REPORT NO. 447
         ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION
         AND HARASSMENT PERPETRATED
           BY THE SERBIAN POLICE AND
           OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA
           FROM  NOVEMBER 22
           UNTIL  NOVEMBER 30, 1998

            KËSHILLI PËR MBROJTJEN E TË DREJTAVE DHE TË LIRIVE TË NJERIUT
             COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
                Rr. Vellusha 46, 38000 Prishtinë - Kosovë; tel&fax: 381 (0) 38 36 965 & 530 409
                 http//:www.albanian.com/kmdlnj e-mail: kmdlnj@albanian.com

REPORT NO.447

ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION AND HARASSMENT PERPETRATED BY THE SERBIAN POLICE AND OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA FROM NOVEMBER 22 UNTIL NOVEMBER 30 1998

During the last week of November, there was "only" one killing in Kosova. The Serb "Media Center" based in Prishtina qualified it as the killing of an armed KLA soldier. In fact, the victim was a farmer and was killed by the Serbian police and military forces while on the road to Gjakova.
6 names were added to the list of the dead: 2 men who were killed, a 9-year-old girl who died due to shelling, a 9-year-old girl who was hit by a Serbian tank, and 2 old women who died due the difficult living conditions among the displaced.
Despite of the reports that the Serbian police and military forces had withdrawn, they are returning to their old positions. Many policemen (accompanied by buses, trucks, armoured cars and anti-aircraft weapons) have arrived from Serbia. Many policemen were stationed in Vushtrria. Serb forces are patrolling through Albanian towns and villages. They are opening fire in order to provoke and to cause insecurity among the displaced and thus to impede their return to their burned and destroyed houses.
Two activists of the Sub-Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms in Prizren and 2 political activists from Prishtina were sentenced to prison terms.
The arbitrary arrests and the ill-treatments of the Albanians continue with unrelenting intensity.

Killings, mutilations, violent deaths...

On November 25, Serbian forces killed Isuf Olluri (39) from the village of Rakovina-Gjakova. Isuf was killed while on his way to Gjakova. He had returned to Rakovina to pick some things from his burned house.
On November 15, Sabrije Raci (62), a displaced person from the village of Siçeva-Klina, died due to the difficult living conditions and was buried in Gjilan.
On November 18, Have Hasanaj (90) from the village of Gllareva died due to the difficult living conditions and was buried in Siçeva-Klina.
On November 24, Murat Rexhep Kryeziu (55) and Bajram Ali Kryeziu  were buried in the village of Bubavec near Malisheva. They were killed on August 8.
On November 25, it was confirmed that Emine Zeneli (9) was killed on August 13, due to the Serb shelling of the village of Mirena near Lipjan.
On November 27, Saranda Arif Thaçi (9) from the village of Skivjan near Gjakova died in the Prishtina Hospital. On November 26, she was hit by a Serb tank in the "Piskota" quarter in Gjakova.

Since January 1, 1998, 1807 Albanians (men, women, children and elderly) were killed and mutilated by the Serbian police, military and paramilitary forces.

Kidnappings and disappearances

During the week, we were informed that there are no information on the whereabouts of the following: Selman Manaj (42) from Gllareva-Klina (3 months); Refik Ahmet Shabani (30) from Pantina-Vushtrri (2 months); Rushit Mustafë Ballovci (1974) from Prishtina (since November 18); Fitim S. Begu (17) from Mitrovica (since November 17); Faik Xhema (22) from Lagja e Pajtimit in Shtime and Zymer Rrustem Agushi from Jezerc-Ferizaj (kidnapped on November 20); and Hajriz Mehmeti (25) from Reçak-Shtime (kidnapped on November 28).

Trials...

On November 23, the following were sentenced by the Serbian Run District Court in Prizren: Enver Berisha, an activist of the Sub-CDHRF in Prizren, to 2 and a half years of imprisonment and Ferit Tafallari, a member of the board of the Sub-CDHRF in Prizren, to 2 years.
On November 25, the Serbian Run District Court in Prishtina sentenced Ahmet Ahmeti from Shtime, chairman of the Educational District Council and member of the board of the LDK branch in Shtime to 1 year of imprisonment. He was immediately sent to serve his prison term.

