Kosovo authorities cut off electricity to Serb enclave

xinhua net
English.news.cn 2010-11-18 04:20:42

BELGRADE, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Kosovo authorities on Wednesday cut off electricity to the local health clinic, radio station and elementary school in the Serb enclave of Caglavica, two kilometers south of the capital Pristina, reported Radio Serbia.
According to Radio KiM, which broadcasts to the Serb population of Kosovo, the electricity was cut off during the morning news, at about 9:40 a.m. (0840 GMT), with no prior warning. Kosovo Electro- Energy Corporation (KEK) workers reportedly delivered a bill for an unpaid debt of 134 euros and proceeded to cut the power supply to the radio station.
However, Radio KiM officials said there was no overdue debt to KEK and the radio station had been paying its bills. The radio station is housed in the Caglavica community center and has its own meter.
In an official statement, health clinic officials denounced the action by KEK as a "direct attack against patients' health, as health care services are now unable to function fully and have no heating."
"The clinic and the physical therapy department in Caglavica have separate meters, all bills are paid in a timely fashion, we do not have any debts when it comes to the KEK, and we have receipts to prove it," said a press release from the Health Care Center in Gracanica.
Radio KiM journalists report they have been unable to get an explanation from KEK personnel, since they "refused to speak Serbian."
Caglavica is home to about 200 Serbian and 10 Roma families. In 2004 it was the site of a major clash between ethnic Albanian demonstrators and international peacekeeping KFOR troops who prevented them from marching on the village.
Editor: yan
xinhua net
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-11/18/c_13611292.htm