HIGH COMMISSIONER AND SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR EXPRESS CONCERN OVER REPORTS OF MASS KILLINGS AND DISAPPEARANCES IN KOSOVO

HR/99/27
31 March 1999


The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, and the Commission on Human Rights Special Rapporteur on the situation in the former Yugoslavia, Jiri Dienstbier, expressed the gravest concern today at reports of summary executions and disappearances suffered by members of the ethnic Albanian population in Kosovo. They are also deeply concerned at the plight of tens of thousands of refugees and displaced persons uprooted by the ongoing Kosovo crisis.

The High Commissioner and the Special Rapporteur said they are appalled by reports of the killings of Kosovo Albanian human rights defenders, intellectuals and political leaders, including Fehmi Agani, Baton Haxhiu, Din Mehmeti and Alush Gashi. It has not yet been possible to confirm these killings.

"The gravity of these reports underlines the need for impartial verification of these allegations", Mrs. Robinson said, adding that she is examining urgently steps that might be taken to address this need. The High Commissioner and the Special Rapporteur called on the authorities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to take all necessary measures to protect the rights to life and physical integrity of all persons within their jurisdiction.