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KFOR-families under threat

Conflict Beograd-Oslo 30.03.08
The families of KFOR-soldiers in active service has come under threat by the vast Albanian network of crime in Europe. Local Albanian militias in Kosovo and Metohija have for some time been surveillancing electronic communications to and from a greater part of the KFOR garrisons and units. This includes the GSM-network based cellphones of the servicemen. Through the monitoring of phonecalls to relatives, Albanian paramilitaria has been able to map out the soldiers' identity and next of kin in their home countries. The families of KFOR-soldiers have in this manner come under threat from local Albanian gangsters operating in larger parts of western Europe and North America. Wives, parents and children of servicemen, officers and soldiers, have been getting hostile phonecalls and in some instances Albanian visitors, who explain graphically that they will be able to achieve first-hand knowledge of the the resolve of the Albanian might if their husbands and sons should fail to favor the Albanian side in the conflict.

Local officials and representatives of the remaining Serbian population in Kosovo and Metohija states that this is not in any way news to them.

- "This has been going on for quite some time, we have notified KFOR of this, but they seem reluctant to act. I will not speculate as to why, but amongst the Serbs here, KFOR is viewed as an occupation force similar to the one experienced some 60 years ago. They, too, sided with the Albanians." one official explains under the promise that his name and rank will not be published - because that would endanger his family in the same manner.

"To my experience and knowledge this is an age old strategy on the behalf of the Albanian so-called forces - they are useless in open battle, so when they come across resistance, they target women and children, rather than making a stand on the battlefield."

Norwegian officer confirms Albanian surveillance

Conflict Oslo was not able to tempt the military intelligence in Norway to adress the matter, but sources within the Norwegian KFOR/IRF confirm the accusations by the Serbian officials.

"During basic training we are told to leave our cellphones behind when we leave for Kosovo. They told us some quite nasty stories, and I have no reason to doubt them." one officer of the Infantry recalls.

Were Albaanians in Norway part of this nastyness, and what kind of people are we talking about? Veterans? Criminals?

- "We were informed that it was Albanians in Norway, some with citizenship and that they were regarded by the police as dangerous due to their high profile in the drug trade. They adressed the soldiers' families on behalf of the Kosova-Albanian forces. "

This confirms that there is a link between criminal Albanians in Norway and Albanian officials in Kosovo and Metohija?

- Not in so many words...

Contractors under similar threat?

Electronic warfare specialists asked to review the information came up with another chilling perspective. As the GSM-broadcasts in themselves, though not impossible to "decode", demands rather expensive and advanced equipment when monitored, it is more likely that the monitoring of the KFOR cellphones is taking place in the relay-stations. This implies that the telecommunication contractors in the area are offering their services to the Albanian network.

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