REPORT NO. 377
ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION
AND HARASSMENT PERPETRATED BY
THE SERBIAN POLICE AND OTHER
AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA FROM
26 OCTOBER UNTIL 2 NOVEMBER 1997
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REPORT NO. 377
ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION AND HARASSMENT PERPETRATED
BY THE SERBIAN POLICE AND OTHER AUTHORITIES
IN KOSOVA FROM
26 OCTOBER, UNTIL 2 NOVEMBER 1997
On 29 October, before, during and after the course
of peaceful students' protests, large police
forces intervened in Peja and Prizren, as well
as in Prishtina and Ferizaj.
PRISHTINA: At about 10.35 a.m., three policemen
went into the premises of the Centre for
the Protection of Women and Children in "Robert
Gajdiku" str., raided them and threatened
to close the Centre. They also threatened Sevdie
Ahmeti, person-in-charge, and searched for
her camera. Rexhep H. Gjokaj (1971) from the
village of Tërstenik near Gllogovc was
subjected to physical ill-treatment and suffered
injuries on the pretext that he had come to
participate in the protest. After the protest,
three policemen stopped Lulzim and Fatmir
Zeqiri from the village of Goshica near Vitia,
students at the Faculty of Law, took them in
the basement of "9 Maji" Primary School and ill-treated
them until Fatmir fainted. Two
armed policemen went into the premises of Albanian
daily "Koha Ditore" and checked the
identities of Richard Huckaby, director at the
United States Information Service in Prishtina,
Nicollas Hill, Second Secretary at the US Embassy
in Belgrade, and Ylber Hysa, editor-in-
chief. The policemen asked for Americans' passports.
Then, they left without any
explanation for their intervention. In the meantime,
Fisnik Abrashi, journalist of "Koha
Ditore", was stopped, too. He and the team of
Belgrade TV Channel B-92 taped the
withdrawal of police.
PEJA: Early in the morning, large police forces
blocked the town and checked the identities
of, provoked and ill-treated Albanian citizens.
At 9.50 a.m., police intervened in the
Economic High School, broke and demolished the
premises, physically ill-treated and
arrested: Ali Sylçja, Sali Imami, Edmond
Beqiri, Ibrahim Berisha, professors; Shaban
Maloku, Gëzim Latifi, administrative workers;
students: Lundrim Kryeziu from the village
of Bubavec near Malisheva, Luan Morina from Malisheva,
Arben Shala from Suhareka,
Agron and Arsim Hakaj from Istog, and Selman
Qakaj. The physically ill-treated students
are: Bujar Krasniqi, chairman of Students' Independent
Union of the Economic High School,
suffered grave injuries; Vinet Bërbati (1977),
"N. Basha" str.; Lulzim Rama (1979) from the
village of Bllagaja; Isa Desku (1977) from Klina;
Agron Svërka (1977) from the village of
Kërrnica near Klina; Arben Shkreli from
the village of Treboviq; Luan Elshani from the
village of Ozdrim; Jeton Osmani (1976) from the
village of Kaliçan near Istog; Veli Krasniqi
from the village of Carralluka near Malisheva;
Fetah U. Berisha, Shkëlzen Z. Berisha and
Artan M. Berisha from the village of çallapek;
Bekim Halitaj (18) from the village of
Novosella; Florim Nikçi from the village
of Vitomirica; Fehmi Kelmendi (1977) from the
village of Grabovc; Selman Kuçi (1976)
from the village of Lutogllava; Arsim Bërdynaj
from Novosella; Ardian B. Mulaj from Isniq near
Deçan suffered injuries and Liman T.
Baleci (17) from Grabanica, pupil of secondary
school in Klina. The following citizens were
subjected to physical ill-treatment: Ragip Dërgut
Krasniqi (1969) from the village of Drenoc
near Klina, principal of "Isa Boletini" Primary
School; Lulzim H. Kuçi from the village of
Junik near Deçan, driver; Gazmend Sylejmani
from the village of Leshan, passenger; Nazmi
Latifi (33) and Miftar Berisha (25), "Kristal"
quarter; Sami Q. Zogaj (1976) from the village
of Kaliçan near Istog; Malë Berisha
(40) from the village of Staradran near Istog; Agim B.
