REPORT
NO.
ON
THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION
AND
HARASSMENT PERPETRATED
BY THE SERBIAN POLICE AND
OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA
FROM AUGUST 2
UNTIL
AUGUST 6, 1998
ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION AND HARASSMENT PERPETRATED
BY
THE SERBIAN POLICE AND OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA
FROM AUGUST 2 UNTIL AUGUST 6, 1998
The recent offensive of the Serbian police, military
and paramilitary forces resulted with many killed, wounded, kidnapped and
arrested. More than 70.000 people, mainly women, children and elderly were
forced to flee their homes and to seek shelter in safer regions, or to
wander around with no shelter, food, water, medicine or medical assistance.
30.000 people were sheltered in Mitrovica, 25.000 in Vushtrria and 27.000
in Lipjan. For 7 days now, many people from the villages of Malisheva wander
in the open in fear from Serbian attacks. There were cases that the Serbian
forces opened fire towards those who flee or are trying to return to their
homes. In the "Shën Ndou" church in Gllogjan, many women, children
and elderly are stuck. Among the captives is parson Don Kelmend Spaqi.
About 12.000 women, children and elderly have sought shelter in the forests
of Cerovik and Çabiq near Klina. In Miliqevc, fire was opened towards
a group of about 2000 displaced persons who were trying to cross to Montenegro.
3 were killed and 5 were wounded. Among the killed is a 75 year-old woman.
Now, we have to do with a humanitarian catastrophe
threatening the lives of some 200.000 people, who had to flee their homes
in front of the advancing Serb violence and terror.
On July 28, the following were killed by the
Serbian police in the village of Buqa near Opoja, Beamir Rrustem Memaj
(1973) from Zhur and Nexhat Qazim Fanaj from Kobaj near Prizren.
On July 31, Hysni Arif Gashi (75) from Qabiq
and 3 youngsters from Jashanica e Epërme were killed in the district
of Klina. Osman Marmullaku (70), his wife and a paralysed person from Dush
were killed in Qabiq. The very same day, Daut Boja (50) from Kërrnica,
who was mentally ill, was killed. Brahim Krasniqi (50) from Cerovik was
wounded. Musa Qazim Kadiri (61) from Rahovec, died and was buried in Prishtina.
The latter was wounded during the Serbian attack on Rahovec. He was hospitalized
in Prizren but later on, taken to Prishtina.
On August 2, Bajram Demush Shala from Ujmir died
of injuries suffered when hit with a rifle butt by a policeman. Ngadhnjim
Ibrahim Hoxha (8) from Suhareka was killed while crossing the border between
Montenegro and Albania. His mother Xhezide (30) was wounded.
On July 3, Emine Miftar Dervishaj (27) from Irzniq
and Rexhep Brahim Kadriaj (23) from Rastavica were killed due to shelling.
Sadri Agaj (75) and Jeton Hoxha (23) were killed in the vicinity of Cërmjan.
2 corpses were brought to the morgue of the Gjakova hospital. They were
killed while working on their fields in Dushkaja. The corpses of the following
were found in the forests of Radisheva near Skënderaj: Beqir Mujë
Hajrizi (65) and his two sons Azem (32) and Faik (28) from Kotorr, Shyqeri
Azem Ahmeti (56), Haxhi Imer Ahmeti (56), Sabit Sadri Ahmeti (27) and Alban
Muhamet Ahmeti (17) from Radisheva. On July 26, the seven were kidnapped
by Serbian police and military forces.
In Meqa, on July 3, Pjetër Kolë Krasniqi
was thrown in a well.
On July 4-5, the following were killed in Jabllanica
e Dushkajës near Deçan: Arif Adem Kasumaj (73), Sejdi Adem
Kasumaj (80), Aze Ibrahimaj (60), Zizë Zekaj (80) from Grabanica and
a guest of theirs from Drenica. In the mountains near Deçan, military
forces opened fire on groups of displaced people killing 4 villagers. 8-12
villagers were killed in Lugu i Baranit. 2 corpses were seen at the place
called "Bllata" near Rahovec. There are doubts that 22 members of the Mullaabazi
family from Rahovec were killed.
