Kosova Crisis Center
link to alb-net
Fighting in the vicinity of Ferizaj
and Shtime continues (KP)
Ferizaj, May 5th (Kosovapress) Even today, since the early hours of the morning,
the serbian forces continue to attack with grenades the villages of Jezerc, Mollapolc and
Petrovė. The fighting are taking place even from the vicinity. The serbian terrorist
bands are trying to hide themselves through the forests of Sharri. They shoot in the
direction of the civil population. During the fierce fighting between the units of KLA and
the serbian terrorists taking place during the last night and today, there is one KLA
soldier slightly wounded, while there are many killed and wounded soldiers from the
enemy's ranks. Meanwhile, today in the military hospital, Salih Gashi,12 years old, from
the village Ngucat of the commune of Suharekės, died because of the wounds. He was
wounded days ago from the enemy's grenades.
Halit Caka from Kukės, Albania fell as a martyr
Deēan, May 5th (Kosovapress) Yesterday, with high military homages Halit Rizah Caka from
Kukėsi in Albania has been buried. He was a distinguished soldier of 134th Brigade
"Bedri Shala", of the Operative Zone of Dukagjin of KLA, who during a resistance
against the serbian terrorist military and police forces in Ratisht tė Epėrme of Deēan,
fell heroically in the homeland ground. Halit had joined the ranks of KLA together with
two cousins of him to fight the enemy and help KLA. The last person to farewell the martyr
in the mortal ceremony, was Daut Haradinaj, commander of 131st Brigade "Jusuf
Gėrvalla".
The zone of free territories is expanding every day
that goes on
Junik, May 5th (Kosovapress) Yesterday afternoon, the enemy tried to undertake an
attacking action toward the villages Batush and Koshare. The units of the barbaric and
fascist enemy were destroyed even before taking any military action, due to our observers
and the readiness of our units. Yesterday afternoon, the artillery group
"Apokalipsa" has undertaken actions, causing sudden losses to the enemy. Today,
since 4.00 o'clock in the morning, in the front line toward Rekės sė Keqe, fierce
fighting have restarted between our units and the special forces of the serbian barbarian
paramilitars and army. The serbian forces, after big losses during last night, have
provoked our units during the first hours of the morning, along the front line, using all
types of the armament they possess. According to our observers, the enemy forces in order
to retreat the cadavers of their killed soldiers, have put into action all the military
action to hit the objects of KLA. Other killed and wounded soldiers from the enemy ranks
have joined the 7 killed soldiers during the last night fighting. The zone of the free
territories from the units of KLA is becoming expanded every day that goes on. The
fighting are becoming dense along the troughs of the Junik highlands. Our units of the
commando forces "Delta", of the diversant and observer units "Kobra"
and in cooperation with other infantry units have caused big losses to the enemy during
the last 48 hours of the fighting. The enemy has left many killed and wounded soldiers in
the battle field, while it is worth mentioning the case of the killing of a sub-colonel of
the serbian special units. During the last fighting, our forces incurred 4 wounded and no
killed soldiers.