THE COURSE OF EVENTS

NOVEMBER 22:

PRIZREN: While parading through the "2 Korriku" quarter, policemen opened fire. Fire shootings were heard in the "Ortakolli" quarter, too.
RAHOVEC: The premises of the Secondary School in Ratkoc are still usurped by the Serbian police.
MITROVICA: During the night, in the "Ibri" quarter, Serbian police severely ill-treated Burim Istrefi (17), Zekiria Jonuzi (18) and Agron Shala (25) - from Mitrovica and Xhevdet Islami (19) from Vushtrri.
VUSHTRRI: Serbian police forces accompanied by 2 armoured cars went into the villages of Dobërlluka and Smrekonica. The presence of large police forces is noticed in Vushtrria. They are stopping and severely ill-treating the Albanian passers-by.
KLINA: Looted items - furniture, cars, agricultural machines, etc., belonging to the Albanians, are in the yard of the house of Radovan Kiziq in Potërç.

NOVEMBER 23:

PRIZREN: In Kabash, Serb soldiers stopped a bus, forced out the Albanian passengers and threatened them.
VUSHTRRI: A police squad of 40 policemen paraded through the village of Begaj. Large police forces were noticed in the town itself. Serbian police looted 404 dinars from Bislim Shala from Okrashtica. He was taken to the police station and kept until 9.00 p.m.
PRISHTINA: In the "Dardania" quarter, 3 policemen stopped Kreshnik and Valdet Rugovaj as well as Lan Beqiraj from the district of Istog. They were taken to a building, severely ill-treated and threatened. DM 260 were looted from them.
MITROVICA: Three policemen went into the premises of the main post office and forced out Flamur Qerimi (15) from Mitrovica and Hamëz Beqiri (14) from Prekaz i Epërm near Skënderaj. Both were severely ill-treated and DM 50 were looted from Flamur.
PODUJEVA: 2 buses, a truck and 5 other vehicles full of policemen came from Serbia. In Lluzhan, Miro Maksiq is opening fire and provoking the Albanian passers-by everyday.
MALISHEVA: In Prizren, policemen looted DM 10 from Sabit Paçarizi from the village of Dragobil near Malisheva. In Suhareka, Emin Kryeziu, a teacher from Pagarusha, was subjected to severe ill-treatment. Adem Kastrati from Maxharra was subjected to severe ill-treatment in Rahovec.
FUSHË-KOSOVA: While waiting for the bus, Armend E. Bajçinca (15), a pupil from Bardhi i Madh, and Isë Tërbuja 957) from Sllatina e Madhe, were subjected to severe ill-treatment by two armed Serbian civilians.
FERIZAJ: The day before yesterday, police raided the house of Gani Bega, "Nerodimja" st., and seized a revolver and a hunting gun with regularly issued permits, belonging to him. They arrested Sejdi and Heset Bega. Gani was left a summon to report to the police station.

NOVEMBER 24:

GJAKOVA: Brothers Isuf (1962), a worker with the "Elektromotori" Enterprise, and Kadri Imeri (1966), a student from Ponoshec, who were arrested in Gjakova, on November 20, were taken to the Peja Prison in a deteriorated health condition. The investigative proceedings were initiated against them under the charges for "hostile activity" and "terrorism". Police raided the house of Zef Nikaj from Ramoc. They demolished house furniture and searched for his son Nika (44). Police also raided the houses of Zef's neighbours Pjetër and Marash Nikaj.
OBILIQ: Serb forces stationed at the "Kosova B" Power Plant and at the place called "Kërshat e Grabocit" opened fire towards the villages of Plemetin, Hamidia, Lajthishta, Siboc, Graboc i Poshtëm, Graboc i Epërm and Shipitulla. Police forces were also stationed in the vicinity of the Open Coal Pit Mines in Bardhi i Madh and are opening sniper fire towards the Albanian villagers. During the night, there was shooting in Breznica, too. In the village of Llazareva, a Serb civilian named Miqa is opening fire in order to provoke the Albanian villagers.
SUHAREKA: Police forces intervened and demolished the furniture in the "Flamuri i Arbërit" Primary School in Reshtan. In the very same village, police forces are breaking into and plundering the Albanian houses. A police patrol is parading through the village, provoking and ill-treating passers-by. During the night, there was shooting in the center of Suhareka. The windows of a private shop were broken.
KLINA: In the village of Zajm, a Serb civilian opened fire and hit the house of Maliq Morina. An Albanian family of 43 members is sheltered in this house.
PEJA: On the 8th kilometer of the road between Peja and Rugova, police arrested Mujë (25), Jeton (30), Agim (31) and Sadik Ibraj (85). They were taken to the police station in Peja.
KAMENICA: Beqir Demolli (15) from the village of Krileva, a pupil with the "Andrea Durrësaku" Secondary School, was stopped by 3 policemen and beaten until he fainted. When he regained consciousness, he saw himself in the vicinity of a river.

