Kosova Daily Report #1418, 98-05-03
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1418
Prishtina, 3 May 1998
First Edition: 16:30 CET
Second Edition: 18:30 CET
CONTENTS
[01] Heavy Explosions and Gunfire Reported in the Border Area with Albania
[02] Serb Forces Shell Ponoshec Village, VOA Correspondent from Albania
Confirms
[03] Four Albanians, Victims of Serb Forces, Buried in Two Drenica
Villages
[04] Serb Regime Collaborator Shoots Dead Kosovar Albanian in Ka^anik
[05] Thousands of Albanians March in 24th Day of Peaceful Protests in
Kosova
[06] Albanian Imprisoned for Taking Part in Peaceful Protest
[07] Young Albanian Sentenced to 45 Days in Prison in Prizren
[08] Intermittent Gunfire and Blasts Continue at Kosova - Albania Border
Area All Afternoon Sunday
[01] Heavy Explosions and Gunfire Reported in the Border Area with Albania
PRISHTINA, May 3 (KIC) - Reports from De^an and Gjakova, municipalities in
south-western Kosova, speak today of escalating situation in the border
area with Albania. Heavy Serbian gunfire started today at 10:00. At 15:00
hrs, it was reported still going on.
LDK sources said the sound of heavy gunfire was coming from the villages of
Junik, Morin& and Ponoshec, while Serb helicopter gunships were flying
overhead all the time.
Serbian ('Yugoslav') army forces equipped with heavy armament were reported
building up in the border area today morning.
It has been impossible to get information on the damage caused by Serb
forces.
Radio Belgrade reported today that at 21:20 hrs Saturday at 2 o'clock in
the morning today (Sunday), near the border post of "Gorozhup", clashes
occurred at the Kosova-Albania border. The Serb state-run radio said Serb
military forces did not suffer any casualties.
The radio said that two groups of people from Albanian tried to infiltrate
the border and enter into Kosova, an attempt which was reportedly foiled by
the Serb army.
LDK sources in De^an reported today that Serb military and police convoys
paraded through the town.
At a quarter past 5 in the morning today, the sound of gunfire was heard
coming from the village of Baballoq and the surrounding area, which has
been under Serb siege.
[02] Serb Forces Shell Ponoshec Village, VOA Correspondent from Albania
Confirms
PRISHTINA, May 3 (KIC) - The Voice of America (VOA) Albanian Section
broadcast today (Sunday) afternoon a report by its correspondent in Albania,
who confirmed heavy gunfire was heard on the Albanian side from the Kosovar
territory.
The VOA correspondent reported from the Qafa e Morin&s border post in the
Albania-Kosova border.
The report confirmed that the village of Ponoshec in the municipality of
Gjakova, in southern Kosova, had been today the stage of warlike armed
confrontations.
The VOA broadcast sounds of the heavy shelling and explosions coming from
neighboring Kosova.
The report said heavy Serb forces were attacking Albanian houses with
artillery. A similar situation was reported possible in the villages
surrounding Ponoshec.
The VOA cited Albanian border authorities who said Serb artillery attacks
occurred in the border area with Albania in the De^an municipality, too.
[03] Four Albanians, Victims of Serb Forces, Buried in Two Drenica
Villages
PRISHTINA, May 3 (KIC) - The funeral of four Albanians killed by Serb
forces late last week was held Saturday afternoon at Turiqec and Vojnik&
villages, respectively, of Skenderaj (in Serbian 'Srbica').
Agim Emin Emini (35) killed by Serb police on Friday was buried in the
cemetery of his village of residence, Turiqec. The body of the deceased
Albanian had been badly mutilated, witnesses said.
Meanwhile, three members of the Gashi family from Turiqec, Asllan (26) his
wife Merita (23), and Raba (f), 34, were buried Saturday afternoon in the
local cemetery of the village.
The three Albanians were killed Friday during a several-hour-long shelling
of the village by Serb forces.
The Prishtina-based Bujku said that while the funeral of the three
Albanians was taking place, Serb forces garrisoned in the area kept firing
a couple of neighboring villages.
[04] Serb Regime Collaborator Shoots Dead Kosovar Albanian in Ka^anik
PRISHTINA, May 3 (KIC) - A 40-year-old Albanian, Bajrush Tafili, was killed
in the downtown of Ka^anik, south-east Kosova, Saturday afternoon.
The deceased Albanian Bajrush Tafili was fatally wounded by his fellow
citizen Mahmut Dardhishta, a member of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS)
and a Serb police reservist officer.
The LDK Information Commission in Ka^anik said after a short argument
between Bajrush Tafili and Mahmut Dardhishta yesterday afternoon, the
latter pulled out his revolver, shot at Tafili, fatally wounding him. He
died on the way to Prishtina hospital.
Sources in Ka^anik said Mahmut Dardhishta is one of a few members of
Milosevic's party in the area. Only days ago he was seen in the town
wearing Serb police reservist uniform.
The Serb police has lately encouraged and mobilized the Kosovar Albanians
collaborating with the Serb occupying regime in Kosova.
