REPORT
NO. 375
ON
THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION
AND
HARASSMENT PERPETRATED BY
THE
SERBIAN POLICE AND OTHER
AUTHORITIES
IN KOSOVA FROM
12
OCTOBER, UNTIL 19 OCTOBER, 1997
Bericht
über die Polizeieinsätze in Bardhaniq und Zhabel nahe Gjakova
(geschrieben
am 21. Oktober 1997)
CDHRF's
report on the violence perpetrated by Serbian police against
villagers
of Bardhaniq and Zhabel in the vicinity of Gjakova
REPORT NO. 375
ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION AND HARASSMENT
PERPETRATED
BY THE SERBIAN POLICE AND OTHER AUTHORITIES
IN KOSOVA
FROM 12 OCTOBER, UNTIL 19 OCTOBER, 1997
Two more victims of Serbian police in Kosova.
On Wednesday, on 15 October, after
midnight, in the vicinity of the police station
in Kliçina village near Peja, Serbian police
killed Adrian Krasniqi (1972) from Vranoci village
near Peja, charged as "member of
Kosova Liberation Army". The late was one of
21 defendants and was to be tried in absentia
on 21 November 1997. According to the statement
given by çagjenoviq, investigation judge
at the Serbian Run Court in Peja, Adrian had
been well-known to police authorities for
"terrorist activities", while according to the
Serbian police, he was killed after an attack on
"the police station in Kliçina".
On 16 October, Jonuz Zeneli (55) from Ballabani
village near Prishtina, father of 7, former
technical worker at the primary school died in
the hospital of Central Prison in Belgrade. The
late and his cousin Hasan Zeneli were imprisoned
on 30 April 1997 and they were to appear
before Serbian Run Court in Prishtina on 27 October
1997 - charged for "terrorism". During
the investigation, Jonuz had been subjected to
severe ill-treatment in order to make self-
incriminating confession. In a very deteriorated
condition, he had been taken to the hospital
of Central Prison in Belgrade.
In the meantime, the violence and terror of Serbian
police included the Dukagjini Plain,
especially the villages of the districts of Gjakova,
Peja and Deçan. On the pretext of
searching for "terrorists" and weapons, the police
squads, accompanied by armoured cars and
helicopters, raided and severely ill-treated
hundreds of families - including here women,
elderly and children. Council has available upsetting
evidences about the ill-treated persons
and demolitions of houses, furniture, etc.
GJAKOVA: On 14 October, a police squad of more
than 130 policemen from Peja and
Deçan and armed soldiers with armoured
cars and helicopters, blocked all entrance-exits of
villages Bardhaniq and Zhabel.
In Bardhaniq, they raided 22 houses, demolished
everything, beat men, while women and
children suffered psychological torture. Men
were handcuffed, put on the ground and beaten-
up in the presence of their families, 8 of them
suffered severe injuries. Some of them were
taken to the police stations in Deçan
and Peja.
In Zhabel, police raided 33 houses and physically
ill-treated men, women, children, elderly
and youth, 56 of whom suffered severe injuries
and 18 suffered minor ones. Many terrible
events occurred. Police threatened to cut the
head and hands of Galan Brahimaj,
householder. As his terrified children ran to
rescue their father, police "amnestied" his life.
Many villagers were thrown in the village brook
and threatened to be liquidated.
Police torture was accompanied by insults and
questions " where are your weapons?", "who
has attacked the police station in çallapek?",
"where are the terrorists?", "why did you give
birth to so many children?".
Similar events occurred in Bardhaniq, too.
The physical ill-treated persons are: Elez Dinë
Rexhepaj, who fainted; his brother Rrustem
Rexhepi (33) with a broken leg; Bajram Malë
Rexhepaj (1939); Mujë Rexhepi and Sadri
Smajl Ismaili (61) and their guests Shkëlzen
Berisha, Feim Panxha, Fatlinda Xhafer Alia
(1979), third year pupil of the secondary school
in Gërgoc; Smajl Thaçi, as well as the
passers-by Hysen Ibrahimi, Xhevdet Alia from
Gërgoc; Agron Plava from Cërmjan and
Rasim Ibrahimi, who was taken to the police station.