NOVEMBER 25:

PODUJEVA: A police convoy consisting of 6 trucks, 3 buses, 2 armoured cars and 5 other vehicles came from Serbia and headed towards Prishtina.
VUSHTRRI: At 10 a.m., 2 buses full of policemen arrived in Vushtrria and were stationed in the former building of the Police Academy.
GJAKOVA: For more than 2 hours, Serb forces opened mortar fire towards the village of Krelan i Dushkajës. Police raided the house of Beqir Bajrami from Shishman. His son Avni was arrested. The latter was beaten in the presence of his family members and taken to an unknown direction. At the very same village, police searched for weapons in the house of Din Maqi. His son Sokol was beaten until he fainted.
MALISHEVA: Serb forces stationed in Malisheva and in the Smonica quarter in the vicinity of Tërpeza are provoking the inhabitants of the nearby villages. Fire shots could be heard during the last 2 days. In Kijeva, Serb forces burned an Albanian house.
SUHAREKA: Serb forces are still stationed at the police check-points in Mohlan and Reshtan. Passers-by are stopped and ill-treated. Yesterday, 3 villagers from Samadraxha were arrested between the villages of Nëpërbisht and Mamusha. On being ill-treated, 2 were released. There are no information on the whereabouts of the third one.
PEJA: Serb military forces have reinforced their check-point in Milishec, on the road between Peja and Çakor. Some 100 soldiers were stationed there and have blocked the road towards Gryka e Rugovës. Many villages were left in isolation and face grave difficulties in supplying with food and medicine.
GLLOGOC: Fresh police reinforcements arrived in Gllogoc.
GJILAN: Police arrested the following activists of the LDK: Elez Muji, a teacher with the "Zenel Hajdini" Primary School in Bresalc, Venhar Haziri, a teacher with the "Zenel Hajdini" Gymnasium in Gjilan, Xhevat Muji and Skënder Haziri.
MITROVICA: In the vicinity of the gas station in Shupkoc, police ill-treated many passers-by.
RAHOVEC: 50 Albanians were threatened to be dismissed from work by the compulsive authorities of the "18 Nëntori" Enterprise in Rahovec under the pretext that they had not reported to work between August 3-8. During the Serb offensive on Rahovec, all Albanian workers had to report to the police station in order to get the permits to go to work. But once they did so, they were physically ill-treated.
PRIZREN: Police stopped the bus travelling between Suhareka and Prizren. Hasan Azem Dullaj from Malësia e Re was taken out of the bus, physically ill-treated and taken to the Security Center in Prizren.
PRISHTINA: In the vicinity of the Tile Factory, police stopped Ismajl and Skyfter Mjekiqi, pupils from the village of Shipitulla near Obiliq, sheltered in Prishtina. They were beaten whereas, their books and their school bags were cut with knives. Remzi R. Mjekiqi (59) from Shipitulla was physically ill-treated by the police.
FERIZAJ: Naim Fazliu (1965) from Carraleva, sheltered in Ferizaj, was arrested by the police.

NOVEMBER 26:

SUHAREKA: A military convoy comprised of 4 buses, 10 armoured cars and 5 APCs paraded through Suhareka and headed towards Prizren. The villagers of Grejçec, especially the inhabitants of the Reshani quarter, cannot return to their houses due to the presence of the Serbian police forces.
PRISHTINA: In the vicinity of the Neuropsychiatry Ward of the Prishtina Hospital, Behxhet Neziri (1960), living in "Jabllanica" st. 74; Ardian Tahiri from Bradash and Armend Zeqiri from Llapashtica near Podujeva were stopped by 2 Serb policemen. They were severely ill-treated and suffered body injuries. Behxhet was ordered to report to the police station the next day. In the vicinity of the Prishtina Hospital, Skënder Bislimi (31), living in the "Kodra e Trimave" quarter, was stopped by the police. He was taken to the Badovci Lake, brutally beaten and threatened with liquidation. DM 4.500 were looted from him as well as a ring and a watch. His ID was seized. Skënder was on his way to Hajvalia, to give his sister, Hazbije Kastrati, the money her husband had sent from abroad.
PRIZREN: On November 25, Sami Gashi (1960) from Prizren, was arrested by the Serbian police. The next day, he was released but ordered to report again on November 30.
ISTOG: 5 policemen intervened in the premises of the "Bajram Curri" Primary School. The school employees were ordered to take off the sign with the name of the school and were threatened not to report this case. If the employees are to put back the sign, they were told that the police would hang the school principal.

