REPORT NO. 425
         ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION
         AND HARASSMENT PERPETRATED
           BY THE SERBIAN POLICE AND
           OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA
           FROM  JULY 19
           UNTIL  JULY  23, 1998

REPORT NO. 425

ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION AND HARASSMENT PERPETRATED BY
THE SERBIAN POLICE AND OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA
FROM JULY 19 UNTIL JULY 23, 1998

JULY 19:

     RAHOVEC: The whole town of Rahovec is in fire. There are fierce clashes in the town and its surroundings. Serbian police, military and paramilitary forces burned a large part of the village of Bellacërka. The following were killed: Ibrahim Popaj (82) and his wife Hamide (70), Ismail Popaj's wife, Halim Kelmendi and his brother. Selim Popaj was wounded. The villagers of Bellacërka, Sopniq and Xërxa have fled their homes. 10.000 escapees were settled in the village of Ostrozub, and there is a lack of food and medicaments. In Rahovec, the following were arrested: brothers Isuf, Ismet and Mehdi Kollari, Beqir Kollari, Behxhet ?, 4 brothers Bekeri, Masar Ejupi, Agim Canziba, Mustafë Kasapi and his son and another citizen from Prizren.
     DEÇAN: According to eye-witnesses, on July 18, Serbian police and military forces perpetrated a massacre on the border zone with Albania. Women, children and elderly, were massacred. The majority were from the district of Deçan. The attack began at 2.30 a.m., when a line of 120 persons crossed the border at the place called Padesh, at the C-82 pyramid. Two mines exploded and after a minute, shelling and fire from all kinds of weapons began. Fire was opened from three directions. Dum-dum bullets were used. This happened in the vicinity of the mountain huts in Junik, at the place called Rrasat e Zogut. It is believed that at least 60 Albanians, mainly women and children were killed.
     The previous night, shots from all kinds of weapons were heard and lots of material damage was caused.
     GJAKOVA: During the attack of Serbian police and military forces at the border with Albania, Adil Hasanaj (83) from the village of Smolica, was killed at his home, and three Albanians were wounded. One of them was sent for interrogation to the Peja prison.
     PRIZREN: Three Serbian civilians kidnapped Mirsad Skënderi (1997), living in "Rugova" street, no. 29. He was brutally beaten at the "Kurila" quarter. Serbian snipers were stationed on top of the hospital building. Two dead soldiers and 2 wounded were brought to this hospital.
FERIZAJ: 50 policemen and many civilians from the villages of Nerodima e Poshtme, Nerodima e Epërme and the Stojkoviq quarter in Balaj were stationed at the police station in Nerodima. Fire shots could be heard until early in the morning. In the vicinity of the TV transmitter in Kashtanjeva, a police and military base was set up. Police are preventing shepherds from grazing their cattle. At the check-point in Nedakoc near Vushtrria, Serbian police severely ill-treated Jeton Izet Imeri (1979) from Komogllava.
PODUJEVA: In Penuha, Serbian police opened fire on the car of Ymer Maçastena from Lumbardh.
MITROVICA: At the check-point in Klina e Epërme near Skënderaj, Serbian police wounded Mexhit Brahim Kurti (63) from Qabra near Zubin Potok, living in the "Tavnik" quarter in Mitrovica.
Unidentified persons attacked the house of Xhemajl Zejnullah Kabashi (60) in "Kroi i Vitakut" quarter. They broke house windows. A few days earlier, the very same had burned the house of his son, Bashkim Kabashi (40) and had set fire to the house of Agim Kabashi (38). 4 policemen stopped Smajl Adem Tahiri (60) and his son Imer Tahiri (14), living in Tuneli i Parë. They were severely ill-treated by the policemen named Mirko, who is a neighbour of their's.
SHTIME: At the check-point in "Kodra e Gështenjave", Serbian police stopped and brutally beat Veli Ismajl Ademaj (35) from the village of Petrova. They opened fire towards the shepherds who were grazing their cattle: Rejhan Neziraj (7), Nelson Neziraj (11), Murtez Ismajli (48) and Sabri Neziraj (60) - all from Mullopolc.
VUSHTRRI: In front of the Health Care Center, police beat Xhafer (29) and Skënder Xhafa (27) from Sfaraqak i Poshtëm. They were taking Skënder's wife, Luljeta (24) to hospital.
KAÇANIK: At the check-point in Doganaj, Serbian police stopped and physically ill-treated Selim Gjokli (1939) from Doganaj.
PRISHTINA: Police raided the house of Salih Morina. They were searching for people who had fled from the regions affected with war.

