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Kosova Daily Report #1717, 99-03-11
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1717
Prishtina, 11 March 1999
First Edition: 13:00 CET
Second Edition: 16:15 CET
CONTENTS
[01] Serbian Forces Shell Five Vushtrri Villages Wednesday Night
[02] Local LDK Activist Killed in Lummadh Village of Vushtrri Today
[03] Column of 45 Serbian Vehicles Enters Kosova from Serbia Early Morning
Today
[04] Heavy Serbian Buildup in V&rrini Region of Prizren
[05] Serbian Forces Crack down on Rigjev& Village of Klina
[06] President Rugova Receives UN Special Envoy Jiri Dinstbier
[07] Heavy Gunfire Heard in Border Villages in Gjakova Area
[08] Serbian Forces Continue Shelling Mitrovica and Vushtrri Villages
[09] Serbian Forces Set Siege to Prizren Villages
[10] Albanian Population of Half a Dozen Klina Villages Sent Fleeing
[11] Leaflets With Fake OSCE Logo Spread in Prishtina
[12] 59 Albanians Killed in Kosova During February
[01] Serbian Forces Shell Five Vushtrri Villages Wednesday Night
PRISHTINA, March 11 (KIC) - Serbian military troops stationed at Bukosh and
Novolan started firing at 19:10 CET on Wednesday, and shelled the villages
of Pantin&, Oshlan, Okrashtic&, Lkej, and Balinc& overnight, local LDK
sources in Vushtrri said.
For almost three hours late Wednesday evening, Serbian military forces
shelled and machine-gunned the villages of Vaganic& and V&rnic& of
Mitrovica, as well as Oshlan, Pantin& e Lkej of Vushtrri, sources from
Mitrovica confirmed. The shelling was so powerful, it could be heard in the
town of Mitrovica itself.
The Albanian residents of three town districts, "Tavnik", "Ura e gjakut"
and "Bair", spent the night rough in the open.
A Serbian shell hit the house of Ramadan A. Veseli (50) in Mitrovica at
23:00 CET on Wednesday.
Serbian forces resumed shelling the above-mentioned villages today at 6:00
a.m., local sources told the KIC.
A column of the Serbian military involving half a dozen APCs headed in the
direction of Prilluzh& late Wednesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, a Serbian military convoy backed up by 11 combat vehicles headed
towards Mihaliq village just before eight o'clock in the morning today
(Thursday).
[02] Local LDK Activist Killed in Lummadh Village of Vushtrri Today
PRISHTINA, March 11 (KIC) - An unidentified person shot dead Enver Feka
(36), father of four, local LDK leader in Lummadh village of Vushtrri
today.
Enver was killed in his shop in Lummadh ('Velika Reka'), when the gunman
fired several pistol bullets at him.
The Albanian's shop is situated close to the Serbian colonists settlement,
built by the Serb regime in the early 1990s.
The killer ran away hastily with a black Golf car with Mitrovica license
plates.
Five persons roaming the village of Lummadh were seen last evening in the
same car, local sources said.
[03] Column of 45 Serbian Vehicles Enters Kosova from Serbia Early Morning
Today
PRISHTINA, March 11 (KIC) - At 6:30 a.m. today (Thursday), a convoy of 45
vehicles brought fresh Serbian forces into Kosova from Serbia, travelling
the Nis - Podujeva highway. The convoy included 10 busloads of police, a
number of lorries and jeeps, besides other vehicles.
Serbia has been massing troops and armor in Kosova in the past several
weeks, most of which travelling the Nis-Podujeva-Prishtina highway.
[04] Heavy Serbian Buildup in V&rrini Region of Prizren
PRISHTINA, March 11 (KIC) - Heavy Serbian forces went to the V&rrini
region's villages in the municipality of Prizren last night, local LDK
sources said.
The residents of the Tusus and Bajram Curri neighborhoods of Prizren fled
their homes as a result of this Serb buildup in the area.
An increased Serbian forces' presence, including 7 army tanks, has been
established today on the road leading to Ho^& e Qytetit.
Reports that could no be immediately confirmed said Serbian forces have
killed an Albanian in Ho^& e Qytetit.
Heavy paramilitary police forces have been deployed along the Prizren-
Dragash roadway up to the crossroads leading to Opoj& region, as well as on
the road to Poslisht&, where 4 army tanks have been deployed.
[05] Serbian Forces Crack down on Rigjev& Village of Klina
PRISHTINA, March 11 (KIC) - Serbian police forces, backed up by three
armoured personnel carriers, entered today morning the village of Rigjev&,
municipality of Klina.
Local LDK sources said police moved into a number of Albanian family
compounds in the village, sending part of the population fleeing their
homes.
[06] President Rugova Receives UN Special Envoy Jiri Dinstbier
PRISHTINA, March 11 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova Ibrahim
Rugova received today Mr. Jiri Dinstbier, UN special envoy for human rights,
and his aides to discuss the current situation in Kosova and the
Rambouillet accords on Kosova.
The humanitarian situation in areas affected by the unfolding Serbian
military and police offensives in Kosova was discussed in the meeting.
The increased Serbian military buildup all over Kosova and the extension of
conflicts in southern parts of the country have resulted in more victims
and heavy displacement of Albanians from their homes, President Rugova said,
pressing for an urgent international intervention to bring an end to
Serbian offensives.
Regarding the Kosova deal negotiated in Rambouillet, France, Rugova pointed
out that most of the people of Kosova and the political forces have given
their approval, demanding that its implementation, once it is signed, is
carried out by NATO.
The UN special envoy Dinstbier said a speedy signing and implementation of
the Rambouillet deal would open up prospects for Kosova and all its
people.
[07] Heavy Gunfire Heard in Border Villages in Gjakova Area
PRISHTINA, March 11 (KIC) - Heavy Serbian artillery fire was being heard in
a number of Kosovar villages along the border with neighboring Albania
today, local LDK sources in Gjakova said.
The gunfire started in the early hours today, reverberating in the town of
Gjakova itself.
The body of Fadil Tolaj (46), a taxi driver from Gjakova, was taken to the
town morgue Wednesday afternoon, sources said.
Tolaj went missing on 9 March, and was found killed with firearms on the
road leading to C&rmjan village.
[08] Serbian Forces Continue Shelling Mitrovica and Vushtrri Villages
PRISHTINA, March 11 (KIC) - Serbian forces continued shelling today the
villages of Vaganic& and V&rnic&, Mitrovica municipality, and Oshlan,
Pantin& and Lkej of Vushtrri municipality in northwestern Kosova, local LDK
sources told the KIC.
Serb military has been pounding Albanian villages from their positions in
Frash&r i Vog&l and Pir^ villages.
A number of Albanian houses in V&rnic& and Vaganic& have been reported in
flame.
Fresh, heavily armed Serbian forces have been reported building up in the
area under attack.
Serbian paramilitary police forces entered Novolan village of Vushtrri at
noon today, local LDK sources in Vushtrri said. Serb forces have been
stationed in the Zhabari family compound. Three Albanian women and a girl
have not been evacuated from the area.
Heavy police forces have been checking and harassing tens of passers-by in
the town of Vushtrri today.
[09] Serbian Forces Set Siege to Prizren Villages
PRISHTINA, March 11 (KIC) - Hundreds of Serbian forces have set siege to
the Vrrini region's villages in the municipality of Prizren since today
morning, local human rights sources said.
Over 30 Serbian vehicles, including ten tanks, left Prizren for Ho^& e
Qytetit today, whereas as many 300 armed policemen entered Leskovec village
at 9:00 a.m. today. Albanians fled their homes in fear.
Early in the morning today, a heavy detonation was heard near the Zhur
village. Serb army tanks then left in the direction of Opoj& region.
Around 10:00 a.m. today, all the residents of Ho^& were huddled together in
the fields, under a complete siege by Serbian army and police forces. Other
terrified Albanian residents were assembled near the village school at
Billush&, the Prizren chapter of the Prishtina-based Council for the
Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) said.
On Wednesday evening, the body of a villager, around 70 years of age, was
found in Ho^& e Qytetit.
The Prizren-Zhur roadway has been blocked by Serbian army and police troops
today. A heavy presence of Serbian forces has been reported in the
compounds of the "Farmakos" pharmaceutical in Prizren, too.
[10] Albanian Population of Half a Dozen Klina Villages Sent Fleeing
PRISHTINA, March 11 (KIC) - The stepped up movement and buildup of Serbian
army troops in several villages of the Klina municipality has prompted the
Albanian population of half a dozen villages (^upev&, Volljak, Sferk&,
P&r^ev&, Gllarev& and Jashanic&) flee their homes.
On Tuesday evening, Serbian troops opened gunfire in the direction of
K&puz& and ^eskov& for half an hour, local sources said.
Serbian forces have been firing against U^K positions in the villages of
Gllarev&, Rigjev& and Burim almost on a daily basis.
[11] Leaflets With Fake OSCE Logo Spread in Prishtina
"It is disinformation, aimed at detracting the peace process in Kosova",
OSCE spokesperson says
PRISHTINA, March 11 (KIC) - "It is disinformation, aimed at detracting the
peace process in Kosova", Beatrice Lacoste, the OSCE KVM spokeswoman told
the KIC today, in reference to leaflets spread today in Prishtina
containing an OSCE logo, in which the Rambouillet accords have been
presented from a pro- Serbian view.
In three languages (English, Serbian and Albanian), the leaflets -
headlined The Interim Agreement on Kosovo Discussed in Rambouillet -
alleged that the Kosova deal means "giving up the independence and giving
up Kosovo Republic", as well as "life in Autonomous Province within the
framework of Republic of Serbia".
The OSCE will come up with a statement on this, Lacoste said, adding that
the aim was probably to "make people angry with the OSCE".
[12] 59 Albanians Killed in Kosova During February
PRISHTINA, March 11 (KIC) - 59 Albanians were killed and 25 others wounded
in Kosova during the month of February, according to a report issued by the
Prishtina-based Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms
(CDHRF).
39 Albanians were killed in unsolved circumstances, one was executed by
Serb forces, another tortured to death. The identity of three killed
Albanians has not been established, the major Kosovar human rights group
said.
Some 700 Albanians were physically abused by Serbian forces and armed
Serbian civilians, 200 others arbitrarily arrested, whereas 84 Albanians
were sentenced to prison terms on political charges.
39 persons went missing in February, and 12 others kidnapped, the CDHRF
said.
Kosova Information Center
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