REPORT NO. 454
        ON THE VIOLATION
           OF HUMAN RIGHTS
           IN KOSOVA
           FROM JANUARY
           UNTIL  JANUARY , 1999

                                               REPORT NO. 455
ON THE VIOLATION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS IN KOSOVA
                      FROM JANUARY 17 UNTIL JANUARY 24, 1999

Killings, mutilations, violent deaths...

On January 18, the corpse of Muharrem Ukë Bytyçi (41) from the village of Sverka near Klina was identified. Muharrem was killed in the village of Ramun near Peja on January 17.
On January 18, at about 9.30 p.m., in the vicinity of the cross-road between Vushtrria and Samadraxha, Mirosllav Gjelkapiq (1957) was severely wounded. He died while undergoing surgery in the Mitrovica hospital.
On January 19, during the attack of the Serbian police and military forces on the villages of Shtime, Ahmet Shaban Kaçiku from Bitia e Epërme near Shtërpce was killed. Ahmet was in command of a KLA brigade.
On January 19, Miro Mekiq, the deputy-commander of the police station in Ferizaj, was killed in the village of Reçak near Shtime. Two policemen were wounded.
On January 20, the corpse of Vehbi Alush Bytyçi (52) was found in his house yard in the village of Denja near Rahovec. He was killed under unknown circumstances on January 18.
On January 20, at about 2 p.m., Serb paramilitaries from the police check-point in the vicinity of the poultry farm in Krivova near Gllogoc, detained Ahmet Isë Elshani (35) from Bainca near Gllogoc. He was taken to Gjergjica e Arllatit and executed.
On January 20, during the Serb attack on several quarters of Mitrovica, Sami Sahit Gashi (35) from "Ura e Gjakut" and Afrim Sinan Hajrizi (33) from the "Bair" quarter in Mitrovica, members of the KLA, were killed.
On January 21, the corpse of dr. Xhevdet Gashi (42), a physician from Peja, was found in the village of Prekalla near Istog. A night before, at about 5 p.m., he had left to his working place in the first aid center in Peja.
On January 21, at about 10 p.m., the following were killed in a police ambush between the villages of Bellacërka and Sopniq near Rahovec: Hyrishahe Morina (43) from Çiflak, a mother of 5, and Skënder Rexhepi (30) from Mrasor, a member of the KLA. Xhavit Elshani, Mustafë Bajraktari and Fitim Duraku, members of the KLA, were wounded.
On January 22, the corpse of Fatmir Sheqiri (21), a taxi driver from Prishtina, was found in the trunk of his car near the village Livagja near Lipjan.
On January 24, Fatmir Ferat Abazi (1970) from Kllodernica near Skënderaj died in the town of Sokolac in Bosnia. He had been arrested and had tried to escape by jumping out of the bus.
On January 19, the corpse of Vesel S. Gashi (70) was found in the village of Balinca near Malisheva. Vesel was considered missing since the end of July 1998.
On January 21, the carbonized corpse of Agim Bilall Manxhuka (35) from the village of Samadraxha near Suhareka was identified. He was killed during the Serb offensive in August and was buried on August 26 in Studençan.
On January 22, family members identified the corpse of Skënder Halili (1968) from the village of Reçak near Shtime. He was killed during the Serb offensive on January 15.
Last week the Sub-CDHRF in Mitrovica sent us the list with the names of those killed in the course of 1998. The name of Mahmut Rrustem Rushiti (53) from the "Ibri" quarter" in Mitrovica, killed on June 8, did not figure in the lists of the CDHRF.

Kidnappings and disappearances

There are no information on the whereabouts of the following: Rifat Zeneli (85) from Mazhiq, Ukshin Hajdari (37) from Bare (since September 16-19) and Artan Sadri Istrefi (16) from Shipol - Mitrovica (since January 20).

Trials...

