Kosova Daily Report #1493, 98-07-17

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1493
Prishtina, 17 July 1998

CONTENTS

[01] President Rugova's Press Conference

[02] 'An Eagerly Awaited Moment'

[03] Serbian Troops Mount Attack on De^an Villages

[04] Two Albanians Wounded Last Night in Serb Selling of Suhareka Villages

[05] Fierce Firefighting Reported in Malisheva Village Friday Morning

[06] Serb Forces Shell Albanian Houses in Prizren Outskirts

[07] Serb Military-Police Crackdown on Albanian Family Compound in Gjakova Suburbs

[08] Five Albanians Receive Shrapnel Injuries in Serb Attack on Gllogovc Village

[09] Serb Forces Attack Llausha Village Friday Morning

[10] Serb Police Shoots Dead 30-Year-Old Albanian in Ferizaj

[11] No Bakery Operating in Gllogovc Since Tuesday

[12] Serbian Military Deployed in Northeastern Border of Kosova with Serbia

[13] Soldiers Stationed in Elementary School Near Novob&rd&

[14] Serb Police Targets LDK and Human Rights Activists in Ferizaj

[01] President Rugova's Press Conference

Attacks by Serbian forces on Kosova's villages have continued this past week, resulting in loss of life and destruction of property, Dr. Rugova said.

The President of the Republic asked for "international protection for Kosova and its people".

Regarding the political solution, Rugova reaffirmed that the best solution is an independent Kosova, will all guarantees for local Serbs, adding that an international protectorate as in interim stage is needed pending a lasting solution.

President Rugova called yesterday's inauguration of the Parliament of Kosova a very important move for all the citizens of Kosova, "benefitting all of them".

He recalled that the Kosova legislature has 144 seats, 14 of which 2are reserved for Serbs, based on their ethnic share of the composition of the Kosova population.

Will a new Government be formed, namely a Prime Minister named, a reporter asked, to which President Rugova replied by saying "other bodies" will be formed soon, in which all political forces will be included, apparently alluding to the possible inclusion in the Government of political forces that have not taken part in the 22 March parliamentary elections.

[02] 'An Eagerly Awaited Moment'

"It is a step further in the institutionalization of life in Kosova, a rounding off of the results of the March elections. The convening of the Parliament was therefore eagerly awaited.", the U^K Commander said.

"It is not of much importance to us soldiers/officers which political parties are taking part in the Parliament, for here, as elsewhere, the army is depoliticized", the Commander said.

What is important is that an institutionalized life is promoted, with the legitimate leadership elected by the free popular vote being in charge, the U^K Commander stressed.

In the current situation, our country should have its bodies and institutions, he said, adding that the U^K is "the army of this nation, and we respect the will of the people, expressed in the independence referendum, as well as all the legitimate bodies, elected by free vote, and which are committed to the independence of Kosova".

The Ushtria ^lirimtare e Kosov&s does not recognize any other solution but independence, the Commander said.

"We wish all the best to the Parliament and the President, and applaud their efforts towards further institutionalization of the statehood of Kosova", the U^K Commander said.

Meanwhile, the head of the LDK Information Commission in De^an, Mr. Osman Cacaj, said he had himself carried an opinion poll with 80 citizens in the municipality.

Cacaj said 78 of them said they were supportive of the just- completed inauguration of the Parliament, and pressed for an early formation of the Government of Kosova and other state organs of the Republic of Kosova.

[03] Serbian Troops Mount Attack on De^an Villages

The strongest attack by Serbian military and police was mounted against the village of Carrabreg i Ul&t, where all kinds of weapons were used, the LDK Information Commission in De^an said.

The local residents and the U^K units repelled the Serb attack, so Serb forces had to retreat, sources said.

Meanwhile, Serbian forces attacked the villages of Lluk& e Ep&rme, Isniq and Strellc i Ep&rm.

Fighting was reported today (Friday), too, especially in the village of Prejlep. There have been no reported casualties.

Local human rights sources in De^an reported that an Albanian teenager, Tafil Hajdaraj (15), resident of Shaptej, was wounded by Serb shelling on Wednesday. The boy was grazing cattle in the fields at the time.

The local chapter of the CDHRF in De^an said several Albanians have been kidnapped by Serb police this past week.

On Tuesday, in the Dardania neighborhood, Gani Shoshi (22), resident of the village of Lybeniq, was kidnapped by Serb police.

