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Kosova Daily Report #1465, 98-06-19

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 #1465
Prishtina, 19 June 1998


CONTENTS

  • [01] President Rugova's Press Conference
  • [02] 26 Albanians Killed by Serb Forces in a Couple of Days
  • [03] Serbian Artillery Attacks against Gjakova Villages Renewed
  • [04] Hundreds of Missing in Kosova, Nobody Knows For Sure How Many
  • [05] Albanians Missing in Skenderaj and De^an in the Wake of Serb Forces Attacks
  • [06] Serb Forces Open Blind Fire on Hani i Elezit Village
  • [07] Two-Hour Skirmishes Reported Near Rahovec Thursday
  • [08] Serb Army Jets and Helicopters Fly Overhead Lipjan and Shtime

  • [01] President Rugova's Press Conference

    PRISHTINA, June 19 (KIC) - "Important moments in the modern history of Kosova", the President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova called today (Friday) his recent visits to Washington, New York, London, and Paris and the reception he was accorded by President Clinton, Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Prime Minister Blair and President Chirac.

    Speaking during a press conference in Prishtina, Rugova said there was a consensus for the need to prevent massive-scale massacres and ethnic cleansing in Kosova, as well as "unity of action in Kosova" itself.

    The Kosova President hailed NATO's aerial exercises on the borders of Kosova, and urged for more protection for the people of Kosova by NATO forces.

    The situation in Kosova continues to be extremely grave and deteriorating amidst unfolding Belgrade's military attacks against Albanians, President Rugova said.

    The exodus of Kosovars to Albania is continuing, he said, adding that an increasing number are being internally displaced on a daily basis in Kosova itself. "Our organizations and institutions have been doing our utmost to reach out to these people, offer them help and temporary shelter and security", Rugova said, adding that some international NGO's have been engaged in this, too.

    The best solution is an independent and neutral Kosova, with safeguards for the rights of local Serbs, President Rugova emphasized, reiterating his call for an interim international protectorate pending a final solution.

    Asked by the BBC World Service to say whether NATO should bombard Serbs, President Rugova said if Serb military attacks are not halted, then NATO should undertake action to intervene in Kosova and prevent the Serbs from carrying further massacres here.

    To a second question by the BBC, whether NATO's intervention would be taking sides with insurgency forces, the U^K, Rugova replied: "NATO should intervene to protect Kosova and its people".

    Asked by reports as to whether U^K would honor an eventual internationally- sponsored deal on Kosova, the President said such an agreement should be respected by all.

    In reply to a further question about the U^K's role, Ibrahim Rugova said: "They are groups of ordinary citizens, who are trying to defend their homes. But we will see to it to ensure that those groups be under control and bear responsibility for the situation".

    First and foremost, Belgrade's military attacks in Kosova should be stopped", the President emphasized.

    [02] 26 Albanians Killed by Serb Forces in a Couple of Days

    PRISHTINA, June 19 (KIC) - At least 26 Albanians were killed on 16 and 17 June, according to Albanian and Serb sources in Kosova.

    Serb media quoted Serb regime and military sources as saying ten Albanians were killed in two separate incidents, at Koshare on Wednesday afternoon and near Gjeravica early morning on Thursday.

    The Serbs military authorities justified the killing of Kosova Albanians in their land as actions to prevent armed people from crossing into Kosovar territory.

    Serb sources spoke Wednesday morning of seven more Albanians having been killed a day earlier.

    Thus, Serb forces reported of a total of 17 Albanians killed in the border area with Albania.

    Meanwhile, the LDK chapter in De^an informed Wednesday of seven more Albanians killed in the municipality during the most recent Serb attacks.

    On Tuesday, Ymer Krasniqi was killed at Carralluk& village of Malisheva, whereas Sabri Ahmeti a day later at Carraleva.

    The border municipalities of De^an and Gjakova has been the scene of a combined military and police operation against Albanian villages and towns in the past month.

    At least 65 Albanians are known to have died durign Serb military onslaught on De^an area, starting from 29 May.

    Serb attacks have been extended in the past few days deeper inside Kosovar territory, in the municipalities of Shtimje, Klina, Peja,

    Malisheva and Rahovec.

