From mentor at alb-net.com Mon Jan 4 08:14:47 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 08:14:47 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] KCC Headlines, January 4, 1999 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, January 4, 1999 * "Kosova Press News Agency" and "Free Kosova" radio to start to operate in Kosova today, KLA sources claim * Yugoslav minister announces return media offensive (Reuters) * Rugova requests NATO peacekeepers in Kosova (AP) * Shattered Cease-Fire Signals New Year of Conflict for Ethnic Albanians and Serbs (Washington Post) * KLA releases three detainees in Kosova: OSCE (AFP) "Kosova Press News Agency" and "Free Kosova" radio to start to operate in Kosova today, KLA sources claim January 4, 1999 - KLA communique number 68. Prishtin?, January 3, 1999 - Due to the lack of first hand information, and for the sake of objective information of the Kosova and World community, on January 4, 1999, the KLA will start to operate the "Kosova Press News Agency" and the test of the "Free Kosova Radio" will begin. More information about this will be available later in the day. Yugoslav minister announces return media offensive (Reuters) January 1, 1999 BELGRADE, Yugoslavia (Reuters) -- Yugoslav Information Minister Goran Matic accused foreign media on Friday of waging war against Yugoslavia, and announced a return offensive for 1999. "We've learned our lessons from previous mistakes in the media war," Matic was quoted as saying by Beta news agency. "We are ready to respond to all manipulation in the appropriate way. And we've been more ready by the day because we are constantly perfecting our instruments." Matic, in an interview for Duga magazine carried by Beta, indicated that a new federal information law was likely to be tough. "Given the current political circumstances, the entire media war hullabaloo and the mercenaries working for foreign paymasters, we must have a restrictive variant," Matic said. Matic said the way in which foreign media reported on events in Yugoslavia-- a reference to Serbia's conflict with ethnic Albanian separatists in the province of Kosova-- was "the best proof that an unscrupulous war has been waged against us." He criticised Western government aid to independent media, singling out B-92, a prominent Belgrade radio station, and Koha Ditore, an ethnic Albanian daily in Kosova. "Add to this the money for the media from the BBC, the British Embassy, Deutsche Welle, Radio Free Europe, and others. It looks as if our media are getting more funds (from abroad) than our state directs towards the media," he said. He said the funds were intended to promote foreign interests. "Up to $100 million are being sent to our media through various channels-- where is that money?" he said. Several newspapers and a radio station have been closed since a clampdown conducted as Serbia faced the threat of NATO air strikes over its offensive against ethnic Albanians in Kosova. "Nobody has asked the media to support any political option or political party, only to have a minimum of national responsibility at the moment when the country is objectively threatened," Matic said. Matic said a new information law in Serbia, one of the two republics which make up Yugoslavia, had only prevented "unscrupulous lies" being presented as full truth. Government sources have said the new federal law is likely to cover the work of foreign media, but have not given details. It also looks set to cover the work of domestic media which have migrated to Montenegro, the smaller of the two republics. Two of the three dailies closed by Belgrade have continued to be published in Montenegro, whose leadership is at odds with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and is seeking closer ties with the West. Rugova requests NATO peacekeepers in Kosova (AP) PRISHTINA, YUGOSLAVIA -- An ethnic Albanian leader called on NATO Friday to defy the Serbs and deploy peacekeeping troops in Kosova, saying it is the only way to stop the fighting in the province. Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic has agreed to allow unarmed verifiers into Serbia's southern province to observe an October truce, but he has vehemently opposed any NATO ground troops in Kosova. In a New Year's message, ethnic Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova insisted that "only the deployment of NATO troops in Kosova can bring about greater security for all the people, a precondition for a political settlement of the Kosova problem." Rugova added, "We are convinced that the [international] verification mission and permanent NATO attention can calm down tensions." Kosova was quiet Friday after a raucous night in which residents of Pristina ushered in the New Year by firing rifles, pistols and shotguns in the air. Some of the city's Serbs gathered at hotels to welcome the New Year. Most cafes, restaurants and nightspots were closed, however, because owners feared incidents between Serbs and ethnic Albanians. Four days of fighting that ended Dec. 24 after killing at least 15 people shook the fragile truce and brought rumblings from NATO leaders. Under the threat of NATO airstrikes, Milosevic agreed in October to halt the seven-month crackdown against ethnic Albanian separatists in Kosova, an operation that had killed more than 1,000 people dead and left 300,000 homeless. Ethnic Albanians make up the vast majority of Kosova's 2 million people. In his message, Rugova urged ethnic Albanians to "join forces and accomplish freedom and Kosova's independence" in 1999. Western diplomats cite divisions within the ethnic Albanian community as a major obstacle to peace talks with the government. Rugova, who heads the biggest ethnic Albanian party, was elected "president" of the self-styled Republic of Kosova in 1992 and again in March. But Serbian authorities outlawed the new state, and he never served. He advocates pacifism in pursuit of independence for Kosova, at times causing tensions with the Kosova Liberation Army, which has led guerrilla fighting against Serb-led Yugoslav troops. War Clouds Kosova Adversaries' View of Future: Shattered Cease-Fire Signals New Year of Conflict for Ethnic Albanians and Serbs (Washington Post) (Washington Post) By Peter Finn Washington Post Foreign Service Friday, January 1, 1999; LLAPASHTICA, Yugoslavia, Dec. 31?Sitting behind a black desk at the Kosova Liberation Army headquarters here, a 27-year-old rebel commander known as Remi lit his Dunhill cigarettes with a camouflage lighter and issued his grim prediction for 1999. "In the next year I expect to win and lose a lot of battles," said Remi, who buried two of his fellow ethnic Albanian soldiers today. "But in the end, we will win the war." A couple of miles away in the town of Podjeva, Milovan Tomcic, the Serbian mayor, sounded just as bleak. "I am convinced 1999 will be as hard as '98," Tomcic said after leaving a meeting in the town hall with local men who have sent their wives and children to other parts of Serbia because of the recent clashes here in the north of this Serbian province. The guns that over Christmas shattered a two-month truce between Kosova's separatist ethnic Albanian rebels and Serbian government forces have fallen silent. But as celebratory New Year's Eve gunfire rang out across Kosova tonight, there was little optimism on either side that renewed warfare can be avoided. "I think there has been enough blood spilled and killing," Tomcic said. "But the situation is very tense, very difficult." Serbian civilians have fled villages around Podjeva in recent days and local officials have called on the government in Belgrade, capital of both Yugoslavia and its dominant republic of Serbia, to guarantee their security. "We have asked our country to intervene," Tomcic said. The ethnic Albanian Kosova Liberation Army (KLA), which began as a ragtag, peasant resistance movement, has after eight months of fighting become a high-tech, mobile guerrilla force and, come spring, it expects renewed heavy conflict. "The Serbian regime will attack us again," said Adem Demaci, the group's general political representative. "But the KLA has become a sophisticated force. They are working very energetically to prepare themselves." Near here, on roads bathed in dense fog, the general sense of foreboding found apt expression. A column of Serbian tanks and trucks carrying troops moved along the main roads between Pristina, the Kosova capital, and Podjeva, 15 miles to the north. Serbian police, accompanied by armored vehicles, manned roadblocks at the entrances to Podjeva, which teemed with people moving about the streets before nightfall. Down a small side road, about 200 yards from where the Serbian column passed, ethnic Albanian rebels wearing black uniforms and carrying automatic weapons and sniper rifles stood guard warily. And in a stark vista in Pristina, heavily armed Serbian police moved along the main thoroughfare past children lined up to sit on the lap of a Santa Claus perched under a "Happy New Year" sign. "I would assess the situation as still tense, but at the moment the agreement is holding," said Sandy Blyth, a spokesman for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which negotiated an end to fighting between the warring parties on Sunday after four days of clashes. About 700 unarmed OSCE personnel have arrived in Kosova to monitor an October cease-fire agreed to by U.S. special envoy Richard C. Holbrooke and Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. By early in the new year, a full force of 2,000 OSCE monitors is expected. Today, the OSCE's orange jeeps were visible in this area, sometimes parked down the street from Serbian police checkpoints. But in the rebel stronghold here, the war that ripped Kosova apart this summer, leaving more than 1,000 dead and tens of thousands of people homeless, seems only in temporary abeyance. Most victims of the fighting were ethnic Albanians, who outnumber Serbs in the province 9 to 1. For two miles along a barely passable dirt road, knots of guerrillas, some wearing wool hats with the letters FBI emblazoned across the front, stood on ridges and emerged from abandoned farmhouses toting their weapons. Further along what at times becomes a track across fields, stood a two-story, cream-colored house, the regional Kosova Liberation Army headquarters. It was this dwelling that government forces, with tanks and armored vehicles, attempted to take in a two-pronged attack on Christmas Eve that was repulsed by the rebels. For days after, the guerrillas and Serbian forces exchanged fire, leaving at least 14 people dead, including Serbian and Albanian civilians. Each side blamed the other for starting the clashes, but William Walker, the U.S. ambassador heading the OSCE verification mission, said both were spoiling for a fight. In his second-floor office, Remi, the guerrilla commander, held forth today on the rebels' growing military strength. "We have everything," said Remi when asked if the rebels had used 120mm mortar in the recent clashes with Serbs. "And we are getting weapons from everywhere." He stood up and walked over to the corner of the room pulling out a hand-held 44mm mortar from under some fatigues. "This is from Ireland, Northern Ireland," he said, but he couldn't say from exactly whom it had been procured. Beside him, as he spoke, sat a satellite phone on which he occasionally took calls. Downstairs, the headquarters held computers, fax machines and its own electric generating system. Outside, off-terrain vehicles had Kosova Liberation Army license plates. Demaci, the rebels' political representative, said that in recent months the guerrilla group has recruited ethnic Albanians who fought in the Bosnian war and now 70 percent of its volunteers have military experience -- up from 30 percent in the summer. Remi said he fought with the Yugoslav army in Croatia, smiling wryly at the irony of being trained by his enemy. He said the Kosova Liberation Army, which once took all comers, has become selective in creating its force. "Three months ago I got a list of 370 students from Pristina who wanted to fight," said Remi, who sits behind pictures of four rebels who have been killed in action. "We only took 60." The atmosphere around headquarters is tense and, fearing renewed fighting, Remi said there would be no celebrations at midnight. "We have forgotten about New Year's Eve," he said. Among the Serbs of Podjeva, the air is just as poisoned. "Half the Serb population of this area has fled," Tomcic, the mayor, said. "Seven villages have been ethnically cleansed of Serbs. People are afraid for their lives. "Nobody is celebrating New Year's Eve," he continued. "We have nothing to look forward to." KLA releases three detainees in Kosova: OSCE (AFP) PRISHTINA, Yugoslavia, Jan 1 (AFP) - The separatist Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) has released three Albanians it had been holding, the OSCE verification mission reported Friday. "We have been informed that three Albanians in the hands of the KLA have been released following a KLA decision," said Sandy Blyth, spokesman of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE.) The KLA is fighting for the independence of Kosova from rule by the Yugoslav government in Belgrade. The population of the Serbian province is nine-tenths ethnic Albanian. The OSCE spokesman was unable to say why or where the three Albanians had been held. The KLA is frequently hostile to those among its own ethnic Albanian people whom it suspects of subservience to the Yugoslav regime. A Serb briefly held by a KLA unit last week at its stronghold at Lapastica reported having seen 11 Albanians in KLA captivity. Lapastica was the target of major operations by Yugoslav government security forces just before Christmas. The OSCE also spokesman reported that Kosova had remained calm overnight after last week's upsurge of violence in the northern part of the province. "New Year's night was calm, the ceasefire was respected," Blyth said. There had been "an easing of tensions" in the Podjeva region, where security forces attacked the KLA last week. The KLA fought an eight-month war with Serbian security forces last year before Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, threatened with NATO air strikes, agreed to a ceasefire in October. While the rebels continue to hold large parts of the countryside, the United States is trying to mediate a political settlement that would give a high degree of autonomy, but not full independence, to Kosova's ethnic Albanian majority. In his New Year address, Milosevic said he hoped for a political settlement to the Kosova crisis during 1999, but ruled out independence for the province. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Jan 10 23:14:54 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1999 23:14:54 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] Demaci, the KLA Political Representative: Rugova should unite, not divide 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARTA (7 January 1999) - Looting and burning of Albanian houses - Atacks on the Albanian Media during - Kosova Liberation Army Political Representative on Albanian Television (TVSH) - Gjakov?: Albanians arrested - Looting and burning of Albanian houses - "The Macedonia factor" by Janusz Bugajski Kosova Liberation Army Political Representative on Albanian Television (TVSH) Dema?i: Rugova should unite, not divide "He (Rugova) should have spoken as the commander of this army and the people, stating that an army fighting for the liberation of the people cannot be a terrorist one. However, he declined in doing so" Prishtina, 7 December "The President must unite the people, not divide them. He should protect the army of his people and not offend and underestimate it", Adem Dema?i, the KLA political representative, said in an interview on the Albanian Radio Television, broadcasted via-satellite on Wednesday. "He (Rugova) should have spoken as the commander of this army and people and say that an army that fights for the liberation of a people, cannot be a terrorist army", added he. "But he declined in doing so. During his stay in Hague, in summer, he said the Kosova institutions will fully engage in calming the 'extremists'. Six days after, after he took the liberaty of reffering to the KLA as 'extremists', the Belgrade regime, got the green light to launch the offensive in Llap and attack the innocent population. As for his meetings in Tirana, KLA Political Representative said he was pleased by Albanian PM statement that he will "support Kosova Albanians and those who want their support". "This is the best statement. It prejudges nothing and it makes Albania a serious country", Dema?i evaulated. "Today, we face the final stage of our national evolution. The tasks ahead are very difficult", stated after being asked on the difficulties in unifying the Albanian political structures. "We need to gather around the KLA. The ones ready to join and accept the sacrifice, will promote unity, victory and solution to our issue. Those who intentionally sabotage this unity, will prolong the process of liberation, despair and bloodshed", Dema?i concluded. Dema?i valued as "great hipocrisy" the fact that the "international community" recognized Rugova as the only legitimate Kosova Albanian political representative during the talks with Belgrade. "If the world respects the will of Kosova Albanians, it should recognize the one expressed on the '91 Referendum, and then accept Rugova. They disrespect both Rugova and that will. What they need is an obedient man who supports the imposing of autonomy to Kosova Albanians, thus solving the Albanian problem once for all". "Let us help our army", stated Dema?i reffering to the KLA, "through knowledge, fundraising and personal readiness, so it can become more qualitative". He that "it is not true that the KLA is not allowing the officers throughout the world to go out and fight. The KLA will not allow to enroll in its units, people that are here to gain posts, and disappear during the offensives". "I am ready to talk to everybody. I am even ready to get down on my knees, if necessary, only to get the work done properly", said in the end Dema?i. Unclarified killing of a Serb worker triggers Bosnia scenarios Prishtina under armed Serbs siege All major entrance roads to the capital were blocked by armed Serb civilians, as Serb police followed them by setting up moveable roadblocks -- Buses and vehicles were prevented from entering or leaving town -- Incidents came as U.S. Kosova peace mediator Chris Hill arrived in Pristina Prishtin?, 7 January Armed Serbs of the village of Prellc blocked the Prishtina ? Prizren road, denying access to the village even to police, say Serb sources in Prishtina, local and Belgrade media, is reported in Thursday. According to the BETA news agency, frustrated by the killing of a Serb civilian Nebojsa Denic (35) under unknown circumstances, the villagers blocked this road from 06:00, sources reported. Denic, a security worker in Kosova Electroeconomy power plant was killed in an ambush by automatic gunfire. Serb villagers demanded Yugoslavian president Slobodan Milosevic and Serbia's president Milan Milutinovic to visit them, chairman of the Movement of Serb Resistance ? Democratic Changes (SPO-DP) Momcilo Trajkovic said to Beta. "Going to Liberate Prishtina" The siege started around 05.00 AM, when some 100 Serb villagers from Prellc blocked a 100 meters of the road strip, being followed by their compatriots from the villages nearby villages of ?agllavica and Llaplesel?. At noon, Beta agency reported that a group numbering some 50 Serb civilians from ?agllavica were seen mounting a roadblock in a road peak called Veterrnik, at the entrance to Prishtina from the direction of Shkup. They were reported armed and holding banners which stated: "Going to liberate Prishtina". Serb police units were blocking the road, as Serb civilians were claiming they will persist in keeping the road blocked "for indefinite period of time". On both sides of the road Serb police had sustained a so-called "tampoo-zone" preventing all persons from getting close to the area. Trajkovic said that they are preventing all persons from passing through and that the efforts of the local authority representatives in Prishtina to convince them to move the blockade have failed. The president of SPO-DP thinks that Milosevic and Milutinovic are those "who bare the greatest responsibility" for the killings in Kosova and called on them to "do something rapidly" to stop the killings. "We've had enough. Terrorists are killing us at our workplace, and throw bombs at our kids," a protester told a local journalist at one roadblock, some 10 km (six miles) south of Pristina on the road to the Macedonian capital Skopje, Reuters reported on Thursday. Siege as a retaliation The Serb-run Media Centre said it was an attack by "terrorists" -- a term used by the Serbs for the ethnic Albanian Kosova Liberation Front (KLA) guerrillas. Another roadblock was set up by some 60 armed Serb civilians on the southern outskirts of Pristina, the provincial capital. Police prevented foreign reporters and ethnic Albanians from heading in that direction for security reasons. "The protesters prevent everyone, including police, from getting close. We had to use walkie-talkies to contact our people in the area," a source close to police in Pristina said. The local journalist said protesters had threatened to flee Kosova. Police also said they had mediated the release of three young ethnic Albanians detained briefly by the protesting Serbs. The three were released unharmed, police said. Sandy Blyth, spokesman for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said a team of OSCE observers was discussing the situation with police. "We have OSCE verifiers from the regional centre who are at this moment speaking with the police, trying to ascertain what the problem is," Blyth told Reuters. The roadblock incident came as U.S. Kosova peace mediator Chris Hill arrived in Pristina on Thursday. Kosova Information Center sources in Lipjan, 13 km south of Prishtina, said the road has been closed off by Serb civilians in ?agllavic? and Llaplesell? villages. Serb police has not allowed cars to proceed to Prishtina via these villages Prishtina-Podujev? road remained closed until late afternoon The passengers on board two buses commuting between Prizren and Prishtina were turned back by police at Veternik, at the south-eastern entrance to the Kosova capital. On late afternoon the Prishtina-Podujev? road was the next route to be closed by Serb civilians armed with rifles and automatic guns, ARTA sources reported from Podujev?. Witnesses from the suburbian areas of Prishtina reported that a heavy gunfire could be heard above the Dragodan neighborhood (north part of town). The shooting reportedly lasted from 16.00-16.30 GMT. The claims were confirmed by Sandy Blyth, spokeswoman for the OSCE Verification Mission in Kosova. Witnesses add that during the day, a large number of buses and vehicles were stuck between villages of Orlloviq and Stanoc -- Prishtina-Mitrovica road -- after being stopped by a group of armed Serb civilians wearing masks, numbering some 200-250. The road was later on reported open. According to the local witnesses claims and Reuters agency reports, the Podujev? road was closed, whereas armed Serb civilians groups were to be seen mounting a roadblock at the entrance of Devet Jugoviq village. Entrances to Prishtina from the direction of Shkup (FYROM), as well as the Kosovar towns of Prizren, Gjilan, Ferizaj, and Lipjan remain completely closed, KIC report said. Armed Serbs roam the streets of Lipjan The LDK source in Shtime, southwest of Prishtina, quoting accounts by bus commuters turned back, said a 'chaotic' situation prevailed in the village of ?agllavic?, whereas in the small town of Lipjan they said they had seen armed Serb civilians roaming the streets. LDK sources in Lipjan and Shtime have been unable to account for the kind of situation created in Lipjan and the Serb villages of ?agllavic? and Llaplasell?. Another KIC information report on heavy shooting from Serb civilian villagers during the past 24 hours. Serb citizens were reported as "engaged in an unprecedented shooting spree in capital Prishtina", arguably in connection with the Christmas festivities of eastern Orthodox Serbs. US mediator to Kosova reaches Prishtina using side-roads in the aftermath of Serb civilians roadblock operation Hill: Guns and roadblocks solve nothing, absolutely nothing "People are carrying guns, I saw that myself and there is a great deal of frustration and a great deal of concern and the only way to deal with that is to have an invigorated political process" Prishtina, 7 December "Nothing can be solved by guns and blocking the roads, absolutely nothing", stated the main American mediator to Kosova, Christopher Hill, who arrived in Prishtina to "invigorate the political process", sunk in crisis following the last Christmas incidents in northeast of Kosova, ARTA sources reported Thursday. "People are carrying guns, I saw that myself and there is a great deal of frustration and a great deal of concern -- and the only way to deal with that is to have an invigorated political process", Hill stated after reaching Prishtina through side-roads, since the main ones were blocked in the morning hours by armed civilians. "I had to take an side-road to get to Prishtina, because the main road was blocked and this is an indication more that we have to get a political process going; it can gain momentum and lead us to a peaceful spring", Hill said on his way out from meeting Ibrahim Rugova, President of the Republic of Kosova. According to Hill, they were aiming at invigorating the political process which remains "the only way to solve the problem, and not the violent incidents in the field". The US Ambassador to Shkup (FYROM), said that recently they were discussing the ways of approaching properly the political agreement on which they have some specific ideas. The talks will eventually resume the forthcoming week, ARTA sources claim. "I am working widely on the framework issue -- on how we can continue with further negotiations and further political settlements", he said. Recently, Hill noted that "the shuttle diplomacy" he has used in trying to put a lid on escalating situation in Kosova by travelling back and forth to Prishtina and Belgrade, is approaching the end of its functioning, and that the time has come "for both sides to deal with the issue together", announcing the possibility for direct Albanian-Serb negotiations. Late Thursday evening Hill was supposed to return to Shkup. Kosova - 24 hours After Kalasnikov-Christmas Eve, the Roadblock-Day Dawns The fiercest shooting was reported around the municipal villages of De?an -- the Orthodox Christmas Eve passed through continuous Serb shooting -- Villages of the municipality of Klina, spent Wednesday night through Serb machinegun shooting Prishtina, 7 January (ARTA) 1800CET -- A tense situation has prevailed all the towns of Kosova during the Orthodox Christmas celebrations. Shooting from different weaponry was witnessed in all locations, as no information were issued about the eventual victims or material damages. The fiercest shooting was reported around the municipal villages of De?an, local sources reported, adding that the shooting from artillery from the Serb positions at Suka e Baballo?it, Bitesh, Gllogjan and Irzniq, in the direction of the villages of Baballo? Dubrav?, Grama?el and Ratish, started on Wednesday at 1800CET. The same sources notified that no victims resulted from this shooting. Shooting to celebrate the Orthodox Christmas was also heard in De?an, Junik and other localities. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Serb police patrol arrested Avni Selmanaj, from the village of Baballo?, for the second time. Reportedly, he is still kept under arrest at the police station. Gjakov?: Albanians arrested Gjakov?, 7 January (ARTA) 1810 CET -- In Gjakov?, as well, the Orthodox Christmas Eve passed through continuous shooting from different weaponry. In many town squares, Serbs gathered about fires they set, singing and shooting with automatic weapons, LDK information and CDHRF sources in Gjakov? inform. Artillery shelling was also evidenced along the bordering belt, particularly by the village of Morin?. According to LDK sources in Gjakov?, the Serb police arrested on Wednesday, Agim Tha?i (19) from the village of Skivjan, Haki Idrizi (35) from Ponoshec, Natyr? Rama (21) and Afrora Rama (16) both from the village of Jabllanic?. After 4 hours Afrora Rama, was the only one to be released. Hydajet Beqiri (29), from the village of Rracaj, was also sent to the Pej? prison on Wednesday. After the wounding of Rasim Rexhaj from the village of Dobrosh, in the village of Tomoc, municipality of Istog, increased movements of police patrols were witnessed in the area. Suharek?: The bullets hit an Albanian house Suharek?, 7 January (ARTA) 1820CET -- Heavy shooting was heard starting from 1800CET and lasting until the early morning hours, in the Serb resided localities and in points where the Serb police\military forces are concentrated, local sources from Suharek? reported on Wednesday. Same sources claim there were cases of bullets hitting the Albanian-owned houses, such as the house of Ilmi Bujari, from the village of Duh?l, inducing great fear among the people. Representatives of the OSCE Verifying Mission, went out in the field from 1900CET, and visited the village of Mushtisht. Klina: Automatic guns shootout in Volljak?, Dush and Sferk? Klin?, 7 January (ARTA) 1830CET -- The villages of the municipality of Klin?, also spent Wednesday night through Serb machine gun shooting, the KD correspondent from Klin? informs. He further notified that a Serb soldier committed suicide, at the Serb stationing place at Pishat e Volljakut. The spot was visited by OSCE verifiers, immediately after. The villages of Volljak?, Dush and Sferk? were shot at throughout the nigh on Wednesday and during the early morning hours of Thursday. 