Ever since the crisis in Kosova escalated
and turned into an armed conflict, the Serb armed forces perpetrated
extrajudicial executions and massacres not sparing even the women,
children, elderly or the ill.
Such executions took place in
Likoshan (28 February 1998), Qirez (February),
Prekaz i Poshtm (March), Poklek i Ri (May), Dean, Lybeniq, Rahovec
(July), Dobratin (September), Grina (October), Abri (September),
Galica (September), in the vicinity of the Magura tunnel, Radisheva,
Golluboc, Ranca near Shtime, Lugishta near Has, etc.
The mass killings of Albanians began in the
villages of Likoshan, district of Gllogoc, and that of Qirez, district
of Sknderaj.
On 28 February 1998, an attack was launched
in these two villages. The attack lasted 24 hours and a large number
of masked Serb policemen, soldiers and paramilitaries were involved
in it.
Heavy weaponry and helicopters were used in
this attack. The Serbian Ministry of Interior Affairs established
an air bridge between Belgrade and their bases in Kosova.
Helicopters opened fire on the Albanian villages.
Albanian civilians were killed and mutilated inside the houses. The
age of the killed and mutilated is between 16 and 70.
Policemen went into the house of the Ahmetaj
family (36 members) and forced them out. Men, women and children were
told to lie down. The men were separated from the rest of the group,
taken out of the yard, beaten and extrajudicially executed one by
one.
The tragedy continued on 5 March 1998.
At about 5.00 a.m., Serb police forces launched
an attack on the villages of Prekaz i Poshtm, Llausha, Polac, Marina,
Vojnika and Rakinica, district of Sknderaj. As a consequence of this
attack, 46 Albanians were killed and mutilated, of whom 20 from the
family of Shaban Jashari. Among the killed, 15 were children aged
between 7-16 and 17 were female. There were also elderly up to the
age of 74.
The victims were buried by the police on 10
March. They were not buried according to the tradition and the autopsy
was not conducted.
During this period, there were incessant attacks
in the regions of Dean and Peja.
On 25 May, police and military forces
launched an attack on the villages of this region.
The attack resulted with the extrajudicial
execution of 7 members of the Hamza family, 1 member of the Gogaj-Cacaj
family and 1 member of the Delimetaj family in the village of Lybeniq
near Peja.
On 18 July, Serbian military forces
perpetrated a massacre on the border zone with Albania. Women, children
and elderly, who were trying to return to their homes, were massacred.
This happened at the place called Rrasa e Zogut in the vicinity of
the mountain huts in Junik.
It is believed that at least 60 Albanians
were killed.
Whereas Serb media, based on the military sources,
claimed that over 100 Albanians were killed. The number of the wounded
is much higher. The corpses were still not given to their families.
Their identities are still unknown.
On 31 May, at about 1.30 p.m., Serbian
police and paramilitary forces launched an attack on the village of
Poklek i Ri, killing and mutilating 11 persons. Apart from the corpse
of Ardian Haxhi Deliu (18), who was buried, the corpses of the others
were loaded in a police lorry.
Ever since, there are no information on their
whereabouts. It is assumed that the corpses were buried in a mass
grave or were destroyed in order to tamper evidence.
CDHRF believes that the skeletons presented
by the Serb media in the village of Kleka can be those of the victims
killed in Poklek.
Killed on July 19; Fadil Avni Silimusa
(1978), a mentally disturbed person, Qelibije Hazr Alirifa (1944),
a housewife, and Lutvije Durguti (72), a housewife - killed on July
20; Gjilferije Shaban Hasanmeraj (1920), a housewife, killed on July
21; Mizair Jetullah Isma (1963), an electrician, and Bekim Shaban
Isma (26), a farmer, killed on July 22; as well as Asllan Kapllan
Kleka (1947), an auto mechanic, killed on September 3; Sejdi Miftar
Zyberi, a farmer, and Esherafedin Rexhep Kastrati (18) - both from
the village of Drenoc near Rahovec, GLLOGOC:
On 19 July, as an aftermath of a premeditated
attack of the Serbian forces many Albanians were killed and wounded
in Rahovec. Many women, children and elderly, who had taken shelter
in Sheh Muhedini's masjid were massacred in the most barbaric way.
The bodies of two professors and 6 other bodies
burned beyond recognition were found at the place called "Tuba".
CDHRF has registered the names of 150 killed
people. Eye-witnesses claim that Serbian police, military and paramilitary
forces perpetrated extrajudicial executions.
Many Albanians were reported missing, taken
hostage and arrested, whose whereabouts are still unknown.
On 22 July, the Serbian authorities
in Prizren opened two mass graves in which they buried the corpses
of many Albanians killed during the offensive in Rahovec.
On August 5, Kastriot Krasniqi (1975)
from the village of Trpeza was arrested in Lipjan. He was sent to
2 months of pre-trial detention, physically tortured, insulted on
a national basis and threatened. Later on, he was released in a very
bad health condition.
On 26 August, while fleeing in a tractor,
11 members of the Asllani family from the village of Ranca were killed
by a Serbian tank. Among the killed, 8 were children and 3 were women.
3 men were wounded.
16 September, on returning to their
houses in the village of Dragobil, Osman Met Paarizi (60) and Fehmi
Miftar Paarizi (45) were caught by the Serb forces, taken to Malisheva
and executed.
On 25 September, Serb forces went into
the village of Galica, district of Vushtrri, and executed 14 men,
mainly youngsters, and a woman.
On 26 September, in the vicinity of
the Magura tunnel, district of Klina, Serb forces separated several
Albanians from the crowd of the displacement people and executed Smajl
Millaku (72) and his son Sefer (49) from Ujmir.
The very same day, 8 Albanian youngsters were
executed by the Serb forces in Golluboc.
On 27 September, in the Deliaj quarter
in Abria e Eprme, district of Gllogovc, the corpses of 22 members
of the Deliaj family, including women, children and elderly, were
found a kilometer away from their house. Diturie Deliaj, a 3-month-old
baby, was found alive under her mother's body.Due to the difficult
living conditions, she died a month later.
On 4 October, the mutilated corpses
of Antigona (14) and Mihane Hysen Deliu (16) were found. Prior to
being executed, the two were raped. Similar massacres are perpetrated
by the Serb forces in most of the attacked regions.
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR 1998 IN KOSOVA
RAHOVEC: On December 11, goods
estimated to DM 4786 were seized from Halit Krndali, even though
his documentation was in perfect order and he had paid all the required
taxes. RAHOVEC:
On December 13, Hidajet Iska (1976),
a farmer, was physically ill-treated by the police in the outskirts
of the town.
VUSHTRRI: On December 15, Driton
Shaqiri (25) from Pantina was brutally beaten by the police in the
outskirts of Vushtrria. Due to the injuries suffered Driton had to
seek for medical help.
KLINA: On December 15, the guards
of the Serb prisons in Peja and Dubrava near Istog prevented family
members from visiting Gani Ahmetgjekaj from Rudica and Kadri and Beqir
Kuqaj from Gremnik.
HANI I ELEZIT: On December 16,
police arrested Sabedin Hasallari (1970).
DECEMBER 20:
MALISHEVA: In the vicinity of Mlean,
police wounded Eshref Bafti Muaj (50) from Prizren and a co-passenger
of his. Zejnullah Sopi (1949) from Prizren, Asllan Dana (41) and brothers
Fitim and Fatos Sahiti (19) from Krusha e Madhe near Rahovec were
arrested. They were travelling to the village of Polac near Sknderaj
to attend the funeral of the Albanians killed on the border with Albania
on December 14.
At the place called "Pishat e Llazics", Muharrem
Rr. Kastrati (36) and Haxhi L. Kastrati from Domanek were severely
ill-treated by the police.
In Gjergjica near Gllogoc, police forced out
of the bus and arrested three Albanian students from Drenoc.
PEJA: Large police forces blocked the
"Haxhi Zeka" quarter in Peja, raided, demolished and looted many houses,
beat and arrested several Albanians. The houses of the following were
raided: Zenel Muriqi, Ramiz Niki, Gani, Ismet and Izet Goga, Mahir
Muhaxheri, Shaban Krasniqi, Shklzen Syla, Vesel Luta, Ramiz Zeka,
Myftar Idrizi, Brahim Rugova, Sali Dashi, Ruzhdi Syla, prof. Ali
Syla, Arif Gjikolli, Halil Dervishaj, Ramiz Muriqi and Sadik Muriqi.
The following were beaten: Shaban Krasniqi,
Vesel Luta, Gazmend Ramiz Zeka (23), Hasime Fetahaj (48) and his son
Jeton (23). The following were arrested: Ismet Goga, Eroll Mahir Muhaxheri
(23), Nazmi H. Shala (22) and Gazmend Ramiz Zeka (23).
Police searched for the following: Visar Zenel
Muriqi (20) and Valon Vesel Luta (22).
Two armed Serbian speaking persons entered
the house of Musa Zekaj, "Sh. Spahia" st., looted DM 1.300 and the
jewels belonging to his daughter-in-law estimated to several thousands
of DM.
GJAKOVA: Yesterday, police arrested
Vesel Myrtaj (65), his son Hilmi (34) and Valon Myrt Myrtaj (16)
- the three from Osek-Hyla. Vesel was released in a deteriorated health
condition due to the police beating. Hilmi and Valon were sent to
the prison in Peja.
MITROVICA: In the evening, the Serb
forces stationed at the water reservoir in Shipol opened machine gun
fire.
VUSHTRRI: Serb policemen in 3 APCs and
a Landrover went to the villages of Sllatina and Tarbulluq. There
was panic among the villagers.
SHTIME: Abdullah Shaqiri (40) was arrested
by the police. He was immediately sent to the police station in Ferizaj.
On December 21, the Serb Media Center in Prishtina quoted police sources
saying that Miliq Joviq (51), a worker with the Serbian Ministry of
Interior Affairs, was killed and that Miliana Pantiq, an employee
with the very same, was wounded.
On December 21, we received the list
of the Albanians killed in the district of Rahovec in the course of
1998. The names of the following were added to the list: Avdullah
Hoxha (70), a pensioner, Besnik Xhafer Ademi (15) from the village
of Bradash near Podujeva died. A day before, he was wounded by Serb
snipers in the village of Obran%a.
- On December 21, the Serbian Run District
Court in Prizren convicted Hamidin Kapetan Berisha (1960) and Shaqir
Miftar Poniku (1967) - both from Prizren. The two were sentenced to
3 years of imprisonment each and were sent to serve their prison terms
in Vranje (Serbia).
On December 21, the Serb Media Center
in Prishtina quoted police sources saying that Miliq Joviq (51), a
worker with the Serbian Ministry of Interior Affairs, was killed and
that Miliana Pantiq, an employee with the very same, was wounded.
On December 21, we received the list
of the Albanians killed in the district of Rahovec in the course of
1998. The names of the following were added to the list: Avdullah
Hoxha (70), a pensioner, Besnik Xhafer Ademi (15) from the village
of Bradash near Podujeva died.A day before, he was wounded by Serb
snipers in the village of Obran%a.
- On December 21, the Serbian Run District
Court in Prizren convicted Hamidin Kapetan Berisha (1960) and Shaqir
Miftar Poniku (1967) - both from Prizren. The two were sentenced to
3 years of imprisonment each and were sent to serve their prison terms
in Vranje (Serbia).
DECEMBER 21:
PODUJEVA: At 9 a.m., a military convoy
of 15 tanks from the military base in Batllava paraded through the
road between Lluzhan and Podujeva. They provoked passers-by and headed
towards Krpimeh.
6 tanks were stationed in the Lepaja quarter
in Dobratin. 9 tanks were stationed between the villages of Bajina
and Dobrdol. For more than 2 hours the Serb forces opened fire towards
the positions of the KLA. As the KLA forces responded, the Serb forces
withdrew to the base.
At noon, Serbian police and paramilitary forces
were stationed on all the cross-roads in Podujeva. Serb snipers were
stationed on top of the high buildings. Adem Ajeti (60) from Podujeva
and Hyzri Muiqi (28) from Llapashtica e Eprme were arrested by the
police. On being physically ill-treated, they were released. Many
Albanians were ill-treated.
Later on, Serb forces with over 10 APCs blocked
the part of the town in which a police inspector was killed and a
Serb woman was wounded. Xhemajl Arifi was arrested. His house was
raided and a considerable amount of medicine was seized from him.
Policemen and paramilitaries opened automatic fire and damaged the
houses of Sylejman Deda, Arif Hyseni, Avdullah Murati, Avdyl Fejzullahu
and Latif Prvetica in Llapashtica e Eprme.
Brothers Xhemjal, Arif and Blerim Arifi were
arrested, severely ill-treated and released. Their bakery was demolished.
FUSH-KOSOVA: Last night, Serb policemen
opened automatic fire and damaged the houses of Gani and Sali Jashanica,
Aziz Hasolli and Ramadan Qyqalla in Bardh i Madh.
Last night, after midnight, Serb civilians
demolished the private house in which the "Mihal Grameno" Primary
School is located. The school inventory was looted. 70 policemen were
stationed at the coal open-pit mine in Bardh i Madh.
SUHAREKA: Serbian police forces are
still stationed in the villages of Reshtan, Mohlan and Grejec. Military
units were stationed in Qafa e Duhls and Bajrak, as well as in the
Birai mountains. Last night, there was shooting in Suhareka and Mushtisht.
In the outskirts of Suhareka, police are stopping and ill-treating
passers-by.
MITROVICA: There are large movements
of the Serbian police forces in the streets of Mitrovica.
In Shipol, police are stopping and ill-treating
passers-by. 6 lorries, 3 landrovers and 2 APCs full of policemen left
Mitrovica and headed towards Sknderaj. Eset Muj Ujkani (38), an
engineer from Vinarc i Eprm was summoned to the police station in
Mitrovica and sent to 30 days of pre-trial detention.
Dejan Saviq, a Serb policeman from Gojbula
near Vushtrri, chased several Albanian youngsters, cigarette vendors,
through the streets of the "Tavnik" quarter. He looted 20 boxes of
cigarettes from Behxhet Xhevat Voca (40) and threatened him.
In the vicinity of the Ibri bridge, two policemen
arrested the following pupils of the Medical Secondary School: Samedin
Jusuf Kameri (16) from Pantina near Vushtrri and Gzim Nasuf Ismajli
(16) from "Ura e Gjakut" quarter in Mitrovica. They were taken to
the police station, interrogated on the KLA, provoked and ill-treated
them. Later on, they were released.
VUSHTRRI: Serbs from Graca and Prilluzha
opened fire during the night and early in the morning. Police searched
for Adnan Klinaku from Stanoc i Poshtm. At about 7.00 p.m., in front
of the District assembly in Vushtrri, fire shots were heard and then,
large police forces were stationed in different parts of the town.
