Updte on the Kosovo Rom, Ashkeli, Egyptin, Serb, Bosnik, Gorni nd Albnin communities in minority sitution UNHCR Kosovo, June 2004
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION. 3 PART 1: TRENDS IN SECURITY, CONFIDENCE TOWARDS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT Context..5 PART 2: SITUATION OF MINORITY GROUPS BY REGION, WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON CONDUCIVENESS TO RETURN UNTIL MARCH 2004 A Kosovo Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptins...8 B Kosovo Serbs......18 C D Kosovo Bosniks.......24 Kosovo Gorni...28. PART 3: E Kosovo Albnin ethnic minority......29 SITUATION OF MINORITY GROUPS BY REGION IN LIGHT OF THE TURMOIL IN MARCH 2004 A B C Inter-ethnic violence between15 nd 19 Mrch 2004 31 The sitution of minorities fter the civil unrest 39 Overll conclusions.46 Appendix 1: Appendix 2: Non-extensive list of selected incidents involving minorities, 1 Jnury 2003 1 My 2004..48 Summry of security incidents during involving minorities during the civil unrest 15-19 Mrch 2004.58 2
Updte on the Kosovo Rom, Ashkeli, Egyptin, Serb, Bosnik, Gorni nd Albnin communities in minority sitution nd the potentil impct of unplnned returns of these minority groups to Kosovo in 2004 UNHCR Kosovo, June 2004 Introduction UNHCR Kosovo hs undertken criticl review of the sitution of ethnic minorities in Kosovo to exmine the relevnce nd pplicbility of the UNHCR s Position Pper on the Continued Interntionl Needs of Individuls from Kosovo issued in Jnury 2003. Incresed forced minority returns from Western Europe in 2003 nd the first months of 2004 continued to chllenge the position held by UNHCR on the sitution of ethnic minority groups. This hs prompted UNHCR to enhnce its minority returnee monitoring mechnism nd cpcity in ll five regions in order to cope with incresed voluntry nd involuntry returnees nd bove ll to monitor ny evolving sitution nd conditions of minorities. The intensive returnee monitoring exercise which ws conducted t the end of 2003 followed the sme methodology s the previous yer. UNHCR regionl offices crried out interviews trgeting forced returnees from Western Europe who returned between October 2002 nd October 2003 s well s voluntrily nd spontneous returnees so s to cpture the sitution of ethnic minority groups in ech region. Concerning the development of the security sitution for minorities, UNHCR continuously follows up on incidents involving minorities through its regulr contcts with the minority communities nd the police. This pper covers security incidents involving minorities between Jnury 2003 nd April 2004. Moreover, the Mrch 2004 civil unrest sw violent ttcks ginst minority communities nd their properties, s well s ginst plces of worship nd public buildings llocted to these communities prompted review of UNHCR s Jnury 2003 position pper. A temporry position ws published on 30 Mrch 2004, highlighting tht members of ll minority groups, prticulrly Serbs, Rom, Ashkeli, Egyptins but lso Bosniks nd Gornis should benefit from interntionl protection in countries of sylum. It ws felt tht induced or forced return movements my not only put the individul s sfety t risk but tht they would lso jeoprdize the highly delicte ethnic blnce nd contribute to incresing the potentil for new inter-ethnic clshes. This pper is issued to underscore the updte to the Jnury 2003 UNHCR Position on the Continued Protection Needs of Individuls from Kosovo, which hs just been issued in June 2004. In this respect, this pper represents n updte to the supplementry report titled the Updte on the Sitution of Rom, Ashkeli, Egyptin, Bosnik nd Gorni in Kosovo which hd been published with the Position Pper of Jnury 2003. The report seeks to ddress three min res of concern relted to the sitution of minorities nd returns. Firstly, it nlyses nd highlights ny chnges improvement or deteriortion in the sitution of security, freedom of movement nd ccess to public services s well s possible impct on the previling condition in Kosovo. Secondly, nd in ddition to updting the sitution 3
of the minority groups which were previously nlysed, i.e. the Rom, Ashkeli, Egyptin, Bosnik nd Gorni minorities, UNHCR Kosovo lso reviewed the generl sitution of Kosovo Serbs nd Kosovo Albnins originting from res where they constitute n ethnic minority the ltter mostly originting from the northern municiplities in region. This section seeks prticulrly to exmine the trend of returns which occurred in 2003 in n ttempt to cpture the generl condition fced by ech of the bove mentioned ethnic minority communities in Kosovo. Thirdly, the Mrch 2004 civil unrest nd its impct on the minority communities is lso nlysed. The pper concludes tht lthough during the pst yer leding up to the inter-ethnic violence nd civil unrest in Mrch 2004, there hd been continued improvements in generl with regrd to security, freedom of movement nd ccess to services, members of minority communities continued to be trgets for inter-ethnic hrssment nd violence, from stone-throwing, systemtic theft to ssult nd killings. Moreover nd s noted lso in the previous Updte of Jnury 2003, the sitution vries considerbly between the ethnic minorities nd the loctions concerned. Prticulrly noteworthy ws the increse in seriously violent crimes ginst the Kosovo Serb community since summer 2003. The Mrch 2004 inter-ethnic violence took plce over period of 3 dys nd spred throughout Kosovo, reching proportions not seen since 1999. Aside from Serbs, Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptins who were directly trgeted, other minority communities such s Bosniks, Gornis nd Turks were ffected to some extent. The intensity of the violence clerly indictes the voltile security sitution. UNHCR therefore reitertes its opinion tht the overll sitution of ethnic minorities in Kosovo is not stble enough yet to spek of fundmentl nd sustinble chnge in their sitution. Hence the conditions in Kosovo re not yet conducive for the return of ethnic minorities, prticulrly for members of the Serb, Rom, Ashkeli, Egyptin minority communities nd Albnins in minority sitution. 4
