in 1981 nor the setting up parallel institutions in the early 1990s?

LOL, you really do cherry pick with the best of them!

"400 million over 10 years is ....nothing on 2 million people! Serbs owe some 100 million euros if they were to pay for their share since 1999.

Yes, 'it is nothing' because it has been given away for free. Why accept it if it is so useless? Why whinge on about everyone always owning you money? That's the same old rubbish they say in Sarajevo because they can't run an economy efficiently either.

Kosovo's consumption of electricity has gone up massively since 1999 so there is no comparison on that front. Kosovo B before could comfortably handle most of need before 1999.

Even if those serbs could pay, it would barely make any difference. Pristina is certainly not known for its financial transparency.

The albanians in Kosovo now actually have to pay for themselves for the effects of having such a high and unsustainable birth rate over the last few decades as the rest of ex-Yugo is no longer subsidizing them with IMF money. I suppose that's the Serbs fault too?

Free Electricity, room and board, some desert sign me up I say as long as it is not prison or mental institution. Utopia that is what you guys are talking about.

Re:
Here in UK, pending that you are UK permanent resident/citizen, you would have not only free electricity, but also free house plus money for nothing (for life).

(Milorad, 9 March 2009 00:08)

I wish that was true Milorad but, it isn't. As i said earlier, you might be able to get help towards your expenses but British Gas will want their bills paid full stop.

(just checked http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk , if you're over 25 y/o you get £60.50 support (excludes rent), and that's what you're given to pay for your expenses - you don't get free electricity.

I'm doing fine though, thanks for asking.

I read most of the comments and I'm really struck how people try to over-politicise this already politicised matter. I am a Kosovo Albanian and I pay my bills regularly. If I don't, I'll get cut off. It is not an ethnic matter, but it is pure business.

Some month ago, Russia stopped supplying Europe with gas. All the big boys of the European Union as well as state leaders got involved, but Russia wanted just the money from Ukraine. They turned on the gas only after they got the money. Serbia froze down for a couple of days until Germany and Romania (or Hungary) helped them. Why didn't you guys criticise Russia the way you are criticising Kosovo? Strange neigbours!? Those Serbs living in UK and elsewhere are even more stranger...

RE: (PB, 9 March 2009 16:09) To understand my point is very easy once you understand the ‘ Won't and Can't ’ excuse that you mentioned. If it was left up to the user to decide when to pay their bills depending on their overall expenses, they wouldn’t even get any bills sent to them. The suppliers would just let the users pay as much as they can afford. If the government has decided that an unemployed 25 year old is entitled to £60 a week to cover their basic needs/expenses than you have no leg to stand on in court for unpaid gas/electric. CAN’T pay WON’T help your case.
And YES, they can disconnect you otherwise no unemployed person would ever pay any bills.
Kosovo buys electricity from Serbia. K-Serbs are told to use as much as they can and not pay for it. The more they use the more will be bought from Serbia. Not bad for some.

Blerim - You are completely wrong. Besides which, I am sure that many Albanians also do not or cannot pay their electricity bills.

In many European countries providers are not allowed to cut off electricity to homes. They can take legal action to get the money, but for years it has been illegal not to provide electricity. It is a basic human right.

Kate,
electricity is not a human right. Also Albanians do pay their electricity, we don't turn on every appliance in our homes with 50 light bulbs 24/7.

KEK won't turn back the power until its' been paid, even if it takes years. Furthermore, KEK doesn't accept your "money" that Serbian Dinar is NO GOOD.

I understand the fact that it is very difficult living without electricity. However, this should not be considered as politically related. Everywhere in the world people pay for what they get, why should people of Kosovo, regardless their ethnicity, be an exception?!

Regards,
Blerim, Prishtina

>> "In many European countries providers are not allowed to cut off electricity to homes. They can take legal action to get the money, but for years it has been illegal not to provide electricity. It is a basic human right."

name the country you can refuse to let the power company to even read the meter, don't pay for 9-10 years and still lets you have /use unlimited power.

