REPORT NO. 505
ON THE SITUATION OF
THE HUMAN RIGHTS
AND FREEDOMS IN KOSOVA
FROM JULY 9
UNTIL JULY 16, 2000
REPORT no. 505
on the situation of human rights and freedoms
from 9 until 16 July 2000
In the period between July 9 and July 16 there were no killings between members of different ethnic groups. The killings in which members of the same ethnic group are involved and the accidental killing of a child are concerning. The killing of an Albanian, as well as the woundings during the previous week, regardless of their motive, are very concerning for the Kosovar public opinion. There was automatic fire towards the house of the chairman of LDK and chairman of the administrative board in the municipality of Klina, who was the former chairman of the Sub-CDHRF in Klina. These can have political motives, yet they can be an attack perpetrated by the destructive or extremist groups, which aim the violation of individual ad collective fundamental human rights.
The human rights situation in Kosova was burdened with the wounding of three Serbian priests. After this incident, Serbian crowds blocked the roads and protested. These acts resulted in attacks against KFOR troops. The Serbian crowds were very aggressive against the Albanians in the northern part of Mitrovica, when KFOR troops were attacked. Destructive extremists in this part of Kosova attacked the OSCE registration centre in the municipality of Leposaviq. Serbian chairman of the administrative board in this municipality had called upon the population to register, as it was for their own benefit. The event that added fuel to the flames was the Belgrade District Court, which sentenced 6 Albanians to 46,5 years of imprisonment. 5 of them are students with the University of Belgrade. They were arrested in Belgrade in May 1999 for “hostile activity” and “terrorism”.
During last week, according to the available data, 4 Albanians were killed (one in a mine accident, whereas a child was accidentally killed by a KFOR soldier), 3 Serbs were wounded, a child was reported missing. The District Court in Belgrade sentenced 6 Albanians from Kosova (one in absentia) to 46,5 years of imprisonment, whereas an Albanian from the municipality of Deçan was released from the prison in Pozharevc. The corpses of 12 Albanian civilians, which were exhumed from the mass grave in “Arbëria” Prishtina, were identified. 4 human skeletons and three corpses were found in other parts of Kosova.
Killings
On 10 July. – In the yard of the “Nijazi Rexhepi” Primary School in Gjelbina (Sllatina) e Epërme, a KFOR American soldier accidentally killed Gentrit Deli Rexhepi (7) from Zgatar (Zllatar) - Ferizaj.
On 11 July. - Besnik Balaj from Isnik
(Isniq) – Deçan killed Sadri Azem Ahmetgjekaj, a former KLA soldier.
The incident occurred in the “Jeta 2000” restaurant.
-After 1.00 am, in Qëndresa
(Tërstenik) - Drenas, unidentified persons killed Vehbi Xhemajl Dvorani
(1973), when he was leaving the house, as his kiosk was being looted.
On 12 July. – While pasturing the cattle in Dukas (Duga) – Shtime, Florie Jashari (1984) hit a mine and died.
Mass graves – identifications
PRISHTINA: Until 13 July, the corpses
of the following were identified in the mass grave in the “Arbëria”
quarter in Prishtina: Zejnullah Nazmi Berisha (1973) from Gurshkaba (Grabovc
i Poshtëm) - Fushë-Kosova (kidnapped by the Serbian forces on
26 March 1999 on the crossroad in Fushë-Kosova and identified by his
family members according to his clothes); Isa Aziz Gashi (1976), Xhevdet
Sali Gashi (1976), Mumin Ragip Gashi (1976), Haki Shaban Bajrami (1960)
and Besim Hajriz Makolli (1982) – from Fushë-Kosova; Muharrem Gashi,
Hasan Vitia and Mehmet Zeka – from Prishtina; Halit Bici from Mazgit (Kastriot
- Obiliq), killed by the Serbian paramilitaries on 28 March 1999); Haki
Morina from the municipality of Dardana and Fadil Nazmi Berisha from Rranza
(Runjeva) - Kaçanik, who went missing on 26 May 1999.
