REPORT
NO. 409
ON
THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION
AND
HARASSMENT PERPETRATED
BY THE SERBIAN POLICE AND
OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA
FROM MAY 3
UNTIL
MAY 10, 1998
REPORT No. 409
ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION AND HARASSMENT PERPETRATED
BY
THE SERBIAN POLICE AND OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA
FROM MAY 3 UNTIL MAY 10, 1998
The state of war continues. Many dead and wounded
were reported on both sides. The
casualties are higher on the Albanian side. Albanians
are attacked by police and military
forces. Different kinds of weapons were used
among which artillery and helicopters. Many
houses are shelled and burnt. Cattle is killed.
The abandoned houses are looted and
destroyed. During the week, the following were
killed:
Haki Dinë Kamberaj (36), Lebushë -
Deçan
Mahmut Daut Kelmendi (60), Balincë - Malishevë
Nazif Ismajl Kelmendi (50), Balincë - Malishevë
Rexhep Kelmendi (16), Balincë - Deçan
Sefer S. Elshani (64), Gllabar - Gllogoc, died
in hospital due to wounds suffered.
Binak Bakri (60), Ponoshec - Gjakovë, died
in hospital due to wounds suffered.
Ramë Ali Neziri (88), Ponoshec - Gjakovë
Hajdar Osman Bajraktari (56), Morinë - Gjakovë
Abdyl Duçi (61), Ponoshec - Gjakovë
Hajdar Halil Kuqi (75), Deçan
Bekë Sylë (Cacaj) Shabanaj (62), Deçan
Vehbi Mustafa (61), Pejë
Agim Ymer Hasanaj (21), Gllarevë - Klinë
Besnik Daut Halilaj (31), Tërdevc - Gllogoc
Rifat Sadri Shala (30), Baran - Pejë
Ahmet Doçi, Llazicë - Malishevë
Nazif Sinan Bashota (30), Bubavec - Malishevë
Artim Sejdi Jashari (24), Zhabarë - Mitrovicë
Vesel Krasniqi (48), Pustosellë - Rahovec
Fatmir Ujup Gashi, killed in Montenegro, on the
border with Albania
Nenad Jerediq (28), Jashanicë - Klinë
Milovan Nikoliq (24), a policeman from Leposaviq
THE EVENTS IN THE DISTRICTS OF DEÇAN AND GJAKOVA
MAY 3:
GJAKOVA: Serbian police and military forces fired
sniper shots at Hajdar Osman
Bajraktari (56) from the village of Morina, father
of 5. He and his brother were driving to
Brovina. At a hill in the vicinity of the village
of Pllanik, they were stopped and forced to turn
back. On doing so, bullets were fired at them
killing Hajdar.
MAY 4:
GJAKOVA: The police and military operations continue
in the regions of Gjakova and
Deçan.
Binak Bakri (60) from the village of Ponoshec
was severely wounded. He died in hospital
during the surgery.
His son, Argjend Bakri (25) was wounded.
The very same happened to Raze Neziri (19).
Hasan Idrizi was brutally tortured. He was brought
to hospital in a very deteriorated health
state.
Many people are being ill-treated in Gjakova.
Idriz Bedra, a bus driver, was beaten-up by the
police.
Shaban Rama (48) was arrested due to the fact
that the he sheltered the family of Hasan
Rama (detained).
The following members of Shaban's family were
detained: Shahë Rama (30), Halil Rama
(60), Qamil Rama (31), Muhamet Rama (35), Ali
Rama (70), Cymë Rama (80), Zulfije
Rama (50), Ukë Rama, Idriz (11), Ryva (9),
Rrezarta (6), Agonis (3) and Gentonis (1).
They were taken to the police station in Gjakova.
After 8 hours of detention, women and
children were released.
Many buildings were damaged due to police shelling,
Hasan Rama's shop and the houses
of Avdyl Bajraktari, Hajdar Hoxha and Ali Rama.
Dervish Uka's turbeh was damaged, too.
