Kosova Daily Report #1565, 98-09-27

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1565
Prishtina, 27 September 1998

First Edition: 16:00 CET
Second Edition: 18:00 CET

CONTENTS

[01] President Rugova Receives British Liberal Democrats Leader

[02] President Rugova Receives Japanese Delegation

[03] Serb Troops Mount Massive Attack Against Albanian Communities at the Shtime-Ferizaj-Suhareka Triangle

[04] Half a Dozen Villages in Suhareka Come Under Serb Artillery Fire Sunday Morning

[05] Serb Police Forces Compel Uprooted Albanians Leave Camping Site

[06] Uprooted Albanians inside Serb Ring of Steel Fearful of Crackdown and Slaughter

[07] Mutilated Bodies of Albanians Found in Suhareka and Ka^anik

[08] Bodies of Four Albanians Laying Near Their Village of Residence

[09] Families Find Bodies of Their Killed Members in Kaqanoll Village, Podujeva

[10] Identity of 26 Other Albanians, Killed by Serbs in Gllogovc Villages, Established

[01] President Rugova Receives British Liberal Democrats Leader

Participating in the meeting was also the British Ambassador to Belgrade, Mr. Brian Donnelly.

President Rugova and Mr. Ashdown had a lengthy discussion on the situation in Kosova and prospects for a political settlement to the Kosova question.

[02] President Rugova Receives Japanese Delegation

The situation in Kosova and the prospects for a political resolution were discussed in the meeting.

The continued Serb offensive operations adds further to the extremely dramatic situation in Kosova, President Ibrahim Rugova said.

He called for an urgent international intervention to stop the Serbian offensive and the creation of the preconditions for a political resolution to the Kosova issue.

Mr Iimura said his country was following the developments in Kosova with serious concern. The Japanese government is supportive of a negotiated settlement to the Kosova issue. The delegation conveyed the readiness of their government to engage in aid projects in Kosova.

[03] Serb Troops Mount Massive Attack Against Albanian Communities at the Shtime-Ferizaj-Suhareka Triangle

Sources in these three towns named the following communities targeted by the today's Serb offensive: Topill&, Devetak and Llanisht&, Jezerc, Nerodime e Ep&rme, Vraniq, Budakov&, Krushic&, Papaz, Savrov&, Buzhal&, Bukosh, Dubrav&, Maqitev&, Stravoqin& and Re^an in the areas straddling the three municipalities.

By early afternoon KIC learned that scores of farmhouses were bombarded in these villages and that there were casualties there, but it was still impossible to identify them yet.

Sources in Shtime and Ferizaj reported of stepped up movement of Serb troops since Saturday afternoon. Several motorized convoys of Serb forces headed toward the area and deployed in several locations. At least 42 tanks and 57 trucks with Serb troops on board drove along the main square of Shtime last evening. They were garrisoned at a location called Podi i G&shtenjave where from the villages of Jerzerc, Topill&, Devetak and Llanisht& were shelled.

At Dremjak village of Ferizaj, heavy Serb forces were dug in since last night. The so-called 'catchusha' multiple rocket launcher were also deployed there.

The villages of Jezerc, Nerodimje e Ep&rme are all in flames, sources in the area told KIC around lunch time today.

The Serb police has during the course of today raided on homes of several Albanian in Shtime and Ferizaj. At least half a dozen were reported detained subsequently.

Sources in Suhareka said that around midday the Serbs began shelling the village of Vraniq, too. The village of Budakov&, Krushic&, Papaz, Savrov&, Buzhal&, Bukosh, Dubrav&, Maqitev&, Stravoqin& and Re^an in this municipality were shelled for a couple of hours today morning.

[04] Half a Dozen Villages in Suhareka Come Under Serb Artillery Fire Sunday Morning

The LDK chapter in Suhareka said the population of the villages targeted today began fleeing in panic. At least 15.000 were on the move during morning hours.