According to some information from Gjakova, on
July 5, Haxhi Adem Brahimaj (80) from Krelan and 5 elderly from Jabllanica
were killed. Since August 2, the corpse of an unidentified Albanian can
be noticed between the villages of Meja and Madanaj. Maliqe Miftari (93)
Vitak near Skënderaj died while fleeing through Vërboc near Gllogoc.
THE COURSE OF EVENTS:
AUGUST 2:
DEÇAN: Serbian police, military and paramilitary
forces attacked the villages of Junik, Prejlep, Carrabreg i Poshtëm,
Rastavica, Baballoç, Shaptej and Gramaçel. These forces shelled
Irzniq, Dubrava and Gllogjan. Many villages are on fire. Many houses were
plundered and destroyed. They were set on fire. Cattle was killed. There
are no reports on casualties.
GJAKOVA: At 3 a.m., Serbian forces started shelling
the villages of Dushkaja, Has, Smolica and Junik.
KLINA: Due to shelling, 30 villages in the district
of Klina were destroyed. Bajram Demush Shala from Ujmir died of injuries
suffered when hit by a policeman with a rifle butt.
MITROVICA: During the shelling of the villages
in Shala e Bajgorës, the houses of the following were burned: Ramadan
Qamil Miftari (46), Beqir Qamil Miftari (50), Kadri Nezir Sadriu (46) and
Xhafer Zukë Hasani (75).
A new wave of displaced persons, who have fled
the attacked villages in Drenica, have arrived in Mitrovica and the surrounding
villages. The gravest situation is with infants, small children and pregnant
women.
SUHAREKA: Ngadhnjim Ibrahim Hoxha (8) from Suhareka
was killed while crossing the border between Montenegro and Albania. His
mother Xhezide (30) was wounded. While crossing the Buna river, fire was
opened on the other members of this family: 2 men, 3 women and 7 children.
PEJA: Muhamet Haxhiaj, an LDK activist from Dubova,
was physically ill-treated by the police on the road from Rozhaja to Savinavoda.
PRISHTINA: In Novobërda, police arrested
and ill-treated brothers Muhamet and Behxhet Vitia.
PODUJEVA: Unidentified persons kidnapped Milovan
Stankoviq (1949) from the village of Buçiq in the district of Prokupla,
a forester in Bradash near Podujeva.
AUGUST 3:
SKëNDERAJ: At 7 a.m., Serbian forces started
shelling the village of Polac and the surrounding villages. The villages
of Polac, Polluzha, Marina, Tërstenik, Kryshec and Rakinica are on
fire. Many shells fell on Llausha and Likoc, in which a large number of
people from the affected regions have sought shelter. Izbica with its 800
inhabitants is under the siege of Serbian forces. The corpses of the following,
who were kidnapped by Serbian police and military forces on July the 26,
were found in the forests of Radisheva: Beqir Mujë Hajrizi (65) and
his two sons Azem (32) and Faik Hajrizi (28) from Kotorr, Shyqeri Azem
Ahmeti (56), Haxhi Imer Ahmeti (56), Sabit Sadri Ahmeti (27) and Alban
Muhamet Ahmeti (17) - from Radisheva. There are still no information on
the whereabouts of Ramadan Halim Tahiri (40), Miradije Bislim Tahiri (45)
and Feriz Ramiz Selimi (43) - from Radisheva.
GJAKOVA: During the last two days, clashes continued
in the villages of Nec, Ramoc, Smolica, Berjahë, Stubëll, Nivokaz,
Dobrosh, Prush, Goden, Zylfaj, Cërmjan and Suka, on the border with
Albania. There are doubts that many were killed and wounded on both sides.
In the vicinity of Cërmjan, Sadri Agaj (75) and Jeton Hoxha (23) were
killed. Several members of the Agaj family were wounded. Two corpses were
brought to the morgue of the Gjakova hospital. The 2 were killed while
working on their fields in Dushkaja. A girl, a woman and 3 elderly, who
were wounded due to the shelling of Berjaha, were hospitalized in Gjakova.
