Kosova Daily Report #1369, 98-03-12

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From: Kosova Information Center <http://www.kosova.com/>

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1369
Prishtina, 12 March 1998

First Edition: 16:00 hrs
Second Edition: 21:00 hrs

CONTENTS

[01] President Ibrahim Rugova Appoints Republican Election Commission

[02] No Sham Dialogue, But Well-Prepared and Unconditioned Talks, Rugova's Aide Says

[03] Clinton on Kosova: 'No Option Should Be Ruled In Or Out'

[04] Chirac Urged Yeltsin over Kosova

[05] International Red Cross Pulls Back Foreign Staff from Kosova

[06] Serb Operations on Halt, Presence Ubiquitous, Siege Continues

[07] Increasing Movement of Serb Forces In and Out of Drenica

[08] Serb Forces Loot Albanian Empty Houses

[09] The Hostages of Broja Released Wednesday

[10] Residents of Istog Face Harsh Serb Police Brutality

[11] Two LDK Activists Beaten Severely in Gllogovc

[12] Albanians Fired for Having Participated in Outdoor Protest

[13] Prishtina University Students to Rally in Prishtina on Friday

[14] U.S. Congressman Eliot Engel Rejects Sham Offer of Belgrade Regime for Talks on Kosova

[15] Serb Police Detains Two LDK Activists in Gjakova

[01] President Ibrahim Rugova Appoints Republican Election Commission

Following is the composition of the Republican Commission: 1. Tadej Rodiqi, chairman 2. Destan Rukiqi, secretary 3. Bajram Kelmendi, member 4. Osman Ismaili, member 5. Mustaf& Radoniqi, member 6. Shpresa Veselaj, member 7. Hasan Hoti, member Members of the Republican Election Commission have their deputies, too.

According to the Election Law, the parties taking part in the elections will delegate their representatives to this central election.

[02] No Sham Dialogue, But Well-Prepared and Unconditioned Talks, Rugova's Aide Says

The offers were but aired through Serb media, serve propaganda purposes in the first place, he said. By so doing, the aim was to blame the Kosova leadership for alleged unwillingness to dialogue, he added.

If the Belgrade regime was serious about dialogue it would undertake urgent steps to bring an immediately to the Serb-state terror in Kosova, and Drenica region in particular, Xhemail Mustafa told press.

Belgrade should have taken note of the unanimous world condemnation of the massacre of Serb forces against Albanian children, women and children in Drenica, President Rugova'a aide said. The Belgrade authorities have not ceased justifying the terror the Serb forces have been committing in Kosova, he added.

Belgrade has failed to specify to whom the offers of dialogue have been made, while their contents do not offer ground for solving any problem, let alone the Kosova issue, Mr. Mustafa said.

The Belgrade regime has been ignoring the conclusions of the Action Plan of the Contact Group meeting in London Monday to engage in an unconditional, serious and responsible dialogue on the status of Kosova, Rugova's spokesman said.

The Kosova leadership has for years pressed for a serious and well- prepared dialogue, because Kosova is one of the major problems in Europe today. "A serious and complex issue like Kosova cannot be resolved in sham talks or sham offers like the ones made lately by the Belgrade regime", Mr. Mustafa said. That's why that Contact Group has asked the OSCE appoint Felipe Gonzales a special envoy to Kosova, he added.

The Kosova leadership reconfirms its commitment to a peaceful and negotiated resolution of the Kosova issue through a well-prepared, meaningful talks process between Prishtina and Belgrade and under "an effective third party mediation.", President Rugova's aide concluded.

[03] Clinton on Kosova: 'No Option Should Be Ruled In Or Out'

The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Bill Richardson, has sated that the upcoming trip of the President to Africa, as well as the situation in Kosova were the main topics Clinton discussed during an one-hour conversation with Kofi Annan, the USIS Office in Prishtina said in the Wireless File bulletin today.

"The United States and I condemned in the strongest possible terms excessive violence that has led to the death of innocent civilians there. We believe the cause of it is inadequate response by the Serbian government to the legitimate concerns of the Albanian minority in Serbia, but majority in Kosovo," President Clinton said.

The U.S. President said he believed the decision that the Secretary Albright and other world leaders reached in the last few days, the reimposition of the sanctions, and the strong statements that were made coming out of the Contact Group, and the unity of the countries give us hope that we can resolve this.

"But this is a matter of great concern to me; I know it is of great concern to the Secretary General [Annan]. We do not want the Balkans to have more pictures like we've seen in the last few days so reminiscent of what Bosnia endured. And I just want to make it absolutely clear that to me it's a very serious issue", Clinton said.

Asked by a questioner whether military action could be considered as voiced by Secretary of State and others in the past, President Clinton said: "We believe that no option should be ruled in or out.