Prt 1: Trends in security, confidence towrds lw enforcement nd freedom of movement between Jnury 2003 nd 15 Mrch 2004 Context Although the period between Jnury 2003 nd Mrch 2004 sw further decline in the number of security incidents victimizing Rom, Ashkeli, Egyptin, Bosnik nd Gorni minorities in Kosovo, s compred to the previous reporting period covering April to October 2002, this positive trend ws shttered by severl high profile killings of Kosovo Serbs during the second hft of 2003 nd t the beginning of the yer 2004. 1 Subsequently, while the overll number of security incidents trgeting minorities decresed, the reporting period sw n increse in violent/severe crimes victimizing Kosovo Serbs, compred to 2002 2. These killings hd sobering effect on ll minority residents, lthough Kosovo Serbs were most ffected. As KFOR continued its unfixing policy throughout Kosovo, new fixed checkpoints were temporrily set up nd ptrolling ws incresed fter ech killings, prticulrly in Peje/Pec region. Consequently, the degree of improvement in security nd freedom of movement differs between the ethnic minorities nd the regions s elborted in detil in chpters below. Kosovo Serbs remined the primry trgets of inter-ethnic violence, not only in terms of the number of incidents or victims, but lso in terms of the severity nd cruelty of the crime. Serbs were victims of shootings nd killings or even murders in Prishtine/Pristin, Peje/Pec nd Gjiln/Gnjilne regions, nd grende nd bomb ttcks in Gjiln/Gnjilne region. Kosovo Rom minly encountered physicl ssults in region. Although the security sitution of Kosovo Ashkeli in Prishtine/Pristin regions improved compred to erlier reporting periods, number of physicl ssults in Obiliq/c town were reported prticulrly from residents of Plemetin Temporry Community Shelter. Ashkeli in Lip(l)jn municiplity fced grende or rson ttcks t their houses. Kosovo Egyptins hve been victims of physicl ssults nd stonings in Peje/Pec region. For Kosovo Albnins living in urbn North, the security sitution remined voltile. Especilly in the re of the Three Towers 3, physicl ssults nd grende ttcks were frequent nd stoning of crs nd pedestrins crossing the min bridge occurred regulrly. The sitution of Bosnik nd Gorni communities continued to improve, lthough their lnguge, culturl nd religious chrcteristics which re similr to those of the Serbs continued to limit their freedom of movement, ccess to bsic services s well s ccess to economic opportunities. Some of the most significnt 4 security incidents trgeting prticulr ethnic group re reported t the beginning of the respective sections of the report In the Annex, the most severe incidents re listed by ctegory of crime 5. 1 See list of selected events in Appendix 1. 2 During 2002 only five Serbs were murdered, compred to 12 from Jnury to November 2003. Although not ll were necessrily ethniclly motivted perpetrtors were found in only few cses- the numbers re cler indictor of incresed violence ginst the Serb community. As comprison, while the number of killed Serbs more thn doubled, the totl number of killed remined t the sme level. 3 Three prtment blocks in North inhbited by Kosovo Albnins nd gurded by KFOR 24- hours, uninterruptedly since 1999. 4 In terms of their effect or impct on the minority community nd returns 5
A sense of insecurity ws prevlent mong mny members of ll minority communities nd ws susceptible to ggrvtion depending on spordic security incidents. Even if the security risk in generl ws believed to be low in prticulr loction for prticulr ethnic group, there could be specific llegtions ginst prticulr individuls, which would put this individul s personl security t high risk 6. This sense of insecurity ws often perpetuted by the ineffectiveness or sometimes even inction of the police forces. Almost one out of ten reported incidents ws closed becuse of lck of evidence. Roughly one third of the reported incidents were still under investigtion or inctive. Only pproximtely one fourth of the cses were referred to the public prosecutor. In one out of four incidents involving minority members s victims mentioned in the dily flsh reports of UNMIK Police HQ, locl nd regionl police sttions could not find the cse in their files 7. The low level of resolved cses my lso be ttributed to the lck of institutionl sfegurds for follow-up on these crimes. Thus, there ws no common understnding mong the police of wht constitutes n ethniclly motivted or n inter-ethnic crime. It ws often not recognized tht even if inter-ethnic tensions or negtive feelings towrds minority re not the sole motive for criminl ct, members of minorities re more vulnerble thn members of the mjority community, mking them esy trgets for crime 8 nd consequently gretly heightening their sense of insecurity. Since August 2003, specil units in chrge of interethnic violence were set up in the Regionl Police Sttions throughout Kosovo. In prctice, however, these lso hve their shortflls. 9 The low number of solved minority cses together with the high number of unsolved, closed cses fed into sense of impunity nd highlighted the deficits of the rule of lw. Mny incidents, often smll-scle hrssment, but lso physicl ssults, continued to go unreported. Such non-reporting my be cused by vrious fctors including, the bove mentioned ineffectiveness of the police, becuse the victims or witnesses fer persecution from the perpetrtor or, becuse the victims do not wnt to heighten tensions with the mjority community. Some victims my hve been subjected to constnt low level hrssment over longer period of time, nd hence my not hve regrded the incident s mjor enough to be reported. Even if cse ws reported, victims nd witnesses my not hve wnted to identify the perpetrtor for fer of repercussions, or simply withdrew their sttements. 10 5 Note: This is non-exhustive list of security incidents 6 Kosovo Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptins, from Mgur, Lip(l)jn municiplity submitted to the police nd to the Kosovo Albnin community list of their community members who llegedly prticipted in looting nd burning of houses together with the Serb forces. 7 This phenomenon ws most prominent in Gjiln/Gnjilne region; on sttion level there ws no consistent trcking of incidents involving minorities. The sme pplied to region: Although the ssult of Rom on 14 September ws reported to the police nd the cse included in the dily security updte prepred by UNMIK Police HQ, no investigtion ws opened. Neither the locl police sttion in Vushtrri/Vucitrn nor the Regionl Police HQ could find the cse in their files. 8 As n exmple, the police did not consider the beting nd subsequent throwing into the river of n elderly Kosovo Serb in Prlovo, Gjiln/Gnjilne region, n ethniclly motivted crime, but rther cused by dispute bout the victim s cows. 9 In Gjiln/Gnjilne Regionl Police Sttion, the ethnic Albnin Kosovo Police Officer ppointed to trck ethnic nd hte crimes depends on the interprettion given to wht constitutes n inter-ethnic crime by the locl police sttions nd their subsequent reporting to him. Moreover, the dily flsh reports nd security updtes, circulted by UNMIK Police HQ, re not consistently sent to locl or regionl police sttions. 10 Hence police, prticulrly in region, often cited the unwillingness of the victim to co-operte s reson for closing cse. In similr cses, the police in Prishtine/Pristin region often concluded tht the incidents were fbricted. As n exmple, the police believed the grende ttcks on Kosovo Ashkeli 6
