Kosova Daily Report #1421, 98-05-06
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1421
Prishtina, 6 May 1998
First Edition: 10:15 CET
Second Edition: 15:45 CET
CONTENTS
[01] Spiral of Violence in Kosova, Several People Killed in the Afternoon
and During the Night
[02] President Rugova Receives Swiss Ambassador
[03] The Two Old Albanians Killed by Drowning, Physician in De^an Says
[04] Kosovar Parliamentarian Parties Discuss Situation in Kosova
[05] Albania's Foreign Ministry Warns over Escalating Tension in Kosova
[06] After Unsolved Shoot-out Incident, Albanians Beaten Severely in
Mitrovica
[07] Sporadic Shooting Reported During the Night in Border Villages
[08] Serbian Forces Torture Several Albanians in Duh&l Several
[01] Spiral of Violence in Kosova, Several People Killed in the Afternoon
and During the Night
A dozen killed in Kosova in a couple of days PRISHTINA, May 6 (KIC) - A 77-
year-old Albanian Hajdar Ku^aj was found dead yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon,
whereas the fate of another old man, Bek& Cacaj (70), is unknown. The two
were seen last at half past four in the afternoon yesterday pasturing
cattle at a location called Livadhet (meadows) near the veterinary center
in De^an.
The two men were presumably killed by as yet unidentified people.
The remains of Hajdar Ku^aj was found in his meadow, his head dipped in the
Bistrica River water and his body on soil. It is assumed that Beka's body
was swept away by the river.
Many citizens of De^an have been searching for his body in the river.
The LDK activists in De^an suspect that the two Albanian old men were
killed by Serb civilians, who had been seen roaming near the veterinary
center.
Serb paramilitaries have been deployed together with heavy Serb police and
military forces in the vicinity of the Serb Monastery in De^an.
Sources in Peja ('Pec'), in western Kosova, reported of two casualties near
Baran village yesterday afternoon. Rifat Shala (30) was shot dead, while
his brother Ismail Shala was critically wounded in still unsolved
circumstances. Their car was fired upon near their native village of
Baran.
Rifat Shala died on the spot, whereas the condition of his brother is
reported critical. The late Rifat Shala was chairman of the local LDK
chapter in his village.
Firearm shootings was reported during the last night in the vicinity of the
bus station in the town of Mitrovica, too. The Tavnik neighborhood, where
shootings occurred, is reported still sealed off by heavy Serb police
forces.
The LDK Information Commission in Mitrovica said at least 6 residents of
this neighborhood were detained by the police. They were released in the
meantime.
Meanwhile, the Serb radio of Prishtina said in its 10:00 hrs news broadcast
today that two people were killed and two others wounded near the bus
station in Mitrovica at around O1:00 hrs today morning.
A Serb police vehicle was fired upon by still unknown gunmen leaving a Serb
police officer dead and wounding two others, the radio said. The radio said
that and attacker on the police patrol was shot dead too.
Meanwhile, reports said intermittent gunfire echoed throughout the night
till eight o'clock in the morning today at the village of Baballoq near the
Albanian border.
Sources in Llausha village of Skenderaj ('Srbica'), in central Kosova, said
Serb forces opened fire on an old Albanian man, Hasan Babariqi, in the
village Tuesday afternoon. Luckily, he was not hit, but the cow he was
pasturing.
Serbian fire reportedly intensified after 22:00. Sporadic shooting is
reported today.
The killing of Kosovar citizens in mysterious circumstances is evidence to
a drastic increase of violence in the country. Only a day earlier, six
people were killed and two wounded in different parts of Kosova.
The past couple of months have seen Serbian police, military and
paramilitary involved in operations targeting Albanian villages and family
compounds in Kosova. Such attacks have been alternating with individual
killings of people, many of them by Serb snipers or in unsolved
circumstances.
[02] President Rugova Receives Swiss Ambassador
PRISHTINA, May 6 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr.