In Zhabel, the following householders were ill-treated:
Galan Brahimaj (1953) his wife
Ajmane (40) and their 12 children: Brahim (26),
Ganimete (22), Bajram (20), Servete (18),
Sadete (15), Bujar and Anije (13), Bashkim (11),
Vllazërim (10), Demokrat (8), Blerina (7),
Votim (6); Talë Zekë Brahimaj (1939),
Canë (29), agricultural engineer, Musë (1935), Ali,
Malë (1968), Arif, Minushe (23), Ali (1962),
Rrustem, Hasan and Fatime Delija; Gëzim,
Aziz, Avdi, Brahim and Bajram Brahimaj; Vesel,
Naim, Mustafë, Hajdin and Fatmir Neziri;
Ali (1953), Rrustem, Kasim (retarded), Rrustem
(1934), Ukë (1957), Mujë and Naim Haziri
(1976); Burim (1978), Ahmet (1979), Sanije (1975)
and Manushe Ukaj (1977); Misin Shaban
Haziraj (1919), Binak Maliqi, Ndue Ton Dedaj
(1962) and Lush Marku, as well as the guests
Qerim Ramadani, Fatmir Haxhaj and Remë Musaj.
Some of the injured persons submitted
their medical reports.
DEçAN: On 17 October, at 5 a.m., police
started to raid Albanian families in villages
Rastavica, Babaj i Lloçit and Gramaqel.
The raided ones are: in Rastavica - Bajram, Brahim
(police confiscated DM 700, a camera
and two passports from him), Mustafë and
Xheladin Kadriaj; Smajl, Cuf and Mon Selmanaj;
in Babaj i Lloçit - Ramë Mataj and
in Gramaqel - Ali Avdiaj.
The arrested ones are: in Rastavica - Mustafë
Xh. Kadriaj, teacher, Isuf Selmanaj, principal
of "Minatorët e Trepçës" primary
school; Mon Selmanaj, chairman of LDK sub-branch;
Smail and Brahim Selmanaj, teachers and 4 building
workers from Malisheva; in Babaj i
Lloçit - Adem and Jeton Mataj, farmers
and Florin Mataj, student; in Gramaqel - Ali Avdiaj.
The ill-treated persons are: in Babaj i Lloçit
- Valdet Mataj and Sami F. Gjoci, who suffered
severe injuries due to what he was compelled
to ask for medical care.
In Kliçina village near Klina in the district
of Deçan, the physically ill-treated persons are:
Zekë Sinanaj (1957), journalist from Isniq;
Rasim Sh. Haklaj, bus driver from Isniq; Sali
Likaj (1957) from village Carrabregu i Poshtëm;
Asllan Alaj (1956) from Drenoci village;
Jakup Beqaj and his son Besim from Gramaqeli
village; Mehmet H. Shala, driver from
Duboviku village; Samir Bruqi (1964); Nusret
and Hajrullah Shala from Isniq; Ahmet Deli
Kelmendi from Labiani village, who went to the
hospital due to the injuries he suffered.
Other ill-treated persons asked for medical care
due to the injuries he suffered.
PEJA: At the house of the late Adrian Rexhep
Krasniqi in Peja, police arrested and ill-treated
his cousin Fahri M. Krasniqi from Turjaka village
on 16 October and after 10 hours, they
released him to inform Adrian's family on his
death.
On the pretext of attacking the police station
in Kliçina, Serbian police blocked and raided
many families, ill-treated and arrested many
Albanian villagers in villages of Lugu i Leshanit:
Zahaq, Llabjan, Gllaviçica, Leshan and
Kliçina.
In Llabjan, police raided the houses of: Zenel
H. Kelmendi (1950), Shaban Cenë Kelmendi
and Ahmet Deli Kelmendi. Police beat Ahmet, his
90-year-old mother Hate and Ahmet's wife
Ganimete.
In Zahaq, police raided and beat Ramiz Zeqiri
(34), secretary at "Naum Veqilharxhi" primary
school in Kliçina. In Gllaviçica,
police raided, beat and arrested brothers Gjon and Marash
M. Vataj and their sons Leon and Viktor.
In Kliçina, police raided the house of
Hasan Berisha, principal of "Naum Veqilharxhi"
primary school, chairman of LDK sub-branch, and
beat him and his brothers Zeka (1961),
Ali (1968) and his sons Sami (1975), Naim (1977),
Shkumbin (1981) and Dardan (1983).
The arrested ones are: Zekë and Ali M. Berisha
and Naim H. Berisha.
In Leshan, police raided and beat: Skënder
Lush Berisha, Maxhun L. Berisha, Xhevdet M.
