Report on the trial of Albin Kurti, Albanian student leader (UPSUP) and spokesman of political leader of UCK

After a forty minutes delay and the introduction statement of the judge the usual questions followed. Citizenship? – Republic of Kosovo. Military Service? – I have not received the draft call and if I had I would not have answered it because the Yugoslav army was an occupying force. Now it is not.

- The charge was… Since the 27th 10.1999, because of banding for enemy activity, according to article 136. , paragraph 1 … and article 125 of the Criminal statute of Yugoslavia Kurti Albin is accused of:

Taking part in the formation of bands with the aim of separating Kosovo and uniting it with Albania. Organized a first aid course, as well as voluntary blood donations and above all he took part in the meeting of OVK.(Liberation Army of Kosovo)

After Albin said that he understood the charge his defense followed.

I am defending myself without a lawyer. I decline to answer questions, that is, I will defend myself by silence, but I may answer some questions. Since the lawyer Branislav Curcic was given to me in line of duty, I do not accept lawyers and I do not know them. They are the same as the prosecution and this court. The defense attorney is the same as the prosecution attorney. He is not my problem but the problem of the court and he will not represent me.

I was a member of the presidency of the Independent Student Union of Prishtina and the representative of the Commission for International Cooperation. Our main goal was to organize demonstration to free the university because we have been thrown out by force. The demonstrations were organized against the Serbian regime (and not the Serbs as it was translated, remark made by Albin) which kept Kosovo occupied by the army and police and exercised terror over the Albanian people. I was also the secretary of the political representative of OVK (Liberation Army of Kosovo) Adem Demaci. As the secretary I represented the policy of OVK and the liberation war. The OVK lead a just struggle with a holly aim of forming an independent Kosovo and the liberating of the Albanian people from the Fascist regime of Slobodan Milosevic. The liberation was at the same time anti-fascist and ant-colonial. War was the means and the goal was an independent Kosovo. Only in an independent republic the Albanian people can feel free and can realize their rights. I do not recognize this court and do not acknowledge Serbia nor Yugoslavia. This court has nothing in common with law and truth. It is in the service of Miloshevic’s regime which held Kosovo. Miloshevic’s fascist war has as its goal to create crisis and wars and he escalated it to his level, the level of the government and military doctrine. I do not consider the Serbian people and the Serbian regime to be the same. Kosovo has been treated as a colony since the Serbian state has been formed. The Serbian people will also not be able to see the light while Milosevic is at its head. The Serbian people must decide. If they want death or Milosevic. The earlier they start to organize themselves the better it will be for them. The independence of Kosovo is in the interest of Serbia. While Kosovo was treated as a colony, the Serbian people had a fascist regime. I do not recognize this court and I do not want to answer any questions. I will only answer to the court of my people. That is why it is of no matter to me how long a sentence I will get. Ten, twenty, thirty or forty years it is all the same to me. I have finished.

After a few reprimands on the translation and misinterpreted words by the judge Albin added.

-I worked as the secretary to Adam Demaci for two reasons. Firstly, because I wanted to contribute to the Liberation Army of Kosovo in fighting the war and secondly out of respect towards the Adam Demaci who is a symbol of Albanian resistance. I have done everything voluntarily, with dignity and I am proud of it. If I had a chance to do it all over again I would not change anything, I would do all the same.

Since no proposals for presentation of evidence were made by any side. (Albin did not answer the questions, but his lawyer in the line of duty did) the court adjourned to prepare the final statement. After a few minutes it continued the session and decided to adjourn for a few days to prepare the final verdict. The next session was set for 13th of March, 2000.

Translator Shkeljzin Kruezija translated a few time "against the Serbs" instead of "against the Serbian regime" and the judge attempted to misinterpret some words. Albin continued a part of his attempt in Serbian because of the bad translation. No evidence was presented to prove the charges nor proposals for the presentation of evidence. We can only wait until the 13th of March.

Vladan Vukovic

Women in Black

Albin Kurti was convicted on 15 years of prison. Stasa Zajovic, Women in Black activist, attended the trial and will be reporting on the issue.