Human Rights Watch Statement to the Contact Group
The international community has repeatedly vowed to prevent
"another Bosnia" from happening in Kosovo. Yet indiscriminate
shelling, summary executions, and the razing of villages that marked
the war in Bosnia are now taking place in Kosovo on a daily basis.
Human Rights Watch is dismayed that despite the mounting evidence of
widespread humanitarian law violations in the region, the
international community has repeatedly failed to follow through on
warnings to Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.
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Given the mounting evidence of serious violations of human rights
and humanitarian law, Human Rights Watch calls on all member states of
the Contact Group to intensify their pressure on Yugoslav President
Slobodan Milosevic.
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Human Rights Watch
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A large-scale offensive by Serbian special police forces and
possibly paramilitary units is currently under way in the western part
of Kosovo along the border with Albania. Humanitarian aid
organizations, journalists, and human rights researchers have been
denied access to the region between Pec and Dakovica. Although
information on human rights and international humanitarian law
violations therefore remains incomplete, there is substantial and
credible evidence that serious violations of humanitarian law are
taking place.
As many as fifty people are reported dead and many more
are reported missing from the most recent offensive in the border
region around Decan. At least 11,000 people have fled across the
mountainous border to Albania. Eyewitnesses report the shelling of
civilians by Serb forces, as well as cases of summary execution, in
the villages of Ljubenica on May 24, and Poklek in the Drenica region
on May 31. Many villages around the town of Decan have been looted,
shelled, and set on fire.
Given the mounting evidence of serious violations of human rights
and humanitarian law, Human Rights Watch calls on all member states of
the Contact Group to intensify their pressure on Yugoslav President
Slobodan Milosevic. While we welcome the reimposition of economic
sanctions by the US and member states of the European Union, it is
important that these sanctions be tailored expressly to target the
Serbian government, President Milosevic, and his associates. Further,
it it crucial that the sanctions not be lifted until real improvements
in the following areas are met.
Specifically, the Contact Group should demand:
- An immediate withdrawal of the Serbian special police forces and
any paramilitary units operating in Kosovo;
- That the government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia halt all
long-range artillery shelling and other military operations that are
being used to target or indiscriminately fire on civilians;
- Unrestricted access to the affected areas in Kosovo by humanitarian
organizations, the media, and forensic specialists who can investigate
allegations of summary executions, as well as access for diplomats and
military attaches from the countries of the Contact Group;
- Full disclosure of the names of those currently detained as a
result of the conflict, their ages, where they were captured, where
they are being detained, and other relevant details;
- Full and ongoing access to these detainees for the International
Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations;
- That the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former
Yugoslavia (ICTY) to investigate alleged violations of international
humanitarian law in Kosovo. Western governments should guarantee
ongoing financial and political support to ensure that the ICTY can
immediately undertake such an investigation. Further, all governments
conducting intelligence operations in and around Kosovo should provide
the ICTY with any evidence they obtain relating to the commission of
war crimes.
- Unrestricted access for the United Nations Special Rapporteur on
the Former Yugoslavia to investigate violations of humanitarian law
by both sides in the crisis region. Further, independent human rights
monitors must immediately be granted full access to the crisis region
in order to investigate allegations;
- The readmission of the OSCE long-term monitoring mission to Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia.
Human Rights Watch also calls on the Contact Group to appeal to the
Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) to respect its obligations under
international humanitarian law. In particular, the KLA should release
Serbian civilians in detention, refrain from attacks on members of the
civilian population and from using any detainees or civilians as
hostages, and treat humanely Serbian soldiers or policemen in custody.
For further information contact:
Diane Paul (212) 216-1845