Kosova Daily Report #1362, 98-03-05
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1362
Prishtina, 5 March 1998
Second Edition: 8:45 hrs
Third Edition: 9:30 hrs
Fourth Edition: 10:15 hrs
Fifth Edition: 10:45 hrs
Sixth Edition: 12:45 hrs
CONTENTS
[01] Serb Forces Mount Attack, Shelling Prekaz Village with Cannons -
Albanian shot and wounded at nearby Llausha village
[02] Prekaz Village Is Being Shelled from the Compounds of Skenderaj Game
Ammunition Factory
[03] Serb Shelling of Prekaz Village Continues Unabated
[04] Serb Snipers Demonstrate Aggressively Their Presence Near President
Rugova's and KIC Offices
[05] Serb Forces Mount Massive Scale Attack Against Albanians in Drenica
[06] People Moving Out of Drenica Amidst Ongoing Serb Attack
[01] Serb Forces Mount Attack, Shelling Prekaz Village with Cannons -
Albanian shot and wounded at nearby Llausha village
PRISHTINA, March 5 (KIC) - The situation at Prekaz village of Skenderaj,
namely the extended family neighborhoods of Jasharajs and Lushtaks, is
dramatic, local sources from Skenderaj (in Serbian 'Srbica') said today
(Thursday) morning.
Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) sources told KIC Serb forces have
shelling these two neighborhoods. Cannons are reportedly being used by
attacking Serbs forces.
At present, it looks like the Serb attack is focussing on Prekaz, whereas
Serb forces around the Llausha village seem to be aimed at separating the
two neighboring villages.
A local source from Llausha said Miftar Rreci received gunfire wounds in
this village.
Huge Serb forces started besieging the Prekaz and Llausha village in the
early morning hours today, local sources said.
At least 25 local Albanians were massacred over the week-end by Serb
forces.
The Prekaz village has been frequently targeted by Serb forces.
On 2 January 1998, two young ladies of the Jasharaj family were shot and
wounded during a sweeping Serb attack on the house of Albanian.
Latest reports from the Mitrovica said Serb forces have sealed off the
Shipol neighborhood of this town. Nobody is being allowed out of this part
of town, which leads towards the neighboring Skenderaj municipality.
[02] Prekaz Village Is Being Shelled from the Compounds of Skenderaj Game
Ammunition Factory
PRISHTINA, March (KIC) - Two heavy cannons of Serb forces have been
shelling Albanian (Jasharaj and Lushtaku) extended family neighborhoods in
the Prekaz village of Skenderaj today (Thursday).
The two cannons were deployed in the compounds of the Game Ammunition
Factory in Skenderaj (in Serbian 'Srbica') last night.
An LDK source from Llausha, a village bordering on Skenderaj and Prekaz,
told the KIC at 9:00 hrs the Prekaz village is under a strong and
continuous fire from Serb forces.
The fierceness of the Serb attack is best illustrated by the fact that the
shooting in Skenderaj is being heard as far as the Shipol neighborhood of
the town of Mitrovica, north of Skenderaj.
Huge Serbian forces started besieging the Prekaz and Llausha village of
Skenderaj at around 5 o'clock in the morning today.
The LDK branch in Skenderaj made a dramatic plea for international factors
to urgently intervene so that the Prekaz people, and the Drenica region's
population in general, be saved from an imminent Serb massacre.
The LDK leaders in Prishtina have since early morning today been informing
the embassies of the USA and European countries in Belgrade, the U.S.
Office in Prishtina, as well as the Prishtina- based international NGOs.
At least 25 local Albanians were massacred by Serb forces over the past
week-end at Likoshan and Qirez villages of Drenica.
[03] Serb Shelling of Prekaz Village Continues Unabated
PRISHTINA, March 5 (KIC) - Citizens of the small town of Skenderaj (in
Serbian 'Srbica') have been telephoning KIC since morning today (Thursday)
to tell of alarming news about the situation at Prekaz village of Skenderaj,
in north-western Kosova.
Serb forces have continued shelling with cannons two Albanian extended
families (Jasharajs and Lushtakus) at Prekaz. There are reports of ruined
and burning houses.
The Jasharaj family was attacked by Serb forces on January 22, 1998. Two
female members of the family were shot and wounded then.
At least 25 Albanians were massacred last week-end at Likoshan and Qirez
villages of Skenderaj.
Eye-witnesses in Skenderaj told KIC by phone Prekaz is in flames.
Meanwhile, reports from Klina said huge Serb forces, deployed earlier in
this neighboring municipality, have been heading for Skenderaj.
[04] Serb Snipers Demonstrate Aggressively Their Presence Near President
Rugova's and KIC Offices
PRISHTINA, March 5 (KIC) - Since morning today (Thursday), Serb snipers
have been demonstrating their presence on top of the Serb security and
police building, which is situated some 100 meters away, facing the
building of the Kosova Writers Association (KWA) in Prishtina.