Berisha (20) and their nephew Milaim Haki Seniku
(18) from Jabllanica village.
The arrested ones are: Skënder, Maxhun and
Milaim.
In village Jabllanica e Leshanit, police raided:
Ahmet Abazi, his sons Sali (35) and Demë
(32) Abazi were beaten; Hazir Shurdha (54), his
sons Nexhat (20) and Esat (17) were beaten;
Beqir and Hamdi Shurdha (his 27-year-old son
Abedin was beaten); Osman Beka, Bajram
and Islam Shala, while Lul Krasniqi was beaten.
Sami Ibishi, economist from Ferizaj living
in Prishtina, was beaten. His two ribs got broken
and he suffered severe injuries all over his
body.
On the road, in the vicinity of police station
in Kliçina, police stopped a car and forced Nijazi
K. Gega (37) and Ramiz Rexhep Nikqi (40) from
Peja to come out of the car, beat them and
injured them severely. Police beat Mehmet Lajqi
(57) from Fusha e Pejës, living in Peja.
Police arrested Shpresa Podrimçaku, teacher
from Novosella.
During the night, police removed all placards
announcing the death of Adrian Krasniqi,
killed a night before by Serbian police.
13 OCTOBER:
GJILAN: Enver Ramizi (1946), former policeman,
"Mumin Beqiri" str.II/11, tried in the trial
of former policemen at the Serbian Run Court
in 1995, was sent to Smrekovnica prison to
serve his sentence.
PRIZREN: A police squad in Nashec stopped and
insulted Afrim, Bekim and Driton
Xhakmani from Dushanova, "Bulevardi i Rinisë"
str., and Bashkim Kajdomçaj from Prizren,
"Ferizaj" str.7.
PEJA: Ali Qylqja, professor at Economical High
School in Peja, was summoned for
"informative talks" regarding the protest of
1 October.
KAMENICA: Three Serbian citizens stopped Ejup
Shaip Zubaku (1962) from Topanica
village near Kamenica in Vranje (Serbia). They
insulted him, physically ill-treated him and
injured him on his head until he lost his conscious.
PRISHTINA: A Serbian family, refugees from Croatia,
went into the basement of the flat of
Ramush Dushi, pensioner, in "Ulpiana" quarter.
Meanwhile, police ordered Ramush to leave
his flat, for which he possesses the proper documentation.
ISTOG: Ylber Lipaj, member of the Presidency
of PPK branch in Istog, was taken for
"informative talks" on the "current political
situation".
14 OCTOBER:
PRIZREN: Sami Vehapi (1973) from Lubizhda, student
at "Xhevdet Doda" Pedagogical High
School in Prizren, member of the Council for
Organization of Protests, was summoned for
"informative talks" on 7 and 8 October, while
he was taken for "informative talks" on 9, 10
and 14 October. He was interrogated on peaceful
protests of 1 October, was subjected to
physical and psychological ill-treatment, as
well as insulted and threatened. On 12 and 14
October, Selajdin Krasniqi, principal of "Haxhi
Ymer Lutfiu" primary school in Mamusha,
was taken for "informative talks" for weapons
and was ordered to report again on 17
October.
GJILAN: Nexhmedin Shaqiri (1957), economist and
trade union activist, "Ramiz Sadiku"
str.6/35, was summoned for "informative talks"
on his stay in Albania during 1994, the
protests of 1 October and activists of PPK branch
in Gjilan. Police inspector Paviq went to
the premises of "Zenel Hajdini" primary school
in Bresalc and took the school seals from
Ejup Uruqi (1957). Ejup was ordered to report
to the police station on 17 October.
Enver Shkodra, student at the Faculty of Economics
in Prishtina, was subjected to
interrogation on the organization of protests
of 1 October at the Security Centre in Gjilan.
MITROVICA: An employee of law enforcement authorities
left a summon for drafting to
Amir Zenel Istrefi (17), "Tuneli i Parë"
quarter.
DEçAN: In the vicinity of his house, police
severely ill-treated Xhafer Ahmetaj from
Prapaqani village.
VUSHTRRI: Shemsi Kadri Pllana, student from Shtitarica
village, was stopped and raided by
the Serbian police of Mitrovica. He was also
interrogated on his stay in Germany and the
forthcoming protests. Police physically ill-treated
him, due to what he suffered injuries on his
head and body. He was released on the condition
to report to the police station in Mitrovica
on 20 October and then flee Kosova.
