Witness Sopi calls Hashim Thaci a living hero

He made this statement when asked by the prosecution to identify the persons seen in a photograph, reports the “Justice Trust”.

The honoured “, our living president-hero Hashim Thaci and his arm, I see our respected commander, Rrustem Mustaf”, Sopi said, showing that in that photograph except Thaci and Remi, he and Salih Mustafa were himself.

The Witness said that it was the preparation session when he first saw this picture. He claimed it could have been done after the war.

Prior to that, several photographs were presented to him, who in one of them said that he himself is sitting on his side, Salih Mustafa. He then said that there are also Agron Xhemajli present. Another person said that he cannot remember who he is.

In another photo that was presented, the witness identified himself, Salih Mustafen, Shemsy Syla and Ahmet Isufi.

The Witness said that he doesn't know the time when it's fired and he doesn't remember the place but he probably said in Dallas.

The Witness claimed that he had a training center in Zlata during the war.

“Yes, at the Zlaash school”, the witness said.

He added that he taught at that school for eight years before the war began, at the time when teachers were excluded from the education system because of the regime.

“Brigda 153, its command for a long time has been in my” house, Sopi said, adding that this brigade had the code calling “Buna” during the war.

He said he didn't know how to set the call codes for the KLA unit, but that “Buna” was their code.

Sopi was asked if there were any people in Brigade 153 who contacted the media.

There were no individuals assigned to contact the media. No. We haven't had any information systems under the brigade. Of course I won't communicate with the media because we never had contact with the media.

Sopi said this brigade was under the responsibility of the Llap Operative Zone. The Witness was seen stating that if there were war developments from this brigade, it would be ZO and Lip that would communicate with the media.

The Witness said that in the area where he acted, they have not had the opportunity to organise civil protection for reasons that have been directly invested in military operations.

We have no space to deal with civil protection organization. The only organisation that has played the role of civil protection and the supply of 153 Brigades has been logistics-the logistics system at which the hero Ismet Aslani was”, the witness said further.

Fatmir Sopi said he has been aware that there have been civil protection facilities in the Llap Operative Zone, but that there has been no access to their organisation system.

Sopi was asked if he fought with other units along with his unit during the war.

In the great offensive of April 18, 1999, when the major military and paramilitary forces were attacked on four sides of our unit and the civilian population that was under our protection, those fighting were all involved in the 153 Army unit, all the units of the Operative Zone that were present in our region, as well as the guerrilla unit of BIA”, Sopi said.

A document was presented to the Witness asking if he knew the people mentioned in the document.

Fatmir Sopi said some of them knew them, but not everyone. The prosecutor demanded that this document be accepted in material evidence, which he opposed.

On the other hand, the chairman of the court refused to accept this document, adding that there is no survey.

“The KLA units that have under the 153 Brigade have been from Gollaku”, the witness said, among other things.

So the prosecution's questions about this witness ended, as well as the session passed on vacation for 30 minutes to return later with defence questions.