Members of ll ethnic groups, but prticulrly the Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptins, continued to rely on trditionl preservtion mechnisms, to del with outside threts. Whether minor or serious, the decisions re usully mde collectively within the community whether to opt for trditionl medition or report the incident to the uthorities. If the community perceives prticulr incident to criticlly undermine the sense of security mintined by the community s whole, it my turn to the police to report the incident. The current environment of impunity, bsence of rule of lw nd tight socil network of the mjority community undermines the confidence of the minority communities vis-à-vis lw enforcement uthorities; the minority community mintins n inclintion not to disturb the frgile reltions chieved with the mjority community. Hence, medition is still widely used for conflict solving, lso in inter-ethnic conflicts. It is preferred s it provides for n greement between the prties, rther thn being imposed by third prty, the court, which could led to further hrssment. 11 The generl lck of trust in the police uthorities persisted 12. However, before the riots of 15-19 Mrch 2004, n increse in the level of confidence towrds lw enforcement uthorities could be observed mong minorities compred to erlier reporting periods, vrying slightly between region nd ethnicity. Generlly, Kosovo Bosniks hd greter trust in the police thn members of the Rom, Ashkeli or Egyptin communities. Regulr ptrolling by ethniclly mixed police tems, community policing in minority res, other crime prevention nd confidence building ctivities combined with incresed recruitment of minority members into the Kosovo Police Service (KPS) hve indeed enhnced the confidence in the lw enforcement uthorities. This slowly nd grdully gined trust in the lw enforcement uthorities ws shttered by the events between 15 nd 19 Mrch 2004. The ssocition to mjority nd/or minority communities, perception of the mjority communities, personl history including reltionship to mjority popultion prior to deprture, experiences during the conflict, time, nture nd reson for deprture from/return to Kosovo, level of re-integrtion, confidence in lw enforcement, lnguge bilities nd the loction ll influence the objective nd subjective sense of security, nd their subsequent impct on the possibilities to exercise freedom of movement, ccess to bsic services, employment etc. Due to the complexity of these fctors, the sitution vries considerbly between the minority communities nd even between members of these communities, in the vrious municiplities. houses in Mli Als/Hlq e Vogel in August 2003 were creted by the victims themselves in order to demonstrte how difficult their conditions re nd to gin sympthy s to void pyment of electricity bills. 11 Depending on the severity of crime, the medition my or my not restrin the court from completing the procedures. A cse in point is the intimidtion, thret nd ttempt to extort money from Kosovo Egyptin on 14 Februry 2004 in Peje/Pec region. The court closed the cse becuse the victim hd withdrwn the chrges fter the perpetrtor s fmily hd visited him nd pologized. An opposite exmple is the cse of ssult nd robbery of Kosovo Rom in Zvecn municiplity on 15 August 2003. The three Kosovo Serb perpetrtors were rrested on the spot. In the conjunction of the ssult, the cr of the victim ws dmged. When the perpetrtors pid the victim for the dmge of the cr, the victim wnted to stop the court procedures. The procedures went hed nevertheless. 12 Reported in the lst Updte of Jnury 2003 7
Prt 2: Sitution of minority groups by region, with specil focus on conduciveness to return up to Mrch 2004 A. Kosovo Rom, Ashkeli, nd Egyptins The still voltile security sitution Kosovo Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptins found themselves in is illustrted by the following chronology of mjor security incidents involving victims of these communities during the reporting period: In the Cesmin Lug Temporry Community Shelter (TCS), North, n unknown person, llegedly rmed with mchine gun nd hnd grendes, poured gsoline on the fce of Rom boy, set him blze on 26 Jnury 2003 13 ; the perpetrtor fled the scene while the victim ws hospitlised for burn injuries. Assults of Egyptins took plce on 22 My 2003 in Istok/g nd on 31 My 2003 in Kline/. On 26 June 2003, two Ashkeli women from Plemetin TCS were ssulted nd beten by Kosovo Albnin in Obilic/q town. Three weeks lter, on 18 July 2003 n Ashkeli mle from Plemetin ws stbbed nd robbed. An Ashkeli fmily in Hllq, Lip(l)jn municiplity, ws ttcked for the ninth time on 21 July 2003, with grende llegedly thrown into their grden; no injuries reported. 14 On 14 August 2003, three grende ttcks on Ashkeli houses in Hlq e Vogel/Mli Als, Lip(l)jn municiplity were followed one week lter by two Ashkeli houses set on fire in Lip(l)jn town. For the first time since the return process to Mgure/, Lip(l)jn Municiplity, hd strted in 2002, security incident occurred on 14 Jnury 2004 when n explosive ordinnce ws thrown in front of Kosovo Ashkeli house 15. The sme dy, Kosovo Ashkeli house in Vushtrri/Vucitrn ws llegedly set on fire, cusing dmges to the roof. A Kosovo Egyptin ws shot t nd injured by unknown person(s) in Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje on 03 Mrch 2004 when he collected metllic disposls. In Peje/Pec region, Kosovo Egyptins were gin victims of physicl ssults on 05 Februry 2004 in Gjkove/Dkovic Municiplity nd of stoning nd shooting t K-Egyptin houses t the end of April 2004 in Peje/Pec municiplity. Non-reporting of incidents ws especilly prevlent mong Kosovo Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptins in Gjkove/Djkovic nd Kline/ municiplities, Peje/Pec region 16. These communities often rely on the trditionl preservtion mechnisms of medition. Despite the incidents listed bove, the Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptin communities continued to experience grdul improvement in their security nd freedom of movement throughout Kosovo. However, there were significnt differences between the communities nd loctions in the level of freedom of movement enjoyed, reflecting wide rnge of (in)security. In generl, sense of fer previled, nd the Kosovo Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptins still sought sfety in lrger groups, in overcrowded nd often informl settlements with pplling snittion nd infrstructure. 13 The motive my be non-ethniclly relted dispute between the brother of the boy nd the perpetrtor 14 In 2001, three fmily members of this sme fmily were killed when stepping on booby trp plced t their doorstep. 15 Although the motive of the ttck is not cler, the minority community in the villge felt thretened nd for weeks fter the incident did not leve their houses t night nd were hesitnt to trvel outside the villge. 16 Exmples re mentioned in the section on Peje/Pec region, pges 14-16. 8
