REPORT NO. 372
ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION AND HARASSMENT PERPETRATED BY HE SERBIAN POLICE AND OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA FROM 21 SEPTEMBER, UNTIL 28 SEPTEMBER, 1997
During last week, the
Albanian citizens went for protest walks in several towns of Kosova
for the release of school and university facilities
for education in the Albanian language in
Kosova. Many Albanian citizens were subjected
to ill-treatment by the police and Serbian
civilians, especially in Prishtina, Mitrovica,
Gjilan and Gjakova. Therefore, at the beginning of
this report, we are writing about the cases reported
so far. In order to obstruct these protests,
police in Prishtina forced drivers to pass through
the promenade from 7.30 p.m., until 9.30
p.m., even though the cars are usually not allowed
to pass there from 6 p.m. to midnight.
PRISHTINA: On 23 September,
at about 9.30 p.m., in the vicinity of the building of former
Lublana Bank, 7-8 plainclothed Serbs attacked
Shekjur Hoxha (1977), Rrahim Hajdari (1977)
and Shyqeri Hajdaraj (1976), the three of them
from village Malësia e Re near Prizren,
students of the Faculty of Economics at the University
of Prishtina. They suffered bad injuries
and were compelled to ask for medical care.
On 24 September, at
about 8.30 p.m., in "Dardania" quarter, a half masked civilian ill-
treated Besim Gagica (1976), living on "Sofalia"
st.136, PTT technician. Due to the injuries on
his right eye, Besim underwent a surgery, but
the doctors do not pay much hope on his sight.
At about 9 p.m., police stopped Adem Dema from
Podujeva and Bekim Olluri from Krojmiri
village near Lipjan, students of Electrical Engineering
Faculty of the University of Prishtina,
who were returning from their exam. Having checked
their identities, the police ill-treated them in the presence of the passers-by,
torn their indices, beat and kicked them, while other
policemen threatened to liquidate them.
After 9 p.m., two policemen took Avni Istrefaj
(1976) from Vitomirica village near Peja, Gani
Lajçi (1976) from Peja and Besnik Berisha
(1975) from Volljaka village near Klina, out from the crowd and took them
to the entrance of a building. Three of them were subjected to physical
ill-treatment and were threatened to be liquidated. Due to the injuries
they suffered, the ill-treated students were compelled to ask for medical
care.
At about 9.30 p.m., nearby the Health Care, two
plainclothed inspectors severely ill-treated
Arben Mehmeti (1975), student, living in "Dragodani
II" quarter, broke his jaw, for what he was compelled to undergo the surgery.
After 9.30 p.m., two policemen and two plainclothed
inspectors went to the offices of the
Albanian daily "Koha Ditore" and searched for
editors, who had monitored the walk of citizens
in Prishtina. They checked the identity of Baton
Haxhiu, Editor-In-Chief, whom they
threatened, and took the data of Ylber Hysa and
Dukagjin Gorani, editors, who had "provoked
the walkers in order to iniciate the incident".
On 26 September, at about 10 p.m., behind the
market, three plainclothed policemen attacked
Bekim Ejup Metolli (1976), traffic technician,
living on "Malësori" str.27.
On 27 September, at
about 9.25 p.m., 4 policemen and more than 20 armoured Serb
civilians, among them the policeman called Paun,
ill-treated Bekim Hajdini (1977), student of
Pedagogical High School, and Driton Maliqi (1977),
traffic technician, who suffered bad
injuries, especially on his chest.
MITROVICA: On 25 September,
police checked the identities of, ill-treated and arrested
without any cause some Albanian citizens, who
after giving statements, were released. Among
the ill-treated ones are:
Ismail Loshi; Osman Rama, professor and chairman
of LDK branch in Zubin Potok; Gëzim
Mustafa, student of Mining Faculty; Muharrem
Avdiu, member of Presidency of UNIKOMB
branch in Mitrovica; and Bashkim Beka, professor
at the High Technical School in Mitrovica.
