REPORT NO. 449
         ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION
         AND HARASSMENT PERPETRATED
           BY THE SERBIAN POLICE AND
           OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA
           FROM  DECEMBER 6
           UNTIL  DECEMBER 13, 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. 449
 
ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION AND HARASSMENT PERPETRATED BY THE SERBIAN POLICE AND OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA FROM DECEMBER 6 UNTIL DECEMBER 13, 1998
 
The Serb authorities in Kosova prevented the forensic team of Finnish experts to go to the village of Abria e Epërme near Gllogoc and to exhume the corpses of the 22 members of the Deliu family, who were killed and mutilated by the Serb forces in September. In the meantime, Xhafer Qorri, a policeman who had witnessed the massacre in Abria e Epërme, was killed.
In Prishtina, Serbian police prevented the march of more than 200 members of the "I Care" Italian Humanitarian Organization. They had come to Prishtina to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and to express their solidarity with the oppressed people of Kosova.
Serb civilians from the village of Nerodime near Ferizaj detained a group of activists of the "Mother Theresa" Humanitarian & Charitable Association and the representative of the "Cap Anamur" German Humanitarian Organization.
Since January 1, 1998, 1837 Albanians (including women, children and elderly) were killed and mutilated by the Serbian police, military and paramilitary forces in Kosova.
 
Killings, mutilations and violent deaths...
 
On December 4, Rasim Rrahman Ademi (1979), a bosniac from Lubia e Epërme near Prizren was killed by a "drunk" Serb soldier from the military barracks in Podujeva.
On December 11, at the power station near the center of Gllogoc, Ibrahim Isuf Musliu (1958) from Shtrubullova and Nazif Mulaj (1956) from Tërstenik, workers with the unit of the power distribution in Gllogoc, and Xhafer Qorri, a policeman who had witnessed and participated in the massacre of the 22 members of the Deliu family in Abria e Epërme in September.
On December 10, in the forests near the Monastery in Deviç, the corpse of Afrim Sadri Gashi (21), a student from the village of Kryshec near Skënderaj, was found. Afrim went missing on August.
On December 12, it was confirmed that Sadedin Hysen Shehu (1958) from Gjakova was killed on November 19. Sadedin hit a field of mines near the village of Koshare.
 
Kidnappings and disappearances
 
There are no information on the whereabouts of the following: Sadri Vishaj (27) from Beleg near Deçan (since August) and Lavdim Vitia (18) from Prishtina (since November 28).
 
Trials...
 
On December 8, the Serbian run District Court in Prishtina sentenced Sefedin Hoti (1972) from the village of Sibovc near Obiliq to 1 year of imprisonment. He was accused for "hostile activity" and "terrorism".
On December 8, the following were sentenced to prison terms by the Serbian run District Court in Peja: Brahim U. Berisha (1961) from the village of Kryshec near Peja to 4.6 years of imprisonment and Bahri Xh. Beqaj (1961) from Rracaj near Gjakova to 18 months of imprisonment. They were "accused for hostile activity".
On December 10, the Serbian run District Court in Peja sentenced Naim Haxhi Zejnaj (23) from the village of Irzniq near Deçan to 13 years of imprisonment. He was accused for "terrorism".
On December 10, the following Albanians from the district of Kamenica were sentenced by the Serbian run District Court in Gjilan: Shpëtim Krasniqi to 2 years of imprisonment and Zeqir Lenjani to 1.6 years of imprisonment. The 2 were accused for "hostile activity".
 
THE COURSE OF EVENTS
 
DECEMBER 6:
 
MITROVICA: In the "Tavnik" quarter, Haki Isuf Halili (33) was arrested and physically ill-treated by the police. 1375 kg of flour, 350 kg of sugar, 60 l of oil and 23 kg of detergent were confiscated from his shop. He was accused of not telling the name of the Serb from whom he had bought the goods.
ISTOG: In the village of Novosella near Peja, Can N. Shoshi (34) from Kashica was arrested by the police. He was ill-treated for more than 4 hours.
 