Mustafaj (1980) from the village of Haxhaj; Remzi
S. Hasanaj from the village of
Lutogllava; Luan R. Haradini (25) from the village
of Leshan; Skënder Krasniqi from the
village of Vranoc and Ramë Gashi from the
village of Buçan, an LDK activist. At the bus
station, two policemen physically ill-treated
Adem Hajriz Kuçaj (70) from the village of
Studenica near Istog and took him to the police
station and then to the District Court. He
was sentenced to a term of 60 days imprisonment
for allegedly insulting the policemen. In
the outskirts of Peja, police stopped the bus
of "Try-tours" and ill-treated Gazmend
Sylejmani from the village of Leshan. PRIZREN:
After the peaceful protest, in the premises
of "Luçiano Matroni" Medical School in
"7 Shtatori" quarter, police physically ill-treated the
pupils of this school: Bedri Bytyçi (1981),
Abdullah Shala (1978) from the village of
Hatmagja and Qemajl Thaçi (1979) from
the village of Betia near Rahovec, and tore their
IDs. Merita Tola (1979) and Albana Plakiqi (1980)
from the village of Dushanova,
"Migjeni" str.3, were provoked and verbally assaulted.
Lulzim Baraliu from the village of
Bukosh near Suhareka, student at "Xhevdet Doda"
Pedagogical High School and Urim
Kabashi (1978), pupil of "Luçiano Matroni"
Medical School, "Mostari" str., were subjected
to physical ill-treatment.
FERIZAJ: Early in the morning, police stopped
the buses that were travelling to Prishtina
and took out the students. Large police forces
interrupted the peaceful protest 15 minutes
before it ended. They checked the identities
of: Ragip Buça (1957), who was taking his son
to the doctor and his ID was seized; Abaz Asllani
(1961), his ID and driving licence were
seized; Veli Jerliu MA, professor at Technical
High Scool in Ferizaj, was ordered not to
come to Ferizaj to organize the protest. Police
checked the identities of, physically ill-treated
and arrested the following students: Rexhep Maliqi
(1973) from the village of Softaj, Florim
Zeqiri from Shtimje, Agron Azemi (1973) from
the village of Sllatina near Vitia, Bejtush
Bajrami (1978) from the village of Tërpeza
near Vitia, Agron Reçica (1979) from the village
of Manastirci.
GJILAN: After the peaceful protest, Dr. Faik
Shkodra (1944), professor at
"Skënderbeu" Pedagogical High School, chairman
of Organizational Council of the protest
at the school, "Ramiz Sadiku" str.11/7, was taken
for "informative talks". He was subjected
to interrogation on the peaceful protests.
26 OCTOBER:
PRISHTINA: Two policemen stopped and provoked
Skender Fetahu (1978) from the village
of Guri i Kuq near Rahovec, student at the Faculty
of Natural Sciences.
27 OCTOBER:
PRISHTINA: The legal proceedings against 19 Albanians
charged for "terrorism" began at
the Serbian Run District Court in Prishtina.
As members of Kosova Liberation Army were
indicted: Nait Hasani, Agron Tolaj, Arif Vokshi,
Hasan Zeneli, Alban Neziri, Agim Makolli,
Asllan Selimi, Eqrem Kastrati, Isak Shabani,
Bislim Zogaj, Ilir Gashi, Ali Gjyliqi, Demir
Limaj, Agim Hulaj, Selim Lokaj, Hajdin Rama,
Nezir Zogaj, Qerim Kelmendi and Hamzë
Pangjaj (the last two are tried in absentia).
Indictment includes the names of Adrian
Krasniqi, killed by Serbian police on 16 October
in the village of Kliçina near Peja, and
Januz Zeneli, who died due to the police torture
in the Central Hospital in Belgrade. Due to
the lawyers' objections, the legal proceedings
was postponed for 3 November.
SUHAREKA: Bajram Xhemajl Qatani from the village
of Duhla had been summoned for
weapons from 13 to 15 November at the police
station in Suhareka, where he was subjected
to psychological ill-treatment. He and his son
Naim were summoned again to the police
station and were physically ill-treated by a
policeman called Bektesh. They were released on
condition to report again on 30 October.
MITROVICA: Two policemen searched for weapons
at the house of Sejdi Abedin Beka (56)
from the village of Kçiç i Madh.
Police had also asked for weapons from his son Mexhit
(36), who was physically ill- treated.
VUSHTRRI: Some security inspectors from Vushtrri
intervened in the premises of "Gjergj
Kastrioti Skënderbeu" Primary School in
the village of Pantina and raided the office of
principal Mexhit Rexha, seized the school seal
and took Mexhit for "informative talks".
