Roma in Kosovo "abused, driven out, poisoned"

so this is the "Kosova" paradise for ethinic minorities!

Obviously the hell is not just for K-Serbs. It appears to be far worse for the K-Romas!

And I don't see Ahtisaari, Pristina, the Yankees or the rest of the self-righteous West raising even a squeak about this human tragedy! Shame!

Ahtisaari, where are You and Your "Plan"??

Your "multhietnic Kosovo" is failed plan - because You don't know K-Albanians. They don't need any "multhietnic Kosovo".

I saw this report as a documentary on tv here in Australia. It made me sick to see how nobody cares about the non Albanians in Kosovo.

Athisaari was rewarded well for this mess.

Those poor children being poisened at such an early age. Ethic cleansing is still going on in Kosovo but because the cleansed are not Albanian it doesn't matter.

I am glad that Australian citizens got to see what a mess Albanians can make of anything if given half a chance.

"The UN created the camps, and the UN, along with the Kosovo authorities, bears legal responsibility for these people," the article concludes

Can't be clearer!!

Certainly we'll see plenty of posters claiming that the HRW is another tool for Serbian propaganda...

The golden Ahtisaari medal can certainly not replace and cover the reality on the ground unless words are finally followed by acts for these poor people!!

Shame on posters like A. Instead of accepting the reality, that minorities live in horrible conditions, they try and whitewash the issue with worthless comparisons to other regions in the world. These are children, for God's sake. Would you be as indifferent if these were Albanians babies? All I can say is, shame on the West for creating this mess, and then walking away like it's not their problem now.

I am glad that The Guardian highlighted this shameful issue, but where is their story about life in the Serbian communities in Kosovo, or the terribly low level of living standards for all Kosovans?

The scandal is two-fold: That the West has created this mess and then abandoned these people; and that their project has been a complete failure. Very costly with virtually none of the money apparently going to the people who need it.

Lord Portly of Pomferoy or whatever George Robertson goes under now, spoke of the goal being mutli-ethnicity. Take away the international workers and there is no real integrated society at all.

A longterm solution will only come via the UN and through proper talks within the framework of 1244.

Remember: "functioning state" says Cameron Munter.

And Ahtisaari got a Nobel Peace Prize for this.

Armchair diplomacy is alive and well.

A
"Serbia isn’t any heaven for Romas."

If Romas from Kosovo fled to Serbia but Roma from Serbia don't fled to Kosovo - so Kosovo must be HELL for Romas.

"Serbia's only means of fighting Kosovo's independence is propaganda..."
Rebel

Serb propaganda! It was a british paper who came up with this story.

This is truly amazing! Every time there is a story that writes something negative about the albanian side it has to be propaganda. Albanians twist and turn the facts to find a way out. I guess albanians must be the most perfect people on the planet. When are you going to look yourselves in the mirror?

It is hilarious to read that team Serbia tries to twist "this into something else. We have to do with a ethnic group that does not have any homeland and is present in many countries in Central and South Eastern Europe. They are unfortunately discriminated in many countries including Kosovo. Last year Serbia’s Velimir Ilic accused one of his opponents of behaving like a Gipsy, this and the killing of a Roma teenager by a group og Serbian teenagers show that Serbia isn’t any heaven for Romas. Kate, it will never happen, but even if this happened Romas would not be a part of Kosovo or Serbian delegations since they are too few.
(A, 22 June 2009 14:10) "

So you are tickled pink by the idea of people being bullied, threatened and discriminated. I don't think however those K-Romas share your hilarity.

And their "too few" numbers is a lame excuse to give anyway for treating them so badly.

The Hague is awaiting the perpetrators of this hostile act.

There is more than one way to skin a snake....

Unfortunately, Athassari and the West do not understand the Albanian culture. It is one that is based on blood clans, brutal lawlessness and no multi-ethnic support. No matter how much they pay for Biden's speeches and support- it will not change the type of culture it is. Maybe the West was well intentioned, but certainly not up on history or cultural facts. Unfortunate again, as decisions are made in safe offices the street rules are executed differently-

If Romas from Kosovo fled to Serbia but Roma from Serbia don't fled to Kosovo - so Kosovo must be HELL for Romas.
(Milan, 22 June 2009 18:06)

Exactly, Milan. As an international living in Mitro, I can attest to the fact that ALBANIANS ran the Roma out of South Mitrovica. If the Serbs are so awful, then why are there no Roma camps in the south? For that matter, the Gorani population also took refuge in the north to escape Albanian attacks. Any one of these Albanian apologists is welcome to come to Mitrovica and see where the Roma homes USED TO BE in the south. They may not live in good conditions in the north, but neither do many of the Serbs. At least they are not attacked on a regular basis as they were in the Albanian side. This is reality, not propaganda.

Only about a tenth of a prewar population of 200,000 Roma remain in Kosovo, the BBC also quotes the report.

This number of Roma(Gypsies) is not acurate, becasue 200 thousand may have been in entire former Yug. I am from Kosova and I am talking about 1970, and I know how many romas/gypsies we had in Kosova. I wonder who fed this monstrous figures to the said organization!?
If Kosova had 200 G romas/gypsies than we had about 20 Milion K-Serbs.
Joke of the CENTURY.

Wish I could say this story was news to me, but it isn't. The 'authorities' have known about the plight of the roma children (& the adults for that matter) since 1999.

Bernard Kouchner, then head of the UNHCR said back then that the roma 'would be moved immediately'. Nothing happened.

The kids have concentrations of lead in their bloodstream up to 50 times the safe level, & in most of the cases, mental impairment is the result, & in some cases, it has killed them.

Up until recently, UNMIK (under the aegis of people like Joachim Ruecker & Larry Rossin & their predecessors) has had primary responsibility for IDP's.

But in May last year, responsibility was handed over to K-albanians in pristina.

Both UNMIK & pristina are well aware of the lead contamination of the groundwater & the environment & have done nothing to alleviate the situation.

UNMIK carried out blood tests on the roma but never released their findings.. not even to the people being tested.

Question is why?

Wasn't a case of funding as billions of euros have been poured into Kosovo. Were certainly enough funds to build new houses for the displaced roma in the south among the K-albanians who originally drove them out.

Only they refuse point blank to move back.

Why haven't they been moved?

Only reason I can think off is that this is a 'policy decision' on behalf of 'brussels' & Washington in a bid to force the roma to return south of the Ibar in line with the former's promotion of Kosovo's ficticious multi-ethnic character.

