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Kosova Daily Report #1418, 98-05-03

Kosovo Information Center: Kosova Daily Report Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1418
Prishtina, 3 May 1998

First Edition: 16:30 CET
Second Edition: 18:30 CET

CONTENTS

  • [01] Heavy Explosions and Gunfire Reported in the Border Area with Albania
  • [02] Serb Forces Shell Ponoshec Village, VOA Correspondent from Albania Confirms
  • [03] Four Albanians, Victims of Serb Forces, Buried in Two Drenica Villages
  • [04] Serb Regime Collaborator Shoots Dead Kosovar Albanian in Ka^anik
  • [05] Thousands of Albanians March in 24th Day of Peaceful Protests in Kosova
  • [06] Albanian Imprisoned for Taking Part in Peaceful Protest
  • [07] Young Albanian Sentenced to 45 Days in Prison in Prizren
  • [08] Intermittent Gunfire and Blasts Continue at Kosova - Albania Border Area All Afternoon Sunday

  • [01] Heavy Explosions and Gunfire Reported in the Border Area with Albania

    PRISHTINA, May 3 (KIC) - Reports from De^an and Gjakova, municipalities in south-western Kosova, speak today of escalating situation in the border area with Albania. Heavy Serbian gunfire started today at 10:00. At 15:00 hrs, it was reported still going on.

    LDK sources said the sound of heavy gunfire was coming from the villages of Junik, Morin& and Ponoshec, while Serb helicopter gunships were flying overhead all the time.

    Serbian ('Yugoslav') army forces equipped with heavy armament were reported building up in the border area today morning.

    It has been impossible to get information on the damage caused by Serb forces.

    Radio Belgrade reported today that at 21:20 hrs Saturday at 2 o'clock in the morning today (Sunday), near the border post of "Gorozhup", clashes occurred at the Kosova-Albania border. The Serb state-run radio said Serb military forces did not suffer any casualties.

    The radio said that two groups of people from Albanian tried to infiltrate the border and enter into Kosova, an attempt which was reportedly foiled by the Serb army.

    LDK sources in De^an reported today that Serb military and police convoys paraded through the town.

    At a quarter past 5 in the morning today, the sound of gunfire was heard coming from the village of Baballoq and the surrounding area, which has been under Serb siege.

    [02] Serb Forces Shell Ponoshec Village, VOA Correspondent from Albania Confirms

    PRISHTINA, May 3 (KIC) - The Voice of America (VOA) Albanian Section broadcast today (Sunday) afternoon a report by its correspondent in Albania, who confirmed heavy gunfire was heard on the Albanian side from the Kosovar territory.

    The VOA correspondent reported from the Qafa e Morin&s border post in the Albania-Kosova border.

    The report confirmed that the village of Ponoshec in the municipality of Gjakova, in southern Kosova, had been today the stage of warlike armed confrontations.

    The VOA broadcast sounds of the heavy shelling and explosions coming from neighboring Kosova.

    The report said heavy Serb forces were attacking Albanian houses with artillery. A similar situation was reported possible in the villages surrounding Ponoshec.

    The VOA cited Albanian border authorities who said Serb artillery attacks occurred in the border area with Albania in the De^an municipality, too.

    [03] Four Albanians, Victims of Serb Forces, Buried in Two Drenica Villages

    PRISHTINA, May 3 (KIC) - The funeral of four Albanians killed by Serb forces late last week was held Saturday afternoon at Turiqec and Vojnik& villages, respectively, of Skenderaj (in Serbian 'Srbica').

    Agim Emin Emini (35) killed by Serb police on Friday was buried in the cemetery of his village of residence, Turiqec. The body of the deceased Albanian had been badly mutilated, witnesses said.

    Meanwhile, three members of the Gashi family from Turiqec, Asllan (26) his wife Merita (23), and Raba (f), 34, were buried Saturday afternoon in the local cemetery of the village.

    The three Albanians were killed Friday during a several-hour-long shelling of the village by Serb forces.

    The Prishtina-based Bujku said that while the funeral of the three Albanians was taking place, Serb forces garrisoned in the area kept firing a couple of neighboring villages.

    [04] Serb Regime Collaborator Shoots Dead Kosovar Albanian in Ka^anik

    PRISHTINA, May 3 (KIC) - A 40-year-old Albanian, Bajrush Tafili, was killed in the downtown of Ka^anik, south-east Kosova, Saturday afternoon.

    The deceased Albanian Bajrush Tafili was fatally wounded by his fellow citizen Mahmut Dardhishta, a member of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and a Serb police reservist officer.

    The LDK Information Commission in Ka^anik said after a short argument between Bajrush Tafili and Mahmut Dardhishta yesterday afternoon, the latter pulled out his revolver, shot at Tafili, fatally wounding him. He died on the way to Prishtina hospital.

    Sources in Ka^anik said Mahmut Dardhishta is one of a few members of Milosevic's party in the area. Only days ago he was seen in the town wearing Serb police reservist uniform.

    The Serb police has lately encouraged and mobilized the Kosovar Albanians collaborating with the Serb occupying regime in Kosova.

