"The police operate in an atmosphere of impunity and there is no indication that the violations committed by state agents will be subject to any investigation, while members of the National Liberation Army (NLA) have been a granted an amnesty," the organization stated.
"The evidence from the Tetovo region indicates that the police routinely used torture and ill-treatment of ethnic Albanians both as a means of interrogation and, as many victims believed, of reprisal for actions by the NLA," the report stated.
"The NLA, which initially targeted the police and army, committed human rights abuses by abducting and ill-treating civilians and by driving ethnic Macedonians out of their homes in an apparent attempt at 'ethnic cleansing'."
Amnesty International called for the investigation and acknowledgment of human rights abuses committed during the conflict; the introduction of safeguards to prevent the recurrence of torture and ill-treatment; and implementation of steps to end impunity and ensure justice for all.
"Previous experience has shown that a failure to deliver justice to the victims of abuses and to strengthen the protection of human rights threatens a lasting peace," said a spokespercon for the organization. The recent spate of assassinations of former NLA members by rival Albanians in the run up to the elections to be held in September underscores the need for all parties to respect human rights.
"The evidence from the Tetovo region indicates that the police routinely used torture and ill-treatment of ethnic Albanians both as a means of interrogation and, as many victims believed, of reprisal for actions by the NLA," the report stated.
"The NLA, which initially targeted the police and army, committed human rights abuses by abducting and ill-treating civilians and by driving ethnic Macedonians out of their homes in an apparent attempt at 'ethnic cleansing'."
Amnesty International called for the investigation and acknowledgment of human rights abuses committed during the conflict; the introduction of safeguards to prevent the recurrence of torture and ill-treatment; and implementation of steps to end impunity and ensure justice for all.
"Previous experience has shown that a failure to deliver justice to the victims of abuses and to strengthen the protection of human rights threatens a lasting peace," said a spokespercon for the organization. The recent spate of assassinations of former NLA members by rival Albanians in the run up to the elections to be held in September underscores the need for all parties to respect human rights.