REPORT NO. 
         ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION
         AND HARASSMENT PERPETRATED
           BY THE SERBIAN POLICE AND
           OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA
           FROM  18 JANUARY
           UNTIL  25 JANUARY 1998

REPORT NO. 389

ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION AND HARASSMENT PERPETRATED
BY THE SERBIAN POLICE AND OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA
FROM 18 JANUARY UNTIL 25 JANUARY 1998

 The provocation of Serbian regime towards the Albanian population in Kosova is
continuing with grave consequences. Namely,on 22 January, at about 5.15 a.m., large
police and military forces, based in the yard of ammunition factory in Skënderaj, attacked
the family of Shaban Murat Jashari (72) from the village of Prekaz i Poshtëm. Due to this,
Iliriana Rifat Jashari (26) and Selvete Hamzë Jashari (20) got wounded, whereas
Shaban's house was completely destroyed. The attack lasted until 6 a.m. The night
before, the Jasharaj quarter had run out of electricity and phones had been disconnected.
According to some witnesses, Zhelko Razhnatovic-Arkan and captain Dragan, war
criminals, were seen in Zveçan near Mitrovica the very same night.
 In the outskirts of Klina e Poshtme, police and military forces while withdrawing killed
Hysen Nezir Manxholli (52) from Mikushnica, father of 7, guardian at the "Produkt" Roof-
Tiles Factory in Skënderaj, who was on his way to work. Police and military forces were
situated in the yard of ammunition factory in Skënderaj. At about 2.30 p.m., a police van
with a cannon of small calibre came from Komoran and was situated in the yard of police
station in Gllogoc. Police provoked the passengers geeting off the train.
 On 23 January, large police and military forces left for Skënderaj. At about 10 a.m.,
military forces from Sllatina near Prishtina left for Drenica. About 300 policemen were in
high alert in front of the police station in Skënderaj. In the afternoon, a helicopter flying
over the villages of Runika and Broja was seen.
 Tense situation was in other districts of Kosova, especially in Klina, Deçan, Vushtrri,
etc.
 On 23 January, in Jashanica near Klina, Desko Vasic (45), a private enterprenuer,
chairman of the Executive Council of the District Assembly in Zveçan, was found dead in a
"Mercedes" car with registration of Mitrovica. This mysterious murder served as a pretext
for the arrest of 6 Albanians. "Beta" Agency, based on the sources of the District Court of
Mitrovica, informs that Vasic was killed by members of KLA "as a revenge to the police
intervention in Prekaz which resulted with the death of an Albanian and the wounding of 2
Albanian females". In the meantime, police have stated that "they did not intervene in the
yesterday's incident in Kosova".

18 JANUARY:

 PRIZREN: Police searched for weapons at the house of Sheremet Kryeziu in
Dushanova and took him for "informative talks". He was interrogated on the whereabouts
of his brother Ismet, who has been currently living in Albania since 1991. Sheremet was
asked on the whereabouts of Ismet's friends and was ordered to hand in a revolver. If he
did not possess any weapon, he should buy one to hand it in.
 PODUJEVA: Three policemen physically ill-treated Fadil Halimi, journalist of daily
"Bujku", while he was reporting for the paper from the "Malësorja" cafe-shop. He was
interrogated on his job and the activity of the LDK, as they found some LDK reports with
him.
 KLINA: In Gazivoda near Mitrovica, police arrested Bashkim I. Raci and his brother,
who were on their way home from Ulqin. Bashkim was taken to the police station in Peja
and he is still there.