The arrested ones are dr. Ali Topalli and Sabri
Sadiku, M.A, professors at the Mining Faculty in Mitrovica. The persons,
whose identities were checked, are: Muhamet Sylë Hajrizi, deputy of
the Assembly of the Republic of Kosova, vice-chairman of Sub-CDHRF in Mitrovica
and
professor at the Technical High School; Jakup
Ceraja, a poet; Osman Rama, a professor; Sabit Idrizi, a member of Presidency
of LDK branch in Mitrovica; Brikenë Ceraja, pupil of the
secondary school; Besnik and Arbër Berisha,
students; Zymer Zeqiri, principal of primary
school in Qabra village near Zubin Potok; Ismet
Barani, an engineer; Adem Zeqiri, chairman of LDK sub-branch; Gazmend Rama
and Ilir Morina, student of Mining Faculty; and Ali Ahmeti, a teacher.
On 26 September, the
following persons were subjected to physical ill-treatment: Ilaz
Rexha, a teacher at the Middle School of Economics;
Sylë Baliu,a teacher at "Migjeni" primary
school; Nazmi Broboniqi, Avdi Shala, a professor
at the High Technical School; Luan Murati, a student from Prizren; and
Sani Sadiku, Xhevat Syla, Pleurat Dedinja, Lavdim Meholli, Sadete
Hyseni, Agron Sokoli, all of them students of
the High Technical School. The arrested and ill-
treated ones are: Hajriz Rrustem Bajraktari (64);
dr. Gani Bajraktari, physician; Skënder Hoti, a professor at the Mining
Faculty; and Ali Jaha, a professor at the High Technical School.
Xhelal Tahiri, a teacher at "Frang Bardhi" secondary
school, was subjected to severe physical
ill-treatment until he fainted by policemen called
Arsic, Nenad and Boban at the premises of
police station. He suffered injuries on his left
ear, his backbone and kidneys, therefore, he was
compelled to ask for medical care. The persons,
whose identities were checked, are: Muhamet
Sylë Hajrizi, deputy of the Assembly of
the Republic of Kosova, vice-chairman of Sub-CDHRF in Mitrovica and professor
at the High Technical School; Brahim Bala, principal of "Hasan Prishtina"
Middle School of Economics; Ramadan Ademi, a teacher and chairman of LDK
sub-branch.
On 27 September, large
police forces checked the identities of, beat and arrested some
principals, professors, students, pupils, citizens,
among whom was Latif H. Hajrizi (40),
principal of "Nonda Bulka" primary school. He
was kept at the police station more than an hour and was subjected to physical
ill-treatment. According to Latif's statement, many youngsters and other
citizens had been been taken to the police station.
GJILAN: On 25 September,
in the evening, dr. Faik Shkodra, professor at the High
Pedacagical School in Gjilan and chairman of
the Council for the organization of the protests,
living on "Ramiz Sadiku" str.12, was summoned
for "informative talks". On 26 September, at 7
p.m., a group of 8-10 policemen arrested Fehmi
Mahmuti (1948) from Lladova village, teacher,
activist of District Financial Council and member
of Presidency of LDK branch in Gjilan, who
was subjected to interrogation on the walk of
pupils, their purpose, etc.
GJAKOVA: On 24 and 26
September, Astrit Haraqia, chairman of the branch of LDK Youth Forum, was
summoned for "informative talks" twice. The chief in charge and inspector
named Sreten Camovic interrogated him on the walk of Albanian citizens,
organization of forthcoming protests for the release of school facilities.
He was threatened to face the aftermath, if there would happen anything
in Gjakova.
21 SEPTEMBER:
PRISHTINA: Two masked
and armoured Serbian-speaking persons went into the flat of
Ahmet Parteshi (1935), "Ramiz Sadiku" str.18,
and physically ill-treated his wife Kadrije (1941) and his daughter Arta
(1983). Kadrije was taken to hospital in a very deteriorated health condition.
