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.

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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