Activities 2008
Raise of salaries – abuse of political force and taxpayers’ money
Prishtina, 8th of September, 2008:
Civic Action FOL’08, objects the raise of salaries of the heads of state and considers that this action is an abuse of political force and taxpayers’ money, and also lack of respect for 30% of citizens who live in poverty, and 50% of unemployed citizens of our country. This action also shows a lack of respect for citizens employed in the public sector: police, health employees, and state administration, salaries of which are still symbolic in comparison with their salaries. These categories continue to receive salaries 10 times lower than those of senior political officials. Furthermore, these civil servants do not have the privilege as the heads of the state of Kosovo, and that is the coverage of representation, telephone and travelling expenses.
FOL’08 welcomes the decision of the President of Republic of Kosovo
Prishtina, 9th September, 2008
Civic Action FOL’08 welcomes the decision of the President of Republic of Kosovo for withdrawing the decision for the raise of salaries. We hope that this action will be followed by other senior officials of the country. Furthermore, we hope that the president will continue to prove that the highest office of the country respects the concerns of citizens and will always take their remarks into consideration for further developments.
Hot potato of nominations
Prishtina, 21st of September, 2008
For 2 years now, Kosovo does not have an Advocate of the People, and for 9 months it doesn’t have a Chief Executive Officer of the Secretariat of Central Elections Commission. Job vacancies for these two positions have been published and republished, and this whole process is being followed by a lack of transparency and political pressure. Regarding these developments FOL’08 expresses its concern, especially with:
a) the intervention of political parties in these nominations,
b) lack of sufficient transparency in these processes, and
c) damage caused to respective institutions.
Re-advertisement of the job vacancy for the Advocate of the People, a failure for the Assembly
Prishtina, 25th of September, 2008
Today’s decision of the Kosovo Assembly to republish the job vacancy for the Advocate of the People without any reasons based on the law damages the credibility of the highest institution of the country and is also a strong indicator of political interference in this process. This action of the Assembly destroys the work of the commission established for the selection of best candidates for this position.
Top List of most isolated institutions of Kosovo
Prishtina, 28th of September, 2008
28th of September is the (informal) International Day for the Right of Information. In order to mark this day in Kosovo FOL’08, supported by Youth Network of Kosovo and Organizations: Çohu, Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR), Forum for Civic Initiatives (FIQ), Syri i Vizionit (SiV), Kosovo Centre for International Cooperation (KCIC), Çelnaja, and Initiative for Progress (INPO) have selected 5 most isolated institutions regarding access and provision of official information during 2008. The selection of institutions was done based on the actions, or lack of actions, of respective institutions, for the publication of official information.
Letter to the Head of Kosovo Assembly, Prishtina
Prishtina, 6th of October, 2008
In the meeting of 23rd of September, 2008, the headship of Kosovo Assembly approved the proposal of the member of Kosovo Assembly headship, Mr. Xhavit Haliti, according to which 120 Members of Parliament of Kosovo Assembly are to be allowed an office to work with the electorate with a rent of around 300€, an assistant around 200 €, a vehicle around 6000 €, released from customs obligations (with no right to sell it without paying the customs taxes) and 100 € for fuel for one month. Kosovo Assembly needs to accommodate every MP with an office, but this should be done only inside the premises of the Assembly. Furthermore, Kosovo is an electoral zone and on this basis the Assembly does not have any obligation to ensure spaces/offices the work of MP’s in their respective cities. The contact of MP’s with citizens is an obligation of their work and it is not an additional engagement.
Purchase of vehicles for the MP’s of Kosovo as to our consideration is an abuse of taxpayers’ money and abuse of power by the headship of Assembly. According to the definition “MPs’ cannot sell their vehicles without paying customs taxes”, means that the vehicles will be their property, which is scandalous. Mr. Krasniqi, we have to remind you that you are taking these decisions at a time when hospitals are facing with the lack of necessary infrastructure, including the lack of vehicles and essential medicaments.
FOL’08 against the media performance of the Prime Minister
Prishtina, 7th of October, 2008 (Kohavision)
Civic Action FOL’08 has considered yesterday’s reaction of the Prime Minister regarding the termination of privileges of MP’s a media performance. In a press conference, FOL’08 said that the reaction of the Prime Minister comes 14 days after the date when the headship of the Assembly has approved the proposal for the purchase of vehicles, and also that the reaction of the Prime Minister comes as a result of public pressure and not a good political will to save taxpayers’ money. “FOL’08 expresses its indignity even with the behaviour of political parties represented in the headship of the Assembly, which have agreed with the proposal.
