Kosova Daily Report #1405, 98-04-20

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

Kosova Information Center

KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1405

Prishtina, 20 April 1998

CONTENTS

[01] President Rugova Receives a Belgian Delegation

[02] Dramatic Situation in De^an and Vicinity

[03] Fresh Deployment of Serbian Army Forces to Western Kosova

[04] Several Albanian Families Abandon Homes Out of Fear from Serbian Military

[05] Serb Army in Over 40 Tanks Garrisoned at a Shtime Village

[06] Increased Build-up and Movements of Serb Army Troops in Gjilan

[07] 'Yugoslav' Defense Minister Speaks of Build-up of Forces along Kosova- Albania Border

[08] Three Drenica Villages Reported Fired upon by Serb Forces over Weekend

[09] Serb Police Officer Tells Father of Detainee His Son Was 'Slain by Terrorists'!

[10] Another Albanian Arrested, Family Having No Knowledge of his Fate

[11] Albanian Imprisoned for Collecting Humanitarian Aid

[12] Albanian in Prishtina Tortured Severely at the Police Station

[13] Quarrelling Serb Policemen Wounded in Police Station in Rahovec

[14] Unidentified Armed Gang Robs Passengers Travelling From Austria

[01] President Rugova Receives a Belgian Delegation

President Rugova and the Belgian delegation discussed the current situation and the prospects for a negotiated and peaceful settlement to the Kosova issue.

The situation in Kosova is extremely grave in the wake of armed actions by Serbian forces against the local Albanian population in some parts of Kosova, President Ibrahim Rugova said, referring to what happened in the Drenica region and De^an municipality last month.

The people of Kosova are committed to their peaceful struggle for freedom and independence, the President said, adding that independence for Kosova would bring stability to the entire region.

Negotiations between Prishtina and Belgrade, under the mediation of the United States, in cooperation with its European allies, are critical in pursuit of a just and peaceful resolution to the Kosova issue, Dr. Rugova emphasized.

Members of the Belgian Parliament and Pax Christi International shared an interest in diverse aspects of the question of Kosova and its historical and political identity. They expressed their full support for the peaceful policies pursued in Kosova, and for a negotiated settlement to the Kosova problem.

The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova appreciated the efforts of their country and their respective institutions towards Kosova.

[02] Dramatic Situation in De^an and Vicinity

The LDK branch vice-chairman said for several days now Serb soldiers have been stationed at a location called Podi i G&shtenjave, which is situated above the Medical Center in the small town of De^an.

Several hundred soldiers, wearing camouflage uniforms and masks, backed by heavy weaponry, including 200 millimeter guns, have been deployed at the Podi i G&shtenjave locality.

It is an elevated location which overlooks a large territory of the Dukagjin plateau (in Serbian 'Metohija'), stretching from Klina to Gjakova, the LDK officials said. The deployment of Serb troops and armament there seems to be part of the tactics Serb aggressive forces employed in the run- up to the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, they commented.

Osman Cacaj, the LDK branch information commission head, said several hundred Serbs who have abandoned their homes in De^an villages have been assembled near Podi i G&shtenjave location, where Serb soldiers have been deployed. The civilian Serb population has been settled in the formerly Kosova Children's Resort, near the [Serb] Monastery in De^an. Osman said there are no Serbs left in the villages, whereas their cattle have been placed in the compounds of the monastery. There are Montenegrins in the town of De^an, and a number of Serbs, he added. They can easily be given shelter in the Children's Resort.

The LDK officials said a psychosis of Serb attack has been instilled by reports attributed to Montenegrins living in De^an.

They told some Albanians to evacuate their families because of an "imminent attack" against Albanian settlements in the municipality.

The situation in De^an and the region has escalated to dramatic proportions in the wake of the Serb attack on Gllogjan village last month (24 March), when three young local Albanians were killed and several others wounded.

In the aftermath of this assault as well as a long-standing campaign of Serb police repression and terror against local Albanians, the population there are fearful of being massacred just like their fellow Albanians were in Drenica and Gllogjan village of De^an.

On behalf of the citizens of this municipality, the LDK and other parties operating in De^an have urged the international community intervene so that a new Serb onslaught is averted.

