Hague prosecutors continue interviews, yet no indictment

It has been three months since one of the former KLA superiors in the Posttric Operative Zone, Sabaheddin Chena was interviewed by the Prosecutor's Office specialised in the quality of the war crimes suspect. But, on January 14th of this year, when Cenna gave her testimony, he has never been contacted by the tribunal. Cena, who lives in the town of Rahovec, says that after the interview he had no contact either with former fighters or other respondents.

I know for myself that I was interviewed. I've been the director of the Pacific Operative Zone, I'm pledging that the living man hasn't called me, nor the interviewees will ask me what you've been asked nothing, except journalists. So for God's sake, I don't know what our problem will be, I don't know”, Cena told Radio Free Europe. In the organisation, which represents KLA war veterans, they say the number of people invited for interviews in various qualities has exceeded 40. KLA Veterans Organisation Chairman Hysni Gucati says they have continued contact with persons invited by the Special Court, saying an increase in the number of people invited for an interview is expected.

We know roughly, over 40 so far, they've been taken into information talks by this so-called court. So, yeah, we have contacts with most of them. It was really for us, because it's an ethnic, it's biased and selective for us. I believe they're going to get innocent, yet it's in the belief that as these people have started making the invitation, a great number will be called. So when the first indictment arises I don't know, it's about autumn somewhere, it's about autumn”, Gucati said. In the Specialised Prosecutor's Office, for Radio Free Europe, they said they cannot provide details about the exact number of persons interviewed so far. Nor has it been shown when the first executions could be expected.

The Special Prosecutor's Office does not provide information on the investigation or timing of possible charges. The Specialised Prosecutor's Office, among other things, has the authority to request the presence and question of suspects, victims and witnesses, gather and review information and evidence, and to make decisions about the beginning, as well as the continuation or completion of criminal proceedings. That's exactly what the Special Prosecutor's Office is doing” says in response to the Specialised Prosecutor's Office. So far, the Specialised Prosecutor's Office has interviewed key KLA figures. Sami Lushtaku, Rrustem Mustafa, were among the first figures interviewed at The Hague. Last few days of interviewing has been invited by former member of The KLA, now deputy in the Kosovo Assembly, Blerim Red. Other former KLA members, including former KLA Military Court leader Sokol Dobruna, have been interviewed.

Sabahiddin Cena, who was among the first to be interviewed in the quality of war crimes suspect, says he has gone to war knowingly and that he does not care about any kind of accusation he may face in the future. “I'm sorry, how did you get scared? I was doctored on the same day with Ibrahim Rugova, nobody cheated on me. I've consciously entered the war and there's no problem. But even if I'm suspicious of anything, the war is this. War has been, war is still remaining”, Cena said.

The Special Court formation has followed a 2011 Council of Europe report, which has found there is sufficient evidence to launch investigations against several former KLA members, who allegedly committed crimes against Serbs and some Albanians during and after the war in Kosovo. The Special Court will address alleged crimes involving the January 1998 period of December 2000.