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Kosova Daily Report #1466, 98-06-20
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1466
Prishtina, 20 June 1998
CONTENTS
[01] Serb Forces Shell Border Villages in Gjakova Today
[02] Damage Caused by Serbian Forces in Kosova Estimated at USD 1.2
Billion
[03] 150.000 internally-displaced and refugees
[04] Several De^an Villages Shelled By Serb Forces Friday
[05] Three More Killed in De^an Area, Fourth Dies for Lack of Medical Care
[06] Albanians Held as Hostages by Serb Forces Testify of Their Ordeal in
De^an
[07] Villages Between Drenica and Dukagjin Attacked
[08] Serb Forces Shell Carraleva Mountain Pass Area Friday
[09] Local LDK and Educational Leaders in Shtime Arrested Today
[10] Albanian Medics Arrested by Serb Police in Klina
[11] Police Seizes Humanitarian Relief Supply, Arrests Activists
[01] Serb Forces Shell Border Villages in Gjakova Today
PRISHTINA, June 20 (KIC) - Serbian forces have been shelling the villages
of the 'Reka e Keqe' region in Gjakova, a border area with Albania, sources
said, adding that Serb shelling started at 5:30 a.m. today (Saturday).
Gunfire had been reported till late last night, too.
Serb reinforcements have been sent into the region today, while a
helicopter is flying overhead, sources said.
Meanwhile, LDK sources in Gjakova said three villages of the neighbouring
municipality of De^an - Gramaqel, Gllogjan and Baballoq - have been shelled
today by Serbs from their positions at Suka e Biteshit and Kodra e
Zhdrell&s.
The town of Gjakova itself is virtually sealed off, with Serb police
manning checkpoints harassing people getting in and out.
Mystery surrounds the fate and whereabouts of a number of Albanians
arrested by Serb forces, LDK sources said.
Among them is Ali Miftar Hasanaj, resident of Here^ village, who has been
missing for several days now.
Missing is also Hasan Isuf Ukaj, resident of Bitesh village. He was
arrested by police several days earlier and ill-treated.
A seven-year-old Albanian girl, the daughter of Sefedin Tahiraj, died
yesterday of trauma she suffered from systematic Serb shelling of the
village, sources said.
A number of foreign reporters were escorted yesterday to the village of
Dev& along the Kosova-Albania border, local sources said.
The entire border area has been inaccessible to humanitarian organizations
and journalists, despite pledges made by Serb President Milosevic earlier
in the week during his meeting with the Russian President in Moscow.
[02] Damage Caused by Serbian Forces in Kosova Estimated at USD 1.2
Billion
[03] 150.000 internally-displaced and refugees
PRISHTINA, June 20 (KIC) - 110 settlements shelled by Serbian military and
police forces in Kosova, namely 5.222 buildings in the municipalities of
Skenderaj, Gllogovc, De^an, Klina, Peja, and Rahovec, the Kosova Trade
Unions for Housing said in a statement- report issued Friday, covering the
period from 1 March through 14 April 1998 alone.
The destruction that occurred in the town of De^an, home to 20.000, and
surrounding villages in May and June has not been covered by this report.
The Trade Unions for Housing said at least 150.000 Kosovars have been
displaced from their homes in the wake of Serb military and police
attacks.
The Unions said material damage caused by Serbian forces in Kosova amounts
to USD 1.2 billion.
The Kosova Government should commission professional people to complete a
report about all damage done by Serb forces so that it be presented for
compensation by the aggressor, the Trade Unions said, adding that the
Government should also help Kosovars rebuild their lives.
[04] Several De^an Villages Shelled By Serb Forces Friday
PRISHTINA, June 20 (KIC) - Local sources in De^an of the Prishtina- based
Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) said Serb
forces mounted an artillery attack against several villages yesterday
(Friday) morning.
Serb military, from its positions at Zagerll& and the location of Ura e
Hasanajve, which is on the De^an-Gjakova road, opened fire in the direction
of the villages of Prejlep, Voksh and Carrabreg i Posht&m, the CDHRF said.
LDK sources spoke of other villages having been under Serb fire yesterday,
including Strellc i Ep&rm, Baballoq, and Grama^el.
Sources in De^an said a number of Albanians were being held as hostages in
the houses of Gani Dautaj, Syl& Cakaj and Rexh& Kukaj in the town of
De^an.
Some reports, which have not been confirmed, indicated Serb paramilitaries
have been raping Albanian women, who have found themselves trapped inside
De^an since 29 May.
[05] Three More Killed in De^an Area, Fourth Dies for Lack of Medical Care
PRISHTINA, June 20 (KIC) - Four more Albanians have died in the past few
days in the De^an area, the scene of a Serbian military and police
offensive since 29 May 1998.
Two Albanians have been killed by Serb forces at Drenoc: Arben Kukleci (24)
and Blerim Lokaj (23), residents of Isniq and Prejlep villages,
respectively.
Beq& Lokaj (82), resident of the town of De^an, has been reported killed,
whereas Nezir Cacaj (93), another De^an resident, died for lack of medical
care, sources said.
The two had been trapped in De^an since 29 May, the beginning of the Serb
offensive, which has depopulated the town of 15.000-20.000 and turned it
into a ghost area with most of the buildings destroyed or burned by
shelling and bombardment.
The known death-toll amongst the Albanians in De^an area reaches thus 68.
Many more are feared dead, as information about the fate of people, some of
whom eventually turn out to have been killed by Serb forces, is slowly
trickling out.
Some 300 Albanians are considered as missing in the municipality of De^an,
with many of them effectively trapped in the town itself.
[06] Albanians Held as Hostages by Serb Forces Testify of Their Ordeal in
De^an
PRISHTINA, June 20 (KIC) - A number of Albanians, trapped in De^an in the
aftermath of the 29 May Serb military-police offensive in the area, have
testified about their ordeal after having managed to get out.
