Serbs Shell Albania, Attack Kosovo Village
3/25/99 8:39:00 AM

KUKES, Albania (Reuters) - Serbian forces shelled two villages in northeastern Albania Thursday and shot and wounded a border post commander after NATO bombed Yugoslav military targets, Albanian officials said.

On the Kosovo side of the border, the ethnic Albanian village of Goden was in flames after being attacked by Serbian forces, according to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

``We confirm Goden is in flames. Our monitors (on the Albanian side) saw the Serbian forces round up the Albanian population in Goden and later heard gunshots,`` OSCE spokesman Andrea Angeli said in Tirana.

Kudusi Lama, who heads the Second Infantry Division in Kukes, a border town in mountains 250 km (155 miles) northeast of Tirana, said the frontier was ``very hot,`` with Serbs shooting at Albanian soldiers, who did not return the fire.

``The commander of the Dobrune military post was wounded at 0900 GMT by the Yugoslav side,`` Lama told Reuters.

He said Albanian troops were showing restraint.

``Now that NATO has intervened we should be very careful,`` Lama said. ``But if they advance across the border it is clear to every commander he must shoot back.``

Albania is worried Serbia might seek to bring Albania into the conflict in Kosovo, where ethnic Albanians outnumber the Serbian population nine to one.

In Tirana, Interior Ministry spokeswoman Edlira Birko said the post commander was shot in the hand by Serbian guards firing from Goden, 800 meters (yards) inside Kosovo.

Birko said 13 artillery shells fired from Planik in Kosovo hit Albanian territory early Thursday, some damaging houses in Tropoje village but causing no casualties.

Earlier, an army spokesman in Kukes said Serbs had also shelled the village of Vucitol without causing injuries.

NATO warplanes screamed over northern Albania en route to Yugoslav targets Wednesday night, applauded by the Tirana government and news media which support ethnic Albanians in neighboring Kosovo.

``One hundred missiles against Serbia,`` a headline in the Albanian newspaper Koha Jone said.

``Albania, one step from a state of emergency,`` the daily Gazeta Shqiptare said.

Prime Minister Pandeli Majko welcomed the start of air strikes against Yugoslavia after President Slobodan Milosevic refused to accept a big-power peace plan for Kosovo.

He said Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had assured him in a telephone conversation that ``if Milosevic violates the sovereignty of Albania, he will face the determined position of the United States of America.``

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Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: State of emergency does not suspend responsibility to protect human rights

The state of war declared last night by the Yugoslav Federal Government should not be a screen for further human rights violations, Amnesty International said today.

'Even in exceptional conditions the authorities are bound to observe the basic human rights enshrined in the treaties to which the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) is a party,' the organization said.

In the early hours of this morning in Pristina Serbian police broke down the door of Bajram Kelmendi, a prominent ethnic Albanian human rights lawyer, and struck him with rifle butts claiming he had guns in the house. After ransacking the house police took him away together with his two sons Kustrim (16) and Kastriot (30). Police refused to reveal to Bajram Kelmendi's wife, Nekibe, also a lawyer, where the men and boy have been taken.

A security guard at the Koha Ditore Albanian language newspaper was allegedly shot dead by police when they forcibly closed down the newspaper during the night.

'We condemn these acts and all similar attempts to curtail the human rights of lawyers, activists in non-governmental organizations, journalists or opposition supporters,' Amnesty International said.

'In the context of gross human rights violations already seen in Kosovo and of growing pressure on the independent media, we fear that emergency legislation may now be passed to consolidate and try to legitimize further violations.'

The situation is tense in the country following air-strikes by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) against military and police targets throughout the FRY, which commenced last night. Foreign journalists form NATO member countries are reported to have been ordered out of Serbia.

International human rights standards such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) permit states some derogations from these obligations in times of emergency. However, states may not derogate from fundamental human rights --especially the right to life and freedom from torture -- under any circumstances.

Background information One of the key human rights instruments to which the FRY is a party is the ICCPR. Article 4 clearly states that some fundamental human rights can never be suspended or limited. States are prohibited from derogating from Articles 6, 7, 8 (paragraphs 1 and 2), 11, 15, 16 and 18.

Rights that can never be suspended include the right to life and to freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; the right to recognition as a person before the law; the right not to be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy, family, home or correspondence or to attacks on one's honour or reputation; and the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

Article 4 requires that rights and freedoms may only be limited 'to the extent strictly required by the exigencies of the situation', that measures taken 'are not inconsistent with [the state's] other obligations under international law' and that they 'do not involve discrimination solely on the ground of race, colour, sex, language, religion or social origin.'

Strict rules must also be observed in informing the United Nations Secretary-General of any derogations.

