Letter to the UN Special Representative for Kosovo
21 October 1999
On October 21, 1999, the European Roma Rights Center (ERRC), an international public interest law NGO for the defense the rights of Roma in Europe, sent a letter to Mr Bernard Kouchner, UN Special Representative for Kosovo, to express concern at recent published threats to the life of Mr Veton Surroi, editor of the Kosovo daily Kote Ditore. Mr Surroi is an outspoken proponent of inter-ethnic tolerance in Kosovo. The ERRC urged Mr Kouchner to act to act to protect Mr Surroi from acts of violence. The text of the ERRC letter follows:
Dear Dr Kouchner,
The European Roma Rights Center, an international public interest law NGO for the defense the rights of Roma in Europe, is deeply concerned over reported threats to the life of Veton Surroi and Baton Haxiu, respectively publisher and editor of the Kosovo newspaper "Koha Ditore".
It has been reported in the international media that the Kosova Press agency has in an article accused these individuals of being "common mafia types" whose "criminal acts should not go unpunished", and who could become the object of "very understandable revenge".
Such language in any circumstances amounts to advocacy for murder; you are probably aware better than anyone, Dr Kouchner, that in the present circumstances in Kosovo such language amounts to a public ultimatum emanating from persons who undoubtedly have the means to execute their threat.
Apparently the anger of these persons was in this instance triggered off by an editorial in "Koha Ditore", claiming that Albanians, themselves victims to "fascism", should not in their victory behave as "fascists" towards the Serbian minority in Kosovo. We believe that this newspaper is at present the only effective medium in Kosovo that publicly and consistently defends the idea of multiethnicity and ethnic reconciliation. The paper does this on the same grounds of principle that prompted it to defend the Albanian minority against Serbian racism before and during the war. When the war started and Serbian armed men began systematically to decimate the handful of Kosovar intellectuals who had chosen to remain in their ravaged homeland, Veton Surroi was among the main targets; he preferred to go underground, constantly risking death, but to remain in Kosovo. In fact, you might recall, Dr Kouchner, that Mr Surroi was erroneously reported dead at that time; it turned out that another Kosovar intellectual had been murdered. After the war, through his newspaper and other media, Mr Surroi has repeatedly defended the right of Serbs, Roma, and other Kosovars of non-Albanian ethnicity to live in the new Kosovo. What he has been defending, in fact, is one of the chief aims of the international community in Kosovo.
The European Roma Rights Center has conducted extensive field research on the human rights situation in Kosovo, centering on the problems of the Kosovo Roma. We have noted with regret numerous cases pointing that members of all minorities do not seem to get from the KFOR the protection that they are entitled to according to the KFOR mandate. Ex-KLA members and persons claiming to be "KLA" abuse the permissive stance taken by the KFOR towards the Albanian majority as a whole. The recent killing of an UNMIK official is but one grave example.
However, the threat to Veton Surroi and Baton Haxiu highlights another serious public danger. We are not dealing here with events commonly described ,e.g., as "spontaneous outburst of understandable revenge" carried out by unruly youths against the "traditional ethnic enemy". This is a threat made in cold blood by an official source. It is made in a land governed by the UN. And it is made as a reaction to upholding UN policy.
We believe, Dr Kouchner, that the international authorities in Kosovo should react promptly to this ominous challenge. In particular, they should assure that the lives of Veton Surroi and Baton Haxiu are not in danger. In the reverse case we would be witnessing a United Nations Organization that is not ready to take practical responsibility for its own agenda.
We urge you, dear Dr Kouchner, to take a personal hand in this matter of gravest importance.
Sincerely yours,
Dimitrina Petrova
Executive Director
