Kosova Daily Report #1334, 98-01-31

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

Kosova Information Center

KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1334

Prishtina, 31 January 1998

CONTENTS

[01] Increasing Movements of Serb Forces in Four Municipalities around Skenderaj

[02] Heavy Serb Forces Cracks Down on Three Neighborhoods at Isniq

[03] Four Albanians Arrested in De^an at Midnight

[01] Increasing Movements of Serb Forces in Four Municipalities around Skenderaj

Gllogovc Heavy Serbian forces in half a dozen cars and as many armoured vehicles were deployed in Gllogovc today at around 12:30. LDK sources in Gllogovc said that the Serb forces have been stationed in the compounds of the local police station in the town.

No further movements of the Serbian police have been reported in the meantime.

Mitrovica Meanwhile, reports from Mitrovica speak of increased presence and movements of Serbian police forces in the area. For over one hour the police built a check-point near Klina e Ep&rme village on Skenderaj- Mitrovica road, routinely halting and intimidating passers-by.

LDK sources in Mitrovica said Serb police forces have been roaming the streets of the town since last night at around 22:00 hrs.

Particularly intense movements of the police were noticed in the neighbourhoods Tavniku, Ura e Gjakut, Bair and Shipol, halting virtually all the people who happened to be in the streets. Gani Barani and Nexhat Barani, Fadil Musliu, Musli Musliu were reportedly subjected to brutal police maltreatment last night.

Some of the members of the police forces were wearing masks while on the streets, sources said.

Vushtrri The LDK Information Commission in Vushtrri said that a Serbian army convoy including four tanks, three armoured vehicles and over a dozen lorries with Serbian soldiers on board, paraded today in several villages of this central Kosova municipality. From about 6:30 to 9:00 this morning the convoy stationed in the vicinity of Pantina village, heading later towards the neighbouring villages Okrashtica and Balinca.

Sources in Vushtrri have spoken of stepped-up movements of the Serbian forces in the area over the past couple of days. Several Albanians have had their households raided on by the police under arms searches pretext.

Istog Sources in Istog said that since Friday noon Serb army forces have been stationed outside the U^a village. Heavy armament, including high- calibre canons were reportedly deployed around Muzlija neighbourhood of this village. Serb soldiers have reportedly intruded into Albanian households on several occasions.

Serb army forces were later seen moving towards the villages Runik, Suhog&rla, Cerkolez, Rakosh, Caraluka, the Bujku newspaper said today.

[02] Heavy Serb Forces Cracks Down on Three Neighborhoods at Isniq

The CDHRF said the Serb police operation targeting the Albanian families was still going on at midday today. The families of Halil Muj& Ahmetxhekaj, Zenun Januzaj and Ram& Januzaj, respectively, were raided on, the source said.

During the police crackdown, in which there was a lot of smashing up whatever they encountered, the police used tear-gas too, the report said.

Among those arrested are Beqir Muj& Ahmetxhekaj, Kamer Adem Ahmetxhekaj (23), and Ram& Syl& Januzaj, the CDHRF aid, adding that Amir Zenun Januzaj, a university student, was reported sought after, but he was not home at the time.

The De^an chapter of CDHRF said arms searches could be the pretext for the raids.

When the CDHRF filed its report, the police operation of raiding the Balaj extended family at Isniq was going on.

Meantime, the situation at the village is growing tense, the report said, adding that in the village center a huge number of local resident assembled.

On 28 January, the Serbian police embarked on a large-scale campaign of house raids in the 15 families of the Tahirsylaj neighborhood at the Isniq village, opening fire and smashing up everything. Three out of seven Albanian arrested that day during the police operation are still reported in police custody in Peja.

Meanwhile, the De^an CDHRF chapter said that Fatos Bajram Krasniqi has been reported as disappeared since 27 January. He is native of Prapaqan village of De^an, and is supposed to have been arrested together with Kamer Ahmetxhekaj.

Today morning, at 6:30, the Serb police raided the household of Haki Muharrem Mushkolaj from De^an, allegedly in search of Naser B.

Ahmetxhekaj from Isniq. Since Naser was not there, his brother Enver (14), who was at his uncle's place, was arrested.

Yesterday (Friday), around 15:30, Bashkim Mamaj from Lluk& e Ep&rme village of De^an was arrested. He had his home raided on 28 January, and his two brothers, Demush and Faik, are still in Serb police custody in Peja, the CDHRF said.

[03] Four Albanians Arrested in De^an at Midnight

Six Albanians, on their way from Isniq village to Irzniq village were halted by police at midnight, and had their car searched. Four of them were eventually arrested, the local chapter of the Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) in De^an reported.

Those arrested were named as Sali Shoshi, 23, a university student, native of Dujak& village of Gjakova, Muhamet Dervish ^ekaj, 30, Astrit Murat ^ekaj, 20, and Murat Rruestem ^ekaj, 62, all the three from Irzniq of De^an.

They were all reported sent to the Serb police station in De^an, whre they are being reportedly held up, except Murat ^ekaj, who was released after 40 minutes on condition that he reported back at eight o'clock today. He reported back, was interrogated for two hours, and eventually released, the CDHRF said.

The pretext for their arrest is unknown, the source said. It added that Sali Shoshi had in the meantime been transferred to the Peja Serb security offices.

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