18 Albanian villages were also shot at with machine guns, from 11 Serb stationing spots. On the other hand, three Serb soldiers robbed a 70-year old woman, on the road that leads from Sferk? to Volljak?. Looting and burning of Albanian houses Mitrovic?, Podujev?, 7 January (ARTA) 1845CET -- Serb police and civilians shot in the direction of the neighborhoods of "Kroi i Vitakut", "Ibri", "7 Shtatori" and in one part of the "Tavnik" neighborhood in Mitrovic?, on Wednesday afternoon, LDK Information sources in Mitrovic? inform. These shooting continued until Thursday. There are reports that fire arms shooting was also witnessed in the villages of Frash?r i Madh, Frash?r i Vog?l, Suhadoll and Zve?an i Vog?l. On the other hand, Albanian sources from the villages Klin? e Ep?rme, Municipality of Sk?nderaj notify that the Serb police arrested Jetullah Behrami (40), from Kotorr, a teacher at the "Idriz Berani" elementary school, in Klin? e Ep?rme, of whose whereabouts nothing is still known, ever since the day of his arrest. Meanwhile, a police APC, drove to the house of Bajrush Murati, which was burned during the attack against Tabet e Llapashtic?s on Wednesday at around 1300CET, the "Kosova-Press" agency informs. According to these sources, this time, the police went there to loot the things that survived the fire. This event was followed by the OSCE representative who was there for an official meeting with the Command of the Operative zone in Llap, stated the KLA information service of this Operative zone. The Macedonia factor Progress in Macedonia would in turn become an important force of stability throughout the south Balkans. However, if the current VMRO-DPA agreement were to break down then the reverberations could be severe Writes: Janusz Bugajski 6 January 1999 There are several keys to security and stability in the Balkans and Macedonia remains the critical door. Domestic and external factors of instability are closely interwoven in this central Balkan state. Although the recently formed coalition government in Skopje is a progressive step, caution is necessary among policy makers in case many of the former doomsday prophecies about Macedonia rapidly turn to euphoric predictions about the country's future. The new coalition government, however positive and pragmatic, faces an uphill struggle to prove its conciliatory and constructive credentials. It has made a promising start but it faces numerous problems that have accumulated under the previous administration including economic stagnation, rampant corruption, and a lingering ethnic division. The solution to long-term stability, regardless of any potential external threat, is the settlement of the internal Albanian question, as well as progress on the economic front. These goals can only be accomplished by giving the Albanians a substantial political and economic stake in the survival of an integral state. Progress in Macedonia would in turn become an important force of stability throughout the south Balkans. However, if the current VMRO-DPA agreement were to break down then the reverberations could be severe. For example, the Kosova scenario (in other words, the creation of a parallel governmental structure) could become increasingly appealing among the Albanian political elites. This could in turn intensify KLA activities in Macedonia and throughout the region. At present, this prospect seems highly unlikely as the war in Kosova may have dampened rather than kindled calls for separatism in Macedonia. But we only dismiss worst case scenarios at our peril. Escalating conflicts in the neighborhood will have definite repercussion inside Macedonia, and most of these will be negative. There are several destabilizing possibilities on the horizon. The non-settlement of the Kosova question is clearly the most urgent issue. The probable resumption of large-scale violence this spring could challenge Skopje even more severely than in the past because the violence is likely to be bloodier, more intensive, and more prolonged. There are several dangers for Macedonia regardless of the policies of the current government. These include, a large outflow of refugees that will further strain the country's resources and undermine ethnic coexistence; the use of Macedonian territory by KLA supporters and volunteers that may radicalize a section of Albanian youth; the possibility of a military spillover either through hot-pursuit operations by Yugoslav forces or attacks by the KLA on Yugoslav border posts; and the further corruption of the Macedonian economy as a consequence of growing arms smuggling and other illicit trade. The biggest danger is that the government in Skopje will split on major policy questions, particularly on how to handle refugees, guerrillas, and illicit traders, and on Macedonia's relations with both Belgrade and Pristina. This could ultimately push the Albanians out of the coalition and precipitate ethnic polarization and radicalization at the cost of economic reform. Closely related to the Kosova effect is the potential breakup of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the impending independence of Kosova and Montenegro. We must not automatically assume that the breakup of what is left of Tito's Yugoslavia will provoke a regional war, although it certainly could if NATO simply remained on the sidelines. At present, it is the survival of Milosevic's Yugoslavia, and Belgrade's attempts to hold this anomaly together by force, repression, and nationalist propaganda, that continues to be the major destabilizing factor in the region. Moreover, we should not assume that because the international community currently opposes Kosova's and Montenegro's independence that both entities will necessarily remain under Serbian control. Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Macedonia gained statehood irrespective of prevailing international opinion. Given that the democratization of Yugoslavia is nowhere in sight, the big question on the agenda is how we can shield Macedonia from Yugoslavia's probable disintegration particularly if this disintegration is bloody and prolonged. In other words, how can the West prevent Milosevic from exporting disintegration to Macedonia, through provoking of ethnic conflict, and how can we prevent the pan-Albanianists from exporting a chunk of Macedonia. Clearly, ethnic accommodation and economic progress in Macedonia hold most of the answers as far as the majority of Albanians are concerned. Greater Albania or Greater Kosova will have little appeal if Macedonia becomes more stable and prosperous and the international community has a permanent and constructive presence in the country. Moreover, it will become incumbent on the international community to diminish any serious aspirations to Macedonian territory and a part of Macedonia's population. For instance, any new Kosovar administration would need to quickly sign a bilateral treaty with Macedonia and recognize the existing border, something that Belgrade has consistently failed to do. Lawlessness in Albania will continue to have negative effects on Macedonia even without any Greater Albania project. The conflict in Kosova may help fuel the conflict in Albania but it is not the cause or the consequence of that conflict. The challenge is how to help Albania restore a fully functioning, territory-wide government while eliminating the worst criminal gangs operating across borders. The process could take years and even then not all parts of the country will necessarily remain loyal to Tirana. However, it is difficult to see a Greater Albania arising from a turbulent state such as Albania. The potential for a Third all-Balkan war certainly exists. It has almost become ritualistic to repeat the scenarios of Bulgarian, Turkish, and Greek involvement and entrapment if the ethnic peace in Macedonia were to collapse and the authorities begin to loose control of the state. At present, such a scenario does not seem probable as Macedonia's relations with all three south-eastern neighbors are visibly improving. What we should fear most, however, in the months and years ahead, is that a prolonged politically inspired ethnic conflict and a low-intensity war anywhere in the south Balkans will directly and indirectly effect all the neighboring states. It will distract attention from pressing economic reforms, it will divert energy toward ethnic and territorial questions and away from critical issues such as citizens education, institution building, and infrastructural development, and it will discourage foreign trade and investment throughout the region. Hence, the Balkans may fall further behind the European mainstream at a time when all countries in the region need to conduct painful and necessary reforms simply in order to catch up with the Central Europeans whose progress into NATO and the EU has already been assured. Atacks on the Albanian Media during Christian-Orthodox Christmas Eve "Koha Ditore" paper-distribution worker beaten -- vehicle smashed As the bystanders report, from a greater group of Serbs three got out from the group and smashed the "Koha Ditore" paper-distribution vehicle Prishtina, 6 January - "Koha Ditore" paper-distribution worker was brutally beaten by Serb police in Prishtina during the Christian-Orthodox Christmas Eve, on Tuesday, ARTA reports. Rrahim M. Sadiku, 50, says that he was beaten in the road in and a lot of passers-by could see the incident. "I suffered rib and leg injuries", Sadiku said. A certain amount of paper copies was destroyed while a significant amount of money was confiscated by unknown Serb civilians. This case represents the second beating of "Koha Ditore" employees in the campaign of brutalities against Kosova Albanian media. While rallying the main streets of Prishtina under the police guard, a group of Serb youngsters smashed the "Koha Ditore" paper-distribution vehicle with rubber and wooden sticks. Three Serbs separated from a larger group, which was celebrating the Christmas Eve with an unseen brutality and gunfire, and attacked the vehicle in the presence of several "Koha Ditore" workers. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Jan 11 20:48:21 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999 20:48:21 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] NAAC CALLS ON NATO TO STOP SERB MILITARY ATTACKS 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- National Albanian American Council 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 January 11, 1999 (202) 955-1428 NAAC CALLS ON NATO TO STOP SERB MILITARY ATTACKS IN KOSOVA BY STANDING UP TO MILOSEVIC WASHINGTON ? Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic today set a deadline for the release of Serb soldiers by the Kosova Liberation Army ("KLA"). Milosevic promised a major crackdown on Albanians if the deadline is not met. Knut Vollebaek, Norwegian foreign minister and chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, also called on the KLA to release the hostages, but did not criticize Serbia for repeatedly violating the Holbrooke cease-fire agreement. In response, Ilir Zherka, Executive Director of the National Albanian American Council, issued the following statement: "As Serb tanks and soldiers are positioning themselves for a major offensive against Albanian civilians in Kosova, NATO countries are blaming the victims - the Albanians - for the resumption of the war. But the position of the west is untenable given the facts on the ground. The present crisis has erupted because of Serb violations of the Holbrooke-Milosevic agreement, not because of actions by the KLA. "Both President Clinton and Secretary Albright promised that NATO would bomb Serb targets if Milosevic violated the terms of his agreement with U.S. Ambassador Holbrooke in October. Instead, NATO has sat on the sidelines as Serbs have executed Albanians in cold blood, arrested civilians without cause, and repeatedly bombed Albanian villages ? all in flagrant violation of the Holbrooke-Milosevic agreement. "Unfortunately, the current crisis fits perfectly with NATO?s Kosova policy: NATO secures an agreement from the Serbs, and the Serbs violate that agreement, while NATO looks the other way. The Serbs then use some event to justify launching military strikes against innocent Albanians. NATO responds by tacitly agreeing with the Serbs and by holding its collective nose until the military assault becomes unbearable, at which point we start the cycle all over again. But the Albanians cannot be expected to sit by silently as Milosevic and his henchmen continue their campaign of murder and repression. "If the United States and its western allies are serious about preventing another round of fighting in Kosova, it must deal with the source of the conflict ? Milosevic and the Serbian regime. NATO should strictly enforce the Holbrooke agreement and take military action, as it has threatened to do, if the Serbs do not comply. Otherwise, the war in Kosova will continue in the foreseeable future, threatening all of the Balkans and Europe as well." ### --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Jan 16 10:12:49 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Sat, 16 Jan 1999 10:12:49 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] !! Serbs Massacre 46 Albanians in Kosova !! 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Dozens Found Massacred in Kosovo By Melissa Eddy Associated Press Writer Saturday, January 16, 1999; 9:42 a.m. EST RACAK, Yugoslavia (AP) -- The bodies of dozens of men were found scattered on a hillside and in ravines in southern Kosovo today, many of them mutilated, the day after a fierce attack by Serb forces on ethnic Albanian villages. Reporters counted at least 35 bodies. Reporters and international verifiers were prevented on Friday from reaching the besieged area around the village of Racak, where the Kosovo Liberation Army rebels said at least 46 were killed, including eight guerrillas. Some had their eyes gouged out or heads smashed in, and one man lay decapitated in the courtyard of his compound. All wore civilian clothing, and many were older men. Verifiers said many had been shot at close range. International monitors initially counted at least 28 bodies heaped together near the crest of a hill, and ethnic Albanians told of many others nearby. It was the worst killing spree since an October truce largely halted more than seven months of combat in the separatist province in Serbia, and perhaps the most savage of the nearly yearlong conflict. The informal cease-fire, which international officials have insisted is still largely intact, is now in the most danger yet of collapsing into a resumption of the province-wide fighting that devastated Kosovo in 1998. The KLA has said it would still honor the cease-fire except to defend ethnic Albanians, but has been rearming and preparing for a return to war. The ethnic Albanians' Kosovo Information Center reported that government forces were using heavy artillery and tanks today in a new offensive against three rebel-held villages in western Kosovo. The report, which could not immediately be confirmed, said rebels were providing ``strong resistance'' in an area south of Decani, where a British verifier was shot and wounded the previous day in the first violence involving an injury to a monitor. The U.S. chief of the monitoring mission run by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe was visibly shaken after touring the site around Racak today. William Walker called it ``a horrendous and very, very serious event.'' ``It's hard to find words when I see bodies like this, shot execution-style,'' said the diplomat, who heads the three-month-old Kosovo Verification Mission. ``It looks like it was done by people who have no value for human life.'' Walker said he would hold a news conference later today in Kosovo's capital, Pristina, once he had more information and a chance to collect his thoughts. Verifiers said it may take days to learn what happened and compile the final death toll. The wailing of women in the village of Racak, which was evacuated under fierce shelling and tank fire on Friday, could be heard today as they learned of the men's fate. Villagers said Serb police had separated men from their families and led them toward the local police station. They later turned and herded them up the hill, where they killed them, the residents said. Bodies lay where they apparently were slain, along cowpaths and in deep, hilly ravines. The Serb Media Center had reported on Friday that at least 15 KLA fighters were killed in the attack on three villages, including Racak, outside Stimlje, about 15 miles south of Pristina. It said it was a crackdown on the KLA in response to its attacks on police. Yugoslav tanks and troops were part of the attack, pounding the area before fighting abated Friday afternoon. Verifiers and journalists heard villagers tell of a grisly massacre. An ethnic Albanian man who gave his name only as Raim said he was told Serb police had barged into his family compound and attacked and killed his father and two brothers. ``Yesterday early in the morning, police came with very heavy machine guns together with the army,'' he said. ``They entered the village with infantry. Half of the people they arrested and beat up. The rest you can see here,'' he said pointing to the heap of bodies. ``We don't know what we are going to do,'' he said, sitting on a stump with his head in his hands, holding on his knees a rifle with ``UCK'' -- the Albanian-language acronym for the KLA -- burned into the wooden butt. He said he was in the hills at the time of the attack and only learned of it today. The death toll apparently is the highest in a single attack