PEJA: Nexhmedin Xhuraj and Kujtim Hajdaraj from
Radavci village were subjected to
physical ill-treatment at the police station
in Peja for the simple reason that they spoke
Albanian.
TETOVA: Alajdin Demiri, chairman of Assembly,
and Vehbi Bexheti, chairman of the
Council of the District of Tetova, were sentenced
to 2 years and 6 months imprisonment
each, under the charges that "they raised the
flag of a foreign state".
15 OCTOBER:
ISTOG: On 13 October and today, Fadil Ferati,
chairman of the District Financial Council
and member of the Presidency of LDK branch in
Istog, was interrogated by security
inspectors on the activity of DFC, political
situation, peaceful protests of 1 October and on
the visit of Besnik Konçi, charge d'affair
in the Embassy of Albanian in Belgrade.
16 OCTOBER:
MITROVICA: 7 policemen stopped and checked the
identity of Hajrullah Rizah Fetahu (48),
"Ura e Gjakut" quarter. They took him and went
to his house to raid it. The policemen
plundered goods estimated DM 2000.
PRIZREN: Muharrem Gashi from Hatmaxha, teacher
at the "Gjon Buzuku" secondary school
in Prizren, and his brother Nazmi, were stopped
by two policemen in the vicinity of the city
hospital. On checking his identity Muharrem was
sent to the local Security Center and
interrogated. He was released but ordered to
report again.
During the protest walks in the city promenade
police stopped and provoked Engjëll çetta,
secretary, and Skënder Berisha, member of
the chairmanship of the LDK branch in Prizren.
Police intervened in the "Sharri" coffee restaurant,
raided it and thoroughly checked those
present among whom Engjëll çetta,
Skënder Berisha, Qazim Thaçi, Hysni Hoxha, Fadil
Kryeziu, Shaqir Gashi, Mehmet Thaçi and
Bajram Duja, activists of the LDK and PPK.
PRISHTINA: Basri Rekaj (1975), from Ferizaj,
student of Economy, was stopped by the
police at the "Lagja e Muhaxhereve" quarter,
was arrested and sent to the "Qendra" police
station. He was physically ill-treated and interrogated
on the protests of October 1.
GJILAN: On October 14, police inspector Paviq,
intervened in the premises of the "Ramiz
Sadiku" primary school in the village of Cërnica.
Paviq seized the school seals, and ordered
Mexhid Hoxha (1950), principal, to report to
the local Security Center in Gjilan. He was
interrogated on the peaceful protests of October
1, and on his relations with the former
principal.
Nehat Idrizi (1961), jurist from the village
of Zhegra, secretary of the Educational Council in
the District of Gjilan and activist of the LDK,
was summoned for informative talks to the
local Security Center in Gjilan. He was interrogated
by a police inspector named Joviq, on
his activity and on the activity of the LDK,
on the relations between Rugova and Bukoshi, on
the recent attacks against police stations throughout
Kosova, on the protests of October 1, on
the agreement between Rugova and Millosheviq
regarding educational issues, etc.
ISTOG: Daut Latifaj, chairman of the Finance
District Council, was sentenced to a prison
term of 15 days. On October 16, he was stopped
by the police and looted DM. 350, CHF. 50,
and DIN. 20. The entire documentation of the
Council was seized.
VUSHTRRI: A police patrol went to the house of
Rabie Poterçi in the village of Dobërlluka.
They were in search of her son Ekrem who is currently
living abroad.
A police patrol in the village of Stanoc i Poshtëm,
physically ill-treated Daut and Shefqet
Menxhiqi. Daut was ordered to report again.
About midnight, large police forces accompanied
with an armoured car, were stationed near
the road connecting the villages of Bukosh, Gllavatin
and Prelluzha in the region of çiçavica.
They checked the identity of workers that were
going home.
OCTOBER 17:
SKëNDERAJ: Some 50 policemen accompanied
with two armoured cars and a helicopter,
surrounded and raided the house of Haxhi Thaçi
in Broja. Police had taken Gani Thaçi along
with them. Gani had been arrested on September
30, and his whereabouts were unknown up
to now. Police in search for weapons forced Gani
to plow in the vicinity of his house. In the
meantime police arrested Nimon Thaçi (45),
an invalid. Haxhi was left an order to report to
the police in Skënderaj.