Heavy Serb army and police forces backed of by tanks and artillery pieces have sealed off most of the area around the villages Budakov&, Krushic&, Papaz, Savrov&, Buzhal&, Bukosh, and Dubrav&, witnesses who could escape told the KIC.

The population in one of the villages, in Budakova, could not make it out, said the witnesses. They feared the Serbs could launch campaigns of massacres in the village.

Sources in Suhareka reported last evening that at around 17:00 Serb troops entered into the Sopia village and ordered the local population to leave immediately unless they wanted to see themselves crushed. Serb troops dug in near the village subsequently.

No report has been available yet about possible casualties in the villages of Suhareka which came under Serb fire today. By midday, local activists in the town said access to the area was still impossible.

[05] Serb Police Forces Compel Uprooted Albanians Leave Camping Site

Around 15 thousand Albanians had swelled the area around Resnik village, north-west of Prishtina, in the wake of a huge Serb offensive last week against communities along the ^i^avica mountain foot straddling the municipalities of Vushtrri, Mitrovica, Gllogovc, Skenderaj and Obiliq.

Sources in Vushtrri said the Serb police went to Resnik village last evening ar around 20:00 hrs, ordering all the displaced persons sheltering or/and camping out there to leave the place immediately or else face a brutal crackdown.

The uprooted people have been on the move, mainly in tractors, during the whole course of last night and today morning in search of safe heavens. Part of them have found shelter in Vushtrri and the surrounding villages, as well as in Prishtina and other Kosovar towns.

[06] Uprooted Albanians inside Serb Ring of Steel Fearful of Crackdown and Slaughter

Local activist told the KIC that the Albanians camping out there are residents of the villages Domanek, Baic&, T&rstenik, T&rdec, Shtrubullov&, Krojkov& and other communities in the area which were targeted of the Serb offensive since last Wednesday.

Hysen Hoxha, an LDK activist in Domanek village claimed that the area where the uprooted people have been staying has been tightly sealed off by Serb troops. The IDPs fear that the Serb could soon launch any brutal onslaught against them. He said that people have heard from some source that the Serbs are intent on clamping down on the site and they will separate all the menfolks from the clusters of families.

Beside the fear of imminent Serb attacks, the uprooted population has been running short of food. There are many sick who desperately need medication, the witness said.

[07] Mutilated Bodies of Albanians Found in Suhareka and Ka^anik

The late Sylejman Kafexholli, a mute and deaf person, was missing for several days. His body was mutilated, his family members said.

Meanwhile, the Serb police manning a checkpoint at Doganaj village near Ka^anik tool Saturday evening the dead body of an Albanian to the local medical center in the town.

Kujtim Kerlani (44), resident of Gjakova, was found dead near the checkpoint, the police said.

The LDK chapter in Ka^anik said it could not yet learn further details surrounding the death of Kujtim Kerlani.

[08] Bodies of Four Albanians Laying Near Their Village of Residence

PRISHTINA, Sept 27 (KIC) - Local resident of Korrotica e Ep&rme village of Gllogovc said they spotted today morning the dead bodies of Albanians in the vicinity of their village.

Rexhep Muleta, a local man from Korrotica told the KIC that the dead bodies of Ramadan Muleta (1954), Besim Muleta (1975), Bashkim Muleta (1971), and a third man in his early twneties are laying at a location near his village called "Gurthyesi". The Serb forces garrisoned at the location have prevented their family members from collecting the bodies, he said.

Mr. Muleta appealed on the international agencies bases in Kosova to intervene with the Serb regime so to allow the families of the victims to collect their bodied and have them buried.

[09] Families Find Bodies of Their Killed Members in Kaqanoll Village, Podujeva

The LDK chapter in Podujeva named the two Albanians as Ramadan Behrami and Musa Begu, both local residents of Kaqanoll.

They were killed during a huge Serb offensive against Albanian communities in the Shala e Bajgor&s region, straddling the municipalities of Podujeva, Vushtrri and Mitrovica, which left scores of Albanians killed, wounded and homeless. At a village near Kaqanoll, in Dobratin, charred bodies of 6 local residents were found ion the wake of the Serb offensive.

