Kosova Daily Report #1444, 98-05-29

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1444
Prishtina, 29 May 1998

First Edition: 10:00 CET
Second Edition: 15:30 CET
Third Edition: 20:30 CET

CONTENTS

[01] Serbian Forces Launch Full-Scale Attack on Gllogovc Villages

[02] Serbian Forces Mount Attacks in the Municipalities of Peja, De^an, Gjakova, Klina, Skenderaj, Gllogovc

[03] Serb Offensive Against Gllogovc Villages Continues

[04] Eye-witness Account of Serb Onslaught in Gllogovc, Drenica

[05] "Use All the Tools We Have" to Solve Kosova Problem, Albright Says

[06] Engel Urges Planning of No-Fly-Zone and Air Strikes in Kosova

[07] President Clinton Welcomes President Rugova in the White House

[08] President Rugova to Meet With Secretary Albright Saturday

[09] Members of the Kosova Delegation Speak in the Press Club

[10] Gunfire Reported in the Small Town of Gllogovc

[11] Panic in Peja While Serb Military Police Chase Deserting Soldiers

[12] Llausha Village in Drenica Comes Under Fierce Serb Fire Friday Afternoon

[13] Telephone Lines Cut Off in Many Kosova Towns

[14] Mounting Serb Police Violence in Mitrovica

[01] Serbian Forces Launch Full-Scale Attack on Gllogovc Villages

The villages of Vukovc, Pocerk&, Llapushnik, Arllat and Negroc have been reported attacked today.

Eye-witnesses said heavy Serbian forces, backed up by tanks and armoured vehicles, have left the compounds of the Ferrous-Nickel plant ("Ferronikeli") in Gllogovc early in the morning today and advanced towards the villages.

Serb re-inforcements have reportedly headed to the area from both Prishtina and Peja.

The village of Vukovc seems to have been the scene of Serb onslaught at first. Around 9 o'clock the Serb offensive operations spread to the other villages.

For quite some time, Serbian forces shelled the village with heavy guns from a distance.

Eye-witnesses told the Kosova Information Center at 7:30 hrs many houses in the village of Vukovc were on fire and columns of smoke could be seen far away.

After fierce shelling, Serb tanks and armoured cars and infantry units started advancing towards the village of Vukovc.

In self-defense, fearing a massacre of the population, the men of the villages have put up a fierce resistance to the advancing Serb forces, sources said.

Serb forces have reportedly entered Kara^ica and Bogiqi family compounds of the Vukovc village.

At 8:30 hrs the Serb shelling from heavy guns had died a little bit, but Serb infantry had launched at the time a clean-up operation of the ground.

Eye-witnesses said Serb police itself was setting houses ablaze.

Other sources said the villages were being shelled from the compounds of the "Ferronikeli" plant, which has been turned into a military base in the past few days.

The area of the Llapushnik villages has been sealed off by huge Serb forces. Therefore, the extent of the casualty-toll is unknown.

The LDK Information Commission in Gllogovc said heavy Serb forces have been deployed in Komoran, too.

Groups of policemen have entered the courtyards of houses in the Albanian family compound of Berishaj.

Serbian forces set up early March a check-point at Komoran, the scene of routine ill-treatment of people.

By the end of April, Serbian forces were already present around the Llapushnik villages.

Serb forces launched a fierce attack on these villages on 8 May. It lasted several days, leaving a number of dead, mostly elderly and women, as well as many houses burned.

Today's attack against the villages along the Prishtina- Pej& highway follows a several-day-long attack against the villages of Grabanic&, Dellov& and Zajm, also along the highway, in the municipality of Klina.

Serbian forces have been resorting to the "scorched earth" tactics in these villages.

After a long shelling of the villages in Klina, Serb special forces moved in and set ablaze the already deserted farmsteads.

For a week now, Serb police has been preventing the villagers get back to their lands.

[02] Serbian Forces Mount Attacks in the Municipalities of Peja, De^an, Gjakova, Klina, Skenderaj, Gllogovc

The extent of material damage and casualty-toll amidst the unfolding offensive operations of the Serbian forces remains largely unknown as most telephone lines have been cut off, and access to the area under attack heavily restricted.

Reports from the town of Peja ('Pec') at midday said the situation in town itself as well as in the surrounding villages has been tense and dangerous since the morning today.

