REPORT ON THE VIOLATION
         OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND
         FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS
           IN KOSOVA
           DURING OCTOBER 1998
           
 

      KËSHILLI PËR MBROJTJEN E TË DREJTAVE DHE 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
                 http:www.albanian.com/kmdlnj e-mail: kmdlnj@albanian.com

REPORT ON THE VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS IN KOSOVA DURING OCTOBER 1998

The dramatic developments in Kosova, during the month of October, resulted with many Albanians killed, mutilated, summarily executed, ill-treated and imprisoned. Many Albanians are reported missing and their whereabouts are unknown. Each day, the field associates of the CDHRF find the corpses of those who were killed by the Serbian police, military and paramilitary forces. The mines which were laid by the Serb forces represent a great danger. There is no category of human rights which was not violated by the Serb authorities. Even the categories of people who enjoy special protection such as women, children and elderly as well as humanitarian workers are not spared from such crimes. In continuation, we will list the most peculiar cases reported to the CDHRF.

On October 1, in the vicinity of Likoc, a vehicle of the ICRC hit on a mine. Dr. Shpetim Robaj was killed and 2 other humanitarian workers were wounded.

SUHAREKA: Burim Hamdi Elshani from Suhareka was separated from a group of displaced persons in the village of Vraniq and executed. His corpse was dressed in a KLA uniform and taken to a forest. The following were killed and mutilated: Milaim Bajram Bugari (29) from Suhareka, Hafir Elshani (35) from Sllapuzhan, Rasim K. Kolgeci (15) from Vraniq and Hazir Bajraktari from Budakova. Bajram Zeqir Bungu (75) was killed and mutilated with a blunt weapon in front of his house in Grejçec.

GLLOGOC: 3 corpses were brought in front of the local administration building. The corpses are guarded by the police. Yesterday, the corpse of an unidentified Albanian was taken to Tërstenik, a weapon was placed in his vicinity and photos were taken. Later on, the corpse was taken to an unknown direction.

KLINA: In the vicinity of Murga (Skënderaj), Serbian police and military forces executed Smail Millaku (72) and his son Sefer Millaku ((49) from Ujmir. The killed were previously separated from the other villagers. The following were executed in Gollubovc (Gllogoc): Agron Miftar Hasani (25), Hysen Rifat Pantina (20) and Shaip Sali Manaj (19) from Gllareva; Remzi Veselaj (35) and Zeqir Berisha from Gjurgjevik i Madh; and brothers Rasim (39) and Halim Maloku (37), teachers from Cerovik.

BELGRADE: According to Dragolub Jankoviq, the Serbian Minister of Justice, the investigative proceedings were initiated against 1242 Albanians indicted for "hostile activity" and "terrorism".

GLLOGOC: The mutilated corpses of Antigona Hysen Deliu (14) and Mihane Hysen Deliu (16) were found in Abria e Epërme. The victims had been raped.

VUSHTRRI: A police patrol stopped Ragip Mulaku, a researcher with the Albanological Institute in Prishtina. He was provoked, insulted and ill-treated in the presence of his wife and their 7-year-old son.

PRISHTINA: Sylejman Kllokoqi, a cameraman with foreign TV crews, was taken for informative talks and physically ill-treated at the premises of the Security Center in Prishtina. 3 Serb civilians usurped the flat owned by Qazim Berisha (1947), an economist, living in "Gjura Jakshiq" st. 1/7.

SUHAREKA: The mutilated and carbonized corpse of Mursel Hajrullah Buçaj (64) was found in Budakova.

KLINA: Zemrije Bacaliu (48) from Kijeva, a mother of 6, died due to the cold. She had left her village fleeing from the Serb terror.

GLLOGOC: The day the Serb forces massacred the Deliu family, 4 children from this family, aged between 1-3, were brought to the house of Shaban Hysenaj. Police handed the children to Shehide Hysenaj. The feet of the children were bleeding as the Serb forces had used knives to draw crosses on them.

GJAKOVA: In the vicinity of the village of Prush, Serb forces killed Blerim Haxhi Berisha (15) from Gjakova. Blerim, his father and his brother went there to collect firewood.

FUSHË KOSOVA: In Sllatina, Serb forces were stationed in Albanian houses.

KAMENICA: The Serbia run District Court initiated proceedings against M.A. Refik N. Kryeziu, member of the Economic Commission of the LDK branch in Kamenica and dr. Fahredin Kryeziu, member of the board of the LDK branch in Rogoçica. The two were arrested in August. Their houses were raided and large amounts of medicine were seized.

GJILAN: Xhevat Nevzati, Hetem Arifi and Nazmi Rrapuca, activists with the "Mother Theresa" Humanitarian & Charitable Association, were arrested under the pretext that they had distributed humanitarian aid in the Drenica region and were severely ill-treated.

LIPJAN: Donika Morina (9 months) from Shala near Lipjan died in Tërpeza due to the lack of medical assistance.

MITROVICA: In Rashan, youngsters Rifat Faik Smakolli (18) and Driton Abit Smakolli (20) were killed by a mine. A Serb policeman stopped an Albanian girl, forced her into the bus station and kissed her. Later on, he forced the crying girl into the water closet and on the bus travelling to Zveçan.

GLLOGOC: At the check-point in Gllogoc, Nazim Basri Kurti (1967), a blind person, from Abrie e Epërme was stopped and physically ill-treated by the police. He had been to the Prishtina Hospital for a medical check-up.

DEÇAN: Serb soldiers attacked a group of Albanian villagers who were collecting chestnuts in the forests of Lebusha. Jeton Zeqiraj (16) was brutally beaten and lapsed into a coma. Mërgim (16) and Time Zeqiraj (40) were beaten too. The golden jewelry belonging to the latter was looted. Saranda Zeqiraj (17) was taken by the soldiers and there are still no information on her whereabouts.

SKËNDERAJ: The corpses of the following were found in a mass grave in the village of Llausha: Fatime (75) and Mevlude Geci (45), handicapped, from Llausha, Hamide Taraku (51) from Vitak, a mother of 8, and the carbonized corpse of an unidentified male person.

DEÇAN: In Junik, Serb forces unburied 9 corpses and took them to an unknown direction.

During the month of October 1998:

172 Albanians were killed of whom 11 children, 16 women and 42 over the age of 55.*

55 Albanians were extrajudicially executed of whom 5 children, 6 women and 14 over the age of 55.

12 were killed by land mines, including one child and one humanitarian worker.

26 of the killed are unidentified.

23 corpses were burned

31 Albanians died due to the cold, lack of food and medical assistance.

94 were severely wounded.

394 Albanians were arrested, including 10 political, 4 humanitarian and 3 educational activists.

36 murder attempts.

659 houses were looted and burned.

138 Albanian workers were dismissed from their jobs.

584 Albanians were ill-treated and suffered body injuries.

533 are in pre-trial detention, under investigation or charged for "terrorism".

1242 are being penally prosecuted (according to Serb media).

2 foreign TV crews and a local one were obstructed in doing their jobs.

5 cases of police intervention in educational institutions.

90 Albanians were threatened by the Serbian police.

34 Albanians were sentenced on penal charges.

343 Albanians are reported missing, kidnapped or are being kept as war prisoners.

Prishtina, November 6, 1998 Information Service

*Since January 14, 1998, 1770 Albanians were killed by the Serbian forces of whom 1341 are identified and 429 unidentified, 203 are women and 193 are children. 86 Albanians died due to the cold, lack of food and medical assistance.