Kosova Daily Report #1441, 98-05-26

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1441
Prishtina, 26 May 1998

First Edition: 11:45 CET
Second Edition: 16:00 CET
Third Edition: 20:45 CET

CONTENTS

[01] Eight Albanians Massacred, Executed in Presence of Family at Lubeniq

[02] "I Saw Serb Policemen Executing My Sons in Lubeniq", Albanian Reveals

[03] Three Albanians Killed and Four Wounded in Two Days in De^an Villages

[04] Serb Forces Continue Shelling Three De^an Villages

[05] President Rugova Travels to the United States, Meets with President Clinton

[06] Serb Forces Launch Fierce Attack on Old Part of the Town of De^an

[07] Albanian Killed in Front of His House in Peja

[08] 10 Albanians Slain by Serb Forces Yesterday at Lubeniq, Latest Report Say

[09] Gjakova LDK Activists in Serb Custody in Connection with Alleged Abduction of Two Policemen

[10] Serb Forces Shell K&puz Village in Klina

[11] Threatening Police Patrol on Prishtina-Podujeva Road to the Border with Serbia

[12] Hundreds of Thousands Protest for the 47th Straight Day in Kosova Streets

[13] Albanians Tortured at Serb Police Checkpoint in Suhareka

[14] Serb Fire into Clinic and Shops of Albanians in Peja Monday Evening

[15] Bujku Reporter in Gjakova in Serb Police Custody

[16] Serb Police Armament Shipment Relocated from Kamenica

[17] Kosovar Political Parties Call for Nato Troop Deployments in Kosova

[18] Albanian Activist in Gjakova Threatened with Liquidation by Serb Police

[19] The Fate of Some 500 Albanians Surrounded in Downtown De^an Uncertain

[20] Most of Farmsteads Burned or Destroyed at Bokshiq

[21] Killed People Feared Lying in Cellar of a House at Grabanic&

[22] Girl Wounded, Many Houses Hit During Serb Shelling of Llausha Sunday

[23] Albanians Missing, Beaten Up in Peja

[24] Local Serbs Armed in Vushtrri

[01] Eight Albanians Massacred, Executed in Presence of Family at Lubeniq

Seven members of an extended Albanian family, and an eighth person staying with them, were slain yesterday at Lubeniq: Zeq& Hamza (68), Brahim Hamza (64), D&rvish Hamza (51), Ymer Hamza (53), Gani Hamza (25), Rifat Hamza (24), Bashkim Hamza (23), Hysen Hamza (40), and Haxhi Mehmet Goga (22) from De^an, the Information Commission of the LDK and the local chapters of the CDHRF said.

Serbian forces wounded seven Albanians and ill-treated many others.

Eye-witnesses speak of a horrendous expedition.

Mehmet Goga, who was staying at Lubeniq and had his son Haxhi killed, gave a first-hand account of the Serbian expedition. (see item below)

[02] "I Saw Serb Policemen Executing My Sons in Lubeniq", Albanian Reveals

He said that Serb police shot at his sons and his nephews as well, leaving one of them dead and wounding three others.

Mehmet Goga said he had left his home earlier and had sought shelter with his relatives at Lubeniq village.

Below is the full story of Mehmet Gogaj about what he had seen and experienced yesterday (Monday) at Lubeniq: "At around 13:15hrs, the Serb army started shelling Albanian homes.

A bit later, many policemen in buses and armoured personnel carriers surrounded the Lubeniq village. The Serb forces raided houses of local Albanians, killing and massacring people. Men were forced out in the yards and executed in front of their family members. The Serbs also took my three sons and my nephew. They were forced to stand against the outside wall of the house. Then, the Serbs walked several meters back and started firing rallies from automatic rifle on them. The four boys fell on the ground. There was nothing I could do. The (Serb) policemen thought they had killed them all, hence they left the homestead. I dashed towards my lying sons. 'I am alive, dad', my oldest son Ardeshir whispered.

So did the other son Muja and my nephew G&zim. My third son, Haxhi, attempted to say something but could not. He passed away immediately. He was hit with four bullets in his chest. Unspeakable massacres were committed at Lubeniq. Many were wounded and killed.

Houses were burned to the ground. The Serb forces also shot at the fleeing people on the knolls above the village. I suppose many others were wounded or killed there".

Mehmet Gogaj said the Serb forces eventually headed for the neighbouring village of Strellc, which falls administratively in the municipality of De^an.

The Lubeniq village is deserted; most of its residents have sought shelter in Peja, Mehmet Goga told KIC today.

[03] Three Albanians Killed and Four Wounded in Two Days in De^an Villages

Zoj& Selmanaj (Ku^i), a 70-year-old woman, was killed yesterday at the village of Rastavic&.