The echo of Serb shelling of the villages of the Lugu i Baranit (the Valley of Baran) can be heard in Peja itself. Parts of this region are also the villages of Grabanic&, Dellov&, Zajm and other villages in the neighboring municipality of Klina, which have been under Serb attacks for several days now.

All communications with Klina have been cut off today. KIC could not contact the LDK branch in the town, other organizations, or local journalists there.

Meanwhile, the LDK sub-branch at the village of Llaush& in the municipality of Skenderaj ('Srbica') said Serbian attacks against villages in this part of Kosova resumed yesterday (Thursday).

At 16:00 hrs Thursday, Serbian forces started shelling the villages of Buroj&, Kopiliq, Turi^evc and Vojnik&, local LDK sources said, adding that they were attacked from a Serb police check-point located at the Kastrati family compound at Buroj& village. Serbian forces have looted the houses there and made them their base.

Several houses have been burned and more others partly damaged from Serb shelling.

Serbian forces have reportedly shelled the flour mill at Buroj&, apparently aiming at making the supply of the local population with such a basic necessity, as flour is, impossible.

Prishtina has not had any communications with the municipality of De^an, whose villages have been under repeated Serb attacks for more than a month now. In addition, Albanian neighborhoods in the small town of De^an itself became Serb police/military targeted in the past few days.

Earlier today, Serb media alleged Albanians had attacked a convoy of Serb troops, which fired back.

Meanwhile, reports from Gjakova described the situation there dramatic.

Sources said the border villages of Smolic&, Berjah&, Ponoshec, Popoc, Morin& in the municipality of Gjakova have been shelled since yesterday. The extent of the material damage and casualty toll in the sealed-off area remains unknown.

The Albanian villages have been attacked with heavy guns by Serb forces which have taken up positions on the Kodra e ^abratit (the ^abrati Hill) and the Serbian ('Yugoslav') military bases in the village of Hulaj in neighboring De^an municipality.

The Baballoq village of De^an has been reported shelled by Serb forces today, as well as the villages of Fshaj, Gexh&, Mal&si e Vog&l, situated between Gjakova and Rahovec ('Orahovac').

Local sources said heavy Serbian military and police forces have been heading to the villages of Radoniq, Bec, C&rmjan, etc, in the Dushkaj& region of Gjakova.

The sound of Serb fire can be heard coming from the suburbs of the town of Gjakova, whereas heavy detonations make even houses in the town tremble, sources said.

Serb forces have been raiding homes, looting and routinely arresting and ill-treating Albanians in Gjakova, first and foremost local activists.

Albanian businesses are routinely plundered and their goods seized by Serb forces in Gjakova.

Sources in Gjakova assessed today's Serbian operations amount to a concerted action in the entire territory of Dukagjin (the plateau of Dukagjin).

The local chapter of the Prishtina-based Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) said Gjakova has been cut off telephone lines.

The Serb regime intends to carry out its military and police operations against the Albanian population without the world even knowing about them, sources said.

[03] Serb Offensive Against Gllogovc Villages Continues

Heavy Serbian forces mounted today at 6 a.m. a large-scale attack on the villages of Vukovc, Pocerk&, Llapushnik, Arllat and Negroc, on the Prishtina - Peja ('Pec') highway.

The Kara^ica and Bogiqi family compounds of the Vukovc village were attacked during the whole course of morning hours.

At around noon, Serb forces started shelling the neighbouring extended Thaqi and Gash families, on both sides of the Prishtina- Peja roadway.

An LDK activist in the neighbouring village of Komoran told KIC by phone that scores of houses could be seen ablaze in Llapushnik.

Eye-witnesses told KIC this morning heavy Serbian forces, backed up by tanks and armoured vehicles, left the compounds of the Ferrous- Nickel plant ("Ferronikeli") in Gllogovc early in the morning today, advancing towards the attacked villages. Serb re- enforcements have headed to the area from both Prishtina and Peja as well.

The village of Vukovc seems to have been the scene of Serb onslaught at first. Around 9 o'clock the Serb offensive operations spread to the other villages. For quite some time, Serbian forces shelled the village with heavy guns from a distance.

After fierce shelling, Serb tanks and armoured cars, and infantry units started advancing towards the village of Vukovc.

In self-defense, fearing a massacre of the population, the men of the villages have put up a fierce resistance to the advancing Serb forces, sources said.

