From mentor at alb-net.com Sun Dec 6 22:14:12 1998 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 1998 22:14:12 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] Serb Hooligans Provoke Albanian Passers-bye in Downtown Prishtina Message-ID: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARTA News Service: http://www.kohaditore.com/ARTA Kosova Information Center(KIC): http://www.kosova.com The Kosova Crisis Center (KCC): http://www.alb-net.com Radio21 (English/Albanian): http://www.radio21.net/english.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Information Center KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1629 Prishtina, 5 December 1998 U^K Does Not Settle for Anything Less than Full Independence, U^K General Staff Says PRISHTINA, Dec 5 (KIC) - The Kosova Liberation Army (U^K) stands firm in its commitment to the "just fight towards the creation of our independent and democratic state", the General Staff of the U^K said in a statement, referred to as Political Declaration # 19, carried by today's Albanian-language press in Prishtina. The U^K will not accept any political solution which "harms the ideals of our people for independence, or else would sanction, be it even temporarily, an imposed co-existence in an anti-Albanian and anti-democratic edifice, such as Yugoslavia - Greater Serbia would be". The statement contravened remarks Mr. Adem Dema^i, the U^K Political Representative, made last Tuesday in a press conference in Prishtina. He stated the U^K would be willing to accept republic status for Kosova - on a par with Serbia and Montenegro within 'Yugoslavia' - on a temporary basis, with guarantees that in three years' time the people of Kosova would determine their future in a referendum. The General Staff of the U^K called on the international community, first and foremost the United States of America, to support Kosovar independence, "which would mean also the triumph of democratic principles in this part of the volatile Balkans, and would result in a lasting peace in the future". The Serbian aggressor's forces have been attacking the civilian Albanian population in certain parts of Kosova, and the U^K has been responding to such attacks in defense of the population, the General Staff of the U^K said. "We are making efforts to preserve the cease-fire that we have ourselves declared", the U^K said. "Although unjustly excluded from the agreement on the deployment of international observers in Kosova, and therefore not obligatory to us", the U^K welcomes their arrival and will undertake all measures within its power to cooperate with them as well as to ensure their security, the statement said. Dushkaj& Villages Targeted by Serb Fire Saturday Afternoon PRISHTINA, Dec 5 (KIC) - Serbian forces stationed at a location called Pishat e Volljak&s opened fire today (Saturday) afternoon, beginning at 15:15 hrs, towards the villages of Kralan, Kpuz, and ^eskov& of the Dushkaj& region, municipality of Gjakova, an LDK source said. The sound of the Serbian fire could be heard in the villages of Malisheva - Ponorc, Rub, Llap^ev& and Sferk& e Gashit - Fetah Rudi, a local LDK activist, said. He could not specify what kind of arms were being used by the Serb forces, though. Further Details Surrounding Shoot-out Incident in Peja Hospital PRISHTINA, Dec 5 (KIC) - One young Albanian woman, Myrvete Maksutaj (20), resident of an Istog village, was shot dead and several other people were wounded in a yet unsolved shoot-out incident in the Peja hospital on Thursday, sources said. An Albanian couple, Xhevat and Shemsije Qarri from Peja, were amongst those who suffered gunshot wounds, LDK sources said. Mr. Qarri told the LDK chapter the incident happened at 11:30 hrs. "At the time I was in the hospital to get my son's wife out of the delivery ward", he said, adding that while getting out of the Admissions Office he realized he was shot twice in his right leg. His wife, Shemsije, was shot in her left leg, he said. Xhevat Qarri could not offer other details surrounding the incident. Meanwhile, an eye-witness said, speaking on condition of anonymity, that a young man, who was together with the killed Myrvete, had an argument with a Serb policeman and grabbed his automatic rifle. The young man shot and wounded the policeman, the hospital guard, and four other Albanian citizens. The unidentified man and Myrvete were running away in the hospital area when the police shot at them. The wounded Myrvete could not make it, whereas the man did run away to an unknown direction, the eye-witness said. Shaban Brahimaj and Jeton Mulaj are two other Albanians known to have been wounded in the incident. The late Myrvete Maksutaj will be buried Sunday in her native village of Orob&rd&, Istog, on Sunday, sources from Peja said. Meanwhile, the Serb press said today a member of the Serb reserve police, Mitar Stanisic, who is employed as staff member in the security of the hospital building, tried to check the identity of a man and a woman who had entered the hospital hall. The man threw a spray in the policeman's eyes, whereas the woman placed her handgun in his head, the Serb press said, adding that the man then snatched the rifle from the policeman. The woman tossed a hand grenade which did not explode, whereas the man opened fire wounding Stanisic and several patients, Milun Sedlarevic, Xhevat and Shemsie Qarri, Shaban Brahimaj and Jeton Mulaj, the Serb version of the incident runs. The security members opened fire toward the running man and woman, killing the latter (Myrvete Maksutaj), whereas the man ran away, the Serb press concluded. Arms Shooting, Tensions Reported in Rahovec PRISHTINA, Dec 5 (KIC) - Around 17:00 hrs on Friday, arms shooting originated from a building nearby the main traffic lights in downtown Rahovec ('Orahovac'), causing panic amongst the Albanian citizens, the local chapter of the Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) said. Two covered lorries came to the vicinity of the Park hotel in Rahovec, which continues to be sealed off by Serb forces, the CDHRF said. Meanwhile, on 2 December, the Serb police arrested Agim Kastrati (37), a schoolteacher from Mal&sia e Vog&l. He was on his way back from the Serbian town of Vranje, where he had gone to pay a visit to his imprisoned brother, when he was arrested at a location between the villages of X&rx& and Gexh&, the CDHRF said. The Human Rights Council said Sedat Ali Gashi (35), resident of Opterusha village, who is a guest-worker in Austria, was arrested several days ago in the border crossing while on his way back home. The Gashi family said they knew nothing about Sedat's fate. The Serbian police in Rahovec has vowed to arrest all Albanians originating from the villages of Opterusha, Zoqisht& and Ret, the CDHRF said. Serb Hooligans Provoke Albanian Passers-bye in Downtown Prishtina PRISHTINA, Dec 5 (KIC) - A number of Serb hooligans who had entered the Prishtina football stadium, where a sports event was taking place today (Saturday), spent several hours late in the morning and early afternoon today in the upper parts of the stadium provoking passers-by and the Kosova Information Center (KIC) and Kosova Presidency's staff in Prishtina, capital of Kosova. The whole Serb hooligans' spree was being closely watched by Serb police and security from their building situated just opposite the football stadium. The Prishtina football stadium (now run by the Serb regime), the Serb security headquarters, and the KIC and Kosova Presidency's offices, make a triangle in the center of Prishtina. LDK Activists Held in Custody, Questioned for 2 Hours, in Obiliq PRISHTINA, Dec 5 (KIC) - Around 17:00 hrs on Friday, after a meeting of the Presidency of the LDK chapter in Obiliq, the Serbian police arrested five activists of this chapter near their offices, the LDK said. The police arrested Rexhep Kelani, chairman of the LDK chapter in Obiliq, as well as four other senior LDK activists, Hajriz Bekteshi, Idriz Konjusha, Hajredin Mjeku, and Hasan S. Mjeku. The five activists were taken to the Serb police station in Obiliq. They were released after two hours of questioning, the LDK chapter said. Kosova Information Center --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send a message to majordomo at alb-net.com In the body of the message include: UNSUBSCRIBE KCC-NEWS From mentor at alb-net.com Wed Dec 9 17:31:43 1998 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 1998 17:31:43 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] (Kosova ) Bugajski: "For the kind of Yugoslavia that exists now, I see no future" Message-ID: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARTA News Service: http://www.kohaditore.com/ARTA Kosova Information Center(KIC): http://www.kosova.com The Kosova Crisis Center (KCC): http://www.alb-net.com Radio21 (English/Albanian): http://www.radio21.net/english.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------- ____________________________________________________________________ Another genocide is happening, another holocaust... It is 1998.... It is Kosova.... UN, EU, US and the world are letting it happen.... ____________________________________________________________________ (KOSOVA ? Shooting) Shooting in the direction of De?an villages De?an, 8 December (ARTA) 1530CET -- A large number of villages of the municipality of De?an are submitted to a great police repression, Albanian field sources state. Following a few day calm, police forces maltreated the Latifaj family, from Prejlep and several other residents of this village, with the pretext that two policemen were killed there under mysterious circumstances. Two days ago, Serb forces shot against the village of Irzniq. The burned and destroyed villages of Prekolluk?, Irzniq, Gllogjan, Shaptei, Dubrav?, Gramaqel and Baballo?, were additionally shot at on Monday. Yesterday's shooting that lasted throughout the day, induced great fear among the few returned residents, who are living in plastic tents and on the occasional humanitarian aid, Albanian sources claim. According to the same sources, the shooting is conducted mainly from the village of Irzniq, where the Serb forces are stationed at the police station, at the local health station and school buildings. (KOSOVA ? oppression) Police pressure in Rracaj Gjakov?, 8 December (ARTA) 1800CET -- The population of the village of Rracaj in Lugu i ?arragoj?s, Gjakov? municipality, has lately been undergoing great Serb police pressure. Albanian sources of information notify that the houses of this village were raided many times during the past couple of days. Witnesses also state that large police forces on APCs and heavy armed, headed in the direction of this village, which has so far not been the target of attacks. (KOSOVA ? Press briefing) Dema?i:" Mr.Hill cannot help anymore-State Department should find another person" Prishtina, 8 December (ARTA) 1600CET-- "Although we are used on not being surprised, this time we were really flabbergasted with the draft of Mr.Hill ", declared the KLA political representative at the beginning of the regular press briefing held in the Writers Association of Kosova. "There is an essential backwardness noticed in the new draft", stated Dema?i, concerning the recent project proposed by the American mediator, Christopher Hill. "We were not happy neither with the third draft, while this fourth one is entirely unacceptable". Dema?i claimed further that, he would give no firm statement since "we highly appreciate the American policy, as it is more advanced than the European one". "Nevertheless, this new draft provides indisputable arguments that, Mr. Hill either is not acquaint with the Albanians cause or supports the Serb side. Therefore we would ask State Department that if possible to reconsider the works of Holbrooke and especially Hill", he claimed and estimated the mediating efforts of the two American envoys as unsuccessful. "Mr.Hill cannot be anymore the person who could help avoiding of new conflicts", he claimed. Further on he proposed that, the State department should appoint another person who would seriously commit itself (without being influenced by the prevailing circumstances) on "finding a genuine and permanent solution of the historical contest between Serbs and Albanians". The KLA political representative expressed compliance with the viewpoints of Agani concerning the recent draft, but he stated that he would provide a more detailed statement later on. "We would present our opinion, when the stands of all the partners are unified", he claimed. Dema?i stated that, "on the main points, all the Albanians are unified". Yet, such a project is not difficult to be compiled, but the difficulty is to protect it. Asked about his previous statement according to which he accepts the status of Kosova as the third Federal Republic for a temporary period, Dema?i answered that:, "We have not made any project so far, the final objective-the independence and sovereignty of Kosova is not excluded at all, but we have accepted to achieve that step by step". "We have not made any concessions....but there are some balances of the forces incurring behind the curtains and we could not comprehend those properly....and they are messing the things up", he claimed, reminding that, "we have all shared the opinion that Albanians would have the right of self-determination after three years". Concerning the recent threats from Belgrade, Dema?i claimed:"Belgrade does not have anything else but the argument of violence. These threats show the real face of the Belgrade regime". "Although always being ready to contribute with all its force for the political solution.... KLA never had the illusion that it would force the Serb regime give up its brigandish and hegemonist character", claimed Dema?i adding further that, "we are sure that the Belgrade regime will not be democratized only by threats (without punishments) and while still having its military and police structure". "This is an additional argument for the just strategy of KLA and all those who estimated that the Belgarde regime could not be forced to achieve a peaceful agreement without the NATO intervention", he claimed. Asked whether the OSCE verification mission will lose its point under these circumstances, Dema?i responded negatively, "We think that this mission will finally be successful, because NATO is staying behind it and it does not give up its right to react if it is necessary", he claimed. "Judging from their behaviors, Serbs will compell NATO to react". While mentioning the recent killings, Dema?i once again appealed the Albanian political subjects to unify and establish the General Assembly from its thoroughs. He added further that, "A new Government of a wider spectrum would emerge from that Government, and that would be a structure of the joint political powers of Kosova, including KLA". "That Government would