by Petar Makara (Makarov) and Jared Israel
NATO
claims it is bringing liberal democracy to Kosovo.
Western citizens are comforted by a lullaby press: all is well,
the Serbs are finally at bay.
Reality
begs to differ: NATO troops prevent armed
self-defense while the KLA and special NATO forces terrorize
Kosovo.
Non-Albanians
are murdered or expelled. The same for
Albanians who have been loyal to their country, Yugoslavia.
While
plastering every "unconfirmed report" of a mass grave
as proof of New Serbian War Crimes Discoverd all over Page
One, newspapers give little coverage to the slaughter and
expulsion of Serbs which is happening under their reporters'
noses. When mentioned, attacks on Serbs are labelled
revenge; this morally charged word is employed to defuse
outrage. (We call this sort of thing "Lying by Suggestion.")
But
the newspapers never mention the Slavic Muslims, ethnic
Turks or Egyptians and the vast numbers of loyalist ethnic
Albanians attacked by the KLA, driven out, beaten, killed,
their homes looted, burned. They don’t mention these people
because a) the very existence of these people is evidence of
the multi-ethnic character of the Serbian state, which is not
conceived as a state of Serbs, but a union of 26 different ethnic
groups (you never read THAT in the NY Times) and because
b) the fact that all these non-Serbs are under attack
invalidates the suggestion that the Kosovo Liberation Army
(KLA) is motivated by a desire for revenge.
Are
these Slavic Muslims, ethnic Turkish Muslims and ethnic
Egypitian Muslisms all guilty of attacking ethnic Albanian
Muslims out of religious hatred? Are the loyalist ethnic
Albanians, numbering 1/3 of the ALbanians in Kosovo - are
they anti-Albanian racists too?
Sounds
a little odd. Better not to mention that these people
exist.
For
the Roma it is just like World War
II
And
the newspapers almost never mention the murderous
expulsion of the Kosovo Roma ("Gypsies"), which is taking
place as you read this, more terrible by the hour. The reason
they don't mention the Roma is because mentioning the Roma
might remind people of a very ugly seven letter word.
History.
When
the Italian and German Fascists took over Kosovo and
merged it with Albania during W.W. II (from whence comes
the KLA's longing for a "greater Albania") they were
extremely successful in recruiting ethnic Albanians. The
Fascists' hatred for Serbs and Roma struck a chord among
ethnocentric Albanians. The KLA, directly descended from
these W.W. II Albanian Fascists, has a special hatred in its
heart for the Roma.
Once
in a while some news about the Roma does get out.
When it does it is usually presented with attention to Political
Hygiene: the contaminated facts are isolated and sanitised to
lower the risk of contagion.
Consider
today's (7/7/99) New York Times. The truth is
mentioned in a shy way, on page A12. The article in question is
so small it can be covered with several postage stamps. We
call this "Lying by Position;" a newspaper buries the truth in a
place where only the obsessive few will discover it.
The Times' title is:
"700 Gypsies reach Italy"
"Gypsies
reach Italy." What does this convey? Couldn't the
"700 Gypsies" be ordinary immigrants, or survivors of a ship
wreck, or tourists? Or, given the word "Gypsies", mightn't
readers recall the well-known tendency of the Roma to travel
in caravans? Perhaps a romantic journey is described within,
complete with colorful skirts and flashing black eyes, you
know, something suitable for a musical comedy?
How
many people will notice a tiny article on Page A12? And
of those who chance upon it, how many will read past the
innocuous headline?
Few.
And fewer still will read through to one of the last
sentences, where the artcile finally comes to the point:
"Much
of Pec's Gypsy quarter [Pec, dear reader, is in
Kosovo] has gone up in flames…those [Gypsies] arriving [in
Italy] today accused the Kosovo Liberation Army of burning
their homes."
The truth is saved, for last.
What's News?
Isn’t
it news that 700 Roma people have been expelled from
Kosovo after their homes were burned down by NATO's ally,
the KLA?
Doesn't
such news belong on Page One? Isn't the headline,
which is the only thing many people read, completely
misleading: "700 Gypsies Reach Italy." Doesn't this headline
hide rather than reveal the truth? We call such headlines
"Lying by Euphemism." The headline is literally true - 700
Roma people did reach Italy. But the truth is used to
communicate a lie, just as one might give an article about
Newton's famous experiment the headline: "Man drops
Apple."
What
if the Times' editors had instead chosen the headline:
"Gypsies, Burned out by KLA, reach Italy?" What if they had
put the story where it belonged, on Page One? Wouldn't it
have had an entirely different effect?