A.1 Prishtine/Pristin Region Trditionlly, the predominntly Serb-speking Rom nd the Albnin-speking Ashkeli hve been living in seprte communities in Prishtine/Pristin region, while the very few Albninspeking Egyptins re closely ssocited with the Ashkeli communities. Hence, in generl, the sitution of the Rom is more similr to tht of the Serbs in the re, while the Ashkeli nd Egyptins re better integrted with the mjority popultion. In some res where Kosovo Rom nd Ashkeli/Egyptin re indistinguishble, the condition nd level of integrtion with the mjority community fred better nd the level of freedom of movement of the Rom ws similr to tht of the Ashkeli. 17 In Podujeve/o municiplity, most of the Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptins re Albnin spekers nd the mjority of the displced Rom nd Ashkeli/Egyptin communities returned with the Albnin IDPs nd refugees immeditely fter 1999. There hve been three to four Rom fmilies who returned in recent yers nd they re well-integrted with the rest of the popultion in the municiplity. The level of perception of security nd integrtion with the mjority community re lso reflected in the return ptterns. While the Ashkeli voluntry returns to their plce of origin in the region doubled in 2003 compred to 2002, there ws slight drop in the returns of Rom. The ltter minly returned to the Serb mjority township of Grcnic, Prishtine/Pristin municiplity, Plemetin villge in Obiliq/c municiplity nd to Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje. However, mny villges nd neighbourhoods throughout the region remin void of Rom nd/or Ashkeli inhbitnts s result of ttcks or threts following June 1999. 18 From November 2002 to October 2003, only one orgnised return movement to neighbourhoods until then void of Rom or Ashkeli inhbitnts occurred 19, nd no spontneous returns to such res. This highlights the wek nd tenuous sitution in the region. Security but lso property issues s well s generl living conditions re combined fctors tht contribute to this sttus quo despite high expecttions tht this first return would snowbll into dditionl spontneous return movements. A rise in confidence in lw enforcement gencies ws observed only mongst the Ashkeli communities in the region. Confidence-building mesures, such s community policing by KPS nd ethniclly mixed ptrolling in minority res were mjor contributing fctors, long with improved nd rpid response of the police, prticulrly in Shtime/Stimlje municiplity. Ashkeli nd Egyptins Improvement in the generl sitution of Ashkeli nd Egyptin communities cn - prt from decline in ethniclly motivted ttcks - be mesured from plpble chnges in ttitudes prticulrly of municipl uthorities, such s less frequent use of thretening lnguge, of referrl to perceived involvement in serious crimes committed during the conflict nd to collective guilt by ssocition. 17 This is the cse in plces like Shtime/Stimplje municiplity nd the villges of Mgur nd Dobrj e Vogel/Ml Dobrj in Lipjn/Lipljne municiplity. 18 For listing of min such res, plese consult previous Updte of Jnury 2003, pge 9. 19 This orgnized return took plce in Azotiku suburb of Obiliq/c town, nd comprised of fmilies mostly displced in the nerby Plemetin TCS. The preprtions for the return project strted in 2002, nd were mrred by series of security relted incidents. Similrly orgnized return movements of Ashkeli IDPs continued to Mgur nd Dobrje e Vogel/Ml Dobrj villges in Lipjn/Lipljn municiplity, lredy reported in the previous updte of Jnury 2003. 9
The Ashkeli community significntly incresed its exercise of freedom of movement, both in terms of frequency of trvel outside their villges or towns s well s geogrphiclly. They begun incresingly to use mjority-run public trnsporttion while until recently predominnt number preferred to use privte mode of trnsporttion 20. Improvement in freedom of movement cn lso be mesured by the expnsion of the res of trvel prticulrly in reltion to Prishtine/Pristin town. Wheres in 2002, most of the Ashkeli were still reluctnt to come to the town, they now incresingly trvelled there s well s to other municiplities. While this incresed exercise of freedom of movement is very positive development, it hs to be noticed, tht it still cn bring incresed security risks with it. Severl security incidents involving Ashkeli going to Obiliq/c town, s reported bove, underline this point. Rom Kosovo Rom continued to live in close ssocition with the Kosovo Serb community, nd hence still fced limittions of freedom of movement, feeling sfe only in res predominntly inhbited by Serbs. The mjority of the Rom confidently only moved within the villge/town nd they rrely ventured outside their villge or immedite environs. Some of the Rom fmilies interviewed by UNHCR expressed fer even to move within the villge; however, this cn be seen s n exception to the rule. A mjor fctor for this limited freedom of movement nd fer is ttributed to their poor proficiency in Albnin. The fct tht no Rom return hs tken plce in Prishtine/Pristin town continued to shpe the perception of fer mong mny Rom. The exception is the former inhbitnts of the Dodon/Morvsk neighbourhood in the town, mny of whom spek Albnin s well s Serbin nd Romny nd thus enjoyed reltive freedom of movement. They begun to regulrly visit their neighbours, nd the first returns took plce end of 2003 21. Rom from Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje municiplity were still reluctnt to trvel to Prishtine/Pristin town nd those living in Grcnic were eqully limited in their freedom of movement s the Serb popultion. In generl, the Rom popultion in this region continued to live in overcrowded res nd neighbourhoods with often substndrd living conditions. Possible impct of unplnned nd/or lrge-scle return movements Prticulrly the fct tht during the reporting period, no returns, with the exception of one orgnised return movement, hs tken plce to res until then void of Rom, Ashkeli nd/or Egyptins, indicte tht the generl environment is not yet conducive for lrge-scle returns of members of Rom, Ashkeli or Egyptin communities. Hence unplnned nd/or lrge-scle return movements could led to security problems nd secondry displcement, mostly to the current host loctions such s the overcrowded settlements nd neighbourhoods in Fushe Kosove/ Kosovo Polje nd Plemetin TCS in Obiliq/c. A.2 Gjiln/Gnjilne Region As for Prishtine/Pristin region, security nd freedom of movement of Ashkeli differ from tht of the Rom in Gjiln/Gnjilne region, depending on their ctul or perceived ffilition with Serbs or Albnins. 20 However, the ttck t n Ashkeli house in Mgure/, Lip(l)jn Municiplity, mentioned bove on pge 7, shows wht n impct even isolted security incidents cn hve on the exercise of freedom of movement of whole community 21 A totl of 4 fmilies hve returned until end of April 2004. 10