JULY 20:

PRIZREN: The corpses of 12 unidentified Albanians were taken to the morgue of the Prizreni hospital. 5 wounded Albanians: Jemin Halit Hondozi (1974), Albanore Vehbi Hoxha (1981), Samere Nurshaba (1991), Abdullah Nurshaba (1994) and Rexhep Nurshaba, were taken to this hospital. At the check-point in Podujeva, police stopped Bislim Kolukaj (1944) from Petrova, Rasim Musa (1971) from Lubizhda near Has and Ismail Badalli (1943) from Zhur, workers temporarily employed in Slovenia. DM 9700 were looted from Bislim, 6400 from Ismail and 30.000 from an unidentified girl.
SKëNDERAJ: The "Lagja e Re" quarter in Skënderaj was shelled. Many houses were damaged. Serbian police and military forces shelled the Spahiu, Zejnullahu, Rrecaj and Gecaj quarters in Llausha. There were big material losses.
GJAKOVA: Serbian police and military forces shelled with heavy artillery the following villages of Reka e Keqe: Nec, Smolica and Stublla. Avdyl, Mustafë, Burim, Behar, Agim, Kujtim, Valon, Kastriot, Valdet, Flamur, Zenel and Fadil Jetishi from Gjakova and an Albanian citizen from the village of Piraj were taken to the Peja prison.
FERIZAJ: In the vicinity of the places called "Bashkimi i Lumenjëve", "Madeni i Gurëve" and Jezerc, there were clashes between Serbian forces and the KLA. Serbian forces blocked the village of Nerodimja e Epërme. The Albanian villagers from Nerodimja e Poshtme and Manastirc were sheltered in Pleshina and Ferizaj.
     Serbian police stopped the bus from Prizren and sent it for a check to the Security Center in Ferizaj.
SUHAREKA: During the last 2 days, Serbian forces shelled towards the villages of Reçan, Javor and Luzhnica.
Sanije Zeqiraj (1951), a teacher, chairperson of the Women's Forum in Suhareka, and 10 passengers were taken out of the bus and sent to the police station in Prizren. She was threatened to be raped, insulted and provoked. Her passport was seized. The other passengers were severely ill-treated. They were released after 7 hours. Sanija stated that she had been placed in a room with 4 Albanians, who were arrested and ill-treated. She had seen a truck full of wounded people from Rahovec.
Ismet Ramadan Gashi (22) from Shiroka was stopped and beaten by the police. Police fired bullets in order to frighten him. Police stopped the buses of the "Arbëria" and "Fati Tours" travel agencies from Suhareka, which were full of passengers from the Malisheva region.
OBILIQ: Serbian forces stationed in Plemetin opened fire towards  Hamidia. Serb reinforcements were brought to Janovoda and Plemetin.
The situation is very tense in the villages of Hamidia, Lajthishta, Sibovc, Palaj and the Miniera quarter. Serbian forces stationed at the place called "Kërshat" near Graboc are surveying all movement. The situation in Obiliq is very grave, especially due to lack of food and medicine.
VUSHTRRI: Military forces stationed in Brusnik shelled the villages of Brusnik, Kolla and Shala.
KLINA: Lubisha Bogosavleviq beat his neighbour Ramadan Maxhuni from Poterç i Poshtëm. Ramadan suffered body injuries.
PEJA: Serbs broke the windows in the shop of Selman Muriqi. The very same was done to the truck of Sokol Muriqi. Unidentified persons broke the windows of the "Loxha" Driving School, owned by Qazim Shala.
PODUJEVA: At 4 a.m., a military convoy passed through Podujeva and headed for Prishtina. In Peran, Serbian police physically ill-treated Bajram Mustafa, a former policeman from this village.
ZHUR: The bus of the "Arbëria" Travel Agency, travelling from Lubjana to Prizren, was stopped by the Serbian police in Ferizaj and at the check-point in Shtërpca. Money was looted from the 60 passengers and they were physically ill-treated. It is estimated that DM 150.000 were taken from the passengers. They were given receipts and ordered to report to the Security Center in Prizren on July 22.
PRISHTINA: Serbian police intervened in the offices of the third branch of the LDK in Prishtina and interrogated those present on the activity of this branch. Police stopped the bus of the "Fati Tours" Travel Agency and looted DM 120.000 from the passengers (50). DM 2.500 were taken from Rexhep Fazliu, a worker in Slovenia. At the crossroad in the village of Shkabaj, Serbian police stopped and physically ill-treated Lutfi Konjusha and Gazmend Hyseni from Sibovc, activists with the "Mother Theresa" Humanitarian ë Charitable Association.
ISTOG: While travelling from Tutin to Istog, Driton Mavraj, a student from Saradran, and Zenel Hoxhaj from Pekalla were arrested by the police and sent to the prison in Novi-Pazar.
MITROVICA: Two military convoys arrived from Rashka. Police beat Isak Xhemajl Jusufi (20) from Koshtova. At the bus station, police arrested Ali Ramë Brahimi (57), living in the "Bair" quarter. He was beaten and DM 200 were taken from him.
VITI: At the check-point in Gërlica, Serbian police stopped and physically ill-treated Muhabi Ajeti (1974) from Debëllda. Due to injuries suffered he presented the medical report.