PRIZREN: Serb military forces were stationed
again in Planeja and along the border with Albania. They mined the
border zone.
PEJA: Large police forces stationed
in the outskirts of the town beat tens of Albanian citizens. Ardit
Adem Niki (20), Izet Sejfijaj (35) and Ylfet Sadri Hajrizaj are in
detention since the day before yesterday, when police arrested them.
GJAKOVA: Serbian police arrested Ibrahim
Pepshi (38), Luz Luli (62) and Rrahman Jonuzi (45) from Dujaka, as
well as Kadri Jasiqi (45) from Here. Later on, Luz and Kadri were
released.
OBILIQ: Several Serb policemen and soldiers
in an APC were stationed on the road between Raskova, Baksh and Besia.
They are stopping and checking the identities of the Albanian passers-by.
Police forces were stationed in the vicinity of Sulltan Murat's turbeh
in Mazgit and ill-treated several Albanian pupils and citizens.
At noon, Serb hooligans physically ill-treated
Premtim, Hazbije and Shqipe Mehmeti, as well as several pupils of
the "Pandeli Sotiri" Primary School in Plemetin.
PRISHTINA: In the "Ulpiana" quarter,
15 Serb hooligans severely ill-treated Baton Masurica (1982) from
"Bregu i Diellit" quarter, a pupil with the "Xhevdet Doda" Gymnasium.
He suffered severe body injuries.
KLINA: Serb police arrested Musli Hoti
(25) from Jashanica. He was brutally beaten and accused of being a
member of the KLA. He was ordered to report again in two days. A Serb
policeman named Izgareviq from Jagoda physically ill-treated Mhill,
Jak and Vilson Marniku from Zllakuqan.
SKNDERAJ: Members of Serb military
and paramilitary forces wearing black uniforms arrived in Sknderaj.
At midnight, fire shots were heard from the police station and the
Ammunition Plant. A Serb policeman was wounded in the vicinity of
the police station. In hospital, he stated that he was wounded due
to his careless handling of weapons.
Serb police stopped the bus travelling from
Mitrovica to Prishtina and interrogated Halide Durmishi (1979), a
student from Sknderaj, on the whereabouts of her brother Shaban,
who is currently living in Germany.
GJILAN: 4 policemen raided the house
of and searched for Sabri Kamberi (1966) from Prlepnica. They left
him an order to report to the police station in Gjilan.
WEEKS IN REVIEW:
December 22, 1998 - January 5, 1999
KOSOVO FIGHTING
Tension remains high throughout Kosovo since
major fighting broke out in northeastern Kosovo on Christmas Eve.
The spasm of heavy violence, characterized
by use of Serbian armored and motorized forces against a Kosovo Liberation
Army (KLA) stronghold in Gornja Lapastica and villages of Obranca
and Velika Reka around the strategic highway chokepoint of Podujevo,
diminished after several days of fighting.
"This was the tensest period since the Holbrooke-Milosevic
agreement was signed," said William Walker, Kosovo Verification Mission
(KVM) head.
The KLA asserted that it did not initiate
the fighting, contradicting Serbia's accounts.
Belgrade and the Kosovo Albanians accused
each other of violating the OSCE-mediated ceasefire.
The Serbian forces claimed they were on
training maneuvers in the Podujevo region prior to the flareup, but
provided no notification of their departure from base, a lapse regarded
by NATO as a violation of the agreement.
Fighting was also reported around the nearby
city of Mitrovica. The total number of deaths is unknown.
UNHCR estimated as of Wednesday that about
5,500 people fled their homes in the Podujevo area last week due to
the fighting.
The local KLA commander, known as Remi,
claims to be well equipped and manned; Serbian forces reported being
on the receiving end of shells from 120mm mortars-far heavier ordnance
than the KLA possessed in last summer's fighting.
Numerous deaths have been reported despite
the restoration of the ceasefire.
Serbian provincial governor Veljko Odalovic
was adamant that the Serbs would continue to "energetically respond
to every attack, every provocation, and I think the international
community will accept this."
Kosovo Albanian parliamentary leader Idriz
Ajeti said his colleagues had sent "a document urging NATO to immediately
intervene in Kosovo to stop the bloodshed and the spreading of the
conflict to the whole region" and called for the "immediate demilitarization
of Kosovo and the placing of its people under international protection."
KVM. With the outbreak over the holidays
of the fiercest combat since the October 13 Holbrooke-Milosevic deal,
the OSCE verification mission is showing signs of the strain, with
OSCE chair Bronislaw Geremek, the Polish Foreign Minister, saying
on December 27 "If thebloodshed and violence escalate, the OSCE will
have to reconsider the forms of its activity in Kosovo."
The mission, slated to have 2,000 verifiers,
has about 700 people in Kosovo at present, a great proportion not
yet active.
On Saturday, French Defense Minister Alain
Richard asserted that "the KLA, not the Serbs" was the "main destabilizing
factor today" in Kosovo, and that a full pullout of the KVM would
require the Macedonia-based extraction force to number roughly 5,000
troops, rather than the current projected strength of around 1,800.
Richard also speculated on responses to
continued fighting: "We would have to station tens of thousands of
soldiers on the spot if we wanted to prevent the KLA from establishing
territorial control, and the allies are opposed to this...So we have
to adopt other solutions such as cutting off KLA financing abroad
and going back...to threats of air attacks." France now chairs the
six-member Contact Group.
The KLA has just announced its intent to
begin radio broadcasts in Kosovo.
DECEMBER 22:
FERIZAJ: On December 22 and 25, Fatmir
Xhafaj, chairman of the Solidarity Commission in Mirash, was taken
for informative talks to the police station and ordered to report
again. On December 25, police stopped, arrested and severely ill-treated
Zejn Osmani (38), as well as Ismet (41) and Nazmi Jashari (33) from
Jezerc, who were returning from llovenia.
The very same day, police inspectors searched
for Zymer Ibrahimi, living in "Kozara" st. in Ferizaj. On December
26, 4 policemen and 2 police inspectors confiscated 1800 kg of flour,
50 kg of beans and 50 kg of potatoes from the Solidarity Commission
in the village of Mirash.
PEJA: At about 6.00 a.m., more than
100 policemen in 25 vehicles surrounded the "Kabashi" quarter in Zahaq
near Peja. They raided the houses of Sali, Avdi and Arif Kabashi.
Jah Sali Kabashi (30) was taken out of the house and executed in
the presence of his family members. They were ordered not to touch
the corpse, until the policemen return.
During the raid, policemen brutally beat many
inhabitants of this quarter and demolished house furniture. After
the raid, Avdi (44), Shefqet (24), Naim (23), Valdet (24) and Bashkim
Kabashi (23) were arrested.
In the "Fidanishte" quarter, Serb hooligans
severely ill-treated Besnik Batusha, a pupil with the "Bedri Pejani"
Secondary School.
PODUJEVA: A military convoy of over
20 armoured vehicles headed towards Batllava and were stationed in
the military base in the vicinity of the airport in Dumosh. In this
village, Serb forces opened trenches with an excavator. Policemen
and paramilitaries are patrolling through the streets of Podujeva
and are surveying the terrain.
At noon, under the pretext of searching for
weapons, a squad of more than 30 Serb policemen in 5 APCs raided and
demolished the houses of the following: Sefedin, Bejtush and Imer
Bllaca; Ali and Avdi Bajoku; Feti and Enver Jahiri; Halit and Musa
Bajrami; Adem Ajeti and Kadri Kaiu.
During the raid, policemen physically ill-treated
pupils Saxhid Zeka, Valon Musliu, Selatin Kaiu and Fatmir Ajeti,
as well as Sejdi Bajrami from Podujeva, Isuf Abdullahu from Dumnica
e Eprme and Faton Hasani from Dumnica e Poshtme.
The roof of the house of Ramush Abdullahu in
Podujeva was burned. Serb policemen were stationed in this house.
RAHOVEC: A group of Serb soldiers in
2 armoured cars were stationed in Celina and started to shell the
place between the hill of Celina and that of Krusha e Madhe. When
the International Verifiers arrived, soldiers withdrew, but returned
in the afternoon in a higher number and in 2 armoured cars, 2 APCs
and a tank. They were accompanied by two teams of OSCE verifiers.
Serb soldiers are preventing all movement to
and from Celina.
MITROVICA: Groups of policemen were
stationed at the bus station in Mitrovica and Shupkoc, where they
stopped and checked the passers-by and cars. Two lorries and a jeep
full of policemen headed towards Sknderaj.
In the vicinity of the green market, 4 policemen
arrested Samir Asllan Begu (18) from the "Bair" quarter, looted cigarettes
estimated to DM 100 from him and severely ill-treated him.
In the vicinity of the "Adriatiku" hotel,
unidentified persons wounded Lulzim Mehmet Ademi from Broboniq and
Naser Qazim Haziri (23) from "Ura e Gjakut" quarter in Mitrovica.
The latter was immediately taken to the Surgery Ward of the Prishtina
Hospital.
After this, large police forces blocked all
cross-roads of the town and severely ill-treated a number of passers-by,
among whom Hajriz Hamit Istrefi (49), "Ibri" quarter, his wife Sabije
(44) and his daughter Besarta (10).
At about 10.00 p.m., over 15 policemen intervened
in the "Bedro" tea shop in "Ibri" quarter and arrested Nazmi Kui
(23) and Faruk Mehmet Rrahmani (25). Both were subjected to interrogation.
Later on, they were released.
VUSHTRRI: Last night, at about 11.00
p.m., there was shooting in Pestova. Today, the part in front of the
District Assembly is blocked by the police. All day long, police practiced
a strict control in Vushtrri. A police squad went to Svaraak i Poshtm
in order to provoke the Albanian citizens.
In Vushtrri, police arrested the following
cigarette vendors: Rrustem and Berat Mehmeti, Aziz Kolla and two others
named Enver and Hysni.
KLINA: All day long, Serb police and
military forces in cooperation with the locals, looted timber from
the woods belonging to the Albanians and transported them in lorries.
PRIZREN: Two armoured cars with 50-60
soldiers were stationed in the vicinity of the Landovica bridge.
LIPJAN: The lessons have not yet begun
in the primary school in Magura, where Serb police forces have been
stationed for months. They looted and demolished the school inventory
estimated to DM 80.000.
SHTIME: A military convoy left Shtime
and headed towards Suhareka. Police forces in armoured cars opened
fire towards Belinca. There are no information about any casualties,
but excessive material losses were caused. The villagers began fleeing
their houses due to fear.
DECEMBER 23:
On December 23, Naser Qazim Haziri (23) from
Mitrovica died in the Prishtina Hospital. On December 22, he was wounded
by unidentified persons. On December 23, Hak Sadri Osaj (23) was
killed in Klina e Eprme near Sknderaj. Qerime Lahu-Osaj (60), Agim
Sadri Osaj (41), his wife Fatime (27) and their children Arbenita
(5) and Donika (1), as well as Zoj (32) and Shukrije Sadri Osaj and
their neighbour Lendita Brahim Azizi (23) were wounded.
PODUJEVA: Police forces stationed at
the "Besiana" motel, Qershit e Llapashtics and near the Tile Factory,
are checking the identities of the passers-by. Serb snipers were stationed
in several houses and are opening fire towards the inhabitants of
the near-by houses.
PRIZREN: The village of Romaja near
Has was surrounded by Serb police and military forces. These forces
in 9 lorries and 4 armoured cars were stationed near the village cemetery.
The Serb compulsory forces cut off the electricity to the villages
of Romaja, Lugishta and Kushnin. One third of the population has fled
due to the fear from the repression of Serb forces.
PRISHTINA: Police forces in 6 buses,
4 lorries, 2 APCs, 2 jeeps and 2 other vehicles arrived from Serbia
to Kosova.
MITROVICA: Large police forces were
concentrated in different parts of the town and are checking cars
and passers-by. About 20 Serb policemen, for the second time during
the day, searched for weapons at the house of Shemsi Fejzullah Balinca
(33) and arrested Daut Mehmet Rrahmani (24). Dragan Djuriq, a policeman,
beat and threatened Shemsi's wife Halise (29) and left an order for
her husband to report to the police station. In "Bair" quarter, the
same policemen raided the house of Muhamet Nezir Tahiri (33) from
Stantrg and arrested him. Over 40 policemen and security inspectors
raided the house of Ismet Deliqi in "Bair" quarter and searched for
his son Fadil (34). They raided the house of Sali ubreli and arrested
brothers Fejzullah (29), Ardian (26) and Destan Haxhi Rreci (19) from
Llausha near Sknderaj, who were sheltered. In the evening, 10 Serb
policemen stopped and severely ill-treated Besnik Ismet Sejdiu (19),
"Qendra" quarter.
SKNDERAJ: Large police, military and
paramilitary forces wearing black uniforms were stationed at the Ammunition
Plant.
GLLOGOC: In Gjergjica, police physically
ill-treated Dan Abaz Gashi and Sinan Istref Gashi - both from Llapushnik.
DM 1250 were looted from them.
SUHAREKA: After 8.00 a.m., a military
convoy of 9 lorries, 8 jeeps and 3 armoured cars passed through the
center of the town and headed towards Prizren.
SHTIME: The situation is very tense.
Serb forces have arrested Dr. Bedri Sadriu, a physician with the "Mother
Theresa" Humanitarian & Charitable Association, Xhemshir Reshiti,
a teacher, and Nazmi Shahini, an activist of the LDK. Many were arrested
in Reak, too.
GJAKOVA: In the village of Madanaj,
police searched for weapons at the house of Tom Gjoklaj, an activist
with the "Mother Theresa" Humanitarian & Charitable Association. He
was arrested and severely ill-treated.
DECEMBER 24:
PRISHTINA: In the night between December
23-24, Rushit Berisha (1949), a taxi driver from the district of Kamenica,
living in "Bledi" st.67/A in Prishtina, was severely ill-treated by
Serbian police. His watch and the radio of his car were looted. He
was insulted on a national and moral basis. Due to injuries suffered,
he had to seek for medical assistance.
PODUJEVA: On December 24, Serb snipers
wounded Bunjamin Ferat Murati (1994) from Llapashtica e Poshtme, while
he and his family were fleeing their home due to the attack of the
Serbian police and military forces on the villages of Podujeva.
GJILAN: On December 24, Haki Bajraliu
(1945), a teacher and chairman of the LBD Sub-branch in Gjilan, was
taken for informative talks to the police station. Police inspectors
interrogated him on his reasons for leaving the LDK and joining the
LBD.
GJAKOVA: On December 24, Nik
Markaj (75) and Zoj Markaj (46) from Osek-Pasha were arrested and
severely ill-treated under the pretext that they had brought SFr 170.000
for the KLA. Both were released today.