DEÇAN: After midnight, shooting could
be heard from the police check-point in Strellc i
Epërm. Shooting could also be heard in the
village of Baballoç.
A police squad chased Izet Gjikokaj and his 2
sons. The 3 were going to Peja.
PEJA: Latif H. Neziri from the village of Ponoshec
was arrested on April 30. Zhujë S.
Gashi from Buçan was arrested on May 2.
The 2 were arrested in Morina and are still
being kept in arrest.
MAY 5:
GJAKOVA: The corpse of an unidentified man was
brought to the city morgue in Gjakova.
The man was killed with fire arms. His corpse
was left near the road for Ponoshec. Later
on, he was identified as Abdyl Duçi (60)
from Ponoshec.
Abdurrahman Koshi (60) was physically ill-treated
by Momçilo Obradoviq, a Serb official.
DEÇAN: Since 6 o'clock in the morning,
police and military forces started shooting towards
the village of Baballoç.
Sokol Aliaj (48) from Kodralia was arrested.
The news were reported by Serb media, on the
kidnapping of Branko Stamatoviq from the
village of Prejlep, was denied. He had been for
a visit to a relative of his.
MAY 6:
GJAKOVA: Police and military forces started shelling
the villages of Smolica, Morina,
Stublla, Nivokaz and Brovina. The elderly, women
and children started fleeing the village.
DEÇAN: Hajdar Halil Kuqi (75) and Bekë
Sylë (Cacaj) Shabanaj (62), shepherds from
Deçan, were found dead in the vicinity
of the place called "Abrija". Their hands were tied
and they were drowned in the Bistrica river.
Serb paramilitary forces are stationed in the
vicinity. A helicopter flew over the spot.
The situation in Deçan is dramatic. Sniper
shots are fired towards the scene of the crime.
Rexhep Shabanaj, Xhevdet A. Cacaj and Qazim H.
Shabanaj were arrested.
Foreign journalists are not allowed to enter
the town.
The situation in Baballoç is very grave.
During the night shooting from different kinds of
weapons could be heard.
MAY 7:
GJAKOVë: Large police and military forces
were stationed in the village of Deva on the
border with Albania. Trenches were opened and
tents were set-up. Soldiers sing Chetnik
songs and shoot at random.
In the village of Ponoshec, many houses were
raided and demolished. Many villagers
were arrested.
Since May 3, there is no information on the whereabouts
of the Zeqiri family. The following
are missing: Hysen (61), Ajmane (58), Isa (30),
Shkëlzen (15), Haxhi (58), Hyrë (54),
Zenije (27), Agron (20), Azem (50), Sabrije (48),
Skënder (20), Rukmane (68), Havë (30),
Fatjane (11) and Fatmire Zeqiri (13).
There is no information on the families of Qazim
and Milot Ibrahimaj, Hasan Idriz Rama,
Shaban Idrizi, on Muhamet Rama and his son, Qamil
Rama, Ibrahim Shabani, Nusha
Abdyli and her daughter, Selman Zeqa, Ukë
Rexhepi and Ukë Shabani from the village of
Ponoshec as well as Ukë Sahiti from Dubrava,
who was for a visit in Ponoshec. It is
believed that they were arrested. Yet, there
are doubts that they could have been
liquidated by the Serbian forces which have been
attacking the village.
A group of 12-14 people (women and elderly) were
brought to the police station in
Gjakova. They were arrested in Ponoshec, Morinë
and other villages of Reka e Keqe near
Gjakova.
Serbian forces shelled and destroyed the house
of Muharrem Demiri. Many houses in the
villages of Stublla and Morina on the border
with Albania were shelled, too.
DEÇAN: Life is "paralysed". Shops were
closed and schools do not work. The situation is
very tense.
Vehbi Mustafa from Peja, an employee of the Kozhnjeri
hydro power station, was killed
200 m from the monastery in Deçan.
The freedom of movement of civilians has been
denied in this region.
Boshko Vlahoviq, Esad Muminoviq and Misho Mijoviq,
workers with GE Kosova and
Dragisha Gjurishiq, worker with the Timber enterprise,
were wounded.