New evidences concerning the massacre in Vėrbocė
and Shtuticė
Gllogoc, May 5th (Kosovapress) In Vėrboc and Shtuticė, on April 30d, the serbian
terrorist forces have killed about 100 albanians, while have arrested 200 others, for
whose fate there are no information. The killed persons, according to the testimonies, are
between 13 and 80 years old. The cadavers are still in the mountains and fields, while
inside a cellar of the quarter of Dobrajve of Vėrboci there are 20 executed, whose
identity is not yet confirmed. Some of the killed and massacred persons are found,
identified and buried mainly during the night, while the majority of them has been
impossible to be found because of the presence of the serbian terrorist forces. The killed
persons are:
Murat Idriz Gllareva (41)
Safet Idriz Gllareva the son of Murat Gllarevės
Vehbi Gllareva
The son of Vebi Gllarevės
Remzi Gllareva (45)
Hysen Gllareva (47)
Jahir Hajrush Gllareva (40)
Eshref Behė Gllareva
Two nephews of Eshref Gllarevės
Selim Kastrati (30)
Osman Hasan Kastrati (60)
Ylber Osman Kastrati (14)
Beqir Hysen Kstrati (16)
The son of Zeqė Kastratit (14)
Zenel Baksi (62)
Ramadani from Llausha
Behush Avdi Prokshi (55)
The son of i Behush Prokshit
Ahmet Jashar Dobra
Zeqir Sheqė Gashi
Mustaf Shala (64)
Feti Sopi (83) Gllogoc
Mehmet Mehmeti Shtrubullovė
Halit Haliti Shtrubullovė
Fidaim Berisha Shtrubullovė
Antigona Fazliu Gradicė
Valon Rrukiqi
Ajet Rrukiqi
Bedri Murat Bunjaku
Additional list of the massacre
executed in Studime e Poshtme of Vushtėrri
Vushtrri, May 5th (Kosovapress) Our sources, except 51 victims of the massacre executed by
serbian terrorists in Studime tė Poshtėme of Vushtrri on May 2nd of this years, has
identified some other new names of the massacred persons,thus the cipher goes over 90
massacred people. These are the new identified victims: Hysni Bunjaku Pestovė, Milazim
Rashica, Studime e Poshtėme, Sali Muzaqi, Shehide Svarqa, Avdyl Gėrguri, Ramadan Aliu,
Skromė, Milazim Ferati, Bare, Remzi Aliu, Skromė, Hamdi veseli, Kadri Gėrgjaliu,
Studime e Poshtėme, Fetah Tahiri,Nexhip Gėrgjaliu, Ramush Gėrgjaliu, Studime e
Poshtėme, Besim Ymer Muzaqi, Fehmi Tėrnava, Vushtrri, Brahim Mehmeti, Faik Vidishiqi,
Murat Peci, Rahovė, Tafil Ibishi, Bajgorė, Islam Feriz Musa, Seceli, Agim Ramė Hyseni,
Druvar, Nazim Qerim Hyseni, Vushtėrri, Xhevdet Qazim Hyseni, Vushtėrri, Ragip Adem
Muskiu, Vushtėrri, Driton Bajram Gjafa, Bare, Beqir Kamer Hyseni, Skromė, Ali Mazhnica,
Fatmir Gėrgjaliu, Studime e Poshtėme, Agim Hasan Sadiku, Vidishiq, and there are three
other unidentified cadavers. It is thought that the number of the massacred persons goes
over 100.
Three KLA soldiers, fell in a serbian ambush
Mitrovicė, May 5th (Kosovapress) Last night about 19.30 o`clock in Mitrovica, three KLA
soldiers of the 141 Brigade "Mehė Uka", fell in a serbian ambush. They are:
Mursel Peci, Fehm Preteni and Besim Trepēa.
Ēetniks used civil albanians as living shields
Mitrovciė, May 5th (Kosovapress) On April 26th,serbian terrorist forces unable to
penetrate in KLA positions, they took the albanian civilian population which was displaced
from Mitrovica. KLA units found them self in a difficult position and they were forced to
retreat in order to avoid victims among civilians. In spite of this, serbian terrorist
forces after reaching in their positions, they`ve killed 24 civilians from Mitrovica
environs. There are two witnesses who escaped from the execution and they testified about
this. Now serbian terrorist forces are placed in albanian houses in the village of
Tėrnavc, water-supplies and they have placed there anti-aircraft missiles and heavy
artillery. They are placed in Klinė tė Epėrme in a agrarian store, in the Baran`s hill
and they have place anti-aircraft missile systems, tanks and other military equipments.
Then, they are placed in Vojtesh and in Brabaniq at the old police station. Civil
population is placed in the mountains of the villages Tėrnavc, Kuqicė e Klinė, commune
of Skėnderajt and there are displaced people coming from Mitrovica. Their situation is
very dramatic.