Eye-witnesses said Serb police itself was setting houses ablaze. An eye- witness (see his testimony below) told KIC the Serb police broke into Albanian homes, waking up men, women and children at the gunpoint.

The area has been rigorously sealed off by the Serb forces making it impossible for KIC sources to learn the extent of the onslaught and possible casualties.

The LDK Information Commission in Gllogovc has learned the identity of one local Albanian wounded today, naming him as Skender Fejzullahu (24).

The Commission said Serb troops have been concentrating in Komoran, a village straddling the Prishtina-Peja-Gllogovc crossroads. Groups of policemen have entered the courtyards of houses in the Albanian family compound of Berishaj in this village.

It seems Serb forces plan to advance on the left side of the highway, towards the Komoran valley and the villages of Kishnareka, Nekoc, Fushtica, Petreshtica, Baica and Carraleva on the other part of Kosova, along the Prishtina-Shtime-Prizren roadway, the Commission said.

Sources said the villages were being shelled from the compounds of the "Ferronikeli" plant, which has been turned into a military base in the past few days.

Serbian forces set up early March a check-point at Komoran, the scene of routine ill-treatment of people.

By the end of April, Serbian forces were already present around the Llapushnik villages.

Serb forces launched a fierce attack on these villages on 8 May. It lasted several days, leaving a number of dead, mostly elderly and women, as well as many houses burned.

Today's attack against the villages along the Prishtina- Pej& highway follows a several-day-long attack against the villages of Grabanic&, Dellov& and Zajm, also along the highway, in the municipality of Klina.

Serbian forces have been resorting to the "scorched earth" tactics in these villages.

After a long shelling of the villages in Klina, Serb special forces moved in and set ablaze the already deserted farmsteads.

For a week now, Serb police has been preventing the villagers get back to their lands.

[04] Eye-witness Account of Serb Onslaught in Gllogovc, Drenica

The Serb troops intruded into homes of local Albanians, including bedrooms, forcing men, women and children out at gun-point.

All residents of his hamlet were ordered to abandon houses urgently. "While leaving the village, people were halted and harassed by Serb policemen who were everywhere in the village. Some were let go after being punched or intimidated, others were held by the police", Mehdi Bardhi said. He said his son Nazim (30) was also beaten up brutally.

Mehdi Bardhi said police prevented people - even elderly and sick ones - from leaving the village on cars or tractor. "We were ordered to run away quickly, or else the police said they'd kill us. My 90-year-old mother, my wife and my daughter could not make it any further, so they sheltered near a brook".

He said that a wounded Albanian, Skender Fejzullahu, is lying on the ground. He may die, as he dares not move, Bardhi said.

The LDK official said that besides his house, the Serb police has raided this morning the farmsteads of his neighbours Qazim Ahmeti, Milaim Ahmeti, Afrim Ahmeti, Hajredin Ahmeti, Adem Haxholli, Syl& Pasjaqa, Murat Berila, Jahir Ahmeti, Adnan Mu^olli, Bajram Mu^olli, Ragip Mu^olli, Vesel Mu^olli, Nebih Berila, Banush Berila, Asllan Berila, Isuf Pasjaqa, and others whose names he could not remember.

Mr. Bardhi said while the residents of his Zabeli village were running away, the police deployed a high-calibre cannon there. The villages of Vukovc, Llapushnik, Poterk, and Krajkova were attacked with it, he concluded.

[05] "Use All the Tools We Have" to Solve Kosova Problem, Albright Says

Albright made a statement on Bosnia and Kosova before the North Atlantic Council meeting in Luxembourg Thursday, in which she underscored the risks of the situation in Kosova to the stability of southeastern Europe.

"That is precisely the danger now posed by the violence in Kosovo", she said.

"Here we have finally seen an important sign of progress. President Milosevic and President Rugova have begun to talk, meeting the first key demand of the Contact Group, and the first requirement of a peaceful solution to the Kosovo crisis", Secretary Albright said in her statement, adding that this first step forwards came about "only through sustained diplomatic and economic pressure from the international community".

It was only a fist step, she stressed. "Dialogue is a means to an end, only if it leads to an agreement that enhances Kosovo's status and respects the human rights of all its people will further violence be averted".

Secretary of State Albright went on to say: "The dialogue must focus on substance, not process. An in the meantime, we have to be vigilant to ensure that President Milosevic does not pour more gasoline on the fire he has started.