DEÇAN: 4 human skeletons
were found at the place called Ereniku in Juniku Mountains. It is believed
that they were killed in June 1998. Some clothes were found at the same
place. The territory is still mined.
BURIM: On 12 July, three corpses
(two male and one female) were found between the villages of Gurras (Studenica)
and Kaliçan.
Disappearances and kidnappings
MALISHEVA: There are no information on the whereabouts of Fazli Ismajl Gashi (15) from Rrezor (Mleçan), a pupil with the “Lasgush Poradeci” Secondary School in Pleqnor (Kijeva), since 7 July.
The prisoners - trials
BELGRADE: On 10 July, the District
Court in Belgrade sentenced the following: Petrit Berisha (12 years of
imprisonment), Zef Palucaj (8 years of imprisonment – in absentia), Dritan
Meqa and Shkodran Dërguti (7 years of imprisonment each), Isam Avdullahu
(6,5 years of imprisonment) and Driton Berisha (6 years of imprisonment).
They were arrested by the Serbian police on 19 May 1999 in Belgrade. Apart
from Zef, a goldsmith, the others are students with the University of Belgrade.
DEÇAN: Demë Batushaj
from Baballoç, arrested by the Serbian police in Gjakova in 1998,
was released from the prison in Pozharevc (Serbia).
CHRONICLE
On 9 July
PRISHTINA: At about 23.00, there
were fire shots in the vicinity of the residence of the chairman of the
LDK, dr. Ibrahim Rugova, in the “Velania” quarter.
SKËNDERAJ: At about midnight,
unidentified armed persons threatened the guard of the Tax Department of
the Directory for Economy and Finance in the Municipal Council in Skënderaj
and looted 97.000 DM from the safe box.
On 10 July
RAHOVEC: In the vicinity of the Serbian quarter, an UNMIK policeman took off the Albanian national flag from Sahatkulla under the pretext that the flag was put on the Serbian Orthodox Church with provocative aims. After the protests of the Albanians in Rahovec, the flag was put back on its place, whereas general Fritz von Korff reconfirmed that his soldiers do not have the right to take off the Albanian national flag.
On 11 July
MALISHEVA: In the vicinity of Arbënesh
(Astrazup), at about 22.30, KFOR Russian soldiers stopped Musli Morina
and asked for an identification document. Musli showed them his LKÇK
membership card. He had 1800 DM in it. Russian soldiers took the money
and gave him back his card. Musli reported his case at the KFOR and the
UNMIK police.
PRISHTINA: The Union of Women of
Kosova organised a protest for the release of the Albanian prisoners from
the Serbian prisons. Even though this protest was announced, police did
not undertake any measures to stop the traffic along the “Nënë
Tereza” square, where the protesters would march.
On 12 July
VITI: At noon, in Kllokot, Dragan
Kojiq, a priest of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and his two assistants,
were wounded by unknown persons. At about 13.00, Serbs blocked the road
Kllokot-Vitia and threw stones to some passing-by vehicles. Several people
from the crowd attempted to kidnap an American soldier. Thanks to the fast
intervention of KFOR soldiers and UNMIK police, the situation was calmed
and the road was unblocked.
SKËNDERAJ: In the meeting of
the Administrative Board of the Municipal Council in Skënderaj, UNMIK
administrator Ken Inoue demanded from this organ to close down Radio Drenica,
which started its work on 18 June 2000. He stated that this radio station
“is hindering” the KFOR communication system.
KLINA: At about 18.40, fire was
opened towards the vehicle of Ramadan Krasniqi, chairman of the Administrative
Board of the Municipal Council in Klina, in the vicinity of his house in
Nora (Zajm).