He was staying in Peja with his uncle's, local human rights sources said.

Sadik Haradinaj (23), also a Lybeniq resident, was arrested on Wednesday on the Loxh&-Peja roadway. He has been reported still in Serb custody.

[04] Two Albanians Wounded Last Night in Serb Selling of Suhareka Villages

The Serbian forces shelled the villages of Luzhnic&, Javor, Grej^evc and Bllac& from 20:15 on Thursday through 1 o'clock a.m on Friday, the LDK Information Commission in Suhareka said.

Serbian forces resumed shelling the village of Bllac& at 9 o'clock in the morning today (Friday), LDK sources said, adding that Serb military has been pounding the village form its position in Bira^.

There have been no immediate reports on the extent of damage or casualties.

[05] Fierce Firefighting Reported in Malisheva Village Friday Morning

Sources in Malisheva said Serb forces began bombarding Shkoza at around 5 a.m. The village was attacked for two hours with heavy artillery from a Serb base at Hoqa village in the neighboring municipality of Rahovec ('Orahovac').

Local Albanian resistance units and the U^K repelled the Serb attack, sources said. At least three Serb policemen were killed, a source in Malisheva said, adding that immense material damage was caused on the Serb side. The report could not be still confirmed by LDK sources.

Firefighting in the area died out after 7 o'clock, when the Serb forces retreated into their bases. Yet, the situation in Shkoza and the neighboring villages of Malisheva has continued to be very tense during the whole course of Friday, sources said.

[06] Serb Forces Shell Albanian Houses in Prizren Outskirts

Sources in Prizren said Serb forces launched a mortar attack on the "Tusus" neighborhood in Prizren at around 13:00 yesterday (Thursday). Houses of Ali Berisha, Berzan Berisha and Ramadan Tusuni were burned and destroyed almost completely. Damage was caused on several other houses in their vicinity.

The head of the LDK Information Commission in Prizren said he could see himself the shelling of the Prizren outskirts from the hills above the town. A large number of local population fled their homes during afternoon hours yesterday, fearing other Serb attacks.

Witnesses told the LDK chapter in Prizren that the town hospital was rigorously guarded by the Serb police during the whole course of afternoon. A Serb police vehicle, presumably carrying wounded policemen, was seen entering the compounds of the hospital earlier.

Stepped up movement of Serb forces in Prizren and several villages in the vicinity was reported until evening hour.

At around 2 p.m. yesterday, Serb forces launched a heavy attack against three villages in Prizren municipality- Billush&, Ho^& e Qytetit and Jeshkov& - at the border area with Albania, local sources said.

LDK sources in Prizen told the KIC today that there was heavy fighting between the Serb forces and the local resistance units and U^K near Ho^& village from 14:00 through 17:00 hrs yesterday.

Earlier in the morning yesterday, the Serb police arrested several Albanians near the village. Meriman Gashi, Hysni Krasniqi, Xhavit Ajazaj and Shefqet Krasniqi were forced off a bus and taken to police custody, sources said. No report has been available about their possible release.

[07] Serb Military-Police Crackdown on Albanian Family Compound in Gjakova Suburbs

In the afternoon yesterday (Thursday), Serb police opened fire in the main avenue of the town of Gjakova, provoking random passers- by.

Serbian police surrounded the Jetishi family compound in Brekoca, a suburb of the town of Gjakova, from 10:30 through 14:30, local sources said.

A motorized expedition, with tanks, armored vehicles and another vehicles full of soldiers and policemen, raided 15 houses of the Jetishi family compound. Family members were physically maltreated in front of their kin.

After the raid, the following Albanians were arrested: Ibrahim (67), Salih (53), Zenel (34), Flamur (27), Valon (28), Fadil, Agim (38), Kujtim (34), Adem (45), Mustaf& (36), Artan (19), Hysen (60), Genc (32), Behar (21) and Kastriot (22) Jetishi.

Shp&tim Bajrami, who was a visitor with the Jetishi family, was arrested too.

In the evening hours, Sali, Adem, Hysen and Ibrahim Jetishi were released, wheres the rest were reported still in Serb police custody today.

Likewise yesterday, Serb police arrested Krist Spa^i on the road to Brekoc. He was held in Serb custody for half a dozen hours and ill- treated before being freed.

While the Serb raid on Brekoc was going on, Serb military and police besieged the village of Zhub, adjacent to the area where the extended Jetishi family lives.