JULY 21:

PRIZREN: According to information from Rahovec, terror prevails in this town. There are many killed and massacred on the streets. In the "Sheh Myhedini" masjid, many women, children and elderly, who had sought shelter there, were killed. At the place called "Tumba", professors Haxhi Sharku and Ali Percaj were killed. 6 carbonized corpses were found there. The following were killed on the streets of Rahovec: Ramadan Abaz Ibra (58), his wife (56), daughter Bula Ibra (22), Emsale Shala (27), Abdullah Bugari (37), Kadri Cena (43), Sakip Bugari (50), the wife of Hysen Bugari (58) and professors Hasan Shtavica, Faik Sylka and Xhemajl Ramqaj. In Bllata, 5 unidentified Albanians were killed. The houses of the following were burned: Xhemajli Mustafa, Gani Jahaj, Hidajet Haxhijahaj, Jusuf Haxhijahaj, Sakip Shehu, Selami Osaj, Latif Mustafa, Hidajet Kasapi, Xhemajli Kadiri, Dervish Lamaj, Xhelal Jupaj, Sami Rama, Hasan Dema, Haxhi Topalli, Idriz Bytyçi, Ramiz Bytyçi, Sali Shala, Bashkim Tara, Qerim Cana, Hasan Jeminhazeri and Xhemajl Canziba. The building in the vicinity of the post office, the "Park" Motel and the "Haxhijaha" Gas Station were burned, too. Shani Sylka, khoja with the local mosque, Luan Vuçitërna and Vëllaznim Canziba were wounded. The following were taken hostage: Merita Mustafa (25) and her baby, Ali Mustafaj (35), Liridon Mustafa (3), Veton Mustafa (7), Satkie Mustafa (23), Muharrem Mustafa (42), Vezire Mustafa (35), Xhemile Mustafa (75), Muhidin Mustafa (65), Ilaz Shala (55), Xhemajli Iska with his family, Maliq Kerdali with his family, Nait Sali Musa with his son, Abaz Mullauka (42), Rasim Vuçitërna (68), Xhevdet Vuçitërna with his wife and 2 sons, Fahredin Merxhaj (56), Mejreme Merxhaj (52), Hidajete Merxhaj with her daughter, Ali Shala with 8 members of his family, Qemajl (47), Mejdin (47), Muharrem (37) and Bekim Bekeri (35) with his family members. The following are considered missing: Hadi Sokoli (32), Hivzi Shehu (30), Sabit Shehu (26), Sedat Shehu (27), Esat Shehu (20) with his family, Shani Haxhijaha (35), Nijazi Mullauka (68), Nijazi Rama with 10 members of his family, Hanife Kollari (70), Ilir Hasku with 6 members of his family, Osman Mullaabazi with his family, Muhamet Sylejmani, Eqrem Dërguti with his wife, Bademe Jahiraga (70), Nesim Shala with his family, Ramadan Dina with his family, Fahredin Dina with his family, Latif Veliu with his family, Qerim Cena (32), Shefqet Derguti (52) with his wife, Sadik Derguti (32), Muzair Mejzini, Fatime Kasapi, Qazim Kasapi, Lirie Kasapi, Sanie Kasapi with her 2 sons Bekim and Burim and daughter Leoreta.
2 trucks with detainees were taken to Prizren. Women were released whereas, the men were kept in detention. Today, 91 detainees were brought. Among the detained were many wounded. They were taken to the firestation.
In the vicinity of the "Theranda" Hotel, Serbian police seized the truck of Sedat Krasniqi (1971).
SKëNDERAJ: During the last 2 days, Serbian forces shelled Llausha. Police opened fire on the villagers of Llausha who were working on their fields. In Skënderaj, the situation is very grave. Serbian forces seized all documentation from the District Assembly, went into many houses in Klina e Poshtme, demolished them and killed Tahir Brahim Hasani (80), a blind man. Many houses were hit with grenades. The house of Rasim Konjuhi was burned. According to statements given to the Sub-Council in Skënderaj, Serb paramilitaries are looting Albanian houses and are killing those who did not manage to flee from Rahovec.
GLLOGOC: Reinforcements arrived to the Serb forces stationed in the "Ferronikli" Plant and at the check-point in Komoran. These forces are shelling towards the villages of Çikatova and Llapushnik.