Ashkeli Most of the Ashkeli popultion in the region is concentrted in Ferizj/Urosevc municiplity. With no security incidents reported during the period under review nd being Albnin spekers, the Ashkeli region-wide feel more comfortble to trvel further thn their surrounding villges, compred to the Rom living in the sme re. Prt of the feeling of security my be the lrge size of the community, which is the lrgest resident Ashkeli popultion in Kosovo. This community is well represented in the municipl structures, is well integrted nd hs estblished ccess to public services 22. Despite the decent security nd politicl representtion, the living conditions of Ashkeli re below ny cceptble stndrd. Periodic outbreks of tuberculosis re commonplce. However, even in Ferizj/ Urosevc municiplity, while the sitution reched frgile equilibrium in the town nd the djcent Dubrv villge, there were loctions still empty of ny minority popultion, whether Ashkeli or Rom. 23 Rom Only few incidents were reported involving Kosovo Rom in the region, nd none of them turned out to be ethniclly motivted. This my not necessrily dequtely reflect the feeling of security of the Rom, especilly in Gjiln/Gnjilne town, since their confidence in the police is very low. Incidents were not consistently reported for fer of tensions with the mjority community 24. This low level of confidence in the rule of lw ws compounded by the fct tht only few members of the Rom nd none of the Ashkeli community could be recruited to the KPS in Gjiln/Gnjilne region 25. For the Rom, the level of security, freedom of movement nd ccess to services ws higher in loctions where Serbs enjoyed more stble sitution, such s in Gjiln/Gnjilne, Kmenci nd Novo Brdo municiplities. 26 In these municiplities, their freedom of movement improved in urbn res nd Rom trvelled between villges, especilly in res where Serbs constitute the mjority. They still did not venture beyond the boundries of the Northern prt of Gjiln/Gnjilne region. Like the Serbs, the Rom residents of Gjiln/Gnjilne town strted to utilise the mjorityrun buses connecting Bujnovc in Southern Serbi 27. The mjority of the Rom living in the Northern prt of the Gjiln/Gnjilne region continued to ccess services used by the Serb community nd mny trvelled to Vrnje, Serbi to ccess secondry medicl cre. Nevertheless, the continued illegl occuption of properties nd presence of Kosovo Albnins originting from nerby vill ges nd of ethnic Albnin IDPs from southern Serbi hd perpetuted sense of insecurity mong the Rom residents in Abdullh Preshev neighbourhood 22 They chieved high enrolment in ctch-up clsses sponsored by the municiplity, which hs run well functioning Municipl Community Office with sub-offices in Ashkeli neighbourhoods. No mjor problems were reported relted to ccess to eduction nd ttending Albnin schools. 23 Plesin/ Pleshine villge, Gornje Nerodimlje/ Nerodime e Epërme, Tnkosiq/ Tnkosic, Vshti Vjeter/ Stro Selo, nd smller groups in other villges 24 A Kosovo Rom who returned from Serbi fll 2003 encountered verbl threts nd rock throwing. He stted being wre of neighbours or reltives fcing security incidents, none of whom reported to the police 25 Recruitment opportunities were offered to the Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptin communities, but the lck of qulified cndidtes with completed secondry eduction ws significnt obstcle. 26 On the other hnd, in Strpce/Shterpce, negtive perceptions of Kosovo Rom re held by both Kosovo Serb nd Albnin communities 27 The commercil links of the region hs trditionlly been stronger with urbn centers like Bujnovc or Vrnje in southern Serbi thn with Prishtine/Pristin. This is prticulrly true for the Rom community in the northern prt of the region. 11
in Gjiln/Gnjilne town 28. Furthermore, the living conditions of the Rom remined sub-stndrd nd deplorble, s they continued living concentrted in specific urbn res 29. In Kmenice/ municiplity, the sitution of Rom residents remined stble with no security incidents reported. Mny trvelled to the mixed mrket in Kmenice/ town s well s to Gjiln/ Gnjilne town. Rom in Domorovce villge used mjority run bus lines to trvel to Kmenice/ town. However, lthough stbility hs been mintined, there were no fr-reching improvements leding to returns in the villges empty of their former Rom popultion, underscoring precrious sitution of this group. 30 Rom IDPs displced from Albnin villges within the municiplity of Strpce/Shterpce continued to endure verbl hrssment nd discrimintion from surrounding Serb popultion. Rom representtives mintined tht their communities were cught in-between two fires s both Serbs nd Albnins continued to perceive them s collbortors. Smll-size communities of Rom were dispersed in Viti/n municiplity, where they re mostly fully integrted into the Serb community. Most of them do not declre themselves s Rom. Especilly in Viti/n town nd Zitinje, the sitution remined voltile, lthough no incidents were reported to the police, most likely due to the smll size of the minorities concerned. It is believed tht if ny Rom were to return to villge currently empty of its Rom nd/or Serb popultion they could fce severe repercussions due to the strong loclly perceived link between the two groups. Although Rom experienced improvements in Ferizj/Urosevc municiplity, where the Kosovo Rom popultion doubled during the reporting period to 259 persons (still frction of the originl Rom popultion), they remined much more cutious both in terms of ccessing public services nd moving in the wider re. This is n indiction of the linkge between linguistic ffilition nd perceived ethnic ffilition, which ffects the confidence the Rom hve with members of the mjority popultion, consequently ffecting their freedom of movement. Possible impct of unplnned nd/or lrge-scle return movements The fct tht no Rom nor Ashkeli returned to res void of their minority communities, such s Kcnik town, vrious loctions in Viti/n nd in Gjiln/Gnjilne, Ferizj/Urosevc nd Kmenic municiplities, highlights the still precrious security sitution. It must be pointed out tht Ashkeli, just s Rom, would be t gret risk if returning to res currently vcnt of other minorities. In these villges, ny return of either the Rom or the Ashkeli would meet with fierce opposition, forcing returnees to retret to secondry displcement either in town or, to fyr Mcedoni. Of prticulr mention is Kcnik municiplity, where ny return of Rom in the nerly mono-ethnic Albnin Kcnik municiplity would crete cler security risk, 31 s the mjority Albnin communities there indicted explicitly to UNHCR tht no Rom return will be ccepted. 