Statement on the 22nd Anniversary of the March Pogrom in Kosovo and Metohija (March 17, 2004)

On the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the tragic events of March 17, 2004, the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia commemorates the victims of the organized violence against the Serbian population in Kosovo and Metohija and expresses solidarity with all those who suffered during these events.

During the two days of unrest, a wave of violence spread from Kosovska Mitrovica to numerous towns and villages across the province. According to official data from the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), 19 people lost their lives — eight Serbs and eleven Albanians who died in clashes with international forces — while later unofficial sources suggest that the number of victims may be even higher. More than 1,000 people were injured, including dozens of members of international security forces.

Over 4,000 Serbs were expelled from their homes, while six towns and nine villages were ethnically cleansed. Around 1,000 Serbian houses were burned or severely damaged, along with schools, health centers, post offices, and other institutions of the Republic of Serbia.

In a coordinated attack on cultural and religious heritage, more than 35 Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries were destroyed or desecrated within 48 hours. Among them were some of the most significant historical and spiritual sites, including the Church of the Virgin of Ljeviš, the Prizren Seminary, the Cathedral Church of St. George, the Church of Christ the Saviour, and the Monastery of the Holy Archangels near Prizren. The monasteries of the Holy Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian in Zočište and Devič near Srbica were also targeted. More than 10,000 frescoes, icons, and other invaluable relics were damaged, destroyed, or lost.

Entire Serbian communities were forced to flee from places such as Kosovo Polje, Obilić, Plemetina, Lipljan, Uroševac, Đakovica, and Gnjilane, while returnees in Belo Polje near Peć were once again driven out as their homes were set on fire.

The New Communist Party of Yugoslavia stresses that those responsible for organizing this violence have never been adequately brought to justice. The lack of accountability, combined with minimal sentences for some perpetrators, represents a grave injustice and a continuing obstacle to lasting peace and coexistence.

We emphasize that the events of March 2004 stand as a stark reminder of the consequences of nationalism, ethnic hatred, and the failure of international structures to protect civilian populations and cultural heritage.

The New Communist Party of Yugoslavia calls for:

• Full truth and accountability for the crimes committed;
• The safe and sustainable return of all displaced persons;
• The restoration and protection of destroyed cultural and religious heritage;
• The strengthening of genuine interethnic solidarity based on equality and social justice.

Remembering these events is not only a matter of honoring the victims, but also a necessary step toward preventing such tragedies from ever happening again.

New Communist Party of Yugoslavia