Citizens in Pristina held the tenth day of protests in front of Kosovo’s institutions, calling for institutional support for former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army following the verdict of the Special Court in The Hague.
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Even the rain did not stop the protesters, who gathered once again to voice their demands. They called on members of the Kosovo Assembly to vote on the law on the Special Court, which has already been submitted to the Assembly.
Çlirim Haziri, the protest organizer, said that citizens had spent ten days calling for and awaiting an institutional response, adding that their demands were now clear.
Haziri said that the draft law had been submitted to the Assembly and that every MP should vote according to their conscience, but stressed that the vote could not be postponed indefinitely.
“Today marks ten days since we gathered here, spoke, made our demands and waited. Even tonight, despite the rain, we are here again. Our demand is known: the law has been submitted to the Assembly, and every MP should cast their vote according to their conscience, but it must be voted on. You cannot keep this issue suspended and wear people down. If necessary, we will live in the square; but if that happens, where will you live? Do not forget that if we remain here, you cannot calm yourselves by thinking that silence will close these issues. The KLA is not part of day-to-day politics, as the justice minister also stated. It is the history thanks to which we have institutions and ministers today, and this history deserves institutional support, not silence,” Haziri said.
Student Anisa Rukiqi also spoke during the protest. She said that justice was an important foundation for the freedom and dignity of a people, and explained that her presence was also connected to her family’s history, as her grandfather was killed during the war.
Rukiqi said she had learned about the war not only from books, but also through the pain experienced by her family.
“Justice is the foundation on which the freedom, dignity and future of a people are built. Today, faced with this absurd decision against our liberators, we are confronting the greatest paradox: those who took up arms to protect a people from extermination, enabling us to live freely, are today being sentenced by so-called justice. I have a martyred grandfather who was killed in the courtyard of his home. That is why I know the war not only from books, but also from the pain my family has endured,” she said.
Singer Violetë Kukaj, who also addressed the gathering, said that the rally was connected to a cause that should continue to receive support in the coming days.
She urged citizens to remain united to defend the war of the Kosovo Liberation Army.
“We have gathered for our cause, not only today, but we must also continue to stand together at all times to defend our right and the sacred war of the Kosovo Liberation Army,” Kukaj said.
