Kosova Daily Report #1655, 99-01-06
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1655
Prishtina, 6 January 1999
CONTENTS
[01] Albanians Assaulted in the Wake of Unsolved Blast in Prishtina
[02] Shooting in Mitrovica and Surrounding Villages
[03] Serb Forces Fire upon Three Vushtrri Villages Wednesday
[04] Serb Forces' Shooting Reported in Malisheva, Klina, Prizren
[05] Albanians Arrested by Serb Police in Skenderaj
[01] Albanians Assaulted in the Wake of Unsolved Blast in Prishtina
"Albanians are afraid the Serb regime is shifting the stage of its state
terror, targeting the Kosovar towns now", President Rugova's aide says
PRISHTINA, Jan 6 (KIC) - On Tuesday evening, just after 20:00 hrs, a hand
grenade was tossed at the window of a Serb-run ("007") cafe in downtown
Prishtina, capital of Kosova. The grenade exploded outside the cafe,
reportedly resulting in three persons being lightly wounded by flying
glass.
In the aftermath of the blast, Serbs in plain clothes, in the full presence
of uniformed Serb police just across the street, stormed Albanian cafes and
assaulted Albanians who happened to be there.
Eye-witnesses saw Serb civilians with handguns and even automatic rifles
opening fire in the air as well as at Albanian cafes. The windows of a
number of Albanian cafes were smashed, and Albanians and others frequenting
them were terrified by Serbs.
Koha ditore daily writes today three armed Serbs yelling last night in
front of Albanian cafes, "Izadjite napolje, majku vam jebem siptarsku" [Get
out, you fucking Albanians]. The Albanian daily confirms Serbs had opened
fire with Kalashnikovs, too.
Serb police intervened 20 minutes after the blast, whereas the OSCE KVM
members 20 more minutes later. The cafes "Mrika", "Morena" e "Queens"
suffered damages.
Serb civilians stopped and beat up Albanians routinely on the streets
Tuesday evening, in the area which was sealed off by police till 24:00
hrs.
Avni Abazi (22), resident of Jabllanica village of Peja, who suffered grave
injuries about his face, spoke to the KIC about what Serbs did last night
and his own ordeal.
Abazi, a student with the Albanian-run Academy of Arts at the University of
Prishtina, said that he was past the 'Morena' cafe in Dardania neighborhood
at 20:15 hrs Tuesday when he was beat up severely by three Serbs.
He said he had been together with a friend of his, Xhem& Nuredini, resident
of Smira village of Vitia, who he lost sight of when Serbs targeted him.
Xhem& Nuredini was pursued by Serbs, too.
The cafe-pizzeria "Mrika" owner, said a group of 30 Serbs with revolvers
smashed the windows at 20:30 hrs. He said he got the customers in the
basement of the cafe. None of them were injured.
Avni Hasani, proprietor of "Eris" bar, relayed a similar story.
Serb civilians smashed up and even looted items in his bar.
A Serb citizen, Boban Marusic, fired shots today (Wednesday afternoon) in
Dardania neighborhood, causing panic amongst the Albanians and damaging two
cars near his block of flats.
Just after 11:00 hrs today, an Albanian journalist saw a Serb civilian
openly carrying his Kalashnikov in the Dardania crossroads.
After having carried a massive ethnic cleansing campaign in the countryside
last year, the Serb regime is now targeting the towns and cities in Kosova,
Xhemail Mustafa, President Rugova's press advisor said today.
The mysterious killings and other acts of violence are being orchestrated
by the Serb regime so as to create a climate of general insecurity in the
town, Mustafa said, referring to the unsolved killings in Kosova this past
week, in which ten people were killed. Last night's blast in front of the
Serb cafe in Prishtina falls within this pattern, he said, adding that it
was exploited by armed Serbs, mainly young, to terrorize Albanians and
destroy their property.
"Albanians are afraid the Serb regime is thus shifting the stage of its
state terror, targeting the Kosovar towns now", President Rugova's aide
said.
[02] Shooting in Mitrovica and Surrounding Villages
Campaign of house raids and ill-treatment of Albanians continues
PRISHTINA, Jan 6 (KIC) - Heavy shooting from small arms was reported today
in the town of Mitrovica and the surrounding villages.
Serbs opened fire from their military barracks in Mitrovica.
Shooting was reported also in the neighborhoods of "Kroi i Vitakut", "2
Korriku", "7 Shtatori", "Ibri", "Kodra e Xehetar&ve", "Bair" and in the
villages of Suhadoll, Koril, Frash&r i Madh and Frash&r i Vog&l.