19 JANUARY:

 MITROVICA: Compulsory principals of Primary Schools "Muharrem Bekteshi" and
"Nonda Bulka" prevented the Albanian pupils from conducting their lessons. Andrija
Vukmanovic, compulsory principal of "Ismail Qemali" Primary School, tried hard to prevent
Albanians from conducting their lessons, yet he failed. Military authorities have been
delivering summons for drafting to the Albanian youngsters. Such summons were
delivered to Mehmet Mujë Gjinovci (16), Heset Halil Gjinovci (16) and Shefqet Brahim Hoti
(16), inhabitants of "Tavnik" quarter.
 PRIZREN: Compulsory principals of Primary Schools: "Motrat Qiriazi", "Mati Logoreci",
"Emin Duraku" and "Mustafa Bakia" prevented the Albanians from conducting their
lessons. Three policemen raided the house of Liman Avdi Duraj and left him an order to
report to the police station.
 VUSHTRRI: During the last two days, large police forces were situated in the outskirts
of the town and stopped all citizens travelling in the way Mitrovica-Prishtina. The following
ones were stopped and threatened: Ibush Jonuzi, vice-chairman of the LDK branch in
Vushtrri; Hilmi Gërguri, member of the District Financial Council in Vushtrri; Hajriz Hamit
Istrefi (48) from Mitrovica, his wife Sabile (43), his daughter-in-law Sadete (22), his
daughters Shqipe (21) and Besa (8); his granddaughters Anita (3) and Denisa (3) and his
grandson Valmir (6 months). Police ordered Hajriz to give them 105 dinars under the
pretext that he was driving children, which is not allowed.
 SUHAREKA: Yesterday, in the way Prishtina-Suhareka, in the place called "Qafa e
Duhlës", about 30 policemen stopped and ill-treated a number of citizens, who were taken
to the police station in Suhareka. There, they were subjected to physical and psychological
ill-treatment until today, when they were duly released. They were interrogated on
weapons and were accused for being members of KLA. Policemen made pressure on
them to admit that they are members of KLA.
 RAHOVEC: Feriz Shala from Zoçishta, member of the Board of the LDK branch in
Rahovec, was summoned for "informative talks" at the police station, where he was
subjected to interrogation on the activity of the LDK, gathering of financial means for the
educational system, KLA, etc.
 PODUJEVA: On his arrival at the airport of Belgrade on 15 January, Ibush Sh. Jashari
from Podujeva, an asylum-seeker repatriated from Germany, was arrested and taken to
the Security Centre in Prishtina. He was subjected to interrogation on his activity in
Germany and was charged for "hostile activity". Ibush was subjected to physical ill-
treatment until today. Due to injuries suffered on his eye, leg and backbone, he was
compelled to seek medical help. Inspectors ordered him to report again to the police
station.
A police squad searched for weapons at the house of Kadri Aliu in Sllatina and took his
son Fadil to the police station in Kërpimeh.
 HANI I ELEZIT: Elhami Hasallari was taken for weapon to the police station from 16
January onward. Last time, he was physically ill-treated and suffered body injuries.
Policemen told him that his mother Qibrija has the weapon. He was also interrogated on
the whereabouts of his brother Zylbehar, chairman of the LDK branch in Han i Elezit.
 PRISHTINA: Bajram Haziraj (1935), a worker dismissed from his job in 1990, broke
into his flat, taken from him in 1994. It was delivered to Milan Gashic. Milan has left it
vacant until today as he put the flat on sale.

20 JANUARY:

 MALISHEVA: Local police of Rahovec took Haxhi Berisha (1958) from Gurbardhi,
teacher and bill-collector of District Financial Council, on the pretext that his family
members had taken timbers without permit several years before. He was subjected to
interrogation on financing the educational system. Then, Haxhi was taken to Serbian Run
District Court in Rahovec, where he was fined with 1500 dinars.
Under the pretext of cutting timbers without permit, police went to the family of Ramë T.
Rudi in Panorc, checked the identities of those present. They left Milaim O. Rudi an order
to report to the police station.
 GJAKOVA: Alban Aqif Shehu (17), a pupil of "Hajdar Dushi" Secondary School, was
taken for "informative talks". He was interrogated on political activity of his father Aqif,
chairman of the LDK branch in Gjakova, his family members, etc.
 MITROVICA: Police forces have been training in the village of Mazhiq on 12 and 15
January, and in the villages of Boletin and Zhazha from 10 January until today. Random
shootings from fire weapons have been heard and they have been harassing the
inhabitants.

