REPORT NO. 503
         ON THE SITUATION OF
           THE HUMAN RIGHTS
           AND FREEDOMS IN KOSOVA
           FROM  JUNE 25
           UNTIL  JUNE 30, 2000

KëSHILLI PëR MBROJTJEN E Të DREJTAVE E Të LIRIVE Të NJERIUT
COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
Rr. Zdrini, 38000 Prishtinë-Kosovë; tel. 381 (0) 549006  fax: 381 (0) 38 549007
E-mail:kmdlnj@albanian.com      cdhrf@albanian.com     http://www.albanian.com/kmdlnj

REPORT NO. 503
on the situation of human rights and freedoms in Kosova from 25 until 30 June 2000

     While the “KFOR operation of searching for illegal weapons” continues in the Drenica region in Central Kosova, the so-called Serbian leader in the northern part of Mitrovica, Oliver  Ivanoviq, after signing the “Agreement of Understanding” between the chairman of the “Serbian National Council”, bishop Artemie and the UN administrator in Kosova, Mr. Bernard Kouchner, stated that 50 Serbs are ready to protect the international humanitarian staff in this part of the town. From whom and how is Mr. Ivanoviq protecting the international staff?! He says – without weapons! Maybe he is trying to keep “order” and offer protection from the Albanians. Albanians (armed and unarmed), even women, children and elderly, were expelled from that part of the town. Only armed Serbian militaries, paramilitaries, policemen and civilians remained there. Is Mr. Ivanoviq trying to disarm them? No, they must be disarmed and arrested by KFOR soldiers and UNMIK police the same way they did with the Albanians in other parts of Kosova. The international peacekeepers must and should do this.
     KFOR soldiers and UNMIK police are obliged to keep order for the international humanitarian staff and for all the citizens of Kosova, including those in the northern part of Mitrovica and other enclaves. Every other kind of protection leads to further violation of human rights and freedoms and is in opposition to the 1244 Resolution of the UN Security Council.
     Another phenomenon characterized the situation of human rights and freedoms in Kosova. Albanians, invalids of war and pensioners blocked the roads and demonstrated. We believe that the issues that concern the protestors must be taken seriously and that the motives must be found, so that needed and possible solutions would be found.
     During this week, the number of the killed in Kosova is higher than last week. According to the available data, 4 people were killed (2 Albanians and 2 Serbs) and 2 others were wounded (a Serb and an Italian, who hit a mine). About 200 victims were exhumed in a mass grave and two of them were identified. The District Court in Nish (Serbia) convicted 6 Albanians from Kosova to 14 months of imprisonment each.

  CHRONICLE

 Killings

     On 25 June. - In Fushë-Kosova, a Serb was killed and another one was wounded. KFOR soldiers took the wounded to the hospital.
     On 27 June. – The corpse of Slavenko Markoçeviq from Shushica was found on the Shushica Mountains in Shtërpca, at about 14.00. He went missing on 23 June under unknown circumstances. According to the investigation, Markoçeviq was killed with blunt weapons, but no weapons or ammunition were found on the spot.
     On 30 June. – According to the UNMIK police, the corpse of an Albanian was found in the vicinity of Prelluzha (Vushtrri).
     - The corpse of Hashim Hajrullahu (52) from Bunjak - Poliçka (Dardana), living in Gjilan, was found in the “Arbëria” quarter (former “Qenar Çeshme”) in Gjilan. UNMIK police arrested two suspects.

 Mass graves – identifications, reburials

     DRENAS: On 29 June, Qamil Abaz Thaçi (24) from Llapushnik was reburied in Fatos (Negroc). He was identified two days ago in a mass graves in Rakosh (Burim - Istog). He was killed in the prison of Drejana (Dubrava) - Burim.
     PRISHTINA: So far, the corpses of 200 victims were exhumed in the mass graves in the “Arbëria” quarter (former Dragodan) in Prishtina. One of them was eng. Afrim Ragip Loxha (1946), killed by the Serbian police on 1 April 1999. His reburial will be held on 1 July 2000.

