Kosova Daily Report #1404, 98-04-19

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

Kosova Information Center

Kosova Daily Report #1404

Prishtina, 19 April 1998

CONTENTS

[01] BELGRADE IS NOT ABIDING BY THE CONTACT GROUP DECISIONS ON KOSOVA

[02] Instead of withrawing special units, Serbia is building up troops in the area

[03] Serb Propaganda Augurs Fresh Serb Onslaught in Kosova

[04] Serb Regime Builds Over 30 New Police Checkpoints in Kosova

[05] Two Young Albanians Wounded at Ponoshec Village Thursday

[06] Serb Military Aircraft Flying over Border Zone with Albania

[07] Serb Soldiers Rehearse in Estates of Albanians in Vushtrri Villages

[08] Serb Military Units Reported Garrisoned at Zajm of Klina

[09] Serbian Soldiers Shoot at Family Car at Hani i Elezit

[10] Intensified Serb Police and Military Movements in Vushtrri

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

[12] Increased Serb Military Movement in Kosova

[13] Serbian Army Moves in the Direction of Klina

[14] Serb Soldiers Threaten and Intimidate Local Residents in Lipjan

[15] Serbian Army Build Emplacements Near Prishtina

[16] Additional Serbian Army Forces Deployed at Kosova-Albanian Border

[17] Heavy Presence of Serb Military Forces in Lipjan

[18] Serb Army Movements Reported Near Prishtina

[19] Fresh Serbian Forces Deployed to Kosova

[20] Serb Forces Order All Broja Residents Abandon Homes

[01] BELGRADE IS NOT ABIDING BY THE CONTACT GROUP DECISIONS ON KOSOVA

[02] Instead of withrawing special units, Serbia is building up troops in the area

It is true, however, that following the 28 March massacre at Likoshan and Qirez villages and 5 March onslaught at Prekazi i Ul&t (in Serbian 'Donji Prekaz') - when over 80 Albanians, mostly children, women and old people were slain - there were no other massive or all-out attacks of Serb forces. Yet, there has been no sign of a withdrawal of Serb police, military and paramilitary forces from Drenica region or Kosova. On the contrary, besides the existing heavy forces, fresh troops have been deployed and garrisoned around the Drenica villages, holding the area inside a deadly iron siege.

Apart from Serb police, deployment, movements and garrisoning of Serb army troops with heavy armament and equipment have been reported in many parts of Kosova, the Kosova-Albania border zone in particular.

Below are some of the news items and articles by the Kosova Information Center (KIC) on the deployment, movements and show- force maneuvers of Serb army and police forces in Kosova during the two first weeks of April.

[03] 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 occup2ation forces and the local Albanian resurgent. 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.

[04] Serb Regime Builds Over 30 New Police Checkpoints in Kosova

New Serb police checkpoints with heavily armed men have been established in key-points in the Kosova towns and villages, as well as roads and intersections in dozens of places. Local residents, passersby and drivers have been on a permanent basis subjected to strict control and scrutiny, maltreatment, beating and plundering in such checkpoints.

Below is a list of the places (charted by LDK branches in the Kosova municipal centers) where new Serb police checkpoints were established over the past two month: Sk&nderaj : New checkpoints were since February established at Klina e Ep&rme, Runik, T&rnoc and in the town of Sk&nderaj itself.

Heavy Serb forces have been garrisoned in this municipality for two over two months, including the huge emplacements at the hillsides around Llausha, T&rnoc, Kopiliq i Ul&t, Broja, as well as in the Game Ammunition Factory in Skenderaj.

Mitrovica - Serb police checkpoints have been recently built in virtually all the entrances/exit points of the town, as well as near the villages of Shipol and Frash&r and the Mitrovica-Sk&nderaj road. Serb police forces have been garrisoned inside the buildings of the Fire Brigades, the Serb army barracks, the "3" motel in Zve^an.

Vushtrri - A new Serb police checkpoint was recently established at Nedakoc village on the Prishtina-Mitrovica road.