[10] Identity of 26 Other Albanians, Killed by Serbs in Gllogovc Villages, Established

-More casualties feared in hamlets being still sealed off by Serb troops;

-Many victims were massacred, eye-witnesses claim; -Serb offensive on some parts of Drenica continued Sunday afternoon;

PRISHTINA, Sept 27 (KIC) - Local human rights groups in Gllogovc confirmed today (Sunday) afternoon they had learned identity of 24 Albanians, killed by the Serb troops in the villages of Western Drenica in the past four days. An eye-witnesses from Dobroshec of Gllogovc village told KIC two neighbors of his were killed on Saturday in the village.

The chapter of the Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) in Gllogovc said it has identified the following killed Albanians by Sunday afternoon: Bajram Krasniqi and Behram Morina residents of Gllobar village; Behxhet Karagja, Sk&nder Karagja and Rrustem Karagja (mutilated, found in a well) residents of ^ikatova e Vjet&r; Shyqri Krasniqi, Muhamet Krasniqi, Bashkim Krasniqi, Myftar Kurrumeli, Xhevat Berisha, Ms Hafize Llugani (mentally sick woman), Hamit Lladrofci, Fehmi Lladrovci and his wife Xhevahire Krasniqi, from Gllanasell& village; Brahim Avdulli (his face and body mutilated), Hajdar Ismaili, Selim Myftari and Hamit Zymberi, from Likoshan village; Ms Bahtie Gashi and Sefer Tafaleci (stabbed) from V&rbovc; Mehmet Saliuku and dr. Lec Uka (mutilated) from Gradica; Hajzer Hajdari from Abria e Ep&rme and his son-in-law from Komoran, his identity still unknown.

An eye-witness, resident of Dobrashevc village, told the KIC today aftrenoon two neighbors of his, Hazir Abdyli and Rifat Fejza, were killed on Saturday. He said the villagers of the Dobroshevc have been hiding in the forests near village, sealed off by heavy Serb troops.

Xhem& Binaku, head of the human rights Council in Gllogovc said bodies of the most killed Albanians were found in the hamlets at the ^i^avica mountain foot, east of Gllogovc. Mr Binaku said he feared that there are other killed Albanians scattered in mountainous area that were attacked by the Serb over the past five days. He said no one yet has had access to village in ^i^avica mountain, including Poklek i Vjet&r, Polluzh&, Abri, Bainc&, T&rdefc, Vu^ak, Negroc. These villages were under heavy Serb fire on Sunday afternoon. The sound of selling could be heard in Prishtina at around 1700 hrs, which is about 35 km far.

*** According to still incomplete accounts, over 100 Albanians have been killed during the unfolding Serb offensive against Albanian communities in western Drenica and ^i^avica mountain foot, straddling the municipalities of Vushtrri, Mitrovica, Skenderaj and Gllogovc.

The Serb attacks were launched lats Wednesday and, by Sunday afternoon, continued with impunity in the western Drenica region, municipality of Gllogovc.

The LDK chapter in Vushtrri and Mitrovica said on Saturday morning that 68 Albanians were confirmed killed by then. 10 Albanians were killed in Galica, 4 in Oshlan, 13 in Zhilivod& (13), 20 in Beqiq, 3 in Lubovec, 5 in Prekaz, 1 in Klin& e Ep&rme, 4 in Dashefc and 8 in Shtutic&, they said.

The LDK chapter in Mitrovica reported Saturday afternoon of 5 other Albanians killed in the area. Four were killed in Lubovec village, whereas the fifth at Kline e Eperme village.

Bodies of four killed Albanians - three of them residents of Korrotica e Ep&rme village of Gllogovc and on still unidentified man in his early twenties - were found today in the vicinity of Korrotica village, municipality of Gllogovc.

According to accounts of witnesses many Albanians were killed while attempting to flee their homes and villages targeted by the forces. Scores were mutilated and, at least one, was reported stabbed to death.

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