Pjetër Hilë Ndrecaj (24) and Pal Prenk Ndrecaj from Bitesh, who
were reported missing, are in the county jail in Peja.
Gjakova is in a very grave situation, under blockade,
sheltering a large number of displaced persons, with a lack of food, medicine
and hygienic means.
PEJA: Serbian police and military forces stationed
in Bokshiq, Çeskovë and Këpuz shelled and attacked the
following villages in Lugu i Baranit: Gllogjan, Nepolen, Llugagji and Jabllanicë,
as well as Jabllanica, Krelan and Zhabel in Dushkaja near Gjakova. 150
tanks were engaged in this operation. In the "Shën Ndou" church in
Gllogjan, many women, children and elderly are stuck. Among the captives
is parson Don Kelmend Thaçi.
PRIZREN: The corpse of Nexhat Qazim Fanaj from
the village of Kobaj near Prizren was found in Buqa near Opoja. He was
killed by the Serbian police on July 26.
The Serbian run District Court in Prizren initiated
the investigative proceedings against Islam Imer Thaçi (1972) and
Berat Ramadan Xhezairi (1969) from Prizren, Kujtim Eqrem Memaj (1978),
Fatmir Shasivar Memaj (1975), Adem Tahir Elezkurtaj (1969) and Nexhmedin
Shaqir Ajazaj (1971) from Zhur, Afrim Muhamet Berisha (1972) from Lez (all
in pre-trial detention), and Xhemshit Riza Krasniqi (1963), Xhevat Ahmet
Berisha (1961) and Hajrim Osman Qengaj (1963) from Prizren, who is on the
run. They were accused for "subversive activity".
Xhemajli Bajra, a former deputy of the District
Assembly in Kaçanik, was handcuffed and taken to the police station
in Prizren. Skënder Hoti from Prizren was arrested. Police searched
the flats of dr. Riza Abdullahu and Shefqet Abdullahu under the pretext
that they had hidden medicine.
KLINA: Yesterday, on overrunning the villages
of Cerovik, Zabërgja, Qabiq, Dobërdol, Ujmir and Siqevë,
Serbian police and military forces set fire to many houses. Many Albanians
were arrested among whom Ukë Brahim Gashi, Zukë Brahim Gashi
and Muhamet Beqir Gashi from Qabiq, Halit Xhemë Shala and Bilall Musë
Millaku from Dobërdol, Binak Brahim Berisha, Gjon Dan Berisha, Sinan
Miftar Rexhepaj and a mother with her child. They were taken to the police
station in Klina and brutally beaten. Today, they were released with severe
body injuries.
DEÇAN: Serbian forces continue to shell
the villages of Gjocaj, Jasiq, Junik, Prejlep, Rastavica, Carrabreg i Poshtëm,
Baballoç, Irzniq and Voksh in the District of Deçan, Këpuz,
Çeskova, and Dellova in the District of Klina as well as Jabllanica,
Bardhaniq, Zhabel and Cërmjan in the District of Gjakova. Hundreds
of villagers remain stuck in the catholic church in Gllogjan. Emine Miftar
Dervishaj (27) from Irzniq and Rexhep Brahim Kadriaj (23) from Rastavica
were killed due to shelling. Yesterday, Serbian forces accompanied by 50
tanks surrounded and overran the village of Meqe. 60 villagers were kidnapped.
The following are among the kidnapped: Kolë Gjon Krasniqi and (5 members
of his family), Mark Sokol Krasniqi (13), Pjetër Ndue Krasniqi (7),
Marash Ndue Krasniqi (5), Prekë Shaban Krasniqi (2), Çun Sokol
Krasniqi (20), Prelë Sadri Merturi (2) and Zef Gjon Krasniqi. Pjetër
Kolë Krasniqi was thrown in a well. In Lugu i Baranit, Serbian forces
killed 8-12 villagers. Many houses were plundered and burned. The villagers
who managed to escape, fled in different directions.
