CoE's Marty: "Everyone Knew About The Crimes Of The KLA"

 

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Voice of Russia
December 16, 2010

Kosovo PM implicated in organ-trafficking – PACE report


The territory of Albania was used by Kosovo militants for the traffic of organs of Serb prisoners, a PACE spokesman Dick Marty told a Paris news conference on Thursday.

The topic is currently on the table of a PACE panel, of which Marty is the chairman.

He warned Kosovo authorities from whitewashing those behind organ-trafficking, including Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci.

Marty pointed the finger at some major international organizations, which he said played down outrageous facts of organ-trafficking in Kosovo.

He said that a PACE report to this effect will see the light of day in the near future.
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B92/Tanjug News Agency
December 16, 2010

Marty: Everyone knew about shocking crimes

PARIS: Council of Europe (CoE) Rapporteur Dick Marty addressed reporters today as his draft report on human organ trafficking was adopted.

The Swiss, known for his exposure of illegal CIA-run prisons in Europe, put together a damning report on allegations that Serb and other civilians in Kosovo were kidnapped in the wake of the 1999 war, and taken to Albania where their organs were removed and sold in the black market.

The document names current Kosovo Albanian PM Hashim Thaci, formerly one of the leaders of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), as being responsible for these, and other serious crimes.

As the CoE Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee met today in Paris to adopt the report and draft acresolution that is expected to be debated in late January, Marty spoke to journalists during a news conference.

He stressed that he was "particularly shocked" to find out during his two-year investigation that a large number of people, and organizations, knew about the crimes but "did not wish to talk about it".

Marty noted that his report "said nothing new", and that "everybody knew about the crimes of the KLA".

What is new, the Swiss explained, "is that someone has said it, and put it in writing".

Marty told reporters that his task was to determine the facts related to a book written by former Chief Hague Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte - who first publicly mentioned the organ trafficking allegations in early 2008 - and that his job was "very delicate", because many people chose not to talk to him or his associates.

"The report simply determines that disturbing things have happened, that there is serious evidence that indicates the crimes did happen, that the crimes were committed by KLA members, and that to this day, these crimes have not been punished," Marty said.

The CoE rapporteur added that "these crimes have never been the subject of a serious investigation."

"Another revelation is that they include the territory of Albania. In that absolutely chaotic period in 1999 and 2000, that is, after the end of (NATO) bombardment and establishment of UNMIK, the KLA exercised power in the entire territory (of Kosovo), and that is when the crimes were committed. People were kidnapped, deported to Albania. You are aware that EULEX has opened an investigation related to secret prisons, Kukesh in northern Albania is mentioned there."

Marty went on to say that some parts of his report document "open ties between organized crime and politics, including representatives of the government", and that he was "not guided by rumors, but described the crimes based on many testimonies, documents and objective findings".

"Finally, we arrived at the conclusion that these events were known to many intelligence services from many countries. This was known to the police, to a large number of people, who would privately say, 'yes, I am aware of that', but who, for the sake of political opportunism, would decide to remain silent," he continued.

"What has shocked me is that most facts in this report were known to a large number of organizations, and yet that there was silence about it until this day. I believe that a future of a country cannot be built without truth, without insisting on truth and memory. There will never be peace between various communities if the principle of 'not wanting to know' continues," Marty warned.
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Tanjug News Agency
December 16, 2010

Prosecutor: More evidence than in Marty report

BELGRADE: Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukčević says his office's organ trafficking investigation collected "far more evidence".

He was comparing the effort of the prosecution with that of Council of Europe (CoE) Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Dick Marty.

The human organs trade concerns the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), who are believed to have kidnapped Serb and other civilians in the province in 1999.

Vukčević refused to provide the names of the suspects, pointing out that results would be made known after the investigation was complete.

"I want to avoid bidding on a number of medical workers and people involved in the committing of the crimes under investigation. Therefore, I will not name anyone, especially since there is already a lot of speculation about this in the media," Vukčević said at a press conference in Belgrade.

The conference, held in the Special War Crimes Court building, was related to Dick Marty's report in which Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci was mentioned as one of the people responsible for body parts harvesting in Kosovo after the armed conflict there.

Vukčević stressed further progress in the investigation would not be possible without EULEX and the CoE cooperating, adding that it would not matter who raised charges against the people responsible for the crimes.

"The question who would stand the trial - we or EULEX or the Albanians - is less important - ours is to prove the atrocities were really committed, it is only important that the perpetrators be brought to justice," Vukčević underlined.
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B92/Tanjug News Agency
December 16, 2010

Committee adopts Kosovo organ trafficking report

PARIS: Council of Europe (CoE) Rapporteur Dick Marty today in Paris officially presented his report on human organ trafficking in Kosovo and northern Albania.

The draft report, detailing locations where members of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) took kidnapped civilians to have their vital organs removed and later sold, was adopted by the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee.

In it, Kosovo Albanian Premier and former KLA leader Hashim Thaci has been named as the ringleader of a group that was involved in organ, drugs and arms trafficking.

Reports from Paris today said that the decision came despite "some attempts" to postpone it.

The Marty report confirms information obtained by the Serbian War Crimes prosecution that some 500 Serbs were kidnapped in Kosovo, to be killed in prison camps in Albania, where their organs were removed.

Deputy Prosecutor Bruno Vekarić says that the document will be a reason for justice systems in the region to "mobilize", while Serbian President Boris Tadić says the accusations from the report should be "checked".

After the closed-door debate of the committee in Paris today, a decision will be made whether to send a draft resolution to the CoE Parliamentary Committee (PACE).

Serbian representatives expect this to happen during the day. Amendments to the draft can then be submitted, while the debate on the resolution could take place on January 25.

CoE resolutions have "high moral value", but are not legally binding.

Nataša Vučković, a member of the Serbian delegation, said today the resolution will be on the assembly agenda in January and all members of the assembly can propose amendments to it.

The resolution, if adopted by the assembly, would be the first international legal document to describe the Kosovo Liberation Army as a terrorist organization involved in organ trafficking.

"The Serbian delegation commended Marty's courage in raising this issue and answering a whole series of questions that had been shrouded in silence and secrecy for a many years," Vučković noted.

Serbia's representatives stressed that it was necessary to find out the truth, for the victims, missing persons and their families, as well as to facilitate reconciliation and establish trust and peace in the region.