Kosova Daily Report #1721, 99-03-15

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1721
Prishtina, 15 March 1999

First Edition: 13:00 CET
Second Edition: 17:00 CET

CONTENTS

[01] Kosova Conference Resumes in Paris, Albanians Reportedly Willing to Sign Deal

[02] Serbian Military Launches Artillery Attack against Mitrovica, Vushtrri and Skenderaj Villages

[03] Serbs Pound Podujeva Villages with Artillery Overnight

[04] Police Kills Four Members of Albanian Family in Grejkoc Village of Suhareka

[05] Bodies of Two Men Found in Zabllaq, Istog Area

[06] Serbian Forces Resume Attacking Sferk& Village of Klina

[07] Two Albanians Wounded by Serb Shells in ^upeva Village of Klina

[08] Kosovar Delegation Agrees to Sign the Rambouillet Accords

[09] One Albanian Killed, Two Wounded from Serbian Shell Landing in Bradash

[10] Arms Shooting Reported in Villages Straddling Prishtina-Podujeva Highway

[11] Third Killed in Podujeva Bombing Blast Identified

[12] Serbian Forces Shell Five Vushtrri Villages

[13] Body of Albanian Found in Rahovec Village on Sunday

[14] The Killed in Zabllaq Identified

[15] Two Albanians Found Killed Near Jeshkovë Village of Prizren

[16] Some 20 Albanians Arrested in Gjakova, Taken to an Unknown Destination

[17] Serbian Forces Pound Two Deçan Villages Overnight and Today Morning

[01] Kosova Conference Resumes in Paris, Albanians Reportedly Willing to Sign Deal

The Kosova delegation had a plenary session today, in which the U^K (Kosova Liberation Army) representatives made it clear they will say 'yes' to the Rambouillet accords.

Today morning, Hashim Thaqi, a leading U^K member, met with the chief international negotiator, U.S. ambassador Chris Hill, reportedly informing him of the acceptance to sign the agreement.

The Kosova delegation will meet with the international mediators sometime in mid-afternoon today, after which a statement is expected confirming the readiness of our delegation to sign the Kosova deal negotiated at Rambouillet, namely the 23 February document.

[02] Serbian Military Launches Artillery Attack against Mitrovica, Vushtrri and Skenderaj Villages

LDK sources in Mitrovica said the villages of Vaganic& and Verrnic& of Mitrovica municipality were being shelled, then the village of Lubavec (Skenderaj municipality), as well as the villages of Galic&, Lkej, Oshlan and Pantin&, Vushtrri municipality.

Serbian forces have launched their attack from their positions in Frash&r i Vog&l and Pir^.

The same villages were targeted by Serbian gunfire overnight, too.

Speaking about today's attacks, local LDK sources in Vushtrri said Serbian forces were engaged in heavy shelling of Albanian villages from their bases at Dolak and Shtitaric& at 9:00 a.m. The school village in Mihaliq has been burned.

A Serbian military convoy, involving 19 vehicles full of soldiers and police, headed towards Mihaliq today morning. Private-owned lorries were seen to have joined the Serb convoy, too.

Albanian vendors will not work at the fruit market in Mitrovica today, but rather pay homage to the victims of the bombing blast of Saturday by laying flowers in the marketplace.

Five persons were killed and over sixty wounded in the terrorist attack at the market in Mitrovica that day.

Meanwhile, the Vushtrri municipal education authority ruled that schools in the area will be discontinued till 22 March amidst the continued Serbian offensive against the Albanian villages and insecurity for all, including pupils and students.

[03] Serbs Pound Podujeva Villages with Artillery Overnight

The shelling was very powerful, sources from the town said, failing to offer any details about the consequences.

Early in the morning today, fresh Serbian troops and armor moved into Kosova from Serbia via the Nis-Podujeva-Prishtina highway, local sources said.

A Serbian military convoy, consisting of over 100 combat vehicles, entered Kosova early in the morning today, the Prishtina-based Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) said.

Meanwhile, 5 Serb tanks and other army pieces were reported deployed in the village of Peran, where for more than two months now the Podujeva-K&rpimeh roadway has been blocked. Serb forces have established their presences in other locations along this roadway, too.

Heavy Serbian forces have been roaming the streets of Podujeva, home to 20,000 inhabitants, of whom 99 percent Albanians. There has been a very limited movement of citizens, though.

[04] Police Kills Four Members of Albanian Family in Grejkoc Village of Suhareka

Xhemajl H. Tafaj (42), Ismajl H. Tafaj (35), Rizah I. Tafaj (19) and Ibrahim Xh. Tafaj (16) were killed by the Serbian police in the woods between Grejkoc and Mushtisht villages at 15:00 CET.