Prizren - In early February, a fixed Serb police checkpoint was built in Lubizhda village, while temporary ones in Landovica, Dushanova, Gjonaj etc.

Junik - A new checkpoint was established at a place called "Kulla e Malokut" near Serb refugees settlement. Increased Serb police and military forces have been deployed outside villages along the Kosova-Albania border belt.

^ab&r (in Serbian 'Zubin Potok'): Besides the permanent police checkpoint in Gazivoda, Serb police patrols have carried routine inspections of passersby on several other places. Additional Serb forces have been deployed in the area and the compounds of the army reservists near Gazivoda.

Klina - In addition to the existing checkpoints at "P&rlika" neighborhood in the small town of Klina and Klina-Sk&nderaj road, new ones have been built lately at the road between Pogragja and Jashanica villages, at Peja- Prishtina-Dollc intersection, and a huge one in Kijeva.

A 1000 strong Serb police forces has been garrisoned in the premises of the "Malishgani" agricultural cooperative at Pogragja village.

Suhareka - Temporary checkpoints were built in a couple of exits/entrance points of the town as well several villages in the municipality. There has been for years now a fixed checkpoint near the police station.

Gllogovc - A checkpoint which was abandoned a couple of years ago was re- established in February at Komoran village at the Peja- Prishtina-Gllogovc intersection. Another one was recently established at Morina village, while heavy Serb police forces have been garrisoned in the premises of the police stations in Gllogovc and Komoran.

Kamenica - Serb police checkpoints have been established earlier at a place called "Crepane", at Kamenica-Bujanoc-Gjilan crossroad, while since February, new ones were established at a place called "Dheu i bardh&" in Katushnic&, at a place between the villages Hodonoc, Roga^ica and Novosella, near the placque factory in Koretin, one between Berivojca and Koretin villages. Heavier Serb forces have been reported garrisoned in the villages with Serb population in them such as Ranilluga, Rapotova, Bozhec, Rajnoc etc.

Armored Serb police vehicles have been for weeks stationed at Bozhevc village.

Meanwhile, two checkpoint at "Dheu i bardh&" and in Koretin have been dislocated, the LDK sources in Kamenica said.

Ka^anik - A Serb police checkpoint has been built at Gerlica village on Ferizaj-Ka^anik road.

Zhur - Besides checkpoints at Vlashnja, Zhur and V&rnic&, a new one was recently established on the road linking villages Biluzha, Vlashnja, Zhur, Shkoza and V&rmica. Increased deployment and movement of Serb police and military forces have been reported about the zone bordering on Albania.

Fush&-Kosov& - No permanent checkpoint was established in the municipality lately, except a temporary one at the Prishtina-Peja- Airport intersection in Sllatina village.

Podujeva - A permanent checkpoint was established several years ago outside the town of Podujeva at the Prishtina-Nis (Serbia) highway.

Temporary and unfixed checkpoints have been reported in several places on the roads leading t the countryside.

Leposaviq - A police checkpoint at a place called "Ballaban" which was closed last December was re-established in February.

Serb military and police forces have bee reported garrisoned in the premises of the shirt factory at Banjska.

Residents of Kushtova village have been warned not to cross the hillside where Serb forces have been garrisoned.

Dragash - Besides an existing checkpoint built eight years ago at Zym village, police patrols stationed now and then in other places of the municipality have been substituting the checkpoints and carrying strict control of passersby.

Increased Serb army forces have been lately noticed in the military barracks and border watch-house at Bresana.

Istog: A new checkpoint of Serb police was lately established at Gurrakoc village at the Peja-Mitrovica-Klina road.

[05] Two Young Albanians Wounded at Ponoshec Village Thursday

The wounds received by the two young people are not life- threatening, the LDK said.

Serbian military and police forces, backed by tanks, have been stationed at Ponoshec, the LDK branch sources said, adding that the Serb forces have been provoking the local population.

Part of the inhabitants of the village have been reported leaving the village for the town of Gjakova or the villages in the municipality.

