Yugoslavia: Information on a group or political party in the Kosovo region called UNIKOMB (Unity of Albanian Nationals)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 October 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | YUG28185.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Yugoslavia: Information on a group or political party in the Kosovo region called UNIKOMB (Unity of Albanian Nationals), 1 October 1997, YUG28185.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ace358.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to the Federal Office for Refugees (Switzerland) Country Report 1995 available in REFWORLD, UNIKOMB is an illegal group or party in Kosovo headed by Ukshin Hoti, which pursues the nationalist goal of a Greater Albania. The Amnesty International report of September 1994 entitled "Police Violence in Kosovo ProvinceThe Victims" indicated that Ukshin Hoti, the Chairman of UNIKOMB had been arrested and was about to be put on trial. An AFP report of 28 September 1994 states that "Ukshin Hoti, Albanian opposition leader in Kosovo, was sentenced to five years in prison for promoting separatism and the unification of Serbia's southern region with Albania." UNIKOMB (National Unity Party) is described in this report as " the most radical Albanian political group in Kosovo" (ibid.). A Human Rights Watch/Helsinki report of December 1996 in REFWORLD entitled "Persecution Persists: Human Rights Violations in Kosovo" states that the police raided the UNIKOMB offices in Pristina and seized party documents on 15 August 1996. A party activist had also been maltreated by the police a short time before the raid (ibid.) and the secretary general of UNIKOMB, Ali Shabani, had been arrested on 30 May 1996 and questioned about his political activities (Kosovo Daily Report, 3 June 1996).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Agence France Presse (AFP). 28 September 1994. "Albanian Leader Gets Five-Year Prison Sentence." (NEXIS).
Amnesty International Report. September 1994. "Police Violence in Kosovo ProvinceThe Victims." London: Amnesty International. (REFWORLD).
Human Rights Watch (HRW)/Helsinki Report. December 1996. "Persecution Persists: Human Rights Violations in Kosovo." New York: Human Rights Watch. (REFWORLD).
Federal Office for Refugees (Switzerland) Country Report 1995. Berne. (REFWORLD).
Kosovo Daily Report [Pristina, in English]. 3 June 1996. "Kosovo; Ethnic Albanians Report Serbian Police Violence in Kacanik and Other Areas." (BBC Summary 5 June 1996/NEXIS).
Sources Consulted
Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook [Detroit]. 1994-1996.
Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States 1997 [London]. 1996.
Electronic sources: IRB Databases, Global News Bank, LEXIS/NEXIS, (UNHCR database).
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. 1994 -1996
Political Handbook of the World [Binghamton, NY]. 1994-1996.
Resource Centre Country File (Yugoslavia). 1994 to present.
