Monatsbericht Februar 1999 der
         Menschenrechtsorganisation
         KMDLNJ / CDHRF Prishtina
 

         REPORT ON THE VIOLATION
         OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND
         FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS
           IN KOSOVA
           DURING FEBRUARY 1999
 
 

 
              KËSHILLI PËR MBROJTJEN E TË DREJTAVE E TË LIRIVE TË NJERIUT
              COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
         Rr. Vellusha 46, 38000 Prishtinë-Kosovë; tel. 381 (0) 38 530 409 fax: 381 (0) 38 36 965
                      E-mail: kmdlnj@albanian.com cdhrf@albanian.com
                http://www.albanian.com/kmdlnj http://www.kosovainfo.com/HUMAN

REPORT ON THE VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS DURING FEBRUARY 1999

-New clashes in Kosova, which resulted with new victims, material losses, thousands of displaced people, arrested, ill-treated and many missing people;
-The number of Serbian forces and war machinery increases;
-Kidnapping, missing and blasts in many towns of Kosova;
-The conviction of Albanians goes on.

NEW CLASHES

For the first time, since the beginning of the armed conflict in Kosova in February 1998, Serbian forces launched an attack on the villages of Hani i Elezit and Kaçanik with the border with Macedonia. Apart from material losses, many killed, wounded, missing, arrested and displaced people were reported. Serbian troops and war machinery were concentrated in this region. On 26 February, they started to shell the villages of Rezhanca, Pustenik and Gajre. Many local inhabitants were forced to flee. During the attacks, many Albanian houses were shelled and burned, whereas many others were looted, business as usual. The local population was forced to search for shelter mainly in Macedonia, Kaçanik and other safer villages. Not being able to get through to safer regions, thousands of displaced, mainly women and children, were forced to take shelter in the woods, confronted with the cold and the lack of the food and medicines. For several days now, Serbian forces did not allow the distribution of humanitarian relief dedicated to the displaced persons. Apart from the displaced persons sheltered within Kosova, thousands of other displaced from this region took shelter in Macedonia.
During February, Serbian forces stationed along the road Prishtina-Podujeva, in Batllava and Tabet e Llapashticës opened incessant fire towards the villages of Llapashtica e Poshtme, Llapashtica e Epërme, Godishnjak, Obrança, Majac, Lupç i Epërm, Sallabaja, Burica, etc. Apart from the casualties reported, there were material losses and displacement of the local population.
During the very same period, Serbian forces shelled many villages of Mitrovica and Vushtrri. Consequently, there were many killed, wounded, arrested and displaced people. Serbian forces caused many material losses by shelling, looting and burning the Albanian houses.
Many villages of Skënderaj, Gllogoc, Malisheva, Rahovec, Klina, Gjakova, Deçan, Prizren, Suhareka, Shtime, Lipjan, etc., were on the target of Serbian offensives.
After shelling the Albanian houses in the affected regions, Serbian military and police forces loot and demolish them.

THE NUMBER OF THE SERBIAN FORCES AND WAR MACHINERY IN KOSOVA INCREASES

Fresh military and police convoys of tens of buses, lorries, other transporting vehicles full of policemen and soldiers, heavy weaponry from Serbia were deployed to Kosova during this period. Serbian civilians were mobilized and armed in many regions of Kosova. They take part in the military and police actions. Deployment of Serbian forces and war arsenal was noticed in different parts of Kosova. During the last two weeks, under the pretext of conducting their "maneuvers", thousands of troops of Yugoslav army paraded through the roads of Kosova. Serbian forces have concentrated heavy weaponry, which caused a widespread insecurity among the Albanian population. Many times, these forces have provoked, ill-treated and threatened the Albanian citizens and damaged their properties.
The Yugoslav army units have mined roads and bridges in Kosova, such as the road Prishtina-Shkup, the road in the vicinity of Kaçanik and the tunnel some kilometers away from Kaçanik towards Hani i Elezit.
Serbian forces paraded through the main streets of the towns of Kosova and provoked the Albanian inhabitants.
Large military forces with heavy weaponry and tank units were stationed on the border with Serbia, in the village of Përpellac.

