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Humanitarian
Law Center Communique
Demand for immediate
release of ethnic Albanian minors, wounded, sick, and women from prison
10 October 1999
The 2,000 ethnic Albanian convicts
and detainees currently in prisons in Serbia include 25 minors, 11 women, about 200
wounded, and some 50 sick. Three women are under indictment for criminal offenses in
connection with the armed conflict in Kosovo. Four months ago, Igbale Xhafaj (20) from
Miras, Urosevac Township, gave birth to a baby boy at the Požarevac prison. The
Humanitarian Law Center was unable to determine the whereabouts of Zoja Rexhaj from
Jablanica village, Pe? Township, although her name is on the list released by the Serbian
Ministry of Justice of prisoners who were relocated to Serbia in June 1999.
The minors include: two 13-year-old
boys, Ekrem Nebihi (born 14 September 1986 in Glogovac) and Hazir Topali (born 4 March
1986 in Banjica, Glogovac Township); three 14-year-olds, Faton Halilaj (born 25 July 1985
in Trdevc, Glogovac Township), Fjame Topali (born February 1985 in Banjica, Glogovac
Township), and Shemsi Muzliu (born 26 January 1985 in Strubllove, Glogovac Township; four
15-year-olds, Albert Nebihu, Hysni Barjaktari, Burim Deliu, Elmaz Elshani, Skender Heta
and Sabri Musliu; nine 16-year-olds, Xhevat Podvorica, Muhamet Arllati, Kushrtim Halilaj,
Haxhi Haxhiqi, Pleurat Isufi, Zejnullah Qorri, Jeton Heta, Jeset Hoti and Fidin Dervishaj;
and six 17-year-olds, Blerim Juniku, Sali Hoxha, Hasim Dukaj, Agron Rexhaj, Belim Istogu
and Kujtim Shkambi.
The wounded now in the prisons at
Sremska Mitrovica, Zabela and Nis were injured in the 19-23 May period in the Dubrava
prison in Kosovo. Convicts who have in the meantime been released and were in the Dubrava
prison in the cited period, state that some ethnic Albanians were killed and wounded in
the NATO bombing of the facility but allege that Serbian security forces subsequently
killed about 100 and wounded some 200 Albanian prisoners.
The Humanitarian Law Center
considers that minors, wounded, sick and women must have priority in the process of the
release or handing over to the UN Mission in Kosovo of ethnic Albanian prisoners and
detainees. Their immediate release is above all required on humanitarian grounds and is
not subject to political debate. |