The Geneva Conventions of 1949 and its Additional Protocols of 1977 -- to which the FRY is a party -- cannot be derogated from in any circumstances. Among other things, they protect civilians and persons detained in a conflict by forbidding murder, torture, hostage-taking, humiliating and degrading treatment and the passing of sentences without judgments pronounced

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Region of Llap, in the flames of the war

Llap,March 25 (Kosovapress) Today is the six day, since serbian military-police forces have started their last fiercel offensive, against the positions of KLA and albanian villages. Units of KLA are making strong resistence, faceing face to face with the enemy forces. Serbian troops have not reached to penetrate deep in the albanian villages, controled by KLA. Strong fights are taking place today in the villages of LLapashtice e Eperme and e Poshtme, Obrançe, Peran,Bradash and in Dobratin. Serbian forces are using all their military means, including jet aircrafts.They have already launch many projectiles over these villages. Ours units are keeping strong to their positions,preventing the serbian infantry to enter there.Serbians attacts are undertaken from the positions of Perplac, Tashec, Doberdol and under these targets is albanian civil population,too.The state of civil population is catostrophic. No one knows abot the fate thousand people being displaced,now they are withou food and clothes.The situation is very dramatic even in the center of Podujevo. During last night, many wards of this town, were in fire and smoke. Units of KLA except faceing with the enemy forces,are trying to come in to help for civil population. Against the fact that serbian forces are using all their military arsenal,the positions of KLA are unchanged.Yesterday,in the front lines of the battle, for members of KLA were killed and eight others are wounded. Enemy has underwent in big losses,and this is one reason why they are burning everything. While we are making this report, the situation remains yet very dramatic.

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Military confrontation along Skenderaj-Gllogoc road

Drenica, March 25 (Kosovapress) A heavy combatiment among serbian terrorist forces and units of KLA was held along the road Skenderaj-Gllogoc, including villages of Polac, Krushec, Morine and Poluzhe. Units of KLA have remained in their positions without any loss, while the enemy incured gig losses in people, particularly in Krushec and in the Istogaj ward of Pluzhina.Commando Units of KLA, known gy the people as "Black Tigers",faced the enemy face to face in the Krushec. During this clash,many losses have been caused to the enemy, including killed people ,one tank and many other vicles being destroyed.While in the Istogaj ward of Polluzha,when the infantry troops have tried to enter,unexpectedly have been attacked by KLA soldiers.More than 10 serbian soldiers are killed during this fight,while from KLA side,there is nobody killed or being wounded.The enemy was completly blocked.Units of KLA have been visited by Mr.Sylejman Selimi,Commander of KLA, and he took place in the combation,itself.

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Villages of Suhareka and Rahovec are under continuous bombardments

Suhareka, March 25 (Kosovapress) Today,early in the morning about 6 o`clock, serbian forces have undertaken an fiercely bombardment attack. Continuously under bombardment are: Krusha e Madhe, Retia, Opterush,Samadrazha,Peçani, Doberdolani, ect. Bombardments are taking place from the serbian military-police positions of Has, Damjan, Landovica, Samaç and Biraç. Units of KLA are reaching to keep their positions, thanks to their high moral.

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There are still bombardments today, in the villages of Llap

Podujevo, March 25 (Kosovapress) Again today, new sebian bombardments in the regions of Llap went on,starting from early in the morning. The target of these fiercely are Albanian villages and the positions of KLA. There are confirmations that in this region, heavy clashes are taking place.

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Houses being destroyed in Prishtina

Prishtina, March 25 (Kosovapress) Early in the morning, about 4.40 o`clock, few projectiles have fallen in some Albanian houses inside the capital city of Prishtina. Till now, there is a confirmation for a wounded albanian citizen. It is suspected for more big losses.

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Two freedom fighters are killed by mines

Skenderaj,March 25. (Kosovapress) Serbian military-police has put so many mines in albanian homes.This act,caused the death of two brave soldiers, members of KLA, Musa Azemi and Abit Veseli.Two other soldier were injured as result of this mine explosion.The soldiers were members of the 3-rd Batallion of the 114 Brigade "Fehmi Lladrovci".

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Movements and bombardments

Llapushnik,March 25 (Kosovapress) Over than 40 tanks and other serbian military vehicles, today from 10 to 13.30 o`clock have move through the Gryke of Llapushnik and they have attacked the village of Negroc and in the areas around.There are no confirmations about losses in people or in material things. After 13.30, this long convey of 40 serbian tanks, moved in the Kijeva direction.

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A drama in the family of Hamit Bujupit from Arllat

Arllat, March 25 (Kosovapress) After yesterday deployment of serbian forces near Arllat,close to Malishevo, serbian police troops have enter inside in the house of Hamit Sejd Bujupi, telling that they were only to check.But they gave a bomb inhand to the Selim,and they force him to threw it away to its family.After his refusal,one policeman took the bomb from his hands and he threw it in down stairs but luckly without any causes for its family that was hid there.But as result of this a terrible scene was created while Hamit lost his consciousness.Emin (40),the son of Hamit was hidden in the roof and even though they checked about him, the did not foun him.

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KOSOVO: AIRSTRIKES PROMPT CATASTROPHE?

