Monthly Report January 1998 from KMDLNJ / CDHRF Pristinë

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

 The institutionalized violation of human rights and freedoms in Kosova in all walks of
life perpetrated by current prevailing  Serbian regime continued during the month of
January. Unfortunately, Kosova has become an arena where all kinds of torture, from
medieval ones to modern inquisition, have been applied. One of the most disturbing
phenomenon is the hostage taking of Albanians by Serbian law enforcement authorities or
other repressive groups. There were also victims during the same month.
 On 27 January 1998, at about 9.15 p.m., policeman Sasha Markovic from the village
of Reçan near Kamenica, assaulted heavily Avdi Rasim Neziri (13.07.1981) from
Kamenica, who died the next day due to the assaults suffered in the Hospital of Prishtina.
Avdi was selling cigarettes in order to support his family, when the plainclothed policeman
put his revolver on Avdi's ear and shot. Sasha and a colleague of his dragged wounded
Avdi several metres from the spot.
 On 14 January, at about 8 p.m., in downtown Prishtina, in the vicinity of the Bank of
Lubjana, a Serbian custom officer heavily wounded Ali Ramadan Fazliu (44), a taxi driver,
father of 4, living in "Mareci" st.6. In a deteriorated health condition, he was taken to the
Prishtina Hospital. After three days, he died of the wounds suffered. According to the
family of the deceased, Ali was in his car when the perpetrator told Ali to move out of his
way, then got out of the car and gun down Ali.
 Such provocations of Serbian regime towards the unprotected Albanian population
result with tragic consequences.
 On 22 January, at about 5.15 a.m., large police and military forces, based in the yard
of Ammunition Plant in Skënderaj, attacked the family of Shaban Murat Jashari (72) from
the village of Prekaz i Poshtëm. Due to this, Iliriana Rifat Jashari (26) and Selvete Hamzë
Jashari (20) got wounded, whereas Shaban's house was completely destroyed. The
attack lasted until 6 a.m. The night before, the Jasharaj quarter had run out of electricity
and phones had been disconnected. In the outskirts of Klina e Poshtme, police and
military forces, while withdrawing, killed Hysen Nezir Manxholli (52) from Mikushnica, father
of 7, a guardian at the "Produkt" Roof-Tiles Factory in Skënderaj, who was on his way to
work.
 Very tensed situation prevailed in other districts of Kosova, particularly in Deçan,
Malisheva, Vushtrri, Klina, etc.
 Early in the morning, at about 5.45 a.m., large police forces (about 70 policemen in
armored cars) surrounded Tahirsylaj quarter in Isniq for seven hours. Without any
advance warning, police started the fire towards the houses and attacked the families of
Tahir Tahirsylaj and Nezir Hysen Tahirsylaj of 26 members, entering their bedrooms while
they were still sleeping. Police put family members (12 children and 7 women) in one
room. After seven hours of surrounding, demolition and destruction, police arrested and
physically ill-treated seven members of this family and took them to the police station in
Deçan. Currently, the very same persons are in pre-trial detention in the prison of Peja.
The released ones sought medical help due to assaults suffered.
 In order to break the resistance, police had put Durim Tahirsylaj (10 years old) and his
mother as hostages in front of them.
 The very same day, police surrounded and raided the house of Demush Zeqir Memaj
(35) in Llukë e Epërme and detained Demush and his brother Faik, whom they beat up in
the presence of the villagers.
 On 24 January, tense situation has been prevailing in Malisheva. Random shots were
heard in downtown Malisheva from 7.50 p.m., until 8.40 p.m. The incident happened while
a group of policemen were raiding the vehicles. Shots were heard from the direction of
Banja, Rahovec, Kijeva and Prishtina. Repressive squads and large police forces came
from Rahovec, Suhareka and Prizren. Some eye-witnesses stated the blood stains were
seen in the spot. After that, police undertook a grave wave of harassment towards
Albanians in streets and their houses. Beqir Berisha was beaten up with the rifle butt in the
presence of his wife and children. Tens of citizens of Malisheva regardless of age and sex
were subjected to the very same ill-treatment. According to the information of our field
workers, the situation continues to be tense and grave particularly in Skënderaj, Klina,
Deçan, Malisheva, Gllogoc, etc. Large police forces have set up barricades with sacks of
sand in Komoran near Gllogoc. The same policemen have been stopping and physically
ill-treating innocent Albanians, by threatening them with the killing of all Albanians.
 One of the gravest forms of harassment is the kidnapping of Albanians. The most
recent case is that of Idriz Rexhep Idrizi (1952) from Prekaz i Epërm, a worker at "Azem
Bejta" Primary School in Prekaz i Epërm near Skënderaj. He left home on 23 January at
10.30 a.m. Ever since, his whereabouts are unknown. His family members suspect that he
might be taken by the police situated at the Ammunition Plant.
 In a letter addressing the CDHRF, Bajram Shehu (1960) from the village of Greme
near Kaçanik, temporarily employed in Switzerland, and written on 27 January 1998 and
published in "Bujku" and "Koha Ditore", describes the torture perpetrated by Serbian State
Security. He was subjected to torture since was "kidnapped" on 15 until 19 January 1998
on the pretext that he is a member of National Movement and KLA. Under the threats of
liquidating his wife and children, he admitted the charges against him and other political
and humanitarian activists. He also accepted to collaborate with the Serbian State
Security.
 Apart from the violence perpetrated by the Serbian police against Albanian population
in Kosova, the situation has been worsened by the actions of Serbian civilians, who,
introducing themselves as policemen, have been stopping, checking the identities of and
physically ill-treating the Albanian citizens. Only during the month of January, 17 cases of
that kind were reported to the CDHRF. In some villages of Klina, those Serbian civilians
have imposed the curfew.
 According to the information gathered during the month of January, 313 Albanians
were subjected to many forms of human rights violation.

 During the very same period:
- 3 Albanians were killed;
- 5 persons were wounded (3 women);
- 54 persons underwent routine checking;
- 80 persons were subjected to arbitrary arrest;
- 11 persons were taken for "informative talks";
- 101 persons were subjected to physical torture;
- 1 person was sentenced for penal act;
- 2 persons were sentenced for petty-offences;
- 5 persons received drafting summons to the Serbian Army;
- 2 passports were seized;
- 1 person disappeared;
- 80 cases of raid;
- 2 cases of hostage taking;
- 24 persons were subjected to ill-treatment for weapons;
- 33 persons suffered injuries;
- 17 women were subjected to different forms of ill-treatment;
- 3 children were ill-treated;
- 2 journalists were subjected to ill-treatment;
- 5 persons were kidnapped;
- 20 cases of looting;
- 1 police intervention in educational institutions;
- 27 persons were summoned to police stations;
- 11 political activists were subjected to ill-treatment;
- 4 educational activists were subjected to ill-treatment.

Prishtina, 9 January 1998
Information Service