Former political prisoners pending compensation

Although regulation of the procedures and compensation criteria of former political convicts was released in March 2013, the Commission for recognition of political status and former political prisoners has not yet been completed on the case.

And for a day spent in prison, former political convicts are compensated for 16.70 euros -- the symbolic one the state has shared for this part of society. Although it is meant to compensate for 4 thousand and 197 former political convicts, some 12,000 people have applied.

The law envisions three categories: the category of political convicts, who are compensated, and the category of political prisoners meaning that the person is sentenced to less than 60 days and the category of persecuted and the category of political persecuted, categories that are not compensated.

The Secretary of the Government Commission for Recognising the status of former political convicts and former political prisoners, Sefik Sadiku, says the commission has worked mainly with the first category. While showing optimism that the Government of Kosovo could also make a decision on compensation for former political prisoners and former persecutors.

The “Commission worked mainly with the first category, which has been sentenced from 1945 onward. We have arrived, in the previous composition of the commission, by October of last year, to look at apps from {45 to yet89, obviously, those who reason on their application. Application must be met with bias when it's imprisoned, and paper-lettered when released, then ID and bank account. He is recognised as status and the right to compensation, two separate decisions are issued. Those who don't have these documents for an excuse, we have some of them convicted in the '60s, '70s and '80s and managed to enjoy this right”, Sadiku said.

It also makes known the figures of those compensated from 2014 to today. While adding that there are over 2,000 people waiting to be recognised as former convicts and then compensated.

According to law and regulation, the regulation of 7,2013, for compensation also for the right of political convicts, Sadiku says there are three categories that have priority: former convicts, who have been sentenced regardless of when, but are over 80 years old; social cases and third category, those with health problems.

The “Commission and the Government of the Republic of Kosovo have linked a contract for the recognition of the status, or redundament of 55 million. There were 4 grand and 197 ex-condemned here to compensate. However, about 12,000 applicants have applied. Of these, or in this figure, ex-convicts, there are others, but they are not compensated. The total figure is about 12,000. Meanwhile, 219 former convicts were compensated for 2014; in 2015, 417; in 2016, 555, in 2017 ♫ 607; and in 2018, 636 former convicts. The total of 55m has been spent -- 43m and 618 thousand and 957.06 -- meaning that they have failed to spend 11 million and 381 thousand and 42.94 euros”, Sadiku says.

It shows that out of 10 million and 500 thousand euros have been allocated last year for this commission, 3 million 184 thousand and 433.41 euros have gone so well, but expected to be carried for this year.

“Now it starts working, by the end of the year I believe all of this will be done. We've been stuck in the year '89, regularly examining apps, and I believe that by the end of the year the largest amount of applications will be carried out, Sadiku says.

Fortunately that this process has begun for a while, yet much work has yet to be done to the final extent, Sadiku holds the government of Isa Mustaf, who, according to him, has not been cooperative. While optimisticly, with Ramush Haradinaj's government, the issue will be resolved permanently.

So far, the government of Isa Mustaf has behaved very irresponsible, but we can't say that even Ramush Haradinaj's government has not been trapped in this area, which I believe that now and then there will be a much greater consensus, would have to be dealt with by what they deserve”, he says.

While, the secretary of the former Kosovo Policy Prisoners' Association, Meriman Braha, though he claims there are delays, says this has happened even because of the huge material each former political prisoner has and because of the limited state budget. Nevertheless, it is convinced that despite delays, no former political prisoner will remain exempt from the right to compensation.

For him, all this is just a symbol that the country's institutions have decided to grant former political prisoners, while adding that the compensation will be demanded by Serbia, which has committed the crimes. The compensation, according to him, is repaid only with the judgment of Serbian criminals by international justice.

It's true that there's an impasse and the government's work, to continue its work, in fact it would be needed by law, to have a 4-year term, but it's changed, and we don't have the right to get involved in the interpretation of the law, the Government is in charge. I think despite all the jams, it's been working really well so far. The Commission has done a very good job, with one objective, addressing each other's problems, said Braha.

Meanwhile, weeks ago, the Government of Kosovo has made a decision to continue the mandate of the Government Commission to recognise the status of former convicts and former political persecutors.

This happened after a several - month pause, after the commission's mandate expired on October 13, 2018.

In this case, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has indicated that the decision has already been made to carry out payment to former political prisoners.

“Now all advance conditions have been created to continue payments... They have the budget, only they have had a mandate to take down operations”, he said.

Otherwise, regulation for the procedures and compensation criteria of former political convicts was issued in March 2013, while a large number of former political prisoners still remain pending.