NOVEMBER 27:

PRIZREN: On November 26, Serb forces intervened in the village of Dobrusht. The villagers were given an ultimatum to hand in their weapons until 2 p.m. At noon, large Serb police and military forces surrounded the villages of the Hasi region. 2 trucks and 2 armoured cars were stationed in the outskirts of Lugishta. 2 trucks full of soldiers were stationed in Kabash. The villages of Dedaj and Krajk were surrounded by the police.
KLINA: The presence and the movements of the Serbian police and military forces is impeding the return of the displaced people to their houses. These movements of the Serbian troops are more frequent in the villages of Sverka, Volljaka, Grapc, Binça, Gllareva, Dollova and Shtupel. During the night, police forces and armed Serb civilians opened fire in the village of Shtupel.
VUSHTRRI: A large presence of the Serbian police forces can be noticed in Vushtrria. At the place called "Ura e Gurit", Serb forces stopped the buses travelling between Mihaliq and Vushtrri and Dubovc and Vushtrri. Large police forces can be noticed on the road between Vushtrria and the villages of Shala e Bajgorës.
PRISHTINA: On November 27, it was confirmed that Luan Muharrem Mazreku (1978) and Bekim Abdullah Mazreku (1977) from Malisheva, who were considered as missing, are in the County Jail in Prishtina and that the investigative proceedings were initiated against them. The 2 are in a deteriorated health condition due to being subjected to police ill-treatments.
The District Prosecutor's Office raised charges against the "Rilindja" Printing Enterprise and its former chief editor Avni Spahiu. They were accused of violating the Serb Law on Information. In the vicinity of the USIS office in Prishtina, dr. Islam Dobra (1931), an associate of the Albanological Institute in Prishtina, was stopped, insulted, provoked and threatened by the Serbian police. 3 history books were seized from him. In the vicinity of the bus station, Abdullah Meha (26) from Mitrovica and Perver Salihu from Gjakova were stopped and physically ill-treated by the Serbian police.
GJAKOVA: Some 30 policemen searched for weapons in the house of Bekë Isufi from Shishman. His wife Nusha (48) and their 3 sons Bajram (15), Isan (18) and Flamur Isufi (21) were brutally beaten. Police arrested the Isufi brothers. They raided the house of Sadik Isufi and ordered him to report to the police station. In the village of Osek-Hyla, Bajram Zymberaj from Ponoshec (wounded) was arrested by the Serbian police in cooperation with the so-called "local police" or the Serb collaborator Musa Jakupi-Ibraj. Police ordered brothers Shpend and Avdi Shabani, members of the board of the Sub-CDHRF in Gjakova, to report to the police station.
MITROVICA: In the "Tavnik" quarter, some 20 policemen intervened in the house of Hamdi Sejdiu and searched for Sinan Zeneli (70) from the village of Prekaz i Epërm near Skënderaj. In the "Ura e Gjakut" quarter, the very same policemen raided the house of Ilir Dragaj (23). Ilir and Bashkim Hasani, a guest of his, were arrested. In the "Tavnik" quarter, these policemen stopped all vehicles and ill-treated Albanian passers-by.
HANI I ELEZIT: During the last week, large military forces were noticed on the border zone between Kosova and Macedonia. These forces are patrolling along the roads between Hani i Elezit-Paldenica-Dermjak and Hani i Elezit-Seqishta-Krivenik. Movements of the military troops were noticed in Dimca, too.  SHTIME: Xhemajl Bytyqi (1966) from the village of Nishor near Suhareka, living in Reçak near Shtime, committed suicide by hanging himself. On November 21, 23 and 25 he had been summoned to the police station.

