Protection of Shala: ZPS fishing for information on Thaci and others

 

 

This lawyer Gilissen said during the time of specialised prosecutor Philippo De Minicis. He's asking questions about witness Bardhil Mahmut.

He said he agrees with the Prosecutor to understand the witness's position but that the rest of it is to fish for information or to disclose information on the question 06 (Thaci and others):

Gilissen added that he is determined to become the link between what is heard and the question of Peter Shala and that what is being done in this session has nothing to do with him on the Shala issue.

He again said that he insists on the expression "fishing" information, adding that he was close to leaving the hall and that the cup was filled.

That's enough, the cup is full, we're professionals here, we're not criminals”, attorney Gilissen reacted.

Even the other lawyer, Mohammed Hedi Aouini, said the prosecutor's counter questions are not being given evidence on Shala's case, but that politics are being made as an exercise to undermine the witness's credibility and provide evidence on the 06 (Thaci and others).

According to him, the prosecution is trying to extract politics, structure and that this goes beyond what happened in Kukes by asking the court to defend the integrity of this court process.

These reactions by Shala's defence lawyers came after presenting a communique by prosecutor De Minicis, where the General Staff has made public the names of six political representatives of the Kosovo Liberation Army ( KLA.

The prosecutor asked the witness if it was written black on white that the General Staff made those appointments. The NLA and the witness said there is a huge difference between what they wanted to present themselves to the world as an organised structure and reality.

After the witness wanted to clarify after saying it could not be an answer with yes or no, the prosecutor has interrupted him from further insisting on the same question, but that the defence has reacted further by not understanding the connection to Shala's case.

Since the question was allowed by the court, the witness has replied: ” we have been willing to function even better than any state of state. NATO, reality cannot be included even in all the rainbow colors and left black and white, reality on the ground and what we're trying to reflect are far from each other”.

He explained that in the function of convincing diplomatic parties they have named an body, the General Staff, since, according to him, to create the impression that they are organised by one command.

Mahmut further said he was only political representative of KLA, not spokesman, adding that there was only one spokesman KLA and that is Jakup Krasniqi.

Meanwhile, even when asked whether the international community had talked about the capture and release of war inmates from the KLA, the defence has reacted by saying these have nothing to do with Shala's guilt or innocence, and that it concerns the 06 (Thaci and others).

But with permission to ask the court, the witness said he remembered speaking of the capture of 6-7 soldiers at Shalla, Bajgora, and that he was contacted to do so by American diplomats.

He also said he has not discussed with diplomats of Western states the ban or arrest of civilians from the KLA. According to him, Serbian propaganda has also raised questions of this nature, but the response has been classical that there are no prisoners on the part of the KLA.

He said he supports the position that everything handed over by Serbian secret services commissions at the helm with journalist Mirolav Dreqev, according to him, are the goals intended to discredit the KLA's war.

Paraly, witness Mahmut has said it is accurate that he has been a member of the Kosovo People's Movement and political representative of The KLA during the war.

Regarding the newspaper “The voice of Kosovo”, he said that the soul was my newspaper, adding that it was identified with the writings of that newspaper but that the dynamics of work have made it impossible to read all the scriptures.

Regarding the post of political representative, he said he could be considered public appointment of the August 1998 political statement.

He also said that in two interviews Xhavit Haliti has given, he said, he authorized Mahmut to meet on behalf of the KLA with American delegations.

At the beginning of the questions against him, the witness has been asked about contact with Shala's defence representatives, explaining that the first contact was over the phone and that the only physical contact has only been once for very short periods of time.

According to him, he gave them his books and discussed the contents of books and that other meetings were conducted only over the phone.

During these questions, the defence has had objections, saying that the purpose of the questions is not relevant or it is not important how they work or even that the prosecution is trying to overshadow the work ethic they do.

However, questions were allowed by the court, so the witness has continued to answer by saying that regarding Shala's case it was only reported through the media and that he has not read even then and has not read any part of Shala's file.

For the same reason because when I read all the slander that is made on media charges, it makes me nervous because they're not real and therefore I didn't want to investigate more, Mahmut said.

The witness also said that he has never met Peter Shala, neither before, nor after the war.

He even explained that on his visit to The Hague, where he had visited other prisoners in 2021, he had not applied for Peter Shala because he said he did not know the same.

Also, the witness said he made a publication on the network. Facebook was going to be part of Shala's trial as an argument that it was an objective post to avoid attempts by journalists or anyone to contact her.

The same said that, after this announcement, neither Shala's protection nor anyone else had been contacted.

The hearing continues with witness Mahmut responding to prosecutor De Minicis's questions. /Betimy for Justice