THE MASSACRE
           PERPETRATED BY
           THE SERBIAN ARMY
           AND ARKAN'S
           PARAMILITARY
           UNITS IN RAHOVEC

           Letter To:
           The Ambassadors of
           Contact Group Countries
           in Belgrade
 
 

THE MASSACRE PERPETRATED BY THE SERBIAN ARMY AND ARKAN'S PARAMILITARY UNITS IN RAHOVEC

     According to the statements given to the Sub-CDHRF in Deçan, on 18 July 1998, Serbian police and military forces perpetrated a massacre on the border zone with Albania. Women and children, who were trying to return to their homes, were massacred. The majority of women and children were from the district of Deçan. The attack began at 2.30 a.m., when a line of 120 persons crossed the border at the place called Padesh, at C-2 pyramid. Two mines exploded and after a minute, shelling and incessant fire began. Fire was opened from three directions. Dum-dum bullets were used. This happened in the vicinity of the mountain huts in Junik, at the place called Rrasa e Zogut. Women and children were on horseback, which fell due to shelling. It is believed that at least 60 Albanians, mainly women and children, were killed. The number of the wounded is much higher.
     The Sub-CDHRF in Prizren sent us the information given by Halit Shala, secretary of Islamic Community in rahovec.The state of terror is prevailing in Rahovec. There are many killed and massacred in the streets of Rahovec. Many women, children and elderly that had taken shelter at the masjid of Sheh Mihidini in Rahovec, were brutally massacred. Many corpses of the Albanians were hung on the electric pillars in downtown Rahovec. Professors Haxhi Sharku, Ali Percaj and six carbonized bodies, whose identities are unknown, were massacred at the place called "Tumba".
The corpses of the following killed Albanians remained in the streets of Rahovec:
     the wife of Ramadan Abaz Ibra (56), Ramadan Abaz Ibra 958), Bula Abaz Ibra (22), Emsale Shala (27), Abdullah Bugari (37), Kadri Cena (43), Sakip Bugari (50), the wife of Hysen Bugari (58), Hasan Shtavica, a professor, Faik Sylka, a professor, and Xhemajli Ramqaj, a professor. Five unidentified corpses are at the place called "Bllata" near-by the lake.
The houses of the following persons were burned:
     Xhemajli Mustafa, Gani Jahaj, Hidajet Haxhijahaj, Jusuf Haxhijahaj, Sakip Shehu, Selami Osaj, Latif Mustafa, Hidajet Kasapi, Xhemajli Kadiri, Dervish Lamaj, Xhelal Jupaj, Sali Rama, Hasan Dema, Haxhi Topalli, Idriz Bytyqi, Ramiz Bytyqi, Sali Shala, Bashkim Tara, Qerim Cana, Hasan Jeminhazeri, Xhemajl Canziba. The building next to the post office, "Park" hotel, the motel and "Haxhijaha" gas station were burned, too.
The following persons were wounded:
     Shani Sylka (imam), Luan Vuçiterna and Vllaznim Canziba.
The following were taken hostage:
     Merita Mustafa (25) with her baby (2 months), Ali Mustafa 935), Liridon Mustafa (3), Veton Mustafa (7), Satkie Mustafa (23), Muharrem Mustafa (42), Vezire Mustafa (35), Xhemile Mustafa (75), Muhidin Mustafa (65), Iliaz Shala (55), Xhemajli Iska with his family, Maliq Kerdali with his family, Nait (Sali) Musa with his son, Abaz Mullauka (42), Rasim Vuqiterna (68), Xhevdet Vuqiterna with his wife and two sons, Faredin Merxha (56), Mejreme Merxha (52), Hidajete Merxha with her daughter, Ali Shala and eight members of his family, Qemajl (47), Mejdin (47), Muharrem (37) and Bekim Bekeri (35) with their family members.
The following are considered as missing:
     Hadi Sokoli (32), Hivzi Shehu (30), Sabit Shehu (26), Sedat Shehu (27), Esat Shehu (20) with his family, Shani Haxhijaha (35), Nijazi Mullauka (68), Nijazi Rama and ten members of his family, Jonuz Jupa with his family, Muhamet Kollari and five members of his family, Hafife Kollari (70), Ilir Hasku and six members of his family, Osman Mullaabazi with his family, Muhamet Sylejmani, Eqrem Dërguti with his wife, Bademe Jahiraga (70), Nesim Shala with his family, Ramadan Dina with his family, Bahredin Dina with his family, Latif Veli with his family, Qerim Cena (32), Shefqet Dërguti (52) and his wife, Sadik Dërguti (32), Muzair Mejzini, Fatime Kasapi, Qazim Kasapi, Lirije Kasapi, Sanije Kasapi, her two sons and a daughter (Bekimi, Burimi and Leoreta).
Last night, two lorries full of detained Albanians from Rahovec arrived in Prizren. Women and children were released whereas, the men are still kept in detention. 20 detained Albanians were taken to Prizren today. Later on, at 10.00 a.m., a police lorry with 40 detained Albanians arrived in Prizren. At 11.30 a.m., 31 detained Albanians from Rahovec were taken to Prizren in a lorry of the "Progres" Enterprise. Among the detained were some wounded people, who were taken to the firestation, which is next to the police station.

Prishtina, 21.07.1998
2.20 p.m.                               Information Service

To: The Ambassadors of Contact Group Countries in Belgrade

Dear Sirs,

     I avail hereby the opportunity to inform you on the latest massacre perpetrated by the Serbian army three days ago, namely on 18 July 1998, in the vicinity of the Albania-Kosova border, at the C-2 pyramid. Tens of people were killed and hundreds of others were wounded. Among the killed, there were women and children, who were returning from Albania to their homes. Many eye-witnesses we met, most of whom were wounded, stated as follows:
 
Quote "We crossed the border at 2.30 in the place called Padesh, at the C-2 pyramid.
     While we were walking, at the place called "Livadhi i Madh" in an alpine terrain, two mines exploded and after a minute, shelling and incessant fire towards us was opened. The attack was carried out from three points, automatic fire from behind, mortars in front, cannon shelling from the right side. Exploding bullets were used during the whole attack. All this suffering lasted for half an hour. It paused for five minutes, and Serbian army opened fire again and lit lighting rockets. It was impossible to find out what was going on. We could only see many massacred people whose death toll is unknown. Many children and women were on horseback. They were all killed. We know that about 30 horses, carrying these children, women and elderly, were killed, too. Hundreds of people were wounded, their legs and arms were broken. Several have fallen into the abysses, some wounded remained in the woods without any aid given. This was a nightmare."

     The fact that for four days now, no details were given on the perpetrated massacre, during which, according to eye-witnesses, 60 people were killed, hundreds of others were wounded, and the names of the massacred were not given, proves that Serbian army and its superiors in Belgrade are trying to hide their crime, especially in the cases when there are women, children and civilians among the massacred.
     Therefore, Serbian military-police and paramilitary forces are intensifying their attacks against the Albanian civilians of this region, killing and massacring them. We once again appeal to you to urgently inform Your governments, to undertake concrete measures to prevent the further massacre exerted on the Albanian population by the Serbian military-police forces in Kosova.

Deçan, Lugu i Baranit, Peja, 21.07.1998

Musa Berisha,

Chairman of the Sub-CDHRF in Deçan