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Kosova Daily Report #1451, 98-06-05
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1451
Prishtina, 5 June 1998
First Edition: 12:00 CET
Second Edition: 16:15 CET
CONTENTS
[01] In a Week, 52 Albanians Killed, 200 Missing, 150 Held Captive, Around
30.000 Driven from their Homes in De^an
[02] President Rugova's Aides Call for Urgent Action in the Face of Serbian
Aggression in Kosova
[03] Serbian Offensive Deals Serious Blow to Fledgling Talks Process on
Kosova, G-15 Spokesman Says
[04] It Is Important that NATO Reaches Its Decision on Kosova Very Quickly,
Kinkel Says
[05] At Least One Albanian Killed, Two Wounded, in Serb Attack in Rahovec
Overnight
[06] Border Zone Villages Come Under Renewed Serb Fire Friday Morning
[07] Serb Forces Shell Indiscriminately Albanian Villages in Malisheva
[01] In a Week, 52 Albanians Killed, 200 Missing, 150 Held Captive, Around
30.000 Driven from their Homes in De^an
PRISHTINA, June 5 (KIC) - In a week, since 29 May, 52 Albanians have been
killed by Serb forces during a large-scale Serbian attack against De^an and
its villages, the head of the LDK Information Commission in De^an, Osman
Cacaj, said.
Mr. Cacaj, who managed to come up with new details after a week, told the
KIC some 200 people are held as missing. Serbian forces have been holding
captive another 150 Albanians.
The villages of Lubeniq, Llo^an, Pograxh& and Hulaj have been razed almost
completely, whereas the villages of Carrabreg i Ep&rm, Carrabreg i Ul&t,
Isniq, Drenoc, Sllup, Voksh and Drenoc have been partly burned down and/or
destroyed by Serbian shelling and forces.
The entire population has been driven out or fled the town of De^an and the
villages of Lubeniq, Strellc i Ep&rm, Carrabreg i Ep&rm, Carrabreg i Ul&t,
L&bush&, Llo^an, Hulaj, Pograxh&, Voksh, Sllup, Drenoc, Junik, Jasiq,
Gjocaj, Prejlep and Lluk& e Ep&rme.
The LDK Information Commission's head in De^an, Osman Cacaj, described the
situation in De^an and surrounding area as grave and critical.
Between 15,000 and 20,000 have been streaming towards Albania, whereas some
15,000 towards Montenegro, Cacaj assessed.
In the deserted villages, the bodies of 45 killed people lye unburied in
the heat. Fearing Serb sniper fire, nobody dares go out, pick up and bury
the dead, Cacaj said.
In addition, there are many killed cattle in the fields, a source of
potential outbreak of epidemics.
Some villages have electricity.
Mr. Cacaj said last night Serbian forces prompted two incidents during
their raids and looting sweeps in the villages.
At the village of Strellc, an old man who stayed behind to look after his
farmstead, in an attempt to protect his property, killed three Serb
policemen with a hand grenade.
Reports said three other Serb policemen were killed at the village of
Prejlep.
Two Albanians were wounded in last night's incidents.
The LDK Information Commission's head called on the international community
to intervene urgently to save the population that is still in the villages
of the De^an municipality.
Mr. Cacaj called for international humanitarian organizations, first and
foremost the International Red Cross and medical organizations, to help
urgently with collecting and burying the killed Albanians.
The is desperate need for medical and food supplies in the municipality of
De^an, the LDK activist stressed.
[02] President Rugova's Aides Call for Urgent Action in the Face of Serbian
Aggression in Kosova
PRISHTINA, June 5 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr.
Ibrahim Rugova has canceled his planned meetings in Rome and other European
capitals and cut short his trip because of the dramatically deteriorating
situation in Kosova amidst an outright aggression by Serbian forces, Mr.
Xhemail Mustafa, Rugova's press advisor, told the press in Prishtina today
(Friday).
Describing the situation in De^an, Gjakova and Peja, an in the border area
with Albania, Mustafa said Serb forces have left scores of Albanians dead,
many others wounded, and entire villages burned or set ablaze.