DEçAN: Shpend Hasaj, advisor of the District
Educational Council in Deçan, was taken for
"informative talks" regarding the work of the
Council, the students' peaceful protests,
political parties and solution of Kosova issue.
PEJA: Halil S. Dizdari (1958), "Sylejman Vokshi"
str.5, was summoned for "informative
talks" and interrogated on the whereabouts of
Kelmendi brothers from the village of
Bllagaja. He was ordered to report again on 30
and 31 October. Ragip R. Aliu from the
village of Nabërgjan, teacher at "Ali Kelmendi"
Primary School, was summoned for
"informative talks" regarding work at school.
28 OCTOBER:
MITROVICA: At the "Eximfasa" gas station in the
vicinity of the Sitnica bridge,
plainclothed policeman called Dejan Rakiq from
the village of Frashër, entered the car of
Behxhet Asllan Peci (34) from the village of
Rahova and ordered him to go to Frashër.
When Behxhet refused to do so, the policeman
physically ill-treated him and forced him to
take him there. He took his uniform and returned
to the bus station in Mitrovica. Police
stopped and checked the identity of çerkin
Rrahim Ibishi (50), journalist from Mitrovica,
living in "Bair" quarter, found his press card
and ordered him not to write on this case.
PEJA: Naser Husaj, chairman of the National Front
Party, previously sentenced to 5 years'
imprisonment by the Serbian regime, who is serving
the prison sentence in Dubrava jail, was
summoned time and again for informative talks
and was threatened to waive the politics,
otherwise his son would be castrated and would
be subject of interrogation on permanent
basis. Tahir Shala from the village of Loxha,
an LDK activist, was summoned to the Security
Centre in Peja and interrogated on the political
activity in village and organization of the
students' protests.
PRIZREN: Accompanied by more than 20 policemen
and inspectors, civil engineering
employees brought down the drug store "Opoja-
pharm", owned by Xheladin Asllani.
According to the owner, their aim was to destroy
the competitiveness. This due to the fact
that nearby this drug store is another one owned
by the daughter of Petar Kostiq, compulsory
director of the Kosova GE and member of the Central
Board of the Socialist Party of Serbia.
KAMENICA: Two security inspectors, Naser Shevelli
and another one, stopped Ramadan
Kastrati (1958), secretary of the District Financial
Council, and interrogated him on the
activity of the Council and of Bajram Demaku,
chairman, and Rexhije Canaj, cashier.
DEçAN: Some 20 policemen intervened in
the villages of Strellc i Epërm, Isniq, Prejle, etc.
Many Albanian citizens were ill-treated and arrested.
In a tea-shop in the village of Lëbush,
the following persons were physically ill-treated:
Enver, Bajram, Brahim, Hasan and Shefqet
Kameraj; Naim and Ali Sadikaj; Tahir Tafilaj
and Musë Imeraj. Enver, Bajram and Brahim
were arrested and sent to the Security Centre
in Peja. Bajram fainted several times and now
is under medical care.
29 OCTOBER:
SKëNDERAJ: During the last two days, 3 lorries
carrying the documentation of the District
Court for Petty-Offences in Skënderaj went
towards an unknown direction. Police stationed
in the vicinity of the road connecting Skënderaj
and Gllogoc, without any pretext severely
ill-treated the following passers-by: Xhemail
Shaqiri (1965), merchant from the village of
Tushila, Enver Nuredini (1957), merchant from
Klina e Poshtme, Islam Durmishi (1963),
worker from Rakinica, as well as Feriz and Abdullah
Veliqi from Skënderaj.
MALISHEVA: Fiscal police in Malisheva seized
Januz Krasniqi's and Demush Vrenezi's
cabs. This was done on the pretext that they
did not pay taxes to the district authorities.
VUSHTRRI: A police patrol in the village of Dumnica
e Poshtme, searched for Mustafë H.
Rexha, who is currently living abroad. In his
absence police arrested his brother Rexhë
Rexha.
MITROVICA: Policeman Ratko Antonijeviq, entered
the "Blini" tea shop and ordered
Abedin Brahimi, its owner, to close it.
DEçAN: Police stopped and in the presence
of pupils severely ill- treated Bajram Bajraktari,
teacher at the "Vëllezërit Frashëri"
Secondary School. He suffered injuries on his head and
legs.
