Family victims seek justice in the 20th anniversary of the Tusus massacre

Two decades ago, the Serbian regime killed and massacred the citizens of this Prizren neighbourhood, where it then set fire to over 250 houses to carry out the plan known as the <x0).

The memorial academy that has been held has also been attended by Vetevendosje Movement Chairman Albin Kurti, who said that there is no justice for the massacre in Tussus neighbourhood, and according to him the unpunished crime is an ongoing crime.

The <x0->Criminals, who ordered the Tusus massacre, are known by name and surname, as well as their police and military degrees. Croatia, a state also emerging from the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, has the legal opportunity to try war criminals in absentia. The change of the Kosovo Criminal Procedure Code has only remained to be voted in second reading, but are absurdly delaying it. The Kosovo freedom tree is planted by the resistance and uprisings of our people throughout the 20th century peaceful and armed, illegal and legal. However, this tree has been watered with the blood of martyrs and the sweat of workers. The tree has grown and blossomed, but it is neither good nor right that the flowers of the freedom tree are for the citizens, and the fruits of the freedom of power tree. Thus, the tree of freedom has become like a sweet aroma for the people who are numbed and killed because the soʹia gives fruit”, he declared.

Kurti said the state of Kosovo owes martyrs and martyrs even to the fact that he never demanded the debt of Serbia's state.

“Freedom without equality, privilege for some and with discrimination for most, freedom that is not freedom for all sometimes is not complete freedom, and sometimes neither is true freedom. The martyrs gave everything to the people who still lack much. Nobody today but anyone has the right to talk about reconciliation with Serbia on behalf of witness sister Selver Mackaj, Fazile Mackaj, who burned alive inside her house and in wheelchair. Witnesses and martyrs, victims of war, and those who fell for freedom owe their homeland nothing. However, our country owes them much, even because it never owed Serbia's state. Today, there is also much pain and pride. What we need to have more is: responsibility”, Kurti said.

Prizren Mayor Artan Abrashi said 27 martyrs who lost their lives 20 years ago paved the way for Kosovo today to enjoy freedom.

“As today 20 years ago as a result of the successive successes of the KLA units that were held right here in this area, uncrupulous and cowardial revenge of the Serbian military machine on the residents of this neighbourhood began. Not by chance did this happen in Tussus, not by chance Tussus was chosen as a neighborhood, as a place where this violence should be exercised, because Serbia wanted to provide examples of all who followed the road to Kosovo's liberation. Tusus was the birth, maintenance, body and operation of the KLA, fortunately still we have living witnesses who can prove it. It had become the stability of this people, it had become the stability of the city of Prizren, it had become the pride of the city of Prizren. The 27 martyrs who gave their lives became victims of a oppressive and murderous system so that today we can be opened up and enjoy this freedom due to their blood and sacrifice”, Abrashi said.

Kosovo Assembly MP and former commander The KLA, Zafir Berisha, said the Tussus neighbourhood has been one of the indestructible institutions of the movement for Kosovo's freedom.

“Tusus has been one of the indestructible institutions of the movement for freedom of Kosovo, the leader of many organisations in the city of Kosovo, the nest of many fighters and activists of the national issue, not just Prizren's but the corner of Kosovo and, of course, has been at the forefront of Kosovo's freedom organisation. 97 was the crucial moment that had to tell Serbia enough in Kosovo... in those dramatic moments for Kosovo, when Serbia and Milosevic's state-owned camera tried to realise its platform for Kosovo as burnt land, I've cohabited with some who have survived the massacre and those who are in the other world today, and for whom I am very convinced that they have given themselves to this country, for which they should honor their families and the rest of us. Of course, Serbia knowing that we are here, unable to face successive shares, in return for the 22 May action takes action against innocent citizens who were both source information and supply for us. But, of course, we did not stop the war, the war continued until June 12th and, of course, 12 June triumphantly KLA entered the city with the help of KFOR”, Berisha said.

On behalf of family members, Islam Thaci spoke, who has demanded that criminals' names be carved into court processes.

It's hard to go back 20 years, it's hard for us as a family to work, live without light crime, without justice. The dying of these martyrs is engraved, and please read it. We don't have many demands, we have only one requirement, my request is as we have inscribed the names of our most beloved, martyrs, streets, squares, our institutions, that we carve the names of criminals into prison cells, on the sheets of charges, and in court processes. This is our only request as family of martyrs”, Thaci said.

Otherwise, two decades ago in Prizren's Tusus district, 27 citizens were massacred and over 250 houses burned.