REPORT
NO. 408
ON
THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION
AND
HARASSMENT PERPETRATED
BY THE SERBIAN POLICE AND
OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA
FROM MAY 1
UNTIL
MAY 3 , 1998
REPORT NO. 408
ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION AND HARASSMENT PERPETRATED
BY
THE POLICE AND OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA,
FROM MAY 1 UNTIL MAY 3, 1998
On April 30, Mark Zef Marku (17) from the village
of Pjetërshan near Gjakova was killed in
his house yard. According to family members,
he was killed by the Serbian police and
military forces.
Police arrested many relatives and neighbors.
On May 1, Agim Emin Emini (35) from the village
of Turiçec was killed and massacred by
the Serbian police. He was killed in front of
his house, in the Aliobriaj quarter. Later on, he
was dragged to a brook some 150 meters from his
house.
Police entered many houses and severely ill-treated
women and children. The following
houses in the villages of Turiçec and
Rakinica were burnt , damaged and destroyed to the
ground: the house of Jakup Syla, Sylë Lutani,
Avdi Lutani, Rexhep Çarku, Mustafë Çarku,
Mehmet Çarku, Zymer Çarku, Kamer
Çarku, Azem Çarku, Sahit Dajaku, Malush Dajaku,
Osman Dajaku, Azem Emini, Bedri Beqiri, Miftar
Beqiri, Sahit Dajaku, Ferat Dajaku, Hajdin
Durmishi, Rifat Durmishi and Mexhit Durmishi.
On May 1, at about 10 p.m., Asllan Gashi (26),
Merita Gashi (23) and Raba Gashi (34)
were killed. Their house in the village of Vojnika
had been shelled by the police forces.
Zahide Gashi (60), Zeqir Gashi (42) and Florije
Gashi (22) were wounded.
On May 2, at about 4.30 p.m., Mahmut Dardhishta,
a "loyalist of the Serbia regime", an
official of the local Serbian authorities in
Kaçanik and chairman of the District Assembly of
the Serbian Socialist Party, gun down Bajrush
Bedri Tafili (1958) a participant in the
peaceful protests. After the killing, Dardhishta
was introduced as a hero in the programs of
the Serbian radio and TV. Dardhishta had previously
been drafted as a police reservist.
THE EVENTS IN DRENICA AND ITS SURROUNDINGS
MAY 1:
SKëNDERAJ: Large police and military forces
shelled the villages of Kopiliq, Brojë,
Vojnikë, Jashanicë, Açarevë,
Resnik, Rakinicë, Tushillë and Llaushë.
In Rakinica, police shelled the Dajaka and Çarkaj
quarters. Many houses were damaged
or destroyed.
Loud detonations can be heard in Skënderaj.
Serbian forces shelled the school building in
the village of Vojnika.
GLLOGOC: Since the early hours of the morning,
shooting can be heard from the villages
of Llausha and Kopiliq.
SKëNDERAJ: For 2 months in a row, the village
of Llausha is under the siege of Serbian
forces. Automatic and sniper fire was opened
on this village.
Fresh forces were stationed in the Ammunition
Factory.
MITROVICA: Police and military forces consisting
of 3 trucks, 1 armored car, 4 APCs and
1 jeep, were stationed in the forests near the
villages of Lushta and Broboniq.
6 jeeps, 1 armored car, 3 APCs and 2 tanks headed
for Skënderaj.
25 trucks full of soldiers stopped in the village
of Zhazha, on the road from Leposaviq to
Mitrovica.
MAY 3:
SKëNDERAJ: During the funerals of Agim Emin
Emini; Rabë, Meritë and Asllan Sylë
Gashi, who were killed by the Serbian police
and military forces in the villages of Vojnika
and Kopiliq, policemen fired bullets towards
these 2 villages from the police check-point in
Turiçec. Many foreign journalists attended
the funerals.
At about 4.30 p.m., shooting could be heard in
the vicinity of the "Ramiz Sadiku"
Secondary School in Skënderaj. Large police
forces armed with different kinds of weapons
and with anti-aircraft cannons are stationed
in this school.
THE EVENTS IN THE DISTRICTS OF DEÇAN AND GJAKOVA
MAY 1:
DEÇAN: A police helicopter flew over the
villages in the district of Deçan. It landed in Hulaj.
All roads leading to Deçan are blocked.
Many passers-by are ill-treated at the police check
points. Snipers continue to supervise the situation.