Only it isn't working.

At any rate, is a telling indictment of the poisonous environment in the south among the K-albanians when the roma would rather stay in a lead contaminated camp that is slowly killing them, rather than move back amongst their former neighbours.

As is apparent from some of the comments posted here by K-albanians.

"If Kosova had 200 G romas/gypsies than we had about 20 Milion K-Serbs.
Joke of the CENTURY"
Kosova-USA...how can you read an article about children being systematically poisoned and post such a heartless and shameful comment? Does it matter who or how many, the point is that it is barbaric and should be dealt with immediately. Please dont make such shameful comments about this horrible situation.

More propaganda. The Roma have traditionally been wandering people, living on the banks of rivers. When the communists gave them houses, they sold them, and went back to the river. They can't stay in homes. Serbia's only means of fighting Kosovo's independence is propaganda, but where Milosevic failed, so will his successors of today.

No doubt that the position of Roma in Kosovo and in ALL other Balkan countries is veruy bad, indeed. I can understand that this article give the serb commentators in here an opportunity to point the finger at albanians, and get some kind of pathetic satisfaction or sense of being 'right' about albanians, but if you are honest you know very well that the position of Roma in Serbia and other countries is hardly any better. It is a fact that Roma have been discriminated always in the Balkan countries.

And it is also true that many K. albanians view Roma people as 'serb' collaborators, because many of them did actually assist the serb army in looting and ethnicly cleansing albanian in 98/99 war. I saw it this myself during NATO bombing, of Roma men dressed in serbian police uniforms and breaking shops in my neighbourhood. However, many innocent Roma have had to suffer as a result of the actions of some of them.

And if Balkan countries are serios about joining EU or even if they dont want to join, they should improve the conditions of Roma people.

BTW - 200,000 Roma in Kosovo before the war?????! Where the hell did they get that figure?

The Roma have traditionally been wandering people...
(Rebel, 22 June 2009 13:37)

Kind of like how the Albanians wandered into Kosovo?

Totally unacceptable but Romas do not have it better in Serbia or any other Balkan country. Some months ago Serbs protested against having Romas as neighbours.

I have said it before and repeat, for UN in Kosovo minority is a sinonym for Serbs and they don't care about others.

By the way a study carried out within the Norwegian KFOR soldiers showed that the soldiers after arriving in Kosovo developed anti- Roma sentiment and the comandants that spoke to those who carried out the research used expressions like "only a part of the nail of one of my soldiers is worth more than all the Romas of Kosovo"

Olf, Serbs in north live free unlike their countrymen in other parts of Kosovo&Metohija. You dont need to worry about that. Everyone in Kosovo&Metohija was treated much better when Milosevic was in power than now when Thaci-snake and other war criminals and thugs are in power.

it's rather pathetic to see defenses along the lines of "it's no different in any of the other Balkan countries" and "There aren't that many to begin with" and of course "where did they get that number of population from". These are all attempts to dilute the fact that this horrible act is happening. There were no denials of ill treatment from any other camp or region, but using the "they do it, so can I" excuse is beyond immature. Isn't Kosovo the most Westernized, most free, most liberating nation-statlet in the Balkans. One can somehow bring oneself to understanding the Kosovar Albanian's sentinment and actions against Serbs, as has the Western world for a while now. One can possibly excuse some of it, but the Roma have done nothing wrong to the Kosovar Albanian, yet they are being washed out of this multiethnic oasis.
Please, it is time for the peoples of the nations of bad doers (which quite honestly is every single person in the whole world) to take their leaders to task and to take on the shared responsibilities of the past's attrocities. They've happened, across all borders, from all sides to all other sides. If the pasts are not addressed and honest forthright acceptance and amendments are made, more blood will be shed.

If anyone has any ideas on how to legally hold the UN (UNMIK) responsible I'm all ears.

What's amazing is your reaction to an article which doesn't say anything bad about Albanians..
(Ilir, 22 June 2009 22:12)

o rly? and who made those people refugees in the first place? it really takes talent to blame the un for the plight of the roma refugees but not the very people that made them flee their homes.

the plight of the roma refugees is being largely ignored in the west mostly because people would start asking questions about that "humanitarian" intervention from 10 years ago.

it is true that many serbs will jump on every opportunity to say how albanians are bad and criminal, but the knee-jerk reaction from albanians to any suggestion that some of their countrymen could have or could be doing something bad is dismissed as lies and "serbian propaganda" even if the sources are say, german or british. both things are actually blatantly racist.

and of course,those who are responsible for the presence of lead at these places ,poisoning our river our territories and our water ,have no responsability??
Of course,serbian concern about environment in kosovo was egal to zero during all the last century!!

To each their own, let them decide to stay in Serbia ("their country") if they want. No one forces them to do anything
(Freedom of Choice, 23 June 2009 01:41)
Serbian Province of Kosovo and Metohija is their country.

All the time I was and still am apalled with the way Ballkan states treat their Roma citizens. I remember during the Yugosllavia years, Roma people were trated worse than 3rd or 4th class citizens. In the post war Kosova Romas due to post war revenge, had to be evacuated in the North of Mitrovica. It is within Kosovar border but everytime Prishtina tries to get some involvement in that part of the country they get a huge resistance from the local population, there is no way that Kosovar government can improve the lives of those Romas or enybody else for that matter (remember what happened when people tried to restore their own houses). Once Kosova restores the law and order in the North Roma problem is going to be solved. The north of the Iber river is like a black hole which needs sorting as it is creating a lot of problems to Kosova as well as the one of Roma population. I equally blame everyone in Ballkans Albanians, Serbs, Macedonians, Croats, Bosnians, Bullgarians, Romanians, Hungarians,and you name it for treating Romas in the way you should not treat your worst enemy and let alone your neighbours, but hey what ballkan people knows about good neighbouring. I have seen every nationality from Eastern Europe and former Yugoslavia seeking asylum in UK and no one liked the way they were treated by the UK's asylum system. Every single one was complaining how they deserve better treatment etc while on the other hand they themselves treated Romas in the similar way if not worse all the time. I myself am ashamed to be part of the Ballkan's nationalizm and racism culture. This is the great opportunity for Serbs and Albanians to work together and save those poor children whom only crime was to be born on those camps. Let's save lives as we have destroyed more than we can afford.