On January 18, the Serbian Run District Court in Peja convicted Shpend F. Dobrunaj (1964) from Deçan to a prison term of 1,6 year for "hostile activity".
On January 21, the Serbian Run District Court in Prizren convicted Afrim Beqir Krasniqi (1958) from Prizren to a prison term of 3 years for "terrorism".
On January 21, the Serbian Run District Court in Prizren convicted brothers Avni (23) and Muharrem Thaçi (35) from Retia near Rahovec to a prison term of 4 years each for "terrorism".
On January 22, the Serbian Run District Court in Prizren convicted Faik Rexhep Hoti (1965) from Carralluka near Klina to a prison term of 2,6 years for "hostile activity".

THE COURSE OF EVENTS:

JANUARY 17:

PRIZREN: On January 17, over 100 Serb policemen and soldiers surrounded the village of Planeja under the pretext of searching for weapons. The men of the Shigjeqi, Shehu, Çabrati and Maloku quarters were gathered at the place called "Livadhi i Sokolit", threatened with liquidation and told to leave for Albania. These forces raided, demolished and looted many Albanian houses.
RAHOVEC: Destan Krasniqi from Retia, who was arrested by masked Serb policemen in the village of Mamusha near Prizren on January 12, was released. He had suffered severe body injuries due to being physically ill-treated while in detention.
MITROVICA: In the "Kroi i Vitakut" quarter, the following were insulted on a national and moral basis by 3 Serb policemen: Ajet Arif Istrefi (55) and Zymer Ahmet Begu (65) as well as Xhemajl Shaban Zeneli (56) from Selac.
PRISHTINA: In a video-game shop in the "Dardania" quarter, a Serb youngster wounded Alban Gazmend Krasniqi (15) on his leg.
FUSHË-KOSOVA: During the last week, some 70 shops owned by Albanians were demolished. The house of Shahin Idrizi, a political activist, was hit with 13 bullets.

JANUARY 18:

BELGRADE: The Yugoslav government proclaimed Ambassador William Walker, chief of the OSCE KVM, a "persona non grata" and ordered him to leave Yugoslavia within 48 hours. Mr. Walker had blamed the Serb forces for the massacre of the 45 Albanians in the village of Reçak near Shtime.
HANI I ELEZIT: Louise Arbour, the Chief Prosecutor of the Hague Tribunal, was stopped by the custom police and prevented from entering Kosova. She was on her way to conduct investigations regarding the massacre in Reçak.
SHTIME: Since early in the morning, Serbian police and military forces shelled the villages of Reçak, Mollapolc, Petrova, Ranca, Topilla and Llanishta near Shtime, as well as Grejçec near Suhareka. Serb soldiers have blocked the road to Ferizaj. Large Serb forces were concentrated in Dremjak, Nerodime, Llojza and Koshare, as well as in the Carraleva Gorge. The civilians, who had sought shelter in the open, are in the very grave position. A convoy with aid from the UNHCR was sent back by the Serbian police.
MITROVICA: In the "Ura e Gjakut" quarter, unidentified persons attacked an APC full of Serb policemen. 5 policemen were wounded. After a while, large police forces blocked this part of the town and began arresting and ill-treating passers-by. The hospital was blocked, too. The following were ill-treated: Milazim Nuredin Hyseni (49) with his daughter Ganimete (13) from Melenica, sheltered in Mitrovica. In the "Ura e Gjakut" quarter, the vacant houses of the following were raided: Maliq Tahir Tahiri (81) and his son Tahir (50), brothers Istref (44) and Brahim Rexhep Hajrizi (42), Bajram (46) and Gani Rifat Shabani (42), Hetem Tahir Osmani (68), Ismet Hetem Osmani (51), Xhemajl Ramadan Topalli (63), Xhemajl Ahmet Topalli (80), Miftar Sahit Goxhuli (70), Daut Halil Rexhepi (69), Idriz Sadik Bajrami (52), Zekë Mehmet Sylaj (57), Kemajl Imeri (63), Xheladin Ibish Kadriu (43), Faik Hysen Grepi (55), Zenë Ramadan Shala (45), Rifat Nuredin Ahmeti (60), Hajër Hajdin Hajrizi (70), Zekiria Adem Hoxha (31) and Hajriz Sylë Mehaj (65); the following were arrested: Ramadan Haxhi Thaçi (34), Skënder Maliq Tahiri (46), Zekë Mehmet Sylaj (57), Temë Bunjaku (55) and Sabit Tafil Murati (45), who were kept at the police station until 10.00 p.m. Some of them were subjected to physical ill-treatment. Police demolished house furniture and looted valuables.
Policeman Ratko Antonijeviq threatened the following LDK activists: Bedri Nazif Tahiri (42), Ukë Sokol Arifi (42) and Shemsi Islam Mustafa (37). A Serb policeman from Skënderaj threatened with an automatic gun Hamit Xhemë Balaj (47), Hajriz Sylë Jahaj (65) and Sefer Deli Latifi (50).
PODUJEVA: Serbian military forces accompanied by 10 tanks surrounded the village of Shajkoc and blocked all the roads to this village.
SUHAREKA: Serbian police and military forces stationed in the vicinity of Sllapuzhan shelled the village of Bllaca. Many Albanian families fled this village.
GLLOGOC: At about 11.00 a.m., Serb motorized forces entered the village of Korrotica e Epërme. 6 tanks headed towards the village of Dobërdolan.
SKËNDERAJ: At noon, several convoys of Serbian police and military forces left the Ammunition Plant and headed towards Mitrovica. They provoked and insulted many passers-by. At the cross-road in the center of the town, some 40 Serb policemen checked and ill-treated passers-by.
RAHOVEC: Two policemen physically ill-treated Nijazi Sylka (1955) from Rahovec. While going to the police station, Nijazi managed to escape. Policemen went to his house and ordered his father Samedin to report to the police station. He was to bring his son with him.
PRISHTINA: Serbian police and military forces stationed in the vicinity of Tenezhdoll, entered the village and looted the houses of the Herticaj and Rexhaj families. The goods were loaded in 5 lorries. Several days before, women and children had fled the village. The villagers left their houses and their livestock in the mercy of the police.
FERIZAJ: 3 or 4 detonations were heard at the fruit plantations near Ferizaj.
KAÇANIK: The villagers of Glloboçica are prevented from doing their field works.

JANUARY 19:

SHTIME: Since the early hours of the morning, Serbian police and military forces stationed at "Kodra e Gështenjave" and "Kryqi i Belincit" are shelling Petrova, Mollapolc and other villages of Devetaku and Carraleva Gorges. The detonations can be heard in Ferizaj. Fearing from another massacre the locals are fleeing their homes. Over 1000 Albanians from these villages spent last night in the Mollapolci valley.
MITROVICA: After 10 a.m., large police forces headed towards Shipol and "Ura e Gjakut" quarters. They raided 83 houses and arrested and ill-treated 25 Albanian citizens. Large police forces were stationed in other parts of Mitrovica.
The houses of the following were raided: Halil (60), Fadil (53) and Tafil Ajet Peci (45), Ramadan (40) and Suad Rrahim Rexhepi (24), Halim (44) and Hetem Idriz Kurti (42), Shaban Shaqir Shaqiri (70), Hetem (46) and Behxhet Shaban Shaqiri (50), Ilmi (57) and Nazmi Oruç Oruçi (49), Bislim (44) and Muhamet Fekë Jahaj (42), Ibrahim Zukë Zuka (54), Brahim Ajet Syla (56), Kajtaz Halil Durmishi (51) and Hajriz Durmishi (70), Nurë Furraxhiu (44), dr. Arben Rexhep Musliu (36), Agron Ismail Mëziu (25), Sokol Mehmet Mëziu (19), Tahir (58) and Hysen Fazli Gashi (52), Islam Veli Abazi (40), Shaqir Raif Dauti (47), Rrahman Sadri Sadriu (63), Sefer Avdush Muzlijaj (42), Ilmi Hafiz Lahu (44), Gani Sadri Behrami (20), Hata Hajrizi (60), Mursel Kahriman Voca (55), Vehbi Shemë Voca (31), Xhemajl Bahtir Voca (70), Shaban Ali Voca (67), Rrahim Hajdar Cimili (54), Emin Halit Islami (52), Bislim Ukshin Uka (32), Mursel Sefer Spahiu (61), Smajl (39) and Arif Hajdin Smajli (47), Nazif Smajl Rullani (38), Sabile Gogjuli (56), Sanije Zeneli (55), Kada Baliu (51), Shaban Igrishta (74), Selman Kadri Mustafa (62), Sadik Bali Dibrani (39), Bajram Halit Balaj (45), Demir Imer Tahiri (65), Xhevat Shaqir Tahiri (48), Ali Shaqir Arifi (75), Qazim Feim Begu (63), Murat Brahim Haziri (28), Qazim (55) and Ramadan Cenë Haziri (67), Eset (60) and Ahmet Mahmut Isufi (52), Rrahim Ragip Haliti (43), Azem Adem Fejza (53), Rabë Ramë Drushtimi (60), Qerkin Islam Ismaili (45), Sefer Bardhec Hasani (57), Shefki (31) and Basri Hamdi Hyseni (26), Hazir Islam Muja (68), Hajdin Behë Muja (60), Fadil Maliq Muja (33), Xheladin Sadiku (33), Abit Bahtir Isa (50), Ahmet Selim Maliqi (70), Hasan Imer Keqa (69), Enver Imer Abazi (40), Mehmet (40) and Enver Tafil Kahrimani (29), Xhevdet Beqir Abazi (33), Hamdi Veli Abazi (38), Hamit Xhemë Boja (48), Shaban Mehmet Sylaj (78), Mehmet Shaban Sylaj (42), Bajram Shefqet Hoxha (49), Bislim Zeqir Jashari (66), Bilall Kadri Mustafa (73), Idriz Sadik Bajrami (52), Latif Muhamet Latifi (58), Tafil Franca (50) Daut Halil Rexhepi (69) and Xhevdet Asllan Çerkinaj (28). The looted goods are estimated to several thousands of DM.
The following were arrested and physically ill-treated: Mehmet (40) and Enver Tafil Kahrimani (29), Tafil Franca (50), dr. Arben Rexhep Musliu (36), Idriz Sadik Bajrami (52), Bajram Shefqet Hoxha (49), Hamit Xhemë Boja (48), Enver Imer Abazi (40), Hasan Imer Keqa (69), Bajram Halit Balaj (45), Demir Imer Tahiri (65), Murat Brahim Haziri (28), Ahmet Mahmut Isufi (52), Shefki (31) and Basri Hamdi Hyseni (26), Tahir Halit Islami (45), Nazmi Bilall Gashi (33), Kadri Tahiri (65) and Haxhi Gogjuli (50), Fehmi Shemë Voca, Sabri Bislim Jashari (42) and Hajriz Xhemajl Uka (27) - all from the "Ura e Gjakut" quarter, Flamur Xhelil Fejza (26) from the "Qendra" quarter, Bedri Shefqet Musa (30), a teacher from Bajgora, Shyqeri Muharrem Kelmendi (25) and Bajram Bejtë Mustafa (44), a lecturer with the Mining Faculty and member of the board of the LDK branch in Mitrovica.
SUHAREKA: Serb forces stationed in "Qafa e Duhlës" shelled towards the village of Grejçec and some villages in the district of Shtime.
GLLOGOC: 9 lorries and vehicles full of Serb policemen as well as 10 military tanks headed towards Komoran.
PODUJEVA: In the evening, in Lebane, at the cross-road for Millosheva, police stopped the car and severely ill-treated Beqir Mustafa (1957) from Gllamnik near Podujeva and his nephew Fitim Mustafa. The latter was hit on his genitals.
PRISHTINA: Serb policemen arrested Anton Marrniku (1973) from Klina, associate with the "Zëri" magazine, and his uncle Zef Ndrejaj (32) from Fushë Kosova. They were kept in detention at the police station in the "Lagja e Muhaxherëve" quarter and interrogated. Anton was severely ill-treated.
DEÇAN: In Junik, a police squad raided the houses of and arrested Islam Çestaj and Xhafer Metë Maloku. Police arrested Kujtim Imer Salihu (35).
FERIZAJ: A police helicopter flew over the region all day long. In Ferizaj, police arrested the following youngsters: Qazim Mustafa from Talinovc i Jerlive, as well as Qerim Jetishi and Bujar Stagova from Ferizaj.
ISTOG: Musli and Xhevdet Ramaj from Istog were taken to the police station in Rakosh and beaten.
VUSHTRRI: Serbian policemen ordered the families of Selim Syla and his brother in Nedakoc, as well as that of Beki Hasani in Pestova to flee their homes. Many villagers were stopped in the outskirts of the town and prevented from entering the same.