NEW KILLINGS

The killings never ceased during the month of February 1999. 59 killed people (9 Serbs) were added to the list of 151 killed people during January 1999. 2227 people were killed since February 1998.
During February 1999, killings under unknown circumstances were more frequent than ever. 39 out of 59 killed people were killed under "unknown circumstances".
-On 12 February, on the road Komoran-Gllogoc, Serbian police stopped Rexhep H. Rexhepi (32) from Korrotica e Poshtme (Gllogoc), who was travelling by tractor. As soon as they forced him off the tractor, policemen summarily executed him on the spot.
-Gafurr Xhafer Loku (43), chairman of the Sub-CDHRF in Han i Elezit, and his son Driton Gafurr Loku (18) were killed by unknown persons in his house yard in Pandelica, at about 8.15 p.m.
-On 14 February, Demush Osman Muçaj (47), a retarded person from Lluka e Epërme, was found in blood and unconscious in Baballoç, in the vicinity of the settlement of the Serbian refugees from Albania. Due to the torture suffered, he died in the Gjakova Hospital.
-In Dashinoc (Deçan), two children of Asllan Tahiraj, his son Ahmet (8) and his newly-born daughter, died due to the cold.
Apart from victims during this period, the corpses of many people killed during the Serbian offensives last year, who were reported missing, were found.
-On 27 February, the corpse of Ramadan Maxhun Dautaj (58), who was reported missing since 5 June 1998, was found in Carrabreg (Deçan).
-Selim Shehu (48) from Koshare (Gjakova) died due to the lack of medical assistance. The wounds he had suffered during the offensive of the Serbian forces last year paralysed him.

DISAPPEARANCES, KIDNAPPING AND KILLINGS UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES

The disappearances and kidnapping of persons under "unknown circumstances", majority of whom were killed and mutilated, have become a concerning phenomenon. CDHRF has registered 39 cases as such, some of whom were killed and mutilated. Due to the kidnapping and disappearances, people feel insecurity, even in the regions not directly affected by war.
-On 5 February, the corpse of Isuf Berisha (1936) from Polluzha (Rahovec), who was kidnapped on 4 February, was found in Ferizaj. On 8 February, the corpses of Xhavit Avdiu (1945) from Ferizaj (kidnapped on 31 January) and Salih M. Salihu (1962) from Talinoc (Ferizaj) (kidnapped on 5 February).
-On 10 February, the corpse of Branisllav Sekuliq, an engineer from Belgrade, was found on the road Prishtina-Peja, in the vicinity of the place called "Kroi i Mbretit". The late was reported missing since 13 January 1999.
-On 11 February, the corpse of Haki Ramadan Hoti (30) from Dubrava (Istog) was found in Zallç (Istog). He was kidnapped by unknown persons on 10 February.
-On 23 February, unknown persons in a car without plates kidnapped three youngsters from Rahovec. Ever since, their whereabouts are unknown. Another one managed to escape.
-The corpses of Milaim Morina (1966) from Astrazub (Malisheva) and an unidentified adult were found along the road Rahovec-Malisheva.
-On 19 February, the mutilated corpse of Hamdi Qazim Likaj (53) from Krajk (Prizren) was found at his office in the "Betonjerka" Social Enterprise, in the vicinity of the Drini i Bardhë River. The day before, the late had left for work. Ever since, his family had no information on his whereabouts.
-On 19 February, the corpse of an unidentified person was found in Grajkoc (Suhareka).
-On 20 February, in Gjakova, Arben Aziz Saliuka (25) from Gjakova was hit with 25 bullets in front of his house, at about 9.00 p.m. In August last year, he was arrested and kept in detention for 5 months. He was accused of "hostile activity".
-On 20 February, the corpses of brothers Radovan and Zoran Mihajloviq from Mushtisht were found in Mushtisht (Suhareka). They were killed under "unknown circumstances".

BLASTS IN PUBLIC PLACES

There were several cases of bomb and blasting material explosions during the month of February 1999. People were killed and wounded.
-On 6 February, in Prishtina, in the "Ulpiana" quarter, there was a bomb explosion in front of a grocery. Florije Humolli (18), a passer-by, Enver Shala (52), the owner of the shop, and Artan Ajeti (20) from Ferizaj died.
-On 13 February, in Ferizaj, at about 11.30 a.m., in the vicinity of the District Assembly, there was a blast. At least 10 persons were wounded. Some of them were hospitalized in Prishtina. After this, tens of Albanian citizens were arrested and severely ill-treated.
Such blasts occurred in other towns of Kosova, such as: Mitrovica, Rahovec, etc. Fortunately, apart from material losses, there were no victims.

