UN urges witness protection program in Kosovo News
UN urges witness protection program in Kosovo
Photo source or description

[JURIST] The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) [official website] on Friday called for Kosovo to institute an independent witness protection program [press briefing transcript]. Spokesperson Rupert Colville made the comment in reaction to the recent death of Agim Zogaj [B92 report], a major witness for the prosecution against senior Kosovo politician and parliamentarian Fatmir Limaj. Limaj, a former member of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), is awaiting trial on charges of war crimes stemming from the 1998-99 Kosovo war with Serbia [BBC backgrounder; JURIST news archive]. Zogaj, known as Witness X, was a KLA member under Limaj’s direct command during the alleged Klecka massacre [Centre for Peace in the Balkans backgrounder]. Although authorities are still investigating, Zogaj’s death has been tentatively ruled a suicide.

While the exact reasons behind his apparent suicide are difficult to ascertain, this case adds to our longstanding concerns about witness protection in Kosovo. We call for an effective and independent witness and victim protection system inside Kosovo to be put in place. Only an effective and well-resourced witness and victim protection system in Kosovo will help render justice to the victims and end impunity regarding past violations.

Since Zogaj’s death, at least one witness has decided not to testify [B92 report]. The European Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) [official website] has not commented on how severely this affects their case against Limaj and nine others, nor if it will delay the trial, which was expected to begin this month.

An EU judge in September placed Limaj under house arrest for one month [JURIST report] while awaiting trial, acting on a request by EULEX prosecutors. Limaj allegedly ordered two captured Serb policemen and executed and tortured another Serbian captive in 1999. Limaj is also under investigation for embezzling funds while serving as transport minister. Limaj and the KLA, despite allegations of human rights violations, are viewed as liberators by many ethnic Albanians. In 2005, Limaj was acquitted of similar charges by a war crimes tribunal in The Hague because of insufficient evidence. EULEX has been investigating war crimes [JURIST report] since December 2008. Kosovo controversially seceded from Serbia [JURIST report] in February 2008, and its new constitution went into effect [JURIST report] later that year.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.