Avdyl Ukë Tahirsylaj, Metë Ali Haklaj,
Fadil Haklaj, Beqir Bruqi and Isuf Mulaj, pensioners
from the village of Isniq, were beaten-up by
the Serbian police while going to the post-
office to take their pensions.
Dervish Asllanaj, Selim Rexhepi, Halil Mehmeti,
Shemsedin Isufi, Kush and Haxhi Haliti,
Jahë Salihu, Zenun Avdyli, Idriz Ethem Zeqiraj
(81), Ramë and Miftar Sadria from the
village of Brovina, were beaten-up by the police.
They had gone to the village of Drenoc to
express their condolences to the family of Bilall
Mazrekaj, who was killed by the Serbian
police and military forces.
New details on this killing have come to light.
Bilall was first hit from a sniper shot. He was
wounded on his right leg and fell to the ground.
Police approached the group of women
who were accompanying him and ordered them to
lie down. Bilall was summarily executed
while lying on the ground. One of the policemen
who participated in this killing is named
Sllavko and is in service at the police station
in Deçan. Dum-dum bullets were used.
Large scale police and military movements can
be noticed in Peja and its surroundings.
Military forces were stationed in the monastery
in Deçan. It is believed that they are
accompanied by paramilitary units. An armored
car and 5 land-rovers with armed
policemen headed for Peja.
Units from the military base in Hulaj were stationed
in the village of Stërgun, 10 km from
the border with Albania.
Military forces burnt the alpine summer huts
of Brahim and Isuf Lokaj as well as that of
Halil Imer Lokaj in the village of Sllup.
During the night, military forces are pointing
their reflectors towards houses in order to
cause panic.
Fire was opened in the direction of the village
of Baballoç.
In the village of Prejlep, police fired bullets
at Muharrem Shefqet Dabiqaj. He was
gathering his flock.
In the village of Carrabreg, police arrested
Musa Halit Zekaj and Veli Shaqer Dobraj. The 2
were physically ill-treated at the police station
in Deçan.
Three villagers from Isniq were severely ill-treated
by the police.
GJAKOVA: Large police and military forces were
stationed in Gjakova and its
surroundings, especially to the border with Albania.
The Yugoslav army surrounded with heavy artillery
the villages of Raça, Moglica and Dol.
Latif H. Neziri, a teacher from the village of
Ponoshec, was arrested by the police and sent
to the Security Center in Gjakova.
Serbian police organized a wide campaign of arrests.
A group of youngsters were tied and
sent to the military barracks. Many were brutally
beaten-up and threatened to be sent to
the border and executed as "terrorists".
Goods were looted from passengers at the police
check-points between Peja and
Gjakova. Large quantities of medicine were looted
likewise.
MAY 3:
DEÇAN: Loud detonations can be heard from
the villages of Junik and Morina. Police and
military helicopters flew over the villages along
the border with Albania. Large police and
military convoys parade through the region. Shooting
can be heard from the village of
Baballoç. Police prevented shop-owners
from opening their shops. The freedom of
movement is very much limited.
GJAKOVA: At about 10 a.m., large police and military
forces armed with heavy weaponry
and a helicopter headed for the border zone with
Albania. Shooting was heard from the
villages of Ponoshec, Brovinë, Morinë,
Molliq, Batushë and Smolicë. 3 tanks, 3 armored
cars, 6 APCs and 5 military trucks left Gjakova
and headed for the above mentioned
villages.
Special police units wearing bullet proof vests
headed for the villages on the border with
Albania. Cannon fire can be heard from the villages
in the district of Deçan. Police and
military units have started killing cattle.
Military forces stationed in Çabrat ordered
Albanian shepherds to take their flocks and flee
the region.
In Gjakova, many Albanian youngsters were arrested
and ill-treated by the police.
OTHER INFORMATION:
MAY 1:
SUHAREKA: 2 armored cars and an APC were stationed
in the village of Duhla. After
midnight, police fired bullets, damaging the
houses of Idriz, Jahir and Hajrullah Rrafshi as
well as that of Ragip Çatani.
In the early hours of the morning, police entered
the houses of Sadri and Haki Bytyçi,
Nebih Çatani, Ymer Rrafshi and Murteza
Kurtishaj. The latter was severely ill-treated.
MITROVICA: 30 police and military vehicles (trucks
and jeeps) left Rashka and headed for
Rozhaja (Montenegro). Many trucks pulled heavy
artillery. Police cars were stationed on all
cross-roads.
ISTOG: A convoy of 20 military vehicles was stationed
in Zubin Potok. Special police units
could be noticed.