21 JANUARY:

 DEÇAN: Recent days, random shootings have been heard from the police station in
Irzniq and have been harassing the inhabitants near-by.
 MITROVICA: 10 policemen situated in Shupkoc stopped and raided all vehicles
travelling in the way Mitrovica-Prishtina. Fatmir Sabri Beka (32) from Kçiq i Madh is one of
the persons stopped by the police.
 SKëNDERAJ: Albanians from the district of Skënderaj who need any document from
the District Court in Mitrovica are obliged to pay for the debts of their fellowvillagers. Ajet
Meta from the village of Açareva payed the fine of 320 dinars of Sokol Ahmeti.
 KAMENICA: Some fiscal inspectors looted goods from Albanian citizens in the market
of Rogaçica. One of them is Adem Zylfiu (1940) from Kopërnica, who had sold his cow for
DM 700. Police confiscated his money and took him to the "Bujku" Agricultural
Cooperative in Rogaçica, which has been used as a place for ill-treating Albanians. Adem
was kept there for an hour.
 VUSHTRRI: On his arrival to the Prishtina airport in Sllatina, Adnan Ali Zeqiri from
Nedakovc, an asylum-seeker repatriated from Sweden, was returned to Sweden again.
 PRIZREN: Border police in Kelebi seized the passoprt of Binak Hysen Morina (1971),
"Ulqini" st., temporarily employed in Nova-Gorica in Slovenia, and removed his photograph
from the passoprt.
 PEJA: Besnik E. Belegu (16) was taken for "informative talks" at the Security Centre.
He was interrogated on the computer competition in Brezovica and Hungary, the computer
courses, their financing and the employees at the Fund for an Open Society in Prishtina.
He was told that he would be summoned again.
 PODUJEVA: Two policemen physically ill-treated Abdullah Sejdiu from Zakut, while he
and his son Gëzim (16) were collecting stones in the vicinity of the village. Before and after
ill-treating Abdullah, there were random shots by policemen.

22 JANUARY:

 MITROVICA: Twelve policemen searched for weapons at the house of Hashim Habib
Avdiu (37) and searched for his brother Gani (35) under the pretext that he had left an
automatic gun before leaving for Germany.
 DEÇAN: In the evening, in downtown Junik, large police forces checked the identities
of and physically ill-treated some Albanian citizens of Junik, among whom were Mentor G.
Hoxha, Bislim Hebibi, etc.
 PODUJEVA: In Prishtina, police physically ill-treated Enver Ramadan Cakiqi, a
student from Podujeva, who suffered heavy injuries.
 VUSHTRRI: A police squad searched for weapons at the house of Mehmet Mustafa
from Strofc and left him an order to report to the police station in Prilluzha.
 PRIZREN: In the outskirts of the village of Gjonaj, police were in high alert and
stopped every passer-by from 9 p.m.
 PRISHTINA: At midday, two Serbian civilians stopped Read Rexhepi (1979), a pupil,
raided, beat and injured him. They also demanded hard currency from him.
 KLINA: Police arrested and physically ill-treated Llesh Prenaj under the pretext that he
had spattered the chief of police station with mud.

23 JANUARY:

 KLINA: Serbian press informs that "unknown Albanian persons" beat up Blagoje
Nikoliq (47) from the village of Dërshnik near Klina, an employee at the ammunition factory
in Skënderaj. Uniformed and plainclothed policemen have been patroling in Klina from the
early hours of the morning. At about 1 p.m., they left towards Skënderaj with an armoured
car and helicopter and came back at 3 p.m. An hour later, random shots and blusts were
heard in the vicinity of the police station in Klina. In the meantime, police chechked the
identities of all passers-by and took two youngsters (whose names we do not know) and
five other citizens, among whom were Enver Hoti from Jashanica e Epërme, Shaban Hoti
from Radosta near Rahovec, Magjun Smajli from Poterçi i Epërm, a reporter of "Koha
Ditore". Large police forces were seen in the vicinity of the village Gjurgjevik i Madh.
 GLLOGOC: In the vicinity of the bus station in Prishtina, police stopped and checked
the identity of Shkelzen R. Hoxha (1977) from Domanek, a student of economics. He was
taken to the police station and was insulted on a national and moral basis.
 PRIZREN: Serbian authorities in Prizren started the action for the destruction of 36
shops and 19 private houses of Albanians on the pretext of "illegal construction". They
also registered all loading vehicles without any cause.
 SKëNDERAJ: Idriz Rexhep Idrizi (1952) from Prekaz i Epërm, a worker at the "Azem
Bejta" Primary School in Prekaz i Poshtëm, has left home today at 10.30 a.m. His
whereabouts are yet unknown. His family members suspect that he might be taken by the
police situated at the ammuniton factory in Skënderaj.