since the Oct. 12 agreement brokered by U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke. Last month, army border guards killed 36 KLA fighters as they tried to smuggle weapons in from neighboring Albania. As many as 2,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, have been killed since Milosevic launched an offensive last February to try to crush separatist militants and reinforce government control over the Albanian-majority province in Serbia, the larger republic in Yugoslavia. The Serb Media Center said today that two ethnic Albanians were shot and killed Friday as they drove near Pristina, and dozens of bullet casings of the type used by rebels were found at the scene. The KLA has acknowledged targeting ethnic Albanians loyal to Serb authorities in its independence campaign. ? Copyright 1999 The Associated Press --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Jan 17 12:07:47 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 12:07:47 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] Press-reelase: From the office of Adem Demaci, A General Political Representative of the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- With the attack of Serb military and police forces, representing the criminal Serb regime, in some villages of the Nerodima Operational Zone, in which case they brutally murdered, massacred and executed at least 46 Albanians, from the ages of 12 to 80, the office of the General Political Representative of the Kosova Liberation Army, with informational purpose releases this: ANNOUNCEMENT: 1. The systematic oppression and terrorism inflicted by the Belgrade regime in Kosova is no where near its end. The Serb regime forces' offensives and battles have become our wild everyday lives. The murdering of children, that are the future of every nation and society, shows that the Serb regime wants to eliminate the future of the Albanians in Kosova. On the other hand, the execution of tens of Albanians, including women, children and elderly, clearly shows that the Serb regime and country have engaged on a classical fascism, that surpasses even that of WWII. 2. It appears that the International Community has not learned anything from the lesson in Srebrenica and Zepa during the Bosnia war. This community is still not reacting the way it should. It still continues not taking the adequate measures. And it doesn't end here. It is unfortunate that the International Community takes satisfaction and alibi with the results of the OSCE Verifying Mission in Kosova. In all occasions, they have proven themselves unable to assure not only the security of Kosova population, but also not even theirs. This Mission, not being able to assure their own security, watches the Serb committed crimes from far. The International Community has to realize that Albanians are suffering all of the consequences of OSCE Mission's inability, and this inability to secure and unwillingness to use all of their resources in stopping the Serb fascist regime only encourages the Serb regime. 3. The Serb regime does not want a political solution to the Kosova problem. They not only want Kosova as their colony, not only occupied, but also without any Albanians. They want to achieve this with war, terror, massacres, and genocide. The only guarantee for the Albanians of Kosova in this entire situation is the Kosova Liberation Army. The only way we can annihilate these fascist leftovers is by relying on, joining, helping and gathering around KLA. This will be the only way to achieve the independence of Republic of Kosova and the freedom of the Albanian nation in Kosova. Office of the General Political Representative of KLA Prishtine, January 16, 1999 -- ===================================================== Adem Dema?i P?rfaq?sues i P?rgjithsh?m Politik i Ushtris? ?lirimtare t? Kosov?s (U?K) --<>-- Adem Dema?i General Political Representative of the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) ----------------------------------------------------- Tel&Fax : ++ 381 38 36 032 Tel&Fax : ++ 381 38 34 051 E-mail : Demaci at albanian.com ====================================================== --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Jan 18 14:49:56 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Mon, 18 Jan 1999 14:49:56 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] Kosova ALBANIANS MASSACRED BEFORE BURIAL: Photos: January 17-18, 1999 (WARNING: Graphic Content) 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- ALBANIANS MASSACRED BEFORE BURIAL 1. http://us.yimg.com/p/ap/19990117/capt.yugoslavia_kosovo_5ac.jpg Bodies of 45 ethnic Albanians lie in a mosque in the village of Racak, some 25 kilometers (15 miles) south of Pristina, Sunday Jan. 17, 1999. Fighting erupted Sunday near this southern Kosovo village where the 45 ethnic Albanians were massacred, sending terrified civilians and international monitors fleeing to safety. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu) 2. http://us.yimg.com/p/ap/19990116/capt.yugoslavia_kosovo_om6.jpg An ethnic Albanian removes a puppy from near the decapitated body of one of as many as 40 men that were found on a hillside in the village of Racak, some 25 kilometers (16 miles) south of Pristina Saturday, Jan. 16, 1999. The bodies of dozens of men were found scattered on a hillside and in ravines in southern Kosovo Saturday, many of them mutilated, the day after a fierce attack by Serb forces on ethnic Albanian villages. Reporters counted at least 35 bodies. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu) YUGOSLAVIA OUT 3. http://graphics.nytimes.com/library/world/europe/011799ap-kosovo-massacre.1. jpg RELATIVES MOURNING THE ALBANIAN CIVILIANS MASSACRED BY SERBIANS IN KOSOVA 1. http://us.yimg.com/p/ap/19990117/capt.yugoslavia_kosovo_7tx.jpg An unidentified ethnic Albanian cries after he identified his father and brother killed Friday in the village of Racak, Kosovo, Yugoslavia, some 25 km (15 miles) south of Pristina Sunday, Jan. 17, 1999. International monitors struggling to save the disintegrating cease-fire in Kosovo denounced Serb actions that resulted in the Friday massacre which killed 45 ethnic Albanians. Serb authorities, meanwhile, accused the monitors of favoring the ethnic Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army, which is fighting for independence from Serbia, Yugoslavia's main republic. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu) 2. http://us.yimg.com/p/ap/19990117/capt.yugoslavia_kosovo_c41.jpg An unidentified ethnic Albanian walks past an OSCE observer who stands atop his vehicle watching the area with binoculars in the village of Racak, some 25 km (15 miles) south of Pristina, Kosovo, Sunday Jan. 17, 1999. Fighting erupted Sunday near this southern Kosovo village where 45 ethnic Albanians were massacred, sending terrified civilians and international monitors fleeing to safety. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu) 3. http://us.yimg.com/p/ap/19990117/capt.yugoslavia_kosovo_lsi.jpg An unidentified ethnic Albanian girl cries for her slain father in the village of Racak, some 25 km (15 miles) south of Pristina, Sunday, Jan. 17, 1999. Fighting erupted Sunday near this southern Kosovo village where 45 ethnic Albanians were massacred, sending terrified civilians and international monitors fleeing to safety. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu) 4. http://us.yimg.com/p/ap/19990117/capt.yugoslavia_kosovo_gsm.jpg A group of ethnic Albanian women cry for their slain relatives in the village of Racak, some 25 km (15 miles) south of Pristina, Kosovo, Sunday, Jan. 17, 1999. Fighting erupted Sunday near this southern Kosovo village where 45 ethnic Albanians were massacred, sending terrified civilians and international monitors fleeing to safety. ( AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu ) THE MURDERERS WHO CARRIED OUT ANOTHER MASSACRE ON UNDEFENDED ALBANIAN CIVILIANS ARE STILL THIRSTY FOR BLOOD. 1. http://us.yimg.com/p/ap/19990118/capt.yugoslavia_kosovo_9q1.jpg Serbian police march alongside the road en route to the action in Stimlje, some 25 kilometers (15 miles) south of Pristina, Monday, Jan. 18, 1999. Ignoring NATO threats, Serbian security forces backed by tanks and artillery pounded hills near the ethnic Albanian village of Racak, where dozens of ethnic Albanians were killed Friday. (AP Photo/Srdjan Ilic) 2. http://us.yimg.com/p/ap/19990118/capt.yugoslavia_kosovo_7fv.jpg A Serbian police sharp-shooter aims his rifle as others from his unit cross the road en route to Stimlje, some 25 kilometers (15 miles) south of Pristina, Monday, Jan. 18, 1999. Ignoring NATO threats, Serbian security forces backed by tanks and artillery pounded hills near an ethnic Albanian village of Racak, where dozens of ethnic Albanians were killed Friday. (AP Photo/Srdjan Ilic) 3. http://us.yimg.com/p/ap/19990118/capt.yugoslavia_kosovo_5nf.jpg A Serbian police unit marches along the side of the road en route to Stimlje, some 25 kilometers (15 miles) south of Pristina, Monday, Jan. 18, 1999. Ignoring NATO threats, Serbian security forces backed by tanks and artillery pounded hills near the ethnic Albanian village of Racak, where dozens of ethnic Albanians were killed last Friday. (AP Photo/Srdjan Ilic) ALBANIANS THAT SOON MIGHT BECOME VICTIMS OF STATE TERRORISM 1. http://graphics.nytimes.com/library/world/europe/011899kosovo-us.1.jpg ANOTHER ROUND OF WORDS OF CONDEMNATION FROM ... 1.OSCE http://us.yimg.com/p/ap/19990118/capt.austria_kosovo_osce.jpg Chairman of the permanent council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Norwegian Kai Eide, left, gestures to photographers as deputy head of the Kosovo Verification Mission German Bernd Borchardt, right, looks through his papers, Monday, Jan. 18, 1999 prior to the opening of the council's special meeting on Kosovo. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak) 2.OSCE http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/255000/images/_257536_osce_quote.gif 3.NATO http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/255000/images/_257301_nato_demands_150.gif --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Tue Jan 19 10:25:45 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 10:25:45 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] First they (Serbs) massacre innocent civilians, then they take their bodies. Are the Serb afraid even from dead bodies?! 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- ==================================================================== First they (Serbs) massacre innocent civilians, then they take their bodies. Are the Serb afraid even from dead bodies?! ==================================================================== Kosova Information Center KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1667-B Prishtina, 18 January 1999 Second Edition: 17:00 CET Serbian Forces Take away Bodies of Massacred Albanians in Re^ak The Kosova Information Center (KIC) has learned this afternoon Serbian forces wearing all kinds of uniforms - plain clothes, regular and special police, as well as army fatigues - were involved in the operation to remove the bodies after a two-day long operation to do this, apparently in a bid to tamper with the evidence, or even destroy it in the face of universal shock and condemnation of the Serb atrocity PRISHTINA, Jan 18 (KIC) - Serbian forces collected today (Monday) afternoon the bodies of Albanians massacred in Re^ak village on Friday. Around 50 Albanian civilians were massacred by Serbian military and paramilitary police forces that day, and their bodies had been laid in the local mosque in Re^ak. Most of the Albanians were executed, being shot at close range on the head or neck; others had their eyes gouged and faces blown away: one was decapitated. Three women, a 12-year-old boy, a three-month infant, are amongst the slain Albanians, most of whom men, rounded up by Serbian infantry troops before being herded up the village and killed in cold blood. The Kosova Information Center (KIC) has learned this afternoon Serbian forces wearing all kinds of uniforms - plain clothes, regular and special police, as well as army fatigues - were involved in the operation to remove the bodies after a two-day long operation to do this, apparently in a bid to tamper with the evidence, or even destroy it. The bodies of Albanians were dumped in a lorry, according to sources which spoke on condition of anonymity, between 14:30 and 15:00 hrs today. They would presumably be taken to capital Prishtina. The Prishtina hospital has been sealed off by heavy police forces today afternoon, probably in preparation for the arrival of the bodies of massacred Albanians. Serbian military and police forces, backed up by heavy weaponry, shelled the village of Re^ak and the outlying area for two days now in what was termed by some as the 'battle for corpses'. The international community called this a horrendous massacre of Albanian civilians, while the Serbian regime claims they were 'terrorists'. The Chief Prosecutor of the UN Yugoslav Tribunal, Louise Arbour, was prevented today by Yugoslav authorities from entering into Kosova. She flew to Shkup/FYROM and proceeded to the border, but was turned back, as expected. LATEST REPORT: Serbian Forces Continue Shelling Shtime Area Late Afternoon Today PRISHTINA, Jan 18 (KIC) - Serbian forces backed up by heavy weaponry were shelling Re^ak and the outlying area around 17:00 CET today (Monday), according to local sources. A source from the small town of Shtime said the sound of shelling could be heard in the small town at the time, a member of the LDK Presidency told the KIC. Serbian troops removed today afternoon the bodies of scores of Albanians massacred by Serbian forces themselves in Re^ak last Friday. Serbian Forces Shell Re^ak and Outlying Area For a Second Day in a Row Louise Arbour turned back, everybody doubts NATO's resolve PRISHTINA, Jan 18 (KIC) - Heavy Serbian forces shelled today (Monday) the village of Re^ak, municipality of Shtime, and the outlying area, 26 km south of Prishtina, for a second day in a row. The LDK chapter in Shtime told the KIC at 10:30 a.m. the Serbian forces were shelling the Re^ak area from four positions. Meanwhile, just before noon, the KIC learned the Serbian shelling of Re^ak, and possibly outlying villages, was still continuing. The entrance to Shtime from the road linking capital Prishtina and this small town was blocked, LDK sources said. The Shtime-Ferizaj and Shtime-Prizren roads had been blocked earlier in the day, sources said. Meanwhile, sources from Ferizaj ('Urosevac') said Serb forces were deployed late in the morning in the Koshare village and fired in the direction of neighboring Shtime village. Around 13:00 hrs, the shelling reportedly died down, but all Serb forces involved in the attack against Re^ak village were still in offensive positions. Clashes were reported going on between Serbian forces and local Albanian resistance forces in the Gryka e Carralev&s (Carraleva gorge) on the Prishtina-Prizren highway, south of Shtime, just before noon today. The village of Re^ak is the site of the massacre of 51 Albanians by the Serbian military and paramilitary police forces on Friday. Most of the Albanians were executed, being shot at close range on the head or neck; others had their eyes gouged and faces blown away: one was decapitated. Three women, a 12-year-old boy, a three- month infant, are amongst the slain Albanians, most of whom men, rounded up by Serbian infantry troops before being herded up the village and killed in cold blood. The Serbian military and police troops moved into the Re^ak area yesterday and today, in what is presumably sinister Serbian scheme to tamper with the bodies, or destroy the evidence of the carnage of Albanian civilians. Arbour turned back, everybody doubts NATO's resolve Chief Prosecutor of the UN Yugoslav Tribunal, Louise Arbour, was prevented today by Yugoslav authorities