JANUARY 20:

MITROVICA: Since the early hours of the morning, police and military forces blocked the "Shipol", "Ura e Gjakut" and "Bair" quarters and the village of Vaganica e Poshtme. Before noon, there was shooting. Avdyl Muzliukaj (65) from Shipol and Osman O. Prekazi (47) from Vaganica e Poshtme were wounded. Lectures were postponed. Police raided and looted more than 40 houses. Many Albanians were physically ill-treated and arrested. Among those ill-treated are: Fadil Hasan Seferi (38), a teacher, Miran Sherif Çitaku (38) and Jetullah Tahiri (50). Ismet Islam Kajtazi (35) was arrested.
VUSHTRRI: Large police forces headed towards the village of Druar and surveyed the terrain. Last night, a bomb exploded in the house of a Serbian villager in Druar. Due to the trauma suffered because of the large presence of Serbian police forces in Druar, Rexhep Islami (60) died. Police blocked all roads connecting the villages of Qyqavica with Vushtrri and sent back all buses and other vehicles.
Due to the grave situation in Mitrovica, the inhabitants of the villages of Okrashtica, Pantina, Oshlan, Shtitarica and Druar left their homes and sought shelter in Vushtrri.
GJAKOVA: At the bus station in Gjakova, Serb policemen arrested Hysen Bekë Hebibi (1944) from the village of Junik near Deçan. Due to the torture suffered he lapsed into a coma and was taken to hospital. Over 50 policemen in 2 lorries, 3 APCs and an armoured car surrounded the village of Rracaj, searched for weapons at the house of Imer Brahim Beqaj (1949) and arrested Imer, Bajram (1957) and Bedri Beqaj (1963). In the village of Dallashaj, the very same policemen raided the house of Elez Kurtaj, a worker in Switzerland. As they failed to find him, policemen took his ill father Myrtë (62) and arrested Ekrem Kurtaj and Xhafer Lataj.
PODUJEVA: Serbian police and military forces stationed at the place called "Tabet e Llapashticës" opened fire towards Llapashtica and wounded an Albanian citizen.
FUSHË-KOSOVA: In the early hours of the morning, armed Serb civilians opened fire towards the house of their Albanian neighbour Shaqir Konjusha and hit the room where his 4 children were sleeping. The very same persons opened fire towards the shop of Sadik Xhakolli and damaged his house. Another armed Serb civilian attacked the house of Avdullah Arifi in "Lenini" st. 118, and chased his 14-year-old daughter Hyra. She ran to the house of her Serb neighbour Gjurgja who protected her from the assaulter.
PRISHTINA: In "Lenini" st., 2 armed Serb civilians attacked and beat Sali Maqedonci, translator with the OSCE.
DEÇAN: Serb policemen arrested Bekim Adem Memaj (1974) and initiated the investigative proceedings against Afrim Adem Memaj (in absentia) - both from the village of Lluka e Epërme. Brahim Shala from Dubovik was arrested in the village of Prapaqan, whereas Gani Krasniqi (27) from Vranoc and Jeton Bojkaj (19) from Isniq were arrested in Isniq.
MALISHEVA: During the last 2 days, large Serb reinforcements arrived in Kijeva and Malisheva. At noon, Serbian forces provoked the locals. Large forces moved out of Malisheva and headed towards the village of Arllat near Gllogoc.
RAHOVEC: Serbian police and military forces stationed in this region are continuously provoking, ill-treating and looting the Albanian population. Their convoys are parading through the roads of the villages and along the main road between Prizren and Gjakova, as well as provoking the passers-by.

