HRW: Substantial proof for Del Ponte claims

There is firm evidence that 400 people, mostly Serbs, who went missing during the Kosovo war, were transferred across the border to Albania, claims HRW.

Izvor: Beta

Tuesday, 10.06.2008.

13:15

Default images

There is firm evidence that 400 people, mostly Serbs, who went missing during the Kosovo war, were transferred across the border to Albania, claims HRW. In an interview with Berlin daily Junge Welt, Human Rights Watch’s Coordinator for Crisis Areas Fred Abrahams discusses Carla Del Ponte’s Book, “The Hunt”, where she claims that after NATO troops entered the province, kidnapped Serbs and Albanians were taken to Albania, where their organs were extracted and sold to the highest bidder. HRW: Substantial proof for Del Ponte claims "Since I respect Carla Del Ponte, I looked deeply into the claims she made in her book, and found evidence to support her claims. It is still unclear whether trade in organs really took place—the evidence is incomplete. But we do know that after the war 400 people, mostly Serbs, disappeared. Also, there is firm evidence that they were taken across the border, to Albania,” Abrahams states. He reiterates that his organization asked the prime ministers of Kosovo and Albania to launch an investigation. "We never received an answer. Instead, both governments launched a media attack on Carla Del Ponte and called her a liar. That reaction made me believe more than ever that a full investigation was needed,” says Abrahams. The HRW coordinator adds that the former Hague chief prosecutor’s claims are the “first serious indication that organ trading is taking place in Albania,” while earlier, “there were only rumors.” "Now, everything’s changed. We have enough facts to justify our application for an investigation,” Abrahams explains. Commenting on the fact that the reports of international secret services confirm that former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders Hashim Thaci, Agim Ceku, and Ramush Haradinaj play a leading role today in organized crime, and that it would be naive to think that such an investigation could be launched in Kosovo, Abrahams says that there are “no illusions.” "It’s not that simple, as there is no witness protection. Nonetheless, there are good people that live in Kosovo who don’t want crimes to be merely swept under the carpet. If the Kosovo authorities fail to take any action, then international institutions can take the next step. The UN and the EU will have the power to investigate serious crimes,” Abrahams points out, adding that the “power of criminal networks in Kosovo is a serious problem that should be understood as such in EU countries”.

HRW: Substantial proof for Del Ponte claims

"Since I respect Carla Del Ponte, I looked deeply into the claims she made in her book, and found evidence to support her claims. It is still unclear whether trade in organs really took place—the evidence is incomplete. But we do know that after the war 400 people, mostly Serbs, disappeared. Also, there is firm evidence that they were taken across the border, to Albania,” Abrahams states.

He reiterates that his organization asked the prime ministers of Kosovo and Albania to launch an investigation.

"We never received an answer. Instead, both governments launched a media attack on Carla Del Ponte and called her a liar. That reaction made me believe more than ever that a full investigation was needed,” says Abrahams.

The HRW coordinator adds that the former Hague chief prosecutor’s claims are the “first serious indication that organ trading is taking place in Albania,” while earlier, “there were only rumors.”

"Now, everything’s changed. We have enough facts to justify our application for an investigation,” Abrahams explains.

Commenting on the fact that the reports of international secret services confirm that former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders Hashim Thaci, Agim Ceku, and Ramush Haradinaj play a leading role today in organized crime, and that it would be naive to think that such an investigation could be launched in Kosovo, Abrahams says that there are “no illusions.”

"It’s not that simple, as there is no witness protection. Nonetheless, there are good people that live in Kosovo who don’t want crimes to be merely swept under the carpet. If the Kosovo authorities fail to take any action, then international institutions can take the next step. The UN and the EU will have the power to investigate serious crimes,” Abrahams points out, adding that the “power of criminal networks in Kosovo is a serious problem that should be understood as such in EU countries”.

Komentari 33

Pogledaj komentare

33 Komentari

Možda vas zanima

Stiže novi "pakao"; Spremite se 1
Društvo

Stiže novi "pakao"; Spremite se

Kao u prvih 15 dana aprila, ovaj mesec će se završiti natprosečnim temperaturama. Prema najavi RHMZ u nedelju i do prve polovine naredne sedmice temperature će dostići letnje vrednosti.

7:21

26.4.2024.

19 h

Podeli: