(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to the United Nations mission chief in Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner, RSF has expressed its concern about the threats against two Kosovar journalists, Veton Surroi and Baton Haxhiu. The organisation demanded that the international community’s representatives pay close attention to this matter. “The statements of Kosova-press, a pseudo press agency controlled […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to the United Nations mission chief in Kosovo,
Bernard Kouchner, RSF has expressed its concern about the threats against
two Kosovar journalists, Veton Surroi and Baton Haxhiu. The organisation
demanded that the international community’s representatives pay close
attention to this matter. “The statements of Kosova-press, a pseudo press
agency controlled by the Kosovo Liberation Army, constitute a real danger
for these two journalists’ safety and go so far as to be described as ‘hate
speech’,” stated Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general.
According to the information obtained by RSF, on 2 October 1999, Surroi and
Haxhiu, director and editor-in-chief, respectively, of the daily “Koha
Ditore”, were accused of being “paid spies of the Milosevic regime” in an
article distributed by Kosova-press, official press agency of the Kosovo
Liberation Army (UCK). The article, signed by Merxhan Avdyli, also stated
that “persons such as Veton Surroi and Baton Haxhiu do not belong in a free
Kosovo. We would not be surprised if they were to become victims of reprisal
attacks. It would be perfectly understandable. The criminal acts of these
two mafioso must not remain unpunished, especially considering that their
idiotic behaviour only benefits Slobodan Milosevic,” concluded the article.
“Koha Ditore”, reknown over recent years for its moderate stance and respect
for human rights in Kosovo, is the main Albanian-language daily in the
province. As such, the newspaper has been the target of attacks by Serbian
authorities on a number of occasions: astronomical fines, printing and
distribution difficulties. The newspaper’s offices were attacked and its
printing press was burned down after the launch of NATO air raids against
Yugoslavia. Having been the target of death threats, “Koha Ditore”
journalists fled to Macedonia, where they relaunched their newspaper for
Kosovo refugees. Only Surroi stayed in Pristina, risking his life, changing
residences on a number of occasions for fear of being discovered by Serbian
authorities.
Since the arrival of the United Nations Kosovo Force (KFOR) troops in the
province in early June, “Koha Ditore” has been the only Albanian-language
media to express concern about the province’s Serbian community, which has
also been threatened with reprisal attacks. Surroi notably wrote an article
which was published in late August in “Koha Ditore”, and was widely
republished in the international press, titled “Fascism in Kosovo: the shame
of Albanians”. The article denounced the recent crimes committed by
Albanians against Serbs. “After having been the victims of the worst
persecution of the end of the century in Europe, we are ourselves becoming
persecutors and we have allowed the spectre of fascism to reappear,” he
wrote. He concluded that: “Those who believe that violence will end when the
last Serb has been chased out are mistaken. The violence will simply be
directed against other Albanians.”
