Unknown fate of the kidnapped Serbs

Gnjilane, May 28th - Representatives of the Kosmet Albanians from Gnjilane indirectly admit these days that there are kidnapped Serbs in Kosmet as well as the secret camps for them.

As Tanjug found out in the Committee for the protection and human rights in Gnjilane, many families of kidnapped Serbs got first information on their dear these days. They received the information through telephone or by mail from certain Albanian persons.

The letters held that the kidnapped was alive and well, and it usually had some evidence enclosed, like a piece of clothing, characteristic sign or signature. All information, except the one in the letter, were charged between 1 000 and 5 000 DM.

In addition to this, the extradition of the kidnapped person is guaranteed for the sum of 10 to 50 thousands of DM, depending on the status of the family, which is well known to the messenger. It is interesting that all the cases offer the extradition in June this year.

Families expelled from Kosmet, whose family member was kidnapped, usually received familiarly signed letters from the missing member. These uniform letters did not ask for any kind of compensation, nor did they mention any exchange for confined Kosmet Albanians, who were charged in central Serbia under suspicion of terrorist acts and war crimes.

KFOR officials are persistent in their denying the possible existence of camps for Serbs, who are held by Albanian terrorists. The kidnapped Serbs are "huge secret" for the international peace forces and it is only yet to face the light.

According to same source, representatives of Albanian community in Gnjilane have led a campaign for some time for freeing their compatriots, who are confined in Serbian prisons for terrorist acts. At the same time they deny the existence of secret camps where kidnapped Serbs and other non-Albanians are held.

The responsible representative of that community in Gnjilane, only 10 days ago and through KFOR addressed the Serbian citizens gathered near the town Orthodox Church. At the same time he said he was not aware of the existence of kidnapped Serbs or the camps they are held in, which caused strong reaction of the gathered Serbs.

In the meantime, the exclusiveness of Albanian side on this matter has drastically been loosened, since it seems that Albanian leaders in Kosmet are prepared for admitting the existence of camps and prisons with kidnapped Serbs and other non-Albanians. KFOR "never managed" to discover and find these people despite the occasional searches they conducted by Serbian reports.

These camps were impossible to reach both by International Red Cross members and other humanitarian organizations.

Several hundreds of families in Kosovo-Metohija region, whose members were kidnapped, prepared their ransom money and paid the good news they get from them. The families are happy for knowing and believing their dear are healthy and well, and they never ask about the sum although they are aware that some people make business out of this human tragedy.