Was the Kosovo Liberation Army Involved in War Crimes During the Kosovo Conflict?

The question of whether the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) was responsible for war crimes during the Kosovo conflict is a contentious one. Despite some Albanian claims that the KLA did not commit any war crimes, numerous documented cases challenge this assertion. The Natasha's Kandich Humanitarian Law Center (HLC), a prominent database for Kosovo War victims, provides compelling evidence that the KLA engaged in such actions.

Clear-Cut Evidence of KLA War Crimes

To dismiss any unsubstantiated claims of a “clean KLA,” it is important to examine the documented cases of war crimes committed by the organization. The HLC lists several incidents where the KLA is directly implicated:

Orahovac Region (17-19/07/1998)

This series of events encompasses four prominent incidents within a 72-hour period, resulting in the deaths of 43 non-Albanian civilians, including 2 teenagers:

14 civilians: 10 Serbs, 3 Roma, 1 Montenegrin (14/07/1998) 2 Serb civilians (17/07/1998) 16 Serb civilians: 1 minor, 14 adults (18/07/1998) 8 Serb civilians: 1 minor, 7 adults (19/07/1998)

Panda Bar Killings (14/12/1998)

In an incident in Pec, the Panda Bar was targeted, resulting in the massacre of four teenagers and two young men. Additionally, 15 individuals sustained injuries.

Djakovica Killings (22/04/1999)

Five Serbian civilians, including three minors and one woman, were killed in this incident.

Mazgit Killings (16/06/1999)

Seven Serbian civilians, two of whom were minors, were killed.

Staro Gracko Killings (23/07/1999)

Fourteen Serbian civilians, including two minors, were killed in this event.

The data cited above are the most conservative and reliable figures, providing a clear dismissal of the Albanian argument for a "clean KLA."

Verification and Sources

The HLC list of Kosovo War victims is recognized by both the NATO Powers and the Kosovo Albanians themselves. Natasha Kandich, the creator of this database, has also been decorated by Ramush Haradinaj, a former UCK (Albanian National Army) warlord and “Kosovo Prime Minister,” as well as Hashim Thaci, another former UCK warlord and “President of Kosovo” who is currently indicted for crimes against humanity in The Hague.

The HLC has compiled detailed records up to December 31, 2000, but the data extend beyond this date. Key incidents, such as the 16/02/2001 Podujevo “Nish Express” bus bombing, which resulted in 12 dead Serbian civilians and 43 injured, are also documented.

Podujevo “Nish Express” Bus Bombing (16/02/2001)

Suncica Pejcic Zivana Tokic Slobodan Stojanovic Mirjana Dragovic Nebojsa Snezana and Danilo Cokic Veljko Stakic Nenad Stojanovic Dejan Mladenovic Milinko Kragovic Lazar Milkic Dragan Vukotic

Two suspects, Roland Bartetzko and Florim Ejupi, have been linked to similar attacks in Pristina.

Conclusion

This evidence presents a stark contrast to the claims of a "clean KLA" and highlights the seriousness of the organization's involvement in war crimes during the Kosovo conflict. Further investigation and documentation could provide even more robust support for these claims.

If anyone can provide the complete HLC dataset, it would be greatly appreciated for further research.