Hague File: Indictment against Hashim Thaci

All 125 pages of The Hague's file are dedicated to what prosecutors have called 'the criminal responsibility of the accused. As Top Channel made public on Thursday: the indictment is based on what is known as the "Joint criminal enterprise" for which the special prosecutors reach this conclusion. 
"The accused were involved in this joint criminal enterprise which includes the commission of the crimes for which they are accused. The accused are part of the KLA leadership and consequently part of the General Staff agreed to take control of Kosovo, which includes being tagged as perceived as an accomplice or opponent and arbitrary detention, ill-treatment and murder. The criminal activity is March 1998 until at least June 1999. 

Specifically, Hashim Thaci is accused for being the most powerful man of the KLA and that he contributed to the formulation, internal participation or oversight of developments, promoting plans and policies to advance the common goal of this joint criminal enterprise. 

Prosecutors on page 159 bring details that illustrate that: 

Thaci, for example, filmed his first public appearance on 30 October 1998,  the very same day on which Cen Desku and Jakup Kastrati were arrested by the KLA in Dragobilje. In that statement, Thaci attacked political rivals as 'autonomist elements' who were engaged in conducting 'propaganda and special warfare'.

An earlier draft Of the speech had included even stronger language r directed at 'anti-KLA forces, some collaborationist forces who are damaging the fight of the KLA.
Similarly,' in a New Year's interview, Thaci branded political rivals with accusations of 'betrayal', 'desertion' and provoking 'fratricide' by, amongst other thinks: financing 'people who have deserted and betrayed the struggle'. He implicitly referred to Bukoshi and Rugova as 'Belgrade's autonomy supporting satellites' and indicated they were involved in 'covert operations' to damage the KLA's just war.

According to Special Prosecutors, Hashim Thaci, in addition to public messages from the KLA Headquarters, personally took further steps to implement policies on the ground that included direct threats, intimidation and violence. This was also seen in Tirana's meeting in May 1998 with Bujar Bukoshi, who when he refused to hand over the war fund, the KLA launched a propaganda campaign calling him a traitor, which was reflected in Thaçi's public speeches. 

"As a key actor between the KLA General Staff and the international community, Thaçi was the main face of the KLA. "He used that position by deliberately misinforming and deliberately denying KLA crimes by portraying the UKC as a professional army that fully complied with international humanitarian law." 

Promoted, enabled, justified, encouraged crimes by members of the KLA including the headquarters by not exercising authority and control in preventing, investigating such crimes to punish or discipline those who commit crimes. 

This is the conclusion reached by prosecutors. Based on this, they have filed charges against Hashim Thaçi. 

Below part of the Hague File

SPECIALIST PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE 

Thaci's significant contribution included:

Formulating, participating, in and / or overseeing the development and promotion of plans and policies to advance the common purpose of the JCE;

The information and Political Directorates and KLA policy were responsible for development and promotion of KLA policy. Thaci uses his position of head of those the strikingly consistent messaging contained in them. Messaging which closely minors the language and concepts promoted by both THAQI and KRASNIQI (KLA spokesperson and member of the Political Directorate) directly in their public statements. 243.  

Thaci, for example, filmed his first public appearance on 30 October 1998,  the very same day on which Cen Desku and Jakup Kastrati were arrested by the KLA in Dragobilje. In that statement, Thaci attacked political rivals as 'autonomist elements' who were engaged in conducting 'propaganda and special warfare'.

An earlier draft Of the speech had included even stronger language r directed at 'anti-KLA forces, some collaborationist forces who are damaging the fight of the KLA.
Similarly,' in a New Year's interview, Thaci branded political rivals with accusations of 'betrayal', 'desertion' and provoking 'fratricide' by, amongst other thinks: financing 'people who have deserted and betrayed the struggle'. He implicitly referred to Bukoshi and Rugova as 'Belgrade's autonomy supporting satellites' and indicated they were involved in 'covert operations' to damage the KLA's just war.

In the run-up to the Rambouillet negotiations, Thaci reiterated his attacks against political opponents through accusations of treason by, inter alia, implicating Bukoshi in the arrests of LPK activists in 1993, in financing 'mercenary organizations of the FARK', in 'murders and attempted assassinations of KLA commanders' and in alleged plans 'to liquidate the KLA General Staff .846 Subsequently, in an exclusive interview at the opening of the Rambouillet Conference, THACI explicitly claimed that BUKOSHI 'sabotaged the war'.847  

• Coordinating, engaging in and/or further implementation and enforcement of the common purpose;  

In addition to the public messaging of the KLA General Staff, Thaci also took steps to personally implement and enforce the policy on the ground, including through threats, intimidation and violence.  

In May 1998, meeting with Prime Minister-in-exile Bujar Bukoshi in Tirana, THAI (together with Rexhep Selimi and Xhavit Haliti) rejected the possibility of political and military unification.m8 When BUKOSHI refused to hand over the funds, the KLA intensified its propaganda campaign, labelling him a traitor, as directly reflected in Thaci's public statements.