DECEMBER 7:
 
PODUJEVA: Groups of Serb policemen were stationed along the road between Podujeva and Prishtina (Luzhan, Livadica and Shtedim). Serb soldiers accompanied by 2 armoured cars are surveying the terrain at the place called Kulina. At 2 p.m., a military convoy comprised of 10 buses, 3 armoured cars and several other vehicles headed towards Prishtina.
RAHOVEC: Shpresa Berisha (1971) stated that during her visit paid to her husband Eshref Hoti (1970), she was not allowed to communicate with him in Albanian. Eshref is in the prison of Leskovc and is subjected to physical ill-treatment.
MITROVICA: Artillery and automatic fire were opened from the police check-points at the places called "Kodra e Baranëve" and "Përroi i Keq". An APC and a police car were stationed in the vicinity of the timber mill in Zhabar i Poshtëm. At the bus station in Stantërg, 3 Serbian policemen stopped Naim Jahir Kurti (18) from Vllahia, living in Stantërg, and took him to the police station. He was interrogated for 2 hours and threatened with killing. In the vicinity of the Ibri bridge, 3 policemen stopped and beat the following: Sabit Rifat Hasani (44), his sons Driton (20) and Jeton (18), his brother Fadil (40), Hasan Sylë Hasani (44) and Hajdin Mustafë Uka (37) - all from the "Tavnik" quarter. In Shipol, about 15 policemen stopped Fehmi Sh. Gashi (22) from Kopiliq i Poshtëm and Sheremet Maliqi (53) from Prekaz i Epërm near Skënderaj, who had been to Mitrovica to supply their shops with food items. Police interrogated them on the KLA, physically ill-treated them, looted goods estimated to DM 2100 and after 7 hours released them. In the vicinity of the Forestry, a police car ran over Fazlie Behrami (65), who was immediately taken to hospital.
VUSHTRRI: Jusuf Kelmendi, compulsory director of the prison in Smrekonica, dismissed the following guards: Ahmet Aliu (44), Gani Xhema (38), Istref Sadriu (44) and Afrim Ahmeti (36) after their refusal to be transferred to other prisons in Serbia.
GLLOGOC: Serbian policemen in Krivova took out of the bus and physically ill-treated Ismet Bujupi (1966) from Arllat under the pretext that he is a member of the KLA.
SUHAREKA: A military convoy of 9 buses, 3 trucks, 2 armoured cars and other vehicles from Duhla headed towards Prizren through Suhareka. At the check-point in Reshtan, Serbian police are stopping and ill-treating the local villagers.
 
DECEMBER 8:
 
