Kosova Daily Report #1330, 98-01-27

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

Kosova Information Center

KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1330

Prishtina, 27 January 1998

CONTENTS

[01] Ministers of EU and Russian Federation Call for Early Dialogue on Kosova

[02] Albanian, Presumably Abducted by Serb Forces, Missing Since Last Week

[03] Dangerous Provocations of Serbian Police in Klina Region

[04] Serb Jail Authorities Prevent Albanian Inmate to Talk in Albanian to His Mother

[05] Cases of Tuberculosis Diseased People Rising in Ka^anik

[06] Albanian Family Expelled from Apartment after 18 Years in Possession

[01] Ministers of EU and Russian Federation Call for Early Dialogue on Kosova

In a press release issued today after the meeting the ministers said they discussed the situation in the Balkans including the escalation of tension in Kosova. They noted that there were a number of continuing difficulties, and expressed their support for the intensification to implement all aspects of peace agreement and for the continuation of international presence in Bosnia- Herzegovina.

Ministers of the European Union and Russian Federation "condemned the use of violence and called on the authorities in Belgrade and the leadership of the Kosovar Albanian community to seek peaceful solutions to existing problems through an early dialogue. With the aim of promoting dialogue, they will act jointly in encouraging measures intended to establish confidence in Kosovo", reads part of the release.

[02] Albanian, Presumably Abducted by Serb Forces, Missing Since Last Week

The Prishtina-based Bujku said today that while the family of Idriz Idrizi has not been able learn anything about his whereabouts, various speculations have been proliferating the area. Only a couple a days ago, some people alleged they had seen the massacred body of Idriz Idrizi in the area near the "Trep^a" game ammunition factory in Skenderaj. Political parties activists and citizens have later searched the area but they could not see a sign of him.

Bujku said that some people claimed they have seen Idriz Idrizi in Skenderaj on 23 January. After having done some shopping in the town he headed home, and he was not seen ever since. He supposedly walked near the fences of the ammunition factory where he might have been abducted by Serb forces lodging there, Bujku has quoted sources in Skenderaj as saying.

On 22 January heavy Serb forces attacked the family of Shaban Jashari at Prekaz village. After having shelled his house with grenades and bullets the police withdrew leaving two girls of the Jashari family wounded.

While withdrawing the Serb police forces shot dead an Albanian, Hysen Manxholli from a neighboring village. The late Manxholli was killed in the morning hours while on his way to work in the town.

[03] Dangerous Provocations of Serbian Police in Klina Region

Klina is in immediate neighborhood with the Drenica region, some 15 miles from Sk&nderaj.

The killing by yet unidentified gunmen of a Serb resident from Mitrovica, found in the area of Jashanica village, has been used as a pretext for the Serbian police stationed in Klina, as well as the enforcement they received in the past days, to begin a vast campaign of arrests and ill-treatment of Klina residents, youths in particular.

The Serbian police launched over the weekend a vast campaign of repression and arrests in Klina (central Kosova), arresting Hysni Kryeziu - owner of a tea-shop in this small town, and Argjend, Arben and Fatmir ^upova, youths from Pogragj& village of Klina.

LDK sources in Klina reported also that the Serbian police arrested two other youngsters, one of them Bashkim Krasniqi from P&rqeva village, in downtown and took them to the police station in Klina.

Sources say the Serbian police beat up severely on the road a resident from Llaush& village (Llausha is situated in the Drenica area), and arrested, while getting on the train together with his mother, Agim Shala from Klina.

On Sunday afternoon the Serbian police ill-treated a great number of the local resident who had participated in the Sunday morning prayer at the Albanian catholic church in Zllakuqan.

The Serbian police also raided Sunday evening on the home of Qamil Berisha in Klina, under the pretext that he had not stopped his car at a police check-up point. During the raid the Serbian police ill- treated severely his 64-year-old mother Kumrie whithout any reason.

They threw her down the stairs of the house. Inside the house the police held for hours Qamil Krasniqi, his son Labinot and two of his son's friends, children Fikret Gashi and Arton Raci, under constant threat.

Threats and arrests continued Monday morning and throughout the day. On Monday noon the Serbian police stopped and threatened Kol& Berisha, member of the local LDK presidency. Whereas arrested Mexhid Toplana, physician from Kijeva, together with another yet unidentified person.

The Serbian police continues to arrest and intimidate persons in many of the police check-ups in town and outside town, Bujku newspaper says.

The Albanian daily Koha Ditore carries a similar correspondence from Klina, adding the Serbian police "asked a young woman from Peja 2to present the gun she allegedly was in possession of." She told the newspaper the police had told her they had an order to arrest every youth they bump into.

[04] Serb Jail Authorities Prevent Albanian Inmate to Talk in Albanian to His Mother

The Belgrade daily newspaper "Dnevni Telegraf" has quoted Ms Natasa Kandic, chair of the Belgrade-based Humanitarian Law Fund as saying that for four years Fatmir Syla has been in jail in Belgrade and has not been allowed to speak a word in his mother tongue, i.e "n&n&" (mother).

Ms Kandic said she had spoken to Fatmir Syla's mother. She claimed that whenever she visited him she was not allowed to speak in Albanian with her son who looked very frightened.

Natasa Kandic said that this represents a gross violation of prisoner's rights and that she would raise the issue of Fatmir Syla with the Ministry of Justice of Serbia.

[05] Cases of Tuberculosis Diseased People Rising in Ka^anik

PRISHTINA, Jan 27 (KIC) - The tuberculosis has become a 'familiar' illness in the region of Ka^anik over the past years, Koha Ditore newspaper reports today. Facts illustrate that this municipality occupies the leading place in Europe when it comes to the patients touched by the disease.

The newspaper carries reports from Serbian media who quote a Serb director of the Peja Hospital, Joco Stankov saying "there are at least 3500 persons who suffer of tuberculoses in Kosova, or 175 in 100 000 inhabitants."

Dr. Sk&nder Baca, an Albanian physician from Ka^anik - a municipality populated by 99 percent Albanian population - told the newspaper that for the last two years he has been treating at least 500 patients with tuberculosis. He said 15 percents are under the age of 25.

Mr. Baca said that he himself has been treating 321 patients, other are under the medial treatment of his colleagues.

Mr. Baca is very skeptical when he speaks of medical success in fighting the disease. The existing social, economic and medical offer negative parameters when it comes to preventing the spread of disease. Only the activation of the entire medical potential of Kosova may bring results, said Baca. The Kosova Ministry of Health, international humanitarian organizations as well as young doctors should all engage actively in fighting the spreading of the disease, otherwise we will only have negative results, the Albanian physician said.

[06] Albanian Family Expelled from Apartment after 18 Years in Possession

Salihu family has been living in their apartment for 18 years.

Mr. Salihu told the Human Rights Council that he has also signed in 1987 a contract with the District Lodging Company for the use of the apartment for an unlimited period of time.

The Salihu family was summoned to report at the police station recently, and was told they should abandon their apartment immediately.

Salihu family has been offered shelter in an Albanian family in Ferizaj, whereas, a Serbian family moved into their apartment in Hani i Elezit in the meantime, the Human Rights Council says.

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