It is hilarious to read that team Serbia tries to twist this into something else. We have to do with a ethnic group that does not have any homeland and is present in many countries in Central and South Eastern Europe. They are unfortunately discriminated in many countries including Kosovo. Last year Serbia’s Velimir Ilic accused one of his opponents of behaving like a Gipsy, this and the killing of a Roma teenager by a group og Serbian teenagers show that Serbia isn’t any heaven for Romas. Kate, it will never happen, but even if this happened Romas would not be a part of Kosovo or Serbian delegations since they are too few.

Is this news? Something previously unknown, I mean - there have been stories about the lead poisoning in the Roma camps for years - the BBC and The New York Times have had articles since at least 2005 (when the UNHRC presented a major report on the problem).

Just how UNMIK failed to deal with this acknowledged problem is something that should be looked into, but the Kosovo government now is at least trying to deal with the situation: President Sejdiu announced just recently that work is about to start on building a new Roma Mahala (in North Mitrovica), complete with school and hospital.

What exactly was UNMIK doing all those years? It certainly didn't do anything to promote the concept of "international intervention." What was the problem - did the people they sent just spend too little time in the country to see projects through to the end, were they simply incompetent, or did the system they set up frustrate their efforts? I wonder what the chances are of an after-action report on the whole thing, once UNMIK has finally moved out?

Keyword is eventually since many think that Roma helped the Serb paramilitaries
(Peace, 22 June 2009 21:25)

Or maybe keyword is fact, that they were loyal to their country otherwise to K-Albanians??

For all of Milosevic's shortcomings, his Kosovo policy was appropriate. What else can you do to stop the Albanians from persecuting and excluding minorities?

The criminals who destroyed the Mahala should of course be brought to justice, but hjaving occurred in June 1999 just after the preceding cataclysmic events, it is unlikely anyone can now be singled out.

However, rather than the usual knee-jerk condemning of a whole nation for the actions of a particular group 10 years ago, one should remember that it was UNMIK who controlled Kosovo the entire decade thereafter and failed to do anything about the Roma living in such toxic conditions. Good thing, I would say, that UNMIK is on its way out. However slow, at least the semi-independent Kosova authorities in the last year have actually moved to do something about this, unlike UNMIK's complete neglect.

http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2009&mm=04&dd=05&nav_id=58302
http://b92.net/eng/news/crimes-article.php?yyyy=2007&mm=08&dd=07&nav_id=42863
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/04/14/eu.slovakia.roma/
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR72/007/2008/en
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/21/race-northern-ireland-romanian-gypsies
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/americas/sep/03/gypsies.htm
And this list could go on and on.
A programme called “Roma Decade” was launched with aim of decreasing vulnerability and human security risks Roma, (Ashkali and Egyptians) are facing. Signatory countries of this decade are: Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Croatia, Czech Republic and Spain. The initiative was launched in 2005, with the Decade of Roma Inclusion running from 2005 to 2015, and represents the first multinational project in Europe to actively enhance the lives of Roma.
The governments of the above countries have committed to closing the gap in welfare and living conditions between the Roma and non-Roma populations, as well as putting an end to the cycle of poverty and exclusion that many Roma find themselves in. Each of these countries has developed a national Decade Action Plan that specifies goals and indicators in the Decade's priority areas: education, employment, health and housing. A thirteenth country, Slovenia, has observer status, while Kosovo, unfortunately was not a signatory member due to its unresolved status.
As most of you commentators know, Roma are among the most vulnerable in the Western Balkans and Europe in general. The unique position of Roma as a huge “diaspora without a state behind it”, without own resources, religious, or educational institution, determines the specificity of the experience and suffering they faced during the recent Balkan wars. Roma simply found themselves in the whirlwind of the war, mercilessly chased and driven out of their homes by all of the fighting parties. From the human security perspective, those groups need closer attention – at least for the reason that being minorities, their voices (and interests) are not articulated and defended well enough. On the other hand, resolving of the problems of these groups is in countries’ long term interest as a precondition for societal integrity in the long run.
The situation of Roma in Kosovo is not same in all settlements where they live. Surely, Roma in Mitrovica camp are the most vulnerable among all other Roma living in Kosovo, but there are other places where Roma live quite well and have their houses next to Albanians (Prizren, Gjakova, Ferizaj, etc).
As you can see from the links, Roma situation is a very complex issue and unfortunately they are discriminated all over the world, and the saying that they live in bad conditions only in Kosovo doesn’t really represent the real situation.

Serb supporters, please check where Serbia,Slovakia, Checz, Bulgaria stand with Roma rights. Kosova is in the same group if not better.
Or maybe, why dont you check Serbs rights in norht of Kosovo to find out how are people treated there.

If Kosova had 200 G romas/gypsies than we had about 20 Milion K-Serbs.
Joke of the CENTURY"
Kosova-USA...how can you read an article about children being systematically poisoned and post such a heartless and shameful comment? Does it matter who or how many, the point is that it is barbaric and should be dealt with immediately. Please dont make such shameful comments about this horrible situation.
(UK, 22 June 2009 21:49)
----
Way are you blaming Kosova USA . Blame yourself and B92 for all your Lies and Propaganda.
(Nigella Lawson, 23 June 2009 03:20)

If you take the time to read my post you will understand that I am not blaming the situation on Kosova-USA but asking that such shameful comments about such a horrible situation not be made. Surely you dont condone the trivualisation of the situation with comments such as "Joke of the century" I am merely stating that when a situation like this exists it should not matter who is the victim or how many are affected just that the situation is stopped as soon as possible and prevented from happening again? Please do not put words into my mouth in future. Thanks.

it is strange that thejournal published such a news only today:amnisty international called attention for it in 2002,who in 2004,and french military contingent in 2000(see link http://www.defense.gouv.fr/sante/content/download/149659/1297302/file/MEA_T37_N1_WEB.pdf )
and serbian researchers did publish about it in 1952 and 1982...
So who was in charge of kosovo at that time?who protested when Dr Kouchner ordered to stop zvecan activities? serbs! and you have still the obscenity of accusing albanians for the problem!

We would very much like to receive a copy of the survey conducted among Norwegian KFOR soldiers, which is quoted by A (Comment number 4.). Our email address is: chachipe.info@gmail.com

Olf, mate, maybe you should read my comment again because i wasnt insulting anyone. My point is that everyone had much better lives in Kosovo&Metohija when Milosevic was in power than now when Thaci-Snake, haradinaj and other criminals are in control of situation.

