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Kosova Daily Report #1400, 98-04-14Kosovo Information Center: Kosova Daily Report Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Kosova Information Center <http://www.kosova.com/>Kosova Information CenterKOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1400Prishtina, 14 April 1998CONTENTS
[01] Heavy Blasts and Shooting Reported in a Prishtina Quarter Monday NightStill unconfirmed reports speak of a wounded Serb policeman PRISHTINA, April 14 (KIC) - Firearm shootings and two heavy blasts were reported heard Monday night near a Serb police station in Kodra e Trimave (in Serbian 'Vranjevc') neighborhood of Prishtina.Some residents of the neighborhood told KIC this morning that heavy blasts were heard twice around midnight last night in the close vicinity or inside the compounds of the police station itself. Fire arms shootings were heard soon, they said. Serb police forces in several cars and an armored vehicle were seen reaching the police station in Kodra e Trimave a short while later, residents said. The police kept the whole neighborhood sealed off until morning hours. The armored vehicle which roamed the area during the whole course of the night was seen entering the police station compounds in the morning. Quoting Serb police sources, a couple of foreign news agencies spoke of an alleged attack on the police station in Kodra e Trimave in Prishtina. Three hand grenades were tossed at the police station leaving one policemen slightly wounded, agencies said. Kodra e Trimave quarter is a large neighborhood in northern part of Kosova's capital, overwhelmingly Albanian-inhabited. So is the area around the Serb police station. Some witnesses said it was rather indicative that the incident occurred last night for the area had been cut off electricity supply since 3 o'clock in afternoon yesterday, when an electricity post was blown down by strong winds. The electricians team, which arrived in the scene, failed to restore the post, leaving the neighborhood in dark, witnesses said. Some Albanian residents of the Kodra e Trimave neighborhood said that for over a month now heads of families living around the Serb police station have been removing their families during the night fearing possible incidents. [02] Serb-Speaking Men Abduct Kosovar Albanian Student in MitrovicaPRISHTINA, April 14 (KIC) - Avdi Loshi from Padalishta village of Skenderaj ('Srbica'), student with the Technical Training College in Mitrovica, was reported abducted by still unidentified men in Mitrovica on Monday afternoon.The LDK Information Commission in Mitrovica said three Serb- speaking men abducted Avdi Loshi in the town centre in Mitrovica around 16:30 Monday. The men who got off a Zastava made car only asked Avdi Loshi about his name, and forced him into their car immediately, the Commission quoted witnesses as saying. College mates of Avdi Loshi have reportedly hired a lawyer to make inquires with the Serb authorities about his whereabouts. So far they could not learn a thing about his fate, sources in Mitrovica said. [03] Mounting Serb Repression in Klina MunicipalityPRISHTINA, April 14 (KIC) - The Serbian police stationed in Klina, and in particular at the check-point of Dollc at the Prishtina-Peja highway, have been harassing and intimidating Albanians on a daily basis, LDK sources in Klina reported.The Serb police at the Dollc check-point beat severely an Albanian student of the Klina secondary school, Petrit Rexha, just because he could not speak Serbian language. The Serbian police also beat severely the principal of the local primary school in Dollc, Ded& Grabanica. He was told he would have to cease his educational activities with, as they put it, "the illegal schools of Rugova". Sunday evening, the Serbian police in Klina beat severely Arif Ymeri, a local LDK activist. Meanwhile, sources in Klina said a Serb resident of Klina, Sasa Vestic, attacked the family of Bardhec Simoni. He also hit his elderly parents Marjan and Tane Simonaj. [04] Serbian Police Prevent Farmers from Working in Their Fields in KijevaPRISHTINA, April 14 (KIC) - Its been two months now since the Serbian police have established a check-point in Kijeva, at the Prishtina-Peja highway. The presence of the police in this small town has brought the life to a standstill. The police they have been obstructing the movement of the people as well as work in farms, LDK sources in Malisheva reported.The police have forced all Albanian families who had settled in the town over the last fifteen years flee their homes. They too have threatened several Albanian families living near the police check- point, telling them leave their homes and go to Albania - "where they belong!". The teachers and students of the local secondary and primary schools have borne the brunt of Serb police persecution. Teachers from outside Kijeva have been ill-treated and threatened on several occasions, and they are no longer allowed to go to work. Another threat comes from the small Serb minority living in town. At least thirty men of Serb origin have worn police uniforms and collude with Serb special forces deployed in the area. Serb families have been armed heavily, too. The Serbian police has ordered the Albanian owner of "Llapashtica" flour factory to close it down ("for security reasons") and demanded that he hand over the keys of the building. This five- stored building is now being used by Serb forces to control the area. [05] Increased Serbian Police Persecution in Fush& KosovaPRISHTINA, April 14 (KIC) - Since early hours today (Tuesday) the Serbian police have set up check-points and have been maintaining a harsh grip in the small town of Fush& Kosova ('Kosovo Polje'), LDK sources said.The Serbian police have been targeting the Albanian-owned private buses. Bus drivers are being forced to pay large fines. Many of them have had the license plates seized by police. The passengers are being routinely harassed, even ordered to get off the buses and find alternative transportation means, LDK sources said. Kosova Information CenterKosovo Information Center: Kosova Daily Report Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |