Kosova Daily Report #1412, 98-04-27
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1412
Prishtina, 27 April 1998
First Edition: 10:00 CET
Second Edition: 14:00 CET
Third Edition:
CONTENTS
[01] Serb Army Attacks Albanians with Gunship and Artillery in De^an
[02] DRAMATIC ESCALATION OF SITUATION IN KOSOVA AMIDST UNFOLDING SERB
MILITARY AND POLICE OPERATIONS
[03] Fresh Massacre of Albanians Feared to Have Occurred Last Night in
De^an
[04] Reinforcement of Serb Troops Reported in Gjakova
[05] Funeral of Nine Albanians Killed by Serbs to Be Held Monday Afternoon
[06] The Prizren-Gjakova Road Severely Blockaded by Serbs Forces Monday
[07] Tense Situation Reported in Central Kosova
[08] Serb Police Builds New Base at Strellc of De^an
[09] LDK Condemns Massacres of Serb Military and Police Forces in Kosova
[10] Rugova's Aide Slams Serb Propaganda Pamphleteering on Dialogue
[11] Bodies of Two Killed Persons Spotted on Prizren-Gjakova Road
[12] "Freedom, Independence" - Five-Minute Rallying Call in Peaceful
Marches on Tuesday
[13] British Historian of Kosova Says the West Is Wrong Ruling Out
Independence for Kosova
[14] Cook Says Belgrade Should Withdraw Special Troops in Barracks
[15] Buildup of Serb Forces along Hasi Region of Prizren
[16] Human Rights Activists Beaten in Gurrakoc of Istog
[17] Serbian Forces Build Emplacements at Ponashec of Gjakova
[18] Several Albanians Arrested in Gjakova
[01] Serb Army Attacks Albanians with Gunship and Artillery in De^an
PRISHTINA, April 27 (KIC) - Sources in De^an said Albanians came under
fierc Serb/Yugoslav army fire at Hulaj village and at St&rguni i Vokshit
during the whole course of last night and this morning.
The Serb army artillery attack which was launched at around 1:00 a.m.
continued until 5 in the morning today. It is feared that huge casualties
were caused, though KIC could not still secure any credible reports about
them.
Witnesses told KIC that Serb army aircraft were seen flying over the area
at around 3 a.m. At around 6:00, a couple of military helicopters landed on
the venue of Serb forces attack. The helicopters were seen flying in the
direction of Gjakova subsequently.
The place where the Albanians were attacked from last night and this
morning is about ten kilometers far from the Kosova-Albania border line.
The LDK Information Commission in De^an said the local Albanian population
in the are has been overwhelmed by panic and fear.
Residents of Vokshi village, children, women and old people have been
fleeing the village speedily.
Ten Albanians, victims of the Serb army, were buried in two villages of
De^an and Gjakova, Slup and Dujaka respectively, on Sunday. The funeral of
ten other Albanians killed by Serb army last week is expected to be held
later today at Herq village The Serb army has said it had killed at least
19 Albanians near the Kosova-Albania border on 23 April.
Serb authorities claimed the Albanians were killed only 50 meters far from
the border line, on the Kosovars said of the Albania- Kosova border,
allegedly in a bid to be infiltrated from Albania to Kosova.
An Albanian who said he managed to escape the Serb carnage on 23 April has
said Albanians were first captured and executed by Serb force not 50 meters
away from the border line but some 4 kilometers further on the Kosova
territory, at a place called Zharet e Batushes.
[02] DRAMATIC ESCALATION OF SITUATION IN KOSOVA AMIDST UNFOLDING SERB
MILITARY AND POLICE OPERATIONS
PRISHTINA, April 27 (KIC) - The situation in parts of Kosova - along the
border zone with Albania (De^an, Gjakova, Prizren) and in central Kosova
(Skenderaj and Kijeva) - saw a dramatic deterioration last night with
tendencies of further escalation today amidst violent actions of the
Yugoslav Army (YA) against the Albanian population in Kosova.
The YA attacked scores of Albanians from midnight through the early morning
today near the Voksh village of De^an, a municipality in western Kosova,
some ten kilometers away from the border with Albania. The casualty toll is
feared high, some put it at a dozen.