VITI: Rashit Rashiti (1952), from the village
of Sllatina e Poshtme, Swiss citizen, was
arrested by police during a visit home. Ever
since his whereabouts are unknown.
MITROVICA: Ramadan Jashar Topallaj (1963), unemployed,
from the village of Vitak near
Skënderaj, living in Shipol near Mitrovica,
was stopped by the police and was physically ill-
treated.
Aleksandar Kravçenko, director of the
Health Care Institute in Mitrovica, declared to the
"Dnevni Telegraf" daily, that in the course of
1997, 192 cases of tuberculosis were registered
in the municipality of Mitrovica. There is fear
that the number of those suffering from this
disease is much larger as many people do not
report their cases. According to him, one of the
main causes for the increase of those suffering
is the air pollution from "Trepça".
FUSHë KOSOVA: Fidair Berisha from Grabovci
i Poshtëm, and his parents Xhafer and
Hava, were physically ill-treated. Fidair suffered
severe body injuries.
OCTOBER 18:
MITROVICA: Policemen raided the "Ardiani" shop
in the propriety of Haki Isuf Haliti (33),
in the "Tavnik" quarter. They looted 14 bottles
of whiskey and 646 boxes of cigarettes.
Police ill-treated his daughter Arta (12).
Police also raided the houses of Isuf Halili
(62) and Jakup Halili (39). The latter was insulted
on a national basis. He was severely ill-treated
until he fainted. Jakup and Haki were ordered
to report to the police and to hand in a gun.
MALISHEVA: Bajram S. Rudi, Mithat S. Bajraj,
and Bejtullah Sadikaj from the village of
Panorc were taken for weapons to the local police
station in Rahovec and were physically ill-
treated. Mithat and Bejtullah were ordered to
report again. Bajram was fined with DIN. 600
for a weapon handed earlier.
DELAYED INFORMATION:
KLINA: On September 30, during the protest walks
in the city promenade in Prishtina, 3
policemen and 4 Serbian civilians, stopped Driton
Ilaz Morina (1976), student of the Physical
Training Faculty, from the village of Gllareva,
and three friends of his. They were severely
ill-treated and threatened with liquidation.
On October 1, due to his participation in the
peaceful protests in Peja, police physically ill-
treated Avni S. Rexhepaj (1980), secondary school
pupil from the village of Zabergja. In the
suburbs of Gjakova police stopped a bus, checked
the identity of the passengers, and
physically ill-treated Naser Bajram Gashi (1975),
pupil from the village of Sferka. Naser was
looted DM. 20.
On October 2, policemen stopped Binak Xhemë
Kalludra (1967), and Shaban A. Kalludra
(1968) from the village of Gremnik. The two were
physically ill-treated.
On October 4, two Serbian civilians named Arsiq
and Karaveliq, threatened Muharrem
Tahiri, black smith, from the village of Budisalc.
He and other villagers were told to
participate in the presidential elections and
to vote for the SPS candidate.
On October 7, Hamit Krasniqi (1947), teacher
and member of the chairmanship of the LDK
branch in Klina, living in "Bajram Curri" str.
12, was taken for informative talks. He was
interrogated by police commander Kërsta
Gjurishiq, on the opinion of the Albanians
regarding the return of students and pupils in
school facilities, on the "UçK", Serbian
elections, the relations between the branches
of the LDK and PPK, and the solution of the
Kosova issue.
Two policemen in the vicinity of the bus station,
in the "Dardania" quarter, stopped Besim
Hoti from Jashanica, student of the Law Faculty
in Prishtina. He was taken to the basement
of a nearby building and interrogated regarding
the organization of the peaceful protests on
October 1. He was severely ill-treated and threatened
not to participate in any future protests.
