Kosova Daily Report #1312, 98-01-05

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From: Kosova Information Center <kic_pr@zana-pr.ztn.apc.org>

Kosova Information Center

KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1312

Prishtina, 5 January 1998

CONTENTS

[01] Over 80 Injured in the Serbian Police Brutal Crack-Down Against Protesters Tuesday

[02] Serb Patriarch Sends Letter to Prishtina University Students

[03] Serbian Police Harasses Basketball Team from Sk&nderaj

[04] Serbian Security Harasses Albanian Youths in Malisheva

[05] Serbian Police Patrol Beats Albanian Teacher in Prishtina

[01] Over 80 Injured in the Serbian Police Brutal Crack-Down Against Protesters Tuesday

A Medical Services Commission of the Committee said that amongst the people who suffered minor or grave injuries were university and secondary school students and teachers, as well as citizens. The Commission says they were working on completing a list of the people who suffered Serb police brutalities in Prishtina, and other towns where peaceful protests were staged last Tuesday.

One-hour peaceful protests were staged in Prishtina and half a dozen towns of Kosova [Mitrovica, Gjilan, Ferizaj, Gjakova, Peja and Prizren] where the institutions of higher education of the Prishtina University are based, on 30 December 1997. The Serb riot police intervened brutally in most of the places, breaking up the protests and beating brutally scores of protesters.

The Students Union of the Albanian-language University of Prishtina decided last September to stage peaceful manifestations to protest the six-year- long Serb regime occupation of the University premises, from which Albanian students and teachers were forcefully kicked out. Similar protest were held on 1 October and 28 October.

Scores of protesters were beaten up and injured when police waded in and broke up peaceful protests in both occasions.

Meanwhile the Prishtina-based Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms has carried a long list with the names of the people who suffered Serb police bating and harassment on 30 December: Agim Luzha, Feriz Tha^i, Lindita Shatri (f), Emira Kryeziu (f), Valdete D&rguti (f), Valbon& Hajdini (f), Abdullah Desku, Nazmi ^allaku, Leonora Pllana (f), Vjollca Fazliu (f), Basrie Bajgora (f), Shyhrete Jashari (f), Muharrem Avdiu, Valdete Daka (f), Lul&zim Hoti, Adem Rexhaj, Hajdin P&r^uku, Emrush Suma, Idriz Shala, Qamile Bajraktari (f), Nuredin Islami, Bajram Kastrati, Ramadan Salihu, Mursel Mulliqi, Vjollca Neziri (f), Mihane Salihu (f), Drita Kryeziu (f), Shyhrete Kastrati (f), Lirije Mavraj (f), Rrustem Hyseni, Ramadan Makolli, Ramadan Buzhala, Feride Salihu (f), Selatin Novosella, Aziz Bi^kaj, Ramiz Arifi, Dritan Byty^i, Fatmir Gjakova, Mustaf& Nuredini, Adem Shahini, Nazmi ^ollaku, Ahmet Shala, Vahide Behrami (f), Avdi Breznica, Fatmire Abiti (f), Enver Berisha, Vlora Zeqiraj (f), Besa Zeqiraj (f), Ahmet Geca, Lul&zim Hoti, Bekim Muja, Arsim Kryeziu, Fatime Shala (f), Dr. Zekeria Cana, Dr. Fehmi Rexhepi, Dr. Isa Bicaj, Zejnullah Halili, Ilmi Rexhepi, Ardian Rexhepi, Drit& Kryeziu (f), Gjyle Krasniqi (f), Shefqet Bu^aj, Albert A. Beqiri, Sadete Rama, Luan Elshani, Besnik Berisha, Life Metaj (f), Lindita Duraku (f), Sadete Ibrahimaj (f), Ariana Mulliqi (f), Asllan Gjuraj, Valbon& Nik^i (f), Muharrem Shala, Haxhi Berisha, Xhavit Hasi, Adriatik Rexha, Mentor Islamaj, Adonis Hasi, Ilir Krasniqi, Shefqet A.Shehu, Vezire Fetahu (f), Ymer Islami, Belkize Asllani (f), Leonora Limani (f), Valmir Ukaj, Blerim Xhoci, Bashim Kamberi, Valdet Bacaj, Driton Demaj, Diamant Vladaj, Defrim Rifaj, Antigona Nimani (f), Albert Ku^i, Qerim Gjoci, Jah Tha^i, Mimoza Godemi (f), Agim Hamza, Adonis Hasi, Adriatik Rexh&n, Mentor Islamaj, Qerim Berish&n, Sabri Ibrahimin and Llesh Skeli.

