A lone aviator pleads the case for Kosovo
Friday, March 04, 2011
"I have two passports. I got here on a United States passport because technically, here in Botswana, we don't exist. Even though I am here, I don't exist," says James Berisha, a pilot from the Balkan state of Kosovo.
His tale paints the story of a man on a serious mission. And serious his mission is because James Berisha is fighting for the independence of his country and its recognition. However, he does not go the route of inciting uprisings and use of violence to attain his ends. Two years ago, Berisha, an airline captain, started the Flying for Kosovo Mission.
While it is widely acknowledged that Khama holds the title of Kgosi, the government’s failure to properly gazette his recognition has raised serious concerns about adherence to legal procedures and the credibility of traditional leadership. (See a story elsewhere in this newspaper.) Recent court documents by the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Kgotla Autlwetse, shed light on the intricacies of Khama’s recognition process....