2 scientific articles for your education:Factor livak P.,wasserman G. and co:The yugoslavia prospective study of environmental lead exposure,in environmental health perspective,1999,107;9_15
and andrejewA,MolanoS,First phase of public health project on lead pollution in mitrovica region.World health organisation,oct 2000
and in french:Ledrans M.nardoneT exposition au plomb de la population civile et militaire dans la région de Mitrovica,institut de veille sanitaire,juillet 2000.
(lili, 23 June 2009 16:02)

What does this have to do with the fact that ALBANIANS ethnically cleansed the Roma from South Mitro in the first place? Is it toxic in parts of Mitrovica? Yes. Would the Roma be living in that toxic area if not for the Albanians? No. End of story.

"The UN created the camps, and the UN, along with the Kosovo authorities, bears legal responsibility for these people," the article concludes "

1) UN created the camps not Kosovo goverment.
2) The camps are run by UN not Kosovo goverment.
3)The camps are based on the nothern part of Mitrovica which is in control of Serb structures.
4)Kosovo authorities following UNMIK advise can't go there.
It reaffirm Kosovo goverment pleas for month now. An end to UN role in Kosovo. Kosovo authorities can start functioning in nothern part of Mitrovica in alliance with EULEX.
These people deserve better lifes and they are not having one under the Serb local administrative parallel structures.

Olf, Serbs in north live free unlike their countrymen in other parts of Kosovo&Metohija. You dont need to worry about that. Everyone in Kosovo&Metohija was treated much better when Milosevic was in power than now when Thaci-snake and other war criminals and thugs are in power.
(timotimekvej, 22 June 2009 20:12)

Mate, don't insult majority of ordinary Serbs living there please.
History will tell if Milosevic treated Serbs better but I doubt it.

Unfortunately this is all old news. The Roma have been living in shanty towns with exposure levels to lead and lead poisoning through the roof for a long time. You can read any article or watch any documentary and it is still sad to see these kids lives made hell and even result in death because of the excess exposure to lead.

Why? This is a no brainer for me. Extreme intolerance by the Albanian population to minorities has forced them to live here. When is the world going to wake up and see the horrendous human rights record by Albanians in Kosovo. UCK...from "terrorist organisation" to "government officials" - do we expect anything less?

Roma's are treated as second class citizen in the whole of Balkans including Kosovo and Serbia. Don't believe me? Well type ROMA in the B92 website and you will come with stories like :
"Roma unwanted in Belgrade suburb"; "5 arrested for planning attacks on Roma"; "Roma family's forced move raises rights issue". All those things happen in Serbia. I think EU is to blame for this because they have not put pressure in the Balkan countries to treat Romas as equal citizens. It's really shameful.

"If Kosova had 200 G romas/gypsies than we had about 20 Milion K-Serbs.
Joke of the CENTURY"
Kosova-USA...how can you read an article about children being systematically poisoned and post such a heartless and shameful comment? Does it matter who or how many, the point is that it is barbaric and should be dealt with immediately. Please dont make such shameful comments about this horrible situation.
(UK, 22 June 2009 21:49)
----
Way are you blaming Kosova USA . Blame yourself and B92 for all your Lies and Propaganda.

Daveo
"Unfortunately this is all old news."

???? This is NEW HRW report from 23rd June 2009!!!! Did You believe, that they don't know today situation of Romas in Kosovo??

Serb propaganda! It was a british paper who came up with this story.

This is truly amazing! Every time there is a story that writes something negative about the albanian side it has to be propaganda. Albanians twist and turn the facts to find a way out. I guess albanians must be the most perfect people on the planet. When are you going to look yourselves in the mirror?
(MikeC, 22 June 2009 18:49)

What's amazing is your reaction to an article which doesn't say anything bad about Albanians..
Or perhaps you read something that we missed?
How can you blame the Albanians when the camps are run by UN and are in control of the Serbs?
Please iluminate us!
I'm not sure who is twisting the facts since you know very little of the problems that Roma people face now and faces for hundread of years.
The article clearly says that Kosovo goverment need to react and is exatly what Kosovo goverment has been asking for years. The right to provide basic life needs and rule of law to all the peoples in Kosovo including the nothern part of Mitrovica!
Guess who is against it?

2 scientific articles for your education:Factor livak P.,wasserman G. and co:The yugoslavia prospective study of environmental lead exposure,in environmental health perspective,1999,107;9_15
and andrejewA,MolanoS,First phase of public health project on lead pollution in mitrovica region.World health organisation,oct 2000
and in french:Ledrans M.nardoneT exposition au plomb de la population civile et militaire dans la région de Mitrovica,institut de veille sanitaire,juillet 2000.

What does this have to do with the fact that ALBANIANS ethnically cleansed the Roma from South Mitro in the first place? Is it toxic in parts of Mitrovica? Yes. Would the Roma be living in that toxic area if not for the Albanians? No. End of story.
(Ace, 23 June 2009 17:59)
it has to do:lead was there ,and around all mitrovica,as much as in the place of the camps,and all this was known since 1952(first report not mentioned here.The first article is from years 1985 to 1990 so in a time when ex yu were ruling kosovo.;What have you done in that time to protect us from it? Nothing!

PS/and sure if serbs had not killed so many albanians,no need to retailate against roma!

Or maybe keyword is fact, that they were loyal to their country otherwise to K-Albanians??
--
To each their own, let them decide to stay in Serbia ("their country") if they want. No one forces them to do anything

If Romas from Kosovo fled to Serbia but Roma from Serbia don't fled to Kosovo - so Kosovo must be HELL for Romas.

---
No one believed me when I told them that they left on their own.

However, if they don't want to stay in Serbia they should be able to eventually return to Kosova. Keyword is eventually since many think that Roma helped the Serb paramilitaries

to all,
don't worry albanians,serbs and roma living in and around mitrovica are as much poisonned as roma people! lead and heavy metal concentration around mitrovica are 200 to 500 times more than WHO limits!!!
every time the wind is blowing,lead particules are flying around you,serbs albanians and Roma without ethnic distinction(even french soldiers are touched by it!)!and this lead is poisonning serbia too throught the ibar river ,which is a dead river since year 1970...
don't worry,you live all in the most polluted place of europe thanks to the ex yu exploitation of kosovo minerals!
serbia put all the "dirty" factories in kosovo!

Ok, so these people were living in North Mitrovica after being run out of their homes to the south. It's been mentioned here, I believe, that Kosovo (including, I assume, its northern part) is Serbia. So why did Serbia leave its citizens in such conditions for so long? It was able, after all, to construct homes in the area for people to move to from other parts of Serbia ("Serbia proper") during this time. So what was the problem? I wonder.