Police seized Zoja's passport with a C visa
and ordered her to report again on January 5. PRISHTINA: There was
shooting in the "Aktash II" quarter.
Today, at about 4 a.m., unidentified persons
opened fire towards the house of Miftar Brbatovci. Material damage
was caused.
KLINA: During the last 2 days, Serbian
forces shelled the Myrtaj quarter in Jashanica. Sniper fire was opened
in Sverka, Gllareva and Dollova.
GLLOGOC: During the last 2 weeks several
villages in the district of Gllogoc were left without electric power.
Pensioners did not receive their pensions. On December 28, the Serbian
Run District Court in Prizren convicted the following persons to 2
years of imprisonment each for "hostile activity" and "terrorism":
Kujtim Nexhmedin arkaxhiu (1959) from Prizren and Hazir Abaz Kicaj
(1974) from Grejkoc near Suhareka. Both were sent to serve their sentences.
On December 24, the following were killed
during the attack of the Serbian police and military forces on the
villages of Podujeva:
Behxhet Ramiz Maani (30) from Podujeva (killed
by a Serb sniper in the village of Sekiraa); Albana Safet Hajdari
(6) (killed by a Serb sniper in her house yard); Shefkije Salihu (40)
from Podujeva, a mother of 5 (her corpse was found in the fields near
the Tile Factory); Isa Havolli (55) from Llapashtica-a soldier of
the KLA; Hetem Zeqir Selmani (49), Salih Zeqir Selmani (47), Avni
Nezir Selmani (24), Fatmir Dalip Selmani (22) and Mirsad Hakif Abdullahu
(17)-all from the village of Gllamnik (killed in their house yards)
and Ajvaz Potera (45) from Llapashtica. It is assumed that 3 Albanians
were killed in Obrana. Yet, the number of the killed in the villages
attacked by the Serbian police and military forces is supposed to
be higher
According to the Serb Media Center in Prishtina,
on December 26, Milovan Radojeviq (65) was killed in the village of
Obrana near Podujeva.
On December 24, it was confirmed that the 5-month-old
baby of Ali Hoti from the village of Jashanica near Klina died due
to the lack of medical assistance.
Kidnappings and disappearances...
There are no information on the whereabouts
of the following:
Nimon Musa Demaj (1978) from Vrella - Istog
(since June); Bedri Sadedin Bugari (1971), Remzi Sadri Ukshini (24)
and Gzim Sali Hamza (1963) - the three from Rahovec and Mark Palush
Gashi (40) from Dobidol - Rahovec (since July); Blerim Bajram Ukshini
(20), Arben Avdyl Ukshini (23), Nezir Halim Elezi and Sylejman Taf
Avdyli - all from Morina near Gjakova (since July 9); Sknder Aliu
(42) from Stroc - Vushtrri (since September 23); Bajram Ramadan Fazlija
(1969) from Keqekolla - Prishtina (since November 26); Reshat Murat
Ejupi (1969) from Bla - Dragash and his wife Drahomira Trajakova,
Czech citizen (since December 19); Hava Havolli (44) from Llapashtica
- Podujeva and Latif Salihu from Podujeva (since December 24).
DECEMBER 25:
PODUJEVA: Serb forces have not withdrawn
from their positions. These forces are still stationed at the place
called Tabet e Llapashtices. Sporadic shooting can be heard. The town
itself is blocked by the Serb forces. Snipers are still located on
top of the high buildings. There is no movement through the streets
of the town.
Serb forces have machine gunned the houses
along the road between Lluzhan and Podujeva. The family members of
Bahtir Kastrati (57), living in the Duriqi quarter in Obrana, who
had been kidnapped by Serb paramilitaries, were released and sheltered
at their relatives in Podujeva. Bahtir was severely ill-treated.
MITROVICA: In the vicinity of the "Kaltrina"
Policlinic, 5 policemen stopped and checked the identities of: Ismail
Bajram Smakiqi, secretary of the Sub-CDHRF in Mitrovica, Ramadan Hasan
Kelmendi (44), Bajram Bejt Mustafa (40) and Bahri Osmani, activists
of the LDK.
In the "Ura e Gjakut" quarter, some 20 Serb
policemen surrounded, raided and demolished the house of Nexhat Halil
ubreli (30). In the "Tavnik" quarter, some 20 Serb policemen, who
were led by Dejan Saviq, raided and demolished the houses of the following:
Nebih Kadri Zeqiri (47), Safet Bektesh Selmani (35) and Hysen Ramadan
Doberlluka (65). Nebih Kadri Zeqiri (47) and Hazir Bektesh Selmani
(35) were arrested. Police searched for ak Bektesh Selmani (24)
and Shefqet Hysen Doberlluka (40). Gazmend Sadri Barani (19) from
Klina e Eprme near Sknderaj, sheltered in Mitrovica, was severely
ill-treated. Ragip Ali Pllana (18) and Nazmi Daut Pllana (43) from
Frashr i Madh were beaten by the police.
FUSH-KOSOVA: Ahmet Berisha (67) from
the village of Graboc i Eprm was threatened to leave his house. The
house had previously been looted and demolished by the very same forces.
PRISHTINA: At midnight, Serb forces
opened fire towards the house of Hajrush Sylejman Abdullahu. The offices
of an LDK branch are located in this house.
On December 25, it was confirmed that
Besnik Liman Begunca (1972) from Kaanik was killed by the Serbian
police on August 10.
On December 25, the Serbian Run District
Court in Prishtina convicted the following for "hostile activity"
and "terrorism": Berat Luzha (a journalist) to 10 years of imprisonment,
Hajrush Kurtaj to 9, Naser Kuka, Reshat Salihaj, Behxhet Imishi, Remzi
Elezi and Naim Rekaj - to 8, Qamil Iljazi and Xhevat Haziri to 7,
Abdylgafurr Luma to 6, Danush Kurtaj, Hasan Dalloshi and Fatmir Kurtaj
to 5 and Mehdi Dalloshi and mr. Tefik Raka - to 3 years of imprisonment
- all from the districts of Kaanik and Vitia.
- On December 25, the Serbian Run District
Court in Prishtina, convicted the following: Zahrije Podrimaku, an
activist of the Sub-CDHRF in Gllogoc, to 4 years of imprisonment,
Agron Ramadani from Prishtina to 3 years and Shabije Lokaj to 2 years.
All three were accused of "hostile activity" and "terrorism".
- On December 25, the Serbian Run District
Court in Prishtina convicted the following: Emin Shabani to 6 years
of imprisonment, Rexhep Shabani to 5 years and Frashr Shabani to
3 years of imprisonment - the three from Ferizaj. They were charged
for "terrorism".
DECEMBER 26:
GLLOGOC: On December 26, in the vicinity
of the poultry farm in Krivova, Ilir Berisha (24), a student from
Komoran, was stopped and severely ill-treated by the police. Ilir
suffered severe body injuries.
KLINA: On December 26, Ram& Zogaj from
the village of K&rrnica was taken for informative talks and interrogated
on the KLA.
PODUJEVA: Large police forces were stationed
in different parts of the town and are ill-treating passers-by. Military
forces equipped with heavy weaponry were stationed in the premises
of the Tile Factory. A convoy consisting of many armoured cars headed
towards the village of Obrana. The moment they entered the village
they started shooting in different directions.
The villagers of Obrana and many inhabitants
of Podujeva have fled their houses. The pupils of the "Dituria" Primary
School in Llapashtica e Eprme were sheltered in Zhegrova and Majac.
4 policemen in a "Toyota" car PR-676-79 distributed
weapons to Serb civilians in Podujeva.
PRISHTINA: A vehicle of a Norwegian
Humanitarian Organization was damaged in a blast in the "Aktash" quarter.
The blast was very strong, yet no casualties were reported. The perpetrators
and the pretext are unknown.
Large police forces surrounded the E/31 building
in "Ulpiana". Several flats were raided and 4 students from Podujeva
were arrested.
PRIZREN: A military unit with 2 armoured
cars was stationed at the gas station in the vicinity of Piran. The
building was demolished. The investigative judge with the Serbian
run District Court in Prizren sent Sami Nuhi Berisha (1967) from the
village of Lez near Prizren to 30 days of pre-trial detention. While
being investigated Sami was severely tortured in the premises of the
State Security.
PEJA: Under the pretext of searching
for weapons, a police squad surrounded the Elezaj and Gjuraj quarters
in Peja. Mehmet Gjuraj (60) and Besim Gjuraj (43), a teacher, were
physically ill-treated. Sknder Demaj, chairman of the LDK branch
in Peja, and Fadil Gjuraj, an activist of the LDK, were arrested.
Large Serb forces blocked the center of the town. Many passers-by
were ill-treated.
Market inspectors looted goods estimated to
DM 50.000 from Albanian merchants.
MITROVICA: In the "Ura e Gjakut" quarter,
police raided the house of Sknder Feriz Meha (37). In the "Tavnik"
quarter, police raided the houses of the following: Sknder Rifat
Hasani (50) (police searched for his sons Bashkim (24) and Sami (19)),
and Rizah Rrahim Meha (68) (his daughter Vjollca (30), a teacher,
was arrested). In the "Qendra" quarter, police raided the house of
Zen Qazim Mengjolli (42) and that of Osman Kadri Mecini (52) from
Klina e Eprme near Sknderaj. Police stopped, provoked and threatened
Halit Barani (47), chairman of the Sub-CDHRF in Mitrovica.
The following policemen participated in the
action: Ratko Antonijeviq from "Tavnik", Nenad Paviqeviq from "Qendra"
and Dejan Saviq from Gojbula near Vushtrria.
GLLOGOC: On December 26, police
stopped the bus travelling between Gllogoc and Prishtina. All the
passengers from the villages of Gllobar, Trstenik, Polluzha, Bainca,
Domanek and Krajkova were taken to the poultry farm in Krajkova and
severely ill-treated. An Albanian youngster from Domanek was detained.
Policemen physically ill-treated Bedri Shala
(25) and Nuhi Demiri (35), both from Nekoc. The latter had to seek
for medical assistance.
GLLOGOC: On December 26, in the
vicinity of the poultry farm in Krivova, Ilir Berisha (24), a student
from Komoran, was stopped and severely ill-treated by the police.
Ilir suffered severe body injuries.
KLINA: On December 26, Rama Zogaj
from the village of Karrnica was taken for informative talks and interrogated
on the KLA. On December 28, 3 policemen stopped the bus travelling
between Klina and Peja. Bashkim Dragaj, the driver, was physically
ill-treated. Bore Abazaj, who tried to protect him, was insulted on
a national and moral basis.
DECEMBER 27:On December 27,
during the attack of the Serbian police and military forces on the
village of Obrana, Jetullah Kastrati (22) was killed and Remzi Demolli
(33), a teacher with the "Ali Hadri" Primary School in Obrana, was
severely wounded. Remzi died the next day. At the place called "Tabet
e Llapashtics" Serb forces killed an unidentified Albanian taxi driver.
In the meantime, it was confirmed that on
December 24, during the attack of the Serbian forces on the villages
of Podujeva the following were killed: Sknder Zejnullahu (23) from
Dumnica, Lulzim Jashari (22) from Batllava, Bajrush Murati (63) from
Llapashtica, Ismet Drguti (27) from Braina, living in Podujeva and
Miftar Zejnullahu (24) from Prpellac.
On December 27, the following Romany
were killed in the "2 Korriku" quarter in Mitrovica: Gani (53), Ilmi
and Basri Gushani.
PODUJEVA: During the last days, about
15.000 inhabitants of the attacked villages left their homes due to
the attacks of the Serbian forces. They had taken shelter in the neighbouring
villages. They are in a very difficult condition and need food and
medicines urgently.
Serbian forces opened fire towards the houses
in the vicinity of "Besiana" Motel and wounded Sabit Rrahimi (44)
and his son Avni Rrahimi (16).
They shelled the houses of Hashim Haziri, Ahmet
Muolli, Sabit Rrahimi and Ahmet Hoxha.
PEJA: Serbian police raided the house
of Shyqri Bajram Goi (44), seized his passport and those of his wife
and his son. Police also raided the house of Xhavit Tahir Begolli
and searched for his son Fatmir, who is currently living abroad.
In Brzheniku st.14, the houses of the following
were raided: Agush, Ilaz and Xhafer Pantina. Ilaz, Fitim and Agush
Pantina were ill-treated. Xhafer and Eduard Pantina were arrested.
Naim and Valdet Kabashi, who had been beaten and arrested the day
their brother was killed by Serb forces, were sent for hospitalization
to Prishtina.
DEAN: In the village of Jasiq, police
searched for weapons at the house of Ramiz Isufaj (25). He was arrested.
PODUJEVA: Serbian police and military
forces accompanied by tanks, armoured cars and APCs attacked the villages
of Obrana and Llapashtica. The shelling and the machine gun fire
continued for more than 2 hours. Serb military forces were reinforced
by a military convoy from Prishtina.
There was heavy shelling from Tabet e Llapashtices,
the Serb positions near the "Besiana" Motel and the Tile Factory.
OSCE verifiers are supervising the situation.
The Serb forces stationed at the "Besiana"
Motel opened machine gun fire towards the houses of Isak, Ram and
Adem Buaj; Osman, Shefki and Ram Visoka, as well as several houses
in the Buaj and Visokaj quarters in Podujeva. The Albanians from
the attacked villages of Obrana, Llapashtica, Gllamnik, Sekiraa,
Burica, Konushec, Katunishta and 2 quarters in Podujeva are fleeing
their houses. The situation of the displaced villagers is very grave
due to the cold weather.
Many Serb civilians are leaving the region
too. They are escorted by the police forces towards the "Besiana"
Motel.
Remzi Demolli, a teacher, was severely wounded
in the village of Obrana. His life is in danger due to the lack of
medical assistance.
During the last 2 days of the Serbian offensive
the following were wounded: Abetare (6) and Besime Bejtush Avdullahu
(13) and Fatime Avdullahu (35) from Gremnik, Fadil Hakiqi (37) from
Llapashtica and Ahmet Ahmeti (35) from Podujeva. The number of the
killed and wounded can be higher.
MITROVICA: In the "Tavnik" quarter,
police searched for weapons at the houses of the following: Dibran
Halil Shala (60) (his son Kadri (17) was arrested), Ismet Kamer Qerimi
(50) (Fazli Topalli (27) from Vitak near Sknderaj was arrested),
that of Osman Haxha (43) and that of Muharrem Dibran Avdiu (45). At
the bus station, police arrested Ram Haxha (38), an employee with
the very same.
DECEMBER 28:
MITROVICA: After the killing of 3 Roma
people, there was shooting in the "Ibri", "Bair" and "7 Shtatori"
quarters. Groups of Serb policemen were stationed in different parts
of the town and are ill-treating passers-by.