Reports from Gjakova said the remains of Vllaznim Jetishi were still in the town morgue. The burial has not been allowed by Serb authorities.

Meanwhile, Qerim Jetishi, wounded by Serb military three days ago, was sent to the Prishtina hospital last night. He is said to be in a critical condition.

There is a desperate situation with provision of basic necessities in Gjakova as a result of the Serbian food blockade.

Local Albanian authorities have called on international organizations to come to the aid of the population of the municipality of Gjakova.

The 150,000 inhabitants may be starving soon if the present situation continues unchanged, the authorities said.

[08] Five Albanians Receive Shrapnel Injuries in Serb Attack on Gllogovc Village

Sources in Gllogovc said that Dobrashec village came under Serb fire at around 14:30 yesterday.

The LDK chapter in Gllogovc said four Albanian men - Muhamet Hajdaraj, Riza Hajdaraj, Ferat Hoti, Hajdin Hajdaraj - and a 12- year-old boy, Jeton Hajdaraj, received shrapnel injuries.

Sources in Gllogovc said that there were no clashes between the Serb forces and the local Albanian population, and the Serbs started shelling farmsteads in Dobrashec village without any pretext.

[09] Serb Forces Attack Llausha Village Friday Morning

Fadil Geci, head of the local LDK sub-chapter in Llausha, told the KIC by phone that almost all the neighborhoods of this big village came under Serb fire this morning.

Albanian farmsteads in the village are being attacked from all sorts of armament, he said at around 9:30.

[10] Serb Police Shoots Dead 30-Year-Old Albanian in Ferizaj

The LDK chapter in Ferizaj said Nazmi Uksmajli was killed near Jezerc village. The late Albanian was shot dead while walking near a Serb police checkpoint.

The Serb police took the body of the killed Nazmi Uksmajli to the Prishtina morgue on Thursday morning.

[11] No Bakery Operating in Gllogovc Since Tuesday

The only private bakery which had been working in Gllogovc was closed down on Tuesday due to shortage of flour.

The town of Gllogovc and the surrounding villages have been held inside a deadly siege by Serb forces for a couple of months now.

There has been a sharp shortage of basic food supplies and medication in the area, people in the town said.

Meanwhile, sources in Gllogovc said today that Serb forces garrisoned in the Ferrous-Nickel compounds opened fire on several positions on the town. The "Feronikeli" mines and plants complex has for a couple of months now been turned into a huge base of Serb forces.

Serb snipers hold key positions in the plants as well on top of several buildings in Gllogovc.

[12] Serbian Military Deployed in Northeastern Border of Kosova with Serbia

The Serb forces have been stationed some two km away from the border line.

It looks like they were engaged in military drills yesterday, for gunfire was heard, local sources said.

Reports said a Serb helicopter flew low over the area, in the villages of Pollat&, Brec&, T&rrnavic&, etc.

The municipality of Podujeva has more than 100.000 inhabitants, 99 percent of whom are ethnic Albanians.

[13] Soldiers Stationed in Elementary School Near Novob&rd&

Groups of Serb civilians and soldiers showed up together in the village yesterday.

The local population fears a Serb crackdown, of the kind seen elsewhere in Kosova in the past months.

These groups of Serbs have provoked the residents of the village of Vllasali.

[14] Serb Police Targets LDK and Human Rights Activists in Ferizaj

The LDK chapter in Ferizaj said scores of Serb policemen searched for two hours yesterday the homes of Sami Hajrullahu and Fehmi Hajrullahu, activists with the Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) in Ferizaj. Family members were harassed and property smashed up by Serb police under the pretext of searching for hidden arms. No weapons were reported found.

Ismail Nazifi, head of a local LDK chapter in Ferizaj, was harassed by Serbian police Thursday afternoon.

At least 25 heavily armed Serb policemen were involved in searching the house of Milaim Jashari, member of the CDHRF chapter in Ferizaj yesterday.

The Serb police raided around midday yesterday the houses of Xhavit Zariqi, Nuhi Zariqi and Mehmet Zariqi at Rahovic& village of Ferizaj. The three of them as well as their family members were harassed brutally by the police.

Elmi Re^ica, head of an association of former prisoners in Freizaj, was arrested yesterday after having his house raided by a dozen of Serb policemen.

Muhamet Sejdiu, CDHRF activist in Ga^k& village, was detained by Serbian police on Thursday. He was reportedly harassed in the police station in Ferizaj for over three hours.

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