The Yugoslav army had launched an artillery attack, whereas from 3 o'clock
onwards the Yugoslav military aircraft and gunships flew overhead in the
region.
The village of Voksh is near the Sllup village, where late afternoon
yesterday (Sunday) the funeral of 9 young Albanian killed by the YA army on
23 April took place.
The Baballoq and Grama^el villages of De^an, which have been under siege
since 21 April, have come under renewed Serb fire last night.
Fresh Serb police and military forces have been reported arriving today in
the neighboring municipality of Gjakova, in southwestern Kosova. The
funeral of another 9 Albanians, killed like the 9 Sllup villagers on 23
April, will take place early afternoon today at the village of Here^ in
Gjakova.
The Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) branch in Gjakova said part of the
Serb forces are heading for the border area with Albania at Morina, whereas
the rest in the direction of the village of C&rmjan, which has been under
siege since 23 April. The roads have been blockaded by Serb forces.
In the village of Here^ a mother and her child were wounded in their yards
Saturday evening as result of a grenade launched by Serb forces.
The situation is reported highly explosive in the border region of Has in
the municipality of Prizren, too. Large Yugoslav army forces were building
up in the area yesterday. Lots of shooting was reported just after midnight,
at 00:30 hrs.
The LDK branch in Prizren reported that the Prizren-Gjakova main road has
been blockaded by Serb forces at the village of Pirana.
Meanwhile, in Drenica, a region in central Kosova, the villages of Llausha,
A^areva, Broja, Turi^evc and Vojnika came under renewed Serb attacks last
night. Heavy weaponry, guns and machine-guns, 2have been reported used. In
a similar attack two days ago, two brothers and a mother and her child were
wounded.
On board two dozen buses and lorries, huge Serb forces, police and military,
have arrived in the small town of Skenderaj ('Srbica') today.
The Prishtina-Peja ('Pec') main road - especially in the territory
stretching from Kijeva to Arllat - huge Serb police forces have been
deployed. It was through this route that the Serb military convoys, fully
equipped, have been passing through on their way to De^an, Gjakova and
Peja.
In Klina and in the vicinity of Peja, during a Serb police operation, one
local Albanian was killed and two high school students wounded.
Serb regime authorities have armed the local Serb civilian population up
and down Kosova, as a rule in local police stations.
The newly armed Serbs roamed the streets of towns in a show of force.
Media representatives and humanitarian workers have been denied access to
areas where Serb police and military operations are unfolding.
The operations of the Yugoslav military, Serb police and civilians are
taking place along the line of a territorial carve-up of Kosovar territory
which Belgrade has designed and floated publicly for quite some time now.
[03] Fresh Massacre of Albanians Feared to Have Occurred Last Night in
De^an
Serbian radio said Serb forces killed 3 Albanians and wounded four other
near De^an
PRISHTINA, April 27 (KIC) - The situation in De^an has been reported
extremely tense in parts of the municipality which were attacked by Serb
army on Sunday night and Monday morning.
It is feared that yet another massacre of local Albanians has occurred in
the area.
The village of Hulaj and St&rguni i Vokshit of De^an came under fierce
Serb/Yugoslav army fire during the whole course of last night and this
morning.
Serbs army used artillery and gunship helicopters during the operation,
reports said.
The area where Serb forces launched attacks is about 10 kilometers insider
Kosovar territory along the Kosova-Albania border zone.
Witnesses told KIC that Serb army aircraft flew overhead the area at around
3 a.m. At around 6:00, a couple of military helicopters landed on the venue
of Serb forces attack. The helicopters were seen flying in the direction of
Gjakova subsequently.
The pretext of Serb forces' attack in the area is unknown. KIC has failed
to obtain credible reports about the causality toll.
Serbian state radio said Serb forces killed 3 Albanians and wounded four
other near De^an last night.
Most of the residents of villages Voksh, Pob&rgj& and Hulaj have already
fled their homes, sources said.
The LDK Information Commission in De^an said firearms shootings were heard
last night in the villages of Baballoq and Grama^el too.
[04] Reinforcement of Serb Troops Reported in Gjakova
PRISHTINA, April 27 (KIC) - Fresh Serb army and police forces have been
deployed since morning hours Monday in Gjakova municipality, a region in
south-western Kosova bordering on Albania, sources said.