Police opened the door of primary school in Koliqi village for voters of
Serbian elections.
ZHUR: The police constables
and vice-constables of police station, Zharko and Boban
ordered Aziz Tarashaj, principal of "Naim Frashëri"
primary school in Vlashnje village, Dushe
Prelvukaj- Vezaj, principal of primary school
in Zhur and technical worker at "Heronjtë e
Lumës" primary school in Vërmica village
to open the schools for voting, even though only
Albanians live in these areas.
DEçAN: In the
centre of Junik, police stopped and provoked Ruzhdi Shehu, chairman of
Financial Council in Junik.
FERIZAJ: Some policemen
and two inspectors forced the workers of primary schools in
villages Komogllava and Cërnilla to open
the doors of the schools for votings. The police
stopped Ejup Isufi (1948) from Komogllava village,
who was returning from the market of
Tankosiqi village, and plundered goods estimated
DM 550 from him.
PRIZREN: Police opened
the doors of primary schools in villages Vlashnjë and Vërmica
for voters in Serbian eletions.
GJILAN: On the pretext
of votings, police opened the doors of "Idriz Hajrullahu" primary
school in Muçybaba village and "Skënderbeu"
primary school in village Vërbica e Kmetovcit,
where they damaged the portraits of Fan Noli
and Anton çetta and plundered 47 dinars. Two
armoured Serbian civilians went to the house
of Ramadan Bilalli (1958) from Pidiqi village, a
bus driver at "Kosovatrans" in Gjilan, and forced
him to vote for the candidate of Socialist Party of Serbia.
PEJA: According to Belgrade
daily "Nasha Borba", Tomo Trifovic, member of the Election
Commission of socialists, had attacked the OSCE
Swidish observer.
22 SEPTEMBER:
DEçAN: Yesterday,
the premises of primary school in Jasiqi village were used for voting,
thus today, the pupils were compelled to attend
thier lessons outside.
PRISHTINA: On 19 September,
at Hani i Elezit, police took Musli Zeqiri (1943) off the bus and took
him to the Prishtina Prison. Today, he was brought before the court, on
the pretext that in 1991 he did not pay his debt to Kosova General Electricts,
even though he had never been informed on this and never received a court
summon.
MITROVICA: Two policemen
searched for çerkin Peci (66), his son Avni (23), who is
currently living in Germany, and Rexhep Rama,
whom çerkin did not know.
PEJA: On 16 September
and today, Ramadan Kelmendi (1932) from Kosuriqi village, was
summoned to the police station of Qallapek, and
was subjected to interrogation on the bomb
explosion at that police station the day before,
on his activity, etc. On the same pretext, Ismet
Rrahmanaj (1970) from Kosuriqi village was summoned
for "informative talks" at the Security
Centre of Peja on 18 September and at Qallapek
today.
23 SEPTEMBER:
PEJA: Haxhi Mehmet Ibërdemaj
(39) from Nabërgjani village, LDK activist, was taken for
"informative talks" at the Security Centre of
Peja and was subjected to interrogation on the
activity of LDK and PPK, elections within LDK,
forthcoming protests for the release of school facilities, District Financial
Council, Information Commission of LDK and detonations in some parts of
Kosova.
On his way back from Radavc, Rifat Haxhiaj from
village Dubova e Madhe, an LDK activist,
was stopped by the police in Novosella village.
The policeman called Dejan Bajraktarevic
checked his identity and provoked him by accusing
him for the bomb explosion at the police
station of Ozdrim and asking him about the organization
and finacing the building of the
monument nearby the mosque in Dubova e Madhe
dedicated to the masacred Albanians in
1913. Rifat was subjected to physical ill-treatment
and police took his tapestry with the portrait
of Skënderbeu and the Albanian national
flag.
KLINA: On the way Cerovik-Kijevë,
some policemen stopped Vilson Prenaj and Robert
Lekaj from Ceroviku village, checked their identities,
searched them and physically ill-treated
them.