 Disappearances and kidnappings

     GJAKOVA: On 29 June, according to the UNMIK police, at about 17.30, in Ponoshec, 6 persons attempted to kidnap 4 children. 3 of them ran away immediately, whereas the fourth one managed to escape. Police found the vehicle of the assaulters, who are on the run.
     BESIANA (PODUJEVA): KFOR sources informed that on 24 June, on the road Prishtina-Besiana, a Serb with the family name Markoviq went missing. UNMIK police was informed about this and are investigating the case.

 Mine accidents

     GJAKOVA: On 29 June, an Italian, member of the “Roneo” organization suffered wounds on his left leg due to a mine accident.

 Trials

     - On 26 June, the District Court in Nish (Serbia) sentenced the following to 14 months of imprisonment each: Halil Seferi (28), Afrim Seferi (35), Muhamet Limani (34) and Gani Elshani (38) from Çikatova (Drenas), Sali Bytyçi (42) from Theranda (Suhareka) and Xhemajl Gashi (40) from Shtime.

 Ill-treatments, attacks, provocations

     GJILAN: On 25 June, at about 21.00, unidentified persons broke the windows in the premises of the LDK branch in Gjilan and removed the LDK emblem. They also removed the ribbon put to honour the chairman of the LDK, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova.
     On 27 June, a grenade was thrown at a Serbian house in the vicinity of the KFOR checkpoint in Gjilan. A KFOR soldier suffered injuries. From the next day, the curfew was extended from 21.00 – 05.00.
     On 30 June, in Qarrishta (Cërnica), a grenade was thrown in the house yard of a Serb.

     MITROVICA: On 25 June, an Albanian woman informed KFOR and UNMIK police that a Serb had occupied her flat in the Bosniac quarter in the north of the town. Two UNMIK police squads went to the spot and at about 12.30, Serbian family moved out from the flat and the owner was able to go back to her flat.
     On 27 June, in the vicinity of the building of former MUP in the “Ibri” quarter in the north of the town, a group of Serbs expelled the families of Kimete Boletini and Sadete Ibrahimi. These families were under the KFOR protection. As soon as the KFOR troops left, both families were expelled by force.
     On 29 June, at about 17.00, a group of Serbs from Tejibri (Suhadoll) i Epërm attacked with stones and demolished the car of Gani Hajdin Qestova (35) from Tejibri (Suhadoll) i Poshtëm.
     On 30 June, between 19.20 and 21.00, in the “7 Shtatori” quarter, in the north of Mitrovica, a group of Serbs and Roma (a woman was among them) broke into the house of Kadri Gani Mehmeti (46) when no one was at home and looted all furniture.

     KLINA: On 26 June, the shop of Pren Hetemi in Zallkuq (Zllakuqan) was robbed. The shop of Sejdi Rrapi in Klina was demolished and goods estimated to 6.000 DM were looted.

     PRIZREN: On 26 June, at about 23.00, in the “Ortakoll” quarter, the premises of the “Birlik” firm, owned by Sadik Morina, a Turk from Mamusha, were blown up. An UNMIK policeman suffered injuries.

     GJAKOVA: On 26 June, 4 masked persons went into the premises of the Red Cross in Gjakova, beat the guard until he fainted and looted 3 computers, a video recorder, a radio and 500 DM. The guard was taken to the hospital.

     PRISHTINA: On 27 June, at about 1.15, according to KFOR report, in the “Dardania” quarter, there was a blast in the elevator in a building. The elevator was demolished and the windows on the first five floors were broken.

     BESIANA (PODUJEVA): On 28 June, at about 6.00, in Mediana (Merdar), on theborder zone Kosova – Serbia, fire shots were heard from the territory of Serbia. A British military stated that two blasts and automatic fire were heard on the road Besiana-Mediana.

     KASTRIOT (OBILIQ): On 28 June, three unidentified persons threw a grenade at the house of a Serb in Analum (Plemetin).

     SHTËRPCA: On 28 June, in Shtërpca Serbs attacked three American students, deployed by the non-governmental organisation AGAPE. They took their cameras, passports and money.

