Protest at Kosova massacre

January 23, 1999

[Marking the massacre victims]

The bodies of 45 people were drawn in chalk across Centenary Square yesterday, to mark the recent massacre of innocent villagers in Recak, near the Kosovan capital Pristina.

Amongst the protestors was former Mayor Mohammed Ajeeb, and two local campaigners who have just returned Kosova.

Campaign member Geoff Robinson said "the protest is intended to draw attention to the continuing oppression and murder of Kosovans by the Serbian regime. And judging by the response of passers by, I think it's been a great success."

The protest was called by the Bradford Aid for Kosova Campaign. Rachel and Cameron visited the region at Christmas and reported to a packed meeting at the 1 in 12 Club last week.

See previous posting

Million pound Council boss in "mutual-aid" network

January 18, 1999

[Richard Penn]

Richard Penn, who retired last month as Chief Executive of Bradford Council on "health grounds", is set to help other Council bosses get similar "enhanced" public pay-offs.

Penn left Bradford Council following a six-month spell of "sick-leave" on full pay, when a doctor certified that he was permanently incapable of fulfilling his duties. He managed to negotiate an "enhanced" retirement package that is believed to top £45,000 a year.

In his 10 years as head of Bradford Council he pocketed £1million in pay from the local public purse.

It is known that he and council leader Ian Greenwood did not get on.

He will now become an unpaid consultant for the Association of Local Authority Chief Executives where he will help other Council bosses around the country rake in similar lucrative pay-off deals.

Richard Penn's "retirement" parallels that of his predecessor Derek Holmes. Shortly after former Tory leader Eric Pickles came to power in September 1988, Holmes went on an extended "holiday". He was promptly replaced by Penn, then Chief Executive of Knowsley Council in Liverpool.

But Penn has been unpopular with subsequent Labour leaders, with the exception of John Ryan. When Ian Greenwood took control last year, the writing was on the wall. Soon afterwards Penn, known to his detractors as "the invisible man", went on extended sick leave due to "stress".

With an annual pay packet of over £100,000, Penn was one of the highest paid Council bosses in the land. He is now tipped to pick up some lucrative part-time work with the Equal Opportunities Commission which is likely to see his retirement income come close to his former full time take-home pay.

Richard Penn Fact-file

Kosova aid volunteers return

January 4, 1999

[Prishtina University - trashed]

Bradford aid volunteers Rachel & Cameron returned from Kosova yesterday with eye-witness accounts of both Serbian police oppression and active resistance. They smuggled out pictures, like the one here of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Prishtina University, showing the conditions under which Kosovans have to live and study. The Faculty block has recently been re-opened to Albanian students, but there is no teaching equipment and no heating in a place where temperatures plummet to minus 18 degrees. However, students and lecturers there expressed their gratitude that Britain continues to recognise the University's awards.

The 2 volunteers, along with Dave from Manchester, arrived in Belgrade, Serbia, on Boxing day where they met students and workers involved in resistance to the Milosovic regime. Rachel said that the Serbians she met where "totally supportive of us and our work in Kosova". She said the Serbians were working for democracy and human rights across ethnic divides, in the face of harsh government oppression, but was told "You think things are bad here, just wait 'til you get to Prishtina".

Next day saw the trio in Prishtina, capital of occupied Kosova. Rachel said it's similar in size to Bradford, but poverty is widespread. She said the feeling of daily repression is tangible. They saw a lot of UN observers, but the 'Council for Human Rights and Freedom' told them that recorded abuses had actually increased since the UN presence.

They were aware of the current fighting around the area. When they managed to get through to Mitrovica they found things very tense. 4 people had been killed in the area the night before. They delivered aid to education workers and miners, and managed to interview the President of the miners Union before being led through the back streets of the town to relative safety.

Rachel said she found no evidence of overt nationalism; "What they want is the right to a normal life. They just want freedom and independence seems the only way to get it."

After a week and a half the trio reluctantly left, travelling back through Croatia and Bosnia. They were stopped at police road blocks 8 times leaving Kosova. But everywhere they went they were welcomed and looked after, and they are determined to return.

Read Cameron's own account: Journey to Kosova

See previous report. See also Kosova - Dirty War.

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