(By
the way, the Roma people loathe being called "Gypsies,"
which is a racist term. Is this unknown to the great experts at
the New York Times?)
What
ever happened to the NY Times which exposed the
Pentagon Papers and My Lai, the newspaper once considered
the protector of our nation's integrity?
The
following post is from the Roma News Network. It is
reprinted below unchanged and in its entirety. (The article
includes errors in grammar and syntax. Keep in mind that
these folks speak two, three or more lanaguges, and English is
probably not the first…) The following excerpt makes a telling
political point:
"The [current] genocide of the Roma is not the first
case, they always followed by a pro-fascistic ally
oriented armies who were pointed and still are, toward
clean ethnical states.
In
World War II, the "fascistic ally" was ethnic Albanians, in
groups like the League of Prizen, who enslaved and
slaughtered Serbs, Roma and others to achieve an ethnically
pure state; the fascist armies were the Italians and Germans.
Today, the fascistic allies are the members and supporters of
the KLA.
But
who comprise the fascist armies? Could the Roma be
saying NATO is a new, fascist army? And could the Roma,
scorned by the Albanian Racial Supermen, just as they have
always been scorned by the Racial Supermen who have
tormented our poor species, be right on the money?
==== A message from Roma News Network ========
Kumanovo
/ MACEDONIA ( RNN Correspondent ), July the
7th, 1999. The end of the war in Kosovo was accepted with big
joy on the Balkan. But it can't be said for the Serbs and the
Roma from Kosovo. The Roma people from Kosovo are sad
now with presence of big revolt, because every war was
bringing great troubles to them. Military and political targets
of NATO, and the Albanians are fulfilled, the information on
the media tell us about coming of real democracy, where every
citizen no matter what color of skin, sex or religion can work,
create and show his opinion with freedom. For the Albanians
from Kosovo, the war has to bring new future. But it can't be
said for the Roma from Kosovo.
Everyday
Roma from Kosovo are forced to flee from their
homes - the cities Prizren, Gnjilane, Pristina, Urosevac and to
settle in the inner parts of Serbia - Belgrade, Nis, leskovac,
Bujanovac. Over 500 Roma in Pristina are exposed on
frequent attacks of Albanian revolted groups, the
representatives of KFOR [NATO troops] are protecting them,
there are unofficial information about some Roma people
killed and maltreated women. All those information are coming
from the Roma refugees and some foreign independent
journalists are confirming it. There are no official information
about the Roma sufferings, this is not the first time of course,
Roma people were not the first time of course, Roma people in
the camps during the war. The only official information was the
one of June 6 th after incident in the camp Stenkovec in
Macedonia when Roma refugees from Kosovo were beaten by
the Albanians. Everything is the same now, Roma people are
beaten, killed, forced to flee from their homes.
One
refugee from Pristina (50 years old) said:
"I ran away from my home where my grandfather lived,
everything I had was over there, where will I go with my
family, what shall we do I don't know. Everything that we want
is a little truth for the Roma people, we didn't want the war but
we are the victims. It is impossible for me to go back." There
will be no Roma for very short time in Kosovo, those who will
be Albanians on their documents no matter if they like it or
not. I haven't had any conflict in the recent period on the hand
are not similar, the same is with the people, there are good
Roma, Albanians, Serb, but there are bad too. Those who
made the bad things have to be tried, but all the Roma or
Albanians or Serbs can not be bad." I will try to go Germany,
France, these are the nests of real democracy they say, and
maybe as Roma I won't have the problems that are current in
Kosovo."
Albanian refugees from the camps and the families they were
accommodated in Macedonia are going back to Kosovo. Only
the Roma are afraid to go back after the information about the
pressure on them in Kosovo, the maltreatment's and beatings.
The Roma refugees don't know what will happen with them.
When will come the time for their coming back, or when will
the state-UNCHR take them home. They can not leave to the
European countries, faced with big uncertainty. Roma people,
problem in Kosovo Great worry they made to us because our
informing is not a description or review of some happening
detail from the culture of the Roma. Our informing is
considered as crime, miss fortune that a compassion of all
Roma in the world. Informed on the mass leaving or
deportation of the Roma from Kosovo, the program
coordinator of Roma Community Center "DROM"
Kumanovo €Ramis Osmanovski together with the outer
collaborator €Martin Demirovski, we made a visit of
Bujanovac, Serbia. On 25.06.1999 the representatives of
"DROM" Kumanovo have made on inspection of the field or
visit of the Roma who flee from the regions of Kosovo, more
exactly from the cities Gnjilane, Urosevac, Podujevo etc.
