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Former Kosovo prime minister on trial for war crimes
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
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THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The chief Yugoslav war crimes prosecutor denounced Kosovo’s former prime minister on Monday as a warlord and “a gangster in uniform” responsible for dozens of murders during the province’s 1998-99 war with Serb forces.

His defense attorney, however, called former Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj “a unifying influence and the standard bearer for his nation’s hopes of independence from Serbia.”
The sharply contrasting portraits of the former guerrilla commander came in opening statements at the trial of Haradinaj and two other fighters of the Kosovo Liberation Army — Idriz Balaj and Lahi Brahimaj. The three face 37 counts of atrocities against Serbs and their suspected supporters in Kosovo in 1998.

All three have denied the charges. They face maximum life sentences if convicted.
“These men — this warlord with his lieutenant and his jailer — have blood on their hands,” chief U.N. prosecutor Carla Del Ponte told a three-judge panel. “The three accused were gangsters in uniform.”

Prosecutors accuse the defendants of committing 48 murders and say many of the victims were dumped in a canal leading to Lake Radonjic, near Haradinaj’s wartime headquarters.
Defense attorney Ben Emmerson said, however, that Haradinaj “fought an honorable war. Faced with the overwhelming firepower of the combined Serbian forces, he sought to organize the defense of the Albanian people.”

In Haradinaj’s hometown, about 5,000 members of Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian majority marched to show their support Monday, waving flags and banners adorned with his picture and demanding his release.

Del Ponte said prosecution witnesses have been repeatedly threatened and often were terrified to appear in court, jeopardizing her case.

“If I have no witnesses appearing in this court, I will be obliged to withdraw this indictment,” she added, urging judges to protect witnesses.

Associated Press writer Garentina Kraja in Pristina contributed to this report.
10 comment(s)

Dren wrote on Mar 6, 2007 7:31 AM:

" Carla Del Ponte has been heading a political agenda that has caused more trouble in the troublesome Balkans. In her opening statement she equals the victim and the agressor and that is againts any moral judgement. Everyone who has followed world events knows that Serb committed genocide in Kosovo. Defending yourself againts such horrific acts is not crime it is justice. Former Prime Minister Haradinaj did just that. He defended his countrymen. "

Andy wrote on Mar 6, 2007 10:18 AM:

" Del Ponte's comment that "If I have no witnesses appearing in this court, I will be obliged to withdraw this indictment" only encourages the KLA continue its programme of witness intimidation. As for Dren's comment that "Everyone who has followed world events knows that Serb committed genocide in Kosovo" all I can say is look at the ethnic make-up of Kosovo today and compare it to the ethnic make-up of Kosovo in the past and it becomes clear that Kosovo-Albanians are the perpetrators of a genocide not its victims. The Jews are gone, the Serbs are gone, the Roma are gone, the Gorani are gone. Kosovo is almost purely Albanian. Many cities and towns in Kosovo are 100% pure Albanian. The few Non-Albanians who have remained in Kosovo are forced to live in ghettos guarded by UN and NATO troops, yet its the Albanians who claim to be the victims. "

Mike wrote on Mar 6, 2007 1:55 PM:

" Finnally somebody to try to convict murderers, there were victims on both sides, murderes must be found and prosecuted "

John wrote on Mar 7, 2007 1:56 AM:

" Both Serbs and Albanians commited crimes against humanity in Kosovo. Its time for both Serbian and Kosovar Governments to send their war criminals to Hague, where they should be sentenced with maximum penalty for genocide. Then all (meaning all nationalities) the refugees and internally displaced people should return to their homeland Kosovo, where they could decide the future of the province. "

john wrote on Mar 7, 2007 1:59 AM:

" Both Serbs and Albanians commited crimes against humanity in Kosovo. Its time for both Serbian and Kosovar Governments to send their war criminals to Hague, where they should be sentenced with maximum penalty for genocide. Then all (meaning all nationalities) the refugees and internally displaced people should return to their homeland Kosovo, where they could decide the future of the province. "

Ment wrote on Mar 7, 2007 7:50 AM:

" The Jews were booted out of the Serb territories (including Kosova) during WWII by the Serb regime cooperating with the Nazis. Many of those Jews found a safe heaven in Albania. Before the Kosova war, many Serbs left the region for greener pastures in Serbia and elsewhere in Yugoslavia. Kosova was afterall the most underdeveloped province in the former Yugoslavia used mostly for the mining resources. Kosovars also had bigger families. That explains why they're the dominant majority today. As for the Serb exodus after the war...well, it is quite unfortunate, but in the end you reap what you sow. "

Andy wrote on Mar 7, 2007 1:00 PM:

" I think Ment's comments prove just how credible the Albanian side is. These people have no ethics and will make-up any lie to justify their position. The Albanians collaborated with the Nazis and drove the Jews out of Kosovo. Kosovo-Albanians volunteered for the Nazi SS. The SS Skenderbeg division was made-up of Albanian volunteers from Kosovo. The Serbs fought against the Nazis. Hitler bombed Belgrade because the Serbs revolted against his attempt to takeover Yugoslavia. Eventhough they were accused of collaboration by the Communists, Serb Chetniks fought the Nazis. There are thousands of documents and reports from Allied (American & British) soldiers, and reporters proving this. There are also German documents showing that the Nazis were actively involved in combat against the Chetniks. "

Mod wrote on Mar 7, 2007 1:48 PM:

" Andy, yes the Albanians did volunteer for the Nazis just like they do today for Nato. When a superpower comes to your aid in helping you overcome oppression it is difficult to refuse. As for the treatment of Jews by the Albanian community during WWII, do a bit of research before posting. "

Ment wrote on Mar 7, 2007 2:52 PM:

" Andy You seem partially right on a couple of points with regard to WWII. I did some research myself on Google. It appears history of that period is not exactly flattering to the Croats, Kosovar Albanians ... and the Serbs incidentally. You're not telling the whole story either. Why do you think that is? "

Andy wrote on Mar 8, 2007 1:24 PM:

" Ment, how is World War II not flattering to the Serbs? The Serbs were the first people to organize grass-roots/guerilla resistance to the Nazis. The Serbian Chetnik movement was Anti-Fascist and Anti-Communist. Gen. Mihailovic was awarded the Legion of Merritt award by the United States for the assistance he gave the Allies during the war. The Communists were the only ones accusing the Serb Chetniks of Nazi collaboration. None of the Allied soldiers attached to the Chetniks reported any collaboration. As for who drove the Jews from Kosovo I would point you to Jared Israel's interview with Cedomir Prlincevic the leader of the Jewish Community in Pristina. He says: "We [the Jews] were not driven out from Kosovo by Albanians from Pristina but by Albanians from Albania." "

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