Ibrahim Rugova received today in Prishtina Mr. Paul Wiphly, Ambassador of
Switzerland to Belgrade.
The current situation in Kosova, and prospects for a negotiated settlement
to the Kosova issue were discussed.
President Rugova described the situation in Kosova as extremely grave and
dangerous amidst actions by Serbian military and police forces against the
local Albanian population in Drenica region and the municipalities at the
border area with Albania. Dr. Rugova pressed for increased international
pressure to bring Serbian police and military actions to an end.
The people of Kosova are committed to their peaceful struggle for freedom
and independence, the President said, reaffirming the critical need for an
unconditional dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade under a third party
mediation, which should be conducted in a neutral country.
The Swiss Ambassador to Belgrade, Paul Wiphly said his government was very
concerned about the developments in Kosova. Switzerland supports a peaceful
and negotiated settlement to the Kosova crisis, he stressed.
President Rugova expressed appreciation for the interest and support of
Switzerland for the people of Kosova.
[03] The Two Old Albanians Killed by Drowning, Physician in De^an Says
PRISHTINA, May 6 (KIC) - The dead bodies of two Albanians, Bek& Cacaj (70)
and Hajdar Ku^aj (77) were found today in the banks of the Bistrica river
near De^an.
The two men were arguably drowned by as yet unidentified persons.
Bek& Cacaj and Hajdar Ku^aj were seen last at half past four in the
afternoon Tuesday pasturing their cattle at a location called Livadhet
(meadows) near the veterinary center in De^an.
The remains of Hajdar Ku^aj was found earlier today in his meadow, his head
dipped in the Bistrica River water and his body on the ground. Bek& Cacaj's
body was found later in the water, some 200 meters down the river.
The LDK Information Commission in De^an said the dead bodies of the
Albanian old men killed were collected after laying on the Bistrica river
banks for some time. The Commission quoted a physician in the local health
center in De^an, who saw the bodies, as saying the two Albanian old men
were forcefully drowned into the river.
Local Albanians in De^an who attempted today to reach the scene where the
Albanians were killed yesterday were prevented from going there as Serb
police opened fire from its positions nearby, LDK sources said.
Sources in De^an say Rexhep Shabanaj, Qazim Shabanaj and Xhevdet A.
Cacaj were arrested by the Serbian police Wednesday.
A Serbian helicopter flew overhead in De^an around 9 o'clock in the
morning. The roads have been blockaded by heavy Serbian forces.
Many residents have been reported ill-treated.
Serb paramilitaries have been deployed together with heavy Serb police and
military forces in the vicinity of the Serb Monastery in De^an.
The past couple of months have seen Serbian police, military and
paramilitary involved in operations targeting Albanian villages and family
compounds in Kosova. Such attacks have been alternating with individual
killings of people, many of them by Serb snipers or in unsolved
circumstances.
[04] Kosovar Parliamentarian Parties Discuss Situation in Kosova
PRISHTINA, May 6 (KIC) - Representatives of the Democratic League of Kosova
(LDK), the Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosova (PSHDK), the
Social Democratic Party of Kosova (PSDK), and the Liberal Party of Kosova
(PLK) held a joint meeting in Prishtina Tuesday afternoon to discuss the
current situation in Kosova as Serbia continues with its armed actions
against Albanian settlements in the country.
The joint meeting of the four parties represented in the Parliament of the
Republic of Kosova elected on 22 March but which has not met yet was called
by the LDK.
The parliamentary parties concluded that the Parliament should meet at the
earliest possible date, a statement issued from the meeting said. "Party
activities cannot in the current circumstances have the effect it had
before", they said.
There is an "undeclared war in Kosova, because it is being done by one side,
the Serbian side", the parties said, adding that there are no Albanian
terrorists in Kosova, but "a Serbian state terror".
The parties agreed to have joint groups to visit the endangered areas in
Kosova.
The LDK, PSHDK, PSDK and PLK will be in permanent touch, and their
representatives will get together for joint meetings at least once a week,
the statement concluded.
