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Photo Essays A Village Destroyed Return to Kosovo—Black and White
Return to Kosovo—Color Peace Deferred Refugees Civilian Destruction Abuses Intensify 
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About these Photos
Human Rights Watch obtained the photographs that accompany the report, "A Village Destroyed," from local KLA officials in Pec on July 16. The KLA told Human
Rights Watch that they had been found in the homes of ethnic Serbian
citizens in the Pe area after Serbian and Yugoslav forces withdrew from
Kosovo on June 12.
Human Rights Watch cannot confirm the authenticity of the photographs,
since their origin, method of procurement, and ownership record are
unknown. The fact that they were provided by the KLA, in whose interest
it is to identify possible war criminals, should heighten suspicion
about their accuracy. But, even if the photographs were doctored, there
is no question that the villagers interviewed by Human Rights Watch
positively identified some of the people in the photographs—and it is
out of the question that this was coordinated between them and the KLA.
Human Rights Watch asked the KLA for the photographs, rather than
receiving them on the KLA's initiative, and did not mention that they
would be shown to villagers in the area. A Human Rights Watch researcher scanned all of the photographs into a
laptop computer and then showed them to villagers in Cuška, Zahac , and
Pavljan, as well as to people in Pec , to see if anyone recognized or
could identify any of the individuals. The methodology employed was to
show the photographs to only one person at a time, preferably in a
one-on-one setting. All of the photographs were shown one at a time
without any comment or suggestive hints. The photographs of the outhouse in Cuška and the July 18 memorial
service were taken by Human Rights Watch.
If you or your organization is interested in using these pictures, they can be obtained from SABA Press Agency at 1 (212) 477 7722.
©Human Rights Watch 1999
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