On 13 July
KLINA: At about 5.40, KFOR German military policemen went into the house of Miftar Pajaziti in Kushtrim (Cerovik) and started to punch the family members. Riza Pajaziti (22) was beaten until he fainted. He suffered severe body injuries. His father Pajazit was also beaten. Halit’s wife Fazile, pregnant, and Ganimete Pajaziti, paralysed, suffered traumas. Their neighbour Bajram Pajaziti was severely beaten. After an hour and a half, the translator of the UNMIK police apologised under the pretext that “a mistake had occurred”, as the military policemen were looking for another family in Gurakuq (Plloçica) - Malisheva.
On 14 July
MITROVICA: At 23.30, about 200 Serbs
attacked many Albanian flats in the “7 Shtatori” quarter. They also fired
a grenade, which hit the wall between the 6th and 7th floors. At the same
time, fire was opened from the café “Dollçe vita” towards
the flats of Ali Sadik Istrefi (55) and Ajet Zymer Shosholli (45). Fortunately,
no one suffered. After 1.00 am, Serbs opened fire towards the blue skyscraper,
which is opposite UNMIK and the OSCE, in the south of the town. The windows
in the flats of Agim Rifat Deva, Aliniki Hysein Hyseini (52) and Selahedin
Shaban Gashi (74) were hit. Serbs have been protesting in the streets in
the north of the town for three days. They have been threatening the Albanians
to move to Albania.
KLINA: At midnight, according to
the UNMIK police, unidentified persons attacked the family of Dedë
Dodaj from Drinisht i Vogël (Krusheva e Vogël). Deda stated that
he recognised one of the assaulters. According to him, the assaulters came
from the direction of Shënmark (Jagoda) and on opening fire, left
towards an unknown direction.
On 15 July
MITROVICA: At 17.15, in the vicinity
of the department store in Mitrovica, three French soldiers stopped Gëzim
Fetah Mehana (12) and took him to the entrance of a building. On searching
him, one of the soldiers kicked him without any reason. French soldiers
raided the Catholic Church in Mitrovica under the pretext of searching
for weapons.
About 40 Serbs led by Oliver Ivanoviq
went to Leposaviq to interrupt the registration of the Serbian population.
They attempted to get the lists. Belgian soldiers took OSCE employees to
a safe place.
SKËNDERAJ: At about 16.00,
a group of Serbs from the municipality of Zubin-Potok, bordering with Shqiponjas
(Radisheva), attacked this village. They attacked the Selmani quarter.
The Albanians responded to the attack and after 4 hours, the Serbs withdrew.
There were no casualties, other than material damages.
LIPJAN: At about 4.30, the café
“Napoli” in the centre of Lipjan, owned by Agron Sefedini, was blown up.
Several cafes around were damaged. The damages were estimated to more than
70.000 DM.
On 16 July
PRISHTINA: At the KFOR checkpoint
in “Veternik” in Prishtina, Swedish soldiers stopped 40 cars of the Albanian
wedding guests from Vitia and demanded from them to take off the Albanian
national flag while passing through the village of Çagllavica under
the pretext that local Serbs might throw stones at them. The wedding guests
blocked the road, whereas Swedish soldiers broke the windows in 4 vehicles
in an effort to make them leave. After 3 hours, UNMIK police arrived on
the spot and the road was unblocked. The Albanian wedding guests went on
with their flag.
FUSHË-KOSOVA: At about 22.00,
the Orthodox Church in the village of Mesbardh (Pomozotin) was destroyed
in an explosion.
Presheva, Bujanoc, Medvegja
MEDVEGJA: On 8 July, the Serbian
forces looted 30 houses in the village of Gërbac and later on expelled
the Albanian population. Afterwards, they burned the village.
BUJANOC: On 13 July, at about 7.15,
in the centre of Bujanoc, three unidentified persons in a white Golf (VR
232-22), who introduced themselves as policemen, kidnapped Afrim Leka (1978)
from Bujanoc. Later on, it was found out that Afrim was at the Serbian
State Security in Bujanoc. The reason for his arrest is still unknown.
In the evening, in Konçul,
there were clashes between the Serbian police and armed Albanians. Serbian
media informed that one Albanian was killed, but this news was not confirmed
by other sources.
Prishtina, 17 July 2000
Information Service