August 19, 2009 - In a report (pdf in English ed) on a series of recent attacks in Gnjilane, eastern Kosovo, which could have ethnic reasons, the human rights organization Chachipe expressed his concern over the quality and objectivity of the reports ethnically motivated crimes against Roma in Kosovo. During the last weeks of July, many Roma are reported to have suffered assaults and abuse by Albanian Roma neighbors in the upscale neighborhood of Gnjilane, without which it would be properly monitored and reported by international organizations.
Following reports about a violent incident in which many Roma were injured, Chachipe conducted a survey among international organizations in order to identify the background and size of the accident. Although the incident reported on several days, none of the organizations contacted, including UNMIK, EULEX, OECD, and the UNHCR, said he had knowledge. But even after having read their local offices, the organizations have not been able or wanted to inform Chachipe event.
"The information we received were quite rudimentary. They went from a list of police reports, referring to apparently minor incidents as "disputes" and theft, to emphasize that the security situation for Roma has recently deteriorated, and a complaint that the police had not properly reported on ' assault on the Roma, said Chachipe.
The image changed dramatically following a TV report broadcast last Thursday by Yekhipe, the Romany of the public TV program in Kosovo. The journalists visited the Roma neighborhood Yekhipe and interviewed several victims and witnesses. Their relationship appears to have happened in Gnjilane a number of serious incidents, during which many Roma were attacked and suffered abuse, for no other apparent reason than hatred.
Speaking to reporters, the Roma complained that the situation in Gnjilane has recently deteriorated, coinciding with the arrival of ethnic Albanians in the Roma neighborhood. One of the witnesses added that the attacks were organized and coordinated. All claim that the Roma community members are regularly attacked or suffer verbal abuse, and have expressed serious fears about their safety.
also apparent from their statements that their confidence in the police is very limited. Of the six cases occurred in July, only three were reported to the police. The journalists interviewed Yekhipe a local police officer who has qualified two cases have been reported as a simple neighborhood conflicts and suggested that the other would be connected to "open accounts" in the world black market, thus disqualifying the victims.
Chachipe said that with this background, it is difficult to understand the passivity and lack of concern arising from the reactions of the international organizations in its survey. The organization said that one role of international security forces was to protect and promote human rights, and that organizations have an explicit mandate to monitor the situation. Chachipe said she was concerned that the EU police seem to have very little information on the situation of the Roma quarter of Gnjilane.
Chachipe highlighted the consequences of violence are not reported and ethnically motivated discrimination against the Roma, for Roma in Kosovo for refugees and asylum seekers abroad. "As appears from the recent incidents of Gnjilane, which confirmed the concerns that we had received previously, the Roma in Kosovo have no where to return if they feel threatened. Those who have left Kosovo have big problems to show the risks they are exposed to in case of return. "
Chachipe criticized the decision of several western European countries, including Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Austria, to forcibly repatriate the Roma on the basis of an assessment of the security situation unique and incomplete. "It appears that the recent report to UNMIK UN Security Council is essentially based on police reports, while UNMIK itself acknowledges that ethnic minorities have no confidence in turning to the police, "says Chachipe.
Chachipe drew international organizations to seek immediately to dilute the tensions in the Roma neighborhood of Gnjilane and solve problems that are apparently linked to the return process. It also requires a thorough investigation about the background of recent attacks against Roma, as well as a monitoring and an unbiased and objective guide the security situation in Kosovo. Chachipe finally calls for governments and host countries to rethink the forced repatriation of Roma to Kosovo, as long as the security situation remains fragile, and to ensure that refugees who are in foreign countries for a long time, a permanent resident status.
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