They had gone to fetch wood, a family member who survived said. The police killed them with no reason whatsoever, he added.

[05] Bodies of Two Men Found in Zabllaq, Istog Area

Their faces were bloodstained, and their shirts half stripped, eye- witnesses said.

A month ago, an Albanian, Haki Hoti, was found killed in the same location.

[06] Serbian Forces Resume Attacking Sferk& Village of Klina

The villages of Sferk& and Dush have been burned down, and the residents who fled their homes are in a desperate humanitarian situation, sources said.

[07] Two Albanians Wounded by Serb Shells in ^upeva Village of Klina

Other sources spoke of four Albanians killed during the fighting in Dush i Sferk&s village yesterday.

The U^K said only three of its soldiers had been wounded in the fighting there.

Meanwhile, local LDK sources in Klina said a police car took the bodies of four killed persons to the police station yesterday. They were taken out of the car, photographed, and then driven away to an unknown direction.

[08] Kosovar Delegation Agrees to Sign the Rambouillet Accords

As to the signing itself, it is matter depending on when the ceremony would be organized, sources tell the Kosova Information Center (KIC)

Meanwhile, in an interview with the CNN today afternoon, President of the Republic of Kosova Ibrahim Rugova said the agreement would be accepted as a whole, with both the political and implementation components. We await NATO now, he said, because NATO "is guarantor of the agreement".

Asked whether Kosovars would give up their independence bid, President said "We will never give up independence".

The current agreement provides for a three-year-long period of self-government, with a NATO-led implementation mission to enforce it.

[09] One Albanian Killed, Two Wounded from Serbian Shell Landing in Bradash Village of Podujeva Today

Hazbi Veliu (18), final year student with the Middle Economics School in Podujeva, was killed, whereas Kadrush and Ramush Tahiri, all residents of Bradash, were wounded.

The shells were fired from Serbian army positions in the border village of Përpellac ('Prepolac'), half a dozen km away from Bradash.

The funeral of Hazbi Veliu will take place in Bradash tomorrow (Tuesday), a family member told the KIC.

At least four Serbian army shells landed in the village of Bradash today afternoon.

A highly explosive and dangerous situation is reported in the town of Podujeva itself. Serb snipers have been posted on top of the buildings, including the town granary.

The movement of people in town has been reduced to a bare minimum.

[10] Arms Shooting Reported in Villages Straddling Prishtina-Podujeva Highway

Arms shooting was reported in the area.

There has been no immediate word on what actually happened there.

[11] Third Killed in Podujeva Bombing Blast Identified

The two others killed were Besnik Shabani and Nexhat Miftari, whereas some 40 Albanians were injured. Besnik Shabani was killed by a Serb sniper while helping the wounded in one of the two explosions in Podujeva on Saturday.

[12] Serbian Forces Shell Five Vushtrri Villages

The shelling was reported to be very intensive. There has been no immediate word on casualties and material damage.

Serbian police has been physically abusing, robbing and arresting Albanians in the town of Vushtrri today.

Haki S. Hajrizi suffered body injuries when police beat him up in his Novolan village yesterday.

[13] Body of Albanian Found in Rahovec Village on Sunday

Mr. Morina has been unaccounted for since 24 February, when he was arrested by the Serbian police at the police station in Prizren.

[14] The Killed in Zabllaq Identified

They were probably killed from close range, eye-witnesses said, adding that their faces were bloodstained and shirts stripped off.

[15] Two Albanians Found Killed Near Jeshkovë Village of Prizren

They seem to have been killed from close range, the newspaper said, adding that their bodies have been taken to the Prizren town morgue.

The bodies of four more killed Albanians are feared to have remained inside the village of Jeshkovë.

The identification of six bodies, taken to the town morgue in Prizren on 12 March, has not been carried out yet.

[16] Some 20 Albanians Arrested in Gjakova, Taken to an Unknown Destination

Some twenty civilian Albanians, residents of Gjakova municipality's villages, were rounded up, forced into a van and taken to an unknown destination, sources said.

Police arrested also Sefer Seferi (28), resident of Gjakova, who suffered a mental breakdown after a brutal police treatment earlier.

Today is a market-day in the southern town of Gjakova.

[17] Serbian Forces Pound Two Deçan Villages Overnight and Today Morning

The Serbs were firing from their positions in Lumbardh, Irzniq and 'Suka e Baballoqit' (the 'Baballoq upland').

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