The LDK Information Commission in Gjakova said Serb forces have been moving
today on two directions: the Kosova-Albania border and Dushkaja, a region
between Gjakova and De^an.
Roads leading to border zone villages have been blockaded. Sporadic
shooting from automatic rifles and other types of weapons was heard in the
area on repeated occasions during last night, sources said.
Heavy Serb army forces with tanks and other combat equipment were brought
in the compounds of the slaughter house and poultry farm in Bec Sunday
afternoon. Some of the troops were later transferred to Radoniq, where huge
Serb forces have been garrisoned for almost a week now.
Serb civilians were supplied with weapons and uniforms in Gjakova on Sunday,
sources said.
[05] Funeral of Nine Albanians Killed by Serbs to Be Held Monday Afternoon
PRISHTINA, April 27 (KIC) - Nine Albanians killed by Serb forces last week
will be buried today (Monday) at Hereq village of Gjakova. The funeral of
Albanians will be held this aftrenoon in the local cemetery of Hereq,
village of residence of the victims.
Shefqet Selim Alijaj (b. 1969), Bekim Sali Aliaj, Skender Qazim Hajdaraj
(1969), Gazmend Hasan Ramaj (1972), Uk& Misin Shabani (1970), Hasan Bajram
Tahiraj, Sadik Lush Alijaj (1961), Hajdar Ramadan Thaqi (1972) and Vehbi
Asllan Hasanaj (1967) were killed by Serb forces last Thursday.
Ten other Albanians were buried in two villages of De^an and Gjakova, Slup
and Dujaka respectively, on Sunday afternoon.
The Serb army claimed it had killed at least 19 Albanians near the Kosova-
Albania border on 23 April.
Serb authorities claimed the Albanians were killed only 50 meters far from
the border line, on the Kosovar side of the Albania-Kosova border,
allegedly while they were crossing into Kosova territory from Albania.
A local Albanian, who said he managed to escape the Serb carnage on 23
April, claimed Albanians were first captured and then executed by Serb
force some 4 kilometers insider the Kosova territory, at a location called
Zharet e Batushes.
[06] The Prizren-Gjakova Road Severely Blockaded by Serbs Forces Monday
PRISHTINA, April 27 (KIC) - Reports from Prizren, a town 80 km south of
Prishtina, speak of an extremely tense situation in the area today.
The situation was reported tense in the Has villages, a region bordering on
Albania. Firearm shooting was heard coming from the area last night after
midnight, sources said.
The LDK Information Commission in Prizren said Serb army convoys with
combat equipment were seen moving towards Hasi region on Sunday.
Heavy Serb police and military forces stationed near Pirana village on the
Gjakova-Prizren have made the movement of civil population impossible since
morning hours today.
Sources in the Serb-run Prishtina hospital said two wounded Serb policemen
were taken there early Monday morning. Unconfirmed reports say the two
Serbs were wounded somewhere near Krusha village, along Prizren-Gjakova
road.
[07] Tense Situation Reported in Central Kosova
PRISHTINA, April 27 (KIC) - Heavy Serbian police forces were deployed today
(Monday) between the Kijeva and Komaran villages, along Prishtina-Peja
highway, at a distance of twenty kilometers.
They were positioned at hill-tops on both sides of the roads, and the woods,
LDK sources in Malisheva reported.
Kijeva, Mleqan, Llazic&, Balinc&, Gjurgjic&, Arllat Llapushnik and Vukovc,
have been placed under fierce control.
The Serbian forces have build a base in Kijeva itself for two months now.
They also ethnically cleansed the area around them, forcing dozens of
families flee their homes.
Sporadic shooting along this distance was reported Sunday and today
morning.
As a result of Serb forces build-up in the area the local secondary school
in Kijeva, and the primary school in Llazic& have discontinued classes.
Serb forces in Kijeva have been provoking and threatening local residents,
and often shoot at people from the distance.
Several convoys with Serbian army forces, and special police forces were
reported driving along the Prishtina-Peja highway heading in the direction
of Western Kosova, Monday morning.