JANUARY 21:

MITROVICA: Serbian police and military forces blocked the "Ura e Gjakut" and "Bair" quarters in Mitrovica as well as the village of Shipol. These forces are opening machine gun fire and shelling the villages of Vaganica e Poshtme, Vaganica e Epërme, Vërrnica and Pirq. The inhabitants of these villages as well as those from Lushta fled their houses and were sheltered in the forests of Zmiq. A convoy comprised of two buses, one lorry and a jeep full of policemen as well as two APCs full of Serb soldiers arrived in Mitrovica from the direction of Rashka.
In Shipol, 15 policemen stopped Nuredin Ilaz Nebihu (47) and forced him to be present while they raided the houses of 18 Albanian families in Shipol. In Lushta, the following were arrested: Hashim Tafil Islami (26), Idriz (50), Rrahim (43), Sheremet (32) and Hysen Ajet Rrustemi (32), Azem Zymer Rrustemi (60), Lul (21) and Zymer Azem Rrustemi (17); the houses of the following were raided and looted: Niman Mujë Skënderi (47), Mursel Islam Tmava (47), Sylejman Mexhit Smakolli (47), Isuf Aziz Tmava (74), Gani Sylejman Tmava (44), Halim Bislim Brahimi (39), Ramiz Ramadan Tmava (40), Riza Ramadan Tmava (39), Asllan Shaban Ngucati etc., as well as the shops of Rexhep Alidemaj (50) and Deli Kopriva (56).
SKËNDERAJ: The population from the attacked quarters and the villages in the district of Mitrovica are approaching the villages of Drenica and Skënderaj. A number of displaced people were sheltered in different families in Drenica. Yet, a large number of people spent the night in the open. Their situation is very grave.
SHTIME: In the early hours of the morning, Serb forces launched an attack against the village of Zborc. The village was first surrounded by police, military and paramilitary forces with tanks and other weaponry. Serb forces fired ten shells towards the Carraleva and Shtime Gorges. There was automatic fire, too. Members of the Serbian police are keeping under control the abandoned village of Reçak, where the corpses of the killed and mutilated should be buried. Some 200 women, children and elderly were sheltered at the place called "Varret e Godancit". Their freedom of movement is limited due to fear from Serb snipers who are opening fire from "Bregu i Zi".
PODUJEVA: At about 8.00 a.m., a military convoy comprised of 20 lorries, armoured cars and APCs arrived in Kosova from the direction of Serbia.
VUSHTRRI: In the village of Novolan, KLA forces arrested Miodrag Bigoviq (1939), Radisav (1930), Zhivka (1934), Danica (1933) and Radovan Miliqkoviq (1928). Their detention raised the tension in the village of Novolan and the villages near Qyqavica. Serbian police, military and paramilitary forces brutally intervened in many Albanian families beating and arresting many of them.
PRIZREN: Yesterday, Arsim Shaip Bytyçi (1972) from the village of Nishor near Suhareka, temporarily employed in Germany, and Rexhep Abedin Papaj (1970) from Samadraxha near Suhareka were stopped and arrested by the Serbian police, while travelling by bus between Suhareka and Prizren.