    Meanwhile, Serbian media have been reporting about Serb soldiers and policemen killed by Albanian forces in Kosova.

    A Serb policeman was killed and four others wounded Thursday afternoon near Gllareva village, Serb sources said.

    A Serb soldier, named Zoran Andjelkovic, was killed in an ambush set Wednesday by U^K fighters on Shtime-Prizren road, the Serb press reported today.

    [03] Serbian Artillery Attacks against Gjakova Villages Renewed

    PRISHTINA, June 19 (KIC) - Late Thursday evening, from 21:00 through 23:00, Serbian ('Yugoslav') military forces shelled the villages of the 'Reka e Keqe' region from their positions at Kodra e Zhdrell&s, Kodra e ^abratit, Babaj i Bok&s village and Kodra e Pllanikut, local sources in Gjakova said.

    Serb forces renewed their attacks of a lower intensity early today (Friday), they added.

    The LDK Information Commission in Gjakova said Serb forces targeted the following villages: Duzhnj&, Nec, Smolica, Morina, Berjaha, Stublla, as well as Korenica, which is close to the town of Gjakova.

    These villages were pounded with heavy artillery, LDK sources said, adding that the heavy detonations caused buildings to tremble in the town of Gjakova.

    Meanwhile, early in the morning today (Friday), Serbian forces started attacking with heavy artillery several villages of the Drini river area, especially Kramovik, Rakovin&, and the eastern part of the village of C&rmjan, sources said.

    The population of these villages has been fleeing for safety in surrounding region.

    Local Albanian fighters have been putting up a strong resistance to Serb forces attempting to advance into the attacked area, sources said.

    There have been no immediate reports on the extent of damage or the casualty toll amidst the unfolding Serb attacks, It is virtually impossible for people to reach the sealed-off area.

    Heavy Serb military and police forces have been sent in the direction of the attacked area.

    Serbian police raided several houses in the town of Gjakova on Thursday, tracking down for people displaced from villages who have found shelter there.

    On Thursday evening, the former Bank of Kosova (Bankkos) branch employees in Gjakova, Ismail Peja and Gani Rudi, were released after several day in custody.

    Serb media rushed to say in the premises of the Bannkos branch in Gjakova a make-shift hospital had been set up by Albanians!.

    Ibrahim Zhubi, another bank employee, was brutally ill-treated in Serb police custody for several hours Thursday.

    [04] Hundreds of Missing in Kosova, Nobody Knows For Sure How Many

    PRISHTINA, June 19 (KIC) - Nobody can say how many people are considered as missing in Kosova since the beginning of the Serbian military and police operations in late winter.

    Almost half of Kosova is virtually sealed off, access having been denied to humanitarian activists as well journalists.

    Establishing the number of people considered as missing has been made difficult because of the movement the internally-displaces people. There have been cases of those considered as missing turning out to be somewhere safe and sound, as well as others found in the ruble of their houses shelled by Serb forces.

    Over 350 missing in Kosova is the figure closest to the truth, according to reports.

    Around 300 of them are thought to be from the De^an area, which found itself under a heavy Serb onslaught since the end of May.

    The town of De^an was shelled and even bombarded by Serb air jets, as well as a number of villages in the municipality, with tens of thousands of people fleeing their homes, to Albania and Montenegro, as well as insider Kosovar territory.

    At least 65 people are known to have been killed there during the Serb offensive, information slowly trickling out because Serb forces have ethnically cleansed the area and laid a siege to it.

    The first case of a missing person this year was Idriz Idrizi, from Prekaz i Ul&t village of Skenderaj ('Srbica'). He disappeared on 22 January after the first attack by Serb forces of the family of Shaban Jashari at Prekaz.

    Eye-witnesses claimed to have seen him then engaged in coercive menial work in the compounds of the Serb-run Game Ammunition Factory in Skenderaj.

    Idrizi's name soon disappeared from press reports, too.

    Since the 5th of March Serb massacre at Prekaz i Ul&t, Serbs laid a siege to many Skenderaj villages, having killed scores of Albanian in their farmsteads.