The Kosova Albanian population living along the Kosova-Albania border zone have borne the brunt of a huge Serb police and military presence in the area in the past several years, but also sweeps of gangs from Albania in the past year. Local Kosovars were killed by Serb forces. Gangs from Albania, who have been engaged in plundering sweeps in the Kosova Albanian villages last year, have left several Kosovars killed in their homesteads.

Meanwhile, the Serbian media reported yesterday about armed conflicts between Serb military and "a group of arms traffickers from Albania, crossing over to Kosova".

There were many victims on the side of the group coming from Albania, the Serb press says.

Several armed incidents took place yesterday (Thursday), beginning in the small hours.

The armed incidents occurred 300 meters inside the Kosova territory, the Serb media said, putting the number of arms traffickers engaged in shoot- out incident at 60.

Albania's Foreign Minister Paskal Milo was quoted as saying the 'Yugoslav' side will be making allegations on such incidents in the run-up to the Contact Group meeting on Kosova, scheduled for 29 April.

"Lacking the will to comply with demands of the Contact Group, the Serbs are accusing not only Kosova Albanians, but also the Albanian state itself", Paskal Milo said in Tirana.

[06] Serb Military Aircraft Flying over Border Zone with Albania

Arms fire was heard too, according to the LDK.

In the morning today (Friday), cars of Serb security officers have been reported seen in the village of Junik in the municipality of De^an.

Two Serb police expeditions - armed policemen wearing bullet-proof jackets - were in Junik yesterday, survelling the terrain, LDK sources said.

[07] Serb Soldiers Rehearse in Estates of Albanians in Vushtrri Villages

The LDK Information Commission in Vushtrri said that a Serb army convoy in armored vehicles, trucks and other military equipment was seen entering Okrashtica village today morning.

A couple-of-hour Serb army maneuver was performed today in the fields around the villages of Pantina, Frash&r i Madh and Okrashtica. Serb soldiers reportedly trespassed estates of local residents, whereas in some of the cases they even intruded into the houses of Albanians while rehearsing.

The Commission said the Serb army forces began withdrawing from the area at about 12:15.

[08] Serb Military Units Reported Garrisoned at Zajm of Klina

The LDK Information Commission in Klina said that Serb soldiers in 8 tanks, 13 trucks trailing high-calibre cannons, and an ambulance car were garrisoned in the fields and forests around Zym, as well as in the village itself.

[09] Serbian Soldiers Shoot at Family Car at Hani i Elezit

Mr. Vila stopped his car immediately. The Serbian soldiers approached him, searched the car thoroughly and before letting them go they "apologized!" In the car there were two women, sisters to Mr. Vila and four children.

Sali Vila was stopped again by the Serbian soldiers on his way back and scrutinized. He told LDK Information Commission that while the Serbian soldiers were holding him they shot in the direction of a couple of youth who were crossing the Lepenc river.

Mr. Vila said he was stopped the third time by another Serbian military patrol only hundred meters away from the last one and harassed.

[10] 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.

[11] 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.

[12] Increased Serb Military Movement in Kosova

Large Serb forces walked out of the Mitrovica barracks today (Monday), local sources said. They headed in the direction of Fshati i Vog&l village. Twenty one lorries, many of whom full with soldiers, as well as heavy weaponry, including tanks and cannons, were in the Serb military convoy,.

Meanwhile, huge Serb military forces have been seen in the location of Qaf& e Dul&s today. Then they headed for Luzhnica village of Suhareka, where they were reported stationed, LDK sources in Suhareka said.

Around 10 o'clock in the morning today, a convoy of Serb military vehicles left the Peja ('Pec') barracks for Klina. A dozen tanks, several lorries, as well as heavy artillery made up the convoy, LDK Information Commission in Peja reported.

Increased military movements have been reported in the Prizren and Dragash municipalities in the past few days.

[13] Serbian Army Moves in the Direction of Klina

In the convoy there were bulldozers, field kitchens and heavy artillery equipment.

[14] Serb Soldiers Threaten and Intimidate Local Residents in Lipjan

The Serbian soldiers have been trespassing Albanian private estates, while late in the night they whistle and sing nationalist songs, provoking the local residents.

