Serbs stage new protests in eastern Kosovo
Several dozen Serbs have blocked the traffic in the Eastern Kosovo village of Pasjane on the Gnjilane-Presevo road as a sign of protest over blackouts.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The organisers of the protest rally announced that the gathering, which represents a continuation of the protests that were concluded late on Monday and that might have turned into clashes with the police, would be peaceful.
Police forces equipped with helmets and shields have been deployed close to the site.
Kosovo Police Service spokesman said that the police would not allow a blockage of the traffic in Kosovo, and announced that by the end of the day, the Office of the Public Prosecutor would reach a decision on whether the five Serbs that had been brought in for questioning would be held in detention or not.
Serbs have announced they will also stage protests in the villages of Korminjane and Ranilug, close to Kosovska Kamenica. This will be the first gathering of these villagers who have been left without power supply for a week now.
For days, there has been no electricity in over 15 villages of the Kosovo Pomaravlje District where Serbs represent the majority. The inhabitants of Pasjane on Tuesday refused to discuss the issue with the representatives of the Kosovo Electro-Energetic Corporation (KEK), which demands that they pay a lump sum for the electricity they used in the month before, and after that to sign corresponding contracts
