Kosova Daily Report #1436, 98-05-21

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1436
Prishtina, 21 May 1998

First Edition: 11:45 CET
Second Edition: 16:30 CET

CONTENTS

[01] One Albanian Killed, Four Wounded, Many Houses Burned Down During Serb Attack of Grabanic& Village of Klina

[02] Bodies of Two Albanians, Presumably Killed by Serbs, Found Today

[03] Baballoq Villages Shelled with Heavy Guns Overnight

[04] President Ibrahim Rugova Receives Spanish Ambassador

[05] Negotiating Team to Meet Later in the Day for a Second Time

[06] Several Villages in Central Kosova Come Under Renewed Shelling Thursday

[07] Albanian Killed in Unsolved Circumstances

[08] Serb Police Wound Albanian Mourner in Istog

[09] Serb Court in Peja Institutes Criminal Investigations for 23 Albanians

[10] Twelve Albanians from Rahovec Imprisoned, Charged with 'Hostile Activities'

[11] Serbs Threaten They'll Kidnap Albanians in Kamenica

[01] One Albanian Killed, Four Wounded, Many Houses Burned Down During Serb Attack of Grabanic& Village of Klina

Local sources said the attack lasted till 21:00 hrs, adding that around 500 grenades were launched by Serb forces against the Albanian farmsteads in the five villages.

At the village of Grabanic& Isuf Morina (45) was reported killed, whereas Vesel Berisha, Idriz Beqiri, Ali Gashi and his son wounded.

Many houses have been reported burned down of damaged.

Mr. Hamit Krasniqi, head of the LDK Information Commission in Klina, told KIC the five Albanians were in their homes when they were hit.

The villages which came under Serb attack are still sealed off. No reports have been made known about the possible casualties or damage in the other villages.

Around 9:30 in the morning today (Thursday), Serb forces resumed their fire against the villages, local sources said.

LDK sources in Klina reported that the village of Krushev& e Madhe, along the Klina-Gjurakovc roadway, came under a Serb attack last evening. There has been word on killed and wounded there, but reports could not be confirmed.

[02] Bodies of Two Albanians, Presumably Killed by Serbs, Found Today

Bajram Osdautaj (66) and Rexh& Pajazitaj (65), both residents of Isniq village, are believed to have been killed yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon by Serb forces deployed in the area. The victims were working on their farm when shot dead, the LDK Information Commission in De^an said quoting local village sources.

Bajram Osdautaj was mending a fence around his orchard, whereas Rexh& Pajazitaj pasturing cattle in his meadow. Both men were hit with three bullets in the head each, obviously from a short distance. In addition, there were signs of torture on their bodies, witnesses said.

It is supposed the two Albanians were killed by specialized Serb paramilitary units garrisoned in the Apiculture Station in De^an, as well as in the compounds of the Serb Monastery in De^an.

Three other Albanians were killed in similar circumstances in the vicinity of the bee-keeping station outside De^an recently.

The funeral of Bajram Osdautaj and Rexh& Pajazitaj is expected to be held today afternoon in the local cemetery at Isniq.

[03] Baballoq Villages Shelled with Heavy Guns Overnight

The LDK Information Commission said at 20:00 hrs Wednesday an exchange of fire between the attacking Serb forces and local Albanians in self-defense started, whereas at midnight Serb forces started attacking the village with heavy guns, including high- caliber cannons.

There have been no immediate reports about the damage caused to the village, which has been targeted by Serb forces almost on a daily basis.

This last attack was perhaps the most fierce one, local sources noted.

[04] President Ibrahim Rugova Receives Spanish Ambassador

The current situation in Kosova, and the prospects for a negotiated settlement to the Kosova issue were discussed.

President Rugova described the situation in Kosova as extremely grave and dangerous amidst the continued actions by Serbian military and police forces against the local Albanian population in central and southwestern regions of Kosova. He pressed for increased international pressure to bring Serbian police and military actions to an end and secure that the Serb troops withdraw from Kosova.

The people of Kosova are committed to their peaceful struggle for freedom and independence, the President said, reaffirming the critical need for the establishment of an unconditional dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade which should be assisted by the international community.

The Kosova Albanian side enters the negotiating process with the independence platform deriving from the political will of the people expressed in the national referendum.

The Spanish Ambassador to Belgrade, Joaquin Perez Gomez, said his government followed closely the developments in Kosova. Rugova's prudence and courage is greatly admired, he added.

President Ibrahim Rugova pressed Spanish government step up efforts on Kosova within the European Union and indeed the international fora as a whole.

[05] Negotiating Team to Meet Later in the Day for a Second Time

After several hours of in session, Blerim Shala, the spokesman of the G-15, told reporters the negotiating team will meet at 19:00 today and decide whether there will be a start of talks with the 'FRY' representatives tomorrow (Friday).

