NGO opposes relativization of war crimes

Kosovo independence cannot be used to relativize the war crimes committed in Serbia’s name, an NGO has stated. The Women in Black organization cited the Suva Reka crimes, which took place five years ago today, in which 48 Albanians—46 of whom were from the Berisha family—were murdered, including a pregnant woman and another over the age of 100. NGO opposes relativization of war crimes Eight Serbian police officers are currently standing trial for that crime in Belgrade, though the Women in Black claim that this crime and others against the Albanian population were organized by the state, and that its perpetrators were senior officials of the Serbian Interior Ministry. “This crime, and every other between 1991 and 1999, was committed in our name, in the name of Serbdom, and the ideology of blood and dirt. That is why it is necessary to clearly and publicly distance ourselves from these crimes, and demand justice for the victims and punishment for the perpetrators,” the NGO stated. Of the three Berisha family members that survived, only Sireta Berisha testified at the end of last year against the eight accused. Berisha’s husband and four children were killed on March 26, 1999. The bodies of the murdered Albanians were uncovered at a mass burial site in Batajnica.

NGO opposes relativization of war crimes

Eight Serbian police officers are currently standing trial for that crime in Belgrade, though the Women in Black claim that this crime and others against the Albanian population were organized by the state, and that its perpetrators were senior officials of the Serbian Interior Ministry.

“This crime, and every other between 1991 and 1999, was committed in our name, in the name of Serbdom, and the ideology of blood and dirt. That is why it is necessary to clearly and publicly distance ourselves from these crimes, and demand justice for the victims and punishment for the perpetrators,” the NGO stated.

Of the three Berisha family members that survived, only Sireta Berisha testified at the end of last year against the eight accused. Berisha’s husband and four children were killed on March 26, 1999.

The bodies of the murdered Albanians were uncovered at a mass burial site in Batajnica.