kosovo june the 2nd, 1999

RNN EXCLUSIVE :
WOUNDED ROMA REFUGEES IN THE CAMP STENKOVEC

Kumanovo / MACEDONIA ( RNN Correspondent ), June the 7th, 1999

On Saturday night, June 05, around 20.00 h in front of the main gate of camps Stenkovac occurred big fight-large croud of the Kosovar Albanians attacked few families of Roma refugees from Kosovo.Reason for the incident was intolerance between the two ethnical groups which exists since they were in Kosovo, because the Albanians think that Roma gave support to the Albanians think that Roma give support to the regime of Serbia. Macedonian police is securing the camp from outside, they intervened and didn't allowed more stronger incidents. The wounded people 15 were taken to the military Hospital in Skopje by the UNCHR cars . Three Roma people were badly wounded. They were thought of members of the Yugoslav Army who terrorized the Albanians in Kosovo. The word is about Nazmi Halili 52 years old, Abduli Halimi 23 years from Podujevo and Malici Veli 27 years from Urosevac, they were said that they came few days ago.
At the moment of incident the members of the German hospital helped to the wounded Roma people in the camp, and then they found shelter in the tent of the catholic humanitarian organization.
The American ambassador Christopher Hill came on the spot calm the whole situation, Albanian high functionary in the Gov..of R.of Macedonia. The gathered crowd of Albanians (about 5000) in fury wanted to lynch those Roma people. After the words of the American ambassador Christopher Hill, the crowd disappeared around midnight inside the camp. Pola Ghedini-spokesman of UNCHR announced that there is always been a problem between the Albanians and Roma since their accommodating in the camps.
There were journalists, foreign organizations on the place. Though she announced that, this is the first public statement and any information for the problem at all up to now.
Nobody said nothing of it by now. The Albanians want those people to taken to the International Court in Haag and receive their punishment. If the work is not succeeding by one side then some other alternatives are needed. Are the Roma one of the alternatives?
Roma families from Kosovo are declaring now:"it will be better to kill us here than to put us back in the camp".
They are very grateful to the Macedonian police because the police saved them from the fury. Therefore a question is raised:"why all this happened and to whose behalf is this, why Paula Ghedini was quiet by now for the presence of the Roma people in the camps and the problems they are facing with?
From whom these Roma people from Kosovo will seek justice and help, only from God or?

Donation Bank Account
Stopanska Banka a.d.Skopje
Broj na smetka:40100-620-42 – 20625
ZPP-Kumanovo- 40900-678-6121
Roma Community Center "DROM"Kumanovo
Lokalitet serava prizemje 7a, 91300 Kumanovo
Tel.fax:++38990127558

Kumanovo 07.06.1999 23.00 h

Asmet Elezovski is Board member of the Roma National Congress Emails:
asmet@romanatioanlcongress.org

Note from the editorial office:
Germany's Hotline on Kosovo Refugees in Germany, they said they will provide help in finding family members.
Telephone: + 49 911 943 77 77

[Main Page]