On the way Pejë-Prishtinë, in the vicinity
of "Zastava" Enterprise, some traffic policemen
stopped the car driven by Alush I. Gashi (1962),
accompanied by Mujë Shaban Gashi (1958),
both of them from çabiqi village. Having
checked their identities and raided them, the
policemen found a pocket knife belonging to Alush,
insulted him, threatened him and fined him
with 150 dinars.
At the same place, these policemen stopped and
raided the car of Mustafë Gashi from village
Sferka e Gashit.
FUSHë KOSOVë:
On September 11, Ahmet Krasniqi (1951), from Bellaqevci i Madh, was wanted
by the police. On September 16 and 23 he reported to the local police station
and was interrogated on his political activity in the district of Fushë
Kosova.
MALISHEVA: A police
expedition with armoured cars and helicopters under the pretext of searching
for "terrorists" and weapons surrounded the villages of Balinca near Gllogovc
and of Gjurgjica, Gollubovc and Plloçica near Malisheva. Many Albanians
were ill-treated physically.
In the forests of Balinca police arrested Sabit
Hamit Kelmendi and Petrit Krasniqi from the
village of Drenoc. The two were sent to the Security
Center in Peja. Later on, they were
released.
Police ill-treated among others, Sadik Morina,
a teacher, Milazim Morina (18), and Halil Miftar
Hoxha (85) from the village of Gollobovc. Policemen
broke Halil's arm. His grandson after
being ill-treated was forced to swallow Rugova's
photo. Policemen looted two bracelets and a
golden flower.
SKENDERAJ: Some 20 policemen
in search for weapons raided the houses of Tahir, Bali
and Sadri Gaxhiqi in the village of Murga. After
the raid police interrogated Tahir, Bali, Azem
and Sadri Gaxhiqi, the latter chairman of the
LDK sub-branch.
In the vicinity of Skenderaj police checked the
identity of passers-by. Large scale police
movements were recorded in the village of Kopliq
i Poshtem. During the whole action, a police
helicopter kept on eye the situation.
MITROVICA: On September
18, 19, 22 and 23, Ali Hakif Murati (44), Fazli Pajazit Murati
(55), and Rrahim Dan Maliqi (66) from "Ura e
Gjakut" quarter were summoned to the police for weapons.
FERIZAJ: On September
19, Bashkim Haxhimusa (1960) from the village of Doganaj,
activist of the Sub-Council in Ferizaj, was summoned
for informative talks to the Security
Center in Ferizaj. He was interrogated on the
current political situation, on the recent attacks
on police stations as well as on the forthcoming
protests for releasing the school facilities.
SEPTEMBER 24:
MITROVICA: Shaqir Hazir
Brahimi (36) from the village of Kostova e Bobit and Shaban Ali Voca from
the "Ura e Gjakut" quarter in Mitrovica were summoned to the police.
Policemen entered the courtyard of Emin Halit
Islami (52) in the "Ura e Gjakut" quarter and
checked his identity as well as that of his brother
Beshir (39).
Hajzer Mursel Hajdari (32), from the village
of Broboniq, was arrested and sent to the Court for Petty Offences in Mitrovica,
regarding a gun that was seized from him over a year ago.
PRIZREN: On September
21, 5 Serbian civilians with help from the police, seized from Arif Muji,
principal of "Meto Bajraktari" primary school in the village of Struzh,
the keys of the
school. In the premises of this school they opened
a polling station for the Serbian elections.
Arif was sent to the Security Center in Prizren
and was taken for informative talks. On
September 24, Arif was once again taken for informative
talks by the police inspector Zllatko
Roksandiq. He was ordered to report again on
September 29.
PRISHTINA: Four policemen
and two civilians went to the house of Gani Miftari (1945) in
the "Kodra e Trimave" quarter, "Jablanica" str.
no. 31 B , and ordered him to report to the
police station. He was interrogated about his
son Naim (1969), former officer of the Yugoslav
army. Gani was interrogated about his son's relation
with Milazim and Bajram Miftari and Afrim Sokoli from Podujeva as well
as with Nait Hasani from the village of Randobrava near Prizren. He was
ill-treated and ordered not to abandon his house.
