REPORT NO. 421
         ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION
         AND HARASSMENT PERPETRATED
           BY THE SERBIAN POLICE AND
           OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA
           FROM  JUNE  27
           UNTIL  JUNE  30, 1998

REPORT NO.421

ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION AND HARASSMENT PERPETRATED BY
THE SERBIAN POLICE AND OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA
FROM JUNE 27 UNTIL JUNE 30, 1998

     Many Albanians were killed, wounded, kidnapped, taken hostage, arrested and severely ill-treated whereas, many houses were burnt, destroyed and looted.
     On June 27, Naser Lani died and was buried in the village of Llausha near Skënderaj. He was heavily wounded during shelling by Serbian police and military forces. On June 27, Skënder Fejzullahu (24) from the village of Zabel i Poshtëm near Gllogoc, died. He was wounded on May 29, during the police action in the villages of Vukovc and Llapushnik. On June 27, Rexhep Binak Syla (55), a teacher from the village of Shishman, was killed in Reka e Keqe during clashes with Serbian police and military forces.
     On June 28, Emine Vilaku (50) died during the police intervention in Komoran. In the village of Drenoc, Serbian police and military forces killed Skënder Imer Ademi (51). On June 28, the names of the following 4 Albanians killed in the district of Deçan were reported: Halit Z. Tolaj (80) and his wife Zize Tolaj (75), Murat Z. Tolaj (75) and Mustafë Z. Tolaj (70). On June 28, the corpses of 4 Albanians were found in Qafa e Goleshit near Lipjan.
     On June 29, Behar Gojnovci (8) from the village of Lismir was heavily wounded. Later on, he died due to injuries suffered as no medical assistance was given to him. Hajrullah Konjuhi (56) from Lismir was wounded. On June 29, Xhemail A. Mehmeti (1948), Mentor Dervishaj (1977) and Ismet S. Ukaj (1958) were killed in the village of Hade near Obiliq during clashes with Serbian police and military forces. Ajet Dedinca (48) from Lajthishta was killed in Fshat i Mirë (Dobrosellë).
     On June 30, Serb media quoted sources from the Yugoslav army stating that 8 Albanians were killed on the border zone with Albania. Allegedly, the group had attacked the border guard. All in all, 25 Albanians were killed by Serbian police, military and paramilitary forces.

THE COURSE OF EVENTS:

JUNE 27:

