Kosova Daily Report #1567, 98-09-29

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Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1567
Prishtina, 29 September 1998

CONTENTS

[01] President Rugova Receives Contact Group Ambassadors

[02] Around 150 Albanians Killed in Kosova since Wednesday

[03] Serbs Kill at Least Seven Albanians in Krajkova Village, Gllogovc

[04] Bodies of Six Slain Albanians Found in Two Villages

[05] Bodies of Two Killed Albanians Found Near Malisheva

[06] Three Albanians Killed in Pllo^ic&, Malisheva, in Serb Attack

[07] Four Refugee Children, Woman in Childbed, Baby, Die in Suhareka

[08] Serb Attacks against Villages South-West of Prishtina Continue Tuesday

[09] Serb Troops Crack Down on Uprooted Albanians at Camping Site Near Suhareka

[10] Serbs Pound Villages of Gllogovc and Skenderaj Overnight

[11] Over 200 Serb Military Vehicles Enter Kosova from Serbia Tuesday

[12] Serbs Burn Down Homes of Albanians in Ferizaj Villages

[13] Serb Police Crack Down on Albanian Families in Sht&rpca

[14] 300 Albanian Civilians of Suhareka Municipality Taken to Prizren Jail Monday

[15] Hundreds of Other Albanians Rounded Up

[01] President Rugova Receives Contact Group Ambassadors

PRISHTINA, Sept 29 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova received today (Tuesday) afternoon in Prishtina the Belgrade-based ambassadors of the Contact Group countries to discuss the current situation in Kosova.

The Serbian offensive has been continuing, Rugova said, pressing for an urgent international intervention to bring an end to the prevailing tragic developments in Kosova, the President's Office said.

Meanwhile, the ambassadors of the Contact Group issued a press release today afternoon.

Following is the text:

(Begin text)

The ambassadors of the Contact Group called on Dr. RUGOVA today to underline to him the importance their governments attach to compliance with resolution 1199. The following points were made:

- The vote on resolution 199, and the meeting of the contact Group at ministerial level, demonstrate the unity and the determination of the members of the Group;

- The resolution must be implemented in its totality. The seriousness and speed with which the parties filfill their obligations as contained in the resolution shall constitute a test of their committment;

- The Contact Group supports the political negotiating process entered into by Mr. HILL which will be continued in close cooperation with the European Union and with Russia;

- The Contact Group attaches the utmost importance to the humanitaran dimension of the situation in Kosovo and expects from the parties that they urgently take the necessary measures to adress it rapidly and effectively;

- The Contact Group draws the attention to the fact that resolution 1199 requests the Secretary General of the United Nations to make a report on his assessment of the compliance with this resolution.

- This demarche is being made to both parties.

(End text)

[02] Around 150 Albanians Killed in Kosova since Wednesday

PRISHTINA, Sept 29 (KIC) - Reports reaching the KIC from the ground in Kosova have identified 25 more Albanians killed in the last couple of days. Six killed Albanians were found in Dobrashec (Gllogovc), one in Strabaqin& (Suhareka), three at Pllo^ica (Malisheva), two at Llazica (Malisheva), seven in Krajkova (Gllogovc), at least six uprooted Albanians died these days in makeshift shelters in Suhareka.

Fifteen executed Albanians were found in two family compounds in Obria village (Gllogovc) yesterday.

Some 110 other Albanians were reported killed Serb troops since last Wednesday during the Serb offensive against ^i^avica area villages, north- west of Prishtina.

[03] Serbs Kill at Least Seven Albanians in Krajkova Village, Gllogovc

Xhem& Binaku, head of the chapter of the Gllogovc chapter of the Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF), said most of the bodies of the killed Albanians were mutilated.

The bodies of the following Albanians were found in Krajkova, according to Mr. Binaku: Fitim Elshani (22), Vehbi Hoxha (48), Faik Braiqi (16), Fahredin Braiqi, Sabit Buzllaku (62), Fejz& Braiqi (45) and Afrim Ramadan Braiqi (30).

Naser Shala, Lindita Podrim^aku (f), Besnik Braiqi and Abedin Braiqi, were wounded, Mr. Binaku said.

In a neighboring village of Shtrubullov&, Serb forces have rounded up 28 civilians, whose whereabouts are unknown.

[04] Bodies of Six Slain Albanians Found in Two Villages

Meanwhile, the bodies of two killed Albanians were found in the village of Poklek i Vjet&r of Gllogovc. One of them was identified as Sadri Mu^olli, the other as surnamed Tluna, a resident of Poklek i Vjet&r.