PRIZREN: From 8 p.m. until 11 p.m., shooting
could be heard from the outskirts of the
town. Snipers took position in a house in the
"Kurilla" quarter.
Police re-enforcement arrived in Landovica.
Serbian forces shelled the village of Gorozhup
on the border with Albania.
MAY 8:
GJAKOVA: Serbian forces are attacking with heavy
weaponry the villages of Ponoshec,
Morina and Smolica on the border with Albania.
In Ponoshec, the abandoned houses of the Rama,
Shabani and Neziri families were
shelled.
The situation in these villages is burdened by
the lack of food supply and medicine.
DEÇAN: Haki Dinë Kamberaj (36) from
the village of Lebusha, was killed by military forces
in the vicinity of the place called "Kroi i Vrellës".
He had left the house looking for his
brother and uncle.
A military convoy accompanied by tanks paraded
through the center of Deçan.
MAY 9:
GJAKOVA: The corpse of Ramë Ali Neziri (88)
from the village of Ponoshec was identified
in the city morgue in Gjakova. The deceased has
a severe injury on his head.
DEÇAN: There were fire shots towards the
village of Baballoç from 1 a.m. until 5 a.m.
There were large police movements towards the
village of Hulaj and other villages on the
border with Albania.
According to information from our field associates
large numbers of policemen and of
soldiers are deserting. Snipers are surveying
the terrain.
There is a lack of food and medicine. People
expect the help of humanitarian
organizations.
MAY 10:
DEÇAN: The situation in Deçan is
grave and deteriorating. There were large police and
military movements towards Gjakova and Baballoç.
Fire is opened on Baballoç, Gramaçel,
"Podi i Gështenjave" and the village of
Hulaj. Cannon fire was opened. This is one of the
strongest attacks of the Serbian police and military
forces.
A group of 40 policemen, accompanied by an armored
car, went to the "Zastava" Spare
Part Factory and beat-up watchmen Osman Bajram
Loshi (37) from the village of
Carrabreg i Epërm and Zenun Isuf Januzaj
(36) from Isniq. The 2 were taken to the police.
They were released after 10 hours of severe ill-treatment.
Due to injuries suffered they had
to seek for medical help.
A military convoy left Gjakova and headed for
Deçan. Soldiers provoked passers-by.
GJAKOVA: Serb forces shelled the villages of
Reka e Keqe on the border with Albania.
Many house are burning. A part of the village
was turned to ruins, especially the one
inhabited by the Dulaj, Aliaj, Bajrami, Ademi
and Ramaj families. Gjakova is kept under
siege.
The Çabrati hill was turned into a police
and military test range.
THE EVENTS IN DRENICA AND ITS SURROUNDINGS
MAY 3:
MITROVICA: A group of policemen, who were watching
over Avni Shala from Buroja,
physically ill-treated his father-in-law, Ramadan
Murtezaj (50) from Klina e Poshtme. The
latter went to hospital to see his wounded son-in-law.
MAY 4:
SKëNDERAJ: Large police and military re-enforcement
were stationed along the road from
Skënderaj to Runika and Mitrovica.
Sheqir Sinan Osaj (16), Fitim Hamdi Avdiu (17)
and Haxhi Muslim Avdiu (17) from Klina e
Epërme were ill-treated.
Flamur Adem Tahiri (24), an asylum-seeker repatriated
from Germany, was arrested by
the police at the check-point in Shipol.
GLLOGOC: In the vicinity of the "Hasan Prishtina"
Primary School in the village of
Llapushnik, a corpse was found. Since April 26,
large police forces were stationed in this
village.
Police transported Serbian refugees from Gllogoc
to Prishtina.
MAY 5:
GLLOGOC: The corpse of an unidentified person
was found near "Ura e Spahisë" on the
road from Gllogoc to Skënderaj. Later on,
the victim was identified as Vesel Krasniqi (48),
a forest ranger from Pustosella, a citizen loyal
to the Serbian regime.
Large police forces headed for Skënderaj
and other villages in the attacked region.