VUSHTRRI: Muhamet Bejtullah Kosumi (32), Xhemail
Xhevat Kosumi (16) and Florim Sylë
Maloku were physically ill-treated at the police
check-point in Nedakoc. After the protest
walks, Shaban Muzaqi (54), Latif Parduzi (50)
and Hashim Parduzi (69) were taken to the
police station. Hashim, who was accused as one
of the organizers, was left an order to
report again.
PRISHTINA: Yesterday, hundreds of Albanian students
gathered in front of the Mechanical
Engineering Faculty. They wanted to enter the
Faculty building as foreseen by the 3+3
Commission. Large police forces which were stationed
in front of this Faculty prevented
Albanian students from entering the building.
Serbian students, who are settled in the
dormitory no.3, threw stones at their Albanian
students.
Albanian pupils were prevented from entering
the school premises in the villages of
Millosheva, Plemetin and Obiliq.
Similar was the situation in several other localities
in Kosova.
After the protests in Prishtina, Sejdi Ibrahimaj
(1974) from Zhakova and Sylejman Sahitaj
(1978) from Uça near Istog, students,
were physically ill-treated by a group of 8 Serbian
civilians. The latter's nose was broken.
KAÇANIK: A helicopter flew over the town
and went towards the village of Glloboçica near
the border with Macedonia.
Hasan Imer Piliqi (1976), living in "Tusha" quarter,
was stopped by a group of 4 policemen
and was physically ill-treated.
PRIZREN: As the crowd dispersed after the peaceful
protests, police stopped Afrim Maliqi,
a student from Prizren. He was beaten-up. His
shoulder was broken.
Kujtim Jahaj (1975), Sami Morina, Florim Bytyçi,
Selajdin Haskuka, Naim Çesteni, Agron
Hysen Krapi (24), a student and his father Hysen
Krapi, a professor were physically ill-
treated by the police.
Flamur Gashi and his father Hajrullah Gashi were
arrested by the police. The two were
accused of taking off a Serbian flag. Flamur
was sentenced to a prison term of 45 days.
MAY 2:
GLLOGOC: Daut Sejdiu from the village of Pantina
was stopped by the police and
physically ill-treated, his documents were seized
and he was ordered to report to the police
station in Vushtrria.
KAÇANIK: Enver Misim Piliqi (1939) and
Naim Ali Tafili (1979) were stopped by the police,
taken to the police station and physically ill-treated.
PRIZREN: Valbon Krasniqi (1979), "Durmish Asllani"
st. 198, Baki Morina (1973) and
Fehmi Hoti (1976), students, were stopped by
three policemen, taken into the premises of
the post-office, brutally beaten and threatened
to be killed if seen in the protests. All three
suffered body injuries.
KLINA: Large police forces were seen heading
for the village of Jashanica. Constant
shooting can be heard from there.
The situation in Kijeva continues to be very
tense. Policemen and Serbian civilians
stationed at the check-point in Kijeva are ill-treating
passers-by.
Armored cars patrol on the road Bubavec-Mleçan-Balincë.
GJILAN: Shefki Bajrami (1972) from the village
of Livoç i Poshtëm was sentenced to a
prison term of 30 days for participating in the
peaceful protests.
MAY 3:
KAÇANIK: Police prevented people from participating
in the funeral of Bajrush Bedri Tafili.
He was killed by Mahmut Dardhishta, a collaborator
of the Serbian regime.
DELAYED INFORMATION:
OBILIQ: During the last few days, large police
and military movements can be noticed in
Obiliq and its surrounding villages. In the village
of Palaj, 2 armored cars were stationed.
Shooting from automatic guns could be heard.
In Babinoc, tanks were stationed. Police
surveyed the terrain in the villages of Sibovc,
Hade and Grabovc i Epërm. Check-points
were fortified with sacks with sand.
On April 25, a special police unit convoy passed
through the Albanian villages on the road
Podujevë-Besi-Milloshevë-Prishtinë.
KLINA: On April 9, Ajvaz Bacaj (1948) from the
village of Zajm, a teacher with the "Zgjimi"
Primary School in Dollc, was physically ill-treated
at the police check-point in Dollc.
On April 15, Gjergj Dedaj from the village of
Dërsnik, a teacher with the "Zgjimi" Primary
School in Dollc, was provoked by Radovan Dabizhleviq
and several other Serbian
civilians. He was insulted and threatened with
liquidation.