Two policemen from Graçanica intervened
in the premises of the "Shkendija" primary school in the village of Hajvalia.
The policemen interrogated Milazim Matoshi, principal of the school.
GLLOGOC: During the
last two days police intervened in the "Fazli Grajçevci" primary
school in the village of Poklek-Vasilevë,
"Zenel Hajdini" in Tërstenik, "Migjeni" in Baica and
"Rilindja" in Dobroshec. The principals of these
schools were interrogated on the number of
pupils, teachers and technical staff.
FERIZAJ: On September
23, police intervened in the "Skenderbeu" primary school in the
village of Jezerc. Police seized the seals of
the school. Nuhi Asllani, principal, was ordered to
report to the police station in Nerodima, from
where he was sent to the Security Center in
Ferizaj. He was interrogated about the work of
the school and about the forthcoming protests
for the release of school buildings. Nuhi went
to the police in order to take the seized
documents but was ordered to report again the
next day.
Enver Grainca, principal of the "Halit Ibishi"
primary school in the village of Cërnilla, was
summoned to the police station in Babush and
interrogated on the school activity. Three
policemen intervened in the premises of the Financing
District Council and Sub-CDHRF.
VUSHTRRI: A police patrol,
led by Nikolla Zhiviq from Samadrexha, intervened in the
premises of the "Muhamet Kyçyku" primary
school in search of the principal, Ferat Përçuku.
The policemen demanded that all national symbols
were to be taken off and that the name of
the school was to be changed to "Dositej Obradoviq"
SEPTEMBER 25:
LIPJAN: Safet Krivaça
from the village of Gadimja, journalist of the "Koha Ditore" daily, was
summoned for informative talks to the local police station in Lipjan.
PRIZREN: During the
last two days Skender Gashi (1960), from the village of Dushanova,
"Jeta e Re" str. 11, was taken for weapons to
the local police station in Prizren.
Mr. Enver Batiu, chairman of the Pan National
Association for Preserving Historical and
Cultural Heritage, while returning from an official
visit to Albania, was stopped by police
authorities of the border cross in Vërmica.
He was taken for informative talks regarding the aim of his visit. He was
also interrogated on his activity as well as that of other activists of
the
Educational District Council. Police inspectors
ordered Enver to send back to Albania 3 history
books.
MITROVICA: Shaqir Hazir
Brahimi (36), from the village of Koshtova e Bobit, was
summoned for weapons to the local Security Center
and was ordered to report again on
September 29.
PEJA: Adem Gashi and
Agim Berisha from the village of Kryshec, activists of the LDK,
were taken for informative talks to the Security
Center in Peja and interrogated on the activity
of the LDK, the relations between the LDK and
the PPK, about the forthcoming protests for the release of school facilities,
on the recent visits of President Rugova to Germany and
Luxembourg as well as on the actions for collecting
financial means for supporting the
educational system.
FERIZAJ: Ismail Hyseni,
chairman of the Financing District Council, was summoned to the
police and interrogated on his activity. He was
threatened to stop such work.
SEPTEMBER 26:
KAMENICA: During the
last two days Selman (1948) and Hamdi Lakna (1946) as well as
Rexhep Ali Lakna (1981) were summoned for weapons
to the local police station in Kamenica. Rexhep was physically ill-treated.
Three of them were released but left an order to report again on September
29. They were told that they would have no peace until they handed in the
weapons.
MITROVICA: Two police
inspectors Zharko Kosovac and Zhika, arrested Ilmi Tahir Ferati (42) from
Zhabar i Poshtëm, and sent him to the Security Center in Mitrovica.
He was taken for informative talks and released with the threat that he
would be summoned again.
