Kosovo Serb house destroyed in fire
The house of Miodrag Petrovic, a Serb from Belo Polje near Pec, Kosovo, was destroyed in fire late Monday, but, fortunately, there was no one inside when the fire started.
(kosovoxompromisestuff) Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Local Serb returnees told Tanjug they suspect the fire was set and that it reflects a reaction of local Albanians to the removal of a memorial to murdered members of the so-called Liberation Army of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja (OVPBM) in Presevo, southern Serbia.
The irregular forces launched an armed rebellion in 2000, and the monument was removed on Sunday morning.
Petrovic's house was destroyed by the fire that started around 9 pm on Monday, Momcilo Savic, a resident of Belo Polje, told Tanjug, adding that he believes this to be the Albanians' revenge for the removal of the memorial.
He pointed out that Serbs in Belo Polje are concerned about the situation, but that they are determined to stay on their land.
The house that was burnt down was empty, since Miodrag Petrovic and his family live in Jagodina, central Serbia, Savic said, adding that most of the 90 reconstructed houses owned by Serbs are unoccupied.
Savic called for coexistence, pointing out that revenge leads nowhere, that everyone needs to be patient and the there is room for all.
A total of 20 Serb families currently live in Belo Polje. In the past two years, two babies were born there, which is something the Serbs are particularly proud of.
The irregular forces launched an armed rebellion in 2000, and the monument was removed on Sunday morning.
Petrovic's house was destroyed by the fire that started around 9 pm on Monday, Momcilo Savic, a resident of Belo Polje, told Tanjug, adding that he believes this to be the Albanians' revenge for the removal of the memorial.
He pointed out that Serbs in Belo Polje are concerned about the situation, but that they are determined to stay on their land.
The house that was burnt down was empty, since Miodrag Petrovic and his family live in Jagodina, central Serbia, Savic said, adding that most of the 90 reconstructed houses owned by Serbs are unoccupied.
Savic called for coexistence, pointing out that revenge leads nowhere, that everyone needs to be patient and the there is room for all.
A total of 20 Serb families currently live in Belo Polje. In the past two years, two babies were born there, which is something the Serbs are particularly proud of.
