Kosova Daily Report #1440, 98-05-25

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1440
Prishtina, 25 May 1998

First Edition: 15:00 hrs
Second Edition: 21:00 hrs

CONTENTS

[01] Aggravating Situation in De^an, Serb Forces Resume Shelling Prejlep and Baballoq

[02] Serbian Forces Resumed Attack on Klina Villages, All Albanian Houses Burned at Dollov&

[03] Serb Forces Shell Llausha Village Overnight and Today Morning

[04] Serb Army Officers Give Deva Residents One Week Ultimatum to Abandon Village

[05] Serbs Vow They'll Crush Gjakova Unless Two Allegedly Kidnapped Officers Are Released

[06] More Windows of the Technical Faculty Smashed Up Overnight

[07] Eight Albanians Killed at Lubeniq Village of Peja

[08] Serbian Attacks in Klina, Gjakova, De^an and Skenderaj

[01] Aggravating Situation in De^an, Serb Forces Resume Shelling Prejlep and Baballoq

The neighboring village of Baballoq was also shelled from Serb forces since early hours today, sources in the area reported.

The situation in the area as well as small town of De^an itself has been reported deteriorating further. Increased movements of Serb police and army forces has been reported in the town today. Serb police have bee reported deployed since morning hours around the local bank, whereas Serb soldiers have sealed off the area around the medical center in the town.

A convoy of around 60 vehicles with Serb policemen on board was seen leaving the town of De^an today morning at around 10:00 hrs.

The convoy headed for Gjakova municipality, witnesses said.

Classes in many villages of De^an have been discontinued for days now.

Meanwhile, sources in De^an said that at around 14:00 hrs today the villages Baballoq, Prejlep and Rastavica came under a fierce Serb attack.

The villages are being attacked from two Serb positions, at a Hulaj and Podi i G&shtenjave, respectively.

At least 150 grenades were fired on the three villages within one hour alone, LDK sources said.

The LDK Information Commission in De^an said that since 13:00 hrs gunfire has been heard coming from Strellc village on the Peja- De^an road.

Local sources in De^an described today's situation "the fiercest fighting" in the past two months.

[02] Serbian Forces Resumed Attack on Klina Villages, All Albanian Houses Burned at Dollov&

Meanwhile, sources said Serbian forces shelled the village of Cerovik for two hours yesterday (Sunday).

From 14:00 through 16:00 hrs, Serbian forces opened fire from their positions at Kijev&.

The local elementary school at Cerovik was hit, too.

For two hours yesterday, from 21:00 through 23:060 hrs, there was automatic weapons shooting around the villages of Budisalc, Krushev& e Madhe, Zllakuqan, Rudic& and Berkov&.

Sources said the shooting was the work of local Serbs and the aim to create fear among Albanians and make them flee their homes.

Serbian forces have in the past several days attacked repeatedly these villages which stretch along the Klina-Peja road.

A number of Albanians has been killed, whereas scores of houses set on flame by Serb forces.

The last Albanians houses at Dollov& village were burned by Serb forces today, the LDK Information Commission said.

The village has been the target of Serb attacks for several days now.

Meanwhile, sources said at 9 o'clock in the morning today Serb forces started setting Albanian houses on fire at the village of Raskov&, around a kilometer away from Dollov&.

Reports said 14 APCs and two armored cars were stationed between Kpuz and Dollov& villages from last evening to midday today, opening fire on both the villages.

At 12:00 hrs, these Serb forces left the area and headed towards Peja, local sources said.

[03] Serb Forces Shell Llausha Village Overnight and Today Morning

Llausha came under renewed Serb forces fire at around 4 a.m. The Gecaj and Spahija extended families were hit with machine-gun and artillery fire, an LDK activist in the village told KIC by phone in the morning.

The village of Llausha in Skenderaj (Srbica) has been under a deadly Serb siege since 5 March 1998.

A resident of Llausha, Xhavit Spahija told KIC that intermittent gunfire was heard in the village during the whole course of last night as well. Residents of the village spent the night in the cellar or other safer places, he said.

Xhavit Spahija said that several grenades fell in his courtyard too during the night, but none of then hit the house.

At least 40 grenades were fired in the farmstead of Gani Spahia, causing huge damage on the houses, barns and other family buildings, Mr. Spahija said.