THE NUMBER OF THE DISPLACED PEOPLE INCREASES

The number of 500.000 displaced Albanians since February 1998 was increased for 20.000 people, mainly from the affected villages of Mitrovica, Vushtrri, Podujeva, Shtime, Lipjan, Kaçanik, Han i Elezit, etc. The displaced people are facing the cold, the lack of food, medicines and medical assistance. In such a terrible weather, the last displacement of the Albanian population threatens with a new humanitarian catastrophe. As an aftermath of Serbian offensives, tens of villages are totally vacant.

THE CONVICTION OF THE ALBANIANS GOES ON

During February 1999, the Serbian Run District Courts all over Kosova and the Military Court in Nish went on with the trials of the arrested Albanians under the charges for "terrorism" and "hostile activity".
CDHRF in Prishtina has registered over 1000 Albanians, who are in pre-trial detention. They were arrested last year, mainly during the offensives against the Albanian villages.
-On 1, 2, 3 and 4 February, the Serbian Run District Court in Peja convicted 9 Albanians to 14 years of imprisonment for "terrorism" and "hostile activity".
-On 5, 8 and 12 February, the Serbian Run District Court in Peja convicted 3 Albanians to 6.6 years of imprisonment. On 16, 17 and 19 February, the same court convicted 10 other Albanians to 25.4 years of imprisonment.
-On 2 February, the Serbian Run District Court in Mitrovica convicted Sadat Xhemajl Hasani (22) from Stroc (Vushtrri) to 1 year of imprisonment.
-On 3 February, the Serbian Run District Court in Prishtina convicted 26 Albanians to 287 years of imprisonment.
-On 4 February, the Serbian Run District Court in Prizren convicted 4 Albanians to 8 years and 4 months of imprisonment for "hostile activity" and "terrorism". On 16 February, the same court convicted two Albanians to 3 years of imprisonment.
-On 9 February, the Military Court in Nish convicted Jahir and Avdyl Morina to 8 years of imprisonment each for "terrorism".
-On 10 and 12 February, the Serbian Run District Court in Prizren convicted 10 Albanians to 47 years of imprisonment for "terrorism" and "hostile activity".
-On 8 February, the Serbian Run District Court in Mitrovica convicted Safet Mehmet Ferizi to 12 years and 4 months of imprisonment and Raif Mustafa from Abria (Skënderaj) to 10 months of imprisonment. On 15 February, the same court convicted 2 other Albanians to 2 years of imprisonment. On 22 and 26 February, this court convicted two other persons to 1.6 year of imprisonment.
-On 17 February, the Serbian Run District Court in Gjakova convicted Fatime Boshnjaku, an activist with the "Mother Theresa" Humanitarian & Charitable Society, to 7 months of imprisonment.
-The Serbian Run District Court in Prishtina convicted Bislim Bislimi (1957) from Dobresh (Viti) to 13 years of imprisonment for "hostile activity" and "terrorism".
-On 19 February, the Serbian Run District Court in Prokuple (Serbia) convicted 15 Albanians to 55.6 years of imprisonment for "hostile activity". They were arrested while travelling by bus from Lublana (Slovenia) to Prishtina.
-On 24 February, the Serbian Run District Court in Prizren convicted Kadri Muharrem Morina from Reshtan (Suhareka) to 2 years and 6 months of imprisonment for "terrorism".
A month after the massacre of 45 Albanians in village Reçak, the burial of 40 victims of this massacre was held on 11 February under the tough control of Serbian police and military forces.
These are the data which the CDHRF managed to register during February 1999. The number of cases is much higher than presented hereby. The grave situation has make if very difficult for the CDHRF activists to collect data.

During the month of February 1999:

-59 persons were killed, among whom:
1 was summarily executed by Serbian forces;
1 died due to torture suffered;
39 were killed under "unknown circumstances";
6 died as an aftermath of difficult living conditions;
3 unidentified persons were killed.
-25 persons were wounded;
-7 murder attempts were reported;
-693 Albanians were subjected to ill-treatment by Serbian forces and civilians;
-206 persons were arbitrarily arrested;
-84 Albanians were convicted for "hostile activity" and "terrorism";
-60 houses were raided;
-166 people were subjected to physical torture, among whom 15 suffered body injuries;
-39 persons were reported missing;
-12 people were kidnapped.
 
Prishtina, 09.03.1999
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