On October 1, 1997, at
10.30 a.m. in Prishtina, peaceful and non-violent protests for the
release of school facilities, organized by the
Students' Independent Union of the University of
Prishtina, started. Based on first hand information,
over 100.000 Albanian students and
citizens participated in these protests.
Serbian police used force and terrorised citizens.
Many foreign diplomats and journalists as well
as representatives of NGO's came to Prishtina
to observe the protests.
The protests began as
announced at 10.30 a.m.. The students' line was stopped some 500
meters from the place from where they started
their march, by some 300 members of special
police units. More than 500 policemen intervened
at the same time from the back.
At 11.55, Serbian police intervened by using
force against the protestors. Seeing an armoured
car that was approaching, the students sat down.
On this case, police intervened brutally
injuring over 100 protestors.
According to many eye
witnesses, Prof. Dr. Ejup Statovci, Rector of the University of
Prishtina, Ahmet Geca, Vice-Rector, Bujar Dugolli,
Chairman of the Students' Independent
Union of the University of Prishtina, Driton
Laj‡i, Vice-chairman, Albin Kurti, member of the
Presidency, Muhamet Mavraj, Chairman of the Assembly
of the Students' Independent Union,
were arrested and severely beaten-up. Police
blocked the protestors. During this action, 2
police helicopters threw tear gas on the protestors.
Police started dispersing the protestors to
the neighbouring quarters. There were large military
units stationed during the last night in
suburbs of Prishtina.
At 12.10 a.m., police
intervened against citizens gathered in the center of the town. Many
were ill-treated and arrested. Free rein violence
by Serbian law enforcement authorities is still
continuing. According to information from our
field associates, many citizens were arrested and ill-treated in the town
of Peja. In Gjilan and Ferizaj police prevented citizens from joining the
students. Afterwards, force was used against them. There was a similar
situation in Mitrovica and Prizren. In De‡an and Gjakova police intervened
by arresting and beating-up many protestors.
Among those who were subjetced to ill-treatmnet,
was the chairman of the Council for the
Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms, Mr. Pajazit
Nushi. In several strategic points snipers were positioned.
The police intervention was not provoked by students
and citizens.
Prishtina, 1.10.1997
FREE REIGN VIOLENCE AGAINST THE PEACEFUL PROTESTERS
Based on the available
information submitted by field workers of the Council for the Defence of
Human Rights and Freedoms, during the non-violent and peaceful protests
of the Albanian students and citizens, Serbian law enforcement authorities
exerted an outrageous violence. Police authorities intervened without being
provoked. Hundreds of Albanian students and citizens were subjected to
physical ill-treatment. Only few cases have been reported so far to the
CDHRF.
Ilaz Qazimi (1928) from
Prishtina was brutally beaten. Nazmi Sejdiu (1932) from Prishtina
was beaten in front of the Assembly building,
whose left eye was badly injured. Ahmet Janova
(1931) from Prishtina was hit on his head with
rifle butt and afterwards beaten with truncheons. The following students
were beaten: Ali Shala from Negrofc, Nexhmije Ymeri from Skënderaj,
Halit Bu‡aj from Sufreka, Gazmend Gashi, Arta Maloku, etc. Sylejman Mustafa
(1933) from Prishtina was beaten, too. In front of Assembly building, Bajram
Gashi (1948), teacher at "28 Nëntori" secondary school, was beaten-up.
Ejup Statovci, Rector of the
University of Prishtina, Ahmet Geca, Vice-Rector,
and the Leadership of the Students'
Independent Union: Bujar Dugolli, Driton Laj‡i,
Albin Kurti and Lulzon Jagxhiu, were beaten-up and detained. Dr. Pajazit
Nushi, chairman of CDHRF, was beaten, too.
During the police intervention
in "Xhevdet Doda" High School, Zanfine Ademi, a IV grade
pupil, suffered very bad injuries. A similar
thing happened to Selman Rugova, a professor, who
tried to protect his pupils. Blerim Stavileci,
reporter of "Bujku", and Zekë Haxhosaj were
beaten, too.
In Ferizaj, Sylejman
Byty‡i, professor at high school, was subjected to arrest, while his 16-
year-old son Kujtim was taken hostage. Sabri
Berisha, principal of "Gjon Sere‡i" primary
school, was arrested. Police wanted Hyzri Beqiri,
Isak Jashari,M.A. and Rrustem Sefedini.
In Rahovec, Shaip Spahiu,
a pupil, was beaten-up and taken to the police station.
According to information from Sub-CDHRF of Peja,
many citizens were beaten-up. Up to now, the following cases were reported:
Selman Berisha from Kryshec, Valdet Sinanaj from Isniq, Tahir Beqiraj from
Kapishnica quarter, Hasan Gashi and his son Blerim from Baran, Shpëtim
Deskaj from Kliqina, prof.dr. Sylë Dreshaj from Peja, Artan Shala
from Peja, Ramë Mekuli from Peja, Ragip Shala from Tërstenik,
Brahim Ferizaj from Peja and Marijan Berisha from Peja.
In Prizren, Besim Baraliu,
chairman of the Sub-CDHRF in Sufreka, was beaten-up. Fatmir
Gërdella, Debatik Hasani and Luan Kurtishi,
secondary school pupils, were kept captive in a
police van. Luan Kurtishi was severely beaten-up.
The police stopped and checked the
identities of the following political activists:
Salajdin Braha, vice-chairman of the LDK branch,
Engjëll Qetta, secretary, Hysni Hoxha and
Qazim Tha‡i, members of the Presidency of this
branch, Elmi Byty‡i, vice-chairman of PPK branch,
and Shani Pulaj, member of the
Presidency of this branch. The police checked
the identity of Asllan Bekteshi, reporter of
"Bujku".
In Prishtina, Shefqet Vatovci from Prishtina,
Rexhep Morina (1933) from Qikatova e Vjetër
and Halil Kuliqi (1952), teacher from Qikatova
e Re, who was kept at the police station until 3
p.m., were beaten.
In Mitrovica, Musa Mustafa
(30), reporter of "Koha Ditore", was beaten-up and his camera was broken.
Mexhit Beka (36) from Kqiqi i Madh was beaten-up by the police, while Muhamet
Hajrizi, professor at the high school in Mitrovica and deputy in the Parliament
of Kosova, was threatened. Nuhi Murati from Zhabari i Poshtëm, Sami
and Salih Tupella from Kqiqi i Vogël ere insulted on a national basis.
At about 6 p.m., Xhevdet Kadriu, Islam Shabani,Muhamet Shabani, Mehmet
Kadriu, Driton Fazliu and Ibush Saraqi were beaten-up. Xhevat Jusufi, principal
of the primary school in Bare, Sabri Osmani, teacher at the same school,
and Rexhep Ahmeti, professor at "Frang Bardhi" secondary school, were stopped
by the police. Vlora and Gjirokastra Barani were threatened with a liquidation.
Police checked the identity of Osman Rama, professor and chairman of the
LDK branch in Zubin Potok. Zeqir Bajrami (61) from Stantërg was beaten
by 5 policemen. Some Serb hooligans went to the "Aziz Sylejmani" school
yard, broke some windows and threw firecrackers and many stones. Fehmi
Grej‡evci from Lipjan was beaten during the protests.
Prishtina, 1 October 1997 Information Service