REPORT
NO. 388
ON
THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION
AND
HARASSMENT PERPETRATED
BY THE SERBIAN POLICE AND
OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA
FROM 11 JANUARY
UNTIL
18 JANUARY 1998
REPORT NO. 388
ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION AND HARASSMENT PERPETRATED
BY
THE SERBIAN POLICE AND OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA
FROM JANUARY 11, UNTIL JANUARY 18, 1998
On Thursday, January 14, 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. On Saturday,
he died of the wounds suffered. According to
the family of the deceased Ali was shot in the
stomach.
On January 12, at about 5.30 a.m., 2 uniformed
persons armed with hand guns and
bombs kidnapped Remzi Reçica (51) from
Prishtina, living in "Kurrizi" quarter, 5/14. Remzi
was handcuffed, blindfolded, forced into a car
and taken to an unknown direction. The very
same night his family was phoned and told in
Serbian to search for his body in the lake of
Badovc. Later on, they were told that he is still
alive. In the meantime, Remzi was tortured
and taken to his old house. 21.400 DM were taken
from him, he was tied and taken to a
cottage in the forest. He was given injections
and a cross was drawn on his chest with a
nail. After 5 days, he succeeded to escape.
Gani Haxhi Thaçi from Broja near
Skënderaj was arrested on September 30, 1997.
His whereabouts were unknown until October 18.
He was indicted for "subversive activity",
"terrorism" and "endangering of the territorial
integrity" pursuant to article 136, 125 and 116
of the Penal Code of FRY. On January 16, in the
Serbian Run District Court in Mitrovica,
he was sentenced to a prison term of 3 years
"for arm possession without permit". Due to
lack of evidence, he was quitted from other charges.
JANUARY 11:
PRISHTINA: In the vicinity of the District
Court, 2 policemen stopped the students
Vehbi Lipaj (1972) from Banja near Peja and Valdet
Bicaj (1969) from Vrella near Istog.
The 2 were physically ill-treated, insulted on
a moral and national basis. Vehbi was
threatened with liquidation.
Police arrested Abdullah Haliti (1971), "Hasan
Prishtina" st. 53. After being physically ill-
treated, he was duly released.
In the vicinity of the post office, 2 policemen
stopped, checked the identity of, and severely
ill-treated Exhevit Ymeri (23), a student of
Electronics. Due to injuries suffered, he had to
seek for medical help.
MITROVICA: Four Serbian children drew a
cross on the front door of Hysni Nail Syla's
(48) flat, "Ibri" quarter 172/17. Three children
were guests from Prishtina, whereas the
fourth one is Ranko's son, Hysni's neighbour.
Hysni's family is the only Albanian family in
this building.
SUHAREKA: Police in Prishtina, stopped
and checked the identity of Shaban Ahmetaj
(1972) from Sallagrazhda, student of Economics.
He was taken to a basement,
interrogated on the protests of December 30,
provoked, his index was torn and he was
physically ill-treated.
DEÇAN: 3 plainclothed inspectors
of the State Security stopped Veton Ramadan
Dukaj and Fatos Hysen Mazrekaj, students from
Drenoc, at the bus station in Prishtina.
They were taken to the police office, interrogated
and a certain amount of hard currency
was looted from them.
SKëNDERAJ: Moma Petrovic from Kotor,
physically ill-treated Labinot Hajrizi (11). He
also threatened Labinot's uncle, Xheladin (1960).
Police in Gazivoda stopped Elsadat Spahiu from
the village of Llausha, who is temporarily
working in Italy. He was severely ill-treated.
Due to injuries suffered, he had to be
hospitalized in Italy.
SHTIME: After last night's shooting, some
20-30 policemen stopped and checked the
identities of passers-by. According to certain
information, the local police commander
recommended Serbian civilians to carry weapons
and to be ready to act just in case.
JANUARY 12:
GLLOGOC: Sejdi Muja (1950), a forest ranger
from Gradica, a collaborator of the
Serbian regime was killed under unknown circumstances.
Police searched for Avni Karaxha (1974) from
Çikatova e Vjetër, journalist of the "Koha
Ditore" daily. As he was not there, a summon
was left to him to report to the local police
station in Gllogoc.
PRISHTINA: 5 policemen in search of Ardian
and Armend Selimi, who are currently
living abroad, intervened in the flat of Nehat
Selimi, "Bregu i Diellit" quarter, VI/I 10.
RAHOVEC: A police squad in search for weapons
raided the houses of Nazim Gashi,
Xhavit Gashi and Florim Kabashi in the village
of Zoqishta. The householders were
physically ill-treated and ordered to report
to the police the next day.