The KWA is where the headquarters of President Ibrahim Rugova of Kosova's
office are, as well as the Kosova Information Center (KIC) premises.
Since the peaceful protest of tens of thousands of Albanians in Prishtina
on Monday (2 March), the Serb police have been aggressively demonstrating
their presence around President Rugova's official residence and the KIC
offices.
[05] Serb Forces Mount Massive Scale Attack Against Albanians in Drenica
PRISHTINA, March 4 (KIC) - Reports from Skenderaj (in Serbian 'Srbica'),
Mitrovica, Vushtrri ('Vucitern') and Klina say Serb forces have mounted
since morning an attack on a large area in Drenica, a virtually 100 percent
Albanian-inhabited region of Kosova.
The Prekaz and Llausha villages of Skenderaj were reported attacked
earlier. Prekaz been under Serb cannon fire for a couple of hours now. The
village has been described to be in flames amidst the heavy shelling.
Recent reports said the Vojnik& and A^areva villages have been assaulted
too.
Sources from Mitrovica say the T&rnavc, Prekaz, Klin& e Ep&rme, Klin& e
Ul&t, Polac, Kryshefc, LLaush&, Dubofc, Lubovec, Galic&, Beqiq e Krasaliq
villages of Drenica have been besieged by Serb forces.
A source said women and children have been arriving in the Shipol outskirts
of Mitrovica on board tractors.
A source from Vushtrri said women and children are moving out of Mikushnica,
Dubofc, Galica and Beqiq villages, heading for the town of Vushtrri.
[06] People Moving Out of Drenica Amidst Ongoing Serb Attack
PRISHTINA, March 5 (KIC) - There have been no reports indicating that the
attack of Serb forces against Albanian villages in Drenica - Vojnik&,
A^arev& and Prekaz - which had started today morning, has continued
unabated or died down.
The attack followed a huge build-up of Serb forces during the night.
LDK sources from Skenderaj (in Serbian 'Srbica'), Gllogovc, Vushtrri
('Vucitern'), Klina and Mitrovica said Serb forces are keeping the
following villages under siege: Llaush&, T&rnavc, Klin& e Ep&rme, Klin& e
Ul&t, Polac, Kryshefc, Dubofc, Lubovec, Galic&, Beqiq, Krasaliq, etc.
The attack in the Drenica villages has been mounted by Serb forces brought
into Kosova from Serbia in the past few weeks, sources said.
Heavy guns, including cannons, were employed by Serb forces in the attack
on Prekaz village. The cannons were reported firing on two extended
families (Jasharaj and Lushtaku) at Prekaz from the Skenderaj Game
Ammunition Factory. The houses of Shaban Jashari and Beqir Lushtaku are
reported ruined.
Eye-witnesses from the area in the near vicinity of Prekaz spoke of houses
set on flame in the village.
Since five o'clock in the morning today, huge forces have kept the Llausha
village under siege. In this village, neighboring on Prekaz, an Albanian
named Miftar Rreci was reported shot and wounded today.
The range of the reported attack on Vojnik& and A^arev& villages is unknown
for the time being.
Because of the continuing attack, panic has stricken the local population
in the Drenica region. Women and children are reported leaving the area,
heading for the neighboring Vushtrri (in Serbian 'Vucitern') municipality.
An LDK source from Vushtrri told KIC at 11:30 hrs a number of women and
children have arrived by bus and on board of tractor trailers in Vushtrri
and the villages of this municipality: Dolak, Shtiparic&, Novolan, B&rnik,
Pantin&, Mihaliq and D&rvar. Some families have reportedly arrived at
Shipol, a village in the suburbs of the town of Mitrovica, along the
Mitrovica-Skenderaj road.
These arrivals (women and children) are from Galica, Dubofc, Mikushnica,
Lubovec and other villages of the Skenderaj municipality.
LDK sources from Vushtrri have learned that in villages of this
municipality where Serbs live - in Gojbula, Mira^& and Bukosh - local Serbs
have been mobilized and weapons given to them by Serb regime authorities.
Meanwhile, reports from Mitrovica said fresh troop reinforcements from
Serbia are reaching this municipality in north-western Kosova. In the last
hour or so, KIC has had increasing difficulties in reaching Skenderaj,
Gllogovc and Mitrovica by phone.
An LDK source in Mitrovica said there was a sense that shooting in the
neighboring Skenderaj municipality has been on the decrease. The source
described the situation in Vushtrri as quiet.
Latest reports:
An LDK source from Mitrovica, who contacted Skenderaj at 12:30 hrs, said
heavy gunfire is reported not as intensive as earlier. However, he added,
Serb infantry units are reported walking into Llaush&, Prekaz, A^arev& and
Vonjik& villages.
Many people have been wounded, sources said.
Kosova Information Center
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