KOSOVO: KILLING OF POLICE OFFICER AND SUBSEQUENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRISTINA 000019

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT DEPT FOR EUR/SCE, DRL, AND INL, NSC FOR BRAUN, USUN
FOR DREW SCHUFLETOWSKI, USOSCE FOR STEVE STEGER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2016
TAGS: PGOV KJUS KCRM UNMIK YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: KILLING OF POLICE OFFICER AND SUBSEQUENT
SEARCHES IN SERBIAN AREA

Classified By: CDA ALEX LASKARIS FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Kosovo Police Service (KPS) officer Avni
Kosumi was shot and killed on January 3 near the Serb village
of Babin Most in Vushtrri municipality, 10 miles north of
Pristina. Since the shot may have come from the direction of
the village, the KPS searched homes in the area, once by
themselves and a second time with Polish and Ukrainian Civpol
officers. They made two arrests related to illegal weapons
uncovered during the search. Some villagers accused the KPS
of mistreating them during the operation, and have peacefully
demonstrated on at least two occasions since the incident. A
village leader told the media that the KPS behaved
appropriately; the UN PDSRSG told us later that that leader
was silenced on orders from Belgrade. The KPS has refuted
the accusations (as has village leader Miomir Ristic),but
indicated to us that Polish Civpol officers conducted the
second search too aggressively and caused property damage.
In response to the allegations, UNMIK Police Commissioner
Steven Curtis has promised a full investigation. Meanwhile,
one villager, who claimed he was beaten, traveled to Belgrade
and met with Serbian PM Kostunica and Serbian President
Tadic, to air his allegations. No one in Babin Most (or
anywhere else) is currently being held as a suspect, and the
case, which has received a lot of negative media attention in
the Serb press and heightened tensions in the area, remains
open. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) According to Kosovo Police Service (KPS) reports and
sources, KPS officer Avni Kosumi and two other off-duty KPS
officers who work in Kacanik and live in Vushtrri hitchhiked
home on January 3. As they were traveling north on the
Pristina-Mitrovica highway near Babin Most village, someone
fired a single shot allegedly from the direction of the
village. Kosumi was struck in the head and killed.


3. (C) The KPS gathered evidence at the scene of the crime
and searched homes in the area, first alone and a second time
with Polish and Ukrainian Civpol officers. They confiscated
some illegal firearms and made two arrests related to those
illegal weapons. The men who were arrested have since been
released. KPS sources say there were reports of mistreatment
following the searches conducted with Civpol. While the KPS
do not want to criticize the Polish Civpol officers publicly,
they told USOP they believed the Polish officers were too
aggressive during the operation and caused some damage to the
homes.


4. (C) Following the incident, Serb media reported that the
police had used Kosumi's murder as an excuse to mistreat
Babin Most villagers. The KPS refuted the allegations, as
did Babin Most village leader Miomir Ristic in an interview
with the local Serbian-language KiM Radio. PDSRSG Schook
told us on January 9 that Ristic had been told by Belgrade
representatives to stop talking to the media. Nevertheless,
about 40 Serbs organized a peaceful protest in Babin Most on
January 4. The KPS said their spokesperson met with the
villagers and informed them that any damages would be
addressed. At the time, the KPS believed the villagers were
satisfied with their response.


5. (C) Willie Hayward (protect) of UNMIK Civpol told poloff
that, as with any allegation of mistreatment, Civpol is
investigating them and taking them seriously. UNMIK Police
Commissioner Steven Curtis has come out strongly in favor of
this course of action. KPS sources report that their own
internal investigation has uncovered no evidence of
mistreatment or violations of the law during the house
searches. However, they admit that there is some question as
to whether one person may have been arrested on illegal
weapons possession charges without a court order.


6. (SBU) The media continued to report on the incident over
the weekend of January 6 and 7. On January 8, according to
KPS reports, 50 Babin Most villagers held another peaceful
protest. Meanwhile, a possible witness in the case, Srecko
Simic, traveled to Belgrade to voice his concerns to Serbian

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President Tadic and Serbian PM Kostunica. Simic claims to
have been beaten by the police as they searched his home for
clues. Local media report that Kostunica called the police
intervention in Babin Most a "provocation" and an attempt to
force Serbs from their homes there.


7. (C) COMMENT: It is unfortunate, but not surprising, that
the murder of Kosumi has been politicized in the press here.
USOP will continue to closely monitor developments related to
the investigation, including any findings of mistreatment
against Serbs in Babin Most by KPS or UN Civpol. END COMMENT.


8. (SBU) U.S. Office Pristina clears this cable in its
entirety for release to U.N. Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari.
LASKARIS