If representatives of these villages want Belgrade “to start negotiating with those in Kosovo with jurisdiction in the matter”, isn’t easier for them to start talking to Prishtina directly. Belgrade is too detached and frankly a bit too far to have a coherent view of what's going on in the villages. Even if we were talking about Mitrovica, Prishtina is one third of the distance that the town has with a significant Serbian equivalent. It will be more natural and less expensive for Serbs to look towards Prishtina rather then Nish, lets say. More importantly BG is trying to retract from a previous dependency policy and hence the proposal last month to start cutting out double pay for officials. But even if BG is prepared to pay the outstanding electricity bill for the rest of eternity, that’s hardly the solution to Serb survival in Kosova. What happens to jobs, education, taxes, infrastructure projects, services and a 1000 little things like that?

These Serbs of central Kosovo may have no choice but to eventually move north of the Ibar where they will have safety in numbers and have their electricity via Belgrade and UNMIK. Of course this would be the ethnic cleansing of central Kosovo, probably Pristina's intention anyway.

I note also that it is not just homes that have their electricity cut off. Schools and health centres too -- we are talking about children and the sick here. Shame on Pristina! And on KFOR and EULEX for their indifference!

I'm italian and if I don't pay my bills the ENI company cut electricity.
It is normal.

"Today's protest march was led by women and children"

Putting women and children first, a Hamas tactic to get headlines. Memo to radicals: it is still illegal to block highways because you don't want to pay the bill. And be men and lead next time.

Mike, Kosova PAYS Serbia for the electricity. It's a commodity, bought and sold in the market.

kate,
During my time in Kosovo, I knew of many Albanian families who did not and could not pay their electric bills and guess what? They were disconnected and were not reconnected unless they worked out a payment and/or payment plan.
In this village not only are they not paying but refusing to allow meters to be read.
The simple solution would be for the Serbian or Russian govt to pay those bills, but then that would go against their interests.
Don't know about Europe or UK but in the US no pay, no play.

Kate i appreciate that you replied back. You and me we know very well that there are no freebies in this world. I am for some sort of help towards families in need but this is up to the government. The electric company can't aford to waste all this megawats otherwise they will go bust. Cheers

"it has been illegal not to provide electricity. It is a basic human right."

...and basic human rights should be controlled and provided by us all together, i,e the state. In this case Serbia.

Dear Kate, I don't know in which country you live but here in England if you don't pay your bills you'll end up in court with huge amount of money to be paid (lawyers, court fees etc). In Albania some people are having their electricity cut off simply because they haven't paid their bills.

I think the Kosovo albanians are forgetting where they get most of their electricity from? Yes! Serbia. But, I don't blame the K-albanians, I blame the Serbian government for being fools. Cut of the power to Kosovo and Presevo and let them taste their own medecine.

Albanian from Albania etc:

"Dear Kate, I don't know in which country you live but here in England if you don't pay your bills you'll end up in court with huge amount of money to be paid (lawyers, court fees etc). In Albania some people are having their electricity cut off simply because they haven't paid their bills."

Firstly, England is my own country. Thank you for your expertise but I have already said that people who don't pay their bills would be taken to court to get the money back. If they couldn't pay, they certainly wouldn't have their electricity cut off - there would be outside assistance.

Especially if they were elderly or had children.

Schools and health centres etc. would never have their electricity cut off. I agree with Iowe 100% - this is shameful.

This is a matter of cutting off whole communities, therefore it absolutely is a basic human right and illegal.

Where is the UN? Why are they not protecting as they are obliged by law to do? The Serbian government must push on this matter.

Also, there must be many Albanian communities where residents have not or could not pay their bills. Have they been cut off in the same way? Have their schools etc. been cut off? I doubt it, but if so, it is equally shameful and backward.

But don't worry, Albanian from Albania etc (I say this because I genuinely can't remember the full name), because if you ever face the UK courts I am sure you will qualify for legal aid and not pay a penny in court costs. Another basic human right for those who genuinely can't afford to pay their bills.

Remember folks, the US Ambassador to Serbia called this trainwreck a "functioning state".

Having power is not a basic human right... YOu mustr pay for it.