from entering into Kosova. She flew to Shkup/FYROM and proceeded to the border, but was turned back, as expected. It was the investigation of the massacre in Re^ak that NATO based its latest policy on. Indeed, the meeting of the North-Atlantic Council at ambassadorial level in Brussels Sunday evening produced nothing like a credible threat to Slobodan Milosevic. Everybody doubts NATO's resolve now. At least the Kosovars do. They know a second Bosnia is occurring in Kosova, at a time the West vows it will prevent a repeat of Bosnia, and is bombarding Belgrade with more press releases. It has been long ago when Milosevic ceased heeding 'strongly-worded statements', the latest produced only yesterday. Shooting Incident in Mitrovica, Five Serb Policemen Reported Wounded Albanians fleeing their homes in fear of Serb reprisals PRISHTINA, Jan 18 (KIC) - A Serb police vehicle was shot at and at least five policemen wounded around 10 a.m. today in the "Ura e Gjakut" neihgbourhood in Mitrovica, local LDK sources said. Heavy Serb police forces gathered in the scene, and blocked the road to Shipol village in the outskirts of Mitrovica. The Mitrovica hospital was sealed off by police, and a number of Albanian households raided, the LDK chapter said. A number of Albanians were reported beaten up. The Ura e Gjakut and Shipol population started fleeing their homes today, in fear of Serb reprisals for the unsolved incident. A column of Serbian police forces involving 9 buses, 2 APCs, 3 jeeps, and 3 other vehicles full of personnel arrived at 9 o'clock in the morning in Mitrovica from Raska, Serbia. Some police troops left Mitrovica for Skenderaj at noon today, local Albanian sources said. Meanwhile, Serb army tanks were reported moving in the Podujeva area today. Eleven Serb army tanks and an APC left the sports airfield at Dumosh, a few km southeast of the town of Podujeva, and moved towards the Shajkovc village before returning. Huge Serbian army troops and tanks have been massed in the Podujeva area for weeks now, and been on combat position in clear violation of the much talked about internationally-brokered cease-fire which exists in paper only. 200 Serb Soldiers Raid Albanian Family Compounds in Planej& Village of Prizren PRISHTINA, Jan 18 (KIC) - Heavy Serb army and police forces raided two Albanian family compounds ( Shigjeqi and Shehu) in the village of Planej&, municipality of Prizren, from 10:00 through 12:00 on Sunday, LDK sources in Prizren said. The Serbian police herded the women, children and elderly members of the two family compounds to the fields called 'Livadhi i Sokolit', where they were held for two hours. The Serb forces looted the households and smashed up furniture, local sources said. Serbian forces engaged in firing for three hours Sunday evening in the Kosova-Albanian border area. Serb Army and Police Loots Albanian Households in Tenezhdoll Village of Prishtina PRISHTINA, Jan 18 (KIC) - Serbian army and police forces were engaged in a looting campaign in the Tenezhdoll village, along the Prishtina-Podujeva, today (Monday) the KIC has learned. Five lorries were waiting for dark to set in, before actually taking away the looted appliances from Albanian households. 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 Thu Jan 21 10:16:58 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 10:16:58 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] ON THE VIOLATION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS IN KOSOVA FROM JANUARY 10 UNTIL JANUARY 17, 1999 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS Rr. Vellusha 46, 38000 Prishtin? - Kosov?; tel&fax: 381 (0) 38 36 965 & 530 409 http//:www.albanian.com/kmdlnj e-mail: kmdlnj at albanian.com REPORT NO.454 ON THE VIOLATION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS IN KOSOVA FROM JANUARY 10 UNTIL JANUARY 17, 1999 Killings, mutilations, violent deaths... On January 11, at 5 p.m., police brought the corpse of Hysen Rama from Sk?nderaj to the morgue of the Gjakova hospital. Hysen was a member of the KLA and was killed by Serb military forces in the vicinity of Deva-Gjakova. On January 11, at 4.30 p.m., 4 unidentified persons severely wounded Enver Maloku (1954), chief of KIC. Maloku was wounded in the vicinity of his flat in the "Kodra e Diellit" quarter in Prishtina and died half an hour later at the Prishtina hospital. On January 11, at 8 a.m., the corpse of an unidentified person was found in a car between the villages of Leshan and Gllavi?ica near Peja. On January 12, it was confirmed that the following were killed on January 9, during the Serb offensive on the villages of De?an: Zef Rrok Gjokaj (1980) from Dashinoc; ?el? Sokol Ukaj (1980) from Lumbardh (De?an) and Rrustem Sadik Sadrijaj (51) from the village of Drenoc near Klina. In the early hours of the morning of January 13, Sejdi Sahiti (50) from Ferizaj died in the Prishtina hospital. A day before, unidentified persons had wounded him in Ferizaj. In the early hours of the morning of January 13, Nexhmedin Sahit Sadiku (43) was killed in his house-yard in the "Bair" quarter in Mitrovica. He was killed under unknown circumstances. On January 13, it was confirmed that an unidentified corpse is in the vicinity of the poultry farm in Gllogoc. According to the OSCE KVM, the corpse is that of an elderly Serb. On January 14, at 5.30 p.m., Bujar Muharrem Godeni (34) and his nephew, Edmond Fatmir Godeni (17), were killed in the "Mega Sport" shop in Prizren. The two were shot by unidentified persons. In October 1998, Bujar was imprisoned and accused of supporting the KLA. On January 15, Mustaf? Asllani (33) was killed by the police in the outskirts of Shtime, on the road to Re?ak. During the offensive of the Serbian police, military and paramilitary forces on the villages of Re?ak, Mollapolc and Petrova near Shtime the following civilians were killed and mutilated: Bajram Sokol Mehmeti (54), Han?mshahe Mehmeti (22), Riza Beqa (54), Halim Beqa (12), Zenel Beqa (20), Ajet Emini (40), Qamil Selmani (80), Bajrush Shabani (22), Nazmi Ymeri (76), Ahmet Mustafa (70), Bajram Xheladini (35), Haki Metushi (67), Sabri Metushi (62), Hajriz Jakupi (65), Nexhat Faiku, Salih Faiku, Fatmir Faiku, Xhel? Ahmeti, Sheremet Syla, Agim Milaimi, Shukri Milaimi, Jashar Milaimi, Bujar Hajrizi, Mufail Hajrizi, Mehmet Jakupi, Adem Hafizi, Murtez Ymeri, Shyqeri Ismaili, Muhamet Ismaili, Njazi Zymeri, Sadik Osmani, Ragip Jahiri, Lutfi Bilalli, Eshref Jakupi, Hakif Bilalli, Arif Metushi and Ahmet Jakupi - all from Re?ak; Han?mshahe Mujota (20) from Mollapolc, a person from Petrova and a 3 month-old baby. The following members of the KLA were killed during the clashes: Shaqir Berisha, Mehmet Zenun Mustafa, Enver Rashiti e Kadri Syla from Re?ak, Sadik Mujota from Mollapolc, Sk?nder ?arri from Shtime, Ismail Luma from Ribar i Madh near Lipjan, Nazmi Kokollari-Budakova from Gjyrkoc near Lipjan and Qemal Ali Beqiri from Ka?anik. On January 15, at 9 p.m., Sabedin Rexhepi (1944) and his son Samed (1982) from Prishtina were killed in unknown circumstances in the vicinity of the village of Shkabaj. On January 16, at about 7 a.m., Halit Alia (48) from the village of Pacaj, a father of 5, died due to being tortured at the police station in Gjakova. A day before, he was arrested at his house. On January 16, the corpse of Hamdi Muharrem Mulaj (1964) was brought to the morgue of the Gjakova hospital. It is assumed that he was killed by Serb soldiers on the border with Albania. On January 17, the corpse of an unidentified youngster was found in the village of Ramun near Peja. On January 17, the mutilated corpses of Shaban Gashi (90) and of his son Binak (63) were found in their house in the village of Lumbardh near De?an. The two had been stuck in their house for almost a week now, since the beginning of the Serb attack on the villages of De?an. On January 17, the bones of Dalip S. Byty?i (72) were buried in the village of Arllat near Gllogoc. Dalip went missing during the Serb offensive on the end of July 1998. Last week, the Sub-CDHRF in Gllogoc sent us the list with the names of those killed in the course of 1998. The names of the following did not figure in the lists of the CDHRF: Ferat Halil Hoti (37) and Ram? Miran Asllani (51) from Poklek i Ri - killed on May 31; Hysni Hajriz Jeta (43) from Domanek and Bashkim Avdi Leku from Bainca - killed on July 27; Hajdin Makolli (58), Hana Dervishi and Behram Hamz? Dervishi (63), from ?ikatova e Vjet?r; Zymer Adem Hysenaj (57) from Abria e Ep?rme and Metush Sejdi Shapeta (54) from Korretica e Ep?rme - killed on September 27; Artan Shaip Haxhiu (22) from Poklek - killed on November 27; Besim Mehmet Krasniqi (31) from Negroc and Fatmir Rexhep Jusufi from ?ikatova e Madhe; Sejdi Muja (46) from Gradica, killed under unknown circumstances - the exact date of the killings is unknown. Last week, the Sub-CDHRF in Rahovec sent us the list with the names of those killed in the course of 1998. The names of the following did not figure in the lists of the CDHRF: Ferdeze and Ilfete Mullabazi from Rahovec - killed on July 20; and Sutki S. Sylejmani (13) from Poto?an - killed on September 6. Kidnappings and involuntary disappearances: There are no information on the whereabouts of the following: in the district of Klina - Nysret Aliaj (23) a Romany from Dollova (since May 24, 1998); in the district of Gllogoc - Bejzat Zenel Krasniqi (23) from Negroc, Agron Sadik Krasniqi (30) from Llapushnik and Sherif Rrustem Deliu (63) from Abria e Ep?rme (since June 12, 1998); in the district of Prishtina - Shemsi Qerim Shala (20) from the village of Unitet-Truda (since January 9, 1999); in the district of Rahovec: Hysen Haz?r Krasniqi (1951) - since June; Gjoka Gogiq (since June 20); Hasan Avdi Morina (1945) - since July 10; Bedri Samedin Berisha (1966) - since July 14; Azem Hajrullah Isaku (1953) and Visar Azem Isaku (1978); Gjorgje Ilija Balosheviq (1941), Sasha Tomislav Balosheviq (1967) and Tomisllav Trajko Balosheviq (1937); Aleksandar Stanojeviq (1956) and K?rste Budimir Stanojeviq (1960); ?edo Aleksa Cib?rkapa (1950), Dushko Milorad Dolasheviq (1954), Dushko Bozho Gjinoviq (1959), Gjorgje Antonije Gjoriq (1970), Dushko Velko Pat?rnogiq (1959), S?rgjan Arsenije Vitosheviq (1972) and Sreqko Zhivorad Vitosheviq (1968) - since July 17; Agron Gani Hamza (1968); Bozhidar Sava Bozhaniq (1939), Novica Bozhidar Bozhaniq (1966), Mladen Obrad Bozhaniq (1949), Nemanja Mladen Bozhaniq (1982), Predrag Trajko Bargjiq (1967), Spasoje Zhivko Bargjiq (1937), Spasa Milan Banziq (1951), Sreto Stanoje Simiq (1931) and Svetozar Gjorgje Tomiq (1946) - since July 18; Todor (1965) and Lazar Bozhidar Kostiq (1972), Sashko (1976) and Jugoslav Dragolub Kostiq (1970); Mirolub (1967), Vekoslav (1958) and Dimitrije Kostiq (1932); Svetislav (1965) and Miodrag Stajko Kostiq (1960); Nebojsha (1980) and Vitko Mladen Kostiq (1928); Zhivko Angjelko Kostiq (1976), Sreqko Stanoje Kostiq (1974), Mladen Nikola Kostiq (1940) - from Retia, Rajko Ilija Nikoliq (1955) and Cvetko Rajko Nikoliq (1981) - since July 19; Muharrem Berham Danjani (1957) since July 30; Murat Alush Rrustemi (1942) - since July; Sk?nder Jah? Kastrati from Mal?sia e Vog?l (since August 26); Boban Malliq (since September eva - Fehmi Krasniqi from Drenoc, a teacher with the "Abdyl Frash?ri" Gymnasium in Malisheva; in the district of Podujeva - Ismet Beqiri and Nazmi Ismajli from Peran (since january 9); Muj? (23), Halil (20), Adem (17), Fitim (15) and Gani Rakovica (13) from Dumosh (since January 16). Trials... On January 12, the Serbian run District Court in Prizren sentenced Besim Hazir Pa?arrizi to 6 years of imprisonment. Ismet Hazir Pa?arrizi (1958) was sentenced to 3 years and a half. The two were charged for "terrorism" and were immediately sent to serve their prison terms in the prisons of Prokupla and Leskovc. On January 15, the Serbian run District Court in Ferizaj sentenced Sabedin Hasallari from the village of Rezhanca near Ka?anik to 10 months of imprisonment. He was accused of insulting the Serbian police. THE COURSE OF EVENTS: JANUARY 10: PEJA: Yesterday, on the road between Rozhaja and Peja, police arrested Shaban Selim Shala, a teacher with the "P?rparimi" Primary School in Drelaj. He was detained for two days at the security centre in Peja. On being brutally beaten, he was forced to sign self-incriminating statements. MITROVICA: Serb soldiers went into the house of Ram? Sadriu (56) in Stant?rg. They looted fire woods, blankets and mattresses and took them to the barrack in front of the main entrance of the "Trep?a" mine. LIPJAN: Unidentified persons, assumed to be Serb paramilitaries, opened fire on the houses of Enver Kelmendi and Ilaz Hyseni in Rufc i Ri, as well as on the "Albatros" gas station and the house of Emin Ilazi in Torina. FERIZAJ: In Slivova, policemen and armed Serb civilians severely ill-treated Hajredin Hajredini and Sejdi Asllani. PRISHTINA: Agim Ibrahimi (1959) from G?rdoc near Podujeva was ill-treated by two Serb policemen at the local bus station at Xhamia e Llapit. In Tenezhdoll, some Serb soldiers looted the shop of Jusuf Rrahmani. PRIZREN: In the village of Zhur, two Serb soldiers beat and severely injured Nait Sh. Memaj, a shepherd, who was pasturing his cattle. JANUARY 11: PODUJEVA: A convoy comprised of about 100 armoured cars, APCs and other vehicles full of Serb policemen and soldiers headed towards Prishtina. The situation in the district of Podujeva continues to be very tense. In Podujeva, the houses of the following were shelled: Nusret Azemi, Jakup Deda, Bajram Imeri, Bislim Hasani and Nazif Gashi; in Llapashtica: Ram?, Brahim, Selman, Avdullah and Sahit Mu?iqi; Abdullah, Ibrahim, Rrahman, Sherif, Avni and Xhavit Potera; Ali, Daut and Sylejman Murati; Isa and Sefer Hyseni, Musli Lutolli, Riza Selmani, Xhafer Syla and Ali Bahtiri; and in Peran: Rrustem Mulliqi. The following families are still stuck in the village of Peran: Ismet Beqiri (13 members), Ajet Emini (4), Xhafer Emini (2), Rasim Beqiri (8), Rifat Beqiri (2), Azem Ismajli (9), Musli Syla (6), Sefer Emini (3) and Azem Tahiri (6). There are no information on the whereabouts of Ismet Beqiri (37) and Nazmi Ismajli (37) from Peran, who were arrested by the Serbian police on January 9 in their village. GJAKOVA: A convoy of 6 buses, 2 lorries, 8 jeeps and an armoured car brought police and military reinforcement to the region. Between last night and 7.00 a.m., there was automatic gun fire in the villages of Zylfaj, Qafa e Prushit and Deva, on the border with Albania. Police arrested Samir Sakip Emra (32), Florim Shunjaku (28) and Tahir Rudi (27). In the afternoon, their houses were raided for weapons. Amri Arifi (1977) from Krelan, sheltered in the village of Piskota near Gjakova, was arrested and severely ill-treated. Since January 6, Ram? Dervishaj (1933) from Racaj was summoned for weapons to the police station 3 times. His son Sali Dervishaj is being searched for. DE?AN: Serb forces have surrounded the village of Shaptej and are opening fire towards it. They also blocked the roads to Gllogjan and Irzniq. PRISHTINA: The following armed Serb and Romany civilians: Stane, Dragan and Jovanoviq; Sllavko Aleksiq with his wife and son; Nenad G?rbiq, M?rgut, Branko and Bane Dutina; Nikolla Simiq with his 2 sons; Dushko Jugoviq, Neshko Dragan, Spase Jakovleviq, Qiro and Dragan Vuksanoviq; Pepan Jovan?iq, Lubisha Agjan?iq and Mahmut and Ragip Kurti are ill-treating Albanian passers-by. PEJA: Beqir Rrustemaj (38) from the village of Lybeniq, who was arrested on January 8, was beaten and is still under arrest. MITROVICA: 2 Serb policemen searched for Burim Hajriz Istrefi (17), living in the "Ibri" quarter. In the vicinity of the Ibri bridge, 3 policemen stopped a citizen in a horse-drawn vehicle and forced him to unload and load the timber he was transporting 3 times. In the village of Smrekonica near Vushtrria, where large police and military forces were stationed, the passers-by are being ill-treated and arrested. Policemen forced out of the bus Ismail Qerim Galica (30) from Shipol and Fatmir Ali Brahimi (35), "Bair" quarter, as well as arrested another citizen. The 3 were travelling by the bus of the "Banjska Trans" travel agency. GLLOGOC: Serb policemen stationed at the cross-road in Komoran ill-treated passers-by. MALISHEVA: Serb policemen provoked the pupils of the "Emin Duraku" Primary School in Dragobil. SHTIME: Serb policemen arrested the following youngsters: Sahit Rashiti from Shtime, Muhamet Shaqiri from Re?ak and Bahri Hysenaj from Petrova. JANUARY 12: DE?AN: Serbian police and military forces continued their attack on the villages of Shaptej, Gllogjan, Ratisha e Poshtme, Ratisha e Ep?rme, Dashinoc and Maznik. MITROVICA: Due to the fear from an attack of the Serbian police and military forces stationed in Stant?rg, a part of the population of Rahova fled the village. In the vicinity of the Ammunition Plant in Sk?nderaj, Serb policemen arrested Rrustem Azem Rukiqi (28) from Shipol near Mitrovica. On the border-cross in Subotica, police looted valuables from and threatened with liquidation Halil Hajzer Istrefi (70) from the "Tavnik" quarter and Hasan Shefqet Hasani (58) from Shipol. Both were returning from Slovenia. VITI: Serb soldiers arrested Shaqir Metallari (1966) and Fadil Beqiri (1981) from the village of Mjak and threatened the Albanian locals. MALISHEVA: At the bus station in Malisheva, Serb policemen arrested Haki Adem Berisha (20) from Gur?bardh and Adem Syl? Morina (70) from Ratkoc near Rahovec. LIPJAN: In Prishtina, 2 Serb civilians stopped students Blerim Gashi (1979) and Zeqir Hetemi (1979) from Sllovia, provoked, insulted and threatened them. PRISHTINA: In the village of Vrella, Serb soldiers took hostage the passengers travelling by the bus of the "Af?rdita" travel agency in Poturoc. JANUARY 13: FUSH?