The boy who killed his father and sister in the Recak massacre: My heart heals when I dream about them

This choice, which later proved to have been crucial to nine - year - olds ' lives, led Benjamin to stay overnight at his uncle's house.

About five miles [5 km] from his homeland, Benjamin fell asleep that night with no idea what tomorrow would bring.

January 15, 1999, Recak, Zoom: At the home of the Mehmet family, southwest of Godnco, Elhamu was accompanied by his father, sister, and brother. However, although at home, that day did not normally start for nine - year - old Elhami.

His father, Bajrami, was reportedly unable to sleep all night, fearing something would happen.

“Parent is said to have not slept all night, as he felt something would happen, and since the morning he wakes up and chats with his uncle about how to escape”, Benjamin tells Radio Free Europe based on conversations he had with his family.

Since shootings that had begun hours earlier were not stopping, as soon as the sun rose at 7:03 a.m., Elhamus and other family members left the house and set off toward a mountain.

Along the way, they met with many other villagers, and together they continued on their way with one goal - to escape.

“They have not been able to know that the Serbian police and army are also coming from the mountain. They've had the intention to enter the mountain, which they thought once they get to the mountain, they'll get rid of”, adds 33-year-old.

The first of that group that was hit by Serbian forces was Elhamiu, who was wounded in the leg. Less fortunate were his 22-year-old sister, Hanumshah, who was killed as she tried to save her brother, and his 53-year-old father.

All others survived after they managed to escape by jumping into a stream and then hiding in an object behind a house.

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According to Organization Data Human Rights Watch, The shooting had continued until 4: 00 p.m., while about 4:30, police had left the village.

Later, the body of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSBE) was sent to Elhami and other injuries to be treated in Pristina hospital.

January 15, 1999Benjamin can't remember how he woke up the morning of that Friday. He only knows that he had spent the whole day standing in the courtyard as he heard the blasts that were being sounded five miles [5 km] from Recak.

Based on the promotions we heard, the desire was great to save everyone. But the feeling was that something would happen”, now recalls 33-year-old.

His family in Godanco constantly tried to get him into the house, to turn his mind away from what was happening in Recak. However, Benjamin could not get him out of the yard, nor can he remember having lunch that day.

We were very stressed. You just wanted to hear something, no matter what”, Benjamin adds.

January 16, 1999: The morning of January 16th of that year, Recak was visited by William Walker, then chief of the O Veriferial Mission. The SEU in Kosovo.

Benjamin's other brother Vehbiu was not there, although he had spent the day of the massacre at Recak. In an OSCE car, Wehbiou had arrived in Godnco on Saturday, on duty to tell Benjamin what had happened the day before.

Their memory was observed at every angle, or in every deed, or every word spoken. A major defect, not only of the moment, but has lasted a long time”, Benjamin says.

The murder of 45 Albanian civilians by Serb paramilitary forces in Recak was named “crime against humanity” by Ambassador William Walker.

June 13, 1999, Recak, Zoom Five months later, the Mehmet family survivors returned to their home in Recak.

At first, it was an untold pain that I couldn't even afford to go home, I didn't even want to go out when I knew they were no longer among us, Benjamin recalls.

He says that he has never gone through the pain of his murdered father and sister, since he says that he cannot imagine them whenever he stays in Recak, the house they had shared as a child.

That day's “, in a dream of seeing it, heals your heart”, Benjamin says. “As young as I was at the time, love, respect, words, deeds, especially of my parent, the moral lessons he taught me today have made me who I am”.

January 12, 2023, Stuttgart, Germany Now 33-year-old Benjamin will host the 24th anniversary of the Recak massacre in Germany, where he has built his new life. The pain for family members keeps him at heart, but now pride has increased.

“Every Kosovo resident has fought for the freedom of the country, someone with blood, someone with rifles, someone with sweat, someone with tears. But when you're part of a family that's given a lot about war, it's a huge pride”, Benjamin says.

He says he feels particularly proud when he recalls the effect Recak's massacre had on Kosovo's historic consequence, which has been described as crucial to NATO's intervention in Kosovo.

Our pain is individual, but pride is general”, Benjamin says.