DEÇAN: According to information from the LDK branch in Deçan, during the Serb attack on the village of Loxha, the following were killed Ryve Morina (80) and her husband Jashar Haxhia; Cyme Zeka and her husband Zekë Shala (79) and a moslem woman (75?). Xhafer Sadik Bashaj (32) was reported missing.
Serbian police and military forces attacked the villages of Prejlep, Shaptej, Gramaçel, Baballoq, Suka e Baballoqit, Isniq, Strellc i Epërm, Strellc i Poshtëm, Carrabreg i Poshtëm and Junik.
GJAKOVA: There is still no information on the whereabouts of Ryve Haklaj (28) and her 15 month old daughter. The 2 were going to visit Ryva's father Hajdar Haklaj in Isniq.
FERIZAJ: Rexhep Bislimi (32), father of 3, activist of the Sub-CDHRF in Ferizaj, died in the Surgery Ward of the Prishtina Hospital, due to injuries suffered at the premises of the Security Center. He was arrested on July 6. On being brutally tortured he was taken to hospital. According to some information, all recently detained are being brutally tortured.
     In Koshare, a police squad stopped, checked and ill-treated the passengers of a bus. In Nerodime e Epërme, police fired 2 grenades on an Albanian house. Serbian police and military forces shelled the village of Jezerc. Serbian police kidnapped brothers Shabi and Halit Reka (35) and their mother who were fleeing Nerodima e Epërme. Police arrested Idriz Haxhi Bytyçi (26).
VUSHTRRI: Military forces stationed in Taraxha are shelling in different directions. Adem Ramadan Ademi (1969) from Galica was killed at the place called "Rrasat e Zogut". He died due to shelling. Serb civilians from the villages of Novolan and Vërnica opened fire towards and provoked their Albanian fellow-villagers. Serbian police and military forces stationed in Brusnik shelled the villages in the vicinity of Qiqavica. In "Trepça" st. in the outskirts of Prizren, 2 bullets were fired on the house of Ramiz Bala.
SUHAREKA: Serbian police stationed in Shiroka shelled towards the village of Reshtan. There was shooting in the streets of Suhareka. Nexhat Faik Berisha (1955) and Bujar Vesel Berisha (1959) were taken by the police.
OBILIQ: Serbian forces stationed at the "Kosova B" Power Plant and in the villages of Janovoda and Plemetin fired "Kaqusha" missiles towards the villages of Lajthishta and Hamidi.
PEJA: In "Haxhi Zeka" st., police raided the Musshabanaj, Gogaj, Kryeziu, Dervishaj and Nikçi families. 20 Albanians were arrested, among whom Xhavit Musshabanaj and 2 guests of his from the district of Deçan. The following were taken to the Security Center, ill-treated and released: Zenel Muriqi, Gani Gogaj, Fatmir Gashi, Avdyl Gashi, Seit Dervishaj, Avdyl Tahiri and his son, Hajzer Kryeziu, Muhamet Kryeziu, Hysen Kryeziu and his son, Musa Nikçi and Agim and Enver Rakaci. Police raided the flats of Nexhat Xhemajli, Kolë Prekaj, Luan Thaçi, Shirine Muhaxheri, Avdurrahim Muleci and Rexhep Aliçkaj. House furniture was damaged. Jewelry and DM 480 were looted from Avdurrahim Muleci's daughter-in-law. Arbënor Nexhmedin Xhemajli and Armendin Xhemajli were arrested and physically ill-treated by the police.
MITROVICA: In "Kroi i Vitakut" quarter, fire was set to the house fence of Nebih Sylë Avdiu (86). Police stopped the bus travelling from Mitrovica to Bajgora, checked and ill-treated the passengers. Kimete Bajram Berisha (29) from Kçiq i Madh, an actress with the "Sandër Prosi" Theater, and 3 other women were among the ill-treated.
          SHTIME: Serbian police arrested Basri Halimi and Avdi Sadiku from Godanc and 3 other youngsters, of whom one from Pjetërshtica and one from Zborc. They were taken to the Security Center in Ferizaj. Basri was beaten until he fainted. Ilaz Hasani, a teacher, and Mehdi Halit Godeni from Shtimja were arrested and physically ill-treated.
PRISHTINA: Avni Spahiu, editor in chief with the "Rilindja" and "Bujku" dailies, was taken for informative talks regarding the publishing of the text of the oath given by KLA soldiers.