PRISHTINA: 7 buses and 10 landrovers full of Serb policemen moved from Prishtina towards Peja. On the road between these two towns, police are stopping vehicles, checking the identities of and physically ill-treating the passers-by and passengers.
MITROVICA: Two trucks and six police vehicles left Mitrovica and headed towards Skënderaj.
SUHAREKA: In the outskirts of the town, Nazif Daut Begaj (1950) from Banja e Malishevës was stopped and physically ill-treated by several Serb policemen. A Serb convoy of 9 buses, 2 armoured cars, 1 vehicle headed towards Shtime.
PRIZREN: At noon, 15 policemen in two armoured cars were stationed in the vicinity of Landovica. They stopped passers-by. Later on, a convoy of 7 trucks, an APC and a tank passed through Kushnin and were stationed in the vicinity of the border zone between Kosova and Albania. In the "Ortakoll" quarter in Prizren, Xhevat Kastrati (1981) from Zatriq near Rahovec, a pupil with the "Gjon Buzuku" Secondary School in Prizren, living in "Pazari i Ri" st.17, was arrested by a police patrol.
PODUJEVA: Reinforcements were sent to the police station in Orllan. Large movements of the Serbian forces were noticed all over the district. In Shtedim, youngsters Arsim Namani and Mehmet Rekaliu were stopped and physically ill-treated by the Serbian police.
OBILIQ: Idriz Konjusha, member of the Board of the LDK branch in Obiliq, was taken to the police station and interrogated for more than two hours. Serb forces are still opening fire from their positions in "Kërshat e Grabocit" towards the villages of Graboc i Poshtëm, Graboc i Epërm and Shipitulla, in order to prevent the Albanian villagers from returning to their houses. Due to the police provocations, the villagers of Siboc, Lajthishta and Hamidia fear to travel to town. There are large movements of the Serbian police and military forces in the villages of Millosheva, Raskova, Llazareva and Babimoc. Serb military forces are opening fire, especially during the night. In Dardhishta, policemen are stopping cars and passers-by. Many are ill-treated.
VUSHTRRI: Some 40 Serb policemen in armoured cars surrounded the house of Bali Vojvoda in Stanoc i Poshtëm and searched for his son Haxhi. They also went into the yards of 2 other houses in the same village.
GJAKOVA: During the last 2 days, Serb military forces stationed in Demjan opened fire in the center of the village. Soldiers broke the windows and the door of a shop and looted goods estimated to DM 500. Serb soldiers are cutting timber in the forests owned by Albanians and are transporting them to an unknown direction. Yesterday, in the vicinity of the "Ura e Terzive" in Bishtazin, police stopped the bus travelling from Tirana to Gjakova. Shkumbin A. Zhaveli (18) from Gjakova was taken out of the bus, arrested and physically ill-treated. He was kept in detention until noon, December 8, under the pretext that he was "for a visit to Albania".
GJILAN: Serbian police arrested Abedin Ahmeti (1973), "Boris Kidriç" st., for weapons. He was subjected to physical ill-treatment and released at about midnight.
SHTIME: In the center of Shtime, police severely ill-treated Remzije Mehdi Bilalli (10) from Reçak. A police check-point was set up at the house of Ruzhdi Berisha in Godanc i Poshtëm. Passers-by are subjected to severe ill-treatment.
RAHOVEC: During the last 2 days, about 30 policemen were stationed on the local road in Celina for an hour. They stopped and harassed the locals.
FERIZAJ: 2 policemen severely ill-treated Adnan Bislimi (1982) as he spoke to them in Albanian.
KAÇANIK: Nuri Luma, secretary of the LDK branch in Hani i Elezit, was taken for informative talks to the police station.
ISTOG: 20 soldiers and policemen in an APC and an armoured car were stationed in the vicinity of Baica.
 
DECEMBER 9:
 
PRIZREN: At the bridge in the vicinity of Landovica, some policemen stopped the bus travelling from Ratkoc to Prizren and forced out of the bus Abdyl Vorfaj (1975) from Prizren, a teacher with the "Martin Camaj" Primary School in Ratkoc near Rahovec. They tore his ID and severely ill-treated him under the pretext that he had talked to 2 American observers.
Large military forces accompanied with a "Kaqusha" rocket launcher, a tank and an armoured car were stationed at the place called "Ura e Bellajës" in the vicinity of Rogova.
RAHOVEC: In Bellacërka, police beat Beqë Kastrati, a teacher who returning from Malësia e Vogël. At the crossroad in Xërxa, the following were arrested, taken to the police station and interrogated: Ilmi (55) and Fehmi Tahiraga (29) and Ramadan Bullatovci (45) from Rahovec as well as Muhamet Berisha from Brestovc. Sadete Bytyçi (1965) from Denja stated that she paid 2 visits to her husband Qemal Hajdar Bytyçi (1964) in the prison in Lipjan. She was told by her husband that he had been physically ill-treated by the guardians and that the food given to the prisoners was insufficient. According to the Independent Trade Unions 219 Albanians were dismissed from work after the offensive of the Serbian police and military forces on the town of Rahovec.
PODUJEVA: 2 military convoys comprised of 31 vehicles (trucks, armoured cars, buses and jeeps) headed towards Prishtina.
PEJA: At 9.30 a.m., 2 armed Serb civilians, who introduced themselves as police inspectors, went to the house of Avdyl Hoxha, an activist of the District Financial Council, living in the "Dardania" quarter, and arrested him. His family was told that he was being taken for informative talks and that he would be released after 2-3 hours. As Avdyl was not released even after 3-4 hours, his family members wanted to find out about his whereabouts at the Security Center. They received a negative reply either about his arrest or taking him for informative talks. The international observers received the same answer.
MITROVICA: 4 jeeps full of policemen left Mitrovica and headed towards Skënderaj. 2 men wearing KLA uniforms were noticed driving a gray "Opel record". They were accompanied by 2 men wearing police uniforms. It is assumed that this was a police provocation.
In the vicinity of the Ibri bridge, police stopped Kadri Shaban Çitaku (35) from the village of Çitak near Skënderaj. He was taken for informative talks to the police station and accused of being a member of the KLA. Unidentified persons broke the premises of the branch of the "Fazli Grajçevci" Primary School in Zhabar i Poshtëm.
KAÇANIK: In the village of Krivenik, Fatmir Thaçi (20) was physically ill-treated by 12 Serb soldiers. There were large movements of the Serbian military forces in Hani i Elezit, in the Hasallari quarter, in Rozhanca and to the border zone with Macedonia. In the fields near Dinça, Serb soldiers have opened trenches.
FERIZAJ: There were large movements of the Serbian police forces. Serb policemen pointed their automatic guns towards passers-by. Dr. Muhamet Ahmeti (1960), a physician, was taken for informative talks. Jakup Rexhepi, an activist of the LDK, was sought by the police.
LIPJAN: A military convoy and 2 armoured cars of the Serbian police passed through Lipjan and headed towards Shtime.
 