At the gas station in the vicinity of the motel,
3 Albanians were arrested. Two Albanian youngsters were beaten until
they passed away by 5 Serb policemen.
In the vicinity of the post-office, policemen
stopped and beat teachers Luan Mehmeti (27) and Mustaf Nezir Haziri
(31). In the "Tavnik" quarters, policemen and armed Serb civilians
searched for weapons at the house of Osman Muharrem Veseli (72). His
son Ahmet (33), who had returned from Hungary a day before, was arrested.
Ahmet was detained for 6 hours and his passport was seized. He was
told that he would receive his passport back if he collaborated with
the police.
Police went to the house of Sejdi Bislim Jashari
(50) and provoked his nephew Naim Jusuf Jashari (30).
Police searched for weapons at the house of
Muhamet Ramiz Shabani (45), Xhem Fazli Avdyli (60), Fazli Xh. Avdyli
(43), Miran Imer Zuka (45), Hajrullah Zuk Zuka (41), Ramadan Preteni
(63), Bilall Rifat Neziri (54), Sknder Osman Igrishta (45), Vesel
Muhamet Musa (28) and Kadri Avdiu. They arrested Miran Imer Zuka (45).
In the "Tavnik" quarter, police raided the
house of and searched for Bajram Fek Jahaj (37).
PODUJEVA: Fire shots were heard from
midnight until 3 a.m. Armoured cars moved through Obrana. In the
vicinity of the Health Care Centre in Podujeva, Serb policemen severely
ill-treated Adem Zhegrova, a teacher, and looted DM 80 and some dinars
from him.
VUSHTRRI: Since the early hours of the
morning, there were large movements of the Serb police and military
forces. Police patrols are checking cars and passers-by. A police
squad in an armoured car headed towards Pestova.
PRIZREN: In the vicinity of Rashka,
a police patrol stopped, checked and took for informative talks the
following members of the Party for Democratic Action in Prizren: Azra
Zuli, Xhezair Murati and Qerim Bajrami.
NOTICE: The houses of the following
were looted, burned and destroyed: Avdi, Kadri, Xhelil, Xhemajl, Sefer,
Adem, Muharrem and Veli Gashi and Qazim, Rrahim, Ali, Ilmi, Salih,
Hajriz and Sheq Dobra - all from Vrboc - Gllogoc (on September 22-23).
On December 28, 3 policemen stopped
the bus travelling between Klina and Peja. Bashkim Dragaj, the driver,
was physically ill-treated. Bore Abazaj, who tried to protect him,
was insulted on a national and moral basis.
* On December 28, the Sub-CDHRF in Vushtrri
confirmed that Nuhi Haliti from Gllavotin was killed on September
25, whereas Xaj Jashari (45) from Strovc on November 6.
Kidnappings and disappearances...
During the last week, we were informed that
the whereabouts of Ilir Humolli and Rexhep Idriz Demiri (36) from
Obrana near Podujeva are unknown since December 24.
DECEMBER 29:
On December 29, the corpse of Nimon
Idrizaj (1956) from Strellc i Eprm near Dean was found in the village
of Raushiq near Peja. A day before, Nimon had left for Dean to get
his personal documents.
On December 29, after midnight, unidentified
persons killed Hysen Zymer Bytyi (1949), a former policeman, and
Mehmet Ali Krasniqi (1968). Hysen, a night watchman, was killed at
his working place at the "Landovica Commerce" carpentry in Dushanova
near Prizren, owned by Rifat Kalimashi. Three days before, Hysen was
taken to the police station in the "Tabhane" quarter in Prizren and
detained for more than 2 hours.
On December 29, the corpses of Shemsi
Fejzullah Balinca (33) and Nuhi Mehmet Rrahmani (27), living in the
"Ibri" quarter in Mitrovica, were found in the vicinity of the village
of Shupkoc near Mitrovica.
On December 29, at about 11 p.m., unidentified
persons in a black car opened fire and killed Ibrahim Beqir Shabani
(37) from Vojnoc near Shtime. Ibrahim was killed in the vicinity of
Dremjak while carrying flour with his tractor.
PODUJEVA: Between 9 p.m. and the early
hours of the morning, Serbian police and military forces opened machine
gun fire towards the villages of Podujeva. Three detonations were
heard.
Apart from the "Besiana" Motel and the cross-roads
in Podujeva, police and military forces were stationed in the house
of a Serb villager from Obrana and at the place called "Tabet e Llapashtics".
Police and military vehicles were seen carrying
goods looted from the Albanian houses in Gllamnik and Obrana. In
the village of Obrana, Serb forces looted goods from the house of
dr. Selman Hoxha.
MITROVICA: Last night and in the early
hours of the morning there was shooting in the "Kroi i Vitakut", "7
Shtatori" and "Ibri" quarters. Groups of Serb policemen were stationed
in many cross-roads of the town and in the "2 Korriku" quarter. They
are checking cars and passers-by. Many were physically ill-treated.
Serb policemen searched for weapons and demolished
the houses of the following: in the "Bair" quarter that of Hajzer
Hysen Tahiri (80), his son Muhamet (34) and his nephew Bashkim Rexhep
Tahiri (24); in the "Tavnik" quarter that of Sinan (60) and Shaban
Bajram Tahiri (57).
The very same policemen went to the houses
of Sejdi Bislim Jashari (50), Isuf Zeqir Jashari (58) and Haradin
Qazim Gashi (50) and arrested: Bashkim (24), Muhamet (34), Hamdi (22)
and Rexhep Tahiri (34).
PRIZREN: A military convoy comprised
of trucks, armoured cars and a bus full of policemen headed towards
Gjakova.
MALISHEVA: There was shooting from the
Serb positions at "Pishat e Volljaks". In Prishtina, the following
were stopped and ill-treated by the police: Nuhi Bajram Rudi (33),
Hysni Berisha, Istref Rudi and another Albanian from the village of
Banja near Malisheva. DM 3900 were looted from them.
KLINA: Misin M. Zenunaj from Gremnik
was arrested and physically ill-treated by the police. Misin is temporarily
employed in Italy. PEJA: In the "Dardania II" quarter, police raided
the house of Sulejman Kajolli. His two sons Fehmi (32) and Fadil (26)
were arrested and on being beaten released.
Police raided, demolished and looted the house
of Myzafere Lleshi. While waiting for humanitarian aid at the warehouse
of the "Mother Theresa" Humanitarian & Charitable Association, Haxhi
Rexh Sadikaj (67) from the village of Dashinoc near Dean, was taken
to the police station in Peja. On the intervention of the OSCE verifiers
he was released but ordered to report again.
On December 29, the Sub-CDHRF in Obiliq
confirmed that Azize Prokshi (83) from the village of Siboc near Obiliq
was killed on September 23 in Gradica near Vushtrri.
DECEMBER 30:
PRISHTINA: Zoran Janiqijeviq, chief
of the Security Service of the "Panorama" Enterprise (under Serb administration),
prevented the printing of the "Bujku" daily. He threatened the workers
and the director of the printing house not to publish the newspaper.
MITROVICA: There was shooting in the
"Kroi i Vitakut" and "Ibri" quarters. In Shipol, police and armed
Serb civilians raided the shops of Smail Qerim Shabani (28) and Smajl
Halit Durmishi (33). Goods estimated to DM 7000 were looted. Police
searched for weapons at the houses of Imer Sali Salihu (55) and Fazli
Sadik Sherifi (66). Their sons Sabedin Salihu (28) and Imer Sherifi
(48) were arrested.
At the bus station in Mitrovica, police ill-treated
the following: Ilir Ali Brahimi (23) and Blerim Ahmet Brahimi (35)
from the "Bair" quarter, Smail Qerim Shabani (28) from Shipol and
Muj Musli Hasani (35), chairman of the "Mother Theresa" Humanitarian
& Charitable Association in the village of abr near Zubin Potok.
PODUJEVA: Serb forces are still stationed
at the place called "Tabet e Llapashtics", at the "Besiana" Motel
and along the road between Podujeva and Prishtina. There are large
movements of the Serbian forces. Policemen continue to stop and check
the identities of passers-by. At the bus station in the village of
Vranidoll, police arrested Amurllah Grvalla (1978) from Lup i Poshtm.
PEJA: Serb policemen continue to check
the identities of passers-by. Many are ill-treated, beaten and arrested.
Police forces blocked the market and looted different goods from Albanian
merchants.
VITI: In the village of Buzovik, 4 km
from the border with Macedonia, Serb soldiers opened fire towards
Hamdi F. Rama, who was riding to the woods to get timber. As Hamdi
ran away, soldiers took his horse.
VUSHTRRI: Large police forces were stationed
in the vicinity of the "Vicianum" Motel and are surveying the nearby
quarters. Fire shots were heard. The houses of Bislim, Parduz, Miftar,
Hajriz and Daut Imeri, as well as that of Nexhip Uka were hit. Police
blocked the quarter in the vicinity of the "Vicianum" Motel. A police
squad went to the village of Trllabuq.
GLLOGOC: An armoured jeep and 3 APCs
full of Serb policemen paraded through Gllogoc singing Chetnik songs
and were stationed in the "Ferronikeli" Plant.
SKNDERAJ: Police arrested Kadri Gashi
(59) from Kryshec. He was taken to the police station in Mitrovica.
FERIZAJ: Police raided the house of Rasim Salihu in "2 Korriku" st.
in Ferizaj. Liman, Hyzri and Sabit Maloku from Jezerc, who were sheltered
in the very same house, were arrested.
HANI I ELEZIT: Police searched for Avni
Shiti and severely ill-treated his father Muhabi and his brother Nysret.
Muhabi was ordered to report to the police station.
GJILAN: Selami Latifi (1956), an engineer
and an activist of the LBD, was taken for informative talks to the
police station.
ISTOG: Zymber Vuthaj, Ramadan Dreshaj
and Rexh Blakaj were summoned for informative talks to the police
station.
DECEMBER 31:
PODUJEVA: Since the early hours of the
morning, large police forces can be noticed in the town itself. Policemen
are provoking passers-by. 4 tanks and 2 military vehicles were stationed
in the vicinity of the place called "Tabet e Llapashtics". A jeep
and a landrover full of policemen went to the village of Prpellac.
KLINA: Serb forces stationed in Volljaka,
Guri i Zi, Dollova, at the cherry plantation, at the bauxite mine
in Volljaka and uka e Gllarevs opened fire towards the villages
of Sverka, Dush, Volljaka, Gllareva, Rixheva and Zabrgja. In the
village of Rixheva, Serb policemen opened machine gun fire towards
a group of 20 Albanian civilians. Fortunately, there were no casualties.
PRISHTINA: In the New Year's Eve, a
bullet hit the flat of Fadil itaku in "Bregu i Diellit" quarter III/4.
FERIZAJ: Nazlime Beaj (20) from Petrova
and Ilaz Ukzmajli (47) from Jezerc were arrested and physically ill-treated
by the police. Later on, they were released.
VUSHTRRI: A police squad arrested and
physically ill-treated brothers Hashim (33) and Muharrem N. Halili
(24).
GJAKOVA: In the village of Skivjan,
police forces accompanied by Muharrem Jakupi, a member of the so-called
"local police" arrested Hasan Gjiholli (40) from Skivjan and Sefedin
Nuza (37) from Smolica.
On December 31, the corpse of Miftar
Murtez Reshani, father of 5, a technical worker with the Agricultural
Secondary School in Ferizaj, was found in the outskirts of Ferizaj.
It is assumed that he was killed on December 29, at about 8.30 p.m.
Prishtina, December 31, 1998
1999:
JANUARY 1:
MITROVICA: In the village of Babimoc
(Obiliq) armed Serb civilians stopped the car driven by Shaqir Halil
Gjosha (41) from the village of Vaganica e Ep&rme near Mitrovica.
He and his children Teuta (16) and Muhamet (15) were taken out of
the car and insulted on a national basis. DM 1500 and DIN 220 were
looted from them.
VUSHTRRI: In the center of the town
police stopped and physically ill-treated Bekim Maloku from Vushtrria
and other passers-by.
On January 2, at about 10 p.m., Enver
Tefik Gashi (1960) from Shtime was killed in the vicinity of his house.
He was killed by unidentified persons who spoke Serbian. On January
2, the corpse of Veton Zymer Kelmendi (27) from the village of Pavlan
near Peja was found in the village of Gllavi%ica. He was killed under
unknown circumstances.
On January 2, the corpses of Gojko Jeftiq
from Suhodoll and Dragi Kova%eviq from Mitrovica were found in the
vicinity of the Romany neighbourhood in Mitrovica. The two were killed
by fire arms under unknown circumstances.
Prishtina, 4 January 1999
Reported Mass Grave of 11 Women and Children
Near Ferizaj to Be Investigated Says spokesman for the OSCE monitors
in Kosova
"U.S. KDOM and OSCE human rights representatives
spoke with a KLA (Kosova Liberation Army, known as UCK in Albanian)
representative about a reported mass grave of 11 women and children
near Urosevac ('Ferizaj')", KDOM Daily Report, December 30, 1998 said.
"Pictures of the grave and its approximate
location were provided, but adverse road conditions prevented U.S.
KDOM from entering the area. U.S. KDOM asked the OSCE representative
to follow up on this report," U.S. KDOM (Kosova Diplomatic observer
Mission) Daily Report added.
The OSCE human rights department within the
Kosova Verification Mission (KVM) will investigate the whole matter
in the coming days, according to a spokesman for the OSCE KVM.
PRISHTINA, Jan 4 (KIC) - Five Albanians
and two Serbs were killed in Kosova in six separate, still unsolved
incidents, around the New Year.
Ibrahim Shabani (37), resident of Vojnovc village
of Shtime, was killed Tuesday, 29 December, around 23:00 hrs on the
road leading to the village of Dremnjak, the LDK chapter in Shtime
reported.
LDK sources said the killed Albanian was driving
a tractor transporting wheat flour. Ibrahim was shot dead by unknown
assailants in a black car without license plates.
On Thursday morning, Miftar Murtez Reshani,
father of five, a janitor in the Middle Agricultural School in Ferizaj,
was found dead near a warehouse of second-hand tyres, at the entrance
to the town of Ferizaj ('Urosevac') from the Shtime direction, local
LDK sources said.
Automatic weapons fire had been reported heard
the previous day, at 20:30 hrs, in the area where Miftar was found
lying dead.
The bodies of two killed persons were found
lying near a Roma neighborhood in the town of Mitrovica on Saturday,
2 January.
They were later identified as Serbs - Gojko
Jevtic, resident of Suhodoll village, and Dragi Koacevic, resident
of Mitrovica. A few days earlier, three men of Roma community were
found killed in the neighborhood.