[05] Albania's Foreign Ministry Warns over Escalating Tension in Kosova
PRISHTINA, May 6 (KIC) - The Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Albania
condemned Tuesday the buildup of Serb/Yugoslav forces in the border zone
and Belgrade's moves towards further escalation of tensions in Kosova.
Instead of withdrawing Serbian police, paramilitary and military forces
from Kosova, as called for by the international community, the Belgrade
authorities have been moving on an opposite direction, defying the world
and increasing the tensions in Kosova, the Albanian Foreign Ministry said,
the Albanian ATA news agency reported.
"Serb military and police supported by radical ultra-nationalist
paramilitary troops, are using in Kosova the scorched-earth tactics causing
innocent victims among the Albanian civil population and ruining their
dwelling centers", the statement said.
By denouncing the concentration of the Serb army and its heavy weapons in
the border between Albania and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as well
as the continuous threatening accusations of Belgrade against Albania for
allegedly stirring up the conflict in Kosova, the Ministry statement points
out that the policy of violence and repression is the worst choice that
Milosevic and his team have made in Kosova.
"This policy runs counter to all recommendations of the international
community and the Contact Group in particular to ease the situation there
and to prevent any spillover of the conflict in the region," Albania's
Foreign Ministry statement said.
[06] After Unsolved Shoot-out Incident, Albanians Beaten Severely in
Mitrovica
PRISHTINA, May 6 (KIC) - A yet unsolved shoot-out incident just after
midnight - in which a Serb policeman and an Albanian "attacker" were killed
according to Serb media, was followed by a house-to-house police raid on
Albanian homes in the Tavnik neighborhood in town of Mitrovica.
Bajram Jaha (36), Xhevat Selmani (24), Bahri Sumiqi (25), Fidaim Hajrizi
(26) were arrested at Tavnik, as well as Sk&nder Haliti (28) and Ham&z
Hasanin (24) at Shipol suburbs of Mitrovica, LDK sources said.
The Albanians were all reported beaten up severely before taken to the
police station. During the seven-hour-long custody, they were subjected to
additional torture.
Meanwhile, LDK sources in Mitrovica said the Serbian police arrested this
morning Hasan Deliu (44) and Abaz Deliu (36), whereas Serb police patrols
in town reportedly beat up severely Shefqet Ferizi (56).
The Belgrade state radio said today at 00:45 a Serbian policeman, named as
Milovan Nikolic, was killed, whereas Darko Ivac and Jovica Jovic wounded
near the bus station in Mitrovica.
[07] Sporadic Shooting Reported During the Night in Border Villages
PRISHTINA, May 6 (KIC) - The Ponoshevc and Morina villages and other
villages in the municipality of Gjakova, an area bordering on Albania, came
under sporadic Serb fire during the night, local sources said.
The LDK Information Commission in Gjakova said fresh Serb military and
police forces have been going to the area today. At 11 o'clock, five Serb
military lorries paraded through the town and left for the border area, the
Commission said.
[08] Serbian Forces Torture Several Albanians in Duh&l Several
PRISHTINA, May 6 (KIC) - Heavy Serbian police forces positioned at Duh&l
village of Suhareka, at the Prishtina-Prizren road and beat and tortured
many local residents severely.
LDK sources in Suhareka said the Serbian police beat severely the Albanian
youth M&rgim R. Bujari and Beqir H. Bajraktari, Ilmi Bllaca, Ibrahim Fangu,
Rexhep Iballi (75), Bekim Pirku, Muhadin Suka (75), Qazim Suka (65) and
Ahmet Suka, all residents of Bllac& who happened to pass through Duh&l
Tuesday.
Heavy Serbian police forces went through Bllac& village Wednesday morning
and stopped at the Bellanica village for several hours.
They left Bellanica later some time and headed for Prizren. They were
reported to have stopped at Gellanc& village, at the Suhareka- Prizren road,
and have been scrutinizing all passers-by, sources in Suhareka said.
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