NOVEMBER 28:

PEJA: Sadik Ibraj, a taxi driver from Novosella, was physically ill-treated by the Serbian police in Vitomirica. He was accused of transporting KLA terrorists. Zvonko Laboviq from Peja was among the policemen.
SHTIME: The Albanians in the district of Shtime, who address the authorities for their personal documents, are taken for informative talks by the Serbian police.
PODUJEVA: Some 15 Serb policemen paraded through the villages of Surkish and Sveçla and provoked passers-by. 4 policemen in plainclothes went into the premises of the "Mother Theresa" Humanitarian & Charitable Association.
FERIZAJ: Zenel Ukë Bega (1952) from the village of Jezerc, living in Ferizaj, was detained for more than 3 hours and physically ill-treated under the pretext that he is a member of the KLA.
PRISHTINA: Ardian Efendia, an economist, and Faton Batusha, a jurist, living in the "Bregu i Diellit" quarter, were stopped by Zoran Mihajloviq and Dragisha Vuçkoviq, 2 Serbs who introduced themselves as police inspectors. They were forced into a car and taken towards Hajvalia. They were beaten and insulted. DM 260 and dinars 1000 were looted from them. On being released, they were ordered to report to the police station the next day.

NOVEMBER 29:

MALISHEVA: Serb forces stationed in Kijeva, in the outskirts of Mleçan and at the place called "Pishat e Llozicës" opened fire towards Mleçan, Llozica and Balinca.
KLINA: Last night, the Serb forces stationed in Kijeva and in Çuka e Gllarevës shelled and opened machine gun fire towards the villages of Gllareva, Zabërgja, Cerovik, Rixheva and Dobërdol. Policemen opened fire towards Xhemajl Pantina and Shaip Mirina from Gllareva. Several heads of cattle were killed.
FERIZAJ: Iljaz Rexhep Agushi (15) from Nerodimja e Epërme was arrested by the Serbian police.
ISTOG: Shefqet Dreshaj from Vrella was interrogated for more than 4 hours at the Security Center in Istog.

NOVEMBER 30:

VUSHTRRI: Xhelal Ismaili from Pasoma was severely ill-treated by the police. He was subjected to electro-shock. A police convoy headed towards the road between Prishtina and Mitrovica.
PODUJEVA: An APC and a Landrover went towards the village of Kërpimeh. In Prishtina, Abdullah Softolli, a goldsmith from the village of Lladroc near Podujeva, was stopped by the police. DM 1.500 and golden jewelry estimated to DM 1000 were looted from him.

DELAYED INFORMATION:

GJILAN: On September 24, Luan Kastrati (1981), a pupil living in the "Tamnik" III quarter 2/36, was arrested and brutally beaten by the police. He was forced to bring to the police station the photos from the students' protests.
SHTËRPCË: On November 5, Bedri Mehmeti from the village of Firaja was summoned for informative talks. He was interrogated on the activity of the LDK. On November 13, Sakip Ymeri from the village of Brod, secretary with the LDK branch in Shtërpca, was summoned for informative talks and interrogated on the displaced people and the activities of the "Mother Theresa" Humanitarian & Charitable Association and the LDK.
PRIZREN: On November 10, the Serbian run District Court in Prizren sent Besim Kryeziu from Prizren, living in the "Ibri" quarter no.20, to 30 days of pre-trial detention. He had been arrested on November 7. On November 20, police arrested Shaip Buduri from Hoça e Qytetit, a teacher with the "Gjon Buzuku" Gymnasium in Prizren, while taking a pregnant woman to the hospital in Prizren.
FERIZAJ: The night between November 13-14, police opened fire and damaged the property of Mejdi Ali Begisholli, Nesim Kadri Begisholli and Safet Muhamet Hasani. On November 17, Ekrem Shabani (1945) from Gaçka was summoned for informative talks. On November 19, Rexhep Jahir Kashtanjeva (1946) from Nerodimja e Poshtme was stopped and arrested by the police. On being interrogated at the Security Center in Ferizaj, he was released.
RAHOVEC: On November 20, Enver Kërçagu, an economist, was summoned for informative talks to the police station in Rahovec. A policeman named Ivica G. interrogated him on his political activity.
PRISHTINA: On November 20, Bekim Jusufi (1972), a student, living in "Zagorka Saviq" st. 10, and Bekim Rama from Prishtina were physically ill-treated by 2 unidentified Serb civilians, who introduced themselves as policemen. The 2 suffered severe body injuries and dinars 730 were looted from them.
NOTICE: During the week, we were informed that the houses of the following were looted, burned and destroyed: Nazim (1969) and Agim Shurdhiqi (1955) from Risinoc-Lipjan (August 23-24) and Elmi Cakiqi (1953) from Tërstenik-Gllogoc (September 22).

Prishtina, November 30, 1998

Information Service