JULY 22:

PRIZREN: The corpses of the killed and massacred in Rahovec were put on a truck and 2 tractors and were taken to the cemetery in Prizren. They were buried in 2 mass graves. Some 100 Albanians, who were arrested in Rahovec, were taken to the police station in Prizren. Other 108 were released. Those released claim to have been severely ill-treated.
GJAKOVA: During the last 2 days there were loud detonations from Rahovec and the surrounding villages. Clashes continue in the villages of Reka e Keqe and on the border with Albania. Groups of armed Serbs parade through the town. There was no bread in town.
OBILIQ: Serbian forces stationed in Janovoda, "Kosova B" Power Plant and Plemetin continue to shell Lajthishta and Hamidia.
FERIZAJ: Since early in the morning, Serbian police and military forces are shelling the village of Jezerc.
ZHUR: In the vicinity of Vërmica, on the border with Albania there was shooting from automatic weapons. Artillery fire was opened towards Rahovec.
MITROVICA: During the night, armed Serb civilians opened fire towards Albanian houses in Frashër i Madh.
GJILAN: A military convoy was stationed in the military barracks in Gjilan. Soldiers provoked passers-by.
PODUJEVA: Three military convoys headed for Prishtina. War planes flew over the regions affected.
GLLOGOC: Serbian police forces stationed in the "Ferronikli" Plant opened fire towards Albanian villages. In Gllanasella, there was a short clash with KLA units. The houses of Ajet Qorri and Tahir Drenica were hit. Gllabar was shelled. The house of Maliq Mehmet Morina was hit. The very same happened to the combines belonging to the Binakaj and Krasniqi families.
SHTIME: Serbian police arrested Latif Shabani, Ajet Emini and Mufail Veseli (beaten) - all 3 from Reçan and Behxhet Mujoti from Mullupolc. The latter was taken to the Security Center in Ferizaj.
ISTOG: Police raided the house of Ismet Vuthaj. Ismet was arrested. The very same was done to the house of Xhafer Pajazit Maxharraj from Vrella. Sokol Pajazit Maxharraj, guard in the Dubrava jail near Istog, Halit Mavraj from Saradran and Muharrem Dreshaj from Vrella were taken for informative talks. Later on, they were all released.
SHTëRPCE: A group of 30 Serb soldiers passed through the Firaja mountain and threatened Albanian villagers to leave.