PRISHTINA: On October 1, during the police intervention
against the peaceful protesters for
the release of school and university facilities
in "Velania" quarter and other parts of the town,
the following persons were physically ill-treated:
Fatmire Rrahim Rexhepi (1975), student
from the village of Përlepnica near Gjilan,
suffered injuries on her head, back and chest;
Bajram Krasniqi (1976), student, "Avalla" str.115;
Shpresa Krasniqi (1981), pupil, "Avalla"
str.111; Rrahman Istogu (1942), cashier at "Novogradnja"
Enterprise, "Dardania" quarter SU
1/1 27, her rib got broken; Halit Elshani (1944),
teacher, "Bledi" str.6/A; Hamdi Alija (1932),
pensioner, "Jabllanica" str.211, suffered injuries
on his head; Vjollca B. Qupeva (1972),
student from the village of Pogragja near Klina,
her right leg got broken; Fazli Hoxha (1928)
and Ibrahim I. Hoxha (1928) - pensioners from
the village of Domanek near Gllogoc;
students of the Pedagogical High School; Kujtim
Duraku (1978), Fatmir Gjambazi (1969),
Linda Sejdiu (1977), and Fatmir Hyseni (1979)
who suffered injuries on his back; Fixhrije
Visoka (1976) her limbs got broken; Florije Abdullahu
(1977) suffered injuries on her hand;
Leonora Qyqalla (1978) suffered injuries on her
arm; Afërdita Kaçiu (1974) and Arlinda
Kongjeli suffered injuries on their legs; Fatmir
Pacolli (1976) from the village of Matiçan
near Prishtina suffered injuries on her head
and body; Fikrije Mehmeti (1979) from Lipjan;
Ramadan Parduzi (1976) suffered injuries on his
leg, Bahrije Deliu (1976) from Vushtrria
suffered limb injuries; Nazane Zymberi (1976)
from Mitrovica suffered injuries on her leg. In
the house of Kamer Gashi (1965), unemployed,
"Jabllanica" str.2, police threw tear-gas and
terrified family members. This caused health
problems to Kamer's parents.
GJILAN: On October 6, Azem Azemi (1942), pedagogical
councellor, "Ramiz Sadiku"
str.I/16, was taken for "informative talks" on
the peaceful protests of October 1, the school
curriculum, the organization of lectures, school
seals, colleagues, etc.
On October 10, Enver Shkodra (1973), "Qenar çeshme"
quarter 43/D, student at the Faculty
of Economics in Prishtina, was taken for "informative
talks" on the organization of protests,
the relations between LDK and Students' Independent
Union of the University of Prishtina
and on the participants of the protests.
DEçAN: On October 6, three armed, unidentified
persons introducing themselves as law
enforcement authorities, went into the house
of Rexhep Haxhaj (80) in the village of Babaj i
Lloçit. They locked up family members
in the bathroom and plundered DM 7000, 2 jackets,
a videocamera, and his daughter and daughter-in-law's
golden jewellery estimated DM 7000.
The attackers also demolished furniture and threatened
Rexhep's wife. Then, they entered the
other house of the Haxhaj family, demolished
furniture, plundered DM 4000 and ran in an
unknown direction.
FERIZAJ: On October 6, Ahmet Braha (1978) from
Ferizaj, was physically ill-treated under
the pretext that he had participated in the peaceful
protests of October 1.
On October 8, Fadil Kallaba, LDK activist, was
taken for informative talks to the local police
station and was interrogated on the protest walks
in the city promenade as well as on the
protests of October 1.
VUSHTRRI: On October 7, police searched for Xhevat
Beqiri from the village of Balinc,
who is currently living abroad.
KAMENICA: On October 8, Nezir Halit Krasniqi
(1935), from the village of Tugjec, was
taken for weapons to the police, insulted and
physically ill-treated. He was released but
ordered to report again with his son Faik (1969).
MITROVICA: On October 8, policemen arrested Feriz
Zymer Istrefi (47), living in the "Ura
e gjakut" quarter. He was sent to serve a prison
term of 60 days for arm possession.
MALISHEVA: On October 9, policemen from Kijeva,
raided the house of Esat Sh. Gashi.
They physically ill-treated Ymer Gashi (14) in
the presence of other family members.
GLLOGOC: On October 10, Serbian border police
in Subotica, arrested Shahin Emin Bardiqi
from Gradica. Ever since, his whereabouts are
unknown.
Prishtina, October 19, 1997 Information Service
The morning of 14 October
of this year was a terrible one for the villagers of Bardhaniq
and Zhabel near Gjakova. According to the evidences
told by the inhabitants, over 130
Serbian policemen, in 3 armoured cars, 6 "citroen"
vans, and a helicopter occupied these
villages. It is worth mentioning that during
the entire action a police helicopter overviewed
the situation. During the nine-hour-long lasting
terrible situation, the villagers were subjected
to barbaric brutality unexperienced ever since
World War II. No one was informed on the
reason of such a behaviour, and no one knew what
was all about. They had no idea that the
terror was perpetrated due to the attack on the
police station of çallapek (20 km far from
Zhabel) in the night between 13 and 14 October.