On Saturday evening, around 22.00 hrs, unknown
assailants killed Enver Gashi (1960) from Shtime in front of his family
house, the local chapter of the Council for the Defense of Human Rights
and Freedoms (CDHRF) reported
Eye-witnesses were quoted as saying two unidentified
persons got out of a black Golf car and shot Enver down, while a third
person was waiting in the car. The killers run away in the direction
of Prishtina, CDHRF sources said.
Veton Kelmendi (27), father of one, was found
killed Sunday in the village of Gllavicica, near the Peja-Prishtina
highway. The LDK chapter in Peja said Veton, resident of Pavlan village,
was killed with a bullet some 5 km away from his home.
A local UCK (Kosova Liberation Army) officer,
Xhavit Jusufi (45), was killed Sunday evening, at around 23:00 hrs,
ambushed at "Te varret e Smrekonics" (the Smrekonica cemetery) in
Vushtrri municapality, the LDK chapter in Mitrovica said.
There has been no immediate claim of responsibility
for the killing of these people from Tuesday through Sunday evening.
Extremely Volatile Situation
amidst Heavy Serb Police Presence in Mitrovica
Arms fire reported in two neighborhoods, many
Albanian households raided by Serb forces on Sunday and Monday
PRISHTINA, Jan 4 (KIC) - Shooting from
arms fire was reported in two neighborhoods of the town of Mitrovica
( ("Shtatori" and "Kroi i Vitakut") from 17:00 through 24:00 on Sunday.
Shooting in Mitrovica - a source of continuous
panic for the local Albanian population - has become an almost daily
occurrence, the LDK chapter in town said.
Earlier in the day on Sunday, from 10:00 through
15:00 hrs, some 40 Serb policemen were involved in raiding a number
of Albanian households in the "2 Korriku" neighborhood in Mitrovica.
Members of the Albanian families were taken
to police, the LDK chapter in Mitrovica said, naming the raided house
by family heads.
Serb police smashed up property and held some
20 Albanians in Serb police custody for five hours. Meanwhile, LDK
sources said heavy Serb police forces were deployed in crossroads
and a number of neighborhoods in Mitrovica at 10 o'clock in the morning
today (Monday).
At around 13:00 hrs today, four carloads of
Serb policemen and people in plain clothes went to the house of Agim
Hajrizi (37), chairman of the Assembly of the Kosova Trade Unions
(BSPK), the LDK chapter in Mitrovica said.
The same Serb police and civilians raided then
the home of Sahit H. Parduzi (44) in "Tavnik" neighborhood, as well
as the home of Sherif A. Hajzeri (70). In the latter, police smashed
up home furniture and robbed the family of DM 1.000. The same Serb
police expedition was involved today in the raids of the houses of
Brahim Tmava and Avdyl Tmova in the "Shipol" neighborhood.
Serbs smashed up everything in their way during
the raids, the LDK said. Tens of Serb policemen on board 2 APCs and
8 other cars left for the Zhabar i Ul&t village today. Police later
raided the homes of brothers Ilmi, Bedri and Afrim Ferati.
After the raid, police took Ilmi Ferati with
them. The police were also after Mursel Ahmeti, local leader of the
LDK in the village of Zhabar i Ulat, who happened not to be home at
the time.
A number of Serb vehicles full of police arrived
in Mitrovica from Vushtrri at 10 a.m. today. They stopped at Suhadoll
village, and raided a number of Albanian houses, the LDK chapter said.
Tensions run high in the villages of Zhabar
i Poshtam and Suhadoll, as well as the "Tavnik" neighborhood in Mitrovica,
LDK sources said.
PRISHTINA, Jan 4 (KIC)
- A local UCK (Kosova Liberation Army) officer,
Xhavit Jusufi (45), was killed Sunday evening, at around 23:00 hrs,
in an ambush at "Te varret e Smrekonicas" (the Smrekonica cemetery)
in Vushtrri municipality, the LDK chapter in Mitrovica said.
Along with Mr. Jusufi, a resident of the vilCage
of Vidishiq, was also another local UCK office, whose name has not
been disclosed, who was reported lightly wounded. The killed UCK officer
will be buried Tuesday at 12:30 hrs.
PRISHTINA, Jan 4 (KIC)
- The General Staff of the Ushtria Clirimtare
e Kosovas (UCK, Kosova Liberation Army) said Sunday in a statement
it had decided to establish KOSOVA PRESS, a news agency, and a radio
broadcasting station named KOSOVA E LIRA (Free Kosova), which should
provide the Albanian and world public with "timely, comprehensive
and objective information".
PRISHTINA, Jan 4 (KIC)
- A one-month infant of Milaim Kastrati, resident
of Turjak& village, has died today in the village for lack of medical
care, Mr. Cen Desku, member of the LDK chapter leadership in Malisheva
said.
Residents of Malisheva area, in central Kosova,
do not dare leave their villages amidst permanent Serbian police threats
and intimidation, Mr. Desku said.
Ms Valentina Maloku, a wounded resident of
Pllocica village of Malisheva, was beaten up some time ago by Serb
police in hospital, where she was being treated, the LDK chapter said,
failing to say where it happened.
PRISHTINA, Jan 4 (KIC)
- Some 30 Serb soldiers backed up by atank
at the ready surrounded Susuri (1948) in the village of Zhur, Prizren
municipality, allegedly in connection with arms shooting that had
originated from the place earlier in the morning.
A number of Serb soldiers took Refki to the
basement of a house and beat him up brutally. Later, they raided his
house as well as the house of his brothers Hamza, Avni, Reshit and
Nafi Susuri, who were then arrested, the LDK chapter in Zhur said.
Refki sustained grave body injuries, including in the head and his
kidneys, and a number of broken teeth, the LDK said.
During the joint raid, Serb soldiers and police
threatened family members, alleging they had weapons and knew where
the UCK was. House furniture was smashed up by Serbs during their
rampage.
The entire new part of the village of Zhur,
with some 1.000 >inhabitants, fled their homes during the Serb crackdown
on Sunday. Meanwhile, today (Monday) morning, at 9:30 hrs, in another
part of the village, some 10 Serb soldiers made entry into the courtyard
of the family house of Rizan Ademaj.
They held the women and children at gun-point
while yelling at them, the LDK sources said.
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1658-C
Prishtina, 9 January 1999
Serbian Military Launches New Offensive
against
Podujeva Villages
- Serbian military and paramilitary police
troops, backed up by scores of tanks and other heavy weaponry, launched
early afternoon today (Saturday) an attack against the villages of
Bradash, Peran, Obranca, Llapashtica, Gllamnik and the outlying areas
in the municipality of Podujeva, around 30 km north of capital Prishtina.
Serbian forces have been engaged in heavy
shelling, local sources said. There has been no immediate word on
the consequences of the unfolding Serb offensive operation. Still
unconfirmed sources speak of killed and wounded in the village of
Peran.
Around 15:00 hrs, automatic weapons fire
was reported in the town of Podujeva itself, which saw a buildup of
Serbian forces earlier in the day. Around 16:00 hrs, the KIC learned
that some Serb tanks had been moved from the Podujeva - Karpimeh roadway
to 'Tabet e Llapashticas', a couple of km south-west of Podujeva.
This may indicate Serb forces will concentrate on attacking Llapashtic&
village, where UCK (Kosova Liberation Army) has positions, too.
Yet, heavy Serb forces continue being stationed
along the Podujeva Karpimeh roadway, and they were still attacking
at 16:00 hrs today, the KIC learned.
Heavy Serbian military and police forces,
backed up by scores of tanks and other artillery pieces, built up
today morning in northern Kosova, along the Prishtina-Podujeva road,
between the villages of Lluzhan and Llapashtic&, some 12 km long,
and Podujeva-Karpimeh, some 10 more km northwards, local sources said.
Meanwhile, yesterday and today, heavy Serb
military troops have been building up in the roads leading to Shala
e Bajgoras - a region straddling Mitrovica, Vushtrri, and Podujeva
- where UCK (Kosova Liberation Army) units yesterday took prisoner
eight Serb (Yugoslav) soldiers, who had been shooting in the direction
of the local Albanian population.
The release of the Serb soldiers has been
cited as a reason for the Serbian offensive, but the fact is the Serbs
had been taken prisoner in Mitrovica area, not in the Podujeva, Llapi
region, area.
More than 40 Albanians, most of them non-combatants,
were killed in two Serb military offensives in the Podujeva area in
September and December of 1998, respectively.
The OSCE verifiers in Podujeva area were
ordered by the KVM headquarters in Prishtina to withdraw from the
ground as it seemed a Serb offensive operation was imminent around
midday.
The Serb side was said to have issued an
ultimatum for Serb soldiers, took prisoner by the UCK, to be released
by 16:00 hrs today. The Serb shelling of the Llapi region's villages
started three hours earlier, though.
The local LDK officials in Podujeva called
for international action to secure the withdrawal of Serbian forces
from the area. They said there was a huge Albanian refugee population
in the villages, in the aftermath of the last Serb offensive launched
two weeks ago today, on Christmas Eve.
The Prishtina-Podujeva road has been blocked
today. Meanwhile, reports from Malisheva, central Kosova, said the
U.S. KDOM head, Shaun Burns, was talking with the UCK leadership in
a bid to secure the release of the Serbian soldiers.
The meeting was held in Dragobil village,
and by 15:00 o'clock the outcome of the talks was not known. The UCK
was pressured upon to release the Serbs. The UCK itself demanded that
its own soldiers, took prisoner by the Serb army at the Kosova-Albania
border, be released in return, local sources told the KIC.
OSCE mission blames "irresponsible acts
by KLA"
"KVM (Kosova Verification Mission) wishes
to state that irresponsible actions by the KLA (UCK) since yesterday
morning are the main reasons for a considerable increase of tension
in Kosovo", the OSCE KVM said in a press release today (Saturday).
The UCK refused to release the eight Yugoslav
soldiers taken prisoner by it yesterday, "although an undertaking
to release them was given late on January 8th, 1999", the KVM said
in the press release.
"KVM wishes to make it clear that it finds
the reaction by Yugoslav authorities to these KLA provocations has
been up to this point very restrained.
The representatives of the Yugoslavian authorities
have shown a willingness to co-operate in this present situation.",
the OSCE KVM press release concluded.
The KIC obtained this press release by fax
at 13:59 hrs. The Serbian shelling in the Podujeva area had started
an hour earlier, according to local Albanian sources. Serbian Troops
Have Retaken Last Summer's Combat Positions in Kosova
PRISHTINA, Jan 9 (KIC) Huge Serbian
forces have reclaimed all their main combat positions of the last
summer, such as the Kryqi i Belincit (in Shtime area), Podi i G&shtenjave
(in Decan area), and Gryka e Carralevas, local sources indicate.
The Milosevic-Holbrooke agreement in mid-October
had resulted in some Serb forces being withdrawn to Serbia and others
to their permanent bases in Kosova.
In the past several weeks, however, fresh Serbian
troops have been returned to Kosova, and others in Kosova itself posted
in the fields, such as Podujeva, for instance.
Heavy convoys of Serbian military and police
forces, in full armor, travel Kosova roads on a daily basis.
Prishtina, the Kosova capital, was under a
heavy Serb military and police grip Friday night, with between 300
and 500 soldiers and policemen keeping Kodra e Diellit and a number
of other neighborhoods under siege for several hours. They were concentrated
in the area near the students dormitories and on the Dragodan neighborhood
main road.
Meanwhile, armed Serb civilians, sometimes
in open collusion with the Serbian police, have been barricading roads
in Kosova and ill-treating Albanians.
The German Ambassador to Belgrade, Wilfried
Gruber, was held hostage by armed Serb civilians near Gradjanica yesterday,
Serb daily Blic reported.
The British ambassador to Belgrade, Brian Donnelly,
was likewise barred by armed Serb civilians from travelling to Prishtina
yesterday.
Three Albanians Killed, Four Wounded in Serb
Attack in Suhareka on Friday. Fifty shells landed in the village of
Sllapuzhan,
PRISHTINA, Jan 9 (KIC) - Three Albanians
were killed and four wounded as a result of attacks by Serbian forces
against Suhareka villages yesterday (Friday).
The LDK chapter in Suhareka said a six-year-old
girl, Kujtesa >Butydji (6), died as a result of wounds sustained from
ricochet in her native village of Sllapuzhan yesterday, whereas Feim
Garip Badallaj, resident of Sallagrazhda, was found killed in his
native village.
Of wounds received in his native village of
Sllapuzhan, Osman Nezir Byty^i (65) died today. Four Albanians were
wounded in yesterday's Serb onslaught: Isak Fetah Hoxha (42), resident
of Bllaca, as well as Bajram Zeqir >Bytydji (18), Fatime Qamil Elshani
(f, 60) and Zade Gashi-Bytydi (f, 55), all of them residents of Sllapuzhan
village.
LDK sources said 50 shells landed in the village
of Sllapuzhan yesterday. The population fled again this village, which
had been >shattered in the Serb summer offensives.
The Serbian shelling of Albanian villages was
apparently in retribution for the killing of three Serb policemen
near Suhareka earlier in the day on Friday.
A grave situation has been reported in the
town of Suhareka today (Saturday). Heavy detonations were heard at
9:40 a.m. today. No details have been made available. Only Serb forces
and armed civilians have been roaming the town streets. The majority
Albanian population has chosen to stay indoors in this explosive situation.
Young Albanian Killed in Unsolved Circumstances
in Istog Area
PRISHTINA, Jan 9 (KIC) - Rifat Blakaj
(20), resident of Trubuhovc village of Istog, in northwest Kosova,
has been killed in yet unsolved circumstances. The young Albanian's
family said Rifat left his home on Tuesday, 7 January, and went to
the town of Istog for a bicycle repair. His bicycle has been found
on the Prekalla upland, on the Gjurakovc-Peja road.
The family had launched a search operation
of its own, before actually being told by the Serb police that Rifat
Blakaj was found killed in the village of Drenoc, municipality of
Klina, and that his body had been taken to the Peja town morgue.
The Albanian had two gunshot wounds, in his
left chest and under the jaw, and his two eyes damaged and lesions
in his face and hands, local sources said.
At least ten Albanians have been shot dead
in unsolved circumstances in different parts of Kosova in the last
ten days.
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1659
Prishtina, 10 January 1999
Heavy Buildup of Serb Armor along
Prishtina-Podujeva Roadway
Four tank shells fired against Llapashtica
village today
Huge Serbian military and police forces backed
up by heavy armor have been concentrated today (Sunday) in the Llapi
river valley in north Kosova, along the Prishtina - Podujeva highway
and Podujeva - Karpimeh roadway, in the area from Vranidoll village
to Peran, some 25 km in length.
Heavy Serbian military and police troops backed
up by tank and mortar fire attacked yesterday the villages of Bradash,
Katunishta ('Velika Reka'), Peran, Obranja, Llapashtica and Gllamnik,
municipality of Podujeva. Most of the Albanian residents fled their
homes to relatively safer areas in the municipality.