Only a few days ago, namely on 29 April, one such Albanian was reported to
have led a Serb police/army severe attack on an Albanian village in Klina,
Gllareva. It was Dan Balaj, whom the Serb media have been glorifying as the
"brave fighter against U^K [Kosova Liberation Army]", who led the operation
in which scores of local Albanians were terrorized during the three-hour
long action.
The man who shot dead his fellow resident yesterday, Mahmut Dardhishta, is
one of the Kosovar Albanians who showed up to talk with representatives of
the Serb government in Prishtina in April.
The Kosova Albanian leadership refused to take part in such talks referred
to by the Serb regime as "talks with national minority groups in Kosova and
Metohija".
[05] Thousands of Albanians March in 24th Day of Peaceful Protests in
Kosova
PRISHTINA, May 3 (KIC) - Thousands of Albanians turned out in Prishtina
today, for the 24th day in a row, at midday for a half- hour peaceful march
to protest Serbian occupation, in favor of Kosovar independence.
The citizens walked in calm through the Mother Teresa square.
Thousands of Albanians took to the streets in Kosovar towns, partaking in
protests whose motto os "Kosova, the biggest jail in Europe".
The protests have been called by the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK), the
biggest political force in Kosova, and supported by a dozen political and
non-political groups in the country.
[06] Albanian Imprisoned for Taking Part in Peaceful Protest
PRISHTINA, May 3 (KIC) - Shefki Bajrami (1972) from Livoq village of Gjilan
was sentenced to 30 days in prison for having taken part in a peaceful
protest.
LDK sources said Shefki Bajrami was sentenced during summary proceedings at
the Serb-run magistrate court in Gjilan last week.
Meanwhile sources in Mitrovica said the Serb police ill-treated several
Albanians on Saturday following a peaceful march in the streets of the
town.
One of them, Beshir Berisha (26), was taken to the police station where he
was subjected to ill-treatment. In addition, he was ordered to identify, in
photos taken by the police, the people attending protests in Mitrovica .
Beshir Berisha was released after two hours in custody and was threatened
with harsher consequences if caught once again taking part in protests.
Thousands of people have been holing half-hour peaceful marches in Kosova
towns for over three weeks now to protest Serb rule in Kosova.
Citizens in all the Kosova towns, including capital Prishtina, marched for
the 24rd consecutive day today.
[07] Young Albanian Sentenced to 45 Days in Prison in Prizren
PRISHTINA, May 3 (KIC) - Flamur Gashi, a young Albanian from Prizren, has
been sentenced to 45 days in prison on charges that he trampled on the
Serbian flag during a protest march in Prizren on the day of the 'Yugoslav'
statehood.
The Serbian-installed court in Prizren sentenced Mr. Gashi sumamrily to a
month and a half jail sentenced during proceedings yesterday (Saturday).
On 27 April 1992 the so-called Zabljak constitution of Serbia- Montenegro
('Yugoslavia') was adopted.
Kosovars do not recognize it, nor the holiday which is imposed by the Serb
regime to mark that day.
[08] Intermittent Gunfire and Blasts Continue at Kosova - Albania Border
Area All Afternoon Sunday
PRISHTINA, May 3 (KIC) - A report from Gjakova said late in the afternoon
today (Sunday) that heavy Serb army gunfire which started earlier the in
morning was still going on at around 17:30 p.m. The village Ponashec was
targeted by Serb forces during the whole course of afternoon, the LDK
Information Commission in Gjakova said.
Sources in Gjakova and De^an, municipalities in south-western Kosova, said
today morning that the situation in the border area with Albania was
further escalating. Heavy Serb gunfire which started at around 10:00 today
was coming from the villages Junik, Morin& and Ponoshec. Serb army
helicopter were flying low over the area during the while time.
The report of the LDK Commission in Gjakova said combined Serb army/police
forces attacked earlier this afternoon the Smolica village. Clashes between
the Serbs forces and local resident defending their homes continued for
quite a while, the report said, and added that heavy blasts were also heard
coming from the village.
Meanwhile, referring to the Serb police, the Radio Free Europe said in its
18:00 hrs news program the Serb police station in Ponashec village of
Gjakova was attacked today morning and four Serb policemen were badly
wounded. A Serb police helicopter was also attacked while on its way to
collect the wounded policemen, the Radio Free Europe said.
The Albanian Section of the Voice of America (VOA) broadcast today
afternoon a report by its correspondent in Albania, who confirmed heavy
gunfire was heard on the Albanian side from the Kosovar territory.
Reporting from the Qafa e Morin&s border-post in the Albania-Kosova border
the radio broadcasted sounds of the heavy shelling and explosions coming
from neighboring Kosova. The VOA cited Albanian border authorities as
saying Serb artillery attacks occurred in the border area with Albania in
the De^an municipality, too.
The situation continues to be extremely tense in the town of Gjakova itself
and it vicinity, sources in Gjakova said. There has been an ever-increasing
presence and movement of Serb and military forces. Serb army/police patrols
have been stationed in all the key-positions in the town and outside it.
Additional Serbian ('Yugoslav') army forces equipped with heavy armament
were reported building up in the Kosova-Albania border area today morning.
The latest reports from Gjakova (18:15) said a dozen of Serb police
vehicles, with heavily armed men on board, left the town heading for the
border zone villages.
Kosova Information Center
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