Actions of the KLA units in Llapush
Malishevė, May 5th (Kosovapress) An observer diversant KLA unit of the 122 Brigade,
attacked a serbian military vehicle and as result, all the serbian terrorists are killed.
In the road Temeqinė-Bellanicė, a serbian tank fell in the mines and it is completely
destroyed. In Arllat serbian forces trying to hide from NATO aviation, thy tried to enter
in this village. KLA units opened fire against them and they killed 4 serbian terrorists
and they wounded several others. In Banjė of Malishevės serbian forces attacked with
artillery and they set on fire all albanian houses.
Fierce combats for Jezerc
Ferizaj, May 5th (Kosovapress) For many days, fierce confrontations between KLA forces of
the OZ of Nerodime and serbian forces are taking place. Serbian forces are shooting even
today with projectile-launchers,cannons, prags in the direction of Jezerci hills, and
there numerous infantry forces moving in that direction. KLA units are making strong
resistance. We have confirmations that there is one KLA soldier killed and two others are
being wounded whereas from serbian terrorist forces in Jezerc,there are many killed and
wounded soldiers. At the aerial which was bombarded by NATO aviation before few days, 4
serbian terrorists have been found dead.
The city of Peja is burning, today
Pejė, MAy 5th (Kosovapress) Serbian terrorist forces have set on fire many albanian
houses and other locals in the city of Peja, today. Also ,, it is known that the biggest
part of albanian population was forced to leave from Peja, so there just a small number of
people left there. But they were forced to leave again today in the villages around.
Over 10,000 displaced people from Drenica and Mitrovica, now in the villages of
Istog
Istog, May 5th (Kosovapress) A dramatis situation is prevailing in the villages of the
Istogu commune. This is caused from serbian attacks over civil population, the lack of
food and medicines. In some villages of the commune of Istog and Pejė, such in Zabllaq,
Trubuhoc, Staradranė, Ruhot etc, more than 10000 civilian persons have come from
Mitrovica and Drenica and they are living in catastrophic conditions, facing lack on food
and in medicines. Today, serbian terrorist forces have bombarded Jabllanica e Madhe and
Vogėl.
Five civilians are killed by serbian terrorist forces in Llap
Podjevė, May 5th (Kosovapress) The 153 Brigade of the OZ of Llapi, after the retreatment
of serbian forces is cleaning the territory from mines and other explosive means that
serbian forces have put in Qafė tė Kaqanollit, Dobratinė, Bradash, Katunisht, up to
Popovė and Guricė. While searching for these mines, the cadavers of 5 killed albanian
civilians have been found, all from Popova. They are : Ismail Hysen Hoxha (72), Sahit
Hoxha (64), Nazmije Hoxha (64), Nail Rrahman Hoxha (64) and Mevlyde Sahit Hoxha (23).
Clothes, castles, cash and PM await
Kosovars in Australia (Sydney MH)
By TONY STEPHENS and ANDREW DARBY in Hobart
Bibs for 27 babies will be waiting for the 420 Kosovar refugees when they arrive in Sydney
this afternoon. There will also be inflatable jumping castles for the children, access to
the Internet, money to make telephone calls and the welcoming presence of the Prime
Minister and Mrs Howard.
The beds at East Hills Army Barracks are already made up for the refugees.
And health authorities working with Operation Safe Haven are preparing to care for many
traumatised refugees at East Hills and their next destination, Brighton, Tasmania.
Mr Howard will greet the refugees - who will have had access to such inflight movies as
Patch Adams and You've Got Mail - at Mascot.
They will be taken straight to East Hills, near a new housing estate called The Sanctuary,
where they will undergo health checks and a broad Australian familiarisation course.
On the advice of a professor of psychiatry and Albanians in Australia, the Immigration
Department is keeping the media away from the refugees for a few days. "They are not
circus animals to be dealt with as a matter of perverse interest," said the Minister
for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Mr Ruddock.
