Kosova Daily Report #1399, 98-04-13

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

Kosova Information Center

KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1399

Prishtina, 13 April 1998

CONTENTS

[01] President Rugova Receives U.S. Diplomats

[02] President Rugova Receives Romanian Diplomats

[03] Serb Forces Open Fire, Plunder Homes in Drenica

[04] Serb Hooligans Beat Three Albanians in Fush& Kosova

[05] Increased Serb Military Movement in Kosova

[06] Tens of Thousands of Albanians Stage Walking, Calm Protests in Kosova

[07] LDK Activist in Serb Custody Since Friday, Lawyer Being Denied to See Him

[08] Serb Police Beats Unconscious Albanian Youth in Vushtrri

[09] Serb Police Beats Albanian for Having Voted for Djukanovic

[10] Serbian Police Harass and Threaten Albanian Catholic Priest

[11] Serbian Army Moves in the Direction of Klina

[12] Baballoq Residents Abandon Homes Following Shots From the Serb Refugee Camp

[01] President Rugova Receives U.S. Diplomats

Attending the meeting were also Mr. Nicholas Hill, First Secretary, and other officials of the United States Mission in Belgrade.

The current situation and the prospects for a negotiated and peaceful settlement to the Kosova issue were discussed at length.

President Rugova hailed the United States role and the genuine commitment of the U.S. Congress over Kosova.

The situation in Kosova is extremely grave in the wake of actions by Serbian forces against the local Albanian population in some parts of Kosova, President Ibrahim Rugova said. He pressed for increased international pressure to make Belgrade withdraw its special police and paramilitary units from Drenica.

The people of Kosova are committed to their peaceful struggle for freedom and independence of their country, the President said, adding that independence of Kosova would stabilize the entire region.

Negotiations between Prishtina and Belgrade, which should be mediated by the U.S. and assisted by its European allies, are critical in pursuit of a just and peaceful resolution to the Kosova issue, Dr. Rugova emphasized.

The U.S. diplomats reconfirmed the American commitment to a speedy progress towards the resolution of the Kosova crisis.

President Ibrahim Rugova expressed his appreciation for the continued U.S. support for Kosova, highlighting the significance of amicable ties between Kosova and USA.

[02] President Rugova Receives Romanian Diplomats

Rugova and Donca discussed about the most recent developments in Kosova as well as the prospects for a negotiated and peaceful resolution in Kosova.

Regarding the situation in Kosova, President Rugova said it is extremely grave in the wake of actions by Serbian forces against the local Albanian population in parts of Kosova. He pressed for increased international pressure to ensure that Belgrade complies with calls for withdrawal of its special police and paramilitary units from Drenica.

The people of Kosova are committed to their peaceful struggle for freedom and independence, the President said, adding that negotiations between Prishtina and Belgrade, under third party mediation, are necessary in pursuit of a just solution for Kosova.

The Romanian Foreign Ministry Director General expressed the concern of his country over the situation in Kosova. Romania stands for a peaceful resolution to the Kosova crisis, he stressed.

President Ibrahim Rugova urged for more support by the Romanian government in international efforts to secure a just and negotiated solution to the Kosova issue.

[03] Serb Forces Open Fire, Plunder Homes in Drenica

Sources said the Serb forces walked Friday into the Kastrati family compound in Turi^evc and looted all the Albanian homes, plundering valuables. The Serb forces demolished the things they could not carry away, LDK sources said.

More than 80 Albanians were killed by Serb forces in Drenica last month.

Serb forces have been reinforcing rather than withdrawing from Drenica, reports indicate.

[04] Serb Hooligans Beat Three Albanians in Fush& Kosova

The owner of the pastry-shop Kajkush Kamberi told KIC on Sunday that the Serb hooligans entered the shop and attacked his clients without any reason. He said that they [the Serbs] also demolished a lot of shop furniture.

Mr Kamberi complained similar cases occurred in his shop in the past and that his work and security, as well as the security of his clients was endangered.