Then I want my own jet.. It is a basic human right... Just kidding. I must pay for it just like these people regardless of ethnicity should pay their bills

Electricity as a basic human right is a controversial topic, but most people would agree that it was. Case in point being what's happening in Gaza.

Most civilised governments would not cut off electricity, especially to the poor Serbian communities who have already been so marginalised on the basis of ethnicity. That in itself goes against the UN and EU charters.

It is the Serbian government's job to jolt the UN and EU into living up to these responsibilties.

There has also been some extremely dubious dealings over the monopoly of electricity in Kosovo - as I am sure you know.

This move to leave Serbian and other communities without power is not only heartless and savage, but also projects an extremely bad image of the Kosovan regional government to the rest of the world.

The only way to survive is to FIGHT BACK.

I agree with Kate…

Cutting off electricity to Serbian enclaves is a political move by Prishtina… Many families in Kosovo are unable to pay their electric bills – the unemployment is huge, there are no jobs, there is no money. However, the Serbs are targeted… why not use some of the millions donated by international communities to help the needed, the poor, the unemployed, and the minority? Kosovo is not tolerant of their minorities, they are not democratic, they are not multiethnic, they are not lawful, - Kosovo government does not have equal rights for all.

People, let's not forget to mention the brave and honorable Kosovo Albanian Police force. It must have been a very difficult action to beat Serbian women and children, but they seem to have succeeded. They should be awarded medals for such bravery under these circumstances. Those women, children and babas certainly needed to be taught a lesson.

Hip Hip Hooray for the Kosovo Albanian Police force - true Albanian heroes.
First Class!

Blerim, Prishtina "why should people of Kosovo, regardless their ethnicity, be an exception?!"

I couldn't agree more, so why don't you start be refunding the Serbian taxpayer his dues for the unpaid albanian bills of the 80's and 90's?

I*L*L*O*G*I*C*A*L - you never fail to live upto your name. At least Serbia has it's own currency, internationally recognised. This is one thing among many others which the "State" of Kosovo can't get legitimised. If you print Mickey Mouse on your banknotes, at least the world will recognise the symbols, that might help you create a Kosovo currency.

Alban - in answer to your question - the UK. It's ILLEGAL for utility providers to cut off customers, even when they can't pay, i.e. electricity, gas, water and telecoms. But only civilised countries provide this service. When the albo's wouldn't pay their bills in the 80's and 90's, Serbia didn't cut off their supplies.

The main blame rest with Belgrade!
This is a tiny village who refuse to pay for the electricity being pushed by Belgrade, to try to score some political point. This dispute can easily end if the local people come to some sort of arrangement or payment plan with the authorities. However when you have these people not even recognising the authorities it is impossible to help them. The Kosovo government even offer to right off all the previous bills in return for the villagers to sign new contract but they refused.
This is just a game being played from politician in Belgrade claiming to be the protectorates of Serbs in Kosovo.
If the Serb commentators really care about these Serbs they can offer to pay all the village electricity bills and stop “throwing petrol to the fire” .

Why not give the Serbs the most basic human right on earth, freedom of movement and allow them to access employment where they can and get a salary. They live in ghettos with no basic rights at all. Only 30 percent of all the residents in Kosovo pay electricity bills and as Serbs make up less that 5 percent of the present population who is to blame for the main deficit. Cutting off electricity and water to the enclaves/ghettos has been a tactic used to get rid of the Serbs and has been used effectively and with inpunity against the Serbian population for the past 10 years. Having spent many nights in enlcaves I never remember one night where the electricity was on all night.

This is just a ploy to make life as miserable as possible for the Serbs. All the comments from Albanians saying serbs must pay for electricity etc- who pays for their basket case 'country' they haven't a penny they've made themselves!! What hypocrites!! What excuse did the Albanians use when they tried to stop Russian donated medicines and food being sent to the Serbs? Kosovo is all Serbian anyway so they Albanians have no right to go pushing serbs around. What a mess in they still born country of 'kosovar'!!

"The Serbian government would do what it did back in the 80's and 90's - continue to provide electricity to the K-Albanians that refused to pay their utility bills..."

