One Voice from Mitrovica: Young and Old Together in Protest for the Liberators

On Friday, September 25, “Mehë Uka” square in Mitrovica filled with citizens of all ages — from the young to the elderly — who took to the streets in protest against the verdict of the Specialist Chambers in The Hague. With chants of “UÇK, UÇK,” the protest began at 5:00 PM under the mottos “Freedom for the Liberators” and “Not in My Name.”

The rally was accompanied by speeches from former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, families of martyrs, representatives of associations of missing persons, and students of the “Isa Boletini” University in Mitrovica.

Particularly emotional moments were brought by the children of martyrs Driton Veliu and Afrim Hajrizi, who addressed the protesters with their words, giving the rally a special and touching tone.

Citizens expressed their opposition to the September 16 verdict, by which the four former KLA leaders — Hashim Thaçi, Jakup Krasniqi, Kadri Veseli and Rexhep Selimi — were sentenced in the first instance to 25, 25, 18 and 13 years in prison, respectively.

The protest was organized by the KLA War Veterans Organization, and Mitrovica thus joined the rallies held today in several cities across Kosovo, Klan Kosova reports.