Demaj, 20th officer killed in law enforcement

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has promised that Kosovo institutions will take all actions to protect the Kosovo Police. Haradinaj has pledged that in January 2019, Kosovo's Parliament, the Health, Life and Pension Insurance Bill for Kosovo Police will be prosecuted.

During a visit Prime Minister Haradinaj has made to the Kosovo Police General Directorate, he has said it will not be allowed for criminals to establish law in Kosovo.

Police General Director Rashit Qalaj, on the other hand, has said such promises are great support for the Kosovo Police.

I am very proud that on Thursday in Istog, Kosovo Police have managed to save citizens and intervene in time. At the same time, however, we are very sad that one of our policemen has been shot and later dead. But I believe he did his work with heroism and did a great job serving his citizens. It's tragic, but at the same time we're very proud”, Qalaj said.
In honour of the killed police, Izet Demaj, in Kosovo on Saturday will be a day of mourning, while the Government of Kosovo has decided to share a symbolic sum of 15 thousand euros for his family.

In contrast, since the founding of the Kosovo Police 19 years ago, until now, 20 of its officials have lost their lives in their workplace.

The first case was recorded in September 2001, while the latest murder occurred Thursday in the city of Istog, during a shootout between a person suspected of bank robbery and Kosovo Police members.

In contrast, 168 is the number of attacks on official persons in carrying out the task. In such cases, not only do police officers enter, but other officials.

Kosovo Police spokesman Bajram Krasniqi, days ago, told Radio Free Europe the exact number of attacks on his colleagues, in office, is not known because the classification of cases is done based on Article 410 of the Criminal Code, where other institutions officials enter.

Kosovo police continue to be one of the most reliable institutions in the eyes of citizens, said in a report by the Centre for Security Studies, published last month in Kosovo. The report, dubbed “The Kosovar Security Barometer”, says that more than half of respondents or 61 percent have indicated they trust the Kosovo Police.

Despite that, police officers in Kosovo continue to work without health insurance and life insurance.

The demand for health and accidental insurance for the Kosovo Police is imminent has stated to Radio Free Europe, Shaban Tasholli, deputy chairman of the Kosovo Police Union.

He has said that all cases so far, as well as Thursday's tragic case, are powerful evidence that urgently, without delay, the country's institutions will resolve this cruise issue, vital to Kosovo police employees.

Unfortunately, only when we are experiencing a disaster, as we had earlier the case with the two policemen who lost their lives in Kacanik, even in Thursday's case, which was very tragic, the government is reflecting. All institutions and the president, the prime minister, and all in a row. But we hope we don't have any more promises, but there's going to be as fast a realisations as”, Tashlo said of Radio Free Europe.

Otherwise, in addition to lack of health and vital insurance, to date the basic salary has received 330 euros a month, while with the new Law, which is expected to begin implementing from January 2019, the basic salary for Kosovo Police is expected to be 520 euros per month.

Regarding the murder of police officer Izet Demaj, the Council for Protection of the Rights and Freedoms of Neriu (KMDLNJ) has also reacted. In a media communiqué “The Council calls on the Government of Kosovo to urgently undertake measures to improve conditions for the Kosovo Police, especially to ensure health insurance and that many companies in Kosovo have, although no risks are exposed to”, the communiqué says.