Wochenbericht Nr. 476 der
REPORT NO. 476
ON THE SITUATION OF
THE HUMAN RIGHTS
AND FREEDOMS IN KOSOVA
FROM DECEMBER 12
UNTIL DECEMBER 19, 1999
Report 476
on the situation of the human
rights and freedoms in Kosova
from December 12 until December
19, 1999
Between December 12 and December 19, 3 citizens were killed, of whom 2 Albanians and one Serb, as well as one American soldier (in a mine incident). 13 were wounded (9 Albanians and 4 Serbs), as well as 2 French soldiers.
Killings
On December 12 - the corpse
of Naim Gashi (26) from the village of Buçan near Peja, was taken
to the morgue of the Peja Hospital. Naim was killed in the vicinity of
the Drini i Bardhë bridge near Klina. He was shot from a sniper while
repairing his car.
On December 15 – at about
3 p.m., Sadik Topalli (58) was shot and killed in the vicinity of his flat
in the “Ulpiana” quarter in Prishtina.
On December 17 – at about
8 p.m., a Serb was killed and 9 were wounded when fire was opened and a
hand grenade was thrown in a Serb café in Rahovec.
Mine incidents
KAMENICA: On December 15, an American soldier was killed when his vehicle hit a land mine in the municipality of Kamenica.
Woundings
MITROVICA: On December 18, at about 10 p.m., two unidentified persons driving an “Ascona” car opened fire towards Mentor Esat Nimani (24) from the village of Reka. Mentor and his fiancé were in a “Golf” car. Mentor was wounded on his chest. In a critical condition he was taken to the Prishtina Hospital and operated.
Disappearances and kidnappings
GJAKOVA: On December 13, Teki Bokshi from Gjakova, a lawyer with the Humanitarian Law Fund – office in Kosova, who was kidnapped in the vicinity of Belgrade on December 3, was released. His family paid DM 100.000 to the kidnappers.
Ill-treatments, attacks, provocations
GJILAN: On December 12, in
the evening hours, 7 Albanians were beaten by a group of Serbs from the
village of Partesh. Brothers Agim (1968) and Sabit Zymberi (1970) from
the village of Bukovik, Lumnije Nuredini (1976) from the village of Sojeva
near Ferizaj and Hanife Mehmeti (1927) suffered severe injuries and had
to be hospitalized. The other three suffered lighter injuries. Two cars
and a truck had their windows broken while passing through the village.
Later on, all traffic was stopped due to the Serb barricades in this village.
GLLOGOC: On December 13, at
about 2.15 p.m., Ragip Janova, a taxi driver from the village of Korrotica
e Epërme, was hit by an armoured vehicle of the Russian forces which
was traveling between Komoran and Skënderaj. He was taken to the Prishtina
Hospital by a group of Canadian soldiers. The Russian soldiers tried to
escape from the scene of the accident but were prevented by those present.
Later on, the UNMIK police arrived and investigated the case.
MITROVICA: On December 13,
at about 6.30 p.m., a group of Serbs threw a bomb on the offices of the
Albanian Republican Party (PRSH) in the northern part of Mitrovica. The
offices of the PRSH were completely destroyed in the blast. A warehouse
of the “Mother Theresa” Humanitarian & Charitable Association was damaged.
Halit Cimili and Shkodran Sejdiu were wounded. Later on, KFOR soldiers
and the UNMIK police arrived at the scene of the incident. They searched
the offices of the PRSH and seized the weapons they found there. Skender
Hoti (47), the chairman of the PRSH, living in the “Qendra” quarter, was
arrested. Later on, he was released.
On December 16, at about 1.30
p.m., a group of Serb paramilitaries led by Dushko Dragoviq, Rade Gjera,
Zvonko Kovaçeviq and a person named Llaza – the lawyer, from Zveçan
and Mijo Orliq, from the “Ibri” quarter, threw several bombs at the Albanian
houses in the Bosniac quarter in the northern part of the town. The houses
of Murat Gashi (40) and Nexhmedin Fejzullah Ramagjiku (53) were destroyed.
It is believed that several Albanian citizens were wounded. Mijo Orliq
severelly ill-treated Gjyle Avdi Rexhepi (53). At 4 p.m., the paramilitaries
threw an explosive device at the Albanian houses in the vicinity of the
Technical School. Four detonations were heard at 4.45 p.m., and 9.15 p.m.
According to many eyewitnesses the paramilitaries were led by Oliver Ivanoviq,
the self-proclaimed mayor of the northern part of the town. At 11.45 p.m.,
a group of Serb paramilitaries threw a bomb on the house of Muhedin Mursel
Osmani (43) in the “Ibri” quarter. Muhedin was heavily wounded and in a
deteriorated health condition was taken to the Prishtina Hospital. Two
French soldiers were lightly wounded as well. Extensive material damage
was caused in Muhedin’s house.
RAHOVEC: On December 14, in
a combined action of the German soldiers, the Italian police and the UNMIK
police, 4 brothers from the village of Kralan near Gjakova were arrested.
