Citizens stage protest in support of police in northern KiM

BELGRADE - A protest was organized in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica Monday against announced changes in the composition of the regional police command in the four Serb-majority municipalities in the north of Kosovo-Metohija (KiM).

The protest in front of the buildings of the police and the Basic Court was staged by people from the municipalities of Kosovska Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zvecan and Zubin Potok.

The mayors and representatives of temporary administrative bodies in these municipalities addressed those gathered pointing out that they would not allow any replacements in the Kosovo Police in the Mitrovica North area.

They warned that any staff-related changes planned by Pristina were likely to have far-reaching security and political implications affecting entire Kosovo.

North Mitrovica Mayor Goran Rakic said that the regional police had received from Pristina a notice about plans for changes in the command of the police forces in northern Kosovo, pointing out that local governments in the four Serbian municipalities in the north had not been informed at all.

He said a legitimate question was being raised about why the Kosovo police command in Pristina was trying to carry out staff changes when all statistical data showed that the police in the north was achieving the best possible results.

The regional police command staffing has the support of citizens and local government, and we will not allow anyone to sabotage a team that produces the best results, said Rakic.

If the authorities in Pristina do not want successful resolution of serious crimes and other offenses and if their aim is to provoke unrest or destabilization in this region, we are certainly not going to allow that, stressed...