30 OCTOBER:
MITROVICA: Some 20 policemen in the vicinity of
the bus station raided the "Gërmova"
restaurant owned by Hajrullah Isufi; "Malësorja"
restaurant - Bajram Jahaj; "Besniku" tea-
shop - Enver Rexha; "Luani" - Bilall Kutllovci;
"Selaci" - Sabit Maloku; "Blini" - Abedin
Brahimi; "Egzoni" - Lumni Gjaka; and "Burimi"
owned by Haxhi Nimani. They checked the
identities of Kasim Bardhec Osmani (35) and Ragip
Ahmet Hasani (49), living in the
"Tavnik" quarter, teacher at the "Migjeni" Primary
School; Gani Hamëz Hasani (43) and
Behram Shaban Behrami (46) from the village of
Broboniq; Xheladin Arif Ahmeti (42) and
Faik Kadri Dobreva (35), "Tavnik" quarter; Sabit
Osman Milaku (38), "Bair" quarter and
Hasan Bajrush Dërvari (41), teacher at the
"Arkitekt Sinani" Technical Secondary School
and member of the chairmanship of the Sub-CDHRF
in Mitrovica. VUSHTRRI: On 21, 22
and 23 October, police raided the house of Nexhmie
Bunjaku, living in "Maqedonia" str.
102. During the raid police demolished furniture
and insulted her on a national basis. She
was ill-treated physically. On 28 and 30 October,
police raided coffee shops and checked the
identity of those present.
PRIZREN: Mr. Muhamet Topalli, professor of the
"Xhevdet Doda" Pedagogical High
School in Prizren, living in "Lekë Dukagjini"
quarter 47, was taken for informative talks. He
was interrogated on the organization of the protests
of 1 and 29 October, on the activity of
the Forum of Albanian Intellectuals, etc.
PRISHTINA: Police went to the house of Mehmet
Aliu, "Kodra e Trimave" quarter, in
search of his brother Ahmet, who is currently
living abroad.
FERIZAJ: Police raided the house of Hajrush Avdyli
(1944), pensioner, former policeman
and LDK activist. After the raid he was sent
to the police station and interrogated on the
students' protests. He was ill-treated physically.
31 OCTOBER:
PRISHTINA: According to the Daily Report of KIC
armed gangs from Albania continue to
kill and loot villagers in the district of Gjakova.
During the last few days the situation was
especially grave in the villages of Molliq, Koshare,
Brovinë, Nivokaz and Botushë. Afrim H.
Zenuni from the village of Kosharja was killed
while defending his property. Serbian
authorities are not undertaking any measures
in order to defend the villagers. Instead of this,
Serbian police is raiding Albanian houses in
search for weapons. Many are being ill-treated.
Similar was the case in the villages of Zhabel
and Bardhaniq. 5 Serbian pupils of the "Hasan
Prishtina" Primary School severely ill-treated
Vigan Vërshevci (10), living in "Ulpiana"
quarter A/3 II/5. He suffered injuries on his
head and nose. Due to injuries suffered he had to
be hospitalized.
1 NOVEMBER:
DEçAN: Large police forces, accompanied
with armoured cars, surrounded and raided the
house of Xhafer H. Mazrekaj in the village of
Voksh. Police demolished house furniture.
The following members of this family were arrested:
Isuf (55), Hysen (32), Binak (28),
teacher, Rasim (27), student, Cana (20), student,
Hysnija (18), and Sadik pupils. The pretext
for the raid is unknown.
PEJA: Police blocked all roads to the old bazaar,
checked the identity, severely ill-treated
and arrested many citizens. Among those ill-treated
were Hysni Mulaj, teacher from Deçan,
member of the chairmanship of the branch of the
Albanian Demo-Christian Party in Deçan
and Fidel Ali Krasniqi from Peja.
DELAYED INFORMATION:
PRISHTINA: On 1 October, during the police intervention
against the peaceful protesters,
the following were physically ill-treated: Azem
Muharrem Bilalli (34), from the village of
Metergofc near Podujeva and Ardian Gani Foniqi,
student from the village of Zajm near
Klina. On October 1, in the vicinity of the TVP
building, police physically ill-treated Jashar
Kaçiu (1960), physician, living in "Durmitori"
str. 11/a. On 23 October, police raided his
house in search of his brother, Murat, who is
currently living
abroad. On 21 October, a group of Serb hooligans,
pupils of the "Hasan Prishtina" Primary
School, physically ill-treated Altin Alihajdari,
pupil of the "Faik Konica" Primary School,
living in the "Kodra e Diellit" quarter, str.