During the few hours visit of Bujanovac, Serbia they had
spotted the following facts: Organized or little groups of Roma
in the region Gnjilane, Urosevac, Podujevo are leaving in the
southern region of Serbia. The basic and unique reason why
Roma people are leaving their homes is the aggression done
by the Albanians, more correctly KLA. Great pain and
problem was the interviewing of those Roma people. Some of
them were not able to give such interview because of their bad
emotional and physical condition. We have spotted the great
sorrow, worry and injuries of those people.
Our
first interviewer, 30 years old R.B from Gnjilane, we could
hear its own story and it ran like this:
"coming back from the bus-station toward my home, a group
of Albanians wearing black trousers and T-shirts with the sign
of KLA on their shoulders came in front of me. They told me
to go with them.We went toward their headquarters. When we
came there three soldiers of KLA- started to ask questions
whether I'm carrying a gun, and if I don't have one do I know
someone in my neighbor hood or somewhere around with a
gun. Since I didn't have such information with a gun. Since I
didn't have such information and I myself didn't have a gun
they continued with their maltreatment and they started to
beat me with metal stick. I didn't know who was possessing
guns and therefore they started to beat me so severely that I
couldn't for 4 days neither with my legs nor with my hands.
Second
case driving is about one 32 years old Roma who was
driving his car to Gnjilane to see his family. The same guy was
stopped by a KLA-OCK group and beaten so much that his
body was full of injuries, he was beaten over his sex organ
even. The wounds ands injures were still recognizable. Such
cases of beaten Roma them were in big number. In this
moment in Bujanovac 3500 Roma refugees who have left their
homes under pressure of the so called KLA of Kosovo. Roma
Community Center "DROM" Kumanovo sentences this act of
cruelty and crimes against the Roma from Kosovo, it
sentences the Albanians political and nonpolitical movement
which in this moments doesn't have any respect toward our
nation.
Our
organization proclaims sentence to their silence too, which
is maybe a license for such act of aggression and maltreating
by their so called KLA. The genocide of the Roma is not the
first case, they always followed by a pro-fascistic ally oriented
armies who were pointed and still are, toward clean ethnical
states. Because of it, we ask for urgent and efficient access
this problem that means fast organizing of humanitarian help
consisting food and clothes, forming of camps for accepting
Roma refugees form Kosovo, cooperation of international
humanitarian organizations. Along with the relevant factors
UNCHR should take part too, representatives of the Roma
and Albanian movement in Kosovo and Macedonia.
On
the other hand we would like to inform you that Roma
Community Center "DROM" Kumanovo already works on
finding a solution for this problem. In the same time we acting
and turn to you for coordinated acting and collaboration with
all relevant institutions, for the general aim of helping the
unsecured Roma and creating conditions for mutual life of all
nations existing in Kosovo.
Activities of Roma Community Center "DROM" The
representatives of the organization are watching the situation
of Roma refugees in Macedonia and Europe every day. In
Poland, Czech R, Slovak, Hungary there are Roma accepted
as refugees, accommodated in camps, and they afraid to
communicate with Roma and Roma organizations in the
countries where they are. The representatives of DROM:
Ramis Osmanovski and Martin Demirovski went to some
cities in Yugoslavia, nearer to the border with Macedonia.
They considered the situation of the Roma refugees from
Kosovo, it is very delicate difficult, those people don't need
food but a solution for their actual situation, how and where to
go on? It is impossible for Roma representative of some Roma
organization to go to Kosovo in this moment. In the next days
Roma will meet new problems, larger number of Roma
refugees from Kosovo are expected to enter Serbia and
Macedonia.
The
Roma organization from Macedonia, the Roma member
of the parliament Amdi Bajram, the mayor of Suto
Orizari-Nezdet Mustafa, are still actively working and acting
in giving help to the Roma refugees from Kosovo located in
Macedonia.RCC"DROM" Kumanovo is providing help
continuously and further on for the Roma refugees and the
social cases in Kumanovo. Some help is received from the
Makedonski Centar za medjunarodna sorabotka MCMS,
Karitas-Essen with residence in Skopje. The help received
from one Roma organization from Australia was big relief in
giving help to the Roma. In this moment 3000 Roma from
Kumanovo together with the refugees are covered, they will
receive help consisting of food and hygienic means. Foe 2115
Roma some help is received from MCMS, for 200 along with
the refugees form Karitas Essen and for the rest the help is
provided by on Australian Roma Organization. Roma people
on Balkan are going to meet very hard days, months, they
appeal not only humanitarian help but finding a way,
actualization of the Roma problems in front of the world
institutions because it is the unique way to the Roma future.