A large truckload of new clothing from Target stores was delivered to the barracks
yesterday, some of it donated and some sold at discounted prices to the St Vincent de Paul
Society, which will run the clothing distribution with the NSW Department of Community
Services.
Every person will have two changes of clothing, three changes of underwear, pyjamas,
tracksuit, shoes, blankets and toiletries.
The displaced Kosovars will live for about four days in town house-style units of from two
to four bedrooms with internal shower and toilet facilities before moving to Tasmania. A
second airlift of Kosovars is expected at East Hills towards the end of next week.
A series of safety nets to "catch" distressed refugees is being created, with
interpreters and counsellors.
Initial assessments will be made by a team of trauma specialists at East Hills, but most
work is expected to begin when the refugees settle into the former Army camp outside
Hobart that is to be their temporary refuge.
"Our role will be to show our natural compassion and warmth for these people,"
said the Mayor of Brighton, Mr Tony Foster. "But we're also going to have to be
patient. We have to recognise the significant differences between the way people live
their lives here and in Kosova."
Clinton Announces Internet
Information Service in Refugee Camps (USIA)
Ingelheim, Germany -- President Clinton says that the United States is
preparing to set up computer terminals in Kosovar refugee camps so that
the evacuees can obtain, via the Internet, up-to-date information in
their own language on the situation in Kosova and the progress of the
NATO campaign against Slobodan Milosevic.
Clinton announced the new development May 6 during comments to Kosovar
refugees at a reception center here.
The project, organized by the United States Information Agency's
Information Bureau, involves the installation of computers and related
technical resources donated by U.S. companies and foundations at refugee
sites in Germany, France, Poland and at Fort Dix, New Jersey. An
Albanian-language newsletter, "Kontakti", will be distributed by Internet
to computer terminals in the camps. Print copies of the newsletter will
also be made available to the refugees.
President Clinton listened to a number of refugees recount their own
personal experiences with the terror of "ethnic cleansing" in Kosova.
"I hope that as you mustered the courage to meet with us you know that
because you have done so, the world will hear your stories," he told
them. "It is very important that every freedom-loving person in the
entire world know the story of Kosova. It is important that people not
forget that what is called ethnic cleansing is not some abstract idea; it
is real people with real families and real dreams being uprooted from
their homes, their schools, their work, their children, their parents,
their husbands and wives. NATO has acted in Kosova because we believe
ethnic cleansing must be opposed, resisted, reversed."
Following is the White House transcript:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Frankfurt, Germany)
May 6, 1999
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
TO THE KOSOVAR REFUGEES
Refugee Reception Center
Ingelheim, Germany
1:40 P.M. (L)
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Let me begin by thanking Chancellor
Schroeder, the representatives of his government who are here and all the
people of Germany for their strong, strong leadership in NATO, in defense
of the people of Kosova and for making this place of refuge and shelter
for people in need.
I thank Minister President Beck and the government of Rheinland-Pfalz and
the townspeople of Ingelheim for making this center available, as well,
and for supporting your presence here.
Most of all, I would like to express my respect to the families who are
here today from Kosova; and my very special thanks for those who met
earlier with Chancellor Schroeder and me. To those of you who told us
the stories of your lives -- the heartbreak, the nightmare, the cruelty,
the uncertainty; those who are young, those who are old and those who are
in the middle of their lives. I listened very carefully to all of you.
I hope that as you mustered the courage to meet with us you know that
because you have done so, the world will hear your stories. It is very
important that every freedom-loving person in the entire world know the
story of Kosova. It is important that people not forget that what is
called ethnic cleansing is not some abstract idea; it is real people with
real families and real dreams being uprooted from their homes, their
schools, their work, their children, their parents, their husbands and
wives. NATO has acted in Kosova because we believe ethnic cleansing must
be opposed, resisted, reversed.