Only about a tenth of a prewar population of 200,000 Roma remain in Kosovo, the BBC also quotes the report.

This number of Roma(Gypsies) is not acurate, becasue 200 thousand may have been in entire former Yug. I am from Kosova and I am talking about 1970, and I know how many romas/gypsies we had in Kosova. I wonder who fed this monstrous figures to the said organization!?
If Kosova had 200 G romas/gypsies than we had about 20 Milion K-Serbs.
Joke of the CENTURY.

More propaganda. The Roma have traditionally been wandering people, living on the banks of rivers. When the communists gave them houses, they sold them, and went back to the river. They can't stay in homes. Serbia's only means of fighting Kosovo's independence is propaganda, but where Milosevic failed, so will his successors of today.

so this is the "Kosova" paradise for ethinic minorities!

Obviously the hell is not just for K-Serbs. It appears to be far worse for the K-Romas!

And I don't see Ahtisaari, Pristina, the Yankees or the rest of the self-righteous West raising even a squeak about this human tragedy! Shame!

Totally unacceptable but Romas do not have it better in Serbia or any other Balkan country. Some months ago Serbs protested against having Romas as neighbours.

I have said it before and repeat, for UN in Kosovo minority is a sinonym for Serbs and they don't care about others.

By the way a study carried out within the Norwegian KFOR soldiers showed that the soldiers after arriving in Kosovo developed anti- Roma sentiment and the comandants that spoke to those who carried out the research used expressions like "only a part of the nail of one of my soldiers is worth more than all the Romas of Kosovo"

and of course,those who are responsible for the presence of lead at these places ,poisoning our river our territories and our water ,have no responsability??
Of course,serbian concern about environment in kosovo was egal to zero during all the last century!!

It is hilarious to read that team Serbia tries to twist this into something else. We have to do with a ethnic group that does not have any homeland and is present in many countries in Central and South Eastern Europe. They are unfortunately discriminated in many countries including Kosovo. Last year Serbia’s Velimir Ilic accused one of his opponents of behaving like a Gipsy, this and the killing of a Roma teenager by a group og Serbian teenagers show that Serbia isn’t any heaven for Romas. Kate, it will never happen, but even if this happened Romas would not be a part of Kosovo or Serbian delegations since they are too few.

Serb supporters, please check where Serbia,Slovakia, Checz, Bulgaria stand with Roma rights. Kosova is in the same group if not better.
Or maybe, why dont you check Serbs rights in norht of Kosovo to find out how are people treated there.

it is strange that thejournal published such a news only today:amnisty international called attention for it in 2002,who in 2004,and french military contingent in 2000(see link http://www.defense.gouv.fr/sante/content/download/149659/1297302/file/MEA_T37_N1_WEB.pdf )
and serbian researchers did publish about it in 1952 and 1982...
So who was in charge of kosovo at that time?who protested when Dr Kouchner ordered to stop zvecan activities? serbs! and you have still the obscenity of accusing albanians for the problem!

I saw this report as a documentary on tv here in Australia. It made me sick to see how nobody cares about the non Albanians in Kosovo.

Athisaari was rewarded well for this mess.

Those poor children being poisened at such an early age. Ethic cleansing is still going on in Kosovo but because the cleansed are not Albanian it doesn't matter.

I am glad that Australian citizens got to see what a mess Albanians can make of anything if given half a chance.

The criminals who destroyed the Mahala should of course be brought to justice, but hjaving occurred in June 1999 just after the preceding cataclysmic events, it is unlikely anyone can now be singled out.

However, rather than the usual knee-jerk condemning of a whole nation for the actions of a particular group 10 years ago, one should remember that it was UNMIK who controlled Kosovo the entire decade thereafter and failed to do anything about the Roma living in such toxic conditions. Good thing, I would say, that UNMIK is on its way out. However slow, at least the semi-independent Kosova authorities in the last year have actually moved to do something about this, unlike UNMIK's complete neglect.

"The UN created the camps, and the UN, along with the Kosovo authorities, bears legal responsibility for these people," the article concludes

Can't be clearer!!

Certainly we'll see plenty of posters claiming that the HRW is another tool for Serbian propaganda...

The golden Ahtisaari medal can certainly not replace and cover the reality on the ground unless words are finally followed by acts for these poor people!!

Ahtisaari, where are You and Your "Plan"??

Your "multhietnic Kosovo" is failed plan - because You don't know K-Albanians. They don't need any "multhietnic Kosovo".

If Romas from Kosovo fled to Serbia but Roma from Serbia don't fled to Kosovo - so Kosovo must be HELL for Romas.

---
No one believed me when I told them that they left on their own.

However, if they don't want to stay in Serbia they should be able to eventually return to Kosova. Keyword is eventually since many think that Roma helped the Serb paramilitaries

I am glad that The Guardian highlighted this shameful issue, but where is their story about life in the Serbian communities in Kosovo, or the terribly low level of living standards for all Kosovans?

The scandal is two-fold: That the West has created this mess and then abandoned these people; and that their project has been a complete failure. Very costly with virtually none of the money apparently going to the people who need it.

Lord Portly of Pomferoy or whatever George Robertson goes under now, spoke of the goal being mutli-ethnicity. Take away the international workers and there is no real integrated society at all.

A longterm solution will only come via the UN and through proper talks within the framework of 1244.

Serb propaganda! It was a british paper who came up with this story.

This is truly amazing! Every time there is a story that writes something negative about the albanian side it has to be propaganda. Albanians twist and turn the facts to find a way out. I guess albanians must be the most perfect people on the planet. When are you going to look yourselves in the mirror?
(MikeC, 22 June 2009 18:49)

What's amazing is your reaction to an article which doesn't say anything bad about Albanians..
Or perhaps you read something that we missed?
How can you blame the Albanians when the camps are run by UN and are in control of the Serbs?
Please iluminate us!
I'm not sure who is twisting the facts since you know very little of the problems that Roma people face now and faces for hundread of years.
The article clearly says that Kosovo goverment need to react and is exatly what Kosovo goverment has been asking for years. The right to provide basic life needs and rule of law to all the peoples in Kosovo including the nothern part of Mitrovica!
Guess who is against it?

Remember: "functioning state" says Cameron Munter.

And Ahtisaari got a Nobel Peace Prize for this.

Armchair diplomacy is alive and well.

