HRW calls for Kosovo “organ theft” investigation, Pristina turns blind eye
The Kosovo government rejected the Human Rights Watch’s (HRW) request for urgent investigation into claims that former ethnic Albanian guerrilla leaders took part in organ theft scheme following the 1998-99 conflict, describing the accusations, brought by the Hague tribunal’s former chief prosecutor Carla del Ponte as “pure lies.”
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Monday, April 14, 2008
The New York-based international human rights watchdog urged Kosovo Premier Hashim Thaci to launch an investigation into Del Ponte's claims that some 300 Serbs, kidnapped during and after the conflict, have been illegally jailed and transported to neighboring Albania, where they were stripped of some organs and later killed.
Del Ponte also said that top Kosovo Liberation army (UCK) commanders were, at least, aware of this nightmarish business, but failed to react.
"Even indirect evidence of this trade disclosed by the former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia Carla Del Ponte is horrible enough to prompt an investigation," HRW said.
In a letter to Thaci's office, HRW urges him to initiate, together with Albanian police, a detailed investigation to determine the veracity of Del Ponte's claims and bring culprits to justice.
Kosovo officials reacted fiercely to accusations brought up by former UN prosecutor and demands on behalf of HRW saying that "such slander by Del Ponte serves to justify unfounded accusations against former UCK fighters."
According to Kosovo deputy prime minister Hajredin Kuchi, Pristina government will not consider HRW's request.
Former guerrilla chief and ex-premier Ramush Haradinaj, who was recently acquitted by the Hague Tribunal of charges that included 1998 murders, torture and rape of Serbs, called on Pristina government to start legal proceeding against Del Ponte.
Meanwhile, in Strasbourg, at the spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) which is opening on Monday, the Russian delegation will raise the issue of investigation into the crimes that are described in Del Ponte's book.
"We believe, since the Tribunal is keeping silent on the issue, that PACE should put the situation under its own control, taking into consideration the facts that are mentioned in Carla del Ponte's book", head of the Moscow delegation Konstantin Kosachev said.
Del Ponte, now a Swiss ambassador to Argentina, has been ordered by her Government to keep silent.