[05] Increased Serb Military Movement in Kosova

Large Serb forces walked out of the Mitrovica barracks today (Monday), local sources said. They headed in the direction of Fshati i Vog&l village. Twenty one lorries, many of whom full with soldiers, as well as heavy weaponry, including tanks and cannons, were in the Serb military convoy,.

Meanwhile, huge Serb military forces have been seen in the location of Qaf& e Dul&s today. Then they headed for Luzhnica village of Suhareka, where they were reported stationed, LDK sources in Suhareka said.

Around 10 o'clock in the morning today, a convoy of Serb military vehicles left the Peja ('Pec') barracks for Klina. A dozen tanks, several lorries, as well as heavy artillery made up the convoy, LDK Information Commission in Peja reported.

Increased military movements have been reported in the Prizren and Dragash municipalities in the past few days.

[06] Tens of Thousands of Albanians Stage Walking, Calm Protests in Kosova

Today was the fourth day of half-hour walking protests lasting from 12 through 12:30 hrs.

The Protest Committee said Sunday "Kosova is the largest jail in the world".

The walking protest happen under the watchful eye of the Serbian police. There have been no reports of police breaking up crowds.

Cases have been reported, though, of Albanians harassed and provoked, or even beaten up, in back roads, while dispersing in the past few days.

[07] LDK Activist in Serb Custody Since Friday, Lawyer Being Denied to See Him

Hafir Shala was arrested in Sllatina Friday morning together with tow other activists from Gllogovc, while on their way to Prishtina.

To his companions, Hetem Neziri, an activist with the Mother Teresa charity association, and Shaban Neziri, an associate with the Prishtina-based Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms, were released after six hours in detention.

Dr. Hafir Shala is presumably being held in the Serb states security premises in Prishtina, the Koha Ditore newspaper said.

Destan Rukiqi, a lawyer hired by the Shala family was reportedly denied contact with his client.

[08] Serb Police Beats Unconscious Albanian Youth in Vushtrri

Mr. Beqiri was forced out of a bus and beaten severely without any reason. Other passengers of the bus took him to the medical center in Vushtrri for treatment subsequently.

The Serbian police arrested Sunday Emin Rugova local LDK chairman at Carralluk& village of Istog. They held him at the police station in Peja for several hours and beat him severely. The police used truncheons against him.

Meanwhile, the Serbian police stationed at Ozrim of Gjurakoc stopped Naser Kabashi, Lecturer at the Prishtina University and LDK chairman in Gjurakoc, and beat him severely under the charges that he had six persons in the car.

The Serbian security arrested Brahim Pelaj at his home in Novosella of Peja Monday morning. Mr. Pelaj is member of the LDK presidency in Radavc.

Mr. Pelaj was reported still under arrest.

[09] Serb Police Beats Albanian for Having Voted for Djukanovic

He was taken at the police station in Peja and held there until 3 a.m. The police beat him severely at the police station because he admitted he had voted for Milo Djukanovic (current Montenegrin president).

While in custody, a group of three masked persons entered the cell where he was kept and using a electric fuse to write on his skin the name Milo (referring to Milo Djukanovic) and drew a Serbian cross.

[10] Serbian Police Harass and Threaten Albanian Catholic Priest

Initially father Mikel Sopi was charged of not possession proper travel documentation. The Serbian police told him later that they had been informed of his activities in Rome in support of the Kosova cause, which Serbian regime views as 'hostile activity'.

He was released but threatened that he will receive "special treatment" next time.

Father Sopi had been active in informing the international organizations on the Serbian regime massacres against the Albanian population of Drenica at the end of February and beginning of March.

[11] Serbian Army Moves in the Direction of Klina

In the convoy there were bulldozers, field kitchens and heavy artillery equipment.

[12] Baballoq Residents Abandon Homes Following Shots From the Serb Refugee Camp

Eye-witnesses told Bujku newspaper that shots came from the distance initially, but they were getting closer. The heavy shooting in the direction of Baballoq made the local residents to flee their homes in panic.

Sources in De^an reported of frequent movement of heavily armed Serb forces in the area.

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