But the Secretary of State, along with all her colleagues -- and there's been remarkable unanimity on this -- they've taken a position that gives us a chance to avoid further bloodshed by all parties and under all conditions. That's what I want."

Meanwhile, Vice-President Al Gore and Russian Prime Minister Chernomyrdin also pronounced themselves on the Serb slaughter in Kosova. "This should be stopped by diplomatic means", the Russian Prime Minister was quoted as saying to CNN last night.

[04] Chirac Urged Yeltsin over Kosova

It was Russia which prevented the other five members of the Contact Group adopted tougher measures against Belgrade for its role in mounting attacks on Albanian villages in Kosova, which left at least 80 Albanians slain, among whom men, women, children and elderly.

[05] International Red Cross Pulls Back Foreign Staff from Kosova

"We are still active," however, with local Red Cross employees continuing to work in Kosova, the Associated Press quoted Kim Gordon-Bates, a spokesman at the Geneva headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as saying.

The Red Cross has been trying to get permission to have access to Drenica region, where at least 80 Albanians were slain by Serb forces in a week.

The Serb regime has been unwilling to allow outsiders see what its police/military have done to the local Albanian population in Kosova.

[06] Serb Operations on Halt, Presence Ubiquitous, Siege Continues

A local LDK source told KIC at Prekaz i Ul&t ('Donje Prekaze') huge Serb forces have been deployed, and a searchlight.

Serb police/military forces launched an attack on this village a week ago today, targeting entire family compounds. Scores of Albanians were killed.

Meanwhile, the Llausha village of Skenderaj is still being held under siege by Serb forces. They shoot with machine guns and sniper rifles on those who dare come out and move.

An LDK source from Llausha told KIC by phone there was not shooting during the course of today, but neither was there any movement of people.

The village has had electricity cut off for three days now, Halil Geci, member of the General Board of the LDK, who lives in the village, said.

Sealed off are also some other villages, like Turi^evc, Borja, A^areva.

The LDK source from Llausha said three cars of the Serb state-run television were seen heading for Turi^evc.

Lonely Voice from Besieged Llausha Says, 'We May all Die, But not As Terrorists' PRISHTINA, March 12 (KIC) - The deserted houses bear striking similarity to derelict house during the Bosnian war. There is hardly any human sound, let alone sounds of children playing. Life has stopped. One can only hear dogs howl and bullet whistling sounds coming from the snipers positioned in the hills around the village, Halil Geci, member of the LDK Main Board, who lives in the village, describes yesterday the situation.

He talked to the KIC by phone from inside the village.

The Llausha village is situated in Drenica next to Sk&nderaj and near the Prekaz i Ul&t village, which is where March 5th the Serb forces launched a fierce attack, targeting whole Albanian family compounds, and killing scores of people.

Serb snipers have taken positions in the surrounding hills, shooting at everything that moves.

Mr. Hali Geci said Serbian snipers killed six persons in the village by Wednesday: Miftar Geci, Sadik Ka^ini and four members of the Bajram Gashi family, Mrs. Gashi, two daughters and the son.

They were all killed in their yards, he said.

Mr. Geci said Miftar Rreci was buried two days after he died. He was lightly wounded by a sniper and died two days after for the lack of medical assistance. "We buried him in the night two days after his death because we could not dig up the grave in fear of shooting from Serb machine-guns," said Mr. Geci.

"Two bodies of two dead people lay for three days in the field between Rrecaj family compound and Skenderaj. We do not know who they are, since we have not been able to move," said Mr. Geci.

The situation in the village is appalling and very hard to describe, Mr. Geci told us. The number of dead may be much higher.

"Some twenty children that have remained inside the village - which has 4500 inhabitants - have been horrified and traumatized. They too need assistance. An old lady who lives with her five-year nephew alone, terrified that Serb forces could kill the boy, got the boy one day holding him tightly on her bosom and headed for the woods," said Mr. Geci.

These are the U^K and terrorists Milosevic has been after, said Halil Geci, outraged with what the village has been experiencing the last ten under siege.

There is an enormous lack of food and medicine and the people who have remained in the village receive no aid from anyone.

The village has had electricity cut off, he said.

"We may die in front of our homes, not as terrorists, but as dignified Albanians who have no other choice but to protect their threshold," Mr. Halil Geci concluded his story.

[07] Increasing Movement of Serb Forces In and Out of Drenica

This morning, at 8:30, two busloads (with Nis license-plates), three vans and two police vehicles full of Serb troops arrived to Mitrovica from Skenderaj (Drenica area).

An hour later three vans and three land rovers with fresh Serb forces left for Skenderaj.

At noon, two more busloads of Serb forces (with license plates of Nis and Pirot) left Mitrovica and headed for Skenderaj. They were escorted by a land rover and a police vehicle.

