HRW slams Serbia over Albanian rights

Human Rights Watch has published a report on the events in Serbia after Kosovo’s unilateral proclamation of independence in February 2008. The NGO stated that “Serbian authorities failed to prevent attacks against businesses and homes owned by ethnic Albanians in the wake of Kosovo’s declaration of independence in February 2008 or to bring those responsible to justice.” HRW slams Serbia over Albanian rights The 74-page report, “Hostages of Tension: Intimidation and Harassment of Ethnic Albanians in Serbia after Kosovo’s Declaration of Independence”, documents attacks against ethnic Albanians and other minorities in February and March 2008, including broken windows nn businesses and homes, attempted arson, hate graffiti and intimidating protests. “Most took place in the ethnically diverse Vojvodina region, in northern Serbia,” the report adds. HRW states that the reaction of the Serbian government at the time was inadequate. “Serbia needs to show it is serious about stopping these attacks,” said Wanda Troszczynska-van Genderen, Balkans researcher at Human Rights Watch. “It needs to prosecute the attackers and be quicker to act when tensions rise.” She said that “violence against minorities is not new in Serbia,” and that “the protection of minorities in Serbia is a benchmark for upgraded EU ties.” Ethnic Albanians whose businesses and homes were attacked told Human Rights Watch that they had seen the police standing by without acting as ultra-nationalists threw stones at property during demonstrations, the organization said in a statement. The police contend that it was not always feasible to take strong action during and following demonstrations, when officers were outnumbered by angry protesters, the NGO added. HRW stated that whatever the arguments of the police were, the NGO “is concerned that in most cases the police appear to have done little to identify or to pursue the perpetrators vigorously – even in situations where police officers were themselves witnesses, or where other witnesses or CCTV footage were available.” “In addition to the fact that none of the cases reviewed by Human Rights Watch resulted in prosecutions, it is clear that few, if any, of 221 Kosovo-related incidents recorded by police between February 17 and March 20 (whether targeting ethnic minorities or otherwise) resulted in any criminal charges or prosecutions,” HRW stated. “Serbia’s new coalition government, formed in June 2008, has yet to take up the issue of violence against minorities. The report includes recommendations to the new government to curb anti-minority violence." "In addition to enacting a hate crimes law and increasing minority representation in the police, the recommendations include prompt and unequivocal government condemnation of offenses against minorities, and better coordination between the police, judges and prosecutors,” HRW added. “Serbia’s new government needs to show both perpetrators and victims that violence against minorities will not be tolerated,” said Troszczynska-van Genderen. “Above all, it should bring those who attack minorities to justice.”

HRW slams Serbia over Albanian rights

The 74-page report, “Hostages of Tension: Intimidation and Harassment of Ethnic Albanians in Serbia after Kosovo’s Declaration of Independence”, documents attacks against ethnic Albanians and other minorities in February and March 2008, including broken windows nn businesses and homes, attempted arson, hate graffiti and intimidating protests.

“Most took place in the ethnically diverse Vojvodina region, in northern Serbia,” the report adds.

HRW states that the reaction of the Serbian government at the time was inadequate.

“Serbia needs to show it is serious about stopping these attacks,” said Wanda Troszczynska-van Genderen, Balkans researcher at Human Rights Watch. “It needs to prosecute the attackers and be quicker to act when tensions rise.”

She said that “violence against minorities is not new in Serbia,” and that “the protection of minorities in Serbia is a benchmark for upgraded EU ties.”

Ethnic Albanians whose businesses and homes were attacked told Human Rights Watch that they had seen the police standing by without acting as ultra-nationalists threw stones at property during demonstrations, the organization said in a statement.

The police contend that it was not always feasible to take strong action during and following demonstrations, when officers were outnumbered by angry protesters, the NGO added.

HRW stated that whatever the arguments of the police were, the NGO “is concerned that in most cases the police appear to have done little to identify or to pursue the perpetrators vigorously – even in situations where police officers were themselves witnesses, or where other witnesses or CCTV footage were available.”

“In addition to the fact that none of the cases reviewed by Human Rights Watch resulted in prosecutions, it is clear that few, if any, of 221 Kosovo-related incidents recorded by police between February 17 and March 20 (whether targeting ethnic minorities or otherwise) resulted in any criminal charges or prosecutions,” HRW stated.

“Serbia’s new coalition government, formed in June 2008, has yet to take up the issue of violence against minorities. The report includes recommendations to the new government to curb anti-minority violence."

"In addition to enacting a hate crimes law and increasing minority representation in the police, the recommendations include prompt and unequivocal government condemnation of offenses against minorities, and better coordination between the police, judges and prosecutors,” HRW added.

“Serbia’s new government needs to show both perpetrators and victims that violence against minorities will not be tolerated,” said Troszczynska-van Genderen. “Above all, it should bring those who attack minorities to justice.”