     GLLOGOC: On May 29, Skënder Fejzullahu (24) from the village of Zabel i Poshtëm was wounded. On June 27, he died and was buried in his hometown. Serbian police and military forces stationed in Komoran opened fire from armoured cars towards the Llapushniku Gorge. Large groups of Serbian policemen were stationed in a block of flats and in the unfinished building of the bus station. During the last 3 days, Serbian policemen opened sniper fire from the building of the local post office. Policemen opened fire towards the villagers of Shtrubullova and Çikatova e Re. Women and children have fled towards safer places.
     SKëNDERAJ: Naser Lani died and was buried in the village of Llausha. He was wounded a few days earlier during shelling by Serbian police and military forces.
     DEÇAN: Since early in the morning, Serbian forces are shelling with heavy artillery the villages of Prejlep and Carrabreg i Poshtëm. The shelling continued in the afternoon. There are no reports on eventual casualties. The situation is grave due to lack of food and medical supplies. In Deçan, police is preventing people from collecting the corpses of the killed. Serbian police and military forces in the vicinity of the village of Raushiq and along the road from Peja to Deçan and Gjakova were reinforced.
     KLINA: 4 military helicopters flew over Klina, bombed the village of Cerrovik and went towards Kijeva. In Cerrovik, the house of Aziz Rama was hit. Helicopters bombed the villages of Bubavec, Llozicë and Mleçan near Malisheva and Dollc near Klina. In the Perlina quarter in Klina, the house of Beqir Raci was hit.      According to the Gashi family in Kijeva, there is no information on the whereabouts of Selman Sokol Gashi (1951), deaf and dumb. Selman was employed in the "Malishgani" enterprise. He was last seen at the train station in Kijeva.
     Serb commando units, stationed in the "Nora" motel in the village of Zajm, ordered Nezir Foniqi to tell his fellow villagers that they are to leave their houses and the village itself. Otherwise, would all be executed. The houses of Ramiz and Abaz Foniqi as well as those of the Hoti brothers in the vicinity of this motel were raided and looted. A sniper shot was fired towards the car driven by Abaz.
     GJAKOVA: Rexhep Binak Syla (55), a teacher from the village of Shishman near Boka, was killed in Reka e Keqe during clashes with Serbian police and military forces. Serbian snipers were stationed in Albanian houses in Shishman. They are opening fire on the villages in this region.
     Since early in the morning, Serbian civilians are being mobilized in the military barracks in Gjakova. Weapons and military uniforms are given to them. In the vicinity of "Ura e Tabakëve", in the outskirts of Gjakova, Serbian police stopped the buses of "Bibaj Trade" and "Brovina Tours". Some 200 passengers were prevented from reaching the town.
     SHTIME: Serbian forces stationed in Kryqi i Belincit are shelling in the direction of Carraleva. The house of Sami Salihaj was destroyed. The houses of Behxhet Halili and Ymri Feka, as well as many others in the Balaj quarter were damaged. 3 tanks entered the village and encountering with armed resistance were forced to withdraw. Serbian forces mined the road connecting the villages of Godanc i Poshtëm and Zborc.
     MALISHEVA: 3 helicopters of the Yugoslav army opened fire on the villages of Llazica, Mleçan and Bubavec near Malisheva and Cerrovik near Klina. 40 villages in the district of Malisheva were left without electric power.
     OBILIQ: A military plane flew over the village of Sllatina e Madhe. Later on, a military convoy comprised of more than a hundred vehicles, tanks, trucks full of soldiers and armored cars was stationed in the vicinity of Sllatina. At 10 p.m., fire was opened on the village of Palaj.
     ISTOG: Serbian police beat up Xhevdet Blakaj (34), Fitim Alushaj and Hivzi Imeraj, mill workers, at the crossroad in Shushica e Poshtme, on the road Istog-Rakosh.
     RAHOVEC: Përparim M. Bytyçi from Opterusha was subjected to severe ill-treatment by Serbian police in Mamusha near Prizren. He was stabbed on his left shoulder.
     MITROVICA: In the vicinity of the "Mokra Gora" Forest Enterprise, 4 policemen stopped and physically ill-treated Shefqet Hysen Dobërlluka (44), "Tavnik" quarter.
     VUSHTRRI: Serbian military forces stationed in the village of Frashër near Mitrovica and Taraxha near Vushtrri shelled the villages of Pantina and Okrashtica. In Pantina, the house of Bilall Imeri was shelled. At the check-point in Nedakoc, police severely ill-treated Arif Daci from Rozhaja, Florije Muriqi, Rukije, Sabrije and Dëfrim Musaj from Deçan. Due to injuries suffered, Arif had to seek for medical assistance.
     SUHAREKA: Serbian policemen arrested Albin Jahjaga (1978) and took him to the Security Center in Prizren.
     FERIZAJ: At the check-point in Gërlica, police are shooting in order to create panic among the villagers of Gërlica and Komogllava.
     PEJA: On the road from Peja through Kulla to Rozhaja, police arrested a wounded Albanian, who was travelling with his family, and Musa Arif Krasniqi (70) from Prapaqan near Deçan, Çaush and Miftar Berisha from Baran near Peja.
     LIPJAN: In the vicinity of Magura, Serbian police severely ill-treated Petrit Osmani (34), a bus driver, who was returning from Shala e Drenicës. In Magura, police physically ill-treated Shefqet Bytyçi and Ramiz Nishori-both from Magura.

JUNE 28:

     LIPJAN: The corpses of 4 unidentified Albanians were found in Qafa e Goleshit. The situation in Magura and its surroundings is very grave. Many villagers, especially women and children have fled their houses.
     FUSHë KOSOVA: Serbian military forces opened fire towards Bardhi i Madh.
     GLLOGOC: During the police intervention in Komoran, Emine Vilaku (50) died due to the shock suffered. In Sllatina e Madhe, police stopped the bus travelling on the road from Magura to Prishtina. 6 passengers were forced out of the bus and taken to an unknown direction. Izet Sadri Ajazi (40) from the village of Sankoc near Gllogoc, a worker with "Kosova" GE, was among the detained.
     On June 26, Serbian military forces were stationed in the Poultry Farm in Krivova. They have opened trenches and have fired a missile towards the village of Golesh. The missile fell in Sankoc. Serbian soldiers paraded through Sankoc. Many police vehicles paraded on the road from the police station to the cross- road to Skënderaj. They opened machine gun fire. Police opened fire in the center of the town. The house of Shaban Hajdari was hit. Fire was opened towards the Llapushniku Gorge.
     SKëNDERAJ: Serbian police and military forces accompanied by tanks, cannons and armoured cars attacked the village of Tërnavc. The houses of Hajdar, Januz, Sheshivar and Xhafer Syla were destroyed. The very same happened to Sylë Haxhiu's shop. Many houses were damaged and an 8 year old girl was wounded. In Tërnavc, Serbian forces set fire to 12 Albanian houses. The action of the Serbian forces was stopped with the intervention of KLA units.
     DEÇAN: On June 28, the names of the following 4 Albanians killed in the district of Deçan were reported: Halit Z. Tolaj (80), Murat Z. Tolaj (75), Mustafë Z. Tolaj (70) and Zize Halit Tolaj (75). Serbian forces stationed in Suka e Biteshit shelled the village of Gramaçel. The building of the "Drita" Primary School was damaged. A helicopter flew over the town and the surrounding villages. There were clashes in the villages of Prejlep, Rastavicë, Voksh, Strellc i Epërm and Baballoç.
     KLINA: Serbian police, military and paramilitary forces attacked the village of Drenoc near Klina. Skënder Imer Ademi (51) was killed whereas, Shaip Krasniqi (30), Betim Xhevdet Fejza (12), Fidan Rasim Agushi (12), Arben Hamzë Fejza (17) and Labinot Ismet Fejza (10) were wounded. Çaush Haxhi Fazliu (38) and Xhafer Ymer Ademaj (47) were kidnapped. The villagers of Drenoc, women, children and elderly, did not manage to flee out of the village and their lives are endangered by Serbian police and military forces as well as by groups of armed Serbian civilians.
     FERIZAJ: Serbian police undertook a wide campaign of arrests of sub-CDHRF and LDK activists. During the police action many houses were raided and demolished. The following were arrested: Skënder Ferizi, chairman of the sub-CDHRF in Ferizaj; Besim Zymberi (1968) from Varosh, desk officer of the sub-CDHRF and his father Muhamet (1939); Sylejman Bytyçi (1952), member of the Board of the LDK branch in Ferizaj; Fadil Shabani (1955), activist of the LDK and his father Haziz (1933); On raiding the houses police opened fire. Shaip Çerkini and Xhavit Zariqi (1960) from Rahovica, were arrested. On raiding the house of Milaim Jashari, member of the Board of the sub-CDHRF, police took hostage his son Zylbehar (1977). He was brutally beaten. In the house of Rafiz Sejdiu, former activist of the LDK in Doganaj, police took hostage his father, Kadri Sejdiu (70), and severely ill-treated his brother Isuf. Isuf was threatened to be arrested unless his father reported to the police. In the village of Plishina, police arrested Qamil Hysen Hoxha (1966). Later on, he was released. In Ferizaj, police searched for weapons in the house of Nazmi Krasniqi (46), activist of the LDK.
     GJILAN: Serbian police raided and looted the house of Isuf Bajrami (1963) in Gjilan. He was severely ill-treated as he did not admit of having tried to establish a KLA group. Police raided the house of Milaim Bilalli (1973) in the village of Pidiq. He was tortured. Weapons were distributed to Serbian civilians. Large Serbian forces were stationed in the forests in the vicinity of Zhegra and Veleknica, along the road from Gjilan to Presheva.
     VUSHTRRI: At midnight, Serbian villagers from Pestova opened fire in all directions.
     ISTOG: In Savinavoda, Sylë Maksutaj from the village of Sudenica was taken out of the bus and was severely ill-treated by the police. He was returning from the meeting of the LRDK in Prishtina.  He was kept in the police station and was released the next day in a deteriorated health condition.