On April 18, a truck driven by Tomë Mark
Milicaj (1958) from the village of Zllakuqan and
Xhemajl Raci from Klina, chairman of the "Mother
Theresa" Charitable ë Humanitarian
Association, was stopped by the police at the
check-point in Dollc. They were sent to the
Security Center in Peja. 12.500 kg of flour,
dedicated to the poor, were seized.
On April 16, at midnight, large police forces
raided the Shlivova quarter in the village of
Jashanica.
On April 17, police raided the house of Sylë
Shlivova. Sylë, Ramadan and Islam Shlivova
were severely ill-treated.
On April 18, Sefer M. Shlivova was arrested and
beaten-up by the police. He was sent to
the police station in Klina and accused of being
a member of the KLA.
On April 21, Adem Sylë Shlivova (1978),
a pupil with the "Luigj Gurakuqi" Secondary
School in Klina, was severely ill-treated at
the police check-point in Pogragja. He was
ordered to report again to the police station
in Klina, otherwise his house would be
bombed.
On April 22, police raided the house of Ndue
Balaj (1966). He was arrested and
psychically ill-treated. Later on, he was released.
On April 23, Shemsedin I. Bojaj, Vllaznim Sh.
Bojaj and Faruk Rr. Bojaj were severely ill-
treated by a police squad. Shemsedin suffered
severe injuries and had to seek for medical
help.
A police squad with trained dogs chased a group
of children who were playing football.
In the village of Budisalc, 6 armed Serbian civilians
threatened Nikollë Mrijaj (1968) from
Pataqan. He was forced to close his shop.
Asllan Januz Gashi from the village of Sferka,
temporarily employed in Slovenia, was
stopped by the police in Subotica (Vojvodina).
His passport was torn and DM 1600 were
looted from him.
On April 25, Arife Raci (62) from Siqeva and
Tafil Xhavit Uka (20) from Açareva were
wounded during the police shelling of Siqeva.
On April 28, police in the village of Gllareva
stopped Hamit Mon Berisha (1950) and Sadik
Jetish Berisha (1950) from Volljaka as well as
Brahim Sadik Gashi (1951) from Sferka.
The three were physically ill-treated in Gllareva
and at the police stations in Klina and Peja.
Brahim was released the very same day. His two
co passengers were released the next
day. All 3 suffered severe injuries and regardless
of the medical help they received their
health condition is very grave.
On April 29, police and military forces threw
7 grenades on the village of Përçeva. 3
grenades fell on the house yard of Imer Ahmet
Gashi.
PRISHTINA: On April 13, on his return from the
protest walks, Arian Shabani, a student
living in "Bregu i Diellit" quarter was stopped
by armed plainclothed policemen. He was
brutally ill-treated, his arm was broken.
On April 29, Sevdaim Tasholli (1975), a student
from Gadimja e Poshtme near Lipjan, was
stopped at the bus station and sent to the police
station. He was physically ill-treated and
threatened not to be seen in Prishtina again.
On April 30, in the vicinity of the students'
restaurant, 3 Serbian civilians physically ill-
treated Përparim Shala (1976), a student
from Padalishta. He suffered serious injuries.
A group of Serbian students threw stones on Albanian
protestors. Kushtrim Mehmeti
(1977), a student living in "Nazim Hikmet" st.
89, was injured on his leg. For injuries
suffered he presented the doctor's report.
5 policemen raided the house of Nurije Krasniqi
(1957), "Bregu i Diellit" quarter L4, 3. Her
husband, Sherafedin Halili (1960) was taken hostage.
Nurija was ordered to report to the
police and was interrogated for weapons.
KAÇANIK: On April 22, Reshat Halim Emërllahu
(1945), a teacher living in "M. Tito" st.,
was stopped by 2 policemen named Oliver and "Japanac".
He was told to hand in a
hunting rifle and a gun. Reshat handed his hunting
rifle, for which he had a regularly
issued permit.
On April 29, Kadri Ilaz Luma (21) from Glloboshica,
was stopped by the police in Kaçanik.
He was beaten-up and sent to the police station.
He suffered many injuries and had to
seek for medical help.
PRIZREN: On April 24, 7 policemen and 3 civilians
raided the house of Demush Lumi
(1937), a pensioner living in "Hashim Vezaj"
st. 35. He was told that his son Sami must
report to the police on April 28. Sami was taken
for informative talks.
FERIZAJ: On April 24, Ferat Neziri (1976) from
the village of Muhoc was physically ill-
treated by police in the village of Sazli.
On April 25, policemen in Prishtina looted 110
din. from Besim Abaz Zejnullahu (1974)
from the village of Gaçka.