"This is ethnic cleansing", Rugova's aide said, adding that a dozen
thousand Kosovars - mostly women, children and elderly - have been forced
out of their homes into neighboring Albania.
The Serbian regime has been engaging the Albanian people of Kosova in an
undeclared war, Xhemail Mustafa said, adding that the local people have
been organizing in self-defense, to "protect their personal integrity, the
integrity of their families and community".
The people of Kosova wish to see more action than words on the part of the
international community to bring about an end to Serbian aggression in
Kosova, he said.
Mr. Mustafa said NATO should commit troops in Kosova, and added that
thousands of Albanian protesters called for urgent NATO intervention in
Kosova during a rally in Prishtina yesterday.
The people of Kosova and its leadership stand firmly in their position for
an independent Kosova pursued by peaceful and political means, Rugova's
spokesman said.
The Serbian regime has been preventing access to the areas under attack in
De^an, Peja, and Gjakova, blocking food and medical supplies, in a bid to
subject the people.
"A humanitarian corridor, under international monitoring, should be
established" to help the suffering people, Mr. Xhemail Mustafa said.
The people of Kosova have been for years engaged in a peaceful struggle to
prevent Serbian ethnic cleansing schemes; now they have found themselves
with the choice of self-organizing in attacked areas to try and prevent
that, Mustafa said, in reply to a question.
"The Kosova negotiating teams is not boycotting talks, but rather has
called for this round of discussions to be put off because of the unfolding
Serb offensive against entire villages in Peja, De^an and Gjakova", Xhemail
Mustafa said. "A condition for resumption of talks will be putting an end
to the offensive and the unblocking of the sealed-off area".
The aim of the Serbian military campaign to ethnically cleanse a swathe of
territory along the border with Albania by destroying or razing villages is
to "break up the territorial and ethnic Albanian continuity" in the region,
Mustafa said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Alush Gashi, Rugova's advisor for humanitarian issues, told
the press today in the same conference the Kosovar institutions have been
in contact with international NGOs operating in Kosova trying to join
efforts to help people in the areas under Serb attack.
The humanitarian organizations have been turned back at the first Serb
check-point, Dr. Gashi said, recalling that Serb forces have even seized
humanitarian shipments, although they had all due documentation, including
police permits.
[03] Serbian Offensive Deals Serious Blow to Fledgling Talks Process on
Kosova, G-15 Spokesman Says
PRISHTINA, June 5 (KIC) - The Serbian military and police operations in the
past week against the villages in the Dukagjin region, especially in De^an,
which resulted in huge loss of life amongst civilians, thousands of
refugees, and entire destroyed or burned villages, have seriously damaged
the negotiating process on Kosova, Blerim Shala, spokesperson for President
Rugova's G-15 (Advisory Group) said today after the meeting of the Kosovar
negotiating team in Prishtina.
The recent developments in Kosova demonstrate that the level of
international involvement in the Kosova crisis has been inadequate, Mr.
Shala said.
The situation here can be defined as the first stage of a war, he added.
The Kosova negotiating team considers that the current situation in Kosova
requires that the Contact Group, NATO, and the UN security Council address
it urgently and adopt immediate measures to de- escalate the situation and
create the conditions for the resumption of the negotiation process to
resolve the Kosova issue, Blerim Shala concluded.
Meanwhile, the head of 'FRY' President Milosevic's delegation for talks
with Prishtina, Ratko Markovic, said in a statement today "the delegation
of Albanians did not show up today, and have not offered any explanation
for this".
Dr. Fehmi Agani, coordinator of the six-member Kosovar negotiating team
designated by President Ibrahim Rugova of Kosova, explained the reasons
yesterday.
[04] It Is Important that NATO Reaches Its Decision on Kosova Very Quickly,
Kinkel Says
PRISHTINA, June 5 (KIC) - The British Foreign Minister Robin Cook was
quoted as saying that five permanent members of the United Nations Security
Council - United States, Britain, China, Russia and France - would meet
next week to examine the recent developments in Kosova.
Tens of people were killed and wounded, thousands compelled to flee homes
and seek shelter throughout Kosova and the neighboring Albania amidst the
unfolding Serb offensive in western and south- western Kosova.
