What Has Become of KLA

"A Welcome and Fear of the KLA Influence"?

AIM Pristina, February 18, 2000

What happened to the Kosovo Liberating Army (KLA)? This is the basic question of the Report of the International Crisis Group (ICG) entitled "Welcome to and Fear of the KLA Influence" This Report, which was published early last week and which was available in a large number of copies in the KFOR Press Centre in Pristina and distributed immediately, was received with great attention by the Kosovo public. Admittedly, there were no open reactions to it, but in personal contacts it could be concluded that it has, nevertheless, reached a much larger number of Kosovo denizens that it may have seemed at first.

Several days after this Report was published, editorial offices of Kosovo papers just kept it on their files, considering what should be done. The first one that "dared" print it was the daily "Kosova sot" and only its short excerpts as if taking the pulse of those this Report was intended for. A day later, the paper "Koha ditore" did the same. Several sequences later, for still unknown reasons, "Kosova sot" stopped publishing the ICG Report.

During several days "Koha ditore" published the most important parts of the Report. There are still no public reactions and everything mostly ends up with whisperings about some presented details which are, one might say, nevertheless, discrediting for the former KLA members.

This Report was published just before the arrival of high American officials to Kosovo: James Rubin, spokesman for the State Department and Deputy to the State Secretary Madleine Albright, and the Ambassador Christopher Hill on the one side, and Xavier Solana, the EU Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, on the other. All three of them seriously criticised the Albanian leaders and conveyed their disappointment with the current situation in Kosovo, violence that is used against members of various minorities and tensions that have been created in the region of the Presevo valley, i.e. that part of Kosovo bordering the South of Serbia. Analysts interpret the contents of the Report and its timing as yet another open pressure on the Kosovo leaders, and especially on the former KLA members, who in various ways participate in the Kosovo social life.

What are the contents of this Report?

The Report covers the period since the signing of Agreements in Rambouillet and Paris, i.e. more precisely the agreement which the Kosovo leaders have signed on the formation of the new Government of Kosovo Albanians. This agreement implied that this Government would include representatives of three political leaders, Hashim Thaqi, Ibrahim Rugova and Rexep Qosja. They would take over the Prime Minister's position from Bujar Bukoshi, who is a member of the Rugova's team from the Democratic Alliance of Kosovo. However, this Agreement was never implemented in practice, because Ibrahim Rugova with his representatives, has never joined this Government. That is why during NATO intervention in these parts, Thaqi founded a Provisional Government of Kosovo on April 2, 1999.

The ICG Report observes that without consulting UNMIK, Hashim Thaqi had set up local administration in 29 communes in Kosovo out of which Albanian officials represent the majority in 27. Describing the position of Hashim Thaqi at that time, experts who have prepared this Report state that it was rather simple as Thaqi did not have any political party behind him. That is why last September, after the demilitarisation of KLA, together with Bardhylom Mahmuti, former member of the National Movement of Kosovo and the KLA spokesman abroad who already had his political party in Pristina, he formed his Party for the Democratic Progress of Kosovo. Out of 21 members of the Presidency as many as 14 were former members of the National Movement of Kosovo, and Hashim Thaqi was elected President.

After the war, from all top ranking officials of the former KLA who were together with Hashim Thaqi, Azem Syla, Jakup Krasniqi and Sokol Bashot for a long time, only Xhavit Haliti did not assume any position. For a time he was one of the most prominent activists of the National Movement of Kosovo and later became the first man in charge of the KLA finances.

For a short time he was Ambassador of the Provisional Government to Albania where, according to the Report, he maintained excellent contacts with the ruling Socialists, but later on remained Thaqi's advisor and was considered by some circles as the power behind Thaqi's throne. According to ICG, at that time the Provisional Government "hoped to be recognised by the international community, but was more treated as a dangerous organisation and, ever since the establishment of the OUN Mission in Kosovo, as a structure that operates without any legitimacy and legal basis".

