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| Broken door and windows on entrance to the church of Holy Apostle Andrew in Podujevo, June 20, 2006
(click on photo to enlarge) |
Unknown persons have again vandalized the church of the Holy Apostle Andrew in Podujevo (erroneously referred to on some lists as the church of St. Elijah).
After the partial restoration of the church, which was destroyed during the March 2004 pogrom, on April 2 this year unknown attackers forced their way into the newly installed door of the church and broke 15 windows, international sources say. After this incident Podujevo municipal authorities used their own funds from the budget for minorities to repair the damage in cooperation with the Commission for the restoration of destroyed churches. On that occasion the Podujevo municipal authorities strongly condemned this act of vandalism. The municipal authorities also ordered that the derogatory graffiti written on the walls of the church be painted over.
However, attackers again broke into the church at the beginning of May, damaging the door and breaking two more windows. The KIM Info Service issued a separate newsletter regarding this attack (KIM Info Newsletter, May 12, 2006).
MOST RECENT ATTACK ON THE CHURCH
However, less than two months later the church of the Holy Apostle Andrew was again vandalized last week. This time the unknown attackers completely broke down the entrance door, again broke the windows and wrote new derogatory graffiti on the walls of the church. The news regarding the most recent vandalization of the church as well as photographs were provided to the KIM Info Service by international sources. Local Kosovo Police Service sources have also confirmed that the church was vandalized again this month, which is the third time it has been targeted just this year.
The church of St. Andrew in Podujevo was torched and destroyed during the March 2004 violence and the church bells were stolen but subsequently found and returned to Bishop Artemije by members of the Czech KFOR contingent. The altar (sanctuary) was blown up with explosives, while the crosses on the church were wrenched off by young Albanians as recorded on video. The destroyed altar section of the church was repaired and a new door and windows put on the church in November 2006 as part of the restoration project headed by the Council of Europe. However, the church was not placed under adequate police protection and since it is located some distance from the settlement on a hill, it again became the target of attack by local vandals and hooligans.
View of broken door on church of Holy Apostle Andrew in Podujevo, June 20, 2006
(click on photo to enlarge)
Bishop Teodosije, the Serbian Orthodox Church's representative in the Commission for restoration, has strongly condemned the most recent attack on the church of the Holy Apostle Andrew in Podujevo.
"The latest attack on the church of the Holy Apostle Andrew less than a month since the last attack, as well as the desecration of the church in Obilic two days ago show that Serbian Orthodox churches [in Kosovo and Metohija] are constantly being targeted by extremists and hooligans, and that municipal authorities and the Kosovo Police Service cannot or will not protect endangered Serbian churches. Acting through the Commission for the restoration of churches we have already specifically requested that all Serbian Orthodox churches in locations where there are currently no Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija be placed under continuous around-the-clock protection by the police or KFOR in order to prevent new attacks by vandals. As far as restoration is concerned, we are firmly determined not to lose heart in the face of these attacks because giving up on the further restoration of our churches and monasteries would be the greatest concession possible to those wishing to eradicate all traces of the Serbs and their churches in this region. However, we will insist and continue to request that local authorities must not only provide protection against and condemn these attacks but they must also do everything possible to prevent their future reoccurrence. Since the Commission does not have unlimited financial means at its disposal in order to continue repairing newly inflicted damage on previously restored buildings, we will ask that the new damage be repaired from municipal funds, and that the new repairs be done under the supervision of experts from the Commission for restoration," said Vicar Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan in a statement for the KIM Info Service.
"In the near future we will be accepting bids for the repair of the roof on the church of the Holy Virgin of Ljevis (Bogorodica Ljeviska), which was removed and stolen during an attack by vandals on the church in December last year. We will not agree to the beginning works on this church if around the clock police protection is not also provided. Protection in the form of occasional patrols has proved to be inadequate in several locations and the role of the Kosovo Police Service in the process of protecting endangered Serbian Orthodox Church facilities is highly unsatisfactory. The unwillingness of the KPS to assume responsibility for the protection of church property and to admit that four crosses were stolen from a church located in the center of the town of Obilic is a very shameful attempt to cover up a crime, something that neither Kosovo society nor the international community must tolerate anymore," added Bishop Teodosije.
The KIM Info Service has learned that the plan of the Commission for the restoration of churches and monasteries destroyed in the March 2004 pogrom for this summer foresees the beginning of complete restoration of about ten church facilities located in Prizren, Pristina, Devic and Vucitrn. In the opinion of Bishop Teodosije "this will be a serious test to what extent Kosovo institutions and society is ready to support the restoration and assume a tolerant attitude toward Christian holy shrines in Kosovo and Metohija. The attitude toward Christian churches and monasteries in Kosovo and Metohija is the best gauge of the attitude of the Kosovo population toward the cultural values of Europe and the civilized world. If this attitude does not change for the better, I am afraid that it will be difficult to discuss a better future for anyone in Kosovo and Metohija," concluded Bishop Teodosije.
Bishop Teodosije also condemned the latest act of violence in Klina where Kosovo and international sources reported the murder of a 68 year-old Serb returnee.
View of the south side of the church showing broken windows, June 20, 2006
(click on photo to enlarge)
PHOTOS TAKEN AFTER THE BREAK IN INTO THE CHURCH AT THE BEGINNING OF MAY
(KIM Info Newsletter, May 12, 2006)
Photos showing damage to the church of the Holy Apostle Andrew in May 2006
(damaged door and broken windows)
Police confirmed that a Serb member of KPS is suspected to have attacked an Orthodox priest and his family
Miller confirmed that the suspect will be formally indicted because there are credible proofs of his involvement in the attack. According to Miller, the investigation is continuing. The investigation which was carried out by the regional police unit in Mitrovica has been taken over by the Sector for investigation of serious crimes in Pristina and international inspectors.
KIM Info-service
June 21, 2006. god.
The speker of the UNMIK police in Mitrovica, Larry R. Miller confirmed that the 29 year old Serb, a member of the Kosovo Police Service is suspected to have attacked the former Secretary of the Raska and Prizren Diocese, Rev. Fr. Srdjan Stankovic. The priest and his family were attacked on May 6 2006 around 10.00 p.m. near Zvecan. The attackers blocked the road in front of the priest's car and began shooting at him. It was only by chance that the priest and his familly (a wife and two little girls) were not injured. A bullet was found in the baggage compartment of the car during the investigation.
Miller confirmed that the suspect will be formally indicted because there are credible proofs of his involvement in the attack. According to Miller, the investigation is continuing. The investigation which was carried out by the regional police unit in Mitrovica has been taken over by the Sector for investigation of serious crimes in Pristina and international inspectors.
Two days ago in the Mitrovica regional court a first session was held with the testimonies of the witnesses. According to international sources the investigators are trying to identify the accomplices of the main suspect and motives for this attack. The indicted policeman may be sentenced to prison for an attempted murder.