24 JANUARY:

 MALISHEVA: Tense situation has been prevailing. Random shots were heard in
downtown Malisheva from 7.50 p.m., until 8.40 p.m. The incident happened while a group
of policemen were raiding the vehicles. Shots were heard from the direction of Banja,
Rahovec, Kijeva and Prishtina. Repressive squads and large police forces came from
Rahovec, Suhareka and Prizren. Some eye-witnesses stated that blood stains were seen
in the spot. It is supposed that two policemen were wounded, but it has not been
confrimed. After that, police undertook a grave wave of harassment towards Albanians in
streets and their houses. Beqir Berisha was beaten up with the rifle butt in the presence of
his wife and children, while Shaban Krasniqi was beaten up in front of his flat. Among the
ill-treated persons was Hamit Thaçi from Mirusha. Malush Hasan Hoti, Arben Hoti, Ahmet
Berisha and Bashkim Gashi, all from Malisheva, were taken to the police station.

25 JANUARY:

 PRISHTINA: Today at 11.15 a.m., in "Aktash III" quarter, a blust were heard in front of
the house of Bilall Qerimi, due to what his car was damaged.

DELAYED INFORMATION:

 PRISHTINA: On 30 December, during the peaceful protests, Nexhmi Hoxha (1980)
from Orllan near Podujeva, a pupil of "Alaudin" Medresah in Prishtina.
 PODUJEVA: On 7 January, seven policemen intervened in "Afërdita" shop and raided
all guests.
On 12 January, police searched for weapons at the house of Nezir Rrahmani in Dobratin.
Some policemen intervened in "Emona" shop and checked the identities of all guests.
Police looted DM 240 and 80 dinars from Sevdaim Lushaku.
On 13 January, police arrested Ahmet Kosumi and took DM 200 from him.
On 15 January, police took Nebih Rudari and Ruzhdi Rudari and took 1100 dinars from
Nebih. Some policemen went intervened in "Bardhi Komerc" shop and checked the
identities of all guests.
On 16 January, two policemen went into "Drita" shop and checked the identities of all
guests.
 FERIZAJ: On 7 January, Ragip Grainca (1946) from Cërnilla was summoned for
weapons at the police station and was ordered to report on 9 January.
On 8 January, two policemen stopped Isak Qeli from Pleshina, a bill-collector at the District
Financial Council, demanded a weapon from him and left him the order to report to the
police station the next day. He was interrogated on the weapon and his job.
Policemen ordered Arif Qeli from Pleshina to report to the police station. On being
interrogated, Arif was released.
On 15 January, Xhevat Hajrizi (1964) from Softaj was taken for "informative talks" on the
activity of the LDK.
 SUHAREKA: On 11 January, Blagoje Blagojeviq from Leshan entered the "Kreshniku"
shop, owned by Avdullah and Hajrullah Kryeziu, and started to insult them and destroy
everything in it. Avdullah, Hajrullah, as well as Mentor Kryeziu and Ismail Elshani stood
against him and hit him several times. Blagoje got injured and was taken to hospital. Then,
police took the above mentioned for "informative talks", whereas at the Serbian Run
District Court in Suhareka, Hajrullah was sentenced to a term of 50 days imprisonment
and Mentor was fined.
 MITROVICA: At the District Court in Mitrovica, Albanians are compelled to pay more
than Serbs for their personal documents. On 12 January, Ramë Halit Ahmeti (44) from
Zhabar i Epërm payed 95 dinars, whereas Mira Milosavleviq payed only 15 dinars for the
same document.
 SKëNDERAJ: On 14 January, in Rakosh near Peja, police stopped Agim Çelaj, a
student of economics, and his cousins Halit and Musli Çelaj, temporarily employed in
Germany - all from Leçina. They were subjected to physical ill-treatment and suffered
injuries only because they are from the district of Skënderaj.
 GLLOGOC: On 15 January, Rexhep R. Krasniqi (1982) from Negroc was arrested
and ill-treated in Deçan only beacuse he was selling calendars.
 DEÇAN: On 16 January, in downtown Junik, police physically ill-treated Ruzhdi Shehu
(1961), an economist, chairman of the Financial Council and member of the Board of the
LDK branch in Junik.
On 17 January, 4 unidentified persons, two of the masked, looted goods from the family of
Riza Ganiaj in Gjocaj and ran towards the border with Albania.
 PEJA: On 16 January, unknown persons broke into the office of the principal of "Pjetër
Budi" Primary School in Poçesta, raided the office and took the school seals.
 VITIA: On 17 January, police arrested Bekim Zeneli (1973), a farmer from Mogilla, on
the pretext that had had a quarrel with Milosllav a year before and was physically ill-
treated.

Prishtina, 25 January 1998                       Information Service