Kosova Daily Report #1371, 98-03-14

Kosovo Information Center: Kosova Daily Report Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1371
Prishtina, 14 March 1998

First Edition: 15:30 hrs
Second Edition: 20:00 hrs

CONTENTS

[01] President Rugova Receives Delegation of Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly

[02] Serb Snipers Kill Albanian in Turi^evc of Drenica

[03] Entire Family Feared to Have Perished in Burning Ruins of House in Prekaz

[04] Police Kills Albanian at Runik Village Today

[05] Unidentified Woman and a Little Child Buried by Serb-run Firm in Albanian Cemetery in Prishtina

[06] Serb Snipers Wound Two Albanians at Tushill& of Drenica, CDHRF Says

[07] Serb Who Ran Over Several Peaceful Protestors March 2 Identified

[08] Lists of Candidates for Presidential and Parliamentary Elections to Be Submitted by Tuesday

[09] In the Kosova Diocese, Requiem Mass to Be Said Monday for Drenica Victims

[10] US Will Contributes $1 Million for The Hague Crimes Tribunal Activity in Kosova

[01] President Rugova Receives Delegation of Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly

The delegation extended their condolences to President Rugova on the death of scores of Albanians during the Serb massacre in Drenica.

The President and the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly exchanged views about the dangerously deteriorating situation in Kosova and the possibilities of de-escalating and overcoming it by political means.

Dr. Ibrahim Rugova said the situation in Kosova is extremely grave in the wake of the terror campaign of Serb forces in several villages of the Drenica region. He called for pressure to bear on Belgrade so that the actions of Serb forces be brought to an end and they pull out of Drenica, where several villages are still sealed off.

Regarding the prospects for a political resolution of the Kosova crisis, President Ibrahim Rugova said the people of Kosova are committed to pursue their legitimate demands for independence by peaceful and political means. The Kosova leadership has been steadfast on its willingness to engage in an unconditioned, well- prepared dialogue, in the presence of a third international party, he emphasized.

The delegation of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly reiterated the position of this organization for an immediate secession of violence in Kosova. They said their organization stands for an unconditional dialogue as the way to resolve the Kosova issue.

President Ibrahim Rugova expressed his appreciation for the Council of Europe's efforts on Kosova and called for their intensification so that a meaningful dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade is initiated.

[02] Serb Snipers Kill Albanian in Turi^evc of Drenica

Several Skenderaj villages have been kept under siege by Serb forces since 5 March.

While Serb all-out operations are on halt, it is the snipers which target those moving in and out of the sealed off area.

Mr. Ali Lutani was shot and killed by the Serb forces, while on his way from Broja village to his native Turi^evc to fetch medicaments for his ill mother. The family had moved to Broja because the Serb police had on 5 March assaulted their house in Turi^evc, and later on smashed up and looted belongings. Ali's father, Rrahman, was beaten up severely on the occasion.

His father inquired with the police about the whereabouts of his son Friday. The police took him and Ali Lutani's wife to the police station in Peja where they [the police] showed them pictures of the persons they killed.

Rrahman recognized his son in the photos of killed people the Serb police produced.

The police ordered Rrahman to report to the Serb police station in Klina today.

[03] Entire Family Feared to Have Perished in Burning Ruins of House in Prekaz

The LDK Information Commission and the CDHRF chapter in Vushtrri ('Vucitern') said today the family of Sadik Jashari - consisting of Hafije (f), Hamdi (30), Elfije (f), Remzie (pregnant), two-year-old girl, Ramiz (20), and Fatime (f, 20) - reportedly hid in the cellar of a burning house on 5 March amidst Serb shelling of the village.

The LDK and CDHRF in Vushtrri said today a relative of the Jashari family from Likoshan has been trying ever since to learn about their fate. He eventually got a permission by the Serbian police department in Mitrovica today (14 March) to go and search for the Jashari family members, in the company of the Serb police dept chief.

The person said he went to the Jashari family compound in Prekaz, which was levelled by Serb forces on March 5. Smoke was coming out of the cellar of the house the Sadik Jashari had been hidden in, and the place stank of dead burning bodies, the person was quoted of saying.

The police did not allow him enter the cellar and establish anything, LDK and CDHRF said.

[04] Police Kills Albanian at Runik Village Today

The Commission could not obtain further details about his Serb police criminal act.

[05] Unidentified Woman and a Little Child Buried by Serb-run Firm in Albanian Cemetery in Prishtina

The burial was conducted by the Serb-run Trash Pick-up company.