The human rights activist said Monday other Albanians were suspected killed by Serb forces in the municipality of Gllogovc.

[05] Bodies of Two Killed Albanians Found Near Malisheva

The LDK chapter of Malisheva named the two killed Albanians as Alush Pantina (19), resident of Gllareva (Klina), and Hasan Morina (22), resident of Vllashki Drenoci (Malisheva).

Local activists in Malisheva said they feared more dead Albanian are scattered in the fields still packed with Serb troops.

[06] Three Albanians Killed in Pllo^ic&, Malisheva, in Serb Attack

PRISHTINA, Sept 29 (KIC) - At least three Albanians have been killed in Pllo^ic& village of Malisheva during a Serb troops' attack last weekend.

The LDK information commission in Malisheva named these three Albanians killed by Serbs: Dervish Maloku (60), Sejdi Gashi (60) and Deli Gashi.

The majority of population of Pllo^ica fled the village in the midst of Serb attacks last week. They have been hiding in a forest near Gollubovc ever since.

Sources said Serb forces who entered into the village rounded up Albanian men who were holed up in their houses. They were taken away in a truck to a still unknown destination.

[07] Four Refugee Children, Woman in Childbed, Baby, Die in Suhareka

The LDK chapter said 4 children, an old man, and a woman in childbed died because of poor conditions and cold weather.

The LDK described as appalling the situation in the locations the internally displaced persons have been staying. The IDP's lack food, medication and clothing, it said, adding that many have been sleeping in makeshift tents of plastic sheeting or in roofless houses.

[08] Serb Attacks against Villages South-West of Prishtina Continue Tuesday

LDK chapters in Ferizaj and the neighboring town of Shtime said today morning that Serb troops pounding with heavy artillery fire the villages of Topill&, Llanisht&, Petrov& and Mollopolc in a bid to shoot the way across the Gryka e Devetakut (Devetaku gorge).

Today's attacks are said to be the fiercest since the Serb offensives were kicked in the area.

Over a dozen villages straddling a triangle between Shtime, Ferizaj and Suhareka - Topill&, Devetak and Llanisht&, Jezerc, Nerodime e Ep&rme, Vraniq, Budakov&, Krushic&, Papaz, Savrov&, Buzhal&, Bukosh, Dubrav&, Maqitev&, Stravoqin& and Re^an - came under Serb fire on Sunday morning. Some of the villages in all the three municipalities have been repeatedly attacked during the whole course of the past three days, resulting in thousands of new internally displaced people.

Witnesses told the KIC that clouds of smoke were billowing all day today from Jezerc and the neighboring villages of Topill&, Llanisht&, Petrov& and Mollopolc.

By early afternoon, no report was available about possible casualties in the area.

At around midday, the situation was reported highly dangerous around Ga^ka village. Heavy Serb troops, backed up by tanks and artillery guns, sealed off the village.

Sources in the neighboring municipality of Suhareka said Serb troops have resumed pounding with artillery fire Albanian communities east of the town. Serbs have been burning entire villages, sources in the area reported.

[09] Serb Troops Crack Down on Uprooted Albanians at Camping Site Near Suhareka

Sources in Suhareka said early in the morning the Serb force cracked down on the IDP's camping near Vraniq since last Sunday.

The police initially separated menfolks from their families, terrorizing many of them for a couple of hours. The IDP's were later were taken in military trucks to Suhareka.

Witnesses claimed that heaps of looted appliances and other commodities were collected in the main square of Vraniq before they were taken away in trucks. Serbs took photographs with the looted goods, ridiculing the local populations being driven out of the village.

[10] Serbs Pound Villages of Gllogovc and Skenderaj Overnight

The Chapter of the Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) in Skenderaj said the village of Obria e Ep&rme came under renewed fire today morning.

15 members of two extended families in Obria, including children and women, were massacred by the Serb forces last weekend. At least two of the victims were killed by stabbing, one had his throat slit, the others were mutilated in different fashions, human rights activists claimed.

Sources in Gllogovc said that an American team of the Kosova Diplomatic Observer Mission (KDOM) visited Obria e Ep&rme today and the site where the 15 Albanians were massacred over the weekend.

[11] Over 200 Serb Military Vehicles Enter Kosova from Serbia Tuesday

At least 200 Serb army and police vehicles, including tanks, drove along the Podujeva-Prishtina road from 5:30 through 7:30 today morning.

