HLC Yugoslavia Human Rights Flash #
11
Arrests in Pristina
Natasa Kandic
29 April 1999
On 28 April 1999, Albin Kurti was arrested in Pristina,
the former leader of the Albanian Students’ Union and spokesman to the former political
representative of the Kosovo Liberation Army, Adem Demaqi. Albin’s father, an official
with the Kosovo Parliamentary Party, was also arrested at this time, as well as Albin’s
two brothers, Nazmi Zeka, the owner of the house where the Kurtis were temporarily
residing, and Nazmi’s son. Witnesses claim that the arrest was conducted in an extremely
brutal manner. Twenty-four hours later, Albin’s fifteen-year old brother and Nazmi Zeka
were released; they both had visible signs of beating.
The day before Albin Kurti was arrested, on 27 April 1999,
the brother of a prominent soccer player Fadil Vokrri, Adil, was arrested. No information
has been available about the destiny of the arrested persons.
On 25 April 1999, Adem Demaqi was taken in for
questioning. According to his account, he had been interrogated for two hours in relation
to his attitudes towards the solution to the Kosovo issue.
There are other developments in Pristina, which cause a
feeling of insecurity among the remaining Albanians. The police make rounds visiting homes
and compiling lists of Albanians with permanent residence in Pristina and refugees staying
with them. A number of Serb shopkeepers refuse to sell their goods to Albanians. There are
only a few Albanians in Pristina whose telephone lines have not been cut off.