Sources in Skenderaj reported Thursday there is heavy police presence there.

[08] Serb Forces Loot Albanian Empty Houses

They said the Serb forces plundered 4.000 DM worth of valuables in the house of Hasan U. Dibrani. In the house of Isa U. Dibrani, a painter, the police stole a CD set, a camera, a car radio, and has broken all the car windows. The police smashed up also Mr. Dibrani's studio and smashed a lot of his paintings.

The house of Januz S. Sylaj was also reported broken into and pillaged.

[09] The Hostages of Broja Released Wednesday

[10] Residents of Istog Face Harsh Serb Police Brutality

The Serb forces have blockaded the entrances at the Istog-Peja and Istog- Klina roads, scrutinizing and harassing all passengers, LDK sources said.

The police have set up roadblock at Belloboj& village also.

It has been reported that scores of Albanians have been beaten brutally in these newly set up check-points/roadblocks.

[11] Two LDK Activists Beaten Severely in Gllogovc

They were arrested and taken to the Serbian police station in Gllogovc, and from there to the Prishtina Serbian security.

They were both subjected to severe torture while in detention. Mr. Binaku was released the same day, while Mr. Bylykbashi was held in detention for three days.

They both had to seek medical treatment afterwards.

The two LDK activists were arrested after having visited the crisis area in Drenica.

Fifteen Albanians Beaten Severely by Serb Forces in Gjakova Village PRISHTINA, March 12 (KIC) - Yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon Serbian forces, heavily-armed and wearing bullet-proof jackets, stopped a the bus of Suka- Tours private bus company, which was commuting from the town of Gjakova to Cermjan (south-west Kosova), broke the windows of the bus and asked all 15 passengers to get off.

They forced the people lay down on the ground and began beating them severely, LDK sources in Gjakova reported.

The passengers were generally women and elderly people.

The police beat Bashkim Alia (20) brutally, said the witnesses.

They arrested him and took him to the police station in Gjakova.

He was released three hours later.

The young Albanian told LDK sources he had been beaten additionally during the time he spent in police custody. Bashkim Alia was released, but told he would have to report back to the police today at 10 a.m.

[12] Albanians Fired for Having Participated in Outdoor Protest

Ejup Pajaziti, Enver Mu^i^i, Gani Hoxha and Nazmi Vokrri were dismissed by the Serb-installed management for having taken part in a peaceful protest in Podujeva on 9 March, the LDK Information Commission in Podujeva said.

[13] Prishtina University Students to Rally in Prishtina on Friday

In a press statement issued today the UPS said the protest will take place in Dragodan neighborhood in Prishtina, beginning from 15:00 hrs.

"Citizens are invited to protest peacefully, nonviolently and with dignity. The motto of this protest will be: 'For peace, Against Violence, War and Serbian Terror', the statement said.

The statement said that the UPS had a consultative meeting Thursday with political parties, major trade-union and human rights organizations in which the agreement was reached for staging the protest.

[14] U.S. Congressman Eliot Engel Rejects Sham Offer of Belgrade Regime for Talks on Kosova

Rep. Engel (D-NY) is Co-Chair of the Congressional Albanian Issues Caucus and represents areas of the Bronx and Westchester.

In a statement issued today Eliot Engel said the time has come to toughen our sanctions against Belgrade and to impose a no-fly-zone in Kosova.

"Belgrade's suggestion that the Kosovars should begin a dialogue based on the Serbian Constitution - which Milosevic unilaterally and illegally abrogated to steal Kosova's autonomy - is a non-starter.

There are now almost 100 dead, including scores of women and children. The time has come to toughen our sanctions against Belgrade and to impose a no- fly-zone so that Belgrade's attack helicopters cannot be used against innocent civilians," Rep. Engel said.

The statement further said that Engel is the lead Democratic sponsor of a resolution (H.Con.Res. 235) which is under consideration by the House International Relations Committee today.

On Friday, March 6, he led 12 members of the House of Representatives on a letter to Secretary Albright calling for a tougher policy on Kosova.

Over the past two days, The Belgrade regime has on two occasions made offers for talks on Kosova. None of the offers were addressed formally to the Kosova leadership but were aired through Serb electronic and printing media.

Mr. Xhemail Mustafa, press adviser to President Ibrahim Rugova, said today the offers "are not serious", and "serve to Serb propaganda purposes".

The State Department Spokesman, James Rubin, called on Wednesday the Serb offer for talks on Kosova as "woefully inadequate."

[15] Serb Police Detains Two LDK Activists in Gjakova

The two LDK activists were arrested at the Piskita neighborhood while collecting humanitarian assistance for the Drenica population, the LDK Information Commission in Gjakova said.

The Commission said they were arrested at around 4 p.m. but could not learn whether they were released in the meantime.

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