No doubt that the position of Roma in Kosovo and in ALL other Balkan countries is veruy bad, indeed. I can understand that this article give the serb commentators in here an opportunity to point the finger at albanians, and get some kind of pathetic satisfaction or sense of being 'right' about albanians, but if you are honest you know very well that the position of Roma in Serbia and other countries is hardly any better. It is a fact that Roma have been discriminated always in the Balkan countries.

And it is also true that many K. albanians view Roma people as 'serb' collaborators, because many of them did actually assist the serb army in looting and ethnicly cleansing albanian in 98/99 war. I saw it this myself during NATO bombing, of Roma men dressed in serbian police uniforms and breaking shops in my neighbourhood. However, many innocent Roma have had to suffer as a result of the actions of some of them.

And if Balkan countries are serios about joining EU or even if they dont want to join, they should improve the conditions of Roma people.

BTW - 200,000 Roma in Kosovo before the war?????! Where the hell did they get that figure?

"The UN created the camps, and the UN, along with the Kosovo authorities, bears legal responsibility for these people," the article concludes "

1) UN created the camps not Kosovo goverment.
2) The camps are run by UN not Kosovo goverment.
3)The camps are based on the nothern part of Mitrovica which is in control of Serb structures.
4)Kosovo authorities following UNMIK advise can't go there.
It reaffirm Kosovo goverment pleas for month now. An end to UN role in Kosovo. Kosovo authorities can start functioning in nothern part of Mitrovica in alliance with EULEX.
These people deserve better lifes and they are not having one under the Serb local administrative parallel structures.

"If Kosova had 200 G romas/gypsies than we had about 20 Milion K-Serbs.
Joke of the CENTURY"
Kosova-USA...how can you read an article about children being systematically poisoned and post such a heartless and shameful comment? Does it matter who or how many, the point is that it is barbaric and should be dealt with immediately. Please dont make such shameful comments about this horrible situation.
(UK, 22 June 2009 21:49)
----
Way are you blaming Kosova USA . Blame yourself and B92 for all your Lies and Propaganda.

Unfortunately, Athassari and the West do not understand the Albanian culture. It is one that is based on blood clans, brutal lawlessness and no multi-ethnic support. No matter how much they pay for Biden's speeches and support- it will not change the type of culture it is. Maybe the West was well intentioned, but certainly not up on history or cultural facts. Unfortunate again, as decisions are made in safe offices the street rules are executed differently-

All the time I was and still am apalled with the way Ballkan states treat their Roma citizens. I remember during the Yugosllavia years, Roma people were trated worse than 3rd or 4th class citizens. In the post war Kosova Romas due to post war revenge, had to be evacuated in the North of Mitrovica. It is within Kosovar border but everytime Prishtina tries to get some involvement in that part of the country they get a huge resistance from the local population, there is no way that Kosovar government can improve the lives of those Romas or enybody else for that matter (remember what happened when people tried to restore their own houses). Once Kosova restores the law and order in the North Roma problem is going to be solved. The north of the Iber river is like a black hole which needs sorting as it is creating a lot of problems to Kosova as well as the one of Roma population. I equally blame everyone in Ballkans Albanians, Serbs, Macedonians, Croats, Bosnians, Bullgarians, Romanians, Hungarians,and you name it for treating Romas in the way you should not treat your worst enemy and let alone your neighbours, but hey what ballkan people knows about good neighbouring. I have seen every nationality from Eastern Europe and former Yugoslavia seeking asylum in UK and no one liked the way they were treated by the UK's asylum system. Every single one was complaining how they deserve better treatment etc while on the other hand they themselves treated Romas in the similar way if not worse all the time. I myself am ashamed to be part of the Ballkan's nationalizm and racism culture. This is the great opportunity for Serbs and Albanians to work together and save those poor children whom only crime was to be born on those camps. Let's save lives as we have destroyed more than we can afford.

The Hague is awaiting the perpetrators of this hostile act.

There is more than one way to skin a snake....

Roma's are treated as second class citizen in the whole of Balkans including Kosovo and Serbia. Don't believe me? Well type ROMA in the B92 website and you will come with stories like :
"Roma unwanted in Belgrade suburb"; "5 arrested for planning attacks on Roma"; "Roma family's forced move raises rights issue". All those things happen in Serbia. I think EU is to blame for this because they have not put pressure in the Balkan countries to treat Romas as equal citizens. It's really shameful.

http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2009&mm=04&dd=05&nav_id=58302
http://b92.net/eng/news/crimes-article.php?yyyy=2007&mm=08&dd=07&nav_id=42863
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/04/14/eu.slovakia.roma/
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR72/007/2008/en
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/21/race-northern-ireland-romanian-gypsies
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/americas/sep/03/gypsies.htm
And this list could go on and on.
A programme called “Roma Decade” was launched with aim of decreasing vulnerability and human security risks Roma, (Ashkali and Egyptians) are facing. Signatory countries of this decade are: Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Croatia, Czech Republic and Spain. The initiative was launched in 2005, with the Decade of Roma Inclusion running from 2005 to 2015, and represents the first multinational project in Europe to actively enhance the lives of Roma.
The governments of the above countries have committed to closing the gap in welfare and living conditions between the Roma and non-Roma populations, as well as putting an end to the cycle of poverty and exclusion that many Roma find themselves in. Each of these countries has developed a national Decade Action Plan that specifies goals and indicators in the Decade's priority areas: education, employment, health and housing. A thirteenth country, Slovenia, has observer status, while Kosovo, unfortunately was not a signatory member due to its unresolved status.
As most of you commentators know, Roma are among the most vulnerable in the Western Balkans and Europe in general. The unique position of Roma as a huge “diaspora without a state behind it”, without own resources, religious, or educational institution, determines the specificity of the experience and suffering they faced during the recent Balkan wars. Roma simply found themselves in the whirlwind of the war, mercilessly chased and driven out of their homes by all of the fighting parties. From the human security perspective, those groups need closer attention – at least for the reason that being minorities, their voices (and interests) are not articulated and defended well enough. On the other hand, resolving of the problems of these groups is in countries’ long term interest as a precondition for societal integrity in the long run.
The situation of Roma in Kosovo is not same in all settlements where they live. Surely, Roma in Mitrovica camp are the most vulnerable among all other Roma living in Kosovo, but there are other places where Roma live quite well and have their houses next to Albanians (Prizren, Gjakova, Ferizaj, etc).
As you can see from the links, Roma situation is a very complex issue and unfortunately they are discriminated all over the world, and the saying that they live in bad conditions only in Kosovo doesn’t really represent the real situation.

