Ethnic discrimination of the missing in Kosovo

The wall containing the names of all missing people in Kosovo (referred on the missing list of the International Committee of the Red Cross and adopted by the Governmental Commission for Missing Persons) that was located on “Zahir Pajaziti” square in Prishtina by Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Kosovo and activists of My Initiative, on April 27th – Missing Persons Day in Kosovo, was damaged by members of the so called “Rruga Jonë” (“Our Street”). These unknown individuals have covered in red ink the names of the missing Serbs, thus violating the dignity of victims.

Youth Initiative for Human Rights, being aware about the sensitiveness of this issue for Kosovar society in general and for the victims’ families in particular, condemns this act and reminds that such actions violate the dignity of the victims and also do not contribute in revealing the truth and establishing justice for the victims and their families.

The Initiative also reminds that Kosovo Institutions are obliged to commit in resolving the fate of all missing persons regardless of their ethnicity. Whereas the establishment of justice and punishing the responsible for war crimes remains a responsibility of courts which should enjoy strong support from relevant institutions and Kosovar society in order to fulfill the right of families to know the fate of their loved ones, right to truth and right to justice.