On Tuesday evening, from 17:20 through midnight, gunfire was reported also
originating from the Serb military base at Kutllofc village of Shal& e
Bajgor&s.
Scores of Albanians were harassed and ill-treated by Serb police in "Tuneli
i Par&" neighborhood in Mitrovica on Tuesday, LDK sources said. Among those
who were stopped, had their papers checked and were harassed, were Faruk
Spahiu, member of the LDK Presidency, Latif Berisha (62), chairman of the
LDK chapter in Mitrovica, as well as local activists Adem Beqiri (48),
Shyqri V. Kelmendi (52), Behxhet Osmani (40), Latif Jashari (52), a senior
official of the Republican Party (Partia Republikane), Hysni N. Syla (48),
a correspondent with the "Kosova sot" daily.
Serbian police forces have been engaged for days now in a large- scale
campaign of raids on Albanian households in Mitrovica.
Some 30 policemen raided for hours Tuesday the house of Bashkim Morina (30),
LDK sources said. Allegedly in connection with arms searches, the house of
Behxhet Ahmeti (40) in Zhabar i Ep&rm villages was also raided.
Police arrested Lam Kurti's children, his daughters Sebahate (16) and
Resmije (14) and his son Muharrem (18), yesterday after the house raid. The
girls were held for four hours in police detention, whereas Muharrem Kurti
is still in custody.
Meanwhile, the local human rights organization (CDHRF) reported that Afrim
Gashi (23), resident of Shtutica village of Gllogovc, who has been
sheltered as a refuge in Mitrovica for months, has been missing for a week
now.
[03] Serb Forces Fire upon Three Vushtrri Villages Wednesday
PRISHTINA, Jan 6 (KIC) - Since 6 o'clock in the morning today (Wednesday),
the villages of Okrashtic&, Pantin& and Oshlan, municipality of Vushtrri,
were fired upon, presumably by Serbian forces stationed at Frash&r
('Svinjare') village, local LDK sources said late in the monring today.
A column of Serbian military travelled the Mitrovica-Prishtina roadway at
8:40 a.m. today, whereas another convoy left the Serb army garrison in
Vushtrri heading for Mitrovica, the LDK chapter in Vushtrri said.
The police have been reported ill-treating Albanians in the town of
Vushtrri. Near the Vicianum motel, brothers Hashim, Halil and Muharrem
Halili were beaten up severely today.
[04] Serb Forces' Shooting Reported in Malisheva, Klina, Prizren
PRISHTINA, Jan 6 (KIC) - Heavy small arms shooting by Serbian forces was
reported today in the Malisheva area, central Kosova.
The LDK chapter in Malisheva said Serbian forces stationed at Pishat e
Volljakut and the Bauxite mines were shooting sporadically from 4 a.m.
through 1:30 p.m. today.
Serbian forces stationed in the village of Kijev&, straddling the Prishtina-
Peja highway, were also engaged in shooting today, causing panic amongst
the Albanian population of the villages of Balinc&, Mleqan, Llazic&,
Bubavec, LDK sources said.
Serb forces were engaged in firing in the small town of Klina and the
surrounding villages from 4:00 through 9:00 in the morning today.
The municipality of Klina, the town itself as well as key communications in
the countryside, have been under a tight grip enforced by Serb military and
police forces, LDK sources said, adding that Albanians are being routinely
ill-treated.
Serbs opened fire overnight in Prizren, LDK sources said.
Even machine-gun and mortar fire was reported originating from the Serb
military garrison in the southern town of Prizren.
Shooting was heard also in the village of Zhur.
Serb soldiers and policemen were patrolling the streets in Prizren today,
LDK sources said.
[05] Albanians Arrested by Serb Police in Skenderaj
Albanian shot and wounded by police in Gjurakovc
PRISHTINA, Jan 6 (KIC) - Serbian police stopped today Albanian motorists
and passers-bye, harassing and ill-treating them, especially near the Game
Ammunition Factory in Skenderaj.
Many Albanians have been reported arrested. Teacher Mon Veliqi and two
citizens from Klina are known to be amongst them.
Meanwhile, sources from the neighboring municipality of Istog said Rasim
Rexha, resident of Dobrosh village of Gjakova, who has been staying in
Gjurakovc village as a refugee, was shot and wounded in the leg by Serb
police Tuesday.
Kosova Information Center
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