It is hilarious to read that team Serbia tries to twist "this into something else. We have to do with a ethnic group that does not have any homeland and is present in many countries in Central and South Eastern Europe. They are unfortunately discriminated in many countries including Kosovo. Last year Serbia’s Velimir Ilic accused one of his opponents of behaving like a Gipsy, this and the killing of a Roma teenager by a group og Serbian teenagers show that Serbia isn’t any heaven for Romas. Kate, it will never happen, but even if this happened Romas would not be a part of Kosovo or Serbian delegations since they are too few.
(A, 22 June 2009 14:10) "

So you are tickled pink by the idea of people being bullied, threatened and discriminated. I don't think however those K-Romas share your hilarity.

And their "too few" numbers is a lame excuse to give anyway for treating them so badly.

to all,
don't worry albanians,serbs and roma living in and around mitrovica are as much poisonned as roma people! lead and heavy metal concentration around mitrovica are 200 to 500 times more than WHO limits!!!
every time the wind is blowing,lead particules are flying around you,serbs albanians and Roma without ethnic distinction(even french soldiers are touched by it!)!and this lead is poisonning serbia too throught the ibar river ,which is a dead river since year 1970...
don't worry,you live all in the most polluted place of europe thanks to the ex yu exploitation of kosovo minerals!
serbia put all the "dirty" factories in kosovo!

Shame on posters like A. Instead of accepting the reality, that minorities live in horrible conditions, they try and whitewash the issue with worthless comparisons to other regions in the world. These are children, for God's sake. Would you be as indifferent if these were Albanians babies? All I can say is, shame on the West for creating this mess, and then walking away like it's not their problem now.

Is this news? Something previously unknown, I mean - there have been stories about the lead poisoning in the Roma camps for years - the BBC and The New York Times have had articles since at least 2005 (when the UNHRC presented a major report on the problem).

Just how UNMIK failed to deal with this acknowledged problem is something that should be looked into, but the Kosovo government now is at least trying to deal with the situation: President Sejdiu announced just recently that work is about to start on building a new Roma Mahala (in North Mitrovica), complete with school and hospital.

What exactly was UNMIK doing all those years? It certainly didn't do anything to promote the concept of "international intervention." What was the problem - did the people they sent just spend too little time in the country to see projects through to the end, were they simply incompetent, or did the system they set up frustrate their efforts? I wonder what the chances are of an after-action report on the whole thing, once UNMIK has finally moved out?

Olf, Serbs in north live free unlike their countrymen in other parts of Kosovo&Metohija. You dont need to worry about that. Everyone in Kosovo&Metohija was treated much better when Milosevic was in power than now when Thaci-snake and other war criminals and thugs are in power.
(timotimekvej, 22 June 2009 20:12)

Mate, don't insult majority of ordinary Serbs living there please.
History will tell if Milosevic treated Serbs better but I doubt it.

A
"Serbia isn’t any heaven for Romas."

If Romas from Kosovo fled to Serbia but Roma from Serbia don't fled to Kosovo - so Kosovo must be HELL for Romas.

The Roma have traditionally been wandering people...
(Rebel, 22 June 2009 13:37)

Kind of like how the Albanians wandered into Kosovo?

"If Kosova had 200 G romas/gypsies than we had about 20 Milion K-Serbs.
Joke of the CENTURY"
Kosova-USA...how can you read an article about children being systematically poisoned and post such a heartless and shameful comment? Does it matter who or how many, the point is that it is barbaric and should be dealt with immediately. Please dont make such shameful comments about this horrible situation.

2 scientific articles for your education:Factor livak P.,wasserman G. and co:The yugoslavia prospective study of environmental lead exposure,in environmental health perspective,1999,107;9_15
and andrejewA,MolanoS,First phase of public health project on lead pollution in mitrovica region.World health organisation,oct 2000
and in french:Ledrans M.nardoneT exposition au plomb de la population civile et militaire dans la région de Mitrovica,institut de veille sanitaire,juillet 2000.

"Serbia's only means of fighting Kosovo's independence is propaganda..."
Rebel

Serb propaganda! It was a british paper who came up with this story.

This is truly amazing! Every time there is a story that writes something negative about the albanian side it has to be propaganda. Albanians twist and turn the facts to find a way out. I guess albanians must be the most perfect people on the planet. When are you going to look yourselves in the mirror?

Wish I could say this story was news to me, but it isn't. The 'authorities' have known about the plight of the roma children (& the adults for that matter) since 1999.

Bernard Kouchner, then head of the UNHCR said back then that the roma 'would be moved immediately'. Nothing happened.

The kids have concentrations of lead in their bloodstream up to 50 times the safe level, & in most of the cases, mental impairment is the result, & in some cases, it has killed them.

Up until recently, UNMIK (under the aegis of people like Joachim Ruecker & Larry Rossin & their predecessors) has had primary responsibility for IDP's.

But in May last year, responsibility was handed over to K-albanians in pristina.

Both UNMIK & pristina are well aware of the lead contamination of the groundwater & the environment & have done nothing to alleviate the situation.

UNMIK carried out blood tests on the roma but never released their findings.. not even to the people being tested.

Question is why?

Wasn't a case of funding as billions of euros have been poured into Kosovo. Were certainly enough funds to build new houses for the displaced roma in the south among the K-albanians who originally drove them out.

Only they refuse point blank to move back.

Why haven't they been moved?

Only reason I can think off is that this is a 'policy decision' on behalf of 'brussels' & Washington in a bid to force the roma to return south of the Ibar in line with the former's promotion of Kosovo's ficticious multi-ethnic character.

Only it isn't working.

At any rate, is a telling indictment of the poisonous environment in the south among the K-albanians when the roma would rather stay in a lead contaminated camp that is slowly killing them, rather than move back amongst their former neighbours.

As is apparent from some of the comments posted here by K-albanians.

Daveo
"Unfortunately this is all old news."

???? This is NEW HRW report from 23rd June 2009!!!! Did You believe, that they don't know today situation of Romas in Kosovo??

If Romas from Kosovo fled to Serbia but Roma from Serbia don't fled to Kosovo - so Kosovo must be HELL for Romas.
(Milan, 22 June 2009 18:06)

Exactly, Milan. As an international living in Mitro, I can attest to the fact that ALBANIANS ran the Roma out of South Mitrovica. If the Serbs are so awful, then why are there no Roma camps in the south? For that matter, the Gorani population also took refuge in the north to escape Albanian attacks. Any one of these Albanian apologists is welcome to come to Mitrovica and see where the Roma homes USED TO BE in the south. They may not live in good conditions in the north, but neither do many of the Serbs. At least they are not attacked on a regular basis as they were in the Albanian side. This is reality, not propaganda.