KLINA: The corpse of Nenad Jerediq (28) from
the village of Jashanica near Klina, an
employee with the post office in Ujmir, was found
in the village of Llapushnik. He was
killed under unknown circumstances.
The very same happened to Nazif Sinan Bashota
from Bubavec i Madh.
MALISHEVA: Policemen in the village of Bubavec
raided the families of Rexhep H.
Kryeziu, Gani D. Kryeziu and Jahir D. Kryeziu.
House furniture was demolished. Police
looted jewelry and seized 2 cars.
Police seized the passports of Alush and Rexhep
Kryeziu.
Alush, Qerim and Hafir Kryeziu, workers of the
"Vëllaznimi" enterprise, as well as Shkëlzen
Krasniqi, Shaban and Tahir Zogaj were physically
ill-treated.
Haxhi Ali Sertolli, a bus driver from Bellenica,
was stopped by the police and beaten-up in
the village of Duhla near Suhareka.
MITROVICA: 3 trucks, 2 jeeps and 2 police vehicles
as well as 15 military vehicles full of
soldiers left Mitrovica and headed for Skënderaj.
Groups of policemen were stationed along the
road from Mitrovica to Skënderaj.
Policemen went into the houses of Nezir Ahmet
Doroci (77) and Avdi Hajra in the village of
Broboniq.
GLLOGOC: One armored car, 2 APCs and 9 other
vehicles headed for Skënderaj.
Large movements were noticed on the road from
Komoran to Gjegjica.
Lulzim Metë Bujupi, a handicapped person
from the village of Arllat, was physically ill-
treated at the cross-road in Komoran.
The very same happened to another youngster,
who was kept tied to a tree in the village
of Llapushnik.
Lulzim Desku (1980) from Çikatova was
physically ill-treated by the police in Çikatova e
Re. He suffered many injuries.
RAHOVEC: Many policemen, accompanied by armored
cars and APCs, left Prizren and
headed for Rahovec. They went to Carevc, to the
place where the corpses of 6 Albanians
were found in the beginning of April.
MAY 6:
GLLOGOC: In the vicinity of Gjergjica, Albanian
villagers clashed with Serbian police
forces. Roads are blocked. Shops are closed and
schools do not work. Serbian forces did
not manage to enter the village.
Artillery fire was opened towards Llausha and
Morina.
Many police reservists were noticed in the center
of Gllogoc.
Sokol Gashi was arrested in Arllat. Police fired
bullets towards a passer-by.
SKëNDERAJ: Police forces in Llausha fired
bullets towards Hasan Babaj.
MALISHEVA: 3 armored cars and 3 APCs full of
policemen arrived in Bellanica and
headed for Duhla.
MAY 7:
SKëNDERAJ: Police entered Gllareva and beat-up
many villagers. Nezir Veseli (48) was
beaten-up until he fainted. Foreign journalists
gave him the first aid. Now, he is being
treated in his house.
Tafil Veseli (40) was beaten-up by the police
in Gllareva.
Shooting was heard from the villages of Turiqec
and Llausha.
Policemen are looting many houses in the villages
of Buroja, Vojnika, Kopiliqi Poshtëm,
Turiqec, etc.
Regardless of the tense situation, many families
have started to return to their homes. The
number of those returning is larger than the
number of those who flee the region.
KLINA: The situation is very tensed in the villages
of Gllareva, Gjurgjevik i Madh,
Përrçeva, Cerovik, Çabiq,
Ujmir, Dobërdol, etc. Loud detonations can be heard. Military
planes fly over the region. Police and military
re-enforcement continue to arrive. 2-3
policemen were brought to the health care center
in Klina.
GLLOGOC: Aziz Selman Gashi (1967) from the village
of Llapushnik was brutally beaten-
up by Serbian police.
MAY 8:
MALISHEVA: At about 3 p.m., an attack of the Serbian
police and military forces began,
over the villages of Llazica, Mleçan and
Balinca.
Mahmut Daut Kelmendi (60) and Nazif Ismail Kelmendi
(50) from Balinca were killed.