    A CDHRF (Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms) report said in mid-April 19 persons were considered as missing on the municipality of Skenderaj. The fate of at least eight residents of the Suhog&rll& village is unknown since the 9 June Serb attack in the village. Three killed Albanians remained unburied there.

    The fate of Dr. Hafir Shala is a case in point.

    Shala, a physician, and a local humanitarian activists from Gllogovc, was arrested on 10 April together with two other activists, Hetem Sinani and Shaban Nezirin. The latter were released, whereas Dr. Shala's fate has become a mystery. Serb authorities even claimed they did not arrest him at all!.

    The fate of Naim Maloku, a former JNA officer, is interesting too.

    He was declared killed by Serb forces together with 19 Albanians on 23 April at the Kosova-Albania border. The 19 were identified and buried. Naim Maloku's remains were not found. It is not known whether it was only a Serb bluster, or else he is kept arrested by them.

    Kosovar and international institutions will have to work hard to establish the truth about hundreds of Kosova Albanians missing for weeks and months.

    Failure to do so will make unconfirmed reports of collective burial sites in De^an and elsewhere believed.

    [05] Albanians Missing in Skenderaj and De^an in the Wake of Serb Forces Attacks

    PRISHTINA, June 19 (KIC) - An Albanian young man from Junik village of De^an has been missing for over one month, following a Serb police operation in the village.

    Source in De^an said Shkelzen Pepshi was arrested by the Serbian police at his Junik village on 17 May, but his family has failed to learn anything about his whereabouts.

    The Pepshi family has appealed on domestic and international organizations, including the Red Cross, to assist in finding their son.

    Meanwhile, sources in Skenderaj said no one knows about the fate of five residents of Suhog&rll& village who disappeared in the wake of a Serb forces attack on their village.

    At least three villagers of Suhog&rll& were killed during a Serb forces attack last week.

    The LDK and human rights chapters i Skenderaj ('Srbica') said Brahim Rushiti (70), his wife Qerime Rushiti (70), Afrim Rushiti (36), suffering epilepsy, Osman Osmani (45), and Rexhep Osmani (58), have not been seen since the Serb attack in their village on 9 June.

    Earlier, three other local residents of Suhog&rll& were reported missing.

    [06] Serb Forces Open Blind Fire on Hani i Elezit Village

    PRISHTINA, June 19 (KIC) - Serb soldiers in the fields above Dimca village of Hani i Elezit ('General Jankvovic') have been intimidating and provoking the local population on a daily basis, sources said.

    Serb army troops backed up by heavy armament have been stationed since last week there, a village in Hani i Elezit, municipality in south of Kosova bordering on Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

    On Wednesday evening, Serbs opened indiscriminate fire on farmsteads in the village, smashing roofs of several houses.

    No casualties were reported, yet fear and panic was caused in this Albanian- inhabited village.

    [07] Two-Hour Skirmishes Reported Near Rahovec Thursday

    PRISHTINA, June 19 (KIC) - Heavy Serb police forces were positioned morning hours outside the town of Rahovec, at a place called 'Te Rrasat', who were involved later in shooting in the area.

    Witnesses told the LDK branch in Rahovec that once the Serb police stationed there, they started firing from a machine-gun in direction of the surrounding villages.

    There was an exchange of fire between the police and local villagers for about two hours later, the LDK information Commission in the town said.

    The Commission could not learn whether there were casualties on either side, noting only that Serb police forces pulled back in the town at around 11:00 hrs.

    [08] Serb Army Jets and Helicopters Fly Overhead Lipjan and Shtime

    PRISHTINA, June 19 (KIC) - Serb/Yugoslav army jets and helicopters were reported flying for a couple of hours overhead the municipalities of Lipjan and Shtime today (Friday) morning.

    Sources in Lipjan said that at around 10 a.m. Serb military helicopters hovered over the town of Lipjan. The helicopters were seen flying in the direction of Shtime and Freizaj later.

    The LDK Information Commission said stepped up movement of Serb army and police forces has been noticed in the area since morning hours today.

    Kosova Information Center

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