For 20 years, 21 policemen killed

This member of Kosovo Police Lost his life. During a raid action in the village of Zhur, Prizren, while two other police officials were injured, from whom one had suffered serious injuries.

Since the first case of the murder of a police official, registered in September 2001, concern has been raised over the lack of health and life insurance for all those officials who take care of order and law.

In addition to the number of 21 police officers who lost their lives in office, the number of injured officers in the post is considered to be much larger.

The demand for health and accidental insurance for the Kosovo Police is imminent, but since now, none of Kosovo's until now has managed to meet it, Free Europe, Kosovo Police Union Chairman Shaban Tasholli tells Radio.

He says the last case of the police murder raised the urgent need to create health and vital insurance for police. Tashlo reports that the only help that members of police who lose their lives in office is a percentage of the monthly salary.

Kosovo Police have neither life nor health insurance. But in specific cases the injured in office, there is a possibility that expenses will be realised by the Police Directorate”, Tasholli said.

Outgoing Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj during his visit to police officer Arthur Mrasor, at the University Clinical Centre in Pristina, who remained injured Tuesday following an explosion during the January 28th action in Zhur, said the Law on Health Insurance for Police and the Law for Early Pensions is necessary and will be adopted.

“It's a fair police request for the Law on Health Insurance and the Early Pension Law. We are awaiting the formation of the new government to submit these laws for approval, and that will happen”, Haradinaj said.

“over these two years, it is true that we have been closer to the police and the budget and with support that has never happened, but those two laws are necessary and must be realised”, Haradinaj said.

The outgoing Kosovo government, during the meeting held Wednesday, decided to allocate 150,000 euros to the family of killed police officer Sami Thaqi, while from 10 thousand euros for the two officers injured during the Prizren Zhur action.

At this same meeting, it was decided that families of police officers in office will be given a total of 300 euros each month, except for the pension they now receive.

On the other hand, Shaban Tashholl shows that the union has in some cases helped police members who lost their lives in the task.

The union in three cases has accumulated financial means, in one case it has earmarked 13 thousand euros, in two other cases from 2,500 euros. We were interested in their children, their education. At any university and private colleagues, children of killed policemen can register and continue studies free of charge. These were our options on the union line to help the children of police killed on duty”.

Except for lack of Health Insurance And vitally, police members have the base salary at 330 euros per month, while with the new Law, which has been suspended by the Constitutional Court of Kosovo, the basic salary for Kosovo Police is expected to be 520 euros per month.

Ardita Demaj is the wife of the killed policeman, Izet Demaj of the municipality of Istog, who was killed during the official task at the end of 2018. He was killed during a shootout between a person suspected of bank robbery and Kosovo Police members.

Currently, Ardia Demaj is unemployed and lives with her two daughters. It shows that after the murder of the incumbent's mate, in compensation you receive 80 percent of the gross salary, or over 300 euros, months.

Immediately after the husband's murder, she relates, she has received various assistance, whereas she currently receives only pension.

That's a lot. Family demands are great. First after death, both institutions and private persons in different forms” have responded, Demaj told Radio Free Europe.

Under the Law for the Police of Kosovo, in the event of police officer's death in office, police paid the funeral ceremony's expenses, as well as paid their spouse/or children under the age of 18 with immediate financial assistance in a amount that is equal to the gross six-year salary.

In specific cases according to the assessment, it says in the law, the government can share much higher immediate financial information for the police official, who has died in the post.

The husband/children under the age of 18, have a right to family retirement to the value of 60 to 80 percent of the gross salary.

Kosovo police continue to be one of Institutes More reliable in the eyes of citizens, it is said in various reports of nongovernmental organisations, which reflect perceptions about functioning and credibility in institutions.