You are lucky we aren't as 'humanitarian' as Serbia was in the 1980-1990's

"The EU has provided over 400 million Euro in 'energy assistance' to Kosovo since 1999: "

400 million over 10 years is ....nothing on 2 million people! Serbs owe some 100 million euros if they were to pay for their share since 1999. KEK is cracking down on non-payers and thieves, regardless of ethnicity. The power is a huge share of the budget and there is a lot of import as well, twice as bad.
Those with unmetered are the worst offenders, all winter they leave the heat on and summer they water their land ripping off the power company thousands of euros a year.

B92, why don't you mention that these 'women and children' wounded 8 Kosovo police by throwing rocks?

Have Serbia pay for it then, they are paying salaries and telling Serbs not to cooperate so they should write oen check to KEK. Make it to UNMIK - Kosovo it doesn't matter

Here in the famous United States of America (USA), no pay, no services. Peoples power is cut off here left and right. How can a company survive if you do not pay? Just because you can't pay, that doesn't mean you freeload from the rest of the people, and definitely not for 10 years.

Here in USA, i have neighbors whose power got cut off, and believe me, he did not get power for a month and he only got power back because he made a fat check out to them for 4 months of non-payment. At least the Serbs got about 9 years of free electricity, here in US its 4 months and you get cut.

There is no political reason here. Not that the serbs of Shillovo do not pay their bills but they dont even allow the electrical company to read the meters. Tell me please, what would serbian electrical company do to someone who wouldnt pay bills for 9 years and wouldnt even allow them to read the electrical meter?

I would have moved to UK if I was that dumb to believe that over there you can use as much electricity as you want for free. Or that the electricity is a human right?! Human need? Yes. But, right?? Food is our basic need and it's NOT FREE. UK Government may help the unemployed with some type of social benefits but when you go to Tesco's you will still have to pay for your food and water. Try and take it without paying and you'll see what happens weather you're rich or poor, old or young. Same thing with utility bills. First you get a couple of red ones, then the bailiffs, then the bailiffs accompanied with police and in many cases you even get evicted from your property. I don't think any UK resident could say that they've never heard of pensioners being evicted from their property for unpaid Council Tax, unless these residents only read Serbian media.

Pss, here are the few relevant points relating to non-payment according to
British Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29) F5,
F4Non-payment of suppliers’ charges
2. — (1) Where a customer has not, within the requisite period, paid all charges due from him to an electricity supplier in respect of the supply of electricity to any premises or the provision of an electricity meter, the supplier may—
(a)
install a pre-payment meter on the premises; or
(b)
disconnect the premises,
“requisite period” in our case extends over ten years.

"Tell me please, what would serbian electrical company do to someone who wouldnt pay bills for 9 years and wouldnt even allow them to read the electrical meter?
(afrim hoxha, 8 March 2009 18:25)"

-- Certainly not send in the police to beat up the protestors. Because if they did, and the protestors were Albanian, you'd be screaming bloody murder.

1: The EU has provided over 400 million Euro in 'energy assistance' to Kosovo since 1999:

ec.europa.eu/enlargement/archives/ear/publications/main/documents/EnergyKosovoJuly07.pdf

Not to mention the 'misappropriation' of quite of these funds.

2: Even albanian NGO's have protested against the price rises:

http://www.botashqiptare.tv/index.php/sq/lajme/1-politics/9-kosovo-ngos-against-electricity-price-hike

And from the same link:

"Beside the technical problems, the power company's main woes stem from the thousands of illegal connections stealing power from the grid, and from consumer's refusal to start paying for electricity which they got for free throughout the 1990s , when Serbian authorities, and bills, had little formal reach in Kosovo."

So Albanians themselves payed no bills for a long, long time and still continue to illegally appropriate electricity from KEK.

So, KEK has upped prices despite receiving massive funds, service has not improved (cut-outs) and 'illegal connections' in great numbers by kosovo albanians as indicated in the article.

Add to this that it is only serb villages being cut off and it looks fairly clear that this is being used by Pristina as a political weapon to enforce their 'sovereignty' over the few remaining Serbs.

