The Albanians of the Presheva Valley protested today against discrimination by Serbia.
The protest “For Identity and Dignity” was held in Bujanoc, where a large number of citizens participated.
“Knowledge is not verified”, “Stop selective passivization” and “Return my address” were the calls of the Albanians, who demanded their rights by rejecting the ongoing discrimination.
Ragmi Mustafi from the Party for Democratic Action (PVD) says that the protest was peaceful, despite the provocations from different people.
In an interview for KosovaPress, Mustafi said that today’s protest is a revolt against official Belgrade, which continues to discriminate against the Albanians of the Presheva Valley.
“The protest “For Identity and Dignity”, which was held today in the municipality of Bujanoc, as a revolt against official Belgrade, which is systematically discriminating against the Albanians of the Presheva Valley, was organized in a peaceful manner, the protesters dispersed peacefully and there were clear messages that were sent to the international community, especially regarding the state of Serbia. What is important, the Albanians of the Presheva Valley demand the respect of the agreements signed by the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the legitimate representatives of the Presheva Valley, the recognition of the diplomas issued by Kosovo immediately, the cessation of the passivation of addresses, and the return of the addresses of all those who have been passive and a multitude of injustices that the residents of the Presheva Valley are experiencing and are facing”, he said.
The message of the Albanians of the Presheva Valley, as Mustafi adds, has been clear and that they will continue to demand their legitimate rights.
“Today’s message is that the Albanians are here, today’s message is that the Albanians will demand their legitimate right and at the same time they will reject the discrimination of the Republic of Serbia, relying also on the international community, Kosovo, and Albania… The number of participants who refuse to submit to Serbia, refuse to submit to Serbia’s discrimination and who demand their legitimate rights, even those guaranteed by international conventions, was solid”, he said.
He adds that there has been a tendency to hinder this protest, with campaigns organized by law enforcement agencies.
“The past few days, there was even a campaign organized by law enforcement agencies. Days earlier they arrested an Albanian because of a comment on Bujanovaçka’s Facebook, they interrogated some Albanians, and even detained some Albanians to emphasize that the escalation of the situation could happen. There have also been public and private attacks that have been addressed to the Council of the Islamic Community of Kosovo in Bujanoc and all those who have requested that today’s protest be held and even continue with protests until the realization of our rights” , said Mustafi.
In today’s protest held in Bujanoc, Mustafi says that there were provocations from different people.
“There have been some very small incidents, minor, but which do not fade and will not fade the future protests either, because the demands of the Albanians are legitimate. Discrimination has already been proven with the international reports of Washington and Brussels, so there is no choice but for the Albanians of the Presheva Valley to raise their voices for what belongs to them… There have been provocations from different people, the citizens have not fallen prey to those provocations. There have been those that I mentioned earlier through the law enforcement agencies, they have tried in every way to prevent and minimize it through various campaigns. There were various warnings, but (the protest) it passed peacefully and without significant incidents”, said Mustafi.
In case the demands of the Albanians of the Presheva Valley are not taken into account, Mustafi emphasizes that the Organizational Council will decide how to continue the protest.