They are believed to have committed several acts of kidnappings and of
plunder. The UNMIK police stated that the group was active on the road
between Xërxa-Ratkoc and Klina. Their house was searched and large
amounts of weapons were seized.
FERIZAJ: On December 15, KFOR
troops arrested a Serb who opened automatic fire in the vicinity of the
KFOR command in Slivova.
MITROVICA: Members of the
TMK caught a group of criminals who had committed acts of violence and
of plunder. The group was operating in the territory between Kaçanik
and Vushtrria. Guns, masks and cold weapons were seized from the group.
The criminals were handed to the UNMIK police. The following are among
the arrested: Driton Ukiqi – Sorra, Ferid Gërxhaliu – Rrepi, Arben
Gërxhaliu – Kukuti, Avdullah Sokoli – Llusta, Ali Salihu – Buqi, Jakup
Mustafa – Bellani, Driton Muli – Peshku, Bekim Dobërdoli, Astrit Jasha,
Kemajl Sallahu, Fevzi Latifi, Sabri Shartari, Sabit Ferizi, Izet Azemi,
Bahri Tahiri, Isa Hyseni, Bekim Bainca and Lumni Mulaku. The names of the
others were not made public due to the investigation proceedings.
LIPJAN: Colonel Sajnio, the
commander of the Finnish troops in Lipjan, stated that the Finnish troops
and the UNMIK police had caught a group of several persons (mainly Albanian
youngsters) who had received money (DM 100) to commit attacks against the
members of the Serbian minority and their property in Lipjan. Colonel Sajnio
stated that the accused had confessed on having committed these acts.
The prisoners
GJAKOVA: On December 14, Shaban
Rama (48) from the village of Ponoshec was released from the prison in
Pozharevac (Serbia) after 20 months of imprisonment.
SUHAREKA: On December 14,
Xhavit Mala, a teacher from the village of Mushtisht near Suhareka, who
was arrested on October 14, 1998, and sentenced on February 16, 1999 to
2 years of imprisonment, was released from the prison in Nish. Xhavit is
the first prisoner from the municipality of Suhareka to be released from
the prisons of Serbia after the war.
GLLOGOC: On December 16, Brahim
Deli Asllani (1981), a farmer from the village of Çikatova e Re,
who was arrested by the Serbian paramilitary forces on May 28, and released
from the prison in Pozharevac (Serbia) on November 17, stated to the sub-CDHRF
in Gllogoc, that the following are still in detention in the prison of
Pozharevac:
Jeton Isufi from Çikatova
e Re,
Rrustem Hoti from the
village of Polac near Skënderaj and
Hajrullah Brahimi from
the village of Kçiq near Mitrovica.
He also recognized the following Albanians in
the prison of Pozharevac:
Gazmend Isufi,
Ismet Isufi,
Agim Baleci and
Enver Baleci – from
Çikatova e Re;
Ejup Elshani,
Muharrem Elshani and
Fehmi Topalli – from
Bainca;
Fehmi Buquku from Gllogoc
and
Fejzë Podrimçaku
from Krajkova; as well as
Bashkim Gllogovci from
the village of Shipol near Mitrovica.
Eastern Kosova – (Presheva, Bujanoc, Medvegja)
BUJANOC: On December 12, at about 2.30 p.m., a group of 25 Serb policemen, who were armed with automatic guns, searched the house of Qani Rufat Salihu (1956), from the village of Tërnoc. The policemen were allegedly searching for weapons. Not finding any they left. Qani’s children suffered traumas.
KFOR interventions
GJILAN: On December 13, KFOR
soldiers went to the newsstand in the village of Zhegër and told Naser
Maloku to take off the photos of Adem Jashari and Agim Ramadani, under
the pretext that they are “terrorists”. The soldiers took off the photos.
GLLOGOC: On December 15, at
11 a.m., Russian troops drove their tanks and other vehicles along the
railway in the village of Tërdec. The Russian soldiers who were driving
the tanks were masked. These actions of the Russian troops caused anger
among the villagers. On seeing the above-mentioned, Canadian soldiers made
the Russians leave the village.
SKËNDERAJ: On December
15, at about 10.30 a.m., Fazli and Jahir Gashi from the village of Sverka
near Klina, were stopped at the checkpoint of the Russian soldiers in the
village of Buroja. The two were stopped as they had an Albanian flag inside
their car. They were told to get out of the car and were taken some 200
m. from the checkpoint. They were insulted on a national basis and told
to walk over the Albanian flag. At noon, the two were released but threatened
to be killed if caught again carrying the national flag. According to several
citizens from the municipalities of Klina and Skënderaj, two Serbs,
Slagjan J. from the village of Grapc near Klina and Predrag Neshiq, were
seen at this checkpoint wearing Russian uniforms.
DRAGASH: On December 17, members
of the UNMIK police in co-operation with Turkish soldiers blocked the village
of Plava and searched the house of Zikri Bojaxhiu. The house was searched
under the pretext of searching for weapons. Not finding any, the policemen
arrested Zikri and his son Azem. Zikri was released during the very same
day. His son Azem was kept in detention for two days.
