Tear gas used against Albanians protesting against Serb IDPs

A group of ethnic Albanians in the town of Djakovica on Friday broke through a police cordon set up to provide security for visiting Serb IDPs.
Source: B92, Beta, RTS, Tanjug Friday, August 28, 2015 | 14:10

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(Beta)

The Serbs in question, who had been driven out of their homes in Djakovica and elsewhere in Metohija, today visited the town to celebrate the Orthodox Christian holiday of the Dormition of the Mother of God at the Serb Orthodox Church (SPC) monastery of Uspenje Presvete Bogorodice (Holy Mother Assumption).
The Albanians who gathered to protest threw firecrackers and red paint at the police, RTS is reporting.

While three buses carrying the Serbs were leaving the monastery's yard, a sizable group of people gathered at the end of the former Srpska Street, shouting slogans against Serbs and throwing firecrackers. The slogans included "Serbia cannot pass here," and, "No reconciliation without justice."

The police used tear gas and prevented them from approaching the IDPs as they were leaving the monastery. One person was detained during the breaking through the police cordon.

After a short while, the Albanians dispersed while the IDPs left the town safely with strong police escort, and headed toward the monastery of Visoki Decani.

Beside the numerous Kosovo police members who secured the monastery in Djakovica today, Italian soldiers from KFOR had also been deployed. The entrance to the street was closed to traffic.

Djakovica Mayor Mimoza Kusari Lila spoke with the police before the buses arrived "to make sure everything is ready for the visit."

"This municipality suffered a lot during the war and that must be respected - but we of course know that is according to the law, and we are ready for the believers to come in peace and we know they come because of religion, and not for other reasons. When we take into account there are many in our municipality still listed as missing and all the sufferings and the situation here, it is not easy," said she.

The liturgy held at the monastery today was also attended by Kosovo Minister for Communities and Return Dalibor Jevtic who stressed he "wished to send a message of peace and reconciliation from this place."

"A message that nobody should ever be an obstacle to anyone again, that life together is possible and that in line with that only a small amount of tolerance and understanding is needed," said he.