Kosova Daily Report #1531, 98-08-24

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1531
Prishtina, 24 August 1998

CONTENTS

[01] Serb Troops Launch Attack against Rugova Villages

[02] Two Albanians Killed, Two Wounded in Suhareka During Serb Shelling Yesterday

[03] Serb Shelling of Lubizhd& Village of Malisheva

[04] Serb Forces Resume Attacking Lipjan Villages

[05] Bodies of 10 Albanians Brought to the Gjakova Morgue Last Evening

[06] Yet Another Albanian Dies of Serb Police Torture

[07] Serb Forces Resume Shelling Shtime Area

[08] Villages of Gllogovc under Continued Serb Fire Since Sunday Morning

[09] Serb Forces Torch Albanian Houses in Reka e Keqe Region

[10] Serb Military Takes Up New Positions along the Border Area

[11] Mother and Daughter Found Killed along Suhareka-Prishtina Road

[12] Death of Albanian Child and Woman Blamed on Lack of Medication

[13] At least 2 Killed and 5 Wounded in Suhareka Area in the Past 24 Hours

[14] Fresh Serb Troops Dig In around Mitrovica Villages

[15] 90 Albanian Houses Burnt by Serbs at Zoqisht& Village of Rahovec

[16] Serb Court in Prizren Convicts Student Organization Leaders to Long Imprisonment

[17] Albanian, Run Over by Serb Army Vehicle, Undergoes Surgery in Hospital

[18] Serb Occupies by Force Apartment of Albanian in Prishtina

[01] Serb Troops Launch Attack against Rugova Villages

They attacked first with heavy artillery the village of Shtupeq i Madh. Ram& Nik^i (45), a schoolteacher in the village, was reported wounded today.

The population of the Rugova region had been swelled by Albanians displaced from other parts of war-torn Kosova.

Efforts have been underway to secure the evacuation of the population towards neighboring Montenegro.

At 5 o'clock in the morning today, heavy Serb troops in motorized units headed for the Rugova region, LDK sources said. They blockaded the road leading to the region.

[02] Two Albanians Killed, Two Wounded in Suhareka During Serb Shelling Yesterday

LDK sources said Serb forces killed in his home Abedin Shala (60) and wounded two of his children, whose names have not been made known yet.

Also yesterday, Shefqet Jemin Hoxha (39) was killed while trying to save his family.

Reports which the KIC has not been able to confirm said a number of Albanians were wounded yesterday in the village of Pe^an.

Meanwhile, early in the morning today Serbian military and police forces started shelling the village of Reshtan, local LDK sources said.

There have been no word on casualties yet.

[03] Serb Shelling of Lubizhd& Village of Malisheva

A couple of dozen shells landed in the village. A 32-year-old Albanian, Fadil Pa^arizi, was wounded in his home.

The inhabitants evacuated their homes in the wake of the attack, and spent the house in the open.

The population of the villages of Mirush&, Turjak&, Damanek and Bub&l spent the night rough in the open, too.

[04] Serb Forces Resume Attacking Lipjan Villages

The area was attacked by Serbian troops yesterday, too.

Serbs have been pounding the villages with tanks positioned on the Kodra e Magur&s (the Magure hill).

Plumes of smoke were billowing from the two villages, V&rshec and Leletiq, local sources said.

Meanwhile, LDK sources in Lipjan said Serb troops have been shelling today also a number of other villages outlying the Lipovica resort, including Krojmir, Pjet&rshtic& and Zllaku^an.

Columns of smoke were seen in the direction of the villages of Miren& and Fushtic&.

The area being effectively sealed off, there has been no word on casualties.

Part of the population of the village of Ribar i Madh has been trickling back to their homes. The village was shelled by Serb troops yesterday.

The sound of heavy shelling in the Lipjan villages could be heard in the capital of Prishtina today morning.

Meanwhile, early in the afternoon sources said Serb forces had started in the morning torching deserted Albanian houses in Magur& village of Lipjan. The village had been evacuated a few days back in the midst of Serb attacks.

LDK sources said the shelling of the villages of Krojmir and Shal& ('Sedlare') was still going around midday.

Meanwhile, sources said Azem Vuniqi (45) was wounded yesterday in the area.

[05] Bodies of 10 Albanians Brought to the Gjakova Morgue Last Evening

One of them is known to be Adem Rexhep Dervishi (62), native of Batush& village of Reka e Keqe, in the municipality of Gjakova.