Olf, Serbs in north live free unlike their countrymen in other parts of Kosovo&Metohija. You dont need to worry about that. Everyone in Kosovo&Metohija was treated much better when Milosevic was in power than now when Thaci-snake and other war criminals and thugs are in power.

Keyword is eventually since many think that Roma helped the Serb paramilitaries
(Peace, 22 June 2009 21:25)

Or maybe keyword is fact, that they were loyal to their country otherwise to K-Albanians??

Or maybe keyword is fact, that they were loyal to their country otherwise to K-Albanians??
--
To each their own, let them decide to stay in Serbia ("their country") if they want. No one forces them to do anything

Olf, mate, maybe you should read my comment again because i wasnt insulting anyone. My point is that everyone had much better lives in Kosovo&Metohija when Milosevic was in power than now when Thaci-Snake, haradinaj and other criminals are in control of situation.

For all of Milosevic's shortcomings, his Kosovo policy was appropriate. What else can you do to stop the Albanians from persecuting and excluding minorities?

2 scientific articles for your education:Factor livak P.,wasserman G. and co:The yugoslavia prospective study of environmental lead exposure,in environmental health perspective,1999,107;9_15
and andrejewA,MolanoS,First phase of public health project on lead pollution in mitrovica region.World health organisation,oct 2000
and in french:Ledrans M.nardoneT exposition au plomb de la population civile et militaire dans la région de Mitrovica,institut de veille sanitaire,juillet 2000.
(lili, 23 June 2009 16:02)

What does this have to do with the fact that ALBANIANS ethnically cleansed the Roma from South Mitro in the first place? Is it toxic in parts of Mitrovica? Yes. Would the Roma be living in that toxic area if not for the Albanians? No. End of story.

What does this have to do with the fact that ALBANIANS ethnically cleansed the Roma from South Mitro in the first place? Is it toxic in parts of Mitrovica? Yes. Would the Roma be living in that toxic area if not for the Albanians? No. End of story.
(Ace, 23 June 2009 17:59)
it has to do:lead was there ,and around all mitrovica,as much as in the place of the camps,and all this was known since 1952(first report not mentioned here.The first article is from years 1985 to 1990 so in a time when ex yu were ruling kosovo.;What have you done in that time to protect us from it? Nothing!

PS/and sure if serbs had not killed so many albanians,no need to retailate against roma!

If anyone has any ideas on how to legally hold the UN (UNMIK) responsible I'm all ears.

If Kosova had 200 G romas/gypsies than we had about 20 Milion K-Serbs.
Joke of the CENTURY"
Kosova-USA...how can you read an article about children being systematically poisoned and post such a heartless and shameful comment? Does it matter who or how many, the point is that it is barbaric and should be dealt with immediately. Please dont make such shameful comments about this horrible situation.
(UK, 22 June 2009 21:49)
----
Way are you blaming Kosova USA . Blame yourself and B92 for all your Lies and Propaganda.
(Nigella Lawson, 23 June 2009 03:20)

If you take the time to read my post you will understand that I am not blaming the situation on Kosova-USA but asking that such shameful comments about such a horrible situation not be made. Surely you dont condone the trivualisation of the situation with comments such as "Joke of the century" I am merely stating that when a situation like this exists it should not matter who is the victim or how many are affected just that the situation is stopped as soon as possible and prevented from happening again? Please do not put words into my mouth in future. Thanks.

To each their own, let them decide to stay in Serbia ("their country") if they want. No one forces them to do anything
(Freedom of Choice, 23 June 2009 01:41)
Serbian Province of Kosovo and Metohija is their country.

What's amazing is your reaction to an article which doesn't say anything bad about Albanians..
(Ilir, 22 June 2009 22:12)

o rly? and who made those people refugees in the first place? it really takes talent to blame the un for the plight of the roma refugees but not the very people that made them flee their homes.

the plight of the roma refugees is being largely ignored in the west mostly because people would start asking questions about that "humanitarian" intervention from 10 years ago.

it is true that many serbs will jump on every opportunity to say how albanians are bad and criminal, but the knee-jerk reaction from albanians to any suggestion that some of their countrymen could have or could be doing something bad is dismissed as lies and "serbian propaganda" even if the sources are say, german or british. both things are actually blatantly racist.

it's rather pathetic to see defenses along the lines of "it's no different in any of the other Balkan countries" and "There aren't that many to begin with" and of course "where did they get that number of population from". These are all attempts to dilute the fact that this horrible act is happening. There were no denials of ill treatment from any other camp or region, but using the "they do it, so can I" excuse is beyond immature. Isn't Kosovo the most Westernized, most free, most liberating nation-statlet in the Balkans. One can somehow bring oneself to understanding the Kosovar Albanian's sentinment and actions against Serbs, as has the Western world for a while now. One can possibly excuse some of it, but the Roma have done nothing wrong to the Kosovar Albanian, yet they are being washed out of this multiethnic oasis.
Please, it is time for the peoples of the nations of bad doers (which quite honestly is every single person in the whole world) to take their leaders to task and to take on the shared responsibilities of the past's attrocities. They've happened, across all borders, from all sides to all other sides. If the pasts are not addressed and honest forthright acceptance and amendments are made, more blood will be shed.

Unfortunately this is all old news. The Roma have been living in shanty towns with exposure levels to lead and lead poisoning through the roof for a long time. You can read any article or watch any documentary and it is still sad to see these kids lives made hell and even result in death because of the excess exposure to lead.

Why? This is a no brainer for me. Extreme intolerance by the Albanian population to minorities has forced them to live here. When is the world going to wake up and see the horrendous human rights record by Albanians in Kosovo. UCK...from "terrorist organisation" to "government officials" - do we expect anything less?

We would very much like to receive a copy of the survey conducted among Norwegian KFOR soldiers, which is quoted by A (Comment number 4.). Our email address is: chachipe.info@gmail.com

Ok, so these people were living in North Mitrovica after being run out of their homes to the south. It's been mentioned here, I believe, that Kosovo (including, I assume, its northern part) is Serbia. So why did Serbia leave its citizens in such conditions for so long? It was able, after all, to construct homes in the area for people to move to from other parts of Serbia ("Serbia proper") during this time. So what was the problem? I wonder.