28 Two Kosovo Rom returnees who returned from Serbi nd Montenegro fll 2003 to Abdullh Preshev neighbourhood in Gjiln/Gnjilne town stted tht they do not even move round freely in their neighbourhood for security resons. 29 Before 1999 they minly lived dispersed in both urbn nd rurl res, Updte Jnury 2003, pge 10. 30 Ogoshte, Koretin, Bosce, nd Rogcic; only one fmily remin in Rogcic. 31 Out of the formerly 201Rom inhbitnts in Hni i Elezit nd 61 in Kcnik town, only one fmily ws left in Kcnik living in destitute conditions. The fmily mnged to survive only due to common lw mrrige to n Albnin womn. 12
A.3 Prizren Region Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptin Unlike in other regions, there is no cler distinction between Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptins in Prizren region, neither in terms of self-identifiction, nor in terms of lnguge bilities nd not in the generl sitution, prticulrly in the trditionlly multi-culturl Prizren town. 32 They hve ll ttempted to integrte nd usully dopted the predominnt lnguge in their neighbourhood, Albnin or Serbin/Bosnik. Hence most Rom lso spek Albnin. 33 This lso reflects the persistent fer of being perceived to be linked to Kosovo Serbs with ll its ttributes, nd the wish not to drw ny ttention within this still frgile environment. 34 Security incidents involving members of this community further decresed during the reporting period. Only few of the reported incidents my hve been ethniclly motivted; investigtions were still ongoing 35. This, combined with the perception of improved response by KPS through confidence-building mesures, led to slight rise in confidence towrds the police. This perception resulted in n increse in the exercise of freedom of movement. Some Kosovo Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptins from Prizren nd Rhovec/Orhovc strted to move beyond the region in 2002 nd mny more followed in 2003. The fct tht the mjority of the Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptin returns recorded in the region took plce to Rhovc/Orhovc nd to Prizren municiplities underscored this generl improvement. Greter mobility led to incresed ccess to public services, including eduction nd socil ssistnce, nd towrds integrtion with the mjority community. Notwithstnding, mny Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptins from villges in Rhovc/Orhovc municiplity continued to live in displcement in Prizren, nd the minority communities in the region remined mrginlised, with criticl housing sitution nd lck of income opportunities. In Prizren municiplity, the pre-conflict Rom popultion overwhelmingly remined (estimted 90%), enjoying full freedom of movement in the municiplity nd beyond. Rom returns to the region minly took plce to mixed res such s Prizren town nd the villge of Lndovice where in these mixed res, they hd incresed interction with the mjority community, supported by enjoying full freedom of movement. 36 Suhreke/Suv Rek remined the most difficult municiplity in the region for Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptins, being the only municiplity in the region where none of them returned in 2003 37. 32 See previous Updte of Jnury 2003. It is estimted tht Rom constitute the lrgest group, followed by Ashkeli, while the Egyptin communities re very smll. 33 In urbn res they tend to identify themselves s Rom, while in rurl res s Ashkeli or Egyptins. 34 Mny interviewees were reluctnt to disclose or be forthcoming in their nswers to the interviews of UNHCR, indicting reluctnce to drw ttention to their plight, combined with sense of bndonment. 35 In September 2003, Kosovo Rom house ws set on fire by unknown person(s). The police determined the incident not to be ethniclly motivted since the victim reportedly hd significnt finncil debts to vrious people. Nevertheless, it is interesting to note tht some locl officils working with the community voiced the possibility of the incident being ethniclly motivted. 36 Plese refer to previous Updte of Jnury 2003, pge 13. 37 Although bout two thirds of the pre-wr popultion remined, minly in the mixed villges of Ternje, Gelnce nd Leshn, Suhreke/Suvrek municiplity represents the lrgest scle of displcement mong the Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptin communities in the Prizren region, nd hs proven to be the most difficult municiplity to return to in the region. In some cses the Rom, Ashkeli or Egyptins re rther identifying themselves s Albnins, for security resons. Only smll number of Rom, Ashkeli, nd Egyptin community re residing in Suhreke/Suv Rek town, where they tend to be viewed s Serb 13
Only one Rom nd one Ashkeli/Egyptin in totl hve returned since yer 2000 38.The collective Albnin perception tht mny Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptins were collbortors with the Serb regime is difficult to erse in tht municiplity, Despite the improvements in security nd freedom of movement in the region in generl, no Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptins returned during the reporting period to plces void of their communities. 39 Possible impct of unplnned nd/or lrge-scle return movements The bove fct tht no returns hve tken plce to loctions void of their minority communities, indictes tht the security sitution is still viewed s frgile. Moreover, given the previling hostility of the mjority community in Suhreke/Suv Rek municiplity, ny forced returns to this municiplity would hve n dverse impct on the security sitution of the remining resident Rom community nd my result in secondry displcement. Finlly, the fct tht the ethnic selfidentifiction s Rom, Ashkeli or Egyptin of individuls from this region re not necessrily very cler, requires greter scrutiny nd thorough screening in reltion to forced minority returns, in order to void putting the returnee or the remining minority community t risk. 40 A. 4. Peje/Pec Region Although there ws notble decrese in security incidents of serious nture trgeting the Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptin communities 41 during the reporting period 42, the voltile politicl sitution nd generl violence dded to the sense of insecurity not only felt mongst minority communities but lso shred by the mjority community in the region. In some cses the return of members of these minorities to their communities of origin remins prevented by vrious security threts which persist nd lck of/or mjority popultion contested property rights. 