One of them, Z.K., said most of the hostages were asked DEM 1.000 per
person by Serb forces to be allowed to get out of the town of De^an.
Another hostage, E.I. who made it to safety, has told the LDK sources the
Albanian hostages have gone through terrifying experiences. On several
occasions, Serb police lined them up in mock executions, he said, adding
that money was asked in return for sparing their lives.
E.I. said those houses which survived shelling and bombardments by Serb
forces have been in the meantime broken down and looted.
Those in Serb hands are being used as forced labour, to dug up trenches
along the De^an-Peja roadway, sources said.
The collection of looted wealth and captured cattle has been a daily
occurrence, with Serb lorries being used to transport them during the night,
eye-witnesses said.
Asked to say how he made it out to safety, E.I. said he had learned about a
trek, bracing danger in an action that amounted to 'nothing to lose'
philosophy.
Meanwhile, some reports, which could not be confirmed, indicated Serb
paramilitaries have been raping Albanian women, who have found themselves
trapped inside De^an since 29 May, when the Serb offensive started,
according to the De^an chapter of the CDHRF said.
[07] Villages Between Drenica and Dukagjin Attacked
PRISHTINA, June 20 (KIC) - A number of Albanian hamlets and villages in an
area between the Drenica region in central Kosova and the Dukagjin Plateau
have been under attack by Serbian military and police forces, and local
Serbs for three days now, according to the Skenderaj chapter of the
Prishtina-based Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms
(CDHRF).
Local Serbs from villages liked Grapc, Bingj&, Shtupel and Drenoshiq have
joined regular Serb forces in attacking villages in the area, the report
said.
Four Albanians were reported wounded by Friday, Haxhi Hajdari (61),
resident of Buroja, Asllan Dauti (13) and Dibran Dauti (14) from Shtupel,
as well as Rexhep Veseli (41), resident of the village of Jashanica.
Shells launched by Serb army and police have caused considerable damage in
the villages of Ozdrim, Jashanic&, and Shtupel, the CDHRF said.
Local Albanian resistance forces have been combatting attacking Serb forces,
the Council claimed.
Many houses in the village of Llaush& have been shelled in the past few
days, the source said, adding that Albanian defendants have been exchanging
fire with Serb forces in the village of Runik&, too.
Meanwhile, sources in Gllogovc said around 11:00 hrs Friday Serb forces
opened fire in the direction of the Llapushniku Gorge.
Eye-witnesses said gunfire was heard coming from the compounds of the
Ferrous-Nickel (Ferronikeli) plant in Gllogovc Friday.
Serb police armoured cars travelled the Gllogovc-Komoran roadway Friday,
local sources said, adding that a heavy detonation was heard in Gllogovc at
12:27 hrs.
[08] Serb Forces Shell Carraleva Mountain Pass Area Friday
PRISHTINA, June 20 (KIC) - Early in the afternoon yesterday (Friday), Serb
forces shelled for half an hour the villages of Carraleva, Zborc,
Pjet&rshtica and Belinc, lying in the area of the Carraleva mountain pass
along the (Prishtina-) Shtime-Prizren north-south artery, sources said.
Sporadic shooting was reported later in the day Friday.
Those who have deserted their homes and sought refuge in outlying villages,
when Serb forces extended operations in this part of Kosova, are in need of
medical and food supplies, sources said.
Though Friday is a market-day in the small town of Shtimje, yesterday was
nothing like that. There were a few people out in town.
A number of Serb civilians smashed up Albanian businesses in Shtime
yesterday.
[09] Local LDK and Educational Leaders in Shtime Arrested Today
PRISHTINA, June 20 (KIC) - Just before midday today (Saturday), the Serbian
police arrested Ali Sadriu and Gani Shahini, chairman and vice-chairman,
respectively, of the LDK chapter in Shtime, as well as Ahmet Ahmeti,
chairman of the Education Authority, and a number of "Emin Duraku"
elementary school teachers in town.
They were reported transferred to Ferizaj ('Urosevac') in the afternoon.
The LDK Information Commission said the Albanian political and educational
leaders were arrested by Serb police while on their way to the elementary
school building, which was reported smashed up by unidentified people last
night.
The report said the school was broken into around 20:00 Friday.
The school facilities have been badly damaged during the raid, LDK sources
said.
There was but a restricted movement of people today in the small town of
Shtime.
A calmer situation was reported today in the Carraleva mountain pass, the
scene of Serb shelling and clashes between Albanians and Serbian forces in
the past several days.
[10] Albanian Medics Arrested by Serb Police in Klina
PRISHTINA, June 20 (KIC) - Anton Gega, a GP doctor, and Baki Dushi, a male
nurse, were arrested Thursday afternoon in the town medical center, sources
said.
They have been reported still in custody today, the pretext for their
arrest being unknown.
The two Albanian medical staffers had given the first aid to several
wounded Serb policemen, sources said.
Dr. Gega and Mr. Dushi have been reported sent to the Serb security center
in Peja ('Pec').
[11] Police Seizes Humanitarian Relief Supply, Arrests Activists
PRISHTINA, June 20 (KIC) - Serbian police seized duly-documented
humanitarian relief supplies and arrested two Mother Teresa charity
activists at the village of Vodic& in the municipality of Obiliq yesterday
(Friday) afternoon.
Musli Mjekiqi and Shaban Kosumi, escorting the supplies, were arrested by
police.
The relief supplies were destined for poor people at the village of
Shipitull&, Mother Teresa charity's sources said.
The activists were taken to the police in Obiliq yesterday.
There have been no reports today as to whether the Albanians have been
freed in the meantime.
Kosova Information Center
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