Ramush Haradinaj Ramush Haradinaj
(Serbo-Croatian: Рамуш Харадинај , Ramus Haradinaj), born on 3 July 1968 in the village near Decani Glodjane in Yugoslavia (now Kosovo) is a former guerrilla leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and former Prime Minister of Kosovo. He is currently the leader the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK). Haradinaj is among the former KLA officers charged with war crimes during the Kosovo war by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague, but was acquitted of all charges on 3 April, 2008 [2]. He finished high school in Djakovica. After the Kosovo war, he attended University of Pristina, where he graduated from the Faculty of Law [3]. Haradinaj also has a master's degree in business administration from the American University of Kosovo, in conjunction with Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).
Contents [hide] 1 Early life
2 war against Yugoslavia (Serbia)
3 From soldier to politician
4-trial for war crimes at the ICTY
5 Main artist
6 family and life
7 References and notes
[edit] Early life
Haradinaj spent his youth in his home village of Glodjane in Kosovo with his parents and siblings. He high school and served in the Yugoslav army. After the demonstrations by Kosovo Albanians in 1989 and the increasing oppression of the local ethnic Albanian population, the following, Haradinaj emigrated to Switzerland, where he was 8 years as a construction worker and security guard [1]. In Switzerland, he is also a member of the separatist National Movement of Kosovo, from which originally the KLA.
[edit] War against Yugoslavia (Serbia)
was between 1996 and 1997, Haradinaj, the KLA in organizing camps in Albanian border villages of Kukes, Morina, and Tropoje. [Edit]. In 1997, Haradinaj was the KLA's group found in a Serbian patrol trying to illegally the border between Albania and Yugoslavia. In the fire exchange that followed, Luan Haradinaj's younger brother was shot. After Haradinaj
the sustainable return to Kosovo in February 1998, the conflict in Kosovo broke out. Between 28 February and 5 March, federal (Serb) forces attacked the KLA-held villages Likošane, Cirez and Prekaz. According to the indictment against Fatmir Limaj, Haradin Bala and Isak Musliu to the ICTY,
"While these attacks [...] 83 Kosovo Albanians were killed. The dead victims were elderly and at least 24 women and children. During the attack on Qirez / Cirez a pregnant woman was shot in the face and a baby was killed in Prekazi-i-Poshtem/Donje Prekaz. Many of the victims were shot in a very narrow band. reports indicated that men were summarily executed in front of their houses, and that some of the victims were shot while in police custody. During the attack on the entire family Prekazi-i-Poshtem/Donje Prekaz Jashari, except for a 11 year old girl was killed. "[2]
The Jashari, as the Haradinaj, were determined a prominent Albanian family, resistance to Belgrade's military presence in Kosovo and a threat from Belgrade. Forewarned by this attack, the Haradinaj were ready for the Yugoslav armed forces to A similar movement against them.
on March 24, federal troops surrounded the village of Glodjane and began operations [3] [4]. Haradinaj, but were able to home to good effect and under the direction of Ramush, they successfully repelled the attack. This success Haradinaj was driving in a leading position in the KLA in western Kosovo. In May 1998, as commander of the Glodjane and the surrounding villages, and from June 1998 he became commander of the Dukagjin Operative Zone (in Metohija). [Edit] As the western Kosovo close to Albania, a corridor through which the KLA could procure weapons, Haradinaj's area saw some of the heaviest fighting of the conflict and Ramush himself as one of the KLA most capable commanders. [Edit]
In September 1998, several months later, the bodies of 39 men were found near Haradinaj's home village of Glodjane, some of them with evidence of been tied and tortured. These victims were local people of both Albanian and Serbian ethnicity, and they became the basis the public accusations of war crimes against Haradinaj and his group [4]. Used to explain the ICTY presented forensic evidence that these centers were in fact from a previous location of federal authorities. [Edit]
[edit] From soldier to politician
After the demilitarization of the KLA in Kosovo following NATO's entry in 1999, the KLA was in the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC). In this new force, Haradinaj was a deputy commander, Agim Ceku under, and is considered a central figure in ensuring the successful transition into a civilian-controlled force. [Edit] He retired from the CCP on 11 April 2000, and announced in that he entered politics. He founded with support from the former communist leader Mahmut Bakalli, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), 29 April 2000 and as president of the party. This decision caused disappointment to many of the more militant former KLA supporters who had hoped to see Haradinaj enter a political alliance with Hashim Thaci. [Edit] Thaci was the political leader of the KLA, and from 2000 became the leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), the main objection to Ibrahim Rugova-led Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), which was against the KLA. Haradinaj gave as a reason for its a new party, the need for a new paradigm for the future well-being of democratic politics in Kosovo, free from war-time departments. [Edit]
Haradinaj is a national hero by many Kosovo Albanians. [Edit] Yet he enjoyed limited electoral success up to and including the elections of 2004, is as a soldier and not as a politician. [Edit] After the elections of October 2004, he, however, in coalition talks with the LDK, led by the then President of Kosovo, the late Dr. Ibrahim Rugova. The result was a government with Haradinaj as prime minister. In the Assembly of Kosovo, Haradinaj to apply for Prime Minister, to the surprise of most Observer, won the support of 72 members from 120 with only three opposing. Haradinaj
the coalition with the Rugova-led LDK was as a great healing of the animosities of the war and immediate post-war times. [Edit] He's got a hostile response by the PDK at the time. Haradinaj close and productive relationship with Ibrahim Rugova and other leaders of the LDK.