In the compounds of the Serb ('Yugoslav') army
at Vranidoll (a dozen km north of the capital Prishtina) and outside
it some twenty Serb army tanks are stationed.
Two km northwards, at Kulina, in the compounds
of the "Castori" restaurant by the roadside, are some 8 to 10 tanks,
with the barrels aimed at the villages of Lup and Majac, nestled on
the mountains on the right side of the Llapi river.
Three km further north, in the Serb police
station in Lluzhan, are a dozen Serb military tanks with their barrels
aimed at Godishnjakqa and Sollobaja villages.
Ten km further north, a couple of km south
of the town of Podujeva, at the 'Qershita e Llapashticas', a Serb
police armored vehicle has been posted, whereas at 'Tabet e Llapashticas'
many Serb tanks have been reported stationed.
Some 7 km away from Llapashtica, at Peran village,
on the Podujeva-K&rpimeh road, three Serb tanks have been deployed.
This heavy Serb military and police buildup and armor indicates the
Serb forces are at the ready to resume yesterday's attack.
At 10:00 o'clock in the morning today, Serb
fired four tank shells against the village of Llapashtica village,
west of Podujeva. The fire died down later, local sources said.
The OSCE KVM personnel in Podujeva have been
out on the ground in the area today. Meanwhile, sources from Mitrovica
spoke of heavy Serb military reinforcement in Statarg and Kutllovc,
in the area where the UCK took prisoner eight 'Yugoslav' soldiers
on Friday.
The KVM has been in permanent contact with
the UCK leadership in efforts to secure the release of the Serb soldiers.
Consequences of Serbian Offensive in Podujeva
Area by and Large Unknown
At least one wounded in yesterday's attack,
more are feared
JANUARY 10:
PRISHTINA, Jan 10 (KIC) - Local LDK
activists in Podujeva have not yet been able to obtain a full picture
on yesterday's Serb attack's consequences in the area. Heavy Serbian
military and police troops backed up by tank and mortar fire attacked
yesterday the villages of Bradash, Katunishta ('Velika Reka'), Peran,
Obrana, Llapashtica and Gllamnik, municipality of Podujeva.
Most of the Albanian residents fled their homes
to relatively safer areas in the municipality. Sources said Besim
Ademi (15), resident of Bradash village, was wounded yesterday in
the fields adjacent to the Llapi river while fleeing his village.
The man who saw Besim wounded has no further knowledge about his fate.
The young Albanian boy's family has launched
a search operation of its own today, the LDK chapter in Podujeva said.
In the town of Podujeva, Serb police forces stationed in the Besiana
motel machine-gunned yesterday five Albanian houses in the vicinity,
LDK sources said, naming them.
Sources said the Potera family compound in
Llapashtica village suffered most damages in yesterday's Serb attack.
It has been impossible to obtain first-hand information about it,
as the area is sealed off.
LDK leaders in Podujeva expressed their concern
about the fate of a number Albanian families holed up in Peran village.
PRISHTINA, Jan 10 (KIC) - Eight Albanian
families remain holed up in their homes at Peran village since yesterday
(Saturday), when Serb forces launched an attack against this and a
number of other villages in the municipality of Peran.
The LDK chapter in Podujeva said the families
of Xhafer Emini (mother and 16-year-old daughter), Ajet Emini (7 members),
Ismet Beqiri (22 members), Nazmi Ismajli (4 members), Nazmi's uncle's
family, the family of Rifat Beqiri (4 members), Rasim Beqiri's (10
members) as well as the family of Behram Hoxha (3 members), have remained
behind, as they could not get out in the midst of the Serb attack.
Their fate remains unknown.
Serb forces have been stationed in the area,
some of them in the house of Ilmi Hoxha, others in the family house
courtyard of Ruzhdi Kastrati, as well as in the compounds of the former
village cooperative.
Serbian forces have been stationed also near
the houses of Serbs living in Peran village. Amidst this Serb forces'
presence, the Podujeva-Karpimeh roadway remains blocked, LDK sources
said.
Meanwhile, the Serb regime Media Center said
two Serb policemen were lightly ounded yesterday in clashes with Albanian
'terrorists' in Peran.
LDK Chapter Denounces Serb Attack in Podujeva
Area, Criticizes OSCE
KVM's Statement
"The Serbian attacks had nothing to do with
the detention or efforts to secure the release of the Yugoslav soldiers
taken prisoner in another part of Kosova", namely in the Mitrovica
area, the LDK chapter in Podujeva says
PRISHTINA, Jan 10 (KIC) - The presidency
of the LDK chapter in Podujeva denounced today yesterday's Serbian
attack against the Llapi region's villages and the UCK in the area.
The Serbian military attack, in which tanks and other heavy weaponry
were used, as well as Serbian regime threats "were not provoked in
any way by the local population or the UCK", the Podujeva LDK chapter
said.
Yesterday's Serb attacks were concentrated
against a considerable number of villages, forcing the Albanian population
to flee Dobratin, Bajcina, Bradash, Peran, Obranca, Katunisht&, Llapashtica
e Eparme, Llapashtica e Poshtme, some neighborhoods of the town of
Podujeva, as well as the villages of Gllamnik, Konushec, Burica, Sibofc,
and Lluzhan, the LDK chapter said.
It is not the first time that these villages
are confronted with the Serb state terror, and forced from their homes,
it added. The LDK chapter in Podujeva dismisses as "unacceptable"
the assessment of the OSCE KVM contained in its press release of yesterday
(9 January) regarding the responsibility for the increase in tensions
in Kosova.
At least, as far as Podujeva is concerned,
it was not acts/actions by the UCK, but rather the actions of the
Serbian forces that were the main reason for the increase of tensions,
the LDK added. "The Serbian attacks had nothing to do with the detention
or efforts to secure the release of the Yugoslav soldiers taken prisoner
in another part of Kosova", namely in the Mitrovica area, the LDK
chapter in Podujeva said.
No sooner had the OSCE KVM released its statement
praising the "restraint" of the Yugoslav authorities to the UCK "provocations"
than the 'Yugoslav' army and Serb paramilitary police started pounding
the Podujeva villages early afternoon yesterday (Saturday).
Three Albanians Killed in Decan Village Saturday
PRISHTINA, Jan 10 (KIC) - The Serb regime
Media Center in Prishtina said three Albanians were killed by Serb
police forces near Dashinovc village of the municipality of Decan,
in western Kosova, Saturday afternoon. The three, wearing UCK uniforms,
had attacked a police patrol, the Serb center said, adding that the
police returned fire and killed them.
One Albanian Killed, Another Wounded in Bibaj
Village of Ferizaj Saturday Evening
PRISHTINA, Jan 10 (KIC) - One Albanian
was shot dead, a second wounded on Saturday evening, around 21:15
hrs, at Bibaj village of Ferizaj ('Urosevac') municipality, local
LDK sources said.
Unknown assailants opened automatic fire from
a 'Zastava 101' car on Faruk Murseli and Sedat Selimi, both around
20 years of age, residents of Tarpeza village of Viti, and a third
young Albanian from Pozhoran village who was with them. Faruk died,
whereas Sedat was wounded in this criminal attack. Sedat Selimi was
taken to the Prishtina hospital, after having been given the first
aid and questioned by the Serb police, local >sources said.
Hand Grenade Hurled of Albanian Cafe in Prishtina
at Midnight
PRISHTINA, Jan 10 (KIC) - Just after
midnight last night, a hand grenade was hurled in the house of the
Thaci family, in which 'Te Cima' cafe is located, in the "Qyteza Pejton"
neighborhood in downtown Prishtina.
A heavy blast was caused by the grenade. There
was material damage, but no injuries. When the grenade was tossed
the 'Te Cima' cafe was full of guests. It appears that the cafe itself
was targeted, but the grenade did not hit its front part, the entrance
and its windows.
The Serb police authorities showed up on the
scene half an hour later, a member of the Thaci family said. Based
on the evidence they found, they said it was a hand grenade.
An eye-witness said he saw a man running away
alongside the road past the nearby kindergarten in the direction of
Radio Prishtina.
Prishtina, 11 January 1999 KIC Head,
Enver Maloku, Assassinated in Prishtina Monday Afternoon
PRISHTINA, Jan 10 (KIC) 18:00 CET - Enver Maloku,
head of the Kosova Information Center (KIC) was shot and fatally wounded
near his home in capital Prishtina today afternoon, around 16:00 hrs.
He died in less than an hour in hospital, sources said.
Mr. Maloku, in his mid-forties, father of three,
was getting out of his car, when he was shot by unknown assailants,
three or four people on a black car, according to eye-witness accounts
which could not be immediately confirmed.
He was taken to the Prishtina hospital in a
critical condition, with gunshot wounds in his neck and perhaps on
the chest. Enver Maloku narrowly escaped an assassination attempt
in early July 1998, when an unknown person shot in his direction at
the entrance of his apartment in a block of flats in Kodra e Diellit
neighborhood in Prishtina. The authorities had not investigated the
assassination attempt.
Enver Maloku was a prominent journalist with
the cultural programme of the Radio and Television of Prishtina (RTP)
broadcasting in Albanian till it was closed by the Serbian regime
in July 1990.
Maloku has worked with the KIC since its foundation
in 1991, and been head of this singular Kosovar news agency since
1993.
Since last year, Maloku was a member of the
top executive, the 55- member General Council of the Democratic League
of Kosova (LDK), the major political force in Kosova.
Throughout the 1990s, Mr. Maloku has been one
of the leading political journalists in Kosova. He was a committed
journalist, articulating in a powerful way the independence bid of
the Albanian people of Kosova on an institutional and democratic platform.
The Kosova Information Center will sorely miss Enver Maloku - a man
of integrity.
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1662
Prishtina, 13 January 1999
Today, a Day of National Mourning in Kosova
PRISHTINA, Jan 13 (KIC) - In honor to,
and on the occasion of the assassinated Enver Maloku, head of the
Kosova Information Center (KIC), the President of the Republic of
Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova declared Wednesday, 13 January, a day of
national mourning in Kosova, Rugova's Office said on Tuesday.
Enver Maloku (1954), a leading Albanian journalist
in the 1980s and 1990s, director of the KIC since 1993, was assassinated
in downtown Prishtina on Monday afternoon. This was the second, now
fatal, attempt on his life in six months.
Assassination of Enver Maloku Condemned, Rugova,
KIC and Family Condoled
PRISHTINA, Jan 13 (KIC) - All Kosovar
institutions, the major Albanian political and cultural organizations
in and outside Kosova, as well as foreign colleagues have sent President
Rugova, the KIC as well as Maloku family messages of sympathy on the
tragic death of Maloku, together with words of strong condemnation
for the criminal act of his assassination
Monday afternoon. Albania's Foreign Ministry's
spokesman, Sokol Gjoka, said the assassination of Enver Maloku is
an "expression of the official Belgrade policy of concealing the truth
of the tragedy in Kosova, violating the right to freedom of information,
as well as depriving an entire people of its right to live in freedom
and equality".
The deputy spokesman for the French Foreign
Minister condemned in the strongest term the assassination of Enver
Maloku, "the chief of the Albanian information service (KIC)", who
was also a "close aide to Mr. Ibrahim Rugova".
The Austrian Ambassador to Belgrade, Wolfgang
Petritsch, said "We will remember Mr. Maloku, whose work was most
appreciated, as a compassionate human being whose impressive commitment
to his task has earned him the respect of the whole diplomatic community.
He will be greatly missed."
The Czech People in Need Foundation, in a letter
to the KIC said, "The killing of any journalist is a reprehensible
act, but Mr. Maloku's was all the more so given his moderate views
and his articulately expressed desire for a peaceful and democratic
Kosovo".
The People in Need Foundation accorded last
year its annual Homo Homini human rights prize to President Ibrahim
Rugova of Kosova. The People in Need showed its solidarity with us
in the KIC in our moment of loss, and made an offer of material support
"that will enable you to continue and strengthen your work".
Enver Maloku's "name stands for clear information
and courage. The Milosevic regime could no longer bear his clear voice.
One of Kosova's best men was murdered, and the entire nation of Kosova
was hit as well", Tilman Zuelch, President of the Society for Threatened
Peoples International, said in a letter of condolences to the KIC.
A political science student, John Mullaney,
from Texas, U.S., expressed his sadness about Mr. Maloku, and praised
the KIC's "excellent journalism". "You are being heard. Keep trying.
Never give up until you shed the shackles of tyranny and violence",
the American student said, referring to "Milosevic's madness" and
his terror that has plagued Kosova and the Balkan region.
Confident that we will be unable to do justice
to all who have commiserated with us on the great loss of ours, we
in the KIC herewith thank from the bottom of our heart all those who
have sent us messages of sympathy in whatever manner - by letter,
phone or E- Mail.
PRISHTINA, Jan 13 (KIC)
President Rugova Receives
USAID Officials
- The President of the Republic of Kosova
Ibrahim Rugova received Tuesday evening a delegation of the United
States Agency for International Development (USAID), consisting of
Frank Pavich, director of the Prishtina Office, and Chuck Howell,
Bruce Adams, and Scotty Johnson, officials with the USAID.
Rugova and the USAID delegation - which
is on an fact-finding mission here - discussed about the most recent
developments in Kosova and ways to de-escalate the situation and speed
up the political process in pursuit of a settlement.
The USAID representatives shared an interest
in aspects of the organization of the Kosovar society and the ways
this organization may help in the appropriate fields, as well as in
the process of democratization as a whole.
President Rugova appreciated as very significant
the USAID's support for Kosova. UCK to Release 'Yugoslav' Soldiers
Later in the Day?
PRISHTINA, Jan 13 (KIC) - The eight Serbian
('Yugoslav') soldiers, taken prisoner by the UCK last week, will be
released later in the day today (Wednesday), sources said. The agreement
on their release was concluded today in the village of Likoc, in central
Kosova, during a meeting of the UCK General Staff members and representatives
of the international community, American and European envoys, ambassadors
Chris Hill, Wolfgang Petritsch, and William Walkeram Walker,
Mr. Murat Musliu, a local human rights activist
in Skenderaj ('Srbica') said. OSCE chairman Knut Vollebaeck said in
Prishtina Tuesday evening an agreement on an early release of the
Serbian soldiers had been reached.
The UCK had initially demanded that the 'Yugoslav'
soldiers be swamped with UCK prisoners in Serb hands. The modalities
of the release of Yugoslav prisoners have not been made available
as of yet.
One Albanian Killed in Mitrovica, Another in
Ferizaj, Third Body Found in Gllogovc
PRISHTINA, Jan 13 (KIC) - Two Albanians
were killed in the last 24 hours in Kosova, and the body of a third
person, still unidentified, was found today. Early in the morning
today (Wednesday), unidentified assailants shot dead in front of his
house Nexhmedin Sadiku (43), resident of Bair neighborhood in the
town of Mitrovica, LDK sources in Mitrovica said.