    Only a few days ago, namely on 29 April, one such Albanian was reported to have led a Serb police/army severe attack on an Albanian village in Klina, Gllareva. It was Dan Balaj, whom the Serb media have been glorifying as the "brave fighter against U^K [Kosova Liberation Army]", who led the operation in which scores of local Albanians were terrorized during the three-hour long action.

    The man who shot dead his fellow resident yesterday, Mahmut Dardhishta, is one of the Kosovar Albanians who showed up to talk with representatives of the Serb government in Prishtina in April.

    The Kosova Albanian leadership refused to take part in such talks referred to by the Serb regime as "talks with national minority groups in Kosova and Metohija".

    [05] Thousands of Albanians March in 24th Day of Peaceful Protests in Kosova

    PRISHTINA, May 3 (KIC) - Thousands of Albanians turned out in Prishtina today, for the 24th day in a row, at midday for a half- hour peaceful march to protest Serbian occupation, in favor of Kosovar independence.

    The citizens walked in calm through the Mother Teresa square.

    Thousands of Albanians took to the streets in Kosovar towns, partaking in protests whose motto os "Kosova, the biggest jail in Europe".

    The protests have been called by the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK), the biggest political force in Kosova, and supported by a dozen political and non-political groups in the country.

    [06] Albanian Imprisoned for Taking Part in Peaceful Protest

    PRISHTINA, May 3 (KIC) - Shefki Bajrami (1972) from Livoq village of Gjilan was sentenced to 30 days in prison for having taken part in a peaceful protest.

    LDK sources said Shefki Bajrami was sentenced during summary proceedings at the Serb-run magistrate court in Gjilan last week.

    Meanwhile sources in Mitrovica said the Serb police ill-treated several Albanians on Saturday following a peaceful march in the streets of the town.

    One of them, Beshir Berisha (26), was taken to the police station where he was subjected to ill-treatment. In addition, he was ordered to identify, in photos taken by the police, the people attending protests in Mitrovica .

    Beshir Berisha was released after two hours in custody and was threatened with harsher consequences if caught once again taking part in protests.

    Thousands of people have been holing half-hour peaceful marches in Kosova towns for over three weeks now to protest Serb rule in Kosova.

    Citizens in all the Kosova towns, including capital Prishtina, marched for the 24rd consecutive day today.

    [07] Young Albanian Sentenced to 45 Days in Prison in Prizren

    PRISHTINA, May 3 (KIC) - Flamur Gashi, a young Albanian from Prizren, has been sentenced to 45 days in prison on charges that he trampled on the Serbian flag during a protest march in Prizren on the day of the 'Yugoslav' statehood.

    The Serbian-installed court in Prizren sentenced Mr. Gashi sumamrily to a month and a half jail sentenced during proceedings yesterday (Saturday).

    On 27 April 1992 the so-called Zabljak constitution of Serbia- Montenegro ('Yugoslavia') was adopted.

    Kosovars do not recognize it, nor the holiday which is imposed by the Serb regime to mark that day.

    [08] Intermittent Gunfire and Blasts Continue at Kosova - Albania Border Area All Afternoon Sunday

    PRISHTINA, May 3 (KIC) - A report from Gjakova said late in the afternoon today (Sunday) that heavy Serb army gunfire which started earlier the in morning was still going on at around 17:30 p.m. The village Ponashec was targeted by Serb forces during the whole course of afternoon, the LDK Information Commission in Gjakova said.

    Sources in Gjakova and De^an, municipalities in south-western Kosova, said today morning that the situation in the border area with Albania was further escalating. Heavy Serb gunfire which started at around 10:00 today was coming from the villages Junik, Morin& and Ponoshec. Serb army helicopter were flying low over the area during the while time.

    The report of the LDK Commission in Gjakova said combined Serb army/police forces attacked earlier this afternoon the Smolica village. Clashes between the Serbs forces and local resident defending their homes continued for quite a while, the report said, and added that heavy blasts were also heard coming from the village.

    Meanwhile, referring to the Serb police, the Radio Free Europe said in its 18:00 hrs news program the Serb police station in Ponashec village of Gjakova was attacked today morning and four Serb policemen were badly wounded. A Serb police helicopter was also attacked while on its way to collect the wounded policemen, the Radio Free Europe said.

    The Albanian Section of the Voice of America (VOA) broadcast today afternoon a report by its correspondent in Albania, who confirmed heavy gunfire was heard on the Albanian side from the Kosovar territory. Reporting from the Qafa e Morin&s border-post in the Albania-Kosova border the radio broadcasted sounds of the heavy shelling and explosions coming from neighboring Kosova. The VOA cited Albanian border authorities as saying Serb artillery attacks occurred in the border area with Albania in the De^an municipality, too.

    The situation continues to be extremely tense in the town of Gjakova itself and it vicinity, sources in Gjakova said. There has been an ever-increasing presence and movement of Serb and military forces. Serb army/police patrols have been stationed in all the key-positions in the town and outside it.

    Additional Serbian ('Yugoslav') army forces equipped with heavy armament were reported building up in the Kosova-Albania border area today morning.

    The latest reports from Gjakova (18:15) said a dozen of Serb police vehicles, with heavily armed men on board, left the town heading for the border zone villages.

    Kosova Information Center


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