Flora Brovina - rinviato il processo d'appello in Serbia per la piu'nota prigioniera politica kosovara (12 Oct 2000 - Associated Press)

[Paola Lucchesi <paola.lucchesi@mail.inet.it>]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20001012/aponline114018_000.htm

Kosovo Activist Retrial Postponed

The Associated Press
Thursday, Oct. 12, 2000; 11:40 a.m. EDT

NIS, Yugoslavia -- A new trial for the best-known Kosovo Albanian
activist still imprisoned in Yugoslavia was postponed Thursday, leading
to an outcry that little has changed in Yugoslavia.
     Flora Brovina, a pediatrician and womens rights activist, was
arrested last year in Kosovo during the NATO bombing campaign. She was
convicted of terrorism Dec. 9 and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for
alleged links to the rebel Kosovo Liberation Army.
     In June, Serbia's Supreme Court overturned the conviction and a new
trial was set to begin Thursday.
     However, the proceeding was postponed until Nov. 16 because the
judge, Marina Milanovic, was ill, a court official said.
     "As far as we know, the judge was healthy," defense attorney Rajko
Danilovic said. "She simply ran away. We think this is obstruction of
justice. The authorities are trying to avoid responsibility."
     Brovina's case drew world attention after human rights groups
demanded her release, saying the prosecution has no evidence linking her
to terrorist activity.
     Prospects for Brovina's release were believed to have increased
after last week's ouster of President Slobodan Milosevic by opposition
challenger, Vojislav Kostunica.
     "What happened here is a remnant of the old regime," said Brovina's
husband, Ajri Begu. "A lot more is needed to democratize Serbia. The
problem was not only Milosevic, but an entire establishment of people
who served under him."
     Releases of political prisoners and foreigners have started,
however.
     This week, Miroslav Filipovic, who wrote for the independent Danas
daily and worked part-time for the French news agency Agence
France-Presse, was released after being sentenced in July to seven years
on a charge of publicizing state secrets.
     A Canadian working in Kosovo was freed on bail Monday weeks after
the army arrested him in Montenegro and charged him with illegal
possession of explosives. His three companions - two Britons and another
Canadian - were freed last week after Belgrade's military court
dismissed their cases.

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