Repression of the civilian population must end. Food and assistance must flow freely. Belgrade must take immediate steps to reduce tensions and build confidence to keep the fragile process of dialogue going. For if the dialogue is prolonged while the crackdown continues, Kosovo will not see peace, and Serbia will not see the end of its isolation and poverty."

The suspended sanctions on Serbia can be "reinstated quickly" if there is no progress in the dialogue and violence continues in Kosova, Albright stressed.

"Let us have all the tools we have to resolve this problem (Kosova) now, before it explodes into a crisis that can only be resolved at far greater cost", the U.S. Secretary of States said, and added: "I think we should all absorb the lessons of the early 1990s in dealing with this situation."

Albright held a press conference after the Nato Ministerial meeting.

The deteriorating situation in Kosova is a threat and NATO has a role to play in addressing it, the U.S. Secretary of State said during a press conference in Luxembourg City on Thursday, May 28, 1998.

"The beginning of talks between Presidents Milosevic and Rugova is a small step forward, but we have no illusions that it represents a solution to the crisis in Kosovo. Dialogue must first lead to a change in the situation on the ground.", Albright said during her introductory remarks.

She noted that the implementation of a certain Contact Group sanctions were suspended based on Belgrade's step on dialogue. "I pointed out to my colleagues today that these measures can quickly be reinstated if the dialogue brings no results and violence continues."

In the meantime, "we must act to shore up Kosovo's periphery.", the U.S. Secretary of State said, after a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the NATO, adding that "NATO has made no decision today to station troops in Albania or the FYROM or anywhere else."

Agreement was reached to begin contingency planning for possible preventive deployments to those countries, and to study how NATO could support the OSCE monitoring mission now deployed along Albania's border with the FRY, she said.

"The point is to clarify our options so that our leaders can make decisions.

If and when it becomes necessary to act, NATO will be ready.", Secretary Albright concluded her remarks.

In reply to a question on Kosova and the just begun dialogue, Albright said Rugova and Milosevic have to begin to talk about "substance rather than just process".

She told reporters Dr. Rugova is going to be in Washington. "I will meet with him on Saturday. The President is going see him in the course of his visit there."

The U.S. Administration wants to show support for Rugova's "approach to trying to deal with this very serious issue."

There are a series of steps that have been put into place to assure that "we do not find ourselves in the same position as we did in the early 90s when violence erupted in Bosnia.", Madeleine Albright said The Contract Group, NATO and the PJC have really recognized "the danger of Kosovo itself, and the danger of its spilling over", she said, in reply to a second question on Kosova.

The Rugova-Milosevic meeting was "a good first small step", Albright restated, adding that a number of her colleagues in fact said that it was "a pretty good larger step and congratulated the United States for the role that we played in bringing the two together".

Asked by a reporters whether NATO, and the United States intend to "draw a clear line" to set a threshold of violence in Kosova and make that clear whether in private or public to Mr. Milosevic, Secretary Albright said what the Foreign Ministers of the NATO member countries were doing in their discussions in Luxembourg was "making very clear the fact that violence is unacceptable, ethnic cleansing is unacceptable and have in fact asked the Military Committee to begin to look at ways to look at different scenarios and ways that the problem might be addressed."

She repeated that there have been no specific decisions, but the basis was laid by asking the Military Committee to look at various potential scenarios in order to be able to answer that question.

"I was very gratified from these meetings is that there is a determination not to let the violence in Kosovo grow to dimensions that are unacceptable and that might in fact spill over into the region and also undermine in some way the very important and I think, well carried out mission of SFOR in Bosnia and all the progress that this Alliance as well as other who have helped it, the progress that they have been able to bring to Bosnia.", the Secretary of State said.

[06] Engel Urges Planning of No-Fly-Zone and Air Strikes in Kosova

"We must not allow Milosevic to use the recently-begun talks [between Kosova President Ibrahim Rugova and FRY President Slobodan Milosevic] as a mere cover for stepped up attacks on Kosovar civilians. Rather, he must immediately withdraw his armor and heavily-armed military and paramilitary units and fully commit himself to a diplomatic solution," writes Rep. Engel, who is Co-Chair of the Congressional Albanian Issues Caucus and Chairs the House Democratic Foreign Policy Task Force.

The letter urges the President and U.S. partners in the Contact Group "to reimpose the international ban on investment in Serbia which helped to bring Milosevic to the table in the first place and to consider further targeted economic sanctions."

