"Serious Protection Problems" for Roma, Ashkaelia and Egyptians in Kosovo

01 January 2003

On January 1, 2003, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) published two papers on the situation of ethnic minorities in Kosovo; one entitled the "UNHCR Position on the Continued Protection Needs of Individuals from Kosovo" (hereafter referred to as the "Position Paper"), the second entitled "Update on the Situation of Roma, Ashkaelia, Egyptian, Bosniak and Gorani In Kosovo" (hereafter referred to as the "Update"). Later, on March 10, 2003, the UNHCR and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) jointly released their "Tenth Assessment of the Situation of Ethnic Minorities in Kosovo (May-Dec 2002)" (hereafter referred to as the "Assessment"). All three reports gave significant attention to the dangers that Roma, Ashkaelia and Egyptians living in Kosovo continue to face. Specifically, in its Position Paper, the UNHCR commented that "While general improvements in the overall situation of Roma, Ashkaelia and Egyptian communities have continued, with a stabilised security situation in many regions, these three communities continue to face serious protection problems. [?] The problems include grenade attacks and physical harassment, in addition to acute discrimination and marginalisation. Even where inter-ethnic relations appear to have improved enabling small scale return, among the Ashkaelia particularly, experience has demonstrated that the risk of attack remains, whether targeted to remaining or newly returned persons. Hence their physical security remains precarious." According to the Assessment, "[?] the fear of harassment, intimidation and provocation remains part of everyday experience for members of minority communities throughout Kosovo." Due to the fear of minority communities in Kosovo to report crimes, the ERRC believes the following to be a non-exhaustive list of recent violent attacks on Roma, Ashkaelia and Egyptians:

 

  • On November 30, 2002, an Ashkaelia returnee in Vushtrri/Vučitrn was beaten by local employees of the construction company that had been contracted to restore the returnee's homes, according to the Assessment;
  • According to the Update, on October 24, 2002, a masked man attacked a relative of an Egyptian returnee. The victim reportedly sustained serious injuries during the assault;
  • On October 15, 2002, six Kosovo Serb men armed with a rifle assaulted two Roma and a juvenile in the camp in the village of Zitkovac/Zitkovc, according to the Update. One of the attacked reportedly received minor injuries. According to the Assessment, Roma in the camp constantly report - although not necessarily to the police - incidents of harassment ranging from minor thefts to beatings and reportedly remain in the camp unless absolutely necessary;
  • In September 2002, an Ashkaelia resident from Ferizaj/Uroševac was seriously injured during an assault by a group of Albanian youths while travelling through Obiliq/Obilić, according to the Update. The attack was alleged to be an act of revenge for war actions;
  • In September 2002, three Ashkaelia and a Kosovo Serb from the Plemetin/Plementina Temporary Community Shelter were beaten up by security guards near the KEK power plant in Obiliq/Obilić, according to the Update. There was apparently no reason for the attack. According to the Assessment, police improperly filed the report of the incident and, as a result, a proper investigation was not carried out;
  • On September 27, 2002, a grenade was thrown into the home of a Romani woman in Gjilan/Gnjilane, according to the Update;
  • On September 11, 2002, minor damage was caused to the home of a returned Romani family during a grenade attack on Abdullah Presheva Street in Gjilan/Gnjilane, as reported in the Update. One person was reportedly injured as a result of the attack;
  • On September 1, 2002, a home occupied by Roma in Ferizaj/Uroševac was damaged when an explosive device was thrown in, according to the Update. No one was injured in the attack that police reportedly suspected, but have not proven, was staged by the occupants to strengthen their refugee claim;
  • In August 2002, a group of Kacanik youths harassed Ashkaelia youths in the Ferizaj/Uroševac city market, as reported in the Update;
  • In August 2002, a Romani house in Ferizaj/Uroševac was set on fire following the departure of the Kosovo Albanian illegal occupant, according to the Update;
  • On June 8, 2002, a Romani house in Rahovec/Orahovac was set on fire, according to the Update. The fire reportedly began immediately after the family, fearing retribution, fled when the head of the family shot in self-defence a Kosovo Albanian who, under influence of alcohol, threatened and wounded the eldest son of the family with a bayonet;
  • On May 20 and 21, 2002, a group of Kosovo Albanians drove up to the gate of a house where Ashkaelia returnees were staying in Vushtrri/Vučitrn, shouting their names, and attempted to push the gate open by driving their car into it, according to the Assessment;
  • Following the return of a group of Ashkaelia Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Serbia on April 16, 2002, an Ashkaelia family in Vushtrri/Vučitrn, was targeted in a grenade attack, according to the Update. The same family reportedly claimed that Kosovo Albanian children repeatedly threw stones at their children.
    Also according to the Update, since April 2002, at least the following incidents were not reported to the police because the victims feared reprisal:

     
  • In September, the home of a Roma/Ashkaelia/Egyptian family in KlinĂ«/Klina was looted and the family did not report the incident to the police. A male member of the same family was reportedly severely beaten by the same persons;
  • Kosovo Albanian IDPs threatened a Roma/Ashkaelia/Egyptian IDP visiting from Serbia in Budisalc/ Budisavce;
  • Two Roma/Ashkaelia/Egyptian IDP families from Kristali were warned by Kosovo Albanians to not return to PejĂ«/Pec;
  • A Roma/Ashkaelia/Egyptian family in Kralan/Kraljane was being compelled to move, reportedly because others wanted their property;
  • During October and November 2002, three Roma/Ashkaelia/Egyptian families from the town of PejĂ«/Pec and the village of Lutogllav/Ljutoglava were robbed;
  • Roma, Ashkaelia and Egyptians in the municipality of KlinĂ«/Klina were targeted by a known group of Kosovo Albanians who were stealing their cattle;
  • A Roma/Ashkaelia/Egyptian leader was threatened by Kosovo Albanians working for a construction company in the municipality of KlinĂ«/Klina, reportedly due to a tender for the reconstruction of houses for Roma, Ashkaelia and Egyptians in the municipality.

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