Sources in Podujeva said that more Serb military vehicles entered into Kosova from Serbia later in the morning today.

[12] Serbs Burn Down Homes of Albanians in Ferizaj Villages

The LDK chapter said the houses of the following villagers were burned down completely in Kashtanjeva: Xheladin Rexhepi, Rifat Rexhepi, Shabi Rexhepi, Hysni Rexhepi, Izet Rexhepi, Xhemajl Shabani, Ali Aliu, Sali Aliu, Shaban Shabani, Fadil Murseli, Sedat Murseli, Zeqir Murseli, Musli Murseli, Ismet Limani, Bajram Ibrahimi, Zenel Ibrahimi and Ibrahim Ibrahimi.

Several Albanians from this village have been missing for several days, and are feared to have been killed by Serbs.

In the village of Nerodime e Ep&rme, Serb troops burned on Monday the homes of these Albanians: Ahmet Kashtanjeva, Abdullah Kashtanjeva Rexhep Kashtanjeva, Jakup Kashtanjeva, Ismajl Kashtanjeva, Bafti Kashtanjeva, Sami Kashtanjeva, Nebih Kashtanjeva, Veli Kashtanjeva, Qerim Kashtanjeva, Elez Kashtanjeva.

At least 34 farmhouses have been burned in the village of Nerodime over the past three days, the LDK information commission in Ferizaj said.

[13] Serb Police Crack Down on Albanian Families in Sht&rpca

PRISHTINA, Sept 29 (KIC) - Serb police cracked down brutally on several Albanian families at Viqa and Bitij& villages of Sht&rpca, a small municipality in south-east of Kosova, on Monday.

Sources in the village said Serb police raided the homes of Agim Tahiri, Besim Tahiri, Ekrem Halili, Bujar Muharremi. The police beat the family heads as well as other family members. Another local villager, Daut Rexhepi, was arrested.

At another village of Sht&rpca, at Bitij& e Ep&rme, Serb police rounded up the following residents: Haki Bakiu, Ilmi Bakiu, Rexhep Bislimi, Mehmet Bislimi, Agron Bislimi, Agim Bislimi, Imri Zenuni, Afrim Ahmeti, Fakir Hamiti, Avni Hamiti, Heset Ka^iku, Nysret Bakiu, Miftar Bakiu, Ismajl Bakiu, Fadil Jakupi, Naim Murati and Bedri Izeti.

By Tuesday morning, they were all being still held in Serb police custody.

[14] 300 Albanian Civilians of Suhareka Municipality Taken to Prizren Jail Monday

LDK sources in Prizren said the Albanians, most of them under-aged, were being ferried in lorries, hand-cuffed, and poorly clothed.

Some of the young Albanians of the municipalities of Suhareka, such as Burim Basha (17), Arben Palushi (16), Besim Sallauka (15), Arsim Krasniqi (17), were released.

They said they had been detained alongside with 15 other civilian Albanians of Suhareka, having evacuated their homes in the wake of Serb military and police forces' shelling.

[15] Hundreds of Other Albanians Rounded Up

PRISHTINA, Sept 29 (KIC) - Zenel Morina (30), resident of Stravuqin& village, was killed during the Serbian attacks yesterday (Monday), LDK sources in Suhareka said.

Meanwhile, reports said Serb forces took in lorries hundreds of displaced Albanians from Vraniq and other villages, who were living rough in the open, and sent them to the town of Suhareka as well as in the direction of Sopi village of Suhareka early in the morning today.

Police reportedly separated men and women and ill-treated many of them.

The forced transforation of people made a terrible scene, but worst of is that the whereabouts of many of the young Albanians rounded up by police is unknown.

An eye-witness said 144 Albanian men were held holed up inside a house for 60 hours before being sent away today afternoon (13,00 hrs) to Suharek and Prizren, respectively.

A source said two local schoolhouses in Bukosh and Savrov& villages, respectively, were crammed with detained men, whose movement is restricted inside the building.

There has been no word on the fate of 300 Albanian civilians arrested Monday.

One of the detainees, who was released Monday, was able to name some of the Albanians arrested, such as Sylejman Zyba (47) and his two sons Bekimi (20) and Urim (18), as well as Arsim Zyba (23) from Bukosh, Musli Jaha (70) and his son Ali (32), from Sllapuzhan, and Nesim Morina (34) and Bajram Morina (22) from Reshtan.

A 15-year-Albanian, Liman Zyba, was released after having been brutally beaten up.

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