The Serbian army tanks often drive through the village and the surrounding hills.

The Serb army has brought electricity supply in the camp, which is an indication they plan to stay longer, the LDK Information Commission in Lipjan, a town 15 km east of Prishtina, said.

[15] Serbian Army Build Emplacements Near Prishtina

The Serbian army has been stationed on the hills above the Truda village since the beginning of April.

Serb military forces have also been stationed at Lebana village and have been building bunkers, LDK sources said.

[16] Additional Serbian Army Forces Deployed at Kosova-Albanian Border

Meanwhile, the Serbian police arrested Wednesday morning Frrok Mesulaj from Prizren, aid coordinator for Drenica, and Mit&r Berisha, local LDK chairman in Grazhdanik.

The Dragash municipality lies on the border zone between Kosova and Albania.

Serbian Army Exercise Force in Ferizaj PRISHTINA, April 8 (KIC) - Some 50 Serbian army soldiers were deployed Tuesday at Fshat i Vjet&r village of Ferizaj ('Urosevac').

They have been stationed in front of the local primary school, as well as in front of many Albanian homes, sources in Ferizaj reported.

The Serbian soldiers raided the yards of Osman Hyseni and Adem Hyseni.

At the same time heavy Serbian forces in police uniforms were stationed in the woods nearby the village, sources said.

Local residents have been reported harassed and threatened by Serb forces.

[17] Heavy Presence of Serb Military Forces in Lipjan

Eye-witnesses told KIC this morning that the military training gave the impression that the Serb forces were planning an attack on their villages, and fear of a possible massacre on the Albanian population in this region. The villages were blocked during the whole day Tuesday.

Magura and other neighboring villages are in the vicinity of the Prishtina airport and the largest Serbian military base in Kosova, Sllatina.

The Serbian police has intensified raiding for alleged hidden weapons on Albanian homes in these villages recently, sources in Lipjan say.

[18] Serb Army Movements Reported Near Prishtina

LDK sources in Shkabaj said the Serb army convoy was heading for

Gazimestan, a grove and Serb monument site near Prishtina. There were at least 20 tanks and 15 vehicles with armed Serb soldiers on board, the source said.

Residents of Shkabaj were prevented from going out in the streets of the village while the Serb army convoy was passing through.

Meanwhile, a Serb army convoy with four APCs and a truck with armed soldiers on board was seen heading towards Sllatina village this morning.

[19] Fresh Serbian Forces Deployed to Kosova

These Serb forces arrived from Serbia, drove through Podujeva and headed in the direction of Kosova's capital Prishtina.

Serb Military Helicopter Flying Low Over Villages of Malisheva

PRISHTINA, April 6 (KIC) - A Serb military helicopter has been flying for a couple of hours over the villages of Malisheva, a municipality i central Kosova neighboring on Rahovec.

Bodies of six yet unidentified murdered men were found this morning on both sides of a road, just outside Rahovec.

The LDK Information Commission in Malisheva said at noon today that the Serb army helicopter was flying quite low over the villages of the municipality and the small town of Malisheva itself.

[20] Serb Forces Order All Broja Residents Abandon Homes

"On Sunday, the Serb forces ordered Albanians in Broja to abandon the village entirely. The few elderly people that were still in the village looking after their homes and farm animals were told to leave their homes and let all animals go free," said Mr.Krasniqi.

"The 33 houses of Broja are now under Serb forces' control, filled with Serb police and paramilitary units. They have set up new emplacements. The number of forces is ever increasing," said Bahtir Krasniqi. The village was abandon since Monday and there was no one else in the village besides the Serb forces. The population escaped to Klodernica and Izbica villages.

Mr. Krasniqi said very little aid arrived for the displaced in Izbica, and no aid reached the ones in Klodernica for one month now.

The region has been kept under very strict Serb forces' control.

Villages have been exposed to sporadic shelling and shooting by different kinds of fire arms.

Mr. Krasniqi said many houses were damaged. The contact with people outside the siege is very difficult and there is no health assistance or medicaments.

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