Kosova Daily Report #1602, 98-11-03

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1602
Prishtina, 3 November 1998

CONTENTS

[01] President Rugova and Ambassador Hill Tour Central Kosova

[02] Rugova's and Hill's Remarks to the Press

[03] Serb Forces's Presence Leaves No Hope of Peaceful Solution in Kosova, Dema^i Says

[04] Serb Troops Moving Along Kosovar Towns, Provoke Local Population

[05] In Serb Show Trial, 11 Albanians of Extended Family Sentenced to 53 Years of Imprisonment

[06] Serb Police Raids Homes of Albanians, Detains LDK Activists in Gjilan

[07] Serb Policeman Threatens Albanian in Podujeva

[01] President Rugova and Ambassador Hill Tour Central Kosova

The current situation in Kosova, steps to create an environment conducive to the return of Albanian refugees back to their homes, as well as measures to alleviate the grave humanitarian situation caused by the Serbian aggression in Kosova this year were discussed in the meeting.

The OSCE and NATO verification missions in Kosova should be put in place as soon as possible in order to create the preconditions for a negotiating process towards an interim settlement in Kosova, the President said.

After the meeting, President Ibrahim Rugova and Ambassador Hill toured the countryside in central Kosova.

In the village of Banj& e Malishev&s, the two talked to the population which had started trickling back to their homes, whereas in Ostroazub they visited the local clinic and talked to the medical staff and patients alike.

President Rugova and Mr. Hill spent a little time in Rahovec, too.

In the town center, they met with citizens outdoors.

On their way back to Prishtina, President Rugova and Ambassador Hill passed through Suhareka, Shtimje and Lipjan.

[02] Rugova's and Hill's Remarks to the Press

Rugova said he met many people in the countryside, especially in Banj&n e Malishev&s. "I saw a lot of destruction there", the President said, adding that the key issue now is for people to return back to their villages.

There should be more security, for there is fear amongst the people still, Rugova said, adding that he hoped the OSCE verification mission would contribute much in this regard.

He thanked Ambassador Hill and KDOM for this joint trip to the countryside. "I wanted to go there and see the situation first hand", President Ibrahim Rugova concluded.

Meanwhile, U.S. envoy Chris Hill had this to say in Prishtina today: "Let me just say very briefly, it was a rare pleasure to be able to accompany Dr. Rugova out into the countryside. It's a fact that we are always shocked to see the amount of damage that has been done in these villages, house to house without roofs, many burned-out homes, and many crops that weren't harvested this year.

On the other hand, we could also see clearly that there are changes, and people have indeed begun to return to their homes. In Ostrozub, in particular, I met some whom only one month ago I had met out in a village nearby, sleeping under plastic tents. It was good to see them now in their homes. And now what we need to do is to make sure that they are able to stay in their homes, and that they are never driven from their homes again. And to do that we need a lasting settlement, and Dr. Rugova and I have had extensive talks today on the political settlement. And we are going to keep at this, and we are going to get a political settlement, and we are going to return Kosovo to a situation where people can be in charge of their lives, where people can run their own affairs, and Kosovo can once again be a prosperous place. Thanks a lot. Thank you Dr. Rugova."

[03] Serb Forces's Presence Leaves No Hope of Peaceful Solution in Kosova, Dema^i Says

The Serb military and police - 25,000 are to stay in Kosova according to the NATO commander Clark - is a stumbling block for the return of normality in the life of people, for the return of Albanian refugees and IDPs to their settlements "destroyed and devastated in Serb offensives", Dema^i said.

Serb forces have only partially withdrawn from Kosova. Many of them have stayed behind in the hills, in factories and back in the villages, the U^K representative claimed. "The time is passing, and the beginning of the normalization of life is being delayed".

The U^K political representative expressed the readiness to cooperate with the OSCE Verification Mission in Kosova.

The local LDK leaders in Malisheva, Jakup Kastrati and Cen Desku, were arrested by the U^K because "according to some unconfirmed reports", they propagated capitulation, the handing over of weapons, Adem Dema^i said. "This is in violation of U^K laws".

The U^K political representative reiterated his position for the need to establish a broadly based Assembly and Government in Kosova.

[04] Serb Troops Moving Along Kosovar Towns, Provoke Local Population

Lipjan: The LDK chapter in Lipjan, a town 15 km south of Prishtina, said Serb troops in over 20 vehicles drove along the main street of the town today morning. Serb forces headed later towards the neighboring municipality of Shtime.

Klina: A local LDK activist in Sferka village of Klina told the KIC today at around midday that there was an increased presence of Serb troops in the area today.