Dear
friends, in period of 10 days, I wasn't able to give
information, more correctly I took part following a conference
in Sofia where the following topics were discussed:
Sofia,
17-19 June
|In Sofia, from 17-19 June was held Balkan conference
dedicated to the situation of Roma (Roma refugees from
Kosovo, the situation of Roma in Yugoslavia, Bulgaria,
Romania, Macedonia. Croatia, Slovene, Bosnia). Under the
organization of Human Rights Project from Sofia the
conference succeeded big interest, let's mention as a reminder
the big number of representatives of Roma organizations,
foreign media, representatives of European governmental
(OSCE-Nicolae Georghie, Petar Atanasov-Concil of Ministry
of Bulgaria, Josephine Verspaget- European Center-
Budapest) and other organizations.
The panel discussions were consequences and the actual
situation of Roma. By the representatives of Yugoslavia,
Roma refugees from Kosovo, Roma representatives from
Roma NVO s (Roma Center Skopje, Avutnipe-Skopje,
CC"DROM" Kumanovo, Martin Demirovski contact
point-OSCE Macedonia) all the participants were acquainted
with the problems the Roma people are faced with. All the
participants presented very similar information, Roma people
are discriminated, Roma are banished, and killed. The
representatives of the European Council for Roma Questions,
Ms. Josephine Verspaget, said that they don't have enough
information for from presented things. The Roma refugees
from Kosovo at their presenting said that they want to go back
to Kosovo, in their homes, but now it is impossible because the
Albanians are full of revolt and hate upon them. To go to some
other countries is impossible, some terrified, Roma are
declaring themselves as Egyptians. The world institutions,
foundations, humanitarian organizations have made only few
contacts and helped the Roma refugees from Kosovo. The
Roma question is treated more by the non-Roma, they prepare
projects, seminars and conferences with very small developing
effects on the Roma. Such example is Kosovo, as long as the
war was on there wasn't such big interest for the Roma, and it
appears for realization of the aims of non-Roma. Because of
the bad situation of the Roma from Balkan, a conclusion was
brought for Roma refugees and it runs:" Help is needed
urgently, security and respect of the uman rights as a unique
conditions to stop the discrimination and racism toward Roma,
proclamation rights status of
Roma
as a nationality, political rights for the Roma refugees,
safe return in informing for the Roma refugees, starting with
debates on the rights of the Roma refugees. The mentioned
conclusion will be sent to NATO,OSCE, European Council,
UNCHR. From 21-24 June in Poland Roma National Congress
held its board- meeting where the situation of Roma in
Kosovo, Balkan and Europe was discussed. Many decisions
were made with general aim of finding urgent and effective
solutions for many present problems. The member
organizations of RNC got acquitted with the decisions made
and they activities for improving the situation of Roma people
in Europe.
Along
with the beginning of the war in Kosovo, RCC"DROM"
Asmet Elezovski started with giving information on Internet
(http://www.romnews.com) About the situation of Roma on
Balkan € Kosovo. After two days only many
information's came from one side of the world (Australia, USA)
to another (England, Sweden). I thought my information won't
be interesting and people won't pay attention to it at all. I
haven't slept for so many nights, I was giving my best, I was
seeking for real information, information that can be accepted
as true. The information were changing every day, I was
writing reports and very soon in day or two my information
were officially approved. Thanks, to the RomNews Network ,
and the Editor in Chief Marko D. Knudsen and his team we
succeeded to give, information with quality, objectivity and
truth to the world. Few foreign radio stations presented my
interviews in live. How sad and terrified I was because of the
war and the suffering of Roma people. But in the same time I
was very cheerful because of the fact that Roma succeeded to
inform for themselves, to make a benefit on their own. We
made big efforts and labor, spent a lot of money on telephone
calls, travels, but we, me and my friends from DROM, don't
regret a thing, because we succeeded to give information from
Roma people, actual and true in the same time. Dear friends, I
will work on the field of giving information to people further
on, but I wish if it is not war. I thank to all of you for your
support, to my friends from RCC"DROM" most of all to my
college interpreter Oki and to the Editor in Chief of the
RomNews Network €Marko D. Knudsen.