II. He suffered injuries on his head, nose and left
eye.
PODUJEVA: On 16 October, police in search for
weapons raided the house of Sabri Havolli
(57). He was taken some 200 m. from his house
and was severely ill-treated. On 23 October,
Safet Zeqiri (1956) from the village of Kalatica,
was taken for informative talks to the local
police station in Orllan due to his participation
in the protests of 1 October. On 23 October,
fiscal police looted large amounts of oil, tobacco,
and gasoline in private shops in the
ownership of Albanians.
KLINA: On 1 October, Naser Kalludra (25) from
the village of Gremnik, owner of the
"Benita Commerce" enterprise was stopped by police
and accused of transporting Albanian
pupils, who participated in the protests. In
the outskirts of Peja he was forced to buy food to
the policemen. In Gjakova his bus was sent to
technical checking. On 9 October, his state
plates were seized under the pretext that his
bus was overcrowded.
On 10 October, police in search for weapons raided
the house of Nikollë Gjergj Gjergji
(1962), from the village of Krusheva e Vogël.
Nikolla and his father Gjergj (65) were
arrested, handcuffed to a radiator and ill-treated
physically by two policemen named Zharko
and Millosheviq. Police seized his passport.
On 16 October, police checked the identity of
Vilson Nikollë Culaj (1973), student from
Klina and Gjon Ndrecaj (1973) from the village
of Krusheva e Madhe. The two were provoked and
threatened. In the village of Mirusha e
Malisheves, 6 policemen from Rahovec, physically
ill- treated Aziz A. Dakaj (1980) and
Mehmet M. Ukaj (1981) from the village of Cerovik
near Klina. The two were going to the
market in Malisheva.
FERIZAJ: On 10 October, Arif Shahini, member
of the District Government in Ferizaj was
summoned for informative talks and interrogated
on his activities, on the students' protests
and protest walks in the town promenade. On 15
October, Sali Ukësmajli (1953) was
arrested while gathering wood in the vicinity
of the military barracks and sent to the police.
He was physically ill- treated. On 18 October,
police in search for weapons raided the house
of Azem Selmani from the village of Sazlia. He
was summoned to the local police station on
19 and 20 October and ordered to report again.
On 22 October, Agron Abdyli, a person
recently repatriated from Germany, was taken
for informative talks regarding his stay in
Germany. On 23 October, Osman Ukiqi, LDK activist,
was summoned for informative talks
regarding weapons and was interrogated on his
activity as well as that of the LDK. On 24
October, Jonuz Rexhepi, vice-principal of the
"Gjon Sereçi" Primary School was summoned
for informative talks.
GLLOGOC: On 17 October, some 30 policemen stationed
in the village of Morina, stopped,
insulted, threatened, and physically ill- treated
Halim B. Goshani (1953), driver from the
village of Tërstenik. He was ill-treated
due to the fact that he served the military service in
Slovenia.
DEçAN: On 20 October, Arben Dervish çekaj,
from the village of Irzniq, was taken for
informative talks to the local police station
in Deçan and was interrogated about his brothers
who are currently living abroad. He was also
interrogated on his activity and the activity of
his relatives.
SHTIME: On 20 October, a policeman and two Serbian
civilians in Prishtina, provoked
Sabri Veliu (1963) from Shtimja. He was insulted
on a national basis due to the fact that he
did not speak any Serbian.
VUSHTRRI: On 22 October, a police patrol searched
for Mustafë Hajriz Rexha in the
village of Dumnica e Poshtme. As he is currently
living in Germany, police detained his
wife, brother and father. They were threatened
to be kept at the police station as long as
Mustafa does not report there. On 24 October,
police searched for Raif Sadik Hyseni (1964)
from the village of Begaj, who is currently living
in Germany.
GJAKOVA: On 24 October, Selim Kasumaj from the
village of Skivjan, activist of the LDK,
was taken for weapons to the local police station
in Gjakova and was interrogated on the
activity of the LDK as well as on his attitude
towards the students' protests. He was
physically ill-treated and ordered to report
again on 27 October. On 25 October, Gjergj
Sokoli, member of the District Financial Council
and member of the chairmanship of the
LDK branch in Gjakova, was taken for informative
talks regarding weapons.
Prishtina, 2 November, 1997 Information Service
senden