Evidence on war criminals
FUSHË-KOSOVA: Based on
the statements taken from the family members of those who were killed,
a list was compiled with the names of the following 32 paramilitaries implicated
in the killings of the Albanians, in the looting, burning and destruction
of their houses and their property: Boban Mitroviq, Dragan Mitroviq, Slobodan
Mitroviq, Slavisha Grujiq, Boban Grujiq, Slavisha Andrejeviq – one of the
main organizers of the expulsion of the Albanians from Fushë-Kosova,
Zhika Begnellaviq, Mladen Laziq, Dragomir Popoviq, Dragan Dabizhleviq,
Lazar Deniq, Radomir Dishiq, Radovan Petroviq, Radojica Mitiq, Dragan Iliq,
Aca Stankoviq, Sasha Mihajloviq, Sava Drashkoviq, Miodrag Bangjur, Milan
Milkoviq, Sasha Maksimoviq, Nebojsha Stefanoviq, Vlastimir Jovanoviq, Dushan
Zharkoviq, Dragan Xhekiq, Dobri Artinoviq, Stanko Milankoviq, Dobrivoje
Gjorgjeviq, Darko Milosheviq, Dragolub Lukaçeviq, Lubisha Veliçkoviq
and Zharko Vasiq.
OBILIQ: Many documents (on
the activities of the Serbian military and paramilitary forces) were found
in the “Pandeli Sotiri” Primary School in Obiliq. A unit comprised of the
following paramilitaries was active in the villages of Mazgit and Subotiq:
Borislav Klaiq (commander), Dragisha Stankoviq, Rajko Samarxhiq, Zoran
Gjorgjeviq, Tomislav Iliq, Bratislav Steviq, Mishko Janoviq, Dragisha Bojiq
and NN Milosheviq. It is supposed that the above mentioned were from Kraleva
(Serbia). Another list was found with the names of Branislav Klaiq (commander),
Milosh Jankoviq and Branislav Miriq. A unit comprised of the following
paramilitaries was active in the village of Subotiq: Lubodrag Bojkoviq
(commander), Gjegja Milosheviq, Slavisha Milosheviq, Dragan Antiq, Sërgjan
Miliq, Zharko Stanojeviq, Vladica Mihajloviq, Miodrag Markoviq and Branko
Matiq. Apart from the above mentioned the names of the following figure
in another list: Lubodrag Bojkoviq (commander), Ivica Stoliq and Zlatko
Dabiq. Another unit was comprised by: Dragisha Stankoviq (commander), Zhivorad
Miliq, Vojislav Zhiviq, Veselin Stamenkoviq, Sërgjan Miliq, Milan
Gjorgjeviq, David Kërstiq and Petar Kovaçeviq. The list states
that due to different reasons, the following did not report to their units:
Jugoslav Dimitrijeviq, Milan Jovanoviq, Momçilo Stojanoviq and Zhivojin
Deniq.
Delayed information:
GLLOGOC: On December 4, at
about 10 a.m., Skender Rrusta (1972) from the village of Nekoc near Gllogoc
stepped on a land mine and suffered heavy injuries.
PRIZREN: On December 10, during
the police curfew, members of the TMK arrested a group of criminals who
were caught in an act of robbery. Weapons were seized from the group of
criminals. The criminals had also organized a chain of prostitution and
were selling drugs. The following are the initials of the arrested: Gj.
K. from Prizren, A. K. from Krusha e Vogël, Sh. K. from the village
of Arbana (Dushanova), A. B. from Brezja near Dragash and B. S. from Istog.
Note: CDHRF possesses the
list with the names of the places where the birth registries, marriage
registries and death registries were taken.
1. The Municipality Court in Bujanoc –
(“Karagjorgje” 115) tel. 017/ 761 042 - Gjilan, Viti, Kamenica and Novobërda;
2. The District Court in Jagodina – (“Kneginja
Milica” 86) tel. 035/ 223 334, 224 638 room 200 - Gjakova and Deçan;
3. The Municipality Court in Kragujevc
– (“Svetosavska” 7/44) tel. 034/ 335 677, 335 688 room 220 – Peja, Istog
and Klina;
4. The Court for Petty Offences in Kraleva
– (“Jovan Sariq” 1) tel. 036/ 331 422 room 603 – Mitrovica, Skënderaj,
Vushtrri, Leposaviq, Zubin-Potok and Zveçan;
5. The Municipality Court in Krushevc –
(“Raiqeva”) tel. 037/ 22 124, 440 640 room 27 599 – Prizren, Rahovec, Suhareka
and Dragash (Gora);
6. The Municipality Court in Leskoc – (“Kosta
Stamenkoviq” 16) tel. 016/ 212 160 – Ferizaj, Kaçanik, Shtimje and
Shtërpca;
7. The Municipality Court in Nish – (“Singjeliq”
1/V) tel. 018/ 21 986 – Prishtina, Podujeva, Gllogoc, Lipjan and Fushë-Kosova.
Prishtina, December 19, 1999 Information Service
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