"In Bosnia, Milosevic only responded after NATO jets pounded Serb forces there," writes Engel. "If the conflict over Kosova continues to escalate, military operations such as air strikes or the enforcement of a no-fly-zone may be needed."

Joining Rep. Engel in distributing the letter in the House are Reps. Peter King (R-NY), Jim Moran (D-VA), Sue Kelly (R-NY), Tom Lantos (D-CA), and John Porter (R-IL), Rep. Eliot Engel's Office said Rep. Engel represents areas of the Bronx and Westchester.

[07] President Clinton Welcomes President Rugova in the White House

PRISHTINA, May 29 (KIC) - The President of the United States of America Bill Clinton welcomed today (Friday) in the White House the President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova.

During a friendly meeting, the two leaders had a frank discussion about the current situation in Kosova and the prospects for a peaceful and negotiated resolution of the Kosova question.

Participating in the meeting were also Vice-President Al Gore, National Security Advisor Sandy Berger, Special Representative for the Balkans Robert S. Gelbard, and the U.S. envoy to Shkup/FYROM, Christopher Hill, who is accompanying President Rugova in his trip to the United States.

President Ibrahim Rugova's delegation included Prime Minister Bujar Bukoshi, and Fehmi Agani and Veton Surroi, coordinator and member, respectively, of Rugova's Advisory Council.

Welcoming President Rugova in the White House, President Clinton said Kosova was one of the significant concerns of the United States of America. He vowed the U.S. will step up efforts on the resolution of the Kosova crisis within the Contact Group and the North Atlantic Alliance.

The U.S. Administration works for peace, freedom, security and the well- being of all in Kosova, President Bill Clinton stressed.

President Ibrahim Rugova said at the outset he and his delegation were highly honored to be received for talks by the U.S. President.

Regarding the current situation in Kosova, Rugova said it was grave and dangerous amidst the continued Serbian military and police operations against the Albanian people in the country. He pressed for urgent action to end these Serbian actions.

President Ibrahim Rugova said the people of Kosova, despite the escalating violence being instituted against them, are committed to see that their will for independence be implemented through political means.

An independent and neutral Kosova would fulfill the political will of the people of Kosova and stabilize the entire region, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova emphasized.

Regarding the American engagement on the Kosova issue, Rugova expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the continued U.S. support for Kosova and its people.

President Ibrahim Rugova urged President Clinton for an even stronger U.S. engagement to help Kosova and save the people from Serbian massacres.

The leadership and the people of Kosova are doing all they can to ensure that the tendency of violence and repression be reversed and everything be redirected into the track of negotiations between Prishtina and Belgrade in search of a political solution for Kosova, President Ibrahim Rugova said.

The Kosova leader pressed for a comprehensive U.S. involvement to protect the people of Kosova and urged that the United States assumes a leading role in the resolution of the Kosova issue by negotiations.

President Rugova presented President Clinton with a Kosova crystal as a token of gratitude and esteem.

After the meeting with the U.S. President, President Rugova and his delegation spoke to the press in the White House.

Dr. Rugova told reporters the reception of the President of the Republic of Kosova by the U.S. President was an historic day for Kosova.

[08] President Rugova to Meet With Secretary Albright Saturday

On Monday, Rugova will meet in New York with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

President Rugova met Thursday evening in Washington with Brian Atwood, director of the International Agency for Development, to discuss modes for supporting the civic society and media in Kosova.

Rugova met today with the great friend of Kosova, former senator Bob Dole.

[09] Members of the Kosova Delegation Speak in the Press Club

They spoke about the recent developments in Kosova and the prospects for a negotiated resolution of the Kosova crisis.

[10] Gunfire Reported in the Small Town of Gllogovc

LDK sources said shelling of the villages had died out but intermittent gunfire could be heard still.

At around 3 p.m., gunfire was reported in the small town of Gllogovc itself, an LDK activist said on (mobile) phone.

Serbian forces launched today at around 5:30 a.m. a large-scale attack on villages of Vukovc, Pocerk&, Llapushnik, Arllat and Negroc, on the Prishtina - Peja ('Pec') highway.

LDK sources in the area have said scores of houses could be seen ablaze in Llapushnik.