Nafije Kelmendi from Balinca was wounded.
On Saturday, the corpse of Rexhep Kelmendi (16)
was found.
SKëNDERAJ: There was shooting from the police
check-points in the district of Skënderaj.
The gravest situation is in Llausha. According
to Serb media 2 policemen were wounded.
War planes flew over Skënderaj and other
villages of the Drenica region. Two policemen,
Goran Kandiq (38) and Slavisha Umpaloviq (28)
from Zrenjanin, were wounded during the
attack over the police check-point in Llausha.
GLLOGOC: From 3 p.m. until 10 p.m., KLA units
clashed with Serbian police and military
forces. The clashes occurred in the villages
of Komoran, Llapushnik, Negroc, Arllat and
Balincë. Serbian forces from the police
check-point in Komoran used heavy weaponry.
The house of Isuf Dan Thaçi was hit.
One house in Gjergjica and one in Arllat were
hit.
7 tanks headed for the village of Llapushnik.
They had to return as they faced resistance
from the KLA.
Sefer Elshani (64) from the village of Gllobar
was wounded in the vicinity of the bridge in
Komoran. He died in hospital.
Halim Zeka, a driver, was severely ill-treated
in the outskirts of Komoran.
Shooting can be heard from the cross-road in
Komoran. Military forces are surveying the
terrain from the place called Quka e Zabelit
të Epërm. Police fired bullets from a machine
gun. many shops in the center of Gllogoc were
damaged. 2 armored cars and one APC
were damaged.
KLINA: Police and military movements continue
towards the villages in the district of Klina.
Policemen accompanied by armored cars attacked
the Pantinaj quarter. Many houses
were damaged or destroyed.
Ali, Zenel and Arif Pantina were arrested and
brutally ill-treated.
Agim Ymer Hasanaj (21) was killed in front of
his house in the village of Gllareva. A gun
was put near him and photos were taken. His father,
Ymer Hasanaj, and their relative
Xhafer Hasanaj, were arrested and physically
ill-treated. There is no information on their
whereabouts.
In the village of Gjurgjevik i Madh, the house
of Anton Nikë Zef Berisha was shelled. The
house of Zenel Pantina in Pantina was burnt.
There were detonations in Dobërdol.
The corpse of Besim Daut Halilaj (31) from the
village of Tërdevc was found in the village
of Llapushnik. He was killed during fighting
with the Serbian forces.
MAY 9:
GLLOGOC: Large police and military forces headed
for the village of Gjergjica. Fighting in
this village continues since 5 a.m.
A helicopter opened fire against the villagers
of Negroc, Llapushnik and Arllat. Fire is
opened on the villagers of Llapushnik. Many houses
are burning.
There are burning houses in the villages of Arllat
and Gjergjica, too. It is supposed that
many people were killed.
In the village of Llapushnik, a garage in the
house yard of Emin D. Thaçi was burnt. A
police APC was damaged.
KLINA: Brothers Palush and Llesh Prenaj from
the village of Gjurgjevik i Madh, Halit
Kapllanaj from Gllareva and 2 Albanian villagers
from Bokshiq and Volljakë, were brutally
beaten-up by the Serbian police. They were forced
out of the bus and taken to a near by
forest. There is no information on their whereabouts.
PRISHTINA: Milazim Krasniqi (1971) from the village
of Negrovc in the district of Gllogoc,
was stopped by the police and physically ill-treated.
Milazim suffers from kidney disease
and was going to Prishtina for medical treatment.
He was hit on his head and limbs.
MAY 10:
MALISHEVA: Large police forces went to "Ura e
Pishave" in the vicinity of Llazica. This is
the place where the corpse of the forest ranger,
Ahmet Doçi, was found. On May 8, he
was kidnapped by unidentified persons.
GLLOGOC: Since May 8, there is no information
on the whereabouts of Ramë Milazim
Thaçi (9) and Blerim Muhamet Thaçi
(9) from the village of Llapushnik.
Prishtina, May 10, 1998 Information Service