Market of Problems
Prishtina, 10th of October, 2008
Civic Action FOL’08 together with organizations: Youth Network of Kosovo, Syri i Vizionit, Kosovo Centre for International Cooperation and Initiative for Progress, this Friday (10th of October) from 12:00 until 13:00, in the square “Nëna Terezë” organized the activity “Market of Problems”. The symbolic protest aims to express the dissatisfaction of citizens with political, economic and social problems which Kosovo citizens are facing.
Role and future of the Office of the General Auditor
Prishtina, 23rd of October 2008
Good and efficient governance still remains a continuous challenge of Kosovo institutions, despite serious efforts made in this area. Good governance also means efficient reports and relations between institution and governmental authorities. The lack of this inter-institutional report and overall lack of efficiency in this relation is one of the key obstacles of good governance. As a result of the lack of this efficient inter-institutional report and relation the function of governmental institutions of Kosovo is also damaged, and this brings about a bad management, especially of public funds.
Legal basis against corruption: Declaration of assets
Prishtina, 23rd of October, 2008
Civic Action FOL ’08, Organization for Democracy, Anti-Corruption and Dignity–ÇOHU and Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) today have organized a round table discussion with the topic “Legal basis against corruption: declaration of fortune”. Participants of this discussion included MP’s of Republic of Kosovo, representatives of: Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency, Government and Civil Society.
Conclusions of this table were:
1) Declaration of assets of high officials and financial resources of political parties would show a good political will of governmental institutions to fight corruption.
2) The Legal infrastructure against corruption is not harmonized and is also interpreted in different ways depending on the institutions.
3) Citizens’ participation should be encouraged in the war against corruption, by giving positive examples of such involvement, and
4) Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency needs to strengthen through increasing technical capacities and human potential.
Supporting the Constitutions, against the six-point plan
Prishtina, 12th of November, 2008
Today, (Wednesday, 12th of November, 2008) in front of the Government the Civic Action FOL’08 together with the Club for Foreign Policies, Forum for Civic Initiatives, Kosovo Democratic Institution and organizations; Initiative for Progress, Youth Progressive Initiative and Syri i Vizionit demonstrated in the support of Constitutions, against the six-points plan proposed by the General Secretary of Unites Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon.
NO TO NEGOTIATIONS, AND NO TO PLANS
Prishtina, 19th of November, 2008
Around 30 thousand protestors gathered today in Prishtina to protest against political plans obstructing Kosovo’s territorial sovereignty and integrity. This demonstration was organized by 20 different social organizations, among which was also FOL’08. The demonstration was organized against the six-point plan which divides Kosovo. At the same time a request was made for sovereignty and a referendum.
Constitution in danger! The Court should intervene
Prishtina, 29th of October, 2008
Civic Action FOL’08 is concerned with the behaviours of leaders of the state in report with the implementation and respect to the Constitution of Republic of Kosovo and its requirements. Beside the lack of respect for the principle of dividing the governance, as happened in the case when an MP was nominated as a Government Spokesperson, the Constitution is not respected even by the President of the Country. The President of Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Fatmir Sejdiu, by keeping two positions is violating the Article 88 of the Constitution of Republic of Kosovo (after nomination, the President cannot have any functions in the political party) and Article 84, (guarantees constitutional functioning of institutions …)
FOL against corruption
Prishtina, 9th of December 2008
9 December – International Day Against Corruption, finds Kosovo with a wide and powerful extension of corruption in all key institutions of the country. This phenomenon is also destroying governance and services important and essential for citizens, such as: health services, power supply, etc. Corruption and lack of results in the fight against it is making a bigger gap between decision-taking institutions and citizens, by causing full lack of trust in the work of country’s institutions. This phenomenon is damaging the essential service for citizens and the European perspective of Kosovo.
FOL’08 demands that the Romanian Police does not become part of EULEX
Prishtina, 10th of December, 2008
FOL’08 today has sent a letter in the addresses of: the President of Kosovo, Mr. Fatmir Sejdiu and Chief of EULEX, Mr.Yves de Kermabon, to demand for the Romanian Police not to be part of EULEX, until the Romanian police officers are found guilty for the killing of two citizens of Kosovo in the demonstration organized by the Movement Vetëvendosje on 10th of February, 2007.
Santa Clause
12th December, 2008
FOL”08 has published the report “Santa Clause” which shows the lack of execution of Law against corruption, respectively Chapter 4 of this law for the registration of official gifts.
Kosovo Assembly minus of the year
Prishtina, 23rd of December, 2008
Kosovo Assembly during 2008 has proved the lack of initiative and courage to debate important matters of state interest. Assembly of Republic of Kosovo has failed to ask for accountability from the Government by losing this way the independence and integrity of the highest decision-taking institution of the country.
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