The neighboring village of Vukovc was reported shelled by Serb forces for hours, too. After fierce shelling, Serb tanks and armored cars, and infantry units started advancing towards the village.

Eye-witnesses have said Serb police itself set houses ablaze there.

The possible casualty-toll amidst the unfolding offensive in Drenica remains unknown as the area is still being rigorously sealed off.

The LDK Information Commission in Gllogovc has learned the identity of one local Albanian wounded today morning, naming him as Skender Fejzullahu (24). An eye-witness told KIC today that the wounded Albanian was lying on the ground near a brook all morning. 'He may die, as he dares not move', Mehdi Bardhi said.

Mehdi Bardhi, member of the LDK Main Board, himself a resident of Zabeli i Posht&m, a village neighboring on Vukovc said the Serb troops intruded into dozens of homes of local Albanians, including bedrooms, forcing men, women and children out at gun-point. "While leaving the village, people were halted and harassed by Serb policemen who were everywhere in the village. Some were let go after being punched or intimidated, others were held by the police", he said.

[11] Panic in Peja While Serb Military Police Chase Deserting Soldiers

LDK sources in Peja said the echo of Serb shelling of the Lugu i Baranit (the Valley of Baran) villages could be heard in the town during throughout morning. Tensions and panic mounted in particular at around noon when squads of Serb/Yugoslav military police stormed the neighborhoods of Zatra and Kapishnica in the town. The military police were reportedly chasing a group of soldiers who had deserted from the barracks in the Zatra neighborhood.

Many residents of Kapishnica abandoned their homes in fear of imminent Serb attacks in the area.

Later in the afternoon today sources in Peja said tensions in the town itself have lowered a bit. Most of the people returned to their homes in Kapishnica and Zatra. Yet, by 4 p.m., the echo of heavy shelling could be still heard coming from Lugu i Baranit region.

Unconfirmed reports speak of many wounded and killed persons having been taken to the Peja town hospital today.

LDK sources in the area could not substantiate such reports.

[12] Llausha Village in Drenica Comes Under Fierce Serb Fire Friday Afternoon

PRISHTINA, May 29 (KIC) - Llausha village in the municipality of Skenderaj ('Srbica'), in the region of Drenica, came under fierce Serb fire at around 15:30 today (Friday) afternoon, LDK sources in the area said.

The Serb forces positioned around the village have been shelling Llausha houses with a high-calibre cannon and grenade launchers, the source said.

No word about possible casualties still.

Meanwhile, sources in Skenderaj said that gunfire was heard this afternoon coming from the villages of Buroja, Kopiliq, Turi^evc and Vojnik&.

The four villages of Skenderaj were shelled by the Serbian forces on Thursday afternoon as well.

A 28-year old Albanian, the son of Nezir Bajram Shala, was wounded Thursday in his courtyard at Kopiliq i Ul&t village.

A resident of the village of A^arev&, around 60 years of age, was abducted by Serb forces near the bus station in Skenderaj just before noon today, the LDK sources said.

Llausha village and a dozen other hamlets of Skenderaj and the neighboring municipality of Klina have been held under a deadly siege by Serb forces dug in the area.

The village of K&puz of Klina was hit with hundreds of shells overnight and today, local sources said, adding that the village of Mili^ev& was also shelled for some time.

Seven houses were burned Thursday at Dellov& village after being shelled by Serb forces.

Besides Skenderaj and Klina villages, Serbian forces mounted today large- scale attacks against the Albanian settlements in other Kosovar municipalities, including Peja, De^an, Gjakova, Klina, Malisheva and Gllogovc.

[13] Telephone Lines Cut Off in Many Kosova Towns

Telephone lines have been cut since early hours today in Peja, De^an, Gjakova, Klina, Sk&nderaj.

Such a move on the part of the Serb regime bespeaks the extent of the Serb forces operations in the villages that fall administratively with these towns.

The movement of population in these parts has been drastically restricted for months now since the Serb forces launched brutal attacks on Albanian villages in Drenica in late February and other parts of Kosova subsequently.

[14] Mounting Serb Police Violence in Mitrovica

LDK sources in Mitrovica said Serb forces blockaded the area around the town market for three hours today.

Scores of Albanians were reported maltreated by Serb police in the streets.

Dibran ^ela (25) from Rashan was beaten unconscious both in the street and in a local police station.

The town market and most of the shops in the vicinity have been closed for days.

Kosova Information Center

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