The other 9 killed Albanians are said to be originating from the De^an area.

Their identity has not been established yet, but they are presumed killed in the area where the borders of Kosova, Albania and Montenegro meet.

The LDK chapter in Gjakova said there was firing last night and today morning in the streets of the town, especially in the suburbs.

[06] Yet Another Albanian Dies of Serb Police Torture

Idajet Qafleshi, his brother, told the KIC the late Maksut had been stopped and tortured brutally by Serb police in the Prizren-Ferizaj roadway.

The brutalized Albanian was taken to Ferizaj ('Urosevac'), where he was given the first aid, to only be transferred to the Prishtina hospital, his brother said.

The body of the dead Maksut was collected by his family in the Prishtina hospital today.

This is the fourth Albanian to die of police troture in two weeks in Kosova.

[07] Serb Forces Resume Shelling Shtime Area

The village of Re^ak is all in flames, local LDK sources in Shtime said.

There have been no immediate reports on casualties.

[08] Villages of Gllogovc under Continued Serb Fire Since Sunday Morning

The same villages were attacked for many hours Sunday morning with artillery guns, whereas Serb infantry advanced later into the area, torching dozens of local Albanian houses.

The LDK chapter in Gllogovc said the villages of Kishnarek&, Nekoc, Sankoc, Fushtic& e Ep&rme, Fushtic& e Ul&t, and Korrotic& e Ep&rme, were pounded today morning with artillery fire from two Serb positions: the police post in Komoran and a military base at ^uka e Zabelit.

Sources said that smoke has been billowing from many farmhouses in Kishnarek&, Sankoc, Nekoc, Fushtic& e Ep&rme e Fushtic& e Ul&t. The local population has been hiding in the hills surrounding the villages since yesterday morning.

Big convoys with Serb troops and heavy armament have been moving today in both directions of the Gllogovc-Komoran road and other villages in the municipality, sources said.

[09] Serb Forces Torch Albanian Houses in Reka e Keqe Region

The Albanian population of the Has region along the Kosova-Albanian border area has been under an increasing pressure by the Serb regime. They have been issued ultimatums to hand in weapons, and have had their movement strictly limited, amounting to a dusk- to- dawn curfew.

Part of the population of the Has region has been fleeing the area, LDK sources in Gjakova said.

Meanwhile, police shooting was reported in the town of Gjakova last night, whereas today morning shooting was heard in the suburbs and the outlying villages.

What was the motive behind the shooting, as well as possible consequences remain unknown.

A Serb police and security expedition raided half a dozen Albanian families in Gjakova - Tara, Zeka, Vala, Abdullahu, Jaka, Shehu.

Reports said Serb raids were aimed at having family members, allegedly members of the U^K, rounded up.

[10] Serb Military Takes Up New Positions along the Border Area

Heavily armed Serb troops have been dug in there, reports said.

[11] Mother and Daughter Found Killed along Suhareka-Prishtina Road

They were killed with automatic rifles, the Serb center said.

The Serb-installed authorities of the municipality of Suhareka have been quoted as saying the two women were killed by "Albanian extremists" because they were seen as "loyal citizens" of Serbia.

Half a Dozen Villages of Malisheva Shelled Yesterday PRISHTINA, Aug 24 (KIC) - Serbian forces shelled yesterday afternoon and evening the villages of Drenoc, Lubizhd&, Turjak&, Carralluk&, Bubavec and the outlying hamlets around Kijeva and Malisheva, local LDK sources said.

The village of Ostrozub was reported shelled, too, and many Albanian houses and the local mosque burnt by Serb troops.

Several thousand Albanians were displaced from the Malisheva villages yesterday, including people who had found refuge in them.

They spent the night rough in the open, sources said.

[12] Death of Albanian Child and Woman Blamed on Lack of Medication

Meanwhile, and old Albanian woman, Halime Pantina, resident of Gllarev& village of Klina, died yesterday in the village of Ponorc, the LDK chapter added.

[13] At least 2 Killed and 5 Wounded in Suhareka Area in the Past 24 Hours

Serb forces have been shelling villages from their positions in Hisar, Shirok&, Bira^& and in Qaf& e Duhl&s, as well as the police station in Suhareka, local sources said.

Albanian communities have been set ablaze, and the population in flight.