Raids, arrests, beatings, psychological
torture, traumas, insults on a national basis,
profanation of national symbols and threats were
part of this punitive expedition.
Zhabeli hamlet has 35
households, 33 of them were raided, while the family members of
the other two houses had left before the police
intervention. All of the people were beaten
regardless the age and sex. From 56 persons that
suffered severe body injuries, two persons
i.e. Rrustem Haziri (70) and his son Ukë
Haziri (40) are still in "Isa Grezda" hospital in
Gjakova. Minor injuries suffered 18 villagers.
Not a single inhabitant of Zhabel had escaped
the psychological torture, insults and threats.
Police had demolished furniture, had torn
indices of the University of Prishtina, had drawn
crosses on the walls of the houses, etc.
The following cases
illustrate the free reign violence exerted on Albanian inhabitants of
Zhabel and Bardhaniq.
The gravest case that caused indignation among
the people is the one of the 14-member-
family of Galan Brahimaj in Zhabel:
1. Galan Brahimaj
1953
2. Ajmane Brahimaj
(40)
3. Brahim Brahimaj
(26)
4. Ganimete Brahimaj
(22)
5. Bajram Brahimaj
(20)
6. Servete Brahimaj
(18)
7. Sadete Brahimaj
(15)
8. Bujar Brahimaj
(13)
9. Anije Brahimaj
(13)
10. Bashkim Brahimaj
(11)
11. Vllaznim Brahimaj
(10)
12. Demokrat Brahimaj
(8)
13. Votim Brahimaj
(6)
14. Blerina Brahimaj
1997
A farmer Galan Brahimaj
stated: "At about 7 a.m., 8 armed policemen came and asked me
if I had weapons. I told them that I had a hunting
rifle with permit, which they took and
threw in the yard. After an hour, while I was
working in the yard, over 30 armed policemen
of special units came. I walked towards them
and within seconds they started to hit me with
truncheons, wooden sticks, kicked me, etc. Some
of them entered the house and demolished
everything. They started to beat my sons Brahim
and Bajram. Other children started to cry
and being unable to control themselves, they
found themselves among the policemen, who
locked up the children. From the window, they
could see their father, brothers and sisters
being beaten. The worst thing happened when 10
policemen threatened to cut my head,
asking me what I wanted them to cut first, my
hands, my legs or my head. My 11-year-old
son Vllaznim jumped on my body. Policemen pushed
him. Elder daughters and sons started
to fight with policemen. They beat Bajram and
Brahim until they fainted. Such a terror was
never seen, but we did not give up. They said:
"Why did you give birth to so many children?",
"We will kill you all!", "Where are your weapons?",
"Who had attacked the police station in
çallapek?", "Where are the terrorists?"...
Policemen swore me,
my wife, my daughters, etc. They also hit my wife Ajmane, who
suffered minor injuries, my daughters Ganimete
and Servete, because they tried to rescue me.
After the torture, the policemen demolished my
car in order to prevent us to seek for medical
care in Gjakova. They took me in their armoured
car in the vicinity of my house, and I found
myself among 8 other fellow- villagers beaten
brutally. Then, we were taken to the police
station in Deçan, interrogated, asked
about the way to Jabllanica village, threatened and
insulted. They ordered me to collaborate with
them and gave me the names and phone
numbers to inform them on the events in village.
My 11-year-old son Vllaznim
suffered trauma and I am very concerned about him" Galan
finished his story.
Haziraj family in Zhabel:
This family has 27 members,
5 women and 16 children.
Ali Rrustem Haziri (1953),
after the torture he was subjected to, his upper jaw and five
teeth got broken.
Rrustem Haziri (65)
sought for medical care in hospital. His body was all in bruises.
Ramiz Haziri, tortured
by rifle but and wooden stick, went to hospital.
As Ukë Haziri states,
"at about 9 a.m., 40 policemen surrounded my house, ordered us to
lay on the ground and searched for weapons. As
they failed to find any weapons, the
policemen started to torture the family members.
First, my father Rrustem (65) was tortured
and then my brother Ramiz. They beat us with
rifle buts, wooden stick, fists and kicked us
until we lost our consciousness. My brother Ali
was compelled to ask for medical care at the
hospital of Peja, due to his broken jaw and five
teeth. Other members of Haziri family
suffered different forms of torture.