be able to complete as much as it is necessary the Negotiating team", evaluated Dema?i. "I also recommend the people to join by all their means to KLA-as a force which is the protector of the national interests and resistance", he claimed. In this case he denied all his aspirations for any kind of promotions adding further that, "My historic duty is to unify the Albanians, to put them into action, namely to join their powers and establish their state". (BRUSSELS- Conference of Ministers?) EU: "Political solution for Kosova should be found" Brussels, 8 December (ARTA) 1500CET -- Due to unplanned delay of discussions about the program of EU expansion, the conclusions of the Ministers' meeting on "Western Balkan", were approved in the late evening hours. Ministers expressed their concern about the recent events in Kosova and the escalation of violence there. They once more requested from both sides to restrain themselves from the use of violence and comply with the obligations called by the respective UN Security Council resolutions. Ministers consider the increase of the KLA activities to be the reason of the great presence of Serb security forces. EU expressed their support for the efforts of the American mediator, Christopher Hill, and of the EU special envoy, Wolfgang Petritch, to find a political solution for the Kosova problem. Ministers hailed the fact that the increase of the humanitarian organization presence and the European Commission aid, enabled the return of the dislocated to their homes, adding that, the international institutions should continue to provide all the needed help. The EU expressed its willingness to help in the process of rebuilding Kosova and stressed the European's Commission proposal for a Conference of Donators' on the level of experts. Nevertheless, EU sources stated that, this will be contemplated by the beginning of the next year and that the conditions giving help for rebuilding will most surely be related to finding an interim solution for Kosova. The attendants also expressed support for the OSCE initiation for the dominating operation in Kosova. In this case, EU expressed its readiness to finance these operations and demands from the OSCE to draft concrete projects on this. The EU Foreign Ministers said they were disappointed by the refusal of Belgrade bodies to cooperate with the Verifying Mission and the European Commission in Kosova, recalling that their obligation to cooperate is called by the UN Security Council resolutions. "The greatest obstacles of Belgrade's authorities towards this mission, as well as towards the humanitarian activists, have to do with granting visas, connections, radio connections and registering them", is one of the conclusions of the EU Foreign Ministers. They made an appeal to the "FRY" to allow the presence of this mission in Prishtina, Podgoric? and Belgrade. The EU Ministers' Council requested, last evening from the competent EU bodies to come out with concrete proposals to prevent funding money and gathering weapons for the "armed Albanian groups in Kosova". They also condemned the recent attacks of the Serb bodies against the independent media in Serbia and consequently approved a decision to set an embargo for issuing visas for those senior officials of Serbia and "Yugoslavia", responsible for such attacks. The European Commission will sketch the list of such persons, by the end of this year, it is stated in the conclusions of the EU Foreign Ministers. (Bugajski-second part of the interview) "For the kind of ?Yugoslavia? that exists now, I see no future " KD: Let's pass on something else. Before the offensive during the summer, the foreign diplomats created a negative image for the KLA. Then came the offensive. Many considered it was done after the international community's "green light". How do you see KLA present positions and how do you see it in the future? Bugajski: I think that KLA's perception in the past was up and down. Initially, I was against it also. KLA was considered in Washington as a terrorist organization. However, my belief was that if someone needed to be called a terrorist, then they are the elements of the Serb security forces. But then, due to the situation at the beginning of the year, when the Serbs more or less thought that the international community will intervene, a vacuum appeared in Kosova, and it was filled by the KLA. Then, KLA began to be seen as a much stronger force than it really was, better organized, better directed, well structured, better furnished than it really was. Yet, when the Serb offensive came along, they lost the territory very quickly. That gave me indications that this force in a way served Milosevic's aspirations to exaggerate its force, and thus managed to present the KLA as a destabilizing force for the entire region, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and hence gained the world's support for his attack against this organization. But what we saw was that KLA was never a strong organization, but at the same time is not that weak neither. It is an organization that shows how well are the local defensive forces, the small guerilla forces, organized. Now, hopefully, KLA will come out more as a coherent organization, politically active and involved, that is not engaged in attempts to hold the territories, if such a thing is done, but it engages in what it is capable of doing in the given circumstances. I think KLA has an important role to play now and this should be the next step. In other words, it should be included in the negotiating process, it should be included in the administration of Kosova, because it includes large measures of the people of Kosova and it could simply be ignored. KD: How do you see the Albanian political scene? President Rugova seems to have lost a good part of credibility, he once had. Nevertheless, he continues to have support from the American diplomacy... Bugajski: I think what happened is, that not he personally, but his strategy lost a good part of credibility, because it showed that it wasn't leading towards the results of the referendum of 1991, the results of the aspirations of Kosova people. It is a feeling that the passive resistance in a way leads to nowhere (because the international community did not help the process of self-determination of the Kosova people ), so I can understand the frustration and fear as well as aspirations that have started to boil, but also the support for the KLA and for the other political parties. I don't believe that Rugova is now a lost political figure. He still has an important role to play, maybe not the only one, but he is most surely a very respected figure internationally.I think Americans are in his favor, because he spoke in our language, in the sense of the political solution of the conflict. But I think that now is the time when the other political actors also need to be included and I believe they will be included in this process. This, I have even seen in the previous days and weeks. I would not ignore Rugova, I know him personally, he holds in his heart, what is the best for Albanians of Kosova and some even think that he avoided a bloody conflict during the past few years, by not provoking an aggressive military challenge of the Serb authorities. So there are different ways of viewing his policies over the past few years, but I think he has to obviously continue to be involved in the process, because his voice still carries a lot of weight. KD: Political negotiations are going towards an interim settlement. The Albanian side, with its political and military wings, showed a flexibility by giving up from the demand for immediate independence. However, it insists that the referendum be a part of the interim settlement. Do you think a solution that does not consider this demand would be successful? Bugajski: I think that, to have an agreement you have to have some version of the permanent, ultimate agreement and the pressure the agreement will depend on: First, the position of "Yugoslavia" if it still exists after three years, whether Milosevic is still in power or whether we have in fact a democratic system. Second, the will of the Albanian majority in Kosova. I can understand the position of the KLA, Dema?i and others, who are demanding some kind of a referendum, and at the end of this period to be able to express the will of the population. I think you may also come through other forms that don't necessary have to be a referendum. The elections themselves, if they indeed take place under these interim accord, will bring to power, the people that represent and have the voice of the majority of the Albanian people. So it may not be necessary to have a referendum at this point, but there must be something in the agreement, which allows that government to make some decisions about the status of Kosova after this interim accord expires. KD: But, if the authorities in Kosova, of whom you are talking about, will be elected as a result of their political programs that propagate independence for Kosova, does this mean their will would be respected? Bugajski: I think the will of the people of Kosova should be respected. KD: Recently there have been a lot of rumors about the change of the course of the American policy towards Milosevic. What do you think about this? Bugajski: I am personally hoping that it is not just a verbal strategy, but it is actually a practical strategy. It has to be backed up by actions and not just words. But it is for sure that a lot of people in the American administration, and also in the NATO allies capitals, are very frustrated with Milosevic and finally understand that he is not the solution but the problem in this region. And with him in power, there is a danger for first of all; increasing the non-stability, secondly-of prolonged military presence deployment in Bosnia, in Macedonia, maybe in Kosova in the future, (maybe even in Montenegro and other places) , which is something that neither Washington nor NATO powers would like to see. In order that there be stability in the region, I personally believe that, there has to be a systemic transformation in Serbia, not just a change in the government. But, I think Milosevic is problem number one, and our people have realized it. Yet, our question is, what are they going to do about it now. Unfortunately, we still depend on him, less though I would say than in Bosnia, but increasingly because of this interim accord in Kosova. If the interim accord isn't signed, then his position I think will weaken still further and the negative perceptions on him will increase correspondly. KD: Do you believe the remains of "Yugoslavia" will decompose? Bugajski: For the kind of "Yugoslavia" that exists now, I see no future. Whether it is going to be a restructured "Yugoslavia" depends, first of all on the systemic transformation, and in the will of the nations in this country. And I don't see any will or prospect in the immediate future that this will happen. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send a message to majordomo at alb-net.com In the body of the message include: UNSUBSCRIBE KCC-NEWS From mentor at alb-net.com Wed Dec 9 17:31:43 1998 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 1998 17:31:43 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] (Kosova ) Bugajski: "For the kind of Yugoslavia that exists now, I see no future" Message-ID: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARTA News Service: http://www.kohaditore.com/ARTA Kosova Information Center(KIC): http://www.kosova.com The Kosova Crisis Center (KCC): http://www.alb-net.com Radio21 (English/Albanian): http://www.radio21.net/english.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------- ____________________________________________________________________ Another genocide is happening, another holocaust... It is 1998.... It is Kosova.... UN, EU, US and the world are letting it happen.... ____________________________________________________________________ (KOSOVA ? Shooting) Shooting in the direction of De?an villages De?an, 8 December (ARTA) 1530CET -- A large number of villages of the municipality of De?an are submitted to a great police repression, Albanian field sources state. Following a few day calm, police forces maltreated the Latifaj family, from Prejlep and several other residents of this village, with the pretext that two policemen were killed there under mysterious circumstances. Two days ago, Serb forces shot against the village of Irzniq. The burned and destroyed villages of Prekolluk?, Irzniq, Gllogjan, Shaptei, Dubrav?, Gramaqel and Baballo?, were additionally shot at on Monday. Yesterday's shooting that lasted throughout the day, induced great fear among the few returned residents, who are living in plastic tents and on the occasional humanitarian aid, Albanian sources claim. According to the same sources, the shooting is conducted mainly from the village of Irzniq, where the Serb forces are stationed at the police station, at the local health station and school buildings. (KOSOVA ? oppression) Police pressure in Rracaj Gjakov?, 8 December (ARTA) 1800CET -- The population of the village of Rracaj in Lugu i ?arragoj?s, Gjakov? municipality, has lately been undergoing great Serb police pressure. Albanian sources of information notify that the houses of this village were raided many times during the past couple of days. Witnesses also state that large police forces on APCs and heavy armed, headed in the direction of this village, which has so far not been the target of attacks. (KOSOVA ? Press briefing) Dema?i:" Mr.Hill cannot help anymore-State Department should find another person" Prishtina, 8 December (ARTA) 1600CET-- "Although we are used on not being surprised, this time we were really flabbergasted with the draft of Mr.Hill ", declared the KLA political representative at the beginning of the regular press briefing held in the Writers Association of Kosova. "There is an essential backwardness noticed in the new draft", stated Dema?i, concerning the recent project proposed by the American mediator, Christopher Hill. "We were not happy neither with the third draft, while this fourth one is entirely unacceptable". Dema?i claimed further that, he would give no firm statement since "we highly appreciate the American policy, as it is more advanced than the European one". "Nevertheless, this new draft provides indisputable arguments that, Mr. Hill either is not acquaint with the Albanians cause or supports the Serb side. Therefore we would ask State Department that if possible to reconsider the works of Holbrooke and especially Hill", he claimed and estimated the mediating efforts of the two American envoys as unsuccessful. "Mr.Hill cannot be anymore the person who could help avoiding of new conflicts", he claimed. Further on he proposed that, the State department should appoint another person who would seriously