On April 26, 3 policemen stopped the football
game between "Kastrioti" from Ferizaj and
Muhoc.
On April 28, trenches were dug and barricades
were set-up in the yard of the police station
in Nerodima.
Ibrahim Nuraj was taken for informative talks
to the police station in Nerodima.
Ilir Shala, a pupil with the "Jeronim De Rada"
Primary School, was seriously injured by a
Serb pupil. He was hit with a stone. Due to injuries
suffered he had to seek medical help.
On April 30, Islam Hetemi (52) from Komogllava,
was severely ill-treated at the check-point
in Gërlica and at the Security Center in
Ferizaj. He was accused of being a "terrorist". He
suffered many injuries.
PEJA: On April 27, in the outskirts of Peja,
police severely ill treated brothers Skënder and
Enver Kelmendi. Both suffered severe injuries.
A policeman named Mirko threatened them
not to report the case, otherwise they would
be liquidated.
On April 29, Skënder Bekë Muzliaj (1967)
from the village of Shaptej near Deçan, an
asylum seeker repatriated from Germany, was stopped
by the police at the Prishtina
airport. The next day he was severely ill-treated
at the police check-point in Kijeva.
On April 30, a group of 50 Serbian policemen
and civilians entered the house yard of
Hasan Jusuf Bushati (1942), living in "Avni Rrustemi"
st. 78. He was physically ill-treated.
The policemen also checked the house yards of
Isa Dreshaj, Shaban Ahmetaj, Rexhep
Rexhaj, Xhemë Dreshaj, Xhevdet Ahmetaj,
Osman Kelmendi, Bekë Dreshaj, Bekë Lajçi,
Qazim Aliçkaj, Hamëz Demaku, Nazmi
Demaku, Ismet Gashi and Xhevat Gashi. Police
intervened under the pretext of searching for
some persons who had left their car in the
yard of Rexhep Rexhaj. Police seized the car.
LIPJAN: On April 28, Fatmir Rashiti was physically
ill-treated by a Serbian policeman.
On April 29, police under the pretext of weapons
searched for Ibrahim Maliqi.
In the village of Torina, 3 armed Serbian civilians,
who presented themselves as Security
Inspectors from Nish, intervened in the "Albatros"
gas station, in the ownership of Esat
Tafa. They raided his house, looted din 3250,
a considerable sum of foreign currency and
a mobile phone. Police provoked and insulted
Esat's family. He was accused of financing
the KLA and threatened.
On April 30, in the bus travelling from Gushterica
to Prishtina, Serbian civilians physically
ill-treated Haki Gashi and Boletin Limani from
the village of Okllap, pupils with the "Ulpiana"
Secondary School in Lipjan.
VUSHTRRI: On April 30, brothers, Enver (1976)
and Sefedin Musa (1971) were severely
ill-treated at the check-point in Nedakoc.
Shaip Azemi from the village of Maxhunaj, an
activist of the LDK, was sent to serve a
prison term of 60 days for illegal arm possession.
MITROVICA: On April 30, in the vicinity of the
"Adriatiku" hotel, Beshir Tahir Berisha (26)
from the village of Kçiq i Madh, was arrested
by the police and severely ill-treated. He
suffered many injuries and was threatened not
to participate in protests.
ISTOG: On April 30, the following prisoners from
the Dubrava jail: Hajzer Hajzeraj, Naser
Husaj, Haradin Hyseni, Bajrush Xhemajli, Gani
Xhambazi, Xhelal Canziba, Zejnullah
Shala, Ismet Mahmuti, Remzi Tetrica, Raif Çela,
Sali Sokoli, Rexhep Oruçi, Avni Klinaku,
Enver Dugolli, Liburn Aliu, Dilber Beka, Mehmedali
Aliu and Eqrem Kastrati were
transferred to the prison in Nish (Serbia).
On April 30, Serbs and Montenegrins provoked
their Albanian neighbors.
At 11 p.m., many Albanian families were provoked
and threatened to be expelled from
their houses.
Members of the Ashanin family attacked the family
of Sadik Hoti. His house (door and
windows) was damaged.
GJILAN: On April 30, policemen stationed on the
cross-road between Stublina and
Dobrosin, fired bullets towards a passing car.
FUSHë KOSOVA: Dobrica Laziq, the mayor of
Fushë Kosova, and a person named Miki,
owner of the "Gloria" private enterprise, are
ill-treating Basri Peçani (1949), a khoja from
Bresja near Fushë Kosova.
Prishtina, May 3, 1998 Information Service