25 Mar. 99 - A humanitarian catastrophe could be at hand in Kosovo, speeded up rather than forestalled by yesterday's allied airstrikes against Yugoslavia, reports the Washington Post. Humanitarian officials expressed fear that the Serbian crackdown on ethnic Albanians will intensify, perhaps resulting in atrocities. An additional 50,000 people have been displaced since UNHCR on Friday estimated 240,000 Kosovans were driven from their homes in a year, according to the International Rescue Committee. News accounts from the region reported refugees streaming out of Kosovo, mostly into Macedonia. The UN yesterday reported "no major movements of refugees" across international borders. John Fawcett, a Bosnia monitoring veteran with the International Crisis Group, said the concern is that that there are too few refugees. He said Serb security forces appear to be driving Kosovans out of their homes and villages but then rounding them up in larger towns, under Serb control, rather than letting them flee into other countries. Near the town of Srbica, he said, "there is lots of anecdotal evidence of people being rounded up, of separation of men from women," an ominous sign, if true. Meanwhile BBC News reports President Clinton yesterday told the US public that action was needed now to ensure Europe remains free, peaceful and stable, "because if the Balkans once again become a place of brutal killing and massive refugee flights, it will be impossible to achieve." Reuters reports European Union leaders yesterday said, "We have a duty to ensure the return to their homes of the hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced people.'' [New Serbian Backlash Feared - www.washingtonpost.com ; Clinton: 'We must act now' - http://news.bbc.co.uk ; EU tells Milosevic not too late to say 'yes' - www.reuters.com ]

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KOSOVO: OGATA HOPES FOR CIVILIANS

25 Mar. 99 - UN High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata expressed hope yesterday that NATO will spare civilians if it launches air strikes on Yugoslavia and that the action will force Belgrade to make peace, reports AFP. Ogata also warned the humanitarian situation in Kosovo was approaching near-catastrophic levels with some 80,000 people made homeless over the past month. "My main concern is that the civilian victims be given a chance not only to be spared from the effect of immediate action but also that this process be as quick and effective as possible and that the implementation of the political agreement can be put in place," Ogata said. A total of 80,000 people have been forced to flee their homes since peace negotiations hit an impasse in Paris last month, bringing the refugee toll to over 260,000, she added. Meanwhile a UNHCR spokeswoman said UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF staff had left Kosovo late Tuesday. [UN refugee chief hopes air strikes will lead to peace accord - www.afp.com ]

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MACEDONIA: KOSOVARS ALLOWED IN AGAIN

25 Mar. 99 - Macedonia reopened its border yesterday to thousands of refugees fleeing Kosovo to ease what Western authorities said was a growing humanitarian catastrophe, reports Reuters. "All border crossings to Macedonia have been reopened and the flow of refugees is normal,'' said Faustino Troni, head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe mission in Macedonia. Macedonia closed its borders to Kosovo on Tuesday after thousands of Kosovo ethnic Albanians stormed border crossings. "There has been pressure on the Macedonian authorities to reopen the border," Troni said in Blace. Humanitarian aid sources in Skopje said they had put pressure on the government to reopen the borders to prevent an even bigger humanitarian catastrophe if refugees were trapped inside Kosovo. Government officials said 5,000 people have fled Kosovo in recent days, some 1,000 coming on Monday alone. "We waited at the border for five hours and just now they allowed us to come in. There are many more people coming behind us, although many refugees were afraid to travel to the borders because of the shooting in Kosovo," said a woman from Pristina with four young children. Troni said the number of refugees was close to 20,000 which he said was the "limit this country can absorb." Reuters separately reports Interior Minister Pavle Trajanov yesterday told parliament that 16,500 refugees have been registered in Macedonia so far, but ethnic Albanian leaders put the number as high at 40,000. The Daily Telegraph reports authorities initially closed the border to the refugees, but had a change of heart, apparently after pressure from America. [Macedonia reopens borders to Kosovo refugees + Macedonians fear Serbian reprisals if NATO strikes - www.reuters.com ; British soldiers ready to deal with revenge attacks - www.telegraph.co.uk ]

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TURKEY: KOSOVANS ARRIVING

25 Mar. 99 - More than 1,300 Kosovo Albanians have fled to Turkey via Bulgaria in the last four days, a Turkish provincial governor said today, reports Reuters. Edirne Governor Mehmet Canseven said many of the 1,313 Kosovans who had entered Turkey through the Kapikule border gate were planning to stay with relatives. Turkey sympathises with the ethnic Albanian majority in Kosovo. Two coaches, carrying mainly women and children, passed through the border early today after Turkish authorities granted them tourist visas. Accommodation was available for those who needed it, said Canseven. The New York Times reports buses pulled out of Pristina yesterday, packed full with passengers and belongings, heading for Macedonia and Turkey. [More than 1,300 Kosovo refugees enter Turkey - www.reuters.com ; As Bombs Drop and Lights Go Out, Tensions Rise - www.nytimes.com ]

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EUROPE: APPEAL TO SHARE KOSOVAN 'BURDEN'

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