Sources from the Albanian National Democratic Party (PNDSH) told KIC the bodies of the woman and the 7-8 month-old child were decomposing.

Another source said the woman and the child were probably not related to one-another.

[06] Serb Snipers Wound Two Albanians at Tushill& of Drenica, CDHRF Says

CDHRF said Bashkim Dibrani (22) has been reported disappeared. No one knows about his whereabouts for several days now.

The human rights group said a large number of Albanian women and children, who fled from two neighboring villages, have been found shelter at the local school. They lack food, medicines and hygienic supplies, Bujku reported.

[07] Serb Who Ran Over Several Peaceful Protestors March 2 Identified

The Serb Zoran Grbusic works as a driver with local Serb-controlled V, and is a member of the Serb police reserves, Bujku said.

The Serb drove speedily into the crowd of peaceful Albanian protestors 2 March, leaving four injured severely.

One of the injured, Miss Fatime Azemi, was in a state of comma for four days.

To date the Serb authorities have not initiated any legal procedures against him, Bujku says.

It was Serb police who came to the Serb's aide that day (2 March), when the crowd tried to catch hold of him, eye-witness said.

[08] Lists of Candidates for Presidential and Parliamentary Elections to Be Submitted by Tuesday

The decision was made today during a meeting of the Republican Election Commission in Prishtina. In the meeting, chaired by the Commissions's chairman Tadej Rodiqi, were participating also the representatives of Kosovar parties - the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK), Parliamentary Party of Kosova (PPK), Liberal Party of Kosova (PLK), the Social Democratic Party of Kosova (PSDK), the Peasants Party of Kosova (PFK), the Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosova (PSHDK), the Republican Party of Kosova (PRK), the National Unity Party (UNIKOMB), the Party of Democratic Action (SDA, a party of Bosniacs), etc.

Mr. Tadej Rodiqi told the KIC the meeting discussed all aspects and preparations related to the March 22 elections.

Because of the extremely grave situation in the Drenica region of Kosova in the wake of Serb massacre, the Republican Commission decided that elections will be postponed in the electoral zones in the affected area. The voting in such zones would be held at a later date.

The first multiparty elections in Kosova were held May 24 1992. Dr. Ibrahim Rugova was elected President, whereas the LDK won most of the seats in the 130-seat Parliament of the Republic of Kosova.

Kosova has a combined majority-proportional election system. 100 members to the Parliament will be elected through direct vote, whereas the rest, 30, will be allocated to ethnic groups and small parties, those winning at least 3 percent of those casting their votes in Kosova.

[09] In the Kosova Diocese, Requiem Mass to Be Said Monday for Drenica Victims

Almost 100 Albanians were slain by Serb forces in the their homes in Drenica villages on 28 February and the first week of March.

In agreement with the Kosova Diocese and the President of the Republic of Kosova, the Kosova political parties, trade unions, the student and women's organizations, as well as the human rights council, called for other citizens to stage silent protests against Serbian violence and terror in Kosovar municipal centers.

Candles will be lit and and photos of Mother Teresa held up by protesters on the streets at the time of the requiem mass conducted in all Catholic churches in Kosova.

[10] US Will Contributes $1 Million for The Hague Crimes Tribunal Activity in Kosova

Around 100 Albanians, including many women, children and other civilians are believed to have been slain by Serb forces in Drenica since end- February.

The Prishtina-based Bujku newspaper has quoted the United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright as saying one million U.S. dollar contribution will be earmarked to the ICTFY to do its work in Kosova and designate independent forensic experts investigate possible crimes.

"We are not going to stand by and watch the Serbian authorities do in Kosovo what they can no longer get away with doing in Bosnia," Albright said in advance to the Contact Group meeting this past week.

The Contact Group foreign ministers in a meeting on Kosova on Monday, March 9, urged the office of the ICTFY Prosecutor "to begin gathering information related to the violence in Kosovo that may fall within its jurisdiction".

In a statement to the press in Prishtina on Tuesday, Robert S.

Gelbard, President Clinton's envoy for the Balkans said the mandate of ICTFY "clearly covers Kosovo now", noting that the Tribunal was requested to "begin gathering information whether crimes have indeed committed" in Kosova.

Meanwhile, Louise Arbour, ICTFY chief prosecutor said in a statement earlier this week her office will be gathering information and evidence relating to allegations on atrocities committed by the Serb forces in Kosova over the past days.

Kosova Information Center

Kosovo Information Center: Kosova Daily Report Directory - Previous Article - Next Article