During a second telephone conversation, Xhavit Spahijaj told KIC at 12:30 hrs today the Spahijaj family compound was being attacked with rocket- propelled grenades from Serb positions in Gllavica. 12 grenades fell on his own and his brother's courtyard in ten minutes.

During the morning hours, three family compounds (Rrecaj, Gecaj, Vojvoda) came under grenade attack.

The LDK Information Commission in Skenderaj said Llausha was attacked on two occasions overnight, namely between 22 and 23, as well as shortly after midnight.

Serb Forces Shell 13 Homesteads in Smolica of Gjakova Overnight PRISHTINA, May 25 (KIC) - Four villages in the municipality of Gjakova, western Kosova, came under heavy Serb forces fire overnight, sources said.

The LDK Information Commission in Gjakova said today the villages Morina, Ponashec, Popoc and Smolica were shelled intermittently during the whole course of last night and today morning.

At Smolica village alone the houses of 13 local Albanians - Din Bajrami, Rexhep Selimi, Ismet Alushi, Hasan Hyseri, Hajdar Avdyli, Halil Mehmeti, Ibrahim Kurti, Musli Kurti, Musa Kurti, Sahit Balia, Zenel Ahmeti, Alush Abazi and Hamdi Nur&s - were shelled.

The LDK Commission in Gjakova said that many houses were likewise shelled and damaged in three other villages (Morina, Ponashec, Popoc).

Local sources could not confirm whether there were casualties among Albanians during last night's attack.

A Serb army convoy consisting of around 50 vehicles left the town of Gjakova this morning, heading for the border villages.

[04] Serb Army Officers Give Deva Residents One Week Ultimatum to Abandon Village

The LDK information Commission in Gjakova said Serb/Yugoslav army officers and soldiers went to the Deva village two days ago, telling the villagers they should either ask for residence permission with the Serb administration in Gjakova or leave the village by 1 June 1998.

They villagers will have to obtain 'residence permits' or else leave. If they do not abide by these orders, their houses will be burned down, Serb officers were quoted as telling residents of Deva.

[05] Serbs Vow They'll Crush Gjakova Unless Two Allegedly Kidnapped Officers Are Released

The LDK Information Commission said that Dr. Fehmi Vula, who is also a member of the local LDK branch, was harassed for several hours in the Serb police station in the town. "If the two Serb policemen are not let free by Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. the whole local LDK leadership and the town of Gjakova will face harsh consequences", the police told Dr. Vula, according to the LDK Commission.

The LDK people in Gjakova said it was the first time they had heard about the alleged abduction of Serb policemen.

Moreover, the Serb media have never said a word about the occurrence so far.

[06] More Windows of the Technical Faculty Smashed Up Overnight

The facilities were handed over to Albanian students and teachers ten days ago, pursuant to the Rugova-Milosevic Education Accord.

The four unidentified persons threw stones and used sticks to break the windows of the Faculty labs, Byty^i said. The Faculty personnel reported the case with the Serb police, he said.

Five Serb policemen and two persons in plain clothes showed up in the scene. "Instead of pursuing the vandalists, they provoked Albanian janitors at gun-point!", the dean of the Albanian-language Faculty of Mechanical Engineering said.

The Technical Faculty's facilities were despoiled before being reluctantly handed over to Albanians.

All equipment - worth hundreds of thousands of USD - was removed by Serbs.

[07] Eight Albanians Killed at Lubeniq Village of Peja

According to the RTSH correspondent in Peja, Zeq& Hamzaj and two of his sons, Ymer Hamzaj and his son, Demush Hamzaj and Hysen Berisha, all residents of Lubeniq, as well as Hysen's family guest, Haxhi Gogaj, were killed today.

The report could not be confirmed by other sources due to terrible phone lines.

The LDK Information Commission in De^an said at 20:30 hrs, they did not have this report yet.

A member of the Commission told KIC there has been word throughout the day in De^an about Serbian attacks having been spread from the village of Strellc of this municipality to the neighboring village of Lubeniq, which falls administratively within the municipality of Peja.

The De^an LDK Information members said a young Albanian - his first name being Ismet - has been reported seriously wounded at Strellc.

His wounds were said to be life-threatening.

