Several KLA members sentenced for acts of torture and war crimes

(B2) The Mitrovica Basic Court delivered its verdict on Wednesday (27 May) in the "Drenica 1" and "Drenica 2" cases, the European Rule of Law Mission reported today ( EULEX) in Kosovo.

A very symbolic case since it involved several members and officials of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK / KLA), then led by Hashim Thaci, who was until the Prime Minister of Kosovo (read: Prime Minister Thaci, architect of the crime in Kosovo? Eulex opens the investigation)

Torture and war crimes in a KLA detention camp

About fifteen members and leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) were prosecuted for having committed, between August and September 1998, in the "detention center" of Likoc / Likova, who are " war crimes against the civilian population, in particular through the intentional perpetration of violence, cruel treatment, beatings, torture and humiliating and degrading treatment against Kosovo Albanian civilians » according to the indictment drawn up by the international prosecutor, the American Clint Williamson.

5 people convicted

In the first case (known as Drenica 1), the court found that Sami Lushtaku was "guilty" of murder and sentenced to twelve years in prison and Sylejman Selimi (former commander of the Kosovo security forces and ambassador in Tirana) "guilty "a war crime for an act contrary to Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and sentenced to six years' imprisonment. All other defendants in the case were acquitted, and the charges dropped, as the allegations could not be proven.

In the second case (known as Drenica 2), the court recognized several justified charges: "acts of violence, acts of cruelty, torture, humiliating and degrading treatment" against four defendants. He sentenced Sylejman Selimi to 8 years in prison, Jahir Demaku, Zeqir Demaku and Isni Thaci to 7 years in prison (*). 

The courage of the witnesses hailed

The Prosecutor welcomed this judgment but reserves the right to appeal, after careful consideration”. He also wanted to salute the true courage of the victims and witnesses, who presented their testimony to the Court, despite significant challenges, intimidation and hardship ».

(NGV)

(*) The Kosovar penal system has a strong imprint on Anglo-Saxon law with sentencing by charge and an aggregation of sentences in total. It is the final sentence that is mentioned.