[edit] Trial for war crimes at the ICTY
Haradinaj only 100 days as prime minister before he accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague. The indictment alleges that Haradinaj, as commander of the KLA, which are crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war between March and September 1998, the alleged target was in control of territory on both Serbian, Albanian and Romani civilians. [5] He was acquitted on 3 April 2008, because of the lack of convincing evidence.
United States Senator Joe Biden commented on Haradinaj the prosecution
"In the overall post-Yugoslav context, Mr. Haradinaj's willingness after his indictment to surrender and go voluntarily to The Hague is striking. It is in stark contrast to the behavior of the three infamous People indictment from The Hague, all of whom are still fugitives, Resistance to arrest: former Bosnian Serb General Ratko Mladic, former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, and former Croatian General Ante Gotovina. "[6]
Haradinaj said in a statement at the time that he was willing to to the court and have each agency each of his actions examined during or after the war, confident that all measures have been both legal and justified.
Haradinaj the trial in The Hague began on 5 March 2007, and his defense team was led by Ben Emmerson, QC, a leading international human rights lawyer. Emmerson had advice in support of Rodney Dixon, and the Matrix Chambers of London. The legal defense team as a whole was coordinated by Irish political consultant and financier Michael O'Reilly.
If the ICTY indictment in March 2005, Haradinaj has step immediately from his post as prime minister. The next day he went voluntarily to The Hague, where he remained for two months until he was granted provisional release pending trial. Haradinaj received much praise for his actions and words at that time by many, including the International Crisis Group (ICG) [7], U.S. Senator Joe Biden [6] and the late British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook [8] and prevent violence and unrest.
The then head of the mission the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Søren Jessen-Petersen described Haradinaj as a "friend" and as a man of "dynamic leadership, strong commitment and vision," whose presence would be missed. Next
In March 2006, the Appeals Chamber of the ICTY, his provisional release granted Haradinaj and the unprecedented law for a defendant who is in the public political activity. This activity was, however, subject to approval by the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). On 26
February 2007, Haradinaj flew back to The Hague so that the process could proceed. The previous day he had meetings with Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu, Prime Minister Agim Ceku, the head of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, Joachim Ruecker, and various diplomatic posts. At a press conference, he urged the public to remain calm and was in his unshakable belief that the process to a complete acquittal. [9] [10] [11] The
chief prosecutor in The Hague, Carla Del Ponte remained consistently unimpressed by the international support for Haradinaj to continue to strongly negative statements about him. She told the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that" according to the decision [to temporarily release him], he is a factor of stability for the Kosovo. I have never understood. For me he is a war criminal. "[12]
Del Ponte, in the same interview, claimed it was difficult to find, the witnesses were willing to testify, not only for the prosecutors, but also for the court." The difficulty in Kosovo was that none of us helped, neither the UN administration nor NATO. "[13]
noted a recent BBC report, said substantial support for Haradinaj among the Serbian population. A Serbian north of Kosovska Mitrovica that
" only two governments of Kosovo, the one of Bajram Rexhepi, and especially the one of Ramush Haradinaj have managed to do something for the Serbian minority ... The latter has been able to get closer to the Serbian minority, and institutionalization of the Serbian language in Kosovo. "[14]
The inaccuracy of the charges against Haradinaj personally, and the widespread suspicion that he was part of a political deal with Belgrade in connection with the open international support for him, to an increase rather than decrease its political status in Kosovo . [edit] Carla Del Ponte has their despair and said, "I do not understand why it is not peace in Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj can not." [edit]
On July 20, 2007, Ramush Haradinaj for provisional release application in the summer African Court is denied. He was an extraordinary second preliminary release of the Christmas court recess. The process chamber
made its decision on 3 April 2008; not guilty. Defenders of Haradinaj, Balaj and Brahimaj have not a single defense witness on the stand whereas unnecessary. The indictment was not to bring in a position to plan the courtroom three witnesses. One of them, Naser Lika was a mental health institution, which at the time to witness it. Another Shefqet Kabashi, refused to testify citing the OTP's not living up to the terms of his testimony. [15]
The judge pointed out that many witnesses intimidated felt..
