Kosova Daily Report #1401, 98-04-15

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

Kosova Information Center

KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1401

Prishtina, 15 April 1998

CONTENTS

[01] President Rugova Receives Russian Diplomats

[02] Serb Propaganda Augurs Fresh Serb Onslaught in Kosova

[03] Nancy Rubin Cites U.S. Concern Over Kosova

[04] Intensified Serb Police and Military Movements in Vushtrri

[05] Serb Forces Build Emplacements, Plant Land-mines, LDK Officials in Skenderaj Say

[06] Kosova Bosniaks Will Not Participate in Serb Referendum on Kosova

[07] Repression Chronicle

[01] President Rugova Receives Russian Diplomats

The current situation and the prospects for a negotiated and peaceful settlement to the Kosova issue were discussed.

President Rugova said the situation in Kosova is extremely grave in the wake of actions by Serbian forces against the local Albanian population in some parts of Kosova.

He called for increased international pressure to make Belgrade withdraw its special police and paramilitary units from Drenica.

The people of Kosova are committed to their peaceful struggle for freedom and independence of their country, the President said, adding that an independent Kosova would stabilize the entire region. Negotiations between Prishtina and Belgrade, under third party mediation, are critical in pursuit of a just solution for Kosova, Dr. Rugova underlined.

The Russian diplomats conveyed the concern of their government over the situation in Kosova. Russia stands for a peaceful resolution to the Kosova crisis, they said.

The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova appreciated the interest of Russia over the conditions in Kosova and urged the Russian government support the legitimate aspirations of the people of Kosova.

[02] Serb Propaganda Augurs Fresh Serb Onslaught in Kosova

A fresh Serbian onslaught in Kosova is feared, similar to the ones we saw in Drenica on 28 February and 5 March, which left more than 80 Albanians killed in their homes.

Word is at the beginning. Serb media have in the past few days been reporting about an alleged increase in the level of repression local Serbs are being exposed to in some parts of Kosova - in the hands of 'armed Albanians' or members of the so-called 'U^K'. The aim of the Serb media is to create the impression that a considerable territory in Kosova has slipped out of Serb regime control, namely of its police and (para)military forces. Serbs, Montengerins, Roma, as well as ethnic Albanians loyal to Serbian occupation authorities bear the brunt of the Albanian terror campaign, the argument goes.

A lot of fuss has been made in Belgrade over the alleged ill- treatment of a Serb doctor at Gllogjan village of De^an, in western Kosova. It turns out the doctor was not there on a medical mission, but rather to serve this propaganda machinery.

The Serbian media, government-sponsored or independent, speak of the negligible number of Serbs living in the De^an municipality, less than 800 vis-a-vis the 55.000-strong Albanian community. Why is there need for a Serb doctor in the service of Serb regime there in De^an, or Gllogjan? Why are there no Albanian doctors doing their job there? Such questions are not asked by Serb media.

The evacuation of a handful of Serb families from De^an families, the yet unsolved killing of six Albanians from Klina (presumed loyal to Serbia!), the alleged rape of a Roma girl by "masked Albanians" - these are stories that have taken center stage in the Serbian propaganda warfare. Belgrade is keen to make sure Serbian police and (para)military actions in Drenica and Gllogjan, the massacre of more than 80 Albanians last month as well as the daily- based campaign of violence and repression against Albanians in Kosova, be overshadowed.

The Serbian regime is wishful of misleading the world that it is not Albanians who are threatened by the ubiquitous presence of Serb forces and armed civilians up and down Kosova, but rather non- Albanians, Serbs and Montenegrins.

The methods and goals of Serb propaganda have become notoriously transparent by now. While the press writes about the evacuation of several Serb families from De^an, it has no word about the plight of 20.000 displaced Albanians - women, children, and elderly - who have fled their homes in Drenica in the wake of the Serb massacres early March. No Serb outlet features the fate of thousands of Albanians who are being locked in Drenica villages, unable or reluctant to abandon their homes amidst the continued Serb siege.

While the displaced part of the population is not allowed back by Serb forces, those inside (mostly men) face the dilemma: stay there and face an imminent Serb attack on their villages or flee their homes forever.

Six weeks after the massacre, it is clear that Belgrade is trying to legalize ethnic cleansing in Drenica and pave the way for large scale ethic cleansing schemes in the rest of Kosova.