DECEMBER 10:
 
SKËNDERAJ: Despite of the appointment by the OSCE and approval of the Serbian authorities, Serbian police forces prevented the team of the Finn physicians (forensic experts) from conducting the examination and autopsy of the 22 mutilated Albanians of the Deliu family in Abria e Epërme.
PRISHTINA: Serbian police prevented the peaceful march of over 200 Italian activists of the "I Care" project.
In the "Velania" quarter, some Serb civilians, introducing themselves as inspectors, provoked and insulted on a national basis Blerim A. Maxhuni (1973), a student from Novosella e Maxhunit - Vushtrri and another Albanian youngster. They looted DM 10 and 50 dinars from Blerim. In the vicinity of the "Bozhur" hotel, a group of Serbian hooligans attacked some Albanian children (cigarette vendors) and severely beat Abdulselam Shkodra (1979), who tried to protect the children. In the yard of the "Ismail Qemali" Primary School, a Serb civilian, introducing himself as a security inspector, physically ill-treated Esat Kelmendi (1969), a student from Kramovik - Rahovec, and looted DM 100 from him. In the very same place, two Serb civilians arrested two Albanian youngsters.
KLINA: Large police and military forces were stationed in the vicinity of the mine in Volljaka, in the cherry plantation and on the Gremniku mountains. Planes flew low and loud detonations were heard. There was shooting during the last two days.
OBILIQ: A train of 15 cars full of soldiers came from Mitrovica.
PRESHEVA: The trial of Riza Halimi, mayor of Presheva, was postponed. He is facing charges for hindering the policeman "to do his duty" during the peaceful protests of the Albanian population against the "Serbian terror in Drenica". Under the very same pretext charges for petty-offence were raised against him.
SUHAREKA: Serbian police arrested Asllan Samadrexha from Banja. The situation continues to be very grave in the villages of Gjinoc, Gelanca, Leshan, Ternja, Sallagrazhda, Dubrava, Vraniq and Sopia. Police squads are ill-treating Albanian villagers.
SHTIME: Some 30 Serb policemen were stationed in the Bllacaliu quarter in the outskirts of Shtime. >From this position, they are surveying the villages of Reçak and Petrova, as well as those in the Carraleva Gorge. The policemen stationed at this check-point raided an Albanian house and arrested 3 unidentified persons.
VUSHTRRI: 4 policemen arrested Xhevdet Haradini (1974), a mentally disturbed person from the village of Stanoc i Epërm. He was taken to Rashka and severely ill-treated for more than 6 hours. Later on, he was sent back to Prishtina by train and released due to his deteriorated health condition. Due to injuries suffered, he had to seek for medical assistance.
SHTËRPCA: Large movements of the Serbian police and military forces can be noticed in Firaja, Viçaj and Brod. The very same are surveying the terrain. Serbian military units were stationed in Semaja, Silkapor and the Kashtanjeva mountain.
FERIZAJ: There were large movements of the Serbian police forces. In the center of the town, 4 police inspectors arrested Rrahman Bega (51) from Jezerc, living in Ferizaj.
MITROVICA: Three Serbian policemen arrested Sefedin Shahin Rama (30), a news agent of the "Rilindja" publishing house, living in the "Kroi i Vitakut" quarter. He was frisked and DM 850 were taken from him. Later on, the policemen went to and raided his house, seized 650 packs of cigarettes estimated to DM 450. Policemen searched for his brother Fatmir, who is temporarily working in Germany. Sefedin was threatened to be detained until his brother Fatmir surrendered. According to the policeman named Zoran, the latter was a member of the KLA in Drenica.
LIPJAN: A military convoy comprised of 6 buses, 4 tanks and 3 APCs passed through Lipjan and headed towards Shtime.
 
DECEMBER 11:
 
FERIZAJ: On having distributed humanitarian aid in the village of Jezerc, a group of humanitarian activists of the "Mother Theresa" Humanitarian & Charitable Association - Zef Çeku, Ali Muriqi, Naim Azemi and Nazim Huruglica, as well as Nedim Goleshiq, the representative of the "Cap Anamur" German Humanitarian Association, were stopped by the Serbian police and kept hostage by the Serb locals of Nerodime. Later on, they were released after the intervention of the KDOM.
MITROVICA: About 15 policemen in two cars and an APC were stationed in the "Tavnik" quarter for more than two hours. They stopped and checked the identities of many passers-by. In the vicinity of the hard currency market, they stopped and frisked a large number of Albanian citizens. Among those arrested is Nexhat Mustafë Grepi (19) from Koshtova e Bobit, etc.
KAÇANIK: Military forces were doubled in the village of Glloboçica, on the border with Macedonia. These forces are surveying the terrain from the strategic points in the villages of Shtraza, Goranca, etc.
SUHAREKA: There were large movements of the Serbian police and military forces. At about 3 p.m., 9 buses and 5 armoured cars passed through Suhareka and headed towards Prizren.
OBILIQ: Serb paramilitaries are parading through the villages in the district of Obiliq, provoking and physically ill-treating Albanian pupils. Due to injuries suffered, Fitim Gashi and Buzuk Krasniqi, secondary school pupils had to seek for medical assistance.
PRIZREN: There were large movements of the Serbian police and military forces in the region of Has on the border with Albania. Many Albanian locals were ill-treated. These forces were stationed in Landovica, Pirana, Krusha e Vogël, Celina and the "Tusus" quarter in Prizren. An armoured car and a "Praga" vehicle were stationed at the gas station in Pirana. In the "17 Nëntori" quarter, Serb policemen went to the shop, owned by Musli Mejdi Krasniqi (40) from Hoça e Qytetit. Musli was physically ill-treated for more than two hours.
 
DECEMBER 12:
 