JULY 23:

PRIZREN: The corpses of the following, who were killed during the clashes in Rahovec, were buried in 2 mass graves: Bekim Bugari, Sadik Shala, Destan Sharku, Muharrem Kadiri, Mehmet Kadiri and Halit Hoxha. 4 graves were marked with the numbers 1, 4, 8 and 10.
     PRISHTINA: At the "Qendra" police station in the "Lagja e Muhaxherëve" quarter, weapons were distributed to Serb civilians.
KAMENICA: At the police station in Kamenica, weapons and police uniforms were distributed to 70 Serb civilians.
GLLOGOC: Serbian police and military forces, stationed at the "Ferronikli" Plant, opened fire with heavy artillery in different directions.
     SUHAREKA: Serbian army, stationed in Qafa e Duhles, opened fire towards Bllaca, as well as Sllapuzhan. Forces, stationed in Shiroka, shelled Peçan and hit the yard of the primary school.
     DEÇAN: Serbian forces shelled the villages by the road Peja-Deçan-Gjakova and in the border belt with Albania.
     FERIZAJ: Serbian forces in 3 armoured cars, 3 APCs and 1 lorry went towards Nerodime insulting and provoking passers-by.

DELAYED INFORMATION:

     GJILAN: On July 9, Serbian police arrested and physically ill-treated Ejup Salihu (1974), living in "Boris Kidriç" st.159. On July 13, his house was raided, an automatic gun was "found". Under this pretext, he was sentenced by the District Court for Petty Offences to 30 days. On July 16, Serbian police arrested and physically ill-treated Nexhmedin Munishi (1977), "Ferizaj" st. 42.
     PEJA: On July 10, in "Dardania" III quarter, police forces and Serb civilians shelled the houses of Arsim Kamer Nikçi and Bekë Smail Kelmendi. They looted house furniture and two cars. On July 11, in the vicinity of "8 Marsi" Primary School, six policemen stopped and severely ill-treated Remzi Çerkini (31). On July 11 and 18, armed Serbian civilians wrote "Srbija" and drew the Serbian flag on the wall surrounding the house of Halit Durmishi in "Strumica" st. They broke windows and damaged the balcony railing. On July 15, three policemen broke and demolished the furniture of the "Lori" cafe-restaurant, owned by Rifat Sheremeti (41). His worker Artan Zekë Imami was taken to the police station and physically ill-treated. On July 16, blasting material was thrown on the yard of prof. Mëhill Bibaj. On July 18, Serbian policemen stopped the lorry driven by Sadik Cufë Lajqi from Drelaj and physically ill-treated Sadri Ramë Smajli from Ramun. They were taken to the Security Centre in Peja.
     OBILIQ: On July 11, in Prishtina, a traffic policeman physically ill-treated Bajram Podvorica from Mazgit near Obiliq.
     FERIZAJ: On July 12, Kadri Cokli from Bablok was sent to serve his prison term of 30 days. His conviction was due to the fact that he had purchased land from a Serb.
     PRIZREN: On July 16, Serbian police arrested dr. Afrim Avdaj, Sherif Berisha and Nevair Berisha. Later on, they were released. On July 17, police arrested, physically ill-treated and released Muhamet Maçkaj. On July 17, Asllan Shala, temporarily employed in Austria, and his nephew Hajni Shala, employed in Italy, were arrested, kept for a night at the police station and severely ill-treated.
     SUHAREKA: On July 17, at the gas station in Suhareka, two Serb civilians severely ill-treated Gëzim Ibraj, who suffered body injuries.
     MITROVICA: On July 17, Serb police stopped and physically ill-treated Kastriot Riza Bahtiri (17), "2 korriku" quarter.

Prishtina, July 23, 1998                     Information Service