[08] Serb Police Builds New Base at Strellc of De^an
PRISHTINA, April 27 (KIC) - A new Serb police check-point was set up just
outside Strellc village of De^an on Sunday.
The police check-point was built near Albanian houses. Some of the families
around the newly established police base have already moved out of their
houses in fear of possible police harassment, LDK sources in De^an said.
Strellc has over 500 Albanian homesteads.
Around 40 new Serb police check-points, either fixed or temporary, have
been established in Kosova since end February this year, besides a large
number of existing ones in towns, villages and roads.
[09] LDK Condemns Massacres of Serb Military and Police Forces in Kosova
PRISHTINA, April 27 (KIC) - The Presidency of the Democratic League of
Kosova (LDK), the biggest political force in Kosova, denounced today in the
strongest terms the operations of Serbian military and police forces in
Kosova and massacres carried out against the unprotected Albanian
population in the country.
In a meeting today, the top LDK body said the party will intensify its
political activity at all levels, especially in the areas affected by the
unfolding Serb operations - in Drenica and the municipalities in western
and southern Kosova, Peja, De^an, Gjakova and Prizren.
"The LDK Presidency calls for local party leaders to cooperate closely with
the other political parties in the framework of the peaceful policy and the
respect for the will of the people of Kosova for independence, which should
be achieved by political means", a statement issued by the party said.
The LDK warned that the Serbian regime has, besides embarking on the
military and police crackdown, engaged in a propaganda warfare aimed at
making Albanian people flee their homes so as to achieve the ethnic
cleansing of Kosova scheme.
The Republic of Kosova has its state bodies, parties and other institutions,
the LDK recalled, calling on all the citizens to act in conformity with the
official Kosovar policy lines.
[10] Rugova's Aide Slams Serb Propaganda Pamphleteering on Dialogue
PRISHTINA, April 27 (KIC) - The letter of Serbian Deputy Prime Minister
Ratko Markovic to President Ibrahim Rugova of Kosova, carried by the
Belgrade press today, is a fresh proof of Belgrade's lack of readiness to
engage in a serious dialogue with Prishtina, Mr. Xhemail Mustafa, Rugova's
press advisor told KIC.
President Rugova has been steadfast on his position on the need for a third
party-mediated unconditional dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade, Mr.
Mustafa said. "I hope Mr. Markovic is aware of Dr. Rugova's call made last
week for the negotiating teams to meet in a neutral country venue under the
mediation of a third international party".
We do not want to see propaganda pamphleteering, but rather Serbia's
compliance with Contact Group demands - the withdrawal of special forces
from Kosova, and the establishment of a negotiation process on Kosova -
President Rugova's aide said.
Instead of withdrawing forces, as called for by the international community,
Belgrade has been increasingly building up military and police forces in
Kosova, Mr. Mustafa warned.
[11] Bodies of Two Killed Persons Spotted on Prizren-Gjakova Road
PRISHTINA, April 27 (KIC) - The sound of automatic fire initially, later
artillery fore, was heard in the small hours at a location called P&rroi i
Keq near Pirana village on the Prizren-Gjakova road, LDK sources said
today.
Some eye-witnesses said a Lada car with Prizren license plates, a BMW car,
as well as a TAM lorry with Podgorica license plates were stuck there
amidst an unexplained crash.
The witnesses said at the site two bodies, whose identity is unknown, were
spotted.
The area has been placed under a ring of steel.
The Prizren-Gjakova road, from Pirana to Krush& e Vog&l village, has been
reported blocked.
In the roadblocks at Pirana and Krush& e Vog&l all commuters are being
routinely harassed, reports said.
[12] "Freedom, Independence" - Five-Minute Rallying Call in Peaceful
Marches on Tuesday
PRISHTINA, April 27 (KIC) - Several thousand Albanians in Prishtina paid
homage today to the Albanians slain by Serb forces in Gjakova and De^an
municipalities in the past few days.
Today was the eighteenth day of peaceful marches of Albanians in the main
avenues and streets of capital Prishtina and other Kosovar towns. The calm
half-hour manifestations have been called by the LDK and other political
parties to protest Serbian occupation (the motto being "Kosova, the biggest
jail in Europe") and call for independence for Kosova.
The half-hour protest marches start at noon.