SKëNDERAJ: Policemen in the village
of Runik stopped and checked the identities of
many passers-by. They raided the house of Kadri
S. Spahiu.
BELGRADE: The "Blic" daily writes that
the Albanians are leaving their ethnic
territories in the District of Medvegja and are
moving to Kosova.
JANUARY 13:
MITROVICA: In the vicinity of the green
market, police checked the identities of,
raided and arrested many passers-by. 180 DM and
580 Dinars were taken from Blerim Ali
Mehana (35) from the village of Akrashtica near
Vushtrria. The very same policemen
stopped and checked the identity of Fatmir Ajet
Hagja (21) from Prekaz i Epërm near
Skënderaj, living in "Tavnik" quarter. 3
policemen in the vicinity of the "Teferiç" tea shop
stopped and checked the identity of Ismet Mahmut
Ademi (34) from Vllahia, living in "Ibri"
quarter 19/7. 1310 DIN were taken from him.
PRIZREN: In the vicinity of the bus station
in Lubizhda, 3 armed Serbian civilians
stopped Sami Vehapi (1973), a student of the
"Xhevdet Doda" Pedagogical High School in
Prizren. He was forced into a car, insulted,
severely ill-treated, and threatened with
liquidation. Sami suffered many body injuries.
KLINA: On January 2, Ilir R. Merturi (1970)
was stopped, his identity was checked and
he was sent to the police station. He was severely
ill-treated and suffered many injuries on
his head and other parts of the body. On January
13, he was once again severely ill-
treated by a policeman named Çullafiq.
SKëNDERAJ: Abedin Geci (1962), a jurist,
and Bekim Geci (1978) from the village of
Llausha, were stopped and their identities were
checked by policemen in Prishtina. They
were arrested and sent to the police station,
where they were interrogated, insulted and
threatened for 22 hours.
JANUARY 14:
PEJA: A policeman and a Serbian civilian
stopped Sahit Gashi (1974), a student from
Barani i Epërm. He was physically ill-treated
and threatened.
GJILAN: Halim Huruglica (1957) from the
village of Dobërçan, teacher of the "Nazim
Hikmet" Primary School and activist of the LDK,
was summoned for informative talks to
the police station in Gjilan and interrogated
on the activity of the LDK and on the
forthcoming parliamentary and presidential elections
in Kosova.
MITROVICA: On January 9, 11 and 14, some
50 policemen in the vicinity of Zhazha
held manoeuvres, disturbing the neighbouring
villagers.
PRISHTINA: Josip Ivanoviq, a Croat, a consultant
in the district of Janjeva, declared
to the "Dnevni Telegraf" daily that the Croats
from Janjeva did not flee to Croatia due to
pressure. He stated that some 2.500 Croats fled
this region and that some 150 houses are
vacant. Vlado Dimiq, a Serb, district mayor,
declared that all Albanians who have bought
Croat property will be punished.
JANUARY 15:
PEJA: Policemen in Kliçina, arrested
Mustafë (1950) and Demush Jup Shala (1944),
farmers from the village of Tërstenik. The
two were sent to the police station in Klina,
interrogated regarding weapons, severely ill-treated
and ordered to report to the Security
Centre in Peja. After being kept at the police
station for an hour, the two were released.
PRISHTINA: In downtown Prishtina, three
Serbians physically ill-treated Xhavit Morina
(1974), a student from Rogova near Gjakova.
JANUARY 16:
DEÇAN: Installed authorities have
started demanding from Albanians certificates that
they have participated in the Serbian elections
in order to get their IDs. Among those that
were subjected to such a procedure was Hasim
Cacaj, a student.
PEJA: Six workers of "Bratstvo" Enterprise
removed the bars from the windows of the
"Haxhi Zeka Mill" and took certain valuables.
This building was built by Haxhi Zeka, a
prominent Albanian patriot, founder and chairman
of "Besa-Besë" Albanian League in
Peja, in Nineteenth century. Due to its architectural
values, it was qualified as a cultural
and historical monument of great importance.
HANI I ELEZIT: Two policemen in search
of Elhami Hasallari went to the house of his
brother Zylbehar, chairman of the LDK branch
in Hani i Elezit. Elhami was taken to the
police station regarding a gun. He was released
on condition to hand in the weapon. His
passport was seized and he was ordered to report
again.
JANUARY 17:
MITROVICA: In the vicinity of "Qendra" tea
shop, three policemen stopped and
checked the identity of Shaqir Vesel Kajtazi
(47) from the village of Broboniq. The
policemen also searched for his brother Ramadan,
who had been summoned to the police
station regarding weapons and had been ill-treated
several times.