A. Gashi said that last night again, Serb forces manning a couple of posts around the Vuljaka bauxite mines, sprayed the outlying villages with machine-gun fire. The villages of Panorc, Llap^ev& and Mrasor were pounded with machine-gun fire at around 23:00 hrs last night and in the small hours today, Tuesday.

Less than half of the population has returned to Sferka village, the local LDK activist said. He added that out of 215 houses the village had, 122 were burned out during the Serb offensives earlier this year.

Rahovec: The LDK chapter in Rahovec ('Orahovac') said the Serb police manning a checkpoint at a location "Te Rrasat" harassed several Albanians and beat up brutally at least one of them today.

Saferim Zllanoga said he was on his way to work in his fields when halted and beaten up brutally by the Serb police. The police tortured him with no reason whatsoever, he said. Mr. Zllanoga suffered severe body injuries.

The LDK said Serb forces have stepped up movements in the area over the past couple of days.

Serbs manning a checkpoint at X&rx&-Prizren-Gjakova intersection have been harassing Albanians passing by.

At least 250 Serb policemen have been housed in the "Park" motel in Rahovec. There were over 30 vehicles in front of the motel today morning, loaded with commodities plundered in Albanian homes in the area, the LDK Information Commission in the town said.

Vitia: At around 02:00 a.m. today, a group of Serb soldiers intruded into the courtyards of several Albanians at Lubishta village.

The LDK chapter in Vitia said armed Serb soldiers intruded into the farmhouses of Bajram Xhymshiti, Izer Xhymshiti and Zymer Xhymshiti.

No incident was reported.

Prishtina: A unit of Serb police forces was deployed today morning near the local school at Ke^ekolla village. Serb policemen raided later a local cafe in the village. After about two hours, the police left the village, local sources said.

[05] In Serb Show Trial, 11 Albanians of Extended Family Sentenced to 53 Years of Imprisonment

They were accused of having committed terrorist actions.

The eleven Albanian defendants were members of the extended Jetishi family.

Qerim Jetishi was sentenced to 12 years in prison, Fadil Jetishi to 8 years, Hekuran Qorri to 8 years, Valdet Jetishi to 5 years, Burim Jetishi to 3 years, Agim Jetishi to 3 years, Kastriot Jetishi to 3 years, Behar Jetishi to 3 years, Kujtim Jetishi to 3 years, Zenel Jetishi to 3 years, and Avdyl Jetishi to 2 years imprisonment.

Meanwhile, sources said Dr. Fehmi Vula, member of the LDK chapter presidency in Gjakova, was acquitted today.

Dr. Vula was arrested on 26 May 1998 on charges that he had helped U^K fighters. He was in pre-trial prison ever since and the Serb court in Peja released him today.

Mrs Mevlude Sara^i, an LDK chapter presidency member in Gjakova, and a member to the Parliament of Kosova, also arrested in late May, is still in Serb custody.

[06] Serb Police Raids Homes of Albanians, Detains LDK Activists in Gjilan

The Serb police authorities have failed to explain the reason for Jusuf Aliu's arrest. His family members made inquires yesterday at the local police station in Gjilan, but were told by Serb police officers that they "can only be informed in three days' time" about his whereabouts.

The Serbian police raided also yesterday morning the home of Tefik Hashani at V&rbica village of Gjilan. The police searched thoroughly Mr. Hashani's house and questioned him about his son, Ismet Hashani, chairman of the local LDK organization, who has been in Serb custody for twenty days now.

Ismet Hashani was arrested on 15 October, when Serb police cracked down and arrested also a dozen LDK activists in the town of Gjilan and surrounding villages, including Lutfi Haziri, vice-chairman of the LDK chapter in Gjilan.

Lutfi Haziri's lawyers have claimed that their client was subjected to brutal torture while in Serb custody.

[07] Serb Policeman Threatens Albanian in Podujeva

PRISHTINA, Nov 3 (KIC) - A Serb policeman, known as 'Cipiripi', who has been notorious for his aggressive attitude towards Albanians, has been threatening the family of Isuf Selmani, proprietor of "Fortuna" cafe in the town of Podujeva.

This Serb policeman was wounded in yet unsolved circumstances in Selmani's cafe shop two years ago.

Mt. Selmani told the KIC the Serb policeman wants that he pays to him 20, 000 DM in "indemnification", on obscure charges that the Albanian had orchestrated his wounding!

On Sunday, the Serb policeman's brother and another Serb entered the family house courtyard of Isuf Selmani. They threatened the family, and vowed to come back.

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