43 An incresing number of Rom, Ashkeli, nd Egyptins begun to exercise n expnded freedom of movement but mny only dred to do so during the dy nd did not venture out t night. collbortors to higher degree thn in rurl res. Shiroke is the only villge completely void of its Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptin inhbitnts in this municiplity. 38 The returns took plce to Nepresht villge nd Suhreke/Suvrek urbn respectively. 39 Plces void of ll minorities in Prizren region re the villges Shiroke nd Peqn in Suhreke/Suv Rek municiplity nd certin neighborhoods in Suhreke/Suv Rek town. Regrding Peqn, two out of the five Ashkeli fmilies residing there before the conflict, re displced in Prizren, the other three fmilies brod. Both fmilies living in Prizren hd ccess to their properties in the villge nd one hed of household mintined his pre-conflict job in Suhreke/Suv Rek but despite continuous encourgement of the mjority community, did not wnt to permnently return. 40 Bsed on interviews conducted by UNHCR, some Kosovo Rom were identified s Ashkeli or Egyptin nd returned from Europe. 41 The self-identifiction s Ashkeli or Egyptin is not necessrily consistent in Peje/Pec region, though community leders consider Peje/Pec region minly being populted by Egyptins, with the exception of Klin municiplity, which is populted by Ashkelis. The overwhelmingly lrgest number of Rom is found in Gjkov/Djkovic municiplity. 42 The most serious one relted to n explosive device thrown t two Kosovo Rom mles repiring their cr in Peje/Pec on 28 October 2003, resulting in one of the Rom men being hospitlised. The police do not consider this n ethniclly motivted crime since one of the victims is businessmn. 43 UNHCR is wre of few Egyptin nd Rom fmilies, who following their return were forced to secondry displcement (e.g. in Gjkove/Djkovic, Istog/k, Deçn/Decni, nd Pejë/Pec municiplities). Additionlly, the lck of will, cpbilities or uthority (e.g. KTA dministered lnd) on the side of locl institutions to pursue remedil or prcticl solutions impedes returnees bility to regin their property. 14
Non-reporting of incidents continued to previl mongst the Rom, Ashkeli, nd Egyptin communities in the region. While Rom tended not to report security incidents to the police for fer of retribution, leders of the Egyptin community indicted tht their community incresingly hs gined trust in the KPS which is probbly linked to the recruitment of members of their community into the police. 44 Region-wide, the Egyptin community hs stronger representtion within institutions leving the impression of better integrtion strting-point within the society. This however, does not necessrily represent the relity for the whole group nd is often influenced by individul/fmily history; reltion to the mjority popultion prior nd fter the deprture; experiences nd behviors during the conflict; time nd resons for deprture from Kosovo, eduction bckground, etc. Most of the Rom, Ashkeli, nd Egyptins in this region hd ccess to public services including helth, socil services, nd eduction lthough numerous children did not ttend school, predominntly becuse of economic difficulties. Generlly-speking, lck of dequte informtion nd discrimintion remin issues of concern when ccessing public services. The problem of bysml nd sub-stndrd conditions of overcrowded communities lso hosting IDPs continued to excerbte the overll socio -economic sitution of the Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptins in the region, s well s the socil cohesion within the community itself, often leding to further mrginlistion, domestic violence nd illitercy. Above ll, Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptins in generl continued to fce insurmountble obstcles relted to ccess to nd contested property rights including lck of dequte documenttion. This fctor seriously hmpers their re-integrtion. Rom Few security incidents involving Rom victims were reported nd none of them hve been proven to be ethniclly motivted. This does not reflect the ctul difficult security sitution, s nonreporting for fer of revenge seems to be common. Nevertheless nd despite the unstble environment, Rom in Peje/Pec municiplity continued to expnd their re of movement nd mny trvelled regulrly to Prishtine/Pristin. This mybe ttributed to the pst inter-ethnic reltionship between the mjority nd the Rom community in Peje/Pec municiplity, described to be reltively close. Ashkeli nd Egyptins In Kline/ municiplity, night-time ttcks t houses nd properties s well s theft of cttle occurred. The minority communities provided esy trgets for these incidents, especilly since due to their precrious sitution they were reluctnt to report even more severe security incidents, such s beting nd threts. 45 Similrly, the minority communities in Gjkove/Djkovic municiplity were victims of crimes 46 nd threts 47. 44 Nine Egyptins hve been recruited to KPS compred to 4 Rom nd 3 Ashkeli, in Peje/Pec region. The fct tht less Rom hve been recruited is rther linked to lck of required eduction 45 Kline/ municiplity is locted in the so-clled Drenic region, stronghold of Kosovo Libertion Army nd crdle of strong Albnin ntionl sentiment, which my influence inter-ethnic reltions. 46 The Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptin popultion in this municiplity hve been ble to enjoy reltive freedom of movement, prticulrly within the municiplity nd hence to lunch successful businesses s blcksmiths, metl workers etc. They hve cquired reltive welth in short period of time nd re subsequently becoming s minority communities esy trgets for crime. In 2003, UNHCR recorded 3 15
