Flora Brovina trial delayed another month

(WiPC/IFEX) – In a move that led to an outcry in Serbia, the re-trial of Flora Brovina, poet and Kosovo Albanian rights activist, was once again postponed, this time to 16 November 2000. Her continued imprisonment casts doubt on the new Serbian leadership’s commitment to the principle of human rights for all. In June 2000, […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – In a move that led to an outcry in Serbia, the re-trial of Flora Brovina, poet and Kosovo Albanian rights activist, was once again postponed, this time to 16 November 2000. Her continued imprisonment casts doubt on the new Serbian leadership’s commitment to the principle of human rights for all.

In June 2000, the Serbian Supreme Court returned the case of Brovina, who had been sentenced in December 1999 to twelve years’ imprisonment, to the Nis District Court for review. The first review hearing was held on 14 September, during which Brovina reportedly maintained that she had not been involved with terrorist activities as charged. The hearing was adjourned for one month, to 12 October, on request of the defence lawyers who argued that Brovina had not been given opportunity to prepare her defence as she had not been sent the details of the Serbian Supreme Court’s decision on the case.

Yet observers who appeared at the Nis District Court on 12 October, were told by a court official that the trial would be postponed once again, citing as a reason the ill health of the presiding judge, Marina Milanovic. Brovina’s lawyer, Rajko Danilovic, told the press “[Ms Milanovic] simply ran away. We think this is an obstruction of justice. The authorities are trying to avoid responsibility.” He went on to say that Brovina’s defence team would be seeking to have the Nis Court’s Criminal Council, of which Milanovic is president, disqualified for using the adjournment as a means of obstructing the court’s work. Brovina’s husband, Ajri Begu, who was also present in the court said: “A lot more is needed to democratise Serbia. The problem was not only Milosevic, but an entire establishment of people who served under him.”

Brovina herself was not present at the court on 12 October, leading Begu to call from the gallery for information on her whereabouts.

(Sources: BBC World Service/AP/FreeB92)

Recommended Action

• expressing concern over the continued detention of Brovina, who is being held only for her criticism of Serb human rights abuses in Kosovo, and for her humanitarian activities
• noting that her conviction on charges of terrorism has been fabricated as a means of penalising her for her non-violent activities towards Kosovo independence
• calling for Brovina’s release pending her re-trial, and that the outcome of the review will be acquittal

Appeals To

PEN also recommends that letters of protest be sent to the Serb embassies in your own countries. In Canada, send appeals to:
Mr. Aleksander Mitic
Chargé d’Affairs
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Fax: +1 613 233 7850

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.