JANUARY 22:

VUSHTRRI: In the early hours of the morning, large police forces blocked all the roads to town and are checking and ill-treating the passers-by. They prevented the work of the livestock fair. Armed Serb civilians accompanied by large police forces are ill-treating their Albanian fellow-villagers. At noon, 6 Albanian villagers from Novolan were taken to the police station in Vushtrria. In the village of Bukosh near Vushtrria, 2 Serb policemen brutally beat Lum Shartari from the village of Rashan near Mitrovica. Lum had fled his house and was sheltered in Bukosh.
MITROVICA: Serbian police and military forces launched an offensive against the "Ura e Gjakut" and "Bair" quarters, as well as on the villages of Shipol, Vaganica e Poshtme, Vaganica e Epërme, Vërrnica and Pirç. 2 KLA soldiers were killed and 2 were wounded. 2 Albanian civilians were wounded, too. Many Albanian houses were raided and looted by the Serbian police and military forces. Some 25.000 people fled their houses.
Serb policemen arrested Avdi Tahir Ibishi (57) from the "Qendra" quarter and Gëzim Milazim Fejzullahu (15) from the "Ura e Gjakut" quarter. They were detained for more than 5 hours. Armed Serb civilians threw stones on the house of Asllan Bajram Asllani (75). A Serb physician working at the morgue of the Prishtina Hospital took DM 100 from the family of Sami Gashi. He had demanded DM 200 from the family of the deceased in order to give them the corpse.
GJILAN: 2 policemen intervened in the premises of the "Rexhep Elmazi" Primary School in the "Dheu i Bardhë" quarter in Gjilan. Hanëmshahe Avdullahu (1962), the principal, was interrogated on the educational process.
SUHAREKA: Serb policemen arrested and physically ill-treated Arsim Sh. Bytyçi (1972) from Nishor and Rexhep A. Papaj (1970) from Samadraxha, under the pretext that they had helped the KLA. They were detained for 23 hours.
SHTIME: Police arrested Ajet Beqiri (57) from Davidoc and Hyra Ahmeti, a teacher with the "Skënderbeu" Primary School in Reçak.

JANUARY 23:

PRISHTINA: The recent attacks of the Serbian police and military forces have resulted with the displacement of some 20.000 Albanians, mainly women, children and elderly. The majority are living in the open, in plastic sheet shelters. 2 new-born babies have died due to the cold. The displaced are on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe.
The soldiers of the KLA (9), who were captivated on the border with Albania on December 14, were released. 5 Serb civilians, who were arrested by the KLA in the village of Novolan near Vushtrria on January 21, were released.
3 Serb civilians came out of a police vehicle and kidnapped Tahir Sahit Sopi, a tobacco vendor living in the "Dardania" quarter. He was forced into the car, taken to Fushë-Kosova and beaten. DM 70, DIN 300 and 2 boxes of cigarettes were looted from him.
PODUJEVA: In the early hours of the morning, 15 police vehicles arrived in Kosova from the direction of Serbia. The road to Kërpimeh, Llapashtica, Lupç and Majac was blocked. A police check-point was set-up in the village of Lupç. Passers-by are ill-treated. The very same is happening at the cross-road in Lluzhan.
VUSHTRRI: The following were arrested by the Serbian police in the village of Shallc: Muharrem (63), Hysen (50) and Sabri Fejzullahu (22) as well as Izet Kadriu. Hasan Islami from Kolla, Nuredin Jashari from Vushtrria and Fadil Haliti (34) from Prelloc were arrested. Ertan A. Myftiu (1984) from Vushtrria and Mexhit A. Zhabari (1967) from Novolan were physically ill-treated by the police. Policemen and groups of paramilitaries continue to ill-treat the inhabitants of Vushtrria and Novolan. A large number of people from the villages of Novolan and Druar and the villages near Qyqavica have fled their homes.
FERIZAJ: 4 unidentified armed persons kidnapped Blerim Ramush Halili (1978), a worker with the bakery in Ferizaj. He was forced into a car and severely ill-treated. Unconscious, he was thrown in the vicinity of the cross-road between Shkup and Ferizaj.

