MINELREL-L Archive (09031999-10:06:37-1052)

Joint OSCE/ODIHR-CoE Mission: Roma in Kosovo


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Subject: Joint OSCE/ODIHR-CoE Mission: Roma in Kosovo


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Joint OSCE/ODIHR-CoE Mission: Roma in Kosovo


Prepared by
Mr Nicolae Gheorghe
(Advisor on Roma and Sinti Issues, OSCE/ODIHR) 
and
Mrs Josephine Verspaget
(Chair of the Specialist Group on Roma/Gypsies, Council of Europe)
with the kind cooperation of Mrs Judith Kiers
(Democratization Officer, OSCE Mission in Kosovo)
 
August 1999
REPORT ON THE JOINT OSCE/ODIHR-COUNCIL OF EUROPE
FIELD MISSION ON THE
SITUATION OF ROMA/GYPSIES IN KOSOVO
 
27 July-6 August 1999

1. From 27 July to 6 August 1999, a joint OSCE/ODIHR-Council of Europe
field visit has organised to enquire about the situation of the Roma
community in Kosovo. The team was composed of the Chair of the
Specialist Group on Roma/Gypsies of the Council of Europe, Mrs
Josephine Verspaget, and the Advisor on Roma and Sinti Issues at the
OSCE/ODIHR, Mr Nicolae Gheorghe. They were accompanied and assisted
during their visit by Mrs Judith Kiers, Democratization Officer at the
OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

2. The number of Roma living in Kosovo before the war is estimated by
some Roma refugees from Kosovo and Serbia living in third countries to
be around 100-150 000. It is, however, extremely difficult to assess
their exact number as in the 1981 and 1991 censuses many Roma did not
declare themselves as "Roma", either because of a feeling of being
fully integrated in either the ethnically Albanian or the Serb
community or for fear that their registration as "Roma" could prevent
their integration within the society and herefore deprive them of
their basic rights. In the 1991 census, the number of Roma in Kosovo
was around 45 000.

3. Kosovo has a mixed Roma population, being composed of groups
speaking the Albanian, Romani and Serbian languages. The Albanian Roma
(all of them being Muslim) define themselves as Albanians or Muslims.

Sometimes they are known as "Haskalija" or "Majup", which is the
commonly used and derogatory word for Roma. Others call themselves
"Egyptians; this is currently a self-identification in order to escape
the derogatory qualification as "Majup". There is also a group of
Orthodox Roma, more integrated into the Serbian society, and a small
Catholic Romani community. However, despite their different levels of
integration, all Roma are treated as second-class citizens by both the
Serb and the Albanian side.

4. The number of Roma still living in Kosovo at the time of the field
mission is difficult to assess. A rough preliminary assessment made by
the OSCE Kosovo Mission and the UNHCR is of about 10 000 persons for
the areas visited by the delegation including the Internally Displaced
Persons (IDP) camps.

5. This joint mission was organised in response to the alarming
testimonies of Roma refugees from Kosovo expressed during the Balkan
Roma Peace Conference (Sofia, 18-19 June 1999), the reports of human
rights organisations on the violations of human rights of the Roma in
Kosovo during and after the war, the information provided by the media
about the situation of the Roma in Kosovo and the visit of the Advisor
on Roma and Sinti Issues of the OSCE/ODIHR to Roma refugee camps in
"the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" from 27 May to 2 June
1999.

6. The programme of the joint mission is reproduced in the Appendix to
the present document.


FINDINGS
 
1. It appeared clearly to the participants in the mission that the
international community has not been able so far to protect the Roma,
especially after the war and the subsequent return of the ethnic
Albanians to the places where they lived before the conflict. Many
houses belonging to Roma were and are being burned; sometimes even
entire Romani neighbourhoods have been burnt, as was the case in the
city of Mitrovica. The Roma are frequently threatened and harassed and
are victims of violence and alledgedly of rape. Some of them were
kidnapped by ethnic Albanians, who sometimes wear KLA uniforms. The
places where they are imprisoned are often unknown. Roma are generally
afraid to leave their houses, neighbourhoods or even the provisional
accommodation camps. They are deprived of their freedom of movement as
a result of their fear of being harrassed, kidnapped or beaten by
ethnic Albanians. The testimonies gathered state that acts of violence
are committed by ethnic Albanians who do not belong to the same
neighbourhoods as the victims, the Roma victims being identified by
their skin colour.

2. The mission was appalled by the terrible living conditions in some
Internally Displaced Persons camps, such as Obilic and Djakovica. It
seemed clear that people cannot continue to live in these conditions
and that refugee status in third countries may be the only available
option for them. They have no place to return to and their lives are
allegedly at risk.

3. Despite some local variations in the situation of the Roma groups,
most of the Roma interviewed by the joint mission expressed their
strong wish to leave Kosovo and to seek for asylum in third countries.
They cannot see any acceptable future for them in Kosovo and think
that there is little or no space for reconciliation after the
experiences of the last few months.

