EULEX arrests two Kosovo Albanians for war crimes

EULEX arrests two Kosovo Albanians for war crimes

2010-12-15 09:31:58 GMT+7 (ICT)

PRIZREN, KOSOVO (BNO NEWS) -- The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) on Tuesday announced the arrest of two Kosovo Albanians for alleged war crimes twelve years ago.

"Police officers from the EULEX Police Executive Department, supported by KP ROSU, arrested two Kosovo Albanians in the Prizren region in the context of an ongoing investigation into war crimes," EULEX said.

The two ethnic Albanians are accused of charges related to the application of measures of intimidation and terror and dislocation and displacement against the civilian population.

The alleged crimes were committed in Rahovec, Orahovac and nearby villages between July 17 and July 19, 1998. The two individuals are former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).

The investigation is under the supervision of a EULEX prosecutor from the Kosovo Special Prosecution office (SPRK). The two alleged criminals were identified as Ejup Kabashi and Hajj Mazrekaj.

The KLA was a guerrilla organization that sought the liberation of Kosovo from the former Yugoslavia in the 1990's. Its campaign eventually led to the Kosovo War of 1998-1999.

The organization was labeled as a terrorist group until the United States de-listed it in 1998 and began diplomatic relations with KLA leaders. The organization officially disbanded in 1999.

KLA is accused of perpetrating war crimes both during and after the armed conflict. The attacks targeted Serbs, other ethnic minorities (such as Roma people) and ethnic Albanians accused of collaborating with Serb authorities.

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