Serbia’s crimes in Kosovo remembered: the 23 martyrs of the Deliu family and three fallen fighters — Haxhiu: “We will never stop seeking justice”

Acting President Albulena Haxhiu and Prime Minister Albin Kurti stayed today in Abri e Epërme, where they commemorated the 23 martyrs of the Deliu family and the nation’s martyrs, Vesel Demaku, Valdet Xhemajli and Afrim Hajdaraj, who fell on September 26, 1998, defending the civilian population from Serbian forces.

In a Facebook post, Haxhiu writes that among the murdered civilians there were children, pregnant women and the elderly, as reported by Telegrafi.

Read her full post:

Today, in Abri e Epërme, we honored the 23 martyrs of the Deliu family and the nation’s martyrs, Vesel Demaku, Valdet Xhemajli and Afrim Hajdaraj, who fell on September 26, 1998, defending the civilian population from Serbian forces.

The Deliu family had taken shelter in the mountains to escape attacks and shelling. Serbian forces found them and killed them at close range. Among those killed were children, pregnant women and the elderly.

Diturije Deliu was only six weeks old. She was found alive under her mother’s body, after 22 members of her family had been killed. She lived a few more weeks and died on November 19, 1998.

That same day, a few kilometers away, Vesel Demaku, Valdet Xhemajli and Afrim Hajdaraj were fighting to prevent Serbian forces from penetrating toward the civilians sheltered in the mountains around Abri.

Veseli was a teacher. Valdeti was among the early KLA activists in Abri and had taken part in several battles before falling that day. With them was Arben Xhemajli, who was seriously wounded.

After several hours of fighting, Veseli, Valdeti and Afrimi fell defending innocent civilians.

Twenty-eight years later, no one has been convicted for the massacre of the Deliu family. The crime is documented, witnesses have spoken, and it is known which Serbian forces acted in Abri.

Kosovo will never stop seeking justice. Our institutions have a duty to pursue these crimes to the end, no matter how much time has passed and no matter where the perpetrators are.

Glory to martyrs Vesel Demaku, Valdet Xhemajli and Afrim Hajdaraj!

May the memory of the martyrs of the Deliu family be eternal.