Ismet Ukaj (22) was killed and Bedri Hasanmetaj wounded yesterday at Strellc i Ep&rm village.

Agim Hasan Had&rgjonaj (26), Muhamet Maxhun Had&rgjonaj (28) and Bashkim Dem& Mazrekaj (30) were seriously wounded at Voksh village of De^an yesterday.

[04] Serb Forces Continue Shelling Three De^an Villages

Today morning, beginning at 6:00 o'clock, Serb forces launched operations against the villages of Prejlep and Drenoc. They are being shelled from the direction of Gjakova.

Meanwhile, Serb snipers have been targeting local citizens in downtown De^an.

Serbian military and police forces occupied yesterday the buildings of the local bank as well as the medical center in De^an.

[05] President Rugova Travels to the United States, Meets with President Clinton

It is expected President Rugova will be received in the White House by President Bill Clinton.

During the U.S. trip, Rugova will meet in Washington with senior U.S. administration officials as well as representatives of both houses of the U.S. Congress.

The Kosova leader will have top level meetings with United Nations officials in New York.

Accompanying the President of the Republic of Kosova in the trip will be Prime Minister Bujar Bukoshi, Dr. Fehmi Agani, coordinator, and Veton Surroi, member, of Rugova's Advisory Council.

[06] Serb Forces Launch Fierce Attack on Old Part of the Town of De^an

Serb forces have been attacking with all kinds of weapons, including heavy guns, from their positions in the Podi i G&shtenjave location and the Health Center in the other part of the town. The Lagjja e Vjet&r has been targeted by Serb snipers on top of buildings in town.

Ar midday, a Serb military and police convoy consisting of 3 armored cars, 2 trucks and 6 APCs left Gjakova for De^an.

The situation in De^an is extremely dangerous.

Two Albanians - Haxhi Gogaj, killed yesterday at Lubeniq village, and Nexhat Ib&rhysaj, killed today in De^an - could not be buried because of the situation.

The local Albanians slain by Serb forces in their homes yesterday at Lubeniq were buried today.

At Lubeniq village the following Albanians were reported wounded yesterday: Lulzim Ymer Hamzaj (22), Xhafer Sali Bushati (46) and Nezir Sali Jahmurataj (33), residents of Lubeniq, and Ardeshir Mehmet Cacaj (26) from De^an.

At Strellc i Ep&rm village Ismet Muharrem Alimusaj (32) and Bedri Taf& Hasanmetaj (36) were reported wounded yesterday.

11 villages in De^an were shelled yesterday. Many Albanian houses have been reported destroyed.

The houses of Dukagjin Pavataj, Miftar Pavataj, Bajram Pavataj and Xhafer Pavataj at Strellc i Ep&rm village have been ruined completely. Six Ukaj family compound houses, four houses of the Kapitaj family compound, as well as three houses of the extended family of Shaban Idrizaj have been reported ruined, too. Scores of farmsteads in the village have suffered damage from Serb fire.

At Lubeniq 5 houses have been ruined to the ground, some 15 others reported damaged.

Many Albanian farmsteads have been reported to have suffered damages at the villages of Rastavic&, Prejlep, Voksh, Sllup, Drenoc, Carrabreg i Ep&rm, Carrabreg i Ul&t, Beleg, Baballoq and Grama^el. At least 15 houses have been damaged at Drenoc village alone.

Local sources in the municipality of De^an said Serb forces have been engaged in looting of Albanian households in the attacked villages.

[07] Albanian Killed in Front of His House in Peja

Eye-witnesses said Sadri was fired on from a red Lada car.

The late Albanian was getting back home from a visit he had paid to one of his neighbors.

[08] 10 Albanians Slain by Serb Forces Yesterday at Lubeniq, Latest Report Say

Reports said the following Albanians were executed/massacred: Zeq& Hamzaj (60), Gani Hamzaj (25), Rifat Hamzaj (24), Ymer Hamzaj (53) and his son Bashkim Hamzaj (23), brothers Dervish Hamzaj (51) and Brahim Hamzaj (64), Hysen Hamzaj (40), and the 90-year-old Sala Bushati (f), all of them Lubeniq residents, and Haxhi Gogaj (Cacaj), resident of De^an, a guest visitor of Hysen Hamzaj's family.

At least 7 Albanians were wounded during the Serb police action, LDK sources in Peja said.

The houses of Amrush Aliqkaj, Gjemajl Huskaj, Ali Zogaj, Nazmi Zogaj, Ram& Huskaj, Din& Shoshi, Sadik Berisha and Dem& Bushati were set ablaze or ruined.

The 90-year-old woman, Sala Bushati, was burned in the house of Dem& Bushati.

After having shelled the village with heavy guns, Serb forces advanced into the village and executed Albanians and set houses ablaze, local sources said.