SUHAREKA: Serbian forces stationed in Bllaca
and Duhla are plundering and setting fire to Albanian houses. Serbian forces
are opening fire towards the villagers who try to return to their homes.
LIPJAN: Since 3 a.m., loud detonations can be
heard from Magura and Shala e Drenicës. All traffic was stopped.
VUSHTRRI: After the Serbian attack, thousands
of villagers from Drenica are fleeing from the affected regions and seeking
shelter in the villages of Vushtrria. More than 700 displaced persons were
sheltered in the primary school in Dubovc.
AUGUST 4:
SKëNDERAJ: Drenica is on fire. Serbian forces
have surrounded Llausha. There were fierce clashes in Polac, Marina, Rezalla
and Likoc. Açareva was attacked. Thousands of villagers have sought
shelter in the forests of Rakinica, Tushila and Açareva. In Llausha,
police arrested and severely ill-treated Imer Sefer Hoxha (60), Ramadan
Bejtë Geci (49), Nysret Bajram Spahiu (48) and Ismail Gjinovci (65).
DEÇAN: Some 2000 people from the districts
of Peja, Gjakova, Malisheva, Klina and Deçan tried to cross to Montenegro.
In the Miliqevc mountain they were ambushed by Serbian forces. 3 Albanians
were killed and 5 were wounded. Among the killed is a 75 year-old woman.
KLINA: Large police and military forces which
were stationed in the "Nora" motel in Zajm plundered the vacant houses
of the following: Zenel Raci, Faruk Raci, Beqir Dragidella, Maliq Morina,
Isa Krasniqi, Ajvaz Baca, Driton Baca and Muhamet Malota. Serb soldiers
burned the wheat fields in this village. 12.000 Albanians, mainly women,
children and elderly sought shelter in the forests of Cerovik and Çabiq.
MITROVICA: After the recent offensive of the
Serbian police, military and paramilitary forces, some 30.000 people, women,
children and elderly have fled their homes and have sought shelter in the
district of Mitrovica. The following are stuck in village of Rakinica:
Ajshe (70), Shaban (65), paralysed, Xufe (60), paralysed, Belkize (16),
dumb, Lumnije (30) and Hysen Hajra (60).
OBILIQ: Serbian forces stationed in the "Kosova
B" Power Plant and in Janovoda opened fire towards Hamidia and Lajthishta,
whereas those stationed at the place called "Kërshat" towards Graboc
i Epërm and Graboc i Poshtëm.
LIPJAN: Some 27.000 people, who had to flee from
Drenica and Malisheva, have sought shelter in the district of Lipjan.
SHTIME: Petrova and Jezerc were shelled. In Zborc
and Carraleva, police plundered and burned Albanian houses. 4 vehicles
of the ICRC were stopped by the police in Shtime.
FERIZAJ: An armed Serb civilian physically ill-treated
Abdullah Kashatnjeva (1929). He suffered body injuries.
PRIZREN: Police raided the house of Aziz Hoti
from Ratkoc. He was arrested.
PEJA: Uniformed people plundered Albanian houses
in the "Dardania" I-II quarters. The inhabitants were threatened. In Rugova,
police arrested and physically ill-treated Bajram Rraci (27) from Peja
and Demë Kelmendi from Haxhaj. Due to injuries suffered Bajram had
to seek for medical help.
RAHOVEC: Two corpses were seen at the place called
"Bllata". There are doubts that 22 members of the Mullaabazi family were
killed.
AUGUST 5:
DEÇAN: The situation in Deçan continues
to be very grave. There were clashes in almost all the villages of this
district. Heavy artillery and "Kaqusha" missiles were used. A large number
of women, children and elderly had to flee their houses and to seek shelter
in the forests of Bardhaniq and Dashinoc. In Rastavica, Florent Riza Berisha
(13) and Sadri Beqir Qeku (50) were wounded.
GJAKOVA: Serbian forces killed Haxhi Adem Brahimaj
(80) from Krelan and 5 elderly from Jabllanica. Since August 2, an unidentified
corpse can be noticed between the villages of Meja and Madanaj.