Today, for ten minutes, from 12:20 through 12:30 hrs, Albanian marches
stood in silence to pay homage to the Albanians killed most recently.
Meanwhile, the Protest Committee said today tomorrow's protest will consist
of a twenty-minute march. For five minute people will stop and stay in
calm. The last five minutes the participants have been called to shout the
rallying call "Freedom, Independence" in both Albanian and English.
"This is a civilized call for the great powers, the Contact Group countries
and the rest, to undertake urgent steps against the criminal Belgrade
regime and place the Albanian people of Kosova under protection", the
Protest Committee said in a statement today.
[13] British Historian of Kosova Says the West Is Wrong Ruling Out
Independence for Kosova
"The Past Must Not Be Prologue" say Noel Malcolm, author of a recently
published History of Kosova, says Kosova challenges the West to learn from
the mistakes made in the Bosnian conflict.
In an article published in The Times magazine, Malcolm initially asks the
question: "Is the conflict in Kosovo about to turn into a second Bosnian
war?", to which he answers himself: "The short answer is no".
There are too many differences between the Bosnian example and what is
happening, or can happen, in the Albanian-inhabited Kosova, the author
says.
It seems that Western governments have still not learned the most basic
lessons of that earlier diplomatic disaster, he notes. "While the problem
itself is different in important ways, the international response is
similar enough to prompt an alarming sense of deja vu."
Mr. Malcom goes on to say: "To understand why there can be no replay of the
Bosnian war in Kosovo, one must study a contour map.
That will help to explain why the war lasted three and a half years, even
though the Bosnian Government forces had almost no weapons to begin with
and the Serbs had tanks and artillery. Much of Bosnia is like Switzerland:
tanks do not climb mountains, and in such terrain lightly-equipped infantry
can defend hugely extended front lines.
Kosovo, on the other hand, is tank country with key towns and territory
situated on rolling plateaus. If Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic ever
launches a full-scale war against the Kosovo Albanians, who have no weapons
apart from some smuggled Kalashnikovs, it will be not so much a war as a
massacre.
This means that prolonged, Bosnian-style war is not an option, leaving only
two possible scenarios for physical conflict. Either the present situation
continues as a simmering intifadeh in which most Albanians are active but
non-violent, while a minority resorts to force. Or the collective patience
of the Albanians snaps with a general rising amounting to an act of virtual
mass suicide. The Kosovo Albanians are not crazy or suicidal, but
the risk of such a bloodbath is something that Western governments must
take seriously.", Noel Malcolm writes.
The British historian says NATO will not be able to stand idly by if
hundreds of thousands are killed, and refugees flood into neighboring
Macedonia and Albania.
"The West cannot afford to get this one wrong, so no long-term political
solution should be ruled out until the whole range of options has been
explored. And yet the position taken by the leading Western powers is that
almost all options are closed off except for the restoration of Kosovo's
"autonomy"--in other words, a return to the status it had in Tito's
Yugoslavia.", Mr. Malcom writes.
This is where the sense of deja vu comes in, he stressed. "In 1991, as
Yugoslavia slid slowly toward war, Western governments were fixated on the
idea that the Yugoslav state must be kept together.
After the votes for independence in Slovenia and Croatia, even after
Milosevic's artillery had begun shelling Croatian cities, Western diplomats
still thought that keeping Yugoslavia together would be the best way to
ensure "stability."
"Today, when they refuse even to admit the long-term possibility of
independence for Kosovo on the grounds that such a move would be
"destabilising," they are making the same mistake.", Noel Malcolm points
out. So long as "2 million deeply alienated Albanians are cooped up in a
Serbian or Yugoslav state, with anti-Albanianism as the trump card of every
Serb nationalist politician, the causes of instability will be built-in."
Western diplomats are "obsessed by an artificial nightmare of their own
devising", the historian says, noting that diplomats say that even to
discuss the possibility of independence for Kosova would set a terrible
precedent, opening the floodgates for secessionist movements all over the
world. "In fact, Kosovo's claim to independence is almost identical with
that of Slovenia or Croatia. As an international committee of jurists found,
what happened in 1991 was not "secession" but the complete dissolution
of the old Yugoslavia into its constituent units. Kosovo was one of these
units of Yugoslavia under the 1974 constitution, and, in practice,
functioned just like the other republics, with its own borders, parliament
and government."