There is a striking similarity between the current reporting in the press and broadcasting in the Serb media with what we saw back in January and February, when Serb attacks were in the making. Scores of articles, blown up stories on the activities of "Albanian guerrilla and terrorist fighters", preceded the Serbian massacres of local Albanian inhabitants in Likoshan, Qirez and Prekaz i Ul&t villages on 28 February and 5 March.

There is fresh Serb media offensive, duly orchestrated by the Serbian establishment in Belgrade, which is aimed at producing an alleged 'level field' for an open armed confrontation in Kosova between large Serbian occupation forces and the local Albanian resurgents. Besides Drenica, the tendency is for the production of a 'casus belly' in Klina and Gjakova, especially in the border zone between Kosova and Albania, controlled by the Serbian occupation forces.

Analysts and politicians have long warned that Milosevic could flare up a conflict in Kosova, while doing his best to lay the blame on the Albanian side.

[03] Nancy Rubin Cites U.S. Concern Over Kosova

"The United States is very concerned about the situation in Kosovo," Nancy Rubin said.

"Through the Contact Group we have given full warning to the Serbian authorities. Let me do so again so that there can be no mistakes about our meaning: there is absolutely no justification for shelling villages, burning houses and murdering innocent men, women and children. We have seen all too many examples of what ethnic intolerance and hatred have produced in the former Yugoslavia. Authorities in Belgrade need to end repression and find ways to live in peace with the Kosovar-Albanians," Rubin concluded.

[04] Intensified Serb Police and Military Movements in Vushtrri

The LDK Information Center in Vushtrri said Serb policemen in 4 cars and 2 armored vehicles went to Stanovc village at 7:00, besieging the family compound of Musli Musliu there. At least 20 other policemen came to the place about an hour later. The police withdrew at around 9:00 hrs.

The Commission has failed to learn the pretext of the Serb police movements and operation in Stanovc village. It noted, however, that around midnight last night Serb police forces were seen moving through streets of this village, firing in the air on several occasions.

LDK sources in Vushtrri said that a Serb police helicopter flew low over Pantina village today at around 10. A police helicopter was seen likewise flying Tuesday over the neighboring villages Bivolak, Strofc and Zhilivoda. Two Niva car with Belgrade number-plates, with civilians and army officers on board, drove for a couple of hours on Tuesday through several villages of Vushtrri.

Meanwhile, the Serb radio of Prishtina said today afternoon that a Serb policeman was wounded from an ambush at Stanovc i Ul&t village on the Prishtina-Mitrovica road, Tuesday evening.

The radio said two disguised persons opened fire on the Serb policeman Dragos Tomovic soon after he got off a bus. The policemen was slightly wounded, the radio said.

[05] Serb Forces Build Emplacements, Plant Land-mines, LDK Officials in Skenderaj Say

The Serbs have been deploying more forces and sending additional weapons in the area on a daily basis. They are building new emplacements and planting land mines around them, said Irdiz Reci, LDK Chairman in Skenderaj.

The situation is becoming more dangerous each day, while the movements of Serbian army and police forces have increased.

The Serb forces have continued to repress and torture Albanians in the Serbian check-points.

The Serb forces have moved into Albanian properties, looting and damaging Albanian homes. They shell Albanian villages almost on daily basis, in particular Kopiliq, Turi^ec, Broja and Ternac. In Turi^ec at least 22 houses have been burned or ruined down from the shelling.

The displaced families cannot go back to their homes, and the persons caught inside the villages under siege are exposed to constant threats by the Serb snipers, Bujku newspaper reported.

[06] Kosova Bosniaks Will Not Participate in Serb Referendum on Kosova

PAD considers the referendum as another game of Milosevic who is trying to put the blame on the people rather than personal responsibilities. Therefore, "PAD will not enter this game, neither the Bisniak people will," the statement said.

[07] Repression Chronicle

On Tuesday the Serbian police in Peja stopped Anton Gj. Kolaj (23) and Pal Z. Kabashi (23), from Gllogjan of Peja, and forced them into the premises of "Metohija" hotel in downtown Peja.

They were reported beaten severely by the police. Yesterday (Tuesday), the Serbian police in Peja forced into their car two Albanian youth and took them outside town, at a place called Gryka e Rugov&s. The Albanians were reported plundered and ill-treated.

They were forced to get off their shoes and stay in the cold river of Bistrica.

LDK Information Commission failed to obtain their names.

Kosova Information Center

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