So the Serbs are supposed to pay up and the Albanians don't have to pay for a decade of free electricity?

Who are you kidding?

To Afrim Hoxha #26:

The Serbian government would do what it did back in the 80's and 90's - continue to provide electricity to the K-Albanians that refused to pay their utility bills...

Hypocricy - Thy name is Kosova.

The UN should take care of this. The UN is in charge of Kosovo. Not the provincial government.

The UN should act now. Remember, 1244 is still valid!

... and please let me add happy International Womens Day to those brave women who tried to protest peacefully against having their electricity cut.

Unfortunately the UN, EU and gang seem nowhere in sight when it comes to allowing peaceful protest or the return of electricity to whole communities - both legal human rights under the UN.

My mother's neighbour in Zemun (municipality of Belgrade) who is an ethnic Albanian has cheated with his electricity meter by putting some sort of magnet in/on it.The people from electric distribution knocked on his door one day and figured that he was fraudulent. However two days later when they came along with the police, he had a new meter saying that he had to replace it because it was broken. Needless to say this new meter was without the magnet.So they went home as they did not had the evidence anymore! The whole matter was made even worse by him yelling out slogans that they can behave such and so and discriminate him because he is an Albanian!
I wonder how long will the Serbs be fooled by the Albanians. It seems they just deserve it, because if you get fooled more than once, if you let yourselves be frequently tricked- there is a not such a nice word for it.

Albanian from Albania: "The electric company can't aford to waste all this megawats otherwise they will go bust."

Actually how it works in the UK is that the non-payer appears in court and if it is found that they could have paid, they will be made to pay the amount plus all court expenses, and most probably a fine.

Or an agreement is reached to pay in instalments - so no, the electricity company won't go bust.

Plus there is rarely a culture in developed countries where everybody feels they have the right to free electricity!

Emma and Diana - I agree with both of your comments and happy International Women's Day from the UK (where unfortunately it is not known about!).

interesting, let´s not forget, there is no legitimate albanian power in the southern serbian province that could even talk of having the competence to cut serbian citzens off from electricity - in their own land!

guys, you don´t seem to get it.

if you are attacking civilians, THEN it´s high-time that the serbian state takes appropriate actions.

if not, it would be the proof of an quisling-regime that is not protecting the own citizens.

Mike, Kosova PAYS Serbia for the electricity. It's a commodity, bought and sold in the market.


...with money they received from outside sources, aka donations. I wonder how this travesty of a state would be able to pay their bills if it weren't for the stupidity of the western countries giving them millions of dollars/euros. If the donor countries were to cut off the welfare spicket and the Kosovo "govt" couldn't pay their bills to Serbia, how would they react to having all of their power shut off...not to well I bet. The ethnic Albanians would probably start up with their usual antagonistic rhetoric and then start their terrorist activities up again to try and force the Serbian nation to give them what they want, none of those in charge of this so called state has worked a honest day in their life (sorry, organ trafficking doesn't count, neither does weapons, drug and human trafficking). I yearn for the day when the West stops paying tribute money to the thugs and criminals who have taken over Kosovo & Metohija. The founding fathers of my country are looking down from above with disgust over what my govt has been doing for the past 15-20 years in this region, as well as, the rest of the world.

Alban #32 wrote:

"You are lucky we aren't as 'humanitarian' as Serbia was in the 1980-1990's"

Yes, I'm sure the K-Serbs are quite thankful for the K-Albanian humanitarinism. Lucky for them.

Let's bring NATO back to finish their "Humanitarian Bombing"

Alban also wrote: "B92, why don't you mention that these 'women and children' wounded 8 Kosovo police by throwing rocks"

Yes, again Alban, you are correct. That is why I suggested that the K-Albanian police force should recieve medals. Battling against women, children and babas is no easy work. Only the bravest could survive such battle. The wounded must receive accolades.

Nearly two millennia ago, in his Life of Agricola, Roman historian Tacitus put these words in the mouth of a Germanic chieftain; Calgacus describes the Romans thus: "Ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant." They create a wasteland, and call it peace.

Alban
You mentioned putting women and children first, I would like to remind you that when the Archangels monastery in Prizren was burnt to the ground in March 2004, the 500 strong mob coming up Zupa valley from Prizren was headed by women and small children all holding missiles and some holding dangerous weapons. Women also blocked the road outside the German base in Prizren. Ask German KFOR for the photos. iseult henry

Even if KEK are in their own right, politicaly they are shooting themself in the foot on this case. Come on K-alb you are the ones at power now (so to speak), not the persecuted ones anymore, you should learn to take care of your image and use more sophisticated policies to show signs of good will to small, vulnerable minorities and calm them down,cotherwise it is going to backfire and damage your international credit one day or an other...

My full support goes out to the Serbians. This is not a simple matter of unpaid bills but rather handing money over to the mafia and their criminal structures.

Keep the protests up, day in day out and victory is ours. Continue in your attempts to block the road and that in itself will cost more to "police" time than the cost of any demands.

Once the brain figures out the daily costs of keeping the road open with 20 police they will soon cave in.

Dear BH_NYC,

Here in UK, pending that you are UK permanent resident/citizen, you would have not only free electricity, but also free house plus money for nothing (for life). In the USA, money for taxis gos mainly to the Army, while in UK it goes mainly to social security.

I hope that you are doing well in USA and that you are not affected with the current crises.

Free Electricity, room and board, some desert sign me up I say as long as it is not prison or mental institution. Utopia that is what you guys are talking about.

BH_NYC - Do your homework a little more diligently. If you live in the UK and you can't afford to pay for your utility bills, it is ILLEGAL for utility suppliers to cut off your service. This issue is very simple. I live in the UK so i know what I'm talking about. You live in the US and know diddly squat about UK law. comment on what you know, not on what you would like to believe to suit your argument and justification of disguised Albanian oppression.

So sad... they are just trying to force the Serbs to leave from their own homeland. Half of Kosovo population doesn't pay, yet they are only bothering Serbs.

For 50 years albanians didn't pay their bills and Serbia did not cut off any electricity to them.

When is the next election?

Milorad: "In the USA, money for taxes goes mainly to the Army, while in UK it goes mainly to social security."

BH_NYC - Milorad is right, and your comment (and others) remind me of a visit to NY State, when I was accused of being a 'Lefty Pinko' because I spoke in praise of the National Health Service concept.

You sound almost proud of the fact that poor people can't access basic amenities or help.

Even if my taxes end up paying for some state scroungers and fraudsters, at least they also pay for genuine cases. I would far rather pay for food and heating than war and destruction.

By the way, in the US soldiers returning from war zones seem to be treated even worse in terms of support than in the UK, as far as I can tell.

Maybe some of that defence budget should be used to help people instead of hurting them. It seems that soldiers as well as victims are dehumanised and degraded.

Re:
Here in UK, pending that you are UK permanent resident/citizen, you would have not only free electricity, but also free house plus money for nothing (for life).

(Milorad, 9 March 2009 00:08)

I wish that was true Milorad but, it isn't. As i said earlier, you might be able to get help towards your expenses but British Gas will want their bills paid full stop.

(just checked http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk , if you're over 25 y/o you get £60.50 support (excludes rent), and that's what you're given to pay for your expenses - you don't get free electricity.

I'm doing fine though, thanks for asking.

To:
Comment 51. Please read comment 50, there's your answer.

To; Milorad and Kate, I am a strong supporter of both our governments' policies in almost all important issues and I have no reason to attack UK despite your provocations.
The discussion here is weather we should make stealing legal for the poor, and you seem to think it already is legal in some countries.

Ron,
For once you are 100% right. The UN should have addressed this problem and had the electricity shut off years ago before they turned that authority over to the Kosovo govt.

Someone commented that Serbia sold electricity to Kosovo. I seem to recall that UNMIK or whatever buy it on behalf of KEK? KEK then tries to claw back the money.
**

"You are lucky we aren't as 'humanitarian' as Serbia was in the 1980-1990's"

What, as humanitarian as when Kosovo had full autonomy from 1974 onwards. Indeed the Serbs and others remember it fondly for rampant discrimination and intimidation. Not that a riot in Pristina university over bad food rapidly turned into a big demostration demanding independence in 1981 nor the setting up parallel institutions in the early 1990s?

