27 April 1999 

TEXT: OSCE KVM DOCUMENTS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN KOSOVO

(Refugees paint picture of "total lawlessness") (730)



Skopje - Human rights workers with the OSCE Kosovo Verification
Mission (KVM) who were previously working in Kosovo are now conducting
in-depth interviews with Kosovar Albanians in refugee camps regarding
alleged human rights violations.


The refugee's reports "paint a picture of total lawlessness and an
almost complete absence of any form of protection for ethnic
Albanians" inside Kosovo, according to an OSCE (Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe) press relese.


"Statements detail alleged incidents of killings, executions, physical
abuse, rape, forced displacement, destruction of civilian property and
looting, involving individuals and groups of people, including
complete village populations in Kosovo."


Following is the text of the OSCE press release:

(Begin text)

ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE

KOSOVO VERIFICATION MISSION

Press Office



OSCE KVM DOCUMENTS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST POPULATION OF
KOSOVO


Skopje, 20 April 1999 -- OSCE KVM Human Rights staff previously
working in Kosovo are conducting in-depth interviews with victims and
witnesses regarding alleged human rights violations, covering the
period 20 March 1999 onwards. KVM interviewers are based in Skopje,
Ohrid and Gostivar, and includes a permanent presence in the main
refugee camps.


To date, approximately 250 statements have been taken, the majority of
the interviewees have come from the regions of Mitrovica, Pristina,
Gnjilane and Urosevac. The broad range of interviews conducted thus
far allows for an analysis of trends in human rights violations. As
yet, details of interviews cannot be verified on the ground.
Nevertheless, corroborating statements and other evidence indicate a
high credibility factor in the vast majority of statements taken. A
wide range of human rights violations has been reported.


The statements paint a picture of total lawlessness and an almost
complete absence of any form of protection for ethnic Albanians.
Attacks by the VJ are targeting civilians and their property, and are
followed by MUP operations, para-military groups and armed civilians.
Patterns already established during the military offensive in the
Cicavica Mountains in mid- March before the departure of the
international community from Kosovo have been repeated over recent
weeks. Current reports indicate a further increase of violence in
eastern Kosovo, including alleged summary executions as witnessed
before in the western parts of Kosovo.


The most prevalent human rights violation reported is forced
displacement of ethnic Albanians from Kosovo. In effect, "ethnic
cleansing." The perpetrators allegedly work in large groups consisting
of VJ, MUP, and/or paramilitary groups. In some instances Serb
civilians and "Arkan tigers" are mentioned as culprits. Reports
indicate a pattern of intimidation and harassment, combined with
assaults, pillage, shelling and killings, after which people flee or
are simply told to leave. In most cases people report being dispatched
by bus or train towards the border. Many statements include reports of
vacated houses being burned down. At the border intimidation and
harassment is reported, some interviewees report assaults, robbery and
sexual assaults. Many report being robbed of their last possessions.


Statements detail alleged incidents of killings, executions, physical
abuse, rape, forced displacement, destruction of civilian property and
looting, involving individuals and groups of people, including
complete village populations in Kosovo. The number of reports on
sexual assaults including rape of groups of women is increasing. Other
reports include torture, ill treatment, harassment, intimidation, and
use of groups of people as human shields.


Reports detail accounts of maiming of the victims and of mutilations
of the dead. Reports include throat cutting, cutting out eyes, cutting
off breasts, nose, fingers, hands, and/or feet, slicing of body parts,
and carving of Serb nationalistic marks on the chest, forehead or
other parts of the body. Often executions are reported as being done
in front of family members or villagers. Sometimes the victims are
separated from the group and are later found dead or not accounted
for.


The perpetrators of these reported violations of human rights are
detailed as various paramilitary groups and bands of armed civilians.
Many interviewees refer to "Arkan's men" or "Seseljs's men." In
several cases interviewees were able to give precise descriptions of
the uniforms and insignia worn by these groups. A substantial number
of perpetrators could be identified.


For more information please call Jorgen Grunnet, Spokesman at OSCE
KVM, tel. +389 91 392 530 or mobile +389 70 250 434


(end text)