[09] Gjakova LDK Activists in Serb Custody in Connection with Alleged Abduction of Two Policemen

Besa Arllati was arrested in her office while reporting to the KIC in Prishtina about the situation in the area this morning.

Before the police cut her reporting off, Ms. Arllati was saying that the situation in the municipality and in the town of Gjakova itself was extremely grave.

Meanwhile, Dr. Fehmi Vula, a surgeon-general at the Gjakova town hospital was arrested again by the Serb police today.

Dr. Vula, who is also a member of the local LDK chapter leadership, was held for several hours in the Serb custody on Monday.

Both Besa Arllati and Dr. Fehmi Vula have been reportedly arrested in connection with an alleged abduction by Albanians of two Serb policemen in the municipality a few days ago.

The LDK people in Gjakova have been maintaining that they know nothing about the abduction of any Serb policeman.

Dr. Fehmi Vula was reportedly told by the police yesterday that unless the two officers were released by Tuesday 13:00 the whole local LDK leadership in Gjakova and the town itself would be crushed.

The Serb police has renewed the threats today, adding though that the village of Smolica will also be crushed if the two Serbs are not found and let free, sources in Gjakova said.

Besa Arllati and Dr. Fehmi Vula have been reported still in Serb custody early afternoon today.

[10] Serb Forces Shell K&puz Village in Klina

Five Serb snipers were reported just before 14:00 hrs today shooting from the same position in the direction of the fields of Gremnik near the village of Zajm.

[11] Threatening Police Patrol on Prishtina-Podujeva Road to the Border with Serbia

The Serb forces stopped for some time at the villages of Lup^ and Sibovc which straddle the Prishtina-Podujeva roadway.

Police carried strict searches of all passers-bye in the two fleeting roadblocks, sources said.

[12] Hundreds of Thousands Protest for the 47th Straight Day in Kosova Streets

Organized by the Republic's Protest Committee, made up of political parties and youth organizations in Kosova, Kosovars marched peacefully for the 47th straight day in the capital Prishtina and other towns of Kosova.

The today's protest was held under the motto "Pencils for Everyone".

The manifestation was dedicated to the final year students of secondary schools in Kosova, who have just completed their secondary education in makeshift schools and classrooms.

During a half-hour peaceful rally in the Mother Teresa square in Prishtina, students and other citizens chanted slogans in support of Kosova's independence, President Rugova, U^K, (Kosova Liberation Army), etc.

Similar manifestations were reported in several other Kosova towns and municipal canters.

[13] Albanians Tortured at Serb Police Checkpoint in Suhareka

The three Albanians were forced off a bus they were on and were beaten up with no reason whatsoever, the LDK Information Commission in Suhareka said.

They have sustained grave body injuries and had to seek medical treatment.

Meanwhile, the LDK Commission in Suhareka said that Serb army troops with 21 tanks, rocket-launchers, truck and other combat equipment have been garrisoned in Duhla since Sunday.

[14] Serb Fire into Clinic and Shops of Albanians in Peja Monday Evening

The Serb policemen smashed windows of the clinic, threatening they would kill the doctor and all his patients inside.

Residents in the houses near the clinic have told LDK sources in Peja that the Serb have fired into their houses too.

Meanwhile, at around midnight last night, still unidentified persons shot at many shops at Ura e Zallit and Kapeshnica neighborhoods in Peja. The persons were aboard three vehicles without license number plate.

Windows of several shops in the area, including "Te Fekla", "Sajonara". "Tri arra", "Buquku", "Janatan", "Mirlinda", "Gerqina", "Abetarja" etc were smashed, sources in Peja said.

[15] Bujku Reporter in Gjakova in Serb Police Custody

The LDK Information Commission in Gjakova said the Serb police did not produce any warrant or explanation about the arrest of Jah& Salihu.

[16] Serb Police Armament Shipment Relocated from Kamenica

Boxes with weapons and ammunition were loaded on the police vehicles today morning. The shipment was reported sent to unknown destination later.

[17] Kosovar Political Parties Call for Nato Troop Deployments in Kosova

A joint statement from a meeting representatives of these parties held in Prishtina urged the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary General, the United States of America, the Contact Group, the European Union, and Nato, do all in their power to force Serbia bring an end to its military and police operations against the unprotected Albanian population in Kosova.

The LDK, PSHDK, PSDK and PLK called for Nato troops to be deployed in Kosova "to prevent a second Bosnia" before it becomes too late.

The Kosovar parties pressed for international humanitarian agencies to intervene in Kosova to save the suffering population.

The political forces condemned in the strongest terms the Serbian campaign of ethnic cleansing and massacres in Kosova.

Some villages now figure only as "geographic terms", a statement issued today said, referring to some villages in Klina to have been set ablaze by Serb forces.