-KOSOVA: Some 20 cargo planes of the Serb military forces landed on the Sllatina airport. It is assumed that they were transporting policemen, soldiers and equipment. PODUJEVA: The following 8 Albanians are still stuck in the village of Peran: Azem Ismajli with his wife Adile, Hetem Ismajli with his wife and 2 daughters, as well as Rifat Beqiri with his wife. Serb soldiers and policemen are looting the vacant Albanian houses. MITROVICA: Serb policemen and security inspectors stationed in the vicinity of the Serb cemetery are ill-treating passers-by. VUSHTRRI: 10 policemen were stationed in front of the prison in Smrekonica and are ill-treating passers-by. OBILIQ: Serb policemen in an APC and security inspectors in a car stopped 15 Albanian passengers. Bekim Sara?i (20) from the village of Bivolak near Vushtrri was arrested. In the outskirts of Babimoc, masked Serb civilians stopped buses and other vehicles and ill-treated passengers and passers-by. GJILAN: Bekim Murseli (1974), a farmer from Zhegra, was arrested at the border-cross in ?ukarka near Presheva and was taken to the police station in Presheva. He was severely ill-treated, provoked and accused of having gone to Shkupi in order to "train for terrorism". He was insulted on a national and moral basis. PRIZREN: Eqrem Rexhep Duraku (1956) from Krusha e Madhe near Rahovec was arrested and interrogated by Serb police inspectors. PRISHTINA: Unidentified persons in a police car followed and provoked Violeta Hasani (1975), "Avalla" BP+5 13. PEJA: Smajl Muharrem Ram?aj (22) from Studenica near Istog was taken out of the bus and arrested. DE?AN: At the police check-point in Podujeva, Rexh? Mehmet Imeraj and his two sons Agron (18) and Jeton (17) from Isniq were stopped, arrested and physically ill-treated. They were ordered to report to the Security Centre in Peja. JANUARY 14: DE?AN: Martin Fill, an international verifier from Great Britain, and Dejan Tojaga, his translator, were wounded under unknown circumstances in the vicinity of De?an. On being given the first aid, Tojaga was sent home, whereas, Fill was sent for further hospitalization to Shkupi. William Walker, the chief of the OSCE KVM, stated that "the attack was premeditated". PODUJEVA: Bajram Mustafa, Mentor Musliu and Arsim Rexhepi from Metohija were physically ill-treated by the Serb policemen stationed in K?rpimeh. ISTOG: Enver Idrizaj from Lubizhda was arrested by the police. He was severely beaten and his shoulder was broken. GJAKOVA: Military forces opened artillery fire towards the villages on the border zone with Albania. Police arrested Alban (18) and Ilir Xhemajli (22) from Racaj, as well as Hasan Puka from Osek-Hyla. Some 15 Serb policemen raided the house of Rasim Hysen Ademaj from Sheremetaj. He was arrested. In Gjakova, police raided the house of Bali Spahiu (70). He was arrested and is kept hostage until his sons G?zim and Bekim report. PRISHTINA: On the road between Millosheva and Lebane, Serb forces stopped and physically ill-treated dr. Muhamet Ademaj from Barileva. His car was demolished, as well as the medical instruments he had with him. VUSHTRRI: Police stopped and severely ill-treated 3 youngsters of the Begu family from the village of Kaqanoll near Mitrovica. PRIZREN: Samet Rifat Osmanaj (32) from Kobaja was taken out of the bus and arrested by some Serb policemen from the police station in Zhur. On being physically ill-treated, he was released. PEJA: Bekim Shala from Gjakova was taken out of the bus and arrested. He was immediately taken to the Security Centre. JANUARY 15: SHTIME: Serbian police and military forces launched a fierce attack on the villages of Re?ak, Mollapolc and Petrova. The villagers have fled their homes. Serb forces are shelling the village of Jezerc in the district of Ferizaj. These villages are on smoke and fire. The road to Prizren is blocked. Shaban Rama, Afrim Ramadani and 4 Albanian youngsters were arrested in Re?ak. PRIZREN: Large reinforcements of police and military forces arrived from the direction of Brezovica. The road Prishtina-Prizren is blocked due to the clashes in Shtime. MITROVICA: At midnight, policemen and armed Serb civilians opened automatic and machine gun fire in the Romany neighbourhood, "Kroi i Vitakut", "7 Shtatori", "Ibri" quarters and in the villages of Frash?r i Madh, Frash?r i Vog?l and Suhadoll. In Zve?an, 3 policemen stopped the bus travelling between Novi-Pazar and Prishtina. Fehmi Musa (34) from Bajgora was arrested. Serb soldiers in a military lorry provoked passers-by by pointing their guns towards them. GLLOGOC: Serb policemen went into the forest of Blinaja in the district of Lipjan and arrested the following villagers of Fushtica e Ep?rme near Gllogoc: Enver (1967) and Dalip Hyseni (1973) as well as Lulzim Byty?i (1973). Fitim Byty?i (13) was physically ill-treated. On the cross-road near Komoran, policemen beat Avdi Dervishi (70) from Gradica. PRISHTINA: In the "Bregu i Diellit" quarter, 3 armed Serb civilians physically ill-treated Ragip (1976) and Ekrem Bajraktari (1975), students from Kizhnareka near Gllogoc. KLINA: While waiting to get his passport, Syl? Mustafa from Jashanica was taken by the police and severely ill-treated. JANUARY 16: PRISHTINA: According to Serb media, the military court in Nish extended for two months the pre-trial detention to the following 9 Albanians, who were arrested on the border with Albania on December 14: Blerim Kadri Spahiu (1971) from Runik - Sk?nderaj, Ismet Mursel Mazrreku (1957) from Malisheva, Enver Liman Krasniqi (26) from Kara?ica - Shtime, Azem Haqir Suma (1972) and Samet Aqif Ballazhi (1977) from Hani i Elezit, Sherif Syl? Bellaqi (1971) and Nazmi Sadri Bellaqi (1977) from Poto?an i Ep?rm - Rahovec, Xhavit Daut Krasniqi (1981) from Duga - Shtime and Merita Baftiar Ramadani (17) from Likoc - Sk?nderaj. DE?AN: Serb forces accompanied by tanks and heavy artillery launched an offensive against the Albanian villages in the regions of Dushkaja and Ratish, Dashinoc and Maznik. GJAKOVA: In the village of Pacaj, some 30 Serb policemen searched for weapons at the house of Halit Aliaj (48). Halit was arrested. His wife Ryva and his daughter Lindita (18) were severely ill-treated. Halit died due to torture in police custody in Gjakova. His corpse was taken to the morgue of the Gjakova Hospital. In the early hours of the morning, in the village of Rrypaj, police arrested brothers Ramadan and Osman Tahiraj. On being physically ill-treated, they were released. GLLOGOC: Serbian policemen stationed in Korrotica e Ep?rme and at the cross-road in Komoran are ill-treating locals and passers-by. At the cross-road in Komoran, police arrested Halil Hashim Morina (22) from Komoran. His car was seized. SUHAREKA: Police arrested brothers Hajredin (1968), Hysen, Nexhmedin (1974) and Ridvan Sylaj (1976) from Sllapuzhan, temporarily sheltered in Suhareka. PODUJEVA: Serbian police and military forces are still positioned in all the strategic points in the Llapi region. ISTOG: Police severely ill-treated Mehmet Mavraj, whereas Kadri Maraj (35) from Vrella was arrested. KLINA: Police arrested and physically ill-treated Kadri Gashi (52), an invalid from Qabiq. JANUARY 17: SHTIME: At 11 .00 a.m., large Serbian military and police forces started shelling with heavy artillery towards the village of Re?ak. The international verifiers withdrew from this village. The roads to Prizren and Ferizaj were blocked. In Shtime, tens of Albanians were arrested. Serb civilians were mobilized and are terrorizing Albanian civilians. GJAKOVA: In the village of Rrypaj, police raided the house of Maxhun Sylaj. He was arrested, physically ill-treated and taken to the prison in Peja. PEJA: Ram? Ejup Camaj (75), the father of Blerim Camaj (27), who was arrested on January 12, is being taken for informative talks every day regarding his son Lundrim (25). KLINA: Serb forces stationed in Sverka, Volljaka, Gllareva, Dollova, Klinavc, Jashanica, Grapc, Rixheva and Gjurgjevik i Vog?l are opening fire. Last night, at 5.00 p.m., Serb forces opened sniper fire on the houses of Isuf Berisha; Muharrem, Sadri and Hazir Boja in Klinavc. In Gjurgjevik i Vog?l, they demolished the shop and the gate of Avdyl and Demush Elezaj. SHT?RPCA: In Drajkoc, Serb forces surrounded and raided the houses of brothers Shukri, Rexhep and Daut Mehmeti. These are the only Albanian families in this village. DE?AN: Serbian police went into the village of Pozhar and looted and demolished several houses. DELAYED INFORMATION: SHTIME: Ismajl Gashi (1949) from Pjet?rshtica was kept in detention from October 6 until December 28, 1998. He was severely ill-treated. OBILIQ: On December 20, at the placed called "Kroni i Mbretit", Serb policemen severely ill-treated Fehmi Preniqi (1960) from Obiliq. DE?AN: On January 5, on the road between Peja and Rozhaja, police arrested Ismet Ram? Musaj (27) from the village of Strellc. The next day, his house was raided and his father Rama (75) was arrested. ISTOG: On January 7, in the village of Lluka near Istog, Beqir Rr. Visoqi (1949) was thrown in a well by unidentified persons. He was saved by his fellow-villagers. On January 8, Ismail Haxhijaj (48) and Vehbi Tafilaj (22) from Rakosh were taken out of the bus and physically ill-treated. On January 9, policemen from the mobile check-point in Lubizhda physically ill-treated Halit Zogaj from Kali?an. On January 9, a police patrol arrested Rizah Adem Dreshaj, an LDK activist from Vrella, and Ismajl Muharrem Ram?aj from Studenica. The two were taken to the police station in Peja. The very same day, under the pretext of searching for weapons, large police and military forces raided Ismajl's house as well as those of his fellow-villagers Syl? Zenunaj and Brahim Belaj. They searched for their sons. FUSH?-KOSOVA: On January 7, at midnight, armed Serb civilians opened fire and damaged the house of Shahin Idrizi. GLLOGOC: On January 8, in Magura near Lipjan, policemen and armed Serb civilians arrested Xhemajl Muharrem Alushani (30) from Komoran; Hysni Dan Murseli (32) and Agim Rrustem Sylaj (29) from Nekoc as well as a person from Shala near Bajgora. MITROVICA: On January 8, in Millosheva near Obiliq, 20 armed serb civilians severely ill-treated Ismail Januz Brahimi (60) and his son Isak (25), merchants from Zhabar i Posht?m near Mitrovica. Goods estimated to DM 2000 were looted from them and their cars were demolished. Ismail suffered heavy injuries and had to seek for medical assistance. On January 9, in Graboc, Serb policemen looted 500 kg of flour and 300 kg of corn from Sali Halit Salihu (68), 100 kg of flour and 50 kg of sugar from Fadil Jahir Jetullahu (20) - both from Dedia; 500 kg of flour and 100 kg of sugar from Hamdi Rrahman Peci (62), 500 kg of flour and 50 kg of sugar from Bashkim Tahir Peci (27), 300 kg of flour and 50 kg of sugar from Mehdi Hetem Peci (46) - all three from Zhazha. The looted goods were taken to state run shops. VUSHTRRI: On January 9, in the vicinity of the bridge over the Sitnica river in Mihaliq, Serb civilians provoked and threatened Nafi Krasniqi (1979) from Stanoc i Posht?m. PRIZREN: On January 9, Serb policemen machine gunned and destroyed the "Dafina" gas station owned by Rrustem Veli Hoxhaj (1952) from Grejkoc near Suhareka. In "Ulqini" st., police raided the houses of Islam Byty?i and Ali Nuhi Kryeziu (52) and searched for their sons Jeton (1982) and Fevzi (19). KAMENICA: On January 9, in Ruboc, unidentified persons opened fire on the houses of Isa Jakupi, a teacher with the "Ismail Qemali" Gymnasium in Kamenica, and that of his brother Jakup. NOTICE: We were informed that Haki Morina from the village of Mal?sia e Vog?l near Rahovec, who was reported missing (Report No.450), and Osman Nezir Byty?i (65) from Sallagrazhda near Suhareka, who was reported killed (Report No.453), are alive. The houses of the following were looted, burned and destroyed by the Serbian police, military and paramilitary forces: Naser Konjuhi (1959) from Graboc i Posht?m - Fush?-Kosov? and Ismajl Gashi (1949) from Pjet?rshtica - Shtime (in September) and Zymer Konjuhi (1961) and Kamer Konjuhi (1963) from Graboc i Posht?m - Fush?-Kosov? (on December 25); Faik Menxhiqi and his sons Pajazit and Latif in Sekira?a near Podujeva (December 24). Prishtina, January 17, 1999 Information Service --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Jan 23 06:05:13 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1999 06:05:13 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] News: Kosovo Massacre Blamed on Serbs 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosovo Massacre Blamed on Serbs By Dave Carpenter Associated Press Writer Friday, January 22, 1999; 10:35 a.m. EST VIENNA, Austria (AP) -- International monitors investigating the slayings of 45 ethnic Albanians in Kosovo have concluded it was a massacre of civilians by Serbian forces, apparently in response to rebel attacks on police. The seven-page report by the Kosovo Verification Mission, obtained today by The Associated Press, discloses no information to challenge the verifiers' official account, which blames the Jan. 15 massacre on government forces. The mission, run by the Vienna-based Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, cited ``evidence of arbitrary detentions, extra-judicial killings and the mutilation of unarmed civilians by the security forces of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.'' The report gives a chronological account of the days leading up to and during the period of the killings in the village of Racak, making clear that verifiers were not present at the time residents say the slayings occurred. Amidst an international uproar over the killings, Yugoslav authorities denied the verifiers' account and contended the victims were rebel fighters killed in combat and were all wearing military uniforms. They told William Walker, an American diplomat who heads the verification mission, he had to leave the country -- a decision that was suspended early today. The verifiers' report says the Yugoslav army began a buildup in the area after a ``well-prepared ambush'' by the Kosovo Liberation Army on Jan. 8 that killed three policemen in nearby Dulje. On Jan. 15, the verifiers said they were prevented by army and police for most of the day from entering the villages in the conflict area. Monitoring at a distance, they saw houses burning in Racak and nearby Malopoljce and saw army tanks and armored vehicles firing into houses near Malopoljce and Petrova. Verifiers managed to get into Racak in the late afternoon and said they saw one dead Albanian civilian and five injured civilians, including a woman and a boy suffering from gunshot wounds. The verifiers ``also received unconfirmed reports of other deaths,'' the report said. ``Residents of Racak claimed that men had been segregated from women and children, and that 20 males had been arrested and taken away. The verifiers took the details and evacuated the casualties before the onset of darkness.'' The verifiers returned the next day to find the 45 bodies, ``several of them mutilated'' and none wearing military uniforms, the report said. Survivors reportedly told them Serb security forces wearing police uniforms or black uniforms and ski masks had ``executed some residents and detained others.'' The residents said they recognized some of the assailants as Serb police or Serb civilians from nearby Stimlje, dressed in police uniforms. ? Copyright 1999 The Associated Press --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Jan 23 10:53:04 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1999 10:53:04 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] Info: **ACTION REQUIRED** Kosova Albanians Terrorized By the Serb Police and Army! 