Meanwhile, unknown persons shot and fatally
wounded with two bullets Sejdi Sahiti (50) in the town of Ferizaj
('Urosevac') on Tuesday evening, around 18:50 hrs, the LDK chapter
in Ferizaj reported.
He was taken to the Prishtina hospital, where
he died today of wounds he sustained yesterday. Sejdiu was shot and
wounded while on his way to work, in a construction material depot
in Ferizaj. Six spent bullets were found in the scene of the incident,
sources said.
The Prishtina-based Council for the Defense
of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) said the body of a killed person
was spotted early in the morning today near the Chicken Farm at Krivova
village of Gllogovc. The CDHRF said it could not get further informationregarding
the identity and the circumstances in which the person had been killed.
Gunfire and Fighting Reported Monday and Tuesday
in Border Area Villages
PRISHTINA, Jan 13 (KIC) - Heavy arms
shooting was heard coming Monday night and Tuesday morning in the
villages of Zulfaj, Qafa e Prushit and Deva, situated in the Kosova-Albania
border area, LDK sources in Gjakova said.
Fighting was reported Tuesday between the UCK
(Kosova Liberation Army) and the Serbian military and police in the
villages of Shaptej, Gllogjan, Ratish, Dashinoc and Maznika of the
municipality of Decan, the Prishtina-based Council for the Defense
of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF). There was no information on
the casualty toll.
The body of an UCK fighter, Hysen Rama, from
Skenderaj ('Srbica'), was taken Tuesday afternoon to the town morgue
in Gjakova. It is not known where he was killed.
Serbian Military and Police Buildup in Podujeva
Continues
PRISHTINA, Jan 13 (KIC) - Heavy Serbian
military and police troops, backed up by tanks and other heavy weaponry,
continue being deployed along the Prishtina-Podujeva roadway, the
'Tabet e Llapashticas', on the Podujeva-K&rpimeh roadway, which is
being kept sealed off, and in several key communication sites in Podujeva,
30 km north of Prishtina.
The fate of Nazmi Ismajli and Ismet Beqiri
(42), residents of Peran village, who were arrested Saturday by the
Serb military, is still unknown.
Eight Albanians are said to be still holed
up in the village of Peran, five km north of Podujeva. LDK sources
have their names, adding that Albanian farmsteads are being looted
by the Serb forces.
Two dozen Albanian houses were shelled by Serb
forces last week in Llapashtica e Eparme and Llapashtica e Poshtme,
and in the outskirts of the town of Podujeva, LDK sources said, listing
the names of family heads.
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1664
President Rugova's Press Conference
PRISHTINA, Jan 15 (KIC)
- This past week saw "dangerous and tragic
developments", adding to the already grave and volatile situation
in Kosova, the President of the Republic of Kosova, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova,
told a press conference in Prishtina today (Friday).
The President called the assassination of
Enver Maloku, director of the Kosova Information Center (KIC), earlier
this week as a direct attack on "the independent institutions" of
Kosova.
"The murder of Mr. Maloku, the prominent
and courageous journalist, intellectual and political activist for
the freedom and >independence of Kosova is a great loss for Kosova",
President Ibrahim Rugova said. He added that a "new climate of Serbian
violence and unsolved killings" on a daily basis is being created,
and demanded that all this be brought to an end.
Kosova saw another dramatic development
last week, when the Serbian army took to the streets of capital Prishtina,
coupled also with the blockage of the city by armed Serb groups, he
said.
President Ibrahim Rugova of Kosova hailed
the intervention of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Knut Vollebaek and
OSCE KVM head William Walker to calm the situation, adding that he
saw within this context also the latest agreement between the parties
brokered by the KVM. (Eight 'Yugoslav' soldiers, held as prisoners
of war by the UCK, were released Wednesday afternoon with the mediation
of the OSCE).
"The deployment of NATO ground troops in
Kosova would promote security for all the citizens here, as well as
this part of Europe" as a whole, the Kosova leader said. He reiterated
that independence for Kosova, with all guarantees for the local Serb
community, is the best solution.
President Ibrahim Rugova confirmed that
Albanian political forces and "the Kosova institutions" have been
preparing for a meeting, which the OSCE Chairman-in-Office said yesterday
would be held in Vienna, Austria.
"I have received an invitation from Tirana
these past few days, and I will visit Albania in the first convenient
moment", President Ibrahim Rugova said, adding that contacts between
Kosova and Albanian have been "regular and normal" so far.
Asked to say what has been done to ensure
that Serbian troops and hardware massed in the Podujeva last week
be pulled back, President Rugova said the Kosova Verification Mission
has been working in this direction, and Kosova Albanian institutions
have been trying to take care of the thousands of displaced Albanians
until Serb forces withdraw and they can return back to their homes.
Asked to comment on the formation of the
defense forces of the Balkan States, Rugova said the South Balkans
initiative had been within the NATO framework, because many of the
countries are members of NATO or NATO's Partnership for Peace. The
President said he hoped to see one day "the Kosova forces join that
formation".
Serbian Forces Launch Attack
on Shtime and Ferizaj Villages Today
Unconfirmed Albanian reports speak of 6
to 7 killed Albanians, the Serb regime sources put at 15 the death
toll amongst the Albanians
PRISHTINA, Jan 15 (KIC) - Heavy Serbian
paramilitary police troops shelled today four villages of the Shtime
municipality, some 35 km south of Prishtina.The LDK sources said Serbs
had started early in the morning an attack against the village of
Recak, Mollopolc, Petrov& and later >Rrenaja. Serb forces were shelling
from their military position at Kryqi i Belincit (the Belinc cross),
they said.
Serbian forces advanced into the villages
after a long and heavy shelling, LDK sources said early afternoon.
The villages were in flames and smoke, which could be seen from the
town of Shtime, they added.
At least an Albanian has been reported killed
by Serb forces today. Mustafa Asllani (33), was killed in the suburbs
of the small town of Shtime leading to Recak village, the local LDK
chapter said, quoting Asllani's mother.
The LDK chapter in Ferizaj said it had word,
still unconfirmed, that 6 Albanians were killed in Petrova village
alone today. The population of the Shtime villages - which were attacked
by Serb forces last year, too - have been forced to flee their homes
again.
Meanwhile, LDK sources from Ferizaj said
the village of Jezerc and its outlying area was being shelled today,
too. The sound of heavy shelling could be heard in Ferizaj. The Serb
police has blocked the Ferizaj-Shtime-Prizren
roadway, as well as all entrances to the town of Shtime, local sources
said.
OSCE verifiers could reach the scene of
Serb attack today. Meanwhile, the Prishtina-based Media Center, a
mouthpiece for the Serbian military and police in Kosova, said at
least 15 members of the Kosova Liberation Army (UCK), referred to
as 'terrorist' by the occupation Serb authorities, were killed today
"in clashes with the Serb police" near Recan and Petrovë villages
and hamlets.
The Serbian military and police launched
attacks against Podujeva villages, north of Kosova, late last year
and early this year. Today's attack comes in the wake of the release
by the UCK of eight Serb soldiers, taken prisoner last week, which
was seen as a goodwill gesture hoped to be responded to by the Serb
side in the same fashion.
Aggression against Albanian villages in
south Kosova was the Serb answer today.
By Melissa Eddy, Associated Press Writer,
Saturday:
January 16, 1999
RACAK, Yugoslavia (AP)
The bodies of dozens of men, many of them
mutilated, were found lying on a hillside in southern Kosovo today,
a day after Serb forces launched a fierce assault on ethnic Albanian
villages. Kosovo Albanians said 46 were killed.
Reporters and international verifiers, who
were prevented from reaching the besieged area around the village
of Racak on Friday, saw the massacred bodies today, lying scattered
on a hillside and in ravines. Some had their eyes gouged out or their
heads smashed in, and one man lay decapitated in a courtyard. The
body of another man had a bullet wound in the neck. Many of the victims
were older men.
International monitors initially counted
at least 28 bodies lying heaped together near the crest of a hill,
and ethnic Albanians told of many others lying nearby. The news agency
launched by Kosovo Liberation Army rebels, Kosovo Press, reported
46 dead, eight of them KLA fighters.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe, which runs the Kosovo Verification Mission, declined to
discuss the massacre until the mission chief, U.S. diplomat William
Walker, reached the scene himself. "``What we're trying to get
now are the precise facts, which is why the ambassador is going down
there,'' said OSCE spokesman Sandy Blyth. " ``We're in the business
of gathering the precise facts of how many people died and how they
died.''
Women in the village of Racak, which was
evacuated under fierce shelling and tank fire on Friday, wailed as
they learned of the fate of the men. It was the worst killing spree
since an October truce largely halted more than seven months of combat
in the separatist province, and perhaps the most savage of the nearly
yearlong conflict.
The informal cease-fire, which international
officials have insisted is still largely intact, is now in serious
danger of collapsing into a resumption of the province-wide fighting
that devastated Kosovo in 1998.
Villagers said Serb police had separated
men from their families and led them toward the local police station.
They later turned and herded them up the hill, where they killed them,
the residents said. Bodies apparently lay where they were slain, along
cow paths and in deep, hilly ravines.
The Serb Media Center had reported Friday
that at least 15 KLA fighters were killed in the attack on three villages,
including Racak, about 15 miles south of Kosovo's capital, Pristina.
It said the crackdown was in response to KLA attacks on police.
Yugoslav tanks and troops were part of the
attack, pounding the area before fighting abated Friday afternoon.
Verifiers and journalists heard villagers tell of a grisly massacre.
An ethnic Albanian man who gave his name only as Raim said he was
told Serb police had barged into his family compound and attacked
his grandfather, 60-year-old Banush Azemigo, whom he identified as
the decapitated man.
``Yesterday early in the morning, police
came with very heavy machine guns together with the army,'' he said.
``They entered the village with infantry. Half of the people they
arrested and beat up. The rest you can see here,'' he said pointing
to the heap of bodies. ``We don't know what we are going to do,''
he said, sitting on a stump with his head in his hands, holding on
his knees a rifle with ``UCK'' -- the Albanian-language acronym for
the KLA -- burned into the wooden butt.
He said he was in the hills at the time
of the attack and only learned of it today. The death toll is the
highest since the Oct. 12 agreement brokered by U.S. envoy Richard
Holbrooke.
Last month, army border guards killed 36
KLA fighters as they tried to smuggle weapons in from neighboring
Albania.
More than 1,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians,
have been killed since Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic launched
an offensive last February to try to crush separatist militants and
reinforce government control over the Albanian-majority province in
Serbia, the larger republic in Yugoslavia.
Earlier, the United States, Britain and
France had strongly condemned the shooting of an international monitor
and a translator from the Kosovo Verification Mission. The two were
not seriously wounded.
State Department spokesman James P. Rubin
called the shootings "``unacceptable." The British monitor
was shot in the shoulder and the translator was shot and slightly
wounded when unidentified gunmen fired on their three-vehicle convoy
Friday near the western town of Decani. The two were taken to a hospital
in Pristina. The translator was later released and the Briton was
taken to Macedonia for further treatment.
About 800 monitors are now in Kosovo, including
110 Britons. An 1,800-strong NATO force is stationed just over the
border in Macedonia to rescue them if needed.
U.N. Security Council Statement on Kosova
PRISHTINA, Jan 20 (KIC)
- Following is the text of the U.N. Security
Council statement on the massacre of 45 Albanian civilians Kosova.
It was read by Council President Celso Amorim of Brazil at a formal
meeting late on Tuesday after agreement by all 15 members, Reuters
reported.
"The Security Council strongly condemns
the massacres of Kosovo Albanians in the village of Racak in southern
Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, on 15 January 1999, as reported
by the Organisation for Security and cooperation is Europe (OSCE)
Kosovo Verification Mission (KVM).
"It notes with deep concern that the report
of the KVM states that the victims were civilians, including women
and at least one child. The Council also takes note of the statement
by the head of the KVM that the responsibility for the massacre lay
with Federal Republic of Yugoslavia security forces, and that uniformed
members of both the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia armed forces and
Serbian special police had been involved.
"The council emphasises the need for an
urgent and full investigation of the facts and urgently calls upon
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to work with the International
Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and KVM to ensure that those responsible
are brought to justice," the statement said.
"The Security Council deplores the decision
by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to refuse access to the prosecutor
of the International Tribunal and calls upon the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia to cooperate fully with the International Tribunal in
carrying out an investigation in Kosovo, in line with the call for
cooperation with the International tribunal in its resolutions 1160
(1998) of March 31, 1998, 1199 (1998) of September 23, 1998 and 1203
(1998) and October 24, 1998.
"The Security Council notes that, against
clear KVM advice, Serb forces returned to Racak on 17 January 1999
and that fighting broke out.
"The Security Council considers that the
events in Racak constitute the latest in a series of threats to the
efforts to settle this conflict through negotiation and peaceful means.
"The Security Council condemns the shooting
of personnel of the KVM on January 15, 1999 and all actions endangering
KVM and international personnel. It reaffirms its full commitment
to the safety and security of the KVM personnel. It reiterates its
demands that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo Albanians
cooperate fully with the KVM.
"The Security Council calls upon the parties
to cease immediately all acts of violence and to engage in talks on
a lasting settlement.
"The Security Council also strongly warns
the 'Kosovo Liberation Army' against actions which are contributing
to tensions.
"The Security Council considers all of these
events to be violations of its resolutions and of relevant agreements
and commitments calling for restraint. "It calls upon all parties
to respect fully their commitments under the relevant resolutions
and affirms once again its full support for international efforts
to facilitate a peaceful settlement on the basis of equality for all
citizens and ethnic communities in Kosovo.
The council reaffirms its commitment to
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia.
"The Security Council takes note with concern
of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
that five and a half thousand civilians fled the Racak area following
the massacre, showing how rapidly a humanitarian crisis could again
develop if steps are not taken by the parties to reduce tensions.
"The Security Council will remain actively
seized of the matter."
An Open Letter to President Clinton Physicians
for Human Rights August 7, 1998
Milosevic and The West Atrocities reminiscent
of the war in Bosnia are now occurring in Kosovo. President Milosevic
has unleashed his military, police, and paramilitary forces against
ethnic Albanians in Kosovo and will not desist until confronted with
NATO's concerted military strength.
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) strongly
urges you to uphold your 1993 pledge to intervene in Kosovo should
President Milosevic ever besiege this province and use whatever means
necessary to stop further bloodshed in Kosovo.