GJAKOVA: In the night between Friday and Saturday loud detonations were heard in the villages of Reka e Keqe. A small number of the villagers, who had returned to Batusha and Molliq, were once again displaced. Military forces attacked the villages of Babaj i Bokës, Duzhnja and other villages on the border with Albania. During the last two days, large military reinforcements arrived in Gjakova. Today, 3 buses full of soldiers, several armoured cars and APCs arrived in the military barracks in Gjakova.
DEÇAN: The number of the Serbian police and military forces has increased in Deçan, Junik and the other villages of this district. In Junik, Serb forces were stationed at the local police station. Military forces were stationed in the premises of the "Hysni Dobruna" Primary School, at the house of Sadri Tafa and in an Albanian house in the Gacaferri quarter. In the early hours of the morning, large military forces accompanied with tanks passed through the Pepshi quarter in Junik. In Lluka e Epërme, police arrested Enver Mulaj (1962), an engineer, and Shkëlzen Ferizaj (1970) from Kodralia.
MITROVICA: 4 vans full of Serb civilians and 4 Landrovers full of policemen headed towards Skënderaj. 2 police cars were stationed in the "Tavnik" quarter. Many passers-by were stopped. 3 policemen arrested Musli Eshref Fazliu (30) from the village of Vidishiq near Shala e Bajgorës, sheltered in the "Tuneli i Parë" quarter.
SUHAREKA: 15 military trucks came from the direction of Shtime and headed towards Prizren. Serb policemen are looting money from the Albanian shops. Due to the large presence of Serbian police forces, the Albanian pupils of the primary school in Savrova are not attending their classes for the last 3 days.
KLINA: 3 buses full of Serb soldiers headed towards Skënderaj. One bus stopped in the village and Jashanica and set fire to the cattle fodder. Bekim Rrustem Rama from the village of Grabanica near Klina was arrested and severely ill-treated in Peja. He was released on the intervention of the International Observers Mission.
VUSHTRRI: Serb forces were stationed in Dobërlluka and provoked Albanian villagers.
 
DELAYED INFORMATION:
 
PRISHTINA: On December 1, in Shala e Bajgorës, the military police of the KLA arrested a group of thieves. The above mentioned looted goods estimated to DM 80.000 from the vacant Albanian houses. 2 of the detained are Sinan Sopjani (23) and Isa Hyseni from Samadraxha near Vushtrria. The above mentioned are in pre-trial detention and are to be tried.
PRIZREN: On November 28, Kapllan Mejdi Krasniqi (40), an invalid from Opterusha near Rahovec, was arrested by the police. He was accused for "terrorism". On December 4, Sylë Millaku from Prizren was released from prison. He had been arrested on September 22. Syla is in a very bad health condition due to being subjected to torture at the police station in Prizren. On December 5, in the center of Pirana, Skënder Elshani, Baki and Hamdi Latifi and Besim Krasniqi (23) from the village of Studençan near Suhareka were physically ill-treated by a group of 8 policemen.
FERIZAJ: On December 1, the stable of Eqrem Gashi in the village of Balaj was burned in unknown circumstances.
MITROVICA: On December 3, Miodrag Milosavleviq, director of the "Mitrovçanka" Textile Factory in the "Tavnik" quarter, dismissed the following 16 Albanians from work: Hajrije (40) and Mevlude Adem Fejzullahu (36), Sabrije Rrahman Hamiti (33), Ajtene Selim Haxhani (39), Fatime Avdyli (34), Hajrie Istref Islami (22), Igballe Aliu (28), Gjylsime Nuredini (33) and Mirnije Hyseni from the "Tavnik" quarter; Melihate Ismajl Shabani (32), Myrvete Tahir Uka (36), Sevem Jakupi (36) and Nerimane Hajrizi from the Ibri quarter; Xhevahire Bajraktari from the "2 Korriku" quarter, Shehrije Hyseni from the "Qendra" quarter and Fatime Fetahu (38) from Shipol. They had been suspended from work on September 22, during the attack of the Serbian police and military forces on the villages near Mitrovica.
SUHAREKA: On December 4, in Grejkoc, Serbian police arrested Nasuf Aziz Behluli from Mushtisht. On December 5, police intervened in a workshop in Sallagrazhda. A youngster from the village of Budakova was arrested. Passers-by were provoked.
KAÇANIK: On December 4, police closed the tea shop owned by Remzi Rexhep Berisha (1963), living in "Ramiz Sadiku" st. 11.
PODUJEVA: A policeman called "Cipiripi", his brother and several Serb civilians are threatening Jusuf Selmani (1959) and his family, living in "S. Singjeliq" st. 65, with liquidation. Jusuf was told to hand DM 20.000 to the policeman.
NOTICE: The houses of the following were looted, burned and destroyed by the Serbian police and military forces: Ramadan (1947) and Agron Mziu (1970) from Vërshec near Lipjan (on September 1).
 
Prishtina, December 13, 1998
Information Service