Dr. Noel Malcolm says it is a virtual certainty that Kosova will become
independent from Serbia within the next 50 years. "The only question is:
how do we get from here to there? A negotiated solution based on a
prolonged interim phase, like the one agreed for Chechnya by General
Alexander Lebed, may be possible but only if the Albanians are assured that
independence remains an eventual option."
With Western governments "blithely telling them [Kosovar, KIC] that even
long-term independence is out of the question, the chances for "stability"
in the Balkans are slender indeed.", Noel Malcolm, author of Kosovo: A
Short History, concludes.
[14] Cook Says Belgrade Should Withdraw Special Troops in Barracks
PRISHTINA, April (KIC) - The Council of Foreign Ministers of the European
Union (EU) met today in Luxembourg to discuss the crisis in Kosova.
The British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook insisted that Belgrade must
cooperate.
"I think it is very important that we continue to press Belgrade with two
things: first of all to stabilize the situation, to withdraw the special
troops in barracks, end using heavy weapons against the population, and,
secondly, to really get going with meaningful talks", Cook said before the
meeting.
In a statement issued from the EU meeting, the Council of Ministers
expressed its "deep concern at the mounting violence in Kosovo" and called
on both parties to act with restraint.
The Council underlined the "fundamental importance of an early start to
meaningful dialogue without preconditions between the parties if further
bloodshed is to be avoided."
Given the lack of trust between the parties (Prishtina and Belgrade, KIC),
the Council considered the participation of an outside representative in
the process is indispensable and called on Belgrade to accept such a
presence."
[15] Buildup of Serb Forces along Hasi Region of Prizren
PRISHTINA, April 27 (KIC) - The situation in Prizren areas has been
deteriorating fast, following the buildup of Serb troops at the Hasi region
since Sunday, sources said.
Hasi is a region bordering on neighboring Albania.
Heavy Serb army troops were deployed Sunday along the border area with
Albania around the villages Planeja, Milaj, Mazrrek, Gjonaj, Krajk, Kushin,
Romaj& and Lugishta, LDK sources said.
There has been heavy deployment of Serbian troops equipped with heavy
artillery at Planeja village since Friday. Heavy shooting in the area has
been reported on several occasions. The local primary school has been
besieged by Serbian army tanks. Classes have been discontinued.
Heavy Serbian military and police troops as well as armed civilians have
been stationed at a location called "Lugu i Suzis&" at Nashec village.
The LDK branch Presidency in Prizren described the situation in the area as
extremely dangerous. They advised for maximum restraint, calling on the
population not respond to Serbian provocations.
The LDK in Prizren said Serbs have been provoking an all-out war in
Kosova.
[16] Human Rights Activists Beaten in Gurrakoc of Istog
PRISHTINA, April 27 (KIC) - The Serbian police beat up today Islam Muzliaj
and Halit Muzliaj, both activists with the local chapter of Mother Teresa
charity at U^& of Istog.
The two activists were loading food and other supplies for the displaced
persons in the area.
They were taken to the police station in Gurrakoc and were beaten up
severely during three hours in custody.
[17] Serbian Forces Build Emplacements at Ponashec of Gjakova
PRISHTINA, April 27 (KIC) - The Serbian police has began building new
emplacements at Ponashec village of Gjakova. At least 100 policemen have
been brought to the area, LDK sources in Gjakova said.
Meanwhile, LDK sources reported of Serbian army movements, equipped with
tanks and APCs, in the villages Morin&, Botusha and Junik, in the border
zone with Albania.
[18] Several Albanians Arrested in Gjakova
PRISHTINA, April 27 (KIC) - The Serbian police arrested at a road- block in
Gjakova, Selim Miftari, local LDK chairman in Babaj i Bok&s, and Ilir
Sadriu, also from the same village, LDK sources reported.
Mr. Miftari was reported beaten up by the police and released, while Ilir
Sadriu has been held in detention.
Source in Gjakova said the number of the arrested Albanians, who are being
held at police station in Gjakova, is higher.
Kosova Information Center
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