commit itself (without being influenced by the prevailing circumstances) on "finding a genuine and permanent solution of the historical contest between Serbs and Albanians". The KLA political representative expressed compliance with the viewpoints of Agani concerning the recent draft, but he stated that he would provide a more detailed statement later on. "We would present our opinion, when the stands of all the partners are unified", he claimed. Dema?i stated that, "on the main points, all the Albanians are unified". Yet, such a project is not difficult to be compiled, but the difficulty is to protect it. Asked about his previous statement according to which he accepts the status of Kosova as the third Federal Republic for a temporary period, Dema?i answered that:, "We have not made any project so far, the final objective-the independence and sovereignty of Kosova is not excluded at all, but we have accepted to achieve that step by step". "We have not made any concessions....but there are some balances of the forces incurring behind the curtains and we could not comprehend those properly....and they are messing the things up", he claimed, reminding that, "we have all shared the opinion that Albanians would have the right of self-determination after three years". Concerning the recent threats from Belgrade, Dema?i claimed:"Belgrade does not have anything else but the argument of violence. These threats show the real face of the Belgrade regime". "Although always being ready to contribute with all its force for the political solution.... KLA never had the illusion that it would force the Serb regime give up its brigandish and hegemonist character", claimed Dema?i adding further that, "we are sure that the Belgrade regime will not be democratized only by threats (without punishments) and while still having its military and police structure". "This is an additional argument for the just strategy of KLA and all those who estimated that the Belgarde regime could not be forced to achieve a peaceful agreement without the NATO intervention", he claimed. Asked whether the OSCE verification mission will lose its point under these circumstances, Dema?i responded negatively, "We think that this mission will finally be successful, because NATO is staying behind it and it does not give up its right to react if it is necessary", he claimed. "Judging from their behaviors, Serbs will compell NATO to react". While mentioning the recent killings, Dema?i once again appealed the Albanian political subjects to unify and establish the General Assembly from its thoroughs. He added further that, "A new Government of a wider spectrum would emerge from that Government, and that would be a structure of the joint political powers of Kosova, including KLA". "That Government would be able to complete as much as it is necessary the Negotiating team", evaluated Dema?i. "I also recommend the people to join by all their means to KLA-as a force which is the protector of the national interests and resistance", he claimed. In this case he denied all his aspirations for any kind of promotions adding further that, "My historic duty is to unify the Albanians, to put them into action, namely to join their powers and establish their state". (BRUSSELS- Conference of Ministers?) EU: "Political solution for Kosova should be found" Brussels, 8 December (ARTA) 1500CET -- Due to unplanned delay of discussions about the program of EU expansion, the conclusions of the Ministers' meeting on "Western Balkan", were approved in the late evening hours. Ministers expressed their concern about the recent events in Kosova and the escalation of violence there. They once more requested from both sides to restrain themselves from the use of violence and comply with the obligations called by the respective UN Security Council resolutions. Ministers consider the increase of the KLA activities to be the reason of the great presence of Serb security forces. EU expressed their support for the efforts of the American mediator, Christopher Hill, and of the EU special envoy, Wolfgang Petritch, to find a political solution for the Kosova problem. Ministers hailed the fact that the increase of the humanitarian organization presence and the European Commission aid, enabled the return of the dislocated to their homes, adding that, the international institutions should continue to provide all the needed help. The EU expressed its willingness to help in the process of rebuilding Kosova and stressed the European's Commission proposal for a Conference of Donators' on the level of experts. Nevertheless, EU sources stated that, this will be contemplated by the beginning of the next year and that the conditions giving help for rebuilding will most surely be related to finding an interim solution for Kosova. The attendants also expressed support for the OSCE initiation for the dominating operation in Kosova. In this case, EU expressed its readiness to finance these operations and demands from the OSCE to draft concrete projects on this. The EU Foreign Ministers said they were disappointed by the refusal of Belgrade bodies to cooperate with the Verifying Mission and the European Commission in Kosova, recalling that their obligation to cooperate is called by the UN Security Council resolutions. "The greatest obstacles of Belgrade's authorities towards this mission, as well as towards the humanitarian activists, have to do with granting visas, connections, radio connections and registering them", is one of the conclusions of the EU Foreign Ministers. They made an appeal to the "FRY" to allow the presence of this mission in Prishtina, Podgoric? and Belgrade. The EU Ministers' Council requested, last evening from the competent EU bodies to come out with concrete proposals to prevent funding money and gathering weapons for the "armed Albanian groups in Kosova". They also condemned the recent attacks of the Serb bodies against the independent media in Serbia and consequently approved a decision to set an embargo for issuing visas for those senior officials of Serbia and "Yugoslavia", responsible for such attacks. The European Commission will sketch the list of such persons, by the end of this year, it is stated in the conclusions of the EU Foreign Ministers. (Bugajski-second part of the interview) "For the kind of ?Yugoslavia? that exists now, I see no future " KD: Let's pass on something else. Before the offensive during the summer, the foreign diplomats created a negative image for the KLA. Then came the offensive. Many considered it was done after the international community's "green light". How do you see KLA present positions and how do you see it in the future? Bugajski: I think that KLA's perception in the past was up and down. Initially, I was against it also. KLA was considered in Washington as a terrorist organization. However, my belief was that if someone needed to be called a terrorist, then they are the elements of the Serb security forces. But then, due to the situation at the beginning of the year, when the Serbs more or less thought that the international community will intervene, a vacuum appeared in Kosova, and it was filled by the KLA. Then, KLA began to be seen as a much stronger force than it really was, better organized, better directed, well structured, better furnished than it really was. Yet, when the Serb offensive came along, they lost the territory very quickly. That gave me indications that this force in a way served Milosevic's aspirations to exaggerate its force, and thus managed to present the KLA as a destabilizing force for the entire region, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and hence gained the world's support for his attack against this organization. But what we saw was that KLA was never a strong organization, but at the same time is not that weak neither. It is an organization that shows how well are the local defensive forces, the small guerilla forces, organized. Now, hopefully, KLA will come out more as a coherent organization, politically active and involved, that is not engaged in attempts to hold the territories, if such a thing is done, but it engages in what it is capable of doing in the given circumstances. I think KLA has an important role to play now and this should be the next step. In other words, it should be included in the negotiating process, it should be included in the administration of Kosova, because it includes large measures of the people of Kosova and it could simply be ignored. KD: How do you see the Albanian political scene? President Rugova seems to have lost a good part of credibility, he once had. Nevertheless, he continues to have support from the American diplomacy... Bugajski: I think what happened is, that not he personally, but his strategy lost a good part of credibility, because it showed that it wasn't leading towards the results of the referendum of 1991, the results of the aspirations of Kosova people. It is a feeling that the passive resistance in a way leads to nowhere (because the international community did not help the process of self-determination of the Kosova people ), so I can understand the frustration and fear as well as aspirations that have started to boil, but also the support for the KLA and for the other political parties. I don't believe that Rugova is now a lost political figure. He still has an important role to play, maybe not the only one, but he is most surely a very respected figure internationally.I think Americans are in his favor, because he spoke in our language, in the sense of the political solution of the conflict. But I think that now is the time when the other political actors also need to be included and I believe they will be included in this process. This, I have even seen in the previous days and weeks. I would not ignore Rugova, I know him personally, he holds in his heart, what is the best for Albanians of Kosova and some even think that he avoided a bloody conflict during the past few years, by not provoking an aggressive military challenge of the Serb authorities. So there are different ways of viewing his policies over the past few years, but I think he has to obviously continue to be involved in the process, because his voice still carries a lot of weight. KD: Political negotiations are going towards an interim settlement. The Albanian side, with its political and military wings, showed a flexibility by giving up from the demand for immediate independence. However, it insists that the referendum be a part of the interim settlement. Do you think a solution that does not consider this demand would be successful? Bugajski: I think that, to have an agreement you have to have some version of the permanent, ultimate agreement and the pressure the agreement will depend on: First, the position of "Yugoslavia" if it still exists after three years, whether Milosevic is still in power or whether we have in fact a democratic system. Second, the will of the Albanian majority in Kosova. I can understand the position of the KLA, Dema?i and others, who are demanding some kind of a referendum, and at the end of this period to be able to express the will of the population. I think you may also come through other forms that don't necessary have to be a referendum. The elections themselves, if they indeed take place under these interim accord, will bring to power, the people that represent and have the voice of the majority of the Albanian people. So it may not be necessary to have a referendum at this point, but there must be something in the agreement, which allows that government to make some decisions about the status of Kosova after this interim accord expires. KD: But, if the authorities in Kosova, of whom you are talking about, will be elected as a result of their political programs that propagate independence for Kosova, does this mean their will would be respected? Bugajski: I think the will of the people of Kosova should be respected. KD: Recently there have been a lot of rumors about the change of the course of the American policy towards Milosevic. What do you think about this? Bugajski: I am personally hoping that it is not just a verbal strategy, but it is actually a practical strategy. It has to be backed up by actions and not just words. But it is for sure that a lot of people in the American administration, and also in the NATO allies capitals, are very frustrated with Milosevic and finally understand that he is not the solution but the problem in this region. And with him in power, there is a danger for first of all; increasing the non-stability, secondly-of prolonged military presence deployment in Bosnia, in Macedonia, maybe in Kosova in the future, (maybe even in Montenegro and other places) , which is something that neither Washington nor NATO powers would like to see. In order that there be stability in the region, I personally believe that, there has to be a systemic transformation in Serbia, not just a change in the government. But, I think Milosevic is problem number one, and our people have realized it. Yet, our question is, what are they going to do about it now. Unfortunately, we still depend on him, less though I would say than in Bosnia, but increasingly because of this interim accord in Kosova. If the interim accord isn't signed, then his position I think will weaken still further and the negative perceptions on him will increase correspondly. KD: Do you believe the remains of "Yugoslavia" will decompose? Bugajski: For the kind of "Yugoslavia" that exists now, I see no future. Whether it is going to be a restructured "Yugoslavia" depends, first of all on the systemic transformation, and in the will of the nations in this country. And I don't see any will or prospect in the immediate future that this will happen. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send a message to majordomo at alb-net.com In the body of the message include: UNSUBSCRIBE KCC-NEWS From mentor at alb-net.com Sat Dec 12 02:17:52 1998 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1998 02:17:52 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] Detention and Abuse in Kosovo (fwd) Message-ID: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARTA News Service: http://www.kohaditore.com/ARTA Kosova Information Center(KIC): http://www.kosova.com The Kosova Crisis Center (KCC): http://www.alb-net.com Radio21 (English/Albanian): http://www.radio21.net/english.