JUNE 29:

     OBILIQ: Since 5 a.m., Serbian police and military forces stationed in Crkvena Vodica, Janja Voda and in Fshat i Mirë are shelling the villages of Hade, Lajthishta and Hamidi. The Avdijaj, Morina and Grajçevci quarters (the houses of Hasan, Shaip and Mustafë Grajçevci) in Hada are in fire. The very same happened to the Dedinca quarter in Lajthishta. Xhemail A. Mehmeti (1948), Mentor Dervishaj (1977) and Ismet S. Ukaj (1958) were killed in the village of Hade, during clashes with Serbian police and military forces. Ajet Dedinca (40) from Lajthishta was killed in Fshat i Mirë. His body could not be picked up due to sniper fire. Behar Gojnovci (8) was heavily wounded in the village of Lismir. He died of injuries suffered. Hajrullah Konjuhi (56) from Lismir was heavily wounded. 2 grenades were fired on the Mexhuani quarter in Sibovc. Armed Serbian civilians are parading through the center of Obiliq.
     GJAKOVA: Military-police forces shelled the villages of Nec, Smolica, Berjaha, Stublla, Morina, Cërmjan i Poshtëm, etc.
     SKëNDERAJ: The situation in Skënderaj and the villages around: Klina e Epërme, Polac, Runika, Llausha, etc., continues to be very grave. On the road Skënderaj-Mitrovica, Serbian forces opened fire towards the bus with passengers travelling from Mitrovica to Skënderaj. Passengers, among whom women and children, went out of the bus and ran towards different directions. Several passengers were wounded, among whom Musli Bajraktari (57) from Klina e Epërme, who was given first aid in Prekaz i Epërm. Police shot towards 5 people travelling by tractor. They also damaged some houses in Tërrnac and wounded Halim Avdiu (47) in his yard in Klina e Epërme. There were fierce clashes between Serbian forces and KLA units in Runika.
     GLLOGOC: Bejzat Zenel Krasniqi from Negroc is still missing.
     DEÇAN: Military-police forces from their bases at Podi i Gështenjave, Hulaj, Suka e Baballoçit and Ura e Hasanajve shelled the villages in the district of Deçan. Dinë Rexhep Cenaj (62) from Lloçan, who had remained to guard his house and property, disappeared two weeks ago and is still missing.
     KLINA: After the attack of Serbian military-police and paramilitary forces in Drenoc near Klina, 53 elderly, women and children managed to escape, but the whereabouts of 20 other people are unknown.
     PEJA: According to some information, the following Albanian citizens are kept detained in the Prison of Peja: Ramiz Ramë Memia (1968), Bujar Hysen Sylaj (1978), Orman Halit Kortoqi (1961), Ilir Avdyl Kortoçi (1974), Avni Brahim Memia (1960) and Trashëgim Rrustem Kortoçi (1980), all from the villages in the district of Tropoja.
     ISTOG: At some police stations in Istog, weapons were distributed to Serbs and Montenegrins.
     VITIA: In Kllokot, mainly inhabited by Serbs and Montenegrins, Police distributed weapons to the villagers.
     PRISHTINA: Serbian soldiers in Sllatina arrested Ukë Gashi (1958), a jurist from Prishtina, and Agim Ipshi (43) from Sedllar near Lipjan, took them to their barracks at the Sllatina airport and beat them. Afterwards, both were taken to Lipjan and ill- treated severely. Fahrije Qorraj (1971), a student from Carrabreg i Poshtëm near Deçan, stated that Zeqir Halil Qorraj (66) from Carrabreg i Poshtëm, suffering from diabetic, is missing since the end of May.
     LIPJAN: Serbian police arrested and later on released Hasan Luma, principal of "Skënderbeu" Primary School in Kraishta and an LDK activist. Serbian police beat Shefik Hasani from Gllogoc near Lipjan and took a fuel tank from him under the pretext that he was supplying the KLA with fuel.
     FERIZAJ: Large police forces raided the houses of Sylejman Bytyçi in Ferizaj and Muhamet Zymberi in Varosh. They arrested Naim Zymberi, an activist of the Sub-CDHRF, who was released after being interrogated.
     MITROVICA: Birth registers from the municipality building in Mitrovica were transported towards Kraleva in Serbia.
     KAMENICA: Large police forces were stationed on the road Rogoçica-Karaçeva-Muhoc and are checking and provoking passers-by. A military convoy from Gjilan headed for Bujanoc.
     GJILAN: Azem Miftari (1968) from Zhegra and Fatmir Ivesnica (1972) from Gjilan, "Bojana" st.210, were arrested, severely ill- treated and sentenced to prison terms for petty-offences. The pretext was that they participated in peaceful pan-national protests on 29 April. A convoy of reservists headed towards Ferizaj, whereas in Gjilan district authorities ordered that all vehicles are to be made available.
     PRIZREN: In the vicinity of gas station, police arrested Viktor Markaj (1965) from Sallagrazhda and Sylë Basha from Vraniq, LDK activists, and took them to the Security Centre. Both were handcuffed and were subjected to threats for 8 hours. They were also provoked and called "terrorists", etc.
     KAÇANIK: At the check-point in Gërlica near Ferizaj, Serbian police stopped and physically ill-treated Jeton Baki Kuçi (1971) and Bafti Ali Kuçi (1975), a teacher, - both from Kotlina, as they possessed the emblem of the Albanian Democratic Party in Macedonia.