MALISHEVA: A police
squad intervened in the market and looted a quantity of goods from the
Albanian merchants, which was estimated a thousand of DM. Fehmi Berisha
from the village of Gurbardh was looted cigarettes estimated to DM 4000.
Istref Zogaj DM 1500, etc.
PODUJEVA: Police ill-treated
Feti Jahiri (1957) for allegedly being one of those that
participated in attacks over police during recent
days.
DELAYED INFORMATION:
KLINA: On August 22,
a policeman named Lakiçeviq, while driving his car hit the cow of
Gjon N. Gjergjaj. For the damage caused the policeman
demanded DM 20.000. After Gjon's
refusal to pay he was taken to the police and
threatened with liquidation. He was provoked for
several times. Now, Lakiçeviq is demanding
DM 3.300.
On September 14, Driton A. Bashotaj (1975) and
Ekrem H. Jakupaj (1976) from the village of
Cerrovik and Valdet H. Gashi from the village
of Llozica near Malisheva were stopped and
physically ill- treated by a police patrol in
the village of Cerrovik. Later on they were sent to the police head quarters
in Kijeva. Under the pretext that they are terrorists they were severely
ill-treated by the policemen Dobrivoje Beliq from Stapanica and Dabizhljeviq
from Dërsnik.
SUHAREKA: On September
10, Jemin Ismail Bytyçi (1951), from the village of Kosterc,
secretary of "Bajram Curri" primary school in
the village of Nishor, was taken for informative
talks regarding weapons to the local police station
in Suhareka
DEçAN: On September
11, Naser Musë Sinanaj (1972), from the village of Isniq, was
stopped and arrested by the police. At the local
police station he was ill-treated physically. Due to injuries suffered
he had to seek medical help.
FERIZAJ: On September
15, Iljaz Zejna (1937), was summoned to the police for
informative talks regarding his son, who is currently
living abroad.
On September 18, Fadil Maloku from the village
of Kosina, activist of the LDK, was summoned for informative talks to the
Security Center in Ferizaj and was interrogated on the activities of the
LDK and of its relations with the PPK.
On September 20, policemen from the local police
station in the village of Nerodima, went to
the house of Shefki Hajdari (57) from the village
of Jezerc, cleaning staff in the "Skenderbeu"
primary school, and told him to give them the
keys of the school for the Serbian elections. As
he refused to give them the keys he was taken
to the police station and ordered to open the
school. Policemen also searched for his brother
Nazmi.
VUSHTRRI: On September
15, 16, and 17 police searched for weapons in the houses of
Ramadan (39) and Avni A. Gashi (22) from the
village of Beçuk. The two were ill-treated
physically.
On September 16, a police patrol obstructed classes
that were being held in the "Marin
Beçikemi" secondary school. Police seized
the ID of Muhedin Osmani and of Afrim Zymberi.
The two were sent to the police post-block and
after being threatened were released.
On September 18, a police patrol searched for
weapons in the house of Isa Aliu (58) from the
village of Beçuk. He was taken by police
and sent to the local police station in Prelluzhë.
During the next 3 days Isa was ordered to report
again to the local police station in Vushtrri. He was ill-treated physically.
ISTOG: On September
17, three armoured persons entered the house of Mehmet Curraj
from the village of Llukavc i Begut. The intruders
threatened him in Serbian and hit him on the
head. He was looted DM 37.000. In a bad health
condition Mehmet was sent to the Peja
hospital.
GLLOGOC: On September
19, Rrustem Musli Kralani (1945), Shaban M. Kralani (1943)
and Fazli M. Kralani (1932) were taken for informative
talks at the local police station in
Gllogoc. The three were summoned regarding the
recent attack on the police station on
September 10.
PODUJEVA: On September
19, three policemen from the village of Lluzhan searched at
the house of Ramadan Salihu from Bellopoja for
his grandson Fitim (1971). Fitim has been
living abroad for the last 4 years, ever since
he deserted the Yugoslav army.
Prishtina, 28 September 1997 Information Service