Montenegro Albanians urge end to terrorism trial against fellow brethren

TUZI, Montenegro, June 9 – Ethnic Albanian leaders in Montenegro demanded, last week, that authorities drop terrorism charges against 18 ethnic Albanians, including four U.S. citizens.
The group was arrested in September 2006, on the eve of a key parliamentary election in newly independent Montenegro, with authorities charging that the group was planning terrorist attacks aimed at creating an ethnic Albanian republic.
Five of the suspects have been released from custody and 11 remain in jail. Two other suspects remain at large since 2006.
The proceedings have drawn international criticism as Montenegro has been accused of alleged police brutality. Montenegrin authorities have rejected such accusations.
The indictment against the 18 alleges that they planned to “use explosives and weapons for terrorist acts aimed at controlling … military posts, police precincts and other important facilities” in the ethnic Albanian part of the country.
Ethnic Albanians make up about 6.5 percent of Montenegro’s more than 600,000 people. They have, in the past, demanded more rights for their community, but have never resorted to violence to achieve their goals.