Meanwhile, the suffering of hundreds of
thousands of civilians continues, and increasing reports of human
rights atrocities emanate from the field. This week allegations of
mass graves in Kosovo surfaced in the press. Without conclusive forensic
evidence of such atrocities, many disbelieve the possibility that
hundreds of civilians from Orahovac were slaughtered and bulldozed
into mass graves. Yesterday, however, PHR received credible reports
from a local health and human rights organization that had just conducted
interviews with displaced families from Orahovac.
They report witnessing 12 trucks filled
with cadavers being hauled out of their town immediately following
the July 21st Serb offensive. They further testify that Serb forces
killed more than 500 civilians during this fighting, who are now believed
to be buried in mass graves.
February 25, 1999
FOR THE FR OF YUGOSLAVIA
Ministry of Information
Albanian terrorism after Milosevic-Holbrooke accord
Upon the talks of Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic with special American envoy Richard Holbrooke, in October
1998, and upon the agreement to resolve the problems in Kosovo and
Metohia in peaceful way and by political means, the Serbian government
adopted on October 13, Principles for Political Solution of Problems
in Kosovo and Metohia.
In spite of such determination of Yugoslavia
and Serbia and the international community, Albanian terrorists have
fiercely continued attacking civilians, police, army, private property
and public facilities. From that time, the Serbian Ministry of Interior
have registered the following terrorist attacks:
1. Policemen Vladan Radovanovic and Sasa Todorovic
seriously wounded and Zoran Damjanovic slightly, in the attack on
police, on the road Ostrozub - Dragobilje, Orahovac municipality,
on October 14 at 6.45 p.m.
2. Policeman Branko Rajic slightly wounded
in the attack on police in the village of Likovac, Srbica municipality,
on October 15 at 10.00 a.m.
3. Policeman Nenad Stankovic (1970) killed
in a terrorist attack on police in the
village of Dragobilje, Orahovac municipality, on October 15.
4. Policeman Miroslav Stanisic seriously wounded
in a terrorist attack on police in the village of Mirena, Lipljan
municipality, on October 16.
5. Policemen Goran Markovic (1971), Zivorad
Kostic (1961) and Dejan Jakovljevic (1968) killed and Milivoje Markovic
and Goran Sofronijevic seriously wounded in a terrorist attack in
the village of Orlate, Glogovac municipality, on October 17.
6. Policeman Predrag Velickovski slightly wounded
in a terrorist attack onpolice in the village of Kraljane, Djakovica
municipality, on October 17, at 6.30 a.m.
7. Policeman Milivoje Peica seriously wounded
and Ljubica Peric slightly wounded in a terrorist attack in the region
of Lipovacke sume, Lipljan municipality, on October 17, at
5.55 p.m.
8. Policeman Slobodan Stanojevic (1974) seriously
wounded from an infantry weapon in the terrorist attack on police
in the village of Sicevo, Klina municipality, on October 20,
at 8.00 a.m.
9. Policeman Radosav Stojanovic (1966) seriously
wounded from an infantry weapon in the terrorist attack on police
in the village of Zociste, Orahovac municipality, on October 20,
at 6.30 p.m.
10. Policemen Dejan Lukovic (1972) and Goran
Petrovic (1970) slightly wounded from in the terrorist attack on police
in the village of Dragobilje, Orahovac municipality, on October
23, at about 10.00 a.m.
11. Bujar Bitici (1976) from Orlate village,
Glogovac municipality, seriously wounded having stepped on an unknown
explosive device planted by Albanian terrorists upon retreat, on October
28.
12. Aluri Nazmi (1973), member of the Serbian
police reserve, killed in a terrorist attack in the village of Petrovic,
Stimlje municipality, on October 29.
13. Four Albanian terrorists entered the yard
of Dren Zef's (1932) house in the village of Firza, Djakovica municipality,
on October 29, at about 00.15 a.m., killing him with automatic
rifle and slightly wounding his son Peter (1963) with rifle butts.
14. Policeman Drasko Stosic, slightly wounded
in a terrorist attack on police in the village of Glodjane, Pec municipality,
on November 1, at about 1.30 p.m.
15. Sop Fehmi (1954) seriously wounded from
automatic rifle, at his house yard in the village of Malo Gracko,
Lipljan municipality, on November 2, at about 8.00 p.m. by
two Albanian terrorists.
16. Desimir Prodanovic seriously wounded, and
Dragisa Stjepanovic (1969) and Slavoljub Tanaskovic (1957) slightly
wounded in a terrorist attack in the village of Doni Grabovac, Kosovo
Polje municipality, on November 3, at about 6.00 p.m. Albanian
terrorists attacked two land cruisers with the workers of the Belacevac
coal-pit.
17. Zlonoga Sefedin (1961) from Orahovac, seriously
wounded in the village of Ploce, Orahovac municipality, on November
3, at about 5.00 p.m. While driving his tractor to his land, he
was stopped by Albanian terrorists and beaten up.
18. An Albanian terrorist opened fire on policemen
in the car in the village of
Pogradje, Klina municipality, on November 5, at about 10.00
a.m. Policemen responded to fire and shot him down.
19. A terrorist attack from passenger cars
carried out on policemen, on theroad between Suva Reka and Orahovac,
near the village of Opterusa, Orahovac municipality. Policemen fired
back and shot five terrorists.
20. Two policemen in reserve Ilija Vujosevic
(1950) and Dejan Djaltov (1975) abducted in a police ca r, near the
village of Dubrava, Orahovac municipality, on November 6, at about
11.00 a.m. Their bodies were found on November 9 in the village
of Malisevo.
21. In the village of Negrovac, Glogovac municipality,
on November 10, at about 11.20 a.m., Albanian terrorist Bujupi
Abedin from Orlate village, got out of the car with Prizren plate
numbers and opened fire on policemen in a car from automatic rifle.
Policeman Sreten Cvetanovic slightly wounded.
22. Albanian terrorists attacked police in
a building in Glogovac and "Feronikal" facility, with infantry
weapons and hand launchers, on November 10, between 7.00 and
7.55 p.m. Policemen Sasa Stefanovic, Slavko Amidzic (1972) and Zeljko
Mertic (1966) seriously wounded.
23. On November 13, about 6.00 p.m.,
in a terrorist attack in the village of Prekoluka, Decani municipality,
Albanian terrorists armed with automatic and sports rifles broke into
a house of Murat Hadjosaj (1942) and took him and his son Rasim (1964).
At the outskirts of the village, they killed Murat and seriously wounded
Rasim.
24. A terrorist attack with hand launchers
and automatic rifles carried out on police on the regional road Prizren
- Djakovica, on November 14, about 6.00 p.m. Neven Gloginja (1979)
seriously wounded and policeman in reserve Boban Radenovic (1972)
slightly wounded.
25. A terrorist attack carried out on police
in a building in Orahovac town, on November 16, at about 6.30
a.m. The attack was carried out with a sniper rifle. One bullet penetrated
policeman Zoran Dabizljevic's car and ricochetted into a Miroslav
Lukic's boot, a member of the reserve police.
26. Police in four cars who were regularly
patrolling on Malisevo - Suva Reka road, attacked with hand launchers
and automatic rifles on November 16, at about 11.00 a.m. Two
police cars were damaged with shell splinters.
27. Police car "Landrover" shot with
four bullets and another one damaged in a terrorist attack in the
village of Gornja Lapastica, Podujevo municipality, on November
16, at about 11.30 a.m. The attack was carried out with hand launchers
and automatic rifles.
28. Policemen Dejan Krstic (1971) seriously
wounded and two police cars heavily damaged in a terrorist attack
in the village of Trstenik, Glogovac municipality, on November
17, at about 11.20 a.m. The attack was carried out with automatic
rifles.
29. Four Albanian terrorists made an attempt
to stop a passenger car driven by policeman Bozidar Stefanovic from
Klina. Olivera Simic (1969) seriously wounded. The attack was carried
out with rifles on November 17, at about 4.30 p.m.
30. Policeman Goran Zbiljic (1968) from Podujevo,
left police station and disappeared on November 17, at about
8.00 p.m.
31. Policemen Slobodan Ramic seriously wounded
and Veselin Jozovic and Drago Pisaric slightly wounded in a terrorist
attack on the Djakovica - Pec road, in the village of Dujak, Djakovica
municipality. The terrorist attack was carried out with automatic
weapons and hand launchers on the police in their cars.
32. On November 18, at about 9.10 p.m.,
Albanian terrorists entered the house of Zejnulahu in Pec and killed
with automatic rifle Nuradin Zejnulahu (1949), a doctor and slightly
wounded his daughter Aida (1971).
33. Policemen Zoran Vrbaski (1973) and Janos
Cizmadia (1953) killed and Aleksandar Stojanovic (1971), Goran Borovnica
(1965) seriously wounded, while Pakai Caba (1975) slightly wounded,
in a terrorist attack in the village of Prilep, Decani municipality,
on November 20, at about 6.40 a.m. The attack was carried out
with hand launchers and automatic rifles on the police land cruiser.
34. Albanian terrorists shelled the houses
of Salja Ganija and Salja Hadzija from hand launchers, damaging houses'
roofs, in the village of Rasic, Pec municipality, on November 24,
at about 7.00 p.m. Then they entered the village and fired some more
shells on the houses and shops of the said owners.
35. Albanian terrorists made a tree dam on
the local road Rakovina - Kraljane, in the village of Rakovina, Djakovica
municipality, on November 25, at about 12.00 p.m. When the
police came to remove the tree, the terrorists opened fire from automatic
weapons. Police responded to fire and shot terrorist Oluri Isuf.
36. Albanian terrorists stopped the passenger
car with Tahiri Baskim and Bejtus Izet from Vucitrn, in the outskirts
of Kosovska Mitrovica, at the place called Vaganica, on November
28, at 2.30 p.m. They took them into a yard and beat them up.
37. Albanian terrorists beat Sabani Rizah (1931)
from Donja Klina, Srbica municipality, on November 30, at 4.30
p.m.
38. Codriver Nedzemedin Bedra (1948) from Djakovica
killed when the terrorists opened fire from automatic weapons on the
passenger vehicle of the Prizren plate numbers, near the village of
Lozica, Klina municipality, on December 2, at about 5.15 p.m.
39. Driver Branislav Jokic (1955) from Pec
seriously wounded when three Albanian terrorists fired several shots
with from automatic rifles into a passenger car of the Pec plate numbers,
in the village of Kijevo, Klina municipality, on December 3,
at about 7.30 a.m.
40. Terrorist attack on policeman in reserve
Mitar Stanisic who was securing General Hospital in Pec, on December
4, at 11.20 a.m. Two terrorists, a man and a woman, entered the
building hall. Stanisic tried to check up their identify cards. The
woman took out the gun and shot at Stanisic. The man took his rifle
and fired a few bursts. Stanisic managed to fire a couple of shots
from his gun and kill the woman. He was slightly wounded, whereas
six other citizens were wounded: Milun Sedlarevic from Istok, Jeton
Muljaj, Brahimaj Saban, Cori Semsije and Cori Dzevad from Pec and
Raina Nikic from Istok.
41. Terrorist attack with automatic weapons
on police in a car, carried out in the village of Kasica, Istok municipality,
on December 5, at 10.15 a.m. Police car damaged.
42. Albanian terrorists opened fire from automatic
weapons at the house of Vladimir Mihajlovic in the village of Svinjare,
Kosovska Mitrovica municipality, on December 8, from 1.10 to
1.30 p.m. In front of the house, there were two members of the Mihajlovic
family, four villagers, members of the Finish TV team, reporter Vesa
Toyonnen from Finland, camera-men Bozidar Knezevic and Nebojsa Milacic
from Podgorica and correspondent of the Media Center from Pristina
Snezana Savic. In this attack, three shots hit Bozidar Knezevic's
car.
43. Policeman Milos Stevanovic (1975) seriously
wounded and Slobodan Pantic (1965) slightly wounded in a terrorist
attack from automatic weapons on police car, in the village of Grabanica,
Klina municipality, on December 9, at around 1.30 p.m.
44. Albanian terrorist stopped a passenger
car threatening with automatic weapons, in the village of Donja Lapastica,
Podujevo municipality, on December 9, at around 8.00 a.m. There
were three persons in the car: Cedomir Blagojevic (1948) and Svetovid
Cukuranovic (1938) from this village and Radoljub Nesic (1955) from
Kursumlija. The terrorists immediately beat up Nesic, and put a mask
on Blagojevic's head and then took him away at an unknown house where
they interrogated him.
45. Policeman Dzafer Cori (1947) from Glogovac
police station and "Elektrokosovo" workers Nazif Muljaj
(1956) and Brahim Misliju (1953) killed by the Albanian terrorists.
They fired at them with automatic weapons and killed them in the transformer
station building near the railway crossing, in Glogovac, on December
11, at 2.30 p.m.
46. Policeman Golub Stasic slightly wounded
in a police car when two Albanian
terrorists opened fire from automatic weapons on a police car with
four policemen from Klina police station, in the village of Balince,
Klina municipality, on December 12, at 3.20 p.m.
47. Milan Stamenkovic, the security worker
of the Podujevo municipal building, beaten up when the Albanian terrorists
broke in his house in the village of Perane, Podujevo municipality,
on December 11, at around 11.00 a.m.
48. Policeman Bozo Mijic (1971) from Djakovica
police station, slightly wounded when the terrorists attacked the
police car with a hand launcher, in the village of Dujak, Djakovica
municipality, on December, at 9.15 p.m.
49. Two armed Albanian terrorists opened fire
at the guests of the coffee shop "Panda" on December
14, at 8.10 p.m. They killed Ivan Radevic (1972), Ivan Obradovic
(1973), Dragan Trifovic (1980) and Vuleta Gvozdenovic (1980), whereas
another two Svetislav Ristic (1981) and Zoran Stanojevic (1981) died
in the hospital. Vladan Loncarevic (1981) and Mirsad Sabovic (1962)
were seriously wounded and Nikola Rajovic (1980) slightly wounded
in this terrorist attack.
50. Two Albanian terrorists opened fire at
the passenger car in which was Radan Pesic (1968), a police officer
from Pec, in the village of Rasic, Pec municipality, on December
16, at around 11.00 a.m. Pesic responded to the fire and killed
one of the terrorists.
51. Police officers attacked in a primary school
building with automatic weapons and hand launchers, in the village
of Rznic, Decani municipality, on December 11.20 and 11.45
p.m. In the attack, all window glasses on the building broke due to
detonation.
52. Policemen Nenad Smigic and Ivica Savic
slightly wounded in a terrorist attack from mortars, hand launchers
and automatic weapons on police, in the village of Glodjane, Decani
municipality, on December 17, around 4.00 p.m.
53. An Albanian terrorist threw a hand grenade
in the yard of Milan Perisic's (1970) house, state security worker
from Prizren, in the Durmis Aslani street in Prizren, on December
17, at 7.50 p.m.
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Ministry of Information