4. Roma have been collectively accused by the ethnic Albanians of
collaboration with the Serbs. However, it appeared to the participants
in the mission that few Roma seem to have voluntarily joined the
Serbs; many of them were manipulated or even forced by the Serbs to
provide services. Some Roma and other witnesses provided the mission
with evidence of coercion. The Roma in Pristina were, for example,
forced to attend pro-Milosevic demonstrations. Others were forced (for
example in Orahovac) to do physical work or provide transportation for
the Yugoslav army. Some were arrested in their homes and forcibly
enrolled in para-military groups around Pristina. They were used as an
instrument to commit atrocities against the ethnic Albanians.

5. The joint mission found a general perception among Roma that the
United Nations Security Forces in Kosovo (KFOR) has not offered
sufficient protection to the Roma and has often been slow to respond
appropriately to the problems faced by the Roma. This can be explained
by a lack of awareness among the KFOR and the international
organisations of the number of Roma in Kosovo and the place they
occupy in the society. Nevertheless, Resolution 1244 of the United
Nations states in Article 9 that the KFOR has to ensure a secure
environment. The delegation noticed that when properly informed about
the existence of the Roma and their alarming situation, some KFOR
units expressed willingness to protect the Roma better.

6. The joint mission also explored the regional dimension of the
situation of the Roma from Kosovo, as many of them are IDP's in Serbia
and Montenegro or took refuge in neighbouring States such as Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Albania, Hungary and other countries. In Serbia, the
number of Roma IDP's during and after the war is estimated by Roma
representatives to be between 20 000 and 100 000.

There is currently a continuous movement of Roma displaced persons
between Kosovo and Serbia, especially in border areas such as
Mitrovica. According to UNHCR and Roma representatives, there is a
potential for large movements of Roma from Serbia to "the former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" in the coming weeks. In "the former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", there are currently 548 Roma in the
Stenkovac II IDP camp and 1999 in Dare Bombo.

About 6 000 Roma from Kosovo are accomodated in Romani families
throughout the country with the status of "temporary humanitarian
protection". About 3 000 of them are staying in Suto Orizari (Skopje
area). Most of the Roma still living in IDP camps wish to be evacuated
to third countries outside of the Balkan region. 5 000 to 8 000
currently live as IDP's in a refugee camp near Podgorica, Montenegro,
in tents provided by UNHCR .

Large groups of Roma (about 600 to 1 000) have been repeatedly
attempting to flee by sea to Italy. There are about 150 Roma refugees
from Kosovo in the refugee camps in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as
reported recently by UNHCR Sarajevo.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The KFOR should develop methods to ensure a better protection for
the Roma in Kosovo, in accordance with its mandate under Resolution
1244 of the Security Council of the United Nations to establish a
secure environment. Such measures could include a more proactive
attitude, and the developement of good relations with the local Romani
communities. Awareness raising training on Roma issues should be
provided to KFOR, Civpol and other international actors if deemed
appropriate. In general, the OSCE participating States and the Council
of Europe member States should consider seconding persons with
expertise in Roma issues, including experts who are themselves of
Romani ethnicity, to Kosovo in order to help the international
community deal with this issue.

2. Violence against Roma should be strongly and publicly condemned by
the representatives of the international community responsible for
peace, reconciliation and reconstruction of Kosovo.

3. Recent kidnappings and other violations of the human rights of Roma
must be investigated and the offenders adequately punished. The
concept of "collective guilt" of the Roma should also be addressed.
The extent of the alledged involvement of the Roma in the events which
took place during the NATO bombing should be thoroughly documented and
made public so that cases can be brought before the courts and the
Roma who were not involved can return safely to their homes and the
reconciliation process initiated.

4. States should consider recognising Roma from Kosovo in accordance
with the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of
Refugees. Moreover, Roma who already fled should not be returned to
Kosovo under the
present circumstances.

5. As prospects develop for a safe return to Kosovo, the return of
Romani refugees and displaced persons should be carefully monitored by
the international governmental and non-governmental organisations
present in the field.

6. The international community in Kosovo and the neighbouring States
should ensure proper conditions of accomodation for the Romani
internally displaced persons in IDP camps such as Obilic,
Zvecan-Mitrovica and Djakovica, especially as winter approaches. In
"the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", the Roma living in the
Stenkovac II and Dare Bombo camps need urgent attention.

7. Reconciliation and mediation efforts between the Romani communities
in Kosovo and the local ethnic Albanian communities should be carried
out by the international organisations, bearing in mind the variations
in the situation of the Roma at local level. These efforts should
concentrate on the local level. In particular, Roma should be
represented within the civil councils to be set up by UNMIK.

8. The issue of the Roma in Kosovo and neighbouring countries should
be considered as an issue for the Stability Pact for South-Eastern
Europe and for the reconstruction plans for Kosovo. The international
community should also make sure that the Roma in Kosovo will benefit
from the reconstruction process on an equal footing with the other
groups and that they will be granted the same rights.