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- =========================================== READ! PRINT! REDISTRIBUTE! FORWARD FURTHER! =========================================== Starting with 1992, while the World was watching, the Bosnian people (and other non-Serbs) fell pray to the Serbs ethnic cleansing policies. Hundreds of thousands (mostly children, women, and elderly) got slaughtered by the Serb Army and Serb paramilitary groups. The Serb Army and Serb Police have sent in new forces and tanks, terrorizing numerous villages in Kosova. In just the past few days, tens of Kosova Albanians were tortured and massacred AGAIN in the most cruel ways. For further details please visit daily updates at: The Kosova Crisis Center (KCC): http://www.alb-net.com Pictures from the massacres: http://www.alb-net.com/kcc/images/images.htm Kosova Information Center(KIC): http://www.kosova.com ARTA News Service: http://www.kohaditore.com/ARTA -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Will the UN and the World watch again as it did in Bosnia? Will the UN and the World let the Serbs kill another few hundreds of thousands of people? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** The ethnic cleansing MUST end now **** We need your help in our effort to tell the World about the real situation in Kosova. Help us collect e-mail addresses so we can distribute up-to-date news of the events where it will count. ACTION NEEDED: 1.PLEASE ASK FOR OR FIND OUT e-mail addresses of: - your Government offices and officials at all levels - various news agencies and information centers - TV and radio stations and journalists - local and national newspapers - other e-mail addresses that you think should received up-to-date information on Kosova events 2.SUBMIT your list of e-mail addresses to submit at alb-net.com so we can send out the news NOW! 3.FORWARD and REDISTRIBUTE the news on what is happening in Kosova to as many people and officials as possible! sincerely, Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) http://www.alb-net.com =========================================== READ! PRINT! REDISTRIBUTE! FORWARD FURTHER! =========================================== --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Jan 27 14:19:19 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1999 14:19:19 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] Report on the violation of human rights and freedoms in Kosova in the course of 1998 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) Prishtina, Republic of Kosova Report on the violation of human rights and freedoms in Kosova in the course of 1998 SCORCHED LAND TACTICS - NO RETURN ! By killing, massacre and physical liquidations of 1934 Albanians, among whom 229 female, 213 children and 395 elderly, by kidnapping, arrests, ill-treatments, persecutions and displacement of 500.000 Albanians, by destruction and burning of 41.538 houses and flats, by looting of the wealth - Serbian regime wants to make it impossible for us to stay in our land and impede the return of the displaced and refugees all over Europe and worldwide. As an aftermath of the consistent pattern and reliable attested human rights violation and organized state violence for many years now of the Serbian regime towards the Albanian population in Kosova, the armed conflict burst out in the beginning of 1998 and covered half of the territory of Kosova. Hundreds of people were killed, massacred, summarily executed, wounded, reported missing, taken hostage, kidnapped, arrested, convicted, persecuted and displaced. Many villages were looted, burned and destroyed to the ground. During the very same period, everything was destroyed in the regions affected by the conflict and there are no living conditions in the very same. The massacres in Likoshan, Qirez, Prekaz, Lybeniq, Poklek, Rahovec, Goluboc, Galica and Abria shocked the Albanian and the worldwide public opinion for their wanton killings, cruelty and lack of any human feelings. During 1998, CDHRF has registered 1934 killed and mutilated Albanians, among whom 229 female, 213 children and 395 elderly. Among the killed, 436 are unidentified. Due to the conditions created as an aftermath of war, CDHRF has evidenced 92 cases of death, among whom pregnant women, new-born babies, elderly, ill people who lacked medical assistance, etc. 2626 Albanians were detained, among whom 1260 people were kept in detention. 132 were convicted, whereas 1128 are still in pre-trial detention. During the very same period, 450 settlements were burned, destroyed and looted. 41.538 houses, 1995 business premises and other buildings were ruined, damaged, looted and burned. About 500.000 people were forced to flee their homes. There were many cases when the corpses of the killed were left unburied for months or were buried by police order without being identified. Such cases occurred in all the parts of Kosova, where conflicts took place. During the very same period, many storage, factories, mines, schools and monasteries were turned into weaponry depots, investigating prisons, concentration camps, where many Albanians were subjected to unprecedented brutality and torture. The missing and kidnapped - killed and mutilated CDHRF receives information on the missing and kidnapped on daily basis. From the beginning of the year up to September, more than 1440 persons were reported missing. However, after the Serb offensives, the local people and our field associates discovered a dozens of victims,killed or massacred during the Serbian attacks,who were reported as missing. CDHRF has information that a considerable number of persons are in the Serb prisons. CDHRF has never regarded the list of the missing as complete as it was not in a position to confirm all the cases. By the end of the year, CDHRF compiled a list with the names of 605 people who went missing or were kidnapped, including whole families. The names of 42 Serbs and Montenegrins are reported in the list. Deeply concerned, CDHRF has monitored all these events and has informed duly the public opinion, humanitarian organizations and other relevant factors. The campaign of arrests, sentences and convictions went on The campaign of arrests, sentences and convictions continued in the course of 1998. The District Courts in Prishtina, Peja, Prizren, Gjilan and Mitrovica, as well as the Military Court in Nish have initiated the investigative and penal proceedings and have convicted many Albanians under the charges of terrorism and threatening the territorial integrity of Serbia and Yugoslavia, charges which have been faced by the Albanians for decades. In the course of 1998, CDHRF based in Prishtina has compiled a list of 2626 arrested persons, of whom 132 were convicted for criminal acts pursuant to Art.136 and 125. 1128 are being kept in pre-trial detention. During the investigative proceedings and while in pre- trial detention, those arrested were continuously tortured. As an aftermath of torture, 7 violent deaths occurred in the investigative prisons during 1998. Among those killed is Rexhep Bislimi, member of the Board of the Sub-CDHRF in Ferizaj. According to the available data, 14.905 persons were ill-treated in different forms, an average of 41 persons per day. The rights of the ill-treated were violated in different forms. 17.413 such cases were registered. Yet, we believe that the figures presented are incomplete as thousands of cases were not registered due to the lack of information, the fear and hesitation of those being ill-treated. Extrajudicial executions and massacres Ever since the crisis in Kosova escalated and turned into an armed conflict, the Serb armed forces perpetrated extrajudicial executions and massacres not sparing even the women, children, elderly or the ill. Such executions took place in Likoshan (28 February 1998), Qirez (February), Prekaz i Posht&m (March), Poklek i Ri (May), De^an, Lybeniq, Rahovec (July), Dobratin (September), G&r^ina (October), Abri (September), Galica (September), in the vicinity of the Magura tunnel, Radisheva, Golluboc, Ranca near Shtime, Lugishta near Has, etc. The mass killings of Albanians began in the villages of Likoshan, district of Gllogoc, and that of Qirez, district of Sk&nderaj. On 28 February, an attack was launched in these two villages. The attack lasted 24 hours and a large number of masked Serb policemen, soldiers and paramilitaries were involved in it. Heavy weaponry and helicopters were used in this attack. The Serbian Ministry of Interior Affairs established an air bridge between Belgrade and their bases in Kosova. Helicopters opened fire on the Albanian villages. Albanian civilians were killed and mutilated inside the houses. The age of the killed and mutilated is between 16 and 70. Policemen went into the house of the Ahmetaj family (36 members) and forced them out. Men, women and children were told to lie down. The men were separated from the rest of the group, taken out of the yard, beaten and extrajudicially executed one by one. The tragedy continued on 5 March 1998. At about 5.00 a.m., Serb police forces launched an attack on the villages of Prekaz i Posht&m, Llausha, Polac, Marina, Vojnika and Rakinica, district of Sk&nderaj. As a consequence of this attack, 46 Albanians were killed and mutilated, of whom 20 from the family of Shaban Jashari. Among the killed, 15 were children aged between 7-16 and 17 were female. There were also elderly up to the age of 74. The victims were buried by the police on 10 March. They were not buried according to the tradition and the autopsy was not conducted. During this period, there were incessant attacks in the regions of De^an and Peja. On 25 May, police and military forces launched an attack on the villages of this region. The attack resulted with the extrajudicial execution of 7 members of the Hamza family, 1 member of the Gogaj-Cacaj family and 1 member of the Delimetaj family in the village of Lybeniq near Peja. On 31 May, at about 1.30 p.m., Serbian police and paramilitary forces launched an attack on the village of Poklek i Ri, killing and mutilating 11 persons. Apart from the corpse of Ardian Haxhi Deliu (18), who was buried, the corpses of the others were loaded in a police lorry. Ever since, there are no information on their whereabouts. It is assumed that the corpses were buried in a mass grave or were destroyed in order to tamper evidence. CDHRF believes that the skeletons presented by the Serb media in the village of Kle^ka can be those of the victims killed in Poklek. On 18 July, Serbian military forces perpetrated a massacre on the border zone with Albania. Women, children and elderly, who were trying to return to their homes, were massacred. This happened at the place called Rrasa e Zogut in the vicinity of the mountain huts in Junik. It is believed that at least 60 Albanians were killed. Whereas Serb media, based on the military sources, claimed that over 100 Albanians were killed. The number of the wounded is much higher. The corpses were still not given to their families. Their identities are still unknown. On 19 July, as an aftermath of a premeditated attack of the Serbian forces many Albanians were killed and wounded in Rahovec. Many women, children and elderly, who had taken shelter in Sheh Muhedini's masjid were massacred in the most barbaric way. The bodies of two professors and 6 other bodies burned beyond recognition were found at the place called "Tuba". CDHRF has registered the names of 150 killed people. Eye-witnesses claim that Serbian police, military and paramilitary forces perpetrated extrajudicial executions. Many Albanians were reported missing, taken hostage and arrested, whose whereabouts are still unknown. On 22 July, the Serbian authorities in Prizren opened two mass graves in which they buried the corpses of many Albanians killed during the offensive in Rahovec. On 26 August, while fleeing in a tractor, 11 members of the Asllani family from the village of Ranca were killed by a Serbian tank. Among the killed, 8 were children and 3 were women. 3 men were wounded. On 16 September, on returning to their houses in the village of Dragobil, Osman Met& Pa^arizi (60) and Fehmi Miftar Pa^arizi (45) were caught by the Serb forces, taken to Malisheva and executed. On 25 September, Serb forces went into the village of Galica, district of Vushtrri, and executed 14 men, mainly youngsters, and a woman. On 26 September, in the vicinity of the Magura tunnel, district of Klina, Serb forces separated several Albanians from the crowd of the displacement people and executed Smajl Millaku (72) and his son Sefer (49) from Ujmir. The very same day, 8 Albanian youngsters were executed by the Serb forces in Golluboc. On 27 September, in the Deliaj quarter in Abria e Ep&rme, district of Gllogovc, the corpses of 22 members of the Deliaj family, including women, children and elderly, were found a kilometer away from their house. Diturie Deliaj, a 3-month-old baby, was found alive under her mother's body. Due to the difficult living conditions, she died a month later. On 4 October, the mutilated corpses of Antigona (14) and Mihane Hysen Deliu (16) were found. Prior to being executed, the two were raped. Similar massacres are perpetrated by the Serb forces in most of the attacked regions. Scorched land tactics According to the tactics, means and methods used in the war operations, one can conclude that the Serbian forces have been applying the scorched land tactics. Since the beginning of the military operations in February 1998, more than 450 settlements were targeted by the Serbian forces. In most of the villages, after the shelling and the fleeing of the Albanian population, Serbian armed forces, aided by armed Serb civilians, looted all valuables and set fire to the houses. Over 41.000 houses were destroyed due to shelling or fire. The mass destruction of the Albanian settlements shows the aim of the Serbian regime to prevent the return of the displaced, which leads towards the ethnic cleansing of Kosova or whatever we call it. It has been estimated that least 500.000 Albanians have fled their homes During the military operations, in which heavy artillery and airplanes were used, entire villages were abandoned. Due to this war machinery, hundreds of thousands of people were forced to flee the affected regions and villages, which continue to be targeted by the Serb forces. Since February 1998, the number of the displaced reaches the figure of half a million. The experience of the displaced, who had to flee under the threat of weapons and in terrible weather is hard to describe. Thousands of Albanians lived many months in the open or in plastic sheet shelters, in very difficult living conditions. Due to the lack of living conditions, medicines and medical assistance, 92 Albanians died, among whom pregnant women, elderly and children. It is estimated that some 26.500 Albanians have sought shelter in Albania, 21.800 in Montenegro, 5000 in Macedonia and 6000 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A large number of Albanians, while trying to flee to West European countries, were stationed in refugee camps in Hungary, Czekia and Italy. CDHRF has information that those who were stationed in refugee camps in Hungary live in very difficult conditions. There are many pregnant women and children among them. Many have requested from the CDHRF to appeal to the Hungarian authorities to improve the living conditions. During the very same period, some 90.000 Albanians have sought shelter in different West European countries. Some 400.000 Albanians were displaced and have sought shelter in safer regions within Kosova. The attempts of many displaced people to return to the ruins of their homes were hindered by the police. Since the arrival of the international verifiers a large number of people have returned to the ruins of their houses and are trying to rebuild them. There are cases when 20 people live in a 16m2 room. Some of the returnees were forced to flee their homes due to the large presence of Serb forces and due to the incessant shelling of their villages (Malisheva, Dollova, K&puz, Reka e Keqe, the villages in the district of De^an, Loxha, Raushiq, Prekaz i Posht&m, etc.) Fresh forces and heavy weaponry were redeployed in Kosova despite of the agreement between Millosheviq and Holbrook Despite of the Agreement for the withdrawal of the Serb forces from Kosova, we were informed that fresh forces and heavy weaponry were redeployed in Kosova. A very grave phenomenon is the increase in the number of incidents caused by Serb civilians. 