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------- Torture and Abuse Widespread in Serbian Detention Facilities -- OSCE Urged to Monitor Conditions -- (December 8, 1998) -- At least 1,000 ethnic Albanians are currently believed to be in Serbian prisons and police stations, according to Human Rights Watch. In "Detention and Abuse in Kosovo," released today, Human Rights Watch charges that many have been subjected to beatings and torture to extract confessions or to obtain information about the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), and are being tried on charges of "terrorism." "The Serbian government's military offensive may have slowed down for the winter," said Holly Cartner, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch's Europe and Central Asia Division. "But the legal offensive is in full swing, despite the government's promise to grant an amnesty." On October 14, the Serbian government announced a general amnesty for "crimes related to the conflict in Kosovo." The Serbian parliament declared that no one would be prosecuted for crimes related to the conflict, "except for crimes against humanity and international law." Despite these promises, large numbers of ethnic Albanians remain in custody and Human Rights Watch has no information that anyone arrested during the conflict has been released as a result of this amnesty. The most recent Serbian government figures, from October 3, state that 684 ethnic Albanians have been arrested for committing or supporting "terrorism." But local and international human rights groups believe the actual number is closer to 1,500. Detained individuals include human rights activists, doctors, humanitarian aid workers, and lawyers, many of whom were physically abused. Five individuals are known to have died in detention since July 1998 from the violence inflicted on them by the police or prison guards. Hundreds of others have been injured from beatings with rubber batons and torture, including the use of electric shock. "The accusation of terrorism' has cast a wide legal net around many ethnic Albanians, for whom there is no evidence of contact with the KLA, or of criminal conduct," said Ms. Cartner. "Simply being an Albanian in Kosovo is enough to merit an arrest and torture." The Serbian government has obstructed efforts by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to visit detainees, especially those in pretrial detention, despite Security Council resolutionsmandating full access. Similarly, lawyers and family members have difficulty visiting their clients and relatives in prisons and police stations. Trials began in September and are continuing through the winter. In addition to the use of torture to extract confessions, defendants are often denied access to a lawyer, not allowed to view court documentation, or refused permission to present witnesses on their own behalf. Human Rights Watch also documents illegal detentions committed by the KLA. Estimates of ethnic Serbs and Albanians abducted by the KLA range from 100 to 300, but it is not known whether these people have fled the region, are in hiding, have been killed, or are currently in KLA custody. The ICRC has been denied access to KLA detainees, which raises additional concerns for their safety. The KLA has released some people from detention, such as thirtyfive ethnic Serbs captured during fighting in Orahovac in July. On November 27, two ethnic Serbian journalists with the staterun Tanjug press agency were released after spending more than one month in custody. Their trial by a KLA military court did not meet international standards of due process, and they were denied visits by the ICRC and family members. In addition to its recommendations to the Yugoslav government and the KLA, Human Rights Watch urges the OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission actively to monitor the treatment of those in detention through regular visits to prisons and police stations. The OSCE should try to interview detainees, publicize abuses, raise objections with the authorities, and recommend corrective action. "Human rights abuses are central to the Kosovo conflict," said Ms. Cartner. "The OSCE should be monitoring and publicly reporting on the ongoing abuses, especially the mistreatment of those in detention, both Albanians and Serbs." The full report, including photographic evidence, is available at http://www.hrw.org/reports98/kosovo2/ For further information contact: Elizabeth Andersen, in New York (12/8): (212) 2161265; in Washington D.C. (12/9): (202) 3716592 Fred Abrahams, mobile + 3275528890 --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send a message to majordomo at alb-net.com In the body of the message include: UNSUBSCRIBE KCC-NEWS From mentor at alb-net.com Thu Dec 17 01:41:53 1998 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1998 01:41:53 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] NAAC Press Release-Clinton Shifts Kosova Policy (fwd) Message-ID: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARTA News Service: http://www.kohaditore.com/ARTA Kosova Information Center(KIC): http://www.kosova.com The Kosova Crisis Center (KCC): http://www.alb-net.com Radio21 (English/Albanian): http://www.radio21.net/english.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------- National Albanian American Council Keshilli Kombetar Shqiptaro-Amerikan 1899 L Street, NW Suite 1130 Washington, DC 20036 (202) 955-1428 Fax: (202) 955-1429 Email: NAACDC at aol.com ______________________________________________________________________ PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release Contact: Aferdita Rakipi December 16, 1998 (202) 955-1428 CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SHIFTS POLICY, ABANDONING AUTONOMY FOR KOSOVA WASHINGTON: Ambassador Chris Hill recently presented a revised proposal on the status of Kosova, which places the region directly under Serb control. Both Albanians and Serbs rejected the proposal. Reportedly, Hill and Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke are applying enormous pressure on the Albanians to accept it. "After years of promising to support an enhanced autonomy for Kosova, the Clinton Administration appears to be abandoning its policy in favor of a settlement that rewards Milosevic for his crimes against humanity," said Ilir Zherka, Executive Director of the National Albanian American Council. "This is not autonomy. The Administration?s proposal provides only for weak, municipal governments, while placing Kosova permanently under Serbia?s control. "The Administration is hoping no one will notice its retreat, but the evidence is clear. Their latest proposal falls far short of the autonomy Kosova enjoyed as late as 1989 and which both the President and Secretary Albright have publicly supported. This dramatic shift in policy, unfortunately, makes it more likely that the war in Kosova will continue." Unlike the autonomy Kosova previously enjoyed, the recent Hill proposal provides for a parliament with no legislative authority and strips the presidency of most of its executive powers. The proposal also makes Serb law preeminent and provides Serb courts with appellate jurisdiction over Kosova, and as such makes Serb control of law enforcement in Kosova almost inevitable. Additionally, the proposal places control of the health, social, and educational systems firmly within Serbia. Finally, the proposal provides Serbs with a veto over any future decisions relating to Kosova?s status. Despite arguments to the contrary, the proposal envisions no role for the international community in ensuring implementation and compliance with the agreement. Sources on Capitol Hill report that Members of Congress are calling the State Department to express their concern about the December 2 proposal. "This is reminiscent of the U.S. Bosnia policy, where the victims were expected to suffer their losses in silence," added Zherka. "But the Albanian people have shown that they will not end this century the way they began it ? under the thumb of a repressive Serb regime. A small, but growing number are willing to fight for their rights. Unfortunately, the Administration?s proposal, if forced on the Albanians, will very likely result in the Kosovars believing that they have no other choice. We hope that the Administration will support providing Albanians with a status equal to that of the Serbs and Montenegrins during an interim period, followed by a referendum on independence." ### --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send a message to majordomo at alb-net.com In the body of the message include: UNSUBSCRIBE KCC-NEWS From mentor at alb-net.com Thu Dec 17 14:58:20 1998 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1998 14:58:20 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] URGENT - BELGRADE CRACKDOWN ON KOSOVA MEDIA (fwd) Message-ID: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARTA News Service: http://www.kohaditore.com/ARTA Kosova Information Center(KIC): http://www.kosova.com The Kosova Crisis Center (KCC): http://www.alb-net.com Radio21 (English/Albanian): http://www.radio21.net/english.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------- URGENT ? ALERT CRACKDOWN ON ALBANIAN-LANGUAGE MEDIA The minister of information of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, sent on Thursday, December 17, 1998, a warning to the Albanian language newspapers and magazines that they would be taken to court if they don?t change their editorial policy. The minister wrote, that the newspapers, according to their analysis of texts that were published in these newspapers and magazines, were ?calling for the violent break of the constitutional order, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Serbia and FR of Yugoslavia? as well as violating the rights of citizens, that is inciting national, racial or religious hatred. A fax has been sent to the following newspapers and magazines: KOHA Ditore, KOHA, Zeri i Dites, Fjala e jone (published in the village of Prugovac), Fjala e jone (published in Prishtina). Furthermore , a fax has been sent to the newspaper BUJKU, warning the newspaper that it hadn?t been registered in the Ministry?s register of newspapers, and that it if didn?t register measures against it would be taken. The newspapers have not been informed which of the articles have caused a reaction by the minister. To make the matters worse, the minister himself is claiming that he has seen offensive articles that have never appeared. Namely, the daily newspaper Zeri i Dites has not appeared yet, it is planned to be published sometime in March of next year. Or, in the case of Fjala jone, the minister claims that offensive articles have appeared in a newspaper that has not been printed or distributed for months. It is clear therefore that, lacking more serious insight on the media scene in Kosova, the Serb minister of information, who had sent these kinds of letters to three newspapers in Blegrade (Nasa Borba, Danas and Dnevni Telegraf) is actually planning to close two of Kosova?s daily newspapers in Albanian: KOHA Ditore, the most influential Albanian language outlet, and Bujku (which is actually registered under the Socialist Yugoslavia register). The only Albanian language newspaper not affected would be Kosova Sot, a new Albanian language daily. Veton Surroi, Editor in chief, KOHA Ditore Prishtina, 17 December, 1998 --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send a message to majordomo at alb-net.com In the body of the message include: UNSUBSCRIBE KCC-NEWS From mentor at alb-net.com Sun Dec 20 23:54:15 1998 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 1998 23:54:15 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] Serb troops continue to attack Albanian villages Message-ID: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ! READ & DISTRIBUTE FURTHER ! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Kosova Crisis Center (KCC): http://www.alb-net.com ARTA News Service: http://www.kohaditore.com/ARTA Kosova Information Center(KIC): http://www.kosova.com Radio21 (English/Albanian): http://www.radio21.net/english.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------- KCC Headlines, December 20, 1998 Serb troops continue to attack Albanian villages... * Gllogjan attacked again on Saturday (Arta) * Shootout in the Klin? region (Arta) * Two-hour-long shooting in Qesta e Reqakut (Arta) Statements... * Koh: "The Belgrade regime accused media for activities, for which is responsible itself" (Arta) * Solana: Air strikes threat is still on (Arta) * Qosja: "We are tragically late to agree between ourselves" (Arta) Army reinforcements in Kosova... * Large military forces deployed in the Batllav? airport (Arta) World Press * Yugoslavs cross into Albanian border, fire shots (Reuters) * SERBIA GAGS OPPOSITION MEDIA, PRESSES ATTACKS IN KOSOVO (Chicago Tribune) KOSOVA (escalation of violence ? De?an) Gllogjan attacked again on Saturday De?an, 19 December (ARTA) 1700CET -- The village of Gllogjan was attacked, first with light weapons and then, large caliber cannons, for several hours, on Saturday, the "KD" correspondent, from De?an informs. No reports on eventual consequences of the attack this Saturday, were issued, although there is information on two young Albanians, killed during the attack on Thursday. Their unidentified bodies are still in the Gjakov? hospital morgue. There are claims that two more houses were burnt in the village of Gllogjan and 25 villagers were arrested on the streets of the De?an villages, as they returned to their destroyed villages a day before. Along with the 23 other Albanian arrested, the brothers Hazir and Musa Kasumi, education workers in Grama?el, were also held for several hours at the police station in Gjakov?. They had just recently returned to their burnt homes, and were arrested on the street just outside. The "KD" correspondent quoted the arrested as saying they were severely maltreated. The population that had just returned to their homes in Baballo?, Grama?el, Dubrav?, and Shaptej, fled them again on Thursday. Xhavit Rexhahmetaj (23), from the village of Isniq, who was among the 36 killed in the village of Lugisht?, of Has, on 14 December, was identified. Whereas, Xhevdet Tolaj, was added to the list of missing persons. He is supposed to be from the village of Pob?rgj?, of De?an, the "KD" correspondent reports. Back to top KOSOVA (shooting ? Klin?) Shootout in the Klin? region Klin?, 19 December (ARTA) 1800CET -- There were frequent movements of Serb forces, equipped with full fighting gear, from their positions at the bauxite mine in Volljak?, in the direction of the villages of P?r?ev?, Sferk?, Volljak? and ?upev? e Ep?rme. Whereas, the "KD" correspondent from Klin?, notifies that the villages of Sferk? and Dush were subjected to heavy shooting at around 2200CET. Firepower was also on display late Saturday in Klin? proper, as there was a large presence of Serb forces in town the next day. In the meantime, the Serb Court in Prishtina, sentenced Albert Shala, from Uj?mir with two years imprisonment. On the other hand, it has been confirmed that one of the victims killed at the Kosova-Albanian border, is the 21 year old Bashkim Krasniqi from Zllakuqan. Back to top KOSOVA (shootout ? Shtime) Two-hour-long shooting in Qesta e Reqakut Shtime, 19 December (ARTA) 1730CET -- Automatic gunfire directed towards the Qesta e Reqakut locality, was carried out today from 2000CET to 2200CET. Witnesses believe that the shooting came from the nursing house and the police station in Shtime. The CDHRF informs that there were no victims, although there were cases when Albanian residents were arrested and maltreated in the town proper during Friday and Saturday. On the other hand, Asim Asimi, from the village of Balinc?, was arrested on 17 December, in the administration office, where he went to get his IDs. He was sent to the police station in Ferizaj, where he is still being kept. Isa T?rshani, the imam of the mosque in Shtime, was also taken to the police station for two days in a row. Back to top KOSOVA (reinforcements ? Podujev?) Large military forces deployed in the Batllav? airport Podujev?, 19 December (ARTA) 1720CET -- Large military forces and fighting technique were deployed in the Batllav? airport, on Friday at around 0900CET, CDHRF and LDK sources in Podujev? inform. These sources inform that these military forces that were coming from the direction of Prishtina, started stationing in the Batllav? airport from 0830CET until 0930CET. According to the same sources, over 33 military vehicles, 20 tanks and other armored vehicles were stationed in this airport. Police and military forces were posted in different points along the Prishtina-Lluzhan-Batllav? road, during the early morning hours, even before these forces arrived, the "KD" corespondent informs. Meanwhile, over 30 police officers were posted on the Lluzhan crossroad, part of which conducted checked all passersby thoroughly. The other part, took their positions on the bridge over the Llap river, in several spots, monitoring the terrain, while three tanks were safeguarding the crossroad. Three other tanks were placed in Vranidoll, at the local military base. According to the same sources, large police reinforcements were also witnessed on Friday, at the police stations in Podujev?, Lluzhan, and Orllan. Back to top KOSOVA (US Deputy Secretary for democracy - Prishtina) Koh: "The Belgrade regime accused media for activities, for which is responsible itself" Prishtina, 19 December (ARTA) 1900CET -- "What I have seen concerning the situation of human rights in Kosova is very disturbing", said in a press conference held last evening at the USIS offices, the American deputy secretary for democracy, human rights and labor, Harold Koh. "The US condemn the violence from all sides, and requests from Serbs and Albanians, to give up the new cycle of retaliation strategy", said Koh. He added that he was very sorry to hear about the killing of the six Serbs in Pej? and the deputy-mayor in Fush? Kosov?. The threats made by the Serb authorities to close down the Albanian daily newspapers, Koh evaluated as "intolerant attacks against the rights to free press and a violation of the human right standards". "Ironically, the Government's letter, accuses the newspapers for urging non-tolerance, which is an act for which the Belgrade regime is to be blamed. Through its actions, Belgrade's regime is telling all newspapers that they cannot work without feeling fear", said he. Koh visited Kosova to get informed on the human rights? situation. During his stay, he met with the leaders of Kosova, Ambassador Walker, journalists and also visited prisons and hospitals. "I saw a policemen, posted, outside the hospital of Prishtina. Common residents of Kosova, continue to be treated as military targets", stated Harold Koh. "The press is being threatened and closed down by the Government without any reason. The poor and discriminating condition continues to prevail in prisons. Milosevic's regime continues to illegally prevent the work of the investigators of The Hague International Tribunal for War Crimes and of independent forensic experts. I saw tired and disconsolate people and a catastrophe of human rights that is still going on", said Koh expressing in several sentences, the situation in Kosova that he managed to see during his one day stay in Kosova. Back to top KOSOVA (Contact Group Ambassadors ? Prishtina part I) Qosja: "We are tragically late to agree between ourselves" Prishtina, 19 December (ARTA) 2000CET -- The Contact Group Ambassadors visited Prishtina on Saturday, on their first round of talks to unite the Albanian political forces in one negotiating group. Wolfgang Petritch, the Austrian Ambassador to Belgrade and the EU envoy for Kosova, headed the team of six Contact Group member states, found after the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia. Petritch and the French Ambassador to Macedonia, Jacques Huntzinger, held their first meeting with President Rugova, on Saturday, to stress the urgency of "forming a real negotiating team, which would include all Albanian political forces of Kosova". The Austrian and French Ambassadors, initially "expressed their concern with the deteriorating situation in Kosova and the fact that the political process of negotiations was blocked". "Time is passing", said Huntzinger adding, "the negotiations will be starting in a short period of time". Concerning the meeting with Agani, Ambassador Petritch, said that they "got positive replies that lead to the right direction". "But, there is still no complete devotion that would be leading towards the formation of some sort of a negotiating team", said Petritch. Meanwhile, the head of the Albanian negotiating team, Agani stated that "the Contact Group member state Ambassadors in Belgrade, came here to convey the Group's message, which consisted on stressing the urgent moment and need for the negotiating process to recommence with as much seriousness as possible". They had a few warnings for the Albanian side, said Agani adding that they had to do with the readiness to negotiate but also with the last events on the ground. Asked whether he was ready to accept KLA presence in the process, Agani stated the following: "all political forces that are present in Kosova, should participate in the negotiations that are to take place". Back to top BELGIUM (NATO - Kosova) Solana: Air strikes threat is still on (Arta) Brussels, 19 December (ARTA) 1730CET -- NATO Secretary General, Javier Solana, reiterated that NATO stills views that the crisis in Kosova can be solved only through political means, and not militarily. Solana said in a press briefing that NATO would continue to pay heed to the developments in Kosova, adding that it will keep the activation order for air strikes on, in case of need. "NATO is now carrying out its air observing mission dynamically, with 2-6 flights daily. The Extraction Forces are now stationed in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, ready to act, whereas cooperation with the OSCE is also on the level", said Solana. Another official declaration on Kosova also emerged from the ministers' meeting, in a form of the meeting's final document. In the final document that was adopted in the conference held in Brussels, the ministers of defense of NATO member states expressed their stand in favor of continuing to pressure the "FRY" through threats of air strikes. The official declaration says that the "threats have so far resulted with the agreement for the beginning of the NATO air observing mission over Kosova and for the deployment of the OSCE Verifying Mission in Kosova". The option of air strikes is still open for making the sides involved in the conflict in Kosova comply with the requests as foreseen by the UN Security Council resolutions, says the declaration of NATO ministers. The ministers of defense of NATO member states saluted the deployment of the OSCE verifying mission, expressing their conviction that these two organizations will cooperate. The ministers also expressed their deep concern with the recent incidents in Kosova and called both sides to restrain from violence and provocation. They stated their support to earlier decisions of NATO foreign ministers for finding a political solution for Kosova, through a status of broader autonomy and self-administration, with the perseverance of the "FRY" territorial integrity at the same time. The crisis in Kosova, says the declaration, must be solved through open and free dialogue, through compromise and trust, with international presence. The situation in Kosova was discussed in the NATO-Russian Permanent Joint Council meeting as well. In the absence of the Russian Minister of Defense, Igor Sergeyev, the Russian Ambassador to NATO, Sergey Kiselak, represented the Russian side. The situation in Iraq and the situation in Kosova were given most attention during the meeting. "There is a high level of acquiesce between NATO and Russia in the case of Kosova. Both sides agree that the crisis should be solved through political dialogue, they do not support the independence of Kosova, and they both agreed that the blame should not be put on one side only", said a senior NATO official after the meeting. However, NATO views that despite KLA provocation, the "Yugoslav" President, Slobodan Milosevic, has the greatest responsibility for the crisis in Kosova. "The problem should be seen in a more substantial way and the cause of the crisis should be analyzed", said the senior NATO official. The diplomat refused to comment the Russian minister's absence in the meeting, but did comment the minister's visit to Belgrade. "I hope Sergeyev conveyed the clear message to Milosevic, that he must give up violence and get engaged for the beginning of political dialogue with the Albanian side, based on the Contact Group proposal", he said. NATO expects Russia to join the air-observing mission over Kosova. NATO sources claimed that Russia has expressed its readiness to do so, but has not yet presented the formal request for participation in the mission. There are still essential differences between NATO and Russia concerning the methods of pressure that should be applied on Belgrade. Russia strongly opposes the possibility of NATO air strikes against "Yugoslavia" without an explicit UN Security Council mandate. Back to top Yugoslavs cross Albanian border, fire shots (Reuters) 03:47 p.m Dec 19, 1998 Eastern TIRANA, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Yugoslav soldiers crossed from Serbia's Kosovo province into Albania on Friday and fired into a village but there were no casualties, Albanian police said on Saturday. The Yugoslav attack followed the killing of 38 ethnic Albanian guerrillas on Monday, part of a larger group of more than 100 separatists who were ferrying arms and ammunition from Albania into Kosovo. ``Six Yugoslav soldiers crossed into Albanian territory and opened automatic fire at the Zharke village,'' an Albanian Interior Ministry statement said. ``The firing lasted (45 minutes) while 14 other soldiers watched from Yugoslav territory. Then they withdrew,'' the statement added. Guerrillas of the Kosovo Liberation Army, which wants Kosovo to be independent, have been battling Serbian security forces inside Kosovo since February. Soldiers and arms are smuggled into Kosovo from northern Albania across a rugged mountain border. Incidents in the area are relatively common. Yugoslavia claims a total of 16 border incidents have occurred since October 16 when it agreed to the deployment of 2,000 international peace ``verifiers'' by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Back to top SERBIA GAGS OPPOSITION MEDIA, PRESSES ATTACKS IN KOSOVO By Guy Dinmore Special to the Tribune December 18, 1998 BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- Serbia on Thursday responded to U.S. efforts to revive the peace process in Kosovo province by closing an Albanian-language newspaper and pressing ahead with a border offensive against separatists. Western diplomats were dismayed by developments in Kosovo, which they fear could lead to a resumption of full-scale war and described Belgrade's actions as a slap in the face to U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrooke. Returning to Belgrade this week for the first time since reaching a deal two months ago that averted NATO airstrikes, Holbrooke raised the issue of media freedom in talks with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic on Tuesday. Holbrooke's pleas for both sides to show restraint in Kosovo after an escalation of fighting also appeared to have been ignored; ethnic Albanian politicians reported heavy attacks by government forces on villages close to the border with Albania. Binak Kelmendi, editor in chief of Bujku, one of three Albanian-language dailies in Kosovo, said that the state-controlled printing house in the provincial capital Pristina refused to publish Friday's edition. Earlier, Kelmendi received a letter from the Serbian information ministry accusing Bujku of violating a newly passed media law that also has resulted in the closure of several independent Serbian publications. Electricity to the Bujku newsroom was cut Thursday, Kelmendi said. Koha Ditore, another Albanian-language daily, and the weekly Zeri also received the letter, warning them of court action if they continued to publish articles deemed to be inciting interethnic hatred. The three publications broadly support the pro-independence aspirations of Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority. Diplomats said Belgrade's attack on the Albanian-language media would further complicate U.S.-led efforts to negotiate a political settlement to the conflict in Kosovo, which has taken more than 1,500 lives this year and displaced some 300,000 people. Under the threat of NATO attack, Milosevic agreed in talks with Holbrooke on Oct. 13 to a partial withdrawal of his security forces from Kosovo and the presence of 2,000 unarmed international observers to verify the peace process. In recent weeks, some special police forces have returned to Kosovo and diplomats expressed concern about the movement of armored units of the federal Yugoslav army. Serbian officials said police killed two rebels of the separatist Kosovo Liberation Army in the village of Glodjane on Thursday and captured large quantities of weapons. Police in the western town of Pec also rounded up ethnic Albanians suspected of involvement in an attack on a cafe on Monday in which six Serb youths were killed. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send a message to majordomo at alb-net.com In the body of the message include: UNSUBSCRIBE KCC-NEWS From mentor at alb-net.com Wed Dec 23 10:33:37 1998 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998 10:33:37 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] Health-care: SYSTEMATIC AND PERVASIVE ABUSES BY SERBS AGAINST ALBANIAN KOSOVAR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND ALBANIAN KOSOVAR PATIENTS Message-ID: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ! READ & DISTRIBUTE FURTHER ! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Kosova Crisis Center (KCC): http://www.alb-net.com ARTA News Service: http://www.kohaditore.com/ARTA Kosova Information Center(KIC): http://www.kosova.com Radio21 (English/Albanian): http://www.radio21.net/english.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------- For Immediate Release December 23, 1998 Contact: Jennifer Leaning, M.D. (781) 259-9108 / (617) 909-3559 Barbara Ayotte (617) 695-0041 ext 210 / (617) 549-0152 MEDICAL GROUP DOCUMENTS SYSTEMATIC AND PERVASIVE ABUSES BY SERBS AGAINST ALBANIAN KOSOVAR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND ALBANIAN KOSOVAR PATIENTS The systematic Serbian oppression of Albanian Kosovar physicians in Kosovo has escalated drastically since the conflict began in February 1998, according to preliminary findings released today from a two-month study by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR). Abuses committed date primarily from late summer and fall of 1998 and extend into the period beyond the Holbrooke/Milosevic agreement on October 12, 1998. The Boston-based group documents a pattern of Serbian intimidation of Albanian Kosovar doctors, jeopardizing the already fragile health care system in a time when Kosovars returning to their villages are in greatest medical need. The intimidation is marked by instances of murder, torture, detention, imprisonment, and forced disappearances of ethnic Albanian Kosovar physicians. The PHR study, which will be released in early 1999, also cites cases of Albanian Kosovar patients who have been abused by Serbian police and Serbian health professionals, including instances where patients have been beaten, chained to beds or radiators, and placed under constant armed police guard. The health and human rights group, whose key recommendations were transmitted in a letter sent today to Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, also cited interrogation and harassment of Albanian Kosovar physicians, including threats of death, by Serbian police. Medical facilities operated by ethnic Albanian Kosovar physicians have been searched, property confiscated, and many clinics and health centers in contested areas have been burned to the ground. Ambulance transport has also been interrupted. "Attacks on health facilities, doctors, and their patients are war crimes," said Jennifer Leaning, M.D., a member of the PHR board of directors and one of the lead researchers in the study. "Albanian Kosovar physicians attempting to provide assistance to people living in areas of conflict or currently or previously controlled by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) have been harassed and hunted in a campaign that disregards norms of medical neutrality that are protected under international human rights and humanitarian law," said Leaning. ?The Serbian authorities have defied the principle that civilians and combatants alike are entitled to medical treatment in times of conflict. Instead, Serb police have branded medical practices as acts of ?terrorism? and abused physicians and patients, calling them ?terrorists?. Further, by attacking community leaders such as physicians and creating fear throughout the population, the Serbian authorities are conducting a campaign against ethnic Albanian civil society." The Geneva Conventions, including both Protocols, specify an extensive array of protected acts, persons, and facilities in the delivery of health care to civilians and combatants, in a wide range of conflicts, including the one now being waged in Kosovo. Wounded persons not engaged in combat, including civilians, are entitled to medical care. There has been a long history of discrimination against ethnic Albanian physicians in the Serb-run state health care system in Kosovo--mass firing from employment in 1990, elimination of training opportunities in state medical schools and hospitals, and requiring the use of the Serbian language rather than Albanian in all interactions with patients, including the writing of prescriptions and instructional materials. During the same time, ethnic Albanians have been impeded access to the state-financed health care system. The current oppression of ethnic Albanian Kosovar health professionals, however, has acquired an acutely violent character. The PHR team, composed of three physicians, one lawyer, and two health researchers, conducted interviews with 105 individuals in Kosovo from October to December 1998, collecting data relating to 75 cases of alleged abuse of Albanian Kosovar health professionals and patients and 52 cases of physician flight from Serbian threats. The individuals interviewed included physicians, lawyers, representatives from major humanitarian organizations, and eyewitnesses to abuses against Albanian Kosovar physicians and patients. Many of those interviewed requested anonymity for fear of reprisal from the Serbian authorities. The widespread abuses committed by Serbian authorities against Albanian Kosovar physicians and other health workers include: Murder The PHR team investigated the murder of one Albanian Kosovar physician who was tortured and killed because he was fulfilling his professional obligation to provide care to patients in need. Dr. Leci,a general practitioner in a private clinic in Gradice was hunted by Serbian police on September 24-25, 1998 and killed sometime between September 24-27. Confirmed reports state that his body,when found, revealed that his right hand had been cut off. Another leading physician in the ethnic Albanian Kosovar community, not one known to have taken an active role in delivering medical care in KLA- contested areas, was killed on the evening of November 18, 1998 in suspicious circumstances. Dr. Zejnullahu, a physician in the town of Pec, was attacked by three masked men who spoke fluent Serbian, carried Kaleshnikovs, and fired several lethal shots at close range while Dr. Zejnullahu?s family was by his side. Detention/Arrest for Delivering Medical Care Albanian Kosovar physicians have been accused of crimes despite the lack of credible evidence of criminal acts. PHR has documented four cases of physicians held in detention and five cases of physicians brought to trial, with four of these resulting in convictions.PHR has also received unconfirmed reports of many physicians in custody, which it is currently investigating. One physician told PHR he was arrested while trying to calm patients who had rushed into a clinic in advance of a Serbian attack on his village. Another was arrested while returning home after fleeing from a Serbian advance on his town, and a third was arrested while maintaining a home supply of medical drugs in a KLA-controlled area deprived of medical supplies. In these cases, the physicians were alleged (whether formally charged or not) to have engaged in the practice of medicine on behalf of people labeled ?terrorists? and thus have committed acts of terrorism themselves. The charges are brought under Articles 125 and 136 of the Criminal Code of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, in the cases where PHR has confirmed that these charges have been applied, Serbs have extracted confessions from physicians and imposed inhumane prison conditions. Torture/Physical Abuse Albanian Kosovar health workers reported many instances of torture and/or physical abuse by Serbian authorities while in police custody. PHR has documented six cases of physical abuse and threat of abuse by Serbian police. Physicians reported that the abuse usually occurred within the first three days of detention, during which time the police are required to complete their investigation and present findings to an investigating judge. In the cases PHR documented, four Albanian Kosovar physicians were beaten by hand or stick applied to torso or hands; one physician had a plastic bag wrapped around his head, resulting in near suffocation, and another was threatened with electric shock. A physician who requested anonymity told PHR that the Serbian police: ? beat me like an animal; they beat me with the gun butt, but they were kicking me, they beat me with their fists in the police station. I had to sign everything they wanted to stop the torture.. I signed one paper I wasn?t allowed to read.? Police attempting to extract a confession from another physician asked him several times a day if he had changed his mind about cooperating. He was summarily beaten when he declined to ?confess?. Such confessions have been used as the sole evidentiary basis for subsequent cases. Search of Medical Facilities/Seizure of Supplies/Destruction of Medical Facilities PHR has received reports of many instances and documented eight cases where Serbian police invaded medical facilities and engaged in a range of behaviors in violation of international law: search of premises, seizure of medical supplies, destruction of facilities, and destruction of homes of physicians. Forced Flight from Medical Practice Over half of the 54 physicians interviewed by PHR had been forced to leave their practice entirely or had limited their involvement dramatically since the onset of the conflict in February 1998 out of fear of Serb harassment. Lists of physicians who have left their established place of practice are obtainable with difficulty, since those compiling the lists and those on the lists are in danger if their names or whereabouts come to the attention of the Serbian authorities. Two lists that could be compared and validated by the PHR team indicated that 17 health care professionals (12 physicians, 2 anesthesiologists, 1 epidemiologist ,1 dentist and 1 nurse) from the area around Pec in northwest Kosovo had either fled the country or were in hiding. Thirty-five health professionals from the Decan area (26 health professionals and 9 dentists) had either fled or were in hiding. The category of "in hiding" includes those who left or were driven from their established practice and went deeper into KLA-controlled area to continue to provide medical care to civilians trapped in the conflict; those who left one town and went to live with their families elsewhere in Kosovo, while continuing to practice informally; and those who left their established sites and stopped practicing altogether. PHR is particularly concerned about the fate of Dr.Hafir Salja, a physician at the Glogovac Medical Center. On April 10, 1998,Dr. Salja was reportedly arrested from a car he was riding in with two colleagues and taken to the Pristina Police Department. The two colleagues were released but Dr. Salja remains missing. Some reports indicate hs seen alive and had joined the KLA, others report that he is in custody at the Military Court in Nis. PHR has not been able to confirm either story. Police Harassment The 54 physicians interviewed cited frequent police harassment and abuse. Over 25% of them had been brought into police offices for "informative talks", a procedure where a person is held for an indefinite period of time and subjected to threatening questions relating to his political leanings or affiliations. Physicians traveling on the roads are vulnerable to such police action. As a result, physicians who try to reach villages that have been cut off from medical support must travel circuitous back roads (increasingly at risk of landmine injuries) and at night to avoid the frequent police checkpoints along the tarmac roads. One physician reported to PHR that it is safer to be caught with a gun than with medical supplies. PHR has received reports of four instances of police interference with ambulance transport, including one where the physician interviewed said that the Serbian policeman had held a gun to his head, only lowering it when a bus rounded the curve on the main road. Another ambulance, clearly marked with a Red Cross, was stopped in Rahovic by Serbian police so that Serb authorities could examine the bandage of the ethnic Albanian patient to verify she had an appendectomy as opposed to a war wound. The Serbian police beat the driver, technician and nurse and slapped the patient. They broke the windows of the ambulance. Abuses against Hospitalized Albanian Kosovar Patients Include: While not the principal focus of PHR?s study, PHR has received numerous reports and comments from many parts of Kosovo describing instances and a general pattern of abuse of dozens of ethnic Albanian patients in state-controlled, Serbian-run hospitals. Informants insisted upon total anonymity and further specification of hospitals or the sources of our information would jeopardize the safety of individuals still in Kosovo. In three of the major state-run hospitals, informants provided PHR with examples of the nature of the dozens of abuses committed against ethnic Albanian Kosovar patients by Serbian police, including: interrogating seriously ill patients in the hospital, despite efforts by their Albanian Kosovar physicians to prevent this practice; chaining patients who are considered terrorists to their beds or radiators on a 24-hour basis with armed Serbian police guards in or just outside their rooms; and extinguishing their cigarettes on the backs of the hands of patients returning to the recovery room from the operating room, still coming out of anesthesia. In one instance a post-operative patient with an external fixation devise fixed to his femur was prematurely removed from the hospital by Serbian police, dragged into a police station and then imprisoned. In another case, Serbian police were reported to agitate their batons in the wounds of patients, risking infection and the delay of healing. Informants also told PHR of cases where Serbian physicians and nurses slapped Albanian Kosovar patients because they were crying or had a wound perceived by the staff to be consistent with a combat injury. Some ethnic Albanian families reported that they were prevented from delivering food and clean clothing to their ill relatives for up to 24 hours. Some patients? families were extorted significant amounts of money by Serb police and Serb physicians in order to secure adequate food, medical care, and necessary pharmaceuticals. In a number of instances, PHR received reports that Serbian police delayed taking injured men to the hospital in order to interrogate them or arrested injured men while they were in the hospital regardless of their medical condition and despite the protests of ethnic Albanian physicians on staff. These abuses violate Yugoslavia?sobligations under the Convention Against Torture and the Geneva Conventions, both of which it has ratified. The Geneva Conventions stipulate that all persons in need of medical care in war, whether civilian or combatant, and regardless of the nature of war, are considered protected persons under the terms of Common Article 3 and Protocol II. Abuses Against the Ethnic Albanian Kosovar Population: The pattern of interference with medical care and punishment of those who try to deliver it sows widespread fear and anxiety in the