ZHUR: The corpse of Beamir Rrustem Memaj (1973)
from Zhur was found in the vicinity of Buqa. Serbian police killed him
on July 28.
SKëNDERAJ AND GLLOGOC: The Serbian attacks
continue. The Sopi and Gashi quarters in Llapushnik were burned. Women,
children and elderly fled in 400 tractors. Maliqe Miftari (93) from Vitak
died.
MITROVICA: The Serbian run District Court in
Mitrovica initiated the penal proceedings against Hashim Zeqë Mecini
(42), mentally ill (in pre-trial detention), Belian Kamer Mecini (50),
Shemsi Ali Barani (42), Selim Ajet Barani (52) and Selim Avdyl Mecini (42)
from Klina e Epërme and Abit Haziri (42) and Naim and Beqir Zejnullahu
from Llausha near Skënderaj - all of them in absentia. Police arrested
Haxhi Nazif Peci (45), a khoja from Zhazha. Police raided the house of
Mulla Bajram Adem Avdiu (72), a khoja in the "Tavnik" quarter. They searched
for his sons Ismet (42), Ahmet (36), Muhamet (33), Adem (30) and Ekrem
(27). Not finding them police seized the khoja's passport as well as that
of Ismet.
PRIZREN: 67 persons are detained in the county
jail in Prizren. All are accused for "terrorism" and were severely ill-treated
by police authorities. In Krusha e Madhe, Serb paramilitaries threw poisonous
gases. Many had to seek for medical help. At the check-point in Rahovec,
police ill-treated Ali Jupa (64), Xahidi Jupa (60), Selami Ramusha (70)
and Eqrem Mullaaliu. At the check-point in Landovica, Ruzhdi and Muhamet
Gashi had their turfs taken off by the police.
SHTIME: Serbian forces opened fire towards Godanc
i Epërm. Due to Serb attacks, the inhabitants of Carraleva, Belinca,
Zborc, Pjetërshtica, Duga and Karaçica abandoned their villages.
GJILAN: There were large police and military
movements in the mountainous villages of Karadak on the border with Macedonia.
LIPJAN: Since the Serbian attack on July 25,
Haki Iljaz Rexhepi (90) has remained stuck in the village of Zborc near
Shtime.
PRISHTINA: Zekë Gecaj from Llausha near
Skënderaj, a journalist with the "Bujku" daily, was taken to the police
station.
ISTOG: At the check-point in Radavc, police arrested
and physically ill-treated, Muhamet Lipaj from Istog, a khoja in Beran.
AUGUST 6:
SKëNDERAJ: During the last 2 days, Serbian
forces fired missiles and shelled the villages of Rrezalla, Likoc, Plluzhina
and Izbica. Infantry units entered Rrezalla.
VUSHTRRI: 3 tanks and a truck full of soldiers
were stationed in Pantina. On their arrival they started shelling the village.
People started to flee their homes.
DELAYED INFORMATION:
PRIZREN: On July 28, in Dushanova, police arrested
brothers Liman and Reshit Hoti, living in "Tefik Çanga" st. 98.
Due to injuries suffered they had to seek for medical help.
KAMENICA: On July 30, at the check-point in "Dheu
i Bardhë", police physically ill-treated Zeqir A. Spahiu (1950) from
Muçivërc.
OBILIQ: On July 30, at the check-point in Nedakoc
near Vushtrria, police physically ill-treated Gani Enver Preniqi (1971),
a worker from Hadja.
KLINA: On July 31, in Jashanica, police severely
ill-treated Nezir Fejzullahu (33), a farmer from Shtupel.
MITROVICA: On August 1, during the shelling of
the villages of Shala e Bajgorës and Stantërg, the houses of
Sylejman Kamer Tahiri (35) and Nezir Kamer Tahiri (40) were burned.
PODUJEVA: On August 1, Serbian police arrested
Arsim Shaban Sheholli from Hërtica.
Prishtina, August 6, 1998 Information Service