294 incidents occurred in the course of 1998. Serbian police and military forces have distributed weapons to Serb civilians. These heavily armed civilians parade through the streets provoking Albanians. There were many cases when fire was opened on the Albanian houses. Hundreds of injured people in a peaceful protests During the months of March, April and May, peaceful protests were held all over Kosova against the Serb massacres perpetrated in Drenica and the other regions of Kosova. Hundreds of protesters, mainly pupils and students, were ill-treated by policemen and Serb civilians. Many suffered severe body injuries (as was the case with the professors of the Faculty of Philosophy in Prishtina, on June 10, 1998). The persecution of medical and humanitarian workers In the course of 1998, many medical and humanitarian workers were subjected to different forms of violence. They were kidnapped, killed, killed by torture, went missing, arrested, sentenced and ill-treated. Rexhep Bislimi, an activist of the Sub-CDHRF in Ferizaj, and Cen Dugolli, an activist, died as an aftermath of being tortured while in police custody. Dr. Hafir Shala, a physician, an activist of the "Mother Theresa" Humanitarian & Charitable Society, was arrested by the Serb forces on April 10. Ever since, there are no information on his whereabouts. Xhavit Haziri, an activist of the CDHRF in Prishtina, was kidnapped on September 17. Ever since, there are no information on his whereabouts. Hajriz and Adem Morina, activists of the "Mother Theresa" Humanitarian & Charitable Society, were killed due to shelling, while distributing aid in the villages of Malisheva. Dr. Lec B. Uka, a physician, was mutilated by the Serb forces on September 25, 1998. On October 1, in the vicinity of Likoc, a vehicle of the ICRC hit a mine. Dr. Shpetim Robaj,a physician, was killed and 3 other humanitarian workers were wounded (including one from New Zealand). These were just some of the cases in which medical and humanitarian activists were killed. Many humanitarians activists were sentenced to prison terms: Xhevat Haziri, Zahrije Podrim^aku, Rufki Suma, Enver Berisha, Ferit Tafallari, etc. CDHRF has registered 114 cases of ill-treatment of humanitarian activists. The work of humanitarian activists as well as that of the activists of the CDHRF is becoming more and more difficult. The dismissal and eviction of Kosovar Albanians continues The dismissal of Albanian workers as well as their eviction from their flats continued in the course of 1998. 70 Albanian workers were dismissed from the "Saloniti" Plant in Hani i Elezit. 24 Albanian families were evicted from their flats and Serb families were settled in them. In the course of 1998, there was no single pattern of human rights and freedoms which was not violated by the Serbian regime. The scarce of this violation will remain in the heats and the minds of the future survivors or reflected in the minds of the people of Kosova. In the course of 1998: 1934 Albanians were killed, mutilated and extrajudicially executed; 818 were wounded; 148 murder attempts; 2 underage girls were raped and mutilated; 650 families were raided; 419 Albanians were taken informative talks; 1128 are in pre-trial detention; 132 were sentenced for "penal deeds" (21 in absentia); 5 Albanians were sentenced by the military court; 87 for petty offence; 3758 cases of physical torture (1047 cases resulting with severe body injuries); 924 persons underwent routine checking; 799 were reported missing; 58 cases of usurpation; 171 persons were searched for; 229 persons were summoned to report to the police station; 24 Albanian families were evicted from their flats; 135 Albanians were dismissed from work; 25 cases of seizure of travel documents (passports); Out of the total number of the ill-treated: 913 were women; 439 children; 441 elderly; 66 CDHRF activists; 48 humanitarian activists; 163 educational activists; CDHRF assumes that the data presented in this report is incomplete as it could not register all the cases of the violation of human rights and freedoms in the course of 1998. Pishtina, 22 January,l999 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 sokolrama at sprynet.com Thu Jan 28 09:57:06 1999 From: sokolrama at sprynet.com (Sokol Rama) Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 09:57:06 -0500 Subject: [kcc-news] Taps Reveal Serbian Military Coverup of Racak Massacre Message-ID: <199901281504.HAA11236@m6.sprynet.com> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ! 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Reproduced without permission, for fair use only. Taps Reveal Coverup of Kosova Massacre By R. Jeffrey Smith Washington Post Foreign Service Thursday, January 28, 1999; Page A1 RACAK, Yugoslavia, Jan. 27 ? The attack on this Kosovo village that led to the killing of 45 ethnic Albanian civilians 12 days ago came at the orders of senior officials of the Serb-led Belgrade government who then orchestrated a coverup following an international outcry, according to telephone intercepts by Western governments. Angered by the slaying of three soldiers in Kosova, the officials ordered government forces to "go in heavy" in a Jan. 15 assault on Racak to search out ethnic Albanian guerrillas believed responsible for the slayings, according to Western sources familiar with the intercepts. As the civilian death toll from the assault mounted and in the face of international condemnation, Yugoslavia's deputy prime minister and the general in command of Serbian security forces in Kosovo systematically sought to cover up what had taken place, according to telephone conversations between the two. Details of the conversations, which were made available by Western sources, shed new light on the attack and its aftermath, which have again brought NATO to the brink of confrontation with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic over his government's repression of separatist ethnic Albanians in Kosova. The calls show that the assault on Racak was monitored closely at the highest levels of the Yugoslav government and controlled by the senior Serbian military commander in Kosovo ? a province of Serbia, Yugoslavia's dominant republic. The bodies of 45 ethnic Albanian civilians were discovered on a hillside outside the village by residents and international observers shortly after the government forces withdrew. "We have to have a full, independent investigation of this to get to the bottom of it," a senior Clinton administration official told staff writer Dana Priest in Washington. "Those responsible have to be brought to justice." In a series of telephone conversations, Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Sainovic and Serbian Interior Ministry Gen. Sreten Lukic, expressed concern about international reaction to the assault and discussed how to make the killings look as if they had resulted from a battle between government troops and members of the separatist Kosova Liberation Army. The objective was to challenge claims by survivors ? later supported by international monitors ? that the victims had been killed in an execution-style massacre and to defuse pressures for a NATO military response. Sainovic is the highest-ranking official in the Yugoslav government responsible for Kosovo matters and has been present at most negotiations with top Western officials; several Western officials said they understand that he reports to Milosevic on Kosovo issues. "We often see him as the link between the government in Belgrade and the administration down here" in Kosova, one official said. Yugoslav army and Serbian Interior Ministry troops have waged an 11-month campaign against ethnic Albanian guerrillas seeking independence for Kosovo, where ethnic Albanians outnumber Serbs 9 to 1 but Serbs hold all the power. At least 1,000 civilians have been killed in the conflict. Under an October accord imposed on Milosevic with the threat of NATO airstrikes, the Yugoslav leader agreed to withdraw some of his forces from Kosovo, and the conflict eased as both sides maintained ? albeit sporadically ? an unofficial truce. That changed in this farming village when army and Interior Ministry troops converged on the area. As a result of the attack, the village has been transformed into a ghostly place, bathed in dense, damp fog that cloaks ice-covered thickets and leafless trees. Many of its houses were shattered by direct fire from three T-55 army tanks. Now there are only a few dogs, a handful of braying donkeys and scores of other barnyard animals where more than 1,500 ethnic Albanians once lived. One source familiar with the phone calls between military leaders in Kosovo and officials in Belgrade on Jan. 15 and succeeding days said they show that "the intent was to go in heavy" to find three guerrillas whom government security officials blamed for the ambush of an Interior Ministry convoy on Jan. 8 southwest of Racak in which three soldiers died. "It was a search and destroy mission" with explicit approval in Belgrade, the source said. As tank and artillery fire and the chatter of machine-guns echoed off the hills surrounding Racak, Sainovic called Lukic from Belgrade, according to Western sources. Sainovic was aware that the assault was underway, and he wanted the general to tell him how many people had been killed. Lukic replied that as of that moment the tally stood at 22, the sources said. In calls over the following days, Sainovic and Lukic expressed concern about the international outcry and discussed how to make the killings look like the result of a pitched battle. Their efforts to cover up what occurred continued, the Western sources said. One measure Sainovic advocated in his calls was to seal Kosovo's border with Macedonia to prevent Louise Arbour, a top U.N. war crimes investigator, from entering. Arbour was turned back. Another was to demand that Interior Ministry troops fight to regain control of the killing site and reclaim the bodies. Serbian forces launched a second assault on the village Jan. 17, and the following day they seized the bodies from a mosque and transferred them to a morgue in Pristina, the provincial capital. A third was to explore whether the killings could be blamed on an independent, armed group that supposedly came to the region and attacked the residents of Racak after government troops had left. Sainovic was told that making this claim was not feasible. Shortly after the attack, a Yugoslav government spokesman said that the bodies found on the hillside were armed, uniformed members of the Kosovo Liberation Army. The account was challenged by international inspectors and journalists who arrived on the scene Jan. 16 and found dozens of corpses on the ground, all in civilian clothes. Government officials later alleged that some of the victims were accidentally caught in a cross-fire between security forces and the rebels or were deliberately slain by the guerrillas to provoke international outrage. But survivors, diplomatic observers and rebels who were in the area at the time of the killings say that little shooting occurred inside the town early in the the assault and that no battle was underway at around 1 p.m., when most of the victims are said to have died. These sources say that Kosovo Liberation Army forces were not deployed near a gully where at least 23 of the bodies were found, and that none of the trees in the area bore bullet marks suggestive of a battle. A team of forensic pathologists that arrived in Kosova from Finland last Friday, a week after the killings, has found nothing to contradict these accounts, according to a Western official. "A picture is beginning to emerge from the autopsies, and it is a tragic one," said another source, explaining that the types of wounds on the victims indicate that they were "humiliated" before being fired on from several directions. The last of 40 autopsies were to be completed today, and the Finnish pathologists say their final report will be ready by next week. But their preliminary conclusion is consistent with an account given on Jan. 16 by Imri Jakupi, 32, a resident of Racak who said he escaped death by running into the woods. He said that he and other men had been rounded up by security forces in house-to-house searches and ordered to walk along a ravine before troops "started shooting from the hills at us. . . . Firing came from all over." According to Shukri Buja, 32, the commander of guerrilla forces in the area, Racak was home to many rebels, as government security officials suspected. But he said that most of them were driven into the hills early Jan. 15 by a wave of artillery and tank fire. "We were shot at from three sides . . . and they moved their forces during the day, so it was very hard for us to come down into the village," Buja said. Villagers told inspectors and reporters at the scene on Jan. 17 that many of the dead were last seen alive in the hands of Interior Ministry troops, who said they were under arrest. Many of the troops involved in the operation wore black ski masks, but survivors said they recognized some local policemen and Serbian civilians in uniforms. Jakupi and another Racak resident, Rem Shabani, told reporters that they overheard some of what the troops were saying on their walkie-talkies as two groups of men were being led away from the village. "How many of them are there?" one soldier asked. When the reply came back as 29, Shabani recalled, the order given was: "Okay, bring them up." Yakupi said he then overheard another order: "Now get ready to shoot." He fled before the shots rang out. ? Copyright 1999 The Washington Post Company --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send a message to majordomo at alb-net.com In the body of the message include: UNSUBSCRIBE KCC-NEWS