The family of Malë
Deliaj underwent the police brutal violence. They hit Fatime (25) with
the rifle but on her face.
The police had surrounded and raided the family
of Ndue Ton Dedaj early in the morning.
First, they wanted to know the number of family
members and asked about the guests. They
tied Lush Ukaj (22) from Vogova, working for
Ndue, to the tractor trailer and left him like
that for an hour and a half. Ndue was arrested
and taken to the police station in Deçan, where
he was kept until 4 p.m. He was released on the
condition to report to the police station in
Gjakova at 3 p.m.
Family of Canë Hazir Delija:
As Canë Delija's
sister Sofija states, "the whole village was surrounded by large police
forces. They came at our house at 7 a.m., and
asked Canë about the women. The second
time, over 15 policemen came again and raided
the house. While doing that, police beat
Cana all the time, tore all the books they found,
seized Cana's passport, burnt the national
flag and put the typing-machine in the yard.
Cana was ordered to broke the typing-machine
by stones. The policemen forced Cana to wash
himself in the village brook by saying: "Wash
yourself as you did in Durrës (Albania)".
Cana suffered severe injuries on his face. One of
the policemen ordered the others to stop the
torture. At a moment, Cana told them that it was
better to kill him than torture him in the presence
of his family members. Policemen replied
that he would die, but only after undergoing
all other methods. There were incessant random
shots in order to frighten Cana. All this happened
in the presence of family members, who,
unable to help him, stood terrified watching
the terror. Police beat Qerim Ramadani (60),
guest, with handle of an axe and stepped on his
turf. This terror lasted until 1 p.m.
It should be noted that
during the raids, the police have looted valuable goods.
VIOLENCE IN BARDHANIQ
Bardhaniqi hamlet has 22 houses.
Elez Din Rexhaj stated, "early in the morning,
about 30 armed policemen with armoured cars
surrounded my house. They took us all out and
lined us with our hands up. They raided the
house, asked me where the weapons are and asked
us about the attack on the police station in
çallapek. Shkëlzen Berisha (20),
our guest from çallapek, was beaten and accused for being
one of the terrorists. Police tied up me and
Feim Pangja, a guest, and took us 40 m away.
They beat us all the time until we fainted. Later
on, they took us to Zhabel, beat us brutally
and forced us to sing Serbian songs. Then, they
took us to the police station in Deçan, where
we were subjected to interrogation until 4 p.m.
Elez has bruises on his head, legs and all over
his body, what can be proved by photographs.
Police shot with fire weapons and wounded
the dog. Elez's niece Fatlinda Alia (18), guest
from Gërgoc, was subjected to physical ill-
treatment. She was handcuffed and beaten brutally.
Fatlinda said that police had said bad
words for her mother for giving birth to so many
children, etc. Fatlinda, Shkëlzen and Feim
were taken to the police station in Deçan,
where they were beaten for 3 hours due to what she
had to seek for medical care.
Family of Bajram Malë Rexhepi in Bardhaniq
Bajram states, "police punitive expedition raided
the houses in our hamlet that terrible day
and ill-treated the inhabitants. In my house,
they searched for weapons, took us all out and
beat us, me and my two sons Mala (23) and Muja
(21). Policemen asked us where the
terrorists that had attacked the police station
in çallapek were. I do not have words to
describe what happened, but I can say that such
a terror was seen only during "ethnic
cleansing" in old Serbia.
Family of Sadri Smajl Smajli (61), teacher, Bardhaniq
Smajl Smajli, farmer, said that police had taken
him on his way to school. He had been
subjected to brutal ill-treatment and had suffered
severe injuries due to what he had to seek
for medical care.
CDHRF would like to note that this escalation
of violence was an attempt to frighten the
Albanian population to give up their aspiration
for freedom, as well as pressure to force them
flee their homes. It was not a matter of chance
that ethnic Albanian villages by the border
were chosen. This should be a serious call to
the international community to prevent the
violence in order to avoid a very possible conflict.
Then, preventive measures would have no
meaning.
Prishtina, 21 October 1997
Information Service
______________________________________________________________________
ALBANEWS Site of the Day: "University
of Tetova"
http://www.cc.gatech.edu/people/home/sharri/UTE/UTE.html
______________________________________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ALBANEWS Site of the
Week <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
! K O S O V A STUDENT
PROTESTS '97 http://www.alb-net.com/
!
! Protests Against the Serbian Occupation
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