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photo “Oxford skyline” © Chris Andrews/Oxford Picture Library

Kosovo a universal tragedy

Every time I go to the newspaper stand in Oxford, Kosovo is on the front page of at least one of the papers, usually most of them. Today the London Daily Mail had a huge picture of “The boy who saw 19 of his family executed.”

According to Richard Pendlebury in Tirana, the young boy, Dreni, survived a bombing that killed the women and children in three generations of his family at the hands of Serb forces. At least Dreni’s father and some uncles survived because the male members of his family were stationed in another location. Dreni’s family separated because they believed that the Serbs would not bomb women and children.

They miscalculated. After discovering their hiding place, the head policeman ordered the other policemen to shoot each of the women and children in Dreni’s family. One policeman objected, but that was not enough to stop the killings.

“After discovering their hiding place, the head policeman ordered the other policemen to shoot each of the women and children in Dreni’s family.”

Dreni was hit by a bullet in the arm, but he played dead on the floor until the Serbs left. Then, they set the house on fire. Dreni’s two-year-old little sister was still alive in their dead mother’s arms, and she cried out to Dreni to save her. However, having been shot, he could not lift her. He was forced to jump out of the window in order to save himself.

Accounts like Dreni’s keep some of my friends from wanting to listen to the news or read the papers.

However, the war is too close to the United Kingdom to ignore what is happening. In England, the public response to the crisis has been overwhelming. According to the Oxford Mail, donations have poured in from Wallingford and Cholsey, nearby communities, following a report in the Mail.

One Oxford organization, Oxfam, has also been helpful. Last Wednesday, Oxfam supplied 20 tons of water tanks and buckets for the relief of Kosovo refugees. The cry of everyones’ hearts here in Oxford seems to be for peace in Kosovo.

On street corners, people petition for peace. Several groups, including the Quaker Society, are calling for a stop to the war. Today, a candle -lit service of evening prayer was held in Oxford for the people of Kosovo. All Christians were invited to attend, and a collection was taken for the relief of the refugees.

On the lampposts of Oxford are stickers calling for a stop to the war. A few days ago, an older woman was stationed right outside my doorway with a collection cup for Kosovo.

A symbol of the sentiment expressed by many of the British people is revealed on a tree located just one block from my home. The tree is covered in paper wishes. Many of the wishes had youthful handwriting, yet the most prevalent wish seemed to be that bombings in Kosovo would end.

Until peace can be maintained, Kosovo will be on the hearts of the British people. Living in Oxford, one cannot escape notice of the sadness, pain and heartache that the war in Kosovo is causing for so many innocent people.