We are doing all we can to bring aid to the victims of the violence. We
are helping as many as we can in Albania and Macedonia. Both Germany and
the United States and our other allies are taking refugees out of the
camps in Macedonia into our nations. We are helping relief groups to
improve their registration systems so those of you who have missing
family members can find them, and so that we can restore identity papers.
I know you will understand what a difficult task this is. More people
are pouring into Macedonia every day. More people are pouring into
Albania every day. And then we are taking some people from the camps
into Germany, into the United States, into other countries. But we know
this is an agony for those of you who do not know what has happened to
your family members, and we are working on it. Just this week, we will
begin to put in computer terminals, here and in other refugee centers so
that you can constantly get news in your own language on the situation in
Kosova and the status of the NATO campaign.
Let me say on a very personal level, Chancellor Schroeder and I
understand that what has been done to you and your children and your
homeland cannot be undone. But you must know that you have not been
forgotten or abandoned. Mr. Milosevic has not succeeded in erasing your
identity from the pages of history, and he will not succeed in erasing
your presence from the land of your parents and grandparents. You will
go home again -- in safety and in freedom.
Now, in closing, I would like to ask of all of you something I asked of
the smaller group with whom I just met. When you have gone through
something as awful as this, it is very easy to have your spirit broken,
to spend the rest of your life obsessed with anger and resentment. But
if you do that, you have already given those who oppressed you a victory.
I am of Irish heritage. The great Irish poet, William Butler Yeats, once
said this -- I hope you can remember this.
He said, "Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart."
I ask you all to work with each other, to support each other, not to let
your hearts turn to stone, to be determined to go home to a Kosova where
all the children can go to school and all the children can laugh and
play; and we can have a future that is not only free of the bad things
that have happened to you, but is full of hope and opportunity, where
you're a part of Europe and a free world, where all the children can
pursue their faith, their religion and their dreams. We are working hard
for that day.
God bless you and thank you very much.
(end transcript)
Kosova refugee's American-born baby on the way (CNN)
FORT DIX, New Jersey (AP) -- A Kosova refugee woman was in labor Thursday at a hospital,
ready to give birth to a brand new little American the day after she was airlifted to
safety.
She began labor at 8 a.m. and was in good condition, said Anne Beattie, a spokeswoman for
Virtua Health Memorial Hospital in Mount Holly.
The woman, whose name was not released, was one of 453 refugees from war-ravaged Kosova
who arrived in New Jersey on Wednesday. They were met by first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton
and U.S. officials who are coordinating the $100 million resettlement effort that has
transformed this old Army base into a modern-day Ellis Island.
She had been taken to the hospital on a stretcher after her arrival because she appeared
to be suffering from dehydration. Hospital officials said earlier today that she was all
right but would be kept there to await her child's birth.
Michael Kharfen, a Health and Human Services department, said the child, when born, will
be a U.S. citizen.
As the other refugees stepped off the buses at Fort Dix on Wednesday, they were greeted by
soldiers who reached out to shake their hands in a compassionate welcome.
Dressed in blue jeans as well as traditional Albanian kufi hats and scarves, the first
Kosova refugees brought to the United States responded with smiles and, later, applause
and cheers of "USA! USA! USA!"
One 9-year-old girl said: "Thank you for bringing me."
"Our hearts and our prayers have been with you. Now we want to show you that our
hearts and our homes are open to you as well," said first lady Hillary Rodham
Clinton, who was on hand to greet the refugees.
U.S.: Serbs destroying bodies of
Kosova victims (CNN)
By Sharona Schwartz
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Serb forces in Kosova are destroying the bodies of murdered ethnic
Albanians and are using hunger as a way to drive others from the province, the U.S. State
Department said Wednesday.
"We continue to hear from refugees ... a number of accounts of different kinds of
crimes and atrocities, including recently that Serb forces are burning or destroying the
bodies of their victims," said James Foley, State Department deputy spokesman.
In the area of Slatina in northern Kosova, Foley said, "26 ethnic Albanian men were
reportedly abducted and murdered and their corpses thrown down a well. The well was
dynamited to destroy both the bodies and the well.