Meanwhile, the main political force in Kosova, the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) of Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, condemned in a separate statement the Serbian military-police aggression in Kosova, "which has been helped also by Serb paramilitaries and local Serbs".

[18] Albanian Activist in Gjakova Threatened with Liquidation by Serb Police

Dr. Fehmi Vula, a surgeon with the town hospital in Gjakova, was released at 16:00 hrs today and told to report back to the police at 20:00 hrs tonight.

If two allegedly kidnapped Serb police officers were not let free by this hour, Dr. Vula would pay the price, the police said - be physically liquidated!.

The LDK Presidency in Gjakova told KIC they knew nothing about the kidnapped Serb policemen, nor why should the LDK activists suffer persecution and threats in connection with the alleged incident.

[19] The Fate of Some 500 Albanians Surrounded in Downtown De^an Uncertain

The Parliamentary Party of Kosova (PPK) sources in De^an said the building where the local chapter of the Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) is based was hit with a grenade today. There was material damage, but no casualties, sources added.

Mr. Cacaj said the Serbian military and police have been shelling the old quarter of the town of De^an, as well as the villages of Prejlep, Rastavic& and Baballoq, today.

The LDK Information Commission's head expressed his deep concern about the fate of the local Albanians - mostly women and children - who have found themselves surrounded by Serb forces in the town.

He called on the International Red Cross to do whatever it can to secure that they do not become targets of Serb crackdown and that the siege be lifted.

The town of De^an has been cut off electricity supplies, Mr. Cacaj said.

Scores of Albanians houses have been destroyed or burned down.

Several thousand people have fled their homes in fear of Serb massacres.

Local sources in De^an said yesterday's actions against the village of Lubeniq and some other villages were led by local Serbs and Montenegrins.

Local Slav community' members have been reported targeting Albanians in De^an today.

The De^an inhabitants have identified Goran Ramosaj as one of those engaged in Serbian atrocities against Albanians. He is said to be of a mixed marriage, his mother being a Serb.

[20] Most of Farmsteads Burned or Destroyed at Bokshiq

All the other farmhouses at Bokshiq have been shelled and burned or destroyed, he said.

Three Albanians have been killed during Serb onslaught in the village: Zek& Azem Brahimi (70), Shaqir Rrustem Zeqiri (26), and Fetah Morina (46), whose killing could only be confirmed yesterday (Monday).

Meanwhile, sources said Haxhi Sut Fazliu, a native of Bokshiq, has been wounded.

His son, ^aush Fazliu, and the latter's wife have been reported arrested by police.

The fate or whereabouts of Xhevdet Musa, a villager, has been reported unknown.

[21] Killed People Feared Lying in Cellar of a House at Grabanic&

The LDK Information Commission said there have been rumours about an unspecified number of killed people, reportedly lying in the cellar of Musli Isufi's house in the village.

Many citizens have reportedly been arrested in this house. They had found shelter in it after Serb shelling began, sources said.

Meanwhile, LDK sources said a young Albanian was buried yesterday at the village of Qeskov& in the municipality of Klina.

The Albanian was said to have been killed during a Serb raid in the village.

LDK sources failed to learn the identity of the man.

[22] Girl Wounded, Many Houses Hit During Serb Shelling of Llausha Sunday

The house of Aziz Balaj was hit for the first time Sunday. His 21- year-old daughter was reported wounded on the occasion.

The village of Llausha was fired upon Sunday overnight and Monday morning, too.

There were no schoolchildren to attend classes in the elementary "Petro Marko" school in Skenderaj. They were afraid to even go there.

Serb forces on board of three APCs roamed the roads of Skenderaj yesterday, singing Serb chauvinist (Chetnik) songs.

For four days now, the two bakeries in the town of Skenderaj have been closed down for lack of flour.

[23] Albanians Missing, Beaten Up in Peja

He was halted by police at 18,30 near the Arts High School in Peja and attacked with no reason whatsoever.

Police hit Shyqri with automatic rifle butts in the face. He received grave body injuries.

Meanwhile, two Albanians were stopped by Serb soldiers today morning near the military barracks in Peja and taken inside and then to the Serb security headquarters.

Brothers Shkelzen Shalanga (24) and Erzen Shalanga (20), residents of Prapaqan village of De^an, were beaten up for two hours in Serb custody, LDK sources said.

Syl& H. Gjocaj (22), resident of Raushiq village of Peja, was arrested by Serb police near the village of Kryshec.

His family said they had no knowledge about his fate.

[24] Local Serbs Armed in Vushtrri

The weapons had been brought in town by a Serb military truck at 10:30 today.

Five Serb soldiers left an unspecified amount of weapons with a Serb named Beki, who lives in the Sutjeska street in Vushtrri, sources said.

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