Albanian Kosovar population. Their leaders are under attack and threat of death: as the niece of the physician killed in Pec cried out to us, ?Are they trying to kill the best of us, one by one?" The Albanian Kosovar physicians interviewed by PHR are afraid but, in general, still resolute. They feel a strong obligation to continue to serve their people and provide needed medical care, but they are forced to be inescapably aware of the personal danger and the danger to their families that their insistence on medical practice now entails. A few of the physicians interviewed by PHR showed signs of depression, even despair,and many are exhausted, on the verge of burn-out. The Serbian authorities, by conducting an assault on a most visible group of community leaders and by blocking access to a service needed by all people, particularly a people at war, have deployed a strategy aimed at banishing the application of international law and obliterating a potent source of comfort and support for the population. Unless the international community takes action to halt this assault on health care and those who provide it, the Serbian authorities will continue to pursue a policy this decade has now made familiar: the imposition of great suffering on vast numbers of civilians in open violation of international law and norms. Abuses Against Serbian Health Professionals and Patients PHR has learned of one instance occurring on July 16-17, 1998 during the KLA offensive on Orahovic when KLA forces entered the hospital and held a group of nurses (including 2 Serbian nurses) and patients on the hospital premises in order, the KLA soldiers said, to ensure their protection from fighting outside. No one was harmed and the troops left after two days. During this instance, however, it was reported to PHR that one Serbian physician and one Serbian technician were taken by the KLA and have not been seen since. This report has not been confirmed but PHR plans to continue its investigation of this incident and to report on whatever further instances of abuses against Serbian medical staff it may find. Recommendations: In separate letters sent to FRY President Milosevic and President Clinton today, PHR urged the FRY Government and the United States and international community to take the following immediate measures: To the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: 1. President Milosevic must immediately release without condition those doctors and other health personnel who have been detained, including those convicted, who were exercising their professional responsibility to provide medical treatment to wounded or sick civilians or to combatants. Such activities are protected under international humanitarian law, and must be permitted in all circumstances in Kosovo. 2. The Serb authorities must immediately end their attacks and persecution on both medical personnel and their patients who come from areas formerly or currently under KLA control and permit health personnel to operate without interference. 3.The Serb authorities must immediately end their impediments to the transport of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals, stop all harassment at checkpoints, and permit free access to all parts of the country to Albanian Kosovar doctors and health personnel. 4. The Government of Serbia should provide extensive assistance to the local Albanian medical community for purposes of rebuilding and re- equipping the clinics and hospitals that its forces have destroyed in the course of the past year. To the United States Government and Countries Engaged in Monitoring the Conflict in Kosovo Neither the agreement brokered by Ambassador Richard Holbrooke nor the October 1998 Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Agreement to place a verification mission in Kosovo includes an explicit human rights mandate or makes specific demands on the FRY government with regard to ceasing human rights abuses. Therefore,PHR recommends that: 1. A human rights component must be incorporated into the Kosovo Diplomatic Mission (KVM) mandate and given high priority. A suitable number of personnel placed in the field should have adequate training in human rights principles and human rights monitoring. 2.The protection of members of the Albanian Kosovar medical community and their patients must be a top priority in all diplomatic dealings with Belgrade. The representatives of those governments involved in the KVM must exert themselves to the maximum possible extent to provide protection and assistance to Kosovo's beleaguered civilian population, including physicians and other health personnel in the performance of their duties. 3.The Kosovo Diplomatic Mission should make every effort to set up local offices throughout Kosovo, particularly in those areas that were once under KLA control or are under KLA control now. The diplomatic monitors should live in the communities and open readily accessible offices where they can receive witness testimonies of human rights abuses. Monitors should be guaranteed the right to travel to any site. They should report publicly on all incidents, including impediments placed on their access by the Serb authorities. 4.The international diplomatic community, including the KVM monitors, should monitor and denounce the persecution of independent Albanian Kosovar doctors and health professionals. They should attend trials of doctors and medical personnel, protest harassment, imprisonment, and other abuses, and accompany the independent doctors whenever possible when they deliver medical services, particularly to areas of former or present KLA control. International monitors should also be present at State- run hospitals and clinics to help deter abuse and discrimination against Albanian Kosovar patients. 5.Diplomatic monitors should be present at every place of detention or imprisonment to deter abuse and torture of detainees and to help assure the regular access of the International Committee of the Red Cross to those in detention. 6.The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)should open criminal investigations into the destruction of health clinics and hospitals and the murder bySerb authorities of at least one and perhaps two Albanian Kosovar doctors as violations of international humanitarian law within the Tribunal's purview. 7.International humanitarian organizations should continue, to the maximum extent possible, to collaborate with local independent Albanian doctors in Kosovo, employ them to participate in mobile clinic visits to displaced communities, share with them supplies and pharmaceuticals, and cooperate with them to rebuild the network of independent health clinics that were destroyed by the Serb army and police. To the International Medical Community PHR urges the international medical communityto call for the protection of their colleagues in Kosovo and to demand that those providing medical care to those in need be allowed to do so. A full report of PHR?s work in the region will be released in February 1999. ### Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) mobilizes the health professions and enlists support from the general public to protect and promote the human rights of all people. Since its founding in 1986, PHR has conducted dozens of investigations in countries throughout the world to document torture, political killings, prison conditions, and the health consequences of armed conflict. As a founding member of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, PHR shared in the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize. PHR has worked in Bosnia since 1993. Its several projects in the region involve working with the relatives of the missing: the Antemortem Database Project, the Identification Project, the Forensic Monitoring Project, and the Forensic Needs Assessment Project. PHR has provided evidence of war crimes for both of the International Criminal Tribunals (former Yugoslavia and Rwanda). Charles Clements, MD, is President; Carola Eisenberg, MD, is Vice-President, Leonard Rubenstein, JD, is Executive Director, Susannah Sirkin is Deputy Director; Mary-Jo Adams is Director of Development; Barbara Ayotte is Director of Communications; Holly Burkhalter is Advocacy Director; Gina Cummings is Director of Campaigns; and Richard Sollom is Senior Program Associate. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send a message to majordomo at alb-net.com In the body of the message include: UNSUBSCRIBE KCC-NEWS From mentor at alb-net.com Thu Dec 24 08:52:55 1998 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 08:52:55 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] URGENT! Another Massacre under way by the Serb forces!!! Message-ID: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ! READ & DISTRIBUTE FURTHER ! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Kosova Crisis Center (KCC): http://www.alb-net.com ARTA News Service: http://www.kohaditore.com/ARTA Kosova Information Center(KIC): http://www.kosova.com Radio21 (English/Albanian): http://www.radio21.net/english.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------- URGENT - URGENT - URGENT - URGENT -URGENT - URGENT - URGENT - URGENT Kosova: The Podjeva area (North Eastern Kosova) under siege 9:30 AM: The attacks begin Prishtina, December 24, 1998 - Today, at around 9:00 AM, a large number of Serbian forces begun the attack against the villages of the Podjeva region. So far, the attacks are taking place against the Albanian villages of Obran??, Gllamnik and Burinc?. The shots and detonations can be heard as far as 15 miles. From the Duriqi neighborhood in Obran?a and the Potera one in Llapashtica, smoke is coming out of the houses. The Serbian tanks are stationed in the place called "Tabet e Llapashtic?s". An eyewitness claimed that the forces are ready to attack the village of Llapashtica as well. In the road that connects Llapashtica with Podujeva, the police are driving back and forth, firing shots from the automatic weapons. The Serb forces surround the whole area. There were shots in the city of Podjeva as well. No one, besides the Serbian forces, is currently allowed to enter Podjeva. More the 34 military vehicles and two buses full of policemen entered the area since early this morning. More had entered in the previous days. There is a widespread panic among the residents in the area. 10:00 AM: The attacks intensified At this time the attack is continuing in the villages of Obran?a, Llapashtica, Gllamnik, Burice, Konushefc and Lluzhan of Podjeva. A resident of a nearby village of Sekira?a said that he saw an Albanian passerby being shot for no reason. He claimed that the police are shooting at everyone they encounter. So far, we were unable to get any more information, since the police block the area. 10:30 AM: Tanks and other military vehicles are still participating in the attack The attacks against the villages of Obran?a, Llapashtica, Gllamnik, Burice, Konushefc and Lluzhan of Podjeva are still continuing. Loud detonations are being heard from all over the area. In the city of Podjeva the situation is very tense. In every crossroad, the police forces are monitoring the movement. Snipers are stationed on the rooftops of the tall buildings. The stores and schools are closed. Tanks and other military vehicles are still participating in the attack in the nearby villages. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send a message to majordomo at alb-net.com In the body of the message include: UNSUBSCRIBE KCC-NEWS From mentor at alb-net.com Mon Dec 28 06:01:18 1998 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1998 06:01:18 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] A large number of civilians feared dead as heavy Serb military troops attacked north eastern Kosova villages today Message-ID: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ! READ & DISTRIBUTE FURTHER ! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Kosova Crisis Center (KCC): http://www.alb-net.com ARTA News Service: http://www.kohaditore.com/ARTA Kosova Information Center(KIC): http://www.kosova.com Radio21 (English/Albanian): http://www.radio21.net/english.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------- KCC Headlines, December 27, 1998 http://www.alb-net.com/kcc/index.htm Serious violations of the cease fire agreement by the Serbs Attack in Podjeva... * Heavy Serb military troops attacked north eastern Kosova villages today. Thousands of refugees... A large number of civilians feared dead... (KIC) * Schoolteacher, Seriously Wounded in Obran??, In Critical Condition (KIC) * Fierce Fighting Erupts in Kosova (AP) * Serb 'provocation' in Kosova (BBC) >From KLA Representatives... * KLA DAILY INFORMATION NR.1 * KLA DAILY INFORMATION NR.2 Statements, viewpoints and analysis... * President Rugova's Aid Calls for NATO Intervention in Kosova (KIC) * Kosova Government Deplores "Brutal Offensive Carried out by FRY- Serb Forces' in Llapi Region of Kosova (KIC) Heavy Serb military troops attacked north eastern Kosova villages today. Thousands of refugees... A large number of civilians feared dead... (KIC) Serbian Shelling Stops, Grave Consequences Feared in Podujeva Area. Serbian forces machine-gunned a number of Albanian houses in Podujeva PRISHTINA, Dec 27 (KIC) - The LDK sources in the town of Podujeva said the shelling of Serbian military and police forces against a number of Albanian villages, launched earlier today (Sunday), stopped at around 14:00 hrs. The villages of Obran??, Katunisht? ('Velika Reka'), Llapashtic?, and Buric?, west of Podujeva, were shelled for several hours in a row. Several Serb tanks and other Serb vehicles withdrew from Obran??, but three to four tanks and a number of APCs were still inside the village, a couple of km west of Podujeva, sources said in mid- afternoon. The consequences of the heavy Serb shelling is still by and large unknown. Killed and wounded are feared. The attacked area was blanketed with a dense fog today afternoon. There is a ubiquitous Serb police presence in the town of Podujeva, home to 20,000 people, and in its outskirts. Serbian forces occupying the Besiana hotel, at the edge of Podujeva, on the Prishtina-Podujeva highway leading to Nis (Serbia), have machine-gunned a number of Albanian houses of the Bu?aj and Visoka family compounds in Podujeva. The houses of Isak Bu?aj, Ram? Bu?aj, Adem Bu?aj, Osman Visoka, Shefki Visoka, and Ram? Visoka have been fired upon, LDK sources said. Shooting was reported also in the Albanian neighbourhood where the Serb church is situated in Podujeva. Meanwhile, the Serb regime Media Center in Prishtina said a Serb, Dragoslav Zdravkovic (1936), was wounded today morning in the village of Katunisht? ('Velika Reka'). Reportedly, the Serb farmer was fired upon with automatic weapons. He responded by shooting back to the assailants, the Serb Center said. The village