9. A discussion of the situation of the Roma in Kosovo will take place
at the OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting on Roma and Sinti
Issues, to be held in Vienna on 6 September 1999, and at the 8th
meeting of the Council of Europe Specialist Group on Roma/Gypsies
(Sofia, 20-23 September 1999). A plan of action specifically
addressing the issue of the Roma in Kosovo should be drawn up on these
occasions and implemented by the international community in Kosovo as
part of the administration of the province.

APPENDIX
PROGRAMME OF THE JOINT MISSION
27 July 1999
17h30  Departure from Skopje

28 July 1999
08h00 Meeting with Ambassador Daan Everts, Head of Mission OSCE and
Sandra Mitchell, Director Human Rights Division
08h30 KICC Briefing
10h00 Meeting with Mr Mehmet Arizi and Jakup Krasniqi, at UCK premises
11h00 Mrs Kelmendi member of the Presidency of LDK, at LDK premises
12h30 Lunch with Sandra Mitchell (OSCE Director Human Rights
Department) and Volker Turk (UNHCR, Senior Protection Officer)
14h30 Meeting OHCHR, Mrs Mary Wyckoff and Christine Meinderama - OSCE
15h30 Visit of Obilic Roma IDP camp
18h00 Return to Pristina

29 July 1999
Accompanied by Nasser Adici, Roma community leader of the Obilic IDP
camp
08h00 Visit of Mogura village; visit of an isolated Roma family (only
one left in the village) who are in need of medical aid
09h00 Field visit to Prizren: visiting of the two Roma neighbourhoods
in town, meeting with the leaders, visit to Landovica, where the OSCE
Human Rights Department has encouraged a dialogue between Roma and the
village population
Meeting with Hadzi Zulufi Merdan, Representative for Tusus and Tanasko
Raic areas, and other members of the community 
Meeting with Lennart Mythback, UNMIK Head of Civil Administration
Landovica: meeting with Ekrem Kryeziu, Roma representative followed by
a meeting with Kurtexh Morina, the village secretary (LDK)
Accompanied by OSCE Prizren Human Rights staff
16h30 Return to Pristina
18h00 Arrival Pristina

30 July 1999
08h30 Field visit to Pec and Djakovica: Visit of the OSCE office for
briefing, continuation to Djakovica where four groups of Roma can be
found: city dwellers, approx. 1,000 in camp on the bridge, in the
outskirts Kolonij
and in the neighbouring village Skivjan. Some leaders have been
identified.
16h00 Return to Pristina
18h00 Arrival Pristina

31 July 1999
09h00 Field visit to Orahovac: visit of the Romas in the isolated
Serb/Roma areas of town. Meeting with Roma representative Idris
Berisha and a representative of the Djiptions (Egyptions) delegation.
12h00 Discussions with Dutch KFOR contingent. Lieutenant colonel Mr
Van Loon.
Meeting with OSCE Prizren staff in Orahovac
In Prizren, meeting with Kujtim Pacaku, report on Radio Roma, Prizren
16h30 Return to Pristina
18h00 Arrival Pristina

1 August 1999
08h00 Field visit to Mitrovica, Zveccan
Conducted extensive talks with the Roma population in the collective
centre (a school) about their situation and their future. The first
step to be taken was to participate in the town council meeting
schedule for the
following day.
13h30 Field visit to Urosevac, Dubrava accompanied by Rexhep Bajrami,
a provisional leader of the Roma areas in Urosevac town.
Meeting with the community leaders of Dubrava and Rexhep Bajrami
Visit of Roma areas in Urosevac
17h00 Return to Pristina
18h00 Arrival in Pristina
19h00 Debriefing with Volker Turk, Senior Protection Officer UNHCR and
Deputy

2 August 1999
07h30 Ms Josephine Verspaget left for Skopje airport
09h00 Informal meeting with Julia Goethe, (acting) OSCE Director of
Democratisation
10h00 Discussion with an OSCE Democratisation staff member from
Gnijana, on Roma issues in the area.
11h00 Trip to Mitrovica to support the Roma representation in the
UNMIK Town Council meeting.
15h00 Meeting with Sandra Mitchell, OSCE Director Human Rights and
Claudia Moser, deputy
18h00 Visit of destructed Roma areas in Pristina

3 August 1999
11h30 Debriefing with OSCE MoH Ambassador Daan Everts, Sandra Mitchell
and Julia Goethe
13h00 Working lunch with Julia Goethe
16h30 Meeting with Erick Chevalier, Executive Assistant to Mr Bernard
Kuchner, UN Special Representative of the Secretary General, UNMIK
17h00 Presentation by Mr Nicolae Gheorge on the Task force on
Minorities, chaired by Mr Dennis MacNamara(UNHCR), Deputy Special
Representative of the Secretary General
18h00 Meeting with Mr Dennis MacNamara (UNHCR), Deputy Special
Representative of the Secretary General and Volker Turk, Senior
Protection Officer (UNHCR)
19h00 Departure to Skopje

4-6 August 1999
Mrs Gheorghe stayed in Skopje where he visites Romani refugee camps
and Romani representatives.

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