LOL, you really do cherry pick with the best of them!

"400 million over 10 years is ....nothing on 2 million people! Serbs owe some 100 million euros if they were to pay for their share since 1999.

Yes, 'it is nothing' because it has been given away for free. Why accept it if it is so useless? Why whinge on about everyone always owning you money? That's the same old rubbish they say in Sarajevo because they can't run an economy efficiently either.

Kosovo's consumption of electricity has gone up massively since 1999 so there is no comparison on that front. Kosovo B before could comfortably handle most of need before 1999.

Even if those serbs could pay, it would barely make any difference. Pristina is certainly not known for its financial transparency.

The albanians in Kosovo now actually have to pay for themselves for the effects of having such a high and unsustainable birth rate over the last few decades as the rest of ex-Yugo is no longer subsidizing them with IMF money. I suppose that's the Serbs fault too?

BH_NYC:

Nobody is accusing you of attacking the UK, but you just can't seem to get to grips with the fact that it is illegal under UK law to deprive any citizen (or subject to be specific) of power or water.

This hasn't resulted in power companies going bust - believe me. Non payers have to prove that they are genuine, and usually do have to pay what and when they can. If they can pay but won't then legal action would be taken against them, but they are not cut off.

Very few people would go through a lengthy legal process and have their personal finances scrutinised just for free utilities!

There are all sorts of ways for the utilities companies to get their money back, but if people genuinely can't pay then they aren't left to live in a dark hole with no running water.

Good grief, this whole discussion has shocked me that this is not more usual in other countries.

If Tadic did this to Albanians in Presevo he'd be indicted by the Hague for crimes against humanity already.

I read most of the comments and I'm really struck how people try to over-politicise this already politicised matter. I am a Kosovo Albanian and I pay my bills regularly. If I don't, I'll get cut off. It is not an ethnic matter, but it is pure business.

Some month ago, Russia stopped supplying Europe with gas. All the big boys of the European Union as well as state leaders got involved, but Russia wanted just the money from Ukraine. They turned on the gas only after they got the money. Serbia froze down for a couple of days until Germany and Romania (or Hungary) helped them. Why didn't you guys criticise Russia the way you are criticising Kosovo? Strange neigbours!? Those Serbs living in UK and elsewhere are even more stranger...

BY_NYC - I still don't understand your point! Are you suggesting that the Serbs pay their bills or else face having their utilities being disconnected, as they would (as you claim) in the UK. i.e. non payment of bills in the UK leads to a disconnection of service?

If that is your point then i'll reiterate mine. It's ILLEGAL in the UK to disconnect somebodies utilities if they CAN'T pay their bill, NOT if they WON'T pay their bill. The two situations are completely different. It's considered an unjustifiable hardship in the UK if you can't pay your bill and hence have your utilities disconnected, and hence it is illegal.

Hopefully that's clarified the situation.

As for Kosovo, in this particular case they could easily reconnect the supply to the Serbs as in reality it's the international community who is picking up the bill for the electricity, etc, so it's being used as a weapon to try to force the Serbs to tow the Albanian line - Why should they, they are in Serbia, not Albania whether you've registered that fact or not.

RE: (PB, 9 March 2009 16:09) To understand my point is very easy once you understand the ‘ Won't and Can't ’ excuse that you mentioned. If it was left up to the user to decide when to pay their bills depending on their overall expenses, they wouldn’t even get any bills sent to them. The suppliers would just let the users pay as much as they can afford. If the government has decided that an unemployed 25 year old is entitled to £60 a week to cover their basic needs/expenses than you have no leg to stand on in court for unpaid gas/electric. CAN’T pay WON’T help your case.
And YES, they can disconnect you otherwise no unemployed person would ever pay any bills.
Kosovo buys electricity from Serbia. K-Serbs are told to use as much as they can and not pay for it. The more they use the more will be bought from Serbia. Not bad for some.