Half a dozen villages (Reshtan, Pe^an, Sllapuzhan, Semetisht&, Studen^an and Bllac&) were targeted by Serb fire yesterday for 13 hours. Suhareka suburbs bordering on Pe^an and Reshtan were also attacked.

The population of the attacked villages had been earlier swelled with refugees from other areas.

Two Albanians are known to have been killed - Abedin Hysen Shala (65) and Shefqet Jemin Hoxha (40) - and five wounded: Vebi Abedin Shala (27), Hysnie Jemin Hoxha (f, 61), Sadije Nysret Hoxha (f, 37), G&zim Nysret Hoxha (16), Myftar Nysret Hoxha (9), all of them from Suhareka.

The casualty toll is feared much higher, though.

The material damage is reported to be immense, with many houses in Reshtan and Sllapuzhan villages and Suhareka suburbs burnt, and other Albanian property destroyed.

[14] Fresh Serb Troops Dig In around Mitrovica Villages

Serb soldiers backed up by five tanks and trucks were deployed today morning near the Frash&r i Vog&l village. Army tanks and heavy armament were reported sent later today in the Pantina village, too. Part of the Serb troops were dug in the local cemeteries of the two villages, the rest in the villages themselves.

Meanwhile, the LDK Information Commission in Mitrovica said Serb forces have continued harassing and arresting Albanians in the town and villages in the municipality.

Heavy Serb forces raided the house of Osman Sk&nderi (49) in the "Ura e gjakut" quarter in Mitrovica today morning. He was taken to the Serb police station later. He is reported still in custody.

[15] 90 Albanian Houses Burnt by Serbs at Zoqisht& Village of Rahovec

The village of Zoqisht& has 110 Albanian and 45 Serb families, local sources said, adding that no Serb house was burn there.

Plumes of smoke could be seen billowing from Zoqisht& today morning, too, LDK chapter in Prizren said.

[16] Serb Court in Prizren Convicts Student Organization Leaders to Long Imprisonment

Members of the leadership of the Independent Student Union of the "Xhevdet Doda" Teachers Training College in Prizren were arrested last spring and have been ever since held in pre-trial detention in Prizren and Lipjan.

The verdict read out today by a Serb judge in the district court in Prizren said Njazi Kryeziu was sentenced to 7 and 1/2 years in jail, Aqif Ilazi 6 and 1/2 years, Bylbyl Duraku 5 and 1/2 years, Sejdi Bellanica 3 and 1/2 years, D&frim Rifati 2 and 1/2 years, Behare Tafallari (f) to 2 years, Jehona Krasniqi (f) to 2 years, Leonora Morina (f) to 2 years, and Sherif Ilazi to 1 year of imprisonment.

They were sent to serve their terms, that is none of them was released pending appeal, the LDK chapter in Prizren said.

Quoting sources in the courthouse in Prizren, the LDK said that Serb court authorities utterly failed to corroborate the charges in support of the indictment. All the defendants pleaded not guilty in the courtroom.

Dozens of Albanians have been pending trial in several Serb- courts in Kosova.

According to the Serb media, during the last month alone criminal proceedings were instituted against 140 Albanians in three central Kosova municipalities, Rahovec, Malisheva and Suhareka. Many of them have already been detained facing charges for alleged hostile activity and terrorism.

[17] Albanian, Run Over by Serb Army Vehicle, Undergoes Surgery in Hospital

Sources in Mitrovica said Naim Haxha was together with his wife and 6-month baby walking in the pavement in Bairi neighborhood in the town when he was hit by a military jeep. He was taken to the surgery ward of the town's hospital where he underwent a surgery.

He suffered internal bleeding and is still in a critical condition, sources said.

The LDK chapter in Mitrovica said Serb forces driving in the town have attempted to deliberately run over other Albanians lately. It failed to explain whether Naim Haxha was hit deliberately or by accident last Saturday.

[18] Serb Occupies by Force Apartment of Albanian in Prishtina

Shpend Vehapi, a teacher with the Faculty of Agriculture of the Prishtina University, told the KIC the Serb broke the door lock of his apartment when he himself was not inside.

The Serb refuses to leave the apartment, he said.

According to the Kosovar human rights groups, around 100 Kosovar Albanians have been forcefully evicted from their apartments per year during the past seven years.

Serb police and army officers, but also civilians, have been occupying their flats instead.

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