SERBIA: KOSOVO: POLICE BREAK UP ALBANIAN STUDENTS DEMONSTRATION

(30 Dec 1997) Natural Sound

Hundreds of Serb riot police armed with batons and shields broke up a demonstration by thousands of ethnic Albanian protestors in Pristina, Kosovo's capital on Tuesday.

They were students demanding that Belgrade reopen Albanian-language schools closed seven years ago when Serbia took control of the previously autonomous province.

Ethnic Albanians comprise more than 90 per cent of the province's population - most of them don't recognise Serbia's institutions and are demanding independence for Kosovo.
Some 2-thousand people gathered briefly near the Pristina town main square, reading a text with students' demands, before police moved in to disperse them.

The students want Belgrade to reopen Albanian-language schools which were closed down in 1990 when Serbia took control of the previously autonomous province.

Albanians have refused to accept the Serb education programme, and instead have formed an underground schooling system, not recognised by Belgrade authorities.

Police carrying batons and automatic weapons took up position in the centre of the city before the start of the rally.

They also blocked the city centre with armoured vehicles, and a water cannon was seen near the main street, in order to keep people from reaching the centre.

After the students refused to disperse, the police used batons to force the crowd several metres back.

As various columns approached the centre, police waded in with their batons, beating and chasing the demonstrators away.

Ethnic Albanian students and teachers walked out of the Serb educational system in 1989 when the then Serb president Slobodan Milosevic abolished Kosovo's broad autonomy and introduced Serbia's curriculum in its schools.

Since then, Albanian-language classes in Kosovo have been held in makeshift classrooms and financed by Kosovo's people.

Ethnic Albanians comprise more than 90 per cent of the province's population.

Most do not recognise Serbia's institutions and wish to see Kosovo gain independence and join neighbouring Albania.

Serbs, who consider Kosovo the cradle of their history and culture, rule the southern province with heavy military and police power.

Kosovo has simmered with violence for years, but fears of an armed conflict have increased in the past 18 months after a wave of terrorist attacks killed over 20 people and wounded many others.

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