Robin Cook confirmed that there will also be a meeting of the six- nation
Contact Group next week to discuses the next steps in addressing the Kosova
crisis.
Political directors of the Contact Group countries are expected to meet in
advance of the ministerial meting, set for next Friday.
The British Foreign Minister has repeatedly declined to say what might be
expected to come out of the Contact Group talks next week.
Meanwhile, news agencies have quoted the German Foreign Minister as saying
that West will not allow another the repeat of Bosnia in Kosova.
Reuters quoted Klaus Kinkel as saying that "NATO will be there to intervene
this time if necessary".
It is important that NATO reach its decision very quickly, Kinkel said,
adding that no option was ruled out.
Kinkel has warned that "Milosevic should know that once NATO troops are
stationed there, if it then should come to an absolutely chaotic situation,
ways must be sought of intervening in Kosovo itself."
[05] At Least One Albanian Killed, Two Wounded, in Serb Attack in Rahovec
Overnight
PRISHTINA, June 5 (KIC) - At least one Albanian was killed and three others
wounded in Serb forces attack against the Albanian 2settlements in Rahovec
('Orahovac') overnight.
The LDK Information Commission in Rahovec said the villages of Gexh&,
Mal&si e Vog&l, Ratkoc and Gradish came under repeated Serb fire during the
whole course of last evening and night. Albanian dwellings were pounded
with grenades and artillery.
People in the LDK Commission in Rahovec said huge damage was caused in the
three villages and they feared the number of casualties amongst the local
population could be even higher.
They could identify one Albanian killed in the shelling, naming him as
Naser Krasniqi (24), resident of Ratkoc village. Xhem& Morina and Ajet Hoti,
of the same village, were wounded.
Meanwhile, sources in Rahovec said Serb forces resumed attacking the three
villages this morning.
No word about possible casualties yet.
[06] Border Zone Villages Come Under Renewed Serb Fire Friday Morning
PRISHTINA, June 5 (KIC) - Albanian villages of Gjakova and De^an
municipalities, on the border zone with Albania, came under a renewed Serb
fire today morning, sources said.
The LDK chapter in Gjakova said the sound of artillery coming from the
border zone villages could be heard in the town itself today.
A wide area in west and south-west of Kosova has been targeted by Serb
forces for a couple of months now, while since last week the Serb army,
police and paramilitary forces have mounted a large- scale attack.
At least 52 Albanians have been killed by Serb forces in the last week
alone in De^an and surrounding villages, 200 people are held as missing,
150 Albanians are being held by Serbs, the head of the LDK Information
Commission in De^an, Osman Cacaj, said today.
The LDK chapter in Gjakova and De^an could not say whether there were
additional casualties in the Serb attacks today.
The LDK Information Commission in De^an told the KIC today dozens of
villages in the area have been razed completely during the several- day-
long shelling by Serb forces, who also set entire neighborhoods ablaze.
Between 15,000 and 20,000 have been streaming towards Albania, whereas some
15,000 towards Montenegro. In the deserted villages, the bodies of 45
killed people lye unburied in the heat. Fearing Serb sniper fire, nobody
dares go out, pick up and bury the dead, Cacaj said.
[07] Serb Forces Shell Indiscriminately Albanian Villages in Malisheva
PRISHTINA, June 5 (KIC) - Several Albanian villages of Malisheva - Bubavec,
Drenoc, Mle^an and Llazica - were shelled for about a quarter of an hour by
Serb forces Thursday evening, sources said.
The LDK chapter in Malisheva said the Serb forces garrisoned in a huge
check-point at Kijev&, on the Prishtina-Peja roadway, shelled
indiscriminately the area where the four villages lie.
The LDK Information Commission could not learn about possible casualties or
the extent of damage caused in the villages.
Virtually the entire Albanian population has moved out of the huge village
of Kijeva amidst unremitting and threatening movements of Serb forces in
the area.
The local Serb population has also been actively involved in campaigns of
intimidation and persecution of their Albanian neighbors, LDK sources
said.
Kosova Information Center
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