"In another case, refugees report that more than 60 ethnic Albanians were killed in
Kacanik -- south of Pristina near the Macedonian border -- between May 1 and 2," he
said.
"Witnesses report that a large number of bodies were taken to Urosevac ... where
their disposition is unknown," Foley said.
War crimes experts say the Serbs appear to be trying to destroy evidence of "crimes
that they've been committing since before the NATO airstrikes began," Foley added.
There are also increasing reports from refugees that Serbs are firing artillery shells at
displaced ethnic Albanians hiding in the mountains of Kosova, he said.
Foley added: "In many ways, the flight of refugees from Kosova is increasingly a
flight from hunger."
Thousands of refugees turned back
at Macedonian border. Will Macedonia pay for this blackmailing with people's lives?
BLACE, Macedonia (AP) -- Thousands of ethnic Albanians trying to flee Kosova were left
stranded in a border village Thursday after Macedonian authorities blocked the refugee
exodus in an apparent move to force more international assistance.
U.N. refugee officials claimed Macedonia reneged on promises to keep its borders clear. A
formal protest was drafted to demand the government re-open the frontier.
"This is blackmail with people's lives," said Louis Gentile, a security officer
for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, standing at the nearly deserted Blace border
post -- the main crossing point for the estimated 200,000 refugees presently in Macedonia.
A trickle of people arrived from Kosova: a few refugee families with Macedonian travel
papers and retired ethnic Albanian men coming to get pension checks in Macedonia. Some
pensioners alleged Serb police demanded a cut of their money to be allowed to collect the
checks.
Those crossing said thousands of refugees were stranded in the Kosova border village of
Djeneral Jankovic. Many were in homes, but some were forced to sleep outside. A trainload
of refugees arriving early today at the border were told to remain on board, they said.
"I deeply regret this step has been taken," Mary Robinson, the U.N. High
Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters in Tirana, Albania. "We hope it will be
reopened soon. ... It's very important that the refugees be allowed through safely."
One person who passed through the village, Xhemaj Salihu, 55, a pensioner from Urosevac,
estimated that up to 10,000 people may be waiting to cross.
More than 50,000 refugees have crossed into Macedonia in the past week, leaving camps
severely overcrowded and vulnerable to disease.
Macedonian officials have complained that the small country of 2.1 million people cannot
cope with the refugee onslaught, which has overtaxed resources and threatened to unravel
the power-sharing balance between Slavs and ethnic Albanians.
The government shut the borders Wednesday and announced a new policy of only accepting as
many refugees as are sent out. Members of Macedonia's special forces -- some using clubs
-- sent about 1,000 ethnic Albanians back into the hands of Serb authorities, aid
officials said.
"We then saw they were beaten back by the Serbian forces on the other side,"
said Paula Ghedini, a UNHCR spokeswoman.
The Macedonian government said today it would not allow any new camps to be built on its
territory although it would adhere to a previous accord that would expand three of the
eight camps in Macedonia.
The border closure was a violation of international refugee rights agreements that have
been signed by Macedonia, Ms. Ghedini said. The closure curiously coincided with
stepped-up plans to ease Macedonia's burden.
Ms. Ghedini said airlift departures topped 2,000 for the first time Wednesday and several
European nations pledged to take more refugees. Albania, meanwhile, agreed to host 6,000
refugees from Macedonia.
Refugee officials, meanwhile, fear some Kosova Albanians may strike out on their own over
mountains dotted with minefields. At least three refugees died last week after stepping on
mines.
In New York, the head of the U.N. refugee agency warned Wednesday that international
organizations must begin preparing for the possibility of refugees spending the winter in
camps in Macedonia and Albania unless an early solution to the Yugoslav crisis enables
them to return home soon.
The warning by Sadako Ogata marked the first time a senior international official had
suggested publicly that the NATO air campaign may not succeed in enabling the estimated
700,000 Kosova Albanian refugees to return home soon.