     DRENAS, MALISHEVA, FERIZAJ, RAHOVEC, BESIANA: On 27, 28 and 29 June, dissatisfaction of the population with regard to the behaviour of the KFOR Norwegian troops, the prohibition of the UÇK emblem, depravation of the Albanian national flag, the imprisonment of an Albanian, on whose property the KFOR troops found illegal weapons, and the latest raids irritated the population, which blocked the Llapushniku Gorge and the centre of Malisheva. Such a protest was held in Klina and the road Prishtina-Peja was blocked. In Ferizaj, the roads Prishtina-Shkup and Ferizaj-Gjilan were blocked. People from Rahovec and Besiana joined the protests. The citizens of Besiana blocked the road Besiana-Prishtina. One of the slogans was: “No raids in the Albanian houses, while Serbs in Mitrovica, Kamenica and other places are still armed”. The crowd was dispersed and the roads were unblocked after promises that their requests would be transmitted to the UN administrator, Mr. Bernard Kouchner.

     VITI: On 30 June, in Rranëz (Podgorc), there was an explosion in the Orthodox Church. It got damaged a lot.

 The prisoners

     MITROVICA: On 29 June, KFOR troops and UNMIK police undertook an action in the northern part of Mitrovica and arrested a Roma, who was believed to have been working with the Serbian state security. He was accused of attacking an Albanian and burning his vehicle.

     PRISHTINA: On 29 June, the following were released from the Serbian prisons in Leskovc, Pozharevc and Nish: Genc Kida (1973), Nexhdet Kida (1975), Shaban Kida (1978) and Shkëlzen Kida (1980) from Cërmjan (Gjakova); Fadil Topalli (1975), Faik Topalli (1975) and Isa Topalli (1971) from the municipality of Prizren and Jeton Vllasaliu (1974) from Artana (Novobërda).
     On 30 June, 22 Albanians from Kosova were released from the prisons in Mitrovica e Sremit, Nish and Pozharevc. The names of 20 of them are known to the CDHRF. They are as follows: Agim Hasani, NN Hasani, Tefik Shabani, Brahim Isufi, Remzi Pacolli and Sylë Avdyli – from Prishtina; Halil Lika and Ibrahim Isufi from Flamuras (Sankoc), Hysni Drenica from Drenas, Rrahim Nika from Shkaba (Gllanasella), Agron Prokshi from Fortesa (Vërboc) and Hashim Krasniqi from Fatos (Negroc) – municipality of Drenas; Refik Hasani and Agim Ibrahimi from Besiana, Habib Shabani and Fadil Zymeri from Bardhash (Bradash) and Fahri Ejupi from Sekiraça – municipality of Besiana; Xhemajl Sallauka and Idriz Cufaj – from Deçan and Musa Hajriz Gashi from Balaj (Balinca) (Malisheva).
     The representative of the ICRC, Vjosa Osmani, stated that 1023 Albanians from Kosova were released from the Serbian prisons, whereas 1077 other Albanians are still kept in prisons.

 Presheva, Bujanoc, Medvegja

     BUJANOC: On 26 June, Serbian police and military forces burned several houses in Maltërnoc. Due to fear from repression, the Albanian population had fled the village.
     Fresh military and police forces have deployed in Presheva and Bujanoc. Checkpoints were set up in the entrance-exits of these towns. Serbian soldiers are using dogs during the checking.

KFOR interventions

     GJILAN: On 26 June, 3 KFOR soldiers removed the UÇK emblem from the office of the LPK. In a meeting with the delegation of this party, superior Bob Bejker stated that the UÇK emblems are not prohibited to be used, therefore they had to do with a misunderstanding. The American superior was informed about another case when the American soldiers with a Serbian translator removed the Albanian flag from the “Mehmet Isai” Technical Secondary School in Gjilan.

 Delayed information:

     RAHOVEC: On 24 June, in Hoça e Madhe, inhabited by Serbs, there were 4 blasts (3 in vacant houses). There were no casualties reported.

Prishtina, 1 July 2000
Information Service

Mail senden