Kosova Daily Report #1331, 98-01-28

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From: Kosova Information Center <kic_pr@zana-pr.ztn.apc.org>

Kosova Information Center

KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1331

Prishtina, 28 January 1998

CONTENTS

[01] Serb Policeman Wounds Critically 17-Year-Old Albanian in Kamenica

[02] Heavy Serbian Forces Beseige Albanian Neighborhood in De^an

[03] Armed Serbs Attack Albanian Schoolchildren in Fush&-Kosova Twice Tuesday

[04] Serbs Assault and Beat Albanian Students in Lipjan

[05] Unexplained Shooting Reported at Broboniq Village of Mitrovica

[06] Increased Serb Military Movements in Mitrovica

[07] Stepped-Up Activities of Serb Police and Army in South of Kosova

[01] Serb Policeman Wounds Critically 17-Year-Old Albanian in Kamenica

Avdi Qarri has reportedly received serious wounds on his head and is said to be in a critical condition.

The LDK Information Commission in Kamenica (a small town in east of Kosova) said that last evening at around 21 hrs, a Serb police officer, Sasa Markovic, approached Avdi Qarri who was selling cigarettes on the street. The policeman put the barrel of his revolver on the boy's head, firing one bullet only a few seconds later. The bullet has gone through the head of Avdi Qarri.

Critically wounded, he was first taken to the medical centers in Kamenica and Gjilan, respectively, to be transferred later to the intensive care ward of the Prishtina Hospital.

Sources in Kamenica said that after the Serb policeman had fired on Avdi Qarri, two other policemen attempted to drag him on the street and dispersed packages of cigarettes all over probably in a bid to engineer an offence allegedly committed by the boy.

[02] Heavy Serbian Forces Beseige Albanian Neighborhood in De^an

LDK Information Commission in De^an said Serbian police forces in cars and a armored vehicle were deployed in the village since morning hours.

Latest reports from the area say some 70 Serbian policemen attacked the family of Tahir Tahirsylaj. The attack began two hours after the police had established a siege around the Tahirsylaj family.

Before walking into the house the Serbian police opened fire on the house, endangering the lives of dozens of family members who were trapped inside.

The police walked into the sleeping rooms. When reaching the room of Naser Tahirsylaj the police called on him to get out with his hands up. As he opened the door they shot at his direction.

Fortunately he was not hit.

LDK sources said the Serbian police beat severely in the presence of other family members Arif Tahirsylaj (47) and Shaq& Tahirsylaj (59). They arrested Shaq& Tahirsylaj, Arif Tahirsylaj, Dervish Tahirsylaj (26), Florim Tahirsylaj (18), Naser Tahirsylaj (20), Arb&r Tahirsylaj (18), and the teenager Ylber Tahirsylaj (16).

The siege lasted for about seven hours, says the report.

LDK local authorities who visited the family said the attack was of similar nature with the last week's one in Prekaz village of Sk&nderaj. They said they had no knowledge why that Serbian police attacked the Tahirsylaj family.

2During this expedition the Serbian police raided on the home of Nezir Azem Tahirsylaj, too.

[03] Armed Serbs Attack Albanian Schoolchildren in Fush&-Kosova Twice Tuesday

Vehbi Asllani, principal with the "Hivzi Sylejmani" secondary school told Kosova Information Center (KIC) that five armed Serb civilians assaulted yesterday a group of his students near the railway station in the town. The students who were waiting for the train were attacked without any reason whatsoever.

A Serb brandishing a revolver and another with a knife approached the students and started to kick them, the teacher said. Witnesses said one of the Serbs involved in the attack was seen talking to a Serb policeman just before the attack.

Agron Beriani, Driton Drenovci, Vjollc& G&rguri (f) and Elhame Shalaku (f) were beaten up brutally by the Serbs. Agron Berani has suffered severe body injuries and had to seek medical treatment.

Meanwhile, the LDK Information Commission in Fush&-Kosova said that Serb civilians intruded on Tuesday into the make-shift premises of a primary school in the small town. The Serb hooligans beat in presence of his pupils an Albanian teacher, Njazi Jashari. At least 10 Serbs were singing Chetnick (Serb chauvinist) songs.

Several kids were injured while attempting to jump from classroom windows, the teacher said.

The two Albanian language primary schools in Fush& Kosova have had to operate for years in make-shift premises, following the Serb occupation authorities crack-down on the education system in Kosova. Only Serbs are allowed access to the existing public school buildings in the small town.

[04] Serbs Assault and Beat Albanian Students in Lipjan

LDK sources in Lipjan said that Brahim Gashi and Adonis Maksuti, students with the secondary schol in the small town have received body injuries. Adonis Maksuti had to seek medical treatment. sources said that the Serb civilians assaulted the Albanian students without any pretext of earlier provocation.

The Serb police which showed up in the meantime in the scene detained the three assaulters. The Albanian students were reportedly advised by the police to go to the local clinic before going home.

Two Kosovar Albanian Shot Dead in Downtown Belgrade PRISHTINA, Jan 28 KIC) - Two Kosovar Albanians, Haki Aduti (42) and Jakup Aduti (37) from Prizren were shot dead in downtown Belgrade Monday evening, today's Albanian daily Bujku carries a report from its correspondent in Belgrade.

The murder was also confirmed by the Serbian Ministry of Interiors (police), says the report. According to the Serbian police, the murder took place on Monday at 6.30 p.m., at the "Zmaj Jovina" street in Belgrade. The police did not issue a statement providing any details the circumstances the two Albanians were killed.

Unofficial reports say that Haki Aduti and Jakup Aduti were killed by two gunmen and that the police had found large amounts of hard currency at the crime scene.

Bujku correspondent in Belgrade reports that according to the Belgrade- based Serbian daily Blic Haki Aduti and Jakup Aduti were hard currency dealers.

Scores of Kosovar Albanians travel to Belgrade daily, generally to obtain visas at the Belgrade-based foreign embassies.

[05] Unexplained Shooting Reported at Broboniq Village of Mitrovica

Fire was reported opened from different kinds of weapons.

The enigmatic shooting has caused fear amongst the residents of the neighborhood in the village.

[06] Increased Serb Military Movements in Mitrovica

Amongst the seven vehicles were an armored car, five APCs and a landrover full of soldiers, sources added.

At around 11:00, Serb military movements were reported in the Mitrovica- Stant&rg road.

[07] Stepped-Up Activities of Serb Police and Army in South of Kosova

The Serbian army and police have established a joint check-point near the Shiroka village, halting all the cars and passers-by moving in both directions, sources said.

The LDK Information Commission in Suhareka said that over the past days there has been a considerable increase of Serb forces in the area.

Kosova Information Center

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