Montenegrin Albanians call on authorities to drop terrorism charges against their kin
Ethnic Albanian leaders in Montenegro demanded that the Podgorica authorities drop terrorism charges against 18 ethnic Albanians who were arrested in 2006 over plans to create an ethnic Albanian republic.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Monday, June 09, 2008
The trial started in May 2007. Five suspects have been released from custody, 11 are in jail while two remain at large.
The leaders demanded in a statement that the authorities "close the case and drop the charges ... after 600 days of humiliating torture against the prisoners and other citizens of Malesia" -- the name they use to name the tiny ethnic Albanian-dominated area of Montenegro.
They also accused Montenegrin police of "brutality and nationalistic insults" against the small ethnic Albanian community in the country.
Among those apprehended in September 2006 were three U.S. citizens.
Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic said recently that "it is the utmost interest of our government that this trial is conducted in accordance with international legal standards."
The indictment against the 18 alleges that they planned to "use explosives and weapons for terrorist acts aimed at controlling ... military posts, police precincts and other important facilities" in the ethnic Albanian-populated part of the country.
Police have said they have found weapons and explosives during searches in "Malesia", close to the border with Albania and Kosovo.
Ethnic Albanians make up about 6.5 percent of Montenegro's more than 600,000 people.