JUNE 30:

     PRISHTINA: Serbian media, citing the sources of Yugoslav Army, informed that at least 8 Albanians were killed on the bordering zone Albania-Kosova, north-west of Gjakova.
     In Prishtina, Serbian police wounded Ylber Topalli (30), chairman of the LDK sub-branch in Greme near Ferizaj, who was detained several days before. He tried to escape when he was brought to the Serbian Run District Court. Police wounded a passer- by, too, who was taken to hospital. The escapee seemed to have undergone torture.
     Lilana Vukmirovic, cashier with "P. P. Njegosh" Primary School in Millosheva, stated that Dragan Milo Vukmirovic (1958) from Millosheva was kidnapped in Bardh i Madh on June 21. Such a statement was given by Svetislav K. Vojnovic from Prilluzha, a commercialist with "Energoinvest", regarding the kidnapping of his nephew Bozhidar Lempic (1959) from Gojbula near Vushtrri.
     SKëNDERAJ: Xhemajl A. Mehmeti (1978), Mentor Dervishaj (1977) and Ismet S. Ukaj (1958), killed by military-police forces in Hade near Obiliq, were buried in Tica near Drenica.
     FUSHë-KOSOVA: Military-police and paramilitary forces attacked Albanian settlements Bardh i Madh, Grabovc and Lajthishta. Grave situation is prevailing in Fushë-Kosova. A bomb was thrown at the house of Ilmi Ademi. Due to lack of food and medicines, situation is very grave.
     Due to the spread of the attacks of Serbian forces in the district of Fushë-Kosova and Obiliq, on the north of Prishtina, Albanian population from many villages of Fushë-Kosova, Obiliq and Vushtrri is fleeing. Many elderly, women and children from the villages of Lajthishta, Sibovc, Gllavotin, Zhilivoda and Strovc, threatened by Serbian forces, fled their homes and left towards Drenica through Qyqavica mountain.
     OBILIQ: Serbian military-police forces threw 14 "Kaqusha" rockets towards Bardh i Madh and shelled Hade. Population of Bardhi i Madh, Grabovc i Poshtëm, Grabovc i Epërm, Pomozotin and Lismir (mainly women, children and elderly) left towards Prishtina and Fushë-Kosova. In Bardh i Madh, the houses in Xhigolli and Kostajnica quarters were damaged. Military-police and paramilitary forces were stationed at "Pandeli Sotiri" Primary School and "Hasan Tahsini" Secondary School.
     DEÇAN: Military-police forces from Suka e Biteshit, Ura e Hasanajve and road Deçan-Gjakova shelled the villages of Prejlep, Shaptej, Gramaçel, Isniq, Strellc i Epërm. Snipers are shooting those that dare to go out of their houses. They are also burning and looting the houses of Albanian inhabitants. Many families that took shelter in Lugu i Baranit are in a very grave condition.
     GLLOGOC: Yugoslav army stationed at Çuka e Zabelit headed towards Fushtica in Zogaj quarter in Komoran in order to cause panic among the local Albanian population. Shots were heard from armoured cars and artilleric weapons. Military-police forces opened fire towards Llapushniku Gorge. In Vukovc, houses and cattle food were burned due to shelling.
     GJAKOVA: Serbian forces from Çabrat and other positions opened fire towards the villages of Nec, Ramoc, Smolica, Stublla, Bërjaha, Cërmjan. Prevailing situation in Gjakova is very grave. There is lack of food and medicines.
     Serbian police arrested Xhemajl Sylë Rama from Dobresh, a worker with "Elektroekonomia", who is still under arrest.
     SHTIME: Serbian forces, stationed at Kryqi i Belincit, shelled Carraleva, Belinc and villages around. Abdullah (50) and Fehmi Krasniqi (30) were wounded. Serbs and breaking into and looting the Albanian houses.
     KLINA: In Drenoc, police opened fire towards the bus of "Abazi" agency and prevented the movement from Klina to Peja. In Klina, police intervened at the market and beat up Albanian merchants.
     RAHOVEC: Large police forces blocked the road Rahovec- Opterusha and prevented the farmers from going to the fields to work. They also prevented passengers from Opterusha and Zoqishta from going to Rahovec.
     FERIZAJ: In "17 Nëntori" st., police physically ill-treated an unknown passer-by. Police searched for weapons at the house of Muhamet Zymberi. A police squad opened fire in Sojeva.
     SUHAREKA: Military-police forces were stationed in Biraç and Shiroka and in the vicinity of Rubber Plant. The population is fleeing Suhareka, Mushtisht, Leshan and Reçan. Police intervened and beat up many citizens, waiting in a queue at the gas station, looted and ill-treated the owners of some shops and consumers. At "Rrushi" shop, owned by Behxhet Kuçi, police looted alcoholic drinks and opened fire towards the village of Peqan and farmers on the fields.
     KAMENICA: Ragip N. Pireva, an LDK activist, was taken for informative talks for the third time by Goran Stamenkovic. He was provoked and threatened.
     GJILAN: Many people stated to Sub-CDHRF that, while passing near-by the prison, they heard terrifying cries of the arrested, tortured by Serbian security authorities and police.

