By Sheradin Berisha. Translation Petrit Latifi

Summary

This text addresses one of the deepest post-war wounds in Kosovo: the disappearance of more than 3,000 Albanian civilians killed by Serbian military and police forces. By the end of 2006, around 1,000 bodies were discovered in mass graves in Serbia, while 2,202 persons remained missing. Families of the disappeared have continuously demanded truth and accountability, protesting against the negligence of both Kosovo institutions and international authorities. The issue became politically taboo despite its gravity. Through activism, public protests, and documentation, families and civil organizations have sought justice. The text condemns Serbia as the perpetrator of wartime crimes and a continuing refuge for unpunished criminals, emphasizing the unresolved pain of loss and absence.

2,202 Albanians are still missing from the war

After the war, one of the most serious wounds in Kosovo was the disappearance of over 3 thousand bodies of Albanians (civilians) killed by Serbian military and police forces. By the end of 2006, about 1000 mortal remains were found in mass graves in Serbia, such as in Peruqac, Petrovo Sello, Batajnica 1, 2 and 3, etc., while another 2,202 bodies remained unaccounted for.

The families of persons disappeared by the criminal structures of Serbia due to the negligence and hesitation of local institutions (government, parliament, presidency…) and international ones (UNMIK…), through their organizations have continuously (even with protests) demanded the clarification of the fate of their relatives.

Since then (in December 2006) I have written about this delicate topic, which after the war had become taboo and negligible for the political class, and the written and electronic television media. Below I invite you to read the article “We are looking for the missing / SERBIA DURING THE WAR, THE PERPETRATOR OF CRIMES – TODAY THE RESERVE OF CRIMINALS”, published in December 2006, on pashtriku.org.

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We are looking for the missing
SERBIA DURING THE WAR, THE PERPETRATOR OF CRIMES – TODAY, THE RESERVE OF CRIMINALS
Prepared by: Sheradin BERISHA
On December 28, 2006

On December 31, 2004, the organization “Mothers’ Calls” together with activists of the Action Network for Kosovo – KAN (today the VETVENDOSJE Movement) placed 235 photographs of the missing from Kosovo on the windows of the Kosovo Parliament, while on March 16, 2005, 37 more photographs were placed.

Today (on December 28, 2006), the Coordinating Council of the Family Associations of the Missing in Kosovo (KKAFPK), in a working meeting, accused the Government of Kosovo of its negligence during this year (2006) regarding the clarification of the fate of 2,202 of the missing in Kosovo.

Outraged by this total irresponsibility of the institutions, on December 31, 2006 (Sunday), the families of the missing have announced a protest.
In solidarity with the Association of Families of the Missing, I present below hundreds of photographs of our missing sons and daughters, which have been placed on the windows of the Kosovo Parliament, as well as two protests by families demanding the fate of their sons and husbands be revealed.

During the war, Serbia was the author of crimes, while today it has become the reserve and protector of criminals.

• WE ALL MISS THEM!
• BRING OUR BOYS BACK!
• WHERE IS MY FATHER!
  
  Read the article in the photo, and see the gallery of the Serbian genocide that was never punished by the political and institutional leadership of Kosovo!