JANUARY 24:

DEÇAN: Many villages in the district of Deçan (Gllogjan, Baballoç, Gramaçel, Shaptej and Rastavica) are under the siege of the Serbian police, military and paramilitary forces. The freedom of movement of the locals is very limited. It is estimated that some 80% of the Albanian population of the district of Deçan have fled their homes. PODUJEVA: Serb forces stationed at the place called "Tabet e Llapashtices" opened machine gun fire towards Llapashtica. Serb snipers stationed at the "Besiana" Motel and other high buildings in Podujeva are opening fire towards Llapashtica. 4 tanks left the village of Dumosh and headed towards Lluzhan, Podujeva and Peran.
GJAKOVA: In Skivjan, police arrested Arif Fetahu (48) from Skivjan, Jusuf (25) and Rexhë Avdullahu (21) from Popoc and Shaqir Hajdari (26) from the village of Shaptej near Deçan. 9 police and military vehicles headed towards the border zone with Albania.
SUHAREKA: Sokol Kabashi from the village of Krushica (Suhareka) was arrested on the border with Hungaria.

DELAYED INFORMATION:

FERIZAJ: On January 8, in the village of Sazli, Serb policemen arrested and physically ill-treated Muharrem Ibush Ferizi (1963) from Papaz, a bill collector with the Financing District Council, and Idriz Salihu from Sazlia. They were taken to the Security Center in Ferizaj and beaten. On January 10, 5 armed Serb civilians went into the "Jeta" bakery and ill-treated those present. On January 10, Serb forces in the village of Sazlia raided, demolished and looted the houses of the following: Behlul, Muharrem, Azem, Lutfi and Tahir Isufi; Jashar, Sylejman, Ajet and Skënder Haxha; Safet, Xhemajl, Basri and Agim Rrustemi; Shefqet and Avdyl Avdyli; Sylejman and Fadil Rexhepi and Beshir Behluli; physically ill-treated: Beqir, Elmi and Hasan Qerimi; Idriz Haxha and Beqir Kadriu and arrested: Milaim, Bedri and Ymer Kadriu, Azem and Muharrem Isufi, Shaip Rexhepi, Bislim Rushiti and Shyqeri Bajrami. On January 15, many Albanians could not be taken to the hospital in Prishtina due to the blockade on the road between Ferizaj and Prishtina.
SHTËRPCA: Between January 12-15, Serbian police and military forces paraded through the villages of Brod, Firaja and Bitija e Epërme and ill-treated passers-by. Jakup Asllani and Nysret Baliu from Bitia e Epërme were physically ill-treated.
RAHOVEC: On January 15, police arrested and physically ill-treated Xhevdet Krasniqi from Nagavc, Rexhë Hoti from Ratkoc and Gani Morina from Vranjaka. On January 16, many houses in Krusha e Madhe were damaged due to fire from the Serb forces.
GLLOGOC: On January 16, Serb policemen stationed in the forests near Korretica e Epërme, severely ill-treated Ismail Janova (45), a teacher. Ismail suffered severe body injuries. Policemen poured oil on his body and threatened to burn him. The very same day, police arrested Halil Hashim Morina (22) from Komoran. Later on, he was released.
KAMENICA: On January 16, at the bus station in Gjilan, Serb policemen stopped and ill-treated students Besnik Malaj and Jeton Latifaj from Hogosht.

Prishtina, January 24, 1999 Information Service

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