In the absence of concrete measures to prevent a fresh massacre, the De^an municipality inhabitants have been seeking ways to self- organization in the face of such possibilities, namely a Serb attack foretold as they put it.

The LDK branch leaders in De^an said the Serbian massacres in Drenica and Gllogjan (where Serb forces were after liquidating whole Albanian families), as well as reports that Serb paramilitary gangs are operating in Kosova, has raised fears of renewed Serb crackdown against Albanians.

An eventual Serb attack in De^an would result in atrocious consequences, the LDK officials told KIC. "The density of the population is very high in the municipality", they concluded.

The region of De^an has had grave experiences with Serbian forces this past century.

The local Albanian population suffered several massacres in the hands of Serb military since the Serbian occupation of Kosova in 1912.

[03] Fresh Deployment of Serbian Army Forces to Western Kosova

Reportedly, the Serbian soldiers provoked the local residents as they drove along the Prishtina-Peja highway.

Western Kosova and South-west Kosova, the municipalities of Peja, De^an, Gjakova and Prizren, fall in the border zone between Kosova and Albania.

[04] Several Albanian Families Abandon Homes Out of Fear from Serbian Military

The Serbian army deployed forces at this neighborhood Sunday and built emplacements in and around Albanian properties. They also posted heavy artillery in the area.

[05] Serb Army in Over 40 Tanks Garrisoned at a Shtime Village

The LDK formation Commission in Shtime (a town 30 km south of Prishtina) said that Serb army troops reached the area yesterday at around 9 a.m., starting immediately to build the emplacement.

Only a couple a days ago, Serb army officers were seen surveying the area.

The Commission noted that a wide area can be seen and controlled from the elevated location the Serb army forces have been garrisoned, including many villages along the Prishtina- Shkup/Skopje highway and many others in the Lipjan and Shtime municipalities.

[06] Increased Build-up and Movements of Serb Army Troops in Gjilan

The LDK Information Commission in Gjilan said Serb army troops in heavy armament and other combat equipment were seen deployed today in the fields between the villages Partesh and C&rnica, as well as around Livo^ i Posht&m.

About 15 military trucks have been parked in the compounds of the radiator factory at Burdika village.

A Serb army convoy in 10 huge trucks and 4 rocket launchers were seen moving today in the direction of Zhegra village.

Serb forces were also reported garrisoned in the schoolyard at Budrika, a mainly Serb-inhabited village.

At around noon today, over a dozen military trucks coming from Ferizaj entered the town of Gjilan, the Commission said.

[07] 'Yugoslav' Defense Minister Speaks of Build-up of Forces along Kosova- Albania Border

Bulatovic said the 'Yugoslav' army is strengthening its presence along the Kosova-Albanian border zone, in a bid "to bring an end the arms trafficking from Albania", as he put it.

LDK sources from Gjakova have confirmed that considerable Serbs forces, backed by heavy weapons, have been built up in the region.

The Serbian military entered the Ponoshec village of Gjakova with tanks yesterday, the LDK sources said.

[08] Three Drenica Villages Reported Fired upon by Serb Forces over Weekend

Serb forces opened fire from their check points all day Saturday.

Saturday noon they shelled Broja, Kopiliq and Tiriqevc villages, sources said.

Serb forces shelled Broja village from the property of Ram& Kastrati, a property they had moved in. The home of Sherif Kastrati is said to have been ruined.

Meanwhile, on 15 April the Serbian police stationed at Cerkolez stopped Musa B. Shala, a resident of Broja, and beat him unconscious. He was reported offered aid by some local Albanian, who placed him under medical treatment. Musa was reported in a critical condition.

Sources in Skenderaj said the Serb forces attacked also with fire arms the home of Shaban Gucati at Polac village.

[09] Serb Police Officer Tells Father of Detainee His Son Was 'Slain by Terrorists'!

Dr. Hafir Shala (38), native of Krajkova village of Gllogovc, a physician with the medical center in Gllogovc, was arrested by the Serbian police in Sllatina village on Friday morning, 10 April.

