HRW urges Kosovo organ trade investigation

Human Rights Watch is demanding a credible and independent investigation into the allegations of organ trafficking in Kosovo, said reports.

Izvor: Tanjug

Tuesday, 08.02.2011.

12:26

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Human Rights Watch is demanding a credible and independent investigation into the allegations of organ trafficking in Kosovo, said reports. According to Deutsche Welle radio, the international human rights organization is urging that the probe be conducted by a specially formed team of experts in fighting crime and corruption, which would have sufficient political power to carry out the investigation and protect witnesses. HRW urges Kosovo organ trade investigation In mid-January HRW recommended that the international team should be based outside of the region due to possible intimidation of witnesses and investigators. Council of Europe (CoE) Rapporteur Dick Marty indicated in his report that in 1999 and 2000, Serb and other civilians fell victim to the members of the ethnic Albanian KLA. "We are requesting an investigation protected from political influence, which has a functional program to protect witnesses and all those who will provide information for the investigation," HRW's Amanda McRae was quoted as saying. Other than being located outside Kosovo, such a body should also have at its helm high-ranking investigators given powers and jurisdiction to find the necessary information, she noted. In 2009, HRW said it had information that "at least 400 persons were taken from Kosovo to Albania, where all traces of them disappear". It was stressed then that the case is important because the alleged trade in human body parts took place after international presence was established in Kosovo in 1999. McRae told Deutsche Welle that although her organization has yet to receive any information about the results of this investigation from the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, this mission "could conduct a new probe under new conditions". HRW says that in their efforts to secure a credible investigation, they were talking to representatives of "Germany, France, Britain and Brussels". Although no names have been mentioned thus far in connection to participation in a future team to investigate the case, McRae says concrete goals do exist. "We expect that now EULEX in particular will push forward this issue and form a department within its ranks, or request an outside investigation. And as soon as possible, on these accusations that are incredibly serious. People have been waiting for justice to be done on this issue for a long time, and I hope EULEX and others will take that very seriously," the HRW official concluded.

HRW urges Kosovo organ trade investigation

In mid-January HRW recommended that the international team should be based outside of the region due to possible intimidation of witnesses and investigators.

Council of Europe (CoE) Rapporteur Dick Marty indicated in his report that in 1999 and 2000, Serb and other civilians fell victim to the members of the ethnic Albanian KLA.

"We are requesting an investigation protected from political influence, which has a functional program to protect witnesses and all those who will provide information for the investigation," HRW's Amanda McRae was quoted as saying.

Other than being located outside Kosovo, such a body should also have at its helm high-ranking investigators given powers and jurisdiction to find the necessary information, she noted.

In 2009, HRW said it had information that "at least 400 persons were taken from Kosovo to Albania, where all traces of them disappear".

It was stressed then that the case is important because the alleged trade in human body parts took place after international presence was established in Kosovo in 1999.

McRae told Deutsche Welle that although her organization has yet to receive any information about the results of this investigation from the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, this mission "could conduct a new probe under new conditions".

HRW says that in their efforts to secure a credible investigation, they were talking to representatives of "Germany, France, Britain and Brussels".

Although no names have been mentioned thus far in connection to participation in a future team to investigate the case, McRae says concrete goals do exist.

"We expect that now EULEX in particular will push forward this issue and form a department within its ranks, or request an outside investigation. And as soon as possible, on these accusations that are incredibly serious. People have been waiting for justice to be done on this issue for a long time, and I hope EULEX and others will take that very seriously," the HRW official concluded.

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