Sleeping after having escaped. In June
1999, this family found a first refuge in the former spa "Dare Dombol"
near Skopje, which, through the initiative of the Rom e.V. of Cologne
had been turned into a shelter for refugees by the German Red Cross. Photo:
K. Koal
When the pogrom started with the occupation of Kfor, the hope of the Roma and Ashkali was with NATO soldiers. They counted on the statements of German politicians that the war had the sole purpose of protecting human rights and minorities. Never again, they said, should "ethnic cleansings" be possible "on our doorstep". This was the legacy of Auschwitz. And to secure this, the most powerful military alliance in the history of humanity took action.
Then, right in front of NATO soldiers, the worst persecution of the Roma and other minorities since the days of the German Wehrmacht started - not intended by NATO but obviously tolerated. Stopping the killing would have meant breaking the alliance with the UCK (KLA), the racist ally of NATO. These new leaders of the Kosovo have been able to realise their programme of an "ethnically pure" Kosovo. The Roma refugees, who have come to us and who continue to suffer in camps surrounding Kosovo, can be considered victims of NATO politics.
Ripped photos in a Roma home in Pec,
September 1999. Photo: Theo Fruendt
The ROM e.V. Cologne demands:
1. Right of residence for all victims of the pogrom who have fled
to Germany.
2. No more attempts to declare Roma and Ashkali ethnic Albanians
in order to then deport them.
3. No more attempts to force Roma and Ashkali to apply for Asylum.
No more relocating of heavily traumatised people, who have found help
from relatives or through other social contacts.
4. Protection without compromise of all Roma and Ashkali who are
still in Kosovo.
5. Support of cultural activities of the Roma in Germany and setting
up a fund in order to rescue remains and documents of their traditional
culture.
6. Support of relief projects for Roma refugees, who are suffering
from hunger, diseases, from the cold and from being put into ghettos.
7. Compensation for the injury of freedom, health and lives, for
the loss of property, possessions, careers and work. Rebuilding of destroyed
settlements. Return of all stolen property.
8. Arrest of all participants in the pogrom and of the organisers
in the UCK (KLA) leadership. Prosecution through the war crimes tribunal
in the Hague.
9. Protection of all Roma living in Germany from UCK (KLA) assaults.
10. Participation of Roma representatives in the Balkans conferences.
We are asking for donations to fund Kosovo projects supported by ROM e.V.
The Rom e.V. has initiated several projects for Kosovo Roma: a school project and two relief projects for refugees in camps in Belgrade as well as a "Memorial Project" that tries to rescue remains and documents of the nearly destroyed Roma culture in Kosovo. An interview campaign is planned with people who survived the pogrom in order to assess their rights for compensation. The Rom e.V. frequently reports on these projects.
Donations are accepted by ROM e.V.
Koeln,
account no. 12 442 620,
Stadtsparkasse Koeln, BLZ 370 501 98,
"Kosovo-Projects"
Rom e.V. Koeln:
Telephone 0049 221 - 24 25 36,
Fax - 240 17 15