According to that part of the Report dealing with the creation and functioning of the Provisional Government of Kosovo, a party which originated from the KLA, i.e. Party for the Democratic Progress of Kosovo, took advantage of its position to establish control over the society and communes in Kosovo. The second part of the Report relates to the transformation of KLA, i.e. a guerrilla army, as it is pointed out, and focuses on the period since last June, i.e. since the NATO forces started deploying in Kosovo. In that context, the Report concludes that KLA was formally demilitarised, but that judging by all indications it remained an important and powerful active element in all spheres of life in Kosovo. "Some people have welcomed the continuation of that influence, but others fear it" states ICG. Further on, the Report explains that this influence is manifested in four spheres.

The first is the political influence and involvement of the former KLA leadership in the Party for the Democratic Progress of Kosovo. The second sphere is the so called military component and represents the recruitment of some former KLA members to the Kosovo Protection Corps; the third is the assignment of a number of KLA members to the Kosovo police forces; and, according to research team, the fourth sphere of activity of the former KLA members is violence and organised crime.

This part also gives some details and findings, as well as names of the former KLA members who are now in command of the Kosovo Protection Corps or are politically active in the Party for the Democratic Progress and who are involved in various smuggling activities using routes through Macedonia, Montenegro, as well as Albania. The also control the supply of oil and oil derivatives, cigarettes, alcohol as well as prostitution. Former KLA members and their sympathisers are either directly or indirectly accused of intimidating those who think differently and of exerting other forms of pressure in order to cover up some things.

The Report also cites an example of a German businessman, who was present when his Albanian interpreter was threatened by death if he failed to pay an enormous sum of money to the account of the Pec commune. The Report also gives some other examples. One of them relates to journalists in Prizren who were called in by the KLA police because they wrote about the activities of Ibrahim Rugova's DSK. Also mentioned is the example of a local radio station in Pec which was blown up after Rugova got 30 and Thaqi only one vote in its public opinion survey conducted by phone. "We often report about such activities also because OSCE has introduced the protection programme for local journalists" emphasises the Report.

Giving details about the transformation of some five thousand former KLA members into the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC), ICG quotes their commanding officer, General Agim Ceku: "The Kosovo Protection Corps is the substance of the future army of Kosovo", i.e. his explanation that not only these five thousand, but, according to the principle of rotation, some 20 thousand men or everyone who applies will be recruited to the Kosovo Protection Corps. In its comment, the ICG warns that it was not UNMIK's and OUN's intention for this formation to become a continuation of KLA with "lesser functions", but that it was supposed to be open for all citizens of Kosovo, including the minorities. Nevertheless, the Report points out that both UNMIK officials as well as NATO officers admit, albeit not openly, that the Kosovo Protection Corps could remain an organisation of military character.

On the basis of different studies and interviews made on the ground with representatives of the international community in Kosovo, this Report also states and warns of the possibility that some KLA units might still be active and exist outside the Kosovo Protection Corps structures, and that their future activity could reflect on the situation in the Presevo valley...

Incidentally, this is the first Report to openly speak about various anomalies of the new Kosovo society and will certainly serve as a document which will undermine some circles which considered themselves untouchable until now. If for no other reason, then because of the forthcoming local elections which are to be held this fall. In its conclusion the Report itself, states that "those guilty of serious crimes and other offences" will not be tolerated and adds that there are some KLA elements which cannot renounce their criminal past. The conclusion reads: "The UNMIK and KFOR commanding staff will initiate talks with those KLA leaders with which it is possible, in their opinion, to develop relationship of mutual trust"...Hard and sensitive decisions will have to be made, taking into account various personalities and structures whose roles in the past are still unclear...As usual, it will be necessary to find efficient and intelligent political leadership in order to continue this to cooperation in the future...If Kosovo wants a democratic future, to achieve this more than one option will undoubtedly be required.

Granit GURRI

AIM Pristina