Some 15 houses have been hit by Serbs at the village of Strellc, three of which ruined completely, the Information member said.

[08] Serbian Attacks in Klina, Gjakova, De^an and Skenderaj

Following is a summary account of today's attacks.

Klina: At 9:30 in the morning, Serbian forces launched offensive operations against the villages of Grabanic&, ^eskov&, Dollov&, K&puz and Bokshiq.

Zek& Azem Brahimi (70) was killed in his house at Bokshiq.

It is feared that Fetah Morina, in his mid forties, was killed at this village, too.

The villages of Budisalc, Krushev& e Madhe, Zllakuqan, Rudic& and Berkov& came under fire for two hours, from 21:00 through 23:00 yesterday. The action is suspected to have been the work of local Serbs.

The last remaining Albanian houses at Dollov& were set on fire by Serb forces today (Monday).

At 9 o'clock in the morning today Serb forces started setting Albanian houses on fire at the village of Rastok&, around a kilometer away from Dollov&.

Reports said 14 APCs and two armored cars were stationed between Kpuz and Dollov& villages from last evening to midday today, opening fire on both the villages.

At 12:00 hrs, these Serb forces left the area and headed towards Peja, local sources said.

Serb military aircraft flew over the Klina villages today, reports said.

Gjakova: At nine o'clock in the morning today, some 50 Serb trucks with soldiers on board headed towards the villages of Reka e Keqe: Morin&, Ponoshec, Pepoc, Smolic&, etc.

Serb officers have given the Dev& inhabitanst till 1 June to abandon the village if they fail to obtain 'residence permits' (sic!) by the Serb security in Gjakova. The Serb officers said all houses would be set on fire, and inhabitants liquidated. The threat has been issued on grounds that the village of Deva is situated along the dangerous border zone with Albania.

At 10:00 o'clock in the morning, a convoy of some 60 Serb vehicles with some 600 policemen on board left the Gjakova area and headed towards De^an.

Overnight, Serbian forces shelled the villages of Morin&, Ponoshec, Popoc and Smolic&. At Smolic& itself 13 houses were reported to have suffered damages.

At 11:30 hrs, the surgeon-general in the "Isa Grezda" hospital in Gjakova, Dr. Fehmi Vula, was arrested by the Serb police. He is a member of the LDK Presidency branch in Gjakova and a member of the municipal health authority.

The Serb police charged him to secure the release of two Serb policemen, allegedly kidnapped at Smolic&. Police threatened that if the Serb policemen are not let free, Dr. Vula, the LDK Presidency in Gjakova and the town of Gjakova itself will pay the price.

De^an: Serb forces launched an attack against the village of Prejlep in De^an at 12:30 hrs. They used all kinds of armament, including heavy artillery.

The village of Baballoq was attacked from the morning with heavy guns.

Heavy Serb police forces were deployed in the morning hours around the local bank in downtown De^an, whereas Serb soldiers sealed off the area around the medical center in the town.

A convoy of around 60 vehicles with Serb policemen on board was seen leaving the town of De^an today morning at around 10:00 hrs.

The convoy headed for Gjakova municipality, witnesses said.

At 14:00 hrs today the villages of Baballoq, Prejlep and Rastavica came under a fierce Serb attack. The villages were attacked from two Serb positions, at a Hulaj and Podi i G&shtenjave, respectively.

At least 150 grenades were fired on the three villages within one hour alone, LDK sources said.

The LDK Information Commission in De^an said that since 13:00 hrs gunfire has been heard coming from Strellc village on the Peja- De^an road.

At 13.00 the sound of shooting from arms was heard coming from the village of Strellc, which is situated the De^an-Peja roadway.

Serbian forces were attacking today evening the villages of Rastavic&, Prejlep, Drenoc, Sllup, Voksh, Pobergj&, Lloqan, Baballoq, Gramaqel, Carrabreg i Ul&t, Lendin&, Strellci i Ep&rm, Strellc i Posht&m, and Prekolluk&.

Skenderaj: At 4 o'clock in the morning today, Serbian forces launched an attack against the village of Llaush& in the municipality of Skenderaj.

The Serb attack lasted till 19:00 hrs.

Several other villages in this municipality were reported shelled by Serbian forces today.

Kosova Information Center

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