The Organization of Kosovo Liberation Army War Veterans has announced a nationwide protest today at 12:00 p.m. at Skënderbeu Square in Prishtina, following the latest developments in the judicial proceedings against former KLA leaders.
Gazmend Syla of the Organization of KLA War Veterans said the latest developments had, in his view, attempted to place the KLA’s war on the same level as events that took place during 1998–1999.
“Yesterday and today, our war for liberation was diminished, and an attempt was made to create a balance between what happened during our war in 1998–1999. The KLA was never a criminal enterprise. For us, it was a resistance against expulsion and massacres, and the only response of a nation that had been condemned to extinction.
“No decision can tarnish our liberation war or equate those who fought for freedom with others. From the beginning, we have called this court political and the process unjust, something that, in our view, was also demonstrated yesterday,” Syla said.
He announced that war veterans’ organizations intend to take further steps, including establishing a National Coordinating Council and a platform that would also involve Albanians living outside Kosovo.
“We will respond to this injustice against the leaders of the KLA war with an initiative to establish a National Coordinating Council and a platform that would include Albania, as well as Albanians living in other areas, whether in Montenegro or the Preševo Valley, and members of our diaspora.
“We will also seek the creation of a strategy to oppose this decision until the appeal process is concluded. We are calling for the involvement of our institutions, parliamentary parties, civil society and other institutions that could contribute to this effort,” he said.
Syla also announced that organizations emerging from the war had decided to organize the nationwide protest.
“We want to inform you that the organizations emerging from the war, at the meeting we held earlier with the steering council, decided to call a nationwide protest tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. at Skënderbeu Square.
“Today at 4:30 p.m., the KLA War Veterans’ Organization, together with several associations of martyrs’ families and the Association of War Invalids, will present the platform I mentioned earlier. We invite you to attend. We will also join the protest and the call made by the students who are protesting today. We will be there together with them at 4:30 p.m.,” Syla said.
He added that, in his view, the latest verdict was not the only development that had affected former KLA fighters.
“You know, this is not the only unjust decision. Our comrades and former fighters of the Kosovo Liberation Army have been under attack for quite some time,” Syla said.