[02] Serb Patriarch Sends Letter to Prishtina University Students

"The beating and arresting of students does not only imply the abuse of official duty, but also the abuse of the honor of the country they live in", said the letter, referring to Serbia as a country of the Albanian students. The Serb Patriarch said he understands the peaceful demonstrations of Albanian students and their demands to have free access to university buildings. However, he asked the students "how do you conceive the return in those facilities when you do not recognize the state the university belongs to".

A state cannot be equalized with a regime but it is a multi-folded organism, with its institutions that are much older than any policy, the Serb Patriarch said, expressing his astonishment why the Albanians "who have been allowed to legally leave and come back home with Serb passports do not recognize a state, which is now recognized by most part of the world".

Dr. Fehmi Agani, vice-chairman of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK), commenting on the Serb Patriarch letter said he hailed the condemnation of the Serb police brutality against the peaceful demonstrations at a time "the whole world has been denouncing the Serb regime policy of repression and discrimination in Kosova".

Yet, Dr. Agani said he could not understand why the Serb Patriarch speaks with such a disdain about the Albanian language and Albanians. In his letter to the Albanian students the Serb patriarch refers to Albanians as "Siptari" a common derogatory expression used by Serbs, in particular since 1989.

Agani said its is true Albanians are allowed to leave the country, but its is not true that they are allowed to return so easily, referring to the Serb regime practices aiming at preventing the return of Albanians in Kosova.

Is it perhaps possible that neither the Serb Orthodox Church nor Patriarch Pavle himself have ever seen a single report of the Prishtina-based Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms or reports of well-known international human rights organization on the Serb regime repression in Kosova, Dr. Agani said, adding that he could not understand how Serb Patriarch could speak so positively about the position of Albanian in Kosova.

The LDK vice-chairman said he agreed with the Serb Patriarch that Kosova needs to be seriously addressed, and that the people of Kosova should be recognized their fundamental human, national and religious rights. Still, their right to self-determination is one of the basic rights, he underscores. The Serb Patriarch overlooked a the reality in Kosova. At least since 1990 Kosovars live in the Republic of Kosova, which likewise is a historical, geographical and an ethnic organism, with multi-folded institutions, he said.

[03] Serbian Police Harasses Basketball Team from Sk&nderaj

LDK sources in Sk&nderaj said that the police halted the team and while checking their identity they offended them on national grounds. Zymber Bajraktari, van-driver, was taken at the police station, where he was interrogated about the so-called Kosova Liberation Army.

The team was stopped and harassed again by the Serbian police at a check-up point at Staradran village near Peja.

[04] Serbian Security Harasses Albanian Youths in Malisheva

They were interrogated over their connections with members of the so-called U^K (Kosova Liberation Army), and in particular their relationship with the 19 Albanians who faced trial in December, on terrorism related charges.

A pretext for their interrogation were joint photos with some of the accused, LDK sources reported.

Among the interrogated students was Hajdin Berisha from Gurbardh village, says the report.

[05] Serbian Police Patrol Beats Albanian Teacher in Prishtina

Faik G&rbeshi told KIC this morning that the police demanded hard currency from him.

"They searched me thoroughly, and since they could not find any money on me they beat me severely", Mr. G&rbeshi said.

He said he was beaten so much that he had lost consciousness at some point.

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