Kosova Daily Report #1347, 98-02-17

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

Kosova Information Center

KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1347

Prishtina, 17 February 1998

CONTENTS

[01] Serbian Police Builds Up New Fortifications and Check-points in Kosova

[02] Serb Newspaper's Heinous Speculations over the Killing of Kosovar Albanian

[03] Improvisation of a War Situation at Pograxha Village of Klina

[04] Chief of Serb Socialists for Kosova Promises New Round-Up Campaigns of Albanians

[05] Albanian Tortured Severely, for Being a Student Only

[06] Albanian Businesses in Mitrovica Forced to Pay Nonexistent Taxes

[01] Serbian Police Builds Up New Fortifications and Check-points in Kosova

Besides the fortification with sand-bags and planks in Komaran and check- points in Kijeva and Klina, over the past days the Serbian police put up new check-points in Nadakoc of Vushtrri and Klin& e Ep&rme village of Sk&nderaj.

Sources in Klina reported today that the Serbian police has built up fortifications and check-points in Gjurakovc of Istog, Ujmir and Jashanica village of Klina, and Runik village of Sk&nderaj.

At Gjurakovc village, the fortification was built up at the Peja- Mitrovica and Istog-Klina cross-road, only 50 meters from the Serbian police station in this small town.

All passers-by and drivers are obliged to stop for scrutiny.

Meanwhile, LDK sources in Istog and Klina speak of increased Serbian police movements in these towns and the neighboring villages.

[02] Serb Newspaper's Heinous Speculations over the Killing of Kosovar Albanian

According to eyewitnesses, Avdullah Nika, an electrician, was killed while in his workplace at an electric supply terminal in ^ikatova village near Gllogovc on Saturday at around 16:30 hrs.

Nezir Selmani, a watchman at the ^ikatova terminal who happened to on duty when the late Nika was killed has told the Mitrovica chapter of the Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) chapter in Mitrovica that it was the Serbian police that killed his colleague. He has claimed that Saturday afternoon while the and the late Avdullah Nika were on duty, about 10 Serb policemen walked into the building who initially ordered the watchman hand over the revolver he was carrying by permit as part of his job with the company, then hand-cuffed both the men. After having been harassed for about half an hour, a Serb police inspector entered the building and took the hand-cuffed Avdullah Nika outside, allegedly walking him to the toilet. Only a few seconds automatic shootings coming from the outside of the building were heard, he said. The police told Nezir Selmani then that his "friend wanted to run away" meaning that they had to shot him.

Nezir Selmani himself was beaten unconscious with rifle butts and was kept in the building until next day at around 10:00, when he found himself wrapped in a blanket, and sent to Prishtina.

Another watchman of the ^ikatova terminal where the Albanian was killed in Saturday, has told the Mitrovica chapter of the Human Rights Council later that on Sunday at around 10:00 he was ordered by Serb police inspector to get the body of Avdullah Nika into an ambulance car.

Reporting about the killing of Avdullah Nika, the Prishtina-based Serb daily "Jedinstvo" which is a mouthpiece of the Serb police said that it was "but another crime of Albanian gangs".

Failing to refer to any source of information, the newspaper said that "he was shot dead with a 9 millimeter calibre revolver in early hours on Sunday".

[03] Improvisation of a War Situation at Pograxha Village of Klina

The shootings originated from the Serbian police fortification in Pograxh&, and were directed towards an imagined target on the hills in the direction of Sk&nderaj, local residents said.

Witnesses said it was an improvisation of a real war situation for three hours, causing anxiety and fear among the local population, in particular among children.

This morning heavy Serbian police forces and armed civilians were sent in the area. They have been searching every passerby, and local residents found on the streets.

Scores of Albanians have been beaten severely. A number of them have been placed under medical treatment, sources in Klina reported.

[04] Chief of Serb Socialists for Kosova Promises New Round-Up Campaigns of Albanians

The Belgrade daily Blic ha quoted Milosevic's proxy as saying that one should not expect escalation of a wider conflicts in Kosova because, as he put it, "the Serb state authorities will not allow a conflict break-out" and that "the majority of Albanians do not want it."

Zivkovic denied the existence of the so-called Kosova Liberation Army, adding that "there are about one hundred terrorists operating in the Drenica region," central Kosova. "They are all identified and registered," he said announcing a new campaigns of arrests.

For almost two three weeks now, the Serb forces have imposed an factual curfew in the Drenica region, an area in central Kosova including Skenderaj, Vushtrri, Klina, Gllogovc and other neighboring municipalities. Heavy Serb forces, both police and military, as well as armed Serb civilians have been tormenting the unprotected Albanian population who make the overwhelming majority in the area.

[05] Albanian Tortured Severely, for Being a Student Only

Milot Nezaj told KIC this morning he was on his way to Prishtina, where he studies. He said that after the police found out he was a student they forced him out of the bus and into their fortification. They asked him whether Papovic (the Serb-installed rector of the Prishtina University) was his rector. "Following my 'no' response they began beating me severely," said Mr. Nezaj.

"They hit me with truncheons and two-by-fours," said Milot Nezaj.

Milot Nezaj was covered in bruises when he visited the KIC offices this morning. He also said he had sought medical treatment after his arrival to Prishtina late last night.

Meanwhile, sources in Malisheva reported that last night the Serbian police station in Komaran ill-treated local LDK leaders from Malisheva.

[06] Albanian Businesses in Mitrovica Forced to Pay Nonexistent Taxes

The Albanian businessmen said such a tax is even in violation to the Serbian regime legislation. This tax has not been applied anywhere else but in Mitrovica, sources said.

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