"The board, created considerable difficulties in securing the evidence of a large number of these witnesses, many fear cited as a major reason for not wishing to appear before the board to give evidence in this regard, the Chamber is a strong impression that the process was in an atmosphere where witnesses felt unsafe, a number of factors to be in the verdict. "[16]
Kujtim Berisha, a Roma who was called as a witness by the OTP in case against Haradinaj, was killed on in a car accident in Podgorica, Montenegro 18th February 2007 to 67-year-Montenegrin Serb Aleksandar Ristovic drove his car into Berisha and two other men. The Montenegrin daily news says that police "confirmed that Ristovic was drunk at time of accident -. Driving at a very high speed" [17]
Serbian media have written that as many as ten people who are dying to witness in the trial of Haradinaj, but ICTY representative in Serbia, Nerma Jelacic, said allegations about the murder of witnesses were wrong. [18]
Geoffrey Nice, the ICTY prosecutor in the Milosevic case, wrote in a column in Koha Ditore that at least three senior lawyers advise against prosecution Del Ponte accusing Ramush Haradinaj, since it could be proved he was guilty. [19] On 25
April 2008 officially opened the ICTY indictments against Astrit Haraqija and his councilor Bajrush Morina is the case for contempt of court in Haradinaj. According to the indictment, Astrit Haracija, which was then Kosovo Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport and a member of "defense committee for Ramush Haradinaj", has for the trip from Morina, then editor of the Pristina daily Sot Bota, the country in the witness protection under PW lived and attempts to intimidate him not to witness at trial. [20] On 1
May 2008 the ICTY prosecutors have officially under Serge Brammertz submitted an appeal to Haradinaj verdict before 3 May deadline expired is. The prosecutors also appealed against the verdict acquitting Haradinaj of the cooperatives Idriz Balaj and Lahi Bahrimaj, with the latter of whom was sentenced to 6 years in prison.
[edit] Biography
are His early life and war years described in a book-length dialogue between Haradinaj and author Bardh Hamzaj published by Zeri Biblioteka Publiciste in Pristina, in 2000) entitled A Narrative of war and freedom. (A second book, The peace of the General: the end of the war, are published in English in early 2007, describes the post-war period, when Haradinaj was the focus of international intervention in Kosovo, Transformation of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) in a civilian led civil-Defense Force and the beginnings of the locally led political institutions.
[edit] Family and life
Ramush Haradinaj is married to the RTK News reporter Anita Haradinaj, they have two young children (a boy and a girl). Anita Haradinaj is a senior spokesman of Kosovo is the most watched and respected news program.
Haradinaj has five brothers. Two of them, and Luan Shkëlzen, were killed as the officers of the Kosovo Liberation Army during the fighting with the Serbian security forces. His brother Daut Haradinaj served a five-year sentence in Kosovo unlawful killings of fellow Albanians during the Kosovo war of 1999. His brother was killed, Enver in a drive-by shootout in Kosovo in April 2005 [5]. The youngest brother Frash was still a student, as of 2007 and worked in the service of the now former Provisional Institutions of Self-Government.
Haradinaj uncle Lahi Brahimaj, the defendant was standing with Haradinaj for war crimes by the ICTY, was found guilty of torture and was for a term of imprisonment by the same court [6].
His father, mother and younger siblings remaining live in the family home in the town of Glodjane.
Preceded by Bajram
Rexhepi Premierminister
2004-2005 Nachfolger des Kosovo Bajram Kosumi
[hide] v • d •
the
Premierminister des Kosovo Autonomous
Sozialistische
Provinz Kosovo (1944-1991)
Fadil Hoxha Ali Shukri Ilija Vakic Bogoljub Nedeljkovic Riza Bahri Oruçi Sapunxhiu Imer Pula Ljubomir Nedjo Borkovic Namzi Mustafa Kaqusha Jashari Nicholas Shkreli Daut Jashanica Yusuf Zejnullahu
REPUBLIC
(Recognized nur von Albanien)
(1991-2000)
Zejnullahu Bujar Bukoshi Yusuf Hashim Thaci (Zwischen-)
Unter des UN-Verwaltung
Kosovo (Autonomous Provinz Serbien)
(2000-2008)
Nexhat Daci (acting) Bajram Rexhepi Ramush Haradinaj Adem Salihaj (acting) Bajram Kosumi Agim Ceku, Hashim Thaci
