An open letter (III) to Minister Arban Abrashi, the Government and the President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaqi – ACT III

ACT III – CONCERNING THE DEGRADING AND HUMILIATING TREATMENT OF THE SEXUALLY ABUSED FEMALE WAR CRIME VICTIMS BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE PAST EIGHTEEN YEARS.

AN OPEN LETTER (III) TO MINISTER ARBAN ABRASHI, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRESIDENT OF KOSOVO, HASHIM THAQI

Introduction.
February 2017 is here, this coming summer will mark the eighteenth anniversary of the war in Kosovo. This winter has been very cold, especially for those 423 registered female war rape victims who still haven’t received any support from the government – I am sure that the politicians didn’t lack anything, they probably had enough firewood to keep their homes nice and warm. Since the war ended 298 of the sexually abused female war crime victims have died due to difficult living conditions. Just after the war more than eleven thousand female sexual war crime victims registered by the International NGO’s left Kosovo because they couldn’t foresee a future there. By learning from their own history they came to the conclusion that they would never achieve just and equal treatment in society and they were right! Just take a look at their living conditions today!

The situation.
When I arrived in Kosovo for the first time in 1999 I remember seeing the devastation brought on by the war, people being scattered both abroad and in the mountains and forests due to the forceful persecution during the war. Many people and politicians told me how happy they were that the USA and Britain (UK) joined by NATO freed them from a future as refugees.

These same individuals expressed their commitment to building a democratic and just future with respect for all citizens, male and female alike, regardless of their position in society. Many of these people and politicians who early on in the conflict with Serbian authorities fled Kosovo were welcomed, looked after and supported for years in various countries in Europe and America before finally returning home to rebuild a destroyed land.

Due to their upbringing and background with beliefs from bygone eras they still maintain an antagonistic attitude towards women, being convinced that females are inferior to men, especially when it comes to raped women. They consider this topic as taboo. The male population failed to protect their own mothers, daughters, sisters and wives that had no chance of escaping the enemy because they were taking care of family matters during the war.

Instead of immediately focusing on taking care of the most vulnerable of war crime victims politicians started to fight each other in order to gain power and secure positions for themselves, their families and clans. The situation became so tense at times that weapons were used against political opponents. The main political focus of the politicians seemed to be, “What’s in it for me, my family and clan? Let’s take all we can while we are in power, we never know how long we will enjoy it!” They haven’t been reasonable enough to realize that they were supposed to run state matters, not family or clan matters.

The situation in Kosovo hasn’t changed from the summer of 1999, not even during the eight-year period when the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) exercised executive power – shame on them too!

I have never heard of or witnessed this kind of inhuman behavior of an independent state in Europe towards its own female citizens. The only exceptions I know of from my extended travels around the world are countries in the Middle and Far East and also in Africa which often seem to accuse females exposed to sexual crimes for violating their culture and “family honor”. Not only are they blamed for the crime committed against them, but also they are treated as whores!

Where are the intellectuals, the writers, the religious leaders, the journalists and the academics? Where is the empathy?

Now – before it’s too late – is the time to act and ensure help for the registered group of female war crime victims!

In an earlier article I suggested a quick solution that could be set up by the minister in charge and the Government within a week:

1. Implement an interim pension of €500 per month until a final solution is reached.
2. The costs can be put on an intermediary state account and balanced either by budgeting the costs in the ordinary yearly budget and / or claim compensation on behalf of the female war crime victims through national or international court systems.

The continual verbal promises made by the government for the past eighteen years is, in my opinion, an abuse of public office and gives ground for indictment.

In one of my first articles I mentioned the well-known Jewish writer, Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor, Eliezer “Elie” Wiesel, who once said that a society’s most dangerous and frightening traits are indifference to other people and their own greed.

So, watch out!