FERIZAJ: On January 15, at about 12.50,
two unidentified persons kidnapped Bajram
Shehu (1960) from Grema, a former political prisoner,
temporarily employed in
Switzerland. The next day, Bajram called a friend
of his saying that he was OK.
Regardless of the attempts of his family, his
whereabouts remain unknown.
PRISHTINA: During the last few days police
is holding manoeuvres in the vicinity of
Hajvalia. Such manoeuvres are also being held
at the place called "Mulliri i Dulahut" in the
vicinity of the villages of Mramuer and Slivova.
BElGRADE: "Dnevni Telegraf" daily informs
that Serbian Interior authorities are
issuing old passports to minorities. In these
passports, the citizenship is not indicated. This
is done in order to encourage the minorities
to leave the country and hinder their return to
their country of origin.
DELAYED INFORMATION:
PRIZREN: On Saturday, January 10, at about
3 p.m., in the village of Karashëngjergj
near Has, armed bands from Albania killed Dedë
Zef Kajtazi (1951). The crime took place
at the spot called "Ara e Gjinit" as the victim
tried to prevent the bandits from looting the
cattle of his uncle Martin Kajtazi.
PEJA: On December 28, in Gjakova, and on
January 8, in Peja, Gani Imer Hoxha
(1962) from Llozhana near Peja, a waiter at the
"Pashtriku" hotel in Gjakova, was
detained. He was interrogated regarding "KLO".
He was released on condition to report
again on January 20.
OBILIQ: On December 29, 5 policemen searched
for Sabri Mjekiqi (1961) from
Shipitulla, who is currently living abroad.
On January 6, a group of Serbian youngsters paraded
through the village of Raskova.
They shot at random and provoked Albanians.
PRISHTINA: On December 30, during the students'
peaceful protests for the release
of school and university facilities, Mehmet Gashi
(1978), a student from the village of
Sibovc near Obiliq, was physically ill-treated.
On January 10, some 30 policemen stopped the
bus travelling to Peja and took its driver
Shaban Spanca (1954) from the village of Prugovc
near Prishtina, and his co-driver Sinan
Kuçaj (1957) from Vitia, to the police
station in Kliçina, where they were severely ill-treated,
insulted on a moral and national basis. Shaban
had a rib broken, whereas Sinan suffered
injuries on his head, ribs and right leg.
KLINA: On December 30, Ndue Gjergjaj (1960)
from Paskalica, temporarily working in
Germany, was travelling home. As his van broke
down, Dragan Pavlovic from Vllashka
approached him introducing himself as a mechanic.
Ndue took his van to Dragan's
workshop and left home. When he went to take
his van back, Dragan told him that he had
sold it and threatened him with a gun.
SKëNDERAJ: On January 6, police stopped
and checked the identities of Vehbi
Zyhrani from Llausha and Jahir Elshani from Krajkova,
who are currently living in Holland.
The two were severely ill-treated and threatened
with liquidation.
KAMENICA: On January 7, Rrahim J. Beqiri
(1957) from Kopernica, was taken for
weapons to the police station in Kamenica. As
he did not have any he was released but
ordered to report again on January 13.
GLLOGOC: On January 7, police stopped Rexhep
Rexhepi (1964), a merchant and
Shinasi Rexhepi (1969) a worker - both from the
village of Korrotica e Poshtme. Their
identities were checked and they were sent to
the local police station. They were physically
ill-treated and suffered many body injuries.
DEÇAN: On January 9, in the vicinity
of the border with Albania, two armed persons
wearing masks kidnapped Fadil Halil Maloku (1977)
from Gjocaj and Xhafer Ali Krasniqi
(1965) from Junik. They looted a saw, a watch,
DM 50 and some family photographs from
Fadil. Both of them were taken towards the border,
where Xhafer was released on the
condition to bring DM 2000 in order to release
Fadil. When Xhafer and some family
members brought the money, the looters had escaped
and released Fadil. Serbian police
did not undertake any measures.
FERIZAJ: On January 9, during the police
manoeuvres in Balaj, Imrane Salihu (30),
mother of two, was wounded while she was cleaning
the yard and was taken to the
Prishtina Hospital.
On January 10, at the Prishtina airport in Sllatina,
police physically ill-treated brothers Hyzri
and Hasan Sejdiu from Ferizaj, while they were
waiting for the plane to Switzerland. Due to
injuries suffered, they had to seek medical care.
MITROVICA: On January 10, ten policemen
in search for Teuta Hamiti (32), who is
currently living in Switzerland, went to the
house of her father Bislim Ramë Hamiti (61).
Prishtina, January 18, 1998 Information Service
senden