Possible impct of unplnned nd/or lrge-scle return movements Recently obtined confidence in security nd reltive improvement in freedom of movement cnnot be overplyed in cse of lrge-scle return or incresed pce in forced minority returns including Rom, Ashkeli nd Egyptins from Western Europe to this region. Keeping in mind the overcrowded ghetto-like communities in mny res of the region, ny lrge-scle forcible returns would result in immedite secondry displcement or deprture from Kosovo. Sensitive nd frgile inter-ethnic reltions between the mjority nd the Rom, Ashkeli, nd Egyptins communities re incresingly worsened by distribution of diminishing resources in Kosovo. A.5. Region During 2003 nd until 17 Mrch 2004, only few security incidents involving Kosovo Ashkeli were reported 48. Kosovo Rom displced in the north, with full freedom of movement in the north but severely restricted freedom of movement in the south, continued to be subjected to serious security incidents. 49 In contrst, the Rom, Ashkeli, nd Egyptin communities in Leposvic/q municiplity 50, living long the mjority Kosovo Serb popultion, remined generlly undisturbed 51. Ashkeli While the overll sitution for Ashkeli in region ws still frgile during the yer 2002, security nd freedom of movement considerbly improved in 2003, both in South nd Vushtrri/Vuctrn municiplity until the Mrch 2004 riots. Severl Ashkeli exercised freedom of movement Kosovo-wide, with some exceptions, such s South, where they restricted their movements to dytime nd only certin prts of the town. All 39 Ashkeli fmilies originting from Stri Trg/Sheshi Vjeter nd Prvi Tunel/Tuneli Pre, south, remined displced. While the generl sitution remined sttic, severl Ashkeli fmilies displced in northern collective centres strted to exercise freedom of movement to their villges of origin nd met with their former neighbours. Mny Ashkeli houses were still occupied by Kosovo Albnin IDPs, who re not welcoming possible return. reported security incidents trgeting 2 Egyptin nd 1 Rom, wheres during the first 10 weeks of 2004 in Gjkove/Djkovic 4 incidents were reported/recorded trgeting 1 Ashkeli nd 3 Egyptins. Gjkove/Djkovic hs the highest crime rte in generl in Kosovo. 47 UNHCR is, mong others, wre of two Egyptin forced returnee fmilies, who were thretened by the Kosovo Albnin illegl occupnts nd hence unble to return to their houses. A fmily returning from Germny to Gjkove/Djkovic town ws requested to py 25,000 euro to the Kosovo Albnin illegl occupnt to get their house bck. A returnee fmily from Switzerlnd ws thretened too. 48 Three ttcks on Ashkeli property in Vushtrri/Vucitrn hve been reported: Stoning of Ashkeli houses on 27 My 2003 nd on 27 July 2003, s well s the lleged rson of n Ashkeli house on 14 Jnury, mentioned bove on pge 8. 49 In ddition to the Rom boy set blze in Zitkovc, bove pge 8, mention should be mde to the following incidents: An unknown mle stopped his cr close to Rom, wlking long the street in north, nd bet him, on 8 July 2003; Three Serbs ssulted nd robbed Rom in Zvecn on 15 August. The suspects in the ltter cse hve been rrested nd the cse submitted to the prosecutor. 50 The Ashkeli nd Egyptin communities represent mostly IDPs living longside the Rom. 51 Similrly, the sitution of the smll Rom community in the Serb enclve of Priluzje/Prellhuze villge remined stble in 2003. 16
In Vushtrri/Vucitrn town, the lbour intensive orgnised return of Ashkeli IDP fmilies in 2002 slowly impcted positively on the Ashkeli community s whole. 52 Until the riots in Mrch 2004, the Ashkeli enjoyed unrestricted freedom of movement prticulrly in the town, nd hd ccess to public services. The children ttended school side by side with Kosovo Albnin children. Despite some incidents, 53 n increse in confidence towrds the police ws noted, possibly due to KPS successful confidence-building mesures in forms of rpid deployment of mixed ptrols nd ubiquitous community policing. It lso llowed few spontneous returns of Ashkeli IDPs to Vushtrri/Vucitrn town nd jump-strted new orgnised return processes in the region. 54 In contrst, there were no returns of Ashkeli IDPs to the formerly mixed villge of Novo Selo/Mxhunj, despite the first orgnised return of Kosovo Serbs being underwy. This indicted tht Ashkeli still fer for their sfety in some prts of the municiplity. In Skenderj/Srbic municiplity, UNMIK tried to engge Ashkeli IDPs to consider possible returns, prticulrly to the villge of Dshevs/Dosevc, where four Ashkeli returnees were killed in 2000. The chilling effect of this murder continued to reverberte nd mny IDPs were still reluctnt to return to this municiplity. The economiclly depressed conditions did not help the environment nd further compounded the prospect for future return to this villge. Rom Rom IDPs remined displced in the cmps in the North, fcing obstinte resistnce by the receiving communities in plces such s the Rom Mhl in south. The deteriorting conditions in displcement, closure of collective centres nd informl settlements in Serbi prompted ten Rom nd one Ashkeli fmily to return into displcement in deplorble conditions in the Kblr brrcks in north, witing for durble solution; The environment is still not conducive for sfe nd sustinble return to the region. Another exmple of the tenuous sitution is the slow progress of returns to the Rom Mhl in South, where 6 7,000 Rom fmilies lived before the conflict. Intensive inter-ethnic dilogue inititives re expected to result in the greement of the mjority community to llow return to the Mhl. The former inhbitnts, mny now displced in the northern municiplities expressed fering hrssment from both the mjority Albnin community in the south nd the mjority Serb community in the north, would they return to the Mhl. 55 Possible impct of unplnned nd/or lrge-scle return movements Despite the developments towrds stbility for the Ashkeli community in Vushtrri/Vucitrn town, ny lrge scle forced returns from Europe would hve negtive consequences to this hrd won stbility. The community would not hve the cpcity to bsorb returnees due to lck of housing; the returns would likely result in secondry displcement. The tolernce demonstrted by the mjority community when it concerns return of few fmilies, should not be overestimted should higher numbers return simultneously nd given the current difficult economic conditions in the region. Forced returns to other res in region would hve negtive impct on the frgile return process in the region s whole. Unless the issue of illegl occuption is properly resolved, returnees will most likely seek sfety in the overcrowded 52 Plese refer to Updte of Jnury 2003, pge 18. 53 See footnote 48 54 As n exmple, orgnised return to Dy Korriku/Sitinic in south Mitrovic of six Ashkeli fmilies displced in IDP cmps in north Mitrovic took plce mid-december 2003. Yet, mny houses in the re remin ruined or re still occupied by Kosovo Albnin IDPs. Kosovo Albnin IDPs re mostly displced from Stri Trg/Sheshi Vjeter nd Prvi Tunel/Tuneli Pre, the suburbs of south 55 The first phse of the return phse, development of n urbn pln is plnned for erly 2004. 17