DELAYED INFORMATION:

     PEJA: On June 20, in the village of Loxha, Serbian police arrested Sadik Adem Haradinaj (1975) from Lubeniq. He is under investigative proceedings. On June 25, at the check-point on the road Peja-Rozhaja, Serbian police arrested Damjan Lush Berisha (30) from Llugaxhia near Lugu i Baranit, took him to the Security Centre in Peja. He was released the next day. On June 26, Serbian police arrested Remzi Kelmendi and Skënder Kada, "Kapeshnica" quarter, who were collecting contributions from the citizens.
     ISTOG: On June 20, at the check-point in Rakosh, police physically ill-treated Safet Fekaj from Kërrnina e Epërme. On June 25, in downtown Istog, police physically ill-treated Xhevdet Gjocaj from Kovrraga. On June 26, at the check-point in Rakosh, policeman called Pituliq from Dubrava severely ill-treated Skënder Jahaj (40) from Uça near Istog, owner of the buses travelling in the direction Istog-Rakosh. The very same day, at the very same check-point, police ill-treated Ukshin, Naser and Skënder Haziraj, all from Rakosh.
     SKëNDERAJ: On June 25, in Jashanica near Klina, Nasuf Azem Hyseni (1960) from Plluzhina disappeared.
     OBILIQ: On June 25, guards of KOSOVA GE ill-treated Albanian workers Shyqeri and Nezir Mjekiqi from Graboc, Ragip Shala from Fushë-Kosova and Mehdi Shala and Izet Morina from Hade. In Obiliq, weapons were distributed to Serbian civilians.
     VITIA: On June 26, weapons were loaded in a lorry and under police escort were transported to some villages inhabited by Serbs.
     GJILAN: On June 26, 10 policemen searched for weapons at the house of Muharrem Vokshi (1978), a worker, "Qenar çeshme" st.58, who was arrested and kept at the police station for 4 hours. He was subjected to severe ill-treatment and threatened to be taken again if he did not inform on the KLA. In the vicinity of the green market in Prishtina, Serbian policemen stopped Ilir Kërqeli (1977) from Gjilan, "Abdullah Presheva" st.540, and demanded foreign currency from him. As he did not have any, they took him into a Serb's house and beat him. Due to injuries suffered, Ilir had to seek for medical assistance.

Prishtina, July 1, 1998                      Information Service