Although so far nearly 300 prisoners have been released, 1,700 more continue to languish in Serb jails at the start of a long and uncertain winter. The sentencing of Dr. Flora Brovina to twelve years for "supporting terrorist

activities" was greatly discouraging to all those who are working to obtain the release of the prisoners. In addition, the abduction of the Albanian human rights lawyer at the Humanitarian Law Center in Belgrade, Teki Bokshi,

by "rogue" police was of grave concern, indicating a tolerance of lawlessness and lack of security within Serbia.

In Prishtina, a large human rights conference held by the OSCE brought some discussion of the prisoner issue, but once again, little promise of concrete action by international organizations such as the U.N., OSCE, and European

Union. Only the United States government issued a condemnation of the Brovina trial and sentencing.

Until international pressure is wide-spread and all international organizations take responsibility for the fate of these prisoners will there be any marked progress.

A new distribution list has been formed to keep those intampaigns, petitions, and lobbying.

Description:

website [www.khao.org/appkosova.htm]. Additional data and detailed reports on the issue of the prisoners may be accessed from the website as well.

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