On the 56th anniversary of the University of Pristina, students chose to protest against what they see as the unfair proceedings in the trial of four former senior leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army—Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi—at the Specialist Chambers in The Hague.
Donart Humolli, a student from the Department of History, said that history cannot be rewritten and that the treatment of KLA leaders requires high sensitivity to the historical context of the war.
“Today we are here as students of the University of Pristina, together with the Student Parliament and all student organizations, on a day of significance both for our institution and for society. The University of Pristina has historically been a space of knowledge, civic responsibility, and standing for values. We understand that justice is a complex process, especially when it concerns major historical wounds. We also understand that the rule of law is a cornerstone of the European Union, and that trust in justice is a condition for long-term peace and stability.
Nevertheless, today we want to express a clear concern shared by many citizens of the Republic of Kosovo: the perception that the judicial processes against the KLA leaders—Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi—are accompanied by unequal standards, delays, and a lack of sensitivity to the historical context of Kosovo’s recent war. The KLA was a response of a people to systematic oppression and violence,” Humolli said.
