Erstellt am: 1. 2. 2012 - 06:00 Uhr
“Jo negotiata – Vetevendosje!”
von Teresa Reiter
“Jo negotiata – Vetevendosje!” is written on every second wall of Kosovo’s bigger cities. It‘s the slogan of the Levizja Vetevendosje, the Kosovar movement for self-determination and means “No negotiations - Self-determination!” The movement was founded in 2004 - 4 years before Kosovo declared independence - when activists started spreading leaflets in which they called for the departure of UNMIK (United Nations Interim Administration Mission In Kosovo). The fully self-determined independence of Kosovo is still the most important demand of Vetevendosje.
FM4 Teresa Reiter
Albin Kurti, who spent 3 years in a Serbian prison in the 90s and was only released because of international pressure, is the leading figure of Vetevendosje. He has also been arrested several times in Kosovo for criticising Kosovo‘s government and organizing protests that were considered uncomfortable by the people in power. But the movement also receives a lot of support from local intellectuals, artists and above all from young people. With its open structures and transparent actions it has always been in sharp contrast to Kosovo’s elitist and wealthy political parties.
Fighting the Ahtisaari-Plan
In 2007 Albin Kurti mobilized thousands of people for protests against the Ahtisaari-Plan, a suggestion by UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari which provided the basic conditions for a supervised independence of Kosovo under UN-administration. During the violence sparked by these protests, the students Mon Balaj and Arben Xheladini were shot dead by UNMIK policemen who were never identified. The pictures of the shot students are still on the wall in Vetevendosje‘s headquarters in Prishtina. Albin Kurti was arrested as the “ringleader” of the protest and after a controversial trial, was thrown into jail for seven months. He accused UNMIK of neo-colonialist behaviour because noone was ever held responsible for the death of Balaj and Xheladini. UNMIK has been criticised for not cooperating in solving the case.
Vetevendosje
The Vetevendosje leader has always been a thorn in the side of Kosovo’s government. He has been accused of having mafia connections and called a “dangerous extremist and nationalist.” But others have a different opinion. Kurti is considered by many Albanians to be the only politician in Kosovo who is not corrupt. In a country infected by corruption in every sector of public life this is an enormous compliment. Dejan Anastasijevic, a popular Serbian journalist, says “I think sooner or later he will win the elections simply because he deserves it. If he only would give up on that Greater Albania shit.” One of the most controversial demands of Vetevendosje is the call for a referendum on uniting with Albania. Some say such a move could provoke violent outbursts in the whole region.
Vetevendosje feat. FeR
In the 2010 elections Vetevendosje won 14 seats in parliament and is now Kosovo’s third largest party. A few months later the more moderate party FeR (New Spirit Party), which also had a lot of youth support, merged with Vetevendosje. A well-known party member is the artist Fisnik Ismaili, who created the Newborn monument in Prishtina and is the creator of the popular online satire “The Pimpsons”. The union with Vetevendosje offended and disappointed many FeR voters.
Vetevendosje
Vetevendosje is known for its rebellious behaviour. When Edita Tahiri, the Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, was on her way to meet the Serbian negotiator Borko Stefanović in the autumn, Vetevendosje activists blocked the streets and threw tomatoes at Tahiri’s car. A few days later the movement turned over a Serbian truck that passed the Kosovar border carrying Serbian goods. Actions like that make it hard to take Vetevendosje serious as a party.
Serbia nuk kalon!
In January 2012 there have been protests and more street blocking near Merdare and Dheu i Bardhe on the checkpoints to Serbia. „Serbia nuk kalon“ (Serbia won’t pass) was written on huge yellow banners held up by Vetevendosje activists. Their position was strongly opposed by the EU and the government also tried to suppress the protests. However, many local people supported the street blocking. The first protest in the middle of January broke out in violent confrontation with the Kosovo police. Many people were hurt, 146 were arrested.
Vetevendosje
There has been harsh criticism from the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo, Petrit Selimi. On Twitter he said he wished Vetevendosje could be a productive force in Kosovo and not so extreme. True, the movement doesn’t make the negotiations with Serbia any easier since it is openly against any collaboration or negotiation with Kosovo’s neighbour. But it could also be said that Vetevendosje’s actions in the trading conflict with Serbia were not purely destructive – they also launched a big campaign to promote domestic goods of Kosovo which was appreciated by many people.
FM4 Teresa Reiter
Vetevendosje has been called „nationalist“ many times by a variety of media outlets. It’s hard to classify the movement into the left-right-spectrum since they have left and right claims. On one hand they are asking for an army, while on the other they want more companies in Kosovo under state control. They call for free university access and strongly oppose corruption. Vetevendosje is seen as the only real opposition in Kosovo right now by many people. Due to the rising anger of the Kosovars about their government many expect Vetenvendosje to become stronger in the coming years.