Destan Rukiqi, lawyer from Prishtina, told press on Saturday that he had made all efforts to find out where Dr. Hafir Shala is being kept or if he was alive. He has failed to learn anything for sure.

Authorities at the Serb police station in Prishtina, where his client was seen last, have refused to say whether he was being held in their custody or not.

Last week Rukiqi appealed to the Serbian Public Prosecutor Office in Belgrade, urging intervention with the Serb police and court authorities in Prishtina to either release his client or initiate legal proceedings if he is suspected of having committed an offence.

Meanwhile, Dr. Hafir Shala's father, Isuf Shala has likewise made repeated inquires with the Serb police authorities in Prishtina.

He, too, has failed to learn whether his son is alive or not.

The Prishtina-based Koha ditore said today (Monday) that Isuf Shala was told by a Serb police officer in Prishtina that his son was allegedly "slain by terrorists in Drenica".

"I have knocked on all the doors at the Serb police headquarters in Prishtina, but no one could tell me where my son is being held", the newspapers quoted him as saying. Isuf Shala said that a Serb police senior officer, surnamed Bajraktarovic, told him in his office that "terrorists in Drenica slaughtered your son".

Bajraktarovic said he had worked for long time in police stations in Drenica himself.

In a letter sent last Thursday to the Serb Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade, the lawyer Destan Rukiqi described in details the way Dr. Hafir Shala was arrested by the Serbian police at Sllatina village of Prishtina on 10 April 1998, at around 8 a.m. The doctor was initially halted by a Serb police patrol while driving from Prishtina to Gllogovc with two other men, Hetem Sinani and Shaban Neziri, both of them LDK and human rights activists. The two companions of Dr. Shala were released after being held in custody for about six hours, whereas he was held incommunicado ever since, the letter said.

The lawyer further clarified that when arrested Dr. Hafir Shala was halted by the Serb police in uniforms, but was handed over to civilians who drove him to Prishtina in a black jeep with Prishtina (PR 689-16) license plates.

The jeep Dr. Hafir Shala was in was seen entering the Serb police headquarters in Prishtina.

[10] Another Albanian Arrested, Family Having No Knowledge of his Fate

Mr. Dibrani was arrested in Dubovc village of Vushtrri while travelling to Mitrovica. He was taken off the bus together with two of his cousins, Selim Dibrani and Miliam Dibrani. The police released the others but arrested Sylejman Dibrani, taking him to the police station in Vushtrri (Vucitern).

The CDHRF told Koha Ditore his family has not knowledge of Mr. Dibrani's whereabouts nor the reason for his arrest.

[11] Albanian Imprisoned for Collecting Humanitarian Aid

The Serb-run court sentenced Mr. Dushi for having collected aid for the displaced persons of the Drenica region.

Mr. Dushi was also subjected to severe police torture before being brought to trial, sources in Prizren said.

[12] Albanian in Prishtina Tortured Severely at the Police Station

Mr. Makolli was subjected to severe police torture while in custody. He had to seek medical treatment.

The Serbian police have been ill-treating the extended Makolli family during the last week, too. Fatmir and G&zim Makolli were detained and beaten severely by police.

[13] Quarrelling Serb Policemen Wounded in Police Station in Rahovec

Two wounded Serb policemen were seen soon entering the local medical center. They were eventually taken to the Prizren hospital for further treatment, the newspaper quoted employees of the medical center as saying.

Bujku has also quoted residents around the police station in Rahovec as saying that it was quite clear to them that the shooting occurred inside the premises of the police station. The Serb policemen were presumably wounded during a quarrel between themselves, they said.

[14] Unidentified Armed Gang Robs Passengers Travelling From Austria

The families living in the area where the robbing took place told Bujku they had heard shootings coming from the area where the robbery took place.

Bujku said the area was sealed off by the Serbian police all day Sunday.

Unidentified Persons Set Woods on Fire at Barileva PRISHTINA, April 20 (KIC) - Unidentified persons, on several occasions this past week, have set on fire the woods called "Malet e Barilev&s" several miles north of capital Prishtina, LDK sources in Prishtina reported.

The persons have been setting fire generally during the night. The fire was put out by local residents each time.

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