of Obran?? is on the way to Katunisht?. Both villages were shelled by Serbian forces today. Agim Veliu, vice-chairman of the LDK chapter in Podujeva, told the KIC by phone several thousand Albanians - mostly women, children and elderly - have been forced to flee their homes in Buric?, Konushec, Gllamnik, Llapashtic?, the outskirts of the town of Podujeva, Obran?? and Katunisht? ('Velika Reka') villages. Part of the displaced population have sought refuge in neighbouring villages, others are living rough in the wooded mountains, in a dramatic situation amidst freezing temperatures. The local LDK official called on the international community to intervene militarily in Kosova. "Only such an intervention can save the people of Kosova from further Serbian massacres", Mr. Veliu said. Back to top Schoolteacher, Seriously Wounded in Obran??, In Critical Condition (KIC) The Albanian teacher is in desperate need of urgent medical treatment PRISHTINA, Dec 27 (KIC) - Mr. Remzi Demolli, a schoolteacher in the village of Obran??, sustained serious wounds today (Sunday) during the Serbian offensive against this village, 2 km west of the northern town of Podujeva. The wounded Albanian teacher is in a critical condition in the village of Llapashtic?, local sources said. A doctor who gave Mr. Demolli the first aid said he had sustained life-threatening wounds and needed to be urgently taken to Prishtina for treatment. The doctor asked for help from Prishtina, because the roads have been closed off by Serbian forces. The owner of a private ambulance told the KIC he was turned back by the Serb police when he tried to enter the town of Podujeva today. The only chance for the Albanian teacher wounded in his home to survive is for the International Red Cross or any other international humanitarian organization to step in. Back to top President Rugova's Aid Calls for NATO Intervention in Kosova (KIC) PRISHTINA, Dec 27 (KIC) - An energetic international intervention, including by NATO forces, may force the Belgrade regime to halt its aggression and ethnic cleansing campaign in Kosova, Mr. Xhemail Mustafa, press advisor to the President of the Republic of Kosova, said in a statement to the Kosova Information Center (KIC) Sunday afternoon. Mr. Mustafa noted that heavy Serb military and police forces attacked again today the villages of Obran?? and Llapashtic?, in the municipality of Podujeva, using "tanks and other artillery pieces". The fact that Serbian forces have been attacking the Llapi region for the fourth day in a row is evidence that the Belgrade regime is undermining and openly disregarding the OSCE Kosova Verification Mission (KVM), Mr. Mustafa said. In addition, "with this renewed aggressive action, whose tragic consequences are borne by the Albanian civilian population, the Serb regime is making a negotiating process between Prishtina and Belgrade on the political resolution of the Kosova issue impossible". Xhemail Mustafa said there were indications that an agreement for a truce between the U?K (Kosova Liberation Army) and the Serbian forces would be reached under the mediation of the KVM's head, Ambassador Walker, so that the situation in Llapi region be calmed with a restoration of the cease-fire violated by the Serb troops earlier this week. "Today's attack by Serbian forces is also directed against such a possibility, underscoring the unwillingness of the Belgrade regime to calm the situation and seek a political solution". The Serb offensive against the Llapi region, in northern Kosova, as well as the ever increasing Serb forces' presence and provocations up and down Kosova, make it necessary that the international community intervene here, Rugova's aide said. "Only an intervention by NATO forces can force Belgrade give up its retaliatory operations against the Albanian civilian population on a large scale, halt its aggressive actions against the U?K positions, as well as the ethnic cleansing campaign in Kosova", Xhemail Mustafa said in a statement to the KIC. Back to top Kosova Government Deplores "Brutal Offensive Carried out by FRY- Serb Forces' in Llapi Region of Kosova (KIC) PRISHTINA, Dec 27 (KIC) - The Government of the Republic of Kosova "deplores the brutal offensive carried out by FRY-Serb forces", a statement referring to the unfolding Serbian offensive in northern Kosova, which was launched on 24 December, said. Following is the text of today's statement signed by Dr. Bujar Bukoshi, Prime Minister of Kosova in exile: "Once again, the victims of the entirely unjustifiable breach of the purported cease-fire are innocent civilians. Once again it is the civilians who must pay the price for the misguided faith that has been placed in the word of Slobodan Milosevic. The renewed streams of refugees, fleeing from their villages as a direct result of systematic military operations, conducted as before as part of a pattern of terror, intimidation and ethnic cleansing, must now trigger a forceful international response. The credibility of NATO, the OSCE and their member states has been challenged by this onslaught launched on Christmas Eve. The Government of the Republic of Kosova, and, indeed, the population of Kosova, cannot be expected to continue cooperation with the international presence in Kosova, if the process of ethnic cleansing and terror is permitted to resume under the very eyes of the verification mission, in the harsh conditions of mid-winter. Decisive steps must now be taken to make it clear to Milosevic regime that it cannot pursue its brutal policy, in violation of clear commitments, without restraint and with impunity. Otherwise the international effort in Kosova is doomed. The hostilities must be terminated immediately, the heavy FRY forces must be withdrawn from Kosova territory, there must be immediate humanitarian access and the investigators from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia must be permitted to operate without restraint. These latest outrages also highlight the urgency with which genuine attempts to achieve an overall settlement to the question of Kosova must now be pursued. It must now be clear that the initiative proposed by Ambassador Hill cannot form the basis for a settlement, in as much as it has failed to attract the support of any of the parties to this conflict. The Government of the Republic of Kosova, for its part, remains eager and willing for real negotiations to commence, once the FRY has complied with the mandatory demands of the United Nations Security Council. The Government of the Republic of Kosova remains willing to start immediate cooperation with an International Implementation Commission, to ensure compliance with these mandatory demands by all sides. Once compliance has been certified, international mediated negotiations between Kosova and FRY can commence in Geneva or at another appropriate venue outside former Yugoslavia. The American leading role in this process is indispensable. The Government of the Republic of Kosova has already made public the principles that will guide its delegation in such negotiations. These principles were formulated in a constructive spirit, which does not seek to impose preconditions upon the talks which must now begin without further delay." Back to top Fierce Fighting Erupts in Kosova (AP) By MISHA SAVIC Associated Press Writer OBRANCA, Yugoslavia (AP) - Serbian police and ethnic Albanian rebels waged a fierce battle Sunday around a guerrilla stronghold, exchanging fire with artillery, mortars and grenades in northern Kosova. Police wearing flak jackets and helmets fired from trenches at the outskirts of Obranca village toward neighboring Lapastica - the Kosova Liberation Army stronghold that appears to be the main target of their four-day-old offensive. The ethnic Albanians accused police of opening fire first on Sunday morning, but rebels were shooting back heavily. The crackdown has resulted in the most serious clashes in the secessionist province since an October truce, despite the efforts of international monitors determined to prevent a return to full-scale war. At least 10 ethnic Albanians have been reported killed in the offensive. The body of the latest victim, a 44-year-old man, was discovered Saturday night, the Kosova Information Center said. Teams of international monitors were sent to the area of Sunday's shooting in rebel-controlled territory between Obranca and Lapastica, some 20 miles north of Pristina. The unarmed patrols generally keep clear of the combat. One verifier near the scene of Sunday's clash characterized it as ``serious fighting.'' International monitors have talked to both sides in the fight over the ethnic Albanian-dominated province of Serbia, the main republic in Yugoslavia. Those efforts, and visits to the areas of conflict, appear to have helped prevent a complete breakdown of the shaky truce. But Serb forces have refused to end their buildup in the rebel-held area. International officials, who still hold both sides responsible for the worsening violence, have strongly criticized the Serbs for responding with dozens of tanks to alleged provocations by the KLA. Serb police said they would stay in Obranca, about a mile from Lapastica, until at least after the funeral later Sunday of a 65-year-old Serb farmer killed by the KLA on Saturday. The police took up positions behind his house and were firing from trenches there. The farmer, one of the last Serb civilians in the predominantly ethnic Albanian village, was shot after he and his family opened fire on the rebels, a KLA commander was quoted as saying in the ethnic Albanian daily Koha Ditore on Sunday. The top Serb official in Pristina said the farmer's death was ``another crime committed by Albanian terrorists whose aim is to make Kosova ethnically'' all-Albanian. ``State authorities are prepared to deal with all those jeopardizing the territorial integrity of our country,'' Zoran Andjelkovic told reporters. The Kosova Information Center claimed Serb police are passing out weapons to Serb civilians in the region. In a separate incident Sunday, the Serb-run Media Center said a 62-year-old villager from Velika Reka near Podujevo was shot at with automatic weapons and fired back on the ``terrorists.'' The rebels have acknowledged they are rearming and preparing for sustained fighting in order to gain freedom for Kosova. A large group of armed ethnic Albanians was prevented from entering Kosova illegally from Albania late Saturday when Yugoslav army border guards fired on the ``attackers'' near the Vrbnica border outpost, the Media Center said. No casualties were reported. International diplomacy that produced an October peace agreement has failed to achieve an agreement on Kosova's political status aimed at ending the conflict. More than 1,000 people have been killed since Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic began an offensive against the rebels last February, driving some 300,000 were driven from their homes. Hundreds have fled the latest fighting in the Podujevo region, walking for miles in sub-freezing temperatures and packing into houses already cramped with other refugees, sometimes dozens to the room. Back to top Serb 'provocation' in Kosova (BBC) Sunday, December 27, 1998 Published at 02:13 GMT BBC The top international official in Kosova has condemned an operation by Serbian security forces in the north of the province as a provocation. Heavily armed police moved into a predominantly ethnic Albanian village in the Podujevo region following the killing of an elderly Serb man on the third day of clashes between Serbian security forces and ethnic Albanian rebels in the area. In a BBC interview, William Walker, who leads a mission by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said members of the Kosova verification mission were continuing efforts to persuade Serbs and ethnic Albanians to halt the violence. "The government decided against our best advice to move the police into the village in considerable strength ... that's a bit of a provocations in itself since the village is all Albanians and all very angry and with their KLA army up in the hills above them." "It's a very tricky situation," he said. "With unarmed verifiers it is not always easy to get them to stop shooting each other or looking for a fight." The onset of more fighting is a blow to Mr Walker, who had urged Serbian and ethnic Albanian commanders on Friday to reinstate a cease-fire agreed two months ago which fell apart on Christmas Eve. Nato has threatened air strikes on Belgrade if the terms of the truce are breached. Back to top KLA DAILY INFORMATION NR.1 >From our sources from the field we got informed that today in the region of Llap, Sebian forces and in particular 'VJ' forces with infantry, tanks, artillery and heavy armament got off the main road and entered in the Albanian villages where they were not supposed to. Afterwards they were shooting and shelling Albanian villages like in Konushevc, Dobratin, Upper and Downer Llapashtica, Obranxh? etc. With one word, all the villages from Burinc? to Bradash are target of this offensive. Also we got informed that 'VJ' tanks got situated in the place called "Qershijat e Llapashtic?s"(Cherries of Llapashtica). 'VJ' is using snipers and they are shooting, too. Totally in this offensive 'VJ' is using over 100 tanks. The civil population of these villages was force to flee from their homes as a result of this offensive. Back to top KLA DAILY INFORMATION NR.2 >From our network from the field we got informed about latest events in the region of Llap (municipality of Podujeva), as follows: 'VJ' units went deep in the village Upper Llapashtica and they are now in the place called "Tabet e Llapashtic?s" where they are fortified. This is the place where Mr.Goran Zbilic was released from U?K and an U?K position. The 'VJ' units are in the neighborhood Duriqi in the village Obranxh?, too. One unidentified killed person is lying dead near the gas station in the village Sekira?. There are snipers in some higher buildings of the town of Podujev?, and due to this all streets are empty. A lot of people who fleed from their homes from the villages arrived in the town of Podujeva. The regular line of the bus "Mentori Tours" with the firm "Valmiri" on it which goes from Podujeva in Prishtina, when he stopped in the village in Gllamnik, a Serbian police APC which was going along the main road shot from automatic machine gun in the glass windows of the bus. The passengers were terrified, but fortunately except one person who was scratched a bit in his ear from a bullet, nobody else got hurt. In the village Kulin? a truck which transports salt, was put from the police as a barricade in the street. Information Service Prishtin?, 24.12.1998 --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send a message to majordomo at alb-net.com In the body of the message include: UNSUBSCRIBE KCC-NEWS