Meanwhile, Ambassador Christopher Hill, the U.S. envoy to FYROM, who has been lately engaged in facilitating the Prishtina-Belgrade process of talks, told reporters in Prishtina today there was no need for lots of discussion, but progress.

He said he discussed with the G-15 about some ideas the Kosova Albanian delegation will present at the meeting with Milosevic's delegation.

The situation in Kosova is very bad, Ambassador Hill said. There is no need for excessive discussions, but for real improvements in the situation, he added.

"I think there should be improvements in the security situation here", he said, adding that the situation with foodstuffs should be improved, too.

[06] Several Villages in Central Kosova Come Under Renewed Shelling Thursday

Serb forces started attacking with heavy guns at 9:30 a.m. Reports said the attack was still going on in the afternoon.

The village of Grabanica, along the Klina-Peja roadway, was attacked Wednesday night, too. One Albanian was killed and at least four were wounded Wednesday.

LDK sources in Klina reported heavy shooting took place in Krushev& e Madhe last night. Witnesses said one Serb was killed and two other wounded in yet unsolved circumstances.

Meanwhile, heavy Serbian forces headed towards Zllakuqan, Krushev& e Madhe and Budisalc villages Thursday morning.

Sources reported of three houses set on fire at Budisalc. The homes of Hil Veselaj, Gjergj Dashi and Pashk Kitaj were said to have been burned down.

[07] Albanian Killed in Unsolved Circumstances

The Albanian, named Nexhat Xhem& Pnishi, resident of Demjan village, was killed at a local shop at Smaq, LDK sources said.

[08] Serb Police Wound Albanian Mourner in Istog

The LDK Information Commission in Istog said the Serb police opened fire from automatic rifle on Artan Imeraj and 10 other mourners from his village.

The Albanians were halted by a Serb police patrol while on their way to the neighboring village of ^itak to condole the family of an Albanian killed by Serb forces last week. After having had the identity checked and being harassed, the mourners were let go but were fired upon as soon as they walked several meters away. Artan Imeraj was hit in his legs, while the other men made a narrow escape, sources in Istog said.

[09] Serb Court in Peja Institutes Criminal Investigations for 23 Albanians

Eleven of them - Sokol Sadria (62), Avni Shala (23), Uk& Rexhaj (70), Astrit Morina (32), Luan Sejdijaj (25), Qazim Sejdijaj (55), Muhamet Rama (26), Qamil Rama (32), Ali Rama (80), Shaban Rama (48), Muhamet Rexhaj (33) - have been already arrested by the Serb police. Earlier this week, all of them had their detention period extended to 30 days each, sources in Peja said.

Meanwhile, quoting sources at the District Court in Peja, LDK sources in the town said criminal investigations have been also initiated against Ibrahim Rexhaj (59), Riza Alija (38), Hasan Alija (33), Hysen Duqi, Shaban Dula (27), Osman Panxhaj (54), Zymer Panxhaj (48), Nezir Panxhaj (45), Fehim Panxhaj (20), Driton Panxhaj (20), Jeton Panxhaj, Hasan Rama (42). All of them are believed to be residents of Ponoshec village of De^an. They have not been reported apprehended yet, except the last one, Hasan Rama, who is recovering at the Prishtina hospital.

The Albanians will face charges for "terrorism and hostile activity, as well as membership with the so-called Liberation Army of Kosova", the Bujku newspaper said.

[10] Twelve Albanians from Rahovec Imprisoned, Charged with 'Hostile Activities'

The 30-day sentence serves usually as a pre-trial detention for such criminal charges.

The Prishtina-based Bujku said the twelve Albanians were summarily sentenced by the Serb-run court in Prizren.

The newspaper could learn the identity of some of the men, including Hazir Krasniqi (38), Osman Kastrati (26), Asim Morina (20), Besim Kastrati (25), Ramadan Morina (61) Qemail Bytyqi (34), Sali Bytyqi (36), Hidai Morina (36), and Ehat Bytyqi (20) who were imprisoned earlier this week.

Bujku has quoted a defending lawyer from Prizren, Syl& Hoxha, as saying that the Albanians were interrogated and sentenced on Sunday, without defending lawyers attending the proceedings, which is in violation of the Serbian law itself.

[11] Serbs Threaten They'll Kidnap Albanians in Kamenica

LDK sources in Kamenica said a large group of Serb residents to the Serbian police station in Kamenica today and made their threat public.

The pro-regime Serbian Media Center in Prishtina said the Serb policeman Stamenkovic was kidnapped May 19 near ^ubrel village of Skenderaj ('Srbica') while travelling by bus.

Kosova Information Center

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